Kathy Harris's Blog, page 10

Do you want to be encouraged? Psalm 23 ~ A Devotional

It was August 2020 when Steve Siler invited me to contribute to a 21-day devotional he was putting together. Life was on hold that summer and most of us were struggling. But, always the encourager, Steve was pushing through, doing his best to make a difference in a world that needed hope.

Like almost everyone else that year, I was stalled. Writers call it blocked. I had a pending offer to write two more books, but I couldn’t write the first word. How could I promise Steve I would submit a devotion on a deadline?

Anyone who has experienced writer’s block will tell you that it’s usually caused by fear. The fear of failure. The fear of not being good enough. The fear that we aren’t up for the challenge.

But, of course, we don’t have to do anything on our own—whether that’s write a book, write a short story, or even get through life. Our Heavenly Father walks with us every step of the way.

He also sends encouragers. And my encourager that summer was Steve, who continued to nudge me about the devotion. And … I’m so grateful he did. It’s an honor to be included in Twenty-Three: Reflections Inspired by Psalm 23. There’s some really good encouragement between the covers of this book—all of it based on Psalm 23.

If you need encouragement, I hope you will pick up a copy.

Read more about Twenty-Three: Reflections Inspired by Psalm 23 at Music for the Soul. You can also buy it on Amazon.

New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Peas

 

 

PrintNew Year's Day Black-Eyed PeasA side or main dish that's delicious any day!Keyword side dishEquipmentcrockpotIngredients1 lb. dry black-eyed peas6 oz. country ham 3 cloves fresh garlic 1 sprig fresh rosemary black pepper, to taste4-5 cups waterInstructionsRinse black-eyed peas with water, place into a crockpot and cover with water. Soak overnight.The following morning, pour off the old water and replace with 4-5 cups fresh water. Turn crockpot to high.Chop country ham into bitesize pieces. Add to crockpot. Dice garlic and add to crockpot.Add ground black pepper to taste to crockpot. There's no need to add salt, because the country ham is salty.Wash the rosemary sprig and add it to crockpot.Cover crockpot with lid and turn to high. Cook peas for 5-6 hours. Check for doneness. If peas are tender, turn the crockpot to warm until you're ready to serve your meal. Remove rosemary sprig before serving. This dish makes a delicious side for fried chicken or pork loin, or it can be make as a meal on its own served with Thunder & Lightning (Green Tomato Relish) and a pan of hot cornbread.

Thunder & Lightning (Green Tomato Relish)

 

PrintThunder & Lightning (Green Tomato Relish)A mild green tomato relish to accent cooked beans and other savory dishes.Course CondimentCuisine AmericanKeyword relishEquipmentHot water canner, rack, jars and lidsIngredients12 large green tomatoes1 green bell pepper1 red bell pepper1 yellow or orange bell pepper purple might be fun too!6 large white or yellow onions1.5 Tbsp celery seed1.5 Tbsp mustard seed1/2 Tbsp salt2.5 cups white sugar1 cup cider vinegar InstructionsSterilize enough jars and lids to hold relish. Set aside.Line a large colander with cheesecloth, place in sink or in a large bowl. Set aside.In a food processor, in batches, coarsely grind tomatoes, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and then onions. Pour veggies into cheesecloth-lined colander and allow to drain for an hour.In a large, non-aluminum stockpot, combine tomato mixture with celery seed, mustard seed, salt, sugar, and vinegar. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat five minutes, stirring frequently.Pack relish into sterilized jars, making sure there are no spaces or air pockets. Fill jars all the way to top. Add lids and tightly screw on rings.Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with boiling water. Carefully lower jars into pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary, until tops of jars are covered by 2 inches of water. Bring water to a full boil, then cover and process for 30 minutes.Remove jars from pot and place on cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Check to be sure each jar sealed.

 

Christmas Cookies Mysteries ~ An Anthology

Christmas is a time for timeless traditions, from trimming the tree to wrapping gifts and last minute shopping. If you’re looking for a fun gift this year — or a quick read to unwind with after the holidays, check out a new collection of short stories written by more than a dozen award winning authors. Each of the fifteen stories was inspired by a song from The Oak Ridge Boys’ Christmas Cookies album.

Everybody loves Christmas . . . and mysteries. And now the two of them have been combined. We hope you’ll enjoy this fun little project revisiting the Christmas Cookies CD. ~ Joe Bonsall, a member of The Oak Ridge Boys and author of Ollie Bramlett 

I love stories with an O’Henry twist and when this one came to me, everything just fell into place. I hope readers enjoy reading Hark! the Herald Angels Sing as much as I did writing it. ~ Patricia Bradley, author of Hark The Herald Angels Sing

I had way too much fun writing my short story based on “Jingle Bells.”  Murder All the Way started as a what if. What if it wasn’t so much fun to ride in a one-horse open sleigh? What if it turned out to be deadly? I know, I have a warped mind! ~ Kelly Irvin, author of Jingle Bells (Murder All The Way)

The first time I read the words, ‘Uncle Luther Made the Stuffing’, I knew there was a story there. It’s an offbeat and fun title and it screamed, ‘write me’. I had such a good time writing this story. I hope you enjoy it. ~ Vanessa M. Knight, author of Uncle Luther Made the Stuffing

Other stories were contributed by authors Lisa Preston, Beth Pugh, D. L. Havlin, Christine Clemetson, Don Bruns, Delores Topliff, Danielle M Haas, Kaye D. Schmitz, M.M. Chouinard, and Mindy Steele.

May your Christmas be merry and blessed! And may your New Year be full of Divine Detours.

To purchase Christmas Cookies Mysteries Anthology log on to:

 

 

Tama Fortner ~ Simply Christmas: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays

With over twenty-five years of publishing experience as a writer, ghostwriter, and editor, over the course of her career, bestselling author Tama Fortner has been blessed to work with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. She has more than forty titles to her credit, including the ECPA Christian Book Award Winner How Great Is Our God with Louie Giglio. Her bestselling titles include Easter Is Coming! and Christmas Is Coming! 

Tama and her husband live in the hilly suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee with their two children and an incredibly lazy dog who doubles as a foot warmer .

. . .

What sparked your writing journey?

I have always loved books and words — for as far back as I can remember. I was mesmerized by the way words could “click” together to share a message and to create a story. Then, when I was in third grade, my elementary school librarian — Mrs. Margie — led me to Little Women and I “met” Jo March. That’s when I realized that I could be a writer of those books and words I loved so much. And in one way or another, I’ve been writing ever since.

Has God ever sent an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be the better path?

God is the Master of Divine Detours! When I graduated from college, I was expecting to be a high school English teacher. But I graduated in December, which is not the best time to be looking for a teaching job. Also, while I loved (and still love) teaching, and that’s what I’d trained for, I’ll confess that it was in large part because so many people told me that it would be next to impossible to land my dream job in editing or writing. Thankfully, I serve a God who specializes in impossible things! Want to guess what my first “big girl” job was? Editor for a children’s book company!

That first job gave me the experience and connections I needed to later become a full-time writer. I am now blessed to spend my days writing about God — all because of a “divine detour” He laid out so long ago. Isn’t He amazing?

How does your faith play into your writing?

Faith is essential to me — and not just in writing. One of my favorite Bible verses is Acts 17:28. It reads, “For in him we live and move and have our being” (NIV). That is how I try to live, filtering every word, every experience, and every moment through God. (Of course, I mess up often and in huge ways, which makes me so grateful for His grace and kindness to me!) Everything I write is prayed over. And I am always asking God to guide my words and to defeat anything that isn’t His will.

Let’s talk about your new book, Simply Christmas: A Busy Mom’s Guide to Reclaiming the Peace of the Holidays: A Devotional (Ink & Willow, October 2021). Please tell us about it.

Simply Christmas is the book I wish someone had written for me when my own kiddos were little. Because when I was starting out as a mom, it seemed as if everywhere I looked, there was perfection. Perfect clothes, perfect kids, perfect meals, perfect homes. And I tried to keep up with that. (With two littles, less than two years apart. Can we all just laugh now?)

I now realize that much of the pressure I felt was self-imposed. That realization didn’t happen overnight, though. I had to grow into feeling comfortable in my own role as a mom . . . and that happened as I grew in my faith and my understanding of who I am as a daughter of God.

So with Simply Christmas I offer 31 short but meaningful devotions to give mom an opportunity to pause and reflect on that long-ago first Christmas and all that it still means to our lives today. I’ve also included some of my favorite tips and tricks for kicking perfectionism to the curb, along with plenty of encouragement for making our Christmas celebrations what we truly want them to be for ourselves and those we love.

What inspired it?

My own experiences (and insecurities!) as a mom, along with my desire to focus on the true meaning of the Christmas season, served as the inspiration for writing Simply Christmas. This whole motherhood journey isn’t easy, and I’ve often felt that I was traveling it alone, bumping along, dodging some potholes and crashing through others. It’s taken time and prayer and plenty of mistakes to realize that I don’t have to compete or be perfect, that it’s okay to pause and soak in holy moments with God and those I love.

With Simply Christmas, my hope is to offer other moms a sort of shortcut in their own journeys, to share the words I wish someone had shared with me.

A few fun questions in celebration of the season… 

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Oh, that’s a hard one! I’d say it’s a tie between “O Holy Night” and “Mary, Did You Know?”. I can’t help but worship whenever I hear one of these songs!

What’s your favorite Christmas comfort food?

Pretzels covered with white chocolate — they just make me smile all over!

Which is your idea of a perfect Christmas tree: a lush blue spruce decorated with the latest couture; a shaggy cedar covered in homemade ornaments and strung with popcorn; a vintage aluminum tree with shiny glass bulbs; or a palm tree adorned with pink flamingos?

I love our Christmas tree. It isn’t perfect, but it’s perfect for me. It’s artificial (the real ones kept falling over!) and filled with twinkling lights. But the thing I love best about our tree is its ornaments. The branches are filled with the popsicle stick creations of my kiddos, ornaments gathered from family trips (like the saxophone playing gator from New Orleans), and ornaments my kids have picked out each year. Decorating the tree each year is like a wonderful trip down memory lane.

If you had been one of the “wise men,” what would you have brought the Baby Jesus?

I’m thinking my gifts would have been a bit more practical — said every woman, everywhere! Things like a soft blanket, diapers, and burp cloths. And a teddy bear. I firmly believe every baby needs a teddy bear to snuggle.

Thanks, Tama! It’s great to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

Thank you for having me! It’s always wonderful to visit Divine Detour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Tama, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To purchase Simply Christmas, logon to:

 

Patricia Bradley ~ Crosshairs

Award winning author Patricia Bradley is the recipient of an Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du Maurier, and a Touched by Love Award. She is a former Carol Award finalist and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list.

Patricia is a cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc. and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime.  She makes her home in Mississippi.

. . . 

If someone asked you to describe yourself with one word, what word would that be?

Stubborn

Let’s talk about writing. Do you have a writing hero or mentor?

Yes, actually two. Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck. I attended four of their Deep Thinkers Retreats, and they encouraged and mentored me—I don’t think I would be published without what I learned from them.

What kept you on your writing journey when life tried to get in the way?

That one word that I described myself with. I am very stubborn and don’t quit, plus I developed a very thick skin.

What is your writing schedule like? Do you write seven days a week, 365 days a year? Morning, afternoon, night?

I usually take a couple of months after I finish a book to think about and research and develop the next book. That’s where I am now. So, even though I’m not at the computer typing, I am working on the book.

Once I type Chapter One, I set a weekly (usually five days) word count goal—7500 a week until I get my rhythm, then I’ll up my word count to 10,000 until about midway, then to 15,000 until the book is finished.

I often set my alarm to get up at 5:30 and write for an hour or until I get 350 words (Nifty-350), then I eat breakfast and have my quiet time. When I go back to the computer, I check email, and take care of anything that needs attention, then it’s back to work on the book.

Let’s talk about your new book, Crosshairs (Revell, November 2021). It’s the third book in your Natchez Trace Park Rangers Series. Please tell us about it.

Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer’s next target–nor that she’d have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn’t bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

What can readers look forward to next from you?

I’ve turned in Deception, the fourth book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, and it will release August 1, 2022. Deception can be preordered from Baker Books for $9.59 with free shipping! Also, I’m doing research for my next series set in the Cumberland Plateau up around Chattanooga.

A few fun questions   in celebration of the season… 

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Hark the Herald Angels Sing—it’s why I chose it for the Christmas Cookies Mysteries!

What’s your favorite Christmas comfort food?

Sweet Potato Casserole. It’s considered a side dish, but it’s almost like a sweet potato pie with a brown sugar, butter, and pecan topping. I only make it for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What’s your idea of a perfect Christmas tree: a lush blue spruce decorated with the latest couture; a shaggy cedar covered in homemade ornaments and strung with popcorn; a vintage aluminum tree with shiny glass bulbs; or a palm tree adorned with pink flamingos?

Of those four, it would be the shaggy cedar covered in homemade ornaments and strung with popcorn…but the tree I have is a pre-lit artificial spruce with all the ornaments I’ve made from porcelain clay.

If you had been one of the “wise men,” what would you have brought the Baby Jesus?

That’s a hard question because the gifts the actual wise men brought were perfect—Joseph was able to sell them and escape to Egypt.

Thanks, Pat! It’s always nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

Thank you for having me as a guest! The Divine Detour is awesome!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Patricia, visit her website and follow her on Facebook or Twitter .

To order Crosshairs and other books by Patricia, log on to:  

 

 

Or at Baker Books (Currently 30% off and free shipping)

Lynn Austin ~ Five Timeless Lessons of Christmas

Five Timeless Lessons of Christmas

by Lynn Austin

The first Christmas celebration took place in the skies above Bethlehem when an angel announced the Good News to a group of shepherds. The celebration swelled, and the angel was joined by a heavenly host of angels, praising and glorifying God. Their joyful message provides us with some timeless lessons for our own Christmas celebrations.

1. “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.’”

Whether we’re worried about finances as Christmas approaches or fearful of all the unsettling things that are happening in our world, our anxieties are very real, even at Christmas. The angel reminds us that we don’t need to fear because Immanuel—God with us—is here. He will never leave us or forsake us. Because of the child in the manger, you can “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7).

2. “I bring you good news of great joy.”

The angels rejoiced at Christ’s coming and so should we. People around us celebrate Christmas in one way or another, even unbelievers. Yet anxiety has dampened much of their joy as the pandemic spreads fear and keeps families apart. But for those of us who know the true meaning of the holiday, our joy should explode like the angels’ did, setting an example of a faith-filled life. Writing from a prison cell to persecuted believers, Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). No matter how we celebrate this year, let’s remember to make our joy visible.

3. This good news “will be for all the people.”

More than any other time of year, Christmas is a season when people may be receptive to the message of God’s love. Among all of our other Christmas plans, let’s include plans to reach out to those who don’t know this child in the manger. The good news is for all people. God “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9). We can spread the news that anyone who comes to Christ has a place in His family and is no longer standing on the outside, gazing at the holy family from a distance.

4. “Today . . . a Savior has been born to you.”

We need look no further than the daily headlines to see that our world and its people are entangled in sin and brokenness. We all need someone to rescue us. The good news is that “we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). The message at Christmas is that we can be made new and begin to live a new life of hope and promise. Most importantly, because of Jesus, our Savior, we can have a relationship with the Creator of the universe, who loves us as His dear children.

5. “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

If you were a great and powerful ruler, living in splendor and wealth in a lofty palace, how far would you stoop to show the common, ordinary people under your reign that you care about them? The almost-unbelievable story of Christmas is that the Creator of the universe—a universe so vast that it’s beyond our comprehension—became a baby wrapped in homespun cloth, with a humble manger for His bed. This holy child would ultimately die a horrible, shameful death to show His love. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). Let’s loudly proclaim this timeless message with every Christmas carol we sing and in every place that we gather this Christmas season.

[image error]Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction and was one of the first inductees into the Christy Award Hall of Fame. One of her novels, Hidden Places, was made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Lynn and her husband have three grown children and make their home in western Michigan.

For more information about Lynn, visit her website or follow her on  Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. 

To purchase The Wish Book Christmas, logon to:

 

Angela Ruth Strong ~ Husband Auditions

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009, then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Now, ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. She also writes articles for SpiritLed Woman.

Her books have earned Top Pick honors in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best sellers. Her novel Finding Love in Big Sky was filmed on location in Montana and was aired recently. 

Angela lives in Idaho, where besides writing, she teaches exercise classes, works for an airline, and enjoys Harley rides with her husband and camping with her three kids.

. . .

What started you on your writing journey ?

My mom was a writer. She published a lot of stories in Sunday school curriculum and once wrote about me in Women’s World. So when I was cheerleading at age sixteen, and a basketball player dove out of bounds for a ball and ended up breaking my bones, I wrote about it. That’s just what you do, right? She helped me send it to American Cheerleader Magazine. They published it and paid me $100, which was the easiest money I’d ever made at that time. It’s never been that easy since, but I was hooked.

Just as all good novels include a plot twist, the Author and Creator of our lives often writes in a twist that ultimately blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?

Oh my. So many stories. Including the one above. I love connecting with God as the Author of Life. As an author, I know that the darker the black moment, the more powerful the story of overcoming. There have been times when I’ve shaken my fist at heaven and said, “I’m on to you!” He’s giving me a story of overcoming that will touch lives.

Most recently, I went through breast cancer. It was hard, and it was beautiful, but most importantly it showed me that I can’t earn my worth. Going through chemo, I lost my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and more. I didn’t have the energy to do anything. Yet I’ve never felt so loved. It really set me free in a lot of ways. I am currently cancer free, so now I’m alive to take all that love that was given to me and go share it with the world.

Let’s talk about your new book, Husband Auditions (Kregel Publications, August 2021). Please tell us about the story.

It’s about a woman who is bummed to be the last of her friends to remain single, especially since, as a joke, she inherits from them a list from the 1950s of ways to find a husband. She just wants to throw it away, but her brother’s roommate (and now her roommate) convinces her to try the list out for a YouTube show.

What led you to write it?

I got a big kick out of a real-life list that was circulating on social media a few years ago. I said, “Imagine if someone tried those out today.” Then I thought (voiceover with evil laughter goes here), “I’m going to write it.”

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Pretzels with Nutella. In a pinch, caramel dip works too. I just ate some actually. Because tonight I get to watch a sneak peek of the movie based on my book Finding Love in Big Sky. (Voiceover with excited squeal goes here.)

What Bible passage or story best describes your journey of faith?

I love the Shunammite Woman. Elisha told her she’d give birth to a son, but when the boy was about twelve, he died. She went to go track Elisha down, believing the prophet could bring her son back to life with the power of God.

She told her husband where she was going, but when he asked what was wrong, she said, “Everything is all right.” Elisha saw her coming, and sent her servant to ask her what was wrong. She responded, “Everything is all right.” It wasn’t until she got to the prophet himself that she shared her problem. And she wouldn’t leave unless Elisha went with her. So Elisha went back with her, and her son returned to life.

I read this at a time in my life when everything did not feel all right. But I chose to claim it anyway. And though I do believe that many devastating things happen in life, if you pursue God, everything is all right.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Oh man. I’m the one going through a mid-life crisis right now. My baby just moved out the same week my grandpa died, so it feels like everything is changing and life is so fragile, and it doesn’t help that I don’t recognize myself in the mirror with this short hair that is trying to grow back after chemo. Last time my son flew into town, the first thing he said to me was, “You look like Austin Powers.” The good news is that I can laugh at myself. I’m making the most of it. So maybe I’m the quirky one?

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

I have two dogs who are brothers and a mix of Pomeranian and Jack Russell. One look likes a Pom and the other a Jack Russell, so nobody thinks they are related at first. Their names are Chewbarka (Chewie) and Indiana Bones (Indy). Chewie inspired Cocoa in my CafFUNated Mysteries.

Thanks, Angela! It’s nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

Thanks for having me. <3

~ ~ ~

For more information about Angela, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

To order Husband Auditions, log on to:

 

 

 

Patricia Raybon ~ All That Is Secret

Patricia Raybon is an award-winning author and essayist whose books include My First White Friend, a Christopher Award–winning memoir about racial forgiveness, and I Told the Mountain to Move, a prayer memoir that was a Christianity Today Book of the Year finalist. Patricia’s other books include The One Year God’s Great Blessings Devotional and Undivided: A Muslim Daughter, Her Christian Mother, Their Path to Peace, coauthored with her younger daughter, Alana Raybon.

Patricia’s essays on faith, race, and grace have been published in the New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, Guideposts, Christianity Today, and other national publications and blogs.

She lives with her husband, Dan, in her home state of Colorado.

. . .

You’ve written a number of books, but this is your first novel. How was your writing process different for fiction?

It’s extraordinary fun. I found it exciting—in a fresh way. I’ve been reading about fiction writing throughout my nonfiction career. I admire the fiction format and always wanted to learn how to plot a novel. So during the pandemic summer of 2020, I sat myself down on my back deck and reread everything I could find on fiction writing—Robert McKee’s wonderful screenwriter’s “bible” titled Story, James Scott Bell’s books on structuring the novel, John Truby on The Anatomy of Story, G. K. Chesterton’s classic reflection on “How to Write a Detective Story,” Sol Stein’s Stein on Writing, plus countless articles and essays on understanding story beats in romance and thriller plots.

One big surprise and difference: writing fiction demands bottomless courage—both for the writer and the characters. First, I was censoring myself—saying, “Nope, you can’t write that” or “You can’t say that.” But the more risks I took with the characters, their stories, and the writing itself, the more compelling, I believe, the overall story became.

Another joy: my characters kept surprising me—showing up on the page when I hadn’t yet met them, doing things I hadn’t planned, revealing things I didn’t see coming. Writing my story was like watching a movie with plot twists. My husband, Dan, would hear me in my office suddenly yell out, “Guess what happened!” I truly loved the writing process. My only regret is not turning seriously to fiction decades ago. My consolation is knowing that age and life experience should make me a better novelist. I sure pray so.

The Author and Creator of our lives often writes in a twist that ultimately blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?

It’s hard to talk about, but I lost a high-profile newspaper job in my late thirties—the worst career downfall I’ve ever experienced. But it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. That low point led me to a high calling, my next position—teaching newspaper reporting and editing to eager graduate and undergraduate students on a large university campus.

There I was forced to dig deep—to stir in my soul enough humility to learn how to teach and teach well. That meant I was forced to listen, but also to learn empathy, patience, clarity, order, dignity, self-control, prudence, integrity, passion—and to change lives while God changed mine.

I still thank God for allowing that unexpected journey, for turning what appeared to be bad into something far better than I ever imagined. It even forced me to learn public speaking—something I thought I hated. I also learned to lead and facilitate workshops and seminars, all skills I routinely use in my life now as a Christian author.

I couldn’t see any good, at first, in the bad. Most of us can’t. But today, if you’re smack in the middle of one of life’s curveballs, catch it. Then bless God’s Spirit by thanking Him for sending it your way.

Let’s talk about your new book, All That Is Secret (October 2021, Tyndale House). Please tell us about it.

It’s a 1920s historical mystery about a young Black theologian—and Sherlock fan—trying to solve her father’s cold case murder when Denver and all of Colorado are ruled by the KKK.

The story itself opens in the winter of 1923 when Professor Annalee Spain—a clever but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college—receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of her beloved but estranged father’s murder.

For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young orphan boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee’s heart to the surprising highs and lows of love.

With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver’s powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts dangerous truths that could make her a victim, too.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I love clergy mysteries—Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton, the vicar of Grantchester, and the like. My hope was to introduce a character wrestling with faith into the crucible of a mystery, complicated by two additional things—race and a sometimes-rocky new relationship. Second, I wanted the setting to be Colorado, a beautiful “sunshine” place—but during one of its darkest times, the 1920s. The character who emerged to find her place in that world was young Professor Annalee Spain. Once I “met” her, her story literally took off. My job was to get cracking, keep up, and tell her story.

What do you hope readers will take away from it?

A bigger heart. In fact, if I’m honest, I want readers to discover, as I did, that by experiencing a young, clever Black woman as fully dimensional, we open our hearts more to hidden aspects of ourselves. Life is rough-and-tumble. It can hit overdrive when family and secrets and race and love collide. But a tough, smart cookie can work on life’s mysteries and find answers—about herself and others—and then find the courage to tackle another puzzling problem again. I’m excited that readers will join me in following Annalee’s journey down that road. Together, we’ll discover more to unravel in her world and also in our own.

A few fun questions . . .

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Popcorn! I love the crunch. Pizza! I love spicy sauce, fresh basil, and a perfect crust. Yum!

What Bible passage or story best describes your journey of faith?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. ~ Romans 1:16, KJV

I aim to walk in this Scripture—even in secular settings. Once, during my university teaching job, I was strongly asked not to mention my faith in a Diversity Day speech. So I started by saying I was asked not to mention my faith for Diversity Day. But if the audience didn’t mind, I’d start with a Bible story. (Everybody laughed.)

I shared the “let down your nets” story in Luke 5 when Peter and the other disciples, after fishing all night with little to show, obeyed Jesus and let down their nets on the other side, for a greater catch.

It was a great metaphor for how the campus could achieve greater student diversity. Stop fishing in old, dead, cold, empty waters. Let down your nets somewhere else.

That speech got a standing ovation! (Afterward, a man thanked me, telling me, “In fact, there are no secular situations. Every place is sacred.”) So I can’t imagine denying Christ for any reason. This Scripture passage best defines that choice and journey, and I’m continually convicted by it and glad for it!

In the story that is your life, are you the strong female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the superheroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

All of the above? Truthfully, that’s my answer because I can see myself in all of those categories depending on the situation. As a woman of color in a sometimes-hostile culture, I’ve had to wear different hats, coats, dresses, pants, and shoes—from sneakers to high heels to hiking boots!

More than all, I think of myself as Bill and Nannie’s daughter—those are my late parents—who taught me to love like Jesus and read the room. So with God’s help, I can be a lot of things depending on what people are looking for in a woman like me.

Most of all, like Jesus, I learned from my parents how to meet people where they are—while inviting them to see the world, and people like me, in a deeper way. May God help me every step of that journey.

Thanks, Patricia! It’s nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Patricia, visit her website and/or on Facebook , Twitter and/or Instagram .

To order All That Is Secret, log on to:

 

 

Delores Topliff ~ Christmas Tree Wars

by Delores Topliff

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 NKJV 

I know that praying for wisdom works for creative ideas, too. I have friends who carefully spend time seeking the Lord’s inspiration before every new project with wonderful results. I get a little inspiration while pitching hay to our Scottish Highland cows and calves, too.

I’ve published children’s books, a WWII historical, and more, but my idea for Christmas Tree Wars, which released this week, was an outright gift. I know the exact time and place the story arrived gift-wrapped one Sunday morning as I drove a different Minnesota farm road to church and saw something unusual. 

A row of tall, stately evergreen trees lined one side of the road. On the other side, a lone evergreen bordered a hayfield. I instantly knew (that, in my story) the owner of the row of trees would provide a prize evergreen for a national contest. But instead of using one of his trees, he would cut his neighbor’s only tree and give that, much like the Old Testament prophet Nathan told King David about the wealthy man stealing a poor man’s only beloved ewe sheep. 

Details change as any story gets written, but I’m forever thankful for how this fun scenario entered my heart. I’ve driven that stretch of road since to see if it will happen again. Because more Amish families are moving into our farming area, this sign is now posted for safety. It might inspire story ideas, too. 

Christmas Tree Wars takes place between two feuding Wisconsin Christmas tree farmers. Kris Lundquist, an ambitious New York City financial planner, comes home for two weeks to help his Swedish-American Christmas tree grower dad survive financial crisis. There, he gets re-acquainted with Marcie Halvorsen, the forestry-major niece of their cranky Norwegian-American neighbor, who also comes home to help with finances. Both enter contests to provide a national Christmas tree to increase business. 

Despite their relationship being as star-crossed as Romeo and Juliet’s, they fall in love and help their families and town rediscover the reason for the season. 

This was a fun story to write, and I’m sure will always stay one of my favorites! Read the first two chapters free right now on Facebook at the Scrivenings Press page. 

Follow Delores Topliff’s website to read her blog every second Tuesday and/or follow her on Facebook.

Purchase Christmas Tree Wars here.