Suzanne Woods Fisher's Blog, page 25
November 3, 2017
Photo Caption Contest: Waiting for your Wit
Last week’s caption winner goes to Jo, for using dialogue! Jo, email me with your mailing address and I’ll pop a book in the mail. Thanks to ALL of you for chiming in!
Here’s a fun photo to spark your imagination…
November 1, 2017
Coffee Break
This last week, one friend was accepted into a graduation school program and another was denied. I was thrilled for my friend who has a clear path forward in her career dream, and sad for my friend who received a no. Sad, but not discouraged, nor doubting the path.
One thing I’ve learned through this writing gig: God is in the no’s.
Throughout the years when I free lanced for magazines, and then as I transitioned to writing books, I could have wallpapered my entire house with rejection letters. It wasn’t easy to keep going…(understatement!)…but I did. I just kept trying again.
Looking back, especially when I think of my first book with a traditional publisher, had I received a “yes” any sooner than I did, I wouldn’t have been ready. I’m pretty sure I would have been a one trick pony for a publisher. Instead, the timing was amazing. Just the right agent, just the right editor, both looking for just the right writer for a project.
God is slow but never late.
Thirty books later (30!), I am grateful for God’s no’s. The no’s aren’t easy to swallow, but they’re surprisingly good medicine.
What about you? What lessons have you learned from God’s no’s?
October 30, 2017
Author Spotlight with Ann Gabhart
Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Ann Gabhart’s book, These Healing Hills. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to winner of last Author Spotlight of The House on Foster Hill, Debra Patton! Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).
Packed with history, These Healing Hills by bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart introduces readers to the fascinating and difficult life of frontier nursing. When the soldier Francine Howard planned to marry after WWII writes to tell her he is in love with a woman in England, Francine is devastated and in need of a change. She seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Services. It is in these mountains that Francine crosses paths with Ben Locke, a soldier still very much suffering from the horrors of war. With his future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he’s at a loss when it comes to envisioning what’s next for his life. While Francine and Ben find they are from completely different worlds and possess very different values, they both learn that things don’t always go the way we plan. Ann H. Gabhart invites readers to witness the healing power of love and step forward to tantalizing new possibilities.Can you tell us about your newest release? Is it part of a series or a stand-alone?
These Healing Hills is a stand-alone book set in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains at the end of World War II. The heroine, Francine, has her life planned out until the soldier she expected to marry after the war sends her a “dear Joan” letter. Devastated, Francine seeks a fresh start in the Appalachian Mountains, training to be a nurse midwife for the Frontier Nursing Service. Meanwhile Ben Locke, deeply affected by the horrors he witnessed at war, has never thought further ahead than making it home to Kentucky. With his future shrouded in as much mist as his beloved mountains, he has to find the right path for what’s next for his life.
When Francine’s and Ben’s paths intersect, it’s immediately clear that they are from different worlds and value different things. But love has a way of healing old wounds . . . and revealing tantalizing new possibilities.
The fascinating history of the Frontier Nursing Service and the beautiful mountain setting were great additions to my characters’ story in These Healing Hills.
Is anything or anyone in this book based on real-life experiences?
Nothing in the book is based on my real-life experiences, but the background history is based on the many real-life experiences of the Frontier Nurse midwives as they rode their horses up into the mountains to take care of their patients. I read several first person accounts of the nurse midwives’ experiences as they faced challenging and interesting situations. Also, although I don’t live in the mountains, I do live on a Kentucky farm. So I understand and appreciate how the mountain people love their Appalachian Mountains.
Who was your favorite character in this story, and why?
Of course, I had to love both of my main characters, Francine and Ben. But I often have a favorite in my secondary characters. This time, I think it had to be a tie between Woody, Ben’s little brother, who admitted he was a “jabber jay,” and Granny Em, the old mountain granny who had once been the person people called on for midwifery and healing help before the Frontier Nursing Service was established in her area. Both of these characters had a way of livening up the story each time they showed up in a scene. For me, Granny Em represented the toughness of the mountain people with her common sense wisdom and independence while Woody represented the youthful hope of the region.
Compared to your other books, was this one easy to complete or challenging? Any idea why?
I did seem to struggle more writing this story. I think that was because I was unsure of how well I could write about the midwifery experiences. I am not a nurse and have never assisted with a birth. So I had worries I might not get that part of my story right. Then, I just wasn’t sure I was getting along with the story as I should. I even let my agent read the first one hundred plus pages because I thought I might need to scrap it and start over. That was a new thing for me. I don’t have critique partners and until this particular book, I had never let anyone read one of my stories before I typed “the end.” My agent’s comments that what I had written in those first pages made her want to read more encouraged me to believe I did have good characters with a story readers might enjoy. That helped me keep writing to the end of the book.
What was the hardest scene in this book to write? What made it difficult?
Perhaps the hardest scene was the very first one where Francine gets off the bus in Hyden, Kentucky and starts out on this new path she has chosen, but she doesn’t realize how very different life is going to be for her in the mountains. In this scene I wanted to introduce Francine in such a way that readers wanted to know more about her situation while also opening up the mountain setting and giving a tease as to the background history of the Frontier Nurse Service. Those opening scenes in a story are a great way to capture readers or sometimes fail to capture them.
What did you (or your editors) edit out of this book?
That’s an interesting question, one I’m having to consider. My editor was happy with the story as is although here and there she asked me to clarify some of the mountain expressions – not remove them, but simply make sure the reader could know what they meant. Things like my character going shanks-mare which meant he didn’t have a horse and had to walk. I don’t remember editing out any characters or scenes myself, but I did attempt to edit out all the extra and unnecessary words. Sometimes I tend to add too much explanation to a scene when I need to trust my readers’ imaginations. So I always have words to slice out when I’m doing edits.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing from the point of view of the opposite sex?
I like writing from the male point of view in my stories. I don’t find that much different or more difficult than writing from the female point of view. Making my characters come to life, whichever sex and whatever age, is a challenge I undertake whenever I start a new book. I want my characters to come to life for the reader and in order to have that happen, those characters have to come to life for me. Once they come to life in my imagination, I chase them along their story paths and do my best to share their stories.
Order a copy of These Healing Hills:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels—The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted—as well as Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, Love Comes Home, Words Spoken True, and THE HEART OF HOLLYHILL series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky.
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October 27, 2017
Photo Caption Contest: Waiting for your Wit
As usual, I had a hard time choosing just one caption for last week’s photo! You’re all so clever…and your captions make me either smile or laugh out loud. The winner goes to Mary Ellen Bell, for her throwback caption to “Wilson” the neighbor! Email me with your mailing address and I’ll pop a book in the mail to you.
Below is this week’s photo. The little boy on the right hand side is my own grandson, Blake. He’s a few years older now but still loves any sport with a ball.
Okay…get creative! What are those two little ones thinking?!
October 25, 2017
Coffee Break
On Monday afternoon, I attended the funeral of a lovely 80-year-old woman named Nella, who died very suddenly in her home last week. I arrived a tiny bit late, straight from a dentist appointment, and slipped into the packed church. Here’s what struck me as I walked into the sanctuary: the joy! the laughter! the good grief (to quote our pastor).
Nella left behind such a legacy of faith for her family and friends that we ended up with a longing for all she’s gained in Heaven, rather than all we’ve lost by her death. One son-in-law mentioned a favorite phrase of Nella’s: “If you pray, why worry? And if you worry, why pray?”
Such simple wisdom! And Nella lived by it.
Our pastor left us with a question: How do you want to be remembered?
I’ve thought of nothing else for the last few days. I’m working on an answer. What about you? How would you answer that question?
October 23, 2017
Author Spotlight with Jaime Jo Wright
Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Jaime Jo Wright’s book, The House on Foster Hill. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to winner of last Author Spotlight of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck, Carol Kelley! Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).
Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather’s Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house’s dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.
A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy’s search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives—-including her own—are lost?
Can you tell us about your newest release? Is it part of a series or a stand-alone?
The House on Foster Hill is a stand-alone novel, and it is set in both 1906 and present day, in what is popularly called a “split-time” or “dual-time” story. It’s a mystery told from two different perspectives, linked across time, and the cold-case reopens in present day with the heroine’s purchase of an old house. It begs the question: If walls could speak, would you listen?
Is anything or anyone in this book based on real-life experiences?
I certainly hope not! LOL I put these characters through the wringer. Although, I will say that Ivy, the past-day heroine, has many characteristics of my soul-sister, and Kaine, the present-day heroine, is more like me than I’d prefer to admit. Emotionally charged and a tad irrational. LOL
Who was your favorite character in this story, and why?
Olive, the black lab? Okay. Maybe not. But I really LOVED incorporating dogs into the story. My favorite character is definitely, the mysterious and very dead, Gabriella. Who was she? Where did she come from? I came to know her story very intimately and there are still scenes in my head that never made it into the book. Gabriella’s life is an entirely different book on its own. I will say no more, though, or completely spoil the story.
Compared to your other books, was this one easy to complete or challenging? Any idea why?
My other published works are novellas, which in their own right, are difficult to compose due to making a plausible story in 20K words. THOFH was very challenging though, due to loose ends, woven threads, and needing to make sure all the clues and such were tied up at the end of the book.
What was the hardest scene in this book to write? What made it difficult?
There is a scene toward the end of the book that really reveals a lot of the background story. It was difficult to write because, unfortunately, I don’t write happily-ever-after endings for all my characters. There is a darkness in the world that can’t be avoided, and yet, slivers of hope remain.
What did you (or your editors) edit out of this book?
Oddly enough, not much. In fact, I added more in. So hey! At least there’s not a bunch of deleted scenes running around homeless.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing from the point of view of the opposite sex?
Here’s the weird thing. I find writing the opposite sex way easier than my own. I work in a very male dominated environment, so I’ve developed a very heightened sense of how a guy thinks, acts, reacts, etc. Throw me in a room full of women and I hide in a corner. Truly! Ask the women around me and most would label me an introvert when in fact, I’m an extrovert in most environments. It’s just a weird thing all the way around. LOL!
What part of the country do you consider home?
Wisconsin is my home. Born and raised.
Currently, how big (or small) is your household?
Well, if you include 1 snake, 4 pet frogs, and 2 cats, then we’re edging up to 12 inhabitants.
Is there any habit or hobby you have that might surprise readers?
Sleep. I really love to sleep. If I believed in reincarnation I would return as a housecat. Sleeping allllll the time.
What’s your favorite movie? Favorite TV show?
I’m a Marvel comic junkie. I love The Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, all those. Probably because they’re so out of my genre of what I write. I can just sit back and get lost in their worlds. But, really, Oliver Queen is my TV crush. Yes. I have one. It’s Oliver Queen. Green is keen, ya’ll.
If you were casting yourself in a movie, which actor or actress would you pick? Why?
Definitely Jennifer Lawrence. I’ve been compared to her on numerous occasions, for many reasons, not the least of them being I too, wield a bow and arrow (Perhaps this also explains my crush on the Arrow?)
Pre-order a copy of The House on Foster Hill:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD
Professional coffee drinker & ECPA/Publisher’s Weekly best-selling author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing spirited romantic suspense stained with the shadows of history. Coffee fuels her snarky personality. She lives in Neverland with her Cap’n Hook who stole her heart and will not give it back, their little fairy Tinkerbell, and a very mischievous Peter Pan. The foursome embark on scores of adventure that only make her fall more wildly in love with romance and intrigue. Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimejowright.com.
October 20, 2017
Photo Caption Contest: Waiting for your Wit
I’ve been away from the computer for a while with some family business (see Wednesday’s post), but I hope to be more regular now. I’ve missed it!
Here’s a pix for you to caption, below in a comment. Best caption will receive a signed book! This pix was taken in my backyard. Have fun!
October 18, 2017
Coffee Break
October is whooshing by! I’ve been AWOL for a while. A family member had a major surgery and I served as a combination of Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy and Mary Poppins during her recovery.
It was a busy couple of weeks (understatement!) and I’m glad I could be available. For energy and stamina, I relied on a piece of Scripture that, under the circumstances, held new meaning for me.
It came from long ago, during a time of severe famine in Israel (1 Kings 17). The prophet Elijah was sent to a widow’s house. She had just enough flour and oil to make bread for one last meal, for her and her only son. Elijah told her to not be afraid, that if she would provide for him, her household would not go without food. And it was so! Every morning, she would find enough flour and oil in her jars to last another day.
That’s how I felt! I woke super early each morning rested and refreshed (sometimes after being up in the night to help). I was able to keep on top of my daily word count, usually before seven in the morning. And then the day would start, when a certain adorable four-year-old would wake and find me. For lots of reasons, it was a very challenging stretch (complications with the surgery, for one example), and the Lord was right alongside me.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8, niv).
What about you? Have you relied on a piece of Scripture in a way that filled you or sustained you during a hard stretch? If so, which verse?
October 16, 2017
Author Spotlight with Bethany Turner
Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Bethany Turner’s book, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to winner of last Author Spotlight of Dangerous Illusions, Elaine Rieder! Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).
Can you tell us about your newest release? Is it part of a series or a stand-alone?
The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck is a romantic comedy all about a woman who must figure out how to reconcile her life as an author of steamy, scandalous romance novels with her newfound faith in Christ. She’s still under contract, on bestseller lists, and in negotiations for film rights, but suddenly she wants nothing to do with any of it. And then she begins falling in love with her pastor, which doesn’t exactly simplify things, as you can probably imagine! It is a stand-alone. But having said that, I’ve always known where these characters go next. Quite a few readers have already said they would really like to read Piper’s story — Piper is Sarah Hollenbeck’s best friend — and that is a story I would love to tell someday. I adore the character! So, who knows?
Is anything or anyone in this book based on real-life experiences?
Again, we come back to Piper. I have several Pipers in my life. Piper is a friend who always tells Sarah what she needs to hear, and very rarely is that actually what Sarah wants to hear. But she does it in love, and in a way that she knows Sarah understands and appreciates. And for all of the wise, wonderful advice she has to offer, she also just knows when to listen. On top of all that, she’s hilarious at times! While I was writing this book, I was dealing with some major life adjustments. I had left my long-term, successful career and stepped out in faith that God had something better in store, but I had no idea what that “something” was. Money was tight, choices were scary, and occasionally my faith faltered. But thankfully, I was surrounded by Pipers.
Who was your favorite character in this story, and why?
I adore Piper, and I certainly adore Ben Delaney, Sarah’s leading man. (I really adore Ben Delaney…) But my favorite is actually Sarah herself. For one thing, I really get her. She and I share the same pop culture sensibilities, and have an appropriate movie reference for every situation, and she makes me laugh a lot. But what I really love about her is the way we see her mature through the course of the story. When we first meet her, she’s very self-centered and occasionally a bit detached from reality. But it doesn’t take long to see that it’s all about survival, and that she isn’t satisfied with who she’s become, either. As she embarks on her journey — and takes us along with her — we get to see who she is, and the potential that exists inside of her. And with God at the center of her life, and Ben and Piper by her side, it turns out she’s actually a bit of a powerhouse — albeit a powerhouse with a quirky sense of humor and an obsession with The Sound of Music!
Compared to your other books, was this one easy to complete or challenging? Any idea why?
It was so easy! The first draft of this book was written in about six weeks, and that is not at all typical for me. It all happened right after I quit my job, and I think I was experiencing a freedom I hadn’t known in a very long time. Maybe ever. Ideas were coming more quickly than I could keep up with, but I was dedicating the first and best of my time to the Lord. And He blessed that. I also think that this book was so easy to complete because I wasn’t thinking about getting it published, or even what anyone else would think. I was telling the story that I knew I was supposed to tell, and writing it in a way that entertained me! It really was just between God and me at that point, and it was a completely joyous experience.
What was the hardest scene in this book to write? What made it difficult?
Sarah makes quite a lot of money, of course, and there comes a point in her new walk of faith in which she learns about tithing for the first time. The concept of giving back to God is totally new to her, but she wants to give her first 10% as a statement of her faith. So she writes a check to her church for 10% of her earnings — earnings that include royalties from her scandalous books. Prior to that, most people had been unaware that Sarah was indeed the author of those books, since she wrote under a pen name, and therefore unaware that the author of those books was dating their pastor. It’s a humorous scene in many ways, but it is also absolutely heartbreaking to me. It was heartbreaking to write. Sarah is so sincerely trying to honor God, and she’s met with judgment from people in her church. People who should be walking alongside her and holding her up — not tearing her down. Sadly, that’s something that is all too common among Christians. I am a lover of and a believer in the local church, and I’m blessed to be on staff of a church I love dearly, but I felt it was important to shine a light on the damage we can so easily do to each other when we try to take God’s place as judge.
What did you (or your editors) edit out of this book?
In the original draft, I spent a lot more time telling the story of Ben’s relationship with his first wife, Christa, who died of cancer. I was using it to, in a lot of ways, make it evident that Ben is a really great guy, and also magnify the differences between the love Ben had previously experienced and the love Sarah had been denied in her first marriage. Ultimately, my editor very wisely pointed out that Ben and Christa’s love story was so romantic and solid that it took the focus off of Ben and Sarah’s blossoming romance. I was sad to see some of the Ben and Christa stories go away, but it was absolutely the right call!
What’s the most difficult thing about writing from the point of view of the opposite sex?
I love that question, and I would say, in general, the most difficult thing is not doing what we, as women, quite often tend to do in life. Okay, I can’t speak for all women. But I know that I tend to add layers of complexity to a man’s point of view. Men, in my experience, are better than women are at just getting to the point, and the crux of the situation. At least, many of them are better at it than I am! I filter everything that is said through my emotions and doubts and thoughts about the weather. That makes it difficult for me to take what is said at face value, when I really should. We see that happening a lot between Ben and Sarah. Sarah will ask Ben, “What are you trying to say?” And he’ll respond, “I’m not trying to say anything. I’m saying it!” Obviously every man is different, just as every woman is different, but I think often those conversational tendencies are there. So it’s important not to write words which come out of a male character’s mouth, but have been processed through a female character’s mind!
Purchase your copy here:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD | BethanyTurner.com
Bethany Turner is the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former VP/operations manager of a commercial bank and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado.
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October 9, 2017
Author Spotlight with Irene Hannon
Scroll down for a chance to win a copy of Irene Hannon’s book, Dangerous Illusions. Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to winner of last Author Spotlight of Making Love Last, Vicky Daniels! Please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).
Trish Bailey is on overload trying to deal with a demanding job, an ailing mother, and a healing heart. When a series of unsettling memory lapses leads to a tragic death—and puts Trish under police scrutiny—her world is once again thrown into turmoil.
Detective Colin Flynn isn’t certain what to think of the facts he uncovers during his investigation. Did Trish simply make a terrible mistake, or is there more to the case than meets the eye? As he searches for answers, disturbing information begins to emerge—and if the forces at work are as evil as he suspects, the situation isn’t just dangerous . . . it’s deadly.
Can you tell us about your newest release? Is it part of a series or a stand-alone?
Dangerous Illusions is Book 1 in my new Code of Honor series about three childhood friends whose bond has been strengthened by time—and danger. However…this book, as is true of all books in series I write…can be read as a standalone novel. I don’t leave any plot threads hanging at the end of my stories. The series is linked, in this case, by the friendship of the three characters who will each have their own book, but the stories are unique and not connected.
Is anything or anyone in this book based on real-life experiences?
Yes. One thing in particular. I used to count my mom’s medicine, as the heroine does in this book—and that’s what got me what-iffing, which in turn led to the tragic death that occurs near the opening of the book and sets the stage for the story.
Who was your favorite character in this story, and why?
I like all my characters—even the villains. Maybe especially the villains, because it’s intriguing to dive deep into their heads and figure out how they think. (It’s also scary!) But I also love the hero and heroine in this book. Trish has been dealt a series of emotional blows yet continues to persevere. She is such a strong character. And Colin is the kind of guy you’d want in your corner when things get dicey. I also love the interplay and teasing in this book between the three childhood friends, Colin, Kristin and Rick. That was fun dialogue to write and added some levity!
Compared to your other books, was this one easy to complete or challenging? Any idea why?
More challenging—and I know exactly why. As I always tell people, I write suspense, not mystery. So, often in my books it’s no secret who the villain is. The real question is will they succeed with their nefarious plans? Not keeping the villain’s identity a secret allows me to take the reader deep into his or her psyche. However…with this book I wanted to see if I could find a way to give the reader insight into the villain’s thinking without revealing their identity. I came up with a twist that I’m very happy with—and which I think will throw readers for a real curve because they won’t see it coming. Early reviews suggest I pulled this off!
What was the hardest scene in this book to write? What made it difficult?
The scenes from the villain’s POV were the hardest because I had to be very, very careful not to reveal anything that would allow the reader to figure out how I was setting up the story twist.
What did you (or your editors) edit out of this book?
Nothing. I write clean and rarely discard material. And my edits are always very light. I know some authors feel like the story emerges and takes shape after editorial input, but when I finish a book, it’s done. If I had to tear into it and start over I think I’d pull my hair out.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing from the point of view of the opposite sex?
For whatever reason, I don’t have a great deal of difficulty with this. I guess I’ve learned a lot about how men think from my husband! ☺
Purchase your copy here:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD | IreneHannon.com
Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty novels, including Buried Secrets, Thin Ice, and Tangled Webs, as well as the HEROES OF QUANTICO, GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE, and PRIVATE JUSTICE series. In addition to many other honors, she is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA’s elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
