Heidi McCahan's Blog, page 22

31 Days of Debut Authors: Sarah Loudin Thomas’s Miracle in a Dry Season

I’m pleased to feature author Sarah Loudin Thomas and her debut novel Miracle in a Dry Season today. Sarah shared compelling answers in the mini interview (I’m totally following that Pinterest board) and she’s offering a free copy of her novel to one fortunate reader. Woot! You can find the details regarding entry for the giveaway after Sarah’s bio at the end of this post. 

Wonderful, simply wonderful. A story of love, healing, and forgiveness sure to grip the heart of every reader.

–Debbie Macomber, New York Times #1 bestselling author

In a Drought, It’s the Darkest Cloud

That Brings Hope



It’s 1954 and Perla Long’s arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.

Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor…until he meets Perla. She’s everything he’s sought in a woman, but he can’t get past the sense that she’s hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla’s unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.

This debut novel is splendid. The story is genuine and heartfelt, with just a touch of the Divine. A story of forgiveness and reckoning, and realizing love does cover a multitude of sins. Thomas will be a go-to author after you read Miracle in a Dry Season.

–Rachel Hauck, bestselling author of The Wedding Dress and Once Upon a Prince



Charming, whimsical, and intelligently written, Miracle in a Dry Season is a beautiful debut novel!

–Ann Tatlock, Christy-award winning author of Promises to Keep

I relish the opportunity to hear what inspires a writer to craft his or her first novel. The “dinner question” is one of my all-time favorites, too. I hope you enjoy reading Sarah’s answers as much as I did.

  What was the inspiration for your novel?

The concept of writing about characters with miraculous abilities came to me because I nearly drowned when I was four. The memory of being under the water—seeing leaves and silt swirl as sunlight streamed down—is incredibly vivid. And oddly enough—it’s a pleasant memory. So not only did I survive a near drowning, I have a good memory of the experience. That’s a miracle on several levels and started me thinking about how miracles are around us all the time, but we learn to take them for granted. So I thought I’d create characters for whom the miraculous is a little more obvious.

  If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead), who would you choose and why?

Wendell Berry because I love his poetry, fiction, and essays. How many writers are good at all three? And although he’s not a West Virginian, he’s from eastern Kentucky, which is the next best thing. Jan Karon because her books (which are about God, dontcha know) did what every Christian author secretly hopes for—they crossed over into the general market. Plus, I’ve had the pleasure of hearing her speak and hugging her twice and she’s just as sweet and kind as I hoped. And finally, Gregory Peck, because he IS Atticus Finch and I’ve had a crush on him since watching To Kill a Mockingbird. I even have a Pinterest board called The Best Dinner Party Ever. It includes a few other guests as well as some potential dishes we might enjoy. I’ve given this one some thought! http://www.pinterest.com/sarahlthomas...

  In terms of writing a novel, are you a plotter or a pantser? Or a hybrid combo?

 Definitely a pantser. The main reason I write is to find out what happens next. If I knew, I’d probably get bored and give up writing.

  What can your readers expect from you in the future? Prequel, sequel, novella, etc.

There’s a prequel currently available as an e-book for free download. Appalachian Serenade tells Robert and Delilah’s story. The second novel—Until the Harvest—is due out next summer and is about Casewell and Perla’s son, Henry. He’s going to face something very difficult and will dig himself a pretty deep hole. It’ll be up to oh-so-practical Margaret to help him see the light with the help of her little sister Mayfair who has, shall we say, a unique way of helping people heal.

Please share one piece of advice for aspiring writers you wish you’d known before you started this writing journey.

Writing for me has been about two things. Patience and persistence. If you keep writing, keep learning, keep knocking on the doors of agents and editors, you’ll eventually get there. Write a book. Polish that book and when you think it’s done, write another book. Then write another. And get plenty of feedback. When the third person tells you your novel starts in the wrong place you can be reasonably sure that your novel starts in the wrong place. And pray. God’s the author, so it helps to be talking to him regularly.

 Sarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh  generation to live there. Her Christian fiction is set in West Virginia and celebrates the  people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia. Her first novel, Miracle in a Dry  Season, releases August 2014.

 A graduate of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, Sarah once dreamed of being  a marine scientist. But her love for words won out and she has spent much of her  career in public relations and marketing. She currently oversees fundraising and  communications for a Christian children’s home in Black Mountain, NC.

 Sarah and her husband Jim live in the mountains of Western North Carolina with  Thistle–the canine equivalent to a personal trainer pushing them to hike, run, and  throw sticks. Sarah is active in her local church and enjoys cooking and–you guessed  it–reading.

 Sarah is represented by Wendy Lawton of Books & Such Literary Agency. You can visit  her at www.SarahLoudinThomas.com.

Miracle in a Dry Season is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Giveaway: Up for grabs is one copy of Miracle in a Dry Season (US residents only, please). In the comments below, please provide your name, a valid email address and tell us the one person YOU would like to have dinner with (living or deceased). Contest ends at 11:59 pm EST on 10/10/2014.

 

31 Days of Debut Authors: Sally Bradley and Kept

We’re kicking off 31 Days of Debut Authors with the talented Sally Bradley and her fantastic debut release, Kept. Isn’t this cover amazing? Kept has garnered incredible reviews and much praise:

“Gutsy and fast-paced.”—Laura Frantz, author of Love’s Reckoning 

“One of the most surprising and best books I’ve read this year.”—MaryLu Tyndall, best-selling author of Legacy of the King’s Pirates series 

“Vibrant characters, compelling questions, modern-day issues… Kept is a contemporary Christian classic along the lines of Redeeming Love. Impossible to put down, this story pulls us into the heart of Chicago and shows us how God’s hand can work, even when we repeatedly make the wrong choices. Sally Bradley’s voice is gripping and clear, and her debut is a shining beacon of how very relevant Christian fiction can be.”—Heather Day Gilbert, author of God’s Daughter and Miranda Warning

Blurb: 

Life has taught Miska Tomlinson that there are no honorable men. Her womanizing brothers, her absentee father, and Mark, the married baseball player who claims to love her—all have proven undependable. But Miska has life under control. She runs her editing business from her luxury condo, stays fit with daily jogs along Chicago’s lakefront, and in her free time blogs anonymously about life as a kept woman. 

Enter new neighbor Dillan Foster. Between his unexpected friendship and her father’s sudden reappearance, Miska loses control of her orderly life. Her relationship with Mark deteriorates, and Miska can’t help comparing him to Dillan. His religious views are so foreign, yet the way he treats her is something she’s longed for. But Dillan discovers exactly who she is and what she has done. Too late she finds herself longing for a man who is determined to never look her way again. 

When her blog receives unexpected national press, Miska realizes that her anonymity was an illusion. Caught in a scandal about to break across the nation, Miska wonders if the God Dillan talks about would bother with a woman like her—a woman who’s gone too far and done too much.

Mini Q and A with Sally Bradley:

When I read a book that sticks with me–characters that I can’t forget and circumstances that I continue to ponder long after the last page is turned–I want to know more about how that book came to be and the life of the artist behind the story. I’m a writer, but I’m also a reader, and part of me goes a little “fan girl” when I read a great book. Without further delay, here’s Sally’s responses to my questions:

What was the inspiration for your novel?

A few different things.

The plot came straight from SportsCenter. They ran a series on temptations pro athletes face, and one of them was about women who made their living off pro athletes. One woman they interviewed was completely silhouetted, but she did have a very unique short haircut. As the interview went on, she confessed that not only was she “kept” by one pro athlete, being available only to him when his team came to town, but by a second one—and that each man thought they were the only one. My immediate thought was, Honey, I hope you’re wearing a wig. Or they know now.

I couldn’t get her out of my head and had to figure out what would make her live that way and what it would take for her to see—and want—the truth. Plus she just needed a truly happy ending.

As for the theme or underlying message, I wanted to address how our society’s acceptance of casual sex affects people who come into the church, and I wanted to show that pastors are real men too. I get so tired at how pastors are portrayed in fiction, even in Christian fiction. They’re almost always depicted as almost gender neutral and effeminate, as people who don’t deal with anything the rest of us do. I wanted readers to see that they’re real men who fight all the temptations and struggles every other man faces. A good pastor is a man to be truly respected.

If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead), who would you choose and why?

 I’d love to talk to my great-grandparents, my mom’s grandparents. They were the first Christians on that side of the family and they accepted Christ in the middle of the Roaring Twenties, when they were in their twenties themselves. They went from making their own moonshine to being a pastor and pastor’s wife. How’s that for a change?

I’d also love to meet the pastor my parents knew when I was very young. He was instrumental in huge spiritual growth in them and them going into new careers. Those careers led my parents to a specific church where both my sister and I met our future husbands. So I’d love to meet him (and his wife!) and thank them for their impact on my parents.

In terms of writing a novel, are you a plotter or a pantser? Or a hybrid combo?

For me, writing that rough draft is like sprinting through the pitch black alongside a cliff with a lantern at arm’s length in front of me. Two parts fun, one part terrifying!

I typically know my beginning and have a vague idea of the end. I know maybe three or four big scenes in between but that’s it. The rough draft really is a discovery draft for me. I’m a character-driven novelist so I’ve learned to let my characters get on stage and talk. They always do or say or reveal something that leads to the next scene, and typically I only know what’s going to happen in the very next scene. And sometimes not even that! I’m getting chills just thinking about it. J

What can your readers expect from you in the future? Prequel, sequel, novella, etc.

Originally Kept was meant to be a stand-alone novel, but now I really want to do a few sequels. Not sure yet what they’ll be, but I’m thinking hard! I have three ideas I’m debating for my next book. One’s a previous book that needs a rewrite and would be the first in another series. The other is a book I’d started, and then the third would be some sequel to Kept.

Please share one piece of advice for aspiring writers you wish you’d known before you started this writing journey.

Don’t despise the wait. We all want to be published in our twenties, before we hit thirty or forty or fifty. But all that life in those years does us—and our books—a world of good. Live life, enjoy your family, and don’t get frustrated with closed doors. Grow as a person, as a Christian, and as a writer. It’ll all pay off later.

Wonderful insights, Sally. I love your description of writing a rough draft. I appreciate the reminder that waiting is an invaluable part of our experiences and we are called to live life apart from our creative pursuits and that waiting helps us hone our craft, so to speak. Thank you for taking time to participate in this blog series. Congratulations on the release of Kept. 

 Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan  since age five, she now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they  still get back to Chicago once in a while for important things—like good pizza  and a White Sox game. Fiction has been her passion since childhood, and she’s  thrilled now to be writing books that not only entertain, but point back to  Christ. Kept is available onAmazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Sally can be  found on sallybradley.com or her Facebook page, Sally Bradley, Writer.

 

What I’m Into: September Edition

September went by in a flash for us. We’re a mixed bag in our house when it comes to change. Some embrace it wholeheartedly while others cried in their Kix this morning when someone announced it was the last day of the month. I suppose the transition from September to October is quite remarkable, hence the angst. I, for one, am looking forward to October and all that it entails. But for now, I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer and celebrating the highlights for September before we bid it a fond farewell in a matter of hours.

Here’s what I’m reading:

Jan Karon’s Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good : I’m a die hard fan of the Mitford series and I was over the moon with joy when she announced her plans to release another novel. Every page is exquisite and I’m savoring the experience.
Rainbow Rowell’s Landline : I adore her quirky, fun, unique writing style. The premise of this novel combined with the dialogue and the protagonist’s take on her circumstances makes for an enjoyable read. Disclaimer: not rated E for Everyone. If foul language offends you, read elsewhere.
Jake Smith’s Wish: I’m featuring Jake Smith in a post in October and I’ve wanted to read this novel since it’s release earlier this year. I love baseball and a tug-at-your-heartstrings kind of story. This has both in spades.
This just in: Amy Matayo’s Sway: it arrived on my Kindle a few hours ago and I’m already smitten. Amy held an impromptu giveaway on FB last night and I was a lucky winner. The Wedding Game was a fabulous read and I blazed through Love Gone Wild so I’m quite certain I will adore this new release. And the cover. Oh my word. You should click on the link just to see it.

Listening:

I’m behind on the times, I’m sure, but I discovered the iHeartRadio app this month. Now I can listen to the Bobby Bones Show and my new favorite country station out of Dallas/Ft. Worth (that’s 96.3 KSCS, by the way). On the non-country front: One of my favorite authors, Melissa Tagg, often mentions her affection for NeedToBreathe. A friend took us to their show several weeks ago and I’m a fan for life. Their show in Boston last weekend was live and free via the internet. Once again, I was enthralled by their lyrics, stage presence, musical talent. Anywho, here’s what’s on the heavy play list now:

NeedToBreathe: “Drive All Night”
NeedToBreathe: “State I’m In”
Carrie Underwood’s new release: “Something in the Water”
Thomas Rhett: “You Make Me Wanna”, which you can read all about and enjoy here

Watching:

I gave up watching television because I needed to find time in my day to write on a regular basis. However, I heard that this is the last season of Parenthood (what?!) and how cute is Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Robertson on this season of Dancing With the Stars? Her performance last night inspired by the movie UP was so fun. Clearly I’ve broken my TV-watching fast. Of course, October means the post-season for professional baseball and I refuse to miss that. If you need a quick summary on who to root for now that there’s no Yankees or Red Sox involved, go here.

Writing:

I’m a writer and a bit of a newbie. There’s so much to learn and understand about the business of writing. Although releasing my debut is a dream come true, I’ve a whole new appreciation for authors trying to share their work with the world. That’s why I’m taking The Nester’s #write31days challenge and promoting a different debut author every day in October. Woot!

I hope you’ll come back tomorrow (and the day after that and the day after that…) for fun Q and A’s, book giveaways and more from many talented debut authors.

If you’d like to share your September edition of What I’m Into, Leigh Kramer’s link up is open.

 

 

How Whovian Are You: A Clueless Mom’s Quest to Understand

 

It all started with a conversation about someone’s customized  iPhone case. We were out for ice cream in June, celebrating the last day of school. Our oldest son glanced over at the next table and said, “Hey, she has the TARDIS on her phone.”

I’m sorry. What?

Cue the eye roll, expertly paired with the heavy sigh.

“Dr. Who, Mom. Duh.”

The husband and I exchanged knowing glances, stomped our walkers on the ground, turned up our hearing aids and barked, “Kids these days!”

Just kidding.

Seriously, though. That’s when it became abundantly clear that we’d moved beyond Star Wars, Legos and Diary of a Wimpy Kid and into the mysterious realm of I-have-no-idea-what-this-kid-is-talking-about. But surely we can figure it out. I was cool once.

Right? Maybe for, like, ten minutes in 1994?

*crickets*

Alrighty, then. So back to my story…

What I hoped would be a passing fancy has morphed into a bit of an obsession. The Star Wars books and the Legos are still around, but they’re collecting dust while the tweener binge watches Dr. Who. He is the proud owner of a sonic screwdriver and even splurged on an upgraded version a few weeks ago.

I don’t get it.

But in the midst of parenting the complex being that is a ten year old boy, I find myself jumping at the chance to have a meaningful conversation that isn’t all about … well, all the things he’s not doing right. If he wants to talk about fish fingers and custard or the network’s questionable decision in casting Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor, then I’m all ears.

I grew up on Family Ties, The Cosby Show and Cheers. The closest we ever got to watching science fiction during prime time was Alf. This Dr. Who business is way outside my comfort zone. Yet I find myself gravitating to blog posts, Tweets and other social media outlets that discuss the show, just so we can have something to talk about when he gets home from school.

In case you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about, here’s the official link to the BBC’s television show, Dr. Who.

Sarah Bessey, a mother and gifted author/speaker, does a great re-cap on her blog every week. “An unapologetic Dr. Who geek-out” … her words, not mine. You can find that post here.

Your turn: what are you into now that you never thought you would be, just so you can relate to your children?

 

Wordless Wednesday: Unexpected Gifts

I had the pleasure of visiting a book club recently, which is a total “pinch me” experience, by the way. On the drive there, I kept asking myself, “is this really happening?” They gave me the gift of great conversation, a reminder of who I belong to, and access to more delicious java. Thanks for reading Unraveled, ladies. Connecting with my readers is definitely a dream come true.

A Life Intercepted: A Conversation with Author Charles Martin

I am honored to be a part of the blog tour for Charles Martin’s new release, A Life Intercepted. I became a fan of his work last year when a book blogger declared Unwritten the best book she’d read in 2013. So of course I had to read it. In fact, I couldn’t stop reading it and devoured it in a weekend. Then I immediately searched the all-knowing internet for more books by this new favorite author. The cover reveal and early promotional materials for A Life Intercepted  left me eagerly anticipating its September release. This is a fantastic read and I’m delighted to share Charles Martin’s thoughts on his tenth novel. In preparation for the blog tour, he shared a bit about the inspiration behind the story, his writing process and of course, football. I hope you enjoy reading his thought-provoking responses.

What inspired you to write this book? 

I stood on the sideline last year watching my son play this game that once meant a lot to me. Watching him play surfaced some things in me that I’d not dealt with for a long time. The depth of those feelings – even after twenty years – surprised me. Pretty soon, I found myself working out those feelings and that bled into this book. Which is true with all my stories – it’s where I work out with my fingers what my heart and mind are dealing with. It’s a story I’ve wanted to write a long, long time.

What experiences or skills from the football field have most influenced your life? 

Football is a game with defined boundaries and rules within which you get to play with reckless abandon. Where eleven do what one can’t and never will.  It is, quite possibly, the greatest of games. I probably learned more from losing than I did winning (but I liked winning a good bit more). It’s also where I learned to fight through difficulty, pain, and circumstances you can’t control. It’s where I learned that heart, when it counts, trumps talent and skill any day. And it’s where I learned that when things get difficult, and I want to throw up my hands and walk away, I have the choice to quit or not. It’s that simple. As a writer, I’ve endured some major defeats. My first book was rejected 86 times; I’ve seen contracts cancelled, books rejected after I hit the NYT list, and known days on end when the words just don’t come. Now, if you’re beginning to think that I’m some strong stoic, able to pick myself up by my own bootstraps, don’t. I’ve been beat down and humbled. And I have known defeat. The great thing about football is that it formed something in me at an early age, creating that gumption to buckle up my chinstrap one more time.

You son is currently a star high school quarterback. What do you hope he takes from the book? 

He was one of the first to read it. If it is in his heart to be good at football, I hope he plays it all out. Plays it with his whole heart. I hope he wins and succeeds and knows the fist-pumping jubilation that comes with great achievement. And when someone beats him – because they will – I hope he goes out with his buddies, eats a cheeseburger, drinks a chocolate milkshake, and then wakes up the next morning with a desire to get better.  Lastly, I want him to know that he’s free to walk away from it. He doesn’t have to be me, doesn’t have to love it like I love it. I’m not measuring him by his success on that field, and the scoreboard is not the indicator of his value. It’s a game. That’s all. It’s a great game, but it’s still a game.

You’re both an athlete and an artist. Do these two roles conflict with one another? Did you ever feel split between the two? 

Yes, but that was due to my immaturity. As I’ve grown, and aged, they mesh together pretty well. Both are expressions. This morning, I’m writing.  This afternoon, in about three hours, I’ll go for a run. I need both. And I’m not sure I’d be very good at one if I didn’t have the outlet of the other. I’m grateful God allows me both.

What do you hope readers take away from this story? 

Love does what hatred cannot – and never will.

I hope readers like my stories. I hope they’re entertained. I hope they pass them around and talk about them. But more than that, when the lights go out and they’re facing a tough tomorrow, I hope that something about my story reaches down inside them where the world has dinged them, in the dark places they don’t talk about, and whispers the words they alone need to hear.

This is your tenth book. How have you grown as a writer since that first book? Is there a novel or character you’re most attached to? 

I’d say that my writing is “cleaner.” Less filler. As a writer, I’m comfortable in my own skin.  Maybe my characters are more developed. Maybe my plot developments leaner, more taut. As for being attached to a specific character – no. They’re all walking around inside my head. I talk to them all the time.

What does the writing process look like for you? 

Books don’t write themselves. It looks like a lot of time in this chair. I’m very comfortable spending days on end right here and seldom coming up for air. Being able to do that is a gift – God gave it to me. Like Eric Liddle said, “It’s where I feel God’s pleasure.”

What role does faith play in your writing? 

Hanging above my desk is a sign that reads, “Imagination is evidence of the divine.” I like that. I also believe it’s absolutely true. God thought me up and shared with me the ability to dream, think, create, and to do so independently of Him. If you let that sink in, that’s an amazing Creator.

I used to give long drawn out answers to this. Let me skip all that and invite you into my prayers. When I pray about my life and specifically my career and writing, I ask the Lord to let my books stand, as C.S. Lewis and others have said, “as road signs to Jerusalem.” I pray they do that. Secondly, Psalm 45. Read it for yourself. I pray that at the end of the day my stories “make His name known to generations.” His glory. Not mine. Lastly, I pray that on that day when I’m there standing before Him, that He knows me, finds me worthy (and because of Him I am), and then leads me by the hand into His personal library. He points to a stack of well-worn books on His desk and says with both a smile and tear, “Look what I’ve been reading to my angels.”

If you’d like to see the fabulous book trailer for A Life Intercepted, please click here

 A Life Intercepted is now available at your favorite retailers:

Barnes & Noble

http://bit.ly/Xoh5XV

Books-A-Million

http://bit.ly/1t869rS

Indiebound.org

http://bit.ly/1vSWQjV

Amazon

http://amzn.to/1mSGM8s

 

More about Charles Martin:

 I used to put a long list of all my great and varied accomplishments right here  in this space (In truth, it was rather short.) hoping it made me look important.  Now that I’m forty, I’m not sure I see the value. Yes, I have a few degrees and I  worked hard to get here, but saying all that reminds me of the story of the guy  who walked barefoot, backwards, through the snow, uphill both ways, carrying  his horse…to school. (I’m scratching my head.)

 Here’s some of the stuff that matters.

 Christy and I married in 1993. If you include dating, I’ve known and loved her  for more than half my life. She is and always will be the home for my heart. We  have three boys. Charlie, John T. and Rives. Folks often ask me, which of my  books do I like the best. You might as well line up my sons and ask me who I  love the most.

My hobbies are bow hunting, working out (a blend of old school stuff and martial arts, called Fight Fit) and Tae Kwon Do. In October 2012 I earned my black belt but I’m still the least flexible person you’ve ever met. The guy that trains me, laughs everytime I start warming up. My boys are far better at Tae Kwon Do than I but I doubt they have as much fun – I get to do and watch. They just do.

I also like to write, but that’s another story.

You can connect with Charles here at his official website.

Heidi’s review:

Charles Martin is a true storyteller, painting a picture with words that draws the reader right into the world of the novel. As the story opened, I experienced Matthew Rising/The Rocket’s epic highs as a phenomenal football player on the cusp of a brilliant professional career. Martin sharply contrasts these highs with the excruciating pain of Rising’s losses as everything he once held dear is ripped away. The characterization and the details make such losses palpable. While few of us can relate to life as a talented athlete with unlimited potential, I would venture to say that most of us, when pressed, will admit that we put many, many things on a pedestal and elevate them above what matters most. Charles Martin explores this theme in A Life Intercepted and demonstrates that “love does what hatred cannot … and never will.” 
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to anyone who reads for the fabulous experience of being ‘lost’ in a story. A Life Intercepted  isn’t just about football. It’s a captivating story of hope, love and redemption … a novel not to be missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel through NetGalley.  All opinions expressed in the review are my own. Many thanks to the social media marketing team at Hatchette Book Group for including me on the blog tour.

I Think I Feel a Plot Coming On!

I’m often asked by readers, “Where do you get your ideas for your novels?”

At the risk of sounding completely absurd, I have to say the ideas that prompt the initial paragraphs are a gift. There’s no other explanation. In the case of my current work-in-progress, I have family vacations and a dear friend to thank.

Each year, my family vacations on the Washington coast. While a certain book series about vampires put this area on the map, I saw this house last year while we were walking on the beach and broke out in goose bumps. I immediately thought it held so much potential for a story. Doesn’t it just scream loss and heartbreak?

No? Okay. I guess it’s just me.

Anyway, I went back home and wrote something completely different. This photo was relegated to my hard drive and I forgot all about it. This spring, my friend’s family built a house on the bluff above this house. As she updated me on the progress and eagerly looked forward to celebrating the day when she and her family could enjoy their dream vacation home, she casually texted me that I should consider writing a book about this coastal community that people (including her family and mine) have come to love so much.

Coincidentally, I prodded her for suggestions regarding a protagonist. On my birthday, she gifted me with the most delightful inciting incident. Then the icing on the proverbial cake was her suggestion for the hero and heroine’s names. I couldn’t be more delighted to write this story. On her birthday, I gave her the gift of reading the first 4,000 words. So fun!

Now I’m sure some writers would say I’m crazy for opening myself up to suggestions regarding plot development. But writing is such a solitary experience that allowing somebody else “in” to the creative process is a breath of fresh air. I’m also excited to build a story around a community that represents such fond memories for my family and me. Just for fun, here are a few more shots that I captured last month while were on our annual trip.

I can see the heroine jogging down this wide expanse of beach in the morning or flying a kite with her kids. The coastline is so rugged and breathtaking here, such a sharp contrast to the East coast beaches.

These houses don’t belong to anyone that I know personally, but I love the way they are perched on the bluff with a commanding view of the Pacific ocean. I can’t wait to weave them into the story. I’m a very visual person and when I’m stuck and the words just aren’t coming, these pictures motivate me to keep pecking out one word at a time.

How about you, writers? Where do you get your inspiration for your novels?

Ten Book Characters Sitting At My Lunch Table: {A Guest Post}

When I saw the prompt for this week’s Broke and Bookish link, two things happened: I saw the posse from the movie The Breakfast Club (I know, I know that’s not a book) and I envisioned Owen from John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany. The fictional characters that I create myself live on in my head forever. Those created by others? Not so much. So I’ve done what many a blogger does when the words (or book titles) won’t flow … consulted another reader. Consider this an unofficial guest post from The Husband. This is his list of ten book characters sitting at his lunch table. Enjoy!

Jesse Stone, created by by Robert B. Parker
Joe Makatozi, Louis L’Amour’s Last of the Breed
Jubal Sackett, Louis L’Amour’s novel by the same title
Robert S. Johnson, from his biography Thunderbolt!: An Extraordinary Story of a World War II Ace. Details here.
Jay Leutze, Stand Up That Mountain
Will Cooper, Charles Frazier’s Thirteen Moons
Inman from Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain
Louis Zamparini, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Mike Raglan, Louis L’Amour’s Haunted Mesa
Frank Machianno, Don Winslow’s The Winter of Frankie Machine

Okay, so I have to admit … That would be a fun lunch table, testosterone-laden as it may be.

How about you? If you could have lunch with one (or ten) characters from a book, who would you choose?

Wordless Wednesday: First Day of soccer

This little fella played soccer for the first time ever last Saturday. It was blazing hot with a side of stifling humidity. I’m surprised they all stayed on the field for more than a few seconds. It didn’t seem to dampen his enthusiasm at all. Look at that expression. Priceless.

I’m linking up with 5 Minutes for Mom and their weekly Wordless Wednesday meme. Come on over and share your photos with us.

An Interview with Helsinki Sunrise hero, Adam Carter

As a writer, I thoroughly enjoy meeting other writers and getting to know the characters they craft in their stories. Adam Carter’s story is a delightful read and I’m grateful he took the time to stop by the blog today and share some interesting things about himself. 

 

Helsinki Sunrise, a Passport to Romance, blog tour follows on from yesterday’s stop in Tennessee, USA with Johnnie Donley where Marion showed us why she chose Finland for this story.

Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself?

I’m Adam Carter, and I was born and bred in sunny South Africa. Six years ago I answered God’s call on my life and became a missionary. For the past few years I’ve been working in Zambia amongst rural Africans.

 

 

Adam, where do you live now and why have you chosen to live there?

At the moment, I’m in transition. It was in Zambia where I met my Finnish friend, Mikko Mikkola, a few years ago. He’d come there on a short term mission trip. Mikko is the reason I suddenly find myself in Finland. For the next three weeks I’ll be in seclusion at his grandparents’ summer cottage to fast and pray in preparation to teach the Finns about prayer at the School of Intercession. I can’t blame Mikko entirely, though. He asked, but God said go. Immediately.

So, here I am, on the other side of the world, wondering how my life did such a turnaround. My home base for the next year will be a town in the middle of Finland with a name I can’t pronounce.

 

What is a quirk of your personality that most people wouldn’t know?

Lack of sleep makes me grumpy.

Name two things you would hate people to know about you?

I wasn’t always set apart for God. I’m a sinner saved by grace and there’s no sin of mine so great that Christ’s sacrifice hasn’t covered. The things I’d hate people to know only bear testimony to God’s great love and mercy.

That being said, I’m really glad nobody was around to witness my stupidity at loosening the wrong end of the rope when I used Mikko’s canoe. I had to come up with a plan fast of how to tie it up. Thankfully, only God witnessed that act, and that’s the way it’s going to stay.

  What do you like to do in your spare time?

A missionary has spare time?

I’m only joking. Seriously, when I’m not helping people or spending time in prayer, I like to relax by playing my guitar or reading.

 

 

 

Tell us about your special lady. What makes her special?

Eveliina Mikkola, my friend’s baby sister… Ah, she’s an amazing, sophisticated, successful and beautiful woman who knows exactly what she wants. But seeing the hurt in her eyes, made me want to help her, pray for her, and lead her back to Jesus.

The first time you saw her, what did you think?

My first thought? Is she going to belt me in the head with that birch log?

Did you like her immediately, or did she have to grow on you?

I liked Eveliina long before we even met. She’s Mikko’s little sister and I’d heard so much about her. But, she certainly was determined to get me off the island and gave me a hard time initially.

What is your favorite thing to eat and drink?

I’m South African, so definitely a braai (barbecue), but I guess in time I’ll get used to the Finnish version of grilling makkara instead. Mikko tells me you can even cook these sausages on a sauna’s heating stones.

If you had to fight, what would your weapon of choice be and why?

There’s only one answer to that question— the Bible, God’s word. It’s the most powerful weapon there is. No other weapon can stand against it. Jesus fought his battles with it. And if it was his weapon to fight the toughest of fights, why would I want to choose anything else?

Pepsi or coke

Coke. Nothing goes down better with a braai.

Tea or coffee

Coffee—bottomless.

Elephant or tiger

Elephants. You can’t ride a tiger.

Roast dinner or burger and chips (fries for our US readers)

There’s nothing like good, wholesome home cooking, so it would have to be a roast dinner.

Classical music or pop

Classical…the music of angels. It can transport you right to heaven itself.

Sunrise or sunset

African sunsets are golden. But our sunrises are also spectacular. I see them both every day—they’re the times I like to meet with the One who made them.

Can I pick both?

Of course you can. It’s hard to choose just one. Would you rather walk or run?

Walk. As a missionary in rural Africa, I walk…a lot. No one is ever in a hurry there—Africa time, you know—which is a good thing because spreading the Good News shouldn’t be done on the run. The feet of those who take the time to bring the Gospel to those in need are beautiful, aren’t they?

Chocolate or crisps (chips for our US readers)

Chocolate. We all need something sweet in life. However, if everyone had Jesus, they wouldn’t need chocolate, would they? And Jesus is far better than chocolate.

What would you like as your epitaph?

He loved God passionately and died in His service.

Thank you so much for your time today, Adam. I know you’re a busy guy. One of the joys of reading includes exploring the world from the comfort of our favorite reading nook and I feel like you shared a glimpse of your global experiences with your readers. We’re grateful for that.

Heidi’s Review of Helsinki Sunrise: In her debut novella, Marion Ueckermann paints a vivid picture of Adam Carter’s faithful service to the Lord and steadfast determination to find solace in his friend’s Finnish island retreat. When the determined, strong-willed Eveliina also claims ownership of the secluded cabin, sparks fly and a battle begins. Adam is focused on maintaining his fast and reaching the lost of Finland, while Eveliina wants no part of his plan or his faith. Through humorous misadventures, including many efforts on the part of Eveliina to tempt Adam to break his fast, readers will enjoy this delightful story of dealing with life’s unexpected twists and turns within the larger context of God’s sovereign plan. From the spot-on character development to the fast-paced plot, you won’t want to miss the fabulous inspirational romance that reveals a glimpse of Finland’s beauty without ever leaving your zip code.

 

 Be sure to follow this blog tomorrow to Johannesburg, South Africa where we’ll learn  more about Helsinki Sunrise’s author, Marion Ueckermann, from Ruth Dell on  International Christian Fiction Writers.

 There will be an eBook of Helsinki Sunrise up for grabs today. To be entered  into the draw , please leave a comment with your email address before  September 19th.*

Numerous eBooks of Helsinki Sunrise will be given away on the blog tour, so take a  journey to each of the stops and leave a comment. Don’t forget to include your email  address.

 

Helsinki Sunrise is available to purchase from Pelican Book Group, Christianbook.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

Watch the Helsinki Sunrise book trailer on YouTube.

Watch the Passport to Romance book trailer on YouTube.

 Marion Ueckermann’s passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she  moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has  published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional  of Joy and Laughter (Tyndale House Publishers), and Chicken Soup for the  Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven, and her debut novelette, Helsinki  Sunrise (White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint, Passport to  Romance series).

Marion blogs for International Christian Fiction Writers and Beauty for  Ashes. She belongs to Christian Writers of South Africa and American  Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa in an  empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.

 

 

 

Connect with Marion Ueckermann: Website / Amazon/Facebook /  Twitter/Pinterest

Blogs: A Pebble in my Pocket / Foreign Affaire

 

* Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

Permission to use images obtained.