Birthday Thoughts

"You can age, but you don't have to get old." - Author unknown

On Thursday, I celebrate another year lived. Although it may seem strange, 30 was the hardest birthday for me. As a kid, I viewed 30 as ancient, and asked my parents what it was like in the olden days. It's amazing how young it looks to me now.

What do I like about aging?

1) I've lived a certain amount of history. I remember when the first astronaut was launched into space, when the World's Fair came to New York, when Carol Heiss won the Women's Olympic Gold Medal, and when the country mourned JFK.

2) The shared memories of family and friends. Looking at old picture albums brings back many happy times.

3) Years lived give one a unique perspective, an overview of life. I see what works and what doesn't and hopefully I've learned from my mistakes.

4) My relationship with the Lord gets sweeter each year. Every other joy pales in comparison.

5) No one knows when their pilgrim journey will end, but heaven stirs an excitement once reserved for major life events.

Most people talk about aging in a negative manner. What are some of the positives for you? How has aging impacted your writing?

Friday Round-Up - #193

 
Gina Holmes, author of Crossing Oceans, guest posts on Chip MacGregor's blog. She talks about all the unplanned, serendipitous things that occurred on her journey from debut author to the bestseller list.

Published Authors and Writers: Do you have a story to share about an event or being at the right place at the right time?

Pre-published Authors & Writers: Have you had any "God Moments" that spur you on to publication?

Readers: How does a new book catch your eye? Is name recognition of both the author and the book a factor? Please elaborate.

Have a safe and blessed weekend!

On My Nightstand - Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart

Sammie Tucker's life undergoes drastic changes when her mom is hospitalized. She wants things to be normal and have a mom, who bakes cookies, takes her shopping, and does all the special things her friends' mothers do for their kids.

When things get worse by the minute, she learns who she can trust and how to evaluate relationships apart from the opinions of others. Mystery shrouds a great deal of her past, and she's desperate to know the truth.

This novel is set in Graham Camp, Texas in 1958. I relished the familiar details of that era. The author did her homework.

Someone said, "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader." In certain parts of the book, Carla Stewart must have cried buckets because I sure did. She gets into the mind and heart of a young girl, who's trying to sort out her life.

If you enjoy character-driven books, you'll be drawn into this story immediately. Carla does a wonderful job with the entire cast and brings the tale to an exciting conclusion. I'm glad I discovered this author's work through book reviews and hope you'll discover her novels as well.

Writers:  There's a lot of inner dialogue in this book. How do you give your readers insight into the minds of your characters?

Readers: How do you feel about stories with young main characters? Do they captivate you or must they be closer to your age to resonate?

Climbing Out of the Pit

Whenever there's a mining accident, many people are needed to free those trapped underground. It takes the same kind of support to pull someone from the depths of despair.

Ideally, we wouldn't get into such trouble. Alas, we live in a fallen world with an enemy, who does all he can to snare us in a trap.

My merciful Heavenly Father once again came to my rescue. He reminded me that He'd never leave me nor forsake me. As I poured out my concerns to Him and WAITED for His answers, peace evicted panic.

Did the discouraging thoughts keep trying to get my attention? You better believe they did. When they came, I told them, "Go see my Father. He's handling that matter."

With gratitude welling up in my heart, my emotions calmed, and I began to think clearly. The words of comfort, love, and encouragement from the scripture and my writing friends soothed the tender areas.

One friend reached out and did a guest blog post to lighten my load. (Thanks, Karen!) Another friend's interview filled in two more blogging slots. Taking it slow, I began to write again. The momentum I'd lost grows day by day.

Instead of quitting, I'm entering my manuscript into the ACFW Genesis Contest. Hold me accountable on that one! It's still touch and go. My devotional writing is going forward, and I plan to query another agent.

I'm making time to take care of myself. With proper rest, exercise, and nourishment, my body has shaken off the persistent physical miseries of the past months.

Thank you, dear friends, for your posts that lift my spirits, for your loving words, and for hanging in there with me as I climbed out of this pit.

Do you have any words of wisdom for those who wonder if the stories God has put in their hearts will reach their intended audience?

Friday Round-Up #192

Mike Duran talks about Speculative Fiction. Since I'm thinking about entering the Genesis Contest under this category, the article piqued my interest.

Defining this genre is not easy. As one commenter noted, the term is more of an umbrella term with sub-genres like Christian Supernatural fiction, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy underneath. Most publishers shy away from the category, but there's an untapped demand from readers.

I'm interested to see what you think of the article and the genre. Since my book is near-future, I thought I might fit here.

Have a blessed weekend!

On My Nightstand - The Amish Midwife by Mindy Starns Clark & Leslie Gould

Lexie Jaeger avoids commitment. When boyfriends get too serious, she bails out. Her latest love interest, James, thinks it's because of unresolved issues concerning her adoption.

When her dying father gives her some tantalizing items, the questions they create in her mind push her to search for her birth family. Will she get the answers she wants, and will she want the answers she gets?

Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould team up to produce this tale fraught with dark secrets, tormented souls, and freedom. They hooked me from the get-go, and I finished in record time.

This is not your typical Amish book. There's interaction between Mennonite and Amish characters. They're portrayed as people with real problems, heartaches, and family dysfunction.

After reading Mindy's book, "Shadows of Lancaster County," I knew I'd be picking up more of her titles. I'm glad I selected this one.

Writers: Do you ever think about jumping into the Amish trend? Why or why not?

Readers: It's time for you to weigh in. If an Amish book has a great story line with elements of mystery, would you pick it up?

The Dangers of Discouragement

The dance with discouragement put me on thin ice. The more I entertained those thoughts, the more I spiraled down emotionally. What was the result?

1)  I got into a negative way of viewing past and present events.

2)  My decision-making ability went askew. I felt pressed to make quick decisions without giving them prayer or careful consideration. Full-blown panic mode entered the picture.

3)  Quitting seemed like it would be a welcome relief from pressure. Guess what? We're going to have stressful situations in life whether it's writing or something else.

4)  My problems became bigger in my eyes than God. Writing that sentence made me shudder. How I must have grieved His heart.

5)  All of the blessings dimmed, and I lost sight of how far I'd come on this writing journey.

I'd like to make all sorts of excuses, but the bottom line is I agreed with the temptation of discouragement. Next week, we'll see how God graciously pulled me out of this latest scrape. Yes, as Joyce Meyer often says, "The battlefield is in the mind."

Do you see any other dangers to dancing with thoughts contrary to God's Word?

Friday Round-Up - #191

Tess Gerritsen posts at Novel Rocket about how an editor revived her career in the United Kingdom. It's an amazing story.

Has another writer or editor impacted your life? Please share.

Have a blessed weekend!

On My Nightstand - Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

Georgie Gail desires to live an independent life. Her job as a telephone operator in rural Brenham, Texas comes with her own cottage. She's free to tend her garden and make a habitat for the songbirds she loves so much. Too bad, the new troubleman comes along and turns her world upside down.

Luke Palmer is a hardboiled Texas Ranger. The only thing he cares about is bringing criminals to justice. He goes undercover, but doesn't reckon with a sassy woman stealing his heart.

I've read one other Deeanne Gist book, "Maid to Match," and knew I'd be in for a treat. I wasn't disappointed. The characters learn the importance of love and getting along with others.

Deeanne threw in a twist that almost knocked me out of my chair. Looking back, I should have seen it, but she wove it in with such skill that I totally missed it.

If you're a historical romance fan, you'll adore this novel. I'm glad I discovered another author that promises and delivers a great tale.

Writers: Do you like the independent woman/macho man type books? Are your heroines more traditional or bucking the status quo?

Readers: What's your take on heroines, who seek greater freedom?

The Anatomy of Discouragement

Last Monday, I shared how I almost quit writing novels. Sadness, frustration, and sheer weariness drove me to the edge of that cliff.

As I struggled to regain my footing, I knew something must have gone awry in my thought processes. What was the trigger that set discouragement in motion? Nothing monumental occurred in the previous weeks.

I prayed, shared with friends, but seemed to get worse instead of better. As I journaled, a pattern emerged. Somehow I'd slipped into a glass-half-empty mentality, as well as getting too self-focused.

Not long ago, I wrote a gratitude list. Reading it made me notice all the blessings God gave me during 2011. Maybe I didn't get an agent or a book contract, but I met an author, who helped me create a proposal and gave me valuable insights. Another author read my manuscript and urged me to keep writing. I found a job that I love, and my Mom's health improved. The list goes on, and a glimmer of light entered my soul.

Another factor provided fertile ground for the despair haunting me. I'd allowed myself to get rundown physically. The intense schedule surrounding the holidays whittled my gym visits down to 2 per week, we were eating more fast food, and I'd come down with a cold that didn't want to yield its grip. Even though I'd simplified my traditions and enjoyed a meaningful Christmas, physical rest eluded me.

Next week, I'll give you a glimpse into the dangers of discouragement.

What are the things that trigger an "I want to give up" feeling in you?

The Winner of Patti Lacy's Book

The winner of Patti Lacy's book, "Reclaiming Lily," is:

                SONIA!

Congratulations, Sonia. Please email me at susanjreinhardt AT gmail DOT com. When I have your snail mail address, I'll send it to Patti. She will mail you her book.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway.

Friday Round-Up - #190

Mary DeMuth guest posts on Novel Rocket (formerly Novel Journey) about her experiences with Ebook publishing. She shares excellent tips and links.

Do you read Ebooks on occasion, regularly, or never? What titles have you read? Did you know you can read them even if you don't own a device such as the Kindle or Nook?

Have a blessed weekend!

Interview At Life Lessons

 
Maria Morgan, at Life Lessons, interviews Karen and me about our collaboration on a novel. Get the skinny on how two independent writers mesh their ideas into one story.

See you there!

Author Interview - Patti Lacy - Part 2 - AND GIVEAWAY

Multi-published author, Patti Lacy, is back for Part 2 of our interview. Let's get right into the questions and answers.

5. Patti, we'd love to hear a little about your writing journey.

After a court reporting career, I  returned to the teaching roots established by an education degree from Baylor and my teacher  parents and taught Humanities at a community college. In 2005, God whispered for me to write the story of my best friend, a brave Irishwoman who was banished from her beloved cliffs of County Clare, Ireland, when she was only five years old. Kregel Publications published that first story, An Irishwoman's Tale, and ever since, I've been consumed by the passion to write.

God gifts me real-life stories that capture my heart (two little girls, separated by racism and a chain link fence; a mother, taking a first...and perhaps last...cab ride with her baby boy; sisters, separated by seas and secrets and an insidious disease). Using the tenets of Colossians 3:23, I do my best to capture His gifts in novels. With His  provision, I will write.

6. I noticed you use flashbacks. What's the key to working them in without slowing the action?

So you noticed, did you? :) Some folks would argue that I succeed with my flashbacks. Just check out my Amazon reviews! Since my youth, I've loved framed stories and adore parallel actions. Accordingly, I write that way but certainly cannot speak to keys to "working them in."

As an aside, my two WIPs have NO flashbacks. It's kinda fun, anticipating new challenges!!! Y'all know there are ALWAYS challenges!

7.  Do you have any advice for those of us seeking publication?

Write for the Audience of One. He will provide the only "outline" for an often lonely, dispiriting, and arduous career path.

8.  Last but not least, what projects do you have in the pipeline? I'm looking forward to more Patti Lacy books.

Susan, thank you for your tireless support and your prayers. Especially your prayers!! Right now my agent, Natasha Kern, is shopping a series, "Life in Normal," especially the first book, Below Normal. What happens when the dreams...and despair...of a bereaved widow and a sassy grocery store bagger collide and their lives jump out of their "Normal" ruts? Yep, this series is set in my hometown, Normal, Illinois!!!

God, showing His humor, has inspired me through the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Team of Rivals, to consider a Civil War romance. I know, I can't believe it, either. Hang on, readers!!!!

Thanks, Susan, I loved chatting with your folks!!!!

Thank you, Patti, for sharing your path to publication.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Patti has offered to do a giveaway of her book, "Reclaiming Lily!" Here are the rules:

1) The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only.

2) Leave a comment on this post with your email address. No email = no entry.

3) The winner will be drawn on Sunday, January 29th and notified via email. An announcement will be made on the blog.

4) For complete details, see the giveaway post from last week (Thursday).


Disclaimer: I did not receive any remuneration for this interview or the giveaway from the author or the publisher.




Writers: What did you glean from Patti's answers for your own writing journey?

Readers: What part of the interview surprised or made you stand up and take notice?

The Week I Almost Quit

Yes. Me. The determined, focused writer wanted to quit. The one who declared the "Q" word wasn't in her vocabulary.

I sat at my computer screen and flipped through the pages of my manuscript, wondering why I was putting myself through this agony. The endless classes, edits, re-writes, and rejections reached critical mass. Oh, and don't forget Social Media, which ate through my writing time like Pac-Man.

I'd experienced similar thoughts in the past, but this time was different. Weariness, sadness, and a whole range of emotions bombarded me. Thoughts like, "no one wants my story, maybe the timing is wrong, maybe I missed God with this whole novel thing," ran through my head non-stop.

Thank God for my writer friends, for the messages in church, and for the vision He put in my heart back in 2005. The next few Monday posts will catalog my battle with discouragement. In case you're wondering, I'm back - moving a bit slower, evaluating my next step, and keeping a sharp eye out for thoughts that pull me down.

Writers:  Does the New Year sometimes affect you in a negative way? How do you deal with discouragement?

Readers:  Discouragement isn't limited to writers. It can impact all areas of our lives. How do you handle this emotion?