What Do You (Really) Want To Say?

Ever had those moments where you just need to speak your mind? It builds like a slow burning fire, until finally you can’t stand it anymore and you let her rip. Yeah, me neither.

Kidding. I get those moments a lot. I read something, hear something, see something that immediately kicks my heart-rate into high gear. But, much as I want to, more often than not, I don’t speak. I don’t say what I really want to because…well…honestly…I don’t know why. Perhaps I’m afraid of the repercussions if I do. Perhaps I know that what I really want to say won’t be accepted or even heard. Perhaps I know that what’s irking me really isn’t that important in the grand scheme of things. Or, perhaps, I’m just afraid.

Fear is one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of healthy communication.

Right? Think about it. How many times have you walked away from a conversation with some regret? How many times have you come ‘this close’ to saying what you really need to, but don’t? I’m not one to confront, I avoid confrontation like the plague. It makes me all churned up inside. Maybe that’s just my personality. Maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about what other people think. But I do.

So it’s kind of funny that in my writing, I don’t really give much thought to having my characters speak their mind. Or maybe it’s not funny. Maybe this is my way of saying what I really want to say.

Over the last year, I’ve struggled with figuring out the kind of writer I want to be. And then I realized it’s not a matter of ‘wanting to be’. I already am that writer.

I don’t agonize over every word. I don’t worry about offending anyone, but neither do I intentionally set out to do so. I’ve been around long enough to know that no matter how hard you try, somebody out there is going to find something to pick on and get their knickers in a twist over. It happens. I’m not perfect and neither are my characters. As I’ve said before, (in this blog post)  I won’t pretty it up and put a bow on it. Sure, there’s a market for those Candyland type books, but I don’t read them and I don’t want to write them.

I write the kind of books I want to read. It’s that simple.

I live a real life complete with struggles and heartbreak and lots of love and laughter in between. I bet you do too. And sometimes life gets so hard you don’t know what to do with it. You don’t know where to find hope. But somehow, somewhere along the journey, you do. You catch a glimpse of it and you reach out and hold tight with everything you’ve got. And one day, you wake up, rub the grit from your eyes and find yourself standing in the middle of a miracle.

In this ever-changing world, we need a constant. A touchstone. Something solid that we know we can rely on, something that we know we’d be utterly bereft without. For me, that’s God. My faith. It may be for you as well, or it may be your spouse, your dog, your cat or your Mom. When I set out to tell a story, I want that book to be a touchstone. I want my readers to see my name on the cover and know exactly what they’re going to get. I want them to know that somewhere in those pages, they’re going to find hope.

I don’t want to disappoint. But I will remain true to myself and the words I believe God gives me. I write from the heart. It’s not always pretty. People fail. They sin. They might say crap. And maybe some other stuff. And yes, those same people might even be Christians. If that offends you, then you probably don’t want to read my books. But if you believe that we’re all put on this earth for a purpose, we’re all on a journey of faith in some way shape or form, all searching for hope, for truth, then you might find that my words resonate with you.

I may not always be great at expressing myself in person, but I will always strive to be honest. And I will always write the truth, with integrity and transparency. And, in my writing at least, I will say what I really want to say.

Your thoughts? 

Laying Low…

Sorry for my absence here of late. It has been a busy time, a fun time. Just last weekend I hosted my daughter’s bridal shower. Crazy to think that I have a daughter getting married in just two months time…but there you have it. Of course, immediately afterward, I got hit with the worst cold I’ve had in a long while. I did get my flu shot, but apparently it does not protect against the common cold. So last week I hung out with my daughter and tried to get on with life – we even had a spa day – try going under the steamer for a facial with a head full of cold!! But I enjoyed it anyway. This weekend, I’m hibernating.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m not feeling 100% I like to snuggle under warm blankets and just veg. Not much writing happens when my brain is clogged. And I’m trying not to feel guilty about that. Trying not to think about it in general actually, because I’m not feeling very positive about things right now. I don’t deal well with uncertainty, well, who does, right? I like a plan, I like knowing what’s coming next, what to prepare for and how to move past the obstacles. You can’t exactly do that with the world of publishing. The best I can do is keep writing, keep my eyes focussed on what is in front of me, the tangible, the things I can control, and quit worrying about the things I can’t. Oh, but it’s hard.

Still, I am so grateful for so many things today, even as I sit here coughing up a lung. I have so many wonderful friends who support me, my amazing family, so much to look forward to. Discouragement is easy to give in to, but I’m determined to move past it.

Okay, enough said. We haven’t talked books in a while, so let’s do that! These days I’m reading several great novels -

The Girl in the Gatehouse – Julie Klassen

The Girl in the Gatehouse is a historical, rich in detail with captivating characters – I’ve become a fan of Julie’s over the last couple of years, and I was so thrilled to meet her in person this past September in Monterey! We are with the same agency, so we got to hang out a bit. I recommend all her books, and there are a few of them!

Flight of the Earls - Michael K Reynolds 

Flight of the Earls is Michael’s first novel, and although I’m not very far along with it yet, I’m eager to dive in when I have the time to devote to it. The story is about Irish Immigrants, who leave the shores of Ireland for America, in 1846 – I know I’m going to find this fascinating, as I have always loved these kinds of stories.

Swimming to the Surface - Kristin Billerbeck 

Swimming to the Surface I just happened across the other day. Kristin is known for her YA novels, so when I saw that she’d written an adult fiction, I checked it out. I was even more surprised to discover the author has self-published this book, because that option is always in the back of my mind. It is a different story, but one that any Christian who has struggled within the church can appreciate. I’m looking forward to finishing it.

I still have a ton of books on my TBR pile, but those are three I’m enjoying at the moment. Writing wise, I’m still working on First Harvest, and a new story called Home to Castle Hill. Don’t forget, next month, April – Hidden in the Heart is ACFW Book Club’s pick of the month. I hope you will join in that discussion. And, as always, if you have enjoyed either of my books and would like to post a review, I welcome them! Still haven’t checked out my writing? Visit my website for information about my books and read the excerpts!

What’s on your current reading list? 

Ain’t Nobody Got Time For Dat!

Right?
If you have no idea what the title of this post means, you’re excused. Maybe you don’t have kids, YouTube or the Internet at all. It’s okay. It happens. Believe me, I wouldn’t know anything about Sweet Brown and her quest for a cold pop gone wrong either if it weren’t for my kids rolling around on the kitchen floor one night, laughing hysterically over something they’d just watched on YouTube. And watched again. And again. And again.

So, I was curious. I sat down with them  and watched, and this is what I saw:

Okay, I admit it. I laughed. And I watched it again. And a few times the next day. And I laughed harder.

Then this came along:

Iconic stuff in the making.

What, you think I’m kidding?

Sweet Brown is now doing commercials, yes, she’s got time for dat…and I’ll bet she has more money now than she did when she went in search of a cold pop one night and found her apartment complex on fire.

Life is funny.

Sweet Brown didn’t set out to be famous. She just opened her mouth and told her story. In her own way. She kept it real. And we related. Something about the woman just draws us, makes us laugh. For whatever reason, she’s a likable character.

All too often we fool ourselves into thinking we need to be so much more than who we are. We need to be thinner, richer, more successful. We need more friends. More this, more that.

Ain’t Nobody Got Time For Dat! It’s exhausting for one thing. Take it from me. I’ve been there.

A long time ago I used to think certain things were important. That they made me who I am. That if I didn’t have the right clothes, the right friends, the perfect marriage, well-behaved kids…then somehow I was failing. So I worked really hard to make it look like my world was perfect. And it was far from it. I might have fooled a few folks here and there, maybe even friends who knew me well, but I couldn’t fool God. I finally faced the music and fessed up, and started to get real. It’s amazing really, the freedom that comes with authenticity.

Today, I’m not perfect, but I’m not trying to be. I look back on those early years of married life and raising kids without a clue, and I smile. I even thank God for those days when I felt like I just couldn’t breathe, couldn’t take one more step. Because they taught me to lean on Him. The lessons I learned to get to where I am today have become invaluable. I will continue to make mistakes, but I won’t hide behind them. With me, what you see is what you get, like it or not.

Authenticity is a rare gift these days, and one I value highly. I strive to keep it real, not only in life, but in my writing. I want to create characters that my readers will relate to, because they see something of themselves in that story, and they want to go along for the ride. I keep it real because I know that true healing comes in the honest moments. I keep it real because I know from bittersweet experience, that sometimes the only way up is down. I keep it real, because, well…because it’s no fun being fake.

Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That!

Tell me about it. Are you struggling to keep it real or have you found the joy in authenticity? 

Like authentic characters who struggle through their daily lives just like you? Then you’ll enjoy Yesterday’s Tomorrow, and Hidden in the Heart. Give them a try today! Available in paperback and Kindle.

What’s It Worth To You?

Since both our kids have left the nest, the hubby and I have a lot more time on our hands. He’s taken up gardening. And I have my writing. But we’re always in search of things to do together, apart from eating out, which we do very well.

I love antiques. Last year I started collecting old English bone china tea cups and saucers. I’m also interested in old books and have picked up a few of those over the past year as well. Bermuda is a wonderful place to find ancient artifacts. Keeping in mind that an antique is  anything over one hundred years old, Bermuda was colonized in 1609, by a shipwreck – and the colonists, originally on their way to Jamestown, Virginia, finding the land lush and the climate suitable, stayed. In 1612, Britain made it official, and Bermuda was made a Colony of the British Empire. So you can imagine what delights might be found at estate sales, auctions and even yard sales!

We’d never been to an auction before, but this past weekend we decided to give it a try. I thought I’d be intimidated, not know how to bid or what price to bid…but it was all quite simple. And fascinating. I couldn’t believe some of the pieces being auctioned off, and the prices they went for were quite a steal. We came away with a few lovely things ourselves, and I think we’ve been bitten by the bug. I didn’t attend the second day, but hubby came home and told me he witnessed a sterling silver spoon go for the price of ten thousand dollars. Say what?! I can’t fathom dropping that kind of cash on a spoon! Maybe I don’t know enough about silver or rare spoons, but honestly? Ten grand?  My first thought was that you could feed a whole lot of kids with that money. But obviously whoever ended up with that spoon really wanted it. For whatever reason, it was worth something to them. Worth ten thousand dollars to be precise.

Have you ever wanted anything so badly you’d do just about anything to get it? Wanted it so badly you could taste it? Reach out your hand and touch it?

I felt that way about getting published. That was my dream, and I was desperate for it. And for a lot of years it remained out of reach. Sometimes I’d get close, get all excited and think, finally, finally, this is going to happen! And then it didn’t. Disappointment crashed in violent waves over my spirit. Discouragement followed and despondency almost made me give up. A lot of times. But I didn’t. I persevered because that dream of becoming a published author was worth something to me. It was a goal I’d set for myself, and I was going to meet it come hell or high water. I was willing to hang in there for the long haul, however long it took.

I’m not sure where that determination came from. Perhaps it stems from the fact that I’ve never been a high achiever. I wasn’t the popular kid, the smart kid or the pretty kid. I only did a couple things well, and was pretty much average or below average in everything else. But I knew I could write. And write I did. Perhaps in a way, my desire to succeed, which I equaled with becoming a published author, was to prove to myself that I could do it. To confirm that those who believed in me were actually not crazy.

Funny thing is, once my dream became reality, I found out that reality sometimes bites. Because now I have greater goals to go after. Bigger dreams. And the road gets harder, not easier. I’m swimming upstream with a whole lot of other fish and most of them are stronger swimmers, faster and probably more talented than I can ever hope to be.

Do I have what it takes to keep going? To keep writing stories that people will want to read? Do I have what it takes to land a contract with my dream publisher? I don’t know. Some days I think I do. Some days doubt creeps in and convinces me otherwise. What I do know is this – I believe that right now, today, I’m exactly where God wants me to be, doubts and all.

My dreams are worth a lot to me, but knowing I’m on the right path is worth a whole lot more. Because I’ve learned that my self-worth is not measured by how many books have my name on them or where my publishing career goes from here. I am valuable to God whether I succeed or not. And He paid a lot more than ten thousand dollars for me.

What are your dreams and what are they worth to you? 

An Interview with Author Eric WIlson

I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to chat with best-selling author, Eric Wilson. I asked Eric if he would be a guest on my blog during my Adoption Awareness month, because he wrote the novelization to the great movie, October Baby. I highly recommend both the book and the movie!

Great to have you here on the blog today, Eric! Would introduce yourself and tell my readers a bit about your writing journey?

Thanks for having me join your online party. Ha! My name’s so normal that I used to tell people my full name was GenEric, but I don’t believe my stories are anything so mundane. I’ve written fifteen published works, one of which hit the NY Times bestseller list. Hey, one out of 15 ain’t bad. I’ve been married 22 years, with two grown daughters, and I’ve traveled in over 40 countries. There you go, by the numbers. (Which, coincidentally, is the name of my current series . . . By the Numbers: 1 Step Away, 2 Seconds Late, 3 Fatal Blows, and 4 Last Wishes.)

You span genres in your writing, from suspense to supernatural, and I saw something about vampires on your website, (although I don’t think they were Amish), and then you have your film novelizations, Facing The Giants, Flywheel, Fireproof and October Baby, which are a different kettle of fish altogether. How do you keep all those plates spinning, and if you had to choose, what would be your favorite genre?

I’ve definitely broken every rule about “branding” myself in a certain genre. I’ve also paid for that with an uneven sales record. Regardless, I love writing any genre that allows me to create believable characters who deal with the daily dilemmas of knowing Jesus and living out biblical truths. Aside from the four novelizations, all of my other eleven stories are tied together in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Whether exploring the supernatural aspect, or simply keeping to the norms of modern life, I see all of my stories and characters as existing in the same world. (In fact, I even snuck a reference to my first book, Dark to Mortal Eyes, into October Baby. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone.)

 I know that October Baby was a movie before it was a book, how hard was that for you to take on? Did you work from the script or did you try to ‘re-write’ the book visually – how did that whole process work?

I have a lot of fun writing novelizations, taking someone else’s script and vision, joining hands with it and making it my own. It’s like adopting a story instead of giving birth to one of my own. Either way, I love my “babies” and embrace them all fully as my own. I always try to stay very true to the original DNA of the screenplay, but also give it new histories and backstories, as well as additional subplots and twists. That’s part of the fun, and October Baby made me laugh and cry as I worked on it.

 As you know, November is National Adoption Month. October Baby really spoke to me as an adoptee, and someone who has searched and found birth family. Do you have any connections to adoption in any way?

My wife was adopted. If not for her adoptive family, I might never have met her and ended up with such a fantastic wife. I have so much respect for those who adopt a child, not only for the practical side, all the hard work, but also for the spiritual and emotional investments and risks. There are so many children in need of loving parents, and adoption is a beautiful thing.

 What has been the most exciting and/or challenging part of your career thus far?

Most exciting? Every time I see the cover of my new book and see it in the store, that makes it come alive to me. And then hearing from readers who were challenged or moved in some way, that’s awesome. The most challenging? Trying to make a living. I had health insurance and savings and a better yearly income in corporate America. Writing for a living provides no guarantees, and after each contract, you’re out of work and looking for a job again, so to speak. Thankfully, I have a wife who has been so supportive in that process.

 What are your dreams for the future?

I  would love to live and work in Israel someday, at a youth hostel. I’d love to work at orphanages in Haiti and Romania. My wife and I want to be available to go anywhere, do anything, that God calls us to.

And now it’s time for you to ask us a question! —

Wow. You trust me to jump up on a soapbox? Well, oookay.

Do you see the Christian fiction market ever switching from the “safe alternative” way of thinking to a “influence culture and change the world” way of thinking? This is a serious question I have about this market, and really about the realm of Christian arts as a whole.

Friday’s Featured Author – Gail Sattler!

I am delighted to have Gail back with us today! She’s going to share a few thoughts on writing that I am sure you will find inspiring!

 

 

When asked to make a post that was writing related, I stopped to think of a topic. So many things jumped through my head I didn’t know where to start. Therefore, that’s what I’m going to make as the topic of this post – Nailing down an idea so you can do something with it.
There are many ways to do this. But in all the ways, whether you are a Pantster or a Plotster, the starting point comes about in the same way.
It’s to stop and think, what really is your story about, and what do you want to say. Do you simply want to tell a story for the point of telling a story, or do you have a serious point to make? Do you want to have a love story with a teary ending, or do you want to have an action packed thriller that leaves the reader gasping for air?
Do you have a primary character whom you want the world to love, or do you have someone the reader is going to want to shake some sense into?
Once you have decided what kind of character you have, what is the goal they must reach by the end of the book? And when they reach that goal, is there an Aha Moment you want the reader to see?
The reason we have to know all these things before we formulate our story is that we have to know where we’re going, so we can aim there from the first page, and not wander in circles. In today’s fast-paced world, a story has to move, and it has to have a point. You can’t move in a straight line if you don’t know your destination.
I don’t write my first word in any story, until I know the ending. Only when I know where I’m going, am I able to get there.
Next time you have a story to start, think of those things. I think you’ll like what you find.

Gail Sattler is a popular multi-published author. Her new book, just out Nov 1st, is in the new Bloomfield series, called Take The Trophy And Run (B&H Publishing), which launches the series. Check out Take The Trophy And Run on Amazon at 

Take the Trophy and Run: A Bloomfield Novel

You’re invited to see more about Gail Sattler on her website at

http://www.gailsattler.com

 

 

Introducing Author April Gardner!

Business or Hobby—How Do You View What You Do?

When I discovered I needed a business license to be “legal,” applying for and obtaining one for my fledgling home business did something for me I never expected.

I’m an author and, more recently, an editor with Astraea Press. True to their claim, authors don’t make much money. I got my first royalty check nearly three years ago and, for whatever reason, have struggled to go anywhere much with sales. Paying taxes hasn’t even been necessary.

But to be perfectly honest, I viewed writing more like a hobby than a business. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t want it to be a hobby. I WANTED to earn money, but a person’s mindset has everything to do with whether or not that will happen. If a girl doesn’t take her work seriously, if she doesn’t appropriately value her skills and time, no one else will either.

Late last year, I came to a critical juncture in my career. Frustrated and weary, I decided I’d either swim or sink, but I was going to do it on my own. One of my 2012 New Year’s resolutions (the only one I’ve ever stuck with) was to have my writing support itself 100%—no more begging money off my very sweet and willing husband. I’d pay for business cards, fliers, or that $1,000 conference, or I wouldn’t have them.

It seemed an outrageous notion. I honestly didn’t think I could do it and actually get anywhere, but for half the year, I did OK.

This summer was turning point. It happened the day I decided to get a business license.

It took me some weeks to get around to making it official, and if you want to read step-by-step how I went about doing that, you can visit my last Reflections post.

Come to find out, investing (yes, investing!) in a business license was exactly what my floundering career needed. The moment I held that license, I felt like a business woman. Stupid, I know, but it’s true. I view my job in a whole different light now. Notice my use of the word “job”? Yep, writing and editing isn’t a hobby anymore.

It’s what I DO. And I treat it with all the value and respect of a business. I have a budget and daily, weekly, and yearly goals. My time is blocked for certain activities, putting the most time toward my DPAs (dollar producing activities).

I require others to value and respect my work and time, too. No middle of the day chats with friends. I love you all dearly, truly, I do. But if you call me while I’m working, I’ll let the phone go to voicemail and get back with you at my next scheduled break.

At the risk of sounding New Age, let me point out that the mind and one’s attitude are a powerful things. Do not underestimate them.

God called me to this job. He believes in me. I should believe in me too! After which, I’ll give Him all the glory for the skill, energy, and encouragement He provides along the way.

I’m not a name-it-and-claim it kinda Christian, and I’m not rolling in the dough (far from it!!), but I’m got business cards, fliers, and went to that $1,000 conference. No thanks to my sweet, willing husband’s wallet.

In addition to that, at the suggestion of a my very business savvy sister, I set a goal to reward myself for my hard work. She told me to think of something–a luxury–I’ve wanted but couldn’t afford. Something I’d never spend the money on because there’s always something else more important that needs to come first.

So I did.

Somehow, that goal in mind made me work harder, and to my utter astonishment, I not only  reached my goal, I surpassed it. Now, I work from my patio on my lovely new furniture. (Pix above)

And you guessed it, I have set another reward-goal for myself.

My business has supported itself probably 95% this year. 2013 will be even better. Actually, in 2013 I plan to make a PROFIT. There have been times since January I’ve had to say “no” to whatever marketing venture I wanted to explore, but for the most part, God has provided.

What was the big change? It’s as simple as this–I’m viewing what I do as a business, and THAT makes all the difference.

How do you view what you do? Is it an accurate perception? What are your time and skills worth? Put a monetary value on them, then shoot for it!

–April W Gardner is an award-winning author, an editor,

and the founder of the literary contest site, Clash of the Titles

April’s latest release!

Lizzie Browning loves nothing more than her tiny, island-home of Guernsey, but when German bombs drop on her crystal beach, her peaceful world is shattered. For months, the big war on the continent has been nothing more than stories in the paper, but as the enemy takes over Guernsey, the war rushes to her doorstep. For Lizzie, younger brother Andre, and cousin James, the time to escape is now, and they know just how to do it.

Phillip Seifert, the odd boy from down the street, has all the markings of a genuine Nazi-lover. Lizzie knows better than to trust him, but he somehow manages to weasel his way into James’ good graces. Phillip joins the gang in their audacious escape plan, and Lizzie can do little more than pray he doesn’t get them all shot. But Lizzie soon learns that God doesn’t always answer prayers in the way she expects. He might actually plan for them to live under Nazi rule…forever.

Connect with April!
Website

Meet Author Donn Taylor!

Suspense author, Donn Taylor, joins us today! I think you’ll find his post interesting and informative! It’s nice to feature a male author for a change! LOL! Welcome, Donn!

The Magic of Transitional Words and Phrases

Long, long ago and in a universe that no longer exists, my high school basketball coach taught me a simple offensive technique that paid off handsomely on the ball court. It was truly simple: just lean and look one way while placing the opposite foot outside and somewhat behind the defender’s foot. That put the defender at a disadvantage when I pivoted past him on that pre-positioned foot. This is not to say that I was ever a particularly good basketball player. Nor was I a particularly good piano player when my teacher taught me another simple technique, lifting the elbow to facilitate passing the ring finger over the thumb on the keyboard.

The point is this: In many skills, remembering to employ simple techniques sometimes provides large rewards. Thus it is with astute use of transitional words and phrases in writing. “Transitions” are the words and phrases that show relationships between ideas. The most common are the coordinating conjunctions: “and,” “but,” “or,” “for,” “nor,” “yet,” and “so.” (“For,” “yet,” and “so,” of course, can also be used as adverbs.) Later, I’ll mention several transitional words that are more complex, and then suggest a way for the writer to simplify the reader’s task without simplifying the content, or message, of the writing.

But first, let’s look at things from the viewpoint of the reader. Fundamentally, the reader faces two problems: first, finding the ideas (the content) stated in the text and second, discerning the relationship each idea has to those around it. If he has to perform both of these at once, the reading becomes more difficult. But if he can perform them one at a time—even when the separation consists only of split-seconds—the reading becomes easier.

That’s where transitional words and phrases come in. Let’s start with those coordinating conjunctions. When a reader sees the word “and,” he knows that something of the same kind will follow. When he sees either “but” or “yet,” he knows something in contradiction will follow. Similarly, the word “or” indicates an alternative, and “nor” indicates alternatives in the negative, while “for” and “so” introduce stated causes of what went before.

By revealing the relationship in advance, the transitional word frees the reader’s mind to focus on the content of the following statement.

This function is not too important in ordinary compound sentences, but it becomes more important as the ideas presented become more complex. Consider, for example, transitional words and phrases like “therefore,” “consequently,” “however,” “of these,” “in addition,” “of course,” “although,” “in spite of,” “besides,” “also,” “for example….” I’m sure all of us could name many others. And I’m sure you’ve already noticed that I used several of these in the preceding paragraphs.

My theory is that when the reader sees one of these words or phrases, his mind registers the relationship and automatically forms a blank sentence structure that needs only to be filled in. I think it works like this:

Although ________________, ____________________________________.

Similarly, ____________________________________________________.

Consequently, _________________________________________________.

However, ­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________.

In each case, the transitional word signals the relationship of ideas and the expected sentence structure so that the reader only has to fill in the blanks with content. His job has become easier.

The short, choppy sentences of journalistic style often leave the reader guessing about the relationships of ideas. Too often, the result is portrayal of a child’s-mind world in which all things happen and none have specific relationships to others. But the writer who portrays an adult world of complex relationships can facilitate the reader’s comprehension through the skillful use of transitions to show the relationship of an idea before the idea is stated.

As it is in athletics and musical performance, so it is in writing. Conscientious use of the simplest techniques can often produce the greatest gain.

About Donn:

Donn Taylor led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterwards, he completed a PhD degree at The University of Texas and taught English literature (especially Renaissance) at two liberal arts colleges. His novels The Lazarus File andRhapsody in Red have received excellent reviews, and he has also authored Dust and Diamond: Poems of Earth and Beyond. His new book is another suspense novel, Deadly Additive. He is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences such as Glorieta and Blue Ridge. He and his wife live near Houston, Texas, where he continues to write fiction, poetry, and articles on current topics.

Donn’s Latest Release:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To soldier-of-fortune Jeb Sledge, the assignment seemed simple: Rescue an heiress and her journalist friend from Colombian guerrillas and collect a sizable paycheck for his troubles. But things rarely go as planned. After stumbling upon a mass of dead bodies, Kristin Halvorsen isn’t about to leave Colombia without the proof she needs for the story of a lifetime, and Sledge soon finds himself ensnared in a chemical weapons conspiracy that involves civilians, guerillas and high-ranking government officials. But neutralizing the factory isn’t enough. Where are the weapons that have already been fabricated? Who are the intended targets? How potent and far-reaching are the effects? A pursuit through South America, the U.S. and Caribbean embroils Sledge and Kristin in a mission to prevent a catastrophic attack—and leaves Sledge fighting to save both their lives.

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Finding Your Place

This week I’ve been blessed to be attending the Books & Such retreat in beautiful Monterey, California.

I’ll be honest, these last twenty-four hours, as I find myself somehow surrounded by a bunch of best-selling authors, I’ve wondered on more than one occasion how I got here. I’m feeling a little out of place.

Ever felt that way?
The fact is, God has blessed me with a wonderful agent, who happens to be part of a wonderful literary agency, which I am now part of. I belong. I have the contract to prove it. Yet…there’s this nagging voice inside my head that wants me to believe I don’t. Maybe it’s got to do with the fact that I’ve always been pretty introverted, painfully shy as a kid. School days were not a fun part of my life. I was not included in the cool kids’ group. Matter of fact I was often the butt of their jokes. For whatever reason, I got picked on. Of course I never stood up to them. Instead, that wound festered inside me, created an anger and confusion I didn’t know what to do with. And now, years later, I feel like I’m sitting at the cool kids table, waiting for someone to come along and ask me to leave. Tell me I don’t belong.

Having a sense of belonging is so vital to the adopted child. I was fortunate to be an only child, even though I didn’t always see it that way. I had no doubt I was loved because my parents doted on me. To say I was spoiled might be a stretch, but I certainly never lacked for anything. Even though I used to say I longed for a brother or sister, I liked being an only child, and I’m not sure I would have coped well having to share my parents with a sibling. I remember when we started taking in exchange students. On the one hand, I was excited, but on the other, I resented that other person in my house, taking my parents time and attention away from me. Insecure? You bet.

As I matured and came to an understanding of the deep-rooted emotions I’d only skimmed over the surface of growing up, I began to see how vital it was for me to find my place in this world. I was a young woman trying to be a wife, a mother, a daughter…but none of that made sense because I didn’t really know who I was. I knew who people said I was, I knew who I believed I was, but I also knew there was so much more to my story. So much I didn’t know. So much I wanted to know. And, as the years went on, I discovered these were things I needed to know.

I needed to find my place. I needed to understand where I came from to know where I was headed. That’s something you’ll hear me say a lot, but it’s so true. Once those pieces of my puzzle began to click into place, things I hadn’t previously understood about my personality started to make sense.

Once I found my place, found the answers to questions I’d been asking since I could voice them, I found peace. When you grow up staring at a blank page and wondering how to fill it, only able to check n/a for years after questions like does cancer run in your family, does anyone in your family suffer from depression…it feels pretty good to know the answers. But it’s more than that too. It’s knowing the unknown. Accepting it for what it is, for better and for worse. They say knowledge is power. For me, knowledge is freedom.

Ultimately, I discovered my place is right in the lap of my Heavenly Father. Without Him, none of this would be understandable. Probably not acceptable. Even now, there are times when I’m still not sure where my place is. If I slip out of His lap and forge ahead on my own, the questions come hard and fast.

Do I belong with this group of amazingly talented authors? Do I dare to dream the big dreams we’ve been encouraged to? Will I one day step into that place of knowing I truly do belong here and I haven’t walked into the wrong room? I don’t know. Maybe I will. I hope I will. It’s where I want to be, and I think it’s where God wants me to be. Time will tell.

What I’m learning is this – life is a journey. It’s like that winding, coastal road along Highway 1 that we drove today on the way to Big Sur. Sometimes the road is smooth and you can speed along with confidence. Sometimes it gets rough, with hairpin turns that you can’t navigate at high speed. You have to slow down. Take a breath. Don’t stop, but don’t rush it. Pray. Proceed with caution, enjoy the scenery because it is truly breathtaking It is a gift from God. But when you’re on that road, whatever you do, don’t look down.

What about you? Do you feel you’ve found your place or are you still in process? 

Meet Author Ava Pennington!

Who are you?

So many answers to such a simple question!

I’m a wife, daughter, and sister.

I’m an author, Bible teacher, and speaker.

I’m a transplanted girl from New York City who now calls sunny Florida her home.

I’m a graduate of St. John’s University with an MBA and a graduate of Moody Bible Institute with a certificate in Adult Bible Studies.

I’m a former Human Resources executive for several financial services companies.

I’m an animal lover who spoils her 10-year-old rescue boxer.

I’m a terrible cook who watches the Food Network (I can dream, can’t I?).

I’m a Christmasphile who counts the days till she can put up her tree.

I’m a sucker for happy-ever-after endings. (Yes, I love the Hallmark movies…especially the Christmas ones!)

Last but not least, I’m a daughter of the King…a grateful follower of Christ.

Where are you now?

I teach a weekly Bible Study Fellowship class (BSF) in Florida.

I’m working on a few writing projects, including two non-fiction books.

And I enjoy the community and encouragement that comes from being a member of writers’ associations such as American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Christian Authors Network (CAN), and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

Where are you going?

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to answer this definitively? To look into the sky for God’s leading spelled out in the clouds, or check the next billboard for His direction lit in neon lights? Sigh. Since that’s not going to happen anytime soon, I take each day by faith, trusting the One who has led me step by step. I’ll keep teaching, writing, and speaking until He decides it’s time for a change.

About Ava

Ava Pennington is a writer, Bible teacher, and speaker.

She is the author of One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God (Revell), and co-author of Do You Love Me More? and Will I See You Today? (Standard Publishing).

Ava has also published stories in twenty-two anthologies, including sixteen books in the inspirational Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Her articles have appeared in Focus on the Family’s ClubHouse, The  LOOKOUT, Light & Life, Today’s Christian Woman, and other magazines.

Ava is a passionate speaker and teacher, and delights in challenging and encouraging writers’ groups, community groups, and church groups with relevant, enjoyable presentations.

For more information, visit www.AvaWrites.com

1. III.            Book Blurb

Perfect. Almighty. The One Who Sees. Jealous. Forgiver.

Every name of God revealed in the Bible shows us something about His character and His ways. As the facets of a diamond combine to reflect its brilliance, the names and attributes of God combine to reveal the transcendence of His nature and the glory of His ways. One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God offers readers a wonderful opportunity to spend time each day getting to know God more intimately. At the end of a year, they’ll be able to say they know Him better that they did a year ago.

This insightful guide to the names of God provides 366 life-changing, personal devotions for new Christians and longtime believers. As readers explore 122 names and attributes of God from three perspectives, they will discover something special about who God is, who they are, and how they relate to others.

Includes a Scripture index and name index for easy navigation to favorite verses.