Into the Fire

Passionate thoughts about the world of writing and the Power of God

recent posts

about

Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

  • Breaking News!

    Thumbnail_Cover_Final

                            Thumbnail_d21556fc-f43a-42d7-996d-d5bd4ae4119f (1)

    It's finally here! And I'm happy to show it off. This is one of those stories that went beyond the usual "feel" for me. This one, for whatever reason, touched me hard and heavy and to say I enjoyed writing it from start to finish is an understatement of the absolute satisfaction it gave me. I have yet to be able to define why exactly that is, why it means so much to me, and why I would say to you, "If you've never read one of my novels, please read this one."

    I love this cover. I love my cover models. They and my photographer worked hard to get me what I wanted. The designer finished it with that "noir" affect I requested. My sources for information were impeccable and available and I can't thank them enough. As is often the case with writing a book where you choose unfamiliar territory to explore, any mistakes are mine – definitely not theirs.  And I also want to give a special note of thanks to Tammi Roberts Pulley who wrote the blurb for the back cover. She read it quickly and was happy to endorse it. Her words mean so much to me. 

    You can order it here now in print or for your e-reader. It might take a little longer to be available on Amazon (and it will be more expensive there for the print copy) and for your Kindle, but it should be available in both shortly. The cost for the e-books will be the same either place. 

    There were several obstacles and my Project Manager was a trooper who dug in when the going got delayed or tough. I appreciate her expertise and focus so much. A group effort came together and produced this very special-to-me novel. 

    You know I always say this, but that's because it's true. The Lord gives me these stories. I would not have one creative idea without His inspiration and divine touch. Again: Apart from Him, I can do nothing. 

    So. This is the official introduction to Then . . . you. If you choose to read it, I pray it will bless you as much as it did me in writing it. 

                             RAW   ROMANTIC   REDEMPTIVE 

     

    Father, I'll say it again and again: Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

     

  • The Preview!

              Red-rubber-stamp-sneak-peek-word-illustration-id669278028-1278531524

    This is the announcement to preview the debut of my new novel Then . . . you. Tomorrow, Friday, June 17th, 2022, Then . . . you will be available for distribution here. It might take a while longer to make its Amazon appearance and perhaps longer still for the ebook renditions. 

    The big celebration is that if you choose to purchase it here on Friday, the print copy will be available immediately for $9 less than the retail price it will be sold for on Amazon and the ebook copy will also be available here for your purchase.

    About the pricing: I write longer stories. Technically things were done to reduce the page count on this novel so the pricing could be more reasonable. Another factor which we detest to mention is the inflation issues have also affected the printing presses. It costs more to produce books now, inhibiting the purchases by readers. Nothing I can do about that except to reduce the sizes of my novels. That's a tall order for me. 

    Then . . . you is a love story that touched me deep to write. I'm hoping it will do the same for you.  

    Here's the FOREWORD: 

    I write love stories with a passion. If you’re not a fan of romance, you’re probably not going to be a fan of my novels. I make no apologies for my work.

    You might wonder why some authors write romance. I know many readers consider it pure “fluff” and a waste of valuable time. I’m not of that opinion, obviously, unless the relationships portrayed are in fact “fluff”. I think romance is inherent in our nature, but, like all human characteristics, it comes in varying degrees.

    I believe romance is important because the way God designed it, it’s to be a necessary and beautiful part of finding and living love with the one He designed for each of us. I realize that’s a disputed concept, but it’s one I adhere to with all my heart.

    In today’s world, “love” is not given a particularly valid definition and is often, based on that flawed definition, tried out with many partners instead of seeking that one who God designed to be with you.

    Then . . . you tells the story of two people who estranged themselves from God’s plan for them until His love brought them back to His design.

     

    Father, only you give me stories to write. Only you fill in the blanks when the words fail to come. Only you inspire me to write. Only you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • Wednesday Whimsy

                      Glock-19-1-407242796

    Glock-17-Gen-4-Free-HD-Wallpapers--948837642

    385067-4267440290

    Maxresdefault-69914085

                                                   Enough said. 

     

    Father, you've given expertise, skills, gifts, and talents. With purpose. Thank you for sharing your creativity. We honor you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     

  • Yeah . . .

     

    This was my "escape" series. And now it's gone. Unlike so many TV series of today, it was clean, honest, fun, without neglecting serious plots. Great characters that expanded their depths and developed their backgrounds. Good, real action. I grew to love it. And I'm angry that it was canceled. No, it was not the original, and it never pretended to be. It took some of its shape and history from the wonderful original with Tom Selleck and John Hillerman and incorporated Magnum's history with "Rick" and "TC", but each character created a unique and meaningful role for themselves. It was well-written and gradually developed the chemistry and "UST" between Juliet Higgins and Thomas Magnum, concluding with a perfectly done admission of their real feelings for each other. 

    Ignore the "subtitled" words. Half of them are incorrect. This is pure romance done well. 

     

    Father, you give creativity in abundance. It's a blessing when it's used for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     

  • Monday Musings . . .

        1_NBW-fBvLlo27HlLUzx6inw

    Thinking about "new" authors . . . I'm not a bestseller, have no platform to speak of, but I have self-published soon-to-be nine novels, having written eleven. 

    At writers' conferences, there are multiple classes for just about everything a first-time author wants to ask or learn. Talented bestselling authors address all kinds of writing concerns, techniques, approaches, and matters of the heart concerning writing that novel – be it the first or one of many. There is much to be learned and conferences are a fun bonanza for all kinds of information and making contacts with professionals and other writers at your same level of business. 

    One of the more important things to note is this: there is no set way to write that novel. You might be an "outliner", you might be a whiteboard jotter, picture posting, chalkboard note-maker, or seat-of-the-pants creator of stories. If I had to make an outline for a story of mine, none of them would've been written. So keep in mind, you are the one God made you to be and you can perfect over time and many, many words later who you really are as a writer and what works best for you. 

    Find your niche, don't be afraid to take chances, pray your way through the process, and accept the lessons you learn as either valuable or, frankly, a waste of your time. 

    Also, remember, words are the premium, the critical factor. They are what drive the communication of a story. They are what make readers take notice. They are those "grab you" or "gotcha" providers that send the reader on a meaningful journey glued to the pages of your story. Words matter. They can be simple or complex or lovely or stark – but they make the book what it is. 

    My Monday Musings . . . on June 13th.

     

    Father, help me to always honor you with my stories. You give them to me, but I must write them. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

  • Sunday’s Offerings

     

    . . . They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.

         Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

         Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful. They invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

     

    Romans 1:26-32 (NIV) 

  • Clarification to “An Invitation” . . .

                      Maxresdefault-1255464969

    Just in case "An Invitation" came off as disrespectful or "snotty", I do wish to clarify. I write love stories with a passion. I include all the trappings of attraction, physical and otherwise, flirtations, and the feelings and emotions those attractions elicit. Even those individuals who are less emotional, perhaps more "practical" in their assessments of the opposite sex, must agree that somewhere along the line that object of their affection and attraction caused a spark to ignite. Whether or not that flame turned into a roaring fire that led to temptation to abandon any moral code they might have had, that temptation is often present as a result of the attraction. 

    In the world's view of that temptation, there's normally little hesitation in its leading to a "logical conclusion" which is a sexual encounter. For them: no big deal. This is the obvious result – and aim – of flirting.

    For the Christian, it is – or should be – the opposite of that worldview. Why? Simply because God has selected people for each other, and He insists that physical union be anointed by a commitment first to Him and then to each other. That physical union is not just a romp in the hay, a one-night stand, a temporary bargain between two strangers turned lovers. No. To God, the act of love is the joining and bonding of bodies and souls, a pledge of honor to God and to each other, a spiritual and physical contract between two people in love and the perfect act of fulfilling that contract. I don't think it's possible to understand the depth of that promise to one another without knowing the Lord. Don't get me wrong: there are many in the world who understand the contract of marriage and desire and work to hold up their end and stay in love. However, when the spiritual element of adding God to the mix is absent, that marriage lacks its final seal.

    So. Christians engage in the game of romance, knowing the risk, learning the temptations, succeeding or failing in the process. We're no less humans, not immune to the minimal or total failures of succumbing to the sexual thrills of falling in love. We're just more aware of the consequences of failing each other while disappointing the One who is Love and wants the ultimate best for us.

    My novels portray the efforts, struggles, conduct, failures, and successes of romantic relationships. The reader sees it from both sides of this journey – and sees it from the reality of contrasting views. For some readers, that is not pleasurable reading. 

    It seems there are 3 types of romance novel readers. One: the romance reader who will read any kind of romance from the general market (secular); Two: the romance reader who will read both the general market and inspirational/Christian Fiction; Three A: the romance reader who wants their romance with Christian faith elements and less content relating to physical attraction and what that "causes", in other words: "Clean" labels; Three B: the romance reader who wants their romance and Christian faith elements written real.       

    "An Invitation" was written to point out that I'm a Three B Author as both a proclamation and a caution to some readers. 

     

    Father, I write the stories you so graciously give me. May I always honor you in the process. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus. 

  • An Invitation . . .

                      Premium-golden-invitation-template-background-vector-2842546030

    Many of you know I will have a new novel releasing soon. This post is an invitation to those readers who either love, like, or occasionally read love story/romance novels.

    But . . . if you need that "squeaky clean" label attached to the novels you read, chances are you're not the audience for this Christian novel.

    The reason being – or the disclaimer – for that is romance and love are not "dirty". Literal graphics of sexual activity are neither "clean" nor necessary, particularly in a Christian novel. However, sexual attraction and desire are natural and inherent in romance and love. When written respectfully but real-ly, this author finds nothing offensive about their depiction. 

    The second reason for readers' consideration is the world's behaviors are generally the opposite from those who follow Jesus. Nevertheless, those behaviors are real and should be shown as such with a few exceptions. If the very occasional use of "hell" or "damn" and the allusion to cuss words by characters either in the world or struggling to get back to the Lord offends you, my novels are not for you. 

    And three, why would I not press with the hard sell for Then . . . you, my new novel? I've seen the destructive and self-righteous reviews on Amazon posted by self-proclaimed Christians for beautifully written redemptive novels where not only is the sexual attraction criticized, the author's theology is attacked. I would prefer to avoid those readers for this novel – and my others as well. They are not "my" audience.  

    There are literally millions of romance novels out there – many, many to choose from. Plenty with the "clean" labels, plenty more that are R-rated. This is why I chose these three words to label mine: Raw Romantic Redemptive. To those with discerning tastes those three words should either point them in my direction or away from my novels. 

    You're invited.

     

    Father, thank you for every inspiration, every story, every word. Only you. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

        

  • Wednesday Whimsy

        RBSTlc-2740907310

                                    Th-981120472

            Vecher-plyazh-uzhin-svechi-okean-4940-1096320901

            Amazing-mood-love-clouds-romance-sunset-ocean-sky-rivers-people-sea-view-high-definiton-sunrise-colourful-3151026920

                              Mood moments at the ocean . . . 

     

    Father, you created beauty in so many facets of life. The ocean is just one them. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Tuesday Tunes

               

    In keeping with the romantic theme, this old tune reminds us of how it feels when love is in fact "in the air". 

     

    Father, we only get a glimpse of love in these bodies of flesh. You wrote the Book of Love. You are Love. And it's so much bigger, better, more than we ever imagined. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.