Monday, November 26, 2018



Lady of A Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd
It is not just that Sandra writes with skill and imagination. And it isn’t just that she leads her readers into the Victorian time period with realistic yet exquisite flair. This writer has a unique voice that captivated me immediately. I am a fan from the very first page and she held me securely till the last exquisite word planted her very satisfying ending.

The story-telling drops off the page as vibrant characters—those quite likeable and those not so much—intermingle on the page leading this reader on a journey raptured with intrigue, mystery, and heart-felt desire to know more. Who can one trust? Will Miss Eleanor Sheffield discern the false from the genuine concerning the most important relationships and individuals surrounding her? Much responsibility is laid upon this fine lady’s shoulders and the hero who’d been silent for so long is questionable to say the least. Especially when someone with influence—not dampened by the grave—reveals information that must be considered.

Re-read- most definitely- most desirably. Lady of A Thousand Treasures is a novel this reader will crave to read. I understand without question that the mood to experience Sandra’s books will drop upon me and I must seek the treasured tales hidden within her pages.
If you enjoy historical fiction, which includes actual people and plants your feet in the time period so naturally that you don’t know that you’ve been transported, then your will appreciate this first of THE VICTORIAN LADIES SERIES.

QUESTIONS FOR SANDRA:
Your novel is lush with historic atmosphere, yet what you paint with words only accents the story and adorns your characters. What was your favorite scene to embellish with historic props?
Anything having to do with the house. I love those old stately homes in England, with their secret rooms and corridors, the back stairs and the front stairs, the creaking hallways and the walls hung chock-a-block with pictures.  It’s such a pleasure to bring my readers to those houses!

I appreciate your main character, Miss Eleanor Sheffield. How did you decide on her personality? What is the very best quality about Miss Eleanor and the hero, Henry?
I love that Ellie had many difficulties thrust upon her, and yet did not allow herself to become a victim. Victorian women had major constraints, and the heroines in my books cannot just solve their problems as you or I might—but I love them the more for that; they are forced to cleverly use the tools at hand. Truthfully, all of us, then and now, are constrained in some way from the full self-determination we would prefer, and perhaps that is one way we identify with them. And yet ... the human spirit, a strong woman's spirit, faces those challenges head-on, tries to think through what she wants, and then plots a way toward it. When roadblocks occur, she finds a way over, around, or through. That was true a thousand years ago, and it is still true, now.

Also—we must all be risk-takers to gain what we want: love, respect, a meaningful life, and personal fulfillment. Today's readers certainly have that in common with yesterday's women, my historical heroines. Ellie had to learn to do all of that and to trust herself.  When she did, life unfolded for her!
Harry is a man after my own heart. I often find that, in novels, readers want the heroine to have to grow, but they expect the hero to be nearly perfect from the start.  But that’s not a real man! Harry had to learn to leave behind trying to please everyone and prove himself and allow himself to be the strong, loving man that he is. No approval required! 

How did you choose the Sheffield Brother’s evaluator of antiquities business?
My husband and I are devoted fans of British television and film, and we are especially partial to the early seasons of Jeeves and Wooster. In one episode, the older men are after one another’s silver collections, stooping to all manner of shenanigans to acquire them. Wodehouse uses humor, as always (the lowly silver cow creamer!) to wryly remark on an upper-class habit, the collecting of things and envy of others’ possessions.

I do admire the many collections the British have amassed over the years, though. Some are in country houses, as in my book and the Wodehouse episode, but some are in tiny cabinets of the middle class, and others consist of large numbers of pieces that have been donated to museums. I have always loved the V & A just for its sheer size, and I loved learning a wee bit about its predecessor, the South Kensington, and how some collections came to partially populate museums.
I think that we are all collectors of sorts. I moved recently, and one of my friends noted how many baking pans I had collected—Bundt pans in 10-inch, 9-inch, 8-inch, and 6-inch sizes, for example. Why? Baking is a way I provide affection to my family, and therefore it wasn’t so much about hoarding as what those pans meant to me. Jewelry, tea sets, artwork, even pennies and empty perfume bottles all carry an emotional value for those of us who treasure them. I wanted to explore that in the book.

What was your favorite collection that Miss Eleanor Sheffield worked with?
I loved exploring the difference between what her mother treasured -the valuable and showy jewelry, and what Harry’s mom treasured, the pelican pendant, and what it said about  each of them. Ultimately, our treasures tell others a lot about us.

Who is your favorite troublemaker in this story? Or if you wish not to answer that, who is your favorite support character?
Marguerite is my favorite support character. Every woman needs a BFF, no matter what time you live in, someone who is unfailingly faithful to you but also loves you enough to speak the truth.

What experience or person triggered the “writing bug” in you?
I was always a reader; I learned to read and love reading at an early age.  It followed, for me, that I wanted to create stories, too.  The many historical books I enjoyed reading as a child and then as a young woman influenced me, too.  I loved American set books such as the Little House on the Prairie series, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and others like that. I also fell in love with Jean Plaidy/Victoria Holt and her books definitely influenced the topics I choose to research and write about.

How do you like to begin writing a novel?
I think of a main character, and the situation, and the romantic difficulties. Then I plot in layers. I research extensively, and those learned bits get put on my outline. Dates, and the mystery’s clues and outcome, are layered on next, and then the various threads: romance, character arcs, spiritual aspects. When I have the house framed, as it were, then I feel free to let my creativity loose because—hopefully—I haven’t forgotten anything.

I don’t think I could write historicals without setting a plot and a timeline ahead of time. It’s too much for me, personally, to keep in my head. Then once the math is done, so to speak, I relax and let my character command the pages.

How do you wish for your readers to connect with you? I would love for them to visit me at my website: www.sandrabyrd.com  There is a contact button there if they wish to email me, and links to all of my social media pages!

Tuesday, November 20, 2018



PENS OF PRAISE
CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP
November 20, 2018
Tuesday 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Faith Church
2201  42nd Street, Manitowoc, WI  54220
   Faith Church is located next to Festival Foods
   Not far from the Manitowoc exit off Interstate 43

The Chicken Buzzer Meeting of Readings & Insights is our topic this month.  Susan Marlene will direct this class by staggering 5 minutes of reading shares with 5 minute instruction on perfecting the craft by using brain science. We will keep this writer/teaching/writer pattern flowing during our teaching segment. 
Pens Assignment: For Fiction and non-fiction writers wishing to participate in reading their work to the group: Pick up to five pages and edit them before Pens to reading at Pens.  Write a scene or sample with purpose- who, what, where, when, why. If the action or dialogue or information doesn't move the story forward then cut that before the meeting. What does the antagonist want? What gets in the way? What is his/her reaction and feelings and thoughts about what happened? Or for non-fiction—What is your topic, who are you reaching and what is the message focus for tonight?
Susan will provide information from a popular how-to book on writing. Remember, leaving your reader inspired with excellent take-away is like an open invitation for your reader to return!
PROMPT: Truly Thankful or Turkey on the Rise
We are a safe place to share.

Bring your favorite coffee or tea with you! J

As always, if you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact Becky McLafferty @ rebeccamclafferty@gmail.com or
www.susanmarlene.com





As Silver Tried in a Furnace by Susan Marlene

The words of the Lord are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.  Psalms 12:6

Comforting, stabilizing, and encouraging are the loving words of our Father, whether we are joy-filled and elated or down-cast and trodden upon. His words bring life and liberate us from the weighty situations and attitudes this world harbors. When someone has spent much time with Him and soaked in the refreshment and grace His truth delivers, they draw us like a gravitational pull. There is a natural delight and purity that we find attractive, and we sense necessary. But when the undercurrent of law upon the lips of one with an unsoftened heart speaks—the opposite occurs. Bars of unreasonable expectation and critical judgment can hem us in if we do not make our escape.
Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow, To shoot from concealment at the blameless… Psalm 64:3-4a What is the language of the evil one? Lying accusations, disrespect, and belittlement, which yields oppressive fruit. But oh, to discover the language of heaven, which bears abundant life, joy, and hope. How grateful I am that our holy and perfect Father provides our righteousness through Jesus so that we can luxuriate with Him in life eternal. Yet, we need to know His directives: accept, follow and abide.

His kindness and invitation to come unto Me never faulters. His message to His children doesn’t devastate or tramp down the spirit. He speaks correction that brings health and life that we may either chose to accept or deny. His precious thoughts toward us outnumber the sands of the sea and are too numerous to count.1 He is the only way to journey to truth and life.  

My soul saddens greatly when blanket accusations wreak their poison. I’ve heard someone accusing his brothers and sisters in the Lord with statements harshly edged in judgment. Was that the sting of contempt upon his tongue? Why? How perfect are any of us? Do we not all share that talent to disappoint? Do we not all need forgiveness and intercessors who pray for life and liberty of our own personal challenges? I suppose it all boils down to what language we wish to speak and what fruit we wish to bear. Will we speak the language of the Devil and spew suspicion, division, and critical unforgiveness? Or will we allow our thoughts and words to produce a garden of delights filled with encouragement, truth that shines a light on hope for future pathways that will lead heavenward? Shall
we pray for things that are not as though they were?2 That is how I wish others to pray for me. How about you?

Words so easily slide off the tongue, yet, are impossible to retrieve after they’ve been spent. I wish this to be my prayer—this prayerful verse from Psalm 19:14—Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord my rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14

 1 Psalms
 2 Romans 4:17