Guest Blogger: Rebecca Talley

I'd like to welcome Rebecca Talley, our guest blogger, to the Ink Ladies Blog. Rebecca is here to tell us a little bit about herself and her recently released novel, Heaven Scent. Thanks for blogging with us, Rebecca.

I was born in Santa Barbara, California. I spent countless hours playing at the beach. I loved swimming in the ocean, collecting shells, and digging in the sand. One of my favorite memories is riding my pony along the shore with the surf spraying my feet. I still love the moist sea air.While I was a teenager, I performed as a flamenco dancer in parades and on stage (I actually fell off the stage during one performance) for the Old Spanish Days Fiesta celebration that occurs every August in Santa Barbara. I played basketball in high school and was named Most Inspirational Player.

After graduating from high school, I attended BYU. I had a hard time adjusting to the snow and cold winters, but I had the time of my life. I loved playing pranks on FHE brothers and attending dances every weekend. Oh, and I enjoyed my classes, too. While attending BYU, I met my sweetheart, Del. We were married after my junior year at BYU. I graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. We now live in a rural area of Colorado and have been blessed with 10 wonderfully talented children. We also have a horse, goats, and a llama named Tina. I’ve always loved to write, but put it on hold for a time while I raised my kids. I finally realized that with so many kids, I’d be raising them into my twilight years and if I wanted to write, I had to figure out how to make it work while raising my family.

I’ve had stories published in children’s magazines including The Friend, Our Little Friend, Story Friends, and Stories for Children. I’m also the author of a children’s picture book, Grasshopper Pie, which is based on an experience when my children tried to feed me a live grasshopper.

My new LDS novel, Heaven Scent, will be available this month through Cedar Fort’s website and in bookstores in March. It’s been a great experience and I’m very excited to share my story with others.

Here’s the back copy:

She'd wanted her father to pay more attention to her, and she'd wanted her family to be like it used to be. She hadn't wanted everything to change so drastically that she may not even survive it. As Liza proves herself a basketball star, everyone - from college basketball recruiters to the gorgeous Kyle Reynolds - seems to take note of her. Everyone, that is, except her own father. While her father is busy at his law practice, Liza learns about a strange new religion from Kyle. Could Kyle's religion help her family? Or is it already too late for her father to make amends? When yet another broken promise finally leads to tragedy, Liza doesn't know if she will ever be able to forgive her father. It will take a good friend, a new belief, and a miracle straight from heaven to help Liza see that she still has a choice. The compelling story of a high school basketball star, this is a novel every girl will want, and none will be able to put down!

This story was inspired by my mother who passed away when I was a little girl. Besides writing, I also enjoy knitting, crocheting, reading, and dancing to disco music while I clean the house. Thank you so much for inviting me to be a guest blogger!

Check out Rebecca's blog and website. Thanks again, Rebecca. We enjoyed getting to know you better.