WHY DO WE FEAR SUCCESS?

Meet author Christina Rich

When she was younger, Christina tried to dig herself to China, loved Three Billy Goats Gruff, and had an obsession with maps. She gave up her dig to China but still jumps at the chance to travel even if it’s just down the road. She loves watching modern takes of fairytales and mythologies on the big screen and still has a huge obsession with maps. The older the better.

Born and raised in Kansas, where she currently lives with her husband and children, Christina loves to read stories with happily ever afters, research,  take photos, knit scarves, dig into her ancestry, fish, visit the ocean, write stories with happily ever afters and talk about her family and Jesus.
Her debut novel, The Guardian’s Promise, is available now from Love Inspired March 2014.

www.threefoldstrand.com

WRITER FEARED SUCCESS

By Christina Rich

I was asked awhile back by another writer how I got over my fear of success. It's a good question and an easy one to answer. Well, the words are easy, but the application isn't always easy.
Trust in the Lord.
If you're like most writers you had the inkling that you'd like to write. For some of us we had no idea what that was, for others we knew right from the start. For those of us who had no idea, we dabbled, doodled and scribbled. We read books and told ourselves how cool it would be to write like that, or that we could write better. After all, how hard could writing be? Really?
And then an idea hit us and we wrote a bunch of words. In my case, most were flowery to the point of choking, just ask my first critique partners. And if the words weren't choking, they were jarring. In the beginning, we learned a little about the craft, mainly basics, and then if we were teachable we grew. Not everyone is teachable, I tried to be.
There came a time when I knew I loved writing and wanted to continue, but if I wanted to be like the greats I knew I needed to put my work out there for others to criticize. However, I was scared. I wanted people to like me, and my writing was a big part of me. I didn't want to face criticism and rejection, most of all I feared failure. Failure at doing what God called me to do; write.
When I started to meet little successes, a few contest finals here and there, I realized I no longer feared failure, but success. There is a scripture in Luke that says to whom much is given, much is required. I'm not a huge fan of The Message, but I do like the translation of this particular verse.
Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities! (The Message Luke 12:48)
That's a lot of weight to put on the shoulders of a spastic worry wart, and I tell you it scared me to death. Sometimes it still does. I mean, seriously, who wants to become successful only to have people start coming out of the woodworks and telling all of your past fumbles through life? And trust me when I say I've had a lot of fumbles. But I had to get over that, especially if I was to really step into the calling God had/has for my life.
Have you heard the song by Jeremy Camp Overcome?
We will overcome by the blood of the lamb, and the word of our testimony.
Each word in this short little verse is poignant, especially the small words we and our.
We/our- each of us
We are not only overcomers by the blood of the lamb, the blood that Jesus shed on the cross to cover our sins, but also by the word of our testimony. If not for the testimonies of others I never would have accepted the fact that God loves even me. If not for the testimonies of others I never would have fully understood God's grace and mercy.

And so it is, that with the gift I've been given, much has been required and will continue to be required. I may never stand before thousands as Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore do, but God has given me a platform. With the success God has allowed me to have in publishing my stories I will be able to spread my testimonies throughout the world and prayerfully to many languages as well. God has given me the opportunity to write romance fiction set in ancient Judah, and prayerfully, my stories point to the cross and Savior.
I know, without a doubt, whatever success I may or may not have is God's will. I have no idea what is around the corner, but I know as long as I'm seeking Him, He's in it, whether He wants me to write about drug addiction, teen parenting, rebellious children, cancer etc... However, whatever He leads me to write, I pray I'm obedient so that my testimony may encourage others to look to the Lord and see the unconditional love He has for them.
If you fear success, you need to examine why? Is it because of what's in your closet, or is it because of something else altogether? Pray, seek God about the fear choking you and ask him to remove it from your presence so your testimony can shine in a dark world.
I leave you with this:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.

SUMMARY OF THE GUARDIAN'S PROMISE

A Kingdom in Jeopardy
An evil queen and her royal guards will stop at nothing to find—and kill—the rightful heir to the throne of Judah. When their pursuit leads them to Mira’s village, only her father’s bond servant, Ari, a man shrouded in secrets, can keep Mira safe.
Abandoning his life as a temple guard and becoming an indentured servant was the only way Ari could protect young Joash, the true King of Judah, from Queen Athaliah. But his sacred duty prevents him from confessing his feelings for his master’s daughter. With the future of their nation on the line, Ari and Mira will risk everything to save their people.

www.threefoldstrand.com

Heartbreak of Giving Baby Up for Adoption Turns to Heart Healing

ONLY HEAVEN CAN REPAIR—by Christine Lindsay

My journey from being a young woman who gave up her child for adoption—to that of being happily reunited mother with my birthdaughter, and now sharing in my daughter’s joy as she gives birth to her first child—has been a journey of great heights and lows.

The lows...having to relinquish my baby because I knew it was in her best interests, broke my heart in ways that only Heaven can repair.

The heights...thirty-five years after relinquishing Sarah to a closed adoption, I am now looking forward to holding my biological grandson. To add to that joy, Sarah has given me the honor of choosing whatever grandparent name I would like her son to call me. My husband and I will be Nanny-Chris and Papa Dave, so as not to be confused with Sarah’s adoptive mom or her husband’s parents.

But in the middle of my journey, the lows were more prevalent. I had first given Sarah up as an infant in 1979, and we were reunited 20 years later in 1999. But in 2006 I was still struggling with my emotions from the reunion. It didn’t appear that the close relationship I desired with my birthdaughter was going to transpire.

I tried all sorts of things to nurture that relationship—even arranged for Sarah to join my daughter Lana and me on a trip to my homeland, N. Ireland. I thought a trip like that would draw the three of us together.

At first Sarah planned on going. But sadly, just before we were to leave, Sarah lost her baby. This was to be the first of eight miscarriages over the years for Sarah.

Off to Ireland I went with Lana, with Sarah on my mind too. While I wanted that close mother-daughter bond with Sarah, I knew I couldn’t have it because she shared that with her true mom—her adoptive mom. And I was Lana’s true mom. But while Lana and I toured Ireland, I hid my sadness from Lana, that with the loss of her baby Sarah was grieving an empty womb in a similar way that I had done when I relinquished her.

The two losses are hard to compare—like apples and oranges. But the loss of a baby no matter how that happens just plain hurts.

On the trip, Lana and I shared some close times. And on a personal level I felt the Lord’s encouragement when I viewed the Ruth and Naomi stained-glass windows in the ancient church St. Augustine’s in Londonderry. 

While I was praying for a close bond with both my daughters, the Lord reminded me of the tender love between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. I had to trust God for that long-held desire for my daughters.

And our tender-hearted heavenly Father has done that for me. As the years passed, Sarah and Lana and I have grown closer. Both my daughters were the models on the front covers of my first two books, Shadowed in Silk and Captured by Moonlight.

But it was the ancient church St. Augustine’s in Londonderry, and the Ruth and Naomi stained glass windows, that were the inspiration behind my romance novella Londonderry Dreaming. Click here to open up the first chapter of Londonderry Dreaming.

As I have been encouraged by the Lord in the highs and lows of my life, I pray that my books will encourage you.

LONDONDERRY DREAMING

Acclaimed New York artist, Naomi Boyd, and music therapist, Keith Wilson, loved one another five years ago, until her grandfather with his influence over Naomi separated them.

That root of bitterness keeps them apart until a letter from Keith’s grandmother, Ruth, draws Naomi to Londonderry to find she’s too late. Ruth has passed on. After the death of his beloved grandmother, Keith has also come to Londonderry only to open the door to his past…Naomi...beautiful as ever, the girl who broke his heart.

A mysterious painting in Ruth’s attic brings up questions about their grandparents’ entwined past and their own broken romance. But more comfortable with the unspoken languages of art and music, Naomi and Keith find it difficult to share their old hurts and true feelings.

Will the majestic coastline of Northern Ireland inspire them to speak the words to bring peace to their grandparents’ memory and to rekindle love?

ABOUT CHRISTINE LINDSAY:

Christine Lindsay was born in Ireland, and is proud of the fact that she was once patted on the head by Prince Philip when she was a baby. Her great grandfather, and her grandfather—yes father and son—were both riveters on the building of the Titanic. Tongue in cheek, Christine states that as a family they accept no responsibility for the sinking of that great ship.

It was stories of her ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India that inspired her Multi-award-winning historical series Twilight of the British Raj. Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and Christine is currently writing the final installment of that series called Veiled at Midnight to be released August 2014.

Christine makes her home in British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada with her husband and their grown up family. Her cat Scottie is chief editor on all Christine’s books.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE:

Please drop by Christine’s blog site www.christinelindsay.org or follow her on Twitter and be her friend on Pinterest and Facebook

PURCHASE SITES FOR

LONDONDERRY DREAMING

SHADOWED IN SILK Amazon

SHADOWED IN SILK Barnes & Noble

SHADOWD IN SILK Kobo

CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT Amazon

CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT Barnes & Noble

CAPTURED BY MOONLIGHT Kobo

Childrens' authors, The Writing Sisters, a new novel for adults, The Shepherd's Song, A wounded Iraqi vet, a young Kurdish girl fleeing, and a Kenyan runner, on a journey

Information for Guest Post March 11.

Bio:

The Writing Sisters, Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers were born into a writing family, and began critiquing manuscripts at an early age for their mother, Newbery winner Betsy Byars.  They went on to become authors of more than thirty-five children’s novels. Their first book for adults is  The Shepherd’s Song,  Howard Books, March 2014.

Links:

www.WritingSisters.com

www.facebook.com/WritingSisters

The Shepherd’s Song

Back Copy:

Follow the incredible journey of one piece of paper—a copy of Psalm 23—as it travels around the world, linking lives and hearts with its simple but beautiful message.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…

Shortly before a tragic car accident, Kate McConnell wrote down the powerful words of Psalm 23 on a piece of paper for her wayward son. Just before she loses consciousness, Kate wonders if she’s done enough with her life and prays, “Please, let my life count.”

Unbeknownst to Kate, her handwritten copy of Psalm 23 soon begins a remarkable journey around the world. From a lonely dry cleaning employee to a soldier wounded in Iraq, to a young Kurdish girl fleeing her country, to a Kenyan runner in the Rome Invitational marathon, this humble message forever changes the lives of twelve very different people. Eventually, Kate’s paper makes it back to its starting place, and she discovers the unexpected ways that God changes lives, even through the smallest gestures.

With beautiful prose evocative of master storyteller Andy Andrews’s The Butterfly Effect, this story will touch your heart and remind you of the ways God works through us to reach beyond what we can imagine.

Guest Post:

The Shepherd’s Song: Why Psalm 23?

Ideas for books come in different ways to different people.  We knew we wanted to show the power of the Word of God to change lives and Psalm 23 seemed the perfect place to start. As we learned in our research, this passage of scripture is the best-known passage for Christians and non-Christians alike.  It is the most commonly tattooed verse, and the one most often etched on dog tags.

Our collaborative books before The Shepherd’s Song all contained individual stories linked by an over-aching story.  We saw this book the same way; stories about different people in different cultures reading the Psalm and interacting with scripture.  When we started we didn’t know what the over-aching story would be, except that it would involve the Psalm being passed from person to person.

Psalm 23 is a scripture passage that we have known all of our lives, memorizing it as children in the King James translation. But it was also a psalm that was so familiar to us that we had stopped listening to the words and the promises behind the words.

As we read and studied we realized the importance of sheep in the Bible.  There are over 700 references to sheep.  God often refers to us as His sheep.  The more we studied the more we wanted to learn. Our own encounters with sheep showed us how alike people and sheep are. We are stubborn and anxious.  We are crowd pleasers and fearful.

From Philip Keller’s book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, we learned about a real life shepherd, and the words of the psalm took on new meaning.  We learned that sheep need still waters.  Left to their own devices they can drift into rushing water, dragged away by the weight of their wet wool.  We learned that the shepherd anoints the sheep with oil to protect them from flies and gnats that drive them crazy.  And so much more.

We never dreamed how much God would teach us about this psalm through our research in books, a visit to a sheep farm, and our personal circumstances.  By the end of writing of the book, we were different, we had changed.

In the book, twelve individuals encounter Psalm 23, and like us they are changed forever.

Author interview with Anita Higman about her new book, Marriage in Middlebury. It's not your typical romance.

What was your inspiration for A Marriage in Middlebury?

The idea for this book came from my absolute love of tearooms in Texas. In fact, here’s my note to readers on that very subject:

More than a decade ago I met a woman named Linda Becker

who opened a tearoom in the Houston burbs called, Tea for

Two. Her eatery and gift shop did so well, she opened a second

shop. Over the years I’ve enjoyed her wonderful tearoom

fare as well as the quaint ambiance. Linda’s tearoom isn’t just

a café—it’s a gathering place for friends, a place to eat home

cooked food, and a place so cozy you don’t want to leave.

As a writer I thought it might be fun to create a heroine who

owns a tearoom similar to Linda’s and set her shop in a small

town on the gulf coast of Texas. So, that’s how the novel, A

Marriage in Middlebury, was born. Even though my story, the

characters, and the town are fictional, Linda’s tearooms are

real places you can visit and enjoy. Thank you, Linda, for the

great food, and the fellowship, and the inspiration.

Everything was going smoothly for the main character when suddenly everything changes with the return of her ex. What advice do you have when life throws a curveball?

As a Christian we should trust in the One who made us, the One who’s known us from the first day when we were being knit together in our mother’s womb, the One who loves us best. Trusting in Him during life’s storms is the only answer, and it’s more than enough.

Charlotte was pressured into breaking off her relationship with Sam by Sam’s father - how should we react to family pressures and difficult relatives?

Bathe the situation in prayer and then talk things through no matter how painful. But once the air is clear, forgive and move on. Don’t keep going back over and over. Forgiveness is not easy, but it’s the only way to live free. It helps to remember that forgiveness is what God offered us when we sinned against Him.

Is there a certain Bible passage or verse that goes along with the theme of A Marriage in Middlebury?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Are any of the characters or events in A Marriage in Middlebury based on your own experiences?

Well, I love art, flowers, quirky characters, and tearooms. And somehow I managed to put them all into the novel. It was a fun ride!

Do you find yourself returning to similar themes in your novels (i.e. forgiveness, trust, etc.) or do you have a new message with each release?

Yes, I tend to go back to the themes of forgiveness and reconciliation. These are not only good themes for a story, but they are paramount in living the Christian life.

What do you hope readers will walk away with after they turn the last page of A Marriage in Middlebury?

That with God all things are possible!

Like several of your other books, A Marriage in Middlebury is set in your home state of Texas - what are some of your favorite things about Texas?

Overall, Texas is an inexpensive place to live, it’s a great place to raise a family, and it’s one of the friendliest places on earth. I’ve lived here for about thirty years, and I’m proud to call Texas my home.

Before becoming a writer, you had number of interesting jobs - what was it about writing that drew you in?

I had an incredible need to tell stories. I don’t think I had a choice in becoming a writer—the profession sort of chose me. But I’m content in that truth.

My links are:

www.anitahigman.com 

 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorAnitaHigman 

 

Amazon link: 

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1426733879/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1JBH9B4PVD7TBR4E275C&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

God's Son vs. a Muscle-Bound Jerk?

Meet Author Becky Lyles: A Gal Who Writes Westerns

Rebecca Carey Lyles grew up in Wyoming, the setting for her Kate Neilson novels. She currently lives in Idaho, where she serves as an editor and a mentor for aspiring authors and as a coach for women transitioning from prison to life on “the outside.” Winds of Freedom is the sequel to the award-winning first book in the Kate Neilson series, Winds of Wyoming.

We can do anything through Christ

By Becky Lyles

My Bible study group is currently studying Samson’s life in Judges (chapters 13-16), and I’ve been thinking about his similarity to Christ. I know—how irreverent to compare the two! Jesus was the perfect Son of God. Samson was a musclebound jerk fueled by hormones and temper. Yet, some aspects of his life remind me of Jesus’ life. Here are a few similarities followed by dissimilarities.

Similar:

-          Their mothers were both chosen by God.

-          Both women were visited by angels.

-          Both earthly fathers had conversations with angels.

-          Their moms were promised unique sons with God-ordained destinies.

-          Their births were supernatural: Samson born to a barren woman; Jesus born to a virgin.

-          They were set apart by God from birth and called to rescue their people.

-          They received power from the Holy Spirit.

-          They had enemies who hated them and tortured them.

-          They triumphed over their enemies through death.

Dissimilar:

-          Samson broke his Nazirite vow again and again; Jesus lived a sinless life.

-          Samson lived for himself and his lusts; Jesus lived to obey God and serve others.

-          Samson used women; Jesus elevated women.

-          Samson gave in to sin; Jesus conquered sin.

-          Samson prayed when he was desperate; Jesus prayed to commune with his Father.

-          Samson was occasionally poetic, yet he lived a violent life; Jesus sometimes spoke harsh words, yet he lived a peaceful life.

-          Samson’s vengeful anger was aimed at those who dared oppose him; Jesus focused his anger at those who dishonored his Father.

-          Samson judged Israel 20 years and died; Jesus lives and acts as our Advocate/Defender before the Father.

-          Samson died to avenge his eyesight loss and took thousands to the grave with him; Jesus died to provide eternal life for humankind and took a thief to heaven with him.

Does Samson’s life have meaning for you and me? Why did God include him in the Bible’s “hall of faith”? I don’t know the answer to the last question, but according to Hebrews 11, Samson’s weakness was turned to strength. Like him and like the Apostle Paul, “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). God’s “power is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). Jesus, too, became weak, but then God “exalted him to the highest place” (Phil. 2:7-8).

Believers are exalted and empowered when we join God’s family. We’re sanctified—made holy and set apart for a sacred purpose (John 17:17-19) (I Thess. 5:23). Do we, like Samson, ignore our unique status and live for ourselves? Do we give in to sin and pray only when we’re desperate? Are we pugnacious, vengeful people—or peacemakers? Do we live by the Holy Spirit’s power or our own? Do we judge people or defend them? Are we sharing the gospel so we can take others to heaven with us?

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

BECKY'S LATEST BOOK

Winds of Freedom

Winter storms blast across the Whispering Pines Guest Ranch, and a cold wind blows through Kate Neilson’s soul. Despite her pain, Kate’s well-being takes a backseat to the needs of loved ones: her best friend, who’s been ensnared by evil; her failing great-aunt, whose dementia care keeps Kate guessing; and Laura and Mike Duncan, whose ranch and livelihood are threatened by a land-grabbing neighbor.

Winds of Freedom Amazon link:  https://tinyurl.com/puj6afj

http://www.beckylyles.com

beckylyles@beckylyles.com

Facebook: Rebecca Carey Lyles

     or Becky Carey Lyles

Twitter: @BeckyLyles

LinkedIn: Becky Lyles

Author's character interview: Chasing Down a Reluctant Heroine

Chasing Down a Reluctant Heroine

By Lynn Gentry

Authors love to introduce their characters and I’m no exception. I can’t wait for you to meet

Dr. Lisbeth Hastings.

Lisbeth is a driven, young professional with her life as a doctor all planned out. However, that was before her tragic mistake. I won’t say too much about the mistake (after all I want you to read the book) but I will say her error in judgment thrust her into a world stranger than anything her archeologist father ever dug up in one of his forgotten caves.

You’d think the threat of medical malpractice would have humbled this young intern a bit, but … well … I’ll let you be the judge of her current emotional state.

She’s the one being drug to the baths of a third-century villa.

Be warned … she’s ticked.

Me: Excuse me, Dr. Hastings. Could I speak to you for a minute?

Lisbeth: In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a little busy. Hey, what is this place?

Me: It’s a bathroom.

Lisbeth: A bathroom? It’s bigger than my entire apartment back in Dallas.

Me: Nothing is too good for the wealthy Roman, Cyprianus Thascius.

Lisbeth: Roman?

Me: Calm down. I’m sure you’ll come to appreciate every amenity I dropped into this story.

Lisbeth: I don’t want to appreciate anything. I want you to get me out of this nightmare.

Me: Well, I can’t. I put you into the third century to change the world.

(Lisbeth has crossed her arms and is tapping her foot. She seems a bit too snarky, but I can see how unexpected time travel could have a tendency to make someone a tad defensive. Besides, if I sent Lisbeth home before she met the handsome hero what kind of love story would this be?)

I take a deep breath and continue.

Me: Maybe I went overboard a bit with the floor-to-ceiling murals, cascading water, and exquisite tile mosaics, but I actually toured the ruins of a Roman bath in England and thought the Romans masters of luxury. In fact, I think you’d find their medical knowledge equally as impressive. Frankly, Lisbeth, I’m jealous.

Lisbeth: Jealous?

Me: You’re going to wear some of the most beautiful gowns, have the most amazing adventures, and meet the most incredible hunk, and—

Lisbeth: You’re obviously not the one stuck in the past, half drowned, stripped to your birthday suit, and staring at woman coming at you with a metal claw.

Me: (Looking quickly over my shoulder, I sigh with relief.) Oh, that’s not a claw. The Roman’s call that a strigil. 

Lisbeth: A what?

Me: An exfoliation tool. First a slave slathers you with oil, then scrapes the blade over your skin … Lisbeth … Lisbeth … wait. I can explain.

(As she tries to bolt past me, I really have no choice but to push her into the tub. I’ll try to take up this interview once she’s dry, but I don’t have high hopes. Lisbeth Hastings seldom cooperates...with anyone.)

I also have this video that you can use if you’d like.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imh1AwR698Y

HEALER OF CARTHAGE:

First-year medical resident Dr. Lisbeth Hastings uses her father’s bizarre summons to escape her tragic mistake.

While Lisbeth searches the haunted cave of her father’s archaeological dig, she falls through a hidden portal. When the currents of time spew her onto the slave auction block in third century Carthage, her arrival ignites a fierce bidding war. 

Unable to escape, Lisbeth becomes the property of Cyprian Thascius, a wealthy Roman entangled with a group of people under siege from political persecution and a deadly plague.

Lisbeth resists using her medical skills to combat the epidemic until she stumbles upon a buried secret. To save her family, she must unite with Cyprian to save Carthage. But every revolutionary step they take in the past threatens their future.

MEET LYNN GENTRY

Author Connie Almony Talks about Autism and Motivating the Minions of the Mighty

           My guest today is author Connie Almony, a successful author who has an autistic son. You'll enjoy her ideas about success, failure and misfits.

          1.   You have a special love for folks who feel they don't quite fit. Tell us about it.

Oh yes! You’d be shocked at how many people feel this way. As a counselor, I specialized working with perfectionistic, workaholics. The world viewed them as successful, but they often saw themselves as one small misstep from utter and complete failure. Then, there are those who are so busy acknowledging other’s gifts, and their own lack of the same, they don’t realize that God made them especially for the purpose He has assigned to them—different from everyone else.

2.        How do you encourage them and give them a purpose?
   

I like to point out the little things people do that carry a large weight with God. One of my favorite Biblical examples of how Jesus turns a small gift into a large opportunity is when the boy gave Him a basket of bread and fish. Did you see what Jesus did with it? He does that with our offerings as well. We often think we don’t do enough because large numbers of souls are not saved. And sometimes we don’t even try, because we don’t think our efforts are big enough. However, it’s not about the size, but the heart, and willingness to serve at a moment’s notice where He calls us.

3.       You speak of the "nudge." Does God do the nudging or you?

Oh boy! That’s a good question. One of the reasons I like to emphasize small works for God is because too often we focus on the big works, and I have to wonder how much of that is about ego and pride. I speak of my own, of course. As a writer, I’ve had to grow a readership. In doing this, I need to constantly ask Him, “Is this what You want … or is this about me propping up my own name?” The question can be very scary, because the answer often comes in the form of a humbling.

I’ve had two significant God-nudges with writing. A few years ago, while working on a school story project with my daughter, I caught the fiction-writing bug. I began to write seriously and loved it so much I couldn’t imagine anyone ever seeing it as work. Then I “heard” His voice in my soul, “This is going to get really hard …”

Huh? Hard? No way! Still, I felt the willies just the same.

“ … but I want you to keep going.”

Um, okay, God.

At that time I didn’t know what “hard” was in writing. After submitting my work to critique partners, entering contests and being rejected by agents and editors, I now know what that voice meant. Currently, I have a wonderful agent in Rachel Kent of Books & Such, but the journey still has a few landmines to maneuver.

Another “nudge” you’ve probably seen on my blog, Living the Body of Christ, is a series I did on Military Ministries. At the time I did that series it seemed I was hearing about the needs of our soldiers once they come home, from many sources in my life. That was the series that inspired me to write the novella, At the Edge of a Dark Forest, about a war-veteran, amputee who is struggling with PTSD. I think God was preparing me for this novella two years before it was to be written.

4.         Is  that part of "motivating the minions for the mighty? Tell us about minions.

The minions, that I often speak of on my blog, are the people who do not call attention to themselves, but are doing God’s work in the everyday. We too often don’t give these people enough credit. As writers, we often extol the virtues in the power of the written word, propping ourselves up as influencers. Yes, our work is important. I don’t mean to minimize it. But it’s the people who were willing to listen to me, love me and sometimes just BE with me, who really impacted my life and my faith. Those are the minions for the mighty. I LOVE these people!!! They are so powerful and they don’t even know it.

In At the Edge of a Dark Forest I placed a minion, named Beckett Forsythe, in Cole Harrison’s life. He was a young Marine, impacted by the war, but with God, was able to do extraordinary things. Though his act of submission only affected one man, his commanding officer, it has a ripple effect that will heal generations.

5.         What's your favorite testimony from these folks?

The reason I titled my blog, Living the Body of Christ, is because I love the idea of many different parts making a whole. For this reason, I can’t pick out one testimony from it that would be better than the other. However, I noticed recently a contrast between two that gave me a glimpse of how God works. One, about a man who’d come to Jesus after being in an explosion that almost took his life. He mentioned a list of people who spoke of Jesus during the moments immediately after the explosion as well as in the months of healing. Another story on my blog features a woman who didn’t mention any one person in her coming to faith. Though you can bet someone was praying for her somewhere. Still, the moment was solely between her and the Big Guy Himself. This contrast of testimonies was a great reminder to me of how God works in our lives. He uses us to point others to Him, but we will not be the ones doing the saving. That’s His job.

6.        You speak of your child's autism and the effects of this disorder on the home. How have you felt the prayers of others and experienced God's strengthening power and wisdom?

I don’t know why, but I sometimes get an overwhelming peace whenever my autistic son is mentioned. I speak about the power of BEING WITH someone to help them find God. My son is the master of BEING WITH. He is a wordless, gentle soul, who when he touches you, you feel your stress drain away like someone opened the valve of an over-swelled levy. I don’t know why he was given this gift, but I’m glad I can partake in it. Still, I have many concerns for him and his future. I know God will provide, but it sometimes scares me to wonder HOW. I also feel the burden of those who have autistic children whose disorder leads them to become violent on a regular basis. God has given us glimpses of that as my son travels through adolescence. I think He is reminding me that I shouldn’t take what I have for granted, nor should I assume that another child’s violence is the result of poor parenting, when there are so many chemical factors involved. Many families are struggling in severe ways with this disorder and avoid churches because they get no support, and have nowhere to place their child while they attend. This shouldn’t be. These families need the church more than anyone.

I have felt a lot of prayer for my family. On my blog, the most read post is about whether or not God can/will heal autism. I get lots of comments from people who tell me they are praying for my son, and I pray for their families as well.

7.          Tell us about your new novella and how you came to write it.
   

Last year, one of my critique partners had the brilliant idea for the five of us to do a series of novellas based on Fairytales. I’d call them modern-day retellings, but I believe at least two of them will be set in the 19^th Century (one Regency England, the other Western U.S.). I chose Beauty and the Beast because I’m drawn to the theme of loving someone beyond their appearance. The only thing that concerned me was the idea that a woman’s love changes the man. Sorry, but as a former counselor who’s worked with abused women who dated projects instead of soul-mates, this kind of bugged me. So I adjusted the story, just a little, and now it’s not her love that makes him whole.

As I began to conceptualize a “beast” and how he might be physically transformed in a story without magic, having done the above-mentioned military ministries series, my mind caught on the idea of an Iraq-war vet with both physical and emotional scars. As I wrote the story, I was again reminded of the sacrifices made for me and my freedom, and it quickly became a labor of love. That’s why I’ve decided to give 10% of my earnings of At the Edge of a Dark Forest to Military Ministries (now called CruMilitary), an off-shoot of Campus Crusade for Christ. I love the God-filled resources they provide churches and families to help our vets. I hope more churches will make use of these resources to help these families.

Connie’s Bio:

Connie Almony is trained as a mental health therapist and likes to mix a little fun with the serious stuff of life. She was a 2012 semi-finalist in the Genesis Contest for Women’s Fiction and was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Winter 2012 WOW Flash Fiction Contest. Her newest release, At the Edge of a Dark Forest, is a modern-day re-telling of Beauty and the Beast about a war-vet, amputee struggling with PTSD.

You can find Connie on the web, writing book reviews for Jesus Freak Hideout, and hosting the following blogs: InfiniteCharacters.com and LivingtheBodyofChrist.Blogspot.com.

You can also meet her on the following social media outlets:

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

At the Edge of a Dark Forest

Cole Harrison, a war veteran, wears his disfigurement like a barrier to those who might love him, shielding them from the ugliness inside. He agrees to try and potentially invest in, a prototype prosthetic with the goal of saving a hopeless man’s dreams.

Carly Rose contracts to live with Cole and train him to use his new limbs, only to discover the darkness that wars against the man he could become.

At the Edge of a Dark Forest is a modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Only it is not her love that will make him whole.