I'm delighted to have Fay Lamb as a guest on The Borrowed Book today. Fay works as an acquisition/copyeditor for Pelican Book Group (White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books), offers her services as a freelance editor, and is an author of Christian romance and romantic suspense. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details. Fay has a passion for working with and encouraging fellow writers. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she co-moderates the large Scribes’ Critique Group and manages the smaller Scribes’ critique groups. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the ACFW Members Service Award in 2010. In 2012, Fay was also elected to serve as secretary on ACFW’s Operating Board.
Fay and her husband, Marc, reside in Titusville, Florida, where multi-generations of their families have lived. The legacy continues with their two married sons and five grandchildren.
Michael’s fiancée, Issie Putnam, was brutally attacked and Michael was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s home to set things right.Two people stand in his way: Issie’s son, Cole, and a madman. Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her heart and protect him from the man who took everything from Michael so long ago?
Your heroine Issie Putman has had a lot of problems in her life.
What has happened in her past to cause her so much hurt?
Issie's Grandmama Viola Maynard sliced Issie's heart first when Viola's stubborn pride refused to allow her to help with the medical care that could have saved the life of Issie's mother. Then when Issie and Michael find themselves in trouble, Viola again puts her pride before her family. She manipulates a young assistant district attorney who wrongfully accuses, tries, and gets Michael convicted of a crime he did not commit, tearing Issie's world apart.
Your hero Michael Hayes has been imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. How has he coped with this situation in his life.
Michael didn't cope too well at first. He wasn't sent to prison alone. He was sent there with the two men who perjured themselves to take him down with them. In prison, Michael attempts to take the life of one of the men, Kip Turner. Kip's reaction to what Michael did was the turning point in Michael's life and an introduction to a greater relationship with the Lord.
What do you want readers to take away after reading Because of Me?
I want readers to come away with the knowledge that God is a God of forgiveness, and a loving, kind Father who has always had a plan for us. Unlike our earthly fathers, God knows our paths. The truth of Romans 8:28, when we are told that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. . ." that's a continuation of God's promise that through Christ are sins are forgiven. We are so forgiven when we have Christ as our Savior that God has promised to make everything work to our good. As Michael and Issie discovered, even when we mess up, God has a plan, and sometimes when we look back at what has occurred in our lives, we can't imagine how life would have been if we hadn't turned the wrong corner.
What are you working on now?
I have several projects in the works. I'm editing a contemporary romance entitled Charisse and a contemporary fiction entitled Storms in Serenity. I also have three works in progress: a contemporary romance entitled Hope (the third book in a series), a novel entitled Resurrection, which is set within the professional surfing world, and another novel entitled Pride Like Diamonds, the story of a master jewel thief turned chef and the woman who loves him.
Besides writing, you are busy helping other writers. Tell us about your work with aspiring authors.
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has a wonderful critique program called Scribes. Writers at all stages in their careers come together within Scribes and offer critique. Scribes members (both the large group and my small group) went through Because of Me and I couldn't have asked for better advice. I love working within the large group and helping writers form small groups. I also mentor when I can. I love to communicate with writers and answer questions on edits or about technique. Fiction is the one language I can speak.
The theme of forgiveness runs through your book. What would you say to our readers who are having a difficult time with that in their lives?
Christ walked this earth, and He set an example for us to follow. People say, "But you don't know what he did to me, or you've never experienced what I've gone through." I would never pretend to know the pain afflicted upon dear, wonderful people. I also cannot imagine what my Savior went through on a cross when He died for my sins. How prideful is it to hold on to your anger at others while you have been given a golden scepter that allows you to step before the King anytime you'd like, to fall down upon your knees and ask Him to help you to forgive those who have wronged you? Someone once said: "It's hard to hate someone you pray for." That's a very true saying. One other benefit of forgiveness: the heart you carry within you becomes a lot lighter.
What words of encouragement would you like to leave with our readers who are struggling to become published authors?
Since I have gone against this advice, and I know what it cost me, here are three little words that will prevent you from stopping your career and wasting many years on self-pity.
Don't give up!
ACFW has a writing contest. Many of your readers are probably entrants. The entries are being judged, and winners will be announced. Some of the entrants are going to receive some hard advice we know as criticism from judges. You might learn some hard lessons from this or other contests or from the critique of authors or the rejections sent to you by editors and agents. Don't let your emotions tell you these people don't care about you or that you'll never be a writer. First of all, it takes as much practice to write as it does to play an instrument in the London symphony. Secondly, if your critics, especially in the Christian industry, didn't care about you, they wouldn't work so hard to be truthful, even when the truth hurts. Learn from what they say. If you think your critic is wrong, study, attend conferences, get out the how-to books and prove them wrong. But always be ready to admit that they were right.
Don't give up.
Great words for writers to remember. Thank you for being with us on The Borrowed Book today and best wishes in your own writing journey.
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