Your Hands

I have a favorite new song. It's called "Your Hands" by JJ Heller. I had already listened to it several times on the radio, sang along and downloaded it from ITunes before I discovered why it resonated so deeply with me. Just last night, it hit me --this song IS my book, Shaken. The chorus, "When my world is shaking, heaven stands. When my heart is breaking, I never leave your hands." In 1906 San Francisco, my lead character Abigail is mourning the death of her sister and angrily blames God for her death. When she is plunged into the chaos of the Great San Francisco earthquake, she discovers that though she her life has been shaken to the very core, her heart is safe in God's hands. Read an excerpt from Shaken, here.

If you haven't heard this song, I encourage you to go to Itunes or JJHeller.com and buy it. It's remarkable.

JJ Heller - Your Hands (From the album Painted Red)

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

New Directions?

A whole new world... Remember the words to the Disney song?

I was brainstorming about book two today and it hit me. My lead character was interesting in book one (Shaken) because she was broken. By the end of Shaken, she has reached a point of healing. No matter what disaster I throw at her, she is going to react in a different way than she did before. I've already outlined the story of Book 2, but the more I ponder it, the more I realize that though this new crisis affects her -- it isn't really her story. It's Robert's (male romantic lead). This story is about HIS insecurities and anxieties, and though they affect her in dramatic ways -- in the end, it's his problem.

So, now I'm considering writing book two from Robert's perspective. As a new writer, that idea terrifies me. Can I write a male POV (point of view) character and make it believable? Will the readers be willing to let Abigail rest and instead care about Robert's thoughts and dreams? Who will be the lead in book three?

It's frightening, and yet exciting, too. I have a whole new person to take apart and put back together. That's really how I view writing. Who is this person? What makes them tick? What do they fear? How will they react when I throw their worst fear in their face?

I've written a tentative first chapter from Robert's perspective. It's still very rough, but I'm thinking about posting it here so that you can give me some feedback. Interested?

I'm still drawing a blank on a title for book two. The story will focus on anxieties, secrets and prejudice against the Chinese in turn of the century San Francisco. My husband was teasing me that since book one was called Shaken, book two should be Not Stirred. Somehow, I don't think that's going to work. Anybody have any other ideas they want to share?

Making Progress

For those of you who are insanely curious, I have posted the most recent update of the first chapter of Shaken. Some of you have read this chapter countless times as I have made changes and I appreciate your interest and dedication in helping me finish this book. When I first started writing, I never realized how many times a first chapter would change over the course of a project. But the first chapter is the key -- it has to pull you into the story and refuse to let you put it down.

I am so humbled and thankful for everyone's support. So many people have asked about my progress and I am always surprised and pleased that people are thinking about me and praying for this project. As I said in my last post, I am starting to get glimpses of the light at the end of the tunnel. I am very excited about how the story is changing and progressing.

Today I sat down with my new Snowflake Pro program (put out by awesome writing coach Randy Ingermanson) and mapped out the storyline for a second book. The more I ponder these characters, the more I am convinced that Shaken could very well become a three-part series. The possibilities are endless! Even though the original story was inspired by first-hand accounts of the San Francisco earthquake and fire, the characters have now taken on lives of their own. Turn-of-the-century San Francisco was a powder-keg of prejudice, corruption, and change, all of which provides a wonderful backdrop for story-telling.

So, keep praying my friends! We'll see where this adventure takes us.

The Glowing Rock

This week I sent the full manuscript of Shaken off for a professional critique. I'm not usually the type to have wild mood swings, but this writing experience is bit like riding a roller coaster. One minute you're typing away thinking, "This is great! I'm an awesome writer!" and the next minute you're thinking, "Who do you think you are? No one is going to want to read this."

I was talking about it with my family the other day. "I feel like the book is almost ready to submit to agents and publishers. I think I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel," I said.

My ten year old son piped up, "Mom, wouldn't it be funny if the light at the end of the tunnel just turned out to be a glowing rock?"

Heh, heh. Yes, dear. That would be SO funny.

But, I imagine in this case, he might be right. I know when I get the comments back from the critiquer, I will probably crash into momentary despair. "Oh, no! So much work left to do... and I thought it was almost ready!" The light I was seeing was just a glowing rock.

Then, hopefully, I will pick myself up and get back to work. Because after all, even if is only a glowing rock... it's still a light. And light is a good thing. Right?