The Value of . . . Time

We're entering the rush season.

• Merchants push us
• Peers challenge us to do as they do, whether spending, decorating, or socializing
• Our conscience prods us: be involved, do your duty, show your love
• Spend time with kids, parents, family, friends, and church people

Go, do, be.

Whatever you decide to do this season, remember that time is valuable. Once gone, it never returns. Plan wisely, follow your conscience and God's will for YOU. Ignore the pressure of the season. Pick and choose. Enjoy the peace. Savor the quiet. Worship, laugh, love, and live.

1. Time is money. We have no right to waste it.
2. Time is power. We have no right ot dissipate it.
3. Time is influence. We have no right to throw it away.
4. Time is life. We must value it highly.
5. Time is God's. He has given it to us for a purpose.
6. Time is a sacred trust. we must answer for every moment.
7. Time is preparation for eternity. We must redeem it.

Quote:
Got no checks, got no banks. still I'd like to express my thanks. I got the sun in the mornin' and the moon at night. --Irving Berlin

Blessings!

A November to Remember . . .


Listen . . .



With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts
The leaves, frost-crisped,
Break free from the leaves,
and fall.
--Adelaide Crapsey, 1878-1914, November Night

Here is the dark tree
Denuded now
Of leafage . . .
But a million stars. --Shiki



Quote:
A September to remember,
An October full of splender
A November to treasure.
--La Prevenchere

Blessings!

What I Really Think About . . .

Emerson the Magnificent


I thought, "A children's book."
Then . . . "Hey, I know some people who would like this."
Finally, I quit thinking and absorbed.

I read on . . . and on, and realized that anyone could read this book and be stirred.

• Cause it's crazy. Who believes a bike can talk?
• I mean, it makes you remember your childhood. And as I read, it touched the child still hidden inside me. Touched me and made me remember the unforgettable things that only a child--or a person who's become a child again--can experience. A grownup who believes again.
• It's a book that brought tears to my eyes.
• A book with realism; all too true of life without God. Childhood fun and memories, teenage doubts, adulthood experience and disappointment, and finally, a return to simple faith.
  

A child who visits his grandmother and remembers her colorful, madeup, fabric stories is given a beautiful red bike who talks to him. Without any friends at the seaside, his bike is his greatest advisor and companion.

Teenage years brings the death of his lavender-scented grandmother. Forgetfulness. And doubts. No bike can talk, regardless of how beloved. War, family, and a job interfered and years passed without contact.

But when the old man had sunk as low as he could, when his faith had all but disappeared, when everyone else is to blame, then God, through that remnant of childish belief in a talking bike, can speak again.

What do I really think about Emerson, the Magnificent?
Uhmmm. A keeper.
Thanks, Dwight, for allowing God to use you.

Blessings!

Everyone Wants to be Loved

I think.

Here are a few suggestions on how to accomplish that:

• Don't contradict people, even if you're sure you're right.
• Don't be inquisitive about the affairs of even your most intimate friends.
• Don't underrate anything because you don't possess it.
  
• Don't believe that everybody else in the world is happier than you.
• Don't conclude that you have never had nay opportunities in life.
• Don't be rude to your inferiors in social position.
  
• Don't repeat gossip, even if it does interest a crowd.
• Learn to hide your aches and pains under a pleasant smile. Few care whether you have an earache, headache, or rheumatism.
  
• Learn to attend to your own business.
• Don't try to be anything else but a gentle man or woman, and that means one who has consideration for the whole world, and whose life is governed by the Golden rule, "Do unto others as you would be done by."

Don't forget next Wednesday's (December 2) blog with Jeanette Levellie. You won't want to miss her thoughts on writing!

And check out (this Wednesday) my real thoughts about the book, Emerson, the Magnificent written about recent interviewee, Dwight Ritter!

Quote:
Do not fear to step where God leads.

Blessings

The Truest Friend
"Noah"

A dog is a comfort and ally in a sometimes unfriendly world.

A dog is a welcoming committee that lets you know you're home, all right!

A dog is the certainty that home is where you most want to be.

A dog is a chance to express yourself without the fear of seeming foolish;

A chance to share emotions that others of our kind too often repel--tenderness, outright joy, love.

A dog hears your secret needs and sympathethizes or artfully distracts you from your woes.

A dog defeats loneliness, defies unhappiness and teaches hard humans the virtue of play.

A dog gives you the feeling, however untrue, that you're worth his affection.

A dog holds to values this world has forgotten: duty, loyalty, respect.

A dog will obey you, bestowing upon a master power one's own children come to challenge.

Most of all, especially in times like these, a dog is the truest and most reliable friend.

Quote:
God gave us our relatives; thank God, we can choose our friends. --Ethel watts Mumford

Blessings

Christmas Miracles

by Cecil Murphy/Marley Gibson
Foreward: Don Piper
St. Martin's Press, October, 2009

Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN: 978-0312589837

Retail: $14.99

BIG Basket Giveaway! Check out the information below

Award winning Cecil Murphy is the author or co-author of 114 books, including the NY Times bestseller, 90 Minutes in Heaven (with Don Piper) and Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson story (with Ben Carson) and he's also the author of When Someone You Know Has Cancer and When God Turned Out the Lights, both 2009 releases. Murphy's books have sold millions and have given hope and encouragement to countless readers around the world. For more information, visit http://www.cecilmurphy.com/.

Marley Gibson is a young adult author whose first published books in the Senority 101 series were released by Penquin Group in 2008 under the pen name of Kate Harmon. She has a new Ghost Huntress series with Houghton Mifflin written under her own name. She can be found at http://www.marleygibson.com/.

(Atlanta, GA) Many ordinary people experience Christmas miracles—those special moments during the season of giving and receiving when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday. In Christmas Miracles (St. Martin’s Press, October 2009), Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson share the stories of those who have recognized the special moments that transcend daily experience and transform their lives.

In these stories, people overcome desperate situations through a miraculous twist of fate—all during the most wonderful time of the year. A young boy sits down to read a Christmas book and discovers that his learning disability has vanished. A woman stranded in a blizzard is rescued by a mysterious stranger who she suspects is an angel. And a woman living far from home gets an answer to her prayer in the form of an unexpected gift.

Bestselling author Cecil Murphey says, "We all face discouraging times, whether it's the lack of money, being stuck on a road in a snowstorm, feeling stress, or being hungry and homeless. But God's help is available. I want readers to see that miracles do happen—sometimes simple, unexpected blessings or those that involve the supernatural. We start by asking, and in strange and wonderful ways God tiptoes into our dark nights; we experience renewed joy in life and witness God in action through people and unexpected events."

INTERVIEW with Cecil "Cec" Murphey by Marley Gibson
Co-authors of Christmas Miracles, from St. Martin’s Press

Marley: I am extremely privileged to have the opportunity today to talk to my friend and co-author, Cecil "Cec" Murphey, and to chat about our upcoming book, Christmas Miracles.

Marley: Cec, thanks for spending some time with me today.

Cec: Marley, it's great that you could take time away from important things like making a living to spend a little time with me.

Marley: I’m so jazzed about our Christmas Miracles book that’s coming out soon. I’ve had a lot of questions from folks wanting to know how we met, what brought us together, etc. So, I thought we’d do a back and forth on how it all came to be. Of course, I have to give props to our amazing agent and friend, Deidre Knight, for bringing us together. For those of you who don’t know, Cec co-authored the runaway New York Times bestselling hit 90 Minutes in Heaven with Don Piper.

Cec: I have to say thanks to Deidre Knight as well. Between Deidre and my assistant, Twila Belk, I've been able to sell quite a few books. 90 Minutes in Heaven has been my big book. I'm also proud of a book I wrote in 1990 called Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. The book has never been out of print and has hit close to four million in sales. Early this year, Cuba Gooding Jr. starred in the made-for-TV film version.

Marley: That’s amazing! You are truly prophetic and definitely "the man behind the words." Now, people ask how we teamed up. Sadly, there was a personal tragedy that brought Cec and me together as friends.
Cec: True. In early 2007, our house burned and our son-in-law died. Aside from the grief over Alan, we lost everything. Deidre and Jan, my-then-assistant, sent the word out of our tragedy without telling me. I'm immensely grateful for every gift people sent, but I probably wouldn't have admitted I needed help and wouldn't have asked. They taught me how much we need other people.

Marley: Deidre put out a call to other clients of The Knight Agency, to help Cec and his family out in any way in their time of need. At the time, my company was moving and we were cleaning house. We had a ton of office supplies that we were either going to throw away or give to some of the charities the company worked with. I got my boss’ permission to send a large care package to Cec…full of office supplies for him to re-stock his writer’s office. You name it…post-its, staples, paper clips, pens, pencils, markers, white out, ruler, scissors, paper, notebooks, notepads, envelopes, a laptop case, tape, glue, folders, binder clips…etc. A veritable potpourri of office delights. I was hoping that it would help Cec have a sense of getting his office back so he could keep working.
Cec: Marley's gift was the most unexpected I received. We hadn't met, although Deidre Knight had spoken of her many times and kept telling me she was wonderful. I wonder if you can imagine what it was like for me to open that box from someone I didn't know. I saw all those practical things for my office and yelled for my wife. I felt as if I were reading a first-grade book. "Look! Look and see! Oh, look!" I was overwhelmed by the gift and even more to receive it from a stranger. Those supplies were the most practical gift anyone could have given me. I'm still using black paper clips and red folders from Marley.

Marley: Awww…thanks, Cec! I didn’t have to think twice about doing it. Writing is such a solitary "sport," but the writing community always astounds me with how they help their own. Not long after that, over plates of spinach and Gouda omelets, Deidre introduced me to Cec in person and I was thrilled to finally meet the man behind the words. Deidre knew we needed to work on a project together and thus began our brainstorming. What did you think of that first meeting, Cec, and cooking up the idea to work together?
Cec: Deidre and I had already spoken about a Christmas book and I had some idea about what it should contain, but nothing had come together. One day Deidre told me that Marley was coming to visit her and she wanted us to work together on a Christmas project. Marley and I talked before we ate and again during the meal. Everything felt right to me. I knew my strengths and Marley knew hers (and Deidre knew both of us). Everything clicked. Marley, a far better networker than I am, immediately sent out the word for submissions. Within days she had almost four times more than we could use. (She read every one of them!)

Marley: I was truly impressed with the submissions we received and it was hard narrowing it down to the ones we chose for the book. We’re fortunate to have such a go-getter agent in Deidre Knight. Cec, can you share how the whole idea of Christmas Miracles came about and what you thought of the project originally?

Cec: For me, it actually started while I was on the rapid-rail train from the Atlanta airport when I listened to teens talk about Christmas and it was mostly about gifts. I had the idea then, but nothing really came together. Months later when Deidre I and had a meeting, she brought up the idea of a compilation and mentioned my working with Marley. I've been Deidre Knight's client since 1997 and I've learned to listen carefully when she comes up with an idea. I said yes before she gave me all the information.

Marley: That’s the truth about Deidre! Getting back to those submissions, I want to say we got more than two hundred submissions for Christmas Miracles. So many wonderful stories to read through and select for the book. It was a challenge to pick and choose which ones were right for the book, but I loved every minute of it. After I chose the entries that would go into the book, Cec toiled long hours editing the works for a unified voice. What was the biggest challenge you found in the editing process, Cec?

Cec: I've been a ghostwriter and collaborator for twenty-plus years and this was a switch to give the book a unified voice—which was mine. It would have been easier to stay with each writer's voice, but the book—like many compilations—would have been uneven in tone and quality. When I discussed this via email with our delightful editor, Rose Hilliard, she was (to my surprise) familiar with my work. She told me she liked the warm tone of my writing and that I don't waste words. "That's the voice we want," she said. It still wasn't easy, but it was an exciting challenge. After Marley and I agreed on the stories and gave them that unified voice, our editor pulled six contributions. Although different, Rose felt they were too similar to other stories.

Marley: Can you give our readers a preview of the book? A favorite story perhaps…or one that moved you to tears? (I have to say the little boy who wished for nothing but to be able to read a book all the way through because of his stutter had me bawling when I read the submission.)

Cec: That's not fair! I liked them all. The one that touched me most, however, is the last story in the book, "Sean's Question." We had almost finished the book and I was teaching at a conference in Florida. I felt we needed one strong story at the end. Despite all the good ones, I didn't feel fully satisfied to conclude the book. On the last day of the conference, I met a conferee named Sara Zinn for a consultation. As we talked, I mentioned Christmas Miracles and that I still needed one more story. "I have a Christmas story," she said and told me about Sean. As I listened, tears filled my eyes—but, being the macho type I am, I was sure it was an allergy. Sara wrote the story, and it became the one I sought.

Marley: Oh yes…that one is an emotional one all right. It was meant to be in the book because of how you met at the conference. Now, you and I have both had challenges in our lives that others might have found too much to take, but we are both very strong in our faith and our relationship with God. How do you think Christmas Miracles is going to help others feel closer to God and experience His miracles in their own lives?

Cec: Awareness and appreciation are the two things I want readers to grasp. Awareness means for them to realize that they're never totally alone in life. Those unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary events remind us of that. Appreciation means to be thankful for what we already have. Too often, and especially at Christmas, we focus on what we'd like or what is supposed to make us happy. Christmas Miracles gently reminds readers of both.

Marley: In this day and age when our country is fighting two wars, unemployment is high, and a lot of people have a lack of hope and faith for their future, what do you want readers of the book to take away from Christmas Miracles and how can the stories in our book help provide comfort to those struggling?

Cec: I want readers to see that miracles do happen—sometimes simple, unexpected blessings or those that involve the supernatural (as in one of Marley's stories). I call myself a serious Christian. For me, the world's greatest miracle began with the birth of Jesus. Regardless of a person's religion, this book encourages readers to think about life during the Christmas season and see that life as more than gifts and celebrations. It's also a reminder that God loves us and hears our needy cries.

Marley: Beautifully put, Cec, and I couldn’t agree with you more. Can we share what’s next after Christmas Miracles?

Cec: Why it's the Cec and Marley show, of course. Because of our go-getter agent and our enthusiastic editor, we've already received thumbs up for The Christmas Spirit. This will be stories of people who express the true spirit of Christmas by acts of love and kindness, for release in the fall of 2011.

Marley: And I can’t wait to start working on that project! Thank you so much for your time, Cec, and answering my questions. It was a privilege and honor to work with you and I look forward to our future projects together. You’ve helped me along during a trying time and I appreciate your friendship and support.

Cec: I liked this project because Marley had to send out the word, collect submissions, read them, and discard the weaker ones. I get to see only the better-written stories. (Don't tell her that I have the better job.) Although I mentioned only one story, all of those in the book touched me because of the poignancy of their situations and the miraculous answers. I won't say the stories increased my faith, but they increased my appreciation for the delightful mix of human need and divine intervention.

Marley: Thanks again, Cec! God Bless! And to our readers, please be sure to pick up a copy of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, out October 13, 2009 from St. Martin’s Press. It’s a great stocking stuffer or gift basket filler. We hope you, too, will discover your own Christmas Miracles in your life.

Want to win this fantastic basket?

Leave a comment for a chance to win the Christmas Miracles basket. Wouldn't you love to take home this amazing basket filled with Christmas goodies galore? This amazing basket contains everything you need to make your Christmas holiday a success. Inside you'll find:

• A stocking filled with hard candies
• kitchen towels and hand mitts
• seasonal potpourri
• holiday-colored candies
• stuffed animals that talk
• snowman candle
• nutcrackers
• Christmas ornaments
• gift bags, gift tags, gift bows
• Christmas cookie cutters
• a Merry Christmas doorstopper
• A picture frame
• Christmas cards
• Santa ear muffs
• and not just one, but two copies of Cec Murphy and Marley Gibson's Christmas Miracles--one to keep and one to give away to someone special.

What do you have to do?

Comment!

Big Blessings!

Tips for Living

Want a good life? Then . . .

• Take time to think--and enjoy a great source of power.
• Take time to play--and know the secret of perpetual youth.
• Take time to read--and gain from the fountain of wisdom.

• Take time to love--and feel the warmth of soul.
• Take time to pray--and draw from the greatest power on earth.
• Take time to be friendly--and rejoice in the pervading happiness.

• Take time to laugh--and hear the music of the soul.
• Take time to listen--and realize the experiences of others.
• Take time to give--for life is too short to be selfish.
• Take time to work--and pay the price of success.

--Jerry R. Lambert.

Love this quote:
It is a brave thing to have courage to be an individual; it is also, perhaps, a lonely thing. But it is better than not being an individual, which is to be nobody at all. --Eleanor Roosevelt

Blessings

Favorite Scenes from Fall

My "old" scarecrow friend. He's been with me for years! He's kinda delapidated and lopsided, but I love him anyway!

One scene from our yard. Full of leaves and almost bare trees.

A perfect maple leaf, glorious in its yearly splender!

A little blurry, but a wonderful seasonal table topper.

Hope you're having a wonderful fall season. Can't wait till Thanksgiving!

Quote:
Attempt something so fantastic that unless God is in it, it is destined for failure.

Colorful blessings on you!

Erica Vetsch Interview
I met Erica this year at the ACFW writing conference. She's a new author, but her first book won't be the last! Read on to find out more about her . . .


How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear "call?" Or have you just loved writing all your life?

• I have always loved spinning stories in my head, and I have always loved reading fiction, so I suppose it was a natural progression to want to write those stories down. I recently heard it said that there are those who are called by God to write, and those that write because they want to, and both offer their writing as an offering to God. I don’t know that I was necessarily ‘called’ to write, but I do love it and I try to glorify God with my fiction.
  

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

• I write historical romance. HR is a story set in another era, usually WW2 or before, where the primary focus of the story is the romance between the hero and heroine. The setting and giving the reader a sense of being transported to another place and time are important reasons why a reader might choose to read historical romance. And the story must have a happily-ever-after ending to be a true romance.

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain number of words per day? Can you give us a general idea of how long it takes you to write a novel?

• I am a home school mom as well as the company bookkeeper for our family lumber business, so those activities take quite a bit of my time. I write mostly in the afternoons, and occasionally on the weekends. I try not to write in the evenings after my husband gets home from work.
• I set word count goals for myself each writing day. And I keep a word counter on my blog to mark my progress. I’m very goal oriented, so setting word counts is an excellent way to motivate myself.
• From the planning stage to the final draft takes about three months, barring unforeseen obstacles. This is for a category romance. Obviously a trade-length romance will take longer.

What is the spiritual message in your latest book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

• In The Bartered Bride, the characters both struggle with God’s sovereignty. The hero wants God to change someone else’s heart, when what he really needs is for his own heart to be changed. And the heroine needs to learn that God’s plan for us won’t be helped by forcing the issue.
• I hope the readers get, first, an enjoyable read. I hope they are able to see how God is in control of every situation, even those that seem so out of control.
  

You recently had a book published. Would you take this time to describe it to us? How and where can readers buy your books?

• The Bartered Bride, Heartsong Presents Romance #875, just came out this fall. Here’s a little bit from the back cover:


• Jonathan Kennebrae is furious when his grandfather informs him that his future has been decided. He will marry Melissa Brooke or be disinherited. Jonathan has invested years of his life in Kennabrae Shipping, but heaven help him if Grandfather decides to take it all away for this.
• Melissa, too, is devastated when her parents make their announcement. As little more than a bargaining chip in her father’s business maneuvers, she feels her secure world slipping away. Engaged to marry a man she has never met—someone "considerably older" than herself? What have her parents done?
• Can Jonathan and Melissa find a way out of this loveless marriage, or must they find a way forward together?
  

The Bartered Bride is available at http://www.christianbook.com/ and also by calling the publisher directly at (740) 922-7280.

Where do you get ideas? Character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?

• A lot of my ideas come from reading history books. I come across something interesting, then wonder what it would be like to have lived through it. Character names come from all over the place. I try to pick a name I think suits the personality of the character. I also find interesting names in my reading. As to my characters being similar to me...not so much. My characters are always people I WISH I could be. J

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don’t understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do youcare to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you’ve gone through? Who’s inspired you the most?

• There were definitely times when I wondered why I was doing this, when those rejections would come, or I didn’t seem to be making any progress. But I don’t think I ever seriously considered throwing in the towel. Writing is hard. It’s hard work, it’s hard on the emotions, and it’s hard to persevere. My greatest encouragement has come from my family and from my writing friends who understand how difficult this journey is.
• I do love to hear stories of people sticking with it and finding success. A couple of writers who have inspired me with their perseverance are Mary Connealy and Debbie Macomber.

Would you explain how you "chose" (or was chosen) a publisher? Do you just go "inny, minny, miny, moe?" Grin. Now, that you’re published, can you sit back and relax from the success you’ve experienced?

• After submitting several trade-length manuscripts to publishers and getting rejected, I had the idea for a romance I thought would fit Heartsong Presents guidelines. Knowing that Heartsong published more than fifty romances a year, and that they were open to new authors, I thought this might be a good place to start. I wrote the story, pitched it at the 2007 ACFW Conference, and a year later was thrilled to hear my editor award me a contract at the 2008 ACFW Conference. The wait nearly killed me!
• After that first contract, I got busy and have written several more novels that are also contracted. The current release schedule looks like this:

The Kennebrae Brides Series:

• The Bartered Bride: November, 2009
• The Marriage Masquerade: January 2010
• The Engineered Engagement: June 2010

The Brides of Money Creek:

• Clara and the Cowboy – April 2010
• Lily and the Lawman – August 2010
• Maggie and the Maverick – November 2010

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests? Where would you like to travel if you could?

• I love reading and loathe seafood. Love swimming, don’t like coffee. College basketball rocks, but I don’t care who is Dancing With The Stars. J
• Hobbies: Writing has nudged out a lot of other hobbies, but when I can, I cross-stitch, crochet, watch movies, and hang with friends.
• If I could travel, I’d love to see The British Museum, The Pyramids, and The Southern Alps.　
  

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you’d like to share? Promotional information?

• You can find me on the web at www.onthewritepath.blogspot.com/
• I’d love it if folks would drop by and say hello.
• I’m giving away a copy of The Bartered Bride to a commenter here. Please leave a comment and a way for Carole to contact you.
  

What a fun interview. Don't her books sound fantastic? Thanks, Erica, for sharing with us a part of your world.

Folks, you like gentle love stories? Then leave a comment or email me and you just might be the person to win a book from Erica!

Blessings!

What Kind of Writer Are You?

Fiction?
Nonfiction?

Two basics.

To narrow it down?
Fiction:
historical
contemporary
suspense
thriller
mystery
speculative
romance . . .
and more

Nonfiction:
instructional
research
history
biography
autobiography
memoir
etc.

Do you want to write educational books?
Do you want to ghost write?
Would you like to write research papers?
Magazine articles?
Novellas?
Or 500 page long books?
Does writing Sunday school material excite you?

Do you want to write for yourself?
Friends, neighbors, church family?
Children?
Or do you want to make lots of money? (Ha!)

Are you a seat-of-the-pantster?
Do you outline religiously?
Set goals daily and meet them?
Write when you want, what you want, how you want? Hmmm?

Write funny stuff?
Or seriously?


Gotta know all this if you wanna write.
At least eventually.

Quote:
Concern should drive us into action and not depression. --Karen Horney


Blessings!

Mackie Versus Mr. Turtle

The turtle Mackie, the Boston Terrier, found and carried around like a treasure until hubby rescued him! We set him free down by the creek bed.

What could this turtle ever do to repay us for possibly saving his life? Hmm. Read the quote below. Smiles!

Quote: You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. --John Wooden

Blessings!

YOU'VE WON!

Who won Stephanie Morrell's young adult book, Me Just Different?
Jeanette!

Who won the $10 gift certificate?
Carman, if she contacts me. :)


Did you check out Rick Barry's interview on November 4th?

Next interview: Erica Vetsch, coming up on November 11th. Don't miss this one. She's a new author & you're gonna love her!


Blessings!

Rick Barry Interview


I'm thrilled to have Rick Barry with us today. Make sure you notice the picture below. Rick purchased a WWII uniform for promotional reasons and wears the uniform at times when doing booksignings! Do check out his books. Now, read on!

How long have you known you wanted to be a writer?

The idea of writing anything at all for publication first struck me in fifth grade. That’s the year I was reading Hardy Boy mysteries and couldn’t get enough of them. I remember sitting down at my father’s desk and taking out a piece of notebook paper. I concocted two boys’ names and started writing. Two or three paragraphs later, I had no idea how to continue what I’d begun and decided I must not have the "right stuff" to be an author. But I still loved to read.

Later, in my sophomore year of college, I entered a magazine’s writing contest just for fun. I didn’t win the contest, but they bought my article and printed it as an honorable mention. Following that first tiny success, I wrote other articles and short fiction for publication on and off for the rest of my college career and never stopped.

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain what it is?

This is a tough question for me. I’ve actually written and sold material for a spectrum of genres, sometimes simply for income, but more often with a spiritual purpose in mind. On the secular side, I’ve freelanced for local newspapers and even written material used for achievement testing in public schools. More often, though, my work has been for Christian publishers, including tween fiction, YA short stories, devotionals, non-fiction articles for teens or adults, and two novels: one fantasy and one World War II story.

What I’m writing at any given moment depends on what message I have to deliver and which audience would be best to receive that message. I might be worried about this rainbow of styles and genres, except most of what I write does sell to publishers. Also, I note that C.S. Lewis likewise delved into widely divergent styles as he penned apologetics, science fiction, and children’s fantasy. Even if I don’t stick to one niche, at least I’m in good company.


How do you spend your writing days?

Very rarely do I have a genuine writing day. I’m not a full-time writer. I hold an administrative position in the home office of a Christian mission. The reality is that I write in whatever spare minutes I can muster. Some days that translates into thirty or so minutes in the morning before my normal work day, followed by another twenty or thirty minutes at the end of my lunch hour, and possibly an hour before bed—if I still have enough functioning brain cells.

Out of necessity, I’ve become an advocate of the tortoise philosophy: "Slow and steady wins the race." I’d love to devote huge blocks of time for writing, but for me that just isn’t possible.

However, if a person can jot just one paragraph in a day, that’s enough words to create an anecdote. If that writer can pen a double-spaced page per day, within a couple of days that’s enough to equal a short devotional. By consistently writing one measly page per day, by the end of a week you’ll have a decent-length article or short story. Using this approach, I wrote both of my novels over the course of roughly a year, although of course I had to spend some days on research, and often on Sundays did neither writing nor research.

What is the spiritual message in your latest book? What can readers expect to gain from reading it?

My latest novel goes by the working title of The Methuselah Project. One editor and one literary agent have requested sample chapters, but it’s not yet sold. As the reader follows the unexpected life of Roger Greene, the story demonstrates how a man who at first doubts the very existence of God can naturally and very rationally embrace God and place faith in Him.

Of course, the reader won’t realize this at the outset. One of the best illustrations I’ve heard concerning Christian fiction is to compare it to hiding a vitamin in a chocolate bar. If you hold up a brown bottle and call out, "Who wants a vitamin?" you won’t get many takers. But if you stroll through a room holding a tray stacked with Snickers, Three Musketeers, Almond Joy, and other candy bars, you’ll find many eager takers. So I try to tuck the "vitamin" of a spiritual message into a delicious story, whether the tale is a short one or a full novel.



Describe your most recent published novel. How and where can readers buy it?

In December 2008 JourneyForth Books published my fantasy novel Kiriath’s Quest. This is a YA fantasy in which the king of Xandria has been kidnapped by an invading horde of Grishnaki, who are physically powerful creatures, but lacking in intellect. In exchange for the king, the Grishnaki demand one thing—the knowledge of how to make steel. The ransom is impossible, for with steel the Grishnaki could create weapons, even armor, and eventually wipe out the humans of Xandria. So Prince Kiriath and his best friend Brand determine to sneak into the Valley of the Grishaki alone in an attempt to free the king before it’s too late.

I can’t promise that every bookstore carries Kiriath’s Quest. Some do; some don’t. The easiest way to buy a copy is to log onto Amazon.com and order it for $8.99.


Where do you get your ideas and your character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?

For Kiriath’s Quest, I had fun picking obscure names out of the Bible for many names. In the Scriptures, for instance, there’s a place called Kiriath-Arba. I chopped off the ending and used the result as the name of my prince.

In my WW II novel, Gunner’s Run, the main character comes from northern Indiana. So I chose a very typical Hoosier name, Jim Yoder, for the starring role in that book.

Frequently the first or last name of my characters carries a hidden implication. The color green signifies life, so I named the leading man of The Methuselah Project Roger Greene, because he ends up living a long time. The significance of such names will whiz over the heads of many readers, but others will catch the meaning.

Are my characters like me in any way? Absolutely. At least the major male characters often are. For example, Jim Yoder took French in high school; so did I. Roger Greene has a huge interest in aviation and military aircraft; so do I. Prince Kiriath esteems devotion, duty, love and loyalty, which are all qualities I admire in any person.

As a Christian writer, I pursue my craft with a biblical worldview. Certainly, not everyone in my stories is good, but I won’t glorify sins that God hates.



Do you ever feel like giving up?

From time to time I’ve felt that temptation. Especially when it’s taking a long while to snag the interest of a publisher for a book. During such times I encourage myself by recalling true publishing stories, such as how the Dr. Seuss books were originally rejected time and again before finally achieving acclaim. Many well-known authors today endured multiple rejections before achieving publication. So, even though we’d all rather be overnight successes, that doesn’t usually happen.

On the other hand, there are special rewards and joys that balance out the tedium and lonely hours spent pecking away at a keyboard. A teacher in Ohio once mailed me a large envelope of fan letters from her students, who wrote bold statements such as, "You are my favorite author!" An adult travel agent in Texas contacted me to say that she had suffered a stroke and been diagnosed with cancer shortly before reading Gunner’s Run. She identified with the main character, who began Chapter 1 angry at God. "The spiritual journey of Jim Yoder mirrored my own," she wrote me. Later, an 88-year-old former B-24 pilot read the same novel and urged his wife to read it too. They got in touch and invited my wife and me to an evening of refreshments and shared his own experiences of being shot down over Romania, which was fascinating!

Who has inspired you the most?

I enjoy reading a wide variety of authors, including Jack London, Arthur Conan Doyle, Robin Cook, Clive Cussler, and many others. I consider J.R.R. Tolkien the master of quality fantasy, and his work definitely inspired Kiriath’s Quest. When I’m crafting stories set in WW II, however, non-fiction accounts of men who served overseas provide more inspiration than fiction writers do.


How did you choose (or get chosen by) a publisher? Now do you sit back and relax from the success?

It was at a very non-literary Bible conference that I began chatting with two editors from JourneyForth. They expressed interest in seeing Gunner’s Run, bought it, and then wanted to see my next manuscript too.

Personally, though, I don’t believe that seeing my work published ever justifies sitting back and applauding my accomplishments. I apply the mindset of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14, where he explains that he forgets those things that are behind and keeps pressing forward for God. That attitude nips vain pride in the bud and contributes to greater productivity.

Share some of your likes and dislikes, your hobbies and interests. Where would you travel if you could?

Some of my likes are photography, the scent of lilacs wafting on a spring breeze, a gloriously brilliant sunset of reds, oranges, pinks and purples, spicy Mexican dishes, conversing in foreign languages (I’ve studied French, Spanish, and Russian), and listening to a sermon that suddenly helps me to understand a Bible passage as never before.

For dislikes, I might mention fried fish, the long-lasting odor of a dead skunk (why can’t someone invent a perfume that lasts so long?), the haughty air of people who seem to believe they are superior to others, the taste of Brussels sprouts, and the irritating whine of mosquito wings hovering by my ear.

History in general interests me, and the WW II period has fascinated me since my teen years. Just recently my wife and I fulfilled a longtime wish of mine to travel to France, where we rented a car and toured Normandy, spending a full day at the D-Day beaches where Allied troops came ashore. I enjoy international travel, and my regular ministry has taken me to Eastern Europe over thirty times. Such trips are sure to provide my imagination with fodder for future stories.


Do you have a web page? Anything else to add?

My web site is www.rick-barry.com. At the moment I don’t host a blog. If I do start one, first I’ll make sure I have enough interesting material to make it worth people’s time, since thousands of other blogs are already vying for readers’ attention.

As a final word to my fellow Christian authors, I would encourage them to reconsider regularly the question, "Why am I really writing?" If the answer is simply "to earn a living," that’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with any honest, moral method of feeding yourself and your family.

If, however, the main goal (admitted or not) is to get rich, or to feel the pride of seeing your name in print, or to give others a reason to admire you, then I humbly say that your goals are falling short of their potential. If God has given you a talent for this craft, let me suggest that you polish that skill and use it to entertain and instruct while edifying believers, while pointing unbelievers to the Cross, and ultimately to glorify the God who placed us on this planet. May we wordsmiths let our lights shine to glorify Him, not ourselves, as we exercise the skills He has given us.


Thank you so much, Rick, for being here today! I've really enjoyed reading your answers. May God's richest blessings rest upon your writing endeavors.

Blessings, dear readers!

Coming Tomorrow!

An exciting interview with Rick Barry, author of the Gun Runner's series set in WWII. Don't miss it!


Here is Dwight Ritter's contact information one more time. I realize that it didn't show up on the interview blog with him last Wednesday correctly.
http://www.dwightritter.com/ (website)
http://www.emersonthemagnificent.com/ (to buy the book)
http://dwightritter.blogspot.com/ (blogspot)
http://joannritterfineart.com/ (wife's art site)

Do check out Dwight's wonderful book! You'll love it.

Quote:
Who does not thank for little will not thank for much. --Estonian proverb

Blessings!

I've Learned . . .

some things about children . . .

• I've learned that if a child is not getting love and attention at home, he will go somewhere else to find them.
• I've learned that you shouldn't brag about one of your children in the presence of another.
• I've learned that there is nothing more precious than a baby-child-teen-companion's laugh.

• I've learned that the more a chld feels valued, the better his values will be.
• That teens really do care if a light is left on for them when coming home from a date.
• I've learned that teens must learn for themselves that the decisions they make then will have long-term consequences.

• I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, try to improve your marriage.
• I've learned that everyone has something to teach--even kids.
• I've learned that kids and teens like (even when they won't admit it) to see their parents being romantic with each other. (Go ahead; hold hands).

Quote:
The strength of a man consists of finding out the way God is going, and going that way. --Henry Ward Beecher


Blessings

The Art of Thankfulness

It's not always easy being thankful. There are things I'd just as soon not have to experience, see, or feel, but life is what it is. Although I don't want to go through hard times, and I can't bring myself to say, Thank you for them, I can say:

• I'm thankful for learning something from them, or
• I'm thankful I got through them, or even
• I'm thankful they weren't any worse (although at the time I may have considered that hard place the worst possible!)

Still, learning to be thankful doesn't always come easy. And then there are tons of things in life that I take for granted, that sometimes I may enjoy, but don't take the time to say, "Thank you."

Let me do it now:

1. I'm thankful for a hubby that loves me and does all possible to make my life easier. He stands behind me with my chosen career, writing, and helps make many opportunities to learn possible.
2. I'm thrilled and happy and thankful that our boys love us and respect us. They're almost always willing to help us out with watching the house and the animals when we're traveling.
3. Thank you, God, for giving me so many good things that I love: my home with all the wonderful things that give me contentment. Thanks for loving me, helping me, giving me the chance to love you back. Thanks for my talent in writing. Thanks for all the things I forget to say thanks for.
4. Thank you to my wonderful agent, Diana, who works behind my scene of vision for me.
5. Thank you, critique partners, Mary, Roseanna, Stephanie, Christina, Jamin, and Lindsay for giving me your valuable time and critiques. Thank you for that special bond that writing buddies have together.
6. Thank you to my friends who take time out to do lots of things to encourage me. Notes, and words of praise, questions, gifts, visits, open homes, and many more gifts of love.
7. I'm thankful for my home: my gardens, garden pond, gazebo where I enjoy hours of peace and quiet to think; my woods and flowers and stones, all items that bring pleasure; the views from my windows; my precious, always-love-you animals who ask for nothing more than the basic cares of life and a little attention and love.

I could go on and on. I'm still learning to be thankful, to show appreciation, to take the time to live. And if you read this blog, thank you. You made my day!

Quote:
We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.

Blessings!