Susan J. Reinhardt's writing credits include devotionals, fillers, short articles, and a short story for such publications as The Secret Place, A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Women, The RevWriter Resource, Christian Devotions, Devotions Magazine, the anthology, His Forever, and LIVE. A third fiction manuscript is in the works. When not writing, she juggles the responsibilities of a small business, church activities, family, friends, and a decrepit house. Susan’s blog is: www.susanjreinhardt.blogspot.com 1. Susan, how long have you been working toward publication? What three things do you know now about the publishing world that you wish you knew when you first started?
Thanks for inviting me, Lisa. My journey toward publication has been an on again, off again adventure. While I've always written for church programs, Bible Studies, and some curriculum, it wasn't until I married my late husband in 2003 that I got serious about writing. He encouraged me to attend a small, one-day writers' conference.
When an editor at the conference read my devotional, she asked if I'd like to write one for her online publication. Sue always jokes that I got a "deer in the headlights" expression. Since that time, I've pursued both non-fiction and fiction publication.
Review of Texas Roads, book one of the Miller’s Creek Series by Cathy Bryant
c. 2010
Cathy Bryant’s debut novel, Texas Roads, is a journey on many levels. Danielle Davis searches for family ties and in the process, learns who her true Father is. Steve Miller searches for a way to save his town from the affects of slow decay and learns to face his deepest fears.
What fun to create a town, as Bryant has done. Miller’s Creek, Texas, is people with an eclectic collection of characters who remind us of our neighbors and ourselves. When a town is dying of old age and neglect, what are the businesses that remain? The diner and the beauty parlor, of course. A vet, the mayor who is a descendant of the town founders and must make his real living as a rancher. They might outwardly welcome the niece of a beloved community member, but when they’re just as quick to turn around and blame her when vandalism hits hard and fast.
In an attempt to start over after the death of her business-minded father and her cheating husband, Dani decides to jump...
Wiseman’s series of romances set in Pennsylvania Dutch country are a delight to read. She’s done the research and added a touch of the mother tongue to draw the reader even deeper in the life of her Amish characters. Plain Pursuit is the story of forgiveness. What act loses the love of family and community? Murder? Adultery? Writing a best-selling tell-all memoir?
Wiseman explores the determination of a particular old-order Amish district’s attempt to keep the church pure. They can forgive choosing not to join the community; they can forgive vow-breakers who rejoin. But forgiveness goes only so far.
Guilt-ridden, fearful and wounded in body and spirit, Carley Marek is offered a choice by her boss: take a short-term vacation, or take a permanent one. Thinking she’d find peace and quiet, Carley chooses a working vacation with a friend who had joined an Amish community. The peaceful vacation is not to be as Carley is drawn first of all in to the early to bed and even earlier to rise...
Debut novel to be released Spring 2010 by Abingdon Press
Leah Thornton, already sloshed from one-too-many at a faculty party, is cruising the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Star-bucks—Kahlua, for example. Two confrontations later—one at the grocery and the other with her friend Molly—Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer. Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.
Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo, always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart. The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken, live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge...
Deborah McCarragher began her journey of creative writing soon after coming to know Jesus as her personal savior in 1989.She uses her spiritual gifts of encouragement and teaching in her home church.She also enjoys in-depth bible study in her personal time, and is a small business owner of over twenty years.Her love of the Holy scripture and bible study are evident in her poetry and literary works.She and her husband attend HiberniaBaptistChurch in Green Cove Springs, and reside in Fleming Island, Florida.Her primary goal is to share her personal testimony with others while bringing hope and practical help through her books. The following interview is an excerpt from Deborah’s website.
Deborah, Welcome to Living Our Faith Out Loud. Tell us a little about your background.
I grew up in a Navy family and moved frequently. I married my first husband right out of high school. That marriage ended in divorce four years later. I remarried in 1982 (to my current husband) and we’ll be married 28 years in January 2010.Seven years into our marriage, I gave my life to Jesus...[More]
Welcome, Lynne. You describe yourself as a wife, mother, author, speaker and dramatist. Tell us a little about how all those things work together to give you your unique voice. Thanks for having me, Lisa. I believe that any woman who raises kids is lucky to survive with her sanity let alone her voice. Seriously, any time a communicator can factor life lessons into their writing, speaking, or stage work layers of insight and depth are added to the story they’re trying to tell. Vastly different experiences create a rainbow of voices. The “Susan Lucci” of the Genesis contest? Okay, what are you learning from that experience, and what makes you keep coming back for more? I’ve entered ACFW’s Genesis contest three times and finaled three times. My first year to enter, the contest was set up for an overall winner. I got second. I knew this win meant my first publishing contract was right around the corner. But it wasn’t. While I’ve sold some short stories, I’ve yet to sign a novel contract. What keeps me coming back is the determination to master the storytelling craft and capture some unsuspecting editor’s heart. The rest will... [More]
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Review of Thicker Than Blood by CJ Darlington
January 18, 2010
Review of Thicker Than Blood, by CJ Darlington
2009 Tyndale
Darlington pulls no punches with her debut novel about broken people in a hurtful world.
Orphaned on the cusp of womanhood, Christy leaves everything and everyone, including her little sister, behind to follow a boyfriend to another state. Too young and naïve to pull herself together, Christy falls into the same addictive habits that killed her parents.
Well into her thirties, Christy finds someone who can believe in her when she lands a job at a used book store. Books were always a comfort for Christy, and books led to her toward healing and independence. But vulnerable Christy fell prey to a man with too many broken places of his own to fix.
The death of the last family relative forces Christy to catch up with her past and the little sister, May. May followed her dream of working on a ranch, even buying a partnership, only to face losing it. Finding Christy wasn’t exactly the joyful reunion she hoped for.
When Christy is forced to run for her life, the only safe place she can think of is the one she’d never thought she’d...
Teresa says: Alas, so many book ideas, so little time. What a wonderful business. Imagine going to work everyday and finding something exciting and challenging awaiting you! Can you see why I feel so favored of the Lord to be doing what I’m doing.
Teresa, you’ve stated in your bio that you’ve written books since grade school. Was that great practice for you, or what did you want to have happen to those stories at that age? What do you think that experience did for your career?
I couldn't not write back then. Sadly it is much easier for me to do so now. I let life's distractions dictate my daily word count. In those days I carried a notebook with me everywhere and was always scribbling in it. I haven't forgotten those stories from my youth. Believe it or not, I still like the same kinds of stories. Fortunately the body count in my books is much lower now.
You have a series out with Tsaba House. What made you choose this particular genre? Did you target your publisher, or did they happen to be the first to accept your work? How long did it take you to... [More]
Tiffany Amber Miller Stockton on writing, parenting a new baby and the blessings of friends
December 14, 2009
Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, have an adorable baby girl named Victoria, and live in beautiful Colorado just east of the Front Range of the Rockies. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher or log cabin. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write.Amber, you’re a web designer, author, and mom. How do you make all those things work to give you a foothold in the writing world?It’s a regular challenge, but my primary clients are authors and speakers, so that keeps me connected. As an author, I have the opportunity to network with other authors, readers and industry professionals, so there’s another connection. As a mom, I’m discovering a whole new set of friendsYou mentioned that you joined American Christian Fiction Writers in 2002, and your first book came out in 2008. Congratulations! So, what went on during those years between 02 and 08?Well, the first 2 years, I spent observing, learning,...[More]
Jenness Walker on writing, traveling, and Hyacinth
December 7, 2009
Jenness Walker is a romantic suspense author for Steeple Hill. She also co-authors light-hearted stories with Tracy Bowen. Jenness lives in Florida with Jason, her beloved website-designer husband, and Hyacinth, her almost-as-beloved laptop. When she’s not writing from her magic coach, she loves to decorate or plan her next roadtrip with Jason.
Jenness, you’ve written in your bio that you come from a family that encourages dreams. Tell us how that helped form your unique author voice. That’s a tough question. I guess I’d say that because I always had people believing in me, I feel free to write whatever is on my heart. I’m not afraid to try different things. If this particular story idea or POV trick doesn’t work, that’s fine—the next attempt might. And eventually, I’ll hit on something that is just right.
Tell us about your book. What made you choose this particular genre? Did you target your publisher, or did they happen to be the first to accept your work? How long did it take you to get your work published?
Double Take begins with Cole, the hero, reading a best-selling thriller where the villain plays a deadly game of cat-and-mouse...
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