Cynthia Ruchti: Up Close and Personal

Interview by Kelly Klepfer

Tell us a bit about your current project.

The book that just released is A Fragile Hope. In some ways, one might say it was a risky project. How does a woman write an emotion-packed contemporary novel with a male protagonist, a marriage in trouble—his own—and his wife’s point of view is “heard” only in mere snippets…for the whole book? And how can hope weave its way onto the pages of a novel with betrayal center stage?

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What Love Requires, Y'all

By Michael Ehret

(Scene: Country radio studio where the host, Jimmy Guffey, is about to talk with New Yorker Patricia Talbot, sweetheart of bullriding star Talon Carlson, the hometown boy. Guffey has heard that Talbot has talked Carlson into giving up bullriding and, as a longtime fan, he wants to know why. See the contest offered after the post!)

Jimmy: This is Jimmy Guffey on KPLR, Praise the Lord for the Rodeo Radio, 104.3, on your FM dial. Today, on “Bustin’ Broncs for the Kingdom,” we’re talkin’ to Patricia Talbert, a New York hoity-toity social coordinator who’s fallen hard for our #1 rodeo hero, Talon Carlson, from right here in Stephenville, Texas.

Jimmy says this is a photo of Talon as a
young cowboy. There's no proof of that claim.

Talon, as y'all know, loves nothing more than bullridin’ and the rodeo, save perhaps The Man Upstairs, so when this longtime fan of his heard he was givin’ up bullridin’, well, I just knew there had to be more to this story and, as one of Talon’s biggest fans, I’m itchin’ to find out the truth.

So, Patty, what’s the scoop? Fill us in, if you can. I understand a gal name of Linda Yezak—she ain’t country, now, is she? Not with a name like Yezak. Anyway, I understand this Linda has told your and Talon’s story. So tell us what you told her. How’d you convince our Talon to leave the circuit?

Patricia: Well now Jimmy, Linda may not have been raised in the country, but she's always been country at heart. Her husband, on the other hand, was raised on a farm in central Texas. You want country? His family didn't have electricity until he was six. Now that's country!

You really want to know how I made Talon promise not to ride? Well, I decided to show him what it's like to watch someone he loved get thrown. I rode Mostro—the wildest steer on the Circle Bar Ranch.

Talon taught me how to ride bulls. Even though they were fairly tame, he made me ride them without a flank strap, which, as you know Jimmy, tends to make the ride more dangerous. I wanted the strap when I rode Mostro, but I didn't know what I was in for. It made him so mean and wild, he threw me into the next pen.

After watching me get tossed, Talon didn't think twice about making the promise. Of course, it helped that he was recovering from a concussion and a broken arm he'd received when Burnt Biscuit threw him into the ER not days before. Linda told about that event in Give the Lady a Ride.

Jimmy, there’s a Bible verse comes to mind. It’s 1 Corinthians 13:7 about all the things love does—and not all of them are easy! In fact, they can all be difficult when you think about it. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” I’ve been reading up on that lately, and when I think about it in connection to Talon and me, it gives me pause.

Jimmy: I’m glad you brought that up. As I understand it, you’re learning to put boots on that verse and walk it around the ranch, so to speak. Tell us about that. For instance, “Love bears all things.” What kinds of things are you willing to bear for love?

Patricia: I know what I can't bear—to see Talon hurt again. But it seems Aunt Adele is pushing him to get back on a bull, just so she can see him ride. She's my aunt and I love her, but Talon and I both have to bear with her attempts to take me back to Manhattan.

The verse says, “Love bears all things.” Love isn't restricted to any particular type. It can be the kind of love Talon and I share, or the kind I feel for the ranch, my friends, and my family—even Aunt Adele. Right now, bearing with her is stretching my patience!

Jimmy: The next part of that there verse says that “love believes all things.” I dare say that could cause some problems. Let’s just say Talon has been known to stretch a truth a time or two—he ain’t perfect. So Patty, er, Patricia, beg yer pardon, why do you think you can believe him when he says he’s never going to ride another bull?

Patricia: Ha! You know him well. His practical jokes and tall tales are legendary. I still remember the one he pulled on me when we checked for estrus cows. Almost had me convinced that the only way to know they were in heat was to approach them with a thermometer . . . well, that's another story.

For all his pranks, though, I believe in him. He's not at all like the men I knew in New York—or DC either, for that matter. We've been together about a year now, and everything I see of him smacks of integrity. He's the preacher at our Cowboy Church, and he's highly respected around here. Not to mention how patient he has been with Aunt Adele. That alone just amazes me. I can't imagine him breaking a promise to me or anyone else.

Besides, he had to do all his ranch work one-handed while he waited for his arm to heal. I'm certain he wouldn't want to risk that again.

Jimmy: Hope is what keeps many a cowboy in the game, as you know. Hope that next time he’ll make the eight or win that buckle. “Love hopes all things.” What does that mean to your life?

Patricia: My hopes are centered around making a life here at the ranch. It's totally different from New York, but I believe God wants me here. Aunt Adele thinks she can lure me back, but I love it here too much, love the people too much. I love Talon, and he belongs here, which means I do too.

I have hope that God will convince Adele—and my mother, who no doubt put her up to making my life crazy—that I am where I belong and with whom I belong.

But I also hope that the scars from my past will heal, and that this time, with this man, things will be different.

With God, all things are possible, and He is the source of my hope now.

Jimmy: Now I know you don’t want to give away too much, Patricia, and ruin things for Linda and her readers, but endurance—that there’s another great cowboy trait. I’ve seen Talon endure some pretty tough times, on the bull and off. But what does that mean to you? What are you willing to endure for your own sake? For Talon’s sake? For the Lord’s sake?

Patricia: That’s a great question, Jimmy. Honestly, at this moment, I don't know for certain what God has in store for me here. So far, all I've had to endure is the insufferable Texas heat—and Consuela's cooking lessons and a lot of ribbing from the men for being such a greenhorn.

But since I returned to my Savior last year, I've spent every day studying His word, learning who He is, and lamenting what I've missed all these years separated from Him. Whatever He sends my way, whatever I'll have to endure in the future, I know it will be much easier than what I've endured in the past. Because this time, I'll have Him to guide me through it.

Jimmy: Well, that’s about it for us folks here KPLR, Praise the Lord for the Rodeo Radio. Today we’ve been talking with Ms. Patricia Talbert about love and what it does—and what it requires. Look for the complete story of Patricia and Talon in the books by Miz Yezak, Give The Lady a Ride and the just released The Final Ride, available now in fine stories everywhere and online.

Y'all enter this contest!

Before you go folks, I am feeling led to announce a contest! That’s right, a chance for y'all to win both of these fine books by that Yezak filly.

No, I ain’t gonna make it easy on ya’—what’s the fun of that? But just answer this question below and you’re entered!  

Question: When have you had to put 1 Corinthians 13:7 into action in your life? Creativity and giggles count, so give it your best shot.

Here’s the skinny on that Yezak woman:

More than 25 years ago, after a decade of life as a "single-again," author Linda W. Yezak rediscovered God's love and forgiveness when He allowed her a second chance at marital happiness. She is now living her greatest romance with her husband in a forest in East Texas. After such an amazing blessing, she chooses to trumpet God's gift of second chances in the books she writes. Linda's novels are heart-warming hallmarks of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Connect with her at: Facebook Fan Page, Pinterest, Amazon Page, Goodreads, Newsletter, at 777 Peppermint Place, and on Twitter at @LindaYezak. 

____________________________________

Michael Ehret has accepted God's invitation and is a freelance editor at WritingOnTheFineLine.com. In addition, he's worked as editor-in-chief of the ACFW Journal at American Christian Fiction Writers. He pays the bills as a marketing communications writer and sharpened his writing and editing skills as a reporter for The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star.

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NLB Horton's Adventurous Journey

How convoluted was your path to your first published book?

Eugene Peterson described my journey well with the title of his great devotional book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. I wrote all my life: for every school newspaper and while owning a marketing and advertising company. I am an avid reader. When I moved to a mountaintop after retiring, I gave myself the gift of finally sitting down to write fiction.

What is one of the more unique or strange life experiences that has given you an extra oomph in your writing?

I returned to Dallas Theological Seminary for my Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, and embarked on an archaeological survey as part of my degree. I was under heavy-artillery fire from Syria, machine-gun fire out of Lebanon, and a camo- painted Israeli Defense Force bomber. I stood at the edge of a dig pit in far northern Israel with my family at my side. Archaeologist Grace Madison was born that day in late May 2009, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. 

Do you experience self-doubt regarding your work, or struggle with writers’ block or angst driven head-banging against walls?

“No” to both. And my answer has nothing whatsoever to do with pride or self-confidence, but rather rests in the knowledge that God has pre-ordained my path, and my success is in His hands. My job is to apply all my gifts to every aspect of writing and publishing. The results are His.

What gives you the greatest buzz regarding your writing career?

When a reader responds to what I like most about my work, reviews are a blast. I am overjoyed when someone picks out Grace’s tenacity; her very daily, intimate, conversational relationship with God; or her fierceness about her beliefs and family.

I also love edits, believe it or not. My first edit was so rough it looked as if the editor spilled red ink down the right column of the document. That “edit” column went on FOREVER. But edits transform my manuscripts. They come alive and mature into the powerful, funny, encouraging, entertaining stories I want them to be. I could never do this on my own and am so thankful for a wonderful team. 

Describe where you write, your rituals or creative triggers, or other quirks about your process.

Even when the children were very young, and I was homeschooling them, I had a home office. My current perch overlooks a high mountain valley, and I watch seasons change and weather roll in from my desk chair. I do not write anywhere else. 

Because my work is international suspense, though, I take notes everywhere. This fall, I traveled to confirm details for manuscript three and shoot photography and gather marketing material for The Brothers’ Keepers. I came home with 1,489 photos and a notebook full of ideas that enhance in my writing process.

My only rituals are a small pot of tea and a neatly organized desk.

What is the most difficult part of putting together a book?

I only write about places I’ve been and know well, so I sometimes omit important bits and pieces. I subconsciously assume the reader knows what I know—and that’s a mistake. Getting just enough detail to move the story along without bogging down the reader is an instinct I still lack. (This is where the editors come in.)

The process of writing, editing, and polishing is manageable, but creating the title is a nightmare. In my old career, I dreaded writing photo captions and headlines. My literary version of that task is creating titles. “Lord, spare me the titles!”

Tell us about The Brothers’ Keepers.

I’d love to! Grace Madison is in Brussels cataloging looted antiquities when her son’s bride is attacked in Switzerland. Her day careens from bad to catastrophic when daughter Maggie disappears in France. Because of recent family history (When Camels Fly), she suspects that mayhem is afoot.

She summons her family to Paris, where Maggie was last seen. Maggie’s love interests—one as all-American as a golden retriever, the other a movie-star handsome Mossad associate—join family and friends heeding Grace’s call for help. They follow Maggie’s trail, one that leads directly to an ancient relic that passed through King Solomon, the Emperor Constantine, and Reformist Martin Luther.

At the end of their four-thousand-year-old trail that crosses three continents, they discover that to save themselves, they must first rescue an old friend. If he’ll let them.

Can you tell us more about your lead character?

Espionage is an uncomfortable fit for my protagonist, Grace Madison, a middle-aged archaeologist who describes herself as “the plodding type.” Readers refer to her as Hercules in a burkha, Yenta-like, and hysterically funny. More than one has said she wants to be Grace.

Grace’s adult family is intelligent and educated, committed to God and each other, and protective of her. But because they use their God-given gifts to the extreme and have interesting careers of their own, she is thrust into life-threatening situations as she tries to save everyone she holds dear.

This woman of faith has survived two novels: When Camels Fly and The Brothers’ Keepers. I’m not letting her off the hook for at least three more.

NLB Horton returned to writing fiction after an award-winning career in journalism and marketing as well as earning her Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has surveyed Israeli and Jordanian archaeological digs, tossed a tarantula from her skiff into the Amazon after training with an Incan shaman, driven uneventfully through Rome and consumed gallons of afternoon tea while traveling across five continents.

For more information about NLB Horton, visit www.nlbhorton.com, become a fan on Facebook (NLB-Horton) or follow her on Twitter (NLBHorton) or Pinterest (nlbhorton). 

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An Interview with Laura V. Hilton

Novel Rocket welcomes Laura Hilton today! Laura writes Amish fiction and is excited to share her most recent release, a Christmas story called A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN WEBSTER COUNTY with us today.

This is your first Christmas novel. What sparked the story? I wanted to write a Christmas story, and my publisher suggested one that revisits my previous characters would be great. I wanted a new story and a new romance, so I had an Amish young man visiting his brother who recently married (a previous book) – and he finds love with a girl from his hometown who is in the area as a mothers helper (to a character in a different previous book).

What would you do differently if you were starting your publishing career today? Nothing.

Would you please share a bit of your journey to publication? I wrote, I thought I was a good writer, so I submitted. I was rejected. I am somewhat stubborn so I kept trying. I eventually landed an agent, got lots of interest in my books, but unfortunately, historicals were hot and contemporaries were not. I decided to try Amish and to my surprise, that sold on a proposal.  

Where do you write: In a cave, a coffeehouse, or a cozy nook? I write in my living room with my family surrounding me. I have five kids, I homeschool, and I have to be available.  

What would you do if you didn't write? Go insane? Writing is my sanity.  

What issue makes you struggle as an author? How do you handle it? I struggle with writing with the kids get loud with either fighting or extreme silliness.  

What are your top 3 recommendations for a new writer? Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Join a critique group and develop rhino skin.  

Then what 3 things would recommend not doing? Don’t submit to publishers before you are ready. Don’t self-publish before you are ready. Don’t think that you can go it alone. You need others. Don’t throw away old ideas. You may need them someday.

Some say a writer is born and others say anyone can learn. What do you think? I beg the fifth. I knew I was called to write from an early age, but I had to learn. Whether you are called or not, you still have to learn.

What's the strangest or funniest experience you've had in writing? Sometimes life mirrors fiction… and you learn lessons from the characters.

Do you prefer the creating or editing aspect of writing? How do you feel about research? I create and edit simultaneously. I love the writing process and learning about my characters.  

What are your writing rituals? No rituals. Everyday is different.  

Do you work best under pressure or do you write at a leisurely pace?? Both. The deadline makes me adhere to more of a schedule like I must write X amount of words a day to meet the deadline. I’m not one of the must stay up all night for two weeks and write the whole story then writers.  

What are your thoughts on critique partners? MUST HAVE.

ABOUT A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN WEBSTER COUNTY

Wanting to relocate from Shipshewana to somewhere new, Mercy Lapp answered an ad in The Budget to work as a mother’s helper for Matthew and Shanna Yoder in Seymour, Missouri. Mercy relocated from Shipshewana to give herself space and time to heal after the death of her beau in a fishing trip on Lake Michigan. Abner Hilty fled Shipshewana to Montana to work on a ranch after he and his twin brother witnessed a murder. Now that the killer is safely behind bars, Abner decides to visit his brother Abram in Missouri where he’d settled with his bride of one month. Mercy is surprised to see Abner there, and equally surprised by how much he’d changed physically since she’d last seen him. Even though the two live in different districts they occasionally see each other in town and form a fledging friendship. As Christmas approaches, an unexpected heavy snow lets Abner and Mercy spend a lot of time together in wintertime fun. Abner hopes to interest Mercy in a more permanent relationship. But then Mercy has a potentially life changing discovery. Will she return to Shipshewana to answer the summons of the past? Or settle in a new place?

ABOUT LAURA HILTON

Award winning author Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools three of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House and the  Amish of Webster County series. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.

 

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Catching Up With Karen Kingsbury

When I attended the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), one of the highlights was my interview with multi-published author, Karen Kingsbury.

I first met Karen in 2002 at the first ACFW (then called ACRW) conference in Kansas City, where she was the keynote speaker and spoke about bringing emotion into your writing.

She’s written many books since then, and when I caught up with her last June, she was promoting her book, Fifteen Minutes, which releases October 29^th, and focuses on a “regular guy” who has a beautiful singing voice and is easy on the eyes. His family’s horse farm is in financial trouble and he tries out for an American Idol type show called Fifteen Minutes, hoping to win enough money to help save the farm. Before he leaves for the audition, his long-time girlfriend cautions him to never change. He quickly learns how easy it is to change, despite his strong faith.

When chatting with Karen, I asked her if she is a plotter or a panster. She is a plotter, and she spends about as much time preparing to write the story as she does actually writing it. Before she types the first chapter, she knows her characters’ backstories in great detail. Not every tidbit ends up being sprinkled into the book, but all of it goes to the character development.

I then asked how her writing had changed since that 2002 ACFW conference and she stated that she didn’t think she had changed all that much. The process for her has become easier, and she is a more intuitive writer. She mentioned that because God has blessed the ministry and its scope so much, there are many more demands for her time. Now she has to budget her writing time a lot more.

Karen and Me at ICRS 2013 in St. Louis

Last year I read an earlier book of Karen’s and after reading Fifteen Minutes it’s evident that Karen has grown in her writing ability, much the same way that what was considered good writing eleven years ago has changed. And that’s a good thing. As writers, we never want to remain static in our writing ability. There is always something new to apply to our craft and make our writing sing.

For those who have been writing a while, how have you seen your writing ability improve over time? For those who are just beginning your writing journey, what areas do you know you need to focus on and improve?

A native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, author Pamela S. Meyers lives in suburban Chicago, an hour's drive away from her hometown which she visits often to dig into its historical legacy. Her novels include Thyme for Love, and Love Will Find a Way,  contemporary romantic mysteries and her 1933 historical romance, Love Finds You in Lake Geneva,Wisconsin, released in April, 2013. She can often be found speaking at events around Lake Geneva or nosing in microfilms and historical records about Wisconsin and other Midwestern spots for new story ideas.

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Author Interview ~ Beth Vogt

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. She’s discovered that God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.”

Her inspirational contemporary romance novel, Wish You Were Here, debuted May 2012 (Howard Books.) Her second novel, Catch a Falling Star, releases May 2013. Beth is an established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International.

Tell us a bit about your current project.

Wish You Were Here asks the question “Can the wrong kiss lead to Mr. Right?” The novel tells the story of what happens when a woman kisses her fiancé’s brother five days before the wedding. Which is the mistake? The kiss? Or the wedding?

We are all about journeys...unique ones at that. How convoluted was your path to your first published book? Share some highlights or lowlights from your path to publication. 

The first book I ever published was a non-fiction book about late-in-life motherhood, Baby Changes Everything (Revell 2007.) For years, I said I would never writer fiction – I was quite content staying on my side of the writing road. And then I hit a season of burnout when I told my husband I would never write another word – ever, ever, ever. He came home three days later to find me at the computer … um, writing. When he asked me about my vow to never write again (ever, ever, ever), I told him that what I was doing didn’t count. I was just having fun, playing around with an idea for a novel. No one would ever see it. That “just for fun” idea became Wish You Were Here. God used burnout to redirect my life – and allow me to see a whole new dream come true.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work, or struggle in a particular area such as writers block or angst driven head-banging against walls? Please share some helpful overcoming hints that you’ve discovered.

Self-doubt wants to tag along on this journey, kind of like an unwelcome, invisible companion. The best way to overcome self-doubt is to surround myself with my “security net” of friends – both writers and non-writers. These friends (including my husband) speak truth to me when I’m up on a ledge and want to jump off. They point me back to who I am in God’s eyes and they help me to shake off the self-doubt.

What mistakes have you made while seeking publication? Or to narrow it down further what’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

That idea that you’re going to get it all done one day? It’s not going to happen.

And comparing yourself to someone else? Don’t go there. You walk your journey along the writing road and let them walk their journey. If your paths cross, cheer them on.

What is your favorite source for finding story ideas?

I love weaving real life into my novels. Often story ideas are prompted by questions that I’ve faced and found answers to – or maybe not.  I like letting fictional characters wrestle with the issues we face in the real world. I also love mulling over the question, “What if?”  and getting together with other writers and brainstorming story ideas.

Have you ever had one of those awkward writer moments you’d like to share with us, the ones wherein you get “the look” from the normals? Example, you stand at a knife display at the sporting goods store and ask the clerk which would be the best to use to disembowel a six foot man…please do tell.

At one time I thought Wish You Were Here was going to be a romantic suspense. Long story short: That was a rookie writer’s attempt to ramp up tension. Several years ago, during my youngest daughter’s spring break, we drove through Rocky Mountain National Park trying to find the best place for a confrontation – complete with a car going over the edge of a cliff. We were marking spots on a map of the park. I kept thinking: If the teacher asks the class what they did during spring break, what will my daughter say? “We tried to figure out how to kill somebody?”

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with this biz?
 

That time is relative in the writing world? That waiting is mandatory? That authors must market themselves? That social media is essential – and can pull me away from my work-in-progress … Oh, sorry. You only asked for one pet peeve.

Share a dream or something you'd love to accomplish through your writing career.

I am thankful to say I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed of as a writer. But one thing I hope to do in the future is encourage other writers – to help them achieve their dreams. I saw my dreams come true because of others coming alongside me and helping me. I want to do the same. 

What gives you the greatest writer buzz, makes the trip worth the hassles (besides coffee or other substances, or course)?

Relationships with other writers. We “get” each other, you know? And connecting with another writer, talking deadlines and elevator pitches and successes and “try again” moments – all of this has enriched my life so, so much.

Describe your special or favorite writing spot or send a picture if you'd like.

I have three-quarters of an office that is all mine. Or maybe it’s more like four-fifths. It’s large enough for two desks, and so the second desk is where my youngest daughter does homework or where my husband pays bills. But the office is mine – painted the way I like, with my favorite photos and sayings and mementos on the wall. 

What is the first thing you do when you begin a new book?

I grab a new copy of The Book Buddy, written by best-selling author Susan May Warren. It’s an amazing work-text that helps me map out my story – everything from my theme and Story Question, to my characters and my subplots, to my key scenes. By the time I’m done working through “Buddy,” I’ve plotted out enough to begin writing my fast draft.

Have you discovered any successful marketing/promo ideas that you'd share with us?

I had the absolutely delightful experience of being part of the “Debs” with three other authors who debuted in May: Dani Pettrey, Katie Ganshert and Olivia Newport. We joined together to encourage one another months before our books launched. Then Rel of Relz Reviewz and Kelli Standish – who is amazing with web design and all the “techy” stuff – coordinated a live online launch party for us. Our publishers – Howard Books, Bethany, Waterbrook and Revell – supported our combo launch party. We also highlighted Heart of the Bride, a ministry that provides for the needs of orphans worldwide.

Parting words? Anything you wish we would’ve asked because you’ve got the perfect answer?

So … what about the llamas? Wish You Were Here is a bit quirky, in that it has a trio of llamas incorporated in the storyline. People often ask “What’s up with the llamas?” I have my husband, Rob, to thank for that. Whenever I would hit a wall and not know what to write next, he would say, “Is this when the aliens come in?” I always told him I wasn’t writing that kind of novel. One day while we were in Estes Park (yes, the same time we were trying to figure out how to kill someone off in the book) we saw some llamas. And my husband asked, “Well, how about putting llamas in your book?”

That suggestion made me laugh – and I agreed.

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