Author Deb Raney is featuring some of her writer friends with their gardens. You can see me in my vegetable patch at her cleverly-named blog, The Plot Thickens. Be sure to browse her site to see her other friends and their beautiful “plots.”

Now I need to go tackle some weeding. And stem the tide of monster zucchini that are taking over. I may need to take my sword to them.

Happy weekend! Sharon Hinck

The Secret Life of Becky Miller (Bethany House, June, 2006)
Renovating Becky Miller (Bethany House, February, 2007)
The Restorer (NavPress, May 2007)
The Restorer’s Son (NavPress, September 2007)

To all who have emailed or called –
my family and I are safe, and as far as I know so far, no close acquaintance was on the bridge.

But will you join me in praying for those injured, missing, and mourning?

Dear Lord,
Bring healing to those who were wounded and are in pain. Bring answers to those waiting for word. Comfort those who face the shock of sudden loss of a loved one. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Amen.

Great news!
The Secret Life of Becky Miller (Bethany House, 2006) is a finalist in the “Lit” category for the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year award. Placements will be announced at the annual conference in Dallas the end of September.

As academy nominees are fond of saying, “It’s an honor to be nominated!” It truly is. This organization is an amazing collection of Christian fiction writers in all genres who are deeply committed to quality craft in writing. I’m so happy for this dear story, and red-caped Becky who is so special to me!

The Secret Life of Becky Miller

We left the spacious, beautiful home of Bryan’s friends after a wonderful breakfast, and headed to New York City. I rode with Christopher and Jennifer. We were constantly rearranging who was in each car, for optimum mixing and fellowshipping during the drives. More shop talk about the work of writing, but also lots of great discussions about God stuff and ministry.

Our destination was a mission in Brooklyn. Driving into the “Big Apple” would have been exciting anyway, but on the outskirts (when traffic was still blitzing along) we had some extra excitement. A car in the left lane had to brake suddenly, and was hit by another, and smashed violently by a third. Christopher (in the second-to-left lane) had no time to brake, and so accelerated past the sparks, crumpling metal, and scream of burning rubber. If the accident had slid further into our lane, we would have had nowhere to go.

Once we reached the burroughs, Christopher really showed off his New York driving skills. Yellow cabs dart in and out of lanes like minnows, and Christopher did the same as we wove our way toward the mission. I loved the music of the car horns. They were a constant conversation.

At the mission, Jennifer and I trekked up to the third floor girls’ dorm, to find the bunks where we’d spend the night. Then we relaxed with the rest of the team (who again were jumping at a chance to update their blogs and answer emails…and practice bad Rocky impressions and Brooklyn accents). Soon it was time to navigate to the Timeless Treasures bookstore attached to the Brooklyn Tabernacle.

The time at the store was warm, wonderful, and uplifting. I loved the staff and the folks I got to chat with. But the highlight was the prayer service. We were given a quick tour of the Brooklyn Tabernacle at around 5pm – and folks were already gathering, kneeling at the altar, praying…in preparation for the 7pm prayer service. When we joined them later, the music and heart of worship carried me a couple steps over the threshold of heaven. Tears ran down my face as I praised God, and had one of those “close encounters” with His heart. It was so deep, that I felt like it was a precious gift that washed away a year of some very tough circumstances. Hard to put into words–even for someone who makes a living as a writer.

We weren’t able to stay long, but I savored each moment.

One other thing spoke to me that night. The night before in Delaware, we’d enjoyed luxury. Huge rooms, comfy beds, and even a basket of toiletries in the bathroom. I felt welcomed and cared about. The hospitality was palpable and such a blessing.

As I made my way into the bathroom on the third floor of the mission, in this rough building being transformed by love and hard work, construction material was propped in the corner. Broken windows leaked in the rain. Duct-tape held down the edge of the carpet. But on the bathroom counter was a basket of toiletries. The love, the hospitality, the welcome of our vagabond group was every bit as palpable and every bit as much of a blessing.

Since I’d been sick and was overtired, I crashed for the night while Christopher and Jennifer visited with our hosts who run the mission. But the next morning I got to meet them and learn more about their work. Pastor Ron shared that one of the biggest needs if for volunteer staff – folks who can raise support and come to work with them. If you have a calling for urban ministry and God has been nudging you to find a place to serve, email me through my website, and I’ll give you their contact info.

Today, I’m welcoming Gail Martin to talk about her new novel. In His Dreams, the 3rd book in the Michigan Island Series released by Steeple Hill Love Inspired.

Gail Gaymer Martin is an award-winning novelist for Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing with over one million books in print and forty fiction novels or novellas. The second book in the Michigan Island Series, With Christmas In His Heart, was recently honored with the 2007 National Readers Choice Award in Inspirational. Her book, Writing The Christian Romance will be released in December from Writers Digest.

Book Blurb:
Escape to beautiful Beaver Island could be the answer to Marsha Sullivan’s need for a fresh start. Since her husband’s death four years ago, Marsha had lost her way, but on Beaver Island, she had good memories to help guide her. Running into Jeff, her brother-in-law, in this paradise turned out to be a blessing. Not only did they share grief in losing their spouses, but also a warm bond began to form between them. Did God want her to love again? The only thing she knew for sure was that being with Jeff and his daughter felt like family.

A few questions for Gail…

1. Why did you write this story?

Michigan is blessed with the Great Lakes and a multitude of islands. I’ve enjoyed a number of them and I began to think about the thing that intrigues people about islands. As I thought, I realized islands might make an interesting setting for a series. My first book was set on Harsens Island in Lake St. Clair, was based on a real experience of mine, and I used it to spark a story idea. The second book, With Christmas In His Heart, was set on Mackinac Island, a charming and amazing island that’s like stepping back in time. Mackinac has no motorized vehicles, and people who live there walk, ride bikes, horseback, or horse and carriage. This book was inspired by my visit to the historical island which an amazing history. I’d spent a week in a chalet which I used for my heroine Marsha and many of the places mentioned in the book are real. The final book to be released in January 2008 is set on the awesome Les Cheneaux Islands and Drummond Island in northern Michigan. The series was such a joy to write.

2. How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story?

How a story comes to me is not consistent. I might hear a Bible verse in church, notice something in a stained glass window that strikes me. I can get a story idea from song lyrics or an article in the newspaper. I might hear a real life event or situation that brings a story to mind. I might meet someone who has an interesting take on life. Sometimes I visit a place and think that I’d like to set in a story there. Whichever comes first, close behind are the other aspects of what I need. If I have a setting, the plot will be on its tail and then the kind of characters needed to make the story work. My last three book series proposals were based on location. I have completed the Michigan Island series — stories set on four different Michigan Islands as I mentioned. The next book series came to mind while spending time in the Monterey area where my nieces live, and finally, my travels have resulted in a new series idea for Steeple Hill Love Inspired set partially in the U.S. and partially in a foreign country.

3. What do you love about being an author? Is there anything you dislike?

I love writing and creating, and I enjoy meeting readers and receiving their letters.. Sharing my faith in stories that entertain is a blessing for me, and touching people’s lives with the message in the story is an honor. I am awed that the Lord has blessed me in this way. What I don’t like are the pressures of deadlines when they overlap. Then my life becomes so very stressed, especially when I find myself working on two or three books at one time. Then it’s not fun.

Thanks for visiting, Gail!

Monday morning we repacked the van and car and made room to add Wayne’s daughter to our crew. The seven of us set out for Bel Air, MD where we spent a wonderful hour visiting folk at the Christopher Matthew’s Christian bookstore. This was a fun event for me, because I’d met the owner, Bryan Brock, the week before at the Logos retreat in Atlanta.

We fit in a drive-by signing at a Borders, then continued to a short visit at Family Christian store in Newark, Delaware (I think the Newark name led me to think we were sometimes in New Jersey that day). We met professional story teller Michael Forestieri, who even brought his Celtic harp. We finished our day with a fourth event at The Days of Knights Store, also in Newark. GREAT people who went all out for us (a great spread of healthy munchies, which sadly I didn’t get to enjoy as much as I would have liked, since I’d gotten a tummy bug the night before and was avoiding food).

I talked to several aspiring authors about their speculative fiction projects, and enjoyed getting to spend time with Tiff Amber Miller from ACFW. She helped arrange the earlier signing even though in the midst of planning her wedding AND a cross-country move. What a hero! When we finished, the guys needed food and wifi time to update their blogs, so I napped in the van while the rest of the team walked to a coffee shop for those vital needs. Then Bryan checked his computer map, and told Wayne “this will be easy to find.”

Famous last words.

In the dark of night, Wayne drove everywhere Bryan directed . . . which included several dead ends, and finally an eerie trek down dark country roads that inspired the imaginations of all the fantasy authors. I believe there was mention of trolls.

We reached the host home – someone none of us had met (a brother of a friend of Bryan’s). They were incredibly warm and gracious (even as we draggled in late at night).

Bryan’s daughter, Wayne’s daughter, and myself all settled into a room and slumber party stories ensued. The funniest moment was when Wayne appeared in the doorway to tell his daughter to settle down and “let Ms. Sharon get some sleep” – when I was the instigator of much of the giggles. (But I’m fessing up now, so Wayne’s daughter no longer has to take the blame).

Photo: Me with cousin Gail and aunt Helen who surprised me Sunday night.

Sunday I met my host family when I got up in the morning, Deanna made me a super breakfast, (and her boys were so gracious in sharing their room with a stranger AND letting me have some computer time to check emails) and I quickly joined the three other authors for our day’s events.

I was delighted we were heading into Washington D.C., past interesting landmarks, but especially glad that it was Sunday and I’d have a chance to attend church.

We had some fuzzy info about what was expected of us at the National Presbyterian Church. We knew we were speaking to a youth group, and then thought we’d be signing books and chatting in a foyer or narthex during a couple services, so we could attend church in shifts. We enjoyed meeting the teens. Christopher, who is a youth pastor, especially connected with them and spoke straight from his heart to challenge and encourage them. Then we went to the main building where tables had been set up near the church bookstore for us. We greeted everyone who walked past, but once church began things were quiet. I was able to slip upstairs through some complex corridors and find the sanctuary, where I sat in the back during most of the sermon. Then I hurried back down to the guys, who were still sitting by the back door. When the service ended, a few families stopped by to chat with us, but apparently most people were staying upstairs for a congregational meeting so we didn’t get to meet as many people as we’d hoped. I did get to chat with a man from my home state who works on capitol hill, which brought home to me that we were in the center of movers and shakers. We were all grateful we’d been invited and hoped that a few more people had learned that Christian fiction is alive and well.

We drove to Alexandria, VA, and introduced ourselves to the staff at the Potomac Yard Barnes and Noble. We had an hour before our 3-5 signing, so we walked to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch (or early supper? we tended to grab meals anytime we had a few spare minutes between events) and more great conversation. Put four authors at a table and shop talk is a given. But our conversations were about so much more than writing craft, industry info, and deadlines. Each of the authors is absolutely committed to serving God’s kingdom through the books he or she writes. I loved hearing about the challenges and strategies and fruit being evidenced in each writer’s life.

We hoped for one of the huge crowds we’d had at other stores, since we knew a reporter and photographer from the Washington Post planned to come to this event. Of course Murphy’s Law dictated that we had the smallest turn-out yet. Still, each author took a turn reading a scene from their book, which drew people from around the store. I really enjoyed meeting the reporter, Ms. Salmon, and appreciated her depth of research, and her time and interest.

As in other stores, special individual encounters overshadowed our desire to sign lots of books or meet lots of people. One woman watched me avidly as I read a scene from The Restorer. Afterwards she came to me and said, “that scene describes where my life is right now.” I felt like God nudged us into the same time and space to encourage each other. Meantime, Christopher chatted with a marine about to be deployed and then prayed with him. The new community relations manager was awesome and bent over backwards to provide us with sound equipment and chairs for the audience for the reading.

Still, we headed to our evening event with a little honest weariness. We’d had a long day.

That was the night I blogged about on the tour. We pulled up into the parking lot of Ellicott City Barnes and Noble, and Christopher’s wife, Bryan’s daughter, and Wayne’s wife all came out to greet the men. I stood alone in the parking lot missing my hubby and kids with a stabbing intensity. A short time later, I was surprised by my cousin and aunt (whom I hadn’t seen in over two decades). God gave me the gift of family when I most needed it.

My host family drove me back to their house after the event. Two nights in a row in the same bed was a huge treat. Not only that, but Deanna supplied me with bath salts, body scrubs, lotions, and her huge, deep soaking tub. Ah!!! Heaven.

At some point during out touring, Christopher got a great email from his publisher listing some of the major press that the Fantasy Fiction Tour was gathering.

A.P. Wire service “Everything Sacred” webcast
Publisher’s Weekly
San Diego Union-Times
Alexandria Gazette, VA
Asheville Citizen-Times
The Salt Lake Tribune
Baltimore Sun
Washington Post

In addition, she noted hundreds of online sites talking about our tour.
We rejoiced in her report and prayed it would let people know about some of the new Christian fiction choices in the stores. But while we appreciated this news, I think we honestly found the greatest encouragement in each one-on-one face-to-face encounter.

I also was blessed because my tourmates continued to model the kind of servant hearts that I know Christ wants in His writers. They coached aspiring authors, chatted with young readers and their parents, and took every chance to tell their individual fans, “You’d also like books by the other authors.” Christopher would say, “let me tell you about Bryan’s books.” Wayne would say, “I loved Sharon’s book.” I would say, “if you like the concept of Perelandra, you should read Christopher’s books.” Bryan would say, “take a look at Wayne’s series.”

That wasn’t always the easy, instinctive, human-nature approach. But again and again I saw the tourmates conquer temptations to compare or elbow their way forward. In some stores we dropped in to, a few authors’ books were carried and others weren’t. In the home states of some of the authors, crowds of family and friends came out to support them, while others of us were far from our circles of influence. Some groups were the target demographic of one author but not others. At some events an author would glowingly report how many books he sold while others sold nothing. Again and again I saw the guys make conscious choices to rejoice in the blessings of others. And I can vouch for the fact that we ALL felt greatly blessed by the overall experience.

Saturday we hit the road early to reach Richmond, VA by noon for a Barnes and Noble event. After that our itinerary said we had 2.5 hours to reach Ellicott City, so we grabbed a quick late lunch at a Waffle House and then hit the road. Connie (a friend of Bryan) and her two nephews had come to the event, and were heading to the next event. She asked me to ride with her so we could get acquainted. It was great hearing her “God stories” and answering her questions about my writing journey. At some point I dozed for awhile, and woke up to find we were doing some strange maneuvers getting on and off the freeway trying to avoid traffic. Connie played Mario Andretti as she wove around traffic (with her blinkers NOT working) trying to stay on the tail of Christopher’s car.

Bumper to bumper traffic jams added HOURS to our travel, and the guys had to call our evening event stop to tell them we would arrive late.

This was a special store – His Way Christian Bookstore – one in Wayne’s home turf that has been hugely supportive of his work and other Christian fantasy. I can’t tell you how frustrating it was to do all we could and still arrive late. But what a blessing it was to walk in to see a CROWD waiting for us. Banners (specifically made for us) hung from the ceiling of the story, while swords on the floor guided us to the place where we would sign. A rack had been prepared behind us where we could mount our swords. End cap displays filled the entire length of the center aisle of the store. Best of all were the people. Readers who told us how much the books meant to them. I cherished each hug and every conversation.

As the event began to wrap up around nine or ten, the plan was for all of us to go to a party that one of Wayne’s friends had graciously prepared. After that, we’d be divided up to drive to various host homes. I was so tired, I was tempted to crawl under the signing table and curl up for a nap. The thought of more drives to more places and more interactions before finally having a bed for the night about did me in. Wayne’s wife rescued me. Even though she was helping host the party at one location, she drove me out to my host home and let me in (they were at a ball game that night and not home yet) so I could collapse and get some sleep. I hated missing the party, but I had to concede that I can’t keep the sort of pace I used to back in college days or even as a young parent. I felt a little like Goldilocks, and hoped I’d collapsed into the right bed, but didn’t have time to worry about it because I was old cold in seconds.