How All Through The Night Came About ~Part 1

Tara Johnson

This book is written for anyone who has wondered if God sees them. It was birthed for anyone who has wrestled with approval or people-pleasing and been left with a gnawing ache inside. This story is for anyone who longs for freedom.

Faith is an integral part of All Through the Night. Cadence has to learn that approval and love are not the same thing. She must ultimately find acceptance in the eyes of God instead of the fickle applause of man. Joshua believes he must keep striving to do more, to erase the stigma of his past but finally sees his worth rests in being loved by his family and his Creator.

The character of Cadence Piper was inspired by real-life Civil War nurse Elida B. Rumsey. Elida desperately wanted to serve as a nurse in the war but was denied by Dorothea Dix because of her young age and beauty. Elida found another way in . . . by singing to the wounded soldiers. They loved her golden voice and sweet spirit when she visited the hospitals. She quickly found herself being called upon to help boost their sagging spirits. In time, she was called to nurse at the battlefield. After fainting at the first sight of blood, she was mortified and vowed never to let herself fall apart that way again. She was the first person to ever sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Joshua Ivy was created completely from my imagination but was inspired by the heroic abolitionists of the time. Many sacrificed everything for the cause, but even the bravest were not always completely pure in their motivations. While Joshua knows he is doing the right thing, however dangerous, he also uses the cause as a mask to hide his own wounds and insecurities.

All Through the Night is a weaving of real events, including an evil secret society, with fictional characters, all of whom are grappling with spiritual struggles . . . the need to be accepted and loved.Cadence yearns for her father’s approval and does anything to seek unconditional love in conditionally minded people. Joshua fights the demons of his past, particularly his battered existence growing up as a street rat in the slums. He seeks to find his worth in saving others. Cadence seeks her worth in being seen. Themes found in this story are true worth, identity, unconditional love in Christ, how the hurtful things said in our past affect our future, and finally, how to overcome the lie you believed about yourself.

I want the readers to know that whatever lie they have believed —“I am worthless,” “I need to be seen,” “If only ______ would love me, then I’d be happy.” There is hope and freedom in Jesus. There is nothing we can do to earn his love and nothing we can do to lose his love.

One aspect that is particularly unique is the emergence of the Knights of the Golden Circle. This evil sect played a large role in funding the Confederacy and had big plans to form a new nation, a ring of power, that included the Southern states, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands. They had powerful men in both the Confederacy and, ironically, the Union and carried out some of the most heinous acts ever committed on American soil.

Another unique aspect of All Through the Night are the cameo appearances by great historical figures like Fanny Crosby and John Wilkes Booth. I love to bring real men and women to life in a way my readers enjoy. . . See Part 2 tomorrow, December 17.

Tara Johnson is a passionate lover of stories who uses fiction, nonfiction, song, and laughter to share her testimony of how God led her into freedom after spending years living shackled to the expectations of others. Tara is the author of three novels set during the Civil War: Engraved on the Heart, Where Dandelions Bloom, and All Through the Night. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and makes her home in Arkansas with her husband and three children.

Visit her online at tarajohnsonstories.com

My Writing Non-Process - Part 1

Karen White

If I weren’t the shy type that I am, I might share with you a photo of my desk right now. It’s stacked high with two desk calendars (for current year and next—this last because I remain hopeful that things will actually happen next year), research books for three separate works in progress (final edits for one, beginning of another, and rewrites for a third), itineraries for an April 2021 book tour, a never-ending to-do list that starts with a call to the vet for not just one, but two dogs with different ailments, a book I’m reading for another author for a cover blurb, and a stack of insurance and financial paperwork regarding the care of my elderly parents. Oh, and my laptop.

I’m not trying to impress anyone with my juggling abilities (notice how I didn’t mention the endless stream of texts from my children requesting advice on every subject from boyfriend communication to my laundry expertise or the hours of answering emails or creating Insta stories and witty Tweets required of any published author).

The Genesis of Danger - Part 1

Irene Hannon

On October 6, I’ll launch a new suspense series called Triple Threat, which features three sisters involved in truth-seeking professions who are plunged into dicey situations that lead to danger…and romance.

In Book 1, Point of Danger, radio talk show host Eve Reilly finds a ticking package on her doorstep…left, the police assume, by a disgruntled listener. But she’s not about to buckle to threats. Enter police detective Brent Lange, who isn’t in the market for romance but begins to fall for Eve. As a string of unsettling incidents follows…and multiple people with viable motives take their turn on stage…it becomes clear someone wants her voice silenced—permanently.

I’m guessing it took you less than thirty seconds to read the preceding paragraph.

The Key to Love Story (Part 1)

Betsy St. Amant

My new release, The Key To Love was a long-time brewing! I initially had the idea about five years ago, and in the original concept, the story took place at a fictional bakery in Paris. I wanted to center the story around the lovelock bridge over the Seine. Wouldn’t you know it—right after I started fleshing out the story, Paris shut down the lovelocks. They literally removed them all from the bridge and replaced the links with plates of glass.

At first, I was really annoyed. I thought “Geez, Paris, you couldn’t have waited a few more years?” Ha! Then, as I began to revamp my story, I realized how much better it would be if it were set in small town America, featuring a romance-obsessed heroine who brought a little bit of ol’ Paris to the Midwest. The story blossomed from there.

I also knew I wanted to have an “opposites attract” type trope—and that I wanted their roles to switch halfway through.

The Story Spark

Tari Faris

After meeting Nate in my first novel, You Belong with Me, I knew there was a story to tell there, and I couldn’t wait to tell it. But as I interviewed Nate, I began to ask not just what his wild past had cost him, but also what had it cost those around him. It was then that I realized that the real story lay with the older brother, Austin. Just like in the biblical narrative of The Prodigal Son, Nate had moved on from his past, but the older brother had not.

 

In fact, just like the “older brother” in the Bible, I needed Austin’s livelihood to have been affected. And since the town was in the market to landscape the new square with the newly acquired grant money, his vocation was born. He could come to town to landscape the new square.

 

As I took the time to get to know Austin, I couldn’t help but love him and hurt with him. But that became a huge challenge in writing it. How do I write two characters I love who are in such conflict? And that is when I remembered that it was the love of their father that united them.

 

I hadn’t originally planned for the father to be suffering with early onset Alzheimer’s, but when I started writing this, both my parents and my in-laws were dealing with ageing parents, one of whom had Alzheimer’s and it just seemed to come out of my experience.

 

So, after I had the hero figured out, I had to decide who would be the perfect fit with him and why. I fell in love with Libby in the first book as well, so she was the logical choice, but I just needed a reason to move her to town.

. . . see what Tari does in Part 2 tomorrow, the 17th.

 

Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for twenty-five years.

3 Tips for Creating Compelling Character Emotion - Part !

Amanda Barratt                           @AmandaMBarratt 
Best Selling Author

I’m totally guilty of ending a long day by collapsing on the couch with a favorite show or movie. Though it may look like I’m wasting time, I’ve gleaned valuable insight into the nuts and bolts of storytelling from my before-bed binge watching.

One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned is how to portray emotion. I’ve learned this from both my favorite cinematic masterpieces, but also from the “that’s two hours of my life I’ll never get back” less-than-stellar viewing material. Being able to recognize when art is executed poorly is an important step in learning how to execute it well.

Gathering insight from both the best and the worst emotion I’ve seen and read, here are three tips for creating and conveying compelling character emotion.

AFTER ABBEY ROAD - Part 1

Gary Fearon          @Gary_Fearon_

As I always do when visiting my local bookstore, I found myself browsing the music section. On this particular occasion I came across a book by radio host and violinist Clemency Burton-Hill called Year of Wonder. It’s a book for classical music fans but it’s also for anyone seeking an introduction to the music of the masters. Its 366 entries present one famous classical work for each day of the year and shares background information about it.

What little I know about classical music could fill an orchestra pit, but the premise of Year of Wonder struck me as brilliant, if not classic in its own right. To take a giant genre like classical music and break it down into bite-sized pieces made it much more accessible and appealing. I immediately wondered if anyone had ever written a book using this premise that focused on the music masters of my generation, The Beatles.

MURDER KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES - Part 2

Continued from yesterday, in Part 1...

Frustration builds and egos get in the way, causing tempers to flare as Sheriff Pickens and his small band of deputies must deal with the death of one of their own, his killer and catching a serial killer.

            I knew very little about weapons except those I used in the military decades ago, so I had to do research. Google was helpful, but it wasn’t enough. I visited the local sporting goods store and spoke with the manager of the weapons section. He taught me about the different classes of pistols, rifles, and assault weapons. I needed to know which weapons didn’t leave behind shells. He was accommodating, and I learned a lot, but I’m still not a gun enthusiast.

            I also needed to research the effects of getting shot, witnessing a death, and the impact of losing a partner or member of a team. Google was helpful, but I also talked to a couple of law enforcement officers about it and got some insight. They also helped with call signs.

The research was helpful, but when it came to emotions, I was on my own. I delved into my past and remembered what it felt like when a bullet hit the ground three feet from me and what it was like waking up in a hospital room with needles in your hands attached to a monitor. And that feeling when you realize you’re not invincible and rendered to the sidelines.

But one of the most challenging scenes I had to write for Sheriff Pickens, was when he had to address the pregnant wife of his deputy in the hospital. That I had no experience in doing, nor did I have the knowledge or any place to research dealing with the wife when her husband dies, and she goes into labor. The best I could do was watch crime shows to see how scriptwriters did it and read many mystery novels to see how other authors did it. It wasn’t easy, and it was emotional for me.

Writing fictional mysteries is something I enjoy doing. Murder Knows No Boundaries has challenged me to continue the series, and I am now working on the next JD Pickens mystery. It will delve even deeper into the characters’ egos, fears, and emotions.

 George Encizo is an award-winning author and has written seven novels. Murder Knows No Boundaries is his latest. Encizo is a retired banker and lives in Tallahassee, Florida. When not writing, he enjoys a cup of coffee on the back porch with his wife surveying their gardens. 

            

THE STORY FROM MY DREAM. . .(Part 1)

Stephanie Payne Hurt              @StephanieHurt4

Romance Author

What makes a story powerful? That’s the elusive goal of every writer. Does your story do something to people? Does it bring out tears, laughter, or deep thought? Maybe all of them… Maybe none…

To Dance with Dragonflies came to me in a dream a couple of years ago. When I woke up, only bits and pieces were there. As other stories came into my mind, this one nagged at me. Some days my fingers would hover over the keyboard, wanting it to all come back, but it didn’t. Well, not at first.

Then last fall, it happened. I was in the middle of writing the largest book of my writing career, Christmas at Mistletoe Ranch, when a dragonfly landed beside me. To say I was mesmerized doesn’t even come into the ballfield of how I felt. That simple dragonfly, just going about life brought the dream back to me. My heart began to race. My mind ran at full speed ahead. But, I was on a deadline, so how could I do this?

I knew that I had to get as much of it on paper as I could before it left me again. So, I grabbed a notebook and sat down to outline the story. It was as though I couldn’t write fast enough. My mind was skipping ahead, whole chapters. But, somehow I managed to get the story outlined.

Patriotic Service Leads to Victories in Romance - Part 1 and Part 2

Homefront Heroines Novella Collection

Four authors come together and write four wonderful stories. You will find

information with each author in four parts

Relive life on the American Homefront as four women of the WWII era join the workforce and discover romance in surprising ways.

Part 1 "Moonlight serenade" by Rita Gerlach

            

 1941, Washington D.C.

When Kate St. Claire takes over a sailor’s job at the Naval Yard in Washington, DC, she is thrown into a romance she never expected.

The inspiration for Homefront Heroines occurred to me when I read the V-Mail poem my grandmother wrote to my dad in 1942. It caused me to think about what the women on the homefront experienced. And so, Kate and Ronny's story evolved.

It was a joyful writing experience for me, being able to develop their romance, and include a mention of my mother working at the Navy Yard and my dad serving on the USS Vulcan.

Rita Gerlach lives in a historical town nestled along the Catoctin Mountains, amid Civil War battlefields and Revolutionary War outposts in central Maryland. In many of her stories, she writes about the struggles endured by early colonists, with a sprinkling of both American and English history. Rita incorporates into her newer fiction what she learned through her journey --- courage, faith, and the precious gift of family and friendship. Connect with her on her website and on Facebook. 

Part 2     "Only Forever" by Lauralee Bliss


                1943, Springville, New York



Marilyn and Arthur learn the hard way that it’s not the outside that matters, but the inward working of the heart that is precious to God and each other.

With the summer here comes gardening and the thought of fresh vegetables. I’ve already harvested baby lettuce with much more to come. During World War II, the setting for the Homefront Heroines collection, families turned to planting victory gardens to supply food and supplement the nation’s economy. The characters in my novella, Marilyn and Art, work together to see victory gardens established in their humble town.

But never did they imagine the stranger who appeared willing to help in their endeavor would be the one to subvert the people, steal their hard-earned money, and ruin the vital project. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is always on the hunt to prey upon the innocent. We try to grow gardens of peace, joy, patience, and endurance in our lives. But these fruits can be easily preyed upon in unknowing ways.

We must put on our glasses of spiritual insight, equipped with the weapons of faith and prayer and the truth of scripture so wolves will not steal, kill and destroy our garden and we may enjoy its fruits. Stand tall then in these tough times until you see the fruit of your garden of life! And then rejoice! 

Lauralee Bliss is a published author of many romance novels and novellas both historical and contemporary. Lauralee’s hope is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that speaks to the heart and soul. When not out hiking her favorite trail, Lauralee is home tending her garden of veggies, a bed of roses, and her favorite orchid. Connect with Lauralee on her website, on Facebook, and on Twitter at @LauraleeBliss.

Change the World with Your Writing: Character Conflicts That Help Your Reader (Part 1)

Continuing Series:  Change the World with Your Writing

p. m. terrell   @pmterrell
Columnist for Southern Writers 

A gripping read must have at least one character with which the reader can identify. A book that makes an impact is one in which the conflict this character must face places the reader in a position
to empathize with their situation and consider how they would handle it if they were in the character’s shoes. The top stressors an individual can face in their lifetime include:

Writing for the Cinema, Part 1

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

Award winning author, Michael Hicks Thompson’s, The Rector and The Actress, and I are members of the same writers group. Graciously, he recently gave our group his presentation concerning writing your book with the cinema in mind. He presented four similar workshops recently at Mississippi Writer’s Guild Annual Conference at the Grammy Museum in Cleveland, Miss. Thompson’s presentation at this conference is titled, “7 Secrets to Cinematic Writing.”  His books, The Rector and The Actress are currently being considered for movies because of the way they are written.

Thompson says there are two things an author would rather have more than anything. One is book sales and the other is a movie deal. He shared with us his tips on writing with the movies in mind. Some of his tips include:

Pace in your book should be the actual pace of live action or as Michael says, “Write to movie action. You should write to pace as you see it happening on the big screen,” A good way is to compare how many seconds occurred in the movie action with how many seconds occurred in the reading of your description. Compare and revise to match.

According to Michael setting the pace isn’t complicated but it does mean describing only the most important details of action, characters and the setting. With many authors this goes against the grain because there are many descriptions you could add but shouldn’t. Do not over describe. “Take out the garbage! Take out the unnecessary words and descriptions.” Things that spoil the pace is the use of the following: One of, some, thing, verbs ending in “ing”, adverbs (words ending in “ly”), very and leading words so, most times, in order to, often and often times.  

Dialogue should be real. Michael says, “You should use a lot of dialogue.” I would think so but over the decades this has seemed to change from the dialogue packed movies of the 1940’s and 50’s to todays movies with long periods of silence but expressive scenes through the visual presentation of the actors. Michael warned, “If your dialogue isn’t real, the story isn’t real.” Dialogue is an area many writers have trouble with so Michael recommends, “Study the craft.”

Show, Don’t Tell. The difference is Tell is a description, Show is done with emotion. Michael’s example.

Tell: Sheriff Turnbull then told Martha that Tully Ivey never mentioned that Dawkins said he loved her.

Show: “You wouldn’t understand. Twice now, I’ve heard her reference the note in Andrew’s hand, and not once has she mentioned the part where he says he loves me.” Michael recommends if you have trouble finding a way to “Show” buy yourself a copy of The Emotion Thesaurus. Again, study the craft.

Please know Michael Hicks Thompson is willing to travel to conferences and deliver this and my other Keynote addresses, or workshops. Please contact Michael through his web site, michaelthompsonauthor.com for more information and a quote. His website is interesting and has his current information. My blog post here on Suite T does NOT include all the information told as only Michael can tell in person about his "7 Secrets of Cinematic Writing." Thompson saved his best for last, a number 8, if you will. But I'm not allowed to include it here. You'll need to bring Thompson to your next conference to see his cinematic writing presentation, or his Dramatic Irony presentation, or his "7 Secrets to Mystery Writing." 

Stay tune for Part 2, Writing for the Cinema, Part 2 will conclude here on Suite T Thursday, August 8^th.