Interview with debut novelist Adam Blumler

This week I want to introduce you to debut novelist, Adam Blumler, the author of the new suspense release Fatal Illusions. I've just started it and so far am enjoying it.

Adam, this is your debut novel. How did the what-if for the book come to you?

Frank Peretti’s earliest supernatural thrillers taught me that Christian novels can do more than entertain. I wanted to write something not only suspenseful but also meaningful. My prayer is that the message will resonate with readers and maybe even challenge their spiritual thinking.

The novels of Mary Higgins Clark also inspired me. I studied the organization and plot lines of her novels and wondered if I could write something as good. I also like her shifting points of view and her short, numerous chapters. (Readers might notice a resemblance.) Her novel You Belong to Me especially inspired me to try my own hand at a serial killer “female in jeopardy” suspense tale. Because most Christian readers are women, I decided to make my main protagonist female—in fact, a pastor’s wife, a protagonist you don’t read about very often. Add to that my love of true crime and forensic science, and I was on my way. Christian suspense novels by Brandilyn Collins and Terri Blackstock have also been a big influence.

A past experience also provided a creative springboard. A church voted to remove from membership a believer who was sincerely repentant of immorality. I began to play the “what if” game in my mind. What if the person who was disciplined got really ticked? What if he or she became mad enough to kill? I thought a church discipline scenario created an unusual motive for murder—hence one of the subplots in Fatal Illusions. I also read Ruth Brandon’s The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini. This biography of the famous illusionist fascinated me and helped me develop the characterization of my serial killer. In fact, readers will discover an important plot clue connected to Houdini.

Oh, Mary Higgins Clark has been an inspiration for me, too! I wanted to write like her before the Christian market opened up. I’m so glad there’s now a place for books like ours! Tell us a bit about your journey to publication...

I loved writing imaginative tales when I was a kid, but I didn’t start taking my writing seriously until I won a state high school creative writing contest. That’s when I realized that my writing was better than average and that perhaps God wanted me to do something with it. Because I loved writing and got good grades in English, I decided to get a journalism degree in college; it seemed like a smart vocational decision fitted to my skills. By then, it was pretty much a given in my mind that God wanted me to write. Exactly what I was supposed to write I didn’t know yet. For fourteen years I served as a staff editor for two ministries, but I always preferred writing stories.

I began Fatal Illusions in 2002 in conjunction with a Writer’s Digest correspondence course on novel writing. I finished the first draft in the fall of 2005 and began contacting literary agents. In January 2006, agent Steve Laube, a well-known and respected voice in Christian fiction, asked to see the full manuscript. Though he ultimately declined to represent me, he sent me a two-page letter, pointing out how few manuscripts reach the stage that mine did, and gave me eight pointers on how to make the novel publishable. Energized, I followed his advice and got to work, but I still couldn’t find an agent or publisher.

A year later, I contacted Kregel Publications about opportunities to edit books from home (my day job is as a freelance editor). The managing editor noticed on my resume that I had written several unpublished novels and asked to see my latest project. Kregel liked what they saw in Fatal Illusions and accepted it for publication. God opened a door I never could have opened for myself!

How exciting! God is definitely our best agent and career coach. What one thing do you wish you'd known before you started this journey?

How much time and work go into a novel between the contract signing and the finished product. I honestly thought an editor just made a few tweaks, and then the novel was ready for publication. Ha! I also never realized how airtight the timeline and plot need to be, especially in suspense. One of my editors actually checked flight times to be sure one of my characters could plausibly be at a certain location at a certain time. My eyes were opened to the importance of checking details, and I’ll never write another novel the same way again.

I find I'm always learning as I write books. What did your characters teach you?

As a writer, this project stretched me more than anything else I've ever worked on. Many of the novel's themes are also areas I've had to work through in my own thinking. When life doesn't seem to make sense, how do I respond? Do I trust God, even when His ways are difficult to understand from a human standpoint? Do I try to keep secrets from God or from others? Do I try to hide who I really am inside? What happens if I try to live a lie?

What else would you like to tell us about this book?

I did a lot of research for this project. Calligraphy didn’t require much research because I had dabbled in it in high school and won a few awards. Information about magicians wasn’t tough to find either because I had already been researching Houdini on the Internet after reading a biography about him. For serial killers, I watched a lot of Forensic Files and Body of Evidence on TV and read Mary Higgins Clark and other crime/suspense authors. One big area I had to research was police procedure since a retired homicide detective helps the Thayers catch the Magician Murderer. I researched crime scene investigation, forensic science, computer crimes (since my villain is a cyber-stalker), and other related areas. But these have always been areas of interest, so I hardly thought of the research as work. Because Gillian is a professional calligrapher of famous quotations, Bible verses, and love poems, I also had to research her literary side since that’s her lens for viewing the world.

What's coming next for you?

A sequel called Plagues. The main characters from Fatal Illusions are reunited, this time at a Christian conference center in Michigan’s north woods, which is where all novels in my hoped-for series will be set. Marc and Gillian Thayer think they are getting away for some much-needed R&R, but protestors with placards and bullhorns shatter the otherwise-peaceful surroundings. A Bible translation committee is holding its regional meeting, and a mob is protesting the committee’s efforts to create a controversial parallel Bible.

While the protestors call down God’s wrath, an apparent plague of blood strikes the facility. Is God displeased with the committee? Are the protestors somehow to blame? When a committee member turns up dead, Marc and Gillian put their vacation on hold, enlist the help of retired homicide detective Chuck Riley, and take a closer look at the bizarre plagues as they escalate in intensity. Throw in a fictionalized account of a true mine disaster and an autistic boy who can apparently see the future, and you get the gist. I’m having a blast planning and writing the twists and turns.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adam Blumer lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his wife, Kim, and his daughters, Laura and Julia.

He works full-time as a freelance writer and editor. A print journalism graduate of Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC), he served in editorial roles for fourteen years at Northland Baptist Bible College (Dunbar, WI) and Awana Clubs International Headquarters (Streamwood, IL).

He has published numerous short stories and articles. Fatal Illusions released by Kregel Publications (Grand Rapids, MI) is his first novel.

Conference Prep ~ RWA 2009!!!

by Debby Giusti

The Romance Writers of America National Conference runs from July 15 to July 19 and will be held in Washington, D.C. this year. I'm flying in on Sunday so yesterday I tried on clothes and decided what to take. The new airline baggage restrictions mean tightening my wardrobe and cutting back on non-essentials. (I noticed fewer ball gowns for the Awards Ceremony on Saturday night last year with more ladies opting for short dresses, which are easier to pack and take up less room in the suitcase.)

The photo above left shows Janet Dean, Missy Tippens and Debby Giusti ready to party! Debby's signing at the Literacy Book Fair above right. Below Steeple Hill authors gather to congratulate Linda Goodnight for her RITA win!

I'm packing mainly black and white items so I can mix and match. Two pair of comfy sandals and one pair of heels should get me through the week--a change from years past when I'd pack at least five pairs of shoes.

Black slacks should work with casual jackets for the workshops and transition with a trendy top for evening dinners out. If there's room, I'll pack a little black dress and evening pants with dressy tops for nighttime fun.

Although D.C. will be hot and humid, the hotel might be chilly so a sweater and shawl are a must. I might throw in a long sleeve shell for under my jackets just in case the hotel temp is really frigid.

I sometimes send books home via the mail so I'll tuck a small pair of scissors and strapping tape into my suitcase. Yes, the hotel should have a shipping office, but the lines can be long and having the box ready to mail speeds the process.

Since I like to read in bed, I'll include a reading light as well as extra hangars, sugar substitute and perhaps extra coffee packets for the in-room coffee maker. Sometimes I include small boxes of milk that don't need refrigeration. I wrap them in zip-lock plastic bags and pray they don't leak while in flight.

Although the RWA registration packets are loaded with goodies, sometimes they don't include notepaper so a couple of spiral ring notebooks and a handful of pens and pencils are a must. I ordered a new batch of The Writer's Prayer and postcards, featuring my latest book cover for the Goodie Room as well as candy and other giveaways.

Tomorrow I'll head to the bank and get a wad of dollar bills for tips. Even though I rely primarily on plastic, cash is necessary for the airport shuttle, taxi fares and for splitting checks with other writer friends.

Remember to buy small 3-ounce toilette articles if you're including them in your carry-on luggage. I usually double zip-lock bag them and place them in the suitcase I check. Often I'll discard them at the hotel instead of bringing them back on the return flight, and the small size is perfect for a week long conference.

In the days ahead, I'll probably pack and unpack my suitcase a number of times until I get it just right. Can you think of something I've forgotten? What's the most valuable item you always include in your suitcase? Be sure to share your packing tips and any other information that would make this RWA Conference the best ever!!!

Hope to see you in D.C!

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
http://www.debbygiusti.com/

http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/

Captivating

As a wife and mother, I'm always on the look out for non-fiction books that can help me in my walk with Christ and also help me in my family roles. I recently discovered the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge.
I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it for anyone wanting to dig deeper into knowing yourself and God's plan for your life.

Also available: Captivating - A Guided Journal

Every little girl has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Sadly, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with duty and demands. Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, or a capable home manager.
What Wild at Heart did for men, Captivating can do for women.

This groundbreaking book shows readers the glorious design of women before the fall, describes how the feminine heart can be restored, and casts a vision for the power, freedom, and beauty of a woman released to be all she was meant to be. By revealing the core desires every woman shares-to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure, and to unveil beauty-John and Stasi Eldredge invite women to recover their feminine hearts, created in the image of an intimate and passionate God. Further, they encourage men to discover the secret of a woman's soul and to delight in the beauty and strength women were created to offer.

To learn more about John and Stasi Eldredge and Ransom Hearts Ministries here's a link to their website.
http://www.ransomedheart.com/

Lunch with Colleen Coble

Last week some of the members of CWOW (Christian Writers of the West) and I met author Colleen Coble for lunch.

How cool is that!

I took my camera (Honest I did). I remembered I had it (Honest I did). A pose was made (Me, Colleen, Ann, Jen, Dianne). This morning, my camera has no proof of this event. Hmmm, since I write suspense I'm trying to figure out who took my picture (Lol, obviously nobody - then or now.)

Luckily, in the digital age, I'll be able to Google Colleen's name and find a photo. What? You want me to tell you about the lunch (Wow, even my Blog readers want me to tighten. I get the hint). I first met Colleen online over a decade ago. We were part of an online group. This was before ACFW, before blogs, and even, really, before websites. A decade ago, I was also lucky enough to meet Colleen here in AZ when she came to visit family members who live nearby (a group of authors met: Darlene Mindrup, Dianne Cristner, Marilou Flinkman, me, and Colleen. Yes, I have a picture - somewhere). Luckily for me, she has lots of family members who live in AZ.

Last week's lunch was fun! From the olden days, there sat Dianne Cristner and I. We get along great. We let too much time pass between getting together, but every time we do, we pick right up where we left off. From the CWOW group, there's Ann. She just finaled in the Faith, Hope, and Love's TBL contest! Also, there was Jen Cary. She's CWOW's vice-president. This lunch also came with men! Colleen's husband and Terry Doyle. Terry's one of the newest CWOW members. I always get excited when I'm with new writers. This lunch was no exception because I got to sit back and listen as they picked Colleen's brain. I learned about layering. I learned about extensive research. And, I learned about building an author/house relationship. Three hours flew by.

What are you doing for lunch today?

DEADLY INTENT Interview

Today we're welcoming Dr. Devon Knightley, the hero of DEADLY INTENT by Camy Tang (July 2009). Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

It started off with my sister getting married and wanting to wear our mother’s Tiffany necklace. Mom had lent it to my wife when we got married, but Jessica never returned it, even after we got divorced. She wouldn’t return my calls so I tracked her down to the Joy Luck Life spa in Sonoma, California, to get her to return the necklace. The day I turned up asking to speak to Jessica, the spa’s owner, Naomi Grant, found Jessica dying in her massage therapy room. Things didn’t look good for me.

2. So, during the book you met Naomi Grant Tell us a bit about her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

I actually already knew Naomi—our families both support ZOE International, a charity that works to save children in Asia from child trafficking. Every year, ZOE International hosts a charity dinner, and we’ve sat next to each other for the past 2-3 years. I enjoy talking to her, but the timing is never right for me—at first, I was going through the divorce, then I was trying to salvage my finances after Jessica took me to the cleaners.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?

I love my job—I’m an orthopedic surgeon. I’m also the official orthopedic surgeon for the Oakland Raiders football team. Healing injuries (even my non-football patients) gives me a lot of satisfaction, and my job with the Raiders is just plain fun.

My parents are both atheists, and I’ve grown up the same. It’s fostered a certain level of distrust and cynicism in my nature—I admit it—and sometimes, Naomi’s spiritual outlook on life makes me uncomfortable. The entire Grant family is very welcoming and friendly—vastly different from my own family—which makes me wonder if I’m missing something in my life.

4. What scares you?

Being out of control of a situation, especially when it involves someone I care about.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I’d taken a chance and pursued a relationship with Naomi after the last ZOE International charity dinner. I had been too gunshy after the divorce and her family’s faith made me uncomfortable, and I hadn’t wanted to jump into something I didn’t understand. But I was just being overly cautious—I should have taken the risk.

6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?

Faith? What faith can a man have when raised by a staunch atheist like my opinionated father? But actually, I was more open to God when the story opened because of my brief encounters with the Grant family.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?

Naomi’s aunt, Becca Itoh, is a strong woman of God, and she helped me understand what it means to trust in something I can’t see or understand.
8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.
It’s Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV): The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
One thing that has pursued both of us through these events is the truth that God is greater than anything happening to us, and that if we trust Him, He won’t let us down.
9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

My favorite is tiramisu, mostly because it’s got both coffee and chocolate flavors, and it’s not too sweet. I consider myself a bit bittersweet.

Deadly Intent

SCENE OF THE CRIME

The Grant family’s exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! Then Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, and everything falls apart. The salon’s reputation is at stake...and so is Naomi’s freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim’s ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn...and whom can she trust?

A little research...a little fireworks...

Writers are known for going to great lengths to research their books. Some join the police academy to learn about law and order. Some go to school to learn about law. Some take classes in...(fill in the blank)...

My husband is a part time police officer, so for my upcoming book, I grilled him a lot about the plot of my story. I never dreamed my research would give me the opportunity to get a little more in-depth experience the way it had recently.

You see, I was recently initiated into the pepper spray club...by accident. Picture me sitting at my desk concentrating on my work. My attention is taken away from my manuscript by the sound of a sudden crash! I then hear an unfamiliar hiss that has me getting up from my seat to investigate what crashed. My eyes were immediately drawn to the bureau next to the desk and the missing photo that used to sit there.

Unbeknownst to me, there was a small can of pepper spray behind the picture and when the picture fell over, the can went with it, setting it off. Of course, I had no clue and as I bent down to retrieve the picture (all the while knowing there was something funny about the hiss and the sudden fumes I was smelling) I was hit by the spray. My throat immediately started to close up, I lost my voice and I did what all police officers are told not to do. I panicked!

In retrospect, my run around the bedroom screaming (with no voice) for my husband was probably funny to watch. Thank goodness he'd been taking a nap or I'd have gotten an ear full of laughter. I finally managed to wake him and after one whiff he said. "What are you playing with the pepper spray for?"

Yeah, playing. He then told me not to panic. Too late. I was already well past the state of panic.

"Relax. You're going to be fine." Fine? I felt like I was a suffocating? Now I understand why some police officers going through the academy rush to the bathroom and dunk their heads in the toilet if there are no available sinks to get the pepper spray off their faces. I didn't need a toilet and never got a face full of spray. But my lungs felt as though they'd collapsed.

My eyes are now watering. I'm standing on the deck trying to get some air and coughing like I have a bad case of pneumonia. My husband (calm as can be in his sleepy state) appears in front of me and thrusts a glass of water into my hand. "Drink," he says. "You'll live."

When I'm finally able to make noise, I ready to ask him how on earth a can of pepper spray got behind the picture frame when it dawns on me that I'd seen that can of spray when I'd been dusting and alas, I had been the one to place it there and forget about it. Instead I screamed, "The cat!"

I realized my beloved cat, Keturah, was still in the room and was probably breathing in those nasty fumes. I put a towel over my face (BTW, that doesn't work) and rushed into the room. In one moment, I scooped up my 15 year old cat (who didn't seem effected at all) and brought her out for a breath of fresh air.

It is now 3 hours later and my room is free of pepper spray fumes. I know what my husband went through in the academy when he had to do his pepper spray test. The panic is still very fresh and raw in my mind and I'm convinced I'll use this experience one day in a book. What we writers do for research. Even unwilling...

Until next time, many blessings, Lisa Mondello

Finding the Path Home

Last week, I had a bit of a career crisis. I began to doubt that I could make it as a writer, and that turned my world sideways, dumping all my beliefs in a puddle at my feet.

In April, my day job went away, and I’m now trying to support myself and my daughter as a freelancer. The finances are dicey, and I don’t quite have a handle on the new schedule. But I do have a plan, which involves selling at least two more books this year. But last week, something happened that made my doubts soar and my confidence sink like a stone. I just wanted to curl up and quit.

Yet I have always been a storyteller, even before I could write down the elaborate adventures I made up as a kid. Once upon a time, my imaginary friends lived in our front yard and only my mother worried how real they were to me. Now they live on my computer, blogs, and Facebook pages and annoy my friends, who sometimes gently ask, “You know they’re not real, right?” (Click here if you'd like to help me make up the next hero.)

On my website, I claim to come from a long line of storytellers, which I do. What I don’t point out is that I also come from a long line of horse thieves and highwaymen, including some who once plagued the travelers of the Natchez Trace.

This is a picture I took of the Trace a few years ago, to remind me that the paths we take, sometimes the paths we have to take, are seldom safe or easy. They are filled with ups and downs, darkness and light, adventures made easier or more dangerous by the choices we make. Do we become highwaymen (and take the easy way)—or do we sell stories about them instead?

In my doubts, I turned to other writers as well as my friends. They reminded me that being a writer is never easy, especially if you have to pay the bills with your talent. Then again, following God’s path for your life isn’t always easy either, even when you know it’s the right way, sometimes the only way, Home.

The secret is in the choices. Do we choose the right but rocky way, or do we take an easier way, but perhaps one that leads us away from God’s guidance? How do we find the strength and will to trust Him?

Since April, and all the events leading up to the change in my job, I believe that I am where God wants me. So I need to work with Him and what He guides me through. So last week, I buried my ego, girded my talent, and tackled a challenge. Now, I’m sending up prayers that it was the choice He wanted me make, and listening closely for the answer. Trusting.

a sad week

We've lost a few good people this week, haven't we? Ed McMann, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mayes, and for us in Canada, The Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc.
M. LeBlanc was our twenty-fifth Govenor General. To those who don't live in Canada, this position is the highest rank in Canada, the Queen's Representative, and the only person who can dissolve Parliament, sign bills into law, and represent our Queen and our country.
He was a well loved man, someone who opened the doors of his official residence in our capital city of Ottawa, to allow the public in. He pushed for Aboriginal Day, and was called The Friend of Fishermen for his work in the fisheries industy.
Like those famous Americans who have passed away this week, M. LeBlanc will be remembered for all the good things he did. Here is more info on him.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/06/24/nb-romeo-leblanc-obit-123.html
Some of these deaths this past week are sudden, but some are not. M. LeBlanc was not a young man, and had health issues. But it doesn't make his passing any easier.
To all those who have lost someone special this week, I keep you in my prayers.

Vacations

So you are probably wondering how suspenseful vacations can be? For some a lot. I've had a few over the years that had my heart pounding. One was years ago in London during the rioting of the poll tax. My friend and I came up out of the Tube into the middle of a large gathering of people protesting the tax. Needless to say, we got out of there quickly. Police were everywhere and at that time the protest was still peaceful. We learned later that they soon because violent. When we were going to the airport the next morning, we saw the remains of what happened--cars burned, turned over, litter everywhere, damage to property. I thank the Lord for our timing. If we had been a half an hour later, we could have been really in trouble. The above picture is what the crowd looked like in the streets in 1990. The one below is what happened later when I was safely away.

What adventures have you had on a vacation that got your heart pounding?

FEATURED BOOK: BLACKMAIL BY ROBIN CAROLL

Another facility's been sabotaged!And PR representative Sadie Thompson is on the case. When she's assigned to investigate the damage to her employer's oil rigs, she knows it's her chance. Finally, she can prove she's left her "bad girl" past behind her. Yet someone wants the evidence to disappear—and is willing to threaten Sadie and Caleb, her recently paroled half brother, to make it happen. Caleb's parole officer, Jon Garrison, is watching them both closely, waiting for one of them to slip up. He doesn't trust Sadie—can she trust him? She needs Jon's help, and has nowhere else to turn….

Dad, the story teller

I remember as a child listening to my father read to us, both from the Bible and the plethora of story books on our shelves. He has a certain intonation, a gentle inflection that brought the words to life for me. I can picture him sitting there on the bed, with his thick fingers delicately turning the pages. He was the one who told me about God in a way I could understand, showing unconditional love both in the passages he read and the time he spent with me.
Fast forward a few decades to the arrival of my own two children. Somehow I do not see my father enough, anymore. The days are filled with business and though we live in the same town, our lives travel down different roads. Imagine my surprise when I first read to my own children, and found that I used the same phrasing and inflection that my father used with me, trying to wrap the words in the same web of warmth that he did. My daughters were caught up in the same storytelling web that I had been as a child.
So was it the stories? The voice? Or the fact that my father took the time out of his always busy days to read to me? Probably a little of everything. The fact is I will always hear my father’s voice, reading the Bible or the magical stories of “the great gray green greasy Limpopo River” and the Giant Jam Sandwich and though the stories have faded, his voice will not. Thank you, Dad.

Great Dads

In June we celebrate Father’s Day. My dad passed away in 2000, but what I remember about him is his laughter. That laughter was a joyous thing to hear. He was never down or moody, but an even-keeled man who always lifted my spirits. He was the only person on this planet that called me ‘Bobbie’. (That’s another story.) There are times now, when I wish I could pick up the phone and talk to him. He was a painter and the painting above is one he did.

In the book that’s coming out in Oct, GUARDED SECRETS the hero has lost both of his daughters to a rare genetic disease. He starts the book with a wounded heart. The person that pulls him out of his drunken haze was the daughter of his partner. When he woke up on the couch at his partner’s house, she told him that Jesus could heal his heart---truth out of the mouth of a babe.

My heroine has a daughter, the same age as the hero daughter would’ve been if she'd lived. She also touches a place in my hero’s heart, bringing joy and hope to his life. I put that man through the wringer, but he came out victorious. It is his response to her daughter that wins the heroine’s heart. He was a great father to his daughters and becomes a great father to the heroine’s daughter.

How has your father blessed your life? What is the one thing that you remember most about your father?
Leann

A romantic trip?

by Linda Hall

If you look carefully at my picture, you will see that I’m sitting on our boat and we’re in front of the Statue of Liberty. During May, my husband and I sailed our used but new-to-us boat from Maryland to our home in New Brunswick, Canada. It took us exactly four weeks. I have had people say, “Oh that must be so romantic.” Well, there were a few of those kinds of moments, but think about this. You are camping with your husband for a month and you can’t leave the tent!

My husband and I have sailed a lot and I always think sailing is like writing a romance novel. We got wind. We had one rather miserable day when we sailed from the end of the Cape Cod Canal to Gloucester, MA. The state of Massachusetts concaves to the left at that point, and when you come out of the canal, you have two choices: you can ‘make a run for it’ and go straight to Gloucester. Or you can hug the shore and stop in at Boston.

We decided to make a run for it. Mistake. Halfway across the eight hour journey, the wind built, the storm rose, and the ocean became mountainous around us. I went down below. I plugged into my iPod and hugged myself onto the berth while I listened to short stories on my iPod to keep my mind off the storm. Almost there, I poked my head out and it was worse. Around us were thunderstorms. Now, when there are thunderstorms, a place you do not want to be is out on water in a thunderstorms with that lightning rod 'mast' waving in the sky and saying, “pick me! Pick me!”

We couldn't leave. We had no where to go but straight across. I thought about book middles, when things are going poorly and the distant finish line seems so far away and the work seems mountainous.

But then there were the calm days, the days so glistening with sunshine and dolphins that seals that you wanted to hug the day to yourself and never let go. We get those days in life and writing, too. The sparkling days, the good times. You wonder if there could , any more beauty would be blinding than the words you just wrote. They’re brilliant! You have it! You don’t have to turn in your Writer’s Card.

But mostly the trip was a little of each, and writing a book is like that too.

But now I am home, and back at my computer ready to get to work to meet these deadlines and hoping for more sunny ones than stormy ones.

What's a Romance Novel?

It’s almost July and I’m wondering what happened to June. Which brings to mind the fact that in July, I’m teaching at the Harriette Austin Writers Conference. I’m going to be talking about writing romance novels . (That’s a good thing since that’s what I write—with a bit of suspense thrown in.)

So, in researching my information, I found some interesting definitions of what a romance novel is. I really got a kick out of the last one.

What is a romance novel?
• As defined by Wikipedia - The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending."

• As defined by Romance Writers of America - RWA is a national organization with 8,200 members and describes romance novels as "stories whose main focus is the relationship between a man and a woman. The most important aspect of a romance novel, and what identifies it as such, is the guaranteed happy ending, the establishment of a lifetime commitment between one man and one woman."

• As defined by ANOTHER- fiction genre in which love conquers all, bosoms heave, and cowboys are the best things since sliced bread.

Didn’t that last one make you laugh out loud? Haven’t we come a long way in our writing and storytelling? What I love about Christian Romance novels is that we not only get to weave a story about a woman and a man falling in love, we get to talk about the greatest romantic story ever written. Christ’s love for his bride—us. How cool is that? And it has the best ending EVER.

What do you guys think?

Today we're welcoming Caitlin, the heroine of Scent of Murder, by Virginia Smith,

which was just released earlier this month. Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

I’m a flutist, and a member of a classical music trio with my friends Jazzy and Liz. They’re both getting married soon, so our trio is breaking up, but we booked one final engagement to play at a wedding in Little Nashville, an artist colony in the Blue Hills of Indiana. We were supposed to all go up a few days early to spend some time together shopping in all those adorable, quaint little shops, but both my friends bowed out at the last minute. I admit, I was feeling a little hurt by their desertion, because my long-time boyfriend just dumped me for someone else and I was looking forward to some girl time to help me gain some perspective. So I went ahead by myself. They were supposed to join me in time for the wedding, but before then… well, it’s a long story. I got pulled into a horrible situation involving the murder of a local man.


2. So, during the book you met Chase Hollister. Tell us a bit about him. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

Funny thing about the way I met Chase. On the drive up to Indiana, I was praying and I felt led to proclaim a “dateless year,” where I wouldn’t go out on a date for a full year. I mean, I knew I was vulnerable, and I didn’t want to fall for a rebound guy, you know? But as soon as I pulled into town, I saw a sign for a scented candle factory that gave free tours. I figured that was a good way to kill an hour or so before I could check in to the hotel. Chase was a member of the family who owned the factory, and he ended up giving me the tour. Ah, he is amazingly handsome. Doesn’t it just figure I’d meet him after I decided not to go out with anyone for a year?

At the end of our ordeal, we both realized that what we felt for each other was more than friendship. But I’d made this oath! I feel strongly in standing behind your promises. So… well, you’ll have to see what we ended up doing.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
It’s funny, but Chase and I talked about this during the course of my trip to Little Nashville. I’m a nurturer. I guess that’s why I chose to teach music to kids as a profession. And, of course, I’m a Christian, so I hope my faith is one of my strengths. It certainly was tested during my ordeal in Indiana!

4. What scares you?

Being alone in life scares me. I definitely don’t want to end up alone. But you know, it’s funny. When my life was in danger, I realized that there’s something worse than being alone, and that’s not having heaven to look forward to. I don’t have to worry about that, because even in the darkest hour, Jesus was with me. Times of crisis emphasize the strength of our faith, and in the process, the exercising of faith strengthens it.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d give myself a real goal. When Chase was talking about all his plans for buying and improving the family business, I felt a little strange. He asked me if I wanted to play my flute professionally with the symphony, and I was embarrassed to tell him no. The thing I’ve always wanted most is to be a wife and mom. Sounds sort of silly, doesn’t it?
6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?

My faith is strong. I believe strongly in prayer, and in God’s hand in our day-to-day lives. I’ve proved that in the first two episodes of our classical trio, A Taste of Murder and Murder at Eagle Summit. When we have a crisis, my friends rely on me to pray with them.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?

I’ve learned that God really does hear our prayers. Not only our prayers, but the desires of our hearts. He knew what I needed to be satisfied and happy in life all along, and He gave it to me.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.
The scripture is “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” When my life was in danger -- and I mean really in danger -- all I could think about was how God loved everyone enough to send His son to die for them. As my preacher once said, if the only person in the world had been the vilest of sinners, Jesus would have still died for them. That’s what kept coming to my mind. I was able to show mercy to the man who held my life in his hand, because I had an inner surety of Jesus’ love for him. It really was an amazing thing.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

This question is addressed in the book! Chase and I were sitting in an ice cream parlor and he told me how preference in ice cream is supposed to be an indicator of personality. I love Rocky Road ice cream. Chase says that’s because it’s a blend of flavors, which means I’m not satisfied with anything plain. I have a wide range of interests and enjoy variety in life.

Wonderful premise, can't wait to read this book!! Thank you Virginia for sharing Caitlin with us today.

FEATURED BOOK: SCENT OF MURDER BY VIRGINIA SMITH

Everything is going wrong for Caitlin Saylor. Her boyfriend has left her. Her musical trio is disbanding. And for their trio's swan song? They'll be playing another wedding: a chance to watch someone else's happy ending. And then, unexpectedly, Chase Hollister enters the scene. The candle factory owner is handsome, charming and very interested in Caitlin. His gift of a special candle proves it. But there's something more to the candle than Caitlin or Chase suspect. Something that puts Caitlin at risk. To keep Caitlin safe, Chase must face a haunting crime from his past—and a deadly killer in the present.

Didn't Know Either

Pamela's post this week about not knowing her own whodunit got me thinking. With Deadly Exposure, I thought I knew who committed the murder. In fact I wrote the book working toward one particular individual. Then as I was in the last 30 pages or so, I prayed before writing. Now I try to do this all the time, but that day I was talking with God about what would happen next.

He whispered that a certain somebody did it. I looked a little funny up at the ceiling. "No, he didn't."

"Yes, he did."

I went back and forth a few times before thinking, "Okay, I'll try it." Inside, I dreaded all the rewrites it would require. Wouldn't you know, it didn't take much of any. The antagonist makes sense. Most everything had already been planted. And the readers love the way it turned out.

And before you wonder if I'm incredibly strange, I really do pray about my books. I pray when I'm writing proposals asking God for creativity and wisdom. I pray as I'm writing, and not always, "God, help me, please. I'm stuck!" And I cling to Daniel 1:17: God gave Daniel and his friends, knowledge and intelligence in all areas of wisdom, literature and understanding dreams and visions.

I don't want to waste an opportunity He has given me.

My First Book Signing Tour!!!

By Debby Giusti





When my agent and award-winning author Deidre Knight asked if I wanted to be part of a book signing tour, I jumped at the chance. The weekend was delightful, and I thought you might be interested in what I learned.

The photo right shows all of us (left to right): Maria Geraci, Debby Giusti, Jennifer St. Giles, Shannon K. Butcher and Deidre. Deidre's assistant Jia Gayles (in photo below right) made sure everything happened on time. Thanks, Jia, for all your hard work!

Booksellers are wonderful! At each stop, the booksellers made our signings special with posters and wonderful displays of our books. They were as excited as we were. In the future, I’ll be more apt to schedule signings, knowing how much they appreciate authors who interact with their readers. The photo below shows Deidre (middle) and Debby (right) with Jonathan Tonge, owner of Dog Ear Books, in Madison, Georgia.

Give a talk on writing prior to the signing. Many of the folks in the audience were writers who wanted to learn how we got published. Each of the authors gave a short pitch about our own writing journey, and then we opened it up for questions. All of us—writers and readers, alike—learned from the Q&A.

Send out lots of publicity. The authors blogged about the tour prior to the weekend, and the various bookstores sent information to their database of readers. I also sent a special email to writers I thought might enjoy meeting my agent. Many of them came to support me, but they also were able to talk about their work to Deidre. I was thrilled when she asked a number of them to submit their manuscripts to her agency.

Bring promotional items. Readers are often shy about meeting authors so I like to get out from behind the signing table and introduce myself to them. Having a bookmark, candy or other giveaway helps to break the ice.

Make it fun! Jia brought balloons. One of the bookstores provided beverages for those who attended. Each night the authors went out to dinner. Of course, we talked about writing and our favorite books. On Friday, we celebrated Shannon’s birthday with a yummy chocolate cake.

Spend the night. To cut down on driving, most of us stayed in Madison, Georgia, home of The Knight Agency. Having our hotel close by kept us well rested and ready for the next event.

Book tours are easy to do and lots of fun! Next time I have a book coming out, I’ll contact some of my author friends to see who wants to go on tour. Shoppers swarm the malls at the beginning of the month so I’ll schedule the tour with that in mind. Hope to see you there!!!

Happy writing! Happy reading!

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/

PROTECTING HER CHILD
By
Debby Giusti

“WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BABY?”

Wealthy heiress Eve Townsend is close to death. But before she dies, she has to know: what happened to the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty-four years before? Did she inherit her mother’s life-threatening disease? Medical researcher Pete Worth is ready to find answers by tracking her down. And when he finally locates Meredith Lassiter, he finds her widowed, pregnant and on the run. The loan sharks who killed her husband want her dead…and Pete is the only one standing in their way.

Winner of the 2008 Daphne du Maurier Award for Inspirational Suspense, medical technologist Debby Giusti writes spine-chilling Christian fiction for Steeple Hill. PROTECTING HER CHILD, her fifth book and the second story in her Magnolia Medical series, was released in May. CHRISTMAS PERIL will feature her novella YULE DIE in December, and KILLER HEADLINE will follow in February 2010. Her first three books, NOWHERE TO HIDE, SCARED TO DEATH and MIA: MISSING IN ATLANTA are available in hardcover by Thorndike. In addition to full-length fiction, Debby has written articles for numerous magazines, including Southern Lady, Woman’s World, Our Sunday Visitor, Army and Family. For over twelve years, she served on the editorial advisory board of ADVANCE for Administrators of the Laboratory and wrote extensively on emerging infectious diseases for that magazine. For more information about Debby and her books, visit her web site at: http://www.debbygiusti.com/.

Suspense--its all in the hooks

One of the best books for learning to write fiction is Dwight Swain's

informative and instructional book titled, Techniques of the Selling Writer.

Inside the pages of this book you'll find easy and practical advice on how to format a scene, how to hook your reader, how to string the words together in such a way that you transition from on thought or plot point to the next.

I discovered this book early on in my writing career and have read it at least a half dozen times. And every time I read through it I find another new nugget to apply to my work. I highly recommend this book to all writers, especially those just starting out.