by Roseanna White | Jun 9, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
We’ve all heard that saying, right? “Winning isn’t everything.” All well and good when you’re talking about a contest or a game of kickball, but . . . in war? Um, I kinda thought it was. So Xerxes, what were you thinking?
Here’s the setup. Ol’ Kingy burned Athens to the ground–easy to do since no one was left in the city to defend it–after finally winning at Thermopylae. Sent word of victory home to Susa, where everyone was so excited they strew myrtle in the streets and declared a holiday. This was the set-out goal of the war, you see. Burn Athens.
Check.
Then some brilliant adviser said, “Let’s pursue these cowards to their hiding place. Look, we’ve got it on good authority they’re in a weakly held spot. If we go over here like our informant said . . .”
Um, their “informant” was actually one of the leading voices of Athens. A very tricky one apparently, whose “intel” was followed by the Persians. Yeah. Brilliant. Xerxes and his army headed to the island of Salamas, where all the Greeks had fled. Put it under siege. Had a battle.
Lost.
Now. Everyone, the Greeks included thought, “Aw, crap, there’s his fleet, finally showing up–he’s going to take a few days, regroup, and give us a pounding like we’ve never had before.”
Instead, Xerxes says, “Yeah, I’m going home. Cousin, keep some men here and keep fighting, but I’m out of here.”
There was some logic behind this. Winter was coming, and Xerxes didn’t want his army stuck in Europe for it–they’d likely have starved. Moreover, those wily Greeks may have snuck around and destroyed the bridge he’d used to get into Europe to begin with, and if the army was stuck there, they could be routed and defeated. So yeah, retreat may have been the logistically sound option, and since he’d done what he came to do with Athens . . .
Of course, I have my own theories about what really propelled him home, but you’ll just have to read Jewel of Persia to get them. đ
by Roseanna White | Jun 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
I have a book, sitting ready and waiting for me to read. It’s right beside me. Cover taunting me with its promise. The title–
Resurrection in May. The author–Lisa Samson.
It’s gonna be good. Stellar. Fabulantastic. I know this, because (a) it’s by Lisa Samson and (b) my mother’s already read it and said it was every inch as good as The Passion of Mary-Margaret, which ranks as one of the Best Ever Books I’ve read.
I so want to read this. Want to tell y’all how awesome it is. But since it’s unlikely I’ll be into it enough by Tuesday morning to speak with any knowledge about it (I’m typing this on Monday afternoon) I’m instead going to make sure each and every one of you know exactly how spectacular an author Lisa Samson is.
I was hooked when I read the blurb of The Passion of Mary-Margaret, the first book I’d seen by this author, though certainly not her first book. And the book itself–oh my. I’m putting my review below, but first–oh my.
It’s with me still, over a year after I first read it. It comes up nearly every time I talk to one of my friends who also read it. My mother claims no book has ever moved her, touched her on a level like this one. It’s that amazing. So yes, I’m itching, breath bated, to pick up Resurrection in May, and you can bet your buttons I’ll be telling you all about it next week. For now, I give you my official review of The Passion of Mary-Margaret, as posted at the Christian Review of Books.
~*~
Mary-Margaret Fischer was born in disgrace and spent a lot of years haunted by it. More or less raised in a convent school, she knew all her life that sheâd follow in her motherâs footsteps and enter the religious order. That determination, her soul-deep longing to dedicate herself to Christ, was always what stood between her and Jude Keller, the lighthouse keeperâs son. He was a wild boy, always seeking out trouble . . . and when he left their hometown on the Eastern Shore and headed for Baltimore, he found it in spades.
Though apart for years as Mary-Margaret follows her calling and Jude follows his lusts, when she sees him again, her heart cries out at his pain. Jude has done things that horrify her, has walked a path sheâd rather turn her eyes away from . . . so why is Jesus telling her to make him her lifeâs work? He wouldnât seriously ask her to give up her dreams to follow Him for the sake of this broken, diseased man . . . would He?
The Passion of Mary-Margaret is a book that will shake you to your core. Written as a memoir of an aging religious sister, it combines Mary-Margaretâs present story with a circuitous, shocking past. Visions of Jesus, a quest for the father that had raped her mother, trouble from the KKK . . . these elements and more weave a story that will open your eyes and burrow deep into your heart.
It took me a few chapters to get into the way the storyâs told, but once the present events started getting interesting, I stopped wanting to flip to the parts that were memory and read both parts with equal intrigue. I picked up this book because itâs not very often you see a book in the Christian market with CatholicsâCatholic religious sisters, no lessâas the main characters, and I wanted to see how Lisa Samson pulled it off. The answer? Masterfully written, fully involving, and one of the richest, most complex books Iâve ever read. It kept me up at night and redefined my thinking, but whatâs more, it helped me better understand my own relationship with Christ.
The Passion of Mary-Margaret is a book to be talked about, and Lisa Samson is an author to follow.
by Roseanna White | Jun 7, 2010 | Uncategorized
Last week on my historical loop, we got on the topic of kissing in novels–where it should come in, how it should come in, if it should come in. Obviously historicals have different issues here. You must deal with the fact that propriety was different in various eras, so if your characters kiss, it carries meaning/consequences that it wouldn’t today.
But in contemporaries? Yeah . . . kinda free rein here. While there are those admirable people who don’t kiss until engagement or marriage even now, most of the citizenry of the world kiss pretty freely. On the above-mentioned email loop, it came up because someone commented on how half the time kissing in a modern novel didn’t seem to have any purpose other than “and I ought to throw in a kiss now, because readers expect it.” Yeah, not a great reason. =) Even in a modern setting, it’s still a plot. A kiss must have purpose, people! (And not just to curl your toes;-)
It made me consider kissing in my contemporaries. In Yesterday’s Tides there’s a kiss early on that serves to hammer home what has changed in my characters’ lives since they were involved nine years earlier. The second kiss, late in the book, is filled with temper and completely destroys the friendship the hero and heroine have built. The third and final kiss comes at the end, when all is repaired and the truth finally acknowledged. You’ll note that each serves a very specific purpose.
In my contemporary work-in-progress, my heroine has a really traumatic past that involves being used badly by men. Though she’s attracted to the hero from the get-go and he’s slammed with it all of a sudden on day, the sparks are banked because of outside conflict for a good while. When they finally kiss before the big show-down, it’s going to be soft and full of promise rather than sizzling with passion. Now, those who read my books know I’m a fan of sizzling, LOL. But there’s something about going for what isn’t expected in this realm. The kiss that stands out in my memory from all the books I’ve read is one where the H&H rush at each other on horseback, about to be torn apart for who-knows-how-long. They meet, grip each other’s arms, lean in . . . and barely touch lips in a kiss that’s chaste, sweet, and a promise to meet again. Not the storm-tossed embrace I expected, but so perfect . . . that’s the kind of thing I’m going for in this one.
So where do you come down on kissing in novels?
by Roseanna White | Jun 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
Today I’m tickled to welcome Deb Kinnard to the blog to talk about her e-book, Damages. I reviewed her awesome time travel a while back, so I can vouch for what a great author she is. =)
Damages is digital only, and Deb has graciously offered an e-copy to one lucky commentor. As usual, comment with an email address.
~*~
About Deb
Deb Kinnard started writing at age ten, because there was no preteen girl with a horse on Bonanza. From there she progressed to short stories and dreadful poetry. In college, she gained two degrees in health care and spent time observing hippies, basketball stars, el-ed majors and other strange species. While raising two active girls and cherishing her husband, sheâs enjoyed a career that encompasses Spanish translation, volunteer work at a crisis line, years in assorted ERs, and a day job at a big Chicago teaching hospital. Deb keeps busy with reading, needlework, guitar-playing, and travel whenever possible. She prefers warm places with plenty of ocean and tall, cool fruit juice drinks.
Deb is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and serves as Zone Director for the Midwest. Her previously published novels include POWERLINE and OAKWOOD (Treble Heart Books). ANGEL WITH A RAY GUN, ANGEL WITH A BACKHOE and DAMAGES are published as e-books by Desert Breeze Publishing. Current books include SEASONS IN THE MIST, which released in April 2010 from Sheaf House. Upcoming titles include the novella ALOHA, MY LOVE, which will appear in Desert Breezeâs Christmas 2010 anthology. Sheâs currently working on a sequel to SEASONS IN THE MIST.
~*~
About Damages
What do you do when you fall for a guy and God says, âNoâ?
Cassidy Amberg has known but one love in her life: the irrepressible, charming Brian Hayward. Though sheâs coped well enough since he married another woman and moved away, sheâs never forgotten. He returns home after an accident robs him of both mobility and wife.
Though Brian isnât quite back on his feet, he buys a home too big to manage from a wheelchair. Cassidy sees her old friend needs help, and offers as much as she can. When Brian proposes a marriage-of-convenience, she must dig deep within for the grace to accept.
At first they manage well enough as friends, but gradually Brian recognizes he loves his in-name-only wife. Cassidy struggles with realizing she never fell out of love with him. Only when Brian dares push their platonic marriage beyond the boundaries, do they find a chance at permanent happiness together.
~*~
What’s your latest book?
April of this year, Desert Breeze Publishing released DAMAGES. Itâs an e-book, a âsecond chancesâ romance written with the idea that any relationship can be redeemed and rehabbed through Godâs grace, no matter how damaged.
Ah, I’m a sucker for a good second chances story. =) What was the hardest part to write?
The chapter where their celibate marriage becomes regularized. It was tough to write without showing what Christian readers usually donât want to see…but I had to make it quite clear that the relationship had changed radically. I hope I did it right, LOL.
The famous “closed door.” =) I’m sure you pulled it off. What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?
Laughs and a renewed sense of hope. Brianâs kind of clueless sometimes, so I hope my female writers will chuckle over him.
What? Women, laughing over a clueless man?? Never! đ What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
One time Iâd have said contemporary romance, but Iâm getting more interested in historicals. Nothing American and 19thcentury, though. Popular, yes, but not my thing. As far as writing, Iâm pretty securely caught by the middle ages in England, and expect to stay there for a while.
Three cheers for European historical! What are you reading right nowâand what do you want to read next?
Just finished a five part fantasy tale Iâd read before. Next up is Lisa Wingateâs upcoming release BEYOND SUMMER for review. I love reading her books; itâs so easy to say good things about a superb writer.
Oh so true. What’s one of the oddest or most interesting things someone has ever said about you?
I was âa help and a blessing.â I never expected anything positive again from that person. Evidence that any relationship can be refreshed and renewed. God is a creative healer.
Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?
Didnât do much research. Merckâs MANUAL OF DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY comes in handy for any writer who can dig through medical jargon. I recommend it if you plan to smash or bash your characters at all. A super resource.
LOL. I’ll keep that in mind next time I need to beat someone up. Plot-ologically speaking, of course. What lessons have you learned through the publication process that you wouldn’t have guessed as a pre-published writer?
When a publisher says, âYouâre responsible for the promo/marketing,â they MEAN it.
Are there any people (family, writing group, editors) who you rely on when writing?
My historical projects, I rely on the Historical Fiction yahoo group of ACFW. In a general sense, I depend on Janny Butler, my super crit partner, who praises when I get it right and pulls no punches when I get it wrong. I couldnât do without her.
If someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving of gifts to charities allowed!)
New CPU for the computer. Itâs old and clecky. Probably a new pair of cute sandals, since Iâm a shoe-a-holic. The rest of it would go for books. Iâm a bookstore addict.
Oh, I would so love a shopping spree in a bookstore! What writing goal have you set for yourself that would be the hardest (or unlikeliest) but most rewarding to achieve?
Iâd like to sell to a bigger house than Iâve done to date. I donât think thatâs likely to happen, but itâd sure be gratifying. I donât think I write what they seem to want, though, and thatâs okay with me. I have no complaints!
Do you remember where you were when you got your first or most important call about a book contract?
Iâve never gotten THE CALL, though Iâve signed 8 contracts. It was all done via e-mail. I did, of course, scream fit to raise the house rafters. My children thought Iâd sliced my arm off.
LOL–a contract’s a much better alternative. What are you writing right now?
A follow up to SEASONS IN THE MIST, my April release with Sheaf House, and revisions to a reissue of POWERLINE for Desert Breeze.
Oo, can’t wait for the sequel to SEASONS. Any upcoming releases we should keep our eye out for?
In December, a novella called ALOHA, MY LOVE will come out as part of Desert Breezeâs Christmas anthology. As far as next year, who can say?
~*~
Thanks for visiting, Deb! Readers, check out her website at www.debkinnard.com.
Void where prohibited. Entry into contest is considered confirmation of eligibility based on local laws. Winner will have two weeks to claim book. Contest ends 6/10/10.
by Roseanna White | Jun 3, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Totally Worth It
As conference season warms up, I’m tickled to be a stop on the official ACFW Conference Blog Tour. This is the only conference I’ve had the pleasure of attending thus far, so I can’t really compare it to any others out there. But I can share my excitement and some of what I’ve taken away the two years I’ve gone.
As the wife of a mathematically-minded man who runs three different businesses, things in my house tend to be measured against the Worth It scaleâyou know what I mean. We spent X amount on this, which led to Y number of sales. Was it worth it? We invested so many hours of work into the project, which led to this much turnaround. Was it worth it?
It didn’t take long to realize Conference had no place on this scale. My first trip, we scrimped and saved and took our family of three out to Dallas. I went to classes, had appointments, made connectionsâmy hubby watched our almost-two-year-old in the room. He wanted definites to come from itâcontracts, advances, royalties. I got something much, much better.
First, I met the woman now my agent. Totally clicked with her, and she took my proposal home with her. Two months later, I got that first exciting call as she askedâASKED!âto represent me. (As if I was gonna say no, right?)
Next, I met an editor who did not end up buying my book, but who took it to committee and fought for itâwhich she said she doesn’t often do for books she requests from conference meetings.
Naturally, I learned a lot about craft, about the industry, about marketing.
But that wasn’t the best part. The best part was the people. Never in my life had I been in a room so full of people I knew instinctively I could trust. Though arguably we were all there to compete for only a handful of spots those editors and agents had open, we were not competitors. We were sojourners, traveling together on different branches of the same road. Compatriots. Colleagues. Friends.
I got to meet my critique partner for the first time in person. I met a young woman who w
as pregnant (as I was) carrying a red leather bag (as I was), who has since become my best friend and another critter. I met a sweet woman with a gentle disposition who also joined the critique group a couple months later. When we all met up again at ACFW last year, it was like a family reunion with sister, mother, and grandmother (they chose their own designations, I didn’t assign them!).
Have I seen a monetary return on these investments? Um, no. But my life will never be the same. Nowhere else have I ever found what Anne Shirley (of Green Gables) would call such âkindred spirits.â Nowhere else have I been surrounded by so many like minds. Nowhere else have I gotten to immerse myself so completely in the world I want to make my own.
Hope to see everyone there again this year in Indy! I’ll once again be bringing my familyâso if you see a prancing princess and a little curly-haired monkey squealing his way after her, those would be mine. My daughter is very excited to go to âcomprence,â because she wants âto be a book writer someday too.â (Don’t worry, y’all, I’m not sneaking her into classes, LOL.) I have a feeling my son will be far more interesting in the vroom-vrooms his papa will probably take him to see while in the famous racing town. And MamaâMama will be soaking up, once again, the sheer delight of being Home.
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, sheâs 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 booksâŚto offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.