I love being a novelist. I really, really do. Yesterday, I shared the 9 (or 10) best things about being a novelist with the Winterim creative writing class at Grand Rapids Christian School. (Thanks for inviting me, Lorilee Craker!)

I thought you all might get a kick out of my list. Here ya go!

1. PJ’s ALL DAY LONG! (this one works for all writers…unless they write at a coffee shop. But, then again, never mind. That works, too)

2. Reading is part of work.

3. A messy house can be blamed on writing. “Sorry, honey. I know the sink is full/you have no clean socks/the floor is sticky…but I was working on my novel.”

4. It is no longer called lying…it is now called fiction.

5. Imaginary friends are encouraged.

6. You get to spy on your neighbors.

7. You have absolute and complete power over your characters…yeah. Go ahead and believe that. Deluded novelist.

8. NO ONE MAKES YOU DO MATH!

9. People think you are super smart and talented.

and…

10. (which I hesitate to share…but I will because I’m a deluded novelist) You can kill without consequence.

Happy Weekend! How about you tell me…what are some of the best things about what you do? And don’t think that I necessarily mean what makes you money…but what you do that brings you joy. What you do that you love!

Ready? Set! GO!

Happy Thursday!

Today, I am part of a fun blog tour called “The Next Big Thing”. Big thanks to fellow White-Fire Publishing author, Normandie Fischer for including me!

Normandie emailed me a list of questions to answer! So…here goes!

1. What is the title of your book?

“Paint Chips”

2. How did you get the idea for this book?

Oh, goodness. This book came from so many different places and times in my life. I guess the best answer is, I got this idea from living in a broken world that is redeemed by the Father of Lights.

3. What genre is it?

Well, technically, it’s women’s Christian fiction. However, I’ve had several men read it. One such man (Greg Stauffer) said,

“Paint Chips is not a book just for women. I would think that most men would enjoy reading it as well. The novel is a story with almost all female characters but it is not a book about women. It is a powerful demonstration of the love of God, the healing power of Jesus Christ and the providential work of the Holy Spirit. The subject of sexual exploitation and trafficking is both heart wrenching and eye opening. It is a problem that every responsible individual should have on their radar.”

Thanks, Greg!

4. What is the one sentence synopsis of “Paint Chips”?

A story about God’s redemption in the midst of brokenness.”

5. Who published your novel?

I have the pleasure of being published by WhiteFire Publishing. I can’t imagine a better experience for my debut novel.

6. How long did it take you to complete the novel?

Hmm…that’s a great questions. I would say that from writing the first draft to publication date, it took about three years.

7. What inspired you to write this story?

Originally, I was just interested in the characters. At some point during the writing of the first draft, I felt that it needed to highlight the damage that sexual trafficking does to families and communities. I also wanted to show that, through Jesus, victims can become survivors and find joy in life.

Thanks to Normandie for inviting me to take part in this interview!

Have the loveliest of evenings!

As you may have heard, “Paint Chips” released a few days early for Kindle users.

Nook friends, sorry. B&N is more than likely hoping to be fashionably on time (meaning that it should be up for you on Tuesday, January 15).

Didn’t get yours? Oh. Well, allow me to give you the link! It’s $3.99 for the Kindle. It’s a bargain, let me tell you. Click HERE.

This past weekend was nothing short of dizzying. In a very good way, in case you wondered. Can I share a few things with you? Not to brag…but to let you know how great and wonderful my friends are?

A few friends decided to take pictures of their Kindle all loaded with “Paint Chips”. These pictures made me giggle…and freak out…again, in a good way.

If you have a picture of “Paint Chips” on your ereading device, or a picture of you reading it, please feel free to share it on Facebook! I’d love to see them!

And, for those of you who have finished reading the book, would you do a huge favor for me? Pretty please with lots of gooey brownies? Could you please post a review on Amazon and GoodReads (if you have an account at Goodreads)? Honest, yet kind, is good. You don’t need to write a book report. Just a few lines about what you thought of the book. And no spoilers, please! 🙂 And, really, I won’t be hurt if you don’t give it 5 stars. Honesty is the best policy.

For those of you who have written reviews and posted on Facebook/Twitter/Google+/etc…my deepest and most sincere thanks. I wish I could give you each a tight hug. Maybe I can see you soon and do so. Keep up the good work!

And for all of you…each one of you…you are a blessing to me. Really. Your encouragement and support have meant more to me than I can express.

“Paint Chips” would be a lonely novel were it not for you.

Many thanks and my most heartfelt gratitude.

Have a lovely day.

This morning, I hit the snooze button about 7 times. Achy body. Scratchy throat. Head pounding.

Sitting up in bed, I did the only thing a reasonable person can think to do. I checked my email.

“Not to upset your count down, but…”

Those were the words of my editor. At first, I thought there was a delay. Then I realized that, really, it meant that things moved more quickly than expected.

“Paint Chips” is available now. On Amazon. For Kindle users. HERE! 

I rushed to my laptop. Saw that Amber Timm had already purchased a copy (she posted about it on Facebook). Whoop. Hooray. Yippeee!

And then, I remembered what day it is.

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. A day that our nation focuses on modern day slavery. And I was moved. Because I wrote “Paint Chips” with the desire to open hearts to slavery that happens here, in the United States. And to highlight the huge hope that we have when people stand up and fight for the freedom of others.

One of the points that I wanted to make with “Paint Chips” is that, because of God’s faithfulness, victims can be turned into survivors. Dark to light. Slaves to the redeemed.

And today is the perfect day for me to say, with a humble heart, that all the glory goes to God. I want to point to His love for us and say, “He is mighty to save”.

Congratulations to Michelle HS! She won the random drawing for Amelia Rhodes’ book!  

Only 8 days left until you can download your copy of “Paint Chips” on your Nook, Kindle…etc (are there other devises?)! Whoopie!

***

Yesterday I chatted with a lady from church. We talked about our kids for a few minutes (our boys have the same name and, apparently, similar personalities). Then she said the words that make me sweat and stutter and reveal my true-awkward-self.

“So…what do you do?”

I answered this way…and this is pretty much a direct quote…

“Well, I’m…see…I…I’m a writer…yeah…I…um…w-well…I write…”

Now, after someone I’ve just met asks that question, they follow it up with one of several responses…

1) “That’s nice.” (read: I have no idea how to respond to your crazy life choice)

2) “So, is that, like, a hobby?” (read: EVERYBODY says they’re a writer)

3) They RUN away…RUN!

4) “So, what do you write?” (which is what the lady said yesterday)

The, the even more awkward answer from me…

“I have this…see…I wrote a novel…it’s…well…it’s releasing…”

At which point, the conversation can go a couple different ways…

1) “So, you self-published.” (note that it’s a statement, not a question. And when someone asks this, they don’t realize the very talented and valid writers who have self-published. They just think about the kazillion terribly written books that ooze around the internet.)

2) “Can I have a free copy?” (This is where the people pleaser in me weeps. I wish I could give you all a free copy. But I can’t. Sorry. I’ve got to pay the bills. So does my publisher. Please, don’t ever ask an author for a free copy. It isn’t really fair.)

3) “So…are they going to make a movie?” (Well…I don’t know. It would be pretty cool…)

4)  “What’s it about?” (I love/hate this question. Fortunately, I have what’s called an “elevator pitch”…a memorized blurb that can be shared in less than a minute)

5) “I’m going to buy it.” (This is the most encouraging thing at this point. It’s also terrifies me a little…in a good way. It’s hard to explain)

The lady I spoke with yesterday said #4 and #5. It was nice. I asked about her job. I feel that we had a good discussion.

Sometimes it is hard to tell people about my writing career. I don’t want them to think I’m being boastful. I don’t want them to feel used or like I’m trying to “make a sale”. I’d much rather other people talk about the whole crazy business (which you all do so well…MUCH thanks to you!).

Here’s the thing, though…writing is part of what I do. “Paint Chips” is the result of many years of work, lots of tears (both happy and sad), sacrifices, and love for the writing life.

I am a writer.

I’m a bit bird-brained at times. I’m the kind of housekeeper who forgets the importance of mopping the floor until my feet get stuck on a splatter of some invisible sticky mess. Every once in a while I wash the same load of laundry four times before I can dry it.

Usually, I’m just thrilled that I got my kids fed and in (mostly) clean clothes.

That’s why I wasn’t surprised to hear my boy yell, “We’re out of toilet paper!”

In fact, I hear that quite often. Also, “We’re out of soap,” “We’re out of cereal,” “We’re out of milk,” and so on.

Well, on that particular day, I had about a million things to do before getting to the store. So, I grabbed our last roll of paper towel (we were also out of napkins and tissue) and instructed the kids to only use half a piece at a time.

I know. I’m the reason that septic systems fail. Sorry.

Eventually, I was ready to get the kids loaded in the van for a trip to Target. The one with a Starbucks.

I saw my neighbor, Heather, out in her front yard. At the time, she was very pregnant with her fourth kiddo. I let the kids play for a few minutes while we chatted.

“Well, we need to get to the store,” I said. “We’re out of toilet paper. Again.”

“We’re down to our last roll,” Heather said.

We smiled at each other and nodded our heads. We get each other.

Heather looked at me and smiled. “Do you want it? You can have it if you need it.”

Now, I’m not one to take the very last roll of toilet paper from a pregnant woman. But, I have to tell you, her offer made me smile. What a blessing that was.

Sometimes “doing life together” means that we prop each other up through a tough time. That we go on visits to the hospital or help out during a time of unemployment. We send encouraging cards or offer to baby sit.

Other times, it’s just offering your last roll of toilet paper. Or sharing baked goods. Lending the meat mallet or a cup of sugar.

Doing life together means doing the small, every day things for each other.

Mother Teresa once said, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love”.

And we do those small things over and over and compound that great love as we do life together.

Over the weekend, my family spent the night in Otter Lake, Michigan (it’s near the thumb). My sister, her husband, and their two boys live there and we like visiting to get away every once in awhile.

Sunday morning, we all bundled up and went to my brother-in-law’s grandparent’s house. They have land with trails that cut through hundreds of pine trees. We tied a sled to the back of a side-by-side atv. Two of my kids rode in the sled. The more cautious one sat with me in the back. My brother-in-law drove the vehicle. He took it slow. The sled fell into the groove made my the tires. The giggles from all three kids were music among the tall trees.

Later on, I asked my nephew to drive me around on the atv. He’s more man than boy now. It makes me realize how fast life goes. And it makes me proud of how he’s growing. He’s taller than I am now. It doesn’t feel so long ago that he took a nap nestled in the crook of my arm. But, now that I think of it, that was 13 years ago. It’s a good thing he doesn’t read this blog. I’m sure he’d be mortified.

But now, this boy-man was driving me across new snow. The only mark on some of the white stuff were the tracks of rabbits or deer. The vehicle pushed through the snow, cutting through, showing where we had been. The cold wind stung my face. He was driving pretty fast. Well, for this cautious girl, at least.

He drove me by a field. In the summer corn grows there. In the winter, it is empty and flat. Acres upon acres of untouched snow. New snow.

We could have rode around all day in that side-by-side and never sliced through all the new snow with our tires or feet.

And, in that, lies possibility.