Into the Fire

Throwback Thursday

June 1, 2017

From April 23, 2009

Interview with Sibella Giorello, Part Two

To continue getting to know gifted author Sibella Giorello . . .

13.Marketing novels can be the bane of some authors and quite enjoyable for others. Is it a necessary evil or a fun opportunity for you?

A little of both. You have an obligation to your readers, your publisher and the one who gave you the opportunity to write (God), to do more than sit in your office and type. But I’m mostly an introvert, and don’t enjoy “selling” anything, particularly something of my own. So I’m still working on the happy medium.

14.Besides writing, you homeschool your sons. What are their ages, and why did you elect to educate them from home?

My boys are 11 and 8. They asked to homeschool. I was a reluctant convert to the ideology but five years later, I have complete praise for homeschooling. It’s been a tremendous blessing to our sons and to our family. You can’t cut corners spiritually, with yourself or your children. Homeschooling will make an honest parent out of you!

15.This is a question you might prefer not to answer, but is there anything you think could use some modification(s) in the Christian publishing industry?

I think we have to stop drawing a line around ourselves and start engaging with the culture. We’re on our way to preaching solely to the choir which was the path the Pharisees perished on as well.

Look, our savior is not some mush-mouthed falsity. He’s God! He can deal with the utter depravity of man. In fact, he wants to. So why do we want to avoid reality?

I do think, however, that more believers are writing with this in mind. There are more stories about the lost, the people living on the fringe. I see this as a good thing.

16.What genres do you prefer to read?

In fiction? Mysteries. Period. In non-fiction I prefer poetry.

17.How would you describe your walk with Jesus Christ?

Oh, boy, Nicole. You’re a tough interrogator.

My walk goes from some tentative toddler-esque waddle to the full sprint and marathon. And I don’t want to lose either — ever. I learn so much when I don’t know where I’m going or what I’m doing or how to do it. But I think we offer light to others when we’re running the race with endurance.

18. Is there a specific or overall writing goal to which you’re pointing your efforts?

Nope. I just pray and put one word in front of the other. Seriously, I don’t have time for anything else.

19. Are you content with your career to date?

I am. To paraphrase Paul, I have learned to be content in all circumstances. In fact, I don’t think you can write well if you’re looking over your shoulder or salivating over someone else’s success.

20. Newer writers always look for tidbits from the professionals. Anything to offer aspiring writers?

Two things: If your heart tells you to write, write. Don’t listen to anybody else’s opinion. This is between you and your maker. Keep it that way.

Second, don’t give up. Which means that I’ll have to say it again: This is between you and your maker. Keep it that way.

21. Any thoughts on writers’ conferences?

Never been to one. Not because I don’t want to, I’ve just never had the opportunity. But they sure sound like fun, especially Mount Hermon.

22. Do you think you could ever collaborate on a novel? If so, what kind of person would you need to work with?

I’ve got my own trials right now, I can’t even imagine this!

23. Do you have any writing quirks—have to be in a certain place, must have a cup of coffee, tea, coke, water, music playing, silence?

Huge pot of black tea, sweetened. Silence. Early morning.

24. What is your favorite thing about writing novels?

Dreaming with my eyes open, listening to my heart connect with my mind.

25. What is the most important thing to you about writing novels? Why did you do it? And what makes you want to continue?

Honesty. Emotional, spiritual honesty. That’s the most important thing. As for why I write, life makes no sense otherwise. It’s as if I’m looking at the Scrabble board with all the letters spilled. I feel an overwhelming urge to put the tiles in order, to spell something, to make a story.

In other words, it’s a compulsion of some kind. And the reason I continue is because I believe God put this urge inside me, and wants me to persevere with it, through Him.

If you enjoy mysteries with tough heroines, physical, emotional, and spiritual conflicts, interesting characters, unique situations and locations, and genuinely good writing, you need to read The Stones Cry Out and The Rivers Run Dry [and every other Raleigh Harmon novel].

My thanks to Sibella for her cooperation and honesty.

Father, continue to encourage and uplift Sibella as she tackles life in all its beauty and trials. Bless her mind, heart, and spirit. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Taking a . . . Still Life

May 31, 2017



Dani Pettrey's second novel in her Chesapeake Valor Series, Still Life presents a talented photographer (Avery) who takes crime scene photos, the private Crime Scene Investigator (Parker) for whom she once worked, and a young, talented but psychopathic photographer whose obsession with Avery's troubled friend (Skylar) makes him the prime suspect when Skylar disappears on one of the biggest nights of her modeling career.

A well known boorish photographer (Gerard) is holding an exhibit at an art gallery having chosen the infamous and brutal cold case known as The Black Dahlia Murder for the subject of his event. To his ranting displeasure he discovers one of the photographs in his prominent collection is not his and he demands to know who put it there. Avery attends the event because Skylar asked her to come, proud of her great moment as the subject of the photographs – even the one that's not supposed to be displayed. In Avery's opinion the "outlaw" photograph is clearly the best of the bunch but also haunting in its portrayal of the death with Skylar very much looking the part.

Avery can't find her friend and inquires as to her whereabouts. Gerard is upset because she isn't there yet. Avery knows Skylar would never have missed this showing, and Avery fears the worst and knows the best person to help her is Parker, the man she loves but who has never gotten over the unsolved murder of his first love years ago. (This is the only part of the story which seemed slightly off to me. His first love was only 17 when she was killed. He's considerably more mature now. I can see him still feeling the loss and wanting to find a way to solve that murder, but denying his adult feelings for Avery after "growing up" just seemed somewhat odd. Just my opinion.)

Still Life is a quick suspenseful read involving a heroine who is dominated by her past in spite of her Christian knowledge of being forgiven. She wants to be loved by a man who clings to his past love and struggles with surrendering to his present emotions. In the heat of the search for Skylar, Avery is flung directly back to the ugliness and guilt of that past where she influenced Skylar's involvement but couldn't seem to maintain that influence when Avery found Jesus. The other characters complement the story but also set up the novels to follow in this series.

Father, please continue to bless the life and writing of Dani Pettrey, filling her with the stories you have just for her to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday Tunes

May 30, 2017

Yeah, the 60's music. Can't beat it.

Father, you knew us all . . . then and now. Thank you for rescuing me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
In Memoriam . . .

May 29, 2017

Father, thank you for sending those warriors who fought for noble purpose based on the principles you have given us. Thank you for those throughout the ages who've sacrificed their lives for freedom and the glory of godly ideals. Thank you for the USA and those who've given it all to protect it. Thank you for this country you set up to emulate righteous plans. Thank you for those who fought and died to preserve the nobility you infused into the document designed to honor you first. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Sunday’s Offerings

May 28, 2017

Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit,

   and wickedness as with cart ropes,

to those who say, "Let God hurry,

   let him hasten his work

   so we may see it.

Let it approach,

   let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come,

   so we may know it."

Isaiah 5:18-19 (NIV)
Why we cheer . . .

May 26, 2017

The scales of justice as they're called sometimes get unbalanced. In both directions. The guilty go free. The innocent are imprisoned. And it's not "fair".

As children we often cried and sputtered, "It's not fair!" And, no, it might not have been - or it could've been. At the time we probably didn't have the insight to be rightful determiners of fairness because we mostly based those opinions of fairness on whether or not we got our own way about a matter of significant importance to us. Do you remember the times when we were told, "Life isn't fair."? And it usually shut us up momentarily because we couldn't figure out how or why that could be.

Swing ahead to adulthood and acknowledge the personal repetition of the "Life isn't fair" mantra to either one's own children or anyone who stammers the familiar "that's not fair!" The fairness factor is important to all of us. Sadly, the laws have been compromised in the name of "justice" to make it possible for the guilty to go free on "technicalities" and the innocent to be condemned by those who misidentify or perjure themselves under oath. Clever, expensive attorneys often convince jurors that evil people are in fact just misunderstood and victims of unfortunate events.

Most of us detest injustice and crave justice. We need it. We hope for it. We want the final line in our Pledge of Allegiance to be true because it's right and good. So when the opposite of this desired outcome is achieved, we fear the truth is losing its grip, that reality can be altered, that the good v. evil war is slanting in the wrong direction, and that real victims will be accused of horrific crimes and have no way to gain redemption from the false reports.

So . . . we cheer when the villain is vilified! We know that evil needs to be prosecuted. We hate that wickedness often is rewarded or at least goes on without justice being served at some level. And inside we understand how wrong this is. How "unfair". Acquired cynicism has accepted we live amidst the unjust set of circumstances which permits wrongdoing to go unpunished and watch the flawed set of events which allows an unsuspecting individual in the wrong place at the wrong time to receive injustice for being unaware of how their presence there would end with such horrific results.

After watching a movie where the hero is acutely wronged but is about to see or accomplish some vindication for his trials, we desperately want the evil perpetrator of the dirty deed to get his, so as the climax rushes to its grand execution, we receive with pleasure the destruction of the malicious one who has done great harm to the hero. And we cheer! Maybe not out loud, maybe not standing with wild applause, but we rejoice because finally justice will be served! And most of the time there is no remorse because, clearly, this justice is necessary and well-deserved.

For once, a wrong has been righted. We have seen the triumph of good over evil. Even though there will be scars. Even though there was struggle. Even though danger, fear, injustice, and peril occurred, we have seen and experienced renewed justice. In the end. We are satisfied. Relieved. Safe. One more bad person faces his reckoning.

And that is why we cheer.

Of course there is the intense spiritual side to this discussion, but that's a topic for another day . . .

Father, you are the Just Judge. No one escapes your true reckoning. We will all be held accountable. The sacrifice for justice was too great. There is a price to pay for not accepting the true and brutal cost already paid for real redemption for us all. Forgive us, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Throwback Thursday

May 25, 2017

From April 22nd, 2009

(The original cover is on the left, the contemporary cover on the right in keeping with the newer cover themes.)

Interview with author Sibella Giorello, Part One

Pacific Northwest author of The Stones Cry Out and The Rivers Run Dry and former award winning journalist Sibella Giorello was gracious enough to submit to my probing questions about her life, her thoughts on Christian fiction, and her writing. Thanks, Sibella, for your time and honesty.

1.Sibella, many writers seek a certain audience even though most of us want to believe we have written a universally desirable masterpiece. Since your current protagonist, FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon, is female, do you think your two novels The Stones Cry Out and The Rivers Run Dry appeal more to women, and was that your intent?

The only universal masterpiece is the Bible, a book that speaks to all kinds, at all times, provided they can listen (which is another topic for discussion).
Fiction, on the other hand, is much more narrow. It’s a deeply personal decision — what to read — and has as much to do with style as substance. I don’t take it personally when people don’t care for my books, in the same way I don’t expect everybody to like the way I decorate my house. I also don’t worry about whether one gender prefers my books. I don’t write for women or men. I just try to write a good book. When it’s done well, crime fiction will always cross gender lines.

2.You’ve lived in a variety of places. Do you have a favorite among them? What brought you out to the Pacific Northwest and how long have you lived in the area?

Alaska will always be my favorite place on the planet, period. Nothing can ever compete with my love for The Last Frontier. Growing up there was pure blessing.
But the Pacific Northwest is a close second. It resembles Alaska in significant ways, particularly in terms of landscape and people. The persistent misting rain often reminds me of Juneau, as do the people who refuse umbrellas, devour books, and fill every minute in the summer because it’s so glorious and winter’s so dismal.
And yet, the South also stole my heart. It offers something that’s missing elsewhere in America: lyrical language; hospitality as it should be; a singular history that can’t be replicated; a close-knit atmosphere that makes friends into family. Plus, the South serves food at every occasion, large or small, and that’s a GREAT thing!
We moved to the Pacific Northwest about five years ago after 14 years in Richmond, Virginia. It was a difficult decision and it meant leaving friends who we consider family. But my husband believed it was right for our family. And he’s always right . . .

3.How do you describe your writing and categorize your novels?

Well, they’re mysteries above all else. People talk about suspense and thrillers, and maybe they’re that, too, but I leave those conversations to others. I don’t read in categories; I read what works.

4.I’ve grown very fond of Special Agent Raleigh Harmon. How much longer will she be with us or can you tell us?

I’m glad you like Raleigh. She’s a wonderful companion at the keyboard, too. Unlike some other characters, I haven’t grown tired of her company. She reminds me of the amazing women I met while living in the South. They’re polite, they often love Jesus, but if necessary they will not hesitate to kick rear ends.
I hope Raleigh will be with us for quite awhile. I’ve outlined five books with her, and have ideas for more.

5.Since publishing a novel can take up to a year or over, you probably have a novel or two in the works which we won’t see for awhile. Care to give your readers any snapshots of future stories?

I don’t want to give away too much, but young FBI agents move fairly often. So new locations might come with each book. And sometimes bad things happen on vacation . . .

6.It seems there’s always a debate going on in the Christian community about the label “Christian fiction”. Some authors resent the term, others welcome it. Do you have an opinion on this sometimes prickly subject?

I can’t figure out if we, as believers, gave ourselves the term “Christian fiction,” or whether the label was slapped on our work to marginalize it. I suspect the term came about from both sides, but the overall affect was to push our stories off the secular reader’s radar.
I often wonder whether Flannery O’Connor would be considered a Christian writer these days? What about Dickens? In that sense, it just seems like a fairly useless label.
“Christian fiction” brims with great writers whose books could delight non-believers simply for their sheer story-telling abilities. To name a few — and to leave many more unnamed — Charles Martin, James Scott Bell, Ted Dekker, Brandilyn Collins, Robert Liparulo.
Christian readers will always seek out and find books that meet their standards. That’s why I think the “Christian fiction” label only serves to keep non-believers away.
Obviously, this is just my opinion but I’m generally not enthusiastic about Christians setting themselves apart from the world; I don’t think that’s what Jesus did, or what He wants from us.

7.If you were asked to give a blurb about yourself, what would you want your readers to know or remember about Sibella Giorello?

The truth is, I don’t want them to think of me at all. I’d rather write anonymously and let the characters and story live in the readers mind.

8.A rare winter evening alone: read a book, write, watch a movie, catch up on sleep?

Few things are more delicious than curling up under a blanket with a good book and some nice food and drink. So hands down: I’d read a book.

9.Does your husband read your novels? If so, before or after they’re in book form—or both?

My husband used to read my early drafts but he got fired. He was way too enthusiastic. Now he reads the galleys and is wonderfully critical and supportive. And since he’s a musician, he can really sense what’s right or wrong with esoteric aspects such as pacing and atmosphere.

10.If you don’t mind, mention a few of your favorite Christian authors.

So many people name C.S. Lewis that it’s beginning to sound pretentious or dishonest — like claiming you know more scripture than you do — but I seriously adore his books. He’s my favorite.
And mostly I read non-fiction, partly because I’m concerned about inadvertently picking up pieces from my peers’ books and partly because I’m always researching. I allow myself to read Christian fiction only during the two weeks I take off from writing each year, and even then I rarely read contemporary work. For some reason, I gravitate to books written from mid-1800s to mid-1900s. Don’t ask me why, but I also prefer the journalism from that era.

11.Do you plan to write more stories that involve this geographic area?

YES! I love writing about the Pacific Northwest.

12.You were a professional award winning journalist before writing your novels. Did it feel like a stretch to pen your first novel? Do you prefer one over the other?

There are certain things about journalism that made me never want to step outside its boundaries. Journalism provides so many opportunities to be clever and quick — it was made for that. But novels are contemplative affairs. As you say, it requires stretching and that’s not always a pleasant sensation. But now I prefer writing novels because the gratification is more profound, and longer lasting.

To be continued . . .

Lord, you hold Sibella's heart and direct her steps. Keep her close to you and give her many stories to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Soon!

May 24, 2017

Yay! Is it really the "final adventure"? Hoping not. There's always another good pirate tale. Right?

Father, you hear my prayers for souls. May it be your will. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday Tunes

May 23, 2017

Snapshots from a vintage movie and a great old song to match.

Lord, we've always been desperate for you whether we've known it or not. In the Name of Jesus.
Not so close to . . . Winning Over the Cowboy

May 22, 2017

I'm not the "Love Inspired" kind of reader, but I was intrigued by Shannon Taylor Vannatter's little romance novel Winning Over the Cowboy. I became aware of it when Shannon did an interview with Brenda S. Anderson on her blog, and I won a copy! Yay!

No one is more surprised than Landry Malone when her best friend Eden chose to leave half of her heritage dude ranch to Landry and half to her brother Chase Donovan. Just after attending Eden's wedding and getting left at the altar of her own nuptials, Landry learns her best friend has died in a tragic accident.

Landry dreamed of one day owning a dude ranch but never suspected it would be the place she loved after spending time there with her best friend's family. The stipulations in Eden's will make it very clear how the arrangement between Landry and Eden's brother Chase is supposed to work, but Chase is not happy that an outsider is taking on half of his inheritance even though he's been absent from the place doing his own thing for several years.

Well, you can imagine the knocking heads, the turmoil and testing, the sparks flying as these two duke it out to manage some kind of partnership as guests begin to make reservations, arrive, calves are born, fish are caught, leaky pipes are fixed, and Chase can't seem to find something this Landry girl can't do. With complications added from Landry's ex-fiancé and Chase beginning to see how much she too loved his sister and family, she starts to win him over, but their misunderstandings and miscommunications make it near impossible for them to establish a secure partnership.

I just wanted to shake them both, but, hey, that's formula romance for ya.

The authors of these Love Inspired novels have a special talent for telling a tale within the genre formula in short novels with realistic and meaningful characters. Shannon Taylor Vannatter is no exception. A cute little romance with lots of conflict and consternation that manages to paint scenic pictures and turn out just right.

Father, please continue to bless Shannon's life, encourage her in all she does, give her fresh insights and ideas, and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

recent posts

about

Interview with author Sibella Giorello, Part One