Wednesday, April 23, 2008














In the Shadow of His Wings

Today I read the first negative review of my work. It struck me as a blow. Like some stranger had passed by and proclaimed my child ugly, unworthy to be born.

I suppose I have been spoiled thus far in my journey as an author, as it was the first to wound me so. I found myself questioning everything, even my heart’s cry to proclaim the love of God as I pour all I have into these stories.

As I read the words I wanted to explain, to bend and weave my own magic to change a mind and seduce a heart. But no. That wasn't right.

Instead I soaked in the pain and felt it and breathed it and knew it. Suddenly, in the car to pick up my son from school, I remembered and prayed:


Lord, you are God over my emotions. You are the one that feeds
me and knows my deepest heart. I lay this at Your feet.
I cast off my burden of fear and rejection and left it to Him to do with as He willed. Whether to change me or still me. My eyes were on Him.

Later in the day, I received an email from a woman who had recently read one of my books. Her words were like the balm of Gilead:

Dear Jamie,

Since I know you receive so many letters telling you how much Snow Angel was enjoyed, I find myself at a loss to know how to express myself differently and sincerely to a person who is a natural at expressing emotion...... But, I'll try....... I have been an avid reader since I could read at about age 4, so you can imagine that if I had kept a list of read books, it would be very long. I tried it once, but in 7th grade when my notebook held a list of 200 books for the school year, I discontinued the practice. Having said that, my interests cover a wide range. But this book, this Noah and Elizabeth,..and Jane.....your ability to express emotion and stay pure without becoming bogged down in just words......is wonderful. I must say that at 65, being a romantic at heart, I have read a lot of quality romances.....but this one was not only beautiful, but exciting, informative (Alaska, goldrush)and full of suspense. I could hardly put it down! All that with a lovely Christian ribbon running through it. I read with a 10x magnifier, and have had to do that for a lot of years now..and have been in the talking book program for about 30 years.but readers read,...and in your case, writers write! Thank you so very much for writing Snow Angel. (Would you consider a sequel to Noah & Elizabeth's life in Alaska? I can just imagine Jane and Ben resettling there, close to the Wesleys..........)

Very Sincerely, Sue Bridges Niles, Mi

How eloquent, how dear to my heart, how timely her email was. It was, to me, a gift from God and a message that renewed my strength. I know I will never please everyone, but the woman in me wants to. Her words, coming from a woman who has read so much, probably seen so much, and like me, is a true romantic at heart, meant more to me than she could ever know.

All For His glory and hiding in the shadow of His wings . . . as I am nothing,

Jamie

Tuesday, April 15, 2008


The Making of the
Romance Novel Cover

Romance novel covers have changed so much since I began reading them in the late 1970's. Remember the bodice ripper covers? Fabio? Brunette Fabio? I was embarrassed to take them out in public! Then, the pub houses got smart and realized that more people would risk the stigma of reading a good romance if the covers didn't look so trashy. But enough women must have decried the lack of eye candy and, for a while, they came to a compromise. The outside cover now held a flower or a ring or some benign article from the story. (Remember the peek-a-boo cutouts? Ha!) But open the cover and there for your viewing enjoyment was Fabio, shirtless and brandishing a sword! Ah, the good old days.

Now covers seem to run the gauntlet of sweet to steamy. Of course, B&H and the lovely Diana Lawrence are doing a superb job with my books! I can't wait to see what my third book's cover, just titled WIND DANCER, will look like!

To learn more about the process check out this video on creating romance novel covers by Better.TV http://better.tv/bettertv/?cid=507869917&lid=1328166604&tid=1493152359

TO KISS A SPY by Jane Feather is one of my favs. What's your favorite cover of all time?

Wednesday, April 09, 2008



Bizarre Celebrity Couples!!



I dreamed last night that Barbara Walters was dating Ponch from the 1970's show, CHIPS! LOL! I had just watched Barbara's special on living to be 150 so I know where she came from, but Eric Estrada? Haven't (honestly, I promise) thought of him in years! I did have a serious crush on him as a teenager, but was shocked to find him in my dreams. He is still pretty good looking . . . maybe Barb should give him a call!

Help me out here. What is the wackiest celebrity couple you can come up with?




Tuesday, April 01, 2008


American Idol . . .

I am thankful for American Idol this season because it has introduced me to the song "Hallelujah" sang by Jason Castro. Oh, my. Have your heard it? Have you seen these lyrics also sang by greats like Jeff Buckley and John Hiatt? No? Let me share my joy:

Well I heard there was a secret chord
that David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this: the fourth, the fifth,
the minor fall and the major lift
And the baffled king composing
Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah...
Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
And she tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah...
(Yeah but) Baby I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor, (You know)
I used to live alone before I knew ya
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
and love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah...
Well there was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me do ya
But remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah...
Maybe there's a God above
But all I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelu...
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelu...
Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

Jeff Buckly died in an accidental drowning. But his version of this song lives on. Wikipedia says of him, "On March 7, 2008, Buckley’s version of the Leonard Cohan song, “Hallelujah”, went to No. 1 on the iTunes chart, selling 178,000 downloads for the week, after being performed by Jason Castro on the seventh season of the television series American Idol. The song debuted at #1 ..., giving Buckley his first #1 on any Billboard chart.

Leonard Cohan's version goes like this:

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like thisThe fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Hallelujah Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied youTo a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even thoughIt all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Personally, I LOVE Jason Castro's version. I voted for him last week and plan to contine voting for him. If this is his only great song performance ever . . . it is enough for me.

This song will carry its own legacy. It is simply . . . brilliant.