Showing posts with label #authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #authors. Show all posts
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Monday, June 20, 2011
Lord Deliver Me From Church Folk. Hear from Author Brian Ganges
What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?
I’m real, I shoot straight, and I have a balanced understanding and relationship with the Word of God. I realize that we all have struggles and issues, and we all aren’t on the same level in life. For this reason, people gravitate towards me; they open up and they can relate to me a lot of times. I’m also not afraid to say publicly what many people are thinking and/or talking about in more private settings. I have gotten a lot of appreciation for saying some of the things that I have said.
Who are your favorite authors?
Apostle John and the Apostle Paul are my two favorite Christian authors, and G. Edward Griffin is my favorite secular author. The Apostles are many favorites because they allowed the Lord to use them to write so much of the richness of the New Testament. They allowed themselves to be the vessels that brought us much of His Word. That is an inspiration to me to allow God to further use me to deliver great measures of truth to His people. I enjoy G. Edward Griffin, author of “The Creature From Jekyll Island,” because he took very complex subjects like finance, World History, American History and Politics, and created a very fascinating, informative and very exhaustive book. It took skill to bring all of those subject matters together into one book and to be able to make it interesting.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Of course I get my inspiration from God. But I use a lot of real life situation and God uses them to give me insight and perspective about the issues of life. Anyone who has seen some of my Facebook status posts or has read the “Proverbs” section of my book, knows that I use simple illustrations in order to convey very timely, encouraging and inspirational messages.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
I can say what I want. I’m not a politically correct person, and I’m not a “yes man.” So I enjoy expressing myself. My purpose is never to hurt, offend or embarrass anyone, but right information dispels ignorance and wrong decisions if the listeners heed the right information.
When you have completed a project, how do you celebrate?
I generally treat myself out to a great meal and I watch the complete DVD series of the Three Stooges, Flintstones, or Sanford and Son. I must unwind with a few good laughs on a daily basis, and especially after completing a job well done.
What would readers be surprised to know about you?
I’m a big fan of The Three Stooges, The Flintstones, Play Station, and I love to snow ski.
A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. What legacy do you hope to leave behind with your writing?
I want readers/writers to be free in Jesus; not in religion; not in what their friends are doing; not in the latest fashion; not in what their Church teaches. But freedom in Jesus and a strong, nurturing and fulfilling relationship with Him is what I want for every reader. If people seek Him and His Word after reading my books or hearing me, then I accomplished the task that I set out to do.
Tell us about your book?
My 2011 release is entitled, “Lord, Deliver Me From Church Folks.” It is a follow-up to my current book, “Piecing the Puzzle Together.” While my current book shows readers how to set themselves on a sturdy foundation of the Word for a more productive and God-centered life, “Lord, Deliver Me From Church Folks” shows the readers how to use that mindset to find sound answers to relevant (and often) “swept under the rug” questions.
Many people go to Church to look for: answers to questions, God, healing, understanding, fellowship, etc. But often times, people leave the Church frustrated, offended, confused and/or hurt. This book eliminates all of the guesswork, myths, opinions, traditions of men, and the misconceptions that have plagued the Church, and it deals with many of the hard-hitting questions in a tasteful and a Biblical way.
Questions such as: Should we tithe? To what extent should I obey my Pastor and those that are in authority over me? Is oral sex a sin? Can my girlfriend and I take a sexual test drive before we get married? Can I listen to secular music? Can I go to the movies? How does God really feel about sexual relations between members of the same gender? These questions and so much more are all answered in the book. Right information dispels ignorance, and after reading “Lord, Deliver Me From Church Folks” you will no longer be ignorant of God’s way.
How long did it take to write your book?
Well, I’m still writing it. I had a set back late last year (due to a knee injury) and had knee surgery early 2011. I plan to be done summer 2011. So with the delay, I’d say this book will take me a year to write.
How did you develop the idea into a full length story?
I wanted to continue along the same vein as the letters of the New Testament to the Church. Paul and others were writing letters of instruction, encouragement and doctrine to the saints (believers in Christ). I wanted to make this book seem more personal rather than instructional; however, I still want the readers to come away from the book with relevant instruction, encouragement and sound doctrine.
Do you use an outline or do you let your story unfold naturally?
Most times, I do outline my work. Other times, it just flows. I do try to maintain a structure of outlining; it helps to categorize points, to segway into other points and to make cleaner transitions.
How many hours a week do you devote to writing, including research?
It varies; sometimes 10, sometimes 30 hours. It all depends upon how I’m feeling and how it’s flowing.
How do you keep a balance between family, work, and writing?
Yikes! This is definitely a balancing act. When you work a full-time job, you give your best and most productive hours to someone else, so I’m left with evening and weekends to fulfill my other obligations. It’s tough, but all I can say is that it is a balancing act for sure.
From your experience, what key ingredients do new writers need to succeed in the book industry?
You have to have a message to an audience that wants to hear that message. What good is a library full of books, if there is no one in the town that can read or wants to read? You have to make your message relatable to the target audience; connect with them where they are. Then you must get your message/book into the marketplace where your audience can hear/see you; and continue to make yourself and your message known.
Have you ever experienced writers block, and if so, how did you deal with it so that you could begin to write again?
Sometimes I meditate, and sometimes a good laugh always helps me out. I have to take a break from the monotony of doing business and my personal life, so the Three Stooges, the Flintstones, and Sanford and Son generally do the trick.
Are you devoted to your genre or do you see yourself writing in another genre at some point in the future?
I like the Christian self-help books, but I can see myself writing a fiction book. I’m still pondering the idea, but I’m open.
Are you working on new material? If so, tell us about what you are currently working on and when we can expect to see it on the market.
After “Lord. Deliver Me From Church Folks”, I plan on publishing a book of inspirational thoughts called “Living Gems: Daily Thoughts” and I am considering my first fiction novel that depicts the life of a Church playboy that turns his life completely over to Jesus. A lot of men and women will be able to relate to this story, because many times, the Church is used like a dating service. Some men and women come to Church for the wrong reasons, all dressed up, looking good, and smelling good. Somebody’s flesh is bound to get loose. It will be a good and realistic story of deliverance.
How can others reach you?
My website is www.brianganges.com and I can be reached there with any questions/concerns. My book are also available through my website, P.I.T.S., Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.
What last words of encouragement would you like to leave with our readers?
Don’t give up. Things happen for a reason, and they happen in their season. What is your message or goal in life? Start writing, today. Research the industry. Start an outline. Do a character sketch. Find out what other authors in your genre are doing. It doesn’t have to be a literary goal. Whatever you want to do, plan it out and start to act on it. Opportunities come to doers, not waiters.
I’m real, I shoot straight, and I have a balanced understanding and relationship with the Word of God. I realize that we all have struggles and issues, and we all aren’t on the same level in life. For this reason, people gravitate towards me; they open up and they can relate to me a lot of times. I’m also not afraid to say publicly what many people are thinking and/or talking about in more private settings. I have gotten a lot of appreciation for saying some of the things that I have said.
Who are your favorite authors?
Apostle John and the Apostle Paul are my two favorite Christian authors, and G. Edward Griffin is my favorite secular author. The Apostles are many favorites because they allowed the Lord to use them to write so much of the richness of the New Testament. They allowed themselves to be the vessels that brought us much of His Word. That is an inspiration to me to allow God to further use me to deliver great measures of truth to His people. I enjoy G. Edward Griffin, author of “The Creature From Jekyll Island,” because he took very complex subjects like finance, World History, American History and Politics, and created a very fascinating, informative and very exhaustive book. It took skill to bring all of those subject matters together into one book and to be able to make it interesting.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Of course I get my inspiration from God. But I use a lot of real life situation and God uses them to give me insight and perspective about the issues of life. Anyone who has seen some of my Facebook status posts or has read the “Proverbs” section of my book, knows that I use simple illustrations in order to convey very timely, encouraging and inspirational messages.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
I can say what I want. I’m not a politically correct person, and I’m not a “yes man.” So I enjoy expressing myself. My purpose is never to hurt, offend or embarrass anyone, but right information dispels ignorance and wrong decisions if the listeners heed the right information.
When you have completed a project, how do you celebrate?
I generally treat myself out to a great meal and I watch the complete DVD series of the Three Stooges, Flintstones, or Sanford and Son. I must unwind with a few good laughs on a daily basis, and especially after completing a job well done.
What would readers be surprised to know about you?
I’m a big fan of The Three Stooges, The Flintstones, Play Station, and I love to snow ski.
A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. What legacy do you hope to leave behind with your writing?
I want readers/writers to be free in Jesus; not in religion; not in what their friends are doing; not in the latest fashion; not in what their Church teaches. But freedom in Jesus and a strong, nurturing and fulfilling relationship with Him is what I want for every reader. If people seek Him and His Word after reading my books or hearing me, then I accomplished the task that I set out to do.
Tell us about your book?
My 2011 release is entitled, “Lord, Deliver Me From Church Folks.” It is a follow-up to my current book, “Piecing the Puzzle Together.” While my current book shows readers how to set themselves on a sturdy foundation of the Word for a more productive and God-centered life, “Lord, Deliver Me From Church Folks” shows the readers how to use that mindset to find sound answers to relevant (and often) “swept under the rug” questions.
Many people go to Church to look for: answers to questions, God, healing, understanding, fellowship, etc. But often times, people leave the Church frustrated, offended, confused and/or hurt. This book eliminates all of the guesswork, myths, opinions, traditions of men, and the misconceptions that have plagued the Church, and it deals with many of the hard-hitting questions in a tasteful and a Biblical way.
Questions such as: Should we tithe? To what extent should I obey my Pastor and those that are in authority over me? Is oral sex a sin? Can my girlfriend and I take a sexual test drive before we get married? Can I listen to secular music? Can I go to the movies? How does God really feel about sexual relations between members of the same gender? These questions and so much more are all answered in the book. Right information dispels ignorance, and after reading “Lord, Deliver Me From Church Folks” you will no longer be ignorant of God’s way.
How long did it take to write your book?
Well, I’m still writing it. I had a set back late last year (due to a knee injury) and had knee surgery early 2011. I plan to be done summer 2011. So with the delay, I’d say this book will take me a year to write.
How did you develop the idea into a full length story?
I wanted to continue along the same vein as the letters of the New Testament to the Church. Paul and others were writing letters of instruction, encouragement and doctrine to the saints (believers in Christ). I wanted to make this book seem more personal rather than instructional; however, I still want the readers to come away from the book with relevant instruction, encouragement and sound doctrine.
Do you use an outline or do you let your story unfold naturally?
Most times, I do outline my work. Other times, it just flows. I do try to maintain a structure of outlining; it helps to categorize points, to segway into other points and to make cleaner transitions.
How many hours a week do you devote to writing, including research?
It varies; sometimes 10, sometimes 30 hours. It all depends upon how I’m feeling and how it’s flowing.
How do you keep a balance between family, work, and writing?
Yikes! This is definitely a balancing act. When you work a full-time job, you give your best and most productive hours to someone else, so I’m left with evening and weekends to fulfill my other obligations. It’s tough, but all I can say is that it is a balancing act for sure.
From your experience, what key ingredients do new writers need to succeed in the book industry?
You have to have a message to an audience that wants to hear that message. What good is a library full of books, if there is no one in the town that can read or wants to read? You have to make your message relatable to the target audience; connect with them where they are. Then you must get your message/book into the marketplace where your audience can hear/see you; and continue to make yourself and your message known.
Have you ever experienced writers block, and if so, how did you deal with it so that you could begin to write again?
Sometimes I meditate, and sometimes a good laugh always helps me out. I have to take a break from the monotony of doing business and my personal life, so the Three Stooges, the Flintstones, and Sanford and Son generally do the trick.
Are you devoted to your genre or do you see yourself writing in another genre at some point in the future?
I like the Christian self-help books, but I can see myself writing a fiction book. I’m still pondering the idea, but I’m open.
Are you working on new material? If so, tell us about what you are currently working on and when we can expect to see it on the market.
After “Lord. Deliver Me From Church Folks”, I plan on publishing a book of inspirational thoughts called “Living Gems: Daily Thoughts” and I am considering my first fiction novel that depicts the life of a Church playboy that turns his life completely over to Jesus. A lot of men and women will be able to relate to this story, because many times, the Church is used like a dating service. Some men and women come to Church for the wrong reasons, all dressed up, looking good, and smelling good. Somebody’s flesh is bound to get loose. It will be a good and realistic story of deliverance.
How can others reach you?
My website is www.brianganges.com and I can be reached there with any questions/concerns. My book are also available through my website, P.I.T.S., Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.
What last words of encouragement would you like to leave with our readers?
Don’t give up. Things happen for a reason, and they happen in their season. What is your message or goal in life? Start writing, today. Research the industry. Start an outline. Do a character sketch. Find out what other authors in your genre are doing. It doesn’t have to be a literary goal. Whatever you want to do, plan it out and start to act on it. Opportunities come to doers, not waiters.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Conversations with Cheryl presents Author Paulette Harper
Who are your favorite authors? Where do you find your inspiration?
Over the years, I have grown to appreciate the writing of some who write Christian fiction. A few of them are: Wanda B. Campbell and Tia Mc Collors. I also enjoy the inspirational writing of: T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyers.
Getting a book published is the start. To have a long career as a full time writer, you need to move your books. Tell us about 2-3 effective ways you have found to get the word out about your book.
Please visit me at:
I would highly recommend to those who are aspiring to become authors to be patient with the process of becoming well known. Connecting with your audience and branding yourself will take time. Especially for new writers, the market is flooded with books for readers to choose from, so by keeping this in mind you must be able to patiently wait your time to shine.
Over the years, I have grown to appreciate the writing of some who write Christian fiction. A few of them are: Wanda B. Campbell and Tia Mc Collors. I also enjoy the inspirational writing of: T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyers.
Tell us about your book?
What is Completely Whole about? Oftentimes, many people try to seek fulfillment from money, relationships, accomplishments, or material things. Others choose to cope with difficult problems by using drugs or alcohol, but they often come up short and soon have to realize that such things do not bring true happiness and fulfillment in life. How then can we successfully solve the problems that we face and find true happiness and peace in our lives? Well, author, Paulette Harper, in her latest book, Completely Whole, shows readers how to overcome suffering caused by alcoholism, substance abuse, poverty, and other obstacles blocking the path to a life of wholeness in spirit, soul, and body.
In her well-written, resource-filled guide, Harper provides readers with practical and biblically-based solutions to overcome everyday problems. Completely Whole features prayers, meditations, and powerful scripture passages to allow readers to interact with the text and to apply it to their own lives. Harper uses personal experiences and biblical principles to place readers on a path to be in connection with God. This life-changing book will help readers to transform their spirit, soul, and body through Jesus Christ, so they can live a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment.
In her well-written, resource-filled guide, Harper provides readers with practical and biblically-based solutions to overcome everyday problems. Completely Whole features prayers, meditations, and powerful scripture passages to allow readers to interact with the text and to apply it to their own lives. Harper uses personal experiences and biblical principles to place readers on a path to be in connection with God. This life-changing book will help readers to transform their spirit, soul, and body through Jesus Christ, so they can live a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment.
What other books have you authored? Tell us about them.
That Was Then, This Is Now, was written in 2007 and published by Tate Publishing in May of 2008. I call That Was Then my testimonial story. I share, after being married 23 years and divorced, how God took the transitions in my life, and used my pain as an instrument of hope for others. That Was Then, This Is Now has achieved national recognition by being awarded a finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Award. I am also the Co-Author of Victorious Living for Women and Victorious Living for Moms.
Are you working on new material? If so, tell us about what you are currently working on and when we can expect to see it on the market.
Yes I am working on my first Christian Fiction Book. I’m hoping it will be ready by the end of 2011.
Getting a book published is the start. To have a long career as a full time writer, you need to move your books. Tell us about 2-3 effective ways you have found to get the word out about your book.
A few of the things I have done have been: Blog tours, writing articles, blogging, and social networking
How can others reach you?
How can others reach you?
Please visit me at:
Website: www.pauletteharper.com
Email: info@pauletteharper.com
I’m on facebook under Paulette Harper-Johnson
I also have a blog called Empowered to Proper, which I am a blog tour host: www.pauletteharper.blogspot.com
What last words of encouragement would you like to leave with our readers
What last words of encouragement would you like to leave with our readers
I would highly recommend to those who are aspiring to become authors to be patient with the process of becoming well known. Connecting with your audience and branding yourself will take time. Especially for new writers, the market is flooded with books for readers to choose from, so by keeping this in mind you must be able to patiently wait your time to shine.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
This Week on Worth More than Rubies Conversations with Cheryl: Author Paulette Harper
Join us as we speak to the author of Completely Whole Paulette Harper this Saturday 3:00pm CST/ 4:00pm EST on Worth More than Rubies Radio or call in 646-595-3716
A sought after speaker, certified life coach, minister and author. As an inspirational and motivational speaker, Paulette’s desire is to motive women to reach their God given potential through conferences, workshops and seminars. Combining enthusiasm with an energetic speaking style, audiences describe Paulette’s presentation as inspiriting, enriching and encouraging. She is committed to speaking a message that is always uplifting and edifying.
As a writing coach, Paulette is the visionary behind “Write Now” (releasing the word in you) literary workshops designed to coach aspiring writers in the areas of creativity, development and publication of Christian books. God has given her a desire for writers especially those who want to write for the Lord. Through these workshops it is her aspiration to provide information that will help aspiring writers dream come to reality, by providing tools, resources and opportunities to help them succeed.
As a certified life coach, Paulette’s mission is to challenge you to define your purpose, and passion so you can discover your full potential for living your best life now. Paulette completed her coaching education at New Life Coaching, Inc and is a member of International Coach Federation.
Paulette has authored such books as That Was Then, This Is Now and Completely Whole which was published under her own publishing company Thy Word Publishing and is the co-author of Victorious Living for Women. Her next book For Such a Time as This will be released in 2011 in addition to Victorious Living for Moms.
Paulette Harper Johnson serves in ministry with her husband Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson at Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton, FL.
Paulette is available to speak, train and facilitate at your upcoming event or conference.
A sought after speaker, certified life coach, minister and author. As an inspirational and motivational speaker, Paulette’s desire is to motive women to reach their God given potential through conferences, workshops and seminars. Combining enthusiasm with an energetic speaking style, audiences describe Paulette’s presentation as inspiriting, enriching and encouraging. She is committed to speaking a message that is always uplifting and edifying.
As a writing coach, Paulette is the visionary behind “Write Now” (releasing the word in you) literary workshops designed to coach aspiring writers in the areas of creativity, development and publication of Christian books. God has given her a desire for writers especially those who want to write for the Lord. Through these workshops it is her aspiration to provide information that will help aspiring writers dream come to reality, by providing tools, resources and opportunities to help them succeed.
As a certified life coach, Paulette’s mission is to challenge you to define your purpose, and passion so you can discover your full potential for living your best life now. Paulette completed her coaching education at New Life Coaching, Inc and is a member of International Coach Federation.
Paulette has authored such books as That Was Then, This Is Now and Completely Whole which was published under her own publishing company Thy Word Publishing and is the co-author of Victorious Living for Women. Her next book For Such a Time as This will be released in 2011 in addition to Victorious Living for Moms.
Paulette Harper Johnson serves in ministry with her husband Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson at Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton, FL.
Paulette is available to speak, train and facilitate at your upcoming event or conference.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
This week on Worth More than Rubies Conversations With Cheryl: Author KL Belvin
Join us this Saturday May 14, 2011 for Worth More than Rubies Saturday Edition 3:00pm CST/4:00pm EST. We'll be interviewing Author KL Belvin. 646-595-3716. 0r listen on your computer http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worthmorethanrubies
K. L. Belvin is a prime example of what happens when you allow God to take control of your life. A father of six, High School Dean of students for the New York City Department of Education for over twelve years and a Christian. K. L. is also the co-founder of Bravin Publishing LLC, a literary publishing company geared towards publishing authors who are presenting minorities as role models for today’s youth specifically and the African-American communities. In June 2008, K. L. released his first manuscript called “A Man in Transition,” a book of poems, stories and personal observations. With the success of the first book Keith decided it was time to expand his potential. In February of 2010, K. L. and his wife, Ms. New York Plus America 2010 who also serves as the creative director of their vision, Tiffany Braxton Belvin, created their own boutique publishing company called, Bravin Publishing LLC. In 2010, Bravin Publishing released their second published book for author, Jovan Roseboro titled, “The Only One That Can Stop Me Is Me.” Bravin Publishing plans to release their first Spanish manuscript “Restaurando El Matrimonio Y La Familia” by Rev. Victor M. Zesati in September 2010. In 2011 Bravin has plans to produce over seven more titles ranging from Poetry, Historical, Self-Help, Anthologies, Romantic Drama and Fiction. There is also be DVD documentaries to accompany some of the titles in 2011
K. L. Belvin is a prime example of what happens when you allow God to take control of your life. A father of six, High School Dean of students for the New York City Department of Education for over twelve years and a Christian. K. L. is also the co-founder of Bravin Publishing LLC, a literary publishing company geared towards publishing authors who are presenting minorities as role models for today’s youth specifically and the African-American communities. In June 2008, K. L. released his first manuscript called “A Man in Transition,” a book of poems, stories and personal observations. With the success of the first book Keith decided it was time to expand his potential. In February of 2010, K. L. and his wife, Ms. New York Plus America 2010 who also serves as the creative director of their vision, Tiffany Braxton Belvin, created their own boutique publishing company called, Bravin Publishing LLC. In 2010, Bravin Publishing released their second published book for author, Jovan Roseboro titled, “The Only One That Can Stop Me Is Me.” Bravin Publishing plans to release their first Spanish manuscript “Restaurando El Matrimonio Y La Familia” by Rev. Victor M. Zesati in September 2010. In 2011 Bravin has plans to produce over seven more titles ranging from Poetry, Historical, Self-Help, Anthologies, Romantic Drama and Fiction. There is also be DVD documentaries to accompany some of the titles in 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Pitching the (Seemingly Unresponsive) Media
Pitching the (Seemingly Unresponsive) Media
By L. Drew Gerber
The biggest difference between pitching the media and pitching to a Major League slugger is that the Major League slugger will hit your bad pitches out of the park. When pitching the media, you have to throw perfect pitches to the media every time. No curve, breaking or knuckle balls — they have to be right down the center of the plate. Since the use of human growth hormones and steroids hasn’t caught on in the media, you’ll want to make it easy for them.
Here’s some ways to get your media pitch knocked out of the park:
Use a news hook
A news hook is an angle or approach to telling a news story. Tie you and your expertise into news or conversations of the day.
Create the perfect headline
Writing headlines is great practice for all kinds of pitching because it forces you to condense what you want to say into the fewest words possible. Put the most compelling and important information at the beginning. What’s the most important thing you want to tell the media about how you relate to the news or conversation? Can you say it in one sentence? Now say it in a five words or less. That’s your headline.
Learn from headlines
Read some headlines in major newspapers such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or USA Today. You’ll find headlines related to the universally appealing topics of health, money and relationships. Can you tie your expertise to one of these topics?
Reduce
Reduce the number of words you use to tell your story. (Notice how many words I used to get this point across.)
Reuse
The media calls it “re-purposing.” You have content, but you just dress it up in seasonal clothes. For example, you might have content about health and beauty tips. For summer, give it a sunny slant. In winter, talk about how the cold and snow impact one’s skin.
Recycle
Not only your plastics, but also your news content. The media does it and you should too. Holidays and seasons set the stage for news. For example, media will naturally seek Mother’s Day stories every year. Tie your pitch to seasonal news and you’ll get more attention.
Seasonal and breaking news headlines
Holidays like Mother’s Day and Memorial Day aren’t the only seasonal news to pay attention to. There’s weather-related news like preparing for winter or getting skinny for summer. All those weather tie-ins matter. The media is always looking for content related to seasonal news. But breaking news is where it’s at. This can be crime, celebrity hiccups and political matters. The trick here is to only comment on breaking news that furthers your brand. It’s most effective if you find and work with media perfectly suited to your expertise and the breaking news commentary you can create.
So begin lobbing your pitches to the media and look forward to boosting your exposure!
About the Author: L. Drew Gerber is CEO of www.PublicityResults.com and creator of www.PitchRate.com, a free media tool that connects journalists and the highest rated experts. Gerber's business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with Online PressKit 24/7, a technology he developed (www.PressKit247.com). Contact L. Drew Gerber at: AskDrew@PublicityResults.com or call him at 828-749-3548.
By L. Drew Gerber
The biggest difference between pitching the media and pitching to a Major League slugger is that the Major League slugger will hit your bad pitches out of the park. When pitching the media, you have to throw perfect pitches to the media every time. No curve, breaking or knuckle balls — they have to be right down the center of the plate. Since the use of human growth hormones and steroids hasn’t caught on in the media, you’ll want to make it easy for them.
Here’s some ways to get your media pitch knocked out of the park:
Use a news hook
A news hook is an angle or approach to telling a news story. Tie you and your expertise into news or conversations of the day.
Create the perfect headline
Writing headlines is great practice for all kinds of pitching because it forces you to condense what you want to say into the fewest words possible. Put the most compelling and important information at the beginning. What’s the most important thing you want to tell the media about how you relate to the news or conversation? Can you say it in one sentence? Now say it in a five words or less. That’s your headline.
Learn from headlines
Read some headlines in major newspapers such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or USA Today. You’ll find headlines related to the universally appealing topics of health, money and relationships. Can you tie your expertise to one of these topics?
Reduce
Reduce the number of words you use to tell your story. (Notice how many words I used to get this point across.)
Reuse
The media calls it “re-purposing.” You have content, but you just dress it up in seasonal clothes. For example, you might have content about health and beauty tips. For summer, give it a sunny slant. In winter, talk about how the cold and snow impact one’s skin.
Recycle
Not only your plastics, but also your news content. The media does it and you should too. Holidays and seasons set the stage for news. For example, media will naturally seek Mother’s Day stories every year. Tie your pitch to seasonal news and you’ll get more attention.
Seasonal and breaking news headlines
Holidays like Mother’s Day and Memorial Day aren’t the only seasonal news to pay attention to. There’s weather-related news like preparing for winter or getting skinny for summer. All those weather tie-ins matter. The media is always looking for content related to seasonal news. But breaking news is where it’s at. This can be crime, celebrity hiccups and political matters. The trick here is to only comment on breaking news that furthers your brand. It’s most effective if you find and work with media perfectly suited to your expertise and the breaking news commentary you can create.
So begin lobbing your pitches to the media and look forward to boosting your exposure!
About the Author: L. Drew Gerber is CEO of www.PublicityResults.com and creator of www.PitchRate.com, a free media tool that connects journalists and the highest rated experts. Gerber's business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with Online PressKit 24/7, a technology he developed (www.PressKit247.com). Contact L. Drew Gerber at: AskDrew@PublicityResults.com or call him at 828-749-3548.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, June 21, 2010
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Interview with Author Francine Rivers
Can you tell us something about your Christian testimony?
I was reared in a Christian home. My parents were active in church, my father an elder, my mother a deaconess. I attended Christian summer camps, youth group and said grace at every meal. I thought being born into a Christian family and raised in the faith made me a Christian. It didn’t. Each person makes their own choice, and it took me years to surrender to Jesus – not until after I’d gone through college, married, had children and started a writing career. Rick and I went to church, but came away dissatisfied and knowing there must be something more. We both had personal issues that brought us close to divorce several times. We wanted our own way and to have control over our own lives. Having control is an illusion. As a child, I’d asked Jesus to be my Savior. What I didn’t understand is I needed to surrender my life to Him and allow Him to be LORD of my life as well.
Our marriage was on the verge of collapse when Rick started his own business. We moved to northern California to be closer to family. We made many outer changes, but no change of the heart. As we moved into our rental house, a little boy came over to help and said, “Have I got a church for you!” We weren’t ready to listen. The lady on the other side of our fence also invited us to the same church. Out of desperation, I went a few weeks later. It was my first experience with “expository teaching.” The pastor taught straight out of the Bible, explaining the historical context, what the scriptures were saying, and what they had to do with me in the present. I drank it in! I took my three children to church. They loved it. Rick resisted (after having a somewhat disheartening experience with a denominational church in Southern California). I asked the pastor if he would be willing to teach a home Bible study. He agreed -- if Rick agreed, which he did. Studying the Bible changed our lives. Our hearts and minds opened to Christ. We both accepted Jesus as Savior and LORD and were baptized in May 1986. Since then, God has been changing our lives from the inside out. The Lord also healed our marriage. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this year.
How did you get started as a writer?
From the time I was a child, I knew I would be a writer. Because I didn’t know what I would write, I majored in English (emphasis in literary writing) and minored in journalism (emphasis on who-what-when-where-why). My parents had always been non-fiction readers. Rick’s family loved all kinds of books – and lots of fiction. Mom Edith loaned me novels and I loved them. On a dare (from Rick) I decided to write a combination of my favorite genres and wrote a “western-gothic-romance”. Romance novels were booming in the general market, publishers were on the look-out for new writers. My first manuscript sold and was published. I was hooked! I followed with eight or nine more (of what I call my B.C. (before Christ) books). They are all now out of print, are never to be reprinted, and are not recommended.
When I turned my life over to Jesus, I couldn’t write for three years. I tried, but nothing worked. I struggled against God over that because writing was my “identity.” It took that period of suffering “writer’s block” to bring me to my senses. God was trying to open my eyes to how writing had become an idol in my life. It was the place I ran to escape, the one area of my life where I thought I was in complete control. (Hardly!) My priorities were all wrong and needed to be put right. God first, husband and children second (we had three children by then) and third-- work. I prayed God would change my heart. My love for writing and reading novels waned and my passion for reading and studying God’s Word grew.
Rick and I began hosting a home Bible study. I began working with Rick in his business. The children came along and played in the office, hiding in the shipping popcorn. Writing ceased to matter. I was in love with Jesus and my husband and children. God never stops with the transformation process. We began studying the book of Hosea, and I sensed God calling me to write again – this time a romance about Jesus’ love for each of us. Redeeming Love was the result. It is the retelling of the Hosea story, set in Gold Rush-era California. After I turned it in, I wasn’t sure whether I would write anything more. I had so many questions about what it means to be a Christian, how to live for God, different issues that still haunted me. I felt God nudging me toward using my writing as a tool to draw closer to Him. I would ask my question, create characters that would play out the different viewpoints and seek God’s perspective. I began work on A Voice in the Wind. Writing has become a way to worship the Lord through story – to show how intimately He wants to be involved in our lives.
Where do you get your ideas for your plots?
Almost every story I have written since becoming a Christian has come from a question that regards a struggle in my own faith walk. The plot centers around the different ways that question can be answered by “the world” – but the quest is to find God’s answer. Here is a list of my novels with the questions that started each story:
•A Voice in the Wind: How do I share my faith with unsaved family members and friends who have no desire to read the Bible or hear me talk about my faith?
•An Echo in the Darkness: How many times are we called upon to forgive people who hurt us deliberately -- and (in many countries) would like to see us dead?
•As Sure As the Dawn: How do you deal with anger – especially when there is “good” cause? What is “righteous anger” and how does it look?
•The Scarlet Thread: What does “sovereignty” mean in man’s relationship with God? If He is in control of everything, what does that say about the bad things that happen to people?
•The Atonement Child: Is there complete forgiveness and restoration for a woman who has aborted her child? Does abortion have any effect on the woman and the man involved in the crisis pregnancy? Does it impact people around them? (This was my most painful and personal book because I needed to face and deal with my own abortion experience. The character of Hannah is based on my story; Evie is based on my mother’s.)
•The Last Sin Eater: What is the difference between guilt and conviction? This book came out of The Atonement Child. What I learned: guilt kept me imprisoned for years. Conviction sent me to my knees before the Lord where I received forgiveness and experienced His love and grace.
•Leota’s Garden: Are abortion and euthanasia connected? Is euthanasia merciful or an act of murder? This novel also came out of my work on The Atonement Child. While studying the abortion issue from all sides, I realized the arguments for abortion are exactly the same as those for euthanasia. While going through a post-abortion class with other women (one a nurse), I learned that the elderly are already at risk. One scene in the book continues to shock people. I wrote it for that purpose. I want people to understand life is precious. The movement toward legalizing euthanasia continues to gain momentum (and has less to do with “mercy” than saving money for care).
•And the Shofar Blew: What is a church? How do you build it? During my travels around the country and speaking at various churches, I saw many struggling through building projects and massive programs to draw more parishioners. Size of building and number of people in the pews seemed to define success or failure. Like a government out of control, the “church” (in many cases) has forgotten its foundation and purpose. Christ is the cornerstone. Believers meet together to study the Word of God, worship Him and encourage one another – and keep their doors and hearts open to those seeking God. Unfortunately, too many congregations have left their first love (Jesus Christ) and turned to idolatry (placing a building/drawing a crowd/being “politically correct” above a relationship with the Lord).
•Her Mother’s Hope / Her Daughter’s Dream: What caused the rift between my grandmother and mother? When my grandmother had a stroke, my mother raced from Oregon to the Central Valley of California to be with her. Grandma died before she arrived. My mother was heart-broken and said, “I think she willed herself to die just so we wouldn’t have to talk things out.” I have wondered since: What causes people (even Christians) to hold grudges? What might have brought resolution and restoration to these two women? Could my grandmother have loved my mother without my mother understanding it? The two books have many personal, family details woven in and I will be sharing this information in my blog.
Which is your favorite book of those you’ve written?
My favorite book is Redeeming Love. It was my first as a born-again Christian, my statement of faith, and the most exciting year I’ve spent writing anything. I felt God’s presence throughout the months of work, as though He were telling me His story through thousands of Scriptures as well as explaining the inner heart-ache and quest of each “my” characters.
Which book was the hardest to write and why?
The Atonement Child was the most personal and difficult to write because I had to face my own abortion experience. Added to the considerable research I did, and women who shared their experiences with me, I went through an intensive post-traumatic stress Bible study for post-abortive women at our local pregnancy counseling center. Reliving all aspects of my abortion decision and experience was excruciating – but healing. After twenty-six years of being imprisoned by guilt and shame, I was free through the power and love of God. Though the book was the most heart-wrenching to write, it also proved to be the most life changing. I’ve received countless letters from other post-abortive women and have learned my experience is not unique. Our nation is filled with wounded men and women. The character of Hannah is based on my story, Doug is based on Rick’s, and Evie is based on my mother’s.
Which character is your favorite?
My favorite character is Michael Hosea from Redeeming Love. He is like Jesus – the lover of my soul. I have another favorite: Hadassah from A Voice in the Wind. She is the kind of Christian I want to be.
Christian fiction continues to boom. What would you like to see happen in the field?
I want to see Christian fiction speak to the hard and real issues that tear people’s lives apart. We need writers who are willing to ask the hard questions and go through the soul-searching and agonizing to find answers – and present these stories with skill that surpasses the general market. Some of the greatest works or art and literature were rendered by Christians. I believe God is at work in these areas now. I would also love to see more Christian stories make it to the big screen and into the world of television, and to have the Christian worldview presented fairly. Much of what comes out of “Hollywood” appeals to the basest side of mankind and crushes the spirit. Right now, with war and a failing economy, people are hungry for stories that inspire them, lift them and give them hope. People need to know there are solutions and we can have peace and an abundant life -- even in the midst of trials.
What is your goal or mission as a Christian writer?
I want to whet the appetite for the real thing: the Bible and a personal relationship with Jesus. I try to weave Scripture throughout the story so people receive the Word and see what it might mean in their lives – how the Lord is present and real and passionately interested in each of us. He is not an idea. He is real, all-powerful, all-knowing, the embodiment of love, deeply involved in our existence, and He created each of us for a purpose.
What advice would you give to a new writer?
Write what you need to read. Write from your heart and. Write truth. Sometimes it hurts to peel away the layers of self-deception and see ourselves in the mirror, but it will also draw us closer to Jesus. And your work may minister to others struggling with the same issues. Read the Bible every day so that it will flow naturally into the story. Study the Bible from beginning to end. It is the most exciting reading in the world. It is also alive – and will help you recognize when you are entering into sin and need to realign yourself with the Lord. Keep your focus on Jesus.
Tell us about your family life?
Rick and I met in the fifth grade. We were good friends through school, and graduated together in 1965. I went away to college and he joined the Marine Corps. When the hometown newspaper carried the story of my brother’s capture in Hue during the Tet Offensive, Rick wrote to me from Vietnam and we began to correspond. We married a year after he returned from Vietnam (1969). We have three children and five grandchildren. (Note: My brother was seriously wounded, escaped from his captors when the Marines entered Hue, and is alive, well, happily married with two grown children and living the blissful retired life in the woods of Northern California.)
Are any of your novels going to be made into movies?
The Last Sin Eater was produced and directed by Michael Landon, Jr. and Brian Bird (They did an outstanding job.) The movie was released in theaters in 2007 and is now available on DVD. You can see the trailer on IMDB.com. Rick and I were invited to visit the set during filming in the mountains north of Salt Lake City. We had a great time and there are pictures of our trip in the movie-edition of the novel.
A film based on Redeeming Love is currently in development with Abba Productions/ Christy Lee Taylor. She has partnered with producer Ralph Winter and they are trying to pull together funding to get the project off the ground.
What made you choose the five women in the A Lineage of Grace series?
There are five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ in the first chapter of Matthew. I wanted to know why these five women were mentioned. Three were from pagan cultures (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth), one may have been a Hittite (the wife of Urriah the Hittite, Bathsheba), and one of Jewish descent (Mary). I believe these women were listed to show that God offered salvation to everyone who believes. Each story also showed an aspect of the Christian life: Tamar was a woman of hope; Rahab, a woman of faith; Ruth, a woman of compassion and love; Bathsheba experienced forgiveness and God’s amazing grace; and Mary was a woman of obedience. The Lord used these ordinary women facing extraordinary risks to bring forth the Savior of the world – Jesus Christ.
What made you choose the five men in The Sons of Encouragement series?
My desire to write this series came out of And the Shofar Blew and seeing how important the men behind the leaders are to the good health and direction of a church. Since I had written about five women in the Lineage of Grace, I thought it only fair to choose five men. I looked for men who worked with great leaders and represented different “careers”. Here is the list:
• The Priest -- Aaron, first priest of Israel and brother of Moses (the church)
• The Warrior --Caleb, who encouraged and fought alongside Joshua (the military)
•The Prince – Jonathan, heir to the throne, who became the best friend and encourager to God’s chosen king, David (government/the political arena)
•The Prophet – Amos, who spoke the (unpopular and unheeded) truth to King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel – calling them to return to the Lord and follow in His ways or continuing to follow the teachings of the nations around them and face disaster (war, economic collapse, enslavement and intense personal suffering) (public servant)
•The Scribe – Silas, who is an unsung hero who traveled and worked with Paul (as a scribe), Timothy and Peter (clerk, business administration)
Tell us about your current work.
I have just completed the second in a set of two books about mother-daughter relationship over four generations. This was intended to be one long novel dealing with the different ways generations have lived out their faith – but became so long it needed to be divided. Her Mother’s Hope will be released March 16, 2010. Her Daughter’s Dream will follow in September. There are numerous family and personal details woven into both books and I plan to share those things on my blog.
What made you decide to let Hadassah live in A Voice in the Wind, the first book in your Mark of the Lion trilogy? Do you think it would have been preferable for Hadassah to die than to live in constant pain and be crippled for life?
I let her live because my editor at the time, Karen Ball, was so upset by Hadassah's death in the arena that she called me and said she wanted to throw the manuscript across the room.! "You cannot let her die," she insisted. She wanted me to carry on the story in another book. What could I do? But I had also done some research on the customs of that day, and discovered there was a law against dissection (once a person was dead) but not against vivisection (if the person was still alive). So I actually had an historically accurate reason for her to have lived.
As to whether it was better for her to die than live in constant pain—in terms of the story, it was better for her to live, even though it was much more difficult. The focus of An Echo in the Darkness, Book 2, was forgiveness. How many times do you forgive someone who has hurt you or who desires your destruction? I have had to deal with that question. And what that book taught me was that no matter what anybody does to me, what they say about me, or what their actions are, I am still called upon to forgive. And I learned that once you forgive someone, there are three things you don't do; talk to someone else about whatever it was you forgave; bring it up again to the person you've forgiven, or dwell on it yourself. Hadassah models for me what true forgiveness is. I wanted the reader to despise Julia. I wanted to continue the story of Hadassah to show how God used her to reach Julia, the least likely one to accept Christ. We are not here for our own good pleasure. God leaves us here to be salt and light. He wants us to live our lives to draw the lost to Him. It did me good to remember those things, and to have Julia be the first one to reach Heaven. The angels sang when she accepted Christ and she saw them coming to take her home. Hadassah was left behind to continue being salt and light, to continue to suffer as she lived for Christ in this world. That's what the Christian life is about. All for Him. We are here for the sake of others who don't yet know their redeemer lives.
In A Voice in the Wind, how does Hadassah remain true to her faith right up to the end?
Hadassah was the one character who was living out a Christ-centered life, and that was the source of her strength. She was in prayer throughout the book; her entire focus was on God. That was the only thing she could do, living the kind of life she had. When I wrote the book, the question that spurred me on was, how do you live out your faith among family members and friends who are not at all interested in the gospel? Through Hadassah, the answer came that it's not what you say, it's how you live that has the impact. Also, you don't need courage ahead of time. God prepares you and supplies you with the courage you need to face difficulties when you need it, not before.
What made you decide include both a contemporary and a historical story line in The Scarlet Thread?
I originally meant just to write the historical story. I had always wanted to go on the Oregon Trail and write a story about it. When I finally did retrace the Oregon Trail with friends, we visited the museums. In pondering what those pioneer women had dealt with, I realized they faced the same bottom-line issue we do today: Who is in control of my life? Do I want to fight for control or will I surrender to the Lord and let him work in my life? I wanted to show that that is a question every person in every era has to face.
What made you choose the historical time period in The Scarlet Thread?
I've always been fascinated with that time period—the 1840s-1880s, especially in the West. My first books were set in that time period, and I did a lot of research. It's an interesting time in history to me.
In The Last Sin Eater, how did you come up with the idea of a sin eater? It says in the beginning of the book that it is a real concept brought by immigrants to the Appalachian mountains. How did you discover this?
I once saw a movie about a doctor in Appalachia, and the story had a sin eater in it. I got interested in finding out what a sin eater was. I learned, mostly through research on the Internet, that the sin eater was a person who was paid a small fee or given food to take upon himself the sins of the deceased. Often the sin eaters were tricked into it. Some wealthy person would invite them in, serve them a meal and say, “By the way, you just ate the sins of our dead relative in the next room.” Then they were locked into that life as an outcast. Sin eating was practiced in England, the lowlands of Scotland, and the Welsh border district in the early nineteenth century, and carried over by immigrants into the remote areas of the Appalachian Mountains.
As I learned about the sin eater, questions started forming in my mind.
In The Last Sin Eater, why do you think someone would agree to do something that made him a pariah in the community?
The whole idea of a sin eater fascinated me. It's like Christ in a way, yet it isn't. To me it was a twisted gospel. The sin eater might think he was being a living sacrifice, giving up his life for his neighbors by taking their sins on himself, but in actuality, he was standing in the way of the true gospel because he's not perfect and he can't remove sin. So I used this as a vehicle to portray the gospel message.
Did you face any particular creative challenges with The Last Sin Eater? It seems different from most of your other novels—for instance, it's told in the first person.
Yes, there were. First, there was the challenge of thinking from a child's point of view. I like the power that first person can have when told from a child's perspective in stories like To Kill a Mockingbird. A child can be plagued by guilt in a unique way yet also be open to spiritual truth and see things that adults perhaps are no longer open to seeing or believing. Another challenge was how to capture the dialect of the Appalachian people without losing the reader. Only recently did I read a book on writing by Sol Stein and learned it was best not to use dialect. That would have made it easier write, and perhaps easier for the reader as well! Another thing about The Last Sin Eater is that I didn't know myself what terrible thing Cadi has done to make her feel so guilty. Nor did I know at first what terrible things the others in the story were trying to hide. It was only as the story unfolded that things became clear to me, just as they do for the reader.
In The Atonement Child, what made you decide to make your character a victim of rape rather than a woman who finds herself unmarried and pregnant?
I wanted to deal with the tough cases. Dynah, a Christian college student who finds herself pregnant after being raped, has to deal with the issues in a very personal way. As a Christian, she believes abortion is wrong, and so does her fiancé--until she's raped. Then the question arises, "Would it be OK in a case like hers?" Dynah wonders, "What does God really want me to do?"
As Dynah's story unfolds, we are drawn into the complexity of the issue, including the number of people who are involved. A lot of people think abortion just involves the woman, that it's her decision alone, and that's not true. In this story, there's the mother, Hannah, who had an illegal abortion, and her husband, who had nothing to do with Hannah's abortion but has had to deal with his wife's inability to trust. And Dynah's grandmother, who had had a therapeutic abortion, which her husband had encouraged at the time. There's Dynah's fiancé, who has a real hard time dealing with the situation. There is the dean of the Christian college, who faces the dilemma of whether or not to allow a pregnant student to remain at the school, which I against the rules. There is her fiancé's roommate, whose girlfriends had gotten pregnant and had an abortion, which he opposed, but has no real say in the matter. There is the abortion doctor, whose sister had an illegal abortion and died; he feels he's helping other women by providing "safe" abortions. There's the pastor who struggles with how to advise his parishioners who are hurting from this issue. Every person in this story is feels the impact of abortion in some way, which I believe is true in our society. We often don't even have a clue about how someone's choice impacts us. I think there's a real undertow of guilt and grief in our country because of abortion.
By developing all sides of the abortion issue and how deeply it affects so many people in so many ways, I hope to help people develop compassion for anyone who is affected personally by abortion. For a woman who has an abortion, for anyone in her family, the event is never forgotten—as I've learned from personal experience.
In The Atonement Child, the scene in which Dynah is raped is difficult to read. Was it as difficult to write?
Extremely! I had read a number of books on rape and its impact. I've been asked why I didn't have Dynah pursue the man, bring him to justice. That wasn't the focus on the story. I wanted the story to be about the impact of abortion. I wanted portray that even in the case of rape—which many people say justifies abortion—abortion is always a very complex issue.
The mother/daughter relationships in Leota’s Garden are very realistic. What did you base these on?
I've just seen many people who never seem to work out the misunderstandings in their relationships. They never sit down and talk things through in a calm manner so that each person can truly hear both sides. In the story, Leota and Nora never really could communicate. Annie was the catalyst that helped them understand each other. I wanted to write about a family who was dysfunctional and explore questions that many people grapple with. One of them was employed mothers versus those who stay home. Leota had been employed, and her daughter, Nora, bitterly remembers all the times her mother had not been there for her. Nora, now a mother herself, was always "there" for her children … always there to control and manage every aspect of their lives. Which is the better mother? The answers are not as simple as some might like to think. The Proverbs 31 woman worked and was a blessing to her family. It all comes down to living our lives in obedience to Christ, in the home and outside it.
Lack of communication can destroy a family. In Leota’s Garden, why did Leota keep her secrets even after her husband was gone?
She kept silent out of deep hurt and pride. Her mother-in-law had poisoned Nora against her, but Leota couldn't bring herself to destroy her daughter's love for her grandmother. Leota made peace with her mother-in-law and actually took care of her in her old age. Perhaps she hoped the woman would tell the truth to Nora. Unfortunately, she didn't. Like many people, Leota hoped "time would heal all wounds", but time didn't heal anything because the truth had never been revealed. Nora still judged Leota by the bitter gossip she heard as a child, and her stubbornness cheated her out of a relationship with a mother who loved her deeply and sacrificed greatly for her. One of the things I wanted to show in this book was that sometimes you don't get another chance to mend relationships. We have to jump at any opportunity to say "I love you" and hear each other's story. Otherwise, the story may never told, the relationship never mended.
Which of the five stories in A Lineage of Grace was the hardest to write?
The hardest book in the series to write was Unafraid, about Mary. So much has been written about her, and of course, throughout church history so much has been made of her that it was not easy to see her afresh. Yet there’s not really much said about Mary in Scripture itself. It wasn’t until the 1800’s that all the traditions were developed. In order to write about her, I had to set everything aside and try to see her in her humanity, see her only as the Bible portrayed her, and that was a challenge. I think that making more out of Mary than the Bible does actually lessons the impact of her life. The fact that she was a very human mother, with all her ambitions for Jesus to reveal himself as the Messiah her people had long awaited, speaks more powerfully of her character, faith, obedience, and desire to do God’s will. It makes her presence and faith at the cross all the more amazing. Unveiled, about Tamar, was also difficult in a different way. Because the commentaries said it was about sexual issues, and I knew Dr. Taylor at Tyndale was especially sensitive to how such issues were portrayed in fiction, I originally wrote it in a way that I thought would be "acceptable." I used a "he said—she said" sort of format. When I turned it in, they said it was all right, but not my usual style. I asked, "Can I write it the way I really want to write it?" They said yes. By then I realized the story was not about sexual issues, but about Tamar's motivation in what she did, about her hope for a future, about her honor and integrity toward her role as wife, about her desire to have a child to preserve the line of Judah. God blessed her not with one child, but twins! The Lord used this Canaanite woman to bring Judah to his knees and change his character. Through Tamar, God kept Judah's line going, and that line led to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
What made you choose the five women for A Lineage of Grace?
These were the women in the lineage of Christ from the first chapter of Matthew. The Bible makes a big deal of a person's lineage. When you look at the women in Jesus' lineage, you see amazing stories of God's grace. Each story acts out an aspect of the Christian life: Tamar is a woman of hope; Rahab, a woman of faith; Ruth, a woman of love; Bathsheba, a woman who received unlimited grace; and Mary, a woman of obedience. The Lord used these ordinary women facing extraordinary risks to bring forth the Savior of the world.
So many churches today have become large, impersonal churches. What kind of church do you belong to and is your novel And the Shofar Blew based on your experience with a particular church?
While I myself was never involved in a church like the one in the book, the story is based on what I heard from many people I talked to who were concerned about what was happening in their church. It also came out of my reading books on church growth. There is in our culture an overemphasis on numbers and buildings and size. Big is considered important and small is unimportant. It's easy to get off base by just a degree or two at first, but pretty soon you can find yourself way off course. Of course, a small church can fall away too; it's not about size, but focus. Jesus is the cornerstone, the heart, everything. In my church, one summer we did a study on Experiencing God. As a result of that, the church decided to help plant two new churches rather than build one big building.
What questions do you explore in And the Shofar Blew?
Through the story line and the characters, I wanted to bring to light such issues as: What does a Christ-centered church look like? How far should a church go in order to reach out to the unchurched? What does true discipleship look like? How does lasting spiritual growth happen—through programs, or in some other way? How should one evaluate the effectiveness of a church or its pastor? What does godly submission in a wife look like? How are the sins of the fathers—even celebrated spiritual leaders like Paul Hudson’s father—passed on to the children if there’s no repentance? How does one confront sin in love, rather than anger?
What advice would you give a reader who is searching for a church home?
Look for a church that focuses on Christ. Is the Bible central? Are the leaders focused on pleasing God or man? Who is the cornerstone? Run if all you hear about is a building program!
Once success is measured in terms of numbers rather than genuine spiritual growth, watch out! There’s a fine line between sincerely wanting to reach out to the community, and beginning to cater to newcomers to the point where sermons are watered down so as not to “offend” anyone—especially those whose deep pockets are necessary to fund the never-ending building projects.
What made you choose the five men for The Sons of Encouragement?
The idea for this series came out of And the Shofar Blew. I talked to lots of people about the church when I was writing and speaking about that book, and I began to realize how important and influential the men behind the great leaders are, to give support and keep them accountable. When I looked at the great leaders of the Bible—Moses, David, Joshua, Paul, Peter—I saw that the men behind the great leaders were also very influential, though less visible. I wanted to honor all of these "behind the scenes" positions of influence. I wanted to choose representatives from different kinds of careers. So there's the religious influencer (Aaron the priest); the soldier (Caleb); the politician (Jonathan); the person who is God's spokesman representing truth, even if the leaders don't listen (the prophet Amos); and the scribe who worked with Paul, Timothy and Peter to write their letters (Silas). He represents the reporter or media or teacher. All of these types of influencers are important to God's purposes.
Tell us about your God box and how it inspired you to write this story.
Before I started writing Redeeming Love, when I was still rather new at loving God with my whole heart, I had been a secretary at one point, and regularly used an inbox and outbox. I got the idea to start using what I called a God Box—an inbox for God. I would write out prayers and put the papers into the God Box. This practice helped me to let go of the issues, to put them into God's hands by physically putting them into the box. Every few months I would read the papers and marvel at how God had answered the prayers, often in unexpected ways.
I also put into the God Box things like the Angel Tree Project ornaments, or the ornaments from the Salvation Army tree. I'd never know those children or what happened to them, but putting the ornaments into the box was a way to give them to the Lord and trusting them to his care.
When I was asked to write a short story for the Angel Tree Foundation, I wasn't sure I could do it. I had never written a children's story before. One afternoon the story came to me, based on the practice of the God Box. I wrote The Shoe Box in one afternoon—it just flowed out, and I knew exactly what I needed to say. That's the only time a story came so easily!
I was reared in a Christian home. My parents were active in church, my father an elder, my mother a deaconess. I attended Christian summer camps, youth group and said grace at every meal. I thought being born into a Christian family and raised in the faith made me a Christian. It didn’t. Each person makes their own choice, and it took me years to surrender to Jesus – not until after I’d gone through college, married, had children and started a writing career. Rick and I went to church, but came away dissatisfied and knowing there must be something more. We both had personal issues that brought us close to divorce several times. We wanted our own way and to have control over our own lives. Having control is an illusion. As a child, I’d asked Jesus to be my Savior. What I didn’t understand is I needed to surrender my life to Him and allow Him to be LORD of my life as well.
Our marriage was on the verge of collapse when Rick started his own business. We moved to northern California to be closer to family. We made many outer changes, but no change of the heart. As we moved into our rental house, a little boy came over to help and said, “Have I got a church for you!” We weren’t ready to listen. The lady on the other side of our fence also invited us to the same church. Out of desperation, I went a few weeks later. It was my first experience with “expository teaching.” The pastor taught straight out of the Bible, explaining the historical context, what the scriptures were saying, and what they had to do with me in the present. I drank it in! I took my three children to church. They loved it. Rick resisted (after having a somewhat disheartening experience with a denominational church in Southern California). I asked the pastor if he would be willing to teach a home Bible study. He agreed -- if Rick agreed, which he did. Studying the Bible changed our lives. Our hearts and minds opened to Christ. We both accepted Jesus as Savior and LORD and were baptized in May 1986. Since then, God has been changing our lives from the inside out. The Lord also healed our marriage. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this year.
How did you get started as a writer?
From the time I was a child, I knew I would be a writer. Because I didn’t know what I would write, I majored in English (emphasis in literary writing) and minored in journalism (emphasis on who-what-when-where-why). My parents had always been non-fiction readers. Rick’s family loved all kinds of books – and lots of fiction. Mom Edith loaned me novels and I loved them. On a dare (from Rick) I decided to write a combination of my favorite genres and wrote a “western-gothic-romance”. Romance novels were booming in the general market, publishers were on the look-out for new writers. My first manuscript sold and was published. I was hooked! I followed with eight or nine more (of what I call my B.C. (before Christ) books). They are all now out of print, are never to be reprinted, and are not recommended.
When I turned my life over to Jesus, I couldn’t write for three years. I tried, but nothing worked. I struggled against God over that because writing was my “identity.” It took that period of suffering “writer’s block” to bring me to my senses. God was trying to open my eyes to how writing had become an idol in my life. It was the place I ran to escape, the one area of my life where I thought I was in complete control. (Hardly!) My priorities were all wrong and needed to be put right. God first, husband and children second (we had three children by then) and third-- work. I prayed God would change my heart. My love for writing and reading novels waned and my passion for reading and studying God’s Word grew.
Rick and I began hosting a home Bible study. I began working with Rick in his business. The children came along and played in the office, hiding in the shipping popcorn. Writing ceased to matter. I was in love with Jesus and my husband and children. God never stops with the transformation process. We began studying the book of Hosea, and I sensed God calling me to write again – this time a romance about Jesus’ love for each of us. Redeeming Love was the result. It is the retelling of the Hosea story, set in Gold Rush-era California. After I turned it in, I wasn’t sure whether I would write anything more. I had so many questions about what it means to be a Christian, how to live for God, different issues that still haunted me. I felt God nudging me toward using my writing as a tool to draw closer to Him. I would ask my question, create characters that would play out the different viewpoints and seek God’s perspective. I began work on A Voice in the Wind. Writing has become a way to worship the Lord through story – to show how intimately He wants to be involved in our lives.
Where do you get your ideas for your plots?
Almost every story I have written since becoming a Christian has come from a question that regards a struggle in my own faith walk. The plot centers around the different ways that question can be answered by “the world” – but the quest is to find God’s answer. Here is a list of my novels with the questions that started each story:
•A Voice in the Wind: How do I share my faith with unsaved family members and friends who have no desire to read the Bible or hear me talk about my faith?
•An Echo in the Darkness: How many times are we called upon to forgive people who hurt us deliberately -- and (in many countries) would like to see us dead?
•As Sure As the Dawn: How do you deal with anger – especially when there is “good” cause? What is “righteous anger” and how does it look?
•The Scarlet Thread: What does “sovereignty” mean in man’s relationship with God? If He is in control of everything, what does that say about the bad things that happen to people?
•The Atonement Child: Is there complete forgiveness and restoration for a woman who has aborted her child? Does abortion have any effect on the woman and the man involved in the crisis pregnancy? Does it impact people around them? (This was my most painful and personal book because I needed to face and deal with my own abortion experience. The character of Hannah is based on my story; Evie is based on my mother’s.)
•The Last Sin Eater: What is the difference between guilt and conviction? This book came out of The Atonement Child. What I learned: guilt kept me imprisoned for years. Conviction sent me to my knees before the Lord where I received forgiveness and experienced His love and grace.
•Leota’s Garden: Are abortion and euthanasia connected? Is euthanasia merciful or an act of murder? This novel also came out of my work on The Atonement Child. While studying the abortion issue from all sides, I realized the arguments for abortion are exactly the same as those for euthanasia. While going through a post-abortion class with other women (one a nurse), I learned that the elderly are already at risk. One scene in the book continues to shock people. I wrote it for that purpose. I want people to understand life is precious. The movement toward legalizing euthanasia continues to gain momentum (and has less to do with “mercy” than saving money for care).
•And the Shofar Blew: What is a church? How do you build it? During my travels around the country and speaking at various churches, I saw many struggling through building projects and massive programs to draw more parishioners. Size of building and number of people in the pews seemed to define success or failure. Like a government out of control, the “church” (in many cases) has forgotten its foundation and purpose. Christ is the cornerstone. Believers meet together to study the Word of God, worship Him and encourage one another – and keep their doors and hearts open to those seeking God. Unfortunately, too many congregations have left their first love (Jesus Christ) and turned to idolatry (placing a building/drawing a crowd/being “politically correct” above a relationship with the Lord).
•Her Mother’s Hope / Her Daughter’s Dream: What caused the rift between my grandmother and mother? When my grandmother had a stroke, my mother raced from Oregon to the Central Valley of California to be with her. Grandma died before she arrived. My mother was heart-broken and said, “I think she willed herself to die just so we wouldn’t have to talk things out.” I have wondered since: What causes people (even Christians) to hold grudges? What might have brought resolution and restoration to these two women? Could my grandmother have loved my mother without my mother understanding it? The two books have many personal, family details woven in and I will be sharing this information in my blog.
Which is your favorite book of those you’ve written?
My favorite book is Redeeming Love. It was my first as a born-again Christian, my statement of faith, and the most exciting year I’ve spent writing anything. I felt God’s presence throughout the months of work, as though He were telling me His story through thousands of Scriptures as well as explaining the inner heart-ache and quest of each “my” characters.
Which book was the hardest to write and why?
The Atonement Child was the most personal and difficult to write because I had to face my own abortion experience. Added to the considerable research I did, and women who shared their experiences with me, I went through an intensive post-traumatic stress Bible study for post-abortive women at our local pregnancy counseling center. Reliving all aspects of my abortion decision and experience was excruciating – but healing. After twenty-six years of being imprisoned by guilt and shame, I was free through the power and love of God. Though the book was the most heart-wrenching to write, it also proved to be the most life changing. I’ve received countless letters from other post-abortive women and have learned my experience is not unique. Our nation is filled with wounded men and women. The character of Hannah is based on my story, Doug is based on Rick’s, and Evie is based on my mother’s.
Which character is your favorite?
My favorite character is Michael Hosea from Redeeming Love. He is like Jesus – the lover of my soul. I have another favorite: Hadassah from A Voice in the Wind. She is the kind of Christian I want to be.
Christian fiction continues to boom. What would you like to see happen in the field?
I want to see Christian fiction speak to the hard and real issues that tear people’s lives apart. We need writers who are willing to ask the hard questions and go through the soul-searching and agonizing to find answers – and present these stories with skill that surpasses the general market. Some of the greatest works or art and literature were rendered by Christians. I believe God is at work in these areas now. I would also love to see more Christian stories make it to the big screen and into the world of television, and to have the Christian worldview presented fairly. Much of what comes out of “Hollywood” appeals to the basest side of mankind and crushes the spirit. Right now, with war and a failing economy, people are hungry for stories that inspire them, lift them and give them hope. People need to know there are solutions and we can have peace and an abundant life -- even in the midst of trials.
What is your goal or mission as a Christian writer?
I want to whet the appetite for the real thing: the Bible and a personal relationship with Jesus. I try to weave Scripture throughout the story so people receive the Word and see what it might mean in their lives – how the Lord is present and real and passionately interested in each of us. He is not an idea. He is real, all-powerful, all-knowing, the embodiment of love, deeply involved in our existence, and He created each of us for a purpose.
What advice would you give to a new writer?
Write what you need to read. Write from your heart and. Write truth. Sometimes it hurts to peel away the layers of self-deception and see ourselves in the mirror, but it will also draw us closer to Jesus. And your work may minister to others struggling with the same issues. Read the Bible every day so that it will flow naturally into the story. Study the Bible from beginning to end. It is the most exciting reading in the world. It is also alive – and will help you recognize when you are entering into sin and need to realign yourself with the Lord. Keep your focus on Jesus.
Tell us about your family life?
Rick and I met in the fifth grade. We were good friends through school, and graduated together in 1965. I went away to college and he joined the Marine Corps. When the hometown newspaper carried the story of my brother’s capture in Hue during the Tet Offensive, Rick wrote to me from Vietnam and we began to correspond. We married a year after he returned from Vietnam (1969). We have three children and five grandchildren. (Note: My brother was seriously wounded, escaped from his captors when the Marines entered Hue, and is alive, well, happily married with two grown children and living the blissful retired life in the woods of Northern California.)
Are any of your novels going to be made into movies?
The Last Sin Eater was produced and directed by Michael Landon, Jr. and Brian Bird (They did an outstanding job.) The movie was released in theaters in 2007 and is now available on DVD. You can see the trailer on IMDB.com. Rick and I were invited to visit the set during filming in the mountains north of Salt Lake City. We had a great time and there are pictures of our trip in the movie-edition of the novel.
A film based on Redeeming Love is currently in development with Abba Productions/ Christy Lee Taylor. She has partnered with producer Ralph Winter and they are trying to pull together funding to get the project off the ground.
What made you choose the five women in the A Lineage of Grace series?
There are five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ in the first chapter of Matthew. I wanted to know why these five women were mentioned. Three were from pagan cultures (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth), one may have been a Hittite (the wife of Urriah the Hittite, Bathsheba), and one of Jewish descent (Mary). I believe these women were listed to show that God offered salvation to everyone who believes. Each story also showed an aspect of the Christian life: Tamar was a woman of hope; Rahab, a woman of faith; Ruth, a woman of compassion and love; Bathsheba experienced forgiveness and God’s amazing grace; and Mary was a woman of obedience. The Lord used these ordinary women facing extraordinary risks to bring forth the Savior of the world – Jesus Christ.
What made you choose the five men in The Sons of Encouragement series?
My desire to write this series came out of And the Shofar Blew and seeing how important the men behind the leaders are to the good health and direction of a church. Since I had written about five women in the Lineage of Grace, I thought it only fair to choose five men. I looked for men who worked with great leaders and represented different “careers”. Here is the list:
• The Priest -- Aaron, first priest of Israel and brother of Moses (the church)
• The Warrior --Caleb, who encouraged and fought alongside Joshua (the military)
•The Prince – Jonathan, heir to the throne, who became the best friend and encourager to God’s chosen king, David (government/the political arena)
•The Prophet – Amos, who spoke the (unpopular and unheeded) truth to King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel – calling them to return to the Lord and follow in His ways or continuing to follow the teachings of the nations around them and face disaster (war, economic collapse, enslavement and intense personal suffering) (public servant)
•The Scribe – Silas, who is an unsung hero who traveled and worked with Paul (as a scribe), Timothy and Peter (clerk, business administration)
Tell us about your current work.
I have just completed the second in a set of two books about mother-daughter relationship over four generations. This was intended to be one long novel dealing with the different ways generations have lived out their faith – but became so long it needed to be divided. Her Mother’s Hope will be released March 16, 2010. Her Daughter’s Dream will follow in September. There are numerous family and personal details woven into both books and I plan to share those things on my blog.
What made you decide to let Hadassah live in A Voice in the Wind, the first book in your Mark of the Lion trilogy? Do you think it would have been preferable for Hadassah to die than to live in constant pain and be crippled for life?
I let her live because my editor at the time, Karen Ball, was so upset by Hadassah's death in the arena that she called me and said she wanted to throw the manuscript across the room.! "You cannot let her die," she insisted. She wanted me to carry on the story in another book. What could I do? But I had also done some research on the customs of that day, and discovered there was a law against dissection (once a person was dead) but not against vivisection (if the person was still alive). So I actually had an historically accurate reason for her to have lived.
As to whether it was better for her to die than live in constant pain—in terms of the story, it was better for her to live, even though it was much more difficult. The focus of An Echo in the Darkness, Book 2, was forgiveness. How many times do you forgive someone who has hurt you or who desires your destruction? I have had to deal with that question. And what that book taught me was that no matter what anybody does to me, what they say about me, or what their actions are, I am still called upon to forgive. And I learned that once you forgive someone, there are three things you don't do; talk to someone else about whatever it was you forgave; bring it up again to the person you've forgiven, or dwell on it yourself. Hadassah models for me what true forgiveness is. I wanted the reader to despise Julia. I wanted to continue the story of Hadassah to show how God used her to reach Julia, the least likely one to accept Christ. We are not here for our own good pleasure. God leaves us here to be salt and light. He wants us to live our lives to draw the lost to Him. It did me good to remember those things, and to have Julia be the first one to reach Heaven. The angels sang when she accepted Christ and she saw them coming to take her home. Hadassah was left behind to continue being salt and light, to continue to suffer as she lived for Christ in this world. That's what the Christian life is about. All for Him. We are here for the sake of others who don't yet know their redeemer lives.
In A Voice in the Wind, how does Hadassah remain true to her faith right up to the end?
Hadassah was the one character who was living out a Christ-centered life, and that was the source of her strength. She was in prayer throughout the book; her entire focus was on God. That was the only thing she could do, living the kind of life she had. When I wrote the book, the question that spurred me on was, how do you live out your faith among family members and friends who are not at all interested in the gospel? Through Hadassah, the answer came that it's not what you say, it's how you live that has the impact. Also, you don't need courage ahead of time. God prepares you and supplies you with the courage you need to face difficulties when you need it, not before.
What made you decide include both a contemporary and a historical story line in The Scarlet Thread?
I originally meant just to write the historical story. I had always wanted to go on the Oregon Trail and write a story about it. When I finally did retrace the Oregon Trail with friends, we visited the museums. In pondering what those pioneer women had dealt with, I realized they faced the same bottom-line issue we do today: Who is in control of my life? Do I want to fight for control or will I surrender to the Lord and let him work in my life? I wanted to show that that is a question every person in every era has to face.
What made you choose the historical time period in The Scarlet Thread?
I've always been fascinated with that time period—the 1840s-1880s, especially in the West. My first books were set in that time period, and I did a lot of research. It's an interesting time in history to me.
In The Last Sin Eater, how did you come up with the idea of a sin eater? It says in the beginning of the book that it is a real concept brought by immigrants to the Appalachian mountains. How did you discover this?
I once saw a movie about a doctor in Appalachia, and the story had a sin eater in it. I got interested in finding out what a sin eater was. I learned, mostly through research on the Internet, that the sin eater was a person who was paid a small fee or given food to take upon himself the sins of the deceased. Often the sin eaters were tricked into it. Some wealthy person would invite them in, serve them a meal and say, “By the way, you just ate the sins of our dead relative in the next room.” Then they were locked into that life as an outcast. Sin eating was practiced in England, the lowlands of Scotland, and the Welsh border district in the early nineteenth century, and carried over by immigrants into the remote areas of the Appalachian Mountains.
As I learned about the sin eater, questions started forming in my mind.
In The Last Sin Eater, why do you think someone would agree to do something that made him a pariah in the community?
The whole idea of a sin eater fascinated me. It's like Christ in a way, yet it isn't. To me it was a twisted gospel. The sin eater might think he was being a living sacrifice, giving up his life for his neighbors by taking their sins on himself, but in actuality, he was standing in the way of the true gospel because he's not perfect and he can't remove sin. So I used this as a vehicle to portray the gospel message.
Did you face any particular creative challenges with The Last Sin Eater? It seems different from most of your other novels—for instance, it's told in the first person.
Yes, there were. First, there was the challenge of thinking from a child's point of view. I like the power that first person can have when told from a child's perspective in stories like To Kill a Mockingbird. A child can be plagued by guilt in a unique way yet also be open to spiritual truth and see things that adults perhaps are no longer open to seeing or believing. Another challenge was how to capture the dialect of the Appalachian people without losing the reader. Only recently did I read a book on writing by Sol Stein and learned it was best not to use dialect. That would have made it easier write, and perhaps easier for the reader as well! Another thing about The Last Sin Eater is that I didn't know myself what terrible thing Cadi has done to make her feel so guilty. Nor did I know at first what terrible things the others in the story were trying to hide. It was only as the story unfolded that things became clear to me, just as they do for the reader.
In The Atonement Child, what made you decide to make your character a victim of rape rather than a woman who finds herself unmarried and pregnant?
I wanted to deal with the tough cases. Dynah, a Christian college student who finds herself pregnant after being raped, has to deal with the issues in a very personal way. As a Christian, she believes abortion is wrong, and so does her fiancé--until she's raped. Then the question arises, "Would it be OK in a case like hers?" Dynah wonders, "What does God really want me to do?"
As Dynah's story unfolds, we are drawn into the complexity of the issue, including the number of people who are involved. A lot of people think abortion just involves the woman, that it's her decision alone, and that's not true. In this story, there's the mother, Hannah, who had an illegal abortion, and her husband, who had nothing to do with Hannah's abortion but has had to deal with his wife's inability to trust. And Dynah's grandmother, who had had a therapeutic abortion, which her husband had encouraged at the time. There's Dynah's fiancé, who has a real hard time dealing with the situation. There is the dean of the Christian college, who faces the dilemma of whether or not to allow a pregnant student to remain at the school, which I against the rules. There is her fiancé's roommate, whose girlfriends had gotten pregnant and had an abortion, which he opposed, but has no real say in the matter. There is the abortion doctor, whose sister had an illegal abortion and died; he feels he's helping other women by providing "safe" abortions. There's the pastor who struggles with how to advise his parishioners who are hurting from this issue. Every person in this story is feels the impact of abortion in some way, which I believe is true in our society. We often don't even have a clue about how someone's choice impacts us. I think there's a real undertow of guilt and grief in our country because of abortion.
By developing all sides of the abortion issue and how deeply it affects so many people in so many ways, I hope to help people develop compassion for anyone who is affected personally by abortion. For a woman who has an abortion, for anyone in her family, the event is never forgotten—as I've learned from personal experience.
In The Atonement Child, the scene in which Dynah is raped is difficult to read. Was it as difficult to write?
Extremely! I had read a number of books on rape and its impact. I've been asked why I didn't have Dynah pursue the man, bring him to justice. That wasn't the focus on the story. I wanted the story to be about the impact of abortion. I wanted portray that even in the case of rape—which many people say justifies abortion—abortion is always a very complex issue.
The mother/daughter relationships in Leota’s Garden are very realistic. What did you base these on?
I've just seen many people who never seem to work out the misunderstandings in their relationships. They never sit down and talk things through in a calm manner so that each person can truly hear both sides. In the story, Leota and Nora never really could communicate. Annie was the catalyst that helped them understand each other. I wanted to write about a family who was dysfunctional and explore questions that many people grapple with. One of them was employed mothers versus those who stay home. Leota had been employed, and her daughter, Nora, bitterly remembers all the times her mother had not been there for her. Nora, now a mother herself, was always "there" for her children … always there to control and manage every aspect of their lives. Which is the better mother? The answers are not as simple as some might like to think. The Proverbs 31 woman worked and was a blessing to her family. It all comes down to living our lives in obedience to Christ, in the home and outside it.
Lack of communication can destroy a family. In Leota’s Garden, why did Leota keep her secrets even after her husband was gone?
She kept silent out of deep hurt and pride. Her mother-in-law had poisoned Nora against her, but Leota couldn't bring herself to destroy her daughter's love for her grandmother. Leota made peace with her mother-in-law and actually took care of her in her old age. Perhaps she hoped the woman would tell the truth to Nora. Unfortunately, she didn't. Like many people, Leota hoped "time would heal all wounds", but time didn't heal anything because the truth had never been revealed. Nora still judged Leota by the bitter gossip she heard as a child, and her stubbornness cheated her out of a relationship with a mother who loved her deeply and sacrificed greatly for her. One of the things I wanted to show in this book was that sometimes you don't get another chance to mend relationships. We have to jump at any opportunity to say "I love you" and hear each other's story. Otherwise, the story may never told, the relationship never mended.
Which of the five stories in A Lineage of Grace was the hardest to write?
The hardest book in the series to write was Unafraid, about Mary. So much has been written about her, and of course, throughout church history so much has been made of her that it was not easy to see her afresh. Yet there’s not really much said about Mary in Scripture itself. It wasn’t until the 1800’s that all the traditions were developed. In order to write about her, I had to set everything aside and try to see her in her humanity, see her only as the Bible portrayed her, and that was a challenge. I think that making more out of Mary than the Bible does actually lessons the impact of her life. The fact that she was a very human mother, with all her ambitions for Jesus to reveal himself as the Messiah her people had long awaited, speaks more powerfully of her character, faith, obedience, and desire to do God’s will. It makes her presence and faith at the cross all the more amazing. Unveiled, about Tamar, was also difficult in a different way. Because the commentaries said it was about sexual issues, and I knew Dr. Taylor at Tyndale was especially sensitive to how such issues were portrayed in fiction, I originally wrote it in a way that I thought would be "acceptable." I used a "he said—she said" sort of format. When I turned it in, they said it was all right, but not my usual style. I asked, "Can I write it the way I really want to write it?" They said yes. By then I realized the story was not about sexual issues, but about Tamar's motivation in what she did, about her hope for a future, about her honor and integrity toward her role as wife, about her desire to have a child to preserve the line of Judah. God blessed her not with one child, but twins! The Lord used this Canaanite woman to bring Judah to his knees and change his character. Through Tamar, God kept Judah's line going, and that line led to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
What made you choose the five women for A Lineage of Grace?
These were the women in the lineage of Christ from the first chapter of Matthew. The Bible makes a big deal of a person's lineage. When you look at the women in Jesus' lineage, you see amazing stories of God's grace. Each story acts out an aspect of the Christian life: Tamar is a woman of hope; Rahab, a woman of faith; Ruth, a woman of love; Bathsheba, a woman who received unlimited grace; and Mary, a woman of obedience. The Lord used these ordinary women facing extraordinary risks to bring forth the Savior of the world.
So many churches today have become large, impersonal churches. What kind of church do you belong to and is your novel And the Shofar Blew based on your experience with a particular church?
While I myself was never involved in a church like the one in the book, the story is based on what I heard from many people I talked to who were concerned about what was happening in their church. It also came out of my reading books on church growth. There is in our culture an overemphasis on numbers and buildings and size. Big is considered important and small is unimportant. It's easy to get off base by just a degree or two at first, but pretty soon you can find yourself way off course. Of course, a small church can fall away too; it's not about size, but focus. Jesus is the cornerstone, the heart, everything. In my church, one summer we did a study on Experiencing God. As a result of that, the church decided to help plant two new churches rather than build one big building.
What questions do you explore in And the Shofar Blew?
Through the story line and the characters, I wanted to bring to light such issues as: What does a Christ-centered church look like? How far should a church go in order to reach out to the unchurched? What does true discipleship look like? How does lasting spiritual growth happen—through programs, or in some other way? How should one evaluate the effectiveness of a church or its pastor? What does godly submission in a wife look like? How are the sins of the fathers—even celebrated spiritual leaders like Paul Hudson’s father—passed on to the children if there’s no repentance? How does one confront sin in love, rather than anger?
What advice would you give a reader who is searching for a church home?
Look for a church that focuses on Christ. Is the Bible central? Are the leaders focused on pleasing God or man? Who is the cornerstone? Run if all you hear about is a building program!
Once success is measured in terms of numbers rather than genuine spiritual growth, watch out! There’s a fine line between sincerely wanting to reach out to the community, and beginning to cater to newcomers to the point where sermons are watered down so as not to “offend” anyone—especially those whose deep pockets are necessary to fund the never-ending building projects.
What made you choose the five men for The Sons of Encouragement?
The idea for this series came out of And the Shofar Blew. I talked to lots of people about the church when I was writing and speaking about that book, and I began to realize how important and influential the men behind the great leaders are, to give support and keep them accountable. When I looked at the great leaders of the Bible—Moses, David, Joshua, Paul, Peter—I saw that the men behind the great leaders were also very influential, though less visible. I wanted to honor all of these "behind the scenes" positions of influence. I wanted to choose representatives from different kinds of careers. So there's the religious influencer (Aaron the priest); the soldier (Caleb); the politician (Jonathan); the person who is God's spokesman representing truth, even if the leaders don't listen (the prophet Amos); and the scribe who worked with Paul, Timothy and Peter to write their letters (Silas). He represents the reporter or media or teacher. All of these types of influencers are important to God's purposes.
Tell us about your God box and how it inspired you to write this story.
Before I started writing Redeeming Love, when I was still rather new at loving God with my whole heart, I had been a secretary at one point, and regularly used an inbox and outbox. I got the idea to start using what I called a God Box—an inbox for God. I would write out prayers and put the papers into the God Box. This practice helped me to let go of the issues, to put them into God's hands by physically putting them into the box. Every few months I would read the papers and marvel at how God had answered the prayers, often in unexpected ways.
I also put into the God Box things like the Angel Tree Project ornaments, or the ornaments from the Salvation Army tree. I'd never know those children or what happened to them, but putting the ornaments into the box was a way to give them to the Lord and trusting them to his care.
When I was asked to write a short story for the Angel Tree Foundation, I wasn't sure I could do it. I had never written a children's story before. One afternoon the story came to me, based on the practice of the God Box. I wrote The Shoe Box in one afternoon—it just flowed out, and I knew exactly what I needed to say. That's the only time a story came so easily!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Her Mothers Hope by Francine Rivers - book trailer
HER MOTHER'S HOPE: Now available!
February 12, 2010
The first part of an unforgettable epic family saga about the sacrifices every mother makes for her daughter and the very nature of unconditional love. On the eve of the First World War, fiery Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland and her difficult childhood behind, determined to find a new life on her own terms. Barely out of her teens, Marta is haunted by a devastating loss that fuels her ambition to one day own a hotel. From the cramped quarters of a French housekeeping school to the portrait-lined halls of a stately English manor, Marta becomes a hard working domestic who has little time to dwell on what might have been. Instead, she draws her strength from what could be. Then, Marta meets Niclas Waltert, a man just as determined as she to forge a better life in a new place. Niclas captures her heart and together they endure the harshness of life as tenant farmers on the vast prairies of Winnipeg, Canada, before following the promise of the American dream and migrating to the agriculturally rich Central Valley of California. Marriage and motherhood bring both joy and heartbreak, as Marta must surrender her long-held ambitions for the sake of her husband and children, including her daughter, Hildemara, upon whose shoulders her own hopes now squarely rest. Only the strong survive and Marta is determined to raise a daughter as strong as she. But as Hildie reaches young womanhood and another war is fast approaching, those hopes become too heavy a burden for Hildie to bear. Born with a heart to serve others, Hildie pursues her calling as a nurse, something Marta can’t understand. Marta’s years of hardnosed parenting have left Hildie still hungry for her mother’s love…and now for her mother’s respect. Amid the drama of WWII, Hildie falls in love and begins a family of her own. She wants her daughter, Carolyn, never to doubt her love—but the challenges of life conspire against her vow and the only person who can come to her aid is the person she remains so desperate to please: Marta, her mother. With hallmark touches of brilliant prose and gripping characterizations, Her Mother’s Hope is a rich, moving epic about faith and dreams, heartache and disappointment, and ultimately the resilience and tenacity of love.
Read an excerpt
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Ronald K. Gray – Enter to Worship – Exit To Serve Blog Tour: March 15-29, 2010
2. Why Enter to Worship and Exit to Serve? The life of the believer comes from our life in God. We bring to Him a sacrifice of our monies, our gifts, our fruit and lay it at His feet. The premise for most Christians today is what can God do for them instead of how can I worship God with all that is within me. The scriptures teach us that everyone has something to offer. When we worship in the fullness of our lives, God then fills us to be able to affect our world. We then exit to serve God through proclaiming His Word, serving those around us and exalting His name in all the earth. Everything we do in church is to help us fulfill God’s calling on our lives in the world.
3. Why do you talk about money? The very first thing that was brought into the temple was an offering of grain or corn. This is symbolic of money. I go to Kenya every year and they trade their corn for other items such as meat, oil, etc. God is interested in our money. He speaks of money more than He does either prayer or heaven. I think there has been a lot of negative about money and there has been a lot of error through the years. I hope that what I teach in the book is balanced. Many pastors have said this teaching has helped their churches understand the truth about tithes, first fruits and seed offerings.
4. What do you think is the most important chapter of the book? In over 35 years of full time ministry, I have never heard anyone else teach about porters. In Nehemiah 10:39 it lists porters between priest and singers. I thought that was very interesting and researched porters. It is basically a janitor. So between priests and porters are janitors. Servants that do the basics. People who do ordinary things to keep ministries going. God wants servants. That is a concept that is lost in the big time world of church ministries today. Jesus came to serve. I believe that we can make a difference in our community, our neighborhoods, and our world if we are willing to lay our lives down to serve God.
5. What do you hope to accomplish with your book? I hope that ordinary believers will recognize they have something to offer. We can bring our monies and touch the nations. We can bring our gifts and see the power of God touch people and their needs. We can offer our fruit and not wait for the pastors or elders, but be instruments to bring life to those around us who are seeking a relevant relationship with Jesus. The five fold ministries of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher were never supposed to do everything in the church. The church is supposed to be equipped for ministry. Everyone should be able to proclaim the message and everyone should have praise for the God we serve. That should not happen just on Sunday mornings between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. We should be able to give God praise in our homes and throughout the week. I truly believe this can be the church’s finest hour.
6. Where are these resources available to purchase? You can obtain this book and many other resources on my web site at RonaldGrayMinistries.org.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Do You Still Do Book Trailer
Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After is a transparent look at what it means to be married. Practical tips coupled with Biblical principles lead the reader to discover how to have a marriage of purpose.
Pre-order your copy here today
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Do You Still Do Online Marriage Conference
Does any of this sound familiar unresolved conflicts, lack of intimacy, excessive fighting, ineffective or not enough communication, not enough quality time for busy schedules, a suffocating partner, children issues?
Award Winning Author Cheryl Lacey Donovan is back. And this time she's brought her husband along for the ride.With another masterfully presented piece designed to create dialogue about relationships and the pathway to marriages of purpose Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After will challenge couples to look at themselves and their marriage in a whole new light.
Join Cheryl, Jewell R. Powell, Author of Marriage 101, and Angela Caligone, Certified Christian Counselor, along with their husbands Keith, Lewis, and Al as they discuss with transparency the issues surrounding many marriages today. The Do You Still Do Online Marriage Conference February 13, 2010 9:00-2:00pm CST
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