Oh, my goodness! I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted on my blog. I have no idea where the month of November went, but it's gone! Christmas is almost here and I'm not near ready.
You may have noticed a couple of changes on my web site. First of all, my header picture has been replaced. I loved the mountain scene, but it does not reflect the terrain of my part of the state, so I had it replaced with a picture that more accurately depicts Southeastern Colorado. I know there isn't a lot of beautyin this picture, but I still love the wide open spaces, and the cattle are common inhabitants of the area.
Go to my "about Patti" page and you'll find that some of my family pictures have been replaced. This is thanks to my daughter-in-law, who does a great job with photography. She took the new pictures you see, the one of Joelene and Madi and the one of Manuel, Jason, and I, along with several others when they came to Colorado to visit last April.
The most exciting change on my site is the addition of my new page, entitled K.I.D.S.S. (Kids Into Doing Something Spectacular). I'm sure that, like me, you get tired of seeing nothing but bad news about today's kids in the media. So, I am seeking stories of kids who are making a difference in their world. I'm thrilled to present my first interview with an extraordinary young man by the name of Justus. Go to my K.I.D.S.S. page to find out what is unique about this amazing twelve year old! (Hint: he's a writer with a big imagination and a heart to match!).
Thanks for reading my blog!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Check Out My Web Site Changes
Friday, November 7, 2008
Aftermath
What an emotional week! For the past several months, the American people,have been bombarded with television commercials, candidate debates, news stories, and telephone polls all leading up to the election on November 4th . Now, the decision has finally been made, and with it, a monumental moment in American history.
I can't imagine what it must feel like for a person of African American heritage to see an African American elected to the presidency of the United States. The pride must be beyond measure. The success of President-elect Barack Obama in winning the majority vote speaks to millions throughtout the country of the reality of accomplishing one's dreams.
Despite his triumph, many Americans felt a grave disappointment on the evening of November 4th because the candidate they had voted for did not win. I was overcome with sadness for Senator McCain when he made his concession speech. I believe he is a man who loves this country deeply. He has proven that through years of service to America, not to mention a sacrifice few Americans are asked to give and the endurance of unspeakable suffering.
I felt I did my part to encourage the Republican ticket to those who were undecided. I talked to coworkers and friends, presented them with facts and statistics, based on information I had read with validated documentation. Some listened, some didn't. That's fine and that's the beauty of the American way of life, to be able to express one's opinion without fear of recrimination.
However, to be met with ridicule and sarcastic disdain for everything I believe in makes me angry. When I approached one family member in particular with what I believed and what I had learned, I was labeled an extremist who is easily influenced by the things I read. Never mind that what I did read was written by people who know a whole lot more about politics than I do.
Another family member, on the other hand, who supported Senator Obama as well, took the time to listen to my opinions, respected my views, and understood my concerns. Interesting how two people with the same blood can be so different. I'm grateful the more rational - and considerate - person also happens to be the younger one! It restores my faith in the potential of our youth.
I'm new at this political game. I never cared much before about who won an election. I voted, sure, but if the opposing party lost, it was not a big issue for me. This time, there was so much at stake, the very essence of what I believe in, that it became extremely important to me.
I believe in this country and will support our new president with prayer, just like I did our past presidents. I probably won't agree with many of his policies, but I will trust that our country is in God's hands and that whatever fate He holds for us will come to pass. I like to think that voters looked to their Creator for guidance before going to the polls, that they searched their hearts and cast their ballot for the person they truly believed would do the best possible job of leading our country into a bright and prosperous future.
However, I fear many responded to the current financial crisis, feelings of animosity toward our current president, and a simple lack of knowledge of where President-elect Obama stands on certain issues that should touch the heart and soul of every citizen.
I sincerely hope that our 44th president is the best president America has ever had. I pray that he restores economic balance to our nation, that he has the diplomatic ability to face down our enemies and that he can bring our educational system back to a high standard. Most of all, I pray he is humble enough to look to God for guidance through the tumultuous storms he will face these next four years.
I'm in that stage now of forgiving all those things that were said pre-election. For one thing, it's what Jesus tells us to do. For another, I never was the type who could stay angry for long. However, I can't help but feel a tiny bit of satisfaction as I wonder: did all that resentment of my view come, maybe, from a fear that I knew what I was talking about?
God bless America!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
A Look at Marcia Gruver and Diamond Duo
I first heard about Marcia Gruver's book, Diamond Duo, on a post from the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) email loop. Two things jumped out at me. 1877 and Texas. I love stories that take place in the 1870's in any state west of the Mississippi, so I knew Diamond Duo would be my kind of story. I was not disappointed. First, let me introduce Marcia.
The following interview speaks to Marcia as a person, Marcia as a writer, and Marcia's wonderful book, Diamond Duo.
Which Marcia? Like everyone else, who I am depends on the hat on my head. I’m wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, granny, and just recently, great-granny to a little sprite of a girl who seems well qualified to carry our legacy into the future. Even more recently, I’m a published author of inspirational fiction. How about that? Marcia Gruver is content, well loved, fulfilled, and grateful to God for every second of her life.
Learn more about Marcia at her website and her blog.
Tell us about your first contract.
Each year, at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference, Barbour Publishing awards first contracts to lucky recipients. In 2007, they thrilled me out of my skin by awarding me the first three-book contact ever awarded at the ACFW conference. I’m trying very hard to live up to the confidence Barbour has placed in me.
Has being a published novelist differed from your expectations?
Yes. I’ve discovered that when you do it right, it’s actually work.
Do you plot your novels out or are you a so-called seat-of-the-pants writer?
I used to fly by my seat from start to finish. My first experience with working a plan came after discovering Randy Ingermanson’s snowflake method for plotting a novel. After working through Karen S. Wiesner’s First Draft in 30 Days, I’m a born-again plotter. These days, I don’t think I’d do it any other way. I sort of like knowing where I’m going when I sit down to write.
Has being a writer brought you closer to God and if so, how?Not really closer. More in tune, maybe? I just know there’s no step in the writing/marketing process that I could pull off without His guiding hand. That teaches you to report on a regular basis for your marching orders.
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
The first draft. Once you’ve developed characters, tweaked the plot, and come up with a satisfying ending, that’s when the fun starts. You can let your fingers fly while you flesh out the story. At this stage is when the surprises come. One of your characters gets a mind of their own and takes off in a direction you didn’t have the vision or the foresight to predict. Or your heroine gets sassy and insists on having her way on some minor detail that winds up the most important scene in the book. I love this part. The first draft is when the magic happens.
Tell us about Diamond Duo.
Bertha Maye Biddie’s in love. Trouble is, she’s not sure the object of her affection feels the same. He seems to be interested, but something’s holding him back. So when opportunity rides into Jefferson on the northbound train out of Marshall, young Bertha leaps at the chance to learn a few tricks. A charming, charismatic stranger offers to take Bertha under her wing and teach her the art of wooing a man. But when the woman is unable to keep her promise, Bertha realizes their chance meeting held far more eternal significance.
Where did the idea for Diamond Duo come from?
On a trip to Jefferson, Texas, I heard the true story of the unsolved murder of the infamous Diamond Bessie, aka Annie Monroe. In 1877, a flashy, well-dressed couple rode a train into town for a short visit. They checked into a hotel as A. Monroe and wife. The woman seemed to go by more than one name, one of them Bessie Moore. Because she wore several large diamond rings, supposedly gifts offered in exchange for immoral favors, the locals soon dubbed her “Diamond Bessie.”
On the last day of Bessie’s life, she and her companion, Abraham Rothschild, took a picnic basket into the woods. He came out alone, wandering the streets of Jefferson by himself for several days. When asked about Bessie, he said she was staying with nearby friends, and would return in time for their departure. However, he left by himself two days later, carrying Bessie’s luggage along with his own.
A local woman discovered poor Bessie’s body in the woods several days later. Jefferson officials went after Abraham Rothschild and tried him for her murder, but due to his money and considerable influence, he was acquitted.
While standing over Diamond Bessie’s grave, assuming her eternal fate, I found myself wondering: “What if?” Maybe history had been unkind to Bessie. What if she wasn’t as bad as some claimed? Suppose God had arranged a surprise finish for her—a loving, merciful end that no one would’ve expected?
How did you become interested in the real life murder of Annie Monroe?
It’s hard to visit historic Jefferson, Texas without tripping over Annie’s story. Diamond Bessie has become a tourist attraction, and the locals seem more than eager to tell the account. The shops abound with books on the topic, one penned by Jefferson historian, Fred McKenzie. Every year, during Jefferson’s annual Pilgrimage Festival, the residents perform in a play entitled “The Diamond Bessie Murder Trial.” The play is derived from court transcripts, and it’s really quite an event!
You have several themes woven into Diamond Duo. Could share them with us?
Young Bertha Biddie schemes to win the affections of Thaddeus Bloom, a man bound by honor to his father’s dream. She gets a lesson on honor herself when God asks her to risk her future with Thad to help a stranger.
Thad learns the importance of listening to his mama the hard way, but wonders if it’s fair to expect him to sacrifice his happiness in obedience to his father’s plans for his life.
Sarah King is used to better treatment from her fellow man regardless of race, but forgets her husband deserves the same regard. Her unbridled temper and acrid tongue threaten to drive him away, until the pure heart of a tragic stranger teaches Sarah a lesson in colorblind acceptance.
In Diamond Duo, Bertha feels solely responsible for leading Annie Monroe out of her lifestyle and into a believer’s world. Have you ever had a similar experience in your life?
I think every Christian feels a strong compulsion to share God’s grace once they’ve had a taste. If you think about it, given the Great Commission, we’re all solely responsible for leading those in our paths to God.
How do you research a historical project for accuracy?
Actually, I begin most of my research on Amazon.com. They have books on every imaginable topic. No, I don’t own shares of stock, but I should by now.
After I pore over written material to get a visual of the period, I plan a visit to the area where the book is set. For my Texas Fortunes Series, I spent a week in Jefferson, Texas researching Diamond Duo, book one. Book two was easy. I live just a few miles from Humble Texas, the setting for Chasing Charity. My family all work in the oil patch and have for generations. My contractor husband is currently on a job in South Texas, so I was fortunate to spend several months in Carrizo Springs researching book three, Emmy’s Equal. There’s no substitute for walking the streets, exploring the sites, haunting the libraries, and talking to the locals. However, I’ve discovered the little details that provide historical accuracy need constant verification. I do my best, but I don’t know if it’s possible to get all the facts right. I use the Internet some, but you have to be careful with information gleaned from the web. Not every source can be trusted.
You have so many wonderful and unique characters in Diamond Duo. Which of the characters do you identify with and why?
This question makes me smile. I’ve been accused of being the inspiration for Bertha Maye Biddie—a free-spirited rebel with an aversion to shoes. I think that’s me on the inside.
Patti's review of Diamond Duo
Bertha Biddie loves Thad Bloom, but does he love her in return? When the biggest moment of her life is about to take place, the moment when Thad may just declare his love for her, Bertha must forego the meeting with the man of her dreams to fulfill a promise made to a friend. Broken-hearted and with no clue as to why Bertha would run out on their last chance to be together, Thad leaves for college. Determined to prove himself a man, he makes some poor decisions that teach him hard lessons.
Annie Monroe is a lovely, charming young lady, but different from anyone Bertha has ever encountered before. Bertha is thrilled when Annie offers the hand of friendship, When Bertha gets a peek into the dark past that surrounds her new friend, she feels called to help save her from the depths of despair, both emotionally and spiritually.
Marcia Gruver has developed deep emotional ties between her characters that speak to the heart. The struggles and heartaches they experience are played out against a backdrop of romance, murder, and social injustice. She takes the reader on a journey that explores love, loyalty, racial inequality, and the obligations we have to help others in their time of emotional and spiritual need.
As we move into the winter months, be sure to look for Diamond Duo on Amazon.com. You'll find it's a great read that will warm your heart against the cold winds, or a wonderful gift for the reader on your Christmas list who loves historical inspirational fiction.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
vote America!
Welcome back to Patti's porch. It was a warm day here in SE Colorado, and I've been taking a walk for the past three or four days. There's been snow in the mountains, and I heard even a few flurries sifted out of the sky here the other day. I wonder what this winter holds in store.
My thoughts turn more seriously to the "storm" that is sweeping our country. Although hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and all manner of other destructive forces have ravaged our land over the past few years, the decision the American people will make within the next week may have much more far-reaching implications.
Perhaps it won't. I don't know enough about politics to understand how much one party's dominance in the White House will affect the daily life of the average person. I only know that I have been more involved in researching the candidates and the issues than ever before.
This year, my husband and I opted for mail-in ballots. Since Colorado has one of the longest ballots in the country this election, it took me a couple of hours out of the past two days to cast my votes. At least I was able to take the time to read the "blue" State Ballot Information Booklet and study the pros and cons of each ammendment before making my choices. Had I been standing in a ballot booth, I probably would have made some ill-informed and hasty choices. I do have the satisfaction of knowing I weighed the facts and based my decisions on what I thought was best for our state.
I have prayed harder during this election than any other year I have ever voted. I'm still participating in the praying for America initiative and that's exciting. As I pray for oeach individual state and the various needs of our country mentioned on the prayer map, I realize that I am not alone in this endeavor. Thousands of other Americans are praying with me, and that incites a great deal of hope and optimism for our great nation.
Some other things have been different for me this election year. Normally, I would ignore the political calls, but this time I have responded to every survey and poll, of which there have been several. I realize they don't determine a true picture of what the final outcome will be, since no poll can predict voter turn-out. Still, I find it exciting to have input into the whole process.
I have only heard one person make the statement that they don't care about the election, don't intend to vote, and really don't want to hear anything about it. Just about everyone has an opinion about this presidential race, and most of them are very strong.
Reminds me of an impending storm. I always feel a touch of excitement when there are severe thunderstorm warnings in our area. The lightning gets so intense sometimes that it looks like it's striking not a foot away from the front door. The wind picks up, the trees sway, rain pelts the windows, and you wonder what else lurks out there. A tornado maybe? We'd never see it coming.
That's the kind of feeling I have about the election. There is an electric charge, packed with power, and on its heels hovers the fear of what if? What if the American people choose the wrong man? What if our next president isn't competent to handle the financial crisis, the Iraq War, the War on Terror, or our growing crime rate, and any number of a hundred other problems that threaten our country?
I've been hearing over the past couple of days that Senator McCain is gaining, if ever so slightly, on Senator Obama's lead. The "swing" states continue to hang in the balance as both candidates put all their last ditch efforts into winning those states. The number of undecided voters is unknown, and, as the newscasters say, an awful lot can happen in five days.
Both of our presidential candidates have publicly proclaimed their Christian beliefs. They express different approaches to accomplishing the common goals of repairing the nation's weaknesses, meeting the needs of each individual citizen, and maintaining the delicate relationship between allied and hostile nations around the globe.
John 12:13 tells us that Jesus sought the counsel of His Heavenly Father in the face of an important decision. ".....Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles." The decision to choose those who would carry on His work must have weighed heavy on Jesus heart. He knew what was at stake and He held Himself accountable for the choice He would make.
We, too, must hold ourselves accountable as we cast our votes for the future leaders of our nation. It is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. Make the time, before casting your vote, to do as Jesus did and seek the wisdom and discernment that only the Lord can give.
God bless America!
Thanks for reading my blog!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Review of First I'm Nobody
Good morning, everyone! Its' getting cold here on Patti's porch and there has even been some snow in our state. Even though it's not unusual to see it in the higher elevations at this time of year, there were reports that Colorado Springs saw some of the white stuff last evening.
It is my pleasure today to post a review of "First I'm Nobody" by Kasandra Elaine. The book is currently available in e-book format, and the print version will be available on December 19th of this year.
Skylar McRae's life is about to change in ways she would never have imagined when a hit and run accident occurs close to her Texas ranch. The man who enters her life is totally unkonwn, even to himself. Her Good Samaritan personality prompts her to take in "Duke Green", the name given to him by the hospital staff, while he recovers from multiple injuries, despite his amnesia and the fact there is no way to track his past.
Clues that help Duke put together the pieces of his forgotten past also serve to lead him and Skylar on a journey spawned by deception and headed straight into danger. Is Duke the man Skylar thinks he is, or has he succeeded in covering up a criminal past with cunning and skill?
The writing team of Kassy Paris and Elaine Powell has created real characters who face betrayal, forgiveness, and spiritual awakening. This story takes the reader on an adventure packed with action and romance that culminates in a satisfactory ending, bringing both main characters to a deeper understanding of who they are as children of God.
Refer back to my post of 7-14-08, where I interview Kassy. She talks about her book, the pros and cons of writing with a collaborating author, and her thoughts about E-book format.
The winter months are almost upon us, time to curl up with a good inspirational romance. Order a copy of First I'm Nobody from The Wild Rose Press today!
Thanks for reading my blog!
Monday, October 20, 2008
My Adirondack Vacation Part Two
Friday, my sister and I went to Tupper Lake to spend the day at The Wild Center. Click on the link to watch the three short videos that give you a glimpse of all that we saw. The inside exhibits were great and the selection provided a look at many aspects of the Adirondacks, from the time the region was encased in glaciers to the present. Having grown up on LOng Island and around water, i've always been fascinated with fish. They had plenty of aquariums with many colorful fish there.
I feel such a strong attachment to this Adirondack country every time I'm there. Even though I grew up on Long Island, my dad was born and raised in the Adirondack country, and we spent most of our vacations there. We were very fortunate in that my uncle served as caretaker for one of the large camps on St. Regis Lake when we were young. . We enjoyed swimming, boating, water skiing in the summer, skiing, ice skating, and snowmobiling in winter.
Even though I've lived here in Colorado for over thirty years and love the magnificent Rockies, theAdirondacks hold their own special spendor. It's strange to think that Mt Marcy, the Adirondacks highest peak at an elevation of 5344 feet, is less than 1500 feet higher than the town where I live on the Colorado plains. Yet, each mountain range holds its own unique beauty. The Rockies awe the observer with a rugged terrain that towers well above timber line, while the Adirondacks with their gently rolling greenery offer a more serene display of nature's majesty.
The Rockies can't compete with the Adirondacks when it comes to fall color. We have our aspen with their yellows and golds, but one seldom sees the bright reds and oranges that adorn the Adirondack north country.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
My Adirondack Vacation Part One
In September, I took vacation with the intention of attending the ACFW conference in Minneapolis. However, I ended up rethinking my plans and taking a trip back to my home state of New York to visit family.
I was gone from September 19 – 28. It took me a few days to get pictures from my sister, since I didn’t have a camera (another story for another day). Now that I have them, here is a little summary of my vacation.
My sister and brother-in-law live in a small town in the Adirondack Mountains where the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival takes place. It so happened that I had planned to be there that weekend. When I called and told our son, who lives in NYC, he decided that he would fulfill his dream of running the marathon.
I began my trip by leaving my house in Colorado at 3:00 AM in order to make my 8:00 AM flight out of Colorado Springs. My sister, Terry, was still at work when I arrived in Albany airport, where she was to pick me up, so I collected my baggage and settled down with my laptop for an hour or so until she arrived.Saturday was a busy day for my sister and her husband since they are both involved in the marathon activities and the event was to occur the next day. However, we did get a little while in the morning to relax and enjoy catching up with each other. Terry is taller, I'm older! We never did catch Terry's husband in front of a camera, but then, Wesley is king of the house anyway, make no mistake.
In the afternoon, we made a couple of trips to the high school where packet pickup was taking place. It was bustling with activity, as runners received their packets and perused the array of items for sale, from hats and shirts to power bars and sports drinks. An excited buzz dominated the scene as contestants and their families chattered about the upcoming competitions.
Mom arrived on the bus around noon that day. Wesley loves it when grandma comes to visit! Mom and I were nervous about my son and daughter-in-law finding their way up from the city in their rental car. My sister assured us, “if they were able to find their way into New York City from Colorado, I’m sure they can find Schroon Lake!”
She was right and they arrived at 4:30 without any problems.Jaque and Jason barely had time to say hello when out the door we went to the pasta dinner that is held at Word of Life Inn the night before the marathon.
Accompanying us was one of my sister’s dearest friends, Rachel. The food was fabulous and there was more than enough. Jason was a bit nervous Saturday evening, but come Sunday morning, I’m sure butterflies were beating their wings madly in every corner of his stomach. He had been training for the marathon in Central Park for about two months and decided he would register for the half-marathon instead of the full. Still, that meant he had thirteen miles of running to look forward to! The longest race he had ever run was the two-mile event in high school track eight years ago. During his training, he had worked up to eight miles with his sweetie, Jaque, riding her bike beside him and encouraging him every step of the way.
Terry got Jason to the start line for the half-marathon and Jaque in place for the spectator bus barely in the nick of time before the roads closed for the event. Then she came back to the house and picked mom and me up. We headed to our destination, water station 20.
I had never attended a marathon before, let alone worked a water station, so everything was new tome. Our tables were already set up and several gallons of water, bottles of sports drink, fig bars, and paper cups had been delivered. Now it was our job to pour water and sports drinks and get ready for the runners. My sister manned the karaoke machine,shouting encouragement to the runners as they appeared around the curve, grabbed a drink or offered a friendly wave, and disappeared on down the course toward the finish line.
Jason had told us he was sure he’d be ready for a break by the time he reached water station 20, but when he got there, he whizzed by with a wave and kept on going. He looked good and had a great pace.Jaque had been at the starting line to see him off and was waiting at the finish line. He told us later those last five mile s were tough, and when he got to water station 26, he thought he had a whole mile to go. He said the feeling of having that completion medal placed around his neck was well worth it.
The next day, we spent some time at Schroon Lake, enjoying the scenery.....Then we headed to the Schroon Lake shoreline and did some sitting around on the beach...and somebody decided to go wading, even though it was a bit chilly.My sister offered me the use of her swim suit if I wanted to come back for a swim, but I declined! After Jason had the opportunity to relax those tired muscles on the lake shore, he and Jaque had to head back to NYC that evening.
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The rest of us spent the next few days visiting and enjoying each others company. Come back soon for my post on our trip to The Wild Center in Tupper Lake. Thanks for reading my blog.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
PRAYING FOR AMERICA
I’m usually not a politically minded person. In the past, I always had a pretty good idea who I was going to vote for in the presidential election. A registered independent, I have voted both the Republican and Democratic ticket over the years.
I live in a “swing” state, so never has my vote been more crucial than this year. Both candidates have visited our state on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, I did not make it to any of those events, but I am following more closely than ever the newspapers, the debates, and the tide of public opinion.
I’m not going to make any particular political statement here, but I will say that I am leaning toward one side more than the other. That is due to the time I have spent in prayer about the issue, for the choice I have to make weighs heavy on my heart.
Many around me disagree with my choice, including some immediate family members. My most fervent prayer is for discernment to make the choice God would have me make in the best interest of our country.
Our pastor introduced us to something very exciting on Sunday called Praying for America. Those of us who chose to sign a commitment card were given a “map” to follow, which gives simple instructions on who and what to pray for over the next thirty days. Over that period of time, we will have prayed for all 50 states, our political leaders, individual citizens, and many more things.
I encourage anyone who may be interested in this to check out www.Praying4America.com, where the pamphlets and other materials can be obtained. I’m sure it’s not too late to order, and even though you may get started with the program a few days late (the start date was Oct 6), it would be well worth it. Even two or three weeks of daily prayer for our country with heartfelt and specific intercession can do wonders. We all know that because we know what a wondrous God we serve, and if thousands are praying for the good of our country, we know He will listen.
I urge everyone who reads this to spend time in earnest and centered prayer before going to the polls. We have less than a month to make a decision that will impact our country, one way or another, for many years to come.
God bless America!
Thanks for reading my blog.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Friendly Skies
Ever since the first time I stepped inside an airplane and viewed the earth from a few thousand feet off the ground, I have loved flying. My first flight, I was sixteen and traveled across country from my home in New York to visit relatives in California. My dad had never set foot on a jet airliner in his life, and it was what he considered an unobtainable dream at that point in time.
We were delayed for hours. If my memory serves me correctly, there was some kind of hydraulic leak that needed to be fixed. That was back in the day when the airlines would do anything to satisfy disgruntled passengers, so when my dad asked the stewardess if he could board the plane and check on his daughter, who was flying for the first time, he was escorted onto the aircraft with all the fanfare that would have been given to royalty.
His greatest moment came when the pilot ushered him into the cockpit for a tour. He was as excited as a teen-ager with a meet and greet pass at a rock concert. I remember him walking down the center aisle, huge smile on his face, and stopping to ask me if I was nervous about flying in view of the mechanical problems encountered. I told him if the pilot was willing to go, I was too!
When we finally did take off, it was dusk, and since we were flying west, we traveled with the sunset all the way across country. I remember the breathtaking view. The sky spread endlessly before us in an array of pink, orange, and purple hues. Lightning lit up the impending darkness, and while other passengers cringed in fear, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. To this day, I love to watch a good electrical storm, despite the obvious danger.
That first flight for me was over forty years ago. A lot has changed since then. Flying became more accessible to the average person, my dad got his chance to fly many times, and I flew in everything from a jet to a glider,
Then the horror of September 11th occurred and nothing in the world of aviation has been the same since.
Well, I shouldn’t say nothing. Anyone who has flown in the past few years knows about the obvious tightening of security procedures. However, a lot of things about flying remain the same. There is still the welcoming smile offered by the hostess when she welcomes the passengers on board. Announcements about emergency protocols are standard. You still find airline magazines in the seat pocket in front of you. You have to fasten your seatbelt and stow your carry on belongings appropriately.
That sensation in the stomach and the gradual receding of the ground, signaling lift off, has not changed for me. It still gives me a thrill. I am always amazed at the miniature model appearance as we fly over whatever city we are leaving: the matchbox cars, busses, and trucks that travel along ribbons of highway, the skyscrapers that appear no higher than two or three feet tall, the trees that simulate backyard shrubs.
Climb even higher and the whole world becomes a kaleidoscope of geometric shapes in various shades of greens and browns. Looking down upon such harmony, it is hard to believe that dirt, disorder, and degradation exist in the world. One can even develop a false sense of security, lulling us into the misperception that order and goodness are the rule, rather than the exception.
A fairyland beauty permeates the friendly skies as the aircraft sails through clouds that resemble giant vanilla ice cream cones, ice castles, and acres of cotton balls, giving a view of a child-like, toy town world below. One can gaze on such a scene with a certain degree of naiveté, if even for a short time, and imagine that all is well. The sun streaming in through the windows, the infinity of the skies at 30,000 feet, the perfect appearance of the world below give us a tiny glimpse of heaven.
I often wonder how God views our world. Does he peer down from heaven and see only the patterns, the perfection, and the potential? Or does he dig deeper and examine the faults, flaws, and failures of human existence?
The concept of God “peering down” from anywhere, is, of course, ludicrous. God is everywhere, so he sees the good and the evil that exist on this earth. He walks with us as we encounter the struggles of our everyday existence. His son walked the earth once and experienced all of the temptations we face.
God sees the pollution, the imperfection, and the chaos that permeates our world and our hearts, but He possesses knowledge of the end result. He created not only the earth, but each and every one of us who inhabit it. Despite the threads that go every which way throughout the course of our lives, God knows what the finished product will look like.
Modern air travel has changed over the years and will continue to change in some ways. In other aspects, it will always be the same, a wonder of technology not even imagined a little over a hundred years ago.
God doesn’t change. He remains steadfast, watching over the world He created and all of its inhabitants. The next time you fly the friendly skies, take a look at what lies around you and praise the One who created all of it.
Thanks for reading my blog!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Happy 53rd Anniversary Gunsmoke!
Today marks the 53rd anniversary of the airing of the first episode of Gunsmoke. As many of you know, this TV western is my favorite of all time. For those of you who don’t know the show, it starred James Arness, who played the part of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, the marshal of Dodge City, Kansas in the 1860s -1870s. Supporting cast were Amanda Blake as saloon keeper Kitty Russell, and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams. Others who played in the series for long periods of time were Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen, and Buck Taylor as Newly O’Brien. Burt Reynolds played for a couple of years as Quint Asper.
Several other well-known actors of the day got their start or guest starred on Gunsmoke, including Charles Bronson, Betty Davis, Morgan Woodward, Ben Johnson, and Victor French, and L.Q. Jones. The show holds the record for the longest running television drama with continuing characters with its twenty year run, from 1955 to 1975.
I can’t say that I have vivid memories of that first Gunsmoke episode, Matt Gets It, that aired in September of 1955 as I was only four years old at the time, but I do have clear recollections of the many hours I spent with loved ones watching the show as I grew up. I recall Saturday nights were the highlight of my week and I would make any excuse to stay home when the family was invited out for the evening just so I could be sure and get my weekly dose of “Gunsmoke”. Tuesday and Thursday evenings were also special as those were the evenings the half hour reruns , renamed “Marshal Dillon”, were aired.
Time passed, I left Long Island and moved to Colorado, where I became involved in a career and the business of raising my own family. It just so happened, though, that I moved to the area where Ken Curtis was born and raised, so people did not give me strange looks when I rattled on about “Gunsmoke” like they did back in New York!
I was thrilled when I heard James Arness was coming to Bent’s Fort to film “How the West Was Won”. I remember spending an entire day out there watching him film. I never did get the opportunity to talk with him that day, but just the experience of seeing him in action was enough to make me happy. I developed a great admiration for actors in general that day! I hadn’t realized how many times a scene must be repeated before we, the viewer, see it on the screen. It takes a great deal of time to coordinate the various actors in the scene, the noise control issues (those planes flying overhead must be one of the biggest nuisances!), the lighting, and a hundred other little details.
I lost track of “Gunsmoke” for a few years. Then VCRs came into existence and when my grandmother came out to visit, she brought us a gift. Our first very own VCR! They were expensive back then, so it was quite a generous gift. Shortly after, my step grandfather sent me a package. It contained three VCR tapes with black and white one-hour Gunsmoke episodes. Wow! I watched those tapes over and over until I about wore them out.
When “Gunsmoke” came back on the air in this area on TVLand, I immediately invested in a
new VCR and at least two 10-packs of video tapes, just to get started. Since then, with the addition of the Western Channel airings, I’ve got at least one copy of every single one of the 635 episodes that were aired.
One night I was checking the internet for anything Gunsmoke and came across the Delphi Gunsmoke board, an internet group that loves to talk about everything Gunsmoke. I still have friends I keep in touch with who I met through that group.
I met Buck Taylor, the actor who played Gunsmoke’s Newly O’Brien at the Western Legends Roundup in Kanab, Utah. He is a delightful person and loves talking to the fans about the show. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to him a few times since that first meeting.
All my life, I had dreamed of meeting James Arness in person. I even prayed about it. I finally got my chance for the first time in 2001 when he held a booksigning for his autobiography at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles. I can recall walking into the auditorium and seeing him sitting up on the stage, waiting to greet his fans. Several of my Internet friends from the Delphi group were present as well, so it was exciting to finally meet them in person as well. When it was my turn to speak to Mr. Arness, he and his lovely wife, Janet, made me feel like I was the most important fan in the whole room. We visited about the town where I’m from and the fact that I know many people who were personal friends with Ken Curtis. We even laughed and joked a bit.
It was an honor to have the privilege of celebrating his 80th birthday along with other fans in 2003. Many of my friends from the Delphi group attended as well, and we presented him with a statue of a horse and rider. One of our members carried it all the way from Massachusetts on the Amtrak to get it to him! We also presented him with a book of birthday cards and letters from those who were unable to attend the booksigning but wanted to send their greetings. I got to present that to him.
We were going to present the gift and book during the booksigning, but it turned out that we got to meet with him privately in a small room away from the crowd. That was great because it was more private and personal.
James Arness is a name synonymous with justice, patriotism, self-respect, and worthy of the highest admiration. In all the parts he has played, he has portrayed characters that emulate our basic American principles and values. Just as my parents shared “Gunsmoke” with me as a child, I shared “Gunsmoke” TV time with my kids.
Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a collection of Gunsmoke CDs in addition to the hundreds of VCR tapes of all the episodes. Those shows are priceless to me. In addition, I have most of the “How the West Was Won” tapes and several other James Arness movies.
If anyone wants to talk Gunsmoke, leave a comment and I’ll be sure to get back with you!
Thanks to all the cast and crew who made Gunsmoke a show that leaves us with many wonderful memories. Happy 53rd Anniversary!
Thanks for reading my blog.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A Proud Moment
I think, since time began, that grandmothers have reserved the right to brag on their grandkids. Right? Well, whether that is true or not, I’m going to do some bragging!
We are in the midst of fair season here in Colorado. A couple of weeks ago, my granddaughter and her neighbor participated in the talent show at one of the local fairs. They each sang a song in their respective age categories, then sang one together in the “group” entry. The little neighbor girl, who is 3, won second place in the 3-6 yr old category. My granddaughter, who is 7, won first place in the 7-12 yr old category, and the both of them won first place in the group category! Madison won a big blue ribbon, $30 in cash, and a T-shirt for her individual first, then they each received a blue ribbon and a wrist band for all the rides for their group first place awards. Then, they had a drawing for various other prizes with all the kids’ names and didn’t they draw Madison’s name first! She won a huge teddy bear that is almost taller than she is. It was quite an exciting evening!
I think what made me the proudest, though, was the fact that Madison never did brag about her first place status. I did, but she didn’t. If we met someone in town who I knew would enjoy hearing the news, and I told her, “tell (whoever) your big news”, she would cover her little eyes with her hands in total humility.
We could all take lessons from the innocence and the meekness of those two little girls. When they stood up there in front of an eager audience, handed the contest leader their CD, and began singing along with the music, they did so with all their heart. They didn’t expect to win and they didn’t really care. They did it for the simple pleasure of singing songs they enjoy and swaying to the beat.
For days before the talent show, they took time away from their usual play to work out their routine, practice it, and perfect it. They could have decided they didn’t want to participate, that after an hour or so of repeatedly singing the same songs and dancing the same steps, that this was totally ‘boring” and not fun anymore.
The determination and resolve of these little girls to commit to something and see it through to the end has put me to shame. If I could approach my writing life with that same spirit of striving to do my best, no matter what the outcome, I would feel a lot better about myself. If I would commit to practice my skills, always putting everything I have into doing the best I can possibly do without getting discouraged, I’d probably be surprised at how much my writing would improve. It’s so easy to quit when it’s not “fun” anymore.
And sometimes it isn’t. To give so much time to a chapter and present it to a new critique group, only to have them point out obvious flaws that I just plain missed, and so did the critics before them, is discouraging. It takes time and effort and concentration and determination to sit down and plan all the necessary elements of a story. Sometimes it’s just plain hard work.
Anything worth having is. So, I pull up another blank computer page and start to type words on it that will become sentences and eventually paragraph that will form a story. When seeds of discouragement begin to take hold, I draw in a deep breath and remember two little girls on a warm and rainy night in Southeastern Colorado who gave their best effort to a crowd of strangers. Who knows where it might lead them someday.
Simply because they chose not to quit.
Thanks for reading my blog!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Review of The Case of The Bouncing Grandma by A. K. Arenz
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Be sure to read my interview with A. K. posted 10-18-07 on this blog, where she talks about the physical handicaps she has struggled with while writing this book.
Can a Wheelchair Confined Fifty Something Grandma Really Solve a Murder?
Glory Harper is not your typical fifty-something grandmother. Rather, she is known as the “bouncing” grandma because – well- I don’t want to give away all the secrets!. Now, Glory is confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg and bored out of her mind after trying her hand at skateboarding.
No one really believes Glory’s theory that there’s a dead body next door, based on her observation of a foot dangling from a rolled up carpet belonging to the new neighbors as they move in. Despite skepticism from her sister, Jane, her daughter, Andi, and even the handsome blue-eyed detective who investigates her claim, Glory is determined to prove her case.
Suspense deepens as the new residents of small town Tarryton appear to be tied to a crime far more elaborate than harboring a dead body. Glory obtains her evidence simply by extending Christian friendship to the new neighbors along with a little internet surfing.
Glory and her sister Jane share a deep bond as sisters and best friends. The relationship between daughter Andi and grandson Seth is presented with humor intertwined skillfully with drama and real-life emotion. The promise of a potential budding romance for Glory adds depth to her character. Throw the town scoundrel and a past national scandal into the mix and you have a book that keeps you turning the pages until the end.
A. K. Arenz has done a fine job of delivering a great story in this debut novel. I look forward to more work from this talented author.
Thanks for reading my blog!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Review of Shadow of Danger by Jeanne Marie Leach
Be sure to read my interview with Jeanne posted 2-17-08 on this blog, where she offers great advice and writing resources for 19th century writers.
I’ve read several books over the past few weeks, but one of my favorites is Shadow of Danger by Jeanne Marie Leach. I felt a connection with heroine Rachel Ringold from page one, a young lady raised in an orphanage who is awakened in the dead of night and instructed to flee as far away as possible to avoid an undisclosed danger. Confused and frightened, Rachel makes her way to Colorado and the only friend she has ever known, Seb Jameson.
Seb is happy to see Rachel, although angered by the circumstances that drove her from the orphanage and shocked to see the little girl he remembered is now a young woman. He is engaged to another, but becomes torn as his fiance’s true colors fade against Rachel’s sweet innocence and gentle spirit.
Kind and trusting Rachel, who sees only the good in everyone, is unaware she is caught in a love triangle. Her sensitivity and compassion expose her to heartache, which she faces with the strength of her faith in God. She yearns for a home and family, but her dream of such stability slips away when she discovers Seb’s heart belongs to another.
Seb’s feelings for Rachel intensify when she disappears. That disappearance renews the reality of the harm that can come to her, as well as Seb and others she has befriended in Leadville. All dreams of happiness now seemingly beyond her grasp, Rachel flees to Denver, trusting God to help her lead the life He has planned for her, although empty and heartbroken over the loss of the man she has always loved.
Rachel is a sensitive, tender, and yet strong young heroine who delights the reader with her faith in God and her willingness, despite personal misfortune, to trust solely in Him. Seb proves to be a hero worthy of admiration and respect when he realizes he has let Rachel down and sets out to make things right.
The setting is delightful to any reader who enjoys 1800’s historical work. Jeanne presents the mining town of Leadville and the growing city of Denver with authentic and colorful detail. Follow Rachel’s journey of faith in 1800’s Colorado today.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Interview with Author Kathy Kovach
About Kathy:
Kathleen, known as Kathy by her friends, believes that if they'd done an ultrasound on her mother while she was with child, they'd have found a writing instrument clutched in her tiny hand. After a lifetime of writing short stories, plays, and poems, God finally released Kathy to write as a career in 2002. This happened at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference where she won first place in the unpublished writers contest for her article "If Anyone Hears My Voice." She also met her editors, Jim and Tracie Peterson from Barbour's Heartsong Presents, who became intrigued with her heroine's profession, a dolphin trainer. By 2006, that novel, Merely Players, became published and went on to place second in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest (IRCC) 2007. Then in May of this year it was bundled with two other stories by Lynn Coleman and Kristy Dykes under the title, Florida Weddings. In 2007, Kathy teamed up with Mary Davis, Sally Laity, and Jeri Odell for Love Letters, a Barbour novella collection about unique expressions of love, (hers takes place through fortune cookies.) Heartsong holds a readers poll every year, and in 2008, Kathy placed in the upper five of the Favorite New Author category.
Kathy, welcome to Patti’s Porch. I’m thrilled to have you here! Tell us about the main theme of your book, Merely Players, and how it ties in with the other stories included in the Florida Weddings anthology.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Interview with Author Kassy Paris
It was another hot day here in SE Colorado. Glad I worked last night and was able to sleep through it! It’s cooled down some now and we’ve even turned off the A/C. I’m sure there are plenty more hot days ahead, great for porch sitting and sharing a glass of iced tea, so stop by sometime!
I’m pleased to introduce Kassy Paris and her book, First I’m Nobody.
Good evening, Kassy. Welcome to Patti’s Porch. I’m excited to have you here. Please tell us about your book, First I’m Nobody.
First I’m Nobody is the story of a young man trapped in a job he doesn’t love and gets injured as he tries to escape an impossible situation. His rescuer, a Good Samaritan type, brings him to her North Texas horse ranch to help him recover. The trauma of his accident and his life lead the two of them on a search for his identity and the truth. This book was written with my best friend and writing partner, Elaine Bonner Powell. Together, we write as Kasandra Elaine. Elaine writes and has been published solo as Elaine Bonner.
Is there any particular reason you chose amnesia as a subject for your story?
The amnesia component came about as a result of a conversation Elaine and I had as we drove along an Interstate highway. Why do people discard things such as shoes and other items of clothing along the roadsides? That led to a “What if?” conversation about a man walking along a deserted highway and getting hit by a couple of teenagers driving home after a weekend of partying. The teens assume he is dead and drive away. The resulting amnesia is partly due to the physical trauma of the hit and run, but Duke’s personal life has contributed in a major way to his amnesia.
You wrote this book with a collaborating author. Tell us a little bit about that process.
Oh, that’s the fun part. Elaine and I met as sophomores in high school when her father moved to my community as the Methodist minister. We became close friends our senior year after I accepted Jesus as my savior. That year we started our collaboration as writers when we wrote a Christmas play our youth group put on for the church.
To write as partners, each person has to be able to compromise. We were among the first writers that we know of to partner up who were both creators as opposed to a researcher and a creator. We work extremely well together because we think so much alike, have the same principles and beliefs, and are both seat of the pants writers. I’m sure two plotters would work as well together, but I’m convinced that a plotter and SOTPser would be doomed to failure. Since we’ve been friends for forty-two years now we can finish sentences for one another, literally. At the beginning of our career, one of us would be writing and get tired, sometimes in the middle of a sentence, and the other would take over and complete the sentence and continue the story without hesitation. Now we usually write a section and then email it to the other one who reads it, tweaks it and adds the next section. We live 150 miles apart and don’t get together in the same location often due to work and family.
Do you find it easier to write with a co-author or alone?
Both. LOL Writing together is easier because I only have to come up with half the books! I have someone to fall back on when I hit a snag with the plot line. When we’re rejected I’m only half at fault. Writing alone is easier because I don’t have to worry about what Elaine will think about what I’ve written.
Your book was released in E-book format this month. Congratulations! Do you feel this format has a bright future in the publishing industry?
Yes, I think E-books will become stronger in the future as the E-readers come down in price and more people possess them, but I hope print books will never become extinct. I love the feel of a book in my hands. Going on vacation would become so much easier because I wouldn’t have to pack and carry so many books or have to purchase more books during the trip when I run out of reading material. My two trips to Israel to visit my sister would have been much more pleasant because books in English that I wanted to read were so hard to find. I was there six weeks each time.
Is there an extra advance beyond the print format advance when a book is also published in E-format?
Not with the company that is publishing First I’m Nobody and the next book in
the series Redigo’s Choice. In fact there wasn’t any advance for these two books. We do receive royalties – 7% for print and 30% for E-Books. Some E-book/print companies may have advances.
When did writing become an important part of your life?
Basically, writing has been important to me all my life. As a child, I began writing my own episodes of my favorite TV series – Bonanza, Wagon Train, and Dr. Kildare to name a few. I’d make up stories as I rode my bicycle alone, at night before I went to sleep, and when my parents took us to and from my grandparents’ homes in the Dallas, Texas area. As I grew older the stories became more and more elaborate and deeper from my own imagination. In college, I began writing some of my creations down. The process of writing by hand was frustrating. Typewriters made the process easier because I could type faster than I could write by hand. But that still frustrated my creativity. I don’t like to backtrack even when I’m driving, and if I changed a scene with typewritten stories I had to retype the whole story. When word processors, with their cut and paste features, were invented and I got my hands on one, well, I finally could finish something without giving up. About 11 years ago is when I became dedicated to writing as a profession and my dreams of being published became goals.
Do you follow a writing schedule?
I try to, but life intervenes much too often. I work on writing in some form, creating, revising or editing, pretty nearly five out of seven days a week for at least a couple of hours a day. It’s usually after 10:00 p.m. when I head to my bedroom. I live with my mother, her sister, and one of my sisters. My mother and my aunt start going to bed between 10 and 11 and I’ve spent the evening with them eating and watching TV. I’m a night person, so I do my best creating around that time. Some nights I go to bed when the sun starts to lighten the sky. I try to go through email during the early afternoon when my brain is not at its peak of creativity.
Any other works in progress or under contract?
Elaine and I have a couple of proposals out – one for a romance and one for a cozy mystery. We’re waiting to hear about both. Also, we are in the midst of completing the writing on the cozy out for proposal and a second book in that series. On top of that, we have about 5 other books in various stages. I’ve got three novels I’m working on as solo projects that are also in different stages from a completed rough draft that needs elaboration and extension to two books about a third to a half of the way finished.
What is your parting advice to unpublished writers?
I think the best thing I could tell unpublished writers is to fin
d or put together a critique group to become a part of as well as joining a writer’s group that has programs that teach techniques. Attend writing conferences, as many as you have the time and money for until you become confident. I learn so much when I go to conferences and the contacts you make are invaluable. Beware of the trap of learning vs. actual writing. Put the things you learn into practice. I think the most vital piece of advice I could give unpublished writers is to believe in yourself. If God has a plan for you to be a writer, it will happen in His time not necessarily in your time. Don’t give up.
Thank you so much for spending some time with us today, Kassy. Best of luck with your writing career.
Thanks so much for letting me visit with you and your readers. Best of luck to each of you.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Catching Up
Hi. It’s a warm day here in SE Colorado and the smell of spent fireworks still lingers in the air. We had a nice display in town, preceded by a great barbecue at our daughter’s home. Later, there was an array of any number of bottle rockets, roman candles, poppers, and other assorted noise and light makers that brightened the night sky. Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!
Sorry I have not posted for a while. I have a wonderful interview with Kassy Paris, who’s book, First I’m Nobody, is now available in E-book format. Unfortunately, when I attempted to post the interview, I got some kind of HTML error. I have no idea what in the world that means and have referred the problem to my web master. You should see the interview soon. Check back to learn about Kassy’s book and her thoughts on E-book publishing as well as the advantages and disadvantages of writing with a collaborator.
I’m pleased to have recently joined an online critique group. It is through ACFW and we are all writing stories set in the 19th Century. My crit partners are astute at picking up my errors and I’m looking forward to learning a lot from them. A couple of them are published, which I consider an advantage. I feel like I’m getting advice from “experts”, or at least from writers who know a whole lot more about the profession than I do.
Profession? You bet, and I have to keep reminding myself of that. I’ve rewritten Chapter One of my WIP more than I would have liked to and still don’t have it right. Yet, it reinforces the fact that I am in the process of learning. It took me three years full-time to acquire the skills I needed for my basic nursing degree. Add to that another six years part-time to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Another thirty plus years in the work force and I still learn something new all the time. So, it stands to reason that the five years I’ve invested in seriously learning about writing are just the beginning. I only get time to read a writing craft book maybe once every two months, I’ve attended only one writing conference a year for the past two years, and my time to actually write is limited. So, I feel like I’m crawling along at a snail’s pace, but even a snail reaches it’s destination eventually!
Membership in the online critique group gives me a sense of responsibility. I have to meet a deadline, and for me, that’s a good thing. If I’m told that I need to have something done by a certain time, I manage to do it, even if I’m completing it at the last minute. We have each chosen a week during the month to submit our work. Mine is week three, so I want to have a revision of my Chapter One and the subsequent Chapter Two ready by Monday the fourteenth. Gives me a little over a week to get my work in top shape.
Oh, in case you’re wondering, I’m way past “Chapter One”. I’ve written twenty chapters, well over 200 pages, and the rest is in outline form, but I keep going back to that first chapter because I still don’t like the way the story starts. Many writers say that is the hardest part, figuring out where and how to begin the book.
Now that I’ve found the time to write a few lines for the readers of my blog, I’m all keyed up to keep on writing. But, unfortunately, it is time to quit and get ready to go to work at my paying job. Maybe it will be a quiet shift and I can add a few lines to my story during my dinner break or late in the evening when my work is done. Now, if I can just take Rosalynn Carter's advice, who says, "you have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through."
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Simple Lessons
Their little voices, raised in unison, filled the auditorium at the elementary school. They sang praise songs with titles like “Custom Built Heart”, “Rev It Up”, and “High Performance Mind” that carried a theme of car racing . Decorations included various engine parts, repair tools, and of course, black and white checked flags. One of the highlights of the week’s activities was the pinewood derby, held after each child had custom designed their own car.
Although the words to the songs wore on the nerves of the adults who spent all five days there, the message, reinforced with hand signs, ingrained itself in the memories of the children. They all went home with CDs and I know my granddaughter, for one, has played it a hundred times since Friday.
Even as joy filled my heart while I listened to the sweetness of young voices praising God through song and memory verses, a touch of sadness pervaded my mind. How many times will those little ones run into the guardrail or collide with each other along the racetrack of life, robbing their “custom built” hearts of the wonder of God’s love? How long before their “high performance” minds are stymied by the low-grade fuel that drives the motivations of man in this day and age?
It’s easy to start out on the track of goodness and love toward God and others, but a bump in the pavement, a distraction on the sidelines, a wrong decision, flips us upside down in an instant. We find ourselves hurt and bleeding and resenting whatever it is that got in our way, and the love is replaced with greed and hatred and the worship of false gods.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.” – Luke 10:27.
“We love because He first loved us.” – I John 4:19
Monday, June 2, 2008
Interview with Author Tina Forkner
Tina, welcome to Patti’s porch and congratulations. Tell us about your debut novel, Ruby Among Us.
Thanks Patti! Ruby Among Us is set in the lush vineyards of present and past Sonoma Valley. The novel weaves a story of three generations of women and the memory that binds their hearts together. Readers will journey with Lucy as she searches for a heritage long-buried with her mother, Ruby, in a tale of remembrance and redemption.
What prompted you to write this particular story?
I was living as a single mom in Wyoming and feeling particularly down about my situation in life when I began to think about my daughter and worry about what would happen to her if I were to die while she was still young. I asked myself a question that amounted to, “What would she be told about me?”
And then like a typical writer, I expanded my questions to the hypothetical. “What if someone decided to take her away from everything that has to do with me? How would she feel? Would she try to find out about me?” And I sensed she would, so I typed out what amounted to a few paragraphs of fiction, or maybe a few pages, I can’t remember, and then I called it Ruby Among Us and closed the file. It wasn’t until I later married my husband that I pulled that file back out and it turned into a book.
Your story is set in the Sonoma Valley. Do you have ties to that area?
For a time I lived in Sacramento, where I attended Sacramento State, and spent a few weekends a month visiting relatives in Santa Rosa and driving through the Sonoma Valley. The beauty of it really grew on me and served in many ways to heal my heart as I went through some tough moments known only to me at the time. I think the setting lent itself to the book easily because I had absorbed so much of it during that growing period in my life.
When did you begin writing Ruby Among US?
I guess that depends on if you count the few paragraphs I wrote when I was a single mom or later when I got married. I guess I finished it about three years ago.
In some ways, it seems like I’ve been writing Ruby Among Us my whole life in my head. I just never knew how everything I was thinking was going to connect. It took life experience to put framework around my writing thoughts.
What has helped you the most with your writing career?
This is a boring answer, but what has helped me most is reading and what has helped me next is writing a great deal of fiction, essay, and poetry.
I am an English major and took creative writing courses in college that I know helped me learn the craft of writing and discover my voice (which I think I’m still discovering).
I didn’t start attending writing conferences until after I wrote Ruby Among Us, but I can say that conferences helped me make connections and learn about the business side of writing and publishing. Conferences are really very inspiring.
I have read writing books too and I’m sure all of those things help, but first and foremost are the simple acts of reading and actually writing that, I believe, will make you into a good writer.
By the way, I highly recommend the ACFW conferences. They are wonderful.
You recently held a launch party for your book. Tell us a little bit about it.
The launch party for Ruby Among Us was more than I could have dreamed. I know I’m blessed to have had a turn out of about 100 people and to have sold almost 100 books. I am truly amazed and humbled that so many people turned out.
I have to brag a little bit on the folks who threw the party. The Laramie County Library Foundation with the Laramie County Library were the wonderful hosts. Not only was it wonderful to have my first launch in our amazing new library building, but they had real Mantecadas, just like Kitty makes in Ruby Among Us and there were beautiful quilts hanging in the reception area since Kitty is a quilter. There were roses and vines everywhere and both the reception and launch party were amazing.
It was fun to sign books for the first time at a signing and to meet and interact with readers. That was the best part, getting to meet readers.
Do you feel the launch party helped further your career? How?
Yes. For one thing, it’s great to get that boost of confidence. Even though we ended up selling lots of books, selling books was never the goal. The goal was just to have a “coming out” party if you will, to introduce me to the public and allow my family just to celebrate the occasion with our friends at the library.
It ended up that the library publicity, local media and some of the local stores really jumped on board to help make my debut as much of a regional success as possible. I think local sales are definitely related to the success and publicity of the launch party. Those sales may never go outside of Cheyenne, but it won’t be for lack of a good start out the gate.
What kind of writing schedule do you keep?
Since writing full-time I try to write early in the morning and again from about 9am – noon. Now that the publicity is really moving, my schedule is thrown off balance. To be honest, I’m still trying to figure it all out, but I know the heavy publicity for Ruby Among Us won’t last forever and then I can get back to my old schedule.
Do you have a speaking platform? How essential do you think this is to a writer’s career?
No. I don’t have a platform. That’s not to say I don’t speak. I speak about Ruby Among Us and the writing and publishing journey because that’s what is happening right now in my life. I can still speak to groups like MOPS, women’s conferences, churches and small groups about things that relate to the book, such as, keeping close family ties, motherhood, etc., but on the most part I’m a novelist.
It’s hard for fiction writers to come up with a platform for our books. We have to be careful because the platform shouldn’t be contrived, but should be a natural part of that speaker’s personality and purpose. Liz Curtis Higgs is an excellent example. There is nothing contrived about her speaking platform.
To me, having a platform isn’t 100% necessary for a fiction writer, but there are many who disagree and would say that I haven’t been in the business long enough to know that. They might be right. J
Do you have any advice for unpublished writers?
Not to ever lose site of the act of writing. Blogs, conferences, writing loops, (planning our speaking platforms! J ) etc. etc. are great networking tools, but can take a great deal of time away from writing. Doing too much of it before you are published seems to me a little like putting the cart before the horse. Work on your craft first. The only way to get better at it is to write as much as possible.
And for writers who are Christians, God is in control of our ultimate outcome anyway and for me, I have to remind myself of that every time I feel like a failure. We hear it and say it all the time, but living it is more difficult.
Thanks, Patti!
Thank you, Tina, for a great interview. I wish you the very best of success with Ruby Among Us and in your writing career.
