Pepper Basham's Blog, page 23

LET’S PARTY

Inspiration for Catherine Dougall

Today is the day!!

Time to see the cover for book 2 in the Penned in Time series, The Thorn Keeper.

The trick to this ‘game’ is….

I’ve listed 8 blogs participating in the party. You can leave a comment on one or all blogs to get your name in the basket for a digital advanced review copy of The Thorn Keeper (releasing in February 2016).

Here’s a little about the book:

Inspiration for David Ross       ©2012 Carnival

With her past in shambles, how can she fashion a future of hope?

Catherine Dougall’s past of manipulation has left her future in threads. With a new faith, she longs to take the remnants of her life and make something beautiful, but shame, societies’ judgments, and the natural consequences of an unplanned pregnancy test her newfound hope. Dr. David Ross doesn’t help either. His kindness, sacrifice, and tenderness tempt her to impossible dreams. A fallen woman doesn’t merit a fairytale.

David Ross has made every effort to keep his life above reproach. His passion for the sick pump fresh purpose through his choices, but without financial support to maintain his war hospital, all is lost. When his notorious aunt offers an easy solution, David is tempted to give in to her demands, but his growing affection for the reformed flirt, Catherine Dougall, unwinds the careful wall around his heart and offers an unexpected choice.

When the worst of war tears them apart, can love renew the memory of what was lost or will tragedy steal away their hope forever.

From the beautiful Derbyshire countryside to the trenches of World War One, Catherine and David must learn to trust in a God who designs a masterpiece out of brokenness and fashions hope in the most unlikely places.

So, visit one…or ALL…of these blogs to SEE the new cover and to enter for your chance to win. Just leave a comment about something you like about the cover. Make a guess about the story. Tell us what you enjoy most about a heroine or a hero! What is one of your favorite ‘stories’ from the World War 1 era?

Join the fun!

Angie – http://angiedicken.blogspot.com

Rachael – www.rachaelsreadsrantsandraves.wordpress.com

Robin – http://robinsnest212.wordpress.com

Dawn – www.apassionforpages.blogspot.com

Carrie – Http://readingismysuperpower.wordpress.com

Faith – http://labornotinvain.blogspot.com

Renee – Renee Smith http://reneeannsmith.com/

Stacey – beechtreehollow.com

Marisa – http://www.mdeshaies.wordpress.com

COVER REVEAL PARTY!!!

I Can See Clearly Now

This week my sweet little 8-year old daughter’s world changed….

so to speak.

She got glasses.

Her eyesight was pretty bad too. 20/200 in both eyes, which made me feel like a crummy mom for not noticing before now, but the ophthalmologist told me I was not allowed to harbor ‘mommy guilt’ because I have a very easygoing daughter who adjusted to her vision without a hitch. So she didn’t ‘show’ the symptoms as quickly and changed her environment to meet the needs of her vision on her own.

But, boy, her world took a big turn on Monday when she put those glasses on for the first time. Her cute little mouth dropped open and she said, “Wow. I can see leaves and little grasses (blades of grass).” The entire ride to school, after collecting her glasses, she stared out the window, awestruck, occasionally commenting on the ‘clearness’ of what she saw.

Even now, days afterward, her morning prayer each day has been “Thank you for my glasses.”

There’s such a gratitude there. Of course, she didn’t’ even know how bad her eyesight was until she got her glasses, but once she realized what she was missing, her little heart overflowed with thanksgiving.

You know where I’m going here, don’t you?

The Bible uses ‘blindness’ to refer not only to a physical inability to see clearly, but also spiritual ‘blurred’ vision. We are born with distorted views of ourselves, others, and the world around us.

In a much more convoluted way than my daughter’s eyesight, we see through a ‘dark’ lens of self-focused, Me-centeredness. Our vision is veiled…until God opens our eyes to His truth.

Lots of times we don’t even know we have blurry vision until His grace become apparent to us. Once we truly ‘see’ His love and our brokenness, an amazing thing happens. We become awestruck with the wonder of ‘new vision’. Seeing the world through grace-eyes keeps us in a state of love-marveling!

For the first time…we truly see.

Which should not only fuel our desire to do what’s right, but also encourage us to bring that same grace-wonder into the lives of others around us….with gratitude.

I need to remember this too. Tweet: With great forgiveness comes great gratitude, and with clear vision comes purpose.

What is your purpose? Mine?

If we’re Christians, we are called to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

Kid Conversations: Garlic? Really?

Gonna have to share about a recent twenty minute discussion my kids and I had about garlic.

Why? Well, the inevitable question that pops up when discussing garlic is OF COURSE…. vampires, right?

So the discussion with my 5 kids then moved on to why? Of all the spices…garlic?

Well, from what my older kids seemed to either ‘know’ or ‘deliniate’, garlic has a history of being recognized as a healing spice and well as one that carries supernatural abilities. Not only was it used to find the vampire but destroy them. If someone didn’t eat garlic, they were immediately suspect.

(which makes me wonder about my husband ;-) He does not sparkle in sunlight however, so maybe we’re safe ;-)

This is where I added to the discussion. During the Great Plague in England, posies and herbs (including garlic) were used to ‘ward off’ the plague. (None of the kids were particularly interested in my valuable contribution to the conversation).

So…want to add to the conversation? Anyone in your family a vampire? ;-)

Faith, Friends, and Storytelling

Last weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference. I’ve been going to ACFW for five years now and over that time I’ve developed great connections with remarkable people, met some of my dearest friends (Go, Alleycats!!), and cultivated a deeper understanding of the ‘call’ God’s placed on my heart as a writer.

I am a writer.

My Granny called me one when I was about ten years old, and I joyfully accept the mission. God just happened to sprinkle powdered sugar on top of my life by giving me an amazing group of writers to share the journey.

Tweet: ACFW is so more than meeting editors and making profitable connections. It’s a braided blessing of fellowship, worship, learning, and encouragement.

I’m reminded of this truth every September I’ve joined hundreds of writers, editors, publishers, marketers, daydreamers, and world-weavers.

We are taught great courses. The ones I took in marketing were particularly fantastic this year.

We develop amazing friendships. I absolutely love the camaraderie honed among professional daydreamers who love Jesus.

We worship. At the heart of this calling and these friendships is a bond bound by grace.

We find and give encouragement. Because the writing road has more twists than a pretzel, finding other journey-ers along the way helps the stragglers stay the course and shores up the discouraged.

We create hope-filled stories. And encourage others to spread the endearing truth to the world through words.

What a gift!

Faith, Friends, and Storytellingt

Last weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference. I’ve been going to ACFW for five years now and over that time I’ve developed great connections with remarkable people, met some of my dearest friends (Go, Alleycats!!), and cultivated a deeper understanding of the ‘call’ God’s placed on my heart as a writer.

I am a writer.

My Granny called me one when I was about ten years old, and I joyfully accept the mission. God just happened to sprinkle powdered sugar on top of my life by giving me an amazing group of writers to share the journey.

Tweet: ACFW is so more than meeting editors and making profitable connections. It’s a braided blessing of fellowship, worship, learning, and encouragement.

I’m reminded of this truth every September I’ve joined hundreds of writers, editors, publishers, marketers, daydreamers, and world-weavers.

We are taught great courses. The ones I took in marketing were particularly fantastic this year.

We develop amazing friendships. I absolutely love the camaraderie honed among professional daydreamers who love Jesus.

We worship. At the heart of this calling and these friendships is a bond bound by grace.

We find and give encouragement. Because the writing road has more twists than a pretzel, finding other journey-ers along the way helps the stragglers stay the course and shores up the discouraged.

We create hope-filled stories. And encourage others to spread the endearing truth to the world through words.

What a gift!

Awards and Apologies

So…I’ve been remiss in writing over the past month, but I have some pretty valid excuses :-)

School started – which means the crazy part of my life takes on a whole new set of crazy.
Deadline for book 2 in the Penned in Time series, The Thorn Healer
Mental fatigue from #1 & 2

I’m going to try to get more consistent. At least once a week, but I’d love your input. I’d thought about blogging about being a mom of 5 and all the funny to that! I could add a little writing in there too.  What do you think?

In other news… today The Thorn Bearer won its first award!!

The Reader’s Favorite International Contest placed The Thorn Bearer as third in their Christian Fiction category!! I’m thrilled to know that people thought it was at such a level to receive this. You can read their awesome review here.

Thanks for all the wonderful support so far in this journey, and if you’ve read TTB and have a few minutes to write up your thoughts, please share them on Amazon or Goodreads!

Thanks so much!

Now

World Building

 Currently, I’ve been reading about creating a ‘story world’ and what’s involved in the intricate design of a world where readers can lose themselves in a story.

It may sound fairly straight-forward and simple, but it’s really quite complex. Readers need to feel the cohesiveness of feeling like they are really ‘there’ – in your story, during that time period. This not only requires crafting, but research too.

The most well-loved, memorable, and meaningful stories had a distinct time and place which couldn’t have occured as affectively anywhere else. For example, Charles Dickens’ brilliant stories cannot be separated from London. I can’t imagine Frodo living anywhere else, except the Shire and Middle Earth.

In my upcoming December release, I’ve created the town of Ransom, Virginia – a small community that reminds me a lot of the Blue Ridge Mountain town in which I grew up: Small population, close-knit families, quaint downtown, and amazing scenic views. I want readers to walk the streets of Ransom and Mitchells’ Crossroads as they journey along with the characters.

In my historical, The Thorn Bearer, and book two, The Thorn Keeper, I’ve tried to recreate the feel of the World War 1 era. The uncertainty, the change and energy… the small English villages, manor houses, and clothing.

All of those things make a storyworld.

Developing a strong story world helps readers take a trip and never leave their chair.

It gives me a great sense of joy and awe to think that, because of my Christian perspective, the stories and novels I write might give a sense of hope to those who read them. Through the time, place, characters, dialogue, and exposition – readers will sense the beautiful truth of hope in the Lord, no matter the circumstances. What a wonderful goal for which to aspire!

Steadfast – Surprised by Story

I’ve been working feverishly for the past four months to write my second novel in the Penned in Time series, The Thorn Keeper. It was a story I never planned to write.

You see, when I started writing my debut novel, The Thorn Bearer, about fourteen years ago, I created the perfect, unredeemable antagonist. As the story grew, changed, evolved over the years, my plan stayed intact….until my antagonist had something amazing happen to her.

During one of my revisions, the nasty, selfish, manipulative antagonist…met Jesus. He swept right into my storyworld and saved her!

Well, what was I supposed to do with that?

From the embers of such a transforming fire, sparked the second book – The Thorn Keeper, a story that has gripped my heart with a renewed awareness of God’s pursuing, changing, and keeping love.

God’s steadfastness.

It became the heart of this story. The steadfast love of the Lord and the daily reminder of His grace.

I find myself forgetful. Many times lost in my storms or struggles, quick to search for my own solutions, and slow to remember the steadfast love of a faithful Father.

Catherine Dougall was a good reminder to me.

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

    for they have been from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

    according to your steadfast love remember me,

    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

 Good and upright is the Lord;

    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,

    and teaches the humble his way.

 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalm 25:6-10 (ESV)

The End of Vacation. Beginning of a New Adventure.

Everybody needs one now and again – and as we closed on our first year in Asheville, NC, we definitely needed one. This year has been challenging, exciting, and surprising in so many ways, leaving my emotions like the string of a well-used yoyo. I’m glad to say our family has survived a fairly tough move, with God’s good grace to keep us mentally intact (mostly) and hopeful for what lies in our new year here.

It’s always difficult to leave the safe, known, and beloved world and hurl into the unknown. The beautiful reward of our family is that no matter where we go we have each other. One of my sons and daughters were having discussion with me recently speaking very candidly about wanting to ‘belong’ somewhere again.

That feeling of acceptance and belonging is such a strong drive in us. The need to find ‘home’. Down deep my children recognize, in part, they belong in our family and have an ultimate belonging in God’s. My daughter recently said, “I know God loves me. I’m not doubting that at all. My head ‘gets it’. It’s my heart that needs the encouragement to know He’s working all this out for my good.”

That’s one of the reasons why family is so important. It’s a place of belonging, of having people who love you to help bounce those wacky thoughts and feelings off of, and knowing they’ll still be around when ‘home’ becomes a blurry word with a new door on it. It’s the ‘other’ voice reminding you that you are loved and you’re not alone.

God uses this beautiful example of family to portray his ultimate love. A bride and the bridegroom. A father and his child. A mother and her baby. Wrapped within these word pictures is a beautiful example of care, love, and belonging. If you feel like a wanderer, He gives a place called home.

If you feel rejected, He provides acceptance and compassion.

If you are lost, He will find you.

If you are weeping, He provides comfort.

For His children, there is the perfect peace and a perfect place called Home.

Isaiah 43:

1. But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

    he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

    I have called you by name, you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

    and the flame shall not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.