Twice Grammy-nominated, country music singer-songwriter Deborah Allen has penned more than 1600 songs—now she’s written her first children’s book.

The Loneliest Christmas Tree (Carpenter’s Son Publishing, October 1, 2011) is the story of a solitary Christmas tree facing the threat of urban development and the unlikely hero coming to his defense. The 54-page, hardbound book was illustrated by Molly Brooks, daughter of country music superstar Kix Brooks.

“The idea for this book first came to me many years ago,” says Allen. “I was writing every day, anxious to see what was going to develop next in the story. It was around this same time that I had forged a friendship with a local Nashville woman who happened to be living on the streets. The character in the book, Christmas Carole, is named after that woman, and she turns out to be the hero in the story.”

On August 16, Deborah also released Hear Me Now, her latest recording. It’s available at retail stores and via major digital outlets, including iTunes, Amazon, Napster, and Rhapsody.

To read Deborah’s DivineDetour interview last year, visit http://www.divinedetour.com/?p=919.

For more information about Deborah, visit her website at www.deborahallen.com.

To purchase The Loneliest Christmas tree, logon to:

Janelle Mowery’s writing career has grown exponentially since she signed her first contract in 2006. That book, a mystery co-written with Elizabeth Ludwig, was published in 2008 by Heartsong Presents.

This year, Janelle has released four books—two this month—an historical trilogy from Harvest House and a second mystery with Ludwig. She is also featured in a 2011 Christmas anthology from Barbour.

A transplanted Minnesotan, Janelle now resides in Texas with her husband and two sons.

What sparked your fiction-writing journey?

I guess it was a combination of things. First, I’ve always loved to read. I have a picture of myself at about the age of five holding my favorite Christmas present . . . Alice in Wonderland. Second, in the late 1990’s, I used to write children’s devotions for an online website. When that closed down, I felt a little lost until my sister told me about a Christian fiction author. After reading several of her books, I felt in my heart I could write a book.

With five books publishing this year, how have you managed to stay on top of everything? You must be incredibly organized.

LOL. Oh goodness. I’m anything but organized. My friends can attest to that. But with five deadlines staring me in the face, determination set in. My husband once said I do well under pressure, then when I’m finished, I fall apart. That pretty much describes what happened during the year of all those deadlines.

Two books, both from your Colorado Runaway Series, released this month. Please tell us about When Love Gets in the Way, (Harvest House, October 1, 2011).

This was such a fun book to write. It was light-hearted yet dealt with the very serious topic of sacrificial love. I have a tendency to be accident prone. Just ask the door I ran into, leaving my face print behind. (Though I still blame my husband for that.) But I decided to add that aspect to the heroine’s character. Add a hero with a tender heart that’s been broken and you have an entertaining story. But it’s when the heroine gives up her newfound freedom to save those she loves that she learns the true meaning of grace.

The second book is When Two Hearts Meet (Harvest House, October 1, 2011). Please tell us about it.

I’ve struggled with trusting God too many times, even after becoming saved. It was hard to understand how others suffered and yet never lost their faith. I put those two elements together in this story, then added tension and humor. I hope the readers are pleased with the result.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Faith plays a HUGE part in my writing. Before I even started, I said I never wanted to write a book that wasn’t for the Lord, that didn’t honor and glorify Him. My stories must have a faith element or they won’t get written. Saying that, a great many of the books I’ve written were based on something I’ve struggled with. And if I haven’t struggled with the issue I’m writing about, it seems I end up with that struggle before I finish the book. (Makes me want to be careful on what I decide to write about.)

Can you tell us about a recent “detour” in your life—or in one of your character’s lives—that taught you something?

I can’t think of anything in my own life lately, but I’m working on a new story about a girl who thought she had her whole life mapped out and was sure her way was best and would work out in a wonderful way . . . until she hit a large pothole that rerouted her plans and put her back on the path God had for her. It’s a great reminder for me that I may think I know what’s best but God sees the big picture and He’s always the best navigator.

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?

Chips and dip. Especially guacamole or salsa. Or better yet, mix the two together. : ) I know they’re bad for us but there’s just something comforting about that combination.

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

LOL. Well, let me put it this way. I don’t dare attempt to sing in the shower or I’ll scare the water back up the showerhead. Or another way to say it is, I sing like a bird. It’s called a crow. (smile) Sadly, I have no musical talent, but I love music and attempting to sing . . .when no one is around.

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

It would have to be a praise and worship song. Especially if it has a fast beat. I love those toe-tapping, hand-clapping songs.

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?

LOL. I love this question. I picture myself as the mysterious woman behind dark glasses who dreams of being the super heroine. I’ve never tried to be the little girl attempting to walk in high heels. I was too much of a tomboy to care for heels.

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

I’m a dog-lover, too. I think it stems from the wonderful dog/mutt, Snookie, we had while growing up. She loved us without reserve. We now have a black lab and a yellow lab. They are incredibly smart and a lot of fun. And the black lab wags his tail so hard it could be declared a lethal weapon.

Thanks, Janelle! I appreciate your taking the time to stop by DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Janelle, logon to her website at www.janellemowery.com.

To purchase Janelle’s books logon to:

By Linda Cox

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

I confess. I am a black pot. Guilty of calling a kettle black.

I was not happy about something my husband wanted to do without me. I was hurt. I thought he was being selfish. I was grumpy and pouting. I needed a good “poor me” cry.

It came a couple of days later. But not as expected.

I was pouring my heart out to the Lord, praying for Him to help me forgive my husband’s selfishness. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Or I should say God hit me with His words like a ton of bricks:  “YOU are calling a kettle black when you are a black pot yourself.”

Oh my . . . you see, my husband wasn’t leaving me out. I was refusing to do something he wanted to do because I am afraid to fly. My fear and stubbornness—my selfishness—had created the tension between us in the first place.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I begged the Lord to forgive my own selfishness, blindness, and hateful attitude. As I raised my head to look at the dark, pre-dawn sky a large, long-lived, falling star blazed across the heavens! It was God’s exclamation point, reminding me of His compassion that never fails, His mercy that is new every morning, and most importantly His forgiveness that had been won for me on the cross of Christ. (And no doubt, it was also His exclamation point as He said, “Finally! She got it!”)

How easily we see another’s sin but fail to see our own. Now there is a time and place for talking with someone about sin in their lives, but we need to look inward first and see the condition of our hearts, see what black pots we are, as I had just seen.

One day Christ will return on the clouds, but that morning He returned on a falling star. I caught His message and put it in the pocket of my heart. And His forgiveness flooded my soul. May His forgiveness flood all of our hearts and souls as we fall on our knees in thankfulness and praise for the God who loves us and sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins.

Amy Deardon is a scientist and skeptic who came to faith under protest after studying the historic circumstances surrounding the death of Jesus. After having written research articles, a newspaper column, and other nonfiction, she decided to write a novel. She was surprised by how difficult it was to get the words down, so she undertook a detailed study to better understand how story works.

Through her research, Amy has developed an algorithm, which she explains in her new non-fiction book, The Story Template: Conquer Writer’s Block Using the Universal Structure of Story.

In this right- vs. left-brain world you seem to be able to switch back and forth. After a career in science, what sparked your interest in writing?

I always dreamt of writing stories. As a kid I was the class nerd—I read a book a day, and hid in the corner to get away from everyone. In the Myers Briggs personality test, I test between the Thinking (left brain) and the Feeling (right brain) axes, so easily straddle these areas. I consider myself fortunate to be able to study something analytically, and yet also understand the flow and feeling beneath.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Everything I produce I would like to be Soli Deo Gloria—only to the glory of God. My current book is secular (how-to writing) so I can’t be quite as explicit with my faith but hope to drop some mental stones in people’s mental shoes.

Let’s talk about The Story Template (Taegais Publishing, July 2011). Please tell us how you came to write it.

I had written many scientific articles and even a newspaper column in college, so when I turned my attention to fiction I was surprised by how difficult it was to get the words down. I finished my novel, but it took sheer grit over years and resulted in too many misguided pages thrown out. When I wanted to write a second novel, I decided instead to first determine if there were any “constants” in story or character development that could help.

Literature review was tantalizing but rudimentary at best for assembling a story. When I couldn’t find what I needed, I mapped out twenty or so modern novels and as many films by writing down each scene, timing or word-counting them, then charting the flow and proportions of each story. I compared the flows, then identified deep and deeper patterns in the structure of the story and characters.

Once I had my understanding of the consistent parts of story, I worked with students to help them develop their own stories, and thus refined my algorithm.

The Story Template is not a formula. I like to think of it as describing story ratios, in the same way that an artist uses physical ratios to draw a face: the features must be placed within narrow limits in order for the face to look “right,” but there are an infinite number of faces the artist can draw.

Can you give us an example of how your “method” works?

You need to work from bigger to smaller. The first task is to roughly envision your story, rather than the premise. For example, wanting to write something about a quirky character is a premise—but that character having a goal and taking actions to pursue it, along with obstacles, is a story.

You must identify the four story pillars—plot, character, story world, and moral—and determine what may happen in each pillar. Then you go into detail to develop and coordinate each one. The plot and character pillars each have a “template” or common path of development that rings true with the reader. For example, your protagonist *must* have a hidden need: an emotional deficit such as not being able to lead, or not being sensitive to others, or even just acquiring a love interest, that I found to my amazement was usually solved in the third quarter in a stereotyped sequence called the hidden need triplet. The entire Story Template algorithm isn’t difficult because you can work through it sequentially with one element at a time, but it takes some time because there are a number of elements to develop.

As a writing coach, what advice do you offer to those—young or older—who have just set out on their writing journey?

It’s going to take you longer than you think to write well enough that you attain an agent or publishing contract, but stick to it and you will. Don’t believe the “quick fix” method of self-publishing because you can’t gain the interest of an agent—if you’re being consistently rejected, there is more than likely a problem with the manuscript and/or your presentation. (By the way, there is nothing wrong with self-publishing, but you must be honest that your manuscript is truly ready to be published). Join a critique group, study as many writing books as you can, and write, write, write. You’ll make it if you persist.

Your first book was Biblical fiction, a time travel story entitled A Lever Long Enough (Taegais Publishing, January 2009). Can you tell us a little about it?

My first book is about a small military team that travels back in time to film the theft of Jesus’ body from the tomb. I came to my faith through studying the historic circumstances surrounding the death of Jesus, and when I had some time to devote to novel writing I wanted to write about just how compelling is the case for the resurrection. I had a lot of fun creating an adventure story to surround this premise—every time I got frustrated with life I thought up another bomb to throw at my characters. I’m honored to say that this book has won two awards.

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 have a killer recipe for frosted brownies (the secret is Dutch-processed cocoa), but as I get older I have found that eating “sensibly” helps me feel better. When I’ve had a very good day, my husband will take me (and kiddos) out for dinner. My favorite items are a really good, gourmet salad with grilled chicken, and unsweetened peach or mango iced tea. Boring, eh?

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

In college I played flute for weddings and graduations. However the most moving performance for me was playing at a Memorial service for a soldier killed in the Pentagon on 9/11. Between my solos I sat in a corner of the stage so I could watch the audience. It was wrenching to see so many people affected by this one life, and to multiply that by so many others killed during these attacks.

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

I’m not sure what I would BE. I like to listen to Praise songs.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

On the surface major—but if you listen carefully, there are pronounced minor tones. Most of the time people don’t listen.

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 have learned to “be social” and enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories, but underneath I simply hide.

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

Oh Kathy, I just love dogs and so wish we could get one! Before children, my husband and I had a rescued greyhound who was the sweetest dog. She would climb in my lap or my husband’s lap when we were sitting on the couch. (She was not a little dog, either.) When she ran, her tail turned in a corkscrew and I always felt that she was laughing because there was such abandon in her gait. When she developed a thyroid tumor that blocked her airway we gladly spent our vacation money on her surgery, but sadly the tumor rapidly regrew and we had to put her down. It’s been long enough now that we could love another dog, but sadly circumstances prevent this, at least for now.

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

~ ~ ~

For more information about Amy, visit her website at www.amydeardon.com and/or her blogs at http://amydeardon1.blogspot.com or http://thestorytemplate.blogspot.com.

To purchase The Story Template and/or A Lever Long Enough logon to:

The Oak Ridge Boys have entertained generations of country-pop music fans through the years. In fact, this year they are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of their double-platinum crossover single, Elvira—along with a number of other milestones.

In September, the group released a new CD, It’s Only Natural, which is sold exclusively through Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. The CD debuted at #16 on the Billboard country album charts. In August, the Oaks were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. And the group’s 2011 touring schedule, which takes them to fairs, festivals, theaters, and symphony halls, has them performing more than 150 shows throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Joe Bonsall, a vocalist and onstage spokesman for the group—as well as an author and songwriter—stopped by DivineDetour for an interview.

Let’s talk about your new CD, It’s Only Natural (Cracker Barrel, September 19, 2011). Please tell us about it.

I really believe this project represents some of our best efforts to date. Cracker Barrel wanted some hits redone and freshened, so we pulled out songs like Lucky Moon, Beyond Those Years, No Matter How High—and even Elvira, and totally put a new face on them musically. The cool thing is that we added five brand new songs to the mix. Great songs that add to our stage show as well as the CD. It’s Only Natural is available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores and online at http://www.crackerbarrel.com/music. I think folks will love it. I humbly admit that I love it!

Great cover. Where did you shoot it?

Cracker Barrel sent an entire force of PR folks to Deadwood, South Dakota to join us on tour and to try to capture some cool photos in the historic Dakota Badlands. The road behind us goes on forever… and ever! It was one of the most creative shoots in our history.

You wrote one of the new songs for the project, a beautiful ballad dedicated to America’s fallen heroes. What gave you the idea for the song?

The song Sacrifice…For Me pays tribute to heroes who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Within the three verses I write about a soldier, a Marine, and a NYC fireman… “who gave his life so I can live… in the Land of Free…. raise my kids… live my dreams!” The song is touching a lot of hearts and I am thankful for that.

Sacrifice… For Me has a haunting melody. I’ve often wondered from what deep place a songwriter draws a melody. Is there a way to describe from where it came?

Well, first off I am a simple melody kind of guy. Songs I have written always feature a simple, easy melodic line. If you listen to G. I. Joe and Lillie or Uncle Luther or First Christmas Day and others you will see what I mean. To answer your question the only song I have ever written where the melody came before the lyric was The Journey. That thing pounded in my head until I decided what to write about and added the lyrics. Because of that it was the hardest time I have ever had getting a song just right. With Sacrifice the ideas came and the melody just seemed to come with it. I think this is the first time I have ever written a song with a minor chord in it… smile.

Your latest book, From My Perspective, released late last year (Sheaf House, September 2010). What has been the reaction to the project?

Those who read of my little musings and journeys seem to have been very blessed and encouraged in the writing. I am thankful to God for every word of that book. Oh yes, there is a bunch of humor in the book but there is also a clear pathway on to faith and salvation. I hope a lot more folks get to read it!

(Note: After November 1, study guides will be available for the book. Click on the cover photo to the left to access.)

Detours in life can be frustrating but the outcome is often more intriguing than our original plan. Can you tell us about a recent “detour” in your life?

The latest detour was a great one. We thought the Cracker Barrel project was not going to happen and it was very disappointing, because we had such high hopes. But then some new people came into their corporate structure and took a survey that placed us near 100% of the kind of name recognition they were hoping for, and beings Cracker Barrel wanted to get even MORE involved with music, the Oaks seemed like a good choice. So BOOM…  we were back on the table, and I think that delay was all for the good from a recording standpoint. It was a NICE DETOUR for certain for The Oak Ridge Boys.

A few fun questions…

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

After America by Mark Steyn. Very scary but a great, well conceived read.

What’s your current favorite song on the radio or your mp3 player?

The Oak Ridge Boys singing What’cha Gonna Do from It’s Only Natural. Also really digging on Amos Lee these days.

What verse or story in the Bible best describes your faith journey?

Well, so far I am happy it isn’t Job. I love when Jesus told the men in the boat during the storm,“It is I… be NOT afraid.” We all fear so many things but faith in Christ can eliminate fear on every level.

Which season of the year best describes your personality and why?

I like autumn… always have. The crisper air, the color of the leaves. At 63, I am in the autumn of my life here right now, and I am very thankful for the springs and summers. I hope winter takes its time getting here but, alas… our life is but a vapor and my little vapor seems to be cruising right on along.

You and your wife Mary are animal lovers and have established a foundation to assist in animal causes. Can you tell us about the foundation?

The Joseph S. and Mary Ann Bonsall Foundation was started with the success of my Molly The Cat book series in the early 90’s. We give to humane animal shelters and education projects and literacy causes. We are a small foundation, but we have managed to do some good works. Learn more at www.josephsbonsall.com and click on Foundation.

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

An honor to have been invited back! God bless!

~ ~ ~

For more information about The Oak Ridge Boys, visit their website at www.oakridgeboys.com. For more information about Joe, visit his personal website at www.josephsbonsall.com.

To purchase It’s Only Natural logon to http://crackerbarrel.com//music/artists-and-albums/oak-ridge-boys/

To purchase From My Perspective, logon to:

Jennifer Rogers Spinola loves the South. Born in South Carolina, she grew up in rural Virginia and graduated with a B.A. in English/journalism from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.

After graduation, Jenny pursued a career in  journalism, eventually taking a position as staff writer for the Southern Baptist International Mission Board and serving as a short-term missionary to Japan. In 2000, during a reporting trip to Brazil, Jenny fell in love with that country and its people. Soon after, she fell in love with one specific Brazilian, her future husband, Athos.

Jenny, Athos, and their two-year-old son Ethan now reside in Brasilia, and Jenny has traded journalism for fiction writing. Her first novel, Southern Fried Sushi, was released on October 1 by Barbour Books.

You studied journalism and worked in the field for several years. What sparked your fiction-writing aspirations?

I’ve always been interested in writing—always, always! I’ve been creating stories and stapling little paper books together since I could write—before I could write, even, using drawings. I think journalism was more of a practical career where I could use the thing I loved (writing) and not only make a living, but report on good things like missions that people could pray about and get involved with.

I re-started my fiction writing after I got married and moved to Brazil with my Brazilian husband, and suddenly I couldn’t work in journalism anymore. So working on my old story ideas became one of my favorite pastimes and a way of staying in touch with writing and words. As our years in Brazil stretched out longer and longer, eventually reaching more than seven years, I began to use fiction writing, too, as a sort of escape: to remember the places I longed for and bring them back in comforting bits and pieces.

How does your faith play into your writing?

I notice that whenever I think of writing a book that is uplifting and represents good moral character, but without an overt Christian message of salvation or redemption, I can’t do it. I just blank. It’s like everything I write *has* to speak of the Lord, or it just falls flat.

I know that some writers can pull this off beautifully, but I can’t. My faith is a big part of who I am, and just like my love for my husband and some come out without trying, so does my Christian faith.

Let’s talk about your new book, Southern Fried Sushi (Barbour Books, October 1, 2011). Fun title! Please tell us about the book.

Thanks! I’m excited about this book! I started writing it in January of 2009 shortly before we adopted our son, Ethan, and have enjoyed working on the sequel and then the third book since then. Here’s the teaser Barbour is using for the book:

Ride the rollercoaster of Shiloh Jacobs’s life as her dreams derail, sending her on a downward spiral from the heights of an AP job in Tokyo to penniless in rural Virginia. Trapped in a world so foreign to her sensibilities and surrounded by a quirky group of friends, will she break through her hardened prejudices before she loses those who want to help her? Can she find the key to what changed her estranged mother’s life so powerfully before her death that she became a different woman—and can it help Shiloh too?

The idea for this book came in part from the writing suggestion to “write about what you know.” Previously my books always required a lot of research: about wilderness survival, about orphanages and adoption laws, and so forth. And sometimes the research got so cumbersome that my writing slacked off. So I sat down to make a list of the things I really know about and came up with two (pitiful) things: Japan and rednecks.

I looked at my list and felt like a dork, since I don’t have much expertise in a particular exciting area like biology or jewelry making or World War II guns that would make great books—but those two things, Japan and rednecks, yes, I knew about them, all right. From up-close and personal experience.

And that’s how the book came about. I never dreamed it would be published at that time—I just wanted to write. And I came up with a wacky story that combined both so-called “areas of expertise.”

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

I definitely hope readers will think about the relationships in their own lives that need healing and forgiveness and turn them over to God. This has taken me some time to come to terms with, but I realize that it is possible, and the peace God brings to troubled relationships is far better than carrying grudges.

I also hope they’ll see that God is present everywhere, when life seems set and also when life seems to be falling apart—and that He’s always at work in our lives no matter where we are.

In addition, I have a real pet peeve about fiction heroes and heroines who are beautiful, perfect, and “larger than life.” I want people to know that you can be exactly who you are and be used by God, and that the people in your life don’t have to be perfect and beautiful, either—even your closest friends and (gasp) spouse or romantic interest! Beauty is overrated in our looks-saturated culture, and unrealistic expectations of perfection ruin marriages. Even God, Scripturally, cares virtually nothing about physical looks as we see in the anointing of young David, who would eventually be king of Israel. Samuel kept thinking that the tall, handsome brothers were the ones God had chosen, but God said, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Do not consider his height or appearance, for I have rejected him.” This is pretty powerful stuff about what’s important and what’s not!

Can you tell us something about your next book, Like Sweet Potato Pie?

Sure! In fact, this is my favorite of the trilogy because it touches on exactly the theme of beauty versus character that I mentioned above. I notice that a lot of women are so hung up on a man’s looks that his character is secondary or even insignificant—and I see a lot of fiction romance books that continue to push the “looks” envelope: comparing heroes to movie stars, giving him “over the top” looks and a gorgeous body, and giving him lots of attention for being one of the “beautiful people” Hollywood gushes about—except with a Christian stamp embossed on the cover.

And to me this is completely contrary to the heart of God, who urges us in Proverbs to seek wisdom and character in a spouse. Looks are never once mentioned. Sure, attraction to a husband and wife should be celebrated, and physical beauty is nice, as we see in Proverbs, but it should never be the main draw!

With these thoughts in mind, I created a story about a rather attractive woman who finds herself falling for a common, average-looking guy with a good heart, as opposed to the good-looking, wealthy types she used to date. And it was fun to see how these things would unfold and what issues would come up!

Most of all, I see Like Sweet Potato Pie as a continuation of the romance with God the main character finds in Book One—learning what love truly is from God’s perspective, and how it includes not only forgiveness, but sacrifice and selflessness.

Why is James 1:27 a special verse to you?

I’ve always wanted to adopt—even since childhood. It’s funny, because I never knew anyone who was adopted or had adopted, but it was always a “thing” with me. When I played dolls, they were almost always adopted (and usually different colors). I’ve always thought it’s our responsibility as Christians to care for orphans as God does, perhaps by opening our homes and taking some in.

These verses really hit home for me as an adult when I read Matthew 25:35, where Jesus says, “I was a stranger, and you invited me in.” Nowadays it’s risky to invite an adult stranger into your home, but what if that “stranger” is an infant or a small child? Could we invite him or her in? And my answer was YES.

The thing that is most troubling to me regarding adoption is the misconception that adoption is “only” for those who can’t have children for one reason or another. I hear this over and over: “Oh, you adopted! So you can’t have children?” Whether or not we can have biological children has NOTHING to do with the choice to welcome a child who needs a family into your home! Adoption is a blessing on your family! Adoption gives a father to the fatherless, shows evidence of “pure religion” (James 1:27), serves others as we would serve Christ (Matthew 25:35), and pleases God.

Our son Ethan has blessed our home and family in a thousand ways—too many even to list. He is so precious—so loved of God. Why were we chosen to raise this wonderful boy for the Lord? I’m tearing up even as I type…

A few fun questions…

You grew up in the United States but have lived outside the country for a while. What American comfort food do you miss the most? What’s your favorite international comfort food?

Oh, what great questions! I love to talk about food! : )

My favorite American comfort food that I miss most… well, that’s a hard one. Can I give you a short list? I’d start it with grits—buttery, cheesy grits. I really love them. I miss my Aunt Lois’s scrumptious manicotti and homemade peanut butter and coconut cream pies. Lots of things—tortilla chips, blueberries, blackberries, sweet corn, bagels and cream cheese, chicken sandwiches from Chik-Fil-A.

I also miss (ironically) ethnic foods that I can’t get here, like Thai and Vietnamese noodles and spring rolls, and my favorite of all, Indian food. I absolutely LOVE Indian food! I love spices, and I miss all the curries and samosas and the whiff of cardamom, garlic, ginger, and cilantro that smells like “home” to me, in a weird way.

As for international comfort foods (as in from Brazil), my favorite cozy dish is probably Brazilian stroganoff (estrogonofe) with beef or chicken. My mother-in-law makes the BEST version I’ve ever had—she’s amazing! It’s nothing like our American version of stroganoff with noodles and ground beef. We use either chicken breast or steak cut into small pieces, and my mother-in-law sautés it with garlic and onions and white wine. When the meat is cooked, we add tomato sauce and some canned corn and let it simmer, and stir in some cream at the end. It’s served over white rice with shoestring potatoes (batata palha) and a sprinkle of chopped green onions and cilantro on top. Wonderful!

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

I love music! I play the violin, although I really need lessons. It’s been hard bouncing around different cities and countries all these years without lessons. I did take some lessons in Japan (in Japanese) which was fun, but then I moved, and since then we’ve struggled financially just to live in the very expensive city of Brasilia. So lessons have been out of the question.

I’ve always been involved in music in some way, though—singing, playing the trombone in middle school (ha ha!), or doing promotional articles and photos for bands.

My husband plays the piano beautifully, although he’s out of practice like me, and our son Ethan has shown keen interest and giftedness in music since before he could talk. He loves to watch videos of people playing instruments (namely bagpipes, drums, violin, cello, and piano) and even tries to play my adult-sized violin. And he actually makes a pretty good sound! He loves to sing and is already matching our pitches and singing on-key, and not yet three years old.

Detours in life can be frustrating although the outcome is often more intriguing than our original plan. Has there been a recent “detour” in your life—or in one of your character’s lives—that taught you something?

My whole life has been a detour of sorts. I remember feeling God’s call to be a missionary when I was a young girl, and I desperately didn’t want to. I used to leave in the middle of missionary presentations when the “urge” felt too strong, and pray that God would never send me overseas. I don’t know why I felt so strongly against it; fear, perhaps, of the unknown?

But God has a way of making the unknown close and personal, and He did it through international friends and foreign exchange students who intrigued me with their customs, stories, and lives. For the first time I began to think about life overseas and feel excited about it. And when I took my first international trips as a reporter, it was like coming home. I couldn’t get enough of it. I felt challenged, motivated, alive—like God was calling me to step in and join!

After that I served two years in Japan as a missionary, which widened my scope even more and changed my life forever, and then I married Athos (a Brazilian) whom I met in Japan—with the intent to stay here in Brazil just one year. It’s been more than seven years now, and we have a Brazilian son! We’ve seen one friend saved and baptized, several others brought closer to the Lord, and so many prayers answered and dreams come true. I can’t imagine all the blessings I would have missed if God had let me have my way and stay in my tiny hometown in Virginia…

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 thought about this one a long time, and I think (if I could suggest a different one) that I’d be the weirdo lady next door that everybody thought was bats. The one with vats of kimchee cabbage fermenting on her back porch, blue potatoes and white pumpkins growing in her garden, and rehabilitating raccoons and possums in her kitchen.

I don’t know if I’ve ever done anything conventionally—not that that was ever a choice on my part. I remember during my early high school years I so desperately wanted to be like everybody else—and yet still I managed to do everything differently, it seemed: having a crazy conservative political viewpoint unlike my classmates, or spending Saturday afternoons at the gun range with my dad, or holed up in my room writing stories instead of at the mall. And yes, we did have rehabilitating raccoons and possums in our kitchen—and stray dogs and cats of all sorts that we “fixed up” and gave away to good owners. : )

I love trying new things, and meeting people from other countries—and eventually living in some of these places myself has changed me for life. I love to explore! I can’t wait to have a microscope and telescope again. Supposedly it’ll be for Ethan (ha ha) but I’ll probably do most of the playing with it.

Oh, and there really are blue potatoes and white pumpkins, and a number of other oddly colored (non-GM) vegetables that I can’t wait to grow once I have a garden!

Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

Oh, I just love animals… It would be hard to list all the ones I’ve had and loved. We did have a cat here, Maki, who ran away shortly after our move to this new apartment. We were heartbroken, and Ethan called for her for months.

Before Maki we had Toby, who was a stray yellow tabby cat I picked up, starving and freezing in the middle of winter, outside my apartment in Richmond. He was sort of a grumpy, antisocial cat, shy and scared, but he loved me, and I loved him. When I moved to Japan some years later he didn’t do well, and he fell into a sort of depression and stopped grooming. After I got back from Japan I promised I’d never leave him again, so we brought him to Brazil with us—and he was happy here. Such a great cat—never clawing anything, sleeping at the foot of our bed, waiting at the apartment door for me when I got home. He died of cancer here, but he’d lived a full and happy life.

And I do love dogs just as much as cats—cats are just easier in apartments. Growing up we had a beautiful red collie/retriever mix named Shanny, and I loved her dearly. She was with me from the time I was born until I was fourteen years old, and I could hardly imagine my life without her for a long time.

Thanks, Jenny It’s great to have you as a guest at DivineDetour!

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For more information about Jenny, visit her website at http://jenniferrogersspinola.blogspot.com/.

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By Linda Cox

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10

I was fretting. Way too much. Actually it was more like worrying. Way too much. I was going through my closet and consequently shopping. Way too much. Why? My BFF, a city mouse, had invited me, a country mouse, to a banquet where the dress code was “semi-formal to formal.” But getting me dressed for that kind of a banquet was like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

I even spent part of my prayer walk one morning talking to God about this, at the same time berating myself for bothering Him with something this petty. How silly to be praying to the Creator of the universe about what to wear to a banquet. Yet our loving Lord heard the country mouse’s cries.

No, He did not tell me what to wear. But He definitely fixed my focus.

God reminded me that I needn’t fret about what I would wear the day I stand before His throne. Jesus’ righteousness will be my robe and I will be dressed perfectly for His heavenly banquet.

That amazing and humbling thought put it all into perspective. While I did make sure I was dressed “to code” for that earthly banquet, my fretting disappeared amid the joy and anticipation of the heavenly banquet that lasts forever.

Country mouse or city mouse, we can rejoice in what Christ has done for us as expressed so beautifully in the last verse of the old hymn The Solid Rock:

When He shall come with trumpet sound

O may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the throne.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your sacrifice that has turned sows’ ears into silk purses.

What do you do when God places a fork in the road? You pray. Hard. And then you make a choice.

That’s what I did many years ago after graduating from college. I had two dreams. One of writing. The other of working in the music industry. I chose the latter because the path that led to music was clear. I had a job offer, a place to live, and a plan.

Through the years I’ve looked forward to the time and circumstances that would lead me back to writing. Not long ago, I saw a clearing ahead where two roads appeared to merge—the road I was on and the other I had also dreamed of taking.

I’m one step closer to that dream today after signing a contract with Abingdon Press. My debut novel, with a working title of The Road to Mercy, is set to release Fall 2012.

There are too many people to thank for this opportunity* to even begin to list them here, but I hope you all know how much I appreciate you. From family, to friends who are like family, to my writing family. The list of acknowledgements could end up being longer than the book itself (just kidding, Ramona). Thanks to all of you!

~ Kathy Harris

*For more on this topic, see my ACFW blog post, Start Making Your List, at http://www.acfw.com/blog/?p=1599.

Nancy Rue is the award-winning author of more than 100 books for adults, teens, and ‘tweens, including Healing Waters (written with Steve Arterburn), which was the 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year.

She is the recent winner of two Christy Awards and nominee for the 2011 Inspy Award for General Fiction. When not writing, Nancy enjoys traveling (sometimes on a Harley), speaking to women’s gatherings, teaching groups of ‘tween girls and their moms, and mentoring other Christian writers. The second book in her The Reluctant Prophet Series, Unexpected Dismounts, was released last week.

A former high school English and theater teacher, Nancy now lives on a lake in Tennessee along with her husband Jim and their two yellow Labs.

For fifteen years, you worked a day job and wrote in your “spare” time. What kept you going when sleep and patience were lacking?

I have to say it was God, really. I couldn’t NOT do it, if that makes any sense. It certainly helped that I loved the writing more than the day job! I also knew that I wasn’t going to be able to write full time until I was well-published. Now that I think about it, there was all kinds of motivation, with God providing the energy.

How does your faith play into your work?

I’d have to say my faith IS my work, and my work is an expression of my faith. The longer I live, the more I realize that God has to be inherent in every area of my life—that everything I do needs to be the fruit of my relationship with God. I know I would have a hard time writing a story that wasn’t based in faith, even if the message wasn’t stated overtly. My litmus test for a piece of my work is that if I were to pull out the message, the whole thing would come unraveled.

Let’s talk about your new book, Unexpected Dismounts (David C. Cook, October 1, 2011). Please tell us about it.

Unexpected Dismounts is the second book in The Reluctant Prophet trilogy, so you’ll see Allison moving further along in her journey as, well, a reluctant prophet. She continues to follow the Nudge of God, even when it takes her into deeper, darker territory. She still rides her Harley, still works with the prostitutes who have come off of West King Street to Sacrament House, still struggles with her attraction to Chief, and continues to try to get full legal custody of Desmond, the mulatto orphan. There’s romance, mystery, action, relationship, and faith questions—all the things I like to read in a book myself. The middle book in a trilogy is always the hardest to write, because there’s a lot of bridging that has to happen and as an author I’m not always sure it’s as dramatic as the first one. My editor assures me there is plenty of drama!

Detours in life can be frustrating—kind of like plot twists in the stories we write—but the outcome is often 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?

What a great question. I’ve had a very recent detour, actually. The market for children’s books (tween and teen) which is where I do most of my writing, has been in a drying-up state for several years. This is the first time in sixteen years that I don’t have at least two or three contracts waiting to be fulfilled. Publishers are more conservative, less willing to take financial risks, and many of us established writers are having to make decisions about where to go from here. God and I have been in some deep discussion about that! I’ve had to rethink my plan and have discovered my love for mentoring, which has led me to some new ventures that may unfold in the next few years. I’m still writing, of course, but I’m also focusing on my internet ministry and on holding conferences for kids’ writers to see if we can’t turn this ship around.

You write a compelling adult blog entitled The Nudge. How, in your opinion, do we best recognize “nudges” from God? How do we best respond to them?

The “nudge” seems to be different for everyone. I personally will get an idea “out of the blue” that is clearly not my own voice speaking to me, and then as I focus on it, I receive confirmation from my daily Scripture reading, from “random” things people say to me, even sometimes from a line in a song or a commercial! When something just won’t leave me alone, and it doesn’t involve chocolate, I at least entertain the notion that it’s coming from God. The mistake a lot of people make with a nudge—and I certainly have in the past—is to run with the thing before really talking to God about how it’s to be played out. I see it a lot at writers’ conferences—students who have heard from God that they’re to write and so they’ve plunged right in to creating a novel. That’s sort of like getting the nudge to be a doctor and heading straight for the nearest emergency room to start stitching people up. God may give us the goal, but we still have to work, usually pretty hard, to get there. So my response is usually to look for confirmation (and when I don’t find it, it’s clearly not a God-thing), and then explore the territory I’m being shoved into. That means prayer, reading, research, lots of listening and dreaming. Most of the time I welcome the nudges—although the latest one, to get more exercise, I’ve tried every way I can think of to invalidate that and it won’t go away. Rats.

As a speaker, workshop leader, and mentor to other writers, what is the most important piece of advice you share with those just starting out as writers?

Take the time to learn your craft before you try to get published. Take classes. Read voraciously in the genre you’re compelled to write in. Then write, write, write—and did I mention write? When I visited the home of Rembrandt in Amsterdam, I was struck by the displays of sketches he did before ever starting each of his famous paintings. There were literally hundreds of them. That’s what every writer needs to do, no matter where he or she is in the writing life. It simply takes time, as all things of divine importance do.

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?

Definitely chocolate. Organic, dark at least 70% percent cocoa. I like the little individually wrapped squares. I also love me some hot chocolate, made with goat milk, dark unsweetened cocoa powder, some Stevia, and a dash of  Chinese five-spice. I don’t actually need to be stuck or celebrating to indulge in those!

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

I love music, but as for talent—I might have an ounce or two. I actually wanted to be a choral director when I was in high school, until I realized I had more drive than gift going for me! So I’ve been a church choir director (a very amateur position in a very small church!) and done some solo work. Mostly, I just love to belt it out with Fleetwood Mac when I’m driving my car. My fave Christian artist is Margaret Becker. (In the interest of dull disclosure, I have a secret dream of being a back-up singer in a rock band . . .)

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

Something with a strong, driving beat that moves and excites. Something along the lines of Randy Stonehill’s The Wild Frontier.

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 depends on the day! Some days I am the strong female lead, which others might define as “Bossy.” Other days, I’m still the little girl trying to walk in high heels. (These are great images, by the way.) I am seldom mysterious—we’re talking wide open book here; I will always tell you more than you really want to know. Can’t see myself as the super heroine—I’m just way too klutzy, and that would require far too much exercise. Yeah, I like the “lead” idea, because that really is what I try to do—lead young girls and young women closer to their true selves, the people God made them to be. And sometimes, I’m walking right there with them, tottering in my pumps.

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

There isn’t nearly enough space here for that! Guinness and Geneveve are my constant companions. They are twenty-month old sturdy yellow labs, brother and sister. Jim and I have had a series of labs in our thirty-eight years of marriage, but these two are definitely the craziest. For Guinness, there isn’t a trash can on earth that doesn’t need to be gone through. With Geneveve, it’s dirty socks; she can steal them while you’re sorting the laundry and you never even notice until you come up three short in the folding. They seldom leave my side unless they’re swimming in our lake—well, Guinness that is. Geneveve doesn’t like to get her hair wet; we call her the baroness. Writing is a very isolated profession, especially for an extrovert living out in the country. The two pups ward off the loneliness and keep me sane and safe. They are some of God’s finest creatures.

Thank you, Nancy! It’s so nice to have you at DivineDetour!

This has been a total pleasure—thank YOU.

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For more information about Nancy, visit her website at www.nancyrue.com; her adult blog, The Nudge, at http://tweenyouandme.typepad.com/the_nudge/; or her blog for teens at http://tweenyouandme.typepad.com/in_real_life_/.

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