Today I'd like to welcome my friend Patricia Kyono to the blog with her newest release, The Friendship Star Quilt. Why don't we listen to what Patricia has to say about it...
The Stitching Post Quilt Shop is the setting for the weekly gathering of a group of women who come to sew, but leave with lasting friendships. The first book in the series, The Calico Heart, was nominated for a RONE award for Best Contemporary Book of 2013. Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels are pleased to announce the release of the second book in the series, The Friendship Star Quilt.
The second book in this series addresses a dark issue – that of spousal abuse. Anne Brown is running from an abusive ex-husband. She has no family or friends to help her, and no money. Her former in-laws are very wealthy and powerful, and she trusts no one. What would you do in her situation? Where would you go?
There are organizations set up to help women in abusive situations – unfortunately Anne had no one to help her find them. And Anne’s ex-husband wasn’t always physically abusive – he hurt her emotionally as well. If you were in her situation, would you know where to go for help? If it was your friend who was abused, would you step in to help her?
The second book in this series addresses a dark issue – that of spousal abuse. Anne Brown is running from an abusive ex-husband. She has no family or friends to help her, and no money. Her former in-laws are very wealthy and powerful, and she trusts no one. What would you do in her situation? Where would you go?
There are organizations set up to help women in abusive situations – unfortunately Anne had no one to help her find them. And Anne’s ex-husband wasn’t always physically abusive – he hurt her emotionally as well. If you were in her situation, would you know where to go for help? If it was your friend who was abused, would you step in to help her?
BLURB ~
Anne Brown loves her job at The Stitching Post Quilt Shop in Grandville, Michigan, but she keeps a suitcase packed so she can leave at a moment's notice. Living under the radar, she longs for a normal life, but settles for listening to family stories told by the friendly ladies of the quilting club who meet at the shop on Tuesday evenings. When she meets Brad, the handsome band director of an area high school and his adorable daughter, Anne begins to hope for a happily ever after of her own. But someone has far different plans.
Brad Carmichael is juggling the demands of his job as band director at Rivertown High School with trying to be a better father to his daughter. When Brad is late picking Jennie up from a birthday party, the pretty young clerk from the local quilt shop comes to his rescue. Kind-hearted and talented, Anne becomes a vital part of Brad and Jennie’s lives. But her past threatens to destroy their relationship.
Brad Carmichael is juggling the demands of his job as band director at Rivertown High School with trying to be a better father to his daughter. When Brad is late picking Jennie up from a birthday party, the pretty young clerk from the local quilt shop comes to his rescue. Kind-hearted and talented, Anne becomes a vital part of Brad and Jennie’s lives. But her past threatens to destroy their relationship.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS ~
Patricia Kiyono retired from public school teaching, and is now an adjunct faculty member at Grand Valley State University, where she instructs future teachers. Born in Japan, she lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from their five children and nine grandchildren. In addition to writing, she enjoys sewing, scrapbooking, playing in local bands and orchestras, and taking care of grandchildren.
Stephanie Michels considers herself a “Jill of All Trades.” During her corporate career, she worked as a computer trainer, advertising copywriter, personnel agent, radio DJ, magazine columnist, and a financial planner among other things. She recently left those behind in order to focus on writing full time.
Raised in Michigan, she lived in South Carolina, Missouri, and Germany, before returning to the Mitten State to raise her family. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her reading or spending time with family, friends, and Beta Sigma Phi sisters.
The Friendship Star Quilt is her second novel with writing partner, Patricia Kiyono.
The Friendship Star Quilt is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, as well as other ebook outlets.
Stephanie Michels is giving away a $5 Amazon gift card at each stop of our blog tour to a random commenter. To win, please leave a comment about an organization important to you. Perhaps you or a loved one has been helped by a particular group. Tell us about it! One winning comment will be chosen in one week. And to increase your chances, visit blogger Jennifer Levac tomorrow!
Raised in Michigan, she lived in South Carolina, Missouri, and Germany, before returning to the Mitten State to raise her family. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her reading or spending time with family, friends, and Beta Sigma Phi sisters.
The Friendship Star Quilt is her second novel with writing partner, Patricia Kiyono.
BUY LINKS ~
The Friendship Star Quilt is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, as well as other ebook outlets.
GIVEAWAY! ~
Stephanie Michels is giving away a $5 Amazon gift card at each stop of our blog tour to a random commenter. To win, please leave a comment about an organization important to you. Perhaps you or a loved one has been helped by a particular group. Tell us about it! One winning comment will be chosen in one week. And to increase your chances, visit blogger Jennifer Levac tomorrow!
Thank you so much for having us here today, MJ!
ReplyDeleteSo happy that you could join us!
DeleteLet me say thank you as well, MJ. You have a lovely blog.
DeleteI am a domestic violence survivor and our local YMCA offers support groups. They helped with the emotional part and they offer a safe place to go if and when its needed. <3
ReplyDeleteOh Mary, I'm so sorry for what you went through, and so glad you got the help you needed! Thank you so much for sharing.
DeleteWe have a place in town whose location is known to few, and it moves around a lot, to try to keep victims safe from abusers. I'm not sure if our Y offers that, although I know they have a counselling program for rape victims. Mary, I appreciate you joining us here today and offering your insight. Like Patricia, I'm sorry for what you went through and glad that it's now part of your past.
DeleteSpousal abuse and domestic violence cases are so much larger of an issue than most people realize. It's not just something that happen s in books or to the poor or uneducated. It happens every where, and it takes a lot of courage to get away from such a situation. I'm glad you did, Mary. God bless you.
DeleteOne year when things were really rough for my family, I had lost my job which is really hard being a single mom. A local church "adopted" my little family for Christmas. We did not attend that church but some people who knew us did. They asked what I wanted for Christmas and I told them that I wanted nothing but to see smiles on my children's faces. My boy got the train he had been wanting along with a few other toys and my daughter received some dolls. I was not expecting the gift certificates that I got so that I could rent movies and order pizza to have some amazing family nights That was nine years ago. Now, my kids and I buy toys for the Christmas drives because we know how it feels to be on the receiving end of that during hard times.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing, Angie! I'm so glad your friends stepped up to help your family have a great Christmas. I'm sure those people receiving your generosity appreciate it as much as you did.
DeleteThanks for stopping in, Angie, and sharing your story with us. It's amazing how powerful it is when someone extends a hand so you when you're down. They offer more than their gifts, they offer hope when things seem hopeless.
DeleteAngie, thank you for sharing your heartwarming experience.
DeleteI was a single mom, too, and got an anonymous monetary gift one year with a note that said "Someone did this for me once when I needed it the most and told me to do the some someday when things got better. Now I give it to you and ask the same." It was a beautiful gift and I've tried to "pay it forward, too, when I see other people in that situation.
God bless you and your family.
I choose the Wounded Warrior Project. It is a program that helps wounded soldiers cope and transition with their injuries. My husband has been in the army for 12 years and it is nice to know that a program like that is there to help him. Our veterans seem to get left on the back burner at times, so it is nice that they have this program in place.
ReplyDeleteI first heard about the Wounded Warrior Project when the daughter of a good friend married a serviceman. It sounds like a wonderful program, and I agree that veterans deserve so much more than they now receive. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteJessica, I'm so glad you popped in to visit with us today. Those in the service are near and dear to my heart, too. Since what they do often doesn't happen in front of you, much of it going on overseas, we do forget about all they are doing on our behalf and all they are sacrificing to do it. I'm glad that there are organizations like this to help them. Thanks for joining us!
DeleteJessica, thanks for reminding us of these too often forgotten heroes. Thank your husband from me for all he does...and thank you for the sacrifices you make in order to support his career.
DeleteAlthough I have been fortunate not to have experienced spousal abuse I am a member of a Beta Sigma Phi chapter that has donated money, time, and needed items on the "wish" lists for several not for profit organizations that provide shelter or other support to people in need. It is always an overwhelming feeling to see how many people are in an abusive situation or are in need of shelter or support and pray that the support will always be available to them.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for groups like your chapter, Linda! Thanks for sharing,
DeleteLinda, thank you for stopping by and sharing this with us. It's wonderful for people in abusive situations to know they have a safe place where they can flee to when they make that decision to leave.
DeleteOur church group did that for a local program and the ladies were so grateful. They sent us a card that they all signed. Such nice women! I look forward to helping them again.
DeleteI will be closing the giveaway tomorrow evening at 8PM Eastern time, so you still have time to get in and comment. Thanks to all of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post! I love the organization Children of Promise (echildrenofpromise.org) which helps children around the world have enough food, health care, schooling, and spiritual nurture. It's a wonderful ministry.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds wonderful, Brenda! I just looked at their website. Thanks for bringing that to our attention!
DeleteBrenda, I had never heard of them before. Thank you for telling us about it.
DeleteThat does sound like a great cause, Brenda! Thanks for joining us!
DeleteTwo organizations very special to us are the Gideons International -- which distributes Bibles all over the world -- and the American Legion Honor Guard, which (in Pulaski Co KY) goes to ALL of the funerals of veterans and provides a full military burial... even for those vets who do not "officially" qualify. [To qualify officially, you have to be killed in the line or duty or be retired military (I believe), but this Post 38 has honored some 2500 veterans with full military honors even though the VA and DOD cannot.] It means a LOT to the families of those veterans.
ReplyDeleteThe reason these are so important to my family is because my F-I-L, until his death was extremely active in each and we cannot think of the AL Honor guard without thinking of him. LIkewise for his unselfish service to the Gideons.
Thanks for sharing with us, Jeff! More good causes!
DeletePatricia and Stephanie, what a great idea to give people an opportunity to speak about the things they are passionate about! It nice to see the many, diverse groups out there designed to help others.
Jeff, thank for stopping by and sharing with us. Maybe Patty or I will have to write a story about one of our Stitching Post Quilters making a patriotic quilt for a soldier. What do you think, Patty?
DeleteI think that sounds like an excellent idea, Stephanie! And thanks so much for stopping in and sharing, Jeff.
DeleteAngie Shroeder, you're the winner of my $5 gift card giveaway, please email your preference (Amazon or Barnes & Noble) to me at StephanieMichels@comcast.net along with your email address and I'll send email the card to you.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Congratulations, Angie! And thank you Stephanie and Patricia for sharing your books, and yourselves, with us.
ReplyDelete