“I love to write, it’s my passion, but this cancer thing trumps it. I took this diagnosis as a nudge from God that I need to set writing aside for a little while and just concentrate on the most important things: my relationship with Him and my relationship with my family.” ~ Mike Dellosso

Author Mike Dellosso shares from his heart about his recent colon cancer diagnosis:

“In the long run, I think the experience of traveling through this valley will only enhance my writing, give it more depth, more texture, more emotion and passion. I know firsthand what it’s like to traverse that Valley of the Shadow of Death, to question why me?, to be scared of dying, not for dying’s sake but for my family’s sake, to live with a monster inside me that wants to kill me (hey, that gives me a great story idea), to be poked, prodded, scoped, and stuck, to live a life that revolves around the next test result or the next doctor’s appointment. I’ve been there now and I can incorporate those experiences into my stories, into the life of my characters. It’ll be interesting to see how my writing changes once I get back to it.”

What is one thing your diagnosis has taught you?

“…to fully rely on God, to willingly submit myself and put my life in His hands. And of course, this carries over into my writing as well. We writers never know where the next contract is coming from or how much the next royalty check will be for, or even how the next story will unfold, if there is a next story. We are constantly at His mercy, and I’m learning that’s a good place to be.”

About Mike’s writing:

How did you get into writing? Short answer: God used a near tragedy to force me to put pen to paper and discover what He had placed in my heart and the freedom writing brought while expressing that.

How long did it take you to get your first contract? I wrote and studied writing seriously for 9 years before landing my contract with Realms.

Why suspense? I write what I like to read. I have a short attention span so I enjoy stories that keep moving, pique my interest, have elements of intrigue, suspense, and danger and usually some supernatural twist.

Where do you get your ideas? I get ideas from all kinds of sources including news stories, Bible accounts, and things that happen in my own life. Sometimes I’ll just peruse the internet for interesting and unique stories that will stir my imagination. The idea for The Hunted came into being when I stumbled upon a story on the internet about lion sightings in a small town in Indiana back in the 1920’s. I’m always looking for story lines and plot ideas in everyday life and always looking for interesting characters in the people I meet.

Are you a plotter or a seat-of-the-pantser? Seat-of-the-pants all the way. I know where I want to start and where I want to end and I just make stuff up as I go with every in-between. Not very scientific or calculating, I know, but I figure if I don’t know how the story is going to unravel, the reader won’t either. It’s a journey of unexpected surprises for me . . . the writing itself is suspenseful!
~ ~ ~
Thanks, Mike. The Hunted is definitely a suspenseful read - releases in stores today! Save on gas and order from Amazon today.

* Mike Dellosso website
* Wide Eyed Fiction - Mike’s blog
* Contact Mike
* Mike’s Newsletter
* Order The Hunted

“Pray . . . Give you writing to God. He is the one who put the passion in your heart, the words in your head, let Him guide you each step of the way. Write for His glory!” ~ Mike Dellosso, from Seven Habits of Published Christian Authors

Lately I’ve pondered the effects of life’s little interruptions. Some are not little. We have chronic ailments, families to feed, and day jobs that crunch into our writing time. If not for the grace of God, none of us could live the life of a scribe.

For these challenges, Writer…Interrupted encourages me. We absolutely believe that God is in control, and while His Sovereign ways remain mysterious at times, He gathers for us a loving community in times of need. We get to see what He’s doing in our lives. Not only do we network and share information, we pray for one another. We’re family.

But of all life’s interruptions, cancer must be the most unwelcome.

At Writer Interrupted we’ve grown particularly fond of an author among us who has always encouraged us. It’s our time to encourage him. Let me introduce you to our dear friend and brother in Christ, Mike Dellosso .

Mike’s brand new book is being released, a gripping page-turner called The Hunted. You’ll want to read it, tell all your friends about it, and pray for Mike. He’s fighting colon cancer:

“This battle with cancer has been a trying time for many reasons, one being the timing. I was diagnosed two months before the release of my debut novel, The Hunted. Thankfully, the good people of the Writer Interrupted community joined together to throw me this blog tour. And what a blessing they’ve been to me. Thank you!”

You’re welcome, Mike. It’s plain to see that God has not only gifted you, but given you quite a story. It’s my pleasure to let the world know there’s a new Peretti in the house. I’m praying for your physical healing. May God bring you through this difficult time with a deeper revelation of Christ.

About the book:

Debut novelist Mike Dellosso delivers a spine-tingling drama in the style of Frank Peretti and Stephen King.

“After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills to aid in the search effort. When Caleb is found, badly mauled and clinging to life, Joe embarks on a mission to find the beast responsible. But the more Joe delves into the fabric of his old hometown, the more he realizes Dark Hills has a dark secret, shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence. As Joe unravels the truth behind a series of unexplained animal attacks, murder, and corruption at the highest level of law enforcement, he is led to a final showdown where he must entrust his very life into God’s hands.” More about this chilling story and the author behind it HERE.

About the author’s journey to publication:

“My writing journey began in September of 1998 after my brother-in-law suffered a tragic and near-deadly motorcycle accident that left him in a coma for eight weeks. At first, I mostly wrote short inspirational pieces and vignettes. Anything and everything about what I was experiencing on a spiritual level, what I was observing on a physical level. I just let the words flow from my heart to my pen (I wasn’t using a computer at the time). I really made no attempt at getting my writing published, I just wanted to write and get it down, but in the back of my mind I knew that some day I’d be shooting for publication.” Read the rest of Mike’s journey to publication.

Tomorrow I’ll share more behind the writing of Mike’s book with you. Meanwhile, let’s continue to cover his family with prayer.

Buy the book, kick back, and enjoy the Blog Tour

* The Hunted: First Chapter
* Order Mike’s book on Amazon
* The Mike Dellosso Blog Tour
* Mike’s Blog

“The greatest gift we can give one another is rapt attention to one another’s existence.” ~ Sue Atchley Ebaugh

As I perused my lovely Mother’s Day gifts this morning, each one reflected the specialness of the giver and warmed my heart. But more than gifts or praises, we mothers desire something more precious than store-bought sentiment - the gift of time. I love my children, but not for the gifts they bring. The gifts are a sweet representation of their love, but their presence in my life means more than I can describe.

On that thought, God nudges me. Is He trying to tell me something? After all, writers busy themselves with many a project, trying to honor Him with thoughtful, well-put words. In the process, we sometimes forget what He desires most. As much as words and stories bless His heart, He just wants us. If we but spend precious time with Him, the words will come.

A good week to concentrate on the Giver, and not so much the gifts. Let us honor God with all we write, but remember that good writing flows from a bountiful relationship with Him.

He is the Author and Perfector of our faith, amen?

“A good story can change the way we think, the way we live and love and make our way through this world.” ~ Bret Lott

A book review from Albert Mohler’s reading list:

Bret Lott, a Charleston-based author of best-selling novels, has edited a wonderful collection of Christian fiction in Eyes to See [Thomas Nelson]. Lott has chosen stories from masters such as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy, and Flannery O’Connor — joined by eleven other writers whose stories will make the Christian think and reflect . . . and enjoy reading.

This kind of anthology is a good way to introduce these stories and these authors to readers who may never have dared open The Brothers Karamazov or War and Peace. Lott offers brief introductions to the authors (I wish the introductions were a bit more extensive) and has chosen well for Eyes to See.

Some wonderful tidbits from Living Your Calling by Kevin & Kay Marie Brennfleck:

“Hopes, dreams, and perceptions of our callings are often fragile in the beginning. Choose carefully the people with whom you share them.”

“Choosing to see the positive in ourselves and in the life situations we encounter comes down to a matter of faith. Optimism for people of faith is founded on trusting that God is in control; regardless of how bleak or challenging circumstances seem to be, he is using them for our good and his glory.”

“We need the Creator of time to guide us away from living the stressed-out, overscheduled, and anxiety-ridden life of driven people and into living the centered, purposeful, and joyful life of people who are called.”

When God Steps In: Stories of Everyday Grace
by Bonnie Bruno

My friend, Bonnie Bruno, has written a remarkable new book, When God Steps In. Herein Bonnie shares fifty true-to-life stories that cause us to recognize the sacred interruptions and Divine appointments of our own lives, and what they mean.

Life moves at a dizzying pace. Years slip away before we know it, leaving us with a stack of photo albums. But snapshots can’t adequately capture the pivotal events that stretch and define our lives—”aha” moments when God steps in to lovingly mold us into the people he designed us to become.

“Divine appointments and sacred interruptions may show up as ordinary, everyday events or as complex struggles—with the power to alter our lives forever.”

Announcing the winner of our Ravi Zacharias book give-a-way:
Mr. Hal Paxton

Congratulations, Hal! And thanks to hubby for pulling the name for me. Hal, please email your address so I can get The Grand Weaver in the mail to you soon.

Thanks to everyone for participating. Wish I had a copy for each one of you. For those who would like to order their own copy, feel free to order via my Amazon link, or your local bookseller. Stay tuned for future drawings…there’s more to come.

Happy Friday and blessings on your weekend!

“It’s common to believe that great events such as a death or a birth are guided by the hand of God. Yet we can easily drift into feeling that our daily lives are not sovereignly directed, but are simply the product of our own efforts.” ~The Grand Weaver, backcover

The Grand Weaver
Author: Ravi Zacharias
Zondervan.com

In the opening of his book, Ravi Zacharias shares a letter from the many thousands he gets each year:

“Why has God made it so difficult to believe in him? If I loved somebody and had infinite power, I would use that power to show myself more obviously. Why has God made it so difficult to see his presence and his plan?”

A simple, yet heavy-duty question. Ravi Zacharias then humbly, tenderly, takes us—believer, skeptic, seeker alike—on a journey of discovery, thread by thread. Before the first chapter ends, we realize that maybe the threads of our lives aren’t just a tangled, nonsensical mess. We press on, watching with interest as the author traces God’s amazing handiwork in individual lives. He shares about pain, despair, and golden windows…the big picture, and incorruptible treasure. He shows how we can be freed from despair when we realize there are no random threads.

One quote stayed with me: “To allow God to be God we must follow him for who he is and what he intends, and not for what we want or what we prefer,” Zacharias says.

As The Grand Weaverpoints to God’s designing hand, we see patterns of tailored purposefulness for every life. In each chapter, Ravi details the things that matter: our DNA, our disappointments, our calling, our morality, our spirituality, our will, our worship, and our destiny. As I delved into these topics packed with insightful quotes and powerful storytelling, I kept turning pages, wanting to underline everything. Zacharias is brilliant, yet gentle. Scholarly, yet readable and down to earth. His insights touch the heart and mind, and there is nothing pretentious about him.

This author helps us examine our own backgrounds, disappointments, triumphs, and beliefs, and how they relate to the intentional work of God in our own lives. Ravi’s stories lift us out of our own quagmire, challenging our perspective. He’s not afraid of probing questions, and reinforces the truth we so desperately need for a genuine spirituality. From page to page, we witness the delicate weavings of God over the course of a lifetime—not at all random or meaningless, yet each thread lovingly and intentionally designed by God for His grand purposes.

“Without truth, the threads do not make a beautiful design. Without truth, spirituality is nothing more than a hopeless confession that sheer matter alone does not answer life’s deepest hungers. Truth is the thread that separates true spirituality from false spirituality.”

At the back of his book, Zacharias encourages the reader to ponder questions, Bible in hand, and to discuss them with others. The appendix contains 25 Key Questions & Answers, such as:

* How can I see God’s pattern in my life unfold, even when I am in pain?
* How does determining my call help me pull together different aspects of my life?
* How can I begin to discipline my will?

For a more theoretical and philosophical exploration, he recommends the book that he co-edited with Dr. Norman Geisler: Who Made God?: And Answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith.

I’m pleased to recommend this book. Ravi Zacharias, MDiv., is a keen mind, noted author, well known Christian apologist, and sought-after conference speaker. I first came to know him through his radio ministry called Let My People Think several years ago. He and his wife live in Atlanta, and his memoir was published last year called, Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows.

Enjoy the resources. I’ll announce the winner of this book very soon. Stay tuned!

Resources:
The Grand Weaver
Bio: Ravi Zacharias
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
Radio Ministry

You don’t have to lurk in the shadows. Come on out, post a comment. In the weeks ahead, I hope to give away some thought-provoking books here, and I want you to be a winner!

First give-a-way: The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias. The name I draw will come from the comments section just below this post, and one other post (which I’ll announce).

From the book jacket:

“It’s common to believe that great events such as a death or a birth are guided by the hand of God. Yet we can easily drift into feeling that our daily lives are not sovereignly directed, but are simply the product of our own efforts. This book brims with stories that show us otherwise. From a chance encounter at a cricket match to a beloved father’s final words before dying, from a random phone call to a line in a Scripture reading, Dr. Zacharias reveals how every detail of his life has been woven into its perfect place. Then he encourages us to examine our backgrounds, our disappointments, our triumphs, and our beliefs in a different light, explaining how they are all part of the intentional and perfect work of the Grand Weaver.”

Looking forward to reading this wonderful book, then giving YOU the opportunity to read it, too.

Come on! Step into the light.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” ~ Colossians 2:8

Sorry for the cross-post today.

Usually I make a point not to blog my frustrations. But today I need to share a heads-up regarding one of my pet peeves: Questionable content at many online Christian booksellers. Specific bookseller in question today: Crossings Book Club. To be sure, I’ve notified them of my disappointment over their affiliation with Audible.com.

The discovery came as I updated membership info, and turned down the featured selection of the month. If you don’t decline the monthly selections in time, you’ll end up with a mailbox full of books you don’t really want. I don’t have time to read just anything so I’m rather selective. Today I browsed quickly for an audio download for this week when I’m driving back and forth to the hospital for hubby’s heart surgery. Crossings promotes member audio selections via their link at Audible.com.

Don’t get me wrong—not everything I read has to be expressly Christian in content. After all, I love a good cookbook…hehe… but the necessity for discernment has come to me the hard way. Garbage in, garbage out—another post entirely. Crossings Bookclub seems to promote Christian titles at their book page, while condoning inappropriate material at the audio site.

The audio books that first caught my eye were The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks; another book of theirs called The Processes. These were written by a married couple who mentored Rhonda Byrn, author of the wildly popular book, The Secret. Yep, this is the spirituality that Oprah promotes. Oprah pushes and believes this flashy repackaging of the age-old lies. It’s nonsense. It’s blasphemous. It’s heresy. And I’m stunned at the number of Christians and ’seekers’ alike who have shelled out 30 bucks to read material inspired by deceiving spirits — hoping for some “secret” to a prosperous life.

Well, it’s no secret that author Esther Hicks channels a collective demonic entity called “Abraham.” If you don’t believe me, do your own research. I’m not here to argue the case. Some laugh and say this book is merely a gimicky fad, designed to rob the masses of their hard earned cash. While that’s true, it’s a book fraught with error. I can’t imagine why anyone who seriously embraces Jesus Christ would soak their hearts in lies. Yes, booksellers need to make a buck wherever they can, but this seems an appalling breach of our confidence. Readers put their trust in Crossings Book Club as well as other Christian booksellers, and this affiliation with Audible.com seems a bit misleading. Either they don’t know better, or they don’t care.

I can’t believe that companies would hang a shingle to identify themselves as being distinctively Christian, yet have the audacity to try and profit from material that is blatantly opposed to everything we believe in.

Well, I’ve got just enough audacity to call them on it.
I’ll keep you posted.

“In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” ~ 1 Timothy 4:1

Resources for your perusal:

Review by Don Whitney
Will “The Secret” Work in Darfur?
The Secret: Christianity or New Age?
A New Mask for An Ancient Secret
Dangers of Channeling
More info from Lighthouse blog