A very long time ago in Rome, Italy. Two young women experimenting with our cameras in our hotel room. The trip of a lifetime for me.
Father, thank you for protecting me throughout those exciting months spent traveling. You've always gone before me even when I had yet to meet your Son. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
My Dear Friends,
IF you would like to receive an email newsletter from me about me and my writing, my novels, novels in general, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, this is it. Your opportunity to respond by simply leaving a comment here, on Facebook, or on X. Message me or not. Your choice.
You will not be bombarded with emails. This is a once-a-month shot. You're not required to reply to it or anything else. Just let me know if you'd like to receive one. I guarantee it will not be lengthy or time consuming or make any demands of you. All I will need to send it to you is your email address and you can choose to give me that privately on X via Direct Message or on Facebook Message. That's it. Last call!
Father, thank you for all of the wonderful people I've "met" through these social gathering places. It's been a truly wonderful experience to get to know people from all over our great country. For each one of them, I pray a blessing over their lives, that their relationship with you would grow stronger and more meaningful as they press on in this lifetime. Give them joy and help them to see the beauty you've left for us to experience. May each one feel your presence and comfort, grace, and mercy daily. Thank you for each one. In the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Musings indeed . . .
I'm fairly sure the same people who thought/designed/made child-size height for toilets as regulation size (at least in Washington state) are the same people who designed the waste of space 6' widths for the new regulation-size sidewalks as well as making the sticky side of envelopes to leave the corners without adhesive thus making it easier for the whole flap to become unstuck or partially/fully opened before being delivered. Pretty sure they run in the same crowd.
. . .
"We found that the brain works completely differently when you are using your hand to draw or write, as opposed to using the keyboard." Audrey van der Meer, researcher.
I found this fascinating because when I really get stuck creatively, I resort to notebook and pen. If I'm that stumped, I'll print the last few pages of where I stopped writing. Then I start from that spot and handwrite until I'm ready to stop creating for a while. It does work for me.
. . .
Please, if you're uncomfortable driving at over 50 mph, do NOT drive on the freeways. PLEASE. And learn to merge WITH traffic. You don't have the right of way or the right to go any speed you want.
Okay. That's enough of Monday musings. I'm done now.
Father, things get crazy down here, but you know that. Help me to do and say the right things in spite of them. Thank you for your grace and mercy my entire life. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
She was the best mom a girl could have. She loved me deeply, was so much fun and by her actions taught me how to take care of a family. I cannot remember her ever complaining even though she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was in high school. Dad was very protective of her but didn't infringe upon her natural independence. I could go on and on about her, but suffice it to say the Lord gave me the best possible mother for this girl, and I loved her beyond words. She passed away at the tender age of 62 from cancer and, honestly, Mother's Day kind of lost its meaning for me when she was gone.
Have a wonderful Mother's Day with Jesus, Mom. I love you!
I can never thank you enough for my mom, Lord. You made her extra special. Give her a real hug for me, Jesus. Please. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
He's a young widower who has been given the ability to instantly "see" into the lives of some people he meets or encounters. When he stops to eat at the truck stop where he usually grabs a meal after traveling over the mountains in his semi during the early morning hours for the deliveries he will need to make, a new waitress greets him. What he "sees" in his mind's eye almost makes him flinch as he tries to control his expression from the shock when she brings him coffee with cream.
Her story is a sad one, and he will do everything he can to make a positive impact in her life. He's devoted to Jesus. She has no faith in anything.
What's the plan?
Father, thank you so much for this story. Only you could've given it to me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Girl in the Sand by LT Vargus and Tim McBain is Book 3 in A Violet Darger Thriller Series.
From LT Vargus' own words after reading Red Dragon by Thomas Harris, she wrote that she wanted "to spend the rest of my life writing creepy stuff." The Girl in the Sand definitely reaches that goal.
The world hasn't heard from serial killer Leonard Stump since he escaped from a Carson City courthouse some 20 years ago. That is until a brief letter was delivered to FBI Agent/Profiler Violet Darger at the end of Killing Season. When law enforcement and fire trucks respond to a burned car in the desert not terribly far from the Las Vegas Strip, two bound females are found in the trunk. Special Agent Loshak has summoned Darger to come immediately. When she realizes he's come to Las Vegas for a different reason than he told her, she's furious with him and questions his trust in their partnership. He's able to gradually smooth it over by admitting his past vulnerabilities with this particular case. They both agree it has to be him (Stump) because it's exactly how he's done his killings in the past. However, convincing the Sheriff's Assistant Corby of Stump's resurgence proves to be difficult. Until another burning car is found but this time things are different.
What it takes to make Loshak's and Darger's assertions stick is a morbid scene which explains why no one has heard from the killer for so long.
When a female escort is reported missing by a friend, things start falling into place. A plan is put forward that unexpectedly puts Darger and another escort in terrible danger.
A cunning, philosophical, and determined planner, Leonard Stump has the voice of the devil when reciting, justifying, and expounding his reasoning to his latest captive. Mixing a tiny tendril of truth with all of his deceptions, his monologues sound quite convincing - at least to himself.
If you want a truly creepy thriller with a determined, violent killer, a strong victim, a vulnerable FBI Agent unwilling to give up, then The Girl in the Sand is the read for you. Again, plenty of profanity.
Father, please continue to bless these authors and minister in their lives. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
On Friday's post, we mentioned novel genres and non-fiction possibilities for the readers of Christian literature. Endless choices.
Authors who write Christian Fiction face the inevitable marketing challenges for their work. May I just say especially in the genre I write?
Being an author of love stories, heavy on the romance, I need to stipulate and establish who my true audience is. Then I need to make them aware of my work. That "sounds" rather simple and definitely obvious. Obvious, yes. Simple? Not for me. I don't want to send people a bunch of emails about my novels, mentioning others' work in the genre, my favorite novels/authors/genres/etc. I. Don't. Want. To. Do. It. I do that here on this old blog. I do it on Facebook and X.
Book Types: mine: "Raw Romantic Redemptive" "Love stories with a passion" "Love stories, heavy on the romance"
Do you want to read about characters you can relate to or can recognize as real? Do you want to see the world portrayed realistically without judgment? Do you want to get an unmistakable redemption message within the story, presented organically? Do you want to see Christianity in honestly imperfect people?
My one murder mystery Race gives a clear portrait of horse racing and the diverse personalities of those who live it. The Famous One tells the life story of a lonely kid who grows up in a dysfunctional home but is "discovered" and gets thrust into a life of fame. Seeing . . . shows what happens when a young widower who has intimate visions of people he meets is directed to offer his home as a refuge for an abused waitress. You can meet an architectural designer and film reviewer in Sweet Release, an accountant who accidentally kills a man in Destination, a construction worker who falls for a woman who wants love and commitment before sex in the story . . . in a love song, the account of a bitter and divorced, otherwise successful, man who meets a lovely woman and falls hard even though their lifestyles have been polar opposites in Breath of Life, and my latest Then . . . you: He's a recluse. She's seeking refuge.
None of the above novels give graphic sexual descriptions, but sexual attraction is clear and evident. None of the novels above give graphic vulgar language, but that language is implied in certain situations. I do not label my Christian fiction as "clean," but I certainly don't classify it as "dirty." It is not. Redemption is clear and in every one of the stories. The people in the stories are not perfect, Christian and otherwise. So. That's my book type. If it's yours too, try one.
So much for marketing, eh?
Father, only you. That's it. Only YOU. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
We all recognize the vast reach of all kinds of books. We acknowledge that not all people enjoy reading - especially since it's not being taught in public schools, but we won't go there.
Those who love novels have a wonderful array of genres from which to indulge their reading pleasures.
Since I write Christian Fiction, I prefer reading it, but, sadly, my favorite genre to read is not well-represented in the current Christian Fiction market.
Many Christians prefer non-fiction, and, without accusing them of demeaning the importance of novels, there are huge numbers of self-help, devotionals, testimonials, memoirs, biographies, and Bible studies, past and present, from which to choose.
I can tell you there are several novel genres I don't read as my preferences are succinct and 99% locked in. I rarely make exceptions, but occasionally I will because of an author I respect. I can also tell you that those non-fiction categories listed above will rarely occupy my reading time. I am a rare non-fiction reader.
Whatever you prefer to read, there are literally millions of books. The menu is endless.
There is a point to this, but I'll explain more on Monday's post.
Father, thank you for novels and for any and all books that draw people to you and closer to you. Apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
A very long time ago at the now defunct Longacres Racetrack, Barn 4B. Memories . . .
Father, thank you is never enough for rescuing me from myself, for allowing me to arrive at that place where you could reach me. Best thing that ever happened to me. Thank you, Jesus.
Sometimes reviews are helpful. Of course, the good ones are encouraging, often discerning and/or insightful, usually uplifting, and clearly enjoyable. The mediocre reviews can be an indication that the reader might not be the correct audience for your type of story or the way you've told it. The bad reviews are generally not helpful but do definitely state that the particular reader that just trashed your book is not your preferred or suggested audience. The only good part about that is they won't be reading and reviewing any more of your novels.
The "catch-22" in an author's world is that we need reviews, but we don't want bad ones.
I'm a firm believer that if you read a novel and you don't like it but feel compelled to review it, be fair enough to simply state the book isn't your type or style and leave it at that.
Father, thank you for readers of novels. May each one find the books that fit their styles of reading. May my novels glorify you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Killing Season by LT Vargus and Tim McBain is Book 2 in A Violet Darger Thriller Series.
A sniper shoots from a hillside and kills drivers on a freeway. Although it's the same sniper that moves through a supermarket parking lot shooting people dead with a handgun, no one knows it's the same man. They only know fear. Driving, shopping . . . what's/who's next in this deadly assault? And why?
FBI Agent Violet Darger is on her way to Atlanta where the heat and humidity is stifling and the fear is escalating. Her partner and mentor of sorts, Special Agent Loshak, are joined with Special Agents Dawson and Baxter who have been appointed to lead/share this investigation. As time and efforts unfold to identify this killer, the particular handgun left at the second scene leads to an unexpected source.
There's a lot of back and forth in this story, flipping from the killer's perspective to Agent Darger's evaluations as to the character of the killer partially from reading a serial killer's memoir. New information comes as a surprise and with that a hectic struggle to uncover the next target. In between all of this chaos, there is tragedy and eventual hope.
Not easy to review this novel because it's difficult trying not to deliver spoilers. Well-written story and plenty of action between the investigation and discoveries.
The epilogue concludes with a startling cliffhanger.
Plenty of profanity. Apart from that, this is a good mystery/thriller with plenty of books to keep readers busy with this series.
Father, please bless LT and Tim in their collective writing endeavors, giving them the stories you have just for them to tell. Encourage them as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
People have different feelings about TV. Some love it. Some don't. And, yes, there are some that enjoy particular parts of it and shun the rest.
As an author, I love good drama. And since there are fewer and fewer good films being produced by a self-aggrandizing politically inclined Hollywood, it's refreshing for me when I can watch a good series on TV. Whether it's mystery, a police procedural, a family drama, an action show, or a "dramadey," if there's good writing and acting involved, I'm all in.
For me, good writing in novels, films, or a television series, inspires me to write and to continually direct my writing to be more effective, expressive, etcetera.
When we find a medium we enjoy, we always hope to see it improve and offer us a means to disengage from our reality for a time and re-engage in other situations and characters that provide us with something of value - even if it's a good laugh, a moment of emotional release, a shared experience caught in a fictional encounter. The beauty of creativity capturing our heartfelt reactions can give us moments of real satisfaction. At least it does for me.
Father, thank you for allowing me to write and create. Characters, stories, words. I truly can never thank you enough for all of it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Nicole by Nicole. Long before selfies, this young woman experimented with self-photography to become familiar with her new 35mm Konica camera received for her birthday just before leaving on the trip of a lifetime with a good friend. We made our own tour of Great Britain, Ireland, and most of Europe for almost 3 months. Came home two days before Christmas. Wrapped presents in a huge hurry and delivered some on Christmas Eve. I remember the dress I bought for my mom in a small ladies' boutique-type shop in Florence, Italy. It fit her perfectly! Such fun memories . . .
Father, you've been so gracious to me, protecting me from all kinds of dangers, some unintentional, others not so much. And yet, you waited patiently. I can never thank you enough. I love you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Famous One was my second published novel. I got my first one-star review(s) on Amazon after it had been out for a while. Getting a one-star review is how you determine who your audience definitely isn't - in case you didn't know already. The Famous One is one of my favorites so of course the one-star diatribe was not fun to read. I still maintain that one-star reviews say more about the reviewers than they do the novels they've executed with their words. Many people did enjoy the story of Joey Parr, and it actually touched some hearts. "To each his own" as "they" say.
"Joey Parr’s journey from a troubled childhood and rebellious adolescence leads him into a career in film and reluctant celebrity. The Famous One chronicles his life and allows the reader to share in his beginnings, his awkward fame, and the love which finally finds him when he least expects it. As his dream of having a family unfolds, he is stunned to learn something is still missing from his near perfect life.
The Famous One takes an introverted yet passionate character of few words and deep running emotion and puts him into the spotlight of fame where he is hungry for value, substance, and real love but struggles to find them."
Father, I can never thank you enough for these stories. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.