Delia Latham {Writer Wednesday} & Giveaway

Please give a warm welcome to Delia Latham!

A little bit about Delia...
 
Born and raised in Weedpatch, California, Delia Latham moved to Oklahoma in '08, making her a self-proclaimed California Okie. She loves to read and write in her country home, and gets a kick out of watching her husband play Farmer John. She's a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She loves Dr. Pepper and hearing from her readers.

Delia writes inspirational romance and women's fiction, and is currently contracted through White Rose Publishing and Vinspire Publishing.
How to connect with Delia....
 Contact her through her website (www.delialatham.net), blog, or Facebook author page. 

Author Interview | Delia Latham 

 You & Writing 

-->Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I’m probably the most ordinary person you’d ever care to meet. :) My name isn’t likely to be used in the same sentence with the word “glamor.” Fancy isn’t my thing. I do love beauty, but I find it in simple things. God things.
...At a very young age, I discovered that writing afforded me a means of expression. On paper, it was easy to say the things I found difficult to put into verbal form, whether from shyness, lack of confidence, or…whatever causes a person to find oral communication a challenge. So I wrote poems and songs and (very bad) short stories…and I was fortunate to have a number of people in my life who encouraged me to further develop that skill. With a little detour into newspaper journalism and a long hiatus to raise four children, I finally arrived at my goal of becoming a novelist in 2008, with the publication of my vintage inspirational romance, Goldeneyes.
If published, what was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...I’m not the most patient of individuals, so waiting has always been hard for me. That space of time between ending a manuscript in to a publishing house and hearing back from them is pure torture for me. Easiest is the actual writing process. I love it, so it’s rarely a chore.
Your Writing

-->
Tell us a little bit about your book or what you’re working on currently? Why are you/did you write it?
...Lexi’s Heart is part of a collection of books called Heart’s Haven, written by a group of four authors whom I strongly feel God brought together to do this work. My original plan was to come up with something to rival Barbour’s Christmas collections, so Heart’s Haven was born as a Valentine’s Day set. All of the authors love it, and we formed such an amazing bond with each other during the process. The concept just took off, and from that first set at least a couple of follow-ups have come to fruition. Lexi’s Heart is my contribution to the Heart’s Haven Holidays collection, with a focus on Mother’s Day. 

 What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...Lexi had suffered through twenty-three year’s of mental and emotional abuse in a marriage that wasn’t a marriage—not in the sense God intended. She’s healing in this book, and having to learn to trust God. She’s built walls around her heart to protect herself against anyone who might put her back in a similar position, but those walls also prevent her from allowing a better kind of love inside—the healing love of God and the genuine love of a man who would never abuse her in any way. I hope readers will pick up on the underlying message that when we can’t bring ourselves to trust any other human being, GOD can always be trusted. He’s always there, and always ready to shelter us. But He won’t force Himself into an unwilling heart…we have to trust Him enough to invite Him into our lives before He’ll come inside.

Writing
 
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...My goal in writing is always to deliver whatever message God has for some reader of that story. To lay it out there to the best of my ability—that’s me being God’s transcriptionist, if you will—and then trust God to get it into the hands He intended it for. If the words I write encourage, uplift, strengthen and/or renew another of God’s children, then my goal has been accomplished. Writing is a ministry. My only goal is to carry it out to the best of my ability and according to God’s direction. Of course, if a little money started coming in along the way, I wouldn’t be opposed… lol But truly, if I were writing because I want to be rich, I’d be sadly disappointed.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Write. Write. Write. It’s what writer’s do. You can never be guaranteed a manuscript you pour your heart and soul into will be accepted, but you can certainly guarantee that it will not be accepted if it’s never written and never submitted. So write. Submit. Take the blows, and come back writing stronger…then do it all again…and again…and again. :)

You
-->

What is a favorite memory you have of your mother? 
...What a perfect question for an author with a Mother’s Day-themed book! :) My mother was the most amazing woman! I miss her so much. She was tiny—not quite five feet tall, and very petite, but what she lacked in stature she definitely made up for in spirit. I have so many memories of her…I’m not sure I can share one and call it my “favorite.” As an all-inclusive memory, however, I just remember that Mama loved her husband and her children fiercely and without apology. We didn’t have a lot of material possessions, but she always made the most of what was available, and even with eight children and an income that didn’t stretch nearly far enough, we never went hungry. Mama was the glue that made our house a wonderful home. I loved her with all my heart, and can only hope to reflect a tiny portion of the powerful effect she had on the lives of those around her.

If you had to choose one type of food, what kind would it be?
...Here’s the thing…this gal likes FOOD. Period. Any food. All food. Was it Gene Autry who said, “I’ve never met a man I didn’t like”? Well, I never met a potato I didn’t like…or a piece of pasta…or a flavor of ice cream…see what I mean?

April showers bring May flowers – or so they say. Do you have a favorite flower? If so, why is it your favorite?
...Have you ever seen a passion flower? It’s very simple, and yet so incredibly perfect. The first time I saw one, I cried. All I could think as I gazed down at those perfectly alternating green and lavender petals was, “How can anyone look at this stunning creation and not believe that there is a God? Things like this do not happen by accident.” The passion flower has to be my favorite, but again, I’m drawn to simple things. I love morning glories and pansies, too.

Borrowed from peoplespharmacy.com

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Thank you so much Delia - what a wonderful interview! I hadn't seen a passion flower until I looked it up so I thought I'd share (photo to the left). What an amazing flower!

I love how you call yourself "God’s transcriptionist". I think if we all are writing with the Lord in mind and through His leading, we are all like that! At least, that would be my prayer! Thanks again!

*** Update! ***

Just heard from Delia and she would like to do a GIVEAWAY of the first book in the Heart's Haven series titled Jewels for the Kingdom! What a treat! SO - make sure you leave a comment below so that you can be entered in to win this e-Book. I'll be announcing the winner on Tuesday so final entries need to be made 12am (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday May 27th.

 

Lynn Donovan {Writer Wednesday}

I'm happy to introduce you all to Lynn Donovan for today's {Writer Wednesday} author interview!

A little bit about Lynn...

Lynn Donovan writes from her heart and her passion for Jesus Christ. She is a daughter, wife, mother of four and grandmother of seven who has five decades of experiences to draw from when creating her stories. She has published a collection of Short Stories, The Clockwork Dragon, and this novel with AltWitPress. She categorizes herself as the “sandwich generation” because she is caring for her mother who has Alzheimer’s and her special-needs sister. She is one child away from an empty nest. She currently lives in Southwest Kansas but looks forward to building a home in Colorado. 

How to connect with Lynn...

You can learn more about Lynn on her blog: SittingOnThePorchWithLynn.blogspot.com
Follow her on Twitter @MLynnDonovan
Check out her LinkedIn.com profile at M Lynn Donovan
Become her friend on Facebook at MLDonovan
And like her Facebook author page at LynnDonovanFGG (For God’s Glory)

Author Interview | Lynn Donovan 

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you start writing?
...My initial response is: I never thought of myself as a writer. But when I really thought about it, I’ve always been the one who initiated a story-play time adventure. When I was really young, like 6 or 7, my friends and I played outside (I know, shocking) and we would develop a scenario as we went along. The ideas always started with “See...” For example, we would decide to play cowboys and Indians, I would say, “See, we need to get water from the creek but the Indians are chasing us, so we have to hide in these bushes and sneak down to the water. See, we are hot and tired, so we have a hard time crawling down to the creek.” Then we’d play that out, kind of like keep away or tag. When I got older (11 or so) we sat down (outside of course) and wrote out plays. Then we’d rehearse them, set up lawn chairs on my friends back porch and invite their parents to come watch our play. Later still, I learned to sew and made hand puppets (like sock puppets). I road my Schwinn bike (like Pee Wee Herman’s) to the appliance store (about ¼ mile from my house) and literally dragged a freezer box back home. We’d cut out a window and hang a curtain that could be pulled back, and put on a puppet show. Again, by setting up lawn chairs and inviting our parents to come see.

What has kept you writing?
...Now that I am writing, the ideas won’t stop. I hear a newscast and think, hmm that would make an interesting scene to write or basis for a whole story. Or I’ll read a passage in the bible and think of a way to write that in modern times. Several ideas have come from a dream. Death Without Shoes in The Clockwork Dragon, is about 80% from a dream.
...Two years ago, we transferred my mother, who has Alzheimer’s and my sister, who is blind and deaf, to our home. They live with us now and so I do not work outside of the home. Writing allows me to stay busy, joyfully, and take care of their needs as well. I feel it was divinely orchestrated for me to have this season where I have time to write. My only challenge is my own multi-active mind who thinks it can do several things at once. I have to make lists so I can ignore the activity, for now, and focus on writing.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so why?
...Actually I love all my stories, since they are my own creations, but the one I am the most fond of is, “Blind and Deaf Faith.” I wrote it for a Creative Writing class I took at the local college this past fall. It is a fantasy fiction about my sister. The main character, Faith, is a blind and deaf Marine Biologist. My sister is fascinated with sharks and dreams (literally) of running a shark center. Due to her limitations, she will never do such. However, in my writing I have been able to present it as a reality. I gave a final copy to her and needless to say she LOVED it and hugged me. Her joy made me cry. (Yes, she can read. She holds the paper about one inch from her eyes.) A copy of it is on my blog, and it will be published in the college’s Telolith. (Seward County Community College) which is a yearly publication from the English and Art Department. Student’s Art work and writings are published in it. And it wins outstanding awards for quality and layout, etc., every year.

What is the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...I have to confess. I am SO blessed. Ephesians 3:20 says: ^“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” A year ago, February/March, I wrote The Wishing Well Curse. I didn’t know anything about writing. I simply wrote the story like I would tell the story. My grammar was based on mother-tongue knowledge. I saw it laid out in my mind like a movie, and did my best to put that picture into words. ...Then I read Jeff Gerke’s book, The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction. Learned a lot! Then I used his link at the back of the book to find a discussion forum, The Anomaly or Where the Map Ends. From there I was invited to an online critique group. It was in that critique group that I learned how to polish my manuscript. A member of the group, Pauline Creeden, invited everyone in the group to write a short story or two about a clockwork dragon which was home to legends, the many demons. I wrote four and collaborated on another. Pauline published it Oct 2012 with her publishing company, AltWitPress. (She wrote two of the stories) Then in December, Pauline sent me a message asking me if I had any finished manuscripts. I gulped, cried, ran to tell my husband, and then I relied, YES! I sent her the Wishing Well Curse. She suggested some structural/plot changes. I made them and here we are today. It was totally a Divine Appointment! And I do realize and appreciate that this NEVER happens in publishing…but it did for me!  Thank you God!

           Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book.
...The Wishing Well Curse is about a twenty-one year old man named Zeke Clay who lives in Austin, TX. His parents have died and on one spring day he loses everything, he drops out of college, finds his girlfriend with another guy, leaves their apartment, and gets fired from work. He receives an invitation to come to Pueblo Colorado for the reading of a Will for an Uncle he never knew he had. What does he have to lose? He goes to Colorado and discovers he could inherit a huge fortune, but he has to break a century old curse along with some other strange conditions. He is given clues from this Uncle and his mother. One source is First Chronicals 4:10, the Jabez prayer. (Did I mention his middle name is Jabez) Hmm, maybe mom knew something when she named him. He has to deal with a cantankerous elderly Attorney, a pastor who looks more like a Hell’s Angels member than an evangelical pastor, the attorney’s nephew/receptionist, and two ghosts who are not terribly agreeable. If that’s not strange enough, his 3 year old tattoo, a band of thorns, on his bicep, bleeds every time he goes near the wishing well. Wonder why?

Why are you/did you write it?
...Prior to this story, I wrote a fictitious story about a difficult period in my life but every other chapter is about the chapter before only from the point of view of the spiritual world, i.e., my guardian angel, prayer warriors, other angels, and demons who were out to get me. I wrote it to completion, was amazed I could write a whole novel length manuscript, and then decided it was too personal. So I set it aside and thought, “Okay, now what?” The Wishing Well Curse was the only other story in my head at the time, so I started writing it.

Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...Zeke, the main character, is totally patterned from my first born. So, he’s a favored and dear character to me. But as I wrote the story, I became fond of Clifford. Don’t get me wrong, I like all my characters in their own way, after all I birthed them, so to speak.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...God had a purpose for each and every one of us even before we were conceived. My hope is for every reader to wonder what their purpose is. I call it destiny, but I refer to God’s destiny for us. By wondering what that destiny is, I hope everyone will seek and find that destiny, then follow that path and fulfill God’s plan. I hope this story plants a seed that will flourish over time.

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...This story originated in my head over twenty years ago when I heard Gordon Lightfoot’s song, If you could read my mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta0a3DFUU0Y  The line “Just like an old time movie, about a ghost from a wishing well…” got me to thinking. Then when this season presented itself in my life, I thought: I’m gonna try to write that story… And here we are today. Some scenes are from a real life event. The only character from a real life person is Zeke. The rest are from my imagination. With one minor exception, a waitress. (That’s all I’m saying.)
...I describe the way I write like this: I follow my characters around and write down whatever they say and do. Sometimes they won’t let me eavesdrop, other times they’re very open to me. That’s not to say I don’t plan out my story or do research. I do that too. But my characters usually take the story a whole different direction and I go along for the ride.
...My characters are VERY real to me. Sometimes, I accidentally call my dog Zeke, his name is Binx.

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?

...Number one intention is to glorify God. Number two intention is to entertain. Number three intention is … no that’s about it.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Three quotes: Nike-Just do it  Nemo-Just keep swimming [writing]  Confucius-A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
...The only way to be a writer is to start writing and keep on writing. No matter how terrible you may think it is, how slow you may type. If you don’t have a computer, write it out in long hand. WHATEVER you have to do, write. Second: read, read, read, everything you can get your hands on in the genre you love, or want to write in. Third: read all the how-to-write and how-to-edit books you can get your hands on. Plus, get an emotional thesaurus! Invaluable! Fourth: connect with other writers - online, in person with writing group, join a critique group (be careful some of those can be brutal) if you don’t like the critique group, join another. Whether you write Christian fiction or not, I recommend Where the Map Ends at www.wherethemapends.com/main.htm  Lurk through the discussion threads until you feel comfortable with posting something. Last, but not least, pray about it. Pray before you write, pray after you write. Pray for other’s who write.

You 
What is a favorite memory you have of your mother?
...Not my mother so much as my grandmother. She was the funniest person I have ever known. I got my humor gene from her. She always saw the silver lining. She patiently spent time with me, playing games (hide and go seek, checkers, and made up goofy games, too.) She would go out of her way to help someone in need. She read to me and bought me Golden books, Tell a Tale, etc. She taught me to cook, I had my own little bitty apron, and baking tools just my size. I stood on a stool and helped with everything. (At least I thought I was helping) There’s a story about her and my apron on my blog, too. Her son, my father, imprinted on me the art of telling a story with just the right poignant pauses and climactic reveals. I dedicated this book to him.

If you had to choose one type of food, what kind would it be?

...I love all foods (you can tell by looking at me!  LOL) but the first thing that comes to my mind is Italian. I’m not Italian, but I love their food and cook it probably 60% of the time. I’m in love with pasta!  

April showers bring May flowers – or so they say. Do you have a favorite flower? If so, why is it your favorite?
...Daisy is the first thing that comes to mind. But I adore daffodils and tulips and roses and … well, I love all kinds of flowers! I don’t know why. They’re beautiful and I love looking at them.

One question I did not ask but Lynn was so gracioius to piont out:
Will there be a sequel?
...Why yes, Emilie, there is!  I’m calling it Thorns of Betrayal. It is (as Paul Harvey would say) the rest of the story…about Zeke.  That’s all I can tell you without spoiling the Wishing Well Curse.  *evil smile*

_______________

Thank you so much for this great interview Lynn! I am right there with you about playing outside as a child. I think it was the beginning for my writing career. I'm also a very visual writer myself. I see what my characters are doing and basically let them tell me the story.  And lastly, your advice about praying for your writing and for others who are writing is invaluable! I'm planning a post on this soon so I won't say more than that ;)

I also have exciting news from Lynn that a new trailer for The Wishing Well Curse is out! You can follow the link below to check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SCFW3SlLcs&feature=youtu.be 

If you're intersted in purchasing her novel The Wishing Well Curse (how could you not be after reading its descritpion!?) you can find it at the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Well-Curse-Lynn-Donovan/dp/0615795927/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368595080&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Wishing+Well+Curse

I'm excited to say that I'll be reviewing The Wishing Well Curse on the blog soon!!  Happy Wednesday :)

Too hot to handle

Summer in May

Apparently summer is upon us and it's only... May!?

Yes, you see that correctly.  It was 102 yesterday and 100 today. If it's only May right now I hate to think of what the actual summer is going to be like! Looks like many trips to the beach and staying indoors or being by the pool will be my main activities when not working this summer.

Do you like the heat? I know some do, but I'm definitely a cold weather fan.

On to other news... like Mothers Day yesterday. Did you send your mother a card and wish her Happy Mothers Day? I did, but I must have misjudged the speed of the postal system and it didn't make it there on time. Maybe I'm a bad daughter...or maybe I'm just extending Mothers Day an extra day for her ;)


Exciting Writing News

I do have a few exciting things to announce that are writing related! My very first post for Her Glory (and online magazine and blog) is LIVE!  Check out my article titled "The Heart of Beauty" and let me know what you think! Show Her Glory some love as well and like them on Facebook [here] and follow them on twitter [here]. 

Also, I recently participated in a fun little thing called Happily Editor After sponsored by Harlequin Love Inspired division of Harlequin books. This was an exciting event where you could sign up to pitch a book in 100 words to one of three Love Inspired editors. The editor would then respond with one of the following responses (taken from the Happily Editor After page):

__I’ll cry if you don’t send me your manuscript (requested full)
__I’d like to get to know your manuscript better (requested proposal)
__I’m not sure if there’s a spark between your manuscript and me, but I’m willing to give it a chance to convince me (requested synopsis)
__There’s just no connection between your manuscript and me (no request, but isn’t it great to know the idea won’t work before you spend time writing it?)

As the day approached (or should I say, the night before) I honed my 100 word pitch.

Yes. Just 100 words!

I don't know about you, but trying to capture interest for an entire manuscript of 55-60k words by only using 100 words was intimidating to say the least. I though and re-thought what I would say, which parts of the book I'd highlight, and the feel I wanted to give within these two short paragraphs.

The morning of the pitch I was more nervous that I had expected! I mean, here I was sitting in front of a computer not even face to face with the editor of my choice and I was shaking! But, when my name was called (it was all done through chat rooms online) I jumped in and pasted my pitch with a shaky hand and a breathless prayer.

The minutes seemed to pass like hours.

Finally, when the editors reply came through I blinked several times... I couldn't be seeing this right. Were the words "full manuscript" really at the end of her response? Yes, yes they were! A full manuscript was requested!

I am still in shock. I think to myself, "My manuscript? You want to see my manuscript?" and then I remember the prayer I sent up in the brief minutes before I received a reply. I asked the Lord to do what He would - knowing full well He would. It was offered more as a prayer to remind myself of this than anything else, and with that prayer came a great peace. Sure, the editor has asked to see my work but that isn't a guarantee. I have a few months to finish writing and perfecting my book with the hopes that it will make the cut, but even if it doesn't I know it will be a worthwhile experience! I'm anticipating where this story will take me and looking forward to every aspect.

Hope you have a wonderful Monday - if you're in SCV, don't stay outside too long or you might evaporate ;)

Morgan Busse {Writer Wednesday}

I'm excited for today's {Writer Wednesday} guest! Morgan writes speculative Christian fiction and has two books published. It's not a side I get to show off very often, but I love the idea of speculative fiction! For years now I've had the idea to write a series that could probably be categorized as speculative and I'm always excited to hear more about it! Enjoy Morgan's interview :)  

A little bit about Morgan...

Morgan L. Busse writes speculative fiction for the adult market. She is the author of Daughter of Light and Son of Truth, the first two books in a series from Marcher Lord Press. Morgan lives in the Midwest with her husband and four children. You can find out more about Morgan at www.morganlbusse.com

How to connect with Morgan...

Her website (as mentioned above)
Website: www.morganlbusse.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morganlbusseauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganLBusse (@MorganLBusse)
Purchase books: http://www.marcherlordpress.com/?s=Morgan+Busse&post_type=product

Author Interview | Morgan Busse
  You & Writing
Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I started writing almost ten years ago, shortly after the birth of my second child. I never dreamed of being a writer, it simply became an outlet for my creativity as I stayed home with babies and toddlers.
...After a couple years—and after learning there was more to writing than just sitting down and typing away at the computer—writing became a real pursuit, not just a hobby. My husband is my greatest encourager. He believed in me long before I ever believed in myself.
...Even now, after having published two books, he is still one of the reasons I keep writing. That and I believe this is where God has me right now. Writing is hard, much harder than I ever thought. There are times I have wanted to give up, throw in the towel, and walk away. During those times, it has not been enough to simply want to publish a book. It is knowing that my book is touching people, and that God is using me, that helps me weather the tough times.

What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...As a shy person, it is hard to be in the limelight. And the Internet compounds that. Everyone can find you. It used to be twenty years ago you could publish a book and only hear about it through big name reviews or if people wrote to you personally. Now everyone can talk about you and your work. It’s almost like being in a room with a thousand people all talking at once. Sometimes I take a media break because I just need to get away and hear only God and my own thoughts.
...The easiest part of publishing? I haven’t discovered that yet. Writing is hard, marketing is hard, criticism is hard. However, one of the most fulfilling parts of being published is receiving an email where someone tells you how much your book touched his or her heart. When I read something like that, it’s like have a double shot of espresso. I’m on a buzz all day!

Your Writing
Tell us a little bit about your book or what you’re working on currently? Why are you/did you write it?
...Daughter of Light is the first book in the Follower of the Word series. It is the story of a young woman named Rowen who—with a touch of her hand—can see inside the human soul. She first discovers her power at the beginning of the book and it costs her. Her village is terrified of her, they accuse her of witchcraft, and banish her.
...The rest of the book is Rowen’s journey in discovering who she really is, why she has this gift, and who gave it to her.

...The second book just released and is titled Son of Truth. In Daughter of Light, readers are introduced to an assassin and Temanin prince named Caleb Tala. This second book is his story and his journey toward redemption.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...Life is hard. It can be very dark. There will be things that happen to us that we cannot explain. And it will hurt deeply. But no matter what happens, or how dark the path is that God has us follow, He will always be there with us.

Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...Every story I write begins with an image of the character. I look at the person and ask: “Who are you?” “Where do you come from?” “How did you end up here?”
...When I first met Rowen, I saw her in a field with the wolves attacking her (a scene from Daughter of Light). With Caleb Tala, he was on an assassination mission (another scene from Daughter of Light). Lore Palancar morphed from a very hard, cold man to the Captain of the Guard. And I met the scribe Nierne in the dungeon after her city was attacked.
...As you can see, I met each character and started asking them those questions and the story began to unfold as they revealed who they were and what happened to them.

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...I don’t set out with an agenda in mind when I write. I meet the character, I start asking questions, and I starting writing his or her story. After a while, I begin to see different themes emerge.
...Rowen’s gift is the ability to see the soul of the person she touches. Soon I realized she basically sees what God sees. I began to explore what would we do if we had that ability? Would we hide it? Exploit it? Or use it for good?
...Another character, the scribe Nierne, has grown up in very religious surroundings. But her journey causes her to realize that just because you live a morally good life, bad things still happen.

You
April showers bring May flowers – or so they say. Do you have a favorite flower? If so, why is it your favorite?
...I love daisies! They are a simple flower that hardly anyone notices. But to me they look like happiness and sunshine with petals. 
 

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Thank you so much, Morgan! What a great interview and explanation of why you write. My favorite line is when you said, "It is knowing that my book is touching people, and that God is using me...". I think we as writers can get caught up in our on lives and forget that, though writing is very personal, it's also a gift.
Readers, make sure you check out Morgan's books, starting with Daughter of the Light >>>

Rainy Days and Inspiration

I've been enjoying the rain as of late. It doesn't rain much down here in Southern California. I don't know about you, but I actually become inspired when it's raining and the sky is all grey. What about you? 

What are you inspired by?

I mentioned it a few posts ago, but I'm still curious.

Are you inspired by photos? Do these flowers and seascape cause a stirring in your soul?

Or maybe you're inspired by quotes from great authors...

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.
- Herman Melville

Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.
- Barbara Kingsolver

Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Or maybe you are inspired by music or silence? Either can produce intense emotions powerful enough to draw out a writer in almost anyone.

Whatever it is, I'd love to hear about it! Comment below and maybe though this discussion we can mutually inspire one another!

Playing catchup | RE:View

I've been busy (which directly contradicts the idea that I was 'taking a vacation') but nonetheless I have been reading during all this craziness - flying for three hours definitely helps.  Today I'm going to review two books that I've finished recently.  Both wonderful reads that I will recommend, and both very different from each other.

Hope this spurs you on to a little weekend reading fun!

A Lady's Choice | Sandra Robbins

Sarah Whittaker has given up any hope of having the life that she wanted. By traveling with her mother to Richland Creek, away from her previous life in Memphis,  her duty is now to her mother, who's health is failing.  Richland Creek is anything but welcoming to suffragist opinions, so Sarah not only feels physically confined in the small town, but her beliefs are confined as well.

Alex Taylor, recently graduated from law school, is back in Richland Creek for the summer before stepping into a position at a prestigious law firm in Memphis. The golden boy of baseball, he is introduced to Sarah and sparks fly.  What can happen between them with his impending move to the city?

Alex knows that his future boss is firm on his opposition of suffrage and, with Sarah's beliefs becoming clear, there may be no way to make a relationship work. Sarah won't give up her advocation of suffrage and Alex wont give up a successful position. Could they ever find common ground?

I haven't read much about suffrage, but as I read this novel following the life of Sarah and her deep convictions for a woman's right to vote, it acted as a window into the real heart of the matter. Women who were property owners couldn't vote but their male employees could. Women who were widowed or on their own had no say in the government, though they were part of the working world. It's things like this that you don't often see and take for granted as a woman in the 21st century.

I really enjoyed this historical novel and would definitely recommend it not only for the quality of writing and the story itself, but for the context and informational side as well. A great story of love and tragedy ending in success not measured only in happiness but in justice.

**Read more about Sandra Robbins [here] and purchase A Lady's Choice [here].

The Good Girl | Christy Barritt            

Tara Lancaster (AKA The Good Girl) finds that life isn't always black and white.  Following a massive hit to her "good girl" reputation in Florida, she agrees to dog-sit for her sister in Minnesota.  Little does she know that this wont be the type of vacation she is looking for.  Strange things start to happen in the house and there seems to be no reasonable explanation for them except to blame a ghost! Even her next door neighbor, Ben Cooper, isn't quite what she'd expected.

Will a knife stabbed through a threatening note and a spunky, fame-hungry friend be enough to send Tara back to her home in Florida? Or is what awaits her in Florida just as bad?

I have given this book 5 big and bright stars not only for wonderful writing and intriguing elements, but for sheer creativity! I've read one other book from Christy Barritt so far (Key Witness) and was just as impressed by that book too.  Christy has a way of creating genuine characters who struggle with every-day thoughts and decisions in a real way. They are open, honest, and draw you in with their inner monologue and realistic conclusions about life.

As I read The Good Girl, I connected with Tara and her struggles against doing what was right because it was expected, and doing what is right because it's what God desires.  Tara comes face to face with her own hypocrisy in a very real and tangible way.  Not to mention there is an element in this book that you wont be expecting.

Christy tackles real problems with skill and intuition without forsaking humor and lighthearted romance. This book is a must read!

**Read more about Christy Barritt [here] and purchase The Good Girl [here].

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I received free copies of these books for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read them or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in these reviews are honest and entirely my own.

A little vacation...

You may or may not know this, but aside from my day job working at a church I also run a small photography business! This last weekend I was out of town shooting a wedding in beautiful Northern California.

I had such a wonderful time up there catching up with my family and then photographing the wedding at the amazing location up in the mountains just past Etna, California.

After that, I came back to Southern California and my parents drove down to spend some time with me.  Due to that, I skipped {Writer Wednesday} this week and am using this little post as an update for this week instead.

Just yesterday I launched a stylized shoot of photos I took and thought I'd share a few here for your viewing enjoyment.  Photos like these inspire me to write - especially if the end goal is a wedding. To view the full post of this session click [here].  

Do photos or beautiful scenery inspire you to write?