Delightful review of A Healing Heart

Can I just use this as an example of how amazing and thoughtful reviewers are about A Healing Heart? This is from Amazon and the reviewer was so very thoughtful and thorough. Thank you to this reviewer and to all who are taking time out of their lives to read and review A Healing Heart!
Angie

Snoopy Dancing over great reviews!

 This book will speak to your heart., July 9, 2013

By 

IBakeCakes4You

This review is from: A Healing Heart: Quilts of Love Series (Paperback)

This book will speak to your heart. It spoke to mine in several ways. As I watch my quilting mother's health decline, it spoke to me about pouring my love into my family. It spoke to me about not getting so caught up in my circumstances that I forget to enjoy those around me. It spoke to me about never forgetting that God has a grander plan than I could ever think or imagine for myself. It spoke to me about allowing God to heal hurts and wounds that have cut into my inner core.

A Healing Heart will do just that--heal your heart. Sometimes we can see ourselves through a character even when the story is different than ours, and we can learn through their lessons even when the lesson that needs to be learned is a little different. Because truly, the only lesson we need to learn is to allow God to heal us in His time and His way. We may make some bad choices in our quest for healing, and we may need to voice a couple of "I'm sorry" phrases along the way, but God has a master plan for piecing our lives back together and making them beautiful just as Mara pieced together that wonderful quilt.

... Angela Breidenbach will keep you turning the pages to see how Mara's story unfolds.

A Healing Heart
by Angela Breidenbach

Twitter Mini-tutorial

I've been asked a few questions about twitter and thought this mini tutorial might help. I sent it to one person and then realized it might help a bunch more if you aren't feeling confident about the twitter monster yet ;)
Here's a real tweet I'm using now and what my tweet means broken down into segments:

Goodreads #giveaway 3 books, A Healing Heart by @angbreidenbach http://ow.ly/klvWJ 1 man can help, but can she trust him?

1. The tweet is 125 character spaces long, but can go to 140. If you use all the characters, there's no room for people to retweet or add a comment on it. Try to leave 15-20 character spaces. Punctuation, characters, and spaces count in the 140 character space message.

2. I used the # (number sign is called a hashtag) to specify giveaway is a topic on twitter that people follow so #giveaway might be a topic on twitter.

3. A Healing Heart by @angbreidenbach is both my book title and my name, but I used my twitter handle so other twitter folks can follow, but also so I know the tweet has happened. Then I can thank the person, favorite the tweet, and retweet the tweet. I can also check to see if I'm following the friends who tweeted for me if my twitter handle shows because it alerts me to a tweet about me or my book. Without it, I never see the tweet come through and have no way to track or respond. Lately I've used this a lot to specify my "book title by author's name". It will easily bring anyone back to my twitter account where my website is listed on my bio. I used to just use my actual name, but then realized the marketing opportunity I was missing. So I added my twitter handle as my name in shared tweets.

4. The shortened link means I've gone to hootsuite (or another website that lets me put a long link in and get a short one that looks like this: http://ow.ly/klvWJ Here's what the link really is: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/50843-a-healing-heart Do you see how much longer and how many more characters it takes? This gives me a lot more room to write more of my message.

5. Other websites that shorten links are places like bitly. You sign up for a free account, copy/paste the long link, and click shrink. Then you can copy/paste or use as needed the shortened link for purposes like twitter or saving space in the html coding on your blogs and website and newsletters.

6. Here's my hook to get people to click the link and sign up for the contest: 1 man can help, but can she trust him?

7. I use hootsuite.com to preload my social media for twitter, facebook, linked in, and my facebook fan page. I have a free account that allows up to 5 different social media accounts. I can switch between them right on the home page. I can shrink links too. I often write the tweet, then copy/paste to send out via email for friends to tweet. But I know the length and have shrunk the link in hootsuite first. I've also preloaded it to go out to the social media for the date and time I want in advance. I'm getting better at this each day, I hope.  :)

So when you send your tweets, put in those elements. Put in your twitter handle, not mine, lol. Then you'll see when people tweet for you. Use a hashtag on an important word that could be a trending topic on twitter. Some are #mustreads, #fiction, #contest, #Amazon, and more. You can create your own too. But the reason for the hashtag is that you want to be in a line of topical conversation. the # sign means you can use that word to search out that topic on twitter.

Do you tweet?


And yes, I'd be honored if you copy/pasted my original tweet into your timeline and told folks about the Goodreads contest!

Here it is again: 

Goodreads #giveaway 3 books, A Healing Heart by @angbreidenbach http://ow.ly/klvWJ 1 man can help, but can she trust him?

Bridger Mountains

View of the Bridger Mountain Range from rural Bozeman, MT

Come visit the beautiful mountains of Montana! The Bridgers are just outside the Bozeman city area and a lovely tourist destination year round. From spring, summer, and fall hiking to winter sports, the Bridgers are a majestic year round playground.

In my new release, A Healing Heart, it was important to me to be true to the setting. I drove around the Bozeman area. I wanted to excite my readers through the descriptions. Bozeman and the Bridger mountain area is a part of some major scenes in healing Mara's heart and the hearts of her children.

When I've spent time in a natural setting, God's power and creativity speak to me. Some of the most important times of prayer have been spent sitting on a log in a mountain clearing. The soul healing that comes from time spent alone with God is amazing. But so is time spent playing and enjoying the earth that God created just to house us. And when I think about the fact God created this planet for us to live in and on? It overwhelms me.

Have you been to the mountains, spent time communing with God, and felt He spoke to your heart?
Do you marvel at the fact God made this planet to be a beautiful home for you?

Second Chance In Love

Hi,
Today is a special day. It's our 15th Anniversary! Wow! We both are a little stunned at how fast time passed. Our combined family is grown now and we have four grandchildren, all under four!

When I wrote A Healing Heart, I didn't necessarily have second chance at love as a theme. I focused on workaholism and trust issues. But when a reader mentioned it, "So many "love stories" seem to be written about first time love--A Healing Heart captures the beauty of a second chance for love when God is in control."  (click the link for the full review) I did the hand slap on my forehead.

Of course!  It made perfect sense because God blessed me, a single mom of four, with a second chance at love.

Breidenbach Family Wedding Photo. Yep, we combined into a family of eight!

With all these personalities, our household has been very energetic and interesting from the start! Sibling rivalry, settling into comfortable family positions, and learning to understand people from different backgrounds were just some of our challenges. (My daughter wanted to sit on my lap too. I didn't think about that when I wore an entirely pearl covered dress. I still love this picture! It's so, well, us.)

Mara Keegan in A Healing Heart has three teens. When Mike and I married, three of our children were already teens. They ranged from six to fourteen. Second chance love with children was something I knew firsthand and could write about. Kids and a dating relationship? Let me tell you, it's a challenge. Especially with the numbers we juggled. But a challenge I'm glad we chose to take on even though there's a lot more than two in the relationship!

Fifteen years. Wow! Now we stay connected with a Sunday night family dinners. Mike and I really enjoy the empy-nester phase. (Shh, don't tell all the kids.) We've often looked at one another and smiled at the stunning quiet around us. And then someone shows up with a baby to watch or several kids stop in with various dogs and we're right back in the familiar menagerie.

But the one thing I love most is that we took the second chance at love. It's been exponentially multiplied by more than two ever since.

Is there a second chance in love? I think so.

Do you know anyone with a successful second chance marriage?
What do you think helps them succeed?

What's A Healing Heart About?

Both paperback and Kindle versions!

Montana's Taylor Planetarium

Taylor Planetarium opened Mar 2, 2013!

This is a special event both in real life and in fiction. A cameo feature in my novel, A Healing Heart, I wanted to share some of the wonderful family spots to visit that are awesome Montana attractions. A Healing Heart is set in Bozeman, MT, the home of the Museum of the Rockies (next post) and its attached Taylor Planetarium.

Where is Taylor Planetarium? 
Right next to the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT.
Here's a map and driving directions

What are the hours? Usually 9am-5pm M-Sat, 12:30pm -5pm on Sunday, but during the summer the hours are extended 8am-8pm. Here's more information on hours and holidays.

Are there any special  events surrounding the solar flares this year?
There sure are. Here's the full page of show information.
But this one from the planetarium's description is perfect: Experience the Aurora
Showtimes: M-F – 11am, 1pm & 3pm; Sat – 10am, 1pm & 4pm; Sun – 1pm & 4pm
To showcase the amazing capability of Digistar 5, we’ve selected Experience the Aurora for our premiere show. Seven months of winter sky watching, hundreds of thousands of photographs and hundreds of hours under the spell of the Aurora have been condensed into the world’s first full dome three-hundred-sixty degree, high resolution movie of the Northern Lights. Get ready to experience the Aurora as you’ve never seen it before—in the comfort of the Taylor Planetarium! For a preview, check out the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZXtIF9nnrA

How much does it cost? It's a free bonus with admission purchased to the Museum of the Rockies!

• Adults $13
• Kids (5-17) $9
• MSU Students (with valid MSU ID) $9
• Children (4 and under) Free
• Senior Citizens $12

With your admission, you'll receive a non-transferable Museum admission sticker that gives you unlimited access to the Museum for two consecutive days. All exhibits and attractions are included in the price of admission.
 

Cadence Keegan is the oldest teen in A Healing Heart. She has a special reason to be excited about the grand opening of the Taylor Planetarium. But you'll have to read nearly to the end to find out why.

Available by clicking the book cover or at your favorite local bookstore

I love planetariums and the laser shows and the stars and, well, everything about them!

Have you been to one?

I hope you'll visit Montana and make time for a leisurely stop at the Taylor Planetarium.

The Next Big Thing

Quilts of Love author, S. Dionne Moore (Sandra) asked me to join in The Next Big Thing. Each author answers interview questions about their book and their next project. This one is a wonderful showcase for the Quilts of Love Books from Abingdon Press. Please enjoy!


Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing

NBT: What is the working title of your book?
Angie: A Healing Heart (as of this writing moment, it's on 50% off for pre-order on Amazon). I had no idea this special was happening ($6.98) until I accidentally hit a link to amazon and this popped up. Take advantage asap. I hope it's still happening when you read this post.



NBT: Where did the idea come from for the book?  
Angie: My agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, asked me if I knew anything about quilts. All six of my kids received a photo memory quilt for their high school graduation. Combine that with watching a Denzel Washington movie that sparked a brain storming conversation with my hubby about a woman sorting through photos of both regret and joy. What would she choose-joy or bitterness?

NBT: What genre does your book fall under?
Angie: It falls in a couple of genres, contemporary inspirational romance and women's fiction. But it has strong elements of humor as well.

NBT: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Angie: I'm delighted you asked! I chose Jeffrey Donovan as the inspiration for Joel Ryan and Kimberly Guerrero as the inspiration for Mara Keegan. I'd love to see this duo in a movie version! Anyone know them and a producer? We need more movies made in Montana :)

Jeffrey Donovan would be perfect as Joel Ryan

Kimberly Guerrero, Native American actress, perfect for Mara Keegan

NBT: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Angie: Mara Keegan, a workaholic, has to trust her business to Joel Ryan, the one man who nearly destroyed it, when she suffers a heart attack.
 
NBT: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Angie: My book is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. She sold it to Abingdon Press for the Quilts of Love Books line. I'm delighted it releases on April 1st and shocked at how quickly that is coming!

NBT: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Angie: I wrote the rough in about three months. Then I polished (after a break for Christmas, a car accident, and pneumonia) for about five weeks.

NBT: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Angie: How about a few endorsements and a few paragraphs?

Opening Sample -- A Healing Heart

 “Why in the world did I agree to do this?”

Mara Keegan’s vision blurred as she stared at the old photo she’d picked from the box for the first block on Cadence’s memory quilt. David's arm curled tightly around her pregnant waist, his other balanced a precocious three-year-old Cadence, and one-year-old Toby grinned up into his mommy's eyes. Louie, the new family border collie/lab pup sat at their feet ready to catch Toby’s graham cracker.

A smile stole across Mara’s lips. Louie nabbed that cracker, and Toby wailed, right after the shutter clicked. But the picture captured the split second happy moment forever. The perfect family with so much promise. A promise broken off prematurely by a whimsical God.

Mara’s smile faded. She glanced over at her sleeping fourteen-year old dog curled up on one of his favorite oversized mutt mats. He’d been with their family since the early days. His black muzzle sported more white around his nose now. Louie seemed like the bridge from past to present as she looked back at the first picture. When would she be ready to try love again? Did she even need it? She broke out in a sweat in spite of the cold wind blowing the last of December past her windows. Not until she could trust God again. How could it have all gone so wrong? The wind gust whooshed against her office door and rattled the inset glass.

A burning sensation started in the center of Mara’s chest. She wrapped her ankles around the wooden stool legs and anchored her feet as she rubbed her midsection. This gift took more out of her than she thought. With less than five months to Cadence's graduation, she had to design and create a quilt full of memories. Memories Cadence needed as she left for college. Memories to wrap around her when she felt far from home and family. Memories Mara promised Cadence, and Mara never broke a promise.

More Praise for A Healing Heart

“A Healing Heart is an emotional story of learning to let go of the past and embracing the future. Angie Breidenbach deftly creates lifelike teenagers, a frazzled mother, and a caring hero you will love. This charming book tugs at your heart and encourages you to reevaluate what’s important in your life.”
—Vickie McDonough, author of 25 books and novellas, including End of the Trail

“Restoration and hope drive this emotionally charged novel by Angela Breidenbach. Mara Keegan’s healing journey will keep you turning the pages as she uncovers promises of a life she never thought she would have again. Family dynamics, made richer through the process of gathering photos for a memory quilt, come full circle as Mara learns to let go, let God, and let love into her heart; a truly healed heart.”
—Lindi Peterson, award-winning author of Her Best Catch and Summer’s Song.

“Angela Breidenbach's A Healing Heart is a compelling story of love and letting go and is a poignant reminder to follow our dreams. Novel Rocket and I recommend it as an immensely satisfying read.”
—Ane Mulligan, Senior Editor, Novel Rocket (www.novelrocket.com)

“Breidenbach’s latest novel, A Healing Heart, paints a knee-bending word picture of our Healer God. Whether the physical, spiritual, or emotional heart, the Big Guy can handle it. Laden with conflict, sweet romance, and humorous contradictions, the story propels the reader forward while giving her pause to wonder . . . ‘What places in my heart need healing? What wounds will I allow God to stitch?’ A Healing Heart sports an endearing and motley cast of characters, and the frigid Montana landscape contrasts nicely with the hero’s warm, sigh-worthy persona. It’s a unique and touching addition to the Quilts of Love series.”
—April W. Gardner, librarian and award-winning author

“Some stories provide pure entertainment, while others teach a lesson. A Healing Heart by Angela Breidenbach does both and is one of those books that every over-achieving, God-loving woman should read. Not only did I enjoy this book, I found myself reflecting on my own life and how much of myself I saw in the story.”
—Debby Mayne, author of Sweet Baklava, Waiting for a View, and the Class Reunion series

 

Over-achiever or Workaholic? Test yourself...

So what do you do if you're an Achiever and work is play to you? It's not really a problem unless the relationships around you suffer.

Would your tombstone read: Wow, what a good worker!

 I pray mine doesn't read that way. I'd rather hear I accomplished more than the average person, but would always stop to love on my family, friends, and share the Good News!

Here's a test to check yourself. 

Over-achiever or Workaholic?

1. Do you live off a list?

2. Does checking off the list give you satisfaction?

3. Do you set regular goals (short and long term)?

4. Do you spend time with your family after work?

5. Do you love learning?

6. If you were able to stop working, what would you do:

a. get a new job

b. tinker around the house

c. volunteer regularly

d. create a plan to reach goals you haven't met yet?

7. Is your mind always busy?

8. Are you always looking for ways to streamline to gain more time?

9. Do you have boundaries in place to help you disengage from work to go home?

10. Do you have play or rest days regularly (and I don't mean once or twice a year)?

If you answered yes to all the above, and any one of a-d on #6 (or all of the above), you are an over-achiever. Workaholics have a real problem with addiction to both work and the guilt of deserving rest. They can be quite single-minded. Sometimes these are admirable traits. But without an accountability partner, justifying the bad habits of ignoring time off can be detrimental to your health, career, and family.

God made us exactly how he wanted us. The important lesson we need to learn is NOT to avoid who we are, but to embrace our God-given DNA. Like anyone with a gift, it must be honed and trained. The verse from Proverbs to, train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it, isn't about spanking and constant discipline to create a good person in society. It's about teaching a child reverence and obedience to the Lord. Left to run amuck, an over-achiever turns into a workaholic. Workaholism isn't funny. It's hard. It's a relationship breaker. Workaholism is a sin because it's simply gluttony. Glutton does apply to food. But it also applies to anything in excess. The sin of too much. Over-achievers must balance the deep desire to achieve with the much more important sense of involvement in relationships.

  

Did you miss the workaholic test?

Link to Workaholic Test on 9/25/12

**These tests are not scientific or medical replacements for counseling or medication. They are not to be used for diagnosis. They are to be used for discernment and to take to your doctor and ask for assistance should you need more balance in your life like me.

Are You a Workaholic? Take this test...

Are you a workaholic? Some people seem to get more done than others. Does that mean they're a workaholic? Take the test below and see how you do.

Ask yourself (and friends, family, co-workers) these questions to find out if you're truly a workaholic.

1. Do I forget to eat while working?

2. Do deadlines energize me?

3. Are you regularly late because "I just have to get one more thing done..."?

4. Do your children, husband, or friends have to "interrupt" you several times before you stop working--crucial point here--and you are already well past quitting time?

5. Are you always busy?

6. Do people regularly ask you to volunteer or do something because, "busy people get things done"?

7. Do you get antsy if you are idle?

8. Do you have a long to-do list? (Example: mine is not 10 things. My to-do list is 30-50 things a day.)

9. Do your significant relationships complain you "always" are working?

10. How many hours is a regular work day?
     a. 8 hours-Are you kidding? That's for wimps. People really do that?
     b. 10 hours-I had a day off and felt so productive.
     c. 12 hours-Dinner? Okay, but I still have some stuff to get done after.
     d. 14 hours-I'm almost through my list, if I can just get a few more things ticked off it.
     e. 16 hours-Now we're talking. I'm frustrated I have 3-5 things that have to be on tomorrow's list, but at least I've made headway.

How did you do? Can you guess how I did? And yes, I've put in 20 hour days. More of them than I can count on two hands.

So how do we balance the gifting of an Achiever with the danger of a workaholic? We'll get to that. But one way is to write your workaholism into a character in a book, lol, and you learn a lot about yourself in the process. That's where Mara Keegan comes from in A Healing Heart, April 2013, http://www.quiltsoflovebooks.com.

I've been in treatment for workaholism in the past. Then I took a test from Strengths Finder 2.0 and found something out. Achiever is one of my Top 5 Strengths! (Buy a new book if you decide to look into the Strengths Finder 2.0 so you have your own code. I do not get anything from suggesting this, but I feel it's a really good tool!)

Delightedly an Achiever,
Angie

Chuck Norris Awards His Official "Seal of Approval" to New Indie Film "Last Ounce of Courage"

Angie here: I couldn't resist posting this news story since my upcoming novel, A Healing Heart, has a courageous dog considered the "Chuck Norris of dogs!". Enjoy...

The Chuck Norris Seal of Approval

Chuck Norris Awards His Official "Seal of Approval" to New Indie Film "Last Ounce of Courage"
First Movie Granted Permission to Display "Official Seal of Approval"

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

DALLAS (ANS) -- Chuck Norris' status as a quintessential straight talking, no nonsense American movie hero is on full, widescreen display in the current box office hit, "Expendables II."
Well known for championing the values of the common man and those who serve our country, Norris is also a New York Times bestselling author of three books and a successful syndicated columnist. In recent years he has increasingly been asked to lend his support to a wide-ranging list of products, services and causes.

According to a news release obtained by ASSIST News Service, "The Chuck Norris Seal of Approval" program was established in 2011 to serve as a guidepost to assist the public in recognizing products or services that Chuck Norris officially supports. They are those that reflect his values and standard of excellence.

The news release said that independent film "Last Ounce of Courage" has been named the first theatrical motion picture to be awarded the use of the seal in its promotion. It opens on more than 1,200 screens nationwide on Sept. 14. That follows a national premiere on Sept. 11 coinciding with the commemoration of Patriot Day.

A Veritas Entertainment film, "Last Ounce of Courage" follows the life of a father, son, and grandfather who each take a stand for truth and end up inspiring an entire town. The movie stars Marshall Teague ("Roadhouse") and Academy Award nominee Jennifer O'Neill ("Summer of '42") and was directed by Kevin McAfee ("End of the Spear").

"I neither star in, nor do I have an above-the-line credit on, or other affiliation with, 'Last Ounce of Courage,'" the news release reported  Norris said in making the announcement. He added, "Yet allowing the use of my 'Official Seal of Approval' is the least I can do to support a project so consistent with my core values and life principles. In addition to the film's basic reminder that our precious freedoms are not always free, Marshall Teague gives the performance of his career as a small-town mayor who is inspired by his grandson to take a stand when a public religious display honoring his fallen son in Iraq is targeted for removal. No one should miss the message of this motion picture or his moving performance."

Steve Griffin, CEO of Veritas Entertainment said in the news release, "'Last Ounce of Courage' is a vital film for our nation with a message of courage, character and conviction, and we are grateful for Chuck Norris' recognition of this as is evident by his 'Seal of Approval.'"
He added, "We believe this is a film that will not only entertain but also inspire individuals to take a stand for American values and raise their voices in support of faith, family and freedom - three of Chuck Norris' Five Fs, which so closely mirror the unifying principles of this film and what we believe."

The news release said that the first use of Chuck Norris' Official Seal was granted in 2011 to Procter and Gamble for its Era laundry detergent brand, featuring a campaign focused on value-conscious consumers who want great "stain-fighting."

The culmination of years of development, the design of "The Chuck Norris Seal of Approval" is created to convey the five core values of Chuck Norris.
The news release said they summarize his perceived life's purposes and are known as the five F's: Freedom, Family, Fitness, Faith, and Fight. "Freedom" represents anything from political to personal freedoms; "Family," a haven; "Fitness" incorporates a holistic view of mind, body, or spirit; and "Fight" is not merely martial arts but fighting for a cause or passion; and "Faith" in God, which shapes his worldview and provides a moral standard to live by.

Additional information on "Last Ounce of Courage" is available at www.alrcnewskitchen.com/looc.

---

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net.

Unveiling the new cover for A Healing Heart

It's here! Unveiling the new cover for A Healing Heart releasing April 2013. I've turned in the manuscript and expect the edits back beginning of June. It's so hard to wait when I want to share the story.

Fun news for July, I'll have the honor of unveiling the new Quilts of Love line of books from Abingdon Press at ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) during the special fiction event. I'm excited to share :) The first book for the Quilts of Love line comes out in October 2012. Each author's book has a spectacular quilt with a rich story.

Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. The Quilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family history. Featuring contemporary and historical romances as well as women's fiction and the occasional light mystery, you will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.

Hint: 

A Healing Heart is a contemporary romance laced with endearing family humor.