Highlighting Karina Fabian

Welcome to the blog Karina Fabian. This fun, interesting writer has jumped in with both feet to a world that doesn't exist, but might one day. The genre of Christian sci-fi is growing, and with good reason. Its great fun, and it causes the reader (and the writer) to think deeper about their faith.

You'll love this inside look at the mind and work of Karina.

Karina's websites:
http://www.fabianspace.com/: Home site for Karina and all her works, including her e-zine, Faith-Filled Fiction
http://www.dragoneyepi.net/: Home page for Vern, a cynical dragon detective, and his partner the Mage Sister Grace and their many tales
http://www.isigsf.com/: Information about Infinite Space, Infinite God
Myspace: www.myspace.com/karinafabian AND www.myspace.com/dragoneyepi
Shoutlife: www.shoutlife.com/karinafabian


Book Title: Infinite Space, Infinite God
genre: science fiction
tag line: Thought-provoking sci-fi with a Catholic twist
Book site: http://www.isigsf.com/
Order from: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/InfiniteSpace_ss1.html

Synopsis:

Is that religion in my science fiction or science fiction in my religion? The writers of the Catholic SF anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God (available at http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/) have so seamlessly combined the two that it's hard to tell.

Infinite Space, Infinite God features fifteen stories about the future Catholic Church: its struggles to evangelize aliens and lost human colonies and to determine the soul-status of genetically modified humans, genetically-designed chimeras, and clones made from the Martian sand; the adventures of religious orders devoted to protecting interstellar travelers or inner-city priests; and how technical advances allow monks to live in solitude on the Moon and help one criminal learn the true meaning of Confession.

Winner of the 2007 EPPIE for best science fiction and first-runner-up in the Preditor and Editor polls for best anthology of 2007, people of all faiths have found Infinite Space, Infinite God a fun, thought-provoking book with terrific characters and plots that transcend religion.
It’s more than just a great read. With introductions exploring the issues at hand and current Church thinking, Infinite Space, Infinite God is bound to spark discussion and make people think--just as good science fiction should.


Why I write sci-fi: First, because it's fun. I love to read it and I love to watch it. What I enjoy, even more than the technogadgets, are the ideas you can explore. Science fiction takes trends and pushes them to extremes, plays with concepts, and influences the future even as it dreams. Also, since sci-fi takes place in the future--or another dimension, another planet, alternate history....--you can write about things that aren't possible in literary fiction without people putting up defenses because "That's not how people are!"
Why religious sci-fi? For too long, science fiction imagined a future where humankind had "outgrown" religion, if it was mentioned at all. That, I think, is unrealistic. Plus, the interaction of faith and science is an interesting one and usually not adversarial (Not that the press would have you believe that).
I also write fantasy. Again, it's a lot of fun. My favorite thing is to play with clichés by taking them to extremes or giving them unusual twists. But I'll tell you more about that next year when Magic, Mensa and Mayhem comes out.

A significant moment in writing Infinite Space, Infinite God:

It's funny how collaborating on a book is a lot like collaborating on marriage. When Rob and I worked together on our stories for ISIG, we went out to dinner, swapped ideas and had a lot of fun. Choosing the stories was a different matter. Since Rob has the job that pays the bills and works long hours at it, I was the one who did all the anthology work--soliciting submissions, doing first reads, sending Rob the ones that were great or that I had reservations about but thought might be usable, working edits with the authors, sending rejection letters, etc. And nagging my poor husband to please read that one story so we can decide on it!
Rob, however, provided guidance and leavening; he was the sanity check on stories, always knowing when I was being too harsh or finding that one fixable flaw in an otherwise great story that would elude me. He also kept me sane when I got mad at people who argued about their being rejected. (One person e-mailed me back telling me I didn't understand the important and Catholic concepts of his story. Rob reminded me, "It's not your job as editor to understand; it's his to be understandable." I have such a smart man!) Once we had our stories chosen, we went out to an Italian restaurant and organized manuscripts by candlelight.
It was so much fun, we're doing it again with Infinite Space, Infinite God II. In fact, if anyone reading this is interested, the guidelines are at www.isigsf.com/guidelines.

Books coming out:

Leaps of Faith: a Christian sci-fi anthology from The Writers' Café Press, coming Summer 2008 (http://www.leapsoffaithsf.com/)

Magic, Mensa and Mayhem: a fantasy mystery comedy from Swimming Kangaroo, coming early 2009

Faith-Filled Fiction E-zine: Writers who want to incorporate religion (real and imagined) into their novels are invited to subscribe to my newsletter, Faith-Filled Fiction. This educational resource offers writing tips, editorials and teaching articles about different religious practiced written by those who practice them. Its mission: to help authors write faith practices that ring true rather than fall back on stereotypes.

I also write short stories and have been in several anthologies and magazines. A full list is on my website.

How to handle "No"

It was bound to happen one of these times. Eventually, in my career as a writer, I would be rejected by a publisher.

And so I was.

Last week.

For the first time, the answer was "no".

:-(

It was the kindest of rejections. The sort I suppose, if an author was going to get rejected, is the kind of rejection she would want to get (hows that for an oxymoron?).

They "liked the writing" (the only feedback I received on the book itself), but they want to focus on historical fiction. Mine was oh so very contemporary. Very. No way I could just slap some long skirts on the women, have the men smoking cigars after dinner and call it a period piece. Just wasn't gonna happen.

So, what did I do?

First thing I did was pout. But I was alone when I did that, so no one knows about that.

Oh. Dang. I guess they do now.

Rats.

The second thing I did was write the publisher back (via e-mail) and thank her (yes, you read that right) for getting back to me and letting me know the editors' decision. I kept it brief (the entire e-mail was three sentences) and positive. I said "perhaps our paths will cross again in the future".

This positive approach to rejection will help me in the long run. The publishing world is small. Everyone knows everyone. While I was sad that a door was closed, I knew it was possible that this publishing house may one day be interested in one of my books. Even if they never are, I'm glad I was able to handle the rejection with some morsel of aplomb.

And was my etiquette noticed?

You bet.

Not thirty minutes after I replied the publisher e-mailed me back, on her private e-mail (thus she was speaking to me "off the record") and encouraged me in my search for the right publisher. It was a kindness I didn't expect in this 'dog-eat-writers" world. And it buoyed up my courage to send queries out to six other publishers and agents.

As Scarlett said, "After all, tomorrow is another day."

Highlighting Donna Dawson

Welcome Donna Dawson to the blog. I "met" Donna (via e-mail) when I was working as the project manager for Hot Apple Cider She was one of those authors who always met deadlines early. On top of that, she's a very good writer. I know you'll enjoy this close-up with Donna and her new book Vengenance.

The book is Vengeance by Donna Dawson and it fits into the inspirational mystery/thriller genre. My website is http://www.authordonnadawson.com/ and has a webpage listing book stores that carry my books. (see the page titled bookstores) I encourage people to visit those book stores to support small Christian businesses.

I love writing inspirational mystery because I can share my faith and the insights God has shown me in a setting that will catch the attention of those who might not otherwise listen to God's messages. I have written a non-fiction home school guide but I also write inspirational mystery romance.

Synopsis:

Special Agent James Benedict needed rest. He needed a break from the stress and frustration of his job at the San Diego Federal Bureau of Investigation. And so he went on a cruise to Hawaii. What he didn't count on was fifteen days of horrific death aboard the ship's passengers but that's what he got. As, one by one, passengers begin to die quickly of a disease that eats their flesh, James finds himself scrambling to find the source of this illness. Little does he know that it will be tracked across continents and time lines. And little does he know that the love of his life, Dr. Julie Holding will become embroiled in his bizarre investigations. Can James stop the spread of this killer? Can he save the woman of his dreams? Can he believe that those who were supposed to be the guardians of his nation are really the ones to blame for this deadly plague? Follow the parallel paths of James and Julie as they each struggle to hold on to their faith in a world gone mad. As James fights against the desire for revenge and Julie works to free a small child from the trauma of abuse, they both must trust in the all-powerful love of their heavenly father. Together they must press on as soldiers in a spiritual war.

I wrote this novel to remind people to look to God in all things. It isn't our right to wreak revenge on those who wrong us--even when it is a difficult choice to make. The hero of the book, James Benedict, isn't perfect. He believes in Christ but he struggles with the corruptions of his day-to-day FBI job. He would love to take vengeance on behalf of the victims in society but he knows it is wrong--that it is God's job. In this novel, I try to show two sides of a very nasty coin. The villain of the story is bent on revenge for personal reasons. The hero struggles with taking matters into his own hands for the sake of the innocent. Both are faced with the choice of vengeance and both must struggle against their own weaknesses to make their choices.

The most significant moment for me came as I was writing the first chapter. There are things from my past that I would have loved to have revenge over and yet as I wrote about Cassandra and her case and how James shared the same struggles I once had, I felt a great release in knowing that someday, God will have his say--and he will wipe the tears from all of our eyes--and all will be good again as it was meant to be.

I believe my fiction matters because it addresses subjects that people don't want to look too closely at. Because they are written in a fiction format, they aren't so 'in your face' that the reader doesn't want to think about them. It is a subtle, gentle way of opening a reader's eyes to the hidden wrongs of the past so that the reader will be alert enough not to permit those wrongs to be repeated.

Vengeance will be released March 31, 2008. I have also written "Thriving in the Home School" (Donna Fawcett), "Redeemed" (Donna Dawson) and "The Adam & Eve Project" (Donna Dawson)
Upcoming books:
Hot Apple Cider--a collection of stories by 30 Canadian authors. (released May 2008)
Rescued--When a girl discovers she's pregnant and knows that to deliver will kill her, she makes the choice to undergo a new procedure that will not only save her life but the life of her unborn child. (released fall 2008)
The Fires of Fury--Katherine loses her unfaithful husband in a mysterious fire and she and OPP officer Jason Wolfe work together to solve the mystery--and fall in love in the process. (released Jan 2009)

Highlighting M.D. Meyer

Welcome M.D. (Dorene) Meyer to the blog. I met Dorene through The Word Guild

We are both contributing authors to the anthology Hot Apple Cider an anthology from That's Life! Communications.

I know the saying "you can't judge a book by its cover", but I think the cover of this book makes you want to pick it up and buy it! This is a truly Canadian highlight as you'll see. My thanks to Dorene for this up-close look at her work, and art. Grab a tea and cozy in for a good read.

Deep Waters by M. D. Meyer
Genre: Adult fiction

Set in the fictional Ojibway community of Rabbit Lake, Deep Waters will transport you into Canada’s far north for a compelling story of enduring love and sustaining faith.

Why I write in this genre?
I believe that, through the vehicle of fiction, we can have a non-threatening, non-judgmental discussion about some of the more difficult issues in life. Of course, to do this, a good (totally awesome!) story must never be sacrificed. As authors it is our duty – and privilege – to provide a well-written, entertaining and in every other way, thoroughly enjoyable book for our readers.

Links to website:
http://www.dorenemeyer.com/
Autographed copies available from: dorene@dorenemeyer.com
Purchase book online from: http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/
Also distributor: http://www.peanutbutterpress.biz/

Synopsis of Story:

There is no them and us. There is only us.

In Deep Waters, award-winning novelist, Dorene Meyer takes you on a journey into a First Nations community. This fast-paced contemporary fiction challenges the myth perpetuated by the church that some sins are greater in God’s eyes than others.

“Just another drunk Indian.” Sarah, a young nursing student, hears the words and is troubled by them but remains silent. The patient is indeed drunk but that is not why she is unconscious and that is not why she dies.

Sarah thinks it is her birth mother who has died but it is actually her aunt. The story revolves around her true birth mother, Gracie, an alcoholic, and Sarah’s fiancée, Colin, who also struggles with alcohol addiction. Sarah finds forgiveness in her heart for both her mother and Colin as she understands the deeper issues that have caused their addiction.

Endorsement by Shirley Frisbee:

Dorene Meyer’s book may be fictional in the sense that it was not written about specific people, or did not take place in a real town or reservation, but it is real and true of the events that happen in the everyday lives of Native American people. It is evident that the author has lived in and around Native lands and people, and understands their lives and challenges.

The story has surprises, laughter and tears. It is stimulating and moves along at an even and consistent pace, making you wonder what will come next. I was sad when I finished the book, because I felt like I knew the characters. I yearned to step into the book and continue to find out what happened in the lives of the people, and to experience relationship with them.

The story demonstrates how precious and valuable it is to have a strong support system, and to have people in our lives who love us unconditionally. The friendship between the main characters in the story know no color, race or barriers. People with such differences kept hanging in there and being there for each other, and people with life-controlling issues fought their way to victory.

The love of Colin and Sarah goes to show how love waited for can grow into something beautiful that can last a lifetime. It is the kind of love God wants us all to have for each other, but it is rare and difficult to achieve. Although the book is not laden with a lot of references to Christianity, there is no doubt that it is the power of God behind the strength of the story’s characters to overcome their obstacles and hold them in relationship with each other.

I don’t usually read fiction, but this book was so good that it changed my mind about fiction. I would read all books written by this author.

Shirley M. Frisbee, M.A.T., B.S.
Eastern Band of Cherokee (Tsalagi)
Founder and President of Native Heart Community Development Association
Author of four wellbriety books in the Native Turning Point series, and A Holistic Guide for Developing Core Competencies: Working with Native Americans Struggling with Substance Abuse

Biography of M.D. Meyer:

Spent the first 4 years of my life in First Nations (Native American) community. After parents separated, my mother was foster and adoptive parent to numerous First Nations children. This is likely the reason why many (but not all) of the characters in my books are First Nations even though I am of European descent.
I write about the things that I care deeply about, but never sacrifice a “good read” for the sake of my passion. The books I write are meant to be read and enjoyed primarily – and only secondarily, perhaps, stimulate the reader to consider thoughts or ideas they would not otherwise encounter.

The award-winning author of Colin’s Choice, Get Lost! and Deep Waters. Also editor of four anthologies: Prairie Writers Volume 1, 2, 3 and The Voice Behind the Mask and author of numerous articles. Has been the editor of a newspaper, written a play on a work-for-hire basis and won a national writing contest with a poetry-prose entitled: “Writing with Passion and Integrity.”
Using this wide range of writing experiences, Ms. Meyer mentors, edits and teaches writing classes, giving practical help and encouragement to novice and aspiring authors. Dorene Meyer is a professional member of The Word Guild, the Manitoba Writers’ Guild and also sits on the board of the Manitoba Writer’s Guild.
Ms. Meyer has personal familiarity with Native American culture and with the topics about which she writes. Currently, Dorene Meyer is residing in Norway House, Manitoba.

Significant moment when writing book:
My father died while I was writing this book. Having grown up without my dad, there was a double grief when he passed away. I think somehow I had still harbored the dream that we would have a close relationship. Now I know that will only happen when we both see Jesus. Grieving for my father enabled me to enter into the emotions of Joshua, a central character in the book, as his father dies. Deep Waters is dedicated to the memory of my father, The Reverend Canon G. C. Daley.
The hurting is ended. The healing has begun.

Welcome Ruth Meyer - Not Easily Broken

Welcome Ruth to the blog. Ruth is a respected member of The Word Guild. I'm happy to have her here today, sharing this deeply personal book. Grab a cuppa and join Ruth as she shares her book, and some of her heart with us all.

Title
Not Easily Broken - ISBN 1-897373-10-4

Genre
Inspirational Fiction

My reason for writing inspirational fiction: All though my life I have learned a lot about life and living through reading good quality fiction and biography or autobiography. As a person prone to making mistakes, I found that living through various life experiences with the characters in a story, often keeps me from having to make my own mistakes. They also often give me a perspective outside my own experiences. It’s like a spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down!
I guess that gave me a real impetus to let others learn through some of my own or at least those of the characters in my stories. My books and stories are just about always based on true life stories of the many seniors with whom I have worked and who became friends. Their lives are so rich with experiences that are often stranger than fiction. It would be a shame to let those stories be lost when they are gone.

A synopsis of Not Easily Broken: In the time when women often died in childbirth and men remarried to have someone to care for the house and children, new mothers sometimes cut off relationship with the maternal grandparents. Ellie is a strong young woman faced with circumstances that are not her choice. When Ellie’s older sister Regina dies at the birth of her third child, her parents request that Ellie break off her engagement to the man she loves and marry their son-in-law, John, so the children will stay in the family.
Ellie reluctantly agrees but determines in her heart to give it her all to make it a good marriage. She and John begin life with a somewhat contrived feeling to their relationship, but love grows because they are both committed to it.
Preposterous as it may seem, Ellie’s story is based on a real-life situation as told by Rina, Ellie’s own daughter. The story begins and ends with Rina and gives evidence that the mother’s strength has been passed on to her daughter. Readers having experienced the death of a spouse will find immediate rapport with John, then Ellie, as they face the waves of grief that come at unexpected times, and perhaps find ways of dealing with their own. Those who have yet to experience this will come to a deeper understanding of the process of grief while they live through the joys and sorrows of the characters in “Not Easily Broken.”


My reason for writing this book: As Creative Director at an Adult Day Centre, I interviewed each client for a “This is my Life” book that helped the seniors know more about each other’s lives. In my interview with Freda Litt, she told me the story of her mother. I was so fascinated with the courage and faith of that woman that I asked Freda, if I ever got to write a novel, could I use her mother’s story as the basis for it. That story just kept percolating in my mind in the coming years. After the death from cancer, of my 63 year-old husband, I was ready to write. I began and the story just kept flowing almost day and night until it was done. Dealing with death and grief in an honest, forthright manner and helping others to do so, had become a passion for me. I was convinced the book could become that “spoon full of sugar” for others experiencing this journey. However, the benefit in this book will not be felt only by those experiencing grief, for I hope the message will come through that even situations in life that seem impossibly hard and absolutely unreasonable can become stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks if one sets the mind toward that direction and asks for God’s help.

A significant moment for me during the writing: While writing one of the death scenes in the book, I found some of my own feelings bubbling up. Many times in that chapter, then in the grief that followed, I had to stop because tears blinded my eyes. I would have a good cry and then go on. The song “He washed my eyes in tears that I might see..” became a reality to me, for healing flowed into my heart and life as I relived my own journey through the characters in the book. It is those genuine emotions that seeped into the book that, I believe, are the portions that connect so deeply with the readers.

Coming Soon
Not Far from the Tree, Rina’s Story, sequel to Not Easily Broken: Freda (RIna’s) family were so pleased with the story of their grandmother, they asked for a sequel about their own mother’s remarkable life. Having already had the desire to do so, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Freda’s daughters to garner the fascinating incidents in the life of the woman I knew between ages 95-99. A precocious and spunky child, those traits could still be seen at the end of her life. Living beyond the norms of her society and through the depression years, the hardships she endured with a feisty spirit and positive attitude provides plenty of inspiration in this new novel.

Tyson’s Sad, Bad Day: A children’s book dealing with the death of a beloved aunty, seen through the eyes of six year-old Tyson. Written in verse, this book will provide soothing, healing and hope for young children who experience loss .

NotEasilyBroken.book@gmail.com
www.inscribe.org/ruthsmithmeyer

Books available at:
amazon.ca
barnesandnoble.com
WordAlive.ca
e-mail Ruth @ NotEasilyBroken.book@gmail.com

Highlighting Max Elliot Anderson

Welcome Max Elliot Anderson to the blog. It's great to hear from an author who writes for "reluctant readers", namely young boys. As a mom of a 7 year old boy, I'm in line to order Max's books! Enjoy this up close and personal with this author. You are welcome to leave any comments or questions for Max (or any of the author's highlighted here) and the author will respond.

Title and genre of your book

NORTH WOODS POACHERS
Action-adventure & mystery especially for boys 8 and up.

Why you write in this genre

I grew up before television was in wide use. I clearly remember listening to Saturday morning radio programs which required me to use my imagination. It was quite common to find me, along with my friends, acting out some of the stories we’d make up. We lived in a large, wooded area called Wolf Lake, about ten miles from Muskegon, Michigan. We often hit the door at first light, and didn’t return until dark. Writing my adventures today, seems to take me back to those fun and exciting days, although nothing we ever did even comes close to what happens in my books.

Links to your books site

Author Web Site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

Books for Boys bloghttp://booksandboys.blogspot.com/

50 Pages of Reviewshttp://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/


Synopsis

North Woods Poachers takes cousins Andy and C.J. Washburn on an annual fishing expedition to Canada with their families. Bored by all the fishing, the boys secretly hope to do some exploring on their own this year.

As the families pass through the Canadian border on their way to the cabin they have rented for years and years, they are stopped for the first time ever, because security has been heightened by the border guards on the lookout for animal poachers. The boys' curiosity is aroused. C.J., an electronic gadget genius, hooks up his computer and they find out all they can about animal poachers through the Internet. The first few days at the cabins are relatively quiet, except for two huge, noisy, black floatplanes that roar into the quiet peaceful lake each night after dark and are gone by daylight. The occupants of the nearby village and the boys' parents are under the impression that the owners of these planes must be rich guys wanting privacy. The boys think something fishy is going on and decide to investigate.

Finally allowed to explore after their duty day of fishing with their fathers, Andy and C.J. uncover way more excitement than they bargained for. They find themselves lone witnesses to an international animal poaching ring. As they gather clues (without any thought at all to their or their families' safety) they are chased by men in all terrain vehicles, outsmart big mean guard dogs with seconds to spare, and are almost overtaken in their small two man dingy by powerful sea-doos - in the dark.

Now, if the boys can only get back to warn their parents in time.


Why you wrote the novel

Part of my work is as a professional film cinematographer, and video producer. I had the opportunity to shoot two film projects in and around Dore Lake, in northern Seskatchewan, several years ago. Because of my interest in adventure, I was drawn to this place because of its remote location. Wealthy fishermen came in by floatplanes, stayed a few days to fish, and then returned to their homes by plane.

Then I read a series of articles about the problem of people who buy and sell exotic animals. Many of the animals suffer and die under poor conditions or abuse. The combination of al these elements led me to develop a story around animal poaching in a remote location.

A significant moment for you as you were writing the book (either
personally or professionally)

I’m not a very technical person, so it required a lot of research in order to come up with the electronic wizardry of one of the primary characters. It was fun to read reviews, after the book had been published, and receive compliments on how well I understood technology. I had to smile and think to myself, “If you only knew the true story.”

Why your Fiction Matters.

My fiction matters because I grew up hating to read. My professional work has primarily been in the highly visual world of film, video, and television commercial production. I believed that there had been a reason why I didn’t like to read, even as an adult, so I set out to discover the reasons.

As I began writing, I decided that it would be worth it if one of my books helped just one other reluctant reader to develop an interest and even a love in reading. I’ve heard from countless parents, teachers, and young readers that this has happened.

A list of other books you have written or that will be coming out soon

I’ve completed 36 manuscripts and the following are published:

NEWSPAPER CAPER 0-9729256-4-3Tom Stevens was a super salesman. He and his friends delivered newspapers early every morning. Along their route, the boys often saw some pretty strange things. Then one day they actually became the story. Readers will like the humor, attack dogs, car thieves, and the chop shop Tom and the others uncover. This story reminds us of how important friendship is. It also teaches God isn't just for emergencies. He wants to guide our lives every day.

TERROR AT WOLF LAKE 0-9729256-6-X
Eddy Thompson was known for one thing and one thing only. Eddy was a cheater. He cheated on anything, anytime, anywhere, until something happened up at Wolf Lake. It wasn’t the brutal cold. It wasn’t when he fell through the ice. It wasn’t even when two scary men arrived at their remote cabin. What happened would change Eddy’s life…forever. (currently out of print)

NORTH WOODS POACHERS 0-9729256-8-6
The Washburn families have been coming to the same cabins, on the same lake, catching the same fish, for about as long as Andy can remember. And he's sick of it. This summer would be different he decided. Only he never imagined how different. The story is filled with excitement, danger, humor, and drama. In the end, Andy learns the concepts of family tradition, that God loves justice while He hates injustice, and it is important to follow the rules. Readers will enjoy the gigantic, jet-powered floatplane, computers, home made radio transmitter, and naturally, no one will ever forget Big Wally. He’s a fish of course.

MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY 0-9729256-3-5
Scott and his friends had dreamed and prepared for their first wilderness camping adventure. When they become separated from their group in a mountain fog, trouble begins. There was that bear, the decrepit suspension bridge over a bottomless gorge, the sheer cliff in the dark, those terrorists in the remote cabin, the Army, the helicopter ride, and…
This story reminds us what happens if one of God's lambs is lost.

BIG-RIG RUSTLERS 0-9752880-1-6
Todd and Amanda live with their parents in a Midwestern city. The family doesn’t go to church. The children are invited to visit their uncle, aunt, and cousin Drew, on their Wyoming ranch over spring break. Todd learns, in a unique way, why stealing is wrong. He decides to choose a new path for his life because of his uncle’s Christian example. A band of high-tech cattle rustlers are caught, revealing that Todd was also wrong about Travis, a shadowy character.
Read about the round up, rattlesnake, and rustlers.

THE SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE 0-9752880-0-8
A detective, a police scanner, and a cave offered possibilities for danger and excitement. Who are the real heroes in America? Randy and his friends pooled their resources to go cave exploring, discovered the hidden loot from a bank robbery, and learned they weren't heroes at all.

LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF 0-9752880-3-2
They didn’t call him a liar; they just couldn’t believe his story. Brian Fisher was determined to prove it was true even though it involved the risk to his own safety. His rescue of a wolf pup from a steel trap results in a mysterious relationship with surprising results. The story is set in the lower elevations near Yellowstone

Book Highlight: Meet Sheila Davidson author of Hear Heaven

Welcome Sheila Davidson. Enjoy this up close look at the author and her writing. Sheila is a member of The Word Guild (me too!) and has agreed to share some interesting insights she has about writing, fiction, and why it matters.

Title and genre of your novel: Hear Heaven is an inspirational romance set in medieval times and came out in 2005.

Why you write in this genre: I’m a sucker for books with a love story in them. In fact, most of the fiction I read has an element of romance, and I’ve been known to say, “If there’s no romance, what’s the point of reading it?” I also like castles and heroes and chivalry, so the setting of my novels was an easyfit.

Synopsis: Only once in his lifetime did Isgoré Armaddi abandon his God. And it nearly cost him everything. Hear Heaven is a novel set in the 12th century. As a young man Isgoré Armaddi inherits Braydon Manor and Village and the guardianship of his brother, Ardon. When Ardon turns five Isgoré hires a tutor for him, the beautiful and evil Kora Rae Doxler. As Braydon’s landlord falls beneath her spell the manor suffers dark days indeed. Only a gift of God can deliver Isgoré and his home from sure disaster.
Years later, Isgoré becomes guardian to Ardon’s daughter, Stella and when she requires a tutor he is flooded by the pain and fear he carries from his experience with Kora. He hires Raymore Leotte but before he meets her, she is attacked and falls prey to a curse that leaves her in a coma-like state when attended, awake only when alone or when her caregiver is asleep. Guilt-ridden that such a fate should befall someone under his care, Isgoré tends Raymore’s wound and prays for her. As he does so, his heart is drawn to the young woman.
Raymore longs to marry someone her own age and has come to Braydon in part to escape a marriage proposal from a much older man. As the days of the curse unfold she develops feelings for Isgoré but when she sees him as he sleeps, she is dismayed to find that he is at least twice her age.
Once Raymore awakens and settles into life at Braydon she is brokenhearted that Isgoré avoids her, even as her own feelings are unclear.

God will have to take action if the barriers between Isgoré and his love, Raymore, are ever to be dismantled.

Why you wrote the novel: I started writing Hear Heaven because I had a dream with two elements of the story in it, and, as is my habit, I sat down at the computer to record the dream. From there I kept writing and in about three months’ time the story had reached 80,000 words – a novel

A significant moment for you as you were writing the book (either personally or professionally): The writing of Hear Heaven was just plain fun. I enjoyed the story, the characters and the process and had no idea I was writing a book. It took awhile before I braved showing it to friends. Their positive responses and encouragement prompted me to seek publication. And of course the ultimate thrill was holding a printed copy in my hands. I think God wanted me to have this experience and it has certainly been a gift to me.
Since then the writing continues, with two more novels completed and two more installments (volumes 4 and 5) begun. This is all such a thrill and so unexpected.
Another thing that happened is that God ‘resurrected’ something from my past. It had been years since I had taken up pen and ink to draw, and as Hear Heaven was going to press I had the idea to try drawing again. As a result there are two of my own illustrations in each of the three published novels. And I have come to realize that God does not let anything go to waste.

Why your Fiction Matters: Hear Heaven is just a story, an imaginary place peopled by fictitious characters. Yet my portrayal of God mirrors my experience of Him, that He is ‘the one true God’. If others are helped to see God in this way then that makes the writing and the reading worthwhile.

Fiction matters because we love stories that penetrate our minds and hearts in ways that teaching of facts cannot. A personal example for me is years ago when I read Frank Peretti's books This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. He said the works were purely fictional, and not necessarily theologically sound, but they changed the way I pray.

A list of other books you have written or that will be coming out soon:
The sequel, Heaven’s Tears, was published in 2006, and the third in the series, Heaven Knows, will be coming in the spring of 2008.

Links to your books site: My website address is: http://www.sheiladavidson.com/ website:
and the book(s) may be purchased through that site.

e-mail: stickmen@nbnet.nb.ca

Highlighting Author Peter Black

Meet Peter Black, children's author, composer, and writer of sermons! He's a memeber of The Word Guild (which is where we "met").
Enjoy this up close look at the book, his delightful characters, and the author.

Title and genre

Parables from the Pond

Fiction for children ages 6-10.

Why you write in this genre
Fiction allows me to explore situations and relationships. This particular book (my first) is both evocative and nostalgic for me since it takes me back to when I played as a kid around a pond.

I also write:
- Short fiction – wistful olden-day times, and some contemporary; usually inspirationally oriented.

- Brief light devotional items with various foci (eg. relating to the seasons).

- A weekly inspirational column for our small-town community newspaper (averaging 570 words). Through this I am able to tackle a great range of topics and experiment with a variety of approaches.

- Poetry and worship / praise songs for solo and congregational use.

Mini fiction – illustrative scenarios to illustrate my sermons.

-Biblical character biographical sketches, often with fictionalized elements.

Links to your books site
Parables from the Pond is targeted to be available in March, 2008 from Word Alive – http://www.wordalive.ca/

You will also be able to order this book at Christian bookstores, as well as through the author: 519-876-2117; raisegaze@execulink.com

Synopsis
Three unlikely friends – Nancy Newt, Francis Frog, and Cecil Snake – frequently meet at Conference Corner by the bank of the Pond underneath the old willow tree to discuss matters of concern about the Commonwealth of the Pond. They show us the value of setting aside inherent differences and overcoming fear of "otherness" and that through friendship, cooperation, and trust, the lives of others may be enriched.

The structure of the book
The book is a collection of 39 stories, grouped into 3 volumes each comprised of 13
episodes.

The animator, Ben Guse, provides a picture cameo for each story.

The story is followed by a Character Corner discussion starter / application section, and Reflection Scripture/s.

A significant moment for you as you were writing the book (either personally or professionally)

These stories were never meant to be a book. Some years ago I sat at the computer preparing my church bulletin, and I thought, Lord, I need a story!

Immediately the concept came into my mind complete with the three main characters, their names and the setting.

I’d become attached to ‘friends,’ and I continued writing about them until I had 13 espisodes each.

Sometime following my becoming a member of TWG it was suggested to me that these stories should be published as a collection of short stories. The book was shortlisted in Word Alive’s 2007 contest.

Why your Fiction Matters

A child and youth counsellor who reviewed the book wrote: "Children are less threatened when they can identify with characters rather than ‘kids’ in a story. Those who have big issues that need to be worked out will be more willing to look at the same situation they are in if it comes through metaphors, like the Parables from the Pond characters and their stories and situations from around the pond.... There are so many things you could do with this material! These stories could be used in church programs, and with a little modification in their presentation, could also be taken into the secular arena, such as schools."

Author Highlight #1 - Welcome Audrey Hebbert

Audrey Hebbert is an inpiration, writing books at age 70. I've enjoyed e-mailing with Audrey and learning more about her passion for story telling and for sharing her heroine's passion for sharing Jesus with the world.
You can visit Audrey at her site: http://www.audreyhebbert.com/
If you have any comments or questions for Audrey, you can comment on this blog, or you can e-mail me at bcg@bonniegrove.come and I'll ensure Audrey gets your comments and questions. She has agreed to answer as many of your questions as she can.

Her is the highlight of Audrey Hebbert's book Red Light, Green Light

Main character Monica Moore (not her real name) was born in western Canada and grew up there. She moved to the U.S. with her husband who was a pathologist. I met her here in Omaha, where she continues to live after her husband's death in 1993. We've been friends for about 10 years.

Title and genre of your fiction book

Green Light Red Light, a novel set in China.

Why you write in this genre? The novel genre was used to prevent the Chinese officials from identifying main character Monica Moore. They wouldn’t allow her back in the country if they knew her identity.
Links to your books site and where people can buy it.
You can buy Green Light Red Light anywhere— My website (www.audreyhebbert.com), Amazon.com, your local bookstore, anywhere books are sold. For some of the online stores, you may have to type in my name [Hebbert, Audrey, Green Light Red Light] because there are so many children’s books called Red Light Green Light.

A synopsis of your story.

Green Light Red Light is a novel based on Monica Moore’s work as a volunteer English teacher in China. She boards the China Air jet with her friend, 16-year-old Erika Slade, and the teen trades hamburgers, cell phones and the company of her twin brother Billy for swarms of people speaking a strange language. The two Americans climb The Great Wall and get lost in The Forbidden City. They eat unusual foods. Unpleasant smells and pollution never go away. Monica and the team leaders baptize new converts in her bathtub. Erika’s new friends in China include pretty Amelia Cao and the team joker, 16-year-old Jesse Carter. The beautiful redhead wrestles with forgiving her abusive mother and her father’s killers in Iraq. Her world-view is first rocked and then obliterated as a new vision rises from the dust of an unfamiliar culture.

Why you wrote the novel.

I wrote this novel because I had no choice—our Lord compelled me to write. It took five years to write because I spent as much time in prayer as I spent writing. Every Christian needs to read this story because it challenges us to follow in the footsteps of a little lady from the Midwest who is sold out to Christ.

A significant moment for you as you were writing the book (eitherpersonally or professionally)

All events in the story are based in truth, although I changed details to maintain anonymity for the characters. I knew all along that I should write a wheelchair story that summarized one segment of Monica’s work, but I procrastinated as one task after another filled my time. Finally our Lord said, “write the wheelchair story.” I did, and it’s powerful. Tears streamed down my face until I could hardly see the monitor screen as the words flowed through my mind into my hands. Yes, I wrote the wheelchair story, and many people have commented on its significance for them.Why your Fiction Matters.

Few people realize the anointing Monica Moore operates under, but those who have worked with her know. Her one reason for agreeing to have this story told was to challenge other Christians, young and old, to do what she does. “I must tell everyone I meet about Jesus,” she says, “because it is unthinkable that anyone should not hear.”A list of other books you have written or that will be coming out soon.

I have enough material from the tapes Monica Moore dictated to write a four-book series about her short term missions trips and the thousands of people she has personally led to Christ, both in the U.S. and abroad. I hope to start the book about her work in Pakistan, Iraq, India and the Tsunami in March 2008. I will follow through with more books in the series as our Lord leads.

Other Books

I have a tweener book about my grandson’s dirt bike racing to publish, possibly late 2008. My granddaughters are features in picture books: Ellie Goes to Kindergarten and Gracie Takes a Ride. Another picture book is entitled, Bananas, that discusses the benefits of eating bananas, where they come from and other information about this delicious fruit.

Seven Authors Confirmed

I have seven authors lined up, and at least six more who are currently working on their submission to this blog.

I'm excited to be able to play host to these talented Canadian authors. Their books range from children's to adult fiction. Picture books, to fictionalized biography.
And that's just the beginning.

I was amazed how many US writers responded to the call, and so I've decided to allow some exceptions. It's so great to be introduced to a new author, no matter where he or she is from.

Many of these US authors have strong Canadian ties, also, that they are happy to share with you in this up close look at the art and the artist.

Some of the authors are new to the publishing scene. Others are old pros. Each has a great story behind the story to share with you.

I'm finalizing the format I want to use for this exciting event, and the author highlight will begin on Monday, Feb 11 (my daughter's 5th birthday!), 2008.

I hope you're as excited as I am. Each day I hear from three or four more authors who are excited to share their work with you in this fun and intimate format.

Peace!

Priming the Pump

I'm getting set to start highlighting Canadian fiction authors on this blog.
I've sent many personal invitations to writers I know, and the word is spreading.

I've already heard back from several author's who are excited about being highlighted here on Fiction Matters.

Now, it's your turn.

Tell me who you want to hear from? Which Canadian Author would you LOVE to see highlighted here on Fiction Matters?

Comment or e-mail me with the author's name and I'll do my Shirley Temple best to highlight that author.

Here are the questions I've asked each author to tell us about.

Title and genre of your fiction book

Why you write in this genre (what do you love about it?) and if you
write in other genres as well.

Links to your books site and where people can buy it.

A synopsis of your story.

Why you wrote the novel.

A significant moment for you as you were writing the book (either
personally or professionally)

Why your Fiction Matters.

A list of other books you have written or that will be coming out soon.

The responses so far have been wonderful. You will really love this up close look at the books in the author's own words. Each writer will share an exciting detail, a personal story, or insight into writing and living.

Check back tomorrow!

Highlighting Canadian Authors

In the coming weeks, this blog will be highlighting Canadian authors. Many will be writers who are Christian and write for the Christian market. Others will be authors who write for the secular market.

It will be an exciting time! You'll learn more about Canadian authors, their stories, their novels and where you can buy their books (in some cases the books haven't even hit the stands yet, but you'll learn about them here first!)

For each author highlighted, I'll ask you to leave comments and ask questions for the author. I'll post responses from the author on the blog.

Get ready to meet the Canadians!