Beauty Under Pressure

Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper

***WINNER**of The Promise of Deer Run! Janet Grunst! Congratulations!***

On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I was excited to visit a museum I had not been to in many years: the Natural History Museum. Eagerly anticipating huge displays of dinosaur bones, I was not disappointed. Remnants of large lizards from long ago filled the large halls and display cases, reminding me anew of the incredible variation in God’s creation.

What really surprised me on this visit, however, was the room filled with geologic crystals. It was a display I had apparently forgotten about. Talk about God’s creation! The variety of colors and rock formations from all over the world was astonishing and beautiful.

When I got to the display of amethyst, I paused, utterly amazed. The magnificent purple quartz was embedded deep inside the cavity of an ugly, ordinary rock.

Staring at the glass-encased exhibit, I read the brief explanation of the precious stone’s formation. It explained something about the amethyst being formed by the cooling of heated ground water, silica, and deposits lining the walls of rock cavities. What?

Further research into this process revealed to my inquiring mind that heat and pressure play a role in causing these openings in the rocks which then allows—in some mysterious fashion to my non-scientific understanding—the development of the lovely, shining quartz within. Beauty forming under pressure when the heat is on—from an ordinary, ugly rock.

God seems to work His way in our ugly sin nature in a similar fashion. He applies the heat of duress in our lives, and takes what could be an unattractive shell and infuses it with His perfection through trials that He allows in our lives to change our sinful nature into something of polished refinement.

Crystals of holiness, wrought through the pressures that will mold us into the shining creation He wants us to be.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1Peter 1:6-9 NIV)

Three ways to reach real success.

By Janet Perez Eckles

“Don’t you just hate her?” some have said at the way Nora Roberts has reached real success as an author. But her story goes just a tad beyond success. Five books a year? Insanely impossible. Not for her. She just threw a party to celebrate her 200^th book out. And, the millions each sold no doubt, adds to her glory.

How does she do it? I just read a clue in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, it says: “Ms. Roberts writes for six to eight hours every day, fueled by Diet Pepsi and Winston Filter 100s cigarettes.” Read this Wall Street Journal interview.

Hmm…her source of fuel, according to the article, is unique, isn’t it?

On the other hand, my friend, Bob Saffrin, is fueled by God’s power to pen insights from Scripture. A young man recently back from Iraq shared how discouraged he and his wife had been, not able to find work after moving to another state. When they read Bob’s book Moses – Steps to a Life of Faith together they realized this “desert” time in their lives was God preparing them for something great.

Amigos, to reach real success, it’s not the number of books sold, but the quantity of hope our books sing. The hope that revives the soul shines the spotlight on Jesus and brightens the horizon through the gloom of pain.

So, before I start a new habit and rush out to grab my own pack of Winston cigarettes, allow this chica to give you three secrets to success:

1. Identify the source, the fuel and the reason for your passion, making sure, nothing is done out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (Philippians 2:3).
2. When sales don’t soar, believe anyway—with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”  (Colossians 3:23).
3. And finally, at the end of the day, when you worked till you can’t anymore, the computer is off and the family is sleep, in the deepest corner of your heart, you can say with a smile of gratitude and with the peace few know, “All, absolutely all is well with my soul.”

Father, I confess I had coveted success that’s measured by numbers, dollars and prestige. But I came to recognize the success that is measured by your power, ordained by your Word, and orchestrated by your plans. Show me how to accomplish only the tasks for each moment. Those that sing of your faithfulness, to spend days that show your provision and the kind of success that lifts a sweet fragrance unto you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

• What does success look like to you?
• Who measures your success, the one no one sees?
• What fuels the work you do?

Hey friends, I invite you to become part of my inspirational family. Go ahead, don’t be shy, dance right on over and sign up to receive these posts in your in-box, here’s the link: www.janetperezeckles.com/blog.

Did you know all my writings are drawn from my #1 bestselling book, Simply Salsa: Dancing Without Fear at God’s Fiesta. Did you get your own copy yet? http://amzn.to/pwDntn

Under His Wings

Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper

“There are babies!” My husband sounded almost as excited as if he was becoming a grandparent again.

I admit, I felt a bit thrilled that the goslings had finally hatched.

For weeks, the entire staff where my husband works had been watching the nest near their office building—and avoiding the protective and aggressive parents!

Knowing the hatching should be occurring soon, my husband and I stopped by the office building on the way home from church last Sunday. We were rewarded for the visit with high-pitched goslings peeps, the sound of cracking eggs, and a brief glimpse of a fuzzy-headed baby bird.

No sooner did we arrive, however, than Mrs. Goose did an amazing gesture. She slowly spread out her large wings and held them protectively over her brood. We could still see occasional moving bodies under her soft feathers, but they were all completely covered by her massive wings. She was not taking a chance in case we had harmful intentions against her babies—which of course, we did not.

Her maternal, protective response was inspiring.

I could not help but think of the verses throughout the Bible of God’s loving protection over His children, keeping us safe from attacks by the enemy. Our visit to the mother goose and her babies was a visible illustration from His Word on a rainy, cold Sunday afternoon. My husband and I will never forget its beauty.

“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:7 NIV)

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:1-4)

Journey of The Map Quilt

The journey of The Map Quilt started when I was in fifth grade, learning about the Underground Railroad, watching my grandmother sew quilts, and discovering the astonishing fact that not all black people in the United States came here on slave ships.

I grew up on the east side of Wisconsin, but as I gradually learned more about the side closer to the Mississippi River, the rich culture wove its way into my psyche long before I considered writing a novel. To the county north of our farm a colony of free black farmers settled in community, where a few of the round barns created by a master caprenter, Alga Shivers, still stand. To the west of our farm a few farmers still grow tobacco and dry the leaves in long sheds.

Back on the eastern side of the state, while on a ramble one nice day, a historian of my town points out a dilapidated tavern and, kitty-corner, a blank-eyed house on a rural crossroad. “They say there’s a tunnel under the road,” he says. “For the underground railroad.” It no longer exists, perhaps filled in, bordered up, or only a fanciful notion.

But that’s where fiction comes from – a veritable “what if” of fanciful notions. The whisper of a rumor, the wish of being part of history, the wonder of why we are the people we’ve come to be. I started my professional writing career in 2004 when I started selling magazine articles and features. I’d written two novels and eventually contracted with Barbour for a “cozy” mystery, which I had to look up. What was published as The Gold Standard, the first book in the Buried Treasure series, released in 2009. Although I’d also contracted The Map Quilt in 2007, we hit major road construction. MAJOR. It happens. In the meantime I’ve been privileged to continue to grow my craft, and although I am delighted with the editing done, know this book could be tighter and better. It was still an “early” manuscript in my career. I sought a new publisher for three years and was blessed to find one. This book releases in electronic format first at the end of the month, and oddly enough, was set three years later in time when I wrote it.

 

 

 

 

So, what is a “cozy” mystery and how hard is it to set up a sequel? Let’s chat. 

Very basically a cozy mystery:

• Is between 45-65,000 words
• Has a crime has takes place off stage, often before the book begins
• Shows little violence or gore
• Contains no graphic language or vulgarity
• Uses a non-professional investigator to solve crimes
• Most often set in small communities
• And is not always inspirational

For demonstration, I’ll analyze The Gold Standard without giving the secrets away, next time.

How do I set up the plot for sequels?

Yes, you got it—seat of the pants writers do not often do well in this type of genre. It’s not just sequels, but the mystery itself that must be laid out well, but not so tidily that you take the fun away from the reader or that the story feels contrived. In my Buried Treasure series, the sequels set up well when Judy Wingate, the teacher/sleuth, moves to the home of her previously little-familiar family and sets out to learn about her family. She finds a lot of memorabilia in the attic; specifically in an old trunk. And, yes, again…that makes sequels forever.

This book releases in another week, so I don’t have purchase information yet.

 

Tuesday Promotion in Motion with Susan Page Davis

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 40 published novels. She grew up in Maine, where her father was a game warden. After college in New York and teaching in North Carolina, she married a man from Oregon. They lived in the West for a while, then moved back to Susan’s home state of Maine for 33 years. They now live in Kentucky, with the youngest two of their six children. They also have eight wonderful grandchildren. Susan is a past winner of the Carol Award and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, as well as Heartsong Presents Favorite Author of the Year. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com

One of this prolific author’s new books is Cowgirl Trail from River North publishers.

Susan, what do you love about the book?

I love the way Maggie and her friends jump in to get the job done, even though many of them have no experience working cattle and have never ridden the trail before.

Introduce us to your main characters.

Maggie Porter is still grieving her mother’s death, and she returns home to find the family ranch in chaos. Her father is at odds with his own men, and they are threatening to walk off the job. Papa won’t listen to reason. It’s up to Maggie to find a way to hold everything together. She’s baffled by the changes in her father, and she can’t imagine why he’s acting as he does, but that doesn’t stop her from doing more than her share. She puts aside her dreams of romance and a happy home to tend to business. If there’s a way to make peace with the men, Maggie will find it—but there’s not. If there’s a way to get the roundup done and drive those cattle to stockyards, Maggie will find it—and this time she is more successful.

Alex Bright is Mr. Porter’s foreman, and he’s caught in the middle. He used to respect and admire his boss, but now he can’t understand why Mr. Porter is treating the men unfairly. He wants to remain loyal to the boss and the Rocking P ranch, but he also longs to meet the men’s needs. It’s a tough decision, made tougher when the boss’s beautiful daughter comes home. Alex always liked Maggie when she was a kid. But he can’t give her what she wants now.

Tell us something about your book that we won’t find out from your web site.

This book is part of a six-book series written by three different authors. We share an agent, Chip MacGregor, and he encouraged us to write a book proposal for a family saga series set in Texas. Moody Publishers loved the idea and purchased the series for its River North Fiction line. The three of us (Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin and myself) studied Texas history and picked events that interested us. We came up with an outline of six stories, each set in a different decade and featuring historical events such as the cowboy strike in this book, the “Hoodoo” War, German immigration, and Indian captives. In the Texas Trails series, you will meet ranchers, homesteaders, Texas Rangers, soldiers, and many more. The Morgan family is a sturdy lot, and each generation is determined to make a go of it in Texas.

Sounds wonderful, Susan. Thanks for sharing with us.

Buy the book at

Amazon print, Kindle

Barnes and Noble print, Nook

Market Mondays: The Hunger Games

What makes this somewhat disturbing tale so popular? What can we writers and consumers learn from these books and accompanying films?

Welcome guest, Shellie Neumeier.

With a historic weekend opening, The Hunger Games thundered through America grossing $155 million. The book by Suzanne Collins hit the stands in September 2009 and has since sold over 23 million copies in America, alone. The book series is rumored to hit Hollywood’s production machine with four films (splitting Mocking Jay into two films).

Undoubtedly, The Hunger Games will leave a long lasting mark on this generation. In the winter of 2011, my youngest son, a fastidious sixth grader, had to read The Hunger Games as part of his literature course work. I’d read the trilogy and knew what my twelve year old was about to embark on. Like any other reader, he devoured the pages and reached for the second book. Without a doubt the series fills its pages with violence, young love—in good and not so good, oppression, the dark war between good and evil, and the message of hope.

Sound familiar? I hope it does. If you’ve ever read the saga King David left in the Bible, you’ll recognize similar themes. For those who cringe and claim it’s too much. I agree. It is much. But so is high school. Those themes—violence (ever hear the crack of a shoulder as it’s shoved against a locker door?), young love, the war of good and evil, and hope—they’re alive and well in your local high school. Teens rally against each other, against angry or dispassionate faculty, against government cut-backs that tell them they are the lessor of society. Teens identify with this trilogy because it holds a mirror to their current world and amplifies it. If Katniss can survive The Hunger Games, then they can make it to graduation day.

Does the movie bring the same justice to the story as the book does? In my opinion, Nina Jacobson did an amazing job of bringing this dystopian world to life. Casting brought new and familiar faces in such a way as to enamor our hearts to the creatures who readers had already envisioned. I can’t fathom the daunting task screenplay writers Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray had laid before them. If read aloud, The Hunger Games takes over eleven hours. The movie? A mere 142 minutes. While the highlights were well done and inclusive, I wonder…would those who have yet to read the book understand the impact the death of Katniss’ father had on this family? Would they catch the depth of Katniss and Gale’s relationship and the dire nature of their existence? Would they see the need to betray each other in order to better their lives and the lives of those they loved? Perhaps these points will be developed in later films, but for now, I recommend reading the book first as it will help you understand the movie better.

One last note from me, a Christian mom determined to raise her children to know their Creator. This trilogy is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. It is gritty and hard, but therein lies life’s lessons. As Christians we are given the privilege (responsibility) to redeem that which may cause others to stumble. I can use The Hunger Games to springboard great discussion. Ask my children when they feel helpless. If they most identified with Katniss, Gale, Peeta, Cinna, or Haymitch. We can talk about when disobedience was acceptable in the Bible. Find examples of heroes that rage against the crowd to defend the weak. Dream about perfect societies and wonder where God would fit in. After all, isn’t redemption what this world is all about?

Resources:

Focus on the Family— Movie review: http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/hunger-games.aspx

Book review: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/protecting_your_family/book-reviews/h/hunger-games.aspx (Note: the book review from Focus ends with a wonderful discussion guide that can produce some interesting dinner conversation)

Children’s book Reviews: http://ccbreview.blogspot.com/

Redeemed Reader: http://www.redeemedreader.com/

Watch a movie trailer HERE.

Abandoning A Story

‘Tis a dark, depressing and gloomy topic: abandoning a story.

Okay, so it’s not that bad, but don’t you feel like a cruel and horrible person whenever it comes time to say, “This story isn’t working, these characters aren’t interesting, they must go”? It’s a feeling comparable to that of saying goodbye to a friend who lives far away, burying your pet hamster, tearing down the LEGO castle. Life goes on, but it still feels lame for the time, you know? I think I’ve reached that point with a story I’ve had in mind for maybe four years. I’ve only actually written about one page of solid material, and I just don’t see it amounting to much.

Is this common for the rest of you writers out there? What do you do when you feel the need to scrap an idea and focus on something new?

One of best pieces of writing advice I’ve received in the past few years is that every writer needs a mental shelf or drawer to hide ideas away in, when they choose not to put them on paper. A story not working out so well? Put it on the shelf, come back to it another day. I’ve done that with a handful of plots, especially since getting published for the first time, but I do feel like this old story idea might only ever be just that: an old story idea, shelved for eternity.

I’m one to cherish character names and personalities even if I never write them into existence, but there’s just something about having to say, “This was a cool idea once, but not anymore,” that kind of bums me out, leaves me restless on what to write next. It was pointed out recently in my Creative Writing Workshop class that in truth, none of us ever really invent characters or ideas out of nothing. We’re constantly being influenced by what’s around us, taking what we like and holding on to it, using it in stories, creating our own plots and scenarios. That said, is it really possible to completely abandon a story you’ve created in your head using influences from everything else around you?

I’d like to think the same spark, flare, spice, what have you, which stirred these ideas in the first place still lingers in my mind, waiting to find its place in another story. I do hate to call quits on an overall plot, but who knows? Maybe something will spur it back to life later on. On the bright side, part of my lack of interest in continuing this particular story has to do with my being so engrossed in perfecting another story lately, which has indeed been going well. Win some, lose some!

In other news, for those of you who have read my short story, Front Row Seats, featured in OtherSheep Magazine, my day was made a bazillion times better by a surprise visit by the real-life ‘Ted Bokelmann,’ aka Teddy Brown. My freshman year at BGSU, Teddy was my RA, and he and I connected well and became close buds. A uniquely Christlike friend, this man has made a huge impact on my life in the three years I’ve known him, and this is totally me giving a shout-out to him. Teddy, I love you, brother! He recently got married and is off looking for a permanent home with his wife, so I don’t get to see him much anymore. It brightened the atmosphere of my whole apartment complex to have him stop by for a few days, even though I almost didn’t recognize his cleanly-shaven face.

I’m also pleased to say that my mom has shown a friend of hers at work the initial sketch for my current commission piece. Most of my commissions these days come from ladies my mom works with, which is fine by me. I love drawing portraits in general, so if I can earn a few bucks from it, I’ll draw whoever however wherever. Anyway, Mom said the lady told her that she cried when she saw the sketch of her niece, to which I responded, “That’s either really good news or really bad news…”

Thanks for reading, cheers and God bless!

 

In Christ,

Luther D. Powell

Five ways to turn your trials to treasures.

By: Janet Perez Eckles

Bring them on, baby. Colorful evening gowns, dazzling jewelry, snazzy shoes and hairdo to go with the make-up that was to kill for.

My friend Audrey made the above extravaganza possible to none other than, are you ready? To homeless girls. Ones for whom attending the prom was only a dream.

Audrey relates why she did this: “At 17-years-old, I was 5′ 7″ tall, weighing 97 pounds. I wore hand-me-down clothes three sizes too big (my older sister was short and chubby). Prom time came and my friend’s older sister lent me a dress, a neighbor lent me her long slip, another friend did my hair, my mom lent me a necklace and earrings (she didn’t have much).”

Years later, Audrey became immensely successful as a corporate executive. But, she remembered her prom experience. Her heart was tugged and voila! She turned her memories around. She turned her trial to a sweet treasure and a blessing for homeless girls.

Hey chicas out there. You might be wearing second-hand happiness. Not the real thing. Life nags at your and you don’t possess the sparkle that only God’s joy brings.

You can change that. Here are five ways to turn your own trials to treasures:

1. Remember that the sad spot you’re in has a purpose, a reason and a good that will come…right now it’s in God’s secret place.
2. Know that each moment of trials don’t compare to the treasures He will bring.
3. Seek for something that’s good, something that is positive. And invite joy back because you know God’s promises are true—true for you and in your circumstance.
4. Understand that you will go through it simply because God’s grace is enough, truly enough to get through it.
5. Wipe off that feeling of self-pity. Trust me; (speaking from experience) it messes up the make-up in our heart.

God is the perfect escort to the prom of all proms. The music of victory is playing. He’s directing the steps. And He’s leading you to the banquet where joy is served.

“I tell you the truth; you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20).

Father, how often I played the poor-me drama of life. But I thank you for granting me the dazzling shoes of faith so I may walk on the path of victory. I may dance to the song that comes from your promise, and follow your lead taking me from mourning to joy and turning my trials to treasures. In Jesus’s name I thank you.

• What sad circumstance is leaving you empty?
• What will bring you a new vision to see the tomorrow He has prepared for you?
• Have you planned to use the treasures He will bring to help others?

Hey friends, hope you like this insight. It was drawn from my #1 bestselling, Simply Salsa: Dancing Without Fear at God’s Fiesta.” For more inspiration, visit me at: www.janetperezeckles.com.

Janet

Good Friday

Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper

The Death of Jesus

“From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’—which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling Elijah.’

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:45-54 NIV)

Who do YOU say Jesus was?

Reflections On A Movie: October Baby

Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper

Rarely does a movie impact me in such a way that I want to write about it—but “October Baby” did just that. It is a story told through the eyes of a young woman who only finds out in her college years why she has struggled with health issues her whole life: Her birth mother had attempted to abort her.

While discovering the truth of her beginnings, she is overwhelmed with feelings of being betrayed, unloved, and unwanted. Her journey to unravel her past becomes the tale of the adoptive parents, the nurse that was present during her delivery, and the birth mother. It is powerfully poignant and will have you reaching for the tissues more than once.

The movie is amazing: Well written, well acted, well directed and beautifully photographed. But the story itself is the central element, as it describes so well the effects that one abortion attempt had on so many—years down the road. That one decision had an impact, not just on the abortion survivor, but on all those who were involved in one way or another. And everyone was confronted with the need to forgive or be forgiven.

You definitely want to pay attention to the ending credits. The powerful and true testimony given by one of the actresses that appeared in the film will deeply touch you. It is the jewel on the crown of a brilliant film.

“October Baby” stirred up memories of my own college years. I remembered one of my dormitory roommates who opened up to me one day and talked about the twins she had aborted a year prior. She never called them “fetuses”—they were her “twins.”

Another friend confided in me about finding out she was pregnant. When she said she was planning an abortion, I said, “Are you sure? Is there any other way?” I wasn’t even yet a Christian, but I knew that she was carrying a baby…a human life. “No,” she said sadly. “There is no other way.”

No other way. She felt she had no choice. She was in school and not planning on marrying the father so she felt that all options were eliminated but one.

I wonder about these friends today. Are they still haunted by the children that almost were? Do they wonder who those little people might have become? Do they know that Christ can forgive them?

I thought about these friends on the way home from the theater. My husband and I drove by a church on the way. There was a sign out front that read:

“Pregnant? Need Help” Call (such and such number)”

I praise God that there are so many options for women who are pregnant today but not ready to parent. There are many churches and other organizations willing to help. Praise God that things have gotten easier to find helpful solutions today than there were when I was in college.

And I pray that, however inconvenient a pregnancy may seem, that mothers can realize that the decisions made during such a time has an impact on their entire future, as well as the future of that child—their child who is not a fetus or a blob of tissue, but a baby.

Two organizations to help women who are pregnant:

www.heartbeatinternational.org (Christian non-profit pregnancy center, maternity homes, adoption agencies, abortion recovery programs)

www.care-net.org (Network of over 1,000 pregnancy help centers)