I know! I know it is January and it is supposed to be cold. But ZERO? It isn’t what was promised!
Where is the global warming? I was sure by now my state would be having Floridian temperatures by now. If I believed the predictions by now, I would no longer need gloves, winter coat and heavy socks. I would be taking walks around the park watching kids buzz by me on rollerblades and healies, sunshine beating on my head turning my hair blonder. I long for those days!
Still I’m thankful for the cold weather.
It will take care of some of those pesky summer bugs—fleas and mosquitoes. I get to enjoy the warmth of the wood stove. I get to enjoy the fun company of my husband since he can’t work on a day like today. And when the weather turns warm I will really enjoy it.
Sisters Hannah and Dilly have a complex relationship. Hannah is the older sister who feels she has failed her sister, Dilly. The book opens with Hannah picking up Dilly from prison. Dilly has served time for a crime most of society would call horrendous,many would have great difficulty in forgiving her. But Hannah has, she feels what happened is her fault for not being there for her sister.
Lang sets the story in Central Illinois, her setting and descriptions are captured with perfection.
Hannah leaves LA and comes back to Illinois to help her sister. Hannah struggles with what she has left behind including a man she wants to love.
She has to adjust once again to living in a small town where everyone knows your business. It even takes driving for an hour to get more than the basics to make the healthy meals she has learned to love in LA.
My Sister Dilly is a heart-capturing read. Dilly and Hannah became real and dear to me and even now knowing these are just characters made up by Lang I find myself wondering how they are today.
Well done Maureen Lang for a book well written and memorable.
This is such a surprising topic. Where did the idea come from?
One day I was talking to my sister-in-law whose son attends a school for special needs children. She told me about a woman who worked there who had recently gone through a terrible ordeal, beginning with the night she tried to take her own life and that of her severely handicapped daughter—and failed on both counts, thank God. Despite the fact that they both survived, the intent was there and she went to prison. What could allow a person to commit such a terrible act? My sister-in-law knew this woman to be kind and considerate, and so concerned for her daughter’s welfare that she took a part-time job at the school just to be near her daughter to watch over her safety. She must have been terribly desperate to do what she did.
I knew the story had enough drama to be recorded in a book, but I didn’t want My Sister Dilly to be an exploration of such desperation and lead to something so bleak. I chose to start the story long after the event takes place, in fact just when Dilly, the woman who tried what this woman did, is just being released from prison for child endangerment. What she wants most of all is to be reunited with her special needs child, but of course that’s not easily accomplished given her history.
I also wanted to lighten up such dark subject matter by incorporating a romance, which is where the sister component comes in. Hannah is the narrator for most of the story, and she’s given up the only man she could ever love to return home to take care of Dilly. Of course, throughout the book both sisters grow in ways neither expect.
I know you live in Central Illinois. I live in Southern Illinois and often drive through CI to visit my son in Chicago. There isn’t much there. What do you do for fun in the winter?
Actually Central Illinois is where my husband grew up, and we visit there often to be with family still living there. I actually live in the Chicago area, so you’ll have to let me know when you’re up here!
But I do know a little about how busy everyone is in Central Illinois, year round. People tend to be more community-oriented, so there are a lot of social gatherings with family or church members. Vacations tend to be in those cold months rather than during the time of year during planting, maintaining crops or harvest time. One of my brothers-in-law raises hogs, just as the family does in My Sister Dilly, so that’s a year round commitment that keeps them busy all the time. Just try planning a family gathering on any given weekend and you’re bound to have other engagements to compete with!
Describe your writing room.
I absolutely love where I write! My husband worked very hard to make it everything I hoped it would be. When we moved into this house over ten years ago, the study had a lot of potential. Twelve-foot ceilings, tall windows, double door entryway. But it was plain, with only a single set of old bookshelves completely overwhelmed by all the books our family has collected.
So we designed the room for a whole wall of built-in shelving, both for books and things I need to store like mailing envelopes and postcards I have printed, as well as for family things like games and paper records we need to keep.
So one wall is completely shelving, top to bottom, and it’s beautiful! My husband also added French doors, new flooring and a lovely shade of dark green to the walls. The room turned out to be everything I hoped. (Thanks, honey!)
I did try to find a desk I liked, something new and beautiful to match the wonderful shelving, but I’m such a stickler I couldn’t bear to part with my plain old desk that’s exactly the right height and size. So here I am, in my old chair at my old desk. Happily surrounded by all of my books!
You have a very intense pig farm scene in My Sister Dilly, what experience do you have with pig farming?
As I mentioned above, my husband’s brother raises hogs. What an experience! Actually it made research very easy. A few years ago they were devastated when some of the slats broke that hold the pigs above the manure pit below. They lost several pigs. I think most people know farming is actually a pretty dangerous profession, from the equipment to the sheer level of manual labor. But when I learned the fumes from the manure pit could kill someone (or not, depending on how it’s maintained and the fluctuating level of various chemicals associated with decay and fecal matter) I knew I wanted to include their really terrible (but dramatic!) experience into this book.
I had plenty of first-hand help advising me on the details to have the scene as authentic as possible!
Best writing advise you’ve ever followed?
Someone told me a very long time ago that persistence is as important to success as talent, and I’ve found that to be so true. I tell that to people all the time now. Keep at it!
What makes you happy?
I think the key to happiness is learning how God wired you. The passions He gives us usually coincide with the gifts He also gives. My passion for writing makes it easier to keep at it because I want to write all the time and obviously the more we do anything, the better we become. That enthusiasm makes it easier to want to improve. It seems pretty clear to me He’s wired me to write, and I’m happiest when I’m doing that.
Thanks for letting me stop in for a visit. This was fun!
Thanks for letting us peak into the writing of your story and your writing room! It sounds amazing!
Festivities! That’s the name Josh dubbed our after Christmas/Ed’s Birthday/Andy’s Graduation day. I like it. I’m going to keep it for next year. Since Josh is majoring in business and planning on living in Chicago where his fiance, Brianna is from I don’t imagine he will be home for Christmas often. So Festivities! is the best way to describe the after Christmas holiday! Here’s a photo of my crew, minus Brianna. She didn’t get to come this time. She’s allergic to cats and with starting student teaching this week it didn’t seem like a good idea to take a chance with her health.
Ben, Sara, Josh and I took a trip to Alton to have lunch with Ed. This job seems to have no ending and he worked most of the Christmas vacation laying pavers. It’s amazing what he’s done though. If you want to see more there is a slide show at www.myyardlines.com
Lillie Allman! Congratulations, your name came out of the box first. 🙂 Lillie, I’ve sent you an email. Sorry Nancy, you are my ‘favorite’ cousin ‘wink’ try again next time okay?
Thank you all for taking the time to read about Linore and her book. It really is a good book so if you didn’t win please think about buying it. 🙂 And then carry out the idea! 🙂
What about the regency period first caught your attention that made you want to write about it?
I fell in love, so to speak, with the Regency from reading Austen and Georgette Heyer. I’ve only read (I’m almost embarrassed to admit) about five or six of Heyer’s many regencies–I still have a lot of them waiting. But I knew I wanted to be able to entertain like her, and do it with a Christian perspective. It was something that hadn’t been done yet, at the time. I totally wanted to be able to express some spiritual truths that God had taught me in a fun package like a regency, while being true to the era, to my characters, and to my readers. I researched and read and read and read, and all of that reading just fascinated me more with the period.
I was appreciative of the glossary at the back of the book. Was that your idea or Harvest House’s to include it?
It was my idea, but my editor was equally “for” it. I had put a glossary on my website, but readers find it much easier to look at the back of the book to find out the meaning of a word rather than have to get online.We’re going to put another glossary in the sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square. Not just for new readers, but because there’s some new regency words and slang I got to put in the book, that weren’t in the first.
With which Jane Austen character do you most identify?
Hmm, interesting question. Probably Emma for being well-meaning but blowing it!
What are some of your favorite research books for the regency period?
Even though it’s more Victorian than Regency, Daniel Poole’s “What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew,” is very interesting. Not detailed enough, but it’s a great overview. I also like biographies of George IV (the Regent), the letters of Jane Austen, and memoirs from the period. Looking up old periodicals is priceless, too. Another book, The Regency Underworld, came in handy for a lot of the information I put inside The House in Grosvenor Square. So far there is no one book that really covers everything in a way a writer can use. So you just pick up bits and pieces, and more bits and pieces from different sources.
What words of encouragement would you like to offer others wishing to write in a subgenre that isn’t currently popular with Christian Publishers?
I’m not an editor working for a publisher, or an agent, so I can only tell you what I think will work. Write an excellent book, an irresistible book—it doesn’t have to be popular to get contracted. It just has to be very, very, good. If you can get a few key people to believe in your work, the work itself will convince everyone else.
Thank you for having me today, Diana! Remember, if you get a minimum of ten unique commenters, you can pick a winner for a free copy of Before the Season Ends!
Thanks so much Linore! Remember post a comment and leave an email for me to contact you if you are the winner of this fabulous book! You must post a comment before Jan. 4–12:01 central standard time.
here’s my review of Before the Season Ends.
Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard is a delightful read. Burkard does indeed fill the gap left by Jane Austen. This Christian regency read takes you to England, 1813. Ariana Forsythehas the fortunate chance to come out into society because of a rich childless aunt. Arinna hasn’t been raised like most of the young girls having their season. Gossip make her uncomfortable as does putting yourself as more important than others.
Arianna Forysythe is someone you would desire as a best friend. You root for her throughout the book. She has several misadventures, which throws her into the path of Mr. Monray.
Mr. Monray is the new Mr. Darcy! He is of course most desirable and uncatchable by any of the girls having their season; he has even managed to escape others in previous season. Then Ariana falls into his world and everything begins to tilt for him.
This book had many moments of well-written humor.
The faith aspect of this book is well done as well. Ariana’s faith is real and her actions are consistent with that faith.
I’m looking forward to the next regency by Burkard.
Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this great book!
I know it’s New Year’s Eve. It is also Ed’s birthday. What is he doing to celebrate the day? Working. I am so grateful to this man. He does this every day that the weather is good which allows me to stay home and write. He’s an awesome husband. I could not have asked God for better. Happy Birthday Ed!
The Unseen is a supernatural thriller and it reaches the standards set long ago by Steven King. Lucas is a man without a past, or at least he doesn’t remember much of his youth. Only one phrase sticks in his mind like an irritating mosquito buzzing in his ear, Humpty Dumpty had some great falls.
Lucas lives everywhere and nowhere. He finds empty places to set his mementos he’s gathered in a certain pattern, and that becomes home to him; for awhile. He longs to make connections with other people, he feels a need but doesn’t seem to understand it. So he finds ways to create peepholes to watch others in office buildings. When they are gone for the night he takes a small memento of them. On a rare occasion someone will meet eye to eye with him without really knowing he is there. That’s when he feels a real connection with that person.
Lucas has only formed a loose relationship with the woman he works with, Sarea. He’s never called her or even dated her. He’s only pretended to smoke a cigarette with her in the back alley behind the restaurant where he washes dishes. Sarea has given him her phone number in case he should ever need help. He stores it in his pocket.
Everything changes in his world when someone discovers his living space. He is invited to join a group that is like him, the Creep Club. The difference between him and the Creep Club is they go into people’s homes and tape them. Lucas doesn’t want to join them. Once he makes that decision, his life takes a wild ride.
You know that feeling you get when there is no one around and yet you feel like someone is watching you? Read this book and you’ll really be creeped out! I so am changing my locks on my doors! Do not read this book before you go to sleep—‘cause you won’t sleep!
It’s the Christmas season. I should be happy, singing carols, loving the gift wrapping and baking tons of cookies. But that wasn’t me this year. I prepared for Christmas with a blanket of sadness. My youngest son isn’t coming home in time for Christmas and that makes me sad. Our house wasn’t decorated. I didn’t feel that we could put up a tree because of Cleveland. He’s a fun cat but has a terrible habit of marking everything, because we have another cat, Wendell. Two male cats in a house is not a good idea even if they are both neutered.
So no tree.
I did get out Christmas cards to some people. I was a bit lax on doing those as well. I decided that if I couldn’t decorate my tree I would at least send my favorite ornament out on my card. My grandmother gave her grandkids these angels. I still have mine and for me it wasn’t an official Christmas until that angel went on the tree. I used snapfish and put this on my card. I mailed them out and waited to see if any of my cousins would realize what ornament it was.
Sure enough, Nancy every ready and observant called and and asked if this was just a quinky dink that I had found a card with this angel on it. We laughed and had a fun conversation about Grandma and wondered if she had found a set of angels and divivived them out amoung her grandchildren.
Then I found an email from my cousin Patty. She sent me this photo.She said she felt like she was 4 years-old again.
Still I was sad. No tree. I didn’t even want to get any of our decorations out. What was the point I moaned and groaned to all of my friends and most of all to my husband. It just won’t be Christmas, no tree, no Josh, no stockings and no presents under the tree. Even Wendell wouldn’t get to enjoy his favorite time of year in the house, he loves to lay under the Christmas tree. It’s just too sad.
Then this morning I came downstairs. My wonderful husband had given me the best gift of all. A tree! Not the tree in the box upstairs that we always put up. He had gone through the effort to find a tree small enough to put on the desk where Cleveland couldn’t get to it. (he’s not a jumper!) He left me a very sweet note, saying it wasn’t much but he hoped it would help me. It did. I cried. Not sad tears but happy ones. Even Wendell is happy now. It was one of the best Christmas gifts he could have given me.
So today I will sing carols, put ornaments on the tree and even make cookies. It is amazing what one small gift of kindness can accomplish.
When Meg Jorgenson decides to leave behind her former uncharmed life in Chicago with her cheating poet boyfriend, she decides to head to her former home in Miracle, Kentucky. Her mother fled Miracle while Meg was just a child, leaving behind Meg’s father who remarried and has more children. The aptly named town turns out to be a miracle of hope and healing for Meg. She is able to pursue her dream of teaching while staying with her delightful grandmother. While Meg reconnects with her grandmother and father’s family, she also catches the attention of a young widower, Lance Bayer and his daughter, Cammy. Cammy was injured in the same car accident that took her mother’s life, but hopes to able to someday get out of the wheelchair she is bound to. During the story God is also trying to reconnect with Meg. The story is a light, delightful read as readers wonder if Meg and Vance will be able to overcome their differences, if her father’s family with accept her, and if Meg will be able to get past her doubts about God. Readers will become attached to Cammy and wonder if her dream to walk again will happen in the town full of miracles.
This book troubled me in the beginning. I do not like vampire stories. I was uncomfortable with reading a book about the ‘undead’ who feed on souls and human blood. Yet, I kept reading because the author is an excellent writer and he pulled me from page to page and into the fabric of his characters lives. Soon I was hooked. I had to know more about the Nistarim –the immortal who walk the earth left by God to protect us from mankind. Eric Wilson has to be the first author I have read that I actually put down my book and retrieved my bible to make sure he was not making up stuff. Kudos for that!
The journey of Gina Lazarescu is complicated from the moment we are first introduced to her. She is a small child, five-years-old and does not have a normal childhood. She lives in a single parent home in Romania. Her mother has an unusual method of attempting to keep her child free of sin by the use of blood letting. It is important that her mother keep her safe from the collectors (the undead.) Gina does not understand why her mother does this to her and eventually she rebels, leading to some difficult times.
The books pacing is done well, as readers we cover the world as Gina moves from one country to another.
After reading this book I have an even greater appreciation for communion. This book took me to a place in my walk of faith that I have never been and I look forward to reading the next two in this series.