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Monthly Archives: April 2012

Author Rachel Van Dyken Talking Character Development

20 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by Crystal Kelly in Uncategorized

≈ 7 Comments

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Author Rachel Van Dyken
To follow Rachel and see what she is up to
connect with her via
Rachel Van Dyken Author (facebook)
@RachVD Twitter
http://deliciousromancebyrachel.blogspot.com

I am so thrilled to have USA Today’s bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken as a guest today!!! Rachel has masterfully structured stories that peel at your very emotions you will cry, laugh and sometimes yell reading her titles such as Waltzing With the Wallflower, The Redemption of Lord Rawlings, The Seduction of Sebastian St. James, Every Girl Does It, An Unlikely Alliance, Compromising Kessen and The Parting Gift. Rachel’s characters are so well developed and touch the very heart. So I was more than happy when she decided to post on Character development.

 

 

 

 

I think every writer struggles with character development. Perhaps your hero is quite easy for you to develop but your heroine isn’t coming along as easily. I think there’s always going to be one character that makes you stop and want to pound your head against the keyboard.

I was told once that the easiest way to get inside your characters head without losing your mind is to imagine yourself as that character. Sounds easy enough when you’re writing from the woman’s point of view, but quite honestly that’s the point of view I struggle with. It’s hard for any writer not to project their own feelings or emotions into a character and as a woman I find that I struggle with that very issue.

Now writing a man….this is what I love, much to my husband’s dismay. I often write about the rake, the man who is dejected by society, or who doesn’t give a wit about what society thinks of him.

My male characters always start off with a conversation. Most of the time I’m driving or sometimes sleeping (UGH) and a conversation with my hero will pop into my head and usually that conversation is the basis for my development for that character.

When I wrote The Redemption of Lord Rawlings, I still wasn’t sure how I wanted the character to be flushed out. In all of the other books in that series he was a secondary character so you were never truly in his head. When I wrote his book I had to make him a likable hero even though he wasn’t necessarily the good guy to start off with. His book started with him stomping through the rain. I clearly remember thinking how dreary it would be in London. How awful it must be for a man after he’s lost everything. He literally thought nothing could make him feel better so he might as well stomp around and lament over how things had gone so horribly wrong.

Another one of my contemporary romances began when I was thinking about how much people in London loved tea. It progressed from there, an argument about tea and coffee and my character Kessen Newberry was born! I then imagined what it would be like to be from the UK but raised in America and forced to go back to your roots to appease your parents. Her development was fast because she had a loss in her family.

No matter how you start with your characters it’s always important to throw obstacles in their way. They have to grow and they have to overcome something otherwise they will fall flat. To be honest, sometimes I feel bad about what I put them through. I mean I’m poisoning them, taking the one person they love away from them, allowing them to get killed…:) BUT again it’s what makes a character relatable. People want to read something that is not only an escape but something that can help them understand the human condition better, why we do what we do and how we overcome obstacles is a HUGE part about living. I hope in my writing that comes across! 🙂

What about you guys? Do any of you have some memorable characters you’ve read about? What made them so memorable?

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Author Interview with Felecia Killings

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Crystal Kelly in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Injustice is a word no one wants to quote as part of their life story. Injustice is a stench that we fight to rid our society of. Injustice is an action that Christ has assured us as a body of believers He would avenge. We can therefore stand up under the pangs of injustice awaiting God’s movement on our behalf.

“Fear, Faith and Patience” is the first book in Felecia Killings fight for justice in a system that was designed to give her none. Felecia takes the reader on the journey of her walk with Christ from the innocence of childhood into the fields of spiritual warfare entering adulthood. The battles Felecia faced as a believer both exposed her weakness and frailties while at the same time deepened her relationship towards God her strength and victory.

The journey Felecia takes the reader on is one of compelling drama, fear, faith and patience. In reading “Fear, Faith and Patience” I found myself looking at the issues I currently faced. I was reminded our God is more than capable of handling everything that comes into our path. He is not slack in His promise to deliver nor is He unfaithful in His love.

“Fear, Faith and Patience” is a book that not only shares Felecia Killings true life story of injustice but it reminds the reader that God is and always will be for us even when the world stands against us. If God is for then in all actuality who can successfully stand against us?

I will be hosting a giveaway of “Fear, Faith and Patience” leave a comment below to be entered

Felecia so glad to have you hear talking about your book “Fear, Faith and Patience.”

Before we begin give us a little background on your upbringing and how it impacted/affected your life.

I grew up in a devout Christian home. Both my biological parents were pastors for the majority of my life—and still are now—and it was very important to them that their children grew up knowing the Lord. As a young child, I was fascinated with the various stories in the Bible. I had no doubt that God was real; and in a way, I feel that the innocent and pure relationship that I had with Him as a little girl is what kept me covered and protected even into my adult life. Although I am far from perfect, I strive for perfection because I know that the Christ in me can make all things possible. Even when hard times attack me, or I am being persecuted, abused, or mistreated, I know that God is there to provide exactly what I need. He is my Everything.

What is your story/inspiration behind the book “Fear, Faith and Patience”?

My inspiration behind this book comes from both my faith and my love for the scholars that I once worked with in the public school system. When I first began teaching, I never anticipated that what I would encounter would later be chronicled in a book. It wasn’t until a very hostile, racist incident occurred at our school in 2008 that stirred me to pen the events for future compilation. On one hand, I wanted to honor the students that helped bring dramatic social change to the school and the school district in this text; and on the other hand, I wanted to share with the public the need to allow their faith to become active as they engaged in earthly affairs. On a more personal level, I decided to publish this book, which had been “in the works” for 3-4 years, because I had endured a great deal of persecution, hostility, abuse, and animosity within the school system; yet I received little to no help during that time. I was a very popular teacher within the district and the community; and when I was confronted with a situation in 2010 that was so atrocious, I wanted to be able to give my side of the story on my terms. This book, and the subsequent ones, is my way of addressing all the mess that media and others put out there about me. It’s my way of fighting back to regain so much of what I lost—but the book goes into details about that.

What purpose are you hoping to accomplish with your book?

I hope to accomplish several things:

  1. First, I really want this book to get into the hands of the scholars that I once worked with. I believe that it’s important to recognize the godly efforts that our youth accomplished in their school. They were so brave and courageous as they took an issue as demonic as racism, and decided to speak out against it with hopes of changing the system.
  2. Secondly, I want to show the public—all my readers—that the things that go on in the public school system are not what they seem. There are so many problems that many dare not speak on because they are too afraid of the professional and social backlash that comes as a result of exposing those phenomena. I’m not just talking about racism, but also issues like sexual exploitation, extortion, and assault—not at the hands of teachers, but by the workings of students. It’s not easy to bring this topic to the light because we run the risk of public humiliation and law enforcement agencies that refuse to believe that such a thing actually occurs. This is a problem. So my purpose in writing the book is to show that not only does it happen, because it happened to me, but it continues to go unchecked and without repercussions. I know that my story and my voice will be added to the stories of others; and within time, I truly believe that God will cause our voices to be heard by the masses. Change is necessary; and to have an injustice of this magnitude go without any proper punishment is to perpetuate a system that is not concerned with equal protection and security for all.

Each chapter in your book starts off with scripture verses; how important is scripture/God’s word in your daily walk?

God’s Word is my life. Whenever I am about to make a decision concerning something important, I always ask the Holy Ghost for help. Whenever I am going through a hard time, the Spirit of the Lord would remind me of a passage of Scripture, which would minister to me immediately. I wanted that aspect to also be within my books because I want people to see that a real relationship with the Lord is not only possible, but obtainable. I speak to Him as much as I speak to anyone else, maybe even more. And it’s through that relationship that He has conveyed to me the things that He desires to do in the earth and through me.

Who is God to you and why do you feel there is importance/emphasis in acknowledging who God is in your life?

To ignore the impact that God has made in my life is to do a disservice to the One I love. Often times, people come to my Lord when they need help. But then as soon as He helps them, they turn their backs on Him and do things their way. That’s such a disrespect. The Lord is not only my Savior, but He’s my Friend, my Confidant, my Teacher, and more. And if I refuse to acknowledge where my help comes from, or from whom I receive wisdom and counsel, then I have essentially stepped into the arena of pride where I start to believe that my own intelligence and personality have brought me success. I refuse to do that to the Lord.

What have you come to understand on the topic of spiritual warfare and how to stand victorious under trial?

I always understood that we do not fight earthly affairs in the natural. Just because someone does something harmful to me, it does not mean that I have the right to retaliate in the natural. Instead, I must combat the spirit that is behind it all. This did not become real to me until I began working as a teacher in the public school back in 2006. For example, many teachers were jealous that a lot of students had connected with me, students that had been physically and emotionally threatening to other educators. They could not see why these same individuals would come to my class on time, adhere to the lessons given, complete the assignments I issued, and succeed in the class. But I knew why they did. It was because I chose to look at these individuals as God saw them. If I did have a problem with these students—most, not all—then all I had to do was handle it in prayer. It was simply a matter of asking the Lord, “What’s going on with this child?” And God would expose their situation. Some of the students had serious trouble at home; many were angry because their mothers were dying of cancer; the list goes on. And once God revealed the root of their problems, I would reach out to them and share that everything was going to be alright. My kids knew me as the teacher whom God talked to all the time because I was not afraid to say to them what the Lord was speaking. And they would confirm it. So for me, I was able to stand up during those difficult times of working with students because I did not handle them in the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

It was a totally different story when I had to deal with the adults and district officials. Rather than handling my hard times with them in prayer, I would give them a glimpse of what my flesh was capable of doing. And it was not pretty. The book goes more into details about that; but as I look back now, I can see that if I had allowed the Holy Ghost to take care of those individuals the same way that He did with my kids, then I believe that some things would have turned out differently. If anything, I want my audience to learn from my success as well as my failure.

What scripture or passage in the bible speaks to you the most?

2 Chronicles 20:20. It teaches us that if we believe in the Lord, then we will be established. If we believe in His prophets, then we will prosper. I’m all about success and prosperity, and this gives me the keys necessary to obtain that.

You have other books in component with “Fear, Faith and Patience; what can share about those books?

My second and third books will come out this July. They are a continuation of what I share in the first book. For the most part, the second text goes into more details about my criminal case that I was confronted with in 2010-2011. I formatted the book in a series of “letters to the Lord” or dairy entries. As I wrote the book, my only thoughts were on the many teachers who are placed in the same predicaments that I was in. All I kept thinking was, “I have got to do something to help other victimized educators receive equal protection under the law and in the schools.” And this book provides multiple accounts of what I did during that time to obtain the justice that I knew I deserved. I don’t know how much it will minister to the masses, but I do know that it will get into the hands of the right people so that real change can occur.

The third book, Bouncing Back, is geared towards Christians. It’s a book that will encourage them to never give up on the Lord; to understand that our trials reveal God’s sovereignty. In fact, that book helps Believers to appreciate rather than hate the trials they go through, because they will produce insurmountable results.

What advice would you give to this generation where injustice ‘seems’ to prevail?

The first thing they have to understand is that God loves justice; that’s why He sent His Son to redeem us from the curse of sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, we all fell victim to their punishment, and that was no fault of ours. So what did God do? He provided real justice to us by giving everyone the option to repent of their sins and accept His salvation. Talk about equity! So, this generation has to know that God will always avenge the righteous and their cause.

Secondly, in order to obtain justice, they must first make sure that they exercise truth and justice in their own lives.

And lastly, they can’t fight for justice through violence. They can’t war against spiritual matters in the flesh. They have to rely on the Holy Ghost. If they don’t know Him, then they won’t ever witness the justice that they so strongly desire.

If there is one word you could use to describe yourself right now what would it be?

A servant. That’s the greatest reward for me: to serve the needs of others because Christ served my needs.

Where can we find your books?

Readers can go to Amazon.com or other online book retailers. They can also visit my website at http://fearfaithpatience.weebly.com

If there is one excerpt you could share from your book what would that be?

This excerpt is from the book’s Dedication section:

“I want to dedicate this entire book to all those who desire to be grand in this world, and for those who aspire to make a change in our society. The greatest act that we can accomplish in life is not that we become famous and make a name for ourselves. Neither is it having our image in the spotlight. Rather, our greatest moments come to us when we perform one thing: service to mankind. We must understand that looking beyond our own selfish needs and seeking to serve those who have no voice and who have no hope are our greatest feats. Jesus, our great Hope and Savior, said that if any desire to be first in the kingdom, he must be a servant (Mark 9:35). The greatest act of servitude is to love—to show love towards our family, our neighbors, and yes, even our enemies. Our love for others will cause us to do what is necessary to help those in need. This is what makes us great. It should be the desire of our hearts that when we are gone from this earth, our legacy of love towards others remains engraved in society for the next generation to follow. God has given us this authority to love, and we must never neglect such great power. When we recognize, appreciate, and apply this God-given endowment, then and only then will we become change makers and world shakers.”

Thank you so much Felecia for sharing today it has been both a blessing and an honor.

Interview with Author Melanie Dickerson

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by Crystal Kelly in Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

I love reading historical romance. I love being taken back in time to get a glimpse into the love story of two individuals who are destined to be together against all odds. Romance is amazing but even more so when there is a twist to the story that keeps you turning the page. Finding books such as these are shelf keepers you go back and read over and over again instead of popping in that romantic movie.

Melanie Dickerson has done a more than amazing job in both “The Merchant’s Daughter” and “The Healers Apprentice”; both books were hard to put down. The message of God’s divine love and healing were not lost in either. The love stories in both books carry the reader on a journey knitting you to the characters feeling their joys, heartaches and pains.

I am so honored today to have Melanie Dickerson here sharing more about her work and giving us a little glimpse into her life. I will also be hosting a giveaway of Melanie Dickerson’s books “The Merchant’s Daughter” and “The Healer’s Apprentice”

To enter the giveaway please leave a comment below.

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION- An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

 

GOODREADS DESCRIPTION- Two Hearts. One Hope.
Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.
When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melanie I am so thrilled to have you here.

Melanie Dickerson

What made you want to become a writer?

I enjoyed writing in middle school and high school and wanted to be a novelist. I stopped writing for a while when I went to college and for a few years afterward, but picked it back up after my second daughter was born.

What is your writing process (do you build a synopsis first or do you just begin writing for example)?

I get an idea in my head and then try to flesh it out without writing anything down. Sometimes I get a friend to help me brainstorm, which jumpstarts or restarts my plotting process. I prefer to start writing without any kind of writing synopsis or outline, but I will write a four-page synopsis if I’m sending a proposal to my agent or editor, and then write the story. But I prefer to write the story before the synopsis.

You write what is considered Christian Fiction; who is Christ to you and why do you find it important to relay His message in your work?

Christ is everything to me—my Savior, my best friend, my strength and defender. I’m not sure I could write a book without God in it. I have no desire to. But I don’t exactly plan to put His message in my work. It’s just there, in whatever I write, because He’s part of who I am, and who I am comes out in my honest writing.

You have written two amazing romance novels “The Merchant’s Daughter” and “The Healer’s Apprentice”; what is your inspiration behind writing romance?

God invented romance, and I happen to be fascinated with it. Romance, after all, is a picture of God’s love for us. It’s in the Bible, particularly in Song of Songs, and it’s what I enjoy writing.

The characters in both “The Merchant’s Daughter” and “The Healer’s Apprentice” are remarkably detailed with past and present history forging the reader to feel a part of their struggle, pains, joys and happiness ; how important is character development to you?

Character development and plot are so intertwined, it’s impossible to have one without the other, and hard to say which is more important. They develop together in my head and on the page. And character is what drives the story, and also a major part of what drives the message of the book. So I’d say character development is extremely important.

Will we see any romantic series’ coming from you?

My next two books are sort of a series. The hero of The Fairest Beauty, my Snow White story which comes out in August, is the son of Rose and Wilhelm from The Healer’s Apprentice. And my fourth book, which comes out next March, is a sequel to The Fairest Beauty, with another of Rose and Wilhelm’s sons as the hero.

Will you dabble in any other genre, if so what?

It’s hard to imagine writing anything other than historical romance, but I’d like to write some adult historical romances, instead of only sticking with Young Adult.

What can you tell other writers to encourage them in pursuing their writing goals?

Feel the joy. If God has given you a talent to write, you will enjoy it, and God will give you the perseverance to stick it out until you get published, no matter how long it takes. Rejection is just part of this business, but you can’t let it discourage you. You must never quit or give up. If you don’t persevere and keep trying, you’ll never know how far you could have gone, how much God could do through your writing.

Though you are a known published writer do you still partake in writing contests? If so why?

My publisher enters my books in published author contests like the Christy Awards I think for the marketing benefits. I know one very successful author who doesn’t let her publisher enter her books, because she knows it’s not about getting glory for herself, it’s about God and giving him all the glory. At this point, my publisher is still working on name recognition for me. I’m a long way from bestseller status or being a household name! Still, I believe God should get all the glory!

Where can readers find your books?

Hopefully in their local bookstores, but if not, they can order them from Christianbook.com, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and maybe even find them in their local library! I love libraries.

Where can readers find out more about what you are working on?

I make announcements on my Facebook author page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie-Dickerson/173975372695240?ref=tn_tnmn and also on my blog, http://melaniewrites.blogspot.com/ and I will be updating my website http://www.melaniedickerson.com/ as soon as I get the cover for The Fairest Beauty, which should be any day now.

If you could use one word to describe yourself what would it be?

Dependent. Dependent on God, on his mercy, forgiveness, righteousness and strength.

Out of all the places in the world to relax and pick up your pen and write where would you want to be?

Most of the time, I prefer being at home, but I can write just about anywhere. I think it would be fun to write in a hotel room at the beach, with the windows open, listening to the waves crash against the sand, but only when the temperature is around 70 degrees. I hate the beach in summer!

Do you have a favorite quote? If so what is it?

I love this passage from the Psalms:

We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.  Psalm 33:20-22

 

Thank you so much for being here and allowing others to get to know you and your work a little better.

Thanks so much for having me on your excellent blog, Crystal! It was fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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