It took a giant leap of faith for Karyn Williams to move to Nashville in 2007 to pursue music. But then, she will tell you, her faith is what sustains her.

Five years later, she is now releasing her first album, Only You, on Inpop Records. And the new project is creating quite a buzz in Nashville Christian music circles. Billboard magazine called it one of the “Best Bets” of 2012.

Karyn’s unrelenting trust in God is homegrown, having been raised as the eldest child of nineteen, fourteen of whom are adopted. Her dad, Pat Williams, who is a well-known motivational speaker and the founder of the Orlando Magic, instilled in her a positive attitude. Her mother taught her to sing.

How old were you when you knew you wanted to pursue music as a career, and what was the catalyst for taking the first step of your musical journey?

Growing up, my dad was a guest speaker at churches all over the country and my mom would travel with him and sing. One night when I was about three years old, I begged my mom to get up and sing with her. She reluctantly agreed thinking that I would hide behind her skirt the whole time but instead as we started the song together apparently I grabbed the microphone and took over, so she sat down on the pew in the front row and let me finish!

Music has been the only thing that’s ever made sense to me. A few years ago, I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to move to Nashville and build a ministry through music. I was terrified and excited all at the same time and the only thing I knew was that if He was leading, then I was in good hands. I tearfully said goodbye to my family in Orlando and headed north! My promise to the Lord during the drive that day was that I would walk through any and every door that I felt He was opening, even if it pushed me out of my comfort zone. As long as I knew it was from Him I would say, “yes.” I’ve kept that promise and He has been faithful to open some unbelievable opportunities that I never expected. Signing with Inpop Records and becoming a labelmate with the Newsboys, Jaci Velasquez, and Jimmy Needham is a huge blessing and I’m thankful to have such a great team of people around me who have true hearts for putting out music that will truly encourage people and spread hope.

For me, the catalyst for taking the first step of my musical journey was saying goodbye to my family and moving to a new place trusting the Lord completely. My advice to anyone afraid to take that first step is this; our days on earth are numbered and we never know which one we’re on today, so go after whatever it is you’ve been too afraid to try. You have nothing to lose! Uncork your imagination, silence your inner critic, ask yourself, “what if I tried that,” and listen for the Lord’s leading. Then start taking baby steps towards what you want most out of life!

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

In January of 2011, my dad was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma. It was the most devastating day of my life learning about this news. I was rocked to my core and I didn’t know how to deal with it. I walked around for many weeks in a total fog trying to understand it, trying to make sense of it, and trying to find the answers to all of my “why” questions. In the phone call when my dad told me about this news he said, “Karyn, God’s going to use this and He will turn this around for good.” Right then I didn’t know how He would do that, but as the months went on I started to see the good coming out of it all. My relationship with the Lord deepened to a whole new level and I started to understand that sometimes things in our lives that we think are so terrible are really just opportunities to grow, let the Lord shape us, and to show our faith to the world in new ways.

Not long after his diagnosis my dad said, “I thought I was close to the Lord before, but now I feel like I’m sitting on His lap hugging Him around the neck.” I thought that was such a beautiful picture of resting in the arms of Jesus, and my first single Rest In The Hope was born. My dad has been the most reckless Jesus follower I’ve ever known and cancer didn’t change that one bit. He has been able to share his testimony in places he never would have been before cancer and he’s led new people to the Lord because of it. At the end of our lives that’s what it’s all about—sharing Jesus with as many people as possible. Sometimes the Lord uses circumstances we don’t understand to do that, but I firmly believe that nothing happens to us that isn’t “Father filtered” and He has a reason for everything. Once we let go and let Him lead, we can take a deep breath, lay it all down at the feet of Jesus, and rest knowing He is always at work in our lives.

Here’s a blog I wrote about the entire experience.

How does your faith play into your work?

I have three things I’m passionate about in life, Jesus . . . people . . . and music (in that order) . . . so to be able to make a ministry out of all three is such a blessing. When I keep my focus where it needs to be, trying to write great songs and reaching out to people, then my “work” doesn’t feel like work. Yes, there are things I have to do every day that are part of the music business, but my focus is on living out my faith in this industry without all the ups and downs. My passion for Christ makes my passion for people real and as natural as breathing. We are called to love Jesus and love people—that’s where my focus is. Taking the hope of the cross to real people with real pain living in the real world.

Let’s talk about Only You, your debut CD for Inpop Records (August 28, 2012). How many of the songs did you write or co-write?

I am SO excited to share this music! All of the songs on Only You come from a very real and very personal place for me. I co-wrote nine out of the eleven songs on the record, which I never would have expected. When I moved to Nashville, I didn’t understand a thing about the songwriting community and I literally fell into songwriting by accident. I just threw myself in and every songwriter I met I said, “Let’s write together!”My dad has always told me, “If someone asks you if you know how to do something, tell them ‘yes’ and then go learn how to do it!” So following my dad’s advice and my promise to the Lord that I would walk through whatever doors He was opening, I said “yes” to songwriting. I found that I had a passion for pouring my heart out into songs and that led to signing a major publishing deal with Brentwood Benson Music Publishing. I was writing for this record before I knew it. For two years I poured my heart out into songs and when the opportunity came for me to do my own record, I had the songs already written. It was a huge blessing and another example to me that when I take my hands off of things and allow the Lord to lead, He is always working for good in my life.

Do you have a favorite song on the project?

Oh that’s such a hard question! : -)  All the songs on Only You are personal to me for different reasons. One of my favorite songs to be a part of as a songwriter is, Hey There. When Barry Weeks came to me with the idea, he had already written the first few lines of the first verse and I jumped all over it because I loved the honesty of those first few lines. “Every day it seems you’re lost in the mirror, there’s no reflection anymore it’s disappeared . . .” This song is like a big hug for anyone who is hurting. There is so much pain that we all carry around and we are really good at hiding behind the smiles that we learn to wear. I know there have been times in my life where I’ve looked in the mirror and felt completely lost. But to know that the God of the universe knows right where I am and exactly what I’m going through—that’s a pretty amazing thought and that’s a promise I’m not letting go of.

But probably one of my favorites to sing is Only You. Every time I sing that song, I am reminded that at the end of my life none of the things I’m worried about right now are going to matter. That’s what this song is all about. Only You came to me in the middle of the night when I was walking through a very frustrating time with “worldly” things hitting me left and right. I felt like as soon as I got up from one thing, something else came and knocked me down. I was wide awake all night and I felt like the Lord kept saying, “At the end of your life none of these things are going to matter. The only thing that will matter is whether or not you knew Me, loved Me, served Me, and told everyone you could about Me.” That’s how this song was born. The fact that it is the title track of my first record is the coolest thing in the world for me. This song is my heart put to a melody. It’s what I want my life to stand for.

Which song speaks most directly to your personal faith walk?

That would have to be This Is Freedom. This is a very personal song for me and I usually end up in tears singing it because it is so meaningful. Before I answered the call to pursue a music ministry I spent a lot of years quietly frustrated, living a life and working in jobs that I wasn’t all that passionate about. I felt trapped and guilty for some of my decisions that had landed me there. What I have come to find is that a lot of us feel this way—especially women. We wake up every day, slap a smile on our face, and do our best to fool the world, but inside we’re in pain. We feel stuck and many times shameful and unable to feel true freedom. What we forget is that God made a way for us to have eternal freedom when He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross and pay for our sins. He gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be free and it’s up to us whether or not we accept that freedom. When I finally let go of the guilt of my yesterdays and allowed God’s grace to cover my tomorrows, I found the freedom that He longs to give all of us. It’s the greatest news in the world and the best part is that it is not a temporary freedom—it’s for all eternity.

* This is a two-part interview. To read the conclusion, click here.

For more information about Karyn and her music, visit her website at http://www.karynwilliams.com/, follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/karynwilliams or like her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/karynwilliamsmusic.

To purchase Over You, logon to:

Today I’m turning the tables on myself and answering a few of my own interview questions. Hey, why not? It’s a great opportunity to give away a book.

And while we’re talking about prizes, if you haven’t already, logon here to pre-register for a chance at winning a Kindle Touch. And make a note to join me and my good friend and fellow debut author Krista Phillips for our A Sandwich for the Road book debut Open House event on Friday, September 7.

What sparked your writing journey?

I’ve wanted to write since I was a little girl. I remember journaling and dreaming of writing books when I was seven or eight years old. Although life’s circumstances have changed many times, that passion never went away.

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

I studied journalism-advertising in college, graduated with a Communications degree, and then searched for a writing related job. When I didn’t find one, I took two part-time teaching jobs, one at an elementary school and another at the junior college level. Not long afterward, I was offered a position in Nashville, working in the music industry. I took the detour and have never regretted that decision. God had a different plan than I did for my life and, of course, His was better.

How does your faith play into your writing?

I can’t imagine writing novels that didn’t have a Christian message. Writing is an extension of my faith.

Let’s talk about your debut book The Road to Mercy (Abingdon Press, September 2012). Please tell us about it.

Here’s the back cover copy:

Dr. Ben Abrams, rescued as an infant from a fiery crash that killed his family, turned his adversities into success but lost his heritage of faith.

Fifty years later, Josh and Bethany Harrison face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leaves her on the brink of death, even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Abrams urges her to abort the baby to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and
continue the pregnancy.

During the next few months, Josh, a contemporary Christian singer, struggles with his faith while Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever.

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

The reminder that God forgives . . . even when we find it difficult to forgive ourselves.

What advice would you offer to writers—young or older—who are just starting out?

Writing is a solitary occupation. You spend a lot of time in your own head. Stay connected to other writers. Join a writers group. Learn from other writers. Help other writers. And don’t take it all so seriously that you forget to have fun!

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 try to eat healthy, but if I cheat it usually involves a potato : )

What’s your favorite Bible verse or passage? How has it guided or helped you over the years?

Just to name one . . . I love Psalms 96:1  Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. That verse sums up the Christian experience, a changed life, set on a new path to glorify God.

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

I sang in Christian gospel groups (from trios, to quartets, to choirs) throughout most of high school and college. It was at that time in my life that music became a passion.

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

I’d want to be a praise song, glorifying God.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Minor. I love eclectic, eccentric, and walking through life to a slightly different beat of the drum : )

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?

The girl next door who wants to retreat behind dark glasses occasionally to watch the world from the sidelines.

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

I love animals, but I have a special connection with horses and dogs. I grew up with horses, and my husband and I kept them for a number of years. There have been many special dogs in my life . . . from early childhood to the present. Our three Shiloh Shepherds, Baer, who passed over the Rainbow Bridge almost eight years ago; Glocken, our sweet and handsome boy; and Jazz, our “little” girl, have all been a very special blessing.

Now . . . let’s give away a book! Leave a comment below for your chance to win!

To learn more about The Road to Mercy, visit my author website at www.kathyharrisbooks.com.

To purchase The Road to Mercy, logon to:

by Linda Cox

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. John 12:24-25 (NLT)

I feel as if we are living in a “season of why.” People I know personally are asking:

✦ Why doesn’t rain fall on drought-stricken fields?

✦ Why does the mother of a young college student halfway around the world die before her daughter gets home to see her?

✦ Why does a beloved husband of 60 years lie bedfast for months?

✦ Why does a family struggle to make ends meet as the father searches for work?

✦ Why does a house not sell when the owners simply want to move closer to their granddaughter to teach her about the Lord?

✦ Why does a person hold tightly to unforgiveness and bitterness?

✦ Why does a parent slip deeper and deeper into the darkness of Alzheimer’s?

✦ Why does a spouse walk out on a marriage of 30 years?

And if those questions are being asked just by people I know, the list will certainly grow as other people add their why’s.

And no doubt all would add:

✦ Why doesn’t God answer?

No matter how much we struggle with these questions, we simply have to admit that we have no answer for them. But as we sit in the silence of what we think is no answer, we find that the Lord’s answer has been there all along. No, it’s not an explanation of why. It’s just a very simple yet deafening answer—focus on WHO.

Jesus Christ. The One in whom our salvation rests. The One who is the “yes” to every promise God has made. The One who is with us always. The One who meets our every need.

As we focus on Him and His salvation, the “kernel of why” dies so that we can see, at last, new life in the answer of Who. And that changes our hearts and lives forever.

Linda Cox is a regular contributor to DivineDetour. She recently retired after twenty-five years as a district office secretary for the State of Illinois. Her first loves are studying the Bible and reading, but Linda occasionally tries her hand at writing. Her work is published in All My Bad Habits I Learned from Grandpa (Thomas Nelson), The One-Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale), Life Lessons from Grandparents (Write Integrity) and the Love Is a Verb devotional (Bethany House). She and her husband live on a farm with their two indoor/outdoor farm mutts.

Everybody loves a party! Especially when there are lots of fun prizes! The “A Sandwich for the Road” party will be even more fun, because I’m co-hosting it with my friend and fellow Abingdon author Krista Phillips! That’s us in the car. Well, uh . . . close enough anyway.

Krista’s debut book, Sandwich, with a Side of Romance releases on September 1—the same date as my debut novel The Road to Mercy. So we decided to throw a party and invite YOU.

Prizes include a Kindle Touch, two fun and fabulous baskets valued at more than $150 each, and signed books, gifts cards, and music CDs. For more information, click on the graphic above! We hope to see you there!

Stephanie Grace Whitson began writing seriously while home schooling her children. Walks the Fire, her first published novel, was released in 1995. Since then, her novels have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year. Her first nonfiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005.

A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie has lived in Nebraska since 1975. She and her husband have five children—two married, two in college, and a high school senior.

What sparked your writing journey?

I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. I always loved writing assignments in school. I’m something of a “caboose” in my family, and my older brothers and sisters used to delight in teaching me new words, so I think I was probably a “word person” before I even remember loving writing. I don’t journal, but I often think through a problem by thinking aloud on paper . . . and then pushing “delete.”

The first fiction I remember writing was a story about a woman rancher when I was in junior high school. I did that strictly for my own entertainment. Moving to Nebraska and home schooling four kids introduced me to real stories that fascinated me, and that led to my writing the story that became my first published novel, Walks the Fire.

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

Countless times. I was never going to get married. Never have children. Never home school. Never get married again after my first husband died. Sometimes I think the phrase “He who sits in the heavens laughs” applies very well to my life. I say “never” and God laughs and says, “wanna bet?”

How does your faith play into your writing?

I’ll just concentrate on two major areas of my writing life where faith plays a key role. First of all, there is that thing called “voice” which is unique to each writer. The fiction that I write will always be “Christian” by definition, because that is who I am. It isn’t a style I have adopted or a vocabulary I have learned or a formula I’ve acquired in order to sell my stories. That is probably the main difference between Christian fiction and all others. Christian fiction isn’t something I write as much as it is a reflection of who I am.

Second, my faith also provides the definition of “success” that drives me. I often remind myself that success in light of eternity has nothing to do with books sold. Success in light of eternity means obedience to the Audience of One. In a hundred million years it will not matter if I was published, if my name appeared on any best seller lists, if I received any writing awards. In a hundred million years, what will matter is my obedience to my Lord. If He says “well done,” then whatever happened here below was good, and I achieved success in the truest sense of that word.

Let’s talk about the re-release of your Dakota Moons Series (Livingstone Books, July 2012). Please tell us about them.

The three books in the Dakota Moons series are very close to my heart for so many reasons. First of all, because of the real people who inspired my fictional characters. The Dakota War of 1862 resulted in the largest public execution in the history of our nation. Sadly, some of the men who were hung on that dark day were actually heroes who had risked their lives during the war to protect their white brothers and sisters in Christ. When I read the accounts of the people involved, I wept. I knew I wanted to tell that story.

Another reason that those books are special to me is that two of them were Christy finalists. During that time in my personal life, I was going through a tough time of trial. Perhaps the biggest was my husband’s losing battle with cancer. Having people in the publishing industry select my books for consideration for a Christy was a wonderful grace note from the Father—a real encouragement.

Another reason that those books mean a lot to me is that their existence is proof of God’s enabling grace. I had to write a husband dying in one of those books. I still remember sitting at my desk writing that scene . . . and my own husband was resting in a bed nearby, in hospice care at home, dying of cancer. Even as I type those words right now, I wonder how on earth it was possible for me to write. And I return to the only answer that makes any sense at all: God’s amazing grace.

Do you have a favorite book in the series?

I really don’t. I love each book in that series for a different reason. I loved going on the journey with my characters and finding a happy ending for Gen and Daniel Two Stars.

God often uses our writing to teach us. What have you learned about life, faith, and/or even yourself recently while in the process of writing?

Most recently I’ve been learning the application of David’s words in the Old Testament to my writing. David said, “I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing.” Those words are posted in my office, and they are a comfort to me when I have to say “no” to something I really want to do . . . something I would love to do . . .  but cannot do, because I need to write. Offering up my time and the way I would rather use it some days isn’t as hard when I lift it up to my Heavenly Father. He understands how much I really would like to spend more time volunteering at the quilt museum. He understands how I’d really rather play with this or that grandchild today. And He accepts my sacrifice of praise, because I don’t want to offer to the Lord writing which has cost me nothing. I haven’t learned that lesson completely yet, and I still struggle with time management, but I see God at work in my life, and I’m feeling less “false guilt” because of my need to work.

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 fairly simple joys when it comes to food. I love good coffee, and I enjoy trying different roasts and beans from around the world. Just the other day I bought a fair trade organic coffee grown in Honduras that made a really great cuppa. Oh—and if I’m really splurging I add real cream and raw sugar. I love to discover a new wine that can complement my favorite cheese in the world, Fromage d’Affinois. That usually means a pinot noir. I’m beginning to discover that “less is more” when it comes to comfort food, so I splurge on small portions of things I never used to let myself buy.

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

I was a voice major in college umpteen years ago, and I used to play piano quite well, but when I became a mother the time for practicing went by the wayside. Now I’m content to use my musical gift to be a listener. I love blues music—probably because it’s so much like the southern gospel I grew up on. But I have really eclectic tastes in music. At the moment my favorite musician is singer/songwriter Shannon Labrie. She’s an “up and coming” Nashville artist . . . who also happens to be my daughter. But all of my children are gifted musicians. One or the other of my kids is usually on the worship team at church on any given Sunday. That’s such a joy.

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

I’d be one of two Doug MacLeod songs, either That Old River or Brand New Eyes.

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 all of them. I’m strong when I have to be. I was “earth mother girl next door” when my children were small and I was baking all our own bread, gardening and canning and making jelly, etc. And I love to be the mysterious woman behind dark glasses when I travel. Oh, wait . . . super heroine . . . probably not. I tend to be shy about taking risks and trying new things. And I’m never the little girl trying to walk in high heels. I used to teach school in high heels . . . and I grew up very quickly . . . always acted older than my age . . . still do in some ways.

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

I wasn’t allowed a pet when I was young, so I borrowed the neighbor’s shepherd mix named Shep. He was a great companion, because I could have all the fun and none of the work. We used to play hide and seek. Literally, the dog would wait for me to go hide and then come find me. Hilarious and great fun for a child who had no friends.

Since being married I’ve had four precious dogs. Sundance the Shetland Sheepdog was stolen. Micah, the Shetland Sheepdog lived a good long life with us. Then came Samson, the Dobermann Pinscher, and Tanner, the German Shepherd. We had cats when we lived in the country . . . but they were outdoor mousers. I’m a dog lover. Love my granddogs and have actually been thinking maybe it’s time for a dog again . . . well . . . I think that until it’s six a.m. and the alarm goes off and I think about having a puppy to housebreak and obedience train. Then I hesitate. I tend to love big dogs that require a lot of input to be good companions. So maybe owning a dog is another thing I have to sacrifice for now. We’ll see.

Thank you, Stephanie. It’s been fun having you as a guest at DivineDetour!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Stephanie, visit her website at www.stephaniewhitson.com.

To purchase books in the Dakota Moons Series, logon to:

Ginny Aiken is a former newspaper reporter who was born in Cuba and raised in Valencia and Caracas, Venezuela. She discovered books at an early age and wrote her first novel when she was fifteen, while training with the Venezuelan Classical Ballet Company.

She holds certification in French literature and culture from the University of Nancy, France, as well as a B.A. from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, and is the author of award-winning and best-selling titles in the secular and Christian markets.

The mother of four sons, and a grandmother to two grandsons, Ginny resides in South Central Pennsylvania with her husband and their three dogs.

Was news writing a detour or a natural evolution of your love for writing fiction?

I’ve always viewed it as God’s hand leading me to where He wanted me all along. After years of a painful, tough relationship with my mom and the difficulties of ADD, I had no self-confidence. Let’s face it. To write, you have to be willing to strip naked in the wind, so to speak. You have to let the world see a deep, personal part of you portrayed by your words.

If you hadn’t made a career of writing, what would you be doing?

Probably what I’m also doing. I’m the assistant to the Director of Women’s Ministries at my church. It’s a joy to serve my sisters in Christ.

How does your faith play into your work?

My ideas come directly from my relationship with the Lord. In my daily devotions, He always guides me to concepts and themes that open my eyes to something important to daily life. From there, I usually have a character come knocking on the door to my imagination, pretty well fleshed-out. Then, on a daily basis, I start work every morning by putting on the armor (Eph 6:14-18).

Let’s talk about your new book, For Such a Time as This (FaithWords, August 2012). Please tell us about it.

For Such a Time as This is a retelling of the story of Queen Esther, but moved forward a number of centuries . . . lots of them. It’s set in the 1800s Oregon, and follows a marriage of convenience where the heroine must balance her loyalty to her family of birth with her duty to her husband.

What do you hope readers will take away from it?

My goal is for my readers to see how little people have changed since Bible times. People face many of the same dilemmas biblical figures did, only in different settings and circumstances. It’s my attempt to depict the eternal truth and value of God’s Word.

Detours in life can be frustrating—kind of like lot 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?

While it’s not recent, many years ago I had to surrender a promising career in classical ballet because of a number of serious injuries. For a long time, I felt furious with God and stomped away from Him for a while. I also couldn’t stand to watch a ballet, because the emotions were too raw. However, had I been able to pursue that original path, I doubt I’d be the mother of four wonderful men, and the mother-in-law of two lovely women, and the grandmother of two brilliant, beautiful, and rascally boys. I also wouldn’t have a long backlist of titles I’ve been blessed to have published. As painful as it was to surrender to the end of one dream, it’s a joyous gain to be where I am.

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?

Milky Way bars! Love, love, love them. And years ago, when he was still a teen, my third son, Geoffrey, would bring me one when I was in the darkness of a tight deadline. These days, they’re also tied in with the fabulous memories of my son.

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

Not only did I dance for years and years, but I also took voice lessons for eight of those years. I spent a ton of time performing in musical theater, and miss it these days. There are, however, only twenty-four hours in my day, and I’ve had to set that fun, fun activity to a side.

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

Definitely upbeat. I love to laugh. And I’m a true devotee to that verse that speaks of “The joy of Lord . . . ”

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’ve always been the little girl trying to walk in high heels. I’ve never felt fully equipped to face the challenges life has placed before me. That’s not a totally bad thing, since it’s taught me to turn to the Lord when I feel least capable.

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

Anyone who’s read even a couple of my books knows I’m an animal lover. I’m also a complete dog fanatic. I’ve had dogs all my life, and right now I have three furry co-authors. They’re very supportive and helpful, since they never, ever let me write without their assistance. The team is made up of Goldie, naturally a Golden Retriever, Gidget, a red-wheaten Cairn Terrorist—ahem!—Terrier, and Gizmo, a black/red brindle Cairn Terrier (think Toto in The Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland). Also, in April we lost our most unusual pet. We had a stunningly beautiful Sun Conure named Rio, bequeathed to us by our oldest son and his wife when they decided human babies were in their future. Claws and beaks don’t work well around babies.

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

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For more information about Ginny, visit http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780892968480.htm.

To purchase For Such a Time as This, logon to:

Multi-published and awarded author Colleen Coble writes romantic mysteries. With more than forty books published—most have been bestsellers.

Colleen is an active member and CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and a well-loved encourager to other writers—as well as readers. Her books have been awarded or nominated for ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, the National Readers’ Choice award, and the Booksellers Best award.

She and her husband Dave live in Wabash, Indiana.

What has been the greatest joy of your writing journey?

I love connecting with readers and encouraging them. It’s always a happy time to hear that a book has touched a reader’s heart or made her think about her life.

How does your faith play into your work?

Every writer’s belief system comes out in their work. A bit of us gets into our characters and how we see the world comes out. I look at the world through the lens of my faith. I know God is just, and though we see no justice in the world, He will bring justice eventually. I know He loves each of us and that He is working things out for our good. These truths all play out in my books.

Let’s talk about your new book, Tidewater Inn (Thomas Nelson, July 2012). Please tell us about it.

Tidewater Inn is about Libby, an architectural preservationist. She’s about to embark on a new project when she discovers everything she’s been told about her father has been lies. He’s left her a beautiful old inn in the Outer Banks, and he didn’t abandon her as she thought. She’s talking to her partner and friend about the inheritance on a harbor cam. Two men in a boat come into view and kidnap Nicole while Libby is watching from hundreds of miles away. Libby rushes to Hope Beach to try to find her friend. There’s a hunky Coast Guard swimmer who helps Libby get to the truth, and favorite characters Bree and her search dog Samson, appear to help find Nicole.

What was the catalyst for the idea?

I was standing in a harbor in St. Croix about to board a boat to snorkel at Buck Island. My husband pointed out a harbor cam. I called my parents and told them where to go on the computer so they could see us. While I waved to them on the cam, I suddenly wondered how they would react if something happened to me right in front of them while they were thousands of miles away and unable to do anything about it.  : )

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

My husband was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer a year ago, the same week my dear friend Diann Hunt’s ovarian cancer came back. I questioned God and wanted to fix things for them. I had to finally realize that control is illusion. We have no control over anything. God is the only one with any control. It also was a potent reminder that life isn’t about this world but the eternity. We often forget that as we get caught up our lives here.

You’re a mentor to many writers, especially through American Christian Fiction Writers. What advice would you offer to others—young or older—who are just starting out?

Read widely in the genre you write. Attend a good conference every year, and always be reading a book on craft!

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?

Coffee! I love, love, love my coffee. My favorite is infrared roasted coffee from Toomers.

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

I sing solos at church, and I used to play the French horn, does that count? : )

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

I love ballads.

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. I’m a take charge personality—a mother if you will. I am a fixer and am very interested in natural medicine as well.

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

I grew up with dachshunds. Love those little wiener dogs! I also adore our daughter’s Golden Retriever Parker. He’s a total doll.

Thank you, Colleen! It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

Thanks so much for having me—it was great fun!

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For more information about Colleen and her books, visit her website at www.colleencoble.com.

To purchase Tidewater Inn logon to:

By Linda Cox

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

Whenever I read Psalm 103:12 I feel God’s peace flooding my soul. What a comfort to know that Jesus has removed our transgressions far from us—as far as the east is from the west. All we have to do is go outside, look to the east and then to the west to realize that’s a long way.

But it’s even farther than what we see.

Think about it. If we start traveling east and keep traveling east all the way around the globe until we come back to where we started, we never meet west. If we turn around and start traveling west, we’ll go around the globe and end up where we started without ever meeting east. Now that’s a very long way.

But there’s still more. In Max Lucado’s book God’s Story Your Story, we are reminded that there are four directions—not just east and west, but also north and south. So why did David, writer of Psalm 103, choose east and west rather than north and south?

If we stand outside again and look to the north and then to the south, we get the same distance perspective as when we look to the east and the west. However, if we start walking north, when we pass over the North Pole we are no longer going north, but south. If we continue walking south, we’ll meet north at the South Pole.

Scientific knowledge was limited at the time this Psalm was written. So we know David didn’t choose east and west on his own. His words were guided by the Holy Spirit, just like all the words of the Bible. God wanted to make sure His children understood how much He loved them and forgave them. And using east and west shows just how far God has removed our sins from us—so far away that we’ll never meet them again.

The next time we stand outside and look to the skies, may we thank God our Creator for loving us so much that He gave His Son to die on the cross, removing our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.

Linda Cox is a regular contributor to DivineDetour. She recently retired after twenty-five years as a district office secretary for the State of Illinois. Her first loves are studying the Bible and reading, but Linda occasionally tries her hand at writing. Her work is published in All My Bad Habits I Learned from Grandpa (Thomas Nelson), The One-Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale), Life Lessons from Grandparents (Write Integrity) and the Love Is a Verb devotional (Bethany House). She and her husband live on a farm with their two indoor/outdoor farm mutts.

In just three weeks (WOW!), The Road to Mercy will release from Abingdon Press.

It’s almost party time! And it wouldn’t be a party without surprises, special guests—and prizes. So stay tuned over the next few weeks for details of the celebration, which will include a fun online debut party with friend and fellow author Krista Phillips. Krista’s first novel, Sandwich: With a Side of Romance, also releases from Abingdon Press on September 1, and we’re in the final stages of party planning.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak preview of The Road to Mercy, courtesy of Abingdon Press. If you would like to read the first chapter, you can find it at the Abingdon Press website (click the cover to the right).

Prologue

October 10, 1959

Jack Randall jerked his foot from the accelerator and instinctively applied the brakes. His mind raced as his Plymouth Belvedere slowed to a stop. Police cars with lights blazing blocked the intersection that led to his home. The reflection off the wet pavement created an eerie blur, and shadowy figures danced across the sides of the squad cars.

Must be a bad accident. The storm that passed earlier in the night had soaked the black asphalt.

As he watched the policeman walk toward his car, Jack cranked down the driver’s side window. The uniformed officer flashed a bright light in his direction, not quite in his eyes.

“Sorry, sir, no through traffic this morning. A small plane crashed on the Neimann farm.”

Jack’s heart pounded. “Anyone hurt? I need to see if my family is—”

“No one on the ground was hurt, sir. Everyone in the plane was killed. May I see your driver’s license?”

Jack reached into a back pocket for his well-worn wallet. From it he pulled a small piece of paper, which he placed into the gloved hand of the Illinois State Trooper.

“Did the storm bring it down?”

The officer nodded while studying the license. “Lightning took out the engine. It was en route to St. Louis.” His brusque demeanor softened and he returned the paper to Jack. “A family of four. Two kids onboard.”

“Terrible.” Jack tucked the license back inside his wallet.

“You can go home now, Mr. Randall. Hug your kids. Life is short.” The trooper tipped his hat and stepped away from the blue sedan.

Jack punched his pillow down. Sleep would not come. Thoughts of the plane crash crowded his consciousness. His wife lay beside him. His children were safe in their beds. Why did he have such an uneasy feeling? Why did he feel compelled to go to the crash site?

He prayed softly and sat up on the side of the bed. “Lord, what should I do?”

Running his hands through his hair, he stared at the fluorescent green numbers on the clock face. Five thirty.

“Jack?” His wife roused beside him.

“I’m sorry.” He turned to her. “I didn’t mean to wake you, honey.”

“What’s wrong?”

“When I came home this morning, the state police had the intersection blocked. A plane crashed on the Neimann farm. I’m thinking about driving over there.”

“What can you do?” She propped herself on an elbow.

He kissed her on the forehead. “I don’t know. I just have to see if I can help.”

A few minutes later, Jack turned left out of his gravel driveway, his headlights illuminating the heart-shaped leaves of the tall catalpa trees growing in the vacant lot across the street. Pods dangled from the branches like bony fingers, sending a chilling reminder of death through him.

The Neimann farm lay to the southwest, about a mile as the crow flies, toward the small town of Mercy. He had been there last year for an estate sale after old man Neimann passed away. The Neimann children had auctioned off the farm equipment and livestock. Mrs. Neimann continued to live in the house, while the land had been rented to other farmers in the community.

Sunrise streaked the twilight sky by the time Jack approached the turn onto Mercy Road. This narrow strip of asphalt led all the way into town, no more than ten miles past the farm, which was less than a thousand yards beyond the intersection.

He pulled his sedan into the gravel driveway and recognized the face of a friend, Canaan County Deputy Sheriff Harold Chester.

“Hey, buddy. How are you?” Chester said, walking toward him.

“Good, but I heard about the plane crash. Anything I can do?”

Deputy Chester shook his head. “A real shame. Two beautiful kids, maybe five to seven years old.” A tear welled in the deputy’s eye. “Not much older than my kids or yours.”

“Need any help documenting the scene, measurements, anything?”

Chester smiled, brushing moisture from his cheek. “You’re still a law enforcement man at heart, Jack. Gets in your blood, don’t it?” He nodded toward the barn. “We’ve got it done. I’m just waiting for the Feds to come in and do their assessments before we cart off the wreckage. There’s metal all over this farm.”

“Not surprising,” Jack said.

“I’m not sure how the bodies were so intact. Not much trauma, except for the pilot. He had a gash on his head. We’re pretty sure he was the father. He was still inside the plane. The mother and two kids were thrown out.”

“Would you mind if I look around?”

“Not at all. You know not to move anything.”

“Sure. No problem.”

The deputy pointed toward the orange streaks in the awakening horizon. “The main wreckage is about five hundred feet beyond the barn.”

Jack pulled his flannel shirt collar up around his neck and set out toward the deteriorating structure that stood between him and the crash site. The chilly wind chastened him for not wearing a jacket. Thankfully, he had worn his boots. Weeds had taken over the lot. The rain still clung to them, and his pants legs were quickly soaked to the knees. He scowled. If old man Neimann could see the shape this place was in, he would turn in his grave.

Jack noticed the faint odor of decaying cow manure as he walked through the open livestock gate. The old hayfield beyond had grown past the time to harvest, and ragweed stood half a foot higher than the tops of the fescue, alfalfa, and red clover.

He saw the plane wreckage straight ahead. From this distance it mimicked a kind of abstract sculpture someone had dropped onto the field. The wet surface glistened in the early morning light, creating an unnerving glow. As he approached, Jack noticed beads of moisture covering the white, twisted metal.

Four people died in this wreckage.

The distinct odor of burnt wiring filled his nostrils. No doubt lightning had struck the plane. Fortunately, the whole thing didn’t go up in flames. Not that the outcome would have been any different.

There was an unpleasantness in thinking about the bodies now lying in the county morgue. It was a far cry from the destination they must have planned in St. Louis. Lord willing, those four souls had reached an even better place, the throne of their Creator.

Had it not been for such a terrible accident, the beauty of this quiet morning would have been refreshing. He loved the open land. Especially when it stretched further than the eyes could see, like it did on this estate. Old man Neimann had certainly enjoyed a gorgeous piece of nature. Perhaps he was part of the welcoming committee for the…the… Jack realized he didn’t even know the names of those who had died here.

He reached out to touch the squared-off tail section of the plane. Teardrops of moisture clung to his fingers. He wiped his hands on his trousers. There was nothing he could do. He might as well go home to his family.

Turning toward the barn, a piece of trash from the plane caught his attention. A familiar shape out of context. It took a moment for him to process what he was seeing. Something was missing. What was it? Lack of sleep had slowed his cognitive processes, and he strained to put the pieces together.

A bottle. It was a rubber nipple from a baby bottle.

He thought back to what Chet had said. Two children, five and seven years old, had been found. They wouldn’t need a baby bottle. So what was…?

The realization hit him hard. An infant had been onboard. There was another body. Oh, God. Help me find that child. He needs to be with his family, not alone in this field.

Jack scratched his head. Where should he start looking? If only he knew where the other bodies had been located. The mother had likely been holding the child in her arms during the flight. Chet had said she was expelled from the plane, but where had she been found?

He scanned the weeds for a sign. A red kerchief lay east of the wreckage. Perhaps the mother had worn it over her shoulder when burping the baby?

Come on, Jack, you’re grasping at straws. Just walk around the site in a grid. You know the rules, he reminded himself. Search and Rescue 101.

He set out to walk every inch of soil in the field. It took more than thirty ever-widening circles before he reached the fence line. When he approached the final turn, he debated what he should do. No doubt he had scoured the entire field. Perhaps it was time to call in assistance.

Then he heard a sound.

He stopped to listen.

Nothing.

Only the low chirping of birds filled his ears. Must have been a barn cat.

Wait! He heard it again. It was coming from that haystack, and it sounded like…a baby.

Jack sprinted toward the loose mound of hay. How could a child have survived such a horrendous crash? What would he find? Walking closer, he saw what appeared to be a newborn. The baby was dressed in bright blue and lay motionless in a crater of grey-green straw.

Energy drained from Jack’s body. Had he arrived too late? When he touched the infant, he knew he hadn’t. The child’s soft, pale skin felt moist and warm. Jack gently picked up the sole survivor of the crash and held him to his chest, shielding him from the cold wind.

Panic replaced relief. The baby needed immediate medical attention. He could have internal injuries, complications from exposure, or even shock.

Lack of sleep had begun to take its toll, and Jack operated on remote power. He traversed the uneven terrain back to his car as fast as he could without jostling the fragile life cradled in his arms. If Chet was still there, he could drive them to the hospital in the squad car. If not, he would find a way to secure the baby in the front seat of his Belvedere.

When Jack passed through the gate, he saw the deputy’s green Bel Air, but no sign of Harold Chester. “Chet! Chet! I need help!”

A few minutes later, Jack watched Harold Chester’s right foot hover close to the floorboard of the police cruiser. His other leg jiggled nervously, as if peeved that it had no particular task in this special mission. They had decided to take the baby to Mercy Hospital. Although a small facility, it was the closest to the farm.

Despite the upset and commotion that had come into his world today, the infant lay quietly in Jack’s lap, swaddled in Chet’s olive green jacket. The siren screamed, making conversation impossible. Jack cupped the baby’s ears between his hands and tried to focus on the narrow road ahead.

A patchwork of color blurred in his peripheral vision as they sped past white clapboard farmhouses and red barns with silver silos. He imagined farmers interrupting their chores and wives peering from porches to investigate the early morning disturbance. They would soon be the talk of the neighborhood. In fact, the party lines were probably already buzzing.

When Chet pulled into the hospital parking lot and stopped, Jack jumped out of the car and ran to the hospital entrance. Because the deputy had radioed ahead, a group of doctors and nurses met him at the door. As he transferred the baby into the arms of a nurse, the infant opened his blue eyes and held Jack’s gaze—for what seemed like a lifetime.

Three days later, Pastor Sam Lewis caught Jack’s shoulder and spun him around. “I heard about the rescue. Good work, brother.” He reached to shake Jack’s hand.

Jack smiled and thanked the reverend. People had made over him like he was some kind of hero. But he had done what any other man would do. “Right place at the right time,” he said. “That child is fortunate to be alive.”

“Blessed, I would say.” The reverend nodded. “In fact, I believe God has plans for that young man.”

Kay Marshall Strom is a traveler. She’s trekked through India, China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sudan, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt with one mission: to gather stories and broadcast them to the rest of the world. She decided a number of years ago that she wanted to make a difference in the world—to help abolish slavery of all kinds—and she works through her writing.

Kay’s writing credits include thirty-nine published books, numerous magazine articles, short stories, devotions, curriculum, television scripts, and two prize-winning screenplays. She is a sought-after speaker at seminars, retreats, and special events throughout the U.S. and around the world.

She and her husband, Dan, make their home in Santa Barbara, California.

At what point did your passion for writing become intertwined with your passion for abolitionism?

Nine years ago, while I was in West Africa working on another project, I toured an old slave fortress and was struck dumb by the sight of a set of baby-sized manacles bolted to the wall. All I could think was, “What could ever make human beings think this is okay?” As I became more aware of the enormity of slavery today (at least four times as many people are enslaved now than in the days of the African slave trade!), I had to look at home—Americans. Canadians. Europeans. The unthinkable is us.

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

Oh, yes. Our house burned to the ground the same year my first husband was diagnosed with a horrifying, terminal condition. When he died eight years later, he had the mind of a three-year-old. I had been writing for years, and during his illness, I supported our family by taking any and every writing project I could find. After he died, I took a long, hard look at how I was spending my days. I determined that from then on, I wanted my writing to make a difference.

Let’s talk about your new book, The Love of Divena (Abingdon Press, August 2012), Book 3 of your Blessings in India trilogy. Please tell us about it.

A little girl, abandoned by her father on the doorstep of her desperately poor grandmother—Shridula, heroine of book 2—brings to a conclusion the generations-long saga of an Untouchable family and the high caste Christian family that owns them. Set in rural India, 1990, we see how India has changed over the generations and, even more, how it has not:

Shridula, old and stooped at fifty-nine, made her painful way to pay homage to the elephant god Ganesh, lord of success and destroyer of evils.

“Why are we Hindus instead of Christians?” her seventeen-year-old granddaughter Divena asked.

“Because we are Indians,” Shridula said.

“It makes no sense,” insisted Divena. “They tell us Untouchables are not fit to go into the temple, but we still have to give sacrifices to the gods and goddesses. The holy scriptures of the Veda say we are foul and loathsome, and must stay apart, yet we are not allowed to read those scriptures. I do not want to be a Hindu.”

“Neither do I,” said Shridula. “But we are Indian. We have no choice.”

Divena doesn’t agree. She makes a choice, one that rocks the world of both families and shakes the foundation of an entire culture.

What sparked the idea for the series?

I first went to India to research a non-fiction book telling the stories of women who live and serve Christ in the world’s hardest places. That’s where I first learned that India, with its generations-long bonded servitude, is a major cause of modern day slavery—especially among the Dalits, previously known as Untouchables. Several years ago I had the opportunity to travel through Ireland with the advance team for the movie Amazing Grace. On the last day of our time together, a team member from India asked me, “Why don’t you write about my people? We need someone to show the world how oppressed and beaten down we are. Why don’t you write about us?” And I did.

God often uses our stories to teach us when we’re writing them. What did you learn (about life, faith, and/or even yourself) in the process of writing this book?

Oh, my, that is so true! One of the things reinforced to me is that “religious” doesn’t mean Christian. India is an extremely religious country. Mostly, it’s Hindu, a religion of endless gods, and of fear, uncertainly, and prejudice. All this is deeply engrained in Indian society. But here is the most important thing I’ve learned: God’s Word is infinitely powerful! We in this country don’t see that so often. Too many of us take biblical truths and promises for granted. Oh, but what a life-changing blessing the Bible is to Indians!

Earlier this year you released a biography of John Newton, Once Blind: The Life of John Newton (InterVarsity Press, January 2012).  What was the catalyst for that project?

I love the hymn Amazing Grace, and I love this story of the man who lived the wretchedness and embraced the grace. Oh, and who also wrote the hymn!

“Every generation seems to have people who make a habit of embodying evil,” John Newton wrote, “people who have to look up in order to see the bottom. When they come to know God they serve as irrefutable examples of His amazing grace. I was one of these.”

Actually, this book is a reprint of one I did five years ago. I am excited about it’s new release through InterVarsity Press, because it is such a powerful story, and the perfect one for a 21st century abolitionist!

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? You’ve traveled to many parts of the world. Do you have a favorite international food?

Always, always, my favorite comfort food is dark chocolate. You cannot believe how excited I was to first discover its great health benefits! Ymmmm! I enjoy international foods from most anywhere, but whenever I’m out of the country for awhile, I have a craving for a tuna salad sandwich. One time, after being in India for a month, on a stop-over in Bankok, I ran through the airport desperately searching for tuna. I finally found it—a French place tucked back in a corner that sold tuna salad on croissants. My hand actually shook when I reached for it! How pitiful is that?

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

Alas, no. I do make a joyful noise, but I’m afraid the joy doesn’t extend beyond myself.

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

A ballad. I am first and foremost a storyteller, after all.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I think I would have to say minor. My subject is slavery. It’s somber. Pensive.

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 am the strong female lead, just like my own female leads. We have to be strong. We face such difficulties, and so much depends on us.

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

I have two wonderful cats, Owen (named after the main character in A Prayer for Owen Meany) and Twinkle the Star That Came Down From Heaven Marshall Strom Kline, called Twinkie, named after the cat I had as a child who walked home to South San Francisco from Marin County. Yep, across the Golden Gate Bridge. Amazing, eh?

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

Thank you! It was so nice to be with you.

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For more information about Kay, logon to her website at http://www.kaystrom.com/.

To purchase The Love of Divena and other books by Kay, logon to: