Christmas Ivy (Published by Prism Book Group, 2016) by Judy DuCharme
First line: The sizzle of bacon cooking brought Ivy to an upright position out of sound sleep.
Blurb: It had to be a dream. Her grandparents, who have already passed away, greet her Christmas morning with love and sage advice. Their presence captivates reality and brings Ivy to complete confusion. Could this strange visit truly be the provision for which Ivy longed? How could a quilt reveal truths never before realized. Christmas Ivy has won First Place Short Story at 2016 Florida Christian Writers Conference, and 2018 National Indie Excellence Award Winner for Christmas Ivy.
Inspiration: I hoped to help write a story to be used for my church’s children’s Christmas play. The story began to form as I drove home from a prayer meeting. I sat on the steps by our little heater and wrote most of it in one setting that night. It was never used for the play, but it was expanded and became the small book, Christmas Ivy. I always loved the covenant comparison of Abraham’s offering of Isaac with God the Father offering His only Son, and this is woven into the quilt.
Excerpts: 1. She did not have to inspect the bed to see if James was up. He was not. One leg and one arm dangled off the side, almost touching the floor. His unruly hair was unruly still and his head like a mop. Ivy giggled as she imagined turning him upside down and cleaning the floor with his independently curly locks. James kept life happy in the Rushton family. Mama called it incorrigible at times. Still, Ivy knew Mama appreciated his light heartedness. Besides, he worked so hard to help out now that Dad was gone so much. When all the tragedy descended upon the family, James, just two years younger than she, determined to keep the family on track. He led prayer at the table when everyone else just sat in a daze. He even tried to get everyone to sing which usually ended in a laughing fit, as singing voices were nowhere to be found in this family. James never lost his faith. Only me, Lord. I’m the one who is still a mess.
2. “But it’s Christmas morning. Why is no one awake? Even the cat won’t get up.”
“This is your time, Ivy, your Christmas gift.” Grandad’s voice was strong. It wrapped around her as strongly as his arms often did.
Links: https://judithducharme.com/, https://www.facebook.com/judy.ducharme.18, https://www.facebook.com/Judy-DuCharme-Author-1360359084069983, https://twitter.com/PackerJudy, https://www.instagram.com/author_jducharme
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Ivy-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B07PTYNKSX
Run With the Wind (Published by Prism Book Group, 2016) by Judy DuCharme
First line: Linney Merritt watched the pearly white face emerge from the mother cow.
Blurb: Linney loves her life in the Florida scrub where she assists her Pa in raising and taking cattle to market. The new cowman, Cyrus John, appreciates the chance to start over. Marrying holds no interest for either, but they can’t help but be drawn to each other. And then, just before Christmas, they find themselves fighting together to save the life of a calf, all while discovering the One who can remove fears and provide forgiveness. Run With the Wind was named Best Book in Inspirational Romance in the 2020 Winter Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards.
Inspiration: Our publisher put out a request for ideas for Christmas books. It was decided that the theme would be cowboys. At the time I was in Florida and had just read a book about the history of the Florida Cracker Cowboys. I sent in an idea and received a contract. I was floored. I had two months to write my novella. And I wrote it.
Excerpts from Run With the Wind
1. Nellie moaned, and Linney pulled. The emerging calf licked her face. “We better hurry, Pa. He just done licked me. Don’t want him thinkin’ I’m his mama.”
“You’ll make a good one someday.”
“That ain’t happenin’. Why would anyone want to go through this?”
Pa looked around Nellie’s bulk. His eyes found Linney’s. “For the likes of you, girl. It’s worth it.”
2. Her eyes shifted to the rider. He appeared to be a few years older’n her. She caught her breath. What was that? His square shoulders and square jaw made him much wider than most Crackers. But there was something else. It made her feel jittery. She must have overeaten, or that new calf licked her too much. Her stomach didn’t normally flop around like a snake hit by a cowman’s whip.
3. A rock buried in a shrub derailed the wagon. The abrupt stop shrugged Linney from her seat atop the wagon. The wind roared above her holler for help, and she wondered if Cy even heard her. Landing on her arm, she cried out in pain. Thunder rumbled too close while her completely sodden clothes held her like a web. Her attempt to stand was met with a small gulley of water created by the torrential nature of the storm. She slid backward down the hill, already a slippery mass of mud, all the while futilely grasping at the shrubs and smaller trees. Get up, Linney, you’re a survivor. You cannot lose control.
Links:
https://judithducharme.com/, https://www.facebook.com/judy.ducharme.18, https://www.facebook.com/Judy-DuCharme-Author-1360359084069983, https://twitter.com/PackerJudy, https://www.instagram.com/author_jducharme
https://www.amazon.com/Run-Wind-Christmas-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B07PTPCXXN
I Want a Water Buffalo for Christmas (Published by Ambassador International, Nov. 2, 2021) by Judy DuCharme
First line: The beauty of the sunrise settled over the scrubland of the jungle.
Blurb: My children’s book I Want a Water Buffalo is all about giving, and LeGory, a young water buffalo, is right in the middle of it. Join the journeys of LeGory, Emma, and Dalia and discover a miracle. Geared to elementary school age, I Want a Water Buffalo for Christmas has vocabulary and discussion questions. It was illustrated by Door County local author Julie House. It has won four awards so far: Named Best Book in Children's Educational by 2021 Winter Pinnacle Achievement Awards; Finalist in the 2022 Directors' Choice Awards in Children/YA category for the prestigious Blue Ridge Conference; Finalist in the 2022 Book Excellence Awards in Children's Religion category; and First Place in Middle-Grade Books in the 2023 Ames Award for Courageous Faith.
Inspiration: I gave a Water Buffalo through Gospel for Asia several years ago. I also loved the Silly Song about Water Buffaloes in the Veggie Tales videos. And I saw a video of a young water buffalo in Africa surviving a lion attack. One day driving down the road, it was like a panorama of these three things showed up in front of me, and I knew it was a book.
Excerpt: Sharp stabs pierced his skin. Lion teeth! Snarls filled his ears. Lions pulled the young bull away from the herd. They bit LeGory and clawed him and kept pulling. He tried to get away, to bellow, but five or six lions held him, and one closed her jaws over his mouth. Slipping backwards down the bank into the river, LeGory attempted to shake them off, but they stayed, snarling and biting and pulling. Then something bit his backside with a bigger bite than the lions. A crocodile had entered the fray. In all the stories about crocs, LeGory had learned that a well-placed bite could kill. A tug of war commenced. Lions yanked him from the front, trying to get him out of the water, while the crocodile wrestled him backward into the river. If the croc won, LeGory would be dead. He scrambled toward the bank with the lions.
Links: https://judithducharme.com/, https://www.facebook.com/judy.ducharme.18, https://www.facebook.com/Judy-DuCharme-Author-1360359084069983, https://twitter.com/PackerJudy, https://www.instagram.com/author_jducharme
https://www.amazon.com/I-Want-Water-Buffalo-Christmas/dp/1649601425
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