Paula Wiseman » Friday Update

2011 Books

Paula — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:32:19 +0000

These days I read mostly for school of for research of one sort or another. Even so, here are my 2011 books.

My favorites were:

Unconditional? by Brian Zahnd

The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos

The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan

I also enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

What about you? What did you read and enjoy this past year? What do you plan to read in 2012?

Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness (paulawiseman.com)

Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness

Paula — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:29:41 +0000

I don't do book reviews. So what you're about to read isn't one. However, in preparing to write a book where my characters wrestle with forgiveness, I needed to do some theological research. Along with my Bible study, I read Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness by Brian Zahnd.

It is, quite simply, one of the most profound books I have read.

Eloquent.

Powerful.

Convicting.

If Christianity is not about forgiveness, it s about nothing at all. (p. 2) Christ’s followers are called to radical forgiveness, unreasonable forgiveness, reckless forgiveness, endless forgiveness, seemingly impossible forgiveness. (p.74)

Forgiveness is not optional.

Your Turn: What have you read lately that impacted you?

(P.S. I don't know Brian. I'm not getting any swag for recommending his book. This is just an old-fashioned "I read a really great book. You might like it." deal.)

Update: NaNoWriMo, Precedent for Kindle and More

Paula — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:49:13 +0000

As of this writing, I have almost three days of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in the bag. So far so good. I'm averaging around 2000 a day, which is better than the 1667 I'll need to make the 50K goal. I need a cushion because I'm pretty sure I won't be writing as much this weekend. (Sleepover with 6 11 year old boys + LSU at Alabama… Enough said.)

Already I've learned some things- I write in 200-400 words bursts. Serious writing = serious munchies. I am compulsive about checking my word count.

Also- Contingency is a FREE download at Smashwords right now. It's available in Kindle and Nook formats. (It's also free on Goodreads. Just click on the "read book" button.)

November 15th – Precedent for Kindle and Nook. (Then I can compulsively check my sales numbers instead of my words count.)

Finally, here's a little – unedited – piece of the novel I'm working on for NaNoWriMo… It's called Sanction. Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, March 10

“All rise.”

It was no less intimidating the second time the judge swept into the courtroom, his black robe swirling behind him. “Please, be seated,” he said, and Shannon Molinsky, her parents and everyone else did just that.

She fixed her eyes on the back of Dylan Snider’s head, several rows ahead of them at the defense table. His black hair was longer than she remembered, and it lay in neat layers. His earring was gone, and in his tailored navy suit he could have passed for a banker or one of the new attorneys at her father’s law firm. Anything but a rapist.

Her brother testified this morning. One of the four girls bringing the charges was a patient of his. “Her injuries were consistent with a sexual assault,” Joel said. Her parents both stiffened with those words. They knew she’d been with Dylan, but that was all they knew.

They protested when she announced she wanted to come to the trial. “I don’t want you anywhere near that punk,” her father said. “He’s bad news.” She didn’t disagree.

“Do you still have feelings for him?” her mother asked. Not those kind of feelings.

She couldn’t blame either one of them, though. Not after last summer. Three weeks after her brother Brad’s murder, she dropped off the face of the earth. Her brilliant plan had been to punish her father. After all, his affair led to Jack, which brought Jack’s grandfather to Brad’s mission downtown, which led to Brad and Jack rushing out onto the streets and a drive-by shooting. Someone … someone had to be responsible for Brad’s death. Not the shooter. Her father. Twisted thinking.

She went to a party at Dylan’s house and was arrested for drinking. Her dad flipped. He wouldn’t let her explain she’d taken one sip of punch after eating a hot pepper. That was it. No, his mind was made up. Case closed.

She went out with Dylan, and he came positively unglued. So she snuck out one Saturday morning, with Dylan’s help. After his “help,” she couldn’t bear to face her parents. It was New Year’s Day when her dad found her and brought her home. Six months later.

“The defense calls Dylan Aaron Snider to the stand.”

Her mother reached out, but Shannon quickly withdrew her hand. Her mother couldn’t know how cold and suddenly clammy her hands were. Instead, Shannon folded her hands in her lap, catching a glimpse of her father’s scowl. Just wait ’til he starts talking, Dad.

With puppy dog eyes, Dylan spun a sad tale about pawing, desperate girls pushing themselves on him, threatening to tell everyone he’d raped them if he didn’t give in. Shannon’s folded hands became clenched fists. Lies. All of it. Lies. Relayed in that same soft, mellow voice he’d used on her.

“Oh no sir,” he said to his lawyer. “I never gave her any reason to think that I was interested in a sexual relationship.”

That was the only thing he was interested in. Shannon crossed her legs tightly. He was going to talk his way out of this. The jury, all paying rapt attention, were buying his version. He would walk out of here scot-free after raping four girls. If they didn’t get justice, neither would she.

Finally, Dylan looked across the courtroom directly at her. “I never hurt anyone. I never took advantage of anyone. I never violated anyone’s boundaries. I never asked anyone to do anything they weren’t completely comfortable with. Never.”

White rage exploded in Shannon’s head, and with total disregard for the courtroom, for the jury, for her parents, she leapt to her feet, and pointed a finger at Dylan Snider’s heart. “He’s lying! He’s a rapist! HE RAPED ME!”

Friday Update: Precedent Release

Paula — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:38:40 +0000

Just a few quick notes -

Precedent officially releases tomorrow. Woo-hoo! The last time I checked Amazon (Friday morning) this listing was still processing, and listed as a pre-order. However, Barnes&Noble had things ready by Wednesday and they are offering the paperback at a special price of $10.04. If paperback is your format, your might want to check out B&N.

(If you've connected with me on Facebook, you knew all this stuff. Sorry for the repeats.)

Kindle & Nook – Ebooks will follow soon but I don't have an exact date. Stay tuned.

Covenant of Trust Book 4: Sanction – I've started the draft, actually wrote the first chapter this week and Chuck… he made me cry. So plan on more light fluffy stuff from the Molinskys

This story focuses on Shannon's journey moving from a life lived under a penalty to a life Accepted in the Beloved as she struggles to accept the grace she's received. Bobbi will get a break of sorts while Chuck has to shoulder the emotional burden more. For a story I never intended to write, it sure seems like it was planned from the beginning.

Thanks for reading, for recommending, for reviewing and for your kind encouragement! What a blessing you are to me!

Contingency Wins Gold

Paula — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:45:56 +0000

We got some exciting news this week as Contingency won the Gold for Christian Fiction from Readers Favorite. Here's an excerpt from their review.

Contingency is beautifully written. I was held captive from the first page to the last. I was cheering for Bobbi and Chuck to reconcile. The characters are well developed. I had tears dripping as I read this book. Perhaps the plot hit too close to home. Marriage is never easy, it takes work. It takes a strong relationship with Christ. I cherish the message in this book.

Update: New Books

Paula — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:23:48 +0000

Each day I am humbled by the response to Contingency & Indemnity, especially the emotional connection readers have with the characters and their struggles with the God they cling to. This week we contracted to produce three more books. This is a scary prospect. What if the first ones were a fluke? What if these aren't as good? What if they don't engage readers? What if they aren't as deep, or though-provoking or genuine? (You see, being a writer is a lot like mental illness…)

I love Bobbi and Chuck dearly, but in the next books, the Foundations Series, I'll introduce you to my favorite characters. Here's a quick peek at what's ahead.

Book 1: Razed

Razed means to destroy something utterly. You can't repair. You must rebuild.

A God who lets a 40-year-old woman die from cancer can't be good. That's Doug Bolling's theology. He can't seem to connect with his son, Mark, who found Jesus because of his mother. The more Mark grows in his faith, the wider the rift becomes. A series of events in Mark's life, from a call to preach, to a pastorate, to seminary, to the mission field are utterly incomprehensible to Doug, and he interprets them as extremism bordering on insanity. God may have ripped away his wife and now his son, but Doug draws the line at his grandchildren. In a desperate attempt to snatch them back from a life of who knows what, he files a lawsuit, seeking custody of the children.

Book 2: Refined

To be refined is to have all the impurities removed, to be distilled to your true self.

Mark has been obedient to God's call every step of the way, but now God issues the most difficult challenge of all- surrendering his children. Mark and his family are forced to leave the mission field in Kenya and come home for the legal battle of a lifetime. I can't tell you any more without spoiling the surprises. But Bobbi, Chuck and 14-year-old Jack make appearances in this one.

Book 3: Resolute

Resolute is boldly committed, settled and sure.

Doug is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and his and Mark's relationship must undergo a final adjustment. Mark gives up the mission in Africa for his father. It's a story of holding on to faith even when the path leads in a direction you never anticipated, and requires more from you than you want to give. (Shannon Molinsky has married Doug's oldest grandson so she plays a role in the story and Chuck and Bobbi pop in briefly. )

Refined was drafted before Contingency, so with this series, you'll get my actual "first" book. Doug Bolling was supposed to be a villain, but from the moment he stepped onto the page, I liked him. A lot. Working with him, he's become my favorite character of all. Cassandra Grayson, showed up after the outline was done and promptly stole every scene she was in. They have a unique relationship and a beautiful love story.

When will Foundations release? Good question. We'll see how the summer goes, how Precedent does, how homeschooling for high school works… I'll keep you posted.

Thank you for all your encouragement and your support!