3 Strand Romances

UPDATE: December 26, 2010

2010-12-26T23:40:00.000-05:00

Writing has been put on hold. My husband is having some serious health issues. This is also putting a strain on our finances. I hope to return to my writing soon, but right now my family is my top priority.

Interrupted by Life!

2010-08-05T20:30:00.000-04:00

So, in case you didn't miss me, it's been nearly a year since my last post. The reason is simple and complicated - LIFE!

On October 4, 2009, my husband Jeff was taken from church via ambulance to the ER for an apparent stroke. After lots of testing, it was determined that he had not suffered a stroke, but had experienced a Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA - commonly called a mini-stroke. What's the difference? Well, as near as I understand it, the difference is the lasting damage. A stroke damages more of the brain and these damaged areas can be seen on scans. TIA's generally do not cause as much damage and often you cannot even see the damage on brain scans.

You know what the problem is when the tests all show nothing. Doctors won't make a diagnosis. So you keep going from one to another. They all say something's wrong, but no one knows what the problem is. VERY discouraging.

So, since October we've been going to a lot of appointments and tests. Jeff has gotten worse almost on a daily basis. Currently he is having trouble with memory loss, confusion, getting lost, forgetting what he's doing, personality and mood changes, numbness and tingling in his arms and legs. This week he's also having trouble with nausea and vomiting.

We have put in a request with the VA to have his disability rating increased as well as to have Jeff approved for an additional payment for Aid and Attendance. This will pay extra money so that someone (me) can stay with him 24/7.

Not sure when my next post will be. My writing has been put on hold for the next little bit. Right now I am focused on taking care of him.

Please pray that the doctors will find out what is wrong with him and that it will be something that can be treated. Also, please pray for us financially as this is really putting a strain on our finances. Finally, please pray that the VA will approve his increase and his Aid and Attendance quickly.

Rapture

2009-10-01T22:35:00.000-04:00

VERY powerful video! May scare younger children.

Nineteen Years!!

2009-07-20T16:12:00.002-04:00

Nineteen years ago today I married my husband Jeff. Many people didn't think we'd make it a year. I was pregnant, he's nine years older than me and I was only eighteen. But today we celebrate our nineteenth anniversary. Some days were harder than others but through the grace of God we are still together and I love him more today than I did when I said 'I do!'

I heard somewhere (and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to get this quote exactly right) that people fall out of love every day but marriage makes you stay together until you fall in love again. I like that. Marriage is never easy and some days you wonder if it's worth it. But then you have days when you wonder what your life was like without that other person.

So, for anyone who's having a bad time in their marriage or wondering what happened to the person you married, hang around for a little while. You'll probably never find that same person that you married, but you'll probably fall more in love with the person he or she has become.

Now, I'm off for a couple of days to celebrate!!

The Journey of Writer Danica Favorite

2009-05-26T16:24:00.001-04:00

Today's blog spotlight will be on Danica Favorite's blog – The Journey of Writer Danica Favorite. She's a cyberfriend who I've known for a few years. She is a writer and is a finalist in this year's ACFW Genesis Contest. Beyond that, she's also a mom and a wife. Her blog is always good for at least one laugh; if you're interested in writing, she's got great advice; and, if you're looking for a good read, she's always got a great book review up.

Learn how she manages work, writing, marriage, parenting, family and life all at one time.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T11:16:00.001-04:00

Every man and woman who serves in the military gives up time with their family and time at home to defend and protect our freedoms. But today we stop to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives so that we might be free. The freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted every day aren't free. They were bought and paid for by the blood of those men and women. Today I extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to those brave men and women who made that ultimate sacrifice so that I might enjoy those freedoms.

Although many other heroes are noted at the Congressional Medal of Honor home page, the following Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients were noted in our church bulletin yesterday:

Michael A. Monsoor
Master-At-Arms Second Class
United States Navy

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as automatic weapons gunner for Naval Special Warfare Rask Group Arabian Peninsular, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army Sniper Overwatch Element, tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger. In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALS vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest and landed in front of him. Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monssor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly and without regard to his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates. By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monssor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Ross A. McGinnis
Private First Class
United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 December 2006. That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled "grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion. Private McGinnis' gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis' extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

SECOND CHANCES – Chapter 1

2009-05-23T14:40:00.001-04:00

Melissa leaned against the kitchen counter, closed her eyes and mentally followed Hank's steps through the house. Same routine every night – walk in, find his chair, flip through every television station and settle on the news or the newest crime drama.

Just once I wish he'd do something different. Change clothes first, grab a drink, find a different show to watch. Anything.

She walked to the living room door and studied her husband. A little heavier than when they'd married, but still in good shape. Some gray hair showed around his temples, but it only enhanced his tanned face. A face she'd first noticed in tenth grade even if he hadn't known she existed then. His strong, square jaw and serious expressions nearly hid the twinkle in his dark blue eyes.

Years after graduation she'd run into him again. His more defined body and serious expression caught her attention, but the bright gleam in his eyes still set her heart racing. This time he'd noticed her too. Once again, he'd swept her off her feet and less than two months later she was pregnant and they were married.

Ten years later they had survived the worst life could offer. The gleam in his eyes had dimmed. Her heart no longer raced. They grew further apart every day.

Pushing the thoughts aside, Melissa stepped between her husband and the television. "Hank, I'm leaving. I left your dinner in the microwave."

Hank looked dazed. "Oh? Where are you headed?"

"I'm going to my database class. Edna wants to computerize the daycare's records. I told you about it when I signed up in June."

Hank's gaze flicked back to the news. "Oh, yeah."

Melissa gathered her purse and books and walked to the car, knowing she would receive no more attention from Hank this evening.

Five minutes. Would it kill you to pay attention to me for five minutes?

She remembered a different time. A time of laughter and happiness. Before life had dealt such a hard blow. Before she'd lost so much. Before God had let her down. Before Bradley and Melissa.

Loneliness engulfed her as she made the short drive to the university. The feeling disappeared as she stepped into what looked like a classroom full of high school students.

Melissa double-checked her schedule as she headed inside. She had never felt so out of place and – well, old. She scanned the room looking for an empty seat. Her cheeks flamed as she heard the whispers circling around her.

"I thought this class was with Dr. Alexander."

"You don't think she's a new professor do you?"

"Can't be. I was looking forward to Dr. Alexander. If she's the new professor I'll probably drop this class and pick up something else."

Stunned, Melissa turned but before she could dispute the teenager's assumption a man entered the room and began to speak.

"Hello, this is Database 101 so if that's not the class you're looking for, please check your schedule to find the right room number." He looked pointedly at Melissa before continuing. "If everyone is where they're supposed to be, we'll get started."

Melissa groaned. I'm older than everyone here, including the professor. She took the only seat left – front and center, of course – and opened her book as the professor continued his introduction.

"Okay, let's get started. I'm Professor Alexander, but you can call me Jonas."

Two hours later, her mind reeling from all the information buzzing through her head, Melissa stood and picked up her books. As she turned toward the door, Professor Alexander approached.

"Ms. Forrester, I just wanted to say if you have any trouble with the material, please let me know. I'd be happy to help you."

"Thank you, Professor Alexander; I'm sure I'll be collecting on that offer before the term is over."

"Well, I'm sure this class will be easy enough for you. And, please, call me Jonas. Professor Alexander makes me sound old."

A lock of blond hair fell in front of his blue eyes. He reminded Melissa of a teenage surfer from a fifties beach movie. She returned his smile, but resisted the urge to push the curls from his face.

"Please, call me Melissa, but I hardly see how anyone would consider you old."

A smile lit his face. "Actually, I'll be thirty-nine before this term ends. My sister says she envies my baby face and the fact that I look younger than I am, but I keep telling her it's not always a good thing. It's hard to teach students who look older than you."

"I guess I'm not the oldest person in this class then. For a while there I thought I would have to spend the whole term with a bunch of high school students."

Jonas laughed with her. Surprisingly, Melissa found herself warming to the sound. "I really need to get going; I have to be at work early tomorrow morning," she said.

Jonas held out a business card. "I forgot to give these out tonight, but here's my card with my home number on the back. If you have any trouble with the lessons this week please give me a call."

As she took the card from his hands her fingers brushed his. A shock traveled up her hand. And what was that funny little flip her stomach was doing? She stuffed the card in her purse and left the room.

###

Melissa sat in her office at the day care the next morning. As she listened to the children playing in the next room she replayed the previous evening in her head.

If only things had been different with Bradley and the baby.

Melissa pushed the thoughts of her children aside and focused on her paperwork. She longed for days when she could make an entry once on the computer rather than by hand in triplicate.

By the time she finished and headed home it was after six. Melissa hurried through the front door. "Sorry I'm late. Give me a minute and we can eat."

No answer. Probably already asleep.

She hurried to the kitchen and sliced bread to go with the soup she had put in the crock pot that morning. Ten minutes later she stepped into the living room.

"Hank, dinner's ready."

Melissa turned the lights on but stopped at Hank's empty chair. She glanced at the mantle clock. Seven fifteen. Wondering at Hank's lateness she settled on the sofa to read the newspaper and wait. At eight o'clock she quietly returned to the kitchen, ladled soup into her bowl and ate. At nine she cleared the table and put the food in the refrigerator. Worrying that something had happened to him she dialed his cell phone, discouraged when it went straight to voice mail.

She made her way back to the sofa, picked up a book and tried to read. After reading the same paragraph five times she put the book down and began to pace. Anger quickly replaced worry as she moved from one side of the living room to the other. Finally headlights flashed through the front window. Fuming, she walked to the door.

###

Hank reached for the door hesitantly. Melissa was waiting for him and he knew she was upset.

I shouldn't have gone out after work, and I definitely shouldn't have stayed for that second drink.

Vaguely he remembered a time when it would never have occurred to him to have even one drink. He looked at his watch. Quarter till ten. He stood at the door like a man facing a firing squad. He lifted his hand but before he could insert his key into the lock the door burst open and he faced his wife.

Anger sparked in her eyes. I'm a dead man. He stepped into the foyer.

Tell her the truth.

Hank ignored the warning as he tried to come up with an excuse.

"Hi, honey."

"Don't you dare 'Hi, honey' me. Do you know what time it is? I've been worried sick for the last two hours. You could have called and said you were going to be late." Melissa leaned closer and sniffed the air around him. "Have you been drinking?"

"I had a couple of drinks with the guys after work."

He reached his hand out to touch her but Melissa turned and stormed down the hallway to their bedroom. "I'm going to bed. There's soup and bread in the refrigerator if you're hungry."

Hank stood, staring after her as she entered their bedroom and slammed the door, never once looking back. It was his own fault and he knew it. He didn't drink, but guilt had become his new best friend. If Melissa ever found out what he'd done their marriage would be over. He'd made a mistake, one he never intended to repeat. He just hoped Melissa never found out.

###

Melissa woke up late but calmer the next morning. Hank was wrong, but she should have listened to his explanation. Disappointment filled her when she realized he'd already left for work. Melissa dressed and headed to the kitchen where she found coffee ready and waiting for her. Her cup and a note sat next to the coffee pot.

Melissa

I'm sorry about last night. I'll be home early tonight and we can talk.

Hank

Melissa wiped a tear from her eye. As she headed for His Precious Ones Day Care Center she made plans for the evening. I'll leave work early, fix a nice dinner and we'll talk. And we have a lot to talk about. Drinking? Hank doesn't drink.

With four new children enrolling, Melissa spent most of her day completing forms and giving tours. She finally finished with the last family and glanced at her watch.

Four o'clock.

She rushed to the grocery store, grabbed steak, potatoes, salad and bread for dinner. On a whim she also picked up fresh strawberries and whipped cream for desert.

Melissa loaded her groceries, climbed into her car and started home. She pulled up to a red light and stopped, studying the people walking down the sidewalk.

Happy couples strolling hand-in-hand seemed to be everywhere she looked. There was even a pair stopping beside a car to give each other a hug. Melissa stared at the couple. Something seemed vaguely familiar.

Her heart fell. Her stomach rolled.

Hank?

Author Interviews

2009-05-21T16:56:00.001-04:00

Well, today is for Author Interviews. I won't be posting an interview today. If you're interested in being interviewed, please leave a comment.

Book Review: Sandhill Dreams by Cara C. Putnam

2009-05-20T13:50:00.002-04:00

World War II has long been one of my favorite settings for stories, but his story is unique in that although the Hero, Tom, is in the Army, he is not serving overseas. He works training the dogs that go overseas to help the soldiers. Lainie always wanted to become a nurse, but a case of rheumatic fever leaves her too weak to pursue her dream. Still, wanting to help in the war effort, she seeks employment at Fort Robinson. Throughout the story, many things, from her father to a relapse of rheumatic fever, conspire to keep Tom and Lainie apart, and through it all, both Tom and Lainie must learn to trust God and rely on Him.

I love Heartsong books since I can read them without worrying about what I'll find. In true Heartsong fashion, this is a clean, faith-based story with a happily-ever-after ending. I love that both characters must learn to deal with broken dreams and both must also learn to trust God. For a quick, good read this is a great book. A definite add to your TBR pile, and another great story by Cara Putnam.

New Blog: As Your Soul Prospers

2009-05-19T12:38:00.003-04:00

My sister, Christina, has started a new blog. She's new in the blogosphere, but already doing better than I did. :D I encourage you to visit her blog and check it out. Little nuggets come in each day that you can apply to your life. The title of the blog is: AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS and is based on III John verse 2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (KJV)

Have you ever wondered how to incorporate the truths you know about spiritual and physical health, prayer, encouragement and the fruits of the spirit into your daily life. While not claiming to be an expert on these subjects, Christina has started a blog to help promote these things. Currently she's doing a study on The Proverbs 31 woman and is posting the things she learns. She also posts book reviews, recipes, and other things she thinks women might be interested in. She began the blog on April 27^th with the following post:

Welcome! I trust that you will find encouragement here. Third John verse 2 states: "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." (NASB) As the Scripture reference indicates, I will pray for you, just ask! My goal is to provide a place for sharing about Bible studies that I am participating in or have completed, as well as information on physical health. I am not a doctor or nutritionist, but I enjoy making healthy food for my family and believe that family meal time should be honored. I am not a counselor and have not completed seminary, but I hope to share what God is doing in my life and what He can do in your life through the far reaches of the internet. God Bless You!

Starting Over – Again

2009-05-18T23:28:00.001-04:00

Well, I'm starting this blog thing again. It seems like life just keeps getting in my way. So, here's a little bit of what I'm going to try to do. I'm going to try to post at least a little bit every day, not promising I will, just that I'll try. Here's what the schedule will look like.

Monday:	My Blog – this may be a rant, a preview of my week, a funny story, some current event, or anything. Not really sure, just whatever happens to strike my fancy that day. :D
Tuesday:	Another Blog – I'll use this day to introduce you to another blog I like. I'll start off with my sister's blog tomorrow.
Wednesday:	Book Review – Is a book worth your time and money? I'll let you know what I found in the books I'm currently reading
Thursday:	Author Interview – Interviews with your favorite authors. If you have someone you'd like to see, send me their name and I'll see what I can do.
Friday:	Not sure! Any suggestions?
Saturday:	Storytime – I've chosen one of my completed stories and I'll post a chapter a week. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.
Sunday:	Devotional – a short devotional to brighten your day.

So, stop back in tomorrow and see what my sister has on her mind.

BE THANKFUL

2008-11-27T01:10:00.003-05:00

Be thankful for the valley,

It means you’ve just come off one mountain and are heading towards another.

Be thankful for illnesses,

Without them good health wouldn’t mean as much.

Be thankful for the time, however long or short, you had with your loved one before God called them home,

Those precious memories will be with you until you see them again.

Be thankful for your family, even when they drive you crazy,

Without them you’d be alone in this world.

Be thankful for the lean times,

They make the wealthy times that much sweeter.

Be thankful for your sins,

They’re why Christ died for us.

The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell

2008-11-19T11:30:00.002-05:00

This was one of the best books I've read. It is about Susanne and David, a married couple who learn that he had fathered a child, Brianna, before they were married. This puts even more pressure on a marriage that is already unstable. Since Brianna’s mother has died, it is up David to step up and take responsibility. Susanne, hurt that David was unfaithful when they were engaged, has trouble with this idea. Seeing the child reminds her that David was with another woman. How will the news of another child affect Meagan and Josh, Susanne and David’s son and daughter? Can Susanne and David each find their way to follow God’s plan? And what happens when the uncle who dropped her off returns to claim Brianna?

Miralee Ferrell kept me glued to each page as I read this story. I understood and rooted for Susanne, David, and Brianna, not sure how the story would end, or even what I wanted to happen, until the last chapter.

For more information on Miralee and her books, check out her website and blog. And be sure to pick up this book at your favorite online or local bookstore.

Not Blocked, Just No Time

2008-11-18T20:25:00.003-05:00

As you can tell from my post on Sunday, the last week or so has been very busy for me. And of course, the first thing that seems to go is my writing time. I've tried working on my WIP and editing while I'm in the van going to and from Jeff's appointments, but I've started to get sick in the car. I guess I'm getting motion sickness as I get older. :-)

So, Sarah's Hope is now in two versions. One longer, and one shorter. Hopefully, I'll be able to submit the shorter version by the end of the month. I started NANOWRIMO, but like every other year I've tried it, life interrupted and I haven't exactly gotten a lot written.

Jeff's health is doing about the same. He did have a procedure to break up the kidney stones, and it appears to have worked, and on Thursday he'll go in for a pain management conference. Hopefully, they'll be able to control his pain level. Kids are doing well. Keeping up with their schoolwork and hoping for snow again this year.

In The Shadow Of The Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons

2008-11-17T23:04:00.004-05:00

The Huguenots and the Catholics. This is a great story showing one family’s struggle during this time. I especially liked that it seemed real with the characters not always making the “right” decisions, and the fact, that you weren’t sure what would happen until the very end.

When the King Louis’ soldiers arrive at her family’s estate, Madeleine Clavell travels to Versailles to beg King Louis to intervene on her family’s behalf. After all, the king once professed his undying love to Madeleine. As the story unfolds, the king reveals details of his relationship with Madeleine to her husband, Francois. How far will Madeleine go to protect her family? How much of King Louis’ story will Francois believe? How will Madeleine react when another man admits more than a passing interest in her? And, in the end, will Madeleine’s actions help her family, or tear them apart? In the Shadow of the Sun King follows Madeleine’s journey, the king’s answer, her family’s trials and God’s ultimate triumph.

The time of kings, queen, lords, ladies, dances, and seasons comes through the pages with a fairytale type quality that leaves the reader wanting more, and Thomas Nelson and Golden Parsons deliver with A Prisoner at Versailles due out in the Fall of 2009.

In the Shadow of the Sun King is available from Thomas Nelson, ChristianBook.com, Amazon.com, and BarnesandNoble.com. Or, look for it in your favorite local bookstore.

More information.

How Busy Are You?

2008-11-16T22:35:00.002-05:00

Sometimes our life gets hectic. On Thursday, I spent five+ hours on the road with Jeff for a doctor's appointment. The doctor decided to do surgery on Monday. That meant another 5+ hours on the road Friday for two pre-op appointments and 5+ hours on the road for the surgery on Monday. Needless to say, the last couple of days have been busy.

The holiday season is upon us. Every day we have more and more to do. Shopping and cooking for Thanksgiving. Buying presents for family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and often even people we don't really like all that much. Parties and decorations. Family get-togethers. Gift exchanges. All of these things fight for our attention.

But, are you TOO busy? Can you hear God calling you? In I Kings 19:12, God comes to Elijah, not in a strong wind, or an earthquake, or a fire, but in a still small voice. While you're busy "living" your life, remember to stop and listen for God's voice as He tells you what He wants you to do with your life, what He wants to do in your life, and what He wants to do for you.

FIRST: Forsaken by James David Gordon

2008-11-01T03:01:00.000-04:00

It is time for the FIRST Blog Tour! On the FIRST day of every month we feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!

The feature author is:

James David Jordan

and his book:

Forsaken
B&H Fiction (October 1, 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James David Jordan is a business litigation attorney with the prominent Texas law firm of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. From 1998 through 2005, he served as the firm's Chairman and CEO. The Dallas Business Journal has named him one of the most influential leaders in the Dallas/Fort Worth legal community and one of the top fifteen business defense attorneys in Dallas/Fort Worth. His peers have voted him one of the Best Lawyers in America in commercial litigation.

A minister's son who grew up in the Mississippi River town of Alton, Illinois, Jim has a law degree and MBA from the University of Illinois, and a journalism degree from the University of Missouri. He lives with his wife and two teenage children in the Dallas suburbs.

Jim grew up playing sports and loves athletics of all kinds. But he especially loves baseball, the sport that is a little bit closer to God than all the others.

His first novel was Something that Lasts . Forsaken is his second novel.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: B&H Fiction (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805447490
ISBN-13: 978-0805447491

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Even in high school I didn’t mind sleeping on the ground. When your father is a retired Special Forces officer, you pick up things that most girls don’t learn. As the years passed I slept in lots of places a good girl shouldn’t sleep. It’s a part of my past I don’t brag about, like ugly wallpaper that won’t come unstuck. No matter how hard I scrape, it just hangs on in big, obscene blotches. I’m twenty-nine years old now, and I’ve done my best to paint over it. But it’s still there under the surface, making everything rougher, less presentable than it should be. Though I want more than anything to be smooth and fresh and clean.

Sometimes I wonder what will happen if the paint begins to fade. Will the wallpaper show? I thought so for a long time. But I have hope now that it won’t. Simon Mason helped me find that hope. That’s why it’s important for me to tell our story. There must be others who need hope, too. There must be others who are afraid that their ugly wallpaper might bleed through.

What does sleeping on the ground have to do with a world-famous preacher like Simon Mason? The story begins twelve years ago—eleven years before I met Simon. My dad and I packed our camping gear and went fishing. It was mid-May, and the trip was a present for my seventeenth birthday. Not exactly every high school girl’s dream, but my dad wasn’t like most dads. He taught me to camp and fish and, particularly, to shoot. He had trained me in self-defense since I was nine, the year Mom fell apart and left for good. With my long legs, long arms, and Dad’s athletic genes, I could handle myself even back then. I suppose I wasn’t like most other girls.

After what happened on that fishing trip, I know I wasn’t.

Fishing with my dad didn’t mean renting a cane pole and buying bait pellets out of a dispenser at some catfish tank near an RV park. It generally meant tramping miles across a field to a glassy pond on some war buddy’s ranch, or winding through dense woods, pitching a tent, and fly fishing an icy stream far from the nearest telephone. The trips were rough, but they were the bright times of my life—and his, too. They let him forget the things that haunted him and remember how to be happy.

This particular outing was to a ranch in the Texas Panhandle, owned by a former Defense Department bigwig. The ranch bordered one of the few sizeable lakes in a corner of Texas that is brown and rocky and dry. We loaded Dad’s new Chevy pickup with cheese puffs and soft drinks—healthy eating wouldn’t begin until the first fish hit the skillet—and left Dallas just before noon with the bass boat in tow. The drive was long, but we had leather interior, plenty of tunes, and time to talk. Dad and I could always talk.

The heat rose early that year, and the temperature hung in the nineties. Two hours after we left Dallas, the brand-new air conditioner in the brand-new truck rattled and clicked and dropped dead. We drove the rest of the way with the windows down while the high Texas sun tried to burn a hole through the roof.

Around five-thirty we stopped to use the bathroom at a rundown gas station somewhere southeast of Amarillo. The station was nothing but a twisted gray shack dropped in the middle of a hundred square miles of blistering hard pan. It hadn’t rained for a month in that part of Texas, and the place was so baked that even the brittle weeds rolled over on their bellies, as if preparing a last-ditch effort to drag themselves to shade.

The restroom door was on the outside of the station, isolated from the rest of the building. There was no hope of cooling off until I finished my business and got around to the little store in the front, where a rusty air conditioner chugged in the window. When I walked into the bathroom, I had to cover my nose and mouth with my hand. A mound of rotting trash leaned like a grimy snow drift against a metal garbage can in the corner. Thick, black flies zipped and bounced from floor to wall and ceiling to floor, occasionally smacking my arms and legs as if I were a bumper in a buzzing pinball machine. It was the filthiest place I’d ever been.

Looking back, it was an apt spot to begin the filthiest night of my life.

I had just leaned over the rust-ringed sink to inspect my teeth in the sole remaining corner of a shattered mirror when someone pounded on the door.

“Just a minute!” I turned on the faucet. A soupy liquid dribbled out, followed by the steamy smell of rotten eggs. I turned off the faucet, pulled my sport bottle from the holster on my hip, and squirted water on my face and in my mouth. I wiped my face on the sleeve of my T-shirt.

My blue-jean cutoffs were short and tight, and I pried free a tube of lotion that was wedged into my front pocket. I raised one foot at a time to the edge of the toilet seat and did my best to brush the dust from my legs. Then I spread the lotion over them. The ride may have turned me into a dust ball, but I was determined at least to be a soft dust ball with a coconut scent. Before leaving I took one last look in my little corner of mirror. The hair was auburn, the dust was beige. I gave the hair a shake, sending tiny flecks floating through a slash of light that cut the room diagonally from a hole in the roof. Someone pounded on the door again. I turned away from the mirror.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming!”

When I pulled open the door and stepped into the light, I shaded my eyes and blinked to clear away the spots. All that I could think about was the little air conditioner in the front window and how great it would feel when I got inside. That’s probably why I was completely unprepared when a man’s hand reached from beside the door and clamped hard onto my wrist.

2008-10-22T00:56:00.000-04:00

It's the 21st, time for the Teen FIRST blog tour!(Join our alliance! Click the button!) Every 21st, we will feature an author and his/her latest Teen fiction book's FIRST chapter!

Paul McCusker

and his book:

Ripple Effect (Time Thriller Trilogy, Book 1)

Zondervan (October 1, 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paul McCusker is the author of The Mill House, Epiphany, The Faded Flower and several Adventures in Odyssey programs. Winner of the Peabody Award for his radio drama on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for Focus on the Family, he lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and two children.

Product Details

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310714362
ISBN-13: 978-0310714361

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

“I’m running away,” Elizabeth announced defiantly. She chomped a french fry in half.

Jeff looked up at her. He’d been absentmindedly swirling his straw in his malted milkshake while she complained about her parents, which she had been doing for the past half hour. “You’re what?”

“You weren’t listening, were you?”

“I was too.”

“Then what did I say?” Elizabeth tucked a loose strand of her long brown hair behind her ear so it wouldn’t fall into the puddle of ketchup next to her fries.

“You were complaining about how your mom and dad drive you crazy because your dad embarrassed you last night while you and Melissa Morgan were doing your history homework. And your dad lectured you for twenty minutes about . . . about . . .” He was stumped.

“Chris-tian symbolism in the King Arthur legends,” Elizabeth said.

“Yeah, except that you and Melissa were supposed to be studying the . . . um — ”

“French Revolution.”

“Right, and Melissa finally made up an excuse to go home, and you were embarrassed and mad at your dad — ”

“As usual,” she said and savaged another french fry.

Jeff gave a sigh of relief. Elizabeth’s pop quizzes were a lot tougher than anything they gave him at school. But it was hard for him to listen when she griped about her parents. Not having any parents of his own, Jeff didn’t connect when Elizabeth went on and on about hers.

“Then what did I say?” she asked.

He was mid-suck on his straw and nearly blew the contents back into the glass. “Huh?”

“What did I say after that?”

“You said . . . uh . . .” He coughed, then glanced around the Fawlt Line Diner, hoping for inspiration or a way to change the subject. His eye was dazzled by the endless chrome, beveled mirrors, worn red upholstery, and checkered floor tiles. And it boasted Alice Dempsey, the world’s oldest living waitress, dressed in her paper cap and red-striped uniform with white apron.

She had seen Jeff look up and now hustled over to their booth. She arrived smelling like burnt hamburgers and chewed her gum loudly. “You kids want anything else?”

Rescued, Jeff thought. “No, thank you,” he said.

She cracked an internal bubble on her gum and dropped the check on the edge of the table. “See you tomorrow,” Alice said.

“No, you won’t,” Elizabeth said under her breath. “I won’t be here.”

As she walked off, Alice shot a curious look back at Elizabeth. She was old, but she wasn’t deaf.

“Take it easy,” Jeff said to Elizabeth.

“I’m going to run away,” she said, heavy rebuke in her tone. “If you’d been listening — ”

“Aw, c’mon, Bits — ” Jeff began. He’d called her “Bits” for as long as either of them could remember, all the way back to first grade. “It’s not that bad.”

“You try living with my mom and dad, and tell me it’s not that bad.”

“I know your folks,” Jeff said. “They’re a little quirky, that’s all.”

“Quirky! They’re just plain weird. They’re clueless about life in the real world. Did you know that my dad went to church last Sunday with his shirt on inside out?”

“It happens.”

“And wearing his bedroom slippers?”

Jeff smiled. Yeah, that’s Alan Forde, all right, he thought.

“Don’t you dare smile,” Elizabeth threatened, pointing a french fry at him. “It’s not funny. His slippers are grass stained. Do you know why?”

“Because he does his gardening in his bedroom slippers.”

Elizabeth threw up her hands. “That’s right! He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care how he looks, what -people think of him, or anything! And my mom doesn’t even have the decency to be embarrassed for him. She thinks he’s adorable! They’re weird.”

“They’re just . . . themselves. They’re — ”

Elizabeth threw herself against the back of the red vinyl bench and groaned. “You don’t understand.”

“Sure I do!” Jeff said. “Your parents are no worse than Malcolm.” Malcolm Dubbs was Jeff’s father’s cousin, on the English side of the family, and had been Jeff’s guardian since his parents had died five years ago in a plane crash. As the last adult of the Dubbs family line, he came from England to take over the family fortune and estate. “He’s quirky.”

“But that’s different. Malcolm is nice and sensitive and has that wonderful English accent,” Elizabeth said, nearly swooning. Jeff’s cousin was a heartthrob among some of the girls.

“Don’t get yourself all worked up,” Jeff said.

“My parents just go on and on about things I don’t care about,” she continued. “And if I hear the life-can’t-be-taken-too-seriously-because-it’s-just-a-small-part-of-a-bigger-picture lecture one more time, I’ll go out of my mind.”

Again Jeff restrained his smile. He knew that lecture well. Except his cousin Malcolm summarized the same idea in the phrase “the eternal perspective.” All it meant was that there was a lot more to life than what we can see or experience with our senses. This world is a temporary stop on a journey to a truer, more real reality, he’d say — an eternal reality. “Look, your parents see things differently from most -people. That’s all,” Jeff said, determined not to turn this gripe session into an Olympic event.

“They’re from another planet,” Elizabeth said. “Sometimes I think this whole town is. Haven’t you figured it out yet?”

“I like Fawlt Line,” Jeff said softly, afraid Elizabeth’s complaints might offend some of the other regulars at the diner.

“Everybody’s so . . . so oblivious! Nobody even seems to notice how strange this place is.”

Jeff shrugged. “It’s just a town, Bits. Every town has its quirks.”

“Is that your word of the day?” Elizabeth snapped. “These aren’t just quirks, Jeffrey.”

Jeff rolled his eyes. When she resorted to calling him Jeffrey, there was no reasoning with her. He rubbed the side of his face and absentmindedly pushed his fingers through his wavy black hair.

“What about Helen?” Elizabeth challenged him.

“Which Helen? You mean the volunteer at the information booth in the mall? That Helen?”

“I mean Helen the volunteer at the information booth in the mall who thinks she’s psychic. That’s who I mean.” Elizabeth leaned over the Formica tabletop. Jeff moved her plate of fries and ketchup to one side. “She won’t let you speak until she guesses what you’re going to ask. And she’s never right!”

Jeff shrugged.

“Our only life insurance agent has been dead for six years.”

“Yeah, but — ”

“And there’s Walter Keenan. He’s a professional proofreader for park bench ads! He wanders around, making -people move out of the way so he can do his job.” Her voice was a shrill whisper.

“Ben Hearn only pays him to do that because he feels sorry for him. You know old Walter hasn’t been the same since that shaving accident.”

“But I heard he just got a job doing the same thing at a tattoo parlor!”

“I’m sure tattooists want to make sure their spelling is correct.”

Elizabeth groaned and shook her head. “It’s like Mayberry trapped in the Twilight Zone. I thought you’d understand. I thought you knew how nuts this town is.” Elizabeth locked her gaze onto Jeff’s.

He gazed back at her and, suddenly, the image of her large brown eyes, the faint freckles on her upturned nose, her full lips, made him want to kiss her. He wasn’t sure why — they’d been friends for so long that she’d probably laugh at him if he ever actually did it — but the urge was still there.

“It’s not such a bad place,” he managed to say.

“I’ve had enough of this town,” she said. “Of my parents. Of all the weirdness. I’m fifteen years old and I wanna be a normal kid with normal problems. Are you coming with me or not?”

Jeff cocked an eyebrow. “To where?”

“To wherever I run away to,” she replied. “I’m serious about this, Jeff. I’m getting all my money together and going somewhere normal. We can take your Volkswagen and — ”

“Listen, Bits,” Jeff interrupted, “I know how you feel. But we can’t just run away. Where would we go? What would we do?”

“And who are you all of a sudden: Mr. Responsibility? You never know where you’re going or what you’re doing. You’re our very own Huck Finn.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Not according to Mr. Vidler.”

“Mr. Vidler said that?” Jeff asked defensively, wondering why their English teacher would be talking about him to Elizabeth.

“He says it’s because you don’t have parents, and Malcolm doesn’t care what you do.”

Jeff grunted. He didn’t like the idea of Mr. Vidler discussing him like that. And Malcolm certainly cared a great deal about what he did.

Elizabeth continued. “So why should you care where we go or what we do? Let’s just get out of here.”

“But, Bits, it’s stupid and — ”

“No! I’m not listening to you,” Elizabeth shouted and hit the tabletop with the palms of her hands. Silence washed over the diner like a wave as everyone turned to look.

“Keep it down, will you?” Jeff whispered fiercely.

“Either you go with me, or stay here and rot in this town. It’s up to you.”

Jeff looked away. It was unusual for them to argue. And when they did, it was usually Jeff who gave in. Like now. “I don’t know,” he said quietly.

Elizabeth also softened her tone. “If you’re going, then meet me at the Old Saw Mill by the edge of the river tonight at ten.” She paused, then added, “I’m going whether you come with me or not.”