We CAN! promote our books

Stardust By Carla Stewart - A New Release

STARDUST  by Carla Stewart

In the bayou country of East Texas, the neon sign of the STARDUST stands silent, no longer beckoning visitors to its cozy cottages. But two days after Georgia Peyton buries her unfaithful husband, a curious thing happens: the STARDUST sign sputters to life and winks at her. Sustained by a memory from the past and determined to build a new life, Georgia acquires the STARDUST with hopes of breathing new life into it too. 

But the guests who arrive aren't what Georgia expects: her gin-loving mother-in-law; her dead husband's mistress; an attractive drifter who's tired of the endless road; and an aging Vaudeville entertainer with a disturbing link to Georgia's past. Dreams of a new life are crippled amid the havoc. Georgia's only hope is that she can find the courage to forgive those who've betrayed her, the grace to shelter those who need her, and the moxie to face the future. One thing is certain: under the flickering neon of the STARDUST, none of their lives will ever be the same.



Carla Stewart’s writing reflects her passion for times gone by. She’s an alum of the Guideposts Writer’s Workshop, a two-time winner of the ACFW Genesis contest. Her debut novel Chasing Lilacs was the 2011 trophy winner at OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc.), a 2011 finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award, and placed 2nd in Women's Fiction in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards. Broken Wings was a 2012 Oklahoma Book Award finalist. Her third novel, Stardust, releases in May of 2012.

Carla believes in Jesus, the power of the written word, and a good cup of coffee. She and her husband have four adult sons and delight in the adventures of their six grandchildren. Her desire is to take readers to that place in their hearts called “home.” She loves to connect with authors and readers at www.carlastewart.com.

This new release blog post was uploaded by Cecelia Dowdy. Happy reading!

CAN Book Feature: Broken Wings by Carla Stewart

Broken Wings: A Novel

FaithWords/Hachette Book Group

June 2011

by Carla Stewart

Onstage, the singing duo of Gabe and Mitzi Steiner captured America’s heart for more than two decades. Offstage, their own hearts have throbbed as one for sixty years. Only now, Gabe has retreated into the tangles of Alzheimer’s, leaving Mitzi to ponder her future alone. 

On the other side of Tulsa, everyone believes Brooke Woodson has found the perfect man—a handsome lawyer with sights on becoming Tulsa’s next District Attorney. If only Brooke felt more sure. If only her fiancé could control his anger. If only love didn’t come with so many scars.

When an accident lands Brooke in the hospital where Mitzi volunteers, the two women quickly develop an unlikely friendship. And with Mitzi’s help, kindness, and insight, Brooke learns how to pick up the broken pieces of her life.

CAN Book Review by Carla Stewart: One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson

One Imperfect Christmas by Myra Johnson 

 

Review by Carla Stewart

Publisher: Abingdon Press (September 2009)

ISBN-13: 978-1426700705 

 

Myra Johnson’s debut novel, One Imperfect Christmas, puts together all that is perfect about Christmas—family, faith, celebration of life and the birth of Christ. It also gives us a glimpse into life’s imperfections—loss, guilt, self-doubt, and the pain of having a loved one suffer in illness. 

CAN Book Review by Carla Stewart: Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy

 CALICO CANYON: Lassooed in Texas Book 2 by Mary Connealy

Reviewed by Carla Stewart

Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc; 1 edition (July 1, 2008)

ISBN-13: 978-1597899383 

 

Funny. Tender. Winsome. 

These are but a few of the adjectives that fit this fast-moving novel. Calico Canyon takes place in the dead of winter in Mosquero, Texas. Being stuck on a ranch with no way out in a blizzard and confined to a one room cave/home provides a setting with plenty of room for conflict. Daniel Reeves’ wild bunch—five onery boys—create havoc wherever they go. It starts with their teacher, Grace Calhoun, the last woman on earth Daniel expects to find stowed away in his wagon, and continues when Grace becomes their new mother.

 A confession from me. I’m not usually drawn to romance or historical novels, but this one kept me turning the pages to see how the author would build the relationship between Grace and Daniel. Seeing what mischief the boys got into provided comic relief when the home fires heated up with sharp words or worse, bouts of silence.

Several subplots added a layer of mystery and pulled at my heart strings. Overall, the story was well crafted and a joy to read. Kudos to Mary Connealy for weaving humor, romance, and pathos into a great story.

 

CAN Book Review by Carla Stewart: Thin Places by Mary DeMuth

 THIN PLACES: A MEMOIR by Mary E. De Muth

Review by Carla Stewart

Publisher: Zondervan (February 1, 2010)

ISBN-13: 978-0310284185

With courage and honesty, Mary DeMuth writes of her struggle through numerous childhood traumas including neglect, the death of her father, and being raped at the age of five. Woven in the poignant prose are threads of Mary’s sometimes wry sense of humor and glimmers of grace which comes not as a swooping cure-all, but as the ever present and constant guidance of a holy God. In what Mary describes as thin places, she experiences Jesus, his beauty, and his provision for her life.

 Although those who’ve experienced similar abuse will likely find the memoir a place of shared community, there are many chapters with universal themes. In particular, I found the chapter on envy to be one that touched me. Envy of childhood friends who had fancier houses, thinner bodies, and more boyfriends morphed into adult envy of moms with better behaved children, cleaner houses, and spiritual auras that left me feeling inferior. So in many respects, Mary has built a bridge that spans generations and circumstances, letting those who savor her words know they are not alone, no matter what life has dealt them. Well done, Mary.

 

CAN Book Review by Carla Stewart: The Anonymous Bride by Vickie McDonough

 THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE by Vickie McDonough 

Review by Carla Stewart

 Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. (April 1, 2010)

ISBN-13: 978-1602606968

 

Veteran writer Vickie McDonough’s first trade length novel, THE ANONYMOUS BRIDE, delights and entertains with fresh characters and puts a fun, new spin on the mail order bride story. Set in late nineteenth century Texas in the fictional town of Lookout, the characters dance off the page from the very first scene. When Luke Davis returns to the hometown he left several years, he is excited about being the new town marshal, but dreads facing Rachel, the woman who betrayed him and married his best friend years ago. Before he’s hardly unpacked, three mail order brides arrive – each under the impression that she will be the marshal’s bride. The scenario makes for many humorous moments as the town becomes involved in the drama of the prospective brides competing to be the marshal’s wife. When an anonymous bride enters the competition, the stakes are raised as well as a few eyebrows.  

Vickie has assembled a fun cast of characters. Particularly engaging were Rachel’s daughter, Jack (Jacqueline) and a rowdy ex-outlaw named Carly, who is not who she seems. The Anonymous Bride has enough twists and turns, laugh-out-loud moments, and tender romance to keep the any lover of historical romance happy. I loved this book and applaud Vickie for this stellar first course in the Boardinghouse Brides series. 

CAN Book Review by Carla Stewart: A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

 A DISTANT MELODY by Sarah Sundin 

Review by Carla Stewart

Publisher: Revell; Original edition (March 1, 2010)

 ISBN-13: 978-0800734213

 

Once in a while a book comes along that wraps its arms around you and so enchants you that you don’t want to the story to end. Sarah Sundin’s debut novel, A Distant Melody, is one of those books. At the height of WWII, a chance meeting brings Allie Miller and Walt Novak together, but Allie’s upcoming marriage, arranged by her wealthy parents, and Walt’s dispatch to pilot a B-17 bomber from an airbase in England, halts the romance before it has time to spark. Only the letters which cross the Atlantic keep the flames burning.

 

At times I felt I had a front row seat in a Bing Crosby/Frank Sinatra/Betty Hutton movie. The story is warm and witty, with authentic characters and poignant situations. While Walt deals with the tragedy of war, Allie is consumed with wedding preparations to a man she doesn’t love and volunteers for the war effort stateside. Multi-layered with tender subplots, Sarah weaves this lovely story with finely drawn details and finesse. 

Did I mention I didn’t want it to end? The good news is that this is the first book of three in the Wings of Glory series. I can’t wait until book two. Highly recommended.

 

CAN Book Feature: Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart

Chasing Lilacs

By Carla Stewart

• Publisher: FaithWords
• ISBN-10: 0446556556
• ISBN-13: 978-0446556552

It’s the summer of 1958, and life in the small Texas community of Graham Camp should be simple and carefree. But not for Sammie Tucker. Sammie has plenty of questions about her mother’s “nerve” problems. About shock treatments. About whether her mother loves her.

As her life careens out of control, Sammie has to choose who to trust with her deepest fears: Her best friend who has an opinion about everything, the mysterious boy from California whose own troubles plague him, or her round-faced neighbor with gentle advice and strong shoulders to cry on. Then there’s the elderly widower who seems nice but has his own dark past.

Trusting is one thing, but accepting the truth may be the hardest thing Sammie has ever done.

Tips from the Pros: Carla Stewart

Hello from Sarah Sundin. As a new member of CAN, I was thrilled to be asked to help with author interviews, and even more thrilled at my first assignment. I had the pleasure of meeting Carla Stewart at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference in 2008. We bonded over a shared history of "good" rejection letters based on genre. When everyone wanted chick lit, I wrote historicals, and Carla's award-winning story was set in the 1950s--neither historical nor contemporary. However, markets shift, and within a year, Carla and I rejoiced together over multi-book contracts. I'm looking forward to seeing her in September at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference in Denver.

Welcome, Carla! We'd love to hear more about you and your writing journey.