Paula Wiseman

Faith and life meet in a story

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Home » Resolute

Posts about Resolute, Foundations Series Book 3

Update: Encounters

By Paula

WritingSo when is the next book coming out? Good question.

I’m working on a trilogy, so I want to know (need to know) where the characters end up to make sure I point them in the right direction in the earlier books. That means all three books need to be drafted before I can start with the edits on the first one. That’s the downside. The upside is that once we get going, the books should come out in quicker succession. It takes me around eighteen months to put a book together.

The new series, Encounters, is all first person, and that has been more fun than I anticipated. First person limits you to only one head, but it lets you get deep inside that character. Book 1’s narrator is Donna Shannon. Three years ago when I first tested the story as first person, her voice was so strong, there was no way I could take the book away from her and write as third person.

Here’s a little taste…

I think Phil and I both knew from the beginning we’d end up married. He’s six months younger than I am, to the day, August eighteenth to February eighteenth, and they tell me from the day he showed up in the church nursery, I couldn’t leave him alone. Apparently, I believed in “courting by pestering.”

It was probably a good thing. Phil’s quiet and shy, and I can’t imagine him being forward enough to pursue a girl. With me, he never had to. I was always there. We went all through school together, had all the same teachers until we got to high school and they started pulling the smarter kids out. If Phil was anything, he was smart. And cute. Red hair and freckles and grin that would just melt you. In our first grade picture he was grinning that grin, but missing his two front teeth. If you look close, you can see he was holding my hand.

When I was six and he was still five, he pulled me around behind the piano in the church sanctuary of all places, and he kissed me. He said, “I’m gonna marry you one day, Donna Sue Grant. That’s a promise.” That cinched it.

See what I mean?

I’m finishing up the draft of Book Two. (Book Three is done. I didn’t like the ending for Book Two, so it’s getting a rework.) Once that’s done, I’ll get to work on Book One, Touched.
In other news-

If you saw this on Facebook, forgive me for repeating. Resolute was recognized with a LYRA award for best inspirational fiction. You can read the press release.

My oldest graduates next month which means we have been busy with college things and senior things, but it also means summer. This summer, I have some projects I’m hoping to work on in addition to book editing. I’ll let you know if that actually happens.

Reading List-

Recently finished – Praying Backwards by Brian Chappell
Currently – The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Di Camillo
Coming soon – Voice of a Prophet by A.W Tozer and Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen.

 
So what’s new with you?

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Writing Friday Tagged With: Encounters series, Resolute

Update: Now that Resolute is out…

By Paula

writing a letterResponse to Resolute is starting to trickle in as reviews are posted, emails are landing in my inbox and even through a few conversations with readers. Let me say it is a very scary thing to sit down and write about something someone else has lived through. I don’t take lightly the task of portraying the challenges and the emotions that my characters face because I know for many people, this is more than a story. They’ve lived it. I always, always want to honor those struggles and approach them with the utmost dignity and respect.

I am deeply humbled and grateful for the comments I’ve received about Doug and his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Thank you for your support.

If you’ve not picked up your copy yet, I encourage you to do so. I think it’s my favorite book so far. If you have read Resolute, you have my sincere thanks. I would encourage (beg) you to leave a review. Your words make all the difference when someone is wavering, trying to decide if the book is worth the risk for them.

 
On a personal note, I want to thank you for the many prayers and messages last month after our failed adoption. Your kindness and support was a welcome blessing and my family and I are immeasurably grateful.

We can never thank God enough for all the joy you give us as we rejoice in God’s presence. 1 Thessalonians 3:9 (GW)

 
In other news–

November is usually a time when we try to draft a new novel for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) but it just wasn’t happening this year. (I did draft a new one this summer, so I’ve not slacked off completely.)

The big project is a new series that I hope to start releasing some time next year. In addition, I’m always trying to improve as a blogger and speaker, and deliver even better bite-sized content on social media. When it comes right down to it, I’m a teacher at heart, and while all this typing gives me an opportunity to teach, it also means I never stop learning.

I’m reading some excellent books right now.
Hearing God’s Voice by Henry and Richard Blackaby
Journaling as a Spiritual Practice by Helen Cepero
Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

(I’m rarely ever reading just one book. In fact, in addition to these three, I’m reading two more for school and my youngest and I are reading The Hobbit at bedtime.)

 
So what’s going on with you?

 

 

 

Filed Under: Writing Friday Tagged With: 1 Thessalonians, Resolute

Thank you

By Paula

thank you noteResolute has been out officially for about ten days now. Judging from the early reviews and emails I’ve received, initial reaction has been tremendous.

Thank you for all you did to make the release a success.

There wouldn’t be much point of writing Resolute (or any of the others) if no one was reading, so you are absolutely essential.

Thank you for recommending the books to your friends, for suggesting the books to your reading groups or placing them in your church libraries, and for taking the time to leave reviews.

Thank you for reading my blog, for your comments and emails

Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.

Thank you for liking the Facebook page and following on Twitter and Pinterest.

You bless me and encourage me every day. Every. Single. Day.

I couldn’t do it without you, and frankly … I wouldn’t want to.

Filed Under: Writing Friday Tagged With: Resolute

Video Q&A: When Will Resolute Be Out?

By Paula

 

https://www.paulawiseman.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Video-answer-4-When-is-Resolute-coming-out.mp4

 

The not exact transcript:

So when is Resolute coming out? I don’t know. But I will tell you what I do know. It’s been at the editor’s since mid-March. That’s typically a four to six week process so hopefully that part is getting close to done. After that it will take me anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to make all the corrections and last-minute tweaks and adjustments and do the final read through. After that, it goes to interior layout and design which is another few weeks. After I approve the interior, the book goes into production and two or three weeks after that, I’ll have an actual paperback copy in my hand.

If you’ve been counting the weeks, that puts us into June sometime. As it gets closer I can give you a more accurate idea of the release date. In the meantime, I’ll do my best to keep you updated through Facebook, blog posts and newsletters.

As always, feel free to email your questions to me.

 

In the meantime even though the Resolute site is under construction, there are preview chapters there.

 

 

Filed Under: Writing Friday Tagged With: Resolute, Video Q&A

Video Q&A on Resolute

By Paula

 

https://www.paulawiseman.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Video-answer-1-Why-Doug-Alzheimers.mp4

 

This is a not-exact transcript.

I got a great question from a reader and wanted to address it in a quick video.

The question was “Why did I give Doug Bolling Alzheimer’s disease?”

I’m hard at work on Resolute, the third book in the Foundations series, and if you’ve read any of the previews, you know that book opens with Doug getting the diagnosis. So why would I do that? Especially to him!

The truth is bad things make for better stories. While we like for things to click along in real life, we’d rather read about someone else’s dire troubles. Also, I like to stories where the characters’ faith and ideas about God are challenged. Alzheimer’s presents a unique opportunity to do that not only with Doug but with the members of his family.

Second, Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease and the incidence is on the rise in this country. I wanted to raise awareness by dealing with it in a book.

Third, why Doug? I love Doug. Honestly, he’s my favorite character. So by using a character we already know and love, one we already have some history with, it heightens the emotional impact of the story.

 

If you have questions feel free to email me and I’ll do my best to answer them in a future video.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Writing Friday Tagged With: Resolute, Video Q&A

Update: New Books

By Paula

 

typing awayEach 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!

 

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Filed Under: Writing Friday Tagged With: Contingency, Foundations Series, Indemnity, Precedent, Razed, Refined, Resolute

Encounters Series

From the opening pages of Scripture, no one who has encountered a holy God has come away unchanged. Adam, Abraham, Hagar, Moses and many, many others realized that God is not distant but a God who … Read More

Covenant of Trust rings icon

Covenant of Trust Series

A covenant is a solemn, binding agreement. God chose to unilaterally enter into a covenant with Abraham. No matter what Abraham said or did, God vowed to uphold the terms and bless Abraham. Marriage … Read More...

brick icon for Foundations

Foundations Series

Jesus told a parable about a wise builder and a foolish one, underscoring how important it is to have a solid foundation. He declared that obedience to His word was the surest foundation of all. In … Read More...

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