Hummingbird: an image of giving and receiving grace

Forced to commit a crime, Lexa flees south of the Border—and a vindictive bounty hunter follows her. Will she escape? Find redemption? David Stearman’s novel Hummingbird is a page-turner set in a Mexican paradise where wandering hummingbirds rest their wings and where Lexa just might discover her true identity.

The multiple viewpoints in the first couple chapters made it hard for me to settle in, but once Lexa got to Mexico I was hooked by the beautiful setting and endearing people. These are characters the author clearly knows and loves. Lexa’s nightmare of the monster called Chupacabra by the locals brought home the reality of Satan’s evil intent.

“... you’re mine, all mine,” [he says.]

Lexa forced herself to stand taller. “I’ll never belong to anyone.”

[The monster] cackled louder. “You’ve been my slave all your life. That’s why you do the dark things you do.”

It made me think of Romans 6. To whom am I a slave? The Chupacabra is an image of evil crouching at the door throughout the book while the hummingbirds who pause in their migration through the area are a beautiful image of giving and receiving grace.

I'd like to welcome author David Stearman to ICFW today. David, you currently live in Kentucky in the southern part of the US. Has that always been home? If not, where else have you lived?

DS: I was brought up in Kentucky, but have also lived in Southern California, Florida, and Oklahoma. But the story’s not finished. I’m beginning to miss the ocean again…

LH: Hmm. That shows in your book! Tell us about the first time you traveled overseas. What were your impressions?

DS: My first overseas trip was to the Philippines, and it’s still one of my favorite places. What amazed me most about it was the sweet-spirited, open-hearted people. And of course the ocean. But I’ve already mentioned that.

LH: :-) Yes, you have! Did anything funny or exciting happen on that trip?

DS: I was young and inexperienced then, and went there with a lot of enthusiasm, but not quite enough funds to cover my expenses. I was the singer for a huge crusade being held by an evangelist, so every evening after the service I’d rush back to the book table to see if I’d sold enough music albums to pay for my meals the next day. And I always did!

LH: God is good. Your new novel, Hummingbird,is about an illegal immigrant to the US—a young woman who arrived as a child, has grown up in the US, and knows no other life. How did you get interested in the problems of illegal immigrants?

DS: I learned a lot about illegal immigration from living in Southern California, but I learned a lot more about the situation from interviewing friends down in Mexico, where I currently do a lot of missions work. And I can certainly tell you this: the situation is much more complex than it appears to be on the surface.

LH: I'm sure it is! Your topic shows compassion for the plight of economic refugees. What motivates that compassion? Do you ever get flack for it?

DS: Seeing lots of people in desperate need gives me compassion for them. But I don’t talk much about immigration issues in public, since I usually get flack from people on both sides of the political aisle when I do. But the bottom line in all this is that people--especially those in financial ruin--need the Lord’s help. That’s something upon which all believers can agree.

LH: Amen. Did you have this story in mind when you last went to Mexico? What did you do to research the setting?

DS: Most of my “research” consisted of working with real people in a real missionary environment. But I did have to study about growing marijuana (for a chapter in the book), since I’ve definitely never done that myself.

LH: Good to know. We don't usually promote marijuana growers on this blog! Do you surf? Your descriptions of the sport are very convincing.

DS: I used to surf when I was a teenager, but I wasn’t very good at it. Still, I’ve always loved the sea and have spent lots of time in and around it. I feel as if I were born with an interest in sea creatures, wave-lore, and a love of water sports. There’s salt water in my veins.

LS: (I'm detecting a love of the sea here ...) It's obvious that the people and places in Mexico are dear to your heart. Tell us about your experience there.

DS: Mexico is my favorite place on earth. Repeated trips there over the years have blessed me with many friends and co-laborers in places like Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. And the food there is the best food in the world. Mix seafood with salsa, tortillas, and frijoles and you’re set to go.

LH: Sounds delicious. The story has a theme of reaping what you sow, but with the twist that salvation gives you a fresh start. Tell us more about the spiritual truths you wanted to communicate in Hummingbird DS: Lexa starts out as a “taker” butlearns to be a “giver,” and her fortunes change as she makes these changes in her life. But this story is primarily about grace. As the Apostle Paul once said, “Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of which I am the chief.” Paul accepted Christ and turned out pretty well in the end. That’s Lexa’s story too ;-) I want readers to know that God is merciful, forgiving, and generous. That he’ll do anything to help anyone who trusts in Jesus’ name.

LH: You are a musician, songwriter and a missionary. How do you fit in writing?

DS: By doing less of the other things I need to do, lol!

LH: How do you see writing fitting into God's call on your life?

DS: I believe we go from phase to phase (glory to glory) as we grow in the Lord in ministry. My ministry call has evolved over time. As a teenager, I wanted to share Jesus with others. Period. I was a singer/songwriter, so I decided to do it that way. But as I began to travel and hold concerts, the desire to preach grew inside me. After I'd done that for a time, I began to realize that preaching and singing in other countries was the same as doing those things in my home country, the US, so I began to travel overseas, which technically makes me a missionary. Only recently have I felt the urge to write novels and other books, and now it's my primary passion to share God's love via the written word. But I really consider all of these things to be expressions of my same original calling, which is to share Jesus by any and all means possible. BTW--we hear a lot about "callings" and "being called" these days, but when you think about it, we've all been "called" to share Christ with the world. That's what the Great Commission is all about, right? And when you think about it, that's kind of liberating. Folks can feel free to share Jesus with anyone, in any way, they like.

LH: Have any other places you have ministered inspired novels? What do we have to look forward to?

DS: I’ve done missions work in Amazonian,Peru, and am working on a story called “Deep Selva” that’s set in that location. I’ve also, as mentioned earlier, been to the Philippines a couple times, and have a seriously-needs-editing manuscript called “Moth Orchid” about that. But what I’m most excited about right now is a new novel coming out soon which is set in, of all places, the music business. Fame is a strange country, and that’s what that story’s all about. Oh, and I’ve also written several 30-day devotionals: “Encouraging Word” “More encouraging Words,” and “Faith Pumper.”

LH: Thank you for being with us today, David. I think many readers will be caught up in the personal change Lexa experiences as God turns evil to her good in this exciting thriller.

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LeAnne Hardy has lived in six countries on four continents. She is now looking for an excuse to visit Western coastal Mexico and see these hummingbirds David describes so beautifully.  LeAnne's new historical novel Honddu Vale set in sixteenth century England, will be released July 29. Learn more on her website.

Meet Yvonne Harris

LeAnne Hardy: Yvonne Harris is with us today. In her new book, A River to Cross (Bethany), Elizabeth Evans, the younger sister of a murdered Texas newspaper editor, is kidnapped and whisked off to Mexico where she must be rescued by Texas Rangers. The time is 1886 when the relationship between the two countries is a delicate balance.

Yvonne, you live in New Jersey, but I sense a passionate love for Texas in your writing. Tell us about your connection to the state.

Yvonne Harris: I've never been to Texas, but after researching Texas history and politics for A River to Cross, I am a big fan. Texas had been part of France, then part of Spain, then an independent nation--the Republic of Texas--and finally was annexed into the United States. Texas is huge state, slightly larger than Afghanistan. After the Civil War, criminals and outlaws poured into Texas. The Federal Government couldn't help. Washington had a whole country that needed law enforcement help. Texas, who'd sided with the Confederacy during the war, had to do it on her own. She started the Texas Rangers and gave them the power of arrest. It wasn't long before outlaws began fleeing from the state. Rangers had the authority to capture, testify in the courts, and assist with executions. They were lawmen and proud of it.

LH: You have some beautiful descriptions, like this one of the Chihuahuan desert: "Miles and miles of parched land, a dry desert basin lying between mountain ranges. The rhythmic thud of horses' hooves still kicked up clouds of red dirt, but high overhead on the rimrock, something new had been added. Noisy green parrots swept from tree to tree, scolding them. Ponds appeared here and there in the landscape, and butterflies were everywhere." (p.55) Have you been there? Were you able to visit other Mexican settings in the book?

YH: I wish I could have, but the answer is No to both questions. I spent many happy hours digging into Texas and Mexican geography, climate, and politics. Researching a historical novel is fascinating. Most writers have to pull ourselves away and start to write. Reading is more fun.

LH: You made my mouth water with some of the foods your characters ate. (Not the snake.) Do you cook Mexican foods yourself?

YH: Not really. Most Mexican food is too hot for me. My background is grits and cornbread and hold the pepper, please.

LH: You are a teacher by profession. Have you always wanted to write fiction? How did you get started?

YH: I read constantly, but writing a book never entered my mind. I was in my forties when I started writing magazine articles. When we moved to New Jersey from Connecticut, teaching jobs were scarce, so I took a job as personnel director for a large hotel chain. I wrote articles on hiring, firing, and payroll taxes, things I did every day on the job. One day at home, I saw a clip on television from inside an American fighter jet whose pilot was strafing streets in Tripoli. Women were running to get out of the way. Two days before, I 'd seen film footage from inside a Russian MiG, and that pilot was strafing a marketplace in Kabul. Veiled women were running away. Russian or American, I thought, all soldiers are the same. I went upstairs and sat down at the computer and started writing my first book, Hindu Kush, set in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation.

LH: From writing about payroll taxes to a thriller in Afghanistan. That’s quite a jump. What draws you to international settings?

YH: Government and politics are the biggest draw for me. My first two books were both listed as international thrillers. Hindu Kush, was named after the mountain range in Afghanistan and has an American heroine and two heroes, one Russian, one Afghan. The story was based throughout on facts. The Afghan embassy read and endorsed it. I wrote under my initials because the publisher was afraid men wouldn't buy a war story written by a woman. Some libraries still have it, and reviews are still around on Amazon, used books. When the publisher went bankrupt, I bought the rights back. (One of my sons is a bankruptcy attorney and he led me through it.) HK was later e-published and became one of the first Frankfurt nominees. The second book was For Honor, set in Spain, and also has an American heroine. That one won the EPPIE Best Thriller award in 2002. That's out of print and the rights returned to me.

LH: Have you considered re-publishing it as an e-book?

YH: Yes, I have. I'm guessing Amazon is the best way to go, since I'm unsure of the mechanics of e-publishing.

LH: Do you travel much or are you an internet researcher or both?

YH: I am an internet researcher. I hate to fly.

LH: Hate to fly?! That would be a handicap in doing on-site research. So what have you found most useful for researching A River to Cross from the internet? You certainly convinced me that you knew your setting. Do you have any tips for writers unable to visit their location?

YH: When writing historical fiction, books, articles, and travelogues are more reliable sources than first-hand observation. So much of what I'm writing about in A River to Cross isn't there anymore. I was writing about a town that existed 125 years ago. That town is long gone. Few, if any, of those old buildings remain. Even the streets are gone and have been for close to a century. For example, the new courthouse in Chapter 1 was finished in 1886. It was a magnificent structure, but lasted less than 30 years before parts were torn down and a much larger one built on site.

I recall one famous writer saying he needed to go to the location and see it for himself, to smell it for himself. Sounds good, but El Paso (or any place on the planet) doesn't look today or smell today as it did 125 years ago. Contemporary stories, of course, are different and seeing the real thing helps to write about it. Still, the secret to imitating reality is in the details you select.

And I fly when I have to, but I don't like it. When I have the time, the new trains are wonderful and luxurious--like a cruise without the water. I go to New Mexico frequently and look forward to that quiet time looking out a window and writing inside my head or on a laptop. If my husband is along, I compromise and we fly back.

LH: What is your goal in writing Christian historical romance?

YH: To tell a story that is true to the times and mores of that society. Neither of the two stories mentioned above were written for the Christian market. They were contemporary mainstream.

LH: Is there anything in particular that you would like to say to readers of A River to Cross?

YH: Only that I loved writing the story and the people in it. It's family fiction.

LH: We have writers on this blog from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, England, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and Tasmania. Whom would you most like to visit and why?

Probably Australia. I married an Englishman--­a Pomme, the Aussies call them. Living in Buffalo, NY, for years, I've visited Canada many times.

LH: Thanks, Yvonne. I know that lovers of romance and westerns will enjoy reading A River to Cross.

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LeAnne Hardy recently walked across the border to Mexico from Arizona just to say she'd been there.  You can find out more about her books and travel adventures on her website and blog.

Interview and Book Give Away: Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer

LeAnne Hardy: Christy Award winner, Dale Cramer, is the author of Levi’s Will and other highly regarded Christian novels.  His latest, Paradise Valley, was partially inspired by his family’s history in Mexico.  Can you tell us more about that, Dale?

Dale Cramer: It started when I asked my father how he came to be born in Mexico.  I knew his family was Old Order Amish, and that they were in Mexico, but I had no idea why.  Turns out there was a huge conflict with the state of Ohio in the early 1920s over school attendance laws, and their solution was to move to Mexico.  My great grandfather was the elder statesman of the colony.  He had a bunch of daughters, one of whom was newly married to my grandfather, Harv Miller.  My father and two of his siblings were born while they were down there, so for at least a few years there were three generations of my family living in Mexico.

LH: Did anything else figure significantly in your inspiration?

DC: The makeup of my great grandfather's family inspired me to create a similar family in the Benders— lots of daughters, lots of opportunities for romance and conflict.  I also was drawn to the larger issues like church versus state, pacifism under fire, the rights of individuals to raise their children without interference, those kinds of things.

LH: When I reviewed Paradise Valley on my blog, one of my readers asked privately if revising laws to allow the Amish to educate in their own way didn’t open doors to Muslims in North America doing the same. Do you have any comments?

DC: Well, this is the dilemma of a democracy, isn't it?  America's answer to discrimination is rule of law, and the law, once written, has to be applied evenly whether you're Christian or Muslim.  In the end, I'd have to say if the Amish can have schools then the Muslims can have schools; it's a government issue, and the government should treat all its citizens the same.  One of the things I wish Christians in this country [USA] could get through their heads is that the battle between Christianity and Islam does not take place in a courtroom or a battlefield.  It takes place in the heart.  The church and the state are two different things.

LH: Your characters go against the prevailing Spanish culture of the time that disparaged the local Native population. Do you see parallels with our own time and place?

DC: I do see some parallels in modern issues of racism as well as class consciousness, both recurring themes in my books, but it's intrinsic to the characters.  I mean, after Caleb Bender walked on the stage and presented himself as a wise, compassionate, principled man, I couldn't see him reacting any other way.  He treated animals with respect because he knew that it brought out the best in them, and he treated people the same way.  It's something I've learned from my own work experience.  People will do a job because they're afraid not to, but they'll do it better and faster if they're doing it because they care.  Genuine mutual respect brings out the best in both parties.  There's no loyalty in fear.

LH: Did you visit Mexico to prepare for writing Paradise Valley or is the setting based on book and internet research?

DC: Regrettably, no.  There's just too much chaos, too much killing and kidnapping down there right now— sort of ironic, given the background of the book.  But I pictured myself stumbling around Mexico with a translator trying to gather information for a book, and word getting around about this easy-target gringo novelist who would probably bring a fat ransom.  I mean, we all know writers are rich, right?

But I have studied the geography, history and culture of the time extensively.  I've also talked to a lot of Amish who've heard stories handed down from the Mexico colony.  Using landmarks from my research, I've even been able to locate the valley on Google Earth. 

LH: That is so cool! Paradise Valley is more than light romance (although it contains some delightful romantic plot lines.) What would you most like readers to take away from this book?

DC: Among other things, Paradise Valley asks readers, 'What do you do when the law of the land comes in conflict with your beliefs?'  No matter what's behind or underneath the story, it must first be a story, and it has to entertain or it won't thrive.  Beyond that, what I want readers to take away from any story of mine is a new perspective, something they've never thought about before, or never thought about in quite that way.  I've long said the purpose of nonfiction is to provide answers, while the purpose of fiction is to ask questions.  Consider parables.  Whenever Jesus used a parable, which we generally assume to be a snippet of fiction, it always presented a question to the listener and made him search within himself for the answer. When you read a parable you find an answer in yourself, and then you can't help comparing your answer to your own life and circumstances.  That's my highest aim.  If I can write a gripping parable that leaves a reader saying, "I never looked at it like that before," then I'm happy. 

LH: Dale has graciously agreed to send a signed copy to a name drawn from comments to this blog by Saturday, March 5.  Non-North American readers are eligible for an electronic copy, which can be read on your computer if you don't have a e-book reader.  To enter, comment on this post and include your e-mail address, substituting (at) for @ and (dot) for the full stop. (Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.)


Thank you for being with us today, Dale.  We will look forward to more books in this series.
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LeAnne Hardy has lived in six countries on four continents. Her books for young people come out of her cross-cultural experiences and her passion to use story to convey spiritual truths in a form that will impact lives. You can find out more at www.leannehardy.net .

Extreme Devotion in Mexico

By Kathi Macias

Mexico is in the news a lot these days. We hear of gang violence, drug wars, murders, kidnappings, financial woes, and political chaos. In America we battle over how best to close our borders to illegal immigration (or legalize those who came here illegally), as thousands continue to sneak into the country, some in search of a better life through employment, others to smuggle or sell drugs—or even humans. Sadly, there’s a lot of truth to all the negative we hear about this situation. But how often do we hear about the extreme devotion of Mexican believers in Jesus Christ—“evangelicos,” as they are known in some parts of the country—who willingly give everything they have, sometimes including their very lives, for their faith?

Not often enough, in my opinion. Hence, the writing of More than Conquerors, the second book in my new Extreme Devotion series from New Hope Publishers. Releasing simultaneously with book one of the series—No Greater Love, set in South Africa in 1989, during the violence and upheaval preceding the fall of Apartheid—More than Conquerors is a work of fiction based in truth. As a longtime, avid supporter of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), I was greatly inspired by the real-life, modern-day stories of both missionaries and nationals around the world who daily pay a great price for carrying the cross of Christ. Each story in the four-book series has its roots in the lives of those whose suffering often mirrors the biblical accounts found in Hebrews 11.

More than Conquerors was probably the easiest of the four books to write, simply because I have spent time in Mexico and am somewhat familiar with the culture. I also speak what I would refer to as “conversational Spanish”—meaning, it’s not fluent by any means but I can get by in a face-to-face dialogue. As a result, the book seemed to flow more readily than the others. The exception was the substantial portion of the story that takes place in San Juan Chamula in Chiapas State—Mayan country. As with the other books in the series, I had to delve into the culture and customs of the people to bring those sections of the book to life.

I learned a lot in the process. Going in, I knew only that Christians were facing severe persecution in that area of Mexico. What I didn’t know was that many of the Mayans living there actually consider themselves Catholics, though what passes for Catholicism in their midst would scarcely be recognizable to true Catholics in other parts of the world, or even in other parts of Mexico.

I discovered that the main church in Chamula—St. John’s—is still considered a Catholic church and even has a cross out front. Inside, however, the statues of Catholic saints have been removed and replaced with statues of Mayan worship. In addition, a mass hasn’t been heard within St. John’s walls in decades.

From there I learned that the Mayans had absorbed some Catholic doctrine and beliefs while not jettisoning their ancient teachings, resulting in a watered-down perversion of Christianity steeped in superstition. Lady shamans, known as curanderas, rose to prominence and power through intimidation, playing on the fears and illiteracy of many of the local residents. It was an easy step from there to convince many of these followers of a perverted Catholic faith that the “evanglicos”—those who read, study, and proclaim the truth of the Bible and therefore contradict the teachings of the curanderas—were not only wrong and evil but also the cause of any problems or tragedies that came their way. The few Bible-believing Christians living in the area have suffered greatly as a result.

It was against that backdrop that I wrote More than Conquerors. The main character, Hector Rodriguez, pastors a small house church in the border town of Tijuana, where he lives with his wife and three small children. Hector also makes occasional trips to San Juan Chamula and other outlying areas of his beloved country to deliver Bibles and to speak to any who will listen to the truth of the gospel. His mother, Virginia, accompanies him on one of his trips and feels God has called her to remain with one of the few Christian families in Chamula, where she will use the Bible as her primer to teach reading to any who will come.

Hector grieves and worries over his mother’s decision, but he knows she has to follow God’s leading, wherever that takes her. Still, he doesn’t give up hoping that she will soon return to the relative safety of their Tijuana home.

He soon realizes, however, that Tijuana is not without its own dangers and challenges. When gang violence threatens to invade the sanctity of their Casa de Dios church, Hector wrestles with the possible cost to himself and his family. How far must they go to follow this call of Christ?

Hector’s American protégé, Marty, faces a similar challenge. Recently graduated from Bible college and seeking God for clear direction, Marty crosses the border from San Diego and spends time with the Rodriguez family. It isn’t long before he finds himself deeply attracted to Hector’s beautiful young sister-in-law. As the romance develops and Marty finds himself pulled to follow in Virginia’s footsteps and minister to the Mayans in San Juan Chamula, he wonders if it’s fair to marry and take a wife into such a dangerous situation.

None of the four books in this series offers any simplistic or pat answers; instead they challenge readers to search their own hearts and evaluate the depth of their own commitment to follow Christ, regardless of the cost. In the process of writing this series, my commitment and dedication was also challenged to the core, even as my love and admiration for my suffering brothers and sisters in Christ deepened beyond my greatest imaginings. I am both grateful and humbled that God allowed me to write such stories of love and adventure for such a noble cause.



Kathi Macias is a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—as well as a radio show host and a multi-award winning writer who has authored 30 books and ghostwritten many others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and is a regular guest on radio and television. She is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and recently won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding their Harley.

Valerie Comer here: Interested in reading Kathi Macias' book More than Conquerors? Kathi is giving away one copy to someone who lives on Planet Earth (at least in an area where such book giveaways are allowed) and who leaves a comment with valid email address before Friday midnight (PST). The winner will be announced in the May 13 Sunday Edition here at ICFW.