Becky Wade's Blog, page 83

In Memory of Stacy

I’m sharing here the tribute to my sweet friend that I published earlier this week on Facebook and Instagram….

On Tuesday night I learned that one of the women in my local writers’ group had passed away suddenly. Stacy Simmons had surgery a week ago. This past Friday, I texted her to check on her and she responded right away, saying that she was doing well and hoping to be released from the hospital that day. Sure enough, later on Friday she was sent home to recover. Our group met without her Monday night, talked about how glad we were that all indications were that she was doing well and healing, and prayed over her. The next evening a family member posted that she’d died from complications from surgery. The news is a gut-punch to all of us.

We gathered for high tea in August. Stacy’s on the right.

Our group has been meeting here in the Dallas area for more than five years and we were so very blessed by Stacy’s involvement and friendship. She loved the writing community and took great joy in knowing and encouraging and supporting fellow writers. Her feed is filled with posts that spread the word about other people’s books. That was Stacy — humble, gentle, sweet, funny, happy, focused on others.

The words I heard her say the most often across the years were, “Thank you.” Second to that, she’d often use the term “book baby” for her current manuscript. She’d joke in her self-deprecating way and say, “My book baby is ugly y’all,” then laugh. But in everyone else’s “book babies” she saw beauty and skill. She valued people and she valued Christian fiction and she valued her beloved husband and daughters.

Stacy’s on the right

Stacy’s passing gives me an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all the writers, like Stacy, who feel called by God to write fiction for His glory. And spend years and untold hours doing just that. I’m thankful that Stacy’s debut book, A Promise for Faith, released this past January. Her novella collection released the day before her surgery. And her next book is scheduled to release this coming January. The timing was such that Stacy was able to experience the joy and achievement of seeing her work in print before going home to Heaven. She brought honor to the Lord through her creativity, obedience, and dedication. And she was a kind-hearted friend to many.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I’ll leave you with these words from Stacy’s husband Michael, “My message to everyone is don’t get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Don’t forget to stop and tell your loved ones “I love you”, give a kiss and hug. I so wish that I had that opportunity to give her one more hug and kiss.”

A Life Well Lived

Two weeks ago, my 96 year-old grandmother had a stroke. Saturday we will have her celebration of life ceremony. We were blessed as a family to spend an amazing three days together around my daughter’s wedding at the beginning of September, and I am so very grateful. I have lived the last six years with a growing awareness that any visit could be the last. Still those few days between her stroke and graduation to heaven had me looking back.

Grandma was a constant in my life. She lived on the family farm until about four years ago and then she moved into a duplex in town. You always knew she was up for a game and taught us new ones into the last year. In September, she was still beating us in multiple games, but Five Crowns was a recent favorite. If you’ve ever played that particular card game, you know it has multiple (unending it seems!) rounds of cards as you move from 3s to Kings. There are many times that as a family we will chose to shorten the game. Not Grandma. She was in until the bitter end — when I felt like I couldn’t manage all the cards, she didn’t let that slow her down.

Growing up, we played 10 point pitch and cribbage with this set of grandparents. Along with a host of other games like rack-o. Then in their 80s they taught us Mexican train dominos. And in her 90s, she taught us Five Crowns and Skyjo. When I say Grandma was my hero and I want to be like her if I live as long, I couldn’t be more serious!

Grandma was also the model for Audrey, the heroine of Canteen Dreams. Grandma would tell you I just borrowed her name, but there was so much more to both Audreys. Grandma grew up on a farm and taught in a country, one-room schoolhouse, before she married Grandpa. He was several years older than her, and they met at a dance, but as he said, Grandma needed to grow up a bit first. Grandpa was drafted four times and sent home each time as the only son of a farmer, the reality the hero in Canteen Dreams struggles with. The deviations? I had the Williard in the book on a ranch because the other part of the setting was North Platte and the Canteen that ran for years during World War Two.

Canteen Dreams was my tribute to the love I watched between my grandparents. It’s a love I will miss, but one I am so grateful to have experienced throughout my life. I am blessed to have had her in my life for all these years. And I’m very grateful I can celebrate that with absolutely no regrets.

That is a beautiful thing indeed.

Swoonworthy Heroes

Hi friends,

Happy Wednesday! Always glad to spend a day with you. Last time I shared about female protagonists, and we chatted about whether they still needed to be young, pretty, and likable. Today, I thought I’d pose the question about heroes. Do they still need to be handsome, strong, and swoonworthy?

Years ago, the debate was whether a hero should be an alpha or a beta. In case you aren’t familiar with the terms, an alpha hero is generally referred to as an assertive man of action, a protector. He’s complex with depth, flaws and often angst, he’s powerful and goes after what he wants. A wonderful blog post from Writer for Harlequin lists these alpha males from literature and the actors from the movie adaptations as examples: Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) from Pretty Woman; Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) from Casablanca; Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) from Pride and Prejudice; James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser (Sam Heughan) from Outlander; Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) from Working Girl; and John Thornton (Richard Armitage) from North and South.

On the other end of the spectrum, the beta hero is the nice guy next door, the quiet younger brother, the reliable friend. He’s dependable, thoughtful, and kind. Easygoing, but definitely not a pushover. He’s quick to comfort and feels deeply. A fun blog post by Barnes and Noble defines them as sweet and subtle, in a post on 50 Irresistible Beta Heroes in Romance.

Searching for beta hero examples was far harder than it had been for alphas. One example I found was Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games. I’d love if you would share some more beta examples from film or literature.

Now these are just basic definitions. Both alphas and betas possess far more qualities than are listed here, but I really am curious if you feel there are “pure” alpha or beta characters based on the traits listed? I feel heroes today are a far more complex mix of both. Which leads to the question, do you think literary heroes have changed over time?

Do they still need to be handsome, strong and swoonworthy?

While I tend more toward the “alpha” hero, I think the best hero is a combination of the two. I love heroes who are strong but can also be tender. Gentlemen, and while protective, they are also filled with respect for the heroine and admiration for the strength she possesses too. I love complex characters who have depth and flaws, but most of all, I love heroes who are men of God. They certainly aren’t perfect. They struggle and may fall, but they always look to God for strength, help and guidance. Noah from The Deadly Shallows loves God, his family and his CGIS team. While a strong leader, he also has a tender heart making him one of my favorite heroes I’ve written. If you’ve read my books, I’d love to know who your favorite hero is.

Reader Question: How about you? What qualities are key to you in a hero?

Blessings,

Dani

Scramble, Scramble, Scramble

Hello friends. Please forgive the brief post today. I’m down to one week to get a draft of my December 2023 release to my Beta readers on November 1st, so I’m scrambling here! (I’m sorry if you thought the title of this post related to the game Scramble, which I LOVE. I don’t get to play often but do enjoy a few rounds of Words with Friends while I eat my lunch. )

For now, I thought I’d share with you two fun updates about The Sisters of Sea View, Book One in my new series, On Devonshire Shores, which releases in just six weeks on December 6, 2022:

1. The book has received a starred review from the influential trade publication, Publishers Weekly. As my author-friends here know, that’s a big “Whew!” and I’m thankful!

Jane Austen fans will delight in this nimble series launch. Klassen excels at weaving her various story lines, each emphasizing the colorful qualities of her characters…Readers will be eager for the next installment.”

—Publishers Weekly (about The Sisters of Sea View)

2. We have scheduled the book release party for the new book for Tuesday, December 6th, at 7 pm at the Barnes and Noble in Har Mar Mall, Roseville, MN (details here).

If you live anywhere near St. Paul, Minnesota, I would love to see you there!  If that’s too far to travel, I hope you have (or will!) pre-order the new book from your favorite retailer.

(Photo of me is from the 2021 launch of Shadows of Swanford Abbey.)

In the meantime, I have an interesting guest blogger set to post in two weeks, which is something to look forward to. Otherwise, that’s all for now. I hope you have a great day!

Right Where They Belong (and a Giveaway!)

Gather ’round, friends! I want to share a fun story today that begins back in 2016. Actually, longer ago than that… Maybe around 2008. Anyway, once upon a time… (Doesn’t every good story begin that way? )

…these three authors met at a conference and became very good friends. At some point, they decided it would be fun to write a novella collection together.

So they did! They had a blast with three charming stories that became the collection called Right Where We Belong. (The book is still available in print! Click on the cover to order your copy!)

After a year or so, they each published the novellas from Right Where We Belong separately as ebooks—and with cute new covers. The three authors thought that was the end of their writing partnership.

But then! One day (just a couple of weeks ago, in fact!) to their great surprise, they discovered they had a brand new book out together. Never mind that they couldn’t read that book since none of them speak Dutch, but they were thrilled nonetheless to have their names on a brand new collection, a Dutch translation, that will come out in The Netherlands next month! That title translates: Don’t Make Love Wait.

The sweet collection of “drie winterse verhalen” (or three wintery stories) contains Deb’s novella from O Little Town, Courtney’s A Match Made at Christmas, and Melissa’s One Enchanted Christmas. Now isn’t that fun!?

You can order these novellas ( in English!) at these links:
O Little Town: ow.ly/S4kv50KUQnh
A Match Made at Christmas: http://ow.ly/9Brv50L0cO6
One Enchanted Christmas: http://ow.ly/NrYp50L0cRf

And they all lived happily ever after! 

And to celebrate, Deb is giving away one copy of Right Where We Belong and one copy of O Little Town to one lucky reader of Inspired by Life…and Fiction. For a chance to be that one lucky reader, simply comment on this blog post and we’ll name a winner tomorrow, here on this post.

P.S. Janyre, Amanda, and I were thrilled to learn last week that O Little Town made the Parable Stores bestseller list!

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.

New Directions

I was sorry to see Jody step back from blogging after so many years with us on Inspired by Life…and Fiction. But I am delighted that the timing was right for me to return to a regular blogging schedule. And so here I am, your first and third Friday author.

The year 2022 had a big change in store for me at the very start. In January I made the decision, for a number of reasons, not to negotiate a new contract with my long time publisher (23 years and 33 books, including Like the Wind).  One of those reasons was so I would have the freedom to continue to write Christian stories about characters who often struggle with faith and finding the path God wants them to follow.

It was a little scary (okay, more than a little) to make the decision to strike out in another direction, but it was easy at the same time. I felt God’s guidance in the situation, and I’ve got great writing friends who have traveled a similar publishing path cheering me on.

One of the joys resulting from this decision is that I will be able to write some books that have been in my mind and heart since 2010. That was the year I sold a three-book historical romance series to Zondervan. But between inking the contract and beginning to write the first novel, they decided they wanted me to write contemporary novels instead of historicals. So the series was set back on the shelf.

In 2016, I sold the series to a different publishing house. They wanted me to add a Christmas novella to launch the series. The novella was just shy of one-fourth written when I learned the publisher had defaulted. Back onto the shelf the series went.

Well, I am now in a place where I can write these books I’ve thought about for so long. In fact, the novella (no longer a Christmas novella) is nearly finished. However, it won’t release until next year, probably in the spring. I sat down and mapped out my writing and publishing schedule, making allowances for some planned 2023 travel as well as time to write a biblical novel for Guideposts. Since I don’t want any large gaps between the release dates of the books in the series, it is better to delay the release of the first book. At least that is my thinking for now.

I promise you’ll hear more about these books in future posts.

In other news, the second Boulder Creek Romance novel, All She Ever Dreamed, is available for preorder at a special Kindle price of $3.99. After the book releases on December 5th, the ebook will return to its full price. The book will also be available in paperback and audiobook.

Finally, I hold a drawing each month for my newsletter subscribers who live in the US. I give away two new (as in never read) paperback books, one of mine and one of a friend of mine. Below are the books for the next giveaway. To subscribe, go here.

~robin

Cover Reveal!

Covers are vital when it comes to making a first impression on a reader. They need to capture the reader’s attention; communicate the story’s genre, mood, and setting; and most of all, entice the reader to learn more. A good cover can make a huge difference in how a book performs in the market.

As a traditionally published author, I don’t get as much say in the cover design process as indie authors. I supply my publisher with character and setting descriptions and any ideas I have for wardrobe and design, but that is where my control ends. I have to trust the publisher’s Art Department and Sales/Marketing/Editorial teams to find the perfect pictorial representation of my story. It’s nerve-wracking but super exciting at the same time. I’m blessed to have a wonderful publisher who creates top-notch covers, so usually the excitement outweighs the nervousness.

I’m THILLED with how this cover turned out. Fairest of Heart is the first book in my new Texas Ever After series of western fairy tale retellings. I bet you can guess the fairy tale from the cover.

Isn’t it beautiful? The pieced-together dress ensemble is exactly as I pictured it, right down to the puffed sleeves. And the butterflies!!! There is a key scene in the book where the heroine is dancing amid a swarm of migrating monarch butterflies, and this cover captures that moment perfectly! I love seeing the Diamond D ranch house in the background, the home of the seven retired drovers who take in our heroine. The colors are vibrant, and the nod to Snow White couldn’t have been executed any better.

What do you think? Is this a cover that would pique your interest and make you want to learn more about the story it represents?

The Joy of Learning New Things

Do you remember the joy of finally leaning to ride a bike without training wheels? Or swimming across the pool for the first time? Or learning to read and finding a whole new world of books? 

We get to experience the joy of learning new things when we are young. But the older we get, the fewer things there are that drive us to master them. 

Of course we often hear the call to “never stop learning,” but so many times I equate this with acquiring new information, which I often do. Yet learning needs to apply to so many other things in order to keep our minds, bodies, and emotions engaged as we grow older. 

Why don’t we automatically continue this type of learning? Sometimes we don’t want to fool with the frustration of trying to do new-to-us things. Sometimes it’s just laziness. Sometimes it is the maturity of knowing you really are not able or gifted doing a certain thing no matter how hard you try. 

My own experience tends to put me in all of these categories, but not long ago I experienced, once again, the joy of learning to do something new. 

Scratch that. Joy is too tame of a word. Euphoria might be more accurate. 

Anyway, it had been awhile since I’d basked in that glow, and I’d forgotten the feeling.

What was this thing that sparked such enthusiasm, you asked? 

I filmed—and here’s the kicker—and edited a video for social media! And I don’t just mean I took out the beginning and ending where I was reaching for the camera! I actually had stickers appear and disappear at appropriate places! 

How did I do all this? I don’t mind telling you it took me several hours of YouTube videos and experimentation, but I finally got it done using a combination of Canva and iMovie. And when it was posted, I was so proud of myself that I couldn’t stop smiling! It was like the time I figured out how to make a book trailer on Canva but times 100. 

Granted, I’ve tried other new things which haven’t worked out as well. Like my website. I finally paid the pros for that. I simply do not have the design eye needed for that kind of work. And hairstyles. No matter how many cool videos I save on Instagram, my finished product rarely looks like the one I was going for. 

Thankfully, I have the maturity to recognize my limitations and not beat my head against a wall! But doing hard things every now and again not only increases my joy, it keeps my mind sharp (which will be important in the coming years!). Now that I’ve made in roads into video editing, it gives me confidence to try some other things before I simply decide they aren’t worth the frustration or they really aren’t my skill set. I can sometimes surprise myself. An old dog can, indeed, occasionally learn new tricks!

In light of my new accomplishment, I’m encouraging you to find something—however small—that you have wanted to do and learn to do it! Or at least attempt the learning. You might discover you have zero aptitude, but then at least you’ll know and quit thinking you should do that thing. Or you might succeed, find an unstoppable smile on your face, and get addicted to the joy of learning new things once again. 

What is something new you’ve learned to do recently? Or something you’ve tried that didn’t quite work out? 

P.S. If you want to see the video that spurred my excitement, check out my Facebook page or my Instagram reels!

Covid and the high school reunion

My husband’s 45th high school reunion was the weekend of October 8 & 9 in Searcy, Arkansas where Joe was raised. He not only went to Harding University (where his mom was my girl’s club sponsor—and how we eventually met after I’d graduated), but he attended Harding Academy too.

Here’s the returning class picture we snapped that evening . . . (Joe is back row, first on the left—Steve Awtry, a mutual friend, has his hand on Joe’s shoulder)

We had a wonderful, but quick weekend. Due to prior obligations, we could only attend Saturday evening and Sunday morning but that was still enough for a wonderful time. And for Joe to get Covid, which he then lovingly shared with me. Ah love and marriage, the gift that keeps on giving. Anyway…

Since a lot of these folks went on to attend Harding University, I knew some of them too through my own college experience. In fact, I saw friend Andy Holder again and we had fun catching up. And, prepare yourself, here’s Andy and me then and now…

I’d run across this pic of me and Andy back at Harding while looking for another photo just days before Joe and I left for the reunion, so I had it handy on my phone. When I showed Andy, he said, ”What is that on my head!” : )

We all shared about God’s goodness and faithfulness to us through the years, and it was such a blessing to reconnect with these people and to encourage—and be encouraged—in the Lord.

Joe sat between two sweet gals—Pam Aaron and Cindy Allen—all during grade school and high school, so we captured a picture of this trio again! EXCEPT Cindy is pictured on the left and Pam on the right (sorry, I wasn’t thinking when snapping, and I’ll show you why in the picture that follows…)

It’s because Andy Holder and Kevin Webb were about to photobomb them!

Can you tell we had a great time?

On Sunday morning we gathered for worship at a home outside of Searcy and sang and prayed together, and reflected on God’s faithfulness.

I’ve loved getting to know some of Joe’s friends (who I didn’t know at Harding) through his high school reunions. I’m pictured here with Pam Aaron Clements and Sandy Roberts Wiles. We grabbed a pic together on Sunday morning before Joe and I hit the road to head back to Tennessee.

Both Joe and I are on the mend from Covid (his first bout, my second which was way easier than my first) and are already looking forward to the 50th class reunion in 2027, Lord willing.

Have you attended any of your class reunions? Either grade school, high school, or college? It’s interesting to visit with people you’ve known across the years, isn’t it? And who have known you too.

Blessings to you on this very chilly morning in Nashville,

Tammy

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