WELCOME, DIANNA SHUFORD!!!

THE THANKFUL WRITER: 11 ways to appreciate you’re
blessings in 2011
          
The calendar has finally rolled around to November. That time of year when everyone indulges in more candy than they should. That time of year where people begin counting the days down to Christmas. That time of year where family gatherings are planned with individual efficiency.

Wait, stop the presses!!

My most favorite part of November is Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks for all those things that bring out the best in my life. Notice I didn’t say just the positive things because sometimes those negative events shape our character as much as the positive. So, really, it takes both sides of life’s coin to shape us and make us happy.

So as writers, let’s stop for a moment and count those events in our lives for which we should be thankful. I can’t speak for each of you, but I can share some of those things that made the top of my list.

1. I’m Thankful that God gave me not only the desire to write, but the talent and the ambition and the courage to follow my dream. Writing is often hard work. It can be lonely. It can be frustrating. It can be freaking fantastic! What other job can you work during the time of day when you’re at your best? What other
job can you work in your night clothes and do housework in between chapter breaks? How cool is that?

2. I’m Thankful for my wonderful husband- my number one cheerleader- and my children- who keep pestering me to get my book published already. They’ve learned not only to fend for themselves when I’m absorbed in my words, but they work with the inconveniences caused when I attend my local writer
chapter meetings and go to conferences. My husband especially recognizes how much writing feeds into my happiness, and he often encourages me to keep going…even when I really don’t want to hear it.

3. I’m Thankful for my mother, who only reads Nonfiction True Crime books, announcing that although romantic suspense wasn’t her kind of book, she’d definitely read mine when it’s published. Not if, but when. How encouraging is that? Wonder how she’d feel if I ever finished my paranormal story? Hm…

4. I’m Thankful for my critique partner, a truly awesome woman who contacted an unknown quantity and said, “Hey, how would you like to be in a critique group with me?” I mean, let’s be honest, she really didn’t know what she was getting into here. But, over time we’ve worked together and found how to best complement each other. My details to her big picture. My plotting and planning to her pantzing. And, we’ve rubbed off on each other, making both of us better writers. When either of us receives a bad judge’s contest score, or great news, or simply need to brainstorm with each other, we know we can count on the other. There is one thing we haven’t quite figured out yet. How to merge the early bird with the night owl. Yep, we’re still working on that one.

5. I’m Thankful for my local writing group, Georgia Romance Writers. Through this group I’ve received some of the best instruction and assistance in improving my writing, met many amazing writers, and realized there are other people who can get as weird as I can. I mean, where else can you meet other people who collect words like antique coins? Feel normal among the masses?

6. I’m Thankful for the published authors God has granted me the privilege of getting to know. Who’ve given me advice. Who’ve offered to read my work and send back notes on how to correct what wasn’t working. You know who you are, and to you I say, “Thank You!”

7.  I’m Thankful that God has provided me with a full-time job. Yes, there are many days- most days- when I groan because I’d rather be writing, but let’s look at the facts. Working a day job, forces me to set my priorities, forces me to be disciplined, forces me to set goals. And let’s be brutally honest, a day job keeps me from having to worry how my bills will get paid so I can focus on my writing.

8. I’m Thankful for the ability to enter my work in contests. Yes, it can get expensive if contests are entered indiscriminately, but if you learn how to research the best contests for you, there are a lot of positives you’ll get in return. Critiques received from contests help hone your work and help you see patterns in your writing to avoid. (Even the bad scores and hurtful comments, if looked at objectively, almost always provide a few insights into your work.) Contests provide a deadline for unpublished writers in getting their work completed. Contests provide a way to get your work into an editors hands while avoiding the slush pile of doom if you final.

9. I’m Thankful God has met my writing needs with technology advances. When I was in college (no I won’t tell you how long ago that was) all my papers had to be completed on a typewriter. Very time consuming and expensive when you’re pulling an all-nighter and mistype often. I love my laptop, my netbook,
my iPod touch, and my e-reader, all of which make my writing life easier.  Let’s face it, when you have limited time to write, anything that helps you accomplish your goals faster is worth it.

10. I’m Thankful to have the internet at my fingertips for researching. When working full-time and raising a family, spending days at the library simply isn’t always possible. Let’s face it, if the only time I can find to work on my story is midnight, I can still get my research done. Yes, I have children and know firsthand the pitfalls the internet can be to those who haven’t developed good judgment in choosing websites to visit, but that’s what parental controls are for and passwords so certain persons can be banned from the computer if
necessary.

11. I’m Thankful for all the awesome blogs out there that provide so many opportunities for writers to learn more about writing and for readers and writers to connect. It’s awesome how online communities are being built across cities, countries, and continents. I never would’ve thought I’d get to know someone in Australia, New York, Minnesota, or even my home state of North Carolina through blogs. It provides awesome networking opportunities for introverts like me who often embarrass themselves when they open their
mouth but don’t have a problem communicating through the written word.

For me, keeping that attitude of Thankfulness, helps keep me pointed in the right direction. It helps me keep a perspective on my situation when things are not going so well. This writing road we’ve chosen to travel can take years to reach the milestone of publication so we have to guard our outlook and our goals. Living in Thankfulness gives individuals the weapon to fight defeat, failure, and depression.

Now, it’s your turn. What are the things for which you’re most Thankful?

If you leave a comment, you'll be entered in a drawing to win a $5.00 gift card from Barnes & Noble or Amazon so you can buy your favorite book.




Want to know more about Dianna Shuford? 


Dianna Shuford is a multi-finalist in the prestigious Maggie Award for her manuscripts Fear Not (receiving 3rd place in 2008) and Charmed Deception (receiving Honorable Mention in 2009 and 3rd place in 2011).  She was also a 2010 finalist in the Genesis Award: Romantic Suspense Category for her manuscript Charmed Deception.  Most
recently, her manuscript Charmed Deception was announced a finalist in the 2011 Finally A Bride contest.

She is an active member in her local RWA Chapter, Georgia Romance Writers, serving as a current Board Member and a category coordinator for the Maggie Award. She is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and visits the local ACFW WORD chapter whenever possible. She is a member of a critique group and mentors new writers whenever possible in an effort to give back to the organizations in which she’s involved.

Dianna graduated from Georgia State University with a major in Education, works as a high school teacher, and helps her husband maintain their family owned business along with caring for their three children.


Be sure to visit her website:   http://www.diannashuford.com/

Welcome Inspirational Author, DEBBIE KAUFMAN!!

    I'm pleased today to have as my special guest                   Debbie Kaufman,  
                 author of Harlequin’s latest 
                    Love Inspired Historical, 

                    The Doctor’s Mission

      I took a few minutes and sat down with Debbie to ask her some questions that I thought might interest her readers, but if I miss something that you want to know, be sure to leave your question for Debbie.  This will also give you a chance to win your own, autographed copy of Doctor's Mission.

So, without wasting another moment, let's get to the interview.

1)      Debbie, where did the idea for your missionary book come from and why did you set the story in Libera? 

I was knee-deep in revising a suspense story when my daughter and son-in-law brought me a book about a missionary relative of his.  The book was co-written with H. B. Garlock. a pioneering missionary in 1918 Liberia, Africa.  Garlock like others before him, came face-to-face with the cannibal tribes of that place and survived.  I finished reading it one evening while lying in bed, turned to my husband and told him about all the cool things that God had done for this missionary family.  The next words out of my mouth were “I wonder if I could set a romance there.”  And, so I did!  

2) Since this is your debut book, tell us the most difficult part of the process.  

The book was easy, it’s everything else that is difficult.  For example, action items like getting my website up and running, creating and updating Facebook and Twitter accounts, deciding on promotional events, designing bookmarks, and even keeping up with the blog tour while trying to write book two all kept me just a little behind schedule.  

3) Since your book is set in early 1900’s, how much research did you have to do?

A lot!  I spent countless hours researching the place through reading missionary accounts, explorer’s journals, online sites dedicated to the country.  For the period clothing, I got together with a local costumer who is a close friend and discussed wardrobes.  I spent even more time trying to find detailed maps with places and locations.  Liberia itself wasn’t thoroughly mapped at the time.  Exploration was still going on and different groups, like the 1920’s Harvard Expedition were still creating their own maps.  On this first book, it was the mapping that I found most difficult and time consuming.

Just to give you a better idea, on my current book-in-progress, I spent more than 30 hours researching when the capital city first got electricity.  You would think that was an easy fact to check, but it wasn’t.  First, Google searches, no matter how you worded them, brought up the restoration of some electrical power five years after the seven-year civil war (1989-2003) which destroyed most of the country’s infrastructure.  Second, communication within Liberia is still difficult and emails to universities and museums largely went unanswered. 

4) If it took 30 hours just to find out about the electric lights, how long, in hours, days or weeks, did it take you to complete all the research needed to complete the book?

If I had to guess, I’d say I easily put in 200+ hours on research, and the number is low because I am a very, very, fast reader. 

5) Now a quick question for our author friends.  If you were giving advice to an aspiring historical author, what advice would you give? 

Don’t skimp on the research, but learn when to use it and when to keep it to yourself.  Your book isn’t meant to be a history lesson.  The fruits of your research should show up naturally in your story, and what does will probably only about be about 10% or less of all you now know on the subject.

6) Okay, I have to say at this point that I've read The Doctor’s Mission and I loved it.  Give us a quick glimpse of the next one.   

My next book is also set in the Liberian jungle, this time in 1920.  It involves a female missionary, a hunky mining engineer, and, of course, cannibals. 

7)  Let's steer away from your writing for a moment so I can ask a few personal questions so your readers can get to know you better.  What is your favorite pastime when you’re not researching or writing?

     Reading.  There can never be too much reading, LOL! 

8) What is your dream vacation location?

     The Continent and the British Isles.  I’d love to do the whole tour, starting with Italy.    

9) Let’s assume you’re at a Reader’s Luncheon.  Other than your name, give us five things you’d tell a complete stranger about yourself within the first ten minutes of meeting him or her.

Hmm.  I think there are a lot of things we consider baseline information.  For example, I’ve been married to the same wonderful man for 34 years now.  I have four children and three grandchildren.  My fourth child is from China, a product of the international adoption program I helped start back in the 1990’s.  And let’s not forget that I totally love to read almost anything: suspense, urban fantasy, paranormal, historical, futuristic, contemporary, and the occasional comedy.  

Below is an excerpt from The Doctor's Mission that I'm sure you'll not only enjoy, but will intrigue you enough that you'll want to hop right over to Amazon and order her book.

                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Privately, Mary doubted this healing tale.  She’d bet the story traveled and grew with each telling.  Prayers of dying men assaulted her ears at Argonne and no heavenly relief came.  Her own were uttered in vain.  

     She concealed her thoughts, so as not to destroy Hannabo’s fervor.  Instead she only asked for clarification.  “How did this lead to their deaths?  You say Nana Mala wanted their medicine?  Who is Nana Mala?”

     “Nana Mala is an evil man who does not know the true God.  When he heard of the healing, he sent for Nana Pastor Joseph and Mammy Ruth.  They went to preach, but Nana Mala just wanted the secret of their magic.  When he did not like their answers, he killed them and took their magic for himself.  This is my fault.”  Hannabo’s eyes looked downward in shame.

     Oh my.  This explained a lot about Pastor Mayweather’s calling.   But Hannabo shouldn’t carry the guilt for what another tribesman had done.  She sought to reassure him.  “This is not your fault, Hannabo.  You are not to blame for the actions of others.”

     “But Mammy Doctor.  It was my fault.  I was that man.”

     “Which man are you talking about?

     “The one Nana Joseph healed.  I bragged to many people, especially Nana Mala.” 

     “Oh, I see.”  Mary masked her surprise.  Hannabo believed he’d experienced a miracle first hand.  She couldn’t tear apart his faith, but she could set him straight on his guilt. 

     “Hannabo, it was fine to tell others.  The Bible often tells of people who were healed and told many others.  It’s natural.  What’s strange is Nana Mala believing he could get magic from Pastor Mayweather’s aunt and uncle.” 

     “No, no.  Not strange.  Every bush man knows how to take magic.”

     “Okay, so how did he think he could take their magic?”

     Hannabo cocked his head to one side and looked at her like she was a simpleton.  Even his tone seemed one of patient explanation to a lesser mind.  “By eating them, of course.” 

                                                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much for visiting with us today and if you leave a comment and/or ask Debbie a question, you'll be in the drawing to win a free print copy of her novel.  Good luck and happy reading!

The Doctor's Mission   To buy a copy of her book, just click on the link provided.

 If you'd like to find out more about Debbie Kaufman or if you'd like  to follow her on Facebook or Twitter
                            

For more about Debbie, visit her website: www.debbiekaufman.com

To read an excerpt of The Doctor’s Mission: www.debbiekaufman.com

You can also find Debbie at: www.facebook.com/debbiekaufmanfanpage and on Twitter: www.twitter.com/debbie_kaufman