Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 100

In Others’ Words: Moments

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart?” Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), author & humorist

Seems everyone’s talking about the Titanic these days, what with the 100th anniversary of the ship’s maiden voyage, when it sank after striking an iceberg.

The movie “Titanic,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet has been re-released in 3-D. And among the books written about the Titanic are a couple by some of my writing friends:

By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer
Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal by my friends Paula Moldenhauer & Kathleen Kovach

 

In Your Words: Back to today’s quote: How have you seized the moment in the past week?

I’m interviewed over at Relz Review today. I hope you stop by!

photo by pdsimao/stockxchng.com

Contemporary Romance: Meet Allison Denman of Wish You Were Here

“Why can’t life be black and white, God? Why won’t you give me a happy ending?” She drew her knees up, resting her chin on her folded arms. “I’m trying to do the right things–shouldn’t that guarantee me happiness?” ~Allison Denman in Wish You Were Here

In less than two weeks, Beth K. Vogt is going to share my life with all her readers.

Oh, sure, to those of you who read Wish You Were Here, I’m only a fictional character — a figment of Beth’s imagination.

But how would you feel if the first time someone met you was when you were standing just inside the doorway of the church, waiting to walk down the aisle to say, “I do?”

And how would you feel if this new person could read your thoughts? Beth knew each step I took toward Seth Rayner on my wedding day was punctuated with the thoughts “I do. I can’t. I must.”

It’s difficult enough to wrestle with doubts. Try facing with them while you’re wearing a wedding dress that’s all wrong for you. While you’re trying to forget kissing the groom’s brother–who just happens to be standing next to him because, of course, he’s the best man.

Not that he’s the right man for me.

I just want to do the right thing, you know? Have you ever wanted to do the right thing? And then … all of a sudden … the right choice seems wrong.

I dated Seth Rayner since I was 17 years old. He was — is perfect for me. He makes me feel safe. Secure.

How can one kiss … a mistake … make me question all my hopes and dreams — all my plans?

In Your Words: Have you ever experienced having a mistake turn into the right thing?

 

 

 

In Others’ Words: Bricks

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” ~David Brinkley (1920 – 2003), American newscaster

If somebody throws a brick at me, I’m gonna duck.

If somebody throws a verbal brick at me — an insult, an accusation — sometimes I make the mistake of embracing it like it’s the gospel truth. (Pardon the cliche.)

When I read today’s quote, I chuckled and thought, “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”

Let’s face it: People are going to give me both compliments and insults. It’s a fact of life. The question is: What am I going to do with them?

The older I get (nope, I’m not inserting my age here), the more determined I am to not let others’ opinions of me — good or bad — rock my world. I had the fun opportunity to explore this idea over at Rachelle Gardner’s blog in a post titled Unhitch Your Wagon from the Stars. Here’s the summary of that blog post: I can’t make life all about me, and whether people like me or don’t like me. I can’t spend time waiting for the next brick tossed my way.

But, the more I mull over today’s quote, the more I realize even insults can have worth in my life. I can examine them and see if there’s any truth in what is said — and if there is need to change. If the insult is laced with venom … well, I have an opportunity to love my enemy — maybe even to pray for them. (Matthew 5:43-48)

In Your Words: Has an insult — a verbal brick — ever become a part of the firm foundation of your life?

Guest Post: Debut Author Dani Pettrey

Today my friend and fellow debut author, Danie Pattrey, shares a quote with us. Dani will be joining me, Katie Ganshert and Olivia Newport for an a-ma-zing launch party on May 15th! Mark your calendars  & plan to join us.

 

 

“Pursuing adventure for a living, I get more than my fair share of knocks, but getting a backwards head-butt from a beautiful lady is nothing to complain about.” ~Cole McKenna from Submerged by Dani Pettrey

I am fascinated by adventurous people, even more fascinated by extreme athletes and those that purse adventure for a living. It’s why I write romantic suspense, and why the McKenna family of my Alaskan Courage series runs an adventure outfit company in Alaska. Their profession and the rugged landscape combine to provide a phenomenal canvas for adventure.

What draws me so strongly to adventure? I believe it’s because it’s exhilarating to live vicariously through someone who performs feats we would never attempt, to witness someone bolder than us stare straight into the face of fear and danger, and defy it. Journeying alongside characters of that substance makes me long to be bolder, braver, and to live more fully.

Isn’t all fiction like that? It doesn’t matter if the genre is historical romance, women’s fiction, or even the classics—adventure and suspense always exist in story. Will the hero overcome the obstacles marring his path? Will the heroine finally face her fears and return home? Every story poses a question and seeks to answer it in a way unique to each author, unique to each character. That’s why I love story so much. Having journeyed alongside a character over hills and valleys, struggled with them, rooted for them, maybe even cried with them, we come out the better for it. We learn to love deeper, forgive easier, maybe even to try something new. That’s the beauty of adventure and the power of story. It’s why I love to read and why I am stirred to write. My deepest wish is that my stories take you on an adventure and maybe, just maybe, have you discover something new and lasting.

In Your Words: Why do you love to read? If you’re a writer like Dani, Katie, Olivia and me: What stirs you to write?

What is Submerged about? A sabotaged flight. Two murdered divers. A single clue—a grainy image of sunken treasure.

Dive Rescue Captain Cole McKenna has never worked a case like this, but who he’s working with may prove more dangerous than the assignment. It’s been a lifetime since Bailey mangled his heart. Now she’s back in town and he needs her expertise to track down the illusive treasure.

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her website at www.danipettrey.com.

 

In Others’ Words: Progress

“The fatal metaphor of progress, which means leaving things behind us, has utterly obscured the real idea of growth — which means leaving things inside us.” G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936), English writer

I came across this stop-me-in-my-tracks quote as I read author Ann Voskamp’s A Holy Experience blog.

I was reminded of it today as my husband measured the pencil marks lining the wall near our kitchen pantry. The oldest mark is dated February 4, 2007.  The most recent mark is dated April 15, 2012. Each pencil line charts my youngest daughter’s growth: tall, taller, taller … still growing.

And yes, each mark indicates things left behind. In 2007, CJ was 7 years old. Fourteen inches shorter than she is now. She was in second grade — a little girl, not a pre-teen.

I could choose to lament the little girl lost … or choose to look beyond what that viewpoint obscures, to “the real idea of growth,” as Chesterton says, and think of what those five years have left inside my daughter.

A faith revealed in a beautiful ability to lead worship
A sharp wit that often leaves her older siblings speechless
A desire to be courageous that causes her to push past her fears
A resiliency wrought through heartache most 11 year olds haven’t had to face
A way with words that hints at a talent for writing that thrills this writer mama’s heart

 

In Your Words: Ah, progress. Things lost. Things gained. What has been left inside of you in the past five years?

**I have a post over on the ACFW blog: Revising my view of Rewriting. I hope you stop by.**

In Others’ Words: Comfort

“There’s nothing like staying home for real comfort.” ~Jane Austen, author

Trips are fun — the whole going someplace new or going back to a favorite vacation spot. But for all the excitement of the planning and the preparation, for all the memories made while I’m gone, my favorite part of a trip is …

coming home.

Ah, the feeling of walking back into my house and savoring being home.

There’s the couch that’s perfect for lounging while watching TV. Or for napping. Or for pushing back out of the way so the family can engage in a rousing round of Wii.

There’s my kitchen. My family is always in the kitchen — and friends often join us. Sometimes we’re cooking, and when I say “we’re cooking” I mean all the Vogt family. There’s nothing better than all the Vogt kiddos (plus any spouses and one new fiance) taking over the kitchen. And sometimes we’re in the kitchen not cooking — sometimes we’re dancing. Just because we always have.

There’s my bed that’s often got a pile of To Be Read books beside it and some clothes waiting to be folded on top of it … that’s real life around my home.

There are my walls — a few painted a favorite color of green — and all the sayings I’ve framed through the years. A friend walked in my house once and said, “Wow. You have a lot of words on your walls.” Yeah, I do. Sayings like:

Let Your Life Speak.
Home: Love is spoken here.
Simplify.
Be content with what you have.
Let the kids know that I love them. ~God
In everything give thanks.

My home. Being here is the most comfortable place to be.

In Your Words: What makes staying home “real comfort” for you?

Romance & Wish You Were Here & Llamas

 

Yes, that's me playing "get to know you" with a llama.

Ah, the things novelists do for the sake of research.

What do llamas have to do with inspirational contemporary romance?

Some would say nothing. But since I am the author of Wish You Were Here, I would say llamas add a whole other layer of fun to a romance novel — and I don't mean the kissing kind of fun.

I'm not quite sure how the idea of llamas first came up. I think my husband and I were driving around Estes Park, CO with our 11-year-old daughter. And, yes, we were discussing my novel, which was then very much a work in progress. Someone — and I really, really think it was my husband — suggested adding llamas to the story. And I thought, "Sounds like fun."

After spending several hours at the Touch the Earth Ranch, I discovered that I like llamas — yes, even their funny "come nose to nose with you and exhale a huff of air" kisses. Ultimately a trio of bad-boy llamas — Pancha, Kuzko and Banzai — became part of Wish You Were Here.

 

 

In Your Words: Llamas and romance — who knew? What other odd things — animals, maybe — have shown up in a romance you've read lately?

 

 

In Others' Words: Travel

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." ~Saint Augustine

I've always thought that if I came into a large sum of money — I'm talking a never-could-have-imagined amount — I would travel. A lot.

Yes, I would give lots of it to ministries I believe in.

And then I would travel.

First place: I would go back to Venice with my husband and splurge on a gondola ride. We visited Venice years ago during our "military family" life, when the first three kiddos were little. We rode the water taxi. I remember my son Josh asked if we could live in Venice forever. I so wanted to say yes.

Second place: Australia. I don't know why, but I've always wanted to visit the Australian Outback. It's wild and romantic — at least in my mind. I want to discover the reality.

Third place: Israel. I've been to Israel once. My husband and I helped chaperone a team of teenagers on a ministry trip (our son was one of the teens.) At the time, I was reeling from the oh-so-unexpected news that I was a mom of 3 teenagers (I knew that) and I was also pregnant. Let's just say my memories of Israel are shrouded in all day morning sickness.

In Your Words: The world is a book … how would you fill the pages? Or, if you've traveled to some favorite places already, I'd love to hear about that too!

 

PS: Was anyone else surprised that Saint Augustine said today's quote — and not someone like Rand McNally or a Fodor's rep?

photo by g-point/stockxchng.com

Guest Post: Debut Author Katie Ganshert

Today my friend and fellow debut author, Katie Ganshert, shares a quote with us. Katie will be joining me, Dani Pettrey and Olivia Newport for an a-ma-zing launch party on May 15th! Mark your calendars  & plan to join us.

 

 

"Even if we do everything right, things are still going to go wrong." –Evan Price from Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

In certain areas of my life, I'm a perfectionist.

And when things go wrong, I might find myself wondering where I dropped the ball.

But here's the thing.

Life is messy.

Bad things happen.

We can spend our time trying to figure out why.

We can be like Job's friends. Sitting around, debating whether that bad thing was our fault, or the result of a broken world or some sort of punishment.

But the simple truth is, we don't know.

We're not meant to know.

We're meant to learn from our mistakes, if a mistake was made. We're meant to grow. To give grace and keep going. To find beauty in the midst of the mess.

In Your Words: When have you found beauty in the midst of mess?

 

What's Wildflowers in Winter about? Bethany Quinn was happy to leave her small town ten years ago to create a new, successful life. But when tragedies strike at home, she is forced to return and face the pain of her childhood. Out of options, Bethany tries to find a place where love and faith make sense again.

Katie Ganshert was born and raised in the Midwest, where she writes stories about finding faith and falling in love. When she's not busy plotting her next novel, she enjoys watching movies with her husband, playing make-believe with her wild-child of a son, and chatting with her girlfriends over bagels. She and her husband are in the process of adopting from the Congo. You can find her online at her blog and on Facebook.

In Others' Words: Reconciliation

"In a quarrel, leave room for reconciliation." ~Russian proverb

So, my husband and me.

When we first got married we had different styles of fighting. Let's just say I was the more verbal one.

Neither of us were all that good at reconciling. I was quite good at holding my ground–and holding a grudge. Rob usually was the first one to apologize, but sometimes we hadn't even talked things out. How could things be resolved if he didn't even know why I was upset?

Fast-forward many years into the marriage. We were working through some tough issues — every couple has them. One of the things we had to learn was how to fight fair. Which meant Rob had to be willing to show up and I had to be willing to back down.

One of the key principles our counselor shared with us was this one: Don't let the problem come between you and your spouse. He actually placed an object between Rob and I (I can't remember what it was, maybe a book) and then moved it off to the side. The problem is the problem — but it doesn't separate you and the person you love.

Huh.

And here's another question he asked me one day: What is the path back into relationship? In other words, if I was angry with Rob, what could he do that would help me forgive him? Or if Rob was angry with me, what could I do that would help him forgive me?

This truth was life-changing for me — and life-giving to my marriage.

In Your Words: What does a fair fight look like to you?