BLOG HOP - Interview about Lynette Eason and meet some new authors

Are you ready to be introduced to some new authors through a Blog Hop? Never heard of a Blog Hop? It was new to me, too. Here’s how it works: I’m going to answer ten questions, then at the bottom, I’ll be adding links to several authors I’d like you to meet. 

Now, here are my Q&A:

What is the working title of your book?

Right now, I’m working on a couple of books. The first one is the second in the FAMILY REUNIONS series. The title hasn’t been settled on yet. This book is for the Love Inspired Suspense line. The other book I’m working on also doesn’t have a title yet. The working title is No One You Know. This book is for Revell and is due on Jan 2! Not sure when it will release, but am hoping for fall of 2013. This book kicks off a new series that I’m really excited about. I’ve had a great time researching the WITSEC program.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

My editor. She emailed me one day and said, “I have an idea for a book. You want it?” I said, “Sure.” So she emailed me the blurb and I took it from there.

What genre does your book fall under?

My books are Inspirational Romantic Suspense.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Maybe Eric Culver who plays Deeks on NCIS los Angeles. The female might be someone like Grace Park who plays Kona on Hawaii 5-0.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Summer Abernathy wakes one morning to find a gun pointed in her face, her husband missing and a short timeline to make things right before she’s killed.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

My books are published through traditional publishing houses, Harlequin and Revell. I think I might like to self-publish something one day, just to see if the money is any better, but it’s a lot of work to do it right. Not ready to go that route just yet.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m usually writing two books at the same time. Writing the Harlequin books don’t take as long – generally two to three months. I give myself 4 months to write them, though. The Revell books usually take the entire 7-9 months to write because of all the research that I have to do.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Library Journal compared one of my books to Suzanne Brockman and Sandra Brown. I laughed, but was flattered. Just to make it clear, my books are very chaste as far as sexual content as I write for the Christian market, however, there is quite a bit of violence that would probably make the books more along the lines of a PG-13 rating.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Money. LOL. No, seriously, while the advance is motivating, I love what I do. Writing suspense/mystery is like figuring out a puzzle. I love it when all the pieces come together to form the big picture.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

If you love mystery, forensics, a bit of law and order, suspense and a touch of romance, then you’ll enjoy my books.

Next up on December 12th: 

Jessica Keller: www.jesskeller.wordpress.com

Linda Ford: http://lindaford.org/blog/

Sandra Orchard, author of Critical Condition, is here!

Sandra Orchard hails from Niagara Canada, but we first got to know each other in my home state, when we roomed together at the 2010 Writer’s Police Academy. 

We’re the smiling ones on either end of the pic, and in true cop form, we’ve smudged out the rest of the faces to protect their identities.
 

She likes to tell people that she’s been following in my footsteps ever since. She has three books out with Love Inspired Suspense and will debut with Revell Publishing in June 2013. And this month, we share the LIS shelf space.

Critical Condition is the third book in Sandra’s series, Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line. Deep Cover, the first book in the series won the 2012 Canadian Christian Writing Award and earned Sandra a spot on Family Fiction magazines top ten books of year in their Reader’s Choice Awards.

EVERYONE’S AT RISK

There's a murderer in the hospital, and nurse Tara Peterson is determined to prove it. With mysterious deaths in the cancer ward, anyone could be next. But no one wants to believe her…except undercover agent Zach Davis. The murderer wants Tara's suspicions silenced, permanently. To protect Tara, Zach lets her in on his secret, and unwittingly into his heart. Tara and her three-year-old daughter are like the family he lost years before. Zach will risk everything to keep them safe, no matter the cost.

What reviewers are saying about Critical Condition:

“4 ½ Stars. "Well-developed characters and fast-paced action will keep readers fully engaged in this wonderful tribute to spouses struggling with a loved one’s illness.” ~ Romantic Times

“5 stars. I can say that I am loving this series and hope it doesn't end with this book.” ~ Goodreads reader

Connect with Sandra Online:

Visit her website ~ www.SandraOrchard.com

Visit her personal blog ~ http://www.SandraOrchard.blogspot.com

Like her Facebook Page ~ www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard

Join her at Goodreads ~ bit.ly/Goodreads_SandraO

Tease from Critical Condition:

“What I’m about to tell you is for your ears alone. Understand?”

A flicker of confusion crossed her face, but she nodded. 

Zach glanced around to make sure no one was listening in. “My name is Zach Davis.”

Her gaze dropped to his hospital badge—Zach Reynolds—and she scooted closer to her daughter.

“I’m a cop, working undercover to investigate the deaths you reported.”

“You are?” she said excitedly. “Why didn’t Detective Gray tell me?”

“The fewer people who know, the less likely my cover will be compromised. You are the only one at the hospital who knows why I’m really here.”

“I won’t tell anyone…I promise. In fact, I can help you.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Tara’s inside knowledge could prove invaluable to closing this case quickly.

“Cop,” Tara’s daughter Suzie parroted. With the purple crayon clutched in her chubby fist, she drew a circle on her paper, jabbed dots in the middle, and scratched two lines from the bottom. “Dak, cop,” she repeated gleefully.  

Zach’s heart sank. This assignment had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

Interview wiht Ginny Aiken - FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS - FREE BOOK!

Ginny, welcome to Infinite Suspense. So glad you could visit today. Like many of your fans, I love your books. Love the humor, love the fun, love the suspense in them! LOL. But anyway, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?

I am an alien—as my kids gleefully will tell anyone—a legal alien, since I was five and my parents fled Castro’s Cuba. I grew up in Venezuela, where I continued the ballet training I began at the age of three in Havana. As a total bookworm…well, while I wasn’t on pointe, practicing hours on end, I devoured books, and then wrote my first one at fifteen. Burned it when I got ‘smart’ at sixteen! I went to boarding school in Switzerland after high school, and received two university-level degrees while there. Came back to the US, went to college, married my college sweetheart, and had four wonderful sons. When I was pregnant with number three, however, I started writing again. Geoffrey being the…ahem...challenging child he was, I put the stories away while I was Mommy and freelance newspaper reporter, covering local government and the school board. But the writing bug wouldn’t let go, and when son number four turned eighteen months, I sold my first novel. I haven’t recovered from that bug yet, even after surviving four sons, various moves for my husband’s work, and twenty years in the publishing world. We currently live in Northwestern Indiana, and have an empty nest.

Tell us a little about your new release. Is it the first in a series or a stand alone?

For Such a Time as This is the launch title of my new Women of Hope series for FaithWords. This series is a group of ‘books of the heart’, and one of my favorite writing projects so far. Each plot is lifted from Scripture, with each heroine facing the same kind of challenges faced by the women back then, the only difference being the external details and the setting of the tales. For Such a Time as This is the story of Queen Esther, tweaked a bit to fit into the American West in the 1800s.

How did you get the inspiration for this book?

A reviewer of one of my earlier historicals made a perceptive comment years ago. She wrote that my book reflected the reality that Scripture remains relevant through all time since the problems people face are, when stripped down to the basics, the same—people are always the same. I began to ‘what if’ and The Women of Hope Series was born.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

This one was a little more difficult, since I wanted to reflect issues related to a Scriptural character. Not only did I have to do the usual mountain of historical research (which I love! Can’t wait to dive into all those obscure details every time I begin a new historical project) but this time, I also had to read a lot of commentaries on the original Bible story. Trust me, there’s been a TON written about Queen Esther, and so I absorbed all that material, let it marinate, as my agent calls it, and then put together a story that reflects many of the circumstances the Queen faced, and puts forth the themes in her tale.

What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?

I love Scripture, and turn to it all the time, especially when I face tough times in my life. I know the Lord will reveal Himself to me there, and the answers to my questions are already there. I hope my readers see how eternal the truths we see in the Bible really are. How we can trust it for our lives by seeing the examples presented there, the good examples as well as the bad.

Anything else about writing, yourself, or your books you’d like to add? Where can people find you?

I love to interact with my readers, especially on facebook! I’m also available by email at ginnyaiken@gmail.com, and I have a new website which will be launching in a few days. As soon as everything is finalized (should have been a couple of weeks ago, but due to a case of stolen identity and checking account fraud, everything related to our business accounts as well as personal ones have had to be put on hold, awaiting the end of the investigation) I will be making the big announcement on my facebook page. Hope to see y’all there! And you can let me know how you liked For Such a Time as This ;-)

All right everyone, here you have it. I read this book in one sitting! It’s fabulous. You will be transported straight into the past and into the lives of characters you’ll want to keep reading about. I’ll be giving away a copy to one lucky reader. Leave a comment or ask Ginny a question and you’ll be entered to win. Thanks so much for stopping by!

ACFW September New Releases

ACFW New Releases: September 2012

Posted on August 31, 2012 by ACFW

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Love Reunited by Renee Andrews — A soldier returns home to find the love of his life is single again, but he also learns that she’s blind…and that his confession of love may have cost her a marriage and her sight. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

Avenir Eclectia, Volume 1 by Grace Bridges, Pauline Creeden, Kat Heckenbach, Keven Newsome, H.A. Titus, Fred Warren and more — A human colony in the constellation of the Whale struggles to survive on an aging orbital station peopled with bureaucrats, wizards, beggars and cyborgs, and a violently unstable planet overrun with giant bugs and telepathic sea creatures. (Speculative Fiction from Splashdown Books).

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot — Can an itinerant carpenter searching for his father and a young widow who seeks only her daughter’s well-being find happiness in a small Wyoming mining town in the fall of 1882? (Historical Romance from Revell).

To Write a Wrong by Robin Caroll — In Angola State Penitentiary, a man is serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. Riley Baxter is an eager reporter desperate for a story to make a name for herself. When she stumbles upon the daughter of the incarcerated man, Riley sees a little too much of herself in the teen, and vows to help prove her father’s innocence. At the same time, Hayden Simpson has his hands full with keeping his little sister in line, worrying about his job as Police Commissioner, and dealing with his past emotional baggage. The last thing he needs is someone blowing the lid off his emotional bucket. (Romantic Suspense from B & H Publishing).

Material Witness (A Shipshewana Amish Mystery) by Vanetta Chapman — Masked identities, antique quilts with hidden messages, an Amish boy whose handicap makes him stronger, one brave dog, and a possible hidden treasure. This time it’s nonstop action, danger, and a dash of romance. (Cozy Mystery from Zondervan).

A Mom’s New Start by Margaret Daley — Single mom, Maggie Sommerfield, is having trouble with her son and turns to Cody Weston, a counselor, but although he brings comfort and support to her, he has a few secrets of his own. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired).

A Cascade Christmas by Mary Davis, Mildred Colvin, Debby Lee, and Gina Welborn — While Artisan Sela Fox runs her gift shop, she creates rare and beautiful guitars from redwood burl just as her husband had until his death. When land developer Evan Black shows up on her doorstep, using his humor and good looks to try and persuade her to sell the small slice of heaven she owns, she refuses to give up the only reminder she has left of her husband. But Evan is even more stubborn than the lovely Sela, and he has plans of his own. When he shares his talent for classical guitar using one of Sela’s creations, he’d not intended to woo her, but she responds to his serenade. (Romance Novella from Barbour).

Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert — The football coach went too far with her daughter . . . now this mother will risk everything she holds dear to bring him to justice. (General Contemporary from Abingdon Press).

The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris — Josh Harrison, a contemporary Christian singer, and his wife Bethany face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leaves her on the brink of death even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Ben Abrams urges her to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and decide to carry the baby to full term. During the next few months, Josh struggles with his faith, Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever. (General Contemporary from Abingdon Press).

Seeking Unseen by Kat Heckenbach — It may be Angel’s wish…but it’s Melinda’s journey. Angel’s foster brother Zack needs help, but on the way she runs into her old friend Melinda, who demands to go along for the return to Toch Island. Melinda is more of an outsider than ever. A secret world surrounds her where even the bugs have magic. So when ex-con Doran Ashe offers her powers of her own, Melinda follows him despite – or maybe because of – everyone’s warnings. (Speculative Contemporary Fantasy from Splashdown Books).

Healing Love by Laura V. Hilton — What happens when an Amish midwife falls in love with an Englisch vet? (Contemporary Romance from Whitaker House).

Survive the Night by Vicki Hinze — Veteran and now Private Investigator Della Jackson is mourning the loss of her child and subsequent breakup of her marriage and now a stalker is determined to kill her, but she teams up with Paul Mason, the head of Florida Vet Net, to reclaim her life and discovers redemption and forgiveness and finally love. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired).

Trinity: Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig — With his military war dog, a former Green Beret embarks on the greatest mission of his life-but will it also be his last? (Romantic Suspense from Barbour).

Cedar Creek Seasons by Eileen Key, Becky Melby, Rachael Phillips, and Cynthia Ruchti — Romantic in every season of the calendar, charming, touristy Cedarburg, Wisconsin, with its last standing original Wisconsin covered bridge, works its magic on everyone. . .From a driven young twenty-something to a recently retired woman, each finds love when she least expects it. (Romance Novella from Barbour).

Sandwich, with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips — She moved to Sandwich, Illinois, in search of a new life, but ended up in a giant pickle. (General Contemporary from Abingdon Press).

Stealing Hearts by Amber Stockton — Grace Baxton struggles to forgive a thief who took precious family heirlooms, yet threatens to steal her heart. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour).

With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin — World War II flight nurse Lt. Mellie Blake begins an anonymous correspondence with Army engineer Lt. Tom MacGilliver – when they’re both transferred to North Africa, will their future be held hostage by the past, or will they reveal their identities? (Historical Romance from Revell).

The Reunion by Dan Walsh — The Reunion is an emotionally charged story about a forgotten war hero who discovers that the love he lost can be restored. (General Contemporary from Revell).

The Shadow on the Quilt by Stephanie Grace Whitson — Juliana Sutton’s life looks perfect-from the outside. Until her husband’s untimely death reveals a devastating truth. (Contemporary Romance from Barbour).

Hurry up and SLOW DOWN!

Throughout my thirty years of driving experience, I’ve come to know that blue lights flashing in your rear view mirror are usually never a good sign. But I saw them. Recently. On Saturday, July 14^th, I was on my way to Concord, NC for a booksigning going through the small town speed trap known as Cowpens, SC. Now you have to understand how my month had gone up to this point. On July 3^rd, after 2 and a half years of “sell this house in your time, Lord” we got a contract on our house—with a closing date of Aug 2^nd. While still in a stupor over the fact that our house had sold, I was now saying, “Lord, I gotta buy a house before Aug 2nd. But which one?”

Fortunately, we had also been looking at houses for the past two and a half years, so we knew where we wanted to move. We’d also been pre-approved and all that jazz. On July 6^th, we put an offer in on a house. And guess what the listing said, “$3,000 appliance bonus if buyer can take possession by July 31^st.” The house was perfect. You know why? Because it was empty. No waiting on the people to move out so we could move in before Aug 2. And yes, I really like the house.

So after we put in our offer, the craziness really kicked in. Packing, inspections, financing, underwriters, more inspections, appraisals, the house has termites, oh no, the people who are buying your house may not actually be able to afford it. Oh, wait, yes they can…crazy, right? I mean I have been running around, rushing here, rushing there, buying furniture, filling out paperwork to enroll kids in school. You can probably imagine.

And now I have this booksigning.

           

July 14^th arrives, I hop in the car and head off to Concord for the booksigning. I’m in a hurry. I’m always in a hurry these days. Hence, the blue lights in the rearview mirror. I pull over. He pulls over and approaches the vehicle.

“Where are you going ma’am?”            

“To a booksigning in Concord.  I was speeding wasn’t I?”

Officer Burnett nods “55 in a 35.”

I duck my head in shame. “I’m so sorry.”

“Ma’am, that’s 4 points and $433.”

I shrink into my seat. “Oh please have mercy.”

“Well, since you seem to be such a nice person, I’ll knock it to 2 points and $100.”

“Oh THANK YOU!” He hands me the ticket.

I say, “You realize I’m going to blog about this.”

“So, you’re a writer?”

“Um…yeah. Hey, you want a book?”

“What do write?”

I grin. “About law enforcement.”

I wish you could have seen the look on his face. I give him the book and we wave our goodbyes.

But before I pulled out of that gas station parking lot, I thought about something.

I’m racing through life too fast. Sometimes when you’re in the biggest hurry is when you need to slow down. I completely missed that 30MPH speed limit sign. What if a child had been playing along that street or someone decided to cross the road? Disaster could have happened. Thankfully that didn’t happen. Thankfully, I had a little wake up call. But when we’re hurry through life so fast, we often don’t see the signs God has for us along our journey in life. And we miss the stops he has planned for us. Sometimes God just has to slow us down for our own good and maybe to even keep us safe—and those around us safe. Sometimes he slows us down through illness or an unexpected financial issue or just whatever is going to get our attention off of ourselves and back on him. Sometimes, he has to slow us down long enough to show us what HIS plan is and let us know it might take a little longer to get to the final destination than WE planned on.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you.” I want to encourage you today that if you’re hurrying through life and are missing the stops God has along the way for you, that you’ll slow it down and pay attention and let God keep your speed at just the right limit.

SHE SPEAKS CONFERENCE

Happy Thursday!

I’m getting ready to head out to the Proverbs 31 SHE SPEAKSconference in just a little while. No, I’m not teaching for once. I’m going to soak in new stuff. I went to this conference last year and had a blast! I learned TONS and am looking forward to doing the same this year. One of the perks of this conference is that I get to see my Revell editor, Andrea Doering. In fact, she’s the reason I know about this conference. She Speaks had three tracks. Writing, Speaking and Women’s Ministry. I’m interested in the last two and will be flip flopping back and forth between them. I get asked to speak at a lot of women’s functions so figure the more I know, the better off I am. And yes, I’m even doing the speaking evaluations. Even though I do a lot of speaking now, getting feedback from a group of other speakers is invaluable and so helpful in improving my craft.

So, now I’m off. I’ll be sure to post an update about what I learned and will include pictures if I take any (I’m so bad about that! LOL)

Goodreads Giveaway! The Black Sheep's Redemption - Free Books!

Hi all, starting July 5th, on www.goodreads.com, I'll be giving away five copies of The Black Sheep's Redemption. This is Book #5 in the continuity series, Fitzgerald Bay. The book released May 10th and the last book in the series, book #6, The Deputy's Duty, by Terri Reed, released in June, so you can get ALL six books at one time and read them straight through.

The books are:
The Lawman's Legacy by Shirlee McCoy - January 2012
The Rookie's Assignment by Valerie Hansen - February 2012
The Detective's Secret Daughter by Rachelle McCalla - March 2012
The Widow's Protector by Stephanie Newton - April 2012
The Black Sheep's Redemption by Lynette Eason - May 2012
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed - June 2012

Hope you'll stop by to enter! Here's the link:

 
 

    Goodreads Book Giveaway
 

   

       
   

   

     

          The Black Sheep's Redemption (Fitzgerald Bay, #5).
     

     

          by Lynette Eason
     

     

         
            Giveaway ends July 22, 2012.
         

         
            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
         

     

   

   

      Enter to win

Lynette

Carolina Christian Writers Conference

I had the most FUN at the Carolina Christian Writers Conference this past weekend. April 20-21 we met at First Baptist Church Spartanburg in the youth building they call the Hangar. I taught several classes on writing and while my silly projector wouldn't work, it didn't matter. The conference wasn't just for fiction. In fact, there were more people there about non-fiction and that was great. The blend of skill, talent, gifts, all of it was just amazing. Linda Gilden is the director of the conference and she did a fabulous job putting it all together. She didn't seem all that stressed about it either! If you're just starting out in the writing world, this is a great conference to start learning. And if you're a bit more advanced, there's still stuff you can learn! Next year, it will be held on April 19-20, 2013. Mark your calendars now and I'll see you there!

Susan Sleeman and her new e-books!

A NEW LINE OF MYSTERIES FOR YOUR E-READER

Susan Sleeman here. Do you have an e-reader or maybe an iPad? Then I'd like to tell you about a line of cozy mysteries that has recently released with most books retailing for only .99 for a limited time.

Spyglass Lane Mysteries are published by a group of cozy mystery authors who have joined together to bring you a new cozy mystery every week. Currently, there are over 25 wonderful mysteries in this line.

Stop by the website to view all of the available books and while you're there, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter where we announce each new book that releases and our authors share behind the scenes stories about the books.

I'd also like to share a little bit about my Garden Gate Mystery Series that is releasing as part of this line. The first book, Nipped in the Bud has already released and book two, Read Between the Tines will release in February 23rd. Here's a little bit about both books.

NIPPED IN THE BUD

WHEN YOU FIND YOUR BOSS PUSHING UP DAISIES. . .

Life in full bloom, landscape designer, Paige Turner, scores her first landscaping contract to spruce up the park, her radio talk show shoots to number one, and her retail shop is simply blossoming. Yes, her life is a bed of roses. Until she finds the city manager served up on the blade of her favorite shovel mere hours after she’s threatened to have his head on a platter, then the thorns come out. And there is none thornier than the local police chief declaring Paige the one and only suspect and threatening to plow her under.

YOU’VE GOT TO FORMULATE A PLANT OF ATTACK . . .

Paige teams up with dashing attorney, Adam Hayes to weed through the list of suspects, and clear her soiled reputation. And along the way, discovers that Adam just may be the man of her dreams.

» Read an Excerpt          »Order It Now

---

READ BETWEEN THE TINES

IF YOUR LIFE IS A BED OF ROSES. . .

Recovered from her near death at the hand of a killer, landscape designer Paige Turner is certain her life will soon be a bed of roses. That is, until her employee, Daisy Rose Plante, finds a dead body, and the thorny police chief looks no further than Daisy for a suspect. Paige digs in and weeds through the list of potential killers, and before long, her sweet smelling rose of a life is soundly trampled.

YOU’LL HAVE TO SURVIVE THE THORNS. . .

Paige would be much happier working over-thyme on her budding relationship with handsome attorney, Adam Hayes, but it soon becomes clear she’ll be in a hoe lot of trouble with him if she continues digging for the killer. Does Paige risk all and try to unearth the killer? Or does she settle down in peaceful bliss with the man of her dreams?

» Read an Excerpt

---

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit: Website, her Facebook page, or on Twitter

Story and THEME

Themes and the story.

Theme is what your story is about. Theme gives your story a below-the-surface deeper meaning.

Recently I’ve begun thinking about different themes that run through stories. I love it when I’m reading and the theme begins to emerge and by the end of the story, I get it. I go, “Wow.” And the story stays with me even after I’ve reluctantly read the last word.

Have you read any stories like that lately? I’m reading one now. I was asked to read it and consider it for an endorsement. I’ll definitely be endorsing this book. It’s about helping others. Serving others even when it’s not convenient for you. And it has a great murder mystery woven throughout. That’s was a great book does. It has the reader examining his/her own life because the theme has touched her. It’s made her go, “Oh, how am I doing in this area?” Or is has the reader saying, “Wow, my friend, Ann, needs to read this because she’s struggling in this area.” A book like this is much more than just a story. It’s power. Power to change lives. The power to offer encouragement, to fill someone with determination, to offer hope.

And that’s just amazing to me.

As a writer, sometimes I start with an idea for the theme. Other times, it comes to me as I write. It’s absolutely possible to start a story with no theme in mind, but I’ve found that as I fill out my character sketches for the hero and heroine, and sometimes a secondary character, a theme will emerge. Because as I learn about my characters, get to know their pasts, their baggage, their likes and dislikes, their hurts and triumphs, the theme of the story is related to that. In my stories, theme is character driven. I might have a sketchy idea of the plot, a few scenes that I know I want to incorporate, who the villain is, and what’s going to happen by the end of the book, but if I don’t know my characters, I find I have no theme. I know a lot of authors write their stories around a theme they’ve already picked out, but I’ve never done this.

What about you? How do you decide on a theme for your story? Does it come as the story progresses or do you decide before you start writing? And if you’re not a writer, but a reader, what kind of themes do you like to see in the stories you read?

Thanks for stopping by!

Made To Crave by Lysa TerKeurst Book Review

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Are you craving food more than God? This book is amazing, life changing and inspiring. As Lysa says, it's not a "how to" book on dieting, it's a "want to" book. Lysa tells her story of her battle with food. Not as an addiction or issues like anorexia or bulemia, but rather as food as her comfort, her reward for doing well, her pick me up when things go wrong. This type of mentality obviously will lead one down the road of unhealthy eating and weight gain. Instead, Lysa encourages you to turn to God. Every time she would crave something unhealthy, she would pray. As a result, she said she talked to God a LOT during those first few days of changing her eating habits. I could relate to what Lysa had to say on just about every page. I highly recommend this book if you need to make a change in your life.



View all my reviews