Peace in a chaotic world--Lenora Worth

Hi. I was thinking about what to write today and wondered if I'm the only person on earth who wishes all the talking heads would just be quiet. We're blessed to be able to get information from so many sources today--the television, our phones, online and even the old fashion way--through the mail.

But how do we decipher what is true and what is just speculation and assumption? I've actually started turning everything off. No television, no cell phone to tempt me, no checking the e-mail every five minutes. I had forgotten how nice the quiet can be. Eating lunch while watching the birds and squirrels just outside my kitchen window sure does beat those shouting matches on all the twenty-four hour news stations. And don't get me started on reality television shows. While I still watch a couple of those, I find it very distasteful to watch a man or a woman trying to find true love by going through 25 or so candidates who are so starry eyed they can't think straight. Is that any way to begin a life together?

I'm not a cynical person. I'm just wondering where other people go to find their "upper room". Where do they go to find a quiet place to think and pray and meditate on Christ and this world. Sometimes, just listening to the quiet can speak volumes. Maybe all those shouting heads should give this a try. It just might bring some civility to solving the worlds problems.

Where do you find your quiet time?

Debra Clopton Saying Hi

Hi Everyone, Debra Clopton here saying HI! I'm home from my honeymoon--the picture is me on the shores of Kauai Hawaii. Chuck was taking this picture and I almost got plastered with the wave that just came in. I don't think I need to tell you that I had a great time. I think the picture tells it all. GOD is so awesome. And I can honestly say that God out did himself on this beautiful island. WE loved it. The wedding was a blast and if you go to debraclopton.blogspot.com you can see a collage of photo's from the wedding at the cowboy church. It was so lovely. My sons gave me away and Chuck's sons were his best men. My two best friends since 3rd grade stood with me as about 350 people came out to wish us well. Including my family and Chuck's family. There were even 5 of my Mule Hollow fans, very sweet ladies from Calvert Texas, who came to the wedding :) Life is great and now its back to work creating new Mule Hollow books and a new series I'm working on which I'll talk about at a later date!

I'm running late on my post today and really didn't get anything prepared because I have been running from the moment I got home 3 weeks ago from our honeymoon. But I do want to say that I have a new book out this month YUKON COWBOY and there is a behind the scene post up at eharlequin.com and maybe on our facebook page too. YUKON COWBOY is part of the Alaskan Bride Rush continuity and not a Mule HOllow book. I had a great time writing this book and hope readers enjoy it too!

Until next time live, laugh and seek God with all your heart!
Debra Clopton

Hero Interview from The Marine's Baby by Deb Kastner

THE MARINE’S BABY by Deb Kastner (Oct 2010)
Interview with Nate Morningway:

1. Nate, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

A couple of months ago, I would have said it was that I diffused IED’s (homemade bombs) for the United States Marine Corps. But then my battle buddy Ezra passed away and left me the guardian of his baby daughter. Gracie is my life now, and she’s definitely the most interesting thing about me.

2. What do you do for fun?

I’ve been in Iraq serving two consecutive terms, so I’m not sure I know what fun is anymore. I like to jog to keep in shape.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Ha! Dirty diapers, but I can’t really put that off, now, can I?

Seriously, I dreaded going home to Morningway Lodge because I’d have to face my older brother, Vince. He and I never got along at the best of times, especially after I ran off and joined the marines and left him alone to take care of the lodge by himself.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m terrified I’m not going to be a good father for Gracie. I’m all she has, and I’m not sure I’m up to the task. Nothing in my marine training taught me how to be a good dad. I’m afraid of raising Gracie without a mother’s influence. And I’m afraid my own lack of faith in God won’t be good for Gracie. Faith is important to the rest of my family, my own mom, especially, God rest her soul. She would have wanted me to raise Gracie in a Christian home.

5. What do you want out of life?

I would like to help my brother run Morningway Lodge. Even though I left home and turned my back on it, it’s still, in a way, my legacy, and I’d like it to be Gracie’s, too. But that’s not going to happen. Vince hates me. And I guess I don’t blame him.


6. What is the most important thing to you?

Gracie. That little girl is my world.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

My brother Vince is the reader. I always had trouble in school. I probably ought to read a baby book or two, though, right?

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Maybe you should ask my brother. Vince is always telling me I’m immature and irresponsible.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

No pets. Impossible when you’re deployed. I’d like to get Gracie a pet someday, though. Maybe a little kitten or something.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to my 18th birthday, when I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps without letting my father and brother know about it. I think I would still have enlisted, but I should have told them before I did it.

FEATURED BOOK: THE MARINE'S BABY BY DEB KASTNER

The U.S. Marine Corps made a man out of Nathan Morningway. But the orphaned baby girl left to him by his military buddy made him a father. A single father. With no training in diaper duty, let alone parenthood, Nathan heads home to Morningway Lodge—where he's not exactly warmly welcomed by his family. But day-care worker Jessica Sabin helps care for little Gracie and teaches him how to be a daddy. That seems to make Jessica happy. So why does she look so sad sometimes? Nathan's new mission: to find out—and make Jessica smile forever.

A date

Leann here. Today, at breakfast as my husband and I were eating, he asked me if I'd like to go to lunch. He teaches at the university and has Fridays off. I said sure. Then we got the newspaper and saw the new movie "Red" was opening. I thought we should make it a day, go to the movies, too. He liked the idea. So, I'm looking forward to spending an afternoon with my hubby.

Although we been married 39 years, we still need dates. Although I kill people in my books, I don't want to kill romance.

Allie Pleiter on Fall Food

It’s fall, and a woman’s thoughts naturally turn to...food.  

I like food.  I didn’t realize it until someone pointed it out to me, but I write a lot about food, too.  One book group that was reading BAD HEIRESS DAY decided to have all the foods mentioned in the book at their meeting (which I attended by speakerphone, something I love to do if you’re group is interested).  Sort of a grown up version of THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR.   I was aghast at the volume and diversity (and nutritional drought) of the food.  Yes, evidently I do write about food a lot.  Who could forget the chocolate chip cookies or the milk and cookies pie in BLUEGRASS COURTSHIP?  The tea ceremony scene in PERFECT BLEND...okay, that’s a beverage but I think the theory still applies.  

Ah yes, Allie enjoys food.  Summer foods are great, but it’s the fall foods I love best.  I’m working on a novel about a women who loves to bake bread (which, if you read the preceding paragraph, evidently comes as no surprise), so I’m planning to do a lot of baking this fall.  I’m not very good at baking, but I love the way the house smells (I’ve learned this can also be achieved with a good candle, by the way, so I’ve become good at aroma cheating!).  There’s hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, all that good stuff.   Apple pie is nice and summery, but there’s something about pumpkin pie that puts it in a class all its own.  Did you know scientists have identified pumpkin pie as one of the most attractive to men?  Perhaps the way to a man’s heart truly is through his stomach.

What about you?  What fall foods and scents are your favorites?

This Girl Can't Dance

Kim Watters here. Okay so last month I told you about my experience with the YMCA. This month I have to admit that I did attend the Zumba class offered. Going in I knew that I didn’t really know how to dance. I just didn’t know how bad I really didn’t know how to dance meant.
The Sunday afternoon class is packed with people. Great. I can get lost in the crowd. At least my friend, Debbie, that I convinced to take the class with me is in the same shoes. We hide in the back row, hoping to go unnoticed. Er-my friend is almost 6’ tall. No way that’s going to happen. In comes the instructor, who zeroes in on us first thing.

“Welcome class. If this is your first time, just follow along and do your best. Don’t over do yourselves and there are no wrong moves.”

“Good.” I whisper to Debbie. “That instills a lot of confidence in me. What have we gotten ourselves in to?”

Debbie laughs and nods, wearing a horrified expression.

The music starts and we’re off. Egads.

“Come, ladies, let’s go. Get that heart rate up. We’ve got to move it, move it.”

What is the instructor doing? Where’s the ease into the workout? I’m breaking into a sweat and it isn’t from exertion yet. I stumble to the right and then the left, all my klutziness there for all to see in the full-length mirrors on two sides of the room. My friend isn’t faring much better. At least at this point we’re still laughing. Somewhat. Forward, back, to the right, to the left. Add the arms or weapons as the other women in the class must be thinking about now. My body has taken on a life of it’s own. And I’m still at least one beat behind everyone else in the class. Just when I think I’ve got the move down, we change to something else.

Judging from the warm-up, the instructor can dance. I’ve never felt inadequate before until I realize that my hips just don’t go in that direction. The class goes left, Debbie and I go right. We jiggle this way, the class jiggles the other way. The salsa? Really? One , two, three, now switch. Maybe I should be looking for a class that works out to the Polka. Being of German and Polish decent, I may find that a little more my style. Nonetheless, we stick it out and make it to the end with only a few bruises.

Despite the fact I can’t dance, I had fun and went again. And keep going although my hips still don’t go the same direction as the instructor’s. I finally get the hang of the dances and now the instructor has changed things up. The moves are even harder. I’ve given up trying to learn them and just bounce around to the music in a mad attempt to look like I know what I’m doing, but I’m still having fun.

The same goes for writing. Go beyond your comfort zone and explore options that seem difficult. Change things up to add variety. Change a genre. Try a new profession for your characters that requires a bit of research. Something in your book not working? Try something else. But most of all have fun. See you in Zumba later.

It's official! My first Love Inspired Romance!

I've waited for this day for a long while. My first Love Inspired Romance has hit the shelves. I'm getting calls and emails from all over the country from friends and family who have spotted it. Fresh-Start Family is special as it features hero Tom(Tag) Garrison. As with all of my stories, I struggle in the beginning to find a perfect name for my hero and heroine. I couldn't come up for one for this story so in the interest of "moving on" I used my husband's name, figuring I'd change it later on down the road when the hero revealed himself a little more to me. The problem is there was never going to be name that fit this hero better than Tom. So I kept the name. Although Tom (Tag) Garrison is a fictional character, so much of my inspiration for his character came from my husband and it's hard for me not to have this hero hold a special place in my heart. Add a precocious 7 year old boy and a single mom and you have the makings for some real mischief and fun. I hope you all enjoy reading Fresh-Start Family!

Many blessings, Lisa Mondello

Heroine Interview from Seeking His Love by Carrie Turansky

Interview with the heroine:
Rachel Clark from Seeking His Love, LI October 2010, by Carrie Turansky

1. Rachel, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
I’ve always loved drama. I started out acting in high school and then majored in theater in college. I taught drama at a high school in Seattle, and now I lead the Northcoast Christian Youth Theater in Fairhaven, Washington.

2. What do you do for fun?
I love to watch old movies, especially musicals. I like to read, spend time with friends, and I’m a great bargain hunter. I can pull together a great outfit or redecorate a room with a visit to a couple thrift stores.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I put off contacting my mom. We have a strained relationship, and sometimes it’s just easier not to call or write very often.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?
I sometimes struggle with letting people see who I really am on the inside. I’ve been hurt in the past, and it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there again and risk rejection.

5. What do you want out of life?
I want to make a positive difference in people’s lives – my students, my friends, and hopefully my future husband and children.

6. What is the most important thing to you?
My faith is very important to me and also my calling to work with children and youth. They are the future, and we need to invest in their lives.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
I love to read! My favorite type of books are historical and contemporary inspirational romance.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d like to have more courage to be transparent with people.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
I don’t have a pet, but my landlord has the sweetest golden retriever named Sasha, and I’ve fallen in love with her.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I would travel back to my early days of teaching in Seattle. I’d be more aware of a certain student’s intentions. Maybe I could’ve seen what was coming and prevented him from lying about me and getting me in so much trouble.

FEATURED BOOK: SEEKING HIS LOVE BY CARRIE TURANSKY

Since losing his wife and child, widower Cam McKenna has tried to avoid children. But when he must temporarily care for his niece, Cam opens his home. With no idea how to relate to a fourteen-year-old girl, he seeks the advice of the new Christian Youth theater director. He's touched when Rachel Clark gives his niece a scholarship—and teaches him a thing or two about teens…and love. But why is Rachel so secretive about her past? The truth threatens their fragile relationship yet promises to bring them closer to each other—and the Lord— than either dreamed possible.

Sharing Family Excitement

Missy, here. We've had some excitement in the family this summer and fall. My nephew, Buster Posey, has had a great rookie season with the San Francisco Giants. And they're the National League West division champs, heading to playoffs! This photo is a shot my father-in-law took off the TV the other night after they beat the Padres. :)

It's been fun to be able to watch him play on TV. We even got the chance to go watch him when they played the Braves in Atlanta back in August. And now they'll be playing the Braves in the playoffs. It's all been very exiting to watch him living out his dream.

Selling books to Steeple Hill has been a dream come true for me! Have you ever had the chance to live out one of your dreams?

Heroes and other delights

Linda Goodnight here. Someone recently challenged me to make a list of fiction books that lingered in my mind long after I’d closed the covers. Fun challenge for a book person, so away I went.

When I completed the list, I started wondering why those particular books stuck while others fall through the sieve of memory and disappear. As a writer, I figure there’s a valuable lesson to be learned, so I examined the list carefully and discovered ONE single factor they all had in common. Here’s my list:

Abbie’s Outlaw -Victoria Bylin (Probably my all-time fav.)
Cheasapeake Bay series – Nora Roberts
Sands of Time and Stephanie - Susan May Warren
Desperado and Jackson Rule-Sharon Sala
Fireside – Susan Wiggs
The Gamble, Morning Glory, and Hummingbird–Lavyrle Spencer
Gone With the Wind – Margaret Mitchell
The Notebook – Nicolas Sparks

While I had to look up the titles for some of these, and their plots may be fuzzy, the reason I remember every one of them is the hero. Not the story. Not the female lead. The hero. The strong, protective, sacrificial hero.

Is it just me who is so affected by the male lead in a book? An inquiring mind needs to know!

So, here’s your challenge. (You knew I’d say that!) Quickly generate your own list of 5 or so fiction novels and think about what element - storyline, hero, or heroine - stands out most in each one. Which element appears most often on your list? Please share your list and your results for my very unscientific (but fun!) straw poll.

Lyn Cote--Wish me a Happy Anniversary!

Today is the day I married my dh THIRTY-SIX, that's right 36 years ago. Yikes! That's a long time! We were married in Waukegan IL at my home church. I wore white and my groom wore a blue patterned polyester tux. Ah, those were the days, the seventies. GRIN

One special memory of that day. After the wedding we drove to Steve's grandmother's house. She was in her late eighties and didn't go out much. The little children in the neighborhood saw us go into her house. When we came out, they have formed sort of a conga line down from the steps to the curb. And with one arm and one foot out like dancers, they chanted: "Happy Anniversary! Hey!" Hilarious! I waved to all of them as I swept into our "limo." (We didn't rent a limo. Our cars were such old beaters that we borrowed a friend's parents' car for the wedding!)

Tonight we're going to attend a George Winston concert in our little town. We have a art center in an old church downtown. Last year GW performed here because he had an open day between a Chicago and Minneapolis concert. He enjoyed playing at such an intimate venue that he promised to return! And his concert will be for the benefit of our local food pantry. So I'm really looking forward to tonight! Here's a sample from You Tube!




Questions for you:
Did you enjoy that?
How long have you been married?
Any memories of that day you'd like to share?

Juggling with Janet Tronstad

It's me -- Janet Tronstad again. This morning in church our pastor talked about how we often feel we're juggling in our lives (and he had a real juggler there to perform - which was neat). I so related to what he was saying. Somedays I don't know which way I am going - it just seems there are so many things I need to be doing. How about you? What things are you juggling? For me, it's my elderly parents, my writing, my friends (one of whom is in the hospital and another who is busy deciding to move out of Los Angeles - both of which need some extra time from me). And those are only the things that come to mind first. I also have a big list of things I ought to be doing (like sorting through a big stack of paper waiting for me when I came back from my last trip -- and still sitting where it was then).

Hero Interview from The Bodine Family Christmas by Marta Perry

Interview with the hero from The Bodine Family Christmas by Marta Perry in Mistletoe Prayers:

1. Travis McCall, tell me the most interesting thing about you. The only important thing about me is that I’m a helicopter pilot in the US Coast Guard. That’s not just my career—it’s my life.

2. What do you do for fun? When I was stationed in Alaska, I liked hiking, going hunting, hanging with my buddies. Now that I’ve been sent to Coast Guard Base Charleston, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. This isn’t my kind of place at all.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it? Getting involved with a woman again. I had that once. Trusting her was the hardest thing I’d ever done, after growing up the way I did. And she let me down—traded me in for another guy while I was in the hospital after a crash. I won’t let that happen again.

4. What are you afraid of most in life? Letting down somebody who’s counting on me for a rescue. Like we say—you have to go out, but you don’t have to come back.

5. What do you want out of life? To go on doing the thing I was born to do. For awhile, after the crash, I thought it was all over. Now I’m making a new start in a new place.

6. What is the most important thing to you? Living up to the Coast Guard tradition.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book? Just training manuals, that’s all.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d like to be as easy and laid back as some people I know, but that’s not me.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? Nope. Except that now that I’ve gotten involved with Annabel Bodine and her animal rescue, I’ve kind of gotten attached to a certain stubborn donkey.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? I go back and change my childhood...maybe give myself a set of normal parents like Annabel has. She doesn’t know how lucky she is. But you can’t change the past, can you?

Heroine Interview from The Gingerbread Season in Mistletoe Prayers

Interview with the heroine from The Gingerbread Season by Betsy St. Amant in Mistletoe Prayers:

1. Allie James, tell me the most interesting thing about you. That’s easy – I love Christmas. I’m a true Christmas addict. I love the music, the lights, the snow, the shopping, the gifts, the family time—you name it. I even have an extra special childhood tradition at Christmas I’ve carried over into my adult life (to the amusement of my mother!) But you’ll have to read my book to find out what it is! ☺

2. What do you do for fun? If it’s Christmas time, I go caroling, skiing, sledding, or help my dad at his Christmas tree farm. I skipped coming home last Christmas , but I’m back this year and it’s going really well. I missed everyone more than I realized.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it? Trying something new. I have some self-esteem/security issues I’m working on, and its hard putting myself out there to try new things. I don’t handle failure well.

4. What are you afraid of most in life? Being alone. With the loss of my high school/college sweetheart and my long-time feud with my parents, I got a glimpse of that kind of bleak future and it scared me.

5. What do you want out of life? Contentment—in myself, for who I am. I’m learning that kind of contentment though can only come from God. Not through a boyfriend, the long-desired approval of your parents, or even a favorite holiday!

6. What is the most important thing to you? My family, for sure. We’ve been through a tough time these past few years and making up has shown me how much they really do mean to me.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read? I do, especially at Christmas when I can snuggle up in my favorite sweatshirt by the fire. I like fiction books, romance of course. Even though they’re hard to read when my own love life is in shambles…

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I tend to set lofty goals for myself, and need to remember that it’s not about pleasing others. Just pleasing God and doing what He has told me to do—not what I feel everyone else is telling me to do. ::Sigh:: Easier said than done.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? No, but I love animals. Maybe one day when I get settled.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? To the day Jordan broke my heart at the gazebo on Christmas Eve. I’d like to revisit that moment, as painful as it’d be, to try to understand him better. Maybe if I could redo that moment in time, I could save us both a lot of heartache. But all things happen for a reason…

To be...or just to be?

Betsy here...

So I'm writing this blog Tuesday night, sitting in my chair in my living room with my Little Miss curled up besides me with her Gigi and Blankie and juice cup, Blue's Clues playing in the background. It's ten o'clock and waaaaaay past her bedtime but today has been a crazy hectic day and this is where we have still landed after collapsing. I worked a full day out of town running title at a tiny country courthouse, where I stood in 4 inch wedges (must re-think shoe choice next time) pulling heavy conveyance and mortgage books off shelves and making notes and print outs and copies, then got back in town just in time to pick up Little Miss and meet my hubby at the house for us to all turn right around and ride together to Wal-Mart, where we spent two hours, two buggies and TOO much money on groceries - but at least we are stocked for another month. Then it was time to rush home, poor Little Miss eating her lunchable dinner in the backseat, put all the groceries away, heat up a frozen pizza and....here we are.

I'm sitting here right now thinking "it's my turn to post and I have nothing witty to say, no story to share, no wisdom to give, no writing craft advice to offer"...

And then I realize, you know? Some days are just that way. And maybe someone else out there needs to realize that.

Every day doesn't always bring inspiration. Every day is a gift from God, yes, but not every day is productive in the way we hope. Not every day brings word count success or project completion or checked off items on our to do list. I had wanted to make progress tonight on several writing projects but I don't have the creative juice to do it.

Some days are just meant to collapse. To simply sit and snuggle the people close to you and eat frozen pizza and relax. Some days are meant to discover the joy of just being. Not doing. Just being. Productivity is good - I'm a big advocate ;) But I'm learning that being superwoman comes with a high price tag and tonight, I'm going to eat another slice of pizza and get a few more sugars from my Little Miss before tucking her in. And not pressure myself to do more, go further, or push harder.

Do you need a day like that? A night like that? Heck, even an hour like that ;) Guess what? You're allowed.

Happy veging.

Migraines?

Terri Reed here on an unusally balmy morning in the Pacific Northwest. I hadn't realized until I checked my email this morning that it was my turn to blog here. I blogged over at our sister site today http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/ about one of my dear friends eHarlequin online read, Snow-Kissed Reunion. http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1538&chapter=1 stop on by and check out this sweet romance.


I'm a migraine sufferer. Not lifelong, only since 2007. I'm not really sure what prompted the headaches to start but I've been dealing with them ever since. I was looking online this morning and noticed two recent mentions of migraines in the news. I'm taking a wait and see attitude on the discovery of a mirgraine gene. What do you think?

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/video/scientists-discover-migraine-gene-11734514

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/09/27/scientists-discover-turn-migraine-pain/

Guts, the Carol Award, and Mae Nunn

What does it take to be a writer? One thing: the willingness to sit down in a chair and create a story and then the courage to listen to learned people who advise you where to make changes, the heart to make the changes they suggest – even when you wish you didn’t have to, and then the guts to submit. What does it take to be a writer? All the above and more.

Last weekend an organization called American Christian Fiction Writers gave awards to many gutsy people. The award is called the Carol.

First, who is Carol? She is Carol Johnson, the editor who discovered Janette Oke and gave readers of Christian Inspirationals something to aspire too.

The Carol is important because it’s our equivalent to the Newberry, the Edgar, and the RITA.

This year the winning book is The Texas Ranger's Family, a Love Inspired contempory.

This year's author is Mae Nunn!

What do you feel the moment your name was called as a winner?

I didn't have the pleasure of attending the conference this year and I thought the awards ceremony was on Saturday night as usual. When I didn't hear from anybody that night or all day Sunday I just assumed I hadn't won. Imagine my annoyance late Sunday night when my phone started to ring! Since I had to be at work at 6am the next morning I was already asleep, so I just hit the "ignore" button on my cell phone. Boy, was I surprised when I listened to my voice mails and read my texts Monday at 4am! I must have squealed like somebody had stepped on my tail because my husband got out of bed and poked his head into the bathroom to see what was wrong. I told him everything was very right. MY BOOK WON!

What do you feel the moment your friend Mae’s name called as a winner? (contributed by Missy Tippens)
When Mae Nunn asked me to accept the Carol Award for her should she win, I was honored and accepted. She sent me a list of the people she would want to thank and asked me to call after the ceremony. I assured her I would text her as soon as they announced the category. So I went to the awards ceremony prepared...but not prepared for having to go on stage in front of over 600 people! When they announced A Texas Ranger's Family as the winner, my heart nearly pounded out of my chest! I somehow made it onto the stage, made a quick comment about not being Mae--thus no hat and no boots --and shared her words of thanks. Mae thanked our Publisher, Steeple Hill, for believing in her work, her wonderful editor, Melissa Endlich, who makes her a better writer, and the Board and officers of ACFW for creating and maintaining an organization where Christian writers are thriving. I texted Mae as soon as I got back to the table. Then tried calling her afterwards. I didn't hear from her until Monday morning, when she woke me up. She had thought the ceremony was Saturday night like previous years and had gone to bed thinking I had forgotten to call because she hadn't won. :) So she was more than thrilled to get her messages on Monday morning and find out she won!

For you, what number published book is this?

A Texas Ranger's family was my 6th book, and the first of a three part series (Her Forever Family/April 2010 and A Season for Family/November 2010) about young siblings separated by the family court system when their mother is killed by their abusive father in a fit of rage. The three stories are about how kids handle separation and loss very differently and how it impacts them as adults.

What made this book an award winner?

This book had a big cast and several settings even though it was a "short" contemporary. It involved themes of discovery, forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation and acceptance all in one story. Throw in a Texas Ranger hero, a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist heroine, a goth teen, a meddling grandmother and a Texas-size BBQ cook off and you can see where there might have been something for every reader to enjoy!

What are your writing habits (hours/pages a day... research tips, etc).

When I'm able to write full time my goal is five pages a day/25 pages a week. When I can only write part time I have to increase pages per day to meet goals. It all comes down to math and how many pages I have to produce in xx number of months to meet a deadline. Also, I'm a one draft writer so when I'm done writing (first day) and editing (next day) my pages won't change much more. When I'm finished with the book, I'm finished with the book. At least until I get that revision letter from my Editor!

Then, feel free to share anything else we didn't think to ask :)

Since I mentioned revisions, let me add a word about that subject. I'll go out on a limb and say most writers hate to revise. We'd all like our work to be perfect as it is, so the revision process sometimes seem like unnecessary punishment. But I've learned to read the revision notes, put them away for a few days while I pout privately, whine to my family and friends and then consider where my editor might actually have some valid points. Then I sit down to the job, systematically go through the manuscript making changes as requested, strengthening areas that are weak and standing firm on what I believe needs no alteration. (Pick your battles carefully but do speak your peace when it's critical to your story!) I'm less confident when I send the manuscript in the second time but when I get that email or call from my editor telling me how much more she likes the revised book, I'm always grateful for her guidance and the additional hours I was able to use to polish the story. And, yes, A Texas Ranger's Family went through this process! Thank goodness for that!

Thank you so much, Mae, for dropping by the Craftie Ladies site.

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