Guess What Appeared on my Front Porch?

Busy with the final rewrites for my next Love Inspired Suspense, I wasn't thinking of my August release until three boxes showed up on my front porch last week.  I quickly hauled the cartons into my kitchen and carefully cut through the tape so I could open the lids and peer inside.  

Of course, you've probably guessed what was in the boxes!  Copies of THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER, my tenth book and the third story in my Military Investigations Series.  The two larger boxes each contained 48 paperbacks, while the smaller box held three books in the new large-print, trade paperback size. 

I had sent the Art Department a number of pictures of military quarters to give them an idea of what I would like to see on the cover.  Fort Rickman, the fictional Army post I created for the series, is located in Georgia, but the set of quarters I envisioned as I wrote the story is identical to a house at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where I had lived in my youth.

Not only did the Art Department provide an accurate rendering of the quarters, they also captured a feeling of suspense and intrigue, and added the heroine at the window as a bonus.

Love Inspired is celebrating their 15^th anniversary in publishing. Congrats to the editors and staff, and a special thank you to my editor, Emily Rodmell, and the Art Department.

What do you like to see on covers?  Did you ever buy a book just because you liked the art work? Do you prefer still life covers or ones that depict the hero and heroine?

Happy writing! Happy reading!

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

www.seekerville.blogspot.com

www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com

THE COLONEL’S DAUGHTER

By Debby Giusti

UNDER SIEGE

A ruthless killer is targeting the families of soldiers in a U.S. Army colonel’s brigade. Special agent Jamison Steele, of the Criminal Investigation Division, vows to stop him—because this time, Jamison’s heart is involved. The colonel’s daughter, the woman who loved and left Jamison without a word, came face-to-face with the murderer. Protecting Michele Logan means constant surveillance. And solving the mystery of the serial killer’s motive requires asking Michele the questions she least wants to answer. Questions that may lead them both into a deadly trap.

THE OFFICER'S SECRET, book 1, and THE CAPTAIN'S MISSION, book 2, are still available in paperback or e-book.  Order them here. 

Reader and Writer Opportunities

The Seekers: (L to R) Debby Giusti, Sandra Lee Smith, Julie
Lessman, Mary Connealy, Cara Lynn James, Myra Johnson,
Ruth Logan Herne, Audra Harders and Janet Dean

This week is packed with fun opportunities for writers and readers alike.  Writers--and those folks who want to hang out with writers or learn more about how to craft a story--are challenging themselves to write a book in a month-long event called SpeedBo, AKA Speed Book, hosted by www.seekerville.blogspot.com.  

Haven't been to Seekerville? The 13 Christian authors who host the blog provide great information about writing and publishing.  Since I'm one of the authors, I may be biased, but we do have a lot of fun, serve cyber-food that's always delicious and calorie free, talk about the latest trends and tips and techniques in publishing and support one another as we all try to perfect our craft and turn out better stories.  Plus, during March, we're pushing forward to write page after page after page until we eventually end up with a full-length manuscript.  

Another reason to visit Seekerville?  We always have prizes.  During SpeedBo, the giveaways will be writing related, but at other times, we give at least one book away a day.  

A fun event for readers this week is Barbara Vey's 5th Annual Birthday Bash, which celebrates the success of her Publishers Weekly romance blog, www.BeyondHerBook.com. Barbara's goal in life is to connect readers and writers, and her blog helps do just that.  Stop by to wish Barbara continued success, and you'll be entered in drawings for hundreds of books she's giving away this week.  

On Wednesday, the Seekerville authors are hosting the party on Barbara's blog, donating numerous books and giving away a KINDLE FIRE. Thursday is inspirational genre day so you'll find many of your favorite authors celebrating with Barbara.  No matter when you leave a comment, you'll have a chance to win.

FYI: Barbara is hosting a Readers' Appreciation Luncheon on April 10, at the Oak Creek Community Center, in Oak Creek, WI, and you're invited. Check out the information at: http://www.barbaraveyreaders.com

Happy Birthday, Barbara!  Good luck to all the SpeedBo writers!

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

www.seekerville.blogspot.com

www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com

Remember 9/11!

By Debby Giusti

America must never forget what happened on September 11, 2001. Fanatic terrorists, their hearts twisted in darkness, planned and executed a horrific, multi-faceted attack that put a human face on evil. That day, our lives changed forever. We lost our innocent and perhaps naive belief that we were safe despite the rising tide of radical extremists hellbent on doing us harm.

The first, seemingly random crash of a jet airliner into one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, in New York City, caught the attention of the nation and indeed the world. For many, the tragedy unfolded as we stared in disbelief at television newscasts, horrified by what we saw. A second airliner exploded into the second tower, confirming our worst nightmare. The United States was under attack.

Struggling to fully comprehend the magnitude of those first malicious acts, we watched a third aircraft smash into the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C. With rumors of a fourth plane headed for the capitol, many feared the terror would never end.

Thousands died that day, innocent people who never expected an attack on U.S. soil or the catastrophic consequences that ensued.

First responders—fire fighters, police officers, EMTs—rushed into burning infernos in order to save lives only to lose their own as the towers collapsed into mammoth mounds of twisted metal and billowing clouds of smoke and debris.

In Washington, D.C., brave military men and women joined hands with civilians to quell the blazing fires and rescue co-workers trapped in the shattered and smoldering rubble of the Pentagon.

In the air above Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a planeload of heroic citizens fought to recapture an aircraft slated to wreck more havoc on our country. “Let’s roll,” became a battle cry for those brave men and women and the watchword that called all of us into action. Rolling up our sleeves and reaching out to those in need, we worked together to rebuild and heal.

Ten years ago, we learned that freedom is never free. With it comes responsibility. As post-9/11 people, we must be strong and vigilant and ever ready to defend our country and our way of life, knowing what happed once could happen again. Those who seek to do us harm continue to plot our demise, yet God is stronger than any enemy. He is our hope in times of peril and our surety in times of strife. We must put our trust in Him and return our country to His protection.

Today, as we remember 9/ll, let us rededicate ourselves to the principles upon which our country was founded. With one voice, let us proudly proclaim that we are the United States of America, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The Officer's Secret!

I’m an Army brat, which is an endearing term for someone whose dad—or mom—was in the service. I’m also an Army wife and Army mom, and I love the military way of life. When my son was deployed to Iraq for the second time, I wrote MIA: MISSING IN ATLANTA and had hoped to someday publish more books about the brave men and women in uniform. That’s why last year, when my editor asked if I’d be interested in writing a military series, I felt God had opened a door I needed to walk through.


As my editor discussed her vision for the series, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division came to mind. “The CID investigates crimes against the military or military personnel or crimes committed by someone in uniform,” I quickly explained. “The CID would provide a perfect backdrop.” My editor liked the idea and gave me the go ahead. Within a short time, I had outlined the first story in my new Military Investigations series, which went on to be titled, THE OFFICER’S SECRET.

Being partial to Georgia where I currently live, I wanted to include aspects of Fort Benning in the story. The Army post is located along the Chattahoochee River south of Columbus, Georgia, and is a beautiful military reservation with large grassy knolls, bike and running paths and a new museum located near the river.

Growing up, I had lived at Fort Knox, Kentucky, a number of times, and my son had recently been stationed there so that post, with its stately brick quarters, tall oak trees and expansive training areas, also provided inspiration. By combining aspects of Benning and Knox, I came up with the fictional Fort Rickman, a large Army training post near the small river town of Freemont, Georgia, which I also created.

The brick home on the cover of THE OFFICER’S SECRET plays an important role in the story and is similar to the last quarters I lived in at Fort Knox. Built in the 1930s, the grand structure had its own sense of history, and I had often thought about the many families that had made the house their home down through the years. “If only these walls could talk,” I often mused. “What secrets would they reveal?” That question played into the story, as well.

The hero, CID Special Agent Nate Patterson reminds me of my real military heroes…my father and husband and son. Nate is a dedicated professional who loves his country. When an officer dies on post, Nate is called in to investigate. The deceased—a female major—has just redeployed home from Afghanistan. Her estranged sister, Maggie Bennett, finds the body, but Nate soon realizes the family counselor from Alabama may be hiding secrets about her past.

If you believe in love at first sight, you’ll understand Nate’s instant attraction for Maggie. She’s a bit more reserved and needs time to ensure she can trust the special agent. Although they end up together, the past must be revealed and healed before the investigation can be put to rest.

The second book in the series, THE CAPTAIN’S MISSION, features Special Agent Kelly McQueen and will be out in October. Currently, I’m writing the third book in the series, which is Special Agent Jamison Steele’s story.

Last year, I walked through the door God opened and accepted my editor’s offer to write about the military men and women who protect and defend our nation, for which I’ll always be grateful. I hope you’ll enjoy reading THE OFFICER’S SECRET, the first book in my Military Investigations Series, as much as I enjoyed writing the story.

Happy reading!


Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/

I'm giving away 5 copies of THE OFFICER'S SECRET on http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/, May 18.  Stop by and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

A time of new beginnings…

Spring has arrived in Georgia, and the world is in full bloom. Red buds and cherry blossoms burst forth with color, along with gnarly dogwoods interspersed among the hardwoods. Day lilies and hostas poke their heads from the earth, enticing deer to feed on the tasty new growth.
The daffodils and Bradford pear trees were beautiful this year. Now, with blossoms spent, the pears are clothed with new foliage that rustles in the breeze and brings shade upon the earth.

Geese fly over our lake. Ducks waddle along the shoreline. Before long, baby goslings and ducklings will swim behind their mothers, all in a row like a Madeline book I used to read to my children.

Each morning, birds welcome the new day with song. Squirrels leap from tree branch to tree branch, then scamper down the giant oaks to forage for nuts. Like a pregnant woman preparing for delivery, they carry twigs and last year’s fallen leaves to pad their treetop nests for their babies soon to be born.

All around me, the world is bringing forth new life.

What new life will the Lord bring forth in me?

I’m working on a proposal and apologize for being away from the blog for so long. Regrettably, I stopped blogging when I was on deadline and have put off posting since then. Not because I haven’t been thinking of all of you, but because sometimes a twenty-four hour day is not long enough.

At this time of new life and new beginnings, I promise to be more present in the days ahead. Stop by often. Leave a comment or a prayer request.

I pray daily for each of you who visit the blog. I also pray for everyone who has ever read one of my books. I believe the Lord hears my prayer and sends blessings to all of you, the special people in my life.

Japan is on my list of prayer intentions. I know you join me in lifting up the people in that country, asking the Lord to provide for their needs and to keep them safe in this time of distress.

May the Lord bless you abundantly today and in the days ahead. Thank you for being a dear friend.

Hugs!
Debby Giusti 
http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://www.ladiesof/ suspense.blogspot.com

Two Conferences in Two Weeks!



LtoR:  Debby, Missy Tippens, Michael Hauge,
and Janet Dean at ACFW 2010.



Writing is a solitary business, but each fall two conferences – held only two weeks apart – pull me away from my computer and allow me to interact with others. On September 16, I flew to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference. The Friday to Monday event was packed with workshops on craft and technique and provided numerous opportunities to learn how experts create their stories.

Hollywood Screenwriting Guru Michael Hauge gave a two-part class on Plot Structure. Initially he worked with screenwriters to help them enhance their scripts. A few years ago, he began speaking to writers groups and soon realized the same techniques apply to full-length fiction. Using examples from movies, Hauge described the six stages that take a character from his or her ordinary world through a series of escalating complications, which result in changing the hero or heroine, to an exciting climax where the lead character faces his biggest obstacle. In the end, the character is a new and hopefully better person because of what he experienced.

Interestingly, Mr. Hauge is also presenting at the Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight and Magnolias Conference, which I will be attending this upcoming weekend. No doubt, he’ll provide even more information for me to absorb and apply to my own writing.

L to R:  Seekers Cheryl Wyatt, Janet Dean, Missy Tippens,
Audra Harders, Steeple Hill Assistant Editor Emily Rodmell,
Debby Giusti, Glynna Kaye and Myra Johnson.

The highlight of both conferences is reconnecting with friends. Many of the Seekers – 15 of us began as a group of online friends all working toward publication…for the last three years we’ve blogged about our experiences (http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/) and celebrated when doors opened and our books sold—were at the ACFW conference so it was especially wonderful to get together with them. The Georgia writers are a warm and welcoming group, and I’m excited about seeing many dear friends this weekend as well.

I’ll return home on Monday and head back to my computer. Hopefully, my writing will benefit from the workshops I’ve attended. I know I’ll have wonderful memories of the friends I cherish that will carry me through a winter of writing.

Wishing you abundant blessings!
Debby Giusti
http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.crossmyheartprayerteam.blogspot.com/
Visit Seekerville (http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/) for our October Birthday Bash. Great blog interviews, lots of fun and giveaways, including a Kindle loaded with Seeker books!  Be sure to stop by on October 5th when Steeple Hill Assistant Editor Emily Rodmell will provide tips on getting published.  Hourly drawings, including the four September Love Inspired Suspense releases!

Prayers for Our Nation

A friend sent me the following in an email. I thought you might be interested...

2nd Chronicles 7:14 states, "If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Someone has said that if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.

Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing everyday at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people, and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America . If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation.

If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.

Wishing you abundant blessings!

With prayers and love,

Debby