Ginger Garrett's Blog, page 8
December 9, 2011
I'm having a white Christmas
If white means a blank page, that's my white Christmas. I'm editing the Jezebel novel, and it needs to go from first person point of view to third person. And I need to add in a few characters. And it's due very soon. Thankfully, the publisher gave me a few extra weeks, so that is a help. And in between the massive edits, Christmas is sneaking up on me. This year I've been devoting 15 minutes every day to getting a few things done for Christmas, here at the house, and that's a huge improvement over last year. That gives me a lot of encouragement as I face a big rewrite. Every day, I work on the manuscript. I don't finish it but I make a little progress. And the small steps of daily progress will get me over the mountain one of these days.
Here's what I am reading this month:
Dave Ramsey's MORE THAN ENOUGH
Rick Yancey's THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST
Cheryl Klein's SECOND SIGHT: AN EDITOR'S TALKS ON WRITING, REVISING, & PUBLISHING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Have a wonderful month, take a few baby steps every day towards a big goal, and get ready for a fantastic 2012.
November 22, 2011
Giving thanks for you!
May you all have a great holiday, and be able to truly savor the moments (and the meal!). I am really grateful to you as my friends and readers, for all the feedback, encouragement, and love you send my way. I have learned one thing from you so well: the power of a positive word in someone's life. Take the time to say something kind is almost a lost art, but because of your emails and notes, I am more intentional about making that a priority in my life.
Over the holiday I will be editing the Jezebel novel. I'll need more than just a good meal to get that job done. I haven't gotten to the raw heart of her story yet. It's disheartening to think I'm not there yet, but then again, every the best things in my life have all come from setbacks. My husband is here because my dog yacked all over my previous beau. My kids are here because I was told I couldn't have any, and I pursued a lonely path to get to them. My writing is here because I needed an outlet during that season, and my blank spiral journal never got tired of listening.
This Thanksgiving, when I drink my first cup of coffee and prepare for the madness, I am going to make a list of the setbacks and discouragements I am facing. Then I will say a prayer of thanks for each and every one. Someday, I know that I will look back and realize a gift came from them all.
Be blessed, be filled and get ready to be merry! Welcome, Christmas!
Ginger
October 24, 2011
Thanks to you, my friends!
Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday for the LifeWay book signing. I loved seeing each of you!
I have one week until the Jezebel novel is due to the publisher. It releases in September of next year, and while that sounds like a long ways away, this is actually a tight schedule. We'll be editing through February and I will be drinking plenty of coffee and tea. If you own stock in Folgers or Good Earth tea company, then you can thank me now. 
I typically drink a full pot of each, every day.
I've been hearing from the early readers of the novel DESIRED: The Untold Story of Samson & Delilah, and I'm delighted. So far, every one says they were surprised. That's a very good thing, considering the Samson story is old, old, old. But a careful reading of the text is illuminating, and I hope the novel catches plenty of people by surprise.
I'm off to work again on Jezebel's tale. After that, I've got projects with InTouch, a book for young adults, and surgery for carpal tunnel. Should be a crazy start to the holiday season. I hope you make time this year for connecting with good friends, good books, and a good end to all the labors of 2011.
October 6, 2011
Meet Me on Saturday October 22
Stop by LifeWay Books in Buford, Georgia on Saturday October 22 from 11-1pm.
I'll be signing copies of DESIRED: The Untold Story of Samson & Delilah. Looking forward to it!
September 22, 2011
Samson had a few surprises…
DESIRED: The Story of Samson & Delilah releases in a couple of weeks. It's my favorite novel I've written, but because the women of the story reveal so much heartache and hope. Samson's mother, who is never named in the Bible, opens the book. We begin to understand what it's like to raise the world's most notorious prodigal son, and what it takes to believe God is good when the reality seems to be that our faith in God has only led us to disappointment. I was tickled to read the novel described as "jaw-droppingly honest." I think faith grows best when people can air everything they feel and fear. There are times when we are tempted to believe all is lost, and God is not who we hoped. And while we all probably know what the end of Samson's story is (which is like Hair-Meets-Titanic) I hope you find surprising revelations, courage and strength in the ending of the mother's story. I know that I did.
Here are a few oddball facts I discovered while researching the book:
We'd like to think of Samson as a Fabio look-alike. He was probably more like a rogue member of ZZ Top with hair that dragged the ground. He would have been a strange sight. Stranger, too, to think this wild man was God's choice for deliverance.
Delilah was no seductress. She is never accused, even by the biblical writers, of being one. She is, however, a nag. Seriously. Read the biblical account. She learns Samson's secret by nagging him. She wears him down by pestering him. Perhaps this is why, when storytellers deviate from the biblical account, they paint her as an aloof temptress. It's a shock to think the world's strongest man was no match for a persistent woman. But then, most women already suspect that.
And finally, Samson killed dozens and dozens of men at a time. By hand. Or with crude implements. It would have been a full day's work on some occasions, at least eight hours. Samson was scarier than we imagined, not sexier.
The real heroine in the story is the one woman who is never given a name. His mother. But I loved Delilah, too, because she was broken enough to betray the man who truly loved her.
So look for the book to hit your local bookstore or online retailer. I will be emailing updates of my signing schedule this fall, but I will be busy wrapping up the Jezebel novel, so I won't be on the road as much as I'd like.
Until we meet,
Ginger
Samson was (not) everything we hoped…
DESIRED: The Story of Samson & Delilah releases in a couple of weeks. It's my favorite novel I've written, but because the women of the story reveal so much heartache and hope. Samson's mother, who is never named in the Bible, opens the book. We begin to understand what it's like to raise the world's most notorious prodigal son, and what it takes to believe God is good when the reality seems to be that God is a disappointment. That sounds harsh, and I was tickled to read the novel described as "jaw-droppingly honest." I hope that all believers, and even the mildy-interested-but-not-yet-believers, can be honest with each other and God. And while we all probably know what the end of Samson's story is (which is like Hair-Meets-Titanic) I hope you find surprising revelations, courage and strength in the ending of the mother's story.
Here are a few oddball facts I discovered while researching the book:
We'd like to think of Samson as Fabio with extra-long hair. He was probably more like a rogue member of ZZ Top with hair that dragged the ground. He would have been a strange sight. Stranger, too, to think this wild man was God's choice for deliverance.
Delilah was no seductress. She is never accused, even by the biblical writers, of being hot to trot. She is, however, a nag. Seriously. Read the biblical account. She learns Samson's secret by nagging him. She wears him down by pestering him. Perhaps this is why, when storytellers deviate from the biblical account, they paint her as a seductress. It's a shock to think the world's strongest man was no match for a persistent woman. But then, most women already suspect that.
And finally, Samson killed dozens and dozens of men at a time. By hand. Or with crude implements. It would have been a full day's work on some occasions, at least eight hours. Samson was scarier than we imagined, not sexier.
The real heroine in the story is the one woman who is never given a name. His mother. And I loved Delilah, because she was broken enough to betray the man who truly loved her.
So look for the book to hit your local bookstore or online retailer. I will be emailing updates of my signing schedule this fall, but I will be busy wrapping up the Jezebel novel, so I won't be on the road as much as I'd like.
Until we meet,
Ginger
August 22, 2011
From Around the World
I recently returned from a trip overseas, where I traveled throughout Asia and spoke at a leadership conference for women. While traveling, I was fascinated to see how beauty and beauty products take such a prominent role in different cultures. I also spent time with several people working to free young women from human trafficking. One resource being used includes the free downloads on this site about beauty. By helping young women make the connection between beauty and spirit, they can begin the life-long process of breaking free from demoralizing, degrading messages about beauty and bodies. I was so moved by the creative, inspired work begin done. God's heart is for all of us to live a free, full life!
Whether you're a single mom struggling against demoralizing inner messages about your beauty, your past and your future, or a young victim of human trafficking, renewing your spirit will give you the strength to take a stand for freedom today.
If you want more encouragement, and a deeper discussion about the connection between spirit and beauty, check out my interview with celebrity stylist and life coach Michelle Phillips:
http://www.hayhouseradio.com/hosts.ph...
Michelle is a huge star to thousands of women, and you'll absolutely love what she has to say. Pre-order her dynamic book THE BEAUTY BLUEPRINT today from Amazon:
If you want more information on what you can do (and we can all do something!) to end human trafficking, click on either of these links:
http://www.thefreedomproject.org/
July 27, 2011
Best of Summer 2011
I just returned from Thailand to find my newsletter software has died an unexpected death. 
While my software gurus sort it out, I'll post my best of summer products and thoughts here.
Thailand, btw, was simply amazing. Our team from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church taught English to schoolchildren in a rural village, hosted a conference for missionaries stationed in Thailand, ministered at a women's prison, and spent some time with missionaries stationed in Chiangmai. I learned so much:
1. The English language is a golden ticket for many poor children, giving them access to jobs they could not get otherwise
2. Opportunities define a culture, in so many ways. As an American, I always took all my opportunities for granted. I never will again.
3. Every summer, every day folks from all walks of life get on planes and travel to remote areas all over the world, bringing food, medicine, education, hope, and the message of a living God who sees us and loves us. I am staggered to see how much Christians do behind the scenes to help heal a hurting world.
4. Ready access to dark chocolate should be a UN mandate. I'm just sayin'…
Now, here is a list I compiled before leaving of the very best beauty products of Summer 2011. Print, forward this page to your friends, and enjoy!
Sunscreen: Johnson & Johnson No More Tears Sunscreen. Based on minerals, but *without* nano particles, ( a rare combination), this sunscreen gives amazing coverage. Because it contains zinc oxide, it will leave your skin with a white tint. However, I know women swear by zinc oxide as a moisterizer, so you can wear this under your makeup.
Hair Product: Ion Swimmers Shampoo and Spray-In Conditioner. We love this for getting chlorine out of our hair. You can use the spray-in conditioner before swimming to lock out the chlorine, and the shampoo afterwards to remove any renagade traces. I buy it at Sally's Beauty Supply.
Anti-Perspirant: REAL Simple Magazine voted Secret Clinical Strength their top pick, and I agree. But here's the catch: use it at night before bed. If you use it in the morning, it doesn't have time to work. Applying it at night means you'll use less overall, which is a good comprimise for those concerned with using a chemical-based product.
Poolside Drink: Coconut water. I've loved coconut water since competing in the IronGirl a few years ago, and I'm thrilled to see it becoming more mainstream. Buy it at WalMart and Target now! Loaded with natural electrolytes and potassium, coconut water will make you feel better than any sports or energy drink. Try drinking a little every day for two weeks, and I bet you'll agree. Coconut water was featured in a women's magazine recently as being a potent way for women to rev up their energy levels. The preservative in many processed foods, sodium benzoate, can wear down our energy levels, the experts theorize, but coconut water counteracts the effects. I do have to agree–I can tell a major difference in energy levels when I've been drinking this instead of Cokes. (And I do love my Coca Cola!)
Salon treatment: I've stopped using a salon for highlights and swtiched to Revlon's Frost & Glow kit. Sold at WalMart and Target for under $10, these highlights look as good as salon highlights at a fraction of the cost. That's not just hype, either: these highlights look amazing.
That's my list for Summer 2011, and I cannot believe we're heading into Fall already. My new novel, DESIRED: SAMSON & DELILAH, will be releasing in late September. It's my favorite novel yet, and I loved writing it. I also was drained when I finished. Delilah is damaged but still pursued by men; Samson's mother is disillusioned and demanding, and both lead Samson to his destiny. Check out the trailer on YouTube or my Facebook page.
April 12, 2011
WOLVES AMONG US reviews are in…
"This intense novel is a welcome addition to Garrett's historical series (In the Shadow of Lions; In the Arms of Immortals). The tightly woven story line will keep readers on edge until the stunning conclusion. An excellent choice for aficionados of T. Davis Bunn's historical novels."
From Cindy Swanson at:http://cindysbookclub.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-review-of-wolves-among-us-by-ginger.html
"I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to tell you that there's pay-off in an ultimately redemptive, uplifting and even joyful conclusion.
A story with profound implications
This beautifully-written book brings out so many issues, including the role of women in the church through the ages. In medieval times, women had no voice at all. Even when the Bible became accessible, they were often forbidden to read it (assuming they even knew how to read)…and they often turned to folk magic to help them with everyday health and personal issues."
From Library Journal:
"Garrett quite successfully pens a dramatic, thought-provoking tale that will leave readers happily unsettled, as this author's message can be found frighteningly too close to home for comfort."
Whew! Those are great and much appreciated. It was a challenging book to write, and I am grateful it has done its job. Now, I am wathcing the publisher put the final touches on the Samson and Delilah novel, DESIRED. That should be hitting bookstores in October. And while we ready that one, I am busy writing the Jezebel story, which will be titled DECEIVED. As I dig into the biblical account, I realize the real hero in the story is a palace servant named Obadiah. And if course Elijah, who had some pretty wild experiences himself. As I work on the story, here is my prayer for us all: May we all be heroes in whatever story God has given us!
WOLVES AMONG US now at Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, & Amazon!
I can't wait to load the cover and the great review from Publishers Weekly!
However, my web site hates me. I am waiting for my cyber knight in armor to save me, but in the meantime, find it here:
