by Roseanna White | May 15, 2012 | Uncategorized
Today I’m excited to bring you some news from an old friend and a truly
fabulous writer,
Nikki Arana. Nikki and I met years ago when I was only an aspiring novelist and an avid reviewer. I read her then-latest women’s fiction novel,
A I Have Loved You, and was so very moved by it that I contacted her for an interview and proceeded to gobble up her Regalo Grande Series. And now her new one . . . haven’t read it yet, but oh, I can’t wait!!!
And without further ado, heeeeeeeeeeere’s Nikki! 😉
~*~
Thanks for giving me an opportunity to
tell your followers about my novel that’s releasing on June 1. You
and I first met when you read As I Have Loved You, and then The Winds of Sonoma, which was part of my
Regalo Grande Series. Those books were women’s fiction. This time
I’m writing suspense! My next novel, The Next Target, releases June
1.
Many people have asked me why I
switched to suspense. It wasn’t something I planned! The story was
inspired by my ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted. I help
persecuted Christians who are under the threat of death . . . here
in America! That is code for Muslims who convert to Christianity.
I help them find safety. You can learn more about my ministry at
http://www.avoiceforthepersecuted.com
. There’s a Cause page on FB too.
I felt God was calling me to raise
awareness about two issues. One is the need for
Christians to reach out to the Muslims who live and work among us,
model the love of Christ to them, and then with the leading of the
Holy Spirit, give them what Islam can never give. And the second is
about the huge price Muslims pay to know Christ. Most I’ve talked
to live under persecution by their former friends and family. Most
have no jobs because they live in a Muslim community and are shunned.
And of course there are those who have been deported and/or killed.
Here’s
what the book is about: Austia
Donatelli, a young widow with an underground evangelistic ministry to
Muslims, discovers a friend, someone close to her heart whom she
recently led to Christ, has been murdered. She realizes immediately
it was an honor killing. The brutal practice of families killing one
of their own for converting to Christianity. Suddenly, Austia, her
ministry, and everyone she cares about are thrust in the crosshairs
of a terrorist organization. As the extremists zero in, she must
unravel the deception surrounding her and protect innocent lives,
including her own.
The reviews of this novel have been
very strong. I was especially happy to get a rave review from
Publishers Weekly which is not a Christian organization. “Arana’s
vivid imagery is imbued with spiritual force and her pacing is
fiercely powerful.” I’m pretty confident that if you like
suspense, you’ll really enjoy this book. You might want to put on
your seatbelt while reading.
But for the more
faint of heart I have some good news. The first book in the series
that brought Roseanna and I together is going to be available free on
Kindle from May 16 to May 20. Just
click here. And I’ll also be giving away a FREE Kindle!
Go to the News! Page on my website
for instructions about how to enter to win it!
by Roseanna White | May 10, 2012 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Yesterday as my best friend Stephanie Morrill and I were chatting about my schedule, I earned a “Whoa! You’re making my head spin. Can you believe it wasn’t that long ago that you were like, ‘I need direction! I have no idea what to work on next!’?”
Definitely not a problem right now, LOL. My schedule is full (over-full, some might say), and though there’s room for some moving-around and improvising, for the first time in my life I’m writing books sold on proposal, under deadline.
Thank you, Lord, that it’s almost summer! That will at least take home school off my daily schedule. Around here we’re very much looking forward to finishing up those last couple weeks of school. =) We have an end-of-the-year party coming up with some of the other little ones from Xoe’s home school group, to make it an extra-special end.
Also this summer, we’ll be getting ready for a move. Not far, just back to the West Virginia side of our area, nearer our parents. Pretty exciting. =) And of course, I’ve got a lot of writing on my summer’s plate.
Where are you right now, as we near the end of the school year? Hard at work? Ready for a summer rest? Are you writers already planning which, if any, conferences you’ll be going to. Are you readers making a list of books to wile away the summer with? I’d love to hear what you’re getting into now!
(Sorry I’m not offering any brilliance or insight today, LOL–I’m still fighting off the cold I got almost two weeks ago, and right now my eyes are puffy and my head aching. This is about all I could manage!)
by Roseanna White | May 9, 2012 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
I’m cheating today and posting the same thing I put up at the Colonial Quills blog last Friday. =) And don’t forget to hop over there for the Anniversary celebration! Lots of great giveaways going on!!
One of the first lessons students are taught at St. John’s College (a.k.a The Great Books School) is that there’s nothing like an original text–and that we ought not refer to anything but the texts we’ve read together when in class. And so begins an education steeped in all things classic–an education that works its way not only into my writing, but into my outlook on how to research.
I’ve been thinking about this in recent weeks because each review I’ve gotten lately on
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland mentions my use of language and how it feels historical–something I achieved solely through reading texts from my time period. And a fellow St. John’s graduate who’d just finished it emailed me the other day to say “I have to say, when you pulled out Pascal, I thought, ‘Roseanna is
such a Johnnie!'” ‘Tis true, ’tis true. =) And in my next book,
Ring of Secrets, I draw even more on my classical education thanks to a hero who’s a professor at Yale (in 1780) in the subjects of philosophy and chemistry.
What I love about the Colonial, Revolutionary, and early Federalist periods is the rich literary culture. They not only had the ancient texts to draw on, they had more modern philosophers, political theorists, and some oh-so-fun scientific discovery happening under their very noses.
And yet, I confess, whenever I have a character reaching for a book, I have to stop and think, “What would she be reading?” I often have to do some searches to remind myself of when certain books were published, or which authors were more popular at a given time. And though I often use ones I’ve read, occasionally my characters’ literary taste diverges from my experience. No matter what I write, my characters will always find an occasion to delve into the classics–and since most people don’t have a shelf full of the books from St. John’s reading list (ahem–I know I wouldn’t had I not gone there, LOL!) I figured it would be fun to draw together a small smackerel for anyone interested. =)
Fiction Popular in the 18th Century
Don Quixote by Cervantes – a bit of a parody of the chivalric tales popular way-back-when
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift – another parody, of course
Iliad by Homer (especially the Alexander Pope translation)
Odyssey by Homer (also the Pope translation)
Gargantua and Pantagruel by Rabelais (not for ladies of delicate sensibilities! Far too much talk of cod-pieces for the gentler sex)
Anything Shakespeare, of course
The Aeneid by Virgil – did you know Caesar Augustus ordered the writing of The Aeneid solely to give the Greek version (Iliad) some competition?
Ovid’s Metamorphosis (not to be confused with Kafka’s)
The Misanthrope and other works by Moliere
Paradise Lost etc. by Milton
Dante’s Divine Comedy – most of us found the Inferno to be far more interesting than Paradisio, LOL
Non-Fiction Popular in the 18th Century
(Since most of these fellows wrote a number of treatises, I’ll list authors and subject matter rather than particular titles.)
Pascal – this guy was a certifiable genius whose salvation led him to turn his considerable brain-power to convincing others of the logic and reason behind Christianity. Fun stuff!
Descartes – though best known for his philosophical works (such as the one with the famous “I think, therefore I am”) he also wrote scientific works that are, um, less credible when one actually experiments upon the objects he discusses.
Hobbes – a political theorist whose works played a major role in the shaping of America’s political system
Adam Smith – an economic theorist who may put you to sleep but who, again, greatly shaped America’s early systems
Montesquieu – a political theorist who first devised the separation of powers now taken for granted.
Francis Bacon – political and scientific theorist most remembered for creating the scientific method
Locke – political theorist
Hume – political theorist and skeptic
Spinoza – essays laid the foundation for the Enlightenment; a biblical critic
Rousseau – political theorist
Newton – scientific and mathematical genius
Huygens – scientist who made breakthroughs especially in the behavior of light
Lavoisier – scientist of the 1770-90s who introduced the idea of elements into chemistry which led to the periodic table
There are many more, and I didn’t even touch on the sermons and poetry that were popular, but for those curious about where the Founding Fathers got their ideas, that’ll give you a great starting place!
by Roseanna White | May 8, 2012 | Uncategorized
A little over a year ago, you may recall a post I had on here called
“Have You Heard About Sandi Rog?” detailing how my good friend Sandi was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, T-cell lymphoma, on the very day her debut book released. I am truly awed and amazed by the support that rose up for her and her family from the online community of writers and readers.
Today I’d like to give you a little update and ask for more prayer for her. After a year of huge struggle, exhaustion, and treatment upon treatment, after wondering if the Lord might call her home through this and then determining to fight on with Him, Sandi was pronounced “in remission” a few months ago. But last month she went in for a full-body MRI and they discovered more cancer. Again. She now has a new spot on her pelvis, and yet again she’s undergoing targeted radiation. The doctors consider this “not big,” but it’s big for Sandi. She’s still so exhausted. So weak.
This new round of radiation is taking its toll, and she still has another week of it. So once again, her online family is rallying. We’re declaring this week, from now until next Tuesday, to be a week of fasting and praying for our beloved sister. In one of my groups, we each signed up for a day when we would cover her and her family in prayer. If you feel so led, please consider joining us. Sandi has specifically asked for prayer for her healing (of course), strength, and pain at the site where she’s receiving radiation, which makes walking difficult. I would add to that list encouragement, peace, and fortification for her whole family. Sandi is seriously one of the sweetest women I have the pleasure of knowing, and my heart continually breaks for her and all she’s going through.
The best support we could ever ask for her is your prayers–but of course, if you want to support her family in all the costs they’ve accrued for her treatment, I do also invite you to take a look at her truly amazing, wonderful novels, if you haven’t already.
by Roseanna White | May 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
First, just wanted to let everyone know that today at the Colonial Quill, I’m blogging on using the Classics in my writing, and I’ve put up a fun little list of some of the literature that I’ve drawn on in my Colonial books.
https://www.roseannamwhite.com/2012/05/tools-of-trade-classics.html
And next, for anyone within driving distance of Hagerstown, MD, remember I’ll be at the Valley Mall tomorrow from 10 – 1 with other Christian novelists Rita Gerlach, Loree Lough, Dani Pettrey, Jeannette Windle, and Eileen Rife! We’ll each have gift baskets we’re raffling off at noon, just for an added bonus. 😉
by Roseanna White | May 3, 2012 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Blinders–we all wear them. Those things that keep us from seeing things, or at least from seeing them clearly. With horses, they’re used to keep the animals on track, to keep them from getting distracted. But for us? Hmm . . .
I often find myself with blinders in relation to my writing, especially when I’ve been working hard on a project. In those times, we tend to get too close, too involved. We go cross-eyed. What do you expect when you read through the same three chapters eight times in two days, right? I was just there last week with a proposal I was readying for my agent. “It’s probably rough,” I told her, though I honestly couldn’t be sure. “I can’t really see it at this point.”
Then there’s my house. I can honestly say that after something has been in the same place for a week or so, I just don’t see it anymore–even if that means it never gets puts away, LOL. This is why the mess remains so long here. Mommy just doesn’t pay attention. And the others in my family are even worse about this so . . .
The cure for blinders, in my experience, is distance. After a week or two or away from a project (a month is even better), I can evaluate weak spots and strong spots. I can see where work needs to be done. (In the case of this particular proposal, my agent acted as the distance, showing me where to tweak and otherwise assuring me that, whether I could see it or not, it was ready to be sent.)
The same goes for my house. After a few days away, I come in and go, “Hey, why is that still sitting there? I should put that away . . .” I can see what I haven’t been able to see. Where I need to work. What I need to do.
But what about me? See, I can never get distance from myself, LOL. I can’t take any time away from me. So how do I clear my vision and know where I stand? How can I know where to improve?
It’s tough–and not a new problem. I’ve been reading through the Gospels (just finished the fourth one last week), so I’ve seen over and again all those occasions where Jesus has to call somebody out. Ever stop and really think about the Pharisees? Wonder why they couldn’t just see what He was trying to tell them?
I’ve got to think it might have something to do with this same phenomena. They’d been doing things the same way forever. Had things in the same places. And even if those places were wrong, they were too involved, too much inside it to notice. It took Someone new coming along to point it out.
We can’t get distance from ourselves, no–but we can find some quiet. Some distance from the rest of the world that might be influencing or overwhelming us. We can have some communion with our Lord and say, “Show me, Father. Show me where I am and what I need.”
I can see, right now, what I need in terms of work, in terms of housekeeping (a maid would be nice, LOL)–but as for me? Well, there are the obvious places where I have, ahem, room for improvement. But my prayer today is that Lord shows us each what we really need. That He shows us where we’re strong and where we’re weak. That He whispers His truth in our ear and gives us the ears to hear it. And that doesn’t just mean pointing out where we need to change–sometimes it also means having our eyes opened to where we’re really doing well.
See, blinders don’t just keep us from seeing the truth of what’s bad. Sometimes they can keep us from seeing what we’re doing right too.
Where are yours today?
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.