[AND THE WINNER IS… Tina Rice. Tina, send an email to Deb at debraney@mac.com and I’ll get your book on its way to you! Thank you for all the birthday wishes for our Tammy!]
Today just happens to be a very special day for my dear, long-time friend and writing critique partner of more than twenty years, Inspired by Life…and Fiction‘s own Tamera Alexander. •♫♪ Happy, happy birthday, dear Tammy! ♫♪•
I can’t say enough about what a blessing Tammy has been in my life. We first met at the very first American Christian Fiction Writers conference (then called ACRW, R for Romance!) in Kansas City in 2001. Tammy was unpublished at the time and when I shared that I was struggling with the plot of the novel I was on deadline with, she kindly offered to read my book and give feedback.
Wow! She worked her magic on my manuscript, I happily did the same for her work in progress, and the rest, as they say, is history. Tammy was published a short time later, has since joined the Christy Award Hall of Fame, won the RITA Award and many others, along with being a USA Today bestselling author.
We have now read every single book the other has written, and truly, I hope I never have to write without Tammy coming alongside me with her sharp eye and amazing insight.
But Tammy is so much more than a critique partner. She’s become the dearest friend I could ever ask for. We’ve raised our kids side by side, watched them spread their wings and fly, gone through the deaths of precious parents together, shared the ups and downs of the publishing world, and had some great adventures. (I’m so excited for Tammy’s newest adventure, the birth of her first grandchild later this year!) Happy birthday, dear friend!
And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Tammy’s special day than giving away one of her amazing novels to one of our wonderful Inspired by Life…and Fiction readers!
Simply wish Tammy a Happy Birthday in the comments below (maybe let her know which is your favorite book of hers and why) and I’ll draw a winner and announce it here tonight. The winner may choose any one of Tammy’s many novels that are available on amazon.com (a few of my personal favorites pictured below).
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Happy Birthday, dear dear Tammy! You are a joy! I was just in Germany at Schoenblick for a conference and remembering our delightful tour there together with Lynn in 2014. You and Deb are truly such a gift to the writing world with your incredible stories and incredible friendship and incredible faith! Big hugs!
Thank you, Elizabeth! Kelsey and I were just talking at dinner last night about that 2014 book tour in Germany with you and Lynn. We were laughing about so many of the events that happened. What a blessing that was – and that you are to me!
Starting my 61st bday with tears! But oh such happy ones. Bless you, dear friend, for your kind and generous words, and you know I return them all one hundredfold. I cannot imagine writing without you . . . or walking this side of eternity without your wise counsel and friendship. Love you dearly! But oh those hairstyles!!! 😉
LOL! I saved some of the best hairstyles for a later post. Heh heh heh. Happy birthday, dear friend. I pray it’s an extra special one! With CAKE!
Happy Birthday! God bless you special.
Have a wonderful birthday!
A beautiful birthday tribute to your friend! Wishing Tammy a very happy birthday. May the Lord bless her with an extra special birthday blessing. She shares a birthday with my uncle Mike and dear friend Linda today. Mine is tomorrow followed by two other dear friends on Wednesday. Phew!
Happy early birthday, Carla! I pray this next year is your best yet the side of heaven, but as we know, it’s nothing compared to what awaits with Christ. Much love!
Happy Birthday, Tammy!!! What a wonderful tribute your friend Deborah gave you! I have enjoyed all of your books.
Happy Happy B-day Tammy!! Blessings on another year!!
To have a writing partner who is honest enough to help and also encouraging is a blessing; to have that person also be your best friend is blessings multiplied. Happy birthday, Tammy! I love so many of your books, it would be hard to pick a favorite. ♥
Happy Birthday! What a special friendship and partnership. And congratulations, Tammy, to your family on the exciting addition!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday!! Blessings to you!
How blessed you both are to have such a wonderful friendship. I pray you have a blessed and Happy Birthday Tammy. 🎂🎉🎈Enjoy your day celebrating you.
A very Happy Birthday to you Tammy!! Hope your day is filled with blessings!
Happy birthday Tamera! I always love your writings and have enjoyed meeting you in person twice!
Terry Cawthon
Hendersonville, Tn
Happy, happy Birthday, Tammy! I hope you have a wonderful day! I love reading your books!
Happy birthday, dearest Tammy! You are a treasure, we are all blessed to have you in our lives! Thank you for your wisdom, your encouragement, and your love for the Lord. I hope your day is amazing and the coming year is blessed! –Angie
Birthday Blessings to you, dear Tammy! What a wonderful tribute from Deb! Finding a good friend who is also a writer and willing to pitch in and help you with your WIP is a true blessing! Love reading what you both write! May this be your very best year yet!
Happy Birthday, Tammy! I enjoy reading your books, and have introduced my sister to them –and she loves them!
What a fun post! I really enjoyed all the pics. Tamera spoke at our ACFW VA Royal Writers Conference last year and recently Zoomed in to my book club. She is just the epitome of the Southern lady so I’m having trouble picturing her being snarky, Deb. Sorry. As for a favorite book, that’s just impossible. I truly loved With this Pledge, but if I have to choose, I’m gonna go with To Whisper Her Name because it was my first TA book and you know what they say about your first loves! Happiest of Birthdays, Tamera!
Happy birthday to Tamera! I love your books and have read all of them! God bless you always and have a wonderful day, blessed in every way.
What a wonderful friendship! Love the pictures. Happy Birthday, Tammy! You share a birthday with my reading friend Lynne who also reads this blog. Tammy, your prayers have lifted me so many times. Thank you for your love and concern. Have a wonderful day!
I have all of these books, so don’t consider me in the drawing.
Happy and Blessed Eph. 3:20 Birthday, Tammy!
Happy Birthday Tammy! May your special day be as special as your books are to your readers.
Love your books! Honestly I can’t pick a favorite because just when I think I have a favorite, I read another one and love it just as much.
Happy birthday! Love her books
Happy birthday!!! Enjoy your day!
Happy Birthday Tamera! I have read The Carnton Series and enjoyed it. I love historical fiction!
Dear Tamera,
We have all of your books in the Church Library.
The library is 75+ years young and at one time we were the
largest Church Library in the Southeast United States.
Happy Birthday Blessings to You!
Happy birthday, Tammy! I can’t believe I’ve never read one of your books. I need to fix that!
Happy Birthday, Tammy! I’m not sure which of your novels is my favorite. They’re all wonderful. I hope your day is filled with sunshine and laughter.
Happy and Blessed Birthday, Tamera! What a blessing to have such good friends. A great tribute from Deborah! It is hard to pick just one favorite book of yours, I love them all! The Belle Meade Plantation series and Carnton series are my favorite series! I always feel as though I step through the pages and walk along side of the characters! A great gift of words you have.
Congratulations on your first grandchild! You will love being a grandma!
Blessings,
Tina
What a blessing Deb and Tammy are to each other and to us readers! I have to say ditto to Brenda and Janet from above comments. When I found both of you authors years ago, I began reading everything you write. Happy Birthday, Tammy🎂🎉🍰
Happy Birthday, Tammy! I’m hoping to meet you in St. Louis next month! My favorite book is probably With This Pledge. It made the horrors of the civil war so real. They are all good.
Happy, happy birthday, dear lady! You have been such a blessing in my life!
With This Pledge has been my favorite of Tammy’s books so far. (Although I haven’t read one that I didn’t like!) I loved the history in the story. She made it come alive and helped me discover the challenges folks had to tackle during that time in history.
Many, many happy birthday wishes to you Tammy!! Thankful the Lord brought you and Deb together as friends and critique partners. I hope you have a spectacular birthday! 🥳🎂
Happy Birthday 🥳🎉. What a great friendship. Blessing to both of you.
Happy birthday!!! Yay! I really enjoyed Christmas at Carnton and To Win Her Favor. Have a blessed and beautiful birthday!
Loved the tribute! Well said!
I have enjoyed all of Tammy’s books from Colorado forward.
Thank you both for many hours of enjoyment.
Man the family has grown so fast!😃
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday sweet Tamera! I hope your day is full of blessings!
My favorite book of yours is Rekindled! I literally couldn’t put it down. Of course had to read the whole series after that! 🧡
Happy birthday, Tammy! Praying your day is full of joy and favor!
Thank you both for sharing your friendship and gift of writing with us! ♡
Happy birthday, Tamera! Hope it’s as special as you are! The most recent book I’ve read that I loved was Colors of Truth. Aside from the wonderful story and stellar writing, I love how you stuck to your convictions and published the book on your own when your publisher dropped it. I admire you so much!
Tammy, I truly admire you as an author and businesswoman. You exude grace, professionalism, warmth, intelligence, and humor. You’re a blessing to the readers and writers of the Christian fiction community. Thanks for pointing us to Jesus through your novels, words, and friendship. Happy, happy birthday!!
[Don’t enter me in the contest, Deb. I just wanted to take this opportunity to give Tammy my best wishes.;)]
Happy Birthday, Tamera! Hope your day is blessed.
It’s sometimes hard to choose a favorite book when the author is incredibly talented, but I think my fav would be “With This Pledge.” I really enjoyed this series & am looking forward to the final book when she writes it. The history was fascinating & the story lines so well done, in the prequel book & in the first two of the trilogy!
Happy Birthday Tamera! If everyone could have a special friendship like you two what a wonderful world it would be. I joined ACFW in 2006 and Deborah was such an encouragement online via ACFW before FB. You both are inspiring in your faith and your friendship. Congratulations on upcoming grand baby. What will the baby call you? I’m Grammy Sue to our 14 yr old granddaughter.
Hope you had a fabulous Birthday, Tammy!
Happy Birthday Tamera!! I hope your day has been blessed with all the things you like! Btw I love your books!
Happy birthday, Tammy!I started reading your books when the first Belmont Mansion book was published. I really like all of those books, plus the Belle Meade and Carnton novels. Someday I will have to read your earlier works. I know just what book I’d select if I won Deb’s giveaway: With This Pledge. I loved that book! I have the other two in the series but not that one. I hope you’ve had a wonderful day.
Happy birthday Tamera! It’s also my daughters birthday too! I would have to say “To whisper her name” I was so in love with this series I ended to taking my mom and sister on a road trip to visit Belle Meade Plantation and I relieved the books all over again. Also got to visit Belmont too so it’s really hard to just choose one book. Good luck to everyone and have a great birthday 🎂 🎉
Happy Birthday! I haven’t read any of your books yet but would like to.
AND THE WINNER IS… Tina Rice. Tina, send an email to Deb at debraney@mac.com and I’ll get your book on its way to you! Thank you for all the birthday wishes for our Tammy!
THANK YOU EVERYONE! Y’all are the best. And thanks again, Deb, for being so stinkin’ sweet!
Happy Birthday, Tammy! As my friend Betty said, we share a birth date. Wishing you a wonderful day and another year of blessings!
Happy belated bday, Lynne! Blessings on this next year, friend!
Happy Birthday Tammy. Wishing you blessings through the next year. I love all of your books. And have read almost all of them.
Happy birthday to you Tammy! May your celebration be full of blessings!
Happy (belated) Birthday Tammy! I hope it was a wonderful day for you!