My Next Big Thing

So…here’s the scoop on the long-awaited sequel to Into the Free.

You may have noticed authors posting recently about their Next BigThing. You can read about Carla Stewart’s next big thing by visiting her blog. My answers (below) are all about my upcoming novel, WHEN MOUNTAINS MOVE due to release THIS SEPTEMBER. Enjoy!
What is your working title of your book?

When Mountains Move (Hits shelves this September!)

Where did the idea come from for the book?

This book is the sequel to Into the Free and explores the next phase of Millie’s life. I always felt there was more to Millie’s story than what was shared in the first book, and I’m grateful so many readers have asked for more. I hope folks will enjoy seeing what happens next as Millie strives to create the happy family she never had as a child.

What genre does your book fall under?

It’s considered general fiction, inspirational fiction, Christian fiction, and women’s fiction. Some would call it romantic. It will also appeal to those who enjoy southern literature (since our main characters are southern), as well those who like books about the west (since they leave Mississippi to launch a ranch in the Colorado Rockies during WWII.) Choose your weapon. I don’t focus so much on how it’s boxed (I know that’s important, though). I just hope it’s a human story people like, no matter what they want to call it.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I struggle with this question so much because I never picture any real person when I’m writing my characters. I would love my characters to be depicted by actors who have never been thought of as any other character on a large scale, so they can fully become Millie, Bump, River, etc. without other well-known personality traits blurring that presentation. That said, while watching Les Miserables, I thought Samantha Barks would make a perfect Millie (pictured above). That would be my dream.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
The book will be released September, 2013 by David C Cook, the phenomenal publishing company who produced my debut novel, Into the Free. I am represented by Greg Johnson, literary agent extraordinaire.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Oh goodness. This is a trick question. I really struggled to carve writing time for this sequel. I finally forced myself to focus for five weeks this summer and just get the story down on paper. That meant I had to work through five months of very heavy edits, of course. Believe me…it’s never a good idea to try to write a novel in five weeks. I remember hearing JK Rowling once admit she considered breaking her own arm to delay a deadline. I now understand how she feels. The pressure was intense.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Maybe the Big Stone Gap trilogy by Adriana Trigiani, or the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. Both are character driven series which create a world of believable people and explore the daily struggles and emotions experienced in real life. My characters live more on the gritty side of life though. I aim to show both the brutality and the beauty of this world, because life for a lot of people just isn’t pretty. But in the end, I hope my characters show how to rise above the struggles and never give up hope.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Originally, I wrote my first novel just to see if I could do it. It was on my bucket list, and turning 35 was the trigger for me. I never planned to publish it. But after the story came alive to me, I felt nudged to share it. This book is a continuation of that story, so it was all inspired by a compelling desire to push myself into uncomfortable territory and to grow stronger, braver, and more creative in the process.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Second chances. The mythic West, the Rocky Mountains, a girl trying to overcome her past. Gypsies, cowboys, ranchers. A young couple struggling to make ends meet and to love unconditionally despite many challenges to their new marriage. A journey of growth, as Millie develops deeper faith, a stronger spirit, and the ability to trust. Outlaws, renegades, and secret lovers. This book explores the complicated webs we weave, with secrets and sins, love and loyalty, faith and forgiveness. And hope.

 

Meet Nashville Music Industry Guru, Kathy Harris

As I continue to introduce you to talented folks, I am excited for you to meet my friend Kathy Harris. She’s led such an amazing life, the best thing to do is just jump right into an interview so we have room to talk about it all. Enjoy!

Kathy, You have led a fascinating life, working with the Oak Ridge Boys for more than thirty years and building a reputation in the country music industry as a reliable and talented marketing guru. Before we discuss your writing career, tell us a really interesting story from behind-the-scenes in the Nashville music industry. (Something funny or surprising about the music world, etc.)

Entertainers are like the rest of us. They go to the grocery store, shop at Wal-Mart, and take their children to school. In Nashville, you might run into a music star anywhere. Of course, you also might not recognize them because they look different in their “everyday” clothes. (smile)

Nashville is a small community, and almost everyone has a connection to the entertainment industry. You either know someone in the business, have children who go to school with an entertainer’s son or daughter, or do business with entertainers.

As a marketer, what are the two most important things writers need to do to market their books professionally?

It seems that many Christian writers stress over the idea of self-promotion. My best advice is to remember that you’re marketing a product, not yourself. Yes, that may be a fine line, but it helps tremendously if you can separate yourself from your book.

Determine how your book can help readers. Maybe it’s solely for entertainment. Maybe it will inspire them, empower them, or encourage them. Maybe all of the above. Now, figure out how to articulate that in simple words.

You should also be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Even if you’ve never done it before, consider speaking at local churches or civic clubs. Offer to facilitate book club and/or library events. Get out there and meet people! It will bless you while you’re blessing others. God may have called you to do more than just write.

Before launching a novel, you wrote devotionals and family stories while also ghostwriting biographies. Your debut novel, The Road to Mercy, was inspired by an actual event you experienced as a child. Tell us about that childhood tragedy, and why did you decide to write this story as fiction instead of nonfiction?

 

The Prologue is based on personal experience. When I was a young girl, I witnessed the aftermath of a plane crash. My dad found the last victim, a small child, only a few hundred feet away from where I stood. I still remember the look on my dad’s face when he told me.

That experience haunted me for years. I wanted that child to live. And, in my book, he does. Hopefully, “his” story will encourage or edify those who read it.

Because I explored the “what if…,” it had to be told through fiction.

Your story explores the controversial theme of abortion. You’ve said your own journey with infertility has given you a unique perspective about this issue, and your experience with the plane wreck made a tremendous impact on you as a child. Did you intend to write about such a politically-charged theme, and how have readers responded? How do you feel about people who protest abortion clinics and abuse the women whose life situations bring them to those doors? What would you say to people on each end of the issue?

I didn’t intend to write about abortion but the story had a mind of its own. Funny how that happens, isn’t it? I initially set out to write about generational blessings and the impact of one particular life. But, as I explored the “life” theme, the story took a couple of sharp turns.

For me, there are two things that are key to the abortion issue. One is education and the other is love.

We need to help people understand that life begins at conception. Thankfully, science is now helping with that. But we must also remember that behind every unwanted pregnancy is a hurting person, a woman who is desperate to make the right decision, and we need to reach out to her with a loving attitude. The greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13b)

How does your faith influence your work as a writer, and what do you want people to know about Christian Fiction?

I’ve wanted to write books since I was a young girl, and I pursued that goal through high school and college, graduating with a Communications degree. Then my life took a turn into music. I made several attempts through the years to write a novel, but I could never get beyond the first chapter—until I made the decision to write Christian fiction. Then, the words started to flow. My faith is an important part of what I write. As someone who reads, as well as writes, Christian fiction, I view it as a great way to encourage and edify other Believers.

As a music pro, what song would best serve as the themesong for The Road to Mercy?

That’s an easy one. : )  About six weeks prior to the book release, I was listening to a new CD, Only You, by Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Karyn Williams. I was rocking along, enjoying the music, when I got to track 10, a song entitled This Is Freedom. The first time I heard it, I knew it was a perfect match for The Road to Mercy.

Through mutual friends, I contacted Karyn and asked her about using it for the book trailer. She agreed! (You can view the trailer and listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOXDx3JEZhc.)

And, just for fun, what song best describes you? Or…who is your favorite band, etc.?

It would definitely be a praise song with an up-tempo beat and a few minor chords. I love Contemporary Christian Music—no matter what the style, rock, hip-hop, pop or alternative.

Fill in the blank…If you like to read edgy Christian fiction, you’ll enjoy The Road to Mercy.

Finally, what are you working on now?

I have three books in the works right now… one, a romantic suspense, is finished in first draft form. But my primary goal is to complete my next women’s fiction book, another stand-alone novel.

What fun questions, Julie! Thanks so much for having me here today. I hope you’ll visit my blog, www.DivineDetour.com, sometime soon!

2013 – Radical Well-Being

As promised, I’ll continue introducing you to some amazing authors throughout 2013. This week, with all of us focusing on our resolutions and feeling inspired to live healthier, happier lives, I’m excited to feature my friend, Dr. Rita Hancock, who is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as in Pain Management and whose work in the medical field has helped countless patients focus on the mind, body, spirit connection.

Research increasingly shows a strong connection between our spiritual life, our emotions, and our physical well being. Yet too often our physical conditions are treated without taking our whole lives into account.  In her latest book, Radical Well-being, Rita shows us how the mind, body, and spirit are connected and addresses the factors that can contribute, and even cause, illness, addictions, and chronic pain.

So the first thing I did was ask Rita, Who will benefit from reading this book?

“Many people can benefit from understanding the concepts described in Radical Well-being,” explains Dr. Hancock. “If you suffer from medical conditions like fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, neck or back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, jaw pain, food and drug allergies, depression, anxiety, or unwanted behaviors such as overeating, an eating disorder, overspending, drug abuse or alcoholism, Radical Well-being will show you a biblical, whole-body approach to overcoming your condition.”

If you’re like me, you approach self-help books with skepticism. I’m never one who is easily sold on a guidebook for life. But with nearly twenty years of experience counseling patients from a balanced, mind/body/Holy Spirit perspective, Rita goes beyond the preaching and provides practical nuts-and-bolts advice, including how to:

·           Identify the lies that are manipulating you from a subconscious level

·           Deal with emotional factors that can make your pain seem worse

·           Address addictive behaviors that you want to get rid of

·           Fully accept God’s love and forgiveness on a deep, healing level

According to Dr. Rita Hancock, true freedom and improved health come when deeply-rooted lies are illuminated and replaced with knowledge from the merciful heart of God. “Radical Well-being will help you feel better in all three domains—in your mind, body, and in your spirit,” Rita says. And if you don’t believe her, just ask one of her patients  instead: “I feel like the weight of a skyscraper has been lifted off my shoulders.”

If it’s weight loss you’re after, Dr. Hancock’s previous books include The Eden Diet (Zondervan) and The Eden Diet Workbook, which are about learning to eat in response to physical rather than emotional hunger.

Want to learn more? Visit www.TheEdenDiet.comand www.RadicalWell-being.com.

Meet the Gypsies of Spain

I’m excited to introduce you to a new friend of mine, Susan Nadathur, whose debut novel, City of Sorrows, was just released. You’re one of the first to learn about this beautiful new story set in the Gypsy communities of Spain, and this might just be the first interview posted publicly regarding the book.

JC: Susan, You have a fascinating life. You grew up in a quaint New England community but after graduate school became an ex-Pat and relocated to Spain. There, you fell in love with a man from India, and together, after years of some pretty amazing adventures, you decided to move among the Gypsies of Spain whom you describe as some of the most generous, humble people you’ve ever met. Tell us briefly how you ended up “running away with the Gypsies.”

SN: I often wonder where this journey began. I think God always knew, even though He was not so good about sharing the details with me. But, looking back on my life, the road seems clear. For example, if as a child I had not been bullied, picked on and humiliated, I would not have developed the keen sense of empathy I have for people who are marginalized. And without that compassion, I would not have been profoundly affected by a racist remark targeted at my Indian friend in Spain who was confused for a Gypsy way back when I was a twenty-two-year-old expat living in Seville.

“Gypsies and Moors are not served here,” a Spaniard said before refusing my friend a cup of coffee. That one statement, spat out decades ago in a bar in Seville, became the catalyst for a story of love and loss in the vibrant world of Gypsy Spain—a world I would never have penetrated if I had not felt the sting of isolation, humiliation, and rejection that gave me the unique, unspoken connection to this group of persecuted people.

Several years later, that story finally germinated. I started to write the novel which has become CITY OF SORROWS. But, in order to do justice to the project, I had to return to Spain. And this time, I had to meet and get to know the people whose culture I was writing about. Spanish Gypsies.

The only problem was, I knew that most of the Gypsies in Seville lived in poor, dangerous sectors of the city. My husband knew that too. As well as my pastor. The only way I was going to convince both my husband and pastor that I would be safe in these marginalized areas was by connecting with a Christian church that had ministries in the Gypsy community. Well, to make a long story short, I ended up in a  Pentecostal Gypsy church called Dios Con Nosotros (God with Us), in one of the most sordid sectors of the city (Las Tres Mil Viviendas). And not once did I ever feel unsafe. The congregation embraced me, though kept me at a distance whenever I asked questions about their culture. Too many years of marginalization and oppression had made them wary of foreigners.

But as the weeks went by, and they began to trust me, my experiences began to change. I was invited into homes, into people’s lives. Finally, I was asked to leave the apartment I had rented in Seville and invited to live with Pastor Pepe Serrano and his family in their home on the outskirts of Seville. Once I moved into Pastor Pepe’s home, I no longer had to ask questions. I only had to live as part of a family to understand the people I had been led to write about.

Looking back now, I remember what Pastor Pepe said to me that day I first entered his church.

“God has not brought you here to research your book,” Pastor Pepe said. “He has brought you here to work on you.”

I guess God always knew the plans he had for me. There was a reason I was me.

JC: You are not only fluent in Spanish, you have created a successful business teaching Spanish to medical professionals and have published several books on this topic. It’s clear you have spent your life working to promote cross-cultural understanding. What do you consider the most positive aspect of modern Gypsy life in Spain? What are their struggles?

SN: I think the most positive aspect of modern Gypsy life in Spain right now is the transformation that is occurring because of Spanish Gypsy evangelism. Negative behaviors historically associated with Gypsies, such as vagrancy, theft, violence, revenge and tribal feuding, are being modified and corrected with conversions to Christ.

From “gypping” someone out of their money, to truancy and laziness, to admonishment for being unhygienic, to retaliation and revenge, the standard image of the Spanish Gypsy is cloaked in negative stereotyping. The Gypsy has come to symbolize everything that modern-day, industrialized societies reject as immoral and inefficient. But that image is changing from the only place where change is meaningful – from within.

A remarkable phenomenon is occurring that is changing the face of the Spanish Gypsy: Pentecostal evangelism. As thousands of Gypsies convert to Christ, their slogan has become:

 

Antes los gitanos iban con cuchillos y quimeras.

Ahora llevamos la Biblia, la palabra verdadera.

Before the Gypsies went with knives and quarrels into battle.

Now we take the Bible, God’s True and Holy Word.

For more on this subject, here’s a link to an article I wrote for EMQ Online titled “Waiting on Dibel: The Growth of Pentecostalism among Spanish Gypsies.” https://www.dropbox.com/s/nusbzyrmnk48sku/Waiting%20on%20Dibel.pdf?m

• “Waiting on Dibel: The Growth of Pentecostalism among Spanish Gypsies” was originally published in the April 2011 issue of EMQ (www.emqonline.com). Reprinted with permission. Not to be reproduced or republished without permission.

As far as their struggles, Spanish Gypsies have much to overcome. Poverty is rampant, Work inconsistent (A large number of Spanish Gypsies make their living as itinerant street vendors, a way of life that has been severely affected by the economic crisis that has plagued Spain since 2008). Drugs and crime threaten the world in which many Gypsies live. And attitudes toward education sometimes limit them from exploring options outside of what is familiar to them as a group of people living as part of, while at the same time separated from Spanish culture. And of course, there still exists a subtle level of (sometimes self-imposed) social marginalization from mainstream Spanish society as well as the perpetuation of negative stereotypes. You will still see the beggar sitting in front of a church, or the fortune teller stalking the outside of the Cathedral for unsuspecting foreigners ready to part with their money for a Tarot spread or palm reading. But, the positive news is that change is coming, slowly but surely to the Spanish Gypsies.

JC: Because you are a writer, you have documented some of the stories you’ve witnessed during your adventures. Tell us a bit about this project and how your real life influences your fiction.

SN: CITY OF SORROWS (release date December 2012) is the story of a young Spanish Gypsy, Diego Vargas, and his journey from the shackles of grief to the obsession of revenge, to the miracle that is love after loss. Young Diego lives with his family on the Southside of Seville, in what is basically a Gypsy ghetto. Just turned nineteen, he is recently married, madly in love, expecting his first child, and completely unaware that his life is about to come crashing down around him. On a dark road outside the city of Seville, Diego must find the courage to face death, the strength to survive it, and the power to hold onto his humanity while both his mind and his will scream against it.

The seeds for this novel were sown many years ago, when I first lived in Spain. But for a long time, those seeds remained dormant. When I finally sat down to write the book, I was all revved up and ready to whip this story into shape. Just “write what you know,” I thought. Well, yes and no. I had NO idea what I had gotten myself into. Surprise, surprise, sitting down to write a novel actually meant acquiring some new skills. Like characterization, plotting, pacing and so many other things I had simply taken for granted.

After writing what was basically a fictionalized account of my life with my Indian friend in Seville, I soon realized that if I wanted this story be of interest to anyone except my immediate family, I had better start studying the craft, and then, start rewriting. As I went through the process of a second draft, I started seeing some subtle changes. My protagonist, who had some pretty obvious character traits of that Indian friend I had met in Spain, started taking a back seat to his fictional best friend, Diego Vargas. And then it seemed as if Diego wanted to write his own story. When that happened, I convinced a lot of people that I needed to abandon my home for a while and go live with the Gypsies in Seville. There was no way Diego was going to hijack the story without me doing my research.

Many of the scenes in the novel are based on my experiences living among the Gypsies. I have tried to be faithful to the reality of their world without either glamorizing it or condemning it. Like in real life, my novel has both good and bad Gypsies. Good and bad Spaniards. And yes, there is a strong Indian presence offered through one of the supporting characters, Rajiv Kumaran. Rajiv is Diego’s philosophical friend from India, the man who helps him to work his way out of the darkness of despair and into the light. And yes, I admit it, Rajiv does have a strong likeness to that Indian friend from Spain who later became my husband.

JC: Finally, I’m intrigued by your efforts to help young adults cope with bullying by celebrating their differences. You even offer a blogsite for such teens. Tell us about these efforts.

SN: I have always enjoyed young people, especially those who don’t quite “fit in.” I currently volunteer at the local high school in Lajas, Puerto Rico, where I live. I work with the students both individually and in a group setting, where I encourage them to express themselves in writing. Many of these students feel isolated or “different” from their more popular peers. They all have been labeled something, from “Goth” to “Nerd” to other more offensive titles. And up until recently, they have, for the most part, kept silent. I have been working with them to help them find their voices.

The students and I have formed a group called Vox Occulta which translates to “hidden voice.” The students have written poems, stories, and rap songs about their lives, learning about themselves in the process. Many of these stories are posted on my blog www.susannadathur.com.

These young people have made a mark on my life. And like the Gypsies, they have influenced my writing. My next novel-in-progress is for young adults. You can’t spend so much time with young people without being influenced by them. They are a wonderful addition to my life.

_________________________________________________________________

SUSAN NADATHUR is a widely-traveled writer, teacher, and self-proclaimed “outsider” from Connecticut who lives on-and-off in Spain with an extended family of Gypsies in Seville. A registered nurse with a Masters degree in Spanish, Susan teaches language and cultural diversity workshops to childbirth and healthcare professionals, and has authored several books on Spanish language acquisition and cross-cultural communication. City of Sorrows (Azahar Books, 2012) is her debut novel. She lives with her husband, a philosophical scientist from India, and their daughter in Lajas, Puerto  Rico. Visit the author online at www.susannadathur.com.

That Whole ‘Unequally Yoked’ Thing (guest Nancy Rue & Giveaway)

I’m so excited to introduce y’all to one of the coolest authors I know –, the incredible Nancy Rue. I’m honored to be a part of Nancy’s blog hop this week, and I hope you’ll enjoy learning all about this fabulous Harley chick and her newest release, Too Far to Say Far Enough.

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What a delight it is to bring my community of “Nudgees” to yours here on Julie’s blog. After endorsing Julie’s book, Into the Free (amazing) and getting to know her a little via email and Facebook, I’m thinking you’re a lot like we are: people who feel nudged by God and need the company of folks who won’t think we’re crazy – or will accept us if they do.

You are the fourth stop on our hop, and I have to say that “hop” is really too “fluffy” a word for what we’ve been about, which is the asking of the hard-to-deal-with –questions that come with being a Christian. They’re the ones addressed in the trilogy of fiction novels The Reluctant Prophet – and there is probably none more sticky than today’s. Here it is:

What about the whole ‘unequally yoked’ thing? Should you even consider a partner who isn’t where you are spiritually? 

That would be an easy question to answer if the partner under consideration were in the Gomer category – you know, that “bad boy” who oozes sexuality and very little else. Our answer would be like the one we’d give a teenage girl who wanted to “minister to” the hot kid with the juvenile record. Someone told me recently that’s called “Missionary Dating.” I love that!

But it isn’t an easy one to answer in a situation like the one protagonist Allison Chamberlain finds herself in. The man she struggles not to fall in love with is “Chief,” a Harley-riding attorney with more integrity than any three of your average men put together  and a heart bigger than the engine of his Road King and a life that looks so much like the one Jesus led it’s uncanny. Except that he isn’t an official Christian.

In fact, Chief tells Allison early on that he respects her faith but he can’t go there. And then he keeps acting like Jesus. In time he comes around to believing in God again, but as he says to Allison, he isn’t ready to go into the pond (you have to read Unexpected Dismounts to understand that). Then he goes on acting even more like Jesus. How is Allison not to continue to fall more deeply in love with him?

When a proposal is imminent, Allison turns desperately to her mentor, Hank D’Angelo, with this very question: “Do I go ahead and marry him if I’m not totally sure we’re on the same spiritual page?”

Hank could have pointed Allison to Paul. He was, after all, wonderful at bringing people into the body and showing them how to make a life in Christ as easy as possible on themselves. But instead she does what she usually does and what Jesus so often does. She asks another question: “Have you talked to him about it?”

If we’re insistent that an equal yoke has to consist of two people who can pinpoint the day and time they gave their lives to Christ and have been faithful churchgoers and tithers ever since, then that question does us no good. I know some amazing couples who have that kind of yoked-ness and it’s beautiful.

I, however, don’t.

My husband was raised in the Roman Catholic Church and was quite devout as a young boy, until the day his mother was dropping him off at parochial school and he looked at the kids going into the school at the Presbyterian Church next door and asked his mom, “So if what I’m being taught is true, all those kids are going to hell?” When she couldn’t quite answer that, he knew that Catholicism wasn’t for him. He never gave up God, though. When we met and fell in love, I was captured not only by his wit and warmth and overall cuteness, but by the way he lived out his values. I saw God in his soul and I married him.

I have always gone to church and there have been marvelous seasons in our life together when we’ve been involved in a particular church together. We’ve taught Sunday school as a team, been youth group advisors more than once, gone on missions trips as team leaders. Most of our lasting relationships with other people have come out of our church experiences. Several years ago, however, when the church we were part of became toxic and the members turned on each other, my husband said, “Y’know, I think I’m done with the church. I’ll support you in whatever you want to do but I can’t do it anymore.”

I didn’t insist that we find a church together. I found one and I’m happy there. More than happy. I miss him sitting next to me, though. Of course I wish he were. There are in fact things I don’t participate in because he’s not. And at times I wondered, “Is he still talking to God? Is he okay spiritually?”

After I wrote Hank’s words, “Have you talked to HIM about it?”, I thought, well., um, no, I actually haven’t.

So I did. His answers are between the two of us, but what they showed me is that this question goes beyond who we’re “yoked” to and into our assessments of who’s Christian and who’s not, something we touched on a couple of posts ago.

Why do we make these assessments and judgments about how Christian is Christian enough without getting to know the people in question?

What are the signs we absolutely have to see in order to know, okay, that’s a Christian? Do those signs keep us from having a conversation that could tell us so much more?

And is it up to us to see those signs before we can say, “Oh, yeah. Definitely a believer.”

Absolutely we have to know that if marriage is part of the equation. But these questions of an “is this okay?” nature go far deeper than what’s “legal” for Christians. Allison and Chief’s situation raises more than the issue of being unequally yoked. It asks each one of us: what does a Christian look like to God? Now there’s a question I could hop to.

I believe those of you hoping to win prizes might need this quote from Too Far to Say Far Enough.

Nancy Rue is the author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including Healing Waters, which was a 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year, and The Reluctant Prophet which received a Christy award in 2011. Nancy travels extensively-at times on the back of a Harley Davidson-speaking and teaching to groups of `tween girls and their moms and mentoring aspiring Christian authors. She lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin’ husband Jim and their two yellow labs (without whom writing would be difficult.)

Now what you have probably been waiting for…winning books!  Nancy’s publisher, David C. Cook, is giving away:

• Reluctant Prophet series (3 books) to 10 winners
• PLUS 10 copies of Reluctant Prophet to each winner’s recipient of choice

Nancy will personally sign each book as well as include a letter with Reluctant Prophet to your person of choice.  Visit here for the Rafflecopter entry form and official rules.

If you are joining the hop mid-way through and not sure where to go, here are all the stops for each day.  That way you are able to maximize your entries into the giveaway, as well as capture Nancy’s heart as she wrote this series:

Monday: Nancy Rue, The Nudge “What Hank Says . . . About Leaving the Pew”
Tuesday: Mocha With Linda “Will the “Real” Christians Please Stand Up?”
Wednesday: Jen Hatmaker “When the Nudge Drives a Wedge”
Thursday: Julie Cantrell “That Whole ‘Unequally Yoked’ Thing
Friday: Far From Perfect MaMMa “Is It Worth Having a Record?”

If you would like to connect with Nancy, she can be found here:

Website: www.nancyrue.com
facebook (adult fans): www.facebook.com/nnrue
facebook (for teen fans): www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
twitter: www.twitter.com/nnue
pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nnrue
In addition to Nancy’s blog, The Nudge, (for her adult audience), she also has a blog for teens (In Real Life) and for tweens (Tween You and Me)

Meet the CBA’s Newest Star – Katie Ganshert!

I met Katie Ganshert through an online writer’s support group with WordServe Literary Agency. We hit it off right away, and I have thoroughly enjoyed having her share this journey with me as our debut novels both hit shelves this spring.

Katie’s first novel, Wildflowers from Winter, will release May 8th, but YOU CAN GET A FREE COPY BEFORE IT EVEN HITS SHELVES (see below for details).  I had the privilege of getting an advanced copy of the book and thought many of you who enjoy inspirational reads might enjoy Katie’s work as well.  Her book is a work of Christian fiction and is published by WaterBrook Press.

JC: Let’s start by discussing your journey as a debut novelist. Tell us a bit about how this story first came to be and share a quick glimpse of your experience in finding an agent and a publisher.

KG: When I was up nursing my son in the wee hours of the morning, the voice of a twelve year old girl came into my head and refused to leave. So I sat down at the computer and I wrote this prologue. I had no story to go with it. At the same time, I’d been toying with the idea of telling a story that explored the bonds of friendship. So I decided to squish the ideas together and Wildflowers from Winter was born.

This was the book that landed me an agent and a publisher. Before Wildflowers, I’d written two other novels. When I wrote this one, I knew it was different. I knew it was better. So I signed up for the ACFW conference in 2009 and pitched it to my dream agent, Rachelle Gardner, and the senior editor at Waterbrook/Multnomah. Two months later, Rachelle called to offer me representation. A year after that, my book made it through pub board and Waterbrook/Multnomah offered me a two book deal.

JC: You begin the book with a prologue written in first-person narrative, but then you switch to third person. Throughout the novel, first-person segments are peppered in, bringing the reader back and forth across time and space. How did you decide to use this unique technique and did you find it challenging? Are there other books you used as models as you experimented with this method?

KG: I have a brilliant editor, Shannon Marchese. The original version had a first person prologue and the rest of the story was told in third person. Shannon thought the prologue felt orphaned. So she encouraged me to write six or seven more first person scenes and intersperse them throughout the novel. I loved her suggestion. And I loved writing these scenes. The end result was a novel with a lot more depth and texture than the original version.

JC: Your main character, while likeable, is a bit stubborn, and she tends to make things harder on herself than they need to be (like many of us). She has a difficult relationship with her mother, in particular. I’m fascinated by mother-daughter relationships and am convinced they are one of the most important of all human relationships. What led you to write about this mother-daughter duo, and what did you learn from examining the relationship from Bethany’s point of view.

KG: I’m also fascinated with mother-daughter relationships (one of the many, many reasons why I was so captivated with your story, Julie!).

Bethany’s ashamed of her mother. She sees her mom as weak. Yet as the author, I knew things about Ruth that Bethany didn’t. It made me realize how easy it is to judge others, especially when that other person is our mom. It’s so easy to be critical of our parents. We forget that they had lives before we were born, with goals and dreams and disappointments and failures. 

JC: Readers often assume a novel is based on real events in the author’s life. What, if anything, in this book was drawn from your real life?

KG: The back story of Robin and Bethany’s friendship is inspired by real life events. I had a best friend growing up  and like Bethany and Robin, we lost touch in college. Our lives went separate ways. I remember wondering if anything could bring us back together again. It’s a question that helped me with the plot of Wildflowers. So that aspect of the novel is definitely entrenched in real-life experience.

JC: What are you working on for the future and when can fans expect more of your work?

KG: Right now, I’m working on revisions for book 2, Wishing on Willows, which releases March 19, 2013. This is Robin’s story. Readers will get to see a lot of familiar places and familiar faces.

JC: Finally, what advice do you have for folks who are interested in writing a novel?

KG: Ecclesiastes 7:8 comes to mind: Finishing is better than starting…

There are so many people out there who want to write a novel, but very few follow through and finish. So my advice would be to find an idea you’re passionate about. A story you would love to read.

Then sit down and make yourself write every day until it’s finished. When it’s done, read some craft books and start editing.

If you want to be published, find another story that stirs in your heart and start the process over. Read a lot. Write a lot. And persevere.

 

JC: Thanks so much for taking time to share your thoughts with us. I’m sure everyone will enjoy getting to know you as much as I have. 

ONE LUCKY COMMENTER will win a free copy of Wildflowers from Winter. It’s as easy as this:

1. Leave a reply to let Katie know you want to win a free copy of Wildflowers from Winter.
2. One winner will be randomly selected Friday, April 20.

Good Luck!

 

 

Learn more about Katie and her debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, by following her blog: www.katieganshert.com/blog 

 

 

Meet Author Lynne Bryant

I first discovered Lynne Bryant’s work when she sent her debut novel, Catfish Alley, to the Southern Literary Review before it was released in April, 2011. I was immediately drawn to her southern voice and appreciated her ability to slice deep into the sensitive areas of Mississippi life, all while celebrating the many wonderful things about life in this part of the country.

Now her second novel, Alligator Lake, is about to hit shelves April 3. Lynne has graciously given us a sneak peek, and I hope you’ll all enjoy learning a bit about one of my favorite authors.

JC: Both your debut novel, Catfish Alley, and your second novel, Alligator Lake (NAL Accent, April, 2012), were set in Mississippi where you spent your childhood. Why did you choose to set both books in your home state? Are you comfortable with the genre of Southern Fiction or do you prefer your book to be categorized in another way?

LB: I love setting stories in Mississippi for a couple reasons: first, it’s where I grew up, where my roots are, and is more familiar to me than any other place in the world. So, naturally, when I think of stories set in the South, they’ll be there; and second, as you know, the culture of Mississippi just lends itself to storytelling!

I am comfortable with the Southern Fiction genre, although I do think that Alligator Lake has some universal themes when it comes to families coping with differences and change.

JC: One of the most intriguing parts of Alligator Lake is your unique point of view. You choose to tell the story in first person, but you create three different narrators. I imagine it was a tremendous challenge to create three unique voices, and I was impressed with your ability to examine racial issues across three generations (plus Celi, an interracial child who struggles to understand the treatment she receives while visiting relatives in the south). How did writing this book affect your own outlook on race relations?

As always, I learned so much more about Mississippi’s history when doing research to develop the characters and their various life stories. I think, if anything, I always finish a book with a little more perspective on how history affects the attitudes of whites and blacks toward each other, even today.

JC: Have you ever been a victim of racism? Have you ever caught yourself behaving in a racist way? Does anyone you love express racist thoughts/behaviors, and if so, how do you react to that?

No, as a somewhat generic white person, I’ve never been a victim of racism that could in any way compare to what blacks experience. One of the most important things I’ve become conscious of is the privilege that automatically goes along with being white. When you’re white, you don’t expect to be treated poorly because of your color—it’s just not part of your experience.

There have been times that I realized that my thoughts and actions were coming from an unconscious point of view about race. It is one thing to say you’re not prejudiced because you don’t use the “N” word, but quite another to realize that maybe you’ve just made an assumption about someone’s ability because of their color.

I do struggle sometimes with the racist comments of some of my Mississippi family. My reaction nowadays is usually to ask questions, to dig deeper into why they feel the way they do.

JC: You currently teach nursing at the University of Colorado. Your main character, Avery, in Alligator Lake is also a nurse in Colorado who comes home for a family wedding in Mississippi. How much of yourself do you see in Avery? In the other characters?

There’s probably a little of me in all of my characters; I think that’s inevitable for a writer. I relate to the way Avery feels about returning to Mississippi having experienced a very different culture in Colorado. I relate to the way she comes home with a broadened perspective on the world. I can also relate to Willadean’s nonconformity and her frustration with the Mississippi status quo.

JC: How did your nursing background affect your decision to create a character with sickle-cell disease? Have you always had in interest in this particular disease, and if so, why?

My nursing background gave me an opportunity to see a patient struggling with the horrible pain of sickle cell disease, and even in contemporary time, I could see that health care professionals doubted the extent of her pain. And I wondered how much their reaction to her had to do with her race (and this was in Colorado, by the way, not in Mississippi).

I haven’t always been interested in sickle cell disease. It was a good fit for this story, because it’s a classic reminder of how arbitrary it is to make assumptions based on skin color.

JC: Readers often assume a novel is based on real events in the author’s life. What, if anything, in this book was drawn from your real life?

My real life has given me context for stories—especially the voices that echo in my mind with particular resonance. However, the actual story of Alligator Lake is pure fiction.

JC: Race relations are a key theme in both novels. You grew up during the tumultuous civil rights era in Mississippi – a state once categorized as the “most racist state in the nation.” I live in Mississippi now and find race relations still a fascinating part of our culture here, one that continues to evolve but remains a sensitive and difficult aspect of Mississippi life. I also lived in Colorado before moving here. I’m sure you’ve made observations, as I have, about the two different cultures and the racial issues that exist in both. What do you want people to know about Mississippi in the past versus Mississippi today?

Caveat here: Anything I say about Mississippi is based on my personal experience – I don’t in any way pretend to be the voice of the state! AND other places have many of the same issues; I just happen to be from Mississippi, so that’s the place I’m particularly interested in.

I’ve been delighted to meet people in Mississippi today who have a much more progressive and enlightened view of life, race relations, and social issues.

That being said, many Mississippians are still in need, just as I was, of learning more about the experiences of African Americans right in their own hometowns. People still deny their racism because they can’t see it, or they still believe that’s just how things are. Some still believe that the Civil Rights Movement solved all racial inequities, and that now, everything’s fine. Not so.

JC: How do your relatives in Mississippi react to your stories?  Are any of them offended by your portrayal of some southerners as racists, or do they appreciate your ability to scratch beneath the surface and examine the reasons that lead to such mindsets?

Hmm. I wouldn’t say that they’re offended—maybe puzzled. I remember when I was getting ready to publish Catfish Alley, one of my sisters asked me if I had an agenda. That was a difficult question to answer. On the surface, I just wanted to tell entertaining stories. I think somewhere along the way I had to admit to myself that I did have an agenda with Catfish Alley and Alligator Lake: to look at the struggles of particular people placed in circumstances that challenge all of their existing ideas about race. I think most days my family respects what you call my “ability to scratch beneath the surface.” But there are probably some days when they’d rather I write something else!

JC: Do you think you’ll ever move back to Mississippi?

No, I don’t think so. I love Mississippi and all of her history. I love being rooted there and the experiences I had there. But I’m busy exploring the rest of the country now, and I’m thankful to always have Mississippi as a place to come home to.

JC: You generated a loyal readership with your debut novel, and they will certainly come back for Alligator Lake. What can your fans expect from you in the future?

I’m not sure. I have another novel set in Mississippi in the works, and it’s coming along slowly. I think that I’m at a crossroads with my writing, and I need to renew my creative energy. I will definitely keep writing. I’m just not sure about future stories always being set in the South.

Thanks so much for taking time to share your thoughts with us today. I’m sure readers  who like stories set in the south will enjoy your Mississippi stories, and I know they’ll appreciate hearing your views as both a southern and a mountain girl.

Meet Lynne Bryant

• Lemuria in Jackson, MS: April 11th at 5:00 pm 
• Books-A-Million in Columbus, MS: April 12th at 7:00 pm

Summary of Alligator Lake:

A summer wedding calls Avery Pritchett home. Back to the fertile Mississippi Delta she left ten years ago. Back to the family that sent her away…

As a pregnant teenager, Avery Pritchett found refuge in Colorado, but now, ten years later, her brother’s wedding — and some burning questions — bring her back home to her small Southern town.

But will introducing her mixed-race daughter to her eccentric grandmother bring solace or sorrow?

Will confronting her class-conscious mother allow for new beginnings or confirm old resentments? And how can she ask for forgiveness of her lover from her youth who has been denied his child all these years?

As the summer progresses, Avery’s return provokes shocking discoveries — of choices made, and secrets kept, and of deceptions that lie closer than she suspects.

 Learn more: http://www.lynne-bryant.com/

 

 

 

Meet Award-Winning Novelist, Lisa Wingate

Award-winning novelist, Lisa Wingate, steadily produces quality reads and has established a massive fan base that crosses into both the ABA and CBA markets. Recently, she discussed her writing life with me, sharing inside information about how she manages to do it all. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

 
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     JC: Lisa, you’ve established yourself as a well-respected author who steadily produces quality work. Dandelion Summer, which was released in July, is your sixteenth book and has garnered extensive praise.

     I admit, I couldn’t put the book down, and I am announcing, This girl can write! But have you ever felt pigeonholed when people place your book within the Romance genre or the Christian/Inspirational or Women’s Fiction genre, and do you find that people sometimes underestimate the skills of such authors?

     LW: I first published in the ABA market with NAL Penguin Putnam, and more recently in CBA with Bethany House Publishers. At times, I have felt pigeonholed by descriptors such as inspirational, women’s fiction, and romance. When I first queried Tending Roses, I received some nice compliments on refusal letters because publishers liked the book but felt they didn’t have the right marketing program for something this “inspirational.” Fortunately, NAL’s Accent line took it on and it has enjoyed over 10 years of success.

    
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     It’s always hard when a book crosses genre lines and the markets don’t quite know where to put it, but oftentimes those are the books that break out and do very well. Over time, many ABA publishers have developed inspirational lines, catalog space and marketing plans, and today the inspirational market and secular market are much more intertwined than they used to be. I think the secret to making inspirational fiction work in a larger market lies in making the Christian message organic to the story.

     JC: Your career as an author started when you decided to share your grandmother’s life lessons with a worldwide audience. Now that debut novel, Tending Roses, is in its fifteenth printing from Penguin Putnam and you’re still telling stories to readers across the globe.

     Share with readers a bit about that journey as a writer. What has been the most positive aspect of life as an author? And have you been disappointed by any particular hurdles within the publishing industry?

     LW: I feel very fortunate to be able to spend my days doing the thing I’ve been dreaming of since the first grade. It’s a special thing when you’re able to realize a dream that seems to have been born into your DNA.

     Overall, my experiences with the publishers have been pretty smooth. I think, like so many people, I didn’t have a realistic picture of the book business when I sold my first book. I had no idea how much marketing authors are required to do these days. Publishing budgets are limited, and unless you’re lucky enough to land a big six-figure deal, you’ll need to find ways to connect to readers and get your book out there in front of media outlets. That was perhaps the biggest surprise or disappointment for me. The world doesn’t just flock to your door because you’ve written a book. You have to let the world know it’s there.

     JC:  Like most women, you are not only a successful writer. You also are a mother, a wife, a farmer, a volunteer, and an inspirational speaker….just to list a few of your daily responsibilities. What advice do you have for women who, like you, are juggling a few too many balls at a time? How do you maintain a healthy balance?

      LW: As much as I love writing and speaking, my greatest accomplishment in life is my family. I’m the mom of two awesome farm boys who are now rushing toward adulthood much faster than I’d thought possible. Life with boys has been a nonstop adventure filled with tree forts, sand pile cities, and unexpected pets captured in unlikely locations.

     The more years go by, the more I realize that the most precious memories are the ordinary ones of picnic lunches at the creek out back, rainy afternoons playing cutthroat Yahtzee, and evenings spent lying side by side in bed reading a story before lights out.

     I manage it all by setting goals and sticking to them. Generally, I try to write ten double-spaced pages per day, which allows me to finish a draft in two or three months, depending on how much I’m gone traveling and speaking. After the first draft is finished, I’ll usually spend a month or so rereading and revising before the book moves on to the editor’s desk.

     Mostly, I get the writing done while my guys are at school and work, but I have learned to live with dropping everything to take left-behind football cleats to school or volunteer at the book sale. Even if it means burning the midnight oil, family time comes first.

     JC: Do your sons read your books? What do they think of having a mother who is a famous author?

     LW: These days my teen and twenty-one-year old would rather be reading car magazines or articles about where to find the fattest bass. They are proud of the fact that I write books, and often travel with me to various book talks. If we happen to pass a good fishing hole on the way home, so much the better!

     I cherish the memory of the day the first print copies of Good Hope Road arrived at my house. It was only my third book to be published, and the first time both boys were old enough to actually read one of my books. Three copies came, and they each asked me if they could have one.

 

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     I remember the two of them sitting on either side of me on the sofa, my 11 year old reading and turning pages fairly quickly, and my 7 year old quietly sounding out words and moving more slowly. That was the ultimate family reading moment.

     JC: Which of your 16 books do you consider to be your favorite?

     LW: Tending Roses will always be my sentimental favorite because it has my grandmother’s stories and Grandma Rose has her personality, although she would deny that. My grandmother was a quirky, stubborn, smart, strong woman, who wasn’t above stirring up some trouble around town and a few family wrangles.

     In the book, Grandma Rose leaves stories in a notebook for her granddaughter to find and read. In reality, my grandmother told me these stories when she visited after the birth of my first son, her first great grandchild. I was a young mother wrestling with the issue of whether I should return to my technical writing career, or stay home and enjoy this tiny baby. Grandma thought I needed some life lessons, and her stories, told in quiet moments with that child nestled on her chest, were life changing for me.

    A couple of years later after my second son was born, I came across the notebook where I had written down her stories. I had the idea of putting them into a novel with a fictional family (my family will have you know that we aren’t nearly as neurotic as the family in the book) and Tending Roses was born!

     JC: In Dandelion Summer, I felt powerfully connected to your characters and I didn’t want the book to end. How did you create such a believable cast and were they based on people in your real life? Tell us a bit about your work with youth.

     LW: For years, Sam and I have taught Sunday School to high school seniors. Being the biggest church in town and having an active youth program, we gather kids from the community who come to socialize, feel safe, and be accepted. We’ve had many teens over the years who seemed somewhat adrift, with not much family support. They are in my thoughts a lot.

     Epie, in Dandelion Summer, is kind of a collage of these teens. Like so many young girls, she is on the verge of making some bad decisions to gain the attention and approval of a men. She needs someone to show her how to live, how to believe in herself. J. Norman comes into her life quite by accident, but he becomes the mentor she needs.

     JC: Dandelion Summer also discusses the inspirational space race era. How did you decide to write about this fascinating topic and what are a few interesting facts you learned during your research?

     LW: For me, Dandelion Summer was a joy to write, as the original Apollo moon shots are some of my oldest memories, and the history of Norman’s character in the novel mirrors the real-life adventures of a wonderful reader-friend, Ed Stevens, who helped design America’s first moon lander, Surveyor, while working for Howard Hughes.

     Ed wrote to me some years ago after reading one of my earlier novels and explained that he was retired, loved computer projects and would like to help in any way he could to get the news about me and about my books out via Internet. I took him up on that (how could I be so lucky?) and I can’t tell you the number of technical issues he has guided me through.

     During all those shared struggles, Ed shared some memories of his career and his life. I found myself printing his notes so I could keep them, and finally, I decided to put his memories into a book. He became the background for J. Norm’s career. The research was minimal, and each time I needed something about the space career, Ed knew just where to go. Ed is responsible for providing all these wonderful articles and web links (be sure you watch the control room video!):

Actual 1966 audio/video of the control room during Surveyor landing:

http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/1966/06/02/X02066601/

Surveyor 1 Soft Landing on the moon approximately 2 minute video:

http://realserver1.jpl.nasa.gov:8080/ramgen/timeline/Video-first-soft-moon-land-020530.rm?mode=compact

Surveyor history and photos:

http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/1966/06/02/X02066601/

Surveyor 1 pictures and details: http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Surveyor_01.html

Launch pads 36 A & 36 B where the Surveyor Spacecraft were launched: http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac167/040831pad36a.html

   JC:  Do you “write to learn” as many authors do, choosing challenging topics so that you can learn about them as you write, or do you purposely choose topics that you are already familiar with in hopes of “writing to teach” your readers what you know?

     LW: I write to learn, and each character teaches me lessons. Life is filled with characters. Some characters, like Grandma Rose in Tending Roses, and J. Norman Alvord in Dandelion Summer, come from people I know and love. Some may be inspired by a person I’ve only heard about on the news or brushed by in a store somewhere.

     The more paths you walk in life, the more you realize that everyone has a story and that story made them what they are. Part of writing is looking at the people around you and guessing at what that story may be. That’s when the let’s pretend begins. What if…I put that character in this situation? What would happen? And so the story begins… and I stay tuned (and write) to hear … the rest of the story.

   JC: What can Lisa Wingate fans look forward to in the future?

     LW: Blue Moon Bay comes out in February from Bethany House. Edits are complete, and we are planning several book club activities and promotions. BMB is the second in the Moses Lake books. The story has a mystery, a romance and lots of southern flavor. Here is a little preview:

For Seattle architect Heather Hampton, a trip back to tiny Moses Lake, Texas is hardly in the plan. But when her chance to achieve Project Manager status hinges on the sale of the family farmland to giant Proxica Foods, Heather finds herself headed to the last place she ever wanted to go. If Heather has her way, she’ll be in and out of Texas in a day–with the real estate contracts properly signed.

But the currents of Moses Lake take visitors on unexpected journeys. Heather’s visit soon morphs into Valentine’s week in the rambling family funeral home, with a family steeped in secrets, and the local banker, Blaine Underhill, who seems intent on stalling Heather’s project. As secrets are held and revealed, Heather can’t help but wonder if the handsome banker, and the family she has come to know again, are crooks or crusaders. Somehow she must find out the truth before she loses everything she has worked for and everything she’s found on the shores of Moses Lake.

     The third Moses Lake book, Firefly Island is still in the making, and we’ll be having a Join the Cast contest. One reader, bookclub, or bookseller will win the chance to join the cast of Moses Lake by naming a character, club, or store in Firefly Island and be a part of the story line. Readers can learn more about that on my website and read the first chapter of Blue Moon Bay at www.Lisawingate.com/jointhecast

     I’m also involved in a fun blogsite, where we talk about Southern food, faith, fiction, and fun – sort of a Southern girls’ version of the View. As we speak, SouthernBelleView.com is about to turn one year old, and it has been a fantastic year!

     JC: Thanks for taking your time to share your work with us today. I’m excited to share this beautiful novel and hope new readers will give this story a chance. I have no doubt if they do, they’ll become Lisa Wingate fans for life. I sure have.

     LW: Thank you, Julie. I appreciate your featuring me on your blog. Best wishes to you!

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Lisa Wingate is a magazine columnist, inspirational speaker, and the author of a host of mainstream fiction novels, including the national bestseller, Tending Roses. Her books have been featured selections for Doubleday and Literary Guild book clubs, selected for The Reader’s Club of America, and have garnered LORIES Best Fiction and Reader’s Choice Awards, and been nominated for the ACFW Book of the Year Award. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others, as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. Lisa loves sharing with readers via Facebook, Youtube, and her website. More information about Lisa’s novels can be found at www.Lisawingate.com