by Roseanna White | Jun 9, 2011 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
How many times in life do we get do-overs? Do we get to fix the things we’ve done wrong and make them better? How many times do we have the chance to rebuild, to repair, to refine before anyone sees our first attempt?
I know there are many times I wish we could do this more. Wish we could un-say, un-watch, un-hear something. Times I wish we could tweak a few details of ourselves, of our decisions, of our pasts to make things just a little better, a little more considerate, a little more lovely.
The other day I got my first round of edits on
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, and as I read through the comments of my awesome editor, I find myself thinking, “Thank you, Lord, for the chance to improve this.” The story certainly has its merits, the writing’s mostly solid . . . but thank heavens I get to incorporate the advice of a team before it hits the shelves. Thank you, God, for letting me alter a few things. Tighten here, shift there, add, delete, reword.
And yet as I add a new dimension to my heroine’s relationship with her family, as I open her eyes a little more to the realities of her world, it makes me realize that in life, it’s not usually so simple. It’s not just a matter of hitting the backspace key a few times. We can never hit Edit / Undo. We can’t make our inconsistencies just go away with a few keystrokes, a few thoughts. Three weeks of work doesn’t make any of us ready for the world to view us (even taking into account the need yet for polish and
Shine).
But you know what? We’ve still got our second chance. We can never undo, we can never erase. We’ll always have to deal with consequences for our words and actions. But we have that blank page waiting. A clean slate. A chance to start anew. We have a Savior who can cover our blemishes with His perfection. Will others still notice the flaws? Oh, they’re good at that–just like I’m sure someone will always find the errors in my books and call me on them.
But just like it’s a huge blessing to have an editor, and the chance to edit, so is it an amazing thought to consider that in life we have a Savior, and the chance to be cleansed of our sin. And just as now that I know what she’s looking for I’ll be sure to incorporate as much as I can of it into each new work, so do we fashion ourselves after what the Lord wants once we’ve accepted His precious grace.
I hope everyone is having a great week!
by Roseanna White | Jun 8, 2011 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
I’m cheating today. For your taste of something historical, I’m going to direct you to
Colonial Quills, a blog for which I’m a contributor. Today one of our members is posting on
18th century dancing, and it’s a fun, informative post. =)
Why am I being so lazy, you ask? Well, in part because my kids won’t let me sit still for five minutes thus far this morning, and my son’s going to need another breathing treatment here in a few minutes. In part because I’m staring at the screen with a total lack of genius when it comes to blog posts today. And
that is the case largely because I got my edits for
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland last night, and all spare brainpower is now engaged in brainstorming a few small changes. =)
So.
Hop over to the Quill. Say a prayer that my boy-o’s breathing issues are resolved by the time I need to leave him with his grandmother tomorrow. And say another prayer that I do justice to the potential in my book with these edits. =)
by Roseanna White | Jun 7, 2011 | Uncategorized
I’d been hearing great things about Courting Morrow Little for a good while now–things great enough that I was really beginning to regret sending that book out to another reviewer instead of hoarding it for myself. š So when I was lucky enough to win a copy through a contest, you can bet I didn’t waste much time in cracking it open. And once I opened it . . . well, it didn’t take long to turn the last page!
Morrow Little was raised in the wilds of Kentucke, near a fort where her father preached every Sabbath. But after an Indian attack that killed her mother and baby sister and stole her brother from them when she was five, her beloved home always carried a shadow of fear with it. Especially when a Shawnee war-chief and his son kept showing up out of the blue. Spending some time in Philadelphia with her aunt provided a reprieve, but it doesn’t make the fear any better once she returns to Kentucke. This is her home–but she still fears it as much as she loves it.
Tensions are ever rising between the settlers and the Indians, but Morrow hopes things will improve once some soldiers from Virginia arrive. But with her father’s health failing, Morrow’s concerns aren’t just for the war between the Bluecoats and the Redcoats and Indians–her concerns are for her own future, and what will become of her when she loses the only family she has left in the world. Will she be forced to marry just to survive . . . or dare she follow the forbidden lure of her heart?
I’m really not sure what I expected from Courting Morrow Little, but as I began to get a picture of what would shape this book, I fell in love. Morrow is a wonderful heroine–pretty, but unaware of it. Sweet, but with weaknesses and fears that make her totally relatable. And through it all, a desire to be more faithful, stronger than she thinks she can be.
This is a book that makes you stop and think about what really makes a loyalty, what really determines which side is right and which side is wrong. It’s a book that will open your heart, challenge your mind, and touch your soul as you follow the life of one young woman as she seeks the right the live and love and learn of her Father’s will.
Having been researching a similar era but very different setting, I especially enjoyed the little touches of history that I know for a fact are obscure, and which therefore show what a thorough, excellent job the author did in making sure each detail was as accurate as possible. From the elegance of British-help Philadelphia to the wilderness beyond where the white man had ventured, Courting Morrow Little breathes life into the world the characters would have lived in and will make you gasp in appreciation for this Creation our Lord has crafted.
This is a book history lovers, romance lovers, and anyone who loves a good, solid story will enjoy. Laura Frantz has written a keeper–and you can bet I’ll be reading her next book the second it arrives!
by Roseanna White | Jun 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
Today I’m happy to welcome Margaret Daley back to my blog. In addition to being a prolific author, Margaret is also the President of the most awesome writers association on the planet, ACFW. š
Margaret is offering a giveaway of her latest Love Inspired Suspense novel, Protecting Her Own, which just debuted this week. To be entered to win, just leave a comment below with an email address.
~*~
About Protecting Her Own
Nothing short of her dadās stroke could bring professional bodyguard Cara Madison back to Virginia. But her homecoming turns explosive with a pipe bomb package addressed to her father. Cara knows two things for sure. First, someoneās after either her father or herā¦or both. And second, this job is too big to handle on her own. Unexpected help comes from Virginia state police detective Connor Fitzgerald. Years ago sheād walked away from himā¦and love. Now, despite their unresolved feelings, they must join forcesāand settle their scarred differences.
~*~
About Margaret
Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writersā Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHLās Inspirational Readersā Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian Romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold seventy-five books to date.
Margaret is currently the President for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of over 2200 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.
Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community.
You can visit her web site at http://www.margaretdaley.com and read excerpts from her books and learn about the ones recently released and soon to be released.
~*~
What’s your latest book?
Protecting Her Own released from Love Inspired Suspense for June 2011. It’s the second book in the Guardians, Inc. Series
Fun series name! What was the hardest part to write?
The hardest part was working out the mystery/suspense plot. It was complicated and required a lot of coordination. Keep all the clues straight was hard.
That’s always so challenging! Is there a theme to this book?
Guilt and forgivenessāguilt has a way of controlling a personās life and the inability to forgive someone can do the same thing.
So very true. What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
My favorite genre to write is romantic suspense and my favorite genre to read is suspense/mystery/thriller (with romance). I also love adventure with suspense and romance.
What are you reading right nowāand what do you want to read next?
I just finished Fragment by Warren Fahy. It was very good and Iām looking forward to the sequel.
Other than the Bible, what’s your favorite of all the books you’ve ever read?
Amazonia by James Rollinsāa suspenseful adventure with a touch of romance
Sounds fun! What would your dream office look likeāand what does your REAL writing environment look like?
My dream office would be on a mountain overlooking the ocean below.
My real office has hot pink walls with bookcases all around the room. It is a very comfortable place that I spend a lot of time in. I have it decorated with flamingoes.
Wow, sounds so bright and cheerful! My daughter loves flamingoes. Aside from writing, what takes up most of your time?
My family (especially my four granddaughters) and my friendsāI love doing things with my family and friends.
Well then, here’s a question for them too. =) If you could take your family on a vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
On a Disney cruiseāmy granddaughters are into Disney and would have a great time.
What are you writing right now?
I am working on the second book in A Town Called Hope Series for Love Inspired. The first one in the series will be out in December called His Holiday Family.
Any other upcoming releases we should keep our eye out for?
My first Christian historical romance (Iāve written several in the ABA market) is coming out in September from Summerside Press called From This Day Forward.
Oh, fun! I have a book with Summerside coming out in December. =) I don’t think I realized we were Summerside sisters. š
~*~
Thanks for visiting, Margaret! Readers, be sure to check out her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com, and you can find purchase links for all her books there at http://www.margaretdaley.com/all-books/. And don’t forget her blog at http://www.margaretdaley.com/margarets-blog/
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning depends on number of entries. Contest ends 6/10/11. Winner will have two weeks to claim prize.
by Roseanna White | Jun 2, 2011 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
You know how it goes. You’re going through your day, probably thinking about the twelve things you’re juggling at that particular moment. In the back of your mind you’ve been turning something over. And over. And over. Not exactly worrying, not exactly fretting (or maybe you are, LOL), but it’s there. Always there.
Like, you know, this proposal I’m going to submit soon.
In the weeks you’ve been turning and churning and considering this thing, whatever it may be, a certain number of options have presented themselves. You’re not sure any will work out, but you’re going to try. Because, well, what else do you?
Then out of the blue, it hits. It. That realization that there is another option, a better option. An option that seems to have come from nowhere in your brain, since you already dismissed it through your awesome logic (ahem).
I had one of those moments yesterday concerning that soon-to-be-submitted proposal, where I realized an option I thought not an option might in fact be the best option. So I sent an email. Got an encouraging response. The kind that left me going, “Of course. Why didn’t I think of that from the get-go?”
Those are the moments that remind me of why it’s awesome to be in communion with our Lord. I seldom get answers while I’m praying, but they come at those odd moments during the day. Those whispers, those sudden realizations. I know there are those out there who don’t attribute them to God, and certainly I have those bolts of inspiration that I don’t consider divine. But when they come with a peace beyond which my own mind tends to fabricate, that’s when I know.
As sure when my husband makes a great suggestion I hadn’t thought of, God has given me a nudge. And obedience never tastes as sweet as in those moments, either, because I know only good will come of it. Maybe not the good I envision, but good nonetheless. =)
So . . . have you had any God moments lately?
by Roseanna White | Jun 1, 2011 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
As I’m researching this Revolutionary War story, as I’m reading a few other novels set in the same era (though concerning very different aspects of the time and places far removed), I’m learining so much! And it’s challenging some of my basic perceptions.
I knew going in that when push came to shove with England, many folks living in the colonies couldn’t bring themselves to openly revolt against the crown. I knew many of the soldiers in those snazzy red coats were in fact from America. I knew that.
But still it didn’t really show me how, outside the seats of Patriotism, the Glorious Cause was not only unpopular, it was deemed a ridiculous idea. I think this is the first time I’ve really studied what went on in New York instead of in the war in general, so it’s the first time I’ve really looked at how they perceived things. But the citizens of New York were, for the most part, firmly against the Patriots. When Washington fled the city and the British marched in, they welcomed them as liberators.
That said, over the years of British occupation, the harsh rule of those liberators did cause most Loyalists to revise their terminology and call them oppressors. But did that make them turn Patriot?
A few, maybe. But in general, no. They may have begun to think, “Hmm, the Patriot tyrants couldn’t be any worse.” But they still didn’t believe in the cause. They were still pretty sure Washington wouldn’t be able to mount another campaign, that this “United States” would crash and burn.
It’s one of the many things that gets blurred over in school when we’re learning about our nation’s glorious founding, about the Sons of Liberty and the Boston
tea party, the boycotts and the Declaration. I’m glad I first learned about the dream. But it’s been really interesting to get a glimpse at the head-shakers.
Is there anything about our nation’s history (or your nation’s, if you’re not in the U.S.) that it surprised you to learn?
Sidenote: I’m the blogger on Colonial Quills today, so come on over to hear what happens when the one church in town has to hit the road!
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, sheās 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 booksā¦to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.