Scripture for the Second Sunday in Lent

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” ~ Luke 9:35 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, open my ears to hear, understand, believe, and follow the Word, Your Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Interview with Gayle Trent

My guest today is Gayle Trent. Her mystery novel Between a Clutch and a Hard Place has just been released In audio from Always Keepers Press. I shared the exciting news about this new audio publisher last week.

Lillie: Thank you for visiting A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye today, Gayle. Tell us about Between a Clutch and a Hard Place.

Gayle: In Between A Clutch and A Hard Place, Myrtle Crumb buys a purse from a consignment shop and finds a note inside. The note leads her to believe something bad might’ve happened to the purse’s previous owner, so she investigates.

Lillie: I always like to know the story behind the story. Where did you get the idea for the book?

Gayle: I’d never written in first person until I did a story for Belle Books which was accepted for Blessings of Mossy Creek. I found I really enjoyed that. Plus, my grandmother had died about a year prior; and I think there is a lot of Myrtle’s personality in keeping with hers. I think, in a way, Between A Clutch and A Hard Place was part of my grieving process…a way to keep her close.

Lillie: Why did you decide to publish your story in audio with Always Keepers Press? How does it feel to be the author of the first audiobook released by the company?

Gayle: I always enjoy audio books, especially when I’m traveling, so I was thrilled at the prospect of one of my books being made into an audio book. Plus, after the publisher sent me a sample of the reading, I was really hooked!

Lillie: What are your thoughts about different kinds of publishing, such as self-publishing, small press, large traditional publishers? Do you think one is better than the others or do you think different publishers are appropriate for different books?

Gayle: Gee, I think I’ve done all of that! (laughs) All the various publishing methods have their pros and cons. With smaller houses, you have a shorter turnaround time and more personalized attention; with self-publishing, you have total creative control but a considerable investment of your own money; and with traditional publishing, your books are available in more venues. I think all have their benefits as well as their drawbacks. For example, with self-publishing I learned so much about marketing. I’m still able to draw on that knowledge to market my current titles.

Lillie: For many authors, promotion is the hardest part of writing. How do you promote your books?

Gayle: I’m finding new venues all the time. My agent suggested I get more involved in social media. I was already on Twitter; but after talking wtih him, I got involved in Facebook and MySpace. I’ll warn you those can be major time-wasters and they take discipline I sometimes don’t have (it’s more fun to chat than work, you know), but I hope to see an increase in my web traffic. And speaking of web traffic, a well-designed, professional website is the best investment an author can make. Besides those things, I think blog tours are terrific.

Lillie: You’re active as a speaker, teacher, and coach for writers. Tell us a little about that.

Gayle: When I have a speaking engagement–especially at a school–it’s like having a day off from “real” work. I love talking with people and helping them make their own dreams come true.

Lillie: Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

Gayle: Please visit me at GayleTrent.com.

Lillie: Is there anything else you’d like to share that I haven’t asked?

Gayle: Visit me at FreshFiction, where you can enter a different contest for my books (and sometimes additional goodies like a sterling silver locket during the month of February) each month!

Lillie: Thank you for visiting. I’m sure I didn’t ask everything my readers want to know so I hope you’ll check in during the day to answer questions.

Gayle: Thank you for having me, and I certainly will be popping in and out during the course of the day.
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Gayle Trent

Gayle lives in Southwest Virginia with her husband and two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. She’s a full-time writer/editor/mom/wife and chief cook and bottle washer, and loves every minute of it. Okay, not the bottle washing so much, but the rest of it is great.

Scripture for the Second Saturday in Lent

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” ~ Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

Lord, it’s easy to love those who love me and who do good to me. But it’s so hard to love those who hurt me. Cleanse my heart of hatred and fill it with love for my enemies as well as my friends. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Scripture for the Second Friday in Lent

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” ~ Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, I would never physically harm anyone. Yet Your Word says I’m just as guilty as the murderer when I am angry. Help me, Lord, to show love and not anger, to sow peace and not chaos. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture for the Second Thursday in Lent

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” ~ Matthew 7:12 (ESV) 

Lord, I want other people to be kind and respectful and generous to me, but often I am not kind, respectful, and generous to others. Help me to treat others the way I wish to be treated. In Jesus’ name.

Scripture for the Second Wednesday in Lent

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. ~ Luke 11:32

Almighty God, the men of Nineveh repented when they heard Jonah’s preaching. How much more powerful, O Lord, is the testimony of Jesus Christ. I repent of all my sins and beg Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Reminder: Read an E-Book Week

Read an E-Book Week will be here soon.

 

 

I’ll be offering free copies of the following e-books that are currently available:

• Dream or Destiny—romantic mystery
• Stroke of Luck—contemporary romance
• Fern’s Fancies—contemporary romance

I’ll also be offering the following new nonfiction how-to guides:

• Finding the Information You Need — Research Tips for Your Family, Business, or Personal Pursuits—advice and extensive resources for doing all kinds of research.
• The Secrets of Fantastic Houseplants—a guide to indoor plant care, adapted and updated  from a booklet I wrote and distributed to customers in my retail plant shop in the 1970s. I was in the retail plant business (either a retail store or an interior landscaping business) for more than 20 years.
• Preserving Memories: How to Write a Family History—practical tips and advice for writing memoirs and family history, especially for people who are primarily interested in preserving a legacy for future generations.

These short e-books are all written—they were previously available from an online publisher. I will format and upload them to Smashwords so they are available for free during Read an E-Book Week. At the end of that week, they will be offered for sale.

Don’t forget to check all the other authors and publishers offering free downloads during Read an E-Book Week.

Scripture for the First Tuesday in Lent

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~ Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

Lord, sometimes it’s hard to forgive those who have hurt me, yet I want and need Your forgiveness. Your Word tells me that you won’t forgive me if I don’t forgive others. Help me, Lord, to forgive. In name of the Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Suffering with PTSD or Know Someone Who Is?

I recently talked about a book about PTSD in veterans. I’m working with psychiatrist Dr. Harry Croft—you can see him on this video of a television interview in which he talks about PTSD and the book project.

Scripture for the First Monday in Lent

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ ~ Matthew 25:40

Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see needs of the least among us; open my ears to hear their cries; open my heart to do for them what I would do for Jesus himself. In His name. Amen.

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