One of the very best things about attending book events is the opportunity to connect with other authors. I’ve been looking for a way to share them with you and have decided to try a Visiting Author series. (Please be sure to give me your feedback about this idea in the comments.)<\/p>\n

I recently “met” someone who is successfully doing something I\u2019ve considered from time to time: RV-living. She has maintained a roving lifestyle — with<\/em>\u00a0husband and dog — for over five years. She wrote in her blog<\/a>:<\/p>\n

<\/a>\u201cLiving in close quarters can be difficult. But I think I\u2019ve found a solution. One day I had a thought. Was I looking at this all wrong? Was there a solution to our size-challenged abode? Could it be as simple as changing my attitude in my place of residence?<\/p>\n

I believe a change in attitude IS the answer – wherever you live. In an RV, an apartment or ginormous mansion. For me, I asked the Lord for an ample supply of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and an extra measure of self-control. Adding these attributes made our journey much more joyful.\u201d<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”I believe a change in attitude IS the answer – wherever you live. ” @nettiefudge username=”AndreaPatten”]<\/p>\n

Janetta Fudge Messmer<\/a> is an author of two Christian comedies (Early Birds<\/a><\/em> and Southbound Birds<\/em><\/a>). She also has a historical romance, Chords of Love<\/em><\/a>, which is the book she shares with you today. She’ll take it from here.<\/p>\n

Abigail Jane Thompson is sassy and certain she\u2019s not singing. Anywhere. Imagine her delight when she spies the Central City Opera House in total ruin. Noah Presley, owner of Presley Mercantile, has a plan to restore the once-celebrated building. Fate throws Abigail and Noah together. Will they see beyond their differences, or will their love end on a sour note?<\/p>\n

Everyone in the writing world tells writers we MUST make our characters memorable. From the first page of Chords of Love<\/em>,<\/a> Abigail tends toward sassiness. No one, including Abby, knows what will come out of her mouth:<\/p>\n

\u201cDaughter, is there something you want to tell me?\u201d Papa slowed his horse to a stop next to her.<\/p>\n

Abigail had to tell him the latest or she\u2019d burst at the seams. Without a moment\u2019s hesitation she said, \u201cPapa, we\u2019ve only lived here a little more than a month, but what I heard Mama say to the owner of Presley Mercantile yesterday is sure to twist the ends of your moustache.\u201d<\/p>\n

Papa turned in his saddle. \u201cWhat did she say this time?\u201d<\/p>\n

Abigail cleared her throat and sat higher in her side-saddle. \u201cNow, remember, Papa, I\u2019m quoting Mama. She said, \u2018Mr. Noah Presley, I despise this dirty, desolate town of yours.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Her father\u2019s eyes twinkled as he glanced sideways at her. Abby knew she\u2019d gotten away with a little sassiness on their riding excursion, but when they returned to Central City, one of his stern looks would shush her right up.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, how I love that woman.\u201d Papa chuckled, then his expression grew more stern. \u201cBut tell me she really didn\u2019t say those things.\u201d He stroked Dancer\u2019s neck. His horse stayed steady on the rocky path leading out of the little mining town.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and there\u2019s more, Papa. You\u2019d better hold tight to the reins for this one.\u201d Abigail did the same, as if she needed to get ready, too. \u201cMama also told Mr. Presley, \u2018You people can\u2019t even keep your opera house running. It\u2019s simply disgraceful.\u2019\u201d<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As you can see, Abigail\u2019s a tad feisty. What would you say your personality type is? Funny? Bossy? Introvert? Extrovert? For those of you who have never taken a personality test \u2013 I highly recommend it. It\u2019s lots of fun.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time to learn a bit about me. My dream from an early age was to write. With pen in hand, and now a computer on my lap, words come forth on the page. Truly, writing has been a love of mine from an early age.<\/p>\n

Abigail Thompson, on the other hand, had to deal with her mother\u2019s dream. She wanted her daughter to sing on the stage of the Central City Opera House. Abigail felt more suited for praising the Lord in song on her outings in the mountains of Colorado. Her new home.<\/p>\n

Another snippet I\u2019d like to share is an encounter between my main characters: Abigail Thompson and Noah Presley. When they bump into each other at the mercantile, more than sparks fly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Presley, excuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noah\u2019s jabbering came to a halt when he heard the female voice. Seconds later, something tapped him on the bottom of his boot. When he lay on his stomach to fill the lower shelves, he didn\u2019t realize his size 12 feet stuck out from under the curtain between the back room and the front of the mercantile. He scrambled to stand up and flung open the divider and said, \u201cMay I help y\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Miss Abigail Thompson stood smack dab in front of him, her nose a mere two inches from his chest. The only thing Noah could see of the new arrival was the top of her flowered bonnet and some blond curls peeking out from underneath the wide brim.<\/p>\n

He stepped back after he recovered from almost knocking the attractive girl flat on her behind. Abigail did the same, then tilted her head to look up at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Mr. Presley, you can help me.\u201d She scooted away from him and headed in the opposite direction. \u201cI need you to reach something for me, if you please?\u201d<\/p>\n

Noah let her lead the way and could only imagine he resembled a dutiful pup following after his master. But in this instance, he made sure he walked far enough behind her that he didn\u2019t step on the hem of her ruffled skirt.<\/p>\n

He also couldn\u2019t help but notice anytime Abigail entered the mercantile, her presence turned his mind to mush. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, and what came out didn\u2019t resemble words in the King\u2019s English.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Presley, ah, Mama\u2019s in need of some, ah, let me see. There it is.\u201d Abigail pointed up at the next to the top shelf at a row of kerosene bottles. \u201cThe hurricane lamps she unwrapped today need oil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noah nodded and stepped up on the ladder to retrieve the merchandise. He wondered why it had taken her mother so long to unpack her lamps. Night had fallen more than once since their arrival. If he\u2019d known, he\u2019d have taken some to them the day he went to call.<\/p>\n

He reached his long arms up as high as they would go, but he still couldn\u2019t reach the bottles. Noah needed to talk to Adam about his placement of certain items. Top shelves. A location which required a ladder.<\/p>\n

Help me, Jesus!<\/p>\n

Taking another step up meant he would venture into uncharted territory\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Noah was about to take a step out of where he felt comfortable. Think of time you\u2019ve stepped out of your comfort zone. Did you survive? I\u2019d say you did, if you\u2019re reading this, and you\u2019re happy you did.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”And as a writer, stepping out takes courage, gumption\u2026 @nettiefudge” username=”AndreaPatten”]<\/p>\n

And as a writer, stepping out takes courage, gumption\u2026and it takes an IDEA. In my case, Chords of Love<\/em><\/a> came to me when a dear friend and I brainstormed about a story set in the 1800s. Of course, my love of Colorado inspired the setting. Visualize someone twisting my arm (wink, wink) when research called me to Central City, Colorado.<\/p>\n

Those who know me, know I\u2019m lying. I moved to Colorado in my early 20s and spent over twenty-five years in Boulder and surrounding areas. And loved every minute. If you\u2019ve never visited, make it a point to go. GOD OF ALL CREATION LIVES THERE.<\/p>\n

##<\/p>\n

Janetta Fudge-Messmer’s books are available on Amazon<\/a>. She is also on\u00a0Twitter<\/a> and Facebook.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the very best things about attending book events is the opportunity to connect with other authors. I’ve been looking for a way to share them with you and have decided to try a Visiting Author series. (Please be sure to give me your feedback about this idea in the comments.) I recently “met” someone who is successfully doing something I\u2019ve considered from time to time: RV-living. She has maintained a roving lifestyle — with\u00a0husband and dog — for over five years. She wrote in her blog: \u201cLiving in close quarters can be difficult. But I think I\u2019ve found a solution. One day I had a thought. Was I looking at this all wrong? Was there a solution to our size-challenged abode? Could it be as simple as changing my attitude in my place of residence? I believe a change in attitude IS the answer – wherever you live. In an RV, an apartment or ginormous mansion. For me, I asked the Lord for an ample supply of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and an extra measure of self-control. Adding these attributes made our journey much more joyful.\u201d [bctt tweet=”I believe a change in attitude IS the answer – wherever you live. ” @nettiefudge username=”AndreaPatten”] Janetta Fudge Messmer is an author of two Christian comedies (Early Birds and Southbound Birds). She also has a historical romance, Chords of Love, which is the book she shares with you today. She’ll take it from here. Abigail Jane Thompson is sassy and certain she\u2019s not singing. Anywhere. Imagine her delight when she spies the Central City Opera House in total ruin. Noah Presley, owner of Presley Mercantile, has a plan to restore the once-celebrated building. Fate throws Abigail and Noah together. Will they see beyond their differences, or will their love end on a sour note? Everyone in the writing world tells writers we MUST make our characters memorable. From the first page of Chords of Love, Abigail tends toward sassiness. No one, including Abby, knows what will come out of her mouth: \u201cDaughter, is there something you want to tell me?\u201d Papa slowed his horse to a stop next to her. Abigail had to tell him the latest or she\u2019d burst at the seams. Without a moment\u2019s hesitation she said, \u201cPapa, we\u2019ve only lived here a little more than a month, but what I heard Mama say to the owner of Presley Mercantile yesterday is sure to twist the ends of your moustache.\u201d Papa turned in his saddle. \u201cWhat did she say this time?\u201d Abigail cleared her throat and sat higher in her side-saddle. \u201cNow, remember, Papa, I\u2019m quoting Mama. She said, \u2018Mr. Noah Presley, I despise this dirty, desolate town of yours.\u2019\u201d Her father\u2019s eyes twinkled as he glanced sideways at her. Abby knew she\u2019d gotten away with a little sassiness on their riding excursion, but when they returned to Central City, one of his stern looks would shush her right up. \u201cOh, how I love that woman.\u201d Papa chuckled, then his expression grew more stern. \u201cBut tell me she really didn\u2019t say those things.\u201d He stroked Dancer\u2019s neck. His horse stayed steady on the rocky path leading out of the little mining town. \u201cYes, and there\u2019s more, Papa. You\u2019d better hold tight to the reins for this one.\u201d Abigail did the same, as if she needed to get ready, too. \u201cMama also told Mr. Presley, \u2018You people can\u2019t even keep your opera house running. It\u2019s simply disgraceful.\u2019\u201d As you can see, Abigail\u2019s a tad feisty. What would you say your personality type is? Funny? Bossy? Introvert? Extrovert? For those of you who have never taken a personality test \u2013 I highly recommend it. It\u2019s lots of fun. Now it\u2019s time to learn a bit about me. My dream from an early age was to write. With pen in hand, and now a computer on my lap, words come forth on the page. Truly, writing has been a love of mine from an early age. Abigail Thompson, on the other hand, had to deal with her mother\u2019s dream. She wanted her daughter to sing on the stage of the Central City Opera House. Abigail felt more suited for praising the Lord in song on her outings in the mountains of Colorado. Her new home. Another snippet I\u2019d like to share is an encounter between my main characters: Abigail Thompson and Noah Presley. When they bump into each other at the mercantile, more than sparks fly. \u201cMr. Presley, excuse me.\u201d Noah\u2019s jabbering came to a halt when he heard the female voice. Seconds later, something tapped him on the bottom of his boot. When he lay on his stomach to fill the lower shelves, he didn\u2019t realize his size 12 feet stuck out from under the curtain between the back room and the front of the mercantile. He scrambled to stand up and flung open the divider and said, \u201cMay I help y\u2014\u201d Miss Abigail Thompson stood smack dab in front of him, her nose a mere two inches from his chest. The only thing Noah could see of the new arrival was the top of her flowered bonnet and some blond curls peeking out from underneath the wide brim. He stepped back after he recovered from almost knocking the attractive girl flat on her behind. Abigail did the same, then tilted her head to look up at him. \u201cYes, Mr. Presley, you can help me.\u201d She scooted away from him and headed in the opposite direction. \u201cI need you to reach something for me, if you please?\u201d Noah let her lead the way and could only imagine he resembled a dutiful pup following after his master. But in this instance, he made sure he walked far enough behind her that he didn\u2019t step on the hem of her ruffled skirt. He also couldn\u2019t help but notice anytime Abigail entered the mercantile, her presence turned his mind to mush. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth, and what came out didn\u2019t resemble words in the King\u2019s English. \u201cMr. Presley, ah, Mama\u2019s in need of some, ah, let me see. There it is.\u201d Abigail pointed up at the next to the top shelf at a row of kerosene bottles. \u201cThe hurricane lamps she unwrapped today need oil.\u201d Noah nodded and stepped up on the ladder to retrieve the merchandise. He wondered why it had taken her mother so long to unpack her lamps. Night had fallen more than once since their arrival. If he\u2019d known, he\u2019d have taken some to them the day he went to call. He reached his long arms up as high as they would go, but he still couldn\u2019t reach the bottles. Noah needed to talk to Adam about his placement of certain items. Top shelves. A location which required a ladder. Help me, Jesus! Taking another step up meant he would venture into uncharted territory\u2026 Noah was about to take a step out of where he felt comfortable. Think of time you\u2019ve stepped out of your comfort zone. Did you survive? I\u2019d say you did, if you\u2019re reading this, and you\u2019re happy you did. [bctt tweet=”And as a writer, stepping out takes courage, gumption\u2026 @nettiefudge” username=”AndreaPatten”] And as a writer, stepping out takes courage, gumption\u2026and it takes an IDEA. In my case, Chords of Love came to me when a dear friend and I brainstormed about a story set in the 1800s. Of course, my love of Colorado inspired the setting. Visualize someone twisting my arm (wink, wink) when research called me to Central City, Colorado. Those who know me, know I\u2019m lying. I moved to Colorado in my early 20s and spent over twenty-five years in Boulder and surrounding areas. And loved every minute. If you\u2019ve never visited, make it a point to go. GOD OF ALL CREATION LIVES THERE. ## Janetta Fudge-Messmer’s books are available on Amazon. She is also on\u00a0Twitter and Facebook.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,17],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-11573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-special-topics","category-visiting-authors-artists"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11573"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11573\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11573"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andreapatten.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=11573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}