Visit with LoRee Peery

Good Monday Morning Readers!

Today, LoRee Peery, visits Lagniappe to discuss her writing journey and her latest release, Creighton's Hideaway.


A Nebraska country girl, LoRee Peery attempts to see God’s presence every day. Often that gift comes from nature, and she is most relaxed in the outdoors. The call of a cardinal draws her to look for the distinctive flash of crimson. A meadowlark’s melody always transports her to the farm where she grew up. A rainbow holds special significance, since one appeared the day of her father’s funeral and means the promise of the Lord’s presence in her life. She clings to I John 5:4 and prays her family sees that faith. You can find her at www.loreepeery.com or the Pelican Book Group site http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk

Needing to finish her thesis in order to keep her job working with youth in a residential treatment center, Shana Arnold sequesters herself on Creighton Rice’s Nebraska ranch. She expects the secluded hideaway to provide a peaceful environment. What she doesn't expect is to become the victim of identity theft and a crazed home invader.

Creighton Rice has been content to live alone with his God--until he meets Shana. He's drawn to her, but must fight the attraction. Getting close makes him face a lifetime's accumulation of scars. Plus, Shana doesn’t share his faith. But when Shana's life is threatened, Creighton must protect her--even if it means letting her in.

Will Shana discover that even when a woman loses everything, she can regain courage and strength through faith in God, and can Creighton allow God to heal scars and open the door to a lifetime with Shana?

LoRee, tell us how Creighton's Hideaway came about?

Creighton’s Hideaway started out with the working title “The Healing Hills.” God’s redeeming grace and my love for Nebraska’s sense of place come together in yet another of my stories. The setting was sparked by one of my brother’s ideas to have a getaway where cabins are spaced along a creek attached to pastureland. What better place than north central Nebraska?

How does your real life and spiritual life seep into your books?

Some people have the mistaken outlook that Christians have trouble-free lives. Not so. Many of the characters in my books come to terms with God's will through spiritual struggles. Not unlike many “real” people. My characters struggle with what real people deal with.

So what do any of us struggle with? We each have an ordained path of growth. We each have our weaknesses. We each have convinced ourselves of something that was misconstrued, and we let it color our outlook. We are emotional. We all are shaped according to the plan and perfect timing of our heavenly Father. In other words, my characters are people to me, with human attributes as well as faults.

I can’t help but put a little of what’s shaped me as a person into each of my stories. Alcoholism runs rampant in my family so that is part of who Creighton Rice is: a Christian man in recovery, who has a deep protective instinct, yet wants to be alone. He offers a vacant cabin to his sister’s best friend.

Shana Arnold grew up a spoiled only child and her father made decisions for her. As an adult she wants to live free to make her own choices on her own agenda. But now her boss says she needs to complete her degree. Since the women had done research and background training at a rehab facility not far from the ranch, it made sense to Creighton and his sister for Shana to stay.

Can you give Lagniappe's readers a glimpse into your typical writing day?

Many readers want a glimpse of an author’s typical writing day. I’ve tried a few but I don’t have any particular practices, tricks, or habits that I incorporate into my day to keep me on schedule. I once tried to have a “typical” writing day, but it remains a dream for me right now. When I chose early retirement from working as an editorial assistant, I did have a schedule that worked for a short time. My life is very distracted and goes different directions depending on the day. Life appointments, family, and obligations can interrupt my plans. Not to mention living in a good-sized home and tending rather large flower/rock gardens on the acreage.

I do attempt to begin the day asking the Lord to accomplish what He has planned for me at this time. Often, the day is not about me and I seek His guidance on particular projects. His time is perfect, no matter what comes my way. When I’m really in the zone and working on word count goals, I put a note on my keyboard to log 250 words before checking email. Most of the time that one page of new words turns into 750-1,000 words before I break. I also tell my husband I won’t answer the phone during certain times.

Can you share something that your readers don't know about you?

Often during an interview the question comes up about what people may not know about me. I’ll admit my respect for deep water. I don’t like being in water where my feet don’t touch the bottom. My adult kids were surprised when I started taking an aqua class a few years back. I admit to being a little fearful a couple times when we were supposed to pick up our feet and flow with the current using noodles. It is not my comfort zone at all. There is a reason for my reluctance, or three, actually. “Black Lake” was in the pasture next to the country school I attended. I fell through the ice twice as a young girl. One time an older boy pulled me out. While my clothing dried near the stove, I was wrapped up in a wool army blanket. I don’t remember the other time. I was ten years old the last time I fell when I knelt next to a deep, narrow gold fish pond at my dad’s cousin’s home. I leaned over too far and went in head first. My second cousin was working on the tractor in the yard. He saw what happened, scaled a six-foot fence, and pulled me out by my heels.

Have you ever stopped writing?

I can’t imagine not writing. There have been times where the well was dry, health issues came into play, or I was discouraged and didn’t write for a while. One time I actually “quit” for three months following my feelings of devastation over a rejection (that turned out to be a blessing). Even in those dry times, I took notes, journaled, or filed ideas. Story and character ideas come from life. Pictures, concepts, news articles, or various scenarios spark my curiosity and interest. I try to stay open to the prompting of the Spirit. And many times ideas or “fixes” for something I’m puzzling out come when I’m in the shower.

How does your faith and spiritual life affect your writing?

My faith and spiritual life play into the picture of my storytelling. I wouldn’t be writing if I didn’t believe I’m meant to write, as part of the Lord’s plan for my life. My characters face human struggles. They aren’t perfect, there’s always room for growth. They learn to lean on the Lord for His strength and guidance, the same as I do. Things fall apart when characters try to work on their own strength, just like I fall on my face if I don’t focus on Christ first. I’m growing along with my characters.

Yes, LoRee, I grow along with my characters as well!

Thank you, Marian, for the opportunity to be your guest.

Thank you for sharing!

Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

Be sure to leave a comment to let LoRee know you've been here!

I pray that each of you find 

"a little something extra" 

in each of your days.

Marian

What is God using to grow you?

Please Tweet: 
Romance in rugged isolation plus identity theft #Creighton’s Hideaway#LoRee Peery http://tinyurl.com/kv8jg93 #Chrific 

Visit with Ane Mulligan

Good morning readers!

Meet Ane Mulligan who is visiting Lagniappe today to discuss her writing journey.

Be sure to leave a message to let Ane know how excited you are for her!

Ane Mulligan writes Southern-fried fiction served with a tall, sweet iced tea. She's a novelist, playwright, and humor columnist. Her debut book, Chapel Springs Revival, releases Sept 8^th, 2014. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she lives in Suwanee, GA, with her artist husband, their chef son, and two dogs of Biblical proportion.

In 2003, I started my first novel. I found an online Christian critique group and a few mentors, who became close friends, ones who told me plainly I had a lot to learn. What an understatement. POV? Never heard the term. Omniscient? That's what God was. Show don't tell? How do I tell a story without telling? Yikes! Yet, with each critique, I absorbed a new concept. I bought all the books on the craft of fiction writing they recommended. I read them and absorbed more.

In 2006, an editor took my manuscript to committee. While I waited for the result, expecting a contract of course, I got an agent. However ... sigh ...the editorial committee said no. I was discouraged. I cried out to God, asking ... okay, whining ... why wasn't I getting anywhere? I had been so sure God called me to write. I needed a sign. And God gave me the one in the form of an editor affirming my writing. That carried me for months.

I kept writing and going to conferences to learn. Finally, in 2010, my agent called to say my manuscript had passed editorial committee and was going to pub board. This was it! Pub board loved it, but their slate was filled, so the editor would hold it for their next quarter. Only she retired and her computer hard drive was wiped clean.

I was lost in cyber oblivion. Then my agent retired. Do you see a pattern here? I did and it looked like a rollercoaster. Once again, I whined, "Lord, what is going on?"

And He said, "Wait. Trust me." He didn't offer me another choice, so I chose to trust.

It wasn't too long before my agent received an offer for a 2-book contract. But once again, God said no and we turned it down. By this time, I began to wonder if I'd ever publish. Yes, that was my goal, but if God had something different for me, I was fine with it. I just felt bad for my agent, who worked so hard for me.

Then, in August of 2013, nearly eleven years after I began this journey, my agent called with an offer from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. And my heart quickened. 

All right, God! This was it. This time, He said, "Yes."

I'm so glad I didn't push but listened to my agent's advice. If there's one thing I've learned during this journey, it's this:

         God must be part of the equation. 

Though I'd learned the craft earlier in my journey, He wasn't ready for me to publish. I won't know why this side of Heaven, but I'm okay with that.

I believe people let down their guard when they think they're being entertained. Through fiction, I can entertain readers. Through fiction, I can present seeds of God's truth. Then when they least expect it, the story can reach out, touch their hearts, and change them. And isn't that why we write? 

Available on Amazon for pre-order: 
http://www.amazon.com/Chapel-Springs-Revival-Ane-mulligan/dp/1941103413/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409171711&sr=8-1&keywords=chapel+springs+revival


Ane, thanks for sharing your journey. It's nice to see how waiting on God produces the BEST fruit!

Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

Be sure to leave a comment to let Ane know you've been here!

I pray you find 

"a little something extra" 

in each of your days.

Marian

How has waiting on God's timing changed your life?

Stained Glass Windows by Christine Lindsay

Today Lagniappe Welcomes...

Author - Christine Lindsay

Her latest release from Pelican Book Group's Passport to Romance series:

Londonderry Dreaming

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS  by 

Christine Lindsay

When I saw the submission call for the Passport to Romance line from Pelican Books, I got really excited. Normally I write historical novels—my series Twilight of the British Raj takes place in Colonial India. But Pelican was asking for contemporary romance novellas to take place in specific cities around the world.

One of those cities was Londonderry. As a person born in Belfast, N. Ireland not far from Londonderry.  I simply had to write this book. I was salivating—I wanted to write this book so badly. I mean, after all, we’re talking about my tiny little homeland. One of the unique things about N. Ireland which includes the six north-eastern counties, is that it is not part of Ireland, but still belongs to Great Britain. This was the choice of the people of those six counties.

One of the nicest things about writing this book is I didn’t need to do much research, but could draw on my own memories. In fact, I ended up dedicating Londonderry Dreaming to my Aunt Maggie who is now with the Lord because I created the bed & breakfast in this novella directly from her farm and beautiful Irish farmhouse. When my character Naomi wakes up in that lovely mint-green bedroom, with the lace curtains that open to a view of gentle Irish pastures, that is from my memories.

There were times I needed to verify details. For example, it was an honor to communicate over email with the Vicar of St. Augustine’s Church in Londonderry. Not only did I receive the vicar's permission to use the ancient church in my novel, but a blessing as well, and help from the congregation. That church, but mainly the stained glass windows of St. Augustine’s, was the inspiration behind Londonderry Dreaming.

It was on a visit to Ireland in 2006 that my daughter Lana and I visited St. Augustine’s. I was admiring one stained glass window in particular—the one depicting Ruth and Naomi.

That biblical story had given me hope over the years when I was searching for Lana’s older sister, Sarah.  Sarah was the child I had relinquished to adoption and was reunited with 20 years later. I took encouragement as I read how Ruth and Naomi developed such a close, loving relationship in their adult life. Thy people shall be my people...thy God shall be my God. That entwining of hearts and lives was what I hoped for with Sarah, the kind of relationship I already shared with Lana.

God graciously gave me that precious relationship with both of my daughters. What an indescribable joy it was to see my daughters, Sarah and Lana, as the models on the front covers of my first two books, Shadowed in Silk and Captured by Moonlight of my series Twilight of the British Raj. A bit like those gorgeous stained glass windows depicting Ruth and Naomi.

Writing about the land that I am proud to have been born in, and showing a small aspect of its unusual beauty was a personal joy. I know what those emerald green fields are like. The ancient stone boundaries, the medieval wall surrounding the old city of Londonderry, the rush of the surf along the jagged coastline on the North Sea, and the world-famous Giant’s Causeway.  

A few readers of the book have asked me about the Irish brogue. I really hope readers will enjoy this humorous aspect, especially the dialogue from the 'Irish cousins'. I was born in Ireland and was raised in Canada, but all my extended family is Irish---so I know how they talk and think. I know their blarney...oh...my...do I know their blarney.  

For a short trip to N. Ireland, watch this minute long book trailer for

 Londonderry Dreaming

Book Blurb

Acclaimed New York artist, Naomi Boyd, and music therapist, Keith Wilson, loved one another five years ago, until her grandfather with his influence over Naomi separated them.

That root of bitterness keeps them apart until a letter from Keith’s grandmother, Ruth, draws Naomi to Londonderry to find she’s too late. Ruth has passed on. After the death of his beloved grandmother, Keith has also come to Londonderry only to open the door to his past…Naomi...beautiful as ever, the girl who broke his heart.

A mysterious painting in Ruth’s attic brings up questions about their grandparents’ entwined past and their own broken romance. But more comfortable with the unspoken languages of art and music, Naomi and Keith find it difficult to share their old hurts and true feelings.

Will the majestic coastline of Northern Ireland inspire them to speak the words to bring peace to their grandparents’ memory and to rekindle love?

About Christine:

Christine Lindsay was born in Ireland, and is proud of the fact that she was once patted on the head by Prince Philip when she was a baby. Her great grandfather, and her grandfather—yes father and son—were both riveters on the building of the Titanic. Tongue in cheek, Christine states that as a family they accept no responsibility for the sinking of that great ship.

It was stories of her ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India that inspired her multi-award-winning historical series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and Christine is currently writing the final installment of that series called Veiled at Midnight to be released August 2014.

Christine makes her home in British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada with her husband and their grown up family. Her cat Scottie is chief editor on all Christine’s books.

You can purchase Londonderry Dreaming at Pelican Books  on Amazon Kindle 

Barnes and Noble   Christian Books.com     etc.

Please drop by Christine’s website

Follow her on Twitter

Be her friend on Pinterest

Facebook

Christine, thanks for sharing and for taking us on a short trip to Londonderry, Ireland!

Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

Be sure to leave a comment to let Christine know you've been here!

I pray that each of you find 

"a little something extra" 

in each of your days.

Marian