Review of Writing the Christian Romance by Gail Gaymer Martin

I finished a good writing craft book today, Writing the Christian Romance by Gail Gaymer Martin.

Having read some of her novels, I was looking forward to reading Gail’s book and gleaning all the advice she had to give about writing romance. Gail covered most of the essential elements of a good story: characterization, dialogue, tension, POV, and plotting. She leads the reader through the process of developing the hero and heroine as multi-dimensional, believable characters and escalating their romantic interest throughout the story.

Gail does a thorough job of speaking to the specific elements of a Christian romance verses other genre fiction. She gives excellent information on how to handle delicate subjects without offending the Christian publisher or reader. She explains how to develop the spiritual thread of a story.

Her suggestions and tips are backed up by examples from a wide variety of authors. The exercises at the end of each chapter are thought-provoking and geared to teach the writer how to improve in specific areas.

Gail provided an example of a query/cover letter, short synopsis, a one-page synopsis, and a long synopsis. There may be others out there, but this is the first writing craft book I have read that gives a complete example of all four. This will be most helpful to those who struggle with this integral step in making a sale. She also gives sound advice on publication options, choosing a publisher, and searching for an agent.

Thanks for a great book, Gail!

Writing craft books are a wonderful source of motivation. They always leave me with a larger than life feeling that I can do this! I read the suggestions for technique, and my brain starts thinking about the scenes in my own WIP. Did I accomplish the point being discussed? If not, how can I improve my scene? Every book I read on writing somehow holds me to a higher standard. Does anyone else feel this way?

Let me know your thoughts.

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Special Day for Gunsmoke Fans!

This is a great day for my favorite TV show of all time, the legendary Gunsmoke. For almost two years now, there has been a web site running a fan power TV Hall of Fame. We Gunsmoke fans have been battling a hard fight against the sci-fi shows to put Gunsmoke in the top five. Today we did it!

The requirement was 250,000 votes (that’s a quarter of a million!), and a voter could only place a vote once every hour. Some people voted once or twice a day, and others, like me, voted every time we were on the computer within the time constraints.

If you like the old TV westerns and remember Gunsmoke in particular, go to http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/power.html and see the wonderful banner Rich has created for us to celebrate our special day. It contains a fantastic selection of cast pictures and Gunsmoke scenes in addition to a great rendition of the Gunsmoke theme song.

The banner will only be up today since Rich honors whichever show reaches a higher goal in increments of 5,000 votes every day, so if you want to see it, check it out sometime within the next twelve hours or so!

Long live Gunsmoke – the longest running drama in television history with continuing characters!

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February Preview

The winner of my January giveaway book, A Soldier’s Promise, is Maureen. Congratulations, Maureen! Please contact me at gunsmokefan@hotmail.com with your address so you can receive your book. Thanks to all who participated.

This month, I will be interviewing Jeanne Marie Leach and discussing her book, The Plight of Mattie Gordon. I happened to be the first buyer who purchased her book when it came out in downloadable format through Treble Heart books. It is, after all, a western!

Check back in later in the week to hear what Jeanne has to say about this time-honored genre, her other writing accomplishments, and her future plans as a writer.

I will be doing a drawing for a copy of The Plight of Mattie Gordon this month. Anyone who responds to one of my posts with a comment will be automatically entered. Good luck!

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Review of A Soldier's Promise by Cheryl Wyatt

The first time I met Cheryl Wyatt was through an email. She had put out a request for an accountability partner, someone who would encourage her to keep at her writing, meet her weekly word count goals, and complete a WIP within a reasonable length of time. I accepted her challenge.

We met face to face at the 2005 ACFW conference in Nashville for the first time. She was as sweet in person as her personality over the Internet implied. We met again at 2006 ACFW in Dallas, where Cheryl and I shared some private moments and she prayed with me, bringing me comfort over a personal issue that had been bothering me for a very long time.

With two published books and one more under contract, Cheryl is way beyond the point of needing a kick in the pants from me! Yet, despite her success, she has proven to be a loyal friend and source of support.

Cheryl is an inspiration to me. When I first began my Internet friendship with her, she was writing one day a week since she had little ones at home. Those one-day a week sittings at her computer proved very productive! I’m so proud of her.

I received A Soldier’s Promise as one of the books included in the LI book club I joined before I even knew Cheryl’s book was in print. I was so excited to see her name on the front cover. Let me tell you now my impressions of her book.

Pararescue jumper Joel Montgomery, despite reservations about returning to his home town, responds to a dying child's request. When he meets young Bradley's teacher, feelings are set in motion he had not anticipated.

Cheryl brings her characters to life by portraying the conflicting emotions in their daily lives that create stumbling blocks to their happiness. Past hurts, present struggles, and future dreams are all worked nicely into a tender and compelling love story.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was that the hero, Joel, has a unique and exciting profession. Despite the physical and emotional strength required to pursue such a career as pararescue work, Cheryl portrays his weaknesses, his fears, and his reconciliation with a past that has brought him a great deal of pain over the years.

The reader can’t help but fall in love with young Bradley, the sick little boy who has a battle of his own to fight. Despite the gravity of a child whose life is in danger, Cheryl injects enough humor to provide the reader a few laughs while traveling the roller coaster of Amber and Joel’s romance
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Heroine Amber rounds out the story with her fierce compassion for her young, ailing student, her struggle to win Joel’s heart, and her unwavering faith in God, even when His answer to her prayers seems to be “no”.

Here’s wishing Cheryl lots more success with her future releases. Cheryl, thanks for being a friend!

Contest drawing: I will be giving away a free copy of Cheryl's book, A Soldier's Promise at the end of January. In order to enter, simply leave a comment for any of my January blog posts. Subscribe to my blog and your name will be entered twice, doubling your chances to win! Good luck.


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Interview with Author Cheryl Wyatt

Welcome, Cheryl. I’m thrilled to interview you on my blog.

Thank you! I'm pleased to be here and appreciate you for hosting me. :-)

Tell us about your two releases, A Soldier’s Promise and A Soldier’s Family.

They are my debut novels and books 1 and 2 of my Wings of Refuge series from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. The series features a team of US Air Force Pararescue Jumpers (PJs for short) and the women who capture their hearts. Book 1 features Joel, the team leader. Book 2 features Manny. Blurbs can be found on Amazon, eharlequin, or any online bookseller. In addition, they have posted an excerpt of the first chapter of book 1.

Unusual occupations in novels are a pleasant surprise for the reader. What prompted you to write about an Air Force pararescue jumper?

I love to write about characters who have unique and different careers than the norm for romances. I see a lot of military authors writing about Navy SEALs, but not a lot about PJs, so I wanted to honor these Special Ops soldiers by featuring a team of them in a series. I'm so thankful Steeple Hill has given me that opportunity.

One of your main characters is a young child with a terminal illness. Have you had to deal with a similar situation in your own life?

I have had two friends lose daughters to aggressive forms of Leukemia. The courage both of those girls displayed, even up to the moments of their deaths, was astounding and touched everyone around them. I wanted to honor their courage, and the courage of their mothers, by writing the character of Bradley who is about the same age as the two girls were when they died. In one of my books, one of the PJs says about Bradley, "if courage could cure cancer, that child's faith and fight alone would have eradicated it from the earth." That is the same way I felt watching Makayla and Tierja as they battled valiantly.

Are there other books planned in the series?

Yes. For now, three out of seven have contracted. I am not certain about the other four books but my editor loves it when one of my PJs lands on her desk. So I'm hoping each guy will have his own story. So yes, there is a story for all seven guys on Joel Montgomery's (hero from A Soldier's Promise) team. Ben's story releases early 2009 and there are more PJ stores in the works. Plus, I have other series plotted out that are centered around the fictional town of Refuge, Ill.

When we first met, you told me your only day to write was on Saturdays. Have you been able to expand your writing schedule, or are you still confined to one day a week?

LOL! No, thankfully I have been able to expand thanks to more of my children starting school. I still have one at home but she loves to keep herself entertained so I am able to get several hours of writing time in every day during the week. I try not to write when my children are home because I want to focus on them and prevent Cyber-rivalry. LOL!

When did you realize that writing would be an integral part of your life?

I have always wanted to write since I was old enough to understand the concept. I received my first rejection in third grade from a popular, national children's magazine that is still in circulation today. My mother tells me I told stories before I could write and started scribbling them down the minute I learned to use a crayon.

Any parting advice for prepublished writers?

Seek God in all of it. Write as worship. Ask Him for the drive, the discipline and the determination to make it if that's what He wants for you. Stay as revisable as your manuscript. Be willing to hear hard things about your writing. Read! Read! Read! Write! Write! Write! Join a writing organization when you're able. http://www.acfw.com/ is a great one. There is also Romance Writers of America...who has many, many online and geographical chapters to join. ACFW is American Christian Fiction Writers and they are a wellspring of information and support if you are targeting a Christian bookseller.

Cheryl, that is excellent advice. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me about your intriguing stories. I wish you the best of success with these two releases and the rest of your series.

Contest drawing: I will be giving away a free copy of Cheryl's book, A Soldier's Promise at the end of January. In order to enter, simply leave a comment for any of my January blog posts. Subscribe to my blog and your name will be entered twice, doubling your chances to win! Good luck.

Thanks for reading my blog.