Ill-fitting, or fit for our work?

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Gail

Every summer, I take some of my plants outdoors. In early March, I noticed something else growing out of one of those pots, a totally “other” plant. But something told me to let it grow, and it’s since flourished in the sunshine of our south dining room windows. Kind of hard to pull up a specimen that wants to grow so badly.

Yes, it’s an oak tree in a jade world.

But it doesn’t belong, right? Well, years ago, I felt like I didn’t, either. Since I’m kind of a gregarious personality type, it really didn’t bother me too much, but every once in a while, I’d sense that outsider feeling. Since we’ve moved quite a few times, I usually attributed the situation to being new.

Then I read The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris. It’s one of those books I’ve read more than once, but the first time through, this author encouraged me SO much by helping me understand myself better. I don’t have the exact quote, but it went something like, “As writers, our job is to record/report what we see. That means we often stand outside an event, a circumstance, or a place and look in. Then we report on what we see.”

Wow – a puzzle piece slipped into place. Today I met a bunch of Iowa writers at the Ankeny Book Fair. Spending time with them heartened me, as our far-north locale doesn’t produce tons of writer-types. And we are a type!

So I’d like to say thank you to Joy King, who planned the fair and also to the many writers there who encouraged me today. Hope to see you again somewhere in Iowa!

Spring’s Surprises

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Gail

I was about to upload some pictures of buds leafing out, but then this weather map appeared in an e-mail.

Snow Image

Fortuitous that our county lies right under the P in POSSIBLE, don’t you think? Since I’ve been forging into new areas in my writing, this thought fits: who knows what’s possible unless we give an idea the old one-two?

So I’m co-writing a cozy mystery with an author friend. We’re having great fun. And in the past two weeks, a WWII novella has taken shape right in the hometown of one of my other heroines. It’s a sweet romance–the kind that blossomed so profusely in the wild, crazy days of that era, and will release this summer.

So, storm or no storm, I’m plunging ahead. Hope this finds you doing the same with your passions and dreams. As they say, SEIZE THE DAY!

The Flower Bud and the Sow

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Gail

Yes, the sow. The mama swine. The big fat pig, as we farm kids used to call her. The pigs, especially, made a big todo of grunting others aside to gobble down feed from the trough, with the sow in the lead.

Until recent years, nobody kept a “pet pig,” and back then, only the tiniest, pinkest piglets were thought cute. But things have changed. Now, people have a pet everything. The other day, a television show highlighted a woman with a pet iguana that she petted with her fingers.

Anyway, back to the sow. Galway Kinnell, a bright light in the world of poetry, passed from this world in 2014, and his poem fits the heroines of my novels, Heroines Who Dare to Bloom. As anyone who’s ever struggled with self-confidence knows, blooming requires a good self-concept: you believe you’re worthy because you’re a human being, created to be the best you can be. But some people require time to develop this belief.

Please read the entire short poem, Saint Francis and the Sow HERE: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171395

I’d like to print it in its entirety, but am careful with copyright issues. Here’s the beginning, and I hope you take a few moments to read the rest.

The bud
stands for all things,
even for those things that don’t flower,
for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
though sometimes it is necessary
to reteach a thing its loveliness . . .

Kinnell goes on to describe a sow feeding her litter. LIke I said, please read the poem in its entirety to appreciate the context.

It struck me this morning that my literary characters have much in common with this poet’s flower, or the sow he describes as lovely. Somebody outside my heroines must see their beauty, and through touch and words, reteach them their worth.

That’s the beauty of story. As in real life, people and circumstances see in us what we cannot. They believe in us, and eventually we borrow their faith. Once day, we look into the mirror and acknowledge our beauty. All this takes time, and that’s what a novel gives us–time to consider how strength develops, the avenues it opens, and the power of friendship in this proceess.

Someone told me recently she enjoyed Dottie and Al’s mutual progress in believing they’re worthy of good things, worthy of second chances. Lately, I’ve been spending lots of time with another WWII heroine named Addie. She’s coming into her own a little more each day, coming to believe she has a voice she can employ on her own behalf.

The next step, of course, is using her voice to cheerlead others, and I think she’s almost there! I’ll let you know of her appearance during the next few months.

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Gail

Spring in the Arizona mountains comes six to eight weeks ahead of spring in the midwest. It’s hard to argue with getting to experience this wonderful, bright season twice. The elk gathered in our yard this morning, waiting for our wonderful World War II veteran neighbor to come out. He offers them grain and a couple of them have essentially become his pets.

Down the road, forsythia bushes burst into wild yellow blossoms.

Apple blossoms blend with decorative cherry-like flowers. Against a crystal blue sky and towering pines, these trees warm the heart after winter’s cold. (Granted, not as cold as winters north of Missouri, but this year’s storms dumped heavy snows here.)We shared pictures of that incredible beauty a month ago.

I clicked my camera over and over, hoping to get the perfect shot. (My husband would have!)

Underfoot, fuzzy spring-green mullien peeks through rocky soil. I just learned last week that mullien helps ear and respiratory health. A new friend here offers a wealth of information on various herbs.

All of this puts me in mind of time’s passage . . . spring, summer, winter, and fall. Infancy, childhood, youth, adulthood. Time keeps moving on until we begin counting decades rather than years.

This month, I’m working on a non-fiction manuscript I began writing back in 2010, my first extended time in Arizona’s beautiful high desert country. The main word in my “cartoon bubble” right now seems to be gratitude. I’m so grateful for sight, for health, for this quiet place. A lovely concept, gratitude. I liken a thankful attitude to gentleness enveloping my spirit and brightening my outlook on life.

Still Not Too Late

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Gail

Sometimes we surprise ourselves. For example, it’s been a few years since I trekked down, down, down to view the amazing Tonto Natural Bridge, about three miles from Pine, AZ. But on Wednesday, a new reader friend invited me to hike the trail.

And we did it, the two of us, with a limp here and a pant there. Definitely worth it, and the next day wasn’t all that bad. Just a few twinges in my leg muscles–nothing to compare with the joy of seeing such incredible natural beauty.

I titled this Not Too Late Yet instead of Never Too Late, because some day, it will be too late for this kind of adventure. Better keep at it while I can.

Everyday experiences and thoughts often take me to Dottie and Al, the main characters of my first published novel. They’re mid-life folks, not expecting much in the way of excitement to show up in their simple rural lives.

But something DOES show up, and it’s pretty exhilarating. New doorways open as they face the future. They surprise themselves, and that can only be a good thing.

Finding One’s Tribe

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Gail

Winter can be daunting. The cold, unproductive seasons of our lives can be, too. Perhaps these wild Iowa turkeys find comfort in facing the blizzardy February weather together.

My husband shot these photos near Osage, Iowa, during weeks of below-zero temperatures. He focused in on one bird in the next picture, and this fellow looks awfully lonely.

Last weekend, my husband also held the annual confirmation retreat–the weather cooperated this time. Take a look at these kids out sledding–nothing like racing down a freezing hill…together.

The beauty of it is, cold or no cold, life’s brighter with companionship. I see this in my writing world, too–we can get so involved with our characters, they seem more real than the REAL FOLKS, and discovering new friends online or meeting them in person makes a world of difference.

During this Valentine’s week, I’d love to hear how making a new acquaintance or a deepening friendship has brightened your day/week/year.

Joshua’s Mission – Vannetta Chapman

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Gail

Please help me welcome Vanetta Chapman, author of Joshua’s Mission. We’ll plunge right in. Vannetta, tell us the story behind this book, please.

Thank you for allowing me to visit your blog today. I’m very excited about the release of Joshua’s Mission (2-1-16), which is book 2 in my Plain & Simple Miracles series. I’d like to share what inspired me to write this book.

Cornerstones of our faith. My husband is probably my biggest critic—which is a good thing. He keeps me on my toes, professionally speaking. He’s also very supportive in every way.

One night we were talking about an upcoming proposal, and he challenged me to think of a deeper plot line—something that would touch on the cornerstones of our faith. Wow! That sent me back to the drawing board. I started wondering what makes us, as Christians, different from everyone else? Certainly our faith in Christ. But how do we show that? The answer I came up with was …

We believe in miracles. I did a poll on my Facebook page. We had an outstanding response and the vast majority (close to 98%) said they do believe in miracles—not that they always happen when we pray for one, but that God does still intercede in the lives of believers. That idea gave birth to Anna’s Healing, book 1 in this series.

We participate in missions. We send donations, pray, and sometimes actually go and participate in missions. We don’t do this for an award or because our photo might end up in the paper. We do it because God told us “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” When we do this to the least of those around us, we do this to Him. This commandment to care for others led me to write Joshua’s Mission, book 2 in this series.

We care for orphans. We’re also commanded to “look after orphans and widows in their distress.” In our society, it’s sometimes easy to overlook those in need and to assume that some governmental agency will take care of them. Sarah’s Orphans, book 3 in this series, addresses the plight of the orphans in our day and age, and how we can make a difference in their lives. This book releases in December of this year.

Miracles, missions, and orphans stood out to me, and they inspired me to write the three books in the Plain & Simple Miracles series. I hope you will pick up a copy of Joshua’s Mission and learn about the wonderful work churches are doing across our nation and abroad to help those in need.

Now it’s your turn. What do you consider to be a cornerstone of our faith? And would you like to see a book written about it? Or would you like to write one yourself? I’d love to hear from you.

Vannetta is gifting a paperback copy of Joshua’s Mission to one fortunate commenter, so let the comments roll! (until February 4th, when we’ll announce the winner.)

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

http://www.amazon.com/Joshuas-Mission-Plain-Simple-Miracles-ebook/dp/B018676F02/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

http://vannettachapman.com

https://twitter.com/VannettaChapman

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Book Blurb:

Joshua Kline travels from his farm in Oklahoma to offer aid to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas after a category 4 hurricane has ravaged the area. What will Joshua find when he arrives in Texas? A budding romance? A call from God? A possible healing of his relationship with his brother? Joshua’s Mission is a story of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God that carries us through even the worst situations.

The Calling of Ella McFarland

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Gail

Now, there’s a title! Calling carries several connotations, and Ella’s cover photograph entices me, too. As the 2014 winner of the Jerry B. Jenkins Operation First Novel award, The Calling of Ella McFarland by Linda Brooks Davis, debuted on December 1, 2015.

Linda set this romantic historical set in 1905 Indian Territory, when women were silenced in public and often stifled at home, when illiteracy ran rampant and women could not participate in their governance. As compulsory education, woman’s suffrage, and temperance debates rage, Ella Jane McFarland pursues her dream: a teaching position at prestigious Worthington School for Girls.

But scandal clouds her family name and may limit her to grueling labor on her family’s Indian Territory farm. Her fate lies in the hands of the male Worthington board. Will they overlook the illegitimate son recently borne by her sister
Viola? Might handsome Mr. Evans help her reach her dream?

As hope of Oklahoma statehood rises and the citizens anticipate a new state constitution, Ella comes to the rescue of a young, abused sharecropper’s daughter. Forced to make decisions about her faith, family, and aspirations, her calling takes shape in ways she never imagined.

With a new love budding in her heart, can Ella find God’s will amid the tumultuous storm that surrounds her?

This family-and-faith story explores one woman’s devotion to a serendipitous calling, the transforming effect of unlikely friendship, and the healing power of love.

LInda, I’m hooked! Please tell us why you wrote this book.

My Indian Territory grandmother and Oklahoma mother lived lives rife with hardship, trial, and grief. Rather than weakening them, such experiences empowered them and strengthened their faith.

My grandmother Ella Jane—Mama to me—had a 3rd grade education. She never drove a car, but could handle a team of mules just fine. She never shopped for the latest fashion, but sewed up a dress in a day. She never considered the benefits of tile over wood laminate, but made a home in a corner of a barn. She swept the dirt floor. She never worked outside her home, except in a cotton patch, picking 100 pounds a day. Mama buried 2 husbands and 5 daughters but never lost her faith.

My mother progressed only to 9th grade, and accepted nothing less than a college education for her children. Nor would she depend on a man to do something she could do herself. Mother buried a son, tended an ailing husband for 10 grueling years, and battled the weather and creditors to save the family farm, yet never blamed God.

I consider my ancestors’ stories treasures of which I am a steward. Hence, The Calling of Ella McFarland. While not the actual life story of any family member, this debut novel is saturated in reality. The writing represents my love and high esteem for two strong matriarchs, and reflects my longing for my granddaughter–also named Ella Jane–to believe in herself as a daughter of the King of Heaven and to cast herself upon the mercies of God to hold her up, make her strong, and give her His purpose.

Thanks so much, Linda–you’ve piqued my interest. Please make a note in your comment that you’re willing to write a review, and Linda will provide you an e-book.

Purchase links: http://bit.ly/1NqmYtF

Email: linda@lindabrooksdavis.com

Website: http://lindabrooksdavis.com

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1QZSvoT

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1LsI19s

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1Nj1oZX

An Iowan in Narnia

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Gail

Well, it’s a gorgeous day under the Mogollon Rim, like C.S. Lewis’s magnificent winter scenes in The Chronicles of Narnia.

For some who think going to Arizona means basking in the summer sun of Phoenix, get a load of this incredible photo my husband shot from our window.

What strikes me is the juxtaposition of the Rim and the icicles: you can focus on either one. We have a friend here who’s fighting for his life after surgery, and know of others facing huge struggles at the beginning of this new year.

One challenge of life is to be able to still see the beauty through our tears … or icicles. We’ve all experienced those times when our hearts grow cold and sore, and will again in the future.

I’ve been working on yet another edit of a pioneer woman’s story that takes place right in this canyon under the Rim. She looked out at the same tall pines replete with snow and the massive ridge that defines this area.

Some things remain the same through the centuries. Women still find their voices though tumultuous times, learn lessons the hard way, and hopefully emerge the better for their struggles.

For me, that’s what writing is all about–telling these women’s stories. I’m so glad to have the privilege, and very grateful to readers who embrace my heroines.

Snow and Grace

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Gail

Such a nebulous entity, grace. Oh, I’ve studied this concept, meditated on it, even taught lessons about it.

But I sense grace in a new way in this morning’s lovely mountain snowfall, whitening every tiny twist and turn of each branch and twig and leaf. The scene mesmerizes me, tweaks my imagination, calms me somehow.

May grace seep into your life like that today, I emailed a friend going through frightening health difficulties. That’s what I wish for her, grace filtering into the cracks of her life, bringing gifts she can see and realize, even momentary, fleeting ones.

And grace to accept those gifts. Not pie-the-sky grace, but the kind that opens her to the moment, to the reason-defying offerings all around us. Grace that tells her nothing, including our worst fears, escapes the Father’s notice.

Above our bathroom mirror sit two little wooden plaques. One says simply, JOY, and one reminds me to Give thanks with a grateful heart. This morning I thought how they embellish each other, like the sparkles on a snow-covered tree when the sun shines through.

The dictionary boasts complicated labels for grace, but maybe I’ll stick with this simple word picture from nature: snowflakes falling, wafting, thickening, joining together in a wonder world of white.

…snow invading spaces that seemed closed even to light.