Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

What's Your Passion?

My office got a makeover this past week, including some new shelves in the storage closet (much of which has been a disaster since I moved into the house five years ago and just never had time to reorganize). After a busy Sunday afternoon, I am finally beginning to feel organized and ready to begin work again on Beloved, after a two week break while working on the copy edits of Betrayal.

Anyway, I found a poster (slightly crinkled) while cleaning the closet that one of my publishers made for an event about seven years back.

In case you cannot see the snapshot for some reason, I was asked, "Why are you passionate about writing stories?" My answer was, "I'm passionate about writing because, through the gift of stories, I can share small glimpses into the lives of ordinary people who face heartaches and difficulties and, in the end, learn to trust God more because of them."

There are many things that I don't know or understand, but one thing I do know with absolute certainty––God called me to write for Him. Doesn't mean it's always easy. In fact, it's rarely easy. But at least I know that I'm doing the work He called me to do.

Our God has a plan and a purpose for every one of His children. What are you passionate about? Where has He called you to be at work in His kingdom?

~robin

 

BETRAYAL winners announced

Thanks to all my Facebook readers and friends who shared my Author Page with their own Facebook friends. Your names went into a drawing, and the five lucky winners are:

Nanette Baker
Sara Devine
Michelle Gregory
Terry Houchin
Gidget Long Laiche

A copy of Betrayal will be sent to each winner when the books are received in the fall.

~robin

 

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #18

Welcome to the first ever Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! Make the loop to discover 23 new or upcoming novels, and write down the clue at each stop. When you know what the clues say, fill out the Rafflecopter form by June 4, 2012 (midnight EST) at www.LisaBergren.com (the hunt begins there), and you could be in the running for the grand prize of 23 new, autographed books (if you live in the USA; unsigned if international).

Note: if you're the winner, you must email the complete statement within 24 hours of notification in order to claim the Grand Prize ... so don't miss a stop! Be ready with your answer if you're the lucky winner! No need to email it unless you receive the good word on June 5, 2012.

Margaret Daley

As a part of this scavenger hunt, I’m hosting Margaret Daley. A former teacher and Special Olympics coach, Margaret currently serves as President of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is an award winning author who writes romance and romantic suspense. Margaret's most recent release is Saving Hope, the first book in the Men of the Texas Rangers series.

This is what SAVING HOPE is about:

When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt's daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped.

Now it's personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.

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A Scavenger Hunt Exclusive from Margaret:

When I read about the Children of the Night Organization while researching human trafficking, I knew I had to come up with a place similar to it as part of my story. I created for Saving Hope the Beacon of Hope Program. Kate Winslow, the heroine, runs it with private funds.

Dr. Lois Lee founded the Children of the Night Organization back in 1979 in order to reach out to teens who were caught up in human sex trafficking. She started it in her own home, feeding and taking care of these children. She used her own phone to establish a phone line for teens to call to get help. Today about 10,000 teens a year call this 24-hour hotline.  

The organization grew and soon they were able to open a shelter. Today it is a 24 bed licensed group home for children ages 11-17. It gives support to these teens and helps give them skills to succeed in a life. The organization gives them medical support, counseling and education. In other words a second chance. 

If you are interested in reading about the Children of the Night Organization, you can find them on their website at: http://www.childrenofthenight.org/. It is a privately funded organization that has made a difference in thousands of teens' lives.

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You can pick up a copy of Margaret’s book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com or your local bookstore. Find out more about this author at MargaretDaley.com.

The Scavenger Hunt Skinny

Now mosey along, Hunters, to STOP #19: Sharon Hinck's blog to pick up your next clue.

But before you go, write down this STOP #18 clue: long

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BONUS: I'm just finishing proofing the copy edits for my November 2012 release, Betrayal (the 2nd in the Where the Heart Lives series). In celebration, I'm going to give away five copies of this book when it releases to five lucky participants of this scavenger hunt. All you need to do is:

1. Like my Facebook Page and leave a comment on it saying, "I found you via the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt" (if you already Like my Page, leave the comment and say "I'm participating in the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt" and ...
2. Sign up for my newsletter which is sent three to four times per year (I promise not to clog your inbox or share your address). Your name on the newsletter signup must match your name on Facebook. If you are already a subscriber to my newsletter, first click on the link and make certain your name is subscribed as well as your email address. Then private message me on Facebook with your email address so that I can verify and get your name entered in the drawing.

All eligible names will go into a hat for a drawing after the close of the scavenger hunt. Winners will be announced on this blog, on Facebook, and via the email address signed up on the newsletter mailing list.

Good luck in both the scavenger hunt and in my bonus contest.

~robin

 

Embracing the Trials of Life

Today is Memorial Day in the US. For many, it has become more of an excuse for a three day weekend and a kick-off for summer activities. Hopefully, no matter where you are or when you read this, you will pause for a moment to say a prayer of thanks for those who have given so much, sometimes their lives, in order that we might be free.

For me, this is also a day when I remember my mom. My dad died when I was just a few months old, so there aren't any memories to flit through my mind about him. But there are lots of my mom. She was so selfless when it came to my brother and me. She poured herself into our lives in the best possible of ways, and I'm so thankful God chose her for my mother.

Last Wednesday on Write Thinking, I announced my goal of memorizing the Book of James over the summer and invited readers to join me. (I chose James for a number of reasons, as explained in that previous post.) Let me issue the invitation once again.

I also made the decision to use The Voice Bible translation for this endeavor, a new favorite translation of mine. You can learn more about TVB here. (No, it is not a paraphrase. It's a dynamic equivalent translation, as are the NIV and the NLT, for example.)

On Saturday morning, I began by reading chapter one of James and then I concentrated on the opening two paragraphs. Here's how the second paragraph reads (verses 2-5, emphasis mine):

Ancient wine press 

Don't run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line––mature, complete, and wanting nothing. If you don't have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.

Wow! Don't you love the way that reads? I do.

Having finished reading through those verses a few times, I opened my Streams in the Desert, and this was part of the daily reading (emphasis mine):

Nothing pleases the Lord as much as praise. There is no greater evidence of faith than the virtue of genuine thanksgiving. Are you praising God enough? Are you thanking Him for the countless blessings He has bestowed on you? Are you boldly praising Him even for the trials in your life, which are actually blessings in disguise? And have you learned to praise Him in advance for answers yet to come?

Wow again! It felt like that paragraph was written to go with my James verses. Doesn't it?

When we embrace the trials of life with thanksgiving and praise, it changes us. We become mature and complete and wanting in nothing.

Amen.

~robin

 

Five Chances to Win a Copy of BETRAYAL

ATTENTION FACEBOOK FRIENDS/FANS/LIKES:

Heads up! During the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt that begins Thursday, May 31st at Noon, MDT, at my stop (I'm #18), I'm having a bonus contest where people who Like my FB Page AND subscribe to my e-newsletter (3 or 4 newsletters are sent per year) will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of BETRAYAL when it releases in the fall (a total of five winners).

But I've decided to give my current Facebook friends/fans/likes one more bonus chance to win a copy of BETRAYAL (an additional one in five chances).

All you have to do is Share my Page (not this post, my Page) on your own Facebook Timeline between now, 5/26, and Thursday morning, 5/31. To do that, click the down arrow next to the Message button, then select Share from the choices (see graphic at right).

After you've shared my Page, send me an email at fbmail@robinleehatcher.com (don't message on FB as they frown upon contests being operated via their site unless done so through special contest apps), telling me you've done so and your name will go into the drawing. Be sure your email shows your name as it appears on Facebook. The winners of the five copies will be announced on Write Thinking on May 31st.

Good luck!

~robin

 

My Goal for Summer 2012: Memorize the Book of James

I'm going to do it. I'm going to try to memorize the Book of James over the summer.

Ten years ago, when we hadn't been going to the Boise Vineyard for long, one of the pastors recited James. I will never forget how amazed I was, how wonderful it was to hear the words of this book (I consider it the "Book of Advanced Christianity") spoken from memory. They seemed to come from this man's heart, as if he really was James.

This morning, with memorization in mind, I read the first chapter of James in several different versions.

An aside: It's almost embarrassing, the number of Bibles I own. I have been given Bibles by the publishers I write for or have written for. I have bought others for myself because I've worn out a favorite Bible or because I wanted a particular translation or a particular study version or needed a small one for travel. (All of this in addition to my vast Logos Bible software.) I have also given away many, many new or gently used Bibles to local prison ministries and to a local women's and children's shelter. And yet my Bible shelf is still packed to the brim.

Anyway, after reading James 1 in the New American Standard (my preferred study Bible because it is one of the most literal, word-for-word translations), the English Standard Version (another word-for-word, though not quite as literal as the NASB), and the New Living Translation (a favorite dynamic equivalent translation for devotional reading), I opened the The Voice Bible (another dynamic equivalent translation). I reviewed The Voice in a past blog post. However, I was still amazed by how much I loved this version, how beautifully it renders the Scriptures into English, and I have decided it's the one I'm going to memorize.

Anybody care to join me? Pick your own version of the Bible, of course.

~robin

P.S. Here's a YouTube video of Psalm 23 from The Voice. Oh, the beauty of the Scriptures!