Into the Fire

I love this song. The lyrics speak to my soul. Thank you, Jesus, for never giving up on me and for carrying me through the excruciatingly hard parts of this life. 

This is Book Two in the Unintended Series by D. L. Wood.

In Book One of this series (Unintended Target) travel photojournalist Chloe McConnaughey's twin brother Tate dies suddenly after giving Chloe reason to think he was involved in something he shouldn't have been. Ever being the "big brother", he wanted to take care of Chloe when their father abandoned the family and their mother then did the same with alcohol. Escaping to a Caribbean island for work and grief, she meets the dashing "Jack" who turns out to be more than just another guy. Targeted because of Tate, framed for a murder, she and Jack must elude killers without knowing why and wind up in Miami to clear her name. It's a good story that of course gives us another suspense in Unintended Witness.

Jack and Chloe have established their serious relationship in the eighth months since they returned to the USA. Jack's working in the film industry while Chloe's going to Franklin, Tennessee, to do a feature article and tentatively reunite with her attorney father (Reese) who left when she was 8 years old. She's both apprehensive and hopeful which advances to even greater shock when she learns there is more to her family than she realized. Added to the family is Reese's law associate in their private firm, the young and handsome Holt.  

Contemplating going home without any further involvement in Reese's life, a client of his is charged with murder, and everything changes dramatically. Even her relationship with Jack suffers as complications mount in what turns out to be a dangerous and threatening case – or is it cases? 

Chloe can be one of those characters that drives me nuts at times. I grudgingly like her. Of course I love Jack (former Navy SEAL) who flounders a bit because of a leg injury sustained in the first book until an old friend sets him straight.

Unintended Witness covers the family drama created by broken homes and weaves a multi-faceted story with a plethora of suspicious characters, kidnappings, and mob involvements. It concludes satisfactorily with healing on many levels in the main characters' lives. Faith elements are incremental but in the background.

Recommend beginning with Book One to enhance the story of Book Two in the Unintended Series. 

Father, please continue to provide the stories, the inspiration, and all that D. L. needs to produce her novels. Bless her and her family and keep them safe. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;

       together they shout for joy,

    When the Lord returns to Zion, 

       they will see it with their own eyes.

Isaiah 52:8 (NIV) 

Five random special memories . . . 

Saw Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew at Longacres Racetrack before he retired.

Sought out and met with British actor David Hemmings' personal manager when I went to London and saw David Hemmings in person on my last day in London.

Bing Crosby said "Good morning" to me at Bay Meadows Racetrack.

Saw a lot of great rock 'n' roll bands in the late 60s at the Eagles Auditorium in downtown Seattle.

Enjoyed meeting with author Robert Liparulo twice in person when he was in the Seattle area, and also author J. Mark Bertrand twice when he was teaching one summer at Seattle Pacific University and when he was on a book tour in the Seattle area. 

Father, you've been so gracious to me. Thank you is never enough. Please continue to help me be the one you designed me to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Reading novels is an escape. It's not always why we read them, but it is a factor. While I believe some of life's greatest truths are told in the pages of fiction, we go to those stories to step into the lives of someone else. Do we "feel" like we can identify with their emotional responses to whatever circumstances they encounter? Do we long to "know" them better – as if we've discovered new friends? Does their story ring true to something we've experienced or perhaps imagined? Do we gain something from reading about the lives of the characters – like courage to face dilemmas, our fears, our hopes or dreams? Are we annoyed or angered by character actions? Do we cheer for our heroes and heroines?

Do we simply get away from the strife of our lives for those hours spent in a story? Is the escape worth it?

I can't express how much I love a good novel. Part of that is because of where it takes me. When the journey is worth the time spent between those pages – well, it's amazing and I can't get enough of it.

Father, thank you for your authors, for the inspiration you provide, all that you do for those of us who write stories. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

                                          Baby, it's cold outside! 

Father, thank you for the beauty of the seasons. Thank you for warmth and provision. Thank you for rescuing all who seek solace from the winter of our souls. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                                Let's get right to it.

I know you read different genres, but your desire is to write Women's Fiction. Who is your favorite author(s) of Women's Fiction?

I have a few go-tos for women’s fiction: Ginny L. Yttrup writes heart-breaking, heart-filling stories with tremendous depth. I also love Cynthia Ruchti and Kellie Coates Gilbert.

Next to Women's Fiction, what genre is your favorite to read?

I prefer family drama, which is really what I write as I often have male protagonists. Gina Holmes is another author of family drama. But that doesn’t sell to the Christian market.
I like romantic suspense … well, I want to like it, but in the Christian market, the suspense always plays second fiddle to the romance. I want much more suspense than romance! And too often in CF, the heroines just really aren’t smart. They run into dangerous situations. They’re stupidly stubborn. I just want to knock sense into them. Yet, authors portray those traits as positives rather than negatives.
So, given the lack of romantic suspense that I enjoy in CF, I gravitate toward suspense thrillers like those Steven James writes. And I LOVE a male voice, probably because romance is written very differently. But in CF, male writers of suspense thrillers have all but disappeared which makes me sad.

Do you have any kind of "method" for creating your characters?

My method is simply to write the story (I’m a 100% seat-of-the-pants author) and by the end of it, I’ve learned who my characters are. I’ve tried fleshing them out in advance, but that never works. I guess this is God’s way of telling me, “Let go!”

How does a story come together for you? Do you take notes before or along the way as you create? Are you a "seat-of-the-pants" author or do you have a "diagram" or outline for organizing the story? Do you tend to know the end from the beginning? What is usually the first prompt that brings a story into focus for you?

I guess this answer is pretty much the same as the previous question. I’m a pantser through and through. No post-it notes. No plotting. I might have an idea of the end, but that often changes as I’m writing. Usually, after I type “The End” my opening chapter(s) completely change.
In my most recent release, Home Another Way, I initially began the story in August, planning to end around Christmas. Well, midway through the first draft, I changed that to November through February. I also changed a mother to a father midway through. (Catching all those incorrect pronouns was a beast!) I had planned on introducing one character about a third of the way in, but I was two-thirds of the way through the story when I realized I didn’t have enough room for her story too, so I had to change that whole aspect. I did introduce her, but in a different way than planned, and I liked it much better, and because of it, my hero’s story was deepened.
You can imagine, just from those changes (there were more), my first draft was a complete mess! But it all turned out. I’ve accepted that this is how I’m built as an author. I figure, if I don’t know how the story’s going to turn out, then hopefully I’ll surprise readers too.

I can't really answer this for myself most of the time – I tend to vacillate – but I'll ask anyway: Do you have a favorite novel of yours?

Oh, that is hard! I like different books for different reasons. I think Pieces of Granite is my best written book. I love the hard roads my characters take in Memory Box Secrets and Hungry for Home. My romances weren’t too bad for a non-romance reader. My daughter loves those! And I’ve been pleased that I’ve been able to tell fleshed-out stories in my Potter’s House novellas. But my heart-strings pull toward the first book I ever wrote, the first one that was published: Chain of Mercy. That’s when the characters were birthed that have traveled through seven of my ten books. I’ve learned so much from them, they’re almost real to me!

What can we expect from you next and do you have a projected time for its release?

I’ve got a couple of things on the burner:
The Potter’s House Books will be having a second round, probably beginning in 2020. 
And I’m part of a new book series with nine other authors, The Mosaic Collection, that will tell stories about families made by God’s design. That’s all I can say for now. We haven’t announced yet, but soon! My first book, working title of A Beautiful Mess, is due to come out in November of 2019.

Do you intend to continue in traditional publishing, self/indie publishing, or both?

I still yearn for that traditional publisher contract, to see my books on bookstore shelves, but I honestly don’t see it happening. Women’s fiction just doesn’t sell in Christian fiction. Popular author, Catherine West, is a recent victim. If she can’t get resigned, where’s the hope for the rest of us.
I’m part of several readers’ groups on Facebook, and when readers talk about favorite genres, women’s fiction, or in my case, family drama, is rarely mentioned. Maybe some day it will make a comeback!
That said, I’m very grateful for indie publishing and the strides it’s made. I love that it’s opened up new reading worlds. We’re not limited to the books on the shelves at LifeWay, thank goodness!

Having experienced all that you have in publishing at this point in your writing career, what would your "ideal" situation be from this point forward?

Ideal? Oh boy, let me think …
In my fantasy world, Thomas Nelson would see how fabulous Chain of Mercy is and would pick up the series and help polish it in a way that’s impossible in indie publishing. Then Chain would be made into a movie starring Brett Dalton and Hayley Atwell…
In the real world, the ideal would be for my books to keep growing in popularity. After being a full-time mom, I’d love to be able to contribute substantial income to the household. I’d love to have opportunities to speak about Persevering, and Pursuing Your Dreams, and the Pitfalls encountered when persevering and pursuing.

Thank You, Nicole, for welcoming me back! Love these questions which really make me sit back and think.

Bren, thank you so much for answering my inquiries with meaningful responses and giving readers a thoughtful understanding of your process and creative desires. I can always count on Brenda S. Anderson to provide insights into Christian Fiction that the average reader or start-up author might not know or consider. It's always a pleasure to feature Brenda and her novels. Thank you again, my friend.

Father, you know. Please bless Bren in your abundance, grace, and faith. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Brenda S. Anderson has agreed to answer a few of my questions since her new release Home Another Way. So let's get started.

Brenda, tell us about the Potter House Books and how you came to contribute your three novellas to this collection.

The series was begun by author Juliette Duncan. She wanted a group of writers who would tell stories about God at work in lives, molding and shaping them. One of my street team members is also Juliette’s virtual assistant, and she recommended me for the series. It’s really been a blessing!

What did you like or dislike about writing novellas?

It’s difficult writing complete stories and developing full characters in less than half the number of words. I’d want to add more meat to my characters, and twists to the plot, but the space wouldn’t allow. The good thing was, it did take less time to write the stories, which was necessary as I released three books in the space of 8 months. But I didn’t like having to write books that quickly. I prefer to let my stories sit and simmer a bit before editing, but when having to release a book every four months, I can’t take that time.

Would you mind sharing a brief blurb about these three most recent releases?

Long Way Home is about a young woman who has to travel across country in a renovated school bus with the man who once bullied her. It’s a book that takes a look at bullies and their motivations and then how their actions can have long-term effects on the bullied.

Place Called Home is about a young woman who runs from an emotional abusive relationship. She injures herself along the way and is helped by a young man. But is he just as controlling as the man she’d run from?

Home Another Way is about an activist (also a senator’s daughter) who is sentenced to 100 hours of community service. At a place offering warm meals for the homeless, she meets and butts heads with the organizer, a formerly homeless young man. Sparks fly between the two as she learns what it really means to serve.

Sometimes it can be difficult projecting who the audience for our novels will be or "should" be? Who do you think your novels are geared toward? Who do you think your audience is and who do you "want" your audience to be if they differ? And do you think with your different series, the audience might vary?

Well, I’d like my audience to be those who’ve been wounded in life, those who may have turned their backs on God, or even those who don’t know Him at all. The reviews that impact me the most are those that say I’ve made them think about issues differently and those that say my stories have impacted their walk with God. Those are WoW moments!
My audience isn’t a large one in Christian fiction. I don’t write fluff or beach reads. I don’t water down life’s hurts, and I really try to get to the heart of characters. Why does a bully bully? How does a young woman end up in a controlling relationship? How do people from loving families end up homeless, and how does that affect those around them?
I did take a detour in my writing for my Where the Heart Is series in an attempt to reach the broader audience within Christian fiction. Those stories were romance focused, but I still dealt with life issues like home foreclosure, alcoholism, self-esteem issues, and more. And it was these stories that captured the attention of agents and editors and got me a final in the ACFW Genesis awards. You’d think those would be my best sellers.
But not at all. The rest of my books far outsell the romances, which is affirmation that I need to write those gritty stories God lays on my heart and not cater to the market.

Tomorrow we'll conclude the interview with Brenda. See ya then for more of her thoughtful answers to my inquiries. 

Father, you know all there is to know about us all – our needs, desires, hopes, and fears. I pray your abundant provision upon Brenda and her family. Encourage as only you can do. Keep those stories brewing in her heart that you've designed just for her to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful . . . Be wise  in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 

Colossians 4:2; 5-6 (NIV)

Romance is a word that conjures all kinds of pictures in the mind, wistful thoughts, turbulent desires, some would even entertain fantasy lusts when hearing that provocative word. Connotations from men and women can vary to the extreme. Men might perceive it as an avenue to sexual gratification. Women might perceive it as a unique demonstration of what could be love. 

So what is at the root of romance? Like so many other abstracts, it might be a matter of opinion. So here's mine. I should stipulate right now I'm not going to delve into the world's view of romance other than the basics. I'm examining the initial application of romantic inclinations, not the one-night-stand encounters of sexual attraction.

At the base of romance is attraction. This is where "it" all begins. Something about that someone hits the heart of emotion and causes a reaction. What happens next usually takes place in the mind. The fears or doubts, the exciting possibilities, the "is this person the one?", the mishmash of imaginings that either stay on the surface level or go deep.

When a man succumbs to romance, it's because he feels like he wants to do something special for this woman. She's inspired some kind of desire in him to separate her from others in his life. He might not know exactly how he wants to do this thing, but at least he'll entertain the idea.

When a woman wants to do something romantic for "her" man, she'll usually appeal to his senses. If she's observant – as well she should be if there's mutual attraction goin' on – she'll figure out what entertains him and plan something special for him incorporating that sensual element. Notice I said "sensual" not "sexual". There's a distinct difference.

The end result of romance points to love. Not all romantic endeavors lead to the deeper places of actually falling in love, but motivation for romance rarely stays at a just-for-fun place. When real romance enters the picture, the timeless aspects of falling hard for someone usually take effect. 

Now, tell me your thoughts on what's at the crux of romance. 

Father, romance is all yours, Love is you, and all things pure and righteous in the relationship area belong to you. Thank you for making it all more than the shallow encounters so often seen from the worldview. We're desperate for you in every area of our lives but none more than the love place. Help us all to do love right. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.