Hello Inspy Romance Readers! It’s an honor to share my first post on this amazing blog, and I’m thrilled to be writing alongside so many gifted authors! Special thanks to Valerie Comer for extending the invite. I long forward to getting to know all of you better!
To introduce myself, I’m sharing Ten of my Favorite Things, in no particular order. Then in the comments below, I’d love to know your favorite things too!
- Family! First, my husband, Marvin. As of August, we’ve been married 30 years! I’m blessed to have a spouse who gets me and who supports this crazy writing career. Second, our three kids—or make that, adults—Sarah, Bryan, and Brandon. We’re grateful to have three talented, God-loving kids who still enjoy spending time with us. Parents and in-laws. My mom is now singing in the heavenly choir, but Dad’s keeping busy, usually catching a fish or two, and being my unofficial publicist. As for my in-laws, not to brag, but I do have the best, most supportive in-laws around. And finally, siblings. Six of them, to be exact. Then there are a host of sibling-in-laws and nieces and nephews… Needless to say, family get-togethers are always a full and fun event!
- Writing. Guess you figured that out already. ? What you might not know is that I enjoy writing stories about God’s broken people and how He works in their lives. My first series (Coming Home Series) would be classified as family drama with a dose of romance, and my Where the Heart Is series are lighter romance stories.
- Music! I love singing and going to concerts of all kinds. Contemporary Christian, orchestral, concert choirs. And I absolutely love musical theater. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, we’re blessed to have a seemingly-endless supply of music and theater.
- Baseball. I’m a huge Minnesota Twins fan. Thirty years ago, my husband and I had tickets to the World Series where we watched the Twins beat the St. Louis Cardinals. Then four years later, we again had tickets as our team bested the Atlanta Braves in seven games. That game seven was probably my favorite game ever.
- Reading. As a writer, that’s pretty much a given. While I gravitate toward contemporary works, I’ll read most anything. Historical. Speculative. Literary. Classics. They’re all good.
- Movies. The place where I can often relax the best is at a movie theater. No phones are ringing. No one’s hollering “Mom.” The house isn’t begging to be cleaned. The computer isn’t insisting I sit down and write. I can relax and lose myself for two-plus hours. And if the movie is a Marvel movie, all the better!
- The North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota (see picture above). That’s my happy place, the place where the beauty is breathtaking and God’s voice is so clear, I take every opportunity I can to go visit. When my husband retires, we don’t plan to move south. Rather, we’re moving north. (And yes, I love the cold, so that’s not an issue.)
- Chocolate. I know, that pretty much goes without saying, but I am rather snooty about the chocolates I prefer. I will go out of my way for Fannie May chocolates—and I have to go a loooong way because the closest store is 300 miles away. Then there are Lindt chocolates. Fortunately—or unfortunately!—we have an outlet within thirty miles.
- Cats. I grew up on a dairy farm, so we always had lots of cats. But then I married into a family of cat haters. Fast forward a few years into our marriage, and my husband surprised me with a trip to the Humane Society where a teeny-tiny tortoiseshell kitten mewed at me. Needless to say, I was smitten and Pepper came home with us. She was part of our family for fifteen years. Now we have a sassy calico names Kisses who claims her spot as Queen of the House.
- Jesus! He gave His life for us even though we’re all broken and messy and selfish … I can’t fathom that kind of love. All I can do is love Him back.
Now I’d love to get to know you, too! What are some of your favorite things?
Giveaway Details ~
My latest release, Planting Hope, a Where the Heart I romance #3, came out a few weeks ago. To celebrate, I’m giving away (1) autographed paperback copy to a US resident. International readers would win an ebook copy. Contest ends November 2, 2017 at midnight MST. To enter, answer this question in the comments below:
What are some of your favorite things?
About Planting Hope ~
When flowers and chocolate collide,
romance is sure to bloom!
Family has always been the one constant in Jess Beaumont’s messy life, so when her parents separate, she puts “Operation: Planting Hope” into action. All she has to do is recreate the circumstances that helped her parents fall in love. Unfortunately, that includes the daunting task of restoring the family cabin’s gardens. When the handsome candy store owner shows up to help, she’s certain she has all the elements required for her parents’ love to bloom again. After all, flowers and chocolate are the perfect ingredients for romance.
Luke Harrison has spent his life trying to win his father’s approval, and a promotion in the family land development business would be a step in that direction. But when he inherits Gran’s candy store, his dreams of being promoted start melting away. Then his dad dangles a Vice President position in front of Luke, with one caveat—acquire the land on both sides of Gran’s store within five months, including the Beaumont cabin, and the promotion is his.
What at first seemed a simple challenge for Luke becomes a tangled mess. Buying the Beaumont cabin and land will nip his blossoming romance with Jess in the bud. Even worse, it could end her parents’ marriage. But if he doesn’t succeed, he could be trading in his corner office for the corner candy store.
Planting Hope is available at the following retailers ~
New Subscribers to my e-newsletter will receive a FREE e-copy of Risking Love, book #1 in my Where the Heart Is series. To subscribe, go here: http://eepurl.com/M0ZZr.
Contest void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
Brenda S. Anderson writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and is Past-President of the ACFW Minnesota chapter, MN-NICE, the 2016 Chapter of the Year. When not reading or writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she loves watching movies with her family. She lives in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area with her husband of 30 years, their three children, and one sassy cat. Readers can learn more about Brenda S. Anderson at www.brendaandersonbooks.com
Some of my favorite things are books, grandchildren, pictures, friends and family.
Hi Brenda, welcome to inspyromance and thanks for sharing about yourself, I look forward to reading more from you:)
Hmm, favourite things: my family, books, being outdoors having an adventure, Jesus, music… and homemade pizzas in our pizza oven!
Blessings:)
PS, I love lighthouses, thanks for sharing your photo:)
Hi Brenda and welcome to Inspy Romance. Nice to meet you a Midwesterner and new author to this avid reader and retired high school German and English teacher. I live in SW Michigan one mile from Lake Michigan – directly across the lake from Chicago, Illinois. I have lived on both sides of Lake Michigan. My favorite things are: family (3 sons & 4 grandchildren), books (romances & cozy mysteries), Hallmark movies, pizza (Silver Beach is the most romantic beach in the area and Silver Beach pizza is the best in the state), back road trips, farmer’s market, photography, and Lindt chocolates. Looking forward to reading more blogs and will be looking up your romances. Always enjoy reading a good book with a Midwest setting. Best wishes.
I love my hubby of 35 years! My 3 adult kids fill my heart too. When we married I warned my hubby that i have to have a kitty, right now we are owned by a 7 month old rescue kitty named Penny. I love reading, music, baking, and being an active Pastor’s wife.
Hi Wemble! I also enjoy lighthouses. We still have 37 or so in Michigan – the MITTEN state surrounded by five great lakes and bordering Canada. Several lighthouses on the western shores of Lake Michigan are rather famous – South Haven, Muskegon, Ludington, and more. The lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan (where I live) was even on a United States postage stamp in the 1990s.
Hi Katji! Love your kitty’s name. We have a 15 year old deaf Sheltie named Penny, because that is a family nickname (Pennington) and the breeders name was Penny. Good name for a kitty.
Hi, Brenda. Welcome to Inspy Romance. A few of my favorite things are God, my husband of 27 years, our 2 cats, books, quilting,and chocolate.
Hi Brenda,
Like you, I married in August (43 yrs) and have 3 kidos. I love to spend time with my family which includes 3 grandblessings. Other things we have in common on that favorite list are JESUS, reading and of course chocolate! I’m an east coaster and have never been to Minnesota. If I could check one thing off my bucket list it would be to travel to each of the 50 states and see at least one thing of interest in each one.
Your book sounds so good and that cover is fantastic, I’d love to read it! I’m signing up for your newsletter, Risking Love has a great cover too, whoever does all your covers does a terrific job!
Hi Brenda, Welcome.
My favorite things are reading, genealogy and watching NCIS.
I have a love for chocolate and Pepsi.
Some of my favorite things are: 1)Jesus first, family (we have 6 children, almost 7 grands, and both come from big families), 2)church, 3)baseball (We are big Royals/Chiefs fans. While I didn’t get to attend all of the World Series games in 2014 &2015, I did get to go to several. The crowd, enthusiasm & noise are indescribable! With 4 boys, sports is a given), 4)music (I, also, LOVE any type of concert and enjoy any music.), 5) chocolate (YES!!), 6) coffee, 7)reading (these aren’t in order, because reading should be higher), 8) blogs (I really enjoy reading about authors and their books – I know this could just go with reading), 9)home (There’s no place like home!), 10) puzzles of any kind. Probably other things that should be included, and these should be in another order, but today these are 10 things off the top of my head.
They all sound like the best things we could have! Since you love pictures, are you a scrapbooker?
Ohhh, homemade pizzas in a pizza oven sounds fantastic! I’m sure you get tons of use from it!
I love lighthouses too! The one in the picture is Split Rock Lighthouse, the most famous–and most photographed–lighthouse in Minnesota, though we do have a few others.
37 lighthouses? Wow! If I lived in Michigan, visiting all the lighthouses would be on my bucket list. :) In Minnesota, we have 8, and I’ve only visited 4 so far. I need to remedy that!
Nice to meet you, Renate, and learn more about you! Love meeting fellow Midwesterners as well. :) Love your list of favorites. :) When I visit Michigan, I’ll have to make a stop at Silver Beach pizza!
I love that you’re *owned* by your 7-month-old kitty! That is a perfect way to describe the cat-owner relationship. :) Our cat definitely has us trained to do her bidding. :)
Thank you for the warm welcome, Sherri!
I so admire people who quilt! I was not gifted with the quilting or sewing or crocheting or knitting gene, but my mom was. I love seeing what beauty quilters create!
A few of my favorite things are the Lord, my family, books and more books! ? You are a new author to me, and I would love to win a copy of your book. It sounds delicious!!!
I’d love to travel to all 50 states as well! I’m only about halfway there. Maybe when my husband retires in about 5-6 years. :)
My cover designer (George at Think-Cap Design) is fabulous! He has a gift for creating the exact look I’m going for–and they’re always better than I imagined.
Good morning, Linda! I love chocolate and Pepsi as well. :)
I’m curious, with your interest in genealogy, have you discovered anyone famous in your background? How far have you gone back in time?
Great list!
Our family has been to the KC area numerous times (beautiful area!) and have seen a few games at the beautiful Kauffman Stadium! My family has also been to Worlds of Fun a few times as we’re all big roller coaster nuts!
I like to think that Planting Hope is *delicious*. :) I hope you have an opportunity to read it! Nice to meet you!
I’m now hearing the music to My Favorite Things, pretending I can sing like Julie Andrews: “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…”
Some of my favorite things are Jesus, books, family (especially my husband, our two kids and their spouses, and our four grandgirls!), country living, whiskers on kittens, fresh garden tomatoes, ocean waves — and whales! can’t forget the whales — crisp air and autumn leaves, and most definitely, the readers and bloggers here at Inspy Romance.
Oh, to sing like Julie Andrews! What a gift she had!
Love your Favorite Things. Seeing a whale in its natural habitat is on my bucket list. Such amazing creatures!
Thanks for sharing about your favorite things. We share a few of them: Jesus (of course!), love for reading (or I wouldn’t be following this type of blog) and writing (but I’m a scientist.. so totally different–or not–kind of writing), definitely family (my husband and I turned 30–right, not been married by 30, but turned 30 ;) — recently and had our first child, who is a blessing in our lives, and one of the best things that ever happened to us), I am pretty partial towards Lindt, Dairy Milk, and Milka in no preference order (just give me them all!)… I also enjoy walking and hiking, picnics outside, going to the beach (grandpa has a beach house), coffee (can’t forget coffee), and a lot of other things I probably can’t remember right now. I realized that I have two of your books in my TBR list and now is the time to start ;) Welcome!
Whale-watching is one of my favorite things (LOL) to do when we are out on Vancouver Island. We’ve taken several tours and also seen them from the shore. So majestic.
Welcome to InspyRomance! We share the love of family, music, reading, chocolate, cats and Jesus! I’m still not quite awake, so can’t think of other stuff I love – I’ve been up for 3 hours, but we just got back from a trip, so I blame jetlag :-)
my favorite things are my daughter,reading, chocolate,baking,Alabama Crimson Tide football and old tv shows
Roll Tide!!
Some of my favorites: Jesus my Savior, my family, especially my husband of 36 yrs, camping (fall is my favorite time), reading, crocheting, milk chocolate, COFFEE, enjoying God’s creations, looking at family pictures, watching The Andy Griffith Show!
Congratulations on your first child! I was nearly 30 when we had our first. Oh my, time goes by quickly! I also love walking and hiking, especially when along the North Shore.
Hope you enjoy my stories, Priscila!
Thank you for the warm welcome, Margaret! Hope you get caught up on your sleep. :)
I love old TV shows, the kind we used to be able to watch as a family. As for college football, I’m partial to the North Dakota State Univ. Bison!
A great list of favorites, Gail. :) I always seem to be the odd one out when it comes to coffee. Never developed the taste for it.
A few of my favorite things are my family, books, time to read books, camping ( I like to read while camping too) and laughter.
Hi Brenda! Welcome to the Inspy team. Glad to have you with us. Love your list!
Some of my favorite things are Jesus, family, friends, gardening, crocheting, making cards and scrap booking, cross stitch, baking for others, reading and reviewing books, semi sweet iced tea, sitting on my deck, walking, etc
Welcome, Brenda! I enjoyed reading your first post and getting to know you. We share a lot of common interests, including chocolate!
Some of my favorite things are being with family and friends, participating in Special Olympics of Oregon, and reading great books.
Welcome Brenda! Some of my favorite things are family, my cat (who has me very well trained), reading, traveling, figure skating, and watching TV.
Love reading while out in nature! But my idea of camping is a hotel with a hot continental breakfast. :)
Thank you, Autumn! I’m thrilled to be here!
Love your list, Lucy!
You rarely go wrong with chocolate, right? I’m excited to be part of the Inspy Romance team!
Love the Special Olympics! I haven’t volunteered yet, but know plenty of people who are involved.
Once upon a time I could figure skate… We had a pond on our farm and we’d skate and play hockey and race. So much fun! Now I enjoy watching others figure skate!
Some of my favorite things: Jesus; my husband; my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; reading; COFFEE definitely; dark chocolate; Christmas; and just being alive each day to count my blessings.
Thank you. God Bless.
Amen to being alive each day! Too often I take waking up, breathing for granted, when it’s an amazing gift! Thanks for the reminder, Donna!
Hi Brenda, thanks for sharing a little bit about yourself with us! =)
About my favorite things.. Jesus, my family, definitely chocolate (though I now tend to be a little bit more selective on the brand…), going to the beach (specially to our beach house), reading (when I can do it on a hammock is absolutely the best!), pictures, being on the outside, children… and I guess I could go further on the list, but those are the first that comes to mind!
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…”
We were just singing this song yesterday in the car!
Anyway – some of my favorite things: God, family, Disney World, a warm fire and smores and a nice hot cup of cocoa or cider, family time, church, books!
Reading on a beach in a hammock sounds divine!
Don’t you love that song? I knew I’d get people singing. :)
I love Disney World too! Our family’s been there a number of times, and we never tire of it. And hot cocoa is another fave, especially on a night like tonight: cold & snowy!
Hi Brenda! I have a blogger/reader friend who has reviewed your books and she was so taken by them that they are now on my want-to-read list :-) I have a couple of them on my Kindle (Risking Love & Planting Hope).
Favorite things, God, family, lots of reading, traveling, or staying at home :-) Yep, I had that song stuck in my head from Sound of Music too…that’s also a favorite movie of mine! Mary Poppins, Nannie McPhee, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Flubber…oh goodness I could go on! And talking about movies, Hallmark ones will be coming on pretty soon too for the holidays just around the corner. Can you believe it already, it’s like where has the year went?
Not my favorite thing, getting older and watching the years fly by…lol!
Hi Trixie! You (and your friend) bless me! I hope you enjoy the stories as much as she does.
Oh, I love Sound of Music and Mary Poppins & Chitty Chitty Bang Bang too! So much fun! In general, I love watching movies.:)
It’s hard to believe the holidays are almost here already! But I’m excited. I love the holidays and family and winter and everything around that time.
Thanks for stopping by!
Some of my favorite things…the ocean/beach, music, dance, smiles, sunshine, laughter. :)
I’d have to include all of those in my favorite things too! Makes me realize how much God has blessed us. :)
Some of My Favorite Things are being Pregnant and Being a Stay At Home Mom, Books and reading them, Watching Netflix Shows and Taking Naps
Shared Blog Post on twitter
I’m so glad you love being a stay-at-home-Mom! I’ll never regret making the same choice, even though in my area the full-time mom is a rarity. Now that our kids are in their early 20’s,and I see the beautiful people they’ve become, that choice is affirmed even more!
So True I’d love to have one more so My career as a Stay At Home doesn’t end sooner than I would like My youngest just entered Kindergarten