“I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say ‘he feels deeply, he feels tenderly.’”

“An artist needn’t be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men.”

“The emotions are sometimes so strong that I work without knowing it. The strokes come like speech.”

Excerpt from Vincent’s letter to brother Theo:

“And God sees the trouble and the sorrow and He can help in spite of all. The faith in God is firm in me - it is no imagination, no idle faith - but it is so, it is true, there is a God Who is alive and He is with our parents and His eye is also upon us, and I am sure He plans our life and we do not quite belong to ourselves as it were - and this God is no other than Christ of Whom we read in our Bible and Whose word and history is also deep in our heart.”

Letter from Vincent to Theo, Amsterdan, May 30, 1877

“The sheer exhaustion she conveyed in the act of stirring her tea made it look like she was mixing cement.” ~ Martha Manning, psychotherapist (referring to her grandmother’s depression)

I don’t think about it much. Depression, that is. The moods come, and thankfully, they go. Except for the depression that hospitalized me. But that was years ago, long before I understood my own brain. For clinical depression there is now fairly good medication available. Other things help too, like understanding friends. Hopefully my experiences have wrought in me a deeper compassion for others. I hope it’s made a difference in my writing, too.

Last time I admitted depression, a friend said she just didn’t get it. I’m glad she’s never needed antidepressants. But something she said revealed a smidgeon of pride. “I just never give in to depression,” she said. “Guess I’ve never understood chronic victim mentality.” Ouch.

Well, much has been written on brain illness that would straighten out the least of this friend’s misconceptions, but some people would rather read the funnies. It’s useless to explain the function of neurons and neurotransmitters to people whose brain never falters. Note to self: Don’t look to misguided folks for understanding. It won’t happen.

Ironically, writing that ministers to me comes from those who have wrestled with darkness and come out on the other side. These writers speak to my heart. They’re compassionate, genuine, and not afraid to be transparent. They don’t shame people for the way they’re wired, nor for the way they’ve experienced life.

When I haven’t walked a mile in someone’s flip-flops, I really can’t afford to judge. So I treat people’s melancholia with care. When that black bile or brain-freeze descends on someone I know, I want to be the friend that God sends. I want to fan the flame of all His gifts, and love my friends in the most consistent ways I know how. It’s not enough to shrug and say, “I just don’t get it,” and walk away.

Melancholy souls were given a gift. Because of misunderstandings we’ve suffered, we recognize a timely word spoken in season. We cherish it. We cling to it. We never hesitate to offer a word or kindness to another soul in need, and trust God will most ably speak through us.

But a final thought lingers. If compassion is putting ourselves in someone else’s flip-flops long enough to feel their pain, surely melancholia taught us how.

“I’m so distracted by the beauty of summer. Oh, and yard work.”

Two months after my thyroidectomy and I’m wanting to weed! Mr. G. and I work in tandem together, slathered in sunscreen. He, with his post-melanoma scalp checks, and my new neck scar - we’re a pair and we know it. And yet we constantly, lovingly - like mother hens - remind the other not to work in the sun, lest we regret it later.

And they say it’s not quite summertime! Tell it to my thermostat. The A/C drones on, fighting temps that could scorch an egg. I mosey into the yard during mornings or evenings, but never in between.

Back inside, I’m captivated by an endless array of home projects. It’s dizzying. Scrapbooking, framing, beading, cooking, container gardening - all call my name. The rooms needs dusting; the bathrooms need cleaning. Meanwhile, I’ve lined up fun crafts for my granddaughter and our fast-approaching “Camp Gigi.” Yes, my computers need some overdue maintenance, but I’d rather release my inner Crafty Diva.

Trouble is, I can’t do it all. But it’s exciting to think about (and beats depression).

Ah yes, but the writing never stops. I’ve spent more time posting here lately on things near and dear to my heart. You’re welcome to peek. I’ve notebooks, full of mini-writing projects, and overwhelming devotion to tell the world about the One who overcame it.

And pretty soon, maybe not for another year or two, I’ll expect the pitter-patter of new little feet around here. Not sure *when*, but more grandchildren are always a possibility. Which means, this writer needs to kick things in gear.

Oh, wait a minute. I hear my inner Crafty Diva calling…

What is your summer like these days?

Solitude is not a bad thing. We writers are well familiar:

“Language…has created the word “loneliness” to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word “solitude” to express the glory of being alone.” ~ Paul Tillich

“One of the greatest necessities in America is to discover creative solitude.” ~ Carl Sandburg

“A creation of importance can only be produced when its author isolates himself, it is a child of solitude.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.” ~ Albert Einstein

“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

Twice this week I’ve heard the expression, “So many books, so little time!” All the more reason to be selective, wouldn’t you say? Life is too short to fill our minds with junk.

“That is a good book which is opened with expectation and closed in profit.”
~ Amos Bronson Alcott

“I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet got ourselves.” ~ E. M. Forster

“Choose an author as you choose a friend.”
~ Sir Christopher Wren

“Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

What books come to mind as you recall those that deeply impacted your life? Care to share?

There’s nothing like a good quote at the right time:

“Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it.” ~ Anne de Lenclos

“Kind words smooth all the paths of life and smiles makes burdens light, and uncomplaining friends can make a daytime out of night.” ~ Carrie Jacobs Bond

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems that you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

“Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.” ~ St. Augustine

“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?

“I have learned, on my journeys, that if I let a day go by without writing, I grow uneasy. Two days and I am in tremor. Three and I suspect lunacy. Four and I might as well be a hog, suffering in the flux in a wallow. An hour’s writing is tonic.” ~ Ray Bradbury

So many times we hear folks say, “I’d love to write but I don’t feel inspired.” The inspiration comes as we write, does it not?

One friend laments the time issue. According to her, writing is a waste unless she’s able to devote whole days to the process. Most of us learn to lay claim to smaller blocks of time or else we’ll never write. When I worked full-time (with way too much overtime) for 6 years, I still managed to blog and submit occasional articles. Not saying it’s easy. I’m just saying…

Another misconception: “If the writing is too hard, it’s not meant to be.” Not necessarily. Some will abandon a writing project once it involves discomfort. The reasoning? Too much blood, sweat, and tears. To quit is always a personal choice, but maybe we should count the cost. Because most writing in general includes grueling phases we’d rather not experience. But they pass. It’s good to remember that if the Lord calls us to write something down, we can absolutely trust His enablement.

Writing is not easy. And sometimes our misconceptions are mere excuses. Like a friend reminded me the other day, we’re either called or we’re crazy. I had to laugh. Yes, but moving past a few misconceptions will get us over the hump.

What writing have you put off for far too long? Why? I’d love to hear about it.