Skip to main content

What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
Post a Comment

Interview with Tricia Goyer

Captain's Log, Stardate 05.01.2006

Today I get to interview the fantabulous Tricia Goyer! Many of you know her for her powerful WWII novel, FROM DUST AND ASHES. I met her at Mount Hermon in April and she's totally fun to talk to.





And now, here’s my interview with Tricia Goyer!

It was so much fun meeting you at Mount Hermon! How many years have you gone to Mount Hermon Writers Conference? What are you favorite memories from the conference?

I attended my first Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 1994. I was 22-years-old and pregnant with my third child. No joke! I have many wonderful memories--my hands shaking with nervousness as I sat at an editor's table, meeting other wanna-be-writers who are now heart-friends, presenting my proposals to wonderful editors such as Steve Laube and Karen Ball (they were helpful despite the fact I had no idea what I was doing!).

I also remember joining with the others to sing and pray in the auditorium during the main sessions. That is still one of my favorite things.

ARMS OF DELIVERANCE is coming in July. Tell us about the novel.

Mary Kelley and Lee O'Donnelly are female war correspondents sent to Europe in search of headline news, but they soon realize that news-breaking stories pale in comparison to war-torn people. Eddie Anderson is a navigator for a ten-man bomber crew. Eddie faces extreme danger on a daily basis, but nothing prepares him for the special and beautiful charge put in his care on a bombing raid over Berlin. In a fight for their lives, a man hoping to overcome the odds and make it home, and a women who always felt unwanted by her father, are asked to rescue a child considered "chosen" by two groups of people. And on their run to the American frontlines, a romance blooms between these two whose strengthens must work together to help them both survive.

You also have another parenting book coming out this year. What prompted you to write it? Who would find it useful?

I got the idea for Generation NeXt Parenting after realizing how different I am as a parent than those in older generations. In writing this book, I looked back at how Gen Xers (born between 1961-1981) were raised in an effort to help us understand our strengths and weaknesses as parents. The goal of the book is to help young parents understand that God has planned for them to be raise these children, in this time in history, for a purpose. Through the pages I also look at topics such as media influcences, extra-curricular activities, and education in light of Scripture.

How exciting that you're in the process of adopting a baby girl from China! What sparked the desire to adopt? And why overseas?

I read an article about baby girls from China about seven years ago. It's been on my heart ever since, but instead of trying to convince my husband that we needed to do this, I put it in the Lord's hands. This past year as I was writing Generation NeXt Parenting, John and I started discussing the gift of children and our joy as parents. The subject of adopting was brought up again, but this time John was all for it. (Our older three are ages 16, 13, and 11.) We prayed about it and felt God confirming it in our hearts. We chose China because 100,000 baby girls are abandoned there every year. We can't help them all, but we can give our love to one.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I love Francine Rivers, Robin Lee Hatcher, Sharon Dunn, Rene Gutteridge, Ann Tatlock and many more!

Which of your novels are you especially proud of and why?

That's a hard question! Since it's most recent in my heart, I'm eager for Arms of Deliverance to hit the stands. I feel it's my most captivating story yet. And, amazingly, it tells the story of rescuing a child . . . which, looking back, I see God was preparing my heart for. In addition to that, this story has intigue, romance, a bad Nazi, bomber crews, and a baby . . . what more could you ask for?

If you were a safari animal, what would you be and why?

You're making me think! I'd say giraffe. My head always seems to be in the clouds. I have tons of ideas all the time.

What is your favorite ethnic food?

I LOVE all types of ethnic food, but hands down my favorite is my grandma's homemade tamales. She is hispanic, and I love her cooking. Thankfully my
grandma lives with me . . . unfortunately, she doesn't cook much anymore.

MEGA-YUMMOS! Can I come over to your house?
Finish this line: Writing a novel is...

. . . exploring the numerous dimenions of my own heart within the lives and experiences of characters.

Do you have a favorite scripture verse for your writing?

Yes:
For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.
~1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT

It's such an amazing thing to be entrusted with the Good News. May my motives be worthy and may God be please by these stories!

Thanks for the interview! Any parting words?

Thank you, Camy. I can't wait to read the stories God has placed on YOUR heart.

Camy here: Aw, thanks, Tricia! (Camy's getting all warm and fuzzy)

Tricia also gave me the opportunity to do a weekly column on her WriterQuotes blog, called Health and the Writer. A new blog post goes up every Monday.
Labels:

Popular Posts

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...
10 comments
Read more

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...
18 comments
Read more

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...
21 comments
Read more

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci...
2 comments
Read more

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...
39 comments
Read more

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter
4 comments
Read more

A List of my Free Blog Reads

Curious about what my writing is like? Here’s a list of all my free books and the free short stories, novellas, and novels that you can read here on my blog. I’ll update this post as I add more free reads. Christian Romantic Suspense: Necessary Proof (Sonoma series #4.1, novella) Click here to buy the FREE ebook on all retailers Alex Villa became a Christian in prison, and because of his efforts to help stop a gang producing meth in Sonoma, he has been set up for the death of a cop. Can computer expert Jane Lawton find the evidence that will prove his innocence before the gang eliminates them both? Fantasy short stories: Pixies in a Garden in Kyoto There were pixies in the garden. Since she was in Kyoto, she was certain they were not called pixies, but she didn't know what they would be called in Japanese, and they certainly looked like what she imagined pixies would look like. The King’s Daughter The trees in the King's garden were full of colored pixie lights. The...
Post a Comment
Read more

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...
64 comments
Read more

I sold to Steeple Hill!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Remember that romantic suspense proposal I blogged about earlier? Well, it just sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line! I am so jazzed! I am beyond jazzed! The story’s working title is Sinister Spa The story's title is Deadly Intent and here’s a blurb (but it’s probably not what will appear on the back of the book): Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself. With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients. And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room. Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen? Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and...
32 comments
Read more