Into the Fire

Vince Flynn fans will always miss his writing, his books, and are tentatively looking forward to what Kyle Mills will do to continue the Mitch Rapp storyline, finishing The Survivor which Vince had started before his health deteriorated and ended his life.

In the mean time I would suggest Vince's fans read the similar storyteller Brad Thor. I've just begun his latest work, Act of War, and am sold on his writing and complex storyline. Nobody replaces Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp, but we can certainly use another hero like Thor's Scot Harvath.

These dudes are the real thing when it comes to bona fide political, espionage thrillers. Their insider knowledge makes a reader sit up and take notice of the fragile fuse of the world's powder keg. Scary, informative, real, and amazing fiction – or is it, fiction I mean?

Thank you, Lord, for those who share insights to this sinful world condition. Please protect the brave and incorruptible men and women who risk their lives to protect this one nation under God. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
 
          

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Why I loved his writing . . .

When the devil speaks, he lies. We've all heard his voice. We've all believed some of his lies. Cleverly mixed with a small element of truth, they're impressive with what they convey to us about our weaknesses, our lack of character, our status, our motivations, our abilities, our attitudes. And the list goes on . . . an endless stream of condemnation.

With no weapons to fight the enemy of our souls, we are truly helpless. Even with the sword of the Spirit, we flail it around once in a while, hit and missing our targets. Unsure if we even have a target. Forgetting we have built-in warrior skills that usually lie dormant.

My heart breaks for those left behind, damaged and in pain from the wounds of losing someone they loved. Knowing he struggled, questioning whether or not they did enough, wondering silently why he had to do such a selfish thing yet realizing he couldn't cope any longer because the devil had convinced him life was not worth his time and efforts anymore.

Depression has been diagnosed by every kind of mind and religious science and approach. Drugs designed to mix and match and remedy the horrible symptoms of abject fear, sorrow, despair, and hopelessness, have both succeeded and failed the brains of those who suffer with it. Most of us have tasted it now and then, but it doesn't dominate our lives. We're fortunate it's not an area we must tackle and defeat.

I loved Robin Williams. Such a funny, funny man. "They" say comedy is a result of understanding sorrow, the other face of sadness. "They" say the best suffer deeply. The incredible ability to make people laugh – and laugh hysterically in many cases – belonged to Robin Williams. Yet he also held down dramatic roles with equal aplomb. Those of us who appreciated the talent and the relief of the laughter he gave us question the hows and whys of such an ultimate act of self-destruction. We mourn that kind of torment in such a gifted individual.

I can only say I have friends who are believers suffering with depression, who pray on through their daily lives with many shed tears and a fierce desire to be healed from the ravaging of those hopeless thoughts. They fight the enemy and press on, but it isn't easy for them. Jesus keeps holding them together each day.

When the devil speaks, he lies. He can fool any of us. He can convince us easily because we know our failings and he preys upon them. So when the devil speaks to you, don't listen. Tell him you're a child of the King, if in fact you are, and remind him of his eternal status, after calling him a liar. Don't allow him to take anything from you. It isn't his to take.

Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Father, let there be healing where there is pain, comfort where there is sorrow, eventual joy at the memory of this loved one. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.    
       

Creston Mapes presents The Crittendon Files #3 Sky Zone, published by David C. Cook, reviewed for the CFBA Tour.

Jack Crittendon was a good reporter and journalist. Too good. When he uncovered the deep corruption in the previous novel Poison Town, he learned it involved his boss, and the newspaper where he worked was forced to close down as a result. Jack's been out of work for over a year and his wife Pam is due to deliver their surprise third child in a month's time. His mother-in-law Margaret has been helping with their girls since Pam had to go to work full time while Jack works part time at an event center, but Margaret is heading into the uneven mental state of memory loss and possible dementia. Their savings have dwindled to nothing with no end in sight to their money problems. 

When Jack and his friend, former Marine and survivalist, Brian Shakespeare are slated to work a huge event where a possible candidate for the presidency, Martin Sterling, is holding a rally and is bringing former heavy metal rocker Everett Lester, now a Christian, and his wife and son to the event, the staff is short-handed and overwhelmed. Especially when they learn of a possible terror threat suspected at their facility.

There are suites high up in the six story building where Sterling and his team and Everett and his family and personal assistants are sent to stay until police reinforcements can be put in place, but Martin Sterling is impatient and insistent that they get the rally started, unwilling to show fear of the threats.

A last minute decision to go with a friend, Pam and her mother head to the arena. One of the event staff mistakenly opens the doors and is nearly crushed by the crowd pouring through the doors before they can get them shut again. Pam, Margaret, and Pam's friend with her two children make it in and get seated.

The top of the facility is called the Sky Zone where two of their employees were sent for routine checks. Its significance is revealed within the story. No one's heard from them. Tension mounts. Jack learns his wife is at the event via her texts to him and panics because of the threats but can't immediately get to her because he and Shakespeare are assigned to Sterling and the Lester family.

The story begins with the setup for the event after establishing the pressures Jack is feeling over not having full time work, hoping to get on at The Gazette with his friend and fellow reporter Derrick pitching Jack's prowess to his boss at the paper. Switching back and forth between the present and a few days prior to the event before staying in the present, the story is slowed and becomes a bit herky-jerky.

What I liked about the novel is the basic storyline, the heroism of Shakespeare, and the incorporation of Everett Lester from Creston's first novel, my personal favorite Dark Star. 

Margaret's transformation, both in her courage at the event and the realistic trials with the onset of dementia, is done very well. Shakespeare's determination and military insights plus his eventual revelation for his personal life highlight the story.  

What I didn't particularly care for is how the storyline morphed into what felt like an agenda and mischaracterizaton of actual possibilities and became predictable and expected. In light of real life, for me, it ultimately felt politically correct.

From the start of this series I've been unable to warm up to Pam. Nothing's changed. She's so worried about finances, yet she goes to a salon to have her nails done.

While I appreciate Creston portraying real family struggles where we all know what a stresser money problems produce, Jack and Pam have a teeter-totter, manic relationship with each other and with the Lord which is annoying at best.

Shakespeare's phone suddenly has more minutes after being down to three and sending his last transmission. Derrick, after nearly passing out from bleeding profusely after being shot, suddenly is able to drive at high speed to get to a remote location and conduct an interview.

Those who've enjoyed The Crittendon Files will find Sky Zone intriguing with moments of extreme tension and a positive resolution.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0373442726

Father, continue to meet Creston's needs and may he be blessed for his obedience to your direction. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.       

Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;

   your right hand will seize your foes.

At the time of your appearing

   you will make them like a fiery furnace.

In his wrath the Lord will swallow them up,

   and his fire will consume them.

Psalm 21:8-9 (NIV)

I don't usually go in for all the smiley faces and cutesy stuff, but it's Friday after all and my brain is tapped out of creativity. So forgive me for the little image above used to describe how you feel when a thoughtful reader says something wonderful about a book you've written. And you know what? I needed it today.

Thank you. You know who you are and you blessed me so much. What a gift.  

Father, I pray blessings down upon this thoughtful daughter of yours. Thank you for her. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Whether you use a pen or pencil, a keyboard, tablet, or recording device, if you're writing fiction, you better write it from the heart. No matter if you're a planner, organizer, legalistic outliner, or you fly by the seat of your pants as "they" say, if you're not writing something from your heart, you can follow all the rules, can compose a story, but can you make the reader feel your passion if, in fact, you don't have any?

You might not like my style, my "skills", my stories, or my characters, but one thing you can never say about my writing is it lacks passion. Or you can say it, but it won't be true.

Write from your heart and don't be fooled or misdirected by instructions. Rules and instructions must be learned. Once learned, let your style flow, your voice be established, your passion felt.

Passion comes from the heart. It can be imitated but not duplicated. It's original according to who you are at your core. Whether you sizzle or silently strut your stuff, passion is inherent in good writing.

Write your heart out. 

Father, thank you for the passions of our hearts – especially when directed by your careful, loving artistry. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

There is a limit to how much we can take of certain ideologies, practices, events, actions, and many more things. But since we discuss a lot of writing issues on this blog, let's start there.

Recently a well known and very talented novelist wrote a letter to her publisher and fans and the publishing world in general to inform them that she was bowing out of the writing circus. She gave more than one reason, but the main reason was because she couldn't do what was being asked of her. She couldn't market like this new season in publishing demands because admittedly she had no talent for it, no desire to promote, and no incentive to attempt it. She is, or was, after all, a writer and never pretended to be anything else. Since some of her novels didn't become bestsellers, she felt her bottom line for earnings didn't warrant any loyalty from her publisher, nor did her publisher offer to pick up any slack her lack of marketing skills incurred. For those of us who appreciated her wonderful abilities to write, it came as a huge surprise.

For me, I got it. There is a heavy load on today's authors to do all or most of the primary marketing for their books. Indies definitely must promote themselves and their work in order to break into any kind of recognition for their self or custom published works. But some of us simply cannot do it effectively – or willingly. Regardless of all the demands and with the understanding of what's at stake - i.e. the hope of selling a number of books – no matter who says what about the absolute "must-dos", marketing is for a particular group with a remarkable skill set who can be fearless in selling a product. It is possible that others of us have no such skills in self-promotion and selling our wares no matter how much we might want to.

There came a time in this author's life when she decided for this season enough was enough. Whether or not she will ultimately stay away from writing for good, only she and the Lord know. I think it's a sad day for publishing when a genuinely good writer lays down her pen/keyboard because of the demands which don't pertain to her actual talent. Authors are innumerable. Really good ones: not so much.

Enough was enough. And in this case it's too bad.

Father, whatever you have for her, please bless the next step. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

For such a laid back contemporary western drama, there is more conflict in each episode than can hardly be contained. The search for the murderer of Longmire's wife is finally concluded, but who survives the discovery remains for another day along with several other unfinished and much needed resolutions.

A talented cast where every actor contributes to the whole, information is revealed in complicated pieces with an underlying tension permeating nearly every scene.

Well written and well done. Two few episodes at a time but the wait has been worth it in each new short season. 

Father, to watch people use the talent you've given them can be amazing. Please lead them to yourself and help them to know the One who's blessed them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Jack Noble has had enough of his line of work, but he owes an old friend, which in Jack's business usually means a former working associate, a favor, and in order to complete what he's intended to be his last job, he must go to London to do it. His former SIS boss Frank Skinner has erased all red flags on his name worldwide, clearing the way for his freedom from government attention being drawn to him – or so Jack thinks. As it turns out, for this trip, as with so many others in his life: nothing is as it seems.

Jack Noble is spotted upon his arrival at Heathrow by multiple government agencies. However, one former SAS individual in particular is eventually able to catch up to him after Jack dodges him at the airport. He later discovers this is his "friend's" bodyguard, and he is taken to see her during which time her niece Erin arrives with her striking little daughter Mia. Erin and Jack have a history and it goes beyond what Jack remembers.

Suffice it to say, unknown to either of them, both Clarissa and Jack are on "jobs" which will eventually intersect. Clarissa is undercover and assigned to discover what kind of terrorist operation her "boyfriend" Naseer is planning. Naseer's plan includes Jack's target, but neither Clarissa nor Jack are aware of the operation.

Jack can't shake the feeling that he's being set up, that things don't add up, and he's stumped as to how certain events aren't making sense. When there is a huge explosion at a hotel where he was supposed to stay but never checked into, "coincidences" are proving to be decoys. Suddenly the Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff show up at the rubble, and Jack reunites with the PM and his main man, all having served together years ago. With news erupting in the states about the supposed terrorist act at the hotel, Bear and Mandy show up to make sure Jack's okay, and all of them head to the Prime Minister's lodging.

The convoluted mess has them all suspicious of one another with the exception of Bear and Jack and the PM. It's looking very much like there is a mole in MI5 – and maybe more than one. Nobody trusts anybody, and Jack is beginning to wonder who's conducting this chaos.

L. T. Ryan creates a chaotic mess with perfect misleading characters and circumstances. His novels defintely don't give you literary masterpieces, but they certainly keep you guessing and wondering and hoping for good outcomes. Jack is always at the center of everything, often not expecting to be, but undeniably so. People inevitably die, there are many surprises, and fear always plays a huge role when certain individuals are threatened and endure undue pain.

Jack's efforts to do this one last job end up compromised with interferences he never expected. The resolution to get to the source of all the threats and betrayals without complete knowledge of who to trust makes for a final effort.

The ending is a semi-resolved cliffhanger, the kind you expect with those loose ends dangling at the finish. Exciting, conflicted, and hard-hitting, Noble Intentions (Season Three) by L. T. Ryan keeps the game going and Jack Noble just keeps getting better with age.

Father, you know hearts and souls. Please minister to those who don't know you and bless their use of the talent you've given them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.     

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.

   my God is my rock in whom I take refuge.

   He is my shield and the horn of my salvation,

      my stronghold.

I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,

   and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3 (NIV)