Yo-ho-ho, a new lass is aboard!

Arr, me hearties, in lieu of today's publicity teachin', Novel Journey is pleased t' take part in the launch of Marylu Tyndall's maiden voyage into the CBA.

Releasing the same month as Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, The Redemption follows the merry yarn of Lady Charlisse Bristol as she's shipwrecked and taken captive aboard a pirate ship.

If ye be looking for a chance t' win a copy o' The Redemption for yourself, join The Redemption Treasure Hunt. (http://www.ambermiller.com)

If ye be looking for your next clue for The Redemption Treasure Hunt, here it be: What are the two pirate movies referenced in the post on Jerkrenak's Den? Find the answers and your next destination at http://jerkrenak.blogspot.com/

Below decks, the followin' Q&A be offerin' you a chance to learn more about MaryLu. Let's give her a big welcome!

1.) Tell us a bit about the story.

My story begins with a horrific storm at sea in which Lady Charlisse Bristol becomes shipwrecked on an island. She has run away from an abusive uncle in London and sailed to the Caribbean in search of a father she has never known. After weeks of combating the elements, her salvation comes in the form of a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick.

Captain Merrick has only recently given his life to God and turned his back on a life of piracy to become a privateer. While battling his attraction to this winsome lady and learning to walk a more godly path, he offers to help Charlisse on her quest-until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the cruellest pirate on the Caribbean. Edmund must find a way to win this lady's love while shielding her from his lecherous crew and working to bring her father to justice.

2.) What sparked the idea to write about pirates?

I've always had an obsession for pirates-those swashbuckling heroes who roamed the wild Caribbean seas in their tall ships. The Golden Age of Piracy was such an adventurous and romantic time in our history, and having grown up in that part of the world-south Florida-it grabbed my interest at an early age. What sparked the idea for the novel, however, was the Disney movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. After I saw it several times with my daughter, I had a desire to write about pirates that wouldn't go away. Why do the evil pirates get to have all the fun? Why not write about a Christian pirate?

3.) As you researched this subject, what most surprised you?

The biggest surprise for me was discovering that not all pirates were vicious thieves and murderers. Many, in fact, were commissioned by their countries during times of war to disturb merchant shipping lines and fleet movements, and in general to play havoc with their enemies. In fact, one of the most notorious pirate captains, Henry Morgan, commanded his own fleet of pirate ships, called the Brethren of the Coast, whose sole purpose was to raid Spanish ships and towns in the Caribbean. He was eventually knighted by King Charles II of England and became the governor of Jamaica. These facts aided my story a great deal as many of these pirates, who turned privateers, had strong religious convictions.

4.) How long did it take to write your first novel?

I began writing The Redemption in the Fall of 2003, but it was slow going at first. I was working full time as a software engineer, not to mention my responsibilities at home as wife and mother. I'm sure many of you can relate. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! Consequently, I did not complete the novel until early Spring 2005, yet I still didn't feel it was ready. I hadn't written in a while and needed some counsel, so I hired two editors to go through my manuscript, and I entered four contests for the feedback. I made the final cut in two of those contests and felt encouraged, but I must admit, I learned a great deal more from my editors. By the end of Spring 2005, I had polished the manuscript the best I could and went looking for an agent. God's timing is always perfect. I was laid off from my job of fifteen years the same month my agent took me on as a client and began submitting The Redemption. By September of that same year, I had a contract in hand from Barbour for the entire three book series!


5.) How long must we wait for the sequel?

Not long! The second book in the series, The Reliance, will be released in January 2007, and the third book, The Restitution, will be out in stores, June, 2007. As you can tell, I've been very busy

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Author Interview ~ Nicole Mazzarella

Nicole Mazzarella grew up in Ohio and writes with sensitivity and precision about rural, Midwestern life. Nicole currently teaches creative writing at Wheaton College. Prior to teaching, Nicole worked in a variety of settings, including the 1996 Olympics, an Episcopal Cathedral, a bank, an insurance company, and a software company. She now lives with her husband and daughter in Illinois.








Can you give us a look into a typical day for you?

I don’t know if “typical” exists now that I have an eleven-month old baby. Typical includes reading Goodnight Moon every night to lull my daughter to sleep, stepping on Cheerios every time I walk into the kitchen, and laughing at my daughter’s joke of saying “Da Da” when I ask her who I am.

Does my typical day include writing? Most days do. Even if I don’t write every day, I work out aspects of my novel every day. As I’m driving, walking, vacuuming, or standing in line, I’m also imagining conversations between my characters, considering the plot, or trying to figure out the back story of a minor character. I do sit down almost every day for at least a half an hour to get these ideas on paper. This usually happens during my daughter’s naptime or late at night.

Teaching also enlivens my writing. I typically teach my classes in the morning or early afternoon. It’s helpful to remember some fundamentals of fiction writing in the midst of a project as consuming as a novel.

How long had you been writing before you got a contract? How did you find out and what went through your mind?

In a box of old elementary school papers, I found a fill-in-the-blank ditto sheet “All About Me.” To the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?,” I answered “write books.” I don’t remember writing that or admitting to anyone other than my mother than I wanted to write.

As a freshman in high school, I wrote what I then called a novel. Every night my mom listened to the latest installment - only a mother can give that type of encouragement. I did complete it, though it loudly echoes what I was reading at the time. Writing has always been my natural response to reading. After I read someone else’s stories, I have the impulse to tell my own.

Over fifteen years later when I sent my manuscript to Paraclete Press, I never imagined they would contact me. The day the acquisitions editor from Paraclete Press called, I had just put tortilla shells in the oven on broil. I was so stunned by the news that I completely forgot about them.

As I called my husband to tell him my novel would be published, I noticed smoke billowing from the oven. For a split second, I thought, “The fire can wait. I have to tell him.” But when I peeked in the oven and flames licked the door, I quickly hung up the phone and put out the fire before calling him. The oven has never been the same, but it’s a good story. I had worked on the novel for almost four years, so I was elated at the thought of sharing the novel with readers.

In addition to being a Christy Award finalist, your book was just named by Christianity Today as Fiction Book of the Year. It also received a starred review from Library Journal and was also named by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2005. Leif Enger, author of Peace Like a River, selected it as a finalist for the Paraclete Press Fiction Award of 2004. How did you find out about these awards?


Well, neither story is as dramatic as learning the novel would be published. I didn’t even realize my publisher had nominated my novel for the Christy Awards. I simply received an e-mail from them telling me I was a finalist. I missed the publisher’s call when they learned I had won the CT award, so I found out when strangers at the Calvin Faith and Writing conference congratulated me.

What new book or project would you like to tell us about?

I’ve started my second novel, but I have a quirk that I don’t talk about my writing too early in the process. One thinks of writers like Truman Capote and others who spent more time talking about their writing than writing. If I tell the story, I no longer have the urge to write it. I will say that I’ve moved on to a different location which intrigues me. I’m enjoying the research for this second novel and the characters who I’ve met thus far.

Do you still have self-doubts about your writing?

Of course. I obsessively revise. Even as I give readings, I want to tinker with sentences. I’m still a bit surprised to hear complements from readers. Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird has been the greatest help with my self-doubts. She normalizes so much about the writing life and gives practical ways to work in spite of self-doubt.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

After I completed the first draft of This Heavy Silence, I stopped writing. I didn’t journal. I didn’t think about the novel. I stopped writing short stories. For about three months, I doubted that any one would ever want to read anything I had written. But then I had repeating dreams about my characters. I missed them the way you miss a habitual cup of coffee. That’s when I decided that even if no one ever cared about these characters, I had to finish the novel.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve heard?

Lousy First Drafts. That's from a book, Bird by Bird, that I read once a year, sometimes more. Before someone recommended this book, I would spend an afternoon staring at the blank screen. I would type, delete, repeat, and end the day with nothing. Allowing myself to write whatever comes to mind has allowed for characters who surprise me, dialogue that makes me laugh, and plot turns that shock me.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

If you don’t write every day, you’re not a writer. Does a writer need to write when she doesn’t feel like it? Yes. Does a writer need to find a way to ignore other responsibilities to write? Yes. Does a writer need to write regularly? Yes. But I don’t believe you are no longer a writer if you don’t sit at your desk every day.

What are a few of your favorite novels?

I hate to even begin to name them. It’s an ever-changing list. As with all writers, I’m indebted to hundreds of writers. A few novels that instantly come to mind would be Middlemarch, Cat’s Eye, Poisonwood Bible, Bee Season, The Stone Diaries, A Thousand Acres, A River Beyond the World, Brother’s Karamazov, and a recent discovery, Dwelling Places; there are so many more.

What author do you especially admire and why?

Flannery O’Connor. Her essays and talks collected in Mystery and Manners made it possible for me to write. She says, “If the novelist is doing what as an artist he is bound to do, he will inevitably suggest that image of ultimate reality as it can be glimpsed in some aspect of the human situation.” This freed me to observe reality, not tidy it up. This allowed me to ask questions. This reminded me that careful observation of our world is similar to quieting oneself in prayer.

How much marketing do you do? What's your favorite part of marketing?

Quite a bit. I designed my website (http://www.nicolemazzarella.com/), postcards, and bookmarks when the novel was released. I set up readings and book signings. My favorite moments are casual conversations with book clubs and aspiring writers. Visiting classrooms is also a highlight. Elementary school students ask the best questions, such as why didn’t I illustrate my novel, how did I name my characters, and what is my favorite tree.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

Write because it makes you more present, more attentive, in life.

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Scenes & Beans Goes Live!

I don't know if I mentioned that I auditioned for one of the roles for best-selling author, Brandilyn Collin's new character blog, Scenes & Beans. I, along with many other fine folks, including some of you all, won a part writing for it.

What fascinates me most is the publicity aspect of it. I think Brandilyn is one savvy writing chick.

Anyway, everything she does, she does with style, and this is no exception. The blog goes live today. I hope you'll check it out and leave a comment to support her, mine and the rest of your blogging friend's efforts. And if you want to post a newsclip on your blog announcing it, I'm sure she'd be grateful. Some day, God willing, we'll be promoting our own books with equally clever marketing plans.

www.kannerlake.blogspot.com

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Author Interview ~ MaryLu Tyndall

MaryLu Tyndall spent her early years on the shores of South Florida. She graduated from San Jose State with a degree in Computer Science, and worked for a software company in Silicon Valley for fifteen years. She has been writing for more than twenty years, and currently lives in California with her husband, six children and three cats. .







What new book or project would you like to tell us about?

The Redemption, my first novel was just released on July 1st. It is a historical pirate adventure set in the 17th century Caribbean. My story begins when the heroine, Lady Charlisse Bristol, sets off on a voyage in search of a father she never knew, only to find herself shipwrecked on a deserted island.

After weeks of combating the elements, her salvation comes in the form of a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick. While battling his attraction to this winsome lady and learning to walk a more godly path, Edmund offers to help Charlisse on her quest—until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the cruelest pirate on the Caribbean.

The Redemption was born out of a difficult, personal journey. Like the heroine in my story, I too grew up without a father’s love and spent many years searching for acceptance and value in all the wrong places. I rejected God and didn’t realize that only in His arms would I find what I was searching for. There is a deep part of my soul written in the path Charlisse must take to find God’s love—a path that I hope will provide a healing touch to many lives.

Tell us about your publishing journey. How long had you been writing before you got a contract? How did you find out and what went through your mind?

I’ve been writing since high school, but not consistently. I submitted my work to a publisher twenty years ago and was rejected, but only in the past two years, have I seriously submitted a novel to agents and publishers. I’ve always heard how difficult it is to break into the publishing world, and truthfully, I was not confident enough to believe I could do it.

While I was still employed in a full time job, I felt the Lord nudging me to write a novel, a Christian pirate novel. I thought. Ok, I’ll write it, but I doubt anything will ever come of it. Well, it took me a year and a half to write it, edit it and get it in tip-top shape. I sent out twenty query letters to agents in the spring of 2005. I received nineteen rejections. In July of 2005, an agent picked up my book. That same month, I was also laid off from my job, so I thought, Lord, either I need to get a book contract, or I need to set my writing aside and find another job.

In September, my agent sent my novel out to ten publishers. Five days later, he called to tell me that Barbour was taking my manuscript to their review board. Five days after that, he called me from the ACFW conference to tell me that Barbour not only wanted to publish my book, but wanted an additional two more in the series! What was going through my mind? I remember running out into my back yard and screaming at the top of my lungs. I fell to my knees and began to thank God and praise Him over and over. I knew that this was His gift to me and had nothing to do with anything I had done. To be honest, I’m still a bit numb when I think about it.

Do you still have self-doubts about your writing?

Absolutely. Every day when I sit down at the computer. LOL There are so many great writers out there to whom I pale by comparison. But I always pray before I write, asking for wisdom and direction, and I leave the rest of to the Lord.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

Yes, and I did quit. I wrote a science fiction romance novel twenty years ago that got rejected from Avon Publishers. At the time I was a single parent, working full time, and it had taken me years to write that novel! So I put it on the shelf and quit—that is until two years ago when the Lord nudged me into writing again.

What mistakes did you make while seeking an editor or agent?

I guess the biggest mistake I made was sending my proposal to agents who did not represent the genre of my novel. Agents are people too, and they have their own likes and dislikes. I was told by several of them that historicals were not selling and that the Christian market already had their “pet” historical authors. I’m glad I didn’t give up at that point.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve heard?

Put God first, write from your heart, and leave the rest to Him.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

Write what sells.

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

Yes, the “biz” part of it. LOL. The marketing, the book signings, the interviews (not this one, of course!) All the other stuff we have to do besides write.

What do you wish you’d known early in your career that might have saved you some time and/or frustration in writing? In publishing?

God is in control, not the agents, not the publishers, not the book stores, not the market or the readers, and especially not you and me. If we are truly called to write and we are writing for His glory, we have nothing to fear, not other people’s opinions, not rejections, not low contest scores, nothing. We can learn from these things, but we need not fear them because God will ultimately have His way.

Was there ever a difficult set back that you went through in your writing career?

The only major setback I’ve had is when I wrote that science fiction novel twenty years ago, and it was rejected by the first publisher I sent it to. I put down my pen and didn’t attempt to write anything for another eighteen years. That’s a pretty big setback, but God had some powerful things to do in my life between then and now before I could truly write for Him.

What are a few of your favorite books?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers

What work have you done that you’re especially proud of and why?

This is tough question for me. I spent most of my life without God, and I consider everything I did in those years as worthless and vain. Anything good I’ve done since then, whether it be my oil paintings, my books, or working to create a better family, I must give complete glory to God.

Do you have a scripture or quote that has spoken to you lately in regards to your writing?

Psalm 37: 23-24 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Can you give us a look into a typical day for you?

I get up at 6:30 and enjoy coffee with my husband before he goes to work. After he leaves, I spend an hour in prayer and Bible study. The next hour I usually spend reading my email and addressing anything of immediate importance. Then I go out for a morning jog.

I try to write uninterrupted from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm every day during the week, taking one small break for a snack. It doesn’t always work out that way as I often get interrupted with kids and various problems—unsolvable by anyone but Mom. After 3:00 p.m., I run errands, do housework, or work on the “biz” side of writing. By 5:00 p.m., I’m in the kitchen fixing dinner for the family, and evening time belongs to them.

Do you have a word or page goal you set for each day?

Yes, I try to write at least 1000 good words a day. By “good”, I mean that I’ve first allowed them to pour out of me and then I’ve gone back and reread them to fix any errors and enhance the writing where needed.

Are you an SOTP (seat of the pants) writer or a plotter?

I’m somewhere in the middle, but I’d say I lean toward the SOTP writer. I start out with a general idea of what my story is about, the beginning, middle and end. I know the theme or moral lesson I’m trying to portray, and I have the personalities of my major characters well developed. Then I just start writing and let my characters take me where they want to go.

What author do you especially admire and why?

Linda Windsor. I admire Linda not only because she’s an excellent writer, but also because of her courage in facing the recent loss of her husband and still being able to recover, with the Lord’s help, and write another novel.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

My favorite part is living in a world that I create. When I was a child, I used to daydream all the time. I would make up fantasy worlds in my head filled with wonderful characters living fascinating lives. Now I get to do that all day. My least favorite part of writing is all the other stuff besides that.

How much marketing do you do? What's your favorite part of marketing?

I do as little marketing as I can get away with. I’m a shy introvert, so I prefer to stay home and write. Having said that, however, I have gone into book stores asking about possible book signings, I have passed out bookmarks and sent postcards. I have gathered lists of influences who receive a free copy of my novel in return for a review. I’m also doing interviews like this one for blogs and newsletters, and I’m hoping to attend the annual Pirate Festival in Key West , FL.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

If you are an aspiring writer, do your best not to take any rejection, or bad critique, or low contest score personally. Ask God what you can learn from each experience. The very same manuscript that has now been published as my first novel, The Redemption, got low scores on several contests, and many rejections from agents and publishers. Learn from them and move on. Put God first, make sure He has called you to write, and never give up. And may the Lord richly bless each one of you in your writing and in all that you do.

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The Power of Full Engagement

By Mary DeMuth










I'm reading an interesting book right now called The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. In their work with top-notch athletes, they've discovered an important principle for all of us. We are at our optimal when we take short breaks, where we disengage from life for a moment before plunging further into work. Life is better managed, not in time increments, but by how we use or misuse our daily energy.

"The richest, happiest and most productive lives are characterized by the ability to fully engage in the challenge at hand, but also to disengage periodically and seek renewal," writes Loehr and Schwartz. "

Instead, many of us live our lives as if we are running in an endless marathon, pushing ourselves far beyond healthy levels of exertion" (p. 12).

I've often felt like I've lived life disengaged from that which is truly important. Perhaps that's why the title of this book intrigued me. I want to be able to slow down and enjoy the smile on my son's face when he creates a new Lego creation. I want to be able to set aside my set-in-stone agenda for the sake of what is truly important. I want to be fully engaged in worshipping Jesus.But to do that, I need to take breaks. I need to rest. To rejuvenate.

One interesting thing I read in the book was that when people who came up with innovations or new ideas were interviewed none of them said they came up with the idea during work.

Ideas and innovations came on a walk, doing dishes, in nature, sitting still. When I run in the mornings (something I've forsaken during the cold and flu season that's taken up firm residence in our villa), I become clear. I hear the voice of God. Writing ideas flow in. Insights about my life and my heart become focused.It's no wonder this book is impacting me. It's all about something God commanded--Sabbath.

I've found myself writing and writing and writing. Though penning words brings me profound joy, I've found that joy turning to obligation lately. So, now I'm praying for wisdom as to how to reorder my day, how to incorporate breaks into my life. With crazy-minded type-A's like myself, it is hard. But, the premise of the book is that we will actually have more output if we dare to take a breather on a consistent basis.

How about you? What do you do for rest? How have you ordered your writing day? What brings you respite? For me, it's nature and gardening and playing and reading. It's creating small pieces of art and giving them away. Sometimes it's cooking. Or talking on the phone with a dear friend. These breaks become like sunbeams bursting through the clouds of my ordinary days.

In rest, I remember how finite I am. In rest I reconnect with the Giver of Rest. With rest, I realize the universe runs without my help. With rest, I engage more fully in the moment. Ghandi said, "There is more to life than increasing its speed." How true.

What can you do today to slow the pace a bit?


Mary DeMuth began her writing career as a newsletter editor, then novelist, columnist and freelance writer. She lives in France with her husband and three children. She has several non-fiction books to her credit, including--Building the Christian Family You Never Had and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. Her novel, Watching the Tree Limbs is available here.

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Author Interview ~ James David Jordan

Jim is a business attorney with the Texas law firm of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. From 1998 through 2005, he served as the firm's Chairman and CEO. The Dallas Business Journal has named him one of the most influential leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth legal community. Texas Monthly magazine has named him one of Texas' Super Lawyers.A minister's son who grew up in Alton, Illinois, Jim has a law degree and MBA from the University of Illinois in addition to his journalism degree. He lives with his wife and two teenage children in the Dallas suburbs. Something That Lasts is his first novel.










What book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?

My first novel, Something That Lasts, was released by Integrity Publishers on May 23, 2006. It’s a story of family, faith and forgiveness. It revolves around a minister’s family -- father, mother and twelve-year-old son – torn apart by the father’s scandalous adultery. They struggle for thirty years to find the secret of how to get back together and stay together forever. It is doing very well and has received great reviews.






Tell us about your journey to publication. How long had you been writing before you got the call you had a contract, how you heard and what went through your head.

It was seven years from the time I began writing to the day that Integrity accepted Something That Lasts for publication. I went into the publication process with a plan. I originally self-published the book in 2004 and marketed the book almost exclusively in Dallas-Fort Worth. I thought that if I could establish a good sales record in one major market, publishers would take note.

Things went just as planned (to my great surprise). The book was successful in Dallas-Fort Worth and received a lot of publicity in the area. It won honorable mention in Writer’s Digest’s International Self-published Book Contest. My big break occurred when Crossings Book Club called and said they wanted to use Something That Lasts as one of their 2006 selections. For Crossings to select a self-published book was very rare. Soon thereafter, Integrity gave me a contract. Crossings featured Something That Lasts in its late May, 2006 catalog, and Integrity coordinated its release with Crossings.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?

Are you kidding? That goes with the territory in this business. I have no illusions that I have yet mastered the craft.

What mistakes have you made while seeking publication?

Like most first-time authors, I underestimated the difficulty of getting a manuscript noticed by agents and publishers. My business background helped me a lot, though. I always understood that I had to find a way to reduce the business risk for potential publishers. In my case, establishing a track record in a single market accomplished that.

What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

Polish your manuscript and then polish it again. When you submit something, make sure that it’s as good as you can make it. You don’t get second chances to make an impression in the book business. Also, make sure you hook the reader in the first few paragraphs. Often that is all that an agent, publisher or potential purchaser will read before forming a judgment about your book.

What’s the worst piece of writing advice you’ve heard?

Actually, the writing advice that I’ve gotten has been quite good. I’ve had people suggest some things on the promotional side that I thought were not great. The marketing writing in the book business is not always of the same quality as the book writing. I suggest that first-time writers get marketing advice as well as literary advice. Ultimately, no one is responsible for selling your book but you.

What’s something you wish you’d known earlier that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

I wish that I had taken the time to get to know people in the industry while I was writing. It’s a big advantage when people can at least put your name together with your face. Getting past the gatekeepers is half the battle.

Is there a particularly difficult set back that you’ve gone through in your writing career you are willing to share?

I got help from a creative writing instructor at SMU at a time when I thought my manuscript was near final form. Her feedback was brutal. It was something that I needed, though, and I am proud of the fact that I didn’t quit, even though that was a discouraging time. Something That Lasts ended up being a far better book because I was willing to listen and change some things.

What are a few of your favorite books? (Not written by you.)

War and Peace; A Farewell to Arms; Cold Mountain; Bonfire of the Vanities; The Brothers Karamazov.

What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

Something That Lasts is the first thing I’ve ever written for publication other than professional pieces for legal journals. (I’m an attorney.)

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

Many people in the industry are very negative and discouraging. I’m an upbeat person, so that really bugs me.

Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?

I am a full-time practicing attorney, so I write in the evenings and on weekends, whenever I can find a spare hour or two. When I sit down to write, I don’t mess around or grouse about writer’s block. I just write.

If you could choose to have one strength of another writer, what would it be and from whom?

I wish that I had Charles Frazier’s gift for dialect and Barbara Kingsolver’s gift for developing unique characters.

Do you have a dream for the future of your writing, something you would love to accomplish?

I want to write fun-to-read, page-turning stories that help people explore and grow in their faith.

Was there ever a time in your writing career you thought of quitting?

About twice a year for seven years. But I kept telling God I wouldn’t quit no matter what. I kept my promise. I’m proud of that.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being a writer?

I enjoy re-writing and editing, but I hate writing the first draft. I think it’s drudgery to get the raw story on the page. It’s a pleasure to polish each paragraph and make it good.

How much marketing do you do? Any advice in this area?

I work as hard at marketing as I do at writing. Maybe harder. I do speeches, radio and television interviews, and book signings. I’m always trying to think of a new approach to getting the word out about my book. I have always viewed it as my responsibility to sell the book as well as write it. That’s my business background coming through.

Parting words?

This has been, hands down, the most rewarding experience of my professional life. There is no feeling as good as having a reader say that she stayed awake until three o’clock in the morning because she couldn’t put Something That Lasts down. As difficult as this business is, I still highly recommend it.

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Guest Blogger ~ Claudia Burney

Claudia Mair Burney is the author of the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteriesseries, NavPress. Her first novel Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man releases in July of 2006. She is the ragamuffiin diva, a neomystic, hippie chick Jesus Freak, married to Ken, mama to seven, and a friend of sinners (and a couple of saints). http://ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com/.







Meeting Jesus on the Page


I’m no devotional master. Sometimes my prayer life fizzles. I wouldn’t get any gold stars about my Bible study, either. So, what’s the Lover of my soul to do when I’m paying no attention to Him? When I’m somewhere typing away, and He is lonely for my voice? Jesus, with His tender mercy and outrageous grace, meets me right where I am. When I’m in a story He meets me on the page.

I’ve been reading the Notebooks of Nicole Gausseron. This wife and mother opened two homes for Jesus’ “Companions”. They barely made do. Many of the men went back to abusing alcohol. Some died. Some even committed suicide. This was daunting, thankless work—like writing—but through it all she kept scribbling in her little notebooks.

As I continued to read I realized she and I know the same Jesus. I’ve heard His seductive voice. Like her I know His playfulness and rebuke. He even flirts with me. Jesus kept telling Nicole, “I am alive. I am a person.” He did it right in her notebooks.

I am imperfect. I have my shining moments when it’s just Jesus and me. On occasion I manage to do as the Divine Liturgy says, and can “lay aside all earthly cares.” But too often I neglect Him. He whispers, “Come to me,” and I don’t. “I’m busy writing,” I may say. We play hide and seek.

Like Nicole, I keep hearing a persistent Jesus say, “Come.” But I treat Him like He’s on a plaster crucifix hanging on the wall. In those times, I miss His aliveness, His presence, but He’s kind enough to enter my story anyway. He’s done it many times.

Recently, in a crisis, I met Jesus in the pages of “The Crowded House.” In my story unexpected sorrows visit me. I entered into my fictional world with the same intensity I reserve for centering prayer and Bible study. Writing doesn’t take the place of time alone with God, but this guest blog entry is really about God’s mercy. It’s about writing and missing the adoration mark doing literary busy work for the Lord. But Jesus showed up, alive, His voice like surround sound, and image as vivid as HDTV. He bore gifts of love and healing to lavish upon us, both writer and reader.

We have an insistent lover in Christ. He needs our love. Astounding! He woos us any way He can. Not only will he meet us in a story, He’ll meet others in our work, too. Pure grace. As Madeline L’Engle said, “Jesus is God who told stories.” I say, He is God who enters ours. He’s the same God who used stories to show Himself in His Word, after all. He uses even the most soaring flights of fancy to let us and our readers know He’s here, and there, and everywhere. He’s altogether lovely.

Welcome Him, on the page and in your heart.

Mair






**A note from Gina: I'm in the middle of reading Claudia's first novel,
Murder Mayhem and a Fine Man (click here to read more) and WOW! It's all I thought it would be. Sassy doesn't even come close. It is so well written, funny, and the love story is so great, I think I've got a crush on the hero. More than anything, our girl, Mair, (aka Claudia Burney), says all the things we'd say if we were braver. You all have got to check this book out. It's fresh and a definite winner. I'll be reviewing it in the coming week or so on Novel Reviews. It releases July 5th.

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