Healing Promises-Amy Wallace

I'd like to introduce to you Amy Wallace, Rita Award Nominee for Ransomed Dreams.
Today we are talking about her second book, Healing Promises which will be available April 15th. I'll be drawing for a free copy tomorrow morning. So leave a comment today and check back to see if you are the lucky one to receive this great book.

I had the privilege of asking Amy a few questions.

Belinda: What was the biggest difference in writing Ransomed Dreams, then Healing Promises?

Amy: When I first wrote Ransomed Dreams, I knew nothing and had a ball just getting the story on the page. I also had a number of years to hone my craft and then rewrite the story under the guidance of my incredible editor.

Writing Healing Promises was done with a great deal more knowledge of the publishing world and skills needed for writing well. It was also written during a time of intense physical pain and spiritual searching. Due to all that, it was less than a thrill ride. But the experience taught me even more how to cling to God when storms hit full force.


Belinda: Did you prepare differently for writing Healing Promises?

Amy: For all three books in the Defenders of Hope series, tons of hours went into research, praying and laying out the stories. But Healing Promises dipped deeper into my heart and many of the issues believers struggle with when life hurts. I had to open up a lot more and pour myself out onto the page—and I thought I poured out all I had with Ransomed Dreams! But God is so faithful to fill us up and give us exactly what we need to tell stories that will touch hearts.

Belinda: Is there any advice you can give to those who write romantic suspense on how to balance the suspense with the romance and let the two compliment each other?

Amy: My advice for any type of writing is to let who God is and who you are flow through your fingers. That’s the uniqueness each writer brings to the table.

In terms of writing romantic suspense, there are a few basics to make both plot threads believable and cohesive. First, I’d suggest not writing a kiss scene in the midst of the hero and heroine being chased by some deranged antagonist. When/ if they do kiss, make it count and have it happen at a time and place that are believable. That’s not to say they can’t kiss in the midst of what appears to be a dangerous situation. Dee Henderson did a masterful job of that in The Guardian.

Another important thing a romantic suspense author can do is fully research their story. There are a ton of ideas tucked away in good research. Read biographies about and talk to people in your character’s professions. Some folks I’ve interviewed have shared great ideas for bringing together the suspense and romance plots just by telling stories of their lives.

And lastly, I’d say really getting to know your characters is one of the best ways to blend the romance and suspense well. Pray about each character’s basic lie. What do they believe about themselves? They’re unlovable? They’re not good enough? And also find out what do they want most or hope with everything in them won’t happen. Knowing these things about your characters will enable you to write them well. Praying about them will help you see what God wants to do through your story to touch hearts.

Wow!

Amy has shared valuable insights with us today. And not just about writing. Search your heart for what God would have you write. He has gifted Amy with the ability to put on paper what she has gleamed from Him into fiction that leaves us breathless and satisfied at the same time.

Remember, leave a comment to be eligible for a free copy of Healing Promises.

Thank you Amy for sharing so much with us.
PS--You HAVE to visit Heart Chocolate below----it's one of the coolest websites I've ever seen. Check it out and see if you agree.


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Ransomed Dreams first chapter
Healing Promises first chapter

Revising the Excerpt-Contest-Seeing Who's Checking In

The excerpt I posted Thursday was a rough draft. Totally. I had just finished typing the words five minutes before on my wip.
Now, if you're a writer this is old hat to you. If not, it might be interesting---might not. But I'll share anyway.
What comes next is revision. We take the story, revise, and voila!! Hopefully a better version of the idea will come across.

Let's try it here.
Old version:
“Eat up, Son. I’m sure this is a far cry from those frozen pizzas you’ve probably been eating.”
Levi sat with his parents in the Lawson Lodge dining hall. The food was always excellent and tonight was no exception. Except his stomach didn’t feel good.
His treatment of Summer ate away at him. How could he have acted like that? Why had he acted like that? Other than feeling like he still owed his parents for his brother’s death. Although that thinking in itself was crazy, too. They still were bitter toward him. The excuse that they were worried about him was just that, an excuse.
They wanted to come and see if he’d changed. Felt any worse than he already did. Because they couldn’t get over losing their baby son, and his death was all Levi’s fault.
“What do you think that girl wants from you?”


New version:
“Eat up, Son. I’m sure this is a far cry from those frozen pizzas you’ve probably been eating.”
Levi eyed his father who always tried to smooth over a situation with meaningless small talk. "I'm eating."
In reality he hadn't made a dent in his meal. His mother on the other hand, had no trouble in finishing off the famous Lawson Lodge chicken salad.
No amount of atmosphere or good food could change the way he treated Summer. His behavior ate away at him. How could he have acted like that?
Okay, so he still felt like he owed his parents for his brother’s death. Owed them what he wasn't sure. His apology seemed to hang in the air. They neither accepted it or rejected it. They still were bitter toward him.
Yes, they showed up to see him. But the excuse that they were worried about him was just that, an excuse.
They wanted to come and see if he’d changed. Felt any worse than he already did. Because they couldn’t get over losing their baby son, and his death was all Levi’s fault.
“What do you think that girl wants from you?”
His mother's words brought up the situation his father's small talk tried to avoid. The ironic part? His mother would never believe him if he told her.

See the differences? Well, I'm not done. But I think it's better. Evokes more emotion. Gives a different (hopefully better) light on the scene.

Let me know what you think.

And now that you've read through the excerpts---thanks for sticking around. I have a little contest running only this weekend!!
My word count on An Unexpected Love is 17,018. Let me know what you think the word count will be by Sunday night. I am going to work on the ms during the day today and tomorrow afternoon.
If your count is the closest--I have a great book to send you. Debbie Guisti's Scared To Death.
So, post a guestimate---and I'll check in tomorrow night to see who is the closest.
Thanks for supporting my vision.

Up and excerpt

Well, the word count for my current ms is going up and up! I love it. The story gets more exciting as I go along. I'm anxious to see what develops between Levi and Summer. Here's an excerpt from a scene I'm working on. Levi's parents have suprised him with a visit and they were the ones surprised when they realize Pop-Princess Summer Sinclair is jamming with their son.



“Eat up, Son. I’m sure this is a far cry from those frozen pizzas you’ve probably been eating.”
Levi sat with his parents in the Lawson Lodge dining hall. The food was always excellent and tonight was no exception. Except his stomach didn’t feel good.
His treatment of Summer ate away at him. How could he have acted like that? Why had he acted like that? Other than feeling like he still owed his parents for his brother’s death. Although that thinking in itself was crazy, too. They still were bitter toward him. The excuse that they were worried about him was just that, an excuse.
They wanted to come and see if he’d changed. Felt any worse than he already did. Because they couldn’t get over losing their baby son, and his death was all Levi’s fault.
“What do you think that girl wants from you?”


Okay, so maybe Levi wonders the same thing? But that doesn't make him feel any better. He feels Summer is genuine, but it's him against the world. What do you think the odds are that these two will make it?

Thanks for sharing.