Blue Like Elvis
The Moody Blue Trilogy
Book Two
Releasing in March of 2012
* temporary cover: art work by tinmount
Three stand-alone stories with a common blue thread woven through a unique glimpse into the world of music
Shelby Colter moves back to Memphis, Tennessee in the spring of 1977 hoping to make a fresh start after breaking off her engagement. Working as a patient representative hostess at Baptist Memorial Hospital - the world's largest private hospital - she thrives in her new job, assisting patients with their non-medical needs. She laughs at her colorful co-workers who constantly chat about Elvis-sightings. Baptist is, after all, "Elvis's hospital." But she's never been much of an Elvis fan . . . even if her dad, the infamous "Cadillac Jack," used to sell the famous singer all those flashy Caddies.
Besides, she's much too busy, between her many patients, her friends, and oh yeah - Tucker Thompson. Little "Chubby Tucker" - the annoying kid who hung out with her older brother when they were just kids . . . the one whose life's calling was to annoy her to death . . . now a resident at BMH? A handsome, compassionate doctor? How did THAT happen? Will he ever stop calling her Moonpie?
But when people she loves face life-threatening illness, Shelby tries to reconnect to her faith on their behalf. And then one night, she pours out her heart to a most unexpected visitor . . .
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Blue Like Elvis is fiction - well, most of it, anyway. After college, my first "real job" was at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis working as a patient representative, a one-of-a-kind program created by hospital president, Frank Groner. While most of this novel is fiction, the setting of Shelby's adventures are based on my own experience during that time . . . including the day Elvis died, on August 16, 1977.
Blue Christmas
The Moody Blue Trilogy
Book One
Sometimes the best Christmas presents aren't found beneath the tree ...
Three stand-alone stories with a common blue thread woven through a unique glimpse into the world of music
Working late on Christmas Eve, college senior Hannah Brooks is in the midst of a full-blown pity party. When a last-minute customer invites her to a candlelight service and a late-night family dinner, Hannah reluctantly accepts. She has no idea this kindhearted woman is the mother of Jason McKenzie—leader singer of Out of the Blue, the hottest band in the country—and Hannah's childhood idol. The evening ends with an innocent kiss (sans mistletoe) as Hannah is swept away by Jason's unpretentious manner.
Over the holidays Hannah and Jason’s relationship grows, but when turmoil and tragedy strike at the very heart of his famous band, their newfound love is put to the test in the glare of the paparazzi spotlight. Throughout her rollercoaster of experiences with Jason and his friends, Hannah comes face to face with her own beliefs. Who knew she could learn more about prayer and faith by hanging out with a bunch of rock stars than she ever learned in church?
Author's Note: I first wrote Blue Christmas as a gift for my then-teenage daughter in honor of her affection for a wildly popular band in the late 90s. The short story grew into a full-length novel, eventually surfacing on one of the band's fan fiction websites where it became quite a phenomenon. More than 80,000 readers stopped by to read the story, with over 1000 of them sending me personal emails which I still enjoy reading today. Though the storys details have been changed, its band and all characters now fictional, the story line remains the same. I have dedicated Blue Christmas to my now-grown daughter, Hannah Moody Schmitt.
Blue Christmas
is available in paperback and on Kindle from OBT Bookz.
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Strike the Match
Available now on Amazon Kindle!
The Teacup Novellas
Take a trip to Oregon . . .
Book Two
a series of stories wrapped around a collection of vintage teacups from around the world.
Curl up with a "cuppa" your favorite brew and enjoy!
The last place Keri McMillan wants to be is back home in Waterford Bay, Oregon. But after two years at prestigious New York University pursuing a degree in journalism, her bank account is drained. Keri is determined to move home for one year - and one year only—- to make some serious money working for her dad’s log cabin company. But Keri watches her goals go up in smoke when the company’s new showcase home burns to the ground.
Six months ago, Grant Dawson bought the Waterford Weekly, a small newspaper in his father’s hometown. Burned out as a reporter for the L.A. Times, he welcomed the slower pace of this Oregon coastal town and the more relaxed lifestyle producing a weekly paper.
Grant is surprised at his unexpected interest in Keri, the niece of columnist Nita Sanders. When Keri shows up at a log cabin fire in the middle of the night, she’s not the geeky college kid he expected. But he’s not about to fall victim to Nita’s orchestrations.
Even if her niece is beautiful.
And vulnerable.
And apparently in need of a job.
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Tea With Emma
The Teacup Novellas
Book One
a series of stories wrapped around a collection of vintage teacups from around the world.
Curl up with a "cuppa" your favorite brew and enjoy!
If you love Jane Austen, take a "trip" to Texas . . .
Inspired by a Jane Austen tour in England, Maddie Cooper returns home to Texas, determined to bring a touch of Austen to Austin. She dreams of opening an authentic English tea room and, like Austen’s beloved novel Emma, she longs to put into practice her self-proclaimed “gift” as a matchmaker. But an airport mishap with a cranky Englishman gets her off on the wrong foot (quite literally), especially when he moves into the university guest house across the street. Can Maddie find a love for her unapproachable new neighbor, or has she finally met her match?
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The Runaway Pastors Wife
A pastor's wife . . .
running away from home?
What could possibly drive a pastor's wife to run away from home? After years of frustration from life in a church fishbowl, Annie McGregor walks away from it all and boards a plane for Colorado. Leaving behind only a note to her husband, she escapes on a personal retreat to a remote cabin high in the Rockies. There, in a rustic hideaway on loan from her best friend from college, Annie hopes to plow through her confusion, doubts, and gnawing resentments to face God—one on one.
Annie has no way of knowing that far away in Houston, Texas her college sweetheart is in serious trouble. Michael Dean, former Major Leaguer with the Astros, has forced an explosive showdown with his father-in-law, powerful U.S. Congressman Elliot Thomas. Terrified and gravely wounded, Michael must find a place to disappear if he’s going to survive. During his desperate escape from danger, a simple, chance encounter snaps a memory from college days long ago. A cabin in Colorado. Perfect.
Their unexpected reunion couldn't have come at a worse time. Or could it? Bewildered that God would allow Michael Dean to walk back into her life, Annie pleads with Him to keep her heart true to her family and marriage vows. God answers her prayer, but in a way she would never expect.
The Runaway Pastor's Wife is available now on Kindle and in paperback on Amazon.com from OBT Bookz.
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2 Don't Look Down
A labor of love ...
Debbie Church has been an oncology counselor for 18 years. In 2009 she had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with Stage IIIA breast cancer. Suddenly, the counselor became the patient. Her insights, now from both sides of cancer, give readers an inside look at her journey down this unwanted path.
Dick Church is a minister who's made thousands of hospital visits over the years, never dreaming his wife would be one of those patients lying in a hospital bed. Dick, who writes with a uniquely jaded sense of humor, is also an avid mountain climber and caver whose many adventures ironically parallel the uphill battle his wife now faces with cancer. He gives us a rare glimpse
into the husband's perspective of breast cancer and all its implications.
Dick and Debbie take turns
writing chapters, sharing their
experiences, the lessons they've
learned, their heartaches and
tears, and even a few laughs
along the way.
Don't Ever Look Down
is available from Journey Press,
an imprint of Sheaf House
Publishers LLC.
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1 Confessions
My first published book!
Prayer. We know what it is. We’ve all done it at one time or another. At the bedside of a loved one who’s ill. In trenches on the battlefield. In the classroom before a final exam. Around the dinner table. But most of us would probably agree that prayer isn’t a habit in our lives. Not something we do every day—unless there’s a crisis, of course. Which explains why most of us are so bad at it. Why is that? And how come we’ve never bothered to do something about it?
Confessions of a Prayer Slacker traces my personal journey to discover that warm, one-on-one relationship God desires to have with each one of us. Take a peek at my video trailer:
Confessions of a Prayer Slacker, published by
Journey Press, is an imprint of Sheaf House Publishers LLC. Click on the title to order your copy today!
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