November 2007

Normally, I decorate the whole house the day after Thanksgiving, but this year we had company from out of state come to visit, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so the decorating got delayed a day. Then I decided that after many years of the same garland and lights on the stairs and the piano that it was time for a change. So I spent Saturday morning shopping for a few new items. I am quite pleased with the results.

But the family room is still littered with boxes and a bare tree in the corner. At least the tree is put together but the lights are missing and the ornaments are waiting to be pulled from their storage containers to shine once again from the branches. Maybe tomorrow. I hope.

Today has been a non-stop flurry of activity. In the midst of going through the old decorations, I decided it was time to pitch some of the things I haven’t used in years. It seems silly to keep storing items that will never see the light of a Christmas day in my house again, and the kids didn’t want them, so it is time to get rid of them.

That cleaning spree got me moving to other areas of the house – namely the refrigerator – quite the job! Suffice it to say there is no longer any sticky residue on the frig walls or moldy stuff in hidden containers. :)

I have no plans to tackle any other cleaning project tomorrow…

However, we are in the midst of making a decision. Randy and I have the opportunity to travel to Israel next year, if we get our act together and can get our passports on time. We had passport photos taken yesterday and found the paperwork we needed. The trouble is, do we really want to go? I always thought I would love a trip to Israel once Jesus returns and there is peace in the land. :) I guess I never expected to go in my lifetime. But now I’m going to be writing three books on the wives of Kind David and wouldn’t it be awesome to see the places where David walked in person? They have uncovered what they think are the remains of his palace, which I would love to see, but I’m sure is not on the tour. Still, there is much worth seeing – to walk where Jesus walked – I’ve heard it is a life-changing experience.

But deep down, when it comes to flying or traveling to the unknown, I am a bit of a wimp. Life should be an adventure, but sometimes when these choices come up, I don’t quite see it that way. I’m not sure why except for the fact that I like my comfort zone. I like to curl up with my laptop and write. I do enjoy traveling – by car – and I’ll even fly to a conference now and then – but over the ocean? What if I get claustrophobic on the plane? I think it’s like a 10-12 hour flight. Oy!

Maybe I could find a travelogue of Israel and watch it on DVD or something instead. Almost as good as going there. And yet…

I know that’s not true. What I really need is to find the desire and the courage – if this is what God would have us to do.

In the meantime, I finished my suspense novel Buried. It’s about a man who wakes up one morning to discover his wife is not who she claimed to be. She has just been arrested for identity theft and murder.

It’s out to a few places, but no one has asked for the full manuscript yet. I like the story, but then I’d better, since I wrote it, right? :) I realize it is in a totally different genre than my Biblical fiction, but someday I do hope someone will want to contract it so I can share it with others.

But for now, I’ll get back to working on book two of The Wives of the King series – Abigail. I’m looking forward to it!

Holidays in this country can be a bit confusing. Especially Thanksgiving. Retailers move from Halloween to Christmas with their advertisements and decorative displays. Except for a few parades and the mention of turkey dinner and football (where that fits in with the spirit of thanksgiving, I’ve yet to figure out!), I wonder how much we really dwell on the idea of giving thanks. Or better yet, giving thanks to whom?

Most of us would say giving thanks to God, but honestly, which god? In our pluralistic society there are so many choices. Does it really matter as long as we are grateful?

I would contend that yes, it would do society good to have each of us develop a grateful spirit, rather than a critical one. Imagine if people in general were patient and gracious and thankful even when they feel angry and frustrated or are in a hurry. And yet, all the gratitude in the world does us no good if we do not have the right focus, and the right object for our gratitude.

So what makes a truly grateful spirit? The answer lies in the gospel of Luke:

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

True gratitude comes when we recognize who we are compared to who He is and what He has done for us. For he who has been forgiven much, loves much. But forgiveness is a gift from God that can’t be bought or sold. Maybe that is why the retailers skip over the holiday. Gratitude produces little profit.

And yet, in light of eternity, it garners the greatest profit of all.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

My friend, author Deborah Raney has agreed to guest blog today on my website. Deb is a writer of women’s fiction and her books never fail to touch readers’ hearts. I have read most of Deb’s works, and I can heartily vouch for her ability to tell a moving, poignant story.

Right now, Deb is at work on her seventeenth novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Readers’ Choice Award and the Silver Angel from Excellence in Media, as well as being a finalist for the Christy Award. Deborah’s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her newest series is the Clayburn novels with Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb also serves on the advisory board of American Christian Fiction Writers. She and her husband, Ken Raney, have four children and enjoy small-town life in Kansas.

Here’s Deb:
I’m excited about the release of Within This Circle, the sequel to A Vow to Cherish. More than ten years passed between the writing of the two books. Fortunately, I had contracted with Steeple Hill Books to revise and update A Vow to Cherish about a year prior to beginning work on the sequel, so the characters and their stories were fairly fresh in my mind.

I had the idea for a sequel shortly after writing Vow, but my publisher at the time was concerned–probably rightly so–that a story about “depression” would be difficult to carry off. My original idea keyed more specifically on that issue, but as the story evolved in my mind over the years, it began to be about so much more. Finally, the main issue that rose to the top–the one I kept seeing articles about and hearing real-life stories about–was that of grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Interestingly, I wrote this story just as my husband and I became grandparents for the first time. Though we still have a teenage daughter at home, we are fast moving toward the empty nest, and we’re looking forward to it! As I thought about the situation I was about to place my characters in–empty nesters called to take over the care of their 3-year-old granddaughter–I could well imagine how frightening and disconcerting that would be. As much as we’ve enjoyed raising our children, the thought of starting all over again with grandchildren is terrifying! And yet, thousands of brave men and women are doing just that every day. I salute them and admire them more than I can say. I believe the Lord must have a very special blessing prepared for people who take on such a daunting task!

My research showed that drug and alcohol abuse was a factor in many cases of parents who’ve given over custody of their children to their own parents, but there are other reasons–everything from death, incarceration, military deployment, mental illness, or simple an unwillingness to take physical and financial responsibility for their children.

And my heart goes out to grandparents who have put their own lives on hold and risen to the challenge of providing a secure and loving home for their grandchild or grandchildren–all while dealing with the sense of sadness (and possibly failure) that comes from having lost a child to whatever circumstances.

The thing I learned as I wrote this novel is that God has promised to be a father to the fatherless, and that despite the extreme challenges, most grandparents find great blessing in being used of God to take the place of an absent parent, whether it be short-term, or permanently. Children, by their very nature, bring joy to a home, and grandparents who were parenting for the short-term expressed a sense of loss, even as they were relieved to be able to send their grandchildren back home.

Without giving too much of my story away, my story’s happy ending is more bittersweet for one couple. There is a roller coaster of emotions associated with this situation, and all three generations involved need an extra measure of grace and empathy to get through.

I’m at work now on another, very different, story about displaced children. Yesterday’s Embers is the third Clayburn novel for Howard/Simon & Schuster. Home is such an important concept for children, and it’s heart wrenching to write about children who have lost the security of home. But it’s also gratifying to tell the universal story–a redemption story, really–of people finding their way back home.

I have a folder in my file cabinet with dozens of ideas, and I’ve been asked how I decide which story to write next. Usually one of those ideas in my folder will rise to the top in my mind even as I work on my current novel. Maybe because a news event brings that topic to the fore, or perhaps something going on in my own life causes me to explore a certain story. Practically speaking, sometimes the question is “which of these is unique, which hasn’t been done before?” Spiritually speaking, sometimes the Lord just seems to lay one idea on my heart more heavily than the rest. And invariably, as I begin to write, I start to see reasons that God has placed this story on my heart at just this time. It’s pretty neat to see His hand at work!

Thanks Deb! I look forward to reading these very timely books! If you want to purchase a copy of Deb’s Within This Circle you can find it at Amazon, CBD, or Barnes & Noble. Both books together – A Vow to Cherish and Within This Circle would make a great Christmas gift!

The phone rang a few days ago with my agent’s voice on the other end. “Have you come down from the clouds yet?”

I laughed. “Nope. Not yet.”

In truth, I’m back to normal in some respects, but I am also overwhelmed by the many notes of congratulations and well-wishes of so many friends and family. It’s still rather surreal.

But later that day, after Wendy’s call, I walked into Bible study to a party – in my honor! Balloons sat in my favorite chair, flowers, cake, and candy (chocolate, of course!) lined the counter. And the people I’ve grown to love were there to celebrate the book contract with me. The friend who had the idea even made chocolate-covered marshmallows, wrapped them in cellophane and tied them with ribbon – and boy were they good!

Someone suggested I keep a scrapbook of my first book because I won’t have time to do so again. I think that’s a great idea and plan to start printing all the congratulatory emails to place in it along with the pictures and whatever else will accompany this new adventure.

Mainly, I am still in awe of God. When I asked Him to wow me, to do something bigger than I could imagine, I honestly didn’t expect that much. Oh, how small my faith! But already I’ve seen glimpses of things God was saving for this moment, this new chapter in my life, things that He was already planning to do for His glory that I couldn’t see before.

Some people suggest that I deserve this contract for having waited so long, and I do appreciate their sentiments. I understand what they’re saying. But honestly, I don’t deserve anything. I did nothing special to earn this. I just wrote and waited and prayed.

I like the way the Newsboys (singing group) puts it in one of their songs:

“When we don’t get what we deserve, it’s a real good thing.
When we get what we don’t deserve, it’s a real good thing.”

Either way you look at it, whatever good gifts God gives are just blessings to be received with gratitude. Not deserved. Rather – grace.

And I’m still basking in that grace regarding this contract, and in the grace so many have bestowed on me in their congratulatory wishes.

Thank you to all of you. May God bless you richly.

Wow! I’m not sure my feet have landed on solid ground yet. I’m certain my head hasn’t as it is still in the clouds where it has been since my wonderful agent, Wendy Lawton, called me this morning. The good news is…drum roll please… (How fun to say that!)

After 20 years of dreaming and writing and waiting and praying and writing and waiting and praying and writing, the series of my heart – Wives of the King – is going to be published! Revell, a Division of Baker Books, has offered me a three-book contract for Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba!

There is a story behind this journey to publication for this series that I have to share. I hope you’ll bear with me. :)

Twenty years ago I began to write the story of David’s life, the book I couldn’t find but longed to read. I wrote and rewrote a two-volume epic over the next few years and shopped it to 28 publishers before tucking it under a bed and chalking it up to a learning experience. But the love for David’s life would not die. And one of the publishers who turned me down actually gave me an idea for a new story, one that would not come to fruition for many years. That publisher was Harper & Row in San Fransisco, the editor Lonnie Hull.

Lonnie wrote me a two-page letter about my query asking if I would consider writing a book about David’s first wife Michal instead of David as their publishing house focused on female characters. Long story short, in my naivety I turned her down. At the time, I couldn’t figure out how to write Michal’s story in a way that would satisfy me. Shortly thereafter, Harper & Row discontinued Biblical fiction.

That was 16 years ago. Fast forward seven years. We were homeschooling and I needed to write for my own stress release. I still couldn’t figure out how to write Michal’s story, so I wrote Abigail’s instead. Five years later that book went to committee at a publisher who seemed like a good match. They ultimately turned it down because they too, were no longer doing Biblical fiction.

Move ahead two more years. I could not get Lonnie’s suggestion out of my head, and decided I needed to write Michal’s story whether anyone wanted to buy Biblical fiction again or not. (Only well-established authors seemed able to sell it, but I still loved David’s tale and couldn’t let it go.) I had dabbled in other genres and written several other books in between, but Michal’s story needed to be told.

I wrote and rewrote the story over the next few years and the book got shopped to several places. Finally, in 2006, Wendy Lawton got hold of the story and loved it. She knew it would be a tough sell, but she took me on as a client anyway. She sent it to several places, but Biblical fiction was just not a hot genre. So in spring 2007 she told me we were going to shelve it for awhile.

This past summer of 2007, while Wendy was shopping my suspense book instead, I began to pray. I had loved this series for so long, spent years of my life researching it and writing it. If you could call me an expert on anything it would have to be David’s life. Was it all a waste? My prayer was this – “Are you ever going to use this, Lord? I’ve waited so long.”

In my fantasy world, I imagined an editor coming up to Wendy and asking her if she happened to have any Biblical fiction (which Wendy would later tell me just didn’t happen in real life). But in August, when Wendy was at a conference in Oregon, that’s exactly what happened. The editor at Revell told Wendy that they were going to look for a work of Biblical fiction. And of course, my fantastic agent just happened to have the book for them! :)

Lo and behold, that editor who requested the proposal and full manuscript was the same editor who inspired Michal 16 years before – Lonnie Hull Dupont! The book had come full circle.

When Lonnie told Wendy she loved the story and was sending it on to editorial, I wanted to sing and dance, but there was always that chance that editorial wouldn’t love it. I consoled myself that at least Lonnie got a chance to read the story she inspired, and I was glad she liked it. How cool was that? Maybe that was all God wanted.

Then shortly after my father-in-law’s funeral, Wendy called again to say editorial loved it and Lonnie was taking it to publishing board but I had to wait two more weeks. Waiting was getting harder with every step. But I managed to survive and the day after pub board met, Wendy called again and said the publishing board loved it and wanted to offer a three-book contract, but we had to wait a little longer for the last step to receive the offer.

I wanted SO much to celebrate, but what if I’d imagined it all? It didn’t seem real. Ask my closest friends and you’ll know how I had to hold myself in check – couldn’t really believe it until it was for sure.

But the Lord also used that time to teach me once again that He values patience and perseverance far more than we do – something we won’t really understand this side of heaven. And the joy is all the sweeter for having waited because this morning when Wendy called again, I could truly do the happy dance!

So the wait for the news is finally over! Now a new leg of the writing journey begins. I enter the phase of learning what publishing is like and working with an editor, whom I cannot wait to meet again (I met Lonnie once two years ago for a short time), and to thank her.

The coolest thing in all of this is God’s hand moving in ways I could not see. I asked Him to wow me, to do something more than I could ask or imagine because I was certain I could imagine a LOT! LOL! I journaled a prayer that I looked back on and saw how much He had answered in such amazing ways. This contract – I had nothing whatsoever to do with it except that little prayer of “Are you ever going to use this, Lord?” And then I told him what I dreamed could happen, stuff that just doesn’t happen in publishing, and it DID! I am in awe of Him. He began this work with Lonnie’s suggestion all those years ago and brought it back to her for the final process. I have to believe God gave David’s story to both of us in different ways. I long to show the world the true man after God’s own heart and the women who loved him.

But mainly, I am humbled that God would allow the stories of my heart to at last be contracted for publication. He did have a purpose in planting that dream in my heart 20 years ago after all. The effort to write them well was not wasted. And He truly is a God who hears and answers the prayers of the heart. I stand amazed and worship Him. Look up and see what God will do!

Some authors will tell you that when they go to write a book, they are searching for answers to questions that they themselves have. Others will experience a similar plight or at the very least similar emotions to what their characters are going through. Still others just like to explore the big picture, the what ifs that are common to us all.

I was thinking about my Biblical series on the Wives of King David today. Years ago I asked the Lord what these women wanted. In swift response to that question, it came to me that Michal wanted power, Abigail wanted peace, Maacah wanted revenge, and Bathsheba wanted love. Wow. I’d never had such a quick answer to a prayer about one of my stories. But as time has gone on, I can see how these emotions truly do describe these women.

Michal, Daughter of the King is the book of my heart, a story of a woman who fell in love with her father’s worst enemy and it cost her everything. I hope someday to see it in print, but even if that never happens, I will always love the story. It was a joy to write. There is a story behind its inspiration I hope to share here someday.

But Michal was actually the second book in the series. I wrote Abigail first, nine years ago, and of course, it needs a complete rewrite. I’ve learned a lot about writing in the years since I wrote that book, and I plan to go back and implement those techniques. When I finish the final touches on my suspense, I’m going to jump back into it. I’m looking forward to it.

But something occurred to me today about Abigail, that I hadn’t thought of before. And it made me wonder if perhaps I am one of those authors who lives their characters’ emotions. Abigail longed for peace. I, too, am a peacemaker and am happiest when my peace is undisturbed. Lately, for the past month or so, I’ve struggled with that sense of peace, especially over the past ten days. I’ve wavered between waiting patiently for God’s answers to my prayers and intense impatience that steals my focus and my peace. Why is waiting SO hard? And why do I trust so easily one day and fluctuate back to not trusting at all the next?

And then, as I ran into the grocery store today, it occurred to me that both Abigail and David must have faced this same struggle. They spent over ten years running from a jealous king, fearing for their lives. David even went so far as to say he would one day die at the hand of Saul, even though God had promised him years before that he would reign over Israel in Saul’s place. Waiting wore him down to the point that he fled Israel and went to the land of his enemies. God had to take drastic steps to get his attention and bring him back to where he needed to be – trusting in and relying on God to lead.

And then it occurred to me that maybe my time of waiting is in some small way meant to give me a glimpse of how they felt, to better help me to write Abigail’s story. If so, I suppose it will serve a good purpose. But in the future, I’m not so sure I like living so vicariously through my characters. Surely there’s a better way… :) But if the story will be stronger for it, I suppose it is worth the struggle.

Then again, as a peacemaker, I sure would like the struggle to end!