tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post7614540946397527959..comments2024-03-18T08:33:25.907-04:00Comments on Inkwell Inspirations: A Balancing Act Extraordinaire!Lisa Karon Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175430876079208723noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-7879944540480578152011-08-04T08:23:05.191-04:002011-08-04T08:23:05.191-04:00I'm late to the party. My daughter is moving o...I'm late to the party. My daughter is moving out this week, and my house is a little in disarray. I could have sworn I visited Inkwell yesterday.<br /><br />Great post, Dina. I guess this helps explain how CJ's book is so rich and full--and why there is so much there for everyone to enjoy.Barbara Earlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02446880500278578170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-50369027887675563222011-08-04T08:05:25.517-04:002011-08-04T08:05:25.517-04:00CJ, I loved reading this re-cap of your book. What...CJ, I loved reading this re-cap of your book. What an exciting time for you!! I "know" your husband through the Bethany Boards ;-) it's an honor to have this connection with you. I can't wait to get my hands on your book. I vow to keep you & your family in my prayers. God bless. moose9mile@yahoo.comSuenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-29846633679383932922011-08-04T01:39:35.564-04:002011-08-04T01:39:35.564-04:00Dina, thank you for dissecting all of these elemen...Dina, thank you for dissecting all of these elements. You summed them up wonderfully and I'm saving this list. I'm not sure if my review on Saturday will come close to what you've shared about CJ's book. You nailed all the important pieces. Oh, and I also thought of Oliver Twist. :) Have fun at that water park!Suzie Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06296203324088418271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-63342531835082610862011-08-03T21:54:18.610-04:002011-08-03T21:54:18.610-04:00Faye, thanks. On top of putting everything togethe...Faye, thanks. On top of putting everything together, I had to cut 7,000 words to fit into Love Inspired Historicals guidelines. I was scared to death I'd delete a thread early in the book, and then the whole thing would unravel like a sweater.<br /><br />Deb, I stopped at Walmart this afternoon, and they still had the old books up. But I've noticed our area doesn't stock until severalC.J. Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026386802434435296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-64386349878127596512011-08-03T19:36:18.797-04:002011-08-03T19:36:18.797-04:00Great article. It is hard to get the right balanc...Great article. It is hard to get the right balance of all the elements in a novel.<br /><br />I'm so looking forward to reading CJ's book. :)DeAnna Julie Dodsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006564626571868446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-62157608122198688042011-08-03T19:13:45.588-04:002011-08-03T19:13:45.588-04:00CJ, that probably is the truth. I've noticed n...CJ, that probably is the truth. I've noticed now a number of writers who are proficient in nonfiction and think they should be able to write a novel. Not by a long shot. I'd say they have less than half the skills needed. <br /><br />I personally haven't tried writing suspense yet. I'm not sure if I'd be any good at it. I don't read much suspense. I don't really like Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-64849993634980167342011-08-03T18:26:52.076-04:002011-08-03T18:26:52.076-04:00Faye! Our lurkers are losing out. You and Amber ha...Faye! Our lurkers are losing out. You and Amber have a great chance to win CJ's book. I'm going to check tonight to see if it's in the store yet.Debra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-2310754633360703862011-08-03T18:25:10.977-04:002011-08-03T18:25:10.977-04:00To answer Dina's question, historical romantic...To answer Dina's question, historical romantic suspense is a scarce commodity. When I started on my WIP, I tried to find stories in this category to see what the publishers were buying. I could find lots of romantic suspense -all of them contemporary. Historical romance- of course! In fact it's swung around to become wildly popular again (thankfully!) I kept asking and finally I'm Debra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-18839231560013407652011-08-03T16:56:58.621-04:002011-08-03T16:56:58.621-04:00People underestimate how hard combining all of tho...People underestimate how hard combining all of those things in a book really are! <br /><br />please enter me!<br /><br />crazi.swans at gmail dot comFaithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150290024386704712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-69208033655657978772011-08-03T12:56:04.464-04:002011-08-03T12:56:04.464-04:00I know exactly what you mean CJ. When I finished m...I know exactly what you mean CJ. When I finished my book in January I felt so great until I remembered I'd left out the happily ever after kiss. OopsDebra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-32098721837057009652011-08-03T09:30:10.702-04:002011-08-03T09:30:10.702-04:00Aw, Deb. You're going to make me vain. Quickly...Aw, Deb. You're going to make me vain. Quickly, someone remind me to look around at the state of my house (dust bunnies galore this week!) so I don't get a swelled head. But I am glad you liked the book :)<br /><br />Anita, my long-time critique partner is a thriller writer, so she's great for helping me plot out my suspense but not so good at seeing where I missed a way to increase C.J. Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026386802434435296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-68008729312627206022011-08-03T09:22:24.734-04:002011-08-03T09:22:24.734-04:00Dina, just want to thank you for bringing a smile ...Dina, just want to thank you for bringing a smile to my face this morning. Here all this time, I thought it took me so long to sell because I'm a slow learner. But see, I just had more to learn because I'm writing in 4 genres at once. Ha!C.J. Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026386802434435296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-36282288846893040872011-08-03T09:20:39.894-04:002011-08-03T09:20:39.894-04:00Welcome, Amber. For several years writers have bee...Welcome, Amber. For several years writers have been joking about an Amish-vampire mash-up. I'm just glad when it finally came the author was Leanna Ellis. I've haven't read it yet, but I've been hearing lots of good "buzz" so I think i'm going to have to try it.C.J. Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026386802434435296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-59974445272266092462011-08-03T08:50:01.588-04:002011-08-03T08:50:01.588-04:00Every time I read another CJ post this week makes ...Every time I read another CJ post this week makes me more excited to read her book. <br /><br />The first time I became aware of suspense elements in a historical inspirational was while reading <b>Legacy of Secrets</b> by Sara Mitchell (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical #5). Although I didn't purposely seek out this combined genre afterwards, I enjoyed a small thrill whenever I saw Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-19507907701929763752011-08-03T08:43:00.006-04:002011-08-03T08:43:00.006-04:00Amber, I think you'll really enjoy Redeeming t...Amber, I think you'll really enjoy Redeeming the Rogue if you buy it -or win it! Thanks for leaving a comment.<br /><br />I couldn't agree more, Dina. This is probably my favorite of all the Love Inspired Historicals I've read. I love a meaty plot and she's got one with great intrigue. And - without sacrificing the characters and love story.<br /><br />Super!<br /><br />Enjoy theDebra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-85866101304159987692011-08-03T07:36:01.828-04:002011-08-03T07:36:01.828-04:00We all knew the vampire Amish novel had to be comi...We all knew the vampire Amish novel had to be coming. LOL. <br /><br />I'm still in Florida everyone. Going to the waterpark today, but I'll be back later on.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-47240262641530901372011-08-03T03:14:35.060-04:002011-08-03T03:14:35.060-04:00Great post! I am definitely intrigued - this book ...Great post! I am definitely intrigued - this book sounds quite enjoyable! :) <br /><br />I would love a chance to win a copy. Thank you! <br /><br />As for genre mixes, one of the most interesting ones I've read recently was Plain Fear: Forsaken by Leanna Ellis, which combines the Amish genre with the popular vampire genre. Not an easy task! It's not technically Christian fiction, but Amber Holcombhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100265646497152198noreply@blogger.com