Into the Fire

Interviewer: Having a little fun today in our interview with Nicole Petrino-Salter. Let's talk about writing novels, shall we?

Nicole: Good idea. What would you like to discuss?

Interviewer: Most authors have a starting point in their writing endeavors, a place in time that they can pinpoint as to when it all began. Do you? 

Nicole: I could say I've written most of my life. As a youngster, I wrote stories, letters. Same in school all the way through my one year at the U of W. Then I went into a free verse mode of poetry for a while, had an old crinkled leather 3-ring zip-up binder filled with poems. However, I kind of went on a writing hiatus when I started working at the racetrack (in Thoroughbred racing). Seven days a week, devoting all my time to learning the horses and industry didn't facilitate a lot of writing endeavors other than a few poems. Skip ahead several years and many life changes – the most critical of which was becoming a Christian – and I wrote a few things.

Then when my pastor told me I didn't use my gift, I was shocked. "What gift?" I asked in all sincerity. "Your writing," he replied. I left, went home, and immediately told the Lord I'd use my gift, but He was going to have to tell me what to write because I had no idea what He wanted. Truthfully, it was like he stood in front of me and said very clearly, "I want you to write a Christian novel about horse racing." That's when it all "officially" began. 

Interviewer: That's a fairly decisive start. How long did it take you to write that first novel? 

Nicole: That first novel (Hope of Glory) became a saga that took 8 and 1/2 years to finish between 7 days a week at the track, homeschooling part of those years, and a bit of lay ministry at church. When I wondered if I'd ever complete what he'd asked me to do, he encouraged me with these words, also just as if he stood before me: "If you pick up the pen, I'll give you the words." He still encourages me with those words as a reminder when I'm feeling a little stuck. It was all written in longhand, no computer, and came out to be 700+ pages, 400,000k+ words. The production was a start-up vanity publisher and it was an amateur result, but the story was a comprehensive look at horse racing in the 80s. Of course it would be considerably shorter if done today! 

Interviewer: So how many novels have you written since that first one?

Nicole: Eleven, working on #12 currently. Nine are published in some form – either in print (soft covers) and for ebooks, some just available for ebooks, one just available in print only. My sole mystery (Race) is the only one also available in an Audio Book (the voice of Joseph Courtemanche). 

Interviewer: I assume they're all of, shall we say, a more normal length? 

Nicole: (smiling) Definitely, although they aren't of the 80K variety. I think the shortest one is 90K+. I prefer longer novels, so that's what I tend to write. 

Interviewer: Shall we continue this another time?

Nicole: That might be fun. I'm game if you are. 

Father, thank you for words, stories, novels. You have always supplied what I needed, and I can never thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Since it's that time of the year, this is my senior picture. You have no idea how big the rollers had to be to get my naturally curly hair to do that. Hahahaha. This picture was sent to my cousin Janice many years ago. She posted it on Facebook. Sweet of her to still have it after that many years! 

Father, thank you for allowing me the wonderful family and friends in my life, for being patient when I became reckless, for never giving up on me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

What comes first: the characters, the story, the title? When asked, it's usually a unique explanation from each author. And it's possible the answers will vary from book to book by the same author. 

For me, I know the genre because I don't write in multiple genres, so that's not ever the question. I did do the one mystery (Race), but that was one specific endeavor that most likely won't be repeated. The title for me arrives quickly and sometimes before the words begin. I've changed one title shortly into one of my stories. The characters tend to form in my mind whether it's the protagonist or the heroine and quickly fill out once they meet the page. 

When you're what is called a "seat-of-the-pants" author, it's possible not to have a clue what the story will be about even though you might have a picture in your mind of the protagonist. You write the words that come to the page when you sit down to start the manuscript. For me, the timing of writing is unpredictable, and the mental images and "motives" either arrive instantly or linger waiting for the grand moment to make their entrance. There are no outlines, no particular organization, no story boards, pictures, or any other "prompts" to get the book rolling. It's all in my head until it comes out on paper or screen. 

So. What authors would care to share their writing process(es)? We'd love to see what you do "behind the scenes" to create your book(s).

Father, thank you for your authors. Thank you for the gift of creating using words. You are the ultimate Creator. We can't thank you enough for your writing gifts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This song brings back a lot of memories for me. Very real ones. I loved this song. 

Father, thanking you is never enough for everything you've done for me. You've been so gracious to me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This picture is probably a bit more dramatic than I feel about this topic, but in all honesty, it does hurt just a little bit. "What does?" you ask. Well, this: 

     I write Christian Fiction. In the Love Story/Romance genre. There is no graphic sex in any of my stories. There is some minor infrequent language. The Lord's Name is never used in vain. 

     I portray "the worldly people" as they are. 

     Redemption/the Gospel is organically and clearly demonstrated in the storyline. 

     Since sexual attraction, temptations, and attitudes toward the opposite sex are inherent in romance, you will find ample examples of them in the stories. 

Because of the real inclusions of these elements of attractions and accompanying actions, my work can or seems to be a problem for some Christian readers. Frankly, I don't understand why. 

But, I know that we all have our preferences in reading novels. I don't begrudge anyone their choices in books. That's the wonder of loving fiction. We all have our favorites. 

I just wish some of those who seek out the "clean and chaste" fiction would take a chance on my novels that give a very real and full look at people and their journeys to redemption. 

That's it. 

Father, I love the stories, characters, words you've given me. You've touched my heart deeply with them all. Thank you is never enough. Always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. 

Revelation 14:1-5 (NIV)

                           
Let's go back to my WIP. Keep in mind at this point in the story the protagonist is not a Christian. 

From Chapter 21

I retrieved the cooler, and we sat on the tailgate and ate our lunch, each of us drinking an ice-cold Coke and talking about miscellaneous stuff to do with splitting wood, the weather, and how we both enjoyed wood fires in the winter.

     It was another hot one, and I admired the sheen of her skin from the heat of our work. She’d pulled her hair back in a ponytail, and strands of her bangs stuck to her forehead from the hot exertion. It was crazy how much I was taken with her. I had to learn how to handle that lovestruck feeling. My old ways were demanding satisfaction, and I was a weakened man who seemed to always succumb to my past behaviors, seeing no rational reason not to give in to them.

     Except for now, as really undefinable as it could possibly be, I knew the past had no business being in the present. None. I’d moved out here to escape that part of me, and I hadn’t done it yet because the inspiration committed suicide when presented with the opportune moment to indulge my cravings. But now, my craving for her fought valiantly with those ugly selfish traits and behaviors and made its own demands. You want real? Fight for it for once!

     I slid off the tailgate and she followed me, reaching back to clean up what little mess we made. When done, with hands on her hips, she asked me what to do. I struggled with my thoughts but pushed through my utter attraction to her – yes, alright, her body registered front and center – and explained our next steps, thinking I probably couldn’t hide my desire for her. I fired up the chain saw and adjusted my focus to the dead tree.

Father, you always surprise me with new characters, words, stories. Thank you has never been enough. Never will be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

When you're two, you own your world. 

A familiar picture to many of you. I'm so amused by the young me. I can still relate. 

Father, you are the amazing provider, healer, comforter, everything we need. The sooner we know Jesus, the better life will be. Holy Spirit, thank you for your patience in rescuing me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I stole this picture from a Facebook post. As a reader, it's absolutely true. As an author, it's a stunning experience. 

And as an author, the very best part of that experience is when it happens to be your own words. 

That's it: the truth for Wednesday. 

Father, when you do that for me, it's stunning. And you get all the credit. All of it. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Oh yeah, the incredible celebration of manhood because you cannot keep good men down. So let's do a little rock 'n' roll to contrast the lies and deception about being a man. REAL men are to be commended and celebrated. 

Father, you made us who we are, and we celebrate your design. You are the Creator, and we are thankful for all you've made. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.