Kidspiration by Pepper Basham

I’m a mom before I’m a writer. It’s one of my favorite things to be. And I KNOW God has a sense of humor because he gave me five fun, crazy, challenging, and imaginative kiddos who’ve rocked my world in the best possible way. My oldest is 19 and my youngest is 10 – three boys and two girls.

It’s amazing how much these kids have direct inspiration on my life as a writer for several different reasons.

1. They teach me about ‘life’ which translates into my stories – Living life with a bunch of people who have different personalities, interests, and ways of seeing the world creates amazing opportunities for different discussions and perspectives. I hope that comes out in my stories. I like variety in characters and concepts, even if all of my books are romances. My kids have grown me as a person and a Christian, and I hope readers benefit from that in my stories.

2. They help me write kid-stuff – I LOVE to add kids into my books, in fact a few of my characters have been directly inspired by my kids. I think kids can add levity and depth to stories in a very different way than an all-adult cast can do. Getting to experience that in real-life certainly impacts the way I write about it in fiction.

3. They keep my imagination active – Oh boy, do they!! I’ve engaged in front-yard sword-battles, Nerf gun attacks, fantasy-world dress-up, new gaming opportunities (Go Mario, Zelda, and Minecraft). In my upcoming novel, I even allude to a very fun Nintendo game. With my oldest son (19 years old), I get to talk about character development and story creation because he’s a writer too. My 15-year-old daughter loves to talk books and movies with me. My 17-year-old son and I discuss various gaming story world – and all of those discussion push my imagination into motion in different ways. It’s so much fun!!

4. They’re invested in my writing journey too – My kids pray with me before I submit a proposal to publishers. Isn’t that SWEET? They also ask me about my imaginary people in my imaginary worlds. And they’re fantastic cheerleaders. My 15-year-old daughter has been my ‘assistant’ to all of my local book signings and has even traveled with me to conferences before because she loves joining me in this journey. It’s been super fun to introduce her to my writing buddies 😊

As a side note – I’m doubly inspired because I work with kids in my “day job” as a speech-language pathologist. In my current WIP, I’m including a character who has a repaired cleft lip and palate, and I hope to continue to be inspired by these amazing kids that I serve to incorporate them into my future stories.

I can’t imagine being on this journey without the support of my kids…and am grateful for the purposeful and ‘accidental’ inspiration they provide to help me create believable, fun, and creative characters 😊

Who do you take along on your writing journey?

~~~~~~

 

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes novels inspired by her love for history and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her Penned in Time series has garnered recognition in the INSPYs, Grace Awards, and the ACFW Carol Awards. Her contemporary romance novel, A Twist of Faith, received 4-stars from Romantic Times, and most recently, her newest release, The Thorn Healer, received a Top Pick from RT with 4 ½ stars. Her newest contemporary romance, Just the Way You Are, released in April 2017. You can connect with Pepper over at her group blog, The Writer’s Alley, her website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.

God Always Keeps His Promises by Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.Proverbs 22:6

If you’ve been reading my blog posts for the past year or so, you know I’ve been struggling with my oldest son. We’ve been through a lot with him, court appearances, picking him up from jail, job losses, bailing his car out of the impound yard… and so much more. A line from a song comes to mind as I write this:

It's a heartache

Nothing but a heartache

Hits you when it's too late

Hits you when you're down
(© Bonnie Tyler)

Yesterday he came home in the middle of the afternoon and said “Hi, Mom. I’m moving out. I’m getting some of my things now, will be back for the rest later.” And he did. Where he moved to, I don’t know. My younger son gives him a week before he calls in trouble. Because the friend he moved in with has a warrant out for his arrest. (Probably why I don’t know where they are living!)

I’ve been praying—well, we all have: the whole family and our church family—for our son to come to Jesus. To make wise decisions. To think before he acts… and right now it seems for naught. My heart is broken. I cried after he left. I wanted so much more for the boy than this. But God pointed me to this verse. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.

I trained him up the way he should go. I had him in church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and in Bible clubs. He memorized scriptures and won awards. Even now he can quote Bible to anyone. I homeschooled him with strong biblically-based curriculum. And yet… Satan wanted my firstborn. Satan got my firstborn.

As I write this I'm struggling with doubt that God will keep His promise. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. My heart is crying out for this promise to be kept now! Not when he is old.

And I’m trying to remember promises God has kept.

He forgave my sins. Every one.
He healed my diseases. Every one.
He redeemed me from Hell. Saved my life!
He crowned me with love and mercy.
He wrapped me in goodness.
God makes everything come out good. He puts victims back on their feet.
Psalm 103:2-6

As David did, before going to fight Goliath, he remembered the times God fought for him. He killed a lion and a bear! He remembered that before going to fight Goliath. And he reminded the Israelites: “Remember whose you are!”

I don’t know what Goliaths you’re facing in your life, but join with me in remembering the times God has fought for you and kept His promises. Let’s go to the trophy room and thank God for His faithfulness before facing this new giant.

Remember whose you are!

Lord God, sometimes it seems as though life is nothing but a heartache. The troubles come in waves. Crashing in on us relentlessly. Hits us when it’s too late. Hits us when we’re down. Please comfort us in this time of adversity. Help us to remember Your promises and the times You have already proved that You are able, that You do care, You do hear, and You will answer again—in Your time. Thank You for this reminder. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

About the Author

About the Author

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015. See below for information on Laura's latest, The Amish Firefighter. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

The Amish Firefighter
by Laura V. Hilton

The Amish Firefighter

A Beautiful Young Woman Banished from Home
Abigail Stutzman thought it was bad enough being dropped at the nearest bus station and sent to live several states away with some relatives she'd never heard about, much less met. But now, just a week after her arrival in Jamesport, Missouri, she finds herself at the scene of a barn fire. An intentional barn fire. And all fingers are pointed at her. She's desperate to prove her innocence and protect her reputation, but nobody's making that easy to do. And God certainly doesn't seem willing to help.

A Brave Firefighter with an Agenda of His Own
Sam Miller is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Determined to atone for the follies of his past, he is a volunteer firefighter, an EMT, and a doctor-in-training. When local barn fires escalate, everyone suspects arson. And since the Miller family are among the victims, no one is more determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice than Sam.

A Kindled Flame Neither One Could Have Anticipated
When their paths first cross, at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warmth of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or extinguish. And they'll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno.