Divine Imagination

Author Interview - Lynette Eason

2011-05-02T03:00:00.040-05:00

Hi, there. Come on in. I hope you're as excited to meet this week's guest as I am. There's some lemonade and strawberry shortcake on the table, so fix yourself a plate, and I'll meet you in the den.

Since 2007, best-selling author, Lynette Eason has written/contracted nineteen novels, including Too Close to Home, which was #13 on CBA’s bestseller list for December 2010. Lynette writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line and Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Lynette has been teaching in some form or fashion since graduating from Converse College with a Masters in Education in 1993. Lynette is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). She and her husband and their two children make their home in South Carolina.

Lynette, I am simply tickled to have you with us, so let's get right to it. When did you first know you were called to write?

I knew I liked to write back in middle school. I found out I was pretty good at it in college. Then when I was first published in 2007, I felt like God was calling me into this career. A very tough career, but one that I love.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

I watch television very rarely, but if I find the need for outside influences for ideas, I turn on Lifetime Movie network and generally by the time the movie is over, I have a glimmer of an idea for a book.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I don’t really have a system. I tend to write until I come to a place where I need to know something. I stop and go find the answers I need, come back to the story and insert that. Then I keep writing until the process repeats itself.

How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I see the story unfolding in my head like a movie. I tend to “hear” and “see” my characters conversations and simply transcribe what they’re saying, their body language, etc.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

No way. LOL.

Who was your most fun character to write?

I don’t know that any of my characters are actually FUN to write. They’re all pretty intense.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

I enjoyed writing Don’t Look Back more than any other book simply because it practically wrote itself. It was a true gift. I simply put the words of the pages. It was a surreal experience and one I hope to repeat one day!

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

Nope, never.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Well, for example, today I took my daughter to school, homeschooled my son, talked to my editor, agent and marketing director and then did four loads of laundry, ate lunch at Zaxbys, watched three episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger with my son, picked up my daughter and took her to her Physical Therapy appointment and skyped with my husband who has been gone for a week. I wrote four hundred words on my work in progress then deleted them all because it was the wrong place to open the book. Generally, I write more than four hundred words a day, but just couldn’t fit them in today. Tomorrow will be better. Now, I have to go get the last load of laundry from the dryer, fold them and put them away. And then go scrub the toilets.

Wow. You do like to live on the edge :-)

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Justin Bieber because my daughter would kill me if I had the chance and didn’t. And I suppose I would invite two of my best friends because we make each other laugh til we cry!

Tell us about your current release.

A Killer Among Us is the third and last book in the Women of Justice series. Here is the back cover blurb:

Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. The new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case. As evidence mounts up and more victims are found, Kit and Noah realize they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The problem is, he's hunting one of them too.

With nail-biting suspense, clever plot twists, and a hint of sweet romance, A Killer Among Us is the latest thriller from Lynette Eason. It will keep readers up late as they race to discover the killer--and whether Kit and Noah will live to tell about it.

Oooo, you've hooked me.
Readers can contact me at lynetteeason@lynetteeason.com or visit my website at www.lynetteeason.com. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.

Excellent.

Lynette, thank you for spending some time with us here at Divine Imagination. It was truly a pleasure.

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of A Killer Among Us, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. A winner will be drawn Sunday, May 8.

Author Interview - Missy Tippens

2011-04-25T22:29:00.000-05:00

Come on in, y'all. Boy are we going to have fun this week. We're hosting our first repeat guest. That's right. She liked us so much she couldn't wait to join us again. Of course, I had to throw in her fave, a Starbucks skinny hazelnut latte, to sweeten the deal. So grab your Starbucks and meet me in the den.

Missy Tippens is a pastor’s wife and mom of three who lives near Atlanta. After ten years of pursuing her dream, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to Love Inspired in 2007. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened! Her novels have been finalists in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Contest, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Bookseller's Best Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com.

Welcome back, Missy. It's great to see you again. Wow. You pursued your dream for ten years. When did you really start to believe that you were meant to be a writer?

This is actually a tough question! I began to think I was meant to be a writer as I started to do well in writing contests. But I don’t think I really believed it until well after my first sale, once the book came out, and I started getting reader letters. Reading those wonderful letters telling me how my book had touched them in some way was the affirmation I needed to confirm my calling. It’s such a blessing to be able to do this for my career!

How does your family feel about your writing?

They love it and are very supportive. My husband reads all my books. My kids even helped me recently at a book signing. And they all celebrate with each new book contract and the delivery of boxes of newly-released books.

That is so sweet. Do they read your work?

My husband does! He reads the first drafts and then reads the printed books. Unfortunately, two of my children aren’t big readers. And one of my sons, who is, prefers science fiction. :)

How do you determine which Biblical principles/theme to incorporate into each story?

I’ve found that I have themes that keep repeating because they have a lot to do with my own faith journey and life experiences. But for each book, I work on finding a premise for the main characters—the journey they’ll make from, for example, self-protection to loving generously (like in A Family for Faith). And then I start searching for Bible verses that speak to that journey. Sometimes the verse comes to me later in the writing. Other times, I know it from the beginning.

What kind of stories do you like to read?

I read mostly romance and women’s fiction. I love contemporary and historical. I love funny and emotional stories. I love romantic suspense. I love just about anything with a happy ending!

Do you have a favorite author?

I couldn’t possibly pick one!

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Watch shows I’ve DVR’d like American Idol, House, Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, Castle. I love to shop—especially with my daughter. I love to attend my kids’ sporting events. Love to have date night with my husband. Love to go to movies with friends and have girls’ night out. Oh, I guess I forgot to say I love to read! :)

What’s your favorite way to connect with your readers?

I love the emails and snail mail letters! I have a Missy Tippens Readers page on Facebook now and like to connect there, as well as on Twitter and my website and blogs.

Tell us about A Family for Faith.

It’s my favorite so far! The story was inspired by a single dad across the aisle on a flight from D.C. to Atlanta. I watched as he tried desperately to put a hair bow in his little daughter’s hair and just couldn’t get it in right. I knew I wanted to write a story about a single man with a young daughter. :) Here’s the back cover blurb:

When Faith Hagin sees widower cop Gabe Reynolds every day in her coffee shop, she can’t help but feel for the struggling single dad. She’s raised a teenager of her own—and sadly, knows what not to do. But thanks to his matchmaking preteen daughter, Chelsea, the whole town’s praying for Gabe to find a wife!

Even though Faith thinks she’s content being just friends, spending time with him and Chelsea starts to feel like a fresh start at having a family. And their love may be the answer to everyone’s prayers.

Oooohhhh. That sounds like a good one. And now we all know a bit of the story behind the story.

Thank you so much for joining us this week, Missy.

Mindy, thanks for having me on your blog!

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Missy's latest release, A Family for Faith, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, May 1.

Author Interview - Lindi Peterson

2011-04-04T03:00:00.022-05:00

Welcome! You are in for such a treat this week. And I can't wait to introduce you to one of my dear friends. Since she hails from Georgia, I thought we do it up southern style today. We've got some sweet tea, peach cobbler, and lemon bars. And since it's our guests fave, and also hails from GA, there's some Coke too.

Lindi Peterson is an author of contemporary Christian romance novels focusing on the amazing love of Jesus Christ and how His love influences our ability to love one another. Lindi is the mother of two children, two step-children and the grandmother of two. She lives near Atlanta with her hubby, though they are far from being empty nesters. They share their lives with a dog, two cats, and two birds who are often times way louder than the kids used to be!

Lindi, girl, I am so excited to have you here join us at Divine Imagination. First thing, when did you know you were called to write?

I wrote my first story in the 5th grade. The Anchor Mystery. I did my own cover art. I still have it. But I’m not sure I knew back then I was ‘called.’ That came to pass around the year 2000 when I started writing Christian romances.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Anywhere and everywhere. The other night watching TV there was a Victoria’s Secret commercial on and I got an idea for a book. I already wrote the first paragraph.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

So far I haven’t done too much research since my stories don’t call for it. My son told me the trade deadlines for baseball players was at the end of July, so I guess you could say I used my son for research in that capacity.

How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

Dialogue is my very favorite thing to write. I always have skeleton first drafts with a ton of dialogue. The most important thing about dialogue is every line has to count. Every line has to relate to the story some information that is very important. I can’t tell you how much ‘filler’ dialogue I have in the first novels I wrote. Now I understand the importance of conversation. Move something forward. Emotion, plot, romance, something. Do not write filler dialogue.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Um, yes. Grandma Fola in Her Best Catch was inspired by my mother-in-law, whom I love dearly. Fola was my grandma’s name on my dad’s side. She passed away, but I still love her so much.

Who was your most fun character to write?

I wrote a book a while back which won’t see the light of day, but I had a character named Loxley. She was fun, probably because I had learned some writing craft and had a blast putting it all to use. And she was feisty.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

I will say my favorite so far is the manuscript I’m revising now. I’ve been working on it a long time, have struggled with it, but God wouldn’t let me put it away. I tried to leave it unfinished but God said no. I think there must be a purpose in it, and I’m excited at how it turned out. A couple people have critiqued it and they really like it as well. I’m hoping it will be the next book I sell. :-)

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I have so many right now that I want to write. As long as my passion for writing stays I think something will always inspire me.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

I have a day job as an accountant. So I get up early to write before I leave for work. If I don’t write then, it usually doesn’t happen for the day. I use the evenings to judge contests, work on blogs or critique. Sometimes I revise at night, but usually only if I’m revising from a critique.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Well, you know my number one choice would be David Crowder. He’s married so I would invite his wife. And I’d invite the woman who wiped Jesus’ feet with her tears. I would love that kind of faith. Maybe she could clue me in.

Tell us about your debut release.

Her Best Catch is available at amazon.com.

Allison Doll’s mother is rebelliously turning fifty, her two best friends have started dating and a gorgeous injured relief pitcher, Ashton Boyd, has joined her Sunday school class rocking her world into confusion, heartache and temptation, places she hasn’t visited in a long time, much less all at once.

But with the help of family, old friends she really hasn’t lost, a new friend she really can count on, and God, she finds herself no longer a girl waiting for life to happen, but a girl who’s ready to commit to her best catch!

Lindi, I love that cover. And the story sounds fantastic, too :-)

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. As always, it's a pleasure to see you.

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of Lindi's debut novel, Her Best Catch, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, April 10.

Winner of Yesterday's Tomorrow

2011-04-03T23:59:00.003-05:00

Congratulations going out to Splashes of Joy! She won Cathy West's debut novel, Yesterday's Tomorrow.

Author Interview - Catherine West

2011-03-28T02:20:00.062-05:00

Our guest this week hails from the gorgeous island of Bermuda. So, in her honor, we're going to have a funtastic tea time. I've brought out the china and there are trays filled with all sorts of sweets and savories. So grab a plate and a "spot of tea," and we'll all meet in the den.

Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine West holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. Catherine and her husband live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with their two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a founding member of International Christian Fiction Writers. Catherine’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow, released on March 15th, through OakTara Publishers.

Cathy, I'm so glad you could join us this week. I've been looking for a reason to host a high-tea. So tell us, when did you know you were called to write?

At a pretty young age! I loved writing stories in school and it was about the only thing I was good at. As I got older and enough people started telling me I really should consider being a writer and trying to get published, I began to take it seriously.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

There’s a little green man that lives under my desk and from time to time he hops onto my shoulder and whispers in my ear. No? Okay, well, sometimes they do literally appear out of nowhere. I’ll be driving along and all of a sudden I have an idea. A lot of times it happens after reading a news story or talking to people.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

For Yesterday’s Tomorrow it was mostly through the Internet and I read a ton of books on The Vietnam War as well as about female war correspondents. I never thought I had enough information, but the truth is I probably only needed half of what I compiled. It was a fascinating process!

How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

Dialogue is actually my strength. I have no problem coming up with things for my characters to say. I’m a pantser, so the characters generally write their own dialogue. Then I have to go back in and shut them up.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Ha. Now what fun would it be if I said yes? Leave them guessing!

Who was your most fun character to write?

Luke Maddox. No explanation needed. Read the book. :-)

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

My books are different. I have to say Yesterday’s Tomorrow is by far the book of my heart, because of all the issues it stands for and the incredibly hard journey we took to get it into print. And it’s probably my favorite because I worked on it so long. After multiple rewrites, if you still love your story, that’s a good thing!

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I hope not!

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

I wouldn’t call it glamorous, except that I do have a stunning view of the ocean from where I live. I usually get up around seven a.m. and make sure my son gets off to school on time. I check email and read blogs…er…the news…okay, blogs…while I have breakfast. Then it’s playtime outside for Noah, my border collie. I do a bit of training with him, let him run while I water the outdoor plants, and then I head inside to the office, where I park in front of the computer and attempt to write instead of going on Facebook! I try to write at least four good hours a day, but lately I’ve been doing a lot of marketing, so haven’t met my goals.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Wow. Dead or alive? Okay, I’ll go with alive. I’d pick John Piper for my husband because I know he’d love to have dinner with him! I’d have to ask my kids who they’d like to have because I can’t think of anyone for them, but for me…hmm…maybe Ben Affleck. Only because I think he’d love to make Yesterday’s Tomorrow into a movie!!

Tell us about your current release.

Yesterday’s Tomorrow

Vietnam, 1967.

Independent, career-driven journalist Kristin Taylor wants two things: to honor her father's memory by becoming an award-winning overseas correspondent and to keep tabs on her only brother, Teddy, who signed up for the war against their mother's wishes. Brilliant photographer Luke Maddox, silent and brooding, exudes mystery. Kristin is convinced he's hiding something.

Willing to risk it all for what they believe in, Kristin and Luke engage in their own tumultuous battle until, in an unexpected twist, they’re forced to work together. Ambushed by love, they must decide whether or not to set aside their own private agendas for the hope of tomorrow that has captured their hearts.

Very intriguing. I can't wait to read it.

Cathy, thank you so much for making the long journey to be with us here at Divine Imagination. I hope you enjoyed your visit as much as I did.

If you'd like to win your own copy of Cathy's debut novel, Yesterday's Tomorrow, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. Drawing will be held next Sunday, April 3.

Winner of They Almost Always Come Home

2011-03-27T23:59:00.001-05:00

Congratualtions to Linda! She won Cynthia Ruchti's debut novel, They Almost Always Come Home.

Author Interview - Cynthia Ruchti

2011-03-21T02:00:00.085-05:00

Well, hello. And welcome back to Divine Imagination. I see you've already made your morning drink run. Come on in and grab a seat. There are some fresh chocolate chip cookies on the coffee table, so help yourself.

This week's guest is Cynthia Ruchti, and you are not going to believe all this sweet woman is into. Aside from books, Cynthia writes and produces a drama/devotional radio broadcast, The Heartbeat of the Home and is editor of the broadcast's Backyard Friends magazine. Her debut novel They Almost Always Come Home (Abingdon Press) is a 2010 RT Book Reviewers Choice nominee. Her 2010 novella "The Heart's Harbor" in A Door County Christmas (Barbour Publishing) is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Cynthia also served a two-year term as president of American Christian Fiction Writers and currently serves as ACFW's Professional Relations Liaison. She and her husband live near their three children and five grandchildren in the heart of Wisconsin.

Cynthia, it's good to see you again. Man, you are one busy woman. I'm so honored you were able to carve out time to join us.

When did you know you were called to write?

Even though words and imagination have held my attention since childhood, I didn’t seriously consider making them my occupation until I was a young adult. For me, the “call” coincided with the discovery that God could actually use something I’d written to communicate hope or comfort or insight. Others dream of conquering Everest. I dreamed of creating stories that pull back a curtain to deeper understanding of who we are and who He is.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Life. Vivid, sometimes reckless imagination. Never-off-duty powers of observation. A word, a phrase, an exchange of conversation morphs into a novel. Although they’re inventions rather than news reports, everything I’ve written to date contains some measure of “I’ve been there,” whether it’s the physical setting or the emotional setting or the faith setting. I take joy in the thought that even the rough passages of experience serve as markers for other travelers. It makes the difficult moments bearable to know they can be redeemed through story.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

As do most authors, I take advantage of a houseful of books and access to the Internet. Research happens sporadically at times—when I stumble onto a useful, enriching tidbit while searching for something else entirely, like catching sight of a gold nugget in the stream when fishing for salmon. Seasons of intentional research usually net enough to feed 5000 with 12 baskets of leftovers. I still fight the tendency to collect itty bitty scraps of paper with indecipherable scrawls of information that once seemed profound. But I now combat the info-chaos by creating both a computer folder and a hanging file folder for each project. Pertinent articles or facts are either copied into a dedicated computer file or dropped into the corresponding cardstock folder. Controlled chaos. It’s a system that works for me right now in the time balance of creating and collecting.

How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

Dialogue isn’t as challenging for me as other elements. I’ve written slice-of-life dialogue based dramas and devotionals for radio for more than thirty years. With very limited narrative, dialogue had to carry the scene. There’s an art to writing dialogue that sounds realistic but is trimmed of the wasted breath and space fillers of actual conversation.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

All of them. Their traits and quirks are intermingled, exaggerated, or spiked with enough imagination that I would hope friends and family—from whom I’ve learned so much—would recognize themselves IN a character but not AS a character.

Who was your most fun character to write?

It’s cheating to say each one of them, isn’t it? Libby’s story (in They Almost Always Come Home) needed to be told and I felt a deep sense of satisfaction writing it down. In a way, she validated women like her. She voiced emotions others experience but are too polite to express. Tenacity in a more-fragile-than-she-wanted-to-admit, bruised heart. A complex character but relatable on many levels. It wasn’t “fun” to write about Libby, but even as a fictional character, she had a pronounced effect on me. In a completely different vein, a secondary character—Lola Peterson—in “The Heart’s Harbor” novella in A Door County Christmas kept me amused and chuckling as the scenes unfolded. She’s the kind of person who makes you shake your head but smile while you do.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

My mom’s prayer investment in my debut novel—They Almost Always Come Home—and the fact that by God’s sweet grace she held the Advanced Reader Copy of the book in her hands just two weeks before she died make it all the more dear to my heart. I can feel her prayer labor in the texture of the pages.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I have a computer file of “Excess Ideas” and 1500 radio scripts that are first chapters waiting to be explored more fully.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

My workday begins about 7 in the morning and I’m often still working at 10 in the evening. But the hours in between are a decidedly unglamorous, no-two-days-alike tangle of administrating, researching, serving, marketing, creating, pondering, editing, working, reflecting, reading, studying, considering, writing, and a few other –ings.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Dinner with Bear Grylls (Discovery Channel’s Man Vs. Wild) would guarantee endless survival stories. Ina Garten (The Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa) would ensure a gourmet meal. And inviting any one of my five grandkids to complete the ensemble would make the evening memorable.

Tell us about your current release.

Two books released in 2010. A Door County Christmas is a romantic comedy novella collection in which I was honored to share pages with three author friends. “The Heart’s Harbor” opens the collection with the story of a young woman, Amanda, who’s drafted into running her friend and mentor Lola’s Victorian inn and pulling off its legendary Christmas Tea. All she wants is a little peace on earth. Wisconsin’s Door County with its picturesque harbors and charming villages promises the quiet she needs…until she’s handed the keys to the inn and the responsibilities of the Tea. Quirky guests, a bare-bones budget, and the innkeeper's exasperating son Jordan deepen her doubts that Christmas and love have anything in common.

In They Almost Always Come Home, Libby Holden faces a stark realization when her husband Greg doesn’t return from his solo canoe trip to the Canadian wilderness. She’s not sure she wants him to come home. But she can’t leave him if she can’t find him. With the help of her father-in-law and her best friend, Libby plunges into the wilderness to search for her husband and the remnants of her flagging faith. He was supposed to be fishing. He was supposed to come home. And she was supposed to care.

Ooo, that piques my interest.

Cynthia, I know you've got to run. Thank you so much for sharing a little bit of yourself with us.

Thank you for the opportunity to spend some time with your blog readers, Mindy. And thank you for all you do to link stories with the readers waiting for them.

I’d love to continue the conversation with anyone who connects with me through my website: http://www.cynthiaruchti.com/ or http://www.hopethatglowsinthedark.com/.

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of Cynthia's novel, They Almost Always Come Home, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. The drawing will be held Sunday, March 27.

Winner of Surrender the Night

2011-03-20T23:59:00.004-05:00

Congratulations going out to Pegg Thomas. Pegg won MaryLu Tyndall's latest release, Surrender the Night.

Author Interview - MaryLu Tyndall

2011-03-14T02:20:00.010-05:00

Are you ready for a little bit of romantic adventure? Well, grab a cup of tea or your fave Starbucks indulgence and make yourself comfortable. This week, I have the privilege of introducing you to MaryLu (aka M.L.) Tyndall.

M.L. Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist, and best-selling author of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series is known for her swashbuckling historical romances filled with deep spiritual themes. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer.

MaryLu currently writes full time and makes her home on the California coast with her husband, six kids, and four cats. Her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but expose Christians to their full potential in Christ. For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit her website at http://www.mltyndall.com or her blog at http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/.

Welcome, MaryLu. We're so excited to have you visit this week and to get to know a little more about you. So tell me, when did you know you were called to write?

When I got the call from Barbour about my first contract! I know that sounds odd, but I never really knew for sure that God wanted me to write until He kept opening doors for my book to be published. I always loved to write and have written stories and poems since I was in my teens, but it was more of a hobby, and everyone told me I could never make a living at it.....so I went to college, studied computers and headed in a completely different direction, never realizing what God had in store for me. Now, as I look back, I see that I’ve always been a writer.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

From everywhere! From life, from movies, books, documentaries, places I’ve traveled to, exotic locales I’d love to visit. Life is full of stories if you just know where to look. For instance, I watched a history channel documentary on the war of 1812 several years ago and was enthralled. I’d never really studied the war and couldn’t believe how fascinating it was. So, I traveled to Baltimore, spent a week doing research and voila! My War of 1812, Surrender to Destiny series was born.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

Research doesn’t come easily to me. Lots of historical writers love it. But, while I find history fascinating, I’d rather be writing. Depending on how much I know about the topic already, I can spend anywhere from a few weeks to a month researching for a particular series. I use books, online sites, libraries, documentaries, and as many original sources I can find: things such as diaries, receipts, letters, maps, newspaper articles.. etc.. Then when I think I have enough information, I start writing. Normally, however, I discover I need to look up details along the way.

How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I know my characters pretty well. Before I start writing, I do a fairly extensive character analysis on each major player. Then when I write a scene, I jump into the POV character’s head and the conversation flows naturally from his or her perspective and reaction to the events of the scene. I always read back my dialogue out loud to make sure it sounds natural. In fact, I just purchased a text to speech software program that has a British accent!

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

My characters are a conglomeration of many of the people I know. I love to watch people and try and analyze what makes them tick. So, yes, you’ll find a bit of my family and my friends in all of my characters. And parts of me, as well!

Who was your most fun character to write?

My lady pirate, Faith Westcott, in The Red Siren. She’s spunky, intelligent, sarcastic, brave, and passionate about life and her loved ones. By day, she is a respected Admiral’s daughter, but by night, she sails the Carolina seas, seeking enough wealth to keep her sisters from unwanted marriages. What could be more fun than writing a character like that?

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

My very first book, The Redemption will always hold a special spot in my heart. I wrote it without any expectation of ever seeing it published. It was the book of my heart...a story that had to be told, whether it ever saw the light of day or not. The Redemption is the story of a young girl who escapes an abusive uncle in England and travels to the Caribbean in search of a father she never knew. She longs for a love only a father can give, but soon discovers the man she seeks is the most vile pirate sailing the seas. Charlisse’s journey in search of a father’s love and ultimately finding it in the arms of Christ mirrors my own spiritual journey.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

Not as long as God wants me to write. :-) He’s the one giving me both the contracts and the stories.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Glamorous! Ha. No, I do not sit around in my velvet bathrobe and silk slippers, sipping the finest British tea while I listen to Rachmaninoff on the stereo and pen my latest masterpiece. Oh, did I mention, that my masseuse comes at 1:00 and then I have coffee and tea-cakes with my agent before flying first class to New York for my interview on Oprah?

The truth is, I scrub toilets, mop floors, weed the garden, go the grocery store, cook dinner, do laundry and in between all of that, I try and find the time to sit down at my messy, dust-laden desk and pound out a few scenes on my keyboard! I run around in my raggy jeans and a T-shirt most of the time. But honestly, I try and get my writing done early after coffee and prayer time. If I can get five hours in, that’s a good day. After that, I’ve got to tend to kids and hubby and the house.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Glenn Beck because, whether you love or hate him, he’s highly intelligent, entertaining and has a unique perspective on what’s going on in the world.

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu – Another fascinating and highly intelligent man. I would love to hear his perspective of how things really are in Israel and the middle east.

Sarah Palin because I admire her for managing her home and being a mother while still accomplishing so much for our country.

(Talk about an exciting dinner!)

Tell us about your current release.

Surrender the Night is the 2nd book in my Surrender to Destiny series. The trilogy is set in Baltimore during the exciting events of the War of 1812. Does God have a unique destiny for each one of us, and what are the things which hold us back from finding it? These are the themes imbedded in each story.

But they are also romantic adventures!

Here’s the back cover:

When British soldiers invade Baltimore amid the War of 1812, Rose McGuire, alone on her family farm, is easy prey for a brutal lieutenant. In the midst of the attack, she’s saved by British 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Reed. Will she now have to heal, as well as hide, this enemy soldier?

Alex hadn’t meant to kill his superior, nor get shot in the process. Now badly wounded, he’s at the mercy of this tomboy who obviously hates him. Can he trust her or will she turn him over to the Americans?

Rose is having trouble keeping Alex hidden from her family, the townspeople, and the man intent on courting her. Will the discovery of Alex’s presence force her to accept an abhorrent proposal?

As their love blooms, trouble looms, for the British are on the move again. This time, their target is Washington DC. Will these young lovers at heart find themselves enemies at war?

Very intriguing, MaryLu. Thank you for joining us this week at Divine Imagination and giving us a glimpse into your world.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of MaryLu's latest release, Surrender the Night, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. Drawingheld Sunday, March 20th.

The Winner of Wanted: A Family

2011-03-13T23:59:00.005-05:00

Congratulations go out to Patti Jo Moore, aka Cat Mom. Patti won Janet Dean's latest release, Wanted: A Family.

Happy reading, Patti.

Author Interview - Janet Dean

2011-03-07T02:20:00.063-06:00

Janet Dean credits her father, an Art and Social Studies teacher, for giving her not only a love of art and history, but also of storytelling. He shared wonderful folksy stories of real people passed down to him from his father. Janet’s mother was an artist in her own right, hand-stitching beautiful quilts. The most important legacy her parents gave her was a love for God.

Janet started writing fiction around the age of twelve, penning and illustrating little romances. None of those early stories survive, but her love of reading and writing did. She married her college sweetheart and taught elementary school before leaving to raise two daughters. After seeking publication for nine years, Janet sold to Love Inspired Books. Whenever she can snatch a few moments away from writing, Janet enjoys stamping greeting cards, playing bridge and golf. She and her husband love to travel.

Janet is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America and Faith, Hope & Love. Her fourth Love Inspired Historical, Wanted: A Family will release March 8.

Welcome, Janet. I'm so glad you could join us this week. When did you know you were called to write?

I wrote and illustrated little romances at the age of twelve. From that point on I knew I’d write a book one day. One day took a while. Even when I returned to writing, it took me several years to hear and answer God’s call to write for Him. Once I did, I knew I’d found my niche. I love writing my characters’ faith journey.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

In my early books my story ideas came from America’s history. Orphan trains fascinated me and triggered my Courting books, Courting Miss Adelaide and Courting the Doctor’s Daughter. The mail-order bride phenomenon sparked The Substitute Bride. Ideas for my recent books spring from social and spiritual issues in the past that I believe still resonate with today’s readers. My March release Wanted: A Family spotlights the struggles of unwed mothers and the church’s response.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I set my stories in small-town America within a fifty year span, which simplifies research. I use books, newspaper clippings and the Internet to check facts. My first two books were set in a real town. I visited the historical museum, talked to the county historian, walked the streets and went to the cemeteries. Though I enjoyed the research, it took so much time that I no longer set my stories in real towns.
How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I try to create dialogue that reveals the conflict between the hero and heroine, shows characterization, and raises the stakes. Conversation can be pointed or subtle with undercurrents that force the hero and heroine to think about their past, their issues and each other. I try to have characters do something while they talk that shows their emotion, even their desire to avoid the topic. At the end, conversation forces the characters to change course or creates a new action or new difficulty between them.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

I name some characters after friends and family. Fun for me and for them, but I don’t pattern my characters after any one person. Characters are composites of people I’ve read about, people I know—including myself— and strangers I’ve watched in airports and coffee shops.

Who was your most fun character to write?

The most fun character to write was Elizabeth Manning in The Substitute Bride. A fish-out-of-water, mail-order bride, Elizabeth flees her life as a socialite in Chicago and ends up in Iowa married to widowed farmer Ted Logan with two small children. Though there was a serious side to the conflicts and secrets between Elizabeth and Ted, I had fun writing her struggle to fit into her new world.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

As a mother and grandmother, I could never pick a favorite child or grandchild. As a writer, I’m fond of all my characters so it’s hard to choose a favorite book. Having said that, I had a need/passion to write Wanted: A Family that made the story important to me.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I might. LOL I don’t have dozens of story ideas rattling around in my head. I’ve often wondered if that meant I wasn’t a “real” writer, but I’ve always managed to find one and hope that doesn’t change any time soon.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Book signings, talking to book clubs/church groups and seeing each book on the shelves is exciting. Being able to control the lives of people on the page is fun. But the actual writing is far from glamorous. As to my routine, by the time I have done my devotions, dressed, taken care of pressing tasks and visited Seekerville, my group blog, I sit down to write around ten o’clock. I work until four or five, usually stopping for lunch. As I approach my deadline, I often eat lunch at my computer and work into the night.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

This may sound strange, but I would love to have the maids and their champion from the novel The Help join my husband and me for dinner. We read The Help a year ago and I haven’t forgotten them. I’m sure Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny would be lively, fascinating dinner guests. And Aibileen and Minny deserve to be served for a change. I have lots of characters from favorite books that I’d like to spend more time with. The reason authors write and readers love sequels. :-)

Tell us about your current release.

My fourth Love Inspired Historical, Wanted: A Family releases March 8. I’m giving away a copy drawn from those who leave a comment.

Shelter of Hope

The ramshackle Victorian house is all that widowed mother-to-be Callie Mitchell has left. But she’s going to make that house into a true home—a home where she and her baby will be safe and happy…and where women in need can find refuge. And if that means trusting stranger Jacob Smith to help with the repairs, then so be it.

Sigh. I love love.

Janet, thank you. I'm so pleased you could join us here at Divine Imagination this week.

And thank you for visiting. If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Wanted: A Family, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, March 13.

The Winner of Second Chance Ranch...

2011-03-06T23:59:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Splashes of Joy. Joy, you've won Barbara Harrison's (aka Leann Harris) latest release, Second Chance Ranch.

Author Interview - Barbara Harrison, aka Leann Harris

2011-02-28T07:11:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to Divine Imagination. This week I'm, once again thrilled to introduce you to another friend of mine, Barbara Harrison. Barbara writes under the name Leann Harris, and when she was first introduced to her husband in college she knew she would never date the man. He was a graduate student getting a PhD in physics, and Barbara had purposely taken a second year of biology in high school to avoid taking physics. So much for first impressions. They have been married thirty-nine years and still approach life from very different angles.

After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Barbara taught math and science to deaf high school students for a couple of years until the birth of her first child. When her youngest child started school, Barbara decided to fulfill a life-long dream and began writing. After both her children left home, she went back to teaching.

She is a former president of the Dallas Area Romance Writers and the program director for Ready Writers, D/FW ACFW chapter. Barbara presently lives in Plano, Texas with her husband. Her thirteenth novel, Second Chance Ranch,. is a Jan ‘1 release. Visit her at her webpage http://www.leannharris.com/ or http://www.barbharrison.com/

Hi, Barb. I'm glad you could join us. When did you know you were called to write?

When my youngest child went to school, I knew that I wasn’t going back to work. I always had stories running around in my head and that’s when I knew I was to write.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

I get my ideas from the newspaper or they are characters that appear in the book I’m writing. When I see a story in the paper, my mind goes into ‘what if ‘ mode? My latest book came from an article in saw in the newspaper.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story? I talk to a lot of people. When I am doing a mystery, I talk to detectives, police officers or DA. For my latest book, I went down to Shiner’s Children’s Hospital in Dallas and talked to the head of prosthetics department. I also spent the day at an equine therapy ranch, watching how they did things and asking questions. And I talked to a lot of friends who have horses.

How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

Those conversations just appear in my brain. A good way to understand how to do conversation is sit in a restaurant and listen to the people around you.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Yes, and I’ll not tell you who or in what book.

Who was your most fun character to write?

That’s like asking me which child is my favorite. I will say J.D. Anderson, the heroine of my first novel, stands out in my mind. I loved her and she was a go-getter and nothing got in her way. She had the heart of a lion, but that big heart cared for others.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Again, which baby do I love the most? I have a book that is still looking for a home that I love. It was about a young woman who came home from college at Christmas and discovered her family had disappeared. She didn’t see them again until a chance encounter 15 years later with her father in a little town south of Paris, France.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I don’t think so. Stories beget stories. As I’m writing my latest story, I have a character, a female Army officer who had decided she wants to be in this book. I finally told her to stop. She’ll get her own story later.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

I’m not an early riser. It’s not my best time of day, so after a couple of mugs of tea and a time with the Lord, I go to the computer, do email and write 3 to 4 pages. I then go out and exercise or do errands. At 6 pm, I do another page. (My husband has never come home at 6pm so dinner is usually 7:30-8:00. The about 9:00 pm I finish my daily total. I give myself daily goals, and I can do those pages anytime during the day. The important part is to accomplish the goal.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

If it could be from history, I’d love to have dinner with Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and John Paul II. The roll they’ve placed in the 20th century history was amazing and I’d like to talk to them about it.

Tell us about your current release.

When I read the article in the Dallas Morning News about equine therapy helping Iraqi veterans, I knew I had to write a story about it so I started asking the questions, what if--

Zachary McClure lost his leg while serving in Iraq. When he came home to the ranch his family owned in New Mexico, his dreams were shattered, and his faith shaken. Ex-army medic, Sophie Powell, know how horse can heal the wounded part of a soldier’s body and spirit, and is asked to help her college roommates brother, Zachary McClure. As Zach and Sophie work together, they find the faith in God they lost and the love they denied years ago. But is love enough to heal their wounded hearts?

Both Sophie and Zach are wounded characters, Zach physically, Sophie, her spirit has been wounded. I wanted to see how they would come through their pain. This was my first straight romance and the most amazing thing happened. God provided the words every day I sat down to write. It was my first non-murder and I worried if I could do it. God never failed. The words were there. It was an easy book to write.

God is indeed good.

Thank you for visiting with us, Barbara.

Remember, if you'd like to win a copy of Barbara's latest release, Second Chance Ranch, leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, March 6.

Winner of Springtime of the Spirit

2011-02-27T23:59:00.005-06:00

Congratulations to Pauline Nikolov. Pauline, you've won Maureen Lang's latest release, Springtime of the Spirit. If you would, please, leave a comment on this post and include your email address so I can contact you.

Author Interview - Maureen Lang

2011-02-21T02:00:00.002-06:00

This week I am thrilled to have Maureen Lang visiting with us at Divine Imagination. Maureen is the award-winning author of several novels, including The Oak Leaves, On Sparrow Hill, and most recently, The Great War series. She has won the Inspirational Readers Choice contest and a Holt Medallion Award of Merit and as well as being a finalist for the Christy Award, she’s been a finalist in ACFW’s Carol Award four times. Maureen lives in the Midwest with her husband and three children. Visit her Web site at www.maureenlang.com

Welcome, Maureen. I hope you're ready to jump right in.

When did you know you were called to write?

I’ve known God wired me to write since I was a child—I handwrote my first novel, put it in a notebook, pasted pictures of beautiful people from magazines on the cover and passed it around the neighborhood for reviews. But I didn’t realize God had called me to write until more recently, perhaps fifteen years ago. I’d been lucky to have some secular romances published when I was in my twenties, then gave up writing when I returned to work outside the home full time. When I sat down to write again, I knew I only wanted to write for God, and it’s been a calling ever since.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

I get ideas from anywhere and everywhere, but most of the time in history books. I start out with an interest in a particular era, and then start reading books set in that time. History often provides all the plot ideas I need! There have also been times when stories on the news inspired ideas, or conversations with friends. For this latest series, The Great War Series, my love for that era sparked my interest and history wrote a lot of it for me.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I used to rely only on published, bound books for my research—even after the Internet came around. I liked knowing a book published by a known publisher would be subject to peer approval. But as the Internet has grown and become more reliable, I turn there more and more. It’s just so easy. But I do like fact checking, and try using things that can be verified in at least three separate places.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

This is one of those things that make writing so exciting. If I have a clear picture of my character, what the goals are, what the obstacles are, all I do is record what they’re saying. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up! I think when we have a clear picture of what our character looks like—even if he or she is inspired by someone we know, or perhaps a famous figure—then it’s easier to “hear” their voice. All we have to do is write down their words.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

One of my books, My Sister Dilly, was based on a friend of my sister-in-law. As my sister-in-law told me about a woman she worked with, who’d been sent to jail for trying to take her handicapped daughter’s life, I immediately knew what an interesting story it would be. Not one I wanted to write, of course—what a juggling act that would be, trying to create sympathy for someone who’d done something so terrible. But as the mom to a handicapped child myself, I knew God was calling me to write this story. I didn’t want to offend anyone, and thought my own experiences might give me a broader view of a tough situation. It was one of my most difficult books to write, but one that I’m glad I wrote.

Who was your most fun character to write?

What a tough question! We writers spend so much time with our characters while we’re in the midst of our books that we might seem quite fickle—whatever character we’re with at the moment tends to be our favorite. But if I absolutely had to choose today, I would say Annaliese from Springtime of the Spirit. She has so much more determination than most of my other characters, and absolutely no fear of public speaking. (Something I lack!)

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Each story I’m currently writing needs to be my favorite, or I might not meet my deadlines. But if I lined up all of my books then had the opportunity to hand just one to a reader, I would probably reach first for The Oak Leaves. It’s a story closer to my own life than all of the others, because it’s about a family receiving a life-changing diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome on a child. As a mom, that’s something I went through myself, so I wrote much of it from personal experience.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I certainly hope not! But even as I say that, I do go through a little panic at the end of every book, wondering where it came from and wondering if I can do it again. Then about an hour after typing “The End” I’m already looking for a new plot line to develop. The process just keeps starting over, almost beyond my control.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Oh, it’s glamorous all right! Comfy-sock-days are my favorite, which means I won’t be leaving the house so I get to write all day. As much as I can, I save things like laundry and grocery shopping for the weekend or evenings to allow me the most time to write when the house is quiet. After I get my boys off to school (one of whom has a disability, requiring more time and attention) I sit down at the computer, answer email, then dive into my current project. I’ll take a break to have a chai tea latte around mid-morning, and have lunch around 1 pm. My chai tea is as glamorous as it gets around here!

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Beth Moore, because I love her Bible studies. A friend of mine met her in Israel and told me she’s just as sweet in person as she appears to be in her teaching videos, so I know I’d enjoy her company.

Glenn Beck. Oh, I know he’s controversial and I don’t agree with everything he says. But he’s so passionate about what he believes, and because I’m conservative as well, I think he’d make for fascinating conversation.

Christopher Hitchens—yes, the British atheist. He was diagnosed with cancer not long ago, and I wondered if his views on life, afterlife, and God have changed at all. I do pray for his full recovery, so that he’ll have more years on earth in which to discover that God not only created him, but loves him. Wildly.

Tell us about your current release.

Springtime of the Spirit

Germany, 1918

Four years of fighting have finally come to an end, and though there is little to celebrate in Germany, an undercurrent of hope swells in the bustling streets of Munich. Hope for peace, fairness—the possibility of a new and better tomorrow.

It’s a dream come true for Annaliese Düray. Young and idealistic, she’s fighting on the front lines of Munich’s political scene to give women and working-class citizens a voice in the new government. But she’s caught off guard by the arrival of Christophe Brecht—a family friend, recently returned from the war, who’s been sent to bring her home.

It’s the last place she wants to go.

Christophe admires Annaliese’s passion, unable to remember the last time he believed in something so deeply. Though he knows some things are worth fighting for, he questions the cost to Annaliese and to the faith she once cherished. Especially when her party begins to take its agenda to new extremes.

As the political upheaval ignites in Munich, so does the attraction between Annaliese and Christophe. When an army from Berlin threatens everything Annaliese has worked for, both she and Christophe face choices that may jeopardize their love, their loyalty, and their very lives.

Wow! You hooked me with that.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Divine Imagination, Maureen. I really enjoyed having you. We'll have to hook up again for some chai tea.

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of Maureen's latest release, Springtime of the Spirit, be sure to leave a comment, along with your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, Feb. 27.

The Winner of Head in the Clouds...

2011-02-20T23:59:00.001-06:00

Is Joy Hannabass, aka A Little Scrapin' and Stampin'.

Congratulations, Joy!

Author Interview - Karen Witemeyer

2011-02-14T02:00:00.013-06:00

I can't think of a better person to to join us this Valentine's week than Karen Witemeyer. Karen is a deacon's wife who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

Karen holds a master's degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers' guild. She's an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Her debut novel, A Tailor-Made Bride, recently claimed honorable mention in the 2010 Best Western Romance contest. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.

Welcome to Divine Imagination, Karen. When did you know you were called to write?

Don't you wish things were always as clear as they were to Paul when he traveled that road to Damascus? The bright light, the audible voice of Jesus, the clear directions of what to do next. My call to write was nothing like that. In fact, I would say it was more of a slow build, a subtle whisper, a dream placed on my heart that grew to something bigger.

I had always been an avid reader, you see, and as I grew to adulthood, I toyed with the idea of putting my own stories to paper. I'd daydream romantic plot lines and jot down my ideas in a journal, but I never committed myself to writing. First, college kept me busy. Then kids entered the picture. But in 2003 when my husband learned his job was being cut, the urge to turn someday into this day became too strong to ignore. The busyness didn't disappear, of course. I started working full-time outside the home, and the kids were still young and in need of my attention. However, the seed the Lord planted in me years ago finally broke out of its dormancy, and I knew it was time to take action.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Since plotting is a challenge for me, I find inspiration for my stories in the work of other authors in my field as well as in classic romantic stories. There's nothing like a good fairy tale to get the juices flowing. One of my favorite classic tales is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. In Head in the Clouds, my heroine, Adelaide, also adores this book, and she discovers many similarities between her situation and Jane's. The tales are vastly different, but if you read with a discerning eye, you will see subtle nuances reminiscent of the classic novel.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

Before I write a single word, I spend several weeks researching the major aspects of my characters and setting. It is my goal to be as historically accurate as possible, so I search reputable Web sites as well as original sources from libraries and Googlebooks. It never ceases to amaze me how I can turn up tidbits that end up shaping or supporting my story. For example, in Head in the Clouds, I wanted to bring an English nobleman to Texas, but I didn't know how realistic that would be. Through my research, I discovered that an actual French nobleman had come to the very county in Texas where I had planned to set my story. According to the Southern and Western Texas Guide for 1878, Earnest Carlin, a millionaire banker from Paris, came to Texas with the single purpose of engaging in sheep husbandry, knowing that a pound of wool could be produced in Texas at 20% the cost of production in England.

Then, in a county history document, I read an anecdote about the awe this man's house inspired. Apparently, whenever he and his wife travelled, the locals would come to gawk at his porcelain bathtub and other luxurious furnishings. After reading the tale of "King Carlin's Ranch," my ideas about an Englishman who comes to Texas to make a name for himself in the wool industry and who builds a house to inspire fairy-tale dreams seemed imminently more plausible.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

Knowing your characters is key. Dialog is an expression of personality, education, background—all those elements that make your character who he/she is. It is a wonderful place to infuse humor or escalate the emotion in a scene. Sometimes a line will occur to me, and if it is particularly witty or poignant, I will look for a scene to insert it, or even write one to accommodate it. But most often, the dialog simply flows from my characters as they deal with each other and the situations that arise around them. It must ring true to the characters or else it will ring false to the reader.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Definitely not. Ha! I'm not that brave. That's not to say that certain nuances or quirks don't find themselves disguised and inserted, but for the most part, the characters come strictly from my imagination.

Who was your most fun character to write?

Wow. That's tough. I really enjoyed writing Jericho's character in A Tailor-Made Bride because he was such a dichotomy—all grouchy on the outside while kind and protective on the inside. Adelaide, in Head in the Clouds was a lot of fun, too. Her hopeless romantic streak just made me want to write the ultimate fairy-tale ending for her story. What girl hasn't dreamed of having a hero step out of the pages of her favorite book to sweep her off her feet?

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

That's like asking a mother to pick between her kids. Impossible! Seriously, though, each book is special to me in its own way, for each has a piece of me inside it. The characters become like family, and the lessons they learn speak to my heart as much as theirs.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I hope not, though that is one of my secret fears. I'm still new to this business, so it is hard to see that far around the bend. I've completed three books (To Win Her Heart will release May 1st), and I am writing my fourth, but when I look at authors who have successfully written 20+ books, I am in awe. I pray that God will continue to inspire me with ideas that will entertain and touch readers; however, if he deems it time to move in a different direction, I will endeavor to follow him without too much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Glamorous? Excuse me while I clean up the water I just spewed all over my desk. That joke caught me off guard.

I'm a mom of three kids 12 and under, I work full-time outside the home, and I have a husband who actually likes to see me once in a while. Life is crazy. I get up at 5:00 a.m. to exercise and pray, shower, eat, get the kids ready for school, drop them off, go to work, write when I can on lunch hours and breaks, come home, have dinner, do the dishes, help with homework, get kids in bed, collapse in my chair, write some more, or if I'm very lucky, cross-stitch and watch a little TV, then go to bed and start all over again. Glamorous, huh? That doesn't include all the extra writing on weekends, along with soccer/baseball games, math competitions, church activities, occasional work responsibilities, etc. If you find a little excess glamour somewhere, would you send it to me? I could use it.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

I've never really been one to ooh and aah over celebrities. In fact, my ideal dinner would include some friends from church followed by a night of board games. Relaxed, no pressure to impress, just a comfortable time with friends.

However, if I could chose one person to come to dinner (and life status didn't matter), I would love to have my dad join us. My daddy passed away when I was only 16. He never got to see me graduate from high school, college, or grad school. He wasn't there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding, and he's never met my children. He was a tremendous man of God, and I miss him greatly. Nothing would please me more than to introduce him to his son-in-law and grandchildren.

Tell us about your current release.

When a recovering romantic goes to work for a handsome ranch owner, her heart’s not the only thing in danger.

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind.

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon—and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate.

When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child—and her inheritance—Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

Ooo, I feel a sigh coming on :-) Gotta love that romance.

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of Head in the Clouds, leave a comment, along with your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, February 20.

Winner of Mirrored Image

2011-02-13T23:59:00.004-06:00

The winner of Alice K. Arenz Mirrored Image is M'Lynn Bermea. Congratulations, M'Lynn.

Author Interview - Alice K. Arenz

2011-02-07T02:00:00.016-06:00

If you like mystery, you'll enjoy my new friend, Alice K. Arenz. Alice is the award winning author of the October 2010 suspense Mirrored Image. Alice has been writing since she was a child. Her earliest publication was in the small, family-owned newspaper where her articles, essays, and poems were frequently included. In the mid-nineties, her writing earned her a stint with a well-known New York literary agency, and although it failed to produced the hoped for results, her determination to become published eventually led her to Sheaf House.

Arenz also writes cozy mysteries under A.K. Arenz. The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, was a finalist in the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards, formerly the Book of the Year contest. The second in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery Series, The Case of the Mystified M.D., won the 2010 ACFW Carol Award for mystery.

She lives in Missouri with her husband and two Himalayan cats.

I'm glad you could be with us this week, Alice. So tell us, when did you know you were called to write?

The desire to write, to create stories, has been with me since I was small. It wasn’t until I was twelve that I decided it was time to really give it a try. I don’t know if it’s necessarily that I was “called,” but it has definitely been something that I felt I HAD to do.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Even if it’s a cliché, I have to say that the ideas and stories come from God. I’m just not smart enough to come up with the on my own.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I’m horrible at research – not just bad, but horrible! If I have things I need to have actual facts for, I usually ask my husband and/or daughter to help me get the information. They will come back with a site or two on the Internet for me to look at to get what I need. I have gone to the police department and talked to both police officers and a fire chief – which was a bit scary since I’m an introverted introvert. But they were very helpful and understanding.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I’ve always tried to listen to how people speak with one another – to get the cadence and inflections right. I’ve often been told that the dialog in my books are some of the best people have read, and that’s an awesome compliment.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Though I am guilty of using the names of family and friends, I don’t base my characters on them. The characters, like the stories, are “gifts” from God. When I re-read what I’ve written, I might see characteristics of everyone I know in each of the people, but I think that’s pretty normal.

Who was your most fun character to write?

Of the ones that are published, I’d have to say Glory Harper from the Bouncing Grandma mysteries. Glory’s got a sense of humor and an attitude that just makes her jump off the page – and out of my head. Then, again, Cassie Chase, from MIRRORED IMAGE, is fun because she’s not just quirky, she’s vulnerable – though she’d never admit it. ;)

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

MIRRORED IMAGE – I’ve waited a long time to see this book in print, originally wrote it in 1986, the year it’s set in. I’ve believed in it so much, I could never put it away. It’s been re-written nearly every year.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I don’t know. I hope not.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Um . . . I trudge out of bed – after way too little sleep, and after I am finally able to keep my eyes open, I begin by checking email. After that, if the words don’t appear to be coming, I will usually play a few games of Spider Solitaire – horrible thing to admit to! Whether the words flow or not, I spend between eight to ten hours throughout the day/night in front of the computer, hoping that I’ll come away with at least a few gems by the end of the day. Sometimes it’s unproductive, others, I have to force myself to stop.

Oh, and glamour really doesn’t enter into it. Uh, nope, no glamour here.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Living or dead? I’m going to go with the word “any.” This might sound strange when there are so many famous people that could go into the “any” category, but I’d have to say I’d like one more visit, one more chance to say “I love you” to my mom, who died when I was very small, my daddy and my step-mom. None of them got to see my dream come true. And if it’s a family dinner, then my girls and my grandkids would be there, and giving them all a chance to meet my parents would be a true gift.

Tell us about your current release.

MIRRORED IMAGE is a mystery/suspense. I think it’s tag line says a lot about it: Their faces were the same. Will their fates be as well.

The uncanny resemblance of a murder victim to eccentric newspaper columnist Cassandra Chase, gives Detective Jeff McMichaels the haunting suspicion that there is a link between the two women . . . a link that may only exist in the murderer’s mind.

Now that gives me chill bumps.

Thank you for joining us on Divine Imagination this week, Alice.

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of Mirrored Image, you know the drill. Leave a comment that includes your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, February 13.

And the Winner is...

2011-02-06T23:59:00.001-06:00

Linda!

Since you already specified your choice, Linda, you won a paperback copy of Roseanna White's soon-too-be released Jewel of Persia.

Congratulations!

Author Interview - Roseanna White

2011-01-31T02:00:00.003-06:00

This week I am happy to introduce you to Roseanna M. White. Roseanna , author of A Stray Drop of Blood, makes her home in the mountains of Western Maryland with her husband, two small children, and the colony of dust bunnies living under her couch. After graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD, she and her husband founded the Christian Review of Books, where she is the editor. She is a member of ACFW, HisWriters, and HEWN Marketing.

Welcome, Roseanna. I'm so pleased you could join us here at Divine Imagination this week.

When did you know you were called to write?

Well, I've been writing stories since I first learned to put pencil to paper back in first grade, and it quick became a passion of mine. At the time I wouldn't have understood feeling called to something in a spiritual sense, but I knew from age 6 it was what I had to do. I toyed with other ideas along the way, but that's what I always came back to. And by the time I'd finished my first novel at 13 (terrible, terrible piece of work, LOL), I knew it was a very real part of God's vision for me.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Oh my. Sometimes I'm not sure, LOL. A lot of times it comes of hearing/reading/seeing a story—or even just a snippet of something—that makes me think, “Well, sure. But what if it weren't? What if it were this way instead?” And then my imagination goes running. Like “Who's that faceless woman in the Bond movies?” or “What about those other wives in the harem with Esther?” or “What would it have been like to be an ordinary woman in the crowd at Jesus' crucifixion?” I tend to develop the ideas quickly, generally revolving around character. I just assume all that plot stuff will come. ;-) Thankfully, it does.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

Well, usually when I have a bare idea, I'll sit down and do some preliminary research to nail down basics—time, place, people, etc. There's obviously a lot that will change within the story depending on whether it's set in 20s Chicago or Ancient Persia. =) Once I've got those basics figured out, I'll write a few chapters to get the idea cemented in my little brain. Then I stop and realize I don't know nearly enough about the setting to write anymore, so I break out the serious research—internet searches, trips to the library, books on fashion, books on the historical figures of the era, the society and customs, all that fun stuff. My favorite way, though, is to find books written during whatever my period is. Can't get more grounded in a time than by reading what was written during it!

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I love dialogue—and I consider it one of the ways to best define a character. If someone's from the south, their speech is going to be different from the Frenchwoman's. My Chicago mobster born in Sicily isn't going to talk like my college professor. I love that point in story development when I can really, truly hear the voice of each character, and so reflect it in their dialogue.

One of the challenges for me in my books set in ancient times is how to reflect the language they would have spoken in with my dialogue and narrative, without boring the reader with all the grammar and linguistics I studied, LOL. I did it through word choice and arrangement, and hopefully that reflects the ways their language is both the same and different and draws a subtle picture for the readers they don't even realize they're seeing—but that they feel.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Oh, they'd kill me, LOL. Bits and pieces make it in, obviously, but I've yet to model a character fully after anyone I know. I've tried a few times, but I ended up second-guessing myself and my reading of them, so I gave that up long ago, and stick with my imagination. =)

Who was your most fun character to write?

Oh, that's tough. I finished two contemporary romances that were on the comedic side, and both of those were a blast, with their quirky characters. But they've yet to see the light of day. In my published novels . . . I really enjoyed Samuel, a little boy in A Stray Drop of Blood. He was a character I didn't even foresee entering the story until he popped up, so each scene with him afterward was a special treat. =) And in my 2011 release, Jewel of Persia, I really enjoyed Mordecai. I deliberately defied my preconceived notions about him and made him fairly young (in his 30s), handsome, soft-spoken, and very much in tune with the Lord. He was always a refreshingly honest character to write.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

In a lot of ways, my books are my babies, and I don't like to pick favorites, ha ha. I love Stray Drop because it traveled with me so long—it took me six years to write that one. I love Jewel of Persia because it's based on my all-time favorite Bible story, the book of Esther. But another one that's very, very dear to me I never intend to publish. It's called Darkest Devotion and is about a femme fatale who travels a long, awful road to redemption. I can't see it ever finding a place in the publishing world, but it was a story I needed to write, and one that actually brought my husband and me closer together after he read it.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

You've obviously never seen my Work-In-Progress folder, where I keep ideas I don't have time to work on, LOL. I have, literally, dozens of books started and just waiting for their chance. And more springing to mind constantly.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Glamorous. Oh yes. Well, see, I rise whenever the mood strikes, slip my silk-covered arms into a cashmere robe, and leisurely make my way down my marble staircase to my spacious office.

Then I wake up, usually to the screaming of two kids screeching up the steps going, “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” The next hour is spent feeding them, changing diapers, saying “Stop fighting” about twenty times, “Don't throw toys” about fifteen, and “Give me two minutes” an innumerable amount. In between all that, I'm checking email, administrating the Christian Review of Books, writing my blog, updating Facebook, and telling myself, “I'll get to writing soon. I will.”

I'm homeschooling my daughter now, so we then take an hour for school. After that, I do indeed try to squeeze some writing in. Then it's lunch time, nap time for my youngest, which means more school for my daughter, then, if I'm lucky, more time to write. Once in a while, if I have energy and the chance for it, I'll take an hour after they're in bed—though that only works when my hubby's watching a hockey game. Gotta have time for him too! =)

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

I think first would have to be my best friend and YA writer, Stephanie Morrill. I've only gotten to meet her in person twice, so it would be awesome to get to see her, chat writing, and just visit. Then, for my hubby's sake, let's say Orson Scott Card, his all-time favorite writer, whom I also admire very much. And finally I'll pick someone for my kids. Is Mickey Mouse an option? Maybe Curious George? ;-)

Tell us about your current release.

I'm gonna cheat and tell you about two. =)

A Stray Drop of Blood follows the life of Abigail, a Hebrew slave in a Roman house in Jerusalem. Raised more as a daughter than a servant, she is well educated and happy with her life—until her master's son returns from Rome and turns her world upside down. Though his parents both serve the Jewish law, Jason has made himself a Roman, and so values her only for what she can give him. But as unrest tears apart the city and a teacher from Nazareth disturbs the philosophy in their home, Abigail must discover where true faith lies, and how forgiveness alone can heal the bitterness in her heart. While at the crucifixion of the Nazarene, a stray drop of his blood lands on her, and changes her forever. One little drop to soil her garment. One little drop to cleanse her soul.

And then there's my new release, Jewel of Persia which is available now in digital forms and up for pre-order for the paperback.

Jewel of Persia is about Kasia, a Jewish girl with more siblings than luxuries. A chance encounter, however, leads her to the palace of Xerxes, where she becomes wife to the richest man in the world. Only she can see beyond the crown to the man; only she can love him. But as they battle intrigue both at home and abroad as Xerxes wages war against Greece, Kasia releases that the easy faith she had in her father's house is not enough in the palace. With every threat that comes against her, she turns to her God—knowing well that it's her faith her enemies hate.

Years of prayers are answered after the war when her oldest friend is brought to the palace, but even as she determines to see Esther crowned in place of the bloodthirsty former queen, Kasia knows her enemies have not given up so easily. They are determined to tear her marriage, her life apart. But more concerning for her is the underlying question: How can she love the king of kings without forsaking her Lord of lords?

Ooo, you've definitely piqued my interest.

Thank you, Roseanna, for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend a little time here at Divine Imagination.

Thanks for having me, Mindy! I look forward to chatting with your readers.

If you'd like a chance to win one of the following, leave a comment, along with your email address. Drawing will be held next Sunday, Feb. 6.

A signed paperback of A STRAY DROP OF BLOOD
A digital copy of A STRAY DROP OF BLOOD
A digital copy of JEWEL OF PERSIA
A signed paperback of JEWEL OF PERSIA to be sent in late spring

Winner of Where the Dogwoods Bloom...

2011-01-30T23:55:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Jackie S! She's the winner of Myra Johnson's latest release, Where the Dogwoods Bloom.

Author Interview - Myra Johnson

2011-01-24T02:00:00.067-06:00

Award-winning author Myra Johnson writes what she likes to call “romantic women’s fiction”—emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. Her Heartsong Presents romance Autumn Rains (November 2009) won RWA’s 2005 Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript, and in 2010 was a finalist in the Short Contemporary Romance category of the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards.

Married since 1972, Myra and her husband are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters who, along with their godly husbands, have huge hearts for ministry. Four rambunctious grandsons and one precious granddaughter take up another big chunk of Myra’s heart. She and her husband now share their home with two lovable dogs and a snobby parakeet. Myra writes full-time and is active in her church as well as local and national writers groups.

Welcome, Myra. I'm so glad you could join us at Divine Imagination. So tell us, when did you know you were called to write?

A tough question, Mindy! I’ve been writing and making up stories since my earliest memories of grade school. When I finally took a writing course and my short stories and articles began to sell (around 1985), I wanted to believe writing was a calling. But it didn’t truly internalize until a really dark time a few years ago, about a year before my first novel was accepted. Discouraged and disillusioned, I was on the verge of giving up. Then one night while attending a writers conference, I had an incredibly vivid dream that I’m certain was a message straight from God. The gist of it was that if I were to give up writing, I would be like a body without a skeleton. The whole framework of what makes me who I am would be gone. Now, how can you argue with a dream like that?

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Some ideas come straight from real-life experiences or encounters. Others just . . . happen. I can’t explain it! A dream, a snatch of conversation, a news report, something interesting I come across when traveling—I never know what’s going to evolve into a full-blown story. My job as a writer, as I see it, is to simply be open to where the ideas take me.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I’m such a homebody, so I rely heavily on the Internet, at least as a starting point. Often that leads me to expert sources who are willing to answer a few questions. When traveling, I also collect books, brochures, and maps for setting and historical research. As for a system, I’m a Mac user and recently started using Scrivener. It’s great for storing and organizing research right alongside my work-in-progress.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I talk to myself—LOL! Not usually out loud, but I hear the voices in my head. Um, does that make me sound psychotic??? I picture the scene, what the characters are doing, what they might be feeling in that situation, and then just let them talk.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Not in any recognizable way, I hope! Sometimes I do draw on certain familiar personality traits to flesh out a character. What’s really fun, though, is mixing up names of friends and family to use for walk-on characters, business names, street names, etc. It’s just a special way to include and honor the people I care most about.

Who was your most fun character to write?

I really had fun with Parker Travis, the hero of Romance by the Book. I wanted to create a character who was secure in his own masculinity but in a career most people don’t consider all that masculine. So he’s a very charming (I think!) hairstylist who loves helping women look as beautiful on the outside as he sees them on the inside.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Now you know how this goes, Mindy! That’s like asking a mother to name her favorite child! But if I had to choose just one, it would be an as yet unpublished novel that just sort of wrote itself. It’s the book where I feel my voice finally found freedom. The manuscript is making the editorial rounds but hasn’t found the right niche yet. I’m hopeful, though!

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

Not in this lifetime!

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Oh, dear, if you could see me now—ancient sweats, bare feet, no makeup, a cluttered desk, and a couple of hairy ol’ dogs stretched out on the floor nearby. A typical weekday starts with breakfast, the morning paper, a couple of crossword puzzles, and devotions. I use the rest of the morning to catch up on e-mail, blogs, errands, chores, and other busy work. After lunch I settle in with my work-in-progress and stick with it (mostly) until suppertime. I spend the evening relaxing in front of the TV with my husband and doggies, read for an hour or so before bedtime, and start all over again the next day. I’m VERY set in my routine and get really grouchy when it’s interrupted.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Well, first of all, we’d be meeting at a quiet but classy restaurant because I am SO not into cooking. I would love to go back in time and spend an evening with C.S. Lewis. And maybe Madeleine L’Engle and Louisa May Alcott. Imagine the deep literary and spiritual conversations you could have with these people!

Tell us about your current release.

My most recent release is Where the Dogwoods Bloom, a Heartsong Presents contemporary romance.

Everyone thought Jilly Gardner was destined to be the next Steffi Graf, but the ambition and drive that earned her a coveted tennis scholarship slowly faded after she lost the one thing in life she wanted most—a real family. It will take the love of her former foster parents and the devotion of the man who holds her heart before she’s finally whole.

When Cameron Lane’s childhood friend comes back into his life, he doubts she’s changed from the spoiled “tennis brat” he remembers. But as he gets to know the grown-up Jilly, he finds himself falling for her. Haunted by the death of his younger brother, however, Cameron must first conquer his fears of failing another person he cares about before he can shed the past and find lasting happiness with the woman he loves.

Where the Dogwoods Bloom is the third book in my Missouri romance trilogy, which Barbour will rerelease next fall as a 3-in-one entitled Gateway Weddings.

How exciting!

Thank you for spending some time with us, Myra.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Myra's latest release, Where the Dogwoods Bloom, simply leave a comment, along with your email address. The drawing will be held Sunday, January 30th.

The Winner of White Roses...

2011-01-23T23:59:00.002-06:00

Is Deborah M. Congratulations, Deborah!

Author Interview - Shannon Taylor Vannatter

2011-01-17T02:00:00.059-06:00

Please join me this week in welcoming Shannon Taylor Vannatter. Shannon is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/inspirational romance writer/ACFW member. When not writing, she runs circles in the care and feeding of her husband Grant, their eight-year-old son, and their church congregation. Home is a central Arkansas zoo with two charcoal gray cats, a chocolate lab, a dragonfish, and three dachshunds in weenie dog heaven. If given the chance to clean house or write, she’d rather write. Her goal is to hire Alice from the Brady Bunch. She currently writes for Heartsong Presents. Her three book series is set in Romance and Rose Bud, AR. White Roses hit stores in November.

Welcome, Shannon, and thank you for taking time out of your very busy life to join us today.

When did you know you were called to write?

Nine years ago, I was on doctor-ordered bed rest with pre-eclampsia for the last two months of my pregnancy. I had just finished my WIP and was determined to edit it. I had to keep my feet above my heart to keep the swelling in my legs down and lay on my left side to keep my blood pressure down. In the pretzel position, I held my manuscript above my head and made marks with my red pen until my arms went numb, due to carpal tunnel syndrome from all the swelling. Once the feeling came back, I’d give it another go.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Everywhere. Things I see or hear. Newspapers, headlines, TV shows, stories people tell me. I see a story in every detail.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

Since this series is set in Romance, AR which is about forty-five minutes away from my home, I’ve been fortunate to just go there when I need to know something. For my characters’ occupations, if I don’t know someone with that job, I find an expert. I visited my friend’s floral shop, picked my garden-loving mother’s brain, and asked my wedding planner/critique partner questions for White Roses and my husband is a pastor. For White Doves, I called the Romance postmaster and my local post master several times and visited each several times. For White Pearls, my friend is an apartment manager and my dad used to be a carpenter, so he helped make sure I got the restoration details right. And the flower knowledge I’d gained for the first book helped with the landscaper hero.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent.

How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines? I really get into my characters’ heads. I put myself in their mindsets and their situations and try to come up with the reactions and words they would respond with.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

The hero is always based on my husband in looks. I’m attracted to dark hair, olive skin, and green eyes. I don’t think I could write a blond hero. I’ve taken two or three people I know and rolled them into one character. And I use some of my traits for the heroines. Disclaimer: Shell from White Pearls is not me. I am not and never have been a bimbo. But her low self-esteem comes from a painful time in my teen years.

Who was your most fun character to write?

Sylvie. A secondary character in all three books, who’s just downright nasty. I enjoyed exploring what made her like she is, which comes out in book two.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

White Roses, the first in the series, is my favorite. Partly because I started writing it in 2001 after my husband of 17 years morphed into a preacher on me. The roses part of the story comes from my dad, who always gets me flowers or a gift on Valentine’s Day.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

No. I’m afraid I won’t ever have time to get them all written.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

I don my sunglasses, even on rainy days to cover up my no makeup look, and take my son to school. When I get home, I do aerobics or treadmill for thirty minutes, take a shower, get dressed, fix my face and hair. Then I spend about an hour on the house. Then I write until 2:30, when I leave to get my son. After that, I’m mom and wife.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit so they could explain the trinity to me. I know it doesn’t matter as long as you believe, but I’m curious.

Tell us about your current release.

White Roses

Pastor Grayson Sterling loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. Grayson knows he needs to move on, that the continuing depth of his grief is not healthy for him or his young son. Desperate, he convinces his church to hire Mark Welch as associate pastor to relieve him of some of his load. When Adrea Welch arrives at his church with her brother, Grayson cannot deny his attraction to her.

For years, florist Adrea Welch has been artfully arranging white roses for Sara Sterling. Now those flowers are carried to the cemetery by a faithful, grieving husband. How can Adrea be so attracted to a man still devoted to his dead wife? When secrets from Adrea’s past collide with their budding relationship, both she and Grayson must learn to lean on God’s abiding wisdom.

Sounds like a wonderful story.

Thank you so much for joining us on Divine Imagination today, Shannon.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of White Roses, just leave a comment, along with your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, January 23.

The Winner of Sharpshooter in Petticoats...

2011-01-17T00:01:00.001-06:00

The winner is KCFranten, aka May. Congratulations, May.

Author Interview - Mary Connealy

2011-01-10T02:00:00.071-06:00

This week, it is my pleasure to introduce you award-winning author, Mary Connealy. Mary writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award Winner and a Christy Award and IRCC Finalist. She is the author of Lassoed in Texas Trilogy, the Montana Marriages series and a new series—Sophie's Daughters, has begun with Doctor in Petticoats and Wrangler in Petticoats. Book #3 in this series, Sharpshooter in Petticoats is the grand finale that brings in characters from all three series in an explosive conclusion. Sophie McClellen from Petticoat Ranch has her daughters all grown up now. You didn’t think they'd be quiet little things did you?

Mary, when did you know you were called to write?

I don’t think of being a writer as something I do, I think of it as something I am. I’ve been a writer all my life, even before I started typing out that first book. But writing for the Christian market I remember very well. I was reading Romance Writer’s Report. The magazine for Romance Writer’s of America. And there was a tiny story about Harlequin starting a line called Love Inspired. Well, I’d been writing for a while at that point with no success. I was writing these sweet, clean romances and the romance world was leaving me farther and farther behind because I wouldn’t put any profanity or graphic sex in my books. So suddenly here was a line of books and I looked at the books I’d written and there wasn’t a faith thread in them but they were inhabited by people living their lives by Christian principles. I felt like I’d been writing for the Christian market for years before that market existed. Once I started looking at Christian books I discovered this whole world of Christian fiction. I took that unspoken thread in my books and simply said out loud the things that were foundational but unspoken.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

I think most writers have an over developed ‘What if’ reflex. I once had a story idea come to me while walking through a deserted living history museum. I got an idea from a strange phone call my mom got once. While doing an online chat, a really cool suspense idea hit me. I haven’t written any of these stories because I’m writing historical westerns, but those ideas are there and I’d love to write them someday.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I do 90% of my research online. When I’m interested in some subject the first thing I do is go to google and type in the word that’s most fundamental to what I’m looking for, an example, Colorado Gold Rush. Then I type wiki after that. Colorado Gold Rush wiki. And it takes me to the wikipedia page about the subject. I don’t necessarily trust wikipedia but it gives me basics. It gives me ideas of where to search further. So that’s step one and the rest if following the rabbit trails that open up from there.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

Dialogue is something I love and it’s also hard to get right. I have a tendency to just TELL the story without dialogue, but I’ve learned to let that go, let that exist as a first draft, then come back and ‘act it out’. I love well done dialogue and it’s fun for me but especially with comedy or action, the dialogue takes a lot of tweaking. Comedy has a rhythm to it, set ups for jokes, sassy come backs. Sometimes short replies, sometimes lengthy, bossy rants. The reactions of the characters around them. It can be a lot of work. But when it’d right, it feels great.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

I’ve usually found real people a bit too sane to exist in a book. Sometimes someone will give me a jumping off place, but then I start exaggerating and I jettison real life as soon as it gets in the way of my character. I think of the first book I got published, Petticoat Ranch, as my husband’s story. He’s from a family of seven sons. We have four daughters. Watching my husband react to the girls is just funny. He’s absolutely charmed by them and he adores them, but he’s a little afraid of them, too. The tears, the chattering, the giggling. The strange things that interest them. I took that quality and just ramped it way up in Petticoat Ranch. A mountain man who’s never been around women marries a widow with four daughters.

Who was your most fun character to write?

I don’t know if I’ve ever had more fun writing a book than Sharpshooter in Petticoats. Mandy and Tom are just my favorite type of character. A feisty pioneer woman and clueless, gruff rancher. The kind of man who’d say, “I told you I loved you when we got married. If that ever changes I’ll let you know.”

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

I’m going to say Sharpshooter in Petticoats, just because it is this grand finale that encompasses nine books. Writing it was just had more fun than a human being should be allowed to have.
Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I’ve never had writer’s block. I’m kind of a workhorse writer. I write 1000 words a day seven days a week. I sometimes write more but I seldom write less. Some times, when the story is plodding a little, or coming without any real ease, I’ll just buckle down and grind out that 1000 words. I get them done and close the manuscript and run until the next day. Doing this gets me through the book eventually.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Speaking of glamour, I really need to shower. That’s like a rule here in America, right? I need to write that down. My morning beauty regime is brushing my teeth and hair. I have a peanut butter sandwich and a diet Coke every morning for breakfast on my drive to work. Yes, I have a day job. I drive 20 miles through country highways in my 2001 Chevy Alero…the one with the salvage title because it’s been totaled. I put in eight hours sitting at a desk then I drive home. And sometimes, if the day gets real exciting, I stop for milk and bread on the drive home. I’m an insomniac so I stay up late writing and reading. I have a furry blanket I’m really fond of, especially since my husband is a big, “Turn Down The Furnace and Put on a Sweater” guy. I know, please try and remain calm. The glamour of it all is a little overwhelming to a non-author, I’m sure.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

You know what, Mindy, you should be ashamed of questions like this. How’m I supposed to pick, huh? I can’t. There are about two dozen writers I would just love to see, spend time with. So picking three is just RUDE. I think you need a time-out, girl. Go sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done. Since I can’t pick I’m going to be totally self-serving here. I think I’d pick someone like Bill O’Reilly and have him talk about my books on his show. And Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. If they’d just say ONCE that my books were really good, can you imagine the SALES?????????????

Tell us about your current release.

Sharpshooter in Petticoats

Mandy McClellen Grey, has become the focus of a feud thanks to her husband, who made this mess and then died. Far from home, Mandy, the best little rifle woman in the west, has resigned herself to a lonely life under siege rather than call for help and endanger her family.

Tom Linscott is fed up with waiting for Mandy who should have had the sense to come to him as soon as she finished burying her worthless husband. In fact he'd've come fast enough to dig the hole if she'd've sent for him. He goes to round up his little woman and buys into a heap of trouble from a whole clan of outlaws.

Between Mandy's deadly skill with her rifle, her determination to not bring trouble down on someone she loves, and an ever growing crowd of varmints who want to bury everyone named Grey—and anyone who sides with them, Tom may not survive getting himself hitched.

You can learn more about Mary at:

Mary, you are always so much fun. Thank you for joining us today.

If you'd like a chance to win your own copy of Sharpshooter in Petticoats, leave a comment, including your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, Jan.16.

And the winner is...

2011-01-09T23:58:00.003-06:00

The winner of Ronie Kendig's DIGITALIS is...Linda! Congratulations!

Author Interview - Ronie Kendig

2011-01-03T01:01:00.004-06:00

Please join me in welcoming my sweet friend, Ronie Kendig. But don't let that sweet face throw you. Ronie writes high-octane suspense/thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ronie grew up an Army brat, married a veteran, and they now have four children and a Golden Retriever. She has a BS in Psychology, speaks to various groups, volunteers with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Her novels include Dead Reckoning and Nightshade (July 2010, Barbour Publishing), Discarded Heroes Book#1. Ronie can be found at http://www.roniekendig.com/ or http://www.discardedheroes.com/

Welcome, Ronie and thank you for joining us. So when did you know you were called to write?

Most of my early writing days were spent in exploration, not necessarily with the idea that I was called to write. While I’m not one to see a spiritual battle behind every trial, it wasn’t until I went through a really horrible time, feeling absolutely and utterly defeated, that a group of loving friends came around me literally and prayed me free. This actually happened at an ACFW conference, and afterward, my agent saw me and commented on the marked difference. It was also that same conference that my agent infused me with encouragement and praise, helping me find my footing to go on in the fight.

Everyone wants to know where writers come up with their ideas.

This varies by story. Some come to me in dreams, some come to me watching movies or TV shows with the inevitable “what if” spark. Other times, stories are borne out of other books I’ve written, in the case of Dead Reckoning, which came out of Midnight Zone.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

For the most part, I do initial research—what is realistic, what is the terrain of this city/country like. Then, as I write the story, more research questions present themselves, so I dig in, find the answers, then continue on. Sometimes, finding the answer isn’t easy, so I mark the spot, keep writing as I try to find a source who can help me. I get a tad nervous doing that because sometimes, it could alter the story significantly.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I’ve always paid attention to the way people talk, to the arrangement of words and choice of words they use when talking. This is one area I think I’m strong in, and I’ve had editors mention this as well. It’s important to become a student of people—watch the way they talk, the mannerisms, how they’re different yet a tad alike. The variation makes a difference in characterization. Word choices are often indicative of hidden feelings. When I’m writing, most of the dialogue comes to me first. Then I’ll go back in and layer in the setting, the body movement, spiritual elements (if necessary in that scene).

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Yes! In Dead Reckoning, Reece (the hero) has a sister named Julia—and I created her as an adult version of my dear friend Sara’s precocious little girl. She was so much fun to write! In other books, I’ve used first or last names of dear friends, like Matt Rubart in Wolfsbane (July 2011) after my friend, Jim Rubart, etc.

Who was your most fun character to write?

I don’t know that I have a favorite except that each character, as I write them, becomes a favorite. Right now I’m working on Wolfsbane and I am really loving the heroine Danielle Roark and the subplot character, Matt Rubart. Okay, and Canyon Metcalfe, the hero—but he has so much angst, sometimes it wears me out to write his scenes. And silly me, here I thought he was just the “quiet guy” of the Nightshade team.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Ack! No, I can’t claim a favorite, unless I claim a certain book that is unpublished and waiting for the point in time where it can step from the shadows. However, this is something “favorite” about each of my books. Dead Reckoning: well, I loved the espionage part of the story. Nightshade: even though it drained me emotionally, I loved the intensity of that story. Digitalis: I love Cowboy’s big heart that is smothered in his flashbacks. Wolfsbane: I love that Canyon is trying to be so noble and do what he thinks is “right,” even though his heart is compelling him otherwise.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

Man, I hope not. Although, that fear did take hold in my heart a few months ago. Even though I started to panic, I sensed God telling me to focus on the stories that were contracted and let the future worry about itself. When I did, it freed me to continue writing. . .and in recent days, several story/series concepts have flooded it.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

Maybe my “people” should handle this question, since I only sit around all day, lounging by the non-existent pool. Hoo-boy, watch out as the lightning strikes! On the serious side, most of my day is spent with my kids since I homeschool my four and that takes up a lot of time and energy. We do schoolwork in the mornings, have lunch, then if there’s any school left, we finish it up, then I plunge into marketing/interviews/email, etc. I only allow myself a few marketing things each day because it’s so easy to get burned out and overwhelmed. Our family will have dinner around 7pm when my hubby gets home, and afterward, I head into my office, shut the door and write—sans email, IM, TweetDeck, Facebook, or phone.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Hoo-boy. My answer to this in the past have included dignitaries and historical heroes. But I think this time, I’d really love to sit down with some loved ones who have gone before me (in the last 24 hours two very good friends lost their fathers, so it’s really put my loved ones on my mind a lot): My mom, my Grandma Alice (whom I never met), and . . .okay, I’m not related to this final person, but I can’t resist: Ronald Reagan.

Tell us about your current release.

I am really excited about my new release, DIGITALIS, Discarded Heroes #2. The series is about our troops who have returned from combat and struggle to reintegrate with families and friends. Each book focuses on a unique-to-the-character manifestation of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and/or TBI (traumatic brain injury). Here is the blurb for DIGITALIS:

Former Marine Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is recovering from a life of bad choices and suffers debilitating flashbacks after several tours of duty. Piper Blum, daughter of Yitshak Rosenblum, an Israeli who unearthed a deadly secret, is in hiding—from life and the assassins gunning for her family. Soon, Nightshade heads straight into the Holy Land for a snatch-n-grab of Yitshak. Will Colton and Piper survive the treacherous trek out of hostile territory with their love—and lives—intact?

Sounds very intriguing. Thanks again for joining us at Divine Imagination, Ronie.

And one lucky winner will receive their very own copy of DIGITALIS. Just leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. Drawing will be held next Sunday, Jan. 9.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T18:01:00.001-06:00

Okay, while we're giving the authors a break over the holidays, I thought I'd share one of my favorite Christmas secrets with you.

Want your whole house to smell like Christmas? Here's the scent that simmers on my stove all season long.

Christmas Potpourri

4 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks

4 bay leaves

1/4 C whole cloves

1/2 lemon, halved

1/2 orange, halved

1 quart water

Bring all ingredients just to a boil in a teakettle or saucepan; reduce heat, and simmer as long as desired. Check often, and add more water as necessary. Mixture may be stored in refrigerator several days and reused.

I've got a great list of authors lined up for 2011, so be sure to check back. Until then, I wish you all the merriest of Christmases and a happy new year.

Winner of Medical Error

2010-12-19T23:59:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Jo! She is the winner of Richard Mabry's book, Medical Error.

Author Interview - Richard Mabry

2010-12-13T09:25:00.000-06:00

Today I'm excited to introduce Dr. Richard Mabry. Richard retired from medicine after a distinguished career as a respected clinician, teacher, writer, and researcher. He entered the field of non-medical writing with the publication of his book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse, written after the death of his first wife.

Dr. Mabry is the author of the Prescription For Trouble series of medical thrillers. The third novel in that series, Diagnosis Death, will be published in the spring of 2011. In addition to his “medical suspense with heart,” Richard’s short pieces have appeared The Upper Room, In Touch, and Christian Communicator.

He is honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve over 2000 writers of Christian fiction as Vice-President of the American Christian Fiction Writers.

Thanks for joining us, Richard. You're a busy guy. Tell us, when did you know you were called to write?

After the death of my first wife, I used journaling as a coping tool. When friends read what I’d written, they urged me to use the material in a book. As a result, I attended a writer’s conference in Glorieta, NM, where I became convinced that God was indeed calling me to write about my experience. The result was The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse. It’s sold more than 10,000 copies, and is in use in numerous grief programs. At the same conference, James Scott Bell and Alton Gansky encouraged me to try my hand at fiction. The rest, as they say, is history.

How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?

Honestly, I have no idea. When it’s time to write a new novel, I ask the question Al Gansky taught me: What if? What if a doctor fled to her hometown seeking refuge, only to find an unknown person there wanted to kill her? What if someone was stealing the identity of patients, and someone died because of the confusion that ensued? And so forth.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

Some people think that, because I’m a doctor, I don’t have to research my stories. Not true. I want to be certain my physician characters are up to date, so I check out all the medical aspects. I can do most of that on the Internet now, but occasionally I ask colleagues. As for researching locations, I write about areas I know. Makes it much easier.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

My wife, Kay, is my first reader, and she will sometimes say, “This isn’t believable dialogue.” So I go back to the drawing board until it sounds right. But I don’t really have a secret. I think it’s a matter of developing an ear, listening to conversations, putting yourself in the mindset of your characters.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

If they were, would I admit it? But, no. They’re all creatures of my mind, although I’ve borrowed mannerisms and actions from people from time to time.

Who was your most fun character to write?

Actually, it’s a character from my first novel, as yet unpublished. I created a grandmotherly office nurse for my male physician protagonist, and she was a hoot. I keep meaning to resurrect that story, just to introduce Nell to my readers.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

That’s like asking a parent which child they love best. I have the typical author’s love-hate relationship with all my books. When I start writing, I think they’re terrible. By the time I’m done with the third edit, I believe they might be pretty good. When they’re published, I’m back to worrying about them again. And this has happened with all my books, so I guess I’m an equal-opportunity worrier.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

Every time I think that, I see a story on TV or read something that makes me say, “There’s a novel in that.” So, no, probably not.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

If you’re looking for routine, ask James Scott Bell. That man is a writing machine. He has a daily word quota, and keeps at it. I, on the other hand, look on writing as something that keeps my mind fresh and is enjoyable (most of the time). We wake up at six, have coffee in bed while we watch the news, eat breakfast, and then I pad off to my office (often in my bathrobe) and write for a couple of hours. After that, it’s catch-as-catch-can. Sometimes I never make it back to writing, sometimes I write again in the afternoon. But I always seem to get my projects done, so whatever I’m doing must work.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

1) My pastor, Chuck Swindoll, because I don’t think he’ll ever run out of stories to tell; 2) Texas Rangers player Josh Hamilton, because I admire the way he’s overcome his past and uses it to witness (and I’m a baseball nut); 3) actor Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), because if he’s half as funny off the screen as he is on it we’ll never stop laughing.

Tell us about your current release.

My books are part of a series of freestanding medical thrillers, the Prescription For Trouble series. The most recently published book is Medical Error. Here's a hint of what it's about:

Dr. Anna McIntyre’s life was going just fine until someone else started living it. Her patient dies because of an identity mix-up, her medical career is in jeopardy because of a deluge of narcotics prescriptions, and her credit is in ruins. She thought things couldn’t get worse, but that was before the opened the envelope.

Her only allies are a pathologist with a load of guilt and a recovering alcoholic lawyer. As she tries to solve the riddle, Anna discovers that her attempts to clear her name may just be a prescription for trouble.

The third novel in the series, Diagnosis Death, will be published next spring.

Sounds very intriguing. Thank you so much, Richard, for joining us on Divine Imagination.

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Richard's book, Medical Error, be sure to leave a comment, along with your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, December 19.

We Have a Winner

2010-12-13T08:07:00.000-06:00

The winner of DiAnn Mills Sworn to Protect OR A Woman Called Sage is Wendy.

Congratulations!

Stay Tuned...

2010-11-30T08:45:00.000-06:00

More interviews coming soon. If you're new to Divine Imagination, check out some of our past interviews and get to know some of Christian Fiction's finest authors.

Author Interview - DiAnn Mills

2010-06-14T09:00:00.001-05:00

This week I have the honor of introducing you all to my sweet friend, mentor, and award-winning author DiAnn Mills.

DiAnn launched her career in 1998 and since then has sold over 1.5 million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. They have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church

I'm so glad you could join us today, DiAnn. Of course, the first thing we want to know is when did you know you were called to write?

About 18 years ago, while sitting in church. I sensed God wanted me to write. So I argued with Him that I wasn’t qualified. Arguing with God is futile. And still, it took five more years for me to get the message. That message came through a challenge from my husband to simply write a book.

Everyone wants to know where writers get their ideas.

Everywhere! Dreams. Eavesdropping. Family reunions. Newspaper headlines. TV and radio news. Movies. Other books.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

Hmm. A system . . . I make a list of all the things I will need then start at the top of the list. I also do my best to visit the setting to conduct more thorough research. :)

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

It’s all about character! When a writer knows his/her character, genre, and setting, the dialogue flows.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Do I have to admit to that? Oh, a little bit of my family and friends are in all characters. However, my sister is “Aunt Debbie” in Pursuit of Justice to be released in October.

Who was your most fun character to write?

Paige in Breach of Trust. I lived out a lot of fantasies in her character.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Not really. Usually it’s the book I’m working on at the present. That’s like asking which one of your kids are your favorite.

Do you think you'll ever run out of stories?

Nope. I’ll run out of life first. :)

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

LOL I’m up early. Quiet time. Email. Exercise. Breakfast and shower. (isn’t this glamorous). Word count on latest WIP. After lunch I work on my students’ writing lessons. I do cook dinner - I enjoy it. After dinner I write some more. :)

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

That’s a tough one . . .

Apostle Paul - to explain a few of his heavy theological passages
Dean Koontz - maybe I could pick his brain and figure out how he writes such fabulous suspense
Sean Connery - couldn’t help myself on that one

Tell us about your current releases.

Sworn to Protect

Danika Morales, a widowed border patrol agent, finds out that she may be the target of a drug cartel. Her husband, a high school teacher and former immigration activist, was murdered in the desert two years earlier. Since then her brother-in-law, another border patrol agent, has been going off the deep end. With someone reporting sensor locations to the coyotes smuggling people and drugs over the border near McAllen, Texas, both of them become suspects. Then Danika’s partner is shot, and she meets Dr. Alex Price who treats agents and illegal immigrants the same. As Danika struggles with raising a four-year-old deaf daughter, family conflict, a missing niece, and the realization that her husband’s murder may have been part of a bigger conspiracy, she finds herself liking Alex more than she wants to.

A Woman Called Sage

They took away everything she loved ... now, she's out for revenge. Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution. Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it's found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for.

Sounds like readers are definitely in for more adventure.

Thank you, DiAnn, for stopping by Divine Imagination.

If you'd like a chance to win one of these two great books, simply leave a comment, and don't forget to include your email address.

The Winner of Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

2010-06-01T09:11:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Kim! You're the winner of Lena Nelson Dooley's latest release, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. I'll be contacting you via email for the particulars.

Author Interview - Lena Nelson Dooley

2010-05-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

Every week it is my pleasure to introduce you to some of my friends and favorite authors. This week, I get to tack on one more title. Mentor.

When Lena Nelson Dooley invited me be part of a critique group that meets at her home, I was tickled pink. That was in 2006. Since then, she's been my favorite cheerleader, encouraging me through the toughest times.

Lena, I'm so glad you could join us. When did you know you were called to write?

In May of 1984, God used several events to tell me that He wanted me to become a professional writer. You can read the testimony on the About Me page on my blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/ Before that time, I had always written. I didn’t really know that people didn’t write until I married a man who didn’t write.

Everyone wants to know where writers get their ideas.

God gave me a vivid imagination. I’ve always looked at things trying to discover the story behind the event. Part of that came from my background in drama both as a director and an actress. No matter where I am, I make mental notes in case I want to use the event in a novel at a later time.

You've written a lot of historicals. Do you have a system for your research? How to you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I use many means. I often use the Internet, and I teach a class on how to find information and know whether it is true. A lot of the information on the Internet isn’t accurate. I also use reference books, interviews, and pictures to help me get the feel for what I’m writing.

Creating believable dialog is a talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

My drama background helps here, too. Having worked with, and even written, scripts and actors, I have a greater understanding of dialog. Many people don’t talk in the complete sentences and correct grammar of the written word. I try to give each character a rhythm and word choices that only belong to that person in the book.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

Loosely. Characters in my first two books were suggested by people in my ancestry. And in Never Say Never, I used elements of a former neighbor’s story and included her things that would fit her daughter into the story.

Who was your most fun character to write?

That’s like saying, which of your children is the most fun to be around. I’ve had a number of characters I’ve really enjoyed writing, but in differing ways and for varying reasons. I really like to be able to create a character the reader can bond with. I recently received an email from a reader who told me she dreamed about a character in my new book. That thrilled me.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

I could say look at the previous answer. I’ve loved all my books. They’re stories God gave me. Usually, I my favorite is the last one that came out, because I’m closer to the creation process of that one.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

Only if God wants me to. I don’t see an end in sight.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

You want glamour. Today, I’m doing laundry. Soon I’ll cook lunch, then I’ll take my husband to the doctor for a follow-up visit. In between, I’m at the computer. Most times, I spend at least six hours a day, at least five days a week in my office. Occasionally, like this coming weekend, I go out of town to speak.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

I’d love to have George and Laura Bush for dinner. I respect both of them so much. I’d love to talk to Laura about books, libraries, and literacy, and I’m sure James would have a good time with George. And I’d like to have my Aunt Esther join us. She experienced so many things that happened in Europe in the 1940s and 1950s. She’d add a lot to the conversation.

Tell us about your current release.

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico has been one of the most interesting books to write. I had to do so much research to make it authentic to the time period and the two settings. I learned a lot. I call this my “Heroine in Peril, Mail-Order Bride gone awry” story.

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico By Lena Nelson Dooley ISBN: 978-1935416746Summerside PressHistorical Romance

All that glitters is not gold.It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride—despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip—and Jeremiah himself—the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden...and tarnish her reputation beyond redemption.

Though I am proud to say I helped critique this story, I still can't wait to read it.

Thank you for visiting, Lena.

If you'd like to be entered in a drawing for Love Finds You In Golden, New Mexico, simply leave a comment, and don't forget to include your email address. Due to the holiday, drawing won't be held until Monday, May 31.

Happy reading.

The Winner of a Missy Tippens Book Is . . .

2010-05-23T21:22:00.002-05:00

Terri!!! Congratulations, Terri. If you would provide me with your email address I'll contact you for the particulars.

Author Interview - Missy Tippens

2010-05-17T03:08:00.007-05:00

I am a lucky person. I have so many great friends, but I am doubly blessed when I get to introduce you readers to my author friends.

Today I'd like you to meet Missy Tippens. We met several years back at an RWA (Romance Writers of America) conference in Atlanta. Missy is a pastor's wife, mother of three, owner of a home business and an author. She loves being active in her church, including playing hand bells and singing in the choir.

Missy, when did you know you were called to write?

This has actually been a process for me. In the beginning, writing was just something I loved to do. But then I realized I would really like to pursue it as a career and began on the road to publication. After ten+ long years, I finally sold (all in God’s perfect timing!). And since then—especially since receiving wonderful, touching reader letters—I’ve come to see it more as a calling, a ministry. I feel so blessed to be doing this!

Where do you get your ideas?

From TV, newspaper articles, people-watching…ideas just pop up anywhere and everywhere! I have to hurry to write them down in my “Ideas” file. Then when it’s time to start a new story, I read over them to see if any still hits me like it did when I first thought of it. Often, I read the ideas and just laugh. What once seemed like a great idea makes no sense at all two years later. :)

Do you have a system for your research? How to you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

Since I write contemporary stories, most of my research has to do with the careers of my characters. Sometimes I’ll have to do a good bit of research ahead of time to make sure my plot makes sense. Other times, I only do it as necessary while writing the book. Afterwards, if my source is a personal friend, I’ll have him/her read over the parts I’ve written to make sure it’s accurate. I really appreciate those who are willing to help!

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I have no idea! I just start typing. :) The scenes play out in my head like a movie, so there’s no real planning of the dialogue. I just go with the flow. Then I go back and read over it many times, trimming and adjusting. If something doesn’t read right, I’ll read it out loud to figure out the problem. I’m also learning from working with an editor. She’s teaching me to take out the chit-chat and get to the point.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

No, not directly. But I’m sure bits of personalities or quirks end up affecting my writing. Usually, I create a character to fit the story or to conflict with the other main character. I give them a past that will work well in the plot. Also, I do look at situations of people I know and sometimes wonder if I could take the feelings of my friend or family member and use that in a story. But it’s based more on the emotion and not the actual person. (Did that make a bit of sense??) :)

Who's been your most fun character to write?

Gosh, I can’t pick just one! I have so much fun writing. I guess I’d have to choose Josie in Her Unlikely Family. She was quirky and really cracked me up as I wrote her. Then I had a ball writing the somewhat geeky Bill in His Forever Love. I’ve also had a lot of fun writing kids. The boys in A Forever Christmas and a girl my daughter’s age in my upcoming book, A Family for Faith. I love how those kids can stir up trouble! :)

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

My favorite is always the one I just finished. And I mean that in a positive way! When I type The End, I feel such a sense of accomplishment (and often cry). And I feel a sense of satisfaction that my characters got their happy ending. I guess each one is kind of like a child that I’m raising and sending off into the world.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

You know, I have had moments of worry and doubt. But then I remind myself that God has been providing and will provide as long as He wants me to write. And each time a story comes together in the planning, I feel as if He’s pulled off a miracle!

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

I have this hilarious comic strip on the fridge that my mom sent. It has a woman taking a bubble bath as she thinks how hard it is to get away from her life as a wife, mother and romance novelist. She thinks that she’s so busy, she’s even starting to forget things—like locking the bathroom door (as her son and dog peek over the edge of the tub). :) Well, my day so does NOT involve a bubble bath! LOL It involves getting the kids off to school as I make coffee and feed the dogs (who will pester be to no end until they’ve eaten!). Then once I feed myself (and watch Good Morning America for a few minutes), I jump right in working. I often work as I eat lunch (even if it’s just reading a blog or printed version of my story). And I work until about ten minutes before it’s time to leave to pick up at the schools—a time each day when I panic when I realize how quickly time has slipped up on me and I still haven’t had a shower! So I take the quickest shower ever, slap on the bare necessities of makeup, then set the blow dryer on the highest setting to speed dry my hair. My son just rolls his eyes when I drive up late at the high school each day. :) I also do a little more work in the afternoons or evenings, usually writing blog posts or checking email. Or if I’m near a deadline, I work every available minute until late at night.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Gosh, Mindy, can you really make this happen? My oldest is away at college, and I hardly ever get to see him. So I’d invite him and his girlfriend to come. Can you lure him home for me?? :) But you said three people. So why don’t you join us? I’d love to see you!

I'm on it, but only if you'll tell us about your current release.

My next release, A Family for Faith, won’t be out until April 2011. So my most recent release is A Forever Christmas. (But it’s not only a Christmas story, so don’t be afraid to pick it up.) Both are from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Here’s a blurb for A Forever Christmas:

Sarah Radcliffe’s quiet Christmas back in her hometown will be lost if she agrees to direct the church’s Christmas pageant. But when she meets two little boys determined to gain their father’s attention, Sarah agrees to help. Then she discovers that the dad in question is Gregory Jones, the man she loved and lost.

The single dad is working himself to the bone to give his boys the Christmas of their dreams, when all they want is some family time. Time that includes a new mommy. If Sarah can learn to open her heart, she may receive the most wonderful present of all—a family of her own.

You can find more info on my books at my website: http://www.missytippens.com/.

Thanks for having me on your wonderful, newly-renovated blog!

You are most welcome, Missy. It was my pleasure to have you.

If you'd like to win a copy of one of Missy's books, simply leave a comment. Drawing will be held Sunday, May 23. The winner will have their choice of A Forever Christmas or her June 2009 release His Forever Love.

Winner of Plain Paradise

2010-05-16T17:19:00.000-05:00

The winner of Beth Wiseman's Plain Paradise is bcbkjohn, also known as Cathy Johnson. Cathy, please send me your email address so I can get your particulars.

Congratulations!

Author Interview - Beth Wiseman

2010-05-10T04:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a fan of Amish fiction? Then have I got a treat for you.

Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Beth Wiseman. Beth is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series -- Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Promise, and Plain Paradise. And fans will be pleased to know that she is contracted with Thomas Nelson Publishing for Amish novels and novellas releasing all the way into 2013.

As she puts it, her writing has been "all over the place." As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association.

"Writing about the Amish lifestyle within fictional love stories has been a wonderful experience," Beth says. "The Amish and Mennonite contacts I have established in Lancaster County help me to keep the books authentic. These very private people might dress differently, avoid the use of electricity and modern conveniences, but they are just like everyone else. They love, hurt, have daily challenges and struggles, and strive to be the best they can be. An often misunderstood sect of people, it has been a privilege to learn about their ways."

When did you know you were called to write?

I remember writing my first story to my grandparents when I was five or six-years-old, and I’ve written in some capacity for most of life, including five years as a newspaper reporter. But the actual "call" came in late 2007 after I’d spent time with my then 15-year-old son in the hospital. My agent felt that I was in the right place spiritually to write Christian Fiction. I agreed, and Plain Perfect was born.

Everyone wants to know where writers get their ideas.

My ideas come from my characters, and it’s like opening a flood gate when I start a new project. They all start screaming in my head and telling me the plans they have for the story. I just have to listen, decipher, and build around their ideas.

Do you have a system for your research? How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I’m blessed to have Old Order Amish friends—and particularly an ex Amish woman—who helps me keep the stories authentic. While much of my research comes from books, the Internet, and various sources, my ex Amish friend has the final say, and she reads each book prior to print. My friend’s mother is still Amish, and sometimes she reads the books, too, before they are published, particularly if it’s a complicated subject—as was the case in Plain Pursuit about a shunning.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

This part of the writing process comes easily for me, and I think it’s because I talk a lot in general! Dialog should feel natural and not forced, so I try to write the way people really speak.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

I think all my characters have small bits of personality from family and friends, although I usually don’t even realize it until someone mentions it or until I re-read the manuscript. Probably most evident of this is the character Jonas, a feisty older Amish man who is wise and loving. My sister pointed out how much Jonas is like our father. No wonder Jonas is my favorite all-time character.

Who was your most fun character to write?

An Amish Gathering is a collection of novellas written by me, Kathleen Fuller, and Barbara Cameron. My story in the novella—A Change of Heart—has a character named Auntie Ruth. She is described on the back of the book as “an almost-Amish angel in red polka dots.” She is an older English person with strong ties to the Amish community who is quirky and odd, but with a grand love of life, people, and God. It was a pleasure getting to know her throughout the writing of A Change of Heart.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Plain Perfect will always hold a special place in my heart because it was my first published novel, but I’d have to say that my favorite is my most recent release, Plain Paradise (book #4 in the Daughters of the Promise series). This book covers several issues that are close to my heart—adoption being one of them. I was adopted and found my birth mother when I was twenty-five. While my story doesn’t parallel the book, I’m familiar with the emotions that surround the storyline. I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’ll just tell you…there is a "Dear Readers" letter in the back of the book that details why the story is so close to my heart.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I will die before I have time to write all the stories in my head.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

I lie around until about noon, pop a few bonbons, watch television for a few hours, then eat more bonbons...

Seriously, have you ever had a bonbon? I honestly never have. In reality, my daily routine goes like this – up at 6:30 a.m. Answer emails, comment on Facebook, handle blogs, etc. for about two hours. There are two cups of coffee involved in that part of my day. I also have a diabetic cat who must have an insulin shot first thing in the morning and two hungry dogs who meet me at the door.

I’ll usually throw a load of clothes in the wash, tidy up a bit, and then start writing between 9 and 10 a.m. Lunch is promptly at 11:30. Life outside of writing (luxuries like groceries!) must be factored in on some days, but I usually write until about 5 p.m. I try to spend the evening hours and weekends with my family—although it doesn’t always work out like that.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

I’m going to assume you mean someone who is currently living, so hmm…that’s a hard one. My first thought was that I would choose my co-authors on the Amish Hearts blog—Kathy Fuller, Amy Clipston, and Barbara Cameron because I’ve never met them in person. But, having said that…we are all going to meet later this year, so I better reach out a bit more. I guess I would choose Diane Sawyer, Richard Paul Evans, and Donny Osmond. A strange trio, no? I suppose my desire to meet Diane Sawyer stems from my journalism days, and I’ve always thought she was tough, yet warm and honest, in her delivery of the news. Richard Paul Evans is my favorite author, and I would love to sit and chat with him for hours about story ideas. And when Donny Osmond showed up on Dancing With the Stars, I fell in love with him all over again—a crush my husband allows. By the time this posts, we will have seen Donny and Marie perform in Las Vegas. Not the same as having him to dinner though!

LOL! If Donny's there, you'd better set an extra place for me.
Now tell us about your current release.

Plain Paradise is about a 17-year-old Amish girl named Linda who is living a quiet life in Paradise, Pennsylvania. She doesn’t know that she was adopted until her birth mother shows up on the doorstep. Of course, the story focuses a lot on Linda and her birth mother, Linda’s forgiveness of her parents for not telling her the truth, and new doors that open unexpectedly for Linda. However, one of my favorite threads in the book is the relationship between both the adoptive mother and the birth mother. I cry when I re-read how their relationship develops over time. And, yes…there is a romance, but this is my first book where the romance is actually secondary to the main plot. As I said earlier, I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but answers are contained in the "Dear Readers" letter in the back of the book.

Sounds like a hook to me. Thank you so much for joining us Beth.

If you'd like to win a copy of Beth's latest release, Plain Paradise, leave a comment, along with your email address. Drawing will be held Sunday, May 16.

Winner of Highland Blessings

2010-05-09T21:25:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to MissKallie2000! You are the lucky winner of Jennifer Hudson Taylor's debut novel Highland Blessings!

Author Interview--Jennifer Hudson Taylor

2010-05-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

This week I'm beyond excited to introduce you all to my F.A.I.T.H. sister, Jennifer Hudson Taylor. Jennifer's debut novel, Highland Blessings, released just last week!

Jenn, I'm so glad you could join us. So tell me, when did you first know you were called to write?

I knew I wanted to write as young as 12. After watching Gone with the Wind, I decided to write the next Civil War bestseller and I set out to do so that very year. The teenage life soon took over and I tucked it away in a drawer. After I married, I picked it back up in my early 20’s and finished it.

I didn’t feel called to write for God until much later when my husband quit his job in 2002 and decided to start a fire safety business. It threw us in financial ruin and I had to go back to work. Writing seemed like a waste of time since I kept getting rejected. I withdrew from everyone—family and friends—and sought God. I wrote nothing for 3 years. In 2005, a woman from church prayed that God would give me the desire to write again. He answered that prayer 6 months later, and thus, my calling came.

I was in Borders browsing the Religion section when I found Kathleen Morgan’s Embrace the Dawn, a Christian Scottish medieval. I couldn’t believe such a thing existed! I rushed home and tried to retrieve my old Scottish medieval, but I had deleted all my files and threw all my hard copies away. I finally found a Windows 95 disk with an old version and had to reformat it line by line. It won an award in the 2007 ACFW Genesis Contest and I signed a contract with Terry Burns at Hartline Literary Agency. That manuscript became my debut novel, Highland Blessings, and was released in May 2010.

The one question everyone wants to know--where do writers get their ideas?

From everywhere—personal experiences, history, newspaper and magazine articles, research, dreams, prayer, etc.

Do you have a system for your research? How to you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I keep resource books available—especially in historical eras. If I can’t find the info online, I order the resources or appeal to other writers on my writing loops for assistance. The Internet has virtually eliminated the need for me to make physical trips to the library, which is significantly inconvenient with my work and family schedule.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

I study how people talk and gestures they make, expressions they use during conversation. All those things are pertinent to realistic, believable dialogue. In my case, knowledge of the historical era I’m writing in is a must so I often watch movies of the time period I’m writing in and read the subtitles.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

I think my favorite character is Serena Boyd, the heroine in the sequel, Highland Sanctuary. I modeled her after my daughter, Celina. My daughter was born with a life-threatening seizure disorder. She would stop breathing and require CPR. My husband performed CPR on her eight times during her first year of life. I’m so thankful for modern technology, the seizure meds she had, the fact that we understand it is a medical issue. I created a character in 1477 Scotland that has a seizure disorder in a time when the word seizure wasn’t widely used. Modern technology wasn’t available, and people’s reactions would have been much different.

Like my daughter, Serena isn’t a dominant personality. She’s quiet, serene, but strong in her faith. She’s a wonderful mystery to people, but she’d rather hide her gifts and talents than be exposed. She wants to please people and would rather go out of her way to keep peace, even if she isn’t comfortable in what she must do to maintain that peace. Yet, she has dreams and desires hidden deep in her heart, but she would sacrifice them for a loved one’s happiness.

Who was your most fun character to write?

In my current novel, Highland Sanctuary, I’ve created a set of unique characters for the Village of Outcasts in Caithness, Scotland. However, the one that stands out in my mind is Gunna. She’s my heroine’s former nursemaid who is now quite elderly. She’s losing her eye sight and tries to help around the house, but manages to cause more mishaps. Gunna says whatever comes to mind, gives advice at inappropriate times, gets in the way, is very sentimental, and my heroine loves her dearly. She goes around saying, “Dearie me” all the time.

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Is it fair to choose between one’s children? I really can’t say. Highland Blessings will always have a special place in my heart because it was my debut novel, but so will Highland Sanctuary because the heroine is modeled after my daughter. I’m working on a Regency that I dearly love, and my South Carolina historical is based on my family history. I really can’t choose one.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I fear that sometimes I might, but right now I have several stored ideas that will keep me quite busy for several years.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

There is no glamorous life. I work a full-time job and try very hard to be grateful when I’d rather be home writing. I’m up at 5am. This is when I have private devotions, get my exercise done twice a week, blog and update my Facebook and Twitter pages, and answer email. I have a long commute to work, which doesn’t bring me home until 6 or 6:30 in the evening. I greet my husband and daughter, manage some supper, and begin working on my writing or promoting my writing or research for my writing. By this time I’m very tired and weary. We have family night in the middle of the week and Bible study.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, and Casting Crowns. I believe they would provide a good dose of wisdom and inspiration that would charge me up and keep me going for quite a while.

Tell us about your current release.

(Highland Blessings, 1473 Scotland) Highland warrior Bryce MacPhearson kidnaps Akira MacKenzie on her wedding day to honor a promise he made to his dying father. When he forces Akira to wed him, hoping to end a half-century feud between their clans, she struggles to overcome her anger and resentment. . .Yet her strength in the Lord becomes a witness to Bryce. But there is a traitor in their midst . . . and murder is the ultimate weapon.

I'm intrigued. And I love Scottish settings.

Thank you again, Jennifer. And good luck in your writing career. I can't wait for more. If you'd like to know more about Jennifer, you can visit her at http://www.jenniferhudsontaylor.com/

If you'd like a chance to win Jennifer's debut novel, Highland Blessings, leave a comment. Drawing will be held on May 9, Mother's Day!.

And the Winners Are . . .

2010-05-02T22:37:00.000-05:00

Last week's winner's are--

Today's best Christian titles - David A. Bedford
Once in a Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis - Angie Briedenbach

Congratulations to both of you. Please email me at mindyo5@sbcglobal.net with your snail mail addys.

Just. Be. Still.

2010-04-30T01:00:00.005-05:00

For the past year our now three year old granddaughter has been living with us while our daughter serves with the U.S. Navy. When she first came, I'd lay down with her at naptime, hoping to A) ease her through the transition, and B) speed up the process of getting her to sleep. One year later, I still lay down with her.

She giggles at first. Plays. Until Grammy gets onto her.

"Be still."

The child flips from one side to the other. She adjusts her blankie. She sits up for no apparent reason, then flops down on her pillow.

"BE still."

The sheets continue to rustle. More tossing and turning. Even when she appears to be still, her foot is moving back and forth, her eyes wide.

The process repeats. By now, Grammy's had her ten-minute power nap and is ready to get to work.

"BE STILL."

The blankie is adjusted. A yawn escapes. The child finally stills. Moments later, she is at rest.

The other day, as I impatiently waited for her to settle down, God whispered to my spirit. "She's not so different from her Grammy, is she?"

What do you mean, God? I pray. I spend time in Your word.

Psalm 46:10a says, "Be still, and know that I am God." Yet how often are we totally and completely still? More often than not, our minds are racing at the speed of light. We worry, plan, ponder, and scheme.

So what does it mean to "Be still and know...?"

God wants every ounce of our being focused on Him. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV tells us, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." When was the last time your didn't have to worry about your worries?

When we trust in God's power, truly and completely trust in His truths and promises, we can KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He is in control, no matter what the circumstance.

Have you ever felt like your life is spinning out of control? Did you let God have the reins, or did you try to handle things yourself? What was the outcome? Would you do anything different?

2010 Christy Award Nominees Announced

2010-04-29T11:33:00.003-05:00

Looking for some great Christian fiction, but not sure where to start. Nominees for the Christy Awards (the Catherine Marshall Christian Fiction Award of Excellence) showcase some of today's finest releases.

The 2010 Christy Award nominees are:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills • Tyndale House Publishers
How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus • Barbour Publishing

CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson • Thomas Nelson
The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth • Zondervan

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
June Bug by Chris Fabry • Tyndale House Publishers
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson
Veiled Freedom by Jeanette Windle • Tyndale House Publishers

FIRST NOVEL
The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry • Moody Publishers
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent • Tyndale House Publishers
Scared by Tom Davis • David C. Cook

HISTORICAL
A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
The Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey • Revell Books: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Beyond This Moment by Tamera Alexander • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander • Thomas Nelson
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group

SUSPENSE
Intervention by Terri Blackstock • Zondervan
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson • Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster
The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

VISIONARY
By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson • Marcher Lord Press
The Enclave by Karen Hancock • Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group
Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik • Tyndale House Publishers

YOUNG ADULT
Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma • Thomas Nelson
The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason • David C. Cook
North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

The Christy Awards are also online at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChristyAward
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChristyAward

Author Interview - Leanna Ellis

2010-04-26T01:00:00.009-05:00

Today I am thrilled to introduce my friend Leanna Ellis. She and I first met at an RWA (Romance Writers of America) meeting, then reconnected later when we both join a local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers.

‘Leanna Ellis takes a back seat to no one,’ says Debbie Macomber. But Leanna hopes she allows God in the driver’s seat as she taxies her two children to and from all their activities, lets her menagerie of pets in and out … in and out ..., figures out what to cook for dinner (or where to order takeout), and at the same time keeps those quirky characters in her head from bothering others. Winner of the National Readers Choice Award, Leanna writes quirky women’s fiction with a splash of romance. From a long line of southerners and patriots, she lives with her family in Texas.

Leanna, I'm so happy you could drop by and spend a little time with us today. Goodness knows you're plate is full enough already. So tell me, when did you first know you were called to write?

Hi, Mindy! Thanks for inviting me over here today. When I first began writing way back in 1991, it was a passion. But I really began to seek if God wanted me to write after I had left writing in the secular market and spent about three years praying for God to show me what He wanted me to do. He showed me in many ways through His Word and during services at church. When a friend of mine passed away from a brain tumor, I knew I needed to get busy if God had called me to write. Time is short.

You wrote for the secular market? What made you decide to switch to the Christian market?

Many factors played into that decision and it actually happened over several years. One, I wrote four books during my first baby’s year of life and was pregnant for half that time with my second. Then with a newborn and toddler, I wrote two more books the next year. So I was tired. Not of writing, just of publishing, which entails so much more work.

Two, I also hit a wall and couldn’t think of a romance despite my editor asking for a proposal.

Three, I had different sorts of characters wanting my attention. These characters weren’t necessarily your typical romance characters. So I decided to stretch my wings a bit and write bigger books.

Four, I wanted to grow my writing and spent quite a bit of time doing that.

Five and most important, during that first very difficult pregnancy and the birth of my son, who had a hole in his heart, God really began to change my heart. Thankfully, my son’s heart was healed and he didn’t need surgery.

Six, after I felt like God was asking me to write and that I better get grooving on that, I sort of hit another wall. The publishing wall. God was using that time to teach me a lot. It was a time of preparation. Then one day, He pointed me in the direction of the Christian market. So I began praying if that was the direction He wanted me to go. Doors started to open very quickly then.

Indeed they did. Okay, here's the question everyone wants to know, where do writers get their ideas?

We have a secret box with a lock on the outside.

Just kidding.

Ideas come from all sorts of places. For Once in a Blue Moon, I got the idea for that story from reading an article about a woman who writes obituaries. Sometimes I simply ask myself a question. For Ruby’s Slipper, I asked: what if Dorothy lost her somewhere over the rainbow? Sometimes ideas come to me through songs. I had been joking with other writers about how the perfect book right now would be an Amish/vampire story. Because both of those genres are so hot. At first I laughed it off. But a seed must have been planted in my very fertile mind. One day, I thought an Amish/vampire story could be similar to The Phantom of the Opera, which my daughter and I listen and sing all the time. And well, that’s how my Plain Fear series was born.

Do you have a system for your research? Sometimes the Internet can make me feel like a dog chasing its tail. How do you get all the material you need to back up the facts for your story?

I really don’t have a system. The thing I often research the most is the location. But my best research is just going to that place and breathing the air. I just absorb the sights and sounds of the location and don’t worry about too many notes. Other times I read books about a certain type of character or as I am now researching about the Amish. If possible I watch movies or DVDs. I utilize the Internet too. And email is a great way to interview folks as I did for Once in a Blue Moon for the glider ride.

Creating believable dialog is a definite talent. How do you create conversations to go along with the story lines?

Good question but I’m not sure I can explain what I do anymore. When I first began writing back in the early 1990s, I was really lousy at writing dialogue. So I studied it. I read books and articles about dialogue. I listened to how people spoke, to the cadence of conversation. I read other authors and watched how they handled dialogue in their books. Listening to audio books can be a help also. For me, it doesn’t just come out right the first time I type in a scene. It’s rewriting and rewriting. I like to read scenes out loud so I’m actually hearing the dialogue.

Have any of your characters been based on family or friends?

If so, I am not telling! :-) Usually my characters live and breathe in my head and don’t really have a life outside of me. But if I’m having difficulty imagining a character, I might try to visualize the character as someone I know, just to think about the characteristics and mannerisms and hear that person speaking then the character/person morphs into something I can work with and write about.

Who was your most fun character to write?

Oh, that’s like asking which is my favorite child. Too difficult to answer. I’ve been blessed to work with some amazing characters who surprise and delight me (and aggravate me too!).

Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?

Again, like asking which child is my favorite. Usually my favorite is the one I’m starting to work on or just finished (as in line edits and galleys are finished). My least favorite is usually the one I’m in the middle of and struggling with or rewriting.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of stories?

I hope not! That question used to bother me, but it hasn’t happened in the 15 years I’ve been published. It’s not to say it can’t happen, but if I continue to fill the well then I hope to continue to come up with wacky ideas.

What is your daily routine like? Tell us about the glamorous life of a writer.

A very difficult question. Each day seems to be different. First, I like to start with a quiet time. I need that. My kids are at school two days a week, so those are heavy work days. But when they’re home and working on their own homework, then I can usually work too. I just have to work around their different activities, which seem to be different every day. I’ve learned to take work with me wherever I go, including taking my laptop and working at Barnes & Noble or Starbucks or even just sitting in my car.

If you could have any three people join your family for dinner, who would you invite and why?

I would love to have Paula Deen over. First of all, she seems like a lot of fun. And I love her southern accent! But maybe she’d also fix dinner, which would be much better than my cooking. I’d also love to have J.J. Abrams, one of the creators of LOST, so I could pepper him with questions. He’s amazingly creative, and I’d enjoy talking to him about his projects. Charles Dickens would be very interesting to have for dinner too. What a story teller!

Do I have to stop at 3 people? I could come up with a lot more. J How about C.S. Lewis? Tolkien? Jane Austen? Maybe we could hang out in a pub in London together after dinner. That would make my husband happy, especially if Dickens joined us. Actually, I just asked my husband who he’d have, and he would like the Apostle Paul to come. My kids would probably love to bring into the mix Hannibal (but no elephants) and Taylor Lautner (on the opposite end of the table from my daughter please). So that would be one interesting dinner party. I’ll tell Paula to fix extra, so all of y’all can come join us.

Hey, if Paula's cookin', count me in. Tell us about your current release.

Once in a Blue Moon came out in March.

The day Armstrong stepped on the moon has special memories for most Americans, but not for Bryn Seymour. It’s the day her mother died. Despite death defying feats, guilt has always pulled Bryn down time and again. But a perfect love shows her taking a leap of faith is the first step to soaring. But it only happens … once in a blue moon.

Ooo, I can't wait to read it.

Le, thanks again for joining us today.

Thanks, Mindy! This was fun!

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Once in a Blue Moon, simply leave a comment, making sure to include your email address. We'll draw for one lucky winner on Sunday, May 2nd.

What Do You Like to Read?

2010-04-23T14:46:00.003-05:00

Books have been a means of escape for centuries. Unlike movies, they nurture our imagination, taking us on journeys to places that can only exist in our minds.

Whether it's pirates on the high seas, medieval castles in Scotland, or a galaxy far, far away, readers carve out their own world, envisioning the author's word picture as no once else can.

Well crafted stories allow us to bond with the characters. They stir our emotions, challenges us, and keep us turning page after page.

So what do you like to read? Do you like historicals that sweep you away to another place and time? Or maybe you enjoy the nail-biting tension of suspense. How about an epic saga that takes you to another world all together? Or maybe your tastes lean toward romance, watching two people meant to be together overcome whatever obstacles stand between them.

Reading is an investment--our time, emotions--but when I finish a book with a smile and contented sigh, I'd say it's all worth it.

What Is Christian Fiction?

2010-04-20T13:56:00.000-05:00

Pose that question and you'll get a variety of answers. Many people think Christian fiction consists solely of prairie romances. And while that may have been true at one time, I'm here to tell you, the face of Christian fiction has changed.

Books written from a Christian worldview come in a wide variety of genres. Everything from romance to chick lit, fantasy and thrillers. Stories that deal with real-life issues. Some will make you laugh, while others require an entire box of Kleenex. Yes, almost anything you'd find in the secular market, you can find in the Christian market.

So what's the big difference?

Generally, you won't find profanity in Christian novels. Sex scenes are obviously out. Preachy? No. Simply characters living out their faith.

The one thing you will find in Christian fiction as opposed to most secular novels is hope. Hope that we are not alone. That there is a way to overcome whatever this life hurls at us.

My purpose for this blog is to introduce readers to the world of Christian fiction. Each week you will meet a different author. In addition, I'll introduce you to some of what I like to call the rising stars of Christian fiction. Authors right on the cusp of publication. I'll also share my thoughts on diet and exercise, life, family, fashion, and growing older.

So with the re-grand opening, what could be more appropriate than a contest. And what better prize than some of today's best Christian titles. To enter, leave a comment, and be sure to include your email address. Sorry, but only comments left on the actual blog (http://www.mindyobenhaus.blogspot.com/) will be entered. Drawing will be held on Friday, April 30th.

Dead Reckoning

2010-03-05T05:00:00.002-06:00

Do you like intrigue? Exotic locales? A thrill ride from the first page to the last? Then have I got a read for you.

I am thrilled to announce the debut novel from my sweet friend, Ronie Kendig.

Check this out--

When Shiloh Blake’s first large-scale underwater archeological dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she is forced to flee for her life into the streets of Mumbai, India. Is the man trailing her an enemy, or is he sent by her CIA father to protect her? Whoever he is, the only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with former Navy SEAL Reece Jaxon.

Ronie Kendig has a BS in Psychology and is a wife, mother of four, and avid writer. Her novels include Dead Reckoning (March 2010, Abingdon Press) and Nightshade (July 2010, Barbour Publishing), Book#1 in The Discarded Heroes series. She speaks to various groups, volunteers with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com.

Read the first three chapters here: http://issuu.com/abingdonpress/docs/dead_reckoning

The Guardian

2009-03-30T18:30:00.003-05:00

These past several days our youngest son has been battling strep throat. I'm happy to say he's finally doing better. But for two days, he battled fever, nausea, and a wicked sore throat. Over that time, I notice that our Golden Retriever stayed exceptionally close to "her boy."

Didn't matter if he was watching TV on the couch or sleeping in his bed, she rarely left his side.

I realized what an example it was of God. Psalm 121:3 (NIV) says, "He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber." I can guarantee you that Dixie slept. But God never sleeps. He's always watching over us. For this girl who's got a real slippery foot, that's a good thing :-)

A Vision

2009-03-27T12:16:00.002-05:00

After well over a year of praying, God has finally given me a vision for this blog. Look for some changes over the next few days.

Singled Out

2009-03-26T14:45:00.002-05:00

Today, as I ran errands, I noticed some birds in the grass alongside the road. A crow had singled out one of the smaller birds, a dove. The crow had his wings drawn up to make himself look bigger. His beak was open as he squawked mercilessly, making him even more intimidating. And while the smaller bird could have flown to safety, he just kept running in circles, as fast as his little legs would carry him.

Driving away, it dawned on me that, as Christians, we do the exact same thing. The enemy is good at singling us out. He puffs himself up, trying to intimidate us. And what do we do more often than not? We run in circles as fast as our legs will carry us. When all we have to do is run into the arms of our precious Heavenly Father. He is our protector. (Psalms121:1-3 HCSB) Our defender. (Isaiah 19:20 NIV)

If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 NIV

Wait

2009-03-25T15:00:00.002-05:00

I prayed for rain. Expected rain when the weatherman forecasted it. Then felt disappointed when we only got a few sprinkles. But God hadn’t said no, merely wait.

Today the radar was awash with color. I’m a weather junkie, so I have to watch the radar to see what’s coming and how much I might expect. Had yesterday’s forecast panned out, it would have been spotty at best. Today the rain was widespread. God is so good.

Lord, help my unbelief.
Mark 9:24 HCSB

It Figures

2009-01-17T22:17:00.002-06:00

I made a commitment to blog for the 25 days of Christmas. Now it's been three weeks since I've posted. Shame on me.

So here we are. A brand new year. Make any resolutions? Me? The same one as in recent years--NO RESOLUTIONS!

It's always fun to look back at the year past to see what we've accomplished. I can proudly say that last year at this time I was forty pounds heavier. Yea!

I'd watched the weight gradually creep up for months. Finally, my mindset matched my desire. I joined Weight Watchers and slowly but surely, the weight came off. I had to make adjustments--portion control, as well as what I ate. I needed a healthier lifestyle. And while there are still things I'd like to change, I'm doin' great.

What do you want to accomplish this year? Have you got a plan?

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T18:57:00.002-06:00

Yes, the big day is finally here. The culmination of a month of frenzy. I hope you have a blessed and happy Christmas.

I know there is also sadness this time of year. Those spending their first Christmas without a loved one. A friend of mine lost her father two days ago. Losing someone is hard enough, this time of year seems to make it even tougher. If you are one of these people, I pray you will find peace this holiday season. A peace that passes understanding, from the Prince of Peace. Jesus. Not just the babe in the manger, but the Man, God Incarnate, who gave His life so we could live forever. The greatest gift of all :-)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T14:23:00.003-06:00

Today was cookie decorating day. The rule is that I bake the cookies and they decorate the cookies. However, I always seem to end up decorating at least half of them when my "helpers" piddle out.

This was my granddaughter's first time to decorate Christmas cookies. She had her own ideas though. Lick them to make them sticky, then dab them in the sprinkles. Masterpieces created especially for her :-)

Tonight we'll attend candlelight service then have a Tex-Mex meal before the kiddos get to open "just ONE present." LOL! Funny how much they look forward to those jammies.

It's a Wonderful Life

2008-12-23T12:04:00.002-06:00

Here at the Obenhaus home, we have quite a collection of Christmas movies. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas we usually watch 2 or 3 a week. Except this year. It seemed we had something every night. So, as of Sunday, when the rush was over, we settled in for our nightly movies. Last night I looked at my husband and said, "There's one movie we HAVE to watch."

Now, It's a Wonderful Life is on television at least twice during that time frame, but they didn't fit our schedules. So we dusted off our VHS copy of the Jimmy Stewart classic. Ya know, it didn't seem to matter that I've seen the thing at least 25 times, there were still things in there I picked up on that I'd missed before. Then there's that whole thing about watching it as a writer. Can you tell me what George's goal was? How about Mary's? Then there's that dreaded conflict. Poor George. He was conflicted all the way through the movie. Until he realized what was really important to him.

It also makes me take pause to think of my own life. It's not perfect, but I have a wonderful husband, five great kids, and four terrific grandkids. We're all healthy and happy. And above all else, I have a Lord and Saviour who is always in my corner. Yes, it truly is a wonderful life.

Shopping--DONE!

2008-12-22T11:49:00.002-06:00

Hip-hip, hooray! I have finished my Christmas shopping. Why is it always those little things, like stocking stuffers, that seem to take the longest?

Sometimes I put too much thought into my gift giving. I tend not to buy something just for the sake of checking it off my list. I want it to be something the recipient will use and enjoy. That meant spending three hours at Target yesterday, finding a quiet corner of the store (not easy to do the last weekend before Christmas), and really considering the person I'm giving the gift to. What do they like? Is there something they enjoy doing that perhaps I can contribute to? I found that each time I concentrated on that particular person, the ideas began to flow. I'd love share what I came up with, but I can't take any chances the recipient might read this and figure out their gift:-)

What kind of shopper are you? Do you put a lot of thought into a person's gift? Are you one to buy more practical gifts or something you know they'd never buy for themselves?

Oh, What Fun

2008-12-21T12:16:00.005-06:00

Well, the party was a success. From what I could tell, everyone had a wonderful time. I know I did. There was exuberant conversation, loads of laughter, and family room full of teenagers.
Of course, things didn't flow perfectly. I was still heating food when the guests arrived. One of the recipes I tried failed, but turned into a happy accident. Yet none of that mattered. I made sure they had drinks and chatted while we waited. And the lumps of coal (my new recipe) were completely gone. I crushed the Oreos like I was supposed to, mixed them with the cream cheese, and formed them into balls. However the almond bark I was supposed to dip them in didn't do so well. I guess I microwaved it too long and it got lumpy. My daughter said, "I don't like the white coating anyway. Just serve them like that." That's when inspiration hit. I said, "Hey, we can call them lumps of coal." So I promptly made a sign and the little black balls were a hit.
It's no secret that party goers tend to gather wherever the food is. So I strategically placed grazing stations around the house. The dining room table held appetizers, the kitchen island boasted Tex-Mex treats, and the desk by the breakfast nook was the kids station. Yet none of that mattered. Everyone still gathered smack dab in the middle of the kitchen, between the drinks and the Tex-Mex. Go figure :-)
Of course, the adults gave out long before the kids. About ten or twelve of them continued to play Taboo in the family room well after ten. So what's a mom to do except join in the fun :-)

Party Day

2008-12-20T09:03:00.001-06:00

Tonight my husband and are hosting a Christmas party. A chance to spend some time with friends we don't see as often as we'd like. So as you can imagine, today I'll be running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Cooking and cleaning. Party favors and tablescapes. I always think of the senses--sight, sound, smell, and taste--and want to make sure they're all pleased. And though these things may be important to me, I can't help but wonder, what is it my guests will remember? Feeling welcomed and relaxed, or the splotches of green paint on my living room carpet?

I'd have to guess the first. The parties I've enjoyed the most are where I feel welcome. Where conversation is inclusive and interesting. And laughter is a must.

Do you like entertaining, or do you prefer to just attend? Now think of the best party you've ever been to. Why does it stand out in your mind?

Making Lena Speechless

2008-12-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Any of you who know author Lena Nelson Dooley know that she is never at a loss for words. But last night at our critique group Christmas party, we managed to achieve the impossible:-)

Every week, Lena graciously opens her home to writers, some published, some not, for critique group. We have novices and those who've been writing for years. We have English teachers and others with fortes of their own. We're a good mix and growing all the time.

So this time of the year, it seemed only logical that we would want to honor our mentor and friend. But instead of each of us bringing her some small trinket, we pooled our resources and presented her a box of cherry cordials, her favorite because they remind her of her father, and a very large VISA gift card. You can see just how shocked she was. Talk about priceless.

Have you ever presented someone with an unexpected yet cherished gift?

Fruitcake

2008-12-18T10:36:00.000-06:00

It's been the butt of yuletide jokes for years. Seems people either love it or hate it. Growing up, my family was gifted with many a homemade fruitcake. I believe my mother and I even made our own one year. None of these attempts were very good, so I decided I didn't like fruitcake.

Then I was introduced to a Collin Street Bakery fruitcake.

Now Christmas just isn't quite right without one of these luscious treats. Loaded with pecans . . . mmm, mmm, mmm.

How 'bout you? Fruitcake or no fruitcake?

Git'er Done

2008-12-17T22:34:00.003-06:00

Band concerts, school parties, frazzled nerves :-) Concert tonight, party tomorrow. So I spent the day assembling teacher and classmate gifts. I may be a glutton for punishment, but . . . well, okay he has only one main teacher. But then he has P.E. teachers, a music teacher, Spanish teacher, principal, etc. It's like a perpetual thought. There are so many people integral to my child's education. I can't honor the one and neglect the others.

So today I assembled a plethora of "Christmas Scent" packages, along with an extra-special basket for his main teacher. Come to think of it, I feel sorry for middle-school teachers. They don't get the same recognition as elementary school teachers. I also did a little gift bag for each of my youngest son's classmates, but only because he requested them:-)

Tomorrow morning all of these will be delivered. Another task checked off my list. So far, I'm doing great. Checked nearly everything off. Still not done with shopping though. Sigh.

Where are you in your holiday preparations?

The Countdown is On

2008-12-16T17:03:00.002-06:00

Actually it's been on since I first put up the Christmas decorations. If you have a plate and a dry erase marker, you can do this easy decoration. The kiddos love counting down the days and this is a fun way for them to do it.

Clean, clean, clean

2008-12-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

I've procrastinated long enough. Now I've got a party and lots of company looming on the horizon and the house is a mess. The carpet is atrocious and furniture in the den worse than that. It's gonna take all day, but I know it'll be worth it. Right?

Six hours later--

I am one pooped puppy. But the den, where we spend most of our time, is clean. My furniture looks like new. Man, you should have seen that water I poured out of the steam cleaner. Ick! Who'd thought it would clean up so nicely. Maybe I'll buy some new throw pillows. It'll be like all new furniture. Whoo-hoo!

The Gift

2008-12-14T11:22:00.001-06:00

Done with your Christmas shopping? Me either, though I am so ready to be finished. Gifts are a big part of Christmas, yet we often get so wrapped up in gift-giving (no pun intended), that we forget about the real gift.

Two thousand years ago, the first Christmas was celebrated by angels, shepherds, and wise men. God became man, sending His Only Son, Jesus, not as a king as many would have liked, but as a baby, born in a stable no less.

Thirty-three years later, that baby gave His life for the sins of this world. For my sins, for your sins--He carried them all. Three days later, He rose again, conquering death and giving us the gift of eternal life. A gift He willing gives, all we have to do is accept it.

Do you know Jesus? Not just about Him, but do you truly KNOW Him? You can never experience Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell Him you have received His Christmas gift.

Everything I Need to Know About Christmas I Learned from Jesus

2008-12-13T10:00:00.003-06:00

This is another one of those wonderful little books I have lying around at Christmas. Just one flip through these tiny treasures and you're bound to find something that speaks to you.

The only blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart -- Helen Keller

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Luke 7:22 NIV

"Ready for Christmas," she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high . . .
Then wearily sat for a moment to read
Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?"
She woke with a start and cry of despair.
"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.
Oh Father! Forgive me, I see what You mean!
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So be ready for Christmas--and ready for Him!"
--Author Unknown

Friday Night at the Movies

2008-12-12T21:20:00.002-06:00

Our family has a collection of Christmas movies we keep tucked away and bring out between Thanksgiving and New Years. Everything from A Christmas Story to Elf to It's a Wonderful Life and Jingle All the Way. There's plenty more in between, but you get the drift.

A Christmas Story is one of my all-time faves. I think it drives my family nuts. There's just something about it that I can relate to. No, I did not grow up in the 1940's, but I did grow up in Michigan (the movie takes place in Indiana). The house Ralphy lives in could be any of a number of homes in the town I grew up in. Then there's the snow and the scene on Christmas morning, waking up to a winter wonderland. Yep, been there, done that.

And yes, my family, wonderful folks that they are, put up with my annual adoration. But now I try to make a party of it. In A Christmas Story, the mother is perpetually feeding her family a dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and red cabbage. So, on the night we watch the movie, I make meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I love my family, so I forgo the red cabbage and fix green beans instead :-) Then I set up a table in front of the TV, and voila--dinner theater. What a treat for the kids.

What kind of sappy or silly traditions do you indulge in at your house?

Holiday Baking - Part One - Appetizers

2008-12-11T16:11:00.006-06:00

You know this topic will have to take more than one post. There are so many recipes that many of us break out only for the holidays. I mentioned the other day that I'd made Buckeyes (peanut butter balls), that was shortly followed by Peanut Butter Blossoms, Spritz, and Creamy Lemon Bars for parties both Monday and Tuesday. Soon I'll be making fudge and my Texas Butter Toffee.

Then we have the appetizers. With so many parties, you can never have enough appetizer recipes. There are so many good things, it's hard to decide what to fix. If I'm looking for stellar presentation, I'll make a Pinecone Cheese Ball. Sorry I don't have a bigger picture. This is so easy to make and tastes yummy.

Pinecone Cheese Ball

1 (8 oz) container garden vegetable cream cheese
1 (8 oz) container roasted garlic cream cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 green onions, chopped
2 cups pecan halves, toasted
Fresh rosemary sprigs

Stir together first 4 ingredients. Shape into an oval; chill 2 hours.
Arrange pecan halves over cheese oval in overlapping rows beginning at bottom and working upward. Arrange rosemary sprigs at top of pinecone. Serve with crackers.

A little more involved, though still easy enough for the beginner, is Asparagus Prosciutto Wraps.

40 thin slices prosciutto; approx. 3/4 lb.
1 (8 oz) Neufchatel cheese (Philadelphia light), softened
20 spears fresh asparagus, trimmed
Extra virgin olive oil; approx. 2 Tbsps.
Garlic powder

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Coat two asparagus spears with neufchatel cheese. Wrap two slices of prosciutto around 2 asparagus spears at a time. Arrange wrapped spears in a single layer on a medium baking sheet.
Spread olive oil over tops with a pastry brush. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder. Bake 15 minutes in a preheated oven, until asparagus is tender.

Okay, I could go on and on, but I'm getting hungry :-) Now I want you to share some your favorite holiday appetizers. And I'll definitely be taking notes. You never know when you're gonna stumble across a new fave.

I look forward to hearing your recipes!

Holiday Tips

2008-12-10T20:28:00.002-06:00

This time of year, it's important to make things as easy and stress-free as possible. Here a just a few ideas to make the season a little brighter.

Keep an emergency stash on hand for unexpected entertaining. A supply of festive crackers, cheeses or spreads, holiday treats, and beverages of choice make simple times special.
Light those candles! They smell wonderful, add a warm glow, and make guests feel special. And you too :-)
Play your favorite Christmas tunes whenever you need a pick-me-up. It helps those everyday household tasks seem not so bad.
Whenever you get stressed about shopping and all the holiday hoopla, stop, take a deep breath, and remember the real reason for the season.
Most of all, relax and enjoy!

Here We Come a Caroling

2008-12-09T08:53:00.003-06:00

Last night my son's Boy Scout troop went caroling at two nursing homes in our area. I remember caroling as a child. Inevitably, one of the neighborhood kids would throw out the idea, and the rest of us would follow along. I remember one time, in particular. We stopped at the home of one of the town's doctors. The door opened, slowly at first, then swung wide. Dr. Devore stood there smiling. He called his wife and mother to join him. They were the most attentive group we'd had all night. We sang two or three songs. When we finished, they clapped and gave us cookies, then we were on our way.

Looking back, I wonder why they had such an interest in a rag-tag group of adolescents. Were they just kind? Did they feel sorry for us, shivering in the snow? Or did we stir fond memories?

You know, I haven't thought about that night in years. Nor was it my intent to talk about it now. I don't think I've ever had carolers come by my home. But if I opened my door to find a group of kids singing their hearts out, how would I react? I would hope I'd respond like the doctor, though most likely I'd impatiently wait for them to finish, thank them, and send them on their way so I could get back to whatever it was I was doing before they arrived. That is IF I even heard them over the drone of the TV. Sigh.

What about you? Have you had carolers pass your way before? If so, how did you respond? Be honest.

Well, the scouts didn't get a lot of feedback. I can only assume they enjoyed themselves. When they returned to the church, they were met with cookies and hot chocolate. LOL, you should have seen the looks on their faces when I told them only two cookies. Note to self: Next year make enough for a small army :-P

Take a Breather

2008-12-08T16:28:00.002-06:00

If your life is like mine, it's crazy busy all the time. Throw in the Christmas rush and it's easy to see why people get so stressed. Surviving the holiday season means taking time for you. Treat yourself to a bubble bath or pedicure, or enjoy your latte AT the coffee shop instead of on the run. Allow yourself time to breath and gather your thoughts.

Keep a positive attitude. Anticipate those long lines at the store and post office. Then, while you're waiting, check the things you've accomplished off your list and make notes on what you still need to do. Break things down into bite-size pieces. Look at the whole and you'll be overwhelmed.

Above all, don't forget to spend some time with Jesus. After all, He's what this season is all about. Turn off the radio in the car while you're going from place to place and spend some time in His presence. Talk about an attitude adjustment :-)

A Time for Baking

2008-12-07T16:39:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I didn't exactly bake, but I did spend an hour or so making one of my family's favorite seasonal treats--peanut butter balls. Call them what you will, Buckeyes, Chestnuts, or Bon Bons, but my clan loves them.

One thing I try to do during this crazy time of year is do as much ahead as possible. And goodies that can be frozen are a definite bonus. Even some of the casseroles or side dishes needed for Christmas day can be made now and frozen. Then all you have to do is pop them in the oven while you're opening presents :-)

Aside from the peanut butter balls, some of the things my family counts on having are sugar cookies, fudge, and my famous Texas Butter Toffee. And heaven forbid I forget any of them.

What are some your family faves? What's the one thing they require you make? I can't wait to hear.

Don't Forget Your Hostess

2008-12-06T15:36:00.003-06:00

Well, after a day of Christmas shopping and wrapping, I'm almost ready to party. That is, after I shower and put on my party duds :-) While I was doing the wrapping, I took a couple of moments to decide on my hostess gift for tonight. A gift for the person who has worked so hard to prepare for a party (cooking, and cleaning) doesn't need to be a big to-do. Just something that says "thanks for thinking of me."

This time of year I try to keep things on hand suitable for this kind of thing. I'm always getting coupons from Bath & Body Works for free items. I'll use those to pick up a small candle or spa item. But since I don't know this evening's hostess very well, I opted for something her whole family can enjoy.
This Christmas scent is something I keeping going at my house all the way from Thanksgiving to New Years. It smells WONDERFUL and, when packaged in a clear cellophane bag, makes a great presentation.

Here's what you'll need:

Half of an orange, halved
Half of a lemon, halved
3 bay leaves
1/4 cup whole cloves
3-4 (4-inch)cinnamon sticks
1 quart water

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a teakettle or saucepan; reduce heat, and simmer as long as desired. Check often, and add more water, if needed. Mixture may be stored in refrigerator for several days and reused.

Now if you're putting this together for gift-giving you'll, obviously, want a whole orange and lemon. I usually use small ones. Also, cinnamon sticks can be expensive, so I use the craft variety. You know, the ones that come 20 to a bag. I use the large-size cellophane "treat" bags, tie with a pretty ribbon (I don't recommend using the wired kind), and be sure to include instructions. I usually put them on the back of the tag.

This inexpensive gift also works well for neighbors, school principals, secretaries, etc., and just about anyone else.

Now that I've got things wrapped up :-P (bad joke, I know), I guess I'd better get ready for tonight.

Party Time

2008-12-05T21:49:00.002-06:00

I don't know about you, but this coming week seems to be party week. Tomorrow evening is our Sunday school Christmas Party and I have three more next week. This party girl's not complaining, but there are some things I need to be ready for.

First, does the party require I bring anything? A hostess gift is a given, which I'll talk more about tomorrow, but do I need something for the party itself?

Our Sunday school social has a Mexican theme, so I'm bringing Grape Salsa for an appetizer. Of all the things I make, I think this has to be my husband's favorite. Sounds kind of funky, I know, but trust me. It's awesome.

GRAPE SALSA

2 cups chopped grapes (green or red, I usually do half and half)
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green chilies (4 oz can)
2T chopped cilantro
2T vinegar
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Mix all ingredients together and let stand for one hour. Drain, if desired, and serve with tortilla chips.

The flavors blend wonderfully, creating that sweet/salty flavor that's so pleasing to the palette.

Tomorrow we'll talk about those hostess gifts. In the meantime, have you got a unique recipe everyone loves? You gotta tell me.

The Decorating Continues

2008-12-04T08:47:00.007-06:00

One of my favorite things to decorate is the mantel. It's the focal point of our family room, where we spend most our time, so it deserves special treatment.

First comes the garland. In case you can't tell, I like evergreen garland. I buy the nicest looking CHEAP garland I can fine then wrap it with my own lights. I usually pick up a box or two at after Christmas sales for about fifty cents. I've used two nine foot garlands and let them drape to the floor, but for a simpler look you can center a shorter length, leaving the ends free.

Once the garland is in place, you can adorn it however you like. Gold, silver, or bronze adds a more elegant touch. Or you could go with some of the hot, trendy colors for a contemporary feel. Country can be anything from pine cones to vintage ornaments. Let your imagination go.

Once you've decided what to do with your mantel, putting it together is easy. And who doesn't like easy. Here I've taken a clear glass container, added some Epsom salts for an anchor (plus it looks like snow), then added some sparkly branches I picked up a few years ago. You can also use branches from your yard and spray paint them gold, silver, or whatever color fits your decor.

At this point you may saying, "But I don't have a mantel." Do you have a coffee or end table than can serve as a focal point. A small table placed next to the tree will work. We didn't have a fireplace when I was growing up, so the console TV became the focal point.

But let's face it. Christmas decorating is all about the tree. This is ours. Since the kids have received an ornament each year since they were born, things are quite eclectic. Everything from Pooh Bear to the high-heel shoe ornament I received at a gift exchange one year.

Some people opt for more than one tree. I love the idea, hate the extra work. So a few years ago, I came up with this idea. I bought a trio of the ponderosa pine trees at a local craft store. The cheapest ones they had. Once again, I added my own lights. I situate them on a small table then put an inexpensive tree skirt underneath. Next, I take about 3-5 yards of tulle and wrap that around the trunks as well. For the finishing touch, I buy a bag of "snow" and create my own little blizzard. Just have the vacuum handy afterward :-)

Try adding some unexpected touches around your home. Festive picks or gleaming ornaments can be tucked almost anywhere. Add one or two holiday towels to the bathroom. Maybe even a tiny tree. Wreaths on the inside of windows or swags over doors.

Now I want to hear about your decorating. What do you like to do? What's your favorite room to decorate, or do you dread it all? Do you have some unique ideas? Please, share.

Tonight we're off to watch the boys in the annual Christmas parade. Naturally, tonight is going to be the coldest of the year, so far. Guess I'd better dig out the long underwear.

Time to Decorate

2008-12-03T10:49:00.009-06:00

Let me preface this post by saying that I am a Christmas junkie. I LOVE to decorate for Christmas. That said, I realize there are people who don't have the interest or the time to take an entire weekend to decorate their homes. So I'm going to show you some of my favorite decorating ideas, as well as try to offer some helpful tips for easy decorating.
Since I'm not sure where to start, I may as well start at the front door. I tend to be a traditionalist, meaning I like red on green, evergreen boughs and poinsettias. And while I'd love for all of these decorations to be fresh, I live in Texas. Fresh pine greenery is not going to last for long.

The planters are one of my favorite ideas that can be used inside or out. I simply took a cheap evergreen wreath, wound lights around it, along with a kind of sparse, not to mention inexpensive, red berry garland to add a touch of red. I set the wreaths atop the urns then plunked some artificial poinsettias in the middle. Easy.

If you prefer simplicity, an evergreen wreath with a pretty bow never goes out of style :-)

The two places in the house I really like to go all out are the family room, where we spend most of our time, and just inside the front door. Ya know, this staircase is pretty blah the rest of the year. But adorned with garland and lights it's beautiful. BTW, the poinsettia in this shot is real. My local WalMart carries the extra large potted ones for only $10, so that's usually my big splurge.
The entry is also a good place to display any collectibles you might enjoy. Let's just say that I've never met a snowman I didn't like, but some people collect Christmas villages, Santas, and numerous other items. Clustering them all together gives them a lot more impact than scattering them about the house. If you have too many for one spot, try two or three vignettes around the house.

You can never have too much candle light during the holiday season. And this picture shows some easy variations. The taller jar has cranberries and distilled water (distilled water won't leave a ring :-) with a votive cup nestled in the middle with a tealight. The smaller jar is simply a pillar, while the tiny votive sits in it's own candle ring. You can do these kinds of arrangements with a variety of containers, from sparkling crystal bowls to mason jars, depending on your decor or what you have on hand. The best part about this arrangement is the tray it's sitting on. Not necessarily the tray, but the fact that when it's time to dust (which for me is only when company's coming :-) I only have to move the one tray and not each individual little item.

Goodness, will you look at the time. Come back tomorrow and I promise to continue through the rest of the house. My hope is to inspire you with new and easy ideas. Until then remember, my house may filled with snowmen and santas, but my heart is filled with Jesus :-)

Elf Day

2008-12-02T18:42:00.006-06:00

Ever wake up to find an elf has dropped in for a visit? That's exactly what happened to us this morning. We found this little fella hanging from my son's stocking, bearing gifts of North Pole chocolate coins.

One of many traditions around our home this time of year is a little elf named Dexter. I guess Dexter first came to visit us when our thirteen year old son was five or six. Since then, he's become a regular member of the family.

Dexter lives at the North Pole, where he does the usual elf stuff--he makes toys. But if he's a good little elf and finishes his work, Santa allows him to come and play with his friends for the Christmas season.

So what does Dexter do, you ask. Oh, he gets into all kinds of mischief. He's never real satisfied with the crackers the boys leave for him so, while we're asleep, he usually roams the kitchen looking for something sweet. We've found cookie crumbs tracked all across the kitchen counter. And heaven forbid we leave out the wrapping supplies. We once found ribbon draped all over the place. He's never in his bed the next morning and there's no telling where we might find him. Searching presents under the tree, pretending he's an ornament on the tree, head first into a stocking . . . we've even found him in the freezer. Said it reminded him of home.

Over the years, the boys have had a great time with Dexter. They write their letters (well, not the thirteen year old anymore) asking him to come almost as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey is put away. And when he's here, he gets to go on all kinds of adventures. He's even had a trip or two to school.

If you'd like an elf to visit your kiddos, check out this website http://elf-magic.com/

I'll be sharing more traditions as the days go on, but I want to hear about your traditions, too. What is something your family enjoys year after year?

Tomorrow I'll share some of my favorite decorating ideas :-)

The 25 Days of Christmas

2008-12-01T17:24:00.003-06:00

Welcome and Merry Christmas! As you may or may not know, Christmas is my favorite time of year. It's when I pull out all the stops. It's a tantalizing treat for the senses--the sight of thousands of twinkling lights and the smell of cinnamon and cloves. The sounds of Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Andy Williams evoke memories of Christmases past. And it's all in preparation for the biggest birthday celebration of the year!

Over the upcoming days, let's share our favorite things. But to help get us into the Christmas spirit, let me share a few ideas of inspiration from a book I picked up years ago entitled The Little Book of Christmas Joys.

Be nice to sales personnel. They're often wearier than you are.
Adopt a needy family for the holidays. Let members of your family buy a present for the person closest to their own age.
Offer to hide your neighbors' Christmas gifts for their children so that young snoopers won't discover them.
Introduce a shy person to others at the office Christmas party.
Take the initiative. Don't wait for someone else to spread Christmas joy.

I hope you'll stop by often over the coming days. We'll share a hot drink and maybe some cookies. Which leads me to one of my favorite ideas from the above book--Don't count calories between December 15th and January 2nd.

Ack! I Forgot to Choose a Winner!

2008-09-29T08:50:00.002-05:00

Sorry people. I got too wrapped up in conference preparations, then post conference tizzy. But we do have a winner--Lia!

Congratulations, Lia. You've won Beth Wiseman's Plain Perfect. Please email me at mindyo5@sbcglobal.net with your address.

Plain Perfect by Beth Wiseman

2008-09-09T00:01:00.004-05:00

A search for peace in Amish country proves anything but simple for a woman on the run from life . . . and herself.

On the rolling plains of Lancaster County, PA., Lillian Miller is searching for her grandparents’ house . . . and so much more. After years of neglect and abuse, she’s turning to a lifestyle of simplicity among the Amish to find herself.

As she discards the distractions of her former life, she befriends the young boy working on her family’s farm and his attractive widowed father, Samuel Stoltzfus. Despite Lillian’s best efforts to the contrary, her feelings for Samuel—and his for her—deepen. Will Lillian find her faith in Plain living, or will she be forced to return to her former life?

Plain Perfect is a beautiful love story. Not only between Samuel and Lillian, but between God and Lillian as she searches for the true meaning of peace. The characters are well done and multi-dimensional. Jonas and Irma Rose will have you laughing one minute, crying the next.

Beth's debut novel is the first in a three-book series from Thomas Nelson publishers, entitled Daughters of the Promise. The second book, Plain Pursuit, is slated for April 2009, the final installment, Plain Promise, October 2009.

Beth is a gifted storyteller. She weaves a tale that keeps you turning every page, eager to find out what's going to happen next. The story is heart-warming and will leave you hungry. Those Amish folks can eat. And eat well! After finishing this book, I was inspired to cook a feast for my family. Which reminds me, you'll also find some fascinating recipes at the back of the book.

To learn more about Beth and check out a trailer for Plain Perfect, visit her website at BethWiseman.net You can also check out my interview with Beth on F.A.I.T.H.

Wanna WIN your own copy of Plain Perfect? Just leave a comment. I'll draw for the winner on Sunday, 9/14.

Time to Get Serious

2008-08-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

Today is a glorious day in my house--THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!! My sons, Chaos and Destruction, can no longer torment each other all day long and the house is quiet. Aaaahhhhh. . .My cup of Tazo Zen tea has never felt so zen-like.

However, now that the kiddos are back in school, my excuses are gone. It's time to start anew. To discipline myself to write while the writing's good, even if it's bad. Then to step away from the computer to oversee homework, unplanned wrestling matches, and to make sure the TV does NOT come on. Hmm, sounds like the kids aren't the only ones who have to get back into a routine.

Honestly, I don't have a problem sitting in front of my computer. It's the actual writing part I seem to find a million excuses to avoid. What am I so afraid of? Getting it wrong? Do you ever feel like you're not worthy of the calling God has given you? Aside from hitting your knees, what do you do to get yourself focused and knock fear into the next county?

Promises

2008-05-28T13:32:00.003-05:00

Chocolate is a girl's best friend. At least this girl. I try not to indulge too often, but I keep a bag of Dove Dark Chocolate Promises in my desk drawer for those occasions when I NEED chocolate. Like when I feel I need something sweet to complete a meal or, more often, when the cogs in my brain just aren't working.

I switched to dark chocolate since it has all those anti-oxidants. Anything to help me live healthier :-) I prefer Dove because it smoother. And I like to read the "promises" inside each little foil wrapper. Sometimes they just speak to me.

Like the day I was laboring over scene, looking for the right words. I opened one and it said, "Don't think about it so much." Well, if that wasn't a voice from above, I don't know what was.

So today, I'm in the middle of some revisions. No big deal except that I have revised the hooey out of this story and there's still more to do. Frustrated,I grab a Promise. As I plop the creamy morsel in my mouth, I read, "Test your own limits and keep going." Who would have ever thought that God would speak through chocolate?

How does God speak to you? He can do it any way He chooses, you know. Sometimes we miss Him because we don't take the time to be still and listen.

Well, this foil wrapper is now on my computer monitor. When the going gets tough, it'll nudge me through.

Time to Get Still

2008-04-22T09:35:00.000-05:00

Life is crazy. We have so many things to do, places to go, people to see. Even when we're still, we're busy thinking about what we have to do in an hour, tomorrow, or next week. We plan, we think, we wonder. . .We are a flurry of activity.

Visit me on F.A.I.T.H. for the rest of my post.

Mentoring--No Foolin'

2008-04-01T09:42:00.001-05:00

This week, I'm off to Tulsa, Oklahoma for DiAnn Mills Intensive Fiction Mentoring Clinic. It's gonna be tough, I have no doubt. But if I can push my writing to the next level, it'll be worth it. There will be both published and unpublished authors in this small group. After all, you never stop learning. We should always strive to be better. To hone our craft.

Agent Chip MacGregor says. . .

For the rest of this post, pop on over to FAITH.

Awaken My Heart by DiAnn Mills - A Review

2008-03-27T11:07:00.002-05:00

Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, has never agreed with her father's harsh treatment of the poor mestizos who first inhabited the colony of Texas. When rebels kidnap Marianne, in hopes her father will trade back their land for her freedom, she realizes her loyalty lies with her abductors, not her father, who plans to marry her off to the don of a nearby estate.

Armando Garcia is the locals' reluctant leader, but his people revere and depend on him. Knowing that without his leadership they'd be forced from their land, Armando accepts his role, but does not approve of the latest attempt to manipulate their enemy. When he learns that Marianne actually speaks his language, of her loyalty to his people, and of the faith that keeps her strong, Armando is faced with a difficult decision. Will his newfound love keep him from letting her go? Or will he set her free and risk losing their land forever?

DiAnn Mills tag line is "Expect an Adventure," and Awaken my Heart is just that--an adventure. This story transported me to a time when the Spaniards ruled Texas and Anglos were few. She explored different cultures and religions in fascinating ways that flowed naturally throughout the book. At the heart of the story is the importance of trusting God, and having more than just a head knowledge of Him, but a true heart knowledge, and the peace He offers, if we believe.

Awaken My Heart is fabulous on so many levels. As a reader, it captivated me and kept me turning page after page. As a writer, I'm in awe of DiAnn's almost prose-like writing style.

This is a must-read :-)

What Makes Cheryl Wyatt Binge Clean Her House? Contest, too!

2008-01-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance.
Prior to publication, Cheryl took courses through Christian Writers Guild. An active member of RWA, FHL and ACFW, she won numerous awards with multiple manuscripts. Visit her on the Web at http://www.cherylwyatt.com/. Sign up for her newsletter for news and chances to enter contests with great prizes. Hang with her on the web at http://www.scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/. You can also find her skittering around Steeple Hill's message boards as "Squirl" at http://www.steeplehill.com/. Her debut novel, A Soldier's Promise received a January 2008 Top Pick from Romantic Times.

"My name's Bradley. I'm eight and have cancer. I want to meet a Special Forces soldier more than anything. Well, almost anything. Having a family would be nice."

U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Joel Montgomery promised to make a sick child's wish come true. Well, not the family part—not with Joel's past. And so despite vowing never to set foot back in Refuge, Illinois, Joel parachuted onto the boy's school lawn to a huge smile. But another smile unexpectedly stole Joel's heart: that of Bradley's beautiful teacher, Amber Stanton, who was trying to adopt the boy. And trying to show Joel it was time for new vows.

Okay, Cheryl, I have to ask, how does it feel knowing that your "baby" has finally reached its intended destination--into the hands of readers?

It feels freaky and exhilarating. LOL! When I started getting reader letters from folks who'd received the book from Steeple Hill's Reader Service, I cried and cried. I wasn't prepared for how much those letters would mean to me or how precious they would become. It was like all the long years of waiting for that elusive contract, all the painful rejections just melted right off. On one hand, it's kind of scary that my friends are reading it because I'm not sure they'll be honest with me about liking it. LOL! But it is exhilarating beyond belief to know that people are actually reading my words and being moved either to laughter or tears. Even being an author, I can't think of words adequate enough to describe the feeling of gratitude and exhilaration when you realize God is using the book to touch people.

Tell me about your inspiration for A Soldier's Promise, in particular, your fascination with pararescue jumpers.

I have had a fascination with anything high-adrenaline since I was young. I love reading military and action romance, so writing it became my passion as well. I didn't actually know that was my strength until about my 5th manuscript. I was in Christian Writers Guild and my instructor read an action scene. He told me that was definitely where my voice was and to run with it. Once I started writing the action romance and sending it to my critters, my author mentors, they were astounded at the difference in the caliber of the stories. I started entering them in contests and in about a year and a half span, I had six or seven different action romance manuscripts final in about ten RWA, FHL and ACFW contests, taking first and second place in most cases. My husband has a cousin who went through most of HELL week for SEAL training but when they dropped him in the middle of the freezing ocean to fend for himself, he got the heck out of dodge and became a pilot instead. LOL! Hearing stories of Special Forces have always fascinated me. Since PJs (Pararescue Jumpers) are basically combat and rescue skydiving paramedics, I could apply my 15 plus years of working in the medical profession to my research. The real story of PJ Jason Cunningham, who gave his life saving other soldiers, inspired the series. I've written all kinds of action romance, but the PJ stories just happened to sell first. To fit the LI line, we've toned down the action and ramped the romance and emotion though to fit the LI readership.

So what is your favorite, and/or least favorite, part of the writing process?

Least favorite: churning out the rough draft. I really need that to happen in about a week in order for things to flow seamlessly, or I get confused and start repeating myself. Favorite: once I get the rough draft down, I love all the layering and polishing and building up of scenes with sensory details, etc. that comes after that. I also love the prep work, such as research and character development. I hate writing synopsis and the discussion questions, but I'm determined to learn to do those things painlessly....one of these days. LOL!

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I used to hate plotting but now do a scene index. I'm a reformed panster. Since I only turn in proposals now with a synopsis, I have to have an idea of what's going to happen in the book.

How many books have you written?

Okay, this is embarrassing. I've finished about twenty category-length books. I probably have three times that many in various stages of completion. The first four or five were practice runs though. LOL! I learned to write best by writing, and thankfully, I write very fast. Many of those need work since I'd rather write a new story than go back and fix an old one. LOL! Like many of them weren't written in deep point of view, etc.

Can we expect to see more on pararescue jumpers in the near future?

My editor likes when one of my PJs lands on her desk, so yes. I've sold three so far and there are seven in the series, plus maybe a bonus with the commanding officer, Aaron Petrowski. Joel's story releases in Jan, 2008. Manny's story releases in March, 2008. Ben's story releases in April of 2009. Chance's story is on hold...not sure if we'll get a chance to rewrite and resubmit his or not so I may have to kill him off or something. I'm getting ready to turn in Nolan's story, then Brockton's, then Vince. Hopefully those will sell and we'll be able to rewrite Chance's story in there some where. I imagine it will largely depend on my sales numbers with the first books. EVERYONE PRAY! LOL! And if readers write Steeple Hill and beg for Chance's story as if their lives depend on it...that might help too. LOL!

In your most difficult times of writing, times when the story just won't come or doesn't seem to be working, how do you get over that hump?

I do a massive house cleaning spree. I declutter everything around me and get away from the story for at least a couple of weeks. Totally ignore the story and the characters. I pray and throw things a lot. LOL! I read something else then try to come back to it with fresh eyes. Then if it's still not working after a few weeks, I just dig in and push through it. I write even if it's drivel. I do prompts on my blog for my blog readers. So if I'm really stuck, I'll write out prompt for myself to spark creativity and just push through it, push, push, push until I get a breakthrough and find my groove with the story again. Sometimes it helps to watch the news for some reason. I don't know why that kicks things loose. Or I pull out all my files of dialogue that I have stored up. All that helps. Prayer mostly for God to help it flow again. Then I discipline myself to write through the wall of nothingness until it becomes a stream of somethingness. Yes I like to make up words too. :-)

What do you like to do in your free time?

Spend time with my family. Do service projects for people. Read. Crafts. Habitually organize. Go play on the jet ski or play games with family and friends. I'm very competitive. I also host a prayer group in my home. I love being able to pray for and with people. A lot of my time is filled with prayer.

Where on earth did you get the recipe for Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings? I think I drooled on the book when Joel and Amber were eating them.

My aunt Ann from Wister, Oklahoma gave it to us. She comes up with the best recipes. She also makes THE best chocolate gravy in the world. I hope she'll let me use that recipe in a book some time because she deserves the credit for it. It is SO good. I meant to put the Enchilada Pie recipe (my mom makes that) in Manny's story but I had a brain toot and forgot. I'll have to put two recipes in Ben's story if they'll let me. LOL! I'm getting tons of reader letters saying how much people love the dumplings. They're good with ice cream too. I halve the sugar and soda and butter though because they are SO sweet.

What do you want readers to take away from your stories?

The uncontrollable urge to run out and tell all their friends and family and everyone who will listen that they've got to buy my books. LOL! Honestly, I hope the book will make them laugh, or cry happy tears or be touched or encouraged by God in some way that pertains to their current circumstances. I hope they will take away from it whatever God knows they need in that moment of reading it.

I'm so glad you stopped by today, Cheryl. I had the pleasure of meeting this precious woman at last year's RWA conference in Dallas. I think we talked for an hour, then she asked to pray with me before we left. She has a heart for God and that comes through in her writing. A Soldier's Promise is a well-written, engaging story that I had a hard time putting down. And I'd love for you to read it too.

That said, it's time for a CONTEST! Post a comment with the answer to the question in the title and you'll be entered to win a copy of Cheryl's book. Good luck!

It's Our Anniversary. .

2008-01-15T08:47:00.000-06:00

On FAITH. Pop on over and win!

Need Writing Tips?

2008-01-09T10:14:00.000-06:00

Pop on over to our interview with Gail Gaymer Martin on the FAITH blog. She discusses her latest book Writing the Christian Romance, and shares some valuable information for writers.

Hurting Hearts

2008-01-07T09:25:00.000-06:00

They're every where. Sad, but true. Today though, I'm thinking of two dear friends. Both are writers, and both feel as though their world, especially their writing world, is being ripped apart at the seams.

Their writing is a gift from God. They know that. And they are doing their best to use that gift for His glory. Yet they are so under attack from the enemy in other areas of their life that their writing is suffering. Finding the time, not to mention the motivation, is tough. Both desperately want to write full-time.

I write full-time. Or so I claim. I almost feel guilty. Would these two women, given the chance, use their time better than I do. Am I squandering the time God has given me? I pray not. We all know that the life of a writer is not solely about writing. Aside from emails, there's networking. Blogs or ShoutLife. Establishing a presence on the internet. Then there are things like critiquing or perhaps judging contests. All of which are really good. Blogging forces you to write. Critiquing and judging are learning experiences and benefit others. I'm a firm believer that we need to give back.

How do I encourage my friends? Sometimes I don't say anything at all because who am I to be Miss Suzi Sunshine, telling them they'll find a way, that it will all work out, when I'm not in, nor have never been in their shoes.

What encouragement would you have for these ladies?

I think I'm beginning to realize just how important it is that we lift up our fellow writers. Not just those we know, but those we don't know, as well. The enemy is going to do his best to keep them from doing the work God has set before them. We need to pray for their strength. Strength to go on when they feel like they just can't do any more. We're not in this alone.

Let the Baking Begin

2007-12-21T19:34:00.000-06:00

The shopping is done. The gifts have been wrapped. Now it's time to break out the cherished recipes. The ones that surface only at Christmastime. Maybe they were passed down from your grandmother. Or perhaps you stumbled on a new one you can't wait to try.

Around our house, it's my Texas Butter Toffee and Mrs. Diana's Sugar Cookies. I LOVE sugar cookies. Especially at Christmastime. And Mrs. Diana's are some of the best I've ever tasted. I think it's the nutmeg.

Mrs. Diana's Sugar Cookies

Cream 1 cup butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Add 2 eggs and 2 Tablespoons sour cream and beat well.

Add 3 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg and mix well.

Chill in refrigerator 2 hours to overnight.

Roll to 1/4" thickness on lightly floured surface and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees, 8-10 minutes or until golden.

Frost/decorate as desired.

My mouth is watering already. Good thing I've got a batch chilling right now :-)

So what are some of your favorite recipes? Which ones do you break out only at Christmas? Fudge? Cookies? Fruitcake? Share it with me. After all, you can never have enough recipes.

Decorating Addendum

2007-12-13T14:09:00.001-06:00

A couple of thoughts have flitted through my brain since my last post. Scary, I know.

The first is a continuation of my infatuation with glass items. If you're looking for a more natural, textural look, try using mixed nuts still in their shells. This time of year they're prevalent. The varied colors are great. Very earthy.

For an easy centerpiece for either a dining table or focal point, try one of those humongous ornaments that are so popular now. You can find them at your local super center for around $5. Now, take some wide, wired ribbon and simply tie a bow through the opening at the top. Just a regular ol' shoelace bow will do. Be sure to trim the ends though. You can add some greenery around it, if you choose. They did this for the centerpieces at our ladies holiday banquet at church, and they were absolutely gorgeous. Place it alongside a poinsettia plant if you need a little more height. Beautiful.

Easy Holiday Decorating; Even in Small Spaces

2007-12-11T18:22:00.001-06:00

Holiday decorating is all about glitz and sparkle. Taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. Kicking things up a notch as Emeril would say.

My FAITH sisters, Angie and Christy, wanted some tips for decorating on a budget. Hey, I'm all over that one. While I do have a weak spot for cute snowmen, I want to work with what I've got as much as possible. The key is finding a few common, household items that can be used to change up things I may already have.

One of my favorite things to use is Epsom salts. What on earth would I do with that, you ask? Well, it looks like snow.

To spruce up a hurricane that holds a simple candle the rest of the year, I poured in a deep layer of Epsom salts and plunked in some frosted willow branches. You can't get much easier than that. An added plus was that it gave me the height I so desperately needed in room with 16 foot ceilings.

Crystal or glass containers are wonderful because you do so much with them. They can simply be filled with colorful glass balls (now they even have some gorgeous unbreakable ones). Branches can also be added to that mix, you just need to work the balls around the branches as you go.

Another idea is two inexpensive glass cylinder vases. Place a smaller diameter one inside a larger one, leaving enough space between the two to fill with colored balls. Then tuck a pillar candle inside the smaller cylinder. The candlelight flickering off the sparkling balls is so pretty.

Another favorite decorating staple this time of year is fresh cranberries. And more glass containers.
I filled this crystal rose bowl, one of my favorite pieces, half way with cranberries. Then I added distilled water to cover them and raise the level just a bit. Then I nestled a flared-edge votive cup in the middle. It actually floats, supported by the cranberries. And why distilled water? It won't leave a ring as the water evaporates.

I did the same thing in my foyer with two pieces that are always on display.
By the way, making your glass pieces work for you isn't limited to Christmas. Try conversation hearts or red hots for Valentine's Day. Jelly Beans for Easter. Candy corn for fall. You can also use coffee beans. Nestle a votive cup with vanilla candle in the middle and as the coffee beans warm their scent is released.

Angie also wanted suggestions for decorating small spaces. The first thing you need to do is decide on a focal point. Aside from the tree, usually the center of attention, you may choose the mantle, a coffee table, or even a doorway. Decorated with evergreen garland, maybe some lights, or just pretty ribbon, it can be a real show-stealer.

Our focal point is the fireplace. From top to bottom, it probably took me less than thirty minutes to put together. And that includes washing the dusty hurricanes. Have I mentioned how much I dislike housework? The plain, lighted garland makes the biggest impact, then I tucked in a few items here and there, including the fifty cent picks for a splash of color.
Oh, and lest we forget the stockings. They add impact, too.

What are some of your favorite holiday decorating tips? I know another FAITH sister, Jenn, has an extensive Christmas village. As mentioned before, my weakness is snowmen. But while my house may be filled with snowmen and Santas, my heart is filled with Jesus.

Next time, holiday recipes. Be thinking about which one you're gonna share.

Experiencing Christmas

2007-11-28T11:03:00.001-06:00

The holiday season is something to be experienced. Don't just muddle through, doing those things you think you have to do, eager for it all to be over. Christmas comes but once a year. It should be savored. It's not just a day. It's a whole season filled with wonder.

I can't think of a holiday that more engages the senses than Christmas. Things that are unique to the season. The smell of pine, cinnamon, and cloves. The sight of twinkling lights (inside and out), nativity scenes, evergreen garlands, and, of course, the tree. The tasty treats we savor only during this special time of year. And what other holiday do you know that has it's own special music?

One of the first things I do each year, is make the house smell like Christmas. Aromas are powerful trigger. They can evoke memories and lighten our mood.

Here's my favorite holiday scent:

1/4 cup whole cloves
3 (4 inch) cinnamon sticks (broken in half)**
3 bay leaves
1 orange (halved)
1 lemon (halved)
1 quart water

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a teakettle or saucepan; reduce heat, and simmer as long as desired. Check often, adding more water as needed. Mixture can be stored in refrigerator several days and reused.

**Cinnamon sticks can be expensive. Since these are not for consumption, I buy them at the craft store where they're usually cheaper than the baking section.

Oops. . .

2007-11-27T13:06:00.001-06:00

Wow, it's been nearly two months since I've posted. My bad. I could say I've been busy. It would be totally true, but that's not the real reason. Unfortunately, I've been uninspired. I don't want to bore you with the hum-drum of what's going on in my daily life. I want to leave you with some sort of. . .something.

That said, I'm going to do my best to correct that. I'm working on a series for the holidays. I love Christmas time. The decorating, the baking, the sights, the smells. . .Tradition.

I can't wait to start sharing. In the meantime, got anything in particular you need help with? Holiday related, that is. Leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do.

Contest

2007-10-09T09:24:00.000-05:00

Impromtu contest on the FAITH blog today. Pop on over and give it a whirl.

A Season of Forgiveness - Review

2007-10-08T14:20:00.000-05:00

A Season of Forgiveness is the latest release from award-winning author Brenda Coulter.

When professional adventurer Sam McGarry stumbles into Victoria Talcott's carefully-ordered life, they can't help falling for each other. But how can a home-loving worrywart find happiness with a world-travelling extreme sportsman?

Fasten your seat belts: it's going to be a bumpy ride. But before it's over, Tori and Sam will agree that real love is worth fighting for.

Brenda hooks you from the start with a fast-paced opening scene. And just when you think you're being lulled into a nice little romance, BAM, she hits you with heaping helping of conflict that keeps you riveted until the end.

I recommend this one :-)