P.S.

Photo: The Montreat conference center.

Yesterday (Friday) I sent out one of my quarterly email newsletters. If you didn't get one and you'd like to get them, you need to sign up in the "newsletter" box in the sidebar. If you think you have signed up and still didn't get one, you may not have responded to the confirmation email. It's a "no-spam" newsletter, so after you sign up, you have to reply to the confirmation email via the proper link in order to be "activated."

So if you want one of the autumn newsletters (and winter, and spring, and summer), sign up in the box to your right. I'll be sending out another batch of autumn emails for those who didn't get the first one.

Tootles!

~~Angie

Checking in

I've been neglectful of this space, and for that I'm sorry. Still up here at the lovely stone castle they call the Montreat Retreat Center and attending the Donald Maass intensive week--two more days to go. Getting new ideas for the WIP and have successfully begged my editor for an extension of my Oct. 1 deadline.

This is my second intensive, and while I'm not learning tons of new information, it's simply helpful to have someone standing there WAITING for you to go deeper, think harder, try new approaches. I highly recommend this for any writer who needs to grow and be challenged to try new things. After 100 plus books, I know it's been helpful for me.

So I'll have my work cut out for me when I get back. This is such a lovely area that it's tempting to sit and stare out the window instead of writing, but the deadline calls . . .

Wish you could see this roaring fire and feel the chill in the air. The chill hasn't reached us in Florida, but I've been very grateful for my all-purpose wool blazer. It's become my uniform of the day.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

P.S. I have discovered this store called "Ten Thousand Villages." Not only does it have really unique and beautiful gifts from around the world, but it is a "fair trade" enterprise, meaning that the money you pay for the item actually goes to the artisans who created it--many of whom are in developing countries. I went there yesterday and bought a few gifts, and I think I'll go back again today. These stores are scattered all over the country and I understand they also have a website for their best-selling items. (http://www.tenthousandvillages.com) I HIGHLY recommend this--it's ministry in motion.

P.S.S. Of course there's time to shop at an intensive! :-) Priorities, you know . . .

Angie

Off to work

Yesterday I drove over to Orlando to sign books at the SIBA convention--Southern Independent Booksellers Association. It was a nice book fair, smaller than the national event, naturally, but well-attended by enthusiastic folks. The only hitch in the day was that my car's air conditioning gave out half way to Orlando . . . on what was probably the hottest day of the year. So I rolled down the windows and breezed home in the heat.

Tomorrow morning early I'm off to Nashville, where I'm going to meet Nancy Rue. Together we're driving to Montreat, NC--beautiful place--to attend the Donald Maass Intensive workshop. This will be my second time and Nancy's first, but I'm ready for some in-depth time on the WIP. So we'll be hauling our laptops, our WIP notebooks, our iPods, and lots of snacks. Brain food, you know.

I'm not sure how frequently I'll be blogging this coming week because I'm not sure about the internet connections. But I'll try to pop in every once in a while.

That's about it from this end. Have a great week!

~~Angie

Make Your Own Seal

Found something cute the other day--you can make your own seal of approval. Use one on your web site, make up a certificate for when your kids actually have their rooms picked up and give them the "Good Housekeeping" seal! It's fun and easy, so go wild!

http://www.says-it.com/seal/index.php

P.S. Can ANYONE tell me why blogger sometimes simply refuses to accept a photograph? I'm stumped.

~~Angie

Jack Smink in Concert

On September 2, hubby and I headed out to the Largo Cultural Center to see Jack Smink, ETA, in concert. (ETA=Elvis Tribute Artist.)

All I can say is . . . I have to put this experience in a book. (VBG)

Jack was great in his Elvis outfits--he sang very well and the concert was a lot of fun. What fascinated me was the audience--such a wide array of fans, both for Elvis and for Jack in particular. I was expecting mostly older people--after all, Elvis was popular in my mother's generation. Even my hubby is a post-Elvis guy, and he's eight years older than me. But yes, there were older people, but the Monkeys, Metallica, and Sesame Street fans were also represented. Everyone had a grand time.

One of the things that tickled us most was Jack's practice--based on Elvis's habit--of handing out sweat-soaked scarves to the audience. Jack had at least a hundred scarves prepared, and at several places during the concert he invited folks down to get one. His helper--a guy in black he kept referring to as "Fonzie," would drape the scarf around Jack's neck, then Jack would rip it off and hand it to the reaching audience members. Jack's scarves weren't exactly sweat-soaked, but nary a scarf went out unless it had been around his neck first.

I enjoyed the music, but I also enjoyed sitting back and watching all the bobbing heads around me--including the heads of a couple of other Elvi in the audience.

Jack and I went to high school together, and he used to call me "Well Well." (My maiden name is Elwell). In the middle of his concert, between songs, he calls out, "Well Well, are you here?"

"I'm here," I holler back.

"I can't see you," says Jack. (The lights). "So you've got the advantage--and that's the first time."

"Not hardly," I yell back.

Tee hee. I wasn't sure he remembered all those debates we used to have in the school bus. Then again, maybe he did.

~~Angie

P.S. Kelli S. pointed me to a website yesterday and I got a little carried away. I was trying to make Heavenly Daze tee shirts available to the HD yahoo group and . . . well, see for yourself at this link.

BOM: Questions and Answers

Photo: the iUniverse edition of Hartford, designed to keep the series in print

Questions?

Deborah asked: did Gilda ever know that Roberta was her real mother? and maybe I'm just remembering wrong, but if Taregan took over Daniel's identity, do his kids ever know this b/c in Rehoboth i seem to recall he's referred to only as Daniel.

Deborah, it's really hard to remember! I don't think Gilda ever knew much about her history because she was so young when she was taken away--she would only have know what the other boys would tell her, and I'm not sure even the other boys knew that Roberta was her biological mother.

And no, Taregan selflessly spent his life "redeeming" Daniel's reputation. He was Daniel from that time forward--pretty magnanimous of him, wasn't it? Some might say he was selfish and didn't want the switch to be discovered, but I know his heart. (VBG)

Had a wonderful trip to Chicago these last two days, and learned so much from reading Francine Prose's new book, READING LIKE A WRITER.

And now a question from me: about the WIP--"Fairlawn" has always been the series name in my mind's eye, and I'm not even sure we're going to put the series name on the books. Instead I'm thinking of using things people typically say at funerals.

So far the three tentative titles I have are:

Doesn't She Look Good?

Receiving Friends from 3 to 4

and

In Lieu of Flowers

What do you think? Can you think of any other little phrases people are always saying at funerals? I like these three particularly because they can work in more than one way . . . and thanks to Becky and Karen at Tyndale for brainstorming with me!

~~Angie

BOM: The Results

Charles Towne was one of my favorites to write. I am always learning, and I remember that I'd just learned something before I wrote this book . . . and now I can't remember what it was! Maybe it was "the hero's journey" form for plotting . . . or maybe it had something to do with romance, because this book has a classic romantic story line.

In any case, despite the readers who "didn't get it," the results were satisfying. In its review of Charles Towne, Romantic Times said: "Angela Elwell Hunt single-handedly sets a new standard for inspirational historical romance with her high quality of writing." Romantic Times, May 1998

Pretty heady stuff for someone who was just beginning to feel like she had a handle on writing novels . . .

And my readers have been very kind. Here's a bit from one email:

On a personal note, I have finished Charles Towne and want to know
if there are any more books in this series. These books have deepened my
understanding as to how this country began and how the church (Puritans in
particular) were too legalistic and prejudiced against the Native
Americans. It has been exciting to go back in time to see and feel what
might have gone on back then (as well as sometimes devastating). For a
person like me who visualizes everything she reads, this series has been very
fascinating! I hope that is not the last of this series -- would someone
please drop me a note and let me know for sure?

And another:

. . . I begged my mother to allow me to read your Keepers of the Ring series, my mother's favorites, but she held off on me until I turned 15 and studied American history in high school. Well, the magical year arrived this spring, and I have adored the books every bit as much as I adored your books earlier, but especially the last one, Charles Towne. Maybe it's because, like just about every other teenager in America, I've been sucked into the vortex known as Pirates of the Caribbean, and with a few tweaks here and there, Johnny Depp casts a near-perfect image of Trace.

Tomorrow: Your Questions, my attempts to Answer. If you have a question, be sure to leave it in the comments.

~~Angie

BOM: The Editing

Rehoboth is the book that deals with King Philip. And it's interesting that this book's cover falls on "editing" day, because I learned something important in the editing process of this book.

Rick Blanchette, obviously male, edited this book with me, and he helped me to see things from the male perspective. Now I've always thought that male readers and I get along pretty well, because I'm not an emotional writer--not much, anyway. A teenage boy once told me that he liked these particular books because they had a "low mush quotient." LOL!

In any case, Rick pointed out a scene where I had Rachelle and her brother, Mojag, meet another couple as they were out walking. I had written the scene from Mojag's POV, and I had him just casually observing the scene.

Rick said "No way."

"What?"

"No way a young man who's with his sister is going to look at a new pretty girl without also trying to size up the guy with her. He'd be wondering what their relationship was . . . and he'd be thinking, Could I take him in a fight?"

LOL! Well. I learned that if I am going to write from a male POV, I need to adjust my thinking. Maybe scratch my armpits occasionally or something. But there's a definite difference.

Tomorrow: The Results

~~Angie

BOM: The Writing

I loved writing Hartford. I've long been fascinated by stories that explore duality, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So I created twins, Daniel and Taregan, one who was attracted to the English life, one who preferred the native life.

In writing Rehoboth, I explored the true story of King Philip, an amazing Indian leader who knew his tribe was doomed against the English. I hope my admiration for the man comes through . . . and I wondered how I would react if I faced the obstacles he did.

In writing Charles Towne, I skipped forward a few years. I wanted to write about slavery, both literal and spiritual. So I created a character, Trace Bettencourt, and made him a slave to guilt. His job? He's a pirate who goes around "liberating" slave ships bound for the colonies.

I remember that I went to Charleston by myself, stayed in an old bed and breakfast, and wandered around the historical district to get a feel for the place. Not much there from the early historical period, but I picked up some wonderful books on Charleston that I would probably never have run across otherwise.

I think it was with Charles Towne that I realized that not all my readers are going to "get it." I remember that my editor sent the manuscript out to some test readers. One of them remarked, "This book is about slavery. Slavery doesn't exist anymore. So what's the point?"

Sigh. When you write a layered story, some readers aren't going to peer past the top layer. Fact of Life #269.

Tomorrow: the editing

~~Angie

BOM: The Research

Fortunately, the research for this book was far easier than scraping facts together about the twelfth century. I was able to find copies of the original correspondence of several people who'd been on the voyage to Roanoke, plus the complete passenger list.

As I researched the series, I ran across bizarre (to me) stories of how the English Christian settlers persecuted the native Americans they found. Embarrassingly horrible stories about how they killed . . . trust me, some of our forefathers were Christian in name only. I became fascinated with the stories of King Phillip, the real Pocahontas, her uncle, the slave trade, etc.

And each book had a spiritual theme that dealt with where I was in life. I used the theme of suffering in Jamestown, because that settlement truly fell upon hard times, including a smallpox epidemic. (The English gave smallpox-contaminated blankets to the Indians and entire villages were wiped out.) At the time, my church had been going through a season of suffering--two of our young people had died in unrelated accidents, and another had just been permanently paralyzed . . . an accident on a youth missions trip.

So each novel involved real, little-known history as well as a spiritual theme that came from whatever I was living through at the time.

I have a personal guideline when I write historical fiction: I feel free to create characters, but I never knowingly contradict historical fact. Fortunately, American history is rich . . . and the stories of our first colonies were too fascinating for me to pass up. I loved using them as a basis for novels.

Tomorrow: the writing

~~Angie

The Thread of Life

This is the next column I've written for The Tampa Tribune.

By Angela Hunt, community columnist

I became acquainted with Doni Brinkman when she sent me an email. She said she’d enjoyed the aspect of adoption in one of my novels because she and her husband were adoptive parents.

The Brinkmans’ story, however, is not typical. Doni and Jim adopted one son through open adoption, an increasingly common practice, but their first child, an adorable red-haired boy, was a snowflake baby. In other words, Tanner Brinkman was once an embryo that would have been left to die . . . in a freezer.

While scientific debate swirls around us, certain facts are indisputable: first, those who debate when life begins are arguing the wrong question, for life does not “begin” even at conception. An egg and sperm are alive before they meet. Rather than “beginning,” life is passed from one living human to another. The thread of life winds back through generations and originates at the point where the Creator breathed into the first human.

A fertilized human egg will not grow to be a fish, a bird, or a monkey. It will become every bit as human as the mother and father who hold their baby in their arms. The difference is not in the quality of personhood, but size. Given time and opportunity, the embryo will grow.

Stem cell research has been in the news of late, as it should be. But let’s be clear about the exact nature of the research involved. Those who argue for stem cell research are usually talking about fetal cells when adult stem cells are far more useful for treating disease. Proponents of fetal stem cell research, which typically uses so many cells from frozen embryos that it destroys those lives-in-waiting, cite Ronald Reagan and Michael J. Fox as reasons why we should experiment on living human beings. Yes, we should feel concern for those who suffer from diseases, but should we not feel the same concern for those who are held in a state of cryogenic suspension?

Stem cells, which are valued because they are “plastic,” or able to transform into multiple cell types (blood cells, kidney cells, etc.), are not found only in preborn humans. They are also available in umbilical cord blood, children’s baby teeth, hair follicles, placentas, and even liposuctioned fat.

The Scripps Research Institute has recently reported that a small molecule called reversine allows mature cells to become “plastic” again. Researcher Dr Sheng Ding said: "This [approach] . . . will allow you to derive stem-like cells from your own mature cells, avoiding the technical and ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells."

Scientists have now proposed taking only one cell from embryos to preserve those lives, but those who lobby for the removal of restrictions on stem cell research are actually pushing for the right to use unborn humans for experimentation—a bizarre situation, considering that our government protects the rights of eagles and manatees to live free from human harassment. Should we do less for babies who have not yet reached a healthy birth weight?

The conflict at the heart of the debate involves the rights of already-born humans versus the rights of preborn humans. Yet researchers currently have access to adult stem cells, which have been successfully used to treat spinal cord injuries, regenerate heart tissue, and reconstruct corneas. Adult stem cell therapy has shown significant results in the treatment of diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, anemias, leukemias, Parkinson’s, and Crohn’s disease. No embryonic stem cell treatment to date has come close to the success rate of adult cell therapies.

Out of mercy and compassion, we ought to try to discover cures for disease. Scientists and medical researchers have a moral responsibility to do what they can to improve the quality of human life. Out of the same mercy and compassion, however, we ought to forbid all uses of embryonic humans for spare parts. If the restrictions on embryonic research are lifted, the temptation to create human embryos for the purpose of experimentation may prove impossible to resist.

So what should be done with “extra” embryos created by couples who are battling infertility? Why not encourage couples to adopt them? My husband and I waited years to adopt our two children. If embryonic adoption had been an option when we were younger, we’d have signed on in a heartbeat.

The psalmist assures us that God designed the delicate, inner parts of our bodies. He knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. Embryos that have been frozen in the process of being miraculously woven and spun are continuing lengths in the thread of life.


~~Angie

Book of the Month: How the Idea Germinated

When I sat down to write my second historical series, I was still stinging a little from the reception of my first historical series. When I started writing adult novels, there were not really any writer's guidelines at all--and Christian fiction was still relatively new. (I'm dating myself!) So when I wrote my first historical series, I just sat down and wrote books with no particular reader in mind--for the world in general.

I soon learned Fact of Life #167: "the world in general" does not shop at Christian bookstores--which is where my books were being sold. I learned that I had to write for the Christian reader, and there are things that do not fly in the Christian market.

This debate, BTW, continues to this day. The unwritten guidelines have loosened considerably, but I learned a valuable lesson--she who writes for nobody in particular will reach nobody in particular.

I had endured some pretty tough criticism on my first series, which was set in medieval times. (Not for nothing were those called the Dark Ages.) And I happened to be studying legalism versus grace, so I took the lessons I learned from Charles Swindoll's book, Grace Awakening, and used my novel to illustrate those principles. Roanoke is based upon the original documents about the voyage, and I'd always been fascinated by the mystery surrounding that settlement. So my family and I drove up to Roanoke Island, I read everything I could get my hands on, and I began to write.

One thing about series writing that has always bothered me, however, is the repetition. I get bored quickly, and I didn't want to write about the same place, people, or era for five books in a row. So I needed a way to link the books together but yet keep the series interesting . . . for this writer.

So I came up with the idea of a ring that is passed down through generations. The ring is inscribed with the Latin words for "boldly, faithfully, successfully." It is given to Jocelyn in book one and keeps being passed from one person in Jocelyn's lineage to another. The series spans over 100 years and several different major colonies.

So--you have a ring, a writer determined to write to Christians (the choir needs to learn, too), and the historical genre. I was all set to begin.

Tomorrow: The Research

~~Angie

Books of the Month: the Keepers of the Ring Series

Oh, my! September first crept up on me! Thanks for the reminder that it's time for another Book of the Month!

A good thing, too--I've been working on Fairlawn hard, long, and late, so I like I don't have anything new to say, blogwise. So I'm delighted to talk about a book--actually, a series--that is already done!

This month we're going to look at the KEEPERS OF THE RING series, published by Tyndale House. These books are out of print at this moment, but they're around--new and used are still being sold on Amazon.com.

The series includes five titles: Roanoke, the Lost Colony, Jamestown, Hartford, Rehoboth, and Charles Towne. Here's a review and overview from Library Journal:

In 1587, a fleet of English ships set sail for the Virginia colony. During a
storm, one ship became separated from the others and was never seen again. The
settlers on board were presumed lost at sea, but there is both historical and
legendary evidence that the colonists actually founded the Roanoke colony.
Veteran novelist Hunt ("Theyn Chronicles") reimagines this slice of Colonial
history through the eyes of Jocelyn White, a newlywed reluctant to leave her
home in England for the wild shores of the New World. White's journey is fraught
with danger, but her dependence on God and God's providence carry her safely
through. Hunt's engaging historical romance will appeal to fans of B.J. Hoff and
Patricia Hickman. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Tomorrow: How the idea germinated.

~~Angie

Madea's Family Reunion

As a reward to myself for successfully making it through two more crowns (this time was a breeze), last night I watched Madea's family reunion.

Most of the time I was puzzled--was it a comedy? A Christian movie? A drama? And why was the title character played by a man in drag?

Despite my questions and some over-the-top stuff, I was thrilled to once again see Lisa Anderson in a role--and boy, was she terrific. (She's supposed to play Peyton in THE NOTE.) And I cried buckets at the ending (a happy one), so the movie worked for me. And despite flatulence, a little loose language, and some child-whipping, the movie presented a relationship with Christ in a positive way.

I found the following review on Amazon.com--and this guy got it right.

Tyler Perry, impresario of the gospel theater circuit, brings his gun-toting granny-drag persona Madea back to the big screen in Madea's Family Reunion, a sequel to the surprise hit Diary of a Mad Black Woman. In addition to being saddled with an unruly foster teen (Keke Palmer, The Wool Cap), Madea has two troubled nieces: Lisa (Rochelle Aytes, White Chicks), who's engaged to an abusive and controlling investment banker (Blair Underwood, Something New); and Vanessa (Lisa Arrindell Anderson, The Second Chance), who can't open herself to the affection of a bus driver/artist (Boris Kodjoe, The Gospel) because of childhood abuse. Wreaking havoc on both of their lives is their mother Victoria (Lynn Whitfield, Eve's Bayou, in delirious wicked witch mode). Like Madea's previous outing, Madea's Family Reunion may induce mental whiplash--the movie zips from a discussion of flatulence to a jazz-backed poetry reading to domestic violence (Underwood, perhaps eager to leave his bland good-guy image behind, is genuinely scary), or from an act of horrific revenge to a staggeringly gaudy wedding. Though schizophrenic and morally questionable (beating an adult women is clearly wrong, but whipping a child with a belt in the name of tough love is apparently good), the movie is definitely unpredictable and never dull. Also featuring Cicely Tyson (Because of Winn-Dixie) and the poet Maya Angelou. --Bret Fetzer

~~Angie

This and That

Brittanie asked about library sales . . . if they counted as regular sales. Yes, indeed they do. And writers appreciate libraries just as they appreciate Sam's Club--if we can pick up a new reader, that's a good thing.

I just saw the funniest thing in my "Hungry Girl" newsletter--the Octodog Frankfurter Converter. Frankly (pun intended!), this one’s a little frightening. But we just had to include it. This wacky device slices ordinary hot dogs into eight-legged sea creatures. Cook ‘em, and their little legs swirl around the body like tentacles. Decorate them with condiments and eat 'em, or put on a hot dog variety show for the neighbors! We can't wait to turn guilt-free dogs into various and sundry sea critters. Yippeee! Purchase ‘em online here.

Well, I'm off to the dentist again this morning . . . two more crowns. So I'll be packing the iPod and asking for more anesthesia. Sydney Bristow I'm not. (VBG)

~~Angie

Adoption Threads

Photo: The Hunt Family circa 1988, when my first book was published.

Accidental Poet asked for a list of my books that contain an adoption thread. I had to look over the complete list, but I think I've got them all:

THE ADOPTION OPTION nonfiction and out of print (so you'd have to find a used copy of this one!) but it's our adoption story. The first part of the tale, anyway.

LOVING SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD. Also nonfiction and out of print, but expands to include foster parenting, aunts, uncles, grandparents and stepparents who step in to love other people's bio children.

THE STORY JAR. My novella, "The Yellow Sock" is also our story, only slightly fictionalized. I used my actual "waiting" journal to write it.

THE NOTE--adoption thread.

THE PEARL--adoption thread.

THE DEBT--adoption provides a major plot point.

MAGDALENE--adoption thread

THE SHADOW WOMEN--yep, Moses was adopted.

I think that's it. Since adoption has played such a large part in our family life, I suppose it's only natural that it should show up in my work, even when it's only a "thread."

~~Angie

To answer . . .

A couple of you have raised questions, and since I have nothing original to say this morning, I think I'll answer them.

Accidental Poet asked which book about adoption Doni read--LOL! Actually, I don't remember, and Doni has just told me she's read 32 of my books. Since several of them have adoption threads, I honestly don't remember which one initiated her initial email to me.

Brittanie asked: I bought a Christian Fiction book today at Barnes and Noble. It was a steeple hill book that was in short fat paperbook style for $4.99. Do authors get paid less when they downsize the book from trade size $13.00. Just wondering?

Yes, Brittanie, the less you pay for a book, the less the author earns from the sale of that book. Books that are sold for deep discounts (at Costco, Sam's Club, etc), often earn the author virtually nothing. When you buy a used book or a book from a remainder bin, the author often gets nothing at all. If you buy a book from Crossings or other book clubs, the author gets no royalties. (The book club pays a flat fee to the publisher, and some of that is applied to the author's royalty account.)

So how do authors make a living? It isn't easy. They have to sell lots and lots and lots of books through the regular avenues--bookstores.

Do we mind those bargain books and wholesale outlets? Not necessarily, because sometimes people will buy a bargain book, like it, and come back for more. Picking up a new reader is a good thing.

However--used book sales do not count as a "sale" at the publishing house, and if a book does not sell enough copies, it will go out of print. Gone. Hasta la vista, baby. And that's kind of sad.

Also sad is the fact that lots of independent bookstores (especially Christian bookstores) find it difficult to stay in business because everyone now (even Starbucks!) is selling books. So if you find an author you enjoy, think about where you buy your books. Where you buy makes a huge difference.

~~Angie

All Eyes on Ernesto

Hurricane Ernesto is south of Cuba at this moment, churning around and trying to decide whether or not it wants to become a hurricane. Since the ocean waters are warm, I'm betting it will . . . and it looks like it's coming toward Florida.

When we went to bed last night, we were in the dreaded "five day cone." When we woke up this morning, the cone had moved east, sparing us, but not sparing the central part of Florida.

No one can truly predict a hurricane's path--they are fickle things--but we'll be checking the hurricane web sites for the next few days.

Since I live in Florida, we don't pass a single summer through fall without thinking of hurricanes. A hurricane, in fact, plays a huge role in one of my upcoming novels, THE ELEVATOR.

I found this clever online simulation that illustrates the destructive force of a hurricane. Try it out, and then thank the Lord if you live miles from any beach.

http://www.npr.org/news/specials/hurricane/ap/

~~Angie

Too funny

So yesterday I get a brief email from my friend, Jerry J. Here's the text:

From today’s Minneapolis StarTribune:

Film Tells Story of Jesus’ Birth through Mary’s Eyes

That would have been some feat.

jj

I'm pretty sure they're talking about THE NATIVITY STORY. I love it!

~~Angie

The Second Chance

Several years ago, someone once told me (through the friend of a friend of a friend) that Michael W. Smith said he liked my book The Truth Teller. I was thrilled.

Well, though that story may be hearsay, I liked Michael W. Smith's movie. :-)

The Second Chance seems very CBA centered--i.e., geared to a believing audience--but it has real heart and it made me tear up several times. A very realistic look at mega churches (shoot, I practically ATTEND the church featured in the movie) as compared to ministry-where-the-people are.

Smith did a good job in his role, but didn't get to flex a lot of acting chops (I think that's a mixed metaphor.) But the real thrill for me was seeing Lisa Anderson in the role of "Pastor Jake's" wife. I recognized her voice immediately and her face in the next instant--she plays Peyton MacGruder in the short version of "The Note" and I hear she's also been signed to star in the feature film . . . . which, Lord willing, should begin filming this fall. I really like her.

The only quibble I had with the film is that Ethan, Smith's character, is engaged to be married to a saintly woman who never exhibits a single flaw. I don't mind her perfection--what struck me as unlikely is the fact that a forty-something year old man is getting married for the first time? I know it happens, but it doesn't happen often. I'd have given him a perfect wife and left it at that.

What? Of course there are perfect pastor's wives! My husband has one.

ROFLOL,

~~Angie