Into the Fire

I'm not one to make New Year's Resolutions or plan ahead beyond a breakfast or lunch date. Probably because I generally don't have to do so, and I do prefer to make the most of the moment at hand. If I get too far ahead of myself, although I don't have a problem looking forward to an event or specific plan, it just seems like "today" takes a backseat to "tomorrow" of which we have no guarantee. 

And here comes the "but": I'm about to finish another novel, and I'm excited because it will be published in print and for Kindle! 

I can give you the title now: Seeing . . . 

The cover is being worked on, and the designer caught the concept right from the start. The revisions are miniscule. 

With this one I've spent a few sessions with the Lord over specific scenes so it's been especially rewarding to have his comfort and provision for exactly what I needed. It's close to the ending, and I confess I'm dragging my hands a bit (instead of my feet) because I don't want to say goodbye to the hero and heroine. But I must. 

So it's a process, but it won't be too long before it's a book! So fun! 

Father, thank you is never enough for giving me these stories, words, characters, inspiration. Anything good comes from you. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

You know what they say about 2 year olds. Yeah, we got attitude. I laugh every time I see this picture. 

Father, thank you for my life, the best parents and brother anyone could've hoped to have, you, above all, waiting to rescue me. Thank you is never enough, Jesus. Holy Spirit, you've been so patient with me. I'm desperate for you always. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

An exercise in winter beauty. It's an amazing season with its own brand of beauty all over the world. 

Lord God, you're an amazing Creator of all kinds of beauty. Everything good and perfect comes from you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Song and artists speak for themselves in this tune.

Father, only you inspire all good things. You've given us musicians and writers, artists and designers. No one loves artful things more than the Creator of them. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Nancy Mehl has written the Kaely Quinn Profiler trilogy with Mind Games as Book 1. 

Kaely Quinn (aka Jessica Oliphant) is one of the top FBI profilers, but, because her methods strike some professionals as bizarre, she has few friends after her transfer from the BAU at Quantico to the bureau in St. Louis other than her boss (SAC Solomon Slattery) and her former partner (Alex Cartwright) who is no longer at the St. Louis office.

There's a new serial killer on the loose who challenges Kaely by using a poem sent to the reporter who exposed "Kaely" as the daughter of a serial killer and wants to write a story about her father. This reporter has followed her to St. Louis and refuses to take no for an answer. Is he the UNSUB or is this poem that's supposedly been sent to him revealing the clues to murders the killer plans to commit leading up to the final death of Kaely Quinn? 

Special Agent Noah Hunter is assigned the lead on the case but is instructed to team up with Kaely – and to protect her. He's heard all the criticisms and gossip and isn't looking forward to pairing with her, but it doesn't take him long to realize she's got a genuine gift for this work and she resents having a "babysitter" since she figures she can take care of herself. He's not thrilled about it either, but since Solomon made it clear it was Noah's job, he has no choice.

Slowly, she unintentionally makes an inroad to his heart, but he works to keep her at arm's length at her insistence and his intent. He's a widower and can't imagine another woman ever taking the place of his wife. She's a single woman who can't imagine any "romantic entanglements" at this point in her life. She has definite trust issues even though she truly cares about the small circle of people in her life – especially her special friendship with her former partner who wanted more from her than she could give him.

She keeps questioning herself about how she couldn't have known something was wrong with her father – even though she was just a young girl when he was arrested – or how her mother didn't know. She is plagued by her nightmares which fail to reveal what might be hidden in her subconscious. Someday she hopes to be free from them, and she trusts her faith in God to eventually reveal what she needs to know. 

Nancy Mehl has written a suspense-filled intensive mystery with multiple suspects and internal conflicts from the bureau. Kaely Quinn is a solid and fascinating character while her former partner Alex is a rogue hero-type and Noah Hunter is a by-the-book guy who establishes a belief in and loyalty to Kaely as he begins to appreciate her forthright dedication and honesty.

This is an exciting story that compels the reader to the next page making it a quick read for mystery lovers. Loved this one.

Father, please continue to provide those stories for Nancy to write. And please bless her efforts to honor you in the process. Encourage and uplift her and fill her with your abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Evil will slay the wicked;

   the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems his servants;

   no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34:21-22 (NIV)

              (From my novel Destination available on Kindle.)

INTRODUCTIONS

They walked outside and around the back of the house to the oversized three vehicle garage. Thomas had grabbed the sack of cans to crush when he got back. When Grams unlocked the door to the garage and walked in, she pointed out the little hand crank can crusher on the wall and the designated garbage can. Thomas acknowledged them, but his eyes locked onto her candy apple red 1969 mint condition Cadillac El Dorado.

     “We’ll take the Caddy today since I don’t have to get feed this trip. You wanta drive?” she asked with a straight face, seeing he was obviously enamored with the old car.
     “Yeah.”
     She handed him the keys. “This was Ace’s baby. He liked Cadillacs, and I liked Lincolns. I had a Continental, but I sold it a few years ago. Couldn’t bring myself to sell this one.”
     “It’s a beauty, Grams.”
     He opened the door for her and waited for her to get in, afraid if he tried to help her, she’d beat him with her cane. When she was in, he closed the door for her.
     “Ace was a gentleman, too. We raised those boys to be, too. Samuel came the closest to thinkin’ about marryin’ when he was just 16, but in the end he knew he’d be married to the military.” She looked at her hands. “I think Samuel knew he’d be offerin’ his life up in service to his country, cuz once or twice he remarked to his dad that he couldn’t see leavin’ a widow and kids behind. Said it wouldn’t be fair to ‘em.” She laughed a melancholy sound. “Then Hank Jr.—oh my, he was a ladies’ man if there ever was one. But he was home shortly before he went back, and I’m glad to say he’d made peace with his Maker. He told me he knew that Jesus was—” She coughed abruptly to cover her sob. “That Jesus was callin’ him home, and for me not to worry. That his life had been a good one, and if he had to give his life, he wanted it to be in a noble way, and fightin’ for liberty was the noblest way he believed it could be done. He was definitely different in the end.”
     Thomas felt tears come to his eyes. He couldn’t speak, but he wanted to say something.
     “Let’s go, boy. We got some errands to run. Fire it up,” she said with her usual vigor.
     After adjusting the seat, he did as he was told, and slowly the tears dissipated.
     “Alright. See that feed store cross the street?” she gestured with her hand after arriving in town. "Pull in there so I can introduce you to Norrie. Next week we’ll have to get some feed, and you might be comin’ here by yourself.”
     Thomas pulled into the large parking lot close to the main entrance and went around to let Grams out. He was surprised at how easily she maneuvered herself out of the big car in spite of her cane and the barely discernable favoring of her right hip.

Father, thank you endlessly for every word, character, and inspiration. Help me to always honor you with my writing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Some readers prefer series with ongoing characters, others like when certain lesser characters get a continued story about them, and then there are those who love a featured constant hero like Mitch Rapp and/or a heroine like Raleigh Harmon and never want the series to end because a final book is rarely good enough to do the hero/heroine justice. Know what I mean?

The problem I've encountered with some series novels is that the first one is definitely attention-getting. If it wasn't, we wouldn't continue to the next one. However, sometimes that second one just doesn't quite measure up to the first, and that might make it debatable whether or not to progress to the next installment.  

Series writing presents a paradox. It can be fulfilling for an author to have an established character to continue the stories surrounding that guy or gal and develop him or her in each storyline, going deeper each time while keeping some facets of who they are "secure" for the reader. Contrasting that, it can be troubling when an author strives to keep that character or storyline as hard-hitting, as dramatic, or as meaningful – whether serious or comedic – as the first book or each one that follows it.

For those authors who choose to use the peripheral character as their next featured protagonist, it can be fun to give that one new depth and validity while making a continued but different storyline for him or her. The contrast there can be making sure this enhanced character is as good, valuable, and as desirable as the first in the series. 

It's critical for the second novel in a series to be appealing whether or not the next one or the next one continues to be as compelling because if an author waffles on the second book, there might be those of us readers who won't make time for the third. 

A few readers of Race asked for a series because of the three additional detectives involved in the storyline making it ripe for a series featuring the peripheral characters. Since I had such a battle writing that first-for-me mystery/police procedural, I told them not to count on it. However, I do confess those three detectives piqued my interest . . . 

I love stand alone novels but I love a good series too. If written well, I'm all in for both. 

Father, I love your writers, what you've given them to do. I'm thankful you've given me stories to write. May I always honor you in the ones you inspire for me. Please, Lord, bless your writers of fiction that they may share you in their stories. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I'm not a snow person, but I do love its beauty. Winter was not ignored in God's creation of beauty in all seasons. 

Father, thank you for it all. Only you create true beauty. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Back to regular programming . . . Truly some great music here in spite of the times that produced many of the lyrics. 

Father, only you reach the lost hearts. You reached mine. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.