We have a winner!! Trixi Oberembt has found a whopping 19 AUTHORS that have agreed to face-off!!!
This has been SO much fun seeing all the different names come through. It’s really exciting! Thanks to all of you for participating. It was a tight race!! I mean, really tight! I want to give a shout out to Sam Bes for coming in a VERY close second with 18 authors!
Thanks for participating in the Summer Giveaway Challenge. We will try again with a new challenge in a few months. Trixi, some books will be heading your way!
Alright, guys! I am back in business!! I do want to let you know that things will probably be a bit slower for a while, but I’ll fill you in on everything going on soon! In the meantime, let’s do this!!
Tamara is a bestselling and multi-award winning author of historical and contemporary fiction. Her book,The Unveiling, is currently FREE!!! So, head on over and grab a copy!!
I’ve missed facing-off! Let’s see who wins this thing:
The rules are simple. I ask Tamara some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. Have you ever been metal detecting? If so, what did you find?
Tamara – Okay, this probably doesn’t count, but it’s the closest I can come—metal detecting à la one big fat magnet. What treasure did I find? I was hoping for a rare coin or some such, but no. Despite my efforts, fuzzy iron filings were all that clung to my magnet. I should probably mention I was about eight.
Charity – Oh man!!! Well, it was probably still really fun! My 8 year old would love it. I haven’t ever done any metal detecting. My dad is super into it. He took my oldest son last year and they found some pretty good stuff!
— Why would I ask that when I know I can’t win it!!
Charity 0 / Tamara 1
2. Do you believe that the real Davy Crockett was as great as the Disney movies with Fess Parker?
Tamara – Indeed. Absolutely. What a hunk of a hero! Um…who’s Fess Parker? Just kidding! However (I’m so going to lose this round), I don’t believe I ever watched the Disney movies.
Charity – That is just unacceptable to not know who Fess Parker is!!! He IS Davy Crockett!! Those movies were the best. ha ha. I have known the Davy Crockett song since I was a little kid because I watched them so much.
I have heard, however, that the real DC wasn’t such a great guy. I’ll stick with Disney’s version!
— I totally get that one!
Charity 1 / Tamara 1
3. Speaking of old movies, best Fred MacMurray role?
Tamara – Hold on a minute while I mosey on over to IMDb (I’ve never been particularly good with celebrity names). Aha! The television series “My Three Sons.” I’ve seen Fred in other shows, but it’s the Steve Douglas role I remember. What a dad! ‘Nuf said.
Charity – Oh yes! He’s a great fella. The Happiest Millionaire is my favorite. He has a boxing class in his basement and it’s called Biddle Bible Class. They sing these praise songs while they box. It’s absolutely hilarious!!!
— I am so taking that one too!!!
Charity 2 / Tamara 1
4. Are you a pimple popper or pimple leaver aloner?
Tamara – Now we’re getting a bit personal, hmm? Peeking into my bathroom, hmm? Looking over my shoulder in the mirror, hmm? Sigh. I’m a middle of the road-er. Some require a concerted effort, and others just need to be left alone. Now go away ☺
Charity – hahaha! That’s awesome 🙂 I am a total popper. I can’t stand anything growing on my face. It gets popped, ripped, whatever. blah.
— Nobody likes someone that asks TMI questions
Charity 2 / Tamara 2
5. Last series you binge read?
Tamara – Ariana Franklin’s “Mistress of the Art Of Death.” Though I’m not big on CSI-type tales, this series features the 12th century (read: medieval) heroine, Adelia Aguilar, a “doctor to the dead.” And what a woman! She solves murders, ensures justice is served piping hot to killers, tends the sick, befriends the outcasts, verbally spars with my favorite and much-misunderstood king, Henry II, and even finds time for a little romance. Supreme storytelling! But, alas, the author who created the lovely Adelia has passed away.
Charity – I don’t remember mine! It might be as far back as the Hunger Games trilogy.
— Tamara
Charity 2 / Tamara 3
6. Worst church sign you have seen?
Tamara – If you don’t mind, I’ll give you two—and fudge a bit because these are too snort-worthy to say they’re the worst. “NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO VISIT. OUR PASTOR IS ON VACATION” and “LOVE THY NEIGHBOR…EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT A “TENNESSEE FAN”
Charity – Oh man! That’s so embarrassing… The worst two I have seen are: “The best antique is an old friend”. ???? I mean, what in the world does that even mean? Especially on a church sign??? “Tell your dyslexic friend that there is a dog”??? So awful!!!!!!
— tie. *Head hanging in shame over what people must think of God*
Charity 2 / Tamara 3
7. What’s the best white noise to sleep to?
Tamara – I recently downloaded a “White Noise” app, and let me tell you, some of these noises are far from sleepable (is that a word?)—water dripping, frogs at night, clothes dryer, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer. Not a chance. I’ll take wind or a light rain any old night.
Charity – What in the world?! Who sleeps to those things? That sounds horrible. Turn it on next to your hubby or kids while they sleep…hahahaha
— Tamara gets that one!
Charity 2 / Tamara 4
8. How do you strive to bring God the most glory in your life?
Tamara – I strive to set a good example of my faith for family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers by living what I believe. But since I’m mostly an introvert and prefer the written word to the spoken word, I think my inspirational stories bring the most glory to God. Instead of “preaching,” I present readers with flawed characters in difficult situations that many of us face, then I weave the tale around how the characters grow in their faith, personal lives, and relationships in order to overcome their obstacles.
Charity – Nice! Love it. I think that people talk too much. Let your life bring God glory.
— God always wins! ❤
Charity 2 / Tamara 4
9. Most awkward gift you have given or received?
Tamara – Sorry, David. About 25 years ago, über athletic hubby thought bookworm wife would enjoy learning the game of tennis. Me? Really? Let me tell you, that was one cool tennis ball machine. And still is. Hubby recently pulled it out of the basement and—lo and behold!—it’s just like new. Might have half a dozen hours on it…
Charity – HA! That’s amazing. I hate it that men are so hot and athletic. boo!! BOOOO!!!! I object.
I am not sure, but I think the most awkward gift I ever got what a purse that size of a wallet. It is seriously about 5 inches by 3 inches and has the strap and all. ??????
— tie
Charity 2 / Tamara 4
10. Sassiest moment as a child?
Tamara – Sassy? I wasn’t allowed to be sassy. Really. I think that’s one of the reasons I became a writer. Mwahaha.
Charity – Oh man. Me either! I still tried though… I was a nightmare child. My mom was a saint!!! Who am I kidding. My husband is a saint. I never grew out of it…
Final:
Charity 2 / Tamara 4
Thank you so much, girl! I had a great time getting to know you 🙂
What a week! Can you believe we are rounding out this week’s face-offs with this incredible talent?! I am sure that most of you have heard of Sarah Ladd. She took the market by storm a couple of years ago with her Whispers On The Moors series!!
Aren’t these the most gorgeous covers? Man! I knew I would love these books the minute I saw them because I am a total cover lover!
It also helps that they are Regency books and I am in love with all things Austen. So, she had two things going for her right out of the gate!!
Truth is, she’s a wonderful writer and you really should pick up her books if you don’t already have them. (Links in the pics)
LET’S PLAY!!
The rules are simple. I ask Sarah some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. What the most beautiful beach you have been to?
Sarah – Ahh … I love the beach. My husband and I went to Mexico a few years after we were married. While we were there, we took a boat trip to a little island off the coast. I cannot for the life of me remember what the island was called, but it was insanely beautiful and isolated. Hands down – best beach ever.
Charity – Sounds fabulous! I guess…hmm. Dominican Republic had the most crystal clear water. Beautiful!! I was there on a mission trip, but we had to take our day of fun, you know…
— Difference? You went with the hubster. Made the beach 100x’s better, I’m sure!
Charity 0 / Sarah 1
2. Do you keep your toenails current, or do they only look great in the flip-flop months?
Sarah – Toenails MUST be current. And that is an unwavering, deeply held belief. I do not think I can be swayed on this one…
Charity – oh my. In theory, I would agree with you. I reality…. I’m lucky my toenails are one solid color right now.
— whoopsies. Shouldn’t have asked that one!
Charity 0 / Sarah 2
3. What’s the strangest thing a fan has ever done?
Sarah – I have to say that I have the most incredible readers – so supportive and encouraging. They are never crazy. So while I can’t really think of a crazy thing a fan has done to me, I can tell you my crazy fan moment. When I attended my first real writing conference, I ran into the amazing talented Laura Frantz in the bookstore. I had just finished reading The Frontiersman’s Daughter, which is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. I ran up her an interrupted what she was doing because I could not believe that she and I were in the same room. Plus I had a lot of coffee that day, so I was probably REALLY peppy. If she thought I was crazy, she didn’t let on. She was incredibly gracious. She signed my copy of Courting Morrow Little, and it still has a place of honor on my bookshelf.
Charity – *fainting dead away* Why does everyone have an amazing love for that woman? I’ll tell you why… BECAUSE SHE IS INCREDIBLE! I feel like I could sit at her feet and just soak in Jesus.
Oh, and Courting Morrow Little is my favorite book, so that’s incredible.
— I had no chance. Wait, I don’t have fans anyway. blah.
But….Looky Looky what I found!!!
😮
Charity 0 / Sarah 3
4. Do you incorporate chef’s rights while you are cooking (ie: testing it and snacking on it before it’s served) or not?
Sarah – Well, let’s be honest here. I am not the chef in my family. My husband is a MUCH better cook than I am. Sure, I can make the basics, but my hubby is the real talent. So, I do incorporate chef’s rights while HE is cooking. Not so much if I am the one doing the cooking.
Charity – Hmm. Well, I definitely partake, much to my husband’s dismay. He’s used to it, but he’s a total germaphobe and has a heart attack when me, or my son, dip on in.
My son is the real chef around here. That is NO JOKE. This is us shopping at a midnight Farm Fresh sale a year ago! whoop!!
That was before he became a giant 6’3” neanderthal.
— Taking it because my son is sooo cute!! I could kiss his little face! (He would DIE DIE DIE if he knew I wrote that! ha!!)
Charity 1 / Sarah 3
5. What’s the worst hair cut story you have?
Sarah – Remember the early ‘90s? Someone pass the hairspray. That’s all I have to say about that.
Charity – OMGosh. Ok. When I was 22, my good friend came to visit me. We had met online (he lived in Israel) and we talked hours every day. Anyway, I went to get my hair cut before he showed up and the lady said, “whoops” right in the middle of it. I was like????? She said, it’s ok, we just have to go shorter?!?!?!?! So, she proceeded to give me a bowl cut. Right then and there. Bowl cut. The more I told her to fix it, the shorter it got. I ended up with a hair cut that literally made me look like the most butch woman EVER!!! It was horrifying. I mean, seriously bad. You don’t think a haircut can change a person’s look THAT MUCH, but it literally was THAT drastic. My sister yelped when she saw it.
When he got here, he was so confused. He was like, “You aren’t Charity???!!!!!” So awkward and horrible. I wish I had a pic! I would totally show you!!!!!! Oh, did I mention that I was fat because I had just had a baby?
Fat, bowl cut lady/man.
— Yup. I get that one.
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
6. Grossest animal?
Sarah – Okay, it is not an animal, but an insect. Does that count? Grossest insect: A centipede. Eww. I mean, why does it need so many legs???
Charity – ew. A snake. Or a spider. Or a cricket. I think they go in that order.
— *shudder* tie tie tie
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
7. Favorite place to shop: clothes? groceries? beauty products? and shoes?
Sarah – I used to LOVE to shop. In my teenage and college years I always had a job at a clothing store. Loved it. But now, there are so many other ways I would rather spend my time, so I do a lot of online shopping. Click, click, done!
Charity – OMGosh. 1-ish word: Amazon.com
But I love Target and Ikea. My readers know about that little truth…
— tie
Charity 2 / Sarah 3
8. Do you have any hobbies (writing doesn’t count because it’s no longer a hobby!!!)
Sarah – I do have hobbies – several, in fact. I really like to be active – I like to run, go biking, and practice yoga. During the spring and summer I like to be outside and garden.
Charity – Uh. That’s why you are skinny and pretty. *kicks you in the shins*
I’m going to go eat some chips and think about that while I watch the ol’ television.
— Not nice. You get the point.
Charity 2 / Sarah 4
9. Do you ever eat wings at a restaurant and not care about how much food is all over your face and hands? Or, do you prefer to eat those in the privacy of your home?
Sarah – Okay, I am a bit of a neat freak. I always get the boneless kind and eat them with a fork. I can’t help it. I just … can’t.
Charity – Bahhhhh. Again, all cute and pretty. I just dig on in!
When I was growing up, I always had a motto when I ate: “The Messier The Better!”
— Bad! Wings are good for you!!!
Final:
Charity 3 / Sarah 4
Not sure why there is a minecraft axe blade in that pic.
Thanks Sarah! That was a blast 🙂 It’s always so fun to get to know an author of a book I loved!!
Don’t forget to check out Sarah’s newest book on July 7th!
Gueeesssss What, Guys???? Yup!!! A GIVEAWAY!! Sarah has offered to give away 1 signed copy of A Lady at Willowgrove Hall!! So cool!! All you have to do is head on over to a Rafflecopter giveaway and enter, enter, enter!!!
*U.S. Rez only (Sorry! We do love the rest of you too!)
** Mandatory entries are checked. Any falsified will be disqualified.
I found the most DELIGHTFUL blog the other day. Miss Lindsey Zimpel is a teenage girl that rates books for other teenage girls. She goes through and painfully takes every scene of action, sexual content (she only does Christian books, so this includes kissing, hand holding, touching and any scenes like that), spiritual content, etc… She even rates it based on age level.
So, head on over there and take a look if you are wondering what is in a book!! You will find an extensive list of hundreds of books she has rated. Awesome!!!
Link to the giveaway she’s doing is in the pic on the left.
No! Your eyes are NOT playing tricks on you!!! They read it correctly!!!
Ok, you want a list of some serious awards?
– 4 Time CBA Bestseller
– 5 Time ECPA Bestseller
– 4 Time Christy Finalist
– 2 Time Christy Award Winner
– 1 Time RITA Award Finalist
– 4 Time RITA Award Winner
– Library Journal Starred Review
– Booksellers Best Award Winner
– Golden Quill Award Winner
WOW! Deep breath!!! Let’s play, shall we??
The rules are simple. I ask Tamera some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. Do you garden?
Tamera – Does fawning over Southern Homes and Gardens magazine qualify? Or having two peace lilies that are six years old that I haven’t managed to kill off yet? I wish I could say I garden but right now, I do not. Just no time. But I aspire to garden. How’s that? Sometimes I just go to Lowe’s in stand in front of the fertilizer, breathe deeply, and dream. (And get a little woozy.)
Charity – ha! Nice. I get woozy THINKING about gardening… I have a serious black thumb. You couldn’t get any less gardening-ish than me!
— At least you want to and don’t kill things!!
Charity 0 / Tamera 1
2. What is your favorite kind of fish (to eat!)?
Tamera – Salmon all the way. To catch? Bass. I love to fish! And yes, I bait my own hook when we use live bait. But I find it more sporting to use lures. Something I learned from my husband of 30+ years. Far more sporting that way—for the fish.
Charity – 😮 Whew. You are a real woman!! haha. I like Tilapia, to eat! Fishing…not so much.
— You get that, for sure!
Charity 0 / Tamera 2
3. Strangest fan encounter?
Tamera – Hmmm…. I think every author has the bathroom story, where someone is waiting outside the stall. But when she knocked ON the stall wall… LOL. Well, that got my attention. We laughed about it afterwards. And then I left as quickly as possible. (JK!)
Charity – I’m sorry. 😮 Did you say you “laughed about it”???? OMGosh! hahahaha. That is so frightening!! I can’t even handle it when people talk to me, or are in the bathroom at the same time as me. If they were talking and knocking…whew!!!
— I am getting CRUSHED!!
Charity 0 / Tamera 3
4. Do you like to attend professional sports games? If so, which teams?
Tamera – I watch on occasion but I’m not a diehard fan, by any means. I love the Broncos. The John Elway years were epic. We lived in Colorado for 17 years. Such fun to play in the Rocky Mountains.
Charity – Oh man! I LOVE sports. It’s kind of backwards in this household. My husband gets bored. He goes to the gym while I watch football!! hahahaha. Redskins, Braves, and Duke Blue Devils are the teams I follow.
— Totally taking it!!
Charity 1 / Tamera 3
5. Do you have any unpublished books?
Tamera – No. But my first one almost wasn’t. The manuscript that sat in my drawer—the first story I ever wrote—for nearly 7 years was finally published after a total rewrite. The Inheritance. It’s sold over 100,000 copies to date and is my all time bestseller. Who knew, huh? All you writers out there: Never throw away a manuscript. Every “no” along the way is really part of God’s final “Yes!” when his perfect timing is reached. Be patient. Keep writing. Keep seeking His will.
Charity – That’s a great one!! I loved it!
Uh, I publish everything I write on my blog. No books.
— Tamera
Charity 1 / Tamera 4
6. What is one of your favorite holiday memories?
Tamera – I have many, but the most treasured is a couple of Thanksgivings before Mom passed away. It’s of cooking with her in the kitchen. We laughed and laughed, made pies and cornbread dressing and sweet potatoes while watching It’s a Wonderful Life in the background. I treasured the time then, but even more so now.
Charity – Now, that is a low blow! How can I compete with that?! That’s the sweetest story of all time!!!
— ahhhh
Charity 1 / Tamera 5
7. If you had to choose one name you would NEVER want to name someone, what name would it be? (ie: worst name ever)
Tamera – Buttford. I read that in an old diary once and thought, “Seriously? What were the parents thinking?”
Charity – AH!! HAHA! That is HORRIBLE! I was thinking Archibald, but…have you played this game before?
— You are SERIOUSLY good at this game!
Charity 1 / Tamera 6
8. How do you strive to bring God the most glory in your life?
Tamera – Through surrendering to Him in every area of my life. And honey, I’m a work in progress. A decision I made five years ago was to start the BSF study (Bible Study Fellowship) that meets once a week, and it’s an intense Bible Study. It truly has changed my life, and my understanding of who God is and how much he loves us. But also, how much he expects—demands—obedience to him. What truly takes my soul’s breath away is to realize that God gave the Law to Moses, and all of those instructions for sacrifices, all the rules, as a foreshadowing of Christ. From the very beginning (to us, anyway, He is the Alpha and Omega, he knows no beginning and no end), his plan was to offer his Son as a ransom for our sins. Sins he knew we could never pay for. He set it up that way, because he loves us that much. If that’s not a motivation to surrender, I don’t know what is.
Charity – Beautiful. He is insanely precious. I just want to be in His arms at all times!!!! ❤
— God ALWAYS wins!
Charity 1 / Tamera 6
9. How do you celebrate the 4th of July?
Tamera – We take the boat (remember, I told you I love to fish?) and we go fishing for the day, then cookout, then watch fireworks from the lake that night. Fun family time. Especially when you’re dodging buoys in the dark as you make your way back to the dock.
Charity – Oh!! NICE!!! We found this glorious, small town that had the best 4th of July celebration! They feed the entire town as much Papa John’s pizza as you can eat!!! That’s not counting the chips, desserts and tons of other food!!
I live really close to Yorktown, VA, so I have spent MANY celebrations there. I was in the Fife and Drum corp when I was growing up, so we preformed every 4th.
— Totally taking a point wherever I can get it! I DON’T CARE IF YOU HAVE A FANCY BOAT!!
Charity 2 / Tamera 6
10. Favorite thing to cook/bake?
Tamera – Pies. Hands down. I adore making pies. It’s a spiritual kitchen experience. My favs are Creamy Praline Pecan Pie, Buttermilk Pie, any kind of fruit pie, and last but not least, French Coconut. Next would be biscuits. Making biscuits is so comforting. The feel of the dough, then cutting them out and slipping them onto the pan, the wonderful floury feeling on your fingers. And sneaking bites of buttermilk dough isn’t bad either. Yum!
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 c. oil
1 c. dark brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
3 c. pumpkin puree
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
Cream Cheese Filling
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1 8-oz. package cream cheese (you could use light)
3 c. powdered sugar
3 tablespoons maple syrup of 1/2-1 tsp. maple extract
1 tsp. vanilla
Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level with a knife. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat together the brown sugar, white sugar, and oil. Add the pumpkin puree and mix well. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix well. Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix until combined.
Using a 1 tablespoon scoop or a 1/2 tablespoon measure, drop the batter onto a baking sheet (lined, if possible, but not necessary), leaving about 1″ between the batter. Try to keep the batter as circular as possible. Bake for 10-14 minutes or until the tops are done and a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the pan and then transfer to a cooling rack.
To prepare the filling, beat the butter on high for 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, maple, and vanilla and beat until combined. Transfer to a large Ziploc bag and cut 1/2″-1″ off the corner.
Flip the cakes over on a flat surface. Squeeze about 2-3 tablespoons of filling per large whoopie pie (less if you used a 1/2 tablespoon measure) onto every other cake. Top each pie with the remaining cakes. Serve immediately if possible; otherwise, these can be refrigerated in an airtight container. Makes about 30 large whoopie pies.
— YUM!!! Tie!!
Final:
Charity 2 / Tamera 6
I got smooshed again.
Tamera, you were more than a worthy opponent! You were AWESOME!! SQUEEEE! You all know what the balloons tell!! A GIVEAWAY!!!
Tamera is giving away a paperback copy of her new book!!
Doesn’t it look lovely? I love this series!! Oh, best news? It’s ONLY $4.99 pre-release!! You only have a few more days to get it at this price! It will probably triple a week from today! (Link is in the pic)
Author of over 20, highly acclaimed books, Janice Thompson is here today!!! Woo Hoo!! You can take a look at her blog HERE! I will be reviewing her new book later on this week, so keep an eye out!!!
Known for her contemporary romance, she writes many wedding stories!! Her newest is on sale for $4.99 right now! (Link is in the pic) Below are some other titles that you might be interested in! All of them under $5!!
Let’s play, shall we?
The rules are simple. I ask Janice some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. Do you wear a fancy hat on Easter Sunday?
Janice – Um, no. But I love the song “Easter Parade,” if that makes any difference.
Charity – That DEFINITELY counts! haha. I am not a fan of the hat or the song…so….
— Janice gets that one!
Charity 0 / Janice 1
2. Have you ever had a chimichanga? If so, did you love it?
Janice – Yes. . .and yes. I love anything that’s deep fried. I’m from Texas, where we love all-things-Tex-Mex.
Charity – Mexican is a MAJOR go-to for our family. My sister eats it every single day!!! haha. If they don’t have tacos for lunch, they will have them for dinner. No joke!!
I am VERY ashamed to admit that I don’t ever remember eating a chimichanga though! My husband’s dog was named Chimichanga. That might be part of a deterrent.
— Another point for Janice! Not even my sister’s habits won that one for me!
Charity 0 / Janice 2
3. Favorite time in history?
Janice – I love the turn of the century (1900 – 1910). Several of my novels were set during this time period: Hurricane (about the Galveston hurricane of 1900), Queen of the Waves (about the sinking of the Titanic) and Love Finds You in Groom, Texas (set in the Texas panhandle).
Charity – Nice!! I love that too! My favorite times were Regency (Jane Austen) and Revolutionary War (American and British stories). Both were very intriguing!!
— Tie
Charity 0 / Janice 2
4. What is the fanciest kind of car you would want if money was not a concern?
Janice – I love my Equinox but would probably buy something a big larger, if I could afford it—something big enough to hold all eight grandchildren!
Charity – Lucky!! I want grandchildren!!! Man! I would probably go with a Tahoe. They are HUGE and can fit all the teenagers in it that I want to adopt!!!
— Tie
Charity 0 / Janice 2
5. Beach Bum or Hiking Trails?
Janice –Oh, beach bum, for sure! I love going on cruises. My favorite part is the private beach excursions. Swimming in the teal-blue waters off of Grand Cayman ranks high on my list of fun things to do.
Charity – Nice! I am not sure. Tough question. The beach is nice and I love warm weather. I also love hiking.
— It’s always best to know what you like!
Charity 0 / Janice 3
6. Favorite character in The Princess Bride?
Janice – Westley, of course! Isn’t he every girl’s dream?
Charity – Absolutely!!!!! However, Fezzik? INCONCEIVABLE!! Our youngest son used to look like him when he was a baby/toddler. He didn’t get hair FOR-EVER!! It was so funny!! We kept getting him to say “Inconceivable”!! hahahaha
There’s the little bald guy!! —>
— Totally taking that point!!
Charity 1 / Janice 2
7. How do you strive to bring God the most glory in your life?
Janice – By acknowledging that every good gift comes from Him—whether it’s the gift of life or the artistic giftings He’s placed in my life (writing, baking, directing, acting).
Charity – Love it! Thankfulness in all things ❤
— God wins, OF COURSE!
Charity 1 / Janice 2
8. Since you love writing about them, I was wondering if you had a big, elaborate wedding?
Janice –Nope. Surprisingly, I did not. Now, my four daughters did. The first had a large Italian-themed wedding. The second had a garden-party themed wedding. The third had a Hawaiian-themed wedding. The fourth had a lovely traditional wedding. All were lovely.
Charity – Girl, I couldn’t WAIT to get out of there! We didn’t waste time on ANYTHING!! It was walk up the aisle, cut the cake and SCRAM!! Who wants to waste their time hanging out with a ton of people when you JUST GOT MARRIED?
Nope. Nothing fancy here!! (and can I mention how happy I am to have SONS!! haha)
— Tie. We were on the same page.
Charity 1 / Janice 2
9. What is the coolest thing you have ever gotten from overseas? (Purchased or Gifted)
Janice –While in Israel in 1991 (just after Desert Storm) I purchased some lovely pottery. I loved it then and love it now.
Charity – Ohhhh! I LOVE Israel! I was going to say a ring box I got from there! It is so beautiful!!
— Tie again!!
Charity 1 / Janice 2
10. Would you ever want a pet monkey?
Janice – Never. No way, no how!
Charity – HAHAHAHA 🙂 I’m right there with ya!
— Ok, totally random and dumb question. I’ll give you a point!
Charity 1 / Janice 3
11. What kind of coffee is your favorite?
Janice – Chai Latte. Oh, wait. . .that’s a tea. Hahaha. Truly, I prefer hot teas over coffee. If I do drink coffee, it has to be weak and very, very sweet (with Italian Sweet Cream creamer).
Charity – I am a big tea lover too!! But, I have a weakness for this coffee here: Now, that’s serious business!!!
— Since the question was “Which coffee”, I am totally taking the point!
Final:
Charity 2 / Janice 3
and what else is new?
Thanks so much, Janice!! I had a great time getting to know you a little bit better! Looking forward to my great read 🙂
Are you guys ready for this??? Today, I am talking with Deeanne Gist!!! With her highly anticipated, new book, Tiffany Girl, about to release, Deeanne is on FIRE!
I am not even going to go through how many awards she has, but they include:
A lot, right?!
Ok, make sure you check out Tiffany Girl when it releases on May 5th!!!! Link is in the pic.
Ok, before we get started, I want to address something really important. I am not deaf to the talk that’s been going around. In fact, not everyone was down with the idea of me even doing this interview now that Deeanne has moved over to a secular publisher. So, I have a couple things to say.
First of all, you guys know me. You know my heart and some of the struggles I’ve dealt with deciding who to face-off with and who not to. You know that I want to seek God with 100% of my being. Period. I have stated many times that it is not about the numbers for me, but about listening to God and bringing Him glory. I have also said that it is important to me to only host people that really feel the same way. Just this week, many of you saw, first hand, this whole situation play out with another author that I was supposed to host.
Secondly, I have read Tiffany Girl and I believe that it was completely clean. I gave it 5 Stars. I found absolutely nothing inappropriate with it.
Thirdly, and most importantly, God is a very diverse God and He leads us all down the path that will bring Him the most glory. If you are ever, EVER told by God to do something and you don’t do it, you are against Him. I don’t care if that means that God told you to quite teaching Sunday School and you decided it was better for you to teach it. Teaching it just became against Him.
That being said, Deeanne has PERSONALLY shared her heart and how God has lead her to reach others outside of the Christian market. She also has shared the amazing things that God is doing with that. Shame on us for assuming we know what is best for a person and their relationship with Christ. All we can do is seek God with our whole heart and listen to His voice. Once we hear it, we better follow. It is none of my business who her publisher is anyway. Unless I feel that Deeanne has completely gone against something God has called us to be, I would never presume to know God’s plan for her and neither should you.
Let’s start watching out for each other. In no way do I want you to ever think that love=complacency. If there was something going against God, I would be the FIRST to question it. God called us to the sick, not the healthy. So, let’s support one another.
Let me be VERY CLEAR. I stand behind Deeanne and her ministry 100%.
Shall we play?
The rules are simple: I ask Deeanne some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. Have you ever gone anywhere in your slippers and were too far away to rectify the situation once you realized it?
Deeanne – Oh, man. Now I’m going to have to confess that I’ve actually gone out in slippers intentionally, but never unintentionally. I would drive the kids to school, or just a make a quick run somewhere. So busted.
Charity – NICE!! haha 🙂 I love it! I actually left the house in my slippers AFTER asking you this question. Thankfully my son caught me before I made it to the car…Girl, I am a HOT MESS!!!
— Intentional slipper wearing WINS though!
Charity 0 / Deeanne 1
2. If you were going to open a shop, what would you sell and how would you lay it out?
Deeanne – My dream would be to open my very own mega scrapbook store! I have all the plans for this idea already drawn out. I think my entrepreneurial side terrifies my husband a little bit—and with good reason since most everything I’ve tried has failed. Still, I can’t seem to help myself.
The scrapbook store would have everything organized based on themes. In one area, you would find everything you could possibly need to create your own wedding scrapbook. Other areas would have all the embellishments for graduation, Christmas, birthdays, and other special, scrapbook-able occasions. It would also have an upstairs workshop area where people could come and work on their scrapbooks together. As of now, this is still a dream. My husband’s response to these kinds of things? “Please, baby, please don’t make me any more money.”
Charity – HA! Too funny. Yeah, I have that side to me as well. Our poor hubbies. They love us. They love that about us even if they don’t admit it! I am SURE OF IT!
I don’t care what it is as long as it would be bright, colorful, cheery, with gorgeous chandeliers. Clothes, candy, books… Wouldn’t matter!
— Having a plan is always better!
Charity 0 / Deeanne 2
3. Most unique wedding you’ve attended?
Deeanne – I have to say that the most unique wedding I have ever attended was my sister’s. At the time, she made her living as a mime and he as a jouster. On their wedding day, she dressed as a fairy princess and he dressed as a musketeer. It was a Renaissance-themed wedding that was oh-so-romantic and very, very fun. They even “jumped the sword” once they were pronounced man and wife. *sigh*
Charity – Oh my goodness! So cool!!! Well, mine isn’t so happy…A friend of mine married a guy that worships the different norse gods. Anyway, their wedding was ever so odd. They prayed to the four corners of Thor (I’m sure I didn’t say that right!), drank blood and all kinds of weirdness. I was FREAKING OUT. I was praying that the building would crash in on us because I was ready to go to Heaven! HAHA!
— Both so “unique”! And I thought I had this one!!
Charity 0 / Deeanne 2
4. What’s your idea of a successful marathon? 26.2 miles or 26.2 hours of a great tv show?
Deeanne – They both sound pretty miserable, but if I had to choose, I would do a marathon of my favorite TV show—which is 24 with Keefer Sutherland..
Charity – Girl, no contest. TV MARATHON!!! Bring it on! I’m in!!!!
— TIE AGAIN!
Charity 0 / Deeanne 2
5. Do you use the string or the little plastic things to floss with?
Deeanne – I have permanent retainers on my teeth that have made flossing extremely laborious. They give you a special tool that you use to thread the floss under the retainer, which takes a little extra time, but I’m a serious flosser. So, string it is for me.
Charity – Ugh! Sounds like a pain!! I love the plastic ones. My hubby hates them. We have every kind in our house because we all use different ones. Hubby uses silky ones, boys use regular string and I use plastic. HA! We are ridiculous and NOBODY cares that much about our flossing habits!
— Girl! We can’t catch a break!
Charity 0 / Deeanne 2
6. How do you strive to bring God the most glory in your life?
Deeanne – I strive to bring God glory by making an effort to spend time with Him. Not just by having a quiet time (which I’m woefully inconsistent at), but also by reminding myself to focus on Him and not on myself. Awful as it sounds, this is a challenge for me. I get so caught up in my little world that I totally forget the bigger picture. Several times a day, I find myself having to step back and leave things up to Him and His plan. The extra effort is worth it, though, because if I can manage it, I find it gives me the freedom to experience joy no matter what my circumstances might be.
Charity – I love it! So, very true!!! My theory is this: When I am so focused on if I am doing enough for Him, they focus is on “I”. Instead, just love Him and listen to Him and be willing to change or give up ANYTHING He asks. That’s it. Simple.
— GOD WINS!
Charity 0 / Deeanne 2
7. What is the best game show you grew up watching?
Deeanne – Do you remember Password? Good ol’ Betty White’s husband was the host! It was one of my all time favorites.
Charity – No!!! I don’t remember it! I used to watch Name That Tune and Supermarket Sweep. They were the BEST!
In fact, we play “Name That Hum” every winter with Christmas songs. When we are traveling or something. We will see who can go the lowest and I am always the official “Hummer”. So, they might get it down to “I can name that tune in 2 hums” and we see if they get it. We even played it with a youth party! ha!!!
— You had me at “Betty White”
Charity 0 / Deeanne 3
8. Who’s your favorite Jane Austen character?
Deeanne – Elizabeth Bennett, hands down. She never took herself too seriously and always had a great sense of humor. I love that in a character. Actually, I love that in real people, too.
Charity – Very true. I do like that. However, I have to go with Colonel Brandon. *sigh* So dreamy.
— Taking it because…well, Colonel Brandon!
Charity 1 / Deeanne 3
9. What book have you read more than any other?
Deeanne – I couldn’t even count how many times I’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird. Can we start a countdown for the sequel? This book is particularly special to me because when I first read it, I was just getting to the point where my dyslexia allowed me to read a book on my own. I loved slipping into Scout’s shoes. She was impulsive, she had a great heart, and she didn’t understand why there wasn’t more “goodness” in the world. I remember reading it and really realizing for the first time that not everyone I would encounter in my life would have good intentions. Scout’s innocence was lost in that book and I found myself learning a lot about life through her eyes.
Charity – Sounds amazing…but, I haven’t read it 😮 I have read The Count of Monte Cristo so many times. It is just so crazy how much the character plots the most elaborate revenge. Definitely no goodness in that book though!!!
— Both had good answers.
Final:
Charity 1 / Deeanne 3
once again.
Thank you so much, Deeanne! Excited about your new book.
Read it. Reviewed it. Loved it.
If you would like to read what I thought about it (even though I already answered that), just check out my review.
Deeanne Gist Bio: Deeanne Gist has rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very original, very fun historicals. Add to this four RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.
With three-quarters of a million trade books sold, her awards include National Readers’ Choice, Book Buyers’ Best, Golden Quill, Books*A*Million Pick of the Month, Romantic Times Pick of the Month, Award of Excellence, and Laurel Wreath.
Who doesn’t love an awesome fairy tale? Isn’t it every girls’ dream to marry a prince?? This is the third book in Rachel’s Royal Wedding Series. (and the first one I’ve read!!!)
Review to follow later today.
For now, we play!!
The rules are simple: I ask Rachel some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. Do you prefer shopping malls, or the new, trendy outdoor malls?
Rachel – Ooo, does online count? LOL. I do like the new trendy outdoor malls.
Charity – Girl, I hear ya!!! Amazon is my best friend!!! I like the outdoor ones too!!!
— Tie!
Charity 0 / Rachel 0
2. Favorite pair of hot, little shoes?
Rachel – Flip flops. 🙂 All the way. Though I do have a pair of dark red patent leather heels I love.
Charity – Ohhhhh!! Who can compete with a red patent leather heel?????????
— Rachel!!!
Charity 0 / Rachel 1
3. What’s a fun Holiday tradition you have that nobody else does? (ANY holiday…a made up, unique one is even better!)
Rachel – I have a made up holiday with my older brother called “Opening College Football Weekend.” My husband and I go to his house and watch football all day on the first day of college football. So fun.
Charity – How fun!!!!! We have an annual holiday: 99 days ’til Christmas! We decorate the house, put up a small tree, do little gifts, eat yummy food and watch Elf. It’s SO much fun! We love it and look forward to it every year.
— Tie!! We are AWESOME!!
Charity 0 / Rachel 1
4. What is your favorite type of pizza? Toppings?
Rachel – I love just cheese. Crazy, but I started liking it way back in college and have been true blue ever since.
Charity – Oh, I love a good veggie pizza!!! The more veggies, the merrier!
— Veggies win!!!
Charity 1 / Rachel 1
5. How do you strive to bring God the most glory in your life?
Rachel – What a great questions! I think being authentic is the best way to show I’m human, but how God has met me so many times and answered so many prayers. I talk honestly about His work in my life.
Charity – Well said! I agree. I believe that we have to be honest with our mistakes and use them to bring God glory! Otherwise, it’s just a wasted, crappy situation!
— God wins!!!!!!!!!
Charity 1 / Rachel 1
6. Are you a pet person?
Rachel – In spades!! I love animals. We’ve had four dogs and two cats.
Charity – Ohh…. I am not so much We had a dog for a few months, but I couldn’t handle him waiting outside the bathroom door and tripping over him constantly. We gave him to my parents! ha ha. We still visit him!!! He’s much happier now…
— Rachel is nice and not as high maintenance!!
Charity 1 / Rachel 2
7. Farthest you have ever run?
Rachel – On purpose, or because I was being chased? ;p I’ve run 3 miles before because I thought it would be fun. I have a weird sense of humor.
Charity – OMGosh. Yes you do! ha ha.
The farthest I’ve run? How about to the end of my street? (BTW, we live on the corner…)
— HANDS DOWN, Rachel!
Charity 1 / Rachel 3
8. Ever been to a professional sports game?
Rachel – Yes. I’ve been to a few Reds baseball games and when I was in college I photographed a professional football game played at Ohio State. Very Fun!
Charity – Fun! I have only been to one Redskins game.
— You are crushing me!!! Good thing I took the veggie pizza one!
Charity 1 / Rachel 4
9. What is the funniest story (or a funny one) revolving around you and your spouse?
Rachel – My husband is very witty and clever so he makes me laugh a lot. The most recent funny thing — not THE funniest, but one I can remember– happened at church. After leading worship, I sat in my usual chair and he came to sit next to me. After a few minutes I leaned over and said, “How was worship?” He made a face. “Good. You just asked me that?”
“Huh? No I didn’t.”
“Yes you did. I sat down and you asked, ‘How was worship?’ and I said, ‘Good’.”
“No way. I didn’t say anything to you”
“Yes you did.”
“You must have imagined it.”
“YOU must have imagined you didn’t.”
It was funny, but also very weird. Like I completely forgot a moment in time. LOL!
Charity – ha ha hahaha! That’s so something that I would do too!!! My husband is also hilarious. He is always doing funny things to make us laugh. He’ll have hidden glow sticks in the house and will turn the lights off and hand them out and blast some tobyMac while we have a dance party with glow sticks in the dark. Completely random! But so fun!!
<—- My hubby and oldest son (before he became 6’3” and about to graduate high school!! waahhhh… getting away from the point here…) wearing fake mustaches out to eat. ha ha. So fun!! They keep me young!!
— Fun husbands are THE BEST! They win!!
Final:
Charity 1 / Rachel 4
to say the least…
Thanks, so much!! I had such a great time, Rachel! Looking forward to posting my review (:
Sarah has done it again. She never disappoints!! This is another INCREDIBLE, Regency romance. It’s a story of redemption, intrigue, death threats, tragedies, true friendship and deep love. It’s absolutely beautiful. Best part? Characters keep their strength of character throughout the book. Nobody storms off after declaring their love and finding out something they didn’t like about the other person. They remain true. I love that kind of man. That’s a hero, in my eyes.
Every book by Sarah is clean, the plots move along and don’t grow stagnant, has wit and is full of loveable people. If you are looking for great Regency reads, you can stop here!! I give it 5 Solid Stars. Please pick up a copy for yourself and gift one to a sweet friend that’s needing some love!!! (Link is in the pic above)
Thanks, Sarah, for taking time to Face-Off with me and have me review your book! As always, this is my honest opinion! Here’s to many more!!!!
Sarah has long been one of my favorite authors! You can check out all of her books Here!
The Kiss of a Stranger is one of my favorites! She writes quite a bit of Regency romance, but has other genres too. Best part about this book? It’s only $3.99!! Now, that’s a steal! (Link is in the pic).
Sarah’s latest release is For Elise, which I will be reviewing today as well! They are beautiful stories, full of rich characters and sweet romance!
All that is well and good, but we are here, right now, to PLAY!
So, no more dilly dally! Let’s get to it!!
Now, see here. This is a perfect example of a pinterest fail. Look at how nice she looks sitting outside. Now, look at me attempting to be as smooth as Sarah. It’s not happening. The giant, horn zit growing off my chin doesn’t help matters in the least!!
The rules are simple. I ask Sarah some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.
It’s my blog.
Here we go!
1. Have you ever gone hunting?
Sarah – I haven’t!
Charity – Me either!!! I think I am content to keep it that way. Especially after watching Duck Dynasty. Gross.
— Tie! Smart Ladies Here!
Charity 0 / Sarah 0
2. What does your favorite mug (you own) look like?
Sarah – I use teacups more than mugs. My favorite teacup is white china with little red roses and a dainty little handle. I found it at a thrift shop for 75¢. Not too shabby, right?
Charity – Not too shabby, indeed!! I love tea cups too!!!! I love pretty little cups. That’s mostly what I have too!
Although, my brother seems to think I’m a giant crank, apparently, because he got me a big mug for Christmas that says, “All stressed out and nobody to choke!!”. Not to mention he got me a shirt with a crabby cat on it that says, “This is my happy face”. Is he trying to get something across? Not sure.
— 75¢ is the way to DO it!
Charity 0 / Sarah 1
3. Have you ever visited any castles?
Sarah – I have! Bunratty Castle, King John’s Castle, Dublin Castle, Waterford Castle, Lynch’s Castle and, my personal favorite, Kilkenny Castle
Charity – Ok….Simmer down now!!! No need to show off….ha ha 🙂 I am totally impressed! I haven’t heard of most of them, so you could totally be making it up, but I’m going to believe you and say that I am insanely jealous!!!!!
— I had NO CHANCE to win that one!
Charity 0 / Sarah 2
4. What’s your favorite drink?
Sarah – This will likely sound super boring, but I am an ice water kinda gal. I grew up in the life-draining heat of Phoenix, Arizona and gained an early appreciation for the joys of cold water on a hot day.
Charity – Yes, boooorrrring!! 😉 How about Sweet Iced Tea???? Or UnSweetened! Both are amazing. When I was pregnant, I would drink 1 – 2 gallons of tea a day. No wonder I was the size of a BOAT. When people saw my little newborns, their reactions were always, “OH!! I thought he would be much bigger!!”
hahahahahahahaha!!!!!! That can ONLY mean one thing!!!
— I am so taking that point!
Charity 1 / Sarah 2
5. Do you have loads and loads of bookshelves, or do you mostly have e-books?
Sarah – Both. I have a lot of bookshelves, most 2-deep with books in all genres. I also have loads of e-books I haven’t gotten around to reading yet.
Charity – Sounds exactly like me!!
— Tie for the book nerds!
Charity 1 / Sarah 2
6. Most awkward dating moment?
Sarah – I’d been on a date that hadn’t gone super well. Nothing earth-shatteringly horrible, we just didn’t hit it off. I was anxious to be back home and done. Upon reaching my apartment, I realized I didn’t have my keys. None of my roommates were home, so I was locked out. The guy was really nice about it and stayed with me while I tried a few of the neighbors (These were the days before cell phones), but we kept coming up empty. I finally found someone home only to realize they were having an in-home dinner date. There’s a certain indescribably awkwardness to interrupting a date that is going well in order to end a date that isn’t.
Charity – Oh my gosh! ha ha. Mine is nothing to that. I went out with a guy once and he was wearing mega high water pants. Like, 6 inches above his shoes. I thought I was going to die of embarrassment. Totally shallow?
— Sarah gets that one, hands down!!
Charity 1 / Sarah 3
7. Coolest thing you have made out of snow? (Snowman, Igloo, Cave, Angel, etc…)
Sarah – A few winters ago, we had a particularly high snowfall in the weeks leading up to Christmas. So, my husband, kids and I spent an afternoon building an enormous fort in our backyard. It had multiple rooms and passageways. It lasted for a couple of weeks before it finally melted away.
Charity – Oh my goodness! You are awesome! I’ve got nothing!!
— Am I lame or what? The best thing I’ve made is an uneven snow angel.
Charity 1 / Sarah 4
8. What’s your favorite snack?
Sarah – This is likely a weird answer, but it’s something I recently discovered and absolutely love: Armenian cracker bread and hummus. Mmmmm!!
Charity – That does sound amazing!! I love fruit, fruit and more fruit! Also, salted, dark chocolate almonds.
— Both are healthy and sound delish!
Charity 1 / Sarah 4
9. what’s the status of your toenails? Nice and painted, or hidden away not looking so great in all their winter glory?
Sarah – They’re kept neat and trimmed, though not painted. Just ordinary.
Charity – You are like a princess. It’s amazing! As Mary Poppins would say, “Practically Perfect in Every Way!”
Mine are disgusting. I have some green toenail polish that’s trying to hold on for dear life on about…3 toes.
— Princess Sarah 🙂
Charity 1 / Sarah 5
10. Have you ever called a person out that you saw in a public restroom not washing their hands?
Sarah – I can’t say that I have.
Charity – Me either. However, now I will. I will be ever so polite and say, “Oh! Hey, the sinks are this way!! Over here!!”
— We are wimps!! That’s probably why our kids get sick.
Charity 1 / Sarah 5
11. How do you feel that you are bringing God the most glory in your life?
Sarah – One of my favorite verses is found in the 4th chapter of 1 John, the sixteenth verse: “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” I am a firm believer that when we live our lives with love for others, love for ourselves, and love for God that we are glorifying Him because He is love. I try to reflect that love in my life and in the way I view and treat others. I fall short of the mark often, as we all do, but I hope that in some small way I am learning o be more like Him and am extending His arm of love and kindness to others.
Charity – Absolutely beautiful. I couldn’t have said it better. 1 John 4 is one of my favorite chapters as well ❤
Tamara is a bestselling and multi-award winning author of historical and contemporary fiction. Her book,
The Unveiling, is currently FREE!!! So, head on over and grab a copy!!
Pumpkin and Cream Cheese 
She also has shared the amazing things that God is doing with that. Shame on us for assuming we know what is best for a person and their relationship with Christ. All we can do is seek God with our whole heart and listen to His voice. Once we hear it, we better follow. It is none of my business who her publisher is anyway. Unless I feel that Deeanne has completely gone against something God has called us to be, I would never presume to know God’s plan for her and neither should you.
