Cara C. Putman's Blog, page 93

3 Steps to Finding the Grace to Chase a Dream

Once there was a fourteen-year-old who quickly realized her favorite authors simply could not write books fast enough. Because she was young, she decided she could write books, too. Her mother smiled and allowed her to write as part of her English. Slowly two novels grew on an old computer, paragraph by paragraph, page by page. She loved creating ideas, research, writing. The process delighted her soul, and she wondered if she’d found what she was created to do.

Then life got busy. College, a career. A husband and a family. Writing was pressed to the perimeter of her life by the busyness of a full life.

Most days it was enough.

But some days, the whisper to write became a roaring ache to try. When this occurred, this girl-turned-woman would take the dream to God, hold it in open hands, and ask Him if this was His dream for her. If not, show her so she could kill the dream and focus on His will for her life.

Have you given up on a #dream? @Cara_Putman has encouragement for you:

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In due time, He announced it was time to follow her dream. Nine years later she’s awaiting the publication of her eighteenth and nineteenth books later this year.

You may have already guessed: I am that girl. I know what it’s like to have a dream burning inside me and wonder if anything would ever come of it. I want to encourage you. If this is you. If you’re convinced your dreams have disappeared under a pile of laundry, dirty diapers, and grocery lists, that there are ways to live with grace until the appointed time for the dream to burst to life.

Here’s what I learned on the journey:

Hold the dream loosely. Pry your tight grip from the dream and offer it to God. Ask Him for wisdom to know if this is the time or the dream. Seek Him first. A dream without Him at the center is simply not as fulfilling.
Prepare when you can as you can. For me that meant continuing to read voraciously. Through that I had a core understanding of what made a story and characters work. I might not have known all the lingo, but I intuitively gained an education. It also meant I read how-to write novel books. Each time the itch would resurface, you’d find me in the stacks looking for another book, so I could get structural understanding.
Be prepared to run when God gives you the go-ahead. The years since God told me it was time to test the dream have been a whirlwind of work. It has required immense discipline and stick-to-it-iveness. I’ve had to let go of things to make room for the dream. Are you willing to do the same?

Waiting for a dream is hard. But with God’s grace, the waiting can be a time of preparation and drawing closer to Him.

Steps You can Take

Hold the dream loosely.
Prepare when you can as you can.
Be prepared to run when God gives you the go-ahead.

Like Historicals? Check out these books.

I remember the days when there weren’t enough historicals…and most involved wagon trains traveling prairies. Today I’m delighted to introduce you to two historicals by wonderful authors. And these are very different from each other.

Tracy Higley is an author with a gift for transporting readers to the ancient world. Her settings have included many of the ancient wonders of the world, and The Queen’s Handmaid transports readers to Alexandria, Egypt, and the courts of Cleopatra. The characterization is rich, the setting lush, and the plot compelling. If you like books that take you deep into a time period you’ve never experienced, you will love Tracy’s books. The Queen’s Handmaid is a great one to start with.

From the servant halls of Cleopatra’s Egyptian palace to the courts of Herod the Great, Lydia will serve two queens to see prophecy fulfilled.

Alexandria, Egypt 39 BC

Orphaned at birth, Lydia was raised as a servant in Cleopatra’s palace, working hard to please while keeping everyone at arm’s length. She’s been rejected and left with a broken heart too many times in her short life.

But then her dying mentor entrusts her with secret writings of the prophet Daniel and charges her to deliver this vital information to those watching for the promised King of Israel. Lydia must leave the nearest thing she’s had to a family and flee to Jerusalem. Once in the Holy City, she attaches herself to the newly appointed king, Herod the Great, as handmaid to Queen Mariamme.

Trapped among the scheming women of Herod’s political family—his sister, his wife, and their mothers—and forced to serve in the palace to protect her treasure, Lydia must deliver the scrolls before dark forces warring against the truth destroy all hope of the coming Messiah.

Learn more and purchase a copy at Tracy’s website.

Next, I’d like to introduce you to my friend Pam Hillman and her book Claiming Mariah. Set in 1882 in the Wyoming territory, this book has a richness of layers. The characters are faced with impossible choices foisted on them by the decisions of their fathers. Watching the characters wrestle through the impossible kept me reading page after page. This book will delight you if you love a western with a twist.

  Claiming Mariah

After her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he unearths more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal, and murder threatens the well-being of the ranch, endangering those who hold it dear. As the days dwindle until the rest of the Donovan clan arrives at the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed changes their futures forever.

{MORE ABOUT PAM HILLMAN}

Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of!

Find out more about Pam at http://www.pamhillman.com.

Don’t miss Pam Hillman‘s latest novel, Claiming Mariah. Julie Lessman gave it a thumb’s up, saying: [Hillman is] gifted with a true talent for vivid imagery, heart-tugging romance, and a feel for the Old West that will jangle your spurs.

Pam is celebrating with a fun giveaway. Click the banner for details.

 

The Story Behind the Story: Francesca Battistelli

If you’re like me, then you love learning the story behind the story. Whether it’s an artist’s inspiration for a painting, a musician’s inspiration for a song, or an author’s spark that launched a story, I love getting behind the curtain. That’s why I loved finding this video about Francesca Battistelli‘s newest release. The kids and I are loving the music, and I appreciated the chance to see her heart. Hope you enjoy it, too!

The Story Behind the Story

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE learning the story behind the story for books, movies and albums. There is something about having the veil of the creative process pulled to the side. If you’re like me (and you love Christian music) then you’ve got to take a few minutes to watch this behind the album peek from Francesca Battistelli. Her new album If We’re Honest is very good! I already knew I loved Write Your Story, but the other songs are equally as good. My kids and I are enjoying learning the new songs. But I loved the chance to learn a bit of her creative process. Enjoy!

Help for New Moms

I remember those initial days and months of being a mother. That transition to losing myself in the care of a child that is so dependent on me. All my carefully cultivated disciplines evaporated in the reality of a schedule and days I no longer controlled. In Mom Seeks God, Julia Roller shares that journey and the struggle to incorporate the disciplines of faith into a new phase of life. The chapters read like a journal, as if you’re sitting down with a friend and hearing her experiences over coffee. The chapters are laced with humor and reality. And in the reading she shares practical ideas and the wisdom that you aren’t alone as a new mother struggling to find time for God. This is a great book to give as a baby shower gift or to encourage a new mom who needs encouragement on the journey.

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK

The first months and years of motherhood can be the most challenging and disorienting of your life—and faith. When you’re surrounded by the happy chaos of children, how do you spend quiet time with God if the only quiet time you get is while you sleep? How can you demonstrate a solid spiritual life to your children if you don’t have time to pursue one yourself?

When Julia Roller discovered that her spiritual growth had been stunted by the busyness of life with her toddler, she embarked on a yearlong journey through ten spiritual disciplines: prayer, fellowship, submission, study, simplicity, silence, worship, fasting, service, and celebration. As she focused on each discipline, she discovered practical ways to observe them—even in the chaos of her every day.

Purchase a copy and find out more at Julia’s website.

Purpose for Everything We Do

I have been immensely blessed in life. I grew up in a Christian home with a heart to serve God from about as young as I can remember. Maybe that’s why this quote from Holley Gerth’sbook You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream resonates with me.

There is a purpose for everything we do.

In a day and age where so much tells us there is no meaning to life, I feel the need to repeat those words. Let them ooze into your spirit.

There is a purpose for everything we do. 

What does that make you think? For much of my life — okay, even earlier today — it’s created a deep desire in me not to miss God’s will for my life. Am I supposed to be writing? If so, has the season ended? Is there another journey God wants me to start? Am I using the gift and talents He gave me in a way He approves.

I vividly remember being in my mid-20′s in Washington, D.C., and needing to choose between two jobs. Then as now, my deepest desire was to be where God wanted me. And He went strangely quiet. There wasn’t a neon sign in the sky telling me which job to take. There wasn’t a clear sense of direction. Instead, when I finally sat still enough to dig deep for Him, there was a deep sense of peace and that He didn’t care which one I took. Instead, I knew He would use me in either one.

In that instance, saying “yes” to God meant just stepping forward in either role. Did God use me in the one I took? Absolutely. Could He have used me in the other? I have no doubt.

But that experience has stuck with me. There is a purpose in everything we do. At that time, the purpose may have been simply learning that God can use me wherever I go. That I take God with me, and He shines through me in each and every situation.

Do you agree that there is a purpose in everything we do? How have you said yes to God in an unexpected way?

P.S. if you’re interested in more from Holley’s books, I’ve written a series of bookclub posts at my blog. Hop over here to read them.

4 Novels you should read this spring

Y’all know I LOVE to read. Here are a few of my favorites from the last few weeks. It’s a great mix of authors, historical, and contemporary. And be sure to read to the end where I’m giving away a copy of Tamera Alexander’s latest novel A Beauty so Rare, along with Rachel Hauck’s Princess Ever After and Sarah Ladd’s Headmistress of Rosemere. These are all books I bought so I could give them away because I loved them so much. I know you will, too!

I adore Tamera Alexander’s historical romances set in post Civil War Nashville. They capture the essence of reconstruction in a realistic way while telling a story I can disappear into. This story-telling sets a high standard and leaves me wondering if she can do it again. She does!

In A Beauty so Rare, Eleanor Braddock is not a beautiful woman in the traditional southern sense, so she has resigned herself to a life of singleness. because of her father’s illness she has to find a way to support herself. The story weaves in the plight of war widows and orphans while also pulling in an element of European royalty. Trust me: it works beautifully. And in the telling, the author addresses true beauty and the importance of looking beyond the superficial to the heart and essence of a person. I finished the last page with a happy sigh for a story well told, quickly followed by a sad sigh because now I have to wait for her next book!

If you love antebellum historical romance with strong Christian threads, you will adore this story that transports you to that time in Nashville. I loved this book so much be sure to keep reading so you can enter a giveaway for it!

In Sadie’s Secret, Pinkerton Agent, Sadie Callum has to decide whether the right twin brother is in jail.From there, she has to untangle the threads to find the real Will Tucker, all the while keeping her overprotective family at bay. Sadie is this delightful mix of a fun character who has spunk, verve, and a desire to honor her family while avoiding stifling. It’s an almost impossible balancing act, but such a fun read. The romance is sweet and delightful. And the redemption of Will Tucker almost brought me to tears. All in all a very satisfying conclusion to this fun historical mystery/romance series.

Now, I don’t only read historicals. The next two books are romantic suspense, the first with an Amish flair and the second unputdownable.

I enjoy Vannetta Chapman’s Amish based mysteries in large part because the Amish and English characters interact in real and dynamic ways. Murder Simply Brewed is no exception. A man dies while at work in an Amish village/resort. At first nobody suspects anything, but as other strange things begin to occur at this getaway, the manager and the Amish employee who found the body begin to wonder if more could be at stake.

There is more than the mystery though, as one couple experiences romance and another begins to explore what could be. The characters are enjoyable, the interactions real, and the mystery kept me guessing for quite a bit of the book. All in all a great read for those who love a mystery in an Amish setting.

Raptor 6 is the latest release from Ronie Kendig. She writes high-octane military novels. I loved the missionary angle that comes into play in this book set in Afghanistan. Zahrah just wants to help the Afghan children but has an expertise that makes her valuable to the anti-US forces. This book moves fast and honors the men and women who fight in the military while including a beautiful romance. It’s another excellent military read that will keep fans of Tom Clancy’s books coming back for more.

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Each book will be mailed to a winner.

Writing Tip: Easter Eggs

In honor of Easter, here’s a delightful short film from Pixar on Easter Eggs. Those are fun little surprises buried in a book or movie that delight readers and viewers who find them. They are fun to include as you write more books. For example, in my Christmas novella that releases in October, I have a fun tie back/Easter egg that connects the story in a very loose way to Shadowed by Grace. For readers who haven’t read Shadowed by Grace, it won’t mean anything. But for those who have and catch it, it’s a fun surprise.

Age is Merely a Number

Today I have extensive edits on a book due, so I’m pulling forward a post I wrote several years ago. The ironic thing is this a still an area I’m still fascinated by. How do the generations we’re born in impact our life choices. I’d love your thoughts on this important topic!

My friend Tricia Goyer forwarded the following commentary from law.com: Age is Merely a Number. In it the author, Kerry Jean Moore, evaluates whether generational differences really make a difference or if it’s all a matter of work ethic.

There’s been a lot of buzz  about what Generation X wants in their careers. As a proud member of that generation, I agree with some of the general conclusions. As a generalization, Gen Xers value family highly, and we’ll make career sacrifices in an attempt to minimize the fall out on our children. I work part time very intentionally. I could be a full time attorney, but because my children are young, my husband and I have determined I will only work three days a week (now it’s even less than that in the law. I teach at Purdue, because I love it but also because I can limit it to a couple afternoons a week. And I write books because I love the creative process, and can do it in the midst of our family life.) We both guard this flexibility jealously. I am fortunate to have found a firm that is glad to have me the hours a week I can and places a high value on family.

But I am also an ambitious, driven person. I love challenge and get bored when things fall into a routine. Fundamentally, that’s one reason I tackled the challenge of law school, a judicial clerkship, and actually practicing. I want to make a difference in people’s lives when they are in the middle of a crisis. Rarely do people call an attorney just because they thought it would be fun. Some event usually necistates that call.

Regardless of their generation, most lawyers are motivated by similar things. As Kerry Jean Moore, author of the commentary on law.com puts it:

“The fact is all talented lawyers want the same things. They want to be valued as individuals, they want challenging work for which they will be recognized and rewarded, and they want the freedom and independence to manage their own work and their own schedules. These are universal, not age-dependent, desires, and they are ones that every law firm can — and should want to — accommodate.”

What do you think ? Is age just a number? Are these values something that all generations, regardless of name, value?

Grace to Finish the Task

When I decided grace was my word for the year, I didn’t know what that would mean. Over the last week, I’ve been praying about it and asking God to give me insight on what He’s trying to teach me.

Part of me feels extremely guilty. It seems like the word should involve an in-depth study, stacks of books, a concordance, maybe a couple Greek and Hebrew lexicons. But so far this year, I’ve found a couple books and look at the covers before I go to bed. That’s the extent of energy I have. Teaching, homeschooling, taking classes, writing, and mothering have about sucked me dry.

But then I’ve felt God whispering into my heart that He is still well pleased. Just typing those words brings tears to my eyes. Well pleased? When I’m not spending hours diving into Him? I long to…at least I think I do, but finding the way has been impossible.

You see that photo is a very partial list of the things on my plate.

Then last night at one a.m. He dropped an idea for a new book into my head. One I’ve been praying about and for. His timing made me smile. This weekend I’ll wrap up line edits on the second book releasing this fall and then I have no idea what’s next. And in His grace, He waited until I was almost done, to release this next idea. Oh, it needs lots of massaging, but at least now I have one! And that is cause to celebrate.

So what am I learning about developing the GRACE to finish the task? Pray about everything I’ve got on my plate. Ask Him for wisdom and insight. For favor. And for the sun to stand still when it seems impossible to get it all completed.

1) Remember ultimately who you are working for. There are times believe it or not where I develop a bad attitude about a project or colleague. In those times He has reminded me that I am ultimately working for Him. He’s the One I have to please, so I am to work as unto Him.

2) Organize the tasks. If that means I have to write a task on the to-do list only so I can scratch it off, then do it! If that’s what it takes to feel momentum, then take it.

3) Integrate smaller tasks with the bigger tasks. But move. One bite at a time, one task at a time, one moment at a time.

How do you find grace to finish the tasks before you?