Release Party

I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and launch my first facebook party to celebrate the release of my new book, Uprooted by War. I just got word that my publisher is putting all my books on sale for a few days beginning on July 7th to draw attention to the new release. Therefore, I'm planning the facebook party for Friday, July 8 from 1:00 p.m EDST until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 9 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.

There will be prizes of free books (different ones in both ebooks and print), a special tee-shirt, and surprises. You can ask any questions of the characters from the books or the author, share your opinions, offer suggestions, or just chat. Come and stay or just check in now and then, according to the time you have. 

Since this is the first time I've done an event like this, please send along any suggestions you might have. I'm going to try to make everything as easy as possible. You won't have to go to blogs, get on mailing lists, or do a rafflecopter to win prizes. So, mark your calendars, bring your imaginations, and let's have a virtual party.

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Germans in the Colonies

One of the largest ethnic groups to settle in what would become the United States were the Germans. They normally had a persistent work ethic that enabled them to thrive in less than ideal situations and didn't mind settling in the backcountry. When the best land had already been taken, they moved into western areas. Therefore, regions, such as the Southern Appalachians, have a strong German influence. This is one of the reasons I chose a German family, the Mortzes, in writing my Appalachian Roots series, set in the North Carolina Blue Ridge. Of course, they intermarry with families from other origins - the Cagles, O'Learies, Morgans, and Whitleys. Most of us who have an Appalachian heritage have some German in our family trees.

Of course, Pennsylvania had the largest percentage of German settlers of any of the early colonies. The majority of these came from the Palatinate, a fertile area in the Southern Rhine that had had its share of problems. Feudal lords heavily taxed the people to pay for exorbitant lifestyles, and invaders from the Thirty Years War spilled into the region. In addition, religious persecution became commonplace if practices differed from those of the local lord.

All profits from my books go to a
scholarship fund.

Hoping to find people to settle the colony of Pennsylvania, William Penn personally visited the Palatinate in 1682, and Philadelphia became the port of choice for German immigrants to the New World. In the spring of 1709, about a thousand German immigrants arrived in the thirteen colonies each day. Edgar Moretz's relatives arrived this way in the Appalachian Roots series, and Stanton Klein's grandparents and father did in the historical novel set in colonial Pennsylvania, When Winter Is Past.

Later, there would be a big push of German settlers into the western half of the colonies south of Pennsylvania, especially Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. The Great Wagon Road became a heavily traveled pathway into the Southern colonies and journeys often continued on after the almost 400 miles of the official road. This all became an important part of our country's history.

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Why Do You Read Your Bible?

Too many come to church and read their Bibles from a sense of duty rather than a sense of pleasure. Even so, with prayers for help and by sticking with it, they can get to the point where they hunger and thirst for the Word and look forward to studying it at least daily. It can be a delight.

Others want to open their Bibles to fix what problems they have at the time. Although it's true the Bible offers words of wisdom that deliver answers and comfort, if we only turn to the Bible to satisfy our needs then we haven't moved beyond our selfish outlook to become the servants Christ asks us to be. "If we only open the Bible when we're in trouble, then we're in trouble" (Sweeter Than Chocolate, Cindy Bower, kindle loc. 183). 

How much better it is to study the Bible in order to know God, understand His teachings, and please the Creator Whom we love. A side effect of this is that we'll prevent many problems from starting, and the ones that do won't have nearly the impact, because our focus is on our Lord and not our circumstances. This is the way to live free indeed!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).

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My Top Ten Favorite Authors

Someone told me I should do a blog listing my favorite authors, so I'm going to try to comply. However, this might be the most difficult blog I've ever written. I love to read, and I read a lot - around 250 books a year, in addition to my own writing. I like many different authors, and each of them have their strengths and weaknesses.

But here goes, to the best of my ability. These are not ranked in any particular order. It's hard enough to choose my ten top favorites, and it would be nearly impossible for me to put those in order. In addition, if you were to ask me the same question on a different day, you might very well get a slightly different answer. These are not etched in stone.

Francine Rivers (especially Redeeming Love)
Laura Frantz                                      
Karen Witemeyer
MaryLu Tyndall
Tamara Leigh
Janice Thompson
Sandra Robbins
Irene Hannon
JoAnn Durgin
K. Victoria Chase (only read one of hers - From Across the Divide)

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West Virginia Becomes a State

West Virginia's Independence Hall

On June 20, 1863, West Virginia was admitted to the Union as the 35th state. The area had theoretically been part of Virginia since 1607. It became one of two states (the other was Nevada) to enter the Union during the Civil War and the only one to pull out of a Confederate state. Like many citizens in the Appalachian Mountains, the majority of West Virginians sided more with the Union than they did with the rebelling Confederacy.

On May 13, 1862, the legislature had approved forming a new state, and they sent an application to Washington to be admitted to the Union on December 31, 1862. Lincoln approved it on the condition that they add the gradual abolition of slavery into their constitution. The convention met again and did this, so on April 20, 1863, Lincoln issued the proclamation admitting the new state at the end of 60 days. This happened on June 20th.

In my new Civil War novel from the Appalachian Roots series, Uprooted by War, Aaron Carter, Luke's friend at Andersonville Prison comes from West Virginia. Here is when they first meet:

          

             The young man answered, “I’m Aaron Carter from West Virginia. I guess we’re both mountain boys.”

            “How long have you been here, Aaron?”

            “Just a week. I’ve been staying out in the open, so I’m glad to have some shelter. I don’t see how they keep packing guys in here. It’s inhuman.”

            “It is, but we can’t do anything right now but try to make the best of it.”

            “Are we going to make it?” Aaron’s voice shook.

            “I plan to. If we stick together, we’ll have a better chance. The man you helped carry out turned out to be a good friend. I’m devastated by his needless death. He helped make this dreadful place more bearable. I’ll sorely miss him, and I hated finding him like I did.” Luke shook his head in disbelief.

            “I could use a friend, and I agree it would make things better.”

            “You sound educated.”

            “I’d been going to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville until the war broke out. When Virginia went with the Confederacy, I went back to West Virginia and joined the Union. Of course, we weren’t a separate state at that point.”

(All my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)

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How Sweet It Is!

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth (Psalm 119:103).

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (Psalm 19:10).

People approach the Bible in a similar way they indulge in sweets. There are the nibblers, who taste a little here and a little there. Some pinch and scratch, like they do when choosing from a box of chocolates. They want to be sure to read only the portions they like. Others like a sundae for dessert. They only approach the Word of God on Sunday mornings. However, the ones who get the most from it choose the smorgasbord. After all, you can't get too much of God's Word, and it needs to be read and studied in its entirety, at least part of the time.

We often cheat ourselves by looking for convenience and the easy way without much being required of us. "We look for grab-n-go verses or a pre-packaged daily devotional instead of taking time to savor the richness of all God's Word has to offer" (kindle loc. 192). The Bible should be savored and enjoyed - all of it.

Sometimes we even feel disappointed in ourselves that we don't enjoy the Bible more. But we can change our misconceptions and our attitudes. It becomes easier to understand and more relevant when we do more than pick and choose verses. Reading large portions of the entire Bible lets us see things in context and the big picture. The Bible shows us who God is and how He operates in the lives of people. What could be more important or relevant than that?

[Parts from Sweeter Than Chocolate, Developing an Addiction to God's Word by Cindy Bower.]

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Struggles with Uprooted by War

I have gotten so much positive feedback from my new release, Uprooted by War, that it's caused me to do some reflection. Many readers have already told me it's the best one yet, and the print version has only been out for a little over a week. I think one of the reasons it's being so well received is that it's set during the Civil War, a fascinating time period for those who like history.

Also, as the third book in the Appalachian Roots series, it has all the characters from the other two books and  many of my readers already know them. The main characters here are Luke and Leah Moretz; but secondary characters include, Emma, Hawk, Clifton, Ivy, Sam, and Patsy. Aaron and Moses are also new secondary characters.

However, I struggled more with writing Uprooted by War than with any I've written. I wanted to show what living through the Civil War felt like for both the soldier and those he left behind, but I didn't want it to become too dark or depressing. I wanted to make sure a cord of hope ran throughout, so I worked hard to give it a balance. I also wanted to make the events around the mountain farm specific to the Appalachian Mountains, where the war looked different than in other regions.

I also did a lot of extra research for this one. I made the events as accurate as I could. Coming from an educational background in history and English, I don't mind research. I had one reader tell me she never realized the war was so hard, and she felt like she was right there living it with Luke and Leah. She also told me how much her faith grew as she read about them relying on theirs.  How blessed this makes me feel!
(All my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)

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Extra-Special Deliveries

In January 1913 the U.S. Post Office started delivering heavier packages than a letter in the mail. Not long afterwards, a few parents got the idea of mailing their children to relatives for a visit. One newspaper reported that it cost parents fifty-three cents to mail their daughter to her grandparents for a visit. Although fifty-three cents could buy much more in 1913, it was still a cheap way for a youngster to travel.

From the very first, the postmaster general frowned on the idea. He didn't see that mailing children ranked with mailing plants, baby chicks or other small animals. However, there were several such mailings recorded before it was finally stopped. Parents would buy the postage, attach the stamps to their child's clothing, and mail him or her to the destination. Do you remember the children's story about Flat Stanley? Maybe this is where the author came up with the idea.

Although the idea is intriguing and a bit bizarre, not many parents chose to take advantage of the situation. Although railway or city carriers rode along with the children to their destination, not many parents felt comfortable sending their child off like this. Today it might even be considered child neglect or abuse. On June 13, 1920 the U.S. Post Office ruled that it would no longer be allowed. Mailing children came to an end.

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The End of Jonah's Story

Read Jonah 4

When Jonah finally decided to obey God and go to Nineveh, a miracle occurred. These hard-hearted, cruel Assyrians believed. They put on sack cloths, fasted, and repented from their wicked ways. But Jonah still wasn't happy. He still didn't believe God should have cared about the Ninevites. 

How many Christians today have gotten into the same boat as Jonah? They know Christ calls them to tell others His good news, but they've neglected that command. They want to serve God on their terms, not His. It's easy for us to judge Jonah, but there's too much of Jonah in us all. How compassionate, caring, and understanding are we for others, especially our enemies?

Jonah actually became angry that God allowed the Ninevites to repent instead of destroying them. In fact, he's so upset he tells God just to kill him. He goes off into the distance and pouts. God sends a plant to shade him, but then He sends a worm that eats into it and the plant withers and dies. Jonah mourns the plant, and God chides him for caring about a plant but not the Ninevites. The story ends with Jonah still unhappy. We don't know if he ever softened his heart with understanding, but we can choose the ending to our own stories. We can choose to obey God, to love everyone as He asks, and to carry His messages wherever He calls us. In the end, the story of Jonah is really God's story. It tells of His infinite love, patience, and understanding for His wayward children--for us.

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Inspiring 

I'm having an exhilarating week. I had book signings scheduled over the weekend, and my new novel, Uprooted by War, came the day before I left home. This one is causing a wave of renewed interest in all my books. This weekend, I sold quite a few sets of all four of the books I've published so far and many single copies of Uprooted by War.

I'm guessing that the fact this new novel is set during the Civil War appeals to readers. It seems to be a popular time period. In addition, it continues with the characters many of my readers have grown to love in the first two books in the Appalachian Roots series. However, each of the books in the series has a definite ending. I don't believe in writing cliffhangers at the end of novels. I believe readers deserve a finished product.

All this activity motivates and excites me. One reader has already told me how much her faith grew while reading Uprooted by War and how inspiring she found it. This is what I want to do -- not only entertain but also touch readers' lives so they feel they come away better because they read the book. If my books inspire others, it inspires me. It doesn't get much better than this for a writer.

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National Yo-Yo Day

June 6 is National Yo-Yo Day, and the toy may be older than you think. An ancient Greek vase from 500 BC shows a boy playing with a yo-yo. Greek records describe them as being made of wood; metal; or terra cotta, a fired clay. European children have played with them for ages.

They also came to the American colonies. The Blount House in Knoxville, Tennessee, built in the late 1700's has them on display. However, the toy really became popular in the 1920's. In 1928, Pedro Flores, an immigrant from the Philippines, opened a yo-yo factory in Santa Barbara, California. Before 1929 ended, he had opened addition factories in Los Angles and Hollywood.

Not long afterwards, another entrepreneur, Donald F. Duncan, bought the yo-yo manufacturing business from Flores. In 1932, Harvey Lowe won the first world yo-yo championship in London. Other yo-yo makers came upon the scene, but the Duncan yo-yo would remain the best known. The 1960's saw another resurgence of the yo-yo, and this continued until the end of the 1980's. Although less popular, they're still available today.

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Another Chance


Read Jonah 1:8 - 3:10

When the captain and sailors on the ship Jonah had boarded to go to Tarshish were about to perish, the captain went below to wake Jonah up and speak with him. Yes, Jonah had slept through this violent storm. Jonah explained who he was, and the captain asked him what he should do.

To Jonah's credit, he told them to throw him overboard. The prophet knew that he was the problem, and he was willing to be thrown overboard to save the others. Of course it looked like Jonah would perish either way. However, he didn't. God was still there, and He sent a big fish to swallow Jonah from the churning waters. Then the waters calmed, almost immediately, and the sailors were saved.

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason on mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried out I and thou heardest my voice" (Jonah 2: 1-2).

While in the dark belly of the fish, Jonah had plenty of time to think. He finally begins to see what he'd done in running and disobeying God. He cries out to the Lord in despair, and God has the fish spit Jonah out on dry land. God calls out to the prophet to go to Nineveh and deliver His message, giving Jonah another chance to obey. This time, Jonah goes to Nineveh.

The barbaric Ninevites listened, put on sack cloths, and fasted - everyone from the king to their livestock fasted. Because they repented God spared them and about 120,000 souls were saved. The prophet who had run from God became one of the most successful as far as the numbers go. This holds important lessons for us. If someone as cruel as the Assyrians can be forgiven and saved, so can all of us. And God never gives up on anyone. He wants all of His wayward children to come to Him. We serve an awesome God of many chances.

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Publishing My Next Book

Since I actually write faster than the books get through the publishing process, I always have a backlog of manuscripts. This is true whether the books are traditionally published or indies, although the indies are quicker. With the fourth and last book in my Appalachian Roots series with the editor at the publishing house now and my indie, When Winter Is Past, doing well, I'm looking at my writing files to see what's next.

Through the Wilderness, set on the Oregon Trail, is the manuscript most ready for publication. It's with its second beta reader now. But I'm still debating how I want to publish it. I've loved my current publisher, but they've been late on getting out my royalty checks every time. The contract says I will get them within 60 days of the closing date for that period. The last one closed on December 31, 2015, but I've still not received anything, despite my regular reminders to them. I do have a smaller publisher in mind that I met at a writers' conference as another option, and there's self-publishing also.

I'm not sure I'm fully satisfied with the title, Through the Wilderness, but my readers chose it. Here is a synopsis of the story:

Faith Allen had gone to the Kentucky mountains to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents died. They hadn’t been cruel, but they hadn’t been loving and kind either, and they expected her to work hard. When their son struck it rich in the California gold rush, they pack up to head to California via the Oregon Trail.

Jacob Parker had been astonished at the attention Lucille Staten had shown him at the party. She was the most sought-after woman around and beautiful beyond description. When she asks him to retrieve her wrap from her bedroom, he knew he shouldn’t go there, but he found he couldn’t refuse her. When she follows and they are caught, he’s forced to marry her. However, he still has hopes for a happy future together, as he and her father make plans for the young couple to head west on the Oregon Trail.

The trail holds many more dangers than either Faith or Jacob imagined, and tragic circumstances throw them together. Can Jacob accept his second chance at love and a family and can Faith move past the fact that hers was a marriage of convenience that crushed her childhood fantasies? On top of all that, will they survive the hardships and make it to Oregon?

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