Swirling Breeze

Sometimes the wind blows and bangs doors. The air feels harsh and hazardous.
I have weeks like that.

Sometimes the breeze is so light that I can't feel it. The air feels stilted and stuffy. My mind can't lock onto purpose and direction. I have days like that.

Sometimes the wind is fresh and floating. The air feels uplifting and unbelievable.
I have moments like that.

And His voice was in the small breeze.

Speak to me, Oh God, I'm listening. Craning. Leaning into the quiet to hear your voice.

Where are you today?

Angie Breidenbach
http://www.MyGemofWisdom.com


Author/Speaker Bio:Angela Breidenbach is Mrs. Montana International 2009 working with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries, the American Heart Association, the Jadyn Fred Foundation and drawing awareness to Fair Trade practices. She serves as the American Christian Fiction Writer's Publicity Officer and is a multi-award winning inspirational author and speaker. Angela’s calling is as a purposeful life coach and educator. She’s also certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and Assisting Minister. Not only did she walk the hard line of deciding to donate her mom's brain, but she is also on the brain donation list at the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital. She is married, has a combined family of six grown children, one grandson.

Personal growth = Powerful living!
Purposeful Living Educator & Coach.
Helping people battle inner pirates and uncover gems of wisdom to live a rich life.
Come uncover your gems of wisdom at www.MyGemofWisdom.com

Amy Wallace, author of Enduring Justice

www.mollynoblebull.com

Molly:
Today I am interviewing Amy Wallace—a wonderful author who writes mysteries. Tell us about Enduring Justice and your other Defenders of Hope novels.

Amy:
Thank you, Molly!

Each of the Defenders of Hope books raises a question that required some major wrestling on my part before I could write the story. My first novel, Ransomed Dreams, delves into the issue of forgiveness and asks, Can Dreams Be Redeemed? Here’s a little taste of the story:

Gracie Lang is being watched by a man who will stop at nothing to hide the truth from her. Having lost the only man she ever loved and the children who were her world, Gracie embarks on a quest to find out what really happened. Then she meets Steven Kessler, a Crimes Against Children FBI agent, assigned to uncover an international plot to kidnap the British Ambassador's daughter. Steven revives the possibility of a life Gracie desires. A life where healing and peace crowd out the nightmares. But his case and her past are dangerously connected. Suddenly, Gracie must decide if she's able - let alone willing - to pay the required ransom to redeem dreams and restore hope.

Healing Promises
Faith Under Fire

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the beast of cancer. As he continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

The third Defenders of Hope book, Enduring Justice, tackles the question of healing from the past~ is it possible?

Enduring Justice
Secrets Can’t Last Forever

When the dark secrets of Hanna Kessler’s past threaten to destroy those she loves, she must face the summer that changed her life and the man who still haunts her memories. Crimes Against Children FBI Agent Michael Parker wants to help. But when the system fails and a white supremacist is set free, Michael’s drive for retribution eclipses all else. Then a racist's well-planned assault forces Hanna and Michael to decide between executing vengeance and pursuing justice. The dividing line between the two is the choice to heal. But when the attack turns personal, is justice enough?


To find out behind the scenes info and more, my website is Dark Chocolate Suspense: www.amywallace.com. I’d love it if folks stopped by and stayed a while. Also on the site are cool book readers with first chapters for each novel. Here’s the link to read the first two chapters of my latest novel, Enduring Justice: http://www.amywallace.com/ej_chapter.html

My Heart Chocolate blog is: http://peek-a-booicu.blogspot.com/


Molly:
Your mysteries are well plotted. Can you tell us a little about how you plot your novels?

Amy:
I’m a major plotter, so much so that my family avoids me on those working days where I’m in another world surrounded by mounds of paper, mumbling strangely. But no matter how strange I might sound or look, I love this part of writing.

I usually start with both a strong sense of who the characters are and what they’re searching for. Then I do tons of research. For my FBI series, I read biographies and books written by FBI agents, I scoured the FBI website, and even had the privilege of interviewing a federal agent. After I’ve immersed myself into my characters’ careers, hobbies, and inner workings, then I compile a mass of sticky notes and scribbled on computer papers into a basic chapter by chapter outline. Once I like how things are fitting together, I get to work writing.

Molly:
Thanks for sharing with us this month, Amy. Come back soon. To find Amy’s books at online bookstores, write Amy Wallace in the search slot.

I would like to invite you to visit my new pro-life blog, Voice of the Unborn, and if you left a comment and became a follower, that would be great. Here is the address.
http://voiceoftheunborn.blogspot.com

Relaxation often comes after ...

I spent a bit of time freezing in 50ish degree weather, rain, and ... a dunk tank!

As Mrs. Montana International, I had the opportunity to help raise funds for pet adoption and responsible pet ownership. One of our local businesses, Rods -n- Dogs, offered to provide a dunk tank if Mrs. Montana would allow herself to be dunked. Who knew August would feel like November!

Well, I'm up for fun and unique ways of raising funds for my community :-D

So in I went! Whew! It was an icy polar plunge in the bad weather, but we drew a crowd and had a blast anyway!

But something much later surprised me.

At dinner, I suddenly realized how relaxed my body had gotten. Really uncommon. I felt almost languorous.

I think it had something to do with the extremes. So cold, so mentally UP in order to go through with it :-) Then I snuggled into a hot tea and seafood at a pleasant restaurant with my hubby. About half way into dinner, I recognized the languid feeling as if I were a cat sleeping on a warm hearth.

Thank you, God, for helping me understand how the mountains and valleys work together and that not all valley places are depressing. Sometimes they are incredibly comfortable.

And yes, I put up lots of silly pics on facebook under the Mrs. Montana International album on my facebook page (It's Angela Breidenbach.) Come see for some giggles.

Angie
www.MyGemofWisdom.com

Synopsis Writing: Get To The Point

by Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

“Would you like to drive into the city?’ the man asked.
“I’d have to go to Target first,” the woman replied. “No question about that. And I need to have my nails done.” She showed him her hands. “Just look at these. Have you ever seen fingernails this bad? Well, my toenails are worse, if you can believe it. And of course, I’ll have to phone Anita. I promised I would.”
“Get to the point, honey.”
“Oh, I almost forgot about Pretty Cat. We can’t leave her behind. She's expecting kittens. I guess we could just leave her in the back seat with a window down a little.” She shook her head. “No, she could become overheated. We’ll just have to leave her at home in the air conditioning. Besides—”
“Honey, I asked you a question twenty or so paragraphs back, and there can only be one of two answers—either yes or no. So, would you like to drive into the city?”
“My goodness, sweetie. Weren’t you listening? I already answered that question.”

Did she or didn’t she? You can only give one answer. Either yes or no.
Does this dialogue sound like it came from your mouth and from your husband's? It sure sounds like countless conversations my husband and I have had.
The gift for gab is fine when writing a novel. But when writing a synopsis, you need to get to the point. In other words, write it the way your hubby would.
Example:
“Would you like to drive into the city?” the man asked.
“Yes.”