Here’s an old interview that I found in my archives. This interview was posted on the 17 Seeds Blog.
Interview – From The Blog Archives
Leave a reply
Nothing But The Right Thing – From The Archives
Nothing But The Right Thing by Stacy Hawkins Adams
This book was fantastic! I had the pleasure of meeting Stacy Hawkins Adams, the author of Nothing But The Right Thing, at the 2006 Faith-Based Literary Arts Weekend. She can sure write a story that will stay with me for a long time. Erika has been abused by her husband, Elliott, for the last four years. This is a story about her struggles in dealing with abuse.
Meanwhile, Serena, Ericka’s best friend, along with her husband Micah, are dealing with fertility issues.
The characters work through numerous, realistic struggles.
This story shows how we need to lean on God and trust in Him while dealing with our issues.
This is the first book I’ve ever read by Ms. Adams, but I do plan on reading more in the future.
From the back cover:
Serena McDaniels is successful, sassy, and saved. Life is good. She has a loving husband and a new home. But there’s one dream that remains just out of reach. When she left a high-profile advertising agency to pursue her dreams of having a family, Serena never imagined that the stress of her husband’s pastorate and their desire to follow God’s will might delay their dreams of becoming parents. And when a dear friend makes a life-altering decision to leave an abusive relationship, Serena knows she has to help. Will she have to postpone her dreams forever? Or will she hear God’s still, small voice and realize his plan for her? Nothing But the Right Thing is a heartwarming novel that explores the journey of faith, friendship, and the power of prayer.
Vanished By Irene Hannon
Moira is driving on a dark, country road on a rainy night. She’s lost and when she spots a distressed woman, she accidentally hits the woman with her car. Distressed, she wants to help this woman and a man appears, offering her help and solace. Moira then passes out, and when she awakens, she discovers that she can’t find the woman whom she’s hit and she can’t find the man who offered his assistance. Plus, there are other disturbing things that happened during the course of her accident that don’t add up.
Determined to get to the bottom of that dark, rainy night, she hires Cal, a former policeman who runs a private detective agency. Cal and Moira are instantly attracted to one another as they work together, trying to piece together the clues they find from the crime scene.
This is a suspenseful, intriguing romance with Christian characters. The characters are also overcoming their past emotional experiences so that they can be free to find love again. Over all, this was a good read. Thanks to Baker Revell with providing me a free review copy.
Saturday Matinee – Wicker Park
Can you imagine being followed around by a former love interest?
Matt is engaged to his fiancée, Rebecca, and is about to embark on a business trip to China. At a restaurant, he believes he hears the voice of Lisa, his former love interest. Lisa disappeared two years ago and Matt’s always wondered what’s happened to her.
During a series of events, he thinks he spots Lisa various places and you find out more about the history of Matt’s and Lisa’s love affair though flashbacks.
I was so bored with this movie that I couldn’t finish watching it. I think the story moved too slow, and I just couldn’t get into the story.
If you’ve seen this movie, did you enjoy it? If you enjoyed it, it’d be interesting to hear why you liked it.
Food In The Church – From The Blog Archives
Do you remember the events at your church (both past and present) that involved food? If so, what were your favorite dishes?
Growing up, I don’t really recall having many events in my congregation that involved us enjoying food. I grew up a Jehovah’s Witness and at the congregation where my family attended, I only remember a couple of picnics with hot dogs and hamburgers – there may have been other JW food events, and it’s possible that it’s escaped my memory, that was so long ago. These JW events were never at the place of worship, but usually at a park.
Later, as an adult, I initially joined an AME church and they served us spaghetti on the day that they hosted the new member class. I recall, I thought the spaghetti was just okay and the church ladies prepared it in the church kitchen in the basement. The AME church also sponsored an annual picnic every fall. I only attended this picnic one time and it was catered. The food was just okay. I recall eating a hamburger, hot dog, and baked beans.
Later on, right before we got married, my husband and I joined a Baptist church – we still attend this church. The only food event that our church sponsors each year, which we attend, is their annual picnic. Like the AME church mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Baptist church picnic is catered. We didn’t enjoy the food much this year – the burgers were underdone. I hate seeing pink meat in my burger.
What’s the point of this blog post? Well, over the years when I’ve had conversations with people, they’ll sometimes reminisce about church/pot luck suppers sponsored by their church. They’ll also recall certain dishes prepared by the parishioners that were their favorites. Usually it was a favorite dessert (pie, cake or cookies), or a favorite casserole dish. I’ve never had this kind of experience within the church and I wondered if any of you blog readers have? I enjoy talking about food and as you know, I’ve also shared recipes on this blog.
So, do you remember any favorite church events, past or present, that involved food? What kind of event was it? What were your favorite dishes? Were any of these events catered, or did the parishioners provide the food?
Leave your responses in the comments!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all of my blog readers!
Question: What are you doing on this New Year’s Day?
I wish all of my blog readers a safe, happy and blessed New Year’s day! 
Creating Characters
How do you create characters for your stories?
This question is for the writers who read my blog. What do you do when you create your characters? At the end of this blog post you’ll find a character chart that I use to help me to create my people. I have no idea where this chart originated. I believe I gleaned some of it from a Writers’ Digest book about creating characters. It’s also possible that I got some of the questions from another author. I’m creating a novel now, and I had to pull this out to create the people that go along with my story.
What method do you use for creating characters? Leave a comment!
Questions that should be answered when creating characters for novels:
Character Name:
Age:
Physical Characteristics:
Best Feature:
Feelings about their own looks:
Clothes:
Ethnic Background:
Siblings/Relatives:
Neighborhood of Youth:
Education:
Church affiliation:
What they believe about God:
Parent’s Attitudes about:
Money/Getting Ahead:
Discipline received:
Friends:
Spouse/Children:
Job:
Neighborhood:
Attitude about:
Money/Getting Ahead:
Sex:
Hobbies:
Favorite Foods:
Favorite Music:
Favorite Movie/Book:
Friends:
Fears/Inhibitions:
Guilt:
Longings/Goals:
Weaknesses:
Strong Points:
Habits:
Pet Peeves:
RULING TRAIT:
A character question: Does your character MAKE things happen or REACT to what happens?
What is the most significant/emotional things that have happened in your character’s life?
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, everyone! How will you be spending your holiday – both Christmas and New Year’s? Leave a comment!
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2
Christ Born of Mary
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Christmas Belles Of Georgia
This is a nice novella collection to read over the holidays. You can purchase Christmas Belles of Georgia from Amazon for only $1.99! Download it onto your Kindle!
From the backcover:
They were sisters once—identical quadruplets—given up for adoption at birth. Now each receives a letter advising her to claim her inheritance and the family she never knew. . .at Christmas. Holly feels betrayed when she learns she’s adopted, while Carol prays for a loving family. Starr thinks it’s all a hoax, and Noelle needs a break from a hopeless situation. There are more surprises in store as each young woman gets just the gift she wants—and needs. You’ll be warmed by love in these interwoven tales of the ultimate Christmas gift. . . .
Family Christmas Traditions – From The Blog Archives!
Christmas Traditions should be kept fun and simple.
To celebrate Christmas with my family each year, we bake several kinds of cookies. Every weekend, I make a different type. Last weekend it was chocolate chip. This coming weekend with be peanut butter. The weekend after that will probably be oatmeal raisin and rolled sugar cookies. I’ve always loved baking and I have a major sweet tooth, so doing these activities with my son is fun, relaxing, soothing, and delicious!
As the years go by, we’ll probably add more to our Christmas traditions. For example, my son is now five, and this is the first year he’s asked for a Christmas tree. I was raised in a religion that didn’t allow Christmas celebrations, and as an adult, I’ve never felt compelled to purchase a tree for my home. My husband never really wanted a tree either. When we went shopping for a fake tree at Kmart last Saturday, I suddenly felt overwhelmed from the crowds, long lines, and tall trees – trees that I did not want to bring into my home. The trees just seemed so big to me! So, we rushed home and I ordered a small 4 1/2 foot tree online. The tree even comes with lights! The tree arrived in the mail yesterday, and we’ll assemble it within the next few days. I’m sure this will become another yearly Christmas tradition in our home – putting up the tree!
What are your favorite family Christmas traditions? Do you add traditions as the years go by? As you get older, do you stop certain Christmas traditions?
Merry Christmas! 🙂