Unwrapping the Mystery of Intimacy with God by Susan D. Hill

What growing Christian doesn’t desire intimacy with God?

“People yearn for a genuine connection with God to the point where they accept substitute gods they can see and touch.”

Author Susan Hill’s authentic voice comes through loud and clear in her book about finding intimacy with God. She doesn’t claim this book is a “theological case for hearing God’s voice” and she doesn’t pretend to be an authority. Just someone whose taken notes along the way and hopes readers might find “something beyond the familiar and the formulaic, and see the possibilities for knowing God.”

She explains how this book is sort of a memoir of how she discovered God was interacting with her all throughout her life, beginning in her childhood and how she learned to hear God’s voice by noticing occurrences in her life were more than coincidences.

I’m only a quarter of the way through the book but can relate to Susan’s journey toward intimacy with God. I believe her stories will relate to many Christians who have been brought up in the church, yet still yearned for an authentic relationship with God. She documents her struggles to connect to God during different stages of her life, her struggles with sin, how God’s presence was all around her, and how he had a hand on her life, though she took a while to learn how God operated in her life.

Susan Hill traces her discovery of a vibrant companionship with God and shows how it can become an everyday reality for anyone. Through stirring stories from her life, she assures readers that knowing God is more than spiritual rhetoric; it’s reality for those who learn to recognize His voice.

I am so excited to dig into this book during the Lent season! And I’m going to pass on the blessing! One lucky winner will receive this books thanks to the generosity of Waterbrook Press! If you’re not the lucky winner, I encourage you to get your own copy here!

Susan D. Hill is an award-winning feature writer and a leader of interdenominational women’s groups, where she has sought answers to the common longing for a more authentic spiritual experience. She also serves on the board of the Uganda Orphans Fund, a non-profit Christian relief organization building orphan homes for victims of AIDS and war. Susan and her husband, Duncan, have three children and live in Montana.

CONTEST CLOSED!

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Every new mom wants the best for their baby. I was no exception. Thirteen years ago when my first son was born, I planned on nursing for at least a year, making my own baby food, really connecting and nurturing my baby, and not plopping him in front of the television.  Well, Chris wasn’t getting enough food, I weaned him at seven months, and I know I didn’t make all my baby food. In fact, I remember relying on chicken nuggets from McDonald’s several days a week. And the television did get used as a baby sitter more than once (of course I was right there doing laundry!) I just wish I had known about the Baby Einstein videos early on.

Julie Aigner-Clark, a former literature and art teacher, and founder of The Baby Einstein Company developed the first Baby Einstein video for her newborn daughter, in her basement. Her desire was to create an interactive, hands-free way to play with her baby. She wanted to bring a board book to life, and that’s just what she did.

I just had the privilege of watching the Baby’s First Moves DVD. It’s an interactive board book with dynamic visuals, motion and sound all set to classical music.  The moms and babies and puppets demonstrated things like rocking, rolling, sitting up, jumping, etc. Seeing all the moms interacting with their babies almost made me wish for another one! My baby is five years old, but she really enjoyed watching the puppets on the video. I was impressed with the simplicity, yet educational and mesmerizing power the images had on me a thirty-something year old.

But the most impressive thing about the video was the Bonus Material which featured things like Discovery Cards (interactive flash cards), Let’s Pretend (engaging video and images of frogs jumping, babies rocking and sitting up, etc,) Puppet Shows (Octopus Tap and the Oliver Twist, etc,) The Toy Chest (where you can see explanations and links to all the toys used in the video,) and my favorite part, Move with Me, (where a mom and pilates instructor demonstrates exercises you can do with your child to help strengthen your post-baby body while engaging in play with your infant.) She also gives tips on how to properly lift your baby and baby carrier. The entire video can be played in English, Spanish and French, and I had great fun watching Move with Me in Spanish and French. The translators were very enthusiastic in their performance.

I’m sure the old debate of whether or not a child should watch television under the age of two is still raging in certain circles, but the bottom line is, moms do need a break and often times use the television to stimulate and entertain their babies. Why not give them something educational and beneficial to watch while bouncing in that chair or exersaucer? And of course, when you have a free hand, grab your baby and play along with the video. After all, that’s what the founder had in mind when she created the first video!

Recently the Baby Einstein Company has taken a closer look at  how moms actually use their products, and how to get back to the original vision of the videos -to provide moms with an interactive tool with a connective, hands-free way to engage their baby and create moments of discovery together. I believe congratulations is in order because Baby’s First Moves DVD does just that.

If you would like to buy it for yourself or as a gift go here.  I’m keeping my copy so I can give it to my little sister who’s expecting her first child.

The Baby Einstein Company believes that when used properly, developmentally appropriate video content can be a useful tool for parents and little ones to enjoy together.

“Key to our perspective is our belief that parents/caregivers play a critical role in defining the ‘appropriate use of television.’ Alternatively, we believe in the power of parents/caregivers to make decisions on what they feel is appropriate for their children - and that includes whether or not they choose to use television, how much television their child is allowed to watch, what they are allowed to watch, etc.”

For the Baby Einstein Company’s official perspective on the issue of children and television go to www.babyeinstein.com.

To better aid parents in the most effective use of their products, Baby Einstein is kicking off a Parent-Child Interaction campaign. The initiative will engage parents and provide them with tips and insights on how to turn everyday moments into meaningful moments full of interaction and discovery with their baby.

And isn’t that one of the things every mom wants for their baby!

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Releasing Your New Purity part I

Week five of Experiencing Christ Within explores the gifts of God given to us freely through Christ by faith. The first one is purity. And I can’t say it any better than Dwight Edwards…

“The Christian life isn’t hard; it’s flat impossible. It becomes possible only when God injects His fullness into His people’s hearts-which is exactly what he’s done in the New Covenant…The divine cleansing that God provides in the New Covenant-a new purity for which only God can receive credit-is the starting point for living out our Christianity…So what does this new purity mean for us? Why is it so important?

Read the rest…

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This month Authors, Aspiring Authors, Literary Agents, Editors, etc.

share their love of the craft, call, and business of writing!

Check it out here!

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Tell us a little about your family and your call to write.

I’m married to Bob, a pastor, and we’re the parents of four wonderful people who range in age from 15 to 22. I’ve always had the itch to write; as far back as I can remember. But I didn’t do a whole lot with that itch until all my kids were in school. I put off for a long time writing anything I would call intensely creative because I was afraid I would end up writing it for no one. I didn’t dream very big back then. I dream bigger these days!

How did you get your first “writing break?”

I had been working as an editor at a small town newspaper and was as restless as all get out. I had a good job in the publishing industry, but I wasn’t writing fiction and that’s what I wanted to write more than anything. I quit that job in 2002, wrote my first book in 10 weeks and then started looking for a publisher. That took almost a year. I happened to post a proposal on Christian Manuscripts Submissions.com and someone from Harvest House Publishers happened to see it. They published that book, Why the Sky is Blue, in 2004.

Wow! That is a total dream come true!

What do you write and why this genre?

Fiction reveals so much about human character. Within the world of story you can ponder everything and anything; why we do what we do, what makes us weep, laugh, shudder, sing; what motivates us, inspires us, frightens us, tutors us. You can express the love of God and the power of that love in so many ways through story. I think that’s why Jesus often told parables.

Do you have any recent contracts and up coming releases?

I have a book coming out in February from Harvest House called Blue Heart Blessed and it is one of the more enjoyable projects I have worked on. I usually write about deep social issues but this one’s more chick lit than anything else. It’s about a hopeless romantic who gets stood up at the altar. To get her life back together she opens a second-had wedding dress boutique, fully intending to sell her custom-made dress that she never wore so that she can move on. But poor thing, every time someone wants to buy it she tells them it’s not for sale! She wants to let go of the past, but she doesn’t quite know how so I put her through 350 pages of learning how to do it!

My next book after that will release in the fall of 2008 with WaterBook-Multnomah. It’s about a young college lit major, a retired librarian, and the 400-year-old diary of an innocent woman accused of witchcraft in 1692 Salem. It’s called The Shape of Mercy.

That one sounds intriguing!

What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?

I want people to gain a better understanding of who they are and who God is.

And now for the tough questions…

How do you balance being a mom, wife, writer, and working?

Balance, to me, is actually a word for ballet dancers, trapeze artists and tire stores. I don’t know that I’ve figured out how to make everything stay still without wobbling. But I do know that everything I want to do well has a better chance of success if I nurture my relationship with God first. If I stay connected to the wellspring of life that is in Jesus, I have the stamina, creativity and grace to handle all those roles. Priorities always matter when you need to divvy up time. My family has to be number two after God. And the part-time job is a responsibility I’ve taken on with the full knowledge that it will take 20 to 25 of my best hours. But when I look at the hours I have left to write, there REALLY are quite a few left! TV, email, blogging, empty reading – all these things are time-stealers. I use them as rewards for having written my quota for the day. And actually, when I’ve given my family my best, they in turn cheer me on in my writing.

Do you think it’s possible to give yourself fully to raising children, writing, working, and keeping in shape? If not, which one for you has to take a back seat?

I’ve seen it done by other women. I know it can be done. But yikes. Keeping in shape just isn’t my favorite thing to do. I hate the hamster wheel. I don’t mind tasking my body physically but I hate repetitious exercise. Chasing a loose dog is purposeful exercise. So is weeding a garden or scrubbing a floor or playing tag on the beach with the kids. But jogging, crunches, leg lifts? Bleh.

When do you find the time to write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your children when you write?

Well, the thing is, I didn’t start writing in earnest until the kids started school. I still have one in high school and I do try to be done with writing (on the days I am home writing) by the time he gets home at 3. But I start when he leaves and I don’t do anything else until he gets home. I used to mope about that. But I’ve realized when he comes home and I start doing things around the house and around him (instead of being holed up in my little writing corner with the door shut) I can THINK about where I had to leave my characters when the clock struck three. I imagine the next scene, the next conversation. I think it through, mentally trying out different scenarios while I’m driving him to a practice or helping him with an art project or making dinner. That way, when I can get back to the manuscript, I’ve already decided what will work and what won’t. Down time is marinating time.

How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?

I think of them as marinating times! Or times when the yeast is rising. When you must walk away from the keyboard physically, just remember you don’t have to walk away from it mentally. Go to the next place in your head.

How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted?

Okay. That can be tricky. I re-read where I left off. I close my eyes and see the scene in my mind. I smell it, taste it, feel it. You have to tell yourself it’s easy to climb back in. If you tell yourself it’s hard, by golly it will be.

What do you do to encourage yourself during those stormy days every writing mom has?

You know that saying “This too will pass?” Don’t strangle the next person who says that to you. It’s true. Storms move on. Sunny days follow. You won’t always be standing in the rain with a broken umbrella. And you won’t always have little kids. They grow up. And you will suddenly have all kinds of time to write. You really will wonder how the heck did they grow so fast.

How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you?

You have to place yourself in an environment where you are not distracted by all those other noises so that you can find your center and operate from there. For lots of us, that time is at dawn when you’d rather be sleeping. You can do it late at night, too. But when I save my quiet time for bedtime, I fall asleep in a lovely devoted fashion and remember nothing the next day. Not a very good way to hear the voice of God. Honestly, the best time for quiet listening to God is before the wee ones get up. That’s just the way it is. Get used to it. When they are older they will sleep longer. Teenagers are notoriously great sleepers. You won’t always have to get up with the roosters but right now you may have to. Hey, it will pass. . .

If you do feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?

I have to just say “Halt!” and let everything just stand still for a second. Usually I am a little weepy at that point. Or grumpy. Or both. I have to get back to a place of calm assurance in my relationship to God. All the other priorities hinge on that one. If I can get that one back to where it belongs, the rest find their place. Amazing how that works. . .

Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?

Not yet. I can see where someday He might. I think it’s a good idea for all writers to consider that a sabbatical has been planned for them sometime down the road so that when it falls upon you, you won’t resist it. Breaks from intense creativity can re-charge us, I think.

Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?

Sometimes I wonder if I am writing for the right audience but God hasn’t opened other doors, at least none that I can see. I am always on the lookout, though. Someday I’d like to write something for the general market that has the breath of God all over it.

What advice would you give to writing moms who are have their hearts set on publication?

Don’t set your heart on anything. If you are a believer, your heart isn’t yours. And the plain truth is, getting published is a very strange mix of unique talent and perfect timing. You can only control your own unique talent. You can’t control perfect timing. That’s up to providence and the quirks of the market. It’s okay, I think, to have big dreams. And I think it’s admirable to put your best effort into your writing endeavors and to pursue every lead and angle to get your work in print. But don’t put your heart there. It’s not where it belongs. Do what you can, do it well, leave the results to a God who loves you.

Thanks for letting me chat with you today! I had a blast.

Thanks for coming. You’ve been an inspiration!

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I was tagged by my writing buddy Christa.

The Rules:

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

My book is Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell. I just referred to it the other day and it’s the closest to me.

We are being set up to feel the inner life of the character even before we meet him. And when readers feel something, the want to keep reading. So work hard to grab readers at the start of every scene.

Let’s try some fiction:

Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear by Sharon Dunn

Ida patted her arm.

Don said, “We can take you into Vegas, but priority for the rides has to be for people who have a shift to work. I’m the transportation coordinator.”

Now from my current WIP just for fun! Digging Up Death

The square and depth it was found. Excavated by Jack Duggins. Soil analysis found on the Heart scarab which matched the sample taken from the excavation site.

(okay, not the best example of my WIP because she’s reading off a list!)

Now for the tap.

Georgiana D.

Mary A.

Karen D.

and YOU!

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This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
ADAM

(Thomas Nelson April 1, 2008)by
Ted Dekker Though I’ve only read a handful of Ted Dekker books, I’m a big fan and I can’t wait to read this one. I just need more time to read! I’ve only heard rave reviews of this can’t-put-it-down book so I’m looking for a huge chunk of time I can devote to it, say after I finish my WIP??? Which may be soon!!!  I haven’t read it yet, but I’m adding Adam to my book store. So go pick it up and if you read it before me, please stop by and let me know what you think, but PLEASE no spoilers!!!

He died once to stop the killer…now he’s dying again to save his wife.

FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has become famous for his well-articulated arguments that religion is one of society’s greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn’t know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as “Eve” is about to end abruptly with an unexpected death-his own.Twenty minutes later Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by the loss of memory of the events immediately preceding his death.Daniel becomes convinced that the only way to stop Eve is to recover those missing minutes during which he alone saw the killer’s face. And the only way to access them is to trigger his brain’s memory dump that occurs at the time of death by simulating his death again…and again. So begins a carefully researched psychological thriller which delves deep into the haunting realities of near-death experiences, demon possession, and the human psche.”As always with a Ted Dekker thriller, the details of ADAM are stunning, pointing to meticulous research in a raft of areas: police and FBI methods, forensic medicine, psychological profiling-in short, all that accompanies a Federal hunt for a serial killer. But Dekker fully reveals his magic in the latter part of the book, when he subtly introduces his darker and more frightening theme. It’s all too creepily convincing. We have to keep telling ourselves that this is fiction. At the same time, we can’t help thinking that not only could it happen, but that it will happen if we’re not careful.”

New York Times best-selling author Ted Dekker unleashes his most riveting novel yet…an elusive serial killer whose victims die of unknown causes and the psychologist obsessed with catching him.

Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.

After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.

Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker’s body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven’s Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), and Obsessed, with two more…Renegade, and Chaos to be released later this year.

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 Taming Rafe is another great book in my TBR (To Be Read.) I read Reclaiming Nick and though I’m not big on romance I really liked this one. Probably because it really wasn’t all about the romance. It had mystery and suspense, just what I like. You can read more on Nick and my review here. 

So I’m anxious to get to read about Nick’s brother Rafe. The reviews have already been great. You can read them here and here and here.

Who is Rafe? 

Meet Nick’s younger brother–Rafe!
In less than eight seconds, two-time world champion bull rider Rafe Noble lost his title, his career, his best friend-all on the dirt floor of a noisy rodeo arena. Now he has no choice but to head back to the Silver Buckle, but not before he accidentally destroys philanthropist Katherine Breckenridge’s NY Charity event. Now she’s in town, wanting his money - or his help. And the last thing this broken bull rider is going to do is give her his heart. But Nick’s little brother is going to learn just was it takes to tame the heart of a rebel!

The author, Susan May Warren, gives us a better glimpse of him here.

He’s a Cowboy in Trouble..
Prologue

Rafe Noble, two-time world champion bull rider and current king of the gold buckle, had never met a bull that he feared. Oh, sure, he knew well the tension before a ride that buzzed his nerves and slicked his hand inside his taped-tight leather glove. But normally he shook it off the second he wound the bull rope, sticky with rosin, around the animal’s chest and wedged it into his grip. Then the adrenaline, the heat, took over.

And for eight long, harrowing seconds, it was just man against beast.

In Rafe’s world, man usually won.

However, as Rafe straddled the champion bull known as PeeWee, which had to be some sort of joke because the bull was the biggest, orneriest creature Rafe had ever ridden, coldness rushed through him. Something foreign and overwhelming ignited a tremble from deep within his bones.

For the first time since he was thirteen he felt . . . terror.

Maybe it was just the residual agony of watching one of his fellow bull riders being carried out on a stretcher only minutes earlier. Maybe it was the roar of the crowd hammering at the raging headache he’d nursed most of the day. It could be the fact he rode in pain, that he’d had to tape his hand, wear his knee brace, and the sports medicine doctor had reminded him that one more fracture to his neck would land him in a wheelchair permanently.

Or perhaps it was just the eerie feeling that hung in the air, along with the smells of animal sweat and popcorn and leather and dirt, a surreal sense that tragedy lurked right outside the arena of spectators.

read the rest here

To celebrate this new release Susan is giving away at steak dinner. Be sure and mosey on over to her blog to find out more and watch the trailer, here.

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of seventeen novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia , was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia , Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

Read my interview with her here!

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So many people around me seem to need prayer I thought I’d take the time to jot them down. You’re welcome to pray for these people and add your own request to the comment section:

My dad is recovering from a heart procedure where they had to go in and open up his stents.

My mom needs healing in her arm, a job, a home, and a car (she just moved to town and has a broken arm)

My father-in-law is recovering from a minor stroke.

My husband’s cousin is battling skin cancer.

There’s a situation at my kids school of unkind talk and bullying toward another student and my heart goes out to him because my son experienced the same thing. I pray that this situation gets resolved and the students that are acting unkindly will realize their sin and stop their behavior.

A writing friend had an unexpected death in the family.

Another writing friend is facing surgery.

A friend’s two year old was diagnosed with cancer.

Jesus, I pray for all these needs. They are so great and so many, but you are greater and care for these people even more than I do. Comfort them in their trials and restore their bodies, minds and souls to the way you have designed and purposed for them to be. Rid them of disease, sickness, and pain to YOUR glory. Strengthen them when they are weak and give hope when they are hopeless. May they each draw closer to you!

Amen.

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Exploring God’s Glory

God’s glory. His holy presence. It’s something so many people desire. But are they really ready for it?

In the Old Testament many prophets experienced God’s glory, and it wasn’t how many Christians today imagine it to be. Most often when God entered a place, the ground shook, the Temple filled with smoke and people fell down in fear.

Isaiah was no exception. When struck with the presence and glory of God, Isaiah cried, “Woe to me! I am ruined for I am a man of unclean lips.” He recognized the awesomeness of and the sinfulness of his soul.

What would happen if we were met with the presence of the Holy God? Thankfully, God will look upon us and see the blood of his son, but still the presence of God changes people.

Go here for the rest…

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So many books, so little time! I wish I was a faster reader because this book looks like a fun one, and I’ve heard nothing but good reviews about it. Last year I had the privilege of interviewing Sharon Dunn. She’s a writing mom who has proven it CAN BE DONE!

Here’s the Summary:

When a man turns up dead in a teddy bear costume, Ginger and the other ladies of the Bargain Hunters Network learn a lesson about trusting in God rather than in wealth as they try to solve the crime and clear one of their own. You can pick up your own copy here and check out Sharon Dunn’s website for more about this book and her others.

Sharon Dunn is the author of Death of a Garage Sale Newbie, book one in the Bargain Hunters Mysteries, and the Ruby Taylor mystery novels including Sassy Cinderella, which was voted Book of the Year by American Christian Fiction Writers. She earned a BA in television production and a master’s in history Sharon lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband of twenty years, three children, two cats, and lots of dust bunnies. 

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It’s 4 am in the morning, that’s right 4 am, and I would have been to bed hours ago after a pretty good writing session, but I’ve been searching for an illusive version to my WIP. I keep multiply copies on my computer, SAVING AS so I can have old versions of my WIP. I back up through a Yahoo group, Mozy and gmail and no where can I find the version where I rewrote the ending! I know I wrote it AFTER ACFW because I had a paid critique, and I had great ideas on how to up the stakes. I know I really wrote it! I even think someone might have critiqued it for me.

It was 180 degrees from what I originally wrote, and I don’t think I can muster up the energy to rewrite it and rewrite it as well, so please pray! I’m only 20 pages from the end, and I was getting my writing second wind, now I’m dead in the water (cliche alert) and through it all I have such a peace. No anxiety rolling in my belly (Maybe it’s the late hour, and I’m numb!)

I checked one of my flash drives, there’s a slight chance it could be on another one. But I really have no idea what could have happened to this version. The only thing I can think of is when I wrote it, it didn’t get saved or my computer died and it never got recovered.

This is really not a good thing to happen right now because I’m so far from being finished, and I’m losing steam! I really, really, really, don’t want to rewrite these chapters, and if I have to, I’m not sure when I’m have the mental energy! Definitely not tomorrow! I need some sleep!

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Tell us a little about your family and your call to write.

I am the husband of one beautiful wife, father of four awesome kids, and the so-called master of one very dumb dog. My calling to write is hard to pinpoint. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been prone to get lost in music and in my peculiar imaginings. So I think rather than a specific calling to write, I’ve been harboring some sort of artistic discontent, a sort of infernal itch to communicate through creation, since I was a little kid. I’ve tried many things to scratch it, from playing in rock bands to making people laugh to eventually scribbling down stories.

How did you get your first “writing break?”

Wow, I really feel like the whole journey has been one long series of breaks. Even the setbacks (with the obvious benefit of hindsight) were more like steppingstones. I’m sitting here wracking my brain for a single instance, but the thing I keep coming back to is the idea of ‘emotional’ breaks, the internal stuff.

The outside stuff—getting an agent or a contract or even a great compliment—are wonderful milestones. I really do cherish those things. But I think our biggest breaks happen when we’re in the writing zone, some small insight that comes billowing out of the steam generated by all that furious typing, when we write something that we know is either true or beautiful, something we didn’t know we knew until we typed it. Those are always precious gifts to the writer and need to be treated as such.

What do you write and why this genre?

My answer is confusing, but honest. I don’t know what genre I write (and I’m not entirely sure anyone else does either). And please don’t hear me saying that’s necessarily a good thing either.

I think (for me, anyway) the ‘why’ part informs the ‘what’ part, instead of the other way around. I want to write stories about characters I love. So I really don’t think about genres at all when I’m doing the work, not even a little bit. What I focus on is trying to stay as true as I can to the characters and their stories, then figure out what to call it later.

I guess in some ways it’s like raising kids. We want them to be healthy and happy and to pursue God’s best. But if we’re honest, we don’t know exactly what that’s going to ultimately look like. Because every kid is different and God calls them all to different things. And in the case of my daughter, she won’t even keep the last name I gave her forever.

(And yeah, I think I not only over-spiritualized what should have been a simple answer, but I also pandered to the theme of the website by working child-rearing into an answer about writing! Sorry?)

Do you have any recent contracts and up coming releases?

I do indeed…my first novel, My Name Is Russell Fink (Zondervan) releases Feb. 15 or thereabout. My second novel, Return Policy (Zondervan again) is supposed to release later this year. After that, who knows? But if everyone reading this interview will simply buy one copy of my book for every single person in their church, then I’ll have more contracts and book releases in the future!

What do you hope to accomplish through your novels?

Wow, that’s a really tough question. And my honest answer lands somewhere between “I don’t know” and “a whole lot of things at once.” I guess my hope is that my writing will resonate with readers in at least two ways: 1) that the reader will get at least a little of what they came looking for (story, humor, pathos, an escape, truth, beauty, tears, romance, an escape, etc.), and 2) maybe a little something they weren’t expecting too.

I think the story Nathan told David is a good example. The story ‘worked’ on a surface level. David got it, was moved by it. But then there was a little more to the story than he first thought. I like that.

And now for the tough questions…

Wait, they get harder? I’ve already bled once and cried twice. What are you trying to do to me here?

LOL! Sorry, pal. It’s the price you pay for being published and interviewed here!

How do you balance being a dad, husband, writer, and working?

It’s all about priorities and time management. Which is hilarious, because I’m terrible at both!

God has to come first, then my family, then my obligations to friends and my day job. After all that comes the writing. Ideally, there will be natural synergies among those things. For example, I want my kids to really know me (and vice versa). And I think we can all agree that life is (or should be!) messy. So when you mix all that up, I hope my children will watch and learn by observing Daddy’s juggling act—the successes AND the failures. As much as possible I try to make this a team effort with my family. (My kids talk about my characters like they’re real people.) I’m sure I mess it up a lot. Thankfully, there’s enough grace and humor to grease all the moving parts and keep things moving forward.

When do you find the time to write, and do you ever feel like you’re neglecting your family when you write?

My writing schedule is a bit flakey…and a tremendous tribute to my wife and kids. When I get home from work, it’s dinner and family time. The best days are when I’m totally present and involved during this time. Once the bedtime rituals are complete (pj’s, brushing teeth, reading, praying), I lay down with my kids and take a thirty-minute nap. After that, it’s mommy and daddy time, which invariably involves hot tea and bill-paying. I usually start writing just before 10pm and go as long as I’m able.

How important is a support family to your writing career?

I’m not sure they have a word strong enough for that. Vital?

The day my family starts to suffer as a direct result of my writing will be the day I retire from writing.

How do you handle interruptions in your writing life?

I’m fortunate that I don’t have to deal with a ton of interruptions (unless drowsiness counts!). Most of the time I’m the only one awake. But they do happen and the only thing I know to do is to just try and have a sense of humor about it. Oh, and leave pens and scraps of paper strewn all over the place so I can write down those shifty thoughts before they get away from me.

How do you get back into the flow of writing after you’ve been interrupted?

Again, I’m fortunate in this regard. But I think it’s the same with all interruptions, big or small. You just have to roll your sleeves up and get back into the story. I’ve found that the best solution for most any writing problem is more writing.

How do you position yourself to HEAR God’s voice when all the noises of life are swirling around you?

I’m sure I need to do a better, or at least more consistent, job with this. But when things are going well, it just seems like the antennae is poking up just above all that swirling chaos we call life. So although I may not ‘be still,’ hopefully I’ll still ‘know that He is God’ even amid turmoil.

If you do feel your priorities slipping, what do you do to get back on track?

Hah, I really had to think about this one. But it’s funny, the answer is painfully simple. I don’t have time to do anything but the priorities. And since I love my life, and thus, my whole list of priorities, I’m always doing them.

Has there ever been a time God told you to set aside your writing to focus on other areas of your life? If so, how did you handle that?

Not entirely. But yeah, there have been lots of times where I’ve had to forego writing to deal with something more important and/or urgent. But going back to your question about priorities, these are easy decisions to make. My deadline for book 2 required some major rearranging and sacrifice from my whole family. But I would have easily missed my deadline if it meant doing damage to the ones I love most. The reality was that we sort of made it a team effort. I really believe my kids can see the value of hard work and pulling together and sacrificing a little for the greater good. And it’s funny, when time is shorter for whatever reason, we tend to relish the time we do have together even more.

Did you ever feel like you’ve “missed” God in regards to writing, that maybe you should be doing something else?

No, and it’s funny…if anything, I sometimes wonder if I “missed” the calling to write. It’s easy to look back on what might have been obvious signals to take up writing. But I liked music and sports and girls and more music and napping way more. For instance I once had a college professor who was always after me to pursue writing. He even asked my permission to send one of my assignments to some journal somewhere. And it was accepted and published! But frankly, I didn’t care. I never saw it and I have no clue what the publication was called. So feel free to either roll your eyes or call me a moron…or both?

What advice would you give to writing dads who are have their hearts set on publication?

Actually…I would suggest a slight tweak in that heart setting. I’m about to be published and it’s a huge honor. It’s humbling and scary and wonderful and all those things that I probably thought it would be. But…getting published wasn’t really ‘the point’ when I started all this writing. So it would be a little disingenuous of me now to make out like it was. And as cool as a publishing deal is, it’s still not the point. In fact, it could easily distort the point if I’m not careful. I always had my heart set on writing well. Getting published is a fine goal, but it should never define who we are as writers. There are a lot of great things about being published. But it has its downsides too.

I have this friend who can write circles around me. Her name is Jeanne Damoff and I don’t know if she’ll ever get a publishing deal or not. I’m not even sure where that ranks on her list of things to do. But I don’t think of Jeanne as ‘not published yet’ or even ‘one who deserves to be published’. I think of her as someone who adores stringing words together. I think of her as a great and good steward of the gifts God gave her—wisdom, insight, pathos, and a killer sense of humor. Her talent is utterly enviable and I have no doubt that her words will inspire and engage and amuse lots and lots of people, whether she gets the nod from a big publishing house or not. Part of me wishes that for her. But then I remember that that’s between her and God. The thing is, I don’t need a publishing house’s stamp of approval to confirm what I already know, that Jeanne is a great writer.

And for the record, I do realize that Jeanne is a mom, not a dad.

Anyway, I wasn’t meaning to parse the question or diminish the goal of publication. But this is such a fickle and subjective business. And I just hate it when I see a writer lose his or her joy. If God calls one to write…and he or she loves the writing…then whatever happens as a result will be pleasing to God. And that’s a pretty darn good goal in and of itself.

I’m beginning to see the truth in your words in my own writing journey. I’ve always known I was a writer, then the publishing bug hit and is slowing wearing off, which is a good thing. It’s allowed me to slow my pace and enjoy life and family instead of striving endlessly for that elusive book contract!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Nope, I’m sure I’ve said too much already. Okay, yeah, there is at least one more thing…Thank you!

Thanks for having me here. And thank you for your constant striving to remind us to be good parents first. That’s a good, good thing.

Thank you! Through your interview you’ve reminded ME to be a good mom first! Even though you’ve shared from the perspective of a dad!

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That’s supposed to be the theme for lent, and while I’ve been really good at the giving up part of lent, I haven’t been able to add in the more time with God like I’d like. Part of it is a discipline issue. I’d have to get up much early than I already do to be alone with God (before anyone wakes up), second is the fact that what I’ve chosen to give up really doesn’t make room for God in a tangible way. I gave up sweets, deserts, etc., but if I’d give up the computer or t.v. I think it would be easier to make room for God.

With that said, I’m not going to beat myself up for my shortcomings because though I haven’t made a huge chunk of time for God, I have been stealing more little moments like the Friday morning Bible study at church and the scripture readers through out the day, and reading through the Message Remix Bible when I can.

So I’ll continue on this path, try and get to bed earlier so I can steal some time alone with God, and keep my mind renewed throughout the day. It’s something I really should be doing every day, not just on lent, but I’m hoping to establish some better habits during this season after being off schedule for the last several months!

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Before I homeschooled, when my kids were in school, I rarely got them up and ready to leave for school. I would sleep in until nine sometimes. (I’ve never been a morning person.)

Then, I only had one or two in kids in school and my husband did a great job of getting them fed and ready for school. In fact, my oldest was a pro at making his own breakfast in first grade (except for the time he almost caused a fire in the microwave by leaving a plastic spoon in his oatmeal bowl which melted!) But I’m sure the morning would have been smoother if we had had Breakfast BREAKS.

Now my kids are older, and I get up with them at 7 am. They’re pretty much self-sufficient, though I do make them eggs for breakfast on occasion. But I can see how these grab ‘em and eat breakfasts could help busy families.

The best way to describe it is it’s like a lunchable for breakfast. Each package (which has a handle and looks like a little lunch box) contains “a balanced breakfast for kids including cereal (Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms), that can be enjoyed with or without milk, Minute Maid® 100% fruit juice, and a nutritious snack.” This prepackaged breakfast even comes with a napkin, spoon, and moist towelette.

“Breakfast BREAKS was originally developed for schools to ensure that the children served were receiving the USDA requirement of at least 25% of the recommended key nutrients they needed each day, with the addition of 8 oz. of low fat milk.” And I can see what a great idea it is for schools. I’m just not sold on the idea that it’s any easier than grabbing a cereal bar, a juice box or throwing some cereal in a bag. With Breakfast Breaks, you still have to pour the milk in the bowl or find it somewhere if you’re on the go and want milk with your cereal. Though I guess busy moms from across the U.S. wanted these Breakfast Breaks in the supermarket, so here they are.

I think it’s important for you to know I rarely buy lunchables, though I do on occasion, and we try and buy organic cereal and cereal bars. In fact, I’ve even taken the time to make my kids crackers, cheese and ham squares instead of buying the prepackaged, more pricey ones. I also steer clear of those prepackaged small chip bags and snacks. I usually buy the bigger snacks in bulk and then divide them myself into snack baggies. It takes some time, but not a lot and it does save tons of money and packaging waste.

So while I’m not completely sold on Breakfast Breaks for our family, I do see them having a place in the market for those busy stressed-out moms and dads who don’t have time to think ahead and don’t have quick, healthy foods on hand and accessible to their kids. One thing I am excited about for these Breakfast Breaks is I see them as a great way to cut down on the pre-camping hassle and long road trips. I am more likely to pick up this type of prepackaged food on a camping or road trip to save me the hassle of making individual meal sacks for my four kid.

But don’t take my word for it, check it out and try it for yourself. It might be exactly what you’re family’s been looking for!

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Don’t despair if you’re not the lucky winners. I’ll be giving away more books on my blog and in the mean time you can still get this book here!

Elisa @ extravagantgrace.net

and

Daan Van der Merwe

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This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
My Name is Russell Fink
Zondervan (March 1, 2008)
by
Michael SnyderABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Snyder has spent the bulk of his professional career in sales, has fallen in love, and continues to struggle with the balance between art and vocation. He’s never investigated a murder, much less that of an allegedly clairvoyant dog.

Be sure to check back on Monday for my first ever Writing Dad i interview with Mike Snyder!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Russell Fink is twenty-six years old and determined to salvage a job he hates so he can finally move out of his parents house for good. He’s convinced he gave his twin sister cancer when they were nine years old. And his crazy fiancée refuses to accept the fact that their engagement really is over.

Then Sonny, his allegedly clairvoyant basset hound, is found murdered.

The ensuing amateur investigation forces Russell to confront several things at once-the enormity of his family’s dysfunction, the guy stalking his family, and his long-buried feelings for a most peculiar love interest.

At its heart, My Name is Russell Fink is a comedy, with sharp dialogue, characters steeped in authenticity, romance, suspense, and fresh humor. With a postmodern style similar to Nick Hornby and Douglas Coupland, the author explores reconciliation, forgiveness, and faith in the midst of tragedy. No amount of neurosis or dysfunction can derail God’s redemptive purposes.

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I’ve been stuck on editing the last 3o pages of my WIP for weeks. I was in the midst of the black moment and I ran out of steam. My words seemed dry and dull on the page when it was supposed to be one of the most exciting parts in the book. So I let it lie for a bout a week and did a little editing on the first part of the book.

Yesterday I picked it up, felt the creativity flowing, and got a little advice from friends. Now I’ve got a whole new plot twist and probably a couple more new scenes to add to my WIP! The thing keeps growing and growing, which is okay because I’m not quiet at 80,000 words yet.

But I’ve got renewed focused and some of my plot holes are filling up. Yesterday I was interrupted by Valentine’s Day parties at school so I didn’t get much writing done. But I hope to this weekend. My slump seems to be over and I’m so excited to be…excited about my WIP again!

So what are you working on this weekend?

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I know the Internet is flooded with romantic Valentine’s Day suggestions or beautiful prose of love and romance. I thought I’d take a different route on this day and share with you a book about communication. After all if you’re not communicating with your husband in the way he will understand, chances are you’re not able to communicate LOVE to him in the way he understands.

My husband and I just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary and there’s never a day that goes by that one of us miscommunicates to one another. So when I saw this book titled, How to Get Your Husband to Listen to You, I knew I needed it and two lucky readers will be getting it free. So stay tuned!

Here’s what it’s all about. See if you can relate.

In their new book, How to Get Your Husband to Listen to You: Uncovering How Men Communicate (Multnomah, January 2008), popular authors Nancy Cobb and Connie Grigsby offer practical solutions for wives seeking clear, meaningful communication with their men.

How to Get Your Husband to Listen to You is not about changing a man’s God-given way of thinking. Rather, it teaches women how to initiate healthy communication and enjoy the blessing of a husband who wants to listen.

Have you ever tried to read your husband’s mind to determine his mood? It’s usually not a good idea, because we never know what another person—especially a man—is thinking.

Here’s a sneak peak into the book!

Wife’s Diary

Tonight I thought he was acting weird. We’d made plans to meet at a restaurant to have dinner. I thought he was upset that I was a bit late, but he made no comment. Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested we go somewhere private so we could talk. He agreed, but kept quiet…

…When we got home, I felt as if I’d lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there and watched TV. He seemed distant and absent. Finally I decided to go to bed. About ten minutes later he came to bed. To my surprise he responded to my caress, and we made love. But I still felt he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else.

After he fell asleep, I cried. I don’t know what else to do. I’m almost sure his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

Husband’s Diary

I didn’t catch any fish today, but at least I made love with my beautiful wife.

If a woman is quiet, she’s often upset or hurt. So she assumes the same when her husband is quiet. But most of the time a man’s quietness has nothing to do with his wife.

A woman will often become emotional in her efforts to draw out her husband. This causes him to become frustrated and withdraw. To counter this, the female continues talking to engage him, which is even more frustrating to the man. At this point, he’ll often disengage from the conversation altogether.

Women conclude from this kind of interaction that something is wrong in the relationship, and they try to hash things out. The poor husband doesn’t know what to say. He simply wants to be himself, but often this isn’t acceptable to his wife.

A man’s silence is normal, especially when he feels he’s being interrogated. He simply stops listening and thinks of something more pleasant—like getting some peace and quiet or catching more fish next time.

BOTTOM LINE: Men relish silence, and it usually has nothing to do with their feelings toward their wives.

So are you interested? Read the following interview by the author and leave a comment to win a free book!

Connie, why did you write this book?

Our publisher asked us to write it as sort of a “companion book” to How to Get Your Husband to Talk to You. After doing some research and surveys, we decided there was enough fresh material from this different angle to write the book. So, in this case, which is quite rare, our publisher came to US asking us to write something for them. Normally, it’s the other way around!

Why is communication between husbands and wives so difficult?

First, men and woman are wired completely differently, and often women forget this! Men like short, direct, and to the point conversation. They like to solve our problems. They see very little value in just “listening,” for listening’s sake. They need time to process things–they don’t think as quickly on the spot as we do. Most women, generally speaking, are opposite of this! Many times we unknowingly heap unrealistic expectations on our husbands, thinking they will communicate like us. We forget, and don’t appreciate, their God-made differences. When we get into this mode of unrealistic expectations, we can become frustrated really quickly. An air of superiority can seep in, where we see ourselves a bit superior and our husbands a bit inferior, at least re: communication. We may then begin treating our husbands in a disrespectful manner, and respect is the very life blood to a man. Men who feel disrespected by their wives are usually not men who have much desire to communicate with them.

What is it a husband needs from his wife before he is able to open up and communicate?

He needs to feel safe, accepted, and respected as a man. He also needs to feel that he can express an opinion without having it get blown to bits, if his wife disagrees. It’s perfectly fine for a woman to disagree, but she needs to do so in a respectful manner that leaves his dignity intact. Too often, we give off tones of “what an idiot,” “you are so clueless,” or worse.

In your experience, what is the biggest mistake women make as they try to talk with their husbands?

One of the biggest patterns I see is they quickly become frustrated when their husbands don’t communicate as they (the women) feel they should, and then they allow disrespect to enter into their interactions with them. Disrespected husbands usually won’t fight to regain this respect. They don’t know what they did to lose it in the first place. They feel they can’t win. And rather than fight back, they will either become angry or shut down, or both. This makes the woman even more irritated–because she feels she’s “right”–and the whole vicious cycle starts over and over again. This pattern can go on for a lifetime, unless someone steps out of the cycle and begins to live in a healthier manner. So often, women will say, “I am NOT going to be the one to change. He should change. I am a strong woman and I know what’s right.” My answer to that is that it takes a very strong woman to be willing to change. Not changing takes very little strength, while being the one to initiate change–especially when one feels she is right–takes monumental strength. It is the mature person that is willing to step back, reassess, and initiate c-h-a-n-g-e.

What are some phrases women should avoid when they want to discuss something important with their husbands?

One of the biggest ones is: “We need to talk.” or “I have GOT to talk with you now.” or “When you get home, I have something to say to you.” Others include: “You always….” or “You never…” or “I can’t believe that you did such and so…” They should also avoid those infamous “Husband-Bashing” sessions when they’re with other women.

Do men and women view Valentine’s Day differently? Do they have different expectations?

Oh, I would definitely say that men and women view it differently, generally speaking. Women often see it as a way to measure how much their men love them, and men don’t get this quite as much. They want their wives to feel special and loved, but I don’t think most men realize how big of a deal it is to their wives. I think women should take some of the pressure off of the guys, and realize that most men try their hardest on Valentine’s Day, even though it may not seem like it to a woman. Men want to please their wives, so why not help them out? Say something like, “You know what I’d love for Valentine’s Day? I’d love such and so.” Men LOVE this. It makes their lives so much easier, you like what they get you (by this time they’ve often forgotten the hint you dropped), and everyone feels great. If a guy is told what to do, or at least what his wife is thinking, he can take the ball and run with it. But if left to figure it out for himself, he may sweat blood and come up with what he thinks is a knock-out gift, only to find she’s disappointed or let-down. This is so painful for a man. He tried so hard and he missed the mark! Women don’t realize how defeating this can be, and how deflated our guys can feel when this happens. Get excited about what he gives you. So it’s not perfect? Who cares! It truly is the thought that counts.

How do men/women say I love you?

Men generally say “I love you” by the things they “do” for their wives: bring home the paycheck, mow the lawn, fix the leaky faucet, etc. Women often say I love you in a more emotional manner: holding hands, touching, long talks, gazing into the other’s eyes, etc. The 3 words a woman loves to hear, by the way, are: “I love you,” while the 3 words a man longs to hear are: “I’m proud of you.” Well, actually that’s four, but you get the point! Women thrive on being loved and cherished, while men thrive on being respected and admired.

How can wives get the communication they desire on Valentine’s Day?

By beginning afresh to show their husbands that they respect who they are as men, and appreciate what they do for their families. This could be the turning point to warming up a cold marriage, or warming up a good marriage even moreso. My husband and I celebrated our 28th anniv just a wk ago. I wrote out 28 things I loved about him. Some were funny, but most were more serious, and reflected his character, work ethic, how he treated people, what kind of man he was, etc. I gave the list to him, and by the end of it, he was tearing up. He said to me, “Connie, this is all a man wants from his wife: to know he’s respected, accepted, and appreciated.” If we gals could work on remembering their good points, instead of being so quick to jump on their weaknesses, I think we’d go along way in getting the communication we so hunger for.

What would the perfect Valentine’s Day look like for meeting the needs of both the husband and wife?

Where each is focused on what would please the other, more than what they want themselves. It would be an “Others-Centered” Valentine’s Day. It would be that principle of giving, expecting nothing in return, and truly feeling that way.

Thanks to everyone who entered but contest is closed! I’ll be giving away more books on my blog, so check back, and in the mean time you can still get this book here!

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It’s Okay to be Bad

Week four of Experiencing Christ Within is all about sin.

The bad news it that we’re all sinners. No one is good! Not one. When God looks down from heaven, He sees us all the same. Prostitute, deacon, drug dealer, preacher. We’re all sinners.

Sure, there are people who do not serve God and who do good. I’m not denying that. But the difference is the standard or the measurement we use to determine good.

Dwight Edwards explains it like this:

“We can easily slip into a ’street level’ view of goodness. It’s like walking down a city street sidewalk and comparing the heights of those you pass by. A few people happen to be well over six feet tall and really stand out from the crowd. But if you were to look down on the scene from atop a hundred-story skyscraper, everybody on the sidewalk would appear equally tiny.”

Read more… 

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