Charles Drew Interview (with Mary Nichelson)

It is hard to dismiss the obvious; 2012 is an election year. Although taking your opinion to the polls is recommended and encouraged, many voters wonder where their morals and theology belong in the matter. Red letter Christians pour over the four gospels looking for answers, while others ask “How would Jesus vote?” 

Many wonder if politics and religion should intersect while others commit to turning a deaf ear, convinced their vote bears little weight in the election results. In his new book, Body Broken, author Charles Drew asks, “Can Republicans and Democrats sit in the same pew?” His passion for the church to remain united despite its political differences is apparent. 

“Jesus wants us to. He prays for it in John 17 and, according to Ephesians 2, he died to unite Jews and Gentiles (the most deeply hostile social groups in the ancient world), creating in them ‘one new man’.  If, therefore, Christians cannot find a way to live together in harmony (even when they disagree politically), they deny the power both of Jesus’ prayers and his cross. The credibility of the Christian story is at stake.”
 
Here, in his own words, Drew openly shares why he felt committed to write-and then revise-an important faith-based political commentary. “Indivisible under God” means something to Drew and he wants it to mean something to the church body, as well.
 
Why did you write Body Broken?
To help Christians stay united without ignoring their social and political responsibility. Republicans and Democrats ought to be able to worship together in the same church.

What is new about this new revised edition?
There are two changes. First, it is updated with reference to developments since 2000—the economic crisis, the election of Barack Obama, etc. Second, the book is more sharply focused on the necessity and possibility of Christian harmony in the midst of Christian social and political engagement.

Why not make peace in the church by withdrawing from all political discussion and involvement?
I can think of two reasons. First, Jesus commands us to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” We are his hands, voice, and feet, called to make him tangible in this world. We cannot be these things if we withdraw from political and social life. Second, we misrepresent Jesus if we withdraw from public life. He is not about to withdraw from the world he died to renew. Neither can Christians.

Should we legislate morality?
Everybody legislates morality: laws are the instrument we use to enforce or promote what we value—and values are an expression of morality. The important and interesting question is a different one: “Which morality should be legislated and why?”

Which morals should we seek to enforce by law?
Sorting this question out is difficult and we need to be patient with each other as we seek to do so. Some of the following distinctions can be helpful:

• The distinction between theocracy and influence.
• The distinction between moral principle and political strategy
• The distinction between the calling of the church and the callings of individual Christians.

Should there be an American flag displayed in a church sanctuary? If so, where?
This is a good question—it makes us think hard about the relative importance of our allegiance to Jesus Christ and our allegiance to America. We should be patient with each other as we try to sort it out.

• Jesus says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s’—which suggests that we obey Jesus by honoring our country. Displaying an American flag in a worship space in the United States might for this reason make sense.
• Jesus also says, “Give to God’s what is God’s”—which demands that our allegiance to our country must never be absolute. Displaying an American flag in such a way as to suggest that God and America speak with one voice would for this reason be problematic.

Should the church support foreign wars, encouraging its members to fight in them?
This is another good question aimed at pressing us to sort out our dual allegiance to God and to our country. Once again we need to be patient with one another as we try to sort it out, guarding each other’s consciences in areas where the Bible is not explicit.

• Some (pacifists) will say, “Never. For the state to ask me to use force against another human being is for the state to step beyond its proper limits. Jesus says to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5).
• Others (positivists) will say, “Of course. The state is put in place by God and we obey God, therefore, by exercising loyalty to the state, even if it means putting ourselves in harms way” (see Romans 13)
• Still others (normativists) will say, “It depends on the war (is it a just war—a necessity brought about by a great evil that must be resisted) and upon what particular deeds I am asked to perform (What happens if my commander orders me to shoot or maltreat prisoners of war?).

What do you do when you deeply disagree with a fellow Christian about politics?

• Think biblically about what is going on, about what is at stake:
  • The disagreement is a chance for you to grow in love and faith.
  • Jesus is praying for unity in the church Jesus died to make you one with this person.
  • Your relationship with this person will outlast the end of every political strategy and disagreement.
• Pray for yourself and this fellow Christian
• Talk honestly and openly, looking for common ground in hopes that you can do something together
• Sit together in the same pew.

Author Bio: Charles D. Drew received his education at Harvard (BA in English) and Westminster Seminary(M. Div.). He has pastored for thirty years in Virginia, Long Island and New York, all in university settings. He presently serves as the senior minister of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, which he founded in 2000 near Columbia University. Drew speaks frequently to universities and churches and is also the author of A Public Faith: Bringing Personal Faith to Public Issues, An Ancient Love Song: Finding Christ in the Old Testament and A Journey Worth Taking: Finding Your Purpose in This World. He and his wife Jean, a science teacher at the Brearly School in Manhattan, have two married children and two grandchildren. Sailing and music are two of Charles’ great loves.

You can learn more about the intersection of church and politics by visiting Drew’s blog. Purchase a copy of Body Broken, visit New Growth Press.

Author interviews also featured in the September issue of TWJM: Michael J. Scott, Murray Pura, and Delia Latham. 

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/. 

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Delia Latham Interview (with Mary Nichelson)

Author Delia Latham’s goal as a writer is straight forward; “To be used of God to touch the hearts of others through my writing.” Why through writing? “Writing has been my passion since third grade, when I won an essay writing contest and took home the coveted prize: a beautiful bed doll with a pink quilted satin skirt. Winning that contest made a profound impact on my young psyche - enough so that I never stopped writing.” 

She is credited with writing songs, poems, greeting cards, articles, short stories, and yes, novels. Her audience is as diverse as the genres that she covers, encompassing young readers as well as adult lovers of historical and contemporary Christian fiction. Although on the surface Latham appears to be a multi-talented successful author, she gauges true success by the way her writing impacts readers. 

“Hearing that a fellow Christian pilgrim has been encouraged and uplifted through words I have written is among life's sweetest moments. To know that someone has been stirred to renew a relationship with Christ through those words would be a source of immeasurable joy!"  Her recent release Gypsy’s Game hit book stores earlier this year, rounding out her Solomon’s Gate series. She settled into our interview regarding the series, answering questions pertaining to her characters and the issues they faced as well as freely sharing why she loves being a princess daughter.

MN-Tell us a little about the Solomon's Gate series and what exactly, Solomon's Gate is.

DL-Solomon's Gate is the name of a Christian dating agency founded by Destiny May - the heroine in the first novel of this 3-book series. Destiny's dream of owning an agency where Christian "Seekers" can find true love comes to fruition - with the help of an attractive investment guru and an angel named Solomon. In the first book, Destiny finds not only a dream come true...but a love of her own. In the two books that follow, other Seekers walk through the Gate...and create stories of their own.

MN-Book Three in the series, Gypsy's Game, was just released. Is this the last in the series?

DL-For the moment, it seems so...but now and then I think I hear the creaking of a pair of huge hinges.... Solomon's Gate doesn't follow the rules of earthly plans and schedules - it is operated by Divine hands. So who knows when it might swing open yet again?

MN-You write so accurately regarding issues near and dear to women that your novels become a connecting point with your readers. Are your characters based on personal life experience or divine intervention from God during the writing process?

DL-The Solomon's Gate books were definitely inspired by Someone other than me. God took the "wheel" and steered these characters down paths I didn't even know about. He was working in and on me as I wrote. The entire experience was a blessing.

MN-Your bio states that you "especially love being a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords." I love that! Can you elaborate on what that means to you?

DL-Oh, yes! I've never been wealthy - don't expect that to change in this life. And yet I am rich. My Father is a KING! I may never own a mansion in this world. I may never wear royal robes while I breathe earthly air. But I know the plans my Father the King has for me...plans to prosper me, to give me hope, and a future. Every day He loads me with benefits. He chases me down to pour blessings out on me. I am indeed the petted and pampered princess daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

MN-Playing piano, enjoying nature and designing are just a few projects you are involved in. Do you relate to God in an artistic manner-more through expression than contemplation?

DL-Very much so. Through music, in particular, I find that special bond to Christ. But He's there in every part of my life, every day.

MN-What books are on your to read list? What are some of your all time favorites?

DL-White Rose Publishing (a division of the Pelican Book Group) has so many wonderful books, and many of them are on my TBR list. I also love Mary Conneally and Vickie McDonough. But my all-time favorites are not books you'd expect me to name. They are The Stand, by Stephen King, and Swan Song, by Robert R. McCammon. Both are epic accounts of good vs. evil in a post-apocalyptic world.

MN-In a perfect world, where standards and belief systems are universal, what would "faith based" mean to you?

DL-Based on God's leading and direction. Founded on spiritual concepts and Rock-solid salvation.

MN-Describe your ideal writing spot.

DL-I haven't found it yet.  But I never stop looking. I move from place to place with my laptop, and end up writing in the same ol' humdrum places. But that's just boring reality. In a perfect world, I'd have a pristine clean and awesomely organized office in a glass-walled room overlooking the ocean. Hey, a gal's gotta dream!

Author Bio-Born and raised in a place called Weedpatch, Delia Latham moved from California to Oklahoma in 2008, making her a self-proclaimed California Okie. She loves to read and write in her simple country home, and gets a kick out of watching her husband play Farmer John. The author enjoys multiple roles as Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves being a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. She loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her through her website or send an e-mail to delia@delialatham.net.

 

Author interviews also featured in the Sept. issue of TWJM:  Charles Drew, Michael J. Scott, and Murray Pura.

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Murray Pura Interview (with Mary Nichelson)

Many writers admit to stumbling upon the craft as a second career choice or, in some cases, never intended on penning a bestseller. While the aspiring author might wince upon hearing those admissions made by other authors, Murray Pura can not make the same claim.  

“Murray Andrew Pura was born on Bobby Burns Day, hence his first two names, and one of the reasons, no doubt, that he was writing stories by the time he was eight. His first work of fiction was published when he was fourteen, his first award in a writing contest came at seventeen.” 

Although Pura has been a successful author from a young age, his life experiences have not been confined to the key board. As an ordained minister, he has pastored churches in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Alberta. This endearing quality-remaining connected to humanity at its worst and possibly very best-is magnified in the characters he creates. In his latest series, Snapshots in History, love and war play out in the reader’s hand but as Pura makes clear, the series is not intended to be read as a history textbook; he has something much bigger in mind.

MN-Before the first chapter, there is a short disclaimer of sorts stating that The Face of Heaven "is not a history of the Civil War. Nor is it a history of...the Iron Brigade, or of the 19th Indiana." Why was it important to you to make this statement in the beginning of the book?

MP-The Civil War remains one of the most hotly debated topics in American culture. People still argue about what might have happened if various battles had gone differently, if Stonewall Jackson had not died before Gettysburg, if Grant faced Lee in 1862 instead of 1864, etc., etc. I wanted Civil War buffs to know from the outset that although I researched the war meticulously, and have been reading about it since I was a boy, I was not out to write a textbook - I was there to tell a story to which the war was a backdrop.

MN-Until I read your book, I had not seen very much in the market related to The Civil War and The Amish. The two rarely intersect in novels. Yet, I noticed that later this year, several more Civil War/Amish books are set to be released. I believe you will be considered a trail blazer of sorts by default by releasing your title first. What about this storyline interested you?

MP-The American Civil War has always fascinated me and troubled me . It fascinated because of the high drama of brothers fighting brothers, families fighting families, Americans fighting Americans. But it troubled me for the same reason - a nation turning on itself in fury so that there were more than 700,000 dead, almost twice as many as World War 2. I wondered - what did the Amish think of all this? So I decided to have young Amish men question their church's stance on avoidance of conflict when the nation itself was at stake and whether that nation would be slave or free.

MN-There are critics who say a male author can not adequately express female emotions in print. I am going to be very honest with you by saying I had to verify that a male wrote the book because you not only adequately captured female emotions, you capitalized on them. What life experiences have you experienced that helped form this writing quality?

MP-Women are endlessly fascinating to me for their combination of beauty, intelligence, strength, and compassion. I did not marry until I was 29 so obviously I had many years of dating and had relationships with many different women. Then of course I married my love. All of these factors combined to make me see and listen and take in what women expressed with or without words. I became much more than a casual observer. I wanted to understand.

MN-Which gave you the most trouble in writing The Face of Heaven; the love story or the war story?

MP-It is so pleasant to do the love scenes I've decided to do more of that in the novels to come. Love scenes are not hard to do. Battle scenes are harder because you are working with death and violence. Characters you have created and loved get killed - this can be more upsetting for the writer than many readers might suppose. Death is not a fiction any more than love is. So while love scenes remind you of your personal experiences with regards to romance the war scenes remind you of your personal experiences with regards not only to death in and of itself but violent death. It's not a pleasant stroll down memory lane.

MN-Tell our readers about your Snapshots in History series.

MP-It was envisaged as a series that touched on the watersheds of American history and how those watersheds were experienced by people who embraced the Christian faith - ordinary people who were caught up in extraordinary times. The series was meant to put people right there, not as observers, but as participants having to make life and death decisions in the flash of an eye and with the swift utterance of a brief prayer. Each book was meant to stand alone though from time to time we may bring certain characters back in another story. (That is actually happening with Number 3 in the series, Whispers of a New Dawn, where the characters of The Wings of Morning return.) We hope to see the series run to six or seven volumes, depending on how our readership grows and how it expresses interest in new titles.

MN-In The Romantic Times review of The Wings of Morning, they noted, "Pura has created one of the finest stories in Amish fiction I have ever read." What a  compliment considering the Amish genre is saturated with excellent writers. Was that a milestone for you as an author to know your work was considered not only competitive but superior in a popular category?

MP-For sure it was a strong shot in the arm - after all, I'd never put the Amish and historical fiction together in one story before. When you are branching out as a writer and trying something new it is an enormous encouragement and affirmation to receive a positive review like that. Publishers Weekly also gave a thumbs up review so put together I was very excited and very grateful. It keeps you going.

MN-You've occupied several career titles including reporter, editor, ski equipment salesman, emergency medical orderly, camp director, security officer, book store clerk and advocate. It is obvious that you love people. How can we improve on the way we form relationships with each other, especially as it relates to connecting with those that aren't like minded?

MP-I really think good fiction helps with that because it can put you in those other people's shoes. You hear their stories and you indirectly experience what they have gone through and all of a sudden you see them as people, not enemies or oddballs. You develop empathy and compassion because a story engages you heart and your imagination. It really is a matter of experiencing them as humans with a story, sometimes a story not unlike yours. Fiction in book form or in TV and film or on stage helps us arrive at a point of humanizing those we and others have dehumanized or even demonized. We're all people and God made us all - that's where we have to arrive at and that's were we have to start from eventually.

MN-"Christianity was not meant to be a weapon or an argument or a show of force or a political tool. Or an act of aggression or coercion. It was never meant to be a cause or a prop for a cause.  Or something to pacify and make thousands go to bed happy and unthinking. It was meant to be a challenge, yes, but that challenge to a second life was meant to be laced with kindness. If someone forces you to choose between God is holy and God is love choose God is love because holiness without love translates into tyranny." This is your life philosophy, I am presuming, and one that needs to be shared worldwide. God really is love. How can readers come to know the God of love as opposed to God of judgment only, or God of condemnation?

MP-To me it is really a matter of reading the gospels. All of the Bible is significant, of course, but the gospels tell us the story of Jesus and therefore they need to be read more often and more closely. When we do we realize many things churches do and many ways Christians act in and out of church have little or nothing to do with Jesus. Reading any of the gospels in any translation is always a wake up call to me because the rest of the Bible and Christianity and my personal life has to go through him. So many times people lunge at verses that Jesus altered (eye for eye = love your enemies) and act on them as if he never came - they live lives under the law and not under grace. So many times the gap between Jesus and people of the Christian faith is so huge the rest of the world might be pardoned for asking, "Does Jesus have anything to do with your faith - your business - your persona life - your church? At all?" Jesus is the Word. You can't say you're following the Bible and do things he transformed when he walked among us n the body. "What would Jesus do?" is still one of the best antidotes to preventing the Christian faith from running off the rails that I know of.

Author Bio-Murray Andrew Pura was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and has traveled extensively throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Ordained as a Baptist minister in 1986, Pura has served five churches in Canada and headlined numerous speaking engagements in Canada and the United States. He has five books published, was a contributor to the Life With God Bible, has been a finalist for The Paraclete Fiction Award, The Dartmouth Book Award, and The John Spencer Hill Literary Award, and has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2010 Kobzar Literary Award of Canada.

You can connect with Murray Pura on facebook and by visiting his website. You can also read excerpts from his books and order through his website.

 

Other author interviews featured this month in TWJM: Charles Drew, Delia Latham, and Michael J. Scott.

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Michael J. Scott Interview (with Mary Nichelson)

Although Michael J. Scott specializes in action thrillers and suspense, his real forte is how quickly his novels are being written and released. His first book, Jefferson’s Road was released in 2011 with three more debuting in the same year. He is actively engaged in bringing four more novels to print this year, making the last twenty-four months industrious as a writer. Scott’s readers appreciate and reciprocate the passion for his work by using such phrases as “If Michael Scott didn't write in paragraph form, I would forget to breathe” in their reviews. As busy as Scott is with his writing, he generously took time out to talk with me regarding his novels and another passion of his, freestyle Kendo.

MN-Before I could finish reading the prologue, I was intrigued and already looking forward to the way the plot would play out. How did you write The Lost Scrolls; per outline, starting at the ending and working backwards, or did it just develop as you went along?

MS-I wrote The Lost Scrolls with an outline. I had just finished my first novel, The Coppersmith, and I’d started several others, but nothing really “sparked” my interest. My family and I went on vacation, visiting my in-laws in North Carolina. We were staying in a nearby motel room, and when the inspiration hit me, it was after 10 pm. Since we were all staying in a single room, I took a chair and went and hid in the bathroom so I could write with the light on without disturbing anybody. I outlined the entire novel in one sitting.

MN-I like the way that the format of the book is reader friendly. The way it is broken up into small, readable passages actually keeps the reader moving along, as opposed to looking for the next stopping point. Was this intentional on your part-a niche of sorts for you as an author?

MS-Yes, this is entirely intentional. I’ve read numerous other thrillers and adventure books, and decided that shorter chapters would help keep the pages turning. Of course, I try to keep the action up as well.

MN-In a review by Christianbookstoday.com, it says "(The Lost Scrolls is a) spy vs. spy meets James Bond meets Indiana Jones quest." Do you believe this is a fair and accurate assessment?

MS-Perhaps. I can’t say  there’s any “spy” in it, though there is plenty of intrigue and mystery. It may be that they’re referring to the Catholic priest who used to be a CIA operative, or the Orthodox monk who once served in the Romanian Securitate. There is definitely a bit of the Indiana Jones in it, though.

MN-The Lost Scrolls has been described as "edgy" and "not your mother's Christian fiction". Do you think modern readers are looking for more than what traditional authors have offered? How can a Christian writer cater to readers without crossing over a line that would appear secular?

MS-Like many fiction authors today, I cut my teeth when Christian fiction was just being reborn here in the States. There was an attempt by publishers, early on, to keep Christian fiction “safe.” The result was that no Christians were ever portrayed in a negative light. They ceased to be real. At the same time, the antagonists tended to be painted in very dark colors. The books I read reminded me a bit of the old spaghetti westerns, where all the good guys wore white hats and all the bad guys wore black hats. I try to mix it up a bit more. I want to show that the Christians in my novels are still sinners saved by grace and not by any virtue they possess. I also want to show that even my bad guys are still made in the image of God. This has the effect of making the characters—and therefore the story—that much more real and relatable to the average reader.

The challenge for Christian writers today is to write what the story demands. Christian fiction should not be characterized so much by what it avoids as by what it presents. In other words, what makes a fiction book “Christian” is not the absence of sin per se, but rather the Presence of Christ in the story. Does it present Jesus? Does it present grace? And does it do so in a way that is organic to the story, rather than tacked on?

MN-Would you like to see The Lost Scrolls on the big screen and if so, who would you choose to play Dr. Jonathan Munro?

MS-I would love to see The Lost Scrolls on the big screen. As for Jonathan Munro… he’s tough to cast because he’s not your typical action star. He shouldn’t be someone too attractive or buff or anything like that. See, now having said that, how can I possibly suggest an actor without insulting his physique?

MN-You have written several books-six with several to be released in the near future. Considering the many characters you have developed, which is your favorite?

MS-Wow. That’s a tough one. There’s a little bit of me in each of them (even more frightening when you consider that some of my characters are psychotic killers. Yikes!). I think I like the characters best who surprise me, who take on a life of their own and sometimes take over the plot. Certainly Izzy did that. I had a completely different ending written for The Lost Scrolls, but when I came to it, she wouldn’t play the part I’d laid out for her. She was determined to do something so unexpected, it threw me off for a week and left me wondering how I’d ever finish the book. So in that sense, I like Izzy quite a bit, which is why we’ll see her again. Special Agent David Wisenhauer inThe Coppersmith also surprised me – mostly with some of the things he says. But I can honestly say that Peter Baird from the Jefferson’s Road series is the character I know the best – if only because I’ve written the most about him. He’s like Jon in the sense that he tries hard to do the right thing, but unlike Jon, he compromises a lot more, and it gets him into serious trouble.

MN-I noticed in your author's biography that you are active in Freestyle Kendo. Can you explain what that is?

MS-Freestyle Kendo isn’t really Kendo at all, though it’s loosely based on it. Essentially, it is fencing with a double-handed bamboo shinai (a Kendo practice sword), and very little body armor. Unlike typical fencing, which relies on thrusting techniques, Freestyle Kendo relies on cutting and blocking techniques. It’s similar in style to what you would see in most sword movies—Highlander, Braveheart, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, the Star Wars saga, and other films.

My sparring partner is a six foot six inch tall, 580 lb gorilla of a man who usually beats me six out of ten times. It’s a lot of fun, and sometimes we get a little bruised, but it’s also an amazing stress reliever.

MN-The Christian worldview and how it influences daily interactions is one of your passions. Is it possible to maintain a faith-based, stable worldview as it relates to morals and ethics when society is constantly changing her standards?

MS-Dean William R. Inge once said, “Whoever marries the spirit of this age will find himself a widower in the next.” And Simone Weil said, “To be always relevant, you have to say things which are eternal.”

Society is an ocean. She’s always shifting about this way and that—utterly unstable and prone to make you seasick if you try to stand firmly on her surface. I find great comfort in the solidity of God’s Word—the Bible. It doesn’t change. I know right and wrong are whatever God says they are, and since He is eternal, I know that right and wrong won’t change just because someone comes along with a clever argument.

That being said, I very much consider myself a truth-seeker, and not a dogmatist. My opinions have changed as I’ve grown, but they remain anchored in God’s Word. I don’t always interpret it as I used to, but my aim is always to interpret it correctly—to understand what was meant when it was written within the context in which it was written. There are essentials of the faith that are so crystal clear in Scripture that I have no doubt of them whatsoever. There are non-essentials and mysteries of the faith that aren’t as clear, and I learn and grow as I study and press deeper into God for greater understanding—which is why I think God left the mysteries there, so that we would seek Him rather than simply pat ourselves on the back for having all the answers clearly spelled out.

I know this: God is, and Jesus is the God-man who died for my sins, rose again bodily from the dead, and is coming back to take home those who trust Him for salvation. I am not perfect and I don’t have it all figured out, but I do know that Jesus loves me, and that His mercy is the only reason any are saved. So yeah, it’s entirely possible to maintain a stable, faith-based worldview in the face of this world’s changing standards. In fact, not only is it possible, it’s essential.

Author Bio-Michael J. Scott specializes in action/adventure thrillers and suspense. He released four novels between 2010 and 2011, and is expecting to release as many in 2012. He lives outside of Rochester, NY with his wife and three children. 

Michael is currently working on a sequel to The Coppersmith entitled Topheth, about a serial arsonist torching churches, the next installment of the Jefferson's Road series: The Tree of Liberty, and a dystopian teen novel calledIn The Widening Gyre. He has a sequel to The Lost Scrolls entitled The Elixir of Life coming from Ellechor Publishing House in 2013.

You can visit Michael J. Scott at his website-as well as following him on Twitter-@AuthorMichaelJS

Other interviews featured in The Wordsmith Journal Magazine: Murray Pura, Delia Latham, and Charles Drew.

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Julianne Donaldson Interview (with Mary Nichelson)

Shadow Mountain Publishing recently announced a new brand of romance appropriately called Proper Romance. “I think the pendulum has swung as far as it can in the erotica direction. What was once exciting for readers is getting a little old, and a lot of readers are ready for something different” explains author Julianne Donaldson. “I am not saying that every romance should be like mine, but I am saying that there should be room for a variety, and before now, that was very difficult to find outside of the inspirational category. The fact that Jane Austen continues to be a favorite among both readers and movie-goers gives me hope that readers will embrace this new brand of proper romance.” The first book in Shadow Mountain’s proper romance genre is Donaldson’s new book, Edenbrooke. Although not a faith based novel that includes a spiritual dilemma of sorts,Edenbrooke is perfect for readers who love the Jane Austen experience minus the gratuitous sexual situations or language, and Donaldson delivers without layering the plot with sugarcoated wording or characters. Edenbrooke is a step in the right direction for Proper Romance, and one that Shadow Mountain can be proud to offer readers that are, in fact, “looking for something different.”

MN-What do you think Jane Austen would say about the romance genre today?

JD- I think she would be shocked at what can be written and published in a novel today, considering the innocent nature of her novels. I also think she would surprised that her writing sparked an entire genre of literature. And-this is strictly my own opinion, of course-I imagine she would wish for more elevating love stories and less of a focus on lust in today’s romance novels.

MN- What were your biggest obstacles in writing this story?

JD- The hardest part about writing this story was making it fresh while keeping it believably Regency. It was a very restrictive time to live in, especially for a young lady. I had to consider everything from language to geography to social customs to class distinctions to chaperones. There were many times I dreamed of writing a fantasy instead so I could shape an imagined world around my plot instead of trying to work my plot into the tight box of a Regency world.

MN-What made you interested in writing a romance set in the Regency period?

JD- When I seventeen, I contracted pneumonia and spent a month in bed. A good friend saved me from boredom by giving me a stack of Georgette Heyer novels. I devoured each one, and then read them again and again. I have been in love with the Regency period ever since. I studied British literature in college, watched every movie produced that features the Regency time period, and dreamed of men dressed in breeches. When I decided to try my hand at writing a novel, my mind automatically went to the Regency period and refused to leave. It was like the hometown of my imagination.

MN- If Edenbrooke were made into a movie, who could you see playing Marianne and Philip?

JD- There is a young British actress named Imogen Poots who I can totally see as Marianne. My favorite leading men right now are Jake Gyllenhaal and James McAvoy. I would pay good money to see either of them play dreamy Philip.

MN- Where is your favorite place to write?

JD- Next to a window, preferably some place where no one will interrupt me. You can usually find me in my local library, but I would love to have a quiet writing room at home.

MN- Can you give us a hint concerning what your next story is going to be about?

JD- My next story, which is also set in the Regency period. is about a young lady who dreams of going to India. There is also a grand estate with too many secrets, a smuggler, a gentleman, and a bargain.

Author bio-Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children. Edenbrooke is her first novel.

You can learn more about author Julianne Donaldson by visiting her website or connecting through Facebook.

 

Also interviewed in the August issue of The Wordsmith Journal: Donita K. Paul & Evangeline Denmark, Alvetta Rolle, and Cortney Davis.

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Cortney Davis Interview (with Mary Nichelson)

“I write to honor my patients and the moments we share, and also to keep harm away—not with medicine but with memory. In my writing, nursing becomes a metaphor for how we care or fail to care for one another—our families, our neighbors, our lovers. For me nursing, like writing, is that human place in which nurturing and mystery meet.” Author Cortney Davis takes her readers on this journey through the course of eleven books; some poetry, others fiction, and then there is her testimony written in booklet format. No matter what her writing style is labeled, she connects with her readers through true to life experiences and a relativity that any reader can associate with.

MN- You wrote your testimony (Is It A Baby, Or Just Some Cells) in 2007 and followed it with To Begin Again, a fictionalized medical novel based on your testimony, in 2010. What prompted you to write the fictionalized version as well?

CD- I wanted to give readers a more detailed picture of how healthcare professionals might deal with the topic of abortion, including giving graphic images of how abortions are performed, and especially relating how difficult it is to be a pro-life caregiver in today’s society.  In the booklet, Is It a Baby or Just Some Cells, I spoke of my own conversion from being a pro-choice nurse practitioner working in women’s health to being a pro-life nurse practitioner—but at some level I felt that my personal story didn’t give enough information.  In To Begin Again, I relate the story not only of Martha, who undergoes a conversion as I did, but also of other characters, some who are staunchly pro-choice.  I wanted to give both sides of the abortion debate, as seen by caregivers, letting readers travel the journey alongside Martha as she experienced her conversion to life. 

MN- Do you think readers—especially those that aren’t attached to a certain church or religious doctrine—will be open to your message in To Begin Again since it is not preachy or overly religious?

CD- Although I am Catholic and, in the book, Martha eventually returns to her Catholic roots, I wanted the book to be applicable to everyone—religious or not.  For me, the question of abortion transcends religion, and I very much wanted to avoid preaching or pushing any particular religion’s point of view. The practice of abortion is one that we must examine personally, humanly, and in the depths of our beings, regardless of what our particular faith allows or forbids.  The study questions at the back of the book are designed to bring everyone into the discussion, no matter their religion or their current belief regarding abortion.  I’m not naïve enough to believe that reading To Begin Again will bring everyone to instant conversion—although that did happen to one reader. I’ll be happy if reading the book introduces the subject of abortion to readers in a more personal and realistic way.  I think it’s easier to be pro-choice if you’ve never been in the room watching an abortion, performing an abortion, or speaking in the exam room to a woman whose grief after abortion is overwhelming.  

MN- The main character, Martha, finds that medical personnel that perform abortions aren’t necessarily bad people. In fact, they believe they are offering a much needed service to women. Have you found that ideology prevalent in healthcare facilities that you have worked in?

CD- Indeed.  Most caregivers who perform abortions fall into one of several categories, I’ve found.  The first category believes strongly that abortion is a woman’s right, that it is not ethically wrong, and that they are serving women by doing abortions.  A second category is made up of caregivers who believe that performing abortions is part of their duty as gynecologists and that women do have the right to choose. Although these practitioners do not necessarily like to perform abortions, they will. They often try to help women chose alternatives to abortion, and they do not necessarily believe in abortion on demand. A third group believes that while women have the right to chose, abortion is generally “wrong.”  These folks, like so many others, think that abortion is not for them but may be okay for others.  They more of less take a deep breath and do abortions when required to do so.  Other caregivers might engage in performing abortions initially but ultimately have to stop. Some residents feel obligated to do abortions in training but decide they will not do them in private practice.  Some very brave residents refuse to perform abortions under any circumstances.  

MN- Do healthcare providers become numb to what they are doing? Using terms such as “medical procedure” as opposed to “abortion” has to influence those giving, as well as receiving, abortions.

CD- I think that often providers become numb to what they are doing and, in some cases, this is necessary.  It’s difficult for an oncologist to witness how chemotherapy can sicken a patient, and yet the doctor must order the chemotherapy in order to save lives.  Abortion is a different matter.  Most providers—not all, but most—have to distance themselves from what they are doing and seeing during an abortion.  I think that only the staunchest supporters of abortion can perform one without having some emotional reaction.  I’ve seen medical students and residents find all sorts of ways to convince themselves that “it’s not a baby.”  And I’ve heard nurses tell patients “it’s not a baby; it’s only a tangle of cells,” and I wonder if this is to lessen the patient’s guilt or the nurses discomfort.  I find that pre-abortion counseling is often aimed at giving the least amount of information necessary.  Before any operation, a patient is given—or should be—specific information about what will be done, including full disclosure of risks, side effects and a detailed description of why the operation is needed.  Women who choose abortion are too often given very superficial information—I had many patients who came back post-abortion angry that they were not told the details of fetal development or about all the risks of abortion.  In one job situation, I was actually told not to give a woman any information that might lead her to change her mind about having the abortion!

MN- What is the bigger challenge; persuading women not to end their pregnancy prematurely through abortion, or persuading medical facilities not to offer the procedure in the first place?

CD- The reality is that it will be almost if not totally impossible to stop medical facilities from offering abortions, whether it’s Planned Parenthood, free-standing clinics, hospitals or doctors’ offices—our society is too deeply entrenched in the belief that abortion is a “right” and that we have no business imposing our beliefs on others.  I think that the challenge we might better embrace is to educate women, one by one if necessary, about their bodies, the gift of their fertility, how their cycles reflect their health, how to know when they are fertile and when they are not fertile, how a pregnancy begins and develops, how the woman and the child are uniquely bonded, how abortion harms a woman both emotionally and physically, and how to effectively avoid or achieve pregnancy, and so on.  We need to revision our sex education and begin treating fertility as a wonder and not a disease that needs to be eradicated.  I do this myself by teaching women and couples the Creighton Model of FertilityCare, a well-researched method of avoiding or achieving pregnancy that is based on a woman’s individual cycle and is highly effective.  If only I had know about this method when I worked in traditional OB-GYN!  The key to reaching women and teaching our society about the sanctity of life is not through shouting or, I’m afraid, even through marching.  The key is educating women and men, and that is a slower process than we might like.

MN- Having, expressing and living by moral convictions is tough in a society that demands political correctness. How do we stand by moral convictions when faced with those that believe having a choice should be an option?

CD- I believe that the personal, honest approach is always best.  I can only relate my experience, my conversion, my beliefs and let them be accepted or rejected by another.  I do not believe in force feeding either religion or beliefs—I know from personal experience that conversion occurs as it will, guided by the Holy Spirit, and in God’s good time.  All I can do is sew seeds, gently and kindly, and trust that those seeds might grow.  I remember very casual pro-life remarks that were made to me when I was still wearing a “Keep your hands off my body” button or attaching “Pro-choice” bumper stickers to my car.  At the time, I shrugged those remarks off—but they played around the edges of my mind and did their work.  I now have a “Choose Life” bumper sticker on my car.  Who knows how many idling behind me at a stop light or passing me on the highway will remember those words, and days, weeks or years from now find themselves choosing life?  We change others by our lived examples, much more than through argument.

MN- In addition to penning your testimony and medical fiction, you’ve written poetry. What comes most natural for you to write?

CD- I think that for many years poetry came more naturally to me, not that poems don’t require much revision and work.  But the impetus of my writing more often took poetic form.  I find now that prose comes to me a bit more easily, and yet my prose is often leaning toward the poetic.  Now I find that one genre influences the other, and I can happily go back and forth between the two.  Although I do find that if I’m working on a poetry collection, I don’t write any prose during those weeks, and vice versa.

MN- Your single most important passion in life would be......

CD- Just one?!  I have many important passions, among them my family, my writing, my work with women.  But the most important?  I think that for me the most important passion is, as I age, to continue to discover who I am, what I am called to do, how I am called to serve, how I can rightly praise, and how I can become holy within the confines of my earthly life.

You can learn more about author Cortney Davis by visiting her website. To order any one of Davis’ books, visit the following links:
To Begin Again   
Conversion / Return (poems)
The Heart's Truth: Essays on the Art of Nursing
Between the Heartbeats: Poetry and Prose by Nurses
Intensive Care: More Poetry and Prose by Nurses 

Note: As you research the work of Cortney Davis, please verify the spelling of Cortney as there is an Irish author by the same name but spelled as Courtney.

 

Also interviewed in The Wordsmith Journal: Julianne Donaldson, Donita K. Paul & Evangeline Denmark, and Alvetta Rolle. 

For more about Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Alvetta Rolle Interview (with Mary Nichelson)

Author Alvetta Rolle is not afraid to tackle tough social issues as they relate to women. She effortlessly confronts controversial themes such as infidelity and prostitution in her new novel The Mercy Seat.  She is a harmonious author, in touch with the psyche of women and the challenges they face, and knows how to articulate those emotions in an entertaining format.  Although Rolle’s first book, it is also the first in her Freedom Baptist Trilogy that will allow the reader to stay in touch with their beloved characters in every book; the very characters that became the focal point of our recent interview.

MN- The Mercy Seat is set in Las Vegas. It brings to mind the saying "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", but there is also a lot of symbolism there. Did you have a specific reason for using this particular city for your setting?

AR- I used Las Vegas, because we know it as Sin City.  Whenever, someone hears of Las Vegas, they think of someone living in debauchery, and doing something that is far beyond redemption.  This symbolized how Sofia felt about herself and her relationship with Julia, and it is also how Xavier and Felecia felt about their marriage. I used this to show that no matter who you are, you are never "too far gone."

MN- Sofia, the main character, gets caught in several social predicaments that are personal to women that I would like to address. The first being prostitution. Women of faith can be very critical when it comes to women of the night, but I have found that they end up doing so not by choice but rather they are pushed into it by necessity. Did your research for the book lead you to the same conclusion?

AR- It did.  I have found that most women are cautious.  I think one of the misconceptions about prostitutes is that they perform this act because they  enjoy sex and the act of being promiscuous. So, although a woman of faith would not want to be cautious she feels because of a man (particularly her man) may now be a target for this woman-she has to be. This caution will lead a woman to thinks she is protecting her marriage and her family. However, the truth of the matter is that these women usually, like Sofia, are recovering from scars from their pasts and/or are forced into this situation and are not promiscuous at all.

MN- Another area women are slow to talk about is in regards to emotional affairs, yet research shows they are as common as the physical affairs that men are tempted to engage in. Do you think women understand what an emotional affair is and more important, how to avoid having one?

AR- That is interesting, because some people say that as long as they have not physically engaged in the act, then they are not cheating. This would mean that people don't even define emotional affairs, as affairs. Felecia didn't think she was doing anything wrong by having dinner with Latimore. And in the beginning it wasn't a problem until she started having problems in her own marriage. I think that women do understand what an emotional affair is, but they don't understand the severity of it. For instance, because of our nurturing nature we may not think its a problem for that male coworker to offer us advice on our relationship, or meet him for an meal. Thus we really don't know how to avoid one because we think there is no harm in doing this. And there is no harm in it as long as we are whole. In order to avoid emotional affairs, however, we must not reach out and engage in this type of conduct when we are going through a struggle, or through a transition in life because 99% of the time it will lead to emotional infidelity.

MN- What can a woman do today to stop the progression of a troubled marriage she may find herself a part of?

AR- I know that this is something that is said a lot, but communicate.  I will go even further to say to limit the communication between you and your spouse, and if need be some type of spiritual counsel. I think the problem that most marriages have is that they communicate their issues to their family and their friends,and then finally bring that advice along with their own notions to the table when they are going to talk to their spouse. This means that the communication is not even pure anymore, because its been watered down with the thoughts of outside parties. So to stop a mole hill from growing into a mountain, address it as quickly as possible and limit the access you give others to your marriage.

MN- Every woman needs to have a Ruth Stills in her life. Have you ever had a mentor like Ruth helping you along your faith journey?

AR- Wow! The character of Ruth Linda Stills, was created in honor of the first spiritual mother I ever had, the late Evangelist Linda Ruth McNeill. She was the embodiment of what Ruth stood for. She knew how to love me and chastise me in one sentence, she introduced me to God's love. Today God has blessed me with many strong women in the faith who love, nurture and counsel me.

MN- Why do you believe the message of forgiveness and redemption is crucial for women to hear?

AR- I believe that this message is crucial for women, because many of us struggle to be whole, and self accepting. This aspect makes it hard for us to believe that there is a God who can redeem, forgive, and love us regardless of our past, and even regardless of our present state. When women, and even men can embrace this and even extend this to others, I truly believe that they can step into another realm of freedom. .

MN- The Mercy Seat does have a happy ending. Do you believe with God, no matter where a woman finds herself today, there will always be a happy ending?

AR- Of course! According to Romans 8:28, which states "All things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose, and Jeremiah 29:11 states that God's plans for us is to give us an expected hope, and a future. This means that the ultimate and final plan for our lives as long as God is in charge can only end in happiness and fulfillment.

MN- Are there any more writing projects in the near future for your readers to be watching for?

AR- Yes! The Mercy Seat is the first book in the Freedom Baptist Trilogy.  It will be followed by Potiphar's Wife which will be released next year, and then finally Go Tell Pharaoh.  You will see all of the character's making appearances in each work, with insight on their individual lives.  For instance, Potiphar's Wife gives more insight into the life of Trent Watkins, Sofia's emerging love interest.

Author bio- Alvetta Y. Rolle is a poet, author, and above all else a child of God. Born in Dunn, North Carolina, she graduated cum laude from Kaplan University with a Bachelor's of Science in Organizational Communications in 2010. She has been happily married for seven and half years to her husband, Elrod and has four beautiful children ranging in ages from twelve to two. Alvetta currently resides in North Carolina. In her spare time she likes to volunteer with local organizations and persons in needs, as well as working on sequels to her debut novel, The Mercy Seat.

You can order your copy of The Mercy Seat through Ellechor Publishing or Christian Book. Com

Also featured in The Wordsmith Journal, interviews with Cortney Davis, Julianne Donaldson, and Donita K. Paul & Evangeline Denmark.

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

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