Showing posts with label Brenda S. Anderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brenda S. Anderson. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Book Spotlight: Sounds Like a Plan by Multiple Authors

Sounds Like A Plan JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Sounds Like a Plan by Lorna Seilstad, Eleanor Bertin, Sara Davison, Brenda S. Anderson, and Stacy Monson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book


Sounds Like a Plan

Title: Sounds Like a Plan: Stories of Change and the God Who Doesn't
Authors:
Lorna Seilstad, Eleanor Bertin, Sara Davison, Brenda S. Anderson, Stacy Monson
Publisher:
The Mosaic Collection
Release Date:
July 10, 2024
Genre:
Christian Fiction Anthology

A Baby in the Mix by Lorna Seilstad
Not By Chance by Eleanor Bertin
Five Things You Know About Me by Sara Davison
Mercy’s Detour by Brenda S. Anderson
Piper’s Sweet Dream by Stacy Monson

What Reviewers are Saying About The Mosaic Collection Anthologies:  

Each is a picture of God’s grace working in the hearts of hurting people through individual writing styles.  

Each author has her own voice, yet somehow they all fit perfectly together.  

The stories are just the right length to relax with at the end of a long day.  

I love these Mosaic author anthologies. These are stories about real people with real problems and emotions. 

Such beautifully written, inspirational short stories with themes of grace, forgiveness, love, and peace.  

Uplifting stories of ordinary people dealing with their faith and life’s struggles.  

Thank you to all the Mosaic Collection authors for giving us more lovely stories to remind us that we will never be alone as God is always with us. 

Each of these faith-based fiction stories in Sounds Like a Plan is uniquely and beautifully written with believable characters sustained by the amazing grace of God. Memorable, touching, inspiring, and a true reading pleasure. May you be blessed by this collection. 

 PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


Excerpt from Not By Chance


Engrossed in her search of the Classics bookshelves, Lily did not see the crash. But the deafening bang of metal slamming on brick made her jump, her whole body flinching. Glass sprayed the room when the front window to her right shattered. Screams from the bookstore clerk and others outside on the street pierced the air. Pinpricks peppered her right arm and leg. She brought her hand to her cheek, gasping when it came away bloody.

The shock rooted her to the floor. She gaped at the broken store window below which the crumpled front end of a car intruded through the cracked wall. Behind the spiderwebbed windshield of the vehicle, a woman’s head slumped onto the steering wheel.

In a moment, a warm presence enveloped Lily from behind. “Are you alright?” A deep, reassuring voice urged in her ear, “Let’s get you to the back, out of harm’s way,”

Mute, Lily pointed to the injured driver, then cast a panicked look at the man behind her.

He rushed to the shop door, yanking futilely on the handle, then scanned the smashed window, calling to the victim, who stirred slightly. He turned back to Lily. “The whole wall has shifted from the impact. But she’s alive. We can only pray the ambulance arrives quickly.” He pulled a phone from his pocket and punched in the number. A deep crease between his dark eyebrows only relaxed once the message had been relayed.

Excerpt from Five Things You Know About Me


The place had been updated although, thankfully, it still smelled of roasting coffee beans and fresh-baked scones. Andrea drew in a deep breath in a desperate bid to quell the emotions swirling through her like the foam designs on most of the hot drinks she could see.

Mario half stood as she pulled out her chair, and she gestured for him to sit.

“I hope you don’t mind. The line-up was long, so I took the liberty …” He nodded at the paper cup sitting at her place, steam curling from the hole in the lid. A massive chocolate chip cookie lay on a napkin next to it.

Andrea settled on the seat and wrapped her fingers around the cup, lifting it closer to inhale the steam. A frozen drink would have been more appropriate, given the weather, but it was never a bad time for chai tea latte.

Mario inclined his head toward the cup. “Still your favorite?”

“It is, actually. Thank you.”

“The cookie too?”

“Of course not, since I’m a grown-up now and only eat grown-up desserts.”

“Grown-up desserts.”

“That’s right.”

A gleam ignited in his eyes as he grasped the edge of the napkin and dragged it closer to himself. “Then you won’t mind if I …”

With the tip of her finger, Andrea stabbed the corner of the napkin nearest her to hold it in place. “Leave it.”


About the Author

Lorna Seilstad  Eleanor Bertin

Lorna Seilstad delves into life’s complexities with a generous dash of humor. She is a Carol Award finalist and the author of nine novels including the Lake Manawa Summers series and the Gregory Sisters series. Her stories are part of several novella collections. When she isn’t eating chocolate, she teaches women’s Bible classes, runs a toy store, volunteers with 4-H, and is a wedding planner. She has three adult children and lives in Iowa with her Pyredoodle named Honey Bea.

Connect with Lorna at lornaseilstad.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

From her home in central Alberta, Canada, Eleanor Bertin writes fiction that ponders the depths of God’s love and mercy to humanity. 

She is the author of The Ties That Bind series, Lifelines, Unbound, and Tethered, the Burning Bright series, Flame of Mercy and Flicker of Trust, as well as the memoir, Pall of Silence, about her late son, Paul. She lives with her husband of 40 years and their youngest son, in what will someday be a beautiful century home.

Connect with Eleanor at eleanorbertinauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Sara Davison   

Sara Davison is the author of The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo, two sparrows for a penny, and In the Shadows series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

Connect with Sara at saradavison.org to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Brenda S. Anderson writes authentic and gritty life-affirming fiction that shows God at work in people’s messy lives. She enjoys live sports and theater, walking along the shores of Lake Superior, sharing hot cocoa with friends and family, and taking road trips with her newly retired husband. She lives near Minneapolis with her husband and their mischievous twin kitties. Connect with Brenda at brendaandersonbooks.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates. 

Stacy Monson is the award-winning author of stories that reveal an extraordinary God at work in ordinary life. Residing in the beautiful, peaceful countryside outside of the Twin Cities with an old dog and 17 chickens, she has two kids, two wonderful in-law kids, and adores being G'ma to 7 amazing grandchildren. 

Connect with Stacy at stacymonson.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a paperback copy of Sounds Like a Plan, a $25 Amazon gift card, and a piano music CD by Eleanor Bertin's son!

Sounds Like a Plan JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 9, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 16, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Author Interview: Chain of Mercy by Brenda Anderson

Chain of Mercy JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Chain of Mercy by Brenda S. Anderson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Chain of Mercy

Title: Chain of Mercy
Series:
Coming Home
Author:
Brenda Anderson
Publisher:
Independently published through The Mosaic Collection (2nd ed.)
Release Date:
April 22, 2014 (1st ed.)
Genre:
Contemporary Romance (Christian)

A devastating argument
One reckless decision

An unforgivable sin
 

Successful Manhattan businessman Richard Brooks is living the dream, drunk with success and all its trappings, until one reckless decision turns his dream life into a living nightmare. 

Richard flees to Minneapolis where he repairs ancient boilers instead of solving corporate problems, and he's determined to live the solitary life he now deserves. 

Executive Sheila Peterson has other plans for the handsome custodian. Richard appears to be the perfect match for the no-strings-attached romance she's after, but she soon discovers that he's hiding more than the designer clothes in his closet. 

Richard can't deny the allure of a relationship with Sheila. The closer they get, though, the greater the risk that she will discover not only who he used to be but also the unforgivable sin he committed that reckless night. 

 PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub


Excerpt


“You’re scapegoating me? Over the past four years, I’ve been your top performer.” Richard pointed to the man seated kitty-corner from him. “What about Edwards? Wasn’t he responsible for a three million—?”

“Quiet!” Entenza raised his voice and sat up straight. “This isn’t about Edwards, or Constapoulas, or anyone else. It’s about the image you present of ACM Technologies.”

Richard laughed. “So, this has nothing to do with my performance.”

“Our shareholders don’t take kindly to having a member of our board with a police record.”

“Ahh, I see.” Just as he thought. How could he win a battle against the truth? “Let me save you and the shareholders a little trouble.” He pushed away from the table, grabbed his briefcase, and stood. Neither a demotion nor an outright firing was acceptable. “I’ll have my office cleared in an hour. Other companies have been begging for my expertise. I guess it’s time I answer them.”

“So be it.” Entenza pushed a button on the conference phone. “Patrice, will you send in Cowell?”

“Cowell?” Could this possibly get any worse? “A security escort?”

“Protocol, son. I’m sure you understand.”

Richard pinched the bridge of his nose. “Perfectly, sir.” He gave Entenza a mock salute and strode from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Happy unbelievable birthday.

About the Author

Brenda S. Anderson

Brenda S. Anderson writes authentic and gritty life-affirming fiction that shows God at work in people’s messy lives. She enjoys live sports and theater, walking along the shores of Lake Superior, and sharing hot cocoa with friends and family. She lives near Minneapolis with her newly retired husband and their mischievous twin kitties.

Connect with Brenda at brendaandersonbooks.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.


Author Interview


Q: What inspired you to write Chain of Mercy?

Brenda: A couple of “what if” inspired this story. When I began writing it, the show Sex and the City was very popular. I’d never seen an episode but still wondered “what if” a couple in that show got saved? I also pondered at that time, “what if” an abortion doctor became pro-life? While that aspect didn’t appear in Chain of Mercy, it did help set the stage for the story.


Q: How long did it take you to write this book?

Brenda: This was my first novel written and ended up being my debut novel as well, so writing it, including innumerable drafts, edits, critiques, and classes, it took about ten years. The first draft, though, was completed in about six months.


Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Brenda: While researching the book, what really took me by surprise was the impact abortion has on men. You didn’t hear about it then, and it’s rarely talked about even today.


Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Chain of Mercy?

Brenda: “…if there’s no God to answer to, then there’s no moral standard to live up to either. As long as I pretended God didn’t exist, I could live life how I wanted. I could throw off the guilt from my behavior. It was all about me.”


Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Brenda: I’ve written stories since grade school. I even wrote plays back then that my class put on for other grades.


Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Brenda: I do not care for coffee or tea, which seems to be highly unusual for authors.


Q: What are you currently reading?

Brenda: I’m reading Flicker of Trust by Eleanor Bertin. It’s excellent!


Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Brenda: I will read most any genre, but the books I gravitate toward are family drama or women’s fiction.


Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Brenda: I love singing, especially in ensembles.
 

Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Brenda: I love fall! I love the colors and the cooler air and fewer bugs. Basically, I love most everything about fall.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a book box which includes a paperback copy of Chain of Mercy and locally crafted, book-related items like a Booktrovert glass tumbler, bath balls, a bookish tote, bookmarks, and much more!

Chain of Mercy JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 28, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 4, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for book box. Winner outside the US will receive a $30 Amazon gift card and ebook. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Saturday, July 13, 2019

The Mosaic Collection Author Spotlight: Brenda S. Anderson

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz  for The Mosaic Collection, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

For His glory...  

The Mosaic Collection is an international community of women authors who use faith-based fiction to touch hearts with the good news that Christ's finished work on the cross has made us one family, and to nurture affection for the people God has placed within our circles of influence, so that the grace and glory of God may become visible and personal to everyone we meet.

...and our good

We are sisters, a beautiful mosaic united by the love of God through the blood of Christ. We have experienced the redemptive, restorative power of God's grace in our marriages and families, and we believe our God is able to heal, restore and redeem our brokenness. His love fills us with the courage to persevere, and to offer others a Christ-like compassion that is full of His wisdom and grace.


Visit the Mosaic Collection Website to stay posted on each new release and follow the collection blog for meaningful posts from the authors!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and is Past-President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE, the 2016 ACFW Chapter of the Year. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball (Go Twins!), and she loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 31 years, their three children, and one sassy cat.

CONNECT WITH BRENDA: Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Cornerstone message from the collection: 

Everyone has their own life story that brings them to where they are in life and molds their beliefs and opinions. The problem is, we live in a reactionary world where we don't stop and listen to what others are saying, and too often we're not willing to really hear the other person's side of the story. Rather, we react to their statement or opinion by pointing fingers, and we’re quick to not only say, "You're wrong" but we often resort to name calling. We don’t stop and listen to this person whom God loves.

In each of my books, God has placed heroes/heroines on my heart that I would normally struggle with and want to tell them, "You're wrong!": a pro-choice woman, an arrogant businessman, a bully, mugger, collection agent, to name a few. With each character, God has told me, "I love them. I want you to see the heart that I see." And that's what I've tried to convey in my books. Open up our ears and our eyes to see who God sees, hears, and loves.



Q AND A WITH BRENDA S. ANDERSON


Favorite place to read: It doesn’t happen often, but sitting by the shore of Lake Superior. That’s my favorite place, period!

Favorite book character from childhood: Trixie Belden - I loved how real and relatable she was. She was far from perfect, yet she was loyal to family and friends.

Favorite movie: This is ever changing. Right now it’s Avengers: Endgame. I LOVE the Marvel movies!

Favorite quote or Bible verse: This is also ever changing! Right now my favorite verse is Isaiah 43:19a “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

Favorite splurge/treat: Fannie May candies. Unfortunately (or maybe it’s fortunately …) there are no longer any stores near us.

Favorite character you’ve created: The main character in my first release and series, Richard Brooks. I loved his journey from broken man to bold Christ follower. Though his series is complete, he still makes random appearances in subsequent books because I just can’t say goodbye!

Last 3 great books you read: Oh, that’s tough, separating the Great books from the I really liked books. There’s a fine line, and it’s also a fluid line! But as of today, the last 3 great books I’ve read are: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, Water from My Heart by Charles Martin

Dream vacation: I’ve always wanted to travel to Israel, to walk the ground that Jesus walked.

Hidden talent/little-known fact: I (used to) draw portraits. Someday, I’ll get back to that!

Plotter or pantser: Total pantser, which is unusual because everything else in my life is organized. I think this is God’s way of getting me to release control.

In no particular order, ten of your favorite things (i.e. hot cocoa, a warm breeze, the sound of my kids’ laughter, etc.) :
  • Lake Superior
  • Silence
  • Laughing and spending time with family
  • Reading (of course!)
  • Musical theater (attending, not acting in)
  • Singing with a small ensemble
  • Chocolate!
  • Baseball
  • Encouraging and helping others
  • The haunting coo of a mourning dove


TOUR GIVEAWAY


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(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card and an ebook prize pack*!

Winner will receive an ebook of:
  • Where She Belongs
  • Pieces of Granite
  • Lifelines
  • Christmas on a Mission
  • Vigilant
  • Other Side of the River
  • The Third Grace
  • Carolina Grace
  • The Benefit Package (a devotional)
  • Dance of Grace
  • When Love Calls
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 10, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally, but international winner will receive a gift card only *(may be substituted for a Book Depository gift card if winner cannot accept from US Amazon)

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.



 
See tour landing page for a complete list of authors & book release dates. 
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.