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[Patricia Lee] What Writers and Squirrels Have in Common
Every good story needs a main character. Writers work at creating a personality readers will care about and root for.
This story has one.
A rodent.
Brown beady eyes, a big furry tail, and a set of feet that permit it to climb to unfathomable reaches.
My husband and I named her Mischief.
Intrigued?
She first caught our attention when she scaled a concrete wall and wiggled inside the squirrel-proof birdseed dispenser on our back patio. Apparently the feeder design team failed to recognize that a bar that closes when a heavier animal lands also needs a squirrel proof top. Mischief pulled the lid off like she was opening a jar of peanuts and helped herself.
So much for squirrel-proof.
Writers need to create conflict. This squirrel looted the bird seed with too much ease and without consequence. Story suspense flattens.
Enter the villain.
My husband put a screw in the top and moved the feeder to a more unreachable location. Mischief could not jump from the roof, climb the gutter, scale the wall, or leap from a bush. Problem solved.
Can you feel the conflict growing? Have you chosen your champion? Man vs Mischief? Are you turning the pages eager to see who wins? Writers know that makes a good book.
Mischief spied the trellis instead. Time for more conflict.
The feeder moved to a third location, nothing to climb except the back screen door, which Mischief tried, but couldn’t stretch far enough to reach the feeder.
Begin Act II.
Mischief turned her attention to the suet dispenser—a small wired box that holds a mix of suet and seed that birds can feed on. Too small for a squirrel to climb in. Neither did it offer a platform large enough for a squirrel to land.
Unless you jump from a lilac bush and land on top.
Which Mischief did. There she sat, her front feet clinging to the dispenser, her hind legs and tail dangling as she wolfed down huge bites of honey-flavored suet with sunflower seeds.
Obviously she’s a gourmet.
We were ready for a climactic ending. Will the man defeat the rodent? Or will the squirrel declare victory as the man is reduced to a fit of frenzy?
Begin Act III
My husband erected a ten-foot pole in the center of our patio table. He mounted the suet feeder on top and positioned the pole in the center of the patio so the squirrel could not jump to it, nor could she use other furniture pieces to work her way up.
Like a frustrated writer creating a new scene that wouldn’t cooperate, the squirrel sat on the fence and studied the pole. She’d look at it from one angle, then move to another position and calculate her next move. She moved to the lilac bush, then scurried to the ground. We never saw a camera in her paws, but watching her a passerby might think she had one, taking pictures at every angle to achieve her quest. Like the determined writer, the squirrel with her God-given abilities fleshed out the scene for herself.
Time for the climax
On day two she climbed the pole as if she had toe clips. She sat on top and had her meal.
My husband considered a gun—a fitting end for a furry freeloader.
Instead, he inverted a slick-sided bucket on the pole and set the feeder on top. If the squirrel were to reach the feeder, she would have to find some way to grab the sides of the bucket and boost herself up. We watched her make several attempts, but each one failed. She’d climb and reconsider, scurrying back down the pole the way she’d come.
The final resolve
Several weeks have passed and Mischief hasn’t managed to reach the new feeder. My husband has moved on to other challenges. The story has resolution and a final scene.
I expect Mischief on the New York Times bestseller list.
Patricia Lee is a published author, having written since she first learned what words could do at the age of six. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Oregon. Articles to her credit have appeared in Moody Monthly, Power for Living, Expecting and Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse as well as in two anthologies— Cup of Comfort Bible Promises and In the Company of Angels. She is part of a team of bloggers who submit short devotionals for FaithHappenings.com.
Patricia is a member of the Oregon Christian Writers and of American Christian Fiction Writers. She and her husband have two adult children and live in the Pacific Northwest with two sleepy cats.
The 4th book in Patricia’s Mended Hearts series released August 1, 2020.
All Eily McKintrick needed was an onion.
Across the fence an entire garden waits, but her brusque and unfriendly neighbor Marshall Frye doesn’t want to trade for the needed vegetable. Annoyed, Eily crawls through the fence to borrow the onion anyway, risking the wrath of the contrary man at the property line. If she’s caught.
Marshall would only be too happy to gift the widow with an onion, if it weren’t for her choice of friends. She spends time with Hillary Shepherd, a determined divorcée with her sights set on him. After his wife died, he retired early as a high school principal to live a contented solitary life growing vegetables for the local food banks. But when he finds Eily on her knees in his garden, the ensuing adventure is more trouble than either are prepared to handle.
Will Eily and Marshall find love for a second time? And what will Hillary do?
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[Janalyn Voigt] Most Popular Cookie of the 1910s | Tasting History, part 4
Folks in Spokane, Washington celebrated the first Father’s Day. The electric refrigerator debuted for home use. Word War I ended, and the American doughboys returned home. Women won the right to vote. The 1910s was a decade of innovation, change, and prosperity for the United States. A ‘new’ cookie gained popularity, although the taste for sweets remained the same.
Most Popular Cookie of the 1910s | Tasting History, part 4
Is there an aging jar of molasses lurking in your cupboard? Most of us have one, but we’re not all that sure what to do with it. We might search it out to make gingerbread cookies at Christmas or ladle a spoonful or three into baked beans. Not that long ago, molasses was the primary sweetener in American kitchens.
The thick, dark syrup we call molasses is a by-product of sugar making. Juice is extracted from sugar cane or beets and boiled down to form sugar crystals. The liquid that remains is a thick syrup, which can be boiled several times more to produce different types of molasses.
As a word, ‘molasses’ derived from the Latin mel, which meant honey. That fact alone will tell you that use of this elixir was an ancient practice. The Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book, the main source for these (adapted) recipes, states that molasses hails from Marco Polo days. We’re talking the 1200s. The English coined the word we use today, taken from the Portugese melaco. The first known use of the word occurred in Portuguese book published in 1582.
Molasses first entered the United States from the West Indies to produce rum. The British levied exorbitant duties on molasses after the Molasses Act of 1733, but colonists had a way of ignoring British taxes. (Can we say tea party, anyone?) The unfavorable reaction caused the Brits to reduce the tax of molasses in 1764.
Molasses cost less than refined sugar, which is how it became the most important sweetener in the United States. As an interesting side-note, people thought it tasty with salt. I haven’t tried the combination, but it sounds intriguing.
So what caused molasses to decline in popularity? World War I ended, in a nutshell. The sudden drop in prices for refined sugar enticed cooks away from molasses. The era of the white sugar crystals began.
Another side-note is that in 1919, a gigantic vat of molasses exploded at Boston’s Purity Distilling Company. The ‘Great Molasses Flood’ killed 21 and dumped two million gallons of the sticky substance in the streets. Can you imagine? No, I’m not making this up. History can be stranger than fiction.
Ginger Cream Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies:
1/3 cup softened, unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ginger powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Cream Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 Tbsp cream, milk, or water
Mix the butter, sugar, egg, molasses, and water together. Combine all dry ingredients. Stir the combined dry ingredients into the wet mixture. (Note: The dough will seem too moist, but this is normal. Don’t skip the chilling step.) Chill the dough for at least two hours, or until it is the texture of firm cookie dough.
While you are waiting, make the icing (recipe below) and grease two cookie sheets.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Drop teaspoons of the chilled dough onto greased baking sheets about 2-inches apart. Bake your ginger creams for 8-9 minutes. You can tell they are done if when you lightly press the cookies, very little imprint remains. They will appear slightly brown around the edges.
Cool the cookies on racks until they are just warm before icing them.
Cream Icing: Blend the powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla with a fork. Add enough cream, milk, or water to make an icing that is not too runny but easy to spread. For best results, frost the cookies while they are almost cool but still a little warm.
Note: While the traditional frosting is good, cream cheese frosting really elevates these cookies. I made sandwich cookies by spreading a nice layer of frosting on one cookie, then topping it with another. I bet they would make awesome ice cream sandwiches too.
Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales “written” in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. The same elements–romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy–appear in all her books.
Learn more about Janalyn Voigt at her website.
Based on actual historical events during a time of unrest in America, the Montana Gold western historical romance series explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west. Step back in time to a simpler day. Fall in love with the West.
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[KD Holmberg] Scattered
My daughters are young mothers with five little girls between them. Recently, both of them deleted their Facebook accounts. They decided to “social distance” from “social media” and detach from the divisive diversions of mass culture. My youngest daughter described social media as making her feel scattered.
That resonated with me. My life, like yours, has been interrupted by a pandemic. Yet, with an abundance of alone time, I too am more scattered than ever. You think it would be the opposite. But a quick glance at social media often turns into a lost hour or two, and most the time it makes my blood pressure rise. And honestly, I’ve let it fracture my writing and quiet time.
Multiple studies link heavy social media usage with an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. The list of mental health issues caused by living under the stress of Covid-19 reads the same. Many of us are having a really difficult time right now, and we seem to compound it by getting sucked into the noise the world is making.
Now, more than ever in our lifetime, we need to be diligent, and awake to the difference between information and wisdom.
Zechariah tells us: Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered. I believe that is what is happening. The enemy is working overtime devising devious ways to smite our Shepherd. Satan is creating so much noise, from anarchist mobs, to constant attacks on conservative values, and even silly divisions over our right to wear a mask or not.
All distractions designed to scatter us from our Savior.
Luke 24 teaches about two disciples of Jesus who walked to a village called Emmaus three days after the crucifixion. Cleopas, and his unnamed companion, with sand crunching under their sandals, conversed and reasoned together. They were so preoccupied, so scattered by current events, that when a stranger asked to walk with them, they didn’t recognize Jesus in their midst.
Conversely, Mary Magdalene watched Jesus die. She stood firm afterward while all other followers scattered. This steadfast expectation of what was to come showed her unwavering, devout discernment. She remained at the tomb, received the first visit from our risen Lord, and gave the other followers the good news. She stayed focused on the Shepherd, even when all seemed lost.
We have to show our own devout discernment more now than ever. We need to identify what scatters us, and realize its only tricksy noise the enemy is making. He’s trying to scatter us, make us betray our beliefs, and forget that we have a Shepherd that will lead us through it all.
I love this beautiful reminder by Helen Lemmel:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.Blessings,
KD Holmberg
KD Holmberg contributes to christianfictionauthors.com on the 28th of each month. Her debut novel THE EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, A Story of Hagar, will be released March 15, 2021 by Mountain Brook Ink.
THE EGYPTIAN PRINCESS is an award winning manuscript about a young woman named Hagar who found herself embroiled in a fateful, contentious love triangle that changed the course of human history. It is told from the Hebrew and Arabic tradition that Hagar was the daughter of the king of Egypt, making her a princess before she became a handmaid in the first Hebrew tribe.
KD Holmberg is a retired flight attendant who has lived and traveled all over the globe. She is the married mother of five and has eight extraordinary grandchildren. She and her husband, Keith, love to travel and golf, and live in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
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[Cynthia Herron] Six Reasons to Dream Big
Dream.
Just the word spurs our imagination. And while we’re at it, if we’re going to dream, why not do it in a big way? Isn’t that the purpose—to envision something extraordinary?
I’ve always said that goals are something I try to realistically shoot for with God’s help.
Dreams, however, are something beyond the tangible, but completely possible with the One who moves mountains.
As life ebbs and flows, we should press on toward our goals, and we should never ever let anyone discourage us from thinking with a miracle mindset.
Our dreams sustain us when pressing forward becomes too difficult. When reality bears down with unrelenting force.
Our dreams sustain us when pressing forward becomes too difficult. When reality bears down with unrelenting force. @C_herronauthor #encouragement #inspiration Click To TweetThere was a time when life circumstances sidelined my goals. I could barely go through the motions of everyday life, let alone dream. The situation demanded that I focus my attention on the issue at hand.
At the time, that meant caring for one of our children who was gravely ill.
And yet…
Somewhere deep inside, I carried that seed of something more. Something big. Something God-ordained.
Of course, my primary dream revolved around our child’s health. That God would restore our child physically.
In addition, I yearned to pursue the career path that I’d dreamed about since I was seven. And let me tell you, I dreamed in a big way! I didn’t know how it was going to happen or when, but it was a dream that refused to die, sustained only by embers of hope.
And I refused to be daunted.
That’s the common thread that binds dreamers together.
We shun discouragement.
It doesn’t mean we’re never discouraged. It means we don’t place ourselves in the path of discouragement if given the choice.
I’ll admit—sometimes, that’s a hard one—and we have to re-train our thinking. But it can be done when we’re proactive about it. First, we must plow through the junk. There’s just no other way.
We must prioritize our goals and let ourselves dream.
We should heed advice from trusted sources. We shouldn’t allow our mindsets to grow jaded because of others’ insecurities.
We should heed advice from trusted sources. We shouldn’t allow our mindsets to grow jaded because of others’ insecurities. @C_herronauthor #amwriting #motivation Click To TweetAnd note—if you deal with chronic complainers or joy-stealers on a frequent basis, it may be necessary to reevaluate those relationships. It might be time to redirect your energy toward lighter, brighter sources.
Dreamers have experienced challenges, tests, and hardships, and yet, we remain hopeful.
Despite the worst, we believe in God’s best.
To go a step further, big dreamers not only believe in God’s best, we believe it’s still ahead and we prepare for it.
It’s not lunacy.
It’s faith. (Hebrews 11:1)
So, why dream big?
- It motivates us.
- It creates momentum.
- It encourages others.
- It develops our mettle.
- It prompts success.
- It pleases God.
Let’s revisit faith for a moment.
Is faith necessary to achieve our goals? Does it really influence our dreams?
Do we dream bigger because of it?
You bet!
Faith in something isn’t the same as faith in someone.
My someone is God.
Because I believe God controls every facet of my life and wants the absolute best for me, it isn’t unreasonable to think beyond the tangible.
Because I believe God controls every facet of my life and wants the absolute best for me, it isn’t unreasonable to think beyond the tangible. @C_herronauthor #dreambig Click To TweetRemember my definition of dream?
It doesn’t mean I’ll get everything I want or that things will go my way.
It means when our dreams align with God’s will for our lives and when we’re in sync with His timing, anything is possible.
God plants our seeds of desire for a reason.
He provides the how, when, and where dreams will come to fruition.
Often, it’s when we least expect it.
And it happens supernaturally.
Divinely.
Without preamble.
Always on time and with the big picture in mind.
So…dream big, my friend!
Dream big.
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What’s your dream today?
How will you make it come true?
Cynthia writes Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction from the beautiful Ozark Mountains. A hopeless romantic at heart, she enjoys penning stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. Her Hope Discovered, her début novel and the first in a three-book series, released December 2018 with Mountain Brook Ink.
“Cindy” has a degree in psychology and a background in social work. She is a member of ACFW, ACFW MozArks, and RWA.
She is a 2020 Selah Award (Double) Finalist, a 2017 ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2016 ACFW Genesis (Double) Finalist, and a 2015 ACFW First Impressions Winner. Her work is represented by WordServe Literary.
Besides writing, Cindy enjoys spending time with family and friends. She has a fondness for gingerbread men, miniature teapots, and all things apple. She also adores a great cup of coffee, and she never met a sticky note she didn’t like.
For love, fun, and encouragement ~
Is the sure thing worth risking for the possibility of maybe?
Charla Winthrop, a savvy business woman seeking a permanent lifestyle change in small-town Ruby, learns that things aren’t always what they appear when she takes up residence in a house steeped in charm and a hint of mystery.
Rumor has it that Sam Packard the town carpenter is her go-to guy for home remodeling, but can Charla convince him to help her—with no strings attached, of course? Alone far too long, Sam’s prayed that God would send him a wife and a mother for his daughters. However, the new Ruby resident is hardly what he imagined. A new place to call “home,” the possibility of what might be, and the answer to someone’s prayers unite this unlikely pair with the help of the town’s residents.
Coming soon >>> His Love Revealed October 1, 2020
Preorder August 15th!!
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Nestled in the Ozarks’ hills and hollows is Ruby, Missouri, a quaint, cozy town where “neighbor” is merely another word for “friend.” Ruby will charm and delight as will her quirky, lovable characters who will steal your heart, but hand it right back—with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Savor your new friends’ sorrows and successes in the community where offbeat is perfect and mishaps and mayhem never tasted so good!
*DEAL ALERT*
This fabulous book bargain is continuing!
Five small town romance novels by authors Kelsey Norman, Mary Davis, Barbara Scott, Christa MacDonald, and Cynthia Herron. Kindle Unlimited subscribers read all FIVE for FREE or BUY the entire collection for only .99 cents!
Titles include: At the Crossroad, Her Hope Discovered, The Daughter’s Predicament, Unbroken Spirit, and Dreams of My Heart.
- Author Posts, Devotional, Encouragement, Power of Story, Sara Davison, The Stories We Live, Thoughts & Things
[Sara Davison] To Write or Not to Write About a Pandemic
That is the question.
I’ve been following an interesting discussion in a Facebook group on whether or not readers are interested in future books that will include a mention of our current global pandemic. Overwhelmingly, the response is no. Most commenters were adamant that they would not touch a book that talked about COVID-19, even in passing. Many remarked that if they never heard the words social distancing, masks, lockdown, quarantine, etc. again in their lives they would be perfectly happy.
Understandable, but that strong reaction does present a quandary for authors of contemporary fiction such as myself. Like the majority of readers, I have no strong desire to read or write about the virus. However, when books are released over the next few years, and clearly set during this period of history, it will seem strange if the story doesn’t even acknowledge such a widespread, world-altering phenomenon. Like a book set in 1942 that doesn’t mention, even briefly, that a World War is taking place.
Maybe readers and authors will need to adopt a different mindset towards the pandemic. No one wants to read a book about any difficult topic if it leaves the reader with nothing but a sense of dread or hopelessness. But a story that tackles a hard subject such as slavery, war, genocide, human trafficking, addiction, divorce, or death and still manages, in the end, to offer hope, can be extremely powerful.
Christian fiction is in a unique position to accomplish this feat.
Characters who experience unimaginable circumstances but persevere through the strength God gives them demonstrate for readers that they can do the same in real life.-@sarajdavison Click To Tweet
Tragic events that unfold with strands of God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness woven throughout can strengthen faith and provide courage and healing to readers facing their own personal trials.
A romantic suspense novel of mine, The Darkness Deepens, mentions a global pandemic – a respiratory virus that is a mutation of SARS. The focus is not on the illness, however, but on ways the characters’ faith helps them navigate and overcome this Goliath-like challenge.
So it may be with stories set during the pandemic. Certainly they will need to be handled deftly and with a great deal of prayer, particularly if they are written either while the world is still in the grip of COVID-19 or if not a lot of time has passed since the crisis has been resolved.
Even now, though, in the midst of the fear and uncertainty, God is revealing His presence with us.-@sarajdavison Click To Tweet
As I mentioned in a previous post, many believers are reporting seeing breath-taking rainbows, a reminder of God’s covenant with humanity. I’ve heard countless stories of heroism, selflessness, unity, and God’s miraculous work in hearts and lives during this strange and unprecedented time.
Although the end of this pandemic story is yet to be written, and even though uncertainty and chaos still swirl around us, I am encouraged by these accounts. They give me the strength to keep going. They provide assurance that God is still sovereign and in control and has not abandoned us. And they offer hope that, because of His presence with us, we can experience deep joy and peace regardless of what is happening in the world.
I believe that, if God is part of the story, any book that mentions COVID-19 in the future can leave readers with that same powerful, life-changing hope and will therefore be well worth reading.
Sara Davison is the author of three romantic suspense series, The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, and The Rose Tattoo Trilogy. She has been a finalist for ten national writing awards, including Best New Canadian Christian Author, a Selah, a Carol, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She has won both a Word and a Cascade Award. Davison resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children, all of whom she (literally) looks up to.
Their Secrets Protect Them … But Secrets are Hard to Keep
No one in the army can know that Captain Jesse Christensen has become a believer. He and bookstore owner Meryn O’Reilly are forced to meet in secret, facing imprisonment or worse if they are found out. Their relationship deepens, but so does Lieutenant Gallagher’s hatred for the Christians in their city. As Gallagher’s power grows, it becomes clear that his connections go much further up the chain of command than anyone realized, putting all believers, especially Jesse, in extreme danger.
Meryn wants to give her heart to Jesse fully, but her past holds her back. Although circumstances conspire to keep her silent, she needs to tell him her secret. When he finds out what she has been keeping from him, nothing will stand between them anymore.
Or nothing will ever be the same.
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[Christa MacDonald] Summer Nostalgia During COVID
These are the last few days of July, and it feels like this has been the oddest summer ever. Nothing seems in its right place. I’m working from home, the kids’ plans have all been canceled, and we haven’t been inside a restaurant in over three months. Our summers usually have a well-defined start and end, so without the usual milestones, it feels like we drifted in and can only hope that we will drift out. I’ve been having waves of nostalgia for summers past. I’ve spent most of mine in Maine, a place that I consider a second home.
Thirty years ago (I am old), I worked as a summer camp counselor. It was in the town of Ocean Park, Maine, a small town that started life as a Baptist summer community in the 19th century. The camp was right at the edge of the “downtown” section of Ocean Park, where the acres of forest make way for the streets full of little beach houses and scraggly lawns. As counselors, we’d leave our cabins in the pines to walk the kids down to the stretch of sandy beach or into town to eat at the soda fountain and shop at the general store. Less than a mile away was the delights of Old Orchard Beach with its semi-famous pier and amusement park. OOB, as it’s called, is like Ocean Park’s worldly cousin: beloved, but kinda sketchy. I love every kitschy inch of the place, but we stay in Ocean Park, which is more our speed.
For the last decade or so, my family has rented a beach house as close to the sand as we can afford so we can leave the car in the driveway and walk or bike everywhere. The first night we get there is always pizza night, but we hit the grocery store the next day. Cooking for a crowd can be tricky, but I love the family dinners we have while we’re there. Everyone is all around the same table, sometimes squished, and after dinner, it’s game time. The sun sets, the breeze gets cool, and we play or talk long into the night. The next day it’s up and out to the beach, but not with arms full of gear. It doesn’t have to be a military campaign when your house is yards away. I sometimes simply grab a towel and hit the ocean on my own.
The teenagers love the freedom of being in a little village, able to bike into town to check out the library or the shops without a parent hovering over them. My kids all perfected their biking skills in Ocean Park, able to ride around like I did when I was their age.I love where we live, but its busy streets are not conducive to letting the kids roam free. The only taste of the kind of childhood I had that they get is when we go to Maine. And I think that’s part of what makes that kind of vacation special. There’s no rush, no hurrying, no tickets to buy, no departure times to fret over. The only stress is cleaning up on the day you go home. It’s the best kind of family vacation.
This year the pandemic canceled our beach vacation, but I’ve been ruminating on how to recreate that stress-free family time. We have weekly dinners al fresco at my parent’s house, which has been an enormous blessing. I had a friend over for a take-out dinner in my garden instead of our usual outing to the restaurant, and it was great. The only thing missing was somebody to clear the table. In these small ways, I’ve tried to bring that unique mix of relaxation and fellowship into a difficult time.
Sun + fresh air + friends and family = goodness. Our souls need more of this equation in hard times. We need more prayer, too, more fellowship with other believers. Our church has held Sunday services via video conference instead of streaming it. After the sermon, we break out into prayer groups, and it has saved my sanity. Being prayed over, especially by people strong in the faith, has got to be the best thing ever. We need more of this.As we physically distance, our hearts naturally yearn for closeness. I think my pining for our family vacation is exactly this. I hope we can all find ways to come together while keeping safely apart. Blessings to all!
Christa MacDonald is a 2017 Carol Award finalist for contemporary Christian fiction. She began her writing career at the age of eleven, filling a sketchbook with poems and short stories. After publishing a few short pieces in her college’s literary magazine, she took a long hiatus during which she embarked on a few different careers, got married, had three kids, and renovated an old barn masquerading as a house. Her most recent work, The Redemption Road, finished the Sweet River Redemption series published by Mountain Brook Ink.
When not working or writing, Christa can be found ferrying her kids around, reading, or attempting something crafty. She and her family live along the coast of New England.
Katherine Grant takes the job at Sweet River Christian Academy hoping a small town in the wilderness of Maine will be a vacation from her high-powered career and a break from the emotional toll of the secrets she has buried deep. With the school director on a power trip and evidence of shady dealings, there’s nothing relaxing about it. Maybe it would be easier if she wasn’t so distracted by Captain MacAlister, the local cop she can’t get along with, yet can’t get out of her head. She didn’t trek up to the middle of nowhere to lose her heart.
Mac doesn’t need the kind of trouble he believes Katherine will bring. He’s got enough to deal with from poachers to drug crime. Mac has rules to maintain his faith, like avoiding the pull of an attractive woman who doesn’t fit his life. But when he meets Katherine, he’s drawn in by her intelligence and strength, despite getting burned by her quick temper.
When near tragedy strikes, Katherine reveals her feelings, and Mac doesn’t hesitate to respond. If only their scars, both seen and unseen, didn’t threaten to tear them apart. Two wary hearts must soften and two steel wills bend if they have any hope of making it down the broken trail to love. -
[Starr Ayers] Faith Like Fireworks
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” –2 Timothy 1:6-7, NIV
Fireworks. Who doesn’t love them?
Colorful bursts of light screaming across night skies have been a part of our nation’s history since before the Revolutionary War. As thirteen British colonies sought liberation from England, John Adams, an American patriot and congressional delegate, envisioned fireworks as a part of future national celebrations.
In a letter to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776, he wrote, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”It would be another year before this founding father would witness the fulfillment of his vision.
On July 4, 1777, Boston and Philadelphia celebrated America’s first birthday with brilliant aerial displays of light.
Sadly, because of the coronavirus, our nation’s 244th birthday was less festive than previous years. Gatherings were smaller, the numbers who attended fewer, the night skies darker, and our collective dreams for America’s future somewhat dimmer. But the pandemic cannot unearth the grassroots of our freedom and our cause for celebration.
Even though our nation’s birthday has passed, it is never too late to celebrate.
Purchase a box of sparklers and create your own light show. Sparklers are pretty unimpressive in the box, but when a match is struck, and the flame is passed from one sparkler to another, a dazzling display of light erupts and overtakes the darkness.
The last words of the apostle Paul are found in 2 Timothy. While imprisoned in Rome and facing execution, his concern was not for himself but for his dear son-in-the-faith, Timothy.
As Timothy oversaw the church in Ephesus, Paul encouraged him to “fan into flame” the gifts God had placed in him.
He encouraged him to be bold, to persevere, and to ignite a blaze that would attract others to their Father’s heart and light up the darkness.
Today, more than ever, the world needs the light of Christ. If you are a believer, you are that light. Be brave, fan into flame the gifts God has given you, and watch for opportunities to share your faith like fireworks. From person to person, from one end of the continent to another—
Pass it on!
Happy Birthday, America!
Starr Ayers is a third-generation artist, inspirational writer, Jesus follower, rainbow chaser, incurable night owl, java junkie, and an avid iphone photographer who seeks to make the ordinary extraordinary.She is published in two anthologies: Hopelifter: Creative Ways to Spread Hope When Life Hurts and Reasons to Smile, Celebrating People Living with Down Syndrome, and has written a monthly inspirational page for Thrive, a regional magazine, since 2013.
Starr is a member of Serious Writers, Word Weavers International, and American Christian Fiction Writers. She hones her craft through writing devotions and attending national writer’s conferences.
Her debut novel, For the Love of Emma, releases January 1, 2021, and she is pursuing the publication of her children’s picture book, Gracie, the Bird with Two Left Wings. Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency is her agent.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband, Michael, of fifty years. They have two daughters and a son-in-love. She is active in her church and has led a women’s Bible study in her community since 2003.
She invites you to connect with her on her website, Bringing Life into Focus at starrayer.org or via email at starrayers@triad.rr.com.
NEW RELEASE
Coming–January 1, 2021
For the Love of Emma
A compelling love story inspired by family letters and set in the throes of the Great Depression, portrays a young couple’s quest to keep their love alive, regardless of events that threaten to tear them apart.
When Caroline Myers discovers a box of letters in her deceased mother’s trunk, she’s captivated by the romance that unfolds between her mother and a handsome young soldier. Determined to read between the lines, she unearths long buried secrets and vows to fulfill the request her mother tucked inside the box sixty-four years earlier.
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[Linda Thompson] Are We Slow to Believe?
And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25)
Something that strikes me consistently when I read the resurrection account in the Gospels is how THICK the disciples were!
Jesus Told Them!
The Son of God walked among them for three years, tutoring them personally on the Kingdom of God. But not until they had cowered through the days He spent in the tomb, and He began to appear to groups of them after His resurrection did they remember (Luke 24:8) the many, many times He had foretold in their presence that He would have to suffer, die, and rise again to fulfill the scriptures. (John 2, Matt 12, 16, 17, 20, 27…)
But while the disciples forgot, guess who remembered? The Lord’s enemies! They told Pilate about it.
Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, “After three days I am to rise again.” (Matt 27:63)
The glorious outcome of the crucifixion should not have been a surprise to the disciples. Did they need to spend those days and nights crushed in despair?
Jesus Told Us…
But every time I point a finger at the disciples, three point back at me. They had the Living Word walking among them; I have the Holy Spirit indwelling me, Praise God. Yet how many times and in how many ways do I plug my ears to His still, small voice? How often do I choose to dwell in my own mental paradigm of anxiety or despair or disgruntlement instead?
How many times and in many ways do I plug my ears to His still, small voice? How often do I choose to dwell in my own mental paradigm of anxiety or despair or disgruntlement instead? – via @lthompsonbooks Click To TweetWhen He walked our world the first time, Jesus made it very clear He would come again. And He told us how awful things would look before He did.
There are many prophetic passages I could cite, and no doubt you’ve heard them. But one of His most poignant pronouncements came on the night He was betrayed. This somewhat dry description of the ancient Jewish betrothal process:
When a young man desired to marry a young woman in ancient Israel, he would prepare a contract or covenant to present to the young woman and her father at the young woman’s home….
The most important part of the contract was the bride price… If the bride price was agreeable to the young woman’s father, the young man would pour a glass of wine for the young woman. If the young woman drank the wine, it would indicate her acceptance….
Ketubah ( Jewish wedding contract), c. 1740 | Brooklyn Museum …leads us to a beautiful picture. Jesus at the Last Supper, offering the New Covenant to His disciples:
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matt 26:28)
Jesus’s phrase here reflects a bridegroom offering the covenant of marriage with the Betrothal Cup, and also disclosing the bride price—His own life on the cross.
Blessing cup and unleavened bread set for Jewish Passover Seder supper. Jesus’ last supper was a Passover Seder (Luke 22:8). When the disciples drank from the cup, they ratified the covenant.
Jesus' words over the cup at the Last Supper reflect a bridegroom offering the covenant of marriage with the Betrothal Cup, and also disclosing the bride price—His own life on the cross. – via @lthompsonbooks Click To TweetThe betrothal in ancient Israel was legally binding. The bride was “bought with a price” (1 Cor 6:20). From that hour, she would go about veiled to signal she was formally off the market.
Then what? The betrothal period would typically last a year or two. The bride and groom would not see each other again until the wedding, when they would drink the next ritual cup, the Wedding Cup, together. That’s why Jesus said,
I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom. (Matt 26:29)
He was anticipating drinking the Wedding Cup with His bride at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).
They both had preparations to make during this prolonged period of separation. But the groom’s job was bigger.
…The bridegroom would prepare a wedding chamber for the honeymoon. This chamber was typically built in the bridegroom’s father’s house or on his father’s property. The wedding chamber had to be a beautiful place to bring the bride. The bride and groom were to spend seven days there.
So that makes it clear why Jesus said:
In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you…. I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3)
Get Your Glam On
How was the bride to prepare?
- Partake of a Mikveh, a ritual cleansing bath in “living” (running) water.
- Prepare to be “snatched”! Invest in lovely raiment and cosmetics. Have her belongings ready to grab when she hears the shofar (ram’s horn trumpet) announce that her bridegroom is coming for her at last. Keep her lamp in trim!
Jewish Bride’s Adornment for a Wedding in Morocco, 19th Century | Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme Those who follow Jesus are the beautiful bride He bought with a price. And such a price! But, to quote the ditty from Frozen, we’re “a bit of a fixer-upper”!
For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev 19:7-8)
As the signs of the end times arise around us, are we playing the part of the blameless bride (Eph 5:26-27), eagerly preparing our bright raiment for our long-awaited Groom?
The waves are swelling around us, and it’s easy to focus on the water, lose our perspective on Jesus and start to sink. Don’t do it! Look up, at your heavenly Groom, and remember the amazing privilege we enjoy. We get to watch God’s plan come to fruition in our day!
Are we playing the part of the blameless bride (Eph 5:26-27), eagerly preparing for our long-awaited Groom? The waves are swelling. It’s easy to focus on the water, lose our perspective on Jesus & start to sink. Don't do it!… Click To Tweet(For a stunning dramatization of these ancient wedding traditions, you might check out the Before the Wrath DVD*–you’ll find the movie trailer here. For more thoughts on Jesus as our Heavenly Bridegroom, and the fascinating way His long absence maps to Jewish wedding traditions and the Jewish Feasts, you might check out this post.)
Array yourself. Your bridal canopy awaits!
*Amazon affiliate link. I may earn an associate’s fee on selected purchases.
Linda Thompson stepped back from a corporate career that spanned continents to write what she loves—stories of unstoppable faith. Her debut novel, The Plum Blooms in Winter, is an O.C.W. Cascade Award winner and a finalist for several prestigious awards: Christy and Carol Awards, plus the International Book Award in two categories. Linda writes from the sun-drenched Arizona desert, where she lives with her husband, a third-generation airline pilot who doubles as her Chief Military Research Officer, one mostly-grown-up kid, and a small platoon of housecats. When Linda isn’t writing, you’ll find her rollerblading—yes, that does make her a throwback!—enjoying their first grandchild, or taking in a majestic desert moonrise.
He made aviation history in WWII’s daring Doolittle Raid. Now he’s downed and on the run.
She wants to bury a knife in him. Can her victim offer redemption instead?
“A taut, crisp debut achievement that colorfully evokes the Pacific theater of WWII. Start this one forewarned: it’s a stay-up-all-night read.” –Jerry B. Jenkins, 21-time New York Times bestselling author
Winner, 2019 Cascade Award |
Finalist, 2019 Christy and Carol Awards |
Inspired by Actual Events1942. Pilot Dave Delham revels at the success of his historic Japanese bombing mission. Until he’s caught and endures years of torture at the hands of cruel captors. Despairing that he’ll survive, Dave vows if he escapes, he’ll answer God’s call on his life.
Osaka, Japan, 1948. Miyako Matsuura longs to restore her family’s shattered honor. After watching her little brother die in a horrific American air raid, she was reduced to selling her body to survive. When the pilot whose bomb stole her brother’s life returns as a missionary, her thirst for revenge consumes her.
Two damaged people race along a collision course that could bring eternal change. Can Dave and Miyako transform their tragic histories and surrender to forgiveness and faith?
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[Heather FitzGerald] COVID Cannot Quarantine My Memories!
A year ago this month, my husband and I were able to take a dream vacation to the Emerald Isle. Since travel anywhere right now is a pain in the mask, I thought it would be fun to revisit this exceptionally beautiful place via a blog post or two (will continue the tour next month!).
This trip was taken to celebrate my *ahem* fiftieth birthday (July 15th) and our 30th anniversary (Oct. 7th). The original plan was to go in the fall, but my husband could see that his work schedule was going to be too demanding at that time (he’s in construction). However, he didn’t realize this until late June…so, that gave me a whopping two weeks to plan our dream vacation!
Thank the Lord for the internet! With the help of my oldest daughter, who geeks out over all-things Irish due to our family history, I mapped out a plan to see the land of our ancestors. We flew to Dublin, on the east coast, and immediately drove our rented car west, to Galway City. Thinking I was being thrifty, I’d rented a manual (stick shift) car, because it was cheaper. Although we both are fluent in driving a stick, I hadn’t factored in the weirdness of driving on the opposite side of the road. Very. Narrow. Roads.
With roundabouts.
And no shoulders.
And rock walls.
And pedestrians.
Let’s just say that with all of the above factored in, it would’ve been terrifying enough without the addition of clutching and downshifting. We were just relieved to see that the clutch and gas pedals were in the same place!
Despite the tricky driving situation, we were finally on the island full of charming towns, mossy forests, grazing sheep, ancient castles, burial tombs (that predate the Great Pyramids), and the birthplace of C.S. Lewis. As a fantasy writer and an avid Chronicles of Narnia Nerd, I was breathless with excitement over all the possibilities!
Every dot on the map with a name is picture perfect! Case in point: Tyrrellspass. It was but a random exit we took for a snack 🙂 Heading west on the island that is roughly the size and population of South Carolina, we pulled off the highway to grab a snack. Randomly choosing an exit, we found our first castle ruin near the gas station of this tiny town. It would be the first of many random castle sightings. It’s amazing how many of these grand old structures dot the landscapes, especially since we don’t have anything like that here in the states. Most are older than our country!
The first castle we happened upon in the town of Tyrrellspass.Continuing on, we found ourselves lost in Galway City, a charming old town filled with colorful buildings and a festive atmosphere, thanks to many street performers. Our GPS had guided us to the wrong location, but it allowed us a glimpse of the town we would be staying near for the next three nights. Finally we found the location of our bed and breakfast, a lovely two-story home overlooking the Atlantic!
We didn’t have a schedule, but had several options we could explore in each region in which we were staying. Galway has a lot to offer, beyond its beautiful city. We took to the roads and explored the winding lanes of the Wild Atlantic Way. If you’re not familiar with this term/area, the Wild Atlantic Way is the twisty, narrow stretch of road that traces the intricacies of the west side of the island, top to bottom. It’s filled with breathtaking sites like the Cliffs of Mohar, Skellig Michael (think Star Wars, “The Force Awakens”), and MANY a charming town.
Along the shore of Carraroe on the Wild Atlantic Way.
The lovely town of Clifden <3
Kylemore castle was built as a private residence for the Henry family in the late 1800s (making it one of the ‘newer’ castles in the country). Later, it became a Benedictine Abbey.
This gorgeous neo-Gothic chapel on the Kileymore grounds was built by Mr. Henry as a testament to his love for his late wife Margaret.We discovered a shore-side cemetery, ate delicious fish and chips in the adorable town of Clifden, and toured the stunning Kileymore Castle. And that was just the first day! We followed this up the next day with a turbulent and wet ferry ride to the island of Inis Orr, one of three islands whose first language is Irish (what the natives call their Gaelic language).
This ship ran aground on Inis Orr in the 1960s during a severe storm.
One of the most impressive things across the whole of Ireland is the amount of ROCK that the Irish people move from the ground in order to use the land. Just look at the many rock walls on the this island!
St. Caomahn’s church is a 10th century Christian church which has been partially buried in a sand dune. So, yeah, this building is only 1100 years old!After exploring the castle and a shipwreck on the island, the ferry took us for an Atlantic-level glimpse of the famous Cliffs of Moher (pronounced Moore). These cliffs are one of the top three attractions in Ireland. They’ve been featured in a lot of movies, including Harry Potter and The Princess Bride (the Cliffs of Despaaair!). Afterward—wet and chilly—we took to our mighty rental car and drove to the topside of the cliffs, discovering another castle (this one someone’s private residence) along the way.
A picture of me, Heather, sitting in the heather, on top of the Cliffs of Mohar
Though it was hard to top off such an awe-inspiring adventure, we spent our last day in the area exploring Galway City. Here we listened to some talented street performers, enjoyed a peek into the the King’s Head—the oldest bar in Ireland—and discovered Lynch Castle, a castle-turned-bank in the heart of downtown. There are several family crests included in the original construction of the castle…one of which is the FitzGerald family crest!
The King’s Head is in an 800 year old building and has been a tavern for hundreds of years. The name ‘The Kings Head’ refers to King Charles I of England — ruler of England, Scotland and Ireland — who was beheaded for treason in 1649.
Lynch Castle is now a bank. The Lynches were once the most powerful family in Galway. We were surprised to see our family crest featured in the architecture! 
As you can see, there is much to explore and enjoy in this lovely land! I’ll have to share more with you in my post next month. Until then, each of us are probably dreaming about where we will be going as soon as we can remove these masks and start living again.
As for me, I’d be as happy as a leprechaun to go back to this enchanted land!
I discovered this Hobbit Hole disguised as a blacksmith’s shop along the Wild Atlantic Way.Tell me…where you would be now, in this instant, if you could travel? Is there anywhere you plan to go as soon as COVID restrictions lift?
Author Heather L.L. FitzGerald writes from her home in Texas, while dreaming of being back in the Pacific Northwest, where she grew up. When she’s not drinking copious amounts of coffee or planning her next escape, she’s taming dragons, teaching leprechauns manners, and judging animal tricks among her gnome friends. Many of these antics can be discovered in The Tethered World Chronicles, Heather’s award winning YA Fantasy trilogy.
- Author Posts, Dana McNeely, Devotional, Encouragement, Power of Story, Story Behind the Story, The Stories We Live, Thoughts & Things
[Dana McNeely] Who Can You Trust?
But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” ~ I Kings 17:7-9
Trusting God in Good Times and Bad
For about a year, Elijah lived by the brook Kerith while drought gripped the land. He didn’t know how long he’d wait—perhaps until the drought ended. God had promised to care for him there. The ravens came daily and the brook continued to flow. Under these pleasant conditions, how easy it was to praise God.
But one day, the brook’s flow diminished. Perhaps Elijah, hardly believing his eyes, gouged a line in the bank to mark its level. When the last trickle of water sank into the dry, cracked earth, what questions might have entered Elijah’s mind? God had said, “Drink from the brook.” Wasn’t that a promise that water would be there to drink?
Trusting God When Confused
If Elijah had questions when the brook disappeared, more were to come. Zarephath was beyond Israel’s border near Queen Jezebel’s birthplace. Her father King Ithobaal and Ahab were allies. Elijah faced a difficult trek across the drought-ridden land, right into enemy territory. Once there, how would he find this special widow, among so many widowed in the land? Should he throw himself on the mercy of a woman who had lost her own provider, who probably worshiped the very idols Elijah opposed?
Doesn’t it often happen this way for us? We face difficulty and we pray for the Lord’s help. We envision his response—but sometimes when the answer comes, we’re shocked at how far off it was from the answer we expected. Do we trust in good times, but doubt when we face trials?
But Elijah’s fervent prayers and time waiting beside the brook had strengthened his faith. He obeyed the Lord’s leading, leaving the results to God.
So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” ~ I Kings 17:10-12 NLT
The widow’s response is so poignant. She goes willingly to get him the cup of water, a precious commodity in this drought. But then his second request—Bring me a bite of bread, too. How unkind it seems for Elijah to request the first bite of her last meal.
But consider subtle hints in the text. The widow says, “I swear by the Lord your God…” indicating she knows who Elijah is—may even know his God herself. And the next verses reveal that Elijah knows this is the woman he seeks. God said “I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” Elijah’s sojourn by the brook has shown him that if God promised the widow will feed him, her food will last as long as it’s needed.
Unexpected Blessings
But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. ~ I Kings 17:13-16
God cares for us during difficult times as well as during 'showers of blessings' but He asks for trust and obedience. @dana_mcneely Click To Tweet God cares for us during difficult times as well as during “showers of blessings” but he asks for trust and obedience. When the brook dried up, Elijah might have thought that God forgot His promise. When told to go to Zarephath, the prophet might have questioned God’s direction. Instead, he obeyed, resulting in provision, not only for him, but also for others, too.
Who can you trust, in good times and bad? Only God. Ask Him for Help. Trust Him.
Thoughts ~
- Have you experienced God’s love and care during difficult times?
- What sustains you during such times?
- Think of a time when unexpected blessings were the outcome.
Dana McNeely dreamed of living in a world teeming with adventure, danger, and romance, but she had a problem—she also needed lots of peace and quiet. She learned to visit her dream world by stepping into a book. Better yet, hundreds of books. Soon, she began writing her own stories, fact and fiction.
Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered why the prophet came to stay with the widow of Zarephath and her son. What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?
Those questions led to Dana writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive.
No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.
Her upcoming novel RAIN (title may change) follows the dangers and adventures of a mysterious prophet, a desperate youth, and a relentless queen during the time of Israel’s great drought.
A young widow must choose between honoring her father or following her heart . . .
In 894 BC, Hadassah, a young widow, struggles to make a living for her father and herself, while facing an unwanted marriage and her father’s recent strange behavior. Nathaniel, a mysterious new neighbor, engages her feelings in more ways than one. Meanwhile, the king of the war-torn southern kingdom makes an unwise alliance that will change their lives.
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