Becky Wade's Blog, page 120

Inspired by Scripture

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What I’m Working on Now

Instead of typing out a post, I thought I’d try something new. I’m “vlogging” my writing update this time. Here’s what I’m working on now!

These graphics that my publisher provided are too pretty not to share! Plus, they give a great overview of the Misty River series and characters….

What are YOU up to this summer?

Book Inspired Movies: Romance Edition

Hi friends,

Happy Wednesday! Hope you’re having a wonderful week. I always look forward to spending mine with you. I wanted to share some of my favorite book-inspired movies, and I realized there are so many different genres to choose from so being a romantic suspense author and loving romantic movies, I decided to stick with classics-inspired romances. Upcoming posts will cover contemporary romance book-inspired movies and general fiction movies. Can you tell I’m a book and a movie fan?

My absolute favorite has to be Pride and Prejudice. I know there’s a big debate about which version is best—the BBC version with Colin Firth or the newer movie with Keira Knightley. It’s a very hard choice but I like the Keira Knightly version best. Although, I do have, thanks to my incredible hubby, an autographed picture of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy so that version will always have a special place in my heart.

As you can tell, I’m an Austen fan. I could list simply all of the movies inspired by her books, but I’m going to stick only with those based on Pride and Prejudice and am just going to share one more. Starring Keri Russell, Austenland is a quirky, fun, and adorable playoff Austen’s classic. I’m actually giving away a copy of Austenland as part of my Thrilling Throwback to 2013 newsletter-exclusive giveaway. You can enter here.

There are so many versions of Jane Eyre to choose from, but I personally like the 2011 version starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. I love so many of the versions, but this one just breathed new life into it for me.

Last but not certainly not least is the 2004 mini-series of North and South starring Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe. Why is this version my favorite? Richard Armitage…need I say more?

Reader Question: Would love to hear which versions you like best and what your favorite book-inspired movie is?

Blessings,

Dani

Readers Are Superheroes

Those of us who live in the frozen Northlands share an annual experience of coming out of our homes after a long, cold, dark winter, and wincing up at the bright orange orb in the sky and having to grow accustomed to warmth again. This year, I experienced something similar, but at the end of July. Attending an in-person readers retreat (Mississippi River Readers Retreat) was like a Minnesota gopher coming out of its burrow after a long, cold, dark winter, into the sun. Into the warmth of fellowship. Plus, it felt like quite an accomplishment to put on real clothes and talk to real live people.

Loved spending time with readers (these ladies also traveled with me to England a few years ago).

I was asked to be one of two keynote speakers (the second was talented author/agent Cynthia Ruchti). And since we are all readers here (even if we write, too) I thought I’d share just a little bit of my talk:

You all are Superhero(in)es—Super Readers, in long red capes with big Rs on your chests, because you are able to:

“READ faster than a speeding bullet.

WITH BRAINS more powerful than a locomotive.

Able to leap THROUGH TIME AND SPACE in a single flip of a page!”

I’ve always felt a little sorry for people who aren’t readers, but even more so after the last year and a half of shut downs and lock downs. I’m not trying to minimize what we’ve all been through (and are yet going through), but at least when readers are stuck at home, we have entertainment and hope and inspiration at our fingertips. Travel restrictions? Who says? We can travel anywhere we want through the pages of books.

Readers, we couldn’t do this without you—or at least we wouldn’t want to. You’ve probably heard the philosophical question: “If a tree falls in a forest, and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?” One might similarly ask: “If someone writes a book, but there’s no one around to read it, does it make any difference?”

Members in attendance: Inspirational Regency Readers (FB group)

I realize that in God’s economy, it still has value, but either way, I am sure glad we don’t have to ponder that question too long. I am so thankful for readers who enjoy the kinds of books we write. (And I’m sure all the authors here on Inspired by Life and Fiction would agree.)

Nineteen of twenty attending authors (I’m center front and our own Karen Witemeyer is in the back, 4th from right.)

I have met a few people over the years who think fiction is just fluff. But you get it. You superhero readers see the subtle threads of faith, and beads of hope and truth we attempt to weave into our novels. Your encouragement keeps us going and motivates us to write another book. I hope all of our books will continue to bless you—even a fraction of how much you bless us!

The Writer’s Process

As I dive back into working on a new book to be released next year, I’m going to be sharing about a writer’s process of taking a book from the seed of an idea to an actual book on the shelf. My plan is to post each Monday and Friday about a different aspect of the writing life and a book’s journey to publication. If you’d like to come along as I share the various aspects of writing a novel, please join me over on Deborah Raney’s Readers Group! (Be sure to read to the end for a couple of great opportunities!)

Here are just a few of the topics I’ve covered in the series so far:

Today I shared about ways I get in the frame of mind to write, and also how I set the mood for the scene I’ll be working on. As part of that post in the series I have a fun giveaway that will help you set the mood for reading my new book (and the other two books that come first in the series). See how you can enter HERE. And keep reading to find out how to get a free ebook…

Finally, my novel Insight is a BookBub Featured Deal today and the ebook is free! Click on the image below for details. (But hurry! That “price” is for today only.) If you don’t already follow me (and the other wonderful authors of Inspired by Life…and Fiction!) on BookBub, it’s a fantastic way to learn about our newest novels, special sales and giveaways, and to see a list of all the books we’ve each written.

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

A Brand New Series

Whew! This week I wrapped up my editing on a brand new medieval series, Knights of Brethren. This is a six-book series, and the first two books release later this year.

After the past month of intensive editing (I just love my editor!), now books 1 & 2 are with the proofer (and I love my proofer too!). After proofing, the books will head out to a select group of awesome first readers (who help catch any pesky typos that slip by). It’s a rigorous process, and when all is said and done, I will have read and edited each of the manuscripts five times!

Yes, I’m SUPER picky about my editing process! But that’s because I care about my readers and want to bring them the best possible reading experience.

All of that to say, I’m really excited about this new series. Set in a new story world with new people, places, and plots, the Knights of Brethren is loosely inspired by the legends of King Arthur and his knights.

While this series is new and changes things up from my previous two series (The Lost Princesses and The Fairest Maidens, which were both set in the same story world), there are plenty of things that remain the same: medieval adventure, dangerous dilemmas, and plenty of sweet romance.  

Here’s a little bit about ENAMORED, Book #1 in the series:

Having been raised by her childless aunt and uncle, the king and queen, Princess Elinor finds herself the only heir to the throne of Norvegia. As she comes of age, she must choose a husband to rule beside her, but she struggles to make her selection from among a dozen noblemen during a weeklong courtship.

With aspirations to become the wisest man in the land, Maxim is summoned home by his father Rasmus, a Royal Sage. Reunited with Elinor, once his closest friend, Maxim is quickly enamored with her even though he can never be considered a prospect for her husband.

Elinor’s feelings for Maxim are rekindled too . . . until she learns he has been unwillingly drawn into Rasmus’s scheme to take control of the throne. With the kingdom under attack both from within and without, can Elinor and Maxim overcome the deceit spinning around them? Or will it destroy their love once and for all?

And here’s a little bit about ENTWINED, Book #2 in the series:

After growing up on a remote farm, Lis learns she is the rightful heir to the throne of Norvegia. Even as she does her part to thwart a dangerous plot against the king, she resists pursuing her new identity and resigns herself to a simple life helping her elderly father with their farm.

With the king losing his mind, Sir Ansgar, the highest knight in the land, is desperate to save the sovereign he’s sworn to protect. But before Ansgar can uncover what is causing the king’s demise, he finds himself falsely accused of treason and dismissed from court.

In danger of losing his life, Ansgar takes refuge on Lis’s farm. Love soon blossoms between Ansgar and Lis, even as they realize a future together is impossible. Yet they must unite to save the kingdom from ever-growing forces of evil. Are their destinies entwined? Or will they be ripped apart forever?

Enamored and Entwined release later this year, 2021. The subsequent books (involving more knights of the Knights of Brethren) will be released in pairs in 2022 and 2023.

Many thanks to Roseanna White Designs for her fabulous cover work!

To find out more about the books and to pre-order, head over to my website here: http://jodyhedlund.com/series/knights-of-brethren/

What about YOU? Are there any books you’re especially looking forward to reading in the second half of 2021?

An Amazing Weekend

This last weekend, I took my first writing-rated trip since before COVID hit, and it was a weekend worth waiting for even if it started with a delayed flight and ended with a cancelled one.

I arrived in Minneapolis too late to join in the Bethany House author dinner, but my roomie, Regina Jennings, brought me a chocolate chip cookie that brought a touch of sweetness to my first night. Good friends are such a treasure!

The next morning, those of us attending the writers retreat in Little Falls who are published by Bethany House had the chance to visit the Bethany House offices and meet editors, marketing, and designers in person. Such a valuable time!

Me and Paul Higdon, the Art Director who oversees all the cover designs. We are posed by The Heart’s Charge on his cover wall. Notice the cool old rifle and rope in the background.

And it wasn’t just business. We were allowed to raid the book wall and help ourselves to free books as we as take some fun photos. I couldn’t resist the rolling library ladder and the prop parasol.

After this fabulous visit, we traveled a few hours to Little Falls and ended up at this incredible 19th century mansion. Build by a pair of lumber barons, this house has been gorgeously maintained. Filled with antique furnishings there were bookcases in nearly every room. I loved it! I took far too many pictures to share them all, but here are a few of my favorites:

The Musser Mansion, where our retreat was held.There is another bookcase to the left of this wingback chair, but I wanted you to see the gorgeous dark wood, shelves, and tucked away window seats. Such a fun book nook!This is the large music room where we would gather to chat and brainstorm. I love the large bookcases and windows. Such a light and festive space!Besides all the elegant furnishings, there was also this fabulously quirky gate. Don’t you love the old-fashioned bicycles?Amy Lynn Green and Jocelyn Green – the two best roomies, ever!

The Mississippi River runs directly behind the house and made for a lovely walk around the grounds. The river also lends its name to the readers retreat that took place on Saturday – The Mississippi River Reader’s Retreat.

There was a fabulous lineup of authors participating!

We had a full day of games and round robin table hopping to meet dozens of readers. What a joy to meet readers face-to-face that I had only met online. So many wonderful stories and hugs and photos. Such an amazing day. And it was all thanks to these two ladies. This mother and daughter team dedicated so much time and effort to this event. Great job, Mandy and Joyce!

What a crazy, wonderful trip! I don’t even mind too much that my flight was cancelled, forcing me to stay in a hotel an extra night.

If you had been able to attend the Mississippi River Reader’s Retreat, which of the attending authors would you have wanted to grab an autograph from?

Moving Forward

Photo byMike Tinnion on Unsplash

For the first time in several years, I’m at the beginning of a story that will see publication. The blank page stares at me, mocking my previously noted ideas of character and plot. I have sudden urges to clean the house, reorganize my pantry, or go shopping. Even when I can hear the characters in my head and see the story taking place in my mind, putting those first words into black and white is often daunting for me.

Even if you aren’t a writer, perhaps you know this feeling, this paralysis at the beginning of a project. You feel the pressure of other people counting on you. The fear of not living up to expectations—your own and others’. The doubt in your ability to perform, even if you have a long track record doing that exact thing. So how do we move forward?

Here are four things that have helped me move both my writing and my life projects toward completion:

Acknowledge that the process will be messy. I love how author Geraldine Brooks describes the writing process: “Mess, mess, mess, mess, art.” I don’t know about you, but I usually want my process in whatever I’m seeking to accomplish to be “perfect, more perfect, perfection, finished.” Once I acknowledge things will get messier before it becomes a more organized completion, the less pressure there is to dive in and start.Pick a place and begin. Sometimes we get stuck at the beginning because we don’t know what the beginning actually is. And that’s okay. Start with what you do know. Either that will become the beginning or the thing you do will help you to find the beginning.Set daily goals. This can be an amount of time you spend on the project each day or, as in the case of writing, a number of pages or words. But whatever marker you choose for your goal-setting, hold yourself to it, even if at the end of that “session” you don’t feel like any real progress was made. You did make progress, even if it doesn’t look as you’d envisioned. If nothing else, you figured out what not to do in reaching for your goal the next day.Reward yourself. Even if you didn’t do as much as you wanted to do, even if you didn’t do it as well as you wanted to do it, there is always something you did well or right. Did you meet the goal you set? Reward yourself! Can you see a tiny bit of progress toward the final goal? Reward yourself! It doesn’t have to be anything big. In fact, small, daily goals need small rewards. (Save the big ones for the end of the project!) Reward yourself with reading an extra chapter in a book or taking a bubble bath or even just allowing yourself a few quiet minutes alone. Anything, really, as long as you take a minute to acknowledge that you have, indeed, made progress, no matter how small.

The apostle Paul talked about life in similar terms.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on towardthe goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:13-14)

Considering that our projects in this life are God’s calling for us—whether writing or working or taking care of our homes and families—and are often a significant part of our sanctification process, I find these words so encouraging.

These are the things I’m focusing on as I slog forward these days. Because even slogging is forward motion. The finish line is ahead. I’ll get there as long as I keep moving.

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

How about you? Is there a project you are having trouble getting started? What are some things that have helped you begin—or keep moving forward in—something you want or need to complete?

Coeur d’Alene #18 is in the books!

Late last night I returned from my 18th annual writers retreat in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where, each July, I meet with ten other women to plot, to play, and to pray. What a precious time we had together this weekend. Although we dearly missed three of our number who couldn’t make it this year. Sniff, sniff.

L to R: Gayle DeSalles, Sharon Dunn, Sunni Jeffers, Karen Ball, Janet Ulbright, Robin Lee Hatcher (my roomie), moi, and our hostess-with-the-mostess Brandilyn Collins (missing this year was Francine Rivers, Tricia Goyer, and Sandy Sheppard)

This year actually should have been our 19th retreat. But due to Covid, we didn’t meet last summer. So while this past weekend marked 19 summers since our first gathering in 2003, it was only our 18th retreat. But next year, Lord willing, we’ll celebrate our 20 year anniversary.

We only had three formal plotting sessions this year (versus the customary 8 or so), but we brainstormed TWO books in my session, and I’m beyond excited about those stories (both standalone contemporaries). We had a session each for Robin and for Sharon, and both of those were great as well.

We spent a lot of time in prayer and study this weekend, opening God’s Word, postured to hear and receive from the Lord (as Psalm 81:10 says), and it truly was an anointed time.

For it was I, the Lord your God,
    who rescued you from the land of Egypt.
    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

And we for sure ate a ton of delicious food! We prep all of our meals in Brandilyn’s lovely kitchen. She set me loose in there on Saturday night, and I made my mom’s White Wine Chicken with Dirty Rice for everyone. I love making those (oh so easy!) dishes, and it was sweet to taste “Mom’s cooking” again.

We usually play games one evening, but this year we spent more time sharing about what the Lord has been doing in our lives, in our writing, and lifting each other up in prayer. Sunday night a few of us watched an episode of Season 2 of The Chosen, commenting as we did, and that was a treat.

What a treasure these friends are to me.

Idaho is battling numerous fires right now so it was very smokey while we were there. But on Sunday things cleared up enough for us to go to a local art fair. Talk about creativity abounding. I loved the pottery—and kettle & caramel corn!

Sunday afternoon is the customary time we snap our annual group pics, and this year was no different. But this “bench setting” was. Everything went well, for a minute or two…

Then mayhem broke out! LOL

I honestly don’t know what I’d do without these women, these dear sisters in Christ. We’ve walked through so much together over the past 19 years, and to think that we have an eternity with Christ ahead of us… Talk about a HUGE blessing!

Have you had some much-needed girl time lately? Do you have a special friend (or group of friends) who are Jesus in the flesh to you like these women are to me?

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Tammy