Pre-prep

The following information comes from the Avon Books Submission Guidelines.

INSPIRE

(60,000—90,000 words)

Inspire is a new line of inspirational romances from Avon Books. These stories and their characters are primarily Christian, and promote traditional values and beliefs. They also are first and foremost stories of the heart, romantic novels about learning to trust; to open ourselves to love, not only to the men in our lives, but ultimately to God. Set in America, both contemporary and historical settings will be considered, as will romantic suspense and romantic comedy. There should be no alcohol, drug use, or premarital sex for the main characters. For non-Christian characters, these subjects can be explored but primarily to show their destructive nature and how a virtuous life is the better path. Foul language should be avoided at all costs.

 

Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Historical is pretty much the same, except for the word count (70,000-75,000). 

 

I’ve learned that when I begin a new manuscript it helps me greatly if I have some sort of guidelines to go by. Since I’m currently working on a few inspirationals, I thought it would be good to know what I’m looking at. The best way for me to go about this is to hit a target word count that would broaden my options-70,000-75,000. 

 

Having this starting point gives me an idea at about how many chapters I’m shooting for, which helps me in the plotting process. And while I’m writing, I know that I am shooting for a certain word count for each chapter.

For my work-in-progress Hope, I am aiming for 3,000-4000 words per a chapter, which means 18-25 chapters.

 

As for Priest, it’s a bit different. Right now in the first draft it’s sitting at 63,190 word and thirty chapters. Most likely the chapters will stay the same but I want to increase my word count.

A Gluten-Free Recipe

For almost a year now, my diet has consisted of Tacos, Chicken Alfredo over rice, and soup. Occasionally I’d roast a whole chicken. Two weeks ago I added pizza back in, thanks to my mother and Namaste Foods. Not that I didn’t know about the gluten-free pizza crust because I did, but at $7.00 a bag and the high probability of an icky taste, I just didn’t think it was worth the try. My mother, however, did. On Christmas, she gifted me with a pizza crust mix. I guess you could say I was totally shocked. At first I thought I enjoyed it because I had only had two personal pan pizzas from a local pizzeria, Via’s, over the last few years. And although I did like those take outs personal pans, I could definitely taste the rice flour, which is something I’ve become accustomed to and would have been all right if the crust hadn’t been soggy as well. Surprisingly, it was absolutely delicious. I even made the family try just to make sure, and they loved it too.

So this week, I stepped out of my tried and true norm. When I went to the grocery to purchase my pizza mix, I found a tortilla crumb mix (I can see some of you rolling your eye, why didn’t I just buy milled corn) with two interesting recipes on the back.

Here is the first:

 

Breaded Ranch Chicken              

1 cup Tortilla Crumbs*            

3/4 cup grated Pepper Jack Cheese

1 egg                                        

1/2 cup melted butter               

1-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

In a shallow bowl, combine Tortilla Crumbs, cheese and melted butter. Dip chicken pieces in egg that has been lightly beaten. Roll in Tortilla Crumb mixture to coat (this didn’t look like any coating I’ve ever seen and it didn’t stick to the chicken real well). Place in greased, shallow baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees 30-40 minutes until done (I baked at 375 for 1 hour).

I think corn is an acquired taste, one that I am still working on. But I have to say this wasn’t too bad. Although two of the kids didn’t like it (they’re picky eaters) hubs and the youngest did like it. I’d eat it again, and it wasn’t too hard to make.

As to why I didn’t buy milled corn, uh, it didn’t cross my. I think next time I just might give it a try and add my own seasonings. This whole thing of learning how to cook outside of boxed dinners is taking some getting used to.

Gluten Free Post The picture of the pizza crust mix was taken from the Gluten Free Post, with their review of the pizza crust, which I’ll tell you they didn’t like. 

*Tortilla Crumbs is a product made by the Soynut Butter Company

 

Sunday Confession

Over the past few weeks the family has been going to a new church after a three year hiatus. As some of you know, finding the right church is like finding the right pair of jeans. With so many different schools of theology out there it’s not easy to find the perfect fit, or even one that fits the best. You know, it might be tight around the waist however the length is right (I was going to say fits well in the butt, but I think you understand).

Anyway sometime we go for comfort over that of looks (a whole different sermon in itself). I’m not saying that we should go for either or, but we are humans of habit and we tend to go back to the things we know, whether it’s in a church, relationships (abusive), comfort food, or as readers we have our go to authors.

Well, today, we’ve decided to go back to a church that has caused us a lot of pain. Whether it’s to go back for good because it’s home, or to go back to let it go (to forgive), who knows. Hopefully, we’ll find out when we get there.

So, here is my confession, for the first time in a very long time, I’m going to church and I’m scared. My prayer is that God will pave the way for us.

Technical difficulties

I’m having some difficulties with the background. And I’ve lost all the links to blogs I had in my following list. I’ll try and get it up and running as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Renee

Whew!

I made it through the revisions on the first 3 chapters of Cherish Me. There is a bit at the end of Chapter 3 that may need to be cut, but for this round I’m keeping. 58 pages down 200+ to go.

Blogging Elsewhere

I’m blogging at Kansas Word Warriors today. I’d appreciate it if y’all stop by and say hi.

I’m also working on a book review. I’m not real comfortable with them, but I wanted to give it a go.

Sunday Sermon

I recently talked about gifts over at Romance Roundtable. In my discussion it kind of came out that for many years I didn’t know what my gifts were, or if I had any at all. But that didn’t mean the desire wasn’t there.

I seems for as long as I can remember that I’ve wanted to write. I wrote poems and songs in high school (but did’t most girls). As I became an adult and looked back at my desire I shoved it aside as a ‘normal’ teenage activity.

There are many things I desired over the course of my lifetime, writing was just one of many. Once, when I was in Arizona, I saw a person hang-glide off a mountain, and thought wow! I want to do that. It was no different with sky diving, and white river rafting. I guess my desires were all about adventure. I’ve since decided I’d like to keep my feet firm on the ground, although I wouldn’t mind the white river rafting. One desire that has never changed is the desire to see the majestic beauty God has given us throughout the world. I use to think that God had a twisted sense of humor when it came to me. You see, I love the ocean. The rolling waves soothing my nerves, the salty spray bathing my skin, yada, yada. . . But I am landlocked. I began to think my desires were outside of the will of God. I’ve since started looking at the landscape around me. This non-descript, so-called, flatland that I live in is filled with wondrous characteristics. I’ve spent a long time looking outward, wanting something outside my boundaries, that I never saw the beauty in my own back yard. Somewhere along the way that all changed.

And let me tell you, the characteristics of my own backyard are indescribable. I can only imagine what went through the minds of those settlers as they halted their wagons and pitched their tents, at least that is the romantic in me. The realistic in me knows it had to be hard to enter into a wild, untamed land full of unknowns. The realistic in me knows that although many came with a specific reason to settle here, many too, just could not continue on the road west.

The weary traveler looking upon this wide open space, may have said, “Will this do, Martha?” And she may have wiped the sweat from her brow as she bobbled one of her many young children on her hip. “Looks as good as any, Fred.”

These weary travelers had a desire in their hearts, not so much for a better life, but for a life of their own. They knew the realities, or at least some of them, of toiling the land, but that didn’t change that they had the desire to be land owners. Others had no idea what lay in store for them.

But when they looked up from their hard labors and saw God’s wondrous canvas. . . . can you imagine the abundant joy that filled their hearts knowing God cared enough to paint a picture just for them?

Yes, I’ve seen many an evening like this when the landscape comes alive. As beautiful as the photograph is, it doesn’t show how the grasses are colored with the multi-hued purples, greens, and golds. Or how the prairies seem to come alive with their dots of pinks and yellows and swatches of browns.

I wanted to experience the beauty of God’s world, but I had ignored the very gift given me in my own backyard. Now, I can’t seem to take my eyes from it.

I love the Psalms, perhaps because they seem to be written by man seeking out a relationship with God in all ways, not just as Lord and his servant, but as companions. It’s like a walk through the flower-scented garden on a warm peaceful evening with a beloved friend.

Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

For me, this is saying that the desires in my heart were given by the Lord himself. If I trust in him, if I commune with him, He’ll bless me, even if it is only for my eyes to be opened to see what has been in front of me for so long.

That second, lovely, photograph was taken by Judd Patterson, if you’d like to see more of his work go here.