romance

Writing through Despair

/ Dora Hiers / 13 Comments

2007. Not a good year.

We’d just moved to North Carolina from Florida. My husband spent long hours working at his new job, and as a writer who rarely left the house, I hadn’t developed a support system of friends yet. Lonely? You bet.

Uprooting our youngest son mid-year in 10th grade wasn’t ideal, so we arranged for him to stay and finish the school year. He spent the following summer in NC, but he missed his friends and decided to move back. Without telling us. Yeah. We were devastated.

That alone was tough, but on top of that, our oldest son, a Marine, faced another deployment. This time, though, suffering severe emotional and psychological trauma, he made a choice that altered his life forever.

My writing suffered. How could I create a romance when I stared down a deep black hole that threatened to swallow me whole? What about you? Are you drowning in despair? Here are some reminders that I needed:

Remember His promises. “Be strong and courageous…for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut 31:6 NIV) This is one of my favorites.

Realize you don’t control others. You can only control your actions and reactions. Let everything else go.

Recognize that you may need counseling. Although I might have been lonely, I wasn’t alone. God heard my cry, and He answered with a sweet husband who recognized that I needed help. My husband procured a Christian counselor for our family, and after a few sessions and much prayer, God broke the chains of despair.

Reminisce on God’s faithfulness. I’m no stranger to pain or suffering. As a child, I suffered third degree burns, which entailed numerous surgeries. I married as a teen, and when the marriage failed, I was left with trust issues and a precious 11-month-old to raise by myself (until I met my true soul mate six years later). God faithfully carried me through these tough times, so I trust Him to continue to do so.

Refocus and appreciate. Stop focusing inward. I began volunteering at a therapeutic horse ranch serving the special needs community. My issues seemed insignificant in comparison. And I learned to appreciate the perks of empty nesting. 🙂

Know God’s heart for you, and trust the road He has you on, even when you can’t see where it leads. 2007 was a tough year, but this is the journey God’s traveled with me since then: 

A healthy relationship with our now college-age son

Additions to our family 

My first writing contract and several more since then.

An encouraging, supportive group of writer friends


2013. It’s going to be a great year.

It’s a new day. A fresh slate for the year. 
Are you staring into the deep pit of despair?
Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Ps 30:5b NKJV

Meet K. Dawn Byrd and Double Identity

/ Dora Hiers

Good morning, all. Today, let’s welcome K. Dawn Byrd and her newest release, Double Identity. 

Good morning, K. Dawn. Tell us a little about yourself. What is the toughest test you’ve faced as a writer?

Finding time to write. I work a full-time job and also a lot of weekends, which means that I have to be really devoted to my writing time. I set aside at least an hour every night, six days a week if possible. The fact that I start with a well-developed plot makes things move faster.

Wow! That’s amazing. Talk about discipline. What accomplishment are you most proud of, writing-related or not?
I’m proud of earning a master degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. I believe this degree helps me to understand my characters better and what makes them tick.
I bet it does. Congratulations on that. What kind of planning do you do before writing a novel?
I fill out character sketches in order to get to know my characters better. I ask myself what their goals are, what motivates them, and what’s keeping them from reaching their goals. Sometimes, I start by writing a synopsis. This gives me information about the plot as it develops. I usually have a pretty strong plot before I actually begin the story because I write all of my books in 30-day marathons. That doesn’t mean that sometimes the story doesn’t take a life of it’s own, surprising me when it takes me down a road I hadn’t planned to travel.

In this past year, I made the transition from pantser to plotter and I found that writing a synopsis first does keep me more focused and on task. Tell me, K. Dawn, why do you write?

I write because I can’t stop. It’s more than a hobby, it’s a passion. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life!

What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a thriller about a serial killer. It’s a difficult story because there are several twists and turns and I have to be careful how I write it for everything to fall into place correctly.
Oooh, that’s different. What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?
Probably still riding a Harley. I sold my bike in order to have more time to write. On weekends, I’d rather curl up with my laptop and the story in my head.
Do you listen to music when you write?
I must have total peace and quiet when I write. I hate it because it keeps me from writing sometimes when I’d like to.
Same for me. The only music I enjoy is my golden’s soft snore in the office. What do you do for fun when not writing?
I love to read. Romantic suspense or young adult novels are favorites.
How can readers get in contact with you? 
Email: kdawnbyrd@yahoo.com
Twitter: kdawnbyrd
Pinterist: kdawnbyrd
Facebook: kdawnbyrd

Thanks so much for hanging out with me today, K. Dawn. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you better. Why don’t you tell us more about your latest release,


Double Identity.

Seventeen-year old Bree has always wanted a sister. She’s shocked when she learns that her father is alive and her identical twin sister, Cassie, is coming to live with her. She can’t wait for Cassie to arrive. She just knows they’ll be best friends. 

Bree soon discovers that even though they look alike, they’re totally different. Cassie is wild and impulsive. She hates Bree’s little town and everything in it, except Bree’s boyfriend, Luke. When Cassie becomes obsessed with Luke, she’ll go to any length to have him for herself. 
Luke has a secret, which Cassie learns and uses against him. She’s off her medication and will stop at nothing. She says he’s in love with her. He says he loves Bree. Will their secrets destroy them and their relationships?
K. Dawn Byrd
is an author of inspirational novels in several genres, including, historical, suspense, romance, and young adult. Some of her favorite things are chocolate, cars, and her pets. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and riding down country roads in the passenger seat of her husband’s Corvette Stingray. When asked why she writes, her response is, “For the simple joy of placing words on the page!”

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by JoAnn Durgin – My Review

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
About the book:
Jacob Marston, Starlight, Iowa’s hometown hero made a long-ago promise to the Lord: he won’t kiss a woman until he knows she’s “the one.” Now at age twenty-eight, the rugged firefighter questions if it’ll ever happen. Then, he meets his best friend’s sister, and Jake believes he’s found the woman of his dreams. But what will she think when she discovers his vow?

When Julia makes an unexpected confession on Christmas Day, Jake shares his secret with her, and it looks as though happily-ever-after will make a holiday appearance. 

But somehow, everyone in the tiny town of Starlight learns Jake’s secret, and he’s instantly transformed from town hero to laughingstock. Did Julia reveal his secret? Can Jake forget the humiliation and find his way under the mistletoe to share a forever kiss with Julia?


My thoughts:

Jake’s the ideal hero: a firefighter who exudes boyish charm, a kid magnet, a guy who’s been hurt by an ex-girlfriend who left him because she didn’t appreciate his values, his vows, or his town. Julia’s a pediatric nurse, who loves her family, but she’s grown tired of them fixing her up with any and all available males. Her heart is set on Jake, but distance and other relationships stand in the way.

Don’t you love books that leave you with an “awww” when you flip to the last page? Where the conflict stems more from the circumstances that keep them and their budding romance apart, rather than constant bickering between the hero and heroine? Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is one of those books,  immediately tugging you into the blooming romance between Jake and Julia and leaves you with a satisfied feeling.

Durgin plunks you into the heart of Starlight and weaves you into the lives of the characters. At 145 pages, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is a good length to read during snatches of time during the holidays. It wasn’t too short, leaving me wishing for more, and not too long to stress me out. Just right for the holidays!  

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is offered as part of Pelican Book Group’s Christmas Extravaganza for only 99 cents during December. To read an excerpt or to purchase Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, click here. 

Do you like reading stories that leave you with a satisfied feeling? 
Have you been able to squeeze reading into this already bustling holiday season?

Disclosure: I received this book from the author for a fair and honest review.