Practicing History Without a License

Your dream to write historical fiction isn’t simply a someday choice. The passion is too strong to ignore. Give in. Don’t let it fade. Because the dream includes the following images: 

—library studies with ancient texts

Trinity College Library, Dublin photo dune

—discovering lost and untold stories 

—late nights wrestling with historians’ opinions 

—making the past come alive through your writing 

—taking a picture as you sign a contract and posting the photo on social media 

—opening the box of books and holding your baby for the first time 

—the cover…a picture of the character you created 

—book signings where people pay money to read your creation 

—speaking gigs 

The work doesn’t scare you. Okay, yes, it's terrifying. But there's more. What’s holding you back? One hesitation might be the following question: are you qualified? 

I'll Take Door Number W for Writer, Please

Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing. Toby Mac 

My day job (property management) was intolerable. I've a flat spot on my forehead from smacking my head on the wall. As customers rushed to my office in hopes I would fix their self-inflicted problems, I

Peter Leavell

would reach for a massive lever, pull, and a trap door would open below their feet, sending them to a soft landing elsewhere. Freed from their insatiable needs, I would turn back to my laptop and sneak a few words on my laptop. In theory. I never wrote at work. 

At home, the kids were so eager to see me—and my wife starved for adult conversation—I tried to push my need to write off into the late night so I could devote uninterrupted time with them. 

What A Book Costs Its Author by Emily Conrad

Amazon recently emailed to say I’m “just a couple steps away” from getting the audio version of my debut, Justice, free. I smiled and thought, I’m the author. I didn’t pay a thing to experience the book.

Or did I?

I sobered with the realization that no book comes free to its author.

PLOT TWIST! You're in a Story

The best stories have plot twists.

Everyone is comfortable—the characters, the reader, the whole world humming along, then BOOM. A surprise. Something happens to change the plot.

In award winning western West for the Black Hills, Philip Anderson is comfy. He has a small farm, raises horses, and clings to his security like lovely smells from a rose. Kindness is also a strong trait, and he delivers a horse to a friend. As he’s returning home on his own black Arabian, his horse, Raven, is stolen. He catches a glimpse of the man riding around the corner.

Philip follows the thief through town.

Philip could let the thief have the horse, and his life would just move ahead like nothing happened, just minus his horse. But the story would fall apart, and we’d lose our respect for Philip. Instead, he catches up to the man and calls him out.

After the man dismounts, he argues with Philip until the man draws his gun to fire. Philip draws as well, and is so fast and accurate he fires two shots and hits the man in both shoulders.

He later finds out the man was hired to steal the horse. Why? What’s going on? And in that moment, Philip’s life takes a sudden turn as he uncovers a past about his family he never knew.

Plot Twist.

You’ve had a similar plot twist. Quarantine. Loss of job. Loss of book sales. A country already factionalized and now even more so. Many I know have lost those they love, watching them die alone. Others haven’t seen a case of Covid19 and aren’t entirely sure why their future is dismantled for something that hasn’t affected them in the slightest.

Plot Twist. Like Philip Anderson, you’ve had something stolen from you. Or changed. Or dismantled. And like a character in a book, there is an author. I know what happens to Philip Anderson. I am writing his story.

You have an Author writing your story. Have faith. He knows the end. And that end is for good and not for evil. God’s not writing a postmodern fiction. He’s writing a story that already involves redemption and love.

Know that with every plot twist, your life is being penned by a Master Craftsman, an Artist who tells the perfect story. A story of which you are a character. You're writing the lines of your life with Him. Don't give up! We, as friends and readers of your life, are cheering for you!

The Ballad of (your name here). Enjoy the story you're in, plot twists and all!

You're in a story with a massive plot twist. Now what? #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

God's the author of your life. And He's not writing a postmodern fiction. He's writing a story that involves redemption and love. @peterleavell #seriouslywrite

The Ballad of—fill in your name—. How you're in a story with a plot twist. #seriouslywrite @peterleavell

Peter Leavell, a 2007/2020 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and a MA in English Literature, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author, along with multiple other awards. An author, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

Philip Anderson keeps his past close to the vest. Haunted by the murder of his parents as they traveled West in their covered wagon, his many unanswered questions about that night still torment him.
His only desire is to live quietly on his homestead and raise horses. He meets Anna, a beautiful young woman with secrets of her own. Falling in love was not part of his plan. Can Philip tell her how he feels before it’s too late?
With Anna a pawn in the corrupt schemes brewing in the nearby Dakota town, Philip is forced to become a reluctant gunslinger. Will Philip’s uncannily trained horses and unsurpassed sharpshooting skills help him free Anna and find out what really happened to his family in the wilderness?

The Case for a Writer's Library

An author’s tools are a powerful draw to the writing life, because they are so cool. Laptops, headphones, caffeine, and ragged t-shirt and sweatpants (as a gentleman, I write in a canvas grey jacket with white T shirt, faded jeans, Olukai Hawaiian shoes, and two-day stubble that I’ll shave soon).

But no tool is more essential than a writer’s library.

When a famous writer dies, all her or his papers are quickly gathered and sent off to a prearranged university collection. But equally important, the books on the writer’s shelves are documented. Fans and fellow authors from the website LibraryThing.com research the list and post the titles so that others can read the same books on their favorite author’s shelf. These are called legacy libraries.

So, as a famous writer yourself, you MUST collect books and be the curator of your own personal library.

Here are 10 reasons why you should maintain a large library in your home.

1 —The covers remind you of the moments you shared with the story or information.
2 —A bookcase door opening to a secret room is the greatest architectural design ever built.
3 —The thoughts of dead humans are valuable, at your fingertips, and the more minds on a subject, the better.
4 —Inspiration by having physical books cannot be underestimated.
5 —In a matter of one second, a publisher can send an update and change words in a digital copy. Not so with your paper copies.
6 —Normalizing your career by surrounding yourself with books adds inspiration in your life.
7 —The feel, smell, and sight of a physical copy of a book gives tactile control of the information within and better retention.
8 —Those in your household and those who visit will be inspired to read.
9 —You’re going to hoard something. Hoard books.
10 —Giving away a copy of a book that meant something to you, a physical copy, is a deeply profound way to deepen a friendship. You must have many copies of your favorite books.

Does a writer need a personal library? #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

You're going to hoard something. Hoard books. Read more tips at #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, as well as History Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. An author, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

Be Like Abraham: The Generational Impact of Writing By Marie Wells Coutu

As writers, we can be like Abraham.

God promised Abraham he would have descendants as numerous as the stars, and that “through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 18:18, GW). We know this promise was fulfilled through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who was born to Mary, a descendant of Abraham.

But the promise wasn’t without responsibility on Abraham’s part. God also said, “I have chosen him [Abraham] so that he will direct his children and his family after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just” (Genesis 18:19, GW).

Abraham’s responsibility as part of this covenant was to teach his children about God and His commandments. This proved to be both a blessing and a curse. The people of Israel often failed to obey God, and they suffered as a result. Yet God continued to restore them and draw them back into obedience.

This responsibility continues today for those of us who follow Christ. We seek to raise our children to love Jesus and to serve Him all their lives. Although faith cannot be inherited, the impact of the example set by a parent or grandparent is evident in the lives of many Christians.

At an event I attended recently, we shared about someone who had left a legacy in our lives. Many of the women present mentioned their mother or grandmother who loved Jesus.

As writers, our impact can also extend beyond our first readers. The words we put on paper (or on a screen) live on, more so today with the Internet than in any past time period. Just as you may have been affected by something written before you were born, so too your writing may be read by generations to come. But even if your words are not seen decades from now, your story might change one life by pointing him or her to Jesus, and that person’s changed life impacts their descendants.

The more I think about this, the more overwhelmed I become at the responsibility I have to be sure the words I write are pleasing to the Lord. But I’m also awed by the opportunity God has given me to glorify Him through my writing.

How does the generational impact of your writing affect you—do you see it as a blessing or a curse?

Just as you may have been affected by something written before you were born, so too your writing may be read by generations to come.@mwcoutu @MaryAFelkins #seriouslywrite #generationalimpact #writinglife

Even if your words are not seen decades from now, your story might change one life by pointing him or her to Jesus, and that person’s changed life impacts their descendants.@mwcoutu @MaryAFelkins #seriouslywrite #generationalimpact #writinglife

Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like old houses, gnarly trees, and forgotten treasures. When she’s not writing about finding restoration and healing through God-designed journeys, she enjoys taking broken things and making them useful. She is currently working on historical romance novels set in the 1930s. One manuscript won the 2019 Touched by Love Contest and the 2019 Sheila Contest, and a second novel also won in the Sheila Contest.

Her published novels are women’s contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, For Such a Moment, won the Books of Hope Contest. The Secret Heart, her newest release, and Thirsting for More, the second book in the series, were finalists in several contests.

You can find more about Marie and her novels on her Facebook author page and her website, MarieWellsCoutu.com,
Follow her on Twitter @mwcoutu or on Amazon.

For the Love of a Writer

As an instructor, writer, and dad, I’m using my stern, reprimanding voice with you. I’m not happy. There’s a select few who need a lecture from a father figure.

There can be one person always on your side. You. And yet, your negative self-talk continues incessantly until no one counters the pessimism falling from your lips and you begin to believe your own lies.

“I’m not good enough” is a thought I never want to hear from you again. Never again. There is not a single reason to ever utter those words. If I hear you say “can’t” I don’t want to see you in this writing game. Just get out. I’m serious. Turn in your writer card. Telling yourself you’re not worth it or that you can’t measure up ends today. You belong here. You’re a writer.

You have a God who sees your faults more clearly than anyone else and still believes in you. Why don’t you believe in yourself?

Look at me when I’m talking to you. Stop undermining what little resolve you have to finish your manuscripts. Life is hard enough—companies using propaganda to demoralize your confidence so you’ll buy their products, sickness and death, chore lists and demands on your time make this life ridiculously difficult. The self-talk tearing yourself down has no place in your life.

You’re a writer. To tell yourself otherwise means you let fear win.

Sometimes your faith is shaken and belief in God and self has never been lower. Those hard times you’ve been through are brutal. You’ve managed to stay afloat. That’s incredible. You’ve taken on the world and survived, one way or another. How dare you say that you’re not amazing. Life is out to kill you, and you’re still breathing. Your experiences belong in a novel.

The less you believe in yourself, the more you need to be writing. But you must tell yourself you deserve to be a writer. Because you do. You belong here.

You have something to write about, and if I hear one more peep out of you that you don’t belong here, I’m going to be very angry, because sometimes there’s no logic or ethics. It’s pure emotion. And this emotion is about believing in yourself, no matter what. The end.

Now, go get a hug from someone you love, let them squeeze you tight, and go write. I believe in you. God believes in you. So should you.

You're a writer. To tell yourself otherwise means you let fear win. @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

God sees your faults and believes in you. Why don't you believe in yourself? @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

For the love of a writer: The less you believe in yourself, the more you need to be writing. @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, as well as History Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. An author, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

You're Silly to Write This Christmas

Sometimes, you curb your passions because people might think you’re silly.

No creature is stirring, not even a mouse. All is quiet in the confines of your lonely house. The dog is curled on the hearth, the fire’s snapping orange embers doesn’t interrupt his sleep. He sighs.

The lamp casts its warm light over your work. Darkness shades the rest of the world.

Doesn’t a pickle sound good? Or maybe eggnog.

What about both? The thought of eating a pickle and drinking eggnog together is a bit off-putting. What if you eat the pickle first, let the vinegar linger for a bit until you’re ready for the creamy taste of the holiday spice?

Source: Barkpost

Your dog is usually on high alert, even in sleep, but today’s romp in the snow was particularly feisty. His slumber harkens back to the hibernation of his ancestors from centuries before. He has the heart of a stallion in the body of a miniature goat that sadly has the senses of an overcooked ham.

Hmm. Clever. You type it into your notes, then read it again. Nah. Not as good as you thought. You press delete, and the curser races from right to left.

Slipping the laptop with your manuscript carefully to the floor, you creep to the kitchen. The dog doesn’t move. Good. You don’t want him to know how silly it is to make a dinner of pickles and eggnog.

You open the fridge and light bursts around you as if a train is bearing down. You find the brand-new gallon jar of pickles and the glass jug of eggnog, set them on the counter, and quietly close the fridge door. The dog sighs and licks his lips but doesn’t open his eyes.

The hum of the refrigerator is lulling.

In the murky darkness, you reach for a mug. Your elbow barely taps the jug. And yet, the tiny bump is enough to tip it into the pickle jar. In a cavalcade of slow-motion folly, both the eggnog and the pickle leap off the counter and rush headlong for the floor.

Can this be happening? They drop another inch. Is there any way to stop it? They drop a bit more. Are you fast enough to catch them? They’re nearing the vinyl floor. No, you’re not fast enough. And right before they splinter on the kitchen floor, you wonder why you had replaced the vinyl and put in carpet in the kitchen.

Smash.

The dog leaps to his feet, hovering above the ground, one ear slung over his head and the hair on his face matted.

Still a foot off the ground, he surveys the scene. When you turn on the light, he looks over shattered glass and mixture of pickle juice and eggnog seeping into the carpet and gives you the look. The look that says you’re silly. For the dinner choices. And the carpet. All of it.

Sometimes, you curb your passions because people might think you’re silly. It’s not true. They think your passion is silly. It’s not you. It’s your passion. There’s a big difference.

My dog, Winston

We all do silly things. We all make confusion choices. That doesn’t mean we’re silly people or that we should stop doing them. Instead, acknowledge that drinking eggnog and eating pickles is unusual, and just do it!

So, when people wonder why you spend so much time reading and writing during the holiday season, keep in mind your silliness is okay. We love you, and the crazy things you do.

You're silly to write over the holidays. Or are you? #seriouslywrite @peterleavell #writerslife

You've been given permission to write this Christmas, no matter how silly people think you are. #seriouslywrite @peterleavell #writerslife

You crave pickles and eggnog. Who cares! How silliness ties in with writing at #seriouslywrite @peterleavell #writerslife

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, as well as History Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. An author, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

The Heart of the Matter: A Writer's Barbaric Yawp

by Peter Leavell

You closed your laptop and turned your back on writing.

Over the weeks, months, years, you worked through churning emotions.

Powerful things, those emotions. I won’t call them bad. Nor are they good. They just are. They’re with you, sometimes they even feel they are you, and sometimes they act like a bad friend whispering lies—that you are the sum of your feelings.

You long for peace. What’s better than walking on a cool fall day wrapped in a comfortable sweeter, the sun splashing on the vibrant leaves? Some emotions are walking beside you as a friend.

Emotional Struggle Isn’t the End

The emotions that drew you away from writing didn’t destroy your writing path. They didn’t kill your need to write—it's a giveaway because you're reading a writing blog. Instead, the fears, doubts, and concerns about self pulled you away. The path is still there. The necessity to put words on paper remains, battling with the emotions.

The self-doubt and fear are entirely justified. We all feel those things. We all endure them. Sometimes it feels as if doubt’s fingers are around our throat. And yet, we still breathe. One breath. Then another.

One word. And then another.

Our hearts beat with pain because someone won an award. Someone has a book you could never imagine creating—one you spent all night reading. You can’t be that writer. You can’t do that writing. The agent told you so. That’s what the rejection slip is saying. You’ll never be good enough.

The rejection slip broke your heart. But did it break your will? Maybe. But why are you still thinking about writing? A part of you died. It’s true. You have to admit that to yourself. But yet, a broken heart beats. And a rejection slip burns. Or it’s framed as a trophy. And the writing beckons from ancient voices far deeper than your heart, far deeper than your mind.

One word. And then another.

You scribble:

I

That’s a word. Wrap your arms around yourself. You. You are a body. You exist. You matter, you are matter, and this matters. Unwrap your arms. You wrote one word. And now, it’s time for the next word. This is important. Are you ready?

Here’s your word:

write

The fingers around your throat, the rejection slip stabbing, the unheard cries of recognition of any kind tie your hands behind your back. And yet, you’ve put something on paper that matters, that connects with your soul. And mine. Tell me. What do you do? Despite the pain, frustration, heartache, what is it that will lift your hand towards the sun and makes your voice scream to the
universe? Because I do the same.

I write.

The writing is in you, whether you've closed your laptop or turned your back to it. And that makes us brothers and sisters. Keep writing.

The rejection slip broke your heart. But did it break your will? @peterleavell #writerslife #seriouslywrite

What do I do if I've left writing and want to come back? @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

You are a body. You exist. You matter, you are matter, and this matters. Write. @peterleavell #seriouslywrite #writerslife

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. A novelist, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

The Earth is an M&M: Advice When You Are Close to Finishing Your Manuscript by Peter Leavell

You’ve been writing your first work like a crazy woman or a madman, and suddenly, you wonder what happens next.

Doubt in your writing is like cruising your bike along a trail and someone shoving an iron rod through the spokes. Or thinking the earth is a giant Peanut M&M and you dig a hole through the candy shell and chocolate layer to arrive at the center of the earth and find a giant, overcooked chickpea. You’re thrown off-track, and things aren’t quite like what you’d thought they’d be.

M&Ms on Abbey Road: Commons

You think your work is good and has excellent potential for publication. But what will everyone else think?

There’s so much to consider. Experienced writers, when asked for advice, are put in an extremely difficult position. There’s a small element of an oracle about it, reading the future and prophesy.

Yet, here are the considerations I contemplated before I looked up from my work and saw I was an award-winning author.

Remember, you’re critically analyzing your situation, which means each point is a different angle. Don’t just pick one point to run with. Instead, think through your situation from the top, sides, bottom, and inside out.

Top—Empirical evidence. This is raw data from agents and editors. What are they saying about the work? If they’re saying it’s not ready, or there’s no slot for it, it' a strong indication the manuscript needs some rework or there truly is no slot for it at this time. As much as editors want to do the opposite, most must make business decisions, not artistic decisions.

Bottom—Emotions. If you’re sick of this project and it’s finished with all the rewrites, has been sent to everyone under the sun, and ability to write is strangled, then the project no longer has wings. It’s time to set it aside. Never throw it away, because you don’t know what the future holds. But passion is an important element in writing.

Sides—State of the manuscript. If you don’t feel like it’s ready, don’t stop. At the very least, this is great practice in finishing a full piece. Go all the way. Make sure it’s completely edited and ready for publication. Then you have an important decision. Self-publish? If self-publishing is not your cup of orange juice, then write another manuscript with less pulp—different from your first work.

Inside Out—Consider changing your mentality. You’re not actually writing books, but instead you’re training to become an author, and one of these days, one of your manuscripts will stick.

This is all humanistic advice, without the input of what you feel God wants you to do. But these considerations are a start in knowing what you will do next. And someday, I hope you find yourself on a planet that truly is a Peanut M&M, and all your dreams come true.

The Earth is an M&M: Advice When You Are Close to Finishing Your Manuscript by @peterleavell #writerslife #seriouslywrite

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. A novelist, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

Moses's Ad-Lib Routine by Peter Leavell

“Mr. Leavell, I don’t know if I should write! Has God called me to write?”

The God of Abraham, Moses, and King David is your God, too.

No pressure.

I mean, it’s not like God wants you to create a real universe, but you are to serve—we truly want to serve—but how?

Because figures in the Bible showed God their faith by doing…what? Creating a nation? Leading that nation to the promised land?

What are you called to do? Have your first child in your 9th decade? Write a work comparable to the Pentateuch while listening to the complaints of over 1,000,000 people on an extended camping trip?

Like I said, no pressure.

It’s lovely to hear that God’s on our side and wonderful to know His power, but these stories are hard to translate into action. Why?

We don’t really know exactly what we’re called to do. Called to be, maybe. However, not many of us had a prophet of God tell us we’re the next King or Queen of anything. Are you kidding? I can barely convince anyone to put the seat down after going to the bathroom.

Moses~Envato

In fact, preachers explain predestination and expound on knowing God’s will. But reading the Bible, I get the idea that the characters are kind of making it up as they go while getting vague directions from angels/prophets/God. For example, God in a burning bush telling Moses to free His people was a rough outline—there was a TON of ad-lib Moses was going to need to do. No wonder the he was nervous.

You asked an important question at the beginning of this blog. That’s the right question.

Past is predestination. Future is free will. And I’m stuck in the middle with you.

So…what? How then shall we find our way?

—Read the Bible until you know it back to front. I’d love to hear your excuse why you’re not doing this, because it’s invalid.

—T.S. Eliot claimed the great maxim of the Greeks—'Know Thyself.' Learn who you are, what you like, what your skills are. They’re gifts. Use them. Enhance them with prejudice.

—T. S. Eliot also claimed at the end of his life that it’s not so much ‘Know Thyself.’ Rather, it’s ‘Know Thy God.’ If those words don’t move you, I can do nothing more.

—Don’t sin.

—Is there a path for you? Indeed. Are you sure to know what it is? Not really. Not until it’s over. You know ALL the verses. But I’ll tell you a secret. Even the most God fearing, successful people are making this up as they go. That’s the Spirit for you, helping, prompting, directing. But not all of it. Not everything. It wouldn’t be called faith if you knew everything.

So, ask me again. “Mr. Leavell, has God called me to write?”

If you ask the question, what do you think the answer is? You’re asking because it’s a desire of your heart. A prompting.

So, go write. With everything you've got!

The end.

Am I called to write? YES! Could it be that easy? #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

Is God calling me to be a writer? #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

Past is predestination. Future is free will. And I'm stuck in the middle with you. So should I be a writer? #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. A novelist, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com.

A Broken Heart Can Lead You to Rise by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

Once upon a time, the seeds of a series planted themselves in my heart. I saw a farm. A family. Midwest strong and vibrant. Within this harvest I saw three brothers. A picturesque piece of rolling land in Indiana. There were low-lying, rippling fields of soybeans. There was turmoil, faith, and overwhelming love.

For the bulk of their lives, my brother and sister-in-law, John and Mary Hilger, oversaw the operations of a 400-plus acre farm much like the one I imagined. They bore and raised six daughters, and life was good. Much like the family I imagined. You couldn’t leave their home without a heap of fresh fruits and vegetables. John’s laughter, his Christ-centered heart, resonated through all who knew him. Mary’s spiritual artwork ( www.spiritualhands.org ) was acclaimed and on-the-grow. Much like the faith I imagined.

John and Mary not only helped me research and develop my series, The Fishermen of Antioch, their example was something to which I longed to pay homage. Within their large, boisterous, loving unit, they demonstrated Christ’s love at its best. Plus, they were mentors to me and key to my spiritual discovery and growth.

So, I began to write a trio of books that honored farm families, stories that celebrated deep roots. I wanted to shine the light of respect upon those who work the earth and harvest without thinking of anything else but community provision. How much like our Father God? In John and Mary’s world, if strawberries rested on the vine after the main harvest, those without means were bussed to their farm to pick the fields clean. For free. Waste of God’s gifts was never an option.

John and Mary saw their family to fruition. As life’s golden-age came upon them, sons-in-law joined the picture. A multitude of grandchildren blessed their lives and there was retirement on the near horizon. They had plans. An art and Scripture-based ministry they’d carry out from church to church was already taking off. John’s engaging recitation of Scripture coupled with Mary’s ordained artwork brought souls to the Kingdom. They couldn’t wait to embrace an exciting new season of life. A few Christmases ago, their family gifted them with a river cruise through Europe that would take them to Germany—a long-held bucket list destination.

Before departing, John and Mary stopped by our house on their way to Detroit Metro Airport. We shared dinner, and, in typical fashion, Deacon John prayed over me as they prepared to depart for Europe. Selfless love. I prayed with and for him as well, but nothing was as special as a blessing from John…

Less than a day after they left, we received a panicked text notification from Mary that read, simply: “PRAY.” We did, of course…but that’s where the story takes a twist. Soon we discovered what prompted her outcry. Following dinner on the first night of their cruise, John suffered a massive heart attack. Thanks to Jesus alone he was in Amsterdam and was immediately transported to a world-class hospital where he was placed in a medically induced coma.

We prayed, we believed, we stormed the gates of heaven. Meanwhile, all six daughters made their way to Amsterdam, battling horrific weather patterns, botched deliveries of passports, and a nightmare of bureaucracy…but by the grace of God alone, they all made it there.

Just hours before John passed away.

My sister-in-law has written a book about her journey through grief. It’s called ‘Finding Beauty in Ashes.’ The story is amazing. Meanwhile, the final book of the Fishermen of Antioch series releases in March. The result, I hope, will honor my original God-given goal, and the rich legacy of a family’s love.

*****

CLICK TO TWEET!

Within each story we create, there's so much more than meets the eye.

*****

Benjamin Fisher melds with quiet perfection into the tapestry of the Fisher family. The youngest of the three Fisher men, Ben is gifted with skills that keep machines running, crops efficiently harvested, farm structures sound and secure.

But there’s one person in the small village of Antioch, Indiana who has noticed and adored the man since her youth. Hailey Beth Thomas. Hailey Beth’s sister is marrying Ben’s brother in a spring wedding that promises to be the event of the season. Thrown together as the heady romance of an upcoming marriage takes place, love and revelation come to life.

Unknown to anyone else, Ben wants to answer a call to the mission fields of North America that will lead him far from the life he has always known. Ben longs to serve, but he wants a life with Hailey Beth as well. Hailey Beth can’t leave Antioch, but can’t bear the idea of losing Ben.

Are they meant to be together, or will God’s call pull them apart just as they’ve found a way to one another?

*****

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of faith-affirming fiction who has won acclaim from critics and readers. RT Book Reviews named her book Forgiveness a 4.5-Star Top Pick and readers laude her books as ‘riveting’ and ‘true to heart.’ She’s a life-long resident of Michigan who calls suburban Detroit home.

The Angel Who Wanted to Stay by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

Happy New Year! We’ve turned the page to welcome 2019, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably packed away the nativity scene, the lights, the evergreen garlands formerly draped over entryways to welcome family and friends. It’s a bittersweet time, too, isn’t it? Reliving precious memories, contemplating the happiness and tears of a year gone by as a new, blank canvas stretches ahead of us.

I was swept into that introspective world as I took down the tree this year, and that’s when something strange and beautiful happened. For the second year in a row, I came upon an angel. The Angel Who Wanted to Stay. Here’s why that means so much to me now…

A year ago, amidst what felt like constant snowfall in Michigan, hubby and I toted our empty tree through a carpet of white, depositing it at the curb in front of our home for pick up by the municipal recycling team. It wasn’t until a brief thaw, in February, that I was walking to the mailbox, and caught sight of this lovely angel ornament, face up on the ground, an arm broken and resting nearby, but she was lovely as ever. 

She's been one of our ornaments for probably close to ten years, but held no heirloom-type designation. She was simply a beautiful representative of heaven who captured our hearts and imagination and made it onto the branches of our tree. With a lump in my throat, I lifted her from the dirt and grime, cleaned her off, repaired her, and stashed her to be hung on the tree this year, as always.

Fast forward a year.

Just a few short weeks ago we spent New Year’s Eve packing away Christmas décor. We started to carry our tree to the curb. From somewhere within the empty branches tumbled our pretty pink angel. I nearly cried all over again. Truly, we’re extremely careful about removing and storing our ornaments. We don’t ever want to lose these beautiful pieces of history. However, this angel—I promptly named her ‘The Angel Who Wanted to Stay’ – fell gently to the floor and I retrieved her all over again, wrapped her in tissue paper, and tucked her into a prize position in our ornament storage box.

Remember when I said she held no heirloom designation? That changed this year. With her lovely, demure features, her arm stretched in hopeful welcome toward heaven, I now treasure her dearly, and will make a conscious effort to find and box her from now on. She wants to stay in the tree…yet she wants to remain with us as well—for the second year running.

Somehow, some way, I believe God is trying to tell me something with that message. Blessings, friends, and may the New Year bring you blessings, joy, peace, and most of all love!

*****

CLICK TO TWEET!

Discover the story of an ‘Angel Who Wanted to Stay’!

Do you have a Christmas mystery to share?

*****

Aaron Fisher is the middle-born Fisher man, but through necessity, he’s embraced the role of family leader. He’s always been the stronghold, the standard bearer. Aaron conforms. He fulfills and most often exceeds expectations. He’s stoic and strong—the sheep that stayed on course with the Savior.

Seen as the one most likely to marry a known and well-suited woman from town, Aaron intends to continue the traditions of faith, farming and family left behind in the footsteps of those who preceded him. Until he meets Emma Briggs.

A gifted RN, Emma enters Aaron’s life when his father experiences health issues tied to a weakened heart. She’s a newbie to Antioch’s medical facility who calms the family’s storm, but Emma harbors a secret, an undeserved shame she’s disclosed to no one in this tight-knit, rural town.

Emma is a mystery—the new and unknown quantity of Antioch. Aaron is part of its foundation and pulse. Can Emma’s past be reconciled to the present? Can she find acceptance in a new place—a new season—with the love of a lifetime?

*****

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of faith-affirming fiction who has won acclaim from critics and readers. RT Book Reviews named her book Forgiveness a 4.5-Star Top Pick and readers laude her books as ‘riveting’ and ‘true to heart.’ She’s a life-long resident of Michigan who calls suburban Detroit home.

The Tradition of Storytelling by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

I host Christmas Eve festivities for my extended family each year. What that means is, as you read this post, I’m frantically performing ‘white glove’ inspections of guest sleeping quarters, I’m decorating, I’m gift wrapping, I’m baking, and…I’m thinking, as always, about storytelling.

In the midst of what I affectionately refer to as my own version of ‘Christmas Cray-cray’ I stretched out in bed and read a devotional that stilled me and left me thinking about the tradition of sharing history, circumstance, and experience via the art of storytelling.

When I thought about it, I realized: This happens most especially at Christmas.

The most ancient and beautiful custom we have is that of sharing our stories and history with those we love who gather around us, sharing food, fellowship, and love. In my home, we assemble at a table overflowing with the favorite dishes we simply couldn’t do without each year: Grandma DeCou’s sugar cookies, Grandma DeSantis’ artichoke hearts following a traditional Italian feast of pasta, meatballs and salad.

Around this table, there’s reminiscence of growing up, lessons learned, people present, people passed; each moment forms the tapestry of our family table cloth, each story forms a piece of our shared lives. Christmas is a time rife with the exchange of not just gifts, but family history, some of it sweet, tender, and funny, some of it bitter-sweet.

Through it all, storytelling sparks continuity. Storytelling sparks a desire in the hearts of those who follow in our footsteps to carry on those precious traditions—not out of obligation but out of love and joyful remembrance. Out of respect for all the ways we stay connected even if logistical and heavenly distance keeps us apart.

I wonder if that isn’t how Jesus’ ministry not only built but sustained. He shared table with his disciples, and that table his disciples followed that tradition, moving Christianity from home to home, heart to heart, neighbor to neighbor, nation to nation, until nothing could stand in its way. So much like our own lives and families, right?

Nothing can stand in our way this holiday season. Share the laughter, share the tears and joys, share the victories and close-calls with those you love the most. My encouragement this month, my hope and prayer, is to share the truth that, even if you’ve heard Uncle Homer’s story a hundred times before’, maybe you can hear it for a hundred and one times. After that, remember to share it. To keep that flickering candle flame moving from taper to taper. Such is how legacies are not just born, but enriched, and passed on to the next generation.

This Christmas, light the world. Share your history, your light and never doubt its impact to shine for decades to come.

*****

CLICK TO TWEET!

Share your history, your light. Never doubt its impact.

The most ancient and beautiful custom we have is sharing stories and history.

*****

            Dustin Farrell is expected to succeed. He’s gifted with the means and ability to take the world of business development by storm…and he’s doing just that, right on plan.

As Christmas approaches, he’s called home, to Hope Creek, Tennessee. He’s been given a slam-dunk objective from his investors: Take a small, local art shop and expand it into the retail mainstream.

Lillianna Bennett, Dustin’s former high school classmate, is part owner of Purple Door Art Market. Long ago, her shy sweetness captured his imagination, but nothing came of the affectionate flame between them.

Until a reunion at Christmas Inn. Dustin presents his offer, realizing the wallflower of his youth has bloomed into a confident, talented woman with the kind of free-spirited heart for which he always longed. And he wonders: Is a life of expectation, and ‘more’ what he really wants? Will his professional quest end up compromising Lillianna if her gifts and business become part of a wider view?

Most of all, will love be lovelier...the second time around?

*****

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of faith-affirming fiction who has won acclaim from critics and readers. RT Book Reviews named her book Forgiveness a 4.5-Star Top Pick and readers laude her books as ‘riveting’ and ‘true to heart.’ She’s a life-long resident of Michigan who calls suburban Detroit home.

Need a Kick in the Motivation? By Marianne Evans

I don't know about you, friends, but in my little slice of the world, life is moving at Mach 3 and I'm just hanging on for the ride. Between work life, writing life, family life, I get to feeling drained at times. Are any of you battling the time monster?

Those are the moments when I count on my faith, my family, my friends, to lift me up. So, with that in mind, I hope you'll allow me the privilege of, hopefully, giving you a shot in the inspiration. 

I pray you enjoy the following, and discover a few moments of joy and uplifting hope!

To start...….

Are you moving a mountain in your life right now? Is the season before you draining and full of an uphill exertion? Maybe there's purpose? An end result that isn't quite visible yet? …

I'm a 50-something, and, at work and in my writing life I sometimes wonder: Am I still "valuable?" Are my goals and objectives, my words and efforts, still important to building God's kingdom? When I feel doubt, I force myself to acknowledge the following:

It's often said worrying about tomorrow steals the joy you can find today. 

That in mind, I thought these words were so on-point (and I certainly need to take them to heart!! How about you?)

OH....YEAH. The power of perseverance. There have been (and, at times, ARE) times I come so close to quitting on the things I love. Is the same true for you? Do you feel knocked down?

KEEP. GETTING. UP.

Another powerful message of affirmation and being an overcomer.

C'mon now...you can DO it!!!!

And, when things don't go to plan....?

Tweak that crown on your head, stare into the mirror and remember...you belong to GOD!!

In conclusion, here's the most important piece of encouragement

I can offer you today...

With hugs, love, and many blessings to you, friends - until next month!

~~~~~

Sometimes, the hardest path to walk is the one that leads you home.

After college, Phillip Fisher shook the dust of Antioch, Indiana from his dress shoes and took off for Indianapolis. For the eldest of the three Fisher men, a business career promised stability and a fruitful future...until unemployment and exhausted resources force him back home.

He returns to Antioch to find his father's declining health, a family farm in disrepair, and heavy doses of resentment from his brother Aaron.

A repentant Phillip pays regular visits to Sundae Afternoon, the sweets and sundry shop run by Mila Thomas. Sundae Afternoon and the Thomas Grocery Market are staples of Antioch, just like the Fisher farm. A less than steady peace exists between the families, but Phillip always intrigued Mila. She admires his attempts to break free; at the same time, his return speaks of a noble, caring man.

But what happens once the farm is restored? What happens when Phillip is called back to Indianapolis? Mila’s roots are firmly grounded, and Phillip might leave all over again. Is returning home and the discovery of an extraordinary love, enough to bring them together forever?

~~~~~

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Readers laude her work as “Riveting,” “Realistic and true to heart,” “Compelling.”

Her Christian fiction debut, Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Her follow-up novel, Forgiveness, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors as did her book Hearts Communion. She is also a two-time recipient of the Selah Award for her books Then & Now and Finding Home. 

Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. You can connect with Marianne at www.marianneevans.com.