Author Takeover- Belle Calhoune
Serving one another with love
Galatians 5:13. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
This past year has been emotionally draining on all of us. The fear and uncertainty of the pandemic has left us feeling afraid, anxious and profoundly isolated. Recently, I started focusing on the good things I’ve seen and participated in over the past year. First and foremost, the amazing courage of the first responders has been uplifting and inspiring. It always makes me think of the first responders who raced into the World Trade center on 9-11 facing danger. They did so because of their sworn duty to serve others. It makes me feel emotional and grateful that such warriors were working for humanity’s sake over the past year. Our frontline workers are heroes.
I’ve seen neighbors band together to share resources such as cleaning supplies and toilet paper. My church has been so creative with drive-by communion and assistance to those in need. A local organization I belong to did a food drive that collected 4753 pounds of food for a local food bank. That made me feel as if I was helping to serve others with love and kindness. Food insecurity is so rampant in America.
Almost two years ago my father had a debilitating stroke that led him to a nursing home. Due to the pandemic, our ability to see him has been sporadic. I’ve missed him immensely and it’s been worrisome due to the isolation during this time. However, I am so grateful that he has been looked after so well and protected from Covid which did spread at his nursing home. Just a few days ago I was able to visit him with my husband, daughter, sister and niece. It was a lovely visit and he was so thrilled to see us. I have been sending him care packages through the mail filled with treats, books, CDs and anything else he enjoys. Being there for him in this way is an act of love that in no way can measure up to all he’s given me, but I still yearn to shower him with love. During my visit my dad showed me this coloring page he was working on. It was poignant to me for so many reasons.
In my March release, Hiding in Alaska, my heroine knows about sacrifice. After witnessing a murder, she testifies against the killer and ends up in Owl Creek, Alaska as part of the Witsec (witness protection) program. In order to see justice done, she makes the huge sacrifice of providing evidence and being torn away from her family for the rest of her life. Isabelle struggles with missing her family and the idea that due to her testimony she will never reunite with them again. In a sense, Isabelle is serving her community by making sure a dangerous man is placed behind bars. This courageous act leaves her all on her own.
A new life. A secret past…
Can this witness risk opening her heart
in her new Alaskan home?
Forced to reinvent herself in witness protection, Isabelle Sanchez begins working for an Alaskan chocolate company under the alias Ella Perez. Her new warmhearted town is a peaceful refuge—as is the company of chocolate empire heir Connor North. She may never be able to tell Connor the truth about her fresh start…but can they find love despite her secrets?
From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
Home to Owl Creek
I’ll be giving away 2 copies of Hiding in Alaska randomly picked by 2 commenters who answer this question.
In what way have you served others in the past year? It can be big or small and maybe a simple act of kindness.
For me, own voices means I can write characters who reflect my own diversity as well as being able to present a snapshot of the world I inhabit. It’s an opportunity as an author to represent people of color in my romance novels. It’s important that readers see and understand that diverse people love just as hard as the rest of the population.
I’ve been fortunate in that Harlequin Love Inspired has allowed me the freedom to write diverse stories. In my current series, three of the four books have diverse main characters. With my Indie books I’m able to write diverse characters to my heart’s content. Thankfully, things are changing in the publishing industry and more doors are opening for diverse projects. I am personally experiencing this (as well as a host of my diverse author friends) and I’m really excited about this trend in publishing. I’m seeing lots of new contracts and wonderful opportunities emerging for diverse authors.
BIO:
Belle Calhoune is a Publisher’s Weekly best-selling author of inspirational and heartwarming romance. Raised in a small town in Massachusetts, Belle had the pleasure of growing up right across the street from a public library. Married to her college sweetheart, Belle has two lovely daughters and two very spoiled dogs. She is a member of the RWA Honor Roll and a recipient of the Angeline Bishop award for multicultural series. She’s published 40 novels with four additional books being released in 2020 and 2021 from Harlequin Love Inspired.
I love all of the books that I have read written by Belle Calhoune. I would love to read this one too.
I made my aunt and uncle dinner when she had surgery. Also prayers. I’ve watched my grandmother for my other aunt so she can go to doctors appts. I would love to win this book! Been searching for it in stores and it’s sold out.
Thank you, Lori. I’m so pleased to hear that. Bless you.
I am a shut in so I’ve prayed for others, some I know, others I don’t. I’ve also called others to check on them and see if they have a need. I also take care of my 88 year old momma in my home.
That’s wonderful, Terri. I’m sure you’re such a blessing to your momma.
I have picked up groceries and delivered to friends who were sick during this time.
That’s so very important, Janet. Bless you.
I have loved every book Belle has written both in digital and hardback copies. I have served others by helping my parents while my father was in hospice and my mother deal with everything after he passed. I have also worked in different departments during covid to help influx of calls.
Wow, Dawn. I’m impressed. Taking care of your parents in that sad and stressful situation is an amazing thing. Blessings.
I can’t wait to read this book! Great post.
Thanks, Cathy. I had a lot of fun writing Hiding In Alaska.
This past year has definitely been different in many ways. I have went back to work, have had less contact with family due to the pandemic. But yet, I have been able to help, in a small way, neighbors that have a lot less than myself. I have provided some food, clothing and shoes .. mostly warmer clothes for the winter since they had none.. and comforters for their beds. Whatever they could not use for whatever reason, they were going to pass it on.
That’s beautiful, Shirley. You’ve done so much to lend a helping hand to your neighbors. You’ve served with love.
I would love to read your books. I have always been interested in Alaska…..more so than Hawaii.
I love the scripture and your writing!
Alaska is so intriguing. The Last Frontier. Full of depth and beauty.
I play the piano at my church. This is big for me as I hate to have attention on me. Also, my son and I put together a gift for a young girl for Christmas. This is something he insist on doing each year
Sharing your talent is a beautiful way to bless others.
I’ve cleaned my dad’s house once a week for a few years. It enabled me to continue to see my dad during 2020 when he couldn’t be around many people, so my company meant more to him than my cleaning.
Oh yes. You blessed him with your company. 2020 was so lonely for so many folks. I’m glad you were there with him.
Sounds like an interesting book to add to me books to be read list. I finished in June serving those who’s homes were destroyed and damaged in the Florida keys by hurricane Irma. I was a case manager for a disaster recovery team. Since then we have moved and I get to serve in smaller ways as a pastors wife.
Wow, Rebecca. Clapping for you. Your work is so very important. Natural disasters leave so much loss and destruction in their wake. Blessings.
I love my books from Belle! Her books are very realistic and fun.
Thank you, Kim. It makes me so happy to know you’ve enjoyed them.
We have been definitely helping small restaurant business close by. Even though we can make breakfast at home we have been going to our favorite restaurant to help support it and keep it open. Fortunately, my husband’s business was not effected by the COVID shut down too much and we were able to help out by ordering and tipping more than usual. Luckily the owner is pretty business oriented and he was able to stay open and keep all his employees employed. In fact, he’s now looking for help! Thank you fr the opportunity, I’d love to win and read Hiding in Alaska and I promise to share when I’m done.
Can’t wait to read this book!! I find different ways to serve throughout my community. My husband and I have taken a young man who was just released from prison under our wings. We give him words of encouragement and give him odd jobs to do around the farm so he can earn some extra money.
Ever since the it all started my church has had Tuesday night prayer on Zoom, and a group of us continued it by praying together every night Monday thru Friday @7pm. We are still doing so and funny thing is before this I never prayed out loud now that’s all I do
I made my aunt and uncle dinner when she had surgery. Also prayers. I’ve watched my grandmother for my other aunt so she can go to doctors appts. I would love to win this book! Been searching for it in stores and it’s sold out.
I have helped serve our youth group with virtual zoom meetings and now in-person small groups. Our high school girls are a blessing and it’s an honor to mentor them.
Besides Amish fiction I enjoy novels set in Alaska. I don’t know why as I’ve never even been there.
Belle writes beautiful books! Thanks for having her today!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
I made a supply donation to a rescue mission in my town. Very pretty cover. Thanks for the chance.
My grandfather just went through emergency open heart surgery last week and it was hard watching my mom wanting to be there, but due to restrictions, only my step-grandmother was able to be with him in the hospital. We sent him a card a few days ago. 🙂
I’m always helping people anyway I can whether it be cooking for them, printing stuff, filling out paperwork for them, washing clothes, providing a place to sleep and shower when their plumbing isn’t working. Taking food to my crippled cousin when I get an opportunity to travel the 45 minute trip to him.
I help my brother’s group Men for Change who works with at risk youth, young men and young girls. We also work with the food bank and take boxes of food for the elderly.
I got back to making bread in the last year, so I have shared bread with others. I also make cinnamon rolls for my son, which he loves. I share our eggs from our backyard hen house. I check on an elderly lady around the corner and put out and take up her trash cans. After our snowstorm, my son helped her by vacuuming up water from a leak. I was so moved by her neighbors who just showed up to help her! She doesn’t walk well, so they didn’t really know her.
I have been fortunate to be able to be home with my disabled son, and help out my mom and aunt. It was a tough year, He is finally back to his program and I find I’m trying to find myself. Your books are inspirational, God created us all equal but different to give us an opportunity to learn from each other.
I have done small service acts for my neighbor.
bake for cookies for some neighbor
help clean up the yard and home
did some laundry for a family.
I have been making blankets for the Oregon Coast Community Action kids in the Coos county foster and head start programs. It’s been really rewarding. I also have been sharing a children’s book I wrote about kindness and mental health for the young children.
Oh man, I would love to win and read this
I donated to Salvation Army and gave school supplies to a friend whose sister is a teacher.
This sounds like such a good read! We recently made cheeseburger soup for a church family. The husband and wife both had Covid, and she was hospitalized w/ pneumonia for quite a while afterward.
Would Love to win and read this! I have been helping My Daughter with My New Granddaughter What a wonderful post!
My husband and I have made cash donations to several organizations. I feel like it’s something I can do that might help others.
Each month for the last year I have made and mailed out many cards to people, especially senior adults, so that they know they are not forgotten and to remind them that they matter. I continue to make and mail my cards to people of all ages to encourage and uplift them who need some encouragement because of struggles in their life, whether caring for a loved one, or experiencing an illness or recuperation, loss of a loved one, or just need to know they are not forgotten.
Belle, your dad’s coloring page is beautiful! Thanks for sharing it and your story with us.
This book sounds awesome. This past year I have done a few things. Picked up groceries for my disabled parents and dropped off at their door as well as cooking a few dinners a week and dropping them off. Also I work for a Healthcare company and have assisted in multiple capacities when some had to be furloughed due to stopping non-essential surgery.
I really couldn’t do much as I had to have 2 life saving surgeries. We donated food to a local mission and funds that our church used to help the local community. I call my blind Aunt who lives in another state every day. She is lonely and her family is not too kind to her. She said she looks forward to my calls.