Behind the Scenes 5: Sweet Caroline

The ending of Sweet Caroline is unusual and unpredictable. But the ending is not random, but thought out and planned. There's a reason I ended the story the way I did.

Don't despair, we learn more about Caroline in Elle's story, Love Starts With Elle.

Caroline's ending is part of her life's journey. For the first time in her life, she knows God is real, He loves her and she surrenders her will to His.

She discovers a great destiny and joy in following Jesus. She had to see if she could deny herself and serve Him as much as she denied herself to serve others. Caroline had to know the source of her inner strength. Not herself, not Mitch, not the safety of Beaufort.

Sweet Caroline has a very happy ending, just a-typical.

I wrote the story to be true to Caroline and the story itself.

Behind the Scenes 4: Sweet Caroline

While I felt Caroline's story turned out well, I wasn't sure the readers and reviewers would agree. I wondered if people felt a once-in-a-life-time change in Barcelona was "over the top."

Would the Cafe scenarios and repairs come across realistic? I had to do quite a bit of research on that part.

Did I show how Caroline was a servant but not a whimp?

When Romantic Times Book Club Review gave me 4.5 Stars, I was thrilled.

On the other hand, there were some aspects I felt really confident in: the head, heart dialogs. The scenes with J.D. and Mitch. Elle.

The symbolism of Caroline keeping the old car as a way of hanging on to her old life.

Jesus visiting her.

The symbol of Caroline praying in a "live oak" tree hoping God was real. Jesus being the Tree of Life. Oak representing humanity. He was holding her all along, she just didn't know it. The tree being a resentation of His Godhead as well as humanity.

The reason she inherited the Cafe in the first place.

I loved the notion of "freely give, freely receive." Once I had a friend who was given a nice car. A few years later he went to sell it and I felt strongly the Lord wanted him to give it away. While the money was to go to his education, I felt the Lord was going to supply more than the price of the car.

He sold the car. But I've always been curious as to what God would've done if he'd given it away.

I wanted to show that with Caroline and how she handled the Cafe. In her humility, God was already blessing her with the Barcelona opportunity.

I loved the scene at her Mom's grave and the one with her brother. It's so important to say good-bye to the past.

I liked the writing believe it or not. This is one of my favorite lines, " The horizon beyond my small oval airplane window is like one of Elle's lowcountry paintings - wild with color and light. Gold and red mixed with fading blue sky, reaching down to the dark line that is earth."

Reader Feedback

Most of the reader feedback has been good. But a good friend confessed to me the other day, "Rachel, I loved the book, loved the writing, but well, it was painful."

Painful?

Caroline's journey reminded her of dreams she hadn't achieved. She felt her family had been mediocre and lazy, thus she struggled to do the things she wanted to do.

On the contrary, I saw my friend as a woman zealous for God, who loved her husband and family, loved her church. She was a smart, strong, working woman who'd raised great kids.

But we all have those things we wanted to do, but didn't. I understand. But until we're in the grave, we have a lot of living to do.

I said, "You're not dead yet. Don't quit."

She laughed. "I set the timer and gave myself a few minutes for self-pity."

Got to like that.. set those limits.

Anyway, Caroline's story is about opportunity. But mostly about living the life in front of you, growing where you're planted. Caroline humbly accepted her lot in life, but had the courage to reach out for change when it passed her by.

That's the encouragement of Sweet Caroline. Bloom where you're planted. Believe God had great things for you. Most of all, don't be afraid to reach out for change and opportunity.

Behind the Scenes 3: Sweet Caroline

I couldn't worship. Though I tried. I felt tired, weary and instead of gazing at my Redeemer, I danced with panic and fear.

That's it, my career is over.

Nelson is going to wonder... "what the heck?"

I've disappointed my fab editor.

I played out scenarios of my agent calling me with the bad news... "the book is unpublishable." I imagined my editor detailing all the story's flaws and weaknesses.

I felt sick that I'd disappointed her, locked in a funk, unable to escape.

But, I prayed, begged Jesus to help me. In the moments of circling out of funk, surfacing for air, I thought, "well, maybe it's not as bad as I think." I pictured a more favorable e-mail from my editor or agent.

But the black hole awaited. Outside of the Lord taking me up to heaven and handing me a new and better manuscript, I didn't know how He could fix this situation.

After the service, I hunted down friends who I knew could and would pray, who would speak the Word of the Lord, who would press me out of the funk. Funkville is not a great place to be.

First my friend Ted. After praying, he said, "At the end of the day you'll say, 'Look at what the Lord did.'"

Second, my friends Anna and Lin prayed. Anna said, "The Lord is going to do something. Just watch and see." Lin saw a basket of fruit. Little did she know but about a month before the Lord said to me, "I promise you fruit."

I left church encouraged. Kissed by God.

Tired but wired, I managed my way through the day. Susie Warren called to check up on me. "Send me the manuscript."

She spent her Sunday evening and part of Monday reading and editing. She encouraged me."You're on the right track, just rearrange these scenes."

I did. Added senses. Added description.

How did I get here, to this state of unsureness? Well, when I first started Sweet Caroline, I'd developed a southern fiction, saga-esque book in my mind. But I was to write a chick lit. Somehow working my ideas in to a chick lit felt odd and I tried to jump start the story in Sophie Kinsella style with an email. It went down hill from there. At least to me.

Plus, the method of writing forward without stopping to fix or edit just did not work for me.

Anyway, Susie's input helped immensely. Plus, Chris Lynxwiler ever-ready on IM.

By Tuesday, I was feeling good about the book, more confident, less funky. I even took time to meet Davis Bunn and Mark Mynheir for coffee.

Pause. Are you wondering why I didn't ask my editor for a deadline extension? Seems logical. But if I did, it didn't buy me anything. First of all, Tony and I were leaving town the first week of March for eight days. So, that would move my deadline to the end of March after which my editor would be out on maternity leave.

I thought, might as well get her feedback and fix the weaknesses on rewrites. I'm really good at rewrites!

Anyway, when I came home from coffee with Davis and Mark I had an e-mail. Due to a publishing schedule change, I had a new deadline for Sweet Caroline. May 25. Three extra months.

Was I praising God that day? Absolutely! Did I say, "Look at what God did?" Yes. He more than answered my prayer. The new schedule was a win-win for my publisher and me. The email was so encouraging and I was so grateful for the extra time.

Coincidence? Not at all. God knew what I needed. More important, He heard my heart. And He loves me.

I took March off to get some distance and perspective, then reworked the book over April and May. Even though my editor was out with her beautiful new baby, my "other editor" helped me fine tune and polish Sweet Caroline.

Poor Leslie. I practically rewrote it when she handed it back with a few suggestions. In the end, I loved the story and was very happy with how it turned out.

I've learned being close too to a manuscript does not give me an accurate perspective.

Tomorrow, final Behind the Scenes.

Behind the Scenes 2: Sweet Caroline

I didn't get a good, good start on Sweet Caroline until December. Between October and November, I had a lot of starts and throw-aways.

Here's one:

My grandfather Rainier and I had a tradition. The day after Thanksgiving he'd come by our house around four in the afternoon and take me to the Frogmore Cafe for a hot bowl of Frogmore Stew.
"I had enough turkey, Posey," he said to my mother, patting his belly. "I need some low country boil."
He glanced down at me with a wink. I was six and the baby of the family. Still am in some ways, I suppose. "Care to go with me, Caroline?"
"Momma, please?" I hopped off the stool and hugged up next to Pop's leg. A retired Marine, he carried a certain authority, commanded deep respect.
I heard Daddy talk about him with the men standing in the front yard after church, smoking cigarettes. It's where I first heard the words Nazi and the big war.
But to me Pop was my best friend. Like we were cut from the same cloth sixty-six years apart.
"Jessup, you’ll spoil her." Momma flattened her hands against her hips, shaking her head. "Now, Caroline, if-"
I ran for my sweater.
Momma followed us all the way to the drive way. "Now remember, she's only six. Don't get talking to Jones and forget she's sitting there. Remember little pitchers have big ears-"
That pulled Pop up short. "Sakes alive, Posey, I'm seventy-two, not addled."
Momma sucked in her bottom lip and wrinkled her nose. I didn't know what addled meant but it sure shut Momma up. Grandpa took my hand and smiled down at me.
"Guess that did it."
Pop’s friend, Jones Whitmore, owned the Frogmore Cafe, a converted nineteenth century home facing the Beaufort River. The old sweeping veranda creaked when we stepped up, but the Frogmore was warm and cozy. Even at six, I felt enveloped by the atmosphere. Low sounds, low lights, wonderful smells.

Here's another start and stop.

The wind carries a wintery chill as it blows through the live oaks, catching up the Spanish moss in an easy, melancholy dance. A few stubborn dry leaves, lacking the courage to fall to the ground, rattle against the side of the veranda's roof.
Propping myself against the porch railing, I cradled a For Sale sign to my chest, feeling my heart beat against the tips of my fingers. Some of my best childhood memories happened in this place, The Frogmore Cafe.
Through the moss and barren trees, I watch the Beaufort River flow gently toward the Atlantic, diamonds of sunlight lingering along the water's surface.
The cafe door opens behind me, then claps shut. My father's broad hand presses down on my shoulder.
"Well, Caroline, how's it feel?"
"Weird." My entire body is conflicted with swirls of anxiety and excitement.
He bends forward so his hands rest on the railing and gazes toward the river. "It's going to be a lot of work."
I bob my head, once. "Can't imagine it not."
Dad looks over his shoulder at me. "You’ve never run a cafe slash restaurant."
"No, but I'm a good business woman, Dad."
"Until Parker stole your business out from under you." He shift his gaze back to the river. "You're too trusting, Caroline."
"Your confidence in me is exhilarating."
Dad dips his head with a chuckle. "I'd feel better if I knew you could manage the back half of the restaurant." His ton is gentle, but laced with a warning. "Never will forget that call from the high school principal."
"I was there, Dad, remember?"
"'Hank, Caroline is a fine student, but we just can't keep her in home econ...'"
His laugh burst from his chest with a deep resonance. "A fire. Of all things. A home ec kitchen fire."
"How was I supposed to know the cherries and cinnamon would spill over on to the baking element and ignite?"
"Come on, Kit, surely you see the irony." He motions behind him toward the once-tabby exterior of the nineteenth century home that was now my cafe. "Pop filled your head with a bunch of dreams."
"Tony's coming to help me."
Dad tips his head to one side making a clicking sound with his teeth. "I don't mean to be a downer, but are you sure that's a good plan?"
"Absolutely. He's a great chef. Experienced."
"Got fired from his last job for insubordination, I believe?"
There are no secrets in Beaufort, South Carolina. What happens in Atlanta, or Charleston, or Savannah is breathed around here in soft whispers.
"He didn't get along with the executive chef." I face my father. "Do you think I can do this or not?"
Dad slips his hands in the pockets of his khaki slacks and starts down the steps. "I've always said you could rule the world Caroline. You could rule the world."
I run after him. "Except for?"
"You lead with your heart. It's like a big welcoming matt for the down trodden and the users. Even Jesus walked away from the insincere."
"I have to do this, for myself, if for no other reason. No guts, no glory."
Dad stops by my car parked along Bay Street. He pats the cherry red door with the palm of his hand. "Pop's old '65 Mustang. Still running."

Finally, at the beginning of January, I'm closer to what would be the final product.

My life changed the day a man died. The day I sat in morning traffic on Hwy 21, the spring sky promising to be blue, while the Beaufort River draw bridge slowly swung closed.
The day the carburetor of my old '68 Mustang convertible sputtered and choked, then died right there on the bridge with a hundred cars in line behind me.
The day I arrived late for work at the Frogmore Cafe to find everyone milling around in red-eyed, stunned disbelief.
The day Daddy told me he was finally marrying his long time girlfriend, Posey, and I had to move out of the house. Was two months enough time? Yes, if I had money.
The day God heard me whisper a simple question, "Hey, I don't know if you're really there, but if you are, could you dig in your bag of goodies and find a life for me?"
***
Two months. That's all it takes for my broken down jalopy quit on me again just as I exit the bridge and turn left onto Bay Street. I mashed in the clutch and gunned the gas to keep it from dying completely - and to save face with the line of cars behind me - and send a vapor of black smoke out the exhaust.
So fitting that I inherited this heap from my mother. Thank you, Sarah Sweeney, wherever you are.
The carburetor sputters and chokes and the 'Stang hesitates, then lurches forward. Come on, come on. I ride the clutch, gun the gas and aim for an open parallel parking slot in front of as I inch over to the side of the street, barely slipping into a handicap spot in front of Rhett Gallery.
The engine rattles and shakes. And dies. I jerk my bag to my lap from the passenger seat, muttering soap worthy words, and dig around for my cell phone.
As I auto dial Daddy, a siren and blue lights blip beside me. "Can't park here, Caroline."
I don't even look over. Dang J.D. Think I don't know I can't park in the handicap spot? "Car's broke down, give me a minute."
"Caroline?" JD inches the squad car forward and blips the siren again.
Go out with a Sheriff once and he thinks he owns you. I peek over at him. "I'm calling Daddy."
"I can radio in a tow truck for you." Sheriff JD holds up his handset.
Shaking my head, I point to the phone, "Daddy can fix the car. Besides, no money for a tow."
"Don't worry about that, now."
Oh no. Rule number one of lowcountry dating. Don't be indebted to a man who claims he's loved you since fifth grade and grows up to carry a gun for a living.
"Yeah, Caroline." Daddy's voice booms into my ear.
"Help." I wince. "She broke down again."
"Where?" Sigh. "I told you to get rid of that thing."
"And buy what? With what? I'm in front of Rhett's." With my best smile, I give JD a thumbs up. He can move on now.
But he doesn't.

***
Originally, I thought Caroline would not work at the Cafe and discover she inherited it. Then I wrote a couple of scenes with that in mind and the story did not feel real to me. The conflict was not genuine enough.

Now, I pray a lot while writing. Pray for God to write His story through me. I think a lot about my characters, analyze each scene, questioning it's relevance and importance. Is the scene contributing, or redundant? Is there enough tension? Why should the reader care about these characters?

I just didn't feel like I was getting the story right. One night, as I went to bed I asked the Lord for a dream to help me understand the story I needed to write.

He answered.

The gist? Write the story as if Caroline worked at the Cafe, but instead of it being a fancy place, make it a run down Cafe. Then there was the part about Tom Cruise making a movie in Beaufort, but I cut that part.

So, on January eight, I started the story over. While I used a lot of material I already had, but nevertheless, I was starting over.

I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote. Long days, long nights. The book was due March 1 and on February 17th, I sat in my chair and wrote for fifteen hours to finish the book.

Tony was reading and offering input, then a friend was critiquing. The Saturday before it was due, she wrote, "I think you need to add a thread to up the conflict."

What? How? Where? Now? I freaked. I only had five days. How could I create more conflict and tension in five days? I was up until midnight writing. Then up again at 3:00 a.m. trying to rewrite.

I managed to crawl into church, a zombie. Thank goodness I wasn't leading worship. But on that day, my friend Jesus began to really show Himself strong.

Behind the Scenes 1: Sweet Caroline

Ah, as promised. A behind the scenes look at Sweet Caroline! So, I'm a few weeks, maybe months late, but better late than never.

The beginning

Sweet Caroline started out years ago as straight up chick lit called "Cooking with Kate." I thought it would be humorous to have a woman hosting a cooking show, but be a disaster in the kitchen!

Her show would be sponsored by a cookware company - think Tim "Tool Man" Taylor and Benford tools - and find herself in some sort of "cook off" with a top male chef. Of course, he'd be the love interest and hero.

Flash forward a couple of years - The story idea had been set aside, but I needed to come up with my next book for Nelson.

I pulled up the "Kate" idea, but like the title "Sweet Caroline." This could be my non-cooking cook story.

In August of '06, Tony and I visited friends in Poughkeepsie and one of the couples went to Beaufort, SC on a fun whim and showed a video they'd made. I loved the setting and decided Beaufort would be home for my Caroline.

The synopsis I submitted to my editor, the lovely and most-intuitive Ami McConnell had Caroline co-owning a Cafe and in order to save it, she agreed to host a cooking show to raise the money.

I took a road trip to Beaufort, checked out the area, met the fabulous citizens and came home to write.

About two months into it, I realized being a cooking show host just didn't work. One, hosting the show was a story unto itself. It was too much to roll in the Cafe and have any story depth. One thing about me, I always add too much or go over the top. Like, the hero wasn't just a football player, he was Rookie of the Year, All Pro, Best Ever!

Also, hosting a cooking show in small town Beaufort didn't feel very realistic to me, though now I think I could've done it, but cooking shows have a staff, a stage, and it would be hard to set the production and crew in Beaufort.

Caroline's family was also a factor. After sinking her inheritance in the Cafe, they were upset with her. And, I couldn't figure out her love interest. Though, I think it was still going to be Mitch, a country singer.

As I wrote, her family didn't feel authentic to me, nor the way I had set up the Cafe, so I tried to rethink the angle.

That's when I had the dream...

Romans 5

I love, love, love singing the Word. Get a three or four chord progression going and God's Word opens up and speaks to the human heart.

I've been super-duper busy lately and while it is NO excuse, my prayer and Word time has been scattered.

So, I sat at the keyboard this afternoon and opened to Romans 5.

I love this... starting in verse 3:

"Exalt in tribulation and trials. It brings about perseverance. Perseverance helps us develop proven character and out of that we have hope.

Hope does NOT disappoint. Look, God poured out His love within our hearts through the Holy Spirit whom He gave to us."

Isn't that amazing? God purposefully poured out His love in us, then gave us His Spirit to keep us in love.

One of the problems in American today, the Church chief among them, is we don't want to endure. We want the quick fix. We want life easy and simple, someone to fix everything for us. We don't own up to our own weaknesses and faults.

Listen, if the first thing out of your mouth when times are hard is, "Well, my mother..." Or, "My Dad..." Or, "My boss..." Substitute what you will... husband, kids, agent, editor, neighbor, pastor...

Stop pointing the finger, look inside, confess your sins and endure. Develop proven character. We need a whole lot more character in this world. We are so busy blaming and spinning the truth. Let it start within me, within my hearts.

I want proven character. I want hope. I want the love of God dwelling in me richly.

Here's the best part of this Roman passage. Verse 8.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

I've written four books in first person present. I am. I go. I want. I say. The reason I did this was for the immediacy. It has a "now" feel.

"God demonstrates" has the same immediacy, now feel. God demonstrating His love for us is not past tense. It's every day. Current. Happening even now.

As I was singing this verse, taking a direction of Jesus dying on the Cross, singing how He faced the grave, defeated all of Hell, took the keys of death, I stopped.

Whoa. Heavy reavy.

God is life, right? Holds all of life in His hands. Adam, in the Garden, surrender his authority over death to his enemy, Satan.

Jesus came as a man, faced His enemy for all of human kinds, think David and Goliath, defeated Satan and took the authority over Death from him. Now Jesus, a Man, holds the keys. A man of love, an intercessor, who also happens to be God.

Look, I know we all know this at some level. But it hit me deeper today. Jesus. A man. Fixed what Adam screwed up. Only a human could take the keys of death away from him. So God said, "I'll do it for them by becoming one of them."

Amazing!!! There is NO other religion in the world with this kind of Hero. None. No one compares to Jesus. None. Investigate for yourself. Compare. You'll see.

Well, off  to check on my cake.

Sunday

I'm in the Memphis airport waiting to board a flight for Atlanta. Christine Lynxwiler and her hubby drove Susan Downs and I to the airport from Arkansas.

We had a good weekend together. The Word Book Store owner took great care of us, putting us up in a bed and breakfast, bringing breakfast. We were able to pray with him and his fiance before we left.

Other than a good time brainstorming and signing books, I learned from my dear friends I "eat like a linebacker."

I wasn't sure what that meant, but I it's supposed to be a compliment. We laughed about it.

I've been so busy I haven't spent much time with my friend Jesus lately. I plan to remedy that next week. AND, get back to the gym. I need to work out... My muscles are screaming.

A Writer's Retreat and book signing

I'm in Arkansas at After Words book store and cafe with Christine Lynxwiler, Tracey Bateman, Susie Warren and Susan Downs. 

We had a day of writing talk and brainstorming, then a day of a writing workshop and book signing. 

We are having a great time, hanging out and getting to know the great people in Hardy. The book store owner is very gracious and excited about authors. 

I'm on the other side of a dog-tired. This has been a hectic few weeks. Working on Love Starts With Elle rewrites, an ACFW board meeting in Minneapolis, then coming here. It's been fun, but busy.

Next week? Sleep and reading, catching up on a few things that need to get done. Hubby wants to do some de-junking and get ready for a garage sale. I'm all for it. We've lived in our house for ten years now and it's time to get rid of some stuff.

Lola is doing great, btw. Pal is getting along with her although Red the cat is wondering what little grey beast is napping with his "human."

Grace and peace. More later.

 

The Perfect Life

THE PERFECT LIFE

by Robin Lee Hatcher

Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and handsome man, respected in their church and the community.

Two grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.

She has it all until the day a reporter appears with shocking allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad's financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, of an affair with a former employee.

Without warning, Katherine's marriage is shattered and her family torn apart. The reassuring words she's spoken to many brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now.

Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of the perfect life?

Publisher's Weekly says:

"Hatcher is a dab hand with dialogue, which is one reason her characters are so well drawn: readers will feel empathy with all members of the family. Hatcher also gets kudos for creating, in Katherine's best friend, a sympathetic non-Christian character, something all too rare in faith fiction. This will be a surefire hit with Hatcher's many fans."

About Robin

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles.

The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 55 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

An interview with Robin

Question: Hi, Robin, it's good to have you stop by. The book looks wonderful. Where do you get the ideas for your stories and what has been your greatest inspiration?

Answer: Ideas come from all kinds of places - from dreams, from bit of news on the television, from conversations overheard in restaurants.

Sometimes I'm conscious of the exact moment an idea for a novel began. But for most my novels, the ideas seem to creep up on me. The Perfect Life was more the latter. One day I simply recognized I had the premise for a story rolling around in my head, then I began brainstorming the bigger picture and eventually the novel was born.

Some of my novels have come from deep personal experiences. Because God has walked me through dark places and brought me out on the other side, I want to share with others the grace He has shown me. Since I am a novelist, fiction is the main way I can do that. And naturally, the faith element of my novels comes out of my own faith experiences, from lessons God has taught me or is teaching me. Sometimes I'm looking for answers right along with the characters of my books, so writing is a form of discovery for me.

Question: How does it make you feel to see your books, not only in print but on the shelves of stores?

Answer: I can honestly say it was every bit as exciting when I held The Perfect Life, my 56^th book, as it was when I held my very first novel (1984).

Every novel is a story from my heart, and I pray that each one will bring readers both enjoyment and new understanding. To see it come to fruition is an amazing thing.

RH: Fifty-six books! That's incredible Robin. A hug achievement.

Question: Do you have a favorite of all the books you have written so far? Why is it your favorite?

Answer: I don't have one favorite book, but some of my books are special to me for different reasons. For instance, I love Ribbon of Years because my protagonist, Miriam, is the kind of Christian I hope to be at the end of my life.

I love The Shepherd's Voice because God taught me that He can and will do amazing things with what I offer to Him, even when it is so imperfect. I love Beyond the Shadows because I long to let Christians who love alcoholics know that they are not alone and that there is always hope in Christ. I love Catching Katie because Katie was such a fun character and the research was fascinating.

I love The Forgiving Hour because God poured that story into my heart and many of the scenes came straight out of my own life (albeit the experiences came more than 25 years before I wrote the book).

I love The Perfect Life because I understand Katherine's perfectionist tendencies and her need to control the chaos. And I always love the next book I plan to write because there is still hope that it will completely fulfill the vision I have for it.

RH: Every book is like a personal extension of ourselves. And yes, the "next" book is the one that will turn out exactly as we envision.

Thanks for stopping by, Robin. Blessings on this book!

Guest blogger, Cami Tang

Please welcome my friend, author and guest blogger, Cami Tang.

The mystery of worship

Worship is such an intimate thing. It's very hard for me to describe it, even though I've been a worship music leader at my church for several years.

Originally, when I had just started working with the youth group as a staff member, my youth pastor asked me to lead music for the youth group meetings on Saturday nights. The junior high and high school kids aren't very picky, and so I didn't worry about missed notes, forgotten lyrics, etc.

One time, we had problems with the projector and couldn't get the lyrics up on the screen, so we did the entire set without them! The kids just kind of mouthed words and looked a little confused, but they didn’t really mind.

However, a few months later, the youth pastor wanted me to put together an all-youth worship team to lead music for Sunday service. He wanted to give the kids a chance to serve the church in this way, and there was an opening for an additional worship team.

This made me more nervous. The people in Sunday service tend to be more discriminating, and more vocal if they don't like something. Teens aren't known for being on time for practices, or even for Sunday service. They're not known for playing completely accurately if they're not taking something seriously. They're also not known for really valuing the opportunity to serve at church, even though the youth staff tries to help them to understand why it's important.

But, my pastor had asked. So I gave it a go.

The kids stepped up to the plate in ways I would never have dreamed. They came to practice on time. They made an effort to be serious about their playing and not goofing off. And they seemed to understand why it was important for them to be there, playing on the worship team.

Most important, they started to understand how to worship.

No just standing and singing words, but in being a worship leader. In worshipping themselves as they played or sang. In thinking about God or the congregation and not themselves.

I have to admit, they were helped along by some very key youth retreats that happened around the time the worship team started doing a turn at Sunday service (my church has four worship teams, and we each take one service a month). The youth retreats focused on true worship, and the kids on my team took the messages to heart.

But I didn't expect to be affected by their new attitudes. I had taken on the job like a youth staff worker leading a small group, but then I started to realize that I was a worship leader and a worshipper myself. It changed my whole conception of what worship was, of how to worship.

I wanted to infuse part of that mystery of worship in my writing. I was able to write a few key scenes in ONLY UNI that tried to convey the kinds of things I feel when I worship the Lord. Trish's experience is a mix of my experience and the experience of the teens on my worship team.

I hope Trish can influence other people, too, to seek the mystery of worship of our Lord.

Camy Tang is the loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick lit.

She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service.

She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely, hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her own...), the writing journey, Asiana, and anything else that comes to mind.

Visit her website a www.camytang.com for a huge website contest going on right now, giving away five boxes of books and 25 copies of her latest release, ONLY UNI.

President Lincoln Understood

From my hubby's blog.

I'm going to hit the abortion issue once again because I believe its important that we understand something our forefathers knew, something we’ve forgotten.

Or worse, something we no longer believe to be true in this age of intellect. It is this profound truth; that God still judges the nations of the earth.

The Bible says, "So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it." (Num 35:33)

Abraham Lincoln understood this principle. Below is a portion of his second inaugural address. Just try to imagine our next President speaking like this to the whole nation as he takes office.

The Almighty has his own purposes.

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"

If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him?

Fondly do we hope - fervently do we pray - that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away.

Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk,

and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether"

We've lost so much as a nation that we don't even realize the peril we are in. 600,000 men died in four years in our civil war, and Lincoln considered that the price due for the injustice of slavery.

What will 50 million aborted babies cost us? God give us another great awakening in America!

Leaving November is the second novel in the Clayburn Novels series from Howard/Simon & Schuster.

Daughter of the town drunk, Vienne Kenney has escaped Clayburn for law school in California.

But after failing the bar exam - twice - she's back home with her tail between her legs, managing Latte-dah, the Clayburn cafe turned upscale coffee shop.

Jackson Linder runs the art gallery across the street and Vienne has had her eye on him since she was a skinny seventh grader and he was the hunky high school lifeguard who didn't know she existed.

Now it's his turn to fall for her and suddenly Clayburn seems like a pretty nice place to be. . . until Vienne discovers that Jack is fresh out of rehab and still struggling with the same addiction that ultimately killed her father.

DEBORAH RANEY is at work on her seventeenth novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, the HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award and Silver Angel from Excellence in Media.

Deborah's first novel, "A Vow to Cherish," inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title.

Deb serves on the advisory board of American Christian Fiction Writers. She and her husband, Ken Raney, have four children and enjoy small-town life in Kansas. Visit Deb on the web at www.deborahraney.com.


Chatting with Deb. . .

Q. I love the premise of this book, Deb, what was your inspiration for Leaving November?

A. When I was writing the first book in the series, Remember to Forget, Jackson Linder, a secondary character in the book, really intrigued me. Jack has struggled with something that is my greatest fear: being responsible for the death of another person. I wanted to explore how someone in his shoes could find forgiveness, redemption, and even happiness.

Q. Living with that responsibility would be incredibly hard. What a great topic to tackle in fiction. So, what are you working on now?

A. I've just finished the first draft for the third book in the Clayburn series, Yesterday's Embers.

I have a new contract for another three-book series, and a couple of stand-alone novels to write, but there are other characters from the Clayburn novels begging to have their stories told! I don't know if I'll get to write any more Clayburn books, but I've loved my time in this little fictional Kansas town!

Q. Writing about a town and people we love really helps the writing journey. What do you enjoy most about writing? The least?

A. Most: Having written! Because that means I'm getting reader feedback on my novel - the reward for all the hours of solitude! I also love that I get to be at home and make my own hours.

Least: First-drafting! I love rewriting - taking my editors' comments and applying them to make my book the best it can be. But the blank page terrifies me! For me, it's far easier to fix a horrible manuscript than to try to come up with something out of thin air.

rh: I agree, Deb. I love getting my editor's feedback, then get to rewriting. Most of all, hearing from readers.

Q. Tell us, what do you do when you're not reading or writing?

A. I love working in the beautiful garden my husband, Ken, designed in our back yard (for a peek, go to http://kansasprairiegarden.blogspot.com) and I love decorating our home.

It's such fun to comb antique shops and flea markets for a great object from the past that I can use on my desk or in my kitchen, or a great piece of furniture to paint or refinish.

I'm not much for pretty stuff just for the sake of having it on display, but I love "repurposing" antiques -like the old chamber pot I use for deadheading in the garden, or the antique bank mail sorter that serves as my filing "cabinet."

As much as I enjoy my career, I've always believed that my most precious calling is wife to Ken, my husband of 33 years; mom to four great kids; and now mom-in-law, and "Mimi" to two darling little grandsons.

In addition, I have some of the most amazing friends in the world, including a group of women who share my name. We affectionately call ourselves Club Deb. I think being in the solitary profession of writing helps you really appreciate the people you have eye-to-eye contact with!

rh: Very true. We need to keep up with the outside world!

Thanks for stopping by, Deb.

God is so good

I just have to post - God is so good!

So very, very, very good.

I'm in awe. In awe.

Lola Eaten by A Pit Bull

Almost!

Man, it was scary.

Today was a cool day in central Florida, so taking advantage of the weather, Tony and I took Pal and Lola on a late afternoon walk. I needed to stretch and break from rewrites for a few minutes.

Lola is doing great - has a new bed and new leash.

We're strolling along one of our routes and as we near a corner house, a man is trying to corral a dog in his yard. But she would have none of it, maneuvered around him, ran straight for us and JUMPED on Lola. I'm not kidding.

So, I do what I can - scream. Which always helps.

Tony goes for her collar, misses, but it makes the pit bull move enough so I can get Lola free. Poor thing. I'm pulling by the leash and can't get her in my arms fast enough so she's dangling by the neck.

The pit bull started to go for Pal which would've been a fight-fight, but the owner arrived on scene and snatched up the mean dog. The lady-owner hit her with her hand on it's back side a few times which I thought, "Geez, she doesn't even know what she did. How are you helping?"

They apologized to us, but wow, it was scary. That happened to me once before with good ole Jack. A Mastiff jumped him after they sniffed noses and hind parts.

But this pit bull did not even hesitate. She went right for little Lola.

Tony said to me, "You know, screaming makes it worse."

"Yes, but I can't help it."

After the big drama, we trotted on down the road. Lola-Fifi (what I call her) was toodly-doing just fine.

Her name is La-la-la-Lola

Our found dog's owner called today. She described her perfectly and when I repeated her name, "Lola," the little Schnauzer perked up.

So, my Fifi is a Lola.

The owner said she'd be by in the afternoon to pick her up. I said, "No worry, we've loved having her. She's a great dog."

My comment opened the door I'd hoped it would open. "Do you want to keep her?"

"Yes!"

Afte five days, I wondered if her "people" were really concerned. The woman seemed super nice and cared for Lola, but not overly attached.

I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.

So, Lola is now our dog.

Smile. I'm very happy.

I found a dog

Thursday morning while running an errand, I spotted a little dog wandering down the road. I pulled over to see if she was okay, if there was a tag with her collar.

Sadly, there wasn't. She was friendly to me, but kept wandering down the side walk, trotting up each driveway to the front walk to the front door, sniffing.

Then she'd go around to the back of at house. At one point, she sat in between two yards, looking east, then west as if to inquire, "Which way home?"

I knew she was lost, so I called her again and took her with me on my errand. She was too cute peeking between the two front seats from the back.

We've had her a few days now and while working to find her owners, we are making her a part of our family.

Out with friends

My last roommate before marrying hubby, Renee, turned forty this month. I couldn't let the day go by without celebrating, so we went to Carrabbas last night with two other friends.

I met Renee right after she graduated from Clemson. We didn't click right away, but as she worked with the youth, we became friends and decided to share an apartment. My sister and another former youth also lived with us.

We became fast friends. Renee would invite my future hubby over all the time for dinner or ice cream - even though we were trying not to spend so much time together. Our opposing views of our relationship were getting old. ;)

Renee is one of those forever friends. Do you have one of those? After she got married and had kids, our lives drifted apart some. She focused on being a mom, I focused on, well, me.

Ha! Just kidding. I focused on what the Lord called me to do.

But no matter how many days and months went by, even years, we could pick up the phone at any time and talk - open, honest, in love.

We had such a great time at dinner, as we gathered in the parking lot for the final goodbyes, Renee said, "Hey, let's do this on the fourth Friday of all the even months."

Yes! Let's. Even if one can't make it, the others will get together. I'm so excited! A regular girls night. Woo hoo.

I'm not much of a girlfriend addict. But lately, I've felt trapped in a friendless hole and have been praying to get out. As I've become more acquainted with the writing world, most of my friends are writers who live all over the country. I love them dearly, but a Friday night out would be costly!

Yet, I have to confess. Only writers get writers. I'm not sure what it is, but the moment I start talking about writing with non-writing friends, it's like they hear me and or interested, but their gaze is one of "oh, isn't that nice?"

I'd get more excitement out of telling them I bought new shoes. ;)

In other news, working on Love Starts With Elle edits. I love this story, but it needed some tweaking. So it's fun to do the fixing up.

Grace, grace to you all.

Elvis Takes A Back Seat

Welcome my friend and author Leanna Ellis. She's written a fabulous book Elvis Takes A Back Seat.

What's your book about?

Elvis Takes a Back Seat is about a young widow who is determined to fulfill her husband’s last request. She hauls a three foot bust of Elvis strapped in the back seat of a vintage Cadillac from Texas to Memphis to return it to its rightful owner.

The road trip with her eccentric aunt, who knew the King of Rock n' Roll, and a temperamental teen, hits roadblocks and detours as the three women uncover pieces of their own past along with the bust's mysterious history.

The discoveries change the course of their lives forever. How did you come up with the idea for your book? It's actually a long process for me and very much God activated. God really pulled this whole story together.

With Elvis Takes a Back Seat, I had written chapter one which starts with a garage sale. I had conceived the story of the three women, but I didn't know where these three women were going on their journey. After I'd written the first chapter with the garage sale, where I placed a quirky Elvis bust just for humor, I called a dear friend, D. Anne Love, who writes YA fiction.

We brainstormed the story. I really wanted them to go to Europe. I thought I needed a research trip. She suggested Memphis and Graceland. She didn't know about the Elvis bust because it was such a minor thing.

So when she mentioned Graceland, it all clicked. How long have you been writing and how did you get published? I quit my teaching job in 1991 and began writing. Three and a half years later, I sold my first book. I was like many newbies and thought I'd sell within a year of starting. LOL! Then I learned how hard it is to write, to submit and how difficult it is to jump that hurdle.

I wrote twelve romances for Harlequin/Silhouette then walked away. The reason is muddled. Basically, I was tired after writing 6 books in 2 years and also having 2 babies fifteen months apart. But I also ran out of ideas for romances.

I had other ideas simmering and wanted to take more time to be with my babies and also pursue these other ideas. During those years I also gave my writing over to the Lord and really began to pursue what He wanted me to do. One thing was homeschooling.

God kept revealing to me that He wanted me to write. So it wasn't until around 2004 when I really kicked myself into gear and began to pursue publishing again.

During the summer of 2006, God steered me toward the CBA. Long story short, I went to my first ACFW conference in September, secured an agent and by March of 2007 had a three book contract. It was all God paving the way, opening the doors.

If you had a whole Saturday to do nothing or anything you want, what would you do?

I'd spend time with my family, my husband and kids. Ideally, we'd play at the beach, swim with the turtles. Of course, that would require us to be in some exotic locale, like Hawaii.

But if I can do anything. . . What's your favorite color? Red!

What's your favorite animal?

This is tough. Of course, I love my dogs and cats that live with us. But my favorite animals are lions and polar bears.

What's your favorite food?

Usually Tex-Mex. Guacamole, requiring chips, of course. What's your favorite beverage? Diet Cherry Coke. What's your favorite vacation spot? Hawaii, London, Scotland . . . I could name a lot here.

What's your favorite book?

This is too hard to name one. I have many favorites, To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorites. I also loved The Secret Lives of Bees, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Kite Runner, A Year of Wonders to name a few.

What's your favorite movie?

This is tough too. It's a Wonderful Life, True Grit, Dances with Wolves, Singing in the Rain, When Harry Met Sally, Apollo 13, etc. . . This year so far I loved August Rush, Enchanted and the Water Horse. Obviously, I had to take my kids to the last two. Getting time away to see PG-13 movies is tougher.

What's your favorite tv show?

I don't watch a lot of tv as I just don't have the time. Right now, we like to watch Dinner Impossible. Which feels a lot like my life. We love to watch old reruns of I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith.

What's your favorite music?

Oh, lots of favorites here. I love musicals, so Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Wicked all rank at the top of the list. I love Michael Buble and Josh Groban. I also love Newsboys, Selah, Keith Green, Nicole C. Mullins. I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton. I have lots and lots of music on my iPod like U2, Celine Dion, Dan Fogelberg, Michael Ball and of course Elvis.

Who's your favorite actor and actress?

Of course, I love the oldies like Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant and John Wayne. I also love Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe (what is it with Aussies?), Renee Zellweger, Judi Dench, Meryl Streep.

Besides this interview, what's the strangest thing you've done for publicity for a book?

Having an Elvis impersonator sing to me felt pretty odd.

What is your next project?

Lookin’ Back, Texas comes out September '08.

A devoted wife and mother must return to her Texas hometown to help her mother plan her father's funeral. Trouble is - he isn't dead! And neither are the secrets she buried there years ago.

About Leanna.

Winner of the National Readers' Choice Award and Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award, Leanna Ellis has written several novels. She now writes women's fiction for B&H Publishing.

Her book Elvis Takes a Back Seat is the launch title for B&H Publishing and will be released January 2008.

Visit her website at Leanna Ellis.

Debt of Love

The other day while reading through verses for prayer, I came across this one. "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law."

One translation refers to the "debt of love."

We are indebted for so many material things in this life - cars, houses, "toys," maxed out credit cards - but rarely are we in debt for love.

To be honest, I'm not even sure I know what it means or how to do it. I did some study and searching.

Here's a definition I like. (Rachel's translation)

"Free yourself from all obligations and debts except loving each other. If you have a debt or bill, pay it. If you owe someone money or service, pay and be done with it. Move on. But love is never paid. It is always due. Love should be given daily, never out of obligation, but out of a servant's heart. If you loved yesterday, love more today."

This verse hit me hard and became the final straw to draw me to the down town ministry. I'm not sure I love daily outside of Tony, family and friends, but that's easy love. I want to daily dole out love to the unlovely, the smelly, the poor, people not like me.

I read a great quote about being preoccupied by loving God and being loved by Him! I'm so preoccupied by so many other things, but at the end of this AGE, only one thing will matter. Jesus.

Look at these One Thing verses.

Psalm 27 - "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek. To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gaze on His beauty and seek Him in his temple."

Mark 10:21 - "Looking at him, Jesus felt love for him. 'One thing you lack. Go and sell all your posses and give to the poor. You'll have treasure in heaven; and come follow me."

Wow. Jesus is telling him, "Love!" It's a picture of the life to come. He doesn't want this young rich man to suffer for suffering sake. Nor does He not want him to have pleasure. Jesus is saying, "The pleasures in heaven are a bazillion times better than what you have on earth."

I'm telling you, little ole praying Grandma's are going to make he Bill Gates's of the world look poor.

This is my favorite "one thing" verse.

Luke 10:41, 42 - "Rachel, Rachel (oops, I mean Martha, Martha) you're worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, sitting at My feet, and this exchange between us, this intimacy cannot be taken away from her."

I've been a Martha the past few days. Worried. Bothered. Fretting. Anxious. I publicly repent. I am called to be a Mary. I want to be a Mary. We should ALL strive to be Marys.

Jesus never lies. He is telling us "one thing!" is necessary! Love and sit at my feet. Okay, so that's two things, but it's one concept. The rest of our life flows out of this debt of love.

I heard the story of a man I know and respect being caught up into heaven. Standing before the great white throne, Jesus asked him, "Did you learn to love?"

Good thing the man wasn't dead. After that encounter, he was able to adjust his life's priorities. Now I am able to adjust mine, too.

Awaken My Heart by DiAnn Mills

Please welcome my long time friend, DiAnn Mills. She is a prolific author and a mentor to many aspiring and established authors.

Awaken My Heart is DiAnn's new book from Avon Inspire and tells the unlikely love story between 18-year-old Marianne, a wealthy rancher’s daughter, and the infamous Mexican rebel leader warring against her father.

Click HERE to learn more and to enter sweepstakes for free stay at a Bed & Breakfast of your choice!


1803, The Colony of Texas

Journey back to the early days of southwest history when the Spanish ruled the vast territory of Texas and padres instructed the people in the ways of God. Step into the world of handsome vaqueros and brightly dressed dark-eyed maidens.

The time is 1803. This is the era of Marianne Phillips and Armando Garcia, two people separated by race and culture but destined for love. Marianne is the daughter of a wealthy American rancher, a man who will do anything to please the Spanish and secure his land. Armando is a Mexican peasant, a rebel according to the Spanish. He has committed his life to helping the poor rise from poverty and the oppression of the ruling Spanish. Armando and Marianne . . . Two unlikely people who have little in common. Or do they?

Open this book to a romance that will live in your heart long after the story is told. Curl up in a serape and listen to the strum of a Spanish guitar. I invite you to read with your heart and become a part of a love story that only the hand of God could orchestrate.

What reviewers are saying about Awaken My Heart:

"Awaken My Heart is a terrific early nineteenth century Texas Colonial romance starring two caring protagonists who in many ways seem like a North American Romeo and Juliet. The story line is fast-paced and loaded with action . . . DiAnn Mills provides a delightful historical that brings to vivid life a time and place that rarely if ever has served as the background." - Harriet Klausner

"Awaken My Heart is a colorful inspirational tale of romance and adventure! - Diana Risso, Romance Reviews Today

Q & A with the author - DiAnn Mills

You've been writing historical fiction for a long time. What interested you in the 1803 time period?

I love Texas history, and I have an appreciation for the courageous men and women who built this state. Early Texas is a mixture of Native American, Spanish, black, and various European descents. Each race offered us a rich cultural heritage, a heritage that we should be proud.

What is it the theme of Awaken My Heart?

The theme is courage: courage to stand up to political and social factions that vie against God and what He desires for His people.

Armando Garcia is a rebel type of character. Do you think this type of hero applauds rebellion?

Not at all. Armando had much to learn about the difference between his own desires and what God required of him. Once he realized his stand needed to embrace truth, he was on the right road.

Marianne Phillips has a streak of rebellion in her. How was it channeled?

Marianne kept much of her rebellion inside because she knew God expected her to honor her parents, and in many instances, her father’s wishes. Once she saw that she had to make a choice between obedience to her father and obedience to God, she found strength to do that which was right.

What do you want your readers to understand about Weston Phillips?

Weston Phillips had the potential to be a good and kind man. He had the intelligence to build a large ranch and the ability to accumulate wealth, but selfishness took the reins. Once the reader completes the novel, he/she will understand Phillips much better.

What is your biggest challenge in writing?

Always the characterization. I crave three dimensional characters that will experience growth. Understanding and acting upon their motivation takes time! Sometimes I simply have to "live" with them for awhile.

How do you develop your characters?

Through time, patience, people-watching, viewing them through unusual situations, brainstorming, and consulting many books about the psychology of personalities. And that's just the beginning!

How much of yourself goes into a character?

I attempt to keep myself excluded from the process, but I admit that an opinion or a trait appears now and then.

What is your next project?

I'm currently writing a romantic suspense for Tyndale, the second book in the Behind the Sunglasses Series. I'm also preparing various historical fiction proposals.

How can you encourage fledging writers in their craft?

To read in the genre in which they want to write. To read the books written by those authors they admire. To read books about the craft. To write everyday. To become active in a writer’s group.

How can readers contact you?

My website is www.diannmills.com. Feel free to sign up for my newsletter. Thanks!

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should "Expect an Adventure." Her desire is to show characters solving real problems of today from a Christian perspective through a compelling story.

Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007. She is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader's Choice award for 2005 and 2007.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer's Guild.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas, the home of heat, humidity, and Harleys. In fact she'd own a Harley, but her legs are too short. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

DiAnn, thanks so much for stopping by! It's always good to see what you're doing! Rachel