DTP

I just got back from a weekend at DTP! It was really good, like it usually is. The speaker this year was a guy named Brett Ullman. He was really good, really real, but funny. The Illusionist, Jared Hall, was really good. He was funny, and I laughed, a lot. The worship leader this time was Amanda Falk. She was really amazing, and it was amazing to see her 'live.' On Friday Night we had session #1 and then the illusionist and then Pizza! I didn't stay for the late night stuff, considering it went until 1:00 in the morning! On Saturday Morning, we had another session, youth group huddle ups, lunch and then I went to a worship session with Amanda Falk. After that we had the amazing race, and we did some pretty wierd stuff. Like cramming 9 people into the cab of a small truck, or sitting in a wheel barrow for a relay race, or putting a pedomiter on your head and banging it until it got to 1000, or human bowling. Our teamwas actually doing really good, but we ran out of time so we didn't get to finish. I went to the Reba concert after that, Amazing, so I missed the evening session and the junk yard poets concert. THEN this morning, we had another session and then brunch. It was all so good, and I really enjoyed it and learned.

Here it is...

Here's the interview with MaryLu Tyndall. Hope you guys like it. I'll put my questions in light blue and her answers in dark blue.
How did you become a Christian?
It's a really long story so I'll give you the short version. I wasn't a Christian most of my life. In fact, I was running from God. I believed I could find my own way, find my own happiness. But after I tried everything the world says will make you happy, I was miserable and empty. My life was in shambles. My marrige was failing, my kids were rebelling and I hated my job. So I picked up my old Bible and started reading, thinking maybe I could find some answers within it's pages. About halfway through Ezekial, I was reading about the prophecy about the Jews returning to their home land, and it struck me that the prophecy had come true in my lifetime. But Ezekial was written thousands of years ago! I didn't know exactly what happened, but it was like my mind was flooded with light and I remember thinking 'God is real.' Then I felt His precence envelop me and I've never been the same since!
What's your favorite Bible verse?
I have so many, but I have to say Romans 8:28. "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose!" That about covers it, doesn't it?
Do you have any pets, or did you have any growing up?
I had aquariams when I was growing up. I love them! And still have one. My mother wouldn't allow me to have any other pets, but I have 3 cats now.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, One brother who is on the SWAT team in South Florida and one sister who lives in Tennessee.
Do you have any kids?
Yes, I have 6 children ranging in ages from 20 to 29!
What's your favorite way to spend a Saturday?
Relaxing with family or going to the movies.
Did you take anything in College that helped you become an author?
No! I was a math major. Isn't that wierd? It just goes to show that God can do anything, right? But if you're thinking of becoming an author, take English or Creative Writing classes.
How did you decide to write 'sea fiction?'
I've always loved the sea and the tropics. And I've always had a fasination with ships. So I guess it was just a natural thing for me to focus my stories around sea farring tales.
If you could say one thing that everyone would hear, what would it be?
Nothing in this world fufills except knowing God.
Where did you get your inspiration for the Legacy of the Kings Pirates series?
From the Pirates of the Carribean movies! After I saw the first movie several times, God put it on my heart to write about a Christian Pirate. At first I thought I'd heard Him wrong! But I guess I didn't because that book got published as soon as I finished it and my publisher wanted two more books in that series.
Where did you get your inspiration for the Charles Town Bellese Series?
From the Parable of the seed and the sower in Matthew 13. I wanted to show examples of all 3 seeds in the life of women who lived in colonial Charles Town. The Red Siren represents the seed that fell on rocky ground. She heard the word of God but the problems and struggles of life choked it out from her. In the story, instead of relying on God, she becomes a pirate to solve her problems! Hope, in the Blue Enchantress, represents the seed that fell amoung thorns where the word of God was strangled by the pleasures of this world. Her quest for the wrong kind of love causes her to be sold as a slave on a Carribean Island! And finally, in The Raven Saint, Grace represents the seed that fell on good soil. From all appearances, she seems to be a sweet, godly, perfect woman, but when she is kidnapped by a French mercernary, Grace discovers her darker side.
Can you tell us anything about the Book series you're writing now, the Surrender to Destiny series?
Yes, It's about finding God's destiny for your life. Each book follows the adventures of three different women that live in Baltimore, Maryland, during the war of 1812. Each of these women has something that is keeping them from God's destiny for their lives, insecurity, fear and unbelief. And as they overcome these struggles, they each get caught up in the war and play a huge part in changing the course of history forever.
What would you say to someone who wants to be an author?
Work hard. Take a lot of writing classes. Join ACFW ( it's an online group of writers) , ask for help and direction from God and never give up until He tells you to!
Who is your hero?
Glenn Beck
If you could do one thing and not fail, what would it be?
Bring everyone in my family to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
If you could write one book that everyone would read, what would the theme of that book be?
God's unfailing love for you.

Thanks again for doing this MaryLu.

Unlocked

I started the book Unlocked yesterday. I'm only a few chapters into it, but it's about an 18 year old boy with Autism, Holden Harris, and the key that unlocks his heart, music. I'm sure this is going to be another good book by Karen Kingsbury.
At riding yesterday, I rode a horse named Tidy. Next week, I'm going to be a 'guinea pig and ride Brooke. She's a Morgan Mare, and hasn't acually been ridden by a rider yet, so we'll see.
MaryLu Tyndall emailed me today and we should have the answers to that author interview thing by this weekend.

Did Anyone know...

That today is National Bologna day? That's right, today is officially known as National Bologna day. Yesterday was Mole day, alone with national IPod day, and tomorrow is Punk for a day day. Here's the wierd holidays for the rest of October, I found them really cool.
26: Mule day
27: Sylvia Plath Day
28: Plush animal lovers day and Chocolate day
29: Hermit Day
30: National Candy Corn day
31: Magic day.

I don't think I'll be celebrating any of these odd holidays, but I find it fun to know what they are.

And it's closed

I sent the questions into MaryLu Tyndall today, and I should be getting the answers back sometime soon.
I'll let you know what She says once I get the answers

It's time

It's time for another author spotlight! This time, the author is going to be MaryLu Tyndall! She is the author of The Legacy of the King's pirates series (One of my personal favorite series), The CharlesTown Belles Series (Another one of my favorites), The Falcon and the Sparrow, and the Surrender to Destiny series, in which the second book will be released next March. MaryLu is one of my favorite authors. Her stories are real and believeable, with some daring sword fights and cannon blasts, with love and passion, faith and really good story telling. I always find myself in love with the characters she creates. You can get more information at
www.mltyndall.com
You can submit any questions you might have here, through a comment. The cut off date is October 21, which is a Thurday is the internet is correct :)
Then I'll email the questions to her and we'll get some answers.
I'm really excited about doing this feature and am honored that MaryLu has agreed to do this.

Unanswered Questions

I finished it tonight. It wasn't like most of the stories I write. The ending wasn't closed off. There was still a lot of unanswered questions as I finished the book. I can't really say much without giving it all away, but basically it's the story of Jared, Trinity, J.T, Heather, Sheila, Darrel and McKenzie. It follows the characters over a month and a half, and their journies as their faced with an unthinkable situation. As I neared the end, I wasn't sure how it was going to end. I didn't think it would end like it did. I didn't think there would be so many questions unanswered. This is only the 3rd book I've written that's not in a series. The problem, I find, with writing only one book, is that I love finding out more about these people's stories and I hate to see them end when the book is done. But it is finished. Another story is complete. Like J.T said in the story, it's all over.

Real Beauty

On a blog I'm a part of, we're discussing beauty. So many people fail to realize that they are beautiful, and that they are perfect just the way they are. So on this blog, we're talking about our struggles in this area, and ways we can beat the voice inside our heads that tell us we're not good enough. Every time I log into that blog, I log on to give. I give encouragment and my prayers to girls I don't even know, but feel so close too from our online conversations. But every time I log on, I recieve. I recieve prayers from those girls that just fill me up. I recieve congratulations on passing a test in school or doing well in a competition or on poems or songs I wrote. I recieve medicine that makes me overflow with joy. I'm so blessed to be part of a blog with such beautiful young women.There is no words to describe the beautiful people these girls are. I've never seen them face to face, but I know that every one of those girls is beautiful. Real Beauty isn't how you look or what clothes you wear. Real beauty isn't being a size 0 or having clear skin that sparkles. Real Beauty comes from the heart. Our culture is so opsessed with outer beauty. We care so much about how we look, and forget about the inside. Let me tell you, I've seen so many people that are so pretty, and then they open their mouth and say some little thing that makes their beauty diminish. Real Beauty comes from the heart. It's the love I feel from those girls whenever I go on that blog. It's how encouraging them makes me feel beautiful. It's hearing their words of how my prayers impacted their life. It's seeing those beautiful role models in my life, and learning from their wisdom. It's reading my Bible and learning to be more like Jesus. It's picking myself back up and trying again when I fail. Real beauty isn't in what size of jeans someone wears or their hair. Real beauty radiates from inside. It makes them glow. I'm honored and blessed to have so many beautiful women in my life, both role models and friends. I'm blessed to have so many beautiful friends that give to me when I came to give. I'm blessed to have so many truely beautiful people in my life. Truely Blessed.