Story Ideas

The main question I get asked as an author relates to where the ideas for my books come from. Some even ask if my characters are based on real people or my plots on something that has happened to me. They seem disappointed when I tell them they are not, but I take it as a compliment that readers think they are. That means, even though the books are not based on a person's life, they seem very real. Everything in them could have happened, and the characters will become some of the readers' best friends if I do my job well. They, without fail, become some of mine.

Dog sledding in Alaska

Certainly, my stories are based on my life experiences and what I know. I would not be able to write them otherwise. We can't relate something we have not thought of or is completely foreign and unfamiliar to us. However, I usually don't even remember  how I learned this. My characters are conglomerates and  mixtures of many people I may have known or heard of but never any one. Like the people you know, each is a unique individual, never duplicating anyone else.

Actually, I find that the books I read, where authors say they are based on real people or real situations, often fall short. It seems that having to stick to a given storyline makes it easy to fall into the rut of just telling, including too much narrative or description, not having good plot elements, or including too much unnecessary information that doesn't move the story along. In a nutshell, they can easily become dry and boring. There are a few exceptions, however. Nonetheless, writing from my imagination and heart is much better.

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Samuel Colt

National Pistol Patent Day

Today is Pistol Patent Day because on February 25, 1836, Samuel Colt received the U. S. patent for his Colt revolver with a rotating chamber. He had patented it in Europe a year earlier. This revolver was his first patent for a firearm, and he soon established a corporation to manufacture his guns in Patterson, New Jersey. The Colt revolver was followed by a long list of weaponry. 



The first gun actually manufactured in the Patterson plant was not a pistol but the Colt First Model Ring Lever Rifle. Revolvers did follow, however. Using interchangeable parts was still relatively new, and the factory had some quality control issues to start with. The early Colt revolvers met with limited success. The military reported that some fired great while others had problems.

Samuel kept forging ahead, despite several setbacks and difficulties. He constantly worked to improve his firearms, listening to suggestions from customers. The New Jersey plant closed in 1842, but when Samuel received interest in his newer revolvers, he contracted with Whitney armory, gunsmiths in Connecticut who were descendants of the inventor of the cotton gin.

The new guns found favor with the Texas Rangers, and Samuel was able to open his own business again. From there, things begin to look up. He found huge success in the 1850's, and this only increased during the Civil War. The Colt company has continued to produce firearms, although in more modern times, they've filed for bankruptcy and restructured. But no matter what their future holds, they've had an important part in American history. 

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Understanding Justification and Sanctification

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

Justification and Sanctification are two abstract terms that are crucial to what happens when we are saved. Most of us grew up with parents and/or a society who expected us to perform a certain way before they'd be pleased with us. Performance-based acceptance is ingrained into us from an early age. This makes it hard to accept that there's nothing we can do to please God apart from His Son. Even after we are saved in Christ, we aren't required to perform. Instead, our works flow out of our love and grateful hearts, not out of duty in following rules, regulations, and laws.

Because it is written, Be ye holy for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Justification is what happens when we accept Christ into our lives as our Savior. We trade all our sins for his complete righteousness. His death on the cross made this possible. At that point, we become saints who are holy and righteous, not in and of ourselves, but from Him. This is the great gift of God's grace stemming from His love and mercy. We can be justified, made pure in Christ. Being holy is the only way we can approach and have a relationship with holy God. He, in His perfection, cannot be in the presence of sin.

... to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel... (Colossians 1:22b-23a).

Sanctification is an ongoing process of being made Christlike. Whereas justification is completed at the point we accept Christ as our Savior, sanctification will never be complete as long as we live on this earth. This is how we grow in our faith. While justification relies solely on Christ, sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. He continuously moves us along our journey of faith to become more like Christ, the only perfect One who has ever lived on earth. Both justification and sanctification take place in the lives of every Christian. Thanks be to God!

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Vocabulary in Medieval Novels

As I write medieval novels and try to choose only words they used during the time period that readers today will still understand, I realize how important the Renaissance (or the Early Modern period if you prefer) was for language development. The prolific writers of that day brought language to a new height. It is remarkable how many new words and new usages came into existence during the time around Queen Elizabeth's reign.

For example, common words that were not used in the Middle Ages but we use today include bashful, dessert, disappoint, expect, funds, group, hesitate, ill-tempered, nearly, realize, responsible, shyness, and timid. The list goes on and on, but this will give you some idea. I kept grumbling to my husband, "I don't see how they said anything back then. They had no words."

Of course, that's not true. They also had some words that have gone out of the common language or we rarely use today. Here are some examples of those more recognizable to a few people today, but there are many more: amiss (wrong), anon (soon), bliand (an outer garment worn by both genders), bode (indicate), destrier (warhorse or a knight's horse), err (do wrong, a mistake), forsooth (in truth), gainsay (speak out against, oppose, or stop), and ire (anger).

Writing historical fiction set in the Middle Ages can be challenging, but it's also exciting. As a history enthusiast, I've found it fun to bring this era to life. So far, I have two novellas with a medieval setting out on Kindle. I'm getting ready to combine Roslyn's Rescue and Glenda's Gold to publish a print book called Time-Told Tales, Volume One. I hope there will be others and a volume two down the road. The more I write novels set in this time period, the easier it becomes.

https://www.amazon.com/Roslyns-Rescue-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B07MDSJKJC/ref

https://www.amazon.com/Glendas-Gold-Time-Told-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B07NBSCLW6

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

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Burning of Columbia

On February 18, 1865, Union troops under General Sherman devastated Columbia, South Carolina. The city had surrendered to Sherman a day earlier, and Wade Hampton's Confederate troops had made a hasty retreat. The city had long been short of supplies, and the sickly looking Federal prisoners and slaves astounded the Federals. 

However, the city reportedly had a large supply of liquor, which the conquering soldiers freely took advantage of, causing a lot of destruction. Fires started, and high winds spread it quickly across the city. Stored bales of cotton added to the tinder. It has long been debated if these fires were accidentally or intentionally set. Sherman stated that he never ordered the burning of the city, although he did order certain military and government structures destroyed. This destruction took place on the eighteenth.

Legend says that the First Baptist Church was saved by a devoted groundskeeper who told the soldiers the Methodist Church was the church where the declaration of secession was signed. That church was burned to the ground. Other buildings burned included the old South Carolina State House; the incompleted, new State House; Wade Hampton's mansion, Millwood; the Confederate Printing Plant; and the Arsenal Academy. Whether by accident or ordered, much of the city lay in ruin at the end of the day on February 18th. 

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The Greatest of These

...for God is love (1 John 4:8b)

God doesn't love because of how we act or who we are. He loves us because of who He is. It is His nature to love. Paul put it well when he wrote, "... that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17b-19).

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22: 37-39).

Love is powerful. It is the most important commandment. In fact, if we could get the Great Commandment to love right, we wouldn't have to worry about anything else. We'd have it all covered and live an obedient, Christian life. As John Calvin said, "Whatever a person may be like, we must still love them because we love God."

And now abideth faith, hope, charity [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love] (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Love is a gift from God. He gave us love, and the world has love because of Him. In talking about the great gifts (faith, hope, and love), Paul tells us the greatest of these is love. And Peter said that love covers a multitude of sins (see 1 Peter 4:8). In this Valentine's season and throughout the year, let us have a renewed spirit of love for God and our fellowman. 

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Love and Romance in Novels

When considering novels, many people look down on the word "romance" or "love," and the same often goes for romance authors. Even when "clean" or "Christian" is added in front of the term, people often turn up their noses or scoff, as if the genre is less than other categories. Perhaps erotica has tainted the genre, but it goes beyond that.

I don't get it, though. Love is a basic need. Studies show that babies, who are raised with all their other basic needs met but without any nurturing or love, grow up with all kinds of problems, if they even survive, and many don't. We all want to be accepted and loved.

Even the Bible calls love great (see 1 Corinthians 13:13) and says that love comes from God, and God is love (see 1 John 4:7-8). From Genesis on, marriage is promoted, saying the two shall become one (see Mark 10:8). I refuse to apologize for writing novels with some romance. Only about four of my books actually fit the category in the strictest sense, but they all contain some love or romance to varying degrees. So to celebrate Valentine's Day, have a look. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

My books from the most romantic to the least, and all profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children -

It All Started at the Masquerade  https://www.amazon.com/All-Started-at-Masquerade-ebook/dp/B078FQ38JK

Deceitful Matters    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DVTZWZW/

Mountain Mishap  https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Mishap-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B0756RMKL6

Peace   https://www.amazon.com/Peace-Farmers-Book-Janice-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B06Y1DC43X/

Roslyn's Rescue   https://www.amazon.com/Roslyns-Rescue-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B07MDSJKJC

Glenda's Gold   https://www.amazon.com/Glendas-Gold-Time-Told-Tales-Book-ebook/dp/B07NBSCLW6

Cleared for Planting   https://www.amazon.com/Cleared-Planting-Appalachian-Roots-Book-ebook/dp/B00RM5GZPK

Sown in Dark Soil   https://www.amazon.com/Sown-Dark-Soil-Janice-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B014500JQK

When Winter Is Past    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BLOKRSS

With Summer's Songs   https://www.amazon.com/Summers-Songs-Janice-Cole-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B01IC5TF6E

Transplanted to Red Clay   https://www.amazon.com/Transplanted-Clay-Appalachian-Roots-Book-ebook/dp/B01LTEY0PQ

Through the Wilderness   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K25WJ25

Pardon   https://www.amazon.com/Pardon-Farmers-Trilogy-Book-3-ebook/dp/B072MHL2ZH 

Uprooted by War   https://www.amazon.com/Uprooted-War-Appalachian-Roots-Book-ebook/dp/B01F7SPDLU

Promise    https://www.amazon.com/Promise-The-Farmers/dp/B07F6VZP73

On the Road to Jericho (non-fiction)   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1724172379/

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Early Movement to End Slavery 

On February 11, 1790, the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage (also known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society) petitioned the U.S, Congress to abolish slavery. The group had organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1775, and seventeen of the twenty-four founding members belonged to the Society of Friends, often known as Quakers. 

The Revolutionary War took some of the focus from their efforts. However, the society regrouped in 1784 with renewed determination, and they incorporated in 1789. Sometime in the postwar years, Benjamin Franklin became their president, and he presented the petition to Congress asking them to do away with slavery. Although the push for a national law failed at this time, Pennsylvania had abolished slavery within its borders in 1780, becoming the first state to do so.

The Pennsylvania Abolition Society still meets today, and works to combat racism, encourage equality, and improve living conditions. It is the oldest abolition society in the United States and an appropriate topic for this, black history month.

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How Do You Know You're Really Saved?

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).

She was a young adult and came forward in church to ask to be rebaptized. She said she had come forward the first time because her best friends had, and she didn't think she had really been saved. Over and over again, I've heard people doubt their salvation. Many say they hoped they're saved, but how can we know? It is probably a valid concern. Billy Graham once said that only about two percent of professing Christians had really been saved.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

First and most importantly, have you had a heart-change? Inviting Christ into your life will result in a changed life. You will want to live according to God's will and be pleasing to the Lord. You will desire to be like Christ, although you'll fall short over and over again. Your focus will shift from worldly things to godly things. You will grow in the Lord over time. God does not accept half a heart or limited commitment. Lukewarm religion is no religion at all, and lukewarm Christians will be spit out (see Revelation 3:16).

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you, Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your heats, ye double minded (James 4:8).

Secondly, evidence of salvation are the fruits you produce. Salvation itself has nothing to do with your service. You cannot work your way into heaven. However, once you truly belong to Christ, good works will stem from your changed life and a desire to be obedient, but these deeds will vary greatly depending on God's call. He may call the young mother to serve in her large family for now, instead of doing a lot of community service at this time. It is having a godly, servant's heart and being obedient that matters. If you are still unsure, pray about it. God will show you the answer if you study His Word and pray. You should know beyond a doubt.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

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Mountain Mishap on Audible


Mountain Mishap is by far my best-selling ebook, and it continues to amaze me in how well it does. It's broken all kinds of records for me and has reached #43 on Amazon's best-seller list. Now, I'm happy to announce that it's also available as an audio-book on Amazon Audible.

Jennifer Groberg narrates the book. I love her clear, expressive voice, and she does a Southern dialect very well. Jennifer lives in Provo, Utah, and has her own professional, home studio. That's one of the reasons she's able to produce a book much faster than anyone else I've worked with. She has over 60 audio-books to her credit, and she will also be producing On the Road to Jericho, my Christian, non-fiction book.

Charleston Orphan House

For Mountain Mishap, I returned to my roots, and it is set in the Appalachian Mountains. Anna Allen grew up in the Charleston Orphan House, but at eighteen, she must now leave. Her best option is to wed, and when a man from the Appalachian Mountains comes looking for a wife, she hesitantly agrees to marry him. However life with Elbert Ramsey and his father turns out to be miles from her dreams.

In 1851, Levi West decides to go stay with his brother in the Appalachian Mountains. His parents had died, leaving the farm in debt, and a brazen woman caused a rift between him and his best friend. Although his sister-in-law’s younger sister acts almost as bad, Levi finds he loves the rugged mountains. When a hunting accident endangers his life, help comes from an unexpected source. Dare he hope for a family of his own, or will another woman just disappoint him again?

Be sure to check Mountain Mishap out in whatever format you prefer. If the statistics are any indication, you won't be disappointed.

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