Becky Wade's Blog, page 129
April 26, 2021
♫♪ On the road again… ♫♪
I don’t think this is the first time I’ve titled a post with the words to Willie Nelson’s iconic song, but Ken and I are on the road again—this time a three-week trip south from our southeast Missouri home into Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and who knows where else! Best of all, we’re meeting up with some dear friends from our newlywed days in the Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee, and spending some time with Inspired by Life…and Fiction‘s own Tamera Alexander and her husband, Joe, on our way back home.

We’ve completed one week of our trip and it has been absolutely wonderful! As some of you may remember, Ken dragged me kickin’ and screamin’ into this whole camping-in-an-RV business, but this time around my enthusiasm has matched (or maybe even exceeded) his. I think partly because of the connections with friends, but also because this has been my dream trip!


On Saturday, I fulfilled a long-time dream of visiting St. Simons Island, Georgia, the setting for many of author Eugenia Price’s compelling novels that my mom shared with me when I was a young woman. We both loved Ms. Price’s stories and especially the true history of St. Simons Island that they contained. I shed a few happy tears when Christ Church came into view. It didn’t even matter that my view was through the pouring rain.

We have seen so much of God’s amazing Creation on our travels. Here are just a few more highlights from the first week of our trip.







Friends, I hope you all are doing well and enjoying spring wherever you are.
April 25, 2021
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.
April 23, 2021
Cover Model Interview
For almost all of my books — My Stubborn Heart is the only exception — Bethany House has organized a cover photo shoot. And I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing all of the people who posed for those shoots. Sometimes, they were friends of Bethany House employees. Sometimes they were models. Every couple on my covers was also a couple in real life. The same is true of Let It Be Me’s cover models Lissa and Spencer! This married duo portray characters Leah and Sebastian, who share their first initials. I’m envisioning L + S carved into a tree with a heart around it!
Thanks so much, Lissa and Spencer, for enabling me to keep my interview tradition alive. It was a treat to get to know you through this Q & A!
How did you meet?

Lissa: “We met at a bowling alley in Minnesota during the fall of 2011. Spencer was on a bowling league and I was out with some girlfriends. As fate would have it, he came up to me and asked if he could play a game of darts with us – we played and laughed together the rest of the evening! We both knew there was something special about each other so we exchanged numbers and kept in contact over the next few months. We eventually started dating and the rest is history.”
Can you each tell me a little bit about yourself?

Spencer: “I grew up in Rapid City SD and from a young age formed a love for sports and the outdoors, particularly baseball. I ended up playing baseball competitively for almost 30 years including in college at the Div. 1 level for Purdue University.
Our family was small and extremely loving and supportive. I have one younger sister; she and I are very close.
I studied mechanical engineering at Purdue and completed my Bachelor’s degree in 2007. I then went straight to work as a technical sales professional for Trane Technologies. I will celebrate 14 years with the company this August.
I’ve stopped playing baseball as of 2 summers ago, but I still love sports, play lots of golf, and really enjoy training and hunting with our German Wirehaired Pointers, Surly and Porter. Lissa and I have 6 nieces under the age of 5! and we LOVE spoiling them as Auntie and Uncle.”

Lissa: “I was born and raised in Prior Lake, MN. My parents still live in the same house I grew up in so when I visit, it’s very nostalgic. I went to college at Minnesota State University Mankato where I studied Psychology and Dance. I live in Minneapolis now with my husband and our two dogs. I’m the social media strategist at a local production company in the Twin Cities called Uptop Films. I love anything that has to do with film and production!”
How did you become the cover models for Let It Be Me?
Lissa: “I was contacted by one of my agents about this opportunity – since I had never done a book cover, I was very intrigued. She asked if my husband would be interested in being a part of this project and without hesitation, I said yes! Haha, I basically told him he had to be a part of this and that it would be a fun experience together. We had a great time on set and really got to connect in an intimate way.”

When you think back to the day of the cover shoot, what memories stick out?
Lissa: “It felt like our wedding day all over again.”
What do you think of the finished cover?
Lissa: “The cover is gorgeous! And it reminds me of how much love we have for each other.”

And now (just for fun) a quiz to see how similar you each are to Sebastian and Leah, the hero and heroine of Let It Be Me….
Spencer:
Did you ever consider a career as a pediatric heart surgeon? “No.”
Do you enjoy watching soccer on TV? “I like the World Cup.”
Have you ever experienced an earthquake? “Yes, but a very minor one.”
Do you like flying in planes? “I love flying, but my experience has been limited to commercial travel only thus far.”
Are you a fan of Sinatra’s music? “Who doesn’t like Sinatra?!”
Lissa:
Do you love math? “Yes! Just not great at it…”
Do you have a younger brother? “Nope. I’m the youngest of 3 sisters.”
Do you like mid-century modern architecture and interior design? “Love mid-century modern! I wish I had a better eye for it because I would have changed the interior of my entire house!”
Have you been to Georgia? “Never, but it’s on my list.”
Are you a fan of Star Wars (and Han Solo in particular)? “Not sure yet. I’ve never seen the movies! Although, a young Harrison Ford would be nice to watch.”
Readers, didn’t their cover turn out great?

Let It Be Me releases in less than two weeks! There’s still time to take advantage of the pre-order deal offered by Baker Book House. 40% off list price for a signed copy + free shipping in the USA.
Here’s a peek at the book’s plot:
The one woman he wants is the one he cannot have.
Former foster kid Sebastian Grant has leveraged his intelligence and hard work to become a pediatric heart surgeon. But not even his career success can erase the void he’s tried so hard to fill. Then he meets high school teacher Leah Montgomery and his fast-spinning world comes to a sudden stop. He falls hard only to make a devastating discovery — Leah is the woman his best friend set his heart on months before.
Leah’s a math prodigy who’s only ever had one big dream—to earn her PhD. Raising her little brother put that dream on hold. Now that her brother will soon be college bound, she’s not going to let anything stand in her way. Especially romance… which is far less dependable than algebra.
When Leah receives surprising results from the DNA test she submitted to a genealogy site, she solicits Sebastian’s help. Together, they comb through hospital records to uncover the secrets of her history. The more powerfully they’re drawn to one other, the more strongly Sebastian must resist, and the more Leah must admit that some things in life—like love—can’t be explained with numbers.
Readers, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the interview!April 22, 2021
Headshots and Deep Thoughts

One of the joys of the writing life is getting headshots. Really. I mean who doesn’t love getting their photo snapped, over and over, and over and over. I really don’t mind, but I was surprised to realize it had been four and a half years since my last headshots were taken. My time flies when you’re stuck at home!
There’s the angst of what to wear. And what if my hair doesn’t cooperate. Does anyone really care what I look like? You aren’t going to choose to read or not read my books based on a photo…right?
What made this go around so fun is that my oldest got headshots at the same time. She’s a junior at Purdue and in a class where the teacher is insisting they need more than a selfie for the LinkedIn profiles. That’s an assignment this mom can get behind.

I also happened to see that one of my friends (her son’s journey was part of the inspiration for Lethal Intent) was taking headshots. That seemed like the perfect confluence. So we met on campus and got some great photos taken. My girl is stunning, and it was a little surreal to see her all dressed up and professional.
There’s also a bit of me that wants to stop time. This is my baby. The one who made me a mother. Now look at her stepping into young adulthood.
I guess I’m feeling nostalgic. We’ve got one more year with her before she graduates and launches into whatever God has next for her.
Our son has committed to Purdue where he has earned a top scholarship. Again, it’s stunning to watch how he’s grown and to see what God is planting in him. With him, we’re weeks from high school graduation, and trying to decide who doesn’t get to go hear him give his valedictorian speech in person. Four tickets. Five immediate family members. Gulp!
Most of all, I’m feeling grateful. We are blessed beyond measure to have such a great group of kids. What are you grateful for this week?

I’m also feeling the need to celebrate with a giveaway of some book babies. Did you know I have a YouTube channel? My 17 year old spent time this week helping me with the branding. Hey, if he wants to tell me how to make it look good, I’m all in. But on this channel, you can find all the Book Talks from this year as well as info on the stories behind the stories. More of those are coming, but it’s a great way to learn more about my books and some of my favorite authors.
April 21, 2021
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Mystery
I promised a full post on this fascinating subject, and I’m delivering!
On our last full day in Boston, rain was the forecast. We looked online the night before trying to find tickets for a museum. Any museum. We only found availability at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which, after looking at the website information, was right up our alley! Works of art displayed in a historic home, curated by a fascinating 19th century woman.

Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) began collecting art in her 50s, after receiving a large inheritance from her father. I found it interesting that earlier in her life she collected books—many of which are still in the museum as well. (Oh to have been able to really look at them!) In 1902, after her husband had died, she built a place to house her treasures. It was styled after the Renaissance palaces in Venice, one of her favorite places in the world. She built what she called Fenway Court on the marshy land in the Fenway area of Boston. The museum opened in 1903.
In her will, Isabella stipulated that her collection would continue to be open to the public after her death. However, if they changed the arrangement of anything in the museum, the entire thing was to be sold and the proceeds given to Harvard! So it’s not only a fascinating museum of art, it’s a look into the mind of this woman as she chose specific locations for the things she collected.




The museum begins in the courtyard. It was so beautiful in so many ways! I could have spent my entire time just sitting here and enjoying its peacefulness and beauty! But of course we explored the rest, too. As we wandered through the beautiful building, listening to the the audio tour via QR codes in each room, we were astounded by the works of art in every corner, on every surface. Not only paintings, sculptures, books, etchings, sketches, etc, but also the architectural features of the building itself, the floor and wall coverings, and the furniture situated in each room as well. Visiting with a timed entry during a pandemic was also awesome because it wasn’t overcrowded! (See? There are some good things about pandemics!)




When we arrived in the Dutch Room, the audio tour explained the large blank frames on the wall—and the mystery of the largest art heist in history! You see, in March of 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Gardner Museum, including a Rembrandt, a Manet, and a Vermeer, among others. And they have never been recovered. Of course this only made us want to know more. On our way home that evening, our daughter found a 10 episode NPR podcast, Last Seen, about the robbery investigation. It remains the largest art heist in history. You can listen here. (Be sure to scroll to the end of the page and start with episode 1. The first 10 episodes are all about the Gardner Heist.) Or listen via You Tube below.
And just so happens that Netflix came out with a documentary on the subject just last week called This is a Robbery. It doesn’t cover as many of the different threads as the podcast, but we loved getting visuals on people and places we’d only heard about.

As you can imagine, if the FBI still hasn’t solved the case in over 30 years, the facts of it are very convoluted. One episode I’m sure “that guy” did it. The next, the other guy. It’s a crazy story that includes both the Italian and Irish mafias as well as just your run of the mill art thieves! If you love a good mystery or a cold case, check it out!
All in all, it’s a museum of fascinating and beautiful works of art, several of which Isabella Stewart Gardner obtained by out bidding major museums, like the Louvre! My daughter’s college friend who was an art major told her this museum is her favorite in the entire world.
If you ever get to Boston, be sure to check it out. Both the museum and its mystery will not disappoint.
Is there an art museum that you love over all the rest? Why?
April 20, 2021
Two Queries & a (really cool) Giveaway
I’m currently finishing my first contemporary novel (for Focus on the Family—tentative release date of Spring 2022, Lord willing) and I gotta say, I’m really enjoying a break from writing “real life” historical fiction. Not that I won’t return to that. I will.
In fact, I’ve already started the third and final full-length novel in the Carnton series (Christmas at Carnton is a novella). So as soon as I finish this contemporary, I’ll dive back into writing Nora’s story with plans to release that novel later this fall.

But you know me, I just can’t leave history alone. So even though this is a contemporary novel I’m writing right now, it might just have a historical thread woven through it too. Just sayin’. ; )
In a nutshell, the story is about a forty-ish, high-power, empty nest couple who’s going through a rough patch in their marriage. Stephen makes some fairly poor choices (#understatement) then, without warning, accepts a six-figure law partnership in Atlanta. Claire Powell finds herself ripped from her Colorado home, their daughter who’s just started college in Denver, and her own successful career in a leading Denver interior design firm. As a “peace offering” of sorts, Stephen buys Claire an old antebellum home sight unseen—and things quickly go from bad to worse.
My wonderful writing critique partner [with the initials of D(eb) R(aney)] is already reading the story for me, and oh, Deb’s comments and suggestions are stellar. She’s already helped me over one hurdle, and I’m sure there will be more as she continues reading. (Thanks, Deb!)
One fun thing happened the other day as she read. She suggested a fabulous cover idea after this reading passage:

She suggested that the last sentence would make a great cover for this story, and I agree. But we’ll see what happens when the book goes to committee. We’re early in the game and lots of conversations are yet to be had.
And now… Two quick questions for you that would help me in writing this novel. And no overthinking it!
QUERY #1
What do you think of when you hear the term antebellum home in current day? And remember, don’t overthink it. Just share what comes to mind when you think of an antebellum home.
QUERY #2
What comes to mind when you think of Atlanta? Again, the first thought(s) you have. Good, bad, or ugly. : }
There’s no wrong answer to either of these queries, and I’m eager to hear your thoughts. So please leave a quick comment below!
And now… THE GIVEAWAY!
LILACS IN BLOOM
an original painting by bestselling author
ANGELA ELWELL HUNT
Isn’t it lovely!

This is a 16 x 20 painting painted with palette knives, not brushes. Impressionistic style! And frankly, I’m kind of wishing I’d kept this one for myself. : }
ONE READER FRIEND will win this gorgeous original painting by Angie Hunt.
ENTER TO WIN by May 1, 2021
Blessings on your Tuesday, friends,
Tamera
April 19, 2021
A Day of Filming
We’re getting closer! My newest novel, “Chasing Shadows,” will be released in just two more months, on June 8. So, a few days ago, my publisher, Tyndale House, sent a film crew to my home to interview me about the book. It was quite interesting to have my home transformed into a recording studio, with lights and cameras and complicated-looking equipment.

It seemed like there was a lot going on around me as I sat there smiling and talking and answering questions. It was hard not to get distracted as I described the novel, which takes place in The Netherlands during World War II. I talked about the inspiration for the book, and described my three main characters, Lena de Vries, her daughter Ans de Vries, and Miriam Jacobs, a Jewish refugee.


When the interview ended, we switched gears and moved to an outdoor setting. I live in Holland, Michigan, which originally was settled by Dutch immigrants, and our town just happens to have a beautiful park with a 250-year-old windmill imported from the real Holland. It’s the only authentic, working Dutch windmill in the United States. There’s a windmill in “Chasing Shadows” but you’ll have to read the book to find out more about it. My town of Holland also has millions of tulips, which are just beginning to bloom in time for the annual Tulip Time Festival in May.

I will announce the links to the finished interview when the film is completed and edited. But in the meantime, I’m giving away an autographed copy of my novel “Waves of Mercy,” which I wrote a few years ago. It tells the story of the Dutch immigrants who settled Holland, Michigan in 1857. The area was still a wilderness, but the settlers were escaping religious persecution in the Netherlands and were happy to be here. Simply leave a comment below and I will randomly choose a winner. Happy Springtime!

April 18, 2021
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.
April 16, 2021
What To Do After Completing a Book

I recently received an email from a writer named Payton who completed the first draft of her first book. She had a lot of great questions. Here’s one: “What does your process intel after finishing that first draft? What should I do?”
This is a question I actually get from a lot from new writers completing a book. Let me tackle the question by first sharing what my process is. Second, I’ll finish with my suggestion for Payton and other new writers.
My process after completing a book:
After I finish the first draft of a book, I put that baby to bed. Yes, I tuck it away, tell it night-night, and let it get a good long sleep . . . sometimes for several months.
I know that may sound strange. But a few weeks to a few months allows me some space from the story I fell in love with. Then when I finally take a look at it again, I’m able to approach it with a fresh perspective, a clearer vision, and an objective view.
Obviously, a writer can’t necessarily put their book to bed if they’re working right up to a deadline, which is sometimes inevitable. But if at all possible, I think putting some distance between ourselves and our stories is important before we go in to self-editing and professional editing.
My suggestion for new writers completing a book:
Every book needs lots of editing, whether the first or fortieth. However, I will probably shock new writers when I tell them to hold off on editing their first book and instead go on to write a second and maybe even a third book while learning everything they can about writing and applying it.
What I found personally is that with each book I wrote, my skills grew by such leaps and bounds that when I finally went back to my first couple of manuscripts, I could view them more realistically and see that they were far from ready for publication.
I know that encouraging a beginning writer NOT to push forward with publication with a first or even a second manuscript may be considered negative or pessimistic.
But the truth is, all I really want to do is save the beginning writer from a bucketload of frustration. I’ve seen too many newbies brimming with excitement over that first manuscript RUSH to self publish the book only to end up disappointed as the days and weeks pass by with only a few sales and reviews from close family and friends.
If a writer truly wants to have success with publication, then don’t rush it. Take the time to practice and learn writing. Study the market. Get savvy about publication.
Doing all the hard work and being patient will eventually pay off! Persistence is one of the most important qualities in writers who eventually go on to have writing careers.
What about YOU? What is your process? And what advice would you give a new writer after completing a book?
April 15, 2021
Modern Day Time Portals

I love stepping back in time. Through the pages of a book, the visual delight of a period movie or television series, looking at old pictures, digging into research, or even working on a craft that has been practiced for hundreds of years. There is something about the past that is just so romantic and enticing to me.
It probably comes as no surprise, then, that when my daughter and I met up in Waco for a girl’s weekend, we spent our time stepping through as many time portals as we could. I’ve already shared photos of some of the antique quilts we saw on our historic home tours, but today, I’d like to share some photos from my favorite tour of the the day – The East Terrace House Museum.

The tour started off in perfect style when the door was opened by our docent who was dressed in period costume. She is a history student from Baylor working on her master’s degree, and she was the perfect hostess.

The first room we toured was the library, which of course became one of my favorites. Reading by a fire with plenty of natural light in what was probably the quietest room of the house.

Passing through the doorway with our guide, we came to the ladies sitting room. A larger space with more furniture to allow one to sit with friends and family while plying a needle or writing some letters. It is hard to tell from this photograph, but the desk and chair in the corner that belonged to Mrs. Mann seemed better suited to a child. She was such a tiny woman, that even with the full skirts of her day, her chairs were more comparable to those for children than adults.

Next we came to the elaborate dining room. The table is set with the family china, and each place setting has its own salt cellar. They preserved so many family heirlooms in this marvelous home.

The next set of rooms we came to were large, open double parlors that could be used for all manner of entertaining. These were matched on the second story with a long ballroom. But on the main floor, the highlight was the nook on the far end that created a music room with Cemira’s harp and piano.

At the back of the house was the kitchen. When the home was originally built, the kitchen would have been detached from the house, but as time passed and things were modernized, it joined with the main house.

At the back of the kitchen were a set of stairs, and at the top of these stairs was the bathroom that would serve the family whose bedrooms were situated on this second floor. The Mann home was the first to have running water in Waco, although initially, the water only ran one direction–out. Water would still have to be heated on the kitchen stove and carted upstairs, but when the bath was over, the water would drain out. Not too much longer, the Waco Waterworks were built right across the street from East Terrace, allowing full-service plumbing.

This bedroom was a guest suite situated off of the ballroom. Ladies could use it as a retiring room to rest or repair their hair or dress. Or if the party lasted long into the night, it could serve as an overnight respite. It is not visible in this photo, but there was also a Murphey bed along the wall on the left. When put up, it looked like a fancy wood panel with a full-length mirror attached. But if called upon, it could be lowered to allow more space for guests to sleep.

I saved my favorite place in the house for last. This staircase let up to the tower room that offered magnificent views of the Brazos and surrounding areas. But it is this nook tucked beneath the staircase that captured my heart. A small little sewing nook with natural lighting and trunk to hold supplies. I would love to convert this into a cozy reading nook with shelves full of my favorite historical novels close at hand. I think I’ll keep the sewing machine, though, for ambiance.

Do you enjoy touring historic homes or perhaps collecting antiques?
Which room shown above would you choose to incorporate into your own home?