PLAIN TALK BLOG

Happy July!

The temps are hot, the pantry needs restocking again, and the sink needs emptying . . . again, and summertime rolls on. The good news is the neighborhood pool has plenty of water

Offered in the last blog contest was an autographed copy of When the Soul Mends, to be sent when available.

Our winner is commenter number twenty-three: Julie.

A new contest!

For a chance to win an autographed copy of all three books: When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends just leave a comment below. But before you do, I’d like to share an excerpt from my newsletter that I enjoyed getting to share.

If you’d like to sign up for it, click here: Plain News Newsletter

When you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll receive a welcome letter that has a link to June’s newsletter. Plain News goes out four times a year, is free, and is chocked full of things related to the Amish. The last newsletter had parts one and two of my article “Connecting to the Old Order Amish.” It also had a link for reading the first chapter of When the Soul Mends, tidbits from author Tamera Alexander, and some suggested reads from my editor.

An excerpt from Plain News: A tidbit about Amish life

After a week of sweltering temps, it’s a beautiful day today in Pennsylvania.  I know this because Anna [1] called me from her phone shanty and told me so. She’s been busy this week weeding her garden and mowing—all in prep for taking a few days off and going to visit some cousins who live out of state.

To mow the yards, Amish use reel mowers. When living in Maryland as a child, I saw several neighbors use reel mowers to cut their grass.

For Englischers, “living green” is trendy—from recycling everything we can, to using cloth diapers instead of disposable, to avoiding fuel emissions. Much of what society is returning to in order to slow the negative impact on this planet the Amish have never stopped doing.

Today, as I shared with Anna what the “tidbit about Amish life” section in this newsletter would be about, she said that in the spirit of Tom Sawyer, anyone interested in seeing how a reel mower works is welcome to come experience using one on her yards.

And that, my dear readers, is Anna’s sense of humor in a nutshell. She makes me wish I lived next door and not seven hundred miles away!

[1] names have been changed to assure their privacy

For a chance to win an autographed copy of all three Sisters of the Quilt books, just leave a comment below. The contest will continue throughout July.

Bis schpeeder,  (til later)

For this week’s Rita finalist I have an interview with Amy Wallace. Her book Ransomed Dreams is a Rita finalist. This RITA honor is a particularly fun journey for Amy and me to share together. In 2002, we both were new members of an online writer’s group and knew of each other through that. Soon we had the opportunity to meet and we’ve been involved in each other’s lives ever since. We are founding board members of a local writer’s group, occasionally teach together at book stores or libraries, and find ways to both encourage and give each other a hard time. It’s great:-)

Amy Wallace is a wife, homeschool mom of three, writer, speaker, Bible study leader, and avid chocoholic. She loves crafting high-action suspense that delves deep into heart issues, but who she really is can be summed up in a few short words: Amy is a daughter of the King learning to live and love with laughter. Amy is also the author of Ransomed Dreams and Healing Promises, books 1 and 2 of the Defenders of Hope series, a contributing author of God Answers Mom’s Prayers, God Allows U-Turns for Teens, Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes, and A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Moms.

Stop in for a taste of dark chocolate suspense at www.amywallace.com

1.  Describe your RITA phone call.

Being a homeschool mom, I rarely answer the phone during school hours. So it was easy to ignore the first few times the same out-of-state area code popped up on Caller ID. After about five similar calls and no messages, I was sure the person calling was an annoying telemarketer. And I was ready to let them know what I thought about their pestering should they call again.

Well… they called again. And my terse greeting received a cheery answer from a very sweet lady with RWA. Once I realized this was no telemarketer, I was mortified. So I didn’t even hear what contest she was calling about.

Not too long after, I left for a writer’s meeting and shared my embarrassing phone call. A dear friend about fell out of her chair with excitement, “YOU are a RITA FINALIST! That is SO awesome!”

By that point, I was asking the Lord’s forgiveness for being rude on the phone and tearing up with thankfulness that even when I’m not listening or looking, God still finds ways to lavish His goodness on this undeserving child. 

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

To be a RITA finalist with my debut novel was a God kiss that my heart desperately needed. Physical challenges and painful circumstances of the previous two years had left me feeling broken and abandoned. But when I learned RANSOMED DREAMS was a finalist, I sensed God whisper to my heart that He sees. So for me, this honor was a gift God knew would encourage me to keep going. And it has.

RANSOMED DREAMS blurb:

Chained To Yesterday

When tragedy struck and Gracie Lang lost everything, her faith crumbled, and nothing but the drive for justice propelled her forward. But after two years of dead-end searching, the truth Gracie seeks is the very thing her stalker will stop at nothing to hide.

Forgiveness Unlocks the Future

An FBI agent in the Crimes Against Children Unit, Steven Kessler spends his days rescuing other people’s children and nights caring for his son. He’s through with God, embittered by his ex-wife who abandoned them both.

The Past Is the Key

A plot to kidnap a British ambassador’s daughter dangerously intersects Steven and Gracie’s worlds–a collision that demands a decision. But are they willing to pay the high ransom required to redeem dreams and reignite hope?

3.   How many books have you written?

I’ve written three Defenders of Hope novels, and a fairytale for my kids which they think is “way cool.”

Stuffed into a file cabinet and a jump drive, I have two other novels and one novella which may someday see the light of day.

4.   Do you have a favorite?

Tough question! If pressed to choose, I’d say RANSOMED DREAMS. Because in writing that story, I saw with my heart that God had indeed called me to write and would equip me for every step of this journey.

5.   Describe your writing process.

My writing process has evolved from just sitting down to type in that blissful state of ignorance and excitement to doing fairly detailed chapter-by-chapter outlines and character sketches before I begin to write. Because the Defenders of Hope series is suspense focusing on Crimes Against Children FBI agents, I had tons of research to do before I began crafting the stories. Once my research helped me define the timeline, I set to work on the chapter-by-chapter and character details. I’ve found the outline and information about the characters incredibly helpful in keeping me on task with the story, not only the action plot, but also the development and depth of the characters.

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

I conceded to begin the writing journey when my husband and God teamed up and pushed me in that direction. I’ve always written and even won an award in fifth grade for a truly wretched first attempt at suspense. But the dream of writing for publication didn’t enter my mind until God plopped some novels in my lap and sent a dream that dogged my sleep. Then my husband took the initiative and scheduled an interview for me with a Secret Service agent he knew. After frenzied research, an amazing interview and watching these dream characters come to life, I was in it for the long haul because I’d found something I could put my whole heart into, something I’d been created to do.

Why Christian fiction? When I sat down to write the story that would become Ransomed Dreams, my heart’s desire was to portray real emotions and the struggles many believers face. It never crossed my mind not to write about God and His involvement in our lives through the vehicle of fiction. For that reason, I’m honored to be called a CBA author.

7.  Tell us about your next or upcoming projects.

The second Defenders of Hope novel, HEALING PROMISES (April 2008), is about FBI Agent Clint Rollins who takes a bullet during a standoff, which might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the beast of cancer. As he continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

ENDURING JUSTICE is the third Defenders of Hope book releasing spring of 2009. Hanna Kessler’s childhood secret remained buried for decades. But when the shadows of her past threaten those she loves and the system fails FBI Agent Michael Parker—setting a white supremacist free—they must learn the difference between vengeance and justice is their choice to heal.

8.  Do you have any advice for unpublished writers?

I’m a firm believer that God never wastes an experience or trial. So if we’re willing to be honest and open about where our lives have taken us—first with the Lord and then with others as He directs—there’s great potential for hope and healing and seeing the redemptive hand of God at work through us. In the writing realm, my mentor calls it “bleeding into your work.” A graphic but appropriate description. Oftentimes it feels exactly like it sounds.

Powerful words are born out of our willingness to embrace our experiences and allow God to use them for His good. And powerful words draw people into a place where they’re more open to hearing the Lord and letting Him heal their hearts. Those words give us an entrance into another’s soul.

So consider your story. Ask God to use it. He will.

There are people waiting to hear the words only you can uniquely share. And I pray that as you share, you’ll see that nothing in God’s loving and compassionate hands is ever, ever wasted.

To purchase, click on: Ransomed Dreams

It’s always exciting to send out a new edition of my Plain News newsletter. The June issue went out on Saturday, chocked full of interesting things shared only in the newsletter, including the first chapter in When the Soul Mends, the second half of the article about connecting to the Old Order Amish, a contest with a chance to win all three books autographed, and some humor from an Old Order Amish friend.

Since Saturday, I’ve received positive feedback about Plain News from hundreds of you. Thank you!

Some e-mailed me with questions that I’ll address here. I won’t be able to respond individually for weeks, so my daughter-in-law will try to respond to as many as possible later on today. When she returns to full-classes at UGA in the fall, I’m going to miss her help!! How I wish computers were as intuitive as she is on what needs to be done and how. Anyway, if you hear from her, be sure to say hello.

Erin and I at work in my office.

As a mom of all sons, I can’t tell you how fun it is having a daughter-in-law, a really great one! I also have a terrific future daughter-in-law. More on that later!

If you signed up to receive the newsletter and didn’t receive it on Saturday, please enter your e-mail address again at Plain News. Although the newsletter can’t be sent out to individuals, you will receive a welcome letter with a link to the latest newsletter. At the bottom of that newsletter is a link to the previous newsletter and so on.

I went into my e-zine account last night (i.e. newsletter server) and saw that 78 people were inactive. When I began reading the e-mail addresses, I realized why. Some had simply changed e-mail accounts, so they are in good shape. But most of those 78 people had entered their e-mail address in wrong. For example, someone had put @homtail.com which should have been entered as @hotmail.com. With one glance at each e-mail address, I could tell what simple slip of a key had happened, but fixing it will take take days of work . . . days I can’t give right now.

If my daughter-in-law has time, she’ll begin addressing that issue too. Did I mention how great it is to have a daughter-in-law? — although I’ll be honest, letting go of my son wasn’t easy. I fell in love with Erin long before the engagment took place, and I was excited for her and my son to have found each other, but I wasn’t braced for all the emotions that led up to the wedding day and letting him go.

On my wedding day, my mother told me, if you want my opinion from here on out, you’ll have to ask. I’ll not offer an opinion on any decisions you’re making. I’m opinionless . . . unless you ask.

She stuck to that too. She helped me move and decorate half a dozen homes, stayed with us for at least a week for the birth of each child, asked lots of questions of how I wanted things done, and never gave an unsolicited opinion. To say I miss her doesn’t begin to cover it. We had a fantastic relationship, and I did ask her opinion regularly. I try to live by that same wisdom.

What is it with me today? On to your questions . . .

Several asked, “In the newsletter you said the book you’re currently writing on is possibly titled Hope of Refuge. Will it be Amish too?”

Yes, the novel I’m writing on has an Amish setting with Amish characters. I’m very excited about this new novel. It has two storylines, both of which are based on true stories and issues that have faced at least one Old Order Amish community. It’s book one in a three-book series, but the main story will begin and conclude in the first book. Hopefully there won’t be any cliffhangers this time;-)

I say hopefully because sometimes a story, as in Sisters of the Quilt, comes to an author in a certain way, and there’s nothing the author can do but write it. But Hope of Refuge is now plotted, so if it continues to behave, you’ll read a wonderful based-on-true-life story in a single book.

Several asked: “You were in Pennsylvania without doing a book signing?!”

I send my deepest apologies on that one. I hope it never happens again! But this trip was planned to coincide with a particular Amish community’s school-sale auction. It took months of planning and every minute was accounted for. We had to take our son out of school for three days to meet our agenda. We drove our van to Pennsylvania. Five days later my husband and son returned with a van load of items bought at the auction. I stayed and worked on writing projects with an Amish friend, but I can’t really share about that yet; I will say I was so far away from the main flow of traffic my Blackberry couldn’t receive e-mails nor half the cell calls that came in. When my phone did work, I only heard part of what was being said and then the call dropped. Days later I hired a driver (like the Amish do) to take me to BWI so I could catch a plane to Georgia. Once I was halfway to the airport, my Blackberry started buzzing nonstop as it sent and received e-mails. My agent called me, saying he’d received an e-mail from me that I’d written to him seven days earlier. LOL. I could have sent it U.S Postal service and it arrived much sooner than that.

The next question I received several of after the newsletter went out asked if I could give permission to use and/or send you the first chapter of When the Soul Mends.

Although you can forward the newsletter to whomever you wish and they can open the link to that chapter, I’m not allowed to send out individual chapters. I had to get permission from Random House to post that chapter in my newsletter, which means I can’t give you permission to use that chapter on your blog. Only the publisher can do that.

On that same note, I can’t answer questions about the plot and outcome of When the Soul Mends. I’m sure you understand. But once it’s out, let’s discuss it!

I received such wonderful feedback on that first chapter of When the Soul Mends, as well as encouraging congrats on being a Rita finalist for When the Morning Comes.

Denki! Denki! Denki! (Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! )

If you have a question, feel free to send me a note or post it in the comments. I’ll get back with you on it as soon as possible . . . which can be a while sometimes

Gott segen eich ~ God bless you!

Cindy

For this week’s Rita finalist I have an interview with Karen Harter. Her book Autumn Blue is a Rita finalist, but you’ll enjoy reading about some of her other ventures in writing too.

Karen Harter’s books have been translated into eight foreign languages. Last year her novel, Where Mercy Flows won the Christy Award for Best First Novel. Her books have been featured in Reader’s Digest Select Editions alongside bestselling authors like Mary Higgins Clark and Lee Child. The Seattle Times featured her first novel as a recommended read. She is thrilled with the nomination of her second book for a coveted RITA award. Karen and her husband live in Mount Vernon, Washington where they pastor The Valley Church. They love to fish the many streams and lakes surrounding their home. Karen has recently (after raising three boys) decided to learn to cook. Maybe that will bring them back home.

Here’s Karen Harter!

1.  Describe your RITA phone call.

It was a busy morning; schedules to keep and a to-do list as long as a roll of toilet paper.  The phone call telling me I was a RITA finalist stunned me momentarily, but then the next call came and I was off and running. It was not until much later that day that it sunk in. A finalist for a coveted RITA award! Little ol’ me? Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

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

Sidney Walker is a single mom, raising her kids in the safe environment of Ham Bone, Washington, a small town tucked against the foothills of the mountains. But despite her efforts to protect them, her fifteen year old son, Ty, is broodingly angry and has run away into the woods. The handsome sheriff who appears with a warrant to search her home seems to have an anger problem himself, and a personal vendetta against Ty. His repeated visits leave Sidney shaken, and questioning her sweet son’s innocence. She prays that God will send a man to help her raise her children, and of course he answers in the strangest way.

Readers tell me they relish the way the layers of each character are slowly peeled away until they understand each one intimately. Everyone loves Millard Bradbury, the old man across the street, who has a problem with sulky teenagers and pesky moles. And of course, they cringe when the evil ex-husband/dad appears, suddenly wanting to become a family again. I believe people say “I couldn’t put it down!” because they care so much about each member of this evolving “family”.

3.   How many books have you written?

I’ve written four complete novels. The first one is great for leveling table legs or starting a fire. Two are published, and the fourth is just about finished.

4.   Do you have a favorite?

Yes, my first published novel, Where Mercy Flows, which won a Christy award last year. It’s told through the eyes of Samantha, a single mom carrying a load of guilt, who becomes destitute and has no choice but to return to her parent’s home on the river of her childhood, along with her illegitimate son, TJ.  She was never been able to live up to the strict standards of her powerful father, Judge Blake Dodd and it seems nothing has changed. Her childhood friend, Donnie Duncan, runs his father’s ranch just up the road. He vies for her love, but she’s not free to give it. Sam still longs for forgiveness for what she did to her estranged husband, and for the child she threw away.

This story is really a parable. It’s about me and God; maybe you and God too. When my life was full of sin, I pushed my heavenly Father away. I couldn’t see my way out of the darkness. But he loved me all along, and it was through his amazing sacrifice that I no longer carry a load of guilt. Keep some tissues with you when you read this story of a struggle between father and daughter, and Samantha’s ultimate redemption.

5.   Describe your writing process.

A story begins with a character who appears in my head and begins to walk around in there. I think about him/her or them for weeks, maybe months while their story unfolds. I may write little scenes that will occur somewhere in the book, which helps me develop their voice, their motivations, their past. I pray for the Lord’s message and write down the theme or what I want the reader to take away personally from this story. Eventually I use 3×5 cards to map out scenes, which can be rearranged until I know the order of the chapters. On each card I briefly write Intention, Conflict, and Collision. (I learned this from writing coach, Gloria Kempton at a conference). This keeps me on track and ensures that at the end of each chapter there is a collision, or dramatic point that pulls the curious reader into the next chapter.

Then I write and see what really happens, often surprised by the wonderful characters and events that weren’t even in the cards!

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

I dreamed occasionally about being a writer during high school and college when teachers told me I had a gift. It was a romantic concept at the time. I saw myself living in a little cottage by the sea where I sustained myself simply by writing, growing vegetables and harvesting crab and fish. That didn’t happen. It was not until I was sitting in church one morning with a husband, two young boys, and a mortgage career that I made the decision. Rather, God made the decision, and through the pastor’s teaching on the parable of the talents, dropped it into me. What transpired between the Lord and me that day is unforgettable! I’ve gone back to that in moments of discouragement and know beyond a shadow of doubt that this is His plan for me, and that he will use the words he gives me to draw people to the Truth.

7.  Tell us about your next or upcoming projects.

I’ve just completed a story about a Jewish single dad, whose heart is broken when his daughter runs away. In his search for her, he becomes involved with the Human Services Director at a downtown Seattle church, a disorganized goy woman with blond hair the length of his grass between mowings. When she risks her life to save his daughter, the attraction that he’s denied is beginning to feel like love. But she is a Christian and he’s Jew. They are oil and water. How could they ever become the family that he craves?

I believe the next project is Annie and The Fisherman, a love story that’s been walking around in my head for at least two years. I’m also working on A Train to Somewhere, which is about an unlikely friendship that develops between a flighty art student and her mandatory college roommate, a beautiful, but bitter violinist. Oh, the trouble they get themselves into! But they survive into adulthood, and Kenzie (the artist) is still trying to crack the crust around Maggie’s heart, while Maggie attempts to break up her friend’s pending marriage. This is a best friend story with lots of romance woven in. Possibly a series.

8.  Do you have any advice for unpublished writers?

If you are a Christian writer, then you are an ambassador for Christ. Your motivation, your passion should be to glorify Him. Be sure that you are gifted and called to serve him through the written word, because, believe me, there will be times of discouragement. I know that I would have quit if not for the knowledge that this is God’s assignment for me.

And of course, pursue excellence. Read quality writing and attend conferences. Pray each time you sit down to write. This is the real key to success. It’s almost like cheating but you never get busted because the words that come out of you are being whispered by the Spirit of God. Oh, and have fun. Words are fascinating, dazzling like crystal beads, and you get to string them together into unique stories like no one else can!

The winner of last week’s blog contest is Carol Graves. Carol won an autographed copy of When the Soul Mends, to be sent when its available.

Congratulations, Carol!

I’m adding the last touches to latest edition of Plain News. If you enjoy insights into the Amish life, I encourage you to join the newsletter. It only goes out four times per year, so you won’t get tired of it;-)

This next edition has: 
    Sneak peek ~ chapter one of When the Soul Mends
    Part two of Connecting to the Old Order Amish Community
    Chance to win an autographed copy of all three books in Sisters of the Quilt series
    A tidbit on using a reel mower from an Old Order Amish friend
    A few words from guest author Tamera Alexander
    And some good reads shared by my editor Shannon [Hill] Marchese

To sign up, click here: Plain News Newsletter (After you sign up, you’ll receive a welcome letter with a link to the previous newsletter. After you’ve read that one, at the bottom of it is a link for another previous newsletter.)

A night of changing roles ~

My husband and I are house project people. We’ve had decades of taking on at least one large project each year. Even when money is really tight there are tons of projects that can be done, from deep cleaning storage rooms to buying a couple gallons of paint and painting as many rooms as possible.

Project time rolled around again this past week, only this time someone else has been doing a large part of the labor. We had new flooring laid in the kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom and also new kitchen countertops.

We were without access to the restrooms for days, no water to the kitchen for even longer, and the stove as well as the washer and dryer can’t be moved onto the flooring until Friday.  

Now it’s pretty easy to do without a kitchen for a few days in the summer, especially since we only have one child to feed these days. . . if he were at home, which he isn’t. Not very often since school let out.

Our second son and his wife took him back to thier place, which is an hour away.

Hubby and I slept at home, but last night we loaded laundry into our van and crashed our oldest son’s place. He only lives a couple of miles away. So we made a wreck of his laundry room, took over the remote control to his television, and propped our feet up while he broke out the snacks;-) Hmmmm. Maybe we should do two projects next year. LOL! 

Anyone who waded through all of my meanderings deserves something.

For a chance to win an autographed copy of When the Soul Mends, just leave a comment below. I’ll draw a winner next week and it’ll be sent close to its release date.