Becky Wade's Blog, page 137
January 18, 2021
Companions for the Journey
A long time ago, before I had published a single word, a writer friend invited me to join a Christian writers’ group. Of course, I declined. I was much too uncertain of my calling or my future as a writer to accept. Eventually, my friend talked me into it, and I discovered the many blessings of partnering with other companions in the journey of faith. I grew a lot over the next few years, in confidence and in my writing ability. And then my husband’s work involved a job change, and we moved from Canada back to the United States.
At the first Christian Writers’ Conference I attended in our new area, the leaders encouraged participants to form a critique group with other attendees who lived nearby. I leaped at the chance. The group was large at first, but commitment and determination soon whittled us down to a faithful few. For more than twenty-five years now, Jane Rubietta and Cleo Lampos and I have been meeting to share our lives, encourage each other, and critique each other’s writing. When we began, none of us were published—and none of our children were married. Now we all have multiple books and publications to our credit—and multiple grandchildren!
We have cried with each other through our many disappointments, and joyfully celebrated each publishing milestone. We brainstorm plots and characters and titles together—and we laugh a lot. And eat a lot. Our writers’ meetings always involve great food. There were times when each one of us was ready to quit, but we always convinced each other to hang on to our calling as writers. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without Jane and Cleo.
You’ll get to know them a little better next month because I have asked them to blog in my place during the month of February. I will be on a much-needed sabbatical from writing to recharge my batteries. I wrote a Christmas novella this year in addition to my usual, yearly novel, and I need a break. They will tell you a little about themselves and their work—which I’m always thrilled to endorse!
Where would any of us be without our friends? I know my life would be much lonelier without them. But even more than keeping us company, we all need people in our lives who will help us discover our gifts, and challenge us to step out in faith, and hold us accountable to the ministries God has given us. We see Christ through these friends and experience His deep love for us, in spite of our faults and failures. If you have friends who are dear to you, I hope you’ll take a moment this week to tell them how much they mean to you, and to celebrate God’s gift of friendship with them.
January 17, 2021
Inspired by Scripture
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January 15, 2021
My Favorite Covers of 2020
I love book covers! I never tire of admiring the skill and artistry of the graphic designers who create them.
At the start of every new year, it’s become my habit to look back at the Christian fiction covers of the year before. Here are some of my favorites from 2020. In my opinion, each of these covers do a fantastic job of fulfilling their purpose. 1) They grab my attention with a gorgeous blend of image, title, and fonts. 2) They communicate the novel’s genre, tone, and subject matter.
Beach Haven by T.I. Lowe
The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin
To Love a Prince by Rachel Hauck
The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright
She Walks in Majesty by Mary Lu Tyndall
Some Bright Someday by Melissa Tagg
The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden
End Game by Rachel Dylan
Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray
A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie KlassenWhich 2020 covers did you love?
January 14, 2021
Release Week Jitters & Fun
Tuesday Lethal Intent winged it’s way into the big wide world. Be sure to read to the end, because I want to give a copy to one of you.
If I were better at using GIFs, this is where I’d insert one of a cartoon character chewing his fingernails to nubs next to high fives and squeals. Even though this is book 35 or 36, it’s still a highwire act of emotion when a book is released. I spent an hour yesterday morning reading and responding to reviews on Goodreads and Bookbub. It’s fascinating and nerve-wracking to experience readers’ reactions to my books. I love this graphic with a favorite line from the book that one reader made.
I loved it when I wrote it, and I love it even more now. I can hear Caroline say it with so much Southern sass. She’s a petite spitfire in my mind. One who seems so sweet, and then she zings ya.
As I’m posting this way too late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning, I’m so grateful for everyone who posted reviews already. Those early reviews help readers discover new books. You can imagine my surprise (and delight) to see Lethal Intent spend two day at #1 for New Releases in the Medical Thriller category (It also blipped up there for Legal Thriller, but there are a lot more books in that category…hmmmm.). It made me smile, because I knew since I spent less than a week imagining being a nurse, that medical school was not for me. That was only emphasized by the number of times I fainted as a young adult. Eye dr. Dentist. Dr’s office. Any time I got stressed or a needled was invovled, watch out. I was going to hit the floor, not a trait you want in your medical provider. I’ve even gotten faint reviewing medical records for trials. So yes, I smiled and kept smiling with that category choice. Thank you, Amazon.
Tuesday night I had such fun with Chris Jager and the Baker Book House team as they hosted an author event that was my launch event. Readers asked so many wonderful questions that the time flew. It was a blast, and you can watch it here, especially if you want to know what I’m reading, books I recommend, what types of books I listen to and so much more. The link is here.
I also wanted to share a couple quick ebook sales with you. If you’ve been reading here for awhile, you may have grabbed Imperfect Justice on a prior sale. If not, this is a great time to snag it and try one of my romantic suspense. Also, my friend Janine Rosche had a book launch on Tuesday, too, with Glory Falls. While it’s the third book in a series, the first This Wandering Heart is on ebook sale for the first time. I really enjoyed this book, and encourage you to grab and read it now.
January 12, 2021
Inspired by the Arts
As an author, I’m clearly inspired by the art of writing, but I don’t know how many authors consider writing an art and how many consider it a craft. I honestly view it as both. It’s part art, which I define as divine inspiration from our Creator to create. I believe it’s woven into us when God places us in our mother’s womb. It doesn’t automatically come out wonderful. I didn’t sell my first novel. It took time, practice and lots of patience to learn to trust the instincts God had given me.
Next is craft, which I define as skills and techniques you use to tell a story. This includes learning about point of view, characterization, theme, description, etc. Learning craft never ends. No writer ever knows it all. There are always ways to improve, whether it be in workshops, craft books or reading novels voraciously. Always continue to learn.
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
When you combine art and craft you get a strong, unique, and compelling story.
Of course, story isn’t the only form of art. Paintings, sculptures and embroidered tapestry are just a few of the breathtaking art I saw in the Vatican. I looked at Michelangelo’s painting of Sistine Chapel in awe. You can see the love and passion in it. Just amazing.
There are so many artistic expressions, I couldn’t delve into them all here today, but so many more exist such as photography, music, calligraphy, quilting and woodworking…
I leave you with this stirring quote that makes me ponder the vastness of God’s love and the expression of His Creation, along with the gift of creating instilled into us.
“The discipline of creation, be it to paint, compose, write, is an effort towards wholeness. ” ~ Madeleine L’Engle
Questions for you: What is your favorite expression of art? Do you have a favorite painting, or song, or book?
A Gift and a Giveaway
I was surprised and touched to receive an amazing gift from a talented quilter-friend: a quilt based on the coverlet Jane Austen made with her mother and sister.
Vicki Jones, quilter Bryan Jones, and me.The original coverlet quilt is on display at Jane Austen’s House Museum, which we visited during a group tour I was privileged to host in 2019. We saw the quilt (and much more) during the visit and I am honored and delighted to now have this beautiful replica.
Display case at Jane Ausen’s House Museum, Chawton, England.Here is a close-up view of the Austens’ quilt:
Quilt detail: Jane Austen’s House Museum.Since it is so much fun to give as well as to receive, I’d like to give away a small gift. Bryan and Vicki gave me charming Microfiber Lens Cloths featuring Jane’s Coverlet and I would like to share one with someone who admires Jane Austen, too.
If that’s you, leave a comment with your email address (use the (at) and (dot) format, e.g. julie(at)julieklassen(dot)com). Thank you!
January 11, 2021
I’m about to blow your diet!
If one of your New Year resolutions involves cutting calories, I apologize in advance, but today I want to share a wonderful source of great recipes from my friend and fellow Kansan, Deborah Vogts.
Debbie is a woman of many talents—author, gardener, antique-er, mama, grandma, and more—but today I’m focusing on Debbie’s talents in the kitchen! Last night I made a pan of her Blonde Brownies and they are delicious! As are all the recipes I’ve tried from her wonderful website, Country at Heart Recipes.
Debbie says: “I grew up in the country surrounded by dedicated cooks who knew how to feed hungry families. Having passed on that knowledge to my daughters, I would now like to share some of my recipes with you! My husband and I have three grown and married daughters and live on land my grandpa once farmed . . . along with our horses, cats, and Luther, our black Labrador. To put it simply, I love living in the country — fresh air, quiet atmosphere, breathtaking sunsets. And that, my friends, is how Country at Heart Recipes came to life.”
Debbie is also mom to The Vogts Sisters, who make gorgeous music! We had the privilege of hosting them in our home a few years ago when they had a gig in Wichita. We had a blast garage sale-ing with Debbie and her daughters while they were with us.
If you haven’t checked out The Vogts Sisters‘ music, you don’t know what you’re missing! Click the image or link above and click PLAY in the right-hand sidebar to hear a lovely sample.
Happy New Year and happy eating!
January 10, 2021
Inspired by Scripture
This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashEntertainment.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.
January 8, 2021
A New Series & New Book! (Plus a Giveaway!)
A Cowboy for Keeps, the first book in my Colorado Cowboys series, is now available!
As I’ve shared the word about my newest series, some of my readers are surprised by the cowboy theme. And I’ve had to reassure everyone that, no, I’m not switching genres and writing westerns! This new series is another historical romance with my trademark plot twists, vibrant settings, and deeply emotional characters. But this time the package includes hunky cowboys!
In order to research the series, I decided I was long overdue for a vacation to Colorado. Let me tell you, the trip was such a trial (NOT!). Actually, I really love visiting Colorado. When I was a child, I lived up in the high country in Granby in Middle Park. Then my husband and I lived in Denver for a few years while he went to grad school. So in some ways, Colorado feels like home.
During the research trip for this series, I stayed in Breckenridge (and brought my family along for the fun!). We had a blast hiking, fishing, and visiting historic sites. As we toured South Park and the Fairplay area (the setting of the series), I was struck by the vastness of the grassland there and knew it would be the perfect place to set the ranch for this series. Here’s a picture I took that gives you a slight idea of the magnitude of the land and beauty up in the high country.
I loved the area and took notes on everything and also snapped way too many pictures! Here are a few more pictures from my trip (which, thankfully took place before 2020!).
Example of a small log cabin settlers lived in
A wood-burning stove used by settlers
A typical rope-slung bed
We made a moose friend!
My three daughters basking in the viewFor a chance to WIN a copy of my newest release, please fill out the Rafflecopter form!
Question for YOU? What fascinates you most about the West, the mountains, and/or Cowboys?
January 7, 2021
2020: A Year of . . . Blessings
If you are like most people, you couldn’t wait to leave 2020 behind. I don’t blame you. In fact, I felt much the same. So much heartbreaking sickness and death, social and political unrest, economic difficulties, cancelled events, personal restrictions . . . the list goes on and on. But with all the hardship and negativity, I think it is important for us to count our blessings and focus on the GOOD things that happened in 2020. After all, God did not abandon us. He’s been at our side for the entire turbulent ride, blessing us with His presence and His strength.
So here are my . . .
Top 5 Blessings of 2020
5. I’ve had more time to read this year. I even managed to complete the entire reading challenge put together by my Posse for 2020. (If you are interested in joining The Posse Reading Challenge for 2021, come join our Facebook group here!)
4. My empty nest was filled again as COVID brought my children home from college for an extended Thanksgiving/Christmas stay. Loved having that extra time with them!
3. I witnessed two of my children graduate – my son from high school, and my daughter with two college degrees in Math and Computer Science. So proud of them both!
2. My husband and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary. There were no big trips or fancy parties to mark the occasion, but the man I love was by my side, and that was all I needed. So thankful to be sharing my life with a godly man who remains steadfast no matter how stormy life’s sea becomes.
1. The biggest blessing of 2020 . . . My son got engaged! I’m going to be a mother-in-law! Wyatt proposed on Christmas Eve, making this the best possible conclusion to 2020 that I could imagine. We adore McKenna, and are so happy for the two of them. (The future in-law families are in the picture at the top of the post.)
What blessings did you experience in 2020?
