Songs of Christmas- O Holy Night

It’s one of the most notable carols of Christmas. A French poem set to music by Adolphe Adam in 1847, O Holy Night has become a standard – especially as a solo. The literal translation from French to English makes the words all the more poignant.

Here is the first verse as translated from the original French:

Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour,

When God-man descended to us

To erase the stain of original sin

And to end the wrath of His Father.

The entire world thrills with hope

On this night that gives it a Savior.

People kneel down, wait for your deliverance.

Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer,

Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!

Well – we have a whole HOST of authors who picked O Holy Night as their favorite Christmas song.

My fav Christmas song (oh, do I have to pick just one!!?) would be “O Holy Night” because, when I sing it or hear it sung, I feel the glory and majesty in the music and the wording which reflects Christ’s birth. It makes me cry every time even though I’ve heard it hundreds, perhaps thousands of times. Sigh.

Laura Frantz (author of The Colonel’s Lady  and Courting Morrow Little)

 

 

 

 

This is hard to narrow down but I think my very favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. The lyrics are a powerful picture of how everything changed when Jesus was born. When I hear it or sing it I want to fall on my face before the Lord, weeping in thanksgiving, for the gift of our Lord and Savior – Jesus. LOVE it!

Jamie Carie, who also left some wonderful links to versions of O Holy Night, is author of The Guardian Duke and Pirate of My Heart.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ-8jYpa1-o– celtic women

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jr-2eyRtV4 – the amazing Celine Dion

And my sister from another mother :-) the fabulous Mariah Carey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEJmP8T07JU&feature=fvsr

My favorite Christmas Carol is O Holy Night.

 

O Holy Night is the essence of why we celebrate Christmas. God gave the gift of eternal life in His Son Jesus Christ when the world least expected it. Because of His perfect gift, we give to those we love. We can’t ever out-give God; His blessings are eternal. But we can symbolize the ultimate, by giving to others—the poor, the needy, the unloved. O Holy Night speaks to our souls where words and emotion fail to communicate the love of Christmas.

DiAnn Mills - (author of Attracted to Fire and Under a Desert Sky)

 

Stop by for more Christmas songs on Wednesday with Julie Lessman & Missy Tippens’ favorites!!

 

 

 

Friends in ‘westerly’ places

While at ACFW I have the wonderful opportunity to meet people I’d only chatted with online. Of course, meeting the fabulous FIFITEEN of Seekerville is always a delight – and getting to hug on my fellow Alley Cats from The Writers Alley was another joy.

 

But I also got to meet marvelous ladies like Susan Ann Mason, a constant encourager and fabulous writer.

 

A Genesis finalist and magnificent lady, Karen Schravemade (who happens to have one of the coolest accents around)

Authors I want to be like when I grow up – like Ruth Axtell Morren, Liz Curtis Higgs, and Kaye Dacus.

 

And friends I NEVER grow tired of hugging – like Audra Harders, Laura Frantz, Mary Connealy, and Angie Dicken.

 

It’s pretty remarkable how God takes all these different people from different places and binds them together with a love for Him and the joy of writing.

I am SOOOOOOO glad He does! Aren’t you?

Post ACFW – part 2

I’ve been out of town the past few days for my grandfather’s funeral, so I’m sorry I haven’t posted more pics. It’s weird being on this side of the emotional roller coaster of ACFW – back to work – my grandfather’s death – and back to work. My brain is numb!

Let me start off with two beautiful ladies (and great encouragers) that I met on Friday at lunch. Debby Mayne and Trish Perry were phenomenal. Debby just showered me with encouragement and even took me to meet her agent, Tamela Hancock Murray (another pleasure). With more books than I had time to count on her website, Debby’s advice and friendship meant so much to me.  Thanks, Debby!!

I just have to say that encouragement was EVERYWHERE – almost in every smile I saw.

I LOVED this pic from Casey’s stash. It’s of me, Case, and the lovely Laura Frantz. Those gals are two absolutely beautiful people (inside & out)

YAY!!! Roomie Carol Moncado is here with me while we have one of those ‘fancy’ meals during the conference. Mealtime was a great opportunity to network and enjoy food (that I neither had to prepare or clean up after – GOOD FOOD in my book) If in doubt of who Carol is – just mentioned the “Cookie Queen’ to any ACFW attendee and they’ll probably be able to tell you. Carol brought SEVEN batches of cookies to give out at the conference. Bribery?…Well, it sure worked. No ONE complained.

Conference Tips with Laura Frantz

If you’ve never read one of Laura Frantz outstanding historical romances, then it’s time to find your nearest bookstore and purchase one. Her lyrical quality, character development, historical details, and conflict are outstanding – not to mention the romance

You can read my review of her most recent novel, The Colonel’s Lady, right here.

I also had the wonderful opportunity to meet Laura last year at ACFW. She’s truly as sweet in person as she is online.

With her usual eloquence, she tells us the three things conference attendees need to bring:

Open hands (for all the people you want to  hug)

Open heart (for what God has in store for  you)

Open mind (remembering God’s best is far beyond what we  can hope for or can imagine)

Laura – what GREAT reminders. Isn’t it easy to get so caught up in the excitement and nervousness, and forget the most important reason for being there. God’s call!

Thank you for bringing things back into perspective.

So everyone, what historical time period do you like in your fiction?

You can learn more about Laura’s books on her website.

Stop by on Sunday for next week’s list of Conference Tips authors. Have a great weekend!

Conference Tips with Kaye Dacus

Having just read her newest novel, Ransome’s Quest, all I have to say is LISTEN TO WHAT THIS AUTHOR SAYS!

Kaye Dacus has not only written an intriguing historical series in The Ransom Trilogy, she’s mostly known for her wonderful contemporary novels like The Brides of Bonneterre and The Matchmakers series. A few things I personally appreciate from Kaye is her thorough critiques, attention to detail, and wealth of realistic encouragement.

With that in mind, here is what Kaye has to say about conference:

Three necessities for a writers’ conference . . .

1. A plan. It’s important to go into a writers’ conference with a plan in place—not just for what sessions you want to attend and what editors/agents you’re going to request appointments with, but a plan for what you’re going to do if you don’t get the appointments you want—how will you make sure that you get to talk to that publishing professional? Also, make a plan for which editors’/agents’ tables you want to sit at during hosted meals. Even more importantly, plan ahead to meet up with online friends, new and old, to make sure that you find each other—because sometimes it’s hard to find one person out of seven hundred!

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2. A purpose. Sure, you have a purpose in attending the conference, but what’s your purpose for why you’re writing? And if your answer is “to get published,” you may need a new purpose. There should be something more to the reason you write than the pursuit of a contract with the “right” agent or the “right” publishing house. What’s your purpose as a writer? Clarify that before you get to the conference. Write it down as a mission statement. (Google “writing a personal mission statement” if you need help.) Carry that mission statement in your pocket/bag with you throughout the conference. Pull it out every couple of hours and read it. Don’t let the craziness and chaos of conference make you lose focus on your purpose as a writer.

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3. A perspective. Not only do you need to have a perspective on who you are and what makes you and your writing unique, you need to plan ahead for having a positive, pragmatic perspective on what’s going to happen when the conference ends. What will you do if you don’t hear what you want to hear? What will you do if all of the editors and agents you talk to say, “Thanks, but no thanks”? How will you handle the emotional surge of conference, followed by the inherent crash afterward once you’re back home again and not surrounded by seven hundred other writers? Most importantly, though, is determining your overarching perspective of yourself and your writing and your life and making the decision before you leave for conference that no matter what happens, you aren’t going to let it affect your belief in the calling God has put on your heart to be a writer.

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Don’t you love how she just gets to the heart of the matter? What IS your purpose for writing? Some answers will stand the test of time, heartache, and rejection much better than others. It’s important to know your reason. AMEN, Kaye! And thanks for sharing these with us.

 

To learn more about Kaye’s books, visit her blog at http://kayedacus.com

You will find a WHOLE LOT more than just book information and a bio.  Kaye’s Writing Series Index is a MUST READ for aspiring authors- slathered with useful information.

Friday – we have a visit from the cowboy queen, Mary Connealy.

Saturday – it’s the sweet and eloquent historical author, Laura Frantz

Conference Tips Series

Starting next Tuesday, I’ll be hosting a series about conference tips – straight from some of your favorite authors. Each have given 3 top things to remember to bring with you for your future Writers Conference -experience.

So who’s on the agenda for this coming week?

Denise Hunter

Missy Tippens

Kaye Dacus

Mary Connealy

and….

Laura Frantz

It’s gonna be inspirational, educational, and FUN! Stop by and get prepared!

The Colonel’s Lady by Laura Frantz

Laura Frantz has proven her talents in yet another fabulously crafted historical romance. A sweeping tale of terrible loss,
unending determination, and love born through heartbreak, The Colonel’s Lady will take you on a journey through the anguish and treachery of war.

In the heart of Kentucky during the stirrings of the Revolutionary War, Roxanna Rowen finds herself orphaned, penniless, and left in the middle of
Kentucky territory  inside the solitary Fort Endeavor. Her father’s untimely death and the hostility of the surrounding Indians, leave her out of option – save one. Take her father’s place as scrivener for the notorious Colonel Cassius McLinn.

With God’s strength and her own determination, Roxanna takes on the brutality of war and the harsh frontier, but even a fort in the wilds of Kentucky territory may be nothing compared to the untamed heart of Cassius McLinn.

A wounded hero with a broken spirit but a will of iron, he commands both Indians and soldiers with a look, but is he in endanger of losing command of his own heart? Will the secret that binds his spirit wreck his chance to make a life with Roxanna, if they can survive the bloody threat outside the fort walls?

It is a beautiful journey of forgiveness and hope with magical interludes of romantic tension that are positively spellbinding.  Laura blends poetic rhythm and masterful detail to create a setting as real as a movie and characters that reach beyond the page to grip a reader’s heart. I was riveted, moved, and captured in the hands of a gifted storyteller.

Beautiful, Laura – absolutely beautiful.

Check out Laura’s other wonderful novels at her website at www.laurafrantz.net

Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Provided by Baker Publishing Group and gladly read & reviewed by me.

A Visit with Author Krista Phillips

If you don’t know this already, I am a member of a fantastic group writing blog known as The Writers Alley. It’s such a fun place to be – with nine awesome aspiring authors to help bounce ideas, share prayer requests, enjoy funny moments, and gab about writing. Interestingly enough though, many of us have never met in person. We started the Alley online last May with five: Mary Vee, Casey Herringshaw, Krista Phillips, Sherrinda Ketchersid, and me.

In the fall of 2010, God sent five other authors our way: Julia Reffner, Angie Dicken, Sarah Forgrave, Wendy Miller, and Cindy Wilson.

Since ten is one of my favorite numbers, I think our group feels pretty complete. But what would make it even better is to get to meet in person.

We’re all scattered throughout the U.S. so that makes meeting very hard, but this weekend I had the opportunity to meet Krista Phillips. Unfortunately, we met at the hospital where she’d just brought her sweet baby girl, Annabelle, back to the PICU. To learn more about Krista’s amazing journey with Annabelle this past year, you can visit her fantastic blog here.

It’s such a blessing to meet any of these ladies who’ve inspired and encouraged me so much this year. I was grateful to meet Wendy, Sarah, Angie, and Cindy at ACFW last year (and that was WAY before The Writers Alley ever came to be – cool, huh?!?)

With ACFW 2011 just around the corner, I look forward to meeting more of the Alley Cats. Particularly, Casey and Mary – but we’ll be joined by Sarah, Wendy, and Angie too.

Other writing buddies will be there – such as the EXCELLENT Seeker-gals! Oh dear, I love them!

And friends, Carol Moncado, Keli Gwyn, Laura Frantz…and so many more!

Any writing pals-meetups in your future? Whether at ACFW or otherwise?

Also, here are a few pics of the Parthenon in Nashville- a exact replica of the original Parthenon in Greece.

Emotional Hooks and Such – The Reader

You know it’s true.

The heart of a good story is emotion.

If we can’t evoke emotion in our readers, then there’s a really good chance that story isn’t going to be at the top of anyone’s reading list. Most people pick up a book because it strikes some emotional chord with them.

An interest or curiosity

Empathy

Sympathy

A romantic twinge

But it all starts and ends with emotion. All types of emotions.

There are readers’ emotions (of course) and there are authors’ emotions.

For the readers, the story must trigger an emotional pull on the back cover or in the first paragraph. Otherwise, the book with land firmly back on the shelf. Here are a few back cover blurbs from popular Inspirational novels:

“Kate Lawrence has everything in place. Everything, that is, but the groom. She might not have a career either, when her nationwide audience finds out their marriage guru has been left at the altar. Enter Lucas Wright, who offers to stand in for the missing husband-to-be and marry her.”

-The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter

What draws us in? What emotion is evoked? Sympathy? Curiosity? And there’s definitely an element of conflict.

How about this one:

Morrow Little…finds herself explicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her. Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones – and garner suspicion from her friends- by pursuing a life with him?

 -Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

Conflict again. And what emotion did you feel? The whole ‘forbidden love’ thing edges our curiosity, doesn’t it? There are great words in these sentences: forbidden, terrifies, intrigues, betray, garner, suspicion, and pursue…these are ‘emotive’ words. Important to remember.

Claire Prescott…finds herself holding a lost version of Pride and Prejudice. When a tall, dark, and dashing stranger crosses Claire’s path, will she suddenly discover her inner Lizzie Bennet? Neil’s unexpected arrival in Oxford complicates Claire’s journey to finding her true romantic lead and she discovers that finding the right hero can be more difficult than she ever imagined.”

-          Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo

Intrigue is the key to this one. A lost copy of Pride and Prejudice? A tall, dark, and dashing stranger? Her boyfriend unexpectedly comes to find her in the middle of all this drama? And is there more conflict?

What questions do you leave the reader asking from page number one?

Last one – guess who this one belongs to:

When this shy little bookworm blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving John, she discovers that his past won’t let him return that love. But Lizzie refuses to give up – until his shocking secrets push her away.

No conflict here, right? Again, our emotions are drawn to the mystery, but a goal is set here. We want to cheer for someone with a purpose. Lizzie has a distinct purpose – “loving John”, but the conflict happens with his unwillingness to love her back. WE note her determination to win him, but his ‘secrets’ may be wall that proves much bigger than her purpose. Our emotions want her to succeed.

So what would be one key ingredient to igniting emotion in the readers?

Conflict.

Of some sort.

Can you sum up the conflict in your story into a few sentences? If someone flipped over the back of your book, what conflict might charge their emotional curiosity?

Are you emotionally charged by the story of your heart?

Well, I’ll chat more about the author’s emotions later this week.

AS A BONUS (if you have time)

Here are a few short sentences from my wips:

Heartless

Sophia meets Ethan Taylor, her contact and a hybrid vampire. Torn between wanting to kill him and the other less hostile feelings, Sophia and Ethan embark on a perilous mission to battle the cult father and a psychotic scientist bent on immortality.  Can Sophia trust her heart to someone who doesn’t have one? Her life to her immortal enemy?

Here To Stay

Betrayed, single-mom Eisley Barrett really doesn’t need romance. She needs to research mysterious truth about her ancestor, write a book about it, and prove to herself she’s worth soemthing – even after her husband traded her in for a newer model. Suspicious of everyone who isn’t a part of his family, the last thing actor, Wes Harrison needs is a visiting houseguest, but Eisley Barrett is nothing like anyone he’s ever known. Can he trust her with is unsavory past? Can she trust him with a broken heart? 

A Twist of Faith

 Dr. Adelina Roseland’s big-university dreams come to a full-stop when she is sent to a tiny town in a crevice of Appalachia. Sent to develop a new program for UVA’s satellite university there, Adelina fights against her own prejudices of the mountain culture. Determined to prove herself and get out of Appalachia forever, Adelina makes a daring wager – but  she didn’t plan for the faith and friction of single-dad  Reece Mitchell. When Reece discovers he’s been a mere pawn in her step up thecorporate ladder, will he be able to forgive her deceit or will their miscommunication end in two broken lives?

ACFW – Revell Author Pics

Okay – so I’m a big Revell Fan. Seriously. I’ve been on the blog tour list for over a year (speaking of which, I need to post A Hope Undaunted’s review). But anyway, I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting two of my favorite Revell authors at ACFW AND the lovely Andrea Doering, editor for Revell.

As many of you know, one of my all-time favorite authors is Julie Lessman – and I’ve been a cyber buddy with her for over a year. Julie’s been a constant encouragement to me. Really. And she has enough energy and enthusiasm to make the entire Hyatt go up in lights. It’s such a  blessing to feel the full brunt of that enthusiasm in person. GREAT hugger,btw. Here’s my pic with Julie.

Jules, I am SOOOOOOOO glad we finally got to meet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (note all the exclamation marks)

Over six months ago, I was introduced to the wonderful writing of Laura Frantz through the Revell Blog Tour. I read her debut novel, The Fronteirsman’s Daughter. BEAUTIFUL story. I emailed her. She replied and from that point on, I’ve been the beneficiary of her kindness and joy. What a blessing.

So recently, when her newest release came out – Courting Morrow Little, I was quick to get my hands on it. I didn’t think it was possible, but she topped her first novel with the second. It was breathtaking.  It was such a joy to give Laura a big ol’ hug in Indy.

Wow!

Other Revell authors showed up. Like Lynette Eason, Jill Eileen Smith, Lorna Sielstad (whose book, Making Waves, I just reviewed) and Dan Walsh.

Dan Walsh won two Carols for his novel, The Unfinished Gift - and he’s a super guy. Humble and kind. And funny! I was so glad to have met him earlier in the conference. He’s the genuine article. Enjoy being a full-time author, Dan!!

And I have MORE pictures for tomorrow. More Seekers, my awesome roomie, and the lovely Patti Lacy. WOOHOO!!