Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Category Archives: Weekly Book Review

Kept by Sally Bradley – Big City Fiction with Real Issues and Real Hope

19 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Weekly Book Review

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

bestselling author, Chicago, Christian Fiction, Christianity, excellent fiction, Faith, Holly Michael, Hope, Kept, Miska, Sally Bradley, www.writingstraight.com

Website PhotoSally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, she now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they go back every now and then for important things like good pizza and White Sox baseball. Sally’d love to hear from you and hear your thoughts about Kept and other great fiction.

KEPT 

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Life has taught Miska Tomlinson that there are no honorable men. Her womanizing brothers, her absentee father, and Mark, the married baseball player who claims to love her—all have proven undependable. But Miska has life under control. She runs her editing business from her luxury condo, stays fit with daily jogs along Chicago’s lakefront, and in her free time blogs anonymously about life as a kept woman.

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Enter new neighbor Dillan Foster. Between his unexpected friendship and her father’s sudden reappearance, Miska loses control of her orderly life. Her relationship with Mark deteriorates, and Miska can’t help comparing him to Dillan. His religious views are so foreign, yet the way he treats her is something she’s longed for. But Dillan discovers exactly who she is and what she has done. Too late she finds herself longing for a man who is determined to never look her way again.

That was new

When her blog receives unexpected national press, Miska realizes her anonymity was an illusion. Caught in a scandal about to break across the nation, Miska wonders if the God Dillan talks about would bother with a woman like her—a woman who’s gone too far and done too much.

QUESTION FOR THE AUTHOR. Why did you decide to write this story? What led to the premise of your story? This story came straight from SportsCenter. (Can you imagine!) I was watching SportsCenter just for Chicago Bears coverage since they were about to play in the Super Bowl, and SportsCenter was doing a series on temptations pro athletes face. One was women who make their living off pro athletes.

They interviewed a woman who made her living that way, by being available to one athlete—and only him—when his team came to town. She was completely silhouetted, except that she had this really uniquely shaped short hairdo.

As the interview went on, she confessed that not only did she do this for one athlete, but for two! And I thought, Honey, I hope you’re wearing a wig. Or they know now.

I could not stop thinking about her. She haunted me. What would make her live that way? She had fallen for so many lies, and I just felt so horribly for her. On top of that, I wondered what would happen to her if those two men did find out? So eventually I had to explore what would make a woman live that way and then give her a happy ending.

And My Review:

Wow! Amazing, Sally Bradley. Kept kept me up until 4:00 am and rarely does that happen for me. Scene after scene drew me in to this excellently crafted storyline with fascinating sub-plots and a spiritual depth that could only come from a Christian who knows Jesus intimately.

Sally, you rocked your debut novel! Totally! Five Stars all the way! Kept is first-class fiction with characters so well-developed that you feel a part of their inner circle…as if you’ve been forever friends with all of them.

Miska–a non-Christian who’s living a scandalous life–isn’t the type of character you’d think you’d instantly love, yet you do. She’s a beautiful, kind-hearted, vulnerable soul who is caught up in a bad lifestyle and truly doesn’t think she’s doing anything wrong. It’s survival. I love that she’s open and honest, real and raw. And the truth, which the reader gets right away, is that she really doesn’t know Jesus–at all. Her past has wounded her in a way that even she doesn’t understand at first.

Miska stereotypes Christians, but asks her new friends questions, even challenges them. She doesn’t easily buy into their odd principles and takes time to understand and weigh these new thoughts as she considers what’s really important in her life.

It’s a fun, frustrating, and heart-tugging walk with Miska. There’s no sudden transformation. She stumbles, falls, gets up and then stumbles and fall again, but you find yourself rooting for her and yes, even praying for her.

Hats off to Sally Bradley for crafting such an incredible novel that covers all the bases; excellent characterization, amazing plot with superb subplots, smooth and beautiful prose, dialogue that fits perfectly to the characters and scenes (even the men), page-turning scenes (never a dull moment), and superbly described locales (I feel like I’ve lived in Chicago). Sally Bradley knows how to draw the reader into the story and hold them there, yes, even until 4 am when you only wanted to read for an hour before sleep.

And one more very important observation: Sally Bradley’s apparent solid, clear, and deep understanding of true Christianity would allow any non-Christian to pick up this book, become completely absorbed, then easily and naturally (along with the characters) be transformed by Christ. There’s no peachiness or shoving it down your throat Christianity in Kept. Even the solid Christians must learn and grow in their faith in this novel. Truly, one of my best reads ever! It’s clear that The Holy Spirit guided the heart and mind of this author in crafting this amazing book. I read literary mainstream fiction and Christian fiction and this novel would fit well in either market.

I sure hope Sally Bradley writes a lot of books because the girl can craft fiction like any bestselling author I’ve ever read.

Sally Bradley’s contact information:

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THE SHEPHERD’S SONG: The Writing Sisters Link Hearts Together with Psalm 23!

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Weekly Book Review

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Betsy Duffey, Blog, Book Review, Good Shepherd, He makes me lie down in Green Pastures, Holly Michael, I shall not want, Inspiration, inspirational book, Inspirational novel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Laurie Myers, Psalm 23, The Lord is My Sheperd, The Shepherd's Song, Writing Sisters, www.writingstraight.com

Duffey_Myers300 (1)

I grew up reading Newberry winner Betsy Byars‘ books (the mom of these beautiful ladies on the left). Read them to my children, too. (I always liked the name Betsy. It’s my sweet daughters name!)

Imagine my excitement to discover the daughters of Betsy Byars-Betsy Duffey and sister Laurie Myers-had teamed up with their mother to write more children’s books and the two continued on as the “Writing Sisters.” They went on to become authors of more than thirty-five children’s novels.

NOW…GUESS WHAT?

Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers (above left) have teamed up with Howard Books and have published their first book for adults, “THE SHEPHERD’s SONG,” an inspirational novel about second chances. LOVED IT! (See my review below).

The Shepherd’s Song: 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.

WRITING SISTERS AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Holly: What inspired you to come up with this fantastic book idea?

Betsy & Laurie: The idea for The Shepherd’s Song began in a small coffee shop in Madison, Georgia, where we meet every week to write. That morning we prayed for God to reveal our next writing project. Up till that time we had written children’s books individually and together and we thought we had come to the coffee shop to plan our next children’s book.  Betsy had read the 23rd Psalm that morning in her quiet time that day. We had both committed our writing to God and began to think the Psalm would be a good subject for a book. The problem was we couldn’t see it as a children’s book. As children’s writers it was hard to imagine writing a book that was longer than 64 pages! We knew that we could only do it with God leading us. The more we talked about the idea the more excited we became and we finished drafts of the first two stories that day.

Holly: The characters and places seem so real. Tell me about your research?

Betsy & Laurie: The physical traits of the characters come from people that we see, a stranger on the street or people that we know. The emotions of the character come from our own feelings. Since we were writing about people in different cultures we used readers from each culture to guide us and help to stay true. The locations were fun to research. We used some familiar locations in the book, Laurie had recently visited Italy and Betsy lived several years in Turkey. The others we explored through video and pictures.

Holly: What is your writing strategy, working together as sisters?

Betsy & Laurie: We discovered early on that we had to have spiritual agreement to have unity on the page.  In collaboration there will be differences of opinion, which are good and bring growth and depth to the work.  It is in the resolution of the disagreements that our faith is exercised. We decided that we would never go forward in any area of writing or publishing without agreement.  We begin each writing session with prayer and are constantly submitting the work to God. Staying in harmony with God keeps us in harmony with each other.  We can do more together. As we constantly try to align our work with God’s will, we align ourselves with each other.

Holly: Besides your mom, which writers inspire the two of you?

Betsy & Laurie: We have been readers all our lives from our first book mobile! During the writing of The Shepherd’s Song two books stand out as significant. First, Andy Stanley’s Visioneering. We read and worked through this book together as we defined our vision for writing and learned how to work together. The second book was Mark Batterson’s Draw the Circle, The 40 Day Prayer Challenge. We used this devotion together for forty days to develop spiritual unity in our work. We also love to read for fun and are constantly sharing books as we meet each week. Christian classics and contemporary fiction are our favorites.

Holly: Next projects?

Betsy & Laurie: When we decided to write for God we chose a verse to be a mission statement for us: We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. Psalm 78:4 We love using fiction to show how God works in the world and we are continuing to write using Scripture as a catalyst for change in our stories. Our next book focuses on the Lord’s Prayer and we are learning so much as we study and research this great prayer.

sheepMy review: Get ready for an inspirational journey across the world with The Shepherd’s Song, a well-crafted novel that uses the 23rd Psalm, written on a slip of paper, to bring well-developed characters and readers close to the heart of God. Like me, you’ll want to keep this captivating book on your nightstand with your Bible. After you read it, you’ll pick it up again and again.

The prose is exceptional. The characters, believable.  The plot, inspiring.

My blog’s theme is based on connections. I love how Duffey and Meyers used the 23rd Psalm to masterfully connect the characters across the globe.

Though the twelve stories are short, the writing sisters creatively and ingenuously draw the reader into the lives of seemingly real people. Their emotional journey becomes yours as you feel for them in their struggles and cheer them on when they grasp the love God expresses to them through the lines of the psalms.

The Shepherds Song is a great book to give as a gift or to use for a Bible study or book club discussion group. I can’t give it less than five stars!

So happy to share this blog about The Shepherd’s Song after Good Shepherd Sunday!

LINKS

www.WritingSisters.com

www.facebook.com/WritingSisters

The Shepherd’s Song

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Book: Crumple Zone, a novel by Edith Parzefall

19 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Weekly Book Review

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Author Edith Pazefall, Blog, Book Review, books, chile, Crumple Zone, Edith Parzefall, Holly Michael, www.writingstraight.com

With all the terror and tragedy lately, I’m pleased to review and discuss an engaging novel, rich with themes of hope, healing, and wholeness.

crumple-zone-200x300Crumple Zone, a thrilling novel by Edith Parzefall, subtly but fully embraces the message of Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  

While Crumple Zone is a psychological suspense novel with some bad language and sexual scenes, great messages and complex, intriguing characters make this book a wonderful read.

After losing her job, Lara takes an impetuous trip to Chile. Rick, a questionable hitchhiker joins her in the rented X-Trail. The reader certainly isn’t left behind on this suspenseful, scenic ride across the Atacama Desert.

Truck-driver Enrique, losing his grip on reality, is on the same highway. A crash on Ruta 5 clears away a new route toward trust, healing, and an awakening to the difference between reality and illusion.

In Crumple Zone (and her other books), Author Edith Parzefall successfully brings an admirable depth to her writing. The novel beautifully reveals how a higher power leads people in the right directions, at the right times. The characters aren’t do-gooders set out to save the world; they are flawed people. Difficult situations force them to think outside of themselves and make choices that ultimately bring peace into their lives. And like in real life, characters who choose to remain in their selfish worlds, get left behind to their own devices. I totally recommend Crumple Zone.

Crumple Zone is a read that will stick with you for a long time. I wiped away tears before clicking off my Kindle. Thanks Edith!

EdithParzefall-AtacamaAuthor Edith Parzefall based Crumple Zone on a real accident. In 2008 she visited Chile, supposedly the safest country in South America. Stopped at a red light in their rented SUV, she and her partner were sandwiched between two trucks on the Pan-American highway. An unplanned excursion to the local hospital and the Carabineros de Chile allowed her insights she never meant to gain but wouldn’t want to miss. A new story idea sparked: Crumple Zone

Edith told me that the accident always felt like the hand of God gently rubbing her off errant tracks that made her unhappy and filled with more and more purposelessness. She really brings that into the novel.

Edith studied literature and linguistics in Germany and the United States, worked as an editor, technical writer, team leader and project manager. Now a full-time writer, she strives to combine her two passions: writing and traveling.

Below is a sample chapter from Crumple Zone with photos from Edith’s trip to Chile.

CRUMPLE ZONE EXCERPT

Lara parked at the lighthouse in La Serena. They climbed out and walked along the beach, enjoying the gentle morning sun.

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The night before, Rick had made her feel like he wanted her, not just a playmate. More nights like that and she’d be doomed. Except, there was still this nagging feeling. Did he just act the Don Juan, same as he could turn into a caveman or her sex slave?

He squatted and took pictures of the waves rolling onto the sand. Lara watched the seagulls soaring out over the ocean and wished she could be a bird for a day.img_2057-small

“Less than three hundred miles to Santiago.” He lifted his head and smiled. “Why don’t you come further south with me? You still have time.”

Lara took a deep breath. “We’ll see.”

He nodded. “Okay. Let’s get going.”

Lara slipped her arm through his as they strolled back to the lighthouse. She didn’t want to let go of the new Rick.

Kids had written names in the dust covering the X-Trail. Maybe they could run it through a car wash somewhere on the way. Lara unlocked the doors with the remote, slipped into the driver’s seat, buckled up, and put on her sunglasses. Off to new adventures and just maybe real romance; an extended dopamine high wasn’t the worst kind of brain xxxx-up.

She smiled at Rick before she backed onto the street running along the beach. Ruta 5 would take them inland again, so Lara kept glancing at the sea until restaurants blocked her view. She steered the X-Trail away from the esplanade.

img_2050-small“There’s a sign for Santiago,” Rick said. “Turn right at the next light.”

Lara pulled onto the Pan-Americana and accelerated, heading south toward cooler and more fertile regions. Some high-rises still lined the highway, with hotels, a casino, cabañas.

A red light caught her off-guard. Lara braked hard and brought the X-Trail to a squealing stop. She looked at Rick. “Sorry, I thought we basically had a clear stretch ahead.”

“Yeah, me too.”

A horn blared. Her eyes flicked to the rear view mirror. A red truck growing larger—coming fast, too fast. “Shit!” She focused on the road ahead. All clear. Still the honking. A last glimpse in the mirror and she slammed down on the gas pedal. The car lunged forward.

Something big and white entered her peripheral vision from the left. Deep shit, she thought as the barrel-shape filled the windshield. No time to brake. The horn still screamed at her.

Nowhere to go.

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To purchase Crumple Zone on Amazon.com

Edith’s Writer’s Page

Edith on Twitter

If you like Crumple Zone, and I’m sure you will, check out my earlier blog where Edith Parzefall shares about her book, Strays of Rio.

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Thumbs Up For FALLING FOR SARAH

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Guest Author, Weekly Book Review, Writing

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Author Cate Beauman, Blog, Cate Beauman, Falling For Sarah, Holly Michael, intrigue, Novel, review, romance, suspense, www.writingstraight.com

fallingforsarah1Hi writers and readers! Just read: FALLING FOR SARAH by Cate Beauman. Here’s what I think:

thumbs up

 

 

 

 

(Thanks daughter Betsy for the use of your thumbs)

For my Christian reader and writer blog followers, FALLING FOR SARAH does have some rough language and a few steamy scenes, and it certainly puts you into the real world, yet  from page one, this novel captivates with heartwarming scenes, true heroes, and solid oh-so-real characters that stick with you long after the last page. 

As a reader, I was entertained and intrigued. As a writer, I was impressed. Cate Beauman knows how to create intriguing, rich, plotlines. The good guys are  characters you instantly love and root for through their sadness, angst, and issues. And when the villain appears…Oh my! His evilness seeps through the pages and gives you chills. Overall, an excellent read!

And….great news! Author, Cate Beauman is here to talk about FALLING FOR SARAH and the writing process. After that, the first chapter follows. Enjoy!

 

FALLING FOR SARAH

One man’s obsession.  One woman’s nightmare…

Widow Sarah Johnson struggled to pick up the pieces after her life was ripped apart. After two years of grieving, she’s found contentment in her thriving business as photographer to Hollywood’s A-list and in raising her angel-faced daughter, Kylee… until bodyguard and long-time friend Ethan Cooke changes everything with a searing moonlight kiss. 

Sarah’s world turns upside down as she struggles with her unexpected attraction to Ethan and the guilt of betraying her husband’s memory. But when blue roses and disturbing notes start appearing on her doorstep, she has no choice but to lean on Ethan as he fights to save her from a stalker that won’t stop until he has what he prizes most.

***

Now, here’s Cate Beauman! Welcome Cate!

The making of a story…

fallingforsarah2Hello Holly! Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to share Falling for Sarah, Book Two in The Bodyguards of L.A. County Series, with everyone.

Storytelling is my passion—my obsession, really. I love everything about the process. While writing Morgan’s Hunter, the first novel in The Bodyguards series, I knew I had to tell Ethan and Sarah’s story next, but I didn’t know where to take them. Every good piece of writing is centered around great characters, a strong plotline and gobs and gobs of conflict. I had my characters, but the plotline and conflicts were still iffy until everything changed with a porch beam. 

Yes, you read that right.  I’m addicted to Crime Television and psychology in general.  Late one evening, I finished watching a particularly disturbing documentary on serial killers.  I had the ‘spooks’ and a major need for a glass of water.  I went out to the kitchen and turned on the faucet and freaked myself out when I caught site of our porch beam in the window.  For a moment, I thought someone was standing there peaking in.  Of course, I laughed at myself, shook my head, and got my glass of water, but my imagination started churning.  I asked myself, ‘what would it be like to look up and see someone in your window that didn’t belong? ‘What would it feel like to know someone was constantly watching?’  The next day I started my research on the inner workings of a true sociopath. Falling for Sarah came together quickly after that! 

The Unofficial Falling For Sarah Soundtrack

Music is a huge part of my writing process. I typically listen to Pandora or YouTube and compile a collection of songs that I feel represent my characters or the situations they face as the novel unfolds. It’s a rare occasion that my creativity demands quiet (And that’s a good thing. I’m a mother of two boys. Quiet doesn’t happen in my house.). Here are a few of the songs that ‘spoke’ to me while I created Ethan and Sarah’s story! 

The soundtrack, of sorts, for Falling for Sarah:

  • One Moment More by Mindy Smith
  • Just So You Know by Jesse McCartney
  • Kiss Me Slowly by Parachute
  • Falling In by Lifehouse
  • Into Your Arms by The Maine
  • With You, Tonight by Matt Wertz
  • Edge of Desire by John Mayer
  • Wild Horses by The Sundays
  • Breathe by Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat
  • Far Away by Nickelback

Author Bio: I currently live in Tennessee with my husband, two boys, and our St. Bernard, Bear. I recently resigned from my day job to concentrate on this thing I refer to as ‘My Dream Come True’ career!

I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, two years later, I’m working on the fourth novel in my best selling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards Of L.A. County. 

Here’s chapter one of Falling For Sarah – I hope you enjoy!

September 24, 2010

Sarah Johnson turned the key and opened her front door. She crossed the threshold, breathing in the familiar scent of fresh-cut flowers and the hint of low-tide blowing in from the Pacific. “It’s so nice to be home. Welcome home, sweet baby girl.” She stared at her sleeping newborn, smiled, brushed her lips over the soft skin of the baby’s forehead.

“Look out, coming through,” Ethan Cooke said, loaded down with balloons and vases overflowing with cheerful blooms. “I had no idea bringing a baby home from the hospital required movers.”

Sarah stepped aside, chuckling. “I know. Kylee has quite a fan club already. Let me help you with some of this stuff.”

“I’ve got it. You gave birth yesterday, for God’s sake. The nurse told you to take it easy.” Ethan set the vase on the entryway table, released the balloons to the ceiling as he dropped the diaper bag from his shoulder to the floor. “Besides, Jake would kick my ass if he knew you were hauling things in.”

Sarah’s smile widened as she thought of her husband. “Yes, you’re probably right, but I also know he would be grateful you were able to help me out. My mother wasn’t expecting to run her shop today. Dana called in sick, so that was that.”

Ethan moved closer to her side, stared down at the baby. “I’m happy you called. I wanted to come visit you ladies again last night, but things got a little crazy while I was on duty.” He brushed a finger down Kylee’s tiny nose. “She really is beautiful, Sarah. She looks just like you.”

Sarah’s blue eyes twinkled. “Thank you, but I definitely see some of Jake in her too.” She wrapped her free arm around Ethan’s waist. He returned her embrace and she rested her head against his muscled shoulder. “I’m so happy right now, Ethan, so absolutely happy. Twenty-nine more days and my family will be whole again. I can’t wait to hug Jake and watch his face when he holds her for the first time. I could tell he wanted to crawl through the video conferencing equipment yesterday and touch her tiny fingers and toes.” She looked down at Kylee. “No more deployments for your daddy. He’ll be all ours.”

“He’ll be mine too.” Ethan grinned, wiggled his eyebrows. “I’ve been waiting just as eagerly for Jake’s return. It took me two years to convince him to join my firm. Now I need to get Hunter on board, and the crew will be together again.”

“Getting yourselves into as much trouble as ever, I’m sure. You’ll have to wait a little longer for your new security expert. He’s not leaving my side for at least a week.”

“I think I can live with that.” Ethan kissed her forehead before he started for the door. “Let me get the rest of the stuff from the truck. Then I’ll set up Jake’s surprise.”

“Oh, I can’t wait for him to see it. I’ve nixed the big screen TV idea for so long, I’m pretty sure he’s stopped hoping for one.”

“It’s a beauty, all right. He’ll love it. I’ll have everything hooked up in no time.”

“Great.” Brimming with joy, Sarah kissed her daughter again as Ethan opened the door and went outside.

Sarah took the baby to the nursery she had painstakingly painted on her own. The pale yellow stripes looked wonderful with the touches of pink scattered about the room. She put Kylee to her breast, listening to the door open and slam shut as Ethan brought their items in from his Range Rover. She smiled when she heard him rummage through the cupboards in the kitchen. If he was anything, it was always hungry.

Kylee’s mouth went slack as she fell back to sleep. Sarah fastened her nursing bra, fixed her shirt. She settled Kylee against her shoulder, walked out to the kitchen while she rubbed her daughter’s back, burping her.

Ethan stood in front of the open refrigerator, mumbling his excitement about her stocked shelves. He glanced up, grinned, and she itched for her camera. “Hey, I’m going to make myself a sandwich before I get started on the TV. Want one?”

“No thanks. Do you want me to make it for you?”

“Nah, you don’t have to do that.”

“Why don’t you let me? I have another favor to ask of you. ” She smiled. “The least I can do is make you something to eat.”

Ethan went to the pantry, grabbed a loaf of bread. “Why don’t you tell me what you need?” He pulled open a cupboard, took out a plate.

“A shower.” She smiled again and nibbled at her lip.

Ethan’s eyes zeroed in on Kylee, and he took a step back. “Geez, I don’t know, Sarah. I’ve never held a baby before. What if I drop her?”

A laugh bubbled in her throat at the sheer horror in Ethan’s eyes. Even after he’d helped her through hours of labor, watched her deliver Kylee, and cut the cord in Jake’s honor, he’d refused to hold her.

Sarah walked to where he stood. “You’re not going to drop her. Fold your arm like this.” She held her arm out, bending at the elbow.

Ethan cleared his throat and followed her lead. Sarah placed Kylee in the crook of his rigid arm. He grabbed her hand when Kylee squirmed. “She’s moving, she’s moving. She’s going to fall. Shit, Sarah, I really think this is a bad idea.”

“I think it’s a great idea. Trust me on this one.” She adjusted the baby slightly, moved his arm closer to his body, making sure his hand held Kylee under her diapered bottom. She backed away from them, grinning at the discomfort and mild panic she read all over Ethan’s face. “You’re a natural. Look at you two. I need my camera.”

Ethan groaned as she moved to the pile of bags outside the kitchen door and grabbed her case, pulling her Nikon D3 from the bag. She held the camera up, looked through the lens. For a test shot, she focused on Ethan’s arresting face. Sharp cheekbones and straight black eyebrows accentuated long, thick eyelashes and bold gray eyes. She zoomed in on the clear gray pools surrounded by dark, smoky rings, pressed the shutter closed in rapid succession. His firm, full lips and muscular torso showcased a man perfectly comfortable with his masculinity. She tightened her focus on his big hand holding Kylee’s little body, clicked away again, moved in closer, snapped more, getting lost in her passion for pictures.

“Sarah, do you want that shower or not?”

She pulled the camera back, focused on Ethan’s raised brow and lips pressed firm in annoyance. “Sorry. I got a little carried away. You two make excellent subjects. The camera loves your face.”

“So you’ve told me more times than I can count.”

She placed the Nikon back in the bag, zipped it closed. “You’re doing a great job with her.”

He glanced down at Kylee. “I guess this is okay.”

“See? I’ll be quick. She just ate, so she should sleep. Here’s the burp cloth, just in case she spits up.” Sarah draped the cotton towel over Ethan’s shoulder.

As she backed out of the kitchen, Ethan took a step forward. “Wait. Um, what if she starts to cry?”

Amused by his distress, Sarah couldn’t help but smile. The man standing before her dealt with the scum of the earth every day, yet a seven pound infant brought him to his knees. “Just jiggle your arm a little bit. She’ll fall right back to sleep.” She turned and walked toward the bathroom, called over her shoulder, “Oh, and relax. Babies feel tension.”

************

Alone and mildly terrified, Ethan stared down at the pretty little bundle snuggled against him. Her serene face, a miniature of Sarah’s, was so perfect. She smelled of baby powder and weighed next to nothing.

He began to wiggle his arm, just in case. “I guess this isn’t so bad. Let’s make a deal. If you keep sleeping until your mom comes back, I’ll talk her and your dad into a really kickass swing set for the backyard. It’ll be my present to you.”

Kylee’s lips made a sucking motion as she continued to sleep.

“Okay, I guess that means we have a deal.”

Relaxing with more confidence, Ethan turned back to the counter, attempting to make his sandwich one-handed. He finagled the twist tie from the plastic as Kylee curled closer against him. Startled, he dropped the bread. He bent at the knees to pick up the loaf and Kylee grunted. Seconds later, a small, wet explosion sounded in her diaper. Ethan stopped dead, still crouched. Kylee nuzzled herself against his chest and slept on.

“That couldn’t be good.” He stood, walked toward the bathroom, desperately hoping Sarah was finished. The radio played beyond the closed door as water sprayed into the bathtub.

The baby began to stir and fuss. He jiggled his arm from side to side, but Kylee’s fussing turned into a lusty cry. Panicked, Ethan almost forgot the rules of friendship and rushed into the bathroom. With his hand on the knob, he stopped himself. … Pull it together, Cooke. You’ve got this.

He headed to the pale pink and yellow bedroom, glancing back at the bathroom door wistfully. “Come on, Sarah. Hurry up,” he muttered.

Kylee turned a deep pink as she cried harder. Ethan stared at her mouthful of smooth, toothless gums and tiny fists curled tight as they moved about. “Okay, kid. I guess we don’t have a choice here. Let’s get you changed.” He glanced around the cheerful room with stuffed animals piled next to a rocking chair, zeroed in on the pine changing table. Stacks of diapers and wipes lay tidy on the shelf above.

He awkwardly lay Kylee down on the soft white pad, found a package of unopened diapers, quickly scanned the directions. As Kylee continued to cry, he pulled a diaper off the shelf. “My God, look at these things. My hand’s bigger than this.” He located the sides with the tape, put it down next to her, just like the picture showed. He unbuttoned her sleeper and the white onesie buttoned at her crotch. “How many layers are you wearing?” He pulled the diaper tape next, blew out a breath. “Here goes nothing.”

Ethan eased the diaper away and swore. “…, this isn’t right. It’s black and yellow. I think we need to take you back to the hospital.” He focused on the browning raisin protruding from her stomach. “And look at that thing on your belly button. It didn’t look like that yesterday.” Completely flustered now, he pulled a wad of wipes from the bin, knocked the diaper cream to the floor.

Kylee’s short gasping cries shrilled louder.

“Shh, shh, shh, it’s okay, kid. I’m trying my best here. You’re all right.” Ethan took the wipes, moved them over the baby’s bottom. “This stuff’s like cement. Man, I’d rather be in an alley with three UZIs pointed at my head.”

With Kylee’s tiny baby butt clean, Ethan clumsily placed the new diaper under her. He swore again when the tapes faced her stomach. Her legs moved about in her outrage, making it hard to flip the diaper around. “You’re not exactly helping me out, kiddo.” He adjusted the diaper and fastened the tapes.

“There.” Ethan buttoned the onesie, muttered a curse when he mismatched the snaps. “Screw the pink outfit. This will have to do. You’re worked up. I’m worked up.” He placed his hand under Kylee’s neck and head, scooped her bottom up with the other, like he saw Sarah do earlier. Kylee’s cheek rested against his heart and her cries turned to whimpers before they stopped.

“There you go, sweetheart. That was pretty awful, huh? I don’t know about you, but I think I’m going to have nightmares for weeks.” He walked to the rocking chair with Kylee and sat down. His big, callused palm played with the peach fuzz on her head as he moved the chair back and forth. “I think I was about to cry myself. Let’s keep that between us, okay?”

“Here you are.” Sarah peeked in the room with her mass of blonde hair twisted in a towel on top of her head. Her face was left unframed, showcasing big, exotic eyes, high cheekbones, and a lush Cupid’s bow mouth that smiled until she zeroed in on the mess on the changing table. “I see Kylee needed a change.”

“Don’t even ask. It was exhausting and traumatic for both of us.”

She chuckled. “Why don’t I take her?”

“Oh yeah, sure, now that the hard work’s done.”

Sarah reached down, took Kylee, leaving behind the floral scent of her soap.

“Sarah, I don’t know how to say this, but I think there’s something wrong with her.”

Frowning, she pulled the baby back from her shoulder, giving her the once-over. “What is it? What’s wrong with her?”

“Her umbilical cord is brown and her poop’s all gooey and yellow. Blackish stuff was stuck to her butt. I had a hell of a time getting it off.”

Sarah’s shoulders relaxed and her grin returned. “The umbilical cord is drying up and will fall off, the black stuff is meconium, and she’s breastfed. Everything’s perfectly normal.”

As if on cue, Kylee began to cry and root around.

“How do you know all this stuff? You’re so calm. I mean, you’re always calm, but my God, she’s so little and helpless.”

“When you grow up with an obstetrician in your house and your mother is obsessed with children in general, you learn. I’ve been around babies for as long as I can remember.”

Kylee whimpered and sucked on her fist.

“Do you mind if I borrow the rocker? I think she’s ready to eat again.”

“I thought she just did.”

“She’s establishing her milk supply.”

Ethan winced. “Jesus. Let me go take care of the TV for you.”

Sarah sat and began to unbutton her shirt. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“Ethan?”

He stepped into the hallway, stopped.

“Your sandwich is on the counter.”

He smiled. “Thanks.”

Ethan brought the sandwich and bowl of fruit salad to the living room. He took a huge bite of turkey, avocado, and tomato before he put the plate on the sturdy oak coffee table. He pulled the tape from the side of the massive box and prepared to set up Jake’s new TV.

While he leafed through the instructions, Sarah’s soft voice cooed to her daughter through the baby monitor. He glanced up from the booklet and around the homey living room, listening to Sarah. A flash of envy for what Jake had snuck up, surprising him. Shaking his head, Ethan looked back at the directions. Marriage and family weren’t for him.

He was screwing the plasma screen on its base when a car pulled up to the curb. “Hey, Sarah, someone’s here.”

“Hailey, the college girl from down the road, was planning on stopping by. She’s desperate to babysit Kylee. You can let her in,” she said into the monitor.

Ethan tightened the last screw, stood. He walked by the large picture window, expecting to see the short, brown haired co-ed. Instead he watched four military men, dressed in dark green and khaki, step from a black sedan. His heart hammered against his ribs, his stomach sank. “Shit, no. Oh my God, no.” He whipped his head around, making sure Sarah wasn’t coming. He yanked the door open, stepped outside, closed it behind him.

As the men approached, Ethan stood in their path as if that would somehow change the news he knew they were here to bring. “What can I do for you?”

The group stopped in front of him. “Is this the home of Mrs. Sarah Johnson?”

“Yes, it is. Is he dead? Is Jake dead?”

“I’m sorry, sir. We need to speak with Mrs. Johnson.”

Ethan saw the apology in the man’s eyes. The sudden grief knocked him back like a heavy blow. Jake had been one of his two best friends for years.

The men tried to move past him. He blocked their way again. As much as he wanted a moment to catch his breath, he needed to protect Sarah more. “Don’t take another step. I get that you can’t tell me, but you’re going to give me a minute to talk to her first. She just gave birth yesterday morning. This is going to crush her.”

“We’re here to offer any support we can, sir.”

Ethan opened the door, let them in before him. “Please, sit down. I’ll go get Sarah.” He walked from the room, started down the hall to the nursery.

Stopping outside the room, Ethan fisted his hands at his side, took a deep breath. Memories flashed through his mind, one after the other, and he braced his hands on the wall. He took another deep breath, trying to steel himself for what had quickly become the hardest moment of his life. He was about to watch Sarah’s life fall apart.

He stepped into Kylee’s room, stopped. Sarah had taken her hair from the towel. Wet ropes of smooth gold rested on her shoulders. Her eyes were closed while Kylee suckled at her breast. If this were a picture, it would be titled ‘Beautiful Serenity’. He was about to destroy it. He took another breath, walked to Sarah’s side, knelt down, took her hand.

Sarah’s eyes flew open, stared into his. “You startled me.” A smile played across her lips before it faded. “What’s wrong?” She sat up straight, broke Kylee’s latch with her finger.

Ethan tightened his grip on her hand, willing her to take all the strength he could give. “Sarah, there are some men waiting for you in the living room. They’re Marines.”

Sarah’s fingers clutched his like a vise before they went lax. The bright, bold blue of her eyes dimmed. “Oh, okay,” she said dully. She stood, covered her breast, pulled Kylee close, automatically burping her.

Ethan draped his arm around her shoulders, walking with her and the baby to the living room. The men stood as they entered and the officer stepped forward.

“Mrs. Johnson, I’m Commander Michael Driggs. I’m here to regretfully inform you that your husband, Gunnery Sergeant Jake Johnson, was killed in action today at 6:34 p.m., Afghanistan time. The United States Marine Corps is truly sorry for your loss and is proud of the service your husband provided our country.”

Sarah stared at the commander for several seconds before she slowly sat down on the couch.

Ethan sat beside her.

She spoke, her voice barely a whisper. “Jake’s gone? He can’t be. He hasn’t held Kylee yet. He’s coming home in twenty-nine days to hold Kylee. He watched me give birth yesterday. He said he was coming home in four weeks.”

Sarah’s face paled with grief. Ethan swore he heard her heart shatter while the commander spoke. Her bubbly vibrancy had been replaced with fragility. He was afraid that if he touched her, she would break into a million pieces.

Ethan glanced at the man who now sat on the other side of Sarah. “Sir, Gunnery Sergeant Hunter Phillips is in Jake’s company. Is there any word on his welfare? He and Jake are—” he closed his eyes on a fresh wave of pain “—were my childhood friends. Hunter is also very close to Sarah.”

“Gunnery Sergeant Phillips was wounded in action. He was shot in the shoulder. He’s out of surgery and is resting comfortably.” Commander Driggs looked at Sarah again. “Sergeant Phillips tried desperately to save your husband, Mrs. Johnson. Is there anyone we can call for you at this time?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t think.” She looked at Ethan, lost. “I can’t think right now. I don’t want to do this. I want to be alone.”

He couldn’t stand to see her like this. He put his arm around her, pulled her close, pressed his forehead to her hair. “Okay, you don’t have to. I’ll take care of everything. Go lay down.”

The men stood when she took the baby and walked from the room.

“I’m sorry, Commander, gentlemen, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Do you have a card or a number I can take from you? I’ll have Sarah’s father call you as soon as I get a hold of him.”

“Of course, sir.”

Ethan took the card, walked them to the door, shut it behind them. He went to the small desk, found Sarah’s parents’ number programmed into the phone, and called.

************

Sarah lay Kylee in her crib, covered her with a light blanket. Her daughter slept soundly in the center of the mattress, unaware that their lives were forever changed. She stared at the photograph of Jake hanging on the wall above the crib. She had taken the picture the day before he left to finish his deployment, before they were aware they’d made Kylee. His big, cheesy grin and smiling brown eyes filled the frame. Oh God, Jake. You’re gone. How can you be gone? I need you. I can’t do this by myself.

The dredges of shocked disbelief were melting away. Panic and dread quickly took their place. How was she going to live without him? Sarah glanced down at Kylee again as a thought circled through her mind. It brought such crushing pain she could hardly breathe. They would never meet. Jake would never touch the daughter he had helped create. Kylee would be robbed of ever knowing her father’s love.

Jake’s deep, infectious laugh echoed in her head and Sarah buckled. She would never hear it again. He would never kiss her or hold her again. Her breath shuddered in and out.

Ethan’s hands rested on her shoulders and she flinched. He turned her toward him. She stared into his eyes, saw the grief settled there, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “Tell me this isn’t real, Ethan. Please tell me this isn’t real,” she said on a sob.

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. “Come here.” He picked her up, sat with her in the rocking chair. Her long legs hung over the side, just skimming the floor as the chair swayed back and forth. Ethan cradled her close to his chest.

Finding comfort in the arms of her friend, Sarah wept as Ethan’s hand ran through her damp hair. “He’s really gone. I can’t believe he’s really gone.”

He lifted her chin as he spoke, choking on his own sorrow. “I’m making a promise to you right now, Sarah. You’ll never be alone through this. I’ll be here for you every step of the way, for as long as you need me.”

“I’ll always need you.”

“Then I’ll always be here.” He rested her head against his chest again as their tears fell, mixing together on the hands they held clutched together.

***

Did you enjoy chapter 1?  You can read the next four chapters on Cate Beauman’s:  website, www.catebeauman.com, or you can finish the whole book here!

 

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Books: The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch by T.M. Gaouette

06 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Weekly Book Review

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Blog, Book Review, Christianity, Faith, foster children, God, Healing, Holly Michael, Hope, T.M Gaouette, The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch, www.writingstraight.com, YA Novel

Book Review and Five Author Questions

Featuring The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch by T.M. Gaouette

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13). My favorite Bible verse, on the first page of The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch, lassoed me straight in to T.M Gaouette’s YA novel.

We meet Benny, a foster child who trusts no one and lacks faith in God. He’s been moved from place to place and arrives at Sunshine Ranch apprehensive and even unwilling to unpack his bags. Then, we’re introduced to the other foster children, all with diverse issues: depression, sadness, loss, abuse, neglect. Their means of coping  is uniquely crafted to each well-developed character.

The foster children need The Sunshine Ranch and they need David and Martha Credence, foster parents who have opened their large white farmhouse and generous hearts to them. Even through David and Martha’s own adversities, the couple gently guides the group of teens toward a loving God, helping them heal from old wounds and deal with new issues.

Dynamics change when new kids arrive at the ranch, and Benny, especially, is challenged at many levels. When the children discover the Credences may lose the ranch, their decisions, difficulties, and hopeful efforts will engage and entertain readers.

Though The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch is a YA novel, once you meet the characters, readers of all ages will be intrigued to discover how things will turn out. You’ll root for each child and for the Sunshine Ranch, while enjoying T.M. Gaouette’s rich prose and vivid descriptions.

Young readers dealing with depression, loss, and challenges will find hope within the pages of The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch. This heartwarming novel leads readers, along with the characters, on a route toward God, toward His love, and toward healing and the hope of living a fulfilled life. And for those already rooted in Christ, the novel will surely be a faith-strengthener.

So, come along to The Sunshine Ranch and to the themes of adversity and God’s transforming and healing power.

Questions to T.M.

Holly (Q1.): Author’s often write what we know. Where did you get your ideas for the theme and storyline of The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch?

T.M. (A1): The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch was inspired by a culmination of things. News stories about foster homes where children are abused just break my heart, but you never hear about the wonderful homes where foster parents actually love their children. I’m also an advocate for overcoming adversity and try to negate the idea that if you have experienced abuse in the past, it will affect you negatively in the future. And ultimately the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has a plan for all of us, is our strength. Maybe some of it is a reflection of past emotions, but ultimately the story I wanted to tell was one of strength, generosity, love, and faith.

Holly (Q2): You begin with “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13)” What special meaning does this passage hold for you?

T.M. (A2): This scripture is the crux of the story. It’s a truth that we should never forget. That no matter how bad things get, God is your strength, and with Him you can get through anything.

Holly (Q. 3): You were born in Africa, brought up in London, and now living in New England. How does this diversity in your background enhance what you write?

T.M. (A. 3): It gives me valuable insight into cultural diversity, I believe. Experiencing different people, places, and cultures has afforded me the opportunity to add color and depth to my stories, whether it’s in the dialogue, characterization, or settings within my stories. I love having the experiences stored in my memory, ready to use when needed. The smells, the emotions, the incidents, the characters are all there, waiting to be brought to life in one of my novels.

Holly (Q. 4): Are you a full-time novelist? Tell us something about yourself.

T.M. (A. 4): I’m a Catholic wife and mother of three. I pray that eventually I’m afforded the pleasure of writing novels full-time. For now, it’s part time. I’m also a contributing blogger for Project Inspired – a Christian website for tween and teen girls. I work from home and homeschool.

Holly (Q. 5): Any other books coming out?

T.M. (A. 5): Yes, actually I’m working on three right now. It’s ridiculous, I know, but when I have ideas I just start working on them, so I usually have a few books at various stages of the process. The next book out will be the first of a four-part Kung-Fu faith series, titled Freeing Tanner Rose. That should be out later in the year.

T.M. Gaouette is a freelance writer, ghostwriter, blogger and fiction novelist. She was born in Africa, brought up in London, and is now living in New England with her husband and three children. Devoted to Him, Gaouette is dedicated to glorifying God through her stories for children and young adults. She believes that life is too short to waste on the superficial and that adversity should be used to make one stronger. More importantly, Gaouette feels that the Lord has given us all special gifts and opportunities to make a positive difference.

Order The Destiny of Sunshine Ranch online by visiting the author’s website,  Barnes and Noble or through Amazon. Any online or local bookstore can order it too, if they’re not already carrying it! This title is also available on Kindle.

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Book Review: The Father’s Love by Dave Moore

01 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Weekly Book Review

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Blog, Dave Moore, Faith, God, Holly Michael, Hope, Love, The Father's Love, www.writingstraight.com

Logged onto my Twitter account one morning, sipping coffee and scrolling through tweets, one caused me to pause. “Amid a frantic search for his son a father finds his faith. Amazing true story of the cross-country search. http://thefatherslovebook.com” 

I clicked on the link and found a beautiful book displayed.

Clicking the excerpt link, I read: Confronting depression, fatigue, and evil, Dave Moore goes on a cross-country search for his missing son. Becoming increasingly desperate and having done all that is humanly possible without results, what will he do? Who will he turn to? In this amazing true story, you will experience Dave Moore’s anguish in going through a father’s worst nightmare-a missing child. Through his fear, Dave confronts his souls emptiness and learns the heavenly Father’s Love.

A sucker for any book that reveals God’s love for His people, and in honor of Father’s Day (Sunday, June 17), I contacted Dave Moore and explained that I wanted to read The Father’s Love and review it on my blog. Dave graciously and immediately sent me a copy via email.

With The Father’s Love (published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises) downloaded on my Kindle, I sat one evening and began to read. I didn’t quit until I finished the book. It was impossible to stop. Almost impossible to breathe. Really!

The Father’s Love, an amazing true story, opened with a short straightforward introduction that immediately endeared me to Dave and his family. Dave then proceeds to Day One, where he recants his day, including the discovery of a farewell letter from his son, a college freshman facing struggles and too embarrassed to tell his family.

In a rush of emotions and in a fast-paced, page-turning reading event, Dave details the days and nights of his search for his son. You feel Dave’s hope and anguish, through optimistic clues and dead ends. You become Dave’s friend, riding with him in his car, hoping he doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel or crash his car at his high speeds. You wonder, along with him, if the decisions he’s making are the right ones. You hold your breath when he passes out cash in the worst parts of cities in an attempt to glean information on his son’s whereabouts. Believers will pray with Dave when he finally surrenders his hopelessness to God and all will gasp in amazement at the way God responds.

The Father’s Love is a short gift-sized book that’s all heart, hope, and healing. Readers, including non-believers, will be shocked at the miracles God works in the life of Dave and his son, David.

The Father’s Love is about a father’s love and The Father’s Love. After shutting off my Kindle late in the night and taking a breath, I revisited the miracles in my own life and thanked God for The Father’s Love, both the book and the Love of God, the Father.

Instead of Five Author Questions, I’m posting Dave’s testimony. Take it away Dave:

Since having a revelation of the truth of Jesus Christ I have been a part of, and witnessed many miracles. Though some might call some of them small and others big, any time the Creator of the universe steps in and miraculously answers a prayer I feel it can be called nothing less then awesome! Our God is so AWESOME! I write about a few of those miracles in my book: “The Father’s Love.” 

My first miracle was how God answered my fervent prayer of submission to immediately bring my lost son home. He, at that moment, became real to me and delivered me from smoking, drinking, lust, hatred, and anger. A few months later I would see my son David miraculously healed from a broken neck and torn esophagus that even the doctors told us had to be a miracle from God.

I have been a part of many healing miracles since then and also been given dreams and visions from God to warn, and sometimes to encourage others. I have felt the presence of God in powerful ways such as; Once the Spirit of God came into my prayer room and it felt like the whole room was so full that it was actually going right through my body. I have had Jesus visit me and it smelled like a thousand wildflowers. The morning after we finishing our prayer room I heard an angel singing in the room. My son would a week later acknowledge that he had heard it also and that he was afraid to tell anyone. A month after praying with a women in a coma she would come to our church and tell me that while she was in the coma she saw me come into her room and that there were many angels that came in with me! Wow!

I plan to someday soon begin writing a book about the many amazing and miraculous things that I have witnessed the Lord do in just the short 10 years that I have known Him.

Click here, to order this short gift-sized book for Father’s Day on Amazon.com. A wonderful gift for all fathers.  Click here to visit Dave’s Website: thefatherslovebook.com. You can also check out Dave’s facebook page.

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TRUST ME: You’ll Love OUTLAWS!

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Guest Blogger, Weekly Book Review

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Blog, book, Book Review, Holly Michael, internet writers workshop, internetwritingworkshop.org, Outlaws, settings, William Weldy, www.writingstraight.com

Instead of my usual book review and author questions, I’m presenting author William Weldy and his fascinating post about how his novel, (soon-to-be a bestseller) OUTLAWS, came to be. OUTLAWS is released TODAY!  Yay! CONGRATULATIONS Bill!

I was a part of the IWW group that critiqued OUTLAWS. Even then, it shined as a book you’d pull off the bestseller shelf in a bookstore. I’m keeping my words short to give him more blog time. So my review is this: TRUST ME! Get this book! You will love it! OUTLAWS has it all: Solid plot, action, well-developed strong characters, romance, bad guys vs. good guys, rich descriptive settings. An extremely well written, “clean book” that grabs you and doesn’t let you go until the last page.  I’m so impressed with Bill’s talent and with OUTLAWS.

Take it away Bill:

The really strange thing about writing is that we all try to pay attention to people and places around us to use in our character development and setting.  Seldom is a novel based entirely on setting. Many times, however, when we’re least paying attention, things stick in our heads. In my case I was traveling out west with my family one summer years ago and pulled over to the berm early one morning in southern Idaho as everyone else slept. I gazed down on a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains. An emerald green lake lay at the base of the valley.
 
For years after that I fantasized about that spot and every night I developed a habit of mentally building a log cabin in that valley as a method to fall asleep. I always drifted off before the cabin was built. Along the way I included thoughts of what it would be like to live as our forefathers did and the Amish do today. After many, many years of visiting this place in my mind I decided to write about it.
 
I soon discovered that I would need a plot and characters to develop it into a novel. So I wondered what would make a man want to live as a semi-recluse in the mountains and what could possibly happen to him that would make readers want to read his story. The worse thing I could imagine happening to a man would be to lose his family in a drug related shooting in a shopping mall in Detroit. My main character, Josh did and just gave up on civilization after that.
 
Then I had to come up with an antagonist. Having dealt with the Outlaw motorcycle gang in my previous life, I knew they would be perfect bad guys. Since I didn’t want the protagonist to have to talk to his dog through the entire novel, I came up with a romance interest in the daughter of the general store owner who is murdered by the gang. When Josh finds his friend murdered and his daughter about to be raped by the Outlaws, he has to intervene. From then on it’s a matter of survival and the remaining Outlaws try to hunt them down and kill them.
 
I wrote the novel in a couple of months then edited it a few times. Having received enough rejection letters from publishers to paper my house for earlier novels, I knew better than to ship it off. I found the Internet Writers Workshop on the web and decided to join and see what others thought of my latest work. Smartest thing I ever did. Several other authors and would-be authors on the site criticized my work with a poison pen. They helped me tighten it. They found plot holes. They corrected my punctuation. They expanded my vocabulary. They eliminated filters in my prose. They offered suggestions as to how to make it better. After going through the mill with every chapter of the novel, what was once 80,000 words was pared down to 67000 and much tighter.
 
Before self-publishing I decided to try submitting it to a few e-book publishers. To my astonishment one of the first I subbed it to, asked for the entire manuscript and shortly thereafter offered me a contract to publish. It will be released on Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobel, and Musa Publishing today. It will be released as an e-book only at this time.
 
I am certain had it not been for the helpful critters at IWW, the novel would have joined the stagnant stack of manuscripts crowding my file drawers.

OUTLAWS BLURB:

Ex-cop Josh Grant thought he left danger behind, but the Outlaws have other plans for his peaceful life.
Josh chooses to live as a recluse in the mountains of Idaho as penance for failing to protect his murdered wife and child in Detroit. His new serenity is shattered when he stumbles onto the murder of his only friend and an assault of his friend’s daughter, Jolene. By saving Jolene, Josh angers the Outlaws, a gang of vicious bikers. When they seek revenge, Josh must draw on old skills to keep he and Jolene alive.

William Weldy is a retired police lieutenant from a large Ohio city. He grew up in small town USA and still lives there with his wife, Pam and dog, Abby. Frequently pestered by a horde of grandkids who try to interfere with his writing.

Link to Amazon to purchase OUTLAWS.

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Weekly Book Review: Fruit of My Spirit by Deanna Nowadnick

11 Friday May 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Inspiration, Weekly Book Review

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Blog, Book Review, Christianity, Deanna Nowadnick, Fruit of My Spirit, Holly Michael, www.writingstraight.com

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

Deanna Nowadnick:”…I know the important stuff’s on the inside, but honestly, I’m not so sure that the inside stuff’s any prettier. Perhaps I’ve been expecting God to act as my own fairy godmother, ready to pop into the scene any moment now with a twinkle in His eye and a wand in His hand. I’ve been waiting to be tapped ever so gently on the forehead and magically transformed into a loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, self-controlled delight in His life, adorned in a nice white ensemble, cute shoes, and fresh nail polish. In thinking that, I’ve not only trivialized God’s love and forgiveness, but I’ve missed the magnitude of His mercy that’s been shared with me over and over again. I’ve overlooked the fruit of His Holy Spirit that’s already a part of my own spirit in all that I do and all that I am.” p. xiii

My Review of Fruit of the Spirit: Reframing Life in God’s Grace

by Deanna Nowadnick

Ever gathered with good friends in someone’s living room for a Bible study, delved into matters of the heart, journeys in faith, and got to know one another on a deeper level? That’s how it is when you read Deanna Nowadnick’s book, Fruit of My Spirit.  Her easy, honest, and humble style of writing invites you in like a good friend would open the door, hand you a cup of coffee, and say, “Come on in. Sit down. Let’s chat.”

Deanna’s sincere revelations of her “not so perfect” faith walk will have you saying aloud, “Me too.” Her sharing of how God has worked in her life, even through missteps and misdeeds, touches your heart as you laugh and say, “Yeah. I get that girlfriend.”

Talking to book is weird, no doubt, but that what happens. Deal with it. The author’s engaging style of writing will inspire readers to openly reflect on their own spiritual walk.

Personally, I’ve always considered the worst sin and entrapment happens when a Christian questions God’s ability to love and forgive them for whatever sins they become entangled in. Deanna’s transparent revealing and faithful perspective offers hope for those who experience these moments. She shows how God uses anything to bring about His purposes in our lives.

Deanna uses pictures to begin each chapter (a fruit image to relate each attribute to its Greek equivalent) and lovely hymn lyrics to end each chapter. Her delightful photos take us through thirty years of her marriage to her husband Kurt, and their sons, Kyle and Kevin. Rich in Biblical quotes and references and through stories of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, she allows readers to experience the enormity of God.

Five Questions for the Author

Holly Q.1: What inspired you to write this book?

Deanna A. 1: I did not plan to write a book. I just wanted my sons Kyle and Kevin to know how I met their father. They’re young adults now and some of the cringe-worthy details were beginning to emerge. I didn’t want the fact that they’ve been the benefactors of a beautiful marriage and a wonderful family to get lost in the giggles and groans of 40-year old memories. When I started writing, the chapter on Love went straight to the chapter on Self-Discipline. And by the time I was done with those two chapters, there was no stopping me. Even as I wrote, I had no idea where the book would go or where it would end up. I did know that by the time I got to the chapter on Patience, a theme had developed.

Holly Q. 2: Who did you write this for? Your audience?

Deanna. A. 2. Holly, I’m embarrassed to say that I did not think about my audience. As the stories came to mind, I just focused on getting the words down, still not expecting the whole project to become an actual book. Finally one day I said to anyone who’d listen, “I think I wrote a book.” Fruit of My Spirit has resonated most with us women, both younger and older, who can relate to those times in life when faced with questions about God, particularly our place in God’s family and God’s place in ours.

Holly Q. 3: What was the most difficult challenge in writing this book?

Deanna A. 3: My most difficult challenge was keeping God in focus as I wrote and published the book. I still have moments when I look back and ask myself, “Where did those words come from?” I knew that I’d been given a special gift and I wanted to make sure that I honored God throughout. As I said in the book, I have an ego the size of a mountain. I wanted to make sure that the book gave God the glory, not Deanna. And may I add, I continue to work on that!

Holly Q. 4: You included lyrics to beautiful hymns in the book. Why?

Deanna A. 4: Honestly, I think it’s not an overstatement to say that music defines me in so many ways. I play the violin during worship services, but trust me, I’m a struggling musician in many respects and not someone who should be amplified on Sunday morning! As I look back, I remember events and I remember songs. The hymns in the book represent special places, special times. I’m also part of the Rock-n-Roll generation, but that’s another story!

Holly Q. 5: Have you written other books? Any plans for another book?

Deanna A. 5: Yes, I’m working on Book 2. Signs in Life: Meeting God at the Corner of Grace and Mercy tells of those times when God has come alongside and guided, directed and turned me. The book is another collection of short stories, this time recounting when God has met me at life’s crossroads, when I’ve been “on point” with God, not because of anything I’ve done, but because a loving, gracious, merciful God has been there time after time, again and again.

You can purchase Fruit of My Spirit at Amazon.com or order through her website. Deanna’s Website and Blog are at www.fruitofmyspirit.com

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Best Deal on Kindle Today: My Emily by Matt Patterson

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Weekly Book Review

≈ 4 Comments

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Blog, Book Review, Holly Michael, Inspiration, Matt Patterson, My Emily, Writingstraight.com

I’m reblogging my review of Matt Patterson’s, My Emily because it’s free today on Kindle. Free today, but the wisdom it contains is eternal and PRICELESS!

Book Review: My Emily by Matt Patterson.

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Book Review: My Emily by Matt Patterson

20 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Inspiration, Weekly Book Review

≈ 8 Comments

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Blog, Down Syndrome, Faith, God, Grief, Heaven, Holly Michael, Hope, Jesus Christ, Loss, Love, Matt Patterson, My Emily, Parent, Parenting, Suffering, Truth, www.writingstraigh.com

“My Emily wasn’t born perfect – or so one might think. She was born with Down Syndrome and many would jump to the immediate conclusion that she would have very little hope for a life with any significance. Two years later came the devastating diagnosis of leukemia. What little hope remaining turned to no hope whatsoever – or so one might think.” Matt Patterson, author of My Emily

Holly Michael’s Review of My Emily: The Apostle John, at the end of John 21:25 writes: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

You can almost hear John’s sigh because he realizes his inadequacy as a writer to put down the words that could possibly tell the whole story of Christ, His miracles, and His love for humanity. I feel like John, after reading My Emily, written by Emily’s father, Matt Patterson. Words are inadequate to give this book a review it deserves.

So I say this: Read it. Next to the Bible, it will be one of the most powerful books you will ever read.

After I read My Emily, I imagined a scene in Heaven, before Emily came to earth. It goes like this: God’s new creation, an adorable golden-haired little beauty, stands before her Heavenly Father with the light and love of The Creator reflecting in her almond-shaped blue eyes. She’s one of the special beings He’s created with a heart that has the highest capacity to love, and a heartwarming never-ending smile. I imagine Emily giving her yes, her fiat, to a mission to leave Heaven for just a little while, to be born into a particular family, to touch their hearts and lives and forever change them, as well as leave behind a legacy that will bless humanity.

Then I imagine Emily says, “But how will I reach so many people in such a short time? How will so many come to know about this truth, wisdom, and love that you want me to carry to them?”

Then I imagine God says, “I’ve already sent one ahead of you and blessed him with a special gift for writing. I’ve been preparing him.”

“Who is this one?” Emily asks.

“He is your father on earth and he will love you as I love you.”

At this time, only God and Emily know the whole story. We creatures on earth are jaded, confused, selfish creatures, having lost the innocence of childhood and knowledge of Heaven and of truth and God. We forget once we arrive on this treacherous planet. Life deals us tough blows. We fail to understand God’s mercy and grace. We are no longer tuned into the wisdom of God, as a child like Emily is. That’s why the Bible says you must be like little children to enter into the Kingdom of God. God and Emily know the truth.

And then brave Emily, knowing, like Jesus, she will also suffer pain on earth, comes to a special family: The Pattersons.

This is the story I imagine; the story before the story that Matt Patterson so eloquently shares about his daughter, Emily, diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Though the world may not see her as a blessing, the Pattersons embrace her as a gift from Heaven. The story doesn’t stop there. Matt (a newspaper editor in the Air Force) and his family, two years later, must courageously endure a battle with Emily’s diagnosis of Leukemia, a disease that threatens to steal her from them.

Matt Patterson, in My Emily, says, “He perhaps sent this little, unassuming angel to instruct me and many others about what’s truly important in life.”

I, too, believe that Emily was sent by God to teach us about hope and love. My baby sister, Amy, also diagnosed with Down Syndrome, was loved and she loved back in greater measure. Like Emily, she left our family too soon. But, oh, the lessons she left behind.

Like the lessons Amy taught me, the lessons in this little book are deep and meaningful. My Emily is a story about joy and sadness, hope and courage, and above all, about love.

You fall in love with Emily. You weep with Matt and his family through their grief. You get out your highlighter, and highlight nearly every line in the book. And as soon as you finish reading this little book you will want to read it all over again. And you will.

Matt, shares this, near the end of the book: “Now that I have had time to look back, I realize that God was kind to patiently wait for me to see the full blessing of Emily’s life just as He planned it. And while I slandered Him, He led me toward healing.”

So who is this book for?

To begin with, it’s for:

  • Those who have lost a child or loved one.
  • A parent of a Down Syndrome child, or parent of any special needs child.
  • Anyone suffering grief or dealing with a child who is suffering.
  • Those who want to know how to pray in the midst of suffering, and how to draw closer to the Heart of God, through all things.
  • Those who raise their fists toward Heaven and cry, “Why?”

This list is just a beginning. Not only is My Emily for suffering souls, it’s for everyone, especially those who ask questions; the seekers of truth and knowledge of the meaning of life.

This book will change your life. It’s filled with lessons of love, brought by Emily, given by our Creator, our Father in Heaven, who is Love.

*A portion of the proceeds of the book, My Emily, will be donated to the My Emily Foundation which partners with organizations and individuals to assist extraordinary families with special needs children, those who are battling pediatric cancers, as well as parents who are grieving the loss of a little one. You can learn more about The My Emily Foundation and contribute at www.myemily.org.

Click here to purchase My Emily through Amazon.com

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Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

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