10 Questions for Paula J. Miller

10 Questions for Paula J. Miller

1. Tricia: You book One Eyed Jack sounds great. As a Montana resident, I think you made a great choice for a setting. Where did you get the idea?

Paula: My grandparents lived in Idaho, so every summer my family would pile into our camper and travel across Montana. I came to love the openness of the country. The mountains. The foothills. I also love western movies/fiction/history -- anything 1800's or older, and all of the adult novels I've written take place in either Montana or Wyoming. I just love that area; it was an easy choice for a children's book as well.

2. Tricia: How are you able to share spiritual truths through this story?

Paula: Ya know, writing for children is a lot harder than it looks. And trying not to preach when you're writing about a spiritual subject close to your heart is even harder. But the one truth that amazes me every time I think about it is God's sovereignty. To realize that no matter how bad life gets, God has it all in control. That's what I try to share in this story. My protégée, Nate, slowly comes to realize this through a mishap of adventures he has no control over.



3. Tricia: One of the workshops you teach is: The Man Behind The Mask. What is your number one tip for creating a character with depth?

Paula: I love this workshop. I have so much fun teaching it to students. But the number one tip . . . hmmm. I'd have to say it's something I learned after reading "Getting into Character", by Brandilyn Collins. She said that when you are writing about a character, become him. Get into his head. If he's angry, get up and pace the floor like he would. If he's sad, sit down in a corner and think what he would think. If he's jealous, go through those emotions in your head. Then ask yourself, how am I sitting/walking? what do my facial expressions look like? are my muscles tense or loose? what am I doing with my hands? I get so much more word flow when I become my character.

4. Tricia: What is one of the biggest heartaches you've faced in life, and how do you feel that has impacted your writing?

Paula: Wow, that's a question very dear to my heart. About four years ago our daughter was stillborn just four days before she was due. We had absolutely no warning or hint that anything was wrong. I struggled for several months between questioning God, emotional bouts of tears in public and anger at my husband because he didn't express himself and I couldn't talk about anything else. That was the point that I really learned about and began to understand God's sovereignty. That's also one of the reasons many of my characters also face that issue. And it is a big issue, finding out that absolutely nothing is out of His control. It's amazing really.

5. Tricia: What's one of your favorite movies you've watched this year? Why?

Paula: Ha. I love westerns as mentioned above, but lately I've become a period film watcher. I absolutely love the BBC Pride and Prejudice - 5 hours of history, romance, and sparing word wars between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The woman who plays Elizabeth Bennett is a perfect example of someone who gets into her character. I love watching her facial expressions - the tiniest quirk of an eyebrow says more than anything she could have said out loud.

6. Tricia: If you had to choose one thing to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week, what would you pick?

Paula: Pizza. I love it cold, I love it hot. I love anything with cheese and bread together-so it's perfect.

7. Tricia: Tell me what your writing day is like?

Paula: Well, in my house writing comes in small spurts for the most part. A little here and a little there when I can squeeze it in. We homeschool and have three boys 8 and under. Our house is a mixture of racing cars, roping cowboys, and sword fights. I do require at least one hour of 'quiet time' when the littlest takes a nap and I can get in a bit there, but otherwise I do my writing at night. It's 2:13 a.m. as I write this.

8. Tricia: If you could play a part in any sitcom, which would you pick?

Paula: That's a hard one. I don't watch sitcoms, in fact I don't even have the slightest idea what sitcoms are on T.V. right now. But I guess the only one I can think of would be Debra(?) on Everybody Loves Raymond. The few times I saw that show she had kids bouncing around the house and there were toys everywhere. I think I could play that part without a problem!

9. Tricia: If we went shopping at the Mall of America together, which store would you drag me to first?

Paula: RCC Western Store - I love walking in there and just smelling the leather.

10. Tricia: Which attribute of God has filled your heart with joy lately?

Paula: You'll get tired of my answer, but His sovereignty. My husband Travis and I just went away this past weekend for our 10 year anniversary, and I'm happy to report that I think we're more in love now than we were when we got married. Well, no, maybe not more, but in a deeper sense. He's my best friend, and when we sat and talked about the last 10 years, there's just no way we could have ever planned it more perfect than God did. All the trials, tribulations and losses have made us the husband/wife and parents we are. God is molding us all the time, and it's sobering to realize how much we've changed. See, I told you it was hard not to preach about something close to my heart! I'll stop now and haul myself upstairs to bed.

Thanks for having me!
Paula J. Miller
Paula J. Miller One-Eyed Jack - Rattlesnakes, lassos, and learning to trust God.
How much can one boy & his dog handle?
Ordinary people; ordinary lives. One sovereign God changes them all.

Homestudy

Well, I'm happy to report that homestudy went extremely well. It was painless, actually! And the more we talked with the social worker, the more excited I became. We will have another daughter, it's just a matter of a little more paperwork and a lot of time waiting. (We're looking at 1 1/2 years still!)

One cool thing is how this adoption process has helped us understand God even better. Every night, we have a time of Bible Study with our kids. We're currently studying the first chapters of Ephesians. These chapters talk about God's plan to adopt us as His own. About Him preparing a heavenly place for us. About our seat in the heavenly places.

Likewise, we have this child in our hearts . . . and she's most likely not even born. We pray for her. We have a name for her. She is a part of our family. It's a message that resonates in our hearts.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Next week I'll be plunging in to the remaining paperwork, and then it's time to start my next book project. At least I'm not twiddling my thumbs as I wait for our girl! Instead I'm diligently working at what God lays before me . . . trusting Him.

How to Write a Simple Summary

When I first query an editor with an story idea, I break it down into a few simple parts. Here is the breakdown for my novel, "A Valley of Betrayal" that will be published February 2006.

As you can see, this is not an overview of the entire novel, but rather a summary that will hopefully hook the editor into wanted to know more. This type of summary can be used on a One-Sheet (popular at writer's conferences to pique an editor's interest). Or it can be used in your book proposal.

The bonus is that the same information can be reused when you begin to market your book. After all, the information that gained an editor's interest will most like gain a reader's interest also.

Historical Overview:
Nazi tanks roll across the hillsides and German bombers roar overhead, dropping bombs on the helpless citizens below. Italian troops fight alongside them, and their opponents attempt to stand strong—Americans, British, Irishmen—in unison with other volunteers from dozens of countries. And their battleground? The beautiful Spanish countryside.

From July 1936-April 1939, well before America was involved in World War II, another battle was fought on the hillsides of Spain. On one side, the Spanish Republicans, joined by the Soviet Union and The International Brigade—men and women from all over the world who have volunteered to fight Fascism.

Opposing them, Franco and his Fascist military leaders, supported with troops, machinery, and weapons from Hitler and Mussolini. The Spanish Civil War, considered the “training ground” for the war to come, boasted of thousands of American volunteers who joined to fight on the Republican side, half of which never returned home.

Characters:
The International Brigade was made up of volunteers from all over the world who came to Spain to fight Fascism. And even though they are from various nations, a small group of men and women will overcome the odds and soon find themselves friends for life.

Sophie is an artist who finds herself in Spain after traveling there to marry a photographer with the Associated Press. After her finace’s death, a member of The International Brigade rescues Sophie. With the brigade's support, she uses her talents to become a combat artist in hopes that her drawings will alert the world concerning the fate of the Spanish people.

Philip, an American teacher (also part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade) is the son of an pastor. Philip finds himself staying in Spain after attending the Worker's Games in Barcelona.

Deion is an African-American from New York City who is part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Deion can relate to the struggle of the Spanish people due to his own upbringing as a black man in the deep south.

Father Manuel is a young priest who has conflicting emotions on whether to side with the church or the people he’s given his heart to serve.

On the opposite side of the war, German soldier Ritter Anker is one of pilots flying with Hitler's Condor Legion. When Ritter's plane crashes, he takes on the role as a German Communist--and volunteer for Spain, finding help where he least expects it—from International Brigade members, including a beautiful American woman named Sophie.

That's it! That is a basic summary of my next novel.

Marketing Help 4 U!

The members of the CAN (Christian Authors Network) Marketing blog entitled We Can! promote our books, formally welcome you to join our little corner of cyberspace.

Check us out at: http://canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/

Twelve authors will be participating in this blog:

Monday: Tricia Goyer and Gail Gaymer Martin
Tuesday: Cyndy Salzmann and Allison Bottke
Wednesday: Suzie Eller and Sharon Hinck
Thursday: Susie Larson and Camy Tang
Friday: Mary E. DeMuth and Kathi Macias
Saturday: Jill Nelson and Susan Meissner

We want this blog to be the place authors go if they want to promote, publicize and market their books.

We'll approach this from many different angles, with many different voices. Some of us have many books out, while others are promoting their first. We've all had some level of success in our marketing endeavors, and some blunders too. We'll share interviews, insights, and creative ideas with you with humor, candor and a dose of humility.

It's our hope that you'll tell your friends about this new blog, that you'll dare to make a comment or two, and that you'll walk away from this blog with many practical and insightful ideas.

Enjoy!
Tricia Goyer . . . and the other CAN Marketing Blog Gurus

This Is My Life

Today, I don't have time for a long post because in a few hours the social worker will be arriving to start the homestudy concerning about adoption.

For those of you who don't know, my husband and I are in the process of adopting a baby girl from China. And this homestudy is another step closer in bringing her home.

Of course, I have to admit that this homestudy has unnerved me more than I thought it would. The 13-pages of questions was difficult enough, but the idea of a person coming into to study our home and life . . . well, it's hard to put it into words.

So I've thrown myself into the only thing I could tangibly do--my house got a total cleaning. Every closet and drawer has been touched. My office, for the first time in months, actually looks like someplace where books could be written.

I know, you don't have to tell me. Our approval for this adoption will not hinge on whether the clothes in my closet are organized by color and season (although they now are). In fact, as a friend told me last week, "If your life isn't acceptable now, a week won't make the difference." She was right.

Still, what else could I do? John and I have put sixteen years into our life, our kids, our home. We've loved lots and we've attempted to follow Jesus. In the end that is all we can do. In the end that has to be enough. And my hope is that by focusing on our heavenly home, our earthly one will be up to par.

And either way, even the hamsters now have clean cages. And, I think I have a few more minutes to tackle the goldfish bowl . . .

10 Questions for Jane Kirkpatrick

Ten Questions for Jane Kirkpatrick

1. Tricia: Jane, I read on your bio that you grew up on a dairy farm. What are three things about that time that stand out to you the most?

Jane: 1)watching the sunset come up standing beside my dad and the comfort that brought knowing we were working side by side; 2) There'd been a community argument over schools and my parents chose to send me from the one room school near us to a newer two-room school 5 miles away. Most of our neighbors didn't send their children to the new school until a few years later so during that time, people didn't wave at us when we met them on the road and I remember asking why not? So I discovered community alienation at an early age and how people deal with disappointment; and 3)I used to sit on top of the barn cleaner (it took the manure out and dumped it into a spreader) and sing to the cows and tell them stories while they chewed their cuds. Great audience. Not a one ever got up to leave.

2. Tricia: You've been married for 30+ years. Congratulations! If you had to give one piece of advice for newlyweds today, what would that be?

Jane: Someone asked me that just the other day! I told them to be absolutely forgiving of your partner no matter what; keep the bar low; and chose to be happy rather than being right! We are all of us imperfect and I feel so blessed to have married my best friend who overlooks those imperfections.

3. Tricia: Your home is "seven miles from the mailbox and eleven from pavement." How does this isolation help your writing? How does it hinder it?

Jane: I think we're remote but not so isolated as you'd think! We now have a phone, internet access, so that really helps with research, editorial connection. When I was working part time and gone from home two nights a week, then I felt more isolated in some ways because I wasn't "at home". I get my writing energy from an internal sense rather than engaging with lots of people. I can sometimes go all day without going outside because I'm writing, my husband does the cooking, we have no children at home. If I dont have to go to town for 10 days I am happy, happy. But I do need to be able to look out and see the river, the rimrocks and hills, to know that very likely few people will be "dropping in" on us without a call first. It's like a cocoon of sorts but I suspect that can be created in the midst of Manhattan, too. I can take the puppy out in my night clothes and not worry that a neighbor is going to complain!

The distance hinders my writing because of the time just maintenance consumes. Almost any trip out takes a whole day. It's an hour long drive one way to the vet or to buy groceries or run errands. It's a half-hour one way to the nearest library or to church. I write early in the morning so I feel like I've accomplished something by 9:00 knowing I'll be spending several hours just doing little things that might take someone in town 15 minutes. I don't engage in as many community things as I'd like because of the time and wanting to have writing time as well as family time at home so I think I miss out on the richness of connection that happens among groups of people. It's that kind of richness that helps me tell stories...



4. Tricia: I love the title of your newest book "A Clearing in the Wild." Even though it is a historical novel, how do the desires of the characters in that book match those of many people today?

Jane: This is the story of a German American community and the German language has a word, Sehnsucht, that means "yearning or longing" in a spiritual sense. I think it's part of the human condition to be known for our uniqueness and many of us struggle with being known in communities that don't always honor individual voices. Children and teens often feel unheard; women; people with disabilities, even in communities of faith there are those who feel silenced. And yet we yearn to be known. We also yearn to be known by God, I believe, and to find spiritual answers. That hasn't changed through the years.

Part of this story is that this religious community felt that their young people were being led away and so they wanted a more isolated place to live; and yet they were successful business people in part because they interacted well with the "outside world". That tension between being salt and light, I think continues for us today. And then there are just the family issues involved in trying to be heard within a large extended family. So I believe historical novels allow people from the past to step into our generation to teach us and touch us with their lives.

5. Tricia: If a new writer wanted to write historical fiction what advice would you offer?

Jane: Go for it! I'd encourage them to read about the era they love, to have that environment be as real to them as their own bedroom. I read lots of non-fiction about all kinds of things like the history of hat pins or the history of cholera. I find writing historical novels one of the most engaging activities ever because I get to do research that I love and can justify the time spent doing it! And I get to create stories about things that matter to me and set them historically where hopefully the story will transcend what I wrote and reach a reader where their heart is. Sometimes that is easier than when writing a contemporary novel because people put up barriers and might say, well, that's not my problem. But when it is an historical character they might be more willing to let their guard down and in the process discover an insight that could help them live more fully in their very contemporary lives.

I'd also tell them to silence the voices of people saying "historical novels don't sell" because we all write, to some extent, historically, as we draw from our memories and experiences. I like to believe that a story that is well-told and wishes to convey meaning and hope will be read regardless of what era it is set in. The latest Pulitzer, MARCH, is an historical novel. COLD MOUNTAIN is an historical novel. But it is the richness of the characters and their challenges and their spiritual journeys that engage readers, I think.

6. Tricia: How long does it take you to write a novel? Do you have a system you use when approaching each new book?

Jane: All my life :) I try to set aside six months to write (even though I am also researching during that time); and six months to research (even though I'm also rewriting, revising, copy-editing etc. during that time). I have contracts for four more novels so that gives me some idea of how much time I have to research and meet deadlines. The very first novel took me four months because I didn't know how long it was supposed to take. I just wrote it until it was finished. Now I make up an extensive timeline of my characters (I write about real historical people, primarily women) and try to identify the life-changing events for them. Why was Emma Giesy with 9 men crossing the continent; when was her child born and where. When did her parents come out? When were her daughter's born and where, those kinds of things. then I do a timeline of what was happening nationally: why was 1853 important in Missouri? What was happening in 1855 in Washington Territory that might have affected my characters? Then I use the three questions from Structuring the Novel by Meredith and Fitzgerald: What is my intention in writing this story; what is my attitude (what do I feel deeply about); what is my purpose (how do I hope a reader will be changed by writing this). I spend many pages trying to answer those three questions and getting them into one sentence each that I can attach to my computer. So when I get lost or wonder what I've done by trying to write this novel I can look at those sentences and remind myself why I'm writing.

7. Tricia: Sunrise or sunset?

Jane: Sunrise.

8. Tricia: If a publisher approached you about writing an autobiography of your life what would the title be?

Jane: I did that! I have a memoir published called HOMESTEAD: Modern Pioneers Pursue the Edge of Possibility though originally I wanted it titled A Sweetness to the Soul but named my first novel A Sweetness to the Soul instead.

9. Tricia: You often speak at women's groups. If you were to start writing a new talk based on your experiences this past month, what would the topic be?

Jane: Great question! I think it would be about what we hunger for as women. At a booksigning two nights ago, a woman told me she'd found my book in the library (between Steven King and Barbara Kingsolver) and had read the book within two days. She said what she most appreciated was that while my characters might see the world differently than she, that I did not judge them harshly and she therefore, didn't feel judged harshly for her struggles and her own journey as a wife and mother trying to do the best she could for her family without losing herself in the process. At another signing a man told me how much he appreciated my work because even the villains were not profane and that the men made him feel like he had a community when he read the books, that he wasn't alone in how he expressed his faith, lived with his neighbors, treated his wife. His wife stood beside him and cried she was so moved by how the stories had enriched his life. (And it was the story, not me).

Then at a radio interview, the interviewer asked about the writing process and what questions had to be answered by fiction rather than by fact. Again, that made me think of the kind of things we women hunger for. Unless there's a journal somewhere or the historical figure wrote down the desires of her heart, the novelist is left to speculate about what motivated that woman. We women often don't name our desires. We name the desires of our children or husbands or parents but not our own. And then Monday I read a sermon by Frederick Buechner whose work I admire and he spoke about the hunger we have as humans to know God, to be known by God. And finally, I struggle with being "filled up" and allowing that to happen without discounting the many gifts I'm given in people's kindnesses, their time, their words to me. Kathleen Norris writes of the word "sloth" and how she defines it as "the perverse unwillingness to accept the possibility of joy." I think we hunger for joy and find ways to keep ourselves from receiving it. As women, we spend way more time with sloth than we need to.

So I think I'd write a new presentation about hunger and how we can be less judgmental of ourselves and find new ways to allow God to fill us. Well, maybe that's a part of what I frequently talk about; but I'd have new insights based on my experiences this past week.

10. Tricia: If I gave you a gift certificate for any book, which would you choose to purchase?

Jane: The latest edition of Oxford Dictionary of English Entymology. I love words.

Thanks!!!
Jane Kirkpatrick
http://www.jkbooks.com/

Books that Inspire Writers 3.0 and "Just Ask Tricia"

What Books Inspire Writers? The third and final installment . . .

But first, I interrupt this blog to say I've had a wonderful response to my "10 Questions" Interviews . . . and you should see the ones I have lined up!

I've also had more than one person ask why *I* don't answer the questions, too. Uh, because it's easier making up the questions than trying to figure out the answers!

Hmmm, that's not a very good excuse, is it?

So, I'm going to answer a few of my own questions. Then, I need your help. Scan through the past interviews, pick out the ones you'd like me to answer, then post them in the COMMENT section. Or, write your own question! How's that for putting myself on the spot?

These questions are from Mary Byer's interview (with my answers). You have to scan down to see Mary's answers!

Tricia: Italian or Mexican?

Tricia: I love Italian food, all the sauces and cheese and pasta. Yum! BUT I'm a chica at heart. My grandmother is full-blooded Mexican. Her parents moved to the US from Mexico right before she was born. She even lived in a boxcar growing up! I was raised on tortillas, enchiladas, tostadas . . . yum. It's still the food I crave most. In fact, looking back at this week, I did a lot of craving! Taco Soup Saturday, Tostadas on Sunday, taco salad and tortilla soup on Wednesday, soft tacos last night . . . all homemade, of course! My dinners usually have more variety. But I have fresh pico de galleo that calls to me every time I enter the kitchen.

Tricia: What is the last book you checked out from the library?

Tricia: How about the last twenty? I check the books out three-doubled-plastic-bags full. (You think I'm joking!) But here is a short list, showing the variety of the books I'm working on this fall. Yes, they're all for research, except for Dale's book, that I've heard wonderful things about!

Perfectly Secret: The Hidden Lives of Teen Girls, Susan Musgrave

Teen Idol, Meg Cabot

Screenwriting for Dummies (for book research, not because I'm writing a screenplay!)

Levi's Will, Dale Cramer

White Stallion of Lipizza, Marguerite Henry

Animals in War, Jilly Cooper

The Spy Wore Red, by Aline, Countess of Romanones (one of my all-time favorite reads!)

The Life and Death of a Spanish Town, Elliot Paul

Now, the final installment of Books that Inspire Writers:

Christopher Paolini is a new talent on the scene and his word choice and sensory images set me to drooling! His genre is fantasy and I felt drawn to buy his books "Eragon" and "Eldest". The third book in the Inheritance triology is still being written.

My genre is mystery. I read a story in an Ellery Queen magazine about 30 years ago and I still remember it. It was different. It had a unique twist. It was done in first person and was told from a man's POV. He had rigged his wife's typewriter to explode and kill her when she hit a certain letter. As he is telling the story that letter is missing from the words, but it does not hinder the meaning of the words in the least. He is telling why he is going to kill her and how he'll get away with it, et al. The story ends in mid-sentence because in his excitement to get the story down, he forgets and hits that deadly key. I absolutely detest mysteries where I can guess the ending before I even finish the first chapter! I want to write mysteries with creative and fresh words and sensory images, and with fresh plot twists to keep my readers reading until the last word of the last sentence!

Nancy Sonneman


All of yours inspire me, Tricia. They make me think. Especially Arms of Deliverance. I love deep conflict and WWII era fiction. I also found Redeeming Love very inspiring as well as Vienna Prelude by the Thoenes. They are what got me loving Christian fiction. Lost in the story and blessed by the message?

During the last few years it's been books like Rekindled by Tamela Alexander, Kissing Adrien and Chateau of Echos by Siri Mitchell, Coldwater Revival by Nancy Jo Jenkins, Dying to Decorate by Cyndy Salzmann, Wishing on Dandelions by Mary DeMuth, Never Broken by Kathleen Fuller, the Matthews and Matthews mystery series and Emma Jean Reborn by Kathi Macias.

Crystal Lies and Fools Gold by Melody Carlson, Son of Perdition by Louise Gouge, The Heaven's Before by Kacy Gramckow, The Victory Club by Robin Lee Hatcher, A Girl's Best Friend by Kristin Billerbeck, Native Son by J.M. Hochstetler, Color of the Soul by Tracey Bateman, The Lady and the Cad by Tamela Hancock Murray, Remember, Fame, and A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury, The Surrogate by Kathryn Mackel, Thorn in my Heart and Whence Came a Prince by Liz Higgs, and Everything's Coming up Josey by Susan May Warren.
~Michelle Sutton

10 Questions for Robert Elmer

10 Questions for Robert Elmer


1. Tricia: Francis Bacon once said, "Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man." Have you found this to be true?

Robert: Okay, first I have to translate this into English: Reading rounds out the personality. Conversation helps us to know what we believe. And writing sharpens our thinking.” Do you think he was saying something like that? Well, who can argue with Bacon? Especially the third part – yes, writing does keep the gears in my mind turning. Sometimes too much.

2. Tricia: You write fiction, books for youth, AND nonfiction. Out of the three, do you find any of them easier to write?

Robert: Nonfiction, for sure. It’s more of a formula—I don’t mean in a negative sense, but anybody can learn how to write nonfiction, just like anybody can learn how to repair a car engine. I just get into my old newspaper reporter mode, do the research, line up the facts, do the outlines, and start dumping information onto paper.

I hope that doesn’t sound bad! I love writing nonfiction for a change. But… (See the next question…)


3. Tricia: When it comes to sitting down to work on a fiction project, do you approach it differently than a nonfiction project? If so, how?

Robert: Absolutely. Nonfiction is a head-to-head exercise. We look for ways to present facts as clearly as we can, in ways that people understand. We want the reader to get it.

Fiction, on the other hand, is heart-to-heart. It’s all about relationships, about people, about change. It can melt our hearts, help us feel things we’ve not felt, experience worlds we’ve never visited, see things through the eyes of a stranger. It’s far more powerful and far more difficult to pull off.

4. Tricia: Your parents are both from Denmark, and I know you've used their background in your fiction . . . can you share the details with readers?

Robert: My father was raised in Copenhagen, my mother on an island in southern Denmark. They grew up under the German occupation (World War Two), which I think made a deep impression on them. How could it not? So they came to the United States in the early 1950s, and raised my sister and me with a very real connection to their past, and especially to things Danish. What a rich blessing! We spoke only Danish in the home. That distinct Scandinavian flavor I think comes through in my writing – and obviously in the historical fiction I’ve written that’s set in World War Two Denmark.

5. Tricia: How has your family influenced your writing?

Robert: My own children’s interest in reading motivated me to write for them, and for other kids their age. Maybe I’m just a kid, myself! Today, whether I’m writing for adults or for younger readers, I always want to write something that still captures the fun and the fascination of reading, the joy of a good book. I never forget why an 11-year-old picks up a book during summer vacation. Because it transports them to far-away places, or helps them try on other people’s shoes.

Yes, my kids motivated me to write. And I also write to please my wife, who is my encourager and partner in ministry.

6. Tricia: Your fiction novels have been described as heartwarming and sweet, yet also full of humor. How did you come up with this style?

Robert: Life is full of humor, and if it’s not, it gets dry and boring. Ick! Please deliver me from dry and boring books. I would never want to be accused of writing anything that people can yawn at. And since most people don’t yawn at good humor, I hope it seasons my writing.

Also, I’m looking for an emotional point of contact, and humor is universal. It opens doors to deeper truths. And by the way, you know Danes have notoriously dry senses of humor.

Now, the heartwarming and sweet stuff merely reflects my personality. Understand, I enjoy action and adventure as much as any guy. But my favorite movies have always been “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Sound of Music.” That tells you something, I guess. But I like stories that portray life the way it ought to be, the way it can be. We get plenty of bleeding-edge reality on the daily news.

7. Tricia: Every night, for the past ten years, my husband has read out loud to my kids at bedtime. One of their all-time favorite series has been the ADVENTURES DOWN UNDER series. In fact, I think we've read through them all . . . twice. How did you come up with the series idea?

Robert: I loved writing those books, partly because I learned so much about Australia and that country’s past. What a rich, colorful history! The series idea came out of two things: One, I knew Americans have always been fascinated by Australia, from koalas to crocodile hunters. There’s always been a close affinity between Aussies and Yanks, and I hoped kids would connect with the books. And second, I have family in Australia on my mother’s side. (Her brother immigrated to Sydney about the same time she and my dad came to California.) So I’ve always felt a connection there, too.

8. Tricia: A couple years ago, I picked up Practicing God's Presence for Today's Reader. You did a fantastic job in paraphrasing Brother Lawrence's centuries-old English. How did you feel "reworking" this book that's been popular for centuries? Did it make you nervous to mess with his words?

Robert: Are you kidding? Petrified. But in a strange sort of way, I felt as if God had been preparing me for that project for decades. Years ago I started out writing ad copy, learning the craft from a man who specialized in teaching “Clear Writing” seminars. I took what I learned from him to the journalism world, then on to another ad agency. There my boss taught me about reaching the audience in a language they can understand.

Everything I did pointed eventually to rewriting/editing this book. And so with fear and trepidation I did my best to rewrite “Practicing God’s Presence” in a style that Brother Lawrence (the original writer) might have used if he had been living today. Lively, conversational, punchy, vivid… all that. I wanted the truths of his words to come back alive, after it had been snoozing for a generation or two. Keep in mind he only had a grade-school education, but he challenged the church of his day with his pithy, blue-collar approach to prayer and knowing God in a deeper sense. I felt a style resembling “The Message” (Bible paraphrase) would be appropriate.

9. Tricia: Lake breezes or mountain vistas?

Robert: Where my wife and I live in north Idaho, it’s both! We’re near a lake in the mountains, so we don’t have to choose between one or the other. Around here, they go together.

10. Tricia: If you could offer one piece of advice for writers interested in writing different genres, what would it be?

Robert: It sort of depends on if they want to make a living writing, or whether it’s just a fun hobby. Marketing reality can intrude on a career. So I guess my best advice would be to focus on one genre enough to get good at it. Understand that genre, know what makes for excellence, and chase it hard for the glory of God. Mastering the craft can take years… or a lifetime.

Once you’ve practiced enough to feel like you have a couple of tricks in your writing bag, though, don’t be afraid to pursue other projects that excite you—only not to the detriment of your bread and butter.

In sailing, you steer a straight course partly by keeping an eye on the wake (wave) your boat has made behind you. The goal is to keep it from being too wiggly. Writing is a little bit like that, because we steer a straighter course into the future if we don’t lose sight of where we’ve come from. In other words, writing in a lot of genres can be fun, but can also water down your impact if done without a plan. Proceed with your eyes open—in both directions.

Check out more from Robert Elmer at:
http://www.robertelmerbooks.com/

Note Passing

If you were to meet me in person, you might find me to be quiet. If we were to go out to lunch, I most likely would ask a few questions, and then sit back and listen. I'm a listener by nature. In fact, there are few people with whom I can truly share my heart with . . . verbally. Of course, I have no problem sharing my heart and soul in print!

When it comes to the written word, I get to mess around until I'm sure I will not be misunderstood. Every word I write forces me to choose one word over the other. (To prove my point, I even rewrote that last sentence three times!)

You see, even on things like blogs my mind is always at work as I decide how to start, what information to include, and how to end this thing so my readers will consider their visit worth their time. With millions of blogs, books, magazines, what (I ask myself) would make my blog worth visiting?

Of course, I also find myself turning to the written word other times which don't involve public readers--just ask my husband and my friends. For every major conflict I've been in the midst of, I guarantee I've poured my heart out on paper rather than using my voice. Again . . . I want to make sure I'm understood. I don't trust myself enough to "just talk." After all, what if I say the wrong thing at the wrong time and make matters worse?

I have a dear friend who is just the opposite. She is more confortable speaking in front of a group than sitting and considering (and reconsidering) her words at the computer. As we were talking about it one day, she told me that when she stands up to speak she has confidence that God, through His Spirit, will do His work. She just has to open her mouth, trusting Him.

I feel the same way when I sit down at my computer. I've felt God work through my written words time and time again. There is no pride there, only a realization that THIS is where God meets me.

Does my friend have more faith because she can trust God to speak through her open mouth? Or do I have more faith because I have confidence He will work through me as I sit in front of my computer?

No, don't think it's a matter of faith or lack there of. Instead, I feel God has designed each of us to fulfill His purposes, in order to build the body of Christ and give God glory. And through me, He does this best as I listen and absorb. And then . . . as I sit down at my keyboard a type like a mad woman.

What about you? Are you more comfortable speaking or writing? Most importantly, how do you feel God works best through you?

10 Questions for Tracy Finney

10 Questions for Tracy Finney

1. Tricia: Congrats on the new novel. Can you give us a six-sentence blurb on the story?

Tracy: Travel with Renee on her life's journey as she endeavors to live by her father's words "God will make a way". At the tender age of thirteen, Renee is left to walk a road that can only be followed by faith in God. As an adult, when faced with life's trials, what choices will she make? Mingled in this story is a beautiful romance, the majestic setting of the Highlands of Scotland , and just enough humor to remind you of the importance of laughter. You are about to discover for yourself a life so full of God's faithfulness that all of life's obstacles can be overcome. This is a story full of faith, hope, and love that will encourage you on your life's journeys.

2. Tricia: Why Scotland for a setting?

Tracy: I chose Scotland as the setting for my book because I lived there for four and a half years; three of my children were born there. Since I didn’t write the story with publishing it in mind, but rather to leave something personal for my children, I wanted it to have as many similarities to our time abroad as possible.

In addition to the personal side, I wanted to have a mission’s orientated story. Scotland was the first country that came to mind since my hubby and I were involved in outreach during our time there. My next book, Tasad, is set in Nepal .

3. Tricia: As someone who does the same, tell me how YOU balance homeschooling and writing?

Tracy: I only write part-time, so I fit in writing during lunch breaks and evening hours. Since my children are rapidly aging (of course I am still maintaining my youth) they do not need as much of my time which allows me to be able to do more things I want.

4. Tricia: Tell me about your experience at one special Billy Graham crusade?

Tracy: I have been blessed to be able to attend two Billy Graham crusades. The first was in August 1988; at that time I finally made the decision to give my life to the Lord. I have never regretted that choice, and God has done wonderful things in my life that I could never have dreamed possible.

The second time I was able to be at a crusade was in October 1998. During this visit my three year old son went forward. I’m not sure if he fully understood what he was doing, but it surely was a special day for me.

5. Tricia: You not only craft words, but also wood. Can you tell me about that?

Tracy: The woodwork on my website is mostly my hubby’s creation. It all began when I decided he should make cedar beds to sell on eBay (which he never did) for some extra cash. He was convinced he couldn’t make furniture –since he never had- but I knew he could. He finally decided he would try to make a bed for me. Now I have the privilege of sleeping in our “King David” bed.

I did develop a love for woodcarving. It is so cool watching something beautiful develop out of a plain piece of wood. However, any talent I have only comes from the Lord, and He gets all the glory for everything good that comes from my life.

6. Tricia: If you could jump in the car with enough gas money to take you anywhere, where would you drive?

Tracy: Well, I suppose I couldn’t drive to Israel, so I would have to say I would end up in Texas . I’ve always loved Texas . (I’m not sure why.) Of course, I would take the long way to my destination. I would travel through as many states I could, especially Montana . I think Montana is so beautiful. I’d also make sure I was able to see the Grand Canyon en-route. (I didn't realize Tricia lives in Montana until after I wrote this.)

7. Tricia: Which do you enjoy more: the smell of fresh ink and paper . . . or a discovered musty book with curious scribbles in the margins?

Tracy: I would definitely enjoy a musty old book with scribbling. I love discovering things from days gone by, especially if it has a personal touch. One of my favorite discoveries I made recently was a letter my Great Grandma had sent to each of her children when she decided to remarry in her seventies. I could almost feel the emotions packed into that announcement.

8. Tricia: Do you have a favorite quote you turn to for inspiration?

Tracy: I guess my favorite quote would have to be from Psalm 37. Ever since I first gave my life to the Lord I have clung to verse four. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” It always encourages me to know that as I live my life for God, He brings to pass the desires in my heart.

9. Tricia: Honesty, wisdom, or humor, which do cherish most in a friend?

Tracy: Honesty would be the first characteristic I would look for in a friend. I often have a problem with trust so I need to know my friend are truthful.

10. Tricia: What is one favorite, childhood food that leaves your mouth watering?

Tracy: My favorite childhood food would have to be pepperoni pizza! My parents would often have pizza on Sunday nights, not to mention most special days like birthdays, New Years Eve, and most get-togethers.

Tricia: Thanks for the fun! I appreciate your time!

Tracy: God bless!

Tracy Finney, Author God Will Make a Way www.tracyfinney.com
Daily Devotions http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Promisesthataretrue/

When Children Have Children . . . an inside look

There are some subjects I write about that get a lot of attention. And rightly so! One of these topics is teens having babies, especially when I focus on how women can develop mentoring relationships to help these young women succeed as parents and in life.

Here is an except of an article I wrote for Today's Christian Woman.

When Children Have Children

How this unique MOPS ministry delivers help and hope to teen moms.

by Tricia Goyer

On any given Thursday evening you can walk through the doors of Hope Pregnancy Center in Kalispell, Montana and discover a unique gathering of moms swapping potty-training tips, learning about child development, or kneading loaves of bread. This may sound like any other mothering support group, but as these attendees equip themselves for 18 years of hands-on parenting, they're also figuring out how make it to their 18th birthday as members of the ministry Teen MOPS.

According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 34 percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20—and 79 percent of these are unmarried teens. Nearly 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare. In addition, children of teenage mothers have lower birth weights, are more likely to perform poorly in school, and are at greater risk of abuse and neglect.

For me, these statistics are all too real. At age 17, my life changed overnight. One day I was an honor student, the next an expectant mother. Embarrassed about my situation, I dropped out of school. My emotions were torn; I wanted my old life back, but secretly I also was excited about being a mom . . .

You can read the rest of the article here.

Of course, to me, this is more than just an article. It's reality. Not only was my life been changed by my own teen pregnancy. It's also been transformed by reaching out to others in the same situation.

Take yesterday for example. Or any Sunday. You see every Sunday one of the teen couples attends chuch with us, then spends the entire day at our house. The cool this is they're now considered a part of our family.

Here's how it started:

One night at Teen MOPS we were working on our craft. The moms LOVE crafts, mainly because in daily living they don't have time to relax and be creative. Mentors love crafts, because we get to talk to the girls without having to worry about the speaker, the discussion questions, etc. We just get to ask questions and listen.

One of the mentors asked one of the girls, Kay, why she and her boyfriend hadn't gotten married. At age nineteen, she'd been dating Nate for four years. They lived together, and they had two children together. (Kay had her first baby during her Freshman year.)

Nate and Kay had started attending church and seemed to be doing well. So what was up? Why didn't they tie the knot?

Kay's answer surprised us all. "Because I want a wedding, something I can remember, and I can't afford it."

"Is that all?" I blurted out. "We can help with that." (And of course since I said it, I was in charge! Tricia Goyer, aka The Wedding Planner.)

So for the next few months, I took trips with Kay as she tried on wedding dresses. I called pregnancy center volunteers and got donations for food, the cake, decorating, photography, you name it. And through it all, I also gained a daughter. Kay and I were friends before. But our time together made us family. (And, yes, that means her two daughters call me Nana!)


You can view the photos from Nate and Kay's wedding here. (Do I sound like a proud mom, or what?)

Of course, in addition to a beautiful wedding, Nate and Kay also deeped their relationship with God. Before the wedding, they both dedicated their lives to Him. And a year later, they're still living it out.

They're also impacting their extended families. Just yesterday Kay's mom and three siblings joined them at church. Yeah!

On my website, a wrote this quote to sum up how I feel about writing and life:

The words we write can make a difference in transforming our world.
Our difference in the world can equally transform our words.

Having something worthwhile to write about is easy. There are 1,001 different subjects that need the attention of the Christian community. But words are only as powerful as the transformed hearts behind them. And while the hearts of two teen parents have dramatically been changed. Mine even more so.

10 Questions for Deborah Piccurelli

As an inspirational romantic suspense author, Deborah M. Piccurelli is passionate about writing, reading, family, moral/political issues, and serving the Lord. With a goal to glorify God through His gracious gift, Deborah hopes to impact the lives of her readers.

Her first published novel, In the Midst of Deceit, was released by Jireh Publishing Company in March 2004.

To find out more about Deborah go here.

1. Tricia: I see that your first novel, In the Midst of Deceit, came out in 2004. Why did you chose to write an inspirational romantic suspense?

Deborah: I love romance, and I love suspense, so I figured I'd have the best of both worlds. As for inspirational, I don't think I could write otherwise. Since my faith in the Lord is intertwined with every aspect of my life, it just comes naturally, and hopefully that shows in my characters, as well.

2. Tricia: What is the boldest thing you've done while researching for your fiction?

Deborah: Probably the boldest thing I COULD have done would be to jump from an airplane. The hero of the novel has a passion for skydiving, and I visited a drop zone, but was too chicken to actually do it. So the next boldest thing was to speak to a victim of head trauma about his experiences, really picking his brain, since my character suffers the same condition from an incident involving - you guessed it - skydiving. Blessedly, the guy was very open to any question I posed.

3. Tricia: What is one writing lesson you've learn that you reuse over and over?

Deborah: Oh, there are so many, but off the top of my head, I would say to make sure my word choices are strong, and fit the situation I'm writing about.

4. Tricia: What is your favorite book you've read in the last three months? Why?

Deborah: It's tough to choose, as there are so many good ones. One would be Sally John's The Beach House. Her writing style and characterization are gifts that I truly admire. I have every one of her books, so far. Another would be Mary DeMuth's soon-to-be-released next book, Wishing on Dandelions. Her writing just blows me away.

5. Tricia: If you could meet any living author, who would it be?

Deborah: This may sound hokey, but I would like to meet God. He's the best author around, and one I know I'm sure to meet someday.

6. Tricia: What writing project are you currently working on?

Deborah: I'm working on the first book in the Guardians of Justice series. This story involves fetal harvesting.

7. Tricia: Where do you go for encouragement?

Deborah: To the Lord. I want to feel a peace about what I'm writing. Then I go to other writing friends who understand what I'm going through.

8. Tricia: Who would you say has been your biggest writing cheerleader?

Deborah: Right now, that would be my husband.

9. Tricia: Coffee or tea?

Deborah: Decaf tea. I grew up on tea, and it's a comfort thing for me. Very soothing.

10. Tricia: If you could pick on TV channel, and one only, which would it be?

Deborah: That would have to be TV Land. I marvel at how it was a given that TV shows in the 60s included faith elements without question. Recently, I was flipping through channels, and hit upon Bonanza on TV Land. Purnell Roberts (did I spell his name right?) was quoting Scripture from the book of Ruth to a character of the same name. How cool is that?

Thank you, Deborah!

WriterQuotes

Quite a few people know about my blog for Gen X Parents. Not so many people know about my other blog WriterQuotes. It's my simple way of encouraging and inspiring writers. Also, my cool friend, Camy Tang, has a Health and the Writer column every Monday. (Which actually has really good health tips even if you're not a writer but spend a lot of time on the computer.)

And if you forget to keep going back to be inspired (smile), you can sign up for FeedBlitz (on the page) and have the quote delivered in your Inbox!

Yesterday, the quote was from Meg Files, author of Write for Life:

What’s a good day or night of writing for you? Perhaps it’s when you’ve used your little silver key and opened the book of secrets and lost yourself as you shaped them into a story, an essay, or a poem. Lost yourself and found yourself. Perhaps it’s later when, back in the tangible world around you, you are quietly full and satisfied because you know you have written something true.

Sobbing is allowed.

Isn't that great? Okay, here is one more, just for the road.

"Writers live twice," says Natalie Goldberg in Writing Down the Bones. "They go along with their regular life, are as fast as anyone in the grocery store, crossing the street, getting dressed for work in the morning. But there's another part of them that they have been training. The one that lives everything a second time. That sits down and sees their life again and goes over it. Looks at the texture and detail."

That's so true! And aren't we always observing? People, situations, interactions, life. Everything I see is filed away. Last week, it was the cheerfulness of the older ladies working the hospital coffee shop. This week it's the interaction of the teens in my house when both my 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter have friends over. (It's not the same as when they were five and all the kids played together not caring.) Then, the texture and detail shows up somewhere else.

For example, I just wrote a proposal for teen fiction story set in No. Cal where I grew up. (Lake Shastina, just 1 hour south of the Oregon border.) It all came back. Back then, the lake, the lava rock, and quirky people in the community . . . was where I lived (yawner). Now, it's setting. A really cool setting.

All that to say . . . check out WriterQuotes and enjoy! Just my gift to you, wrapped up in someone else's brilliant words!

Books that Inspire Writers 2.0

What book inspired you? Here are more notes from my writer friends!

One of my favorites? Harold and the Purple Crayon. Yes, it's a children's book. But it's about creating, and the power of that process - and that's what it means to be an author. Harold drew a balloon, and then that image of a balloon was able to carry him away. He drew ocean waves and began to drown. He drew a boat, and that creation rescued him. The Harold books are wonderful parables of the creative process - and the power of art (in my case, the art of language).
~Sharon Hinck


Catherine Marshall's Christy blew me away because it was the first book I'd read that dealt with all of the heroine's real feelings, including her spiritual doubts. This also qualifies for a satisfying ending award. She didn't end up with the man you thought she was headed for all the way through the book, instead, she rode off in to the sunset with her real true love.

Then, Janette Oke's books introduced me to the whole genre of Christian fiction. Even though my forte doesn't seem to be historical, these books once again showed the real power behind the strong women who survived the expansion of the country. Wonderful.
~Jenny McLeod Carlisle

My list would be long--books that inspire writers. Readers have told me my historical romances remind them of Janette Oke's and Grace Livingston Hill's, and since those have been some favorite authors of mine, I know their books inspired me. And Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's The Yearling. And Mrs. Mike. And The Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough. Love the touch of fantasy in that one. And A Day No Pigs Would Die. And The Americanization of Edward Bok. And The Miracle Worker (the play) by William Gibson--every novelist should study this for beats (body actions). And then all the current books that inspire me...thank the Lord for books!
~Kristy Dykes

A real fun book, which is also a children's book but I think adults are the ones who truly get it, is The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! as told to Jon Scieszka. It really encouraged me to look at things differently. It's told from the wolf's perspective and totally hilarious.
~Lena Dooley

10 Questions for Mary Byers

Today's guest is Mary Byers. Mary Byers, CAE, has been speaking professionally for nearly 15 years. She specializes in presenting practical and purposeful information designed to help people live and work more fully. (Don't we all need that?!)

Mary is the author of two books: How to Say No and Live to Tell About It and The Mother Load. You can find out more about Mary at http://www.marybyers.com/




10 Questions for Mary Byers

1. Tricia: I've heard somewhere you're an enthusiastic and energetic speaker. What energizes you?

Mary: I’m energized by helping people live up to their God-given potential, which is why I like to both speak and write. I believe if I can touch one person through my words, then I’ve been successful. So many people are living lives of “quiet desperation” (Did Thoreau say that?) and that saddens me.

2. Tricia: One of the topics you write/speak on is managing conflict. If you could give one piece of advice for those of us who RUN whenever there is the slightest hint of conflict, what would that be?

Mary: Here’s the advice: Remember that conflict does NOT age gracefully. The longer you let it go, the worse it gets.

And here’s some assistance: for those who RUN, learn these two questions:

1. “Can we agree to disagree and still be able to work/live together?” and

2. “What did I do or say to make you feel that way?”

These two questions will make it easier to address conflict.

Finally, practice focusing on areas you and someone you have conflict with agree on rather than focusing on your differences. This will enable you to overcome the differences.

3. Tricia: I'll let the whole world know that you helped me come up with my writing tag, Reflecting Reality, Honoring Truth. Amazingly, this fits all my writing--from my fiction to non-fiction. In three easy steps, how can writers do this for themselves?

Mary: Ask yourself these three questions and immediately write down the answers you “hear” in your heart:

1. What drives you in your writing (i.e. why do write do what you do?)?

2. What message resonates with you that you want to share with others?

3. If you had to sum up your writing in a sentence or two, what would you say?

Once you’ve done the above, look for the theme that emerges. Your tagline will likely come from what you’ve unearthed in this exercise.

4. Tricia: You seem like a wonderfully busy lady, what do you do for fun?

Mary: Fun? What’s fun? Seriously, I love to get together with friends, I ride my bike (a blue “Coastal Cruiser”), and spend time with my family (a hubby and two children). My favorite fun (after the above) is to get lost in a good book. There’s nothing better!

5. Tricia: If there was one phone call that would leave you jumping for joy, what would that be?

Mary: I entered a writer’s contest this summer and I’d love to hear that I was selected as one of the winners.

6. Tricia: The title for one of your books is, How to Say No and Live to Tell About It. What is one thing you've said no to lately?

Mary: Believe it or not, I said no to writing a book proposal this summer for what I hope will be my next book. Instead, I followed my own advice and said, “Now’s not the best time for me. May I get that to you in September?” Even though I wrote How to Say No, it’s still something I have trouble with so I was proud of myself!

7. Tricia: You help people figure out their priorities. What is one priority you have for the rest of 2006?

Mary: I’ve assigned a theme for each of the past five years of my life. The themes reflect the one over-arching goal I have for the year. This year is “The Year of Bigness” which reflects my desire to more fully grasp how big God really is—and how he wants to do big things in my life (and everyone else’s too!). My goal is to be quiet enough to hear God’s call on my life—and courageous enough to take the steps necessary to act on that call.

8. Tricia: Italian or Mexican?

Mary: Mexican, no question. I had my first burrito when I was ten years old and I haven’t looked back since. Kraft Spaghetti dinner (which I grew up on) just didn’t cut it after that!

9. Tricia: What is the last book you checked out from the library?

Mary: The Weekend Marriage. It’s impacted me so deeply that I’ll be co-teaching a Sunday School class based on its precepts with my husband and another couple this fall. The bottom line is this: our marriages aren’t what they could be because we’re so time-starved. Instead of whining about it, the author challenges us to decide what we’re going to do about it. Thankfully, she also shares some ideas about how to respond to it. It’s an incredible blessing to be teaching this class with my husband because we survived a REALLY bumpy patch in our marriage years ago and I’m humbled by the way God restored our love for one another.

10. Tricia: If all the blog readers were invited over for dinner at your house tonight, what would you serve us?

Mary: Tenderloin cooked on the grill, buttery corn on the cob, green beans (fresh from my garden!) and red, white and blue popsicles for dessert (just because they are so much fun!).

Tricia: I'll be there. Sounds yummy! Thanks for the interview!

Mary: You’re welcome. Thank you!

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow?

The other day I was flipping through Real Simple Magazine. I love all their ideas. And I'd love even more to have time to try a few of them! Oh well.

Anyway, I came upon this introductory paragraph:

"Gardens often don't grow according to your plans, no matter how carefully you've laid them. Branches break, bushes get out of hand, and roses become unruly."

I read that and paused. That's me. That's my life! And I would guess that all of us who minister in God's kingdom can relate.

Ministry doesn't go as planned. Expectations are shattered. Organizational plans and goals get out of hand. Even roses--growth and beauty in our lives--get unruly.

Even so, God has still given me this garden to watch over. A garden I'd like to tend with perfection, but one I'm learning to manage with peace.

Peace in tending the plot I've been given.

Peace in managing my unique and varied crops.

Peace to balance the cultivating (which I'm very good at) with also taking time for quiet and rest (which I'm not so good at).

And peace not to glance over at someone else's bigger, brighter, and bolder garden, wishing it were mine.

Of course, this peace only comes one place--in a relationship with Christ.

I am a big fan of The Message Bible. In Psalm 65:7, God is described as the Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, Mountain-Mover, and Hill-Dresser. I love that.

I also love Isaiah 49:8:

"When the time's ripe, I answer you. When victory's due, I help you. I form you and use you
to reconnect the people with me, to put the land in order . . . "

That's what our tending is all about, you know. Not to have something to show off. Not to have something that keeps us busy so we'll stay out of trouble. (Although that does help!) But to reconnect people to God, with our words, our service, and our lives.

To point them to the Perfector. Because it's only there they'll find Peace.

Red Bull

Question of the day . . .

What do you think, can cases of Red Bull be considered a tax write-off?

I ask this because I've spent the last hour filing receipts. I either had to do that, or head to Costco and purchase a new desk, because mine was nowhere to be found beneath the piles!

As for the Red Bull, it's my new best friend. I say this after finishing novel #5 last week, A Valley of Betrayal . . . after two extension. (It was okay, really, my wonderful editor was away on vacation anyway.)

The problem is that when one project is late, then the rest of the deadlines get scrunched. So in the last five day I've:

1) Written a teen fiction proposal requested by a publisher. (5,000 words on the chapters and another 5,000 on the summary!)

2) Written a requested piece for Clubmom.com. (They signed up on as one of their "expert moms" go figure!)

3) Have 1/2 of an article for On Mission Magazine written, which has included conducting two interviews. I have one more interview and the rest of the article to write . . . by tomorrow.

4) I'm in the middle of filing my receipts . . . But I can sit in front of the filing too long. Boring!

My friend, Deb (in interview below) drinks lovely things like mochas. But can you see Red Bull is my friend?

So what do you think? Thumbs up or thumbs down for the write-0ff?