Money or Ministry by Author Robin Lee Hatcher

Awhile ago, a friend posed a couple of questions to a group of writers for a workshop she was preparing, based upon something she’d heard asked at a conference, “If Jesus asked you to write a book but warned you that, once it was written, He would then tell you to put that manuscript in a drawer, never to see print, would you write it?”

Intriguing question. As a Christian novelist, do I write for Jesus or do I write for money? Is this my ministry or is this my vocation? Yes. Both. All. And therein lies the struggle.

The aforementioned friend then asked two specific questions, included below with my answers.

Why do I write for the Christian market? Ministry, entertainment, or both?

It is both for me. I wrote 30 books in the general mass market, and God very specifically called me out of that career and into a new one of writing for Him. But my goal is always to entertain my readers. I am not writing them a sermon. I am telling them a story that, hopefully, will also reveal some truth to them.

What do I consider the criteria for a book to be considered “Christian”?

A book can be inspirational and/or educational and/or the best book you’ve ever read without the author naming the name of Christ anywhere between its pages. It can certainly be fiction that is informed by a biblical worldview. But I believe that to be called “Christian fiction,” a novel should name His name (in a way that brings honor) somewhere between the covers. 

However, there is a very wide field to play on under the banner of Christian fiction. And naming His name does not mean being preachy or heavy handed. “Gratuitous Christianity” is bad writing just as gratuitous violence and gratuitous sex and gratuitous whatever are bad writing. The Christian plot thread must be an integral part of the story just as any other plot thread must be.

Years ago, the Christy Award web site contained the following excellent definition of Christian fiction:

“Good fiction, whether or not it is identified as Christian, will provide a memorable reading experience that captures the imagination, inspires, challenges, and educates. Fiction published for the Christian book market does not include the gratuitous demonstration of sin—whether language, violence, sexual situations, or the more hidden sins of idolatry and self-worship. Credible characters in a fallen world, of course, will sin. But the Christian novel’s presentation of the grit and grime of human circumstance will not be done for its own sake or to titillate, but to point the reader toward hope, toward God.

“Because the essence of Christianity is a relationship with God, a Christian novelists’ well-conceived story will in some way, whether directly or indirectly, add insight to the reader’s understanding of life, of faith, of the Creator’s yearning over His creation.”

I hope that the above definition is true of every book I write, including my latest novel, The Heart’s Pursuit, an Old West adventure novel with two wounded souls in need of redemption.

Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher—author of over 70 books—is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. She and her husband make their home in Idaho where she enjoys spending time with her family, her high-maintenance Papillon, Poppet, and Princess Pinky, the DC (demon cat). You can learn more about Robin and her books by visiting her web site at http://www.robinleehatcher.com. Links to her social media pages can be found at the top of her site.

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Sci-Fi Book Review ~ Ransom in the Rock

About the Book

How much is a life worth? And who will pay the price?

Fifteen-year-old Lileela returns from the planet Karkar, angry and bitter over what she perceives as abandonment by her parents. Why do they want her back now? And why does Karkar demand such a huge payment for delivering her? Neither she nor her family suspects that Karkar’s true mission is revenge. The tiny New Gannahan settlement has no hope of repelling an invasion – no hope, that is, except for One the Karkar can’t see.

Amber's Review

Hello, my name is Amber - and I'm not really among the target audience for a sci-fi novel. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the genre, I can be won over with great characters and some romance. And while Ransom in the Rock didn't have quite as much romance as I would have preferred (though there are some sweet scenes in there), I did enjoy exploring the frontiers of Anderson's imagination and meeting some of the characters who populate the interesting worlds she's created.

The story begins with Lileela - a stubborn, self-absorbed, and often silly extraterrestrial teen. Not having read Books 1 and 2 in the series, I didn't have any prior knowledge of her character or her family, but I was able to follow along rather well. Interestingly enough, I believe Lileela won me over the most as the story progressed. Yes, she got on my nerves. (I confess her family did, too, on occasion, even though I'm not sure they were supposed to.) Yes, she needed a big attitude adjustment. But her authentic struggles with selfishness (something that's sadly easy to relate to), as well as her insecurities and her genuine emotions, made me invested in her story and curious to discover how her choices would play out.

As for the rest of the cast, it's an intriguing bunch! I'm not entirely sure I "like" them all, per se, but some of the points they make about faith are certainly thought-provoking. I really would have enjoyed having the climax meeting/revelations happen earlier. As it is, while there's plenty of conflict and a bit of action, this installment does feel sort of like a bridge between stories, rather than a completely satisfying story in its own right (in that I wanted to know more about what was coming, and a lot of interesting events seem to have occurred before this particular book takes place).

The "alien" terminology was rather prevalent, and one revelation left me a little confused as to its implications. Even still, I was pulled into the drama and engaged by the writing. I imagine fans of the first two books in the series won't be disappointed, and those who enjoy inspirational sci-fi and the like should find "Gateway to Gannah" to be a clever series. (From what I can tell, reading the series from the very beginning would definitely enhance the enjoyment of each read!)

*With thanks to the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Extras

• You can purchase the book now on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats! 

• Yvonne (one of the BB's own!) was our guest last week. If you missed her posts, you can check them out at the following links: Leave the Cookie Cutters in the Kitchen, Don't Try This at Home

• Check out the covers for the whole series! (This is me experimenting with PicMonkey. Fun as all get out - even if my graphic design skill leaves a little to be desired, LOL. You can learn more about the series at Yvonne's website.)

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Sunday Devotional: Psalm 25

What happens when hope flatlines?

When dreams die? When we can’t ever seem to shake our past sins and addictions?

I’ve probably said this before, but as I see it, we have two choices ... either lay down and accept the death, or ... take it to the ultimate Keeper of our souls.

Psalm 25 (NKJV)

A Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness ... A Psalm of David.

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
³ Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

Our enemies are not always of flesh and blood. Sometimes they’re “spiritual forces of wickedness in high places” ... sometimes they go by the names of doubt, depression, fear ... pride, selfishness, greed ...

⁴ Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

I’ve often wondered about the part of the Lord’s Prayer that reads, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Like, we need to ask this of the Lord, who is utterly good? Isn’t it a given that He’d lead us out of temptation?

But maybe the point of praying that isn’t to sway the Lord in our direction, but to sway our own hearts toward Him. Maybe we are the ones with the need to ask—because I can’t see Him needing to be persuaded to guide us toward the truth.

It’s a daily battle, for sure, to pull our hearts away from the snares of our enemies.

⁶ Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

Here again we see David’s awareness that he had no worth or virtue on his own. The sins of his youth ... what do we know about those? We tend to see him as such a hero at the time he faced Goliath—what could he have done that was so bad? Of course, there’s the whole Bathsheba-and-Uriah thing, but before that? Looking at his later family life, we realize there must have been something ... small compromises, inconsistencies in his walk with the Lord ... could he really have been the one God said was “a man after My own heart” and yet harbor any serious sin?

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
⁹ The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

I think the answer to the above question, is, “Yes.”

I find this baffling. I find myself thinking, if we carry any kind of sin in our lives, how can God still shower us with His love and blessing?

¹² Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
¹³ He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

How can a man who truly fears the Lord continue in sin? Maybe the answer to that is in the words, “continue in.” If we have a heart for God, He won’t let us stay in that place of indulging our pride ... our self-centeredness. Of fear, of guilt and anger and depression.

And in the end, we are the ones, who belong to Him, who will endure beyond all else.

¹⁶ Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
¹⁷ The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
¹⁹ Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
²⁰ Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.

Sometimes, yes, the deepest troubles we experience are those of our heart ... and make no mistake, the enemy of our souls holds a deep and abiding hatred for us, as children of the light.

²² Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all their troubles!

Because He does hear ... He does redeem.

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Don't Try This at Home by Author Yvonne Anderson

Do you dream of becoming an author? Searching for a professional writer to emulate? 

Don’t look at me; I’m a rotten role model.

Let’s walk through my typical day to see what I mean.

I set an alarm for six, but I’m usually up before then. I hobble into the kitchen and turn on the coffee. Then I shower to bring me fully awake—and to tame my hopeless bed-head, which, thanks to my three (3) cowlicks, cannot be brought under control without copious amounts of water. 

After that, I start writing? Nope. A cup of black coffee in hand, I spend the next hour to hour-and-a-half in prayer and Bible study.

And then I get down to work, right? Wrong. This is where I have breakfast and my second (and last) cup of coffee. I talk with my husband—who, being retired, has no particular schedule but is always up and about by breakfast time—and putter around on my laptop (check emails, blogs, etc.). Then I clean up the kitchen, fix my hair (which has been air-drying), and go to work.

I’m a church secretary. I began working there in January. I hadn’t been looking for a job, but, since my husband and I moved here in November, I had been looking for a church, and the Lord led me to a church and a job at the same time.

And because He is merciful, the job is only part-time, so I’m home in time for lunch.

Now I start my writing day, right? Umm… not usually. I mentioned that we moved recently, and that my husband’s retired. I should also tell you he’s a handyman, and quite a good one. Put all these together, and what do you get? A guy who always has projects going on, both in the house and in the yard. And who, bless his heart, only has two hands.

I wish I had a dollar for every “do you have a minute?” Or worse yet, “Are you busy? Because I could really use some help” (that one should be worth $2 at least). If I were paid for each of those requests, I could afford to hire an assistant for him. Or at least, I’d be making more money than I do selling books, which I can’t seem to ever get written because somebody is always interrupting me.

This has been the situation for quite some time, because before we moved, he was getting our previous home spruced up for sale. I haven’t had any time to myself since 2012, when I wrote my current new release, Ransom in the Rock. (Just got around to publishing it, but it’s been finished for quite a while.)

The interruptions used to drive. Me. Mad. Especially when reading advice from successful authors about how, if you’re going to take your writing profession seriously, you need to plant your posterior in the chair and write, write, write – don’t be distracted – tell your family to not interrupt you – blah blah blah.

It finally occurred to me: the profession I take most seriously is that of my faith in Christ. I write because He urged me in that direction. But did He ever suggest I make it my career? No; it’s people who tell me that, not God. 

Has He commanded I be submissive to my husband? Absolutely. Does “submission” mean grumbling and grinding my teeth? Not hardly. It means, when confronted with that apologetic Do you have a minute?, replying with complete sincerity, “I have many minutes, and they’re all yours.”

“But…” (you may sputter), “You’re a writer. You need to be writing. You need to… [fill in your choice of the experts’ wise advice].”

Yes, I’m a writer. But I’m a Christ-follower first, and then a wife, a mother, a grandma, etc. “Writer” comes pretty far down the list.

Let me put it this way: if I should one day find myself alone and able to write with no one to interrupt me, will I regret having given my husband my time when I could? 

And if I go first? When I stand before Christ, will I be ashamed of not having written more books?

I guess this means I’m a hobbyist, not a professional author—and that’s okay. I’m just warning you: if you want to do this author thing right, don’t do what I do.

A resident of Western Maryland, Yvonne Anderson writes fiction that takes you out of this world.  She also does freelance editing; contributes to the writing blog The Borrowed Book; oversees Novel Rocket’s Launch Pad Contest; and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, International Thriller Writers, and the Independent Author Network. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Goodreads.

Fly through the Gateway to Gannah for some serious sci-fi adventure: The first three titles, The Story in the Stars and Words in the Wind and Ransom in the Rock, are all available in both print and ebook. Watch for the launch of The Last Toqeph, the fourth and final flight in the series, in the autumn of 2014. (It’s been finished for a long time too!)

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Household Notes, 1905

Here are some "Household Notes" from The Woman's Magazine, November, 1905.


The white leaves of celery dried and added to soups give a delicious flavor.

If fish and oysters are rolled in cornmeal before frying they will fry brown and crisp.

To prevent suet from sticking to the knife when chopping sprinkle it with a little ground rice.

Best results will be obtained when clothes are sprinkled with hot water and a good whisk broom kept for the purpose.

If a little cornstarch is mixed with salt before being put in the shaker it will keep it from clogging.

Careful housewives do not forget that the tea-kettle as well as the tea and coffee pots should be washed on the inside and outside every day.

A new and handy device is a straw basket made in a conical shape for use in a carrying knives and forks from the table. This method prevents the dropping of cutlery on the floor, as is apt to be the case when removed with a pile of dishes.

In seasoning a fowl the flavor may be improved by rubbing well into the flesh salt and pepper to which ginger has been added. If an apple or onion is put in a duck to be roasted it gives a better flavor to the meat. A spoonful of vinegar in water in which fowls are boiled makes them tender.

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Leave the Cookie Cutters in the Kitchen

When someone was a little different, my mom used to remark, “What a character!” I’m reminded of that when I hear cable network USA’s tagline, “Characters welcome.”

In our novels, characters are not merely welcome; they’re required. And the more remarkable and memorable—the more “what a character!”—they are, the better readers like it. But there are a gazillion novels out there, each with an assortment of make-believe people running around in it. How can we help our story characters stand out from the crowd?

Several reviewers of my books mention the strength of my characters, so, though I’m no expert, I guess I’m at least on the right track. Let me share with you three things that, in my opinion, a story character needs in order to be lifelike and memorable.

1) A history. Only our forefather Adam started life as a fully formed adult. For the rest of us, our personalities were shaped by a combination of genetics and experiences. You don’t want to dump a bunch of backstory on the reader every time you introduce a new character, but the writer needs to be familiar with that history. Get to know your characters before you start writing about them, and they can be multi-dimensional when they hit the page.

2) A motive. For everything. People who teach about story crafting are always harping on the big-picture motives that drive a plot—as well they should. Because without motive, a plot will flop like an inflatable yard decoration with the air let out. But motive is also important in the little things. In real life, nobody randomly does anything, and the same should be true in fiction. Even the act of brushing a wisp of hair from the forehead is done for a reason. (The character has a cowlick? He’s meticulous about his appearance? She’s afraid of bugs and the hair feels like an insect?) If you give a character an action beat, give him a motive for it as well. Don’t explain the reason, but know what it is, and let the reader see it as the scene plays out.

3) A quirk or two. This is often related to the character’s history. For instance, in my latest release, The Ransom in the Rock, Lileela is a typical teenaged girl in most respects. The usual adolescent struggles are, perhaps, a bit intensified by the tenuous situation she’s forced into, but most readers will remember their own teen years and relate to the feelings that war within her. But unlike the average kid, Lileela has a pronounced limp. She also wears a ridiculous amount of cosmetics.

Both these quirks are tied up with her history. The limp is from a spinal cord injury suffered when she was five. And the make-up problem? Well, you should see the rest of the people on the planet where she’s just spent the last ten years of her life. Let’s just say she picked up some strange ideas of beauty.

It might be a little easier to come up with quirks when you write speculative fiction, as I do. But there are still plenty of flat cardboard characters on that bookshelf.  Sometimes it seems like the author got out her set of fantasy-character cookie cutters and started pressing them into the dough of her manuscript with wild abandon. No genre is immune to same-old, same-old.

But, okay. So your character has a history, a motive for everything she does, and a quirky trait or two. Let me add another thing to worry about: consistency.

Let’s say your protagonist, Cadwallader, is deathly afraid of heights. If his buddy says, “Hey, Wally, let’s go skydiving,” you’d better not have your protag say, “Sure!” and eagerly hop into a plane. That action wouldn’t be consistent with his quirk.

Or, maybe, your character’s history involves being attacked by a bear. Is she likely to go on a backpacking trip in the wilderness unarmed? Not if she has a choice.

It is, however, permissible to make your character do something out of character if she doesn’t have a choice. That can help build your character’s character. Which, despite the repetitive words, makes her stronger and more memorable.

So when you draft your manuscript, leave the cookie cutters in the kitchen. Characters with history, motive, and a quirk or two will take on shapes of their own.

A resident of Western Maryland, Yvonne Anderson writes fiction that takes you out of this world.  She also does freelance editing; contributes to the writing blog The Borrowed Book; oversees Novel Rocket’s Launch Pad Contest; and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, International Thriller Writers, and the Independent Author Network. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Goodreads.

Fly through the Gateway to Gannah for some serious sci-fi adventure: The first three titles, The Story in the Stars and Words in the Wind and Ransom in the Rock, are all available in both print and ebook. Watch for the launching of The Last Toqeph, the fourth and final flight in the series, in the autumn of 2014.

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YA Fantasy Romance Book Review ~ The Seahorse Legacy

About the Book

a Pirate
bound by a centuries-old oath

a Knight
determined to prove her calling

a Legacy
demanding surrender

As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein — or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract — and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.

Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.

Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action — and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.

Subtly paying homage to several classic tales including Peter Pan, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid, Much Ado About Nothing, and even The Three Little Bears, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY begins an epic re-imagining of the classic Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: THE SUNKEN REALM.

Amber's Review

Dark. Daring. Delightful! The Seahorse Legacy was everything I could have hoped for as a third installment in the "Eyes of E'veria" series and as the start of a new set within the series as a whole. Yes, I'm seriously desperate for the fourth installment (The Sunken Realm, releasing in 2015) - as there's a lot that still needs to be resolved. Yet, despite the setup (i.e.: background information) and the time the hero and heroine spend apart, I still found The Seahorse Legacy to be full of adventure and romance. While it doesn't necessarily stand alone, it's still satisfying enough on its own to warrant reading it now, even considering the wait for Book 4!

Erielle and Cazien are seriously an explosive pair. They each have their own dreams and duties - and a streak of independence as sharp as a dagger. Their story together is only just beginning, but the stories of their individual journeys of humility, obedience, and faith are quite powerful here. The scenes that brought me to tears were the ones where I could feel Erielle's embarrassment and devastation, so heartbreakingly authentic even as the pain is being used to bring her to the place where she needs to be.

Although there is quite a bit of time apart for these two, their chemistry sings when they're together. (Sometimes in a loud, rock-'n-roll sort of way, and sometimes in a boy-band love-song sort of way. *wink*) The anticipatory suspense between their "together" scenes made the Kindle pages fly for me. I wanted to see when they would meet up again, what would come of each new interaction, and when Cazien would finally come clean with Erielle!

We've got pirates (which means there are some rather violent scenes, just as a heads up); we've got danger and deception, a mystery, and a hero and heroine with a heart for others; and we've got a wild and intense ending that serves as a semi-pseudo HEA that's both touching and agonizing (keeping in mind the wait for The Sunken Realm). In other words, we've got another wonderful fantasy romance from Serena Chase!

*With thanks to the author for providing me with an e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Want More?

• You can purchase the book now in Kindle format on Amazon! Paperback coming soon.

• This review was first posted at Seasons of Humility. Be sure to check out the original post for a fun interview with the author and some great giveaways!

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