The Seasons of Life

Every life has seasons.

It’s a concept I’ve always known, but am just now starting to put into action.

I’ve always been a go-getter. Once I get an idea stuck in my head, I want to push through and see it to completion. Case in point: last year I wanted to read 100 books. I read 220.

It has spilled over into my writing life as well. I love to study writing, but it can be a blessing and a curse sometimes. Every writer is different, but usually the writers, when they hit publication, have written upwards of 6-10 books (give or take).

Okay. I’ve got three in various stages of completion.

Then I hear it is important to research agents, build a platform and develop a story with such a strong pitch that no one can turn it down.

Sounds good. I started following various agents/authors, joined Facebook and Twitter. Blog. What else can I do now…

Then I start thinking, if I can make it to the ACFW conference this year, I really need to have my book ready to pitch. It needs to be complete, because why would I want to tell the zealous agent my WIP isn’t complete?

The pressure is building.

But God spoke to my heart several weeks ago. In all of our lives, we have seasons, seasons of work and seasons of reaping from those benefits. Seasons to just wait on His will.

And I realized—I have all the time in the world. There is no timetable on God’s dream for my life. I can wait one year, I can wait twelve. That won’t affect the hard work I put in now to make it to that end goal. And once I reach that goal, there will be another one and another one after that.

Sure, I have short-term goals, I have stops I want to make on the way to the “end”, but in the true end, it’s God’s timetable, not mine.  Because even if it take me longer than I planned to finish my edits, or write another story or pitch to an agent, it will ultimately lead to His ultimate timetable and I will rest with a lot more peace knowing that everything I’m doing is one step in the right direction.

**photo courtesy of Flickr

Easy Like Skipping Rocks on a Lake ~ Fade to Blue by Julie Carobini ~ Review

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingFade to BlueB&H Books (May 15, 2011)byJulie Carobini

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from the author:


I grew up as Julie Navarro, in a family of truly right-brained individuals. Among us you’ll find writers, artists, and musicians, all of us willing to talk about the arts at a moment’s notice.


Over the years, I’ve published several hundred articles and stories in magazines and books, including Aspire, Decision, Expecting, Focus on the Family, Key Magazine and God’s Abundance: 365 Days to a Simpler Life. As I wrote, I found a common theme cropping up: my family, the sea, and God’s timely work in the lives of those around me.



Maybe it was time to incorporate those interests into novels, I thought.


And so I did. Not once, but twice. Both times, God shut both doors and windows. So I continued to write and dream and raise my kids with Dan. Eventually I decided to write romantic seaside novels, and that’s where I found my voice.


When I’m not writing, marketing, or editing for others, I’m driving my kids around town, imagining that my mid-sized SUV is actually a sleek sailing yacht.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Suz Mitchell is the determined dreamer we should all be and won't allow her ex-husband Len's jail sentence to ruin their young son Jeremiah's life. An accomplished artist, she moves with her child across the country to California's central coast and lands a sweet job restoring priceless paintings at the historic Hearst Castle overlooking the ocean.


To her utter surprise, a serious old flame, Seth, is also now working at Hearst and jumbles the dreams inside Suz's heart. While sorting out the awkwardness of their past split and current spiritual differences, a repentent Len shows up eager to restore his family.


Suz must learn to let God be the true restorer of all that once seemed lost.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Fade to Blue, go HERE.

My Review:

Reading “Fade to Blue” was like slipping into a comfortable setting with characters that quickly become your friends.

There is an ease to the story and the characters that walk across the pages are fully dimensional. But I loved how, while the book is easy to slip into and hard to leave, there is an underlying depth. A depth of character growth, plot dimension, and a cast of secondary characters that don’t lack personality.

Often my biggest struggle with first-person contemporaries is the lack of the story really going anywhere. There are often “blocks” of writing that lulls, but I didn’t have that problem with “Fade to Blue”. There is continual forward motion in the course of the story – plot change, character development or a physical change in the characters and I really appreciated that about the reading – it never lacked my attention.

The characters are well defined, Suz, Seth, Lettie, Len, they all had their own personal struggles, adding layers of plot structure, making the novel a continually interesting read. (Oh and the ending…great story elements, take my word for it, it’s a GREAT ending!)

I thoroughly enjoyed my first trek into Otter Bay and look forward to going back again.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publisher through CFBA for my copy to review.

Giveaway and Author Interview: To Win Her Heart

Welcome to Writing for Christ Karen Witemeyer, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

I don't own a cell phone. How's that for odd? I'm a dinosaur and proud of it. Actually, it's more that I'm cheap and don't want to pay for the service. But wait . . . before you immortalize me as a principled heroine who refuses to be enslaved by technology, I must confess that with my oldest child about to turn 13, I doubt I'll be able to hold out much longer. By this time next year, it wouldn't surprise me if we had at least three cell phones floating around our family home.  For now, though, I wear my dinosaur badge with pride.

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

I adore historical romance. In fact, I'm so addicted to it, I rarely read anything else. There is something about an historical setting that enhances the romance for me. Maybe it's the fairy tale effect of visualizing heroines in glorious ball gowns or rugged heroes dressed in dusty cowboy gear that sweeps me away. Whatever it is, I love it! And since I want to write what I love to read, I can't imagine writing any other genre.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

RUE - Resist the urge to explain. I constantly remind myself of this one. So many times I want to make sure the reader understands my intent, and I'm tempted to explain the meaning of what just happened in the story. However, the rule of RUE has helped me edit out those unnecessary words. Trusting the reader to understand is a leap of faith. Yet we have smart, savvy readers. They don't need the message spoon fed to them. A few might miss my subtle imagery, but others will see it and appreciate it. A heavy hand just comes off as preachy. A joke explained is no longer funny. And dialog rehashed is boring. If I RUE as I write, I won't rue my wordiness later.

What do you enjoy most about being a published author?

Definitely the correspondence I've had with readers. Hearing that my stories touched someone makes all the hard work worthwhile. That is why I write, after all. To encourage women of faith in their walk with Christ. We all need an excuse to smile now and then, or a place to escape the havoc of our own reality. If I can provide a little joy or entertainment for someone, I am blessed. But every once in a while I get a message from a reader who mentions how a character really spoke to her during a difficult time in her life, or that the theme of one of my novels encouraged her to be a more godly woman. Those are the comments that stir my soul and send me to my knees in thankfulness that God could use such an ordinary vessel in such an extraordinary way.

Places for readers to learn more about you?

I'd love to have you visit me at my website: www.karenwitemeyer.com. I host a monthly giveaway of Christian historical novels from a variety of well-known authors as well as post interesting tidbits about my characters and the research behind their stories.

You can also find me on Facebook. Send me a message sometime. I'd be honored to chat with you.

Thank you for being with us today! 

Okay readers here is your chance to enter to win Karen's latest dynamite release!

Please leave an email adddress! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.


For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

And a NEW one:
~Sign up for Karen's e-newsletter




Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.


Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on May 27th.

EXCITED for GREAT Friends!!!!

I got a FANTASTIC phone call yesterday. No, I hadn't won something. It didn't even have to do with me, but it might as well have been for how EXCITED I get every time I think about this...

The Genesis Finalists were announced yesterday AND...a VERY DEAR FRIEND MADE THE LIST!!!

Oh my goodness! Yep, my own Pepper Basham is a finalist in the ACFW Gensis Contest (this is HUGE people, HUGE!)

I've told her she needs to go write her acceptance speech, because no offense to the other finalists, but Pep's story is AWESOME!

Then I read the rest of the list and saw MORE names I know! Eeeeee! One a dear blogging friend! Read on. :-)))

CONTEMPORARY FICTION:
(total entries: 48)

Katy Pistole
Lori Stafford
Delores Topliff

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE:
(total entries: 82)

Pepper Basham ← That's right!!!

Mary Curry
Jessica Nelson

HISTORICAL FICTION:
(total entries: 44)

Johnnie Alexander Donley
S.C. Iles
Renee Yancy

HISTORICAL ROMANCE:
(total entries: 73)

Sarah Ladd
Naomi Rawlings
Sherri Shakelford

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER:
(total entries: 47)

Dianna T. Benson
Shelley Ledfors
Bethany Macmanus

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE:
(total entries: 52)

Kelli Hughett
Renee Ann Smith ← recognize that name??? YEP! Our own Renee Ann!
Jan Warren

SPECULATIVE FICTION:
(total entries: 54)

Patrick Carr
Matt Jones
Christian Miles

WOMEN'S FICTION:
(total entries: 90)

Sally Bradley
Camille Eide ← Brand new Facebook friend!! :-))
Karen Schravemade

YOUNG ADULT:
(total entries: 65)

Pepper Basham ← YES, she finaled TWICE!

Stephanie Landsem
Nicole Quigley

A HUGE MEGA congratulations to every single finalist. WOW, give yourself a pat on the back, that is AWESOME!

And for those the didn't final, I'm there with you, I know that feeling, and don't give up. This does NOT signal an end to anything, it's just another step on the journey and one does not define the other. Keep working hard!

AND YAY FINALISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 500th Post!!!

500!!!!!!!

This post marks my FIVE HUNDREDTH post here on Writing for Christ!!

When I counted them all up (or rather calcuated) how many times I had blogged and saw that TODAY was my FIVE HUNDREDTH post, I excitedly waited to write this post.

Wow. Can you tell I'm a Teensy bit excited??? Never really would have dreamed when  I started that THIS is what I would get. :-))

CELEBRATE WITH ME!!!

But first...

And the winner is...

Cindy W!

Cindy has been emailed. :-)) Thanks all for entering, I will have other Mary Connealy giveaways in the future months!

Due to blogger problems I know I lost a couple on Lorna Seilstad's A Great Catch giveaway, so if you left a comment on that post, double check to make sure it's still there! I think I only lost the last couple of comments, not the first ones.

Free Books!!

I had to share some of my favorite books that are FREE right now for download!

Disaster Status by Candace Calvert

AND

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad

(You can also find Too Close to Home and A Tailor-Made Bride up for free too. Go find some great reading material!! :-))

Blogging Elsewhere...

I posted yesterday on the Writer's Alley on Lessons Learned from a Pencil, but because of blogger problems, the post was removed from the blog and all my comments erased. The post is back up, if you want to take stop by and find out which pencil YOU are. :-)

THANK YOU FOR THE JOY YOU MAKE MY BLOGGING!!!

Editing the Story of Our Lives



Courtesy of Flickr

When I started writing I never would have thought I would have taken this journey so far. I began writing in junior high school for a homework assignment and then wrote my first novel (a historical) in high school.

Having written close to 300,000 words I realize the more I write, the more I realize I DON’T KNOW. True I don’t feel like I’m sliding three steps forward to race two steps back so much anymore, but it reminds me just how much writing parallels the Christian life.

No matter how many edits we put our fiction through, no matter how many times we read and re-read the work before it goes to an editor, then the copy editor and finally the printer there is going to be something somewhere we will not like.

Many authors don’t even like to read their work after it’s published because they will find a mistake.

How often do we avoid looking inward because we don’t want to know what is wrong? It’s true we will never reach perfection, we live in a sin cursed world and there will always be something tempting us, hurting, affecting our Christian walk.

What would happen if we spent more time avoiding what was wrong and decided to really dig into the problem? When I know something is wrong with my fiction I take a class or read a writing book to know how I can fix it.

Maybe when we have a problem within us we should start consulting the ultimate How-To book on life, the Bible.

It’s hard work to edit the problems out of our lives, but we aren’t asked to do it alone. We have God right there with us, guiding and directing us every step of the way. We just have to be WILLING to let Him instruct us, no matter how difficult it may seem.

In My Mailbox and On My Wishlist...

I don't have these posts that often, but I am SO excited about this book I had to share that it has finally "landed" in my mailbox! Only been waiting for months... ;-))

YAY! Know what I'm doing this weekend...or hopefully sooner. Darn review books... ;-)

And on my wishlist...

I fell in love this book from the moment I saw the video trailer. It's a complete change from the book soon to be hitting my nightstand (wink), but I do love these gritty, true-to-life stories. I've heard Mary Demuth is really good and I hope to someday give her a try.



Do tell..what is your mailbox and on the wishlist today?