Jen Cudmore's Blog, page 36

The Whispers of Angels, a Blue Heaven Romance

I just finished another story! My publisher came to me a couple months back with a proposition for a new series and I agreed to be part of it. They plan to release my story on October 1st. They’re not quite done with the cover, so I’ll post that as soon as I can. Beware, this story is much more romantic than my others!

The Whispers of Angels, a Blue Heaven romance

After being shunned by society for most of his childhood, Raymond Foss has learned to let ridicule roll off his back. Abandoned by his father and despised by his step-father, he does his best to run the farm and ensure his family can survive on what little they have. All that matters to him is helping his mother raise his siblings to be responsible and considerate.

Eliza Potter’s life has been entirely opposite of Raymond’s. Both her parents doted on her and her sister, providing a loving home where they could flourish. Heartache and misfortune are troubles she knows very little about. Yet despite her good upbringing, she never became acquainted with her closest neighbors, the ill-fated Foss family.

When Raymond’s mother dies and he’s left to care for his four small siblings on his own, Eliza and her parents step in to help. Preferring to hide away on the family farm, Raymond struggles with reaching out to others. Eliza soon learns there’s much more to the odd neighbor boy who has been avoiding her.

Just when the young couple comes to an understanding, Raymond’s stepfather returns from his travels. As events unfold, Raymond and Eliza realize just how complicated life can be and how much a simple mistake can affect their future.

When life become increasingly difficult, what will they hold on to? And what will they let go?

It’s Not Enough To Have A Dream

Last spring I read a book called Platform by Michael Hyatt that I found very inspiring. The first part focused on how to get from the dream to reality. The book made me rethink my dreams and better define them. Here are the three things I took away from the first section:

1)      Dream BIG. You must never limit yourself because you can do anything you set your mind to. Originally I thought I only wanted to be a published author. But he pushed me to think bigger. Why not go for a NY Times bestseller? So I pondered that for a moment. Why had I never thought that big before? Eventually I decided it was certainly worth a try! My goal progressed from “I want to write some novels” to “I want to publish several novels and quite my day job.” It sounds so daring even as I retype it here that I wonder if that’s too big of a goal. But no, no limits – I’m thinking BIG!

2)      Decide why the dream is important. What do you hope to accomplish? What is at stake? For me, I decided I want to inspire others to love reading. I have many story ideas in my head and not everyone has this creative gift. I want to make people smile and give them something they can enjoy.

3)      Develop a strategy. To quote a saying I learned in high school, “It’s not enough to have a dream unless you’re willing to pursue it.” In order to reach the ultimate dream, what must I accomplish first? Second? Third? The dream must be broken into smaller goals and tasks over a period of time.

After reading these suggestions, I promptly grabbed a notebook and started writing down my plan. I knew the impact of positive thoughts and words, but I’d never actually written down my dreams or goals anywhere except my journal. I was amazed at how inspired I felt, how determined, and sure of myself!

“Chasing the Dream” is the topic I intend to share at the upcoming Young Writers Conference, but I also thought it would make a great blog category. I’m planning to give tips on following dreams a couple times a month. I hope you’ll respond and tell me what has worked for you!

Why It’s Pointless To Ask A Child ‘Why?’

When my son was little, I remember asking him why he misbehaved. I don’t recall what he did wrong, but I know I never got a straight answer. Then I learned asking a child “why” is pointless from Dr. James Dobson. (Sorry, but I don’t recall the exact book. It was either Strong-willed Child or Dare to Discipline -both excellent parenting resources.)

Children are impulsive. They do childish things for no reason at all. Sometimes they are angry. Sometimes they are curious. Sometimes they are overly excited. When they’re overcome with emotion, they react without thinking.

Definition of impulsive: acting without forethought

synonyms:
impetuous, spontaneous, hasty, passionate, uninhibited;

So asking a child “why” won’t get you anywhere because they don’t know. They weren’t thinking. They just did it. Our job as moms is to teach them to think before they act, a task that takes years for children to learn. As children grow older, they transition from hitting and biting to buying games off the internet without checking with parents, or grabbing candy bars off the shelf without paying. The behavior seems rewarding and they simply react. There is no reason. Over time they understand there are penalties for impulsive behavior and they must behave in ways that bring positive consequences rather than negative.

As my children have gotten older and a little less impulsive, sometimes we discuss what they were thinking right before they misbehaved. Then we can talk through curbing impulses and thinking through all behaviors beforehand.

I’ve watched mothers corner their small children and demand an answer, standing at a stalemate for several minutes, and it breaks my heart. The mother tries so hard to get an answer that cannot be given. Impulsiveness is just part of being a kid. Rather than focusing on why our kids misbehave, let’s focus on teaching them self-control.

4 Time Management Tips I’ve Learned

Sometimes people ask me where I find the time to write. The answer isn’t that complicated. I make time.

This has been one of those months where I’m struggling to keep up with my commitments. Between my day job, my family, prepping for a new school year, planning blogs, managing social media, attending writers meetings, visiting sick friends and family I haven’t seen in years, and more (insert a huge breath here) I’m barely finding time to work on my writing projects.

Here are some tips I use to manage my time as a wife, mother, and author:

1) Set a daily/weekly routine. Scheduling makes life work much easier for me. I look over my calender and plan ahead where I’ll fit writing/social media in between my family and work commitments. Family and friends can support you if they know your routine.

2) Plan time to write. Set aside a block of time daily, weekly, and monthly – whatever best suits your lifestyle. I know authors who spend one hour every day at the computer. I need at least 2 hours at a time to keep my brain engaged. I prefer to take a few days a week with about 3-4 hour chunks of time. Figure out what works for you. It’s easy to let distractions pull you away, so protect that plan – don’t allow anything else to interfere.

3) Cut back on other items. Part of striving for a goal is making sacrifices. My evening habits have changed over the years as I learned to survive on less and less sleep. My family used to have friends and family over once a week. Now it’s more like every other month. I don’t go out as often to other functions, I don’t cook very many nice meals and I don’t clean my house as often as I would prefer. My family does help pick up duties here and there, but something has to go.

4) Accept that it’ll be hard. At times I do get whiny. Sorry, but I’m human! I knew going in that I would be a little tired – okay, a lot tired – and that it would be hard to juggle my day job, family, and writing all while surviving on a couple hours of sleep. The important part is that we forge ahead to meet the goal.

I’ve been a bit exhausted lately. I haven’t slept much and I’m behind on my housework. But thankfully life isn’t always this busy. These tips have helped me keep my sanity!

I Read a Book That Wasn’t Labeled “Christian”

I admit: I enjoyed the Twilight books.

When I first heard about the stories, I wasn’t interested. Until I found out it was actually a love story. Since I write romance novels, I figured I’d give the vampire series a shot. While I don’t read all the latest best sellers, I figure it’s good to keep up with culture.

Later, after I’d read the whole series and watched a couple of the movies, I had a well-meaning friend inform me that I shouldn’t participate in the craze because these vampire novels were drawing readers away from the truths in the Bible. I’ve also had religious folks tell me not to give my money to something that goes against the teachings in scripture.

So when is it okay for a believer in Christ to participate in something that isn’t labeled as “Christian”?

Scripture tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It also states that each person is given different levels of faith. Temptations are different for every person because we’re all unique individuals. We must decide where to draw the line based on where we’re at in our spiritual journey. I believe where the line is drawn will be different for every person and family.

Just because an item isn’t labeled “Christian” doesn’t mean we have to stay away from it. We do need to be careful how much garbage we put into our minds, because one day we will have to give an account for our actions. Being constantly exposed to sinful behaviors does wear us down, make us numb, and eventually more likely to participate in those activities. But reading stories about witches, serial killers, or the magic of elves every once in a while doesn’t make me want to participate in those activities. Nor does it mean I endorse those behaviors as acceptable.

Sometimes I find it easy to decide, such as card games based on false deities, movies focusing on multiple ways of killing people, or music that glorifies Satan or hurting other people – entertainment like these are never allowed in my home. But the enemy is subtle and can use items that seem harmless to draw us away from our faith.

Here is the checklist I use when I’m trying to decide if I should participate in secular entertainment.

1)      Everything may be permissible, but is participating in this activity beneficial? Is it true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable?

2)      Will it cause me or someone around me to stumble in the faith?

3)      Am I spending more time on this activity that doesn’t specifically glorify God than I am participating in church activities or my personal quiet time?

At times I’ve had to pray for God to show me. But the point is, we must pause and think it over before we dive in. I love programs like “Plugged-In” from Focus on the Family that can help parents make more informed decisions.

What are some ways you protect yourself and your family from the negative influence of the entertainment industry? What tools do you use to help you draw boundaries?

Is Your Child Growing Up Too Fast?

“Our worldly culture is exposing our girls to situations they are not equipped to handle. They are being forced to grow up too fast.” Vicky Courtney

I’ve been shocked more and more over the years with the amount of adult attitudes that little girls express, the physical attributes they copy, and the material items they possess. Why does an eight-year-old need a Facebook page (especially when the rule is age 13)? Why does a third-grader need an iPhone? Why does a sixth-grader need thong underwear?

Because everyone else is doing it. Because it makes them feel grown-up.

But then what do they have to look forward to when they get older?

When I spoke to a couple other moms about giving children cell phones, I was told that’s how kids these days communicate now and you’ll alienate your child if you don’t get them a phone. I struggled because I don’t want my daughter to feel left out or be teased for being behind-the-times. In my opinion, a phone is not a toy – it’s a necessary means of communication for busy families. To be sure my child understands the responsibility, we would need to discuss what content is appropriate for texts/calls, the timing and people she’s allowed to contact, and being careful with photos. Should we put that much responsibility on her at this age? Do I really want to spend that much money just so my child can fit in with the crowd? Is it that important to her self-esteem?

Eventually my husband and I decided our daughter must wait until middle school for a phone. It gives her something to look forward to, and she understands our reasons for making her wait. While she doesn’t like it, she accepted our explanation. We’ve worked hard to keep open communication with our children and explain to them that because of our faith in God, sometimes we have to set different limitations then that of their friends. In her book Your Girl, Vicky Courtney states “As mothers, we must accept the reality of current times and live in today’s world, all the while doing all we can to influence tomorrow.”

So when do we allow the transition from a toy phone to an iPhone, from play make-up to real makeup, from ponytails to layered haircuts with dyed stripes? While each mom must make the choice based on her own daughter’s personality and the family’s values, I would encourage you to really consider the motive behind your child’s interest in the item before handing it over.

I’m encouraging my children to enjoy their childhood, to be content with where they are now, to be willing to wait. There is plenty of time for that grown-up stuff later.

6 Things I’ve Learned About Writers Conferences

This week I attended the monthly meeting for the Alaska Writers Guild (AWG). The committee has been hard at work setting up the 6th annual conference and I started to get excited.

I so look forward to the AWG Conference each year! I highly recommend all writers attend because there are so many benefits. This year the conference is September 6-8th, but registration is only open for 2 more week, so be sure to sign up right away!

After four years of being involved, here are some things I’ve learned:

1.     Professionals are giving people. We’ve been fortunate to have some wonderful speakers here in Alaska,  and they don’t just come in search of talent. Most of them are down to earth. They like sharing their knowledge and experiences and genuinely want to see writers succeed.

2.       Attitude makes a difference. If you’re argumentative and opinionated, attendees and speakers are less likely to want to be near you. But if you try to understand where others are coming from, you’ll earn their respect. They’ll be more willing to give, and more willing to hear your pitch.

3.    All the speakers have something valid to say, no matter their area of expertise. Be prepared to learn something – from everyone. Conferences aren’t just about landing an agent, editor, or publisher. I think people get more out of it when they don’t focus on pitching their story. I found I learned more about how to succeed from authors than I did from agents.

4.     If you ask for feedback, be prepared for it to sting a little. When I volunteered on the committee, I often helped set up manuscript reviews between speakers and attendees. Many times folks came away a bit upset by what the professional said about their work. For one of my reviews, I remember being quite overwhelmed with the critique, but I took it seriously. Although the process was a little painful, I found it quite helpful.

5.     Attendees are supportive of each other. Most folks who register for conferences don’t just go to glean all they can or get a contract. They also go to make friends and pass on tidbits of advice from their own experiences. They provide encouragement and develops partnerships. We are a community, after all, and we need each other.

6.     Fun, fun fun! Meeting new people, sharing encouragement, mingling with writers of all various stages of the journey – that’s what it’s all about. We are inspired by the tidbits we learn and can’t wait to get home to implement them. We have a few laughs, maybe a drink or two, and simply enjoy ourselves.

This year the AWG has another great line-up of speakers. Hope to see you there!

Teaser: Excerpt From ‘Willow Ridge’

So I know on Tuesdays I’m supposed to post book reviews for kids, but this month we are a little out of sync due to the blog tour. Today I decided to post a little teaser for you from my next novel, Willow Ridge. Enjoy!

___________________________

“Another nightmare.”

Barrett groaned, twisting onto his side to shove his face against the pillow. It had only been a dream, nothing more. Slowly his heart eased to a normal pace. Moisture gathered in his eyes. Watching Falina die again was sheer torture. He swallowed. He couldn’t cry in front of his mother.

She smoothed the thick hair on his neck. “You’re sweating.”

“I’m fine.” Barrett flipped back the covers and thrust his feet over the side of the bed.

“Are you going somewhere?” she asked when he slipped on his pants.

“I can’t bear this anymore. I’ve got to do something, Mama.”

“Si, but at this hour? What could you possibly do?”

Barrett yanked a shirt over his head. “I won’t be long.”

“Do you delight in making me worry? That is all you and your hermanos have done for years. It’s a wonder you are not all in jail.” Her fingers tapped a cross over her torso.

“I’ve learned my lesson, Mama.” Barrett raised the lantern she’d set on the table beside his bed, casting an orange glow across her face. “There’s just one more thing I gotta do.”

“You must let it go.” She shook her head, worry on her features, still beautiful despite her years. “No more hatred. No more killing. I know you loved her, but you’ve had justice for Falina. She wouldn’t want you to put yourself in any more danger.”

“It’s not justice I seek.” He forced down the lump in his throat. “It’s peace.”

Hurrying down the dark street, Barrett kept his eyes on the dusty road until he finally reached his destination – a two story building fashioned of red brick and stucco. He rushed over the steps and shoved open the door, relieved to find it unlocked. He didn’t know the right answer. Perhaps he could find it here.

Several candles sent flickering light across the front half of the building. Barrett surged past the wooden pews and dropped to his knees at the table full of candles resting under the shadow of a large wooden cross. The lantern he’d carried clattered to the floor beside him. He flung his face into his hands, closed his eyes against the tears, and lowered his forehead to the top of the three steps.

“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”

Guest Post: Adverse Possession

Thank you to Jen Cudmore for hosting me on her blog for stop number four on the Mega Dark Blog Tour. This time, I am going to write a little bit about my second book, Adverse Possession.

Adverse Possession is my ‘haunted house’ story. I think every author of supernatural thrillers is obligated to tell their own version of the things that go bump in the night. As long as I can think back, I have loved the classic haunted house story. Mr. Boogedy (which aired on the Wonderful World of Disney in the 80s) was one of the movies that got me started. His vacuum of doom was truly terrifying.

As I got a little older, I moved onto young adult ghost stories like Wait ‘Til Helen Comes and The Shining. Ok, The Shining was not exactly young adult reading, but I had been tackling Stephen King since the fifth grade. My absolute favorite of the genre, however, is Poltergeist. Anyone who reads Adverse Possession will find some similarities between the Forresters and the Freelings, along with some differences. I also enjoyed my share of guilty pleasures, such as the remake of House on Haunted Hill and Thirteen Ghosts.

The problem with most of these stories, in my humble opinion, is that they don’t get close to the truth about source of these otherworldly darlings. Many are spooky fun to be sure, but they usually leave me feeling hollow and less than victorious. (Spoiler Alert) For example, when Tangina declared the house in Poltergeist to be clean, and in the next scene it got sucked into another dimension. It was a jarring twist, no doubt, but the Freelings never got close to the truth and suffered at the hand of those same monsters over the course of two more movies. Some would say the audience suffered as well.

Writing Adverse Possession was a labor of love. I applied the knowledge I gained from my first go round (The Road to Hell), and had a lot of fun writing it. I even enjoyed editing it, though I did it five times. As with my debut novel, I sent it out once again to agents and publishers who nibbled, but didn’t bite. Though frustrating, I managed to self-publish once again.

To find out more about me, my writing, and Adverse Possession, visit my website at: http://www.jesshanna.com/

Adverse Possession description:

The Forresters have found their dream home… So has something else.

After years of moving from place to place, Andy and Tess are ready to settle down. But from the day they moved into the sprawling Victorian house, something just wasn’t right.

The power cuts out twice a day on a fixed schedule. Windows unlock and open on their own. Strange scratching sounds come from behind the walls.

As the bizarre occurrences continue to increase in frequency and strength, the true source of the extraordinary activity is revealed.

What started as an enchanting curiosity has become a danger to them all, and the Forresters are in a race against time to save their family from an enemy unlike anything they have ever known.

What in the world is a beat?

When I first heard the term “beat” at a writers conference, I had no idea what it meant. No, the term has nothing to do with that magenta colored vegetable.

Beats, spelled with an “A”, are physical behaviors that help the reader actually see the conversation taking place. For example, shuffling feet, sipping coffee, shifting nervously.

They are not to be confused with attributes, such as “he said” or “she asked”.

Beats are used for:

Varying the pace


Better explaining the situation


Better expressing an emotion


Tying the dialogue to the setting

 Words of Caution:

+  Don’t describe every action. Some of them are understood, such as nodding when someone agrees with something. Readers need to use a bit of their own imaginations, so the author’s job is to give hints.

+  Vary the usage. You don’t need a beat after every spoken word. This will be more jarring for the reader and make it harder to follow the conversation.

+  Don’t repeat the same actions too many times. This can get annoying. In my early manuscripts I noticed that my characters often narrowed their eyes or frowned. I had to go through the entire story and cut most of those. (Keep in mind that if a character has a quirk, such as an eye twitch or constantly putting their hands on their hips, it’s okay to repeat these a few times. Just  keep it to a minimum so you don’t annoy the reader.)

So, beats are bits of actions placed through a section of dialogue. Be sure to choose appropriate behaviors and space them in the right spot.