So beautiful. Amazing sound. Wondrous talent.
God, may each one who creates beauty know your Son. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Nobody does broken like Charles Martin. And in his latest Send Down The Rain, there is plenty of brokenness.
I've said before that I was late to the Charles Martin reading party, but now I know for me that's a good thing. His novels tear at the soul, make sadness and pain palpable, heavy, to the point of tasting it. Can't stop reading the story even as it filets the heart.
Characters come alive on the pages and sear our souls with their sorrows. Joseph "Jo Jo" Brooks makes an enormous sacrifice that only he, his brother, and his mother know about. The secret remains hidden until the one person who can in Jo Jo's mind reveal it steps up to do just that.
Joseph Brooks rescues and adopts a dog and a desperate small family and continues to wonder about the only girl (Allie) he's ever loved over 40 years ago. At night he listens to the sultry voice of Suzy True on the radio who talks with veterans like him of the Viet Nam war where she lost her father. When Jo Jo decides to check in on that girl he loved and lost, her husband's life has just ended in a fiery tanker crash, and there's no one she needs more than Jo Jo.
Send Down The Rain is a story of broken people trying to find a way back to "good", of fear and loathing that strafed the hearts and souls of young and older, of wounds carried through years of anguish, of hopes up in flames, of raw hatred and devastating betrayal, cavernous pain and shattered dreams. But then . . .
This novel is classic Charles Martin. Beautiful and symbolic prose, lifelike characters who deeply hurt, and a story that weaves people together in a modern art painting that meshes into impressionist but ends up with the distinctions of a real life photograph. Send Down The Rain is worth every moment it takes to read and every tear that is sure to fall.
Father, you have assigned your writers an awesome purpose. There's no question you've anointed Charles to be one of your wordsmiths. May you fill him with the stories just for him to tell and keep his heart firmly in sync with yours. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1: 20 (NIV)
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There is always a process. Learning to add, to think, to do a cartwheel, to create, to pay a bill, to move to a new home. Since God's creativity made human brains with all kinds of synapses, extended all sorts of talents and abilities, and while He can be intimately involved in the lives of His children given their permission, there are multitudes of ways to "process".
I'm mad at myself for taking so long to complete my latest novel. There was a long dry spell between it and the one before it, and then once this book was begun, there were more long dry times between start to finish. However, during a segment of the "in between" times – yes, plural – I started two more stories and stopped each of them. Since finishing the first of the three efforts, the other two are beckoning to me. And I'm grateful for that.
But . . . I'm in the process of getting the first of the three published, and I know I'm going to have to go over it for typesetting errors once it's that far along. Right now, the cover is being designed. First two selections have been rejected – not because the designer did a terrible job but because I failed to explain something that he wouldn't have understood without being familiar with it. I know that's vague and confusing, but I'm going to leave it at that. So I submitted a much simpler idea with a picture that I hope will help the designer to grasp the necessary image for this cover because in this case, for this setting, it has to be accurate.
The process for my covers has been interesting. Since I'm not traditionally published, I have the final word on cover design, and, frankly, I'm picky. The Famous One and Sweet Release were the quickest designs to be completed. Well communicated, easily grasped, minor changes. Hope of Glory was a struggle but turned out fine. Destination took a little doing but rendered a solid cover that captured the storyline. Breath of Life required a telephone conversation with the designer for him to ask the right questions in order to "get" it, and I love the final cover. So with this one, we're in the process.
I had hoped to release this new one in late summer, but unless the Lord sees fit to make some room where none exists right now, this will be a fall release. The story takes place in the summertime. Who wants to be reading about sunshine and hot temps when it's pouring down rain or starting to snow? Bad timing on my part.
So. Now I've brought you up to date on the process for my latest novel.
Father, your timing is all that matters, but I often interfere with it. Please bless the process for this one, and thank you for the inspiration and every word. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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(Originally posted on October 16, 2012 as "When the author is mute . . . ")
Voice catches.
The pen refuses.
The keys spell letters
disconnected.
Words falter,
lisp, lean,
struggle in the throat,
strangle the sound.
No cadence
story
wit
rhyme.
Mute.
Father, your inspiration is the only voice I know. Speak to me, Holy Spirit. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Red and more red with a dash of pink! Pretty, pretty.
Lord, I can't imagine the colors in heaven once the sin stains are no longer visible. If your creation is this gorgeous on earth, what must heaven look like? Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Say what you will about Kenny G, this song is beautifully rendered. I love this one.
Father, only you know the hearts of your artists. May they find and know your Son. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Spymaster is the latest (Book 18 in the series) in the Scot Harvath thrillers by Brad Thor.
As I read the last few paragraphs of Spymaster, several questions occurred to me. 1. Is this novel a total setup for the next one? 2. Is Brad Thor thinking of phasing out the aging Scot Harvath from the field and giving readers a deeper look at members of Scot's team in action? 3.*** [SPOILER ALERT!] *** Is Scot going to lose another lover?
Spymaster starts slow after the first enemy encounter and lingers at an unusually slower pace giving the reader a lot of history that unfortunately isn't taught in schools these days mixed with accompanying emotions from a newly introduced female character (Monika Jasinski) who wonders from the start who Scot really is and who, in fact, he's working for. Not yet revealing he's a covert counterterrorism operative, he doles out pieces of information one at a time until the pressures of the mission dictate otherwise. As Jasinski realizes the normal protocols won't work in this threatening situation, she grudgingly participates in the various plans needed to find foreign enemies before it's too late. By the end of their life and death encounters, she's on board.
Scot is dealing with his age, using medicinal accessories to keep his body going at peak performance. He knows it can't continue at this level, but like an athlete contemplates feeling super as opposed to a painful mediocrity, Scot is facing some hard decisions. His younger team members demonstrate outstanding skills and one of them reminds him of himself at that age. Facing humanity and mortality is never much fun, and Scot knows he's got a beautiful, wonderful woman and her son waiting at home for him. What will he choose to do?
The harrowing final part of the mission to transport one vital target out of enemy territory eventually provides what is needed to thwart an all out war. As NATO is present in the news of our day, so it is poignantly revealed in Spymaster. Bringing this story to a close, as the old spymaster head of The Carlton Group is quickly succumbing to dementia, an elaborate scheme accomplishes its purpose but betrayal awaits.
(I find my review conflicts with those who've stated this is his best thriller and clearly don't think it moved slowly anywhere. Hmm.)
Father, you've always known the end from the beginning, you see the evil of mankind, you made a provision to establish peace between your creation and You if man is willing . . . Please bless Brad and reveal your desires for him to him. Keep him safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Glory to his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Psalm 105:3-4 (NIV)
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Five random things I love . . .
The "color" black. Technically not a color I'm told, but it's my favorite. And yellow.
Sunglasses – I have more than I need and more than I wear. Definitely love sunglasses
Hot spice Chai Tea.
Baby puppies, foals, calves.
Memories induced by familiar smells (i.e. plastic squirt guns in summer).
Give me five of your random things you love.
God, you've filled this earth with unique and special things too numerous to name. We all have our favorites. Thank you for the beauty and fun and extensive variety beyond our imaginations. You are amazing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
