How writing Courage to Hope has changed me:

When the story first developed in my thoughts, I was entering into a very difficult time in my life. Before long, my world came crashing down. Everything I had believed in seemed to vanish. When the dust settled, my faith in God was still there, but it was weak.

I felt like I was starting over. The outline for the series had already been done. I remember looking at the titles of the books I had envisioned: Courage to Hope, Courage to Trust, Courage to Love, Courage to Forgive, Courage to Stand. Did I have the courage to hope again? As I learned again to hope in God, would I find the courage to trust Him? Would I ever be able to stand in my faith again?

It was a gradual climb out of the ashes. I could not have made it without the loving support of my family. I will forever be grateful for the time and energy they gave as they helped me grow emotionally stronger. My husband never gave up on me. He was my rock, strong and faithful. His arms mirrored the loving arms of my Heavenly Father.

I began to write again. Now it was with a renewed faith, a deeper understanding of human suffering. Emotions that I had never experienced before gave the books more depth, made the characters more real. When they were published and people began to read them, the feedback was positive. The characters struck a chord with so many readers, people who faced struggles and heartaches of their own.

For me, the Courage series is the beauty that rose out of the ashes. My prayer for all who read it is that they will find the Courage to Hope.

Character development

In my current story in progress, I am doing research for a new character. I'm looking into historical websites to form the details surrounding the character's life. I want the character's entrance into the story to be timely and as accurate as possible. In contrast, during my third book I had characters who just appeared into the text of my story without any thought at all. While writing a scene where my characters are caught in a blizzard, my hero began ringing a school bell as a dim light appeared in the storm. I became caught up in my own story as a missionary and his very pregnant wife came out of the storm, seeking refuge. The arrival of the missionaries brought another dimension to the story that I would not have otherwise thought of. They also became significant characters in the series. I don't know why sometimes I labor in my writing, and at other times it is seemingly inspired. I think of my writing as a journey, with the route being carefully planned. Sometimes there are detours which lead down interesting paths. That's what makes the process of writing so exciting.

In the Dark of Winter, a Rose still blooms

I never thought when I started this writing journey that I would lose my traveling companion. My husband of twenty years, the man of my dreams and my steady rock, passed away in August after a tragic work accident. I've spent these past few months mourning my loss, trying to stay enveloped in the warmth and support of family and friends. Nothing can replace my loss. I know that grief must finish its work in me. I read a quote that says, "In the midst of winter, I have found within me an invincible summer." I don't know who said it, but it is quite profound. It reminds me that in the winter of my grief, God's love is like a little rose pushing up through the snow, giving me hope that healing, like summer, will come.

Where does the inspiration come from?

It's a curious thing. A story idea may come when I hear the words of a song, or think about a passage from the Bible. Often when I am driving in the car, I begin thinking of a character or a plot, and a story starts to form. I don't always have to be awake to be inspired. One night I had a dream that was so vivid I wrote it down the next day in a novel form.

When I get a story idea, I think about it for awhile, forming characters and plots in my head. When this happens, sometimes I jot down a few details or an outline. I have sheets of paper in my files that have nothing more than the names of a few characters and their description. There is a story about them in my head, but I haven't taken time to develop it.

Sometimes I think of a story, and a wave of inspiration hits. I sit down at the computer, or with pen and paper, and write away. One time I wrote 75 pages in three days (well, typed them on a computer, which is much faster than long-hand.)

A few months go, my friend read one of my books, and she asked me, "What is in the trunks?" The trunks I had written into the story had no special meaning to me, but when she read about them, she grew curious and wondered what was in them. I started thinking about the trunks one day while I cleaning up at work. And seemingly out of nowhere, I realized what was in the trunks. The realization literally gave me chills, and another subplot formed in the series.

Just today, I was cleaning the chicken fryer at work, and pondering the current story I am working on. There were some details I couldn't figure out. As I worked and thought about it, the plot developed, and a new character came into being. It was a "hallelujah!" moment. I rejoiced because the story could move forward.

And would you believe, the story has nothing to do with fried chicken, even though that's what I was doing when the inspiration hit?

article in local paper

I was pretty pleased with the article written about me for the local paper. It was complimentary to both myself and my books. The reporter read one of the books and gave a favorable review. I'm hoping that people in our community who read the paper will stop by the store where I'm selling the books and have a closer look. Of course, I'm hoping some will buy the books and begin reading them.

As I reflect on having a write-up about myself in the local paper, I realize that it is important to maintain a good Christian witness. When I do my banking, fill up my car with gas, pick up prescriptions or go to the grocery store, there may be people who recognize my name and face from the newspaper article. I hope to be a good representative of Christ, so that they won't feel that my books are a fraud.

And that holds true within my home as well. If I am writing about faith, hope, and love, I need to live out those values in my everyday life.

You Never Know What Someone is Thinking

Well, the article about me did not appear in last week's paper, or in this week's. I was disappointed, and more than a little embarrassed, since I told people I was going to be in the paper. I wondered why it didn't get in print. The only conclusion I could come up with was that the reporter was not impressed enough with me, or with my books. She purchased one of the books the day she did the interview. I thought, "She must not have liked it, and maybe she will tell people that she didn't care for my book."

I still don't know what she thinks about me or my books, but I have a little clue. Yesterday, I went into the store that sells my books. The owner remarked that the reporter was in the store earlier in the week. She related that the reporter did not know why the article didn't make the newspaper. And the store owner also said the reporter bought three more of my books.

Since the reporter purchased more books, I felt reasonably sure that she liked the first one she bought. I feel confident that if the article does appear in the paper, it will put my books, and me, in a favorable light. I hope I've also learned a lesson in humility. "Pride goeth before a fall," certainly rings true!

for such a time as this

Do you ever wonder why God puts you in the place in your life where you are in?

I've always believed God had a purpose for my life. That He would open the doors where He wanted me to enter, and close the doors that were not His will. When I went away to college, it was because God opened the right doors for me to go. It was while I was in college that I went to Mexico, and studied Spanish. In 1986, my aunt found a little tiny ad in the Press for a bilingual receptionist. I went in for an interview and the lawyer hired me. That led to a career as a legal secretary.

I quit a job I loved to be a stay at home mom. I don't regret those years with my kids. I had the opportunity to nurture them and be involved in their school functions. When they were were a little older, I stepped out into the working world again on what became a long and difficult road. I struggled to find the perfect job. I tried secretarial work, since that was what I knew. I battled issues with day care, sick children, and my own health. I gave up several times, and there were periods in my life where I didn't work outside the home.

During those years, I wrote and wrote. I finished several novels, and tried to get them published. One series I really believed in was my historical series, the Legacy of Courage. I had sent it in to a publisher, and was awaiting a response. Finances were tight. We needed a breakthrough in our lives. I put out the fleece. If I don't get a "yes" response from a publisher by April 1st, I was going to get a job.

On March 31, I happened to be in the grocery store and saw a help wanted ad. The store was pleasant and close to home, so I put in my application. I got a call a couple of days later, and the deli and bakery manager hired me. I started work on April 4. Instead of becoming a published author, I was now an employee in the deli.

And do you know what? I liked the job. It was a good fit for me. And I liked the people I worked with. I am still there, two and a half years later. The job is full-time now. I cook and bake, and wait on customers, and it's a satisfying position. The money helps with our family finances. I still have health issues that I struggle with, but my boss has been understanding. The kids are older now and I don't have problems with day care. It's close to home, so I'm able to make it there even when the weather is bad (well, most of the time, but that is a story best left for another day.)

Sometimes God puts us in a place where we least expect it. Doors we want to open, close in our faces, and other doors open that take us out of our comfort zone. With faith, we take God's hand and walk through the door that He opens for us, into the place where He wants us to be. And we find joy and unexpected blessings.