Art In Life

Contest Alert!! Christine Lindsay is giving away a copy of Shadowed in Silk. To enter, please leave a comment on this blog post with your email address in this format yourname(at)youremail(dot)com to prevent hackers. One lucky winner will receive an e-copy of the book from White Fire Publishing. If the winner prefers a paperback copy, they will receive a copy by October 2011. Winner announced on May 25th!!

I’m excited about our interview today with award winning novelist Christine Lindsay. Christine won the 2009 Genesis contest in historical fiction for the novel Shadowed in Silk (formerly titled Unveiled), which releases this month as an e-book this month and will be released in September in paperback.

*Welcome to The Literary Mama Christine. Tell us a little about yourself.*

Thank you Preslaysa for having me as a guest. What a gorgeous name you have. (Preslaysa here: Thanks Christine!!)  I’m a pretty ordinary mama for sure. I adore my husband and family. We have 3 grown up kids, and I also have a good relationship with my birthdaughter—the child I relinquished to adoption when she was 3 days old. She and I reunited 20 years later. So, the Lord has blessed my empty arms over and over with children. I have learned that you can never out-give God.

*Tell us about your journey to publication.*

The journey was a lot, lot, longer than I thought it would be. I took creative writing courses and attended writer’s conferences.  Through ACFW I met critique partners who helped me polish my writing. Entering contests brought me some exposure. But even winning the ACFW Genesis didn’t guarantee publication. I’d written a book with a unique setting and a slightly edgy topic, so the major CBA houses passed on it.  About 2 years ago I thought my dream to write fiction was dead, and my agent was leaving the business. But a year later, the call came from a small press, WhiteFire Publishing. And now I’m a believer—that God enjoys doing great BIG things through small people who hold out to Him the small things in their hands—like a loaf of bread, a few fish, a few smooth stones, a book. 

  *What is Shadowed in Silk about?*

SiS is about women who feel invisible. After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British Army. But Nick has become a cruel stranger.

Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.

And then there is Tikah, a young Muslim woman, who is Nick’s mistress, and whom he mistreats. And it’s about Eshana, a former Hindu widow who is now a Christian and who leads Abby to the Lord.

 The personal lives of these characters are set amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies. Tensions rise as the Indian people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. And Geoff and Abby, caught between their own ideals and duty, stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.

 *Who are your favorite characters in Shadowed in Silk and why?*

I am in love with my hero Geoff. To me a good book has to have a man I can swoon over. Yes, Geoff has his faults, his vulnerabilities. He needs to learn to have the courage to embrace joy again. He also needs to lighten up and love the woman God brings into his life, even if she’s not as pure as the driven snow like his first wife was. But Geoff is the strong, silent, stiff-upper-lip Englishman who will lay down his life for the men of his regiment, or for a houseful of orphans. He’s such a softie when it comes to children and to his cavalry steeds, Samson and Goliath.

I also love my heroine, Abby. She’s flawed, and at the start of the book doesn’t believe in a personal relationship with God. But she’s honest, and tries to sort out her own life, only to mess it up further . . . like a lot of us have done.

*What type of research did you do while writing Shadowed in Silk?*

Tons of research. I read autobiographies of British Cavalrymen, Famous Englishwomen who went out to British India, and that of lowly Christian missionaries. I read books on Indian life, Indian flora, fauna, cooking, culture, politics. The life story of Gandhi, Neru, etc. And I also enjoyed reading cookbooks written by Englishwomen who lived in British India. That’s where I learned that a favorite of English children in India was a chapatti spread with marmalade.

*What do you hope readers walk away with knowing from Shadowed in Silk?

I want them to understand that no matter how small and insignificant they may feel, that a loving God sees them and hears them in whatever struggle or hardship they are experiencing. I also want them to learn that the only one who can lift the veil of sin from us is Jesus Christ. He alone enables us to see God face-to-face.

*Where do you see yourself in five years?*

If it’s God’s plan, I hope to still be writing encouraging and adventurous stories in some format, even if it’s just on my blog. And I hope to continue to teach and mentor other writers as I edit and critique their work.

*What other new projects do you have in the future?*

I’m currently finishing a Historical Romance set in Washington State circa 1910. I call it Sofi’s Bridge. It’s about a young woman who puts her duty to her family first and is afraid to pursue the artistic dreams she has inside her. In her case—designing bridges—not something you saw too much in a woman in 1910.

*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?*

Prince Philip patted me on the head when I was a baby. He and the Queen were visiting Northern Ireland where I was born, and I was sitting in my pram when they came out to speak to the commoners at some function.

*How can readers get in touch with you?*

I’d love to hear from you. Email me at Christine.lindsay.writer@gmail.com

Or drop by my website www.christinelindsay.com

*Thanks for stopping by today!*

You can order Shadowed in Silk at Amazon

 

Novelist and physician Richard Mabry, M.D. is joining us today on The Literary Mama. Richard is known for writing medical suspense with heart. His latest release, Diagnosis Death, is available now.

*Welcome to The Literary Mama. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a physician, retired after thirty-six years of practice, the last ten as a professor at a large medical school in Texas. My first wife passed away twelve years ago (which was the impetus for my book, The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse), but God has blessed me yet again with the love of a wonderful woman. Between the two of us we have five children and four grandchildren, not to mention two granddogs and two grandcats. Spoiling those grandchildren takes much of our time, but I also find time for golf, reading mysteries, and—when I can make myself sit down at the computer—writing them.

*As a doctor you have worked on several medical textbooks, when did you get the fiction bug?

I wrote or edited eight medical textbooks and had over 100 papers published in medical journals, but never really wanted to be a writer, although I’ve read mysteries for years. That all changed after the death of my first wife in 1999. A few years later, as I sought to learn the craft while writing The Tender Scar, authors James Scott Bell and Alton Gansky encouraged me to try my hand at fiction. I did, and four years, four unsuccessful novels, and forty rejections later I became an “overnight success.”

*You are also the Vice President of the American Christian Fiction Writers. What does your role involve for that organization?

The VP is charged with oversight of the main e-loop, which is devoted to the exchange of ideas and information about writing and the publishing industry, as well as being responsible for the website and our http://FictionFinder program. The VP oversees the ACFW’s Recognized Publisher List, both seeing that new applications are properly reviewed and that re-evaluations take place on an annual basis. And, of course, the VP is one of the eight members of the Operating Board that helps run the day-to-day business of the 2000+ member organization. And, in case you’re interested, the Vice-President is not next in line to serve as President of the organization (thank goodness).

*What is Diagnosis Death about? How did you come up with the concept for the novel?

I was casting about for subject matter for my next book when, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a colleague and friend was accused of the mercy killing of a number of patients. Since I was the one charged with making the decision to remove life support when my first wife died, I was familiar not only with the mechanics but the strong emotions that accompany such a decision. I turned the matter over in my mind, prayed a bit about it, and awoke one morning with the plot arc pretty well in my mind.

Here’s a tease for Diagnosis Death:

The threatening midnight calls followed Dr. Elena Gardner from one city to another, prolonging her grief. Even worse, they are echoed by the whispers of her colleagues—whispers that started after her comatose husband died in the ICU. When a second and yet a third mysterious death took place, the whispers turned into a shout: “Mercy killer.” What was the dark secret that kept Elena from defending herself.

*How much research did Diagnosis Death take?

As I’ve said, I had first-hand experience with the emotions involved in discontinuing life support for a loved one. But, as in all my novels, I did a good bit of checking of the medical facts. Even though I’m a physician, the field of medicine is constantly changing, and I want to be certain that I get the details right.

*What is it about writing medical suspense that attracts you?

I enjoy the exercise of leaving clues (some false, some important) scattered throughout the book, being fair with the readers but hopefully leaving them surprised at some aspect of the plot at the end of the book.

*What other new projects do you have in the future?

My next novel, due out September 1 from Abingdon Press, is Lethal Remedy.

An infection by a “super-bug” has sprung up worldwide, and no current antibiotic will touch it. Dr. Sara Miles has access to an investigational antibiotic developed by her ex-husband, and it proves to be 100% effective. The drug goes into wider use, but someone has falsified data to hide late side effects of the drug and patients develop potentially fatal complicatons. Sara and three trusted colleagues must solve the puzzle of how the new antibiotic really works and come up with a way to reverse the side effects before it kills more patients.

*What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

On the high school golf team, I played against (and was soundly beaten by) a future pro golfer. His game has improved even more. Mine hasn’t.

*How can readers get in touch with you?

They can learn more about me on my website, http://rmabry.com, and follow my musings on my blog, http://rmabry.blogspot.com. And, like so many others, I’m on Twitter and Facebook as “RichardMabry.” They can email me at Dr R L Mabry at yahoo dot com.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Novelist and homeschooling mom Michelle Griep is joining us today on The Literary Mama. Michelle’s latest time travel novel Undercurrent, releases this month. I’m please to have her as our guest today.

Welcome to The Literary Mama Michelle. Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in the frozen tundra of Minnesota. Only one of my birdies has flown the nest thus far so there’s never a dull moment with 3 kids, a dog, and last but not least, my husband. Likes: dark chocolate, rollerblading and Spaghettios. Dislikes: fruit, scowling faces, and early morning.

In addition to writing, you also homeschool your children! How do you balance it all?

Apparently you didn’t notice the frayed hem on my superhero cape. Family and schooling takes up the lion’s share of my time but I do have one dedicated night per week when I run away from home to write. You can find me at Panera with a cup of java and chocolate chunk cookie every Thursday evening.

What is Undercurrent about?

People go missing every day. Many meet with foul play, some leave the social grid by choice, but others are never accounted for. Where do they go?

Successful linguistics professor Cassie Larson leads a life her undergrad students hope to obtain, until she tumbles into the North Sea and is sucked into a swirling vortex…and a different century.

UNDERCURRENT is the story of a missing woman who learns that success has more than one definition, especially when viewed in light of the past.

How did you come up with the concept for Undercurrent?

There’s an old family story my mom told me about her mom, Clara Brekke. Sometime back in the early 1900’s, Clara’s father took her two-year-old sister and walked out the front door. Just like that. No bags packed. Not a word about where they were going or when they’d return. Nothing. No one ever heard from them again. As a result, I’ve always been curious about missing people. UNDERCURRENT is my ‘what if’ daydream.

What interests you about the Viking age?

Besides the roots of Christianity in the Nordic culture, there’s a ton of other fascinating facts. Case in point…Bubba the Viking. Did you know there’s actual graffiti carved into wood and stones left behind by these fellas? And who would’ve known that one of these big beefy warrior’s names was Bubba? Not kidding. Feel free to use that tidbit as an icebreaker at the next party you attend.

What research was involved in writing this novel?

Reading until my eyes turned bloodshot. But my favorite form of research is sending out random e-mails to experts. Guess what…more often than not, those people answer! I heard back from master ship builders, archeologists and language professors.

What other new projects do you have in the future?

I could easily be persuaded to write a Viking sequel if readers swamp my publisher with requests. I’ve also recently finished a historical fiction set in the Regency period (think Jane Austen) which involves an opium addict and a man who’s slowly going insane.

What is one thing people may be surprised to know about you?

I’m an introvert. If left to my own devices, I’d move to a cave on the British seaside and live as a hermit.

How can readers get in touch with you?

Visit my website at www.mmgriep.com or e-mail me directly at michellegriep(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks for stopping by today!

You can order Undercurrent at Risen Books or Amazon

 

 

 I’m psyched about today’s interview on The Literary Mama. Delia Latham is a multi-published (and multi-genre!) author whose latest novel, Kylie’s Kiss releases this month! I’m pleased to welcome Delia to The Literary Mama.

I can’t think of anything interesting enough about me to take up much space with this answer! All that needs to be said can be said very briefly. I was born and raised in a place called Weedpatch—a farming community in central California, near Bakersfield. Lived there all my life, until September of 2008, when hubby and I moved from California to Oklahoma, so I guess that makes me a California Okie!  J I love to read and write in our little country home, and I get a huge kick out of watching my husband play Farmer John. Of all my own multiple roles—wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and writer—I especially love being a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What is Kylie’s Kiss about? 

It’s about a woman seeking the man who makes her heart sing and the kiss that takes her breath away, through a Christian dating agency called Solomon’s Gate. Here’s a blurb:

On a dare, Kylie Matthews lands smack in the middle of Solomon’s Gate—Castle Creek’s new Christian dating agency—and she finds herself revealing exactly what she’s waiting for in a relationship: “The kiss that steals my breath away.”

What she doesn’t reveal is her lack of self-esteem or her irrational reaction to facial disfigurement. Neither is applicable to her quest to find the perfect match. But that seemingly superficial malady becomes all-important when her first agency-arranged date is Rick Dale—a man who is everything Kylie is searching for. He’s handsome, smart, fun. Rick has it all…including an angelic six-year-old daughter with severe scarring on one side of her face.

Hard at work founding a therapy camp for young female victims of deformity or disfigurement, Rick wants Kylie to be a part of those plans. She’d love to say yes…but how can she, when every contact with the facility’s guests—and Rick’s own daughter—will make her violently ill?

 Kylie is ready to admit their relationship doesn’t stand a chance, but she’s forgotten that God makes a way where there seems no way. 

How did you know you were called to write? 

An author might write in the inspirational genre because he/she chooses to do so as an offering to God; or they might do it because they feel called to write. The latter is true for me.

I often tease that I was born with a pen in my hand. It’s almost true. God has been honing and shaping me to pen His messages all my life. I knew I was called because He wouldn’t let me not write. Every time I veered from the course, He nudged me back onto it—with gentle but unarguable firmness. Plus, if every idea a person come up with (is blessed with?) has a spiritual edge, it’s rather obvious the genre in which that individual is supposed to park himself/herself. At least, that’s the way I see it. 

You’re also a multi-genre author! Your children’s book, Mine!, released this year. Tell us about that. 

Mine! released in January through Vinspire Imaginations. It’s a rhymed children’s story (picture book) about a little girl who falls face first into her own selfishness, and learns an important lesson about friendship, selfishness, and forgiveness.

I have several children’s stories I wrote when my own kids—now adults—were little. I just pulled them out one day and decided maybe I should share them with other little ones. So Mine! found its way to the the printed page. Another children’s picture book, Adam’s Wings, will release later this year. 

Do you have any other new releases coming out this year?

Kylie’s Kiss is Book 2 in a series. Barring any complications, Gypsy’s Game (Book 3), will release sometime this year, as well. I don’t have a release date just yet, but it will be announced on my website (www.delialatham.net), and of course, Adam’s Wings, which I already mentioned.

 How can readers get in touch with you? 

Website: www.delialatham.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oklahoma-City-OK/Delia-Latham/203040125487

Twitter: http://twitter.com/delialatham

Blog: http://my-book-bag.blogspot.com

Email: delia AT delialatham DOT net

Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Delia.

Thank you for having me!

 

 

Today we’re chatting with Young Adult novelist Deanna Klingel on The Literary Mama. Deanna is the author of Young Adult novel Avery’s Battlefield which releases on this month.  I’m pleased to welcome Deanna to The Literary Mama.

Deanna, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with The Literary Mama. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in the mountains of western NC with my husband, a retired IBM director. Besides writing, I spend a lot of time visiting with my therapy dog at hospitals, nursing facilities, rehabs, schools, wherever we’re asked. My dogs are featured in my book, Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog.  

What is Avery’s Battlefield is about?

Avery Junior Bennett is a 14 year-old Quaker who lives in the far reach of Virginia, which becomes West Virginia. In 1861, as life is getting a bit unsettled, even on the Bennett’s farm, Avery embarks on a family errand that takes him across the state to Alexandria. Along the way, he encounters men and situations that try his resolve and pose some dilemma for Avery.  His hound dog Gunner, always at his side, listening to Avery’s quandries, and often creating the solution, is the comic relief.  

Avery’s Battlefield is set during the Civil War. What type of research did you do while writing the story?

Avery’s Battlefield takes in the first two years of the war, 1861 and 1862. The sequel carries us to the end. Much of the research for this book was done totally backwards. I wrote the story, then I checked the facts. Hmm, could this have happened then? For instance, Mason jars. I used the Mason jars to put things in. Then wondered, when were Mason jars manufactured. Turns out they were manufactured five years before Avery was using them, and during that time it became common practice to store things, other than jam and food, in the jars. So, yeah! I had a great time with the research for this book. Doing it backwards made it less tedious, and often times when checking the facts I found additional information to enhance that page. 

What led to your decision to write a story for teens?

I didn’t really decide to write a story for teens. I wrote a story on the level that I, my family, my grands, would enjoy. I enjoy stories like Walton’s Mountain, Little House books, The Yearling, Old Yeller, I think they are timeless. I know the marketing departments all want to label the books for particular sales market, and this one meets the criteria for middle grade teens. I consider it a book for young and young-at-heart readers. There ought to be a marketing niche for “Family Friendly Books.” That’s what Avery and Gunner really is.

What do you hope readers walk away with knowing after reading Avery’s Battlefield?

I hope the young readers will pick up some knowledge of the American Civil War that goes beyond text book pages and memorizing dates. I hope they see true American heroism as something that goes beyond media attention and political platform. True American heroism has to do with caring for others. Or, as Avery learns, choosing the right thing even when it’s the hard thing. 

Do you have any upcoming titles?

Avery’s Crossroad will be out in the fall. I have a couple of finished manuscripts, Bread Upon the Water, and Cracks in the Ice, which I hope will become books in the next year.

Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy playing golf with my husband, therapy visits with my dog, reading,  writing.

Fun question: If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

I’d love to build a facility where elderly couples could live together to the end, a place they could have their pet, their own bed, as much care as they required and as much independence as they could handle. Where they could eat homegrown, homemade foods. But, a million dollars wouldn’t build that. How about a few million?

How can readers get in touch with you?

I’d love to hear from readers. I have an email, deannaklingel@yahoo.com, and I have a website www.BooksByDeanna.com. The last page of the website has a comments place that’s super easy to use. Just put in your comment!

Thanks so much for chatting with us today Deanna.

Hello Readers!

I am pleased to announce the winners of our two recent contests.

The winner of Laura Hilton’s Patchwork Dreams is DEBBY LEE!!

The winner of Louise Gouge’s At the Captain’s Command is MARIA!

Congratulations winners! Send me your mailing address at preslaysa(dot)c(dot)williams(at)gmail(dot) com and we’ll get those books to you!

 For the current contest which ends on May 31st, one lucky winner will receive five inspirational novels by leaving a comment on this or any blog posted between April 16th and May 31st.  Multiple entries are welcome!  

And now, the interview with Margaret Daley….

I’m excited about today’s Fiction Friday Interview. Award winning, inspirational romance author, Margaret Daley has penned over 75 novels of faith and love. Her latest novel Trail of Lies releases this month.

Welcome to The Literary Mama, Margaret. What was your road to publication like?

I wrote for a few years in the late 1970s. In 1980 I sold my first book. I sold 20 books then hit a dry spell when my publisher stopped publishing the line I wrote for in the ABA market. Eight years later, I sold again and have gone on to sell fifty-five more books.  The best part of this is that I sold my first inspirational romance in 2000. Since I sold that book, I’ve been writing for the CBA market. I found my home.

You’re quite a prolific author. How do you manage to write so many great stories?

I’ve been writing for over thirty years. I write most every day. I’m a disciplined writer who has made time for the writing even when I was working as a teacher for twenty-seven years. I love telling stories–even when I was a little girl I was a storyteller.

You are also the President of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Tell us about the organization and your role.

American Christian Fiction Writers is an organization for writers who write Christian fiction. We are over 2300 strong. We focus on being the Voice of Christian Fiction in the industry. We offer a variety of programs to help educate writers on the craft of writing. Our email loops are a way for writers to network with others in the industry. Our conference in September in St. Louis is going to be fantastic.

 Now, about your latest book, Trail of Lies: what is the story about?

As the mother to a beautiful daughter and the wife of a wealthy entrepreneur, Melora Hudson seemed happy. No one knew about the secrets hidden behind closed doors—secrets Melora was forced to keep. Now, two years after her husband’s disappearance, the truth may be exposed. His body has been found, and everyone has questions. Texas Ranger Daniel Boone Riley comes to find answers and stays to protect the woman and child who win his heart. But the terror of Melora’s past isn’t over. Her late husband’s old “associates” want her to carry his secrets to her grave.

 What do you hope your readers walk away with knowing after reading Trail of Lies?

To forgive others is to set you free of the past.

Do you have any other releases this year?

Protecting Her Own is the second book in the Guardians, Inc series for Love Inspired Suspense. It will be out in June 2011. Nothing short of her dad’s stroke could bring professional bodyguard Cara Madison back to Virginia. But her homecoming turns explosive with a pipe bomb package addressed to her father. Cara knows two things for sure. First, someone’s after either her father or her…or both. And second, this job is too big to handle on her own. Unexpected help comes from Virginia state police detective Connor Fitzgerald. Years ago she’d walked away from him…and love. Now, despite their unresolved feelings, they must join forces—and settle their scarred differences.

Hidden in the Everglades is the third book in the Guardians, Inc series for Love Inspired Suspense. It will be out in September 2011. Bodyguarding is Kyra Morgan’s business–but this was supposed to be a vacation. Still, she can’t refuse the request from childhood friend and neighbor Michael Hunt. Michael’s sister Amy ran away after witnessing a murder. Michael needs Kyra’s help to find her and keep her safe. Yet as Kyra and Michael follow the trail along the Florida coast, their search grows more dangerous by the day. Terrorists are at work, and the stakes are perilously high. It will take everything they have–including trust they’re both reluctant to give–to escape the Everglades alive.

My first inspirational historical romance (not my first historical romance), From This Day Forward, will be out in September 2011 from Summerside Press. It is set in Charleston in 1816, not long after the War of 1812.

My first book in the A Town Called Hope series is entitled: His Holiday Family. It will be out in December 2011 from Love Inspired. This series is about a town on the Gulf coast of Mississippi recovering from a hurricane that hits it–how out of tragedy comes a new hope.

How can readers get in touch with you?

My website is www.margaretdaley.com I blog at http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com and my email is margaretdaley@gmail.com

 I’m also on Twitter and Facebook under the name Margaret Daley.

Thanks for stopping by Margaret!

You can order Trail of Lies at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Hey Readers,

Leave a comment with your email address on this or any other blog posted between now until May 31st and get entered to win five inspirational novels! To avoid trollers from tracking your email leave it in this format: yourname(at)youremail(dot)com

The more comments you post, the more chances you have to win!

If you don’t want to leave your email address here, send me an email at preslaysa(dot)c(dot)williams(at)gmail(dot)com. Winner announced on June 7th.

And now, the interview…

 

I’m excited about having writing team Travis Perry and Mike Lynch with us today.  Their fantasy novel The Crystal Portal releases this month.

Welcome to The Literary Mama Travis & Mike. Tell our readers a little about yourselves.

Travis:  I’m an Army Reserve officer currently deployed to Afghanistan.  Tammie, my wife of over twenty-two years, and I are from Montana, but we’ve lived in North Texas with our six kids for almost ten years now.  I’ve never had a job where my primary duty was speaking a foreign language, but for some reason I’ve picked up more languages than I have children…as a profession I’ve worked as a biomedical maintenance technician, but I sincerely hope to become a professional writer one day.

Mike: I currently reside in the San Francisco Bay Area with my wife and two children.  I graduated with a degree in history from San Jose State in 1986, and from San Jose Christian College in 1994.  I have been writing off and on since 1981, publishing my first novel, When the Sky Fell, in 2009.  Since then, I have since co-authored three more more novels, American Midnight, After the Cross and my latest, The Crystal Portal.  I have also published a number of short stories.  When I’m not writing I enjoy pursuing my interests in movies, history, and politics.  

What is The Crystal Portal about?

Travis:  The Crystal Portal poses the principle that God created multiple universes and that there are portals that pass through space and time between these different universes.  9.06, a robot from a future Earth, Zachariah, a boy from first-century Nazareth, and Lehkahn, an elf from a world of swords and magic become allies against Sargon Balal, a ruthless dictator from Lehkahn’s world who has escaped his due judgment through a portal.  These characters all pass through a crystal portal into the crystal universe, where the princess Agata comes to their aid in their struggle against Sargon.

Mike: I think Travis pretty well summed up the story.  I really have nothing to add.

Who are your favorite characters in this story and why?

Travis:  I’m really fond of all four of the main characters—Zachariah, Lehkahn, 9.06, and Agata, though if I were forced pick favorites among them, I’d probably rank them in the order I just listed.  “Zachariah” is the name of one of my sons and I’ve tried to weave some of my son’s sweetness and kindness into the character, which is probably why he’s my favorite.  Though in regard to the Zachariah’s constant curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, the character is more like how I was as a child than my son.

Mike:  For me, I would have to say 9.06 is my favorite character.  Drawn on some of the great robot models from movies and TV, like C-3PO in Star Wars, or the Robot in Lost in Space, Nine (as he is often referred to in the story), has a distinct personality with a very strong view of right and wrong.  He can also be quite humorous at times, much of it based on his inability to understand human logic and failings he experiences on a regular basis.  I think Nine’s most endearing quality is loyalty.  He was programmed to serve humans to the best of his abilities, which he does when he first meets Zachariah.  A 10-year-old boy from another time, Nine recognizes that he needs protecting, and so goes after him through the crystal portal, even though they barely knew each other at that time.  As the story unfolds, Nine rescues Zachariah again and again.  I think our lives would be a whole lot better if we had people in our lives who helped us undue the messes we made of our own doing.

How do you weave faith into this story?

Travis:  All the main characters believe in one God.  Jesus (Yeshua) is someone Zachariah knows personally.  Zachariah has limited understanding of who Jesus is, but accepts in the story that He must at least be a prophet.  Sargon, by contrast, acknowledges the existence of God but calls himself “the almighty” and attempts to substitute himself for God, making him an Antichrist figure.  The story shows a distinctly Christian version of the struggle between Good and Evil.

Mike:  I believe God created in all of us the ability to believe in something greater than ourselves.  In Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, that is a belief in a single God that we can know.  For people of other faiths, different forms of God.  There are, of course, people who do not have a belief in a personal God, but that hasn’t stopped them from looking to something else to give them identity.  It can be their job, the government, an entertainer, a sports team, a movement of some kind.  We all have an inherent desire to be a part of something bigger than us that defines us in some way.  I believe this is the way God created us.  That basic character trait comes through very strongly in The Crystal Portal.  It is also the source of great tension in the story.  You have people from different walks of life, and different dimensions for that matter, spending a lot of time together.  It is only natural that they start talking about what they believe and why after a while.  In many cases, it is those beliefs that form the foundation of that identity.  It made for some very interesting interactions between the different characters, especially when they didn’t always agree with each other about their view of who God is.

What sparked your interest in writing fiction?

Travis: I’ve always imagined other worlds, even before I can remember being exposed to much fiction myself.  Of course, being exposed to fiction, as I read Science Fiction and Fantasy as a teenager, stimulated my imagination, making me think about other worlds even more.  I finally reached a point in my 30s where I realized that my imagination is actually a gift from God which has the intended purpose of helping and encouraging other people.  That’s when I started writing fiction.

Mike:  It was kind of an accident for me.  I wasn’t much of a reader growing up.  Because I am a visual learner, I have always been much more interested in watching TV or going to movies.  However, I was also born a story teller.  It is just in my nature to sink my teeth into a really good story.  When you spend your life studying characters and plots in different genres while growing up, it is only natural that they start coming out of you after a while.  It started off writing little short stories for myself; I had no intention of ever publishing them.  Usually, an interesting story would come to me, and then I created a plot for it and typed it out on my typewriter (this was before personal computers came into being).  After a while, I graduated to novels, and have been writing both ever since.  Fortunately for me, I have had the good fortune to get them published.

Do you have any other books coming up in the future?

Travis:  I have at least twenty book ideas floating around in my head.  But the most important thing to mention here is that I plan to have a series of Portal books.  The next one I’d like to call The Dragon Portal, which I intend to have more dinosaurs than actual dragons.

Mike:  I actually have another novel coming out this year, co-authored with Brandon Barr.  It is entitled After the Cross.  This is an adventure story in which an 800-year-old letter is discovered in an archeological dig in Istanbul.  When the letter is translated, it makes the astonishing claim that the Cross Jesus was crucified on still exists, and has been safely hidden away.  The chase is on as to who will get to it first, those who will do everything in their power to make sure it never sees the light of day, or those who are trying to retrieve it all costs. 

How can readers get in touch with you?

Travis:  I’m on Facebook and don’t mind getting emails from people: tt_perry@hotmail.com.

Mike:  People can find out more about me and my novels on my website (www.mikelynchbooks.com), or e-mail me directly at:  lynchm@esuhsd.org.

Thanks for stopping by to visit Travis and Mike!

Travis & Mike: Thank you for giving us this chance to share about The Crystal Portal with your readers.

 You can purchase Travis & Mike’s novel The Crystal Portal by clicking on one of the following links:

Splashdown Books

Smashwords 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

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Hey Readers!!

The winner of a copy of one Stephen Bly novel is :

SHIRLEY STRAIT

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And now, the interview with Eddie…

I’m excited about having novelist Eddie Snipes with us today. Eddie’s latest novel I Called Him Dancer is out now!

Welcome to The Literary Mama Eddie. Tell our readers a little about yourself.

Those who knew me in my earlier years would have picked me as the least likely person to become a writer. My teachers would have laughed at the idea. In fact, one time my teacher came to visit my house. I’m certain it was to tell my mother how well I was doing. When I answered the door, my teacher said, “Eddie, is your mother home.”

“She ain’t here,” I said.

“Ain’t? Did you say ain’t?” My teacher dropped her hands on her hips and said, “Eddie! Where’s your Grammar?”

I shrugged at the odd question and said, “She ain’t here neither.”

In 1998 something changed. Me. My life had a dramatic transformation and I became very active in ministry. Prison ministry was my focus and when prisoners began asking for reading material from our lessons, I decided to write things out. The task that I hated for so many years didn’t seem quite so bad now that I had something to say.

My writing started off as a chore. A pleasant chore, but I still wrote based on necessity and not desire. Over the years, a deep love for writing grew in my heart, and now I look for opportunities to write because I truly enjoy it. For the last two years I’ve put a strong focus on connecting with other writers and in January of 2011, I began serving as president of the Christian Authors Guild.

What is I Called Him Dancer about?

For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but one bad choice turned his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washes windows for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.

I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman’s enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeless man who has given up on life.

Where did you get the idea for this story?

In 2009, two song writers named Tralena Walker and Tom Webster visited the Atlanta Writers Club. They were scheduled to speak at the second hour of our meeting. I almost didn’t stay since I had no interest in song writing. I headed down the hall after the first session ended, but when I reached for the door, I had the strange urge to stay. At the end of their presentation, Tralena performed a song titled, Dancer, and then said, “I’ve been trying to find someone to write about this song. I think it would make a great novel.”

Until then, I was a passive spectator, but her words made my head explode. Embarrassed by the loud pop, I quickly scooped up the pieces and reassembled my head and discovered that the book was mixed into my brain matter. The whole story hit me at once. I met with them and we worked together shaping the story into what it is today.

What do you enjoy most about writing fiction?

Until a few years ago, I only wrote non-fiction. On a whim, I entered a flash fiction contest and discovered a whole new world of writing. Non-fiction writing is also uplifting for me, but mentally taxing. I have to analyze the information, write with accuracy, and take information from many sources to compile them into an easy to read format that hopefully will educate. After a few hours of non-fiction, my mind feels exhausted.

Fiction is the opposite for me. When I’m really into the story, I have written for 14 hours without stopping. Okay, I did stop for a bathroom break and a bite to eat, but not much more. I found myself wanting to get right back in there and write some more. With fiction writing, I enter the world of the plot, follow the story and characters, and then write what I see. Until it’s time to edit, I don’t have to figure anything out. Just see and write. Instead of feeling taxed, I feel excited and alive. Why, it’s better than TV.

Do you have any hobbies?

I used to swat gnats with a sledgehammer, but my wife downgraded me to a smaller tool and put wood in front of me. Now I just build things out of wood. I’ve won 12 ribbons in my wood working. I also like to vegetable garden. Nothing like fresh organic veggies on the table.

Do you have any other books coming up in the future?

I am currently working on a non-fiction book called Simple Faith. It’s a book about taking the biblical concepts our faith is founded upon, and explaining them in a way that inspires and shows the simplicity of the gospel. The Apostle Paul once said, “I fear that your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Many Christians think the Bible is filled with complicated theological ideas. This book seeks to show that knowing God is simple, inspiring, and a joyful journey.

I have another full length manuscript finished (if you can consider a first draft finished). Also, I have three other manuscripts in various phases of construction. I have the overall ideas for each of these books. Since I forget things, when I see a scene, I write it out and save it for future use.

How can readers get in touch with you?

You can flash a light on the clouds that says, ‘Free chicken fingers,’ and I’ll play Batman music and come running. Some people prefer the simpler route of connecting with me on Twitter @eddiesnipes. My facebook username is eddiesnipes. It might seem like a strange coincidence, but my LinkedIn name is also eddiesnipes. Even more crazy is my website: http://www.eddiesnipes.com. On each of these, I just closed my eyes and typed out random letters. I might have peeked on a few letters.

Thanks for stopping by to visit to Eddie!

 You can get Eddie’s novel I Called Him Dancer at http://www.amazon.com/Called-Him-Dancer-Edward-Snipes/dp/0983224706/