Creativity

I often hear from readers that they're struck by the fact that none of my books are alike. And while readers may like this difference, it drives publishers crazy because the publishing world wants to put authors in boxes and keep them there--that's the whole point of "branding," which is a huge buzzword these days.

Fortunately, branding didn't become a buzzword until after I'd written 100 or so books, so all I had to do was shrug and say, "Well, then, brand me as an author who's always different!"

Why? Because I get bored. Why tell the same story twice? And if I'm bored, I know my reader's going to be bored.

Second, because I LOVE learning new things. I love research. And new books, new topics, new approaches all require research.

Third, because being different reinforces something I just read this morning in CHIPS OFF THE BUTCHER BLOCK, by Derric Johnson. "We were constantly looking for new ways to express old truths," Derric writes. "Or rearranging old concepts in new packages. There just had to be a fresher way."

Indeed. :-) That's my entire raison d'etre. Why be a writer if you're going to tell the same stories everyone else is telling? I prefer the offbeat, the parable, the quirky metaphor. Let me share the oldest and best story--that God loves the world so much that he gave his only son--but let me do it in unexpected ways.

God doesn't use a cookie cutter in his creation. Why should we?

~~Angie

Update on Tarra and Bella

I posted this video some time ago . . . and I'm sure you've seen it elsewhere, too. But I wanted you to see the update. :-) Still makes me cry.

I love elephants--they have such wisdom and loyalty. If you want to know more about the elephant sanctuary, you can view a video here.

~~Angie

Theology Sunday: How Can we Understand the Trinity?

Sorry--I've fallen behind on my blog posts. But here's another theology lesson for Sunday. :-)

Week Ten: God is a Trinity. What does that mean?

A lot of people make a big deal out of the fact that the word “trinity” isn’t in the Bible, but you know what? I’ve written dozens of books, and not once have I ever explained to my readers that I am a woman. Most people figure that out. How? First, my name is a woman’s name. Second, if you were to see my picture, you’d guess that I’m a woman. Third, if you were to meet me, you’d know that I’m female. I look like a woman and talk like a woman because I am a woman.

The Bible doesn’t “spell out” the concept of the Trinity, but it gives us plenty of evidence for the knowledge that God is three-in-one. First, when you read the Bible, you’ll notice that God is not alone. Last week you may have noticed that when God created man, he said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.”

Who was he talking to? Not the angels, because they don’t create like God. Not the animals or the plants or trees, because they don’t create, either. They are created things, not the creator, and only God can make something out of nothing. Created beings can never create like God can.

So who was he talking to? The other members of the Trinity: specifically, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. When we read the Bible, we see that God is three persons, but He is also one God. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 tells us, “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” So God is one—and yet he is three persons.

The idea that God is three-in-one—called the doctrine of the Trinity—is sometimes difficult to understand. Some of the smartest people in the world have trouble with it because they try to apply human understanding to God, who is bigger than human understanding.

Some people say that the Trinity is like an egg—in one egg, you can find a shell, a yolk, and a white part. One egg with three parts. But this is not really an accurate picture of the Trinity, because an egg shell is only part of an egg—only 1/3 of an egg, to be precise. Yet each member of the Trinity is fully God, not just “1/3” of God. God the Father contains all of God in himself. Jesus contains all of God in himself. The Holy Spirit possesses all of God in himself.

The yolk of an egg doesn’t have the hard shell of an egg, right? But Jesus has all of God’s power and mercy. He’s not missing any part of God. The white of an egg is missing the egg’s protein (found in the yolk), but the Holy Spirit has all of God’s knowledge and capability. He’s not missing any part of God’s essence, either.

Other people say that God is like water: H2O can exist as a liquid, a gas, or as ice—one substance in three different forms. They say that God is sometimes like a Father on a throne, sometimes in the form of Jesus, and sometimes in the form of a Spirit. But that’s not right, either, because the Bible clearly teaches us that God is three different persons. They do different things. They talk to each other. They are definitely three different persons in one God.

They have the same power, knowledge, and characteristics. They do differ, however, in their actions, in what they do. Let’s see what the Bible says about their differences:

The creation of the world: the first chapter of Genesis tells us that God spoke the world into existence: “The God said, ‘Let their be light,’ and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). But Jesus and the Holy Spirit were active at creation, too. Look at John 1:1-4, where Jesus is called “the Word”: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.”

The Holy Spirit was active at creation, too. Genesis 1:2 tells us that the “Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

The plan of salvation: all three members of the Trinity were also active in the plan of salvation. John 3:16 tells us, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God the Father sent the Son, who died for our sins. After Jesus rose from the dead and went back to heaven, the Holy Spirit came. John 14:26 says, “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

God the Father sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us, lives in us, and helps us grow as Christians.

God the Father has always been the Father, Jesus has always been the Son, and the Holy Spirit has always been the Spirit. Paul wrote, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:4-5).

Even before he made the world, even before Moses wrote Genesis, God decided to make mankind. He wanted his representatives to have free will and not be robots, so he gave Adam the opportunity to choose Him by giving Adam an opportunity to disobey. God knew Adam would sin, so even before the world began, God knew that Jesus would have to go to earth and sacrifice his holy life for our sins.

Even knowing those things, God created the world anyway. He did so because He loves mankind—He loves you. He wants you to be holy and without fault in his eyes. He wants you to shine in the image of his dear son, Jesus.

God is an amazing being . . . and next week we’ll look at one of his amazing character qualities.

Memory verse: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Discussion questions:

1. Look at the following verses. What do these verses tell us about the Trinity?

· Colossians 1:15-18: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.”

· Psalm 33:6,9: “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born . . . For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.”

· 1 Corinthians 8:6: “But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.”

· Hebrews 1:1-2: “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.”

· Galatians 4:4: “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.”

· 1 Peter 1:2: “God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy.”

· Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

2. Some people say that Jesus isn’t equal to God in power or authority. But look at the first chapter of Hebrews and see what God the Father says to Jesus: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else” (Hebrews 1:8-9).

3. Read the story of Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:9-11): “One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, ‘You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.’”

Point out the parts of the passage that clearly reveal that all three members of the Trinity were present and active when Jesus was baptized.

4. Do you have to understand how the Trinity works in order to understand God? Not really. I don’t know exactly how my hot water heater manages to get hot water from the garage into my bathroom, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying a warm shower. The important thing is to realize that when the Bible presents a truth that’s hard to understand, you can accept it because God does not lie. In time, as the Holy Spirit teaches and guides you, you will grow in understanding.

This is what you should know about the Trinity:

1. God is three persons.

2. Each person is fully God.

3. There is one God.

That’s it. We may not fully understand it yet, but one day we will.

Crazy laws

Did you know that it can be against the law to flirt?

Because I'm hard at work on the WIP (should finish the fourth draft today! Whee!), I'm going to send you to this link, a collection of crazy laws which (if the site can be trusted) are still on the books.

Enjoy!

~~Angie

Stories to Live By

If there's one thing I remember from my year singing with the Re'Generation--besides the music and the friendship--it's Pastor Derric's stories. Life lessons. He taught them to us; he taught them at events where we'd sing and he'd speak. He taught the things he'd learned, and if you've ever heard me teach, you've heard me teach some of the things he taught me.

Pastor Derric has written many books, but he's recently gathered stories from the man who taught HIM, Pastor Orval Butcher, formerly of Skyline Wesleyan Church. These stories have been compiled into a book, CHIPS OFF THE BUTCHER BLOCK, and it's available here. I bought a copy and have incorporated it into my daily devotional time--it's not a book to read quickly, because you'll want to muse and meditate on some of the topics as you go through your day. My husband took my book to church the other day and shared a story in staff devotions--it's that memorable.

So I urge you to get a copy. You'll love it, and the lessons within are worth treasuring and sharing with others.

~~Angie

What a Novelist Needs . . .

I've been thinking about what I want to tell my Taylor University students during our last class meeting. So if you don't mind, let me run my little speech by you . . .

WHAT A NOVELIST NEEDS TO SUCCEED

At this point, if you can remember all the things your professors taught you in class, you know far more than I did when I began writing more than twenty years ago. In fact, you may know more about writing than I did even ten years ago.

But being a novelist requires far more than knowing. If you want to write books that resonate, if you aim to write books that change hearts and lives, you'll need some other qualities as well.

1. You need a generous dose of business savvy. You need to learn the ins and outs of the business and respect others working in the field. You also need to learn that ultimately, YOU are responsible for your work, not your publisher, your agent, or your readers.

2. You need wisdom. God's wisdom. Because this business is rife with intellectuals who spout the world's wisdom, and that's a far cry from Truth. Seek the wisdom that comes from above, and apply it to your life and your books.

3. You need discretion. Just because you can depict something in excruciating detail doesn't mean that you should. Think of your reader, and put him/her before your right to reveal.

4. You need smarts. Not necessarily an IQ of 150, but learn how to think, and exercise your brain regularly. Not everyone thinks deeply, but you will need to.

5. You'll need an unfettered imagination. Most people think inside the box. They follow the status quo and never even consider going beyond. Your characters, your plots, must test the boundaries of human endurance. Remember, your goal is to push your characters far beyond their comfort zones.

6. You'll need a listening ear. Develop the fine art of eavesdropping.

7. You'll need a watchful eye. Notice people, and mentally write a description of them. Notice small details in settings and places.

8. You'll need a sense of separateness. In other words, as you're going through some terrible experience--death, dishonor, grief, tragedy--some part of your brain will remain separate, cataloging your emotional reactions. Mine your own life for emotional reactions you can give your characters.

9. You'll need patience. Learning to write takes time, living takes time. And you have to live before you'll have something to write about.

10. Finally, you need heart. Novels are about emotion, about how people feel. So learn to delve under the skin, past the brain, to the emotional core of a story and a character. That's where you'll find something to write about.

~~Angie

Kindle books for kids

I have LOT of out of print children's books. I have mixed feelings about them--I like them, because I like kids, but I wrote them YEARS ago, so when I look at them, I see a lot of things I do differently now. (If you've been in one of my writing classes, you know what I mean.)

Years ago, I'd have laughed if you'd told me that children would one day carry cell phones, but nearly all the kids in our youth department carry them now. So I'm not laughing at the idea that Kindles are for kids, too. So when I finish my WIP, I'm going to take a couple of months to edit and "kindle-ize" many of my books for children so they'll be available in the Kindle store. I should make them available in other eformats, too . . . . but I'm going to have to figure out how to do that. :-)

Our local high school was the first school in the country to give all their students Kindles instead of books. Sales of ebooks are up over 150 percent; sales of hardback books are down about forty percent. Do you see a trend here?

I don't think paper books will ever die--books live forever in used bookstores. But ebooks are so much more convenient and so much cheaper to produce. So if you don't have an ebook reader . . . . you probably will. :-)

~~Angie

Cindy Woodsmall's Latest book

Last summer I got to know Cindy Woodsmall personally--her family and I met in the airport, and they were kind enough to give me a ride to the conference hotel. In the time we spent together, I came to know Cindy as delightful, warm, and family-centered.

Who an author is really makes a difference to me. I find it hard to read a book if I've met the author and he or she is self-centered, indulgent, etc. (By the way, I met Kitty Kelley last week--her latest unauthorized bio is called Oprah. The book is fascinating and she was so warm!)

Anyway, I'm happy to tell you about Cindy's latest book, a re-release called THE SOUND OF SLEIGH BELLS.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

2010 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest winner CBA and ECPA Bestseller

To read the first chapter and/or for purchasing info, go to http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/books/sound-of-sleigh-bells_excerpt.php

Bio ~

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

She is also a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.

To visit Cindy’s Web site, go to http://www.cindywoodsmall.com

For information on how to receive free bookmarks and autographed bookplates, go to http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/bookplates.php

Catching Up

Och! I've fallen behind on me blogging. :-)

Last week went by in a whirl, but I am happy to report that between now and Christmas, I only have to take two more trips! One more trip to Taylor University, and a trip in December to speak at a Christmas tea in California. So now I'm "going under" to focus, because my deadline for this train story is Nov. 30, and I'm right on schedule.

So forgive me for falling behind on my blogging. I did have to remark on this picture, though--this handsome boy was featured in DOG FANCY, and at first all I did was notice his rugged good looks . . . then I laughed aloud at that TONGUE! None of my mastiffs have EVER had a tongue that long. I had a pug whose tongue never seemed to fit into his mouth, but a mastiff? LOL!

Anyway, I'm sure he makes it work. At least I hope he does, or he must bite his tongue a lot.

Yesterday my neighborhood had a community yard sale. I set a few things out and sat there for a couple of hours, but I learned a couple of things:

1). People do not buy NEW books at yard sales. I tried selling some of my stock books at the discounted price of $10, and people acted horrified. "Ten dollars for ONE book?" One lady squealed. Even offering to autograph it for her didn't help.

2.) You cannot even GIVE away basketball cards. My son collected hundreds of them; they're cluttering up one of my closest, and yet my efforts to give them away (in nice plastic page protectors, no less) was for naught.

and finally: 3). The early bird does get the best bargains. By ten o'clock, the good stuff was gone and so was I.

Have a great weekend! And I'd appreciate your prayers as I race toward the finish line on the book tentatively called "Passing Strangers." I'm working very hard, and I certainly hope it's good!

~~Angie

Awww moments . . .

Is there anything more precious and innocent than a sleeping child or animal? Someone has collected a few pictures of sleeping creatures. Take a moment to enjoy!

~~Angie

OH! What an a capella welcome!

All this traveling I've been doing, and I MISSED THIS! But watching it made me cry. :-) Just so beautiful, and if you like a capella music, here's something wonderful. (The most AMAZING part to me is the girl "singing" the violin in one of the very first frames. Hmmm. Could I do that? Doubt it.)

~~Angie

Winter Reunion, by Roxanne Rustand

If this is Wednesday, Lord willing, I'm in Washington D.C. getting ready to fly home again. But while I'm in the air, let me tell you about Roxanne Rustand's latest book, WINTER REUNION:

Home to heal...and reconcile? When wounded Marine Devlin Sloan comes back to Aspen Creek, he's surprised by his late mother's will. His new business partner for the next six months will be Beth Carrigan. His ex-wife. This might prove to be Dev's most difficult mission yet. He never stopped loving the sweet bookstore owner, but his military career broke them apart. Now, as they work together at helping others get a new start in life, he hopes he can break down the walls between them....and explore the possibilities of renewing the life they had with each other. The book is available at bookstores everywhere and at www.steeplehill.com www.target.com www.christianbook.com www.barnesandnoble.com

About the author Roxanne Rustand has written seven inspirational romantic suspense novels for Steeple Hill. This is her first romance for the Love Inspired line, and is also the first in her Aspen Creek Crossroads series. Each book stands alone, but readers wanting to revisit the scenic St. Croix River Valley area and the quaint town of Aspen Creek can come back in Second Chance Dad, which will be out on June, 2011, and in another book which will be out in December. Roxanne was nominated for an RT Bookclub Magazine Achievement Award in 2005, and one of her books won a RT Bookclub Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Award in 2006. END GAME is a 2010 RT Bookclub Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Nominee for Best Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense of 2010.

Tonight in Washington . . .

I will be heading to the airport again today--the National Press Club is honoring 100 authors, and among them is Gayle Haggard, author of WHY I STAYED. Since Gayle's husband can't attend with her, she invited me along! :-) (I helped her with that book.) So kind of her. So I'll be just sitting and smiling, happy to be there and be among so many other fabulous authors. Details can be found here.

Off to clean my house so I can get ready to go!

~~Angie

The Perils of the Plane

I've been traveling so much lately, you'd think I'd have this plane thing all figured out. Well . . . not so.

Yesterday I got up at five a.m. and went to the Ft. Wayne airport to fly home from Taylor University. The flight from Ft. Wayne to Detroit was fairly uneventful (either that, or I was too sleepy to notice otherwise), but the flight from Detroit to Tampa involved a bit of adventure.

You see, I had packed a small suitcase for this short trip, so I only had to keep track of three things: my briefcase, my coat, and my suitcase. But I bought a bottle of Diet Coke at the airport, and had to juggle it as well.

I was in boarding group four, which means I was among the last on the plane, and boarding seemed to be taking a loooong time. I began to worry that they wouldn't have room for my suitcase in the overhead bin. So when I got aboard and found my seat, I dropped all the stuff in my arms into the seat while I struggled to get the suitcase into the bin. Seems that these bins were shorter than most, so I had to turn the suitcase sideways. But still, there was room.

Aware that there were still people waiting behind me, and also aware that the clock was ticking and the stewardess wanted people to hurry up and sit down, I stuffed my coat into the overhead bin and stepped into my row, then dropped into my seat. I felt stuff beneath me--but no wonder, since I'd dropped my scarf and my briefcase . . . and my partially empty bottle of Diet Coke.

When I felt wetness on my backside, I realized that the worst had happened--the bottle had sprung a leak. I sprang out of the seat and started waving to catch the flight attendant's attention. I asked for paper towels, so she snaked her way up to the front of the plane, then had all the waiting people pass the paper towels back to me--all way way back to row 14.

I wiped up the seat as best I could, but I had the impression that most of the missing liquid had been absorbed by the seat of my jeans. So I sat on the damp paper towels and my scarf, hoping that the paper and fabric would sort of wick the moisture away from me, because I had this horrible feeling that I'd be walking through Tampa airport looking like I'd had lost all control of my bladder.

While I was riding on the plane, reading my book and trying to act as if nothing had happened (but feeling very cold and wet, to tell you the truth), the gal in the middle seat turned off her DVD player, pulled up her purse, and put on lipstick--all while we were miles from our destination. I knew, I KNEW, what she was going to do, and I was silently telegraphing: Please don't ask me to get up, don't ask me to get up, don't do it, don't do it--and sure enough, she looked at me and said, "May I get out?"

"Why certainly!" I smiled and stepped into the aisle, proudly flashing my wet bum fore and aft, then sat down and had to get up AGAIN about five minutes later.

By the time I reached Tampa, I think I was nearly dry. Definitely by the time I got home, because the Florida sun will do that in a hurry.

But I just kept reminding myself that the Lord has his way of keeping us humble, doesn't he?

Yes, he does.

~~Angie

I love it! Random act of culture . . . and worship!

A tip of the hat to Jerry J. for sharing this link!

~~Angie

Dentists

I had to go to the dentist yesterday. So, in honor of that special profession, I offer Bill Cosby's take on the subject.

If this is Friday, I'm flying off to Indiana again, to teach at Taylor. Be back soon!

I think I prefer her to Lady Gaga . . .

The girl in the middle--the featured singer--is a robot. Pretty cool, huh? Except--is it just me, or are her hands way too big for her body?

Technology. You gotta love it . . .

Not much going on here, I'm working hard on the fourth draft of PASSING STRANGERS. The spit-polish draft. The make it or break it pass. Because the deadline approaches . . .

~~Angie

Can you believe Christmas is around the corner?

From some of my writing friends:

A Prairie Christmas Collection

from Barbour Books

by Tracie Peterson, Deborah Raney, Tracey Bateman

and other favorite Christian authors

Settling the vast open prairies, weathering winter storms, and finding joy to celebrate during Christmas epitomizes the pioneer experience. In a unique collection of nine Christmas romances, Barbour Publishing brings readers A Prairie Christmas Collection where they can relive a prairie Christmas with all its challenge and delights as penned by multi-published authors, including Tracie Peterson and Deborah Raney. Featuring deckled-edge pages and a foil-stamped cover with fold-under flaps, the collection makes an ideal gift for the romance reader.

In this holiday romance collection, the warmth of Christmas will radiate new love from the high plains of Minnesota and Dakota Territory, across the rolling hills of Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois, and down into the flats of Kansas. Filled with inspiration and faith, each story will become a treasure to be enjoyed again each year. Along with Peterson and Raney, other contributing authors include Tracey Bateman, Pamela Griffin, JoAnn A. Grote, Maryn Langer, Darlene Mindrup, Janet Spaeth and Jill Stengl.

For more information see Deborah Raney's website at www.deborahraney.com.

Available in bookstores everywhere, or order online at CBD.com, amazon.com or other bookstores online.

ANOTHER NanoWrMo video . . . ours!

Robin, Terri, Kristin, and I put this together last year, but I think it's still cute. :-) Enjoy!

~~Angie

National Novel Writing Month

In case you don't know, November is the national novel-writing month--in which thousands of people attempt to write the first draft of a 50,000 word novel.

This young man has put together a hilarious video about the event. Enjoy, and to all of you who are jonning in NaNoWrMo--write on!

~~Angie