Morgan L. Busse's Blog, page 12

Christmas Traditions

With Christmas less than a week away, I am getting ready for our yearly traditions. Some of our traditions date back to when I was a kid, some of them even further than that. Some of them reflect my family’s heritage, some of them our beliefs. And some of them are just plain fun! So I thought I would share some of our traditions with you.

For as long as I can remember, someone in my family would make lefse for Christmas (pronounced lef-saw). Lefse is a soft Norwegian flatbread made from potatoes. My great grandmother, my grandmother, and my mother all would make this flatbread and we would eat it with coffee or tea. Usually lefse is topped with butter, sugar, and cinnamon, then rolled up and consumed. Yum!

Another tradition is serving snacks and finger foods on Christmas Eve. It was a tradition I brought from my family, and with Dan busy with candlelight services on Christmas Eve, it became the perfect and no-fuss way to celebrate Christmas Eve.

Also on Christmas Eve we give our children new pajamas and let them sleep under the Christmas tree. The pajama idea came from Dan’s side of the family and the sleeping under the tree was our own. The kids look forward  to sleeping under the tree every year.

My Christmas tree this year :)

On Christmas morning, our kids are allowed to wake up whenever they want and open their stockings (so the parents can sleep in a little bit longer). Then we join together to read the Christmas story and take turns picking one gift from under the tree to open. Opening gifts can take over an hour and everyone enjoys the gifts, both giving and receiving.

Then we spend the rest of the day playing with new toys, playing games, reading, and eating my famous lasagna. We end Christmas with a birthday cake to remember it is Jesus’ day of birth we are celebrating.

So that’s my family’s traditions. How about yours? How does your family celebrate Christmas? Are there traditions you celebrate that have been passed down each generation? When you married, did each of you bring a tradition to your new family? What is your favorite tradition?

Reader Group

Hi everyone! Due to some changes coming to Facebook in 2015, I have decided to start a closed readers group for my readers. It will be a place to connect with me, find out any news including cover reveals, book releases, etc…, and talk with each other. To sign up, just send me a request :) Here is the link: Readers of Morgan L. Busse

If that is a little too personal for you, feel free to sign up to receive my posts via your email (upper left hand corner) or if you are only interested in book news, sign up for my newsletter. Looking forward to getting to know you all more and sharing some upcoming news in 2015!

Book Giveaways

Many of the authors at Enclave Publishing are doing Goodreads giveaways this month (including my own book). Here is a list of the books and links to their giveaways. Hopefully you find some great reads listed here!

Daughter of Light (Follower of the Word #1) by Morgan L. Busse

Crosswind (Sark Brothers, #1) by Steve Rzasa

A Time to Die (Out of Time Series, #1) by Nadine Brandes

Firebird by Kathy Tyers

By Darkness Hid (Blood of Kings, #1) by Jill Williamson

To Darkness Fled (Blood of Kings, #2) by Jill Williamson

From Darkness Won (Blood of Kings, #3) by Jill Williamson

Never to Live by Just B. Jordan

Orphan’s Song (The Songkeeper Chronicles, #1) by Gillian Bronte Adams

Failstate: Nemesis by John Otte

 The Restorer (Sword of Lyric Series, #1) by Sharon Hinck

A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz

- See more at: http://www.enclavepublishing.com/enclave-books-giveaway/#sthash.7cP6wOUg.dpuf

The Gift of Thankfulness

A few years ago I wrote this post and thought it was appropriate as we draw near Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

This time of year, people start to reflect on what they are thankful for: houses, food, family, etc. I decided to challenge myself and come up with something I am thankful for every day in November. I didn’t want to just put something down. Instead, I really wanted to think about it, and search deep inside my heart: am I really thankful for this?

It occurred to me a couple days into November:

Thankfulness is seeing everything as a gift, not as something I deserve or am entitled to.

When I began to see everything with this definition in mind, I realized how much subconsciously I think I deserve. I deserve a house, because my husband has a job and we have earned it.

Um. No.

I deserve a dishwasher for washing dishes because no one washes dishes by hand anymore, especially someone with a family of six.

Nope. Wrong again.

I deserve a car, or how else would I go places?

I deserve my turn to choose out the movie I want.

I deserve a clean house. After all, I don’t make any of the messes ;).

But when I began to see everything as a gift, it turned everything upside down.

I am thankful for a house. There was a time when Dan and I didn’t know where we were going to live. We don’t deserve a house, but God has given us one anyway. Thank you, God.

I currently do not have a dishwasher, and at first I wasn’t sure how I was going to get all those dishes done everyday. Instead, it has become a blessing. Every morning I wash the dishes as the kids eat breakfast and we talk. Wow, who would have thought?

We have a working car. We don’t deserve one and frankly, many people in this world don’t have one and still get by. But God has graciously given us a car. Thank you, God.

I’m thankful I have a family I can snuggle with on a couch and watch movies. We take turns choosing the movie and savor our time together. Love movie nights!

And as for a clean house, eh, it might happen someday. For me, a dirty house means I have life living here in my home: kids, dogs, husband. And I wouldn’t trade that for the world!

So how about you? What did you once think you deserved that God made you realize is simply a gift to be thankful for?

My Writing Space

Hello and welcome to another Friday Coffee Date where I answer questions from my readers. I received some great questions this week and can’t wait to dig in. So here we go!

Maegen asks: “I don’t remember if it said in the book or not, but I was curious, how old is the character Rowen in the first book?“

Rowen Mar is the main character in my epic fantasy Follower of the Word series (to find out more, go to Daughter of Light, the first book).

I give hints about Rowen’s age, the fact that other women her age have already married (bonded) and had children, but I don’t come out and say her age.

Rowen is about twenty-two years old. In a society like this one, any woman over twenty and still unmarried would be considered strange and on her way to spinsterhood.

Thanks, Maegen, for the great question!

Patrick asks: “When you write, what are things you use to create your writing space? Music, clean desk, at home, at coffee shop, etc.“

When I’m writing a rough draft, I don’t have a set spot. I write everywhere: on my bed, on the couch, at a coffee shop, wherever I can find some peace and quiet and my imagination can work. Sometimes I listen to music that puts me into the scene or character.

However, when I’m editing, I sit at my desk with calm music playing and a cup of coffee or tea. I seem to need a more stable environment for that part of my brain to work :)

And if I’m on a deadline, you can find me at Mojo’s (a local coffee place) with a big pot of tea and ear buds in. Tea and music help me really focus in on my writing, and I force myself to sit there and write until the teapot is empty.

Thanks for asking, Patrick!

If you have any questions, whether it’s about writing, my life, or my stories, feel free to leave them in the comments below and I will be happy to answer them in next month’s coffee date post :)

 

What Does a Pastor Do?

This month is Pastor Appreciation Month, a time where you can reflect on what you pastor does and how he serves the church. However, many times I get the question, “What exactly does a pastor do?”

Usually our work titles explain what we do. Doctor? They work with patients and healthcare. Teacher? They work at a school teaching kids. Secretary? Works in an office and usually handles office work and telephones. But what does a pastor do, other than preach on Sundays?

This is a good question, one I’ve even been asked even by close family members. What does Dan do every week? Does it really take five days a week to come up with a sermon for Sunday?

So I thought I would share a little of what Dan does (and probably many of your pastors) every week.

1) Study God’s Word and prepare a sermon. Dan usually plans his sermons months in advance, digging deeper into the series and the particular sermon as the Sunday draws near. This includes praying, studying the Bible, studying context, browsing commentaries and other writings on that particular topic or verse(s), finding illustrations, and praying some more.

2) Strategic Planning. A pastor doesn’t just preach every Sunday, he leads the church, usually in conjunction with an elder board. This means asking where is the church going? How are they reaching their community? How are they reaching the people already part of the church? How are they teaching and equipping their people? These are just a few of the questions he asks. Then he works with the elders and staff on how to answer these questions. If you’ve ever walked into our church and seen the whiteboards in the backroom, that’s Dan’s brain on strategy ;)  And not only is he asking these questions, he is in constant prayer about where God wants the church to go. After all, it’s not his church, it’s Christ’s church.

3) Meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. Dan meets with his staff every week to find out how they are doing, both in their ministry and personally, both as a group and individually. He cares about the people who serve the church and wants to help them in any way he can along with praying for them. He also meets with other pastors to encourage them, talk about the church community, and discover new ways of doing ministry. And he meets with the elders, to share his heart with them, to encourage them in their leading, and to work together to lead the church.

4) Counseling. Pastor means “shepherd” and as a pastor that means helping those in the congregation. Almost every week Dan meets with people who are struggling with their marriage, parenting, or life in general. He talks with them, shares what God’s Word says, and prays with them and for them. Trust me, this isn’t always an easy thing to do, to get involved in people’s messy lives, but when I watch Dan interact with people, I am amazed at his patience and love with those who are hurting.

5) Church events. Whether that is leadership training for small group leaders, teaching a class during an evening, or meeting with newcomers after church over pizza.

6) Pastoral care of church members. Sometimes this means conducting weddings, funerals, or hospital visits.

7) Prayer. Dan prays a lot. If you didn’t notice, almost all the points up above have some aspect of prayer. Dan is always on his knees for the church. I know, I’ve walked in on him on his knees, praying, even sometimes in tears.

This is just a glimpse of what a pastor does. Along with his daily and weekly duties, he also strives to walk with God. A pastor must be Biblically qualified to lead the church. 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4 lay out the character and lifestyle that a pastor/elder should exemplify. Not perfectly, but walking with God in humility. (I share more about church leadership here).

Many pastors also go to seminary or a Bible school to gain more training in theology, doctrine, etc.. as well as how to lead a church. Some have a master’s degree, some have 2 master’s degrees, and some even have a doctorate. This is not so they can show how smart they are, but so that they can accurately teach God’s Word.

The pastor’s family also serves by giving their husband and dad to the church so he can serve. Now I’ve seen unhealthy examples of where the dad/husband is never home because he’s always serving the church. That is never good for the family or the church. Instead, a healthy church/pastor family relationship is built on the understanding that there are times the church needs daddy and there are times the family needs daddy home. I wrote an article about the relationship between the pastor, his family, and the church here).

Sometimes a pastor gives up financial stability to serve the church. Most pastors are not in ministry for the money (and if they are, that’s a big problem). But many pastors, for all of their qualifications, education, and years of experience, make very little compared to most professions that require the same. They do this to serve the church. However, a pastor sometimes walks the line between living on the resources provided by the church and providing for their family (I share my thoughts about that here).

In the end, the life and service of a pastor is not easy. Much is expected of him. He wakes up thinking and praying for the church, he goes to bed thinking and praying for the church. He gives of himself, his time, his resources, everything he is so that he can shepherd the people God has placed under his care.

Because of that, pastors need your prayer and support. You may never know the pressure they are under or the battles they are facing.

I would encourage you this week to say thank you to your pastor and tell him how much you appreciate what he does. I know from experience how much a word of encouragement can mean to a pastor :)

 

Heir of Hope, Book 3

Many of you are anxiously awaiting the final book in the Follower of the Word series, so I thought I would catch you up on what I know and what I can share.

First, I just spent the last three weeks finishing the main edits for Heir of Hope. Whew! My brain is tired! But the final story is so much better now :)

Tomorrow I turn in the manuscript.

So what happens next?

Micro edits. That’s where my editor and I polish up every single sentence. We hope to be done with that by the first week of November. Then I’m pretty much done until the galleys arrive, the final proof before the story heads off to the printers.

The cover is also in the works right now and I should be seeing something this month (can’t wait!).

Then pre-release stuff (like early reviews and possible endorsements, along with a cover reveal).

Then finally it will be here for all of you to read. Having just finished the book again this afternoon, I can tell you Heir of Hope is definitely worth the wait. It has been an emotional journey for me and there were days I wasn’t sure I would ever finish this book. But here it is and almost done.

So there you go. Less than six months to the release date (barring any unforeseen circumstances). In the meantime, stay tuned for more details such as the cover, blurbs, and other exciting things. And if you want to really make sure you don’t miss anything, consider signing up for my newsletter.

Thank you for being such great readers and for your patience :)

 

Author Inspiration, Time Management, and Winner of the Fall into Books Hop

Hi everyone! Due to a blog hop last week, I had to postpone my coffee date until today. For those visiting for the first time, every fourth Friday of the month I open up my blog to questions from my readers. I have two questions leftover from last month, so here we go!

Robert asks: “Who (or which authors) inspired you to become an author?”

Hmmm, I never thought about being an author until they day I walked into a Christian bookstore and asked to see their fantasy section (stop laughing!). So you could say it was the lack of speculative fiction that inspired me to write ;)

However, there are a few authors that I love and looking back, are probably the biggest reason I write what I do. The first one is J.R.R. Tolkien.

My dad introduced me to The Hobbit at a young age. By the time I entered my senior year in high school, I had read through The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, and the Silmarillion at least three times. I loved the world Tolkien created, especially how he wove myths from our world into his world (I based my senior writing project on this very subject).

Later on, I discovered Terry Brooks and a whole new fantasy world to explore. I loved the adventures and world-building, but I also enjoyed his character development. Characters didn’t just go on journeys, they changed, matured, and sacrificed. That hit home for me.

Lastly, my work has been compared to Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series. I’ve read the first book and have to agree. Neither of us write about fantasy creatures like dragons, orcs, or elves. Rather, we focus on people with power and how it changes the world.

Thanks for asking, Robert!

Lesley asks: “How do you balance it all–family, being a wife, personal time, writing (your job)?”

I decided when I started writing almost ten years ago that my family came first. Writing would always be there, but they would not. Of course, that means it takes me longer to put out a book, but I haven’t missed a moment with my kids or husband.

I write everyday, four days a week. My goal is 500 words a day, but usually I can write more than that. Friday is date day with my husband and nights and weekends are for my kids. Of course, when a deadline approaches or the edits come back with a two-week turnaround, I have to put in the hours, but my family knows I’ll be back when I’m done.

Great question, Lesley!

Feel free to leave any questions you have in the comments below and I’ll be happy to answer them next month during my coffee date Friday!

Now, for the winner of the Fall into Book Blog Hop!

Drum roll please…

Ryebrynn! You are the winner of the kindle copy of A Time to Die! Congratulations! I will be emailing you so we can get that book to you :)

And while I’m on it, today I am featured on Real Life & Character Romance where I share how I met my husband and give some hints into the romance blossoming between the assassin and scribe in my Follower of the Word series. Haven’t read my books yet or want to give a copy to a friend? Then head on over and comment for a chance to win a copy of either Daughter of Light or Son of Truth!

http://shannonvannatter.com/morgan-l-busse-real-life-character-romance

Thanks, everyone!

 

Fall into Books Hop

Hi everyone! This weekend I am participating in the Fall into Books Hop sponsored by Candlelight Reads. As part of this blog hop, I will be giving away a kindle copy  of A Time to Die, the debut YA dystopian novel by Nadine Brandes!

I love fall. It’s my most favorite season! Pumpkins, bright colored trees, cool weather, apple festivals, and corn mazes. I love it all :)

Fall is also a great time to curl up with a good book and a steamy cup of my favorite hot drink (tea, hot cider, cocoa, coffee, you name it). My favorite place to read is under a large maple tree in a pile of leaves, or on the back porch in the warm, fall sun.

What book would I be reading? Something new or something old. Maybe I would reach for my Anne of Green Gables collection or one of Jane Austen’s works. Or maybe Lord of the Rings. Or one of the books I just received a couple days ago: A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes or Orphan’s Song by Gillian Adams (I’m so excited to read these).

How about you? Where’s your favorite place to read? And what is that special book you want to fall into again and again? 

Now for my giveaway for a kindle copy of A Time to Die:  Rafflecopter giveaway

Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system.

But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall — her people’s death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her clock is running out.

And don’t forget to check out the rest of blogs along this hop for more gift cards, swag, and other prizes! Click here

Surprised By My Own Voice

Voice. That elusive part of writing. The part that distinguishes one writer from another. Voice is hard to nail down, but once found, brings a uniqueness to one’s writing.

So what happens when your voice doesn’t match your genre?

I write fantasy. When most people think of fantasy, they think of J.R.R. Tolkien. His voice is eloquent, lengthy, lyrical, and full of description. Many fantasy writers share a similar kind of voice. It’s the standard when it comes to this genre.

However, my voice is different. I discovered my voice after writing Daughter of Light, the first book in my epic fantasy series. My writing voice is blunt, short, and to the point. I tell the story in a strong, quick tempo, moving along at a clip pace. Not the style usually employed by the average fantasy writer.

A couple reviews reflected the fact that some readers did not like my voice. They wanted the poetic sound usually found in fantasy.

I didn’t know what to do, so I decided to try and change my voice. I believed I needed to write in a certain way in order to be a fantasy writer. It was like trying to write a square word into a round story. It didn’t work. In fact, those scenes stuck out so bad that my editor called me on it. He gave me the freedom to be me, and to write like me.

So I tossed out those scenes and went back to writing like Morgan.

After reading an article Ralene Burke wrote about voice, I realized even more how important it is to embrace my own voice. Not only is voice my style of writing, it encompasses the stories I write and how I write them. No one can write the stories I write, in the manner that I write them. When I write a story, I draw on the things I have went through: parent’s divorce, death, loss of jobs, loss of house, cancer scares, months of wondering how we will survive, deep depression, and emotional wounds dealt by people.

Through all my life, even in the darkest times, I found hope. And I clung to that hope like a life thread. Through my writing I explore the darkness and how to find hope.

My life and my writing style have formed my voice. To not be true to my voice would be the equivalent of not being true to myself.

Sometimes I don’t like my voice. I wish I could write eloquent prose, running along with beautiful descriptions, long colorful sentences, and dialogue that sounds more ancient.

But that’s not me. I’m Morgan and I will write in Morgan’s voice. After all, I’m the only one who can write my stories :)

How about you? As a writer, have you discovered your voice? Did you like it or did you wish you could write like someone else?