The Shape of Mercy, by Susan Meissner

I'm really excited about this new book from friend and author Susan Meissner! I read it about a month ago, and found the story engaging, haunting and stirring me to think. In our modern times, we think we are above "witch hunts" or mass hysteria, but are we really?

As I read Meissner's historically accurate account of the Salem witch trials through the diary of fictional Mercy, I realized the human heart is the same today as it was in 1692.

While it's confounding the citizens of Salem hung their own without evidence other than the hysteria of young girls throwing themselves to the ground and screaming out a name, I paused to see at times in our modern society we judge as harshly and as quickly.

We also fail to really look close, and discern truth.

Back to the book... sorry for that bunny trail. Laura and Abigail also have a journey of self discovery as they transcribe Mercy's diary.

Meissner's writing is clean, fresh and lovely. She tells a wonderful story. I highly recommend this book.

Here's the official word about the book:

The Shape of Mercy, is a blend of contemporary and historical fiction, mystery and romance. Set in present day Santa Barbara and also in colonial America during the Salem Witch Trials, the book follows a young college student as she transcribes the diary of a young woman falsely accused of witchcraft in 1692.

"The story in a nutshell is this," Susan says. "Lauren Durough is a West Coast English major at the proverbial age of discovery. Sheltered in her growing up years by family wealth, she is just beginning to grasp how people judge other people by what they want to believe about them, and particularly for her, how the poor view the wealthy. When she opts out of her family’s financial support, she takes on a job as a literary assistant to Abigail Boyles, an 83 - year - old reclusive East Coast transplant.

"Abigail tasks Lauren with transcribing the diary of her ancestor, Mercy Hayworth, hanged for witchcraft in 17th - century Massachusetts . The lives of these two very different women converge as they jointly piece together the life - and death - of a third woman, Mercy Hayworth, who lived three hundred years earlier, and who also struggled against undeserved cultural stigmatization, but lost."

Susan says the title has dual meaning. "Those who testified against the accused in Salem in 1692 often claimed their tormentors "took shape" in their bedrooms and tortured them as they slept. My fictional character Mercy was also accused of taking shape and torturing another young girl of the Village. She was innocent of course, as all those accused were, but in her last act before death, she shows that love has a shape. And its shape is mercy."

Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review and offered these insights. "Meissner's newest novel is potentially life-changing, the kind of inspirational fiction that prompts readers to call up old friends, lost loves or fallen-away family members to tell them that all is forgiven and that life is too short for holding grudges. Achingly romantic, the novel features the legacy of Mercy Hayworth - a young woman convicted during the Salem witch trials - whose words reach out from the past to forever transform the lives of two present-day women. These book lovers - Abigail Boyles, elderly, bitter and frail, and Lauren "Lars" Durough, wealthy, earnest and young - become unlikely friends, drawn together over the untimely death of Mercy, whose precious diary is all that remains of her too short life. And what a diary!

Mercy's words not only beguile but help Abigail and Lars together face life's hardest struggles about where true meaning is found, which dreams are worth chasing and which only lead to emptiness, and why faith and hope are essential on life's difficult path. Meissner's prose is exquisite and she is a stunning storyteller."

Susan says the concept behind The Shape of Mercy stayed with her long after she finished it. "I know I am often guilty of the same weakness my protagonist had to discover - and admit - about herself. She, like me, like so many, judge better than we love. And we let fear dictate how much love we will extend and to whom we will extend it. Not always, not in every circumstance.

But it happens often enough to know I might have easily kept my quivering mouth shut had I lived in Salem in 1692. I might've said nothing when the Village marched to Gallows Hill to watch the accused hang. We tend to fear what we can't comprehend.

And we tend to understand only what we want to. There is a shimmering ray of hope, however. And it actually permeated all of 1692 Salem, though it hasn't garnered the same spotlight as the delusions of frightened and empowered people. The innocents who were hanged as witches refused to confess an allegiance to the Devil. Refused to the point of death.

I find that remarkable and magnificent. It fills me with hope to consider that while we have the capacity to judge when we should show mercy, we also have the capacity to embrace Truth for all we're worth - even if it means we give up everything for it.

It wasn't all darkness and deception in 1692 Salem . There was light there, too. It flickered every time the noose was pulled tight on the throat of one who would not give up on God and everything holy and good."

You can learn more about Susan and her books at www.susanmeissner.com. The book is available at bookstores everywhere and online.

Post Conference Thoughts

I'm home three days now from the ACFW Conference in Minneapolis. This was our seventh, and thus, my seventh conference.

As always, I love my time there and am exhausted by Friday morning, but always come home with some regrets. I didn't meet enough new people, or I didn't get to hang out with long time friends, or I missed a good workshop.

Randy Ingermanson, who clearly doesn't have a life, wrote a long detailed, day-by-day account of his conference experience, and while I aspire to great heights most of the time, I'm not sure I can match Randy's high standard.

Highlights

I needed to connect with a publishing professional. I'd cried on his shoulder at last year's conference and he listened, advised, and affirmed me. I'd emailed him an update in the spring, but he didn't respond. So, hmm, I'd wondered if he'd gotten it. He didn't.

So, we sorta made our way toward each other and he said, "So...., how are things..." And I knew he didn't get my email. I was able to update him, again be affirmed by this wise man. It meant so much to me.

I'd lost SLEEP earlier this year over some issues, and his words to me in Minneapolis were exactly what I needed to hear. I praise God for Christians in our publishing world who really reflect the heart of Jesus.

Thank you! You know who you are.

Chip MacGregor

He is so funny. I am still laughing at some of his agent stories. I also have a lot of respect for him as an industry professional.

Allen Arnold

Spending a few hours with him during down time, as well as other attendees, catching up, sharing stories, hearing the back story of a project I'm working on for Thomas Nelson.

Allen also presented a great Early Bird, and an informative Late Night Chat on questions authors should ask their publishers.

The Board

I always love the joint Board meeting - Operating and Advisors. It's just good to be in a room, talking about ideas, seeing where ACFW is going.

Getting to know....

Jocelyn Bailey from Thomas Nelson. She's lovely, and I'm hearing, a great addition to the Nelson team. I can see it!

Beth Jusino, Beth Adams, Andy Meisenheimer, Rachelle Gardner, who so kindly ran down to Barnes & Noble for me during the Mall of America book signing to buy my books so I had something on the table with me.

All around me, the other authors had books, displays, candy, stress donuts, dancing clowns... Okay maybe no dancing clowns. All I had bookmarks. It was funny. Thank you, Rachelle!

I also got to know some great new friends from My Book Therapy Voices. Jenness, Tracy, Denice and Lisa. Also met a new writer Chris Kraft, and Sara and her mom Lynn. I know there were more, so if I left off your name, post a comment!

I do love meeting with attendees and knowing new people. OH, I met Golden Parsons who is a new historical author with Nelson, and Beth who's coming out with a Amish book with Nelson.

And Jenny B. Jones! So good to really connect with her and she definitely wins the "most excited about. . ." award. I appreciate you, friend!

I also met Jennifer Anderson, who worked tirelessly with Susie and me to pull off the My Book Therapy Pizza Party! I was amazed by her. So creative and dedicated. Thank you, Jennifer!

Loved connecting with Elizabeth Musser, and Debbie Giusti who is a fellow Buckeye! Spent time with Sara Sumpolec, and Love Inspired authors, as the list goes on.

Late Saturday hung with the Barbour folks. I loved that Annalisa Daughtey won her category of the Genesis and a BOOK CONTRACT! We brainstormed her stories with her last year, and she's too, too cute and sweet! Yay!!!

Didn't get to spend enough time with Christine Lynxwiler or Susan Downs, nor Susie Warren though we roomed together. She was busy. ;) Missed having Tracey Bateman there!

Chatted with Rusty Shelton from Phoenix and Phoenix Publicity, and editors from Waterbrook and Tyndale.

Lots of chatting going on, no?

I loved the worship team! Such a great group with worshipper hearts, every single one! Thank you guys so much. It was also an honor to have my "girls" there this year, Cassie Campbell who played guitar for the team, and Carrie Campbell who gave her support and new drummer skills for Harp & Bowl.

Conference is a great experience. Something that pushes me forward. Now? It's time to write! Best get to it.

At the ACFW Conference

Hey everyone, just an update from the ACFW Conference. We're having a grand time, though I'm already exhausted!

Lots of talking, laughing, eating, worshipping, learning and fellowshipping.

More later.

British adopt Islamic Law

This is frightening. From Fox News

Britain Adopts Islamic Law, Gives Sharia Courts Full Power to Rule on Civil Cases
Monday, September 15, 2008

Islamic law has been officially adopted in Britain, with sharia courts given powers to rule on Muslim civil cases.

The government has quietly sanctioned the powers for sharia judges to rule on cases ranging from divorce and financial disputes to those involving domestic violence.

Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through county courts or the country's High Court, a part of its Supreme Court system.

Previously, the rulings of sharia courts in Britain could not be enforced, and depended on voluntary compliance among Muslims.

Politicians and church leaders expressed concerns that this could mark the beginnings of a "parallel legal system" based on sharia for some British Muslims.

Dominic Grieve, the shadow home secretary, said: "If it is true that these tribunals are passing binding decisions in the areas of family and criminal law, I would like to know which courts are enforcing them because I would consider such action unlawful. British law is absolute and must remain so."


Why is this frightening? Because it's an oppressive. They beat women, they kill girls who "shame" the family. They force marriages. The laws are outdated and barbaric. A woman can't go places or do things without a man. If a man accuses her, she suffers whatever punishment they deem. A rape victim was to receive 90 lashes for being alone with a boy. Then sentenced to 200 lashes for protest the sentence and "shaming" the government. An Arabian prince finally pardoned her.

But it still goes on, every day.

How can Britain have duel legal systems?

American congressman, Senators and judges are just as naive as Britain's. Barack Obama being one of them. This is one of the MAIN reasons I will not vote for Obama. His Islamic ties and sympathies. He was raised more of a Muslim than an American.

I'm sorry. I have to speak out. Where are the feminist? Where are the voices for women's freedom in London, in America?

Silence is the weapon which enslaves us. I further my resolve to pray for our nation.

Remembering 9.11

Nine o'clock on a Tuesday morning, I was standing in the lobby of the Imported Car store, finalizing some issue with my brand new Volkswagen Cabrio.

People were talking about the Twin Towers being hit, an airplane crash or something. While it was weird, I didn't feel immediate alarm.

Back at the office, the news was coming out. The tragedy, the unbelievable sight of the towers crumbling. The notion of terrorism coming to America.

And I was glad George Bush was in office. His speech was amazing. He was praised by all the newscaster and politicians. Congress VOTED TO GO TO WAR.

Now, they are hypocrites. They deny what happened. They don't care about American lives and soldiers, they don't care to honor those who died for freedom, they only care about power. We have an enemy America, and "he" came calling seven years ago today.

Radical Islam wants to take over the world. We are in their way. And our next president is a critical component to them winning or losing.

We need a strong leader, one willing to stand up and fight. Sometimes talking isn't enough. It doesn't work. It's like arguing with your stubborn, determined kid, only ten times worse.

Radical Islamic values are not our values. They don't care about things we care about. They believe Allah has called and chosen them to do his will and convert the whole world to their ways. Where is there any room for compromise and deals, treaties and fairness. There isn't.

Our brothers and sisters who died in the Twin Towers, and our fighting men and women who gave their lives will have done so in vain if we do not fight this war to win. The biggest issue with Nam was the boys weren't allowed to fight to win. Let's not make THAT mistake again.

Fight to win. Fight to preserve freedom not only in America, but for those in other countries. The more who are free, the more the world will be free.

We need men and women in our government who don't care about our country being liked, but respected. As a parent, you're not always liked, but you sure better be respected. It's respect, not like, that causes your kids to obey.

Obama is not a partriot. He was not raised in America. And when he was here, he lived with people who despised their country. He's attended a church for 20 years that rewarded men (Luis Farrakhan) for blaspheming their country. Why does he even want to be president? It makes me wonder. He wants to change who we are, and what made us great.

If he's president, there will be more terrorist attack because our enemies see him as weak. Why do you think they endorse him. Think about it. Our enemies endorse one of our political candidates. And are we so ignorant as to think it's only because he's the man they want to negotiate with? They see what we don't - someone they can manipulate.

While I don't agree with everything McCain is and has done, I believe he'll fight for his country just like he did 40 years ago. He's sacrificed his own body for our freedoms so what is to keep him from fighting if he's in the White House. He knows what is at stake.

Our enemies don't want him. Hmmm...

If we care at all about 9.11, it's memory and the life of those impacted by this terrorist attack, we must continue to vote for freedom, a strong defense and for a man and woman who will see that we remain the great nation we are today.

Global Warming, Jesus Advises, and the Rapture

Welcome to the random thoughts of my brain. I hope they inspire you. Ha!

GLOBAL WARMING and TERRORISM
Admittedly, true scientist are undecided on Global Warming. The earth warms and cools over the years. In the 1970, the concern was global cooling. I even found a Newsweek article from 1975 about it. In the '80s, it was Acid Rain. I mean, some people just love drama, no?

Either way, IF Global Warming is real, it's years away. I'm so not convinced man is that significant on the Earth. What we need to be concerned about is eminent threats. Like terrorism. We don't have to debate that terrorism is alive and well. We can observe it. Our country has been a victim of it. Our soldiers are fighting it.

How is it that liberals are more concerned about Global Warming, a not so eminent threat, but bury their heads in the sand about terrorism? Terrorist could strike tomorrow. Global Warming won't. Can't.

Yet many leading our country or who want to lead our country care more about carbon emissions than terrorist sneaking into our country with the intent to cause harm.

JESUS ADVISES

This verse in Revelation 3 fascinates me. Jesus is speaking:

"I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see."

I hear Him, I get what He's saying in the big picture, but what does it really mean? How do I do it? I'm praying for understanding. One thing that really helps me understand scripture, no kidding here, is singing it. I get on the keyboard and just sing the verse over and over.

I want to buy from Jesus gold, white garments and eye salve. I want to be rich in Him, covered from my sin and shame, have eyes to see.

RAPTURE
I'm not a pre trib rapture believer. The idea of Jesus hauling us out of here before the gig goes down doesn't make sense. We are His intercessors on the earth. We are His partners. It's our prayers and intercession, our work on the earth that is actually going to usher in the tribulation and His Coming.

There are verses all through the Bible that confirm what I believe, but there are a few interesting ones in Revelation.

12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

If the Saints are not here because we were raptured out, who is the dragon warring against? Is there some great revival in the midst of the great tribulation that brings so many millions to Jesus that the dragon has to war against them? Where's the verse on that? And if there are several billion people on the earth, what's a few million saved during the antichrist's reign?

Makes me go hmmmm?

Then there's this in 22:17

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."

If the Saints, or the Bride, is not on the earth, who is crying with the Spirit? Wouldn't it be "the Spirit and the bride say "go?"

The Bride of Christ is on the earth calling for Jesus to come. The Spirit is groaning through us in intercession, calling for Jesus to return to take His rightful place, as King of the earth!

Jesus isn't returning to a earth completely devoid of believers. And even if you view is the two Witnesses are on the earth preaching Jesus, how is it fair those Saints are left to endure the tribulation? And how many come to Jesus during the time? Scripture doesn't talk about tribulation revival, but tribulation intercession.

"The Spirit and the bride say "Come!"

We need to mature as believers and stop waiting to Go and start crying out for HIm to Come.

The END of my random thoughts.

GO BUCKEYES!

Matthew 22

Jesus tells a story in Matthew 22 about a King who threw a wedding feast for His son. On the exact day, He sent out His servants to gather the invited guests.

But they were busy, on their way home from work, eager to stop by the pub for a pint, or kick back at home with the remote.

Disappointed, the Kings said, "Bump 'em," and sent His servants to invite strangers passing on the highway, those who would be honored to sit at the King's table. The servants brought both upstanding citizens as well as the undesirables. Both good and evil.

Among the merriment, the King strolled, observing the guests at His son's party. Suddenly, he saw a man in unfit attire. He wasn't dressed in wedding clothes.

"And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

This guest came to the feast in his own clothes, in other words, his own righteousness. He'd not taken on the garments of his host, his "groom." He wanted to wear his own deeds, works, and self-righteousness.

We cannot come to Jesus in our own religiousness and righteousness. Our entrance to the wedding feast (Rev 19:9) is not based on what we do or what we think, or how we define faith, or right thinking, but how HE defines it.

We live in a culture where "what you believe is what you believe" is a popular, accepted concept. But is what you believe what He believes? It's His wedding feast. He has the final say.

Recently some friends were discussing abortion. One said, "upstanding, moral people are pro-choice, for abortion."

Moral according to whom, to what? From where do they derive their morals? Are you living according to your own righteousness or His?

To be honest, from what I read in the Word, I cannot see me asking Jesus, "So, you're cool with me being for abortion, right? I mean, pregnancy may come at a time when it's just not right for some women."

I imagine He'd not say a word, but turn and show me His whipped, torn and deeply wounded back.

"Ah, yeah, right. Maybe not."

Or, for the one who thinks adultery or sex out of marriage is fine and dandy, or homosexuality. Or adheres to white lies, or subtle cheating.

Look, I know mistakes are made. I've made them. Still do. I know people struggle. But if we are in Christ, we are not alone. We have a GREAT High Priest who prays for us!

We do not give Him and His Cross enough power and faith. He can take our worst situations and some how make them right. Or give us grace to endure.

We cannot show up at the wedding feast in our own works and righteousness. So why do we continually try? We have to put on His garments of faith, salvation and peace. He's given them to us by the Cross.

If you ever doubt His love or availability to you, close your eyes and gaze at the Cross. Don't let lies and doubt win.

Booksinging Bonanza

Peeeep-ole... (as my 7th grade Algebra teacher said) if you live any where near Minneapolis Saturday, September 20th, you've got to, got to go to the Mall of America for a fabulous booksigning by Barnes & Noble from 1 -3.

American Christian Fiction Writers is putting on an amazing booksigning. The details are below, and this opportunity to meet so many CBA authors is incredible.

Not only will you have a chance to meet your favorite authors, (me, me, me, me ;) LOL) you'll hear a panel talk about writing!

What: ACFW booksigning and panel discussions

Who: 127 Christian novelists

Where: Best Buy and Sears Rotundas and connecting hallway, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota

When: Saturday, September 20, 2008 1-3 p.m.


Tamera Alexander
Jennifer AlLee A.K. Arenz
Diane Ashley
Karen Ball
Janet Lee Barton
James Scott Bell
Joseph Bentz
Terri Blackstock
Robin Caroll
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Jeanie Smith Cash
Eleanor Clark
Debra Clopton
Gloria Clover
Brandilyn Collins
Mary Connealy
Lyn Cote
Kathryn Cushman
Margaret Daley
KM Daughters
Susan Page Davis
Mary Davis
Janet Dean
Megan DiMaria
Brandt Dodson
Lena Nelson Dooley
Cecelia Dowdy
Sharon Dunn
Wanda Dyson
Lynette Eason
Meredith Efken
Leanna Ellis
Sharon Ewell Foster
Miralee Ferrell
Tina Ann Forkner
Darlene Franklin
Jonathan Friesen
Rhonda Gibson
Terri Gillespie
Debby Giusti
Beth Goddard
Cathy Gohlke
Rene Gutteridge
Cathy Marie Hake
Rachel Hauck
Roxanne Henke
Cynthia Hickey
Patti Hill
Sharon Hinck
Joan Hochstetler
Steven Hunt
Angela Hunt
Denise Hunter
Annette Irby
Jennifer Johnson
Jenny B. Jones
Golden Keyes Parsons
Deb Kinnard
Julie Klassen
Kathleen Kovach
Harry Kraus
Patti Lacy
Maureen Lang
Jeanne Marie Leach
Tosca Lee
Julie Lessman
Michelle Levigne
Sherri L. Lewis
Elizabeth Ludwig
Christine Lynxwiler
Richard L. Mabry
Sharlene MacLaren
Gail Martin
Debby Mayne
Vickie McDonough
Andrew McGuire
Susan Meissner
Becky Melby
Dana Mentink
Amber Miller
Judith Miller
Sara Mills
Siri Mitchell
Nancy Moser
Janelle Mowery
Elizabeth Musser
Mark Mynheir
Jill Nelson
Mae Nunn
John Olson
Donita K. Paul
Trish Perry
Marta Perry
Allie Pleiter
Cara Putman
Deborah Raney
Sandra Robbins
Paul Robertson
John Robinson
Martha Rogers
Cynthia Ruchti
Gail Sattler
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Shelley Shephard Gray
Virginia Smith
Lynette Sowell
Candice Speare
Kathryn Springer
Denice Stewart
Sarah Anne Sumpolec
Michelle Sutton
Camy Tang
Donn Taylor
Janice Thompson
Cindy Thomson
Missy Tippens
Carrie Turansky
ML Tyndall
Amy Wallace
Susan May Warren
Linda Wichman
Beth Wiseman
Cheryl Wyatt
Kathleen Y'Barbo

Goodbye to you my trusted friend, Pal

Our Pal died suddenly Tuesday night. He was in the office with me and Lola, the cutie-patootie I found walking down the road last February, while I was writing. I heard a commotion on the floor and when I looked around, Pal had slid over to the sling back chair, stiff, as if having a seizure.

I jumped up to comfort him, and tried to figure out what was going on, what I could do to help. If it was a seizure, I figured he'd get through it in a minute or so.

Then he howled like he was in pain and was gone. I grabbed the phone to call Tony, and Pal sort of choked and gagged, and vibrated so I thought he was coming around. But it was just the last of his body quitting. In recalling the events, and talking it over with Tony, and my paramedic brother, Pete, I think Pal was gone by the time I turned around to see what was going on.

For those who knew and experienced Pal, he was an irritating dog, but we truly loved him. He was fun, loving, and loved to play. He took Lola under his "wing" when she joined the family. With all the rain of late, I'd been letting him splash through puddles on our walks and he loved it.

So, Jesus has a new dog in heaven. I told Pal to say hey to Jack (his dad,) Blue and our old family dog, Bonnie.

I sat on the floor with him, crying, stroking his still warm and soft head, telling him we loved him and he was a good dog. Funny, even if he was still alive, he wouldn't have really understood, but it comforted me.

Goodbye to you my trusted friend, Pal

Our Pal died suddenly Tuesday night. He was in the office with me and Lola, the cutie-patootie I found walking down the road last February, while I was writing. I heard a commotion on the floor and when I looked around, Pal had slid over to the sling back chair, stiff, as if having a seizure.

I jumped up to comfort him, and tried to figure out what was going on, what I could do to help. If it was a siezure, I figured he'd get through it in a minute or so.

Then he howled like he was in pain and was gone. I grabbed the phone to call Tony, and Pal sort of choked and gagged, and vibrated so I thought he was coming around. But it was just the last of his body quitting. In recalling the events, and talking it over with Tony, and my paramedic brother, Pete, I think Pal was gone by the time I turned around to see what was going on.

For those who knew and experienced Pal, he was an irritating dog, but we truly loved him. He was fun, loving, and loved to play. He took Lola under his "wing" when she joined the family. With all the rain of late, I'd been letting him splash through puddles on our walks and he loved it.

So, Jesus has a new dog in heaven. I told Pal to say hey to Jack (his dad,) Blue and our old family dog, Bonnie.

I sat on the floor with him, crying, strokiing his still warm and soft head, telling him we loved him and he was a good dog. Funny, even if he was still alive, he wouldn't have really understood, but it comforted me.

Hurricane Fay

It's a gloomy, Yankee day in central Florida. Hurricane Fay is moving across the state and expected to exit over our county.

There's rain with wind gusts, but I've seen worse. The power went out for a few hours. When I saw the FPL guy coming to fix the thingy-bob, I opened the window and cheered! He deserved to be celebrated for serving on a day like today.

I mean, the city closed, the schools... it's sort of ridiculous. But, if there's a lot of rain and expected flooding, it's better not to be on the roads.

Yet, we've gotten to be a people who over react, are too cautious. We're afraid of being accused. No one stand up for themselves.

We survived back to back hurricanes in '04. The state ran beautifully. People were helped as fast as possible. Truly, it was a minor annoyance.

But then Katrina hit New Orleans the game of blame ensued. Be sure, Katrina didn't destroy New Orleans. It was only a cat 3 storm when she went ashore. It was the broken, weak levies that damaged the city. it was the crime and the looting. Levies that should've been repaired by the city. Crime that should've been curtailed by the police.

Evacuation routes should've been used by the many school buses just sitting. The Times Picayune even reported on the state of emergency if a hurricane should hit the city, years before Katrina.

The problems with New Orleans was not FEMA, or George Bush, or the worst storm in human history, it was the local and state government. It was a welfare-state mentality. I saw a woman on the news crying, "You're supposed to take care of us."

But no one spoke out. Still, no one says the truth.

Tony and I have evacuated twice. We did not wait on the government or anyone to tell us what to do. We watched the news and said, "She doggy, let's get out of here."

Yet, for those in need, we must have compassion -- no matter whose fault it is. We should give of our time and resources to care for our neighbor. And we should get the picture that depending on the government to feed and shelter us is never good! Let's take care of ourselves, and help one another.

All I want my central government to do is protect our borders, guard our freedoms, and fight enemies both foreign and domestic. Perhaps help maintain fair labor laws without taxing the companies or the people to death.

At times, it seems like our government should be simple. But, I guess I'm wearing my rose colored glasses today. The more a presidential candidate says, "I'm going to do..." this and this, that and the other, the more I go, "Nope, not voting for you. Out of my knickers!"

Peace out.

This is for you, Lisa

Lisa commented on my last post she's crunched to get her lesson plans ready for the school year, then asked, "How do you handle things when a deadline is staring you in the face, Rachel?"

Well, Lisa, I do what you do. Freak. Eat chocolate, drink Diet Coke, run out for a sandwich. Pray. A lot. I always start out calm, but some where along the line I'm overwhelmed with the details, or insecurities. "Who will want to read this book?" Or, "I'm letting my editor and publisher down."

I hate worrying, I hate losing sleep. I try to work steadily to meet my daily word count, but sometimes now matter how much I write and work, the story isn't coming out right. I've learned to trust the Lord, and my editors. My strength is rewriting, so having words on the page gives me something to work with, and helps my confidence.

I try to focus on Jesus, His light and love in and around me. I figure if I'm in Him, then the stories are in Him and He cares about the book and characters as much as I do, probably more.

After I turned in Love Starts With Elle my editor summarized her view of my work in her editorial letter and those enlightening and encouraging words still resonate in my heart. Writers, at least this writer, doubts their ability to write one more good book. "I did it once, but I can't do it again."

But the same Spirit that hovered over the deep and formed the earth lives in me. (Romans 8) So why can't I get better? Why not?

It's all about faith. Being confident I'm doing what God destined me to do and He'll see me through to the end! Isaiah 41:13.

Sweet Caroline strikes again

Found out Sweet Caroline hit the CBA Best seller list for September. This is different that the ECPA best seller list. Not sure how the numbers are calculated or pulled, but good for Caroline.

If you're curious, go back a year or so in my postings and you can read the behind the scenes of Sweet Caroline and how God blessed and provided.

A man named Brett Bush

I was eighteen, out of high school having graduated six months early, and doing nothing much but working and hanging out. Riding horse.

(That confession rendered another hilarious Hubby-Rachel moment. A few weeks ago I said, "Yeah, I graduated, hung out, worked a lot, rode horses." "You rode horses." He arched one brow because he has that talent. "Yeah, couple of days a week." "Really? Cause I've ridden horses with you and--" "Oh stop." But I laughed!)

During those months, I worked at Publix and hung around with some fun north Florida rednecks. I met a guy named Brett Bush. He drove one of those itty-bitty Chevy Love trucks. Remember those? He'd been out of town for awhile, doing who-knows-what and where, but came home to find his girlfriend had moved on.

So, in effort to do the same, he asked me out. Okay. Not my type, but he was fun. He wanted to take me to his grandparents farm in Quincy or some place, so we're tooling along in his truck and he rants about his last encounter with his ex.

"So, I walk in and she say's nothing. Not so much as a by-your-leave or kiss my a$$."

His expression, inflection, hillbilly accent, phrasing had me laughing all the way to the farm. Then he decided to four-wheel it through a pond (no, Chevy Love trucks were not four wheel) and we sank, but that's another story.

Here's the thing about Brett Bush. Nearly 30 years after this afternoon together, and it was only an afternoon sans romantic feelings, his expressions show up in my writing.

I write, "without so much as" in each book. When I do, I think of Brett Bush.

A moment in my life, forever impressed on my soul.

How many people do we have like this touching us? Why do I remember a man's name I spent less than a few months socializing with, but can't remember a chum from college?

It's those impressions. Who have you and I impressed unaware? Is someone quoting me right now. Or reminiscing about Ohio State with, "Then Rachel Hayes said..."

We're paint brushes on the hearts and minds of everyone we come in contact with. Are we painting beauty or pain?

I want to be a Brett Bush to others. Lingering with them long after I've pass through their lives, leaving behind the fragrance of Jesus and the hope of His calling. If I reach some moderate success, I've honored Him who my soul loves.

Okay, just for fun, just for pretend

What else would you like to do in life? If you could do anything, and do it well, what would you do? I'm talking, you, right now, with all your same life experiences. Same family, so town, same friends, same journey. No, you're not suddenly daughter or son of Prince Charles. Or Bill Gates.

You're you. And if some how, in some wild and crazy way, you could do anything else in life you wanted along with knowledge and expertise, what would it be?

Here's mine.

I'd love to do something with Ohio State Football. I'd like to have enough knowledge to be like, you know, assistant wide receiver coach, or work with the defense, growl something like, "Let's play smash mouth football!" Grrrrr!

In a smaller scale, coach Pop Warner football with Tony. I just love the game. I love the strategy and drill, the challenge of winning. The thrill of offense, the determination of defense.

When we watch football in the fall, the best part is watching the plays unfold and how they are designed to defend, or to score and win. Though I've never played, and I don't think it's a sport of women on field, I'd love to help develop plays, and break down game film.

I'm really good at observing others, noticing unusual or odds things. I catch habits or routines. I have an intuition about people, and the why's of life. Not always, but a lot of times. I think I'd like the mental challenge of figuring out our opponent and beating them.

So, that's my if-you-could-go-through-a-worm-hole dream.

But in real life, I'm so amazingly lucky to do what I do. Write books. It's really, really a dream, a childhood desire and goal. I'm so blessed.

I have a great husband. I can't say enough about him. I come from wonderful, loving, God-loving parents. My brothers and sister are cool, loving siblings even though we don't get to see each other as much as we like. Yeah, I'm not discounting our humanity. We ain't perfect. But, when I gaze over my life, there's nothing I'd change.

Unlike the message being touted by people like Eckhart Tolle and Elizabeth Gilbert, i didn't just think my life into being. I didn't will myself into a good marriage or dream job.

I surrendered my way into it.

Coming out of college, I knew there are so many options in life, so many detours, ways to go right, ways to go wrong. I said, "Lord, I'll make the wrong decisions. At least I have a huge capacity for making the wrong decisions. You take my life. Use me how, when and where You want."

This I knew, God is love, God is good and if I'm in Him, I'll be content. That's what I wanted. One, to be completely surrendered to Him because at the end of my life, being surrendered to me isn't going to gain me a dern thing. And, I wanted to be content and happy, knowing during the good and bad, God was in control.

I do what I do because He gave me the desires of my heart and as I pursued Him, He fulfilled them. I'm confident that when I stand before Him at the end of the age, i pursued the things He asked of me. I'll have enough other things to answer for, I don't need my overall life unaccounted for!

If you don't know Jesus, you should. He's awesome. Real. Love. Amazing.

Oh what a fun wedding reception

Elizabeth, me, Carrie, Tony and Sheree.





Tony and me being clowning around.





Our good friend Javier, pastor and worship leader extraordinaire also moonlighting as DJ for the wedding. I dedicated Diva Nashvegas to him. He's married to gorgeous Brenda.

08.08.08

On 7.7.'77, I was sixteen, working at Publix in Cutler Ridge, FL.

One of the bag boys, Ronny Paul, said today is 7.7.'77 and noted how many years it would be before we had 8.8.'88, and 9.9.'99 and now it's 8.8.08.

What's in a number anyway?

Here's what I wrote in my diary on July 7, '77.

"Today is 7,7,'77 - cute uh? When I woke up I kind of felt the twangs of leaving but soon under control. Spent the day packing and etc. LR's car broke down at the house and Steve Emmens and friend came to tow it away. Work was OK. Blocked down most of the night. Not much else. Love, Rachel -n- Pete."

We were moving in a few weeks to Tallahassee from Homestead. It was a sad yet good thing in my life, the family's life. LR is my friend Lorena Rastrick Sikking. Pete was my boyfriend at the time.

Today my life is very different. I'm not sixteen, I'm not living with my parents or facing a major move. I don't have two years of high school left, nor the years ahead of college and training that comes with growing up and becoming an adult.

But I knew God had a plan for me. If anything in my life has ever been blessed, on the right track or redeemed, it's because God had a plan for me.

My life is charmed in many ways. We're not rich, nor famous (though I did meet a reader last night and she actually was awe-struck for about ten seconds. Even Tony and her granddaughter noticed.)

We have missed out on the blessing of children, but are so cocooned in the heart and will of God I literally have no complaints. I am as Paul admonishes, "content." Well, minus the political landscape of my country, and the cultural war, but that's for another time.

I'm writing on a really fabulous project with a co-author and it's going so great, so far. We had a call yesterday with Thomas Nelson and when I hung up, I just thought, "Thank you, Lord. You are too good to me. This is truly unmerited favor."

Tonight we have a wedding, two former youth marrying. It'll be fun and I'm really happy for them.

Well, off to work some before wedding festivities.

Laughter part two

Hubby has always made me laugh. We were friends for several years before we were married, and while he is an introvert and claims to have the emotional range of a "cow," he's also very funny.

His humor is on the dry, slightly sarcastic side and comes from life observations.

When I was growing up, my brother Danny developed a "pet" voice. He talked for the animals, mostly the cats. If one of us was petting the cat, Danny would say in this modified voice, "I bite, and I bite hard." Or, "I'm gonna bite you."

It was pretty funny. So, after Tony and I were married, we acquired a few pets and this family tradition in my background surfaces. Pretty soon, we were both talking to the animals. We'd actually have 3 or 4 way conversations going on between us. Me and Tony talking to the cat and/or dog and then one of us answering for said animal.

We'd make up songs "from" them, play games. One time Hubby had the cat on the bed and pretended to pay hide and seek with our dog, Jack. He put Red's paws over his eyes and counted, "One, two, free... Ready or not, here I come."

At the precise moment Hubby removed the paws from Red's eyes, dog Jack walked past the bed and Red leaned over as if to say, "I found you."

Hubby said something like, "Stupid dog, can't even hide."

We laughed so hard. So hard. Some of the songs we made up were pretty funny, but I can't remember them.

One Christmas someone from church gave us a big box of chocolates. I only like the caramel filled kind, not the the coconut or raspberry or whatever. So, I pinched all the bottoms to find the ones I wanted. Hubby comes home to find all the chocolates slightly wreck. Of course he knows I did it, but he looked at me and said, "Hey, someone gave us defective chocolates."

Or something like that, but it was absolutely funny. Some times the smallest things are the funniest.

Back to the pets, my brother Joel lived with us for awhile, so he became a fifth voice in the house. One time he was sitting on the couch with Hubby. In between them was Red, the cat. Now, Red is staring at the ceiling. So, Joel looks up. Then looks at the cat. Cat looks up, Hubby looks up. Joel looks back to the cat, who is now looking at Hubby. Very quietly Joel says in his pet voice, "Ha, ha made you look."

We laughed for days, off and on.

One year Hubby did a dating and sex series for the youth that concluded with him demonstrating the need for boundaries with Barbie and Ken riding in a Barbie car. It was awesome, very funny, and to this day, a youth legend.

Hubby makes me laugh. I could sit here for days thinking of things and jotting them down. There was the time he wrapped a pair of sneakers he bought me for Christmas in separate boxes because I like to open a lot of gifts. That was clever and funny, however ruled insufficient for the present rule and therefore banned.

Anyway, laughter is good.

Now, I've also cracked myself up a bunch of times. While writing, while observing life, thinking of things, reading. Author Marian Keyes had me laughing so hard in one of her books I had too put it down.

One night I was reading Calvin and Hobbs before going to bed. Watterson had penned this bit about Christmas, the parents up all night putting together presents. Upstairs, Calvin and Hobbs are waiting anxiously for Santa. They hear a bump and a bang, terrified and excited, they conclude it's Santa bring all Calvin's loot. The last frame of the strip is the dad, holding his toe, hopping around uttering comic cuss words, "Sassin, frassin, ramalma ding dong."

I laughed so hard, it just felt so much like a real life scene, I woke up the next morning feeling the residuals of the laughter.

Ah, sweet laughter.

Oh, reading Paul Reiser's book "Couplehood" got me good, as did George Burns's and Jerry Seinfeld's.

Come on, today's a good day to laugh!

Drum roll please.... And now, Rachel Hauck....

... Bestselling author!

I'm stunned but the August EPCA Bestseller List came out today and Sweet Caroline hit #5 on the Fiction list and #17 on the overall list.

Thanks to everyone who purchased a copy of Sweet Caroline!

Also, check out Jill Eileen Smith's blog today. I'm her guest.

Do you remember laughing so hard...

There are times in my life I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe. I laughed so hard that if I recall those moments now, years, perhaps decades later, I smile, maybe even chuckle.

Can you remember those moments in your life? Laughter is so important heart. Proverbs tell us a merry heart works like medicine.

I thought I'd recall the top laugh times in my life and hopefully inspire some of you. Leave your stories in the comments if you want. :)

Family

We laughed a lot in my family. A top laugh time would be watching my dad's big but silent laugh as he listened to Bill Cosby's "Roland and the Rollercoaster." I loved hearing my parents laugh with their friends, which they did a lot.

Here are my own personal laugh times:

Playing the game Pente with my youngest brother and sister, Pete and Beka, during college Christmas break. I was cheating, and when Pete finally realized... He gazed up at me, appauled and said, "You're cheating." I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe!

Went to see an Eddie Murphy movie with my brother Danny. Eddie was doing a bit about whining to his mom to take him to McDonalds like all the other kids. She said, "I can make you a burger at home." He goes on to describe the scene. Danny and I were laughing so hard, because you know, we'd heard the same conversation from our Mom and Grandma, we couldn't breathe. Danny was gripping my arm, stamping his foot, laughing, hoping to draw air soon.

Sharing a room with my sister Beka about twenty years ago when I'd just graduated from Ohio State. We were talking about writing, (she was in high school,) and I said I didn't want to write some cheesy story like, "and we turned twelve cartwheels into the fullness of an oak tree." We burst out laughing! Laughed and laughed. We still quote that line today.

There are many other laugh moments, worthy of blogging, but those are the ones that stick out to me.

Friends

Laughter for me usually comes with an element of surprise, the non-obvious, perhaps the blatant obvious, the humor in every day events.

My roommate pre Tony, Renee was a mentor to a girl from youth who hung out at the apartment sometimes, Sheree. She was the quiet type. Seriously quiet. One night she was at our apartment while Renee, Tony and I were debating who among us was the funniest. I said, "I'm the funniest person you know."

Renee claimed she was, countered by Tony. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the silent-for-hours Sheree said softly, "I'm the funniest person you know."

We howled and at that very moment, it was true! She was the funniest person we knew.

Wow, nothing else is rising to the surface of my brain and I know I laughed a lot with friends. Suzanne, Kathy, Connie and Michelle.

Okay, here's one. The summer before I graduated from Ohio State, Connie Snider Gleason and I did nothing but laugh. We both worked on the newspaper as photographers. She came in one day telling me a story about spotting one of our fellow photographers, Rich, out looking for a feature photo. We were required to turn in so many for the quarter. As she tells the story, he was walking down High Street, camera around his neck, looking up in the trees, turning circles, as if the feature photo might just drop on his head. Oh, we laughed so hard! So very hard.

Spent some time at the Flying Tomato, a local pizza place right by the Phi Mu house, and laughed a whole bunch.

Work

Many, many laughing stories from work. I joined Harris Publishing now Media Span in '86. There were a few new grads who joined at the same time and we hung out some in the beginning. Sometimes we'd travel together.

Julie Love and I went to Martha's Vineyard to install a classified advertising system. We worked and laughed a lot. What else can you do on Martha's Vineyard in early December?

For awhile, all the trainers and roadies were in the engineering department. We'd have quarterly meetings where the team was updated on... whatever. The Veep of Engineering was a nice man from India. He had a deep voice, and the standard English-Indian accent.

So, we're all gathered in a board room, stuffed in there like sardines, when the director of engineering gets up to present. Now, this was pre Power Point, so graphs and data were displayed with an overhead projector. It gets embarrassing for me here. D of E slips his presentation under the projector. Immediately it's obvious he didn't account for any enlargement of the projector and used a point size too big. I mean, the letters showing on the screen were half as tall as he was!

We all smiled, giggled, wondered silently, "What point size did you use, Jim." This goes on for about two, three minutes when in the midst of Jim's review, the Veep of Engineering says in his deep, accented voice, "Gee Jim, what point size did you use."

We all laughed, but I lost it. Could. Not. Stop. Laughing. I tried, but ended up snorting. My boss whispered, "Do you need to leave the room." I pinched my laugh, shook my head and kept my eyes focused on the table. The girl sitting next to me said, "Oh, don't look up."

Snort, laugh, snort, laugh! I wanted to go out of the room and let it go so bad, but I couldn't. I mean, it's the '80s, it's Yuppiville, you can't act THAT unprofessional. Oooo, it was funny, and ooo it was embarrassing. But I love the memory.

In '88 Harris sent me Down Under to do some training in Australia. (Hi, Rel!) I love Australia. I'd visit more if it weren't so darn far away... and if I had some money.

In Sydney, I met with our distributor and my Australian counterpart, Sean. New to the job, Sean was nervous about our trip to Tamworth and the training, but I assured him all would be well. Sean had a very dry, but witty sense of humor.

Day one on the job, I laughed and laughed. Out of the blue stuff, but so funny. Like, this big, tall, lumbering man who worked on the system we were training, comes up to Sean and asked, "I can't remember, how do I get into the system tables again?"

They started discussing, and the man says, "Yes, I remember it's alt, control, delete." He beamed, so proud. Next day, he couldn't remember so he's asking Sean again. Very dryly, Sean says, "I want you to remember, never forget, alt, control, delete."

Really, you had to be there, and there's a middle piece I'm forgetting, but I laughed so hard I had to leave the room and put myself in a corner.

Walking back to our hotel from the paper, Sean grouses how his cheap boss wouldn't rent us a car, going on about having Burger King for "tea." I fell to the sidewalk, laughing.

I'd lay in bed and night, laughing out loud over the things Sean said or did that day.

A few months later, I went back to Australia, (looong back to back trips me no like) this time going to a trade show in Melbourne. Again, Sean is very nervous about demoing the equipment to newspaper suits, so we practice and work on technique. I show him how to do certain things, like free drawing an arrow to use in a display ad, or whatever.

During one of my demos, I pulled up the saved, sketched arrow, showing how it could be used in a display ad, but also how it could be modified. Basically, I mess up the arrow. Demo over, Sean's up next, but I don't tell him I destroyed the arrow.

He pulls up the arrow. What's wrong with it? He panics, deletes it from the screen and pulls is up again. Still messed up! He panics. And he sweats when he panics.

Next demo, it's me again and he's sitting beside me. As I pull up the lopsided arrow, I lean over to Sean, "Oh yea, I messed up the arrow."

"Now you tell me... I thought the system had eaten it."

In front of five dark suits from Rural Press, I start to laugh. But I can't laugh, I have to do a demo. The more I try not to laugh, the hard I want to laugh and the moment I pictured a panicked Sean, my torso is full of explosive laughter.

I flew through the last of the demo, got up, ran to the break room, fell on the little couch and laughed for oh, fifteen minutes.

Yeah, Mr. Mason made me laugh. Still does 20 years later.

To be continued.... more work laughter, and husband laughter tomorrow!