Tag: Donna L.H. Smith

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A3 News

A3 Columnists in 2019 Selah Finals

It’s always fun to see who see the list of the Selah Award finals every year. Almost an Author usually has a good showing of columnists who have entered the contest and made the finals.

By far and away, Michelle Medlock Adams has run away with five Selah finalist submissions in the categories of: YA, Children’s Lit, Devotionals and Anthologies. In the Children’s Lit category, she had two entries: C is for Christmas, Little Lamb Books & Dinosaur Devotions, Thomas Nelson. Michelle is our #KidLit columnist. Congratulations, Michelle!

Our magazine columnist, Linda Gilden, made the finals of the Online Articles category with “Personality and the Writer,” published online with Southern Writers Magazine. Congratulations, Linda!

One of our book proposal columnists, (and I might add, former managing editor), Cherrilynn Bisbano, contributed to the Heart Renovation Bible Study, compiled by Katy Kauffman, Lighthouse Bible Studies. Congratulations, Cherrilynn!

And lastly, I’m proud to announce your current managing editor, Donna L.H. Smith, made the finals in the Western fiction category with her second novel, Rose’s Redemption, Hartline. I’m patting myself on the back. (smiles)

2019 Selah Award Finalist

We wish them well! The Selah Awards are prestigious and it’s an honor to make the finals.

The awards will be presented on May 22nd at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers’ Conference.

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Romancing Your Story

Getting Inside the Romantic Hero’s Head—Part III

Have you ever wondered what the opposite sex is thinking while you’re thinking? Men, as a rule, think in fewer words, phrases, emotions, than women generally do. The key to dialogue in romance writing is to keep it natural and consistent. #InsideHerosHead #writingromance101 @donnalhsmith @a3writers [bctt tweet=”Have you ever wondered what the opposite sex is thinking while you’re thinking? Men, as a rule, think in fewer words, phrases, emotions, than women generally do. The key to dialogue in romance writing is to keep it natural and consistent. #InsideHerosHead #writingromance101 ” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3writers”]

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A3 Contributor Book Release

Rose’s Redemption by Donna L.H. Smith

Hot off the Press! Rose’s Redemption, by A3 Managing Editor Donna L.H. Smith, is now available on Amazon. Donna has been with Almost an Author from the very beginning, first with the Writer’s PenCase column, she now writes for the Romancing Your Story column, and will help out with History in the Making column in 2019. As Managing Editor, she is also responsible for the Bestselling Author column. In 2017, she was tapped to assist Cherrilynn Bisbano as assistant managing editor, and in April 2018, Donna became Managing Editor for Almost an Author.

Back Cover Blurb

A Former Dance Hall Girl. A Handsome Young Doctor. Can Rose overcome her past? That’s Rose’s Redemption

Rose Rhodes changed not only her name after the tornado; she changed her outward appearance. No more was she Rosalie O’Roarke, former dance hall girl. She loves her new work as a nurse-in-training to handsome Doctor Scott Allison. As Scott and Rose’s relationship begins to change from professional to personal, they must deal with figures from Rose’s past who make life anything but easy. Rose is concerned that the town will discover her dance hall girl past, especially when Jake Thomas, the man who viciously beat her, asks all over town where Rosalie O’Roarke went. But both Rose and Scott are in for surprise encounters with Christ that will change their lives forever and help them see His plan for them. In fact, they will see God at work all over New Boston.

Rose’s Redemption won second place in the 2017 Golden Leaf Award at the Advance Novelist Retreat and was a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Phoenix Rattler Contest. Other pre-publication awards were two 1st place prizes at the 2017 Advanced Novelist Retreat.

Published in connection with Hartline Literary Agency, serving the Christian book community.

Bio

Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds a B.S. in Telecommunications (broadcasting) from Oral Roberts University and a M.A. in Mass Communication from Wichita State University. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty-one years. No children, but a dog and her Mom over an eleven-year period.

She’s been a freelance journalist, and a radio reporter. Now, she blogs, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. She serves as Managing Editor for Almost an Author.com, and is Mid-Atlantic Zone Director of American Christian Fiction Writers. Her debut novel, Meghan’s Choice was named a finalist in both the Selah Awards and Will Rogers Medallion Award. Her second book, Rose’s Redemption, was just released. You can find her at her website, www.donnalhsmith.com, Facebook, and on Twitter as @donnalhsmith.

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Romancing Your Story

Getting Inside the Hero’s Head––Part I

Contrary to popular belief, the male is the key to any romance. The female is usually the “lead” character. The male, (alpha or beta) is the key to the romance. We’re not writing same-sex romantic fiction, here. If that’s your goal, you won’t get much out of this. [bctt tweet=”Most readers of romance are women. Women identify with the heroine of the story. A woman who just wants to be loved like the hero loves the heroine. #InsideHerosHead #donnalhsmith #almostanauthor #writingromance101″ username=”@A3writers @donnalhsmith”]

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Romancing Your Story

Crafting the Hero – Part VI

Nobody’s perfect, right? True. Neither can your romantic hero – or your heroine, for that matter – be perfect. [bctt tweet=”When crafting the hero, choose a character flaw to craft that will irritate your heroine to the point where in order to love him, she’ll have to overlook it. #amwriting #almostanauthor #donnalhsmith #CraftingTheRomanticHero” username=”@A3writers @donnalhsmith”]

Continue reading “Crafting the Hero – Part VI”
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Romancing Your Story

Crafting the Hero – Part V

Judah is the man for Tovah. To review: Tovah is a rabbi with rejection issues. Judah is an IDF veteran businessman. He’ll give her confidence in her calling as a rabbi. She’ll give him renewed faith in himself. [bctt tweet=”Throwing obstacles in the way of romance is what compels the reader to turn the page. #amwriting #CraftingTheRomanticHero #almostanauthor #donnalhsmith” username=”@A3writers @donnalhsmith”]

Continue reading “Crafting the Hero – Part V”
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Romancing Your Story

Crafting the Hero––Part III by Donna L.H. Smith

Nobody’s perfect, right? True. Neither can your romantic hero be perfect. Choose a character flaw that will irritate your heroine to the point where in order to love him, she’ll have to overlook it. Click to Tweet #amwriting #RomancingYourStory #AlmostAnAuthor #CraftingTheHeroine

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Romancing Your Story

Crafting the Hero––Part II by Donna L.H. Smith

[bctt tweet=”Judah is going to be the man for Tovah. A romantic hero should be handsome and strong, sweet and sensitive, equal to the heroine with a sense of humor. #amwriting #RomancingYourStory #AlmostAnAuthor #CraftingTheHero” username=”@A3Authors @donnalhsmith”]

You’ve heard that opposites attract. Let’s list Tovah’s personality characteristics, then see how we can match Judah, our hero, up on the opposite side.

Tovah

Personality: Rejection, stutters when she gets nervous. Kind of shy, yet when she’s comfortable around someone, she can be witty and happy-go-lucky. She’s considerate and kind, but she’s got a temper, too.

Appearance: flowing light chestnut hair with great styling body. Her eyes are dark and beautiful, lips the perfect proportion.

Judah

Personality: Outgoing and friendly. Our hero be able to draw Tovah out of her shell. He’s somewhat laid back, which will help cool her off when she loses her temper. He’s self-confident, which will help her overcome her nervousness, and eventually, her stutter.

Appearance: Dark, curly hair, almost black, and lots of it. As a descendant of the house of David, he inherited the thick, heavy hair that Absalom had. He keeps it relatively short, but in attractive curls all over his head. His eyes are blue, a deep, sapphire blue, and penetrates and pierces her heart.

We’re setting up for conflict, sparks flying, and romantic respect between our two protagonists. There are always two in a romance. There can be three to begin with, until one is eliminated. I did that in my debut novel, Meghan’s Choice, a historical romance western available on Amazon.

Next time, we’ll get to some flaws for both characters. Opposite isn’t quite enough. They need conflict, romantic tension, and weakness.

[bctt tweet=”The romantic hero is always equal to the heroine—whether trading verbal barbs or enjoying a quiet meal. They’re a match, able to go through life together. #amwriting #RomancingYourStory #AlmostAnAuthor #CraftingTheRomanticHero” username=”@a3Authors @donnalhsmith”]

BIO

Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds a B.S. in Telecommunications (broadcasting) from Oral Roberts University and a M.A. in Mass Communication from Wichita State University. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. No children, but a dog and her Mom over an eleven-year period.

She’s been a freelance journalist, and a radio reporter. Now, she blogs, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. She serves as Assistant Managing Editor for Almost an Author.com, and is Mid-Atlantic Zone Director of American Christian Fiction Writers. Other memberships include is also a member of the Protégé program of Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association and Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter. You can find her at her website, www.donnalhsmith.com, Facebook, and on Twitter as @donnalhsmith.

Categories
A3 Contributor Book Release

Meghan’s Choice by Donna L.H. Smith

Meghan’s Choice, is Donna L.H. Smith’s debut novel. Donna serves A3 as a regular columnist since the beginning, first for Writer’s PenCase, now in Romancing Your Story. She has extensive writing experiences in broadcast and print journalism of all types.

Blurb

An unusual ultimatum. A Young Woman’s Bold Journey. Two handsome Men. An Amazing God. That’s Meghan’s Choice

Meghan Gallagher’s father gives her an unusual ultimatum to work for one year before marriage to help her learn fiscal responsibility. She complies to his demand by choosing to tutor eight children in a wild Kansas railroad town. She immediately experiences culture shock, as she is rescued by Rosalie O’Roarke, a local dance hall girl.

Duncan Wilcox is the cowboy into whose arms Meghan faints when she’s shot by a stray bullet. He’s tall and ruggedly handsome. They enjoy a lively banter and get along well. but Duncan is sensitive, and there’s more to him than meets the eye.

Dr. Scott Allison has hair the color of wheat with classic good looks. He patches Meghan up. He and Meghan find a lot of things in common, including the church they belong to.

The school children are challenging, but delightful, even though their beginning school term is only one month long.

A June tornado and a divisive August election deciding the town’s fate aren’t the only things Meghan has to deal with.

Her biggest choice: which man? Both are after her heart. Is she scandalous to allow two men to court her at the same time?

And––how close a relationship with God does Meghan want? Will she draw near?

Meghan’s Choice was named a semi-finalist in the last Operation First Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins, late 2014. In late 2015, it was awarded 3rd Place for Best Opening Paragraph and 2nd Place for Best First Page at the Blue Ridge Advanced Novelist Retreat. It was also awarded one of six Honorable Mentions for the Golden Leaf Award.

Bio

Donna L.H. Smith is a Kansas prairie girl transplanted to Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Christian Writer’s Guild Craftsman program and holds a B.S. in Telecommunications (broadcasting) from Oral Roberts University and a M.A. in Mass Communication from Wichita State University. She’s been married to a wonderful man named Kirby for thirty years. No children, but a dog and her Mom over an eleven-year period. She’s been a freelance journalist, and a radio reporter. She blogs, reviews books, speaks at workshops and retreats and although she is at an age where many begin slowing down, she wouldn’t think of it. Recently, she took on the role of Assistant Managing Editor of Almost an Author.com, and serves as American Christian Fiction Writers Mid-Atlantic Zone Director. She is also a member of the Protégé program of Advanced Writers & Speaker’s Association.

WEBSITE: http://donnalhsmith.com

FACEBOOK: Donna L.H. Smith––Stories Are My Passion

TWITTER: @donnalhsmith

Meghan’s Choice is available through Amazon.com. Here are the links: Kindle version: http://amzn.to/2ngei4n and in Paperback: http://amzn.to/2ngeDUH

Categories
Romancing Your Story

Writing Romance 101 – Crafting the Heroine Part II

We’re still building a heroine named Susie. We don’t know too much about her yet.[bctt tweet=”Creating a Great Romance Heroine: – here’s a good tip: use little flaws or imperfections to make your heroine someone your readers can identify with.” username=”@A3writers @donnalhsmith”] #amwriting #writingromance101 #craftingtheheroine

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