Welcome, Delia Latham!

Today's post is a special treat here at the "Minute" blog! I want to tell you about my friend and fellow "White Rose" author Delia Latham. Delia is a wonderful talent in the world of Christian romance, so I wanted to introduce you to her, and let you know about her new release, Yesterday's Promise, from White Rose Publishing.

Here's a bit about Delia, so you can get to know her better:

Delia is a born and-bred California gal, recently transplanted to Oklahoma where she lives with her husband Johnny. She’s a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—but above all, she treasures her role as child of the King and heir to the throne of God. Delia enjoys big, loud, happy family gatherings and quieter times with just her own four children and grandchildren. She loves to play piano and sing, read, drink in the natural beauty of her surroundings, design marketing products for authors, and write. Delia’s inspirational novel, Goldeneyes, was released in March 2008. Yesterday’s Promise released through White Rose Publishing in March 2010. A children’s book, Adam’s Wings, will be available in December 2010. Find out more about this author and her books at http://www.delialatham.net/.

To draw you into the world of Yesterday's Promise, here's an overview, and excerpt - followed by my review and details on an exciting contest that's being held in conjunction with Delia's blog tour!

BLURB:

A spur of the moment wedding near Bridalveil Fall.
A young bride who awakens the morning after to find her new husband gone with the mountain wind.

Songbird Hannah Johns supports the child born of that ill-fated union by signing in a dinner lounge. Her dream of someday owning the elite establishment and turning it into a venue more suited to her Christian values is shattered when an unexpected transaction places it in the hands of Brock Ellis, the handsome biker who abandoned her in their honeymoon suite.

Ensuing sparks fly high, revealing buried secrets and forgotten pasts. Seeking to find peace with her painful past, Hannah returns to Yosemite, and Brock follows hard on her heels. Back where it all began, she finds herself in danger of losing her heart yet again to the man who shattered it the first time around.

EXCERPT:

Gazing in dismay at the tattered strips of rubber hanging from her right front wheel, Hannah shuddered. "Whatever a smithereen is, that's what I think this thing is blown to."

Dutifully opening the trunk, she stared down at the spare tire. There it lay, right where it was supposed to be. Tentatively she poked it with one finger. Now what was she supposed to do with it?

The warm late-June air did little to relieve the chill spreading throughout her nervous system. Miserably, she berated herself for ever thinking she could pull off a trip like this on her own. Just look at where her little streak of independence had gotten her: Here she sat, all alone at the side of the road with a crippled car on her hands. She barely knew how to fill the fuel tank, much less change a flat tire. And who knew what kind of deranged person might stop and offer to "help"?

At the thought, one shaky hand flew to her lips. "Oh, God, be with me!" The frightened, whispered prayer came from the depths of her soul.

Hurrying back to the driver's door, she slid behind the wheel, where she hurried to raise the convertible top, roll up the windows and lock both doors. Her heart trip-hammered as she recalled in full detail every horror story she'd ever heard about lone women attacked at the side of the road by sadistic human monsters.

Allowing her head to sag wearily against the steering wheel, Hannah did what she always did in desperate times.

"God, I'm in trouble. I don't have a clue how to change a tire. I really need Your help this time, Lord. Won't you send someone along that I can trust?"

The roar of an engine outside her window brought her head up. She wasn't even aware of the tears on her cheeks.

Several yards ahead of the mustang, a man dressed in solid black dismounted a huge Harley-Davidson motorcycle and reached up to remove a shiny black helmet.

God were You even listening? I asked for someone I can trust!

MARIANNE'S REVIEW:

Without even realizing it at first, Hannah Johns holds the key to unlocking a number of troubling ‘blank spots’ in Brock Ellis’ mind – and heart. Their whirlwind marriage and his subsequent abandonment of Hannah, possess the answers to a series of events in Brock’s past that weave a complex, relationship-driven conflict. This is a story I thoroughly enjoyed, and definitely kept me turning the pages.

An added bonus to Yesterday’s Promise is the authentic, loving portrait Delia Latham paints of Yosemite. I love it when a skilled author places a reader deep into a setting without overwhelming the book with too much detail.

I was won by the struggles Brock confronts both in his memory loss, and an embattled relationship with God. I also found Hannah to be a most admirable heroine – fully devoted to her son and her and the manner in which Hannah asserts herself as a heroine of the first order – using smart logic, her head and her heart, to help Brock , and herself, move past pain, and into a life-long love as well as a renewal of faith.

Five stars, Delia – very well done!

CONTEST & BLOG TOUR DETAILS:

Delia’s on the move until the end of the month – and she’s giving away two $10 gift certificates to White Rose Publishing at the end of her blog tour. Winners will be drawn from the comments left at the blogs during this 3-week event. So, when you comment, be sure to leave your e-mail address so Delia can connect to you if you win. Every comment generates one entry, so follow her on the schedule I’ve provided below to increase your chances!

Delia, congratulations again on the release of Yesterday's Promise - and best of success to you!!

20
Tori Close
a Merciful Heart
http://www.toriclose.com
20-26
Shirley Kiger Connolly
A Pen for Your Thoughts
http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/
21
Angie Breidenbach
God Uses Broken Vessels
http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/
21
Teresa Slack
Joy in the Journey
http://teresaslack.blogspot.com/
24
AusJenny
Come Meet AusJenny
http://ausjenny.blogspot.com/
24
Sharon Ball
A Break from the Norm
http://www.sharonball.com/
24
Kara Hunt
Fiction with Faith
www.fictionwithfaith.blogspot.com
25
TRS Blog (Guest Post)
TRS Blog
http://theromancestudio.blogspot.com/
25
Vickie Price Taylor
Write Along the Way
http://vickiepricetaylor.blogspot.com/
26
JoAnn Carter
White Roses in Bloom
http://www.whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com/
26
Robin Bayne
Between Sundays
http://wwwwritingbetweensundays.blogspot.com/
27
Carla Stewart
Carla's Writing Café
http://www.carlastewart.blogspot.com/
28
Miralee Ferrell
Coming Home
http://miraleesdesk.blogspot.com
28
Susan Holloway
Journeys of Love…Inspired by Faith
http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com

Livin' the "BIG"GBY Life!

Sometimes, the hardest step to take is the first one.

Here's the scoop. I want so very much for my current release, Hearts Crossing, to reach, and touch, as many 'hearts' as possible (pardon the pun!). After all, isn't that the point of writing? Of sweating and agonizing over each detail of the novels we create?

When White Rose Publishing, my fantastic authorial home, enabled print copies of novellas, I jumped at the chance to be able to offer both electronic and print versions of this contest winning story. However, beyond that, I wanted to promote. We want to reach readers.

So, after hearing about the success people had at coffee house signings, I thought: Hey, I could do that! I love coffee, I love getting folks together, I love sharing my work...

But then came shyness. Then came doubts and insecurity. I mean, really. Me? Who wants surrender part of a gorgeous spring Saturday in Michigan (after enough rain to float a boat!) to visit with an author and simply buy a book?

Then came an epiphany - something that should have occurred to me much earlier. Promoting, signings - they're not about me. They're about my work - a book I believe in with all my heart. That's what I'm asking people to take note of and support, not me.

That mental adjustment gave me just enough courage to put together a promotional piece, some business cards, and go to my local Biggby Coffee Shop and ask if they might be interested in letting me camp out at a table for a few hours and have a book signing.

I was overwhelmed by their response. Not only did they welcome the chance to have a local author conduct a signing at their shop, they promoted it on Facebook and Twitter (just like I did on my own sites...), they broadcast a promotional PowerPoint presentation I put together on their big-screen TV's, and were incredibly gracious as folks came in!

I gave away a Biggby Gift Card (Congrats Christy Ciaramitaro!!) and a Gift Certificate to White Rose Publishing (Congrats Suzanne Calvano!!) and so many great friends, family and fans came out!! Here are some pictures from the event - and for any subsequent publications, you can bet I'll be setting up signings at Biggby Coffee in the future.

Remember - it's all about the BOOK! I was nervous at the start, and as I set it up, but executing and enjoy the day was really fun, and was well worth the shaky steps forward into self-promotion.

Thanks for letting me share my excitement about a very successful and tremendously fun event! I feel so blessed!