Travis W. Inman's Blog, page 2
February 23, 2016
What Texas Has Given Us
Everyone has heard about Davy Crockett and the Tennessee Volunteers, whose valiant, but fatal stand at the Alamo changed the world. On April 21st, 180 years will have passed since the War for Texas Independence ended with an 18 minute routing of the Mexican army in the San Jacinto Valley in 1836. These are facts that are available in most history texts from high schools and colleges across the nation.
But what, exactly, did the Texans accomplish in their grand opposition to the President of Mexico? The answer might surprise you: it changed the course of your life.
Mexico decided to open its borders to immigration in the 1820’s following a costly war for independence from Spain. Texas was sparsely populated at that time, and Mexico wanted to encourage settlements in the area to help control the hostile Indian population. As a result, they created a very liberal immigration policy that encouraged settlement in the Texas hill country. The first settlers, the “Old Three Hundred”, arrived in 1822 from the United States to colonize the grant which had been given to Stephen F. Austin.
By the 1830’s, an estimated 30,000 Anglo had settled Texas, compared to an estimated 7,500 native Mexicans. The population imbalance concerned Mexican President Bustamante, who implemented measures which prohibited further immigration to Texas and heavily taxed imports from the United States. The Mexican government ordered the settlers to stop producing the highly profitable cotton crops, and begin demanding that the farmers grow corn, grain, and beef.
Things became even more difficult for the new settlers when the Mexican government demanded that the colonists convert to Catholicism, and required a mandatory tithe to the church. But the real indignations began when the Stephen Austin went to meet with the newly elected president, Santa Anna. Austin wanted Texas to become a separate and equal state within the Mexican Republic, in an effort to minimize corruption of local officials. Santa Anna had Austin promptly arrested and then abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Next, he dissolved the current federalist government and suspended the legislative branch. He then imprisoned several cotton plantation owners with the intent of redistributing the cotton within Mexico rather than be exported to other countries. These actions triggered outrage—outrage that eventually led to war.
In 1835, as the new centralist government was taking power, the Texans formed a committee, which staged a minor revolt against the taxes which had been imposed on them in July. The Mexican President responded by sending 200 troops into Texas. Stephen Austin was released, having never been charged. Fearing that stronger measures were needed to quell the growing unrest, Santa Anna ordered his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos to "repress with strong arm all those who, forgetting their duties to the nation which has adopted them as her children, are pushing forward with a desire to live at their own option without subjection to the laws”. Cos landed at Copano Bay on September 20, 1835 with approximately 500 soldiers.
Austin saw little choice but to revolt against Mexico and form an independent nation. A meeting was scheduled for October to discuss formal plans for a revolution.
However, before the meetings occurred, Santa Anna learned of the talks of secession and ordered the state militias disarmed. In the weeks that followed, the colonists banned together and formally opposed Santa Anna and his army in several indecisive skirmishes.
General Santa Anna captured 300 Texas revolutionaries in Goliad when they were caught in the open; they chose to surrender rather than fight the overwhelming Mexican Army. He then ordered the combatants to be executed. Santa Anna began a “slash and burn” campaign across Texas and ordered any revolutionaries to be shot on sight—and take no prisoners. In February, 1836, Santa Anna surrounded a small garrison of 185 Texas soldiers at the Alamo in San Antonio and ordered their surrender. The Texans knew their fate if they surrendered, so they defied the 5,000 troops and fought to the death, taking as many as 600 of the Mexican Army with them into eternity. The Alamo was besieged for almost two weeks, which was the precious time the colonists needed to organize their resistance.
The sacrifice made at the Alamo gave the struggling Texas colonists enough time to form a government and establish an official revolution against the tyranny imposed by Santa Anna. The Texas Republic placed the newly formed Texas Army under the leadership of Sam Houston. General Houston knew his army wasn’t strong enough to take on the Mexican Army in a face to face confrontation, so he successfully retreated to the San Jacinto Valley, where the odds of successfully confronting Santa Anna’s Army were more favorable. On April 21st, 1836, Sam Houston’s 900 man army attacked the Mexican forces, and in 18 minutes they virtually annihilated their enemy. To evade capture, Santa Anna donned the uniform of an ordinary soldier and hid among the troops. Only when his own people began to point and say, “El Presidente” did he finally surrender.
Texas functioned as a Republic for nine years, proving it was a viable country and that it could survive on its own merits. President Sam Houston envisioned Texas joining the United States, a dream that was fulfilled in 1845. However, Texas and Mexico were still in conflict about the boundaries between the two countries. While Mexico was hot and cold about the surrender terms of President Santa Anna, and the boundary proposed between Texas and Mexico, they eventually fully recognized the Rio Grande River as the formal border between the two countries during the Mexican American War of 1846.
So, you might ask, how did these events change the course of my life? When Texas was a republic, it claimed an area that encompassed most of present day New Mexico, and large portions of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming, almost reaching Canada. When Texas joined the Union in 1845, that land mass transferred to the United States. As a result of the Mexican American War (1846-1848), Mexico, via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and the rest of New Mexico, Colorado, and more of Wyoming to the United States.
It is distinctly possible that had Texas never declared independence from Mexico, and never joined the United States, the world as we know it would be far different. Can you envision a world where Mexico owned all the territory from Louisiana to the west? Can you imagine a world where the California Gold Rush would have occurred on Mexican soil? Our lives would be completely different had the colonist of Texas not chosen to fight the oppression that was being pressed upon them by the corrupt Mexican government.
The United States is now standing on the precipice of socialism, and very nearly communism. The pundits and media elites are continually professing the virtues of our rapidly evolving government, praising the increasing power of the federal government. The power grab in Washington, DC is proving to be alarming, and is a distinct threat to the American way of life. We are now facing a government that is radically altering our culture and our laws, many of which are unconstitutional. What we are now facing is not dissimilar to what the Texas colonists faced in the 1800s.
The colonists of 1836 Texas recognized the injustice pressed upon them by Mexico and the instabilities produced by a President who had the temerity to suspend the existing government. Despite the odds against them, the Texans gave us a model to follow of standing up for what’s right, even if the world is standing against us.
Let us long remember the example of those who have gone before us, those who have given us an example of courage and duty.
But what, exactly, did the Texans accomplish in their grand opposition to the President of Mexico? The answer might surprise you: it changed the course of your life.
Mexico decided to open its borders to immigration in the 1820’s following a costly war for independence from Spain. Texas was sparsely populated at that time, and Mexico wanted to encourage settlements in the area to help control the hostile Indian population. As a result, they created a very liberal immigration policy that encouraged settlement in the Texas hill country. The first settlers, the “Old Three Hundred”, arrived in 1822 from the United States to colonize the grant which had been given to Stephen F. Austin.
By the 1830’s, an estimated 30,000 Anglo had settled Texas, compared to an estimated 7,500 native Mexicans. The population imbalance concerned Mexican President Bustamante, who implemented measures which prohibited further immigration to Texas and heavily taxed imports from the United States. The Mexican government ordered the settlers to stop producing the highly profitable cotton crops, and begin demanding that the farmers grow corn, grain, and beef.
Things became even more difficult for the new settlers when the Mexican government demanded that the colonists convert to Catholicism, and required a mandatory tithe to the church. But the real indignations began when the Stephen Austin went to meet with the newly elected president, Santa Anna. Austin wanted Texas to become a separate and equal state within the Mexican Republic, in an effort to minimize corruption of local officials. Santa Anna had Austin promptly arrested and then abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Next, he dissolved the current federalist government and suspended the legislative branch. He then imprisoned several cotton plantation owners with the intent of redistributing the cotton within Mexico rather than be exported to other countries. These actions triggered outrage—outrage that eventually led to war.
In 1835, as the new centralist government was taking power, the Texans formed a committee, which staged a minor revolt against the taxes which had been imposed on them in July. The Mexican President responded by sending 200 troops into Texas. Stephen Austin was released, having never been charged. Fearing that stronger measures were needed to quell the growing unrest, Santa Anna ordered his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos to "repress with strong arm all those who, forgetting their duties to the nation which has adopted them as her children, are pushing forward with a desire to live at their own option without subjection to the laws”. Cos landed at Copano Bay on September 20, 1835 with approximately 500 soldiers.
Austin saw little choice but to revolt against Mexico and form an independent nation. A meeting was scheduled for October to discuss formal plans for a revolution.
However, before the meetings occurred, Santa Anna learned of the talks of secession and ordered the state militias disarmed. In the weeks that followed, the colonists banned together and formally opposed Santa Anna and his army in several indecisive skirmishes.
General Santa Anna captured 300 Texas revolutionaries in Goliad when they were caught in the open; they chose to surrender rather than fight the overwhelming Mexican Army. He then ordered the combatants to be executed. Santa Anna began a “slash and burn” campaign across Texas and ordered any revolutionaries to be shot on sight—and take no prisoners. In February, 1836, Santa Anna surrounded a small garrison of 185 Texas soldiers at the Alamo in San Antonio and ordered their surrender. The Texans knew their fate if they surrendered, so they defied the 5,000 troops and fought to the death, taking as many as 600 of the Mexican Army with them into eternity. The Alamo was besieged for almost two weeks, which was the precious time the colonists needed to organize their resistance.
The sacrifice made at the Alamo gave the struggling Texas colonists enough time to form a government and establish an official revolution against the tyranny imposed by Santa Anna. The Texas Republic placed the newly formed Texas Army under the leadership of Sam Houston. General Houston knew his army wasn’t strong enough to take on the Mexican Army in a face to face confrontation, so he successfully retreated to the San Jacinto Valley, where the odds of successfully confronting Santa Anna’s Army were more favorable. On April 21st, 1836, Sam Houston’s 900 man army attacked the Mexican forces, and in 18 minutes they virtually annihilated their enemy. To evade capture, Santa Anna donned the uniform of an ordinary soldier and hid among the troops. Only when his own people began to point and say, “El Presidente” did he finally surrender.
Texas functioned as a Republic for nine years, proving it was a viable country and that it could survive on its own merits. President Sam Houston envisioned Texas joining the United States, a dream that was fulfilled in 1845. However, Texas and Mexico were still in conflict about the boundaries between the two countries. While Mexico was hot and cold about the surrender terms of President Santa Anna, and the boundary proposed between Texas and Mexico, they eventually fully recognized the Rio Grande River as the formal border between the two countries during the Mexican American War of 1846.
So, you might ask, how did these events change the course of my life? When Texas was a republic, it claimed an area that encompassed most of present day New Mexico, and large portions of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming, almost reaching Canada. When Texas joined the Union in 1845, that land mass transferred to the United States. As a result of the Mexican American War (1846-1848), Mexico, via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and the rest of New Mexico, Colorado, and more of Wyoming to the United States.
It is distinctly possible that had Texas never declared independence from Mexico, and never joined the United States, the world as we know it would be far different. Can you envision a world where Mexico owned all the territory from Louisiana to the west? Can you imagine a world where the California Gold Rush would have occurred on Mexican soil? Our lives would be completely different had the colonist of Texas not chosen to fight the oppression that was being pressed upon them by the corrupt Mexican government.
The United States is now standing on the precipice of socialism, and very nearly communism. The pundits and media elites are continually professing the virtues of our rapidly evolving government, praising the increasing power of the federal government. The power grab in Washington, DC is proving to be alarming, and is a distinct threat to the American way of life. We are now facing a government that is radically altering our culture and our laws, many of which are unconstitutional. What we are now facing is not dissimilar to what the Texas colonists faced in the 1800s.
The colonists of 1836 Texas recognized the injustice pressed upon them by Mexico and the instabilities produced by a President who had the temerity to suspend the existing government. Despite the odds against them, the Texans gave us a model to follow of standing up for what’s right, even if the world is standing against us.
Let us long remember the example of those who have gone before us, those who have given us an example of courage and duty.
February 4, 2016
Eavesdropping on Dawn V. Cahill and the Twins
Two amazing young women are visiting us today. Please help me welcome identical twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary, singers and dancers extraordinaire, who star in Dawn V. Cahill’s new novel, Sapphire Secrets. We are also privileged to have Dawn join us. Dawn is in the process of conducting a radio interview with the twins, and I thought I’d provide you a transcript of that conversation…..
Dawn V. Cahill: Livy, since this is your story, why don’t we start with you? Tell us why you want to share your story with the world.
Livy: Picture this--a spooky graveyard at midnight. Howling wind. And a strange old man who tells me to seek the truth about my mother’s death. Wouldn’t you be curious, too?
DVC: Indeed I would.
Livy: Sapphire Secrets is basically my testimony. And what an incredible journey. Not only did I find out the truth about my mother’s death, I also found God. Now, I just want the world to know that God loves them. So many people have never experienced His love. They don’t know what it’s like when God grabs ahold of you and pulls you into His arms - so unlike anything you’ll ever experience.
DVC: But you weren’t raised to believe in God. What made you change your mind?
Livy: I met someone who wasn’t afraid to share Christ with me. At first, I was resistant. Our parents and grandma raised us to be suspicious of organized religion. But then, one day everything changed. I had an accident and…
DVC: Spoiler alert!
Livy: Whoops. Anyway, as a result, I might never dance again. But without the accident, I might not have found God.
DVC: DeeDee, what do you think about Livy’s conversion?
DeeDee: She’s always spouting religious mumbo-jumbo. Not my thing. But ask me anything about dance. I can get into that.
DVC: Okay, dance it is. One of my readers wants to know, were all those dance lessons growing up a pleasure, or a chore?
DeeDee: I won’t lie and say they were a piece of cake. Dance lessons are grueling. If I hadn’t had Livy to learn and practice with, I’m sure I would have given up a long time ago. But now, I marvel at what my body can do. I’m pumped that we get to pay it forward by teaching other little girls the beauty of dance.
Livy: Our mom’s passion for dance rubbed off on us. I couldn’t have quit if you paid me. The downside of dance for me was the memorization. Not only the choreography, but all the French terminology. Like pas de bourres and ronde jambs…
DeeDee: The competitions…
Livy: Outgrowing our favorite leotards…
DeeDee: Hardly ever any boys in class to tease or flirt with.
DVC: How times change! A couple of single fathers brought their daughters into your studio for lessons.
Livy [giggling]: Don’t forget to mention how cute they were.
DVC: And now you’re dating one of them, aren’t you?
Livy: Spoiler alert!
DVC: My lips are sealed. Let’s let the readers find out for themselves, shall we?
DeeDee: Don’t forget to tell them about your prequel, When Lyric Met Limerick, a short story about a fateful meeting…the day our amazing and talented parents met.
DVC: Readers, just click on my Amazon author page to find both books: http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-V.-Cahill/e/B00QPRC2EY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1Check my webpage, dawnvcahill.com, for future giveaways and updates on Livy and DeeDee’s continuing saga. And thank you, ladies, for letting my readers get to know you today.
Livy and DeeDee [in unison]: So long, lovely readers.
DeeDee: You have to come back for Book 2, because this crazy author is going to put me through an even worse ordeal than Livy’s. I have no clue how I’m going to get out of this mess…
Sapphire Secrets
Filled with mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Sapphire Secrets is the story of a Seattle woman’s relentless pursuit of truth and God’s power to heal and transform broken lives. Twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary open a dance studio in honor of their late mother, whom they lost when they were six. Problem is, Livy remembers nothing of the day her mother died. The more she questions her family about that awful day, the more she suspects she’s been lied to all her life. While she’s seeking answers to what really happened, she keeps crossing paths with handsome engineer Scott Lorenzo, who compels her to question the New Age philosophy she was raised on. What if there is a personal God out there who cares about her?
Before Livy can discover answers, a brutal accident interrupts her search. Her life flips upside down as she faces a future she is not prepared for. Yet the unanswered questions continue to haunt her. Can she find the strength to keep on with her quest, even if it means losing the two people most dear to her—her twin, and the man she loves?
2015 Finalist, ACFW First Impressions Contest
Dawn V. Cahill’s bio:
Author Dawn V. Cahill pens "Stories of Victorious Faith for the 21st Century," nearly always with a crossword puzzle, sudoku, or dark chocolate nearby. "The characters in my stories face situations that would have been unthinkable even 20 years ago. We live in a vastly different world than our parents did, and that's the world I write about."
Seeing an unfilled niche in the Christian market for edgier fiction, Ms Cahill birthed Hot Topic Fiction (HTF) at an intensive four-day writers conference. HTF isn't afraid to explore the question, how does God want us Christians to live out our faith in this not-so-brave new world? Without insulting the reader by offering pat or easy answers--because there aren't any--HTF tells stories of ordinary Christians following hard after Christ in a world of terror and violence, of upside-down morality, of hostility to Judeo-Christian values.
HTF's first book is due for launch in June 2016.
February 3, 2016
A Couple of Days with Dawn V. Cahill
Hello again! I have awesome news that's gonna tickle you sapphire. I was able to book Dawn V. Cahill for a two day visit this week, and I know you're gonna love her from the get go. She has a really awesome book series running that compliment each other and make for great reading. Check out her latest release: Sapphire Secrets.
Filled with mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Sapphire Secrets is the story of a Seattle woman’s relentless pursuit of truth and God’s power to heal and transform broken lives.
Twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary open a dance studio in honor of their late mother, whom they lost when they were six. Problem is, Livy remembers nothing of the day her mother died. The more she questions her family about that awful day, the more she suspects she’s been lied to all her life. While she’s seeking answers to what really happened, she keeps crossing paths with handsome engineer Scott Lorenzo, who compels her to question the New Age philosophy she was raised on. What if there is a personal God out there who cares about her?
Before Livy can discover answers, a brutal accident interrupts her search. Her life flips upside down as she faces a future she is not prepared for. Yet the unanswered questions continue to haunt her. Can she find the strength to keep on with her quest, even if it means losing the two people most dear to her—her twin, and the man she loves?
By the way, Sapphire Secrets was a 2015 Finalist, ACFW First Impressions Contest!
So, who is the woman behind the book? And as you have come to expect, I'll ask her questions that no one else will think to ask, so let's get started....
Thank you for stopping by for a quick interview. Let's start with who you are:
What is your favorite childhood memory?
When my sisters and I made up impromptu plays…costumes and all. I remember “Red Coats Blue Coats,” in which we played soldiers from opposite sides, getting all dramatic with our theatrical greetings and tearful goodbyes. JSometimes we even attracted an audience!
What is your favorite Christmas memory? When our grandma sent us Christmas boxes, usually with identical dresses for my older sister and me… blue for her, red for me. (Funny how the red/blue theme kept repeating itself in my childhood!)
What was your favorite toy? It’s a tie between Spirograph, Creepy Crawlies, and my brother’s Hotwheel set.
Who was your secret crush as a teenager? Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be secret anymore!
What was the first car you owned? An old beater, early-model Toyota that needed a lot of fixing up!
Where did you grow up? Various spots on the left, I mean West, Coast.
You have a passion to help single moms. How did you come to develop that passion?Raising three sons largely alone was THE HARDEST, most grueling job I will ever, ever do or will ever do. I wouldn’t have survived without a support network. And my sons wouldn’t have grown up relatively normal and healthy had God not heard my cries for help. If not for prayer & God’s guidance, my sons might have ended up as just another statistic. So now I want to pay it back and share encouragement with other single moms who struggle with simple, day-to-day basics like I did.
What makes you really, really mad?When divorced women turn their kids against their dad. Nothing makes me more furious. Children, especially sons, need their dads, even if the parents are no longer together. In my blog, it’s one of the things I caution women against. Because once the tie with their dad is severed, there’s no going back.
What is your biggest disappointment from your childhood? That I didn’t have any allies except my best friend.
Okay, we have a sense of who you are. Now let's talk about your book:
Is your book appropriate for young teens? Probably. It does contain a romance thread, which might be a little beyond their scope.
Which of your books is your favorite? I only have two published so far. I would pick my newest one, Sapphire Secrets, the full-length novel. The other is a short prequel, an appetizer, you could say, for the main course.
Are there things you would change about your published stories? Shh…don’t tell anyone, but I tweaked and re-uploaded Sapphire Secrets four times before I was happy with the end result. And, I revised When Lyric Met Limerick with edited content and a new cover. I’m much happier with the new, improved version.
Who gets credit for your really awesome cover art? The talented Dineen Miller!
If you couldn’t be a writer, what would you do to release your creativity? I would choreograph dance.
Can we get autographed copies? Sure, if I can figure out how to autograph Kindle copies.
Lightning Round:
Coke or Pepsi? Water (sorry, I’m boring)Biscuits and gravy or protein shake? Protein ShakeLost or Lost in Space? Lost in SpacePride and Prejudice or Little Women? Little WomenDogs or cats? BothFishing or Hunting? Ugh LDouble dating or staying at home? Double-datingMac or IBM? MacSUV or Prius? Prius10 million dollars or a time machine? 10 mil
Mega church with lots of stuff or small country church with ancient pews? Little Country Church on the edge of town (remember the band Love Song?)
Dawn, thank you so much for stopping by. And tomorrow we will have a special treat. I understand she has the twins with her, and we will have a chance to watch her interact with her favorite characters!
Filled with mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Sapphire Secrets is the story of a Seattle woman’s relentless pursuit of truth and God’s power to heal and transform broken lives. Twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary open a dance studio in honor of their late mother, whom they lost when they were six. Problem is, Livy remembers nothing of the day her mother died. The more she questions her family about that awful day, the more she suspects she’s been lied to all her life. While she’s seeking answers to what really happened, she keeps crossing paths with handsome engineer Scott Lorenzo, who compels her to question the New Age philosophy she was raised on. What if there is a personal God out there who cares about her?
Before Livy can discover answers, a brutal accident interrupts her search. Her life flips upside down as she faces a future she is not prepared for. Yet the unanswered questions continue to haunt her. Can she find the strength to keep on with her quest, even if it means losing the two people most dear to her—her twin, and the man she loves?
By the way, Sapphire Secrets was a 2015 Finalist, ACFW First Impressions Contest!
So, who is the woman behind the book? And as you have come to expect, I'll ask her questions that no one else will think to ask, so let's get started....
Thank you for stopping by for a quick interview. Let's start with who you are:
What is your favorite childhood memory?
When my sisters and I made up impromptu plays…costumes and all. I remember “Red Coats Blue Coats,” in which we played soldiers from opposite sides, getting all dramatic with our theatrical greetings and tearful goodbyes. JSometimes we even attracted an audience!What is your favorite Christmas memory? When our grandma sent us Christmas boxes, usually with identical dresses for my older sister and me… blue for her, red for me. (Funny how the red/blue theme kept repeating itself in my childhood!)
What was your favorite toy? It’s a tie between Spirograph, Creepy Crawlies, and my brother’s Hotwheel set.
Who was your secret crush as a teenager? Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be secret anymore!
What was the first car you owned? An old beater, early-model Toyota that needed a lot of fixing up!
Where did you grow up? Various spots on the left, I mean West, Coast.
You have a passion to help single moms. How did you come to develop that passion?Raising three sons largely alone was THE HARDEST, most grueling job I will ever, ever do or will ever do. I wouldn’t have survived without a support network. And my sons wouldn’t have grown up relatively normal and healthy had God not heard my cries for help. If not for prayer & God’s guidance, my sons might have ended up as just another statistic. So now I want to pay it back and share encouragement with other single moms who struggle with simple, day-to-day basics like I did.
What makes you really, really mad?When divorced women turn their kids against their dad. Nothing makes me more furious. Children, especially sons, need their dads, even if the parents are no longer together. In my blog, it’s one of the things I caution women against. Because once the tie with their dad is severed, there’s no going back.
What is your biggest disappointment from your childhood? That I didn’t have any allies except my best friend.
Okay, we have a sense of who you are. Now let's talk about your book:
Is your book appropriate for young teens? Probably. It does contain a romance thread, which might be a little beyond their scope.
Which of your books is your favorite? I only have two published so far. I would pick my newest one, Sapphire Secrets, the full-length novel. The other is a short prequel, an appetizer, you could say, for the main course.
Are there things you would change about your published stories? Shh…don’t tell anyone, but I tweaked and re-uploaded Sapphire Secrets four times before I was happy with the end result. And, I revised When Lyric Met Limerick with edited content and a new cover. I’m much happier with the new, improved version.
Who gets credit for your really awesome cover art? The talented Dineen Miller!
If you couldn’t be a writer, what would you do to release your creativity? I would choreograph dance.
Can we get autographed copies? Sure, if I can figure out how to autograph Kindle copies.
Lightning Round:
Coke or Pepsi? Water (sorry, I’m boring)Biscuits and gravy or protein shake? Protein ShakeLost or Lost in Space? Lost in SpacePride and Prejudice or Little Women? Little WomenDogs or cats? BothFishing or Hunting? Ugh LDouble dating or staying at home? Double-datingMac or IBM? MacSUV or Prius? Prius10 million dollars or a time machine? 10 mil
Mega church with lots of stuff or small country church with ancient pews? Little Country Church on the edge of town (remember the band Love Song?)
Dawn, thank you so much for stopping by. And tomorrow we will have a special treat. I understand she has the twins with her, and we will have a chance to watch her interact with her favorite characters!
December 19, 2015
Nightfall
Nightfall
When logs glow warm in the fireAnd Mama in a rocker sewsChildren yawn, begin to tireSlide warm socks o’er chilly toesWith cider brewing in a potAnd sugar cookies nice and hotDrink it inLittle onesThese are memories that smile
When the coals burn red and deepAnd twinkling lights flicker lowChildren reluctant to go to sleepUntil they’ve seen new snowEager for the early dayThe hallowed birth to celebrateDrink it inLittle ones
These are memories that smile
December 13, 2015
The Man in the High Castle
Based on a friend’s recommendation, I started watching a new TV series on Amazon Prime called, The Man in the High Castle.
Holy wow.
I’d never heard of it, and I had no idea what the show was about. But, here’s a snapshot: In an alternate history, the Axis powers defeated the Allies in WWII. The United States surrendered after a nuke was dropped on Washington, DC. What remained of the United States was divided between the Nazis and the Japanese, and only a small strip in the middle of the former States serves as a buffer between the two empires. The show is set in 1962, and in this alternate history, we see what roughly 20 years of uninhibited Nazi occupation would look like, complete with Jewish and Christian extermination, and super-sized kilns.
I can honestly say, I’m unnerved.
What would our lives be like had the Greatest Generation not stood the gap and defeated one of the worst evils in world history? This stark glimpse of what could have been has significantly frightened me. Can you imagine having the SS Nazis serve as our police force? Or the Kempeitai, the Japanese version of the Gestapo? Can you imagine how radically different our lives would be? No, you cannot. That’s why you must watch The Man in the High Castle. Not because it’s enjoyable and intriguing, but because we must all know and appreciate the sacrifice our Allied troops made in protecting us from evil.
In the same turn, I’m ashamed of how our Nation and the World is now cowering to a similar evil in the Terrorist Wars of the last 20 years. This storyline should re-awaken the proverbial sleeping giant, and rouse us from our lethargy, for we could face a similar occupation.
Historically, America has served as a bastion of freedom, a sentinel against evil, a beacon of light to a dark and dying world. However, in The Man in the High Castle, there is no stop-gap measure. There is no Dutch boy with his finger stuck in a dyke. There is no one to stand against the two world Empires. There is no America. There is only power and pain, and suffering is a fact of life. Information is a commodity. Life is meaningless. Hope no longer exists.
Am I upsetting you? I certainly hope so. I highly recommend you watch this show. It’s rated TV-MA, but not for graphic sex scenes. Be warned, there is bad language and some brief scenes of nudity, but it’s the kind of nudity you’d find in a prison camp. This is not a show you will watch because you enjoy it. It’s a show you will watch because you should. And I promise you, the next time Memorial Day rolls around, you will find deeper appreciation for our soldiers than you ever imagined possible. It’s your duty as an American to watch this show and utter a prayer of thanksgiving.
Holy wow.
I’d never heard of it, and I had no idea what the show was about. But, here’s a snapshot: In an alternate history, the Axis powers defeated the Allies in WWII. The United States surrendered after a nuke was dropped on Washington, DC. What remained of the United States was divided between the Nazis and the Japanese, and only a small strip in the middle of the former States serves as a buffer between the two empires. The show is set in 1962, and in this alternate history, we see what roughly 20 years of uninhibited Nazi occupation would look like, complete with Jewish and Christian extermination, and super-sized kilns. I can honestly say, I’m unnerved.
What would our lives be like had the Greatest Generation not stood the gap and defeated one of the worst evils in world history? This stark glimpse of what could have been has significantly frightened me. Can you imagine having the SS Nazis serve as our police force? Or the Kempeitai, the Japanese version of the Gestapo? Can you imagine how radically different our lives would be? No, you cannot. That’s why you must watch The Man in the High Castle. Not because it’s enjoyable and intriguing, but because we must all know and appreciate the sacrifice our Allied troops made in protecting us from evil.In the same turn, I’m ashamed of how our Nation and the World is now cowering to a similar evil in the Terrorist Wars of the last 20 years. This storyline should re-awaken the proverbial sleeping giant, and rouse us from our lethargy, for we could face a similar occupation.
Historically, America has served as a bastion of freedom, a sentinel against evil, a beacon of light to a dark and dying world. However, in The Man in the High Castle, there is no stop-gap measure. There is no Dutch boy with his finger stuck in a dyke. There is no one to stand against the two world Empires. There is no America. There is only power and pain, and suffering is a fact of life. Information is a commodity. Life is meaningless. Hope no longer exists.
Am I upsetting you? I certainly hope so. I highly recommend you watch this show. It’s rated TV-MA, but not for graphic sex scenes. Be warned, there is bad language and some brief scenes of nudity, but it’s the kind of nudity you’d find in a prison camp. This is not a show you will watch because you enjoy it. It’s a show you will watch because you should. And I promise you, the next time Memorial Day rolls around, you will find deeper appreciation for our soldiers than you ever imagined possible. It’s your duty as an American to watch this show and utter a prayer of thanksgiving.
December 3, 2015
Marian P. Merritt, Author: Who is This Southern Belle?
Today I want to introduce you to a new friend of mine, who is absolutely fantastic. You’re gonna love her from the get go. Her name is Marian P. Merritt, and she writes Christian Romance, and Woman’s Fiction, which is my favorite of her work. But, I’ll get to that later. For now, I want you to know who she is and what she’s about.
But first, I want you to see why I wanted to highlight this amazing woman...
When Charleston Charly Maynard loses her job just weeks after her fiancé calls off the wedding, she decides to visit the cottage in the quaint village of Cavazzale, Italy she’s inherited from her grandmother. She’s hoping the time there will help her to decide what to do about her future. When she meets André Lagneaux, a handsome man from Bayou Country, who is visiting his brother in Cavazzale, Charly ignores the attraction. After all, she's not looking for romance. When André Lagneaux’s parents set up a family trip to Italy, André is eager to spend Christmas with his brother and godchild. Meeting the beautiful American woman at the airport adds to his excitement. He'd loved to get to know her, but her cool demeanor tells him she's not interested. Will she let down her guard and allow them to get to know one another? When Charly finds a prayer in her nonna’s diary that makes her realize God may have His own plan for her future, she must learn to trust. But, what if His plan includes the dark-haired Cajun?
How awesome is that? Right?
Q. You don’t appear to be from Boston…
A. Hardly! I grew up in South Louisiana in a small community south of New Orleans. Although there were times my Cajun accent was mistaken for one from the Northeast. Go figure…
Q. So, you’re one of those bayou gal’s who was always saying, “You know how those uppity folk are. They live way up north in New Orleans?”
A. Yes, I’m officially from “down the bayou” and New Orleans was considered “town.”
Q. I take it you love the South?
A. I love a lot of things about the South. Especially the food and the people!
Q. You lived for a while in Colorado, and I gather you really enjoyed your time there.
A. Yes, I’ve lived in Colorado for the past eight years and while I missed so much about the South, I learned to appreciate so much from that state.
Q. You now live in Texas. How did that happen, and do you feel like Texas is as much of a home as Louisiana?
A. My husband was transferred by his company to Houston. We’ve lived here before so we were glad to come back to reconnect with friends. While I’m happy to be living back in the south closer to family and fresh seafood, I do miss the mountains, cooler temperatures, and low humidity of Colorado!
Q. Writing is clearly a passion for you, and it’s something you dearly hope will help inspire others. What was the key book you read as a kid that sparked for you?
A. I’m not sure there was one book in particular. I read so many books growing up “on the bayou.” The Island of the Blue Dolphin and Chita: A Memory of Last Isle were two books that have stayed with me. The characters were so vivid that I felt I was in the story with them. I appreciate the authors giving me that experience.
Q. You attended the University of South Alabama. What was your field of study and how does it influence your writing?
A. I have a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. My medical background gives me another dimension to add to my characters.
Q. I saw on your fabulous website, http://www.marianmerritt.com, “While this bayou girl is glad to be back in the south because she loves her Southern roots, doesn't wear white after Labor Day, says y’all and can make a killer roux, she misses living in the mountains with it's low-humidity air and white Christmases! That's why you'll find a Louisiana/Colorado connection in each of her books.”
I have to admit, I was immediately reminded of the old television show, Designing Women, which was set in Atlanta, NOT Louisiana. I know that show was much before your time, but which of the characters mostly closely mirrors you?
A. Actually, Travis, I remember the show well. It was one of my favorites! I relate with Mary Jo. I know what it’s like to be a single mom trying to earn a living. I can also relate to her sharp wit.
Q. What is your favorite Christmas memory?
A. Going to my grandparents house and getting the wonderful Christmas fruit baskets they had for us each year.
Q. What is your deepest regret?
A. Deepest regret? Hmmm….I try really hard not to dwell of things of the past. I believe God wants us to live in His plan for our future and if we do, there’s no room for regrets.
Q. If you could live for one year in any place on this Earth…
A. Wow, there’s so many places I would love to live. My number one place would be on a farm/vineyard in Tuscany, Italy.
Q. Is outer space something that interests you?
A. No. I’m a bit claustrophobic so the space suit would really freak me out.
Q. Is there another creative passion in your life?
A. I love photography and pottery. While I get to play with my camera often, I don’t get to use my wheel as much as I’d like.
Q. Who was your secret teenage crush?
A. Oh wow…blushing. That would be Donny Osmond. Big poster on my bedroom wall and all the Teen Beat magazines that he was on the cover.
Q. Sweet tea or coke?
A. Neither. I try to avoid sugar so I go with Unsweetened tea.
Q. How far back do your Southern roots go?
A. Good question. At least 6 maybe 7 generations or more. I haven’t actually counted. But I know there are several generations of grandparents buried in the same cemetery in the bayou town where I grew up.
Q. If you could go back and visit with your younger self, what age would it be and what would you say?
A. Twelve. I’d take myself to lunch and say, “No matter what. Don’t settle for anything less that your dream no matter how impossible it may seem.”
Q. Let’s talk about your books. Which of your novels is your favorite?
A. Now Travis, that’s like asking me which of my children is my favorite! I like each of them for different reasons. The Vigil is a story close to my heart because God sent me so much of that story in the middle of the night.I'm going to insert ONE small sentence from the description of The Vigil. It was hooked immediately: "While reading a dying patient's Korean War love letters, family secrets shatter Cheryl's beliefs about her family and herself and shed light on the reason she fled her hometown."
Q. Why do you choose your current genres? Is there a genre you want to explore?
A. I love reading Women’s Fiction and can relate to those characters so it was a natural path for me to write those stories. I may have a mystery swirling through my brain that may one day materialize on the page.
Q. What’s next for you?
A. I’m brainstorming another Christmas novella. This one set in the fictional town of Bijou Bayou where The Vigil is set. Some of those characters will make an appearance.
I’m also working to complete a Women’s fiction story set in Tuscany, Italy and Mandeville, LA.
Lightning round!
Q. List 10 things you like:
A. Here’s is the list I have on my website:JesusMy FamilySunshineRainSnow – only when it's fallingBaby GigglesPuppies (who doesn't love puppies?)OptimismVintage Sports CarsSaints and Broncos Football
Q. What? You got something against the Dallas Cowboys?
A. Sorry, Travis. They are not on my list of favorites.
Q. List 10 interesting things about you:
A. I cried when I saw Michelangelo's David.I drive a truck.I've climbed Diamond Head in Hawaii.I've owned two Harley Davidson motorcycles: A Sportster 883 and a Road King Classic.I believe in pursuing your dreams.I can shuck an oyster.I graduated with a degree in physical therapy at thirty-four.I've walked on the Great Wall of China.Most of my childhood was spent running around barefoot.I "kinda" speak Cajun French. (I can understand a lot and speak a little.)
Q. What’s the best way to follow you?
A. I have a readers group on Facebook that I share information with my readers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/marianpmerritt/
Marian Pellegrin Merritt writes stories that blend her love of the mountains with her deep Southern roots. Her tagline, Where the Bayous Meets the Mountains, grew from both loves.She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Women's Fiction Writers Association. This Louisiana native writes her Christmas romances and Southern women’s fiction with a Louisiana/Colorado connection from the Texas home she shares with her husband and a very spoiled Labradoodle.
Connect with her through Website, Blog, Facebook, TwitterMarian P. Merritt's Readers Group
Buy links to Marian’s Books: http://www.marianmerritt.com/#!/cnec
But first, I want you to see why I wanted to highlight this amazing woman...
When Charleston Charly Maynard loses her job just weeks after her fiancé calls off the wedding, she decides to visit the cottage in the quaint village of Cavazzale, Italy she’s inherited from her grandmother. She’s hoping the time there will help her to decide what to do about her future. When she meets André Lagneaux, a handsome man from Bayou Country, who is visiting his brother in Cavazzale, Charly ignores the attraction. After all, she's not looking for romance. When André Lagneaux’s parents set up a family trip to Italy, André is eager to spend Christmas with his brother and godchild. Meeting the beautiful American woman at the airport adds to his excitement. He'd loved to get to know her, but her cool demeanor tells him she's not interested. Will she let down her guard and allow them to get to know one another? When Charly finds a prayer in her nonna’s diary that makes her realize God may have His own plan for her future, she must learn to trust. But, what if His plan includes the dark-haired Cajun?
How awesome is that? Right?
Q. You don’t appear to be from Boston…A. Hardly! I grew up in South Louisiana in a small community south of New Orleans. Although there were times my Cajun accent was mistaken for one from the Northeast. Go figure…
Q. So, you’re one of those bayou gal’s who was always saying, “You know how those uppity folk are. They live way up north in New Orleans?”
A. Yes, I’m officially from “down the bayou” and New Orleans was considered “town.”
Q. I take it you love the South?
A. I love a lot of things about the South. Especially the food and the people!
Q. You lived for a while in Colorado, and I gather you really enjoyed your time there.
A. Yes, I’ve lived in Colorado for the past eight years and while I missed so much about the South, I learned to appreciate so much from that state.
Q. You now live in Texas. How did that happen, and do you feel like Texas is as much of a home as Louisiana?
A. My husband was transferred by his company to Houston. We’ve lived here before so we were glad to come back to reconnect with friends. While I’m happy to be living back in the south closer to family and fresh seafood, I do miss the mountains, cooler temperatures, and low humidity of Colorado!
Q. Writing is clearly a passion for you, and it’s something you dearly hope will help inspire others. What was the key book you read as a kid that sparked for you?
A. I’m not sure there was one book in particular. I read so many books growing up “on the bayou.” The Island of the Blue Dolphin and Chita: A Memory of Last Isle were two books that have stayed with me. The characters were so vivid that I felt I was in the story with them. I appreciate the authors giving me that experience.
Q. You attended the University of South Alabama. What was your field of study and how does it influence your writing?
A. I have a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. My medical background gives me another dimension to add to my characters.
Q. I saw on your fabulous website, http://www.marianmerritt.com, “While this bayou girl is glad to be back in the south because she loves her Southern roots, doesn't wear white after Labor Day, says y’all and can make a killer roux, she misses living in the mountains with it's low-humidity air and white Christmases! That's why you'll find a Louisiana/Colorado connection in each of her books.”
I have to admit, I was immediately reminded of the old television show, Designing Women, which was set in Atlanta, NOT Louisiana. I know that show was much before your time, but which of the characters mostly closely mirrors you?
A. Actually, Travis, I remember the show well. It was one of my favorites! I relate with Mary Jo. I know what it’s like to be a single mom trying to earn a living. I can also relate to her sharp wit.
Q. What is your favorite Christmas memory?
A. Going to my grandparents house and getting the wonderful Christmas fruit baskets they had for us each year.
Q. What is your deepest regret?
A. Deepest regret? Hmmm….I try really hard not to dwell of things of the past. I believe God wants us to live in His plan for our future and if we do, there’s no room for regrets.
Q. If you could live for one year in any place on this Earth…
A. Wow, there’s so many places I would love to live. My number one place would be on a farm/vineyard in Tuscany, Italy.
Q. Is outer space something that interests you?
A. No. I’m a bit claustrophobic so the space suit would really freak me out.
Q. Is there another creative passion in your life?
A. I love photography and pottery. While I get to play with my camera often, I don’t get to use my wheel as much as I’d like.
Q. Who was your secret teenage crush?
A. Oh wow…blushing. That would be Donny Osmond. Big poster on my bedroom wall and all the Teen Beat magazines that he was on the cover.
Q. Sweet tea or coke?
A. Neither. I try to avoid sugar so I go with Unsweetened tea.
Q. How far back do your Southern roots go?
A. Good question. At least 6 maybe 7 generations or more. I haven’t actually counted. But I know there are several generations of grandparents buried in the same cemetery in the bayou town where I grew up.
Q. If you could go back and visit with your younger self, what age would it be and what would you say?
A. Twelve. I’d take myself to lunch and say, “No matter what. Don’t settle for anything less that your dream no matter how impossible it may seem.”
Q. Let’s talk about your books. Which of your novels is your favorite?A. Now Travis, that’s like asking me which of my children is my favorite! I like each of them for different reasons. The Vigil is a story close to my heart because God sent me so much of that story in the middle of the night.I'm going to insert ONE small sentence from the description of The Vigil. It was hooked immediately: "While reading a dying patient's Korean War love letters, family secrets shatter Cheryl's beliefs about her family and herself and shed light on the reason she fled her hometown."
Q. Why do you choose your current genres? Is there a genre you want to explore?
A. I love reading Women’s Fiction and can relate to those characters so it was a natural path for me to write those stories. I may have a mystery swirling through my brain that may one day materialize on the page.
Q. What’s next for you?
A. I’m brainstorming another Christmas novella. This one set in the fictional town of Bijou Bayou where The Vigil is set. Some of those characters will make an appearance.
I’m also working to complete a Women’s fiction story set in Tuscany, Italy and Mandeville, LA.
Lightning round!
Q. List 10 things you like:
A. Here’s is the list I have on my website:JesusMy FamilySunshineRainSnow – only when it's fallingBaby GigglesPuppies (who doesn't love puppies?)OptimismVintage Sports CarsSaints and Broncos Football
Q. What? You got something against the Dallas Cowboys?
A. Sorry, Travis. They are not on my list of favorites.
Q. List 10 interesting things about you:
A. I cried when I saw Michelangelo's David.I drive a truck.I've climbed Diamond Head in Hawaii.I've owned two Harley Davidson motorcycles: A Sportster 883 and a Road King Classic.I believe in pursuing your dreams.I can shuck an oyster.I graduated with a degree in physical therapy at thirty-four.I've walked on the Great Wall of China.Most of my childhood was spent running around barefoot.I "kinda" speak Cajun French. (I can understand a lot and speak a little.)
Q. What’s the best way to follow you?
A. I have a readers group on Facebook that I share information with my readers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/marianpmerritt/
Marian Pellegrin Merritt writes stories that blend her love of the mountains with her deep Southern roots. Her tagline, Where the Bayous Meets the Mountains, grew from both loves.She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Women's Fiction Writers Association. This Louisiana native writes her Christmas romances and Southern women’s fiction with a Louisiana/Colorado connection from the Texas home she shares with her husband and a very spoiled Labradoodle.
Connect with her through Website, Blog, Facebook, TwitterMarian P. Merritt's Readers Group
Buy links to Marian’s Books: http://www.marianmerritt.com/#!/cnec
December 1, 2015
It Is a Wonderful Life
I'm stepping a little out of my safety zone and doing something I rarely do: an article about myself. I am comfortable with fiction and short stories, because I call the shots about what I want reality to be. However, I am going to reveal something personal, and I think it will be therapeutic for me.As is tradition in our home, we watched It’s a Wonderful Life on Thanksgiving. I’d like to share a short segment of that movie. George Bailey has locked horns with Mr. Potter, who wants to dissolve his mom and pop Building and Loan Company. In a moment of protest, George offers the following statement.
To be Mr. Potter or George Bailey? This is the struggle I wrestle in my heart as I lay in bed at night, and as I walk the street during the day. To most, the choice is clear. George Bailey is a noble, selfless man who continually makes the responsible choice to serve his fellow man, while Mr. Potter is a warped, frustrated old man who seeks his own way and his own purposes.But allow me a moment to expose my heart and define the struggle I suffer. For just a moment, I want to remove the immoral, greedy element from Mr. Potter and examine him as a practical businessman. He is a businessman of profound abilities, and uses his influence to advance his business interests. One might accurately describe him as calculating. And his calculating business mind does benefit society. After all, it was his business that made housing affordable to the good citizens of Bedford Falls, and without men like Potter, a large piece of the puzzle would be missing. In fact, to some, the Potters of this world are not simply a piece of the puzzle; they are the corners and edges of the puzzle.
At my work, I am surrounded by Potters—men who are focused, driven, and calculating. They are the men who drive the business machine forward. The men who make decisions that aren’t influenced by compassion, but rather by necessity. They operate on cold, hard facts.
George Bailey, on the other hand, is a man who has embraced the passion of life and empathizes with the common human condition. He is a man who will continually take the high road, even at his own expense.
At my work, I could count on one hand the George Baileys. I should know, for I am one. I am continually criticized for my “weakness”—that is, my compassion. I’m often confronted by my peers for being too easy, too nice. “Don’t get me wrong,” they say. “You’re one heck of a nice guy, and I think a lot of you, but you are way too soft…” and you can probably finish the sentence for me.
Criticism is a unique gift. You can either dismiss it entirely, or you can embrace it and own it. Or, and this is the harder, better choice, you can examine it for truth. Am I too weak? Too soft? Perhaps. Christ never called us to be weaklings, but to be men of valor who stand for truth.
Am I, on the other hand, willing to discard my faith or moral fiber in order to be more like the other cogs in the machine—like the ones who actually drive the machine forward? Talk about disingenuous! I would be forcing myself to act and behave in a way that contradicts who I am and what I believe. And yet the struggle—the conflict, gnaws on my bones at night as I struggle with what others see in me. Or think they see. Is it possible my peers are simply critical because I’m different than them? Ugh! I thought I was done with peer pressure when I left high school.
My struggle may not mean anything to others. Some might not even understand what I’m expressing, but I examine my criticisms and extrapolate that which is beneficial. The question haunts me. Am I too weak? Perhaps. But is that a weakness? Perhaps not. Perhaps the weakness the world sees is nothing more than compassion for others and lack of selfish ambition. The fact that I would rather relive someone’s pain, and to do it at my own expense, rather than drive the machine forward would offend the Potters of the world. We do need Potters. But we also need George Bailey. Together, they create balance, even though they are at odds with each other and are never at peace.
Well, I will struggle with these ideals for my life. I pray that I will never be the one who tries to buy off George Bailey because I’ve become a Potter. At one point in the movie, Potter realizes that George has beaten him in the game. In order to remove George from the competition, he deceitfully offers him the deal of a lifetime, and basically throws everything at him that he’s ever wanted. In a weak moment, George is tempted to take the offer. However, after a greasy handshake, George comes to his senses and flees temptation.
May God grant me the strength to hold to my principles, even if the world offers me the world in exchange.
November 3, 2015
Candee Fick - Catch of a Lifetime
Look what’s happening! Candee Fick has released her debut fiction novel,
Catch of a Lifetime
, which is now available. Here’s what it’s about:
He breathes football. She shudders at the very mention of the sport. After a tragedy involving a football player destroyed her family, athletic trainer and graduate student Cassie moves across the country looking for a fresh start, but a change in financial aid lands her in the middle of her worst nightmare. Meanwhile, rookie coach Reed worries his dream career will slip away as injuries plague his players and his star receiver teeters on the brink of ineligibility. As the two work together to salvage the season, sparks fly, and Reed must eventually choose between the game he cherishes and the woman he loves.
I have a real treat for you today. I was able to score an interview with Candee, which I will post below. I’m excited about this book because it will be unique, and focuses on a topic that is largely overlooked: FOOTBALL! And let’s roll!
Hello Candee Fick! And welcome to my humble blog. I’m so proud to have you as my guest today, and I’m very excited to share the news about your new book, Catch of a Lifetime ! I have a few questions for you and thank you for stopping by.
Q. Let’s start with your new book, Catch of a Lifetime . This is a fictional story that has football in it. And love. And FOOTBALL! And a few other things. Would you take a moment and tell us about those few other things? What else does your book offer other than football?
Well, you already mentioned love, which is a good thing to include since it’s a romance. The story also tackles the topic of stereotypes and how we judge by a person’s outside while God looks at the heart. And there’s this not-so-little thing called forgiveness that the heroine must wrestle with because she has a reason to hate football. Oh, right, other than football. How about an example of integrity under pressure, fitting faith into a competitive arena, and discovering there are some things more important than a game, even if that game is football.
So, this is not simply a sweet romance. It has a much broader message to it. And it sounds like it would make a fantastic Lifetime movie of the month!
Q. You started your writing career with devotionals. How did that happen?
I wanted to write fiction but the big idea that jumped to mind was a comparison between the walk of faith and the game of football. That non-fiction book led to a writing course, a dozen-or-so published articles, and then a blog. I intended my blog posts to offer encouragement for the journey called life, but when several random readers thanked me for “today’s devotional” it caught me by surprise. Looking back, I could see how I had a knack for seeing a spiritual lesson in a physical example so I packaged together several of my blog series into devotionals. I also took back the rights to that first non-fiction book and re-formatted it into an 11-week devotional called Pigskin Parables:Exploring Faith and Football .
Joel running cross countryQ. You have a fantastic family. Tell us about them and how they’ve changed your life.
They are pretty fantastic. I’ve been married to a high school football coach and math teacher for almost 20 years. In fact, we met when we were both teaching at a Christian school. I left formal teaching behind when we started our own family. Our special needs daughter graduated from high school last spring and is now in a transition program to teach her practical life and job skills. Our oldest son is a high school senior, multi-sport athlete, and all-around smart kid who we’re praying gets the chance to play college basketball on a scholarship. Our youngest son is in middle school and he’s more the music-loving, fantasy-book-reading, “what if?” asking personality who recently found a niche running cross country when not busy doing typical boy things like hiding a whoopee cushion on my desk chair and giggling. They’ve all taught me to cherish the moments and not take life too seriously.
You can’t hide how proud you are as a wife and mom, and I think you and your family are swell!
Anna and Candee at graduationQ. Your daughter has a rare genetic syndrome, which has significantly impacted your life. Could you offer some encouraging words to other parents who are struggling with a life-altering event in their lives?
Without faith in God, I’m not sure how well I would have weathered this storm. Knowing that God is good, that the pain of this broken world is not the end, and that He never leaves us alone as He works everything together for our benefit helped me leave the really hard days in His hands. I’ve learned so many invaluable lessons while loving my imperfect princess. I actually compiled a book for parents with special needs kids titled Making Lemonade that describes the mixture of sweet and sour through the stories of other families facing a multitude of different issues.
Q. Who is your favorite author? What type of stuff do you read in those rare moments you have enough time to do so?
My favorite author used to be Dee Henderson with her O’Malley family and Uncommon Heroes series. I’ve since added many more authors to my favorites list including Rachel Hauck, Susan May Warren, Mary Connealy, Karen Witemeyer, and more. There’s a mixture of contemporary and historical, fairy tale and suspense, plus comedy thrown in to their stories. I’ve also been known to read dystopian (when vetting books for my youngest), fantasy, and Amish. Bottom line, I love a good story full of twists and turns with a happily-ever-ending where the good guy wins.
Yes, I’m very familiar with Karen Witemeyer, and I think she’s fantastic as well! You follow some amazing authors. Each of them is a class act for sure.
Q. You’re the wife of a football coach. In Texas, that means, “Don’t get too comfortable, ‘cause you could be sent packing if we don’t win enough games.” Is this true for your family? Living a life around sports can be both fun and stressful. Do you have any fun or horrifying anecdotes to share?
Luke senior night footballHere in Colorado, a head coach makes about $4000 total if he’s lucky so everyone has a day job (usually teaching). While no one is likely to put For Sale signs in our yard after a loss, coaches still get fired and there are a lot of politics behind the scenes. My husband once took over a relatively new program that had never won a game and took them to the playoffs in the second year. You’d have thought he walked on water. Then we jumped up in classification to face bigger and tougher competition and he asked to teach a weights class to get the players physically ready for the challenge. The new athletic director told him to stop whining, assigned the class to the girls basketball coach, and then fired my husband when he later pointed out that the students spent most days in the gym playing dodge ball instead of lifting weights. Weak players were getting hurt on the field and my husband felt like he had to stand up for their safety. (The new football coach got to teach a weights class so at least the kids got what they needed in the end.)
Oy… sports are so complicated! Sometimes, God just has to make things happen, eh? Thanks for sharing!
Q. If you were not able to be a writer, and you were allowed your heart’s greatest desire, what would you be?
A singer in a worship band. I guess I have a creative, artistic bent that needs to express my faith in a way that points others to God. Then again, I totally love a wide variety of other clean music especially from musicals so I could also see myself singing in a musical revue group in Branson, Missouri. But definitely in a group. No solo albums for me.
Well, I pray you will be able to pursue that dream when the time is right. No reason you can’t write AND sing!
Q. Readers often think that authors live special and extraordinary lives. What is the most ordinary thing about you? What is the most extraordinary thing about you?
The most ordinary? I hate dusting and ironing and cleaning toilets. The most extraordinary thing? I do those things anyway because I love my family and would like them to live in a clean house and look nice when they go out in public. And I can’t afford a housekeeper.
Q. What’s next for you in terms of publishing?
While this story was about football, my next contracted book features my love for musicals and is set in a dinner theater. Think Broadway meets small town, a cast of tap dancers pounding out a rhythm, and Big Band trumpet music. Oh, and there’s an adoption reunion element to the story. Dance Over Me is scheduled to release in September 2016 and I’m currently plotting a sequel.
That sounds fantastic! Good things are coming, that’s for sure!
And now our lighting round…drum roll, please…
Q. What was your first car?
A turquoise green Suzuki Samarai (a wanna-be Jeep)
Q. Can you share your secret to a fabulous lasagna?
I can. The secret is using cheaper cottage cheese instead of ricotta and not boiling the noodles ahead of time. Just let them cook in the sauce while baking.
Q. What was your favorite Christmas gift?
True story. The year I asked for a Strong’s Concordance. My dad was a pastor and I think he cried.
Q. Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
Q. John Elway or Peyton Manning?
John Elway.
Q. Dogs or cats?
Cats
Q. Beach bungalow or mountain cabin?
Mountain cabin.
Q. Common core math or…oh, never mind…Let’s keep this PG.
Yes, let’s. My husband teaches Algebra to low-level math students who can hardly add or subtract when they get to high school and I hear too much of his opinion on the subject.
Q. What is the best way for readers to contact you or stay up with your progress?
Thanks for asking. The most reliable place to be guaranteed to receive updates is through my email list and readers can sign up at www.CandeeFick.com. Next best place is my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Author.Candee.Fick and I’m also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CandeeFick.
Thank you for such a great, even if unconventional, interview! I know God has big things in store for you, and you have a special niche, for which you are perfectly suited. Candee’s books are available now, and I highly recommend you take time to invest into what she’s doing.
He breathes football. She shudders at the very mention of the sport. After a tragedy involving a football player destroyed her family, athletic trainer and graduate student Cassie moves across the country looking for a fresh start, but a change in financial aid lands her in the middle of her worst nightmare. Meanwhile, rookie coach Reed worries his dream career will slip away as injuries plague his players and his star receiver teeters on the brink of ineligibility. As the two work together to salvage the season, sparks fly, and Reed must eventually choose between the game he cherishes and the woman he loves.I have a real treat for you today. I was able to score an interview with Candee, which I will post below. I’m excited about this book because it will be unique, and focuses on a topic that is largely overlooked: FOOTBALL! And let’s roll!
Hello Candee Fick! And welcome to my humble blog. I’m so proud to have you as my guest today, and I’m very excited to share the news about your new book, Catch of a Lifetime ! I have a few questions for you and thank you for stopping by.
Q. Let’s start with your new book, Catch of a Lifetime . This is a fictional story that has football in it. And love. And FOOTBALL! And a few other things. Would you take a moment and tell us about those few other things? What else does your book offer other than football?
Well, you already mentioned love, which is a good thing to include since it’s a romance. The story also tackles the topic of stereotypes and how we judge by a person’s outside while God looks at the heart. And there’s this not-so-little thing called forgiveness that the heroine must wrestle with because she has a reason to hate football. Oh, right, other than football. How about an example of integrity under pressure, fitting faith into a competitive arena, and discovering there are some things more important than a game, even if that game is football.
So, this is not simply a sweet romance. It has a much broader message to it. And it sounds like it would make a fantastic Lifetime movie of the month!
Q. You started your writing career with devotionals. How did that happen?
I wanted to write fiction but the big idea that jumped to mind was a comparison between the walk of faith and the game of football. That non-fiction book led to a writing course, a dozen-or-so published articles, and then a blog. I intended my blog posts to offer encouragement for the journey called life, but when several random readers thanked me for “today’s devotional” it caught me by surprise. Looking back, I could see how I had a knack for seeing a spiritual lesson in a physical example so I packaged together several of my blog series into devotionals. I also took back the rights to that first non-fiction book and re-formatted it into an 11-week devotional called Pigskin Parables:Exploring Faith and Football .
Joel running cross countryQ. You have a fantastic family. Tell us about them and how they’ve changed your life.They are pretty fantastic. I’ve been married to a high school football coach and math teacher for almost 20 years. In fact, we met when we were both teaching at a Christian school. I left formal teaching behind when we started our own family. Our special needs daughter graduated from high school last spring and is now in a transition program to teach her practical life and job skills. Our oldest son is a high school senior, multi-sport athlete, and all-around smart kid who we’re praying gets the chance to play college basketball on a scholarship. Our youngest son is in middle school and he’s more the music-loving, fantasy-book-reading, “what if?” asking personality who recently found a niche running cross country when not busy doing typical boy things like hiding a whoopee cushion on my desk chair and giggling. They’ve all taught me to cherish the moments and not take life too seriously.
You can’t hide how proud you are as a wife and mom, and I think you and your family are swell!
Anna and Candee at graduationQ. Your daughter has a rare genetic syndrome, which has significantly impacted your life. Could you offer some encouraging words to other parents who are struggling with a life-altering event in their lives? Without faith in God, I’m not sure how well I would have weathered this storm. Knowing that God is good, that the pain of this broken world is not the end, and that He never leaves us alone as He works everything together for our benefit helped me leave the really hard days in His hands. I’ve learned so many invaluable lessons while loving my imperfect princess. I actually compiled a book for parents with special needs kids titled Making Lemonade that describes the mixture of sweet and sour through the stories of other families facing a multitude of different issues.
Q. Who is your favorite author? What type of stuff do you read in those rare moments you have enough time to do so?My favorite author used to be Dee Henderson with her O’Malley family and Uncommon Heroes series. I’ve since added many more authors to my favorites list including Rachel Hauck, Susan May Warren, Mary Connealy, Karen Witemeyer, and more. There’s a mixture of contemporary and historical, fairy tale and suspense, plus comedy thrown in to their stories. I’ve also been known to read dystopian (when vetting books for my youngest), fantasy, and Amish. Bottom line, I love a good story full of twists and turns with a happily-ever-ending where the good guy wins.
Yes, I’m very familiar with Karen Witemeyer, and I think she’s fantastic as well! You follow some amazing authors. Each of them is a class act for sure.
Q. You’re the wife of a football coach. In Texas, that means, “Don’t get too comfortable, ‘cause you could be sent packing if we don’t win enough games.” Is this true for your family? Living a life around sports can be both fun and stressful. Do you have any fun or horrifying anecdotes to share?
Luke senior night footballHere in Colorado, a head coach makes about $4000 total if he’s lucky so everyone has a day job (usually teaching). While no one is likely to put For Sale signs in our yard after a loss, coaches still get fired and there are a lot of politics behind the scenes. My husband once took over a relatively new program that had never won a game and took them to the playoffs in the second year. You’d have thought he walked on water. Then we jumped up in classification to face bigger and tougher competition and he asked to teach a weights class to get the players physically ready for the challenge. The new athletic director told him to stop whining, assigned the class to the girls basketball coach, and then fired my husband when he later pointed out that the students spent most days in the gym playing dodge ball instead of lifting weights. Weak players were getting hurt on the field and my husband felt like he had to stand up for their safety. (The new football coach got to teach a weights class so at least the kids got what they needed in the end.)Oy… sports are so complicated! Sometimes, God just has to make things happen, eh? Thanks for sharing!
Q. If you were not able to be a writer, and you were allowed your heart’s greatest desire, what would you be?
A singer in a worship band. I guess I have a creative, artistic bent that needs to express my faith in a way that points others to God. Then again, I totally love a wide variety of other clean music especially from musicals so I could also see myself singing in a musical revue group in Branson, Missouri. But definitely in a group. No solo albums for me.
Well, I pray you will be able to pursue that dream when the time is right. No reason you can’t write AND sing!
Q. Readers often think that authors live special and extraordinary lives. What is the most ordinary thing about you? What is the most extraordinary thing about you?
The most ordinary? I hate dusting and ironing and cleaning toilets. The most extraordinary thing? I do those things anyway because I love my family and would like them to live in a clean house and look nice when they go out in public. And I can’t afford a housekeeper.
Q. What’s next for you in terms of publishing?
While this story was about football, my next contracted book features my love for musicals and is set in a dinner theater. Think Broadway meets small town, a cast of tap dancers pounding out a rhythm, and Big Band trumpet music. Oh, and there’s an adoption reunion element to the story. Dance Over Me is scheduled to release in September 2016 and I’m currently plotting a sequel.
That sounds fantastic! Good things are coming, that’s for sure!
And now our lighting round…drum roll, please…
Q. What was your first car?
A turquoise green Suzuki Samarai (a wanna-be Jeep)
Q. Can you share your secret to a fabulous lasagna?
I can. The secret is using cheaper cottage cheese instead of ricotta and not boiling the noodles ahead of time. Just let them cook in the sauce while baking.
Q. What was your favorite Christmas gift?
True story. The year I asked for a Strong’s Concordance. My dad was a pastor and I think he cried.
Q. Coke or Pepsi?
Coke
Q. John Elway or Peyton Manning?
John Elway.
Q. Dogs or cats?
Cats
Q. Beach bungalow or mountain cabin?
Mountain cabin.
Q. Common core math or…oh, never mind…Let’s keep this PG.
Yes, let’s. My husband teaches Algebra to low-level math students who can hardly add or subtract when they get to high school and I hear too much of his opinion on the subject.
Q. What is the best way for readers to contact you or stay up with your progress?
Thanks for asking. The most reliable place to be guaranteed to receive updates is through my email list and readers can sign up at www.CandeeFick.com. Next best place is my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Author.Candee.Fick and I’m also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CandeeFick.
Thank you for such a great, even if unconventional, interview! I know God has big things in store for you, and you have a special niche, for which you are perfectly suited. Candee’s books are available now, and I highly recommend you take time to invest into what she’s doing.
October 29, 2015
Choosing Good Will
In 1997, I watched a movie called Good Will Hunting, which is a movie about a young math prodigy who refuses to take a chance and become the world changer he was destined to be. I hated the movie. It was ripe with profanity, irreverent humor, and horrible language. Despite the fact that the storyline of the movie is one of the best I’ve ever seen, I chose to be offended and I hated the movie. I was appalled that anyone would enjoy the film.In 1997, the main character, Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, was rude, arrogant, snobbish, trash-talking, low life who selfishly chose to engage in underage drinking, sexual carousing, and generally wasting his life. Robin Williams played the part of the therapist who helped Will find his way and to heal his past so that he was able to embrace his destiny. His character was rude, abrupt, filthy mouthed, and disrespectful. I hated how unprofessional he was.
18 years passed and I held to the memories of how horrible that movie was.
Yesterday I watched Good Will Hunting after a gap of 18 years. I was floored at how brilliantly written, character rich, and otherwise awesome the movie is. Will, the main character, is a kid who is hurting, and who learned to push people away as a defense mechanism, because he was orphaned as a child, and was abused by the adults entrusted to care for him. All through his life he survived by laying low and making do, all the while self-educating at the library because he couldn’t afford to go to college. He was an undiscovered math genius who would some day change the world, but he was afraid to commit to that course because the pain he lived in was too real for him to see beyond his modest life.
His therapist was a man who was reeling from the loss of his one true love, and was withdrawn and bitter from losing all he once had. He was a man who was barely hanging on, desperately seeking shelter from the storm. Because of the pain he embraced, he was able to reach Will and help him find healing from his broken, abused childhood, and gave him the courage to step out and take the risk of living beyond his modest life. 18 years ago I hated this movie because it offended me. Why? Because I was a self-righteous, arrogant, selfish, religious zealot who chose to hate the world and reject it before it could harm me—again. Yes, again. You see? I was a Will. No, I was not abused as a kid. I was not hated by my family, but I was still afraid to step out of my comfort zone and find depth and meaning. I was comfortable living my modest life. But, I was inflicting pain and misery upon my friends and family, and I was a horrible Christian who was hiding his fears inside of his religious façade. I was afraid of the world and what it represented and I chose to hide behind what was comfortable. I rejected anything that was not religious. And I inflicted pain on those around me. It was my defense mechanism. And I was wrong. Is there anything worse than a self-righteous, religious, snob? Sadly, it was the life I chose. Why am I baring my soul to you now? Because I have grown. And, like Will, I learned how to step out of my comfort zone and live my life and take risks. One of the risks I’ve learned to take was to write. Yes, I’m an author. I write books, and I make myself vulnerable to you and allow you the option of filleting my stories, which are microcosms of my soul, and grant you the ability to reject me. I’ve chosen to put myself out there. And to be honest, it’s a bit overwhelming. My newest release is titled, Shadows, which is a book about choices, and the inevitable conclusions of our choices. Due to the magic of fiction, I allow one man to make two choices, and create two realities that reflect those two choices. In one choice he remains true to himself and reaps the benefits of that choice. In the other reality, he chooses to defile himself, and watches in horror as the consequences cause his life to spiral out of control. 18 years ago I made a choice to hate a movie. I chose to reject that movie because it offended me. And why not? It was not a movie that reflected Christian values. Therefore, I must reject it. I chose to do so. And now, 18 years later, I’ve grown. After seeing the movie, I realized that I never really saw it the first time. I was too busy judging and rejecting it to see what it was actually trying to say. Yesterday I saw the movie for the first time. Instead of seeing the things that offended me, I saw people. People who live in pain. People who don’t want to live in pain any longer. People who are desperate to break free and live free. Free from pain. And I chose to feel the depth of their pain and experience it with them. Rather than reject them, I chose to hear them. I chose to understand them. I chose to appreciate them. And my life is richer for choosing to do so. These are people I can appreciate and I can share their lives. I can be their friend. I might even be able to help them with their pain. None of us want to live in pain. Look, I still don’t enjoy bathroom humor. I probably never will. It’s not my personality type. I will probably never use the language used in this movie, and I will never tell the jokes in this movie, BUT I will not reject the characters because they do. I choose to accept them as they are, and not cast judgment upon them for not being like me. Our choices really do make a difference in who we are and how our lives play out.
One choice a future makes.
October 24, 2015
Sara Vinduska and The Drowning Man
An Interview with Sara Vinduska
The Drowning Man is an intense romantic suspense/thriller that will grab you by the shirt collar from the very first pages, and will plunge you into a world of fear, regret, and revenge before surfacing into a very satisfying victory. This incredibly well written book will make you hold your breath so many times—you might need oxygen therapy in order to survive. That's how intense this book is! I've long maintained that Sara Vinduska is one of the best writers I've ever encountered, and this book confirms my assertion. So, what's it about?Well, after watching his best friend drown when they were children, Kansas City firefighter Trent Barlow has devoted his life to saving others. Twenty years later, Dr. Caroline Newberry still blames Trent for the death of her son. Pushed over the edge by not being able to save a young child at work, Caroline abducts Trent, intent on retribution.Essentially, she snaps and executes a diabolical plan to drown Trent in retribution. Relying on her skills as a doctor, she drowns him, resuscitates him, only to do it again. And again. And again. How long can he endure before finally giving up?
But, Trent is not forgotten. A savvy police detective, Lora Tatum, refuses to give up hope. She can see Trent as more than a victim, and believes in him. But, Lora carries her own baggage as well. Can she save Trent? Can she save herself in the process?
This novel offers so much more than intensity. There is depth and meaning to this story, and, despite the dark subject, there is a message of hope and healing. And it’s so well written! This book deals with adult topics, so I’ll let you know, it is rated R for language, violence, sexual content, and sheer grittiness.
Rather than me offer you a review of the book, I thought maybe you’d rather hear from the author, herself. So, I asked her a handful of questions:______________
Sara, I loved your newest release, The Drowning Man! This book kept me guessing and never let me relax. You’ve become a master suspense author. I truly could not guess how you were going to end your novel until the very last few pages.Thank you! I especially appreciate that coming from a talented writer like yourself!
Q. Tell me, why do you write about such dark topics?
I believe that the more the characters are tested, the more challenges they have to face, this is what makes them become the man or woman they are destined to be. It also makes for more interesting reading and makes it so rewarding when they do triumph over all the obstacles in their path.
Q. You tell much of this story from a firefighter’s point of view, and you actually make me believe you have first hand experience on a ladder company. How much research went into your story to make it so believable?
A lot! I first did extensive online research and watched every firefighting movie I could get my hands on. After that, I toured a firehouse in North Carolina where I was living at the time. That was a great experience, they let me sit in the truck, try on all the equipment, and patiently answered my questions.
Q. You place your main character in a position to be drowned and resuscitated multiple times as a torture technique. Why did you choose this method to tell your story, and how much research did it require to make the story so believable?
The basic concept of this story, a man at the bottom of a tank, being drowned over and over actually started out as a dream I had. I know it sounds like a nightmare, but I woke up and immediately thought, I have to write that down. Then came the research.
Q. PTSD is a real struggle for so many people, and your characters each experience some form of PTSD as the story progresses. How does this shape the story and define the characters?
Overcoming their own struggles with PTSD is definitely a fundamental part of the story. The main characters have to become strong enough on their own before they can have a relationship. And by opening themselves up to each other, they continue the healing process.
Q. How much of this story reflects the life of Sara Vinduska? In what ways did you weave elements of your personal life into your story?
Very little actually. That’s the fun for me of being a writer; I get paid to make things up. I do think the one thing I want to resonate in my writing and that is a big part of my life, is that true love can overcome any obstacle.
Q. Could you tell us a little about your first novel?Sure! Reflectionsis the first in a romantic suspense series that centers around Lash Brogan, an Irish actor, and his friends and acquaintances. It is much grittier than your typical romantic suspense book, but it sets up the rest of the series and future characters.
Q. What other genres have you tinkered with?
I’ve written a few articles and played around with writing a book about my journey starting out on a farm in Kansas, to wanting to get away from rural life, to finding my way back to it.
But mostly, I write what I love to read, which is romantic suspense.
Q. What’s next for you?
I am finishing the next book in my Lash Brogan series that picks up where Reflections left off. I hope to have it done by the end of the year.
Q. You are a very diverse woman, and you have a second career selling homemade products. Could you tell me about your other hobbies?
I love making natural bath and household products and sell them at our local farmers market. I am a registered yoga instructor. I also love cooking, wine tasting, and K-State football. And chocolate. I’m going to take a master chocolatier class starting the first of the year.
Q. What is the best way for people to follow you or contact you?
My email is scvinduska@yahoo.com and I can be found on twitter @scvinduska
