Endorsements

When one thinks of endorsing, you think of political campaigns where a familiar and popular person stands up and adds his or her voice to a candidate running for office. This tends to give credibility to the candidate and can even help the candidate rise in the polls.

And so I was given the task by my editor of finding would-be endorsers for my new book, "Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire", making its debut this fall. I had to find advocates, if you will, fellow authors, published and fairly well known in the book community, to come out and be voices for my book. This is no easy task, especially when it comes to finding those willing to give of their precious time to read a book and look for good things to say about it. These writers are putting their credibility on the line. They are going to be advocates for a book to improve sales and my skill as a writer. It's a nerve wracking proposition, to be sure.

But I went forward and sent off some e-mails, looking for a few authors willing to read the book. Some knew me from the publishing industry. Some do not, but I took a step of faith and asked. And after a week, I have three authors willing to look the book over. I hope I don't disappoint them. I hope it's a book they can recommend. I believe it is. But the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, as is the proof in the endorsement. So I will know the result of this come July. And pray that I have a few writers willing to step up to the platform and say unequivocally - Yes, this is a good book. Buy it and read it! You won't be disappointed.

The Book of Love

It's interesting to see how love is created in life and how as a romance writer, I can reflect that kind of love in my books. Today I spend time in reflection of an engagement as twenty years ago, my husband called me up at work for our first date and later that next night, on May 18th, 1989, asked for my hand in marriage. We had not done the typical thing of shopping around with lots of dates and kissing to see if we were compatible. Ours was a simple story of waiting on God Who knew us both very well and Who would bring us together after seeking the godly counsel of the elders in our church. We then sought each other at a dinner one night and there committed our lives to one another. And here we are, twenty years later, still enjoying that same love God birthed long ago.

It is that kind of love I seek to write about in in my books. When my characters are giving loving glances, embracing and kissing, they are doing it as part of a lifelong commitment. They are not shopping around looking for the prize. They are waiting on God for Him to bring that perfect person into their lives. And so I like to portray godly romance in my stories. And reflect His idea of love and marriage in my books. After all, God designed it. He ordained it. He wants love to come to pass in His perfect timing. And He wants me as a writer to put such commitment into perfect words that speak of a lifelong love that never fades with the passage of time.

So here's to twenty years of marital bliss. And many more to come.

Bad Book Postures

I've been doing some reading lately. As a writer, I find it helpful to look over other works and see what other authors are doing. And after a few books, I have found that they start off quick and energetic, with interesting characters and plot. But by the middle of the book, the story starts to sag. The energy level is gone. The characters have no spark left but just seem to be existing day by day as if they themselves are bored of the storyline (and thus, I am too). And then as the book goes on, by the ending chapters, the energy is back again to reach that satisfying conclusion.

So what to do about the sagging middle? I realize sometimes it's like we as writers just want to make it through the book so we can get to our victorious conclusion. The hero wins. The guy gets the girl. Evil is overcome. Or whatever the case may be. But to get there, we must keep the energy level high throughout the book. To write a story that will keep readers turning the pages so they do make it to that great end. So I will begin from now on to analyze my own work better, especially that forgotten middle section. I don't want to see the characters lose their zing or the plot to drag. Keep the story flowing. Perhaps add in an extra twist in the plot by a minor subplot. To not get bogged down with the day to day living that can really be a drag. To put in new and quirky things with the characters to keep readers entertained. To make it an interesting work through and through. To make the story stand upright all the way to the end.

Get rid of bad posture in your book. Keep it fresh and the writing lively from page one on.

The Balancing Act...

Life is definitely a balancing act these days...and many times I feel like these feet, walking a tightrope, hoping I don't fall off as I try to juggle everything at once. It seems these days we find ourselves under a lot of pressure. I find myself more and more needing to care for those around me. Not only my immediate family here of husband and son, but others like my parents who are elderly and live far away. My mother requires much needed care, and my father, as the chief caregiver, needs a break now and then. So I felt I needed to rearrange my schedule of home and my life as a writer to meet the needs of traveling a long trip and help out. I've made a commitment to them to go at least every 4-6 weeks...we'll see what happens. But it is quite a balancing act to make certain I'm doing what I feel I need to do while fulfilling my responsibilities here in my home and with my due dates to my books and my editors. So much to do and so little time.

And so that balancing act requires organization. I do have some of that skill, but it can always be refined. To make the most of my time and not waste it (which can be tempting). To take the time to accomplish what I need but to make time for God and that time of refreshment. Not to crowd Him out of my life of going, going, gone. That may be the the toughest balancing act of all, but the most important. So it is one step at a time on the tightrope. But I gain satisfaction knowing I am not alone in this walk. As a dear friend had on her Bible cover the other day - the Footprints in the Sand poem - where there is one set of footprints, it is there that God carries us. If we allow Him to carry us, that is, in this journey of balancing priorities and commitments. Of doing all we can do with the time given and allowing Him to work and will in us for His good pleasure.