USA Today Bestselling Author
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Readers! The April 2019 featured books thread is up and running in the Christian Indie Books Facebook reader’s group. Check it out for April deals in all genres!
Direct link here: http://bit.ly/CIB-April2019
Happy reading!
Joyfully in Jesus,
Jan Thompson
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, or months, where you have so much to do, and so little time to do everything?
The first quarter of this year has been super busy for me. Book 7 in my Savannah Sweethearts series was released in February. Book 8 is coming soon in May.
The next book on the way is Book 3 of either Vacation Sweethearts or Seaside Chapel. Or both. It all depends on how much time and health I have.
My prayer is to be sure that I am doing the right things at the right time, and to be careful not to veer off course from the goals of my calling.
How about you? Are you busy, busy, busy? Here are some verses of encouragement for your work:
At the end of the day, to God be the glory!
In Christ,
Jan Thompson
“Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).
Have you read Know You More, the story of Pastor Diego Flores and historian Heidi Wei?
This is Book 1 in my Savannah Sweethearts series. It’s in Kindle Unlimited like the rest of the series (except the prequel), but you can buy it for $0.99 on Amazon, if you’re not a KU subscriber.
In Know You More, Diego learns to trust God for both his pastoral live and his personal love. Some say that it should be easy for him to trust God, since he is the pastor of Riverside Chapel. Shouldn’t a pastor know how to trust God already? Does anyone need to tell him?
Well, if you recall, Timothy in the Bible had to learn to trust God too, even as he was the pastor of a church that Paul started. If we say we have arrived, then we haven’t. If we say we already know the answer and don’t need God’s instructions any more, then we’re heading toward some cliff of no return.
For Diego, he doesn’t have to leave Savannah or Tybee Island to find God’s perfect will for his life. His battle is in his mind and heart.
And yet, in the middle of his battle, God proves to be faithful, as He always is.
May this book encourage you to seek the Lord and stay in His perfect will for your life.
Happy reading!
In Christ,
Jan Thompson
Two weeks ago I blogged about Savannah, the main setting of my series, Savannah Sweethearts. Today I blogged about Tybee Island, the other major setting in the same series. Check out my post at InspyRomance, and pick up a free ebook copy of Ask You Later while you’re there:
https://www.inspyromance.com/ready-for-the-beach
If you missed my other March InspyRomance blog post about Savannah, the coastal town, here it is. The giveaway has ended, but the post is still there:
https://www.inspyromance.com/strolling-through-savannah
Joyfully in Jesus,
Jan Thompson
Here is the archived content of the blog post I wrote:
Are you ready for some warm beach and hotter sun? Yes, I am! I love all seasons, but I am partial toward the warmer ones. That’s why I write beach romances. Warm sun, warm sand, warm beach reads!
Three weeks ago, it was 72F in the day time over here. There I was, thinking winter was over. However, one week later, I woke up to 38F. What happened?
It’s finally spring time now where I am. In Savannah, the azaleas and daffodils are blooming. On Tybee Island, minutes away from Savannah, the seabirds fly and the ocean waves roar. These two old places by the Atlantic Ocean are some of my favorite settings for my novels and novellas, particularly my Savannah Sweethearts series.
A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about Savannah, Georgia, and today I’m going to talk about the other twin setting, Tybee Island.
Notes: Throughout this blog post are questions for you. Whether you travel a lot or read about travel a lot, let’s chat about places! As a fun treat, don’t forget to grab a free ebook copy of Ask You Later, the prequel to Savannah Sweethearts, if you haven’t already read it.
Heat up a cup of tea (or coffee or hot cocoa), and let’s travel to Tybee Island…
Even though General James Oglethorpe claimed Tybee Island for Britain, together with Savannah, the British were not the first people on the island back in 1733. Various Native American tribes have been hunting and fishing there for a long time, along with French and Spanish traders. Of course, American history buffs knew that in some ensuing battles later, Oglethorpe’s men (with Scottish soldiers among them), pushed the Spanish forces back to Florida.
Questions: Have you ever been to the Georgia or Florida coasts? How do you like those places compared to where you live? What about the nearest beaches where you live? You might be on another continent (than I am) that has a totally different geography and geology. Do describe some of the beaches in your home country.
Being on the Atlantic Ocean, Tybee Island has its fair share of sunrises over the sea. I try to mention sunrises or set some of my scenes just around that time of day in my Savannah Sweethearts books. For example, in Ask You Later (A Savannah Sweethearts Prequel), my two main characters spend some thinking time on the beach.
Do you remember that verse in Mark, where Jesus arose early in the morning to go pray?
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. – Mark 1:35
I do enjoy drinking my hot tea and reading my Bible on the beach or on a balcony overlooking the ocean. The sun rising into the sky and the swishing of the ocean waves provide a nice backdrop to my quiet time with God.
Questions: Do you like to read your Bible early in the morning or at night before bedtime or both? Do you find reading the Bible slightly different (maybe in terms of atmosphere) when you’re on vacation? How so?
In all my novels and novellas, I included Bible verses in a number of family-related scenes, wherever appropriate.
For example, in Cherish You So (Savannah Sweethearts Book 4), Nadine found herself talking about Jesus when she took a walk in the autumn woods with her dad.
In Kiss You Now (Savannah Sweethearts Book 7), Priyanka and her dad discussed God on the shores of Goa.
In Ask You Later (A Savannah Sweethearts Prequel), Leon had a lot to think and pray about on the Tybee Island beach outside the house he stayed in.
In several more books in my Savannah Sweethearts series, sometimes emotional breakthroughs happen on beaches. I won’t say more (lest I accidentally give you spoilers to my own books haha).
Questions: Have you had opportunities to talk with family members about God and Jesus Christ when you go on vacation? Sometimes the peaceful scenes and tranquil setting can be a moment of divine appointment, don’t you think? What about walking on the beach or in a park, pondering God’s Word or singing hymns with a thankful heart? What are your favorite verses that you’ve taken with you on vacations?
Thank you for spending time with me today. I hope you enjoyed reading the tidbits about Tybee Island.
Have you downloaded your free ebook copy of Ask You Later?
If you have already read it, feel free to tell a reading friend who might be new to my books. Thank you!
Happy reading and have a wonderful day in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Joyfully in Him,
Jan Thompson
