Ed Dobson’s The Year of Living Like Jesus is a real trip “outside the box” of what you’d typically expect from a guy with a fundamentalist Christian background. His desire to follow in the dust of Jesus’ footsteps without the constraints of organized religion really resonates within me, yet weeks after putting this book down, I’m still struggling with some of Ed’s decisions. Take the following quote from the book, for example:

“Some of my best experiences in living like Jesus have come because of alcohol. Jesus was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard, and you can’t be accused of being that unless you eat food and drink wine.” p. 163

My sister attended Liberty University when Ed Dobson was Dean of Students and Vice President. Her memories of him are stellar. This man was well respected and loved, and known for being genuinely interested in a one on one level, even as busy as he must have been. So when Zondervan contacted me, offering a free copy of this book in exchange for a written review, I thought, why not?

It’s interesting to note that Dobson’s approach to living like Jesus began by immersing himself in the Jewish way of life…eating kosher foods, observing the Sabbath, wearing tassles. It also led him to a gentle exploring of the traditions and prayers held by the Catholic and Orthodox religions. It led him into bars, the wilderness, and to quite a bit of criticism at the hands of God’s people. But in the end, it taught him that following Jesus is so much more than keeping his meat separate from his cheese at mealtime. I think Mr. Dobson is as gracious as my sister remembers him to be, and though I don’t agree with certain aspects of his journey in this book, I must admit that his experiences caused me quite a bit of soul searching in the areas of reaching the lost, and breaching the divide that exists between most church designations.  Living like Jesus requires complete obedience in hard things, in things we might question and resist. This read was a refreshing and sometimes shocking look into one man’s attempt to go God’s way even when he knew he’d be misunderstood and condemned.

Here are a few more quotes from the book to intrigue you…

“Since I knew it was illegal to use electronic devices during takeoff, I struggled with the decision to shut off my iPod…but listening would be deceptive, and deception is not living Jesus-ly.” p. 16

“Today I don’t feel like reading or praying. After ten intense days, I’m tired of it.” p. 24

“I’ve always had trouble knowing what to pray in regard to my ALS. I have a degenerative, incurable, and terminal disease. It’s only a matter of time. So how do I pray?” p. 74

“We’ve developed our own subculture within the larger culture. We have our own churches, our own small groups, our own Christian schools, our own universities, our own publishing houses, our own magazines, our own radio stations…I’m not denying the value of these things, but I am saying that they discourage people from being out in ‘the real world.’ And the real world is sick and it needs a doctor.” p. 174

Media Press Release for Ed Dobson’s The Year of Living Like Jesus

Evangelical pastor Ed Dobson had a radical idea…

“Live one year as Jesus lived. Eat as Jesus ate. Pray as Jesus prayed. Observe the sabbath as Jesus observed. Attend the Jewish festivals as Jesus attended. Read the Gospels every week.”

Dobson’s transition from someone who follows Jesus to someone who lives like Jesus takes him into bars, inspires him to pick up hitchhikers, and deepens his understanding of suffering.

Living like Jesus is quite different from what we imagine.

“It may appear from the cover that this is a nice book about growing a beard because Jesus did but be warned- you will quickly discover that Ed’s adventure takes him, and us, deep into the heart of grace, mercy and the endless discovery of just what the way of Jesus looks like – which, of course, has very little to do with having a beard.”-Rob Bell, Jesus Wants To Save Christians

About the Author

Ed Dobson, pastor emiritus of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as an advisory editor for Christianity Today and consulting editor for Leadership. He holds an earned doctorate from the University of Virginia, was named “Pastor of the Year” by Moody Bible Institute, and is author of numerous books, including Prayers and Promises When Facing a Life-Threatening Illness. He moved to the United States in 1964 from Northern Ireland and now lives with his family in Grand Rapids.

Go here to learn more about Ed Dobson

Read other blog reviews of The Year of Living Like Jesus

Buy the book at Christianbook.com or Amazon!

Snow Melts in Spring

Back Cover Copy

SHE LOVES THE LAND. Mattie Evans grew up in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Although her family has lost their ranch, she still calls this land home. A skilled young veterinarian, she struggles to gain the confidence of the local ranchers. Fortunately, her best friend and staunchest supporter is John McCray, owner of the Lightning M Ranch. They both love the ranch, and neither can imagine living anywhere but in the Flint Hills.

HE’S HAUNTED BY IT. Gil McCray, John’s estanged son, is a pro football player living in California. The ranch is where his mother died and where every aspect of the tallgrass prairie stirs unwanted memories. Gil decides leaving the ranch is the best solution for his ailing father and his own ailing heart. But he doesn’t count on falling in love.

FALLING IN LOVE ISN’T AN OPTION. OR IS IT? When Mattie is called in to save an injured horse, she finds herself unwillingly tossed into the middle of a family conflict. Secret pain, passions, and agendas play out against the beautiful landscapes as love leads to some unexpected conclusions about forgiveness and renewal.

Mary’s take on the book…

I have to tell you that the opening pages in this story impressed me so much that I had to grab my 11 year old daughter–who is both a book lover AND a horse fanatic–and read them aloud to her as an example of a great hook to keep readers reading! For a first time author, Deborah earned my confidence in her abilities right off the bat. She nailed the Flint Hills, her characters are wonderful, and I silently grinned at all the ways this book is so right on!

About Deborah Vogts

Deborah, a  stay-at-home mother of three daughters, resides in SE Kansas where her family raises and trains American Quarterhorses.  After reading Snow Melts in Spring, I have to say that my hubby and her hubby must share similar preferences on quality equine bloodlines. It was fun to recognize and approve of the bloodlines the McCray’s wanted for their breeding program.

Deborah enjoys baking, gardening, teaching Sunday School, reading, sewing and playing the piano. Her family is also involved in 4H.

Author Interview

Where did you get the idea for the book?
Years ago, I took a Flint Hills Folklife summer course at Emporia State University that was taught by Dr. Jim Hoy. Along with classroom study, we took field trips into the heart of the Flint Hills and visited with old-time ranchers, schoolmarms and post-mistresses. It was such a delightful experience, especially our drives into the pastures. We would get on these back roads and drive over pasture guards into the open range. We would travel for miles without seeing another car or even an electric line—just pure, native prairie. That summer, I fell in love with the Flint Hills and it has stayed with me all this time. I’m so glad I have this chance to share this place with my readers through the Seasons of the Tallgrass series.

What are the major themes of the book?
Forgiveness & Honesty. There are many family relationship issues in this story, whether it’s Gil’s wounded relationship with his dad, Mattie’s guarded relationship with her parents and sisters, and even the precious friendships found in the least-expected places.

What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
I did lots of research on the Flint Hills and on ranching. I also studied and visited various veterinarians and tagging behind a couple of them for an afternoon was fun. My male lead character, Gil, is a retiring professional quarterback, so learning more about football was fun, too. I know my husband especially enjoyed my “newfound interest” in the game. LOL.

With which character do you, personally, identify most and why??
Mattie Evans is a large animal veterinarian in the ranching community of Charris County. Although she struggles with her practice, she is determined to settle in the Flint Hills, a place that is firmly planted in her heart. Almost against her will, she finds herself falling in love with the owner of one of her patient’s—a man who is determined to run away from the Flint Hills and his problems at home.

Like Mattie, I love the country life and in particular, the Flint Hills. As a young woman, I remember living in Topeka, KS and yearning for wide open spaces. I soon found myself returning to my home roots. My character Mattie is intent on never leaving hers. I guess I can identify with that.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That though you may have your life all mapped out, you need to be open to the path God wants you to travel AND be prepared to follow it once He points you in that direction. I also hope to give my readers a taste of the Flint Hills and of how God’s beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.

Where are you headed next?
I’m continuing on with the Seasons of the Tallgrass series. I’m waiting for edits of my second book, Seeds of Summer and have started working on my third book, tentatively titled Blades of Autumn. One of the neatest parts of the publishing process is seeing what the creative team comes up with for a cover. I’m eager to view the cover for Seeds of Summer, a story about a former Miss Rodeo Kansas queen, and her return to the Flint Hills to care for her deceased father’s ranch and her two younger siblings. After the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, I’ll wait for God’s lead to see what happens next.

Thank you, Deborah, for sharing your book with me and the readers here at Home-steeped Hope.

Important Links

Buy Snow Melts in Spring on Amazon

Visit Deborah Vogts’ Website and Deborah Vogts’ Blog

Deborah Vogts’s Facebook Profile

Follow Deborah Vogts on Twitter

Check out this List of all participating bloggers

The Snow Melts in Spring Flickr group

From the back cover:

Celia Martin has the world at her door as she wrestles with the most important decision of her life. It is one that will set her feet onto a path from which there is no return. As she stands on the threshold of choosing her way, she faces the question every person wrestles with at some point in her life–which way is the right way? Let Me Fly takes the reader through the joys, heartaches, and victories of discovering God’s chosen path. This memorable story is filled with unforgettable characters that mold Celia and support the budding woman as she learns the hard lesson of where the path of the world leads. Will Celia marry the dark, handsome Vince and travel the world with a man claiming a never-ending love? Or will she wait for a different kind of security? Will her dream of happiness be crushed by an adulterous affair?

Mary’s thoughts

Let Me Fly has an old-fashioned pace to it that one can just sink into, following its heartbeat to the conclusion. I loved the theme: small town-turned big city girl searching for fulfillment only to realize that the path to true happiness isn’t always lined by ivory towers.

A loss in Celia’s past is a haunting one which continues to affect her and her relationships. I cringed for her at several turns in the book, relating to her inner doubts and struggles, and wondering how it could all come out right. Yet it does, in and around the picturesque community of Clear Creek, Celia’s home town. Author Elisa Mayo has put together a heart-warming cast of characters and a storyline with several surprises!

A brief interview with Elisa Mayo:

Welcome to Home-steeped Hope, Elisa, and thank you for sharing your book here with me and my friends.

How did Let Me Fly come to life for you? I’m curious if it was influenced at all by your own life and circumstances. For instance, are you a small town girl at heart? The country scenes in your book were very authentic, I enjoyed them.

Let Me Fly was a story the Lord laid on my heart years ago. I toyed with the idea, leaving it idle on my computer, until I finally accepted the Lord’s call on my life and finished the book. In some ways, the book has parts of me in it. But, it also has parts of other people–both real and imagined.

For some time I struggled with the world’s success and where I fit in the picture. Finally, I realized I didn’t. As a child of God, I could not pursue the world’s definition of success and the Lord’s perfect will. What I discovered was by following the Lord’s will for my life, I AM successful.

I was born and raised in a rural town. I thought at times I wanted to escape from the country and wrestle with the big city. In those dreams, I think mainly I was running from problems in my life. When, I finally handed those problems to the Lord, He showed me who I was and works everyday to remind me–I am His. That is where true contentment comes from. Now, if I can hold on to that for more than just a moment! (smile)

Great answer, Elisa. Especially the part about how the world’s definition of success vies with God’s. What is your hope for the readers of Let Me Fly?

My hope is the Lord uses the book to reach those He had in mind when I wrote it. Even if that was only me. I have had some responses from the book that touched me deep in my soul and even if I know Let Me Fly isn’t my best work yet, I know that there was a purpose. The Lord has a plan and already there have been many women say, “Wow, I always wondered if anyone else wrestled with that”. That’s when I realize that the entire process has been well worth it. Just for us to know that we have a kinship, beneath all of our imperfections, we have all been called for a greater purpose. I hope readers discover that nugget of knowledge.

That sympathetic unity is so important, especially as we share with others how God has been there for us, growing us through our own particular heartaches.

Have you a favorite scripture to share, or any parting words of wisdom for us busy moms, about keeping our priorities close to heart and home?

One of my favorite verses is, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” So often we worry and struggle in anxiety, thinking the Lord isn’t working in our life, causing our hearts to be sick and sad. If in those times we would only put our hope in Him and His plans (those that we can’t see) our roots would grow deep and strong, able to hold us through the hard times and pull a deep knowing faith to the surface of our lives.

Also, hug your children and let them know they were created by an awesome God–so what does that make them? And love your husband–often, we neglect them and it is to our own detriment, their love and support is God’s blessing to us. Keep it alive!

Excellent advice, to keep our hope in Him and His plans, and trust Him to unfold them as we walk in His ways.

Thank you again, Elisa, and may God bless the next novel He lays on your heart!

Be sure to visit Elisa Mayo at her website:

http://www.elisamayo.com/

About Shadow of Treason…

Sophie discovers that nothing is as she first imagined. When Walt, the reporter who helped her over the border, shows up again after Guernica is bombed, Sophie is given an impossible mission. She must leave behind the man she’s fallen in love with and return to the person who betrayed her. Another layer of the war in Spain is revealed as Sophie is drawn into the international espionage schemes that could turn the tide of the war and help protect the soldiers from the International Brigade … she must find a way to get a critical piece of information to Walt in time.

Mary‘s thoughts…

The kids? Outside. Supper? Leftovers. Me? Cozy in my reading chair flipping pages in this book! At chapter ten I tore myself away and quickly put this post together for my stop on her blog tour! I’m hooked. I love Tricia’s portrait of war-torn Spain, its passionate people and whew, intrigue all over the place! If you love historicals, and want to learn about the Spanish Civil War in a most enjoyable way…invest in this series!

Q and A with Tricia:

Q: A Shadow of Treason follows A Valley of Betrayal. This is the first time you’ve written books as a series instead of stand alone. Which way do you like better?

A: I love writing in series. It was great to continue with the same characters. In my stand-alone books I fell in love with these people and then I had to say good-bye after one book. It was wonderful to be able to continue on.

Q: In A Shadow of Treason Sophie must return to the person who betrayed her in an effort to help the Spanish people. It makes the book hard to put down because the reader has to know how Sophie’s heart will deal with it. Why did you decide to make this an element of the book?

A: There are very few of us who go through life without giving away a part of our hearts to someone who didn’t deserve it. Even though Sophie had the best intentions, she gave away her heart and she was hurt-not only that she must revisit those emotions.

I wanted to include this element-to delve into the topic that emotions are sometimes as big of a trap as any physical cage. Emotions are real and they guide us — even when we don’t want to admit it. Poor Sophie, not only does she have to deal with a war around her — she also has to deal with a war within herself. It’s something I’ve battled, and mostly likely others have too.

Q: There is an interesting element that arises in this book and that is Spanish gold. I know you can’t tell us what happens in this book, but can you give us a brief history of this gold?

A: Sure. When I was researching I came upon something interesting. The Spaniards, as we know, had taken much Aztec and Inca gold during the time of the conquistadors. Well, at the start of The Spanish Civil War much of this gold was still held in Madrid. In fact Spain had the fourth largest gold reserves in the world at that time. The Republican government was afraid Franco would take the city and the gold. They had to get it out of Madrid and this included transporting priceless artifacts. The element of gold does make its way into my story. It was great to include this little-known (and true!) element into my story.

Q: Another historical fact I learned about was the Nazi involvement during this time. Not only were the Germans active in Spain, but they had spy networks busy around the world. How did you find out about this?

A: I love reading tons of research books. Usually I find one little element that I dig out and turn into a plot line. This is what happened with my plot-line for the Nazi pilot, Ritter. I dug up this bit of research of Nazi involvement in Spain — and the United States — because a lot of people aren’t aware of the Nazi involvement prior to WWII. The truth is they were busy at work getting the land, information, and resources they needed far before they threatened the nations around them. The Germans knew what they wanted and how to get it. And most of the time they succeeded!

Q: A Shadow of Treason is Book Two. When will Book Three be out? Can you give us a hint of how the story continues?

A: Book Three is A Whisper of Freedom. It will be out February 2008. The characters that we love are all still in the midst of danger at the end of Book Two. Book Three continues their stories as we follow their journeys in — and (for a few) out — of Spain. It’s an exciting conclusion to the series!

Q: Wow, so we have a least one more fiction book to look forward to in the near future. Are you working on any non-fiction?

A: Yes, I have two non-fiction books that will be out the early part of 2008. Generation NeXt Marriage is a marriage book for today’s couples. It talks about our marriage role models, our struggles, and what we’re doing right as a generation. It also gives advice for holding it together.

I’ve also been privileged to work on the teen edition of Max Lucado’s book 3:16. It was a great project to work on. What an honor!

*********

Tricia Goyer is the author of six novels, two nonfiction books, and one children’s book. Her novel Night Song won ACFW’s Book of the Year for Long Historical Romance. In 2006, her novel Dawn of a Thousand Nights also won Book of the Year for Long Historical. Tricia lives in Montana with her husband and three kids where she homeschools, leads children’s church, and mentors teenage mothers.

You can find Tricia at any of these locations:

It’s Real Life Blog
GenX Parents Blog
CCM Blog
Shoutlife Blog
MySpace Blog
My Writing Mentor Blog

Or at her website: www.triciagoyer.com

And a mini-interview with Tricia:

Q. Tell me about My Life, Unscripted

“Sure! With real-life scripts, screenwriting terms, and timely topics, My Life, Unscripted helps teen girls explore their own inner struggles and outward relationships. It’s my hope they’ll learn the importance of “scripting” their own responses BEFORE challenging life-situations arise. By contrasting real-life with TV/movies, it’s my hope that teen girls will understand they don’t have to get caught up in the drama. They don’t have to face situations as they arise, but rather they can think about, pray about, and consider how to face these situations before they hit the big screen of their lives.”

Q: Is it true that much of YOUR story shows up in these pages?

“Gulp. Yes, I’m afraid so. In fact, I shared parts of my story that I SWORE I’d never tell a soul.

My teenage script, portrayed in the book as Trish Valley, wasn’t one I’d suggest my daughter, nor my readers to copy.”

Q. Tell me about these scripts.

“The introductory script of Trish Valley shows a scene where Trish urges her mom to follow Trish’s boyfriend into the McDonald’s parking lot so she can “spill her news.” The other girl in the car and her boyfriend’s response to Trish’s pregnancy are unfortunately not fiction. I wrote out the scenes as they would appear in an actual script. I even use all the correct terms and layout. “

Q. In addition to teen pregnancy, what are some of the other “scripts”?

“Do I have to tell? Well, I guess it’s in print now…Let me see: fist fights with a rival, sneaking out of my parents’ house, getting caught by my borgriend kissing his best friend…does that give you an idea? Do I have to go on?

Q. No, you can stop there. But WHY? Why did you decide to share these stories?

“First, because I want girls to understand the heartache of unwise decisions. I want them to be able to relate to me…rather than feeling preached at. Also, I wanted to share my stories because many young women have faced the same type of situations, or they know friends who have. And finally because they are great object lessons for the importance of following biblical truth. That is something I did learn!”

Come back tomorrow to find out my opinion of My Life, Unscripted! And in the meantime, check out Tricia’s blog–It’s Real Life , and her website. A fun and fascinating lady, she’s authored many fiction and non-fiction books, and is a wife and homeschooling mom living in Montana!

Oh! And make sure to comment on tomorrow’s post to be entered in a drawing for your very own copy of My Life, Unscripted!

Here are some places on the web where you can regularly find Amy:

• http://peek-a-booicu.blogspot.com
• www.defendersofhope.com
• www.amywallace.com
• http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/159052747X
• link to Ransomed Dreams chapter excerpt

Amy, welcome to Home-steeped Hope, and thank you for agreeing to do a special homeschooling interview for me. I loved Ransomed Dreams and have so enjoyed getting to know you, and discovering all we have in common.

Thanks for having me over, Mary, and for your very kind words! God is good to have brought us together and I’ve enjoyed our growing friendship as well. Friends to share the journey make it a thousand times sweeter. Online friends with their encouraging blogs and emails are some of my favorite people to hang out with. Especially since online friends can keep in touch after the homeschooling day is done or even in between grading tests, wiping noses, and reading one more book.

I know from our email exchanges that homeschooling is near and dear to your heart. Would you mind sharing a little about your homeschooling journey? What influenced you and your husband to home educate? How long have you been at it, what ages are your children, and what keeps you focused?

God put the desire to homeschool in my heart long before He blessed me with children. In college, I watched my younger brother graduate from the same high school as I had but with far less of an education. I remember talking over the idea of homeschooling with God even then. After my husband and I met and married and our first daughter joined us two years later, God had to do some work on my husband’s heart before he agreed to the homeschool path. His experiences with homeschoolers were far from what he wanted for his children. But as we watched our oldest grow and start reading by age 2, we both knew teaching her at home was the best academic option for her. Then we saw in action that it was the best option for all of our hearts too. I never realized what a sinner I was until I started homeschooling and saw daily my need for forgiveness and my total dependence on His grace to sustain us all. That’s part of why I say homeschooling is the best option for our family; it’s brought us closer to God. In addition, it’s knit our family tightly together. We laugh, read, explore, and dream together. Without homeschooling we simply wouldn’t have the time to do much of that at all.

We’ve “officially” (meaning used a curriculum) homeschooled since my oldest was two, so that puts us doing this for eight years now. In addition to my oldest, who’ll be ten in August, we have two more girls. My middle daughter, age seven, will be in second grade this coming year and we’re starting pre-school with our baby who will be four in October.

What keeps me focused is the conviction that God called our family to this educational and lifestyle choice. That’s what keeps me pulling out the books and praying when the days are tough. What keep me going on the good days are the smiles of my kiddos, the great discussions we enter into almost daily, and the joy they exude in reading and using their imaginations as we make all sorts of cool art, science and history projects.

I’m always looking for great recommendations on homeschooling resources and curriculums. Which ones have really blessed your family, and why?

We all love Veritas and Sonlight books. My girls read and re-read our “schoolbooks” for fun because they love the historical biographies and great children’s literature we use in our curriculum. We use Veritas history as our base curriculum because I love the intertwining of religious and secular history, especially when we started with Creation and ancient civilizations and saw what public school text books left out of the timeline of history. Learning about history from a Biblical worldview along with some interesting secular sources have really brought the past alive and helped us understand more of the world we live in today. We also use Veritas and Sonlight because they are so reader oriented. We’re a family of readers and have learned so much from the amazing books we’ve had the privilege to enjoy over the years. My girls have also really enjoyed Apologia science and Math-U-See. We’ve had a ball with Meet The Masters art programs and different History Pocket guides as well as various Lift the Lid products. For Language Arts I really like Shurley Grammar. My oldest loves the time we spend together going over the lessons and has become an excellent writer. I’ve learned a lot too. J

Being a homeschooling mom myself, and also a writer, I wonder how you manage your time. Homemaking is a full-time job, and so is homeschooling. My writing time often gets lost in the shuffle, so I’d love some practical tips as to how you balance all your priorities while maintaining your passion for them.

I couldn’t homeschool and write without my family’s support and sacrifice. What’s worked for us is my hubby and girls do the cleaning on Saturdays while mommy disappears in her office to write for 12-15 hours. The rest of the week is school and family time and then I do some office work at nap/ quiet times and at night.

We keep a pretty regular schedule as to what we do on which day too. For example, I get laundry tackled on Monday in between answering questions and guiding schoolwork. On Tuesdays I do ironing while my oldest and middle daughters take turns doing their reading assignments. On Wednesday we do the big history project for the week in addition to other everyday subjects, and on Thursdays we have tests and fun science experiments. On Fridays we do art and language~ this year we’re working on Latin~ and we have fun family night after Daddy gets home so we cap off our week with some laughter and relaxation. I schedule all my homeschool lessons for the year during one very packed month in the summer. I’ve found that a huge help in making the week to week activities run more smoothly. I build in some wiggle room too for unexpected things like illnesses, impromptu family events, and writing related responsibilities.

I’m afraid that all sounds so “easy” to do in print. It’s not. Planning the lessons for the year is a month long wrestling match and/ or prayer session with God. Handling the day to day stuff is also only done well when I’m depending on the Lord and doing that which He’s called and promised to equip me to do today. I’ve learned over the years that my priorities~ my family and obedience to God’s call to write~ require my saying no to a lot of good things. I’ve had to cut back on my teaching responsibilities at church. And there are many times I miss just hanging out with friends or going to the park or a fun Saturday event. I make time to do that some, but not near as much as I’d like to. But most days I go to bed satisfied (albeit tired), knowing I’ve done what God had for me to do today.

Tell us about your writing journey. What triggered those first days at the computer, spent spilling out Gracie and Steven’s story? What was your first confirmation that this book would one day be on Christian bookstore shelves?

What ushered Ransomed Dreams into existence was a combination of the amazing duo of God and my hubby nudging me in the direction of novel writing. It started with a series of novels I stumbled upon from a homeschool list of great books. I read the grown-up novels and then asked my husband to read them too. We’d talk them over and I’d tell him what I’d change. After about seven he said I should write my own.

Then came the dream about a mom in trouble and an FBI agent with a wounded heart. After that God and David got things rolling quickly with a “coincidental” meeting with a Secret Service agent, my joining ACFW (an AWESOME group for fiction writers), and an injury that sidelined me from active mom duty and gave me six weeks in a cast—plenty of time to hammer out the first draft of what became Ransomed Dreams. David had nothing to do with the injury, (I caught my toddler from the impending doom of landing face first on our concrete walkway. I took her place in the ER with torn tendons.) but he did work from home and do mom duty plus his workload. Right from the beginning, writing was a family project.

As far as confirmation, I really never thought about not pursuing publication. God had so clearly led me down this path, I simply followed out of obedience and many times pure awe that God pointed me in this direction. Outside confirmation came from my first ACFW conference and the interest in my writing from authors and editors. Those gift-from-God meetings, friendships, and critique partners fed the dream and gave me the courage to keep pursuing publication.

How long had you been writing before you got an agent? Was this a hard process?

I started writing in early 2002, and after my first ACFW conference in October of that year, I started putting out a select few proposals to editors and agents. One of the first agents I submitted to took about six months to get back to me, but when he did he offered a contract and was very excited about my first novel. The time period between when I started writing to when I signed with an agent was roughly about two years. I wouldn’t say it was a hard process, but the waiting was excruciating. What helped was the commitment to keep writing and not just sit around and wait to see what happened with my first book.

I would strongly advise writers to take this process slowly, prayerfully, and with good recommendations. A bad agent is far worse than no agent. That writer relationship is one of the most important ones you’ll make in the publishing business, so be sure it’s the very best one for you and your career.

Describe to this ‘wanna-be author’ what you were doing when you found out Multnomah wanted to publish Ransomed Dreams.

I was working on another series of novels in a totally different genre, one I’d had a ball writing. So when the email came that said Multnomah was interesting in talking about Ransomed Dreams, I seriously considered turning it down. But after much prayer and soul-searching, and with plenty of trepidation I continued to dialogue with the people at Multnomah and they offered me a contract about three months after we started discussing the possibilities with Ransomed Dreams.

When the contract offer came I literally got sick. Somehow I knew God had called me into a difficult thing and I had an inkling the path ahead wasn’t going to be a walk through the park. It has been anything but. And while there are plenty of days I wish for a path filled with roses and ease, God has shown up in big ways every step. I had a lot to learn about myself and God and I suppose the tough journey I’ve been on was the only way I was going to “get it.” I’m really praying the next leg of the trip is a little smoother.

How has being a published author with deadlines affected your other responsibilities? For instance, could you take us through a typical day in your life? I know it’s still summer, but humor me and let’s pretend its fall with the school year in full swing.

The biggest way a contract and deadlines have affected me is the increase temptation to worry and let guilt eat away at my insides. When I’m writing, I feel guilty that my kids aren’t getting to see enough of “fun mommy.” When I’m teaching, I sometimes struggle to keep focused there and not on my story or other work-related responsibilities. And when I’m just having fun with my kids, I wonder if that’s enough. But this is one area God keeps showing me over and over how faithful He is and how little my worry accomplishes. I can say I’m handling this year’s deadlines far better than I did last year’s. But I still have so much to learn and I see often how small my faith really is. I’m thankful every day how very big our heavenly Daddy is for every facet of my life.

A typical writing day is Saturday, where I get up with my kids and sometimes eat with them, sometimes not, depending on my goals for the day. I usually get started with work around 10 AM and do a little email, send prayer updates to my prayer team, and then jump in and immerse myself in the story. I jump out for a quick bite and walk with my family in the evening and then my day doesn’t end until 12 or 1 AM. During the week, we homeschool from breakfast till naptime, (quiet time and independent work time for the older two) and then I do some writing related business stuff, (emails, interviews, book research, marketing, writer’s group business, etc.) Sunday school lessons, and exercise. After bedtime it’s more of the same with some meetings and, as much as I can plan it, some time with friends or pleasure reading. My hubby and I plan a date night every Friday and then we hang out as a family on Sunday.

What can you tell us about future books in the Defenders of Hope series?

The second book in the series, Healing Promises, focuses on Clint and Sara’s story (but continues Gracie and Steven’s too) and is due out in April of 2008. This book explores how an FBI agent and his oncologist wife handle the diagnosis of cancer and a serial killer who eludes capture. Everything is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

Book 3, set for an April 2009 release, is Michael and Hanna’s story and intertwines the issues of healing from sexual abuse with the FBI action plot centering on a racially motivated killer. The main question explored in this book is: What is justice?

Do you have any parting words of advice?

Dream big! God is not thwarted by our to-do lists and insecurities any more than He’s handicapped by our brokenness and fear. He’s amazing at taking our shattered and/ or super busy lives and working awesome redemption, healing, and hope. All He needs is our willingness to obey and for us to step off what seems like an impossibly high cliff of the unknown and trust He’s there to keep us safely in the palm of His hand.

He loves you and has a very good plan for each and every one of His children. We teach that to our kiddos. Sometimes I think we moms need that reminder too.

And finally, do you have a favorite scripture that’s been on your heart lately?

A scripture God keeps bringing me back to time and again is 2 Samuel 24:24: “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God that which costs me nothing.” True worship is costly and writing and mommying are acts of worship that will cost much. Motherhood, like the writing life, is a life of sacrifice and stretching, tears and tough choices. But our offering of obedience and praise as we walk with Him, is one in which the Lord delights and receives with Fatherly pride and smiles of love. It helps me to remember we go from strength to strength—God’s, not ours. He will provide everything we need every step of the way.

Thank you, Amy, for making my very first author interview such a treat. I know your heart-chocolate here will bless many hearts as it has blessed my own.