A Soldier's Promise by Cheryl Wyatt

Today, I’m featuring my friend Cheryl Wyatt and her debut novel A Soldier’s Promise. Last year I got to know Cheryl through e-mail as a judge in several contests she coordinated. I don’t know how she had the time to do all that as well as find time to write, but she did . . . and she did it well. We finally met at the 2007 ACFW conference, and when she asked for people to be involved in a blog tour for A Soldier’s Promise, I jumped at the chance. Here’s an interview I had with Cheryl. And I’ll add a short review at the end.

Thanks you, Cheryl, for joining us today.

How did you get started writing, and where has that journey taken you that you may not have expected starting out?

I’ve written and journaled all my life but I didn’t start seriously pursuing fiction until about seven years ago while on bed rest with a pregnancy. Writing has taken me into a world with wonderfully supportive people who I might not have met otherwise. People who’ve become some of my closest friends. What a blessing. Writing has taken me into some verrrry strange places for research. LOL!

How do you balance family life with writing?

Ha! Prayer and patience is the only way. It is a challenge, but my husband works with me as best he can. He runs his own business so we do have some leeway. We trade time. It helps that I’m a habitual organizer and that I’ve simplified my life and am fiercely protective of my family and writing time. Asking God to order my day every day is a must. Asking Him to help me focus and know exactly what needs to be done that day. I try to only write when my children are sleeping or at school, and I have regular date nights with my husband. When I Matthew 6:33-it and put God, his stuff, and my family first...things go much better. Thankfully God has blessed me with the ability to write extremely fast.

How does your walk with the Lord affect your writing? And how do you balance time with the Lord with your writing schedule?

I touched on this a little in the last question, but I try to always put God first. There are days when I don’t but I try. Then I start feeling empty, out of sorts and overwhelmed with tasks. So I have to stay connected with Him because if I don’t, things start unraveling fast. LOL!

Since this blog is geared to writers who want to improve their self-editing, could you briefly take us through your process of writing a novel—from conception to revision?

I research and get to know my characters first. I figure out my structural point, which is goals, motivation, conflicts. Then I do a scene index and dive into my rough draft. The research and character development takes way, way longer than the rough draft. I usually get my rough draft out in a matter of days. Then comes rewriting and layering. This also takes longer because there are several passes. I usually spend a few weeks doing this. I am now turning in proposals so it’s challenged my system in that I have to write the synopsis before finishing the story. LOL! In self-editing, it’s helpful to have a list of things to go over as you make passes through the manuscript. I don’t self-edit as I write. I wait until the chapters are finished. I have a list of things to look for. Many of those things can be found on various contest score sheets. Some of it I can spot, but some of it others have to spot, such as have I kept my characters consistent and are they likable and endearing? It’s best to ask someone other than yourself that questions because there can often be a chasm between how we picture our characters and how they’re actually coming across on the page to others. So self-editing, for me, involves feedback from tough, honest critters who aren’t afraid to hurt my feelings.

What kinds of things do you have to revise once the editor at a publishing house gets done with your manuscript?

It has been different things, but I break revisions down into two categories. 1-things to add, and 2-things to delete. I go through the manuscript and delete everything I need to first, so I know what kind of word count I have for scenes that I need to add or build up. I always make a second copy of the manuscript in my computer, or make a hard copy and print it out before beginning though. It is very important to do this because your editor will give specific pages and lines they want you to address. Once you make one change, that automatically changes the line, so it can be hard to figure out if you don’t have a copy of the original manuscript as the editor’s line notes.

Would you tell us a little about your future projects?

Right now I am working on proposals for the next PJ’s (Pararescue Jumper) stories. There are seven stories total, but I’m not sure if they’ll all be contracted. Three have so far. There are seven men on the pararescue team, and each guy gets his own story. I’m working on the next proposal this week and, of course, finishing my contracted novel.

Finally, would you discuss A Soldier’s Promise? The research, the idea, and the scope of the project?

BACK COVER BLURB

“My name’s Bradley. I’m eight and have cancer. I want to meet a Special Forces soldier more than anything. Well, almost anything. Having a family would be nice.”

U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Joel Montgomery promised to make a sick child’s wish come true. Well, not the family part—not with Joel’s past. And so despite vowing never to set foot back in Refuge, Illinois, Joel parachuted onto the boy’s school lawn to a huge smile. But another smile unexpectedly stole Joel’s heart: that of Bradley’s beautiful teacher, Amber Stanton, who was trying to adopt the boy. And trying to show Joel it was time for new vows.

------

Joel’s story is the first one. He’s the team leader. USAF Pararescue Jumpers are basically Special Forces skydiving search and rescue paramedics. They’re the ones who often jump behind enemy lines to go after downed US pilots. Their training is as rigorous and only the elite make it, similar to training SEALs go through, only PJs have more air training whereas SEALs have more water expertise. PJs will leap into any kind of terrain, in any territory in pitch black from heights requiring oxygen administration. Part of their creed is, “So others may live.” They risk their lives to rescue others. I thought this career would make for fabulous heroes so I researched and ran with it. Joel’s story is the January release and received a Top Pick from Romantic Times. Manny’s story releases in March of 2008. Ben’s story releases in April of 2009. For more information on the next PJ stories once they get contracted, readers can visit my Web site and sign up in the space provided. (Join Cheryl Wyatt’s Author Mailing List).


Thank you for being with us today, Cheryl. I've really enjoyed chatting with you.
Thanks so much, Margie. This was great fun!


LINK TO PURCHASE MY BOOK:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0373874669



Margie’s comments: I like my romance reading to have some meat to it rather than just a sweet story. In other words, I like to read about real people with believable problems who grow and learn in the process of falling in love. Cheryl did that in A Soldier’s Promise. I’m a teacher, so I could relate to Amber right away. I’m a mom, so I could relate to Bradley’s illness and request. My mother was a nurse, so I grew up being familiar with nursing. But I’d never heard of the pararescuers, so Joel’s occupation intrigued me. And each of the problems with their pasts, Bradley included, were very believable and touching. This was a book I had a hard time putting down, and one where the characters are so real, I wonder what they’re doing today. I look forward to reading others in this series.

Please go visit Cheryl’s Web site to learn more about her and her books.


Daily Bible reading: Isaiah 17–19, Mark 5:1–20

Heaven

As you know I've been thinking a lot on this topic. Today I want to share with you my mom's vision into heaven five days before she left her pain-ridden body to enter into it's glories. I wrote this and read it at her memorial service.


The Sunday evening before Mom died, four of us surrounded her bed. My sister, Kathy, and I were holding her hands. My daughter, Kathy, and my stepsister, Deb, were there, too.

Mom turned to me and said she was so tired. When would she be released from her body? I reminded her that soon she would be with the Lord in heaven. She replied, “Really? I’ll be going soon?”

Then she turned her gaze to the upper corner of her room as she had done several times over the previous two days. Only this time her big, beautiful smile, broke out, and her face was radiant. I asked her what she saw.

“Oh, it is so much more than I ever thought it could be.”

“What is, Mom?”

“Heaven.” Her voice sounded a little impatient, like she couldn’t understand why we couldn’t see it, too. “It’s so much more.”

“Can you describe it for us?”

She shook her head. “There just aren’t words to do that.”

I reminded her of the verse in 1 Corinthians that says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him.”

She said, “Oh, yes, that. I couldn’t have ever imagined what it is really like.”

She continued to gaze into heaven as she lay in her bed, quietly taking it all in. The four of us watched her and cried, tears amidst the laughter. She was so joyful, and heaven was so real right then.

I remembered what Mom’s second husband, Jim, said just before he died. He described the music he heard and the colors he saw. So I asked Mom what colors, if any, she could see.

“Only one,” she said. “A real clear, bright blue—more vibrant than any blue you can imagine.”

“What about people? Do you see any?”

“Oh, yes. They are on the periphery. Lots of them. So many. . .and I know them all!” She said this with wonder in her voice.

“Do you see your parents?”

She nodded. “Oh, yes.”

“Your grandparents?”

“Yes, they’re there, too.”

“What about our daddy?” I asked this question for both my sister and me. He'd committed suicide 26 years before.

Her eyes moved as she looked for those I asked about.

“Yes, he’s there.”

“What are they doing, Mom?”

“They’re standing there waiting for me to come so they can shout, ‘Hallelujah!’”

She was so excited she practically shouted the last word.

Then I asked if she could see Jesus.

“Oh, no. No. Not until Richard gets here.”

All during this time several nurses and one of the social workers came in, checking on Mom. Some, when they realized what was going on, stayed to hear some of what she was saying, but they all left with tears in their eyes. Ron, Deb's husband, and Roger joined us, too. Only Mom’s eyes were dry all during the two hours and more that she looked into heaven.

After one of her short rests, she told me, “My eyes are dancing.”

When I asked what she meant, she said, “There’s so much to see, my eyes are dancing trying to take it all in.”

At one point she said she could feel God’s presence. It permeated everything. She said heaven was so full of God that He overflowed the space and wrapped around her. At this point she said she was no longer afraid of the final journey because of God’s presence surrounding her and wrapping her in His love.

About 8:30 Richard called for final directions to the hospice center. When Mom roused shortly after, I told he would be there in just a few minutes. At that point, Mom sat up in bed, raised her arms in the air, and shouted, “Praise the Lord, oh, praise the Lord.”

Then when Richard arrived, she reached her arms out for a hug, gave him a big smile, and said, “Richard, I get to go to heaven now!”

Richard says that when Mom woke the next morning and realized she was still in her room at the hospice center, she was very disappointed. But she remembered what she’d seen the evening before, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she would see her Savior.


How I have clung to these moments with Mom, because I believe the Lord allowed her to have this glimpse before she went not only to encourage her for her final journey but also to comfort those of us left behind. It certainly has made me long for heaven that much more.


Daily Bible reading: Isaiah 9–10, Mark 3:20–35
Saturday's Bible reading: Isaiah 11–13, Mark 4:1–20
Sunday's Bible reading: Isaiah 14–16, Mark 4:21–41


Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

Tribute

Earlier this week my sister sent me a paper my nephew Jared wrote for school (he's in 7th grade). We're all facing the one-year anniversary of my mom's physical death, her entrance into heaven. So of course she's on our minds these days.

Jared graciously gave me permission to post this here:

Jared Anderson
English 1
January 20, 2008

My Grandma

My grandma was the kind of person you could look up to. She was a strong Christian and was someone who would always think of the positive things in life. She had many illnesses and had surgery more than 20 times, but she was full of life even then.
My grandma had a kind of feeling about her- a warm fuzzy feeling that made even the most exotic stranger feel welcome. She would always give to good causes, even if she didn’t have the money.
I only got to meet my grandma’s third husband. He is still alive, but the other two died, one from suicide, and the other from age. Even though she had two other husbands, she still loved her third husband even as much.
When she died, I was extremely sad a losing such a close friend. She was always there for me, even when she was dying. She would love to give me advice when the going go rough. The last time I saw her, I sort of knew that it would be the last time. She knew too.
My grandma is my role model because she was strong even to the end. She was also a strong Christian and loved everyone and everything. I know she went to heaven. My grandma is my idol.



We miss Mom, but we cherish the memories and the many lessons she taught us through her everyday life.


Daily Bible reading: Isaiah 7–8, Mark 3:1–19

Fallen by Matthew Raley

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fallen
(Kregel Publications February 29, 2008)
by
Matthew Raley


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matthew Raley is senior pastor of the Orland Evangelical Free Church in northern California, where he lives with his wife and two young children. For fun, he enjoys playing chamber music with friends, giving occasional solo recitals, and playing first violin in the North State Symphony. This is his first book.








ABOUT THE BOOK

Jim was at work when his eyes drifted to the coffee shop visible from his office window. An attractive woman driving a Mercedes pulled up to the curb . . . and Jim’s married pastor emerged from the car. When Jim delves deeper into his pastor’s world, will he be able to handle what he discovers? Is he right to suspect that Dave is having an affair? In the behind-the-scenes church battle that ensues, Jim is torn between duty to his church and a desire to show grace. A ripped-from-the-headlines drama of suspense that keeps you engaged to the last page.

Fallen is the story about Jim’s relationship with Dave—how Jim tries to do the right thing to keep Dave accountable, but finds the situation getting worse and worse. It’s also about Jim’s other relationships. Just as he discovers hypocrisy in Dave, Jim discovers his own sins against his wife and daughter.



Margie's comments: Fallen is a sobering look at the moral issues of our day. When a pastor falls, it's public and easy to point fingers. But how many of us ignore our own weaknesses and failures, yes, even hypocrisy, while we judge others. I appreciate the emphasis on what living in grace and dealing with others with grace means in a practical sense. Fallen is not an easy book to read, but it is definitely right on the mark in the issues it covers.


Daily Bible reading (yesterday): Isaiah 3–4, Mark 1:23–44
Daily Bible reading (today): Isaiah 5–6, Mark 2

In Heavenly Love Abiding

As I've mentioned before, our daughter moved to London this past weekend. She arrived safely yesterday and gave us a call to let us know she was okay and settling into the apartment her company has. She'll be looking for her own place in the next two weeks, getting a bank account set up, getting her own phone (hopefully with a US number combined with it *smile*), and taking overnight trip to Paris on the train.

Someone asked me yesterday at church how I was doing. And it depends on when you ask me. Most of the time I'm very happy for her that this dream is coming true for her. But I'm already missing her terribly. I told her Thursday evening when we were saying our good-byes that this was harder than sending her off to college the first time. It doesn't help that a year ago we were sitting at my mom's deathbed. However, I'm so thankful that neither of these good-byes are permanent ones. We will one day see Mom in heaven, and we'll see Kathy at least twice a year, possibly more if we can afford a trip or two over there.

A dear friend prayed with me Saturday evening, and she reminded me once again that my losses aren't permanent, that God wants me to rest in His love—trusting His power and provision, His leading. I know those things, but I need to be reminded of them often. This morning in my quiet time, the Lord gave me Isaiah 40:27–31, reminding me that I exchange my weakness for His strength so that I can soar above the difficulties of life. And then this hymn written by Anna Waring more than 100 years ago. (In case you want to sing it, many hymn tunes fit, but the one I like best is "The Church's One Foundation.")

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear.
And safe in such confiding, for nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back.
My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waking, His sight is never dim.
He knows the way He’s taking, and I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen.
Bright skies will soon be over me, where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free.
My Savior has my treasure, and He will walk with me.

Have a blessed day!

Daily Bible reading: Isaiah 1–2, Mark 1:1–22

Four Things About Me

This is kind of fun. My good friend and former neighbor, Katie, sent this to me last week.

I'll look forward to hearing back from all of you, either by commenting here or posting on your blog. I know that something similar has already made the rounds, but this is the first time I decided to participate. I know, I know. But I rarely send anything on to my friends and family.


Four jobs I have had in my life:
1 Insurance clerk, McAllen General Hospital, McAllen, Texas

2 Teacher (1st grade, Garland, Texas; 4th grade and high school Spanish, Normal, Illinois; high school English and Spanish, Denver, Colorado)

3 Camp Kitchen manager, Camp Eden, Golden, Colorado

4 Freelance Editor, Writer

Four places I have lived:
This is hard! We moved fourteen times by the time I was nine. Okay, let’s give it a shot, but I think some are going to be combined. I’ll try to go in order.
1 Childhood places: Craig, NE; Costa Rice, Peru (my parents were missionaries); Kearney and Omaha, NE, McAllen, Texas

2 Garland, TX

3 Normal, Bloomington, Hudson, Illinois

4 Golden, Westminster, Colorado


Four Places I have been on vacation:

1 Arizona (Phoenix/Grand Canyon)

2 Colorado (before we lived here, both as a child and an adult)

3 Yellowstone National Park, Black Hills

4 Canada, Ecuador (missions trips with sightseeing and other touristy things thrown in)



Four of my favorite foods:

1 Chocolate - in any form! (gotta be honest!) (This was Katie’s response, but I’m with her!)

2 Fried Chicken (and I hate to admit I hated it growing up!)

3 Steak

4 Fettuccine Alfredo


Four places I would rather be right now:
Ummm . . . I really can’t think of any. Even in winter, Colorado is the best place to be, in my opinion. So . . . I’m changing this to places I would like to visit:
1. England (and not just because my daughter is there! I’ve long wanted to visit.)

2. Scotland (same as above)

3. Alaska

4. New Zealand

Four friends or relatives I think will respond first:
I don’t know. You readers don’t comment very often . . . so this is pure guesswork! LOL

1 Linda

2 Jill H.

3 Carole

4 Paula


Here’s what you’re supposed to do (but, believe me, it won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t!)
Copy this post into an e-mail or your blog. Delete my answers and put your own in.
Then, send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you.
The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you.

Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you... (I’m sending Katie an e-mail right now!)


Daily Bible reading: Geneses 43–45, Romans 15:1–13

Saturday: Genesis 46–48, Romans 15:14–33

Sunday: Genesis 49–50, Romans 16


Have a great weekend!

Busy Times

Of course my closest friends and my family would ask, "When isn't it busy for you?" And the answer is "Never." Sigh. I can't seem to function if I don't have at least two or three things going on at once.

But there are times, like today when I promised the next installment to parallel construction, that something is just one too many things to keep up with. So . . . today I'm skipping the grammar lesson.

Our daughter is moving to London this weekend, leaving late tonight for the first leg of her trip. She and a friend are spending a couple of days in New York before flying on to London late Saturday night. So tonight she's coming for dinner and we've invited several close family friends to come later to bid her good-bye and let her know how much she's loved and supported in this latest adventure. God is good.

So I'm not going to make any promises about when we'll get back to grammar, except that we will.


Daily Bible reading: Genesis 41–42, Romans 14

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2008 by Sally Stuart

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Christian Writers' Market Guide 2008

WaterBrook Press (January 15, 2008)
by
Sally Stuart

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sally Stuart has been writing for the last 40+ years, and has been putting out the annual "Christian Writers' Market Guide" for the last 23 years. Her other writing includes several Christian education resources books, a children's picture book, a basic writing text, writing resources, and a western novel--plus hundreds of articles and marketing columns. She writes marketing columns for the "Christian Communicator," "Advanced Christian Writer," and the Oregon Christian Writers' Newsletter. She speaks and teaches at Christian Writers' Conferences nationwide. Sally is the mother of 3 and grandmother of 8. She and her husband, Norm, spend their free time vacationing on the Oregon coast.

Check out her blog!


ABOUT THE BOOK:
The essential reference tool for the Christian writer, Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers’ Market Guide is now in its 23rd annual edition!

Check out the section on Blogging on page 69...the CFBA is listed!

Writers’ Conference listings, Book Publishers, Magazine Publishers, and a Bookstore filled with the resources you need to be successful in this business. Get a Book Contract or Manuscript Evaluation, and check out the Writer’s Resource links. This book has all you need to connect to all these valuable helps for the beginning, intermediate, or professional writer.

To keep you up to date with the latest marketing news, visit Sally Stuart’s new marketing blog, Christian Writers’ Marketplace, at http://www.stuartmarket.blogspot.com/.

A new, updated version of the Christian Writers’ Market Guide is available about January 15 each year.

Margie's comments: I've been getting the Market Guide for a long time. It is invaluable for marketing, for seeing what's out there, for making connection with other writers and editors, for learning about conferences in my area, and so much more! Now that it's on CD, I don't have a problem loaning out my copy to a new writer so they can begin to get a grip on marketing their writing. Highly recommended! This truly is a must-have for every serious writer.


Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 39–40, Romans 13

Parallel Construction, 2

Last night we had our monthly ACFW chapter meeting. I am president of this wonderfully supportive and fast-growing group. We had eighteen people in attendance last night, most of whom are members. Wow! It was really good to see so many. How good God is!

Okay, today let’s look at the examples I gave yesterday and see why they are faulty and what to do to fix them.

The lecture was long, a bore, and uninspiring.
Long and uninspiring are adjectives; bore is a noun. In a series like this, the words need to be the same part of speech in order to be parallel. So changing the misfit word is all that’s needed: The lecture was long, boring, and uninspiring.

Planning a surprise party calls for organizing, scheduling, and cunning.
Again the problem is within the series. The first two words, organizing and scheduling are gerunds. (That’s a word that looks like an –ing verb but acts as a noun.) Cunning is a straightforward noun, since there is no verb “to cunn.” So we need to look for another verb that is similar in meaning and turn it into a gerund to match the other two, or we need to change the gerunds to straight nouns. Two possible solutions for this (and there could be more, depending on your choice of words) are: Planning a surprise party calls for organizing, scheduling, and scheming. OR Planning a surprise party calls for organization, cunning, and scheduling skills.

He had always preferred talking to listening, and to give rather than to take direction.
Talking and listening are gerunds; to give and to take are infinitives (to + verb = the basic verb form). Because this is a comparison, we need to either make these all infinitives (which makes the sentence even more awkward) or change the infinitives to gerunds. So: He had always preferred talking to listening, and giving rather than taking direction.

Her responsibilities were the management of the PR department and to attend trade shows.
Again this is dealing with parts of speech. The first responsibility listed is a noun (management), the second one is an infinitive (to attend), So two ways to fix this one: Her responsibilities were to manage the PR department and to attend trade shows. OR Her responsibilities were the management of the PR department and attendance at trade shows.

A computerized database index needs to be reorganized when it has become fragmented, or to correct the skewing of values.
The focus of what is happening changes from the database index to what the person operating it should do. There aren’t two subjects in this sentence, only one: the database index. So passive voice is appropriate here. A computerized database index needs to be reorganized when it has become fragmented or when its values have become skewed.

She told him to get to the hotel by six o’clock, that he should check with the concierge for messages, leave his luggage at the front desk, and to wait for her in the lobby.
These are phrases in a series, and the wording must be the same for each. So try: She told him to get to the hotel by six o’clock, check with the concierge for messages, leave his luggage at the front desk, and wait for her in the lobby. OR She told him to get to the hotel by six o’clock, to check with the concierge for messages, to leave his luggage at the front desk, and to wait for her in the lobby.


Tomorrow we’ll have a book review and get back to some more examples of faulty parallelism on Thursday.

Daily Bible reading: Genesis 36–38, Romans 12

Parallel Construction, 1

As promised this week we'll discuss parallel construction.

Sometimes an editor will write, in the margin next to a particular sentence, faulty parallelism or not parallel. I’ve had questions as to what this means, but without specific examples from the questioner, I can't easily answer the question because there are so many reasons for faulty construction.

In simple terms, faulty parallelism is a clumsy sentence or paragraph that doesn’t mesh with the words, phrases, or sentences around it. Grammatically the writer is jumping from one type of construction to another.

Anne Stillman in Grammatically Correct states it this way: “Ensuring parallelism in your writing does not mean that every sentence should be structured the same way. What it does mean is that if you are creating a sentence, a list or a passage that contains elements related in purpose or structure, these elements must be presented in the same grammatical form. Thus, you must not got arbitrarily from the active voice to the passive, from the second person to the third, from the present tense to the past, from a series of adjectives to a noun. You must also be consistent in your use of minor words such as prepositions, articles, pronouns and conjunctions.”

Here are some examples of faulty construction (also taken from Grammatically Correct):

The lecture was long, a bore, and uninspiring.

Planning a surprise party calls for organizing, scheduling, and cunning.

He had always preferred talking to listening, and to give rather than to take direction.

Her responsibilities were the management of the PR department and to attend trade shows.

A computerized database index needs to be reorganized when it has become fragmented, or to correct the skewing of values.

She told him to get to the hotel by six o’clock, that he should check with the concierge for messages, leave his luggage at the front desk and to wait for her in the lobby.

See if you can come up with sentences that will correct the faulty construction in each of these sentences. We’ll check your answers tomorrow, as we discuss what makes them faulty and what to do to correct them.


Daily Bible reading: Genesis 33–35, Romans 11:19–end of chapter