Author Interview ~ Judy Alexander

Judy Alexander lives in Santa Ana, California. She’s been blessed with a very full life with her husband Gene: two sons (ages 21 and 14), a church family, interesting work opportunities as a corporate writer and photographer, and hobbies (horseback riding and gardening).You can learn more about the writing life at http://www.judyalexander.com/

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

My first published novel, Desert Medicine ,will be released in November by Kregel Publications. In Desert Medicine, a newly divorced young mother of twins who runs a plant nursery, discovers the true meaning of family and grows spiritually while helping an eccentric older woman from her church.

This colorful woman relates her own feisty search for family, beginning as an abused girl in 1930s Panhandle Texas, sent to live in border town Calexico, California, with a maiden aunt who runs a home hospital.

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.

A fourth grade teacher, Miss Jacobsen, helped me discover my talent for creative writing. But that was a talent that I didn’t take seriously again until years later, after a college degree in business, a failed marriage, and a young son. That’s when the call to write fiction became so strong that I could not longer ignore it. A writing conference in Santa Barbara convinced me that I should try writing a novel.

Because I’d been told that I had a God-given gift for writing, I planned to apply hard work, take writing courses, join a writing critique group, and upon completion of the first draft of my novel, receive a publishing contract.

Reality was quite different from my expectations. Instead, I spent five years researching and writing my first novel. For another couple of years, I sent the novel to editors and agents, who all rejected it. Finally, a writing mentor, Jo-Ann Mapson, told me to put my first novel into a drawer and start my next one

Jo-Ann did me a favor by suggesting I give up, at least temporarily, on my first effort. She told me that I had other novels inside of me and that I should let them out. So, I spent another six years writing Desert Medicine (during this time I was also working part-time as a marketing communications writer and raising two boys.) By the time I finished in October 200, I was once again sure that I’d soon be published. When agents and editors didn’t snap up my book, I drug my husband to New York, and we physically showed up at the offices of several publishers and agents. While the trip was interesting, it resulted in no sales.

The next six years I spent in alternating spurts: first revising and sending out Desert Medicine, giving up for a time (there was a limit to the amount of rejection I could handle), then trying again. I started yet another novel, this time no longer believing that I’d be published, but simply because after all these years of early morning writing sessions, I’d become addicted to my quiet time alone with my laptop computer, or maybe it was the early-morning chocolate-spiked coffee that called to me.

Finally, I decided that I either had to throw myself into another edit of Desert Medicine or give up on it completely. I read about a writer’s conference in Nebraska (where I have relatives) at which an advanced workshop leader would read an entire novel manuscript. Fortunately, my instructor, Brent Spencer, was a kind, insightful writer and editor who told me to not give up on Desert Medicine, and then gave me concrete editing ideas. This was in June 2005.

Almost a year later, I attended the Festival of Faith & Writing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a semi-annual event that I’ve attended many times because it’s a gathering place of my favorite writers who also happen to believe in God. That year, the organizers offered an online posting of book proposals, so I posted a marketing plan and first chapter of Desert Medicine. When I got back from the convention, I found an email from Steve Barclift of Kregel Publications, expressing an interest in the manuscript.

So, about 15 years later than I’d expected, I had a book contract.

Do you still experience self-doubt regarding your work?

Yes! This seems to be true for my other artistic endeavors, too (I’m also a photographer.) I vascillate so precipitously between unrealistic self-confidence and unwarranted self-disgust. I’ve gotten better at continuing to write even when I doubt the wisdom of doing so. I figure that I may not be a good writer, but at least I will have learned self-discipline, so that on the days when the ideas flow, I’ll know how to sit in my chair and get the work done.

What mistakes have you made while seeking publication?

My biggest mistake was being too reticent about networking, especially in the beginning. At one writers’ conference at Squaw Valley, I wrote to several agents before the event, but then failed to introduce myself to them because the organizer mentioned on opening night that we shouldn’t be obnoxiously pushy. When I returned home, I received a letter from an agent asking why I hadn’t introduced myself after writing such a warm letter. Publishing fiction is a business, and therefore, the more people in the industry that you know, the better off you are when you go job hunting, or, in this case, looking for a book contract.

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

Persistence, persistence, persistence.

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

If you’re a good writer, you’ll eventually be published. I don’t believe this is true. Talent alone will not lead to publication. Author Elizabeth George says that you need three things to get published: talent, hard work, and perseverance. And you can get by with just two: hard work and perseverance.

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

I’m not sure I was mature enough earlier on to realize that no one was going to “discover” me. When I started, I had a rather magical view of the process of getting published: I thought that you have God-given talent, you use that talent, and the world gathers around to admire your talent. Instead, publishing is a lot like most of life: You learn your craft either formally in school or from others in the business, you practice your craft almost every day, and then you meet people in the business and show them what you can do.

What has taken me a long time to learn is to allow others to help me edit my work. What assisted me in the area was having a day job as a marketing communications writer in the corporate world where I saw the value of teamwork and watched my articles improve with editing. I doubt that I would have learned these things if I’d stayed home alone for years in my writing shed.

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

When I was already ten years into my endeavor to be a published author, and I’d completed my second novel (the same Desert Medicine that is coming out in November), I was sure that I’d find an agent and publisher almost immediately. From reading how-to books, I knew that most writers found an agent because they were referred by a published author. So, I took writing classes from a local author whose work I admired, and she recommended me to her agent. I was positive that I’d “made it.” So, I was completely devastated when that agent declined to represent me. To further make that time difficult, a fellow student was accepted by the same agent and quickly had a big-budget, two-novel deal!

What are a few of your favorite books?

I love anything written by Anne Tyler. She truly excels at subtext: What people say and what they mean are not in synch. That disparity adds great tension. She’s also the master of metaphor, detail, and dialogue. Now that I’m a writer, I often get distracted when reading a novel because I’m analyzing the author’s techniques. But with Anne Tyler, I lose myself in the story and have to force myself to reread to see how she structured a scene.

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

I'm very proud of Desert Medicine. I really poured myself into writing this book, and then I edited and edited, many more times than I’d anticipated. The result is a moving story that seems to be larger than myself. I feel about Desert Medicine the way that I feel when I look at my grown son: How did a boy with a flawed mother turn into such a fine young man?

Do you have a pet peeve having to do with the business?

It doesn’t pay very well for most of us, myself included. Many of the published writers I know have to have day jobs.

Take use through your process of writing a novel briefly—from conception to revision.

I would not recommend my process to anyone. It is very slow and lacks efficiency, but here it is: I journal and journal about anything and everything. Then I go back to my journal and see what issues are haunting me and what characters are stuck in my head, and then I pull those sections into a separate file.

I try to figure out if there’s a story that would hold all these random ideas and feelings. I basically have lots of wall paper and carpet samples, but no framing. So, I try to build a frame, and then add back in my wallpaper and carpet. But it takes a lot of editing to get that frame, and even then, I find out that I’ve put three sinks in the kitchen, and I have to throw out the big brass sink, even though it’s so picturesque, because the kitchen needs an oven instead. What keeps me going is that during this time, I feel God’s nudging and help in the form of research materials or people who cross my path and fill in the gaps in my narrative. Writing a novel makes me very observant and daily life feels richer and more meaningful because it’s potential fodder for my next chapter.

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

I’d love to publish 10 novels. I’ve got another one almost done, so that means that I’ll have to write another eight.

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

Most definitely! A year and a half ago, I was writing down my New Year’s resolutions and wondering if one of them should be to allow myself to stop writing, but then I realized that I’d grown addicted to my early-morning writing times, or at least to the Starbucks coffee that I drink at that time.

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

I love the daydreaming, anything-is-possible early stages of writing. I’m not the most willing editor, even though I’ve seen time and again that my writing only begins to shine if I edit, or allow someone to help me to edit.

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

Kregel Publications, my publisher, has great rapport with Christian bookstores, which gives Desert Medicine entrée into the large Christian market. Kregel has a very supportive, proactive marketing and publicity team. I plan to support their efforts with as much self-marketing as I can.

Because I taught a college-level public relations course, it would be inexcusable of me not to apply some of what I taught to my own life, even though at times it feels awkward. I’ve updated my website. I’ve made postcards with the cover of my book that I pass out to friends and at conventions. I’ve hired a friend to serve as a freelance publicist, for those situations where it’s better for a third party to promote me, such as when contacting a radio producer. In the near future, I plan to reach out to book clubs.

Have you received a particularly memorable reader response?

Because the book hasn’t yet been released, most of my readers have been at my publisher. I was so flattered when I visited there in February and they put out a sign saying Kregel Welcomes Judy Alexander. That was the first time I really felt like an author. Several of the employees said that they’d read my book and were happy to be working on it.

Parting words?

You know in your gut whether or not you are a writer. If you are, then you will keep going, even if your life is full of responsibilities. In the meantime, keep your sense of humor and be very kind to the people who live with you and accommodate your idiosycrocies.

Be willing to encourage other artists. I feel that it’s now my turn to help other writers. I hope this interview serves as part of that effort. Fellow writers can contact me at judy@judyalexander.com. God’s blessings on your creative endeavors!

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Author Interview ~ Jamie Carie

Born and raised in the small, historical town of Vincennes, Indiana, Jamie is the oldest of five children. As she grew close to God and developed her relationship with Him, Jamie discovered a heart welling with songs and poetry. After college, she married, had a brief stint as an office manager and then, after having two sons, decided it was more fun to stay at home with her boys. When her oldest turned five, she began to write novels in earnest. Jamie loves to write late at night when the house is quiet and the darkness beckons her imagination. She is currently working on her third novel. Visit Jamie’s website at http://www.jamiecarie.com/ to learn more.





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




My debut novel, Snow Angel, is coming out September 2007. I signed a three book deal with B&H Publishing last summer and this is the first book of the three.

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.


I started my first novel when my eldest son was five (he’s 16 now!). It was pretty bad, a meandering plot of scenes from my favorite novels strung together like mismatched beads on a necklace. But it was a crash course in novel writing, and I was so proud to have finished it, all 120,000 words! Knowing that it wasn’t good enough to try to publish, I began my second novel. Snow Angel was born on a frosty night in an old farmhouse in Fishers, Indiana, where the cold floor gave me plenty of motivation for the snow scene. After the first chapter, I knew I had something good, something special. A couple of years later, armed with my jewel, I sat out to get it published.


And so began some of the hardest years of waiting that I have yet endured. When I look back on it, I can hardly believe all the crazy things that happened. (I feel the need to insert a graph or table, some timeline or something to explain it all:). I began my search for publication by doing the conference thing, meeting with editors and learning the submission process, studying the publishing houses and markets for romance novels. Then I sent out several query letters to both ABA and CBA publishing houses. It took months and sometimes years to hear back, but each one was a rejection letter. I wasn’t sure what to do next, so just kept researching and waiting.



My first break came in 2000 when Time Warner started an online writing group called iPublish. There was a lot of talk at that time about ebooks and how big they might become, so TW thought to tap into that market with an online community of writers providing the content for these ebooks. I signed up to be a beta tester for the website (praise God for the internet!) and within a couple of months got a call from an editor with Time Warner.



They LOVED my book and felt that in this new format they could stretch out into something on the inspirational side with little risk on their end. Now, I wasn’t crazy about the whole ebook idea, but by that point, I was pretty desperate, so I signed the contract, hoped that my book would be so successful that they would eventually print it and looked at the whole thing like a possible springboard for my career.



After 9/11 I received the news that Time Warner was shutting down the ebook division and letting all the ebook authors out of their contracts. One of the editors went to bat for my book to be traditionally published in trade paperback because she loved it so much. These were months of living on gut-wrenching hope, but it was determined that it was too inspirational.



I sank into a minor depression for a couple of months after that and didn’t write anything. I kept praying and asking God what was going on, wondering what His will was for my life.

It felt horrible to think of letting my dream go, but I wanted to prove to Him and myself that it wasn’t bigger than He was to me.

(I went through this process several times during the ensuing years!). But my desire to write soon surged through me so strong that I was back at the keyboard. By this time I was knee-deep into homeschooling my two boys which lead to various writing opportunities with our co-op (skits, poems, short stories, teaching writing, etc.) and doing some newsletter work for my church. But I wanted to write novels and decided to begin another one and send out queries again.



Now I could at least add my Time Warner experience to my cover letter which I hoped would give me some credibility. In 2002, I got a letter requesting the full manuscript from Avalon. Their blub said they were the “family channel” of romance novels and I thought it might be a good fit. The only problem was that I had a 110,000 word novel and Avalon only wanted 80,000 words. I started cutting like crazy. Anything that wasn’t “jump off the page” good was cut. At first, this was really hard to do. But after awhile I noticed something. The story gained pace and emerged stronger than I could have imagined. Like a diamond being cut, it really began to sparkle and shine. Excited, I mailed it in.



That was the beginning of two harrowing years of next to no communication from the publisher. I called, I emailed, I begged, they just kept putting me off. Finally I threw up my hands (probably railed at God about how unfair life was) and sent it off to a few more publishers.


If you’re wondering if I was looking for an agent during these times, the answer is, of course! But I had always heard that getting an agent was even harder than getting a publisher on a first time book, so I had little hope there. But I did try hard. One day, I was online looking up agents and came across an agency that I had never seen before. They had an online form (Praise God for the internet, again!) so I thought I wouldn’t have to wait quite so long to hear back and . . . why not? I was shocked to get a call from one of their agents who had just relocated to Indianapolis. Within minutes of talking, he asked if I would like to meet him somewhere with the manuscript. With my five year old son’s hand firmly clasped in mine (I’d had a third son by then) we walked around a Boarders book store in search of my new agent.



I was a nervous wreck as I handed it over to him, believing he was my ticket to publication. He read it and loved it. So again, I signed the papers without knowing very much about him. Now this man was a really wonderful person, but he had never sold fiction before, only non-fiction in the technology field. He was able, however, to get the editor at Avalon to finally give me an answer (I think he sent her chocolates – really). The answer was “no.” It just didn’t quite fit their list.


During the next ten months, I continued to have great hope that my agent would sell my book. At the end of the tenth month with him, realizing he hadn’t sent out more than two proposals, I decided to take a leap of faith and part ways. This terrified me, because now I was back on my own, but I honestly thought I could do a better job myself, and I kept hearing that still, quiet voice say, “I’ll be your agent.”


“Really?” My slacker-faith self asked.


“If I am for you, who can be against you?”


“Really?” I whispered as tears began to flow down my cheeks.


Armed with fresh faith, two novels finished and the beginning of the third one, I set out to query every possible Christian and non-Christian publishing company that had ever published a romance novel. I poured over each word and sentence in that query letter. I used a sample proposal from a well-known agency as a template and polished my 40 page proposal until it glared it was so bright.



Then, in November 2005, I sat at my kitchen table and looked at the giant stack of brown envelopes. A part of me felt hope, a part of me felt fear, but a big part of me said, “This is it Lord. If this doesn’t work, I’m going back to college, getting a degree in advertising or something creative. I have too much creative energy inside me not to be doing something with it. Then, surprisingly, my sister dropped by on her way to work. Jennifer is something of a prayer warrior and we laid hands on the stack and prayed over it, asking God to bless each proposal.



Within two months I had a bite from Bethany House and B&H Publishing. Bethany eventually bowed out due to the fact that they had an “A-list” author already doing a series on Alaska. B&H gave me a call. I took the call out onto the deck where it was quiet.


“We want to publish your book.”


Long, deep breaths. Was this real? Would it work out this time? I was excited but wary. “I would love that.” I said simply. And, in the months that followed, I found that I would. God even provided me with a wonderful agent to help navigate the contract! His timing is perfect, but it was hard to wait for the fruition of that.

Do you still experience self-doubts regarding your work?


There are two sides here. The side of self and the side of faith. Self says, I can’t do it. I’m not worthy in any way. Faith says, God created me for a purpose and part of that purpose is writing. Self says, why would anyone care what you have to say? Faith says, where I lack, He fulfills, where I am weak, He is strong. Where I doubt, He will fill up, where I am not, He simply . . . is. The I AM. The great I AM. On my good days, I am filled with this faith.

What mistakes have you made while seeking publication?


I don’t know that I made any mistakes. The road to publication looks so different for each of us. My road was hard. I felt like I was pregnant for about eight years and at times I thought I was going to have to give up or lose my mind. But in that, I learned so much . . . am still learning so much. It’s in the journey that I think, I hope, I will have something to give back to others trying to live their dream. Dreams are like vapor. Making them real is like the straining of flesh and bone. I don’t have any regrets. Only hope.

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


“Cut your wrists and bleed into the work.” Whenever I try to be superficial, super-Christian, or anything false, God always brings me back to my humble rib beginnings. And I’ve learned to accept that a rib can be a beautiful thing when it’s God-breathed. Our weaknesses are His glory when we trust Him with them.


The other really good piece of advice I’ve gotten is, “it’s all about relationships.” People don’t buy into products and services. They buy into people. I tend to easily closet myself in the solitude of my writing world. But I have to get out of my own head long enough to care about those around me – my family, my friends, my co-workers, my readers. They have so much to teach me!

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


Learn what the markets want and try to replicate what has been successful in the past. If you are bleeding into your work, you don’t much care what is currently selling. God knows the future, the next month, the next year. If you are seeking him and listening to your heart and the experiences He has given you, you will write something that is “relevant.”

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


Don’t be so afraid to check into things. This business is slow. I was so terrified of offending an editor that I sat around and waited for years for things to happen when I should have been a bit more proactive. If you value your work, you owe it to yourself to check into agents, publishing houses, writing groups, etc. Make sure they are the right fit before diving in.

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


There were so many setbacks. It’s been a grinding time of patience, long-suffering, faith when there was no reason to have any, and love for this work that I just couldn’t stop doing. I learned that perseverance is indeed the winning factor. I thank God for the faith He gave me, otherwise, I would have quit long ago. And also, I’m so grateful for the prayers of my family and friends. There were Bible study groups along the way that prayed with me throughout the journey. I can honestly say, to my knowledge, every single one of us has had answers to the prayers we prayed together. I’m so thankful for those people and those prayers. They carried me.

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


Laura Kinsale’s “Flowers from the Storm.” Laura writes historical romance, but my goodness, I’m breathless at the prose. She strikes a perfect balance of plot, characterization, dialog and setting. I’ve studied her books at length. Other than her, I have lots of current and then fading favorites, but really, the Bible has everything we need as writers. If it was the only book on the planet, we could learn everything we ever needed to know from that one book.

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


I’m really proud of Snow Angel. I love chapter one – the snow scene. I rewrote it so many times, pouring countless hours over each phrase, and now, I still tear-up every time I read it. I also love the climax at the end of chapter 17. I am undone when I read it. God gave me that scene, pure and simple. Then, there’s the end, the last few pages. I pretty much sob over it each time; it’s so full of beauty.



I am also proud of a couple of short stories and poems I’ve written. It’s such a different feel to write in these other forms. I love it. Turning brisk and gutsy for a short story, or leaning into the feel, the mood, the single caught thought of a poem or a lyric. There is great beauty to all the twists and turns of this thing called writing.

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


Not so far. I’ve worked and wished so hard that I am nothing but full-bodied, arms outstretched grateful to get to do this thing. I only hope that the readers love this story, are as blessed core-deep by it as I was by writing it. It’s a love letter from God to me and then from God to His creation. I feel so privileged to be doing something like this, an interview.

Take us through your process of writing a novel briefly—from conception to revision.


Ah, the outline vs. fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants debate. Well, Snow Angel and the one I just finished, I call it Isabelle’s story for now as we’re still working on the title, has been rather gut-wrenching. I outline, then I change the outline as I write, then I re-outline, then the characters take over (blast them!) and then I have to outline again! But I know when a scene isn’t working and then I’ll stop, take a breather and go back to it. If it’s flowing, I let it run until it runs dry.



Plotting is probably my greatest challenge because if I let the characters have “their heads” they soon run me in the ground and leave me wondering what’s happening next. On the other hand, I have to let them breathe and be real; I just have to know when to rein them in. The second book, Serena’s story, also yet to be titled, was completely different. My outline went like clockwork and the novel only took five months to write. I love it when that happens.

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


When I walk away from a powerfully impacting movie or novel, I often say to God, “I want that. I want to give people that same inspiration that I’m feeling from that.”

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


At this point, I am loving every aspect. There are challenges yes, but I’ve wanted this career for so long that the challenges are welcome. I love deadlines! I can’t wait to sign books and talk to readers. I hope to pray with them and hear their dreams too. More details to come on my website at www.jamiecarie.com

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


I’ll do anything they tell me to do and anything this crazy, idea-filled brain God gave me can come up with! I do believe once Snow Angel gets out there, that it will sell itself (yea, it’s that good:) but I love a grand adventure and that’s what this journey is to me . . . a very grand adventure. My advice? Walk through any door God opens. Do it afraid, even. Walk on some water!

Have you received a particularly memorable reader response?


Not yet! Please email me!

Parting words?


Time is precious thing these days. If you are reading this interview, if you read any of my writing, I hope and pray that God will bless your time investment. God gave me this prayer for the reader’s hearts. You know how we come to any creative endeavor with all our background, our experiences, our values and morals, our mental boxes of whom and what God is? (This isn’t a bad thing, it’s just how we judge life). Well, sometimes, if we know something is from God and trustworthy, what if we could let all of that go and clear the way for a direct connection between God’s heart and ours. In that place, I believe, God can speak to our innermost being. That’s where miracles happen – the miracle place of an open heart and open ears. My prayer is that God’s heart will be poured out into that reader’s heart. That He will reveal some new part of Himself that leaves them breathless and in awe and changed. The arts were created for us to have an opportunity to reflect Him to the world. It’s such humbling gift to be able to write or paint or sing or act a script in such a way that minds and hearts are opened to Him. That’s my prayer for my work.

Oh, a final note: If you would like to be included in a drawing, I’m giving away five advanced copies to anyone who would like to read and review Snow Angel. Just go to my blog and comment with your name and email address on the “Book Giveaway” blog entry. Thanks! http://jamieprose.blogspot.com/

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Sunday Devotion: When You're a Blessing, Beware!

Janet Rubin



God gave you a gift. He wants to use it to bring you fulfillment and joy, and to bless others. If you’ve found your way to Novel Journey, you are probably using that writing gift. Perhaps you are a novelist or someone pursuing that dream. Maybe you write articles or devotionals, in magazines or online. I’m doing some of that.

One of the coolest things we can experience is the joy of hearing from a reader who says, “Wow, what you wrote really blessed me. God used it to encourage/convict/teach me…” How humbling. It is at those moments that we begin to remember that it isn’t about us, or getting shelf space at Borders. It isn’t about getting awards or doing book signings. And it certainly isn’t about the money. We are a part of something bigger. Kingdom business.

But watch out! Just as you begin to savor that feeling—that exciting idea that God is using our writing in a big way—the attacks begin. Satan might not bother a closet writer too much, someone who is too insecure to show their writing to anyone. But someone who is prayerfully writing and putting their stuff out there? Someone whose work is making a difference to someone else (even just a few people)? He wants to take those people out.

How he goes about it varies. He may whack you with fear or temptation or sickness or depression. He may try to suck you into feeling prideful, taking all the credit instead of giving glory to the One who gave the gift. He may try to convince you that your writing isn’t going anywhere, and that you ought to quit and take up fly-fishing or origami instead.

One of the reasons the enemy is often able to trip us up is that, in general, us writers are an insecure lot. We have a hard time believing that anything we are doing is important enough to warrant an attack. Despite our active imaginations, we have difficulty believing a real battle is going on around us, and that our writing matters so much. As long as Satan can keep us thinking that there isn’t a threat, he has the upper hand. But we need to find the truth in Scripture:

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The threat is real. Fortunately, we are not powerless against the attacks, and we are not alone:

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

And God has given us resources, like armor. Ephesians 6:14 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand”.

He sends angels to fight on our behalf. Psalm 91:11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways”

God himself protects us. Psalm 5:11 “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

We also have intercessors, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, rooting for us. Romans 8:26 “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” How cool is that?

So be aware. God wants to use you, and Satan wants to eliminate you. Your work does matter. So put on your armor, stick close to the Shepherd, and be strong in the Lord.

Father,
Thank you for making us writers and giving us the honor of being involved in Your kingdom work. Please keep us safe from the enemy’s attacks and help us to seek You continually. Amen

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First Ever Arete Award Recipient . . . Annette Smith, A Bigger Life

About the Author:

In 1997, Annette was working as a home health nurse. She traveled the back roads from house to house, caring for ill and injured, homebound people. Because of her unique position in the lives of relative strangers, she often found herself bearing solitary witness to intimate behind-the-scenes situations full of grace and meaning. The desire to honor both a particular patient and a poignant scene involving the woman and her husband prompted Annette to write a fictionalized story, The Anniversary.

That first story appeared as a column in the Houston Chronicle newspaper and as an essay in Today’s Christian Woman magazine. Later it became a chapter in Annette’s first and best-selling book of short stories, The Whispers of Angels, that has sold more than 100,000 copies

Since then, Annette has penned four more books of stories, two volumes on parenting, and the Coming Home to Ruby Prairie trilogy.

Annette and her husband Randy, a High School teacher and coach, make their home on a wooded lot in Quitman, Texas. They are the parents of two young adult children, Russell and Rachel, both out on their own. Wally, a grateful, rescued mutt provides warmth and entertainment and keeps the Smith’s empty nest from feeling too lonely.
In addition to writing, Annette continues to serve part-time as a registered nurse. She finds the people she works with and the patients she cares for provide great inspiration for her fiction.

About A Bigger Life:

Joel Carpenter did not plan for his life to turn out like this. He never meant to be a single dad, working at a hair salon in Eden Plain, Texas. But at twenty-seven, he finds himself juggling custody of his preschool son with Kari, the ex-wife he still loves, and sharing Sunday dinners with a group of other single dads.

Joel regrets the choices that brought him to this place, but it's not until the worst happens that he learns how much he still has to give.

This is a story of love in the midst of heartache, and friendship in the midst of real, everyday life.

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Why a new award? Glad you asked ...

From Ane:
Gina, Jessica and I all have extremely different tastes in books. It's rare for us to like the same book, let alone love it. While we may agree on good writing, great characterization, excellent plotting, etc., there still remains that elusive element that creates the long lasting impression.

Yet it happened this year. We're exited to say the least. And that's why we created the Arete Award. Strange name, right? Well, we're 3 strange chicks! Actually it isn't so strange. It means pinnacle or ridge line. We thought it appropriate for what we want to award it for.

The first thing to impress me in this book was the narration, the deep POV, and flawless emotion portrayal. The author put a whole new twist on an otherwise normal story. I read at night most often, and most often don't make more than a few chapters. I read this book in one sitting, and when I closed it, it lived on in my memory. As a reviewer, I read 2-3 books each week, sometimes more. Once I've written my review, most will be shut away in my memory's attic, collecting dust and forgotten. But a few will stay on the bookshelf, remembered and loved. This is one of those books.

From Gina:
What I loved about this novel:

The main character was written from the point of view of someone much different than the author and was one hundred percent believable.

There was nothing pretentious or "writerly" about it. The author's voice didn't interfere with a story filled with truisms. Bad things happened to good people. Good people screwed up royally.

There are consequences for sin, and often it isn't just the sinner who pays, but those who love him/her. But, in this book, as it is in life, divinity catches humanity's fall.

This novel was a perfect example of what I love about good writing—it stays out of the way of the story, tells the truth, entertains, and makes me examine my own life, changing me in small or big ways forever.

From Jessica:
First about the book. About six months before I read this novel, Ane, Gina and I had casually tossed around the idea of creating an award for Novel Journey. Why not? Our whole mission is to bring attention to fiction. Then one day on the phone with Ane, I mentioned this incredible book I was reading and how it broke the "rules" but the author did it so well, it actually made the story instead of hurting it.

She responded that she was reading a book just like it. It didn’t take us long to discover it was the same book. Gina read the book and loved it too. Thus we found our first recipient.

Now about The Arete. Our decision to pursue it brought about a huge discussion because: A.) We wondered whether we were actually allowed to create an award, and B.) How on earth could we be justified in choosing a book, since we don't read every book that's released (and neither did we want a slew of books sent our way for consideration.)

Our solution, we have no formal system. That would be work. We don't need extra work. However, it does have to be a book that all three of us agree upon. It has to be a book we feel sets a high bar. And though we've not officially set this as a rule, in theory we agree it should be a book that has great crossover potential. And, oh yes, it has to be a book so good that we're willing to spend money to purchase the award.

Yes, The Arete is an actual award, which, in an emergency it could be used as a bookend or to prop open a door. So there's a double benefit to being a recipient!

Lastly, and personally I think this is the fun part, we just award The Arete at will, without announcing candidates. The first recipient of the Arete (pronounced ar-a-tay) doesn't even knows he/she has an award.

Want to know what book is so good it made the gals at Novel Journey take on yet another project? Stop by tomorrow.

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Can We Do That?

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Author Interview ~ Sandra Glahn

Sandra Glahn, ThM, teaches in the media arts program at Dallas Theological Seminary, where she edits the award-winning magazine Kindred Spirit. The author of six books and co-author of seven others, she is pursuing a PhD in Aesthetic Studies (Arts and Humanities) at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her first solo medical thriller, Informed Consent (Cook), is slated for an August 30 release. She is the co-author of three other medical-suspense novels, which include the Christy Award finalist, Lethal Harvest.

Plug time. What new book or project do you have coming out?

Informed Consent (Cook). It’s about a resident in infectious diseases who’s the next Einstein of research. While working on a way to revive water submersion victims, he makes a breakthrough discovery, but during the media frenzy that follows, he gets distracted. In his negligence he allows his son to contract a life-threatening virus. Ultimately he has to decide whether to let his son die or violate the rights of a young transplant donor—a choice which forces him to stand face-to-face with the unfathomable love required to sacrifice an only son.

How did you come up with this story? Was there a specific 'what if' moment?

The story had a thousand or more “what if” moments. I’m pursuing a PhD in Aesthetic Studies, and I worked on the setting, characters, a lot of the plot, as well as my narrative voice during three novel-writing classes taught by a novelist who writes fiction reviews for Publishers Weekly. And I got some great feedback from fellow students who don’t believe in Christ about ways to address faith issues more naturally. I also took a Dante class, which influenced my choice to give my characters five of the seven deadly sins. (I’m saving the other two for a future work.)

But the elements in the plot designed to keep readers up at night came through a brainstorming session with a medical doctor, William Cutrer, with whom I’ve coauthored three medical thrillers, one of which—Lethal Harvest—was a Christy Award finalist in the suspense category.

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'd been writing] about a decade. After I graduated from college, I worked for a 700-employee company where my boss thought I had some writing talent. I got my start twenty years ago working as the editor of employee publications. When the company sold, everybody got laid off. I mourned over leaving a job I loved, but it was the best thing ever for my career. Suddenly I had 700 business contacts all over the city.

I started a free-lance writing business, and one of my first clients was the music producer for Barney and Friends. Another of my clients was Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). I edited (and still edit) their magazine, Kindred Spirit. I dabbled in some classes in DTS’s media arts program, and I learned about Joseph Campbell and myth and about Hebrew narrative and Gospel storytelling. I figured if I could tell better stories, I’d write more engaging non-fiction. I had no aspirations ever to write a book.

But my husband and I were experiencing infertility, and at that time we found nothing on the market that helped us think biblically on the subject. When it came to considering in vitro fertilization, the standard answer was “Don’t do it!” Yet we needed to know the whys and hows. As part of a DTS class assignment, I met with a book publisher, and at the end of our conversation he mentioned that his daughter had just experienced an adoption disaster. I told him if he’d publish something on infertility, I’d edit it for free. I was on my way out the door when I said it, and he shot back with “Why don’t you write that book?”

I was so stunned I had to sit down. Up to that point, I’d been writing professionally for at least ten years, and I’d never considered writing a book. As I saw it, the money was in business writing, not book publishing. But sometimes you have to tell your story.

So I teamed up with Dr. Cutrer, a seminary-trained medical doc, and we wrote When Empty Arms Become a Heavy Burden (Broadman). And after that we wrote six more books together, including Sexual Intimacy in Marriage (Kregel), the third edition of which just released last week.

Our foray into fiction began when we saw stem-cell research coming, though we never imagined it would make its way into headlines. We encountered the related issues in our work with fertility patients, and we wanted to sound a warning. Yet we knew if we wrote a non-fiction book on the subject, we’d sell two copies—one to each of our moms.

At that time, Kregel was looking to expand their fiction line, and we proposed a work of fiction about stem-cell research. Bravely they took the plunge with us. We went on to write a sequel, and then Kregel released us to move to WaterBrook for a third one, in hopes of breaking into the crossover market. But for a variety of reasons, including 9-11, False Positive didn’t do as well as our previous titles had.

Zondervan then asked us to write two non-fiction books in partnership with the Christian Medical Association (CMA)—one on infertility and one on contraception that explored in depth whether the pill causes abortions.

When we finished those, we both had projects we wanted to pursue on our own. I launched the Coffee Cup Bible study series, which has four titles with two more due at the end of this month—Cappuccino with Colossians and Premium Roast with Ruth (AMG). And Dr. Bill, as he is known, wrote a book on pregnancy for teen moms.

Do you ever struggle with writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it?

Never. I know…I almost feel guilty saying it. I attribute that to my second grade teacher, who had me write one story a day and raved about whatever I wrote. By the time I was old enough to realize nobody’s that good, it was too late.

A brain has two sides, right? The creator and the editor. And she allowed the creator to run wild without introducing the editor. Ever. And as a result I have an extravagant sense of confidence about the first draft. Then I re-read it, and it stinks. Totally. But it’s too late. It’s already out there. And nobody ever complains about editor’s block. I’m not saying I recommend her style. Surely a second-grade teacher should help a student with grammar and spelling, right? But she never mentioned it. And that approach worked for me.

Today I teach some of those DTS writing classes that I once took, and when I work with students, I find that often the cause of their writers’ block is that they haven’t written the famous Anne Lamott first draft. When they try to tweak and perfect before getting the lousy stuff down, they freeze and can’t write any more. My teacher gave me such a gift. I have tried to locate her so I can thank her, but haven’t found her yet.

What is the most difficult part of writing for you or was when you first started on your writing journey?

I still struggle with expressing character emotion. I feel like I’ll insult the reader if I stop to say “the shock of the news hit like a two-by-four in the back of the head.” I figure if I tell the horrible circumstance, the reader has enough imagination to feel what any normal soul would feel. I want to say simply “His dad died in a plane crash,” and let the reader fill in the blanks. Yet he or she needs more than that. Everybody experiences shock and grief differently. For some the room spins. For others it shrinks. For some it grabs in the pit of the stomach. Or it feels like a physical jolt.

It’s part of my job as a developer of character to choose how this character will react and respond. When the emotions get intense, I need to slow down and let the reader enter the character’s head. But I’d rather get on with the plot.

Where do you write? Do you have a dedicated office or a corner or nook in a room?

I have an office in my house, but I never write there. The desktop computer’s too high and within minutes, my shoulder aches. I prefer the bedroom. There I have a dusty-blue stuffed chair with a matching ottoman where I sit with my laptop, which is linked to the network. My husband calls that chair “mission control,” because I have a TV remote, a VCR remote, a DVD remote (I need a universal remote!), a CD remote, and my laptop. Oh, and the cordless phone and my cell.

From that chair I answer email, write books, craft blog rants. . . I love that corner.

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

No. I never know more than a few months ahead of time what days I’ll teach and when I’ll have to attend class. My dabbling at DTS turned into a cap and gown, and as I mentioned, now I serve on the faculty there. So every semester I teach a class, take a class, and try to write a book.

My most productive writing time is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and then again after eight at night. In the earlier morning, I answer email. After two p.m., I answer phone calls, run errands and handle more email. If I have to teach from nine until noon on a Monday, I don’t get home until about 2, and I can’t gear up to write again until nighttime. I wish I could write in one-hour slots, but I can’t. I need longer blocks because it takes me so long to ramp-up and ramp-down. Often I have to write in the blocks on the edges of the day—mostly the night edges.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I start the day by making dinner. Throwing something in the crockpot after I get up prevents me from having to stop in the late afternoon. Every other day I work out. Daily I answer email and read the New York Times email version and the blogs to which I’ve subscribed. And I run errands. (Every third day or so, I update my blog.)

Depending on my schedule for the semester, I teach for three hours, go to class, do homework, or work on my WIP. On days I teach, I try to set up meetings at the school so I don’t have to return on days when I don’t have to teach. It astonishes me how much work and discipline it takes to be a laid-back artsy person! We have dinner as a family and often we’ll watch a movie together. Then once our daughter is on her way to bed, I write again.

On Sunday I worship and rest and read (nothing required). I have Gene Peterson to thank for that. Rest is to the week what holes are to lace.

Take us through your process of writing a novel briefly—from conception to revision.

Once I have a germ idea, I come up with the beginning, middle, and end. Then I figure out the in-between points, thanks to Randy Ingermanson. (Some of my writing students shot a video on the fiction-writing process in which they included a parody of the mess I made on the board when I tried to draw his snowflake method. They amused themselves.)

Next, I create the main characters. I have four pages of questions I answer for each. About thirty percent of novel-crafting for me is the pre-writing imaginative work on the plot and character sketches.

Then I choose a setting. I ask myself how I can use setting to communicate something. Where was Jezebel when she stole the vineyard? In Jezreel. Where was she years later when dogs ate her? Jezreel. The setting tells more than a place. It says something about the character of God. So I try to choose a setting that communicates on a deeper level.

All the time I’m making these choices, I deliberate about the best way to tell the story. First-person? Third-person? Who will be the main POV character? Why?

After that I craft a proposal. It starts with a one-paragraph synopsis. While my agent shops it around, I develop the summary into a chapter-by-chapter outline. And then I make a file for each chapter and start dumping in ideas.

When my agent has some success, he calls. Here’s what happens from there…

Editorial person really likes it

He or she takes it to the marketing meeting

I wait forever for that meeting to happen

Marketing approves it

I wait for them to agree on an offer

They issue an offer

I reel from the shock of how low it is

I negotiate

I wait for them to draw up the contract

I receive and sign the contract

I write the book

I send the book to the publisher.

They send the first half of the advance

I spend it all in one place

I wait for them to edit it

I wait a while longer for them to edit it

They send back the manuscript with lots of changes needed immediately

I edit it again

I wait

And wait

They send a galley proof, which they need back immediately

I edit it yet again

I watch helplessly as the release date gets delayed--again

I wait forever for my progeny to arrive in the mail

Finally, I hold my masterpiece in my hands
I find a typo

What are some of your favorite books (not written by you)?

The Brothers K, Tale of Two Cities, Are Women Human?, Under the Unpredictable Plant, The Pink Maple House, The Philippian Fragment, A Wrinkle in Time, Pepito’s Story, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower, A Severed Wasp, The Man Who Was Thursday, Romeo and Juliet, The Book of Common Prayer, War and Remembrance, The Red Tent, Kite Runner, Gilead, and Peace Like a River.

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

If you want to be a fabulous writer, start with the Bible. Here are a few examples of how that advice has paid off…

If you want to your characters to be compelling, give the “good guys” some weaknesses. Consider Hebrews 11, often called “The Faith Chapter.” With the exception of a few like Abel, we could just as easily title it “The Foul-Up Chapter.” We find murderers, adulterers, hookers. Despite their flaws, however, they have one thing in common: faith. Moses is humble, but he has an anger management problem. Peter is spirited but impulsive—just ask Malchus.

Even Jesus, though he has no flaws, is still different from what many of us expect of a perfect person. He’s unpredictable, saying stuff like, “On the outside you look good, but inside you stink like a coffin” or “You bunch of snakes.” Not exactly “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”Use figures of speech. Ortega y Gassett said, “The metaphor is probably the most fertile power possessed by man.”

Consider the numerous metaphors for God. A rock. The Good Shepherd. A strong tower. Our Father. The Door. The Bread of Life. The Alpha and the Omega. Provider. Healer. We find several hundred names for God alone, each of which communicates something different.We find negative metaphors in the Bible, too. Jude 1:1–12 includes a string of them: “These men are … hidden reefs in your love feasts … clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.”

And what about hyperbole? “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”
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?

I wish I had known the publisher has final say on the book title. And they also have the final word on whose name goes first on the book, regardless of the deal you and your “co” have worked out. We had planned to take turns having top billing. That was naïve. Totally.

How much marketing do you do? What have you found that particularly works well for you?

I do more than I used to, less than I “should.”

What works best is totally of out of my control: the sovereignty of God. When our first novel, Lethal Harvest, came out, it hit the CBA best-seller list. Okay, so it was number 19 on that list. Still, it made the top twenty. As it happened, the book is about characters dealing with stem-cell research, and at the time that phrase was not yet in the headlines. The day we released it, it was announced that the human genome had been mapped, and suddenly we saw enormous interest in bioethics. The timing on that was completely out of our control. My students asked my secret to marketing that book, and I could only say “God.” Seriously.

It works both ways, though. In the middle of trying to market our third novel, False Positive, terrorists flew planes into a couple of skyscrapers, the Pentagon and a field. So suddenly nobody wanted to talk about a plot set in a pregnancy resource center.

In addition when it comes to marketing, I’ve had to make a major career choice to do less marketing than I need to. Because I teach writers at DTS, I have a teaching load and a PhD course load. (The accrediting institution allows me to teach based on my portfolio, but both the seminary and I believe I need “doctor” in front of my name if I plan to keep teaching grad students.) I see my teaching job as a form of discipleship, because the more solid Christian thinkers and graphic-novel writers and poets and storytellers and movie-scripters I can help launch into publishing, the more widely I expand the boundaries of my own ministry. They have already gone into places with their life messages that I could never reach. Some of them you have featured in this column.

Yet I can’t be a wife and parent and professor and editor and student and also do the marketing I need to do. And there I have to trust God. It requires faith. Sometimes my students have to exercise faith to lower their standards and get “B’s” instead of “A’s” so they can be good spouses or parents or both. And sometimes I have to exercise faith to pursue fewer TV and radio appearances and certainly fewer book signings, but it’s the only way I can do what I know I’m supposed to do. So I’ve had to redefine success. Success is not having a book that hits the bestseller list. It’s being the best writer I can be and staying faithful to the calling. The kingdom of God comes first, not the kingdom of Sandra.

So what doesn’t work is marketing at the expense of wisdom. And what also doesn’t work for me is using people. I try to promote others and open doors for them and pave the way for their success, so I “get” networking. But sometimes people treat marketing connections the same way people treat potential underlings in a pyramid scheme. They act like they’re your good friend, and then you find they invited you to dinner only because they want you to edit their manuscript for free or offer an endorsement or introduce them to a Christian celebrity (DTS has a few of those). If people want that stuff, I wish they’d ask straight-up instead of making me feel used. So I probably pursue fewer connections I have that I could use (in the best sense of the word) because I’ve been burned a time or two.

Having said that, I maintain a web site (aspire2.com) and a blog (aspire2.blogspot.com). I send hundreds of postcards (printed at vistaprint.com), and I serve on the boards of organizations like the Evangelical Press Association and the women’s advisory board for bible.org, which gets about four million hits every year. I have something to give to these organizations, and I expect nothing in return, but the connections don’t hurt.

One last thing: Kregel is a marketing machine. I’ve published fourteen books with six houses, and every Kregel book I’ve ever done has earned out its advance, and is still being aggressively marketed.

Do you have any parting words of advice?

Back before I’d ever published anything, I used to look at all the books on the market and think, “Do we really need another novel?” “Why yet another book on marriage,” or “Why would someone want to publish another Bible study on Sermon on the Mount?”

What I came to know years later was that each author’s unique sphere of influence provides a platform through which some readers are more apt to hear from that author than from others—even if the others are more eloquent. So there will always be a need for more books, new books, even on “old” topics. Richard Baxter wrote wonderful stuff for Puritan audiences, and it stirs me when I read it today.

Yet I still love reading about the same topics covered by Eugene Peterson and Calvin Miller. Not only do these men live in my own time, but I have also had the honor of interviewing both. That contact makes me want to buy everything they’ve written.My former mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Inrig, in Redlands, California, is someone whose name I might never have heard had she not served our church in Dallas. Yet having sat under her teaching and seen the way she and her husband, Gary, live out their faith (and have personally cared for me through some difficult days), I approach her written works with a particular openness to learn.

Because of this, every year I exhort my journalism students to go ahead and write on topics that interest them or in the genres they love, even if someone else has already done it better. Several years ago after hearing this little lecture, one of my students showed up the next week with a quote that I have since cherished. It’s from St. Augustine’s De Trinitate (On the Trinity), translated by Edmund Hill:Not everything … that is written by anybody comes into the hands of everybody, and it is possible that some who are in fact capable of understanding even what I write may not come across those more intelligible writings, while they do at least happen upon these of mine.

That is why it is useful to have several books by several authors, even on the same subjects, differing in style though not in faith, so that the matter itself may reach as many as possible, some in this way others in that.So my advice: If you are at all inclined to write, do it. Don’t let that voice telling you someone else has already “done it better” stop you from writing. Perhaps that better-written book will never make it into one of your readers’ hands and you will get to be the fortunate soul through whom someone’s life is forever changed.

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