Did you hear the big news? PAINT ME FEARLESS is now available on Audio! You can get it on Amazon, Audible, or iTunes.

It's the perfect gift for Mother's Day!

​Or for friends who enjoy listening to books while on the road!

Or, if you've already read PAINT ME FEARLESS, and fancy a refresher before Book Two hits the stands, treat yourself!

Meet Kathy Fox Vancil, narrator extraordinaire, who beautifully dramatizes the story in her soothing, southern accent. Below is a teaser of said accent.

​Kathy Fox Vancil hides most days inside her converted cargo trailer/sound studio telling other people’s stories. She practices accents in public places sometimes embarrassing her family and friends, but most folks excuse her oddities as, “It’s okay. She’s a performer.” Living in northern Minnesota with her long suffering husband, together they serve as staff for their cat and endeavor to never break Kitty Rule #1.

One of the coolest things about being a writer is getting to know other writers. Because we’re all a little…ahem….eccentric, it’s really nice to connect with others who spend the majority of their time obsessing over imaginary people. 

Despite the competitiveness of authoring and selling books, writers tend to be a very  generous group. We celebrate one another's victories, we commiserate when the words won't come, and we share one another's work with our friends.

So since the flowers are blooming, and giddiness reigns, let's FLING into SPRING with four of my favorite writers.
 

Charly Cox and I have more in common than our love of green chili cheeseburgers and our distaste for shopping. We crack each other up. And we ALWAYS have each other's backs. When she hit the bestseller list with her jaw-dropping Detective Alyssa Wyatt Series, she was kind enough to let me tag along for the ride. I've learned a LOT from her---seriously, tenses are complicated---and I've delighted in watching my friend take the literary world by storm.

Born in the South, raised in the Midwest, Charly now resides in the Southwest in the Land of Enchantment, Green Chile capital of the world, which is good because she enjoys eating copious amounts of the spicy food. 
 
CHARLY SAYS: "For as long as I can  remember, books have been my salvation. I always have  a book (or my Kindle) wherever I go. When I was a teenager, I had an old curling iron with a broken heating element, and I would plug it in, hide under the covers with a book, and use the  little orange light from that broken curling iron to read. I'm surprised I didn't damage my eyes. But, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do, right?"

​  When she's not reading, writing, or plotting sinister evils with her antagonists, she enjoys doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, hanging out with her husband and her spoiled Siberian Husky, visiting her son in Arizona, and traveling, preferably to places surrounded by sun, sand, and warm uncrowded beaches.

"As an adult, I no longer have to sneak-read, which is a relief. 
These days I can be found writing my own novels (where I can legitimately say reading is research) or spending time with my husband. I love to travel to all kinds of places, but water is always a plus, with the ocean a major bonus." 


Check out the rave reviews for the ALYSSA WYATT SERIES!
"Fast paced. Just brilliant!"
"One of the best crime thrillers I've ever read."  
"Breathtaking. I was on the edge of my seat."  
"Completely gripping could be an understatement."

CHARLY GETS PERSONAL

Would you and your main character get along?  Yes, I think we would. Alyssa Wyatt embodies the strength and perseverance I admire in others, and she's able to always keep her family in the forefront of all she does. 
 
If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick? This is actually something I'm considering. I think any of Alyssa's team would be a fine choice, but I'd probably pick Liz Waterson or Tony White.

If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters? This is a great question, and I know many authors actually have an entire list of wish list actors who would be perfect if their books were made into a movie, but I'm not sure who would play my characters. There are simply too many great actors/actresses out there for me to choose. That being said, I'd want someone really tall to play Cord Roberts and someone around 5' - 5'3" to play Alyssa since those are important character traits for them. I do envision someone like Colin Lawrence (my first choice) or Michael Ealy as Captain Guthrie Hammond. (The late Chadwick Boseman would've tied for first place with Colin Lawrence.) 

​Follow Charly at: www.charlycoxauthor.com

Emma Lombard is perhaps one of the most generous writers I know. Her website alone runs like a well-oiled search engine. She offers a variety of resources for writers, including interviews with cover designers and illustrators, and even random things like links to query trackers. Her tips and tools for building a social platform ease the process for newbies, and her newsletter is a must-have for aspiring writers. Emma is the real deal. She's a writer's writer. She's an Aussie powerhouse, and she's my mate.

Emma Lombard was born in Pontefract in the UK. She grew up in Africa—calling Zimbabwe and South Africa home for a few years—before finally settling in Brisbane Australia, and raising four boys. Before she started writing historical fiction, she was a freelance editor in the corporate world, which was definitely not half as exciting as writing rollicking romantic adventures. Her characters are fearless seafarers, even though in real life Emma gets disastrously sea sick. Discerning Grace, is the first book in The White Sails Series.
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EMMA GETS PERSONAL

​So cool that you live in Australia!! Have you ever run into Eric Bana at the grocery store? LOL! Seriously, tell us about Brisbane, about your country.

Haha! No, I've not run into Eric Bana at the grocery store. My only celeb encounter was a few years back at a Stargate Convention in Brisbane. A friend won tickets and asked me to go with him. When we stepped into the elevator there was already another guy in there. He smiled at me and we started chatting about what we'd had for lunch. He laughed about how he'd ended up wearing his lunch down his front and that he needed to change his shirt. 

I noticed my friend being all weird and silent beside me, but I had no idea why. When Friendly Elevator Guy stepped out on his floor and the doors closed, my friend turned to me and said, "Well that just happened." I had no idea what he was talking about. Then we stepped into the convention room (it was a small one) and the compere started announcing the guest stars who were going to speak. She introduces Ben Browder of Stargate SG1 and in walks Friendly Elevator Guy! He spotted me in the crowd as he walked towards the stage and winked at me. And then I was like, "Ohhhh, I get it now!" 
 
Though, I'm glad I didn't realise who he was in the elevator or I'd probably have been just as tongue tied as my friend! For the record, after that little encounter, I ended up binging ALL the Stargate series. Brilliant!
 
Australia is actually my adopted country, though I've lived here longer than I've ever lived in any other country (21 years now). I love it—it's been a great place to raise four boys. The summers in Brisbane get a bit hot and sticky (but that's what air con is for, right?) The Aussie culture is a laid back, friendly one. It's very un-Australian of me, but I don't like the beach. LOL! It's hot and the salt-water is sticky (and burns your eyes), and the SAND—don't get me started on crunching on sand sandwiches. 

What is your favorite time of day to write? And why?

Between the hours of: just-after-my-morning-bucket-of-coffee-has-kicked-in and just-before-three-thirtyitis-kicks-in. This is when my brain feels the freshest and most creative. Plus it's when these old eyes of mine are rested and can cope with the screen time. Though, since getting my new specs with the anti-glare coating and upgrading my ancient laptop to a new one with better screen resolution, it's much more pleasant.

Do you write your synopsis/blurb before or after you write your book?
 
Definitely after. I'm a bit of a pantser, so I don't always know where my story is going at first. Then I write far too much and have to pare it back with the help of my developmental editor. Only then do I get a clearer idea of my story arc, which then enables me to write a cracking blurb. Every writer's process is different but this one is mine.

To join the crew—and snag a free copy of Discerning Grace, subscribe to Emma's newsletter: www.emmalombardauthor.com

Janetta Fudge-Messmer is a lot like sunshine. She's bright, warm, and if you get too close, you'll find your eyes leaking with laughter. Her joy is contagious, her faith is strong, and she is a character. She's also approachable. After reaching out to her for advice I came away with more than clarity. I came away with a friend for life.

Check out her Devotional and you'll see what I mean. With chapter titles like Do I Talk Too Much? and Pennies...I mean--Quarters From Heaven, how can you go wrong?
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​Janetta Fudge Messmer’s tagline is Turning Life into Comedy. The reason being, she loves to laugh and that’s why she writes Christian Comedy (with a touch of Romance). She’s also a speaker and an editor. For Janetta, writing and traveling go hand in hand, since she, her hubby (Ray), and their pooch (Maggie) are full-time RVers. Most days you’ll find them sightseeing around the USA in their Winnebago…but first Janetta has to sit down and write a few words. 

​God's Grace in Our Grumbling –A Thirty-Day Devotional 
On any given day, most of us are barely hanging on. Countless questions bombard our brains. The answer I’ve found is seeking Him more. When I call on the Lord, I find the pit I dug for myself wasn’t as deep as I’d imagined. He was ready to rescue me from whatever I was going through. And He will do the same for you. God will give you and me grace in our grumbling.
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​JANETTA GETS PERSONAL

How many books have you written and which is your favorite? 

I've written eight books. My favorite is my first book. I thought I'd always write more serious novels because those are the kinds of books I love to read. Then I started writing Early Birds, and my characters came alive in my head. It turned into a series and I joke, "they wouldn't shut up."
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused? 

My steno pad to write down things I want to remember. The other more important thing I need is complete silence. Since we're full-time RVers, sometimes campgrounds can get a little noisy. I have to wait until it's quiet again to write.

 If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose? 

​I can't pick one. The first would be Victoria Holt. I read all of her books as a teenager and into my twenties. I'd also love to chat with Sidney Sheldon. Both were outstanding authors. 

​Follow Janetta at janettafudgemessmer.com

Ann Elizabeth Fryer and I met a year ago when we participated in Twitter's Faith Pitch, which is basically arranging 280 characters in such a way as to entice a publisher or an agent. I'm not sure either of us succeeded that day, but we did find each other---and haven't lost touch since. Together we've toiled and triumphed through the world of publishing, and NOW find ourselves holding PUBLISHED books in our hands. So it was clearly a Win-Win! 

​Ann Elizabeth Fryer loves nothing more than using story and romance to relay the depths and graciousness of a Father who holds us securely in the palms of His hands. Daydreaming her surroundings from a young age, she's lived in historic homes most of her life and regularly participates in backyard archaeology. When she's not writing historical projects, her contemporary novels show a flavor of her forever-passion for all things old. Ann, her husband, and three children make their home in small-town Illinois where they can hear church bells keep time and tradition.

Of Needles and Haystacks

​A young woman inherits a farm she isn’t meant to have and uncovers a secret her neighbor planned to keep forever…
 
After her parent’s untimely deaths, Dorothy Trafton has nowhere to go but her uncle’s Kentucky farm, a place she’s never visited. Uncertain of her surroundings, grief festers. It doesn’t help that her war-scarred neighbor, James Bleu, knows more about her mother’s secret life—and family—than she does. And why does he lie about his involvement with her father?

When news of her inheritance, the contents of an old trunk, and a disaster upend her life, Dorothy must forge ahead by making a home for herself in a dilapidated cottage—alone. Yet, she can’t ignore Mr. Bleu’s change of ways. His kindness runs far deeper than she ever imagined…
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ANN GETS PERSONAL

​How did you come up with the title for your book? 

I came up with the title "Of Needles and Haystacks" when I realized my character was looking and longing for something simple, yet hard to find in the mix of her circumstances. Being "farm fiction", the expression seemed to fit!
 
How long did it take you to write this book?  

This story took me nearly four years to write (busy x 3 young kids= slow writing)--and four years to be brave enough to publish. 
 
Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite? 
Movie soundtracks for this romantic at heart! Ever After (Drew Barrymore) and Shadowlands. 

Follow Ann at www.annfryerwrites.com
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I hope you've enjoyed Flinging Into Spring with my wonderful writer friends. Treat yourselves and grab one -- or more -- of their books! 

I'll leave you with a special video from my back yard. I have a new neighbor :)

March Me Fearless is a running joke between us, because this month has been a real humdinger. FYI, the actual definition of humdinger is: an extraordinary or striking person or thing. That pretty much sums up March. Extraordinary, striking, and challenging.

By challenging, I mean I was encouraged (pushed) out of my comfort zone. Despite my hesitation, many wonderful things happened, all orchestrated by Mr. Murphy and his cohort in Public Relations, Mr. Castle.
​
I’m an introvert by nature, except after a glass of wine, but that’s another story. No really. I live out my adventures, suffer through my heartaches, and dabble in the scandalous, all behind a computer screen in my office. Usually wearing sweatpants and sporting day old hair. 

You know that book I wrote? Paint Me Fearless? Right. Well, because of that book, I had to walk the talk, as they say.

So, with a prayer on my heart, and a whole lot of make-up on my face, I MARCHED through a video invitation (which I will extend to you at the end of this newsletter), a photo shoot, and a really honest article about what inspired me.
​
So, without further ado, here’s what Marching Myself Fearless looks like:
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​Furthermore, despite my limited skills in technology, I pushed—sorry, marched—through a new learning experience. I created a video invite for a Facebook group called Shady Gully’s Cozy Corner Chat. 
​

​The idea is to create a fun, relaxed place for readers to meet up, and chat about all things Shady Gully. It officially launches Thursday, March 11th, and we plan to not only offer provocative discussion, but play around with fun polls, contests, and Q & A’s.

You're all invited! Here's the Welcome Message: 

Welcome to the Cozy Corner! Relax, kick back, and let’s chat about Shady Gully! This is THE PLACE to hang out at the four way stop! If you haven't read PAINT ME FEARLESS, consider this your official SPOILER ALERT...because the folks at The Corner aren't afraid to dish!
***
We’re going to do polls, Q & A’s with Hallie, and much, much more! We want you to feel comfortable offering up your thoughts on everything from JENNINGS, I PRESUME, to A T-SHIRT THAT SAID BOOGIE.
 
And now, let’s get COZY!

I’ll close this newsletter by wishing you all a happy March. I hope it’s filled with lots of joy, peace, and luck! March on, y'all, and stay fearless!

​Hallie Lee

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​GERIATRIC ANIMALS
 
Since my last newsletter, my CEO, Lucy Belle, visited an Oncologist in Cincinnati. We’d hoped she might be a candidate for radiation therapy, but, we got some unexpected and not-so-good news.

​Not only had the heart tumor grown, but the CT scan picked up another tumor on her lung. This insidious growth was even larger, and surrounded by a number of suspicious, smaller nodules.
 
Still, if not for her cough, you’d never imagine her little doggie body was riddled with cancer. In fact, she’s got a higher IQ than her people, it turns out. She has the uncanny ability to root out the tiniest pill in a Pill Pocket. And, she has supernatural powers that easily detect a supplement spread onto her favorite dish. 

​Gail Kittleson’s DARE TO BLOOM Blog – posted on January 22, 2021
 
A big welcome to author Hallie Lee, who has published screenplays and now writes women’s fiction. Impressive! She gives us a look at her novel, Paint Me Fearless, which debuted at the number #1 spot on Amazon’s Hot New Release chart in contemporary Christian Fiction, and continues to battle the top spot out with Robert Whitlow.
 
She has agreed to an interview, so here goes:

1) Tell us what is unique about your novel.

Paint Me Fearless depicts real struggles in women’s lives in a way that’s both edgy and innocent. Told in first person, the story alternates between the two main characters, Desi and Robin. They are young, and insecure. Like we all are at that age! What makes this book unique, I think, is the truth about the way we carry those insecurities into adulthood, even when we should know better, we still struggle with feelings of inadequacy, body hatred, loneliness – and jealousy. 
 
Through these characters, we see how fear affects the choices we make, and how it can alter our lives. The message is how we can overcome the falseness of the lies, and be free of the fear. 

2) How would you categorize your genre?
 
Honestly, I think it crosses genre lines and would resonate with fans of both mainstream women’s fiction as well as uplifting Christian literature. While certainly grounded in a Christian worldview, the characters are flawed, relatable … and redeemable.  Like all of us.

3) What’s your background? How’d you get here?
 
It took me a while! I wrote short stories in high school. Romance novels in my twenties. I got a lot of no’s. A lot of rejection. But my mama read everything I ever wrote. She inspired me. Encouraged me. So I never gave up. I suppose I honed my skills when my family moved to Santa Fe. It’s a movie making town and I had a lot of opportunities there. I learned to write screenplays, and had some success.

4) I see you’ve won the Actor’s Choice Award at a screenwriting conference in Santa Fe and a Silver in Drama in the PAGE International Screenwriting Contest. Tells us about that. Did you meet any movie stars? Ha!
 
I did! I met Shirly MacLaine. I saw Alan Arkin in Whole Foods. The Longmire guy, Robert Taylor, in Albertson’s. Ali McGraw. But in Santa Fe you have to be real cool about it …Ha! 

5) You grew up in Louisiana, right? Is that what inspired Shady Gully, Louisiana? Will the rest of the series take place in Louisiana?
 
Paint Me Fearless spanned Louisiana, New Mexico, and Kentucky. Write what you know, right? Ha! It’s the Shady Gully Series, so sure, mostly in Louisiana, but my characters will take a few trips to the land of the bluegrass in Kentucky for sure.
 
6) What should readers expect in Book 2?
 
A little more intrigue. And a lot of humor, believe it or not. It will take place five years from the end of Book 1, and this time, the story will be told through the point of view of men. We’re going to learn more about Wolfheart, the anti-villain of Book 1. But we’re going to see Robin and Desi and all the gang as well!

BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite
​
Paint Me Fearless (The Shady Gully Series Book 1) by Hallie Lee is an emotionally engaging contemporary Christian novel about female friendship. On the outside, Desi, the new girl at school, and Robin, her not-so-popular lookalike, forge an unlikely friendship that carries them through high school and beyond. Raised differently--Robin in a strict religious home; Desi in a non-religious one--they find common ground amidst the challenges of coming of age in a small-town high school, as well as some hard family issues. But can their friendship survive the secrets, lies, and revelations that threaten it now that they're adults?

This is the kind of book that takes you on a journey with the characters from high school to adulthood, showing all the growth and change in between. The character development by Lee is exceptional. She really knows her characters and shows their dynamics, and allows them to tell their own story. The pacing of this novel is pitch-perfect. You glide through the scenes and events effortlessly, even though the characters face some daunting obstacles on the way. This author is as fearless as her characters, taking you into territories that some writers shy away from. You will connect with Robin in high school, and Desi and the others, and by the time you reach adulthood with them, you are fully invested and as impacted as they are when things get dicey. I like that the characters have some flaws, some quirks, insecurities, and fixations. They feel like real people. I like the study of friendship and how it behaves over time. I wish I could divulge some golden nuggets, but that's for you to discover when you read this book. Paint Me Fearless (The Shady Gully Series Book 1) by Hallie Lee is a standout novel for contemporary women from all walks of life.

Title News!

Thank you loyal and faithful Newsletter Subscribers! Because you’ve supported me from the beginning, I have a little surprise for you. How about a SNEAK PEEK—a special presentation—of the title of the FIRST BOOK in the SHADY GULLY SERIES? 
 
***

Do you remember yourself at thirteen or fourteen years old? Around the time junior high ended and high school began? If you were anything like DESI and ROBIN—and I know I was—you were preoccupied with lip liner, curling irons, and the latest diet.

Like Desi and Robin, you may have even engaged in a daily tug of war with your insecurities. And sometimes…like me, the battle left you frustrated, hopeless, and fearful.

***

DESI, having moved to Shady Gully from Albuquerque, is miserable as she tries to adjust to small town life, while ROBIN, forever doomed at the "bottom of the popularity pyramid" is terrified she’ll never measure up.
 
When SUNNY, Desi’s flamboyant mother, sets out to paint a portrait of the girls, they’re adamant about the image they want to project: “Paint me skinny," Robin begs.

Paint me perfect. Paint me pretty. 

As they journey into adulthood, they eventually learn that the world’s prizes—beauty, recognition, and approval—are fleeting.

Once they're finally able to confront the mistruths that wrecked their lives, they end up at the beginning. To Sunny’s portrait…and to the truth that was there all along.

And with that truth they finally find the freedom to live unashamed.

And unafraid.

 
Come to Shady Gully for the journey.
​How do YOU want to be painted?

January 2021

Watch Title Reveal Below
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​In my last newsletter, I said, Happy Fall, Y’all, but seeing as how I live in the south, fall was merely a promise of crisp mornings to come. 

But now, as October comes to a close, and we prepare to turn our clocks back (do y’all hate that as much as I do?) it truly IS fall in Kentucky!

Check out this view from my back yard.​
The lovely, noble creatures you see across the fence are Busy Bev and Ash, lovers of peppermints and playful games of tag. (Pssstttt, I cannot confirm or deny, but you may meet a few regal equines with similar preferences in Book One of the Shady Gully Series.)

Lucy Belle, our lively Papillion—and my CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer)—assumes that Busy Bev and Ash are dogs, albeit super-sized dogs, but dogs none-the-less. Lucy feels it necessary to bark at them on occasion. Well, often. Just so they know who’s boss.

Speaking of Lucy, I have a bit of sad news to report. After a string of antibiotics and cough meds couldn’t cure her lingering, hacking cough, X-rays indicated a mass on her heart. Another round of tests, and finally an ultrasound, confirmed that she has a heart-based tumor. Typically, chemodectoma is a slow-moving tumor, so the plan is to treat her symptoms and keep her comfortable.

She’s doing well. Certainly well enough to boot Patches off her coveted spot on the couch as soon as she got home from the vet.
 
Still feisty, Lucy insists I cheer up and get to work on Book Two of the Shady Gully Series. There’s a good chance you’ll see a spirited Papillion in Book Two who bears a striking resemblance to my Lucy Belle.

On another note, I’m thrilled to report that the winner of last month’s release-date contest, John Brothers, already read the book!  Here are a few teasers from his rave review:

“Great character development…very relatable and thought provoking…I can’t wait for the second book in the series!”

Lastly, get ready for lots of BIG NEWS coming out of Shady Gully this month! You’ll finally get a look at Book One’s beautiful cover! And you'll learn the official title! I think you’re going to love it! I want to tell you now!!! But I can’t. I won’t. I mustn’t.

Stay tuned for the news! If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, now’s the time. You'll hear it here on "Random Ramblings" first. Meanwhile, follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Because things are getting REAL! Just like fall in Kentucky!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Thank you for the overwhelming response to my newsletter sign-up!!

I’m thrilled to hear from folks as far away as California, Florida, Colorado, Texas, and Arizona! And my beloved New Mexico . . .oh, how I miss the hatch green chilis this time of year. And of course, my classmates in Louisiana – Blue and Gold forever, yes? 
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