Believing God had more in store for her, Sandra Robbins followed her heart in the pursuit of writing. Now she has three successful books in her catalog, and her fourth and fifth books will release this fall—including her debut historical romance.

Creativity is often innate. Did you begin writing as a child?

I didn’t begin writing when I was a child, but I did make up stories all the time. I loved to play with paper dolls and had dozens of them. I could make up the most intriguing adventures for their different characters.

It wasn’t until I was in college and took a fiction writing course as an elective that I began to think about writing. My professor encouraged me, and an idea for a novel was born. That plot is still in my head. Maybe someday I’ll put it on paper.

Was there an a-ha moment when you decided to turn writing into a career, or did your interest in it develop slowly?

In 2004 I decided the time had come for me to write the novel I’d dreamed about for years. At the time I was still working, but my nights were devoted to creating what I thought would be the next great American novel. However, in the summer of 2005 I had a heart attack while visiting my daughter in San Antonio. While I was recuperating, I thought about my life and how God had spared me for some reason. I knew there were still some things He wanted me to do, and I felt that writing was one of those things. I returned to the school where I was principal in October, but at the end of the school year I retired and began to devote myself to writing full time. I sold my first book, Pedigreed Bloodlines, in 2006, and it was published in 2008.

How did you find time to write while working full time?

While I was working, it was difficult to juggle all the responsibilities of being a principal, taking care of my family, and writing. The early and sometimes late hours of the night were devoted to writing. It wasn’t always easy, but I never gave up, and God blessed my efforts both in school and writing.

You write mystery/romance. What genre do you prefer to read when kicking back with a good book?

My favorite books when I was growing up were the Nancy Drew mysteries, and I still enjoy mysteries and suspense. I love to lose myself in a good mystery that keeps me turning the pages until the villain has been identified. I have to admit, though, that I do like some romance sprinkled in.

Who/what influenced your writing career the most?

There have been many people who have helped me on my journey to publication, but I would have to say that the biggest influence in my career has been American Christian Fiction Writers. When I first began to write, I had no idea where to look for guidance. One day as I was searching the internet for Christian writers, I found the ACFW (then it was ACRW) site. I joined right away, and through my association with other writers, membership in a critique group, and the conferences I was able to fulfill my longtime dream of having a book published.

What was your big break? Any advice for new writers?

My big break came in September, 2005 when I attended the ACFW conference in Nashville. I was still recuperating from my heart attack, but my doctor gave his approval for me to attend the conference. While there, I met Susan Downs who happened to read some of my work that her conference roommate was critiquing. She liked what she read, and we struck up a friendship. A few months later when she became an editor for Barbour with the Heartsong Presents Mystery line, she bought my first book.

I had never heard of Susan before that conference, but God arranged for us to meet and eventually for me to get a contract. So, to new writers I would say: Put your writing journey in God’s hands. Don’t limit Him with what you think you want. His desires for you are so much better than you could ever imagine.

How does your faith play into your writing?

All of my stories have an inspirational thread that run through them. These themes are a direct result of the faith that guides my life each day. Thanks to my parents I have a strong belief that God is in control of my life, and I hope to convey it to my readers. I often say that I will never meet all the people who read my books. My desire, however, is that the words God gives me will be like seeds that I send out into the world. My prayer is that they will find fertile soil in the hearts of my readers.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

I suppose my heart attack is the biggest detour that turned out to be positive. When I became ill, I was on a boat in the middle of the San Antonio River along the famous River Walk. EMTs responded to our call and within minutes had transported me to a major medical center that was less than a mile away. In the emergency room, the doctor told me that a cardiologist had just finished another procedure in the cath lab and was ready to work with me. Later I found out that the cardiologist was a world-renowned heart surgeon who wrote for all the major medical journals. I later said that if I had called for an appointment, I probably would have had to wait months to see him. That night, however, God had made me an appointment that saved my life.

When I reflected on all these things, I knew that it was time for me to quit work and write the message God laid on my heart. I have never regretted that decision.

Let’s talk about your upcoming books. You have two releasing between now and the end of the year. Please tell us about your historical romance from Barbour releasing in September.

When I first started writing, I thought I would write historical romance. At the time, though, nobody was buying it. So I turned to mystery and suspense. Now I’m thrilled that I’m getting to write both.

My first historical romance that releases from Barbour in September is The Columns of Cottonwood. It is set in Alabama’s Black Belt, an area where the farmland is fertile along the Alabama River, after the Civil War.

Here’s the back copy:

She grew up there; she lived through the war there; she lost her parents there. Even in its burned out condition, it’s still home to Savannah Carmichael. But now it belongs to a stranger—a foreigner!—who paid the back taxes on it and bought it right out from under her.

Dante Rinaldi never expected that the culmination of his dream—to own some of Alabama’s rich farmland—would mean the destruction of someone else’s. He hasn’t done anything illegal; in fact, he’s worked hard for the privilege of land ownership. So why does Savannah Carmichael’s plight affect him on such a deep level?

Both believe in the sovereignty of God, but how can this situation be orchestrated by Him? Can they find a solution. . .a compromise to benefit both?

You also have a Christmas romantic suspense from Steeple Hill, to be released in December. Please tell us about it.

My December release from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense is Yuletide Defender. The murders of gang members are being reported in the local newspaper by a young woman who hopes her stories will lead to a better job with a television station or larger newspaper. When a confidential source tells her the murders are being committed by a vigilante intent on sparking an all-out war between rival gangs, she decides to go after the story and discover the identity of the vigilante no matter where it takes her. Is it the rogue Santa Claus who stole her purse, the young man stalking her, the custodian with a fondness for high-powered rifles, or the intruder who left a lipstick scrawled message of death on her bathroom mirror? The police detective who’s falling in love with her knows he’ll do anything to protect her when she becomes the vigilante’s next target.

Besides providing entertainment, what is the one thing you hope readers will take away from each book?

I put a message of hope and encouragement in all my books. I pray that my readers will come to know the peace that has guided my life by placing my faith in Jesus Christ. It is my hope that those who read what I’ve written will draw strength from my life verse Isaiah 40:31—But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

When you sit down to start a book, do you have a theme in mind or does it evolve as you write?

I have a theme in mind. It may evolve in a different way than I first imagined as I write the story, but it basically stays the same.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Just the thought of chocolate chip cookies makes my mouth water. There’s nothing I like better than a cold glass of milk and cookies still warm from the oven. Maybe it’s a holdover from childhood. I doubt if I ever outgrow that desire.

This website features writers as well as musicians, so I like to mix it up a bit. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I am also a musician. I began taking piano lessons when I was six years old and continued on through college where I earned a degree in music with a major in piano. My college piano teacher was a child prodigy who was discovered in Australia by Eugene Ormandy. He brought her to America where she studied and later married a man from my area. After her husband’s death, she settled in Tennessee and began to teach at the university where I attended. Through her, I can trace a line of piano teachers back to Beethoven.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player? Does music help you write?

I love to listen to classical music. I also am a fan of Broadway musicals, and I enjoy listening to show tunes. I don’t play music while I writing. I need the room to be quiet when I’m concentrating on a story.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I think I’d be a folk song that is based on tradition. Having lived in the South all my life, I have a deep appreciation of the history and the struggles associated with our part of the country. When my grandson was a little boy, he asked me if our ancestors lived in big houses on plantations. I laughed and told him we are descended from the tenant farmers who had a strong work ethic and a deep love of God and family. The values they passed down through the generations bless me today.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I like peace and harmony to reign in my life and family, but I also like to shake things up sometimes with change. I thought about this question a LONG time, and I don’t know if I’ve come up with an answer or not. I don’t think I’m one or the other. I think I’m a combination—a major/minor chord. I think of a major chord as a strong sound that demands order, and in a minor chord I hear a darker tone that stirs the senses. So if I put the two together, what do I get? A dominant seventh chord. The major triad gives it strength, but the minor seventh can lead you in a new direction. That seems to describe my life. I like the strong foundation and order in my life, but I’m always open to change. And that minor seventh just may take me in a totally new direction.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I think anybody who knows me well would agree with me that I am the strong, female lead.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, and your other pastimes.

Oh, I may cry talking about this. My sweet little Yorkshire Terrier Belle passed away a year ago from renal failure. I got her as a puppy and loved her for fourteen years. She was more than a pet. She was a member of the family. She stayed by my side all the time when I was home. I still look down when I’m writing to see if she’s sitting at my feet like she always did. Now instead of her presence at my desk I have her portrait that my daughter gave me last Christmas. It reminds me of all the wonderful times we enjoyed together.

Maybe someday I’ll be able to get another dog, but I haven’t reached that point yet.

It has been a pleasure to get to know you, Sandra. Thank you!

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For more information about Sandra and her books, visit her website at www.sandrarobbins.net.

To order Sandra’s books at Amazon, visit her author page at http://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Robbins/e/B002R1TYF2/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0?qid=1283096005&sr=1-2-ent.

To order Yuletide Defender from Amazon.com, logon on to

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=yuletide+defender&x=0&y=0&ih=5_9_3_0_0_0_0_1_0_1.64_79&fsc=5.

To order Yuletide Defender from Barnes & Noble, logon on to

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=BOOK&WRD=yuletide+defender&box=yuletide%20defender&pos=-1.

To order Sandra’s books from ChristianBook.com, logon to

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find/1109110269?Ntt=sandra+robbins&N=1014644&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&search=.

Matt Litton believes in the power of story to change lives. His new book could very well change yours.

The Mockingbird Parables (Tyndale House, August 2010) examines characters from the American classic To Kill a Mockingbird through a Christian worldview, and in doing so presents compelling questions—and powerful challenges—to its readers.

What in your life prepared you to write this book? Who/what most influenced the book?

In the Acknowledgements at the end of The Mockingbird Parables I point to several people who really played a role in the formation of this book, but I left so many folks out. I love the “divine detour” theme because when I look back at my life in the last fifteen years it certainly is a fitting description of all of these interests and journeys that have come together to equip me to write. I have a passion for theology and have been influenced by some amazing teachers; the same could be said for my experience in the classroom and my love for literature. The Mockingbird Parables is dedicated to my little sister, Rachel, who passed away after her battle with cardiomyopathy. No one would ever call her religious but she lived her life with a spiritual depth and optimism that was contagious. In many ways that loss made me sit back and realize that I might live eighty years and not capture one day of her passion for people, her tenacity for life, and her sense of hope and faith in God. It was her encouragement that changed my story and sent me on the path that led to this first book.

If anyone who writes is honest, they will tell you that writing is simply a product of our experiences, how our family, friends, and faith community have shaped us…I have been lucky enough to come across some really amazing people on my journey and I think that more than anything else enabled me to write The Mockingbird Parables. As far as influences, I am very grateful for too many people to name.

Has The Mockingbird Parables been a work-in-progress for a while, a “book of your heart,” so to speak?

I think today we desperately need the courage of Atticus Finch, the honesty of Scout, the wisdom of Miss Maudie, the work ethic and freedom from debt that the people of Maycomb learned through the Great Depression, the commitment to care for each other that the good Reverend Sykes demanded of his congregation when he closed his church doors and told his people (an oppressed people with very little to give) that they were going to financially take care of Helen Robinson while her husband was in jail, and we MUST rediscover compassion as an integral part of life and faith so that we stop seeing people in our own communities as “others.” These are important aspects of the Gospel that are played out before us in America’s most familiar and beloved novel.

After teaching it for several years it struck me how foreign many of these qualities were becoming in 21st century America. It hit home that the theme of learning to truly love our neighbors was still relevant and pressing today. The theme of the novel is articulated by Atticus who says, “You never really know a person until you climb into their skin and walk around in it”—and at some point those words connected with me reminding me of Eugene Peterson who speaks of our God in Jesus who climbed into human skin and “moved into the neighborhood.” I think no matter how you view it the Gospel is a movement of God’s compassion. God felt it was necessary to show us He could experience humanity in the midst of that process—which is what makes the sacrifice of the Cross so significant. I really believe that practicing compassion—truly caring for, understanding, and connecting with our neighbor is something we aren’t doing well these days—I wish I was better at it.

The other movement in the novel that stood out to me was found in Miss Maudie’s quote, “There are just some kind of men who are so worried about the next world that they have never learned to live in this one and you can look down the street and see the results.” I think when we look at all of the brokenness in our culture, even the things that we rely on our governments to fix, we might need to point the finger back at ourselves—people of faith. I wonder if we were (if I was) really living out the Gospel and caring for our own neighborhoods instead of concerning ourselves with how clearly our messages or our perspectives or our political agendas are heard—I think every congregation in America might find people crowding into their pews.

You end The Mockingbird Parables with a call for Christians to practice a kind of communication that builds community. Can you expound on that?

I talk about this extensively in my final chapter titled The Parable of the Last Word. One aspect of the heroes in To Kill a Mockingbird that makes them so profoundly unique is the way they choose to communicate. In today’s culture where it is more important to be right than to be righteous, where the loudest word (the one that gets the lead story) is more significant than the quiet and steady truth, and where we are losing what it means to communicate (to actually listen) to other human beings face to face—I think Atticus’ ethic of communication is profound. Atticus’s neighbors in the novel (even the good church going folks) have some extremely despicable views about the world, and yet Atticus tells his daughter that no matter how ugly things get through the trial of Tom Robinson to always keep in mind that the townspeople are still their neighbors. It goes beyond the “hate the sin, love the sinner” mantra—he acts as though he has put their skin on and walked around in it. Atticus believes that the views of his neighbors are reprehensible, but he doesn’t allow that to affect his connection to them. He is not shy about telling the truth, but understands the power of that truth. I think Atticus teaches us how to change people’s hearts—not through arguments and propaganda, but through relationship and your connection to them.

You make the point that children—and adults who hold onto a childlike idealism—are key to making the world a better place. Please explain.

In the Parable of Boo Radley and in the Parable of Tom Robinson I look at the children’s view of the world. At one point in To Kill a Mockingbird the character Dill is disgusted by the way the white prosecutor is talking to Tom Robinson simply because he is black. Outside of the courtroom he expresses his disgust (and his confusion) with how the adults are acting. He comments that he might have to just join the circus when he grows up and laugh at all of them. The children clearly see the injustice happening in the adult world and they don’t want to accept it.

I think when Jesus said we needed to become like little children to enter the Kingdom, he might have been referring to that sense of fairness—that idealism that is natural in children. In the novel, many of the adults in Maycomb have grown to accept the injustice of town as the norm—children see it for what it is. I think as we grow older we kind of just accept the wrongs, the injustice, and the sin in our world as a fact of life. I wonder if Jesus doesn’t want us to wake up to the idea that we can change things. I think our faith loses its vibrancy every time we see a wrong and don’t take action. We follow the world’s greatest idealist—can we really walk around speaking the name of Jesus—the guy who conquered death—and just accept the hurting people in the world as normal, acceptable, as just the way things are?

How does your faith play into your writing?

I think everyone has faith in something—whether they see it as faith or not is up to them. I believe the story of the Gospel is so powerful that it glimmers here and there through the cloudiest and darkest of narratives. We are all on a journey and all looking for redemption in some measure—even those of us who reject the Gospel are searching for some vindication or at least trying to make sense out of life. I am struck with the faith of Atticus in the novel; he tells his daughter Scout, “I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t defend that man (the innocent Tom Robinson).” For me To Kill a Mockingbird provided fresh words—new language for Gospel truths that I had become deaf too. I think those of us who grew up in evangelical culture have listened to the same language for so long that it can wake us a bit to notice the Gospel written so clearly in other familiar stories.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Sometimes I think that the detours are actually the times I am able to slow down and appreciate the beauty of everyday life. There is nothing like getting lost on a country road when you have nothing to do and nowhere in particular to be. I think God has thrown plenty of detours my way and they always turn out to be pretty grand adventures.

It’s difficult to break into book publishing, but The Mockingbird Parables has already ‘beaten the odds’ by being contracted by two publishers, first Thomas Nelson and ultimately with Tyndale. Please tell us about that. Besides perseverance, what did you learn from this experience?

I certainly feel fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to be published. I believe that my agent Kyle Olund and I came to a place where we really had to decide that this project was in God’s hands—not that we weren’t going to work hard to get it done—but that we needed to surrender to God’s will and just be ok with the results—and let me tell you that is a process. People tell us that we have a really amazing story with this book.

From a publishing standpoint I think you learn very quickly as a first time author that writing and getting your book out there takes an enormous amount of work. I know it was a roller coaster for us at times. I have been amazed at the ups and downs of the process. I have felt really fortunate to meet some really amazing people at Nelson and at Tyndale.

What advice would you give young writers who are looking for their first break in publishing? Do you view writing as a ministry?

Go with your gut. Never let an agent tell you that your book won’t be published. I was rejected by a handful of agents before I found a great one. The truth is some of the people you work with at the publisher will never actually read your book—as horrifying as that sounds it is completely true—they are simply way too busy. You have to make sure your concept is appealing to them. I was able to stay positive because during my time working in publishing it was abundantly clear to me that most publishers can only guess at what books will be successful—it’s definitely not a science. I think it is very important to find someone who believes in you, and believes in your book.

I definitely see writing, like many other ventures, as an expression of faith!

Writing is hard work. How do you discipline yourself to write every day? Do you have a writing routine?

To stay consistent with your theme of “divine detours”—as I look back on the last twenty years—writing has always been a form of rest and relaxation for me. My friend Mike and I began to write in high school and from then on I kept a notebook of poems, short stories, and essays. I was cleaning the basement last spring and found a couple crates of notebooks and was a little taken back at how long I have been writing consistently, because with all the busyness of life I never really paid attention to it as something so constant! I would love to have a great story about how I wake everyday at five in the morning, but I have a full time teaching job and my brain isn’t working that early anyway. Writing is hard work and sacrifice and the writing is only half the battle. In many ways I found the actual writing to be like fishing—you just have to be faithful and show up—it doesn’t mean you’re going to catch anything. I committed three to four hours a night when I was writing The Mockingbird Parables, but the actual writing came to me in increments—only one or two nights a week. I don’t think there is one way to do it though—everyone is different. The truth is as a dad of four kids, the discipline of writing just happens for me when it can.

What’s next for you?

I have another non-fiction project that I have been working diligently on and I can’t wait to find a home for it! I also have a novel that I have worked through for years that I am anxious to get published.

A few fun questions…

When kicking back with a good book, what genre do you prefer to read?

I love to read so my list is always changing but just off the top of my head here are a couple I have enjoyed:

A Few Fiction: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, The Testament by Elie Weisel, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien, The Stand and Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, On the Road by Jack Kerouac…

A Few Non Fiction: My Losing Season by Pat Conroy, On Writing by Stephen King, Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson, The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Williard, Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning, Compassion by Henri Nouwen, Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell and Don Golden, Epic by John Eldredge, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, and Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose, Let the Trumpet Sound by Stephen Oates, Wide Awake by Erwin McManus, and Weight of Glory by CS Lewis…

I realize that my reading selections seem pretty random—but I really do enjoy a wide variety of writing styles and authors.

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

My wife makes this dish called chicken poppy seed casserole that is amazing. I also really love pizza.

This website features writers as well as musicians, so I like to mix it up a bit. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

Music is a huge part of our lives. My wife and I celebrate everything with music and it is always on in our home. We go out to see live music as much as we possibly can. I play the guitar a little bit, but not very well—no one would ever dream of calling it talent!

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player? Does music help you write?

Everything from Otis Redding to Johnny Cash to Miles Davis to U2 to Ryan Adams to Arcade Fire—I could go on and on. Three come to mind that I would highly recommend to your readers: We have followed an amazing band named Over the Rhine for years and never miss a show close to home. I think Bill Mallonee might be one of the most gifted songwriters of the last twenty years. We are also big fans of a very talented Nashville singer/songwriter named Gabriel Kelley.

As far as music and writing go—I usually have something playing in the background while I write.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Right now I would be My Back Pages by Bob Dylan. I have been captivated by that song for the last couple of weeks and what it has to say about the way we choose to view the world.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

This is a truly funny question! I love a good progression of minor chords, as long as it is in the key of G, the people’s key (so everyone can sing along). It’s good to be melancholy on occasion but I like to have a lot of people around!

Thanks, Matt! It’s great to have you here at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Matt, visit his website at www.mattlitton.com.

For more information, visit The Mockingbird Parables on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mockingbird-Parables/122566139519.

Follow this link to purchase The Mockingbird Parables at online outlets: http://mattlitton.com/purchase-the-mockingbird-parables/.

Deborah Evans Price is a respected media analyst and contributer to a number of music and entertainment outlets, including Billboard, AOL’s The Boot, and CMA Close Up. She has interviewed an enviable list of celebrities—from Ernest Tubb to Taylor Swift to Sandra Bullock.

In her latest project, Deborah takes readers behind the scenes at the CMA Awards, offering interviews and insights into 43 years of music tradition.

Many writers fall in love with the written word as a child. How old were you when you first knew you wanted to write? Which came first for you, “writing” or “journalism”?

I always loved to read as a child. I wasn’t into Nancy Drew or any of those books most young girls were interested in. I loved anything written about horses and read all of Walter Farley’s books, starting with “The Black Stallion.” My dad was in the Air Force, but was also a scuba instructor, so I also gravitated to anything about the ocean.

I think “journalism” really took precedence over “writing.” I’ve just always had an insatiable curiosity about people and events. I started writing for my junior high newspaper when I was in seventh grade in New Jersey. Due to dad’s Air Force career, we moved a lot and I went to four high schools in four years—moving from McGuire A.F.B. in New Jersey to Okinawa, Japan to Church Hill, TN to Bossier City, LA. I hated to leave my school in New Jersey and I remember my guidance counselor telling me if I wanted to be a writer, moving halfway around the world to Japan would be an experience that would make me a better writer, and he was right.

How did you break into entertainment journalism?

When I was attending Louisiana State University in Shreveport, one of my classmates worked for KRMD radio, and told me they were looking for part-time disc jockeys. I listened to that station and loved it, so I applied. The program director asked me why he should hire me when I had no radio experience. I told him I was familiar with the station from being an avid listener and that I would work really hard, and  if he gave me a chance, he wouldn’t regret it. He liked my “can do” attitude and hired me. My PD, Tom Phifer, became like a second dad. I worked there four years, and when I moved to Nashville, he gave me a list of his friends up here that would look out for me, and they did. Bob Heatherly, who was at RCA at the time, would take me to lunch. Barbara Kelly would call every week just to make sure I was okay and didn’t give up and go home. Nick Hunter at Warner Bros. told me about an opening at R&R (Radio & Records), which became my first job on Music Row. While I was working at KRMD, I began interviewing artists and selling stories to the Shreveport Times and Shreveport Journal. The Oak Ridge Boys, Dottie West and Johnny Rodriguez were among my first celebrity interviews.

Who/what influenced your writing career the most?

When I was a senior in Bossier City, Louisiana, I was editor of the Panther’s Print at Parkway High School. Dale Bozeman, our journalism teacher/newspaper advisor, really gave me a great foundation and encouraged me to pursue a career in journalism. He went beyond teaching the “who, what, when, where and why” approach to really instill in his students the ethics and professionalism necessary to earn respect and trust. I’ll always be grateful to him.

After I moved to Nashville, Vernell Hackett became a close friend and mentor and still is to this day. She taught me how things worked on Music Row and she has a code of conduct that she instilled in me and all the writers she’s worked with over the years. She’s tough, fair and unflinchingly honest. I’m always calling to get her opinion on things. She has amazing insight.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Oh yes, many times! One of the major examples is my departure from Billboard in November 2005. I had been with the magazine full-time for ten years and it was my dream job. I was devastated. The company was laying off people in Nashville, Washington D.C., New York and LA and eventually would close the Nashville office entirely. I remember coming home crying and my husband, Gary, saying “This is great!” I said “Didn’t you hear me? I lost my job.” He walked me out on the deck as the sun was setting and said, “You’ve been working so hard for so long. You’re never here to watch the sun set with me and now you will be. I’m not worried. God will take care of everything.”

And he was right! It’s been a wonderful detour. I’m still writing for Billboard, doing pretty much everything I did before—reviews, news and features on country, Christian and some rock acts. Plus I get to work from home and write for many other publications and websites. Back in November 2005, this would not have been the path I would have chosen, but God does truly know best and it’s been a divine detour that has become a marvelous way of life. Freelance work can ebb and flow, but I’ve been blessed to be busy and God has been faithful to take care of our family. I’ve learned to trust Him more and worry less.

Let’s talk about your new book, The Country Music Awards Vault (Whitman Publishing, September 2010). Please tell us about it.

I am so excited. Writing the book was one of the most challenging and exhilarating things I’ve ever done. I only had a little over four months to write it so it was pretty intense. The CMA provided me copies of all the previous shows on DVD, so I watched 41 years of CMA Awards. (The first awards in 1967 weren’t televised and they couldn’t find a copy of the 1969 show.) I’ve attended every show since 1984 except in 1999 when my grandmother passed away. However, most every year, I’ve been backstage working in the press room and even though there are monitors, you miss most of what is going on out front. So it was a real treat to be able to sit and enjoy all those shows, especially the ones from the 70s when I was a kid. I laughed and cried and loved every minute.

In writing the book, I wanted to give fans information they’d never read before. I conducted 43 interviews, talking with everyone from Jack Greene and Sonny James to Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn to Taylor Swift and Brad Paisley. Other than a couple quotes from a Nashville Banner article in the 60s, the book is all original content and fresh interviews. I got so many wonderful stories from Vince Gill, Jeannie Seely, Kathy Mattea, Carrie Underwood, Duane Allen, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis, Darius Rucker and so many other artists. It really was a labor of love.

How long did it take to research? Was there one thing that stood out, something that surprised and/or especially touched you about the history of the awards show?

The CMA approached me about doing the book in November 2009 and the first chapter was due in January 2010 with the balance of the book due April 1, so it all came together pretty fast. Watching all the years of shows was time consuming, but essential to writing the kind of book I wanted it to be. Also doing so many interviews took a long time, especially trying to schedule interviews with busy artists, but it all came together. I’ll always be grateful to the artists who gave their time.

I think the one thing that stood out—something that most artists stressed—was how much they enjoy the camaraderie of that night and how much it means to get to hang out with their peers.

Also it was interesting to see how much the CMA Awards reflected what was happening in American culture during the different decades. Country music has always been a barometer reflecting the times.

Besides providing entertainment, what is the one thing you hope readers will take away from this book?

I hope it will remind people that dreams do come true. When Trisha Yearwood won her first female vocalist award, in her acceptance speech, she recalled seeing Reba McEntire win and telling the audience that  “dreams do come true.” Trisha said, “I believed you Miss Reba and here I am.” I would hope that no matter what a person’s dream is, they would never give up on seeing God make it a reality.

What outlets do you write for in your current freelance career?

In addition to Billboard, I write for AOL’s country site The Boot, Country Weekly, Gospel Music Channel.com, HomeLife, FIRST, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts & Entertainment, PEOPLE, DevoZine and a few others. I write a lot of artist bios for record companies and also write liner notes for CDs and DVDs.

Is there a dream interview you haven’t done yet?

I would love to interview Mikhail Baryshnikov. I love dance and think he’s had a fascinating life. It would be amazing to talk to him about his defection from the former Soviet Union and his impact on ballet in our country.

A few fun questions…

What do you like to read when kicking back with a good book?

I love to read biographies. I’m always interested in people. Gene Simmons from KISS is one of the most interesting I’ve read. His mother is a holocaust survivor and he was born in Israel. He’s led an interesting life.

I also like to read devotional books. There’s nothing like scripture and some uplifting insights to brighten any day.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player?

I listen to a LOT of different music. I love country music and can’t get enough Brad Paisley, Oak Ridge Boys, Bellamy Brothers, Trisha Yearwood, Charlie Daniels, Miranda Lambert, and a new guy from Texas named Darren Kozelsky. He’s amazing! I love classic rock and can’t imagine a road trip without the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bob Seger. My son, Trey, and I also listen to 3 Doors Down (lead singer Brad Arnold is one of the nicest guys on the planet), Daughtry, Bon Jovi, Bowling for Soup, matchbox twenty and Christian artists such as Amy Grant, Third Day, Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North and Newsboys. I also love bluegrass and Native American music, Bill Miller in particular. My tastes are all over the place and I love that Trey has really diverse taste in music too.

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

When the words aren’t flowing, I always say a little prayer. I see my job as helping people tell their stories and I take that privilege and responsibility very seriously. I always want the reader to feel like they had that conversation with the subject themselves. As far as comfort food, my husband and son both make great sweet tea and I’d never have gotten the book done without it. Gary also makes incredible mac ‘n cheese and the best chocolate cake on the planet! The afternoon I got my first copy of the book in the mail, I sat down and celebrated by having a piece of cake and cold milk.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

A slow, sweet country love song laced with fiddle and a sighing steel guitar.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Perhaps a bit of both, depending on the day  : )

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

That’s a tough question. I think like most women, I’m a little of all those characters, but if I had to pick one, I’d say the girl next door. I think people feel comfortable around me and that’s why they open up and I get such great interviews.

Please tell us about your pets, your hobbies, your family, etc.

I’ve been married 25 years to Gary Price. We met on prom night. We were both with our dates, but ended up sitting at the same table and chatting. We didn’t start going out until two years later. He heard me on KRMD and called to ask me out. I love him more every day. He’s an amazing man and always knows how to make me laugh when I’m stressed. We have a 20-year-old son, Trey, who is in college and studying to be a physical therapist. He’s a wonderful young man and we couldn’t be more proud of him. Plus he’s just fun to be around. We sing and laugh together often. I’m so blessed!

As far as pets, we have an adorable black and white fox terrier named Lily and a rabbit named Snuggles, who I believe is the sweetest, smartest animal on the planet. And my brother, Mike, just got Gary 20 baby chicks for his birthday, so we are looking forward to fresh eggs. Our house is on a hilltop and we have ten acres so I love watching the deer, hawks, chipmunks and other wildlife.

As far as hobbies, I love the beach and try to slip down to the Gulf whenever possible. Trey and I love going to concerts and Gary and I are on a bowling team. I’m terrible and he’s super bowler. He even had a 300 last year—a perfect score—all strikes. How incredible!

Thanks, Deborah! It’s a highlight to have you at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

To order The Country Music Awards Vault, logon to Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Country-Music-Awards-Vault/dp/0794830838.

Or Barnes & Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/9780794830830/?itm=1&USRI=deborah+evans+price.

Sarah Sundin didn’t intend to be a writer, but God had other plans.

Sarah remembers the exact day the calling came, and since that time she has pursued her mission with enthusiasm—learning the craft, researching meticulously, and giving God the glory for every inspiration. Her new book, A Memory Between Us, the second in her Wings of Glory series from Revell, releases in September.

How long have you been writing? Did you (or do you still) have other career aspirations?

I’ve been writing for ten years. I’m also a pharmacist—that was my first career aspiration. I majored in chemistry then went to pharmacy school, never thinking God would call me to be a writer. That was a bit of a surprise.

Was there a “light bulb” moment when you decided to turn writing into a career?

Mine was a true light bulb moment. On January 6, 2000, I had a dream with such intriguing characters that I felt compelled to write their story. Before that date, I’d never had an idea for a book, and after that, ideas flowed. It was as if God turned on a writing switch in my brain. I decided if I was going to dedicate time to writing, I needed to be serious and pursue publication. The novel that came from that dream will never be published, nor should it, but it got me started. I set out to learn the craft of writing from books, a critique group, and writers’ conferences.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Because of my strange start in writing, I’m well aware that He is my only inspiration. I know He could turn off the flow of ideas as easily as He turned it on. Faith also plays into my characters and plots. I see God at work in the world and in people all around me, and I can’t imagine not including that in my stories. My characters tend to be Christians who have areas where their faith needs to grow, like obedience, honesty, pride, trust, or fear. Then the characters learn through the story situations.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Writing has certainly been a positive detour. I was a pharmacist staying at home with three small children, and now I’m a published author…with three rather large children. I’m still trying to wrap my tiny brain around that.

Your first series, Wings of Glory, is set in World War II. Was there a special reason you decided to write stories set in that era? How did you go about researching the project?

World War II is such a fascinating time, full of dramatic stories and settings—a novelist’s dream. This was a time when ordinary men had to do extraordinary things, and when women first explored non-traditional roles—while remaining ladies. Plus, my great-uncle was a B-17 bomber pilot with the US Eighth Air Force during World War II, so I decided to make my three hero brothers B-17 pilots too.

I had to do lots of research for this series. As a reader, historical inaccuracies throw me out of the story, so I wanted my own novels to be as accurate as possible. I have to confess, I have over two hundred books and websites in my bibliography. Yes, that’s sick. Since the heroes are B-17 bomber pilots—but I’ve never flown a plane—I read a “How to Fly a Plane” book to get the basics, purchased copies of the actual B-17 pilot’s manual and the training film (pure gold!), and ran the flying scenes past a pilot friend. For A Memory Between Us, I also researched nursing during World War II, flight nursing, and Army hospitals. My favorite research involved visiting England.

Let’s talk about your new book, A Memory Between Us (Revell, September 2010), the second in your series. Please tell us about it.

In A Memory Between Us, Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge—until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth’s heart a top priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she carries a shameful secret that keeps her from giving her heart to any man. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

A Memory Between Us is the second book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II. Each book stands alone.

How do you discipline yourself to write every day? Do you have a writing routine? Where do you write?

I really love writing, so I have to discipline myself to lift my head and pay attention to the world around me. I have a routine—I do the bulk of my writing when the children are in school, then while they do homework, I do emails and other online work. I also use snippets of “wasted” time—I can take care of a lot of editing and e-mails during karate classes and in the dentist’s waiting room.

In the past, my writing space has been the living room couch, my husband’s computer in the den, and then my laptop on the dining room table. Just this past month we remodeled the den—I now have my own big L-shaped desk with lots of drawers and cupboards and a tackboard, and I have an extra bookcase just for my writing and research books. Everything I need—right there. Oh, it’s heavenly.

You are also a speaker. What advice do you give writers who are hoping to break into publishing?

Be teachable and soak up all the good instruction you can.

Join ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Their e-zine, e-mail loop, and monthly courses are outstanding.

Join a local writers’ group or an online critique group.

Don’t submit to agents and editors until you’re ready. That means a complete manuscript, positive feedback from experienced writers, and enough knowledge of the publishing industry to know how to submit properly. You want your first impression to be stellar.

Lastly, when you’re ready, submit and keep submitting. Keep polishing your craft, and keep praying for the Lord’s guidance.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Chinese food and chocolate. But not together.

Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

No. I love music and read music, but any skill is purely technical. I played clarinet in high school, but not well. I love to sing…but I don’t sing well. A few years ago I played in a handbell choir, which was loads of fun—and I only had to play two or three notes!—but then I broke my wrist last summer, which put a tragic end to my ringing career.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player? Does music help you write?

In the car I listen to contemporary Christian music or to Big Band when the kids aren’t around to make fun of me. Big Band music inspires story ideas and gives me the color of the era, but when I write, I prefer silence. If I try to write to music, I end up singing—badly—and not writing.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

It would probably be long and have too many words in it. It might start off whining and end up praising God. There would be all sorts of instruments because I have so many things going on in my life. I’ll throw in a trumpet solo because that would be cool.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Depends which day you ask me. I have mostly major chord days sprinkled with minor chord days. My family knows about those minor key days.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Oh, the little girl in high heels. I feel like I stumble around a lot, not knowing what I’m doing—or doing it not quite right. A while back I would have thought I was alone, but now I know a lot of people feel the same way. We can all stumble together.

I’m a dog lover. Any family pets?

We have a cute but skittish cat named Janie, and we have a yellow lab named Daisy. I’m convinced Daisy is Satan’s emissary to destroy my writing career. She wants to play constantly and doesn’t understand why mommy wants to write. And she eats my pens.

Thanks, Sarah! It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information, logon to Sarah’s website at http://www.sarahsundin.com/index.html or her blog at http://www.sarahsundin.com/blog.html.

To purchase A Memory Between Us from Amazon, logon on http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Between-Us-Novel-Wings/dp/080073422X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281315455&sr=8-1.

To purchase A Memory Between Us from Barnes & Noble, logon to http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Memory-Between-Us/Sarah-Sundin/e/9780800734220/?itm=1&USRI=a+memory+between+us.

To purchase A Memory Between Us from Christianbook.com, logon to http://www.christianbook.com/memory-between-us-wings-of-glory/sarah-sundin/9780800734220/pd/734222?item_code=WW&netp_id=762259&event=ESRCN&view=details.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 , KJV

I was sitting in a coffee shop, writing and enjoying some down time, when a sweet-faced, older man approached my table.

He smiled and made an attempt at conversation, but because of an infirmity, whether physical or physiological—perhaps emphysema or even Alzheimer’s—he was unable to speak plainly. I heard only a series of breathy, garbled sounds and then, “Thank you.”

Returning his smile, I asked that he repeat his remarks. Yet, once again, only two words were intelligible.

“Thank you.”

I nodded, hoping he didn’t know I hadn’t understood. But he clearly did, and he walked away frustrated. My heart broke for both of us. We had failed to communicate.

Sometimes we have the same frustration when we seek to share our most earnest feelings with God. How do we put into words the hurts and hopes and desires of our heart? How do we sufficiently express our insecurities and anxieties about life? How do we fully thank Him for what He has given us?

We feel incapable.

Yet, He tells us in His Word that, through the intercession of the Holy Spirit, He knows the utterances of our heart. He hears our “thank you’s,” and even though our words may fail, His understanding doesn’t.

~ Kathy Harris

Middle Tennessee Christian Writers (MTCW) will host its second annual mini-conference on Saturday, August 28, 2010. Registration for the event, “Prepping for Publication,” is now open.

Scheduled speakers include MTCW President and multi-published author, Kaye Dacus (Harvest House/Barbour); literary agent and founder of Wheelhouse Literary Group, Jonathan Clements; author and publisher (Sheaf House), Joan Shoup; multi-published author and speaker Ramona Richards (Steeple Hill); and author and President of Glass Road Public Relations, Rebeca Seitz.

The event will be held at Bellevue Baptist Church, Nashville, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Registration is $30 until August 14, and $35 after August 14. Registration closes Wednesday, August 25. A light lunch, snacks and beverages are included with registration fee.

For details logon to the MTCW website, http://mtcw.wordpress.com/ and/or contact the organization at MTCWgroup (at) gmail.com. Schedule is subject to change without notice. Registration is limited to 75 attendees.

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE CHRISTIAN WRITERS

MTCW was founded in 2004 by a small group of Nashville-based Christian authors. Its membership now includes non-published, multi-published, and award-winning authors. Meeting location, date, and time are posted on the group website at http://mtcw.wordpress.com/.

Matthew 11:25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Sometimes God uses children to deliver His call. Just ask Shawn Lamb. She’ll tell you that she began writing Young Adult Fantasy at the request of her young daughter. She’ll also tell you that God has had His hand on many things in her life.

Creativity is often innate. Did you begin writing as a child?

Yes, I did. Actually, the basic story for Allon was started when I was 16 years old. Back then the kingdom was called “Shiloh.” Some how—or more rightly, divinely—I happened to have all the notes, a rudimentary map, and the first chapter.

Through the upheaval of life, I only have two things remaining from my childhood, my dad’s glove from when he played major league baseball and a collection of my early writing. I didn’t know what was in the collection until my daughter asked me to write a fantasy, and I went looking for story ideas.

Was there an a-ha moment when you decided to turn writing into a career, or did your interest in it develop slowly?

There wasn’t an “a-ha” moment. Writing has always been a part of me but developed into a passion as I got older. I can’t remember a time I didn’t write.

Do you (or did you) have other career aspirations?

Yes, medicine. I was in emergency medicine and search and rescue for years before I got married. God has a way of changing one’s perspective when His plans for you are different than your own. I never abandoned writing and the pursuit of publication, but I didn’t know if it was practical.

You write YA Fantasy. What genre do you prefer to read when kicking back with a good book?

Historical fiction. In fact, I was actively writing and being courted by several Christian publishers for my historical fiction before my daughter asked me to write a fantasy story. Those contracts falling through gave me the time to dedicate to fully developing Allon. Again, God’s timing—I wanted historical fiction and didn’t know much about fantasy, nor was I interested in the genre.

Who/what influenced your writing career the most?

My daughter. Her simple request has turned my heart and mind toward young adults.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Faith influences everything in my life. Honoring God is my number one priority in whatever I do. I could have been published by several major general market publishers in the early 1990s if I did what they asked and put sex into my books. But being a published author isn’t worth the compromise to my heart, soul, and mind before God.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Yes, with Allon. I had only written the first two chapters when my daughter began sharing Allon with her friends and classmates. They couldn’t believe I was doing this for her, and they became intrigued by that fact. Soon they became hooked on the story and came over after school to discuss it. Conversations about characters, plot lines, etc., gave way to more personal discussions when a few opened up to me about their lives.

Many of these were immigrants or refugees from other countries, thus of different faiths and cultures. It amazed me how God was using my story to draw them out, to encourage them and help them understand some difficult concepts of adapting to a new country.

Across the spectrum, the main thing these kids spoke of was a desperate need for “hope.” Many certainly didn’t have it where they came from due to war, poverty, or oppression. It was elusive here in the U.S. as they struggled to fit in. God placed it in my heart to address those issues in my stories.

You are a prolific writer. How do you discipline yourself to write every day?

I cannot—not write. I don’t know that it’s a discipline issue, unless to say, I have to make time for other things. : )

Let’s talk about your new book! Insurrection is the second in your Allon series. Please tell us about it.

Insurrection takes place four years after Allon. This is mainly a story of the contrast between two families caught up in an unexpected rebellion and the choice they make in response.

Two of the primary characters are teenage boys, Wess (16) and his brother Bosley (14). They were in the first book. Nephews of King Marcellus, they are faced with a choice of taking advantage of a coup against Ellis or helping him, the man who defeated their uncle and changed their lives.

There are themes of mercy and forgiveness, consequences of choices both past and present upon families and individuals by either the decision they made or someone else made.

Where did you get the idea for the series?

Since I began Allon the stories have just flowed, almost effortlessly. I now have ten complete manuscripts—five of which were written in 14 months, each between 85,000 to 100,000 words. I chalk it up to God’s blessing since I barely think or take breath between them, I simply write.

Besides providing entertainment, what is the one thing you hope readers will take away from your books?

If what happened with my daughter’s friends is any indication, I’d like to see them embrace the themes. Magic is entertaining and imaginary, and I purposely downplayed the use of it compared to some—although the supernatural is an important aspect of the stories—to show how true courage, integrity, faith, and strength come from within a person to help them face and overcome adversity.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

CHOCOLATE!! YUM. What woman doesn’t crave a good, decadent chocolate dessert?

This website features writers as well as musicians, so I like to mix it up a bit. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I sing first soprano and have done solos, duets, etc.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing with the radio or an mp3 player?

Soundtracks. I’ve became so conditioned to listen to music to score the scene I’m writing, it’s hard to listen to anything with words. I guess I’m weird that way.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

An heroic John William theme. (No, not JAWS! I hate sharks.)

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Major.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I think a combination of the strong female and girl next door. I can step up in a crisis and have, but am perfectly content playing a supportive role to my husband and daughter.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any.

We used to have three dogs and one cat, but all have passed on, so we’ve been pet free for three years now. My favorite dog was Boots. She was a pure breed Flat-Coated Retriever. If I ever get the desire to have another dog—that’s the breed I’ll get. Boots died ten years ago, and I still miss her. But with book promotions heating up, traveling is easier without pets.

Thanks, Shawn!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Shawn Lamb and her books, visit http://www.allonbooks.com/home.htm.

NOTE FROM SHAWN: From the website are links to my blog and the ALLON Facebook Group page. I’ve been posting updates on Insurrection in both places. Bookmarks, flyers and promo video are coming soon.

On Sept 3-5, 2010, I’ll be featured as an Emerging Author at the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur, GA. I’ll be speaking and signing copies of Allon, along with promoting Insurrection. Last year 190,000 people attended the festival. If anyone is in the Atlanta area over Labor Day Weekend, check out the festival.

Edgar Struble’s new book, Working in the Music Industry, was designed to help young people plan their career in the music business. And he should know. His personal tenure goes back more than twenty years, to when he began touring with Kenny Rogers.

More recently, Edgar’s distinctive and stirring music has underscored television movies, series, and specials on all major networks—CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, The History Channel, TNN, TBS, and others. He has been Music Director and composer for the annual Academy of Country Music Awards for the past five years, and he has worked in the same capacity for the American Music Awards since 2008.

You’ve had a long career in music. When, and why, did you decide to write your new book?

Working in the Music Industry was started well over twenty years ago when I was touring with Kenny Rogers. The concept came out of my frustration with the lack of any meaningful information about the music business prior to my entering college in the early 70s. Coming from a small town, I thought the only music career options I had were to become a rock star or a band director. Had I known about the myriad of job opportunities in the music business, I probably would have chosen a different focus to my degree (I have a BA in Music Education). Working with Kenny Rogers exposed me to the real music business at a national level. I thought it would be helpful to young people to have a concise guide to some of those career opportunities.

At the time there were very few, if any, books about music careers. I came close to a publishing deal for this book back in the early 90s, but that effort fizzled, and I got discouraged. Then the book sat in my hard drive until a couple of years ago when it dawned on me that, with the internet, I didn’t need a major publisher to get this in front of my target audience. So I obtained a few more interviews, updated the text, self-published the book, obtained international distribution through my printer (Lightning Source), and released the book on April 30, 2010.

In Working in the Music Business, you include advice from a number of music industry notables. Can you give us an example?

Barry Beckett, on his philosophy of production:

“I use great musicians that have fun and think of ideas on their own. To get really inspired playing, you have to go with their ideas as much as possible, and if it is going to work, it will work. . . . Stay honest and ethical. Stay away from politics. Go with the song and stick to an artist.”

Ken Kragen, on artist management:

“A manager is much like the chief operating officer of a corporation in which the artist is both the owner and the product. . . . I do anything and everything to further the artist’s career, whether that is suggesting a piece of wardrobe, working with a publicist on a story, working with an agent on a booking, producing a television project, seeing that my clients have good money management, or seeing that there is proper legal representation. Whatever it takes to enhance the full spectrum of the career.”

What about your personal journey? How did you get your start in the music business?

I got started the old-fashioned way—singing in the church choir and playing in bands in high school and through my college years. Although I graduated from Michigan State University with a music teaching degree, the day I graduated was the day I hit the road with a seven-piece rhythm and blues band. I finally gravitated to Nashville and got my first break when Kenny Rogers hired me as a keyboardist back in 1976.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

I’m going to answer that a little differently and say that I have taken some self-directed detours that have actually interfered with God’s real direction in my life. I’m a guy with a lot of interests, and on occasion I’ve allowed those interests to hinder the progress of my career as a music director and composer. I’ve spent time managing real estate projects and working in the antique business instead of honing my skills as a musician and looking for new opportunities in that realm. Although I have learned from these detours, it hasn’t been exactly painless . . . I find that when I really focus on my music, and spend most every day in my chair at my studio, that’s when the opportunities come in from God.

The one God-led detour that turned out to be positive was our move from Nashville to California in 1999. My wife and I did a good bit of praying as the TV business in Nashville started to evaporate in the late 90s, and we felt led to head for the West Coast, even though I had no guarantees of work. As I was packing studio equipment for the move to California, I remember thinking, “I sure hope we’re doing the right thing.” Moments later the phone rang, and it was Larry Kline from Dick Clark Productions calling to say he would be using my music for the theme of a new TV show! I hit the ground running in Los Angeles and my work has been pretty consistent since then, except when I mess it up by taking the aforementioned side trips.

If you could only share one piece of advice with someone who wants to work in the music business, what would it be?

It has to be about the music. I believe we’ve lost sight of that lately. It’s not the money business or the let’s-get-famous business. In fact, it’s harder than ever to make money in this business. But if you love what you do and serve the music, the money will come. And of course, in my life, I try to serve my Lord and Savior before anything else.

You are involved in many aspects of the industry—performer, composer, music director, etc. If you had to give up all but one, which would you keep?

Unquestionably: Music Director. I am at my absolute best when I’m leading a bunch of folks through a live TV performance. And as a music director, I often get to participate in the performance and compose music for the show, so it’s a great place for me all around.

After years of directing the music for live broadcasts, like the American Music Awards, do you still get nervous before a show?

There have been times when the dress rehearsal, only a couple of hours before the show, has run long due to technical problems. Those issues sometimes make me anxious, but overall I can’t say that I get nervous. But I do get excited! These shows are a lot of fun for me.

Please tell us about your latest music project.

I am compiling a music library of country instrumental cues. I hope to go online with CountryCues.com in the next couple of months, providing high quality, authentic country music to radio, TV, and film users.

I will also start writing cues for the American Music Awards soon. This will be my sixth year as MD for that show.

A few fun questions:

When kicking back, what kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

I love reading Junie B. Jones to my 4th-grader! I actually find those stories hilarious, because I have four daughters and I see a little Junie B in each of them! For personal enjoyment, I read Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding magazines, as well as antique car publications. My wife and I are presently reading and studying together a great book on child character development called How To Raise A Modern-Day Joseph.

What’s in your MP3 player?

I’m usually listening to whatever style of music compliments the show that I’m working on. When I’m preparing for the Academy of Country Music Awards, I’m listening to current country artists. For the American Music Awards, it’s rock ‘n roll and pop. For my enjoyment only, I’m all over the map:

Janelle Monåe, Mose Allison, Chris Tomlin, Tommy Walker, vintage Motown, and of course, Kenny Rogers and The Oak Ridge Boys : )

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Blue-eyed soul with a country touch

Are you a major or a minor chord?

C minor 9th

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

I’m somewhere in between the mad scientist and the child in an adult’s body, but I can balance a checkbook.

I’m a dog lover. Any pets?

We currently have a Golden Retriever and a Chihuahua. There have been few times in my life that I haven’t had a dog.

Thanks, Edgar! It’s great to have you visit at DivineDetour.

Thank you!

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For more information about Edgar, visit his website at www.EdgarStruble.com.

To purchase a hard copy of Edgar’s book from the publisher’s website, logon to http://peterpanicmusic.com/.

For digital copies in all popular formats, logon to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/14666.

To purchase Edgar’s CDs from his website, logon to http://edgarstruble.net/performer.html.

Working in the Music Industry is also available through Amazon (including a Kindle version), Barnes & Noble, and other retailers.

Julie Carobini has a love affair with the sea, and it shows in her writing. She pens colorful and quirky characters in a setting full of sun, sand, and surf. But more importantly, she offers insight that will wash over you with encouragement and grace.

Put on your flip flops, grab a glass of your favorite iced tea, and settle in for an inspirational conversation.

I understand that you grew up in a “creative” family. Did you begin writing as a child?

Sort of. I remember my father praising something I wrote in 2nd grade. Then in middle school, I started writing a book, but never showed it to anyone. (I wonder if Mom knows? Probably. Moms know everything…)  Anyway, in high school I loved English and writing papers (believe it or not), so I think the writing thing has been with me for years.

What would you want to do if you didn’t write books?

Hmm. Well, I also run a small online beach shop, so I’d love to travel the world looking for sea-inspired treasure to fill it  : )

What was your big break as a writer and how did it come about?

I’m a long time article writer, with hundreds of stories in print. In between, I wrote a couple of romances that didn’t sell. I gave up fiction. All that rejection took its toll, and I decided not to write for a while. Instead, I took a part time job with my church.

But just weeks after starting my new job, an editor I knew saw an interview of me in The Christian Communicator and asked if I had anything to submit. I laughed. I nearly said, ‘no,’ because the one book that vaguely fit their guidelines had been written so long before. But I sent it in and waited. A fiction editor at that house kindly reviewed it, rejected it, but also gave me valuable feedback. Although they weren’t interested in that book, she invited me to submit another proposal.

It took another year, but I wrote the proposal for Chocolate Beach, took it to the Mentoring Clinic at Mt. Hermon to get the kinks out of it, then submitted it to that same editor. There was quite a bit of back and forth (i.e., they asked for more chapters, and I quickly wrote and sent them) before I finally heard they wanted it. And then I cried!

How does your faith play into your writing?

Instead of focusing only on their physical, emotional, and intellectual lives, I’m allowed to discuss the spiritual aspects of my characters as well. So much more realistic, don’t you think? I love that as I’m writing that spiritual dimension of my character’s life, God is often working on me too. My characters and I learn so much together  : )

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Several times really, but one particular time actually put me on the path toward faith-inspired fiction. My first husband left me while I was very young. Like a couple of my characters have done during tough times, I picked up and moved to a new town. In my case, that move more than twenty years ago plopped me right into a job working with a bunch of—praying Christians!

My fledgling faith became renewed, and then I hit a new snag when days later I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Thankfully, it was benign. But it was during those first dark days and through weeks of recovery from surgery that my faith blossomed. I no longer cared to write the kind of fiction I read as a young adult, but instead, wanted to write something that contained the hope-filled faith that I was beginning to understand. So, although this particular detour, like all detours, was unexpected, it’s had long-reaching effect on my writing life—and beyond.

What advice would you give to unpublished writers?

God took all the lows and highs in my life and created something new with them. Believe me when I tell you that I had no plans of my own to write beach-themed novels one day. I just kept praying and writing and seeking until an idea popped into my head. I followed that idea, and now find myself writing my fifth novel filled with ‘waves of grace’. So pray, learn, don’t get tossed to and fro with too much advice, and try to have fun while writing and playing the waiting game. Hope this encourages you!

Let’s talk about your books! Sweet Waters (B&H Publishing Group) was recently announced as a finalist for the prestigious American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award. Congratulations! Please tell us a little about the book.

Thank you very much! I’m honored that Sweet Waters has been named a finalist!

Sweet Waters tells the story of sensible Tara Sweet, a woman hoping that moving back to the California coast her family left years before will lead to the fairytale she remembered. But Tara discovers fairy tales are fragile—and truth is often one ugly layer after another of secrets, accusation, rumor, and a past an entire church wants to forget. Enter Josh Adams, a rugged firefighter battling his own demons. Soon they find themselves at odds with their families, their faith, the townspeople of Otter Bay—and each other. Only in facing the lies from the past can they find the truth.

A Shore Thing (B&H Publishing, July 2010) was released a few weeks ago. Please tell us about it.

Sure! A Shore Thing is the story of Callie Duflay and her fight to stop a huge development from taking over her beloved beach front town of Otter Bay—even as romantic sparks fly with Gage, the architect on the job. Full of small town politics, quirky characters, craggy tidepools—and romance!

Where do you get ideas for your books? Do your characters or your plots usually come first?

My books are character driven first. Those are the kinds of books I like to read, so I think it’s natural to set out to write them as well. Once I have a character in mind—in the case of Callie an eco-friendly gal who loves to stay busy with local causes—then I play the ‘what-if’ game. I loved the conflict between Gage and Callie. Both want the same thing—to protect the land of Otter Bay—but each goes about it in a different way. As a certified Green architect, Gage envisions a sustainable, eco-friendly project, while Callie thinks the land should stay free from any building at all. How will these two ever find common ground ….?  : )

Your books have a “beach” theme, and you have a cool little “beach shop” on your website (http://www.juliecarobini.com/beach-shop/). How did that come about?

There’s an absolutely cute store in downtown Ventura that I drool over on a regular basis. The proprietor stocks all my favorite beachy items, and I’ve always thought that if my writing career were to go south, I’d like to buy her shop from her. LOL

After a while I thought why not branch out and open an online shop of my own? My store is very small, although I hope to grow it, but it gives me the ability to dabble in a natural outgrowth of my writing brand: faith, flip flops, and waves of grace. I also love that I can use some of its income to support one of my favorite causes: Compassion International. In addition to the address above, visitors can also reach my store by simply typing: www.juliesbeachshop.com.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Anything Mexican. I live in California where it’s plentiful—plus my dad’s Mexican—so it’s a mainstay. Just last week I made two trays of enchiladas, and I kept noshing on the leftovers all week. LOL

This website features writers as well as musicians. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

No way! But my family is full of musicians. My cousin Dan Navarro is a longtime song writer and singer. His most famous hit is We Belong (sung by Pat Benatar). Another accomplished cousin is guitarist Dave Navarro. Both daughters have sung in choirs, and my son plays guitar and leads worship at church. So bummed the musical gene skipped me!

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I would be clever and catchy. Is that asking too much?

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Major. No question.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Funny question. I’m a mix between the strong, female lead and the little girl trying to walk in high heels. Please don’t ask me to explain that. LOL

Your book, A Shore Thing, features a pooch named Moondoggy on the cover. Did a favorite pet inspire Moondoggy’s character? (If so/or if not, please tell us about your pets.)

Absolutely. We adopted a beagle mix named Charlie from our local shelter. Poor Charlie has so many fear-aggression issues, but we love him and work with him to help him heal. It just so happens that Moondoggy from A Shore Thing looks much like our Charlie. Hmm…

Thanks, Julie!

You’re welcome. Thank you for having me, Kathy!

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For more information about Julie, visit www.juliecarobini.com.

To purchase Julie’s books at Amazon, logon to http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Carobini/e/B001IU4UU2/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0?qid=1280715162&sr=1-2-ent.

To purchase Julie’s books at Barnes and Noble, logon to http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=julie+carobini.

To purchase Julie’s books at Christianbook.com, logon to http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find/1098808560?Ntt=julie+carobini&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&search=.