Callie By Author Sharon Srock

Sharon Srock lives with her husband, Larry, and two dogs in Rural Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and Sunday School teacher. Sharon has one and three-quarters jobs and writes in her spare time. Her favorite hobby is traveling with her grandchildren. She is a member of the ACFW and currently serves as treasurer for her local chapter. Sharon’s writing credits include numerous poems and short stories published in science fiction fanzines.

In celebration of her new release she is offering commenters a chance to win an awesome prize package. Be sure to read to end to find out how you can get your name in the drawing.

Blurb

Three dire circumstances. Three desperate prayers. 

One miracle to save them all.

Callie Stillman is drawn to the evasive girl who’s befriended her granddaughter, but the last time Callie tried to help a child, her efforts backfired. Memories of the tiny coffin still haunt her.

Samantha and Iris Evans should be worried about homework, not whether they can pool enough cash to survive another week of caring for an infant while evading the authorities.

Steve Evans wants a second chance at fatherhood, but his children are missing.  And no one seems to want to help the former addict who deserted his family.

For Steve to regain the relationship he abandoned, for his girls to receive the care they deserve, Callie must surrender her fear and rely on God to work the miracle they all need.

Excerpt

     Callie Stillman dabbed raindrops from her face with a linen napkin as Benton dodged a server with a loaded tray and took his place across from her. She smiled into her husband’s blue eyes and reached across to wipe water from his beard. “We’ll both have pneumonia if we don’t dry off soon.”

     Benton took the napkin and finished the job. “I’ve been told the food is very good. A few sniffles should be worth it.”

     Callie’s gaze roamed the room. “It’s…” Recognition slammed into her chest, forcing the air from her lungs. The man crossing the room behind her husband nodded and continued to his table. Was that the bailiff? Do you swear to tell the truth… She gulped for breath and fought the familiar darkness that crowded the edges of her vision.

     Callie ran a finger around her collar, tugging the neck of the blouse away from skin suddenly dewed with a fine film of sweat. Too hot. She took a sip of water, dismayed at the tremor in her hand as she lifted the glass to her lips. Not here, not tonight. Callie closed her eyes and practiced the breathing techniques she’d learned over the last six months. In through her nose, hold for a few seconds, and out through her mouth. Concentrate only on the current step in the process, the next breath. The tightness in her chest began to fade away. Thank you, Jesus. She raised her water again and held the cold glass to her flushed cheek.

Buy links for Callie

Barnes and Noble -- http://tinyurl.com/9ahy3tg

Amazon -- http://tinyurl.com/9dreu8g

Pelican Books -- http://tinyurl.com/8ncbjnl


Connect with Sharon on the Web

BLOG at: http://www.womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock#!/SharonSrock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SharonSrock
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10758698-sharon-srock

Leave a comment with your contact information to be entered for a chance to win a gift basket with the following prizes ( ***please note the gift basket giveaway is for residents of the US and Canada only) The winner will be drawn Monday November 19th. The items add up to well over 100.00 in value. Filled with:

A copy of Callie's story

A certificate for Terri's story when it releases in April

A 6 piece Cherry blossom bath set

A cosmetic bag

A Bath Wrap

A Cozy pink eye mask

A Pair of aloe infused booties

A Hair Turban

A Tennis Bracelet

A 25.00 Amazon gift card 

If you are interested in knowing more about Sharon and the Women of the Valley View Blog she is offering a free PDF about the women. Let her know in your comments that you would like to receive it so she can send it to you.

Fall Festival Contest Winners

Please contact me 


@tina_pinson@yahoo.com


Rebekah's poem framed and Autographed.

Sabrena Pattat



$20.00 gift certificate

Faith Bricknell-Brown


One of my books


Nicole Zoltack

Stephenia

DBP Fall Festival and Contest

The Desert Breeze Fall Festival is running right now. To connect and win prizes go to Desert_Breeze_Publishing_Connections-subscribe@yahoo.com

Several author will be in and out to chat throughout the weekend.  As I am the caboose, and won't have my chat time until 5 pm eastern on Sunday. I thought I would put my contest up. That way you can get started and tell your friends. Then join me Sunday at Desert Breeze Connections Site for a chat. Where I'll be giving away more and you can only enter at the chat. I'm hope to see you.

Until then, here's the contest:

I'll be giving away two copies of my ebooks. (winners choice) And a $20.00 gift card to Amazon

There are several ways to get your name in.

1. If you are on Pinterest you can go to my Pinterest Site @ http://pinterest.com/tinapinson/
and under the My Books Board you'll see my covers, just pin them on your boards and Pinterest will let me know. That will go into the count.

If you're not on Pinterest... Please join me.

Or you can take my covers pictured below and share them on Facebook. And send the link to tina_pinson@yahoo.com

 You can also answer the following questions. The answers can be found around my blog. Answer in a comment for a chance to win. Or just comment.

1. Who said  "Sam, you ain't got nothing on your top, but your birthday suit and bandages. You need to lay down."
(hint: Touched By Mercy tab on top of page)

2. Where do Rebekah and Caroline go for a visit?
(hint: When Shadows Fall tab on top of page)

3. Who said, In the Manor of the Ghost is a suspense filled story that kept me guessing until the end." (hint: In the Manor of the Ghost tab on top of page)

4. Someone is up a tree. Why?  (hint: Cartoons tab on top of page)

5. How many grandchildren do I have? (hint: home page right hand side)

Winners will be notified on Monday October 22.

Desert Breeze Fall Festival

Desert_Breeze_Publishing_Connections-suscribe@yahoogroups.com

Please Note: Desert Breeze is not only a Christian publisher, they also publish other genres, no erotica, some paranormal, but there are many good Christian Stories to be had. Use your own God-given discernment when choosing your reading material.

If you're interested in new authors, stories, or opportunities to win books and stuff, consider joining the DPB Readers Loop before this weekend.

I will be chatting beginning at 5 eastern this Sunday. Come visit with me.

Elections are coming...

 

In 1864 Republican Abraham Lincoln was re-elected for a second term as president after a run against Democrat George B. McClellan with Andrew Johnson as his running mate. Did you know there was a switch-up for the vice-presidency on the Democratic side? History is interesting, but how will this election be written in the annals of time? Do you care?

The elections are coming… I can almost hear the groans and see your eyes glazing over. And i can see some one finger waves. thank you

I know... I know... You're inundated with ads and spiels, you're on election overload. Everyone has an idea about the elections. Let's take a poll. Are you tired of it yet? Have you tuned it out already. I get it election information runs in a continuous loop for twenty-four hours nonstop. With alert headlines and special report draws that tell you nothing new. And heaven knows, you don't want to hear anymore from me. You'd rather clean up dog poop. Rather head for the social networks for fun. Anything but  discuss politics.

But have you really paid attention to the news, to what's going on in the world or just across the street?

Before you run away screaming, thinking I'm another political pundit who's going to tell you how vote or force you to see things my way. Let me just say, I know I'd probably have better luck telling you to choose up sides and smell arm pits.

But the truth is... the elections are coming. Only a month away. I honestly don't care who you go in and cast your vote for. Okay maybe I care just a little. But it is not my place to tell you who to vote for and how to believe.

What I really would like to see you do is prepare. Take some time to reflect on this election. Take a look at the issues and the candidates. Don’t just vote party lines because you've been with a party for years. And that's how it's done.

You've been given a great freedom. One bought by the very lifeblood of those who came before you and those who stand on the battlefields today. We're all ready to wax poetic about our Great Country and the men and women who stand in the way of tyranny for us. But we don't take responsibility for the freedom we've been given. And voting is a high honor and a responsibility.

Please take this month to consider your choices, and if you choose to, take some time to pray for this nation, for this world and the hearts of mankind.

You can say you don't really want to get involved, and that your vote doesn't mean squat. You'll watch it from the sidelines, from the fence. Let me caution you by saying if you are unwilling to stand for anything, you will fall for everything. And you will have no reason to complain when things don't turn out.

You may think sitting on the fence frees you from responsibility… consider this, at some point the fence is going fall and you may find yourself forced to sit on the wrong side of the issue.

With all the information flying around you, there is no excuse for not knowing the issues. For not knowing where the candidates stand. Go to their sites read their platforms.

Please Vote Responsibly

Take a stand and if that stand should bring you to your knees in prayer... don't fight it.

if you would like to share this, please do.

Church People Watching & PTSD

Welcome Shaunna Gonzales

Shaunna Gonzales has toyed with writing since her teenage years but has only written in earnest since 2005. In an effort to give Dark Days of Promise an authentic feel she endeavored to include some experiences of veterans she knows and could often be found discussing the realities of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in their lives and how it could honestly be shared in this project.

On the evening of this books first promotion, she realized that the scope of PTSD reaches deep into the core of our society and includes infants, children, housewives, the working and unemployed as well as veterans; in short, all of us. In an effort to treat this subject fairly, Ms. Gonzales has altered her writing course from "romance with a twist" to helping our society, sufferers and innocents alike to becoming aware. It is more than those who experience the violence, more than the victims who experience this debilitating disease that are affected. It is their families, the bystander of violent crime and all of us who dare to care for and love them.

Shaunna currently resides in the Seattle, Washington area, with her husband, and their younger children.

Visit Shaunna at http://www.shaunnagonzales.blogspot.com

Church, People Watching and PTSD

      My family and I sit in the same place every Sunday morning and no, the pew isn't assigned or paid for. We just get there early and that is where we sit. Members of our congregation are in their Sunday best, men in white shirts and ties, some in suits and the women in modest dresses and usually high heels.

     So one non-descript Sunday, I'm people watching. "Friend A" suffers from PTSD. He's a Vietnam Veteran. I've visited with this gentleman at great lengths in doing research for Dark Days of Promise. I know some of the things that trigger his socially unexpected and potentially violent PTSD symptoms.

     "Friend B" has attended this particular congregation a lot longer than my family has. This morning she is wearing a tight skirt. You would think that having witnessed "Friend A's" reactions on previous occasions, she would be aware. But noooo.

     During the adult Sunday school class, the roll is passed from the back, where I'm sitting to the front. The pews are not full as families have left and I watch "Friend B" stand, the roll in her hand. She advances to offer the clipboard, over the shoulder as she would any other Sunday, but this day is different, the gentleman she will be passing the roll to is my "Friend A".

     In my mind's eye "Friend B" touches his shoulder quite innocently and unexpectedly does the most amazing assisted mid-air somersault ever preformed in such an austere setting. While she is doing this astonishing feat, "Friend A" has jumped to his full 6'3" with a shocking war cry. I cringe and suck at the air in horror expecting a rather nasty landing.

     That is where my mind screeches to a blinding halt. "Focus," I tell myself. I watch intently. "Friend B" touches "Friend A's" shoulder. He flinches and instead of what I know would happen on any other day in any other place, he gathers himself, the muscles tensing. His shoulders rise and settle in the same instant he jerks around to accept the clipboard.

     I release my held breath and the incident goes relatively unnoticed by most of the people present. Not so for those of us that paid attention and are aware. The group gathers after meetings, the veterans and myself, collectively heaving a sigh of relief.

     People, please be more aware.

Thirty-four year old Vicki Laramie must learn to trust before she can love, but she might die trying.

While Vicki’s children grapple with the death of their father -- a man whom she’s successfully fabricated as loving, a lie her rebellious teenager recognizes -- she must find a way to support her family and find a role model for her boys. She never intends to fall for Staff Sergeant Chase, her best friend’s son, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She’d much rather choose a safer man to love, but her children have a voice in the decision she makes. With two deaths to deal with, a suitor after her money, a rebellious son, and Sergeant Chase’s repeated attacks, she can only hope to survive the danger she faces. If she doesn’t, her children will be left without either parent.

Link to buy: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-345/Dark-Days-of-Promise/Detail.bok

ISBN: 978-1-61252-218-0

Enjoy the following Excerpt

Why him? I needed help; I even needed a rescuer, but not him. I found myself welcoming his presence in spite of the clenching fear in my stomach. My mind spiraled around the possibilities. Would I freeze to death? Would he attack me? Would I survive? I must get home to my children.

"Kelly! What're you doing out here?" My breathing came out hard.

"I don't know," he drawled. His words formed ghostly shapes in the freezing night air. "Do you want a ride or do you really plan to run home?"

I looked down the road in both directions hoping for a second pair of headlights. I found none.

Run.

The fact of my standing on ice and snow escaped me for the moment. I anchored my foot for take-off and slipped, going to my knees. Kelly moved fast, I didn't see him open the Jeep's door before he grasped my arm, lifting me to my feet.

"You okay? You went down pretty hard." He propelled me to the passenger's side. Numb feet measured each jarring step around the front of the Jeep. Why had he come looking for me? The possibility of his not looking for me in particular, but anyone -- anyone alone, screamed across my thoughts.

Afraid of a cold death at the side of the road, my thoughts stalled. He'd proven himself faster than I. I shook his hand off to climb in and settled myself as close to the door as possible. He walked around the front of the Jeep, his footsteps sure on the icy surface.

"Have to admire your spunk," he said climbing in.