Ace Collins defines the word writer. Having written or contributed to more than sixty books in the past twenty-five years, he is also the embodiment of the word prolific.

His catalog includes celebrity biographies of Evel Knievel, Bette Midler, and the Dixie Chicks; how-to books; an historical children series; a number of “Stories Behind” the music books; and two best sellers about America’s favorite collie, Lassie.

Ace’s debut novel, Farraday Road, was released in 2008, the first of his mystery-action adventure series based on the exploits of Arkansas lawyer Lije Evans. Ace recently agreed to create a new action-adventure character for Zondervan. The first book, Jefferson Burke and the Secret of the Lost Scroll, releases today.

Ace and Kathy, his wife of thirty-five years, reside in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They have two sons, Clint and Rance.

What sparked your writing journey?

I have been a reader since I was a little kid. Wrote my first short story in third grade. So I have always had an interest in writing, hence my college major in Journalism and minor in English. Getting out of school I worked in public relations, taught high school English, and coached basketball, but I was always doing freelance writing. I finally got the break to turn it into a career when Louise Mandrell asked me to write The Mandrell Family Album with her. From there things evolved, and I have been blessed to have had a part in more than sixty books.

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

What an interesting question! I starved to death as a full time writer for my first decade or so, but every time I was about to give up and go back to a real world job, one of my friends in the country music business got me another gig writing a freelance story. So God placed challenges in my life to test how badly I wanted to live my dream, and friends where there to lift me up when I was about to bail.

Let’s talk about your new book, Jefferson Burke & the Secret of the Lost Scroll (Zondervan, June 28, 2011). Please tell us about it.

It is the ultimate adventure/mystery/action/romance novel. I kind of think of it as National Treasure meets Indiana Jones meets The Di Vinci Code. A university professor, who at the beginning has few heroic qualities and no belief in God, is caught up in a race to find a lost Bible book written by Joseph the earthly father of Jesus. The Christian church doesn’t want it found, because they fear that Joseph will claim to be the biological father of Jesus. Thus, those who want to destroy the basis of Christian faith can’t wait to find it.

Jefferson Burke starts the adventure only wanting to save the lost book for its historical significance but, through a series of events, takes a deeper look at faith. Along the way he also finds himself falling in love with a former Army Ranger turned FBI agent named Lisa Marie Cho. Beyond those two there are a ruthless villain, the grandson of a Nazi SS officer, and a host of unique characters who show up along the way. The book takes us from the plains of Illinois to London, Washington D.C., Nashville, Afghanistan, San Francisco and climaxes on the same mountain in Nevada where the actress Carole Lombard died in a 1942 plane crash. And, even though it is set in modern times, a vintage DC-2 and a classic Packard play important roles in the mystery.

I was fortunate to be able to read an advance copy of the book. It’s a great, fast-paced read with compelling characters. Where did you get the idea for the story? Is this the first book of a series?

I hope it is the first in a series. That will depend upon sales. I love the characters so I want to write more, and I do have another one outlined.

On the idea — I love history and have long been fascinated by the Dead Sea Scrolls. All of that came together one day when I was considering the lack of real information we had on Joseph. On top of that, I had written a series of novels based in Arkansas, and I have always wanted to do one based in my other boyhood home state of Illinois. Thus I brought all those elements together in this book. If there is a consistency in my novels it is in having heroes who have to grow into their roles. I do that because I not only think it adds depth to the characters, but also because I want folks to realize that God gives us the ability to grow into any challenges we face. So readers will get to watch Jefferson Burke grow as the book goes on.

Another important element of this book is that it is not typical Christian fiction. The faith elements are there but subtly introduced. I wanted to write something without profanity or sex that would still appeal to the secular audience too — so it had to be a great, compelling story. Put another way I didn’t want to preach to the choir. I wanted to get regular fiction readers, who would never read a typical Christian novel, to consider faith when presented in a different way. I am hoping this book does that too.

You have a number of books releasing within the next year. What’s up next for you?

I just finished two novels, set in an average size American community, that revolve around social and moral issues, including cosmetic surgery, assault, abortion, child abuse, stalking, and drunk driving. The working titles on these books are Darkness before Dawn and The Cutting Edge. They will be published by Abingdon next year. I am also doing a Christmas novella for that company called The Christmas Star that involves a wife who remembers her husband during the holidays by hanging his Congressional Medal of Honor on her Christmas tree each year. Both of these concepts are slated for future projects in the series.

For Barbour, I am penning a novel set in the years leading up to World War II, and then concluding in the early days of that war, that uses a 1936 Packard as the driving plot element. It is a mystery involving a kidnapped child and a large amount of missing money. As the car passes through five different owners the clues are revealed that solve the “who dun it.” The working title is The Yellow Packard.

All writers deal with rejection at some point in their career. Do you have a classic rejection story? What is your best advice for young writers who are dealing with rejection?

Most interestingly, my rejection story is the book that really cemented my writing career, The Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. This best seller took ten years to find a home and was rejected twenty-seven times. So that was a huge test that taught me never to give up on something I really believed in — when the time is right, God will open the door. And this goes beyond writing; it even applies to witnessing to others about faith.

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?

I’m pretty simple. Give me a bottle of Coca-Cola and a hamburger, and I am happy. I also love anything with peanut butter in it. And, as I cook a great deal, I am always looking for ways to use peanut better in new ways. You will find in my novels that my characters often eat like I do. Lije Evans, the hero in Farraday Road and Swope’s Ridge, eats peanut butter mixed with syrup and spread on toast for breakfast, and he drinks a Coke with that meal. That is my normal breakfast as well.

If I am going out to eat to celebrate I would go to either The Texas Roadhouse or Steak ‘n Shake.

This website features musicians as well as writers. You have written a number of music related books. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I am a pretty good singer, play guitar, and like to vocalize with other folks. I love all kinds of music from Big Band to country to show tunes. I have a 1959 Wurlitzer Jukebox that I keep stocked with 45’s from all the different eras. At Christmas, the jukebox is filled with holiday classics. I also love to visit with songwriters about where their ideas come from. It amazes me that they can tell a complete story in two or three verses and a chorus, when it takes me more than 100,000 to do the same thing. Now that is talent!

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

My first impulse was to answer rockabilly, but then I thought I am really more gospel or country. But when I really look deep inside myself I realize that I am fascinated by people and their stories; so I guess that makes me a folk song.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I think a little differently than most folks; because of that perspective, I often see things that others miss. That goes with being a writer. So that must mean I am a minor chord.

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 have never grown up, never quit dreaming, never given up on my passions, and have this great faith that everything will turn out OK. Plus I laugh all the time. So that makes me a child in an adult’s body.

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

We have three rescue cats and one collie dog. Buffy, who is thirteen and was dumped on our doorstep when she was about six weeks old. T.C. (stands for The Cat) was the product of a feral mother and father. We found him in a trash pile just after he’d opened his eyes. He is a six-year-old tabby. Our youngest cat was abandoned by his mother after a flood. We bottle-fed him for weeks, and he is now two. His name is Tiger, and he has the markings and personality that go with the name.

One of the great benefits of having done two books with the folks who own and train Lassie is that we always get a puppy from each new generation. Baby is five and is a part of the tenth generation of the famous line. So, go back that many generations, and her grandfather (with seven greats) was the collie in Lassie Come Home. Her brother is the current Lassie, and her father was Lassie IX.

Thank you, Ace! It’s great to have you as a guest at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Ace, visit his website at http://www.acecollins.com/.

To purchase Jefferson Burke and the Secret of the Lost Scroll logon to:

Tina M. Barber

November 11, 1947 – May 30, 2011

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Tina Barber had a big dream.

In her words, she wanted to develop a dog breed ‘straight from the heart of God. Big, beautiful, intelligent, affectionate—a working dog and a loyal family pet.’

MaShiloh, as Tina was often called, was born in Germany, in 1947, into a dog breeding and training family. She moved to the United States during her teen years and soon became an internationally-renowned breeder and Schutzhund trainer. Her path seemed set, but God had slightly different plans.

Tina’s “divine detour” came one night on a deserted road, when her car headlights failed, and she found her way to a church service. While waiting for a ride that night, she gave her life to Christ. Soon afterward, she dedicated her dogs to Him and renamed her kennels as an outward testimony of her changed life. Since 1974, her dogs have been called Shiloh Shepherds, a name Tina took from Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel.

Tina faced her most difficult trials in ensuing years—divorce, financial crisis, false rumors of a canine genetic disease, and a devastating fire that destroyed her kennel, but not her faith. She stayed focused, despite the succession of disappointments, disasters, and betrayals that came her way.

In 2006, she co-authored a book recounting her compelling journey. The Shiloh Shepherd Story: Against the Wind — A Breed Is Born (Mid-Atlantic Highlands Publishing) details Tina’s refusal to give up in the face of adversity, setting the stage for a real-life drama of triumph through faith—in her God, in her dream, and in her dogs. A year later, one of her dogs captured the heart of the nation when Gandalf, a Shiloh Shepherd trained for Search and Rescue, found a lost Boy Scout by the name of Michael Auberry in the North Carolina wilderness.

In her lifetime, Tina touched many people with her dogs—she touched me personally because I have been blessed with three of them. But, even more importantly, Tina’s witness, as recounted in The Shiloh Shepherd Story and lived out in her life, has and will touch many more.

MaShiloh, may you rest in peace, knowing fully, clearly now, that you made the world a better place for those whose lives have been forever changed by your dogs and your testimony.

To purchase Tina’s memoir, The Shiloh Shepherd Story, logon to:

To read more about the history of the Shiloh Shepherd, visit http://www.shilohshepherds.org/.

Have you ever wondered what makes characters do what they do? Jeannie Campbell does.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California, Jeannie is Head of Clinical Services for a large non-profit, working mainly with children and parents. She graduated summa cum laude from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity and Specialization in Psychology and Counseling—and magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a double major in Psychology and Journalism.

But Jeannie also uses her skills for helping fictional characters. She has been writing ever since she received a diary for her fifth birthday. Recently, two of her “therapeutic romance” manuscripts finaled in the ACFW Genesis contest for unpublished writers. Jeannie writes a popular monthly column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine and has been featured in other e-zines, newspapers, and blogs. She recently set up shop online as a “character therapist” for hire.

Please tell us about your new website and character therapy service for writers. You use the term character couch time. What do you mean by that?

When I started doing character therapy over two years ago, I never envisioned that I’d end up having a business doing something that I find incredibly enjoying and satisfying. By giving characters “couch time,” I’m helping authors bring a measure of realism to their writing while also keeping my clinical skills sharp. Because after all, shouldn’t fictional characters mirror real life and real issues? Stands to reason they need therapy as much as the next guy.

If you had only one minute (or three sentences or less) to share your best advice for creating believable and compelling characters, what advice would you offer?

I’d advise people to really pay attention to a character’s back story. The story behind the story is almost as important as what the reader begins reading on page one. Give them a vice, a weakness, a vulnerability—and trace it back to their growing up years.

Please tell us about your column at Christian Fiction Online.

When I approached editor Bonnie Calhoun with the idea, she was all for it. In fact, she said, “When can you start?” and she meant for me to write an article for the very next month. For the last year, I’ve focused on a different fictional stereotype with the intent of helping writers overcome the clichés and dig deeper. From what Bonnie says, they have been a hit.

How does your faith play into your work?

While I don’t require writers I work with to be Christian, I don’t shy away from the fact that I am. Being a Christ-follower guides all I do, both online and in the office. Probably for that reason, I don’t get a lot of erotica or other genres that might not be glorifying to Christ. But I do get lots of characters who do plenty outside my particular moral code. These assessments aren’t more difficult to do, but somehow I feel they carry more weight, both with the author and my readers. They also seem to be the more popular assessments, garnering more comments—perhaps due to their controversial nature.

You are a two-time finalist in the ACFW Genesis contest. Please tell about your writing. What genre do you write?

I like to write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. I call my manuscripts “therapeutic romances” because there is always a mental health component, like unresolved grief, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder—you name it, it’s game.

Detours in life can be frustrating—kind of like plot twists in the stories we write—but the outcome is often even more intriguing than our original plan. Can you tell us about a recent “detour” in your life—or in one of your character’s lives—that taught you something?

Sometimes I feel awful, throwing detours in the lives of my characters, but maybe it’s my own desire to project my issues onto them, or at the very least, take out my frustration on them! The biggest detour I had recently was an attempt to move back home from California. My license did not transfer, and I couldn’t find work. It was very humbling, and my husband and I came to realize that we had moved on our own agenda. When I looked for jobs elsewhere, finally giving up my attempt at control, I found a job almost immediately…right back in the same county from which we had moved six months earlier. Taught me a huge lesson—pray before you leap.

A few fun questions…

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

I do! I have been playing the piano since 1985. I took lessons for twelve years and have been an accompanist for churches and choirs alike. I also can sing a mean alto. I love finding the harmony and hearing how it blends with the melody.

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

Hmm. I suppose a lullaby. They have a calming effect on infants (and adults!) and they aren’t overly obtrusive. In fact, the whole idea behind a lullaby is to set the ambiance or a mood, to gently bring the listener into a state of relaxation and peace. I feel that I do this with my counseling and my life.

What’s the title of the last GREAT book you’ve read?

The latest novel I couldn’t put down and ended up reading it in a day was Jenny B. Jones’ Save the Date. She writes romance so well…I just held my breath the entire novel, waiting on the hero and heroine to finally get together. What a sigh of satisfaction when they do.

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?

Of the options given, I’d have to say the strong, female lead. I’ve known exactly what I wanted to do and went after it with fervor. I don’t back down, shy away, or cower. I problem-solve really well and have a high internal motivation to make something of myself and leave a mark.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

We have a six-year-old cat named Cookie (although she’s most often called BooBoo). We’ve had a couple of cats that have met their unfortunate demises one way or the other, but Cookie remains constant. I think I’ve had such a love for cats because I was denied having one as a child. My family members “voted” to either have a cat or dog, and we got a dog. I’ll probably be known as a cat lady when I’m old and gray…but they make for great companions.

Thanks, Jeannie! It’s nice to have you at DivineDetour.

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For more information about Jeannie, her writing guides, and her fictional character therapy service, visit her website at http://charactertherapist.com/.

By Linda Cox

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV)

In order to supplement his farm income, Daddy drove a “big rig” for the local printing plant. One year he returned from a trip on Father’s Day weekend. He bounced into the dining room, where Mom and I were sitting at the table, and greeted “his two girls” with a big smile and two small boxes, which he casually tossed to each of us. He simply said, “It’s Father’s Day and father is giving presents.”

When we opened our gift boxes, we each found a set of beautiful diamond earrings—lavish presents, considering my parents’ finances. It was just like Daddy to give us something so special in a generous, loving, yet simple way.

Not at all unlike our Heavenly Father.

While I was blessed with a loving, generous earthly father, not all children are. Yet we all have a Heavenly Father who loves us, knows our every need, and is more than ready to give us good gifts every day of our lives. Gifts as extravagant as an amazing sunrise painting the eastern sky in vibrant colors. Or as simple as the look of love in a puppy’s eyes.

As we observe Father’s Day this weekend, may we see beyond our earthly fathers to our Heavenly Father, who gives us the best gift of all—salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Love Inspired Suspense author Susan Sleeman dropped by Divine Detour today for a quick interview and to announce a contest on her website. Susan is giving away a copy of her new book, Behind the Badge, and a $50 Amazon gift card. See details below.

Susan, please tell us about your new book, Behind the Badge (Love Inspired Suspense, June 6, 2011).

Behind the Badge is a romantic suspense title from Love Inspired Suspense. In this book, a killer is threatening the life of rookie cop Sydney Tucker and her sister—unless Sydney turns over evidence from a drug bust. But she doesn’t have the evidence. Not that the thug believes her. She and the sibling in her care are under the watchful eye of Logan Lake police chief Russ Morgan…but will his protection be enough to keep them alive?

What inspired the story?

This book was inspired by some very difficult times in my life. Not the same struggles as I gave these characters but struggles with a chronic illness. During these times I’ve wondered if God knew what I was going through and if He did, why didn’t He rescue me from these hardships? But when I look back on my difficulties, I can see how God used those trials to make me a better person and to grow me in so many ways. I wanted to share this message through these characters.

Detours in life can be frustrating—kind of like plot twists in the stories we write—but the outcome is often even more intriguing than our original plan. Can you tell us about a recent “detour” in your life—or in one of your character’s lives—that taught you something?

My characters are always trying to teach me something. That’s because I write about spiritual messages that are impacting, or have impacted, my life. Specifically, I struggle with placing all of my trust in God and not taking things into my own hands. My father was an entrepreneur and business owner always looking for a better way of doing things. He encouraged us to be independent, set out on our own and not to rely on anyone else. He believed in God, but didn’t rely on Him. So growing up, I never learned to do this. As an adult, it has been difficult not to act quickly and decisively to solve all of my problems. So sometimes I fall back into my old ways and I take those detours you mentioned. And then I wonder why I am anxious and not at peace. Letting God be in charge of my life is so much more rewarding and peaceful. I just need to remember that and my characters often remind me of it.

For more information about Susan’s book—and to enter her contest, logon to http://www.susansleeman.com/june-contest-my-blog/, or click on Susan’s photo above.

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning, best-selling author of more than eighty-five books. She is also a popular speaker, who will present the Keynote at the 2011 ACFW Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, September 22-25.

Tracie received her first book contract—from Barbour’s Heartsong Presents—in 1992. She subsequently managed the line, overseeing the production of fifty-two books a year. In 1995, she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House.

She is the mother of three grown children and a grandmother to three—Rainy, Fox and Max. Tracie and her husband Jim live in Montana, where she is active in her church as the Director of Women’s Ministries. She also coordinates an annual writer’s retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books. Her latest, Hope Rekindled, was released on June 1.

What sparked your writing journey? How does your faith play into your writing?

I credit my mother with sparking my writing journey. As a very young child I was rather active and to keep me quiet and calm in church, Mom gave me a pencil and a piece of paper and told me to write a story. Then after church she would give me some undivided attention and ask me to tell her the story. I credit her with stirring the storyteller in me. My faith plays a big part in my writing, not only because it was born in church, so to speak, but because it is my mission field. I write to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bring hope to a dying world.

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

God puts unexpected detours in my life all the time. Now I’m to the point when this happens that I usually roll with it, knowing that life often doesn’t look like I thought it would. These events have included everything from a publisher not wanting what I had to offer, causing me to work harder on my craft – to problems in my marriage. No matter what happened, the lesson was to keep my focus on God and wait for His direction.

Let’s talk about your new book, Hope Rekindled (Bethany House, June 1, 2011), which is the third in your Striking a Match series. Please tell us about it.

Hope Rekindled is the third in the Vandermark Family saga. Deborah Vandermark is the focal heroine and in this book she finally gets her man. However, it doesn’t come without its obstacles and problems. Set in East Texas during the heyday of the logging industry in East Texas, the Vandermarks are up against some nasty villains who want to see the demise of their business and family. Their faith in God will see this family through, but not without some losses. This is a story about trusting God in spite of the obstacles and trials, and learning to let go of preconceived notions and expectations.

Besides entertainment, what do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I write for what I call my Three Es. I want to entertain always. But I also want to educate and give a flavor of the past and maybe show a particular event. And I want to encourage folks in the Lord.

You often teach at writer’s conferences. How important are these to unpublished writers?

Writer’s conferences are an unpublished writer’s best friend. I received so much help, and so many networking connections through writer’s conferences. For the newbie, a good conference will not only provide classes where you can learn the basics of submission and writing, but you can also network with other authors, meet editors and agents, and learn the latest industry news. It’s absolutely vital to all writers to attend conferences for this reason. I can’t stress enough that we always have something to learn. Anyone who thinks they’ve “arrived” and have no need to learn anything more is only fooling themselves.

What advice do you give writers who are attending their first conference?

My best advice is to be real, but at the same time – be professional and considerate. Don’t hesitate to ask questions – no matter how silly you think the question might be. Don’t use the writer conference as a platform to cut others down because of their denomination or church affiliation, writing genre, or anything else that rubs you the wrong way. Pray constantly. God has a plan in each person’s life. That plan may not be publication, but I can guarantee you it will have something to do with knowing Him better. Remember to keep God the main focus and you will never be disappointed.

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?

I love sweets. I’d like to deny that, but it would be a lie. So just about anything rich and creamy and sweet would be my favorite.

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

I played piano for a long, long time. I thought for a while I wanted to be a concert pianist, but the need to story tell overwhelmed me and I traded one keyboard for another. I also played flute in school, and love to sing with others.

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

An upbeat, fast-paced praise song that told of God’s love and faithfulness.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Definitely a major chord – always more positive than negative.

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?

Definitely the strong, female lead, but I love my new sunglasses too!

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, and/or your favorite pet as a child.

We’ve always had pets – everything from hermit crabs to dogs and cats, hamsters and fish. Our beloved collie died last summer and we haven’t yet moved forward to get another dog, but we will. We currently have two cats – Safari and Cal, and they are very loved and spoiled.

Thank you, Tracie! It’s a special treat to have you at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Tracie, visit her website at http://www.traciepeterson.com/.

To purchase Hope Rekindled, logon to:

For information about the upcoming ACFW Conference, logon to http://www.acfw.com/conference.

Renowned portrait photographer Melanie Dunea is regularly published in Vanity Fair, Time, People, Redbook, and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines. She has photographed some of the most influential people in advertising, entertainment, and music around the globe.

Her book projects are her passionate and popular side interest. The bestseller, My Last Supper, explores the lives and recipes of the world’s top chefs. Her latest book, My Country, 50 Musicians on God, America & the Songs They Love explores the icons of country music.

Melanie lives in New York City and is represented by Creative Photographers Inc. In 2010 Operation Smile honored Melanie with the Universal Smile Award for her photographic and charitable contributions.

What sparked the idea for My Country: 50 Musicians on God, America and The Songs They Love (Rodale Books, October 2010)?

After completing a book about chefs called My Last Supper I wanted to examine another subject and world of people. My goal was to discover why country music is so popular and (why) people say it’s the heart and soul of America.

How long did it take you to photograph and put together the book?

From the moment I had the idea, to the research, to contacting the musicians, scheduling the shoots and interviews, the whole project took eight months. Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Can you share an interesting anecdote from the making of the book, perhaps a celebrity moment or a special insight that came from the process?

Shooting little Jimmy Dickens was the first time I have ever been taller than my subject and it felt fabulous!

Have you always wanted to be a photographer? How did you get your start?

Originally I wanted to be a newspaper reporter, my grandfather told me to learn how to take photos as no one would send a writer and shooter to cover a story. He was clearly very depression era minded but I’m glad he was.

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

I try to think of all “detours” as positive.

What’s coming up next for you?

I have just finished a new book coming out in October 2011 called My Last Supper: The Next Course 50 Great Chefs and Their Last Meals.

A few fun questions…

What is your favorite comfort food and why?

Candy… Sugar Daddy’s, Milk Duds, Thorntons Chocolate Smothered Toffee, Dots, M&M’s, the list goes on and on….

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

Hopefully I would be a song that was on key.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I am tone deaf so I have no idea….

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?

Depends who asks.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

My pet goldfish from the school fair named “Ebony and Ivory.”

Thanks, Melanie.

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For additional information about Melanie and her books, visit her website at http://www.melaniedunea.com/.

To purchase My Country: 50 Musicians on God, America, and the Songs They Love, logon to:

Eva Marie Everson is a successful speaker, a popular radio personality, and the award-winning author of Things Left Unspoken and This Fine Life. She is coauthor of The Potluck Club series and The Potluck Catering Club series. Her latest book, Chasing Sunsets was released by Revell on June 1.

Eva Marie was born and reared just outside Savannah, Georgia. She is a former nurse and a seminary graduate. Now a mom and grandmother, she and her husband live in Florida.

You initially pursued other careers. Did your writing journey begin with a small step or a leap of faith? How and/or when did you confirm it was the right path for you?

That’s right; I was a nurse by profession. Such a long road. The journey as a writer really began before I could write words or sentences or any of that. I always knew I had something inside to say and that if I could just figure out how to get my crayon to do what it was supposed to do on the piece of construction paper my mother gave me…

I took a walk in 1997 and had an idea for a novel, which became my third (traditionally) published book and my first novel. I had been writing for a children’s ministry for a year, but not by any means professionally. Then a door swung open to attend the first meeting of a newly formed writers’ critique group. I went; eventually became the first president of this group (called Word Weavers, which is now the Jerry B. Jenkins CWG Word Weavers with locations across the nation and soon to be internationally known). Two years later, a door opened, I walked into what was then called CBA International Convention (it was being held here in Orlando). I met an editor, gave her my idea, and nine days later, I was offered a contract.

This was what I’d always wanted to do. Always. But I had not thought it possible. God had other ideas (He’s in the impossible to possible work line, you know…).

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

Yes, the one I just mentioned. I left nursing (I was also the owner of my own business) in 1992 after I became very ill. I kept asking God, “Why?” Why did I have to become so sick (almost to death)? What I didn’t see clearly at that time was that, with being “sofa-ridden,” I started back with a life-long passion of reading. I’d finish a book, say, “I think I could have written that…” and then start another. Pretty soon, I was sitting at the computer, writing little stories. The rest, as they say, is history.

Let’s talk about your new book, Chasing Sunsets (Revell, June 1, 2011). Please tell us about it.

Ohmygoodness! I’m so exited about this book! In 2004, after the hurricane season left Florida devastated, I was in need of a new place to go away and write. My hairdresser told me about Cedar Key island in the Gulf of Mexico. It was about a two-and-a-half hour drive from home. I called my friend Janice Elsheimer and asked if she’d like to take a little trip with me. She said, “Sure!”

As soon as I came into the island, I felt as though I’d hit home! I love this place so much. One visit, Janice and I took magazines for leisurely reading. I was sitting in our condo overlooking the gulf, flipping pages, and came up on an ad for Liz Claibourne. The whole ad—full page—caught my eye. It told a story. I held it up to Janice, told her what I saw and…well, read the book! That’s where you can hear it too!

Isn’t Chasing Sunsets the first in a new series for you? When you begin a series, how far ahead do you plan each book (i.e. do you outline the entire series in advance)?

It is and I don’t! I hardly have a book outlined when I start much less the series. I know the story line; I know where I want to begin and where I want to end. I usually see the ending pretty clearly, actually.

Then I build my characters and I let them tell me what happens in between. But don’t tell anyone that; they’ll lock me up for sure! : )

You are a sought-after speaker, encourager, and freelance editor. What is the most important piece of advice you give writers who are just starting out?

Just. Write.

I get tired of hearing excuses as to “why I can’t do it.” (Can’t never could…) When I was first published, I’d gone back to work and was working full time. I got up at 4:30 and wrote. I wrote at night. I wrote during breaks at work. Little by little I was able to let go of the full time job and take a part-time job. But, I still had to write around it. Frustrating at times, but I managed. And, in the midst of all this, life kept going on. Nothing about life is ever easy, is it? Still, I wrote.

I think if I didn’t write, I’d really and truly go crazy.

As best-selling author Meg Chittendon says, “The writing is everything.”

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. The darker the better. (Do I really need to tell you why??? It’s just sooooo good!)

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

I play a very mean radio.

Actually, I took piano lessons for eight years but my love was dance. Years upon years of dance and I love it to this day (ask anyone who has attended the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference!).

I wanted to learn to play the drums but my mother said no. I did, in time, learn hand-held percussions, played them in a praise and worship band, but “put them down” when I got sick.

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

A good one. : )

Seriously, I listen to the music of Loreena McKinnett and artists such as Philip Wesley, Celtic Woman, Sarah Brightman, and Libera as I’m writing. I’m also a huge fan of the standard artists: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin…and I just adore the voice of Pat Boone from back in the day! I had a fit the other night on American Idol when Tony Bennett performed. I’m sitting there with my husband, saying, “Ohmygoodness!”

But in the car, I listen to country and when I want to feel God’s Spirit and my mother’s saintly pleasure, I listen to the Gaithers (her life-song was Then I Shall Live…I’d like that it is my life-song too), Chris Tomlin, etc.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Minor.

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’m the strong, female lead in dark glasses.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets and/or a favorite pet from the past.

In December of last year, we lost two of our beloved pets, Angel and Oreo. Angel was a miniature beagle; we still have her birth-sister Hope, both of whom we were given. Oreo was a black and white cat who was thrown out in our yard back in about 1995. From that day forward, he let us live here.

So, we have Hope and we also have Poodar, the most adorable solid black miniature dachshund we found wandering the street in front of our house one night about 10:30. She had bloody ears and a bloody tail and was just so scared! We brought her in, our daughter bathed her, we fed her, and she snuggled in and slept for a good long time. We advertised but no one claimed her. We now feel someone threw her out too. I don’t understand why anyone would do that. She is the sweetest thing!

We had a dog for nearly seventeen years. Her name was Aimee. She was a pound puppy, part dachshund and part Welsh corgi. When she died we mourned for so long! We’d had her nearly as long as some people have their kids at home!

Thank you, Eva Marie! It’s great to have you at DivineDetour!

Thank you!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Eva Marie and her books, visit http://www.evamarieeversonssouthernvoice.blogspot.com/.

To purchase Chasing Sunsets logon to:

by Linda Cox

I paused to read the Bible verses from Habakkuk taped to my refrigerator. I certainly needed them as we faced another very wet spring. Would we even get any crops planted this year?

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

As full-time farmers, our crops are our only income so losing them could mean a very lean year. But then I thought of all the farmers whose land is completely flooded and may be for weeks. And what about those people whose land and homes were flooded because “man” decided they were more expendable than others?

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

What about all those people who lost homes and businesses, who lost family members and friends, who are injured or still missing in the tornadoes that ravaged Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, to name only a few? And even with all the rain and storms, what about the areas of the South suffering drought? My own concerns paled compared to what so many others are going through.

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

Just as many people today are wrestling with why this spring has brought so much devastation, the prophet Habakkuk wrestled with why God allowed injustices and devastation in Judah. When Habakkuk got his answer from God, all it did was raise even more troubling questions. Yet through struggling to understand God’s ways, Habakkuk also learned to rest—and rejoice—in the sovereignty of God.

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Rejoice when no crops get planted? When our land and buildings are flooded? When our homes and businesses and even our lives are blown to pieces? Yes, rejoice.

Because no matter what comes our way—even situations that can’t be removed, no matter that things around us spiral out of control, we can still rejoice because our God is the eternal Lord of the universe and all things are under His control. His mercies are new every morning. He promises to be with us and see us through whatever happens. He will be our comfort in distress, our deliverance from anguish. He will never leave us or forsake us. And, most importantly, He loves and forgives us, resulting in our salvation and eternal life.

Knowing these things, we can indeed be joyful in God our Savior.