MEET AUTHOR, MURRAY PURA

                                                                    

by Molly Noble Bull

My friend, Murray Pura, is an ordain Baptist minister who lives in Canada, and he is also a multi-published author. Blessed with success writing for publishing houses like Zondervan, Harper One, Barbour, Harvest House, Trestle Press/Helping Hands, and Baker, he puts his writing miracle this way.

“I enjoy doing different kinds of writing, fiction as well as nonfiction, so a diversity of labels helps me to do that.”  

The year 2012 was his first year in the American fiction market. Up till then Murray’s novels and stories were published in the UK and in Canada and even “down under” but not in the USA – devotionals, Bible commentaries, yes – fiction, no. That all changed with opportunities from Barbour in Ohio, Harvest House in Oregon, and Trestle Press/Helping Hands Press in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Barbour published A Bride’s Flight From Virginia City, Montana, where Old Amish meets Old West; Harvest House published The Wings of Morning, a story about flying set in 1917, and The Face of Heaven, a story that takes place during the Civil War; and Trestle Press/Helping Hands Press began to release a story set in 1728 in Colonial America in a serialized eBook format. It was called The Rose of Lancaster County.

Murray is happy to say that more books are being launched in 2013: Ashton Park, Under the Dover Sky, Whispers of a New Dawn, and An Amish Family Christmas by Harvest House; Majestic and Wild by Baker; A Road Called Love, Seven Oaks, The Name of the Hawk, Go Tell It On The Mountain, and The Last Man in Texas by Trestle Press/Helping Hands Press. Quite a variety of genres, and he enjoys the diversity and challenge of that – Ashton Park and Under the Dover Sky are set in England in the early 20^th century; Whispers of a New Dawn takes place during the outbreak of World War 2; An Amish Family Christmas is modern day as is A Road Called Love; Seven Oaks takes place on a Virginia plantation during the Civil War; The Name of the Hawk is a medieval romance and adventure; and Go Tell It On The Mountain and The Last Man in Texas are westerns set in the 1800s. Some of them are finished and some are still being written.

“It’s special to be able to share my stories with my readers,” he says, “and I hope they enjoy what I have penned for them this year. Thank you, Molly Noble Bull, a great writer and a great colleague, for letting all your friends know about me.

God bless you all.”

Murray is truly a writing miracle, and he isn’t finished yet.

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To find all Murray’s books, write Murray Pura in the search slot at online stores like Amazon and walk-in bookstores. 

Eek! I’m Becoming My Characters!!!

I used to have bone-straight hair. Really! I’d curl it with every kind of apparatus available to vain young women, but the hair just wanted to point down like it had weights attached to the ends.

What happened? First Chris, then Tiffany—my characters—that’s what.

I don’t know about you, but when I write people I find myself making their faces, striking their poses and musing their thoughts as they flow through my fingers to the page. This is particularly disconcerting when I take on the characteristics of those least like me. In fact, I have a tendency to carry those traits throughout the day—as if I needed to be with them more to get to know them better.

When I started writing Chris (see his inspiration on my Pinterest page), a southern-rock musician with shoulder-length, wavy, blond hair, I began to push my hand in my back pocket and dress a little differently. I had been used to wearing yoga pants, but now my style is what my daughter calls “rock-n-roll Mom.” My husband even wondered about the funny little crooked smile I seemed to develop. I knew it was Chris’s, but I wondered if I should tell him that. My hair took on waves.

Then I started book two and Tiffany was the one I least resembled—exotically beautiful, wears tight, above-knee skirts, and is something of a flirt (see her inspiration on my Pinterest page). Okay, I haven’t yet become exotically beautiful, and I wouldn’t be caught dead in a short skirt—I don’t have the knees for it. However, I have developed a few of her traits. My once, introverted self, gave way to a social, people needing addict. No, I don’t flirt—except with my hubby—but I did catch myself winking at some guy once.

Yikes! Rein it in Tiffany!!!

All of this happened so slowly I didn’t recognize it until the day I noticed my hair was no longer straight. Not only did I develop Chris’s waves on the top, I acquired Tiffany’s spiral curls below. Really! Check it out:

 

So be careful as you create these wonderful beings. They might just rub off on you.

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Connie is a 2012 Genesis semi-finalist for Women’s Fiction. She was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Winter 2012 WOW Flash Fiction Contest for her entry, Why Not to Kiss on a Park Bench (aka. Harold and Violet). Come visit her on one of her other blogs:

 

Living the Body of Christ

InfiniteCharacters.com

THE OMEGA CONSPIRACY by I.D.E. Thomas

Article by Molly Noble Bull

http://www.mollynoblebull.com/

According to The Ancient Alien series via the History Channel, aliens from other planets visited earth eons ago, planted mankind here and promised to return one day. Science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke, called the last generation of man before this possible scenario Childhood’s End in his novel by that name while Greek mythology and children’s literature are full of giants and super heroes.

However, these premises don’t fit with the biblical account of creation. So, where can the truth be found?

The Omega Conspiracy by I.D. E. Thomas explains that what science fictions authors, the History Channel and others call ancient aliens were actually the fallen angels found in the Book of Genesis, chapter 6.

Some say that the Bible calls angels “the sons of God”—whether good angels or bad ones. You will find this information interesting when you read the scripture verses below. 

[And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

And the Lord said, “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.]

Genesis 6 verses 1-6. 

The Omega Conspiracy was published in 1986, and the book agrees with Greek Mythology and the History Channel. Ancients did come down to earth and were certainly mighty men of old, but they didn’t come from other planets. They were fallen angels who fell from Grace, married human woman and bore children with them. Their offspring were giants, both in size and intelligence. The giants were also called the nephilim, and they were super evil.

Will the fallen angels and their evil offspring return to earth one day as they promised?

I.D.E Thomas and others think perhaps the fallen angels and their offspring are in the process of returning now.

How do you spell flying saucers?

The Omega Conspiracy by I.D.E. Thomas is a fast and exciting read, and it can be ordered from Amazon. Just write The Omega Conspiracy by I.D.E. Thomas in the search slot at online and walk-in bookstores. 

  

On the way home from the ACFW Conference!

Ho! This was one exciting conference. I'm reporting in from the Minneapolis Airport of all places. As soon as possible, I'll upload some fun pictures of blog partners and friends that were with me this weekend. (Hah, it only took me a day to find the time to upload these photos...yay.)

Our own lovely, Cathy West, and Angie on the last day. If there is an unclaimed day later in the week, I'll post more conference stuffness:-D I'll do my best to get photos on this post by Monday at the latest.

Sometimes we get refueled by sleep and taking the day off. Okay, most of the time. Then there are times like this that are exhausting and invigorating all at the same time. For a writer, it's like celebrating Christmas or something, lol.

We had so many classes that my little brain is reeling from the great teaching. Fav teacher is the amazing Margie Lawson. She has some upcoming online classes that I would urge you strongly to attend...No, let me say that again...STRONGLY...no, not quite enough...STRONGLY heh heh heh. Can you tell how I feel about her teaching?

In fact, go to her site and check them out. Affordable, excellent, in-depth. According to everyone there, it takes their ability from a race car to a rocket ship! REALLY!

Be quick about it because one of her best classes is starting October 13-26, 2008. Then in January is the Defeating Self-Defeating Behaviors. I promise you will never be the same again with these new skills and opportunities.

Much appreciation to the friends, faculty and visiting editors/agents! All the people who worked so hard to make the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference happen are truly servants. They served with a heart for pouring into others and they succeeded.

Please plan on coming to Denver, Colorado for the 2009 ACFW conference. You never know when you might find a chicken van indoors!
Angie
PS More individual experience from me over at God Uses Broken Vessels or over at the F.A.I.T.H. Girls blog too.

Lesson #1: Writing Via Dwight Swain

Since I don’t know the writing background of those who will be reading these lessons on fiction writing, I am starting at the very beginning. For me, that means Dwight Swain because in my opinion, his book Techniques of the Selling Writer is the best of the best. This lesson is easy, but they will get harder as we move along.

I have included three discussion questions. Please take part in these discussions (My Questions. Your Answers) by commenting on this lesson.

Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

Questions and Answers

1. What is a story?
Dwight Swain, author of Techniques Of The Selling Writer (University of Oklahoma Press), says a story is never about anything. Instead, a story is someone's reaction to what happened. A story is how someone deals with danger.

2. What is danger?
Danger in a story is change. When any given situation is altered, the results are a different situation.

Example: At the beginning of Gone With The Wind, Scarlett had Tara, her land. She thought she also had Ashley. But her situation changed, giving her the goal of trying to get back Tara and Ashley. Events changed her situation, causing her to develop new goals.

3. Why do readers read fiction?
Readers read fiction because it creates a pleasurable state of tension and escape for them.

4. What is reader tension?
Reader tension is the desire to know, immediately, what will happen next to the characters in the story.

5. What is a hook?
A hook is a writing device designed to catch, hold, sustain or pull the reader along from sentence one to the end of the story or book.

6. Why is a beginning hook important in fiction?
When I go into a bookstore to buy a book, I read the first line on page # 1. If the first line pulls me into the story and makes me want to read more, I read the first paragraph. If I like the first paragraph, I read all of page #1, and if I read all of page #1, I buy the book. Readers want to keep on reading books that begin with a reader hook because it keeps them interested.

1. Example (Strong hook based on an event): For several minutes he'd been watching her, standing there on the high bridge. Suddenly, she just leaned forward and jumped off into the icy water.

2. Example (Hook based on dialogue): "Why did you lie to me, Sally?" Tom demanded.

3. Example (Weak hook based on setting): To the east, the sun pushed its way from behind the rocky mountain, dusting the dawn with orange paint. A chilling wind whistled down the valley below, but it didn't seem to notice.


My Questions. Your Answers:

A. Why is example one a strong hook? What is it about it that makes you want to read more?
B. Why is example two a strong hook? What is it about it that makes you want to read more?
C. Why is example three a weak hook?

Please send your answers to these questions as a comment to this column. I will announce the names of those that got them all right next week and explain more.


7. What is a plot?
A plot is the skeleton of a piece of fiction.

8. What is conflict?
In fiction there are always two opposing sides. The two sides war against each other, resulting in conflict for the characters in that story. In a short story, those two sides could be something as simple as Tommy’s wishes as opposed to his mother’s rules. In a novel, conflict could be described as the good guys on one side and the bad guys on the other.

9. How is conflict related to fiction goals?
Each of those opposing sides just mentioned have conflicting goals. For example, the Jones family own land, and their goal are to keep their land. The Browns want the land belonging to the Jones family, and their goal is to take the land away from the Jones family.

10. What is meant by a story’s major conflict?
In fiction, there are often many problems and conflicts, but there is only one major conflict. The major conflict is the one, big problem the two sides are really fighting over. Land was the major conflict between the two families above.

11. How should the reader be informed of the fiction goals mentioned above?
In fiction, the opposing goals of the two sides should be stated clearly in the manuscript by the main character either, in the dialogue or in the narrative.

12. What is the difference between a character’s stated goal and a character’s true goal?
A stated goal is what a particular character says that he or she wants. A true goal is what a particular character really wants. The two goals may not always be the same.

Example: Scarlett’s true goal in Gone with the Wind was to keep her plantation, Tara. To Scarlett, Tara represented love and security. However, at first she said she wanted Ashley.


Don't forget to post your answers as a comment. See you again next week.
Molly

One last day with Molly

It’s Friday Free For All Day here at Writers’ Rest, so we’re going to tie up some loose ends from our interview time with Molly Noble Bull. :-)

Leigh: What has been your favorite writing-related gift over the years?

Molly: My computer and printer, given by my husband, Charlie. What would I do without them? What would I do with Charlie? Or our three sons and four grandchildren? What would I do without the Lord?


Leigh: We all need families and friends to support us and our writing, and it sounds like you’ve been extra blessed in that category. When you’re not busy with them or working on your latest book, what hobbies or interests do you enjoy?

Molly: I am interested in genealogy and Christian causes. I’m very pro-life. I love to watch the Science Channel and Foxnews Channel.


Leigh: Science, genealogy and news – sounds like you’re a woman who always wants to learn something new. What can we expect from you in the near future?

Molly: I’m contracted to write more books, and I would like to tell you about them.

First, Runaway Romance will be published in trade paperback in 2008 or 2009. Runaway is two short contemporary novels under one cover, and I wrote the first one. My novel, Alyson, is set on a Texas cattle ranch, and yes, I said contemporary. :-) The other novel is written by Teresa Slack.

As I mentioned earlier, I am a dyslexic, and I am writing a non-fiction book titled The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered L.D. The other authors are Margaret Daley, Ginny Aiken, Jane Meyers Perrine, and Ruth Scofield. We all suffer from learning problems and are multi-published. The Overcomers should be out in 2009.

I have to write two more long historical novels in the Faith of Our Fathers series (following Sanctuary), and I am contracted to write another non-fiction book. Also, Tsaba House plans to reprint The Rouge’s Daughter. And my Steeple Hill long historical, The Winter Pearl, is still available in mass-market paperback.


Leigh: Wow! That’s a lot of projects to keep up with. It’s great to see that you’re working on a non-fiction project that’s close to your heart, because people sometimes say it’s hard to work on fiction and non-fiction. You’re an inspiration to the rest of us.

Where can we find your books when we’re ready for a great read?

Molly: Sanctuary and The Winter Pearl can be ordered from Amazon, christianbook.com, Borders, Target, Books A Million, and Barnes and Noble. The easiest way to find them is to visit my website, http://www.mollynoblebull.com/. Just scroll down the main page and click Molly’s Books.
From there, you can read about my books, see my covers and read excerpts from Sanctuary and The Winter Pearl. You can click over to Amazon, etc. from there.

So as Forrest Gump would say, “That’s all I have to say about that.” But I am delighted to be here and want to help new writers in any way I can.


Leigh: We’re glad to have you as part of the Writers’ Rest family, Molly. I know I’ll learn a lot from your experiences and am sure others will, too. You’re a real blessing to us!

More Time With Molly

Welcome back to Part II of our interview with Molly Noble Bull! Today she talks about how she’s grown as a writer over the years, and how she keeps the spiritual dimension of her life and her writing on track.


Leigh: How and when did you know God was calling you to write for Him?

Molly: I learned as a young child in church that we are to use our talents or God will taken them away. He might have been talking about money, but at the time, I thought He meant “talents”—as in creative writing. I was good a singing and story writing and knew I should use the gifts He gave me for His glory.


Leigh: What kinds of connections do you see between your writing and your faith, or your relationship with God?

Molly: My fiction novels and non-fiction books are a ministry, and I write for the Lord only. My books are more spiritual than some inspirational novels. When you read one of my books, you will know I am a Christian. I won’t have to tell you. But I try not to be preachy.


Leigh: Your first books were published in 1986, and you’ve published regularly ever since. How have you seen yourself grow as a writer between your first release and your latest book Sanctuary?

Molly: Good question. Before I started writing to sell, I took a course in novel writing by correspondence and knew a lot about writing by the time the course ended. One of the things I knew was not to use a lot of adjectives and adverbs. However, at that point in time, writers who sold romance novels used them. So I ignored what I knew to be right and used adjectives and adverbs whenever possible. Thankfully, that trend died. So now I don’t do that anymore. My books are better for it.


Leigh: Because this blog is called Writers’ Rest, we like to encourage fellow writers to step away and find time to refresh themselves and their relationship with God so they can bring that perspective to their writing. What’s your favorite way to rest as a writer, and how does it rejuvenate you?

Molly: I feel very close to the Lord when I sing and praise Him will walking on the treadmill, and I always sing, praise and pray in the name of Jesus whether I am walking on the treadmill or not. Once I sang and prayed mentally, and I still do if I’m singing in the middle of the night while my husband is sleeping. But I think the Lord wants me to sing, praise and pray aloud whenever possible.


Leigh: Final question for the day: Can you share any Scriptures that encourage you to continue writing?

Molly: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)


Leigh: That’s a great verse for all of us, whether we’re writing or just trying to get through another day. We’ll hold on to that thought until Friday, when Molly will tell us about her upcoming books and I’ll have a review of her latest novel, Sanctuary. In the meantime, add a comment to let Molly know we’re glad she’s here, or visit her website at www.mollynoblebull.com to learn more about her projects.

Welcome to Molly Noble Bull

We’re thrilled to add a new blogger to our team at Writers’ Rest: author Molly Noble Bull.

Molly writes only for the Christian market and has published with Zondervan, Steeple Hill and Tsaba House (her first novels, For Always and The Rogue’s Daughter, were published in 1986). Two of her Zondervan novels were later reprinted by Guideposts’ Book Division.

Molly will be sharing her writing knowledge with us but first will share some things about herself. I pummeled her with questions and she graciously answered every one … which is saying a lot! So welcome to Molly Week, a time to look inside her writing world and learn how she keeps things going.

Leigh: You’ve been involved with Christian writing for years and have seen a lot of changes. What’s the hardest or most important thing you’ve learned as a writer?

Molly: The hardest thing I’ve had to learn is that even published authors get rejection slips. I think I thought that once you were published, you never got another of those, and that could be true for some. But don’t count on it. I still get them. Sales are better.

Leigh: Good point – we do love those sales! Do you have other advice you wish someone had shared when you were starting your writing career?

Molly: I wish I had known how much time I was going to have to spend promoting my books. I never thought about that at all. I just wrote. Now I have to spend time promoting, and that means less time writing.

Leigh: When I read your bio and began learning more about your books, it seemed like many of your books incorporate aspects of your own life (Texas, Germany, twins, Huguenots). Do you look for ways to tie in your own life through your stories, or does it happen on its own?

Molly: All my heroines have a little of my DNA; all my heroes have my husband’s. But I am a dyslexic, which means I am bored easily. If I am interested in something, I can block out the world for a while. But I have to be extremely interested in something in order to do it. Therefore, my projects always mirror what I am interested in, and I look for ways to make that happen. I have to personally like the books I write and read. Once I wrote three chapters of a novel and put it on the backburner—never tried to sell it. It bored me. If a novel bores me, it would bore my readers.

Leigh: Story is king, as they say. So how do you weave your stories together? Are you a plotter or a seat-of-the-pants writer? Do you have any advice for helping all the ideas in a writer’s head come together and make a sensible, realistic story?

Molly: I am a plotter. Here is how I put a novel together.

I write one, two or three chapters from the seat-of-my pants with no real idea what is going to happen next. This is really fun for me, but I do it because it helps me get to know my characters. Then I take a yellow pad and number it from one to ten or one to fifteen or the number of chapters I plan to have. Let’s say I plan to have fifteen chapters in all.

By number one, I write in one paragraph what happened in chapter one of the chapter I wrote by the seat of my pants. I do the same with chapters two and three. Then I skip down to chapter 15 and write in one paragraph how the story ends. Next I back-skip to chapter eleven, and I tell in one paragraph what must happen in order for the story to end as it does in chapter fifteen. I keep back skipping, paragraph by paragraph, until I reach about chapter seven. Chapters four through six must blend the story so that the two ends meet.

I decide what is going to happen in the climax of my novel and write it in. Then I write my book.

Leigh: Thanks so much, Molly. You have great insights for us whether we’re new to fiction writing or have authored a shelf full of books. We’ll continue our interview on Wednesday when Molly shares how she’s grown as a writer and how her fiction connects with her faith. On Friday, we'll spotlight Molly's latest book Sanctuary. We hope you readers will join us!

PS -- My apologies for posting this first installment of our interview so late. My ISP had problems so I was Internet-less until late on Monday. The joys of technology ... :-)