Mary's Musings

Healer by Linda Windsor - A Terrific Read

2010-10-30T15:30:00.004-04:00

The first novel in the Celtic-Arthurian Bride of Alba series, Healer centers on Brenna of Gowrys. After ensuring the safety of her infant daughter with a trusted nurse, Brenna’s mother killed herself to escape the clutches of the neighboring O’Byrne clan leader, who murdered her husband moments before. The dying woman prophesied about her daughter, forcing Brenna to live as a fugitive in the wilds with only Faol, her wolf, as her companion. But the early guidance of her nurse and a mentoring monk has helped Brenna hone her God-given healing skills, and with the monk’s assistance, she secretly restores local people to health, even though her acts of mercy and kindness place her at great risk.

Together Brenna and Faol fend off an unknown assailant who attacks and severely injuries a stranger. Brenna drags the victim to her cave home, where she heals and restores him, unaware that he is Ronan, the O’Byrne prince—eldest son and heir of her father’s murderer—who doesn't reveal his identity until they fall in love (which Windsor honestly portrays without the extremes of explicit detail or unrealistic purity).

Brenna is a strong woman of God with a warrior’s spirit on many levels, although she also can be sweet and spunky. Some might think she’s too perfect, but I tend to think she knows who she is in Christ and reflects well the verse in Matthew 11:12 that says violent men, or women in this case, seize the kingdom of heaven by force as a precious prize—with most ardent zeal and intense exertion (Amplified version). Her faith and trust in God inspires me to seek Him more diligently to please Him and fulfill my own destiny.

Prince Ronan witnessed the deaths of Brenna’s parents as a young child, which left him emotionally wounded and disturbed about the conflicts between the clans. He is the typical royal hero, strong, handsome, courageous, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect his loved ones and clan members. Though he struggles with great emotional pain, God leads him to the realization that total surrender will afford the peace Ronan craves—but at a price he isn’t always willing to pay. He discovers his greatest battles aren’t with enemies who live in or outside his clan, but rather within himself.

I found the romance element a bit predictable—isn’t that’s the nature of romances?—but cloaking it in brilliantly woven Christian/Druid history and intrigue keeps the pace of this story intense and fast-moving. The author’s attention to detail continually stirred my senses and made me feel like I was in the middle of the story world with very real people. Not only is Windsor well-versed in the history of this age, but also the culture and mindset of its inhabitants.

I was moved and thrilled by the spiritual warfare sprinkled throughout the book, which portrays God as the One who answers prayer, uses yielded vessels mightily, and causes good to overcome evil, albeit not always in the ways we humans would prefer. The growth and change of various characters give the book a strong take-home message and a satisfying ending and promises more of the same in Thief, Book Two of the series, featuring a villainous character from Healer, who wrestles with the convicting power of the Cross and the sins of his past. Assuming Windsor uses the same storytelling skills she did in Healer, I expect it to be another terrific read.

Please note the following disclaimer: In accordance with Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255, this book was sent to me directly from the author's publicist and as such constitutes compensation for my review. All opinions are strictly my own.

Delightful and Sweet "Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska" by Loree Lough

2010-05-07T18:03:00.001-04:00

What’s Bryce Stone, a Marine war hero, to do, when going home to North Pole, Alaska to hide from life's woes and start over in a barely-there carpentry shop isn't working? And everyone disgustingly commercializes Christmas every day of the year?

What’s Samantha (Sam) Sinclair, a Baltimore, MD chef with a brand new culinary arts degree, to do, when her guaranteed job in North Pole is reneged, and employment opportunities are almost zilch? And she's forced to settle for something else quick because no way is she going back home to face teasing and disgrace?

Before either can think that hard about it, Bryce’s caring but feisty Aunt Olive takes the choices out of their hands. She hires Sam to run the family’s Christmas shop to allow Bryce the freedom to create handcrafted furniture. And I’m-in-love-with-Christmas Sam is enthralled with her unexpected job. She can’t get enough of the season or the store, while Scroogie-yet-sweet Bryce acts like he doesn’t want bitsy, little her and her Christmas spirit anywhere around him. Well, not at first, anyway. But not only that…neither of them realizes cagy Aunt Olive plans to spring a few surprises of her own.

Using the unique setting, snappy, humorous dialogue, and real life plot twists that prompt the loveable but sometimes hardheaded characters to fling themselves in the arms of God, Loree Leigh has written a gritty, lighthearted story that keeps you reading to the last page (and turning it over looking for more). And after you’ve closed the book and snuggled under the covers, the tale’s warm fuzzies swirling inside you will help you drift off to a satisfied sleep.

I highly recommend Love Finds You in North Pole Alaska, a delightful example of the author’s sixty-plus love stories. And I look forward to an interview with prolific Loree Leigh in the near future.

Beth Wiseman's Plain Pursuit--An Enjoyable Read

2010-04-19T23:16:00.001-04:00

In Plain Pursuit Beth Wiseman not only gives the reader a glimpse of Amish life, she also imparts a strong faith-in-God message. Ms. Wiseman’s unique handling of shunning reveals the struggles of family members from both sides of the issue, something other Amish novels I’ve read had not addressed with such sensitivity and depth. Because Plain Pursuit is a romance, the plot follows the predictable romance format, but that doesn’t detract from the story. The lovers’ poignant journey draws the reader in, and plot twists keep the pages turning. The glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch words and the recipes adds a warm, homespun flavor.

Carley Malek, a Houston journalist, is forced by her editor to take a month’s vacation because she is not recovering well from personal tragedy. She ends up spending several weeks with her friend, Lillian, who had converted to the Amish faith in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and married Samuel, a widower with a young teenage son, David. Carley only plans to rest and recuperate and take advantage of her time off to write an in-depth article about the Amish. But when David becomes critically ill, her quiet visit quickly turns to something else. At the hospital Carley meets Dr. Noah Stoltzfus, a man Lillian and Carley are stunned to learn is Samuel’s shunned brother.

To accept God’s calling on his life, Noah turned from his Amish faith and family during his teens. He also antagonized his family by writing a book that invaded their privacy, a big Amish no-no. He and Carley are immediately attracted to each other, and he hopes she'll be his go-between with Samuel and his other family members. But Carley is reluctant to agree, because she doesn't want to offend Samuel and Lillian. Even after Noah risks his life to save David, the shunning--a reality that wounds the hearts of all involved--hangs over the family like a dark shroud and gravely impacts everyone’s life.

Plain Pursuit is loaded with tender love and aching conflict. One can’t experience the Amish shunning without emotional upheaval, so strong elements of pride, selfishness, and resentment surface, but so do humility, selflessness, and forgiveness. And as the characters soul-search and repent, they learn to trust the Lord and surrender their wills to Him.

I found Plain Pursuit a highly enjoyable read. So much so that it provoked me to buy Plain Perfect to read Samuel's and Lillian's story too. I found it equally touching, and look forward to reading all the books in the "Daughters of Promise" series.

Disclaimer: In accordance with Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255, this book was sent to me directly from the publisher and as such constitutes compensation for my review. All opinions are strictly my own.

Forcing Creative Juices to Flow...Via a Margie Lawson Online Fiction Course

2010-04-06T23:08:00.002-04:00

My apologies for neglecting this blog since mid-February. If you're wondering if I fell into a gorge, took a trip to some and dreamy, distant utopia, or suffered a mysterious malady that made me allergic to blogging, then nya, nya, nya, nya, nya. You were wrong, wrong, wrong.

Nothing that dramatic happened.

On a whim in late February, I enrolled in a Margie Lawson online Empowering Characters' Emotions course, thinking maybe I'd lurk my way through it like I normally do. Surprise, surprise! When the course officially began March 1st, I discovered I'd be stupid to stay passive this time. So I put aside my blogging, hid from Facebook, and honed all other activities to the barest levels to let Margie's amazing lectures and assignments dominate my life. [Almost devour it, in fact. For the whole month and then some.]

Hmmm. On second thought, maybe something dramatic had happened after all. And something dynamic. Thank you, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Margie, too.

If you don't know about Margie Lawson, she goes around the country alerting authors to powerful ways of impacting characters and readers. She's been a college professor, clinical trainer, sex therapist, Director of an Impotence Clinic, hypnotherapist, and Director of an Employee Assistance Program. And that's only a small part of her incredibly busy and productive life. She also practices what she preaches. [Oh ackk, cliche alert!]

Check her out on http://www.margielawson.com/ and be prepared to hang there for a while. Her website and blog are just as comprehensive as her courses. [Or is it the other way around?] She is a woman who doesn't do anything halfway.

In her ECE course, she helped me identify and correct areas of my wips that were bummed out. Validated good things I did but wasn't sure about. Answered questions to niggling concerns that always seemed to hover, and encouraged me to identify and eliminate cliches so I could write fresh. Write Fresh. WRITE FRESH!

No wonder Randy Ingermanson, Colleen Coble, and other award-winning and best-selling authors can't praise her enough.

I can hardly wait until next month. That's when I'm due for another mega-shot of M.L. instruction and insights.

Happy writing, or whatever your April goals are...

Author Interview with the Highly Talented Roseanna White

2010-02-17T10:46:00.001-05:00

Today I'm very pleased to interview my multi-talented critique partner, Roseanna White, to discuss her book, A Stray Drop of Blood, and other subjects dear to her heart. We've been novel-writing buddies for almost three years, and I truly believe I've benefitted more from our association than she has. She's an inspiration, and I frequently thank the Lord for hooking us up together.

MP: Hi Ro, I'm so glad you're here to get your brain picked. But before we begin, can you share an excerpt from A Stray Drop of Blood? Something to pique our readers' interest?

RW: Sure can. This is from the scene where my lead character, Abigail, meets Jesus on his way to Calvary, and where the title of the book comes from. It's one of those scenes that I had planned out in excruciating detail long before I got to that point in the book. For weeks I had these lines running through my head: "One little drop to soil her garment. One little drop to cleanse her soul."

He was close now, only a step away, and Abigail had a horrible fear that he would look at her. Quite suddenly that thought struck her as unbearable. She knew, knew with every portion of her being, that if he looked at her, he would see her in her completeness. He would see how black her soul had become with sin and hatred and bitterness. He would see all she had done and thought to do and wished herself capable of. He would see that though she wished him spared, it was only so that another could die in his place.

Something within her drew back the closer he got, pulled at her until she wanted to turn and flee to escape his approaching presence. But Jairus was still at her side, gazing silently now at the man before him.

Jesus stumbled on a rock and would have fallen if it had not been for the centurion holding him up. All of her focus, all of her concentration was on the man who was falling toward his knees. Then an arm caught him, and he jerked against gravity. Jesus’s head flew back, his eyes turning to heaven and his mouth opening as if to speak.

The action broke open one of his wounds, and his crimson life dripped onto the ground. He was pulled to his feet, and his head was once again jarred. A stray drop of blood arched through the air and landed on the round of Abigail’s stomach.

Immediately, she felt a burning on the flesh beneath her garment. It was so quick, so debilitating that she could not even respond. A fire spread through her, devouring her, leaving in its wake a relief that brought tears to her eyes. She looked down at the stain on her clothes in disbelief. It was so small, so insignificant. One little drop of red, a perfect starburst against the faded blue of her woolen tunic.

One little drop to soil her garment.
One little drop to cleanse her soul.

MP: Thanks, Roseanna. That scene was very moving. Reminds me of my own moment in time when I first felt exposed before the Savior. Mmm, mm.
In a great interview with Carole Brown on Sunnybank Meanderings, you mentioned you wrote twelve novels during your college years. That confirmed my suspicions that you are a fast writer, not the plod-along type like me. From the moment you decide to start a new novel until you type the end, how long does it generally take you to complete the rough draft? And the editing/polishing phase? Did I remember correctly that in your BK (before kids) phase of adult life, you once wrote the rough draft of a 120,000 word historical romance in less than a week?

RW: Generally speaking, when I'm actively writing a novel it takes me two months. Also generally speaking, my first draft doesn't undergo major changes. I edit as I go, send the wip to my fabulous critique partners, integrate, and keep going. Once I get final critiques back, I'll make immediate changes, let it rest for a week, do a final read through, and then send it on to my agent. Sometimes she'll request changes that may take another week of work, sometimes she likes it as is. I think the most words I ever wrote in the least amount of time was 140K in two months.

MP: Wow! 140K in two months? Amazing.
When I critique your work, you give me the impression that you’re an undaunted whiz at research. You gobble up the facts and recall them with a minimum of effort. And if I question something, you staunchly defend it with numerous proofs that wipe away my concerns. Have you ever dropped a story premise because the research was too tedious, massive, etc.? Or decided to do the research, and then discovered that it needed way more effort than you first thought (but you stuck with it and followed through anyhow)?

RW: There are times when I put a story on the back burner because of the amount of research, but that's generally with stories that I'm not sure I could get an editor interested in. I wouldn't say I give up on them, though—I make myself a list of the books I need to read, take notes on the plot as I see it before the research, and then wait for the right time to write. When I really get the fire for a story and feel it's the project I need to be working on, I'll put my nose to the grindstone where research is concerned. I've been blessed with good recall, yes, so once I read something I can usually bring it back when I need it. Plus I horde books, so if I can't instantly remember what I need, I can just turn to my shelves and find it again.

MP: Accurate instant recall. Hmm, the more I write, the more I value it. And speaking of your stories, you’ve written historical romances set in Europe and the US in the Victorian era and the early-to-mid 1900s. A Stray Drop of Blood is a first century biblical love story. But you’ve also written humorous and introspective contemporary romances. In this wide variety of genres, do you prefer one over the others? Which period is the most challenging to write?

RW: Well, in that the contemporaries don't require as much time in research, they're easier, and writing the humorous ones is pure fun. Though they feel like vacation for me, I think my heart lies in more serious topics that dig into deep issues. For me, the most challenging period is any I haven't already written in or read original texts from. I really enjoy revisiting eras I've already learned, hence why I have another Victorian series planned, two separate 20s series, another biblical underway, etc.

MP: Bring them on, Ro. I'm looking forward to reading ALL of them. Next question: Do you apply the widely used advice to newbie writers, “Write What You Know,” to your writing?

RW: I'm going to sidestep and say, “Define 'know'.” LOL. If I were to write only what I know from firsthand experience, I couldn't write much—my life's been wonderful, and hence boring. But the fun thing about research is that it can help you know pretty much anything. I think the important thing is to base it all in what has never changed throughout history—humanity. Passion, emotion, longing toward the Lord even before we realize it's He our souls yearn for.

MP: So true. But let's switch gears for a moment. During the snow dumping of 2009-2010, how many inches of the white stuff fell in your part of the country, and how did it impact your writing?

RW: Ha! In December we got nearly two feet, and in early February we got 24 inches on a Friday/Saturday and then another foot on Tuesday. I can't say that they really affected my writing, in that I'm usually at home with my kids anyway. Although not getting out meant no access to temporary babysitters and no quiet time. In that respect, it may have actually suffered. At the very least my sanity did, LOL.

MP: Five feet of snow? That must have given you bouts of cabin fever. With at least a month to go, you must be seriously looking forward to spring. Moving right along, many writers cringe at the scary words writers block. Has that ever been a problem for you, and if so, what did you do to conquer it?

RW: I have days and/or weeks when I don't feel like writing whatever project I'm working on. My answer has always been, “Fine, don't.” I take a break, reread another of my manuscripts or get down a chapter or three in a new project. Then I go back to the troublesome book, reread that, and inevitably realize what the problem is in the place I'd left off. I can sometimes simply see where to go from there, but other times I have to delete a few pages and go a different direction. There are also times when I realize the project is just too flawed, and I abandon it. That's only happened when I had no idea where I wanted the story to go—a rarity with me.

MP: A Stray Drop of Blood (find the review in the December 22, 2009 posting of Mary's Musings) cooked on the back burner since your college days. Do you have other novels you wrote years ago that you feel are worthy of reviving?

RW: Sure do! I'm rewriting one now entitled The Stars and the Sands that was originally a contemporary. I've turned it into a historical and added some elements of suspense, but the characters and premise are the same. I'm also reworking a contemporary about musicians to fit the rules I now know, and there are a few others that I'll probably revamp at some point . . . assuming I ever find the time.

MP: You’ve mentioned in a recent interview that your husband is very supportive of your writing. What are some of the things he does that reflect this?

RW: Oh my, I'd be lost without him! While we were in college, he was passive-supportive, in that he encouraged me to write but never took an active role. Since we graduated, he's been reading my books as I write them, volunteering to help with research when I get hung up on details, and brainstorming with me. In good weather, we go for walks several times a week and devote half of each one to talking through my stories. When that's not possible, we'll use time in the car to that purpose—some of the only times when the kids can't distract us too terribly. =)

MP: He sounds like one of your wonderful heroes. (Sigh) You are so very blessed. Now tell us some things about your family and how they impact your writing career.

RW: Well, I have a four-year-old who alternately stands at my elbow begging for me to leave my laptop and getting out notebooks and pretending to write books for me. =) She has recently exclaimed with excitement that makes her jump and down that she wants to be a book-writer when she grows up (along with a fashion girl and a magazine writer, LOL). My son's advent into the world has affected me the most, though. He, like me, is a morning person. Which means that those precious hours of 6-8 in the morning that I used to spend writing are now spent chasing the little monkey around. It forces me to snatch random moments throughout the day to write . . . or to keep myself awake long enough to do it after they're in bed for the night.

MP: Ah, the joys of motherhood. Don't you love 'em?
Some authors like to create story boards with photos or magazine pictures that help them visualize their characters. Do you use a specific technique to help you?

RW: My imagination has traditionally been enough, but since people ask me what actors I'd choose to portray the characters in Stray Drop, I've taken to trying to pick them out for many of my characters. I usually just copy their picture from online and paste it into my notes for a manuscript.

MP: That obviously works well for you. Now tell us. Your works reflect a spirituality that goes far beyond the very prevalent Christian World View. How does this affect your novels’ salability?

RW: I've yet to get any complaints about the spiritual aspects from editors. Usually it's my settings that get me nixed. Though my works do indeed integrate the very real spirituality that centers a life in Christ, my hope is that I portray it in ways that make it seem integral to the characters and, hopefully, ignite the yearning in my readers to get in touch with those parts in their own faith if they aren't there currently. Readers themselves have praised the spiritual aspects of A Stray Drop of Blood as one of the elements that guarantee they'll read anything I write.

MP: I can certainly agree that. In that same vein, are your “take home” messages general or novel-specific? How do you decide what they’ll be?

RW: Well, each message or theme kind of just evolves from the story and characters I write, but they all tend to go back to the redemptive power of Jesus' sacrifice and the fact that our identities should be rooted in Him rather than outside sources.

MP: What one "take home” message would you like to give our blog readers today?

RW: That there's nothing beyond the power of our Savior's blood. Toss your worst at him—he can turn it around if you put your faith in Him.

MP: Beautiful, Ro. Thanks for sharing.

To learn more about Roseanna White and A Stray Drop of Blood, visit her at her website, http://www.roseannamwhite.com/, or her blog, http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/.

ROSEANNA'S GIVEAWAYS include:

A signed copy of A Stray Drop of Blood

A Companion Guide on the topics and texts referenced in the novel

For a chance to win the giveaways in our drawing on Sunday afternoon, Feb 21, leave your name in a comment on this blog or email me on my Facebook wall, Hotmail, or in Yahoo Groups--wherever you read the announcement about this interview.

And if your name isn't picked in the drawing, take heart. You can buy A Stray Drop of Blood at a discount from CrossPurposes ( http://www.crosspurposesbooks.com/index.php?module=viewitem&item=705523 ) To get 20% off, use coupon code BLOGGER and then shoot Roseanna an email at Roseanna@RoseannaWhite.com to get your copy personalized. Or you can purchase it from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0976544466/ref=s9_simi_gw_s8_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_r=0B0A98N2FYG6QSKVW4RN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470939291&pf_rd_i=507846
You can also get it from bookstores like Borders and B&N, though it would probably have to be ordered.

After the 21-Day Fast ~ a Time of Meditation and Expectation

2010-02-07T13:44:00.001-05:00

I seem to be a goal-oriented, type-A personality without the intense emotional upheavals that some people like that often have. Still, in my not too distant past, I was tempted to do, do, do, go, go, go, hurry, hurry, hurry, now, now, now for weeks, months, years at a time. One of my nasty habits was staying up too late at night because I wanted to squeeze in one more project. I ended up creating stress that could have been avoided.

In early January this year when my pastor called our church into the 21-day Daniel fast, I knew my challenge wouldn't be abstaining from certain foods or TV. I did that most of the time already. No, my idol was time, and relinguishing control was going to be difficult. But I sensed the nudging of the Lord to do just that. He didn't require I give it all, just increase my daily prayer and Bible reading. So I let go and obeyed. The more I read about what Jesus did in His earthly ministry (I love to read while I listen to a dramatized version of the NIV), the more I realized I needed attitude adjustments BIG TIME. To help that along, the Lord planted a yearning in my heart to become more pliable in His hands.

The fast officially ended Friday night with a wonderful five-hour prayer service. (There is nothing as fulfilling as being prayed up and sensitized to the spirit of God.) I left there shortly after midnight, determined to stick to my commitment of allowing God the freedom to deal with me from now on in any way He chose. When I awoke Saturday morning, I spent my first two hours in various types of prayer and joyfully devoured several chapters of the Bible. (I wanted to give Him the first fruits of my day like we should do the tithe.) Just as important, I practiced listening to His voice and was diligent to write down what I heard. This had been a slack area in my life before the fast. The result: yesterday was an exciting day in which I accomplished exactly what the Lord wanted me to do without any pressure. Hallelujah.

Another thing He showed me was that I needed to spend time on me from the healthy eating and living perspective. A person who is always in a hurry often short-changes herself when it comes to preparing and eating proper foods. I tended to eat the same things over and over instead of forcing myself to take the TIME to expand my food choices by trying out new recipes. It led to dissatisfaction and reaching for other foods that didn't satisfy either. So the Lord plopped the desire in me to experiment with healthy vegetarian recipes (I use the ones Hallelujah Acres http://www.hacres.com/ offers.) to build up my immune system with foods that won't bore me. Now my mealtimes have turned into delightful adventures. I can hardly wait to try another treat. Our God is such a wonderful, loving Father.

I have a deeper sense of surrender and expect more changes on the way. And by God's grace, I will allow Him to clean me up according to His perfect will. Amen and amen.

God is a good God, He's worthy to be loved, honored, and worshipped. Praise the Lord.

.

Day Five of the 21-Day Daniel Fast~the Pursuit of Jesus

2010-01-19T15:32:00.001-05:00

The fast continues. Although foodwise, it barely feels like it because I usually eat this way. But I do have a mild yearning for salmon now and then. Green smoothies are filling and enjoyable, if you like that sort of thing. Which I do. Other people shudder when I try to tell them you can't really taste the cup of kale in a two-cup blended health drink. Ah well, as my mom used to say, "To each his own."

Now there's other things I do crave, the fiercest: reading fiction for pleasure before I go to sleep at night. Voices continue to tell me to read it just a little, to back off with scripture readings and the spiritual works. I don't dare. Instead I'm praying more, seeking more, reading the Word more, especially John 17, saying it aloud and imagining Jesus speaking the words. The love that floods me through that simple act of obedience overwhelms me at times. And I'm appreciating the sacrifices Jesus made for me so much more. How patient, loving, and surrendered. What a oneness with the Father. So amazing, and their unconditional love knows no bounds.

A while back someone gave me a copy of Beth Moore's book, Jesus Day by Day. It's a 90-day devotional that reveals the Master in wonderful ways. A small poem in the front of the book captivated me the first time I read it. So much that I went over and over it and marveled at the words. I've included them to encourage you to buy your own copy. Each day's message is exquisite.

Jesus.
Take all you want.
Take all you need.
Till soul is fed.
And spirit freed.
Till dust is dust.
And Face you see.
Jesus Christ.
He's all you need.

Amen, amen, and amen.

Day Two of the 21-Day Daniel Fast~the Pursuit of Jesus

2010-01-16T12:15:00.002-05:00

Jesus~to know Him is to love Him. But putting aside "in-this-world" pursuits and focusing on Him is to CRAVE Him.

Day One wasn't hard as far as eating goes. The Daniel diet (Daniel 1:8-16) isn't difficult for me to follow because I tend toward vegetarian eating anyway. Well, except for abstaining from grain foods--brown rice, barley, corn, wheat, oats that are no-nos right now. But I started to drop them from my diet months ago because foods with gluten slow or stop my ongoing battle to control my weight.

My areas of temptation came from other areas: like staying away from reruns of Castle--the only TV show I watch, after Terry Burns said it's great. I never wanted to watch the reruns before. HAH! Sounds like the little foxes trying to spoil the vine. Get thee behind me, satan.

A bigger one was laying down the desire to read fiction before bedtime instead of centering on Him. At one point I looked at a novel that I had started earlier this week. Read two measley, but fun, pages. Dumb, dumb move. And wanted to get back to them. Some struggling ensued until this thought came to me: is reading about imaginary people more important than spending time with the King of the universe? No contest, there. The book stayed on the shelf.

Another one: not attending evening prayer services on Fridays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. I forced myself to go last night, but even that wasn't difficult because before the fast began, I told the Lord I wanted to become as pliable as clay in His hands. I kept seeing an image of myself with a pair of doors the size of my ribcage in the front of my chest. And I opened them as a sign of surrender. "Come in and take me over, Lord, I'm yours. Do whatever you choose to change me from a selfish, controlling person to a meek and adoring replica of Jesus."

Little voices came to me throughout the day. "Catch up with your Facebook messages. Write your email messages. Do this. Do that." Anything to put my attention on something other than the Lord. But the image of my surrender doors returned to me repeatedly to remind me of my commitment. So I kept business related things to a minimum. The rest can wait.

I'm falling more in love with my lover Jesus, and He's honoring my commitment by giving me a renewed eagerness to spend time with Him. But more than that... I CRAVE Him with a growing passion. Something that I hadn't experienced in some time, I'm ashamed to admit.

If all this happened after only one day of pursuing Him. What changes will the Holy Spirit wrought after 21?

The Duke's Redemption Book Review and Author Interview

2010-01-13T11:15:00.003-05:00

To protect her sister, Prin, Eloise Cooper has been forced to serve in the South Carolina patriot underground network as a spy dubbed the Fox. She yearns for the day she and her sister are free to leave Brixton Hall Plantation and the tyrant who controls them. When she accidentally kills a Redcoat double agent in a fight for her life, she continues her covert activities, but declares the Fox is dead--a decision that threatens the hopes for freedom for Prin and herself.

In England, Drake Amberly, Fifth Duke of Hawk Haven, learns a murderous rebel spy has not only killed his brother in SC, but has also duped the British authorities there and escaped. Enraged and frustrated by the news, he travels to SC under the guise of a tradesman ship owner to secretly head a plot to flush out the notorious insurgent and bring him to justice.
Drake’s mission leads him to Brixton Hall Plantation, and it isn’t long before a mutual attraction between Eloise and him turns into love and marriage. But when another patriot is used to lure Eloise into a trap, she is captured and exposed. Deeply wounded and vexed by what he views as her disloyalty and betrayal, Drake must choose between giving up his cherished wife or his need for vengeance.

The Duke's Redemption offers intrigue, action, love, betrayal, and major conflicts with secondary characters--some of which I wanted to beat up--and events that keep the pages turning. But I love the author’s wonderful portrayals of Eloise and Drake the best. Abused at an early age, Eloise learned to depend on the Lord. And she remains tenderhearted toward Him in impossible situations. A woman who despises violence, she grieves over the death of the double agent and agonizes over the choices she has to make as a spy. But the hardest decision is hiding her past from the husband she adores.

Drake is a man who deeply loves. Not just his wife, but his younger brother. Familial pride and honor demand he avenge the latter, but his wife is his heart. An impossible dilemma, how can he choose between them? He can't in his own strength, but through God’s power and love, all things are possible. But only if the highminded and lofty duke is willing to repent and humble himself.

A great read, I heartedly recommend The Duke's Redemption to all romance lovers.

Publisher: Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical (Harlequin)
Publication date: January 12, 2010
ISBN: 978-0373828289
Genre: American historical romance

CARLA CAPSHAW AUTHOR INTERVIEW

MP: According to your website bio, you earned a BA degree in International Studies and a MA in Theology. How did your education aid you in visiting most of the US and twenty-five countries?

CC: First, I’d like to thank you for inviting me to blog today, Mary. I’m so happy to be here. To answer your question, I’ve wanted to see the world since I was a kid. While in college, I lived in China, teaching English and studying Chinese for a year. After I returned to the US, I spent two summers traveling throughout North America, including several months in Alaska. I visited almost every national park and monument, 48 states and most of Canada. After I graduated, I began my career in an international, non-profit organization that required international travel and took me to many countries around the world.

MP: What a tremendous foundation. How were you able to use these travel experiences to help write your novels, The Gladiator and The Duke’s Redemption?

CC: As a writer, I like to visit the places I’m writing about because it gives the imaginary story and people in my head a foundation in the real world. By traveling to Italy to research The Gladiator or South Carolina for The Duke’s Redemption, I was able to see the actual places my characters would have seen and touched and experienced. It helps me make my characters more ‘real’ because I can write some of my own experiences through them.

MP: Neat. The Duke’s Redemption includes lots of action, intrigue, love, betrayal, and spiritual conflict--a winning combination for a passionate inspirational historical. How’d you come up with your story line?

CC: I like to read stories with major conflicts. My favorites usually revolve around characters on opposite sides of something, whether it’s a war, social situation, political or religious ideal, etc. In The Duke’s Redemption, my first historical romance, I took all of those elements and thought up characters and a situation that fit in my favorite time period, the American Revolution. I came up with a Duke and an American spy who have to overcome all sorts of issues and situations to earn their happy ending.

MP: I thought it was a unique story. It took seven years of fiction writing before you sold The Gladiator. Do you have older manuscripts you hope to revive and turn into future sales?

CC: I don’t have any old manuscripts. Writing was my hobby, and my hectic family and career kept me from writing quickly. When I first started writing, I wrote short stories for my own reading enjoyment. They were awful, but I learned the process of fiction writing through them. It wasn’t until 2004, when The Duke’s Redemption won a major award and my agent signed me that I took writing more seriously and began to hope I might be published one day. Health problems caused me to take off a year, and I almost quit writing altogether in 2006--right before I started work on The Gladiator.

MP: What take-away message do you hope your readers will gain from The Duke’s Redemption?

CC: So many things, but in the end the most important message I hope people get is that God is trustworthy. He really does move in our lives to provide for us even when we can’t see His ways and means of doing so.

MP: You’re right about that. Are you a plotter, SOTP writer, or something in between? What kind of preliminary work do you do before you start your first draft?

CC: I’m a little of both. Because I like conflicts and plots that don’t seem like they could possibly work out so I do enough plotting to make sure they will come to a satisfying resolution. Then I just dive in and create the details and characters as I go.

MP: On your website you mentioned you’re working on a sequel to The Gladiator. What can you tell us about this new manuscript?

CC: I just finished The Protector and turned it in to my editor about a month ago. It’s the story of Quintus, a Christian man who’s been enslaved for his faith, and Adiona (a friend of Caro from The Gladiator), a wealthy Roman woman with a questionable reputation. When someone tries to kill Adiona, she needs a bodyguard, and Quintus is the perfect man for the job.

MP: Mm. You hooked me. I look forward to its release. Has fiction writing drawn you closer to the Lord?

CC: Absolutely, although, I’m pretty sure He’s sick of me begging Him to help me get my books turned into the editor on time. ;-) Seriously, yes, my writing has drawn me closer to the Lord because I always want my work to be pleasing to Him. I go to Him when I need help plotting or even finding the right word to use. I ask Him to use my work to reach out to people who are hurting or in a situation where they need to be reminded that God loves them and will never forsake them. He’s always with us and will always work situations to our benefit if we trust Him.

MP: Amen to that. What memorable highlights and/or lowlights can you share about you novel journey?

CC: Because writing was always my hobby and enjoyable ‘outlet’, I have more highlights than lowlights. Mostly, I’ve made amazing, creative friends and now that I am published, I’m meeting wonderful people who let me know my books have helped them in some way.

MP: That's awesome. Have you worked with crit partners? If so, how did you specifically benefit from your relationship with them?

CC: I’ve worked with many, many critique partners over the years. I learned that a good and beneficial cp relationship is one where both people enjoy the other’s work and want it to succeed. There is nothing worse writing-wise than working with a cp who makes you feel bad or takes away your enthusiasm no matter how good-intentioned she is or how good her advice may be.

MP: There are so many facets to fiction writing. Which was the easiest for you? Which was the most difficult?

CC: I’m a natural hermit, so I enjoy the alone time with my characters that writing provides. I don’t like self-promotion and find it really difficult to promote my own books.

MP: Any parting words of wisdom you want to pass on to prepublished authors?

CC: Just keep writing. Always seek to improve, learn your craft and put your work in God’s hands, because He will bless your efforts and open doors where you never expected them to be.

MP: Very, very good advice, Carla. Thanks for joining us today. May the Lord continue to bless your efforts as well.

You can find Carla Capshaw at her neat website, www.carlacapshaw.com.

A Very Special Christmas Eve Surprise

2009-12-29T18:35:00.005-05:00

Less than an hour before our Christmas Eve celebration was slated to begin, I took a break from my busy preparations to check my email messages. An unfamiliar name and intriguing "Contest Entry" subject line caught my eye. One click later, it caught my breath.

My contemporary romance, Season of Surrender, made the final round of the Phoenix Rattler, Does Your Story Have Bite? contest! (See the www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com/ for a list of finalists.) Wow! With Christmas decorating (40,000 thousand lights or thereabouts) and party hosting in full swing from the time I submitted my entry until the third week of December, I'd forgotten all about the contest.

My first reaction was to read the message again. Much slower this time. Then I wanted to holler the news to my daughters. But I decided to wait until the whole family was present.

When the nine of us sat around the dining room table, I raised my glass of sparkling grape juice and offered a toast. "I have an announcement," I said. Their faces lit up with curious interest. I knew they wondered what in the world I would say next. So I paused a few seconds to heighten the moment, and then quietly let out my secret. "I'm a finalist in a fiction contest."

Their reaction was spontaneous, unanimous, and loud. From all the shouting and cheering, you'd have thought their favorite teams just won the superbowl. It stunned me more than the email had, and wrapped a band of warmth around my heart.

The hoopla has passed now. But I look forward to updating my bio to include: Phoenix Rattler contest finalist. Yay! And I'm eagerly awaiting the feedback from the contemporary fiction judge, Melissa Endlich of Harlequin. Whether I win or not, what an awesome opportunity. Thanks, Lord.

My congratulations and best wishes to all the other finalists. I know we can't all win, but I pray the Lord uses this competition to further His plan for each one of us for His glory. In Jesus' name.

A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna White ~ WOW!

2009-12-22T00:51:00.000-05:00

If you’re looking for a novel that waters down the stark realities of sin and its wages, don’t read A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna White. Set in decadent first century Jerusalem and Rome, strong, multi-layered characters, rich spiritual insights, well-depicted historical events, and moving romance are powerfully combined in an edgy yet tastefully crafted and fast-paced classic.

Stunningly beautiful Abigail is an atypical Hebrew slave gently raised and educated as a daughter in the prosperous Visibullis household during the time of Jesus. But her
tranquil life shatters when handsome but selfish Jason Visibullis, a Roman centurion, returns home with a sinful mindset and lifestyle he adopted in Rome. He soon claims Abigail as his personal possession and lover, and having no choice, she must submit. But she struggles with growing turmoil resulting from a sense of betrayal, resentment, guilt, and her rising desires for Jason. He, in turn, is so enamored with her, he chooses her over his career, lifestyle, and friends to marry her and set her free. But her trials just begin at that point. Many more tests and heartaches await Abigail before she can find true happiness.

The crucifixion of Jesus from a centurion’s point of view is a stirring depiction along with the Lord’s fleeting encounter with main characters who change dramatically because of His life-giving words and shed blood. Although the author delves into the temptations of the flesh and the consequences of sin, she beautifullly intersperses victory over them through trusting and obeying the Word of God.

I applaud Ms. White’s skillful handling of sensitive scenes with touching finesse. Her clever plot twists grabbed me continually, and her ability to illustrate familiar biblical events in a fresh way made me consider them with new eyes. Contrasting the characters’ interests in Greek and Roman philosophy and mythology with devotion to Hebrew Law and the teachings of Jesus added a dimension that enhanced the already rich tale.

A Stray Drop of Blood is a must for the permanent personal library. Reminiscent of Francine Rivers’s Mark of the Lion trilogy and Ruth Axtell Morren’s earlier books of her Regency series, it’s a novel that the reader can enjoy again and again and again.

To learn more about the book and its characters, go to http://www.roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/

Green by Ted Dekker--A Most Provoking Novel

2009-12-14T19:20:00.005-05:00

I’m normally not an allegory lover, so I struggled about a week to give an honest review of Green by Ted Dekker. This is one of the few books I’ve read that I’ve pondered about for many days after I read it.

The Circle is a meager nation of seventeen thousand people living two-thousand-plus-years in the future under the leadership of Thomas Hunter, a man catapulted into their world from our contemporary era. They have followed the tenets of Elyon, their Creator and Savior, but no one has seen Him in a decade, and doubts about Him have eroded their faith. Discouraged by their bare, nomadic existence with the need to constantly flee from the enemies they’re forbidden to fight, many in the Circle, including Thomas’s son, Samuel, turn away from their Creator to war against their foes and avenge their victims.

Green delves into concerns people deal with today: God in control, bad things happening to good people, unanswered prayers, and so on. But it also depicts a thrilling and joyful glimpse of a personal union with our loving Creator. Dekker uses tons of action, strong depiction of multi-layered characters, vivid examples of demonic seduction and deception, and clever plot twists to provide ongoing conflict that keeps the reader quickly turning pages. Although evil characters dominate the story (almost too graphically at times for some), other scenes parallel biblical accounts of the futile sacrifices of the prophets of Baal and the Battle of Armageddon, reminding the reader that God is exceedingly more powerful than His antithesis. Just as the Bible reveals the saints of God rallying with Jesus to vanquish His enemies at the end of time as we know it, the members of the Circle who remain faithful to Elyon do the same thing. Sort of.

I wished Dekker had described Elyon with greater power, giving Him “equal time” to balance all the evil portrayed in so many scenes. I was also disappointed in the spotty parts given to Thomas Hunter, his sister, Kara, and her dear friend, Monique, who played such important roles in earlier books (Black, Red, White--which helped me understand events in Green more than I would had I not read them first). But most of all, I wished the ending had a resolution that satisfied me (like in Dekker’s Blink, for example). Still, the love scene with the Creator ignited a flame of yearning for Him inside me. And the lust scenes with the devil and his cronies provoked me to abhor them more than ever. These two results are the main reasons I would cautiously recommend Green to other readers.

Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC rules, this book was sent to me directly from the publisher and as such constitutes compensation for my review.

Amanda Cabot's Paper Roses, a Heart-warming Story of Giving and Forgiving

2009-12-12T13:40:00.001-05:00

Sarah Dobbs, determined to bury her painful past in Philadelphia, travels to Ladreville, Texas, with her little sister, two-year-old Thea, to start life afresh as a mail-order bride. But she doesn’t know that her intended, rancher Austin Canfield, has been murdered by an unknown assailant. Austin’s brother, Clay, an emotionally wounded man who wants Sarah to return to her previous life, offers her no encouragement or support and tries to talk her into going back home. Since that is not an option, Sarah and Thea must live on the Canfield ranch temporarily, but Sarah refuses to be a burden. She soon puts her trilingual talents to use by accepting a job with the French owners of the only general store in Ladreville, where French and German factions eye each other with deep mistrust and suspicion.

The sheriff (and mayor) of Ladreville, a self-serving “bigshot,” barely tries to find Austin’s killer, and frustrated Clay begins his own investigation. He intends to stay in the area only long enough to avenge his brother’s death, sell his family’s ranch, and return to his medical practice in Boston with his stroke-impaired father in tow. But people in the area are closed-mouthed about Austin, and Clay’s efforts bear little fruit. Then a wave of random thievery and vandalism riles tempers, stirs up petty accusations, and widens the rift between the factions, which hinders Clay’s investigation all the more.

Unexpected circumstances give Clay and Sarah an opportunity to serve the community as doctor and teacher, respectively. As they combine their efforts to help others, they also work together to expose Austin’s killer, and an attraction between them develops and grows. Then Sarah becomes a target, and Clay is desperate to keep her safe. Letting go of their pasts--Sarah by forgiving her father for his horrible actions and Clay by forgiving himself for failing to save his wife and unborn child and cure his father--are challenges they must overcome before they can find peace and happiness.

Amanda Cabot's Paper Roses is a touching story about two ordinary people who, when confronted with horrendous obstacles, learn to trust the Lord as they strive to overcome the sorrow of the past and the prejudices they face in daily life. In doing so they become heroes--people who risk much to benefit others. Great plot twists in this wonderful tale about giving and forgiving had me turning pages like mad, hurrying to see how the story would unfold. And the author's surprise ending was skillfully executed and caught me off guard--something that doesn’t happen very often. I highly recommend Paper Roses to all lovers of romantic and historical suspense.

Publisher: Revell

Publication date: January 1, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-8007-3324-7

Genre: American historical romance

The Christmas Journey Review and Interview with Author Winnie Griggs

2009-10-27T09:52:00.000-04:00

Ry Lassiter, a prosperous lawyer from Philadelphia, hurries back to Texas after he receives a desperate telegram from Belle, his childhood friend. But before he can reach her, two thugs accost and shoot him. Josie Wylie, a livery stable owner he’s briefly met and helped, realizes the thugs are following Ry and mean to harm him. She charges after them, and her quick thinking saves his life. When a thug gets the upper hand, Ry rescues Josie before he passes out from his injuries.
Josie brings Ry to her family’s boarding house, where everyone treats him like a hero, much to his dismay. His convalescence is slow, and as Josie nurses him, their mutual attraction grows. But she’s locked into a position as her family’s main breadwinner, and her heart's cry is to see the world as an independent, single woman. As soon as her family members can fend for themselves, dutiful Josie will be out of there.

Since neither of the two places Ry’s lived in--a Texas ranch with his siblings and a posh dwelling with his grandfather in Philadelphia--gives him a sense of belonging, he yearns for a place he can call home. Belle dies before Ry is well enough to travel, and he finds himself a guardian to Viola, Belle’s young daughter. Now he must find a home for Viola too, and he wants Josie to be a part of it. But she’s more determined than ever to fulfill her dream, which doesn’t include marriage or getting tied down to the only place Ry wants to live.

Ry and Josie both possess a strong will and deep sense of honor and duty, and their differences often cause clashes that push them in opposite directions. Yet these conflicts force them to examine themselves and deal with issues that they had either ignored before they met or didn’t realize existed. When seriously seeking the Lord becomes their only recourse, they must choose between His will and what they desire above all else.

I enjoyed The Christmas Journey very much. Loved Ry’s and Josie’s strengths and vulnerabilities, though I wanted her to give up her silly desire for independence and accept the inevitable (What can I say? I’m a sucker for those wonderful, sensitive heroes). As a writer, my editing brain often tries to pop up and spoil the story for me, but Winnie Griggs kept me so engrossed, I forgot about everything but the characters and their efforts to resolve their struggles. I highly recommend this book to all romance lovers.

Publisher: Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical (Harlequin)
Publication date: October 13, 2009

AUTHOR INTERVIEW ~ WINNIE GRIGGS

MAP: According to your website bio, you’ve been published since 2000. How much of a challenge was it to adjust from non-published to not only published, but finishing books at specific deadlines while still working a 8-5 job?

WG: LOL - That’s three questions in one. First, the transition from unpublished to published was affirming, heady, and just a touch scary. On the subject of writing to deadline, the first book I had to face that challenge with was actually my third sale (the first two were nearly completed when they sold.) That was the scariest transition I had to make along my writer’s journey to date. I live in constant fear that I’ll get an ugly case of writer’s block, miss a deadline, and be washed up as a writer. As for writing while holding down an 8-5 job, that’s the only way I’ve ever done it, so I have nothing to compare it to. But I plan to retire next spring and am looking forward to seeing how the “other half” does it!

MAP: I predict you’ll love the change. Before you were published, you submitted your manuscripts to numerous contests and either won or placed in many of them. Do you feel they positively contributed to your career?

WG: Absolutely! In the early days, I got lots of feedback that helped me refine my writing. Later when I’d reached the point where I was finaling, I had the opportunity to get my work in front of some super editors and agents. In the process I made some fantastic contacts that are part of my network to this day.

MAP: I’ve read several of your secular and Christian historicals and enjoyed each one. Did you find the transition from the former to the latter easy, difficult, or somewhere in between?

WG: My characters in both my secular and inspirational books have always had a strong Christian worldview, so that part was not difficult. What worried me the most was the fearful responsibility of delivering an overt faith message. The thought that I wasn’t up to the task, that I would somehow flub it, paralyzed me for years, even though a number of critique partners encouraged me to give it a go. Finally, though, other doors began to close, one by one. I took the hint and tried my hand at an inspirational. The result was The Hand-Me-Down Family, which hit the shelves last March.
MAP: Hm. I’ll have to get that one. Would the idea of writing in another genre intrigue you?

WG: I’ve toyed with an idea for a middle grade book for years. Some day I plan to get serious and go for it!

MAP: I wish you well. How much marketing do you do to promote your books?

WG: Probably not as much as I should. I participate in a group blog (www.petticoatsandpistols.com) and I try to keep my personal website up-to-date, including putting fresh content up each month. I also do guest blogs and online interviews occasionally. (Thank you for having me here  ). And I like to present workshops at writers’ conferences a couple of times a year. That’s about all I can find time for right now.

MAP: Your hero and heroine are very honorable and committed to helping others even though it puts their own desires on hold. Did you use a specific tried-and-true method to develop them, or did they just kind of evolve as you wrote the story?

WG: Thank you! As for how I develop my characters, I don’t have any set method per se. They usually grow organically out of whatever story seed I’m currently nurturing as I develop my proposals.

MAP: I like that visual. What do you like best about writing fiction?

WG: The freedom it gives me to explore situations and themes, to build worlds and characters from my imagination, and to share all of that with others who derive enjoyment from it.

MAP: That’s great. Some authors pump out books following a template that is so blatantly obvious, I’ve felt cheated and quit buying their books. How do you keep your novels fresh and unique?

WG: Again, I have no set method. I usually start out with the seed of an idea, one spurred by a “what if” or scene snippet, or character type that intrigues me personally. I’m easily bored, so it must first be of interest to me before I can spend the time it takes to develop it into a full blown story.

MAP: Got some advice to the newbie who’s trying to develop a strong writing discipline?

WG: Make yourself WRITE EVERY DAY. Skipping days can lead to further procrastination and eventually inertia, until it becomes easier not to write at all. No matter what else is going on, you can always fit in a paragraph or two, even if you just jot them down on a notepad. Not only will that keep your momentum going, but it’ll also keep the story fresh in your mind.

MAP: Good advice, Winnie. It’s too easy to let other priorities take precedence when the going gets rough. Thanks for sharing your insights.

Gingham Bride by Jillian Hart ~ Book Review and Author Interview

2009-10-13T19:37:00.001-04:00

Seventeen-year-old Fiona O’Rourke’s goal is to graduate from school and run away from her cold-hearted, worn-out mother and lazy good-for-nothing father to live in a world she controls where no one can hurt her. She’s so focused on her escape plan, she is unaware of the admiration of the young men in her town, and is convinced she’s unattractive and unlovable. Her unhappy world goes from bad to worse when a man she’s been betrothed to all her life but has never met suddenly shows up to jeopardize her dreams with the threat of forcing her into a loveless marriage to get the deed to her family’s land.

Poor but honorable Ian McPherson travels from Kentucky to Montana, not to marry Fiona as his grandmother promised the O'Rourkes, but to determine if their land is suitable to raise his small herd of thoroughbred mares, the only assets left after his family suffers the loss of their wealth. Dismayed by the run-down condition of the O’Rourke property, Ian has no intention of staying and marrying Fiona, especially when her father demands a huge sum of money for her that Ian doesn’t have. But her plight touches his heart, and when she is attacked by a ruthless acquaintance of her father’s, Ian is determined to protect her, even if it means sacrificing his own dreams to help her fulfill hers.

The theme of this tender, introspective story is unconditional love and the sacrifices it’s willing to endure. Ian, like Jesus, is motivated by doing God’s will and he is selfless in everything he does, even though it causes him pain. Fiona, like so many of us, protects her heart from the one who loves her and won’t accept him except on her narrow-minded terms. Both protagonists possess good and bad traits, and internal struggles make them achingly credible. I like the way the author adds another dimension to the characters and the plot through the use of weather conditions and animals. Family members and friends add great tension and conflict that Fiona and Ian must overcome as well. Best of all, it’s a beautiful testimony to the goodness and love of God.

Publisher: Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical (Harlequin)

Publication date: November 10, 2009

ISBN: 978-0373828234

Genre: American historical romance

AUTHOR INTERVIEW ~ JILLIAN HART

MAP: According to your website bio, you were raised on a homestead raising cattle and riding the range. Are you still involved with any of those activities today?

JH: No. I wish I could return to the country again, but I live in a subdivision, which is perfectly nice but not the same as a sprawling farm. I am an animal lover, and the life style and being near to so many of God’s creatures is something I truly miss. I suppose that’s why I love to write about living in the country, because it’s sort of like being able to revisit that time in my life.

MAP: My next question ties into that. The setting in Gingham Bride sounds reminiscent of your early background. Did you build the story line from that or something else?

JH: When I created the fictional countryside of Angel Falls, where the story is set, I imagined the land north of Great Falls in Montana. I’ve always loved the dramatic beauty where the rolling hills meet the sweeping plains and are bordered by the majestic rise of the Rocky Mountains. On my research trips, I spend a lot of time pulled alongside the road where I spot farmland or the ruins of an original homestead and I let my imagination go. So when I imagined the setting for Fiona’s story, these are the images I drew on for the remote feel, the sweeping wind, the single road through the fields. I’m sure my background helps with the small things, the cat in the barn, the sound of animals stirring in their stalls, and the sweet smell of hay when I was hiding out in the hay loft, for example.

MAP: Mm. Makes me want to go out there and check it out myself. Next question: your hero is wonderful. How did you develop him?

JH: Thank you. That is so kind of you. I worked on developing Ian over a span of a few years. I started with the idea of a young man who was kind and good, who always tries to do the right thing. Over time I added layers--his disappointments and his failures and how they impacted him. I knew he was right for this story when I needed a hero for Fiona. I think he’s a good match for her, and I think he rises well to the challenges of this story. I loved seeing the man he proves to be. In life, I admire a good man of character, and so I enjoyed watching Fiona discover Ian’s strength of heart. He’s one of my favorite heroes.

MAP: He's mine too. I'm such a sucker for guys like him. (Sigh.) In an interview a couple years ago, you mentioned it took six years of hard work before you received “the call”. What were some of the highs and lows in your journey from pre-published to multi-published author?

JH: The lows: the many rejections. Worrying that I was never going to learn enough and improve enough to sell. Working even harder and still getting rejected. The highs: finishing my first full manuscript (which never sold, and I still have). The people I met along the way. The friendships I shared. The stories I got to write. And, of course “the call.” My journey from unpublished to published was a blessed time, one I look back at fondly. My advice is to enjoy this phase of your writing journey as much as you can. The experience, like so much of what matters in life, is priceless.

MAP: Now that you are published, what are you most confident about in your writing and why?

JH: I am confident of nothing. I wish I could be, but the truth is, I do the best I can, fear it isn’t good enough, and then see what my editor has to say about it. Perhaps if I am confident of anything, it is that I work very hard and give my absolute best to each book.

MAP: Mm. I can identify with your doubts. Conversely, what is your greatest challenge?

JH: The hardest thing about my writing is plotting. There isn’t going to be a lot of convoluted plot twists and constant action in my books. I work very hard to have the plots that I do. I am plot-challenged!

MAP: Maybe so, but your endearing characters make up for it. Many authors admit to receiving enough rejection notices to wallpaper a room with them. What’s your experience, and what did you overcome the negative impact?

JH: I received so many rejections before I sold. I was very optimistic when I first began submitting. Then my first rejection came—ouch. But it only took a small chunk out of my optimism. I was determined, you see. The trouble was every rejection took another chunk out of my optimism. I kept having less and less of it. Then a year before I sold, I received a rejection with a kind personal note explaining they could not accept the story because of the heroine’s pregnancy, but they didn’t want me to remove that on a rewrite because they thought it would destroy the emotional story, and they complimented my writing highly. Ironically, such a wonderful rejection was devastating, as it took the final chunk that was left of my optimism. I reached a numb place where the rejections no longer hurt. Maybe I could finally see them for what they were—like road signs along the way offering guidance. I sent the book out one more time, although a few weeks later I decided to quit trying to sell, that I had to accept this failure. Maybe this was not what the Lord intended for my life. Six months later, I received “the call”. No one was more shocked than I was. I have never regained my optimism, which has turned out to be useful, because learning to deal with rejection is even more important after a writer sells. So it’s turned out that my un-optimistic outlook has actually helped me. Who knew?

MAP: Wow and double ouch. After hearing that, I assume your writing has deepened your walk with the Lord (or vice versa)?

JH: My writing has deepened my walk with the Lord. I spend nearly every day writing about how God helps two people find true love. With every story and each time love triumphs, I feel as if I see a little bit more of the piece of my life God means for me.

MAP: Neat. If there were only one piece of advice you could give to a newbie-writer, what would it be?

JH: Actually, I have three pieces of advice, but I’ve packed them into one sentence: be honest in your writing, be humble as a writer, and be kind to everyone on your journey.

MAP: Beautiful, Jill, and thanks for sharing your heart with us. May God continue to bless you abundantly as you write for Him.

Pitch and Promote Like a Pro by Terry W. Burns

2009-10-09T13:49:00.002-04:00

When I attended the ACFW conference last month, I was privileged to meet and talk with Terry Burns. The man exuded wisdom, gentility, and compassion, and I went away wanting to know more about him and his expertise. (I also wished an agent or editor could have reviewed my proposal and told me if it was not only acceptable, but exemplary--'Sorry. That's my perfectionist tendencies talking.)

A few days later, I clicked on Terry's website, www.TerryBurns.net, zeroed in on his bookstore, and found a jewel. Pitch and Promote Like a Pro CD. And the price was better than right. I ordered it, hoping it would help me give my book proposal the edge I felt I needed to impress an agent who had invited me to send one.

Pitch and Promote Like a Pro arrived a few days later, and it provided a wealth of down-to-earth advice about every facet of pitching one's book. Nineteen topics spread over eighty easy-to-read pages that range from overcoming his personal fears about pitching to writing the dreaded proposal step by step. Terry uses his own proposal as an example and breaks it down, page by page, with simple explanations to help the writer not only create the blasted thing, but understand the reason why he or she must follow certain guidelines. And he's taken the guesswork out of the "Marketing Analyses" and "Marketing Comparables." Yay! Great, great stuff!

My proposal is finished. I can't say that it's exemplary, but I have a lot more confidence in it than the version I took to the conference. Thanks, Terry, for sharing your invaluable info. To God be the glory.

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah

2009-10-06T15:48:00.007-04:00

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World offers hope to people worried about our current, mind-boggling economic crises, other potentially catastrophic events, and increasingly difficult, personal struggles of life. New York Times best-selling author, Dr. Jeremiah examines a variety of traumatic situations and offers wise solutions richly backed up by the Word of God. With the added use of extensive research and scores of thought-provoking anecdotes, the author shows us that God has answers for the world’s problems. But He needs individual believers to help Him provide them.

In this easy-to-read book laid out in his usual concise and logical manner, Dr. Jeremiah challenges us to examine our lives and weigh them against the words and walk of Jesus Christ. In ten main topics such as “Stay Challenged,” “Stay Compassionate,” and “Stay Connected,” he reminds us that while prayer is important, it's only the first step to fulfilling the plan of God. We must also lay aside selfish pursuits and embrace the admonition to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. When we truly become living epistles, hurting and fearful people in our spheres of influence will be drawn to the One we should represent and reflect.
I highly recommend Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World. It inspired me to live a Christ-like life more than ever before, take up my cross on a daily basis to follow Jesus, and trust God to take care of the rest.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Publication date: September 29, 2009
ISBN: 978-0849919626

Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC rules, this book was sent to me directly from the publisher and as such constitutes my compensation for the review.

Perfect Love Casts Out Spider Phobia

2009-10-01T12:51:00.011-04:00

When I was a little kid--maybe about four or five years old--I overheard a man tell my dad that he had a nightmare about spiders. In the dream he was trapped in a pit somewhere and nasty critters crawled all over him and bit him. He screamed and struggled, but couldn't get away. He must have relayed the story with great emotion, because it left a lasting impression in me that morphed into an increasingly paralyzing phobia as I grew older.

By the time I reached my twenties, all spiders, no matter how tiny, were objects of terror. If I was alone in a room and saw one, I hollered until someone came to rescue me. I couldn't kill my nemesis myself, because fear riveted my eyes on it and rooted me to the floor. I couldn't cope with the thought of drawing closer to the eight-legged monster, and leaving the room was not an option either. If the spider disappeared during my absence, my irrational thinking convinced me it would attack me at night when I was asleep and most vulnerable. My fear became so potent, my myopic vision translated every undecipherable blob on the wall into a spider. Even seeing a picture in a book caused my heart to flutter, and I needed all my courage to turn the page.

But in my early 40s, I experienced a life-changing event. I fell in love with the Word of God and devoured massive doses of it every day. Less than a year later while painting a room in my house, I happened upon a little spider. Instead of screaming bloody murder, I ran it over with the roller and imbedded it forever in the creamy wall. (And I didn't cringe every time I entered the room afterward either.)

Two things from that experience triggered incredible joy: a) for an instant I felt sorry for my baby victim before I killed it, and b) I had been set free. To this day I don't know if the fear disappeared during that incident, or God had taken it away earlier. I puzzled over it for days until I read 1 John 4:18, and understanding came.

18a There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! [Amplied Bible] Although this verse refers to fear of judgment, it describes my circumstances perfectly. Through His still, small voice and the written Word, God had increased His love, the first fruit of the spirit, within me, and I didn't have to be afraid anymore. I give glory to God and His living Word.

John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." [ESV]

If you have a similar story of how God set you free from fear, please consider sharing it with us. The one that receives the most comments will receive a copy of Winnie's Griggs's precious Love Inspired Historical Romance, The Christmas Journey.

Disclaimer: This contest applies only to readers in the USA.

Laurie Kingery's The Outlaw's Lady Book Review and Author Interview

2009-09-29T10:01:00.003-04:00

Tess Hennessey, an accomplished young photographer, strives to earn enough money to study her craft with a famous studio in New York, something most women wouldn’t consider doing in the 1880s. On her way home from a successful shoot at her uncle’s ranch in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, she is accosted and kidnapped by a gang of Mexican banditos. Who is the mastermind behind the scheme? The attractive Sandoval Parrish, a man she meets at her uncle's gathering who is reputed to befriend Diego Delgado, the evil leader of the notorious outlaws.

Before he met Tess, undercover Texas Ranger Sandoval’s plan was simple: avenge his sister’s ruin and death that Delgado caused by forcing Tess to photograph the bandito under the ruse of documenting his exploits. Sandoval intends to send the negatives to another Ranger to distribute them on wanted posters throughout southern Texas and Mexico in the hopes of capturing the wretch. But when Sandoval is attracted to Tess, Delgado views her as his private property, and Delgado’s vicious sister wants her dead, Sandoval must protect her against increasingly dangerous incidents that threaten both of their lives.

I enjoyed the plot twists and the characters in The Outlaw’s Lady. The hero’s and heroine’s trust in God, placing each other's needs before their own as their difficulties increase, the caring bad guy and his mother, even the suave but merciless dictator and his evil sibling--though I wanted to choke them. I definitely recommend The Outlaw’s Lady, and I look forward to Laurie Kingery’s next novels.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW ~ LAURIE KINGERY

MAP: Based on your website biography, some might say you’ve lived a satisfying, if not exciting, life--an army brat, a trauma nurse, meeting your husband through eHarmony. How have these experiences impacted your fiction writing?

LK: Since my mother was from Texas, I was born there and my life was filled with trips there, and at one time, I lived over a year there, so the terrain, the culture and the western ethos were familiar to me. I always felt more at home there than in my Ohio home. Being an E.R. nurse made it a lot easier to write about injuries and to be familiar with ballistics—though my husband helps too with the latter. Meeting him through eHarmony has reinforced my belief in romance—that we’re not just writing fantasies, and that there really are men out there who live out their faith (though they aren’t perfect) and are capable of being faithful, loving mates for life.

MAP: God has abundantly blessed you. You’re a published author of eighteen ABA and CBA novels. How challenging was the transition from the former to the latter in writing and marketing your manuscripts?

LK: It was very different, but I did my best to ease the transition by reading all the CBA fiction I could. Steeple Hill is one of the more conservative CBA houses, however, so those first couple of books did get some things edited out that might offend some CBA readers—things that seemed matter-of-fact to me, like mentioning the heroine removing her clothes to bathe. But I respect that my publisher is really trying to respect the sensitivity of its most conservative reader, so it was a matter of learning what to avoid. It is challenging to write villains without using coarse dialogue, or using the ordinary “fudge” words we use, like gosh and darn, but it can be done. It’s helped that our Christian characters in Love Inspired Historicals can dance now.

MAP: You obviously adapted very well. Your last few novels are set in Texas. Do you plan to continue in that vein?

LK: I’ve set my last five books in Texas. I probably will continue to set most of my work there, but I’m not averse to venturing into the rest of the west. I love that part of the country.

MAP: What's the best part of fiction writing for you?

LK: Those rare times when I’m really in the “flow” and the words are coming easily and hours pass without my noticing. I wish those came more often. Also, getting fan mail—any fan mail, but especially those that mention specifically what they liked about my books.

MAP: What's the most difficult, and how do you overcome it?

LK: The middles of books, when as a seat-of-the-pants writer I don’t know what to have happen next. The only way I’ve found to get through it is just to slog through it, to give myself permission to write “dreck” until the way becomes clear again. Then I try to clear up the dreck in the next pass.

MAP: Are you working on a current project?

LK: I’ve just started the third in my new Simpson Creek Spinsters’ Club series, tentatively titled THE WEDDING TREE. The first of these books, MARRYING MILLY, is scheduled to be out in November 2110. A long time between releases, I know, but I’m hoping the readers will find this series worth the wait.

MAP: I certainly will. Now tell us, do your characters reflect your personality?

LK: In some cases they reflect who I’d like to be, both personality-wise and physically—talented in some ways I’m not, gorgeous, thin…but also they sometimes reflect my insecurities. And I’m sure they react in ways that I would, too.

MAP: The road from new writer to published writer is like a tall ladder with many rungs. What’s your advice to the newbies about shooting for the top?

LK: Not to compare your journey to anyone else’s. No matter what rung you’re on, there will always be someone who has more books out, bigger advances, and seemingly has more fan than you have. Remember that your first “fan” is the Lord, and that you’re writing for Him above everyone else. He has not promised you a place on the New York Times list, or a Rita, or a Book of the Year. He just asks you to be obedient and use the talent you were given for Him. I’d also advise them to read, read, read the books of the type you’re trying to read, and everything else too. And don’t get too hung up in contests and critique groups. They’re good and useful, but not the end goal.

MAP: If you could only share one more thing with us, what would it be?

LK: I’m so thankful that I’ve been blessed with the gift of writing, and have been allowed to use this gift to write books for Him. I never thought I’d get to publish even one book, and now I’m working on my twenty-first book (counting the ABA ones).

MAP: Thanks, Laurie, and may God continue to bless the fruits of your labor.

LK: Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk to your readers and share my thoughts. God bless all of you too!

Sometimes I'm One of Those Weird Types

2009-09-23T10:20:00.003-04:00

In early July of this year, I visited my family in the Detroit area for a week and stayed at my siblings' houses (three of them). After having been away for years, one of the things that impressed me was the quality of toilet paper they used. Can you believe that?

My sister bought the plush stuff, almost too thick and impressive to use, if you know what I mean. On a rating system of 1-5, I gave her a wholehearted 5+. My brothers chose different brands that seemed slightly thinner, but equally memorable. They got a 4.75. In a nephew's home, I found another kind that was teenie-weenie thinner yet. I had to peek under a couple of bathroom sinks to identify the brand. It ranked a close 4.5.

When I went home, our cheapo grande stuff only deserved a 2.5, and my daughters said I was weird. But the next time I went shopping, I bought the 5+ quality product for MY bathroom. They had no difficulty sticking to their measly brand. To each her own, I always say.

Then I went to the ACFW conference last week and had to use the fragile see-through kind in my hotel room. Definitely inferior. Thin and fell apart. Eeekkks. I was tempted to give it a -.5, but settled for a +.5 just to be nice. The brand they used in the public restrooms on the first floor ranked much higher, 2.5 like my old version. (BTW, everything else about the hotel was wonderful, especially the staff.)

Maybe next time I visit somewhere, I'll check on how people load their dishwashers. (I always fill ours very methodically and efficiently, much to my household's disgust. I've been known to rearrange their inefficient, haphazard methods). I can't help I'm a perfectionist.

Go figure.

Back to Regular Mode (Sort of)

2009-09-21T22:10:00.005-04:00

I enjoyed the many facets of last week's ACFW writers conference, but one of the greatest highlights was spending time with my critique partners, Carole, Stephanie, and Roseanna. (From left to right in the photo. I'm the oldie in the crowd.) After two years of emailing, we all finally met face-to-face. What treasured moments.

The conference officially ended yesterday at noon, but I didn't get home until midnight. Today my limp eyelids hovered at half-mast--the effect of barely-slept nights and days packed with mental overload that sizzled my brain cells. But there's stuff to do now. Somehow switch gears and get back into "regular mode" Follow up on all the conference projects.

Then there's the need to reorganize my workshop notes to help me tweak my current manuscript before I send it off to an agent who asked for my proposal. After some serious thought, I decided to revise my original plans of a book review/author interview each week. Don't look for the next one until NEXT week. Two per month is a much more attainable goal.

With so much going on, I need balance, but I know how to get it. Spend time in the Lord's presence for a divine exclange: His strength for my frailties, His peace for my frenzies, and His wisdom for my follies. Precious Lord, only You can really redeem my time. Thanks for guiding me every step of the way.

Dorothy Clark's The Law and Miss Mary Book Review

2009-09-15T04:58:00.005-04:00

This is a second in a series of Steeple Hill Inspirational Historicals book reviews.

In The Law and Miss Mary, Mary Randolph and her brother, James, travel to St. Louis on a secret mission to discover who is skimming funds from their family’s steamship line and allowing the steamers to fall into disrepair. James, posing as the new manager, plans to go alone, but Mary learns the man she expected to marry only wanted her for her dowry, and she begs her parents to let her go with her brother. Brokenhearted, she longs for a godly man who will love her for herself, but doubts that could happen since her tall, skinny shape, plain face, and outspoken personality make her undesirable. What’s more, she’s convinced God couldn’t love her either, for if He had, He would have created her small, beautiful, and demure.

Samuel Benton, Captain of the St. Louis Police Department, who methodically strives to build a powerful reputation for himself, suspects the Randolphs are behind the steamship company’s woes. Soon after meeting them, he escorts Mary to the city’s shopping district, where they happen upon a young orphan who’s caught stealing food to keep from starving. Mary stops Sam from arresting the child by paying for his food and taking him home. When she learns there are more orphans with similar problems, and their plight is hopeless due to the cruel behavior of civil authorities, she begins a quest to save as many of the destitute children as she can though with limited resources.

Sam agrees with her in principle but must enforce the laws that deny the orphans’ basic rights. As Mary continues to fight for them, Sam tries to help but soon reaches a point where he must examine his attitudes not only concerning his actions and career, but more importantly, toward God Himself. And he is forced to choose between Mary’s dream of providing an orphanage to care for the children, or pursue his goal of marrying the mayor’s daughter and succeeding her father into office.

I enjoyed the characters in The Law and Miss Mary and found them very believable and genuine with strengths and flaws that added to their depth and vulnerability. I especially loved the way Dorothy Clark depicts Mary’s poor self-esteem and her bad habit of comparing her physical attributes to other women’s and falling short. But she also exhibits wonderful compassion, tenacity, and courage. Sam’s shallow, life-long goals overshadow his strong sense of honor and generosity, but when challenged with the children's difficulties, his true personality comes to light. He struggles for the cause of justice, but his greatest battle takes place within himself.

The despicable antagonists whose necks I wanted to wring provide a great source of conflict, and James’s warmhearted wisdom and encouragement is precious. The author paints our God as the faithful and loving Provider, who opens the eyes of His imperfect vessels to truths that set them free and enables them to help Him manifest His perfect plan for children and adults alike.

Sweet, sweet, sweet.

Note: there is no author interview this week.

How I Miss the Land of the Bible

2009-09-13T21:58:00.143-04:00

I've visited Israel for at least ten days on three different occasions. And every time I went, I didn't want to leave. That's highly unusual for this gadabout, who's usually more than ready to get back to my own neck of the woods within five days of wherever else I go.

But Israel is like no other place on earth. As I rushed through the jetway to the plane on my first trip, I said, "Well, Father, I'm going home." That shocked me, for it was nothing I'd planned to say. But I discovered many hours later that this trip was a wonderful experience my heavenly Father provided for me.

It's impossible to choose my favorite place in the Holy Land; there's too many to consider. But I'd like to share a few with you. The one that leaves the greatest impression was feeling God's presence--like a loving father embracing his children in a holy, hovering way--in the Jewish Quarter of the old city of Jerusalem. I caught a tiny but profound glimpse of His love for these physical offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Another treasured memory is my baptism in the Jordan River after a tremendous time of worship with the group I toured with. I hadn't planned to be baptized. After all, I'd done that many years prior and didn't NEED to do it again. Or so I thought. But after the unction of the Holy Spirit pressed upon me, I tore away from the group to a little tourist shop to rent a white robe, concerned the whole time I was gone that I might not get back quickly enough to participate. But God was faithful. He didn't leave me out.

Another special event took place in the grove that holds the Garden Tomb. My group assembled together in a small wooded cove to pray and take communion. Then we stood in a long line to wait for our turns into the hewed out tomb. The sign on the door says it all. "He is not here ~ for He is Risen." The presence of the Lord permeated the place. (Photo on right shows Golgatha--place of the skull--in the background.)

For fun we lolled around Ben Yehuda St., a major shopping area spread over several city blocks, and tried falafels for the first time. The greedy birds practically demanded we hand-feed them our scraps. I bought a huge ram's horn (shofar), and several of us puckered up and tried to blow it--no easy feat at all.

No matter where we traveled, in times of prayer and contemplation or fun and fellowship, the ache of wanting to stay in the Holy Land clung to me.

Oh Father, may I go back soon?

What's Important when I'm Running Around in Circles?

2009-09-11T15:53:00.002-04:00

My lights out times have been averaging midnight to 1 am this week, but I still manage to awaken around 6:30-7 am. Not the smartest thing to treat the old bod. But there's always so much to do, especially when the acfw conference hits in five days and the things I plan every day get interrrupted and interrrupted and interrrrrrrrrrrrupted. Sigh.

Like today. My son needed someone to pick up his wife from across town and drive her almost just as far in the opposite direction from my house to get her car. He didn't even ask me to do it, but a little nudge reminded me I hadn't seen her in months. And I had to buy business card paper anyhow. Might as well be a good Samaritan while I was out.

So I did it. And our communion, though somewhat short, was sweet.

On the way home, I listened to the local Christian radio station, and Focus on the Family played some of the original 9-11 radio recordings we all heard eight years ago on that painful, horrendous day. It made me stop and consider my reaction back then. How I grieved for weeks, checked the Ground Zero website every day, hoped and prayed the rescue workers would find someone alive. Like so many others, I wept, mourned, and identified with those who suffered great losses. And thanked God that our nation had turned to Him in our hour of need.

But how many would remember that today's date even means anything anymore? Dr. Dobson and his guest showed great concern because the people's hearts seemed to have waxed cold again--as if there never was a 9-11.

It's time for a reality check.

Do I pray for:
The president and our civic leaders on a regular basis whether I voted for them or not?
The people of my nation?
Those in authority in other walks of life?
The peace of Jerusalem?
Our military, those in law enforcement, and those who risk their lives daily for the protection and safety of others?
My spiritual leaders?
All their families?

If not, I need to repent, give myself a mental sock in the head, and ask the Lord to help me form better prayer habits that include selfless prayers for others. If we don't ask, God won't answer. "...ye have not because ye ask not" James 4:2

May we turn back to the Lord that He may pardon, protect, and shed his grace upon us. He is a good God.

Linda Ford's Dakota Child Book Review and Author Interview

2009-09-10T11:15:00.002-04:00

Linda Ford, who has written over twenty published novels, weaves a story rich in tenderness that depicts the struggles of two “misfits” in 1890s America. Though they see themselves as flawed, Vivian Halliday and Billy Black are willing to lay aside their own desires and dreams to protect those entrusted in their care.

Young, unwed Vivian is lost in a blizzard with her two-month-old son, Joshua. A huge but kind man rescues them and shelters them in his home until the weather improves. Wary but grateful Vivian is surprised when she realizes he’s Big Billy, a childhood acquaintance, but she panics when his screeching, emotionally unstable mother, dubbed Mad Mrs. Black by taunting town folk, reacts hostilely toward her.

Determined to confront and wed the man who seduced her and fathered her infant, Vivian confesses her sin and guilt to Billy. He agrees to help her by taking her to town to find the man, an act he'd normally shun to avoid reoccurrences of the ridicule he and his mother suffered due to her erratic behavior and his large size. In town Billy and Vivian are dismayed to discover her potential husband-to-be has gone away for an undisclosed period of time. With no place else to go, she and Joshua return home with a reluctant Billy, who knows their presence will upset his mother. His concerns prove true, for Mrs. Black wants Vivian and the baby gone and makes sure everyone knows it. Billy takes on the role of peacemaker but secretly wishes that Vivian and Joshua would stay. And Vivian learns to appreciate Billy and doesn’t want to leave, but she must for Joshua’s sake.

Dakota Child deals with several issues: the guilt, shame, and fear that results from bearing a child out of wedlock, the lack of rights and other difficulties foundling children face, bigotry and cruelty toward people who are “different”, unprincipled men stealing from the innocent, and unforgiveness. Through their trials, our hero and heroine continually turn to the Lord in prayer, and even when Billy offers up a desperate, selfish prayer, his frailty only makes him more precious.

I definitely recommend Dakota Child. It’s a testimony of God's provision and forgiveness, and the power of unconditional love that works to change people’s hearts and lives.

Publisher: Steeple Hill Publication date: Sept 2009

Author Interview:

MAP: I've always had great respect for people who adopt children when they already have a brood of their own. You and your hubby had four homemade children and chose to adopt ten more to fulfill your dream of running an orphanage with at least twelve kids. That must have been quite a challenge.

LF: Yes. Our adopted children came with lots of baggage that unfortunately did not go away with love, discipline or any other tool we had at our disposal. When several of the kids acted out in weird and awful ways in their teens, my dream seemed more like a nightmare.

MAP: So how did you cope with it?

LF: Interestingly enough, I got invited to a writer's meeting. The group listened to a tape telling how to organize our thoughts into chapters and write a non-fiction book. It all sounded so ...so controllable. I went home and started to write. From the beginning I was hooked because my writing gave me a world to control and kept me relatively sane when the one around me seemed out of control.

MAP: When you started writing fiction, how long before you switched from writing for yourself to making getting published a goal?

LF: I was first published in non-fiction—farm papers, human interest stories—but some of the human interest stories touched my heart and made me remember the joy of fiction. So a few years (the exact number has slipped my sieve of a mind) I tried my hand at fiction.

MAP: What's the easiest part of fiction writing for you?

LF: I could always make up stories in my head, often late at night when I couldn't sleep. I thought everyone did the same thing. To this day I can remember one rancher hero I created tall with a rolling swagger and a smile that didn't end.

MAP: What's your greatest fiction writing challenge?

LF: Getting the story from my head to the paper in some form of structure that will resonate with readers and portray what I see in my head. I have many, many stories where I missed it entirely.

MAP: You've worked through the family challenges of the past. I take it life is a lot calmer these days?

LF: In most ways now but never dull. I share my life with my ever-patient husband (yup, the rancher of my dreams), a paraplegic-double-amputee client for whom I provide personal care, a grown son who lives at home, and a yappy African grey parrot who knows far too many insults. I have an open door policy to my large family, which means special occasion family dinners for twenty or more, visiting grandchildren, crisis counseling (let's talk to Mom about it) and generally sharing the joys and trials of my children's lives. All of which provides me lots of research material for my historical and contemporary books, which have a recurring theme of foreverness, commitment, the power of faith and the joy of family.

MAP: Those themes shine clearly through your books, Linda. Thanks for sharing with us. To find more of Linda's books, go to her website, http://www.lindaford.org/. (FYI, Linda's website also contains some great fiction writing tips. Click on my sidebar link, Linda Ford's Writing Articles, to access them.)

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

2009-09-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

Well, it took some doing, but my darling daughter showed me how to access my camera without going through the old software (See previous post for details). So here's the Christmas in September photo. But how am I supposed to wash and wax the floor under it between now and the Christmas season? Hmm. I think I'd better meditate on the scripture verse of the day.

It's Christmas in September - Sort of

2009-09-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

Today my darling daughter promised to help me create a website, so I dashed up to my bedroom and plopped myself in front of my laptop. I spent a few hours writing materials to add to the site. While I worked, every now and then I heard thumpings and other sounds of furniture movement, but was too engrossed in my work to pay much attention.

Then my stomach grumbled that I needed a break, so I rose from my creative efforts and slogged downstairs to scrounge something up. Surprise, surprise. The furniture in front of the kitchen bay window had mysteriously moved into the family room. In its place Christmas showed up. In the shape of a seven-foot high champagne-colored prelit tree with the lights glowing.

"It's too early," I wailed. But the perpetrator had gone off somewhere with her sister, so neither of them heard me. I did the only thing I could think of--except for feeding my face. I hurriedly dug out my digital camera and took a couple of shots, making sure the photos included the greenery growing all over the back deck so people could see I wasn't lying. I mean, after all, who'd believe we'd really put up a tree in Sept? I wanted to back up my story with proof.

Unfortunately, that plan fizzled. Ever since my desktop computer hard drive had been updated, I haven't been able to access certain software. And my Kodak shareware is one. So until I can figure out how to download my photos, you'll have to take my word for this.

I guess I should tell you that we put up a huge Christmas light display every year. Before you think we're too weird, the photo on the left should give you a glimpse of what we do--outline the shapes of the trees--a slow process that can easily take more than an hour for one tree. We decorate at least 8 trees inside the house, several of which rotate. Is that cool or what??? There's 50 or 60-18 gallon storage bins sitting in a storage unit waiting to be transported home. Wah. I hate the thought of filling up my sunporch with them while they get unloaded and spread all over.

Last year we started in October but weren't able to complete everything by our annual first Friday of December Christmas party. So I guess we'll start earlier this year. The inside gets our attention first (we can hide it better) until the trees and shrubs lose some of their leaves, or at least stop growing. But my daughters have strict instructions to KEEP THE LIGHTS OFF UNTIL NOVEMBER. Of course after I said that, I wanted to turn them on.

It's never a dull moment with my enthusiastic, creative offspring. God bless 'em, every one.

BTW, not everyone agrees with this method of celebrating Christmas, of course, but we use it as bait, for people are definitely drawn to the displays each year. I've wanted to stand at the end of the driveway and hand out cookies or hot cider or something along with tracts about who Jesus is. Haven't done it yet, but maybe this is the year we'll be able to. Lord, you work it out, please.

I'm Forever Grateful

2009-09-04T20:03:00.000-04:00

Even though I'm busily preparing for a writers conference I'll attend in 12 days, a sense of super gratefulness has been rolling inside me. I think the Lord placed a triple dose of it in my heart, and I can't seem to stop gushing it out. Sometimes I actually break out in song for things as simple as:

The cool weather (anything below 80 degrees is practically a miracle after the long stretches of humid, 90+ degrees days we've had most of July and August.

The clear, clean water filling my oversized jacuzzi-type bathtub. A couple of weeks ago our water softener jammed up and the water was rust-colored and stained everything it touched.

Money to put in the offering envelopes at church. I remember the days when pennies and nickels were all I could afford. Today it's dollars, and much more than one at a time.

Fresh produce from plants that came up by themselves. In fact, they're stronger and taste better than the ones I babied.

The prolific verbena that has spread so rampantly this year, that it's attracted all the butterflies that usually produce those nasty green worms in my tomatoes. I haven't seen even one of those icky critters for the first summer ever.

     The ability to bounce on a rebounder. Last year I needed an electric scooter to get around because using my right knee hurt so darned much.

     Working out with weights. Last time I tried, my shoulders gave me fits, and I had to quit after two weeks of miserably failing.

     Sons and daughters who help me without waiting to be asked. It hadn't always been that way.

     Seeing dozens of towering trees and shrubs close up no matter what window I look out. Ten years ago there was only one 6" tree on our lot.

     There's a lot of things in my life that I wish were different, but when I'm wrapped up in praising and thanking the Lord, they become insignicant. May I never get so caught up in myself that I lose sight of His goodness and forget to thank Him for it.

1 Thes 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

     In another matter, I subscribe to SteepleHill Historicals and Romantic Suspense novels. The good thing about that is receiving four of each every month, usually several weeks before their release dates--often before authors get their own copies. With that in mind, I will regularly review the most current selections--one per week starting after Labor Day. Stayed tuned for further details.