The End and A New Beginning!

By Debby Giusti

The Craftie Ladies of Suspense blog ends today. We’re joining with the Craftie Ladies of Romance to form a bigger and better site and hope you’ll follow us to our new location. You’ll find us on the Internet at http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/.

In 2007, Pamela Tracy and Lisa Mondella started the first Craftie Ladies blog. They were not only the inspiration but also provided the technical expertise that made this blog a success. The photo above shows the authors who joined on at the very beginning. Standing from left to right are Roxanne Rustand, Pamela Tracy and Debby Giusti. Those seated are Lisa Mondello, Margaret Daley and Terri Reed.

The Craftie Ladies of Suspense talked about anything and everything on the blog, from the books we loved to read to what we were fixing for dinner. Sometimes we talked about the writer’s life, and on other days, the topic would focus on our families or vacations or our favorite movies or television shows.

Soon other authors wanted to take part so the blog grew. The monthly Love Inspired Suspense books were featured along with character interviews that circulated on Facebook and Twitter, as well.

Hoping to draw new readers to our site, we wrote serial holiday stories. Lenora Worth usually started the tall tales, and each of us would add a new segment, always with hilarious results. Many of you commented on how much you enjoyed reading the stories, and we all loved writing them. Be assured we’ll continue the holiday story tradition on the new site.

As this blog ends, we send our heartfelt thanks to Pam and Lisa for all their hard work. Thanks, ladies, for making it so much fun. Thanks, also, to our wonderful readers who visit the blog each day. Your comments and friendship mean so much to us.

Remember that although this blog ends, another one begins. Be sure to visit us at http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/. See you there!

Happy reading! Happy writing!

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/

By Barbara Phinney
We've run out of coffee! I woke up this morning to find that my husband had resorted to the coffee substitute in which I often indulge late in the evening. I blame my daughter, with her university paper due today. She made a pot for herself last night. So any mistakes in this post, take them to her!!!
Seriously, after I had gasped at my husband, he said, "Doesn't bother me", I began to think on my need for caffeine. His parents are the same as he is, as they can get off the java without headaches, as easily as he can, whilst I drag my feet around all day and hold my head.
So, along those lines and early in the morning, without coffee, I have asked myself, "Do I rely on the Lord the same way I rely on coffee?" Am I addicted to the Lord?
With the word 'addicted' having such a negative connotation, maybe I should use another one? But maybe not? Words are, after all, just words. Maybe we should be 'addicted'? Maybe we should be relying on our Lord for all we're worth. I had a pleasure of listening to a Wycliffe speaker, once, and she admitted that yes, she waits until things get really bad before she prays, too.
The first thing in the morning, I have a coffee. But maybe I should be 'shuffling' over to the Lord first, getting my 'jolt' of Him first thing. Use His love for us as my pick-me-up.
I bet this post is making some of you uncomfortable. All this talk of addiction mixing with God and His eternal love for us, it's making me squirm, too.
But God wants us to meditate on His precepts day and night. We should crave God the most, above coffee, fame, security, love, the computer, even romance novels. He will set all the other things in their proper perspective. We can even use uncomfortable words because the Author and Perfector of our faith is also the Author of all, including squirmy little words.
Coffee is fine. Just rely on the Lord more. He's the best pick-me-up I know.

Heading to Orlando...

Well, not quite yet... That's not happening until the end of the month.

I'm Lisa Mondello and even though it's a few weeks away I'm getting really excited about attending the annual Romance Writer's of America conference in Orlando! I've visited Mickey several times in my life and have always enjoyed myself in Orlando. But this year will be different. I'll be going without family to spend some time with my writing family and friends, many who are on this blog, the Craftie Ladies of Romance blog and the Love Inspired Authors blog. I always have a great time and learn a lot from the Steeple Hill family of authors every year.

This year will be special in another way. A dear friend is up for the Golden Heart award and has invited me to enjoy the Rita and Golden Heart Awards with her. (Yes, that's you CJ!) I always have a lot of fun and leave the conference tired and fully charge to write.

Lyn Cote posted a nice update about what the Rita Awards are over at the Craftie Ladies of Romance blog so make sure you go over and check that out. AND check back here during the conference to get updates and pics of the Literacy Booksigning and what's happening with the Craftie Ladies.

Until next time, many blessings, Lisa Mondello