C. Kevin Thompson's Blog, page 4

Author Behind the Story - Cindy Bonds

Me attending my first
Christian Writers ConferenceLast month, we were hoping everyone was holding it together during these trying times of wearing masks in ninety-five degree weather, fretting about if your kids would be safe at school or should stay home, and if our supermarkets would ever allow us to travel both ways down an aisle every again.

I am here to say, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Well, aisle that is. I was in the grocery store this past weekend, and all the directional signs giving me permission to head west down one aisle while forbidding it in the next have been removed. We still have to wear masks, but we can now go east and west in the aisles.

I know. When I spell it out in such detail, it sounds absurd, doesn't it? To make a patron walk an extra one hundred feet because they have to go down Aisle 7 to get to Aisle 8? Passing people anyway because someone's Aunt Gertrude has camped out in front of the soup section, reading labels?

To many of you who may not have grocery stores in your areas with "X's" at the alternating ends of each aisle, it may sound even more ridiculous. In the year 2020 (the year when vision is anything but), where we "live in a time with a virus so deadly, we have to get tested to know if we have it," we should be thankful for the perceived idiocy, I suppose. It could be worse. It could be the military-grade strain of the bubonic plague with no known cure that's on the loose. 

Yeah, it exists, by the way. Now, that's scary.

So, let's all sit back on the Florida Front Porch, six feet apart, of course, and remove our masks because we are outside. Besides, we have some sweet tea and something to eat resting on the table too. That always gives us the green light to remove the masks. Hence, the quarantine "fifteen." :-)

Joining us on the front porch is brand-new Scrivenings Press author, Cindy Bonds! Welcome, Cindy!

Why don't you break the ice and give us a quick bio. In fifty words or less, who is Cindy Bonds?  

I’m Cindy Bonds, and I’m a wife and mother, finder of all shoes, shirts, and food items. I have a never-ending train of thought that asks questions and tells stories. My creativity runs a wide gamut besides writing, and I’m thankful God gave me the people in my circle.

Before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life?

When I started writing, it was because I had been reading a lot and my hyper-creativity was put on overdrive. I was a stay at home mom at the time, yes, a reward and a struggle in and of itself! Feeling as if I needed to contribute to our finances and torn between leaving my stay at home life with the kids for a job, I had exhausted several other avenues to find work from home.

But when I started writing, it just all flowed out as if I had stockpiled ideas for years! In all actuality, I had. Sleep was hard to come by as a new mom, so after my first child, when I tried to go to sleep, I had a running dialogue in my mind, kind of like a movie flowing through my conscious that lulled me to sleep. It focused all those rambling “mom thoughts” into just one train of thought and calmed my brain so I could sleep.

You've already mentioned that you are married and have children. Tell us a little about your family. 

I’m married and have been for almost 16 years to my awesome husband. We met at college, and he’s been the best thing God’s put in my path! We have two children, Conner is 11 and is starting 5th grade, Kenzie is 9 and starting 3rd grade.

Besides storytelling, what talents do you have? 

At one point in time, I anticipated myself to be a professional tennis player. After going to college and attempting to practice and play the sport as well as balancing my studies, that fell to the wayside! I do have a rather large creative streak and have dabbled in art and painting, scrapbooking and photography…

Tell us about what project you are currently working on. 

I currently have several stories saved that I’m searching through at the moment! I want to continue this writing gig, so I’m going back and editing what I can and trying to choose the story that will fit best. Most of my works have a military background, something I want to perpetuate as I publish! 

Currently, I’m torn between a reluctant, retired Recon Marine with a British operative friend in trouble and the storyline of a retired Navy Seal who has taken on a job within a tactical response unit and is faced with protecting a fiery red-head. Both stories complete, I’m trying to edit and decide which one to present to publish. Anyone want to give me their opinion?

Okay, readers, which one should she pursue next?

While they are thinking about their answer, tell us about your writing day. How do you go about writing? 

My writing shifts consistently. With two kids that are involved in extracurricular activities, I can only plan so much around schedules.  I work out of the house during the day, so I use my lunch to get through blogs (such as this) or return emails. But as for writing, I do tend to write more in the evening. I’ve been known to stay up late on the weekends when I don’t have work the next day to write.

Before I had a full-time, out of the house job, I was definitely a night owl! I would stay up late and type, get up early to get the kids up and then after they left for school, I’d go back to bed for an hour or so before I would begin my day!

Knowing what you know now about writing, publishing, etc., what piece of advice would you give to the person thinking about writing that novel they have always wanted to pursue since they were young, or the person who believes they have a non-fiction book in them that would be helpful to others? 

Get involved! There are a lot of different writing conferences that range from a few hundred dollars to several hundred. Go, go, go! I’m not exactly an extrovert, so when I went to my first one, I was more than nervous. It was a small group, literally 15 minutes from my house. Everyone was welcoming and kind and the knowledge I received at that first one was groundbreaking.

Going to these conferences gives you so much information and can help you make connections in the industry. In that first conference, I met the owners of a small publishing company, a cover art expert, several published authors and was able to get the first few pages of my manuscript edited. All those things and those people guided my path and they are the reason I kept writing and was able to get my novel published!

Let's switch gears for a minute. If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus? 

Peter. I admire Peter so much and his story has given me so much hope. He walked with Jesus, ate with Jesus, was rebuked by Jesus and forgiven by Jesus. Peter denied his friend and Messiah, despite the love he obviously had for Him! And yet, Jesus readily forgave him. How often we turn our back or walk away from Jesus and His Word. But Jesus constantly forgave and constantly forgives now. There’s hope for people like me that fall short all too often!

The apostle with the foot-shaped mouth. Peter seems to be a popular answer, for that very reason. :-)

Why do you live where you live?  

We live in a small, rural community. This town is where my husband was born and raised. When he graduated from college, it was during the recession back in 2009. We moved around, trying to find a job that could become a career. After moving out of state to Oklahoma, we had our second child and then we were looking for a permanent home. All of our family—well, the grandparents—still lived in Arkansas. He was finally offered a job in his hometown that actually had to do with his degree, so we moved back. 

Growing up, I never really considered myself a country girl or a city girl, neither was typical of where I lived. I had friends that had cows, horses and such, but I was not one of them. The “city” we lived in was small, I graduated with about 140 students. Now that we live here, on a farm, surrounded by cows, I do consider myself country. And we are definitely raising country kids!

When you are looking for a book to read, what are the things that are important to you?

I am a genre snob, I admit it. I’m not necessarily proud of that fact! I do try and branch out, to read other Christian novels, especially by those I know! But I love suspense! I need that mystery and conflict that pushes and pulls. When I go to the library, I start with Christian books and go from there. It’s the back cover that pulls me in. I want to know where the conflict lies and what’s at stake.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover?

Writing became my creative outlet at a time when I was feeling as if I was at a standstill. As I wrote, I tried to think of those that might not know God and how I could give something in my story to help them see Him. We all live in this fallen world and as a follower of Christ, I want my readers to see a glimmer of hope in my stories. I want others to relate to my characters and understand that being fallen doesn’t mean unreachable. After all, this is my mission field, and I do feel as if God called me here!

If you go to my website and sign up, I’ll send updates about the next novel that makes it to publication!

Cindy, we thank you for taking time out of your day to answer a few questions for us and wish you all the best on finding time to put "pen to paper," as it were. 

And dear readers, if you wish to get to know Cindy better, you can find her at these locations:

https://cindybonds.com/ 

https://scriveningspress.com/cindy-bonds/

 

Until Next Time, May God Bless America, and more importantly, may America Bless God,

Kevin

www.ckevinthompson.com

Author Behind the Story Series - H. L. Wegley

A nyo ne g ot  a student  going back to school soon? Have a relative in that boat? Do they have the same answers most people do? "I don't know." There's a school principal who posted a TikTok video where she was answering questions parents threw at her about reopening school. In a funny way, she simply said, "I don't know" to each question with differing tones of voice. It was a comedic way of expressing the answers one gives to "unprecedented times." How can anyone know all the answers to things they have never experie nced before, right?

Therefore, in that spirit, a s we take the first steps into school re-openings this fall, let us remember to pray for the health, safety, and welfare of all involved. And the sanity and patience of all involved as well. These next few weeks should prove interesting, to say the least.

Now, let's switch gears and welcome our next guest to the Author Behind the Story blog series, H. L. Wegley! His friends call him Harry. So, Harry, g ive us a quick bio. In fifty words or less, who is H. L. Wegley?

I served as a USAF Intelligence Analyst and a Weather Officer. In civilian life I performed research in atmospheric physics, then spent two decades developing computing systems for Boeing before retiring near Seattle, where my wife and I enjoy small-group ministry, grandchildren, and where I write Christian novels.

Seattle, eh? I'm sure our readers would like to know how safe you are up in that neck of the woods. Maybe you could elaborate in the comment section.  

What educational background do you have? 

My wife and I both graduated from Grants Pass High School in Southern Oregon. I attended Southern Oregon College, Oregon State, San Antonio College, then the USAF sent me to Texas A&M to get a degree in meteorology. Gig’em Aggies! Years later, I picked up an MS in Computer Science from Washington State, because they had a center for graduate studies where I worked, Pacific Northwest Labs on the Hanford Atomic Energy Reservation. Go Cougs!

I have a friend who is a staunch Aggie fan. He'll be glad to see the Gig 'em.  

When the words aren’t flowing, what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Recently, I found out that I have a health issue that restricts me to a no-acid diet. Foods with a pH below about 6.5 are a no-no. If I want a sweet snack, I turn to Graham Crackers, because they have a neutral pH (7.0). But if I were free to choose, I would have a vanilla bean, soy latte with about 3 shots of espresso. Now that stimulates the writing!

Everybody seems to have a bucket list. Do you? If so, what’s on it? If not, why not?

My wife’s and my favorite vacation spots are warm, sunny beaches with warm ocean water for snorkeling. Many years ago, while doing research for the Federal Wind Energy Program, I wrote the Wind Energy Resource Atlas for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. I studied detailed maps and high-resolution photos of the islands and was sure my research would garner me a trip to the Virgin Islands. Sadly, it did not. A vacation to St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix is still on my bucket list.

Do you have a favorite line from a movie or book? If so, what is it and explain why it is special to you?  

I like unexpected humor when it’s properly injected into a story. My favorite such line comes from the classic John Wayne movie The Searchers. A small group of Texas Rangers is hunkered down behind logs while a huge band of hostile Comanches races straight toward them to attack. Just before the shooting starts, old Mose Harper, who is a bit slow, launches a prayer. “For what we are about to receive, we thank thee, O Lord.”

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?

From the spring of 2018 to late winter of 2019, I wrote and self-published 5 full-length novels. Book sales took off and I had reached my goal of supplementing our retirement income solely through my writing. As the summer of 2019 approached, I got sick, little by little. My condition deteriorated and everything the doctor did made my condition worse, until I wondered if I would survive.

Eventually, I knew I needed to change doctors, or I may not survive whatever was happening. That is no easy task once you are forced onto Medicare at age 65. But I found another doctor and also read material from other doctors provided online. I found that I was being treated wrongly for my condition. To know that much was a relief, but I also learned that I would have to go on a rigid diet, indefinitely. The diet and the new doctor helped me, and I recovered, though I still have a diet that restricts me to about 1% of foods that most people eat.

I tell that story because I thought after publishing 5 books in less than a year I was unstoppable. But I learned that I can write only if God allows me to write. After the illness, I found that I cannot concentrate for as long a time, so my writing rate has plummeted to less than half what it was. I think God was telling me He had more for me to do than to write 16 hours a day.

We writers can become a cloistered bunch, if we are not careful. 

Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story?

My favorite novel of those I’ve written is Voice in the Wilderness. I love the characters, and I love the

plot. I wrote this story in 2015, a year in which rumors were rampant about the 2016 election. Some people were even saying there may not be an election. That gave me the idea for the story. What if a president made plans, years in advance, to stay in office indefinitely? What would he/she have to take care of? My two-page list of obstacles to overcome contained one that I thought was not possible to overcome (not gonna spoil the story by telling you here). It became the downfall of the tyranny-minded president.

Another motivation was my great grandfather. He was killed by the Bolsheviks for refusing to give his crops to them, because his family needed them to survive. My grandfather then left Russia and brought his family to America. They kissed the ground on Ellis Island. Like my grandparents, I love this country and do not want to see it slide into tyranny. Voice in the Wilderness illustrates, through two young people, the courage it takes to stand up to a powerful, would-be tyrant.

Do you ever receive negative reviews from readers? If so, how do you respond when you see them?

I’ve learned from negative reviews how to split them into two categories—those that have a legitimate criticism that I can learn from and those that come from people my story has “ticked off.” I’ve written several political thrillers, always framed in a Christian worldview. When reviewers finish the book, but nit pick it to death, unjustly, you know that either they didn’t like the politics, or they didn’t like the Christianity. How do I know this? The pattern is repeated too many times to ignore. Also, in some cases, I’ve been able to determine who reviewed a book, and I subsequently looked at their social media posts. Bingo! They lean the opposite direction politically, or they have a beef with Christians or their beliefs.

Everybody's a critic today. Literally.

As a writer, if you had one thing you would do over again, what would it be?

I drafted my first novel at the tender age of 63—cold turkey, no classes, no seminars—I just sat down and wrote it in a little over a week. Not until I had the manuscript critiqued did I realize how much about the craft of writing fiction I still needed to learn. I had a very demanding job for my last twenty years in the workforce. Regardless, if I had it to do over again, I would have started learning the craft at a much younger age, even if I wouldn’t have time to write much until I retired. It took me 7 years to reach the point where my books won awards and garnered significant sales. But it didn’t have to be that way if I had started earlier.

Tell us about what project you are currently working on.

My current project, Resisting, is book 2 in a self-published series about the geopolitical fragmentation of America in a de facto succession that occurs as the cold civil war we see now grows hot. This series presents my thoughts on what will happen to America if we cannot come together on constitutional

principles as one nation under God.

Sounds interesting. 

What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?  

When I was 16, my buddy and I discovered an abandoned logging landing in the mountains. When the loggers left, they dumped almost a case of dynamite behind a log and left it. When we found it, the sticks were coming apart and the powder was smoking (that was the nitro). We scooped it all up in a large grocery bag and rode double on my motorcycle back to an old abandoned car about a mile from my buddy’s house. We scrounged up a blasting cap and some fuse. Packed a half-gallon milk carton full of old unstable dynamite, set it on the engine block, draped the fuse over the front fender, closed the hood, and lit the fuse. We did have a 5-foot thick pine log to get behind, about 30 feet from the car. We plugged our ears and hid behind the log. The explosion rattled windows in my buddy’s house and his parents had some questions for us. But the biggest mystery is what happened to the hood of that car. We found it a week later a quarter of a mile away. We also found out later, that it was a good thing we didn’t have a spill on my motorcycle as we rode home with ten pounds of wet, smoking dynamite wedged between us in a paper bag.

We asked for crazy, not insane. Wow. The whole "blown to kingdom come" could have been a real event for you both, right? Wow. And we worry kids today might slide down a hot metal slide in the summer and burn their little tushies...

Ahh, the good ole days. 

So, this next question is a great segue. Why do you live where you live? Did you have to move because of the dynamite incident?

We live in the foothills of the Cascades about 17 miles from Seattle. It’s too populated here now, and we would like to move back to where my wife and I were raised in rural Southern Oregon, but we have 6 grandchildren in the local area. So we will be staying here for the foreseeable future.

Not teaching them about dynamite, we hope. :-)

When you look for a new home, what are the things that are important to you? 

We recently moved and downsized. Our nearly 4,000 square foot house was waaaay to much for us to keep up with as we approached 70. We bought a townhouse less than half the size, but it took a few months to find the right one.

I wanted a quiet neighborhood and a room for an office for my writing and my library. My wife is much more perceptive than me. She can look at a house and see immediately what it would be like to live there and then give it a thumbs up or down.

I deferred to her, and we got a two car garage (almost impossible to find in a townhouse in our area), a large office big enough for both of us, a guest bedroom, and a large deck and patio that require minimum maintenance but provide a great place to entertain or relax during the summer months.

Harry, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover? 

Ten years before retiring, I started studying Christian apologetics with the intent of writing a book or class material for teaching Christian worldview. It seemed that many Christians I knew, of all ages, had no solid foundation for their faith. Sadly, they were easily confused or led away into false teachings or false religions and philosophies. By the time I felt somewhat qualified to start writing, the real professionals who had dedicated their lives to this area of study started cranking out books, class materials, videos, and they conducted seminars. I wouldn’t even contemplate competing with them.

So what about my ten years of study? C.S. Lewis once said, “Any amount of theology can now be smuggled into people’s minds under the cover of fiction without their knowing it.”

He’s right. So that’s what I do. But at some point, people need to know that the ideas are God’s, not mine, and that they are true.

Very well put. I've found that fiction, although it can convey spiritual truths, can also be taken the wrong way or just seen as a good allegory but not taken as seriously as it should be. Said all that to say this, don't discount the non-fiction writings you wanted to write. Write them, even if it's just for you, to formulate in your mind sound doctrine. That helps when we talk to people, write our stories, etc.

Readers, if you'd like to get to know more about Harry and his writing, you can find more information at these locations: 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/H-L-Wegley/e/B00B1XMR56/

Web site: https://www.hlwegley.com/    

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HLWegley/  

Twitter:https://twitter.com/hlwegley  

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4460203.H_L_Wegley

Harry, thanks for being a part of the ABTS series! We wish you the best!

Readers, until next time, stay safe, and may America bless God.

Kevin

https://ckevinthompson.com/

 

How We Met (An Interview on Shannon Taylor Vannatter's Blog)

Shannon here: C. Kevin Thompson shares how he and his wife met, along with how his character’ meet, and an excerpt from his Supernatural/Mystery/Suspense novel, The Letters. Just a head’s up, Kevin’s book was published by the company I’m now partnering in. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a copy. Two books up for grabs for two winners. A paperback copy – US only and an e-book copy will include US and international. Deadline: July 24th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Kevin:

How did you and your wife meet? 

That’s an interesting question. We were in high school and had the same PE class period. The year was 1977. Cindy was in 9th grade, and I was in 10th. I was chosen to help her do handstands (this was back in the day of the “President’s Physical Fitness Award” program). I finally got up the nerve to ask her out. We went to the movies and saw American Graffiti. Seems so long ago now.

Read the rest of the article HERE!

What does an Author Read for Research? (A PeggySue Wells Blog post)

Kevin was featured on PeggySue Wells' blog, on July 14, 2020. This blog post came about when Kevin saw that PeggySue, a fellow CAN Author, had been the co-author of a book he had used for research purposes when writing his Blake Meyer Thriller series, delving into the world of human trafficking.
The chapter referenced in the blog post, from his book, Triple Time (A Blake Meyer Thriller - Book 2), is a fictionalized portrayal of what happens in the real world when it comes to human trafficking. People are getting bent out of shape about slavery that happened decades ago, yet they don't seem to be too bothered by the slavery that is happening today, all over the world, and even in our backyards.
If you want to read some other books Kevin used to help formulate parts of his Blake Meyer series, read:
A Crime So Monstrous by E. Benjamin SkinnerSex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery by Siddharth KaraThe Slave Next Door by Kevin Bales & Ron Soodalter
You can also visit Kevin's website - the IN THE NEWS tab - and scroll down until you get to the Blake Meyer Thriller series section, particularly Articles #4-#9. 

You can read PeggySue's blog post HERE!




 

Author Behind the Story - Pamela S. Meyers

I don't know about you, but the summers seem to be getting a little warmer than I remember as a

kid. July and August in Florida are the hottest months of the year. If you don't like the heat here during that time, then I would suggest a right relationship with God. I hear Hades is much warmer, and there isn't a glass of ice water in the joint (Luke 16:19-31).

Our next guest on the Florida Front Porch probably isn't used to this heat. She comes from the state of cheese: Wisconsin. Maybe, she can bring some cheese curd, and we can share that while we sip on iced tea. Please welcome, Pamela S. Meyers!

Pamela, in ABTS tradition, pretend you are on an elevator with Jimmy Fallon, and he said, “Hi, I’m Jimmy Fallon, and I’m looking for average Joes & Janes with not-so-average lives to interview for my next new show segment. And you’re name is? Ding! The door just shut. You have twelve floors until you reach the lobby. Go! Give us a quick bio. In fifty words or less, who is Pamela Meyers?  

"I’m a novelist of books that your wife might enjoy more than you because they are historical romance. Although some men do read my books and like them for their historical content. They are written from a Christian perspective. Would that be of interest to you? If so, I’d love to tell you about my faith." (The doors slide open in the lobby, and he runs away as fast as he can. At least I’m thinking he wouldn’t be interested in hearing about God. Maybe I’m wrong. I hope I’m wrong.)

I'll be honest. I don't know why I chose Jimmy as the elevator pitch person...Don;t know if he would run or not. Therefore, let's pretend he doesn't and asks...  

"Before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life?"

I grew up in Wisconsin and after some life-changing events moved to Southern California. I live in the Los Angeles area and worked for an advertising agency when I first moved there, but then worked a short time at Princess Cruises in the advertising department. I was laid off before I would have been eligible for a free cruise. I had several other jobs before I moved back to the Midwest. I spent a lot of time socializing, and I’ll let it go with that. God started getting a hold of me just before I moved back, transferring with my company to the Chicago office, which was actually in the suburbs.

What educational background do you have? 

Graduated from Badger High School in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where I grew up. Attended several different colleges picking up classes here and there until I attended Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL (affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church) and went through their accelerated adult program. Received a BA in Group and Interpersonal Communication with a minor in English

Besides storytelling, what talents do you have? 

Artistic or craft-related things like knitting, crocheting, drawing, decorating.

When t he words aren’t flowing, what is your favorite comfort food and why? 

Chocolate in any form. No explanation necessary.

Do they make chocolate-covered cheese in Wisconsin? (Inquiring minds want to know and all that...) 

When you look for a new car, what are the things that are important to you?

I just purchased a new-to-me car a year ago. I wanted one in which I’d feel safe and had low mileage, no previous accidents, of course. I checked out ads online then picked out two to look at and went to the dealer. I’m got the main things I wanted and more. Love my car J

For all the pet lovers out there, answer this question: Do you have any? 

I’m a cat lady. Was raised having cats and lived with roommates who had cats and have had at least two for the past couple of decades. My two rescue cats are Jack and Meg who are named after my characters in my book, Surprised by Love in Lake Geneva.

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

I look for lists of proper names of people born at the time of my characters and scan the list until a name catches my eye. For surnames I will look through names connected to the country the character was originally from or his ancestors. I also make sure it’s not a name of someone who lived in the town back then unless I choose to use that actual person.

Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story?

Can I say my current series? 

Yes. Of course.

It’s really the story of my heart spread out over three books so far and one more is currently being written. It’s set in my hometown of history-rich Lake Geneva and begins at the outset of the Great Chicago Fire which forces the well-to-do people to move their families to Geneva Lake in Wisconsin where they build magnificent homes on the lake shore to house their families while Chicago is rebuilt. They came and never left. So many interesting people. My series spans four generations of the original family, in each story a strong woman is the heroine. I love learning about the time of the story and all that was happening in the town then and in the world. 

What surprised you the most during the research for the book you are currently working on? 

I’m always surprised by interesting things I learn. In my current book, I was surprised to learn that female pilots were hired to ferry brand new bombers to the airfields for the war pilots to use in the war. All the pilots were busy at war and they needed the ladies to get the bombers to where they could be put into service.

Looking back, have you ever wondered if choosing a different genre would have worked better for you, as a writer? Have you ever thought about switching genres, or writing in different genres? 

I have switched from contemporary to historical because an acquiring editor asked me to write a historical set in Lake Geneva. Until then I’d only written contemporaries, but I wasn’t going to say no. I did some research on the town’s history and discovered the Riviera Building that sits at the lake front was built in 1932 and 1933 with it’s grand opening in May of 1933. I decided to center the story on the building and felt comfortable with the 1930s. They drove cars and had telephones. I did not want to have them riding in buggies. Although later I did write in the horse-and-buggy era when I started writing my current series. I had a lot to learn. LOL

If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?

I’d love to meet and spend time with Peter. In many ways I can relate to him, especially the times he’d blurt things out without thinking and how after he’d denied knowing Jesus three times just as Jesus predicted he would, Jesus came to him and asked him three times if he love Him and Peter said yes. Then Jesus said he was to feed his lambs. I’ve sinned greatly in my life and after I came to my senses and repented and asked for the Lord’s forgiveness he led me to more involvement in ministry. Just like Peter, I was given ministry involvement I never dreamed of before.

What Bible scripture has impacted your life the most, and why? 

There are many scriptures that have impacted me but the one that made a huge difference and ushered me into surrendering my life to Christ was the account of the crucifixion in any of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It was sitting in a church on a Good Friday afternoon as those passages were read aloud and the realization came over me that Jesus did that for ME personally. He suffered horribly, taking on my punishment for my sins, every stinking one of them. I felt humbled and a huge weight seemed to lift off my back. I wasn’t in a church that taught salvation by faith alone and not by works, but I walked home feeling like I was ten feet off the ground.

That is so awesome! 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover?

I love to write stories that connect with people deep in their hearts by writing about real issues people face in real life. My books are romance but with a heavy dose of women’s fiction, going deep into my characters thoughts and emotions.

Pamela, we appreciate you talking the time to stop by and help our readers get to know you. Both those who are already fans, and those who have been coming to this site to find new authors to check out! 

Dear Readers, if you wish to find out more about Pamela and her writing, you can find her at these locations on the web:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.meyers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamelameyers

Website: https://pamelasmeyers.com

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2kqP5CC

Until next time!

Kevin

www.ckevinthompson.com

The Last Days (A Seriously Write Blog)

Photo Taken at the
Florida Christian Writers Conference
2017
(Thanks to Tez Brooks for the pic!)

Here's the Original - I cropped out Tez and Dan Walsh :-)







It is with fond memories that I write this post. In October of this year, it would have been six years since I started writing for SW. My face becoming part of that box on the home page labeled “Regular Contributors” was a fluke, of sorts, actually. 
You can read the remainder HERE!

(A FOOTNOTE: Becoming a writer has been so rewording. Beyond the published books. Beyond the royalty checks. Beyond the 5-star reviews. It's the new friends I've made who have become some of my best ones. Here at SW. In the CAN group. IN Word Weavers. At the writers conferences. Our common interests, coupled with our common rejections, our common successes, and our common, everyday frustrations makes places like writers conferences and these other groups great places to not only network, but to encourage, vent, uplift, pray for, and find support. Even though I am stepping away from SW for now, it is only because I wish to spend more time in writing and more time with God. Thanks to all my fans and readers who have stopped by every fourth Friday to "see what Kevin's written this month." It's been a blast!) 

Author Behind the Story Blog Series - Heather Greer

There are two things I have learned in all this Coronavirus madness. First thing: Don't trust the experts. Isn't that sad? Men and women who are supposed to be the leading experts in this and that, with more PhDs than we cars in the driveway, have been so far off on model predictions, recommendations, and precautions. Oh, as even the proverbial blind squirrel can find a nut now and then, these "experts" were right on some things. However, one thing they have done that is detrimental to future pandemics is hurt their credibility. Now, when a REAL pandemic hits us, one that has an incredibly high mortality rate and no known cure across all age levels - a pandemic that even current drugs cannot touch - we won't believe the experts because they got this one so wrong. Now, with the labor report news that came out last week, it seems even those fears of a recession and possibly an economic depression sending us off a monetary cliff have been misleading as well. Makes you wonder what's really going on, doesn't it?
The second thing I've learned in all this is God didn't lose any credibility. In fact, during this pandemic, He showed just how fragile everything mankind has built and put stock in is. He also used a man-made tragedy to draw His people back to Him. I know I'm one of them. I'm seeing "the words in red" in an entirely new light. I'm being called to a depth of relationship I've never experienced before. The Sermon on the Mount has become such a focal point for me. And with all this pandemic talk and subsequent aftermath, I'm seeing God at work in the midst of the lies, the misinformation, and the lost souls searching for answers. Then, when you add the divides that exist racially, ethnically, and religiously around the world (they don't just exist here in America, folks!), you see how far away from God we really are.
Thank you, God, for never giving up on us. Thank you, Jesus, for making this all possible. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for counseling us on the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Speaking of this Way, Truth, and Life, our next guest on the Florida Front Porch talks about such things in her books as well. Without further delay, let's welcome to a humid, sticky, summer-like pattern in late spring, our next Author Behind the Story guest, Heather Greer! Heather is a fellow, former Mantle Rock Publishing author. I say "former" because MRP was just purchased and renamed Scrivenings Press. So, we are both now Scrivenings Press authors, along with all the other authors who make up this new family.
Heather, in ABTS tradition, we ask the writer to give us a quick bio. We tell the author to imagine being on a elevator with Jimmy Fallon (not sure he's the best choice, but we'll run with it), and he's looking for average Joes & Janes with not-so-average lives to interview for his next new show segment. He then looks at you and says, "And you’re name is?" Ding! The door just shut. You have twelve floors until you reach the lobby. Go! In fifty words or less, who is Heather Greer?

I’m the girl you walked past in school because I was too introverted to notice. But if you’re one of my closest friends, you’ll see a different me. I like baking, reading, sci-fi, Hallmark, comic books, and crafting. No sports. I’m a klutz. But I do like watching wrestling.

That's an eclectic grouping, for sure. Kind of Rosie from the Jetsons meets Rosie Greer (no relation, right?). And I have to ask, real wrestling (NCAA, Olympic type) of fake wrestling (WWE)?

Ok, moving on, w hat educational background do you have?

I went to the same grade school and high school that my brothers and my parents went to in Carbondale, Illinois. I spent my first year in college at SIU-C because I had a scholarship and then transferred to John A. Logan Community College. It’s a good two-year school, and a lot less expensive. I was one semester away from a certificate in early childhood education when I switched majors and got my associates in psychology the month before my first child was born. I’ve taken a few classes since then, but I’ve not really felt like going back to school is what God would have me do.

Are you married? Single? Have kids? 

I met my husband twenty-six years ago at Hallmark. Yes, we have a real life Hallmark story! We have four wonderful children, but only one still lives at home. And I have the most adorable, precocious six year old grandson who adds tons of laughter and fun to all our lives.

You need to tell our fans more about this Hallmark story in the comment section below. Were you both looking for cards as patrons? Did one or both of you work there? Did one of you knock over a display and catch the attention of the other? Was it a slip and fall accident? Inquiring minds are going to want to know. :-)

Do you have a favorite line from a movie or book? If so, what is it and explain why it is special to you?

“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” From The Princess Bride. This quote reminds me we all face hard times. Maybe my hard times are different from yours, but they all bring pain. It may seem a little pessimistic to look at life that way, but even scripture promises hard times and pain. As a believer, I can know pain is part of life while holding onto the hope of God’s promises to work in me through the pain. I think that makes it less pessimistic and more realistic, don’t you?

Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story?

This is incredibly difficult. I love Faith’s Journeybecause it’s my first book. But Grasping Hope and Relentless Love really touched issues that are close to my heart. One I’ve not published yet called Cake That was the most fun to write and let me develop a couple characters I really fell in love with while I explored a lighter tone throughout the story. I’d say it’s between Grasping Hope and Cake That. Grasping Hope came from a desire to share the hope I found in a really dark time in my life so that others might have encouragement as they walk through their dark valley. Cake That was my way to loosen up and have fun after writing a series dealing with the serious side of life. I wanted it to encourage readers with truth while providing a really lighthearted story.

Tell us about what project you are currently working on. 

Right now, I’m completely demolishing my writing comfort zone by branching out into historical fiction. I’m not a history lover, though I enjoy historical fiction. I wouldn’t even attempt it, but two author friends and I decided to do a series of stand-alone novels that intersect each other through a family and a stained glass window. Erin is a fantasy author. So, she got to write the dystopian romance novel. That left a contemporary and a historical romance to complete the set. Amy and I both write contemporary. After much discussion, I volunteered to take the historical. It’s set in the 1920s in Harrisburg, Illinois. Getting to include gangsters and bootlegging is a lot of fun. But the research to get the tone, setting, and activities right for the time period is a never-ending chore. As much as I’m enjoying the story, I’ll have to think long and hard before tackling historical fiction again. I’ve gained a lot of respect for those authors who do it well.

More power to ya. You definitely should get the bigger royalty. Ha!

How do you come up with the names for your characters?

I’m not sure I have a process. As I think about who the character is as a person, that helps direct the name. Sometimes, I run potential names by friends for their input. Nathan, a character in Grasping Hope and Relentless Love got his name that way. For the historical book I’m writing, I did have to put in some research. I needed names that were popular in the 1920s. And for my male lead character, I needed an Irish name that was popular then. The secondary characters needed names too, and I had to repeat the process with them. Even choosing common names from a time period, I still had to give thought to the people behind the names. Beulah may have been popular (I don’t know. I’m making that up for the sake of the example.), but it would be hard to sell her as the main character I want my readers to relate to and fall in love with. I needed a 1920s name that would sit well with a 2020 reader. In case you’re wondering, her name is Evangeline Grace.

Names are so important. Some characters become memorable because of that alone. Others not so much because their name was so mundane. In my humble opinion, Charles Dickens was a master at naming characters. When your characters' names become adjectives to describe people, you have succeeded.

Next question. What’s the craziest thing you have ever done? 

I’m not a risk taker. Crazy is not in my vocabulary. I’m afraid the extent of my adventures is pretty childish, but to me, it was petrifying. While on a mission trip with a group of teens including my children, we stopped for a side trip at an indoor amusement park. It had an indoor ropes course. My children went through it like they were born to be dangling above the ground. Even my oldest son, who is scared of heights, went across. He may have moved a little slower, but he went. I’m not exactly scared of heights, but I like security. The course did not look solid enough for my liking. But I wanted to be a good example for my kids. Face your fears and all that. I got to the final three sections and froze completely. I’m embarrassed to admit, I actually had tears on my cheeks by the time the poor guy running the course met me and guided me through those last three parts of the course and back to the safety of the ground. Next time, I’ll let someone else be the example. I will keep my feet firmly on the ground!

When you are looking for a book to read, what are the things that are important to you?

I’m a sucker for a great cover. There’s this one author, who will remain nameless, that writes first person and every little detail is told to the reader. There’s way too much telling without showing. I know this, and I’ve still read two of her books and have to convince myself not to get another. I love her covers! But other than that, I’m drawn in by the back cover copy. I read a little bit of everything in the Christian fiction genres, except horror. Right now, I’m reading more contemporary romance. I’m especially happy with fun, quirky, or lighthearted stories. There’s enough heaviness in real life right now, that I want what I read to serve as a pick-me-up. But even with these types of stories, I want spiritual, scriptural truths woven into the stories. My faith is who I am all the time, and I want to see that in the lives of the characters I read about.

Hmmm...I wonder if this is the place for an unofficially official, shameful shameless plug for my latest novel, The Letters? Eh, maybe not.

Heather, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover before we wrap things up?

I love what I do. But if it’s only about writing something, then I’ve missed the point. Writing is my ministry, and it’s one I feel blessed to enjoy. Ministry is about people, and I have a heart to help encourage and challenge people in their faith. That’s why I write. Because I feel that’s the way God would have me share His message with others. Because of that, I love to hear from readers. If they need prayer, I’ll pray. If they have a question, I’ll try to answer it. If they took another step in their walk of faith, I’ll celebrate with them. I don’t say that as one who has it all together. I’m a mess like everyone else. I say it as one who is right there beside them, trying, failing, learning, and growing every single day.

We're all a mess, aren't we?

Heather, it's been great having you on our Author Behind the Story series!

Readers, if you are looking for a new author to check out, or if you've already known about Heather and are wishing to stay up to date on new releases, etc., here's where you can find her!

http://heathergreer.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherGreer

https://www.twitter.com/Heather_Greer1

https://www.instagram.com/1heather.greer

 

Until next time, may God bless America, and more importantly, may America bless God, in a "words in red" way,

Kevin

www.ckevinthompon.com

 

Freedom in the Midst of Freedom (A More To Life Magazine Blog)

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Psalm 119:45

Even though Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971, one of the first public “Memorial Day-like” tributes ever recorded was in 431 B.C. The Greek general, Pericles, delivered a funeral address, praising the sacrifice and valor of those killed in the Peloponnesian War. The speech has been lauded for its moving and lasting sentiment, compared, most memorably, to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Poignantly, in light of the last few months with the Coronavirus, Pericles died two years later from the plague which ravaged Athens. One-third of the population died, and modern physicians have concluded it was a measles outbreak, based on symptoms reported and recorded by the doctors and historians of the day.

Despite the solemnness of Memorial Day and all it entails, taking time to reflect does remind us of our freedom. The one overarching goal for which all the men and women honored on this day fought. And it’s the same overarching goal for which our brave men and women today fight.

For those of us who serve Almighty God—whether it be on the dirty battlefields of men or the spiritual battlefields of the eternal, this day should remind us of our freedom in Christ too. A freedom that reaches beyond war. Beyond heroes. Beyond even physical, political, or financial freedom. God’s precepts put to death, once and for all—as C. S. Lewis put it, “money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long, terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” Freedom being at the top of that list.

Today, may we as believers seek after God’s precepts so we may be able to walk about in a freedom that surpasses all human understanding and gives hope to those in search of it.

To see the complete post with endnotes, click HERE!

Humor in the Midst of Intensity (A Seriously Write Blog)

During this “pandemic” we call the COVID-19 Coronavirus, there have been some funny things that have come across my social media feeds. Some of the ones that made me laugh out loud were:

Three hours into homeschooling: One is suspended for skipping, and the other one has already been expelled.
Day 4 of Homeschooling: All my students passed for the year today.
(Picture of a mother holding a cloth in front of her son’s face): Day 7 of 
Homeschool Biology: Testing to see if Chloroform has a smell.(Picture of a man’s belt draped over a doorknob): Just hired an assistant principal for our homeschool.
(Three weeks into the stay-at-home order): Is it okay to shower now, or do I just keep washing my hands?

Click HERE to see the rest of the story!

The Author Behind the Story series - Neena Gaynor

We here at ckevinthompson.com hope everyone is doing well! We hope you're being allowed outside...able to do some shopping, besides groceries...able to work...able to walk on a beach or through a park or wherever, just as long as it isn't from the easy chair or sofa to the refrigerator! Right? 

COVID-19 or not, it's a small world. I met our next guest through our publisher. My latest novel, The Letters, and her latest novel (which we'll talk about more in a moment) are both published by Mantle Rock Publishers (which was just bought by Scrivenings Press). In the midst of working with a new publisher, as an author, you tend to get to know the other writers, expanding that network, and just getting to meet some great people. 

In the midst of getting to know our next guest, it turned out that I already knew her mother-in-law. I had met her back on 2013 at the Reader's Favorite Award Ceremony in Miami. Her mother-in-law was the president of RF! I have pictures of us standing on stage as I received my award.

Small world, indeed.

So, without anymore trips down memory lane, let me welcome to our Florida front porch my fellow MRP author, Neena Gaynor! It's warming up down here in FLA. We're getting into that summertime pattern of hot, rain, humid. Rinse. Repeat. So, pull up a chair, Neena, grab some iced tea, and give us a quick bio, would you? In fifty words or less, who is Neena Gaynor? 


Hello there! I’m Neena Gaynor, a former nurse who has spent much of the last decade traveling with my husband, Wade, a former professional baseball player. After changing our address 29 times and moving a young family all around the US, I’ve learned to embrace the peace that only comes from the steady accompaniment of Christ. Today, I’m happy to be back in our old Kentucky home, beekeeping, writing, and being Mom. I’m excited to share about my newly released debut novel, The Bird and the Bees.
Where did you go to school? 
I graduated with my Bachelors and Masters in Nursing from Western Kentucky University. It was also there that I also met my husband.
Smart girl. Got the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Science (Nursing), and got the "Mrs." degree too. That happens a lot, doesn't it?
I’m going to give you a shotgun list of favorites. List your favorite in each category and then tell us in one sentence why it is your favorite. 
Favorite Song of All-Time: Country Road – John DenverFavorite Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis (Love that book! I use it as a quote in the front matter of my Blake Meyer series!)Favorite Bible Verse: So hard to choose one! John 10:10 maybe?Favorite Movie: Meet the ParentsFavorite Actor or Actress: Audrey HepburnFavorite TV Show: Downton Abbey (My wife is watching that right now!)Favorite Novel (other than your own): Redeeming Love – Francine RiversFavorite Author (other than you): Wendell BerryFavorite Sport: BaseballFavorite Team (Can be any sport, any level): WKU Hilltoppers!Favorite Subject in School Growing Up: English/LitFavorite Subject Now: LiteratureFavorite Teacher in School: Mrs. Burton- 4th GradeFavorite Time of the Year: SummerFavorite Place to Vacation: Clearwater Beach, FL (I have to admit, I have lived in FL most of my life, and I have never been to CB... Never been to Key West either... Guess I should get out more.)Favorite Drink: Coffee (Yes! I love Coffee.)Favorite Food: Watermelon (Uh, no...)


Tell us about what project you are currently working on.
As a mother, I’m constantly reading children’s picture books. I’m working on something that would share my delight and the importance of honey bees. I’m particularly partial to my test readers, my two little boys. They’re the ones with the great ideas.
What surprised you the most during the research for the book you are currently working on?
The main character inThe Bird and the Bees has been propelled out the Appalachians to the unfamiliar northwest shore of Pennsylvania. She’s skeptical and hurt by deep, secret wounds in her past, and she’s guarded her heart by erecting walls around any sort of vulnerability or hope for love. After I had already determined that Larkin would be living in Presque Isle with a view of the lighthouse, it was a wonderful discovery to learn that the actual lighthouse in Erie was constructed with a five brick-deep thickness to withstand storms. Moments like this is when writers happy dance over symbolic happenstance!... or maybe that’s just me. ;)

Writers get it. Others think we're nuts, I do believe.
How do you come up with the names for your characters?
Choosing character names was an experience much like being a parent, and I kept changing the names in The Bird and the Bees as they would develop. I wanted the name to represent my hopes for fictional lives. I ended up looking at baseball rosters and in botanical field guides for inspiration. I also decided I either need more babies or dogs or maybe just more fictional characters to name because there are so many great ones out there. ;)
If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus? 
If I can’t choose Jesus, then I would definitely choose his mother, Mary. She was the first to trust and follow Jesus, and is a model of faith through her total surrender to the will of the Lord. She is the mother of Jesus, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, and a daughter of God… I’d say the conversations could be endless!
We know “Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it affect your life? 
There’s a short little read by Elisa Morgan called, She Did What She Could. It takes the story of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume in Mark 14:1-9 and expounds on the words of Christ that this lady “did what she could.” Morgan takes everyday examples of regular women making choices not to do something crazy or impossible, but being active and intentional in the moment. Maybe they can do something amazing like adopt a child, or buy groceries for the person behind them, or say a prayer for the homeless they see hurting. The point is there is always something we can do, we just tend to do nothing because we think our offerings aren’t grand/won’t be remembered/seem menial. Doing even the smallest act of service or sacrifice is a glorying Christ.
Sounds like the heart and soul of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). All the servant with one talent had to do was do something with it. Not hide it in fear.
Neena, it's been a pleasure having you on as a guest. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover? 
Writing The Bird and the Bees took off when I determined "the what" I wanted readers to glean from the gritty story of Larkin. The theme of the book is the power of choice. I believe much of our lives are a result of the choices we make, big and small. What we are experiencing right now with the Coronavirus points to the fact that there are some things in life we would never choose. I still believe we determine our response, and the best response is always to choose Jesus. Choose Him in the moment. Choose Him every day.
Amen.
Readers, thanks for stopping by and getting to know another author in our series, The Author Behind the Story. If you wish to get to know more about Neena's writing, you can find her in cyberspace here:
www.wordslikhoney.comwww.instagram.com/neenagaynor/www.facebook.com/neenagaynor/


Until next time, may God bless America, and may America - now more than ever! - bless God!
Kevin www.ckevinthompson.com