And the Winner is...

LINDA WATSON OWEN!!!

Stay tuned to see if she is the lucky grand prize winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. I enjoyed each and every one of your entries. Hopefully, I'll be able to run another contest very soon.

The Redemption review and pirate poem contest!

The Redemption By M.L. Tyndall / Barbour Publishing

Welcome! After you've read my review and the Q & A with MaryLu Tyndall, please enter my contest! Post a pirate-y poem less than 100 words in the comment section for a chance to win a free copy of The Redemption! The winner will be placed in the drawing for the grand prize: two tickets to see Dead Man's Chest!

Fans of romance, historicals, or Caribbean pirate lore will love this tale. Set to release soon after the movie Dead Man’s Chest, it contains familiar pirate-y elements such as sword fighting, shipwrecks, hangings, cannons and swarthy sea-faring men. Not to mention a fair lady in distress who is taken captive by the most handsome pirate she’s ever seen. Weave in faith, hope, perseverance, and yes, redemption, and you’ve got an action-packed yet heart-warming story.

Charlisse Bristol runs away from an abusive uncle in search of a father she’s not sure is even alive. She will brave any obstacle to feel his loving arms around her just once. But when the merchant vessel that carries her is destroyed in a storm, she finds herself shipwrecked on a small island alone for weeks.

Just when she has lost hope of rescue, a band of pirates arrives and makes camp on shore. She sees no alternative but to sneak in unnoticed in hopes of satiating her empty stomach. Her plan foiled, she is captured and brought to the captain of the ship, Edmund Merrick. But all is not as it seems. Merrick may be rough around the edges, but his honor won’t allow Charlisse any harm. In fact, he resolves to protect her until she can find her father.

Can Charlisse see past Merrick’s seemingly horrid occupation to the heart? Will she be able to put the past behind her and accept what her search yields? Where will she ultimately find love in the sea of deceit that surrounds her?

My hat goes off to MaryLu Tyndall for causing me to enjoy a romance novel. I can’t remember the last time I’ve read one, as I prefer supernatural and high suspense thrillers. But my fascination with the Pirates of the Caribbean proved to heighten my enjoyment of this novel. It is well-written, interesting, and carries a fresh twist to the conventional pirate story.

(Q&A with MaryLu Tyndall:)

1.) Tell us a bit about the story.

My story begins with a horrific storm at sea in which Lady Charlisse Bristol becomes shipwrecked on an island. She has run away from an abusive uncle in London and sailed to the Caribbean in search of a father she has never known. After weeks of combating the elements, her salvation comes in the form of a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick.

Captain Merrick has only recently given his life to God and turned his back on a life of piracy to become a privateer. While battling his attraction to this winsome lady and learning to walk a more godly path, he offers to help Charlisse on her quest-until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the cruellest pirate on the Caribbean. Edmund must find a way to win this lady's love while shielding her from his lecherous crew and working to bring her father to justice.

2.) What sparked the idea to write about pirates?

I've always had an obsession for pirates-those swashbuckling heroes who roamed the wild Caribbean seas in their tall ships. The Golden Age of Piracy was such an adventurous and romantic time in our history, and having grown up in that part of the world-south Florida-it grabbed my interest at an early age. What sparked the idea for the novel, however, was the Disney movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. After I saw it several times with my daughter, I had a desire to write about pirates that wouldn't go away. Why do the evil pirates get to have all the fun? Why not write about a Christian pirate?

3.) As you researched this subject, what most surprised you?

The biggest surprise for me was discovering that not all pirates were vicious thieves and murderers. Many, in fact, were commissioned by their countries during times of war to disturb merchant shipping lines and fleet movements, and in general to play havoc with their enemies. In fact, one of the most notorious pirate captains, Henry Morgan, commanded his own fleet of pirate ships, called the Brethren of the Coast, whose sole purpose was to raid Spanish ships and towns in the Caribbean. He was eventually knighted by King Charles II of England and became the governor of Jamaica. These facts aided my story a great deal as many of these pirates, who turned privateers, had strong religious convictions.

4.) How long did it take to write your first novel?

I began writing The Redemption in the Fall of 2003, but it was slow going at first. I was working full time as a software engineer, not to mention my responsibilities at home as wife and mother. I'm sure many of you can relate. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! Consequently, I did not complete the novel until early Spring 2005, yet I still didn't feel it was ready. I hadn't written in a while and needed some counsel, so I hired two editors to go through my manuscript, and I entered four contests for the feedback. I made the final cut in two of those contests and felt encouraged, but I must admit, I learned a great deal more from my editors. By the end of Spring 2005, I had polished the manuscript the best I could and went looking for an agent. God's timing is always perfect. I was laid off from my job of fifteen years the same month my agent took me on as a client and began submitting The Redemption. By September of that same year, I had a contract in hand from Barbour for the entire three book series!

5.) How long must we wait for the sequel?

Not long! The second book in the series, The Reliance, will be released in January 2007, and the third book, The Restitution, will be out in stores, June, 2007. As you can tell, I've been very busy!

How Far Have You Come?

The writing life demands much from a person. You authors know what I mean. Solitude gets old, the blank page screams a bit too loudly, and if you’re lucky, a deadline looms over your head. You then bang your head on the desk. Again.

Recent circumstances have caused me to doubt the writing journey. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. My nerves are wracked, my brain is dead, and my fingers haven’t seen much action at the keyboard. What’s wrong? I’ve forgotten to remember.

My parents visited my family a few weeks ago, and while at the beach, my mom and I took a long walk. The ocean looked like it went on forever, as did the sandy shoreline. Finally, we decided to turn around and go back. As soon as I looked behind me I said, “Wow, I didn’t realize we had come so far.” That was an epiphany for me.

It’s no surprise that God told the children of Israel repeatedly to “remember”. He didn’t want them to forget all He had done for them, all of His promises and commands. We, like the Israelites, are sheep who often forget where we are or how long it has taken to get there.

Less than two years ago, I embarked on the writing path. I’ve been paid for a newspaper article and a book review. My bookshelf holds two anthologies with my work in them, as well as a Christian newspaper that includes my article. I review for several websites and I receive free books from them and a PR firm to review. Recently, I interviewed an author on my blog and reviewed her book. Tucked away in my files is a completed and edited 5,000-word short story dying for a market.

Whoa. When I take time to remember, I see how far I’ve come. Yes, God is the reason I accomplish anything. He has allowed me a measure of success and fulfillment. I’ve gone from nothing to something. No, I haven’t started my novel yet, but I’m having a blast trying. Sort of.

Are you in the same boat, oars flailing and thinking you’re getting nowhere fast? Remember what God has done for you so far. I’ll bet it’s more than you think. Give your concerns to Him and He will take care of them all.

Susan May Warren, author of Everything's Coming Up Josey - review and interview

Meet Josey Berglund, a small town journalist who fancies herself a Lara Croft/Mother Teresa blend. She wants to somehow make it big at a New York newspaper as well as change the spiritual landscape of the world. If only she can get through her sister Jasmine’s wedding to her former boyfriend Milton without throwing up.

Chase arrives at the scene, giving the day a bit of hope. Her best friend since elementary school, Chase reminds Josey she deserves better than Milton. The pick-me-up lasts only so long, though. Up walks a buff model type, who is promptly introduced as Chase’s fiancé. What will Josey do now? She and Chase are the last two singles in Gull Lake, maybe the whole world, and now he’s taken. Not that she could’ve married him anyway. He doesn’t know Christ (yet) and he’s too cousinly, though the braces and acne are gone and his blue eyes still sparkle like the ocean on a sunny day.

Life goes on. When Josey hears a missionary from Russia speak at her church, she knows that’s where her life is headed. For a whole year. She’s got nothing to lose and parkas, hiking boots, converted souls and strange food to gain. Oh, boy. And maybe she can also figure out her love life while she’s overseas.

Woven within the hilarity of missionary life is the all-important lesson for Josey: God uses imperfect people to do His work. All he needs is a willing heart that wants to make a difference. We, too, can tuck that one away.

I will never again look at chick-lit in the same light. I’m a suspense/thriller gal at heart, but a good laugh goes a long way on this crazy-busy planet. This book delivered on so many levels – it's a must read. In fact, a friend of mine is going on a cruise next week, and when she asked to borrow a book from me to read, this was the first thing I mentioned (she had better bring it back suntan oil free). Thank you, Susan, for taking us on such an honest and hope-filled journey.

~~~

Susan May Warren has been writing since she was a child. She pursued journalism in college, but ended up a missionary. Having spent six years in Russia, Susan used her gift for writing by crafting newsletters, then progressed to articles, short stories, novellas and full-length fiction. She and her family now make their home in Minnesota.

Me: You wear lots of hats: wife, mom, missionary, writer. What is the secret to balance in your life?

SMW: Okay, see, that's really nice of you to think that I might REMOTELY have any balance to my life. I think it depends on who you talk to in my family and on what day. But I give it the big college effort to start my day with my Quiet Time and somehow things smooth out after that. And I try to a) not take life so very seriously. The house WILL get cleaned. Right after the kids leave for college. b) remind myself that food groups don't have to be eaten in one sitting; for example, you can have cheese and dairy one day, bread (ie, pizza) the next, and if you're REALLY feeling good, a Caesar salad the next. If you think of it in WEEKLY food needs, I think it's a lot less stressful. c) keep it simple with the kids. Climbing into bed with each of them at least once a week and letting them tell me a bedtime story is usually pretty good quality time. (Although my husband isn't thrilled with the part where he has to wake me and drag me to bed.) I take that bad. I'm balanced.

Me: Tell us how your experience as a missionary in Russia inspired you to write this novel.

SMW: Revenge? Oh, no, you want something spiritual. I know God had taught me lessons that I could share with other hopeful missionaries, or maybe just regular women like me who wondered if God could use them. And well, I had all this good material -- I didn't want it to go to waste! I mean, after you sit on a rat in your toilet, you HAVE to tell somebody, don't you?

Me: What do you most want the reader to take away from your story?

SMW: That you don't have to be perfect to be a missionary. In fact, it's better if you're not because then God can do all these great things in your life, and when you DO say or do the right thing, you'll know it wasn't you. And that's pretty cool.

Me: Did you craft any of your Russian or missionary characters from people you actually knew?

SMW: Wait, if I answer that, am I going to get sued? Okay, so Totyemilla MIGHT have been SORTA like my neighbor who brought me liver peroshke. And Larissa, well, wade into a Russian mall and pick a girl...they're all skinny, all beautiful, and all dressed like they were Paris Hilton. Yes, me and my hiking boots wanted to crawl into a corner and wail. As far as the other missionaries, let's just say there is no shortage of Susie Homemakers on the mission field (and there is nothing wrong with a Susie Homemaker -- you're talking to a girl who grew her own strawberries and made her own jam, it's just that it's not the ONLY thing attribute to being a good wife and mother) so I didn't have any one person in mind. Really. I suppose everyone is a morph of a few people scrunched together. But I'm not telling who.

Me: Tell us your favorite part of this book if you can do so without giving anything away.

SMW: Hmm...the fish story, which is a REAL story. I still laugh when I read it. And maybe the Christmas scene with the little golden rings. But mostly, every scene with Chase. I am deeply, hopelessly in love with Chase *very big sigh*.

Me: What was the hardest part of writing this?

SMW: Well, I wanted to tell the truth and poke fun at some of the misconceptions about missionaries. But being a missionary is an important thing. It takes courage and commitment and willingness to completely surrender. So, while I did some teasing, I was really poking fun at myself and not necessarily the missionary community at large, which I deeply respect. In fact, I hope to be a missionary again someday, if God opens that door. So I'm hoping fellow missionaries will enjoy the humor, and know that, if we really take a step back and not take ourselves so seriously, it is funny. And human. And in the end, God working through us to remind us that He is at work in us to the praise of His glorious grace.

Me: Thanks again, Susan. You're a super writer. I'm just kinda scared now, because I thought my reading pile was big enough already. Now I'm going to have to add a whole new genre to it!

SMW: LOL!!! I'll be sure to put you on the list for Josey 2! *g* Thank you again for letting me be a part of your webworld!

Full Tilt, by Creston Mapes

Full Tilt, Rock Star Chronicles Series #2 By Creston Mapes / Multnomah Publishers Inc.

We’ve all followed the careers of our favorite bands or musicians. But unless we’ve lived the life of one, we have no idea what one really goes through on a day-to-day basis. Creston Mapes gives us a glimpse into what this kind of life may look like. More specifically, one that has been captured from hell’s flames and is now committed to saving others from destruction.

Everett Lester has had a difficult life. He endured a dysfunctional family before his rise to fame as a rock star in the band DeathStroke. Power and pleasure brought him nothing but dissatisfaction and pain. Until he met Christ, his Savior, and Karen, the love of his life. Things should be perfect now, right? Wrong.

While planning his Living Water concert tour, circumstances hurl problems at Everett that he can’t control. His bails out his brother, Eddie, from his gambling debts only to find he can’t quit betting. His nephew, Wesley, hangs out with meth junkies who snare him into deeper trouble. Everett and Karen must endure a personal struggle of their own as well. Those things, however, may be the least of his worries.

As the evil surrounding Everett grows thicker, he realizes that his family is being targeted by organized crime. Their very lives are threatened as a result of extending a helping hand. Can Everett overcome the external forces pushing and pulling him and also conquer his inward struggle with insecurity and temptation? Will he trust God to work miracles through prayer and obedience?

I highly recommend Full Tilt. It’s easy style and gut-twisting realism kept me enthralled throughout the book. And I, along with Everett and Karen, was inspired to believe God’s promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2-3a).

The Soul Hunter, by Melanie Wells

Creepy. Haunting. Realistic. Thought-provoking. Hilarious. Those are the first words that come to my mind in attempting to describe The Soul Hunter. Oh, and rats. If you can’t handle rats, don’t even pick up this book. Better yet, deal with your rat phobia and pick up the book anyway.

The night before her 35th birthday, Dylan Foster and her boyfriend David are scheduled to go out for a nice dinner. While she is getting ready for her date, Dylan hears a thud at the front door. She runs to open it, hoping for a present from UPS. Instead, she finds a bloody axe on her porch. After reporting the incident, she finds out there has been a murder, and she has been thrown right in the middle of it.

Happy birthday to Dylan.

You’d think Dylan would’ve had enough trouble from demons and murderers. But the saga continues and even worsens for this Texas psychologist. In addition to the axe, terror strikes when Peter Terry shows up again. Can things possibly get worse? Oh yeah.

The story continues as the search for the murderer intensifies. But things are not as they seem. A deeper power is at work for those whose lives hang in the balance. Will Dylan lean on the One who can get her through this ordeal? Will more innocent people have to suffer, or will mercy reign?

In the first book of this series, Dylan learned the inestimable value of prayer and the Word. With that knowledge under her belt, will she put on God’s full armor as the only way to combat the devil’s evil schemes?

There is a battle raging for men’s souls. Those who wish to harm mortal man play for keeps. Thankfully, there is Someone stronger than the forces of darkness, and He is available to those who call on Him. Spiritual warfare is real, as the author has intimated in this supernatural tale. I admire the way Wells has us peer into the unseen (and sometimes seen) and think about what is happening beyond our limited vision. If we have the spiritual eyes to see, we will find God is definitely at work.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend this up and coming author of supernatural suspense. This genre deserves more fantastic books like this one.

Blind Dates Can be Murder

Readers, be aware. Not only is this book entertaining and inspirational, but informative as well. (How do you get wine stains off a blouse?) Move over, Martha Stewart. Here comes Jo Tulip.

Household hint guru Jo Tulip continues her climb to fame in this second smart chick mystery. Her agent is sure that she will enjoy greater success with her syndicated column and increase traffic on her blog by joining a dating service. Jo proceeds hesitantly, since she doesn’t want anyone to think she’s desperate. Little does she know that will be the least of her headaches.

Jo can solve virtually any tough stain problem, but when her blind date collapses on the restaurant’s floor, she has no remedy for death. The evening deteriorates further as Jo learns that her mystery man was not her real date, but a fake. Instead, she finds her true date tied up in the dead man’s trunk. Thankfully, he is relatively unharmed and good-looking to boot. Perhaps the night wasn’t a total loss. But why was he targeted for violence and she for deception?

Jo phones her best friend, Danny, to fill him in on the news. He expresses fear for her safety amidst the current dilemma, wishing she would be more careful. After all, he is in love with Jo, and must find a way to tell her. Will she respond favorably to his declaration of love?

Danger lurks at every corner. Innocent people teeter at the brink of destruction and criminals keep getting away with murder. How will neat freak Jo and photographer Danny get to this puzzle’s core?

There’s nothing like a good mystery, and this novel is worth its weight in clues. Clark’s characters are delightful, the story full of interesting side plots and an overarching theme of God’s care for us. The heroine isn’t the only one who realizes the hope she has in Christ, and who is able to bask in His forgiveness.

My nod of approval accompanies this lively mystery. I came away encouraged that “regular” people like me can be used by God to change things for the good. Thank God He guides us in the right direction and rewards those who sacrifice their desires for His own. Besides, He alone knows what’s best for us. Who are we to mess with it?

If Only

Today I heard a woman speaker on the radio talking about the "if onlys" in life. Perhaps you are one of those who finds herself bemoaning the fact that a certain circumstance has happened that shouldn't have, or you have something you wish you didn't have. Are you guilty of saying things like: "If only my child wasn't _______ (fill in the blank)..." or "If only _______ hadn't happened when I was young" or "If only I could have _______ , then I'd be happy."

We are fooling ourselves, dear sisters (and brothers, too!), if we believe these lies. God is the Sovereign and loving Lord of all. He means to use everything for His glory and purpose.

How does this relate to writing? I've caught myself in the past thinking falsities such as: "If only I could finish this story or novel" or "if only I could get published". My friends, this kind of thinking will not get us anywhere but into a deep pit of despair. Instead, I give all I have and don't have to God to use in order to make me what He wants. The results are left to Him.

What a freeing possibility!

A glance at my new WIP...

Merritt Holden, forensic psychologist for Delaney County Sheriff’s Dept., has seen his share of tragedy. Years of interviewing child abuse victims cause him to rail at God for allowing such injustice. When the next crime is committed against his niece, all hell breaks loose. His sister, though distraught, is able to help him find the perpetrator through a unique God-given ability. Her best friend Arianne also joins in. Will Merritt find the peace he is looking for before a dangerous criminal targets him?

----

This will be a full-length Christian suspense novel, eventually. Let me know what you think.

Director's Cut, by Alton Gansky

Maddy Glenn does the mayor’s office proud. She is about to run for congress as well. However, she frequently finds herself in the midst of murder investigations.

When her cousin and budding Hollywood actress, Catherine Anderson, visits while starring at a local theater, trouble finds them both. As Catherine shows Maddy her extravagant new home, they discover something amiss. A dead body is floating in the swimming pool−the body of Catherine’s chauffeur. Is Catherine a suspect?

Then, to make matters worse, a new version of a movie script is delivered to Catherine with extra pages added in that chill her to the bone. They mirror a private conversation that no one should’ve heard and insinuate that there will be another murder.

Maddy’s protective instincts come to the forefront as she tries to find out who is terrorizing young Catherine, while dealing with another serious city problem. Will Maddy be able to solve both dilemmas before time runs out?

This third book in The Madison Glenn series is as delightful and intriguing as the first two. There’s nothing like a murder mystery to keep me turning pages. Maddy is a wonderfully flawed character who is finding her way in her spiritual walk, learning to share her faith, and sort through her own issues. I’m a little biased, since Gansky is one of my favorite authors, but I highly recommend this novel for it’s themes and entertainment value.

When the Day of Evil Comes

Nightmares. Flies. Rotten egg smell. Suicide. Spiritual warfare. Whoa. And that’s just the beginning.

It is summer in Dallas and Dylan Foster, a university psychologist, likes her life. Until she meets a strange man at a faculty picnic. Who is he and what does he want?

Matters worsen when she and all her coworkers receive anonymous gifts, a former student says she harassed him, and the engagement ring that should be on her dead mother’s finger shows up once again. A friend of hers insists she has called and asked him out. What in Texas is going on?

Dylan’s life is spinning out of control, but what can she do to stop it? The forces at work prove powerful and mysterious as she searches for clues to the mysteries surrounding her. Thankfully, she is told to pray and to put on her armor. Sage advice. As one of her friends says: “The good news is that as a child of the King, you’re entitled to protection.”

Will she find the inner strength to fight the spiritual battle she now admits she’s involved in? Can she use her newfound knowledge to keep others from danger?

I can’t say enough glowing comments about this novel. It proved suspenseful, exciting, funny and a little creepy, which gives it high marks in my mind. Wells handles this weighty subject matter perfectly, balancing seriousness with levity. I absolutely adored Dylan Foster’s character. She catapulted herself into my reality and stayed there.

Bravo. I hope to see many more of Wells’ works soon. Check out Book 2 in the Day of Evil Series, Soul Hunter, coming in May.

My Life as a Doormat, by Rene Gutteridge

We have all met the doormat type. These people avoid conflict like the plague, and 34-year-old struggling playwright Leah Townsend is no exception. She always lets her boyfriend order for her when out to dinner. Never would she tell her former senator father that she is a republican. Her mother is overbearing and her best friend needs advice, but no reply from Leah will rock the relationship boat. Even the main character of her play bullies her into submission. What she doesn’t know is that trying to make everyone happy just makes everyone unhappy, especially herself.

Leah has dated straight-laced Edward for two years, and although she longs for some spontaneity, she dare not tell him so. When she wears a color other than her regular black to a party they attend, he seems embarrassed, but she refuses to confront him about it. Edward decides she needs help, so he sends her to an all-expense-paid conflict resolution class. This, of course, is the worst thing imaginable to Leah, but she agrees so as not to make waves.

She grows more and more uncomfortable among the annoying attendees, who either bicker and fight or cower in fear. All the while, Leah’s trademark red splotches creep up her neck, threatening to take over her entire head. But will she understand herself better through the process? What kind of friendships will she strike up in such an unlikely place?

And what of her manuscript? Her play is going nowhere, and her agent lets her know in concise terms that this will be the end of her career unless she turns out a successful play.

A wide range of supporting characters weave their way through Leah’s life, each one bringing about different feelings within her. Will she learn to speak up for herself and state her opinion without being rude or breaking into a cold sweat?

I rarely cackle while immersed in a book, but this story had me doing it with startling frequency. My response alternated between laughing at or feeling deep concern for dear Leah throughout the book.

On the serious side, it takes extreme circumstances in our lives to highlight our character flaws. There is a point where we must decide to change because we can’t stay the same anymore. All of us must experience this at some point, but it was nice to see it happen to someone else via compelling and comical fiction.

Who are You?

My Bible reading today took me to a familiar passage. Most of us could quote this in our sleep or at least give a synopsis of the story. Luke 15 records the parable of the prodigal son.

As I read, I tried to think about the tale afresh, since it's often so easy to skip over something I think I already know. There are three main characters in this story: the father, the "good" son, and the "wayward" son. Many of us think of ourselves as being the son who ran off in sin and then crawled back later begging for forgiveness.

But what about the son who stayed home? He did everything right, always obeyed his father, was responsible. What else was he? Arrogant, unforgiving, unloving. How many times have we seen people we think have drug themselves through the muck and then finally come to the Lord and then responded with a self-righteous attitude? Or do we genuinely rejoice with them and love them as any other Christ follower?

The Father in the parable represents God, our heavenly Father. Some of us are parents as God is a type of parent to His children. Do we welcome back our repentant children with open arms, no matter what they've done? Or do we try to lord the mistakes over them and beat them down with guilt?

I've had to look at my own life in light of these questions and make sure I'm acting in a godly way in all of my relationships. In the end, I'm thankful God takes time to love each of us, and always gives another chance. Thank God He watches from afar off for us to come home to Him and take our rightful place in His family.

It's March!

Whew. Time flies, as they say. Don't know if I'm having fun, though. I haven't had much chance lately to read or write, two of my very favorite things!

What's up with me? Not much worth sharing here. Look out for my review of ZOEgirl's greatest hits CD in Infuze coming soon. I'll also be reviewing a few books on this blog very soon.

Happy almost spring, everyone.

How I Met Robert Whitlow

The List By Robert Whitlow / Thomas Nelson / W As a struggling young attorney fresh out of law school, Renny Jacobson is pining for the day he can afford the luxuries of the partners in his Charlotte firm. And with news of his father's death and a secret inheritance, Renny's life is sure to change forever. But the clandestine society that provides the inheritance soon threatens to change him in more ways than one. Renny's life--and the life of the woman he loves--depend on supernatural deliverance from the curse of The List.

I heard an interview last week on Family Radio 90.5FM by Jim Stevens with Robert Whitlow (go to www.familyradio.to for an audio of the interview). Having read all six of Whitlow's novels, and being a book reviewer, I was pleased to know that a movie was being made of The List. The film is in pre-production, even now as I'm typing, not far from my town of Wilmington, NC.

I e-mailed Mr. Whitlow to express my congratulations to him and inquired about additional filming. So far, they've filmed a lot at Orton Plantation. He e-mailed me back and said they would be at Fort Jackson today doing some open filming of a Civil War battle re-enactment being held there. So I pack up my coat and umbrella and headed down there today.

After an hour or two of meandering the rolling hills of the Fort grounds, I finally spied a group gathered in the old ruins of an Anglican church there, and stepped in to find Mr. Whitlow and his entourage, and Gary Wheeler, producer of the film having a meeting of sorts about the movie. Then they had a wonderful prayer time, submitting every detail to the Father's control.

After the crowd disbursed, I got one of the group to call over Mr. Whitlow for me so I could shake his hand. He was so kind, and remembered my e-mail, too. I'm quite an introvert, so I didn't inundate him with questions, but at least I did meet him. I plan on tagging along next week with a friend of mine who does hair and makeup for productions here in Wilmington while she's on the set of The List. If this happens, I'll be sure to add an update.

Look for the movie (limited release) the end of this year or early 2007.
Also, visit Mr. Whitlow's cool website, and buy one of his fantastic legal thrillers!

(Photos-Above: Robert and friends talk just outside the Anglican church ruins - he's got on a yellow cap. Below: Crew filming the battle re-enactment.)

Web of Lies

Woohoo! Here it is, suspense lovers. The long-awaited fourth book in the Hidden Faces series. Never having met before, Chelsea Adams and Annie Kingston finally get together to solve not one, but two mysteries that plague them.

Chelsea has a disturbing vision of hostages within an eerie room full of spiders. Annie accidentally stumbles across a murder at a convenience store. Can these events be related? And if so, how? The two nationally acclaimed ladies get together, using their expertise to catch a killer and save innocent victims.

“Nothing left to do for me but pray.” Annie’s thoughts echo in my mind, reminding me that God often allows things in our lives to coerce our dependence on Him. Obedience to God’s guidance and reliance on Him in prayer is sometimes our only recourse. This theme reigns supreme throughout the book.

Never has Brandilyn Collins disappointed me with a novel, and this one is no exception. The buildup of suspense in the second half of the book and the twists and turns near the end thrilled me. I love to shiver and bite my nails while reading. My only wish is that the beginning of the book plunged me into a free fall as the rest of it did. But that’s just me – no fault of the author. I realize I’m not normal. Most readers need to breathe.

Bad tooth or bad book?

Thursday I had a root canal on one of my bicuspids. Let me express my abhorrence for this procedure - those of you who share this experience no doubt will agree. The pain was minimal during the procedure (extreme discomfort not withstanding), but afterwards...

The endodontist said, "You shouldn't have any pain at all after this. It wil go away."

Yeah, right.

The next day, it was all I could do to remain sane. I called him, paged him, etc. All he said was, "Go get the antibiotic refilled and call me tomorrow if it's worse." Humph! Who does he think he is?

I can pleasantly report that the crisis is over now. Apparently, the drugs worked, and I reside back in the land of the living.

However, this fiasco made me think about reading. (Things usually do.) If I had to compare the pain of a root canal to the pain of reading an awfully written novel, which would be worse? I should start a poll. I mean, think about it. How many of us can actually even get through two chapters of tripe and drivel before we slam the book down on the ground and stomp on it, while reciting a tirading diatribe about stinky published authors? I daresay, few of us.

So, the next time you're at the dentist, be thankful you haven't been forced to read a horrible book. It's a torture I personally never want to go through. Give me good novels, or give me death!

The Best of Evil (An Aramis Black Mystery)

Woohoo!
Eric Wilson, one of my favorite authors, is releasing a new book in September. I can't wait!
Stay tuned for more info and the soon-to-come picture of the cover.

SHOWDOWN

How do I write a review of a book whose author I rave about on a constant basis? How is anyone to believe this novel is spectacular when I say it about everything he writes? You’ll just have to take my word for it. Or the plethora of other reviewers who know a hit when they read one.

Talk about right up my alley. No 7-10 split here. This baby is a strike. Period. Good and evil take their places in a battle for the small town of Paradise, Colorado. It's just a normal town, or so it seems on the surface. But when self-proclaimed “preacher” Marsuvees Black appears in his trenchcoat and boots, life will never be the same for these unsuspecting townspeople.

The monastery on the mountain overlooking Paradise, where a group of orphans participate in an experiment examining the effects of faith on natural laws, holds its own secrets. Will they find the power of love or something else?

Revealing any more plot content may ruin the story, and I dare not stand guilty of that. If I could accurately compare this to any other work, I would. But I can’t. All I can say is that Dekker never fails to weave an extremely redemptive tale while stupefying the reader with his shocking picture of humanity. This novel provokes thought, entertains, and enlightens all at the same time. I’ll wager you’ll agree.

Friends and False Fingernails

I learned an important lesson today: don't believe every glowing recommendation a trusted friend gives you.

God created me with weak fingernails. Okay, I used to bite them, but only because they had already cracked or peeled. I put polish on them, take Vitamin E, but nothing seems to work. Over Christmas vacation I saw an old friend (not old age-wise, but one I hadn't seen in years) who had great-looking french manicured glue-on nails. I complimented her on them, and she raved about how inexpensive and easy they were.

Dummy me. I just had to try them for myself. Do you know how many different sizes and types of nails come in one package? 10 sizes in high arch, regular, or flat. It took me an hour to read the little numbers on the back of each nail and then figure out what size each of my fingers were. So much for easy. And I could've made 20 times the money theses things cost me if I had been teaching piano lessons for that hour. Then I had to glue them on. Have you ever tried to do anything with long nails when you're not used to it? By the time I got to my second hand, I had dropped several nails with glue already on them. One fell in the trash and I had to dig for it. After they were all on, I realized I had glued the skin of my finger to one of them.

My husband wanted me to program the VCR before I left for church, so I did. But it was so hard to push the buttons on the remote. And my cell phone? Let's not go there.

So, I finally traipsed off to church with beautiful nails. During choir practice, one of them popped off (not enough of that toxic glue, I guess). When I got home, I started filing one of my thumb nails down. You guessed it - that one popped off as well. By this time, I've had it with these stupid, lovely nails. I can't function. So I read the directions to find out what makes them come off. Acetone. Do I have any in the house? No.

So here I am, clicking away at my keyboard with 6 long nails (the other two I was able to pop off on purpose), taking at least twice as long to type this as I normally would. Of course, I wouldn't be typing it at all if this fiasco hadn't happened. A writer can be thankful for a pithy anecdote.

But I digress. I type. Everyday. A lot. What was I thinking? I can't have long nails, no matter how fantastic they look. Tomorrow I shall go straight to the store, buy some acetone, and soak these puppies off. Such sacrifices I have to make to be a writer. And I never ever again will listen to friends' recommendations. Unless it's a recommendation to read Christian fiction. I can never go wrong there, can I?