Author Archives: Cecelia Dowdy

Congrats To The Rita Finalists!!

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I just wanted to offer a heartfelt congratulations to the finalists for the Inspirational category of the Rita awards! The Rita Award, presented by RWA, is the highest award of distinction in the romance category. Both of these books were also finalists in the Best First Book category, too!!

Inspirational Romance

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Five Days in Skye
by Carla Laureano
David C. Cook
John Blase and Tonya Osterhouse, editors

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Promise to Return
by Elizabeth Byler Younts
Simon & Schuster, Howard Books
Beth Adams and Amanda Demastus, editors

Sunday Brunch – David And Goliath – From The Blog Archives!

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This is a repeat of an old blog post:

I was reading the story of David and Goliath to my five-year-old son a couple of days ago. When I was finished, I thought: something’s missing. It clicked that I was reading the children’s version. Since the Old Testament can be brutal, we must sanitize children’s Bible school stories so that we don’t traumatize our youngsters.

After my son went to bed, I got my Bible out and read the story of David and Goliath. David cuts off Goliath’s head with a sword…how sharp that sword must’ve been to sever Goliath’s head! It sounds so bloody and brutal. Plus, in the Bible I was reading it kept referring to David as being a boy…I wondered how old he was? Around fifteen or sixteen, maybe? Then, I kept thinking of David walking around holding Goliath’s severed head in his hand…

What’s the point to this blog post? I’m not sure! I know I keep thinking about this story and I have no idea why. Maybe because when people talk about it, they don’t recall the brutality of what happened. The Lord was with David and gave this youngster the power to overcome this giant whom everybody feared, but, it was so grotesque and bloody…I don’t think people recall that part of the story too much. I’m not sure when kids will be old enough to know the full story of David and Goliath…How old do you think kids should be before they hear the full story of David and Goliath?

I’ve copied and pasted a few verses from 1 Samuel chapter 17 below.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

1 Samuel 17: 48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.
And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled…. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.
55 When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?”
And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”
56 So the king said, “Inquire whose son this young man is.”
57 Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”
So David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

Inspy Kisses!

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For a limited time only – Six unforgettable love stories 

 

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A brand new anthology from six of your favorite inspirational romance authors – no reprints here!

 

 

 

About the novellas:

 

From New York Times bestselling author Linda Goodnight, historical romance The Rambler’s Bride: The kissing cowboy Jericho is bent on revenge, but discovers the truth and falls in love with widow Esther.

 

From USA Today bestselling author Janet Tronstad, retro romance Lovebirds at the Heartbreak Cafe: Truck driver Buddy wasn’t looking for love, but waitress Penny and her quirky family take over the cafe and his heart.

 

From bestselling author Debra Clopton, contemporary cowboy romance Her Mule Hollow Cowboy: Independent cowgirl Maddie swears she doesn’t need help from bull rider Cliff. But the Mule Hollow Matchmakers seem to have other plans…

 

From bestselling author Margaret Daley, romantic suspense Deadly Hunt: Bodyguard Tess rescues wounded businessman Shane from dying in the wilderness, but can she protect her heart when Shane gets too close?

 

From fan favorite Camy Tang, romantic suspense Necessary Proof: Reformed ex-con Alex is on the run from those who have set him up to take the blame for a cop-killing. Will tech-expert Jane be able to prove him innocent?

 

From fan favorite Lacy Williams, contemporary cowboy romance Kissed by a Cowboy: Maddox has given up all his big dreams to care for his niece. When Haley returns to her hometown, will Maddox find a new dream with her?

 

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What readers are saying:

 

Six amazing books from six different authors. They are all Christian fiction set from the 1800’s to present time. Each is a stand alone book with great settings, story lines and characters. All the books had family and faith. Some of the authors were known to me and some I was unfamiliar with. I really enjoyed each book. I can not wait to check out books from these new authors. – Amazon reader

 


 I didn’t know what to expect – I am not a fan of anthologies. Usually I find that the stories are too brief and the plots move too fast and don’t go into any detail and don’t make a lot of sense. Well, let me tell you that this anthology is not like this, not at all. It is wonderful! I enjoyed each of the novellas immensely. Each one has well developed, thought out characters and detailed plots that move at exactly the right pace. You have suspense, romance – everything in each of the novels. I enjoyed reading each of the novellas and couldn’t put the book down. Even though I have about 15 other books waiting to be read – I plan on reading this book all over again in the next week or so – it is just that good. – Amazon reader


A visual look at the collection:

 

 

 

 

Interact with the authors:

www.inspykisses.com

facebook.com/inspykisses

@inspykisses

 

Buy now at Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – iBooks – Google Play

An Amish Garden Book Giveaway And Interview

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****This giveaway is over!!! The winner has been announced!!

I’m giving away a copy of An Amish Garden. You must follow the rules to enter – if you don’t follow the rules you won’t be entered in the giveaway!

To enter you must:

1. LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES – The publisher won’t ship internationally!

2. Leave your email address when you comment – I need to be able to contact you if you win.

3. You must read Vannetta Chapman’s interview and comment about something in the interview! I’m doing this to ensure you’ve read the interview.

1.       You currently write Amish fiction – have you ever thought of writing non-Amish Christian fiction? I’m willing to write whatever my publisher asks me to write. By that I mean this – I have a story to tell. Maybe it’s about a particular character or a particular situation. Always it is about God’s abundant grace. I can tell that story in any framework (historical, Amish, western, etc). So I’m completely open to writing in any genres, and I definitely read all genres.

2.       I notice on the News and Events page of your website that you do book signings at quilt shows. Do you quilt in your spare time? If so, how long have you been doing this? I DO quilt in my spare time, which is hard to find. I love quilting. The more quilt shows I attend, the more I am fascinated by the ability of women (and men) to create beautiful quilts. Also, I’m very excited that I will be attending my first quilt retreat this May.

3.       I’ve noticed in a lot of Amish fiction that food is mentioned somewhat often.  What are your favorite Amish foods? We’ve visited quite a few Amish communities, and my favorite food is the same in each of them–dessert! I love the pies and cakes. I’ll happily skip meals in order to make room for dessert (which isn’t healthy).

4.       You play the keyboard in your church’s praise and worship band. Did you learn to play the keyboard as a child? I started learning the piano at the age of 10. My dad played, and his father played as well. I love playing the piano/keyboard. As my mother reminds me “It’s what you do when you’re stressed or sad or happy.” She’s right! Playing for my church’s praise band is one of the highlights of my week.

5.       What advice would you like to give to aspiring authors? To keep writing. I see too many authors who are still editing the first book they wrote many years ago. It’s important to let that one go and move on to the next story. The first book I SOLD was the 9th book I had WRITTEN.

6.       Were you in a critique group when you first started writing? Are you in a critique group now? Yes. I was in the Dallas area then and had a wonderful group–the Arlington Writers Group. We represented many different genres. Now that I’m in a small town, I do not have a group. I do have several authors that I try to get together with when possible. And I have 3 pre-readers who have been with me since the beginning. They are wonderful at critiquing.

Thanks so much for being on my blog, Vannetta! Here’s a short description of An Amish Garden:

“Where Healing Blooms” Vannetta Chapman

Emma discovers a run-away teen in her barn, and the bishop asks her to provide a haven for a woman and her two children. Then her mother-in-law reveals a secret about her garden. Will Emma choose loneliness or learn to accept God’s gifts?

“Flowers for Rachael” Kathleen Fuller

Rachael’s garden is beautiful, but she is lonely. Gideon is in love with Rachael, but when Rachael finds her garden in shambles after a crisis, she rejects his help. Will she realize she doesn’t have to do everything on her own?

“Seeds of Love” Tricia Goyer

When a corporation shows interest in buying Sadie’s heirloom seeds, she panics. They are all she has left of her Dat and Mem. Eli believes he can help Sadie, but a misunderstanding leaves her heartbroken. Will she trust him again, and will the seeds of a new relationship take root?

“Rooted in Love” Beth Wiseman

Rosemary is doing her best to run her family’s household. She excels at all her tasks except one: gardening. Saul has been interested in her for years, but Rosemary has turned him down repeatedly. Saul begins helping with her family’s garden, but someone is sabotaging his efforts—and keeping a secret that could change their lives.

The Hope Within By Tracie Peterson

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The Hope Within by Tracie Peterson

Do you have a hard time bonding with your in-laws?

When Diane’s husband (Cole) father gets ill, he must return to his childhood home before his father dies. He brings Diane and his children with him – his father has never met Diane nor has he ever seen Cole’s children. Once they arrive, Diane and her children get a mean, chilly reception from Cole’s mother and sisters. Cole’s mother’s attitude places a splinter in Cole’s and Diane’s marriage, placing the welfare of their children in jeopardy. But Cole feels torn, he wants to please his mother as well as his family – he wants to make everything right but has a hard time doing this. Diane’s in-laws fail to bond with her, in spite of her repeated attempts at friendship.

This was a good historical story that touches upon a lot of issues, including race, familial relationships, and rape. The book was a quick read and I highly recommend it.

So, do you have a hard time bonding with your in-laws? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch! Giants On The Earth – Part Two

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Did you know that giants lived on this earth during Biblical times?

I blogged about the Nephilim awhile back. I wanted to add to that blog post by mentioning some other giants mentioned in the Old Testament.

I was having a conversation with somebody at my church about the Nephilim, and he told me to read:

2 Samuel 21:20-22

NIV

20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

This huge, giant man had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each hand. A descendent of Rapha – the Rephaites were a race of giants in the old testament. I’m not sure if all of them had extra digits on their fingers and toes. When I read this scripture, I wondered about these people. Was this whole race of giants doomed? Were they even considered human?

When I asked about the Nephilim on Facebook, somebody pointed out that some churches don’t talk about them because they can’t agree on what they were. Although they’re not mentioned much in church – I want to talk about them.

What are your thoughts concerning this race of people during Old Testament times? I feel weird and confused when I think about them. Why? Because, they seem so other-worldly, non-human, that I almost feel like I’m reading a science fiction novel – only, I’m not – I’m reading the Bible.

In Deuteronomy, Og, a king, was the last of the Rephaites and he slept in a bed that was nine cubits long – which equals about fourteen feet!

Does that mean these giants were about fourteen feet tall and had extra digits on their fingers and toes?  Was this entire race of people doomed since they were born of sin? Please comment about these huge, thought-provoking people! 🙂

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Deuteronomy 2:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites.

Deuteronomy 3:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 (Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites. His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide.[a] It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)

 

The Calling Of Emily Evans by Janette Oake

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The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oake

Do you think women should be allowed to preach, leading their own church?

I enjoyed this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Janette Oake book.

After Emily Evans is finished with her Bible school training, she feels called to start a church. As a young woman, her options are limited – how can a female be chosen to start a church. The church committee sends Emily to a remote town to start her church – alone. I thought the premise of this story was extremely interesting – it’s a historical story, yet, there’s a woman leading a church. I loved seeing Emily trying to fit into the small town life, attempting to share the gospel with the town’s inhabitants.

This story also shows how the people in Emily’s town struggle with their faith. There’s a battered wife who struggles to raise her children and another woman who is raising her children alone.

I loved reading about Emily leading her small church, writing her sermons each Saturday, sharing her faith in God. I also loved her title – Emily was known as a deaconess. I’d never heard that term until I read this story.

So, what do you think about women in the pulpit? Do you think women should be able allowed to start their own churches?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

My romance collection is on sale for 99 cents each.

http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/johns-quest.jpg26525EBBittersweet Memories

– See more at: http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/#sthash.NaONHmWr.dpuf

 

Sunday Brunch – Have You Ever Seen An Angel?

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Have you ever seen an angel?

Hebrews 13:2

New International Version (NIV)

2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

When I read that scripture, I think about the old TV series, Touched By An Angel. Remember that show? The angels were on earth, helping people with their problems. Near the end of each show, the angel announced to their assigned charge(s), “I’m an angel, sent by God.”

Have you ever had an experience where you saw an angel? Perhaps you were going through a tough time, or you received a mysterious warning from a person and before you could thank this person, they’d miraculously disappeared? Have you encountered people or a person in your everyday life whom you thought may have been an angel?

I haven’t, but, I’d be interested in hearing about your experience. So, have you ever encountered an angel?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

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The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Photo
courtesy of Free Digital Photos

Would you pay $30,000 for a husband?

Cassie Beaumont did. When her best friend, Angie, recommends Cassie make an appointment to see Simon, a matchmaker, Cassie agrees to do so. Her biological clock is ticking, and she just can’t seem to meet new men. Although Simon’s fee is steep, Cassie agrees to pay because Simon has an outstanding success rate with his matches.

However, Simon won’t allow Cassie to meet John, her perfect match. First, she has to do some unusual Christmas tasks to prove her worth. Cassie continues to meet with Simon as she completes her assignments, and then things take an interesting twist in the novel.

This was a light, holiday read. I enjoyed it, but, wondered if very many young women would have that sort of nest egg, $30,000.00, to spend on a matchmaker. Cassie said that she has the money saved up for her wedding. She spends it on matchmaking because, if she doesn’t meet someone soon, there won’t be a wedding.

So, would you pay a $30,000.00 fee to match yourself up with the perfect husband?