Shameless Plug: Madman

For the last few years, I have enjoyed the company of a handful of women writers much more accomplished than I. Collectively, we call each other The Guild. It's been a wonderful experience pooling our thoughts and journeying together through the various stages of the writing process. My friend Tracy has a new book coming out this spring from Moody Press. Madman is a historical novel based on the Gerasene demon-possessed man described in Mark 5.

In addition to having an uber-cool cover, I love the way Tracy bring the biblical landscape to life. My advice: pick up Tracy's first two historical fiction novels, cozy up to a warm fire and get geared up for Madman this spring.

What Next?

So I wrote awhile back that WaterBrook reverted rights to Generation Ex back to me. Thanks to all who wrote me with feedback and kind words of support. The next step is simply making time to work on the new proposal so my agent can shop it around. I have a pretty good idea of where it could end up, but alas, I still have to do the hard work of preparing the materials. (Many applications to life in that statement).

One option we're exploring is pitching Generation Ex as a two book deal, meaning GE would be the first book with another related title to follow. I have several ideas based on material that didn't make the first book (My first draft was 225,000 words. Generation Ex was only 60,000 words.) and suggestions from readers.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these options:

1. Generation Ex and the Quest for Love (or, Getting to I Do After Mom and Dad said I Don't)--focusing on the romance trigger, how to minimize the impact of parental divorce on your own romantic relationships, from dating to marriage.

2. Marrying Generation Ex: this suggestion came from my sister-in-law, who has shared with me the unique challenges someone from an intact home has in marrying into a family affected by divorce.

3. Generation Ex for Teens - When I speak, I briefly talk about the common coping mechanisms that children adopt when dealing with divorce. This book would expand on these ideas.

4. Generation Ex: A Parents Guide - Practical help for parents to minimize the long term effects of divorce on their family

5. Generation Ex Asks Why: answers to the questions most commonly posed by children of divorce, parents, counselors, friends and churches

Most Perfect Love

When I was in college, I was a new Christian and reeling from my mom and stepdad's divorce. Love seemed like a sick joke. As I learned more about my faith, and allowed my heart to heal, a seed of hope took root that someday, I would experience the kind of love that lasts. My prayer partner passed on the following to me, and over the years, I have referred to it, and hoped for it as Proverbs 13:12 came to mind: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Most Perfect Love
Everyone longs to give themself completely to someone—to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God, to a Christian says, “No, not until you are satisfied with living loved by Me alone. I love you, my child, and until you discover that only in me is your satisfaction, you will not be capable to of the perfect love that I have planned for you. I want you to stop planning, stop wanting and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing—one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you. Just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing that satisfaction knowing that I am. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait. Don't be anxious. Don't worry! Don't look at the things you want. Don't look around at the things others have gotten or that I have given them Just keep looking to me or you'll miss what I want to show you. And then, when you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream of. You see, until you are ready—and even to the minute, to have both of you ready at the same time—until you are both satisfied with me and the life I prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me and is thus, perfect love. And dear one, I want you to have this wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh, a picture of your relationship with me and to enjoy the everlasting union of beauty and love. I am God. Believe and be satisfied.
-St. Anthony, 1247.

I am very satisfied with life these days.

Life is good

I haven't been blogging much lately. I have a few things backed up, but for the most part, I've been taking a break from writing and focusing on my offline life. And life is very good.

Hello to my new Ohio friends. Thanks for stopping by. :-)

It's Good To Be Alive

So...God must still have something in store for me...

I've been sick every morning for the last two weeks and thought it was because I'm finally trying to wean off my meds before the 2nd anniversary of my head injury. I just haven't felt well at all. Didn't feel like doing too much but work and sleep the last two weeks so my house was kinda messy. I lit a few candles around the house to mask a weird smell--maybe some lingering food in the garbage. But Thursday I had cleaned up for trash day and it was still a little stinky. When I came home for lunch, I got sick again. When I came back to work and was telling my co-workers they made me call the gas company. They told me to get my dog out of the house and wait for them...and oh, could I be there in five minutes?

When the guy arrived I asked how he'd know if anything was amiss. I was afraid he was just going to tell me I needed to clean my house better! He showed me his detecting wand and said that it would beep if there was gas in the air. The more frequent the beeps, the more gas in the air. We opened the door and...

BEEP! My condo has an open plan so my entry way, dining room kitchen and living room (with 20 ft. ceiling) are all in one big area. He started walking to the kitchen. BEEP....BEEP....BEEP.... then toward the stove...BEEP BEEP BEEP...then to the burner BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. Apparently when I cleaned my stove dials a few weeks ago, I put one on wrong and turned the lighter flame on. I haven't used the stove since then, so apparently it's been on for two weeks. If I didn't have the cathedral ceilings to dissipate the air, and have been crazy busy (and therefore not at home the last two weeks), the guy said I could have blown up the neighborhood! Yikes! And bionic Bailey cheats death again. I'd like an immune system a quarter of her strength!

Thank You, God, for Your protection.