#YouToo?

By Rose Dee @rosedeeauthor

Many of you will have seen or been a part of the #MeToo movement.

It’s a social media movement aimed at highlighting sexual harassment, inspired by the recent revelations of sexual harassment and Hollywood. Behavior so predatory and abhorrent and disgraceful that the revelations about this community of men—and their enablers—almost defies belief.

Men who exhibit such predatory sexual behavior are troubled individuals. I don’t know nor understand their motivations. Is it a disregard of women as individuals with rights? Is it outright hatred of a particular woman? Or hatred of all women? Is it a spirit of pride? Is it the pursuit of power? All I know is these evil men have caused untold horrors in the lives of their victims. The #MeToo movement is an attempt to support victims and perhaps balance out some of this horror.

For those of you who don’t know, the #MeToo movement is about letting women know that they are not alone when dealing with sexual harassment. I can see where the support and encouraging words of ‘you are not alone’ will comfort a woman who has gone through or is going through this sort of torment. I have been a victim of harassment. I know how it feels.

But, like every social media movement, #MeToo is not without critics. It seems all unwanted attention from a male to a female can be deemed sexually harassing, even a wolf whistle or a well-intentioned compliment taken the wrong way. I guess it is up to the individual to make their own judgment about whether those instances are harmful harassment or not. We don’t always get to walk in each other’s shoes.

One thing has struck me about this movement: while it feels like the majority of women are racing to their keyboards to share their tales of male failure, neglect, and genuine assault, for all sorts of reasons, women are not as freely sharing the times when male encouragement and intervention has impacted them in positive, loving, and powerful ways.

I believe for every movement against something, there needs to be a movement in favor of the opposite. It’s called balance, and that balance has the potential to inspire perspective, address counteraction, and calm the storm of hurt to bring peace and understanding.

I’m not saying the #MeToo movement doesn’t have merit. It does.

I have stories I could tell about how I have been sexually harassed. Not wolf whistles, or inappropriate comments, but real cases of harm, hurt, and anger. But those times in my life fade away when I compare them to the times I’ve felt appreciated and valued by a man.

Like the day I told my husband I wanted to try my hand at writing. He was so supportive and excited by my declaration that he bought me a laptop. And his support of my changing careers does not end there. I’ve changed direction many times during our marriage, from salesperson, to student, to writer, to bookkeeper. Through all these changes, my husband has been my loudest cheerleader.

When I had my son and was suffering postnatal depression, my husband lifted me up and encouraged me to keep going, keep working at being the mum I wanted to be. I often half-jokingly say my husband is more of a feminist than any woman I know, because he never puts limits what I can do.

He is a constant encourager of my heart’s endeavors, and he backs me all the way.

My Dad was the same.

Dad thought me learning to drive a semi-trailer was a great idea . He was proud when I mastered a skill he hadn’t. Even as a teenager, Dad and I would mow our neighbors’ laws together. I’d be the one on the mower, and he would be in charge of the trimming. The fact that I was a girl didn’t come into play. In my family, it was the kid who showed the interest and had the initiative who got the advantage. Male and female gender limitations were never a struggle.

What I am saying, dear reader, is that while it is important to support and encourage women who have suffered at the hands of hateful men, I also believe it is also important to give credit and uplift the men in our lives who have loved us, changed us for the better, and supported us through thick and thin.

Spending too much time dwelling on the bad can limit the difference the good can make. So instead of #MeToo, today I choose #Supported, #Uplifted, #Loved by the men in my life.

I hope #YouToo? can recall the moments of your life when a man loved you.

First Seen in Book Fun Magazine: https://www.bookfun.org/

Rose was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her Resolution series.

Two of the three Resolution novels have won Australian CALEB awards. She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel highlighting the pain of Australia’s past policy of forced adoption, as well as standalone novel, Ehvah After. Her most recent release is the novella, A Christmas Resolution.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and her desire to produce stories that point readers to Jesus. Rose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband and son. Visit Rose at: https://rosedee.com/

Spiders, Cockroaches, and FEAR

When I was a child growing up in my little Australian coastal community, I admit to having one major phobia: cockroaches. I’m not talking about those little shiny ones that avoid you as much as you avoid them.

No, I’m talking about the monstrous ones that fly (yes, fly) through the house. They have the potential to land anywhere, and mostly they landed on me—in my hair, on my back, on my face. We had one bad year where they attacked us in plague proportions. I remember my Dad telling us that he woke up one night with one biting him on the leg. Needless to say, all insect screens were repaired proto. But this time of terror meant that for many years, I fell into fits of fear every time I saw one of these flying menaces.

Then one day I saw something truly uplifting.

I saw my evil cockroach nemesis trapped in a massive spider’s web.

Okay, so I understand that for many of you, the mere mention of a spider will inspire fits of terror similar to my cockroach meltdowns, but for me this was an anxiety breakthrough. There was something out there bigger, smarter, and more powerful than that cockroach. Its flying prowess meant nothing. In fact, flying hindered it, because if it hadn’t flown, it wouldn’t have gotten stuck in the web.

As I watched the roach fight to break free, I marvelled at how close I could get to it without those feelings of anxiety kicking in. The cockroach was powerless, contained in that web by a creature that so many fear, and yet—for that moment—a creature I delighted in. The spider was my friend. In that moment it had dispelled my fear, and taught me a lesson: that fear is exhausting.

I made a decision.

From that moment on, I wasn’t going to be afraid of the massive flying cockroach. It didn’t deserve to inspire all the jumping around, screaming and crying I did in its presence, because it was so weak it couldn’t even get out of a spider’s web. With that one decision, the cockroaches’ reign of terror in my life was over.

From that day on I completely changed tactic. If one of them crossed my path, it collided with the underside of my shoe. If it dared to fly towards me, it got belted into oblivion. Pest spray, flip-flops, rolled up magazines, even the hard part of my palm became weapons.

I was on a one-woman cockroach eradication mission.

Every time the memory of my fear surfaced, I envisioned the roach in the web. I proclaimed it to be weak, because it ultimately relied on my fear to live.

In my quite moments of contemplation, I wondered if all fear is a little like this story. Substitute the cockroach for any creature, any fear, any sin, and the lesson is the same. There is always a creature bigger, a sacrifice greater, and a power mightier than anything that hurts you.

Think of Jesus as the spider and the cross as the web. All sin and fear was trapped that day. It was knocked into oblivion. All that is needed for us to gain freedom is our decision to believe the truth that we are free.

The Bible has many references to fear, many instructions not to succumb to fear. Memes have been created to remind us not to give in to fear. It’s easy to fall into fear in a global environment of terror, anxiety, and the acceptance of immorality as normality. But I’ve come to realise that all fear is like the cockroach— an insect that only had power over me because I feared it.

When I knew better, I chose better. The decision to put it in its place was my first step to overcoming.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Fear, anxiety, worry—they all have a place.

But it’s not with you.

It’s trapped on the cross with Jesus.

Making the decision to put fear where it is has the potential to change your life, and your perspective. Like my cockroach, fear will keep coming for you, long after you decide where it stands, but seek the tools to fight it off. There are many verses in the Bible that will show you the way. I have detailed a few below.

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened." 1 Peter 3:14 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 1:8 (NIV)
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 (NIV)

I can’t sign off this column without one last call–out to my friendly neighbourhood spiders. Okay, so many I come across around our outback bush camp here in Australia are not so little, but they do serve a significant purpose. Please enjoy some photos I’ve taken recently of the spiders in my neighbourhood.

First seen in Book Fun Magazine; https://www.bookfun.org/

Rose was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her Resolution series.

Two of the three Resolution novels have won Australian CALEB awards. She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel highlighting the pain of Australia’s past policy of forced adoption, as well as standalone novel, Ehvah After. Her most recent release is the novella, A Christmas Resolution.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and her desire to produce stories that point readers to Jesus. Rose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband and son.

Visit Rose at: https://rosedee.com/

Never Smile at a Crocodile.

This is a title of a children’s song (music by Frank Churchill and lyrics by Jack Lawrence) I learned at an early age. You may even know it—it has been used in movies, notably Disney’s Peter Pan, and enjoyed by generations of children. The fun ditty covers the drastic consequences of befriending, or even so much as smiling, at this semi-prehistoric predator. The song is fun, but upon further contemplation, I also found it to be a poignant symbol of Christian life.

Crocodiles are deadly. No matter how much research, attention or care you give a crocodile, it is ruled by primal instinct and can never be domesticated. Even a hand-reared crocodile will eat you if it’s hungry. The fact that you have made it your pet, cared for it and bestowed your love upon it matters not to this creature. They don't care for your life. You are a food source, pure and simple.

A crocodile will stalk its prey. It hides in wait, or drifts slowly in the water to its target meal. It moves with stealth, then attacks in one giant swoop. The speed, agility, and ferocity of a crocodile is often underestimated and unexpected. But death by crocodile is not a fast, painless event. It is slow and measured. A crocodile will take its prey down to the bed of the waterway and roll the prey over and over until it drowns. This is known as a ‘death roll’. The crocodile will then find an underwater crevice, and jam the prey into the spot so it can sit and rot. Only when the meal is tenderised by time and water will the crocodile eat it.

As a writer, this children’s song has inspired my penchant for analogy. My mind conjures up an array of ‘crocodile’ situations, events, and people that, if smiled at or engaged, can lead to a violent death.

As a Christian, I recognise sin as a very prominent crocodile. If we look towards sin, reach out a hand to pat it, or invite it into our existence, it will no doubt take a death grip on us and roll us over and over until we drown.

Like a crocodile, sin often comes at us with stealth—sometimes so slowly we don’t see it until it’s too late. Just as the reptile peeks above the water and pinpoints its next victim, sin targets us quietly. It follows our every move, and when it strikes, it can take us completely by surprise.  

‘How did I fall into that?’ we might ask. Yet, no doubt, the consequences would be far worse if we smiled at it first, or mistook it for something harmless, perhaps something potentially loving. Just like with the crocodile, no form of sin can ever love us.

Camouflage and disguise are the crocodile’s greatest tactics. A crocodile floating in the water looks a lot like a log. I wonder how many meals have been acquired through mistaken identity? I can see how sin can come at us like a dead log. We may see it approaching, thinking it is harmless, benign. But closer inspection will reveal its vile existence.

Psalm 51:3

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. (NIV)

If you have ever been in a crocodile-infested creek at night, you will know how hard these creatures are to spot. In dark conditions they have one major weakness—light. Shine a torch on the water, and yellow crocodile eyes reflect back at you like the brightest of stars. Sin is much the same. If you shine the light of God on it, it can do nothing but be revealed—or go into hiding.

Ephesians 5:13

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. (NIV)

The crocodile is at the top of the estuary food chain. Nothing can eat the biggest crocodile. As a protected species here in Australia, the crocodile has a relatively hassle-free existence—unless it overplays its position. Strikes on humans in Australia are taken seriously, and the creatures come under attack when they become too familiar with humanity. Their terrorist-like targeting of communities generally end in their own annihilation. I am grateful that, in our spiritual world, sin has already suffered this same fate.

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)

I’ve learned a lot in contemplating the spiritual analogies of this children's song. I'd love to hear your thoughts or ideas on the subject.

You can contact me via my website:

www.rosedee.com

Or on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rose-Dee-Author/172886062810998

First seen in Book Fun Magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/ee394659-c0ea-4eef-b1e5-57568b840f4d

Rose was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her Resolution series.

Two of the three Resolution novels have won Australian CALEB awards. She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel highlighting the pain of Australia’s past policy of forced adoption, as well as standalone novel, Ehvah After. Her most recent release is the novella, A Christmas Resolution.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and her desire to produce stories that point readers to Jesus. Rose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband and son.

Keeping our Families Strong

I've written before about Australia’s past policy on forced adoption, and how co-writing my fourth novel, The Greenfield Legacy, opened a proverbial Pandora’s Box on my own family’s forced adoption story.

In a brief recap:

Forced Adoption was Australia’s national policy of forcibly removing babies from unwed mothers from the 1940’s until as late as the 1980’s. My mother was one of these newborns. Later in her life, my mother reconnected with her birth mother, who had been widowed twice, but had no other children apart from my mother. Her family shared the devastating heartbreak she had suffered at having to give my mother up. She was never the same. (Please see my column in Book Fun Magazine, May 2015 issue for the full story—Australia’s Heartbreak).

I would also like to acknowledge Australia’s Stolen Generation, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families and placed in homes and missions from approximately 1909 to 1969. These children were not just denied their genetic history, but also their cultural heritage. An official apology was issued to the victims of this practice on the 27th January 2008.

My mother suffered from rejection, a deep-seated consequence of having been given up, and not knowing where she had come from. This battle with rejection is something we shared. Although it was never her will to pass this battle on to me, I believe that the stronghold of spiritual legacy can be every bit as powerful as genetics. (Please see Book Fun Magazine, June 2015 issue for the full story— Adoption, Rejection, and Healing.)

I want to wrap up my family’s adoption story by talking about the necessity to learn from the mistakes of the past. As horribly misguided as the Forced Adoption policy was, the authorities, churches, and general society of the time truly believed that it was the best way to deal with the problem, and embraced it as a loving solution. Babies of unwed mothers entered life with great challenges, as their fatherless status cast a stigma that generated many forms of hardship.

In order to save the children from this fate, society and the government devised a strategy that sought to create the perfect, alternative environment for them to grow and thrive. But, as we now know, the side effect of this misguided thinking and ill-thought out ‘loving’ way was that lives were destroyed, and disconnection bred a legacy of destructive inner pain within both the children and birth parents.

I think about those children, not knowing who their birth parents were, and not having a genetic link to boast about. They were unable to claim things like:

‘I have my father’s eyes.’

‘I have my mother’s nature.’

‘A bad temper runs in my family.’

‘My father was shy, and I am too.’

‘My mother and I share the same smile.’

And other connections we, who know our fathers and mothers, can make with assurance.

It makes me sad to think that a generation were told by the majority, ‘It’s okay with us if you never know these things.’  

My righteous anger is stirred when I think of how my mother was denied the knowledge of her heritage. In my childhood, the link to my genetic history, both the good and the bad aspects, contributed to my sense of belonging and understanding of self. It still does, even in my adult years.

I do understand and appreciate that a lot of people do not have these links, or access to information about them. I know that this occurs for many different and tragic reasons, but as it was deemed to be unjust for society to force this state of parental disconnection upon children in the days of Forced Adoption, so it is unjust today.

I don’t want other children to go through what my mother went through. I don’t want society to say; ‘It’s alright with us that you have no knowledge of your parentage. In fact we endorse it, because we have embraced an updated perception of love.’

My heart breaks when I think of having to look a child in the face and eventually say; ‘We thought we were doing the right and loving thing, but we didn’t think it through. Sorry.’

On 21 March 2013, the Australian government issued a national apology to people affected by forced adoption or removal policies and practices. Finally, we declared that our society did not have the right to deny a child the knowledge of their heritage, knowledge of their mother and father, and their genetic and cultural heritage.

Yet, as we live in the age of designed family structures of all kind—two-parent, single-parent, step-families, blended families, surrogate mothers, IVF babies, and other non-traditional family structures—my hope is that we cast an eye back to the mistakes of our history. We need to be mindful of our past errors if we are to avoid a repeat of our applications of misguided love. Let us not have another generation that our society—indeed, our world—must apologise to.

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (NIV)

Matthew 18:10

Jesus said:

“See that you don not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven. (NIV)

(First seen in Book Fun Magazine July 2015)

Rose was born in North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her Resolution series.

Two of the three Resolution novels have won Australian CALEB awards. She has also released The Greenfield Legacy, a collaborative novel highlighting the pain of Australia’s past policy of forced adoption, as well as standalone novel, Ehvah After. Her most recent release is the novella, A Christmas Resolution.

Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and her desire to produce stories that point readers to Jesus. Rose holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, and resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband and son.

Visit Rose at: https://rosedee.com/

Review of An Aussie Summer Christmas with Giveaway

By Jenny Blake

An Aussie Summer Christmas 

Blurb

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 
Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees to Australia. Intrigued by the bearded stranger visiting her coffee shop, Ella Anderson decides to discover his secrets. But when Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 
Will Harris is proud of his no-complications life. So why is he drawn to his upstairs neighbor, who seems obsessed with Christmas? Can Bridie soften Will-the-Scrooge’s heart in time for Christmas? 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
Political advisor and former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea Somers, the girl he didn’t call after their one and only date, six years ago. Chelsea is impressed by the new Gus, but can she trust him with her family secrets ... and with her heart? 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has avoided returning to her Australian coastal hometown of Kiisay Point for ten years—avoided the mistake that changed her life, ruined her friendships, and soured her first love. She’s never returned to Resolution, the island where it all happened. But now she’s back, and having to face up to the childhood she loved, the man she can’t forget, and the future that won’t start until she lets it all go. 

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy’s always been a good Christian girl…except for being in love with her brother-in-law. Josh is looking for love again, surprised to find it with his late wife’s sister. But will a mountain of guilt and an unexpected letter stop them from making it to the altar? 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Australia’s first professional female football umpire, Maddie Grace, gets knocked out in an on-field accident, crushed beneath the weight of an athletic sports star. What is it about the visual images that has the media making up stories of a secret love affair? Escaping the paparazzi is one thing, but escaping each other is quite another.

My Review

I really enjoyed this box set. Each story is different but has the Aussie connection and a beach connection.

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 

This is the first book and I have to say I wasn't sure how I would like this book as Justin was a rock star and its not my sort of hero but I actually really liked the story. It shows how a chance meeting when someone has hit rock bottom can help change a life. Justin ends up in Australia where he comes in contact with Ella who wants to learn his secrets not knowing how it may affect her. I really loved the way it showed how Justin turns his life around and his wanting to make amends for his past. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 

I love Bridie, I think I like her cos shes has a job I would love. She is full of life although she has had plenty of heartache in her life. Will on the other hand seems to be more focused on working and not doing much else. We see an incident happen in which the two will be brought together and then need to work together. I enjoyed the story and learning both stories of why they are how they are. It also teaches not to judge by appearances as there is often more to a story than one thinks. 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
In this book we see Chelsea and Gus meet up again after 6 years. Chelsea wonders if Gus really has changed or if its just an act. She is also still grieving the passing of her sister. She has also told her father she will never reveal some of the details to her sisters death. She also wonders if she can handle someone who is in the political arena. I enjoyed their story and seeing how it unfolded. 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has returned home after the passing of her uncle. She hasn't been back for 10 years and wants to avoid some people. She made a mistake 10 years ago and still feels guilty. This story deals a lot with forgiveness and not just of others but of yourself. In many ways I felt like Breeah found herself in this book along with reconnecting with a former friend.


All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy feels she is bad because she loves her brother in law, she has loved him for a long time but knew he was off limits and never acted on the feelings or told anyone, she would never to that to her sister. Even with her sister gone for many years she still hasn't told anyone. Josh gets a letter from his late wife which changes everything between them. I actually found this book refreshingly in the way it showed Amy and her feelings and how she struggled with them. 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Now here is a story I can appreciate. While I love cricket more I am an AFL fan. Maddie Grace is a umpire who has the misfortune of being knocked out by a star Zac. The media have a field day with this as Zac is also referred to as the Rev due to studying ministry and being squeaky clean. They know each other from years back when her father was the coach of Zac's team but nothing more. Seeing this story play out was interesting. Once again another good read.

Giveaway
Thanks to Narelle Atkins we have one copy to give away to one reader. Just leave a comment and the winner will be announced in the comments next Thursday.
Leave a way to get in touch with you like (myemail   at email dot com)

Novellas: the perfect length

by Nicki Edwards, author of heartwarming Australian romance.

Love to read but don't have time? Want to try a new author? Or a new genre? Don't have lots of money? Why not consider reading a novella?

Compared to novels, which are usually more than 40,000 words, a novella is between 17,000 and 40,000 words, with an average length of 25,000 words, making them the perfect length for busy people who like to read a book in one or two sittings. Or perfect if you're wondering if you'd like a particular author's 'voice' or style. And of course, the fact most novellas are usually 99 cents or less makes them a super affordable way of reading.

When I started writing, I'd never heard of a novella but once I discovered them, I found how much I love reading them because I'm so time-poor. I then decided to try my hand at writing one.

Operation White Christmas came out last year to great reviews (and was the winner of the Romance Writers of Australia Contemporary Romance Cover of the Year).

I loved the experience so much that a few months ago I wrote a second novella, Operation Mistletoe Magic, which comes out at the end of October. 

In case you're not sure what a novella is, it is basically a short book. It involves multiple characters and multiple twists and turns but due to the constraints in length, there are often fewer conflicts than in a full length novel with the focus being on the main character's personal and emotional journey rather than an in-depth story line with lots of sub-plots.

For example, when writing a romance novella, the author has to get to point quickly, which means the hero and heroine have to interact quickly, usually from the opening chapter. That can have issues when it comes to sweet romance which generally develops over a longer period of time. 

I got around this problem in different ways in my novellas. In my first story, Hollie and Jim meet literally by accident on the side of the road and due to circumstances, end up getting to know each other. In my second novella, Melissa and Chris are childhood best friends who meet up again unexpectedly and rekindle their friendship which slowly develops into a romance.

There are positives and negatives about novellas for both readers and writers.

As an author, I love the way I can contain the entire story in my head and get it written in a short time frame. (Operation Mistletoe Magic only took me six days to get the first draft down.) And of course a shorter story meant my awesome critique partner Andrea Grigg could get it back to me quickly and edits didn't take as long. But I missed being able to really explore the characterization and have more in depth sub-plots to the story. 

From a reader's perspective, one of the negatives of novellas is the stories are too short but I take that as a good thing when readers complain the story ended too soon and they want to know what happens next. I have received so many emails from readers asking me to write a full length story for Hollie and Jim. 

Because of that, I'm contemplating writing some short stories or novelettes next year that tie in with the characters from my Christmas novellas so that readers can catch up on the happy ever after endings of my characters and find out what happens after the stories ended.
Another big negative of the novella is that they're only available in e-book format. One day I hope to bundle my novellas together and have them available in a paperback version.

By far it seems Christmas novellas are the most popular. These stories are usually set in North America (such as mine, which are both set in Canada), but recently four Aussie Christian authors (Narelle Atkins, Rose Dee, Andrea Grigg and Meredith Resce) collaborated with two international authors to write Christmas novellas for a box set that is set in Australia with a very Aussie Christmas flavor. 

I urge you to check them out as I've had the privilege of reading some of them and they are very, very good. Of course my favourite is Andrea's, but perhaps I'm biased!

Their Christmas box set, An Aussie Summer Christmas is available to pre order now and will be released on September 27th. My novella, Operation Mistletoe Magic is also available to pre-order and will be released on October 25th.

A word of caution, many authors are now publishing their novellas in multiple box sets so be careful you don't end up buying the same books twice!

What do you like to read the most?

•  Short-Stories

•  Novelettes

•  Novellas

•  Novels

Nicki Edwards writes contemporary medical/rural romance and women's fiction for Pan Macmillan. When she isn’t reading, writing or dreaming about rural life and medical emergencies, she can be found working as a Critical Care Nurse where many of her stories and characters are imagined.

Nicki and her husband Tim reside in Geelong with their four teenage/young adult children where Tim is in full time ministry. 

Announcing ... An Aussie Summer Christmas

By Meredith Resce

(A cross-post from International Christian Fiction Writers.)

The Christmas season—as we call it in Australia—is always a favourite time of year for me. As a kid we would have the various school graduation services, Christmas parties, and end-of-year breakup parties all at one time. December was crazy. Living on the farm, it was also harvest time, and though it was getting hot, we would struggle to find someone to take us to the next town, where the district swimming pool was located. December is beach weather, but there was less chance of making it to the coast, an hour’s drive away.

Instead, we would spend that week before Christmas decorating the house, putting fake frost on the windows, watching Christmas movies that featured snow and sleds, and hanging Christmas lights that we couldn’t switch on until late because of the long summer days. I had no idea what Christmas in the cold must be like, with long dark nights, snow, fires and hot drinks. We had those images on our Christmas cards, and joined in with Bing as he sang ‘White Christmas’.

It was all part of the season.

The best part was Christmas Eve. We would go into town to the little church and sing those precious old carols, accompanied by my grandmother on the old pump organ. Then we’d go to the main street where the locals would gather to sing carols out the front of the shop. Santa would arrive on the back of a ute (that’s Aussie for truck), we’d all get an ice-block and lollies (candy/sweets), and then tie ourselves in knots of excitement waiting for Santa to come visit. Of course he would visit us in Australia first, as we are a good ten to fourteen hours ahead of other countries. (He’d drop into New Zealand first, of course.)

So when I was asked to be part of this Christmas box set that had an Aussie theme, I was excited to have the opportunity. Just as I’m not familiar with the white Christmas, I’m guessing there are a number of readers out there who would not be familiar with our warm, summer Christmas.

We also have a beach theme. 

Luckily, I have had some experience with the beach since my childhood, so I’ve chosen one of the world’s most popular surf beaches—Torquay, Victoria.

In this set we have four Australian authors, and you will get a great mix. Two of the authors, Rose and Andrea, are from Queensland, a tropical region that is always warm and humid. One of the authors is from Canberra, the nation’s capital city. Canberra is nowhere near the coast, but Narelle has set her story in Sydney. I’m from the region known as the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, but I’ve set my story in Victoria.

Then, as part of the set, we have international authors, Lacy Williams and Marion Ueckermann. Lacy lives in Oklahoma (that’s a mile or two away from the Australian coast), and Marion lives in South Africa. I’ve read their Aussie stories, and felt they did a good job of representing those of us from Down Under.

During the proofing process I got to read each of the stories included in this set, and you are in for a treat: some engaging characters and great plot lines, with that added element of visiting Australia during the Christmas season. We don’t say ‘holiday season’ because we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween. But we sure do celebrate Christmas and New Year. Barbeque, back-yard cricket, trips to the beach, and the odd case of sunburn.

Join us this holiday season, and take a trip Down Under.

About Meredith Resce

Meredith Resce is a popular Australian Christian fiction author, who has had novels in the Australian Christian market since 1997. She is proud of her Australian rural heritage, and is looking forward to sharing with readers from the international Christian Fiction community.

Her story, Falling for Maddie Grace, is set against the back drop of Australia’s number one spectator sport, Aussie Rules football. Maddie Grace, Australia’s first professional female umpire, gets caught up in an on field incident that sees her clash with a player, Zac Beecham. The accidental tangle brings about more than a trip to the hospital. The over-imaginative press decide there is a secret love affair between the two – a situation that, if true, compromises Maddie’s position and Zac’s reputation.

The other stories in the collection are:

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann

Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees to Australia. Intrigued by the bearded stranger visiting her coffee shop, Ella Anderson decides to discover his secrets. But when Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all.

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams

Will Harris is proud of his no-complications life. So why is he drawn to his upstairs neighbor, who seems obsessed with Christmas? Can Bridie soften Will-the-Scrooge’s heart in time for Christmas?

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins

Political advisor and former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea Somers, the girl he didn’t call after their one and only date, six years ago. Chelsea is impressed by the new Gus, but can she trust him with her family secrets ... and with her heart?

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee

Breeah has avoided returning to her Australian coastal hometown of Kiisay Point for ten years—avoided the mistake that changed her life, ruined her friendships, and soured her first love. She’s never returned to Resolution, the island where it all happened. But now she’s back, and having to face up to the childhood she loved, the man she can’t forget, and the future that won’t start until she lets it all go.

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg

Amy’s always been a good Christian girl…except for being in love with her brother-in-law. Josh is looking for love again, surprised to find it with his late wife’s sister. But will a mountain of guilt and an unexpected letter stop them from making it to the altar?

Preorder An Aussie Summer Christmas from Amazon.com

ACRBA Blog tour Ehvah After by Rose Dee

1 - 5 August 2016

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is Introducing

Ehvah After

( August 25, 2015)

By Rose Dee

About the Book:

Ehvah Rowe’s life is in freefall. Her teen queen status is long forgotten, and with a childhood of tragic loss, no family save a diabolical aunt, and no career prospects, her L.A. celebrity world holds no future.
It will take a murder, an escape to the Australian tropics, and the friendship of an Aussie bodyguard, for her to discover healing, faith, and a way forward.

David Blake knows how to be a soldier. His army training equipped him to fight and protect. But when it comes to helping a fear-filled celebrity navigate the same post-traumatic stress symptoms he has suffered, David discovers the challenge in forsaking his own strength for God’s plan.

Rose Dee weaves a story of mystery, drama and romance, in her trademark tropical North Queensland Australian style.

About the Author:

Rose Dee was born in Ingham, North Queensland, Australia. Her childhood experiences growing up in a small beach community would later provide inspiration for her first novel. Rose, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, decided to try her hand at writing two years ago. The result of that attempt is her first novel, Back to Resolution. Her novels are inspired by the love of her coastal home and desire to produce exciting and contemporary stories of faith for women. Rose's other releases include Beyond Resolution - the second book in the 'Resolution' series. And A New Resolution the final book in the series. Rose has also co-written a novel in conjunction with three other outstanding Australian Authors: The Greenfield Legacy. Rose resides in Mackay, North Queensland with her husband, young son, and mischievous pup, Noodle.