Cross and Cutlass

Tis a Writer's life for me! - Chapter endings!

2012-02-17T00:30:00.000-08:00

I love writing chapter endings! Yes, I know I'm weird. Most writers have great difficulty closing out a chapter with something exciting and tense, something that makes the poor reader turn the page! But for me, I love creating those cliff hangers! I love torturing my reader into never being able to set the book down and having to stay up all night because each chapter closes with a situation that would forbid them to sleep until they know how things turn out! What a beast I am!!

I like to think I accomplish that task most of the time. But how do you do it? How do you always end a chapter with something dramatic?. I mean, let's face it, maybe there's nothing really going on at that moment in the book that's overly tense. Here's some ideas that may help you with examples from my own books.

End with the worst thing possible that could happen to your character
(In this case, losing his father’s ship to a lady pirate!) (The Red Siren)
I thank you, Captain, for your chivalrous rescue.” The woman pointed her pistol at him and cocked it with a snap. “But I believe I’ll be taking over your ship.”

In a romance, have your heroine find the hero talking intimately to another woman or visa versa
(The Reliance)
Merrick sat at a table in the back, surrounded by a band of filthy pirates. His ebony hair hung to his shoulders, and his familiar baldric crossed his thick chest. On his lap sat a beautiful, dark-haired woman. He laughed then buried his face into her neck, kissing her.

Charlisse’s heart shattered and crumpled like sand to the floor.

Play upon the character’s worst fears
(The Restitution)
Isabel bolted up in bed and glanced over the shadows in her room. Her eyes darted to the cradle beside her. It rocked back and forth. She peered inside. Her baby was gone.

Create a moment of extreme embarrassment
(The Blue Enchantress)
Hope’s eyes widened. She flung a hand to her mouth, then bent double and lost the contents of her stomach all over his boots.

Unexpected action
(The Raven Saint)
Rafe opened his mouth to tell the exasperating woman that God was on no one’s side, but her eyes fluttered shut, and she collapsed in his arms.

Have an unexpected or long lost character enter the room
(Background: A man has just entered the tavern where Hope is waiting. It is the man who sold her as a slave on St. Kitts.) The Blue Enchantress
His satin waistcoat and breeches bespoke either great wealth or ostentatious pride, and he perused the room with haughty disdain as if he owned the place.
Hope panted out a ragged breath. “Lord Falkland.”.

End with a threat
(The Raven Saint)
Rafe threw back his shoulders and lengthened his stance to cover up the fear tying his stomach into knots. He swung back to his father whose blue eyes glowed with cruel deception. “What is this about?”
His father grinned. “This is what I believe you call a mutiny.”

End with an action that could end badly
(Background: Hope is being sold as a slave to a slimy merchantman) (The Blue Enchantress)
As the man counted out the coins into the auctioneer’s greedy hands, Hope reached for the sword.

End with a promise of disaster.
(Surrender the Night)
A petal loosened and floated to the floor by her feet. When it struck the wooden planks, a heavy drape of foreboding fell upon her. Something terrible was about to happen. Something that would keep Alex from her forever.

End with a promise of action
(The Blue Enchantress)
Clenching his fists, Nathaniel resolved to speak with Hope tonight, for he could no longer deny his feelings. He must tell her he loved her.

End with violence
(The Falcon and the Sparrow)
She halted behind him, knees quaking. Her fingers gorged with blood. Gripping the candlestick with both hands, she hefted it as high as she could. Then, squeezing her eyes shut, she tensed her arms, readying herself to swing with all her might.

A daunting realization:
(The Raven Saint)
Sometime in the middle of the night, a lurid thought seeped into Grace’s mind, jarring her consciousness. A picture of a ripe yellow mango danced through her mind. Lifting her hand to her throat, she gasped as tears of shame burned behind her eyes. I am a thief.

End with a question (Surrender the Heart)
Footsteps stomped. Marianne held her breath.
A half circle of light advanced upon her shoes, then crept up her legs.
“What have we here?”

Ominous foreboding
(Surrender the Heart)
It was the only hope Noah could cling to as he swung over the bulwarks and dropped into the boat that would take him, his men, and Miss Denton to a fate worse than death.

End with a shocking statement
(The Falcon and the Sparrow)
Once she stepped over the threshold of this house, she would no longer be Dominique Dawson, the loyal daughter of a British Admiral. She would be a French Spy.

End with a vow
(The Red Siren)
Everything inside of her screamed in defiance. She would not serve a God who had allowed such suffering in her life.

An ultimatum
(The Red Siren)
“You will marry me.”
Yanking her hand from his, Faith retreated. “I will not.”
“Then I shall be forced to turn you in for piracy.

Okay, now it’s your turn. If you're a writer, give me your best chapter hooks! If you're not, tell me which of these really impacted you or better yet, list some from a book you're reading. They can either fit into one of these categories, or you can create additional ones. (I’d love to have you add new ones to my list!)

Wordless Wednesday!

2012-02-15T00:30:00.000-08:00

Shot off our starboard quarter!

Guided by the hand of God

2012-02-12T00:30:00.000-08:00

If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139: 9-10

Do you know God chose you to be His child long before you were born? Even after you were born, He never let his eyes off of you. Not once. Not even if, like me, you strayed away from Him, turned aside to do your own thing, not even when that prodigal time spread into years and years of pain and regret. Even then, God's mighty hand was still guiding you, directing you gently back onto the right path.

Many things can affect the course of a ship at sea. Weather, reefs, depth of the water, wind, Waves, currents, land, pirates! etc.. If you've ever seen a map of the old trade routes, you'll quickly notice that ships could not just sail from one port to another in a straight line. Routes went according to currents and prevailing winds and often went far out of the way of their intended destination before they arrived there safe and sound.

Our lives are much like that. God has a certain path for us to follow. A starting port and a destination. And a preplanned route for us to follow in between. Yet many of us wander off course more than once in our lives. We get buffeted by the enemy's storms and end up in the middle of nowhere, lost and alone. We enjoy the calm weather and sunshine so much that we follow it wherever it goes and end up depleted of supplies and far from our destination. We believe the lie of an evil navigator and end up running aground and getting stuck. Or worse, our ship is broken beyond repair.

Yet, no matter how many times we wander off course, God is busy adjusting situations and circumstances to bring us back. How does he do this? He tosses a strong wind our way to get us to make a turn. He places a reef in our way to cause us to steer in another direction. He adjusts tides and currents to gently move us down a different path. He did this for me when I strayed from Him for years. At the time I didn't realize it, but now as I look back, I see His mighty hand in situation after situation, setting the obstacles that would divert my course.. just an inch here, just an inch there. It took years, but He finally got me to the exact place He wanted me. The exact place where I would see Him and where I would notice that I had been on the wrong course all along. Amazing!

God is a gentleman. He never forces His will on anyone. He doesn't zap them and change their personality or desires so that they'll follow Him. Sometimes I wish He would have done that with me! It would have spared me many wasted years of wandering off course. Maybe you have loved ones who are out upon the sea, wandering all over the place, lost and on the wrong course. I do. It breaks my heart. I've spent many tears in prayer over these precious souls. Sometimes, it seems they'll never find their way back. But I'm here to tell you that God hears your prayers, and He is not sitting back and doing nothing. Every minute of every day, He is adjusting their path bit by bit, inch by inch, tossing a reef there, sending a wind here, changing a current there... so slight that you won't notice it at all. But He is working!

And one day, you'll see that loved one, all sails full and white against the azure sky, heading toward the right path, the narrow route that leads to paradise!

Tis a Writer's life for me! -- Sleepless in San Jose

2012-02-10T00:30:00.000-08:00

Progress on WIP, Forsaken Dreams: Finished up Chapter 27 this week. (out of 35) Yea!!

Over the years I've met a lot of different authors at conferences and book signings, etc.. and I was surprised to discover that many of them suffer from insomnia. Including yours truly. So, I began to wonder if this was common trait among creative people. Such as people in the arts who are mainly right brained like authors, artists, actors, playwrights, people who design furniture, etc.

According to the Cognitive Science Examiner, there was a study done by Healey and Runco in 2006 on children ages 10-12 that confirmed that creative children experienced a higher amount of sleep difficulties compared to regular kids.

I wonder why? My problems began about twenty years ago when I entered my 30s. All of a sudden, I simply couldn't sleep. I had the worst time getting to sleep. And forget staying asleep. At first I thought it was hormones but I believe now it goes much deeper than that. Although I'm able to fall asleep now pretty quickly, I never stay asleep. I wake up several times a night, look at the clock, get up for awhile, then try to fall back asleep. I've always told my husband that it seems like my brain is waking me up! Like it can't stand to see me rest so it knocks on my consciousness over and over until I open my eyes!

You see I have one of those overactive brains. It's not brilliant, but it can think of a thousand things at once. Thoughts are zipping here and there, barely landing long enough for me to contemplate their meaning before the next thought leaps in. It's like being in the middle of a hurricane of thoughts and ideas! I have no control! I'm completely at their mercy. Yikes

On the other hand, my husband, who is a scientist and very much left-brained, can focus on a single thing for hours and hours. Me? I cannot even fathom that. I would get too bored.

I suppose God gave me this crazy brain so I could transport myself into another world and be able to see everything that's going on and write it down in story form. I love that! But the downside is that my brain sometimes refuses to leave that world. I mean, if that world is on a tall ship in the Caribbean with a handsome pirate and a warm breeze.. can you blame it? I wouldn't leave either! The problem lies in that my body is stuck here. Major bummer, huh? I thought so too.

I suppose I should give my brain a break. At 2:00 in the morning, when it is tapping it's fingers in impatience.. wondering how I could possibly sleep with all this adventure going on: battles to fight, damsels to rescue, seas to explore... I suppose I can't blame my brain for waking me up. I would do the same thing!

So, if you ever happen to pass my house in the wee hours of the morning and you spot me floating by the window in my nightgown with a candle in hand, you'll know me and my brain are plotting some grand adventure in an exotic land that no doubt contains swashbuckling heroes and glorious tall ships!

How's your sleep these days?

Wordless Wednesday!

2012-02-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

Sailing away into the sunset! A dream come true!

Follow that cloud!

2012-02-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. Exodus 13:21

Clouds are really cool things, don't you think? When I was a kid I used to lay on the beach and gaze up at the clouds and find all sorts of shapes within them: like horses and weird faces and pirate ships! Clouds bring us much needed rain and they provide shade from the heat of the sun. What a wonderful creation! Clouds were also useful at sea. Can you imagine how hot it was in the Caribbean on the open sea? Especially if the wind wasn't blowing very hard. A large cloud provided precious minutes, even hours, of relief from the sharp rays of the sun. Clouds also warned sailors of upcoming weather. Just by examining the shape and size of clouds, the captain would know whether to expect rain the next day, or worse, a storm.

We all know the story of how God led the Israelites across the Sinai desert by a cloud. The cloud covered them by day, keeping them cool and shielded from the sun, and a pillar of fire provided light and warmth at night. That amazes me! Even after they rebelled against God and refused to go into the promised land that He gave them, God still provided the cloud and the pillar for the next 40 years. Wherever the cloud stooped, the Israelites made camp. When the cloud lifted, they journeyed.

Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey Numbers 9:22

You know what? God still provides a cloud for us today. Not a cloud we can see with our eyes, but one that is just as real. The cloud is God's grace, his unmerited, undeserved favor, kindness and mercy. It guides us through life, protects us, keeps us cool and comfortable. It gives us wisdom and knowledge and strength to meet each day's challenges. It tells us when to move, when to stay, and where to go!

Great! I'm in! How do I find this cloud and stay under it? You find the cloud by believing in Jesus and accepting His sacrifice for you on the cross.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Romans 3:23-24

But the key is to stay under the cloud. After getting saved, many of us start sailing across the seas, trying to run our lives and find the promised land on our own. All we end up doing is only wandering farther away from God and causing ourselves lots of problems!

So, how do you stay under the cloud? By obedience to God's will just like the Israelites did. When the cloud moved.. they moved. When the cloud stopped they stopped. How do you know when the cloud has stopped? Because it gets real hot!! You get uncomfortable. You lose your peace. Things start falling apart. The Israelites didn't dare move outside the cloud because they would have been fried in the desert. At night, they would have frozen without the pillar. You bet they stayed with the cloud! And we need to do the same thing.

If things are getting a little hot where you are, or if you've lost your peace, your direction, if the storms are rising and you feel abandoned, maybe you're the one who left the cloud of God's grace. My recommendation? Adjust sails and set a course back to the last place you felt God's grace and peace upon you. Chances are that's where God is waiting for you.

One last note on clouds. At the very end of the age, Jesus will return in the clouds! Another good reason to keep looking up!

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:26

Simply a MUST READ!. Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes

2012-02-04T00:30:00.000-08:00

You all know me. I don't normally promote books on my blog. Occasionally, however, I will mention a book that I think is worth your time to read. This is one such book!

Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes
Publisher: Revell
Series: Midwives

It's 1813 and all Phoebe Lee wants out of life is to practice midwifery in Loudon County, Virginia. When Belinda, her pregnant sister-in-law, presses Phoebe to accompany her onto a British privateer in order to cross the Atlantic and save her husband from an English prison, Phoebe tries to refuse, then finds herself kidnapped.

Captain Rafe Docherty is a man in search of revenge. His ship is no place for women, but he needs Belinda in order to obtain information about the man who destroyed his family and his life. Between Belinda's whining and Phoebe's hostility, Rafe can't help but wonder if he made the right choice.

When it becomes apparent there is an enemy among them on the ship, the stakes are raised. Will they reach the English shore in time? Can love and forgiveness overcome vengeance?

Available at Christianbook.com, Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Books-A-Million and your local bookstore.

Endorsements

“In her delightful and descriptive style, author Laurie Alice Eakes has once again crafted a story that will capture readers’ hearts from the first page.”—Kathi Macias, author of Deliver Me from Evil

“Laurie Alice Eakes’s turn of phrase and twist of a plot had me smiling long after the last page was turned. A don’t-miss story.”—Kathleen Y’Barbo, author of The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck

“Make room for this one on your ‘keepers’ shelf!”—Loree Lough, author of From Ashes to Honor

"If you're looking for something that will stir your soul and leave you breathless with the romance, then look no further."—Marylu Tyndall, Author of Veil of Pearls. (hey, that's me!)

MaryLu here: If you like sea-faring tales, rafishly handsome heros and stories full of real-life struggles, you're going to love this book!

Tis a Writer's Life for Me!! - EBOOKS!

2012-02-03T00:30:00.000-08:00

So, I've been checking my sales numbers on Amazon recently and something rather odd has occurred. For the first time since e-books appeared on the scene, the number of Kindle copies of my books has outsold the number of printed copies. By almost double. For each one of my books!

I was amazed. I keep hearing that most people still prefer printed books--books they can touch and smell and crinkle pages in. Books they can underline, highlight and dogear. Books they can spill coffee or salsa on. Books they can put on shelves in their libraries. I mean, who doesn't love libraries and the smell of old books! I do! Old Book stores and historical libraries are some of my favorite places to visit. (Well, aside from an island in the Caribbean, of course)

So imagine my surprise at the new E-book craze! In fact, my husband bought me a Kindle for Christmas and I must say, I'm loving it. I can order a book on Amazon and I've got it in my hands within seconds. Yes, I said seconds. I must admit I was hesitant to read it at first. Would I be able to get into the story as much as I do when I'm holding a book, flipping pages? Would holding a metal object take away from the historical adventure I find in most stories? Well, after several weeks of reading, I can happily say that reading an e-book is just as pleasurable as reading a regular book.

Will I still buy physical books? Absolutely! I must have something to line the book shelves in my office. Plus, there are certain types of books that don't lend themselves well to the E-format. History books, Reference books, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias.. and the like. Plus I collect antique books and those must be held and cherished for the historical artifacts they are.

Yet, there's another great bonus to this E-book craze that most readers aren't aware of. It's called Freedom. An author's freedom to write what they want and publish it online without having to go through the great Publishing Gatekeepers. Up until this point, writers had to conform to certain standards (Especially in the Christian market). They had to write to please the market, write the types of stories publishers believed would sell, tweak and change and rewrite their precious manuscript to please a publishing elite that created the bridge through which each writer must pass to get published. Like trolls, they stood in front of the bridge demanding the answer to thousands of questions, testing and taxing the poor writer in order to allow passage.

But no more. Now a writer, any writer can write a manuscript and publish it themselves on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and any of the other E-book formats. They don't have to pass a test. They don't have to answer a question. They don't have to meet a standard.

I, for one, am very excited about this! Now if I have an idea for a story I want to write, I can write it. I don't have to steer away from certain topics, such as pirates or mermaids and other oddities I've been told will never sell.

But what about readers? What does it mean to them? There is great news and not so great news. The great news the reader will have a lot more choices on what to read and will be able to find books their every whim and desire. The not so great news, since there are no gatekeepers, there will be a lot of garbage out there. In other words, it's important to remember that just because there's an e-book on Amazon, that doesn't mean it's a well-written intriguing story. It doesn't mean the author has a clue about writing or story telling. So, the reader will have to become a more intelligent and selective consumer of books than ever before. But why not? Shouldn't the choice of what to read be in the readers' hands and not in the hands of a group of publishers?

What do you think about the whole E-book revolution?? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Introducing Rita Gerlach's newest release, Before the Scarlet Dawn!

2012-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

At last comes the novel readers have been waiting for. ( And one I personally endorsed!)

From critically acclaimed novelist, Rita Gerlach, comes book 1 in The Daughters of the Potomac Series, a timeless tale of love and betrayal, loss and redemption against the backdrop of the American Revolution.

Readers will grow attached to heroine Eliza Morgan, as she faces the hardships of colonial life when she leaves behind all she has in order to follow her heart and the man she loves into the Maryland wilderness.

Story Blurb
On a windswept night in April of 1775, Eliza sat at her father’s bedside hoping he would recover. Forced to leave the home she grew up in, Eliza grows desperate. She could marry her former suitor, but cannot bear the thought of a loveless marriage.

Instead she falls in love with Hayward Morgan, the condescending son of a landed gentleman. When Eliza learns of his plans to leave England and build a life in the Maryland frontier, she decides to present a proposal of her own.

“…a big, beautiful, well-told story of love, faith, and the struggles of war that changed lives...and hearts. ~ Author Loree Lough ~

MaryLu Here: My review:
This author has a way with words. I cannot explain it but she has a literary quality to her writing that just puts you right into the scene. So much so, that you can smell the flowers and feel the wind on your face. Aside from that, her characters are real and deep. And they make mistakes, terrible ones, just like real people. This is a love story set during the tumultuous times of the Revolution in America. But it is not your normal love story. It is about a woman who so desperately wants her husband to love her that she goes to great lengths to please him. Perhaps many women out there can relate. The story brings many questions to one's mind about marriage and committment.. and it is totally unpredictable! A Christian book through and through, but not your normal Christian romance. How refreshing!

Rita Gerlach is the author of four inspirational historical novels, including ‘Surrender the Wind’, the American Christian Fiction Writers book of the month.

On Sale: February 1, 2012

Available from online booksellers and at fine bookstores everywhere. Paperback and e-book.

Buy Now From:
Amazon.com
ChristianBooks.com

Book 2 ~ Beside Two Rivers ~ Fall, 2013 (The story of Eliza's daughter, Darcy)
Book 3 ~ Beyond the Valley ~ Spring 2013 (Sarah, an indentured servant's story)

Wordless Wednesday!

2012-02-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

Hope you don't get seasick!

Slave ship or Freedom ship?

2012-01-30T00:30:00.000-08:00

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16
No doubt you've heard the horrors of the slave ships which transported slaves from Africa to the Americas in droves during the slave trade years. In order to save costs and make a bigger profit, these poor men and women were crammed together in the hold, some in tiny boxes, others chained to planks, so the owners could bring over as many as possible in one trip. Often times they were shoved so tightly together that they couldn't move or even lie down. Heat and sickness and uncleanliness normally killed at least a third of them before they reached shore. The owners were vicious, cruel taskmasters who cared not a whit when one of them died.

This is a good picture of our lives before Christ. Satan is the ship captain, we were his slaves, and he was transporting us to hell. And I dare say, he enjoyed seeing us suffer! The Bible says that we become slaves of whoever we choose to obey. We may not have wittingly obeyed the devil, but whenever we chose to do wrong, to satisfy our flesh, to disobey God, the chains around us tightened even more.

In Romans 6, Paul gives a great discourse on sin, slavery and freedom in Christ. Before we knew God, we were all on the slave ship. We had no choice but to sin. It was our nature. Just think of a tiny child. The baby is innocent when he is born, but how long does he last in that state before his human nature takes over? Before he cries to selfishly demand that his needs be met? Before he hits his brother or steals a toy? We are all born on the slave ship.

But God didn't leave us there! He sent another ship to rescue us! The ship, Salvation, captained by Jesus Himself. He delivered a mighty broadside to Satan's ship, crippling it, and then He boarded with swords blazing. He opened the hatch and called for any who wanted to come with Him, to come.

We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:7

He set us free! He took us aboard His ship and now we serve Him.
Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Romans 6:17-18

Slaves to righteousness? So we are slaves again? Hmm.. that doesn't sound good. I don't want to be a slave at at! But in truth, we will be a slave to either Satan or God. The choice is yours.

Here's the difference

Satan's ship is going to Hell. God's ship, Salvation, is going to Heaven
On Satan's ship you have no choice but to sin and do wrong
On God's ship, you have the choice to NOT sin.
On Satan's ship your character becomes worse and worse
On God's ship, your character gets better and better

If I'm a slave to righteousness and to God, then why do I still sin? We all still sin because God is a gentleman and on His ship, we have a choice. We can still sin or we can choose not to. If we sin, we still get to remain on God's ship, but our character will never improve and we will never get out of the bilge and the stink in the hold. We will never get promoted to work on the deck above in the fresh air. So, how do we get better? It's a process called Santification. It doesn't happen automatically as some Christians believe. God doesn't just change us instantaneously.

The level of our santification is a direct measure of our obedience and yielding to God

Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. Romans 6:19

You must offer yourself, you must obey, you must yield. The choice is up to you.
So don't be a slave to sin anymore. Yield to God in ALL things, whether it be suffering or hardship or trials or temptations. Get out of the stinky hold and become a slave to righteousness!

Tis a Writer's life for me -- Emotions!

2012-01-27T00:30:00.000-08:00

I finished the final galleys for Veil of Pearls! I won't see that book again until it arrives on my doorstep a few weeks before it's release. I also received another endorsement!

One can expect two things when they pick up a MaryLu Tyndall novel--endearing characters and a plot that sweeps you away. Hidden within the entertainment is a spiritual message that whispers to the corners of your soul. Give yourself a treat by losing yourself in one of her enchanting stories.
Kim Vogel Sawyer--Bestselling author of My Heart Remembers

Many authors will tell you that the entire purpose of good writing is to make the reader "feel" something. Anything! Although I am also an advocate of incorporating a moral lesson within a story and using it to bring the reader closer to God, I agree whole heartedly that invoking emotions is an important goal. Why else would someone pick up a book or go to a movie? We want to be moved. We want to feel something that may be missing in our normal, humdrum lives.. We want to fall in love, to feel the pain of loss, to cheer when good triumphs over evil. We want to ride the horse of victory across the battlefield, sail the Caribbean with pirates, soar in a WWII airplane, cry when death steals a character from our arms. We want to experience life through our character's eyes, ears, and heart.

Somewhat easy to do in a movie where you have so many visuals at your fingertips. Not so much in a book. So, how do we do it? How do we infuse emotion into a scene so vividly, so realistically, that the reader feels what the character feels?

First of all, you must create deep, interesting, relatable characters that your reader will love and root for! (That's a whole other topic we don't have time for here)

Secondly, you must use the tools of setting, dialogue, sentence structure, and description to take the reader on a journey deep within the character, down into their soul, so the reader can experience what the character is experiencing.

Here's a sample from the book I'm currently writing. In the first samples, I've taken out all the emotion. The second samples are what I've written.
To set the scene, the characters are all Southerners on a ship headed for Brazil. They hate anyone and anything to do with the North. And they have just discovered that one of them, a lady named Eliza was married to a Yankee. We are in Eliza's point of view

Sample 1: Eliza was in shock as everyone's eyes snapped in her direction. Some of them registering surprise. Others already sparking with disdain.

Sample 2: Eliza’s blood abandoned her heart. It sped away in a mad dash that left her cold and empty. She couldn’t move. Could barely breathe as everyone’s eyes snapped in her direction. Some of them registering shock. Others already sparking with disdain.

Note the 'showing' of what it feels like to be in shock, rather than just telling the reader. That way, the reader can experience it right along with the character

Sample 1: Thunder sounded as rain poured down. Grant released Magnolia. His forehead creased. "Is this true?"
Sample 2: Thunder cracked a fierce whip across the sky as the sprinkles grew weightier, tap tap tapping Eliza’s doom on the wooden planks of the deck. Grant released Magnolia. Three lines as deep as trenches split his forehead. “Is this true?”

Notice the use of setting to invoke the image of punishment and doom so the reader "feels" the guilt of the character.

Sample 1: Eliza stared at the faces of the people. The seas grew rough. Rain poured down. Must she answer the question?

Sample 2: Wiping rain from her face, Eliza scanned the faces locked upon her like cannons upon an enemy. The seas grew rough. Lantern light shifted over them in bands of silver and black—black like the bands on their arms, honoring lost loved ones. The blame for their deaths now cast at Eliza’s feet. Rain pounded the deck. It slid down Eliza’s cheeks and pooled in her lashes until everything grew blurry. She wished they would all disappear. She wished she would melt into the deck. Anything but answer the question toiling on Grant’s face.

Notice the use of simile, comparing the gazes to cannons pointed at her. Then the use of the description of the lantern light to highlight the black bands which symbolized loved ones lost in the war, enhancing the character's guilt. Even the rain pounding the deck invokes anger. The blurry vision creatres a sense of the hopelessness the character feels.

Emotions! Emotions!! Use all the tools available to you to create a "mood", to invoke a certain feeling in your reader.. and they'll keep coming back for more!

Wordless Wednesday!

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Rough Seas Ahead!

Batten down the hatches, Rough Seas Ahead!

2012-01-23T00:30:00.000-08:00

Ease, comfort, and pleasure! Isn't that what our culture values the most? Just look at every advertisement, commercial, magazine, or self-help book. It's all about making our lives better, easier, more fun! From the car we drive to the clothes we wear, to the food we eat, we are a people who seek the good life!

Even our Christian culture has bought into the idea that as followers of Jesus, our lives should be blessed, comfortable and happy, right? I mean the Bible is full of such promises:
Jesus himself said in John 10:10 "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
And the Psalms are full of verses about blessing and prosperity!

But in truth, I don't believe the blessings in these promises are the kind of blessings we think about today. They are soul and spirit blessings: peace, joy, love, hope. Things this world cannot understand. Does God bless you with money and success? Absolutely, He can and often does, if it fits in with His plan. But that's not His focus.

In fact I believe that Christians should expect to have an even harder life than those who don't believe. Whoa, that's a controversial statement! When I say harder, I don't mean a bad life or a life of defeat. I just mean harder.

Jesus' own words: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Listen to what Paul told the new converts spread throughout Asia . . .strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 4:21-22

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound very strengthening to me! Here's a another lovely description of the Christian life

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one Hebrews 10:32-34

Endured a great conflict of sufferings? Accepted joyfully the seizure of your property? Are you kidding me?
I could list Scripture after Scripture telling Christians they will suffer in this life. Why Christian more than others? I don't believe it's simply because of persecution. (which none of us here in America have had to endure. . .yet). I believe it's also because we have committed our lives to a higher standard. We have committed to following a God who is about the business of making us more like His Son.

In other words, we've signed up for the voyage. We've put our signature on the articles and are now on the ship, but the Captain, Jesus, the One who will steer us across the sea to Heaven, He has to now take us bunch of whiny, lazy, spoiled, selfish kids and make strong, courageous, disciplined seamen out of us! What a task!

How does He do it? By making our voyage smooth and easy? By giving us lavish meals and comfy hammocks to nap in on deck? NO! Any good captain knows he must be hard on his crew. He must give them tasks that are difficult and taxing, tasks that stretch the limits of their strength and endurance. He must make them stand watch for hours on end with little sleep. He must command they climb the shrouds into the tops to stand on the highest yard until they are no longer afraid of heights. He must order them to scrub the decks and polish the brass until their hands are red and raw. He must drill them on guns, and sails, and navigation until they can do it in their sleep.

Wait a minute, I signed up for the Caribbean cruise... what's going on? Where's my umbrella drink?

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. Romans 5:2-5

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance James 1:2

Jesus wants you to be able to weather the storms of life. He wants you to survive and in your strength and wisdom, to help train others. He wouldn't be a good Captain, otherwise.

Now, you can opt out. You can disobey His orders and lolly gag around the ship, complaining about the food and the work and the arduous tasks But watch out, there are rough seas up ahead. And you just might fall overboard!

Tis a Writer's Life for me! Character Quirks!

2012-01-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, everyone! Well, I received my galleys for Veil of Pearls this week, so I was forced to drop my writing on Forsaken Dreams and switch into edit mode once again. This is my LAST CHANCE to make any minor changes to the manuscript. And they mean minor! I can't change anything bigger than a comma or a word or small phrase. Wanaaaaa! I can't tell you how hard that is!

Anyhow, I wanted those of you who are dieting with me in the new year to know that I've lost a whopping 3 pounds! Yes, you heard it here first. LOL. But hey, it's better than gaining, right? Besides it's hard for my petite 5'1" frame to lose weight.. My body fears it will soon be starving and fights the loss with everything it's got!

But I digress. Today I want to talk with you about character quirks. Yes I said quirks. Let's face it, in a book, it's much harder to define and separate characters than it is in a movie. On the screen, it's obvious who is who because you can SEE THEM! Yet often times, in a book, no matter how much description of the person the author has given, I have trouble separating them from others. We authors much work must harder than Screenplay writers to define our characters. So, aside from phyiscal description which is often forgetable, how do we do it?

One way is by assigning unique and interesting quirks to each character.
What is a quirk? The dictionary defines it as a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; a mannerism.
It's anything that the character does, says, or behaves like, that is unique to him or her and that sets him apart from the other characters.

Examples of quirks: Plays with hair, huffs, scratches face, lifts chin, sweats profusely, always wears a scowl, always negative, quotes from famous books, interrupts, sniffs alot, clumsy, fearless, rude, limps, extremely organized, stretches neck, paces.

Well, you get the point. Just look around you at family and friends and see if you can pick out at least one quirk each one has. I bet if you really observe them, you'll have no trouble in finding at least one. For example, I have a girlfriend who is always brushing her bangs aside and her favorite expression is "Don't get me wrong but..." My husband is notorious for shaking his had whenever he gets frustrated or is contradicted. My daughter laughs nervously when she doesn't know what to say.

So, if you want to make your characters real to your reader, you're going to have to give them quirks. However, it's important to choose our quirks well. Don't assign a sniffing quirk with a character who is strong and in command. Don't assign the "he never bathes" quirk to the hero you want women to swoon over!

As an example, in The Redemption, Charlisse, my heroine, came from an abusive childhood. She was insecure, frightened, unsure, yet also very brave and bold. I gave her the quirk of always playing with her hair when she got nervous.

In my recent release, Surrender the Dawn, the hero Luke is always rubbing his earlobe when he feels guilty. Why? Because he injured it while trying to rescue his parents from a burning building. An attempt at which he failed.

So, choose your quirks wisely. They can be something physical or they can be some unique phrase the character says or they can just be a certain behaviour that sets them apart, as in the heroine I'm writing now. Whenever anyone orders her to do something, she does the opposite!! (I modeled her after myself!) Or, it could be a combination of all those things.

The important point is to make them match the character's personality, and also equally important, Don't OVERUSE them to the point of making your reader toss your book across the room. The goal is to have the reader know who the character is, before you even tell them, just by what he or she says or does.

Clear as the bilge?

And last but not least, this is how I pictured Cassandra Channing from Surrender the Dawn!

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Whoops, now I'm out of characters until the release of Veil of Pearls!! But I'm planning on putting all of these character's pictures on the pages of my blog real soon, so if you need to peek while you're reading the book, you can.

Wordless Wednesday!

2012-01-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

FIRE!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

2012-01-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

In the time of tall ships and long before, people didn't have lick and stick envelops or pull tab sticky envelops to use when they mailed their letters. Well into the 19th century, people everywhere would close their letters and envelops with hot wax and a seal. Normally the seal bore the crescent or symbol of the family or person from whom the letter originated in addition to his or her family name. It was a way of not only "sealing" the letter for privacy but for ensuring it's security and showing it's ownership.

There are many mentions of seals in the Bible. They were often associated with covenants or what we would call today, contracts.

Because of all this, we make a firm and sure written covenant, and our princes, Levites, and priests set their seal to it. Nehemiah 9:38

By putting your seal on a document, you were essentially saying, "I agree to what is written here and I will abide by its terms" very similar to our own signature today.

A king's signet ring would often double as his royal seal. It not only was used as his signature, but it represented his authority.

Write also concerning the Jews as it pleases you in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring--for writing which is in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring no man can reverse. Esther 8:8

And who can forget the story of Daniel in the Lion's den?
And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that there might be no change of purpose concerning Daniel. Daniel 6:17

Sealing something, as we said above, was a way to ensure it's privacy.
But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end. Daniel 12:4

Did you know God has a seal?? That blew me away! God actually has a seal. I wonder if it's on His Kingly ring? Or is it on the tip of His golden rod that He holds in His mighty hand?

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:22

But the firm foundation of God stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it. 2 Timothy 2:18

So, if you belong to God, you are already sealed with God's inscription!! Astounding! A Seal, as we have seen represents Security and Ownership. But there is a third quality to any seal. Destination.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by Whom you were sealed, marked, branded as God's own, secured for the day of redemption Ephesians 4:30

Secured for the day of redemption!! That's our destination. Eternity with God. Heaven. Glory!

Then I saw a second angel coming up from the east and carrying the seal of the living God. And with a loud voice he called out to the four angels who had been given authority and power to injure earth and sea Saying, Harm neither the earth nor the sea nor the trees, until we have sealed the bond servants of our God upon their foreheads. Revelation 7:2-3

You are signed, sealed, and delivered. Secure, marked as belonging to God, and on your way to heaven.

May that thought bring you some comfort and joy today!

Clash of the Titles - win a free book!

2012-01-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Guess what? An excerpt from my book, The Redemption, was on Clash of the Titles last week, entered in the Clash of the death scenes!! People got to vote on which excerpt they liked best. Although the voting is over, if you stop by anytime between now and next Friday, and leave a comment, you'll be entered to win either my book or the other contender which was The Vengeance Squad by Sid Frost.
Check it out!
http://www.clashofthetitles.com/

Tis a Writer's Life for Me! Action Scenes!

2012-01-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Progress on Escape to Paradise: I finished Chapter 8 of my second draft this week! That's out of 35 chapters so I have a ways to go, but at least I'm making progress.

One thing that slowed me down this week was an action scene. You may think those are easy to write becaue there's a lot going on, but they are hard to write precisely because there's a lot going on! So, how do you write a good action scene? By action I'm talking about something major is happening.. and earthquake, a war, a tidal wave, a fire, gunshots, an assault! In this case, my rebel ship was being chased and fired upon by a Union frigate.

Oh NO!! What are they going to do? Will they survive? And How? What's going to happen? Those are all the questions you want your reader to be thinking during the scene. But not only thinking.. you want them to be FEELING the stress, the tension. You want your reader to be scared! Muaaahhhh.

The keys to writing a great action scene that will grip your reader are, in my opinion:

1. Get into the head of your point of view character (the one who's experiencing the scene), close your eyes, and ask yourself after you write each paragraph the following things.

What is she seeing?
What is she smelling?
What are her thoughts?
What are her biggest fears?
What is she feeling?
How does she react?

The point here is to incorporate all your character's senses. Put yourself on that ship being chased by a frigate. When they fire their cannons at you, what do you do? What are your thoughts? What is your body doing? your heart? your blood? Are you numb? Can't breathe? If you die, what are your regrets? Who do you leave behind? Do you fear death? Can you smell the smoke? Do you hear screams? Did the shot hit the ship? Can you hear the wood snap? The captain yell?

Repeat these questions often during the scene to make sure you're staying in character and you haven't drifted into describing the action rather than being right in it!

2. Use the setting to enhance the stressful mood.

No matter if you're on land or sea, or in a house, setting is a great tool to enhance any scene. If you are outside, you can change the mood instantly by having a storm rush in.. the wind pick up, a chill overcome your character. In a house, the power can go off, a window break, a dog howl... And of course on a ship, the spray stinging your face, the wind clawing your skin, the mighty swells rising and falling.. Use your setting!

3. Use other character's expressions and reactions to convey stress.

Have a character wailing in terror. Perhaps another one praying! Have another one tell your character they are doomed. Have your character try to help someone but they die. How other characters around you are reacting can up the stress level significantly. .

4. Use short, choppy, sentences to convey stress and action.

This is a great trick of the trade. Long, drawn out sentences give a feeling of comfort and ease and a sense that you have all the time in the world. Short, choppy ones give a sense of urgency, as in the passage below (taken from Escape to Paradise)

Perspiration slid down Eliza’s back. Her palms grew moist. The ship pitched over a wave. Her feet skipped over the deck. Above her, sails caught the wind in a boom nearly as loud as a cannon. She’d heard more than her share of the monstrous beasts on the battlefield. She'd seen the devastation they could wreak, but she had never been in the middle of a battle. Especially at sea.
The brig swung to port. Her timbers creaked and groaned and heaved as the ship tacked away from their enemy. The port railing swept up toward the sky. Eliza clutched it lest she tumble across the deck. Her mouth went dry. Why didn’t the blasted Union leave them alone? Hadn’t they done enough damage?

The ship righted again. Wind tore Eliza’s bonnet from her head, tossing it into the agitated sea. Strands of hair whipped her face. She brushed them aside just in time to see a yellow flame spear from the union ship.

“Hands down!” the captain yelled.

Lights, Camera, Action!

This is how I pictured Luke Heaton from Surrender the Dawn!

2012-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Is it hot in here?

Wordless Wednesday!

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Parley?

Broadsides and Swords can break your bones but names can never hurt you!

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Do you remember that old saying when you were a kid? Well, maybe the one you heard didn't say Broadsides and Swords, but sticks and stones. Regardless, I always thought it was pretty lame. I mean who were they kidding? I'd much rather be physically hurt than be called a name. I guess I was just sensitive to it because I was one of those kids everybody picked on. I was the pimple-faced nerd who was so shy, I could hardly speak in public. Yes, I know, I've come a long way since then. Now, you can't shut me up!

However, even now in adulthood, most of us suffer beneath the onslaught of a few names. Whether it's people at school or work, friends, or family members, we inevitably find ourselves being labeled by other's opinions. Hopefully, most of these "name-callers" will be well intentioned, their only desire to bring to light a behavior they think needs changing. (Thanks, but who asked them?) But there will be those who, either in a fit of anger, or just because they don't like us, will use some rather derogatory terms.

Rest assured, you are not alone. Even the great King David suffered from name-callers in the Bible.

When King David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul, Shimei son of Gera, came out and cursed continually as he came. And he cast stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Shimei said as he cursed, Get out, get out, you man of blood, you base fellow! The Lord has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. Behold, the calamity is upon you because you are a bloody man! 2 Samuel 16:5-8

Woa. Now that wasn't nice! Here David has left his throne and his capital city, Jerusalem, and he's fleeing for his life because his son, Absalom, is trying to kill him. His own son! And here this guy comes out to fling insults (along with stones!). Remember now, God Himself called David a man after His own heart, so not only are these insults, but they are lies.

I don't know about you but when someone calls me a name or says something about me, it makes me SO MAD! I can't seem to let it go until I prove my innocence and good character. And here David is the King of Israel. He could do anything he wanted to this man. In fact ,one of his men suggested the following:

Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.

David's response?
If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, Curse David, who then shall ask, Why have you done so?. . . . Behold, my son, who was born to me, seeks my life. With how much more reason now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone; and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him to do it. It may be that the Lord will look on the iniquity done me and will recompense me with good for his cursing this day. Samuel 16:10-12

Say what? Really? I'm with the other guy.. let's chop his head off! But not David. Yet again, he demonstrates exactly why he was a man after God's heart. His response is one of mercy and grace not revenge. But he even goes further than that. He actually states that it might be possible that God Himself wanted this man to curse David, and if so, who can thwart the plans of God?

Several things stand out to me.
First. Does God Curse people? Absolutely! There are many Scriptural references, but here's just a few:

The Lord shall send you curses, confusion, and rebuke in every enterprise to which you set your hand, until you are destroyed, perishing quickly because of the evil of your doings by which you have forsaken me Deuteronomy 28:20

Say to them, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant or solemn pledge Jeremiah 11:3

Secondly: David's humility. Though he could have easily done so, David didn't have a high and lofty opinion of himself or his own importance. When someone hurts us and we get angry and want revenge, it's our pride that has been pricked. If you have no pride, if you know anything good within you comes from God, then names won't hurt you.

Thirdly: David's reference and obedience to God. David would prefer to suffer insults and stones if that was God's will than not suffer them outside of God's will. Amazing. Can you say that? If God's plans for you include some suffering and pain and it was within your power to prevent it, would you be obedient to God?

And lastly, David defered to God's justice
It may be that the Lord will look on the iniquity done me and will recompense me with good for his cursing this day.
David knew that if he was being falsely accused and falsely scorned that one day God would make it right, either in this age or in the next. He trusted in God's goodness and justice and he left the incident in God's hands.

Oh how hard that is!! But the next time we get ridiculed or taunted, called a name, or even cursed, let us ask God to help us be more like King David!

Tis a Writer's Life for me!

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! 2012 is ripe with promise! (prophesies of Myan doom, not withstanding!) My dear friends and blog followers, you have become so special to me over the years. I pray that with hard work and prayer, all your resolutions and dreams will come true this year!

This week I began the task of what I call the polishing phase of writing. I've completed my first draft of Forsaken Dreams (All 65,000 words of it that needs to be 100,000 words! Yikes!) and now I start way back in Chapter 1 and go through line by line, adding a little spit here, rubbing off a stain there, until it is almost as shiny as I can get it!

For a writer who's a plotter, this may be a foreign concept. Once they've written their book, aside from a read-over, they are done. Not me! This is where the real fun begins. Where the scenes come to life, where the characters really take on individual personalities, where I actually feel the ups and downs and extremes of every emotion. (Anyone got a hanky?)

Yes, I do cry sometimes at my own writing. I'm that sappy. Then again, I cry at Hallmark commercials too, so what do I know?

This can be the most fun part of writing a novel and it can be the most difficult. Spread out on my desk as you can see in this picture, I have many things to help me keep track of all the details. To the right of my monitor, are my character pictures. I have a picture for nearly everyone in the story. This helps me visualize them while I'm writing. Also on the right, you'll see my stack of Research books all ready for me should I need to look up something I don't remember. In front of them on the desk are very important index cards!! There is one for each of the main characters (There are 6 in this book) On each card I list important info such as:

Hair and eye color
Physical description
Quirks such as, walks with a limp or very antisocial, or grinds teeth together when doesn't get his way
Favorite expressions or sayings: Fiddle sticks, Oh Bosh!
Personality: Are they a free spirit, independent, insecure, fearful, courageous, humorous, depressing, spooky, devoted
Struggles and problems: Abandonment issues, bitter, angry, don't trust easily..
Family and other connections

That way, if I forget a detail (And I always do with so many characters), I can just glance at the card!

On the left side of my desk beside my coffee cup are my in-depth character sheets which go into much greater detail and give background for each character and secondary character.

Then on my computer I have other documents I bring up while I'm writing

A Chapter by Chapter summary of the story (I usually have about a paragraph for each chapter) These I already put together when I wrote the first draft. They also include the date of each scene so I can keep track of where I am in time.
A To-Remember document which lists things I need to keep track of. Like how long someone was married. What year did their brother die? What battle they fought in. When did his father abandon him? (I mean who can keep track of all of this for over 20 characters???)
An Add-in Document which lists all the ideas I came up with when I was doing dishes, taking a walk, running errands and taking a bath that I want to add into the main story.

Now, I'm ready to go!! I did five chapters this week, which is a good pace for me! I'm adding things like:

Character descriptions
Emotions
Dialogue tags
Sounds, Smells
Scene descriptions
Polishing up sentences
Filling in historic details I didn't know at the time

Getting rid of things that don't work or don't sound right. It's hard work but I finally see the story and characters coming to life!

This is how I see Rose McGuire and Alexander Reed from Surrender the Night!

2012-01-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday!

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

Transported through time!

Sail into 2012 with hope!

2012-01-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

Psalm 84 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. In fact, I'm making it my New Years Song! As we all embark on 2012, there is so much uncertainty in the world.

In America, we have a vital election that could determine the course of our country.
Possible European Economic Collapse
Rampant unemployment
Riots and Protesters everywhere
Moral decline
Nuclear weapons in the hands of radical Iran
A rise in the persecution of Christians

Wow, am I a purveyor of doom, or what? Yet as we embark on this uncertain voyage across uncharted and dangerous waters, let's use Psalm 84 as our guide

My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God (Verse2) In the midst of the storms, we have hope and joy because we know this is not our home. We are heading for glory!

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. (Verse 4) No matter what's going on around you, stay on your Captain's ship and in His presence. Before long, you'll find yourself no longer worrying, but singing!

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the Valley of Weeping , they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills the pools with blessings. (Verses 5-6) Wow! Ever feel like there's nothing you can do to change things? If you stay close to God, all you have to do is pass through the world and just your presence will cause springs of blessings to sprout up everywhere! Don't ever discount your influence on a fallen world!

They go from strength to strength, increasing in victorious power; each of them appears before God in Zion (verse 7) So, on this journey not only will we have joy and singing, and the ability to change the world for better, but we ourselves will increase in victorious power with each stretch of sea we cross!!!

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows present grace and favor and future glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Verses 10-11) I need not comment on this!! God will bless our journey and not hold back one good thing!

O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You, leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving (Verse 12)

The journey may be long. The seas may be rough, the clouds heavy and dark, but we can sail forward without an ounce of fear or misgiving!

Despite what comes our way, may the Lord greatly bless you in 2012 as you sail the waters with Him!

Tis a Writer's Life for me! - writers on diets.

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

And while I'm on the subject of difficult things about being a writer, let me add that being a writer means parking ones behind in one's chair for long periods of time! And let's face it, that position of inactivity is not the most conducive to a trim, fit figure!

Now, I know many jobs these days require long hours sitting, but hey, I don't think that's the way God intended for us to live our lives. Our bodies need to be active and moving in order to be healthy. Back in the time periods I write in, everybody except the very rich worked hard all day long. Men and women got up before dawn to milk cows and start ovens and bake bread and hunt and fish and farm. I bet their bodies were lean and muscular. And speaking of muscular, have you ever seen a sailor's arms? Oh my!! Is it warm in here?

But I digress. (How did I get on that topic?) Anyway, many of us have no choice but to sit down for our modern day jobs, so how do we keep in shape? I can tell you that this past year I've put on at least 10 pounds, and I'm determined to shed those extra pounds and lean up as much as a middle-aged woman can. Not for vanity's sake (I'm way past that!) but for health's sake. You see, I've come to believe that many of our modern day health problems are related to what we eat and how much exercise we get. In fact, I just got done reading a book my daughter loaned me called: The Beauty Detox Solution, and although the author goes a bit overboard for me, I leaned so much about eating right.

So this is what I'm planning on doing in 2012

Eating tons more raw veggies and fruits (all organic)
Avoid Gluten as much as possible
Don't mix proteins and carbs
Don't mix fruit with any meal
Start every meal with a salad
Take a probiotic and digestive enzyme with each meal
Grow my own sprouts to put in salad and sandwiches (super easy)
Eat a mostly vegetarian diet (turns out many veggies have protein in them!)
Avoiding sugar
Walking fast at least 40 minutes a day or getting on my exercise bike for 30.

Believe me, it's not easy to get up out of my chair, especially when I'm in the middle of some awesome scene like a sword fight or a sea battle or the hero and heroine's first kiss. In fact, I've been known to sit in my chair for hours on end. But, I'm determined to get healthy.. I believe God wants us to live healthy lives so we are better equipped to serve Him. Being healthy will also help my mind to function better and that means better writing and better books!

How about you? Want to join me?

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-12-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Canada has tall ships too!

God made flesh!

2011-12-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!! I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating our Savior's birth!! I pray you and your family took a moment to contemplate the awesome sacrifice and miracle of Jesus's birth and to thank Him for all He's done.

Before the Virgin birth, Jesus had been quite familiar with planet earth. We know Christ made many appearances in the Old Testament. He would appear and then disappear, not limited by time and distance. He was the One who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18 and allowed him to intercede for Sodom and Gomorrah. He appeared to Moses in the burning bush, calling Himself 'I AM'. He appeared to Joshua as Captain of the Lord's army and Joshua worshipped Him before Jericho, and He was the 4th man in the fiery furnace keeping Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo safe, and many other times. Yet when Jesus appeared in the Old Testament, He appeared in temporary human form.

However, there had been planned from before creation, a time when Jesus would appear on earth not in temporary form, but inhuman form, a time when he shrugged off His Godly robes and became mortal so that He could die to save us all.

He emptied Himself and took upon Him the form of a servant (human), and was made in the likeness of men. And finding Himself fashioned as a man, he humbled Himself..." (Philippians 2:7-8)

"For truly He did not take upon Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham (became a Jewish man)" (Hebrews 2:16)

What boggles my mind is that Jesus made this choice of his own volition. He wasn't coerced, commanded, or cajoled. He wanted to come and die to save us.

Another thing that boggles my mind is the incredible wisdom of God. He needed a Savior who was both human but not tainted with sin. Therefore he couldn't have him born through a man because the bloodline flows through the sperm, not the egg, and if Jesus had been born through a man, he would have inherited the fallen sin nature of man. But God had to make Jesus human, so the only way to do that would be to have God's life impregnate a female egg. That way, Jesus's blood would be pure, untainted by sin.

"For the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the Power (Christ) of the Highest (the Father) will overshadow you; therefore that Holy thing which will be born of you will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

And only a man untainted by sin could offer his life as an acceptable sacrifice for the world. Amazing!!

Yet one more thing that truly amazes me is this: Though Jesus did not inherit the sin nature, nor was His blood tainted by sin, He still could have chosen to sin. He still had free will. He was still tempted as we all are and could have chosen to lie when it was convenient, to steal when he was hungry, to lose his temper, to call people names, to get revenge, to sleep with a woman outside of marriage. He still could have chosen to give in and do any of those things. But He Didn't!

And thank God for that! Because of His holiness, his purity, his restraint, His selflessness, His sacrifice, and His love, we can all rejoice, knowing we are rescued, saved, and we have an eternal destiny beyond our wildest dreams!

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

"And there were in the same country shepherds staying in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. An lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were very afraid.
And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord..." (Luke 2:8-11)

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying; 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

Did you know that Heavenly Host means Army? God sent his army to earth to announce the birth of His Son! Why an army? Seems a little intimidating! No wonder the shepherds were frightened!! I believe God the Father was calling for a peace treaty between Himself and man. The terms? "Peace on Earth. Good will toward men"

God is saying He will call off the army of heaven, and will have peace and good will toward men, because of His Son who will reconcile all things back to Him has been born!

We are still living under the terms of that peace treaty right now. Accept the terms, Accept the Son and live in peace with God!

Merry Christmas to all my blog followers, dear friends, and readers!

Win a free copy of one of my newly released pirate books!

2011-12-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

Head over to http://enjoyingthewritingcraft.blogspot.com/ and enter a comment!

Tis a Writer's Life for me, The reason I write!

2011-12-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Every writer has a reason they write. There's a reason we spend countless hours all alone, head in hands, staring at our computer screens, countless days combing through ancient documents looking for what type of lace women adored their gloves with in the 18th century, a reason why we endure the scorn of bad reviews, sleepless nights when the characters in our heads refuse to shut up!, why we blog and facebook and tweet meaningless drivel in order to find new readers....

Is it for the fame, the glory, the money? (don't make me laugh!) Let's face it, most of us aren't Steven King or John Grisham, nor will we ever achieve their status. We write because there is something burning within us that must be set free, something we want to tell the world, something the world must know or it will be worse for its ignorance.

It doesn't have to necessarily spring from faith or religion. It could be a cause, a belief, a value that is so dear to you, it becomes your life's work to share it with others. Things such as the environment, the waste of war, the greed for power in government, the importance of family, loyalty, honor, love. It could be just the desire to provide an escape for your readers, give them hours of entertainment and put a smile on their face. It could be a need to provide hope in a hopeless world.

Whatever your reason for writing, it has been planted within you by God, and the world awaits your message! For me, I write to tell the world that there is hope because over 2000 years ago God became a man, suffered and died, so that we might live forever with Him in paradise! At Christmas, that message becomes all the more real to me as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The Reason we have Hope! (Enjoy!)

Watch More Christian Videos on GodVine.com

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-12-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

Never seen a ship that was all white!!

If it costs you nothing?

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

No doubt you'll receive a few gifts this Christmas. Some gifts you'll love, others you'll think are weird, and others you'll end up giving away. Think back to all the gifts you've received and ask yourself which ones meant the most to you? The funny thing is that most of the things that you "just had to have" back then and ended up getting, you really don't remember too well anymore. All the special video games and battery-operated cars, the barbie dream house, the skateboard, etc.. are all probably in the trash now and long gone.

The gifts that have always meant the most to me weren't the really expensive gifts or even the things I was expecting. Sometimes they weren't really "things" at all. The most valuable gifts I've received are those things that showed that the person really sacrificed something in order to give me the gift. They thought about me, I mean really thought about what I'd like, and they spent time and energy either making or creating this gift, or saving their hard-earned money to buy it. Even better, the gifts I remember are the ones that come from the heart and express a bond, an affection, an appreciation that is uniquely shared between the giver and the receiver. It could be something handmade or a special photo album or someone volunteering their help or time when I know they don't have much of either.

Why then, when we appreciate these sorts of gifts so much, do we not give the same type of gifts to our Heavenly Father? But, you may say, what can we give to God that He doesn't already have? We can give Him ourselves. And I don't just mean becoming a Christian. (Which is essentially receiving His gift to us, anyway) But I mean giving of our time, our energy, our thoughts--giving him something that costs us something. God wants us. He wants to hang out with us, know us, talk to us.. yet how often do we say a quick prayer in passing or forget to read the Bible because hey, we're all so busy!!!

King David understood this well. In 2 Samuel 24, we see that once again Israel has turned from God and become disobedient. To chastise them, God sends a plague for three days in which over 70,000 people died. The destroying angel was about to wipe out everyone in Jerusalem as well when David happened upon him and took the prophet Gad's advice and decided to build an altar right there where the angel was standing and offer sacrifices to God to stop the plague. The man who owned the land told David he could have the land for free and his oxen too. Listen to what David said:

No, but I will buy it of you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God of that which costs me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver 2 Samuel 24:24

So what can we offer to God that will cost us something? Can we offer our precious time? Our money even though we dont' have much? Our unbridled obedience? Our non-stop worship? How about fasting if God calls us to do that? Can we offer Him all we have?

Or do we just toss gifts His way that really haven't cost us very much at all. I wonder how that makes Him feel? Especially when He gave us the greatest gift and sacrifice of all.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy devoted, consecrated and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, rational, intelligent service and spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 Amplified

So, why don't you give God a great gift this year!!! Why not give Him You!

Tis a Writer's Life for me!

2011-12-16T07:53:00.000-08:00

People often ask me how to write a series. What even is a series? And why do publishers seem so in love with them? The really odd thing is that when I got a contract for my very first book, The Redemption, it was a single title, but my publisher asked me for two more books to make it a trilogy. I had no idea what I was going to write about!! That's the truth. As a new writer, it was very nerve wracking to have to come up with two additional story lines really quickly. Thankfully, my publisher accepted a couple of paragraphs each since I really had no idea of the detailed plot for either book.

Since then I written three series in all and am now working on my fourth. Here's my definition of a series: A group of books that either:

Have a common theme
Are located in a common place
Have the same characters

Simple eh? Not so much. For me, writing a series, is much harder than writing a single novel. I think that's because I'm a seat-of-the-pantser or non-plotter. It's hard enough for me to get ideas for one novel, let alone span it over three or more!!! Sure, I can give my publisher some general ideas, but then when I start having to develop the story lines for all three books. . . well, let's just say you don't want to be within a couple blocks of my house!

That's what I had to do this week. After finishing the first draft of book one in my next series, Escape to Paradise, I need to come up with themes, ideas, and events that would happen in the next two books that would

Incorporate the entire series theme of Running away from God through all three books
Tie in the individual book themes with each other and with the major theme
Move each of my six main characters along their predestined path for the changes I want to see in them... slowly until each one is accomplished by the end of the third book
Incorporate the exotic locale of Brazil into the storyline in such a way that it seems a part of the plot
End each book with a bang!
Use all secondary characters to further both the plot and the change in each of my main characters
Make it all exciting!!

Before you run away in terror at ever writing a series, let me say that this particular series I'm working on now is the hardest way to do it. In this series, I have ALL my characters present and changing throughout ALL three books. In my other series

Legacy of the King's Pirates Series had similar characters but different locales and different storys
Charles Towne Belles series had different locales, different characters
Destiny series had different characters in each book except for a few who popped in now and then

For these series, I didn't even really think about the stories in book 2 until I finished book 1 and the same with book 3. In fact, I usually got the ideas for the next book while I was writing the book before it. Normally a character in the book will just pop out for me and want their own story. Like Alex in Surrender the Heart. I could tell he was unhappy and searching, yet had a kind heart. I just knew something marvelous was going to happen to him. And Luke Heaton, of course, he was all but screaming for his own story to be told.

I suppose that's an odd way to do it, but it works for me. Until now. Now, I've got to put my super-creative thinking cap on and force this Non-Plotter to come up with two more storylines for two more books.

But I fear my creative muse has gone on vacation for Christmas. LOL

Have a Great Weekend, everyone!

This is how I see Marianne Denton and Noah Brenin in Surrender the Heart!

2011-12-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-12-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

In honor of my Pirate Series re-release, enjoy this new Video Trailer!!

2011-12-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

Directed, produced and edited by Joleen Graumann, Life Dance Productions (joleeng@trclife.com). Musical Score by Terryl Greg Productions (terrylpadilla@gmail.com). Photography by Ryan Brien (rbrien@trclife.com).

Joleen is a friend and reader who produced this trailer for me for free!! I'm in awe of her generosity.

Set a course for that Eternal Horizon!

2011-12-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

What is eternal life?
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. 1 John 2:25

Sure, we've all read this verses a million times! We believe, we've repented...we're going to heaven. It's all good! But what do you think of when you hear the words "eternal life"? I always pictured myself in a glorious new body (thin and in shape and gorgeous, of course!) strutting down Heaven's golden streets, hanging out with friends, family, talking with God and doing His work for ever and ever and ever. Amen. Most of us have some picture of our heavenly future in our mind, though I'm sure it will be far better than any of us can imagine..

But did you realize Jesus Himself defined eternal life to us?

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

The You here is Father God. So, eternal life is having a relationship with God. Pure and simple.

In 1 John 1, the apostle John even calls Jesus by the name Eternal Life.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20

I don't know about you, but this really struck me. Eternal life isn't a thing or a place or a span of time. It isn't achieved by saying a prayer or offering a sacrifice. Eternal life is knowing God. Like the natural Sun, God is the source of all life and power and the more time we spend with Him, the more we inhabit eternity.

In times past before modern technology, ships at sea had more difficulty navigating at night than in the daytime. If the skies were cloudy and they couldn't see the stars, they had no way to set their course. Even during the day, they needed the sun to be able to use their instruments to determine which way to go. Without the sun, they were dead in the water.

Aren't we very much like those ships? Without a relationship with the Son, we can't find our way to eternal life. He is eternal life. Talking with Him, hanging out with Him, reading His Word, knowing Him like we know a close friend or family member, this is eternal life! We must plug into the source of life and love and power and follow His brightness to that eternal horizon.

Tis a Writer's life for me!

2011-12-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Winners of Free tote bags filled with books are:

Drumroll please!!!! Debbie Mitchell and Rhonda !!! By the way, I used Random.org to generate the winners. We had 24 people who entered and over 77 reviews!! Thank you all so much!!

I get a lot of emails from writers who want to know how they can get published. I mean, I get A LOT!! I try to answer them as honestly as I can, but to be honest, I'm sure I sound discouraging. Let's face it, nothing worthwhile in this life is easy. There are no tricks or shortcuts to publication, no magic wands or potions that can transform your manuscript into gold. Yes, there are the success stories of Harry Potter and the Twilight series, but most of us aren't going to write a best-seller the first time around (And then have movies made of them!!!)

I compare most of us writers to the actors and actresses that lurk around Hollywood, waiting on tables and hauling garbage in between auditions in the hope that they will get that one shot and become a star! They just need that one chance! My manuscript just needs that one editor or agent to fall in love with in.. then I'm in!

The truth is that writing is hard work. Most of us don't just get some grand idea, spend a couple months writing down a story and then end up on the New York Times Best seller list! Writing is a skill that you must learn like any other. You must study the craft. Yes, I said the dreaded word STUDY. You must Practice, Work Hard, Sacrifice. Yikes, did I say Study, Practice, Work Hard, Sacrifice!! Man what a complete downer I am!! What a scrooge! And at Christmas time!!

After you've learned how to write, then there's the research! I don't care if your story is contemporary or historical, unless it's set in the town you grew up in, chances are you're going to need to research. You can't short cut and gloss over details in a book. If you have a scene with a pilot flying an airplane that crashes, you're going to need to know what the cockpit looks like, how to fly, what to do in an emergency, what the tower would say, what the pilot would say. Just like I have to know what a captain would say aboard a ship during battle. Think all this is easy to find out? It's not! It takes hard work! Uggg.. did I say that 'Work' word again?

The thing about being a writer is, even after you do all of the above and write a glorious masterpiece, there are no guarantees it will ever see the light of day. It's like delivering a baby and never being able to take it home from the hospital! How unfair!!!

But just like having a baby, if you do get blessed to bring it home, (get published), your trouble has only begun!! You've birthed a great career, but now the work and the expectations become even harder.
Like an infant who continually wakes you up at night to be fed, you'll soon discover how unnerving the dreaded Deadline is! Then, what about when your baby throws up all over your new silk sweater or poops on your wool pants. Those are akin to the bad reviews and bad sales numbers your books receive.

Why would anyone want to do this, you scream!!! Because God creates writers and they can't stop writing. It's who they are. It's in them and won't let go. It's the reason they stay up half the night pounding away at a manuscript. It's the reason they daydream about characters and scenes and get excited when a new plot twist lands in their heads. It's the reason they endure long lonely hours and bad reviews... because they can not do otherwise. We are writers. God appointed. Holy Spirit breathed. Stories and characters float around in our minds driving us crazy until we unleash them on paper. We are willing to suffer anything to bring our stories to life. If this is you, don't give up. God has a place for your story!!! But do the hard work. Make the sacrifices. In God's Kingdom, there are no shortcuts.

This is how I picture Rafe Dubois and Grace Westcott from the Raven Saint!

2011-12-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-12-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Don't get caught in a sea of sand!

F.A.I.R.I.E.S Baptism by Fire by M.C. Pearson!

2011-12-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author & illustrator is:

M. C. Pearson

and the book:

F.A.I.R.I.E.S.: Baptism by Fire

FIRST Wild Card Press (December 5, 2011)

***Special thanks to M. C. Pearson of FIRST Wild Card Press for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. C. Pearson graduated from San Jose State University with a B. A. in art, served as a multi-media illustrator in the United States Army, earning the rank of sergeant, and spent four years as a house parent for at-risk youth. Now married over 20 years, she homeschools her two children, volunteers with her church youth group, and runs a book review blog alliance (FIRST Wild Card Tours) while writing and drawing. F.A.I.R.I.E.S.: Baptism by Fire is her first novel.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Unwittingly chosen to join an army of fairies, who fight for the Light of the One, a teenaged girl learns about spiritual warfare as she attends a military academy with fantastical beings.

FROM THE BACK COVER:

Here lies a most precious treasure,

Awaiting one Chosen to deliver.

Seek out the red cousins in the East,

For on this your greed mustn't feast.

The wealth of a species now in your hands,

Do with it as the light demands.

Give them your gift to unite,

For it is the darkness we all must fight.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS:

"Imagination runs wild in F.A.I.R.I.E.S. Pearson brings young readers through a looking glass and into a world bursting with adventure, heroism, and fascinating creatures. Readers will be inspired to be true to the One and left with anticipation of more to come."
--Jill Williamson, award-winning author of
By Darkness Hid, and other books

"Sprinkled with delightful illustrations, and brimming with a full bestiary of magical creatures, F.A.I.R.I.E.S. is a fun, clever romp through the alternate landscape of the most magical world of all, our own. Read, and take up the call: 'Defend and Emancipate!'"
-- D. Barkley Briggs, author of
The Book of Names, and other books

"F.A.I.R.I.E.S. will appeal to readers who love the interplay of fantasy and reality. A rich cast of eccentric characters and exotic settings make this a fun addition to the folklore of the battle between good and evil."
--Mike Hamel, author of
YA fantasy series: MATTERHORN THE BRAVE

"F.A.I.R.I.E.S. is one of those rare gems I want to tell everyone about. It's highly imaginative, packed with adventure, and full of hope. A must read for kids and for kids at heart. Even better than Narnia! I was thinking about Pearson's wonderfully memorable characters for days."
--C.J. Darlington, author of
Thicker than Blood

"Ms. Pearson's extravagant and imaginative F.A.I.R.I.E. kingdom will surely delight the young and the young-at-heart in this tale of good and evil, light vs. darkness. The fantasy-loving reader will not be disappointed!"
--Linore Rose Burkard, award winning author of
Before the Season Ends, and other books

MaryLu Here: I recently had the pleasure of reading this book. I'm not quite finished yet, but I wanted to write a short review: F.A.I.R.I.E.S. is unlike any book I've ever read. Immediately I was swept away into a fantastical world through the eyes of a young girl. I'm amazed at Ms. Pearson's extravagant imagination! The creatures and world she describes are beyond anything my mind could conceive. This book has everything anyone could want: battles between good and evil, adventure, humor, romance, an interesting plot and characters you will love. What also impressed me are the wonderful hand-drawn illustrations by the author herself scattered throughout the story! She can not only write, but draw as well! I highly recommend this books for young and old lovers of fantasy.

Product Details:

List Price: $17.99
Paperback: 482 pages
Publisher: FIRST Wild Card Press (December 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615530222
ISBN-13: 978-0615530222

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Four thousand seasons shall pass while our swords grow rusty.

Where once one chose to divide, another shall be chosen to unite.

One changed the past, the other shall change the future.

One must emancipate the other to allow the light its dominion.

The realm, now torn, allows the shadow to abide, as humanity lies blind to its peril.

The bond of friendship must endure, for the army of shadows awaits another tear.

Dust off your swords.

Unite the realm.

Destroy the strongholds.

Foretelling of Didasko Gnome Digdeep

†

PART ONE

t was an accident!” Mellie yelled, not caring who heard or stared. Tears streaked her face as she fled down the Santa Cruz coastline, away from her family.

You don’t need them, a voice hissed in her ear, Escape. Run away.

Scorching sand burned at her feet and bitterness ate at her heart. Mellie pumped her legs as fast as they would go. Her feet pounded with the rhythm of her emotions, beating a tempo with the crashing waves. Run-a-way. Run-a-way. Run-a-way. Adrenaline pulsed through her veins, quickening her step.

Why did I have to be the youngest? Only 12 years old. Never smart enough. Never athletic enough. I just wish they loved me.

Once, just once, she wanted to do something that would make her sisters see that she wasn’t the stupid, awkward, ugly, little baby sister.

As she ran, she wiped away some tears with the palm of her hand. Her fingers settled on her large nose, a gift from her dad’s Hungarian ancestry.

Chelsea got the ski-slope shaped nose. I had to get Half-Dome. It just isn’t fair.

Her hand dropped to her side and she pinched at her stomach. It still had some of its baby fat.

Ugh, why are my sisters so perfect? What happened to me?

Pushing her short bangs from her forehead in disgust, she mumbled, “Maybe I’ll find treasure. I’ll be the rich one, and then they’ll have to accept me.” But she knew better. California didn’t hold any more undiscovered treasures.

The sand, hot and coarse, cut at her feet. I wish I had remembered my shoes. She wore only a black, one-piece swimsuit and a San Jose Sharks sweatshirt tied tightly around her waist.

Breathing rapidly, she began to tire. She slowed her pace to a walk and looked back across the beach. The sand was so hot that waves of heat rose from it and blurred her view. A lone seagull screeched overhead.

Her sisters were nowhere in sight.

Man, I thought for sure that Chelsea was going to chase me down and kill me.

She had to admit that it was a little gratifying to see the sand fly from her foot, covering Chelsea’s sub-sandwich and freshly oiled stomach. Grinning slightly, the tears stopped flowing. She rubbed her eyes.

Mellie looked in the direction of her sisters. “You guys can never take a joke.” Flipping her golden hair, she turned her head back toward her chosen path. She no longer smiled as she stomped her feet in the cold surf, remembering the hateful words that had been said.

“Oh, waa waa, you stupid cry baby! Go tell mommy! Maybe she’ll feel sorry for her ugly, fat baby. Why don’t you grow up? We don’t want you near us. Can’t you understand English? You are so dumb. Look at her mouth open. Oh wait, here she goes…come on, baby…cry!”

Mellie knew she couldn’t go back. They would only ridicule and torment her further. Her mom would never believe it was Chelsea’s fault. No, the evidence was on Chelsea’s side. Who was the one with the sand all over her oily, coconut-smelling body? Who was the one who had a sandwich full of sand? Mellie walked on.

After her temper finally cooled, it occurred to her that she had never walked so far alone.

How far have I gone?

A shadow passed over her, and she looked up. Nothing was there. A cool breeze from the ocean created a stark contrast to the scalding sand. She shivered but kept walking, lost in her loneliness.

Not until she stubbed her toe on a large broken clamshell did she look at the beach. A chill snaked up her back. Nothing appeared familiar. The sounds of the surf were still there, yet something was decidedly different. She felt dizzy. Looking around, she could not quite pinpoint the change. Then it struck her.

No people.

Where did everybody go?

Even though she could see no one, Mellie could swear that she felt eyes staring at her.

She looked inland across the sand, saw movement near some eucalyptus trees, but decided that the wind must have caused it.

Trees? So close to the beach?

Something shook the trees again, causing goosebumps to stand out on Mellie’s arms. Alarmed, she checked the skyline. The sun was close to setting. She hoped that the police weren’t out looking for her.

Suddenly cold, she pulled at the arms of the sweatshirt still tied around her waist. It fell to the sand. Bending to pick it up, she once again saw a blur of movement, except this time it came from a rocky outcrop by the waves. She shook the sand out of the sweatshirt and hurriedly tugged it over her head.

“Okay, I’m seeing things.” Mellie yanked at her hair, pulling it out of the sweatshirt. She stared at the sinister rocks. “Hel-lo?” Her voice cracked as she spoke louder. “Is someone the-ere? Hello?” No answer. The shadowy rocks seemed to quiver with excitement, beckoning her closer.

Hmm…probably just a seagull.

Even if it was a bird, she did not want to see it.

There’s no way I’m going over there.

The wind picked up and blew her hair into her eyes. The sand spun with the wind.

Yes, definitely time to move. I need to find a road.

She turned back toward the sweet smelling, oddly placed trees.

Mellie arrived at the base of the first, colossal eucalyptus tree. Without warning, one of the branches fell in front of her, then seemed to get up from the ground and pose its bottom stems in a military-like stance.

Mellie screamed and jumped back. “Branches don’t stand.”

“They do if they are walking sticks.” The eucalyptus branch chuckled, stretching to its full height, considerably taller than Mellie’s meager five feet.
She gasped, grabbed the branch, and threw it like a javelin, as hard as she could.

As she took off running, she heard a bark and halted. Turning, she saw a golden retriever bounding toward her with the stick in his mouth. The dog dropped it at her feet. She watched the dog run into the grove of trees and disappear before she fearfully turned back to the possessed stick.

It had already gained its footing again and stood over her. Mellie was too frightened to move this time.

A face emerged from the skinny twig and took on the characteristics of a male human, but none like Mellie had ever seen. He had hair made up in rolls as if it were a powdered, green-silver wig, the same color as the leaves that grew all around his skinny body. His face was long and his forehead high. The twiggy man smiled and said in a distinctly British, albeit breezy, accent, “Do not worry, you are safe.”

Mellie couldn’t answer.

“Ahh…I love new recruits. They are so easily addled.”

Feeling more confused than threatened, Mellie found her voice. “What? What do you mean, new recruits?” She rubbed her eyes, shaking her head. “Okay, I’m talking to a stick now. Yes, I have lost it. I have gone totally mental.”

“Oh, I say, am I to understand that I am the first to be revealed to you?” With round, leathery leaves, the branch resembled a toddler toy with rings stacked on one another.

She dropped open her mouth and nodded.

“Well, let me do this properly, then. Ahem. Mortal, made of clay, you have been Chosen to join the Fantastical, Aerial, International, Reasonably Inconspicuous, Emancipation Squads.”

“What? What are you? You look like a stick…but you can talk.”

“Yes, child,” the stick replied with a sigh. “But, I think we are quite past that by now. Have you not heard me? You have been Chosen.”

Mellie opened her mouth wider, closed it, frowned, and opened it once more. “Chosen? For what?”

“You did wish to be different? To change who you were? ’Twas an especially strong desire, yes?” The branch crossed its arms and tapped its twiggy foot.

“Umm…”

“Dear me, this is highly unusual. You made a choice to run away from a miserable life and asked to be set free? Correct?”

“Well, I, ah…yeah. I guess so. What did you say about recruit for some squad?”

“Humph. I see that I was not understood. Yes? Let me elucidate. The Fantastical, Aerial, International, Reasonably Inconspicuous, Emancipation Squads , or shall I say F.A.I.R.I.E.S.? have accepted you into their organization. You asked. You were answered.” The branch attempted a smile, but looked impatient instead.

“Fairies? I don’t believe in fairies.” Mellie winced, half expecting him to fall down and writhe in pain until she clapped her hands.

“Quite right. You are not supposed to. If humans truly believed we existed, we would never get anything accomplished.”

Mellie laughed and looked around for a hidden camera, thinking this must be a joke. “Right. Ah…heh…okay, bud, brilliant costume,” she said, imitating the branch’s accent. “Where’s the zipper?” She reached toward him and touched a soft leaf.

The branch slapped her hand away and stamped its foot with a loud cracking noise. “I beg your pardon. I have not been a bud for over 800 springs!” He paced, his leaves crumpling, mumbling to himself about humans and why, in the One’s name, did he listen to that confounded gnome who told him that he needed to stand gate duty. With his rank!

“I’m sorry I upset you. Please, I’m very confused. I’m lost, and I just want to go home.” Mellie bit her lip.

The branch stopped mid-pace. “Home? Earlier, did you not wish for a new life? And riches? I know you wished for treasure, hmm?”

“How do you know that?” Mellie furrowed her brow. “Have you been reading my mind?”

The twig man didn’t answer her questions, asking his own instead. “Ahh, so, you admit this, yes?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Yes, but…well, this really isn’t what I had in mind.”

The branch threw up its twiggy fingers. “Oh, well, of course you did not have this in mind. After all, we are reasonably inconspicuous, especially to humans. How could you have this in mind? However, is it not superior of the One to think that this is what you would have chosen had you known about us? Anyway, ’tis irrevocable now. So, if you would just follow me, we shall get you signed in and enrolled for training.”

The branch marched off between the trunks of two large eucalyptus trees.

Mellie slid uncontrollably after the walking stick. She planted her feet firmly, refusing to budge, but she slid after him anyway. Grasping at branches of nearby trees, she panted heavily as she struggled to resist following the branch. Some kind of invisible tie connected her to him. He seemed to pull her along with his every step.

Mellie thought about her sisters and how mad they were at her. I’m dead meat if they find me. Mellie quickly gave up her battle and ran after the eucalyptus branch, barely keeping up with his stride.

†

The sand changed to coarse dirt, with pebbles and sticks. More and more trees filled Mellie’s vision. Bushes scraped against her bare legs and slapped her face as she moved deeper inside a forest of eucalyptus and redwood trees. She winced in pain as a razor-sharp rock sliced her foot. Stopping to nurse it, she wished once again for her forgotten shoes.

“Excuse me, sir?” Mellie looked around. She could not see the branch anywhere.

“Do not call me ‘sir’, I work for a living.” The branch peeked out from around one of the gigantic trees. “And please, try to keep up. We need to reach the gateway.”

Mellie limped up to him. “Sorry, sir…I mean…umm, what should I call you then?”

“Oh, well, we did skip that. Did we not? Yes, all right, an introduction then.” The branch man seemed to enjoy formal etiquette for he gave an elaborate wave and bowed. “My name is Regnans, family of Myrtaceae, born member of the F.A.I.R.I.E.S., Britannia Wing, rank of Master Nymph Dryad.”

“Nice to meet you, Reg…Reg?” Mellie chewed on the inside of her mouth. Never good at remembering names, she knew she would offend him with her lack of manners.

Sure enough, the dryad raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips. “Regnans.” He gave a hurt sniff, then drolly sneered. “If you find that a difficult name, you should meet the rest of my family, all seven-hundred thirty-four of them.”

“Sorry, I just…well, it is a lot to remember. It’s a nice name, though. My name is Maryellen Goodwin of Bret Harte Middle School, San Jose, California. But everyone calls me Mellie.” She stuck out her hand, intending to shake. Regnans stared at her.

“That is a strange curtsy. However, I guess ’twill do. We must get moving now. The shadows abound, you know.” Regnans made an about face and marched off faster than before.

Another hour passed, and still they strode along the forest floor. Mellie’s feet were now cut, blistered, and bleeding. She kept up as best she could with Regnans’s long stride. Whenever she tried to stop, he would pull her on with that invisible force of his.

Stupid, pompous, magical Star Wars freak.

She whimpered as she limped. Darkness and mist now covered the woods. As she was about to plead for a break, Regnans stopped. Except for her heavy gulps of air, all seemed quiet.

Regnans stiffened even more than usual. Nothing on him moved, apart from his eyes, which darted around quickly.

“All is safe, we may proceed.” He held up a twiggy finger to his woody mouth. “Please do not speak, and try not to breathe so abominably loud.”

Mellie nodded with a disgusted frown. Sweat dripped from her bangs. She tried to calm her breathing, even though her vision blurred, and her legs wobbled. Her blisters had popped by now and oozed wetness.

Regnans moved again, yet this time he took slow, deliberate steps, all the while scanning his surroundings. He walked up to a massive redwood tree and stroked its bark.

A breeze stirred up, rattling the leaves, sounding almost like spoken words. Mellie thought herself crazy again. However, the longer she stood there, the more she sensed that it really was the tree’s language, as if she had never listened to trees properly before. It said, “If you love, you will say the one true love that leads the way.”

Regnans whispered in a leaf rustling voice, “Ah-gaw-pay.”

A loud grumbling sound, as if someone awakened after a long sleep, shook the grove. The redwood tree opened two eyes, each the size of Mellie’s head, and blinked. A great fissure erupted below the eyes in the shape of a crescent, and redish-brown wooden teeth emerged. A long, knobby branch pushed its way out above the mouth and inhaled deeply.

The tree chuckled. Instead of the whispering leaves, a low, rumbling utterance of human speech came from the redwood tree. “Regnans? What brings you to my neck of the woods?” He blinked again. “And who is this? A new recruit? A human? A Chosen?”

Mellie knew she looked silly, standing there with her mouth in an ‘O’ shape, but she couldn’t move. This was simply impossible. There is no such thing as fairies!

“Yes, yes. Please open the gate, we must not dawdle here…they may be watching.” Regnans looked agitated.

A deep laugh resounded from the redwood. “Oh, Regnans. There are none who watch here.”

Regnans mumbled something about hamadryads and their pride, then proclaimed in a slightly louder voice to the tree, “We must be sober, be vigilant, because the shadow walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom it may devour.”

The hamadryad looked chagrined. “You speak true, dryad. Forgive me for acting like an arrogant seedling.” He glanced at Mellie, and with a lowered voice asked, “And what is your name, little human?”

Mellie managed to squeak out, “Mellie Goodwin.”

“Ah, ’tis always nice to have a Good Wind.” The hamadryad laughed heartily.

“Sorry to interrupt this lovely tete-a-tete,” Regnans said, “but would you please open the gate? I left Westside completely unguarded.”

An annoyed creak came from the base of the redwood, followed by a sigh. “Yes, Regnans. Agape you said, and agape it is. Go with the light, my friends.” The large, joyous eyes closed, and the hamadryad whispered in his leaf rustling voice, “Until we meet again, Good Wind.” His face disappeared, and his roots lifted and pulled apart, exposing a tunnel within his trunk.

Regnans grabbed Mellie’s hand with his rough, wooden one, and pulled her inside the opening. The tree closed itself abruptly and left them in total darkness.

Regnans cleared his throat and said, “Let there be light.”

A burst of dazzling brightness sparkled from the tunnel’s wall. Mellie glanced around and noticed a long, winding stairwell leading down into the ground.

“Shall we, then?” Not waiting for a reply, Regnans started down the steps.

MANY ARE CALLED

BUT

FEW ARE CHOSEN

†

CHAPTER ONE

Off and Running

Available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

We can trust our ship's forerunner!

2011-12-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20

I love the analogy of hope as an anchor, don't you? When a ship's anchor was firmly embedded in the seabed, it was going nowhere. No matter how many storms came and went. No matter how badly the ship was tossed to and fro, if its anchor was secure, it did not move.

It's hard to imagine that hope can be such a sturdy anchor, but hope is a very important thing to have. Have you ever met a person without hope? How about a person with tons of hope? People who are full of hope are happy, excited about life, almost annoying in their exuberance! But take that hope away and their happiness begins to fade. Take more hope away and they become just satisfied. With even less hope, they become sad. People who are depressed have very little hope, and finally people who have zero hope usually end up taking their own lives.

But what is the hope this passage is talking about? Earlier in Hebrews 6, Paul warns people about falling away from God and the faith. His words are quite strong and even harsh and he may have even been concerned that he'd made people unduly frightened, so he continues in Hebrews 6 talking about God's faithfulness and promises

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:17-18

So what is the hope? It is God's promise to make us His heirs. His promise to save us and bring us into eternity.

In ancient times, when a ship was sailing into the harbor of a port city, one of the sailors would get into a smaller vessel, take the anchor with him and go ahead of the ship, navigating through all the shoals, reefs and other ships to find a good, safe, strong place to drop the anchor. He was called the forerunner. Only through his skill and expertise could the ship make it's way through all the dangers in the harbor and find good strong anchorage.

Jesus is our forerunner, guiding our ship through the trials and dangers of this life into the safe harbor of Heaven. He has already dropped our anchor into the immovable rock, which is Himself, the Rock of ages. This anchor can never be moved, jarred, broken, or split. It is eternal. Now, all we have to do is follow the rope tied to the anchor as it guides us through the path our forerunner has already laid out for us.

Just think about it, your anchor is already set firmly in the Rock of Heaven! So no matter what storms, what shoals or reefs lie ahead, just keep following the path of the forerunner and you will find anchorage in eternity.

Last week to enter to win a free Tote Bag filled with books!

2011-12-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

All you have to do is write a new review for any of my books on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, Goodreads, or Barnes and Noble, and I'll enter your name! It must be a new review and you must have read the book. I'll be drawing names on Friday December 9th, for two free Tote bags and books! (The books are a sampling of other authors as well as one of mine!)

Tis a Writer's Life for me!

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

I finished the first draft of Forsaken Dreams, book 1 in the Escape to Paradise series. Yea! I always feel better when the first draft is done. That means I at least have a story to work with. I suppose writers who outline and plot everything before they start writing don't have this problem. They've already got the entire story, including every twist and turn, laid out before them. Me? I can't write like that.

I did try to outline an entire book once and I felt like pulling my hair out! Good thing I didn't cause I need all that hair.

They call us seat-of-the-pants writers and we are a rare breed. Most authors I know are plotters. Those darn plotters.. always plotting things!

The only thing I have firm in my mind about a new story is the beginning, the ending, and a couple of major events that will happen. I also have outlined each character in great detail as I showed you in prior posts, and I also have each main character's spiritual and character arcs pretty well defined. Then I put on the headphones, crank up the music (I listen to anything from classical to movie scores to Christian Rock to Alternative, depending on my mood) stretch my fingers, open up a new Word Doc and start pounding away.

Did I mention I pray too?

Does it always flow naturally? NO. Sometimes I'm staring at that insidious blinking cursor for quite awhile. He's actually quite a taunting rascal, that one. But if I close my eyes and picture the scene, the characters in my head and get swept away in the music, the words will eventually come pouring out of me. This is my favorite part of the process. Complete abandon. No rules. No requirements, no editing, no research. I'm living in a movie inside my head.

That's when the creativity really kicks in and all these great ideas flood my mind. So, that's how I do it.

But now, my real work begins.

By the way, it's my daughter's birthday today. She is 30 years old! Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!

Here's how I see Hope and Nathaniel from The Blue Enchantress!

2011-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

What tale can be told about this poor ship?

Dancing a jig for Jesus!

2011-11-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Being a sailor was a lonely life. Men would spend weeks, often months at sea, only anchoring in ports long enough to get supplies and be on their way again. When they weren't on duty, they found ways to entertain themselves during long voyages. They would drink and play cards, write letters to their sweethearts, but more often then not, they would sing and dance. Usually there was at least one person on board who could play an instrument. In good weather, sailors would gather around on the main deck, and sing along to the music and dance with each other!

Dancing throughout the ages has been an expression of joy, happiness, and romance. In native cultures, dancing could also be an expression of virility or power over one's enemies or a way a please a god. There are many references in the Bible to dancing. God's people often danced out of joy, awe, and worship of God.

King David was no exception. When he brought the ark of the covenant back into Jerusalem, he led the joyful procession by dancing before the Lord.

Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet 2 Samuel 6:14-15

Here was the King of Israel, the most mighty, powerful man in the entire kingdom and he had stripped down to a simple undergarment and was dancing like a crazy man. I love this about David. He wasn't into status or position. He didn't care what anyone thought of him! He just wanted to glorify God.

Can we say the same thing? Are we willing to be made a fool for Jesus? Or do we shrink back from expressing our joy, our worship of God when we are among people who wouldn't understand? People who might laugh at us or make fun of us. Why is it acceptable to paint your face blue, go to a football game half naked and shout and carry on for your team, but when a Christian raises his hands in worship and shouts hallelujah or--shock of all shockers--he or she dances in joy, why does the world snicker and belittle that person?

And more importantly, why should we care?

Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. . . .And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

David's wife, Michal, was embarrassed of her husband. She thought that as a king, he should act more dignified and regal. She was worried that her maids would sneer at him and think less of him as a king and a man. I've met many people like this, haven't you? It's all about appearances, their shiny cars, fancy houses, what so and so thinks of them, how many prestigious social clubs they belong to, and of course how many important people they know. You want to know something? God doesn't care one fig for any of those things.

I love David's reaction:

David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! 2 Samuel 6:21-22

Take that, Michal! David loved God so much, he could have cared less what people thought of him. He intended to dance and sing and worship God with all his might even if the entire kingdom thought he was a fool!

I wish we all had the mind of David! And not the mind of Michal. God was not pleased with her attitude for she put man's approval above God's. So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life. 2 Samuel 6:23
So shove aside your inhibitions! Sweep away your need for man's approval. Focus on God and God alone and on how wonderful and loving and good He is, and then dance a jig for Jesus! I guarantee He will be pleased!

Tis a Writer's life for me!

2011-11-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Those who are part of my Motley Crew have already seen these pictures but I thought I'd share with everyone else. A fan who has a production company is making a video trailer to celebrate the re-release of my pirate series: Legacy of the King's Pirates. She sent me some photo shoots from their initial session. I couldn't believe she's using live models in costume!! SO COOL!! I can't wait to see the end result. I'll post it when I do

For some reason, video trailers really excite me. I love seeing my characters come to life, even if it's just for a few seconds. :-)

This is my favorite!

Writing news: I hope to be done with the first draft of Forsaken Dreams by next week.. maybe the week after. My first draft is complete garbage. If you read it, it would make no sense. It's basically a right brain dump while my left brain is stunned into a catatonic state. LOL. Sentences are all in fragments.. there are missing dialoge tags, notes to myself about things I need to add or things I need to researchm and terrible misspellings! I'll give you a sample here:

(mention that they’d tried medicines and nothing worked) Thunder bellowed in the distance and Eliza gazed up at the gray roiling clouds..dark and gray like her heart. She hugged herself beneath a sudden chill and forced her gaze to the two canvas bound forms laid out on the plank of wood. Mr. Milner, the ship’s xxx and Mrs. Blaine, wife of Mr. Blaine the xxx, who stood over his wife’s lifeless body sobbing uncontrollably.

Nicholas opened his bible and began to read:
Fill in words
But the words sounded hollow in Eliza’s ears. Hollow like the empty threat of thunder in the distance. What could any storm do to them now that they ahdn’t already suffered in the first storm and now in this next catastrophe. that ethereal mist had dropped a deadly disease upon the ship. How or why, nobody knew. Three days later, with over half the passengers and crew sick, these two precious lives had slipped away.

This is just the guts of the story. It's not pretty but at the end I know the plot of the entire novel and for some reason, that's a huge relief to me. Next step? More research, filling in blanks and places I left for later, spelling, adding emotions and dialogue tags (those are the "he said, she said" things) and generally, making it pretty.

I pray everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing all my blog followers and Facebook friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

I encourage you to do two things on this special day. First, no matter how hard your year was, give thanks to God for all the blessing He has bestowed on you. If you're alive and have food to eat and a roof over your head, then you have just about as much as the pilgrims did at their first Thanksgiving!

Secondly, Give. The last half of Thanksgiving is giving. Do something for someone else today, whether it be helping out at a soup kitchen or offering to do the dishes at home, go out of your way for someone else. Perhaps think of a compliment to give to everyone at your table, or pull aside a family member who may be discouraged and comfort them. Or maybe phone a friend who may be alone and invite them over for dinner.. or pie! Ask God to show you something you can give today.

Enjoy this short video on the true meaning of Thanksgiving!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Loose a Broadside!

Don't end up in the bilge!

2011-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

The bilge is located at the very bottom of the ship, down in the hold, where dirty, smelly, sludge collects. Believe me, even hardened sailors didn't want to go down into that smelly pit, only inhabited by cargo and rats. Plus, without a lantern, it was so dark you couldn't see your fingers in front of your face.

But so often in life, we make one small bad decision after another, one small step down the ladder to the hold, and before we know it we are up to our knees in bildge water, filth, rats and darkness.

Don't think it can happen to you? Well, it happened to King David, a man 'after God's own heart'. He took seven crucial steps, made seven crucial decisions and everyone of them led him into the darkness.

It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1

First step down on the ladder.
When David should have been leading his army, he chose to stay at home.

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.

2nd step down
As soon as David saw the naked woman, he should have turned his eyes away. But he didn't. He must have stared at her for quite awhile to notice how beautiful she was.

Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her

3rd Step down
David acted on his desire. He could have done nothing, but he chose to call the woman to his bed.

And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
So, David calls her husband from battle. (Okay, this sounds promising)
When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house

4th Step down
David had a chance to tell Uriah the truth. To confess what he'd done. Instead, he tried to trick Uriah into going home and sleeping with his wife.

But Uriah was a man of integrity. He didn't go home, stating that it would be wrong for him to have the comforts of a wife and bed when his fellow soldiers were sleeping on the battlefield.

Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

5th step down
Realizing what a great guy Uriah was, David had another chance here to tell the truth. Instead, he chose to try and get Uriah drunk so he'd go home to his wife.

In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. ¹⁵ And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”

6th step down
David could stop all this madness now by choosing to confess his sin and accept the consequences. Instead he sent a letter that would condemn an innocent man to death.

So, of course, Uriah dies in battle.

Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another

Last step down
After David has murdered Uriah, he tries to cover it up by basically telling the commander of his army that these things happen in war. No big deal.

Now, David is in the dark bilge. It isn't a pleasant place. The son Bathsheeba born him soon dies. For the rest of David's life there is turmoil in his family. One of his sons rapes his sister, another son murders his brother and then gathers an army against David. It is a huge family mess, a mess that could have all been avoided had David just paused on any one of those steps and made a different choice.

So, be careful. Don't let your guard down for a minute. Every tiny desicion you make will either lead you up to the sunshine on deck or down into the hold. Pause, think, pray, ask for God's strength and wisdom. And he will lead up toward the Son.

Tis a Writer's life for me!

2011-11-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

In every good book and movie the main characters go through some kind of change. They grow, they learn, they move from a bad place, position, or attitude in their lives to a better place. They transform into a better person. If a character doesn't progess or change in the story, I guarantee you the story will be flat.

So how do you make a character change? You push him or to their very limits. You put them in terrifying, even deadly situations! And then see how they behave. This is the fun part!!! At first you character will probably not do so well. They will fall back into their old familiar ways, but if you keep pressing them and if you give them something worthy of changing for, by the end of the book, he or she will be a new person!

To accomplish this, I use a spiritual/character arc for my main character. Basically, I draw a huge arc on my chalk board that looks like an upside down bowl. At the beginning, I list my characters qualities. Here's the list I made for Luke Heaton, the hero in my last book

Angry
Volatile
Selfish
Arrogant
Immoral
Alcoholic
Doesn't think God cares
Feels like a Failure.

Man, Luke is quite a mess!!
Then on the right side of my arc, I list where I want my hero to end up.

Quit drinking
No longer immoral
Willing to sacrifice himself for others
Believes in a loving, active God
No longer angry
In control of emotions
Humble

Trying to change this guy, now, that's a tall order?
But here comes the hard part. I need to list different events and people from the beginning of the arc all the way to the end that will help move Luke slowly from point A to point B.

This is where both characters and plot come into play. I list all my characters, both main and secondary and decide if there's something they could say or do that would influence Luke in the right directiong. I write all those things down. Things like:

Cassandra makes him want to be a better man so he can win her love
Reverend Drummond talks to him about God's destiny
Biron Abbot discusses spiritual matters to him and provides a good example of a Godly man
Noah Brenin, Lukes Best friend is a role model for who Luke wants to become like.
Joseph Keene is an example of who Luke doesn't want to become like in the future

Now, I consider what events can occur to change Luke

Falling in love with Cassandra
When his enemy Tripp ruins Luke's life, he sees how his gambling and arrogance caused this man's hatred
When Luke's brother is in danger, he recognizes he is responsible,.
When Cassandra is destitute Luke gives up his own money--something he's never done before
When Luke reaches the bottom and is thrown in prison and everyone he loves is in danger, he finally humbles himself to the point of looking up to God.
When the angel delivers him, Luke realizes God has been with him the entire time

There are more, of course.. but once you have a good list you can start lining them up on the arc. Remember to make them believable and be sure to incorporate all your different secondary characters, making use of their unique roles we discussed last week.

And lastly, if you're writing a romance, you need to create another arc for the heroine as well, using the same principals as above. The heroine's arc can be completely different from the heroes. In fact, it's preferable that she have a different set of lessons to learn than the hero and even more perferable if some of those lessons conflicted with the heroes. The more conflict the better!.

This is the last lesson I'm doing on writing. Next week, I'm starting a general posting on Friday about anything that comes to mind. Just a way for us to interact at the end of the week.

Here's how I see Faith and Dajon from The Red Siren!

2011-11-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

Which also happens to have the worst cover of all my books. Uggg.

Captain Dajon Waite

Faith Westcott

Faith Westcott abandoned her shallow faith when a series of tragedies struck her family. To save herself and her sisters from forced marriages, this fiery, born-to-the-manor redhead is a lady by day and a pirate and by night. How long can she maintain this dual identity before she’s caught red-handed? God-fearing Dajon Waite, who scours the Carolina coast, expunging it of pirates, is a more-than-capable captain in the British Royal Navy. But when he is asked to take on the guardianship of Faith and her sisters, he’s headed for deep water. Having vowed to avoid women, what will he do when he finds himself falling for Faith? Sir Wilhelm Carteret has always gotten everything he desired but Faith seems to be unaffected by his charms. When he devises a plot to rid himself of his competition, more than Captain Waite’s reputation is at stake as alarming secrets are revealed. Will Faith regain her trust in God only to find herself headed for the gallows? Will Dajon scuttle his good name—and neck—to save her?

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

All hands down!!

Need faith, try stepping off the plank!

2011-11-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him John 14:21

Recently, I've been reading through the Gospels and I've discovered something I never really considered before. Love, Obedience and Faith are all so intricately connected, that one cannot exist without the other.

You cannot love God and not obey Him. In fact John goes so far as to say that love itself is obeying God. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments 1 John 5:3
You cannot obey God unless you love Him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him 1 John 2:5
You do not have faith unless you obey God. Obedience is an expression of your faith in God. If you don't obey God, you neither believe in Him nor love Him.

You see how they are all connected? Keeping these three things in mind is a good way to check yourself in your Christian walk. If one of them is off, then chances are you've slipped off the narrow path. Too often we see people these days who profess to love God but their actions prove otherwise. They profess to have faith but when called to act on that faith, they cower in the corner.

Jesus always demanded action from those He called to follow Him. He never asked them to simply recite the sinner's prayer and then go about their business. Everyone He called, everyone He healed, He either rewarded them for stepping out in faith or He required them to step out in faith. What is interesting is that all of these people had very little faith at the time they encountered Jesus. Oh sure, they may have heard about Jesus, heard He was some kind of prophet, but their faith in Him as the Son of God was pretty much non-existent. In fact, most of Jesus's own disciples didn't even truly believe He was God until after His ressurection.

But they obeyed the call of Jesus and their faith started to grow with that very first step. As the great theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, "the response of the disciples is an act of obedience not a confession of faith. Only he who is obedient can believe. . .For faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.

Do you find yourself lacking in faith? Try obeying Jesus and stepping out of the boat!

Tis a Writer's Life for Me!

2011-11-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Can you ever have too many secondary characters? I'm feeling that way now as I'm writing the first book in my next trilogy, Escape to Paradise. Problem is I need all these characters! The hero and heroine from each book along with all the secondary characters are on a ship at the moment heading toward Brazil! So, that's 6 main characters and 12 secondary characters and about 30 other minor characters. I'm pulling my hair out trying to keep everyone straight. Even while I'm in the POV (Point of view) of one of the main characters, I have to keep track of what the other people are doing or they'll simply run loose.

For example in this one scene, I'm in my hero's head and he's giving a speech to the entire crew and all the passengers assembled on deck. That's great. But while he's talking, I need to transform myself into a little invisible sprite and hop from head to head in my secondary characters trying to figure out what they are thinking about my hero's speech and what they would say and how they would behave in response. When you've got a dozen or so people to figure out, the task can be daunting!

But not only must I figure out what they are going to say or do, but I must work their response somehow into the character arc of my hero and heroine. You see, when you write, no scene, no dialogue should be without a specific purpose. It should either move the plot along, or it should change the main characters. So every time a secondary character speaks or acts, it should not only fit their personality but it should have an impact on the main character's journey. Let's look at an example from my book, Surrender the Dawn. One of the hardest scenes for me to write is a dinner scene where you have mulitple people sitting around a table.

There are 5 characters in this scene. Each one's actions and dialogue reveal to the reader a bit more about them. There is also a lot of tension in this scene between these characters. Just from this short excerpt, how do you think the plot is forwarded? How are relationships moved forward or backward? What role does Mr. Crane play? What about Cassandra's mother?

Grabbing a plate of what appeared to be fried fish, she handed it to Luke. “Yes, indeed, sir. We have Mr. Heaton to thank for that. As it turns out, he is quite the privateer.”
Luke smiled inwardly as he grabbed the platter and slid a portion onto his plate.

Mr. Crane sipped his wine. “Isn’t it just a game of luck, Mr. Heaton, this privateering?” He said without looking at Luke. “I mean to say. It’s quite a gamble that you’ll even encounter a British vessel, let alone one that you can catch and defeat in battle.”

Luke opened his mouth to reply but the man continued, “And then she must have a bellyful of cargo to sell to make her worthwhile prey.” He plucked a biscuit from a tray and passed the plate to Cassandra. “Yes, indeed, it seems but a game of chance.”

“As it turns out, Mr. Crane. I’m quite good at gambling.” Luke winked at Darlene as she passed him a bowl of greens. The girl giggled.

“A worthless pastime,” Mrs. Channing interjected. “For charlatans and idlers.”

“I quite agree.” Mr. Crane huffed. “Your reputation, Mr. Heaton, does you no credit. And like all gamblers, I’ll wager your luck will run out in time.”

“Then you would wish ill-luck on me as well, Mr. Crane.” Cassandra seethed. “For my success is tied with Mr. Heaton’s.”

Luke raised a brow at her spiteful tone.

“Not at all, my dear.” Alarm rang in Mr. Crane’s voice as if he realized his error. “I merely speak in philosophical generalities. No harm done, Mr. Heaton, eh?”

Fury surged through Luke’s veins while he forced a calm smile upon his lips. All eyes shot to him as if expecting an angry outburst. “I’m flattered that you have spent so much time pondering my past and my reputation, sir. Perhaps you should attend to your own.”
Cassandra smiled and gazed down at her plate.

Mr. Crane stretched his neck. “I’ll have you know, sir, that my reputation is without blemish.”

Mrs. Channing helped herself to the meat pie. “Indeed, Mr. Crane. You need not concern yourself in that regard. All of Baltimore can attest to your good name.” She gave a nervous chuckle, no doubt anxious to change the topic. Her glance took in the table. “Do forgive the lack of proper dining service. I’m afraid we haven’t had time to redeem our china and silverware.”

“Ah, no bother. No bother at all, my dear lady.” Mr. Crane lifted a spoonful of fish to his mouth then recoiled slightly as he tasted it.

“But, wouldn’t you say, Mr. Crane,” Cassandra pressed, “that one’s reputation is never etched in stone? That it is subject to improvement over time?”

Amazed at her defense of him, Luke sought out her eyes, but she kept them locked upon Crane.

Mr. Crane gazed at her with the patronizing look of a teacher with a child. “A rarity, Miss Channing, for it is my belief that one’s character”—he cast a condescending glance at Luke—“or lack thereof, is forged in one’s youth.”

“I do not agree, sir.” Cassandra pursed her pink lips. “And I’ll ask you not to further insult Mr. Heaton. He is my guest.”

Luke sipped his wine, enjoying the exchange. Enjoying that this fascinating woman stood up for him. Perhaps he should thank Mr. Crane for being such a priggy bumblehead.

There's much more to this scene that would make a clearer picture, but you get the point. Tune in next week when I'll discuss how I develop my character'c arc and how secondary characters feed into that..

Here's how I see Dominique and Admiral Chase Randal in The Falcon and the Sparrow!

2011-11-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

London of 1803 is as wild as Rome before the fall of the Empire as the rick seek to feed their insatiable hunger for pleasure while ignoring Napoleon's resurgence.

Into a dark London townhouse walks a timid woman set upon saving her brother's life, even if it requires her to commit treason upon the country of her birth.

Admiral Chase Randal is intrigued by the new governess in his home and cannot deny that his grieving heart is beginning to awaken as he watches Dominique with his son.

Dominique loves the admiral's son, but how can she understand an attraction for the admiral when he claims to deny the existence of God? For only through God does she find her courage to spy for France.

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Grounded and abandoned. :-(

Hoist those sails!

2011-11-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. John 12:35

In other words "Keep moving. Keep sailing!" Don't ever stop. Don't lower your sails for one minute. Why? Because darkness is pursuing you.

So, what is this darkness? It is anything that is not light. And God is light. Anything that is not of God is darkness. In Romans 13, Paul describes works of darkness as revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, strife and envy. But darkness is not just doing wrong. Darkness is a force. It is evil.

Ephesians 6 tells us there are spiritual beings who rule the darkness.
In Colossians, we discover that the darkness is powerful.
In 1st Peter, darkness is described as having chains to bind people.
In 2nd Peter that darkness is described as total blackness.
We are told throughout the gospels that outer darkness is equivalent to hell.
In 1st John we are told that if you are in the darkness, you can't see anything. You can't see the truth or even where the light is.

Darkness is Satan himself. And we know from 1 Peter 5 that he is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

There is an evil force following us, chasing us in fact! Sounds a bit scary to me! So what do we do? How do we outrun it? Simple. We keep moving in and with the light.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Christianity is not a spectator sport. You don't say a prayer, get on the ship and then lollygag around and watch other people hoist sails and haul lines. You can not remain stagnant. You must progress, move forward, learn, grow, allow the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, convict you, change your heart. This involves more than Sunday church and reading a devotional, saying a couple of prayers during the week. This is a lifetime commitment to a deep abiding relationship with God. It means loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, body, and strength.

If you get lazy in your walk with God, darkness will creep up on you. It is subtle, slow like an insidious cancer. You won't notice it at first but after awhile you'll see a change in your attitude, in the things you think about and say. Your desires will change. You'll slip back into your old ways. You won't pray as often, think about God very often, or read your Bible. And before you know it, you're treading water in the midst of a storm and your ship is sailing away.

So, hoist those sails, haul those lines, scrub those decks and commune with the Captain of your soul daily. Allow Him to guide your ship, teach you, lead you, love you. That's the only way to stay out of the darkness!

Tis a Writer's Life for me!

2011-11-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

In the last couple Friday's I've discussed how I create my hero and heroine for each book. But what about all those pesky secondary characters? I usually have quite a few in my stories. Where and how do I come up with all of them?

Naturally, as part of your storyworld, your hero and heroine will come in contact with many other people. The first thing I do is make a list of the normal people they might know. For instance, if my hero is the captain of a ship, he'd have a first mate, second mate, quartermaster..etc.. in other words, a crew! Even if he's a simple farmer, he will have a family, farm workers, friends. Usually, my heroine will live amongst relatives such as parents or cousins or an uncle. These are all people who are normally a part of their lives. I write them all down on a list and give them names and occupations and how they relate to my hero or heroine.

But here comes the fun part. (And sometimes, a very complicated part), I need to choose the dominant secondary characters, assign them a role, and plan how they will either assist or deter the hero or heroine from achieving their goals. Not all of the secondary characters in a book will be dominant. Most will be what I call fillers. They merely exist in the story, are part of the plot, but they really play no role in moving it forward. The dominant ones are very important because they will play a part in moving the main characters forward through the story, both physically and spiritually.

Here are the roles I assign my secondary characters. These are taken from the book 45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. (Highy recommended book)

Friends:
1. Magi – voice of wisdom/ been there, done that. Often unwilling to help hero and prefers to be left alone.
2. Mentor – more like the hero and closer to level. Can be negative or positive
3. Best Friend – Hero’s confidant
4. Lover –

Rivals
1. Joker – troublemaker with a sharp wit
2. Jester – funny but usually means well most of the time
3. Nemesis – a friendly troublemaker just trying to mess things up for hero for the fun of it
4. Investigator – butting in when not wanted or needed. Insecure. Tries to control
5. Pessimist – constantly disapprove of hero
6. Psychic – know it all/superior attitude power hungry
7. Villain - the antagonist

Symbols
1. Shadow – mirrors the hero’s flaws or shortcomings
2. Lost soul – symbolizes hero’s past
3. Double – a role model – who the hero wants to be

I don't use them all in each book, but I choose those who fit my plot and purpose. Let me give you some examples from my last book, Surrender the Dawn

Abner Tripp

Cassandra's mother

Margaret Dayle

Biron Abbot

Villain - Abner Tripp- trying to ruin the hero, Luke Heaton, because Luke humiliated him in the past
Pessimist - Cassandra's Mother who tried to discourage Cassandra from her goal and turn her onto the wrong path.
Mentor - Reverend Drummond - gives spiritual advice to both hero and heroine
Role Model - Margaret Dayle - Cassandra's maid who provides an example of a woman who completely trusts God
Investigator - Milton Crane who tried to get Cassandra for himself and was always butting into her business
Best friend to Luke - Noah Brenin
Magi to Luke - Biron his first mate who is a godly man and is always giving Luke good advice

There's more, but you get the point. After I create these characters and give them roles, I must decide how they are going to help or hinder the hero and heroine.. .but that's for another week.

This is how I saw Kent and Isabel in The Restitution!

2011-11-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

Only with darker hair!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Coming out of the storm...we are saved!

Be a dog for Jesus!

2011-10-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

I love animals, always have. My mother didn't let us have dogs or cats growing up so I had fish. And although fish are peaceful and beautiful to look at, they just don't inspire much affection! Although I'm more of a cat person now, I adore dogs. They offer that unconditional love that we all are seeking from each other.

Just think of what a dog is like. He's faithful, loyal, always loving and adoring his master. When his master chastises him, the dog is repentant and sad. He never holds a grudge and always wants to please his master. Whenever the master goes, the dog wants to come along, and whereever the master stays, the dog sits by his feet.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could be like that with Jesus? I believe that's how we are supposed to behave. Yet I find that so many Christians behave more like cats than dogs. They are aloof, distant from God, forcing Him to move toward them first, rather than running into his arms. They raise their noses and behave as if the world revolves around them. They are picky with the gifts God gives them, sometimes even rejecting them and walking away. If you've ever owned a cat, you know what I'm talking about! I can never get my cats to do anything I say. They don't come when called. They hide when they know I'm looking for them. They sleep half the day and only give me a cursory glance when I walk into the room.

Oh, how horrible to behave that way with God!!!
Hear the words of Jesus

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:26

Did you notice that Jesus said that where He was, His servants would be also? He didn't say that where His servants were, there He would be also. Yes yes, Jesus is always with us in the sense that He indwells us. But I'm talking about who's following who? How often do we head out on a certain course without consulting God, without praying and waiting for his answer? Whether it be a new job, a decision about a relationship, school, or a trip, we forge ahead and then pray for God to bless it. I can't tell you the times I've heard "I'm just hoping God will bless my efforts."

Are you in His will? Did He lead you to this spot? If so, then of course He'll bless what you're doing. If not, I'd be on my knees finding out if I've headed out to sea without Jesus as the captain of my ship! And if He's not the captain, I'd be worried about who is!

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice John 10:4

So, I challenge you to analyze your reationship with God. Are you more like a cat? Are you indifferent, even unresponsive to God? Do you run and hide when He's looking for you? Is it all about what God can do for you?
Or, like a dog, is there no place you'd rather be than at the feet of your Master?

Tis a Writer's life for me--creating a Heroine

2011-10-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, I shared how I generally start a story by coming up with a theme, some message I feel God wants me to get across in the story. Out of that theme, I create characters who can best express that theme through the plot and the struggles and the changes that happen during the book.

I usually create the hero first. As I mentioned last week, I follow these steps:

I choose a personality from one of several personality types. I don't follow this exclusively. I sometimes combine personalities or I add characteristics of my own. But this gives me a baseline to start with.
Next I give my character a great backstory! I do this by interviewing my character, by filling out a character chart and listing good and bad qualities.
I find a picture that matches what I thnk he or she looks like (I usually just browse online or go to a royalty-free photo website)
And lastly I create both a spiritual arc and character arc for my character.

So now I have my hero. What about a heroine to match?

To create an interesting relationship, you need sparks, chemistry, problems. Let's face it, as nice as a great, loving relationship is, it doesn't make for an interesting read. You want your couple to face problems, both with each other and with the world. They must clash. There must be tension between them, obstacles to overcome. In fact, there must be seemingly unsurrmountable obstacles to overcome! Otherwise, your reader will lose interest. I'm not sure why we humans love conflict but hey, that's a topic for another post.

So how do I choose my heroine? In the case of the book I'm currently writing, Forsaken Dreams, my hero was a Colonel in the Southern army. He lost his brother in the war and his entire family in the Atlanta fire. He suffers from Post traumatic stress syndrome and is bitter, unforgiving, and angry. He hates the North and anything to do with the north.

So, I created a heroine who was married to a Northern General. Though her husband is long dead and her marriage was loveless, she hides this small fact from everyone because she knows her fellow Southerners would ostrasize her as her family has already done.

So of course they fall in love. Talk about conflict! Especially when my hero discovers the truth. But wait, I've also chosen my heroine this way because her past will help my hero learn forgiveness and learn to release his bitterness to God and receive healing for his heart.

Choose a heroine who in some way is in direct opposition to the hero.

A goal that clashes with the heroes (Think Charlisse and Merrick in The Redemption)
A past that the hero cannot accept (Think Hope and Nathaniel in The Blue Enchantress)
A past act that keeps them apart (Think Isabel and Kent in The Restitution)
A heritage that makes them an enemy (Think Rose and Alex in Surrender the Night)
A past that causes intense mistrust (Think Cassandra and Luke in Surrender the Dawn)

I'm sure you can think of others, but you get the point!
Once you have a general idea of your heroine, you can follow the same steps to flesh her out as I used to create my hero.

And voila, you have the makings of a very electric romance!

This is how I pictured Charlisse Bristol in my pirate series!

2011-10-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

What do you think? Is this how you pictured her?

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-10-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Batten down the hatches, grab yer lifelines! Tis a storm!

Here's how I pictured Captain Edmund Merrick from my Pirate series!

2011-10-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

Just with longer hair!!

Did you know you are a Priest?

2011-10-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth Rev 5:10

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:5-6

I guess I've read this Scriptures a thousand times before. I always thought. Oh, how cool! But I never took the time to stop and reflect on what it meant to be a priest. If you are born again and have the Spirit of God living within you, then guess what, you are already a priest.

So, what does a priest do? Here's what I came up with.

A priest offers sacrifices to God on behalf of others
A priest spends a lot of time in God's presence to discern His will.
A priest is God's representative to the people
A priest studies the Word of God
A priest knows the Word of God and teaches the people
A priest comforts those who mourn
A priest encourages those who are weak
A priest warns those who are lost
A priest loves the unlovable
A priest forgives
A priest cares for those in need
A priest offers Godly counsel

Can you think of other things a priest does?
I don't know about you, but as I went through this list, it really convicted me. Am I any of those things? Well, maybe I do some of them on occasion, but do I take my role as priest to a dying world seriously? Or do I spend most of my time thinking of what God can do for me?

No, we can't offer animal sacrifices anymore, but we can offer the sacrifice of our time in prayer for the lost. We can fast and paray for a world that's going to hell. It's so important that we remember that the minute we toss our feet over the side of our bed in the morning, we must put on our priestly robes. Whether we go to school, or stay at home, or go to a job, we are priests to every person we meet.

It's a new mindset for me. A different way to look at my purpose on earth. But it has changed the way I look at life and at people. I am God's representative! What an awesome responsibility! And I must know God's Word so well and know Him so well, that I am ready with a good answer to anyone who questions me, that I'm ready with a word of comfort, of love, of forgiveness. That I let people know I'll pray for them.

I must be Christ on earth.

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 2 Corinthians 1:14-16

Tis a Writer's life for me. Creating a hero!

2011-10-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

This week I started on the first book in my Escape to Paradise series, entitled Forsaken Dreams. Before getting started, I spent a couple of months doing research, reading old journals, taking copius notes, studying the reconstruction in the South after the war...etc.. etc.. Then I spent weeks creating characters, a hero and heroine for each story plus a plethora of secondary characters, all people who are traveling along on the journey to Brazil.

But let's backtrack a bit and start with the hero. How do I create a hero for the book?

First I have to decide on a theme for the book, some moral or lesson I want to express through the story, something the reader can take away, something that might resonate with them and bring them closer to God. I decide this through much prayer and searching of the Scriptures to see what God would have me write about. It could be forgiveness, obedience, destiny, loving others, humility.. you get the picture. Then and only then do I begin to create characters.

You see it is through the characters that this theme will be expressed. It is through their lives and struggles and the things they learn that my message (or the message God gives me) becomes real for the reader. To start with, I create a hero and heroine. If I wasn't writing a romance, I wouldn't need both of them but romance demands a couple! I must create a heroine and hero who are basically good people but they are flawed. (Like most of us!) But I need to create flaws in both of them that can be used to forward the theme. For example if my theme if forgiveness, I need to create a hero who has a problem with forgiveness. It's not always that simple but you get the picture.

In Forsaken Dreams, the hero, Colonel Grant Wallace, has lost his entire family in the war, including his younger brother whom he encouraged to join the effort. Consequently, Grant is bitter and angry and filled with hate for the Yankees. He isn't sure there is even a God anymore, and all he wants to do is escape to a place where he can forget.

Next I choose a personality for my hero. There are many personality charts you can use for this. I use serveral but I like 45 Master Characters by Victoria Schmidt. From the personality or personalities that I choose, these charts give me a list of qualities the person has. I use some of them and add my own to form the person I have in mind.

Now, I give the hero a backstory. I basically write him a history. I do this by filling out character chart listing his fears, dreams, disappointments, physical description, quirks etc. A good way to get to know your character is to interview them as you would a friend. "Hi Grant, where were you born? Did you have any siblings? Were your parents happy? Did you grow up wealthy or poor? What did you want to be when you grew up? How was your relationship with your father?" Things like that. It's actually fun and you'd be surprised at your own answers!

Once I have the hero's personality and backstory, I'm really getting to know him! He's starting to become a real person in my mind. Now, I need to create both a character arc and spiritual arc for him. These tell me how I want him to grow both internally and spiritually in the story. What is Grant like when the story begins, and what do I want him to be like at the end? How does he grow? What things does he learn? And very importantly, how do I get him from A to B?

Last but not least, I go looking for a picture of the man I have created. That puts the final seal on my new guy. He's not just a fragment of my imagination anymore. He's as real as if he were sitting right next to me!

Seems more complicated than you probably thought, huh? Tune in next week when I'll write about how I choose a heroine to compliment my new hero.

Pictures of models for my pirate series book covers!

2011-10-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

I found these old pictures of the actual live models they used for Captain Merrick and Charlisse Bristol, the hero and heroine in the first two books of my Legacy of the King's Pirates series. I thought you'd enjoy them.

Can you see the resemblance to the covers??

This was the only time my publisher allowed me to approve the models used. At the time, I thought it was normal... but I guess not.

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-10-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

Arg, A broadside fer them Spanish Slaggards!

Stop believing the Lies!

2011-10-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

They say that the spiritual battlefield is in the mind. I quite agree! I feel like I'm always in a battle with my thoughts. How about you? Some of it is my old sinful nature shining through. Much of it is Satan and his lies. And LIES are what they are!. It's so important to recognize when a lie has been planted in your mind. Once you do that, you can easily rid yourself of that damaging enemy with the Sword of the Spirit.

So, how do we recognize the lies? Anything that goes against what God's Word says about you, your family, and your life. Don't just allow thoughts to flit about in your mind uninhibited. You must capture each thought and check it against the Truth.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Let me give you some examples from my own life.

Lie
My own father didn't want me. Why would anyone else ever love me?

Truth
God adopted me into his family and now I call him Father.
(I received God’s Spirit when he adopted me as his own daughter. Now I call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15)

Lie
Who do you think you are? You can't write a novel. You don't have the time or the talent.

Truth
God will give me everything I need to do what He calls me to do.
(And God is able to make all grace abound toward me, that I, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8)

Lie
My prodigal children won't ever get saved

Truth
My children will be saved
(But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered Proverbs 11:21
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; They will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water. Isaiah 44: 3-4)

You may have other lies being told to you. Lies like you are worthless, you are ugly, dumb, won't amount to anything, you've made too many mistakes, you're a bad mother, wife, worker. You'll never find someone to love you.. Whatever the lie is, if it goes against the WORD of GOD, IT IS A LIE!. So stop listening to the Father of Lies and search the Bible for the truth that defeats that specific Lie. It takes discipline. It takes studying the Bible daily. But it's worth it! So, read the Word of God and ask Him to show you His truth.

I created a document with 2 columns. On the left side, I wrote all the lies I've been told my entire life (some I'm still being told). On the right column I list the truth and the Scriptures to back it up. Then I hung it up somewhere where I can easily see it and everytime the enemy lies to me, I counter with a Scripture.

If you do the same, you'll soon find that the lies will not come as often. Not only that but you'll start believing the truth. When your mind is filled with the truth of God's Word, it becomes renewed, and you have the mind of Christ. Then, watch out world! Nothing will be impossible for you!

Win a free Tote bag with 4 books inside!

2011-10-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't it cute? I have two of these tote bags to give away, each with 4 books inside. One of my own books and 3 others from other authors that I've read and recommend.

All you have to do is write a NEW review of one of my books on any of the following online stores. Reviews you've already written in the past do not count. I'm looking for new reviews. However, if you've written reviews for All of my books at All of these sites, let me know and I'll enter your name anyway. Thanks!

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Christianbook.Com

When you've written your review, send an email to marylu_tyndall@yahoo.com with the following informaton:

The name you placed the review under
The book you reviewed
The online store you reviewed in at.

And I will enter your name in a drawing! The more books you review in the more places, the more times your name gets put in the pot.

If you've never written a review before, don't be shy. It's easy. Just tell people what you liked about the book without giving too much of the story away. What about the story did you like? The characters? Did the book keep you up at night? Did it teach you anything. It doesn't have to be long and it doesn't have to be a 5 star review either.

I will draw a name on December 9th!
Have a wonderful weekend!!

Pictures from Hawaii!

2011-10-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know Brenda, a sweet lady and friend from Canada who often posts on my blog. Well, she was fortunate enough to spend a few weeks in Hawaii last month. She sent me some beautiful pictures and I thought I'd share them with you. Enjoy!

Gorgeous Sunset

Beautiful Hawaiian Girls

Flamingos! We had these in Florida

Ah.. the beach!

A heron, I think?

Crashing surf!

Wish I was there!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-10-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Come aboard, we sail at dawn!

Ways God Speaks to us - Part 3

2011-10-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

In the past two posts, I mentioned 4 ways that I've noticed God speaks to us and I gave you examples of the first three. If you missed them, please check the archives. My hope is that many of you have begun to realize that God has been speaking to you for years and perhaps you didn't know it. If you did know it, I hope I've given you affirmation of God's constant presence and involvement in your life.

Here are the four ways. (Not an exhaustive list. Just my experience)

Gently guiding us / Revealing
Discerning/Perceiving
Direct speech by Angels
Direct speech by Holy Spirit

Today we will deal with the fourth way God speaks to us and the most rare. Directly. I'm including dreams and visions in this category because through them God is speaking to us one on one. Here are some examples from Scripture. Notice how specific the communication is:

Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus in Acts 9 where Jesus Himself calls to Saul saying "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul answers and he and Jesus tells him to go into the city and wait.

Ananias, the same chapter, received specific communication from Jesus in a vision telling him to go to a certain house and lay hands on Saul to receive his sight.

Peter sees a vision while on the housetop in which Jesus tells him specifically that "What God has cleansed, you must not call common." Jesus was instructing Peter to accept Gentile believers into the fold.

Philip was instructed by an angel to travel down a certain road where he saw a chariot and a eunuch in it who was reading Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” So he did and was able to explain the Scriptures to this man and he believed!

Acts 18: Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Acts 23: But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

So, you see that when the Lord speaks to us directly, it's normally to give us specific directions or tell us specifically what to do or what will happen. Isn't that amazing? Some people would say.. yea, that was in Acts. Things like that don't happen today? Really?

I'll give you an example from my own experience. Years ago, I was stuck in a dead-end job that I absolutely hated. I had been a Christian for a few years and I was begging God to deliver me. I was sure He had something else for me to do with my life. I had spent years searching different job opportunities.. school options.. and came up empty. Finally at the end of my prayer walk one morning before work, I simply lifted my hands and gave it all up. I completely surrendered to God and told Him that I'd stay where I was.. that I'd scrub toilets for a living if that's what He wanted. I felt such peace after that and a couple yards later as I was nearly home I heard this voice. It wasn't audible. It came from deep within me. And it spoke with authority and yet it was full of joy. The voice said. "I've got something for you to do that will blow your socks off!" It literally said that. I laughed at first. But then I wondered where it came from because I wasn't thinking about jobs or my future anymore, I was just praying. So, I told God that if that was Him, Thank-you and I went on my way. At the time I wasn't writing anything. I hadn't written in years.. but two years later, I got my first publishing contract and they've been coming ever since. I now know that was God's voice I heard.

Since then I've heard Him speak directly to me several times. Usually in instruction or answering a question or just telling me He loves me. Sometimes it's a warning. People tell me it's just my imagination. Satan tries to tell me I'm crazy, but I know the Lord's voice.

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:4

How do you know it's the Lord and not you or Satan? Here's some criteria that may help you.

It's clear and specific.
It's directed at you
It brings peace
It is authoritative
It seems to come out of nowhere when you least expect it.
It never defies anything in Scripture.

So, what about you? I'd love to hear your stories!! Have you heard from God?

Tis a writer's life for me!

2011-10-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Can you get too close to the story you're writing?

The answer is YES. I've been working all week on edits for my next release Veil of Pearls. Just when I thought I was done with the story, it shows up in my email once again!! You see there are two kinds of edits in the publishing business. A substantive edit and a line edit. The substantive edit reveals things that don't make sense, holes in the plot, characters that need some work, things like that. Usually, my edits on these are pretty light. This time. Not so much! In fact, I had to delete an entire chapter! Plus move several scenes around, introduce a new character, etc.. etc.. Of course once you do that, everything else in the story is affected. Sigh. But, I have until next Friday so I should be good. It's just HARD WORK. (Just in case there are any wanna be writers out there who think my life is easy!)

My problem this time? I think I was just too close to the whole story. And because I was rushed, I didn't take the time to ponder things. Pondering is a good thing for all you writers out there. I highly recommend it. All it requires is stepping away from the computer, talking a walk, thinking about what you just wrote and any upcoming scenes and working through the details, making sure everything makes sense. If you don't do that. If you get rushed, things can end up garbled. But Thank God for good Editors!!! Mine is Traci Depree.. a lovely lady and an author herself. She always catches my goofs. God love her!
Never fear, though, the story is going to be FABULOUS! I'm very excited about it.

So, other than that what have I been doing? Well, I hired some maids (very cheap ones) to clean my filthy house and they spent 3 hours getting it spotless! They even got the wood floors so clean, my hubby and my stepson and I are slipping on them. I even fell once! Not complaining, though. I just haven't had time lately to clean.

We went and saw Courageous last week. Check for the post on my review. Go see it!!! Bring the men in your life!!
My best friend is moving away.
I found out another good friend doesn't have cancer! Praise God!
I made an appointment to be tested for Sleep Apnea. Uggg. I don't think I have it, but I do wake up alot.
And my hubby and I are enjoying the new show, Person of Interest, with Jim Cavaziel. Hubba hubba. (The hubba hubba is for both my hubby and Jim)

What's new with you this week?

Rainy and cold in California!.

2011-10-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Last week I had my shorts and T-shirt on and it was 85. This week, I have jeans and a sweater, and it's 65. What the heck? I guess Fall is here. Plus it's raining! I always love the first rain of the season (For those of you who don't live in California, it doesn't rain all summer!) The air smells so fresh and clean and somehow, its as if the parched land just breathes a sigh of relief. Soon, all the brown hills will turn green again.
That part is good. The part that is bad is that the rain won't stop until April! But I suppose that will help me stay inside and get all my books written!!
What's it like where you are?

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-10-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

Abandon ship! Head for the lifeboats!

Ways God speaks to us - Part 2

2011-10-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

God wants to talk to you. Does that surprise you? It did me at first. I mean, why would God want to talk to little ole me? But the truth of the matter is He does. He's desperate to talk to us. All you have to do is read through His Word to see that. Repeatedly throughout History, God reached out to mankind, through direct communication, through signs, wonders, prophets and finally by sending His one and only Son. Today we have the Holy Spirit who fills us and guides us and tells us things the Father wants us to know. If you're a believer in Christ, you are adopted in God's family. He is your father. And like a good father, He wants to be involved in your life. He Loves to spend time with you. Wants to talk with you. .

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “ Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

Last week I mentioned 4 ways that I've noticed God speaks to us and gave you examples of the first two. I hope that perhaps you thought of moments in your life when God spoke to you and you didn't even realize it.

Gently guiding us / Revealing
Discerning/Perceiving
Direct speech by Angels
Direct speech by Holy Spirit

Today, I'll cover the third way God speaks to us. Theses last two ways are far more rare than the first two, but they do happen, and they've happened to me.

Do Angels speak to us? Yes. Absolutely! They spoke to people in the Bible all the time. They spoke to people after Jesus's Resurrection as well. And they've probably spoken to you too!
You just may not have recognized it.

I believe we each have an angel or at times, multiples angels assigned to watch over us. The Bible is clear on this:
For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways Psalm 91:11
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven Matthew 18:10
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels Hebrews 13:2
An example of an angel speaking to someone after the resurrection can be found in John 20 when Mary went to the tomb to see Jesus, an angel appeared to her and spoke to her, telling her Jesus had arisen.

I believe I had a personal encounter with an angel once. Maybe she was even my guardian angel. I was walking on the trail behind my house as I do every day. This was before I was an author and I had to go walk early in the morning before I went to work. It was my quiet prayer time, the only place I could go to be alone. Usually, there's no one up there at that hour. It's barely dawn and everything is misty and cold. I reached the end of the trail, turned to head back and there appeared before me a woman.. probably 30ish. Young. Attractive but not in a made up way. She had a gorgeous dog with her. It looked like an Alaskan Malamute with bright blue eyes. I was startled because there had been no one following me on the trail and there's no place she could have come from. And I hadn't heard her at all. She smiled at me as she passed. And she said "God Bless you." That's it. Just God bless you. Now, let me tell you that nobody says "God Bless you" here in California.. not unless you're in church! In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't outlawed soon. So I was so stunned, I kept walking, shaking my head. After a few minutes, I turned around and she was gone.

Was she an angel? I don't know. Have other angels spoken to me in my lifetime? Probably. Just don't discount the stranger who appears in your life with a word. Check it with Scripture. Ask God if that was from Him. And if it is.. be blessed!

On a side note, I know of a very Godly, trustworthy man whose guardian angel frequently appears to him. My husband has also seen angels on several occasions. They exist. They are God's messengers and their purpose is to minister to God's kids. Don't worship them. Don't fear them. But open your spirit to believe they exist and to receive whatever they have to tell you.

Can you think of a time you might have had an encounter with an angel?

Tune in next week for the final way God speaks to us--directly.

Courageous - my review!

2011-10-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Courageous - the Movie! My thoughts.

First of all, it's GREAT to see a movie that has no sex or violence or foul words, but even more than that, a movie that has a great theme, a moral, and talks freely about God and the Bible. All in all, I thought the movie was pretty good. It kept my attention, had great drama and action. Hey, I even cried!! On the down side, the acting wasn't superb and the plot seemed to wane in the beginning. But I could set that all aside due to the fabulous theme of Fathers stepping up to be Leaders, the Protectors, the Instructors, the Providers, and the Spiritual Guides of their wives and children!! We see so little of that in this culture. I, for, one grew up without a Dad so I understand first hand the horrible effect that can have on a child's sense of belonging and value.

The Movie is an appeal to Fathers to step Up! To not be ashamed to be Men of God. To be courageous enough to take a stand against this culture and say I am a man of God. I will be faithful to my wife and cherish her! I will spend time with my kids and instruct them with Biblical principles! If even half the Christian men in this country would do this, we could change the next generation and quite possibly save our country from its present course!

So, I highly recommend you grab your neighbors and friends and go see this movie. I truly believe that those men who open their hearts to its message will be forever changed and will leave a legacy of honor and integrity after they die.

I highly recommend this book, releasing today!!

2011-10-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

A Necessary Deception
Laurie Alice Eakes
Publisher: Revell

When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreamed he would turn up in her parlor. But just as the London Season is getting under way, there he is, along with a few other questionable personages. While she should be focused on helping her headstrong younger sister prepare for her entré into London society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting her family in danger?

Readers will enjoy being drawn into this world of elegance and intrigue, balls and masquerades. Author Laurie Alice Eakes whisks readers through the drawing rooms of London amid the sound of rustling gowns on this exciting quest to let the past stay in the past and let love guide the future.

Available at Christianbook.com and Amazon

Endorsements

Four-Star Review from Romantic Times

"The first in Eakes’ Daughters of Bainbridge House series, this is a great Regency-era novel with characters who may not be who people think they are." --Patsy Glans

"With her clean, sleek prose, Laurie Alice Eakes is one of the best storytellers the world has today. A Necessary Deception is one of her best, deftly weaving an intriguing spy chase with the elegant life of the ton in a beautiful love story that kidnaps unwitting readers and holds them hostage to the very last page."--Delle Jacobs, award-winning author of His Majesty, the Prince of Toads

"In A Necessary Deception, Laurie Alice Eakes weaves the fine silk threads of historical richness, dangerous intrigue, and forbidden romance into a flawless literary tapestry. This is Georgette Heyer meets Terri Blackstock in 1812 Regency London, an adventure that will leave readers breathless."--Louise M. Gouge, award-winning author of At the Captain's Command

"Laurie Alice Eakes writes a page-turning story with an in-depth knowledge of the period, an eye for detail, and an escalating mystery that will keep readers guessing till the end."--Ruth Axtell Morren, author of Wild Rose and The Rogue's Redemption

"Intriguing, suspenseful, masterful, and romantic--all the things you want in a great book! Add to that enchanting characters with real problems and real flaws who grow throughout the story, and a twist-and-turn plot, and I guarantee that once you dive into this book, you'll be happily lost in Regency London for the duration."--MaryLu Tyndall, Christy Award nominee and author of the Surrender to Destiny series, Hey!! That's me!! LOL

"Laurie Alice Eakes's novel is a captivating combination of romance and suspense set in the glittering Regency period."--Jane Myers Perrine, author of Second Chance Bride

"A Necessary Deception will lure you into a fascinating Regency full of danger, surprises, and a romance to quicken your pulse."--Jillian Kent, author of Secrets of the Heart

"A time of romance and intrigue with characters who grip one's heart and won't let go--this is the kind of book I look forward to reading when I want to be uplifted and carried away."--Jennifer Hudson Taylor, author of Highland Blessings and Highland Sanctuary

And the Winner of The Talk Like A Pirate Quiz is::::!!!!

2011-09-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

Kirsten!!!! Congratulations, Kirsten!
All of ye did fairly, says I, but I must say, if ye mean to be pirates, ye'll be needin' to bonin' up on yer pirate slang else no decent pirate will be able to understand ye and visa versa.
Only one of ye got ALL the answers correct. An' that be Lauri Pierce. Lauri, a fair pirate ye appear to be! Me thinks ye deserve a special prize. Hmmm.

Okay here be the answers:

Why listen to the lad! He's naught but a saucy malapert ruffler.

A. A perky, ignorant person
B. A disrespectful, mouthy man
C. A discontented sailor
D. A pirate who's sick all the time

What's this? All niminy-piminy affectations and , save for lace ruffles, all sable black from trucks to keelson
A. Pirate whose in touch with his feminine side
B. Sailor who is constantly whining like a baby
C. Man who loves to dance constantly
D. A hypocrite

The pewling spawn, how I despise them!
A. A sailor who sings off key
B. A pirate whose sunburnt skin constantly peels
C. A whining, whimpering fool
D. A pirate who stinks

So whose fault is it anyway that ye've ended up a rumpot deckhand which takes orders from pirates.
A. A drunk
B. A pirate with a beer belly
C. A sailor who is so fat, he can barely move
D. Beef-witted man

A mite too fast these light-footed wenchers be for the likes of an ol' swag-bellied pirate such as I
A. overhanging belly
B. A decorative scarf tied about the waist
C. A pirate with his pockets full of fruit
D. A pirate whose belly is tied to the anchor chain

Englishmen! Naught but whey faced slouching wastrels!
A. Face lined like wheat
B. Skin puckered like porridge
C. White faced from fright
D. Pirates who smell like cheese

You're supposed to be King's men, not bard slabs
A. A person who wears garish or ridiculous clothing
B. Lazy good for nothings
C. Frightened stiff
D. court jesters

Pieces of Eight! Pieces of Eight! Who hailed ye, ye old bumboat!
A. Bt full of ninnies
B. A peddler selling goods to pirates
C. Something that is shabby or inadequate
D. Prison ship for pirates

Ahoy yonder, what's to be done with that old cake's dough!
A. Hopeless, used up pirate
B. Fat pirate
C. Lazy pirate
D. Pirate who loves sweets

Ah, run fer yer lives. The curse to the main be here!
A. A superstition bringing a bad omen
B. A man or thing that threatens to break the mainmast
C. A pirate song that is terribly off-key
D. A difficult person. A pain in the you know what

I hope you all had fun with our talk like a pirate day contest. And I also hope you had a chance to check out Jamie Carrie's blog and contest as well! Regardless of whether you won, I hope you'll check out her new release Pirate of my Heart, and my newly released Pirate series as well. (Legacy of the King's Pirates), as well as our other books.

God bless you all! Have a great weekend! May God grant ye fair winds an' a clear horizon!!!

Avast! There be a pirate in me backyard!

2011-09-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

No, it's not another lady pirate post. It's me!! Just showing off me new pirate garb!! Do I look scary??

I'll be on a live online chat tonight if you care to drop by and chat with me. Ask a question, give me an opinion.. whatever. Here's the link:

Gather.com

Chat is from 9:00 PM EST to 10. You have to join Gather but it's free!.

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-09-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

A secret cave where treasure be hidden!

Ways God speaks to us

2011-09-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

A few Mondays ago, I posted a blog about keeping our prayers short and learning to spend time quietly in God's presence. Learning to do this has been an uphill battle for someone like me. My mind is always spinning, spinning out of control, going through lists of things I need to accomplish and problems to solve. I'm easily distracted and can often think of more than one thing at a time. Sound like you too?

Never fear! It just takes discipline like everything in life. Whenever my mind drifts, I jerk it right back. Sometimes I sing or hum a praise song while I'm thinking of God's goodness. That seems to help. But I'm still working on it every day. Why? Because I truly want to hear from God.

Like anything, I believe hearing from God takes practice and discipline. It takes work. We must train our spiritual senses to discern things in the spiritual realm.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil Hebrews 5:12-14

So, how does God speak to us? My bet is that God has been speaking to you for years and you simply haven't recognized Him. In my experience, God speaks to us in four ways.

Gently guiding us / Revealing
Discerning/Perceiving
Direct speech by Angels
Direct speech by Holy Spirit

Gentle Guiding. This is probably the most common. And the one most people are completely unaware of
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Examples of guiding/revealing:

You're reading the Bible and a verse pops out at you, and oddly it applies to your situation perfectly.
You hear a particular verse three times or more. On the radio, at a sermon, in a song, and/or in your personal reading
A friend says something to you that matches something that you've had on your mind for awhile
A series of unusual events occur which lead you down a certain path, or to a specific job.
You just "happen" to run into someone you haven't seen in awhile and the meeting changes your life.
You had a vision or a dream that showed you something important
All of a sudden, you think about someone you haven't thought about in awhile.
You have a burning desire in your heart to do something specific. In my case, it was write a novel about a Christian pirate!

Here's some examples from Scripture

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Matt 16:17

There was a man in the temple in Jerusalem waiting for the Messiah
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ Luke 2:26

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Phill 3:15-16

Examples of discernment/perceiving

The first time you knew in your heart that God was real, He loves you, and Jesus died for you.
You've been on multiple job interviews but you just "know" you're going to get this particular one. You don't know how you know.. but the minute you walked into the company, you knew.
You have a feeling inside that a friend is in need. She or he is always on your mind lately, so you call and find out they are having a hard day.
You walk into a place and a heaviness comes upon you. You get a sick feeling in your gut, uncomfortable. The place is probably filled with demons and wickedness, though you may not see it on the outside
You sense someone is lying to you
You feel the presence of God, a sense of hope and love.
You just "know" God has something important for you to do with your life. Or your "just know" something is about to happen.
You make a descision and know inside it wasn't right. Or alternatively, you know inside that it was the right one

All through the Gospels, we see Jesus 'perceiving' many different things through the power of the Holy Spirit. What people were thinking, feeling, what they held in high regard.

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’ Mark 2:8

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Luke 8:46

Well, you may say, that's Jesus. I'm just human. Certainly I can't perceive these things. Yet, Jesus told us we would do even greater works than He did when the Holy Spirit came upon us, didn't He? So why can't God grant you supernatural wisdom in certain situations when you ask Him?

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father John 14:12

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him James 1:5

So, do you still think you can't hear from God? Can you think of other examples from your own experience of guiding/revealing/discerning and perceiving?

Tune in next week when I'll cover direct words from God!

Last Day of Women Pirates!! Caribbean pirate - Anne Dieu-le-Veut!

2011-09-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Anne Dieu-le-Veut was born around 1650 in France. Her birth-given name was Marianne Dieu-le Veut, which means “Anne Gods-Want-It”. This was true, because whenever she wanted something, her will was so strong, it was as if the gods wanted it too. Not much else is known about her.

Later on, she married a buccaneer named Pierre Length. In 1683, Anne’s husband was killed by another famous buccaneer, named Laurens de Graff in a bar fight. Anne challenged Laurens to duel to avenge her husband’s death (and Laurens also possibly insulted her). But Laurens would not fight a woman. So, heproposed to her on the spot, in admiration of her courage (They never married, because Laurens already had a wife. However, he had abandoned her many years before, but from that point on, they were seen as man and wife).

Anne shared Laurens work, and commanded the ship in the same fashion as Anne Bonny and Calico Jack. Unlike Mary Read, Anne did not disguise herself as a man. This aroused a lot of attention and mostly fascination. Usually, women were considered bad luck on a ship. But Anne was considered a bringer of good luck.
Anne’s most famous tale begins when Anne and Laurens were attacking a Spanish ship. A canon ball killed Laurens, so Anne took his place as captain. Eventually, Anne and her crew were captured.Taken first to Vera Cruz in Mexico, and then to Cartagena in Colombia, both of which were cities earlier sacked by Laurens, to be judged, Anne’s fame was so great that when the French Marin Secretary of Pontchartrain heard of this, he wrote to Louis XIV of France and asked him to make the king of Spain intervene. Anne was then freed as a special service between kings, and she was never heard of again. Anne’s daughter (she was said to have had two, born in the early 1690s) was said to have lived in Haiti, where she became known for having performed a duel with a man. Like mother, like daughter!

I hope you've enjoyed our journey back into history as we have looked at women who defied all convention and set sail upon the glorious seas!

Charlotte de Berry - Fiction or Fact? We may never know

2011-09-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Born 1636 in England. In her mid to late teens, Charlotte de Berry fell in love with a sailor and, against her parents' will, married him. Disguised as a man, she followed him on board his ship and fought alongside him. Her true identity was discovered by an officer who kept this knowledge to himself, wanting de Berry. He assigned her husband to the most dangerous jobs, which he survived thanks to his wife's help. The officer finally accused Charlotte's husband of mutiny, of which he was found guilty based on an officer's word against that of a common sailor. He was punished by being flogged through the fleet, which, as the officer had hoped, killed him. The officer then made advances towards Charlotte, which she refused. The next time they were in port she killed the officer and sneaked away, dressing again as a woman and working on the docks.

While de Berry worked on the docks, a captain of a merchant ship saw her and kidnapped her. He forced de Berry to marry him and took her away on his trip to Africa. To escape her new husband, who was a brutal rapist and tyrant, de Berry gained the respect of the crew and persuaded them to mutiny. In revenge, she decapitated her husband and became captain of the ship.

After years of pirating, de Berry fell in love with a Spaniard. However, they were shipwrecked after days of hunger, they drew straws to see who would be eaten first, unfortunately, it was de Berry's husband. The survivors of her crew were rescued by a Dutch ship, and when that ship was attacked by pirates, they bravely defended their rescuers. While the others celebrated victory, Charlotte jumped overboard in order to join her dead husband. No one knows if she survived or not

Jacquotte Delahaye

2011-09-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Jacquotte Delahaye (17th century), was a French pirate, or Buccaneer, and together with Anne Dieu-Le-Veut one of very few female buccaneers.
She was active in the 1660s, came from Haiti, her father was French and her mother Haitian. She is described as a great beauty who became a pirate after her father was killed. It is rumored that her mother died in childbirth. Her brother suffered from mild retardation and was left in her care after her father's death.

To escape her pursuers, she faked her own death and took on an alias, living as a man for many years. Upon returning she became known as "back from the dead red" because of her striking red hair.