C. Kevin Thompson's Blog, page 7

The Author Behind the Story Blog Series - Davalynn Spencer

Fall is upon us! Well, on the calendar anyway. I envy the folks up north this time of year. I see people in the stands and coaches on the sidelines wearing sweaters and jackets at college football games. Must be nice to be able to enjoy outdoor events without feeling like you're crawling across the Sahara, looking for an oasis.

It was over ninety degrees here in Florida this past Saturday. ESPN's College Gameday was at the University of Florida (Go Gators!).  Kirk Herbstriet mentioned how he had a river running down his spine while having to stand in the sun, wearing a suit and tie.

Welcome to Florida in the fall.

But enough about how the grass is drying up down here due to the lack of rain.

We're going to switch gears from talking about Florida, football, and fall, to talking about bullfighters, cowboys, and...romance?

Pull up and chair on our Florida front porch. The iced tea is cold. The ceiling fans are on high. And let's welcome award-winning author Davalynn Spencer!

Welcome, Davalynn! Let's start in out traditional way by having you give us a quick bio. In fifty words or less, who is Davalynn Spencer?


I am the wife and mother of professional rodeo bullfighters and spent many years with bloody knees praying for these men in my life (as well as my daughter who did not run in front of bulls). I’ve also been a crime-beat reporter, sixth-grade history teacher, and college professor. Now I write books. About cowboys.
Oh. I expected that to continue...something like, "Now I write books. About cowboys. Solving crimes while teaching middle school. And moonlighting as professors. Who write books." :-)
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?
In the sixth grade, my teacher gave us a story-writing assignment. I wrote a now-embarrassing science-fiction romance that my teacher insisted I read as a play in between “commercial skits” put on by other members of the class at our science camp in the California foothills. It was my first (and last) sci-fi experience.
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: “Someday Soon” When my cowboy was courting me, he played this song, sung by Judy Collins. I was hooked.Favorite Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard – This is an insightful look at the 23rdPsalm.Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 16:11  I connect this verse to verse 8. When I am at God’s right hand and he is at mine, we are facing each other.Favorite Movie: Last of the Mohicans  I have many favorites, but I return most frequently to this one.Favorite Actor or Actress: Gerard Butler . I don’t like all of his movies, but I like his capacity to speak volumes via his facial expressions. Favorite TV Show: NCIS. What’s not to like about Gibbs? The man uses a flip phone. (So does Raymond Reddington, by the way. Interesting.)Favorite Novel (other than your own): The Far Pavilions by MM Kay. This was an early novel for me and perhaps holds a spot in my heart like a first love.Favorite Author (other than you): Laura Frantz. I don’t even like early American fiction, but if Laura Frantz writes it, I’ll read it and love it.Favorite Sport: Rodeo. I was not a participant, I merely supported my husband and sang the National Anthem, but I’d still rather watch rodeo than any other sport.Favorite Team (Can be any sport, any level): Denver Broncos (See what I did there?)Favorite Subject in School Growing Up: Not math. Anything but math. Numbers are not in the alphabet.Favorite Subject Now: Biblical history. I wouldn’t say I’m a history buff, but I love studying the Bible, investigating the ancient cultures, and seeing God’s faithfulness to His people.Favorite Teacher in School: Mr. Lublin, sixth grade. He’s the one who liked my science-fiction story.Favorite Time of the Year: Fall. I live in Colorado where gold trickles down the mountain ravines and valleys every autumn in the form of brilliant aspen leaves. (See? Other states do experience a difference in the fall.)Favorite Drink: Coffee with canned milk and honey. On a chilly fall morning, it makes me feel like I’m in the land of milk and honey.Favorite Food: I don’t have a favorite food. But my leading non-favorites are liver and sushi. (Those are at the top of my trash can list, too.)
For all the pet lovers out there, answer this question: Do you have any? 
Blue, the Cowdog, is a Queensland heeler that couldn’t care less about cows. Squirrels and other people’s cats, however, are another matter. Annie and Oakley are our cats, and Oakley is quite fond of hanging out with Blue. He tolerates her.
A "Cowdog" that has no interest in cows. There's a children's book in there somewhere...
Do you have a favorite line from a movie or book? If so, what is it and explain why it is special to you? 
“We and the world, my children, will always be at war. Retreat is impossible. Arm yourselves.” - Leif Enger in the novel Peace Like a River. For me, this line encapsulates our spiritual walk and what we should be teaching our children about it.
Besides storytelling, what talents do you have?
I sing, play the piano and guitar, and have done so for years on various church worship teams or for cowboy church services at rodeos. Pianos don’t do so well behind the chutes, so I stick with the guitar at rodeos. 
Tell us about what project you are currently working on.
I am anticipating the November release of this year’s Christmas novella, Just in Time, an 1800s romance set in the shadow of Pikes Peak, while finishing Book 3 of my Front Range Brides series scheduled for a spring 2020 release, An Impossible Price.
Tell us about your writing day. How do you go about writing?
Writing has become my full-time job. Therefore, I treat it as a job, writing five to six days a week with breaks for things like family, grocery shopping, playing on the worship team at church, teaching a Bible study at church, and splitting firewood for kindling. I go to work at 9 a.m., break for lunch, then continue until 5 or 6 p.m. I don’t write late at night or super early in the morning. And I don’t write on Sunday. I think God knew what He was talking about when He said, “Take a break.” Having that day off refuels me for the next week.
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?
There will never be enough time to write. No one is going to write the book for you, and someday never comes. So write the book. Even if you have only twenty minutes a day, sit down, set the timer, and pound it out for twenty minutes. Don’t give up on your passion.
Has your writing crossed over into other areas? If so, how? If not, will it? 
I was a journalist for several years, writing for professional rodeo trade papers as well as for daily newspapers. I also freelanced inspirational pieces to Christian publications and interviews to national magazines. But I always wanted to be a novelist. Writing on deadline in a newsroom taught me to write tight and clean and helped me develop thick skin, editorially speaking. I still freelance and have sold several pieces to Guideposts and other publications.
If you had one person you could meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be? 
I’d like to visit with Will Rogers and experience his wit and wisdom firsthand.
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 want to meet David – the youngest son who was kept out of the way of the older brothers. The one with a poet’s heart and ruddy cheeks, the one who knew God was bigger than the enemy, the one who failed at parenthood and fidelity but loved God with all his heart. I want to meet him.
What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?
One summer my husband Mike had a contract to work his comedy acts and fight bulls at the Estes Park Night Rodeo in Colorado. The second night, a bull rider went down “in the well” and hung up to his bull. Mike ran in to free his hand and took a brutal blow to the chest that knocked him down. After breaking Mike’s ribs, the bull ran over him and shredded his right ear with its hoof. The plastic surgeon who restructured Mike’s ear told him he was not to go back to the rodeo grounds due to the high risk of infection, so we got a motel room rather than stay in our camper/horse trailer rig. However, three nights remained in the contract which Mike had agreed to. A second bullfighter took over during the bull riding, and in the spirit of “the show must go on,” I dressed up as Mike and worked the acts with the other clown as the straight man. Trying to be funny was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. 
Did your husband tell you to stop clowning around? (buh-dum-psst)
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover? 
I don’t care to be preached at in fiction, so I don’t want to do that in my novels. I want my stories to show people doing life and how God interacts with them. It’s all about redemption to my way of thinking. God is out to rescue us, lift us, give us a second chance. Sometimes we don’t let Him, sometimes we do. I want my stories to give people hope and the opportunity to discover that God has been right there beside them all along.
Davalynn, I couldn't have said it better myself. Not a fan of preachy fiction either. 
Thank you for being a part of our Author Behind the Story blog series! I know you're busy with all that you do, and we appreciate you taking time out of your day to help our readers get a glimpse into your life behind the writing.
Readers, if you wish to connect with Davalynn online, her various online sites are listed below:
Thank you, everyone, for stopping by!
Until next time, may God bless America, and more importantly, may America bless God!
Kevin

Kevin's Podcast Interview with Stacey Horan of "The Bookshop at the End of the Internet"

I have to admit, I've done a podcast interviews in the past. one was with a group of authors on a conference call with the interviewer. I did a little talking, but the pressure was off as I listened to the other writers answer questions of the host.

However, when you are "the author," and there are no others to fill in the gaps, it can be a little nerve-racking. I have to admit, you hear it in my voice. The consummate introvert taking a calming breath before launching into an answer, hoping he doesn't sound like an introvert. :-)

Nevertheless, Stacey did an excellent job, asked some great questions, and was able to pack a great deal into a half hour.

My interview is episode #40. There are 39 more you can check out after you listen to mine. :-) Most of these authors I do not know, but it's cool to "get to know them" and find out more about them and their works (just like the interviews I do here on this blog). I did meet one of the authors, Mark Wayne Adams (episode #18), at a book awards festival in Miami, Florida, back in 2013. We both received awards that night. Small world.


So, grab yourself a glass of tea or a cuppa, sit back and listen as Stacey interviews me about my Blake Meyer Thriller series!

(Oh, and by the way, Book 5 was sent to the publisher last night!)

http://bookshopwithstaceyhoran.libsyn.com/bookshop-interview-with-author-c-kevin-thompson-episode-040

The Inheritance of God (A Seriously Write blog)

(I encourage you to read Numbers 18:20 & 1 Peter 2:4-12 first.)


You see it all the time. You even hear stories about it. People sitting around tables with bated breath in some lawyer’s office. Or family members staged in a personal library in a magnificent mansion. Steely eyes focused on every other relative in the room.

Waiting. For the reading of the will.

Everybody wants to know the answer to the question on everyone’s mind: What am I going to get? Usually, in these scenarios, we get a real, clear picture of the human condition under the spell known as greed. Very few people ever walk out of those little family get-togethers in, shall we say, their right minds. And the higher the stakes, the less “right” people’s minds become.

Aaron and the rest of the Levites were a unique tribe amongst the Israelites. God, speaking to Aaron, said, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them” (Numbers 18:20a). The Levites already had to rely on sacrifices for food. They were not allowed to work for money. Their funds came from the Atonement Tax. So, this “no inheritance in their land” business seems pretty harsh, if you don’t read the rest of the verse: “I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites” (Numbers 18:20b).

God was to be Aaron’s inheritance. He was to be the Levites’ inheritance, too.

Wow.

That beats an Italian villa on Lake Como, a Ferrari, or a million-dollar stock portfolio any day.

Or does it?



You can see the rest of the article HERE!

Author Behind the Story - Anita Agers-Brooks

In light of Hurricane Dorian, getting ready for a direct hit, seeing schools cancel school days in preparation, waiting for the turn, watching the decimation of the Bahamas, seeing the eventual turn, watching it steer away from our peninsula, only to see it hit North Carolina.

This last week or so has been hectic, to say the least. And to let you in on a little secret, this blog post almost became a casualty. It got to our guest author late. Then, she had people for whom she cares affected in the Bahamas and NC. Needless to say, the fact that it is here at all on time is somewhat of a miracle of its own, as several other things happened that created, ultimately, more work for us both.

But we're here. On the Florida front porch. In the sweltering, post-Dorian heatwave we've been experiencing since he left our shores.

So, let's welcome out next guest before something else happens! She's a speaker, a writer, and a child of God. Welcome, Anita Agers-Brooks!

Anita, give us a quick bio. In fifty words or less, who is Anita Agers-Brooks?

I’m a passionate speaker who inspires, teaches, and encourages global audiences with stories and practical takeaways. I’m a dedicated coach, guiding businesses and individuals to make fresh starts with fresh faith. And I’m an award-wining author with a heart to help people. What I do is about souls not sales.
I like that. "About souls, not sales." 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?
As an adult who’d forgotten I had the notion as a child, I was the general manager of one of the largest river resorts in the country. I still do consulting for Ozark Outdoors Riverfront Resort on a regular basis.
What educational background do you have?
I went to high school in a tiny town called Viburnum, Missouri. I have certifications from one of the first accredited coaching agencies in America. I’m also a certified personality trainer, a certified training facilitator, and a certified communications specialist. Though I’ve taken several college courses, I’ve never gotten a degree, but I’m still asked to speak to students and administrators, many with master’s degrees and doctorates, frequently. I’m teaching a leadership team at Missouri’s largest university next week. Only God!
 Are you married? Single? Have kids? 
I’ve been married for thirty-six years, and we still have a blast together. We have two grown sons, and four gorgeous grandchildren.
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: Seasons in the SunFavorite Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): UnbrokenFavorite Bible Verse: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).Favorite Movie: It’s a tie between The Ultimate Gift and Far and Away with Tom Cruise and Nicole KidmanFavorite TV Show: I don’t watch much TV, but when I do, it’s mostly Dateline, 48 Hours, or 20/20—I’m addicted to true crimeFavorite Novel (other than your own): Just 18 SummersFavorite Author (other than you): Jack CanfieldFavorite Sport: VolleyballFavorite Team (Can be any sport, any level): St. Louis CardinalsFavorite Subject in School Growing Up: P.E. (I was really athletic)Favorite Subject Now: HistoryFavorite Teacher in School: Mrs. Griffith (she spotted my writing talent in 4thgrade)Favorite Time of the Year: FallFavorite Place to Vacation: BelizeFavorite Drink: Turmeric/Ginger Golden MilkFavorite Food: Lasagna

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?
Finding out that my dad was not my biological father at age forty-six certainly impacted me in deeply profound ways. Even using my maiden name as part of my pen name came into question. Finding out that I am the product of an unsavory moment made me question my ability to write for God. But eventually, I came to realize that I exist on purpose, with purpose, in order to fulfill an abundant purpose. I finally had the courage to write about all of this in my last book.
I’m also a living donor, I gave my kidney to my sister in 1997. These kinds of experiences give me a level empathy and compassion for people that comes across in my writing—or so I’ve been told.
Do you have a crazy, interesting, behind-the-scenes story about the publishing world you’d like to tell your readers without boring them to death with industry gobbledygook? 
Hmm, great question! When I was on the hunt for a literary agent, I was following all of the protocols they teach you at writer’s conferences and in writing books. A couple were interested in me at the time, but there was this one agency that I admired. I would never have queried them, because I didn’t think I was good enough. One day, however, I connected with one of their agents on Facebook. Turned out, she was born in the little Missouri community I still live in. We messaged for over an hour, then she asked to see my proposal, and I submitted it thinking nothing would come of it (remember, I wasn’t good enough). When I got the e-mail saying they wanted to sign me six days later, I cried for two hours. I’ve been with them since 2011, and they’ve sold multiple books for me. I still pinch myself!  Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story? 
Getting Through What You Can’t Get Over is by far my favorite. I poured my heart into this book. The title came one day when I heard myself say for the umpteenth time to a hurting person, “You know, there are some things in life we can get through, but we will never get over.” For some reason, that day it clicked, and I knew it would make a great book title.
Do you ever receive negative reviews from readers? If so, how do you respond when you see them? 
Occasionally. Usually, because they are mad that I’m writing from a Christian perspective. I did get one online reviewer who said I was trite. That made me laugh—especially when I clicked on her profile and saw that she’s a serial sourpuss. But not everyone is going to love everything you write, that’s okay. Because when you get emails from strangers who said you saved their lives, because they were going to commit suicide, but instead, they are renewing their relationship with Jesus—well, that smothers any negative comments others make.
Tell us about what project you are currently working on. 
I’m working on two books actually. One is titled, Tending Your Dreams: Seizing Hope While You Create Your Turn, and I’m finally writing on the personality information I’ve taught for years.
If you had one person you could meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be?
Wow! As I consider this, I realize I’ve actually met several powerful, wealthy, and very interesting people—some were even celebrities. A couple of them, like Jack Canfield and Pam Farrell, were writing heroes of mine. But let’s see, someone I haven’t met. I’d still love to meet Tony Robbins and have 2-3 days of one-on-one time to pick his brain. His energy and thirst for knowledge are inspiring.
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?
It would have to be the Apostle Paul. I think he’s an intriguing, wise, and complex character. I’d like to slow-walk some dusty roads with him and ask him questions about many of the things he wrote, but especially regarding some detail in the book of Galatians.
What’s the craziest thing you have ever done? 
I ziplined in the cloud forest of Costa Rica where you couldn’t touch the tree holding up one of the platforms, because of the Army Ants. That was pretty radical. I also sang lead in two high school musicals—even I think that’s crazy today.
The Army Ants make me think of that scene in the last Indiana Jones movie. Creepy. Why do you live where you live?    
I grew up in the country, so fresh air and Missouri hollers are in my soul. But I also adore living in the state that gave us the writings of Mark Twain and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Sometimes, I visit their home places here, and wonder what it must have been like writing back in their days.   
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? 
The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. Other than a couple of small parts, I love that book. I’m reading it for the third time.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover? 
I am passionate about encouraging other people to tend their dreams—to make them come true and maintain them when they do! My podcast, Tending Your Dreams, is all about providing tools, inspiring stories, and any other information that will help support people with a dream planted in their heart.
Anita, thanks for taking time out of your plane trip and being a part of our blog series! 
Readers, if you wish to get to know more about Anita and her ministry, you can find her here:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Tendyourdreams.com
anitabrooks.com
Until next time, may God bless America, and more importantly, may America bless God,
Kevin
https://ckevinthompson.com/

Writing Deficiency Disorder (A Seriously Write Blog)

Study after study has been done in recent years. Such things as “gray matter atrophy,” “compromised white matter integrity,” “reduced cortical thickness,” “impaired cognitive function,” and “cravings and impaired dopamine function,” are all physiological detriments attributed to this malady that now touches hundreds of thousands of people a year. It is a global issue, and not limited to those of us here in America. It is not discriminatory when it comes to gender or age, although it does affect younger folks more than older ones. 

Such alarming things as “structural and functional changes in the brain regions involving emotional processing, executive attention, decision making, and cognitive control” have been discovered.1

You might be thinking I am speaking of such horrible diseases like Alzheimer’s, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, or some form of brain cancer or neurological degradation for which science has yet to find a cure.

However, this disease of which I speak is self-inflicted. It has nothing to do with exposure to chemical spills or radioactive power plants. It has nothing to do with the weed killer our farmers spray on our vegetables in the field as they grow or the depletion of the ozone layer and the subsequent exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation.



You can read the remainder of the article here !

Author Behind the Story Series - Lena Nelson Dooley (Encore Visit)

Here in Florida, many of the kiddos have already started another year of school. Those up north are enjoying the last couple of weeks of summer before the school "daze" begins. Football fans are gearing up for another season. Baseball fans are readying themselves for either the joy of victory ("We made it into the playoffs!") or the agony of defeat ("Wait until next year.").

Here, in the Author Behind the Story series, we are readying ourselves for an encore performance. This author visited last summer, and she's back. Please welcome, Lena Nelson Dooley!

Lena, thanks for visiting to our Florida front porch in the heat of the summer again. After one summer of it, you came back for another shower of humidity. Kudos to you!

Last time, you answered several questions, and so we wish to delve into some new questions this time. (Dear readers, if you want to see Lena's first interview, you can visit it here.)

Most of your fans know you live in Texas. Why do you live where you live?


Actually, when James and I moved to a suburb of Fort Worth, Texas, from Abilene in farther west Texas in the early 1970s. Our plan was to live here until he built up enough seniority in his company so that when we moved back, we’d not have to move again. There were so many more things to do here with our children in the summer and the church we found that we loved, that we never left here instead.
The best laid plans of mice and authors, huh? I also know that you are married. What can you tell me about your husband, James?


Spending almost 55 years with the love of my life, James, has been right up there behind knowing Jesus. This man has treasured and protected me and is my greatest supporter in this writing business and other areas. My life wouldn’t be the same without him.
It seems God knew what he was doing when he made man and woman in the Garden. 

So, let's shift gears a little. As a writer, if you had one thing you would do over again, what would it be?


Early on, I received what I considered a rejection of my book. It was my first one, and I didn’t read it well enough. A few years later, I reread it. The editor was actually telling me she’d like to see it again after I made certain changes. I’ve always regretted I didn’t read it right in time for that editor to still want it.
Oh, my. There's a lesson for new writers, if I ever saw one. If you had your life to live over again, besides being an author (which we guess would be your obvious answer), what profession would you choose?
When I went to college, the plan was to become a teacher like those who helped me so much. Then I had to take one drama course. That’s why I changed to drama as a major and had history as a minor, even in graduate school. I’m a good director, and I do love acting. 
Interesting. When the words aren’t flowing, what is your favorite comfort food and why? 
One of the things that God promised when He told me to become a professional writer was that if I was obedient, He would cause the words to flow. However, I do love to munch sometimes on something crunchy when I’m writing. M&Ms are a favorite.
Okay readers, now you know what to bring to Lena's author signing parties! Do you ever receive negative reviews from readers? If so, how do you respond when you see them? (And we assume they DO NOT send M&Ms...)
Interesting question. My most humorous, negative review was from a woman who said that she loved my writing and my story until she got to the first kiss. I do like to have several kisses in a romance, but my kisses are more about the emotional impact than being physically graphic. She said she wouldn’t let her daughters read my book until they had been married a while, if ever. And she’d never share it with her mother or grandmother. My critique group laughed, then someone said she felt sorry for the woman’s husband if my kisses bothered his wife so much.
Hmm. Maybe fiction, particularly Christian romance, is not what she should be reading. When you are looking for a book to read, what are the things that are important to you? (And if you say, "kissing," we're shutting this interview down right now.) 
My reading-for-pleasure time is limited, so I always read the description and back cover copy to see if it sounds interesting to me. An eye-catching cover helps, but it needs to make me have questions about the story.
What makes you cringe?
I’m not fond of snakes, so I cringe when I see one, even on TV. I also cringe when I’m in the company of someone who uses either God or Jesus or other names of God in a disrespectful way. I love the Lord so much it’s like a dagger to my heart for every word.
What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?
(Readers, don’t try this. It’s dangerous.) When I was in college in Arkansas, there was a place on the campus property—between the campus itself and the neighborhood where many of the professors lived—that had a deep, wide gorge. It was in the Ozark Mountains, so there were lots of trees, rocky outcrops, and things like that. A pipe that was about a foot in diameter stretched across the chasm. A couple of my friends and I walked from one end of the pipe to the other side. Now I realize that if one of us had fallen, it would have been sudden death.
My goodness. Did your parents know about this? I'm betting no. Well, it's a good thing you didn't fall, because you wouldn't be able to tell us about your next project. Tell us what you are currently working on at the moment.
I’m editing a proposal that an editor is interested in. The heroine is a woman who came to Texason an orphan train and became a part of a family, she thought. The hero is a lawyer who left his banking family in Now York to come to Texas to be a lawyer. There’s a marriage of convenience, and one of the craziest stunts in Texas history will be featured at a catalyst in the story.
Does this stunt involve walking across a gorge? Inquiring minds want to know... :-)
Lena, we thank you for taking time out of your busy days to stop by and answer some questions for our readers.
Readers, if you wish to get to know Lena more, you can stop by her website @ www.lenanelsondooley.com.  You can also learn more at her blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com.
And don't forget to check out her interview from last September!
Lena, do you have any parting words for our readers?
Thank you, Kevin, for inviting me for the visit. I love to have readers contact me on social media, and reviews really make my day. I love seeing them on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub.
As do all writers/authors. If you are a reader, one way you can support your favorite authors besides buying their books is leaving honest reviews on the sites Lena listed above. Dear reader, you do not know how much credence is placed on reviews by publishers and advertisers these days. It is a new world in the arena of publishing. Your reviews just may cause a book to be published by writers like Lena and me. Then again, no review (although you may have loved the book) may cause a publisher to pass on the manuscript because "it looks like nobody read it," even though thousands of readers may have done so via sites like Kindle Unlimited, which creates a hidden source of readers many publishers cannot see. (Just thought you'd like to know, as many readers do not.)
Thanks to everyone for stopping by!
Until next time, may God bless America, and more importantly, may America bless God!
Kevin  
https://ckevinthompson.com/

The Practical Relevance of Actual Obedience (A Seriously Write Blog)

I am reading a book that was recommended to me by a pastor. It is getting me to think deeply about the “Kingdom of God” and how it is “at hand” and “not yet,” not only generally speaking, but personally, in my life, on a daily basis.

My thoughts on the subject, coupled with a growing, currently six-month-long deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount, have really got me to think and rethink not only my life as a Christian, but also the words I put down on the page as an author.

In the book, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, author Dallas Willard says this in the introduction:

“More than any other single thing, in any case, the practical irrelevance of actual obedience to Christ accounts for the weakened effect of Christianity in the world today, with its increasing tendency to emphasize political and social action as the primary way to serve God. It also accounts for the practical irrelevance of Christian faith to individual character development and overall personal sanity and well-being” (p. xv).

Although I have not finished reading Willard’s book yet, I’m not sure there is a more succinct paragraph than this one, pertaining to the ills that plague the Church today. And may I say, possibly to those of us who write.

What do I mean exactly?


You can read the remainder of this devotion HERE, @ Seriously Write!

The Author Behind the Story Series - Kimberly Rose Johnson

Readers often wonder, "What is it like to be an author?" Then they think of big named-authors they know, or envision authors portrayed on TV or in a movie-who almost always are living lavish lifestyles and experiencing sales that would make J. K. Rowling drool.

But alas, such depictions are accurate for approximately one-to-three percent of the authors out there. For many writers, sitting along the sidewalk in St. Augustine, Florida, holding your book, reading from it while passersby toss loose change into your briefcase is probably more realistic. Of course, I exaggerate a little. We don't do our begging on sidewalks. That's reserved for guitar players and painters. Authors use social media and local bookstores.

At this very moment (July 2), I'm sitting here at my desk, listening to John Williams' Greatest Hits, while I take care of posting this blog. The Imperial March is playing. Which makes me think about how certain phrases or tunes become so iconic because they are usually tied to a memorable character. 

Once I'm finished posting this blog, then I'll get back to Book 5 of my Blake Meyer Thriller series, A Pulse of Time, which is due to the editor by July 31 in preparation for a December release date. Then, tomorrow, I have shoulder surgery to look forward to. 

So, see, authors are people, too. They deal with their own set of struggles and triumphs just like the next person. Writing is a job and a passion, just like others jobs are to other folks. Which brings us to the next guest on the Florida front porch! She, too, has a passion for this writing biz. Please welcome Kimberly Rose Johnson!

Kimberly, pull up a chair, grab some iced tea, and in fifty words or less, tell our readers about yourself.

Hi, I’m Kimberly Rose Johnson. I write faith-based contemporary romance and romantic mystery. Writing is my passion, which I believe was fostered through my love of reading Christian romance. I have one award credited to my name and have been a best seller on Amazon multiple times.
See, Dear Reader? I told you writers have a passion about what they do. 
So, Kimberly, 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 didn’t begin writing until my early thirties. I always enjoyed creative writing in school. Aside from music, that was probably the only thing I liked about school. I distinctly remember one time in particular in my high school English class when my teacher told us to get out a piece of paper and write a story. I don’t recall any instructions beyond that. I had zero trouble with this assignment and immediately started writing. I noticed my classmates grumbling and having a hard time with the assignment. They couldn’t understand how I could already be finished when they couldn’t even get started. Storytelling came naturally to me; however, I had no idea I was a writer at that time. In fact, it would be close to fifteen years later before that idea to try writing ever came to me.
What educational background do you have?
I have a B.A. in Behavioral Science and a minor in music from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA. It was the only college I applied to. I received a music scholarship there and felt strongly it was where the Lord wanted me to go.
For all the pet lovers out there, answer this question: Do you have any?
I am definitely an animal lover. Because I am extremely allergic to cats I only have a dog. She is a yellow lab.
Good thing you're not allergic to dog fur.

I Hereby Propose Summertime as the New NaNoWriMo (A Seriously Write blog)

Those who created NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month, are evil miscreants. They must not be favorable of anything American, like football, Thanksgiving, fall, or people who have birthdays or weddings in November. The only month more horrible in its choosing for such an endeavor is December, for obvious reasons.

That is why I hereby propose summertime to be the new, official NaNoWriMo. 

Why do I proclaim it is anti-American? Take football, for example. Although baseball has been touted as “America’s pastime,” those days are long past. Empty seats at baseball stadiums, declining TV ratings, and long, tedious 162-game seasons are all reasons why baseball has fallen from its lofty perch. Football reigns supreme now. It has been thus for years now. And college football, with its playoff system, has reached stratosphere levels in fandom across the landscape of our country. 


You can fish the article HERE!

Susan G. Mathis Interview with Yours Truly

I'm always honored to be featured on another website! And this time, fellow author, Susan G, Mathis, has interviewed me on her blog to discuss the release of Book 4 in my Blake Meyer series, When the Clock Strikes Fourteen. Come check it out. It's amazing how the questions vary, and you always learn just a little more from these interviews.
Click HERE to read it in its entirety. 
(And one little addition here that you won't find in the article: When I refer to the one-or two-syllable method, I found it interesting that many of your best and most famous heroes in both literature and film had names with one or two syllables, such as James Bond, Han Solo, Jack Ryan, Sherlock Holmes, Thor, Tony Stark, Black Widow, etc. Once in a while, you may find one with three (Luke Skywalker, Maximus, for example), but rarely did you find one with multiple syllables in both names, like the singer Englebert Humperdink. Of course, this rule or method is a rule of thumb generalization and has its exceptions. I also found the villains to have similar tendencies (one or two syllables, which somewhat lends to the general construction of names), but with more of a tendency to be multi-syllabic, e.g. Professor James Moriarty, Commodus, Hannibal Lechter, Maleficent. Again, these are some of the more memorable ones, but many villains have short names as well: Darth Vader, Nurse Rached, Green Goblin, etc. Isn't it amazing what goes through an author's mind, just to come up with a name of a character?)