Beth Ziarnik's "Acquiring The Right Agent Pens Meeting

PENS OF PRAISE

CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP

Let us know if your attending so we can save a seat just for you!

May 16, 2016

Monday 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Faith Free Church

2201 42^nd St.

Manitowoc, WI  54220

 

Wisconsin published author, Beth Ziarnik, will share “Acquiring The Right Agent” this Monday night! Beth will present an interactive talk and questions will be allowed! Beth’s novel, Her Deadly Inheritance, was published this past January and has been floating around on the best sellers list for Amazon since then! There is no fee for those who wish to attend. Beth will have some copies of her novel available for those who would be interested. Contact Beth Ziarnik at www.bethziarnik.wordpress.com.

Prompt for this month is “The Mysterious Agent” so have some fun. Write in the genre of your choice and share/or don’t share if time allows. We are a safe group and for the last—8 or is it 9 years— no tomatoes have been thrown at the speakers or those sharing their latest work in progress!

Stop at a local coffee shop or bring your own coffee or soda and relax with us a while.

May the Lord bless your writing endeavors as you write for Him! Any concerns or questions feel free to contact susanmarlenekinney@gmail.com or rebeccamclafferty@gmail.com

 

Blessings!

RHYTHMS OF RENEWAL BY LETITIA SUK

RHYTHMS OF RENEWAL

By Letitia Suk

Speaker and writer Letitia Suk encourages women with humor and insights for personal renewal and family bonding. I met Letitia at Write To Publish conference and she generously handed me a copy! Personally, she is a delight and as a writer she is a gifted encourager. I have to admit that I’ve been running and racing and panting along my busy schedule. I would glance at Rhythms of Renewal and think, ‘I need that!’ And keep running. That is a bad habit for me, I confess!

But, as this year has drawn on, I decided to stop and drink in the humor woven into these pages. How pleasant and calming it has been for me to reconsider the restoration of peace and how powerful His pace is compared to mine.

Letitia also touches on being intentional about how one renews themselves. She offers helpful lists and interviews with people who have had experiences that relate to the topics she addresses in the chapters of this book. 

I enjoyed Letitia’s walks down memory lane, as she connected with me through ink on the page. I laughed out loud when I related to her stories and took note. Have I totally decluttered my thoughts and made peace with my schedule? No, but I’m in the process and Letitia has assisted my journey, which will have less bumps in the road, because she has made me reconsider or consider afresh! I definitely desire to walk in the balance each season that my life holds. Thank you Letitia for this wonderful and inspiring book.

This is my honest and heartfelt review of Rhythms of Renewal and I extend the invitation for you to read this book and discover your rhythms with the Lord and life and family!

QUESTINS FOR LETITIA:

1)      Letitia, you are a life coach. How did you take that path for a career?

      I like to think of myself as a Renaissance type of woman who reinvents her work path at regular intervals! I taught childbirth classes for many years then the market changed as epidurals became more popular. Along the way I had been mentoring many women and loved helping them set agenda and goals for their lives. When life coaching became more mainstream in the early 2000's, it was an easy shift for me to become certified and do professionally what I had been doing all along. In addition to coaching, I am also a hospital chaplain. Speaking and writing are my first loves!

2)      It is obvious that you share from your heart. Was there someone or a situation that inspired you to write books that build women up, so that they can become stronger?

      When I was about nine years old, I had a strong sense from God that I was to be an influencer for women. That sense of calling has influenced all my endeavors.

3)      What is your favorite chapter in Rhythms of Renewal? Why?

      Chapter Five: Rituals. I love creating life giving practices to flow through the day and calendar year. Elevating the ordinary tasks through simple rituals is very satisfying to me.

4)      What was the funniest experience that you ever had during a speaking engagement?

     The funniest thing that happened was that I was speaking to a group in the community and I pulled out my notes and I had forgotten to bring them. I  never said a word and just kept going ad-libbing the whole talk! 

5)      What is your favorite scripture? Why?

     John:10:10 I love the idea of accepting Jesus' offer of the abundant life or "life to the full." My mission statement is to invite women into an intentional life centered in Jesus.

6)      Okay, now I’m going to get nasty! What is your favorite recipe and will you share it?

      I don't know if I have a favorite recipe! We have been making pizza on Saturday nights for a long time :)

7)      If there is anyone in particular who has influenced your writing who is it?

     Edith Schaeffer and Anne Ortlund planted my vision seeds that have been growing ever since.

8)      In what way do you want your readers to follow you? (FB, email, or other social media addresses.)

      Facebook and email ( Letitia.suk @gmail.com)are great. Both are accessible through my web site LetitiaSuk.com. I never remember to tweet!

9) Do you have any new books coming out ?

       My next book, "Getaway with God: The Everywoman's Guide to Personal Retreat" will be released at the end of the year.

GRACE, GRACE, GOD’S GRACE

Susan Marlene

Pens of Praise April 2016

 Once Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.  John 8:12

Such grace as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost can give…the light of the One. Life in Him!

When reading the passage written long ago, inside the pages of John, the eighth chapter, I come across a desperate individual. A woman who choose to step away from decency, not only from the Pharisees laws, but also from Elohim, the great and mighty authority over Israel.

What lured her away from the coveted acceptance that the boundaries of law and tradition provided? Who knows, and really, does it matter? Don’t we all slip up when we think, say, and behave in ways that offend the God of grace?

Observing the men who dragged this woman right from the center of her sin, to expose her with such harsh and deadly intent, catches my breath. Makes me pause—with what—shock? Fear of such extreme authority? They made several mistakes. Some of which were groomed inside them for years, from example, and expectations from others and themselves. They’d not shown grace because that would have challenged their traditions. Graciousness, an unknown face among their powerful connections. They’d manipulated people’s opinions and expectations for years. This is what they knew. Now, when they come before Jesus, they test and try to trip Him up. But the test backfired.

All because Jesus emulated grace and love that was strange to this people—though they were the barriers of His message. His love was genuine, heart-felt and so full of authority. He wrote in the dirt and the Pharisees still peppered Him with questions. I believe their attention stuck on their anger and motivation to stir Him. He stood and said those profound words that even some modern day sinners may recall, “Let he who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” I believe He did so to draw their attention to what He would write next. Even one stone was too great a burden for them to heft and toss in light of the truth Jesus wrote before them. Though they walked away, probably angry and feeling like failures, He touched them with grace that provided the choice to leave…this woman, their sin, and their horrific tradition that had always been necessary. Until He who embodied grace and life walked among them. Their eyes were muddied with traditions and power seeking, so they saw a problem and not their solution, their grace bearing Lord.

For I have said, Mercy and loving-kindness shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness will You establish in the very heavens [unchangeable and perpetual]….The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all that is in it, You have founded them. Psalm 89:2 and 11

Pens of Praise Christian Writers Group Meeting April

Pens of Praise

Christian Writers Group

  Monday, April 16^th 2016    6:30 – 8:30

Faith Church

            Next to Festival         

 2201 42^nd Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220 

                           Greetings all! We hope you are free this Monday, April 16^th to attend. Bring your thinking caps! We will be exploring movie scripts to dissect dialogue, which is used to make stories matter, stand out, and absolutely sparkle!  We will look at a couple of movies such as: Star Wars: The Force Awakens and something I’ve not decided on yet. If your curiosity is aroused then you will have to come and see!

               The prompt this month was inspired by New York Times bestselling author, Elizabeth Berg. She was Manitowoc Public Library and LaDeDa Books & Bean’s guest speaker Monday, April 11^th. She suggested this writing exercise…

Two oddly matched characters who don’t ‘get one another’ arguing. Make what you will of that! Isn’t that the fun of our prompt times.

                             

You are welcome to bring your ‘work in progress’ to share a small portion if you would like feedback from our group.  We hope to see you on April 16^th, kick up your feet, take a seat, and smile with us a while!

If you have any questions feel free to contact Becky McLafferty at RebeccaMcLafferty@gmail.com or Susan Kinney at susanmarlenekinney@gmail.com

May God Bless you richly and always!

"Two Roads Home" A Chicory Inn Novel by Deborah Raney



Two Roads Home A Chicory Inn Novel by Deborah Raney

I was honored to receive Two Roads Home from Abingdon Press so that I could write an unbiased review.

Deborah Raney brings some home town family distress to the pages of her second novel in the Chicory Inn series. Not only are Audrey and Grant Whitman’s dream of owning and operating a bed and breakfast tarnishing a bit, but there is trouble with their eldest daughter’s family too.

 Deborah spins a tale which embraces parents of adult children, some of which have children of their own. This is a close knit family, who despite their love and loyalty struggle with negative attitudes and unfortunate situations that have to be dealt with or else!

When Jesse Pennington, Audrey and Grant’s son-in-law, is accused of sexual harassment by a disgruntled woman coworker the influence is felt throughout the family. Corinne and Jesse’s three young daughters safety is threatened…could the coworker have anything to do with that?  I’m not telling.

Deborah has successfully gotten into the thoughts and attitudes of this family in crisis. The tension builds…making one think about how they would feel and handle such a crisis if their character, family loyalty, and safety were attacked this way.  

Deborah Raney is an award winning author including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award and has been a Christy Award finalist twice.

If you’re looking for a hometown wholesome read this is your book! In fact there is a free sample chapter for the third book in this series called Another Way Home. This series of novels include a group discussion guide for your readers group, which I believe connect with the reader in a practical way.

Questions for Deb:

1)  You hit on a very emotional topic when you brought in the sexual harassment accusation. What inspired you to take the novel in this direction?
    We often read about workplace sexual harassment involving men harassing women, but I thought it would be interesting to explore it from the point of view of a man who is falsely accused, and it’s actually the woman doing the harassing. It was an interesting and eye-opening topic to explore! 

2)  Were you tempted to write a silver lining in the middle of Jesse and Corinne’s difficulties?
    I’m always tempted to write silver linings! I’m a Pollyanna who really hates putting her characters in peril, hates seeing them suffer. But there’s no tension and no story if happy endings happen too soon!

3)  Do you still relate most to Audrey in this novel, like you did in Home to Chicory Lane? Yes Deb, I remembered from the previous interview we did from this first novel in the series!
    LOL! Thank you for remembering. Yes, Audrey, but I could also really relate to Corinne in this book. Especially her feelings of inferiority and envy where her sisters are concerned. I adore my own sisters, but often struggle with feeling that they are cuter, skinnier, more talented, etc. And they are both younger! So it was fun to explore those feelings in Corinne as well.

4)  You have a knack for getting inside your character’s heads. What experience in your life has aided you to develop that skill?
    It’s probably just the way I was raised. I can remember my mom often saying some form of,  “Just think how you’d feel if you were in their shoes!” It was her way of teaching us to be compassionate, and it serves me well in life—when I remember to apply it!

5)  What would you speak to a person when they instinctively suspect someone’s dangerous interest or actions, but cannot prove it?
    I think people need to know which direction they lean—too trusting, or too suspicious—before I could advise them. Bottom line, I would encourage them to be aware, be in prayer, and involve a trusted friend or counselor if in doubt.

6)  What would you like to relay to your readers or potential readers right now?
    I just hope my readers continue to enjoy getting to know the Whitman family. I’ve tried very hard to make them real, yet good examples despite their human flaws. Most of all, I hope readers see that the reason for any success my characters enjoy is simply Jesus!

7)  What is your favorite novel in this series of five?
    Ha! My favorite is always the one I’m currently working on. But I have a feeling when the series is done and I can be a little more objective about each story, it will be the third book, Another Way Home, that I have a soft spot for in my heart.

8)  Do you keep or share photos of the characters that you write about? Maybe on Instagram?
    I have a Pinterest board with photos of my setting, characters (not all of them yet…showing the characters before all the books are out would give too many spoilers!), and my book covers. I’d love for readers to take a look!
    https://www.pinterest.com/deborahraney/the-chicory-inn-novels-series/

9)  How would you like your readers to contact you?

http://www.deborahraney.com 

https://www.facebook.com/deborah.raney

https://twitter.com/authordebraney

http://novelgarden.blogspot.com

http://amazon.com/author/deborahraney

http://instagram.com/deborahraney

http://www.pinterest.com/deborahraney/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/59414.Deborah_Raney

 

Carrie Turansky’s The Governess of Highland Hall

Carrie Turansky’s The Governess of Highland Hall is set in the Edwardian time period and is quite appealing! I enjoyed my mental vacation to 1911 Berkshire, England. The heroine, Julia Foster, is strong yet feminine – in a perfectly balanced way. Though Julia is young, she emulates amazing character and steadfastness, which is believable because of the missionary lifestyle that she and her family unwillingly left behind. I enjoyed how the skills she’d developed in her beloved India came in handy with her charges in Highland Hall.

Sir William Ramsey, the master of Highland Hall, is a wonderful hero who is dealing with complications that are overwhelming. His fascinating personality and intelligence along with his great heart add much to this story.

This author provided her characters with relational and situational challenges that had me flipping pages and looking forward to what would happen to the characters long into the night. This might sound cliché, but I see that as perfect truth.

The main characters Julia and William along with the other characters such as: Sarah, Clark, Katherine, Andrew and Millie are exactly the type of personalities in which I love to dedicate reading time. This novel is a favorite, which I will enjoy reading again and again. These pages are well written and spiritually, romantically, and historically wholesome and intriguing. Carrie, I applaud you for this delightful and difficult to put down read!

 If you’re looking for clean, entertaining, and uplifting fiction, then let me point you in Carrie Turansky’s direction! Though this is historical fiction there are issues involved in this story that modern day people face each day.  In my opinion—Carrie Turansky is highly recommended!

Questions for Carrie:

1.   Carrie, I love how beautifully you depicted Julia’s spirituality and her struggles. What inspired you to write this character?

Early in 2012 I had a discussion with an editor at a conference, and I asked her what kind of stories she was looking for. Downton Abbey was just becoming popular, and she said she’d love to see a story set in England in the Edwardian Era with a feeling similar to Downton, and perhaps the heroine could be a governess. I liked the idea, but was intimidated by the idea of setting a story in England 100 years ago. But an author friend encouraged me and loaned me some books about that time period. I jumped into the research and fell in love with Edwardian England. The editor’s comments about making the heroine a governess reminded me of Jane Eyre’s story, so I included some elements from that novel. I wanted Julia to have a missionary background, so I remembered reading A Chance to Die, Amy Carmichael’s biography. I reread it and used some of Amy’s experiences as part of Julia’s back story. So Julia is a mixture of ideas and people, and she is one of my favorite heroines.

2.   The historical solutions to problems, whether they are handicaps or hyperactivity, are interesting. Did you know individuals who struggle with these challenges and did you in a way give them voice through the characters of this story?

I’m the mother of two boys and three girls.  They are all grown now, but when they were young we homeschooled them, and four of the five had learning differences that made schooling a challenge. I wove some of those experiences into the story. My husband is also the author of 14 books on parenting, and I’ve been blessed to learn many things from him over the years. The techniques Julia used to help Millie and Andrew come from the Bible, our family, and his books.

 

3.   What do you like to treat yourself to when you are writing—coffee, chocolate, or something else?

I am a tea drinker and enjoy hot tea on cold days and iced tea in the summer months. My favorite tea right now is Stash Meyer Lemon Herbal Tea. Delightful! When I want a treat I make some delicious homemade chocolates using coconut oil, almond butter, and stevia, with a dash of salt. You put it in the freezer to harden up then break it into pieces. Yum!

4.   What was the most difficult novel or novella to write that you have written? Was it an award winner?

I’d say my most challenging novel to write was A Refuge at Highland Hall, which is my latest and the third in the Edwardian Brides Series. It is set during World War One, and I loved the characters and plot, but I had some health challenges that made it difficult to write for a few months. I was really pushing hard to finish all the revisions on time.

5.   You wrote your first story at the age of twelve, did you ever re-write it for publication?

That question made me smile. No, my first story, Passport to Paris, will always stay in the drawer. But it’s a fun to remember coming up with the first story and imaging the two friends on their trip to Paris.

6.   What is the most exciting message you desire to share with your readers?

I always weave spiritual themes into my stories because I want to touch people’s hearts with God’s truth and love. In each book the characters face different challenges, but I do often come back to the healing power of forgiveness and God’s ability to take painful and difficult circumstances and turn them around for good in our lives when we trust Him. Those are wonderful truths that are meaningful to me, and I hope my readers find them exciting and encouraging. 

7.   If you could travel anywhere in the world where would that be?

I love to travel, and I’ve been blessed to travel many places for ministry and for fun: Hawaii, Kenya, Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland, Germany, England, Scotland, and all around the US. If I could go anywhere, I’d return to England and search out some more lovely settings for my novels. I enjoy visiting historical homes and gardens and learning more about how people lived in the past.

8.   What type of fiction is your favorite to read? To write? (Since you write contemporary and historical.)

I enjoy reading historical and contemporary stories. I think it’s the quality of writing that draws me back to particular authors. I didn’t think I would enjoy reading novels set in the American Colonial period, but I loved Lori Benton’s Burning Sky and Laura Frantz’s The Colonel’s Lady. I like romance and happy endings, so I didn’t think I would like WW2 novels, but I loved Cathy Gohlke’s Saving Amelie and Secret’s She Kept. I’m always looking for books set in England, and I enjoy Julie Klassen’s Regency novels. Right now I’m reading and enjoying Judy Christie’s YA novels, Wreath, A Girl, and Wreath in Summer. It’s the power of the story and quality of the writing that makes the difference for me rather than the genre or time period. I enjoy writing contemporary and historical. And right now English historical seems to be a good fit for me.

9.   How do you wish your readers to contact you?

I enjoy connecting with readers through my website, blog, and email newsletter. I’m active on Facebook and Pinterest, and I pop into GoodReads and Twitter as well.  I hope to meet you there!

http://carrieturansky.com/

https://www.facebook.com/authorcarrieturansky/

https://www.pinterest.com/carrieturansky/

https://twitter.com/carrieturansky

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/247470.Carrie_Turansky

Guard and Edit

Susan M. Kinney

Above all else, guard your heart,  for it is the wellspring of life. 

Proverbs 4:23

The first order of business for writing eye catching and desirable prose, in my opinion, is guarding your heart. “What?” You might wonder if I’ve jumped to a new and unrelated topic. Let me provide an example and explanation.

I heard about an author who knew how to plot and write powerfully. But, try as she might,  she was not selling her story. A friend of hers read the manuscript. At first she couldn’t put a finger on what didn’t sit well with her, when reading those pages. Then realization hit…her dear friend had gone through trials and a divorce. Taking another look at the story she could see powerful words, but they revealed the bitter anger and unforgiveness her friend was experiencing. When a reader came away from those pages, they were left feeling unfulfilled and negative.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 

What fruit do you love? What do you want to share with others? Do you want your writing to affect another’s life in a positive life-giving way?

Trying in our own strength to be good, to think right, and offer grace to the graceless can be challenging and frustrating. Thankfully, we are not alone for the Lord God Almighty, the Lover of our Souls, has provided aid for our every need. When we look to Him like Moses, Joseph and David as well as Paul, John and Mary we see that their successful journeys were not achieved alone. He was with them, His very presence offering words of encouragement, inspiration, and miracles.  

He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45 

Everyone experiences trials and pain and disappointments. There are a lot of situations and people we could be bitter and unforgiving toward, but what has our Lord and King make available for us? King David asked, 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 
Psalms 51: 10 – 13  

Your choice is yours of course, but desiring excellent fruit and a clean heart can only be found when resting and listening and laughing with our Lord, our Bright Morning Star! You may wonder how we guard our heart. We edit attitudes which are not His fruit with His help. The invitation is for all who will receive. So, how is your receiver lately?