Janice Thompson's Blog, page 14

One Too Many

Welcome to another episode of “Tales from the Director’s Chair” where I plan to spend the month of June sharing stories based on real-life directing experiences!

Back in 2000, I directed Anne of Green Gables at a local Christian school of the arts. We had such a precious cast. Our Anne (who has since passed away) was darling–truly perfect for the role.

My daughter (Megan) played the role of Anne Shirley’s best friend, Diana Barry. There’s an infamous scene where Anne accidentally gives Diana currant wine, thinking it’s Raspberry Cordial. Diana ends up intoxicated. I still can’t help but laugh when I remember how well Megan pulled off that scene. (Who knew she’d do so well as a drunk?)

What does this have to do with my novel The Director’s Cut? More than you might think! Tia Morales, the story’s heroine, is in the process of having her home renovated. Her brothers (one a heavy drinker) have a habit of leaving empty beer cans all over her house. She arrives home after a long day on the Stars Collide set, only to discover pure chaos awaits. Over a period of time, she learns to forgive her brothers, just as Diana Barry forgave Anne Shirley. What happens to Tia’s brothers? Well, you’ll just have to read The Director’s Cut to find out. In the meantime, look for another post from me in a couple of days. Happy directing, everyone!

Tales from the Director’s Chair

The Director's Cut

Welcome to a new month!

June is busting out all over, as the old song says, and I feel like busting out in song, too. Why? Because I’m so excited about the release of my new Revell novel, The Director’s Cut (book three in the Backstage Pass series). It’s such a fun story. I think I’m partial to this one because it’s about a sitcom director. For those who don’t know, I direct musical comedies at a local Christian theater. I patterned Tia Morales’s directing woes after several of my own real-life ones!

With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to my theme for the month of June. For the next four weeks I’m going to be sharing what I plan to call “Tales from the Director’s Chair.” Each post will share one real-life story from my directing experience. I will tie that tale to something in The Director’s Cut.

The Director's Cut

I’m going to start with the first story that came to mind as I pondered my history as a director. Back in the late ’90s I directed a musical titled Anchors Away, a ’40s swing extravaganza about Noah and the ark. What a great cast and crew we had. The performances came off without a hitch. Well, most of them. During the last show, something went strangely awry. My cast members decided to play a few pranks on one another. From my seat in the audience, I barely noticed the first one. The second was a little more obvious. And the third. And the fourth. By the time the show ended, I wanted to hide under my chair. Those little goobers! They’d almost ruined the show with their crazy antics. Thank goodness the audience members didn’t seem to mind. (The director sure did! I gave them a piece of my mind!)

How does this relate to The Director’s Cut? Tia Morales, my heroine, is a control freak. When she sits in her director’s chair on the Stars Collide set, everyone jumps to attention and does what she says. Outside the walls of the studio, however, things are quite different! She has very little control–over her family, her love life, her home renovation, and so on. In the same way that I had to learn how to let go that day in the theater, Tia has to learn to release the things she can’t control back over to the Lord.

Check out Tia’s story, and stick with my blog for the month of June to read lots of funny director’s tales. At the end of the month I’m going to announce a huge contest that involves winning a mirror ball trophy! (Yes, there’s a direct tie to Dancing with the Stars, folks!) In the meantime, happy reading!

From the Back Cover
The one thing she can’t direct is her heart.



Tia Morales is used to calling the shots. She’s the director of the popular sitcom Stars Collide, and her life on the set is calculated and orderly. Well, most of the time. Life outside the studio is another matter. If only she could get other people to behave as well as her stars do! When she starts to have feelings for handsome cameraman Jason Harris–with whom she’s been butting heads for months–it’s enough to send a girl over the edge. Will she ever learn to let go and take life–and love–as it comes?Full of the humor and crazy family dynamics Janice Thompson fans have come to love, this colorful story gives you an inside look at Hollywood and a healthy dose of romance.

Praise for the Backstage Pass Series



“Thompson writes an enjoyable story.”–RT Book Reviews



“Upbeat and engaging.”–RelzReviews.com

“An entertaining story that will have you hungry for more!”–FiveStarBooksandMore.blogspot.com

“This fun entry in Thompson’s comic Hollywood series features humor, romance, and breezy dialog.”–Library Journal



“An eclectic mix of the sort of zany characters Thompson is known for . . . A series of lively comedic events make for a contemporary low-key inspirational romance.”–Booklist



“A read that won’t easily be put down.”–Midwest Book Review

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt, Stop #8

Hello from author Janice Hanna Thompson!

Welcome to the first ever Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! Make the loop to discover 23 new or upcoming novels, and write down the clue at each stop. When you know what the clues say, fill out the Rafflecopter form by June 4, 2012 (midnight EST) at www.LisaBergren.com, and you could be in the running for the grand prize of 23 new, autographed books (if you live in the USA; unsigned if international). Note: if you’re the winner, you must email the complete statement within 24 hours of notification in order to claim the Grand Prize…so don’t miss a stop! Be ready with your answer if you’re the lucky winner! No need to email it unless you receive the good word on June 5, 2012.

 

As a part of this scavenger hunt, I’m hosting author and friend, Cara Putnam! (Love her!) We’ve been buddies for years through ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and she’s an amazing author. Ironically, we have something else in common! We both like to write about weddings.

Here’s the skinny on Cara: 

Cara C. Putman lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. She’s an attorney, teacher at her church, and contract lecturer or adjunct faculty at a local community college and Big Ten University. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska and George Mason University School of Law, Cara loves bringing history and romance to life. You can learn more about Cara and her books on her website, Facebook, and twitter.

 

Cara is featuring her book A Wedding Transpires on Macinack Island.

SYNOPSIS: When attorney Alanna Stone left Mackinac Island eleven years ago, she determined she’d never return. Now she’s back and in close proximity to Jonathan Covington, her first love. She vows to protect her privacy and her heart from the man who still makes her pulse race. But when her worst fears are realized and history repeats itself—landing her in the midst of a murder investigation—Jonathan may be her only hope. Will they be able to lay aside the past and let God heal their hearts, or will reconciliation come too late?

You can pick up a copy of Cara’s’s book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com or your local bookstore. Find out more about this author at her website.

A Scavenger Hunt Exclusive from Cara:

Author Book Pics: Cara Putman here. With Summer on the horizon, it means time to slow down (yeah right!) and read some great books. I wish I could show you my towering stack of to be read books…but it might scare small children and pets. Let’s just say I am a voracious reader! Here are a few book to help you get started on your summer reading list…

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble: this novel takes readers to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and is filled with her trademark mysteries and romance. Perfect for a beach read.

Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey: this dynamic duo writes great books set in Europe during World War II. I love the way the bring the times and people to life.

The Soul Saver by Dineen Miller: this gal can write and this book has such an intriguing concept: what if your supposed to save the people you sculpt…and what if your new sculpture is you?

There You’ll Find Me by the amazing Jenny B. Jones. This girl can write! And if you want a trip without the plane ticket, then you’ll love this novel set in Ireland. Fun with depth.

For the YA crowd: Your out of school, so you know you have some time to kick back and read:

The Rivers of Time series by Lisa Tawn Bergren: My daughter has reread this medieval time travel series several times and it’s now loaded on my iPad so I can read it, too.

Starring Me by Krista McGee: a fun twist on contemporary with a setting in a reality show. I love that it has a second layer…can you figure out the Bible story it’s loosely based on?

And this one is not a Christian author/publisher but such fun: Ally Carter’s Heist Society and Uncommon Criminals. Think Oceans 11 for teens. Fun, fun, fun. And the writing is great.

The Scavenger Hunt Skinny

Thanks for making a stop along the scavenger hunt highway! Now mosey along, hunters, to Jenny B. Jones’ website, STOP #9, to pick up your next clue. But before you go, write down this STOP #8′s clue: “You

*****

BONUS: If you want to get to know me (Janice Hanna Thompson) better, why not add my blog to your RSS feed? And while you’re at it, leave a funny wedding story to be entered into a contest to win my book, The Director’s Cut!

The Director's Cut

Happy Hunting!

 

 

Wedding Tales. . .and What’s Coming Next!

Friends,

The Director's Cut

Thank you so much for tuning in over the past thirty days as I’ve shared a host of wedding stories–some quirky and light-hearted, others serious and life-changing. I’ve enjoyed our time together!

Next month I plan to shift gears and do something very special. To celebrate the release of my newest book, THE DIRECTOR’S CUT, I plan to spend the month of June sharing “Tales from the Director’s Chair.” About every second or third day I will be sharing a very real story of something that happened to me as a theater director. (Oh boy! I can’t wait to tell these stories!) Then I will tie my stories to a scene from THE DIRECTOR’S CUT. I think you will enjoy this rollicking good time! And, trust me. . .drama abounds (both onstage and off). To prepare for this special month, let me leave you with a blurb about THE DIRECTOR’S CUT. Then stay tuned for lots and lots of fun. . .from the director’s chair!

SYNOPSIS: Tia Morales is used to calling the shots. She’s the director of the popular sitcom Stars Collide, and her life on set is calculated and orderly. Well, most of the time. But her life outside the studio is another matter. If only she could get her family to behave as well as her stars do! When she starts butting heads with handsome camera operator Jason Harris, it’s enough to send a girl over the edge. Will she ever learn to let go and take life–and love–as it comes?

Fun stories from readers

Friends, I’ve had so much fun sharing fun wedding-themed stories over the past thirty days! Today I thought it would be fun to post a wedding story that a friend/reader sent my way. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I guess the funniest wedding story I have is of my sister’s wedding. I was Matron of Honor, my oldest daughter a Jr. Bridesmaid, my youngest (she was 4) the flower girl, my husband a groomsman. Needless to say the Matron of Honor had more on her mind than the bride, that day! We get out there, I’m right ahead of my flower-girl daughter, anxious that she’ll balk and decide she just can’t do it (she was perfect – could start a business teaching flower girls how to measure space between flower petals). We all got up there, and my bro-in-law’s pastor (a priest) starts talking. Somewhere in his long missive, I realized that I did not have THE RING. I whispered it. My eyes got huge, I know. My bro-in-law said he saw my sister’s face and thought he’d left off an article of clothing, she looked so distressed. I slowly looked out into the congregation and caught the eye of my aunt (my former partner in church-music crime  ), and simply mouthed the words “The Ring.” She didn’t blink, just mouthed back, “Where is it?,” to which I replied “dressing room.” She slipped out, got the ring, handed it to the last bridesmaid who palmed it up to me. You can imagine how relieved we were that the elderly Catholic pastor helping to conduct a wedding in a Baptist church was as long-winded as most Baptists . . . .

This story reminds me, once again, of FOOLS RUSH IN: the book I mentioned nearly thirty days ago. Sounds just like something that would’ve happened at one of Bella Rossi’s weddings! Lots of chaos this month, folks! Stayed tuned tomorrow for a wrap-up of the last thirty days and a glimpse ahead at next month’s offerings!

Hurricane

Most know me as a comedic author, and it’s true that I love to make people chuckle with funny stories and characters. However, not every real-life story is funny. I’ve learned this first hand. When it comes to weddings, unexpected things can happen. And when it comes to marriages, there are those sad, catastrophic times when the enemy gets his foot in the door and once-blissful couples go their separate ways.

Hurricane

Life is fraught with storms, friends. Here on the Gulf Coast we see them frequently as hurricanes roll in off of rocky seas. They always catch us off-guard, but they should not. We are taught by scriptures to be on the lookout for the enemy, who prowls around like a roaring lion. We must be diligent, “storm-savvy” as it were. And for those who have been through unexpected seasons (especially as it relates to weddings/marriages), take heart! There’s a great scripture in Isaiah that I love:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

God wants to remind you that HE is the lover of your soul. He is the ultimate groom. And He will lead you through any rough seasons you’re facing into a marvelous season of joy and rest with Him, wrapped in His arms.

Today I would like to leave you with a blurb about my novel HURRICANE (a romance set in Galveston during the Great Storm of 1900). I pray that you read this book and discover the peace that God can bring in the midst of life’s storms! If you happen to be going through a rough season in your marriage, may you take comfort in the story and the promise that the Lord will never let you drown, even when the waters rise around you.

SYNOPSIS: It’s 1900 and Brent Murphy, a prodigal son, is disillusioned with New York and his life as a newspaperman. Drawn home to Galveston Island, Brent knows it is likely he will face rejection from his father. On Saturday September 8, 1900, without warning, the citizens of Galveston Island are in for the fight of their lives when the hurricane of the century hits. In a single night of horror, more than 6,000 islanders lose their lives and countless others are left in devastation.Through the experience, Brent finally faces the truth of his own childhood and the stormy relationship he has with his parents. He finds the courage to write the story of his past and discovers a loving God.

Wedding Bouquets

Love Finds You in Daisy Oklahoma

I love wedding flowers. Roses. Lilies. Tulips. Mimosa. Daffodils. Orchids. Sweet peas. Lilacs. Name your flower. . .I love it!

A Lovely Bouquet

Many times over I’ve put together wedding bouquets, always savoring the job–in part because of the flowers, themselves, and in part because of the arrangement process. There’s something so satisfying about merging the different colors and textures to come up with something unique.

As I set out to write LOVE FINDS YOU IN DAISY OKLAHOMA I had flowers on the brain. The title (and the books setting) gave me ample opportunity to create a literary “bouquet.” The heroine (a director at an orphanage) falls in love with the town’s sheriff and marries him. Her wedding bouquet? Daisies, of course! However, by the end of the story she considers the children her actual “bouquet.” They have become a thing of beauty to her.

What about you? What flowers do you prefer in your bouquet? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

 

Banking on Love

Texas Weddings (Volume Two)

One of the craziest/funniest letters I ever got from a reader was a negative one. She returned my book BANKING ON LOVE to the publisher and got her $2.99 back, claiming the book (in her words) wasn’t a romance. Want to know her reason why? Because the book was about a married couple! That’s right! The one and only “romance” that I ever wrote using a married couple as hero and heroine was rejected because the characters were married at the onset of the story.

Just goes to show you, folks: whether we want to admit it or not, as readers we tend to think that romances end with the wedding scene. As believers, this should not be! The real romance begins at that point and is lived out from the wedding on.

With that in mind, let’s give BANKING ON LOVE another shot, shall we? I’ve recently re-released it in e-book form as part of the TEXAS WEDDINGS collection (volume two). Here’s the blurb about the book. Success defines Kellie Fisher. She’s always had a head for numbers and vision of the tomorrow. But when her father is hospitalized, she leaves the big city behind and rushes to be at her parents’ side. Nathan Fisher loves his life. His wife Kellie is beautiful; his condo is top of the line; his job is about to make him a partner. But something has changed Kellie, and Nathan’s heart is torn between Houston’s bustle and his wife, who is learning to live and love today. Could Nathan s priorities be bankrupt in the eyes of the one he loves most? Check out BANKING ON LOVE to find out!

 

 

TEXAS WEDDINGS

Weddings: A Production!

Zaney Muldaney, 2011

Most know me as a novelist, but I also work part-time as a director at a local Christian theater. In that place, new worlds come alive to me. I get to see characters come to life before my life. And trust me, for the real theater buff, there’s nothing more exhilarating than putting on a great production. . .except, of course, putting on a great wedding.

In many ways, weddings and productions are alike. They’re both filled with characters. Both have lots of drama, too, though (frankly) the onstage kind is easier to take. Both require rehearsal, both involve memorizing lines (if you’re speaking your vows unprompted) and both place the key players on a “stage” in front of an audience.

Wedding Belles

If you’ve read my latest novel, WEDDING BELLES, you know that not everyone is comfortable in a “production” environment. Lottie Sanders, the heroine in my story, would rather do just about anything else than take to the stage, even though doing so will cement her relationship with Gilbert Parker, her love interest!

Still, the show must go on. Lottie manages to pull off a great production in WEDDING BELLES and most (emphasis on “most”) of the weddings I’ve attended have turned out pretty well, too! No matter how uncomfortable the bride and groom are, standing before the crowd, the show (er, wedding) must go on!

 

Weddings of the Stars

Swinging on a Star (Brock Benson comes to town/movie star wedding)

You can have a star-studded wedding (high end wedding on a budget, basically)

SWINGING ON A STAR

Swinging on a Star