Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

farewell, year of endurance

I can't say I'm sorry to see 2005 end. It was a long year for me. I believe my word for 2005 (discovered in hindsight) was "Endurance" and my verse of the year was:

2 Corinthians 4:8-9  "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going." (NLT)

I think it was Woody Allen who said something like, "Half of life is just showing up." Well, I'm showing up. I'm not crushed, broken, or abandoned by God. I'm not giving up and quitting. I'll get up again and keep going.

On one of my regular blog reads, Rhythms of Grace, Mary has talked about the single word she gets from the Lord each year (last year, hers was Hope, I think). In all my years as a Christian, I have never asked the Lord in advance for a word for the year, but I sure have often noticed after the fact what lessons the Lord has taught me. Personally, I'm glad I didn't know that last year was going to be about Endurance.

Anyway, I can't say I was even asking the Lord for a word for 2006 when He gave it to me: Victory. Being who I am, I started questioning it. Was that really from the Lord or was I just wanting that to be the word after the year I've gone through. Besides, the hardest trial is not yet over nor is the end in sight. More endurance will be required. I know that. Doesn't victory come when the war ends?

Last night, I went to my codependency group at Celebrate Recovery, and — surprise! — the topic of words for the coming year came up. The wife of one of our pastors is in my group, and she said the Lord has done this for her for the past ten years (like me, her word for 2005 was Endurance; her word for 2006 is Power). While she was talking, I heard that whisper in my heart: Victory. Okay, still sounds good, but I'm sure God wants to teach me about Trust and Faith and Perseverance and ... Am I positive this is my word?

So this morning, I get up and I pray for God to show me exactly what my word is supposed to be. Within ten minutes, maybe less, I open an email from a friend that begins: "I'm praying 2006 as a year of VICTORY for you, dear sister." That's how she wrote it, with the word in caps, and I hadn't mentioned anything about this word thing to her previously. She also forwarded Tozer's devotional for today (a conclusion to a month-long series on Trials and Pain) which I hadn't read yet. It reads:

Trials and Pain: Prepared for Whatever

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.  — Psalm 90:1-2

Yet I do not advise that we end the year on a somber note. The march, not the dirge, has ever been the music of Christianity. If we are good students in the school of life, there is much that the years have to teach us. But the Christian is more than a student, more than a philosopher. He is a believer, and the object of his faith makes the difference, the mighty difference.

Of all persons the Christian should be best prepared for whatever the New Year brings. He has dealt with life at its source. In Christ he has disposed of a thousand enemies that other men must face alone and unprepared. He can face his tomorrow cheerful and unafraid because yesterday he turned his feet into the ways of peace and today he lives in God. The man who has made God his dwelling place will always have a safe habitation. (The Warfare of the Spirit, p. 148)

Okay, Lord, I hear You. I asked for confirmation and You gave it in several ways. I accept that 2006 will be the year for me to learn about Victory. Your Victory. I learned some while writing The Victory Club in 2004. I know that *You* are the victory, and I belong to You. But I know You have more to teach me. I'm willing. Amen.

Farewell, 2005, the year of endurance. Welcome, 2006, the year of victory.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

2005 in review

From Katy at Fallible.com comes the idea to review the year by listing the first line from the first post of each month . I'm expanding to the first paragraph since they were all fairly short anyway. This was interesting to me, to see what I was talking about each month as I breezed through, cutting and pasting. How quickly a year goes by.

And now, 2005 in review:

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January 1, 2005: Today I embark on another journey through the Bible. I'll spend 9 months in the Old Testament, mining its truths, then the final three months in the New Testament. I'm asking the Lord to teach me something new about Him each day. May His truth go down deep in my heart, so that I'm changed by it.

February 2, 2005: Yep. It's true. I've got another cold. Nailed by the bug again. I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I swear I'm going to improve my immune system and stop this nonsense.

March 1, 2005: I have lived long enough that I shouldn't be surprised by the things people do and/or say. Yet I am often surprised, all the same.

April 1, 2005: I've been "googling" on the Internet, trying to find the full transcript of the statement the Schindler family gave at the press conference yesterday.

May 2, 2005: My daily Bible reading this morning included this selection from 2 Kings 5. Naaman was the commander of King Aram's army, but he suffered from leprosy. He was sent to Elisha the prophet to ask for healing.

June 2, 2005: Earlier this week, I received an email from a reader (of my books and of this blog). She wrote to me because she read The Victory Club over the Memorial Day weekend and wanted to tell me what it meant to her. Her words of praise were especially sweet since I struggled so during the writing of that book.

July 1, 2005: It's July 1st, and I am officially heading into overdrive. I am behind where I needed to be on the wip. Bummer. I have three trips in the month of July (writers' conference/booksellers convention, brainstorming retreat, and another writers' conference). I'll be gone 17 days total, including travel days. These are all jam-packed business trips where I'll be on the go-go-go from breakfast meetings to dinner events. Nonetheless, I'll have to be writing too in order to finish the book in time. Have laptop, will travel.

August 5, 2005: Hmm. Ever notice that when life gives you a sucker punch, blogging and blog reading are just not real high on your priority list? Well, if not, I don't think you've really experienced a sucker punch in the game of life. And since this week hasn't been one of my better weeks, I am living dangerously close to the "ranting" edge.

September 1, 2005: This morning, I sent an email to subscribers on my e-newsletter list, a request to give and to pray [re: Katrina].

October 10, 2005: Okay, so you may not remember me, I've been silent so long. I'm Robin from Write Thinking. Nice to meet you. {{grin}}

November 2, 2005: The edited manuscript of DP landed in my mailbox by email attachment yesterday, and I went straight to work on it. Managed to finish only chapter one, but I did make notes for chapter two which I will tackle soon.

December 3, 2005: I am currently burning up the hours trying to get this latest book done. I will return to my blog soon after I hit "Send" on an email with the manuscript file attached.

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So how about you? What did your year look like, fellow bloggers?

-rlh-

procrastination post #1

Today, I've got to begin revising my 2006 Christmas novella. The editorial letter arrived last Tuesday, but I tucked it away until today because I was (1) wanting to get more done on my rewrites of my next Steeple Hill novel and (2) wanting to enjoy Christmas without stressing over a deadline.

Well, Christmas is over. Like it or not, the clock is ticking down not just on the end of 2005 but also on the time allotted for these revisions. So now I've read the editor's letter through a couple of times and I've highlighted various suggestions, especially those that struck a chord in me. Now I'm mulling things over some more, trying to figure how to begin, especially since the first thing I must do is start the book with a different and new scene. Argh!

So while I mull, I shall also procrastinate. (How's that for multitasking?)

Have you seen the magazine ads that American Express has been running for quite a few weeks? It's part of the My Life, My Card campaign. There are a total of seven pages in the ad, first a photo of a celebrity, then that celeb's answers to a list, then another celebrity and the answers, and then another celebrity and the answers. The final page is a blank form that is obviously for the reader to complete. The different celebrities featured in these ads have included Ellen Degeneres, Tiger Woods, Ken Watanabe, Kate Winslet, Mike Lazaridis (inventor of the Blackberry, I think).

So, as part of my procrastination, I am going to complete the form.

• My name ... Robin Lee Hatcher
• My childhood ambition ... to be a movie star
• My fondest memory ... the births of my daughters, followed closely by the births of my grandchildren
• My soundtrack ... music that touches my heart (contemporary Christian, movie soundtracks, Country, ballads, oldies but goodies, etc.)
• My retreat ... in the mountains or on the shore
• My wildest dream ... believing I could write and sell a novel
• My proudest moment ... seeing The Forgiving Hour published (my first novel for the Christian market)
• My biggest challenge ... living every day as a worthy representative of Christ
• My alarm clock ... my own body that insists I wake up around 4:30 a.m., seven days a week
• My perfect day ... would be one spent with my family, all together at the same time
• My first job ... a carhop at the Frostop Drive-in
• My indulgence ... would be a long vacation on a beautiful Hawaiian beach with nothing to do but read good books
• My last purchase ... a DVD to watch with the family during our Christmas celebration
• My favorite movie ... I have many favorites - An Ideal Husband; Sense & Sensibility; Pride & Prejudice; Finding Neverland (to name a few)
• My inspiration ... women of faith
• My life ... is just a prelude to eternity with the Lord
• My card ... Yeah, it is American Express (but I've also got a VISA and a MasterCard)

Care to procrastinate with me? Let me know in the comment section if you answer on your blog so I can add to my procrastination by visiting and reading what you say. (See? I really want to procrastinate!)

Update: If you don't have a blog of your own or don't want to answer on your blog, feel free to post your answers in the comment section.

-rlh-

I'm a lion

I ran across this Narnia quiz — Are You a Lion or a Witch? — on Beliefnet.com. I scored 102 out of 120, which according to the rating scale, makes me Aslan.

As someone who loves the Narnia series and knows who Aslan represents, I actually feel a little uncomfortable with the results of this quiz. I think I'm probably more Lucy than Lion. I would have even been content to wind up as Mr. Tumnus. Of course, my heart desires to become more and more Christlike, but I have a hard time believing I've come close enough just yet. Hey, I know that I'm not always unselfish and thinking of others before myself! But thankfully, I'm not so bad I turned out to be the witch.

Anyway, go take the quiz if you've got a few minutes and let me know your results.

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According to the site, here is how to interpret the scores:

0 - 20    
You live for yourself and have little inclination to help others. Your main goals in life are fulfilling your own desires, and pursuing power and material things. You are the White Witch, who enslaves Narnia and forbids its inhabitants to celebrate Christmas.

21 - 50    
Your instincts are good overall, but you are easily tempted to focus on yourself at the expense of others. You can be impulsive and not think through the consequences of pursuing what you want. You are Edmund, who mocked Lucy when she first told of visiting Narnia, who later fell prey to the temptations of Turkish Delight, before realizing his mistakes and becoming Edmund the Just.

51 - 75    
You do a lot of good for other people, but often are stymied by fear of repercussions or what others will think. You pursue your own needs and goals but also make time for others. You are Mr. Tumnus, the faun who intends to kidnap Lucy for the Witch but realizes he shouldn't.

76 - 100    
You have a strong sense of responsibility toward others and a deep respect for other people, even strangers, though you are not always sure what the best course of action is. You are Lucy, the brave child who who is wise beyond her years and kind to all she meets.

101 - 120    
Always thinking of others before yourself, you are self-sacrificing, selfless, and your motives are pure. You are Aslan, the mighty and kind lion who uses his power for good and sacrifices himself for others.

-rlh-

the reason for the season

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God:  "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors."

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

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Merry Christmas!
Robin

Christmas Eve reflections

On this Christmas Eve, I'd like to wish all my regular readers and any visitors who happen by a Merry Christmas. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my posts. Thank you for telling others about Write Thinking and about my books, too.

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As Dan at Cerulean Sanctum posted a few days ago, Christmas can be difficult for many. It makes some feel lonely and set apart. Sometimes it's due to nothing more than the fact that children have grown up, moved away, and long held traditions get shifted as new traditions are made. Sometimes it is due to life changes (death, divorce, illness).

As someone who's had a year that included change, I find myself a bit wistful on this Christmas Eve. I remember Christmases when I was little and then when my own daughters were little, and I miss those times, those feelings, the anticipation, the excitement, the wonder. I miss the things we "always used to do" that I'm not doing now. And yet, I have an abundance of people and things to be thankful for.

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Last night, my family gathered for our Christmas dinner at my home. We were missing two of my six grandchildren because they left last Monday to be with their father for Christmas. And we met yesterday because this morning, Daughter #1 and her husband are driving into the mountains to spend the weekend with her in-laws. We dined on ham, potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cinnamon apples, fresh baked rolls, pie with ice cream, Christmas cookies. We laughed because "Mom cooked." (It's true. I was never much of a cook—although my kids never went hungry—and I cook even less often now that there are no children at home.) We gathered in the family room to watch The Polar Express on DVD. Then we opened gifts. The gifts were few from Grandma Robin this year. Worse, they were mostly clothes! How excited does a two-year-old get over new clothes? And before I knew it, the evening was over. The family was gone, and the house was quiet again.

How grateful I am to God for my family. I'm so thankful my mother was here with me for another Christmas. What a treasure she is to me. What a godly example and encouragement she has been throughout my life. I'm so thankful for my daughters. I look at them and know that, despite all of the parenting mistakes I made, I must have done something right. They are such beautiful young women and such good mothers in their own right. I love that we are friends. I am thankful that they both are married to fine men who love them. And I am thankful for my grandchildren. What a legacy. How rich I am. Still, I would have had them with me a little longer, all of them.

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This morning began with some excitement. My mom awakened me at 5:30 a.m. Like that old commercial said, she'd fallen and she couldn't get up. Nothing was broken or bruised. Nothing was wrong. She doesn't get dizzy or faint. Just sometimes she loses her footing and goes down. It is a miracle that the several times this has happened, she hasn't been harmed.

Anyway, Mom is too heavy for me to lift, and it was too early for me to go to the neighbors to ask for help. So I called 911. Out came the paramedics. Four guys (three of them really big guys), two gals. Nothing like a house full of paramedics to get your day started. Poppet, my Papillon, thought it must be her Christmas gift. Folks to play with first thing in the morning. Yippee! So they got Mom up, ascertained that she really was unharmed and in no need of medical attention, completed the paperwork, and were gone.

And so I am also thankful this morning that I live in a city where I can call 911 and get aid for a loved one.

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Mom and I will go to the Boise Vineyard's Christmas Eve service at 5:00. Because Mom doesn't get to attend her church anymore (at her age, she just can't manage the two hour services and does TV church at home), she really wanted an opportunity to take communion. I'm so grateful to God that I can share a time of communion with my mom, in this, her 92nd year of life.

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Dear Readers, I pray that no matter where you are, no matter what life changes you've gone through this past year, no matter who you are with or without, that you will feel the presence of the Living Lord in your heart as we celebrate His coming.

Merry Christmas to you all.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin Lee Hatcher

quote of the day

"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within." — Will and Ariel Durant

I read the above quote in the trailer for Mel Gibson's new movie, Apocalypto. The Durants were talking about Rome, not the Incas, but of course, the truth of the quote applies throughout the history of the world. It will apply into the future, too. It reminds me of when I read A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. In the pages of that story about Rome in the First Century, shortly after the fall of Jerusalem, readers could see how Rome destroyed itself from within.

Sometimes I cannot help but see the parallels between ancient Rome and present day USA.

-rlh-

deep thinking

One of my favorite blog discoveries of 2005 is Cerulean Sanctum. Dan is a deep thinker who likes to challenge the church (meaning believers, in and outside of a corporate setting) to examine itself — and he does a good job of it, too. He's got a wrap up of his best 2005 posts. Since I discovered his blog in mid-year, I'm grateful for this page full of links, and I plan to go back and read some of those posts as time allows.

Of course, this also made me feel depressed about my own blog. Could I do a "best of" entry with links? Have I had any deep thoughts in 2005? Hmm...

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Speaking of deep thoughts and a challenge to the church, I found the Barna Update for December 20, 2005 to be an interesting and somewhat alarming read. In Barna Reviews Top Religious Trends of 2005, the researcher offers, among other things, four factors that he described as “indicative of the reshaping of the church in the U.S.” If you are a follower of Christ, interested in the Christian church in America, I encourage you to read this report.

And now I am off to think some deep thoughts about my revisions.

-rlh-

ladies in lavender

Angie made a comment to my Netflix post of yesterday that I simply must bring up here. Ladies in Lavender is one of my few 5 Star rated movies. In my mini-review to Netflix Friends, I said, "Poignant. Made me cry. The music is heartbreakingly beautiful, too." The movie had a brief release in the spring of 2005, and critics gave it middling, though not terrible, reviews. I strongly disagree. I loved it.

But forget the movie for a moment. The violin music in this period piece is able to reach in and touch a listener's soul. Even if you never see the movie, listening to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on this CD isn't to be missed. For those of us who write to music, this is a must own, IMHO. It's playing on my iTunes as I write this blog post. So beautiful and inspiring.

Don't take my word for it. Listen to a few of the clips over on Amazon.com. They'll only give you a tiny hint, but it may be enough to convince you.

-rlh-

netflix update

Before I knuckle down to my rewrites for the day (Trouble in Paradise, Feb. 2007), I thought I would give a little report on my Netflix experience of the past seven and a half months.

I give this service an "A" and highly recommend it to others who love watching movies, both old and new. With the exception that sometimes I have to wait awhile when hugely popular movies are just released on DVD, I've had great success with Netflix. It's definitely saved me money (I turned off premium channels on my cable service, and I'm not buying as many DVDs for my personal library). Best of all, I've discovered movies I'd never heard of and/or never would have paid almost $4 to rent from the local video stores.

During the 7 1/2 months of my membership, I've seen 54 individual movies and seven TV series (those seven series had a total of 25 DVDs). On a scale of one to five (one being "hated it" and five being "loved it"), I've seen two movies I rated a "1," ten movies I rated a "2," twenty movies I rated a "3," nineteen movies I rated a "4," and three movies I rated a "5." The seven series got 3's and 4's.

One of the things I've also loved about this service is the "Friends" option. I have three Netflix Friends at present. I can recommend movies to them and they to me. I can see what they are watching now, will soon watch, have already watched, and I can see how they've rated particular films. This has allowed me to discover some excellent films I'd never heard of before.

If you're looking for the perfect gift to give to a movie buff in your life, whether for Christmas or some other reason, pop over to www.netflix.com and consider giving a gift subscription. (I have no stock in the company, BTW.)

-rlh-

wanna sample some new writers?

If you like to read Christian fiction, Chapter a Week is a great way to sample writers whose work you may not have discovered yet. It is simple to join. Just send an email to  ChapteraWeek-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. After you've signed up, you'll get an email each Friday with an excerpt from a CBA novel. Here's an example from the May 27, 2005 Chapter a Week post that excerpted one of my books.

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THE VICTORY CLUB
by Robin Lee Hatcher
(Tyndale House, June 2005)

Is God truly in control, even in a time of war?

In 1943, the women of America banded together to make a life for themselves while their husbands and sons fought overseas. Even as the men engaged in war, these women faced battles of their own on the homefront.

Margo, Dottie, Lucy, and Penny never expected to face the hardships they must now find a way to conquer. But through the power of Christ, and the power of friendship, perhaps this Victory Club will achieve more than any of them could ever have imagined.

*******

The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my victory.
Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
(Ps 118:14-15)

FEBRUARY 1943

        As had become her habit over the past two months, Lucy Anderson met her friends for lunch in the tiny break room at the back of Building B-301. They each spread cloth napkins over their laps before opening their lunch boxes, but no one seemed hungry enough to eat. So there they sat, lost in their grim thoughts while the cold February wind buffeted the building.

        It hadn't taken long before everyone on the base—and in town, no doubt—knew that a major battle for control of Northern Africa was raging. The importance was clear, even to civilians. Tunisia must be taken. The Allies needed the location for a refueling stop once the bombing raids began over Europe. The previous year had seen many defeats. Each woman in that break room longed to see a victory.

        Finally, Lucy could take the silence no more. “Is this what it’s going to be like for the duration of the war?” She didn't try to hide her exasperation. “Must we expect the worst to happen to the people we love?” She looked from one woman to the next. “Can't we act as if we’re women of faith? I mean, either God’s in control or He isn't.”

        Seated across from Lucy, Margo stiffened as if she’d been slapped. “Perhaps you wouldn't say that if your husband was in Africa instead of England.”

        A different sort of silence strangled the room.

        “Oh, Margo.” Lucy shook her head. “I didn't mean my words to sound heartless. I just want to encourage us not to lose hope.”

        But perhaps Margo was right, Lucy thought as she lowered her gaze to her lap. She wanted to believe she would hold onto hope, no matter what, but she hadn't been tested. Richard had spent a good many months stateside before he was sent, late last year, to England. If he’d flown missions over enemy territory, he hadn't told her so in his letters.

        “You know—” Dottie folded the wax paper around her uneaten sandwich— “I think Lucy’s right. Just about everybody we know has a loved one serving in the military. We know people are dying. That’s a reality of war we can't escape. But we can't give into fear and despair. We can't. If we do, then the enemy’s already won.” She held out her left hand toward her mother and her right hand toward Lucy.

        Thank God for you, Dottie. Lucy took hold of the younger woman’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Then in a similar gesture, she held out her free hand toward Penelope.

        After a moment’s hesitation, Penelope mirrored the action.

        “Oh for pity sake,” Margo grumbled. But finally she completed the circle.

        Lucy looked at each of her friends. “From this day forward, I promise to pray faithfully for you and your loved ones. I promise to ask God for protection and guidance and to cause us to lean on Him, no matter how long this takes. I promise to be there whenever you need me. And I’m not just going to pray for the Allies to have victory. I’m going to pray that each of us will have personal victory over the enemies we face. Over our fears, our faults, and our failures. That’s my promise to you.”
        “Me, too.”

        “So do I.”

        “Sure. Why not?”

*****

        “Good night, Mr. Pratt,” Lucy said she descended the bus steps.

        “Good night, Mrs. Anderson. Have a nice evening.”

        With a whoosh of air, the door closed, and the bus drove away.

        Lucy walked swiftly in the opposite direction, planning to stop at the corner market before returning to her apartment two blocks away. Shortages and long lines were becoming a common sight at grocery stores these days, but thankfully, Lucy wasn't after meat or sugar. Her needs were simple since she cooked only for herself.

        A few minutes later, she entered the Bannock Street Market, closing the door behind her, glad to escape the frigid night air. She shivered involuntarily. “Brrr.”

        “Evening, Mrs. Anderson. Cold out there?”

        She turned toward the counter where Howard Baxter, the proprietor, stood. “It certainly is, Mr. Baxter. I’m more than a little ready for spring to come.”

        “Couldn't agree more. Need any help?”

        “No, thanks. I know what I’m after.”

        He gave her a warm smile, then turned his attention toward some paperwork.

        Lucy pulled her list of shopping items from her coat pocket and headed down the first aisle. It didn't take long to find the few things she wanted—eggs, cheese, an onion, a bottle of ketchup, a loaf of bread.

        When Lucy carried her items to the front of the story, Howard glanced at them and said, “I worry about your diet, Mrs. Anderson. You don't eat enough to keep a bird alive.” He raised an eyebrow. “Would you like a couple cans of green beans? We received a shipment of them today.”

        “How kind, Mr. Baxter. Yes, I believe I would like some.” Green beans were not among her favorite vegetables, but she didn't say so to Howard Baxter. It felt nice to have someone care about whether or not she ate right, even if that person was only the man who ran the corner grocery store.

        “How was your day?” Howard asked when he returned with the cans of beans.

        “Long.”

        The grocer nodded in understanding. “I've kept the radio on. The news coming through hasn't been good. Is your husband in North Africa?” He rang up the purchases as he spoke.

        “I don't think so.” Lucy gave her shoulders a slight shrug. “Richard was stationed in England the last I heard, but I haven't received any mail from him in several weeks. He could be anywhere by now.”

        “The not knowing is awful hard.”

        She nodded in agreement. The not knowing was hard. But, she wondered, would it be easier if she knew he was in Africa? Would she prefer to be in Margo’s place, knowing someone she loved was right in the thick of battle? No. No, she wanted Richard out of harm’s way for as long as possible. She wanted him to live through this war and come home. She wanted him to hold her in his arms and kiss her on the lips and love her until they were both old and gray.

        “Mrs. Anderson?”

        She looked up through a veil of unshed tears. “I’m okay,” she whispered.

        “If there’s anything I can ever do for you...” He allowed his words to fade into silence.

        “No, there’s nothing you can do, Mr. Baxter, but thank you for offering.” Lucy lifted her shopping bag and cradled it to her chest. “Will you put this on my account?”

        “Of course.”

        She thanked him again, then left the store, still fighting tears of loneliness.

*******

Robin Lee Hatcher
From her heart ... to yours!
Award-winning author of more than 45 novels including
BEYOND THE SHADOWS, VETERANS WAY, and LOVING LIBBY (August 2005)

Copyright 2005, Robin Lee Hatcher. Do not reproduce without permission.

THE VICTORY CLUB (Tyndale House) will be available on-line at Amazon.com, B&N.com, Christianbook.com, etc., and in bookstores everywhere in mid-May, 2005.

To purchase autographed copies or for more information about books by Robin Lee Hatcher, visit her web site at www.robinleehatcher.com

narnia scores

I discovered the Chronicles of Narnia when my children were little. I read my collection a number of times before my daughters were grown and gone from home. Four or five years ago, I listened to the entire collection on books on tape. I enjoyed these stories as much in my fifties as I did in my twenties and thirties.

Yesterday I went to see the movie. Awesome! That is the only word I can use to describe it. I loved everything about it. Everything. I noticed that my grandson was sitting so far forward on his seat I was afraid he would topple over.

If you haven't seen it, go. And go soon.

-rlh-

steps in the 7's

Ever since I answered that Seven Sevens meme, I've been pondering my answer to the "Seven things I want to do before I die" question. I'm keenly aware that I'm fast approaching senior citizen status (I'm on the wrong side of 50, so denial isn't an option!), and if there is something I really want to do, sooner than later might be good advice to myself.

So yesterday, I ordered an Italian language course (answer #4 was to learn a foreign language). I debated over Italian, Spanish, French, or Swedish. Swedish because my great grandparents (my maternal grandfather's parents) came from Sweden, and I hope to travel there someday. Spanish because there would be more opportunity for me to utilize Spanish as a second language since we have a large Spanish-speaking population in SW Idaho. French because it simply sounds pretty. But ultimately I chose Italian. Maybe someday I'll take a tour to romantic Tuscany (a la Under the Tuscan Sun) and Florence and Rome.

Answer #1 on that Seven Sevens meme was about travel, so I priced the cost of a guided tour to England and Ireland which are also the lands of my ancestors. This trip would/will be first on my list, before Italy or Sweden. It's time to set a travel date, at least an "ideal, hoped for" travel date, and start saving for it. I don't know if it will ever happen, but aspiring to something is part of what life is about, IMHO. I read something recently that said, "To be happy we need someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to." Of course, I believe to be truly happy, we also need faith in God, but I wouldn't quibble with the quote. It does make me happy to think about doing some fun traveling.

On Thursday I spent several hours planning out my writing calendar for the next several years, per my existing publishing contracts. I always plan for travel to CBA and RWA in the month of July. But I'm thinking I could sacrifice those conference trips (and expenses) one year for a trip overseas.

I let my passport expire a couple of years back. It had three stamps in it, two trips to Japan and one to British Columbia. So yesterday, still in anticipation of taking that trip to fulfill answer #1, I pulled a copy of the passport renewal application off the Internet, filled it out, went to AAA and got my passport photo taken (it is awful!!!). Today, I'm attaching my $67 check and mailing it off. Then I'll be prepared to go whenever the spirit moves me.

-rlh-

more on the 90 day challenge

For anyone accepting the Bible in 90 Day reading challenge, there is a site where you can register and keep track of your progress. Check it out!

-rlh-

fact and fiction, part 34

Believe it or not, I finally made it back over to Fact and Fiction, the journey of a novelist from there to here. The story of my writing career has arrived at 1999, the year I received a movie option for one of my books, saw my first CBA novels released, won my first RITA Award, and signed with two more CBA publishers. Yes, it was an eventful year.

-rlh-

a 90 day experience

Last year, I invited readers of this blog to join me in reading the Bible through from Genesis through Revelation in 2005. I don't know how many joined me, but I hope those who did have been as blessed as I've been. This is my fifth time to read through the Bible since 1997 (I'd read through it before that, too, but I wasn't doing it on a regular basis), and every time I read through it from start to finish, I'm amazed by the new things God shows me. The word of God truly is living and active.

While at Zondervan this fall, I learned about The Bible in 90 Days, a new Bible reading plan that takes the reader through the Bible, as the title says, in 90 days, reading 12 pages per day. Of course, buying this special Bible isn't necessary, but it is helpful because it measures out the reading so exactly. I ordered my copy from the publisher awhile back, and it arrived via UPS today. It's a lovely thin-line, large print, hardcover NIV.

I'm joining some writer friends who are reading through the Bible in the first three months of 2006 using The Bible in 90 Days. I noticed that Mary at Rhythms of Grace blogged about it today, too, so apparently news of this new Bible and its reading plan is spreading. If any of you are interested in joining me on this odyssey, I'd love to have you along for the experience. The book is available from Amazon.com as well as all other on-line and local bookstores.

Whether you join this Bible reading challenge or not, I pray that you will be hungry for the written Word of God in the new year and that you will dine on it regularly.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

planning ahead

A few days ago, I received the following request via email:

“Would you mind posting something on your blog about how you plan your workload in the future? ... I'm starting my seventh month as a full-time writer (woo-hoo!) and this is my first December to plan a full fiscal year. ... Any example you could provide on how you go about this would be very much appreciated.”

I’ve been pondering how to answer this so that I’ll sound both organized and intelligent. But to be honest, it isn’t all that complicated. Of course, I've been at this for more than two decades so this planning process has been learned along the way.

In general, I know that I need from four to five months to write a novel and from four to six weeks to write a novella. In addition, I must plan time for revisions and edits that follow the turning in of a manuscript. Most of this scheduling happens at the time I get a contract offer. I sit down with a calendar for the coming year(s) and block out travel time, writing time, editing time. I always try (and often fail) to build in some days, as much as humanly possible, for personal sickness and family emergencies.

I use the calendar creator in WordPerfect and print the months needed, two months per 8½" x 11" paper. Then I write with a pencil on the days and weeks of the calendars so that I can visualize what the coming year or two will look like.

I write for multiple publishers which means added pressure to deliver books on time, because being late with one book doesn’t just impact that publisher. It could affect all the other publishers and future books, too. I’ve had that happen, and it’s embarrassing and stress-producing.

I keep a daily running tally of pages produced. I also use the Journal tool in Outlook to note what else I've been doing so if my production is down I'll know what "life" was doing to me at the time. If I drop behind on my schedule, I’m very aware of how many pages/words I need to write to catch up. I keep a close eye on my planning calendar at all times. Sometimes I don’t catch up until I’m in a panic as time draws to a close.

The key thing is to try not to over-schedule (over-contract) yourself. Be reasonable. Be sensible. Don’t sign a contract for more books that you can write in a certain period of time. It may be tempting (we all love to be wanted!), but don’t do it. Contracting into the future isn't a problem. Just don't think you can write faster than you can. Be aware of your own writing pace. Some authors can do four thousand or six thousand or even ten thousand words in a day. Not me. I’ve had to learn what my own pace is and then plan accordingly. It helps to have quite a few completed books under your belt to know what that pace is.

I don’t know if this answers the question posed to me, but I hope it’s of some help to the writer who asked the question. And maybe to a few other blog readers as well.

-rlh-

merry merry day

I think a Santa Smiley is appropriate for this entry because I'm a happy writer.

Today I finished the revise and polish on A Carol for Christmas, and I emailed that baby off to the editor. With all that has gone on in my life during the time I was writing it, I told my editor I wished I was working on a thriller or a murder mystery instead of a Christmas romance. Killing off a character or two might have been cathartic! On the other hand, I got to listen to lots and lots of Christmas music while I worked so it put me in the mood for the season.

How about this? A Carol for Christmas is my ... 50TH BOOK!! I'm not sure I believed I would ever reach that number of published books. I don't think I believe it even now. It seems like only yesterday that I started writing my first one. I'm glad that I still feel the excitement of telling another story. It's still fun to see my name on the cover of a book, still a bit of a surprise to go into a bookstore and see my books on the shelves. I feel very blessed and privileged to get to do what I do. I'm so grateful for people who read my books, and especially thankful when they tell others about my books.

My #1 daughter came over yesterday to help get the decorations down from the garage attic. I didn't go all out this year. No big tree. Just a little one. Lights and garland on the piano and bookcase. Little Christmas doo-dads on the doors. Some lights in the window. Enough to make it feel like the season without overwhelming me putting it up or taking it down.

I love this time of the year, except for the cold. I'm not fond of icy temps. When I came home from a meeting tonight at 8:00, it was only 19 degrees. Now it's time to take Poppet outside to "do her business," as we delicately call it, and that means I have to freeze while I wait for her. Brrr.

Okay, Poppet calls.

-rlh-

this cracks me up

I have long said that I think of myself as "around 32." Of course, I was older than 32 when I started thinking and saying it. Now with this test that I discovered on Angie Hunt's blog, I've learned I act even younger than 32!!! Afraid I don't agree with it. I believe the avoidance of alcohol in the questions I answered considerably lowered my results. But it was fun to do anyway.

You Are 25 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

seven sevens

Okay, while I was in the midst of trying to finish a book, I got tagged for the latest meme making the rounds. Not by one but by two folks! Since I am thoroughly and completely brain dead after a rather intense rush to the finish, answering a meme seems like a pretty good way to fill my next blog post. Angie and BJ, here you go.

Seven Things to Do Before I Die:

1) Travel to the countries of my maternal and paternal great-grandparents: England, Ireland, and Sweden
2) Lower my cholesterol
3) Be consistent in my exercising
4) Learn a foreign language
5) Learn to play the piano again (I took lessons as a child)
6) Declutter my house so my children and/or grandchildren don't have to do it after I die
7) Move to a smaller home without lots of yard work

Seven Things I Cannot Do:

1) Plot a novel scene-by-scene in advance
2) Prepare a gourmet meal
3) Wear high heels
4) Run (it's pathetic!)
5) Watch sports on TV (except for figure skating and the Olympics)
6) Be around cigarette smoke
7) Understand calculus

Seven Things that Attract Me to My Best Friends (in no particular order):

1) Their love of God
2) Their devotion to husbands and children
3) The way they mentor other women
4) Their love of music, especially their voices raised in songs of praise to the Lord
5) The way we laugh together
6) The way we cry together
7) That they are prayer warriors and stand in the gap for others

Seven Things I Say Most Often:

1) Really?
2) Duh!
3) You know...
4) No, Poppet, no!
5) Awesome!
6) Major!
7) You think?

Seven Books (or series) I Love:

1) The Bible
2) Come Thirsty by Max Lucado
3) The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
4) Heaven by Randy Alcorn
5) Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
6) The Word on the Street by Rob Lacey
7) So many novels I could not begin to remember and list them all

Seven Movies I Would [and do] Watch Over and Over Again:

1) Sense and Sensibilities
2) Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth version)
3) About a Boy
4) Finding Neverland
5) Mansfield Park
6) An Ideal Husband
7) Return to Me
8) The Wizard of Oz
9) Dave
10) and many others in my considerable DVD collection

The last thing I'm supposed to do is list 7 people I would like to see answer this same meme. But since it appears everyone in the blogosphere has already been tagged by someone else, I think I will just skip that step. But if you want to play, join in and then let me know.

-rlh-

deadline fever

I am currently burning up the hours trying to get this latest book done. I will return to my blog soon after I hit "Send" on an email with the manuscript file attached.

I've been tagged for a meme by two different people, so that will probably be the next thing you see posted here. Stay tuned...