Three years ago, I wrote a blog post titled Abortion: A Sensitive Topic. The post began like this:

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away a few days ago, was best known for her forceful stance on women’s rights, particularly abortion rights, and equal treatment of women under the law. Her name is usually linked with the landmark 1973 case Roe v Wade that made abortion legal in the United States …

Now that she has passed away, there is a lot of concern about the future of Roe v Wade and abortion rights. Far be it from me to attempt any legal or political discourse. I am not a lawyer nor a politician, but as a woman and a writer of women’s fiction, I understand the reasoning behind the passage of Roe v Wade.

As we now know Roe v Wade has been overturned by the US Supreme Court and women’s abortion rights have been returned to the states. Since then, the national conversation has focused on abortion and with the US presidential elections just eight days away, abortion has become not just a sensitive topic but a hot one.

Fifty years after Roe v Wade became the law of the land, women have lost their reproductive freedom and are even losing their lives because they can’t receive proper care when it is needed. The situation is very complicated and I’m not prepared to go into details here. Just listen to your television any day and you will hear more on this topic.

However, as a mother, grandmother, fiction writer and as a Christian, the topic of abortion concerns me a great deal.

In my debut novel Coming Out of Egypt, set in the 1980s, the protagonist Marva and her sister June Garcia were both sexually abused by their father. Marva became pregnant and her father instructed her mother to perform an abortion on her. In a scene following her birthday party, Marva recounts to June what happened:

“I had to have an abortion because of Daddy. He made Mama do it to me. The pain was so bad he gave me a shot of gin to dull the pain. And it helped. That was my first drink. After that, I dropped out of school. I knew the teachers were talking about me. It was horrible. I don’t want the same thing happening to you. I don’t want anything to stop you from finishing your education and making something of yourself.”

June yawned. “I want to finish my education.”

Marva’s eyelids felt heavy. She lay down and pulled the covers over her. “Good. So be careful. Don’t let Keith, or any boy, talk you into doing … you know what.”

Silence. “Sister …”

“Mm hmm?”

“I’m glad you told me what you just told me.”

Here’s another scene in which Marva’s former teacher discloses to a detective what she knows about the abortion:

“As I was saying, one day the younger sister June came to me and said that Marva was in the bathroom, bleeding. I told another teacher and we both went and found her groaning and writhing on the floor, her clothes all soaked with blood. We got her cleaned up and gave her an aspirin. I asked her what caused her to bleed so much. She began to cry, but wouldn’t say anything. Mr. Sampson, the vice principal, and I took her home in his car.”

David’s face was expressionless, and Cicely continued, “They lived near the river, and we had to take a little, narrow track off the main road to get to the house. As we turned onto the track, Marva told us to stop the car and she would walk from there. Mr. Sampson refused and drove right up to the house. We didn’t see Garcia.”

“What about her mother?”

Cicely kept her voice low. “She was a frail-looking little lady who seemed as scared as her daughters. She didn’t speak much English. We told her who we were and why we’d brought Marva home. We offered to take her to a doctor, but the mother started to cry and wring her hands and say something in Spanish. She begged us not to tell anybody. She kept shaking her head and saying, ‘No, no, no.’ That convinced us that Marva might have had an abortion and her father was probably responsible.”

“Did you inform the police?”

Cicely nodded. “Our principal advised us to file a report in case anything happened to the girl, but he warned us that nothing would come out of it. Marva never came back to school and I left Egypt Village shortly after.”

David stared into the distance then fixed her once more with his penetrating gaze.

“What did the police say?”

“They said we had no evidence that the girl did have an abortion or that her father was sexually abusing her. And even if we did, the country has no laws against incest.”

To learn more about Marva and June, go to this link where you will see the other books in the Egypt series, all just 99c. for a limited time only. If you are in Kindle Unlimited, you can read the last two books In the Wilderness and In the Promised Land for free. 

Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

Ask any writer what is the hardest part about writing or what they least like about writing and, chances are, they will say editing. A Google search turned up this definition: Editing is a process that involves revising the content, organization, grammar, and presentation of a piece of writing. The purpose of editing is to ensure that your ideas are presented to your reader as clearly as possible. 

The last sentence of that paragraph really caught my attention. I have just completed the first draft of the sequel to Making Music Together and am about to embark on this most dreaded of the writing process — editing. But before I begin, I’m taking a few weeks off—maybe three or four— not just to R&R but to allow my brain to rewire itself so that when I go back to the script I will see it with fresh eyes. 

This will ensure that “my ideas are presented to my reader as clearly as possible.”  It will do me and my readers no good if I attempt to revise the book while my mind is still saturated with all the mistakes —not just grammatical errors, there is software to help with that—but consistency, timelines, plot holes, and the myriad of other cringe-worthy mistakes we authors make when the ideas are flowing too fast to process them properly. 

During these few weeks, I will read a book I have been meaning to read for a long time, I will do some ads for Making Music Together, just to keep it before my readers’ eyes, and prepare me for the task ahead. Then before I plunge into editing, I’m going to do something I learned about recently—

I’m going to write the book description. 

Isn’t that written last, you ask? That’s how I always did it, but a course I took recently showed me that writing the book description first serves as a broad outline or a guide to ensure that my plot follows it. Since I’m a panster and not a plotter, I found this lesson helpful. My next step will be (deep breath)

Read the entire book

While I’m reading, I’ll refer to my description and make notes on things that should be cut, added to, moved around or whatever.

With that done, I’ll make an outline of each chapter. 

While I’m not comfortable with outlining, I think an outline will help show up anything that’s out of place or is simply not working. 

Next step is to go back to my research notes and make sure my facts are accurate —medical, legal, musical, as well as timelines. 

When I’m satisfied, I’ll reread the book, fixing all the big issues—plot structure, setting, character development, and other elements that come to my notice. I didn’t mention grammar and the reason for that is I tend to have an eagle eye for grammatical errors and typos, but if I overlook any, these will be taken care of in the next step:

Send to my critique group

This group of fine, talented ladies has been an invaluable help to me over the years, and I never submit anything before having it pass the Sharpened Pencils test. I thank God for them every day. Notice I didn’t mention the title of book 2, as that, and my cover, will be vetted by my group.

So, there it is. The above is a broad outline of how I plan to edit the second draft of my book. I may not follow it slavishly. I may see the need to deviate in a few places, but by writing this post, I have a guide to follow that will ensure that “my ideas are presented to my reader as clearly as possible” and the thought of editing seems less daunting.

Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

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Romantic Women’s Fiction

  Date Published: August 25, 2024

  Love cures all …

  When Emmett Chambers comes to Lilac Lake to replace Dr. Johnson, the     town’s GP, Dr. Johnson asks Crystal, owner of the Lilac Lake     Café, to show him around. Emmett is the son of an insufferable     ambitious politician who is the reason Emmett has chosen the life of a     doctor in a small town, away from politics. Just as the relationship between     Crystal and Emmett heats up, Emmett’s mother finds out about it and is     furious, deeming Crystal unsuitable for the family during her     husband’s presidential campaign. Hoping to allow things to cool off,     Crystal spends time at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine doing her usual     summer gig as an extra in some of the plays put on there. But when     she’s called upon to help Emmett’s mother with a problem there,     everything changes for all of them.

  About the Author

Judith Keim, A USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both     has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels     about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and     find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling     books are based, in part, on many of the places she’s lived or visited and     on the interesting people she’s met, creating believable characters and     realistic settings her many loyal readers love.

  She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and     now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their adorable     dachshund, Wally, and other members of her family. While growing up, she was     drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always     present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be     discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general     conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid     imaginations.

  Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm     for her stories. To sign up for her newsletter, go here: ​https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oeiwdp1vkc  

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Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

“They faced death and chose life.”

If you see just one movie this year, I urge you to see The Firing Squad! And I do mean that. This gripping movie will have you reaching for the Kleenex and thinking about it long after you finish watching it.

The Firing Squad is a faith-based film dedicated to the Christians who were executed by firing squad in Indonesia on April 29, 2015. Starring Kevin Sorbo, James Barrington, and Cuba Gooding Jr, this movie shows the power of redemption and how prisoners facing death by firing squad find new life in Christ. This true story will make you marvel at the power of God’s amazing grace to transform a bitter, hate-filled prison warden into a broken prisoner of Christ. The romantic element brought in near the end of the film will also move you to tears.

The movie, supported by the marketing teams behind “The Passion of the Christ,” “Son of God,” and many faith-based organizations, including Campus Crusade for Christ, will be in theaters nationwide on August 2nd.

To learn more about The Firing Squad, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/TheFiringSquadFilm

I do hope you will take the time to watch this film. Whether you are a Christian or not, it will leave an indelible impression on you.

Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

Did you know that July is Read an Almanac Month? If you belong to the younger generation, you may ask, “What is an almanac? What is it used for?”

An almanac is a yearly publication that provides all types of information, but it is well known for its weather forecasts and predicting the phases of the moon and the seasons, high tide and low tide.

The first printed almanac appeared in the mid 15th century. Benjamin Franklin began his famous Poor Richard’s Almanacs in 1732. When I was a child, I would hear my parents discussing the best days for planting as outlined by the McDonald’s almanac, and I believe they implemented that advice for planting vegetables as well as flowers.

Then when my father passed away, my mother no longer bought the almanac, and I never thought about it until many years later when I began receiving free copies of the Old Farmer’s Almanac from a charity I donate to. This almanac was founded in 1792 by Robert Thomas. In addition to the usual weather forecasts, planting guides, and astronomical data, the Old Farmer’s Almanac has taken on a new look by featuring trends in fashion, food, sports, technology, and even jokes.

I just received three Old Farmer’s magazines — one with recipes, another with gardening, and the third with birds. Here is a recipe from one of the magazines:

Creamy shredded potatoes

Think of a potato omelet served in squares … this is it. The top is crisp and crunchy, the bottom is nicely chewy. For best results, make enough egg mixture to almost cover the potatoes in the baking dish.

Ingredients

• 5 medium russet potatoes
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 ¼ tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
• Peel potatoes and place in a bowl of cold water to prevent discoloration. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 5 mins, or until limp. Add milk and bring to a boil. Remove from heat .
• Shred potatoes by hand or in a food processor.
• Beat eggs, salt, and pepper in a bowl until frothy. Add shredded potatoes. Stir to combine. Add milk mixture. Add ¾ cup of cheese to potato mixture and mix well.
• Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 1 hour, or until egg mixture firms up. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Cut into squares and serve hot.  Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Enjoy!

The next time you visit your library, search the periodicals section. You may be able to browse through a few almanacs. If you can’t find one and you think an almanac may be a valuable addition to your library, you can always pick up a copy by clicking on the link below: https://amzn.to/4cMFyvm

This is an affiliate link and if you do click on it and make a purchase, I would receive a small commission. Thank you!

To learn about my books and other great reading material, please sign up for my newsletter below:

Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

In her latest book, Sarah Jakes Roberts, bestselling author, speaker, wife and mother of 6 uses her influence to inspire and equip women to embrace their purpose and revolutionize their lives. She states, “When we do the work of embracing where we are, we create space for God’s love to meet us in our most raw form and then polish us to shine like never before.”

With beautifully crafted prose, Roberts shows us that power does not lie in what you have, nor in success, achievement or performance, but in honesty, humility and in who you are willing to become.

Here are some of the nuggets you will encounter as you read this book:

If you are interested in learning the principles that will help you live authentically and become your best self, I recommend you get a copy of Power Moves today. To purchase a copy, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/4d7K1K4

To learn more please go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jakes-roberts-a609821a4/ and on Instagram @sarahjakesroberts

Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

Many, many years ago, while I was still in high school, I read my first Christian fiction book. At that time, my dream of becoming a writer was just a faint speck on the horizon. But I was an avid reader, I read everything I could put my hands on, and so it was inevitable that I would stumble on a Christian fiction book. I don’t remember the author’s name, but I think the title was In All These Things. I couldn’t put it down, and before I’d finished reading it, I’d convinced myself I would one day write a book like that.

So, that’s my first reason for writing Christian fiction — to fulfil a long-ago promise to myself.

I think what drew me to that book was the protagonist. I don’t remember the story or the character’s name, but I think the author developed her character in such a way that even though I don’t remember her name, I remember the impact she had on me. Through that work of fiction, I began to develop a desire to get to know God better and to get closer to Him.

And that’s my second reason — to create a memorable character(s), so memorable that even when readers don’t remember the story, they will remember the one who drives the story. In the same way they remember Huck Finn, Elizabeth Bennet, or Katniss Everdeen. Characters from Christian fiction novels can be just as captivating as those mentioned.

My third reason for writing Christian fiction is it gives me the freedom to express who I am and my view of the world. I don’t think any writer, secular or otherwise, can write a story without revealing something of his/her beliefs. That’s the beauty of art — freedom to express oneself. Everyone may not like it or agree with it, but for those who do, Christian fiction provides a format in which readers can develop their faith and understanding of God as they follow the characters on their faith journey.

If you regularly read Christian fiction, you may know the answer to this question. Is there a large market for Christian fiction? Publishers Weekly states, “Steve Oates, v-p of marketing for Baker Publishing Group’s Bethany House and Chosen imprints, estimates annual sales for Christian fiction at about $20 million and says that has even trended up in the past two years.” That’s pretty large, don’t you think?

The article goes on the say that while many of the large houses publish Christian fiction, some of them have cut back on their fiction lists, but still continue to depend on a backlist from Paul Young (The Shack) and regular outpourings from author Karen Kingsbury. In addition, indie authors of Christian fiction are also holding their own in what is a steadily growing market.

From what I’ve written above, you can see that I love writing Christian fiction. I believe God has blessed each of us with talents and abilities that we should use to bless others and bring glory to Him. And if I can do this by creating memorable characters, building plots that will help to draw readers close to God, and fulfil my long-held desire, then I will continue to do so.

Do you read Christian fiction? If yes, please state why and what you love about it in the comment box below.

Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

Fairy Tale Retellings, Book Two (standalone)

Historical Romance (Medieval)

Date Published: 04-10-2024

Little Red Riding Hood reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.

Princess Blanchette’s world shatters when the Black Wolf tears apart her castle and everything she holds dear. All she clings to is the vow she made to her grandmother on her deathbed.

Hailed as the people’s champion, Sir Rowan Dietrich liberates the capital in a quest for vengeance. He takes Winslowe Castle with an army at his back and his wolf, Smoke, at his side.

United by a shared cause and powerful attraction, Rowan and Blanchette embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption—a path filled with loss, transformation, and ultimately, the healing power of love.

Can Norland’s resplendent princess, with her captivating beauty and spirit, tame the fabled Black Wolf?

Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Kingdom is a passionate historical romance about the enduring quest for love and the longing for a world at harmony.

*Red Kingdom is a standalone installment in a series of reimagined classic fairy tales. Due to adult content and themes, it is not intended for readers under the age of 18. 

What you can expect from Red Kingdom… 

Dark, Medieval Setting

Enemies to Lovers

Slow Burn

Broken Alpha Hero

Strong Heroine

Wolf Companion

He Falls First

Redemption

Warring Kingdoms

About the Author

I live in Sunny California with my dashing husband, who inspires my romance novels every day!

Writing has always been an integral part of my identity. Before I physically learned how to write, I’d narrate stories to my mom, and she’d record them for me.

I graduated from Chapman’s film school, where I often received the feedback on my scripts, “Your stories and characters are great, but this reads like a novel!” That’s when I realized my true calling.

In my free time, I frequent reptile expos, lift double my body’s weight, and indulge in dinosaur trivia.

I’m passionate about writing stories that explore what it means to be human and to be loved. My books focus on hope, courage, and redemption in the face of adversity.

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Red Kingdom – ExcerptSelections.doc

Blanchette spots the Black Wolf during the siege. Death at her feet.

Death in her home.

Death in the air.

Death screamed in every corner of her mind.

Then she saw him. Rowan Dietrich, the fabled Black Wolf of Norland, strode through her castle like awaking nightmare. His armor was crudely made, black as the surrounding night, the helm’s dark metal twisted into the shape of a wolf’s snarling head. But the most striking thing about him was his height. He towered above the other fighters and battled with a chilling methodicalness.

How he moved and fought frightened Blanchette the greatest. He looked collected. Even mildly amused. As if this were nothing more than a game. Blood soaked his sword as the blade whirled, whipped, slashed, and claimed lives in a macabre dance of death. And that wolf clung to his heels, its muzzle wet with blood, snarling and leaping at any man who dared come close to its master. Monster. Demons.

The Black Wolf of Norland had always had a mist of legend around him. She remembered the stories her mother and governess had often whispered after the feasts and in the dark of the night. “To me,” the Black Wolf called to a soldier a few yards away, his deep voice effortlessly carrying above the tumult. He didn’t need to yell, not even over the mayhem.

The force of his tone was enough. One of her father’s guards raised his blade, but too slowly. Rowan Dietrich’s longsword cut his head off, then came flashing back in a terrible two-handed slash that took another soldier in the leg. With quivering anger, she realized that this man—this wolf, this beast—was the reason the sky was falling on her family. She clutched the dagger, wishing she could stand a chance against him. How good and right it would feel to plunge the blade deep into his heart and avenge what would likely be the end of her family’s dynasty. Of course, she’d never survive him or his demon wolf. avenge her family, if she was to keep her promise, survival meant everything.

Angela is a blogger and author of Christian women’s fiction and Christian romance. Her latest release is Making Music Together.

February, my birth month, and the month of love is almost over. I have been posting about the love shown by women of the Bible and today I want to focus on the unselfish love of Mary Magdalene.

I couldn’t let the month end without writing about this well-known woman of the Bible, one who has been so misrepresented and so misjudged. In fact, of all the Marys mentioned in the Bible, Mary Magdalene is the only one who is given a last name. It’s as if the authors wanted us to know exactly which Mary they were writing about. And as if that weren’t enough, she also has the handle, “out of whom went seven devils” (Luke 8: 2).

But after Jesus healed her, Mary Magdalene became one of his most devoted followers. On the day of His crucifixion, she, along with His mother and other women, stood at the foot of the cross, sorrowful and unable to do anything. Since it is the Sabbath, they cannot embalm the body, but bright and early the following day, Mary Magdalene and another Mary return to the tomb where Jesus had been buried.

Here she exemplifies one quality of love according to 1 Corinthians 13: it is not self-seeking. She has nothing to gain by going to the tomb to perform this last rite on her Savior. It is her last act of love, and she gives it without reservation.

But even though Mary Magdalene expects to gain nothing, God has already prepared the greatest reward anyone could ever hope to have. The tomb is empty, Jesus is risen as He said He would, but where is He? She sees a man standing before her, and He calls her name. It is Jesus. How does she know it is Jesus? Because He calls her Mary, not Mary Magdalene, not the one out of whom went seven devils, but simply Mary. She is the first to see the risen Lord.

Want to learn more about this fascinating woman of the Bible? Please go to Women For All Seasons at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TM6TWX4  

Still in the month of love, this series would not be complete without including the love story of Ruth and Boaz. It is one of the best-loved stories in the Bible.

Ruth, a Moabite woman leaves her home country to accompany her Jewish mother-in-law to Judah after their husbands died.

Ruth has no idea where she is going, and being a foreigner, she faces persecution from the Jewish people. Naomi tries to persuade her to stay with her people, but she says: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people and thy God my God:”

So they arrive in Judah, and Ruth sets out to find work gleaning in the barley fields. As fate would have it, the wealthy owner of the field sees her and falls in love with her.

Ruth and Boaz marry, and she later gives birth to a son who is the ancestor of Jesus Christ.

Like Esther in the previous post, Ruth acts out of loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law. We also see that God’s love does not discriminate. Ruth was a Moabitess, outside of God’s covenant, and Boaz was an Israelite, of the chosen race, but not only did God bring them together, he caused His Son Jesus Christ to be descended from David who was a direct descendant of Ruth and Boaz.

What are your thoughts about Ruth? Would you be as devoted to your mother-in-law if your husband passed away? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

To learn more about Ruth and other women of the Bible, please go to Women For All Seasons at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TM6TWX4