Into the Fire

This is a snippet from my novel Destination.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Seemed like no matter how early or late he went to sleep at night, he would wake up at or right around 5 AM. But just the same with the summer sun seeping through the white pine shutters into the shadows of his magnificent room, he reached over to the nightstand and checked his new pocket watch. Five o’ five. He’d always wanted a pocket watch, even as a kid, but he’d never had one until he got out of prison. He hated the sound of the words “out of prison,” but it was foolish to deny the reality. Besides, it hadn’t all been bad. And he knew shortly upon arriving there he had a debt to pay. Funny thing was he learned he couldn’t pay it. Ever.

     He got up and took another shower, so thankful he could in the privacy of this splendid home. He was ready to work, to get his hands dirty, his muscles sore, to sweat. Sweating would be no problem in this eastern Washington desert heat. He put on a pair of his oldest worn jeans and another T-shirt to start with, and he walked out to the kitchen barefoot. He wasn’t sure what to expect from Grams at this early hour, but he suspected she might be up and about, and he was right about that.

     “Mornin,’ son. You an early riser?” A hint of humor danced in her voice.

     He looked at her expression. “You don’t think this is early, Grams?” He smiled at her.

     She took a drink of her Coca Cola. “Ah, I suppose it’s not late,” she conceded. “You know how hot it gets here so early in the mornin’ and all. Truth is I just can’t sleep past four, you know? That Lord is pretty persistent about me tending to my prayer time. He gives me an extra half hour in the wintertime—big of Him, huh?” She laughed.

     Thomas smiled at the petite woman, feeling better than he’d felt since . . . maybe since he was a boy comin’ over here to visit all the time.

     “Coke?” she asked.

     “Yes, ma’am.” A woman after his own heart. “I can get it.”

     “No foolin’ you can,” she said matter-of-factly. “Look, Tommy, I’m only goin’ to say this once,” she began with a look that could’ve brought a soldier to attention.

     He stopped in his tracks.

     “Everything in this kitchen belongs to you and me. You want something to eat—you fix it or look for it or ask where it might be. When we go into town to get groceries or anything else for that matter, I expect you to get what you want as well as what you need, and don’t be askin’ me if it’s alright. I ain’t your momma. Turns out I’m your friend—in fact, I’m more like your sister, you know? In the Lord? So, you and me are goin’ to live here for as long as you want to or as long as you need to, and you’re goin’ to have everything you need to live your life while you’re here. It’s nice havin’ a man in the house again. I raised two sons and had a helluva man—pardon my French, Lord—for a husband. The Lord Jesus has kept me company since, and it’s been good, but I figure He knew when I needed a friend again, and He sent you, Tommy. So, don’t go gettin’ all syrupy about bein’ here and bein’ in my debt—I won’t stand for it.” She actually tapped her cane on the floor to emphasize her point. “Now I know I called you hired help yesterday, and, believe me, I’m goin’ to put you to work. Stupid darn hip goin’ out left me in a fix tryin’ to get some things done, so I’m happy to have your help. But this thing between us is more than just boss and servant—you got that?” and she glared over at him.

     “Yes, ma’am.”

     “Now I know with your kind of conscience, it ain’t goin’ to be easy at first gettin’ all comfy cozy here right off the bat, but I ain’t kiddin’ ya when I say make yourself at home. This ol’ place has been empty and way too quiet for too long. I expect you to live here, you understand?”

     “Alright, Grams,” he said quietly. “I’ll try.”

     Grams softened a bit. “Son, I don’t know what all happened to ya over there in Seattle, but it’s over. You better start livin’ your life anew now because, let me tell ya somethin’,” and she paused and took in a breath. “You of all people know that sometimes it just up and goes away. Life is a precious thing, Tommy. We only got so many days. Make the most of ‘em, son, because if ya don’t, your time here has all been wasted. The Lord has somethin’ special for you, Tommy. Mark my words. He does. So you better be settin’ your mind to findin’ out what that somethin’ is or you’ll be miserable for the rest of your days. You hear me?”

     “I do.”

     “Alright, let’s drink our coke, and then we’ll get started with our work for the day. Sound good to you?”

     “Yeah, Grams,” and he managed another smile.

Father, characters, words, stories I love. Thank you is never enough. Please, keep me writing, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

What defines my novel audience? I write love stories with a passion, heavy on the romance with a Christian theme. They portray the world as it is, romance as it's felt and acted out (without graphics), and these factors are what give it the Raw Romantic Redemptive identity. Let's take a look at those who are likely not to be my reading audience. 

If you're a fan of the standard romance novel that follows the formula of "boy meets girl, sparks fly, conflict develops, misunderstandings disrupt, more conflict, couple makes up (graphically in secular fiction), and so on until there's finally resolution and either a happy ending or a satisfactory one," chances are you might not be my audience.

If you're a diehard secular "steamy romance" fan, there's definitely heat in my stories but zero graphics, so, no, probably not my audience.

If you are solidly opposed to an organically spiritual plot point woven into the relationship discoveries, you're not one who's going to read my work.

If you're a Christian who, no matter how frustrating or maddening a circumstance presents itself to be, is never once tempted to utter a foul word, you probably will find a way to be offended at some of my characters. (No graphic language is used.)

If you're a Christian and prefer that the sexual attraction and temptation(s) that accompany it are not realistically portrayed (with no graphics), then you are not my audience. 

So who's left to read my work?

If you came to know Jesus after having spent a part of your life in the world, you'll identify with many of my characters.

If you've found that you really enjoy "love stories" as opposed to formulaic romance novels, you might enjoy one of mine.

If you believe in the power of the Lord to redeem people in hard places, you will find those redemptions in my stories. 

If you love true romance from the moment of sizzling attraction to the challenges faced by that attraction, you will appreciate its portrayal in my novels. 

That's the rough draft of those who are not and those who are my reading audience. 

Father, I can never thank you enough for my stories. You've given them all to me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Great group. Great songs. 

Father, may each one know from whom their talent comes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

So. There are things authors willingly discuss, and there are things some authors will not discuss.

Engage an author about a particular novel they've written or the characters they've created, and you've got a conversation that will go for as long as it takes to cover it all. 

The taboo topic is politics. Rather than risk the wrath an opinion might induce, many authors are completely silent about how they feel concerning this subject. 

I understand. If an author has readers at the other end of a political spectrum, chances are an opposing confession can alienate those readers. 

I've been insulted for my outspoken thoughts in the political arena by those who've never read my novels but saw fit to criticize them anyway. 

I will not stand down. It's not something I can do. But that's just this author: not a bestseller, not known, but a writer nonetheless.  

Father, you make us all. Unique and yet so many similarities. We live in this flesh, and one day this flesh will live no more. You've numbered our days, and you know the number of hairs on our heads. You're amazing. Thank you for rescuing and redeeming me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Evil will slay the wicked;

   the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems His servants;

   no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

Psalm 34:21-22 (NIV)

So much to be said about beauty. Talk about it being in the eyes of the beholder, the person examining it with their eyes. Does it impact their emotional awareness? Does it excite them with a gasping reaction? Is it so stark and startling that adrenaline is released? Is it so tiny or intricate amidst its gigantic counterparts? Is it so vast as to overwhelm its location. 

What does beauty look like to you? I imagine you might get a slew of examples clambering for recognition in answer to that question. 

The Lord God Almighty did not have to leave this fallen planet with any beauty to contrast its sinful state. But He did. And the incredible collection of all types of beauty is here to point man to His divine hand in its wondrous creation. Just one of His many gifts to fallen man. He alone created beauty. And He couldn't resist leaving some of it for human creation to see and experience. That they might look to Him and seek the vastness of what He has to offer.

Thank you is never enough. Thank you, Jesus. Help us to always seek you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Not too long ago. My only mystery/police procedural. 

Father, thank you for keeping me steady on this one when you knew it would be hard for me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Please keep me going on this present novel. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The Haunting of Hallows House (The Casebook of Atticus Priest 3) by Mark Dawson

Mark Dawson was born to write the Atticus Priest novels, including the recent novellas narrated by his assistant/partner private investigator "Jez." Atticus Priest is one of the most fascinating characters – not entirely unusual with all of his idiosyncrasies because many characters have them. It's just that his social skills are also unique, and he really has no time to mess around. Where there's a mystery needing to be solved, he wants to get about his business. Atticus is one of my all-time favorite characters. And his partner "Jez" is the perfect sidekick, filling in the necessary blanks that Atticus usually omits. 

Hallows House has been purchased by a wealthy couple unaware of the magnitude of the folklore surrounding this ancient, one-family-owned mansion/estate. The last of the local family was forced to sell it because of his rising debt. With the residual money that remained, he purchased a local pub in this small English town and did his share of ranting about having to sell it and to whom. 

The wealthy couple hoped to make it into a fabulous hotel/resort for an elite clientele and really didn't take into account how the townspeople might react to their presence and intentions. When things began to crash and go boom all over the house in the middle of the night, the crazy stories of Black Nell whose bones reside in a coffin in the basement are starting to make sense. So much sense that they enlist the services of Atticus Priest to determine what is really going on because they fear the spirit of Black Nell will be their undoing.  

Arrangements are made for Atticus and Jez to stay at the house to discover the mystery. Jez is nervous, not thoroughly convinced there isn't a ghost doing dirt at Hallows House, but Atticus relishes the challenge. 

It's a fun mystery, and Atticus invests his clever mind and semi-secretive ways to uncover what is truly happening in the haunting of Hallows House. 

I highly recommend all of the Atticus Priest novels and these novellas. 

Again, Lord, please supply all that Mark needs to do what you've called him to do. Bless him and his family and may they know from whom their talents are given. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Ahh, another great Bee Gees tune filled with e-motion. Gotta love the Bee Gees. 

Lord, you've given gifts to us all. Some don't acknowledge from whom they're given, but for all that do, bless them, Lord. Encourage them. Thank you for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Vultures by Mark Dawson is Book 24 in A John Milton Novel Series. 

In Venice, Italy, John Milton becomes aware of a destructive crypto-currency scheme that has robbed hard-working people of their life-savings. It's a polished and convincing ponzi-scheme with testimonies from those who claim to have transformed their lifestyles. The "face" of the presentation is given by a beautiful young Italian woman whose story, confidence, and empathy convinces audiences of all kinds to buy into "True Coin."  

One of Mark's other former MI6 Group characters, Charlie Cooper, joins Milton to help find the head of this outfit, their goal being to recover the money lost to these vultures after shutting them down and legally prosecuting all who are involved. 

In order to facilitate that, John must find a way to contact the female featured in the presentations. After that happens, and she is discovered, she is whisked away to one of the locations occupied by this heartless psychopath leader of True Coin. She intuitively knows it's not a pleasure trip, but she follows orders secretly given her by Milton – even though Milton and Cooper know they're compromised which is the only way they can discover where the leader is located. 

Needless to say, immense precision is needed to pull off the plan Milton and Cooper have concocted, but they do have a few elements of surprise and contingencies. Even with their best efforts, it's almost too late for Cooper and the girl. Almost.

This is an interesting venture, a little out of the norm for Milton. I haven't yet read the Charlie Cooper series, but it was a seamless entrance to bring him aboard in this story. He and Milton formed a good partnership with mutual respect and a cohesive relationship to accomplish their goal. I particularly enjoyed the ending as each of their needs for closure in this case were met. 

I always enjoy John Milton. He's aging realistically and facing it well. Tough as nails and never gives up. A truly good thriller character. 

I highly recommend the John Milton Series.  

Father, please continue to give Mark whatever he needs to continue these multiple series. Let him know apart from you, none of us can do anything. Guide him, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.