Kaye Dacus is the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing, Harvest House Publishers, and B&H Publishing. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, is a former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers.

Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is a full-time academic advisor and part-time English Composition instructor for Bethel University.

Please tell us about your new book, Follow the Heart (B&H Publishing, May 2013), the first in your Great Exhibition Series.

An American woman is sent to England to marry wealth, but finds herself torn between the poor man she loves and the viscount who offers the wealth and stability that can save her family.

Mandates . . . money . . . matrimony. Who will follow the heart?

Because of the era in which it’s set, this series appears to be a detour—something a little different—for you. How is it similar to what you’ve written in the past?

Follow the Heart and the Great Exhibition series are similar to my contemporary series (The Brides of Bonneterre and the Matchmakers series with Barbour Publishing) as they are light-hearted, stand-alone novels which are tied together with recurring characters and a familiar setting.

They’re also similar to The Ransome Trilogy (Harvest House Publishers) as I try to fully immerse the reader in the language, fashion, and details of the historical era. And each book fulfills my promise of “Humor, Hope, and Happily Ever Afters” that my readers have come to expect.

What drew you to the Victorian era as a setting?

I love that it still has the sensibility of the Regency era—from the activities like balls and dinners to the formality of courting customs—yet in 1851, the world is on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution: train and steamboat travel, telegraph, indoor plumbing (“retiring/refreshing rooms” with pay toilets at the Great Exhibition!). I also love that women were starting to come into their own a bit more. Still not considered equals, but at least starting to get some recognition for their contributions and accomplishments in society.

What do you hope readers will take away from it?

Women, especially, tend to look at our choices as a series of obligations—we do what we feel we are obligated to do for the sake of our families, not necessarily what we feel our hearts are telling us to do. I believe, and it’s the theme of this book, that we spend too much time worrying about how we can fix/help/support our families (or those around us at work or in friendships) and not enough time listening to and trusting God. When we pray, we tend to tell God what’s wrong and ask Him to fix it. But do we ever really take the time to just be still and listen to what God is trying to tell us? And can we really let God take care of those we feel responsible for and let go of that burden of responsibility that may not, in truth, be ours to bear?

A few fun questions…

You write both historical and contemporary romance. If you had to pick a third genre for your next novel, what would it be, and why?

As Jeff Gerke (publisher, Marcher Lord Press) is fond of reminding me: everyone has a science fiction book in them somewhere. And he’s right. I’m a long-time sci-fi TV/movie fan (I’ve been to a few Star Trek conventions, after all), and I’ve recently been playing around with an idea for a sci-fi story/series. It’s mostly world-building and character development at this point, but it’s a fun diversion.

Where do you usually write? What’s the most unusual place you’ve written?

I can write pretty much anywhere, but mostly it’s in my recliner in the living room with my laptop. My spare bedroom is an office, but I rarely even turn my desktop computer on anymore.

A few years ago, when I was working freelance and traveling to speaking events, conferences, and appearances several times a month, I discovered that my laptop came with speech recognition software as part of Windows 7. With a microphone headset, I discovered that I could dictate into Word and redeem all of that travel time—and then I wasn’t having to try to furtively and frantically write when I got where I was going. Even though I don’t travel as often now, I do still occasionally use that as a time to get some word-count in so that I don’t feel so guilty about not writing when I get where I’m going.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

If I’m not at work and I’m not writing, I’m doing one of the following three things: hanging out with friends (usually dinner and a movie), watching TV/Netflix/DVDs at home, or reading.

Thanks, Kaye. It’ always nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Kaye, visit her website at www.kayedacus.com.

To purchase Follow the Heart logon to:

Nominees for the 14th annual Christy Awards for excellence in Christian fiction were announced on April 19. For information about the awards ceremony, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 24, visit the Christy Awards website.

How many of the books on this list have you read? How many are now on your “to be read” list?

*Note: Several of the nominees/books were recently featured on DivineDetour. Click on asterisked author names to access link.

Contemporary Romance

The Breath of Dawn

Kristen Heitzmann

(Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Lethal Legacy

Irene Hannon

(Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Wildflowers from Winter

Katie Ganshert*

(WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas

Two Destinies

Elizabeth Musser

(David C Cook)

You Don’t Know Me

Susan May Warren

(Tyndale House Publishers)

Waiting for Sunrise

Eva Marie Everson

(Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Standalone

The Air We Breathe

Christa Parrish

(Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Borders of the Heart

Chris Fabry

(Tyndale House Publishers)

Not in the Heart

Chris Fabry

(Tyndale House Publishers)

First Novel

Into the Free

Julie Cantrell

(David C Cook)

Tangled Ashes

Michèle Phoenix

(Tyndale House Publishers)

Wedded to War

Jocelyn Green*

(River North, an imprint of Moody Press)

Historical

Flame of Resistance

Tracy Groot

(Tyndale House Publishers)

Wedded to War

Jocelyn Green

(River North, an imprint of Moody Press)

A Wreath of Snow

Liz Curtis Higgs

(WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Historical Romance

Against the Tide

Elizabeth Camden

(Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Be Still My Soul

Joanne Bischof

(WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Love’s Reckoning

Laura Frantz

(Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense

Downfall

Terri Blackstock

(Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

The Last Plea Bargain

Randy Singer

(Tyndale House Publishers)

Rare Earth

Davis Bunn

(Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Submerged

Dani Pettrey*

(Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

This category includes four nominees due to a tie in scoring.

Visionary

Daughter of Light

Morgan L. Busse

(Marcher Lord Press)

Soul’s Gate

James L. Rubart*

(Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Starflower

Anne Elisabeth Stengl

(Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Young Adult

Child of the Mountains

Marilyn Sue Shank (Delacorte Press, a division of Random House)

Failstate

John W. Otte (Marcher Lord Press)

Interrupted: A Life Beyond Words

Rachel Coker (Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Vanessa Riley holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a masters in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. Yet, she is also on a mission to help the world “fall in love with powerful Regency heroes and heroines who battle for peace with a flintlock revolver and a prayer.”

Despite her technical side, Vanessa is no stranger to creative writing and journalism, having served as national publications chairperson for a large student-run organization; as editor-in-chief of Engenuity, a Penn State student magazine; and as assistant editor-in-chief for her high school newspaper.

Vanessa is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and a wife and mom.

Your career choices are quite diverse! Which came first, your desire to write or your decision to pursue engineering? Is there a way in which they compliment each other?

Great question. I was always very good at math and science, and fascinated by gears and how things work. Sorry, Mom, for taking apart the stereo. I put it back together with fewer parts than it had. (It still worked, thank goodness).

Yet the need to be creative was there too. Knitting, sewing, crocheting, writing, making things. I think I used creativity as an escape.

How does your faith play into your work?

It weighs heavily. I grew up Southern Baptist. We cut our teeth on the King James Version of the Bible. The poetry, structure, and beauty of the verses still influence me. I try to add at least one of the stories as a theme in each of my books.

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

When it was time to select a graduate school, I had my heart set on staying at my undergrad institution, Penn State. I was comfortable there and wasn’t ready for change. My advisor was the greatest, and I loved doing research for him. To show all my friends and my mom I had considered every option, I went to visit a few other universities. When I hit Stanford’s campus, I knew this was where God wanted me to be. A week after I accepted Stanford’s offer, all the reasons for staying at Penn State evaporated. My treasured advisor took another job at a different university. I would’ve been left high and dry. A year later, I met my husband of seventeen years at Stanford. Best detour ever. Listening to God’s nudging us out of our comfort zone is the greatest lesson any person can possess.

Let’s talk about your debut novel, Madeline’s Protector (Pelican Books, April 2013). Please tell us about it.

Sure, Madeline’s Protector is a story about two people who shouldn’t have met but are thrown together in adverse circumstances: murder, suspicion, and a hailstorm of bullets. The hero, Justain Delveaux, Lord Devonshire, saves Madeline St. James’ life, but in doing so he compromises her and is forced to marry this stranger.

Can they learn to trust each other in order to stop the threats still waging against their family?

Where did you get the idea for the story?

It was a dream I had in high school. I wrote it up as a short story, but then let the idea lay dormant until a few years ago.

As a working mom, how do you find time to write? What’s your best tip for organizing/compartmentalizing your different responsibilities?

The best time for me is from 11:00 p.m. to about 2:00 a.m. The house is quiet. I can slip into my imaginary world and write until I slump over onto my laptop. The best tips are to schedule your time and to set goals. When you schedule your time, it makes each activity important. Anything that is important will be given its proper due in your life if you purpose to set time aside for it. You will see things get accomplished. Setting attainable goals is very important. If I say, I want to write 500 words this day or 8,000 words this week, I have created a measurable goal. Now, I can assess how well I’m doing or even give myself a treat. Chocolate anyone?

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?

If the words aren’t flowing, on a pollen free day I’ll rock on my porch and sip tea. This helps to calm things down in my head and give me clarity. Chocolate is my favorite comfort food. Everything is better with dark chocolates and toasted almonds.

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

I’m not musical, but I love songs. I love the words they choose, the emotions they convey.

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

If I were a song, it would be opera with movements of tragedy and love triumphing at the end.

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 mysterious woman behind the dark glasses watching everyone, trying to figure out what makes him or her tick.

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

I had a bowl of sea monkeys. I loved those guys, for all three days of their life.

Thanks, Vanessa! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Vanessa, visit www.ChristianRegency.com.

To purchase Madeline’s Protector, logon to:

by Linda Cox

A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or sentence that reads the same forward and backward. Natan (pronounced na-tahn) is a palindrome. It’s one of the Hebrew words for giving. The fact that it’s a palindrome isn’t coincidence in my book. That’s because there’s a secret buried within the act of giving.

When we give to each other, we receive much more in return from the Lord. Not that we give just to receive something back. We give out of a generous heart filled with God’s love. We reach out to someone in need, someone we care about, someone we might not even know. When we are generous, we find that the joy of giving returns to us as a blessing from the Lord.

A generous man will himself be blessed …

~ Proverbs 22:9

The author of a book I read years ago suggested that a person should make the effort to give something to someone every day—a phone call, a meal, a note, a visit, a prayer. That a generous life makes for a richer, blessed life. And we become a “door” through which God uses us to touch His people.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,

pressed down shaken together and running over,

will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.

~ Luke 6:38

But no matter what we give, God has given us the greatest gift of all—forgiveness and salvation through His Son’s death and resurrection. That gift of undeserved love should inspire us to freely give of ourselves to help His children, and in the process we can watch the act of giving become a palindrome—God’s palindrome, blessing us forward and backward. Praise be to God!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort

those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves

have received from God.

~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

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 she 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), Love Is a Verb (a devotional from Bethany House), and Chicken Soup for the Soul’s I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That. She lives in a small town in the Midwest with the “Bone Mafia,” her two indoor/outdoor mutts.

Cynthia Ruchti’s books have been recognized by the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Retailers’ Choice Awards, and Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her debut novel, They Almost Always Come Home, was nominated for an ACFW Carol, and her novella, The Heart’s Harbor (A Door County Christmas), received a Family Fiction Readers’ Choice Award.

She served as writer/producer of The Heartbeat of the Home radio show for more than three decades, and her articles have appeared in a number of national publications, including Christian Communicator, Charisma, and CFOM.

Cynthia and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

What sparked your writing journey?

I was one of those obnoxious kids in school who got giddy when the teacher said, “Essay test.” Multiple choice drove me crazy because I always second-guessed the teacher’s motives in those “All/None of the above” options. True/False was sometimes easy, but again, I’d pause and think about the long-term ramifications of answering True. Was it ALWAYS true? Was I missing a subtle clue hidden in the way the question was asked? But essay questions! Whoo hoo! Let me at them.

That doesn’t translate into a writing career, nor does it make a person a good writer. But from an early age, I appreciated words and books and the power of story to move the human heart.

When my husband and I married, I worked as a lab assistant in a chemistry laboratory at a large medical facility. As children came along, I left the lab to stay home and care for them, but took creative writing courses to keep myself entertained with brain stimulation that didn’t involve The Memory Game or The Wheels on the Bus.

Totally unrelated in my mind, but not in God’s, two weeks after completing the last lesson of one of those correspondence courses, I was handed the opportunity to write and produce a radio broadcast called The Heartbeat of the Home. That broadcast was on the air across the country for thirty-three years and just retired in 2012.

The broadcasts were radio drama (fiction) combined with devotional thoughts (non-fiction). A few years ago, I felt a pull to develop the fiction side of me into full-length novels and began to study through writers’ conferences and American Christian Fiction Writers, soaking up all the knowledge I could, and going through the typical nibble of encouragement and flood of rejections until my debut novel was a Genesis finalist and caught the eye of an editor for Abingdon Press. That novel—They Almost Always Come Home—was a Carol Award finalist in 2011. Before the end of 2013, I’ll have six books in print with more to come in 2014, a mix of novels, novellas, and nonfiction.

How does your faith play into your work?

Some think of faith as a crisis management technique, or a Sunday activity, or something beautiful but untouchable—like an art museum piece. But I know that’s not what God intended. So faith is threaded throughout my life and shows up in my writing as a natural extension of my core values. More importantly, it shows up because of God’s core values and His influence on every possible plot, whether we acknowledge it or not. But I hope readers continue to find that the faith element in my stories is interwoven rather than slapped on, that it makes sense and enhances the depth of the story rather than distracts from it.

Let’s talk about your new book, When the Morning Glory Blooms (Abingdon Press, April 2013). Please tell us about it.

When the Morning Glory Blooms tells the stories of three women from three distinct eras, each facing the repercussions of unplanned pregnancy. Anna runs a home for unwed mothers in the 1890s in a society that would rather pretend they don’t exist. Ivy is a young single unwed mom in the 1950s, caring for Anna toward the end of the older woman’s life, listening to Anna’s imaginative ramblings which have an unusual ring of truth to them. Becky is a Twenty-first Century mom of a teen mom, concerned about her daughter’s future and uncertain how to parent a teen parent. Each woman is desperate for hope, for different reasons and yet the same reasons. Their stories unfold with the mystery, shadows, fragility, and elegance of a morning glory blossom uncurling to face the dawn.

Where did you get the idea for this particular book?

It started out as Anna’s story only. But Ivy insisted on having her story told, too. The manuscript lived for quite a while with only the 1890s and 1950s components. Then Becky showed up one day, begging to have her story told, too. I resisted letting her in, knowing that adding yet another era would be a delicate dance to keep readers engaged. But that Becky…she can be tenacious. Once I settled into the three layers, the novel began to flow.

Few families aren’t touched somehow by unplanned or unwed pregnancy. Statistics say that currently 48% of babies are born to single or teen moms. I’ve known some of them, ached with them, rejoiced when their beautiful babies were born, and feel in my bones the weight of their challenges. It’s so much more than just the announcement of a simple sentence, “I’m pregnant.” So much more.

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, and which woman’s story touched you the most personally?

I’m still learning. After writing, editing, galleys, promoting, every time I talk about the book or a reader talks to me about it, something new surfaces. I learned a lot about friendship, about reserving judgment until I know someone’s story, about the measureless depth of God’s grace. I probably identify most closely with Becky’s storyline. I want to wrap Ivy in my arms and give her the mother-love she craved but couldn’t have. And I dream of being the woman of character Anna was. The secondary characters in the stories wormed their way into my heart. I find myself wondering how they’re doing today.

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 “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

My first career was in the chemistry lab. Doesn’t it seem like a natural leap to go from that to writing novels? In between was a 33-year stretch as writer/producer of a 15-minute radio ministry that aired across the country. What a divinely meandering path to where I am today! And each step held its delights and its difficulties, all which shaped me and kept me dependent on the One who knows the end from the beginning.

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?

Interestingly, I just gave them up today, a few hours ago. Crunching potato chips helps me think. I don’t know what I’ll do without them. How long has it been now?

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

My dad was a band director. Both Mom and Dad sang a lot. With four siblings, all singers, family vacations in the car were songfests with a minimum of four-part harmonies. I played clarinet in middle school until my dad decided the band needed a bassoon. I played bass drum or bells in the marching band. In college, I played bassoon in the concert band. After years of playing piano, organ, and keyboard, I’m currently a backup singer for our church’s worship team. For years, my two sisters and I sang trio for women’s events and mother/daughter banquets, then I would speak. My parents are both gone now, but every family gathering is so music rich, the event doesn’t seem complete until my brother’s guitar comes out and we break into song. Some of my most memorable musical moments (note the alliteration?) have been leading worship for the Write to Publish conference and singing with the worship team for the ACFW conference.

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

A medley. A little bit of Vocalise with a chorus of any number of worship songs, morphing back into Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral, followed by a verse or two of  the Hallelujah Chorus.

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?

What a great question! The strong female lead. Yeah, let’s say that. Strong female leads can be soft-hearted, can’t they?

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

We had a long-haired Chihuahua named Mitzy when I was growing up. What a sweet dog.

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

Thank you, Kathy. It’s been an honor. I hope your blog readers will take a look at When the Morning Glory Blooms, and that they’ll stop in to leave a comment and start a discussion. I love interacting with readers, answering questions or posing them. Everyone has a story to tell.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Cynthia, visit her website at www.cynthiaruchti.com.

To purchase When the Morning Glory Blooms logon to:

Angela Breidenbach is a speaker, an author, and a certified life coach. She also serves as an assisting minister in her home congregation and teaches online classes, as well as coaches one-on-one, on a variety of subjects, including writing, pageant competition, media presentation, and weight loss/physical fitness.

She currently holds the public relations director position for CAN (Christian Authors Network) and serves as president of the Montana ACFW chapter.

Angela is a wife, a mom, and a grandmother. She lives in Missoula, Montana.

Let’s talk about A Healing Heart (Abingdon Press, April 2013). Please tell us about it.

Mara Keegan is a workaholic who suffers a heart attack and must trust her business to the one man that almost destroyed it. During her recovery, she must make good on her promise to make a photo memory quilt for her daughter’s graduation. Will Joel Ryan’s photo be included on the quilt or is he a memory Mara wants forgotten?

Where did you get the idea for the story?

My agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, asked if I knew anything about quilts for a new line from Abingdon Press, Quilts of Love (link). Our family has a tradition of creating and giving photo memory quilts for high school graduation. But how to turn that into a story anyone would want to read?

One night, Denzel Washington’s movie, Déjà vu, about an agent who travels back in time to save a woman from murder, was on TV. That movie sparked a fun conversation between my husband and I. Would a person live differently if they faced their past? Memory quilts are photo moments frozen in time. And the conversation took off into how a woman might use those photos of her family life to change from being emotionally unavailable to the person God meant her to be. What would make her change?

I raced up to my office, wrote a story paragraph and idea page. Zipped that off to Tamela and A Healing Heart contracted off that page. All the great proposals, but the first fiction that sold was based on a conversation with my hubby and a one-page idea pitch. That still shocks my socks off!

Although you’ve previously been published in non-fiction, this is your debut fiction work. How long have you been writing fiction, and what sparked your interest in it?

I love writing in all its forms. I began seriously studying fiction in 2004. By 2005 I’d joined new writing organizations. But I had so much to learn about the craft, everything. Talent and creativity are nothing if a person doesn’t have the skill. I’ve lost track of the number of classes and craft books and conferences. If someone said I needed to learn format or deep POV, I found a class and tackled it. (Seriously, I’d never heard of POV before 2005! I could write great dialogue back then, but had no idea each person needed their own paragraph when they spoke. Oh I had so much to learn!)

The spark for fiction came early, early. My dad taught me to read using Dick and Jane and the Disney Big Red Storybook when I was four. From that moment, there weren’t enough books in the library. I devoured books, both fiction and non-fiction. I still do. Stories swirl in my head. I have seven more stories in various stages and files for an amazing amount of ideas I jot on as they come to me.

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?

I knew my contract for A Healing Heart was coming. But I spun out on ice and crashed into a mountain two days before the final contract arrived. That same week I’d been exposed to communicable pneumonia. I had some rough injuries (back, neck, shoulder) and wracking coughs on top of the crash results. That was over a year ago. I still have until May to expected full recovery.

I think it was both awful and amazing. I wrote the book, propped on pillows on my couch only able to write a few sentences at a time and sometimes I could only use one hand. I turned it in with two hours to spare to my deadline. But I understood Mara. I wrote her as a workaholic because I understood a driven personality. I am one. In recovery, I understood the dilemma and frustrations of forced recuperation while stressing over the responsibilities.

I don’t think God “did that to me,” but I do think God used the situation to help me understand people like me who might use the gifting of a driven personality and abuse it by becoming workaholics. I now make time for friends and family much more and speak on the fine line of living in our gifting without polluting the gift. The situation also helped me to recognize the beauty of accepting help and friendship. What do you know, Mara gets to experience that in A Healing Heart too ; )

Now a year after the crash, I’ve also learned important ways to help my coaching clients in fitness and weight loss after injury. That’s such a beautiful opportunity!

As a certified life coach and sought-after speaker, what’s your favorite topic to speak about—and can you, please, share a bit of insight about that topic?

A Healing Heart opened up some passionate topics for me. I discovered the fine line of living our God-given giftings and polluting/misusing them. While writing, I had to do a lot of self-examination on workaholism and friendship. I realized I personally struggled with those lines, blurring them too often.

When we begin to hear, “Are you always working?” or “How long since you’ve had a day off?” or “I haven’t seen you in so long.” Those are red flags that we’re getting off the planned path God means for us to travel. It’s easy to brush off small comments and questions. But I’ve learned to give people close to me permission to point out when I’m veering off course. Giving permission means that I promise NOT to respond in anger or irritation when someone I love loves me enough to point out I’m about to fall on my face. Everyone has a gifting that can be polluted and misused. Think of someone with great acting skills, charm, or athletic talent. I love to help people learn how to use their gifting as God intended, recognize the fine lines, and learn to build boundaries to live out the plan for their life. God gave us fellowship and friendship as helping partnerships in our faith, ministry, and work. No one is intended to walk the path alone.

A few fun questions…

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

I’m having a blast right now reading my sister authors in the Quilts of Love line. None of us knew anything about each other’s manuscripts. We shared our story paragraphs when our editor, Ramona Richards, connected us in a private loop. So I’ve made a point of getting each book in order and reading/reviewing them. So far I’ve finished: Beyond the Storm by Carolyn Zane, Wild Goose Chase Christmas by Jennifer AlLee, and I’m currently reading Path of Freedom by Jennifer Hudson Taylor (who, by the way, is one of my www.theFaithGirls.com blog partners and we had no idea we’d both been chosen for the line until it was announced!) I did get to pre-read Bonnie Calhoun’s book, Pieces of the Heart, as her private editor. I loved that one too. : ) This line is perfect for me as I’m a very eclectic reader. I love a lot of genres from contemporary to historical to romance and there are even some great mysteries.

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

I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me. Here’s a link to the song (click here).

This song comes on and I connect immediately. I imagine being with Jesus. Would I be able to speak? Would I dance or be still? I don’t know. I sing and dance when I’m happy. (A secret camera in my kitchen would provide a lot of hilarity!) But would I be so awed that I’d freeze? It always makes me curious and full of a sense of worship when I think about actually standing in the presence of Jesus. I hope my writing reaches hearts like the writer of this song did mine.

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

Romans 8: 26-27. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

It might be a surprise I identify most with Paul in the New Testament. He’s a driven personality too. He realizes his time is short, regardless of how long that time is. His perception (like mine) sees there’s so much to do in such a short time. Especially because there are years wasted to make up for in our life purpose. I “get” Paul.

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

Thank you, Kathy. I’m so appreciative to be here and share. If anything I’ve written touches or helps someone—that would be a huge blessing to me.

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For more information about Angela, visit her website.

To purchase A Healing Heart logon to:

Christy Barritt is an author, freelance writer, and speaker. In 2007, her romantic comedy Hazardous Duty finaled in the ACFW Carol/Book of the Year contest. In 2009, Suspicious Minds won the Inspirational Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery. And last year her novel Ricochet was nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award.

A former church worship leader, Christy is an avid music lover known for spontaneously bursting into song. She and her husband, Scott, live in Virginia.

What sparked your writing journey?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I even wrote a couple of novels in high school (that will never see the light of day, by the way!). I studied communications in college and got a job with a Christian publisher before I even graduated. I’ve always just loved stories, but while at the publishing house, I was working on other people’s stories and not my own. My father became ill, so I gave up my job at the publisher and moved back home. That event really propelled me to get back to my own writing. That was thirteen years ago. I now have twenty books either out or contracted to be released.

How does your faith play into your work?

My faith is very important to every aspect of my life. Some of my books have a stronger faith element than others, it just depends on what the individual story lends itself to. Of all of my books, The Good Girl probably has the strongest faith thread, because my protagonist’s faith (or lack thereof) is what drives the entire story. But I can’t write a book without including my faith because it’s my reason for hope. I can’t even grasp the concept of hope without God.

Let’s talk about The Good Girl (Whitefire Publishing, March 2013). Please tell us about it.

The Good Girl is about a woman named Tara Lancaster. Tara has been a superstar Christian for her entire life and followed all the rules—even going as far as to write a blog about how to follow the rules. Everything comes crashing down when a false allegation is leveled against her. She loses everything and flees across the country to dog sit. That’s where the story starts. She’s confronted with everything that goes against her rules—her house appears to be haunted, her only friend is fame-hungry and attention seeking, and she starts falling in love with a man with a tattoo. The story goes from there!

Tara looks to be a fun character. Who or what provided the inspiration for her?

In part, my faith journey has followed Tara’s. I’ve always tried to follow the rules. In college, several things happened that made me realize that following all the rules would get me no special privileges. In fact, I think sometimes that following the rules can make life even harder! That was the point where I had a real crisis of faith and asked myself: Do I continue on this path as my parent’s raised me? Do I really believe everything I’ve been taught? Or is there something else out there? I struggled with it for a while and finally realized that Christianity truly was about relationship and not rules. I realized that life without Jesus wasn’t life at all.

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

I had a hard experience at my church a couple of years ago. I was on staff part-time and I ended up stepping down because I felt like I could no longer trust the leadership. At the time, my soul felt so wounded. But looking back I see that event as the catalyst that really pushed me to give my writing 100%. God has really blessed me through that heartache. He’s shown me who my friends are, and He’s opened the door to many new writing contracts. Most importantly, He’s drawn me closer to Him in a way that only pain can.

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?

It’s terrible, I’ll tell you that upfront, but I love potato chips and Coke. I try to avoid them because they’re addicting to me. I also love jalapeno poppers with cream cheese.

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

I was actually a worship leader at my church for nearly a decade. I play the guitar and sing. For years I played at coffeehouses and anywhere else that would have me, for that matter. I just love music. Anyone who knows me knows that I walk around singing or humming all the time (occasionally, I might even try to dance, but it’s never pretty when I do)!

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

I would be an acoustic rock song that told a great story, filled with rhyme and a catchy rhythm. : )

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

I think I’m the girl that people underestimate.

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

I have two dogs. One is an Australian Shepherd named Rusty. He’s a rescue dog and a big, lovable guy, who sometimes gets a little too excited. We also have a Maltese/Shih tzu mix named Molly who follows me wherever I go! I’m a big dog lover. I think dogs make life happier. : )

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

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For more information about Christy, visit her website.

To purchase The Good Girl logon to:

Linda J. White is a seasoned and awarded journalist, currently the assistant editorial page editor at The Freelance-Star, a daily newspaper in Fredericksburg, Virginia; a popular public speaker; and a novelist who writes “FBI thrillers with a Christian twist.” Her latest book, Seeds of Evidence, released from Abingdon Press earlier this month.

A wife, mother of three grown children, and grandmother, Linda lives in the country near Chesapeake Bay with her husband, Larry.

What set you on a writing path?

I wrote a poem in fourth grade that the teacher put on the bulletin board outside our classroom. I got a lot of positive feedback and the little writer inside was born.

How does your faith play into your work?

Honestly, my email and my car license plate have the same message, I’m “rytn4hm.” My aim is expressed in this Scripture: Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31. I long for my books to help people grow closer to God. I also write for a newspaper, though, and even when I’m writing about a new county land plan, I write for Him, striving for excellence and integrity.

I’ve chosen to write suspense fiction because I love showing God’s grace and God’s love breaking into the dark, dark world in which we live.

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

I started writing novels in late 1992. In 1996, my first book got noticed by a famous editor. He took it to committee and I was told it was a done deal—until the publisher made a sudden about turn and cancelled many projects. My hopes were dashed. In the pit of despair, I finally cried out to God, “I just want to know Jesus!”

I believe God used that setback to straighten my priorities, and I’m so grateful he did!

Let’s talk about your new book, Seeds of Evidence (Abingdon Press, April 2013). Please tell us about it.

Stung by an unwanted divorce, FBI agent Kit McGovern has retreated to her grandmother’s beloved island home, Chincoteague, VA. (Remember “Misty of Chincoteague”?) Kit comes across the body of a young Latino boy washing up on the beach, and she just can’t let the mystery of who killed him go. The only clues she has to go on are the acorns and tomato seeds in the boy’s clothes. Kit teams up with handsome David O’Connor and together they follow plant DNA evidence that leads them into the dark world of human trafficking.

What motivated you to tackle the difficult topic of human trafficking?

About five years ago I met a woman from India. Asha (not her real name) was originally from Nepal. When she was a young woman and desperately poor, she was lured by an older woman to Mumbai (Bombay) where, instead of the domestic job she was promised, she was forced into prostitution. Years later, she met K.K. Deveraj, founder of Bombay Teen Challenge, who shared the Gospel with her and helped her leave the life.

Asha’s story impacted me deeply. Since meeting her, I’ve written a lot about trafficking for my newspaper, and have attended State Department briefings on it. I ache for the 27 million slaves in bondage today. And yes, we have trafficking even in America, sad to say.

I understand you used a house from your childhood as a setting for some of the scenes. Can you tell us about that?

My grandparents lived on Chincoteague when I was a kid and I have many fond memories of that beautiful island. I’ve taken my own family back there on vacation many times. I used my grandmother’s old house, now a vacation rental, as part of the setting for this book. It was a natural for me!

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?

Oh, goodness! Good, strong, hot coffee! I treat myself to cream and sugar—normally, I drink it black.

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

I don’t but my son, Matt White, is a very talented musician. And a long-time friend, Josh Mills, has written a song for “Seeds of Evidence”! It’s called Hear My Cry and Unbroken Light (including Josh and Matt) is now recording it. As soon as it’s done, I’ll post links on my website.

This was an unexpected gift!

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

A song of praise in the midst of stormy seas.

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 tempted to say I’m the introvert in the corner watching them all! But in reality, I think most of my friends would say I’m the strong female lead. I don’t feel strong, but I know the One who is.

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

Welcome to my world! I love dogs, too, although I never had pets as a child, because my dad was allergic. I saved all my babysitting money to buy our first dog, a golden retriever, after I got married. I couldn’t wait!

We’ve had a lot of dogs over the years and have loved them all. We recently had to put down our thirteen-year-old Springer Spaniel. We now have a two-year-old Sheltie, Keira (Acadia Ode to Joy). Keira and I are in training to become a therapy dog team. I also enjoy doing rally obedience with her.

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

Thank you! And blessings to you and to your readers!

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For more information about Linda, visit her website at http://www.lindajwhite.com.

To purchase Seeds of Evidence logon to:

by Linda Cox

[The Lord said] I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety. I will bless them . . . I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. ~ Ezekiel 34:25-26

My dad just shook his head. His almost-thirty-year-old daughter had once again turned one of his steers into a pet.

Daddy’s steers were predominantly black and white Holsteins. But one trip to a sale brought a red Holstein to our farm. Drawing on my creativity, I named him “Red.” And we quickly became fast friends.

Red would follow me everywhere as I checked the feeders in the cow lot or the straw bedding in the loafing shed. He even gave me “cow hugs.” Red had small horns and would wrap one of them around my waist, nuzzle his big head against my chest, and let me pet him. Note: I do NOT recommend hugging 1500-pound, horned bovines as a usual practice because enthusiastic horn hugs hurt.

One day Red would not let me near the feeders. Very unusual for him. He was tossing his head toward me when I approached him. I’d back off, talk to him, but he would still toss his head when I approached. Finally I understood his “cow sign language.” I approached him, stood still, and closed my eyes.

Red promptly licked my face. You’re right. EEEE-UUUUU. You have never been licked until you have been licked by a large slobbering cow tongue. But it worked. As soon as Red “kissed” me, he backed off so I could get to the feeder. And every day after that, until the time came for him to leave our farm, I received a cow kiss.

As I thought about this, I was reminded how we draw back from what might be considered “slobbery” things in our lives. The distasteful, hurtful, frightening things that we fight against, trying to avoid them or totally escape from them. Things that could make us say EEEE-UUUUU when we have to face them.

Yet God, in His mercy and grace, promises that we won’t face the slobbery things alone. He who gave us salvation through Christ’s death on the cross will surely give us blessings in ALL those things as we accept them. Resting in His love, we’ll come to realize that what we think of as slobbers might just be the abundance of God’s blessings flowing down our face, washing it with His love.

Slobbers of blessing? Who’d have thought.

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 she 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), Love Is a Verb (a devotional from Bethany House), and Chicken Soup for the Soul’s I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That. She lives in a small town in the Midwest with the “Bone Mafia,” her two indoor/outdoor mutts.

Contemporary Christian Music group Unspoken defines the term “breakout act.” Their debut single, Who You Are (Centricity Music), reached the Top Ten on the CHR chart in December and was selected as iTunes Best Christian & Gospel Song of 2012.

The four-member band is comprised of lead singer Chad Mattson, bassist Jon Lowry, guitarist Mike Gomez, and drummer Ariel Munoz. The group initially formed in the Dominican Republic where Mattson and Gomez met. Mattson’s childhood friend, Lowry, hooked up with them back in the states. Munoz joined after meeting the other three in Nashville. Unspoken recently completed the first leg of a spring and fall tour with Santus Real.

Mike Gomez graciously agreed to an interview with DivineDetour.

What is the significance of the name Unspoken?

There is a famous quote that says, “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” When the band came together this became our anthem so we chose it to encourage people to be the Gospel.

Who (or what) have been your more important musical (and/or spiritual) influences in recent years?

Musically we love to listen to bands that know how to combine good melodies with great lyrics, so basically anything that falls in that category. Spiritually, we are all influenced by different pastors, teachers, and preachers like Ravi Zacharias, David Platt, Joseph Prince among many others.

Has God ever sent you an unexpected “detour” that turned out to be positive?

Oh yes!! Chad, our singer, went to the Dominican Republic on a self-made missions trip and that’s where the band started when we hooked up, as I was a guitar player over there. Talk about a detour! It took Chad from Maine to the Dominion Republic!

Congratulations on the success of Who You Are from your Get to Me EP. How many of the songs did you write or co-write for the project?

We must have written and co-written over 100 songs for this project. We write/co-write all our songs. We’re in the studio now recording a new EP to come out this summer and then will release a full album in early 2014.

Did you have a central theme or foundation song in mind when you set out to record the project?

Yes, the fact that God will do anything to get to us!

You openly speak about the bonds of addiction and the need for each of us to have a close relationship with God. Would you, please, share a few words about that?

We believe that true freedom is found in Christ alone. What good would it be to get clean but at the end still lose your soul? We share about focusing on our relationship with God instead of concentrating on the issues that bind us. As we develop our relationship with Jesus our recovery will come as a by-product of that relationship.

A few fun questions…

Whether on tour or off the road, what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Rice and beans! LOL—anything cooked by our wives really. Food on the road can be interesting.

This website features authors as well as musicians. What’s the name of the last GREAT book you read?

We all did a Bible study of the book Radical by David Platt.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Major, but minor on rainy days.

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

I’m definitely the child in an adult’s body.

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

Our drummer, Ariel Munoz, has some sort of dog named Bam Bam, and I have a Chihuahua named Bella.

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

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For more information about Unspoken, visit their website.

To view the story behind the song Who You Are and others videos, click here.

To purchase the Get to Me EP, logon to: