Into the Fire

     Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 

Colossians 4:2 (NIV) 

Friday is just another day when you work seven days a week. Racetrackers can identify. But the glorious day does have its "happy" vibe because for some it's the end of a work week and two days off lie just ahead.

What comes to mind for you when Friday shows up. Anticipation? 

Anything special this Friday?

Father, thank you for each day of my life. You rescued me and put genuine value in my life. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

In keeping with the "selfies" before they were selfies. Rather a self-portrait such a long time ago. Remembering.

Man, I loved that camera – it was my favorite. Many years later, it was stolen. 

Father, thank you for rescuing me from myself. Thank you is never enough. Keep working on me, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

It's here! Can't wait to read this one from Don Bentley (creator of the Matt Drake Series). He's taking the next run in the Mitch Rapp Legacy and has put Mitch back in time before 9/11. 

Don's a great thriller writer, and I'm anxious to see how he handles Rapp in this time frame. 

Big congratulations to a truly good writer. 

Father, you know Don from the inside out. Please continue to shine your face upon him and bless him big time in this new endeavor. Encourage him as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I loved America's music, their lyrics, their amazing songs. Enjoy. 

Father, thank you for your amazing musicians. May each one find you who gave them their talent. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

When I froze up writing my first and only mystery/police procedural, Race, I started another novel. I didn't freeze up on that one but went back to write some more on Race. I froze up again because I was terrified of making stupid errors that, should a law enforcement office ever read the book, they would throw it across the room after rolling their eyes. This with the sterling help of a detective at that time who emailed me through my fears and struggles with easy-to-understand instructions on procedures. On that second freeze, I started yet another novel. Finally, after many words in each of those other two novels, I went back and finished Race, then the next book I'd started (Seeing . . . ) and then the next one ( . . . in a love song). 

So. I'm frozen solid on my current novel at roughly 60K words into it. Should I attempt to start another one? 

Monday . . . musings . . . 

Father, here I am again, asking for assistance. You know apart from you, I can do nothing. Help me, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 

Colossians 4:3 (NIV) 

"Who is the most unusual, oddest, or most unique character you've ever written?"

Well, "unusual" and "oddest" are always subjective to the reader. I've written some peripheral characters that might fit those descriptions, but I'd say some of my characters fit the "unique" category more easily. 

In Destination I think "Grams" is one of my more unique – and lovable – characters to fill the pages of my novel. She says it like it is, has keen perception enhanced by the Holy Spirit, and a tender heart that's endured extreme pain, having lost her two adult sons in the military and her husband after them. She was a joy to write and somehow remarkably easy. 

In The Famous One I do believe Joey Parr is a unique character. Written as his fictional biography, the reader gets to know him from his youth and how he "happened" to become a star. He was exceptionally enjoyable to write, trying to capture the depth of his character through his struggles. 

In Breath of Life I wrote Shaylen Price who is a best-selling author writing under the pseudonym Cabin LuCaine. She's virtuous and solemn from a serious loss in her life when she meets Michael Jamison who is anything but virtuous but is inspired by hers to change his perceptions of just about everything. Writing her was a challenge to keep her "in character" at times because she truly is an innocent woman, in contrast to Michael, and is falling hard for him. She considers herself "not normal" because of her naivete and innocence at her age with only one meaningful experience with a special man who was a SEAL and a friend of her brother's which is how they met. He was KIA, and the loss Shay felt was enormous. There are some heavy moments in the story as the two of them find each other and themselves in different ways. 

I do everything I can to make my characters seem real and relatable. That's my objective. 

Raw Romantic Redemptive     Love stories with a passion. 

Amazon.com : Books by Nicole Petrino-Salter 

Father, thank you for each unique character, all the words, everything. Thank you is never enough. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Self-portrait with my new Konica 35mm camera just before leaving for my grand adventure to Great Britain and Europe with my friend. I'd just turned 20 and got the camera for my birthday from my parents. Worked for a year after my first year at college to save for this trip. We were gone almost 3 months and had an amazing time. Two young American girls . . . many years ago.

Father, thank you for protecting me when I didn't yet know Jesus. Thank you for always watching over me. You've given me so much in my life. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Did you become what you thought you would? Did you do what you wanted to do most? If you could be anything or do anything other than what you've done or in addition to that, what would it be? Whimsically speaking, is there something you really wanted to be or do, but it wasn't in "the plan"?  

Father, you put things in people's hearts, you designed us, created us with a plan, but with multiple gifts and talents. May we always find what you would have us do and give it our best. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.