Orlando Fun

I'm a little slow on the uptake, so I'm just now sharing pictures of Orlando at a writer's retreat, ICRS and some family fun at Sea World.

Sit back and enjoy the show!

Some of my favorite authors and friends...

Cindy Woodsmall and I and Sharon Hinck and I during a break.

Getting all dressed up for the Christy Awards.

Mark Mynheir, me and Creston Mapes.

My awesome editor Julee.

Having a blast with my family at Sea World...

Blue Horizons was the most incredible show I've ever seen. I marveled at the amazing creatures God created and worshiped there more than I have in a long time.

One of our other favorite activities was feeding and petting beautiful dolphins.

Our last day in Orlando we walked and walked the floor and had a great time at ICRS.

Two highlights were hanging out with friends Mark Mynheir and Marlo Schalesky and meeting a real, excited and very cool fan of Ransomed Dreams. I had an awesome time with my new friend Kate Amaya.

A stroll down memory lane...

A friend emailed this to me and I LOVED it! Talk about a fun trip down memory lane.

IF YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL IN THE 70'S.

You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked.



You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it.



You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels.


You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (admit it!)


You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island.


You had either a 'bowl cut' or 'pixie', not to mention the 'Dorothy Hamill.' People sometimes thought you were a boy.


You had rubber boots for rainy days and Moon boots for snowy days.


You owned a 'Slip-n-Slide' , on which you injured yourself on a sprinkler head more than once.
You owned 'Klick-Klacks' and smacked yourself in the face more than once.


Your Holly Hobbie sleeping bag was your most prized possession.


You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers.



You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon.

You had the Donnie and Marie dolls with those pink and purple satiny shredded outfits, or the sunshine family.



You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze. The swing set tipped over at least once. You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color. You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). You also had a pair of salt-water sandals.



You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; you wore that Little House on the Prairie-inspired plaid, ruffle shirt with the high neck in at least one school picture; and you despised Nellie Oleson!


You wanted your first kiss to be at a roller rink!
PONG! ('video tennis' ) was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of!



Your hairstyle was described as having 'wings' or 'feathers' and you kept it 'pretty' with the comb you kept in your back pocket. When you walked, the 'wings' flapped up and down and you looked like you were gonna 'take off'.


You know who Strawberry Shortcake is, as well as her friends Blueberry Muffin and Huckleberry Pie.
You carried a Muppets lunch box to school and it was metal, not plastic. The thermos inside some were glass and broke the first time you dropped them.



You and your girlfriends would fight over which of the Dukes of Hazzard was your boyfriend.



YOU had Star Wars action figures, too!



It was a big event in your household each year when the 'Wizard of Oz' would come on TV. Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags!



You often asked your Magic-8 ball the question: 'Who will I marry: Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or David Cassidy?'


You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack record albums.


You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage, or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom.


You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts!

You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker.


You had subscriptions to Dynamite and Tiger Beat.


You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books. (Are you there God, It's me, Margaret.)


You thought Olivia Newton John's song 'Physical' was about aerobics.



You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or rainbow designs.


You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer.


You drowned yourself in Love's Baby Soft - which was the first 'real' perfume you ever owned.


You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off.


So.... what did YOU remember?

Come meet the 2008 RITA inspirational finalists

This week I have the honor of introducing a dear friend who has encouraged me from the beginning of our writing journey. Cindy and I attended our first writing conference together back in 2002 and have been friends ever since.

And for the last RITA interview, here's a bit about Cindy and then her great answers to our interview questions...

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of the best-selling novels WHEN THE HEART CRIES and WHEN THE MORNING COMES, the first two books in the Sisters of the Quilt series. Her real-life connections with the Plain Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband, three sons, and one daughter-in-law.

1. DESCRIBE YOUR RITA PHONE CALL.

What a busy and fun day that was! On Tuesday of each week I have an assistant, Barbara, who comes in and we juggle as much of the non-writing-related aspects of being an author as we can. The call came in during one of those days. Like other authors, I screen calls during work hours, so when I didn’t recognize the number I didn’t answer. I had a couple of radio interviews that day, so Barbara started fielding phone calls from the downstairs office. (Two of my children grew up and moved out, so I now have two offices! ;-)

When she shared the news that I was a RITA finalist, I stared at her for a long moment, then mumbled, "Is this a joke?"

She shook her head, smiling broadly.

I gaped at her. "Are you sure? The RITA?"

She laughed. "I’m sure."

Once I got over feeling stunned, excitement grew like a crescendo in a wonderful piece of music. Eventually, the song dissolved into two women in a home office, squealing in delight.

2. TELL US ABOUT THE RITA BOOK AND WHY YOU THINK IT STOOD OUT IN THE CROWD.

WHEN THE MORNING COMES is book two in a three-book series, each chronicling a different aspect of Hannah’s journey. At the beginning of book two we see her as a seventeen-year-old Amish girl who has been betrayed by her family, her fiancé, and even her faith.

Broken, she steps off a train to search for a shunned aunt she hopes still exists. With only an eighth-grade education, she has little knowledge of how to survive in the outside world.

I think what sets this book apart is the parallel journeys of reaping devastation and the hope of building life anew.

A man, who has lost just as much as Hannah has but is nothing like her, becomes an unlikely champion who grows to love her like no other.

3. HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

So far I have three novels completed, with the third coming out in September.

Book one in the series is WHEN THE HEART CRIES.

Book two and the RITA finalist is WHEN THE MORNING COMES.

Book three is WHEN THE SOUL MENDS, and it will be out September 16, 2008.

4. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

Since all three of my books are part of the same journey, each one is a favorite for a different reason. Hannah’s Old Order Amish innocence, strength, and epiphanies work both for and against her in each book. I think those things will linger in my heart as I continue to write more books.

Book one, WHEN THE HEART CRIES, made the CBA best-seller list and was an ECPA Christian Book Award finalist, along with books by Karen Kingsbury, Angela Hunt, and Charles Martin. I didn't think it was possible to be more pleased with a work, but book two, WHEN THE MORNING COMES, made the New York Times best-sellers extended list (#34) and is a RITA finalist, so I’m just off-the-wall excited. Of course, those who know me best would tell you I didn’t need a set of books to be off the wall. ;-)

5. DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING PROCESS.

I’m a super plotter who starts by taking the time to discover who the characters are. That begins with who their parents were and the mood of the home throughout their childhood, and it includes any traumatic or ecstatic experiences they had while growing up.

I spend time inside an Old Order Amish home, living as my characters do, while interviewing those within the community and seeing firsthand the various trades in which they make their living. This ensures that my characters and plots have a solid foundation.

The next step is to spend a week plotting out each character’s goals, motivations, conflicts, as well as the events that distance each one from his or her goals. I don’t plan out the epiphanies but allow those to grow organically as I write. So far they’ve surprised me every time.

After all that prewriting, I let creativity take over, ignoring or changing the outline as needed. I extensively edit, edit, edit as I go. After that I send each chapter to my critique partner. Since she’s also part of the planning and plotting process, she knows the story inside and out. She critiques with great scrutiny, and I pay close attention to anything she has to say.

6. WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A WRITER AND WHY CHRISTIAN FICTION?

I decided to write when I had no other choice. The stories inside my head wouldn’t go away and refused to become quiet, so (long story short) I began writing.

The stories grow naturally from characters who may tremble in pain, fear, or confusion, but whose faith is never negotiable to them. Although the journeys are not about being or becoming a Christian, the characters have a God-centered world view, and the stories are about them dealing with the traumatic and ecstatic parts of life the best way they know how, and both the beauty and the distress of doing so.

7. TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT OR UPCOMING PROJECTS.

I’m about halfway finished with THE HOPE OF REFUGE, an Amish novel where the lead heroine, Cara, is a single mom living in Bronx, New York. Cara had been raised in foster care, and while trying to keep her own six-year-old daughter from the same fate, she begins following pieces of a memory that lead her to an Old Order Amish community. What she discovers inside this community seems more destructive than all her years of having no one.

8. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR UNPUBLISHED WRITERS?

Pray. Not so much about God opening doors for you as much as seeking from Him your direction, your inner compass. Be willing to lay writing down. Be willing to revamp your entire lifestyle in order to write. Be ready to follow every rule concerning writing. Be ready to break every rule.

Be ready.

That’s what listening during the quiet hours can do for us—cause us to be ready to both hear and follow to the best of our ability.

But please, please remember that success is not about how many books we’ve written or sold—if any. Success is being His and walking in whatever that means from His perspective, not some preconceived idea of ours or those around us.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful interview! I’m deeply honored to be a RITA finalist with such a wonderful lineup of authors.

I welcome the readers of this blog to visit me at my Web site, where I have a couple of contests running. One offers a chance to win an autographed copy of all three books, and one is a year-long contest with a chance to win an Amish-made quilt.

http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/

Sisterchicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn

Sisterchicks Go Brit is a book I've been anticipating for a long time! Robin's stories whisk me away to fanciful places and open my eyes to more of God's amazing goodness.

Read on to learn more about Sisterchicks Go Brit and Robin Jones Gunn. Then jump into another great Sisterchicks novel with me!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

Sisterchicks Go Brit

Multnomah Publishers

by
Robin Jones Gunn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawaii.

Robin’s first novel was published in 1988, and she has continued to write between two to five books a year. Her 63 published books include 47 novels, all of which are still in print. Sales of her popular Christy Miller Series, Glenbrooke Series and Sisterchicks Series, including Sisterchicks in Gondolas and the new Katie Weldon Series including Peculiar Treasures all of which are approaching four million copies sold, with translations in nine languages.

Robin’s passion for storytelling and travel are evident in all her books, especially the Sisterchicks novels, and she has received thousands of letters from readers around the world who have come to know Christ through her writing. She sees this as her dream come true. Her novels are traveling to foreign lands and her characters are doing what she always longed to do; telling people about God’s love.

She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.

As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin’s favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives. Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers’ Guild.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

SISTERCHICK® n: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.

Two midlife mamas hop over to jolly ole England and encounter so much more than the usual tourist stops. Liz does have a bit of a childhood crush on Big Ben, and she has hoped to “meet” him ever since her fifteenth birthday. Kellie dreams of starting an interior design business and figures Liz needs to be a part of that equation–a calculation that hasn’t added up for Liz yet.

Nothing on the excursion goes the way these two friends had envisioned. They start with a village pancake race and end up being held for questioning on The Underground. Kellie and Liz take a wild tour through the land of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and then find themselves swept up, up, and away in a hot air balloon over the Cotswalds. London beckons with the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, shopping at Portabella Road in Knotting Hill, and of course, reservations at the Ritz for a posh high tea.

A few detours along the way and the possibility of being lost in a London fog of wonderment aren’t enough to stop these two Sisterchicks! Each step of their regal journey is lined with evidence of God’s gracious compassion, and both come to realize that God knows their every wish. He is the One who planted every dream in their hearts.

And, oh, what a surprise awaits them when they return home!

To read the first chapter, go HERE

“Robin has done it again! You and your Sisterchicks will love taking this new adventure together!”
- Karen Kingsbury, New York Times best-selling author of Between Sundays and Ever After

“My only complaint about Robin’s latest is that now I want to hop a plane to England! But combine a cup of Earl Grey tea and this charming story and you’re halfway there. Another delightful tale about women helping women to live their lives to the fullest.”
- Melody Carlson, author of These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking and A Mile in My Flip-Flops

A reflection on books

Having just returned from an amazing writer's retreat and ICRS in Orlando, I'm slap worn out. But excited about books, ideas and writing. Being around tons of books and book people will do that to you. ;-)

So when Heather, my friend and my family's awesome host while I was off authoring, blogged a series of book questions, I had to respond...

1. Do you remember how you developed a love of reading?

As a child, books were friends and means of escape to worlds far removed from daily life. I remember teaching myself to read because I adored my first grade teacher so much and wanted to be part of her special group who got to read books instead of taking a nap. I sure am dating myself when I say that, huh???

2. What are some books you loved as a child?

I don't remember all the books I devoured as a child. But as a young teen, I enjoyed books like Catcher in the Rye and Something Wicked This Way Comes.

3. What is your favorite genre?

My favorite genre includes books that lead me to worship as I read and stories that make me laugh.

4. Do you have a favorite novel?

There are a ton of books I love, many of which are written by friends like Sharon Hinck, Trish Perry, Mark Mynheir, Claudia Mair Burney, Cindy Woodsmall and Deb Raney.

If forced to pick a favorite, I'd name The Restorer by Sharon Hinck. It's the first and one of few novels where I laughed, cried and worshipped the Lord as I read.

5. Where do you usually read?

I read at my desk, in bed, at the kitchen table, in the living room.... and on and on. The only place I can't read is in the car.

6. When do you usually read?

I read mostly at night after everyone else is in bed and I can immerse myself in the story until my eyes close against my will.

7. Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

I tend to read a number of books at a time when I'm not editing. I can juggle a few non-fiction books with one or two novels. But when I'm captured by a fiction story, it's all I'll read until I finish the last page.

8. Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

I can read non-fiction in bits and pieces, a chapter or section at a time. But with fiction, if I really like the book, I read until I finish or fall asleep trying.

9. Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library?

I buy the books I love, check some out at the library and am involved with some blog tour groups to feed my fiction habit without emptying my husband's wallet.

1o. If you have children, what are some of the favorite books you have shared with them?

My kiddos and I fall in love with historical fiction novels and fictionalized biographies together during the school year and pick a few longer and meatier books to tackle during the summer. This year we loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Red and the Redcoats and Swiss Family Robinson. We raced through the Chronicles of Narnia last summer and continue to reread those. We've also loved Little Women and Anne of Green Gables.

11. What are you reading now?

Beach Dreams by Trish Perry, Sisterchicks go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle.

12. Do you keep a To Be Read list?

Yes and a HUGE To Be Read pile. It's like Christmas peeking at the stacks of books I brought home from ICRS this year. I look forward to digging into some great reading and sharing the wonderful stories.

13. What’s next?

Beyond the Night by a new friend and fellow ICRS wanderer, Marlo Schalesky.

14. What books would you like to reread?

I rarely, if ever, reread a novel or non-fiction book. In the ones I really enjoyed, I might go back and skim my notes or find a favorite scene once in a while.

15. Who are your favorite authors?

Sharon Hinck, Trish Perry, Mark Mynheir, Claudia Mair Burney, Cindy Woodsmall and Deb Raney for fiction. John Piper, Max Lucado, Liz Curtis Higgs for non-fiction.


I'd love to hear your answers to these questions and maybe add a few more books to my To Be Read pile. So, please leave me a comment or post a blog link if you'd like to join me in being a book person and sharing your love of the written word!

Come meet the 2008 RITA inspirational finalists

This week we're visiting with Susan May Warren and hearing a little about her super cool cowboy covers and the woman behind these great stories!

1. Describe your RITA phone call.

The truth is, well, I had FORGOTTEN about the RITA. I’ve never finalled. Never even remotely thought I would final. So, there I am, reading my email, sipping coffee, sitting in my pajamas, and in comes a call. I see it’s RWA and think, uh oh, I forgot to pay my membership or something. Because WHY would they be calling me?

You could have pushed me over with a puff as the voice on the phone told me that Taming Rafe finalled in the RITA. In fact, I think I uttered an incredulous, “HUH? What?” Thankfully she repeated her news, slowly and clearly.

And then dancing started.

2. Tell us about the RITA book and why you think it stood out it the crowd.

Taming Rafe is about a bull-rider who finds himself at the bottom of his game, even his life. He’s lost everything and has made some pretty bad decisions. Into this mess walks Kat Breckenridge, a philanthropist who is trying to fill her deceased mother’s big, fashionable shoes. She’s got some mystery to her past that draws her to cowboys, but most of all, Rafe had decimated her latest charity event, and owes her big. As they sort out blame, and eventually come together with a game plan, they discover each one offers the other healing in ways they could never imagine. It’s a mulit-layered story, with a subplot romance, and a story within a story that illuminates the emotional plot of all the characters (and has it’s own plot). It was my most ambitious story to date, a challenge to write, and I loved it. I’m so thrilled that the RITA judges liked it!

3. How many books have you written?

Twenty-two, including novellas.

4. Do you have a favorite?

Oh boy – I love my first story, Happily Ever After – I wrote it from such a pure place, it’s still the story of my heart. And then there’s Everything’s Coming up Josey, my chick lit story – finally got to tell the truth about being a missionary. And then Rafe…well, who doesn’t like a cute Bull Rider?

5. Describe your writing process.

I’m a detailed plotter, plotting out the story, the subplots and even the epiphany. My character is pretty fleshed out when I start the first page. However, after that it gets really messy. I slap down the first draft without grammar or spell checking, just a download from my brain every day for a month or six weeks. At the end of the day, I simply save and crawl out of my mess of research books lying open around my writing chair. The next day, I crawl back in. I don’t cook. I don’t clean. I do shower. But my entire brain is on Book. My family calls it (kindly) being under my “Thought Blanket.” THEN, after the book is roughed out, I go back, chapter by chapter, adding in all the elements I’ve forgotten, as well as texture, and richer description. And then I go through again, smoothing it out and polishing it. THEN I print it, and read it, adding in final proofing or edits. By the time I turn it in, I’ve read it four times, at least.

6. When did you decide to become a writer and why Christian fiction?

I LOVE to write. I would rather write than eat (my children occasionally bring me food). And, I was a missionary for years, and I truly believe that the best stories engage the spiritual element in us. I love to stir up issues of the soul, and let the reader ponder them with the character, hopefully long after they put the book down. My hope is that my readers, regardless of their spiritual background, would see God at work in their lives, loving them, giving them grace, just as He works in the character’s life on the page.

7. Tell us about your next or upcoming projects.

I just finished a book called, “Here Comes Trouble.” It’s a novel about a girl who returns home after ten years to discover the mess she left behind. But she’s a different person now. Can a girl change her stripes in her own hometown? Or will she always be labeled Trouble? Funny, and romantic, with elements of mystery and suspense, it’s the first in the PJ Sugar series.

8. Do you have any advice for unpublished writers?

Yes – Read books in your genre, take notes, analyze, write, then continue the cycle….forever. *g*

Learn more about Susan May Warren, award-winning author of...soul-stirring fiction at Susan May Warren.com

From A Distance by Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots and poignant prose resonate with readers. Tamera is a finalist for the 2008 Christy Award (Remembered), and has been awarded the coveted RITA® from Romance Writers of America (Revealed), along with Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction of 2006 (Rekindled). Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in the quaint town of historic Franklin, Tennessee, where they enjoy life with their two college-age children and a precious—and precocious—silky terrier named Jack.



From A Distance

What happens when dreams aren’t what you imagined,
And secrets you’ve spent a lifetime guarding are finally laid bare?

Determined to become one of the country’s premier newspaper photographers, Elizabeth Westbrook travels to the Colorado Territory to capture the grandeur of the mountains surrounding the remote town of Timber Ridge. She hopes, too, that the cool, dry air of Colorado, and its renowned hot springs, will cure the mysterious illness that threatens her career, and her life.

Daniel Ranslett, a former Confederate sharpshooter, is a man shackled by his past, and he’ll do anything to protect his land and his solitude. When an outspoken Yankee photographer captures an image that appears key to solving a murder, putting herself in danger, Daniel is called upon to repay a debt. He’s a man of his word, but repaying that debt will bring secrets from his past to light.

Forced on a perilous journey together, Daniel and Elizabeth’s lives intertwine in ways neither could have imagined when first they met . . . from a distance.

“…a rich historical romance by possibly the best new writer in this subgenre.”
--Library Journal

“…a most amazing story. The characters are more than words on the page; they become real people.”
--Romantic Times

Note from Tamera

Stories are journeys, and each story I write is a journey for me.

Rekindled began with a dream—the image of a man returning home on horseback. He came upon a freshly dug grave and when he knelt to read the name carved into the roughhewn wooden cross, he discovered the name was…his own. The inspiration for Revealed grew from two characters in Rekindled whose stories needed to be told. But even more, whose stories I needed to tell. Writing Revealed was a very personal journey for me, and a healing one. For Remembered, I met that story’s heroine (figuratively, of course) while strolling the ancient cobblestoned pathways of a three hundred-year-old cemetery in northern Paris, France. And From a Distance came from a question I was struggling with in my own life at the time, “What happens when the dream you asked God for isn’t what you thought it would be?”

For me, the greatest thrill of these writing journeys is when Christ reveals Himself in some new way, and I take a step closer to Him. And my deepest desire is that readers of my books will do that as well—take steps closer to Him as they read. After all, it’s all about Him.

In the Potter’s Hand,
Tamera

Come meet the 2008 RITA inspirational finalists

Tamara Leigh is a wife and a mother. Although she holds a master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology, she has written full time since her first child was born in 1993. Her first seven novels earned awards and became national bestsellers, but she was dissatisfied that the stories were not God-honoring. In 2003, Tamara determined to write books that more directly represent her faith. Tamara and family live in Tennessee.

DESCRIBE YOUR RITA PHONE CALL:

I screen most of my calls, especially during “writing” hours, so when I didn’t recognize the number that popped up on caller ID, I didn’t answer. And they didn’t leave a message. “Fine,” I muttered, “it can’t have been important.” They called again. “Hmm, persistent.” And again. This time, since I was in the kitchen making coffee, I decided to get rid of the pests once and for all. When the caller identified herself as being from RWA, I winced. What did you do? Break a bylaw? Delinquent on your dues? Hold it—the contest! Dream on, you did something wrong. And then I was told that SPLITTING HARRIET had been nominated for a RITA. A RITA! My Harriet was up for a RITA! I don’t remember much of the exchange that followed, but when I hung up, all happiness broke loose. Very undignified, but joyous!

TELL US ABOUT THE RITA BOOK AND WHY YOU THINK IT STOOD OUT IN THE CROWD:

The back cover of SPLITTING HARRIET says it best:

Once upon a time, I was a rebel. And I have the tattoo to prove it.

Did I mention I’m also a preacher’s kid? That’s right. And like the prodigal son after whom I modeled myself, I finally saw the error of my ways and returned to the fold. Today my life is all about “lead me not into temptation.” When I’m not serving as Women’s Ministry Director at my father’s church, I’m serving at Gloria’s Morning Café. I even have worthy goals, like saving enough money to buy the café, keeping my Jelly Belly habit under control, and never again hurting the people I love. No more parties. No more unsavory activities. And no more motorcycles! You’d think I was finally on the right track.

But since my dad’s replacement hired a hotshot consultant to revive our “dying” church, things aren’t working out as planned. And now this “consultant” says I’m in need of a little reviving myself. Just who does this Maddox McCray think he is? With his curly hair that could use a good clipping, tattoo that he makes no attempt to hide, and black leather pants, the man is downright dangerous. In fact, all that’s missing is a motorcycle. Or so I thought… But if he thinks he’s going to take me for a ride on that 1298 cc, 16-valve, in-line 4-cylinder machine, he can think again. Harriet Bisset is a reformed woman and she’s going to stay that way. Even if it kills me!

That’s Harriet, and was she a delight to write! Well, mostly. It took four revisions to get the proposal right. At one point, my poor editor even asked if I’d like to set Harriet aside and work on something else. You see, as originally plotted, SPLITTING HARRIET was heavy on church politics and light on humor and romance. And this is chick lit. Though I’m still growing out the patches of hair I pulled, according to readers, I hit on the right balance between a girl, a guy, a Jelly Belly addiction, church growth, the acceptance of God’s forgiveness, and humor. I believe that is what made Harriet’s story stand out.

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

SPLITTING HARRIET is my tenth published novel. My first seven books (1994-2001) were medieval romances written for the secular market. Though I believe I handled the requisite love scenes tastefully in those first books, I am so blessed to now be writing in the inspirational market. FAKING GRACE, available this August from Multnomah, will mark my eleventh book. The twelfth book, PAYING PIPER, is the first in my SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT series, and the deadline is fast approaching…

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

Now, you can’t have a favorite, can you? That’s like having a favorite child. Okay, not really, but I do like them equally, just in different ways—STEALING ADDA because it was my first inspirational book and featured a medieval romance writer as a heroine (very cathartic); PERFECTING KATE because my heroine has to overcome low self-esteem which I have struggled with like so many women; SPLITTING HARRIET because of my heroine’s difficulty in accepting God’s forgiveness (been there); and FAKING GRACE because we all need grace and to be “real.”

DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING PROCESS:

I am very organized, so one might expect my writing to be highly structured. It isn’t. I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. Though I sometimes start with a plot and create a character to fit, and other times start with a character and create a plot to fit, I really don’t know the story or character well enough to synopsize until I’ve written a hundred or so pages. Unfortunately, if it turns out that the story doesn’t fit the publisher’s line, the wasted time and energy can really smart. If you can avoid it, do not follow my example! However, I did recently purchase a nice set of index cards and am determined to overcome this weakness.

Once I have the “green light” on a story, I try to write 1,000 words a day; however, I rarely hit the bell. I’m also an “edit as you go” writer. Though some frown upon this, it allows me to stay on top of my story and makes for fewer rewrites. When “writer’s block” hits, which I know some say doesn’t exist, my best remedy is to put away the computer and pull out a notepad and pen. What may have been a one-page-day often becomes a five-page-day.

When I reach “The End,” I read through the manuscript with an eye toward cutting (I always exceed my word count), then again to check for consistency, pacing, and characterization. If I come in ahead of deadline, I put the manuscript aside for as long as possible, then do a final read before sending it off to my editor.

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A WRITER AND WHY CHRISTIAN FICTION?

From the age of ten or so, I was writing full-length novels –well, what had the potential to be full-length novels. When my husband and I began planning for children, I decided to pursue my dream of being a writer in hopes it would allow me to remain home and raise our family. In 1993, two weeks after sending my first manuscript to my agent, Bantam Books offered me four-book contract. After lengthy negotiations (“I do, I do, I do!”), I accepted.

Following the publication of seven medieval romances with Bantam, HarperCollins, and Dorchester, I left the secular market to write for the inspirational market. For several years, I'd felt God moving me in this direction, but ignored the calling. Following a struggle between what I was comfortable doing and what I knew I should be doing, I finally crossed to the "other side". As for the leap from medieval romance to "chick lit", I didn't see that coming. Set on bringing my medievals into the inspirational market, I was stunned when the publishers asked my agent for "something different." And, boy, is “chick lit” different!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT OR UPCOMING PROJECTS:

Up next is FAKING GRACE:

All she wants is a job. All she needs is religion. How hard can it be?

Maizy Grace Stewart dreams of a career as an investigative journalist. A part-time gig at a Nashville newspaper might be her big break. A second job at Steeple Side Christian Resources could help pay the bills, but Steeple Side only hires committed Christians. Maizy is sure that she can fake it with her 5-Step Program to Authentic Christian Faith—a plan of action that includes changing her first name to Grace, Jesus-themed accessories, and learning “Christian Speak.” If only Jack Prentiss, Steeple Side’s two-day-stubbled, blue-jean-wearing managing editor wasn’t determined to prove her a fraud.

When Maizy’s boss at the newspaper decides that she should investigate—and expose—any skeletons in Steeple Side’s closet, she needs to decide whether to deliver the dirt and secure her career, or lean on her newfound faith, change the direction of her life, and pray that her Steeple Side colleagues—and Jack—will show her grace.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR UNPUBLISHED WRITERS?

If writing is “in your blood”—kind of like the first bloom of romance rife with infatuation, longing, and need—you will WRITE. Through writer’s block, interruption, revision, and criticism, you will PERSIST. Once your story is on paper, you will REVISE—detail characters, fill gaping holes, pump up scenes, etc. You will SEEK FEEDBACK, asking trusted friends and other writers to read your work. Organizations such as American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA) have local chapters where you can network with other writers. And you will READ, not only books on the craft of writing, but other authors whose work you admire. Lastly, you will be PATIENT and PRAY (Psst…that last one really ought to come first).

Thanks for having me!

Website: http://www.tamaraleigh.com/
Email: tamaraleigh@comcast.net

Love Starts With Elle by Rachel Hauck

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Love Starts With Elle

(Thomas Nelson - July 8, 2008)

by
Rachel Hauck

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Hauck is a forty-something, a child of the '60's, '70's, '80's, '90's and '00's, who roller skated through the '70's into the '80's with Farrah Fawcet hair and a three-speed orange Camero. She graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism.


After graduation, she hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. But, she's traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine.


Rachel met Tony, her husband, in '87, at church, of all places. They married in '92. They don't have any children of their own, just lots of kids-in-the-Lord and they love them all. However, they do have two very spoiled dogs, and a very demanding cat.


With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in ' 04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. My current release is Sweet Caroline from Thomas Nelson. Romantic Times Book Club gave both books their highest rank of 4.5 stars, with Love Starts With Elle being honored as Top Pick!


ABOUT THE BOOK:


Elle's living the dream-but is it her dream or his?


Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she's found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.


Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She's never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.


But Jeremiah's just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she's serious about their relationship, Elle will take "the call," too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle's friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.


Is love transferable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?


If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE


Amy here: I've just begun reading and am glad to be back in Beaufort, South Carolina! Elle is a great character and I'm enjoying meeting new folks in Beaufort and revisiting some old friends.

In the Dead of Winter

Need a cool way to pass some fun summer moments? Then join me for a little dip into a great mystery!

Nancy Mehl's newest book, IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, is a mystery lover's cup of tea... or maybe you'd best skip the tea because it'll grow cold as you step into Winter Break's favorite spot: Miss Bitty's Bygone Bookstore.

Tea or not, when you pick up IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, get ready for a fun, enthralling and entertaining look into a young woman's journey to finding herself as she searches for her aunt's killer.

The townsfolk of Winter Break will charm and delight you with all their quirks and true neighborly love for each other. And the lessons learned through Aunt Bitty's life are sure to stay with you long after the last page.

So grab some chocolate (it won't grow cold :-)) or other special treat and your copy of IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. Then sit back and let the town of Winter Break warm your heart.

To learn more about Nancy, IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, and Heartsong Mysteries, please check out these links...

www.heartsongmysteries.com

http://nancymehl.blogspot.com/