A Grateful Heart

Dear Readers,

I had intended to write a post about Thanksgiving with a giveaway, but another death in my family  occurred the day before Thanksgiving. My nephew passed away and it was rather a shock to all of us. He will be sorely missed. I had another relative die this year...my brother-in-law. Both of these, while sudden, are no surprise to our Lord. While we grieve for them, they wouldn't choose to return if they could since their souls are at rest in Heaven. This is our blessed hope.

Death is always a sharp reminder of the brevity of life. We can decide to let it keep us from experiencing life to the fullest or make us more mindful to choose what we do NOW wisely, thanking God for what he's done for us through his Son Jesus. I'm not saying that I'm over it, and the sadness of losing three family members in two years, (my nice) but even more I'm fixing my eyes on Jesus. What better time to do that in the Christmas season?

So many things to be grateful for~~my family and friends, my home along with the ability to somehow continue to write my stories for you. But I'll be honest it's a little harder in times of sadness.

Two things to tell you about: Deeply Devoted is a free eBook currently, if you've not had a chance to read it on these sites:

Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/jahev55

Christianbook.com: http://tinyurl.com/ocfkdtw
Nook: http://tinyurl.com/lxfdkkv
Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/j2mnmfu

Since I'm feeling grateful to you for reading my books, I'm giving away three copies of The Trouble With Patience!!! Here's how-- Just post me a comment  on my blog with the link to your Facebook AFTER you have posted the free Deeply Devoted eBook with the links on your Facebook wall or Twitter. That's all there is to it. :) We'll draw a winner. When you do this, be sure and leave a way to contact you if you're the winner for your snail mail address.

Soon, my new book, A Sweet Misfortune, will be released in February. Be looking for news on that. I'm so excited about it!

Happy late Thanksgiving! May your lives be fully blessed this season.

Maggie

 

Special promotional for Deeply Devoted

Good news to share with you about a special promotional offer that my publisher is having for Deeply Devoted, book 1 in The Blue Willow Brides. This is to promote my upcoming release, Perfectly Matched in October. The e-book is only $2.99 at the sites, starting Sunday-9/8 through 9/10th. If you haven't had a chance to read it, here's your chance.

Apple: http://tinyurl.com/kj7ex48

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/lzzmfsu

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/lxfdkkv

CBD: http://tinyurl.com/n3z5tjn

 

Please share with your friends who enjoy historical romance. For those of you that signed up for my newsletter, thank you! If you haven't, I hope you will. It's at the top right of my blog -"Newsletter Sign-up".

I'm planning on a couple of giveaways and contests soon for Perfectly Matched. I received my author copy of the new book this week and once again, I was excited to hold the finished copy in my hands. It's always a thrill and I hope the story will be one of your favorites and stay in your hearts for a long time to come.

I write for you!

Maggie

Deeply Devoted Hot Deals

Dear readers,
I'm excited to tell you that Deeply Devoted is the e-reader Deal of the Day on these sites today August 24th. It's a promotion for my upcoming release Perfectly Matched. So here's your chance to grab your copy at a very low price if you don't have a copy.

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deeply-devoted-maggie-brendan/1101104581?ean=9781441234025

CBD

http://www.christianbook.com/deeply-devoted-a-novel-ebook/maggie-brendan/9781441234025/pd/20307EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=944792&event=ESRCG&view=details

Apple

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/deeply-devoted/id452760477?mt=11

 

When I receive my copies of the new book next month, I'll be running a contest for a chance to win the new book. so stay tuned.

 

I'm also very excited to be a finalist for The Maggie Award and the Heart of Excellence Reader's Choice Award. Wish me luck. The winners are announced in October.

 

I hope your summer is ending well. It seemed to fly past me, but I'm looking forward to fall and what it holds in store for me.

 

Maggie Brendan

 

 

THE SASSY SISTERHOOD BOOK CLUB

Today I enjoyed being the guest of the Sassy Sisterhood Book Club in Marietta, GA. What a lively sassy group of gals they are and just as much fun as we delved into the discussion questions from my book, Deeply Devoted! I believe a couple of the ladies are missing from this photo.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch of taco salad with every delectable topping you can imagine and a scrumptious dessert of apple crisp (one of my all time favorites) with a scoop of ice cream. I particularly liked the southwestern plates Jane used.

I've known Jane Neal, the host of the luncheon, for a long time and I was very honored that they chose my book as a selection. But the best part of all besides the fellowship, was knowing that they really enjoyed my book and can't wait for Greta and Anna's story. They won't have to wait long for Greta's since it will release at the end of September. :-)

Thanks ladies for an enjoyable afternoon! Your encouraging comments fuel my desire to write the best stories possible for all my readers. We drew a name from the ones who signed up for my newsletter. The winner for a copy of Twice Promised is JANE HILL! I'll be sending you the book when the book is released. Thank you all for signing up for my fall newsletter.

TWICE PROMISED RELEASES AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER:
 

What people are saying.

“ I would highly recommend Deeply Devoted to anyone wanting a good Christian romantic story to read. ” Cindy W. | 18 reviewers made a similar statement

“ I love the story and Maggie makes all her characters come to life with her excellent writing. ” Lynn Underwood | 21 reviewers made a similar statement

“ The characters were very easy to like and had me thinking twice about certain issues in history. ” loving5kids | 11 reviewers made a similar statement

FROM ROMANTIC TIMES REVIEW- 4 stars

 
Two mail-order brides, one groom and a few misunderstandings collide in the second blue Willow Brides book.  Brendan's characters are witty, charming and fun to be around, and she brings her trademark writing style to the Wild West.

Then Book summary:

In 1888 Black Hawk, CO, Greta Olson is determined to be happy as a mail-order bride to Jess Gifford.  Then she learns that another woman, Cora Johnson, has answered the same ad.  She is certain Jess didn't place the ad.  Jess knows that his brother, Zach, placed the ad and he's furious.  Zach and Jess will have to decide which woman each wants to marry-- but surprises await them when the women have their own opinions.  Patsy Glans


A brief note-RT reviewer got the city wrong. The story takes place in Central City, CO.

Don't forget-you can follow me on Twitter @MaggieBrendan and on Facebook at my author page. I'll be book signing for LifeWay's Fall Fiction Event Day on October 16th from 1-3 p.m. at their Kennesaw Store near Town Center Mall. Hope to see you there.

Until next time,

MAGGIE

Winner of Mother's Day Giveaway

We have a winner for a free copy of my book, Deeply Devoted! Wendy was selected! Yay! I want to thank you all for taking a moment to post me a comment. I loved hearing about your moms. I hope your Mother's Day was special as we reflected on what our moms meant to us now that we're adults--some with our own children.

I'm working hard on my deadline for the 3rd book in The Blue Willow Brides. My title is Timeless Perfection. Of course, the publisher may have other ideas. Lol! Twice Promised will be out this fall, which I just finished galleys then page proofs for. So I've not had a lot of time to blog with my different deadlines. After I turn in book 3, I'm hoping for a break and a little bit of free time.

I appreciate all of my readers and the great feedback that you send me. It keeps me working hard to write the next best story....

School's out and summer has arrived, and I hope to spend  a little more time with my family. I planted a small herb garden and flowers which allows me time to enjoy our beautiful outdoors. I may post a picture of the herb patch once it's established. The flowers are a different story. We have a rabbit problem and they love to eat the tender flower buds. :( We did spray offensive smelling stuff, so I'll have to see how that goes. 

Have a wonderful week, and get out and enjoy God's beautiful handiwork everywhere that he left for us so that no one is without excuse.

Maggie

MAMA-SWEETEST NAME I KNOW

MAGGIE O'NEAL (my mom)

Mother. There's no other word quite like it or carries the same weight as the word Mother. Whether you call yours, Mama, Mother, or Mom, or whether you're mom is not your natural mother but raised you, she still counts as Mother. Mothers love us despite our many faults or any disagreements we may have had, unconditionally, just like the Father's love for us. :) Most pray for us, were present to place a cool cloth on your brow when you were sick growing up, made you cookies and pressed your school clothes, praised you when it was worthy, and worried over you when she knew something was wrong. My mother told great stories and made us kids laugh. She loved country and western music, gospel and ELVIS! Sometimes I think she liked Elvis more than us kids. Lol! She danced a gig around the living room or kitchen to the music from her Hi-Fi (that'll date you!) and danced with my children as well. She made the best dumplings and cornbread you ever put in your mouth! She lived on social security for many years in a tiny apartment, but never complained about it. She watched every nickel she had just like it was sill the depression she went through, but somehow managed to have a good hot meal on her table always when anyone dropped by or was sick in her complex. She had so many grandchildren and great grandchildren that I've lost track of the total.

My mama was tough! A true Steel Magnolia. She grew up on a farm in Mississippi in a large family. She worked hard in her life in years my dad wasn't present in our family, taking on all kinds of odd jobs to keep us from going under and she wasn't too proud to work at any job if it meant putting food on the table or paying the bills. From doing other people's laundry, ironing, shucking oysters, working at a chicken plant, plucking chickens, picking cotton, waitressing, working on a dairy farm, picking up pecans, and as housekeeper at the local motels on the Gulf coast, she gave it her all her best. I'm sure I've left one, out but these are the ones that I was aware of. You hardly see that kind of dedication any more these days because people now feel they are entitled to "everything" when they're just starting out in life.

 Mama kept her Bible always opened on her coffee table as far back as I can remember at whatever passage she was studying that given day. Many of the those verses I can still hear her quote in my head, and are a big part of my life today. She instructed us in the way we should go, and danged if we didn't. We all wanted to make her proud because she was proud of us.

She lost a baby girl at eight months old and a daughter who was nearly 59 and her husband at 62, but yet she toughed it out when life seem to hold no joy. I'm glad she wasn't here to see my other three brothers pass on. She loved being outdoors, and worked in her flower bed until she fell at 87 and never fully recovered.

There's so much more I could say about my mama. She never owned a home, or drove a car, but she  filled our home with love and laughter and most of all her Faith. I'm eternally grateful for her telling me who Jesus Christ is. It's been 14 years since her passing, but the loss is just as fresh on my mind, especially on Mother's Day, as it ever was. I'd like to be able to say I have some of her strength in me.

I want to honor her by giving you a chance to receive a copy of my latest book, Deeply Devoted. All you have to do is leave me a comment--short one please, about your mother. I'll randomly draw a name next week. Leave you email address,--put symbols in parenthesis, etc...you know the drill 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

MAGGIE

OVERCOMING THROUGH TIME & CONTEST

I met a wonderful lady, Carrie Pagels, while I was at the St. Louis ACFW conference in September. Carrie was a counselor for 25 years before starting a career in writing. She interviewed me for her blog, Overcoming Through Time. For those of you just getting to know me, I wrote about the circumstances that overshadowed my world while trying to meet my book deadlines.

I will be giving away a copy of Deeply Devoted and later Carrie will draw a winner when you post a comment.

Click her for the interview. http://www.cfpagels.blogspot.com/ to enter the contest.

Hope your fall is spectacular one as we move into Thanksgiving season soon. Can you believe it's almost time for Christmas?? It puts me in a panic :) So I'll focus instead on the blowing wind sending the colorful leaves about, creatinging its beautiful array of foliage outside my office window. It's a beautiful time of year, one for inward reflection and gratefulness.

MAGGIE

WINNER AND LIFEWAY BOOK SIGNING

Thanks so much to all of you that posted your favorite soup recipe! They look delicious and I want to try them all!! We drew a name and Sheryl, you have won the recipe box and an autorgraphed copy of Deeply Devoted! I hope you enjoy the set and jot down some of the ones posted here on your new recipe cards. I'll contact you for your snail mail address and get that out to you.

I'll be book signing at LifeWay Christian Bookstore at Town Center in Kennesaw, GA this coming Friday, October 21st from 5-7 pm. for their National Fiction Event Day. I hope you'll stop by if you live in the area. It's a great store and wonderful staff with many other great books to choose from as well as mine and gifts galore. Then on Saturday, October 22nd, I'll be at the LifeWay store in Buford, GA next to the Mall of GA. from 11-1 pm. I hope to see you there. :)

Maggie

SOUP'S ON! AND A CHANCE TO WIN

Fall is the perfect time for sharing your favorite soup with family or friends on the backdrop of a chilly day. This pumpkin and black bean soup has always been a nice change from my homemade beef soup, my all time favorite. It's so delicious with crusty bread or rolls. I'll post the recipe at the end of the blog. If you haven't bought your copy Deeply Devoted, here's your chance. Write and tell me what your favorite soup recipe is and I'll draw a winner Sunday night for a copy of my new book, Deeply Devoted AND the pretty recipe box pictured here, complete with recipe cards. (Blue Willow Teapot not included). Now what can be easier than that? Deeply Devoted is receiving great reviews and I feel sure you'll enjoy the story. Why not give a copy to your best friend or mother?

I was away for five days at the end of September at the ACFW conference in St. Louis and some family illness has kept me extremely busy. But I'm happy to report that I turned in book #2 of The Blue Willow Brides and this past week got my edits back to my editor. You can be looking for that book next Aug/Sept. 2012. My working title is Three Little Words-but I never know if they'll keep my title. I had a wonderful time at the conference meeting with my agent and editor and oh so many of my great writer friends that a love of you read. One of my favorite book so far this year is Rooms by James Rubart, a contemporary novel. Quite different from the historicals I usually read. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

I have a few things I'm pondering for a Christmas contest that I think you'll like later, so stay tuned. :)

PUMPKIN AND BLACK BEAN SOUP

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil,
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 C canned or packaged vegetable stock
1 can (14 ½ oz) diced tomatoes in juice
1 can (15 ½ oz) black beans, drained
2 cans (15 oz) pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin
1 C of heavy cream
1 Tbsp curry powder,
1½ tsp ground cumin,
½ tsp cayenne pepper or less depending on your taste
Coarse salt
20 blades fresh chives, chopped or snipped for garnish
Heat a soup pot over medium heat. Add oil. When oil is hot, add onion. Sauté onions 5 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes, black beans & pumpkin. Stir to combine ingredients & bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and stir in cream, curry cumin, cayenne and salt, to taste. Simmer 5 minutes, adjust seasonings and serve garnished with chopped chives.

God bless,

Maggie

DEEPLY DEVOTED IN BOOKSTORES & FREE KINDLE & NOOK DOWLOAD FOR NO PLACE FOR A LADY

My first book in The Blue Willow Brides has been released! September 1st, Deeply Devoted landed in the bookstores and online. I'm already receiving reader feedback. One reader wroter:

"You employ some really descriptive and metaphoric language which I love.... My favorites are- He was "deliciously handsome", "stared into the dark liquid", "love was spilling over into her heart", "you wear the dirt well", "she hugged the secret to herself", "the filtered sunlight kising its bank and overhanging trees", and the outdoor smell kissed the laundry with a fresh fragrance all its own". These really stirred my senses.

I felt your intimacy with God weaved throughout the book. You really showed how the love between Peter and Cath was founded by their faith in God and his purpose for them and others in their lives and how love endured through the strength of their faith."

Another reader read until 1:30 in the morning to finish. This is what an author loves to hear. :)

I'll hope you'll pick up a copy at your favorite bookstore, Amazon or Christianbook.com. You'll find the links on the side-bar. No Place For a Lady is a free download right now on Kindle and Nook if you haven't read it. Click here: http://tiny.cc/bhzim or here http://tiny.cc/1nh98.

I plan to have a give a way soon connected with Blue Willow Dishes so stay tuned. I've been a little bit out of step lately after a bad fall, a broken bone in my foot, sprained ankle and badly sprained hand. I had more than 2 months of therapy eating up my time while I was completing book 2 in this series. To say I was a bit overwhelmed would be an understatement. Now you know why I've been behind on blogging, but I hope to get back on track.

Georgia is dealing with rain and tornado warnings today from the now tropical storm Lee. So it's been an unevental Labor Day. Hope you have sunshine and barbeque for Labor Day wherever you are. As for me--I have a big pot of Camillia Red Beans and Andouille sausage simmering. Mmm...good!

MAGGIE

I HAVE A WINNER!

Thanks everyone for posting for a chance to win a copy of A Love of Her Own. Congratulations to Lauralee -- your name was drawn from the list of posters!! I'll get your book out to you this week. I enjoyed reading about what's going on in all of your heads.

I've just completed edits for the first book in my new series for 2011, and I'm excited to announce that Revell will be keeping the title for the first book, Deeply Devoted and the series title that I came up with, The Blue Willow Brides. It's a rare thing when the publishers keeps boths the title and series title an author comes up with originally. I'm writing the second book, and I hope they'll keep that title too.

Since I've been so hard at work the last couple of years, I'm taking some time off to go visit my daughter and grandkids for a week this Friday and will stay until for Thanksgiving. The kids are out of school, and my daughter will be free from teaching that week too so I'm looking forward to hanging out with them.

In case I don't get a moment to blog again I'm wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have soooo much to be grateful for, don't we?

Maggie