I’m very excited to have Linore Rose Burkard with me today. She writes Inspirational Regencies. Her tagline is Inspirational romance for the Jane Austen soul. Oh that’s me all right. I’m looking forward to reading her book myself. She’s even offered to giveaway a copy if we can get at least 10 commenters over to the blog today. So call your friends and come over and leave Linore a comment or question.
Biography:
Linore Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency England era (circa 1800 – 1830). Ms. Burkard’s novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy a romance that reminds you happy endings are possible for everyone.
Q&A with Linore:
Linore, what drew you to writing Regency Romance novels?
Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen books gave me a love for the period, and there weren’t any Christian regencies to be found. I wanted to change that.
Where did you find your inspiration for Ariana and Phillip?
I’m not sure. I think they’re both amalgamations of people I’ve read about and known.
What do you think we could learn today from how society operated in the Regency period?
England in the 1800s is a world away from the 21st century. Times have changed, but people haven’t. Men and women of the time were concerned with their appearances, their finances, their futures, finding the right spouse, and so on, just as we are, today. How they went about pursuing these ends is where all the difference lies, however, and this is precisely where the interest and adventure opens up for writers. Bringing to life the means and methods of everyday life and timeless concerns from the regency. It is fun and enlightening as a glimpse into the past, but readers can also identify with the basic human need to be genuinely loved for oneself, no matter the setting or time period, and to be certain of one’s convictions concerning life, eternity, and faith. Having said that, it is good to remind modern readers that valuing one’s purity can be mainstream, as it was then; or that the struggle to find a true love and a sense that one’s life has value, has always been a human issue.
What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
I hope my readers will feel as though they’ve been transported to the Regency for a good, satisfying visit; While they’re visiting, they’ll be reminded that God is involved in their life, and that happy endings are possible for everyone.
Any Regency romance is going to be compared to Jane Austen’s novels ~ how are your books similar / different?
I don’t think most regencies are written with this comparison in mind at all. However, other people say my book is “Austen-like.” That is a huge compliment, and one I would love to live up to.
The sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square, is releasing in 2009.
Do you have more Regency novels planned?
My editor and I are tossing around ideas right now. I do have a few more regencies in mind.
What are you working on at the moment? A sneak peek, please.
I’m exploring whether to do a third book in the Regency Series, which at present is comprised of Before the Season Ends, and The House in Grosvenor Square. Book three would begin about five years later (about 1818) and follow the lives of a number of people who were introduced in the first two books. I would also probably introduce one new couple.
Do you ever bang your head against the wall from the dreaded writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?
I do something else. If I can’t write a scene for a book, I can always write an article. I can update my blog. I can’t really force a scene when it isn’t coming; I find that getting busy and doing something else is the best thing I can do for the book and for me (rather than beat myself up). One thing about having an online presence today is that there is never a shortage of tasks to be done, including a great many writing tasks. Since I write historical (regency) romance, there are always tons of subjects I can research and write about, putting them into articles for my ezine, or out there on the web.
Novelists sometimes dig themselves into a hole over implausible plots, flat characters, or a host of other problems. What’s the most difficult part of writing for you (or was when you first started on your novel journey)?
I think for me the biggest challenge was to believe that I could write a novel in small increments. As a mom of five, four of whom are still home year-round (one is in college), having frequent interruptions is a fact of life. Writing takes a concentration so deep so that when I first started doing scenes, I would find myself getting woozy after standing up. I was shocked at the level of exertion it took to use my brain that hard, I guess! <laughs> It happens less now–I guess I’ve grown accustomed to it. And I’ve learned to appreciate those small blocks of time. Ten minutes in a waiting room can yield a part of a scene I couldn’t get done at home. Every little bit counts. I don’t despise small beginnings. There are times when I’m in a deep level of involvement with a story or a character, and then getting interrupted can break the mood; but I’m getting better all the time at picking up where I left off, no matter how deeply I’ve got to dive to get back into the character or situation. For people like me with busy households, this is a must-have ability. I believe it can be the difference between making that deadline or not.
How did (or do) you climb out (overcome it)?
If I do get stuck at some point in the plot, I let it simmer in my mind. I also exercise–for some reason, when I am physically active, my brain gets going in a way that doesn’t always happen when I’m sitting with my laptop before me. Swimming and doing the treadmill (walking) almost always result in wonderful new ideas I just can ‘t wait to get on paper. Sometimes, I’ve even had to stop walking and run to the pc just to get the idea down so I don’t forget. By the way, I always pray for the right idea, too. There is no better writer than God.
The second “nifty” way to solve a plot (or other) problem in a book is to let it sit awhile without reading it. When you come back to it after a long enough interval (as long as you can give it) solutions just present themselves. I find the same thing happens to me with crossword puzzles–if I’m stuck, I put it down and when I come back to it–even an hour later–the word is there. So the key is, give yourself permission to take a break.
Some authors report writing 5-10 thousand words a day. Do scenes flow freely from your veins, or do you have to tweeze each word out?
In general, I write more than I need and later have to cut back. I don’t use a word count, but I may set a goal of one chapter a day or two chapters for a busy week. Other times, I don’t think in terms of chapters at all, just events. I may break an event down into four scenes, say, and so my goal for that day will be to get the whole event on paper. In other words, finish the four scenes. Life changes so rapidly with the children, that for me, a hard and fast writing goal just wouldn’t work. And, I focus on results, not time spent. Instead of, “Now I’ll write for three hours,” I say, “Now I’ll have this or that happen to a character, or, ‘I’ll show a different side to this person.” When I have accomplished that goal, no matter how long it took, I feel satisfied, and only then.
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Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Chesterton, Hertfordshire: England – 1813
Something would have to be done about Ariana.
All winter Miss Ariana Forsythe, aged nineteen, had been going about the house sighing.
“Mr. Hathaway is my lot in life!”
She spoke as though the prospect of that life was a great burden to bear, but one which she had properly reconciled herself to. When her declarations met with exasperation or reproach from her family–for no one else was convinced Mr. Hathaway, the rector, was her lot–she usually responded in a perplexed manner. Hadn’t they understood for an age that her calling was to wed a man of the cloth? Was there another man of God, other than their rector, available to her? No. It only stood to reason, therefore, that Mr. Hathaway was her lot in life. Their cold reception to the thought of the marriage was unfathomable.
When she was seventeen, (a perfectly respectable marrying age) she had romantic hopes about a young and brilliant assistant to the rector, one Mr. Stresham. It was shortly after meeting him, in fact, that she had formed the opinion the Almighty was calling her to marry a man of God. Mr. Stresham even had the approval of her parents. But the man took a situation in another parish without asking Ariana to accompany him as his wife. She was disappointed, but not one to give up easily, continued to speak of “the calling,” waiting in hope for another Mr. Stresham of sorts. But no man came. And now she had reached the conclusion that Mr. Hathaway–Mr. Hathaway, the rector, (approaching the age of sixty!) would have to do.
Her parents, Charles and Julia Forsythe, were sitting in their comfortably furnished morning room, Julia with a cup of tea before her, and Charles with his newspaper. A steady warmth was emanating from the hearth.
“What shall we do about Ariana?” Mrs. Forsythe, being an observant mama, had been growing in her conviction that the situation called for some action.
“What do you suggest, my dear?” Her husband reluctantly folded his paper; he knew his wife wanted a discussion of the matter and that he would get precious little reading done until she had got it.
She held up a folded piece of foolscap: the annual letter from Agatha Bentley, Charles’s sister, asking for Alberta, the eldest Forsythe daughter, for the season in London. It had arrived the day before.
Aunt Bentley was a childless wealthy widow and a hopeless socialite. For the past three years she had written annually to tell her brother and his wife why they ought to let her sponsor their eldest daughter for a London season. She owned a house in Mayfair (could anything be more respectable than that?) and knew a great deal of the big-wigs in society. She had, in fact, that most important of commodities which the Forsythes completely lacked: connexions. And as Charles’s family were her only living relatives, she was prepared–even anxious–to serve as chaperon for her niece.
Much to the lady’s frustration, Julia and Charles had annually extinguished her hopes, replying to her letters graciously but with the inevitable, “We cannot countenance a separation from our child at this time,” and so on. Charles was unflinching on this point, never doubting his girls would reap a greater benefit by remaining beneath his own roof. They knew full well, moreover, that Aunt Agatha could not hope, with all her money and connexions to find as suitable a husband for their offspring as was possible right in Chesterton.
Why not? For the profound reason that Aunt Bentley had no religion whatsoever.
And yet, due to the distressing state of affairs with Ariana, Julia wished to consider her latest offer. With the letter waving in her hand she said, “I think we ought to oblige your sister this year. She must be lonely, poor thing, and besides removing Ariana from the parish, a visit to the city could prove beneficial for her education.”
Ariana’s father silently considered the matter. His eldest daughter Alberta was as good as wed, having recently accepted an offer of marriage–to no one’s surprise–from John Norledge. Ariana, his second eldest, had been irksome in regard to the rector, but to pack her off to London? Surely the situation was not so dire as to warrant such a move.
“I think there is nothing else for it,” Mrs. Forsythe said emphatically. “Ariana is determined about Mr. Hathaway and, even though we can forbid her to speak to the man, she will pine and sigh and like as not drive me to distraction!”
Taking a pipe out of his waistcoat pocket (though he never smoked), Mr. Forsythe absently rubbed the polished wood in his fingers.
“I recall other fanciful notions of our daughter’s,” he said finally, “and they slipped away in time. Recall, if you will, when she was above certain her destiny was to be a missionary–to America. That desire faded. She fancies this, she fancies that; soon she will fancy another thing entirely, and we shan’t hear another word about the ‘wonderful rector’ again.”
Mrs. Forsythe’s countenance, still attractive in her forties, became fretful.
“I grant that she has had strong…affections before. But this time, my dear, it is a complicated affection for in this case it is the heart of the ah, affected, which we must consider. It has ideas of its own.”
“Of its own?”
Mrs. Forsythe looked about the room to be certain no one else had entered. The servants were so practiced at coming and going quietly, their presence might not be marked. But no, there was only the two of them. She lowered her voice anyway.
“The rector! I do not think he intends to lose her! What could delight him more than a young, healthy wife who might fill his table with offspring?”
Mr. Forsythe shook his head.”Our rector is not the man to think only of himself; he must agree with us on the obvious unsuitability of the match.”
The rector was Thaddeus Admonicus Hathaway, of the Church in the Village Square. Mr. Hathaway was a good man. His sermons were grounded in sound religion, which meant they were based on orthodox Christian teaching. He was clever, and a popular dinner guest of the gentry, including the Forsythes. If these had not been true of him, Mr. Forsythe might have been as concerned as his wife. Knowing Mr. Hathaway, however, Charles Forsythe did not think a drastic action such as sending his daughter to the bustling metropolis of London, was necessary.
Mrs. Forsythe chose not to argue with her spouse. She would simply commit the matter to prayer. If the Almighty decided that Ariana must be removed to Agatha’s house, then He would make it clear to her husband. In her years of marriage she had discovered that God was the Great Communicator, and she had no right to try and usurp that power. Her part was to pray, sincerely and earnestly.
Mr. Forsythe gave his judgment: “I fear that rather than exerting a godly influence upon her aunt, Ariana would be drawn astray by the ungodliness of London society.”
“Do you doubt her so much, Charles? This infatuation with Mr. Hathaway merely results from her youth, her admiration for his superior learning, and especially,” she said, leaning forward and giving him a meaningful look, “for lack of a young man who has your approval! Have you not frowned upon every male who has approached her in the past? Why, Mr. Hathaway is the first whom you have failed to frighten off and only because he is our rector! ‘Tis little wonder a young girl takes a fanciful notion into her head!”
When he made no answer, she added, while adjusting the frilly morning cap on her head, “Mr. Hathaway causes me concern!”
Mr. Forsythe’s countenance was sober. “‘Tis my sister who warrants the concern. She will wish to make a match for our daughter–and she will not be content with just any mister I assure you. In addition to which, a girl as pretty as our daughter will undoubtedly attract attention of the wrong sort.”
Julia was flustered for a second, but countered, “Agatha is no threat to our child. We shall say we are sending Ariana to see the sights, take in the museums and so forth. Surely there is no harm in that. A dinner party here or there should not be of concern. And Ariana is too intelligent to allow herself to be foisted upon an unsuitable man for a fortune or title.”
Too intelligent? He thought of the aging minister that no one had had to “foist” her upon. Aloud he merely said, “I shall speak with her tonight. She shall be brought to reason, depend upon it. There will be no need to pack her off to London.”
Remember to leave a comment today and you might win a copy of Before the Season Ends. Look for it in your local bookstores today. Thanks for being here, Linore.
Please welcome this week’s guest, Kim Watters. She has books released through Avalon Books and The Wild Rose Press. Today she’s come to tell us more about her Inspirational Romantic Suspense title: Web of Deceit. Don’t you just love the cover? It depicts the tone of the story so well. Welcome Kim! Thanks for coming by to talk with me today.
Hi Cindy. Good to be here today.
To start off, why don’t you tell us a bit about Web of Deceit.
Web of Deceit is a book about homecomings and second chances at love that revolves around a gun smuggling operation. The heroine, Faith, returns to her home town after her husband disappears. She’s not certain if he is dead, which comes in direct conflict with her faith when she discovers old feelings for a friend. The hero, Adam, is an old-time friend of both Faith and her husband, Steve, but he’s in the picture in more than just a friend capacity. He’s been asked to keep an eye on Faith to see if her husband, who’s wanted by the ATF, makes contact with her. Faith has no idea of her husband’s extra curricular activities that eventually cost him his life.
I love the conflict of the plot!
This book is Romantic Suspense and Inspirational. What brought you to combine the genres and how hard was that to do?
Funny thing is this book didn’t start out as a suspense. A good friend of mine who writes inspirational suspense challenged me to write it. I took a sweet story that one of my publishers rejected (with reason) and started asking some questions of my characters, and that’s what it evolved into. I asked what would bring Faith and Adam closer together? What would keep them apart? What different type of twist could I put in the book to keep people guessing until the end?
I didn’t find it difficult to combine the two genres because I was able to use my faith journey and incorporate it into the story.
With all that this story entails, I’m sure a lot of preparation went into writing this book. Can you give us some insight into your research?
Boy, that’s a fun question. I did a lot of research for this book. I have folders full of articles and pieces I’d read along the way. I did most of it on-line in the way of finding articles on gun-smuggling and internet sites where you can buy guns etc. I talked with the information officer in the
Thanks for sharing a bit about Web of Deceit with us, Kim? Could we trouble you for an excerpt?
You’re welcome, Cindy. Thanks for having me here today.
Excerpt:
“No. I don’t wanna get out! I wanna go home. I wanna go back to San Diego
Backing out of the passenger side door, Faith Callahan stared at her six-year-old son, and ran a tired hand through her hair. She knew this transition wasn’t going to be easy, but she hadn’t expected to see the open hostility in her son’s eyes or the staunch defiance in his posture.
She lowered her head momentarily and prayed for strength as she fingered the small, gold cross on the delicate chain around her neck. God had never let her down before. He wouldn’t do so now, even if she hadn’t been as attentive these last few months as she should have been.
“Matthew, we can’t go back. There’s nothing left for us there. Now please get out of the car like the gentleman that you are. Grandma Helen’s not expecting us for another hour so I thought I’d show you around.”
“No.”
Wilting under the heat of another sultry
One day, Faith supposed, she’d find the humor in the situation. Today though, the long drive, the rising temperature, and the weeks of stress and sleepless nights had done away with every ounce of patience she had left.
“Matthew Stephen Callahan, please get out of the car.”
“No!”
Her son kicked when she reached in again. After his sneaker-encased foot connected with her left arm, Faith backed off. She looked around. Fortunately, the unseasonably warm temperatures had kept most of the locals inside, so no one witnessed the incident, or her inability to control her son.
“It looks boring here. I’ll bet they don’t even have cable. I wanna go back to
The desperation and uncertainty in Matthew’s voice almost broke her heart, making her question her decision to return to her childhood home.
For a moment.
She’d asked God for a sign a few weeks ago. Then she found an old box of Steve’s things in the hall closet. Trophies and pictures of Steve, Faith, and their friend Adam, from high school were stored inside. It didn’t get any clearer than that. Days later, their condo went on the market, and Faith packed their bags and headed for home.
Home. Peace settled across her shoulders as if an invisible weight disappeared. Faith had to believe the good Lord knew what he was doing. If only he would work a miracle for her son.
One last question – What other projects do you have in the works?
I’m excited to say The Wild Rose Press has just contracted another story for their Sweetheart line. Scales of Love will be released sometime in the fall. I’ve also contracted a Free read with The Wild Rose Press and I’ll announce that release date to on my website.
To find out more information on my books please visit www.kimwatters.com
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter while you’re at it.
Thanks again for having me Cindy.
Happy to have you Kim.
If you are a writer, you have had a rejection. It just goes with the territory. For those new writers out there, don’t despair. This is just the way the writing world works. So what do you do after that all too familiar rejection letter? Here is my guest for this week, Jan Scarbrough ,with thoughts on the subject and a look at her books as well. Thanks for being here today, Jan.
I recently received another rejection letter. Oh, it was a “good one.” You know how they go, “You have a great imagination—I love the premise—and you’re a good writer.” And then comes the big BUT. . .
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Tangled Memories available now at The Wild Rose Press http://www.thewildrosepress.com/
· Golden Heart finalist
· 4 Star Review Romantic Times Magazine
· “Lush, vivid writing. Tone, style and voice are all original and quite wonderful. The mood is nicely maintained, with just enough brooding suspense and Gothic overtones. Reminiscent of Mary Stewart.” Author Patricia Kay
· “If you liked ‘Rebecca’ or ‘Jane Eyre,’ you are going to love this story.” Becci Davis, reviewer
Blurb
Dr. Alexander Dominican needs a mother for his infant daughter. Motherless himself from birth, he refuses to let his daughter grow up without one. He’s convinced kindergarten teacher Mary Adams is the answer to his dilemma. When he offers Mary a marriage of convenience, he has no idea he’s setting into motion a destiny that has taken him seven hundred years to fulfill.
Mary Adams needs to pay her deceased husband’s gambling debts, and Alex’s offer of marriage seems to be the answer to her prayers. But on the day of their marriage, Mary begins to have strange hallucinations – memories of another woman’s life. A life that had taken place centuries before and somehow seems frighteningly familiar.
Before Mary can figure out why she’s hallucinating, it becomes clear that someone in Alex’s house is out to destroy her. Could it be one of Alex’s sinister servants, or could it be Alex himself? Until she can learn the answer, Mary knows she must keep her distance from Alex, but he’s reawakening a hidden desire – a deep longing – that she can’t ignore. But will following her heart lead her to eternal love or to a nightmare that will never end?
The only way to discover the truth is to unravel centuries of… Tangled Memories.
· “The clean writing was a pure pleasure!” Micki Nuding, editor/contest judge
· “Clearly a romance in the tradition of Lisa Jackson.” Tina Brown, editor/contest judge
· “Rich in detail, vivid in imagery, My Lord Raven is a fine introduction to the period and an excellent historical backdrop…Ms. Scarbrough demonstrates a talent for building both female and male characters, and peeling away their layers to reveal the real personas beneath the social/political masks.” 4 ½ pixies, Dark Angel Reviews
Blurb
Bran ap Madog, bastard son of a Welsh prince, has devoted his life to serving the English king. At Edward’s behest, he nourishes his reputation for savagery, taking as his badge the raven, a scavenger bird that feeds off rotting spoils. He wants, as his reward for service, the hand of a wealthy wife, as well as the land and power she will bring to his bed.
When her father and twin brother are murdered, Lady Catrin Fitzalen sets out to learn the truth about the awful rumors. Were they killed by the king’s own champion, the vicious King’s Raven? She will do anything to protect her remaining family, including switching places with her cousin when the king forces the pious girl into marriage with his wicked champion.
Sandy is back to blog with us again. This time she is promoting the Midwestern Dreams Writers Conference of the Mid-Ohio Writers Association. Welcome Sandy and best of luck with the conference. Please visit her website for all the details.
Midwestern Dreams
The 2008 first annual Mid-Ohio Writers Association Midwestern Dreams conference is for writers of all genres in any stage of their career, to help them reach their dreams, network with other authors, and enjoy a day of varied workshops and keynote speakers. Our keynote speakers, Stacy Dittrich and Tiffany Colter, are sure to draw a crowd, so register early. Wild Rose Press editor, Marci Claire, will be here to take pitch appointments from romance authors. The appointments will be 5 minutes in length and limited in number, so send in your conference reservation early! Spruce up you pitch and be ready to wow Marci with your enthusiasm for your romance manuscript! See the “How to Pitch to An Editor” article on the Midwestern Dreams page of this website if you’ve never pitched to an editor before.
We’ll have goodie bags for everyone, and raffle fabulous items like books, gift certificates, and goodie baskets from local businesses, authors, and sponsors. Tickets are only $1 each or 6 for $5.
If you’re coming from out-of-town and wish to arrive on Friday night, we’ve reserved a block of rooms at a special conference rate at the Mansfield Holiday Inn,
If you come early, enjoy local attractions such as the restored antique carrousel at the Richland Carrousel Park (www.richlandcarrousel.org) and the historic Carrousel District’s many quaint shops and restaurants within a short distance of the hotel. Parking is available across the street from the carrousel. You can visit
Our conference will be at the spacious Baku Grotto Hall,
A build-your-own-sandwich lunch will be catered by the Dutch Heritage Restaurant, 720 St. Rt. 97,
Authors in many genres will be participating in the book-signing from 4:00pm to 5:30pm so bring your list for titles you want, and cash. We won’t have a bookseller or cash register, that way authors can charge less than the cover price if they can, to help you and themselves enjoy their novels and non-fiction treasures! New names will be added as authors sign up to attend, so visit frequently, and click on the “Our Participating Authors” button on the Midwestern Dreams page of this website to see who’s new!
2008 Conference Schedule of Events
8:00am to 8:45am-Registration, breakfast, buy raffle tickets $1 each or 6 for $5 each, networking with each other.
1. Appointments with Wild Rose Press editor, Marci Claire.
2. “Manifesting Goals: Manipulate Your Creative Powers to Achieve Your Goals and Dreams.” with Cindy Carver.
3. “Are There Foods That Help A Writer’s Creativity?” Howard and Cathy Wickersham.
1. “TBA”Check back in a few days!.
2. “Proofreading A Manuscript Isn’t for the Faint of Heart.” Missy Harris.
3. “Imaginative Writing with Formal Tools.” Kate Westfall.
3:00pm to 3:50pm-Workshop session 3-choose 1 workshop:
1. “Finding Your Inner Writer to Fulfill Your Dreams.” Ann Plodzien.
2. “Writing for A Newspaper: Extra! Extra! Report All About It!” Rachel Mendell.
3. “Taxes and Writers-Tips to Save You on April 15th.” Dennis A. Davis, CPA.
About Our Keynote Speaker Stacy Dittrich
Stacy is an award-winning 15-year law enforcement officer, a certified law-enforcement instructor, and former detective specializing in sex crimes. With training by former FBI Behavioral Specialist and bestselling author Roy Hazelwood, she’s certified through the National Institute of Truth Verification as an examiner (CVSA-lie detector). She’s worked in a federal drug task force that resulted in arrests from California to Mexico and investigated many homicides. In 2002, she received the Victims of Crime Award from the Ohio Attorney General. Before beginning her law enforcement career, she enjoyed a brief modeling career in New York, with an appearance in Allure Magazine. Stacy and her novel, The Devil’s Closet- about a serial child killer inspired by a case she investigated-the first in her CeeCee Gallagher thriller series about a female detective, were featured on CNN’s Nancy Grace and at BookExpo America in Los Angeles, CA, May 28-June 1, 2008. The first novel debuts October, 2008; the second, Mary Jane’s Grave, in June, 2009. She’s a member of the International Thriller Writer’s Association, Sisters in Crime, and a regular contributor on Women in Crime Ink, a blog by a group of award-winning true-crime authors, print and broadcast journalists, crime novelists, CNN and CBS News producers, television personalities, and criminal justice professionals. She’s appeared as a law enforcement commentator on War On Crime, Court TV, and on CNN. She comes from a long line of law enforcement officers as her husband, father, and uncles are police officers. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at www.stacydittrich.com.
About Our Keynote Speaker Tiffany Colter
Tiffany Colter won the 2007 Daphne du Maurier Award in the inspirational-unpublished division for A Face in the Shadow, and was a semi-finalist in Operation First Novel in 2004. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toledo in 1998 with Summa cum Laude distinction. She’s a writing career coach who teaches business, marketing, and time management principles to writers. She also runs online classes through her website and for the Christian Professional Editors Network. Her classes have included students in the US, Canada, India, and Australia. She’s an active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers where she’s served as a Book of the Year judge, Genesis judge, door prize committee chair, and former Online Course Coordinator. Passionate about freelance writing, her publishing credits include Today’s Christian, Charisma Magazine, Toledo Business Journal, and the Afictionado E-zine. Tenacious in her approach to not only create a great story, but to mentor other writers, she always has a book or laptop in her hands or helping someone. Fluent in three languages and a one-time world traveler, she strives to reach those who are hurting, regardless of their language or culture. She especially loves working with teens and young adults. Because she enjoys helping other writers learn to build a strong writing business, she has a daily marketing blog called the Writing Career Coach that has hundreds of new visitors each month. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Tiffany lives “outside Toledo” with her husband and their four girls. She can be reached at www.WritingCareerCoach.com.
Please welcome this week’s Guest Blogger, Joyce Anthony, author of Storm
What is a Spiritual Writer?
Before we can discuss spirituality in our writing, we need to define the word spiritual. Webster, in 1913, states that the word spiritual comes from the Latin word spiritualis, meaning breathing, wind. He defines spiritual as “of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit”.
In more recent times, spiritual has been defined as “having to do with deep feelings and beliefs, including a person’s sense of peace, purpose, connection to others, and beliefs about the meaning of life.”
Both of these definitions describe the path a writer takes when writing what they most enjoy. Every word we write reflects our inner sense of what is right and wrong. It shows how we think of the world around us and the people that inhabit that world. It is rare to find a writer whose main characters do not hold values and beliefs similar to their own. We may have minor characters who differ from us on a spiritual level, but look at your main characters, examine what they believe at the very basic level—do you see your own beliefs?
What we write also affects the spirit, the spirit of those who read our words. It doesn’t matter whether someone likes or dislikes what we have written—it has, in some way, touched that person, awakened emotions deep inside that enabled them to make the decision as to what that piece means to them and their lives.
If you are writing what you are passionate about, you are writing spiritually. Your soul, or spirit, that which is in essence your very life’s breath, is reflected in your words. It is this writing that is your best, for it is your truest self. Look at what you write carefully. Does it reflect your true self? Are you following the path your spirit has laid before you? Is your passion coming through?
Ask yourself: Do my words flow freely? Would I be upset if someone were to mistake my main character’s beliefs as my own? Do I feel I have given all in my writing? Does my writing create some strong emotion—regardless of which one? If you can answer yes to these questions, you are a spiritual writer—regardless of what genre you write.
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Joyce A. Anthony is a Pennsylvania-born writer who shares her home with a passion for writing, photography and life in general. With a Psychology background, she shares her knowledge as an bipolar expert on AllExperts.com. She has written numerous articles on parenting and mental health issues and has published one short story previous to Storm. When not writing, Miss Anthony spends time homeschooling her son, doing genealogy research and working on her photography. In between times, she advocates for homeless and abused animals and abused children. Joyce is in the editing stages of her next book, a non-fiction piece entitled Spirit of the Stallion and has two other nagging at her to get them written. Learn more at her website.
I had the wonderful opportunity to interview the authors of Welcome to Redemption , Donna Marie Rogers & Stacey Joy Netzel earlier this week. Please join me in welcoming them and leave a comment or question, if you like. I’m sure they’ll be by later.
CG: First off, Donna and Stacey, I absolutely loved Welcome to Redemption. What a sweet concept. So I guess my first question is: How did you two get together and how did the idea for this project originate?
This Interview has been relocated to the Interview section of the website. Thank you.
Today I have guest Kara Lynn Russell, author of the Orchard Hill stories, discussing how to start your own series. I have to admit I love these books. She sure knows how to write ‘em. 
Please welcome Kara and feel free to leave comments and questions.
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Hi, my name is Kara Lynn Russell, author of Orchard Hill Romance series, available through The Wild Rose Press.
This is the first time I’ve attempted a project of this magnitude. As you might guess, I’ve been working hard and learning a lot. It’s a grand mix of fun and frustration. By the time I close the series, with nine main stories and four extras, I estimate that I will have written around 250,00 words in a little over a year. Wow! Who would have thought I could get all that done? Not me.
Once I had that down, I realized that I wanted the main characters to know each other, even if they weren’t all best friends. I write inspirational, so naturally I thought they could all be members of, or in some way connected to the same church.
Thanks for
Kara Lynn Russell
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Thanks for being here today, Kara. I’m sure your insight into writing a series will definitely help others who are in the planning stages of their own series’. If you would like a taste of a Kara Lynn Russell story and a peak into Orchard Hill, she has one avaliable at The Wild Rose Press as a Free Read.
I’m pleased to introduce my guest blogger for the week, fellow Wild Rose Press author, Clover Autrey. She has a great sense of humor and today she will give us some insight on Promoting – that evil activity that takes far too much time away from us writers. Make sure to stop by her website and check out her books today. Take it away Clover. Tell us, please, advice on promo.
I’d rather do just about anything besides strike up a conversation with a stranger. And walk up to a group already chatting? Not gonna happen.
- Introduce yourself and after everyone has introduced themselves to you, ask them about themselves. Use a question that is easy to answer and doesn’t drag into an awkward silence. No weather topics. Since hopefully this is a place to meet readers, a good question is a simple, “What kind of books do you like to read?” and let the conversation go from there. They will most likely reciprocate by asking you the same question where you can work in your book without feeling obnoxious about it. Keep it simple and casual.
- Don’t overstay your welcome, especially with an overlarge group. You don’t want to look as though you are desperately clinging to the edge. When the conversation lulls again, excuse yourself, saying how nice it was to meet them and walk away to find another group.
- Don’t be afraid to stand by yourself for awhile. Sometimes other people would rather walk up to a lon
e person than a group themselves. Keep your body language open, not closed with arms folded. Stand away from the wall with confidence and when someone gives you eye contact, be sure to smile or nod your head. If they don’t come to you, go to them, stick out your hand and introduce yourself.
Sounds easy, right? If you have that kind of personality that people gravitate to anyway, piece of cake. For the rest of us, especially those who are painfully shy, it can be the hardest thing in the world to do. It’s really hard for me, but I did try this out last month at a writer’s group. I went by myself and didn’t know a soul. I took a deep breath, held out my hand and introduced myself to everybody in the room, using this method. Best yet, I got to know a bunch of cool people and I don’t think my face went red once.
Hey authors out there today, what do you think of promotion? You have any other advice for us poor, shy things?? Thanks for being here today, Clover!
I’m very excited today to introduce my guest, Faith Bicknell-Brown. She is a successful author, editor, and the one to bring us the How to Avoid Writer’s Hell books. Without further ado, here is my interview with Faith. Please leave questions. I’m sure she’ll pop in to answer them later.
This Interview has been moved to the Interview section. Thanks!
Author Bio:
Faith Bicknell-Brown’s work has appeared in a wide range of genres such as: Would That It Were, Touch Magazine, GC Magazine, Ohio Writer Magazine (non-fiction), Waxing and Waning (Canada), and The Istanbul Literature Review (Turkey) just to name a few. She was a regular contributor to
For two years, Faith served as the co-editor of The Tenacity Times. In October 2001, she took the position of romance and horror editor for Wild Child Publishing and has served as the managing editor for WCP as well as its sister division, Freya’s Bower, going on three years.
She is represented by TriadaUS Literary Agency.
I’m very happy to host my next guest blogger, Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter, a fellow Wild Rose Press author. Today she has posted an excerpt for her book, Cottonwood Place (available now!). She will back next month to tell us a little more about herself and her work.
Megan sighed loudly to keep them awake. What do you want, Orion and Cassie MacCloud? What will it take for you to give us the keys?”
A ringing cell phone broke the silence. “Thank you Lord God that they can’t turn off ringers!” Ian said. “Meg, keep grilling them,” he pointed to the girls then ran to the sound’s source. He rummaged through the sand until he found the phone. “Hello?”
It was Rose, wondering where they were because she’d had a feeling they were in trouble. Ian told her what the girls had done. Rose said she’d have Merle call the other phone and let it ring.
Ian heard ringing in the tamarisk and got several painful cuts before he found it. “I found it, Rose.”
“Do you want us to come after you?”
“No way. The girls hid they keys, and until we find them, they’ll suffer out here in the heat with us!”
Rose laughed heartily. “Good luck. You are right, those two have a good reason for everything they do that they aren’t told to do. They’ve also learned practical joking from the best, so be careful.”
Back with Megan, he said, “That was your mom checking up on us. She knew we were in trouble.” He pointed to the two sleepy pets. “She said they don’t do anything without a good reason. We have to find out what their reason is for stranding us before they’ll cooperate.”
“We should settle down away from rocks but by the car. Scorpions and other dangerous animals hang around them.”
Megan talked to her pets all the way to the car, trying to cajole them into revealing the keys’ location. She failed as miserably as Ian had.
Megan spread out the blanket and she and Ian used clothes for pillows. She put Cassie and Orion between her and Ian to keep them out of trouble.
As they relaxed, Ian said, “Grandma had said after you were kidnapped that I’d have to face my worst fear to find you. She was right, but she meant to find you as my love, not physically find you after you were kidnapped. I didn’t know it was my worst fear until just now. I hated God for ruining my life, so I think I was also afraid He wouldn’t take me back because I’d sinned too much.”
“So that once you came back to Him, he allowed us to love each other and find the real us. That’s what’s happened today when I called you honey.”
They settled down to sleep with rested minds.
Sometime later, Orion crawled with her belly on the ground until she came behind Megan, and began pushing her toward Ian. Orion even swished her bushy tail on Megan’s face to make her move in her sleep. Meanwhile, Cassie did the same thing to Ian, pushing him toward Megan. They woke up quickly.
“Orion what are you doing?!” Megan asked.
“Cassie, stop that!” Ian said.
The humans tried to move the animals back to the middle.
Dog looked at cat, and cat looked at dog. Orion latched onto Megan’s hand with her teeth as Cassie latched onto Ian’s hand. Orion pulled on Megan’s arm as Cassie pulled on Ian’s arm.
“Ian, neither of them have ever acted this way. Don’t make any sudden moves. Maybe they’ll let go of us soon. Orion’s bite isn’t painful–yet.”
“Neither is Cassie’s, but it wouldn’t take much to puncture my skin. I think they’re trying to make us do something. Let them do it.”
Megan and Ian eventually felt their hands touch in the dark. When their people didn’t move further, the girls bit and pulled harder and began growling.
“Ian, take my hand in yours.”
The girls let go when he did, and they stopped growling. “Now, let go and back away.” she whispered. Cat and dog growls grew quickly into snarls and bared teeth.
Ian took her hand again and the snarls stopped. When he pulled Megan to him and kissed her, Cassie purred and Orion softly said, “Uh roo roo, uh roo roo.” Both curled against their owners in satisfaction.
Megan had never felt so much love and safety from a man’s kiss before. Ian’s closeness in the dark made wild feelings run rampant through her. She’d never had those feelings with
“I think they need to hear that. Separate again.”
The growling started again.
“They want us together and they won’t take no for an answer.”
“Neither will I for much longer. You said you love me. Can’t you trust me when I say I won’t drink anymore and trust God that he’s given you a good man?”
She looked in his eyes and murmured, “Yes, Ian, I can. Because I think my greatest fear was that God wouldn’t ever give me a good man. I decided you were that good man several days ago; and that I’d have to marry you. I don’t think we need to wait two years.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“My mom and grandma, who probably told everyone else. Why?”
“There are two who don’t know.” He pointed to the girls who were watching their every move with hooded eyes.
“I didn’t think of them!” She pulled her pets close. “Orion, Cassie, Ian and I love each other and we’re getting married. He’s staying with us forever. Do you understand?” She kissed Ian then the girls. “I love Ian like I love you.”
Orion howled, “Uh roo roo.”
“Megan! She said I love you! She’s been saying it a long time! She wants us to say it each other.”
“I love you, Ian Hunter.”
As soon as he said ,“I love you, Megan MacCloud,” Cassie and Orion got up and started walking away from the car.
“Maybe they’ll show us where the keys are now.” Megan said hopefully.
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A Muncie, Indiana, native, Sandy’s lived in north-central Ohio since 1973 and has been an LPN since 1980. Her husband, two sons, a daughter-in-law, two granddaughters, two dogs, and an odd number of goldfish in her outdoor pond all live with her in an 1890s Victorian home that once was a general store\post office. Fortunately, only her dog has commandeered her writer’s cave. She began writing in third grade, when she started turning her dreams and nightmares into short stories (she still has that notebook). Science fiction and comic books were her reading mainstay; as an adult, she added romances in the ‘80s. The adult writing bug bit her in 1990. After realizing she needed cheap nursing CEUs, and the degree most writers seem to have, Ohio State University beckoned. While earning a bachelor’s in English, she sold an essay to Country, wrote for three newspapers and was a feature writer for Choice, a Christian magazine. While writing romance, science fiction, inspirational romance, women’s fiction and a mix of them, Sandy substitutes in local schools, teaches college English 101 in local prisons, gardens, and does many types of artwork. Her second book with The Wild Rose Press, The Winds of Fall, will be released in August.