Becky Wade's Blog, page 70

When Did You Discover Your Love of Reading?

I recently asked, “How old were you when you discovered your love of reading?” on my Facebook author page. I found the answers fascinating and heartwarming! For this post, I’m hitting on the themes I saw repeated again and again.

First Grade

This was the most common answer! For numerous women, learning to read went hand in hand with loving to read.

“I learned to read in first grade. I couldn’t wait for our bookmobile to come to school.” – Brenda Murphree

“First grade, six years old. I’m almost at 60 years of reading. It has been so many wonderful things to/for me. Truly a blessing from God.” – Judy Faloon

“First Grade – my brother walked with me to the library, helped me sign up for and get my library card, showed me where to look, and helped me carry home my stack of the maximum number of books that could be checked out.” – Ruth Ebert

Never Too Late

Thankfully, there’s still hope for those who don’t tap into the joy of reading early. The take-away: these women simply needed to find the right genre for them.

“In my 30’s. My sister gave me a book of hers and for the first time ever, a few pages in, I was hooked!!” – Lisa Winter

“I used to hate reading. Then around 35 I lived out in the country and a book mobile library came by my house monthly for my 3 homeschool boys and she introduced me to Christian fiction and I have loved it ever since.” – Marilyn Johnson

“25. I used to read while nursing my 3rd child. I needed an escape from the other two who were 2 and 4. And my love of Christian romance kind of took off from there!” – Jessica Johnson

“35…I used to HATE reading. Just hadn’t found what I liked. Found Christian fiction romance and can’t stop reading!” – Clarissa Hehman

Mothers

So many of our mothers sowed a love of reading in us. Bravo, moms!

“My precious mother read to us from birth on.” – Lisa Taylor

“Before I could read my mom read to my brother and me before bedtime. One of the highlights of my life in those days.” – Marcia Brown

“Mom read to us every night. I loved to look at the pages with words. They were calling to me. When I started kindergarten, mom had already taught me my ABC’s and many words so I could read some myself. It didn’t take long to be into books myself. Haven’t looked back!” – Lori Smanski

Libraries

No one can overstate the pivotal link between libraries and a love of reading.

“I remember going to the library and getting a huge stack of books. (Think Matilda.)” – Ladette Kerr

“Even before kindergarten I loved being at the local library and picking out books to “read”. I was always part of the library’s Reading Challenge where you earned stickers for books read. Loved it!!!!” – Suzy Clem

“I remember my sister and I going to the library (it was very close by) picking out books in the morning, then taking them back in the afternoon.” – Connie Price

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew was the most-often named series that captured the hearts of readers. [I wonder if this is partly because it was empowering for girls to live in the shoes of a young female character who was both smart and brave.] The Hardy Boys, Boxcar Children, and Judy Blume books were honorable mentions. God bless the authors penning engaging stories for children, both now and then.

“When I discovered the Nancy Drew books, which was at age 11/12…My pocket money was just enough to buy one book a month” -Adele Welgemoed

“When I was 8 years old and my mother bought me my first Nancy Drew book at the beginning of the summer. I couldn’t put it down.” -Anne Wolters

“I remember reading every Nancy Drew novel I could get at my school library.” – Kate Gross

“When I discovered chapter books, like Nancy Drew and The Babysitter’s Club, and I began devouring books.” – Heather Byrd

The dream of reading from a young age

“Before I could even read I would always take a chapter book with me places and run my finger along the words pretending I was reading.” – Abbi Hart

“I literally read in my crib! I had to have books lined up all around my crib in order to sleep!” – Holly Signorino

“I wanted to read well before I started school. I was just told that I would be able to read once I went to school. My mom told me I came home angry my first day because I couldn’t read. I guess I thought something magic happened when I walked through those doors.” – Pam Morrison

Do you relate to the above?

Before I go, I’m delighted to announce that my new release, Memory Lane, is now widely available as an audiobook! I hand-picked the narrators and oversaw the production of this project and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. If you’re an audiobook person, I hope you’ll give it a listen!

Audible | My Website | Scribd | Audiobooks.com | and more!

Writing a book in less than Three Weeks

I’m reaching the end of a season of intense writing. It’s been so good because 14 months ago, I thought my writing days might be over. Then the floodgates opened and I’ve written four books under contract in less than a year. It’s been intense y’all!

It’s also been really fun.

But it’s meant I’ve had to pull out all of my tricks to make it work.

This current book I’m writing will be drafted from 0 words to 55,000 in three weeks…with everything else happening in life. The main way that is happening is because I have an incredibly detailed outline. I haven’t written this way in awhile, and I’d honestly forgotten how easy it makes life. I get to spend my time now making the scenes come to life and thinking about how it all flows rather than wondering what comes next.

It also means the discovery piece happened a couple months ago when I was getting ready to do the first macro edit of my prior book. If that sounds a little out of order, it’s because it is. My prior novel is the first in this next legal romantic suspense series and releases next May from Kregel publisher. This book I’m writing now is the prequel and will release in August (yes, this August) with a loose collection of books with other amazing romantic suspense authors. So this book comes first, but I’m writing it second.

That’s why I broke my more recent style and wrote an eight page outline — I had to know more of this story before I could attempt the macroedit for the next book. And now I’ll fix a few more things in that story based on what I’ve discovered writing this one.

I’ve also got spin off ideas churning in my mind based on a character who’s raised his hand in this novel. It could be a lot of fun to give him his own book. When my husband and I went out of town for a quick overnight last month, I got a three book idea, and this could be a bridge to that as well. I love it when my mind starts spinning with creative ideas that layer together like that.

So this is the fun and the intense work of writing. 10 days and 34,000 words. Now to squeeze 20,000 more words out in the next four. Wish me luck!

What’s in a Writer’s Bag?

Hello! I’m Christen Krumm, author of the new Sunrise novel, On the Golden Cliffs. I’m really excited to be here with Inspired by Life and Fiction!

While writing On the Golden Cliffs, my family and I lived in both a two-bedroom apartment as well as a 250-foot RV (after we moved out of said apartment due to a pipe bursting and the apartment flooding). Being in small spaces with three kids between the ages of seven and twelve, meant many times I worked in libraries or coffee shops. My writer’s bag was always packed with what I lovingly referred to as my “office on the move.” We are now in a house, and I’m on to working on my next Big Sky book, but I still have my writer bag packed with all the essentials so whether I’m escaping to my bedroom, or our small-town coffee shop, I always have what I need.

What’s in my writer’s bag

Laptop | 99% of my writing is done on my computer via Scrivner.

Molskine Notebook | I have one of these for every single project. It is my project Bible. I will drop everything from photos for character inspiration, character bios, random notes, scene ideas, and anything else that I drop in here. Generally, this notebook goes everywhere with me (writing or not) while I’m working on the project.

Various Oils and Creams for Sore Muscles | Being a writer means I type — a lot, and as such my shoulders love tensing up on me. I make sure I always have some kind of cream or oil on hand for these moments (and the peppermint oil is because I love putting a drop in my water. It really wakes up the senses, and peppermint is my favorite anyway J)

Lotion | To make sure my hands stay moisturized.

Snacks | When I’m writing, my favorite snack is some kind of sour gummy — worms, bears, octopi. But this week I’m eating all the chocolate.

Earbuds | I love listening to music while I write.

Pens and Other Writing Utensils | For those times drafting via computer just isn’t working or I need to jot down a quick note.

If you’re a writer, what is something that’s always in your writer’s bag? If you’re a reader, what is something you make sure you are never without? I’d love to hear!

Thanks so much for reading! I’d love to connect with you on Instagram (@christenkrumm). If you shoot me a DM and let me know you found me on Inspired by Life and Fiction, I’ll drop some happy mail your way!

Spring at Last

Spring has finally—and abruptly—arrived here in Minnesota. On Friday, there was still snow on my little garden plot of perennials. On Saturday, it had melted enough that I could rake away the remaining leaves from last autumn. Two days later, my crocuses bloomed.

Spring drew on: she was indeed already come; the frosts of winter had ceased; its snows were melted…and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps. Flowers peeped out amongst the leaves; snow-drops [and] crocuses…”

―Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

Sadly, our springs here in the north are often far too brief, and we seem to go from winter to summer in a matter of days. True to form, we’re expecting temperatures in the mid-80s later this week. So, during this short span of spring-like weather, I want to relish every moment. Today I went for a long walk and we opened the windows so our cats could enjoy the outside smells after a frigid winter.

Apparently, I am not the only author who romanticizes spring:

The day was uncommonly lovely. It was really March; but it was April in its mild air, brisk soft wind, and bright sun, occasionally clouded for a minute; and every thing looked so beautiful under the influence of such a sky…”

—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

‘Is the Spring coming?’ he said. ‘What’s it like?’…’It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine, and things pushing up and working under the Earth.’”

—Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

 That is one good thing about this world…there are always sure to be more springs.”

—L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

What is the weather like where you live? Is spring a favorite season with you, too?

When Plans Go Awry

One nice thing about being a writer is that any time something goes wrong in life, a writer says to herself, “I wonder how I could use this in a book…”

Ken and I are still traveling in Texas and New Mexico. We’ve had a great trip and everything has gone so wonderfully well that we really weren’t surprised when Sunday night as we pulled into Pecos, Texas on our way from a visit to Carlsbad Caverns, the engine of the Chinook made a funny popping sound and then a whole bunch more popping sounds. It was still running but something was very definitely wrong.

We were able to pull into a large, empty parking lot across from a gas station and after checking the tires and looking under the hood, we started making phone calls. AAA, our auto insurance, and after talking to them, local mechanics. Of course, nobody was open on Easter Sunday. But all is well (at least as I’m writing this post).

Even though we’ve been trying hard to cut way back on sugar, Ken and I made a new RV rule: If you have engine trouble and get stuck in a parking lot for the night, you get to have ice cream. Lots of it. No guilt. But there is SO much to be thankful for, despite the troubles:

1. It happened just as we entered a good-sized town.

2. We were able to drive to a safe parking place that “just happened” to be a public parking lot where 18-wheelers and RVs park all the time, according to a police dispatcher.

3. It’s right across the street from a gas station with a great little deli, good coffee, and the aforementioned ICE CREAM. Blue Bell, no less, since we are back in Texas after all.

4. We were able to schedule a mechanic for first thing Monday morning.

5. All our batteries and solar were fully charged and our water tank full, so it’s just boondocking as usual. (Boondocking is camping without any electric or water or sewer hookups.)

6. We have great phone service and even free wifi from a local business.

7. There’s a cool breeze coming in the windows and no need for the AC.

8. We were only 30 minutes from our campground when it happened so our drive to the next campground won’t be much longer than we’d anticipated.

We’re so very thankful it didn’t happen on Friday or Saturday when we’d have been waiting through the entire holiday weekend for help! Even more thankful it didn’t happen in the middle of the desert in 97-degree heat.

In our four years of RVing, this is our first breakdown, but if you have to have engine trouble, this is the best it could be. Of course, if I use this scene in a novel, I’ll have to make everything MUCH worse! Can’t let our characters off too easy.

We did have a much happier surprise for our Easter Sunday morning. We had a wonderful impromptu Easter sunrise service with some other campers at Brantley Lake State Park in New Mexico. Ken had planned to ask around to see if there was an Easter service planned at the park. He got to talking to a friendly woman (wearing a “Chosen” T-shirt!) outside our camper, and before long, Ken and Mary planned a service in our “backyard” behind our camper, and Mary spread the word around camp. We had nine people show up! Ken gave a short sermon on the resurrection, we sang “Amazing Grace,” then watched a beautiful sunrise, and got to know each other a bit. What a gift to meet God’s people wherever you go! A little taste of heaven. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

I pray and trust that you had a blessed Easter, and that no matter what is going on in your life, you can take comfort and hope in the fact that not only is our Savior risen indeed, but He is coming again! Oh what a day that will be!

Inspired by Scripture

Wishing a joyous Easter Sunday to all our friends and readers!

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.

The Things That Last

As a Christian novelist, I believe that I need to be steeped in God’s word if I am to have anything of value to offer the readers of my books. My desire for every book I write is that it will (1) entertain the reader while (2) drawing them one step closer to Jesus.

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40:8, NASB95)

Since 1997, I have made it a practice to read through the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, in odd-numbered years. In 2005, I actually read through twice because my church read The Bible in 90 Days together. In addition, I am always in a Bible study, either in a small group or on my own. I am hungry to know the living God better and better. As Paige Brown prays, “May we see Him more clearly. Love Him more dearly. Follow Him more nearly.” That’s what I want, and the primary way I know to do that is through the word of our God. It stands forever.

I am so very, very thankful for the many powerful and insightful teaching pastors and Bible study teachers who have impacted my Christian walk for the past 47+ years. And since they have impacted my Christian walk, they have also impacted my writing and therefore have impacted others through my books.

A reader wrote to me recently to say: “Robin, I have enjoyed so many of your books. Not only do they encourage, but they also draw the reader to God’s love and care. Your spiritual message is very clear, and I appreciate your books so much. May God continue to bless your ministry.”

I hope readers know how much writers appreciate such notes. They inspire us. They strengthen us. They motivate us.

However, my words won’t last forever. If the Lord tarries, eventually my books will become dust. But God’s word will last.

Before I go, I want to share something I heard in a recent Bible study teaching video. I loved it so much I had to go find the source so I could share with others. Enjoy!

GOD CAN DO IT

Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it, and make it worth $6,000—that’s genius.

Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth a million dollars—that’s capital.

Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it, and make it worth $20.00—that’s money.

A mechanic can take material that is worth only $5.00 and make it worth $50.00—that’s skill.

An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth $1,000—that’s art.

God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in the blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to humanity—that’s salvation.

—Christian Digest

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 334). Bible Communications, Inc.

A Collection of Historical Tidbits

Research is a huge part of writing any novel, but it plays an especially key role when it comes to historical fiction. Historical details are the building blocks that shape the story world for readers. They can help shape the plot and give extra dimension to the characters. They bring the setting to life and even offer wow moments when something particularly unique is revealed.

My latest project, In Her Sights, is the first book in a multi-author series that spans approximately 130 years, from 1893 to modern times. Since my novella provides the origin story of the pistol that passes from woman-to-woman through the rest of the series, it fell to me to set the details in place so that others could easily follow.

First, we needed a pistol.

When deciding on the gun we would model our pistol after, I turned to my handy-dandy 1895 Montgomery Ward catalog. I use this resource constantly when writing my historical fiction. It’s a great resource for everyday items and prices.

The base model of our pink pistol is a Smith & Wesson .32 caliber double action revolver. Since this was available with a pearl stock, we knew our gunsmith could customize it with a special mother-of-pearl pink handle.

You’ll note that this is a 5-shot weapon, not the usual six shooter. This ends up playing a key role in my story.

Next, we needed a gun case.

I found some antique gun cases online to model ours after then added a pocket to the lid lining for story purposes. The box is made of mahogany with brass hinges and a mother-of-pearl decorative inlay. The inside is lined with green velvet and has room for ammunition and cleaning implements.

This case is sure to get worn and banged up as it travels through time, but this is where it started.

Finally, I needed to select a time period that would allow our gunmaker to gift the pink pistol to Annie Oakley while still allowing my heroine to take lessons from the famed markswoman afterward.

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show toured Europe for quite some time in the late 1800’s, yet one particular US engagement lasted seven months and would have given our gunmaker ample time to finish his work and approach Annie.

After a successful European tour, Buffalo Bill brought his group home to the states and learned of the World’s Fair coming to Chicago to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of the Americas. Ever on the lookout for a way to get his show in front of a crowd, he sent his business manager to petition for a place at the fair. The committee agreed to let him participate for the price of 50% of all proceeds – not profits, but proceeds.

Buffalo Bill refused the steep tariff and outsmarted the fair committee by purchasing land adjoining the fairgrounds. He built a grandstand that would seat 18,000 spectators and opened his show 4 weeks before the grand opening of the World’s Fair and closing one day after the end of the fair’s run. In the end, he cleared about $1 million in profit and didn’t pay a cent to the fair committee.

Annie Oakley performed with the show in Chicago, and the day after closing night is when she receives a visitor with a special, pink-handled pistol in the opening scene of In Her Sights.

As a side note, I learned that Buffalo Bill Cody used the profits from this stint in Chicago to establish his namesake town in Wyoming. I’m going to be traveling to Deadwood, SD this summer for a book event called Wild Deadwood Reads, and one of the places I am planning to visit along the way is Cody, WY. Can’t wait!

What do you love most about the historical research that goes into your favorite historical novels?

The story world it creates?
The chance to learn something new?
Getting to meet real historical figures?
Other ________?

My First Audiobook Experience

I know we’ve had several posts lately about audiobooks, but since I am brand new to audiobooks, I’d thought I’d share my experience. 

My husband joined the audiobook bandwagon about six months ago—when he started getting a free audiobook a month with a periodical subscription. He decided he likes them so much that he signed up for Audible. 

I’ve long been a skeptic as far as enjoying audiobooks for myself. Years ago I tried to listen to a book and couldn’t stay focused on the story just listening.

All that changed this past weekend. 

A little backstory: we recently booked our summer vacation, which will actually happen in September. We are taking one of my bucket list trips—to Prince Edward Island. Oh, my L.M. Montgomery loving heart! I can’t even tell you how excited I am! 

My sweet husband has watched the 1985 movies with Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie with me, but he knows the books are always better than the movie. Thus, he decided he would read Anne of Green Gables before our trip. 

Then he saw the Audible Plus Literary Classics, which are included free with your subscription (don’t have to use a credit!). Anne of Green Gables was one of the titles, so he suggested we listen to it since we had to drive from Dallas to Austin and back again this weekend. (About 7 hours round trip.) 

Again, skeptical, but it’s Anne of Green Gables, so I agreed. Then I discovered the reader was none other than actress Rachel McAdams.

And wow! She did a fabulous job. Kept my attention completely. 

After we got back home, I went to the classics section included with Audible and realized that they have an amazing list of books read by some of the best actors around! I might have to “re-read” (i.e. listen to) some of my favorites again.

Here are a few included for free (in other words, you don’t have to use your credits!): 

Pride and Prejudice read by Rosamund Pike

Little Women read by Laura Dern 

Sherlock Holmes read by Stephen Fry

Frankenstein read by Dan Stevens

Wuthering Heights read by Joanne Froggatt

Heart of Darkness read by Kenneth Branagh

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland read by Scarlett Johansson

See a theme? I do so love a British narrator!  

I think I’m going to work my way back through some of these classics, but I also want to try to listen to a novel more recently written. 

So here’s my question for you—What is your absolute favorite book in audio? 

Two favorite things—books & salads

Two of my favorite things today…books & salads.

First, A fabulous new book on the craft of writing by our own Deb Raney!

LOVE the cover that Ken (Deb’s husband) designed!

Writing Cinematically truly is a “workshop-intensive-in-a-book that takes only an hour and a half to read, but will teach you to describe more visually and dynamically, revolutionizing the way you write. The book includes twelve lessons (plus a bonus) with numerous examples from well-published novelists, and prompts to help you apply each lesson to your own work in progress.”

Since Deb and I are writing critique partners, I had the pleasure of reading the book before publication, and I learned so much. You’ll no doubt recognize some of the authors Deb quotes. Because several are from this very blog. Love that she included us! (Thanks, again, Deb!)

If you’re a writer, I highly encourage you to check out Deb’s Writing Cinematically, which is based on a workshop Deb has taught for well over a decade. It’s only $2.99 and is available on Kindle Unlimited.

BUY WRITING CINEMATICALLY

Next, salads!

Have you heard of Hungry Lady Salads?

My daughter Kelsey introduced me to the Hungry Lady herself Kathleen Ashmore, and Kathleen’s now famous Mediterranean Chopped Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Dressing is an all-time FAVE!

Seriously, you must try this salad. It’s so delicious. And easy!

Click the image below to watch Kathleen make this salad on Rachael Ray…

Visit Hungry Lady Salads

If you love salads (or simply love to eat!), please consider making Kathleen’s Mediterranean Chopped Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Dressing. You will love it!

Thank you to everyone for your prayers for Nashville following the horrific school shooting here last week. The grief was palpable, and still is. But never doubt that even in the middle of such heartrending and senseless loss, God is working and moving. He’s so faithful. So present. So compassionate. While I didn’t know the people who died, many close friends did, and the lives of those lost last week will certainly not be forgotten. Their love and influence live on.

Yesterday’s service at our church was a time of prayer for the families and a time to focus on what it means to grieve with the hope of Christ. The worship was anointed and the message equally uplifting and instructive. When you have time this week, I’d encourage you to watch or listen.

So tell me . . . When it comes to books and salads, what’s a book or foodie site you’d like to share with me and our community today? I always appreciate your recommendations. But most of all, I appreciate you!

Much love from my corner of Nashville,

Tammy

You may look at this giveaway and think, “Really? A blending fork?”

But this little (or rather large) fork is an amazing kitchen tool that I use all the time. It’s especially fabulous for blending biscuit and pie dough. And brownies, too. So many uses! I first saw it on Collard Valley Cooks with Tammy, which is a Southern food lovers delight!

a Rafflecopter giveaway