Cara C. Putman's Blog, page 91

Interview with Liz Tolsma

Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to my friend  Liz Tolsma. She is also an author of WWII based novels — all set in Europe. You may have read her first in this series, Snow on the Tulips. Last month her new book Daisies are Forever released. This novel takes place in Germany and gives readers a fascinating look at what it was like to live under the crumbling Nazi regime as characters try to escape the advancing Russian army. She weaves in threads of downed fighter pilots to add a rich depth. It is a riveting tale that will pull you in.

Liz, Daisies are Forever  takes readers back to WWII Germany. How did you get the idea for this novel?

My aunt was born in the States to German parents. Her family returned to Germany in 1936. She lived through WWII in Germany and Czechoslovakia. She spent the final part of the war in Berlin. As she recounted her story to me, I couldn’t believe that she had endured such terrible suffering. I knew I wanted to tell the world her story.

The heroine is an American who is in Germany toward the end of the war. Can you explain how she came to be in Germany and stayed?

Much of this mirrors my aunt’s story. The heroine, Gisela Cramer, was born to a German American family who returned to Germany in the 1930s. Her parents sent her to East Prussia to get away from the bombing in Berlin, but then she must flee East Prussia to escape the Russians. She reunites with her mother in Berlin. And then you’ll have to read the rest of the story

What surprised you most as you researched and wrote this book?

Just looking at the war from the eyes of every day Germans. While there were Nazi fanatics, there were also people who didn’t like Hitler and didn’t want him in power. They were very happy when their liberation came.

Why write your story inside Germany? What drew you to this as a setting? What did you hope to illustrate?

I wanted people to look at the war from a different view point. We think Germans equal Nazis. But there were plenty of ordinary men and women just trying to survive, living with the hope of liberation. The average German suffered greatly during the war – hunger, bombings, terror at the hands of both the Nazis and the Russians. It was a very dark time for them as well. Mothers lost their sons, wives lost their husbands, sisters lost their brothers. I didn’t want to paint the German citizens with one broad stroke.

What do you hope stays with readers after they close the cover on this novel?

I hope they will remember to think about how war affects people on both sides. I thin of conflicts around the world today. We shouldn’t forget the Christian people in Iraq and Syria. They are suffering greatly and don’t approve of what their countries are doing.

Can you give us a sneak peek at what’s next for you?

In the winter, Remember the Lilies is due to release. It is set in the Santo Tomas internment camp in Manila during WWII. Not many people know that the Japanese kept more than 3000 Westerners, mostly Americans and Brits, prisoner their for 37 months. By the end, they were riddled with disease and kept on starvation rations.

That sounds fascinating! Where can people connect with you? I’m at http://www.liztolsma.com/;  Facebook; Twitter @LizTolsma; and on Pinterest under Liz Tolsma. Thank you so much for hosting me! This has been fun. I appreciate it.

It’s my pleasure, Liz! I hope you’ve enjoyed this opportunity to learn a bit more about Liz and her latest books!

Standing Amazed!

Writing is a career that careens out of control. It’s a dream that sucks the very marrow from your bones and leaves you spent. I’m firmly convinced God has me in publishing because so much is so far outside of my control.

Right when I am my most stressed and worried, He reminds me He’s in control of this journey.

A couple nights ago my husband and I were talking about how drained I felt. The merry-go-round of teaching, taking classes, marketing, homeschooling, etc., etc. had worn me down. It also made me a bit pessimistic about life. This from someone who is usually an optimist through and through!

Sometimes I know God is just smiling at me as I stress about what the future holds. As I wonder if I’m doing the right things. As I long for a little peace and quiet.

He knew I’d be worn out this week after another round of final exams. He also knew, my publisher had planned a promotion for Shadowed by Grace. They’ve offered promotions before, and I’ve felt very supported by their efforts, and I wondered if this one would really be different.

Ummm. Yeah.

First I asked God if I could hit top 20 on one of Amazon’s lists. He offered this: It sent time yesterday on three lists in that one and two slot. When that happened I realized, I’d also hit a number on the overall list that had me crying. Then my son (the 10 year-old) told me I should ask God for #1 of all books. I wanted to remind him there are authors people know on that list. So instead, I asked if I could crack the top 100 Kindle books. The numbers kept creeping up and I began to wonder if I slept if I might just miss the blip.

God woke me at 5:30, and I snapped these screen shots (and then had an impossible time falling back asleep).

Through this God has reminded me that He sees me and those secret desires I hesitate to voice.

He has used this book time and again to remind me it is truly His story. Let me tell you — that is pretty humbling as I watch Him open doors I could never force open.

He’s whispered that He has my career in His hands. Whether this is my last book or only one stop on the way to 100, all that matters is that I am in the center of His will and His plan for my life.

In a couple days, I might stop compulsively watching the Amazon numbers — but as I’ve watched them the last 48 hours, I have witnessed God do something new and introduce this book to audiences that might not otherwise have discovered this story about the search for our heavenly Father.

And all I can do is clap from the sidelines and whisper, “Thank You, Abba Daddy!” And pray that this serves as encouragement for those dreams that lay dormant in your heart. Bring them out, pray over them, and offer them to Him as a sacrifice. You might just be amazed at what He does!

 

 

Summer Fun: Adventures in Odyssey Club

 

It’s summer time and that means long trips to visit family, explore the country, or visit an amusement park. A mainstay in our road trips are the Adventures in Odyssey episodes. My kids can listen to them ad nauseam — we’ve had to replace CDs because they get so scratched from loving listening. And we love that the adults can enjoy them, too. I appreciate the great values and positive reinforcement this program offers — and would love to visit Odyssey where people don’t age! I’m excited to try out the brand new Odyssey Adventure Club with my family and wanted to make you aware of it, too.
Do you have a favorite episode?
ODYSSEY ADVENTURE CLUB OFFERS FAMILIES ACCESS TO 24/7 ENTERTAINMENT

Focus on the Family responds to parents’ media concerns with the new online membership

***Become a member today for just $5 a month!***

As media use continues to explode among children and teens, parents’ concerns about what their children could be uncovering while online increases. On average, children get their first smartphone at age 12, and research suggests kids and teens are spending more than 7.5 hours a day with their electronic devices — and often without a safety net. That’s exactly why Focus on the Family is launching the Odyssey Adventure Club, a safe and fun environment where children can explore, create and imagine, all while developing their faith and learning biblical truth.

For less than the cost of a monthly night out at the movies (membership costs $15 per month for up to six users), families will be able to stream the Adventures in Odyssey library, plus listen to exclusive new monthly episodes.  Busy families will find 24/7 access to the content through the Odyssey Adventure Club mobile iPhone app.

“Kids today have so many media choices, and not all of them are positive,” says Focus on the Family Resource Marketing Director Christi Lynn. “We’re providing fans with interactive content that builds on the lessons they’ve received through Odyssey and helps them grow in their walk with Jesus.”

Children can also read daily devotions, interact with hands-on activities and view video documentaries featuring a behind-the-scenes look into the production of the Adventures in Odyssey stories. Parents can feel confident their children are safe on the Odyssey Adventure Club website — Focus on the Family staff will be monitoring all comments before they’re publicly posted.

For more than 25 years, Adventures in Odyssey has delivered innovating and award-winning audio dramas that have sparked imagination in children, while infusing them with character and the biblical values parents love. This radio journey has grown into a treasure trove of nearly 750 Adventures in Odyssey episodes, all of which are now being launched into the digital world.

A portion of each Odyssey Adventure Club membership will benefit Focus on the Family partner relief organizations, including Christian Veterinary Mission, Operation Christmas Child and Compassion International. This provides parents with an opportunity to teach children about the value of giving and serving others.

Odyssey Adventure Club joins hands with parents as they seek to disciple their children spiritually and protect them when they use ever-expanding technology.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit  www.oaclub.org , Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Pinterest . 

 
{MORE ABOUT ODYSSEY ADVENTURE CLUB}
AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTI LYNN, MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR THE ODYSSEY ADVENTURE CLUB 

As media use continues to explode among children and teens, parents’ concerns about what their children could be uncovering while online increases. On average, children get their first smartphone at age 12, and research suggests kids and teens are spending more than 7.5 hours a day with their electronic devices — and often without a safety net. That’s exactly why Focus on the Family is launching the  Odyssey Adventure Club , a safe and fun environment where children can explore, create and imagine, all while developing their faith and learning biblical truth.

Q: How is Focus on the Family and the new Odyssey Adventure Club addressing parental concerns about their children’s media use?

Media is a way of life for kids today, and we understand that. That’s why we created the Odyssey Adventure Club: to provide online, on-the-go delivery of more than 300 hours of safe, biblically-based audio entertainment. For more than 25 years, Adventures in Odyssey has been fostering spiritual and character growth in listeners. Many parents have come to trust us for solid lessons brought to life by fun characters. While we can’t monitor how many episodes a child hears, we can guarantee it’s an investment into their life every time.

Q: Some research shows that kids from age 8 to 18 spend more than 7.5 hours a day with electronic devices like a computer, phone or TV — why should this be a concern to parents?

We believe kids should be using their imagination and interacting with their family and friends. Many times media today tends to isolate. While the Odyssey Adventure Club is consumed through a computer or mobile device, it doesn’t require a child to sit and stare at a screen. Kids can listen to episodes while doing other activities, like coloring, playing with their toys or outside, riding in the car or exercising. The Odyssey Adventure Club also provides activities and devotions meant to be done as a family, encouraging that important interaction. Through the audio dramas, imagination is brought to life for kids within the theatre of the mind.

Q: How can parents leverage media to build a solid Christian worldview in their children?

There are a number of ways in everyday routines that parents can use media to teach their children. For instance, if you’re listening to Christian music, you can ask them, “What do you think the lyrics of this song mean?” Or if you’re watching a movie or TV show, you can talk with your child about the plotline and how it relates to morality, God and truth.

As parents, we have to equip our children with the knowledge and wisdom to face various situations in life, whether it’s something like bullying or lying, or understanding relationships. Adventures in Odyssey has episodes that touch on all of these issues and many, many more. With the Odyssey Adventure Club platform, you can even search for episodes on a subject matter and use it as a teaching tool.

Q: How does the Odyssey Adventure Club help moms and dads make spiritual investments into the lives of their children? 

Through the power of story and imagination, Adventures in Odyssey teaches life lessons through the lens of a biblical worldview. This helps a child grow and develop spiritually.  All of our episodes with the Odyssey Adventure Club are also connected to a devotional, which will give parents the ability to tie together easily the program to a scripture and a spiritual lesson. Additionally, parents will find a dailydevotional on the website that will take their children and their family deeper on their spiritual walk.

Q: What is available to families through membership in the Odyssey Adventure Club?

Families will have access to more than 740 Adventures in Odyssey episodes and videos that highlight some of the real-life stories on which some of the dramas were based. The Web Quests feature hands-on learning and fun activities that enhance the audio dramas. Plus, with the member e-newsletter, parents can engage their child on a deeper level and use daily devotions for family time. They’ll also get exclusive new episodes each month, a subscription toClubhouse magazine and a “behind-the-scenes” blog.

Q: How will this online club be kept safe for kids to explore on their own?

We require a parent to sign their child up, which helps to ensure that parents are aware of their kids’ involvement. All comments on the website are pre-moderated, and we do not allow any personally identifiable information to appear on the site.

Q: A portion of the monthly membership fee is being donated to Focus on the Family alliance organizations — why is this an important feature of the Odyssey Adventure Club?

We want to teach our members about giving and enlighten them to great social causes. Through our combined giving, the club can truly impact other ministries. We also hope to spread the word to our members about other great ministries that are doing God’s work around the world.

Q: The Adventures in Odyssey program has been sparking the imagination of children for 25 years. Share a few examples of how parents have used these award-winning radio dramas to disciple their children. 

There are so many stories I could share of road trips, bedtime stories and devotional times. I remember one story about a boy who challenged his parents to listen to Adventures in Odyssey before bed instead of watching TV.  The dad was so convicted that they started turning off the TV 30 minutes before bed and turning on Adventures in Odyssey instead. He wanted his family to start and end their day thinking about Jesus (Phil. 4:8). We have also heard numerous stories of how children were led to begin a relationship with Christ through listening to Adventures in Odyssey. We are blown away by these examples and feel humbled to play a small part in God’s larger story.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit  www.oaclub.org , Facebook ,  Twitter  and  Pinterest .

 

The Writing Process Blog Tour

My friend Tracy Higley asked me to join her in the Writing Process Blog Tour. What a fun way to learn how different writers work!

1)  What am I currently working on?

I’m currently working on page proofs for my novella in Where Treetops Glisten. It’s a WWII Christmas novella collection that Tricia Goyer, Sarah Sundin and I wrote together. I’m so excited about this book that releases in September. I’m also dreaming up a legal suspense idea. It’s been fun and quite a change from the WWII books.

2)  How does my work differ from others of its genre?

For my WWII Historicals, my work differs because I love to find the unexplored stories. That means I stay away from known events and battles and instead focus on either what happened on the home front or a story of a group of people like the Monuments Men. Usually I stumble on some event or activity and the rest of the story builds around it. That’s what happened with Shadowed by Grace, a story of Monuments Men. I discovered their role in WWII, and then backed it up to Italy where they were first involved. Add in a heroine who was a photojournalist right behind the frontlines and a mystery to solve, and it was a fun book to write.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I write what I do because I love to tell stories. I love to delve deeper into the question of where is God in life. How can I find Him when life looks bleak or uncertain. I write WWII novels because I want to honor the men and women of the Greatest Generation and their all encompassing roles in WWII. They are often unsung heroes and think they did nothing out of the ordinary. Attending a reunion in 2010 with a group of them was awe-inspiring because they were so humble and down to earth. Yet they freed concentration camps, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, lived heroism. I want to capture that and transmit it to a new generation through the lens of story.

4)  How does my writing process work?

My writing process is ever-changing. I write around life. Most often that’s in the wee hours of the evening and morning. Other times, it’s camped at my local Panera for several hours. But I write and create because I love the process. I love creating characters, dreaming up their story, understanding why they are the way they are and more. There are days it is hard work, but I love the end result.

Tune in next week for Cindy Thomson’s answers!

Operation Libraries

Breaking news! Through July 1, Shadowed by Grace is on sale for 99 cents in ebook formats. This is a great time to pick it up for yourself, if you haven’t read it already, but I also need your help spreading the word.

Would you pin this photo to pinterest? Or upload it to your facebook profile?

As a thank you, I’m going to select from those who help spread the word. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

Even more exciting, I’m launching a giveaway that is super easy to enter. All you have to do is ask your local library (school, church, public) to add Shadowed by Grace to its collection. Many libraries will add books if they know their patrons are interested. And many have made it very easy to request books. If your local library has a website you can start by checking for an online request form.

This is a great way to help your favorite authors. When my books are in a library, more readers have a risk free way to try my books and see if they like them. It also make it possible for readers to discover my books who wouldn’t otherwise run across Christian fiction.

Other ways you can help are to let other people know about this opportunity by posting it to Facebook, twitter, pinning the image on Pinterest, Instagram, etc. I’ve added lots of ways to enter. And I’ve got lots of goodies to give away. The more the word spreads, the more goodies I’ll add to the pile.

Please use the form below to let me know what you’ve done. But don’t forget to leave a comment letting me know which library you asked to add my book to its collection. 

Thank you so much for your help!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Father to the Fatherless

You know how sometimes you’ll ask God to reveal a part of his heart to you? And then He does? In unexpected ways?

Maybe it’s the fact that Father’s Day was Sunday. Maybe it’s reading posts from friends who lack a father, husband, etc. But my heart has been tenderized to those who don’t have a father. Those who’s husband abandoned them this year, last year, thirty years ago. Those who’ve never known their daddy. And those who don’t want to spend another moment in his presence.

I’ve been reminded that God is the father to the fatherless. That He is the champion of the widow (in this day, I believe that includes single mothers). The children who walk by the bank of Father’s Day cards and gifts and cry in their hearts for a man who will love them like a father.

What will we do to meet that need? To be the practical hands and feet of Christ to those in need?

I was humbled this week by neighbors who took in an essentially homeless young woman. I looked at my husband and asked if we would have been willing to do the same. I hope so. I truly hope so.

I think of the men willing to pour into the boys at church through a weekly program. A chance for men to teach boys how to be men. We need that so much in our world.

I think of how I am that mom at the gym, the one who hugs on the girls who don’t have daddies. Does it matter? I’m just a mom. But I see the shadows in their eyes. The question about whether they are lovable. And my heart screams yes, even as my heart breaks for their pain.

I think of my friends mentoring young women who find themselves in unplanned pregnancies. The families that open their hearts and homes. My friends who no longer have husbands and are facing the task of moving…alone. Parenting…alone. Breathing…alone.

And I think: What would Jesus do?

How would He reach out with love to the single moms battling every day to do a job for two on the resources and emotion of one? How would He love on the children who wonder if anyone cares? How would He bring light into a situation that isn’t easy?

This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where Christianity becomes real. This is where I am to be His hands and feet. And I wonder: am I?

 

 

Post Father’s Day Musings

Yesterday was Father’s Day. I’ve been surrounded by amazing men in my life, and I’m grateful.

My Grandpa C. always had a big smile and hug for his grandkids. I remember special weekends in Tecumseh, Nebraska, with him (and my Grandma). He and Grandma also took me on a roadtrip to New Mexico one Thanksgiving so that I could spend time with a cousin I rarely got to see. It was such a special time. And for anyone who thinks I’m extroverted and love people, I’m a shadow of him. We got blizzarded into Fort Dodge, Kansas, on the way back from New Mexico, and he found people he knew or was connected to within six degrees in the hotel.

My Grandpa K. was special in other ways. When I was home a couple weeks ago, my Grandma pulled back a few more layers on just how special and involved he was in his kids’ lives. You can read Canteen Dreams to catch a glimpse of how much I loved him, and read the epilogue of Captive Dreams to see how he loved my grandpa.

My Daddy was and is a man after God’s heart. I spent time on the phone with him this week talking about the ways he impacted my life. Maybe someday he’ll fully embrace that he was a wonderful dad. And he still is.

My husband is an amazing father. He actively loves our kids. He engages with them on a daily basis. He cares about them and what matters to them. He cares enough to discipline when necessary. And he cares enough to drop everything else when I need him to come be the Daddy. I can say with confidence that my kids will not have issues seeing God as their Abba Daddy because they have a living, breathing example of that here on earth.

Then there’s my father-in-law David. My brothers Josh and Joel. My brother-in-law Matt. Each of these men is fully invested in their kids. Whether it’s Josh being ridiculous with my kids — he is THAT uncle. Or Joel speaking life to my kids consistently (brings me to tears every time he grabs my girls, looks them in the eyes, and tells them they are BEAUTIFUL). Or Matt commiserating that his oldest is headed off to school next year (Unbelievable!), then smiles as our three-year-olds run by.

These men understand/understood what it takes to live life with their children. And one day, their children will rise up and bless them for it. Until then, I’ll stand at the head of the line and say, “well done.”

 

A Woman of Fortune Review

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve let y’all see what I’ve been reading, mainly because classes are keeping me super occupied. Fortunately, they end tomorrow. Unfortunately, they end tomorrow. But in 15 minute chunks I inhaled Kellie Coates Gilbert’s latest novel, A Woman of Fortune. I honestly didn’t know if I’d have time to read this book, but the cover drew me. I LOVE that red dress. Then the characters and their problems sucked me in. In an author note, Kellie writes about what inspired the book. Essentially it was thinking about the families of men who engage in huge fraud cases. What would it be like to have everything ripped away from you? To learn that your entire life was built on fraud?

That’s exactly the position that Claire Massey and her kids find themselves facing. They each respond in different ways, and the book reads like a slice of real life as Claire has to confront what has happened, and how she will ever piece her life back together. Everything from finding an apartment to locating a job is a challenge. But that’s not what kept me turning the pages and thinking about the book when I couldn’t read. What kept me glued to the story was the thought, What would I do? How would I respond?

This book was a rare treat in women’s fiction. While I don’t usually read women’s fiction, this one is going on my keeper file, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

 

The Path of Obedience

For the last week and a half, I’ve been part of a blog tour of Christian fiction writers of World War II novels. We came together to honor the 70th anniversary of D-Day. I invite you to join the tour by clicking on the image above — today’s the last day to participate. It’s been such fun (and fascinating to learn about what motivates people to write the stories they do. With each of us it was launched by a story spark.

Maybe it was talking to an aunt and learning her war story. Maybe it was a documentary on Auschwitz. Maybe it was stumbling upon a nonfiction book about the Monuments Men. But for each of us there was something that launched the spark that blazed into a story idea.

That’s so much like life. Maybe you have a dream to start a crisis pregnancy center. Maybe you’re running the other direction, but God is making it clear you are the person He wants to move through. Maybe you want to homeschool your children, but you’re afraid to fail. Maybe you want to help more at your child’s school, but don’t believe you can.

One thing I firmly believe is that if God has given you a dream, He’ll give you the tools to do them. Notice I didn’t say it wouldn’t be hard. In fact, it often involves lots of time and a commitment/ willingness to do the work. Just ask any of the authors on this blog. Many of them agonize over each word. All of us long to tell a story that will make an impact after the cover is closed and the last page is turn. We have to work for that. Long and hard. When we’d rather be anywhere else.

I’m working on my MBA (masters of business administration). Don’t ask me why. My tongue-in-cheek answer is that I had an extra 15 minutes a day. My real answer is that I don’t know why God has asked me to do this, but His leading was so clear, any other course would have been disobedience.

Sometimes that’s all we have to go on. The belief that anything less than moving in the direction God prompts is disobedience.

Are you at one of those crossroads? The kind that asks why would you think of stepping out?  If so, I invite you to take that first step of obedience. You never know just where that could lead!

 

Summer Plans? 4 low-cost ideas to try with your kids

Summer is officially upon us. The calendar has turned to June and that means school is out for most of us. It also means we need to fill the suddenly empty days. Whether you homeschool or not, here are a few ideas to get you started. Then let me know what ideas you can pass on to the rest of us!

Become a tourist in your own back yard. With just a little digging, I bet you’ll find some museums that you’ve never explored. I can think of an art museum in our hometown that the kids and I haven’t visited. Then we’ve got the local university which I just learned has an Amelia Earhart collection. I’m sure there are lots of other resources like that in your hometown, too. With just a little searching we can created lots of inexpensive outing and day trips for our families.
Don’t be afraid to keep a little school in the schedule. Math flashcards or workbooks can be a great way to keep the math skills sharp over the summer or focus on weaker areas. Summer is also a great time to enhance areas your kids enjoy but may not have time to focus on during the school year. For example, my older two children have had private art lessons in the summer the last few years. It’s a subject they love, but slips to the side during the school year.
Scour garage sales or thrift shops for things that will let their imaginations play. Everything from dress-up clothes to books and games can be found very inexpensively. And no matter how many plans you make, rainy days will come. On those days your kids will be thrilled to have some new to them items to play with or read. And any time we can encourage them to tap into their imaginations it’s a good thing.
Does your child have friends they don’t want to lose touch with over the summer? Then try something like an interest club. Last year, my daughter had a once a month bookclub for her friends. They had a lot of fun. We added things like pool parties and sleepovers, and it became a great way for her to spend time with her friends and mix her friends across groups. Other moms graciously sent snacks so it wasn’t even a drain for me.

What do you do with your kids or plan to do when you have kids?