MY ONE AND ONLY CRITIQUE PARTNER--by Christine Lindsay

Today, I’m showing off my dear friend and writing critique partner, the Award-winning Author, Rachel Phifer. Rachel & I work with only one critique partner on all our individual books. As you read the following , you'll understand why I rejoice in such a wonderful writing partner. And also I might add a bit of bragging rights---her Carol Nominated novel below The Language of Sparrows---ta...da...I was Rachel's critique partner on that book. Can you blame me for feeling proud? 

First Fruits of Time by Rachel Phifer

MORE TIME has been the cry of my adult life. My days are a mad rush through work, dinner, chores, raising my kids and writing. I search out empty spaces around those things to meet with God. Sure, I have faith, but too often, it’s a limping, scrawny faith.

A while back I began to take a closer look at the Christian biographies on my shelf. These people who made an impact for Christ didn’t fit God into their day. They gave him the first-fruits of their

day, and their to-do list fit around that. 

Martin Luther said the busier his day the more time he needed to spend in prayer. Mother Teresa required her nuns to spend a solitary hour in prayer and another hour together in prayer before heading out to the streets of Calcutta. 

George Müller, the man who provided for 10,000 orphans without ever asking for a shilling spent at least an hour in prayer, and David Wilkerson gave up his news hour to pray shortly before heading to New York to work with gang members. The Ten Booms, who sheltered Jews during WWII had morning and evening prayer as a family. Every Christian I read about mentioned spending hours each day in prayer. Hours. 

No limping, scrawny faith for them.

I looked around for people I knew in real life and noticed an older couple at my church. They prayed together for an hour in the morning before going to work and for an hour together after dinner. The man prayed during his lunch hour too. My first thought was: what do they pray about for so long? And day after day? But my second thought was I want what they have. Because love and peace shone out of their faces.

What’s the point of short prayers and small faith? It’s mundane and totally uninspiring. I want God to fill my life to bursting with whatever He wants to fill it with. I want Him to fill my day with Himself most of all.

As a new year rolls in, I’ve decided to give prayer as the first fruit of my day. If that means hour-long prayers at 4 a.m., good. If that means the have-to list takes a backseat, excellent. Because I want a large, God-here-and-present-life. I want a life-lit-by-the-flames-of-His-Spirit-life.

About Rachel's Award-Winning Novel inspired by her search for the spirit-filled life.

The Language of Sparrows:

Brilliant and fluent in too many languages to count, 15-year-old Sierra Wright can't seem to communicate what is important to her in any language. Though April Wright stubbornly keeps an upbeat attitude about her daughter's future, she has let her own dreams slip away. Just across the bridge lives old Luca, scarred from his time in a Romanian gulag years before. Though he has seemingly given up on people, Sierra is drawn to him despite his prickly edges.

No one else is comfortable with the unpredictable old man spending time alone with Sierra, not even Luca's son. Yet it is this unconventional relationship that will bring two families together to form friendships and unearth their family stories, stories that just might give them all the courage to soar on wings toward a new future.

ABOUT RACHEL PHIFER:

As the daughter of missionaries, Rachel Phifer grew up in Malawi, South Africa and Kenya, and managed to attend eleven schools by the time she graduated from high school. Books, empty notebooks and cool pens were her most reliable friends as she moved from one place to another. She holds a B.A. in English and psychology, and lives in Houston with her family.

Website: www.rachelphifer.com

Book link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Language-Sparrows-Rachel-Phifer/dp/0781410487

ABOUT CHRISTINE LINDSAY

Website www.christinelindsay.com

Lisa Bergren's The Gifted Series Takes Us to Italia!

Ronie Kendig has a BS in Psychology, is a wife, mother of four, and avid writer. Her espionage thriller, Dead Reckoning, will release March 1, 2010 through Abingdon Press. The first book in her military thriller series, Nightshade, will hit shelves July 01, 2010 (Barbour Publishing). An active member of ACFW, Ronie volunteers as the assistant to the conference appointment coordinator, and she also does speaking engagements.

Visit Ronie at her website or her blog.



Hey, y'all! Today, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite authors and favorite series. Lisa Tawn Bergren has written many, many books, including her recent historical series (Breathe is awesome, BTW) with David C. Cook Publishing, but today we'll focus on her series, The Gifted (Berkley) which features The Begotten, The Betrayed, and The Blessed. I fell in love with this series, and hope you'll find it and Lisa as fabulous as I do!

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a mom of 3, wife to Tim, walker of a white Westie, and part-time writer. I love to travel, explore, experience and learn, whether at home or away.

Can you please share a bit about your publishing journey?

I was bartending in a ski resort on Sundays in 1990. Became pretty depressed, realized I was Far Away from my faith foundations, read the Peretti novels, had a personal reformation, went to Israel, returned to work in the industry that had called me home (Christian music and books). Got a job, wrote a book (a pathetic biography that I don’t even want to give you the title for). Got another job, wrote a contemporary romance novel that became a best-seller (Refuge). Wrote five other books in quick succession that all did great…wrote some others that sold all right (not great). The market was slowing down and become more glutted. I wrote a best-selling kids’ book (God Gave Us You) and expanded into historical women’s fiction, contemporary general fiction, a devotional, a women’s Bible study, and supernatural suspense. I keep trying new genres because I’m always interested in the “new” thing; but it makes it hard for my publishers to “package” me.

At present, how many books have you had published, and what book(s) are you working on now?

Just finished my 31st book—the third in my Colorado Homeward trilogy (Breathe, Sing, Claim). I’m diving into my outline for a teen time travel series that will take me back to medieval Italy, the River of Time series, beginning with Waterfall. (What was I just saying about new genres???)

Ohhh!! I can't wait to read that. I love (and am writing a) time travel too!!! We'll just say you're diverse. ::grins::

You are an incredibly talented writer with many books to your name. I love your Gifted series, which takes place internationally. Where did the inspiration for this series come?

I loved The Da Vinci Code but hated the heresy in it. At the time, my family was also way into the Lord of the Rings trilogy (movies). So The Gifted (The Begotten, The Betrayed and The Blessed) was born, sort of a marriage between the suspense and mystery of Da Vinci, and the epic nature of LOTR.

Aha! I can see that--you did a great job on the series!

Who is your absolute favorite character you’ve written, and from what book is this character? Why is this one your favorite?

Daria from The Gifted series. She’s beautiful, smart, courageous. She has the gift of healing, and yet is struggling to heal herself (her heart has been broken). She’s discovering the power of God’s love, even in the midst of amazing, crippling adversity. I want to be as brave as Daria when I grow up.

Me too, because I think you did a fabulous job on helping her maintain a gentle nature with that bravery and courage!

You and I share the same agent. How did you come to work with Steve?

I knew him for years as a fellow editor (when he was at Bethany and I was at WaterBrook). He’d gone to work for a New York agency when I came up with the proposal for The Gifted—and wanted it shopped around to the NY publishers as well as the Christian market. Since then, of course, he’s gone out on his own.

Forgive me--I had forgotten you were an editor. Your talents are truly diverse and amazing!

In publishing, what has been the biggest surprise to you in terms of the process?

That no matter how much you put into a book, how much you try and market it, you can’t make a book a best-seller. It all is in the hands of God. I’ve had books that I put everything into (mental, emotional, physical and financial investments), and they sold squat; my biggest seller of all was a children’s book that God gave me in the middle of the night, and I put about three hours into—it’s sold over a million copies. Not that you shouldn’t put reasonable effort into marketing…it’s just that you have to know when to give it to God and trust him.

Are you a seat-of-the-pants writer or a plotter? Or both?

I usually have a general plot arc written out. But characters need room to breathe—so I do a lot of seat-of-the-pants writing. However, after rewriting 30,000 words in my last book, I think I’ll have a more detailed outline this time ‘round.


In your Gifted series, the characters journey internationally—Italia!—and they explore ancient sites. I’m sure this takes extensive research. What countries does or has this series explored already, and what is the favorite place you’ve written about? (if you have a photo, please share).

In researching The Gifted, I went to Italy three times, and once to France. I know, I know…poor baby! But we’ve really fallen hard for Italia. This last fall, my husband and I returned to Tuscany for a bit of research for this new time travel series—and some seriously great couple time too. We can’t wait to return—we want to explore the Cinque Terre in the north, and the southern Amalfi Coast. (I’m giving him a Rosetta Stone Italian set for Valentine’s Day—that’s how serious we are!) Here’s a link to a video we made from the villa we rented—just outside Piensa and Montepulciano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8QzD3u7mlg

My latest series, the Homeward Trilogy (Breathe, Sing, Claim) is set in the mountains here in Colorado. Lemme tell you, it’s WAY cheaper to research in the States…if you’re a new writer, start at home! My favorite location for this series was near Westcliffe in Southern Colorado—amazing, breath-taking Sangre de Cristo mountains and lush ranch land. Sweet! I’d want to live there…why not set my characters there, since I cannot? My kids go to camp down near there; that’s how I discovered it/decided to set part of my novels there.

What kind of research do you undertake to prepare to write your novels?

Love to go on-location. Totally different than what you read in books. I also like little niche books written by locals that you find in museums where you set your books. Other than that, general history books for the time period usually give me what I need to get rolling.

After I finish the River of Time series, I’m due to write a series based on a group of characters on the Grand Tour in Europe. Were actually thinking about to Europe for a year as a family, homeschooling the kids, researching and writing, as well as doing some spiritual pilgrimages to awe-inspiring communities putting their faith forward in 3D fashion. If we can figure out the finances, we’re totally going for it. Research has ignited a passion for travel and we launched a web site to share what we learn: www.theworldiscalling.com

Who are the most influential people in your life?
My husband, Tim. My best friend, Sarah. My kids. Fabulous Christian authors (nonfiction and fiction) that make me think and process and learn more about what I believe. And my mother, even though I’m almost 43 years old!

THANK YOU, Lisa, for taking time to share your life, heart, and writing with us.

Visit Lisa's Website

BUY The Begotten here

READERS: Leave a comment--tell us if you've been to Italia and what you loved about it, and you could win a free copy of The Begotten, Book #1 of The Gifted! Be sure to leave a valid email address.
(US & Canada residents only, please!)