Two Amazing Announcements from MMW

Mormon Mommy Writers' Blog is hosting our second annual writing contest. Last year's contest resulted in the wonderful anthology, Totally Cliche. This year's contest promises to be even more exciting since there won't be three winners, but NINE winners since we have three categories in our contest this year. Your mission is to submit a short story, non-fiction essay, or a poem that falls under the theme of Mormon or Mommy or Writer. You do not have to be a Mormon or a mommy to enter this amazing contest. The top three stories in each category will be in MMW's next anthology book. In addition to being published, the authors of the top three winning stories in each category will recieve a free e-copy of the anthology and the following prizes:

First Place: $10 Barnes and Noble gift card

Second Place: $5 Barnes and Noble gift card

Third Place: Free Print copy of the anthology featuring their story

The deadline for the contest has been extended to August 31st. Don't delay! Go to this link for the rules and to find out more

MormonMommyWriters.com

We believe in good, clean books that uphold Christian values. To accomplish this goal, we will be providing two different services to our readers. First, we will have a list of author websites listed by genres so readers can have access to many books of their favorite genre. Second, we will have a list of books that will be rated for content. We understand this is subjective and our readers will not always agree with our rating. With that in mind we will also list if the book contains violence, sex, drugs, or offensive language. Eventually there will be a way for our readers to vote on what they believe the content rating to be as well. This will allow our audience to make informed decisions about books. Please come by and check us out.

Opportunity for Authors:

The purpose of our website is to bring readers to clean authors' websites and to create back links for each writer to up their chances of online virility. To do this, we encourage authors to do a few things. First, agree to the commitment below and add your website to our list of authors. By agreeing to this commitment, you agree to link to MormonMommyWriters.com somewhere on your website. We also encourage you to link to other author websites that are within your same genres. This will help support writers that are committed to writing books that don't glorify or make light of evil activities or things.

Next, we would like authors to put their books up on our review page under their genre. We would also like writers to give their books a rating based on our rating system. We will have an area for readers vote on the rating they think the book should have.

Getting Started:

To get started, send an email to nikki@mormonmommywriters.com with your name and pen name, email address, author website, title and summary of your books, which rating below that you would give the content of your books, and an image of the cover of each of your books. If you do so, you are agreeing to the following statement:

To be linked on MormonMommyWriters.com I agree to link to their website on my website. I also agree that any books on my website do not glorify immoral or sinful practices. Meaning that any immoral or sinful things depicted in my books are shown with the natural consequences and are not explicit in their depiction. If there is a book I feel may be questionable in that area, I will address it on my website so my readers can make informed decisions.

Ratings:

G – General Audiences

PG – Parental Guidance

PG-13 – Not suggested for children under the age of 13

PG-16 – Not suggested for children under the age of 16

AC- Adult Content better understood by ages 18 and up

R – For 18 and up containing graphic violence, language, or sexual content

X-rated – Contains excessively graphic sexual content, language, or violence

Mysterious Monday Suspense with Deliverance from Evil

Excerpt by permission of Melanie Atkins:

Dempsey Spencer. Just as ugly dead as alive.

Tessa Doucet reeled back a step and stared at the flabby, tattooed body stretched out on Maurice's embalming table. One minute she'd been talking to Maurice about avoiding covering up the snake tattoo on the man's neck when she applied makeup to his set features, and the next she had glimpsed his face.

Her stepfather. The vile scum who'd taken away her innocence and gone to prison because of it. He'd been out of Angola for only a month and had already knocked on her door claiming he wanted to apologize, but she'd turned him away. That sick son of a bitch.

And now he's dead.

Relief splashed over Tessa in an icy wave. She drew in a steadying breath and glanced up at Maurice, a tall, angular, mahogany-skinned man with dexterous hands and a gentle manner.

He cocked a brow. "Is something wrong, Tessa?"

"Um... I-I don't think I can help you with this one."

"Unfortunately, you do not have a choice," he said in his musical Jamaican lilt, his dark eyes gleaming.

"His funeral is tomorrow, and I must leave in a few minutes to meet Ella at the airport. So I will need your help to complete the embalming process."

"Maurice--"

"What is the problem, child?"

"He's... he's..." She let the word trail away. If she refused to help him with Dempsey, she'd have to say why, and she wasn't sure she could reveal what her stepfather had done all those years ago. Besides, she didn't want Maurice to be late picking up Ella.

The mortician wiped his hands on a cotton cloth and tossed it beside the sink. "Go on."

"No. N-never mind." She lifted her chin. "I'll deal with it."

"Thank you, dear one." He winked at her and undid Dempsey's belt. "Ella will much appreciate my presence at baggage claim. She will have plenty of luggage to drag home."

"You should definitely be there to help her," Tessa said, her stomach roiling as Maurice adjusted the sheet covering her stepfather. "Is her mother feeling better?"

"Apparently, considering the amount of shopping they managed to do. Hopefully this will be Ella's last venture to Atlanta for a while."

"I hope so, for your sake."

"You do not think I make a good bachelor?" He laughed, his dulcet tones warming her blood. He retrieved the instrument tray from the counter by the sink and rolled it over to the embalming table. "Time to get started."

"All right." Nausea swirled in her stomach as she sidled closer. Maurice would first suture her stepfather's mouth closed, and then insert a mouth former to make him look natural. Dempsey's mottled face mocked her. She waved her hand in his direction and fixed her eyes on Maurice. "Wh-what happened to him? Why is his face so red?"

"I do not know. The coroner said he suffered a heart attack."

She nodded. Somehow, Dempsey dying of something as simple as a heart attack seemed wrong. He had lived a violent life... so didn't he deserve a violent death?

The warmth in her body disappeared the second Maurice turned away to wash his hands and don a pair of non-latex gloves. "I will embalm him and leave you to wash the body and do his hair and makeup. Can you handle that?"

"Yes." She glanced back at her stepfather, the man who had caused her so much pain. She didn't want to touch him, but she had no choice if she were going to help Maurice. Once she had finished embalming Dempsey, she would roll him to get him back into his shirt, coat, and pants, and then slather makeup on his ugly face and comb his scruffy halo of gray hair.

A river of disgust cascaded down her spine. The embalming room had always been a welcoming workspace, but today it seemed incredibly cold and sterile. Frightening, even. And all because of the monster on the table.

Melanie Atkins

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DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL--Coming in June--Desert Breeze Publishing
QUEST FOR JUSTICE--Available now!--Desert Breeze Publishing
BLOOD RITE--Available now!--Whiskey Creek Press

Blurb:


Tessa Doucet chose to go into mortuary science because the dead can't hurt her. Then a monster from her past turns up on her embalming table, and she's forced to confront the demon she thought she'd put to rest. Flummoxed by the case Tessa stirs up, Detective Cash Starkey finds himself falling for her, even though he swore to keep his distance. He doesn't want a relationship, especially not with a woman running from her past. Yet when Tessa's life is threatened, he runs into the fray, and together they defeat her demons and put the past behind them.

Buy link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-301/Keller-County-Cops-Book/Detail.bok

http://melanieatkins.wordpress.com/

Romantic Suspense

Now that you know what I love to read and write, I shall tell you that I am a gemini and have another side to my writing personality. I also write contemporary Romantic Suspense which lets me play with birds, animals, and nature in general.  I have two novels over @ Desert Breeze Publishing: SANDPIPER AFFAIR which is about a wild life photographer and a hunky Florida Ranger off to solve a murder, and a soon- to- be- published in June sequel called GONE TO THE DOGS where we see Adam and Abby strengthen  their relationship as they face new and dangerous challenges.  I have to confess I love writing in this genre as well. and hope you are as deeply entertained when you read these stories as I am writing them. http://janislane.blogspot.com/

Where is Your Heart?

by: Dorothy R. Crofts

http://www.amazon.com/

also available at Barnes and Noble

‎"Dorothy's poetry puts a new twist on the Scriptures that makes it easy to read and easy to understand." (New York Times bestselling author, Richard Paul Evans) "This is a piece of true art. The personal reading is fantastic. BRAVO!! Dorothy has portrayed the Life of the Savior in an outstand.....

Southern Superstitions released this weekend as e-book.

Author Shawna K. Williams endorses Southern Superstitions by B. J. Robinson. She says, " Southern Superstitions is an inspirational story that’s full of personality, as well as intricacy in the way it explores the complexities of family and the conflict between faith and luck. Barbara does a great job at pulling together the deeply rooted superstitions of the South and entwining them into a suspenseful tale of faith, romance and endurance. I especially enjoyed the setting and culture of the deep South."


http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Superstitions-ebook/dp/B006X8GAWA/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326620592&sr=1-6

An inspirational book to read: Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits

A great book is out on the town. The fourth book of Valerie J. Steimle called Dogs, Blogs and Hobbits: Writings from a Widow's Perspective. A mix of Erma Bombeck and Sarah Palin, you will enjoy her collection of writings which will encourage and inspire. 

Here is the back of the book blurb:

Becoming a widow at the early age of 46 was not what Valerie J. Steimle expected. She still had five of her nine children at home in her care with aspirations for a fulfilling life with her husband.  After burying him, she went to work and wrote every day for three years.  This collection of 60 articles is part of that work.

With her twenty-year writing experience, Mrs. Steimle writes about everything from dating jerks to the power of positive thinking.  Her outlook on life is inspiring and she writes about what is really important in life.  From tears to laughter, you will enjoy reading these vignettes of encouraging words which will edify and uplift your life.

A sample of her writing from the book:

Please Don’t Eat the Superglue

            After the unexpected passing of my husband, my children wanted a dog.  We could never have a dog while my dear husband was here because of his allergies to dog hair so now that their Dad was not with us; they really wanted their chance at raising a puppy.

   

         Week after week went by hearing them ask for a dog.  I would always tell them that we had to wait for the dog to find us.  Several dogs did find us in the past.  Strays would wander into our yard and we would take care of them for a couple of days and then take them to the pound.  We just couldn’t keep them.  But this time I knew that the next dog we found would find a home with us.

           Three months later, after no stray came by, a friend of mine told me about her dog having puppies.  I kept that thought to myself until two months after that, I ran into her again.  Two puppies were left.  Two adorable black lab/golden retriever dogs were left from the original eight and were I still interested in taking one?  We went for a look and they were adorable.  My daughter, going back to school wanted one and we would take the other.  So there I was carting back a car load of happy children (six) and two puppies we named Maximus and Jackson.

            At that point, life changed for us drastically.  Not only were they not potty trained, they ate everything in sight.  My shoes were no longer safe on the floor. The kitchen trash can had to be put up on a stool.   We had to have round the clock watch on what they did and made sure they were taken out every hour.  It was a long month but we made it through and they started to tell us when they needed to go out.

            After that, the children seemed to lose interest.  They said they would help (they always say that) and promised to clean up their messes.  But of course puppies don’t always stay puppies and their welcome was worn out and no one wanted to take care of them anymore.  I threatened to give them away and they didn’t seem to mind. “Okay Mom” was their answer so I called around to see who would take them.  I couldn’t find anyone.  Besides I couldn’t give them away, as a mother, I needed to follow through on my children learning to be responsible for more than a month.  What was surprising was that the dogs were actually loyal to me.  They knew I was the boss and would lie at my feet to sleep.  How could I get rid of such loving dogs?  They didn’t even bark much.  So I had to crack the whip and make my children take turns taking care of them.

            One day, while I was looking for something in my teenage sons’ room, Maximus came up behind me with something sticking out of his mouth.  My son, Eliot had left a tube of superglue on the floor and Max found it.  I pulled it out of his mouth and inspected the damage.  There were puncture marks in the tube and glue all over his mouth. Max kept licking his chops as if he had peanut butter on his tongue only it wasn’t peanut butter.  The superglue had dried and made a sandpaper surface on the top of his tongue.  His lips weren’t sealed together but they had a layer of superglue that would not come off.  The poor dog.  I felt sorry for him but all we could do was let it wear off on its own.

            Then one day my older daughter let them out to go and they ran off.  She could not find them anywhere and called their names over and over again.  They finally came back but were full of mud.  She had no idea where they were but had to give them baths before they could come back in.

   It has been almost a year now and they are wonderful dogs. My daughter ended staying at home with us instead of going away to school so we have both dogs at home.  The younger children have learned to take responsibility for the care of their pets and Maximus and Jackson love us as if we were a part of their pack.  I’m glad we kept them even though they have ruined several pairs of shoes.  There is something to say about having a dog around.  My children learned responsibility and we have two loyal friends.

To buy Valerie's book see:

http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Blogs-Hobbits-Writings-Perspective/dp/1449561616/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299681340&sr=8-1

Or visit her website:

http://www.strengthenyourhome.com/

Book Tour Stop on January 13, 2011

She paced the small confines of her bathroom as she waited the obligatory two minutes for the result. Yet, part of her sensed the truth. Not only did Austin take her self-esteem and plans for happiness, but he also took her get-out-of-this-marriage-free card.

The plus sign glared at Meg from the white plastic frame of the pregnancy test. The test fell from her hands and clattered into the bathtub as Meg’s back slid against the wall until she reached the floor.

“I’m pregnant,” she said into the quiet.

Meg never imagined she'd end up like this. With nowhere else to turn, she's forced to rely on the family she pushed away, the church she abandoned, and an unexpected friendship to help her find her forgotten melody. Meanwhile Matt is still mourning the loss of his wife. But determined to keep things together for his daughter's sake, he decides starting over in a new place might be just what his family needs.

This touching story combines romance with redemption and real conflict to remind you it's never too late to find joy. Kaylee Baldwin's capable hand renders a sincere, heartfelt story of rediscovery and hope. Perfect for romantics of all ages, this book will captivate your heart and rekindle your belief in the magic of music.



Kaylee Baldwin grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in English literature.

She currently lives in southern Arizona with her husband, Jeremy, and their three children. When she is not writing, Kaylee enjoys reading, starting new craft projects, and spending time with her family.

Kaylee is running a contest! Whoever comments a the review post on any of the blogs in the tour, will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Meg's Melody.

Contest is now closed. Thanks for entering.

Meg’s Melody deserves five (5) STARS.

One STAR for writing a novel dealing with pregnancy that I can comfortably share with my teenage daughter. Unlike many novels on the bookstore shelves, Kaylee keeps it clean even when involving the gynecologist.

One STAR for reminding me of the bitter-sweet memories of my pregnancies. From the positive pregnancy test---to the morning sickness---to the weight loss and gain---to the Braxton Hicks and the exhaustion of labor. Even the “new mother syndrome” of not putting the precious new arrival down.

One STAR for sharing gospel principles as they related to her characters.

One STAR for sharing real relationships, not the sugar coated ones that are too good to be true. She introduces us to the people in Meg’s life, each one with his or her strengths and faults, inviting us to read on to learn of their influence for good or ill.

And one really big STAR for reminding me of how important music has been in my life over the years.

Jeanne’ Recommends . . .

. . . a list of books that I (Jeanne’) recommend to my friends to read. Unless indicated, they are free of any language, sex, or graphic violence. The ones indicated as having mild language and violence are books I would unhesitatingly recommend to anyone because I think they are fabulous books that are authentic to their story and do not use the language or violence for gratuitous means. I've separated the books into genres and mostly listed my favorite authors or books at the beginning of each section.

Amish Fiction
Kathleen Fuller (all)
Mary Ellis (all)
Pleasant Valley series by Marta Perry (good overall Christian author)

Newbery books
After Tupac and D Foster and Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

YA Fantasy
Gail Carson Levine (all)
Shannon Hale (all)
Margaret Peterson Haddix (all)
Crown Duel/ Court Duel by Sherwood Smith
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
The Wide-Awake Princess by E. D. Baker
Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Aurelia and Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
Princess of the Midnight Ball/ Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
The Shifter/ Blue Fire by Janice Hardy

Historical Fiction/ Romance (mostly Christian)
Georgette Heyer (all her Regency; she’s the best!)
Deeanne Gist (all; set in various periods of American history)
Tamera Alexander (all; set in mid-1800’s Colorado)
Mary Connealy (all; humorous Western fiction)
Julie Klassen (all; set in Regency-era England)
Boston Jane series by Jennifer L. Holm (humorous YA Western)
The Agency series by Y. S. Lee (YA Regency-era mysteries)
Forevermore by Cathy Marie Hake
Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson
A Tailor-Made Bride and Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer
Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

Contemporary Christian Romance
PJ Sugar series by Susan May Warren
French Twist series by Sandra Byrd
Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones
Georgia on Her Mind and Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck
Driftwood Lane by Denise Hunter
Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs
The Cubicle Next Door and Moon Over Tokyo by Siri L. Mitchell

Favorites/ Must Reads/ Books to Make You Think (some mild language/ possible violence)
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (an amazing audio book)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
The Thief (and all other Attolia books) by Megan Whalen Turner
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Marley & Me by John Grogan
The Tipping Point and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery