Guest Blogger Yvonne Lehman

What could be more romantic than writing a series of historical Hawaii novels? After all, Hawaii is a tourist mecca and thousands go there each year for vacations, weddings, and honeymoons.

I felt sure my words and imagination would just flow since I had written a contemporary Hawaii novel, my three daughters had visited there and I have a writer-friend, Carmen Leal, who lives there.

Well…not so!

I discovered there is much more to Hawaii than islands sparkling like jewels in the sea, warm breezes in the palm trees, beautiful girls swaying with the hula, and ukeleles softly playing.

I began my research by reading James Mitchner’s Hawaii and many other fiction and non-fiction books, and I searched the internet. The more I learned, the more there was to learn. This place of incredible beauty was also one of constant change and turmoil. Should I write about the eras of early missionaries, difference between myth and faith, numerous nationalities, royalty, whaling industry, ranching, or sugar production? What time period should I use since I’d have to work around, or include events like tsunamis, volcano eruptions, annexation into the U.S., and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Then there was the problem of communication not only between Hawaii and the U.S. but also between the islands. I had to learn when travel changed from 5-6 month voyages to shorter periods and when horses were replaced by automobiles.

Carmen said Hawaii had cowboys before the U.S. I found the idea of a Hawaiian cowboy intriguing and decided to set my story primarily on the island of Hilo in 1889-90. My American characters had to travel by ship for five months from the U.S. to the island. For Aloha Love, I developed a Hawaiian rancher as my hero and included royalty and religious myths, as well as Christianity that had been taken there by missionaries.

The era of picture brides occurred in the early 1900’s when Hawaii’s main industry was exporting sugar to many countries. Thousands of Japanese men had traveled to Hawaii for work on the plantations. There were no women for them so the immigration office arranged to send their photos and information to Japan. A matchmaker paired them up with women who then traveled to Hawaii to be married as soon as they docked. I began to plan how an American woman could become symbolic of a picture bride. Picture Bride features the matchmaking process and sugar plantations, again with Hilo as the primary setting and includes some of Aloha Love’s characters.

I wanted to set the third novel, Love from Ashes, in 1946 after WWII. I already had a fair knowledge of the Pearl Harbor bombing but needed to research the effect it had on the people of Hawaii and how the thousands of Japanese there would be involved and treated. Since my readers would be familiar with the setting and my continuing characters from the first two books, I wanted this one set in Hilo too. However, I discovered a tsunami had destroyed much of Hilo, so I needed to work that into the story.

These books, which I thought would be my easiest to write, required more research, reading, studying, thinking, and work than any of my others. But I am pleased with what I learned and how the books turned out. Recently I heard from several readers who loved the stories. One was reminded of her sister’s Hawaiian wedding. The books reminded another of “the good old days.” Another said she skips paragraphs when reading, but didn’t skip a thing in the Hawaii books. Encouragement like that keeps me researching and writing.

Thanks to all my readers. I appreciate you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to each of you.

Feedback Friday

My favorite feedback of the week came in a comment on the feedback form for Red Like Crimson by Janice A. Thompson. A reader named Shirley said, "This book had a greater lesson on God's forgiveness than I have ever heard in a church."

Wow, that sure made me think about the power of story. Even though characters and plot might be fictional, the real-life lessons they convey can leave lasting impact on our readers.

Joy in Giving

I just have to share about a wonderful event my church held this past Saturday, a baby shower to benefit a local pregnancy center. I was excited about this event, mostly because it felt like a neat way to honor the baby we lost who would have been born at the end of this month. I had so much fun buying and wrapping some baby gifts and gathering up some gently used items of Jodi’s that I could give as well. I’ll admit I got a bit emotional as I thought how, if things were different, we would have been preparing for our own new baby in just a couple weeks. But I rejoiced that a new little life seems to be growing just fine inside me now, and I acknowledged again the strange mix of emotions knowing that her life wouldn’t be possible had we not lost another. Doug and I like to think of it as having an “extra” child waiting on us in heaven that would not have been possible otherwise. :)

Anyway, I was blessed to attend this baby shower mostly because I learned so much more detail about what these centers do for mothers who are in a crisis pregnancy situation. The director shared with us how the center strives to help care for the mother and child from the moment they take a pregnancy test through age 2 of the child. Not only do they help the mothers choose life for their babies, but they encourage them to come in once a month to meet with counselors, take parenting classes, and receive needed items for themselves and their babies, all the while providing caring support and sharing the gospel and love of Jesus Christ. And they are funded and supplied only by donations and staffed with only two employees; the rest are volunteers.

What an encouragement to me to learn more about Christian pregnancy centers. Despite a government that might soon use our taxes to pay to kill babies, there are centers like these all around the country who are fighting evil and making a difference in loving ways. I encourage all of you to find out more about pregnancy centers in your area and see if there are ways you can give and help.

Have you given this Christmas season in a way that really encouraged or brought joy to you? I’d love to hear about it!

Armed and Serious

Serious about protecting her sleepy Idaho town after the sheriff is mysteriously murdered, Gert Dooley starts to teach other women how to handle guns and shoot.

Ethan Chapman didn’t ask to be named sheriff, but he accepts the position and takes on the investigation into the mysterious death of his predecessor. Now he’s between a rock and a hard place—receiving pressure from the townswomen to restore order and safety to Fergus, and from the men who insist Ethan disband the upstart Ladies’ Shooting Club.

When another person is murdered, Ethan must turn to Gert and her ladies to help in the investigation. But will Ethan, Gert, and the Ladies’ Shooting Club find the murderer before he strikes again?

Don't miss this western romance from award-winning author Susan Page Davis. The Sheriff's Surrender will take you on an adventure filled with mystery, romance, and gunpowder in the Wild West.

If you'd like to be entered in a drawing for a copy of this book, post a comment that includes your email address and the title of your favorite western book or movie. Drawing will be done Friday the 11th, after 4 pm EST.

Putting Out Fires

Last night I lit a fire.

I've had a pile of boxes that had to go. They were taking up too much garage space, then I moved them outside, and they were going to get wet or blow away in our coming weather. So I had to burn them.

I only have a small fire ring near my garage and sheltered from the wind, so I started the fire there. But most of the boxes were bigger than the ring. So I got the bright idea to start another fire in the middle of my graveled driveway for the huge boxes. Soon I was running between two large and hot fires with a rake, trying to corral the flames and flying ash.

As I looked at my editor's to-do list just a few minutes ago, I was easily reminded of my juggling efforts last night between those two fires. Except that on my desk I seem to have more than just two fires, and I can't decide which is in most need of tending first.

Of course, in the back of my mind are always other things from home and now holiday related that send up sparks and seek to take my attention too. It puts me in the mood to rant and complain and pout and even procrastinate when I should be seeking things to offload and solutions to organizing the rest of the chaos.

All I really long for this Christmas season is internal peace. I wish for a time when I can feel like most of my jobs are done with relative success and the slate is clean at the end of the day.

How is your December going? Have you been able to corral the chaos and put out the fires so that you have a peaceful heart to usher in the birthday of our Christ? Tell me that this stress is not a pandemic.

Prairie Promises Book Winners

I was in such a hurry to start my weekend on Friday, that I forgot to draw for the Prairie Promises series winner.

Virginia will receive a complete set of the trilogy.

Mindy, Renee, and Kimberley will each receive a copy of the newest release The Bride Blunder.

Congratulations!

Guest Blogger Tiffany Amber Stockton: Can You Achieve a Dream Too Early?

How many of you dreamed when you were younger of writing a novel and seeing it published? How often did you sit in front of a notebook with pen in hand, or in front of a computer screen with fingers poised over the keys, believing that one day you’d see your stories in print? And how many of you ended up putting aside your dream until your children were grown?

I can raise my hand to the first two questions, but not the third. Why? Because I had the extreme blessing of being published before I was married and before any children entered the picture. Of course, now, I wonder if I was crazy to pursue this dream so early. I wonder if I’m going to be able to handle the dual demands of an infant and toddler (and perhaps more than one baby) along with my writing and home business.

I married 2-1/2 years ago and earlier this year gave birth to my now 8-month-old daughter. Little did I know just how challenging it would be to write with a newborn and now an infant in the house. And not only just write, but write on a deadline and meet the demands of a full schedule of revisions, galleys, marketing and blog touring. In fact, I had a book due (Patterns and Progress—releasing this month!) one month after my baby was born. And while I did everything I could to get it finished before she was born, that didn’t happen. Thankfully, I have a gracious editor who is also a somewhat new mommy and understood. :)

That’s not all, though. Writing requires your full attention, and with a newborn, my attention was quite often zeroed in on the baby. Even as my daughter started growing and becoming a little more independent or started to develop a routine and schedule, I still found myself thinking about her, watching her, or doing things while she slept to prepare for when she awoke.

It’s a true blessing to be able to stay home with my daughter and write. So many milestones occur in the first year, and I love that I’ll be here to see them. But, it didn’t take long for me to realize I couldn’t sit back and do nothing but watch my daughter grow. Life didn’t stop, and I had to keep going.

My husband often watches our daughter to give me some uninterrupted time in front of my computer. When that happens, she’s out of sight and doing great. I might miss the very first time she does something, but I won’t miss it every time, and when I do see it, it will be new to me.

It’s been a struggle, especially when all I want to do sometimes is sit and watch her or play with her or even hold her. But a few things I’ve learned along the way that have helped (and are likely not new discoveries for a lot of you reading this):

• You CAN write with a baby in your lap, either nursing or sleeping or even attempting to type, despite the fact that their arms aren’t long enough to reach the keyboard.
• It IS possible to write a chapter when you’re sleep-deprived. Sometimes, it ends up being your best work.
• A dog can be a fantastic babysitter and entertainer when you need a break.
  Sometimes, a cardboard box and a few pieces of paper are all that’s needed to entertain a baby for more than an hour.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help or admit that you can’t handle it all. That’s why you have friends and family. Utilize them when they offer.
• Babies are resilient. Don’t feel guilty when you have to leave them with a sitter or family so you can have a few hours of peace and quiet. The moment you return, you’re a favorite on their list.
• Capitalize on every spare moment you have. Sometimes, it could just be five to ten minutes at a time, but make the most of those minutes to write a few lines of dialogue or a paragraph in a scene.
• A screen saver with lots of vibrant colors that changes shape can keep a baby quiet for thirty minutes or more.
• Sitting on a porch with a baby in the swing, listening to the outside sounds, can sometimes give you a long stretch of writing time.
• Trust your husband with your baby, and resist the urge to rush out at every whimper or cry. They need that bonding time too.

It’s been a little over eight months, and we’re still going strong. I know with each passing day, it will get easier, and there will be times when it will be harder. But, I know it IS possible to balance writing full time and being a full-time mother. So many other women do it, and I’m extremely grateful to have their help as well as encouragement.

Of course, when baby #2 enters the picture, I might be singing a different tune. So, check back with me when that time comes. :)

Now, it’s your turn. For those of you who are balancing or had to balance writing and mommyhood, share some of your trade secrets or lessons learned. We can all learn from each other, and I’d love to hear from some of you seasoned moms.

JoAnne and Becky, thanks for having me here today. It’s been a true honor and pleasure.

Christmas Music

Have you pulled out your Christmas music yet? I've actually been listening since the end of October. LOL

This week I downloaded Alan Jackson's song "Let There be Christmas." Love the melody and the message.

In response to a Kaye Dacus challenge on her blog today, I present a couple favorite Christmas movie clips with songs I love. Enjoy!

"Snow" from White Christmas


"Where Are You Christmas" from The Grinch -- not the little girl singing, but Faith Hill is just as awesome. (click here)

A Rerun for the Holiday Season

How is it possibly the first week of December already? I can't believe Christmas will be here in just three weeks. In light of that, I'm going to link back to a post I did last year titled For the Least of These. This year and every year, let's give to those who truly need it.