And how honored do you think I am seeing my quote attached to this announcement of the new Raleigh Harmon novel? Here and elsewhere. Immeasurably! Thank you, Sibella. You know it's true.
Father, pour out your Spirit on Sibella. Be her comforter and inspiration. Keep her safe from all harm and meet her every need. In the Name of Jesus, Amen
Woe to those who rise early in the morning
to run after their drinks,
who stay up late inflamed with wine.
They have harps and lyres at their banquets,
tambourines and flutes and wine,
but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord,
no respect for the work of his hands.
Therefore my people will go into exile
for lack of understanding . . .
Isaiah 5:11-13 (NIV)
One of the best romance authors of our day Becky Wade agreed to an email interview upon the release of her new novel True to You. Read Becky's thoughtful answers to my questions and participate in her giveaway by leaving a comment.
"Former Navy SEAL John Lawson hires genealogist Nora Bradford to help him to uncover the identity of his birth mother. As they work side-by-side, this pair of opposites begins to suspect that they just might be a perfect match."
Questions for Becky Wade
1. Becky, is there a singular moment or event in your life that defined the importance of romance to you?
Yes! That singular moment was the moment when I discovered romance novels. I was in middle school and had checked out a slim 1980’s YA book about teens falling in love from the library. That did it! I realized immediately that stories about love were my cup of tea. I’ve been a loyal reader of them ever since. I’m a hopeless romantic, so I also enjoy romantic TV shows, movies, and songs.
2. You’ve mentioned that you’d always wanted to write a story using the journalistic or letters approach. In your latest novella Then Came You this method is very well done. What attracted you to using this?
3. Although I write love stories, I read very few of them for various reasons. From the general market there is too much graphic sex. From the Christian market there is not enough of the sexual attraction issues to be realistic – in my opinion. My favorite novel so far of your very good ones is My Stubborn Heart in which the characters stood out as being real and genuine – which is the case in your work – and I particularly appreciated how you handled the sexual tension. Any thoughts on this topic since, if I’ve gotten my facts straight, you used to write for the general market?
4. What kind of fiction do you usually read?
6. Have you ever considered expanding your writing to include another genre(s)?
7. Do you prefer to write your series work or standalones?
8. This is a difficult question for some traditionally published Christian authors, but I’m going to ask it anyway. If you could change anything or some things about the overall Christian Fiction genre publishing, the market, or anything at all, what would those things be?
9. Do you write better or more focused under a deadline or do you prefer to freewheel in your writing?
10. What is your desired word count for writing a novel? Do you like to read longer or shorter novels? Write longer or shorter novels?
11. Favorite place to write?
12. Do you see any recent changes in the Christian Fiction market? Any in the romance genre?
13. Tell us about your upcoming series for which your new novella Then Came You was the prequel.
14. Do you work via seat-of-the-pants, outlines, written notes, pictures, storyboards?
15. Do you hold yourself to write a particular number of novels per year? One? Two? Three?
Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog, Nicole! It’s been a treat to chat with you. I’d be happy to offer a signed copy of True to You and a few goodies to go with it.Becky has been gracious enough to offer these treasures to one of the commenters here. I will conduct a random drawing and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 9th.
Thank you, Becky, for being accessible, honest, and generous. You're the best!Father, you know Becky's heart and soul. You've blessed her in her career and family. I pray you would continue to pour out your Spirit upon her life, keep her inspiration coming, and watch over her as she does as you ask of her. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Reprinted form 2008: A warning to the human race: Demon . . . a memoir
This beautiful young lady (Lily-Rose) is the daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. Let's pray she survives her beauty and choices.
Father, only you know the hearts of all of us. Please lead her to Jesus. Holy Spirit, only you bring us close. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Another great British band. Loved The Zombies.
Father, there has been incredible music over the many years of time. I wish it could've all been made to honor you. Every good and perfect gift comes from you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
I don't know how I missed the debut of this novel, but I did. Chris Fabry is one of my favorite authors even though his stories usually manage to break my heart, leave me sobbing at some point, and inspire me all at the same time. His literary prowess along with his unique imagination bring to life unusual characters in all stations of life while depicting the soft and hard hearts of mankind in all their sentimental and cruel tendencies. The Promise of Jesse Woods lingers. I loved it. But it made me sad. Even if it shouldn't have.
In the frenetic summer of 1972 Matthew Plumley moves with his parents from Pittsburgh to Dogwood, West Virginia, into his grandmother's house as the son of the new preacher. He's overweight, shy, and a diehard Pirates fan amidst a slew of Reds fans. Feeling like a stranger in a strange land he befriends two fellow outcasts in a mixed race boy named Dickie Darrell Lee Hancock and a girl with silky blonde hair and dirty clothes by the name of Jesse Woods. Their partnership causes all kinds of anxiety for Matt's parents and grandmother who mostly fail in their Christianity with these two particular kids.
Many of us have a certain summer from our youth that brings up either an exceptionally fun memory or one of those with pre-teen or teenage anxiety and growing pains. The Promise of Jesse Woods goes back and forth in time to capture all of that summer of '72 for Matt Plumley after he receives a call in Pittsburgh where he lives and works from an old estranged friend from that special summer. The news which led to the phone call leads Matt back to Dogwood 14 years later. Although his parents are glad to see him, they really don't want him back home at this time. But Matt's not a kid anymore, and he's on a mission to clarify a promise from the girl whose word was tantamount to truth in their long ago relationship.
What Matt discovers about that promise allows him the time and determination to resolve a long dormant situation and arrive at a somewhat satisfying conclusion in many areas of his unsettled life.
The Promise of Jesse Woods tackles so many difficult topics regarding prejudice, a distressed church, the choices between fear and courage, first love, the dedication and devotion of the human spirit in impossible situations, the value of promises, the critical character parts of trust and faith, sorrow and tragedy, the importance of friendship, and the horrors of dysfunctional families. In other words the story is filled with the failings and victories of the human condition when survival and protection drive us to do all we can to keep going.
Few books get 5 stars from me, but The Promise of Jesse Woods deserves as many as needed to signify an amazing effort by Chris Fabry.
Father, you know all about Chris and his family. Your desire is to bless them through and in spite of all the hardships they've endured. Please continue to bless their lives and give Chris the stories you want him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Isaiah 5:20 (NIV)
Five things I love to do (in no particular order):
Pray
Write/Read
Laugh
Love
Drive
And, no, it isn't a book title.
Father, you've blessed us with a wealth of beauty to observe and drink in. Thank you for all of your blessings, your serious grace, your unequaled redemption, your incredible benevolence. Thank you is never enough.
Becoming an . . . American Assassin
(Reprinted from October 19th, 2010)
(Consider this review after reading my comments on the movie trailer)
It’s no secret what a fan I am of Vince Flynn’s novels. I’ve read all of them now and will no doubt have a long, long wait for the next Mitch Rapp book. Vince’s novels routinely make the New York Times Bestseller List as well they should. He’s no stranger to readers of political thrillers, and he’s earned every bit of respect and notoriety for his fearless and insightful portrayals of terrorism, politics, and the CIA. The stories and his hero Mitch Rapp are unequaled in American novels dealing with similar topics. Once again I want to emphasize how big a fan I am: I love Vince Flynn novels.
So before I review the story which is a prequel to the Rapp novels, as a reader and as a writer, I must state that I have never seen so many copy-editing errors in any professionally published novel. This book is published by Atria, a division of Simon & Schuster, and is destined for the NYT Bestseller List upon its release. Mr. Flynn is represented by a top-flight agent and no doubt pulls the cream of the crop in editing services from his publisher. All that to say this: there is simply no excuse for producing a book from this talented author with no less than 25—and possibly more—errors in it beginning within the first three pages and continuing throughout the book.
From the standpoint of production: American Assassin is an incredibly disappointing piece of work. There were so many mistakes, at times it was distracting to read because not only were wrong names used in scenes where the particular character couldn’t be, other names were misspelled in one place after establishing the spelling in another. The word “widower” was used twice instead of the correct term “widow”. And can you believe “your” was used once for “you’re”?! Multiple times words were left out or others were present where they shouldn’t be. The only logical assumption is that this was typeset from a first draft. Honestly, I was shocked.
American Assassin introduces us to the young Mitch Rapp, discovered by CIA Director Thomas Stansfield’s protégé Irene Kennedy, and brought to the hidden training center for operatives and more specifically assassins—the location and leader of which readers will recognize from Pursuit of Honor. Stan Hurley, the mean old cuss and former operative assigned to train or derail the hopeful recruits, is hacked off that Irene insists this young “college puke” could possibly stand up to what will be required of him. Irene is insulted because Stan doesn’t give her credit for possibly discovering their best hope for the Middle East counterterrorism operations.
Standing toe-to-toe with the man she knows as Uncle Stan from her days as the daughter of a prominent foreign ambassador, she argues and accuses him of not taking her seriously because he still sees her as a little girl. Stan knows she’s right but there’s no way he’ll admit to it. In walks Rapp who immediately challenges the growling, sneering dude to a match in order to determine if Rapp has “the stuff” to remain at the facility. Surprise, surprise. The kid has the stuff but Hurley is still reluctant to keep him, ticked off because Rapp hasn’t had military training like most of the guys who wind up in the program. However, what he inevitably can’t ignore is the skill set, both physically and mentally, that Mitch Rapp brings to bear. His intelligence and intuitive talents match his physical strengths, and his humility in admitting his shooting skills need teaching and improvement make him a lock for withstanding the grueling and sadistic training.
Before too long Rapp is given his first assignment. Taking all of his detailed instructions into account, he improvises and assassinates an arms dealer who provided the impetus for the Lockerbie flight which went down with the love of his life on board. Without a twinge of guilt on a park bench outside the man’s apartment, Rapp looks the man in the eye and tells him why he is the target. Mission accomplished. Stan Hurley is rabid when he learns the outcome because Rapp didn’t follow the plan. However, when all is said and done, Director Stansfield reminds Hurley how much Rapp reminds him of Hurley in his youth, and eventually they form the cohesive unit needed to carry on the business of exterminating terrorists.
We see the transformation of a young man with a purpose, willing to sacrifice his life if necessary but preferring to overcome and eliminate targets/terrorists. Willing to ignore the parts that cause self-examination in the mirror of his life, he’s young enough and dedicated enough to see the necessity for his choice of a livelihood. Truly becoming a killing machine, Mitch Rapp knows that someone must do what he does if his country is to survive the evil intentions of those who would destroy it. We get the picture of who Rapp is—his uncompromising and unflinching strengths—and we know exactly how he became the American Assassin in the books to follow.
Great story. Mitch Rapp fans will love learning his early history. Dreadful presentation of a book. The best thing about the book’s production is its dual covers, both attractive and well-designed.
Father, you know Vince's heart and soul. You know where he's at with you, Jesus. Help him to continue to grow closer to you and produce the stories you have for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
