I Need a Hero

I’ve heard that caution must be used when reading or watching romantic stories. The danger, it's said, is that women might begin living vicariously through these stories and, as a result, grow increasingly discontented with their husbands. I never quite understood the concept – until recently.

Photo courtesy of ITV Studios

One night I tuned in to PBS’s “Poldark on Masterpiece,” and immediately got sucked into the story, mostly because of the handsome, sardonic, but wounded hero, Ross Poldark (aka Adrian Turner). Suddenly I wished I was 30 years younger and 30 pounds lighter.

Photo courtesy of BBC

As the story goes, Captain Ross Poldark returns from fighting the Americans in their rebellion against the Crown (Revolutionary War). Coming home, he finds his father is dead, his home is in a shambles, and the love of his life, Elizabeth, is engaged to his cousin, Francis. The match was made while Ross was overseas. The wedding occurs and Ross struggles to overcome his emotional pain. Then one day, he rescues a girl, Demelza, from her abusive father and he employs her as his “kitchen wench.” Time passes, and in order to keep from returning to her now-religious father who wants her back home, Demelza gives herself to Ross one night when he’s well into his cups. The dynamic changes between the two, so Ross decides to do  the right thing marry her, causing quite a social stir. Meanwhile, he’s been trying to reopen his family’s copper mine in order to care for the village citizens who long to provide for their own families.  As we last left our hero, he professed his love for his wife, who tells him she’s with child, and the mine strikes copper at long last. Ah, but all is not as well as it seems. There are those who want to see Ross Poldark fail and, thus, gain power of the copper mine and its profits. And so the plot thickens.

What struck me, however, is how the Poldark character intuitively cares for Demelza, seeming to sense her every need and meeting it without her having to ask, nag, or plead. What an amazing guy! What woman wouldn’t want such an attentive husband? The answer is: We all long for those qualities in our men. We want a handsome hunk of man to cherish us – and rescue us from whatever it is we need rescuing.

In short, we need a hero.

And therein lays the danger of reading romance novels and watching romantic or steamy television shows. You see, woman are wired emotionally. Men are not. Men are more logically wired. That’s not to say women aren’t logical; we are! And we want to be taken seriously. But when a romantic story touches our heart in some way, we are whisked away and absorbed into the story.

However, there are ways to approach these stories and still enjoy them. After all, I believe God bestows the gift of fine arts, drawing/sketching, music, writing, acting, to all of us in one form or another.

·       Set your mind to think critically as you’re reading or watching a romantic story. Act like a TV critic or a book reviewer.

·       Ask yourself (if you’re a Christian) if the story encourages your faith – or does it detract from it? Remember, God is a jealous God. He demands our whole heart. (Exodus 34:14).

·       Ask yourself if the story makes you long for Jesus – or does it offer a replacement in the form of a human hero?

·       Be honest about your feelings and check them against Philippians 4:8. Does the story bring the truth to light? Is it honest? Is there any virtue in what you’re seeing on TV or reading in a book?

As a writer of Christian and Inspiration romance, I strive to create my characters in all honesty. They are not perfect. I pray my stories encourage believers in their faith journeys. I want my readers to long for Jesus Christ.

Thus television series like Downton Abbey and Poldark on Masterpiece are fine forms of entertainment; however, women must put their hearts and minds on high alert before turning on their televisions. Wishing Ross Poldark would come riding up to your house, swoop you up, and plop you in front of him on his horse, then carry you away is quite unlikely. In fact, I’d wager that you’ve got more of a chance winning the lottery or getting struck by lightning twice before that occurs. Men like Ross Poldark are fictional. Make believe. Pretend.

Photo courtesy of Divine Revelations

However, there is a real Man patiently waiting for you in the wings -- he waits for you to call out to him. “Jesus, I need a hero!”  

Happy Friday, everyone! As you can see from my record of posts, that I've been sorely neglecting my blog. I'm striving to make a July 1st deadline. I'm writing book 3 in my Fabric of Time series. I'm really into the story, so the story is flying off my fingers; however, I sort of have to turn off the world while I finish. I'll keep you all posted.

In the meantime, I have a wonderful new interview for you all to read. One of my favorite authors, Louise Gouge. She won me over as a fan in the 1990s with her novel Once There was a Way Back Home. But Louise has come a long way since then. Here's her bio:

Award-winning Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes historical fiction for Harlequin's Love Inspired Historicals. In addition to numerous other awards, Louise is the recipient of the prestigious Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award for her 2005 novel, Hannah Rose. With her great love of history and research, Louise has traveled to several of her locations to ensure the accuracy of her stories’ settings. When she isn't writing, she and her husband love to visit historical sites and museums. Her latest release from Harlequin is The Proper Companion, a Love Inspired Regency novel. Her 2011 Regency novella, The Gentleman Takes a Bride, is a finalist for the IRCA.

Here is a blurb about Louise's latest book, A Proper Companion. 

She had nothing left but her faith…

With her father’s death, Anna Newfield loses everything—her home, her inheritance, and her future. Her only piece of good fortune is a job offer from wounded major Edmond Grenville, whose mother requires a companion. The Dowager Lady Greystone is controlling and unwelcoming, but Anna can enjoy Edmond’s company, even if she knows the aristocratic war hero can never return her love. Even amid the glittering ballrooms of London, nothing glows brighter for Edmond than Anna’s gentle courage. Loving her means going against his family’s rigid command. Yet how can he walk away when his heart may have found its true companion?

Louise has agreed to a drawing, so leave a comment and email address to enter to in a FREE BOOK (USA residents only).

-- And now for the interview with Louise ----

1. What genre do you write in? (Historical, contemporary, romance, etc.)

I always like to say I write historical novels because I like to live in the past. Of course, that’s a joke because I don’t think I could do without modern conveniences or modern medicine. However, I do love to write about an era when faith, morals, and manners were important to most people.

2. How does your faith affect your daily life?

I cannot imagine life without Jesus Christ. He is my Savior, my Guide, and my constant Companion. When I’m upset, He calms me down. When I grieve, He comforts me. And when I am happy, He shares my joy.

3. How much spirituality do you weave into your story?

I try to create characters with realistic faith and spirituality. For instance, my current heroine, Anna Newfield, has great faith. When she loses everything—family, home, and inheritance, she clings to God, trusting Him just as Job did in the Bible. I have known people who have suffered great loss and yet never wavered in their trust in God. That is the life I try to live. So by showing that kind of faith through my characters, I hope my readers will also want to trust Him.

4. What is your greatest challenge in your writing?

It isn’t always easy to write about faith without using clichés and stereotypes. I try to present lifelike characters who are modeled on real life people whom I know. But every once in a while, it’s just too delicious to have a character from Central Casting who fits a certain mold. For instance, my Lady Greystone is a typically arrogant, privileged, demanding aristocrat. My challenge is to make her human enough so people won’t entirely hate her.

5. What message do you hope to convey to readers, either in this latest book or in all your books?

I pray that readers will want to emulate those of my characters who have reacted to the problems of life with enduring faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, Comfort, and Guide.

6. Do you believe there is evil in the world and, if you do, how do you portray it in your novels (or do you portray evil in your novels)?

Yes, I believe there is evil in the world. Even though it’s easy for us to point to news stories about those who commit serious crimes and think we’re above such evil behavior, I believe we all have a tendency toward selfishness and sin. I have created several characters who are very evil. In fact, in the book I’m currently writing, the antagonist is much like Iago in Othello. He is entirely evil and self-serving, and he seeks the destruction of good people. My purpose is to set up a contrast between him and my hero and heroine to show that the only righteousness anyone can have is through Jesus Christ.

7. What’s next for you as an author? Any books in the hopper?

A Proper Companion is the first book in my Regency set Ladies in Waiting series. I just finished writing the second book, A Suitable Wife, and have begun book three, yet to be named. I love to write series because I get to create a world and populate it with interesting people who interact with each other, devise all sorts of problems for them, and then bring them safely to a happily-ever-after ending. That’s the fun of being a writer!

My Web site is http://blog.Louisemgouge.com. My Twitter is @Louisemgouge.

Thank you so much, Louise, for allowing me to feature you on Everything Writerly.

And, readers, don't forget about the BOOK GIVE AWAY. Simply leave a comment with your email and we'll post the winner Sunday night or Monday morning. So stay tuned!

Meanwhile, read on!

Today I have the honor of hosting one of my good friends, Lena Dooley. If you’re not familiar with Lena’s work, here’s her bio:

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 690,000 books in print.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She is also one of the co-hosts of the Gate Beautiful blog radio show.

Lena has an active web presence on Shoutlife, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Linkedin and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.

Lena is giving away her brand new book, Mary’s Blessing, so please leave a comment at the end of this interview and on Sunday evening we’ll draw a winner.

AND NOW FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH LENA!

1.      What genre do you write in? (Historical, contemporary, romance, etc.)

I have written both historical and contemporary books in several genres, but all of them have a romantic thread woven through. Right now, I’ve finished one three-book historical series, and I’m starting writing another contracted historical series for the same publisher.

2.      How does your faith affect your daily life?

Faith is an integral part of my life. I’ve walked with the Lord so long, that to remove Him from my daily life would require major surgery, which would be life-threatening.

3.      What message do you hope to convey to readers, either in this latest book or in all your books?

The last four books I’ve written have had a strong thread of unmerited forgiveness, and learning to trust God in all things woven through the stories.

4.      Do you believe there is evil in the world and, if you do, how do you portray it in your novels (or do you portray evil in your novels?

Yes, there are all forms of evil in our world, and if some of them appear in my story, I try to make them realistic without being offensive in the way I write it. I want reader to feel safe about reading my stories.

5.      Did you ever have a memorable book-signing? (Sad, humorous, or awesome?) If so, please share it.

I’ve had a couple of wonderful book signings at Mardel’s for a Book Release party for a novel. I’ll have the one for Mary’s Blessing there as well. One thing I’m going to do with this book is to have a signing at Chan’s Mongolian Grill. One of the characters is the book is named for Tony Chan the proprietor, and he wants to have a book signing there. I think it will be fun and interesting.

6.      How do you deal with rejection letters or an irate reader?

Rejection is part of a writer’s life. I learned years ago to trust the Lord with the sales of my manuscripts. If I receive a rejection, I know He didn’t want that publisher to publish it, because he had other people He wanted to read the story that publisher wouldn’t reach.

About irate readers, I will answer their emails or messages and agree with them, because it’s a valid opinion. I won’t please everyone all the time. I sometimes ask the reader how they would change the book. I try to make a friend, even though we don’t agree about my book.

7.      What’s next for you as an author? Any books in the hopper?

As I said before, I’m starting a new series, and I’m excited about it. This is my Restored Hearts series about people whose hearts have been broken in some way.

I totally agree with your last statement, Lena. I wrote a book about that very thing called Broken Things. The updated version is available as a Kindle download on amazon.com.

Thank you so much for being my guest today, Lena! I’ve watched your career take off from your first Barbour novellas to your trade fiction for Charisma House. (Oh, and by the way, Lena and I both write for the Realms Authors’ Blog called Just theWrite Charisma. Stop by and take a read some time.)

 

And remember, Readers, Lena is giving away a copy of her brand new book Mary's Blessing. Be sure to leave a comment and your name will be entered into the drawing.

Until next time, keep those pages turning!

The Unsinkable Yvonne Lehman

I have the pleasure of hosting my dear friend Yvonne Lehman. Yvonne and I go wa-ay back. We're both Heartsong Presents authors and first met each other at the Romance Writers of America Conference in Chicago. We, and other HP authors, had dinner on Navy Pier with our editor. Remember, Yvonne?  :)


Today, Yvonne is a multi-published author with a new book release. Yvonne, please tell us about it.

The book is based on the true event of the Titanic's sinking, and of passengers lost and saved. Basically it’s the story of one ship, two families, three generations.

        Lydia Beaumont and her new friend Caroline Chadwick plan Lydia’s wedding aboard the “grandest ship ever built.” Yet their lives take a tragic turn when the “unsinkable” Titanic goes down.

        This epic tale of faith and perseverance follows their lives and the lives of their descendants as they struggle with all that was lost on that fateful night and what the future holds for those brave enough to face it.

                                           For a sneak peek into the story, CLICK HERE.

And for those of you who might not know Yvonne, here's a little bit about her.

Yvonne Lehman, an award-winning, best-selling author, founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years. She now directs the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelist Retreat at Ridgecrest/LifeWay Conference Center in Ridgecrest NC. She mentors for the Christian Writers Guild, and teaches at conferences. Her second novel in a Washington DC series, A Knight to Remember is an April release and the third, Let it Snow is scheduled for December 2012. Eight E-books are in Barbour Publishing’s debut line, Truly Yours.  
Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic (Abingdon Press) is her 50^th novel.

 Yvonne will be giving away a FREE COPY of her book, Hearts that Survive. Leave a comment at the end of this interview, and you'll be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced on either Sunday evening or Monday morning.

AND NOW THE INTERVIEW WITH YVONNE

 What motivates you? 

               Yvonne: What motivates me while I’m writing is simply discovering what these characters are doing with my idea, how they deal with the problems that arise to thwart their goals, what they’re learning, how they’re falling in love, what kind of personality traits surface, what they learn about themselves, and what I learn about myself in the writing of the story. 

               Ideas are motivated by good or bad experiences in my life or the lives of others. These panoramic mountains where I live motivates the setting of many stories. Sometimes a single sentence inspires a story, such as—my daughter’s friend said to her, “I married him for his money, why can’t I love him for it?” I know a book was in that statement. It became on of the stories in my South Carolina collection.

               The motivating force for my latest book, Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic, was Ramona Richards (Abingdon) saying “Yes” to my proposal. Getting the book out in time for the 100^th anniversary of the ship’s sinking resulted in my writing 120,000 words in six weeks and then having two weeks to revise.

     How does your faith affect your daily life?

               Yvonne: It convinces me there is no life, only existence, without faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I know trials become growing experiences and will end up in a book. It’s too easy to accept the good, but it is the negative that turns me to God and convinces me again that He is in control. My puny efforts can accomplish little, but with Him I can have confidence and hope.

      How much spirituality do you weave into your story?

                Yvonne: I tried writing a story without God in it to see how it turned out. I tore that meaningless story into pieces. Spirituality naturally comes into the story because God is in my life and when a character has conflicts, goals, purposes, trials, then the character embraces or questions God, or another character does it for them.  Whether or not God works in a life, is real, or cares is always a concern in at least one character’s life because that’s realistic even if it’s an atheist saying he/she doesn’t believe in God.

       What is your greatest challenge in your writing?

                      Yvonne: Trying to handle my own career according to the way I think it should go. I don’t like it when my agent says “Wait, before we submit this,” or my editor says, “Let talk, later.” I have to rethink and remind myself that I pray for the agent and the editor and that God will direct them, me, and my career.  Writing is so much my life that I tend to think it’s over if contracts aren’t coming in and all my ideas aren’t going out as novels. I have to stop and think, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT) – Yes, a challenge.

            What message do you hope to convey to readers, either in this latest book or in all your books?

                       Yvonne: This is what I hope to convey particularly in Hearts that Survive: No matter what the tragedy, the loss, or the devastation, there is hope. Not that God sank the Titanic, but he certainly could. He can take a sunken, devastated life and give it hope and meaning. Hope is something I try to convey in all my stories.

              Do you believe there is evil in the world and, if you do, how do you portray it in your novels (or do you portray evil in your novels?

                       Yvonne: This is a tough question for me to answer. Evil is so obvious, I don’t know how anyone can deny it. If we know ourselves, and the scripture, we can be aware of its potential. Most of the conflicts, problems, illness, death, etc. in my stories is not portrayed as evil, but as part of the human condition or life on earth.  Deliberate violence or hurt against others is portrayed as evil.  The difference may be something I need to make clear in my stories. (Thanks for that question.) Bad or negative things may be within a character’s control along with the help of God. Evil is often outside our realm of control because it involves another person’s choice, intent, and actions.  Perhaps that’s why in his model prayer, Jesus prayed asking God to, “Deliver us from evil.”

              As an author, what are your goals for the future?

                         Yvonne:  My goal before getting published was to get ONE book published and the natural result, since God led me into writing, would be fame and fortune. After the ONE book, my goal was to publish another and maybe that one would achieve fame and fortune. Hearts that Survive is my 50^th book and my goal is… well, you got it.  I do have goals of every idea being turned into a published book. I have more realistic goals of specific books being published. Having written for over 30 years, and growing in faith, my deepest desire is what I wrote at the bottom of a page where I listed five goals. I wrote, “No. Six goals. Whatever God has in mind for me. He’s better at this than I am. I want the desire of His heart for me and our books.” That’s what I aim for – to get me out of the way and let God. That too, is a challenge.

             Did you ever have a memorable book-signing? (Sad, humorous, or awesome?) If so, please share it.

                Yvonne: At my first book signing I arrived 30 minutes early to be on time for the buyers who would be lined up around the block. One person was there to buy my book. The next one came two hours later. Sad, because I was a new unassuming writer with great expectations.

               

                Another was when we moved to NC and I’d already prepared the public by having a well-known columnist write about me and my entrance into these mountains. He wrote a glowing report about me and my two books. I was interviewed on the local TV station and was promoted in the newspapers. At the signing I sat at the big glass window, looking out at the empty street. The bookstore manager reminded me that even famous authors have book signing flops. Then I saw a car drive up and park. A woman got out, looked at me and a glorious expression came over her face and her eyes widened. I thought finally, someone who appreciates literature. She ran in, rushed up to me, held out her hand in which she had money, and she said, “Do you have any change. I don’t have a thing for the parking meter.” Humorous…now, not then.

               However… I’m scheduled for a three-day book signing April 27, 28, and 29 at the Titanic Display in Pigeon Forge TN. Visitors go there for a specific reason and that’s to find out information about the Titanic. They have to leave through the Gift Shop where I’ll be signing. Now, isn’t that going to be…awesome?

            How do you deal with rejection letters or an irate reader?

                   After 30 years of being a writer, I’ve learned returns are for a reason although I can’t figure out some of them. If a reader asks a legitimate question or wants to discuss my writing, I respond. I don’t respond to an irate reader because I feel their problem is within themselves and their need is greater than I can meet. What bothers me is when a reviewer sees herself as a critic, telling the reader whether or not they should read the book. There is a diversity of readers and there’s a need for diverse writers.

       What’s next for you as an author? Any books in the hopper?

                         Yvonne: I want to follow up the Titanic book with another story based on a true event. For many years I’ve been fascinated with the story of Japanese and German diplomats and families of diplomats being interned at a resort surrounded by barbed wire fencing and “protected” by 25 American Border Patrol guards during WWII. With three enemy nations together, all was not peaceful. This historic resort is a couple miles from my home.

Yvonne, thank you for being my guest!!

For more on Yvonne, visit her website at: www.yvonnelehman.com

And don't forget to leave a comment and enter the drawing for Yvonne's latest book, Hearts that Survive!

EVERYTHING WRITERLY has a brand new focus!

Don’t you just love it when you hear God’s voice? Not his audible voice, of course, but that “still small voice” that speaks to your heart. An epiphany. That happened to me recently. The Lord spoke to me out of the Book of Philippians. I became very convicted about how much self-promotion I’ve been doing, even though it seems a necessary evil in the publishing industry. Regardless, I clearly felt God’s prompting me to promote other Christian authors instead. Ironically, the message had been a challenge to my son Ben who has now taken over the stewardship of Faith Baptist Church in Munising, Michigan. But God’s Word spoke to my heart as well. So now, Everything Writerly will have a new focus.

Every week, I’ll feature a Christian author. He or she might be famous or not so famous. Either way, authors will have something incredible to share about their faith and their writing lives as well as their latest releases. I realize there are plenty of blogs out there that do the same thing so I’ll try to throw in a surprise or two.

Whether you’re a faithful follower of Everything Writerly or a new reader, I hope you will enjoy this blog. I look forward to your feedback.

THREADS OF HOPE Book Give-away Contest

Announcing my first book give-away in conjunction with my brand new historical romance release, Threads of Hope. It's easy to enter, just leave me a comment below, completing the following sentences:

My favorite time of day to read a good book is ______________. The reason is__________________.

Fill in the blanks. You can enter as many times as you want to.

On Sunday afternoon, January 29th, I will randomly select TWO winners from the list of comments below. In addition to receiving a free copy of my book, Threads of Hope, winners will receive a special surprise gift, designed to enhance their reading experience.

So let me know about your reading habits and you could be the winner of a signed copy of Threads of Hope along with a surprise gift.       

Good luck, everyone!

Of Clipper Ships and Updated Blog Posts

It's been two months since I've posted. Many apologies to my followers. I've been busy with family and writing a new novel. Threads of Faith (Realms/Charisma House). It will be Book 2 in my new Fabric of Time series (Book 1, Threads of Hope, will release in January 2012).

I'm doing a lot of research about clipper ships and sailing from England to New York. I've learned that most skilled captains could make the run in about 15-17 days. That's, of course, if the weather held. 

I imagine my characters sailing on a ship similar to the famous Cutty-Sark (pictured in an 1880s photo). And I plan to visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum soon. Many clippers sailed into the Erie Canal and through the Great Lakes, delivering both cargo and passengers --

Like my characters, Daniel Sundberg and Julianna Wayland. But that's all I'll tell you about the novel for now. However, I will post more about my research.

One of the many interesting things I've learned is that the clipper ship's helm is at the stern and the poop deck is located near it so the captain can gaze out over the deck and make sure his crew is diligently working. He can also navigate the waters. I had first imagined the helm in the center of the ship -- and it could be, depending on the ship model. As I said, I chose a clipper for Book 2 in my new series. I'll be telling you more about that later.

In the meantime, I'll get back to work. Yep, it's how I'm spending my Friday night. But it's all so interesting, really. We're in New York in 1877 and we'll be traveling by, first, train and then by ship to Manitowoc, Wisconsin soon. 

At least my characters lead exciting lives!   :)

~AKB

Preserving the Past For Future Generations

While researching my upcoming novel, Threads of Hope (Realms/Charisma House) the first book in my new Fabric of Time series, I garnered the help from Wisconsin’s Brown County Historical Society and learned about the Hazelwood Historic House Museum. Built to face the Fox River in Green Bay, Hazelwood was the original home of Elizabeth and Morgan Martin. As I gazed at Mr. Martin’s portrait, I thought of my own characters, Sam Sundberg and his father, Karl, who are Indian Agents and involved in local politics – just like Mr. Martin had been. I laughed at the coincidence.



The parlor





The kitchen

A guided stroll through Hazelwood revealed so much to me about life in the 1840s, particularly 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state. I had actually assumed life in Green Bay, Wisconsin at that time was rustic and uncivilized – and much of it had been. However, as both a busy port on Lake Michigan with access to the Fox River, Green Bay was nearly as sophisticated as Milwaukee and vying with it and other cities to be Wisconsin’s major port. The Erie Canal had opened in 1825, so by 1848, Green Bay received shipments from all over the world, although much of the commerce consisted of fur trading. The Fox River, I was told, was like a freeway system. Barges, canoes, and sundry other boats filled the river and traveled to and from the Bay of the Great Lake.

The characters in my story seemed to come alive and, after my tour, I felt confident about the historical facts I’d used in my upcoming novel, Threads of Hope. No textbook could have taught me what I’d learned on my tour of Hazelwood.

Years ago when I wrote my novel, Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky (Summerside Press), I learned that hands-on research fuels the imagination. I had visited Stanford, Kentucky and learned Miracle is the rural part of that town. I talked to some of the locals, viewed homes where my characters might live, and found the church I thought they’d attend. While such research enhanced my contemporary novel, it’s imperative, I think, when writing today’s historical fiction.

How blessed we are to have places like the Hazelwood Home and organizations such as the Brown County Historical Society. Without them, lovers of history and writers of historical fiction, like me, would be nearly helpless in both our passions and our imaginations regarding the truth about days gone by.