Suzanne Woods Fisher's Blog, page 22
January 3, 2018
Coffee Break
Hope you all had a joyful holiday! We did…and it was a full house. Lots of fun, lots of cooking, lots of laundry (still catching up!).
Here’s a picture of my extended family, up at my sister’s house on Boxing Day. And get this…the picture was taken by my nephew’s drone! A drone!!!
Here’s to a wonderful 2018!
January 1, 2018
Author Spotlight with Samuel Parker
Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Samuel Parker’s book, ColdWater. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature.
Congratulations to winner of last Author Spotlight of The Day the Angels Fell, Vanessa Kroeger! And to Erica Mae who won the Plainview set of 4 basket and the first two books in the May Hollow series.
Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).
From the bold voice that brought readers down Purgatory Road comes a new pulse-pounding, spine-rattling tale of vengeance and justice.
Having forfeited his youth to the state prison system, Michael moved back to the only home he’d ever known. An empty shell of a man who now lived—if it could be called living—in the still vacant house of his parents in a town with one stoplight. A town that hated him. Had always hated him. And was ready to pick up where the prison system had left off.
Now he’s on the run from men who’ve tried to kill him once; but Michael is more than an ex-con. A powerful, sinister force creeps inside him, threatening and destructive. What—and who—it will destroy next is the only real question.
With a breakneck, staccato pace, and pitch-perfect dialogue, Parker takes readers on an amazing chase that will keep them up all night.
Can you tell us about your newest release? Is it part of a series or a stand-alone?
Coldwater is a stand-alone novel set in a small rural town “up north”. At this point I have not written any series fiction because I don’t think most of my characters would be able to survive that long.
Is anything or anyone in this book based on real-life experiences?
The genesis of this story was a local story about a young kid committing a horrible crime, and the reaction of the community to that crime. I thought it was a perfect lens to view the issues that I tried to examine in Coldwater…guilt, redemption, family, justice. Plus, I grew up in a small town so I seem to naturally gravitate to that type of setting.
Who was your favorite character in this story, and why?
Most of the stories I write don’t have a “hero” per se. Quite often, many of the characters are simply unlikeable, but that is the point though. I think one of the common threads in my writing so far has been: do people really believe in redemption? If so, then it covers even the worst offenders. I like to entertain that idea through the story. Michael Sullivan, the anti-hero in Coldwater would probably be my favorite, though some of the townsfolk have pieces of me written in.
Compared to your other books, was this one easy to complete or challenging? Any idea why?
This one was a bit more of a challenge because it was my first piece of writing that was done under a contract. Before, I just wrote for myself, but it was a little more nerve racking to be under obligation while writing. It was fun, I won’t deny that, but it just added a layer of pressure that I was yet unaccustomed too.
What was the hardest scene in this book to write? What made it difficult?
In my head I am always thinking plausibility, plausibility, plausibility. And it’s the plausibility of a character’s motivation that I seem to get stuck on for a long period. There is one character in Coldwater who is interjected well into the action, and thinking of a credible entry point for her was something I struggled with for about 6 months. The editors and pre-readers never questioned what I came up with, so I think I’m in the clear.
What did you (or your editors) edit out of this book?
The last chapter. The last chapter was swapped out due to some concerns that it was too dark. I trust my editor completely, but I must admit I was saddened by having to change it. I still have it on my laptop, maybe I’ll save it for posterity.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing from the point of view of the opposite sex?
I take the easy way out and have several women read the rough draft and simply ask them if the women of the story sound legit. It has saved me many, many times.
Purchase a copy of ColdWater:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD | SamuelParker.com
Samuel Parker is the author of Purgatory Road. Born in the Michigan boondocks, he was raised on a never-ending road trip through the US. Besides writing, he is a process junkie and the ex-guitarist for several metal bands you’ve never heard of. He lives in West Michigan with his wife and twin sons.
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December 29, 2017
Photo Caption Contest: Waiting for your Wit
Happy new year to my blog readers! Thanks for all your chiming in this last year–I’ve enjoyed getting to know you through your witty and wise comments! 2018 will be even better…we’ve got lots of good things in store.
The winner of the last photo contest (prior to Christmas) was John Dallal, for “My get up and go has got up and went.” I think that’s exactly how I’m feeling, post Christmas! John, email me and I’ll get a book sent to you.
Below is this week’s photo. It came from the Wall Street Journal’s “2017 The Year in Pictures.” When I saw it, I cracked up. Just an fyi: it was taken by the man’s wife.
Sharpen your funny bones…
Photo credit: Theunis Wessels mows his lawn in Three Hills in Alberta, Canada, on June 2 as a tornado swirls in the background. CECILIA WESSELS/CANADIAN PRESS/AP
December 25, 2017
Merry Christmas
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
–Isaiah 9:2
When Jesus entered the world, after four hundred years of silence, the world heard from God. The people were not forgotten. God had spoken.
The angel of the Lord appeared to the most humble people of all—the shepherds. He went to the commoner, the worker, those who would come to Jesus with only tired bodies and empty hands. To those he brought great joy. To those he said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m bringing you good news. I have not forgotten you.”
God had spoken. A child had been born. For you. For me.
I hope you can meet Jesus Christ with fresh eyes this Christmas. I hope you will be open to having an encounter with Him. You’ll never be the same.
P.S. I’m taking a break from blogging this week to enjoy time with family and celebrate the greatest Christmas gift of all!
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December 22, 2017
Share the Memories
SHARE THE MEMORIES
Click on the image above to share your memory. More than one memory can be shared (please only one memory per entry). Winner of this week’s shared memory will be announced right here next week!
Congratulations to Paula Shreckhise who shares how every Christmas her she and her sisters would dress up as Mary, Joseph, and a Shepherd.
December 15, 2017
Winners Announced!
Congratulations to the following winners of our 12 Days of Giveaways!
Day 1: Patricia Bradley
Shawna Wallace
Day 2: Irene Hannon
Loraine
Day 3: Melody Carlson
Elaine Rieder
Day 4: Jen Turano
Hanna Kraft
Day 5: Jaime Jo Wright
Lori Watchman
Day 6: Lisa Harris
Winner has been e-mailed!
Day 7: Bethany Turner
Charis L. Zdrojewski
Day 8: Sarah Loudin Thomas
Kristin Lail
Day 9: Shawn Smucker
Lucy Reynolds
Day 10: Regina Jennings
Linda Herold
Day 11: Valerie Fraser Luesse
Joy Richard
Day 12: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Dianna Hoppes Gardenhour
Thank you to everyone who signed up! Don’t miss out on our next giveaway — Share the Memories going on now!
Photo Caption: Waiting for your Wit
We’re getting back on schedule after the 12 Days of Giveaways! Here’s this week’s photo for your wit and wisdom. Best caption will receive a signed book! Thanks for chiming in, everyone. Winner announced next Friday.
Photo source: Huffington Post
December 14, 2017
Share the Memories
SHARE THE MEMORIES
Click on the image above to share your memory. More than one memory can be shared (please only one memory per entry). Winner of this week’s shared memory will be announced right here next week!
December 13, 2017
Coffee Break
This is a favorite and oft-requested repost. It’s a good reminder, each year!
As my family has expanded through marriage and grandchildren, we knew we had to simplify gift giving. I came across this Victorian guideline and have used it, very successfully, for the last couple of years. Oh . . . how I wish I had come across it when my children were little. Such a great Christmas stress-reducer tool!
Something you WANT
Something you NEED
Something to WEAR
Something to READ
What tools and tips do YOU use to simplify Christmas?
December 12, 2017
12 Days of Giveaways: Day 12: Suzanne Woods Fisher
The Humble Cranberry
There’s a beautiful wooden cranberry rake by my fireplace that I use to hold magazines, but my dad had used, as a boy growing up on Cape Cod, to harvest red cranberries from his childhood farm each fall.
My dad would get a chuckle out of how “sexy” cranberries are today. They’ve been identified as a superfood, packed with nutrients and antioxidants—fresh, frozen, dried and eaten as a snack. Centuries ago, Native Americans knew their value. Cranberries were a staple of the northeastern Native American diet, long before the first Europeans arrived. (It’s thought that the Europeans named the berry, as its flower resembled a crane.) They ate the berries fresh, with maple sugar or honey to sweeten their tanginess. They ground or mashed cranberries with cornmeal, and baked it into bread. And then there was “pemmican,” mixing cranberries with wild game and melted fat to form a type of jerky, a survival ration for the winter months. (Sounds a little like our Thanksgiving meal—turkey, gravy slathered with cranberry relish.)
The Pilgrims learned how to use cranberries from the Native Americans in the 1620s, brewing cranberry poultices to draw poison from wounds, cranberry tea to calm nerves. And then there was using the juice as a dye. By 1683, settlers were making cranberry juice. American whalers and mariners carried cranberries onboard to prevent scurvy.
Cranberries are part of Nantucket Island’s lore, as the peaty soil lends itself well to growing the bush. In fact, there’s an annual cranberry festival held in October, as the berries are harvested out of bogs. Small pockets of air inside the berries cause them to float when the bogs are flooded. What a sight—a sea of red berries!
Fresh cranberries are only available during this time of year, so stock up and freeze the bags. This Nantucket Cranberry Pie recipe was a favorite of my dad’s. I make it to finish off our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Enjoy!
Suzanne’s Nantucket Cranberry Pie
Serves 6-8
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For the Filling:
Butter, to grease the pie plate
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
For the Topping:
2 eggs
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon almond extract
Place the cranberries in a buttered, 10-inch pie plate. Toss the sugar and walnuts evenly over the berries.
Cream eggs and butter with sugar. Slowly, add flour and almond extract to the mixture.
Pour the topping over the cranberry mixture and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. (Check to make sure the center isn’t wobbly. It’s a moist cake, but you want to make sure it’s baked through.)
Serve warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Deelish!
More about Phoebe’s Light
Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Mitchell, a man whom she loathes.
Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.
In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.
Pre-Order a copy of Phoebe’s Light
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD
Suzanne Woods Fisher has a specialty: she writes about real people living in faith-based communities. With over 750,000 copies of books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, ranging from children’s books (‘The Adventures of Lily Lapp’ series) to novels (The Choice) to non-fiction books (Amish Peace: Simple Living for a Complicated World).
When Suzanne isn’t writing, she’s probably playing with puppies. She’s been involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind for over fifteen years. Raising puppies, she says, is like eating a potato chip. You just can’t stop at one.
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