Why the Bother?

What motivates a writer to seek publication? Why do they go through the disappointment of getting  rejection letters? Sometimes our feet get in the door a little ways when an agent or editor asks to see a partial. Then the door slams and bruises our toes.  If we are lucky, we may get a request for a full. Rejoice! Our foot is in the door. Then another rejection comes with a 'thanks but no thanks'. Or we may get an acceptance and lots of hard work begins.

Why do we put ourselves through it?

When I walk into a bookstore and my eyes scan the rows and rows of novels, a sense of awe and longing overcomes me. It is difficult to explain the feeling. I'm sure I'm not the only writer that feels this way. The question that comes to my mind the most is this. How did all these writers get past all the roadblocks and make it to publication? There could be a hundred answers to that question, but one thing is certain...they did not give up. I guarantee you, every author you've read has had been rejected.
 
The writing process is an incredible adventure. But when I write 'the end' and have polished a story, a stark

Why do I want to be published? Perhaps to affirm that what I'm doing, all the time I've put into writing, is worth it. Perhaps it is to scratch out a bit of a living. But more so, it is because I want to take people away from their daily grind to an imaginary place where they can escape the world for a while, just as I have done while writing the story.

A stark white manuscript is not an end in itself. I can't let that document full of words and letters sit in a file. I seek publication because I am compelled to see my story as a 'book'.

Up and Coming Release

Coming later this spring, Thorns In Eden & The Everlasting Mountains, a 2-in-1 collection will be released in Kindle and paperback. This is a reissue of one of my earlier books in a revised version.

An American patriot and an English high-born lady, hold fast to their love amid a harsh wilderness and the drumbeats of war.

I was really lucky to find the model for the cover and obtain permission from the photographer to use her image. My son designed the cover, changed the dress color to match the scenery. 

I'm excited to bring these two books back to my readers in one volume. It's a great time for authors. With the Amazon Kindle programs many of us are reissuing past titles that have been out of print for years, titles we never thought would be available to our fans again. 

Synopsis

Colonial born, but English bred, John Nash, seeks to build a new life in the Maryland frontier. In 1773 revolution is certain. Called Jack by his fellow patriots, he decides to return to England to see his family before the fighting begins. There he meets Rebecah Brent, whose dreams of happiness seem unattainable, until the day she meets the courageous patriot and they fall in love.

Trapped in the schemes of Rebecah's uncle, Sir Samuel Brent, they are forced apart. Jack has no other alternative than to return to America without Rebecah. There he becomes engaged in one of the most infamous Indian wars in Colonial history. His biggest battle is to let Rebecah go…a fight he knows he cannot win, as his love for her grows stronger.

Will love bring them together again? Will forgiveness strengthen the bond between them? And when faced with the trials of war, will a place called Laurel Hill remain their refuge?

If you would be willing to help get the word out about this book when it is released, please let me know. I'm putting together a list of bloggers who would be willing to post about the book. I'll have all you need. All you will have to do is cut and paste. 

Another way to help will be to post on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. If you are a member of a book club, I can send you book club questions and bookmarks.

Fondly, Writing from the Frederick Valley in Maryland,

Rita

Beyond the Valley Characters

When I begin a novel, I like finding photos of actors that fit the characters if the book was made into a movie. Plus they give me a visual besides my imaginary one. 

Here's my poster for the characters in Beyond the Valley.  

Can you name all the characters (not the actors' names) in the poster that are in Beyond the Valley? 
Try to name as many as you can for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of either titles in The Daughters of the Potomac Series, Surrender the Wind, or The Rebel's Pledge in ebook.

Winners will be drawn at random. USA only please.

How I define Inspirational Historical Romance

For the writer who is penning inspirational historical romance:

Inspirational historical romance is meant to touch the heart of a reader and to remind them there is hope in our most challenging moments. As the Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. Historicals are more than stories with dates and events. Historicals are meant to take the reader back to a time and place where people went through things we go through today. We write it to entertain, yes. But our novels should also enhance what readers know historically. 

Our books should be a safe haven from the secular novels that glorify the flesh and push lust rather than self-sacrificing love. Faith is an element, and a part of our characters lives, without preaching a sermon. Inspirational historical fiction allows the reader to 'see' the sermon, rather than 'hear' one.

What readers want:

They want the love between the hero and the heroine to be from the heart as they face adversity. In most secular historical romances lust is often the foundation of the characters’ relationships and the conquest of the hero to conquer the heroine. Readers of inspirational fiction want the absence of explicit sexual content and offensive language. Readers are looking for stories of hope.

Secular historical romances leave out the spiritual. They are written for readers who do not want a faith element in the books they read. That sums up the difference in a nutshell—the absence of the spiritual. 

I do wish more secular readers would give Christian fiction a try, especially historicals. In days long ago, people were more religious than we are led on to believe. Even in romances such as Sense & Sensibility and Jane Eyre, there are spiritual aspects that are carefully woven into the stories. Colonel Brandon is compassionate and caring, so much so that his love for Marianne is withheld so she may find her own happiness. He is self-sacrificing, and in the end it is his love that is shown true, opposed to Willoughby who is a lustful, self-serving man. 

In Jane Eyre we have a loving, virtuous heroine, whose challenge on many levels is her feelings for the  tortured Mr. Rochester. It is obvious Jane’s purpose is to rescue Rochester from depression, self-loathing, and deception.  Instead of living with him, she leaves him, and he is confronted with his depravity. 

Not long ago I read a blog by a Christian man slamming Christian romances, warning girls should not read them because they fill their heads with expectations that are not reality. This may be true for some romances that are dulled down from adversity, where everything is perfect and sweet. But not for all. Many Christian novels address the realities of life that people face today so readers can relate to the character's dilemma. Perhaps there are not as many as readers would hope. This is where readers come in.

 Tell us what you want. 

What issues would you like to see Christian novelists address? 

What is it that keeps you engaged and turning the pages? 

Authors will listen. Let's hope publishers will as well.

Daily Word Count

There are so many rules out there that I have wondered if they do more harm in stifling creativity than inspiring it. In a recent post by Mike Duran, 'The Myth of the Daily Word Count', he wrote 'setting a daily word count has become one of those near non-negotiable writing rules.' A little further down the post, he confesses he does not adhere to the daily word count and has managed to write three novels and other written works. 

I have to confess, too, that I do not use a daily word count. I write every day, mostly on the novel I am writing. But I do not set a goal of achieving a certain number of words. Instead I write as I am inspired, and when inspiration starts to run dry, I push past it and get down on paper as much as I can in a day. Sometimes it's a page. Other days more. What is important is that a writer writes every day in order to sharpen the craft of writing.

Mark goes on to give a list of things he focuses on instead of a daily word count. 

#1 — Focus on the number of projects you complete rather than daily word count.
#2 — Respect your station in life. 
#3 — Distinguish between cranking out words and honing ideas.  

To read Mark's article go to  http://mikeduran.com/2013/02/the-myth-of-daily-word-count/
Don't be put off by the title of his blog. He's got some excellent stuff over there. 

Dear Readers,

If you would like to help get the word out about 'Beyond the Valley', here's a few things you can do that I would really appreciate. Let me know if you can do any of these things in the list.

• Share the book cover with a link to my website on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog.

• Post a ready-to-go interview with me on your blog. I'll send it to you via email along with jpgs of the cover.
• Tweet of post on your Facebook page the release along with a link to Amazon

• If you have a popular blog or website, and you would like to review the book, send me an email and I'll forward it to my publisher.

• Suggest to your local library that the acquire the series.

• Visit your local bookstore and purchase a copy.

• Buy either the ebook or paperback from an online bookstore.

• Share your book with a friend, especially someone who cannot afford to purchase books in this stressed economy.

Don't forget the Online Tea Party will be on Friday from 1 to 8! 

Please stop in for a chat.