Into the Fire

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

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

  • Writing this love story . . .

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    I realize I've been force feeding you this new novel for two weeks. I have no excuse for that other than this particular story has been a unique experience for me in a couple of ways. First of all, the story originally formed around a particular house on the country road I travel regularly. In all my driving past this dwelling the vehicle parked in front of it rarely moves. I have never observed any visible window coverings open, any activity, nor have I ever seen who lives there. The term recluse came to mind after a prolonged casual observance in my travels.

    Secondly, I fell hard for this recluse hero. Why he chose to live like he did for so long many will not relate to, but as he allowed himself to break from his chosen lifestyle, readers will see him for who he truly is as he begins to see himself differently. 

    This love story imprinted on my soul as I spent hours truly enjoying developing these characters. They were with me in my head for days and weeks and months. They gave me lots of smiles, a few laughs, and some tears. As authors immerse themselves in the creation of stories, those characters definitely become real. I know these were for me. 

    Which is why I want to share this love story with you. It has some important things to say . . . and the only credit I can take for that is being obedient to the inspiration provided by the Lord. Can't write word one without Him. 

    For those of you who plan to read Then . . . you, I hope you enjoy and appreciate it as much as I did while writing it.

                                RAW   ROMANTIC   REDEMPTIVE  

     

    Father, you are the only source for my inspiration. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • Peripherals

       

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    If you love novels, you want the stories to include not just the hero and heroine but interesting, entertaining peripheral characters. Will they be friends, relatives, associates, co-workers, clients, customers? Who will be that character – or those – to which the author invests pages of interchanges with the main character(s)? 

    So much of their composition again depends on the genre.

    When the recluse hero of Then . . . you opens the door to the woman who's seeking refuge, the environment he's spent years refining faces immediate change. An interruption so profound, he calls his best friend and mentor trying to articulate his unusual dilemma. That's the first brief introduction to this peripheral character with several more to be added who will fill out the landscape of this story.  

    What is it you want or expect from the peripheral characters in the novels you enjoy reading? 

    I know from an author's standpoint, I never know who they will be until they appear in the story and tell me who they are and how they plan to contribute. Sometimes, there are quite a few of them and other times not so many. Some are perfect additions and add a warmth, humor, wisdom, or steadiness when needed. Others irritate, chide, and create disturbances until their time in the story runs out. For this "seat-of-the-pants" writer, I won't know their intentions until they show up.

    It's quite a journey to take before "The End". 

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    Father, thank you for this story that really got to me. So much. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

  • The Female Hero

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    To write the female hero, when she is not the primary hero (aka co-protagonist), the author must decide if this heroine will be given equal time to the hero in the story. Will she be equal in skills as a complement to the hero, or will her skill set be completely different to the hero's? Will she be the meeker character, have wisdom, be the flighty femme fatale, or will she be quite ordinary? Will she be a beauty, have sex appeal, be of a plainer appearance, or will she be a chameleon? Will her character be admirable, questionable, or cleverly concealed when she chooses to be mysterious? 

    Some of these inquiries will be affected by the genre. 

    Writing a heroine has perhaps even more options than writing a hero. Why do I propose that as a possibility? Heroes are simpler because men can be less complex in their psychological makeup. It's one of the things that make them so appealing: their focus, their visual predictabilities, their quick assessments of circumstances, and their desires to fix the wrongs in any situation – even if their initial assessments prove to be wrong – and even if the heroine in a story doesn't need or want it/them to be "fixed".  

    If a heroine is the main character, she must be given certain strength(s). She can't be too fragile, whiny, or a shell of a person – too unlikable and undeserving of "heroine" status. Having said that, she can be a quiet, unintrusive, injured by life but surviving character. However, if that is her nature, the author must work very hard to show her as capable and give her a quality or qualities to make her appealing and likable. Heroes and Heroines drive a story. Without them serving up something to enjoy and appreciate, favorably respond to, cherish or treasure, those words on the page will more than likely serve instead to irritate and disgust the reader. Those don't bode well for finishing the book. 

    In Then . . . you the heroine states:

         "Stone, why are you helping me?" She asked it softly maybe because she needed to hear his answer but didn't want to nag him about it. "I mean, I show up on your porch, a sopping wet mess, running away from an abusive boyfriend, and here you are enjoying your tranquil life of solitude and doing what I know must be an important profession post-military. I doubt I've ever felt more stupid – or more desperate – and you just took me in without any condemnation and gave me immediate accommodation.  . . ."

    She wants something but doesn't want to demand it from the man who's helped her. Strength with consideration. Admiration and respect for him, a need requested from her. 

    So many options for authors creating their heroes and heroines . . . 

     

    Father, you give me mine. Thank you is never enough. Never will be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • Tuesday Tunes

               

    Once again keeping with the romance theme, new relationships where one falls hard for someone definitely makes people feel like they're in over their heads. And there's no doubt that sometimes it does feel so good. 

     

    Father, you created romance. It was meant to be pure but exciting and thrilling. Of course we polluted it, but we can still capture the beauty you intended if we look to you for it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     

  • The Hero

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    To write a hero – aka "protagonist" – an author must decide just how much of that hero-persona to give him. Will he be an ordinary male who does something heroic? Will he be a man associated with the military or law enforcement or fire fighting? Will his overall character make him a hero in the eyes of those who are close to him? Will he be a sentimental hero known as such to an element in his circle? Will he have made a meaningful comeback in his life that quietly assigns him to hero status?  

    In a previous post I mentioned that I took a chance with my latest protagonist/hero:

    To say I loved this hero/protagonist is an understatement. This particular character was a total risk to write. He's not "ordinary". 

    In fact, he's exceptional. Unique in his lifestyle after major, life-crushing disappointments, this man has no idea what's in store for him when he opens his door to the woman banging on it at 1:30 AM. 

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    Father, thank you is never enough for everything you've done for me and given me in my life. I'll never be able to thank you as you deserve. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

     

  • Sunday’s Offerings

     

         Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

     

    James 4:7-10 (NIV)

  • Brand New!

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     Available on Amazon now. Kindle to follow soon. Available here for less and ebook format available also: 

    Then . . . you

    $4.99 – $16.99

    He’s a recluse. She’s seeking refuge. 

    In the dark early morning hours he answers his door to a woman who needs help. 

    He’s spent years cultivating being alone. 

    She’s spent months doing the wrong thing. 

    Neither of them expects what comes next. 

     

    Father, thank you is never enough. May I always honor you in the process. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     

  • Breaking News!

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    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!

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    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

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                                                   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.