Into the Fire

(Originally posted on 5/27/13)                  

becalmed: "take the wind out of one's sails"; in a dead calm; "not wind enough to twirl the one red leaf" – Coleridge 

Every occupation, every adventure, every hobby, sport, and profession use a language or terms all their own. While the language and terms might vary according to regional dialects, the slight variations don't amount to misunderstandings among those who are knowledgeable. Sailing is no exception to the rule. There are right ways to do it and proper words to use in the process.

Normandie Fischer leaves no question as to the authenticity of her sailing know-how in her entertaining first release Becalmed. Just as talented author Tom Morrisey has made rock climbing and diving terms real to those of us who've never done either, Normandie takes us right onto the boats in her story without talking down to us or forfeiting the true language and operation of those who love the wind in their sails.

Sometimes genres mesh together and don't fit comfortably into their assigned niches, but Becalmed is Women's Fiction from stem to stern and tackles the aching heart of a mid-thirties Southern belle who feels like she's over the hill in the romance department, not to mention her constant awareness of the closing window toward motherhood. A designer of jewelry using stones her delicate mother left behind when she passed away, Sara "Tadie" Longworth and her neighbor and best friend Hannah live a short distance from the little shop they own and operate in the coastal tourist region of small-town Beaufort, North Carolina. They employ Isa, an older free spirit, and also sell paintings from a new impressive and soft-spoken artist Stefan.

When a widower (Will Merritt) and his young daughter Jilly limp into town after their beautiful boat breaks down, Tadie is there to assist them with information and hands-on care. Jilly charms her new friends, but her obvious need for womanly companionship worries her paranoid daddy since he can't quite leave the memory of his wife behind, his fear of forgetting her or being unfaithful part of his working around his grief.

A hurricane brings Isa, Will, and Jilly to stay in Tadie's beautiful empty home after securing the boats and hoping for the best. Tadie's lovely sailing craft "Luna" seems secure enough in her barn, but Will's 50 footer at the marina must ride out the storm with less security.

Shadowing the budding relationship between Will and Jilly and Tadie, Tadie's long ago high school boyfriend (and Hannah's brother-in-law) Alex is in the middle of a divorce and trying to reclaim Tadie as his own. She wants nothing to do with him, but his persistence irritates and raises a hint of fear in her.

James, Elvie, and their daughter Rita complete the prominent, cozy, and mostly wonderful cast of characters, lifelong friends and employees of Tadie's deceased parents and dearly loved by Tadie who depends on them for things far beyond James' maintenance duties. She considers them her true family.

The conflict created when Will's conduct leaves Tadie "becalmed" proves the emotional storms outweigh the hurricane's damage, and repairs make for slow-going.

A polished wordsmith, Normandie Fischer captures the essence of Southern charm and infuses it with the love of the sailing life, the needs and desires of a still-young woman who feels old and unattractive, and the necessity for honest relationships. Becalmed fills the reader with vivid emotional and physical imagery ingesting Southern humor and expressions moving toward reaching a touching and satisfying conclusion. Faith elements reside solidly in the background of this entertaining story.

And isn't that just the best cover for this novel? Published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.

Also coming soon in August, 2013, Normandie's second release Sailing out of Darkness. Published by WhiteFire Publishing.
 
 
Father, please continue to inspire Normandie as she writes for your glory. Give her more stories to tell, the opportunities to keep sailing on Sea Venture, and, as she welcomes her first grandchild, help her to be the shining light in that little child's life. Bless Normandie in all areas of her life as she seeks to serve you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

What an amazing voice she had and still has. She wrote this one and if you love symbolism – as those days were filled with it – you probably loved – or love – this classic song. 

Father, you know the leanings of Stevie's heart. Only you can change those. Only you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Never forget who we are: ONE NATION UNDER GOD. GOD BLESS THE USA. Happy Independence Day.

Father, we're desperate for you, your blessing, your covering, your mercy, your forgiveness. Please, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Karin Kaufman presents the first book Death of a Dead Man in her new Juniper Grove Mystery Series, and you cozy mystery fans are going to love this one. 

Mystery writer Rachel Stowe leaves the hectic environment of the Boston publishing world and settles into Juniper Grove in Colorado hoping to enjoy the small town atmosphere and make new friends while continuing to write her mystery novels. Her twitchy neighbor Julia turns out to be a lot less twitchy and more of a feisty older friend who's being harassed by the local pushy managing editor of the newspaper everyone calls a rag but everyone seems to read. Rachel's other mutual friend to Julia is the owner of a bakery (Holly) where Rachel can feast upon the best cream puffs she's ever eaten. 

The court has just declared Julia's missing bank heist husband dead after 12 years of no contact or sightings. His partner in the robbery was found dead in the river rapids immediately after the deed but no one ever saw Julia's husband's body – or the money from the heist. Coinciding with the declaration, notes appear on people's doors implying there's someone who knows about their guilt those many years ago when the two men got away with the money.  

Sheriff Gilroy has his hands full with the case and the treachery going on behind his back, and he doesn't really want to add three ladies trying to figure out the mystery of who the note-leaver is, but that hope becomes impossible when Rachel finds the supposed dead man freshly dead in her back yard.

There are multiple suspects, lots of treachery, vandalism, threats, embarrassing moments, a few laughs, some tears, and an awakening in Rachel's heart regarding the hunk who happens to be the steely blue-eyed sheriff. Will these amateur sleuths discover who killed Julia's husband in spite of being instructed to leave it alone? Read this fun adventure with the perfect title to find out. 

God, you know the multiple trials Karin has faced in the last several months, and you've been with her all through them. I pray you would continue to bless her life, her writing, her hopes and dreams. Provide what she needs to do what you have for her to do. Encourage her, Lord, as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each man, just as he determines. 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV) 

The first five paragraphs of the fifth chapter of one of my WIPs (Works in Progress) tentatively titled Seeing . . . 

Five

They ate in silence, a covert solitude between strangers whose lives had intersected. Micah rarely had a companion traveling with him. In fact, it had been several years since his sister accompanied him on a quick day trip, and his pastor rode with him a couple of times in the last two years on day trips. This was something else entirely, and if he gave the specifics too much thought, they’d no doubt shake his resolve.

     A woman living in his house. With him. How did this happen? So quickly. Didn’t matter. He had no real qualms about it, sensing this is what God had wanted of him. Strange as it might seem to others, Micah had given up on viewing occurrences as strange. His life reeked of strangeness. In order to handle it, he accepted the unusual, rarely questioning the oddities in his life.

     “Why are you doing this?” Her voice was timid and sounded more like an echo bringing him out of his meditation.

     “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

     “Do you always do ‘the right thing’, Micah Jones?” There was a hint of a smile in her voice.

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

         (From July 7th, 2008: Black Sea Affair . . . A military thriller!)                       

Sound the alarm! Man battle stations! Wow. Don Brown’s Black Sea Affair would make a great movie!

Don Brown, a former JAG officer who now operates his own law firm, is an amazing in-your-face brawn and bluster contemporary military novelist of the highest order. When you read his work, you sense he’s definitely been there, done that. His plots speak out loud of the current radical Islamic threats without apology or lack of courage. He creates mounting tension after laying the groundwork that escalates with each new military, diplomatic, and terror-laced conflict. You might be shaking your head at this point thinking you’re tired of reading about the same old terrorism-threat plots, and I can understand that, but Don Brown takes you inside the politics, the strategies, the opinions of different departments in government — and not just our own — and you can almost feel the perspiration accumulating on the brow of the president as he’s driven to make decisions which could potentially launch an all out nuclear war.

Within the bowels of a submarine, you sense the close quarters, smell the sweat of the most skilled group of submariners ever assembled, understand the potential threat of death and the valor of those who volunteered to give their all if necessary to thwart a nuclear threat. When the deed is done, it is learned there was a previous exchange of the supposed cargo the US submarine was seeking to destroy, and the stakes are anted up to an unacceptable level, leaving Captain Pete Miranda no choice but to execute a partial surrender of the Los Angeles-class sub in the waters of the Black Sea.

If you’ve read Don’s previous three novels (Treason, Hostage, Defiance), a series about the JAG attorney Zack Brewer, you’ll be pleased to know Zack makes an appearance in the last few chapters of this novel. I was grateful to see him back in action, his cool confidence and brilliant skills sharper than ever, but I couldn’t help but wonder where Diane Colcernian was now located.

In this day and age when we are forced to listen to the liberal politics of our day deriding the [former Bush] president and this country, Don Brown gives you a novel which celebrates the United States of America and its armed forces. His characters are real men and women who must make decisions most of us will never have to face. The responsibilities and actions required by a few result in the gut-wrenching calls these people are forced to make with little time to be positive about their decisions or orders.

This novel should be a movie—the tension and plot are edge-of-your-seat intense and would be riveting on the big screen.

Father, you have gifted Don in many areas, and I ask, Lord, that you would continue to give him meaningful stories which depict the military at its finest. Thank you, Lord, for his faithfulness to you, for his writing for your glory. Please watch over him and direct his steps as he practices law as your representative. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Some of them are worth watching. This is one of them.

Father, you gave us family. You teach us to love, and we're never really great at it, but some of us try really hard to emulate who you want us to be in you. As best I can with all my flaws, I love you. I love my family. And friends. And animals. And country. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Fabulous group. Great songs. Beautiful ladies. Aahh, these old songs . . . 

Father, you knew the rebellion of the times, but you never slumbered or slept. Always seeking open hearts. Thank you for waiting for mine to get that way. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The president commits a foolish act which defies the government's "First Commandment" and manages to keep it a secret from one of the most loyal and able covert operatives, formerly a Navy SEAL, formerly Secret Service, who is directly and adversely affected by it. Scot Harvath is shattered when his serious girlfriend is attacked on his front porch and lies comatose on a ventilator in a hospital. When he meets with the president, he is told to "stand down" without further information because the president has people in place to take care of the situation. This doesn't sit well with Scot since he knows he's the most capable of subduing this kind of killer, and he can't imagine why the president won't give him the assignment and the details. When the instruction gets serious and absolute with direct threats to Harvath, Scot realizes this formidable task will be done on his own and much more difficult because of the Direct Order.

Having saved this president's life in the past, Scot is amazed and appalled that he would not only be excluded from pursuing this terrorist but actually threatened by the president if he does after an additional personal act of terror committed against one of Scot's own. Threats or no threats, Scot is going to get this vicious cruel killer and he takes off for Colorado where his friends run an exceptional covert training facility under the umbrella of a fabulous resort. 

The First Commandment by Brad Thor is a bona fide thriller. Confounding, maddening, reminiscent of past conflicts (which are explained well enough for a reader to understand this novel without having read the previous books), with former characters like "The Troll" who is both fascinating and somehow sympathetic, filled with life-threatening action, the direct examples of good and evil, The First Commandment manages to conclude satisfactorily after some terrible – but realistic – acts of brutality by a psychopathic terrorist. The charred relationship with the president is especially good to read.

Highly recommend – but note there are some truly brutal (and heartbreaking) parts.

Father, you've given Brad some excellent stories, access to insider information, much like Vince Flynn. Please continue to bless Brad's life and keep him safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.