Susie Finkbeiner's Blog, page 15

Interview With Christine Lindsay

Today, it is my honor to welcome Christine Lindsay to the blog. She is a fellow WhiteFire Publishing author. I have been so glad to get to know her. Her newest novel ‘Captured By Moonlight’ just released for digital download. I hope you enjoy my interview with her!

Susie Finkbeiner (SF): Christine, I’m so glad you could share with us today. Now, your novels ‘Shadowed in Silk’ and ‘Captured By Moonlight’ are both set in India. I am curious. What made you choose that setting? 

Christine Lindsay (CL): India has fascinated me since I was a kid. A number of my ancestors served in the British Army in Colonial India in the nineteenth century, so I grew up on those stories. Especially interesting, was a great uncle who served in the British Cavalry in the Dragoons. So magnificent in his uniform and on horseback.

And my all-time favorite books were written by the great MM Kaye who wrote epic adventure romances set in the British Raj. If I was ever to write a book, it had to be set in that era, but from a Christian viewpoint.

It was after I had already written Shadowed in Silk, Book 1 of the series Twilight of the British Raj, that I finally got to visit India. I went with a missions group and spent 10 days in the southern province of Tamil Nadu.

So, naturally, when it came time to write Book 2 of the series, Captured by Moonlight, I featured the actual areas I had visited.

I’ve walked the beach my character Laine Harkness walks in the moonlight. I’ve smelled the fragrances of Indian’s tropical flowers. I’ve seen the landscape from the very train lines that my characters travel on.

SF: Interesting. Your answer leads me to wonder about the people you met on your travels. Were any of your characters inspired by those you encountered while in India?

CL: The Indian people I met were so warm and fervent in their faith for Christ, their personalities do color my Indian characters.

But the true-life people who inspired my characters lived and died many years ago. Three of them are actually featured as walk-ons in Captured by Moonlight. They are Pandita Ramabai, a former Hindu widow who became a Christian and created a mission compound that rescued cast-off and abused women and children.

Sundar Singh, a former Sikh, who after he came to faith in Christ, walked all over India sharing the Gospel message.

The third true-life hero is Dr. Ida Scudder, an American medical missionary who built one of the greatest hospitals in all of SE Asia. She started her hospital and college to train Indian women to become doctors.

SF: Any plans to return to India?

CL: If I had the money, I’d be buying my ticket right now.

Seriously, I think I will return. This time to visit the Ramabai Mukti Mission, especially if I can go with my birth-daughter Sarah. Sarah is the child I relinquished to adoption when she was 3 days old, and whom I was reunited with 20 years later. She is a nurse serving with Global Aid Network and the Ramabai Mukti Mission is in her sphere of care.

If you would care to donate to that worthy mission, let them know that Sarah Blaney’s birthmom sent you.

SF: You mentioned that those you met in India were strong in their faith. That leads me to my next question. Could you please discuss the Spiritual themes within ‘Captured By Moonlight’?

CL: The themes of my books are the spiritual lessons that I have learned or am learning. In Captured by Moonlight, it is learning to die to myself, to let my hopes, dreams, and ambitions, die so that Christ may let His plans and life flow through me.

This is shown when Eshana—a Christian who wants to run the medical mission in the footsteps of her mentor. But God allows Eshana to be captured by her uncle, a very traditional Hindu who is angry that she is living as a Christian.

When Eshana’s head is shaved and she is once more dressed in the course white funeral garments of a Hindu widow, and imprisoned, she cannot understand why God would allow such a thing to happen. Why would God keep her from the work she wants so desperately to do for Him?

She eventually learns—like I have learned—that we can trust God’s plans for our life. His plans and timing turn out more magnificent that anything we could ever devise.

SF: Now, the lovely and talented Roseanna White designed your covers. As gorgeous as they are, I think that the story behind your cover models is even more beautiful. Would you care to share a bit of that significance with us?

CL: First of all, the model on the front cover of Shadowed in Silk is my birthdaughter, Sarah, the young nurse who is working with Global Aid Network (above). In many ways, Sarah was the muse to get me started writing in the first place.

At our reunion when she was 20 years old, I became so broken-hearted, reliving the original loss of her as my child. Months later, my husband caught me crying, and placed a brand new journal and pen in my lap, and said, “Here, honey, write it.”

That was the beginning of my writing ministry.

When Shadowed in Silk was about to be released, WhiteFire publishing sent me photos of models for my perusal. Those photos reminded me of Sarah. So on a whim, I suggested Sarah as the model.

What a joy it was to see my debut novel released with the beautiful face of my muse on the front cover.

A while after that, I heard from Sarah that she was going into fulltime missionary work. And lo and behold she would be working with the very Ramabai Mukti Mission that was the inspiration for my books. I had never told Sarah that until that day.

You could have knocked me over with a feather at God’s goodness.

So, naturally when Captured by Moonlight was to be released, WhiteFire graciously allowed my own daughter, Lana, to be the model for Nurse Laine Harkness.

When I tell people this story I feel a bit like Mr. and Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice. All I can say is, “God has been so very, very good to me.”

SF: What is something interesting that we would be surprised to know about you?

CL: I was once patted on the head (when I was a baby in my pram in Northern Ireland) by Prince Philip, consort to Queen Elizabeth.

And my great grandfather and grandfather were riveters on the building of the Titanic. And, no, my family does not accept any responsibility for the sinking of that ship.

SF: Wow! How unexpected. Thank you. And thank you for sharing with us today.

If you are interested, check out Christine’s books. You can download them by clicking on the links below.

“Shadowed in Silk”  and “Captured By Moonlight” 

Also, pop on over to Christine Lindsay’s Facebook page. Give her a “like”! Click HERE to visit her page. You can also follow her on Twitter and on her Blog.

 

Show Time!

Make sure you check out my video reading from Paint Chips. Click here to watch it!

If you’ve ever written anything, you have most likely heard the big writing rule…

Show. Don’t Tell.

If you’ve never heard that phrase or seen it in red ink on your paper…well…lucky you.

Let me explain what it means to show rather than tell.

TELL: She was hungry. She found the last doughnut in the box. She ate it. It was good.

SHOW: Her stomach growled. Something caught her eye. A box on the counter. She slid her hand across the smooth cardboard of the box. Lifting the lid, she breathed in the aroma of fried dough, sugar, and grease. A tiny line of drool rolled from the side of her mouth. One lonely doughnut, sitting among the crumbles and powdered sugar of the rest, long ago departed. She raised the doughnut to her lips, the chocolate frosting smashed into her fingernails. As she bit into the confection, a low, satisfied groan escaped from her mouth. Devouring the pastry, letting frosting and crumbs and cream filling stick to her chin, she smiled.

Okay. So, that was silly and now we’re all hungry. Sorry about that. But, do you see what I’m saying?

Anyway, I am a stickler for “showing” rather than “telling”. Just ask the poor people in my critique group. It is almost always better to show than tell.

I was thinking about this today. And I realized that this isn’t just a writing principle. It is important in life, too.

I can tell someone all day long that I love them.

It is more powerful if I show them. Send a card. Bake them cookies. Listen when they’re having a bad day…or even when they’re having a good day!

I can tell someone that I appreciate them.

But it is more meaningful if I do something to serve them.

I can tell my children that I think they are wonderful.

But it will impact them more if I give them my time. Listen to their jokes. Read to them. Give them the gift of discipline (when they need it).

Telling is good. It gets the point across. But showing is better. It proves that what I say is true.

How can you show love today?

Reading ‘Paint Chips’

Hi, Everybody!

I’ve been croaking my way through laryngitis for the last few weeks. I sounded like a man/frog/space alien for long enough that I almost forgot what my normal voice was.

Sad day.

Well, now it’s back, Baby. I thought I’d celebrate by recording another video reading from “Paint Chips”. Enjoy. Share with a friend. Feel free to go on ahead and read the book if you haven’t yet. I sure would appreciate it!

Paint Chips is available from the following sites.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

eBookIt (for other digital devices)

J is for Jot

Real quick, before  you read this post…check this out. Roseanna White (my editor and publisher extraordinaire) is hosting a give-away on her blog. Go over and comment for the chance to win a digital download of PAINT CHIPS or a necklace from my Etsy shop. Fun, huh? Don’t miss out! Click HERE to go to the give-away. 

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend the premier Jot Writers Mini-Conference. Four gentlemen (a writing group known as The Weaklings) planned, hosted, presented, and encouraged a whole bunch of Grand Rapids area writers. One evening, 15 minute sessions, no cost mini-conference. The idea was crazy. But it worked.

Andrew Rogers, Josh Mosey, Bob Evenhouse , and Matthew Landrum spoke about such things as Flash Fiction , 3 Things Publishers Like to See on Book Proposals, Novel Writing/Drafting , and Finding Your Material. At the conclusion of the evening, Josh interviewed Chad R. Allen, editorial director of Baker Book Publishing. Chad answered questions about the publishing world. They even talked about Amish Vampire Novels. No really.   (Go ahead and click on the titles to watch the presentations on YouTube).

 

I was impressed that the evening worked. That nearly 60 people attended (The Weaklings anticipated 20). That the content was so rich, especially for a free event. That, even though each presenter spoke from a different genre, the entire evening was applicable to different types of writing. They made the evening relevant. I truly appreciated that.

I am eagerly anticipating the next Jot event. I love spending time with other writers.

 

Lovie Dovie

Congratulations to Darcie Apple! She won The Book Monster! And Congrats to Anne Ferris! She won the Paint Chips MUG! 

 

A stack of printable, color-able, cut-out-able paper hearts on my desk. Bag of conversation hearts and little jar of red sprinkles on the kitchen counter. Valentine’s Day Bingo Cards waiting to be played.

{Sigh} Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.

And {sigh} love is in the air.

So, I thought I’d write a little about this guy…

This is my hubby. His name is Jeff. Yesterday, it was confirmed by my 6 year old that he is, indeed, my Valentine.

I’m a lucky girl, huh?

Well, you should know that he is more than the sum of his handsome face. He, my friends, is a good man. A godly man. And he sure does love me.

I like being able to brag on him.

When I wrote Paint Chips, I needed to write two good men into the lives of Cora and Dot. Men who would help them to heal. Men that could show how really great a man can be. These characters were Steven and Paul.

Many of the qualities in both characters were modeled after Jeff. Sense of humor, confidence, readiness to help out, integrity. Desire to seek God’s plan. Desire to provide for family.

My husband has been one of the ways that God shaped my life. Jeff is a gift, a blessing, and beyond what I imagined a husband to be.

He is my very best Valentine ever.

Tell me, who is your Valentine? Now, I don’t necessarily mean a spouse or romantic thing…but someone who is a blessing in your life. Someone you might say is a blessing from God?

It’s almost Valentine’s Day. It’s okay to gush over the people we love!

 

The Book Monster

I love getting cozy on the couch with my three kiddos, cracking open a book, and reading it with them. I especially enjoy this when the book is clever.

The other day, I read a very clever book with my kids. It made us all smile.

The Book Monster by Emily Waisanen isn’t just a cute kid’s book. She uses language beautifully; alliteration, rhythm, rich words (such as relish, morsel, flavorful). In my house, we love learning new words. Ms. Waisanen certainly gave us a few. She also discusses genre in a clever way. When discussing his favorite books on which to dine, the monster says, “Westerns really wet my whistle”. So fun!

My kids loved this book. I read it several times to them. I know that a book has hit the spot for them when they start quoting it as they play. This is one of those books.

Oh! And the illustrations (by John Konecny) are bright, fun, and compliment the story very well.

I sure do love a good book. And I know you do, too.

Emily Waisanen has offered to give away a book to one of you! Here’s what you do…

1. Comment on this blog. How about you tell us what your favorite children’s book is?

2. Go on over and “like” Emily’s author page on Facebook  for an extra entry.

***

Emily Waisanen is a mother of two beautiful girls, Lucy and Hattie. She lives with her husband and family in Fond du Lac, WI where she is currently a stay-at-home mom.

“The Book Monster” is her first book and was inspired by her daughter Lucy who used to chew on her books as

a baby.

As a former middle school teacher, Emily knows the value andimportance of literacy at an early age.  She hopes to write more books in the future and inspire others to achieve their writing dreams.

Torturing the Characters

Make sure you check out the give-away on Wednesday’s post. Click HERE.

Conflict is essential to story.

If the character in a story gets what she wants with absolutely no opposition…well…that, my good friends, is a very boring story.

No one grows.

No one learns anything.

No one reads that novel.

Every novelist knows how important it is for his/her character to go through the ringer. But, if that novelist loves his/her character, it is not fun.

When I wrote PAINT CHIPS , I cried, dripped sweat, agonized over what Cora and Dot had to go through. Times when I needed to rework a difficult scene felt like I forced them through the hardship all over again. It felt like I was torturing my characters.

It was a terrible feeling.

I’m within the process of writing this second novel. At this point in my draft, my characters are blissfully unaware of what is coming at them. But I know. And I’m the one throwing the hammer anvil at them. No. A thousand anvils.

But I have to do it so that they can change. Every single one of them.

And so that my readers can know that they are not alone. That other people feel what they feel. Suffer what they suffer. And that, even when the hardship darkens the night, a bright and brilliant morning is on its way.

Feeling the Love

We’re just about a week away from Valentine’s Day. Yes, sir/ma’am. The conversation hearts are flying and cupid is getting his bow ready.

Love is in the air.

So is the flu bug. So, be sure that what you’re getting is love before you let it kiss you on the lips.

Ahem. I was saying. Love is in the air.

And I have been feeling the love. Seems like I wake up every single day to a new email or Facebook post giving me all kinds of encouragement about Paint Chips.

It’s very generous of you.

I’m feeling the love. Big time.

Can we spread a little more love? Let’s do it.

I have a one of a kind mug. Only one exists in all the world.

The Paint Chips mug.

The winner of this mug will receive a sampling of Fair Trade Coffee as well as some lovely Valentine’s Day candy and a handmade Valentine from yours truly. Don’t drink coffee? No problem. I can find some good tea or hot cocoa instead.

Here’s how you enter to win…

1. Comment on this post. Tell me what your favorite part of Valentine’s Day is. Hate Valentine’s Day? Tell me why!

2. Post a link to the Amazon or Barnes and Noble page where Paint Chips can be purchases. Post both? Get an extra entry. (click on the names to find the links). Extra entry for each place you post (Twitter, Facebook, etc). Just tag me in the post and let me know in the comments below that you shared!

3. Post the book trailer on Facebook or Pinterest. Have you seen the trailer? My movie making guys did an excellent job with it. Check it out.

I will draw a winner NEXT WEDNESDAY! So, that gives you plenty of time to post a whole lot!

Keep telling your friends about Paint Chips, pretty please. It means a whole lot to me!

Back To It

I spent a week on the flu. What a waste.

If you’ve had the flu this year, you know how really bad it is.

I’m still only going at about 75%.

But I am back to the writing. Back to my novel in progress. And with a new sense of urgency. I figured out what one of my characters really, really wants. And I need to get it to her.

Characters can be a little pushy sometimes.

So, I hope you’ll forgive me for the brief post today. But if I don’t get back to it, my character is going to get upset.

(I know, that makes me sound kind of crazy…but fiction writers are a little)

Snowed In and Medicine Head

I’m not going outside today. Well, except to get the mail. That is, if it looks like there are some fun envelopes in it (I peek out at the mailman when he makes his deliveries).

It just seems like too much effort to put on shoes and step in the foot deep snow. At least I think it’s a foot deep. I don’t know for sure. I’m not about to find the ruler.

I’m 50 minutes from another dose of daytime medicine that isn’t supposed to make me drowsy. But it does. It makes me downright weird. And, let me tell ya, if you have stock in cough drops, I am personally making you rich.

I’m sick and snowed in.

Since I’m not coherent enough to write anything smart/funny/profound, I won’t try. Instead, I’m going to share some links with you. A couple of  fabulous friends had me on their blogs this week. Go on over and check them out!

Peter DeHaan interviewed me on his blog Tuesday. Click HERE to read that.

The Inkwell Inspirations featured me as a guest blogger yesterday. I wrote about anxiety. Check that out by clicking HERE.

And today, Dina Sleiman, my editor and friend, wrote about her experience working with me on “Paint Chips”. Check that out HERE.

 

Thanks for sticking with me, even in this medicine head fog. And, if you’re a blogger and would like to join my blog tour, let me know! I still have some open dates in February! I’d love to hang out with you on your blog!

Have a great weekend!