Writing Historical - A New Experience And I'm Having a Blast!

A few months back, I wrote about seeing my hometown of Lake Geneva, WI through new eyes as I delved into research in preparation for writing a book set there in 1933.

I finished the proposal on August first, and my agent sent it on to a potential publisher. In the meantime, I attended the ACFW conference in Denver, and then reworked my cozy mystery from a mystery with romance to a romance with mystery. It is now titled, Thyme for Love. With the proposal for that story out at several places, I finally have time to work on my Lake Geneva romance called Dream a Little Dream of Me. It's only a working title and often publishers will change titles to suit their preferences, so I hang onto it loosely.

Other than writing a short story for a creative writing class based on my grandmother's diary from 1900, I have never written historical fiction in my life. I have always loved writing about today, having my characters use their cell phones, computers, etc. and ride around in fast cars. But writing early to mid 20th century historical is different than writing historicals set in Colonial times or even at the turn of the century, 1900.

Today's Lake Geneva looks a lot different than the Lake Geneva I grew up in. First, the town has grown by about 3,000 people, and second, it now boasts a Super Walmart, McDonalds, Burger King, Home Depot and many other franchised operations. When I was a kid we had to drive to Milwaukee for a McDonald's burger. The lake, of course, is still there, but the beach has been improved and some of the large mansions have been torn down for smaller lots.

However, if you stop long enough to look, you'll still see vestages of the past. Enough mansions are still there, perhaps boasting several more coats of paint or a wing added on, but they are still the stately manors they were in the 19th century.

Stroll down Main Street and look up past the modern storefronts of shops selling gourmet foods, boutique clothing, and home decor and you'll see the architecture of a time gone by. It doesn't take much to imagine a butcher shop, food market, or mercantile that once existed on the street level.

Today what was once called the Slater Building houses a real estate company. When I was a child I went to the dentist on the second floor, and I can't remember what was on the first floor. Probably a different real estate company. That's the building on the right. Back in 1933, it housed the Lake Geneva News-Trib, the weekly paper where the hero and heroine in my novel meet and work. It's a special feeling to know that I've been in that building many times as a child, and now here I am writing a story set right there.

Oh if those walls could talk. I bet they'd give me fodder for more stories than I could write. And it would be a blast.

CFBA Blog Tour - Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin

This week's CFBA blog tour features Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin. Lynn is one of my favorite authors and I was excited to be able to read and review this book. But I didn't receive my copy until last Friday, so I am still reading it! Let me tell you, I've not gotten very far but already I am hooked. This lady can write!

Consider phrases like this:

"We were looking through Grandma's box of keepsakes, and she showed me a photograph of her father and mother. They sat side-by-side, their shoulders barely touching. Henry's huge farmer hands splayed on his thighs like a pair of shovels."

Or . . .

"Grief settled over Bebe's household like deep snow, bringing life on the farm to a suffocating standstill and chilling everyone's soul."

Anyone who can turn a phrase like those two has my attention.

Here's the scoop on the story:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction.

Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel.


ABOUT THE BOOK

"Thank goodness you're such a plain child. You'll have to rely on your wits."

So went the words of Grandma Bebe. And for all of my growing-up years, I scoffed at the beauty of my sister and what I saw as her meaningless existence. But my wits hadn't served me well in this instance, for here I was, in jail. And while I could have seen it as carrying on the family tradition (for Grandma Bebe landed in jail for her support of Prohibition), the truth is, my reasons for being here would probably break her heart.

So how did I end up becoming a criminal? I've been pondering that question all night. Perhaps the best way to search for an answer is to start at the very beginning.

Harriet Sherwood has always adored her grandmother. But when Harriet decides to follow in her footsteps to fight for social justice, she certainly never expected her efforts to land her in jail. Nor did she expect her childhood enemy and notorious school bully, Tommy O'Reilly, to be the arresting officer.

Languishing in a jail cell, Harriet has plenty of time to sift through the memories of the three generations of women who have preceded her. As each story emerges, the strength of her family--and their deep faith in the God of justice and righteousness--brings Harriet to the discovery of her own goals and motives for pursuing them.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Though Waters Roar, go HERE

I just saw the book on display at my local Family Christian Store, but you can order it from Amazon.

Winner of Cara's Book A Promise Kept is . . .

JO!!!

I've notified Jo and am waiting for her mailing address. Then I'll get the book out to her. There were several who left names but no contact info so I couldn't place your names in the "hat." Please be sure when commenting to leave contact info for the book!

Watch this blog for more upcoming giveaways later on.

Book Review: A Promise Kept by Cara C. Putman

When my good friend, Cara Putman, asked me if I would read a couple of her new releases and blog about them I didn't hesitate one bit. I've known Cara for a long time now. She is one of the people in my life I can say "I knew her when . . ."

I was privileged to critique her first two books when we were in a critiquing group together, and it was a thrill to see them go on to be published. The woman hasn't stopped since and has been blessed with more book contracts. All well deserved because she is a very accomplished writer.

I have especially enjoyed her stories set during World War II. The thirties and forties hold a special appeal for me and I am thrilled that they are now coming into their own as historicals.

A Promise Kept is set in 1939 before Pearl Harbor was bombed sending the U.S. to the war front. At the time of the story people were watching and waiting, many gearing up for what they saw as inevitable when the country would be at war itself.

The story is unique in that it is a romance about a married couple. We join Josie Miller and Art Wilson in the first chapter as they marry in Dayton, Ohio and then move to Cincinnati for Art's job.

Cara does a wonderful job of bringing in the way of life back in that time, by way of the popular music of the day, the clothing they wore, and the simple meals Josie prepares without concern about fat calories or cholesteral :-) I was immediately transported back to the time. Life wasn't easy even though the country was starting to work its way out of the depression, especially for the newlyweds who live a second-floor walk-up apartment, barely big enough for two. You can imagine how tight it suddenly becomes when a distant cousin of Art's who lives in England asks if he and Josie will house their eight-year-old daughter for an indefinate time until the war passes and England is safe again.

Nothing goes according the the dream Josie has for her new life and it takes a strengthening of faith in God to help both her and Art begin to see that sometimes God's dreams for us are different than ours, because He knows what is best in the long run.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I would like to offer a signed copy of the book in a drawing. Please leave a comment on this blog along with contact info and I will draw a name next week Wednesday, September 9th.

You can order the book from the Heartsong Presents Website, but don't forget to leave a comment for a chance at a signed copy for your collection!

Imitation is the Greatest Form of Flattery. . .But Not in Writing

I just read that Stephanie Meyer who wrote the infamous Twilight series about a romance between a vampire and a 'normal' person, is being accused of plagiarism. The accuser states that parts from her own book were used by Ms. Meyer for the fourth book in the Twilight series.

I haven't read but a portion of Twilight, first book in the series, and I haven't even heard of the the accuser or her book, but from what I have read of the lawsuit, me thinks I smell a rat. J.K.Rowling went through the same kind of deal after she became wildly popular, and I'm sure other famous authors have as well.

Common sense tells me the accusations are likely unfounded. As a writer, I know how a story comes to life, and the book Ms. Meyer is accused of using plagiarized material for, is the fourth in the series. A story evolves and grows as one writes.

There is really nothing new under the sun. I have received more than one rejection for both novels and magazine articles alike, where the reason for rejection was because the publisher was already under contract to print something very similar. Titles are often similar, as are storylines, characters, settings, whatever. And sometimes that can be a deal-breaker in the writing world.

When I was around eight or nine I subscribed to a childrens magazine called Wee Wisdom. I loved the stories in that magazine and devoured it as soon as it arrived in the mail. One day, as I sat reading a story, I had a sense I'd read it before. I don't remember all the details, but I did figure out where I'd seen it. I was able to locate the story in another publication by a different author, and wrote to the magazine. A while later, I received a letter that stated they were very appreciative of my informing them of the deception, because the story published in their magazine was plagiarized. I don't remember getting a free subscription or anything like that. Just a thank you.

That future writer learned one huge lesson. One I've never forgotten.

CBFA Blog Tour - Any Minute by Joyce Meyer & Deborah Bradford

Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success no matter what the cost. She wants to do good and not hurt the people she loves--especially children and her husband, Joe--but her desire to succeed in her career too often leaves little time for family.

One cold, autumn afternoon, all of that changes when Sarah's car plunges off a bridge and into a river. She is presumed dead by those on the "outside," but Sarah's spirit is still very much alive. What she discovers on the other side transforms everything about Sarah's view of life--past, present, and future.

When Sarah is revived, she is a changed woman. And the unsuspecting world around her will never be the same again.

Because of this story description, I received the book with great anticipation. I've been inspired in my Christian walk by Joyce Meyer's teaching and entertained by Deborah Bradford's stories. What could be better than an intriguing plot and these two women coming together?

Although the premise is still intriguing, I have to say that the book did not deliver its promise to me.

As a writer who is always working to improve on the craft, it is difficult to take off the editor hat unless the story pulls me in so much that I literally do not notice POV (point of view) and setting issues.

The authors tend to gravitate back and forth from a third-person POV to an omniscient POV, which always caused me to hit a mental speed bump. At times, the story head hopped, especially during intense scenes where one minute I was in one character's head and with the next, suddenly thrust into the other character's thoughts. I find this to be very jarring.

Although the authors' scenes set in the Chicago financial area and Wrigley Field were spot on, they took poetic license with the locale of Buffalo Grove, IL, a Chicago suburb. The town was placed directly next to a tollway instead of approximately five miles to the west. For those like me who live in the Buffalo Grove area, this can be bothersome.

Because of these issues, I am unable to give it the rave review I was hoping for. Having said that, I do think if you know these issues won't bother you, I say read it for the entertainment value it is. The storyline is intriguing. I just wish the writing had been at the same level.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than seventy inspirational books, including The Confident Woman, I Dare You, the entire Battlefield of the Mind family of books, her first venture into fiction with The Penny, and many others. She has also released thousands of audio teachings as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life® radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four grown children and make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.


Deborah Bedford is a career fiction writer who began her professional life as a journalist in a Colorado mountain town.

A Rose By The Door, Deborah's first with Warner Book (name changed to FaithWords in 2006), hit bookstores in November 2001. A Morning Like This was released by Warner Books in 2002. Deborah's short story, “Connor Sapp's Baseball Summer,” is included in Multnomah Publisher's The Storytellers' Collection, Tales From Home, alongside stories by Chuck Colson, Terri Blackstock, Randy Alcorn and Karen Kingsbury.

Deborah and Jack have two children, Jeff and Avery. When she isn't writing, Deborah spends her time fly-fishing, cheering at American Legion baseball games, shopping with her daughter, singing praise songs while she walks along the banks of Flat Creek, and taking her dachshund Annie for hikes in the Tetons where they live.

Buy it at Amazon.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Any Minute, go here!

To Swear or Not To Swear--Is It Even Worth Asking?

Last night I watched recorded episodes of a program on Bravo called Top Chef Masters. The show is a spin-off of the popular show, Top Chef, a reality cooking contest that pits a number of chefs against each other as they take on cooking challenges. Each week, the losing chef packs his knives and goes home. The winner is the top chef of the year.

The master show brings four well-known (in culinary circles) chefs together for a one-time challenge. The winner will compete for the title against five other winners from other shows in the series .

In an episode I watched last night, from the moment he was introduced one of the male chefs had a potty mouth. It didn't matter if it was during his cooking, which I presume to be unscripted, or in the head-shot interviews that this type of show utilizes, his language was peppered with swears.

At first he wasn't beeped when twice he invoked the name of Jesus in a way I knew was no prayer and I cringed. Then, when he said a different word that I could lipread and he was beeped, I became even more disgusted. Why did the producers see fit to beep out the four-letter word, but thought it okay to leave in his blasphemous language against my Lord? But from that point on, the guy was beeped for the rest of the show, and I could at least watch the competition without being offended. But my pity for the man stayed with me.

What did he think when he saw the show? The other three chefs never said anything that required beeps, yet every time he was on camera, it felt as though I was on a New York City street from all the beeping. If others can control their language on a show, why not him?

Movie makers often say that they include swears in their scripts because it's the way people talk. Maybe a prison scene would be more authentic with bad language, or a battle scene in a war movie, but I really wonder how often that much swearing goes on in real life for a majority of people. I worked in the secular world for many years and, except on rare occasions, I never had to endure that much swearing.

The other day I came across a forum on the Internet where people were discussing if Christian fiction should include actual swear words. The consensus was that it wasn't necessary. The author can show through narrative that the characters are using rough language and do it in such a way that the reader knows the kind of language being used without being subjected to it. I suppose in a reality show, producers feel they have to keep the reality in by not asking people to refrain from swearing. I know most people can control their tongue if they know they need to. I'm willing to bet (if I were a betting woman) that this guy doesn't talk that way in front of his mother!

I hope I never become so deadened to the words from the overuse of potty language that I don't even notice it.

One thing I know for sure. You'll never find a swear in any of my stories. If the novel needs that kind of dialogue to sell it, it's not worth selling.