Checking in with Author Alice Wisler
One thing I love about my job is meeting up with other authors - book junkies, I like to call them. Many times we don't actually get to meet in person, but enjoy "getting to know each other" via the world wide web. Alice J. Wisler is one such individual. From her website:
Alice J. Wisler has always enjoyed writing and sold her first short story to the David C. Cook Publishing Company in 1988. Since then she has been published by The Upper Room, ByLine Magazine, Standard Publishing's Devotions,The Canadian Writer's Journal, Sydney's Child, Carolina Parent, Inscriptions, The Writing Parent, Alive Now, BackHome Magazine, The Urban Hiker, Personal Journaling, Bereavement Magazine, The Food Writer, Carolina Woman, The Christian Communicator, We Need Not Walk Alone,
and many North Carolina newspapers. Her contribution to the books, Feminine Writes (National Association of Women Writers, 2003), and Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul, Daily Inspirations (2005), deal with writing through the heartache of grief. Alice was also a columnist at the How To Make A Family site.
Whew - this woman has been busy!
I'm celebrating with Alice this month, as she and her publisher (Bethany House) release her first novel, Rain Song. A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of interviewiing Alice about the arrival of her new "baby.":
1. Why did you choose Kyoto, Japan for Nicole's mysterious childhood? Have you been there? Kyoto is a beautiful city, known as the old Imperial Capital of Japan. I attended Kyoto International School where we played dodge ball and kickball at the Gosho, or the Imperial grounds. When Harrison, Nicole's email friend, writes that he thinks Kyoto is the best Japan has to offer, I have to agree. With its quaint back roads, temples, gardens, and covered shopping-streets, the city is a lovely blend of traditional and modern Japan. I choose Kyoto because of the Kyoto Baptist Hospital. Nicole's parents and Harrison's worked there during their years in Japan as medical missionaries. 2. How long did it take you to write Rain Song? And what is the significance to the title? RAIN SONG (my agent, Kristin, came up with the title) is a product of many drafts, written over the course of two years. The title is from the Japanese children's song about the falling rain and a mother coming to pick up her child with a janome, which is an old wooden umbrella. In my novel, this song actually is significant in saving a little girl's life. 3. The theme for Rain Song seems to be overcoming fears - why do you think this is such an important topic to cover in a novel? I feel that all our lives we have to overcome fears whether they be tiny or large. While I hold no fear of flying as Nicole does, I do have a new fear of rats. When I taught English as a Second Language in the Philippines at a refugee camp, fat rats skidded across the classroom rafters. One even scampered over my bed, while I was sleeping! I wasn't bothered then, but now, twenty years later, rats make my skin crawl. Some fears keep us from doing what we need to do so that our lives can be more fulfilling. Fear of trust, or commitment, or to dream big, or the fear of falling in love, are some typical ones. Often our fear is that God isn't big enough to help us with our struggles.In RAIN SONG, Ducee encourages Nicole to take the plunge and "be like the duck that jumps into the pond." Ducee wants her granddaughter to make the long trip to Japan to meet those from Nicole's past. Nicole is afraid that if she jumps, she won't be able to swim as the duck does. 4. What is your greatest challenge of being a writer? I could seriously spend all day and night writing novels and never do laundry, mow the lawn, or take out the trash. A balance of writing about my characters' lives and living my own is a huge challenge. 5. Who is YOUR favorite author? Elizabeth Berg's novels draw me in because of her ability to create realistic stories with great dialogue. She has been my hero for about seven years. OPEN HOUSE is one of my favorite Elizabeth Berg novels. My uncle, Eugene Peterson (THE MESSAGE) is another author I think highly of for his influence in my life. He's a great listener and makes me feel important. I strive to listen like that to my children, and to those I love.
Congrats again, Alice! I look forward to getting a copy of Rainsong at my local bookstore asap!
Fireproof - Opens Today!
Okay, my friends keep teasing me that they think I'm getting some kind of a monetary kickback for everyone I bring to the movie, Fireproof.
Not so! I am just so excited to endorse a well-made, godly film centered on marriage. Here are some recent online articles:
FIREPROOF - the movie
Okay, Friday is quickly approaching. There's a presidential debate you want to see. And then Saturday, all kinds of yard work needs to get done. And Sunday after church, a nice relaxing afternoon at home sure sounds nice.
But why make this a typical weekend? For the first time in two years, a truly must-see movie is opening ... and it needs your support. Opening weekend for FIREPROOF is the time for you to see this film.
- Don't wait for the second weekend ... it might not have a second weekend.
- Don't complain about the 7 p.m. showing being filled ... celebrate the lives being changed then and go to a show time that's a little less convenient.
- Don't go alone ... there are couples in your world that need to see this film.
- Don't wait to get tickets ... go online or go to your local theater and get your tickets today!
- Don't wait for it to come to DVD ... if you want movies like this to be made, you need to support them first in theaters.
Visit FireprooftheMovie.com
Blog Tour with Kimberly Stuart
There are several things I love about summer: sleeping in, barbeques, sunshine, vacationing, a significant decrease in recycling (no more school papers!) and finally (finally!) having time to sit down with a good book. Kimberly Stuart specializes in one of my favorite genres - romantic comedies. A native of Iowa, Kimberly is a fellow book junkie and library lurker extraordinaire. She's fairly new to the publishing game, but she's certainly making a splash! Her first novel, Balancing Act, released in 2006 by NavPress Publishing, followed by Bottom Line in 2007. I'm thrilled to introduce her new book, Act Two: A Novel in Perfect Pitch. From Amazon.com:New Yorker Sadie Maddox is the toast of the classical music world and the queen of all she surveys in short, she's a bit of a diva. But lately her CD sales are sagging, not to mention parts of her anatomy. Maybe it's time for a change. Something new. A second act. So when her agent suggests she take on a professorship at a small liberal arts college, Sadie decides to give it a go. Ivy-covered walls, worshipful students . . . oh yes, the ivory tower has its appeal. And she needs the money. Except the college is in rural Iowa, and the closest thing to designer clothes is the western wear shop down on Main Street. Sadie's colleagues are intimidated, her students aren't impressed, and she has to live far too close to farm animals. And when Sadie meets Mac, a large animal veterinarian, she assumes they have nothing in common he is, after all, a country music fan. But when the semester ends, Sadie packs up and decamps for the city that never sleeps . . . and finds she can't, either. This laugh-out-loud novel about second chances will have readers cheering as Sadie struggles to find her life's second act.
I fell in love with Sadie from the first moment we met, over a Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino. Extra whip. Kimberly's use of dialogue hit me square in the middle of my funny bone, and I'm happy to report the occurrence of several genuine LOL moments. Sadie is believable, flawed, issue-laden (no surprise there; if this isn't chick lit, it's pert near close), yet likeable. Even the periphery characters are fun to hang around (they tend to be a bit stand-offish). Without invoking any spoiler alerts, I offer an appreciative nod to Sadie's romantic love interest, even at her (ahem) advanced age. This one's definitely a keeper and I'll just have to tell my friends to get themselves their own copy, I just may re-read mine over another Java Chip . . . . To learn more about Kimberly, her family, and her marvelous reading habits (I really like this girl), check out her website: kimberlystuart.com.
WINNER! - Book Giveaway for Leave it to Chance
Amy! Congrats! You're going to love it :-) Please contact me via e-mail so I can get your snail mail address:
jenn at jenndoucette dot com
Thanks to my other participants . . . better luck next time!
Blog Tour with Author Sherri Sand and BOOK GIVEAWAY!
LEAVE IT TO CHANCE, BY SHERRI SAND
Last year I met author Sherri Sand at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers' Conference. In fact, we shared a shuttle back to the airport after the conference (I think we may have shared car sickness as well). Besides the fact that Sherri is a wonderful person, a great judge of humor (she laughed at all my corny jokes!), and a fellow wife/mom - she's also a fantastic writer. Her first novel, Leave it to Chance, released this month from David C. Cook and I've already had the privilege of reading it. Straight from her website, here's a sneak peek:
After three long years of single motherhood, Sierra Montgomery can finally stand on her own two feet—until a gift horse threatens her finances, her family, and her budding relationship with a handsome landscaper
Leave it to Chance is a well-written romantic comedy written from a Christian worldview. Sherri's characters are far from perfect, and she tackles subjects like divorce, remarriage, and the deadbeat dad syndrome with grace, gentleness, and--at times--good humor. I fell in love with the characters and enjoyed her well-placed comedic missteps throughout the story. I give Sherri's book four and 1/2 stars (out of 5) and look forward to her next novel. For more information about Sherri, check out her website as well as the interview below.
How did you come up with the characters in your book?
They came to me. When I saw Sierra, I knew she was a mom who deeply loved her kids and wanted the best for them. Elise was so fun to write with her over-the-top ways. When she drove up to Sierra’s and pushed her ooga horn, I knew I was going to love her. And Sid is such a dear and reminds me so much of my father-in-law, Art. And Ross, how could you not love him?
Do you have a horse?
No, but I love horses, and desperately wanted one as a child. I did end up with a little Shetland pony named Sundance that I would gallop through the mint fields around our house. I spent countless hours sprawled across him backwards reading books. One time he’d apparently had enough of the dead weight on his back and he lay down. It was a shocking end to my reading time.
Did the theme of forgiveness / unforgiveness that Sierra deals with come from your own life?
In a way it did, though I didn’t consciously implement it into the novel. Just like most of us living in this fallen world, there have been a couple significant events in my life that I had difficulty forgiving. I finally realized that if I waited until I felt like forgiving, it would never happen. And I desperately needed to forgive. The bitterness was choking the life out of me. So with God’s help and through His grace I made the choice to forgive and forgive and forgive. I wish I could say that there was instant peace and joy. Though I think that can happen for people when they forgive, I’d lived in unforgiveness for so long that I had to continually make a choice to forgive until the freedom came. And when that freedom came, it was a wow moment for me!
In the story, Sierra has three young kids, you have four children. How successful are you at trusting God with their lives?
It’s been an ongoing process for me. Maybe because I’m a writer and have such a vivid imagination, I can always come up with the most gut-wrenching conclusions to the most innocuous circumstances involving my kids. That makes it hard to let go and trust. But how much control do we actually have over every day life? I had to learn that before we can trust God with ourselves or our children, we have to get to know him first. It’s only in knowing God and His character that trust can develop. And when we truly know the God of the universe, we can trust him with everything.
Ross worked hard in his landscaping business in an attempt to prove his value. Do you struggle with that?
It’s difficult not to get caught up in that. Our world is performance driven. How often do we praise others without attributing it to something they’ve done? Even with our children, we praise how well they unloaded the dishwasher or drew a picture or minded us. It’s difficult to find the words to value people for who they are, apart from anything they do. For most of my life, performance colored my relationship with God. I could not wrap my mind around the concept that He loved me despite less than perfect behaviors. Recently I glimpsed His grace from a new angle. Sin does create anger, but God’s anger was satisfied at the cross. So rather than His anger at our sinfulness, we have His pleasure in us. That has done wonders with my ability to be myself with Him, to honestly let His light shine on all parts of me—the good and the unsightly. When you bring your faults to God and discover He isn’t angry, you can fully experience His compassion and love.
Last but not least - the BOOK GIVEAWAY! Send me an e-mail or reply to this blog and I'll add your name to the drawing. One lucky winner will win a brand new copy of Sherri's book, one month from today: June 28th. Good luck!
EXPELLED Reviews and Reviews of the Reviews . . .
If you haven't noticed the heat being cranked up on the Intelligent Design versus Darwin's Theory of Evolution subject, you may want to consider moving out of that cave you're living in. I say that in all sincerity, since I'm a former cave-dweller myself and have had to take drastic steps to force myself beyond the bubble of motherhood that continually envelopes me.
Nuff said.
Ben Stein's movie, EXPELLED, has been getting more than a little publicity--much of it downright nasty. Here's a sampling of a Review from the far far far left:
John Derbyshire, NRO columnist
And a counter-review from the Discovery Institute titled:
John Derbyshire on "Expelled," or How to Review a Movie without Really Trying, by Martin Cothran
While both are worth the time and effort of a solid read-through, be sure to make time for the second one from the Discovery Institute. If you skew right in the political spectrum and are even slightly tired of being mocked and ridiculed by the left, you'll thoroughly enjoy Cothran's piece. Personally, I find it to be a breath of fresh air much appreciated from the stuffiness of my cave.
Intelligent Design - Indiana Jones Style
MAY 1ST, 2008 Fossil Hunter Release Date!
I'm so excited to tell you about a book launching today (May 1st) titled, FOSSIL HUNTER. It's an Indiana Jones type thriller from my Christy award winning good friend, John Olson. Wanna help him? Then take a couple minutes to do the following:
1. Go to Amazon and check out the book.
2. If it looks good, go to John's site and buy FOSSIL HUNTER today. (He gets an extra kick if you buy it on Amazon through his Web site).
3. If you like the book, send an e-mail to your friends telling them about it, and cc: John on your e-mail (johno at litany dot com).Everyone who copies him will get a free, slightly strange gift. (Trust me, coming from John this is a good thing.) The best, most creative e-mail (as judged by John's impartial wife) will receive an brand spankin' new ipod Touches. (Clarification: The e-mail won't get the ipod, the writer of the e-mail will get it.)
Note: John's book is being co-promoted alongside Expelled, a fascinating examination of how intelligent design has been swept under the rug and stomped on in academic circles. It stars Ben Stein and is at the theatres right now. Since John incorporates intelligent design as part of his book, Expelled is helping promote FOSSIL HUNTER and vice versa.
**If John's book and Expelled do well, they'll make FOSSIL HUNTER into a movie. Whoo hoo!!
Thanks for listening - John's a great guy, wonderful writer, and, well. . . . a genius.
EXPELLED - the movie
Ben Stein's movie, EXPELLED - No Intelligence Allowed, is a must see, regardless of your worldview or political stance. It’s classic water cooler fodder, guaranteed to raise hackles, concerns, and eyebrows of both Christian fundamentalists, hard core atheists, and everyone in between.
But it’s just science, right?Wrong.Were this to be a purely scientific question, based on facts, indisputable data, and measurable results, there wouldn’t be the public outcry or the ugliness being played out in the media and cyberspace.I give this movie 5 big huge honkin stars. I loved it. Ben Stein has made a great film, with an important premise: “What if?”As in: What if we didn’t evolve from a crystal? What if Someone had a purpose for our existence? What if denying the possibility of Intelligent Design has resulted in a worldwide de-evolution of our morals, mores, values, and ethics? What if Charles Darwin missed the mark?What if?
I’m not afraid to question my beliefs from time to time. God can handle my questions. What I don’t understand is why evolutionists are so intimidated by the questioning process.Maybe because the question isn’t just scientific. Perhaps it’s a Spiritual question after all.**My very good friend, John B. Olson's novel, Fossil Hunter, is being released in tandem with the movie, EXPELLED. From the back cover:
In the desolate Iraqi desert, a lone shepherd stumbles across a whale fossil. Initial analysis indicates that it could be a new speciesa discovery that could shed light on the evolution debate.
Paleontologist Dr. Katie James is asked to lead an expedition to recover the rest of the fossil before her archrival, Nick Murad, can find it first.
But while shes there, Katie also uncovers the unexpecteda human fossil so controversial shes forced to collaborate with Nick to analyze the find before it can be destroyed by a fundamentalist faction of the Iraqi government. Their initial results fly in the face of current scientific theory, and it seems the whole world turns against them, including those they thought they could trust most.
Then the fossil disappears, sending Nick and Katie on a chase that could cost them their reputations, their careerseven their lives.
Fossil Hunter is part of the Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed campaign. Look for the feature-length documentaryhosted by Ben Stein and produced by Premise Media Corporationavailable now on DVD. Visit www.expelledthemovie.com for more information.
Interviewing Author Camy Tang!
Q: Your characters are so fun and quirky! How did you come up with four completely different personalities?
A: I have to admit I used archetypes. I absolutely love the book 45 MASTER CHARACTERS by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. I also read a book, PSYCHOLOGY FOR SCREENWRITERS by William Indick, which explains why archetypes are so effective. Psychologically, our brains are geared to understand archetypes, which is why they resonate with us. I took four archetypes and stuck them a bit on their heads to make them unusual, but essentially they're four archetypes from Schmidt's book.Q: I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but between the four cousins (Lex, Trish, Venus, or Jenn), which one would you most consider for a best friend and why? A: I'd be friends with Jenn because she cooks up a storm and I can't resist a friend willing to feed me! LOL
Q: Follow up question: Okay, be honest - which cousin are you most like? A: Probably Trish, because she's a dingbat. She has strengths I don't have but wish I did--like her fearlessness, her enthusiasm for life and learning new things--but her general character and weaknesses are all things I can relate to.
Q: Without giving away the story, tell us how you came up with the title Only Uni. A: Uni is a form of sushi, and originally I was trying to come up with something to pair with "only" since there was a singleness theme in my titles. My marketing team liked the "uni" part as it referred to "one," like "unicorn," and I think they didn't really realize how disgusting a type of sushi uni really is (it's raw sea urchin). But they liked the play on words, so ONLY UNI it was.
Q: This one might be a bit more difficult: what overall message do you want your readers to come away with after reading Only Uni? A: Biologists are dingbats!!! Oh, I need to be serious? Shucks. I want people to understand that God is always there for us, even when and especially when we make massively bad choices, as long as we realize we've messed up and are trying to do better.
Q: When does book 3 come out and which cousin will be showcased? A: Book 3 is SINGLE SASHIMI, and it comes out in August 2008. It stars Venus, the woman I wish I could be. Here's the blurb:
Drake Yu. Why would Drake call her after … what, five years? Six? Venus heard in his voice that resonance that was almost a growl, that titanium-hard determination to get what he wanted. And he usually got what he wanted. The voice said: "I want you to work for me." Not this time… If it was a choice between Drake and McDonald's—she'd choose french fries. She'd never work for him again. It would take an act of God. Venus Chau is determined to start her own game development company and launch the next Super Mario-sized phenomenon. However, she needs an investor to back her idea. When Drake Yu, an old nemesis, approaches Venus with a contracting opportunity at his sister's startup, the offer to become Chief Operating Officer tempts Venus to think the unthinkable. Venus would rather throw away her PS3 than work for Drake again … except Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake's wealthy family with a coveted introduction to the most respected investor in the game industry. It's also a short job—only a few months—so Venus won't have to stand Drake's presence for very long. But one wild youth group, a two-faced assistant, and Grandma's determined match-making threaten to make them both fail—or go insane.With the encouragement of her three cousins, Lex, Trish, and Jennifer, Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation …
Q: I'm in a cookie mood. What is your favorite cookie? (mine's ginger snap - my grandma Egge used to make them for me when I was a little girl) A: You mean I have to pick just one???? I'm in an oatmeal mood these days, and my favorite are these apricot cranberry cookies from Good Housekeeping:http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/healthy/cookies-breakfast-1006 They are AWESOME! Thanks for having me here, Jenn!
****Camy Tang is the loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick lit. She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely, hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her own...), the writing journey, Asiana, and anything else that comes to mind. Visit her website at http://www.camytang.com/ for a huge website contest going on right now, giving away five boxes of books and 25 copies of her latest release, ONLY UNI.
