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Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Delia Lathan and Lexi's Heart Giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DELIA LATHAM was born and raised in a place called Weedpatch, and now is a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She’s a Dr. Pepperaholic and loves hearing from her readers. Contact her through her website (www.delialatham.net), her blog (http://delialatham.blogspot.com), or her Facebook author page (http://www.facebook.com/delialatham).

Delia writes inspirational romance and women's fiction, and is currently contracted through White Rose Publishing and Vinspire Publishing.

LEXI'S HEART (Heart's Haven Holidays, book 1)
by Delia Latham
Published by White Rose Publishing (a division of the Pelican Book Group)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Her heart. His faith. Love Reborn.

Forty-three-year-old Lexi Carlisle’s abusive marriage ended three years ago. Deeply scarred by the experience, and helplessly watching her beloved mother succumb to Alzheimer’s, Lexi is devastated. After selling her fancy home, she rents a cottage in Heart’s Haven, a special place unlike any other. Slowly learning to live again, she despairs of ever delivering the message of love that burns within her heart for her ever-worsening mother. But Mitch Gaynor, a handsome Christian author, reminds Lexi that with God all things are possible, planting within her battered and distrustful heart the seed of hope for a miracle. But can she open her fortressed heart to God? And is Mitch a part of His plans for her future?

Readers, buy your copy of Lexi's Heart (Heart's Haven Holidays, book 1) today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

What I Do and Who I Am

“What do you do?”

For some reason, that question has become one of the first things we ask a new acquaintance. I wonder why that is? Surely we don’t identify people by their occupations. Or do we?

I think we do, more often than not. And that’s sad. But sadder still is the fact that we identify one another by our success at that occupation.

“I’m a writer.” That’s my answer when people ask what I do. And they offer a polite smile and a nod. Because writers abound, don’t they? Everybody’s writing something—a memoir, a journal, an autobiography, the “next BIG novel.” But…then the real question is posed: “Are you published?” Ahhh…now they’re getting to their real interest. Am I successful at what I do? Because somehow, folks are of the mistaken notion that a writer isn’t really a writer until his or her name is on the cover of a book.

I know this, because when I say, “Yes, I’m a multi-published author,” their entire demeanor is transformed. Their eyes light up and their smile suddenly becomes sincere, because my name on the cover of a book means I’m a success, and wow—they just met a published author!

My, how we skew our priorities these days!

Writing is what I do. Would you like to know who I am?

I’m a small-town girl, raised in a little farming community called, of all things, Weedpatch. I’m a Christian, and proud to be a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I’m a wife of almost forty years who fell in love with my (future) husband when I was eleven years old. I’m a mother of four wonderful individuals who make me so, so proud. And I’m a grandmother to four of the most amazing little human beings in the entire world.

I also happen to enjoy writing stories about romance that also glorify my Father, the King.

Do I bring in truckloads of money writing? Nope. Does that make me a failure in life? Again, nope.

I do what I do because God gave me the talent and an affinity for writing. Hopefully my words will brighten someone’s day, uplift a downtrodden soul, encourage the discouraged, or make someone believe in love. That’s my ministry…my way of using the talents given to me.

I am who I am because God saw fit to bless me with parents who loved me, and saw that I had a roof over my head and food to eat. There was barely enough money for real necessities, and none for luxuries, but I didn’t know we were poor. Funny how one never misses something they’ve never had, isn’t it?

I am who I am because my parents raised me according to godly principles; I had a pastor who taught straight from the scriptures and wasn’t afraid to call sin sin. I had the privilege of being taken under the wings of not one but two deeply devoted Christian women who became lifetime mentors and helped develop me as a person. I thank God for them every day.

I am who I am because God gave me a wonderful husband who cares about his family and believes in the sanctity of marriage. He then blessed me with children to love and teach and befriend and enjoy, and then magnified that blessing by giving me babies to love and spoil as I grow older and move into the next chapter of my life.

I am the lady next door, who waters your plants when you’re sick or on vacation. I smile when I pass by you in the department store. I stand behind you in the grocery line, and I’ll even let you go ahead of me if you’re only holding a couple of items and my basket is overflowing with stuff.

Yes, I’m a writer. That’s what I do, and I love doing it.

But I’m also a real person who—just like you, I hope—tries to do what’s right (or write…*g*), and actually manage to most of the time. Who has bad days when all I want to do is cry, and good ones when my feet barely touch the ground. The words of a wonderful song by Collin Raye says it perfectly. Here they are, from me to you:

I laugh, I love, I hope, I try
I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry
And I know you do the same things, too
So we're really not that different, me and you

Reader Question: Let's really get to know one another. I sincerely hope you love what you do, but I'm more interested in the heart of your. So....who are YOU?

* * * * *

Thank you, Delia, for sharing with us today.

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a free eBook copy of Jewels for the Kingdom (Heart's Haven, book 1) in the format of your choice. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the drawing is open to anyone worldwide.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for having me on your blog, Amber! Looking forward to chatting with your blog followers.

apple blossom said...

wouldn't consider myself a big town girl but I do have a heart to do what is right thanks for chance to win

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Delia Latham said...

It's the heart God sees. That's good enough for me! :)

KatieC said...

What a great post, and I Love how you call yourself the princess daughter to the king of kings!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Katie! I love being a princess daughter to the King of Kings! :D

Liz Flaherty said...

Great post, Delia, and what joy you project.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Liz! I do have tremendous joy in the Lord. Too often I think we confuse "joy" and "happiness." Even when circumstances in life aren't necessarily happy ones, we still can have tremendous joy in our God, and in our Salvation. :)

Anonymous said...

I love the question in the summary of the book "Can she open her fortressed heart to God?". That is so much like my situation! I love God but I still have some anger over my situation. I'm a farm girl, horse girl, doggie mommie, and occupational therapist for kids in the school systems. And I'm trying to keep my heart centered on God even in my situation.
Thanks for the giveaway!

Kim LitlePokie(at)aol(dot)com