by Roseanna White | Aug 3, 2010 | Uncategorized
Indeed, these are the edges of His ways,and how small a whisper we see of Him!~ Job 26:14
This is the verse that begins Sandi Patty’s
The Edge of Divine. The book is one aimed at women and what we do when we reach a crossroads–an edge. Do we choose the downward path, one that might lead us straight to shame? Or do we leap over the edge into the arms of Father, into his grace and favor?
For Sandi, one of these edges came when she realized her weight had spiraled out of control and was becoming a major risk to her health and her very life. After telling herself for years that it wasn’t that bad, she must finally make a decision that she knows requires a huge life-change. But in order to make those changes, she has to first understand what pushes her toward one edge . . . and glimpse what the Lord has in store for her if she trusts in him and leaps off into his divine will.
The Edge of the Divine isn’t just a book about one woman’s weight loss surgery. It’s a book about learning to trust God with our deepest issues . . . and finding him in what seems like our darkest hours. Through stories of her life and experiences, this award-winning singer, speaker, and author paints a picture of how gentle and loving is the touch of our Maker when we walk–or perhaps leap off–into obedience.
I enjoyed the stories Sandi shares and learning more about her life, but what I most liked about The Edge of the Divine is seeing the many examples she shares of those times she’s on that edge, and how God has caught her and borne her up when she chose his will. She’s found a plethora of Bible verses from several versions that bring this edge to life, and I found myself rushing through the chapters just to discover another of those gems.
Fans of Women of Faith and Sandi Patty, women who share her struggle, or anyone who senses an edge approaching in their life’s walk will want to check into this book. Though I have little in common with the author at first glance, I found myself sharing her joys and sorrows and looking in my own life for evidence of this same idea. That, in my opinion, is the mark of a good book.
It seems it was good for me to go through all those troubles.
Through them all you held tight to my lifeline.
You never let me tumble over the edge into nothing.
~ Isaiah 38:16
*This book was sent to me free of charge by a publicist for review purposes.
by Roseanna White | Aug 2, 2010 | Uncategorized
Since I haven’t so much as looked at a contemporary book this week, I’m going to take today to point y’all toward a reviewing opportunity. I know many of you post book reviews on your blogs–did you know that if you sign up to be a reviewer at the Christian Review of Books, you might be able to get that book you’ve been waiting to read free, for reviewing purposes?
The CRoB is the brainchild of me and my hubby. We launched it in 2004, when finding a review of a book from a Christian perspective–or a place to find reviews of mostly Christian books, period–was nearly impossible. Since then tons of sites have sprung up, but the Christian Review of Books is still distinctive. We have over 50 volunteer reviewers, and we’ll not only review CBA books, we’ll review ABA books from a Christian perspective.
This is on my mind today because I spent my entire afternoon yesterday scanning, alphabetizing, and shelving the 289 (!!!!!!!) books that we have available for our reviewers. Needless to say, these no longer fit on the three shelves I have designated for review books. I know they’ve amassed so much in part because we haven’t added new ones to the list soon enough, but it’s also because we’ve been getting a crazy amount this summer–an average of two a day, I’d say, then there are the days when we get a box of 18 from a publisher . . .
So. Wanna be a reviewer? Request a few (dozen, ha ha) of these books? (As long as you can point me to where you’ve written a review before, you can request as many of our books as you like. If you’re only getting started, we ask that you start with a single title.) It’s soooo simple these days.
1.) Go to www.ChristianReviewofBooks.com
2.) At the top right, you’ll see “Reviewer Login | Register to Become a Reviewer.” Select whichever applies to you.
3.) If you’re new to the CRoB Reviewer list, signing up’s a breeze. Just input the necessary info so we can contact you as necessary. At which point you’ll be directed to your Reviewer Account page, which is where you’ll be taken if just signing in.
4.) The first paragraph under the greeting has a link to our new list of available books. Click on it, and you can browse by author to see what’s there. Clicking on a book cover will give you a description of the books. (Is that not the most awesome thing ever??)
5.) Email review@christianreviewofbooks.com with your list of book requests, and with the subject line of “Book Requests.” Include your mailing address please.
6.) Get the books in the mail! Woo hoo!
7.) Read them.
8.) Write up an honest review–be sure to include positives as well as negatives.
9.) Log back into your account and click “New Article”
10.) Post the review you wrote. I have to approve everything, which only takes a single click from me, and then it’ll appear on the site!
Hope to see some of you over at the CRoB!
by Roseanna White | Jul 30, 2010 | Uncategorized
Today I’m happy to welcome co-authors Anita Higman and Janice Thompson to talk about their joint book Ozark Weddings, which is a 3-in-1 collection of their Barbour novellas. I’ve had the pleasure of reading one of these three–Larkspur Dreams–and can assure you that these two weave a magical story together!
The interview’s going to be a little different form my norm–what with two authors answering and all–but the giveaway runs as usual. Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win this fun collection!
~*~
About Janice
Award-winning
author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over fifty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, “Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer” (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the Joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at www.janiceathompson.com or www.freelancewritingcourses.com.
About Anita
Award-win
ning author, Anita Higman, has twenty-four books published (several co-authored) for adults and children, and she has been honored in the past as a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston. Some of Ms. Higman’s publishers are Bethany House, Summerside Press, Barbour Publishing, McGraw-Hill, Lillenas Drama, Roman & Littlefield, and Howard Publishing.
A few of Anita’s books are Love Finds You in Humble, Texas, Another Stab at Life, Another Hour to Kill, The Celestial Helix, Pokeweed and Mrs. Gasp, and Big Book of Holidays and Holy Days. She also has contributions in ten nonfiction compilations.
One of Ms. Higman’s co-authored books entitled, A Tribute to Early Texas, has a foreword by Elmer Kelton and has won a San Antonio Conservation Society Citation as well as a Westerners International Book Award. She was also named a New Favorite Author in the 15th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards.
In addition, Anita has won two awards for her contribution to literacy and has raised thousands of dollars for literacy with her book, I Can Be Anything, while serving on the board of directors of Literacy Advance of Houston.
Anita Higman has also written for radio, television, ezine, and advertising. She has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art from SNU, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Anita has lived in Texas for the past twenty-five years, but was born and raised on a wheat and cattle farm in western Oklahoma.
Besides writing, Anita’s other interests are reading great books, going to the movies, and cooking brunch for her friends. She lives with her husband near Houston, Texas.
~*~
Your Barbour Heartsong 3-in-1 collection is entitled, Ozark Weddings. Tell us a little bit about the three stories.
Anita: All three stories are set in Arkansas—Eureka Springs, Little Rock, and Hot Springs. Larkspur Dreams and Castles in the Air are romantic comedy, while the middle story, The Love Song, is more dramatic in tone.
Janice: Larkspur Dreams is a lighthearted, whimsical tale that will appeal to inspirational romance readers, particularly those with artistic leanings. The Love Song reaches into the depths of the reader’s soul, dealing with the topic of overcoming past hurts. Castles in the Air provides a humorous look at the way we are perceived by others, and teaches us that our prejudices (comical as they might be) often keep us from the very thing God has planned for us.
Though I’ve only read one, I can imagine the other two are just as great! Now Anita, you and Janice co-authored the three stories in Ozark Weddings. How do writers go about co-authoring?
Anita: There are a number of ways to co-author a novel. One writer might do the research and the other writer may actually write the story. Or co-authors may each choose a character and write from that character’s POV. In the three novels, I guess you could say I wrote the body and wings of the stories, and Janice helped to make them fly. She has a gift for critiquing.
Janice: Working with Anita is a breeze because she conceives and fully plots the stories then lets me add my thoughts/tidbits to give them flavor. She is so quirky and fun to work with, and I am very proud of the stories we have co-produced.
Ah, I was wondering about that–I noticed that Anita’s Love Finds You book had the same style as Larkspur Dreams. You have a very distinctive way of wordsmithing, Anita! I’ve enjoyed quite a few of your books too, Janice. Were there times when it was hard to work together?
Anita: Janice is not only talented, but easy to work with. There were a few times in one of the novels that I found myself writing in a way that strayed from the general concept of a Heartsong romance. Janice made some good suggestions, which steered me in the right direction.
Janice: I can honestly say that I’ve never worked with anyone who was so willing to accept critique and/or take suggestions as Anita. She is a precious friend and collaborative partner. I already knew she was talented (even before we began this project) but had no idea how gracious she would be. Since I’ve written for the Heartsong line for years, I was able to “teach her the ropes” (as it were) and she was a ready learner! That’s not to say she hasn’t taught me a thing or two. I’ve learned much from her throughout this process, particularly as it applies to romantic tension. She’s far better at that than I am, and I’m happy to admit it.
Aww–good to see you guys appreciate each other so much! Why did you each choose to be a writer?
Anita: Ever since I was a little girl, I had this need to express myself in some sort of artistic medium. I’ve tried a number of things: piano, painting, decorating, and acting. But I’ve never been very good at any these endeavors, except writing. I guess really then—writing chose me.
Janice: Like Anita, I’ve always been artistic. As a youngster, I sang, danced and played the piano. I was also very involved in theater as a young person. I’ve been writing since childhood. I wrote my first novella in 6th grade, then went on to write musical comedies for the stage before turning to books in the mid-90’s. Like Anita, I can truly say that I didn’t choose writing; it chose me. Or, perhaps I should say that God chose it for me, as a gift.
When did you have your first success as a writer?
Anita: After several years of writing, I had some gradual success—books for children, books of one-act plays, and nonfiction for women. These successes were enough to keep me going toward my ultimate goal, which was to write novels.
Janice: This may sound a bit silly, but my first real writing “success” happened my senior year in high school, when I was chosen to help write the senior production. I had a blast, and the scene I crafted (a 1930’s/Busby Berkeley-esque “The Show Must Go On” scene) was a huge success. I can’t tell you what fun I had, or how great it felt for people to respond as they did.
Do you have any special methods of getting into the writing zone, such as favorite scents, music, or certain foods?
Anita: In the past I used to go to a French café, order coffee and scrambled eggs, and then write a rough chapter. The noise, music, and bustle always energized me creatively. But now I’m more of a homebody, so I sit for long hours in my office, working on my stories.
Janice: An “ideal” writing situation for me would involve someplace like Starbucks (or otherwise) with a cup of my favorite hot beverage in my hand (to be discussed below). Ironically, when I’m at home, I can’t stand having music going. I find it terribly distracting… something about the “beat” drives me nutty. Having the television on is okay, but it’s often muted. Crazy, I know. I’m a fanatic about my Diet Dr. Pepper and several flavors of hot tea. I particularly love Earl Grey and Chai Latte, among others. And I’m nuts about hot chocolate in the wintertime. I’m also crazy about my puppies. I have two red mini-dachshunds named Sasha and Copper. They usually settle in next to me on the sofa, Sasha on my right, Copper on my left. When we’re all in place (with a cup of tea or a Diet Dr. Pepper on the end table, depending on the season) I’m ready to begin. Of course, I usually have to weed through several emails (clearing a path) before I can actually start writing. Whew! Sounds like quite a process, doesn’t it?! It’s a wonder I get anything done at all!
And yet you do! I keep longing to be one of those go-to-a-cafe writers, but alas. Very few cafes around here, and hard to pull off with a kid on each hip. =) What is your best advice for aspiring writers?
Anita: If you feel called to write, don’t let people discourage you. I’m sure they don’t realize the impact of their words, but negative remarks can undermine our courage and Joy. Comments similar to: “Maybe you weren’t really meant to be published.” Or, “Are you making any money at this yet?” Perhaps you’ve heard, “Why can’t you write like my favorite author?” Honestly, I could go on and on here. Writing is a great and honorable profession—one that can challenge, inspire, and change people’s lives. If you love words and love arranging them into stories, then don’t let the battering influence of dispiriting comments shatter your dream. Keep pressing on!
Janice: I often say this to young/new writers: Learn the craft, but don’t necessarily write what the publishers/agents/houses tell you to write. Trends change. Stick with the stories God places on your heart and if He intends them to be published, He will find the right publishing house in the right time.
What are your writing plans for the future?
Anita: I’d love to just keep doing what I’m doing. But I think I’d also enjoy writing novels for the young adult market.
Janice: I’m open to whatever God wants (and I really mean that). If He shifts me in a new direction (women’s fiction, for example) I’m following His lead! If He asks me to lay the writing down for a season in order to accomplish a different task, I’m open to that, too.
We’d love for you to visit our websites at www.anitahigman.com and www.janiceathompson.com. If you’re interested in our Heartsong collection, Ozark Weddings, it can be purchased in bookstores or ordered online at www.amazon.com.
Thanks for inviting us to your blog!
~*~
Thanks for visiting, guys! Hope everyone enjoyed getting to know these two lovely ladies, both of whom have a ton of books available for your reading pleasure.
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Contest ends 8/5/10. Winner will have two weeks to claim book.
by Roseanna White | Jul 29, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
I remember thinking, sometime between ages 12 and 14, that I could never write a story that took place before Christ. Or which dealt with people after Christ who never heard his message. “I just couldn’t do it,” I recall thinking. “I’d be wondering about their salvation the whole time.”
Well, I stuck by that for a long time. And when I began writing Jewel of Persia, that aspect didn’t really occur to me–until my husband, reading along as I wrote, said, “There’s just one thing that concerns me–you’re targeting Christian readers with a book that isn’t going to mention Jesus once.”
Too true. Kinda hard to mention someone still 450 years away from being born. But as I studied the books of the Old Testament I was appealing to, it struck me: salvation isn’t a theme unique to the New Testament. The people in the OT prayed constantly for salvation–duh, right? Read the Psalms. Yes, most of the time it was for immediate salvation–the saving of life, or even of the nation, so that it be preserved for future generations.
Last night at Bible study (I had recommended this topic months ago, and love that we got to it the week after I finished Jewel of Persia, LOL), the most awesome example we found, though, was how Moses crafts the bronze serpent and holds it up, so that anyone bitten by a poisonous snake can look at it and be saved. Then in John 3, Jesus references that to say (in the Roseanna-paraphrase version) “Just like Moses lifted that snake up, so is the Son of Man being lifted up. The people were already bitten, already dying. They had to have faith to look up and be saved, and it’s the faith that saved them. Well, people, you’re already bitten. But God loves you so much that he sent his son–and just like that bronze snake, if you believe enough to look toward Me, you’ll be saved. I’m not condemning y’all–you’re already condemned. Already bitten. But I’m here for your salvation.”
Oo, I love that. Love that Jesus himself took this Old Testament idea of salvation and moved it into New Testament, eternal realms. Awesome, isn’t it?
In my book, I’m constantly tossing my poor heroine into situations she needs saved from. Each and every time, she cries out to the Lord her God, and Jehovah comes through. Then at the end, the whole people of Israel are calling out for salvation from the scheming of Haman. It’s a theme for me–more of one, strangely, than it’s been in A.D. books, perhaps because I was so aware of it. And you know, even though they’re still looking forward to Jesus, they don’t know his name, they don’t know when he’ll come, it’s still a matter of faith. Kasia must have faith that the Lord will preserve her, and that she’s where she needs to be. Faith that her God can use her love to move the mountain of a stubborn man. And Esther, of course. Esther must have faith that this is her purpose, and that even if she dies, God will still use her to save her people.
My last sentence has the word “salvation” in it. I end on that note hoping it’ll leave people thinking about it and moving naturally in their thoughts to the ultimate salvation, the One who came and updated our definition of the word, who offered it to our souls. “Jesus” is never in my book. But the Spirit is–and just as He speaks to us now, he spoke to my characters. (Maybe not exactly like, but He did.) It’s the same spirit, the same God. Which means the same Jesus was there, waiting. Waiting, ready to offer himself for these people.
Some things transcend time.
by Roseanna White | Jul 28, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Most of you have probably already seen me post this elsewhere–or gathered it from my previous blogs this week–but it’s official. I am done-done-diggity-done Jewel of Persia!
Okay, so I finished the story. I’m not exactly done with it. There will yet be tweaking, trimming, and editing. Still. Always a heady feeling to realize you’ve reached that final point in a book. I did that at 10:45 p.m. last Friday.
Saturday, I proceeded to type up a cast of characters, as recommended by friend and critique partner Dina. My hubby scoffed at this and said, “Oh, it’s not hard to keep them all straight.” I hope he’s right. Especially because as I started making my list, it soon swelled to fifty–50!–characters.
Now, I cannot be blamed for this. It’s history’s fault. Herodotus–and even the writer of the book of Esther–name so many stinking people. Had they not, I would have clumped several figures into one. I mean, how many brothers does one king need? But alas. In the interest of accuracy . . . my compromise was to not name anyone with whom I could get away with it. So though my heroine had seven servants, we only know the names of three. Though she had nine siblings, we only know the names of four. I tried to keep it reasonable, really I did! LOL
Another kinda grump I’ve had since finishing it is considering what comes afterward. My hubby (and publisher) wants to know what happened to Esther and the other wives and children after Xerxes is assassinated 8 years after the close of my book (and the Biblical book). A quick perusal online told me one thing, so I sat down with my Bible . . . and quickly decided the online sources were dead wrong. Which is annoying, because I mentioned something in my Author’s Note at the end of the book that I’m not sure holds. Grrrr.
Oddly, this again comes back to names. My online source was crediting something to Artaxerxes I that actually belongs to Artaxerxes II. Which wouldn’t be an issue if these people used more than three or four names. What’s up with royalty anyway? That cast of characters proves there were plenty of names in the ancient world, so why was everyone in the Achamenid dynasty named Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, or Artaxerxes?? I mean really. 😉
Grumps aside, I’m still floating on the sensation of being finished . . . and actually looking forward to diving into edits and trims next week!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.