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Monthly Archives: February 2014

When Your Computer Tells On You

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by Kara Hunt in Faith & You, Non-Fiction

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Christian Fiction, computer guy, faith, God, grace, witchcraft, writing

When Your Computer Tells On You - Image ID 659209 This time when my computer bit the dust, I was ready. Past experiences had prepared me, so I’d backed up everything of importance to three different devices. And when the dreaded “black screen of death” appeared and my beloved PC refused to start up last month, I wasn’t worried. At first.

But last week I realized I hadn’t backed up as carefully as I thought I had. One folder in particular, a folder that held tons of information regarding my family’s genealogy back to the 1800’s was missing. Hours of research and interview notes that couldn’t possibly be duplicated, were nowhere to be found.

I placed a phone call to our computer guy. The same guy who last month informed me that my previous computer was indeed dead, due to overheating. He added however, that he may be able to recover some items from my hard drive if I needed him to. I proudly informed him, that I’d been through this before, learned my lesson the hard way, and backed everything up thrice. So I told him thanks, but no thanks.

Now here I was days later, on the phone with him, desperate and asking if he could please see if this particular genealogy folder could be pulled from that fried hard drive. I could almost hear the smile in his voice as he let me know that he was already a step ahead of me. He told me that before he returned my computer, he’d already completed the recovery process and was just waiting on my phone call.

The one lesson I hadn’t learned from those past experiences was that all of the storage devices in the world were useless if the PC owner didn’t know how to utilize them properly. But evidently, our computer guy knew, and he waited patiently for me to realize it too.

Excited, I told him the name of the folder I needed to locate. One by one, he called off the name of every folder and every file he was able to recover. As he did this, panic set in. I had lots of personal files, photos, and notes on that computer. And he had access to them all. Right there at his fingertips.

But what concerned me the most was my journal. For the past six years, I’d faithfully kept one on my computer. It not only contained personal thoughts about me, but others as well.

And because I’m a writer, another thought hit me. He’d had this information stored at his place of business for at least a couple of weeks. At any time, over a cup of coffee and a bagel, he could’ve been privy to my most inner thoughts. Thoughts about me, my friends and my family.

One of the definitions of blackmail is, “extortion or coercion by threats, especially of public exposure”. And there was more than enough material in my journal for that.

Like I said, I’m a writer. I knew my mind couldn’t help but think of these things.

But the thought still paralyzed me.

I MUST add here, that we’ve worked with our computer guy for years now. And from previous conversations, I believe him to be a Christian and a patriot, and there was nothing he said or did, that suggested in any way that he’d even consider such a thing. It was my overactive imagination that was the villain here, not him.

And it was all because I felt exposed.

Not only because he had access to very sensitive information, but because he also knew that I professed to be a Christian. Was there anything on there that would cause him to doubt that? Or worse, cause him to doubt his faith? Or cause him to stumble in his walk?

I needed to find out.

After our phone call ended, I frantically searched my brain, desperate to remember what I had written in that journal. Every folder, file, document, photo and video came under scrutiny as well.

The computer guy also knows I’m a writer, so I hoped some things would be self-explanatory. However, I’m not sure that he knows that I write Supernatural Suspense. Information in my research files about demonry, cults, Satanic worship and witchcraft would undoubtedly cause him to raise an eyebrow or two, but one glimpse into my WIP’s and MS (also on that computer) would easily put those concerns to rest.

But what about the others? Was there anything else? Was there gossip about my friends? Dirty laundry on my family? Secret love letters? Were there photos that needed to be explained, or videos I needed to create an excuse for?

Was there anything on there that would cause me to hang my head in shame when I picked up the recovery disc?

After a couple of minutes of this, I took in a deep breath, relaxed and remembered how far God has brought me. And how that relationship with Him, has not only changed my eternal destiny, but my life. It’s changed not only what I write, but how I write, whether that be a book, an email or a journal entry. And it also changes the way I see people. And the things I watch, and the activities I participate in.

I slept peacefully that night knowing that there was nothing in those journal entries that my friends or family didn’t already know. And if there was something of a more controversial nature, such as my views on the culture, politics and/or politicians (yes, there are a lot of those type of notes in there) those could easily be discussed and resolved over a hot cup of tea and a couple of blueberry scones.

I could now face the computer guy with a smile on my face and my head held high.

Not because of anything I’ve done or didn’t do, or something I wrote or didn’t write, but because of God. And His grace. And His mercy.

And His never-ending love for a sinner like me.

A God who loved me enough to show me through a single phone call, how important it is that I am who I say I am. Not just in word and deed and the places where someone’s looking, but in the places they aren’t. Not just for my sake, or God’s sake, but for the sake of others who are traveling this Christian journey. And for those who are about to begin one.

He also taught me that what really mattered wasn’t what the computer guy thought or even if I could lift my head up high the next time I saw him.

But whether or not I’ll be able to hold my head up high when I see Him.

And only by the continued grace of God will I be able to do that.

Kara R. Hunt

PHOTO CREDIT: stock.xchng

ACFW Foundation – Online Auction Update (Correction added)

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Kara Hunt in Fiction, News & Updates, Writing Christian Fiction, Writing Inspirational Fiction

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2014 ACFW Conference, ACFW, ACFW Foundation, Christian Fiction, inspirational fiction

QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS POST CAN BE DIRECTED TO ACFW Foundation Board Member LACY WILLIAMS AT lacyjwilliams@gmail.com.

Correction – *from Book Fun Magazine – a full page ad *and* ad creation valued at $400 for a total value of $1900.

We’re making great progress on organizing the spring online auction benefitting the ACFW Foundation – the 501(c)3 that is responsible for the scholarships that send members with financial hardship to conference.

Items recently added:

*Romance-ology Love Scene Critique from our own Julie Lessman

*Live Free Write Free 1-on-1 Mentoring session (30 minutes) with Allen Arnold

*Full page ad in Book Fun Magazine from The Book Club Network, including ad creation – a $400 value

And more.

*And* we have news! Family Fiction is allowing us a run a spot in one of their online newsletters. Because of this, we’d like to open a part of the online auction for READER PRIZES.

So we need those kind of donations from our published authors. Here’s some ideas:

*book basket (you ship it to the winner)

*name a character after the winning bidder

*multi-author book basket – why not get together with your chapter-mates or crit partners and offer a basket?

*”meet the author” online Skype chat for 30 minutes with winning bidder

Or anything you think a reader would be interested in bidding on. Remember it is for a great cause, to send more scholarship recipients to conference.

I NEED YOUR DONATION SUMMARIES BY FEBRUARY 28. Enter them here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kQUAiMf6seKzGmn5Oo__nw9j9mURC6v3xrZAnpAl0RA/viewform

The auction will run approximately March 15 – 31 and you will be expected to ship your prize shortly after that.

Thanks for considering giving back to ACFW in this way!

Latest Happenings Around ACFW

12 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Kara Hunt in Fiction, News & Updates, Writing Christian Fiction

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2014 ACFW Conference, ACFW, ACFW's Carol Awards, ACFW's Genesis, ACFW's Mentor of the Year, Christian Fiction

There are several things going on around ACFW, so here’s a brief re-cap.

1. Contests: Both the Genesis Contest and Carol Awards are open for entries. Genesis is for unpublished writers with a completed manuscript, while the Carol Awards is for those who’ve had a book published in 2013 by a publisher on ACFW’s Recognized Publisher List. Entries open until March 15.

Details can be found at http://www.acfw.com/contests

2. Mentor of the Year: Nominations for ACFW’s Mentor of the Year are now
being accepted. Go to http://www.acfw.com and log-in with your user name and password, and you’ll be taken to the member home page, where you’ll see the link. Submissions accepted through February 28th. Or go directly to: http://www.acfw.com/members/mentor_2014

3. Conference Scholarships: Applications are being accepted to receive a scholarship to the 2014 ACFW conference in St. Louis, September 25-27. Questions can be directed to debraney at mac.com. The application can be found at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDNzbXBYSW5Rb2NrdkI4ZWRTT19mU2c6MA#gid=0

4. Finally, don’t miss our webinar on February 20, 2014 at 8 pm Eastern/5
pm Pacific, Henry McLaughlin will present an ACFW webinar entitled: The Voice in Your Head: Just Because You’re Hearing Voices Doesn’t Mean You’re Not Normal. To register, go to: http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=EA52DB87864C3A Space is limited.

Have a great week, Fiction With Faithers!

Trusting The Original Story Teller

10 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Kara Hunt in Faith & You, Writing Inspirational Fiction

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Christian Fiction, faith, Fiction, God, trust, writing

Old Bible God is not only the Creator of all that exists, He’s also the Master Author of our lives. We may be familiar with how our life stories began, but only He knows the entire character arc our lives will take. He knows how much to show us and how much to tell us. He knows what type of protagonist we’ll be and if we’ll be victorious over the obstacles thrown at us by the fiery antagonist. He knows the choices we’ll need to make, and the consequences if we choose unwisely.

But Hebrews 12:2 also reminds us that He’s the Author of our faith as well. God’s in the faith business and so are we when we write to glorify Him. He’s the original Story Teller. The Author of All. And if we trust Him, He’ll also be our Divine Agent. We can then rest assured that He’ll make the necessary preparations for us to succeed in our walk with Him and our writing career.

But that takes faith. Faith in the stories God has given us. Faith for the right words to tell it, and faith that we’ll be able to see it through without losing our minds. But more importantly, faith that our fictional stories will mimic our true life stories and bring those who read it one step closer to Him. One page at a time.

Because at the end of every story, fictional or otherwise, that’s all that really matters.

– Kara R. Hunt

February 2014 New Releases!

05 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Kara Hunt in Fiction, News & Updates

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Tags

ACFW, Christian Fiction, good book, inspirational fiction, new releases

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Contemporary Romance:

Falling for the Farmer by Narelle Atkins — Kate Lawson is a runaway bride. And she’s incredibly grateful when Jack Bradley offers her a job on his apple farm. Working side by side in the orchards with her best friend’s brother seems like the perfect way to get over her disastrous engagement. Until Kate finds herself falling hard for the handsome farmer. (Contemporary Romance from Heartsong Presents [Harlequin])

Protecting the Widow’s Heart by Lorraine Beatty — Stranded in a lakeside cabin, widow Ginger Sloan and her son must accept help from the owner, a wounded cop who is looking for peace and quiet, not love. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Ryan’s Father by June Foster — His greatest desire is to please God, but his next greatest desire threatens to unhinge him. (Contemporary Romance from WhiteFire Publishing)

Romance:

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck — Regina Beswick never dreamed of faraway places. She’s happy with her life as a classic car mechanic and owner of a restoration shop. But an unexpected visitor and the discovery of a fairytale, drawn by her great-grandma, causes Regina to wonder if she might be destined for something more. (Romance from Zondervan)

Londonderry Dreaming by Christine Lindsay — Can an artist who speaks best through her paintings, and a music therapist who speaks best through his music, ever find the words to talk about their past that tore them apart? (Romance from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Historical Romance:

Love’s Sweet Beginning by Ann Shorey — Following the Civil War, a suitor from Cassie Haddon’s privileged past threatens her budding attraction to Jacob West, a local business owner. (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Love Finds Faith by Martha Rogers— Micah is the prodigal forced into a role he doesn’t want, but the faith of a crippled young woman gives him hope for the future. (Historical Romance from Realms [Charisma Media])

The Cowboy Takes a Wife by Davalynn Spencer — When Annie Whitaker and her merchant father set out for Cañon City and the Pikes-Peak-or-Bust gold rush, Annie mines much greater wealth than gold from the heart of a runaway preacher. (Historical Romance from Heartsong Presents [Harlequin])

South Carolina Brides by Vickie McDonough — Visit historic South Carolina where secrets disrupt the lives of three women. A cousin’s quest takes a drastic turn when she falls for the man she thought she despised. A young woman’s sheltered world crumbles after she finds a badly beaten stranger on a nearby plantation. And a sister’s heart is torn when the neighbor who killed her brother in a duel returns home a changed man. Between betrayal and lies, is there room for love? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Jenny’s Choice by Patrick E. Craig — A touching story of devotion and triumph over adversity. (Historical Romance from Harvest House Publishers)

Historical:

The Thief by Stephanie Landsem — In this evocative follow-up to The Well, a Roman centurion longing for peace and a Jewish woman hiding a deadly secret witness a miracle that transforms their lives and leads them to the foot of the cross. (Historical from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

The Widow’s Suitor by Rose Ross Zediker — Cora Anderson isn’t looking for love. The young widow is just trying to make a life on the prairie for herself and her newborn son. When handsome newcomer Luke Dow shows up at her cabin door, she soon relies on the man’s help with her homestead…and dares to dream of the future. Luke came to the small South Dakota town to build a hotel and make his fortune. But he never expected to care for anyone, let alone the beautiful Cora and her baby boy. When Cora’s land claim is challenged by a neighbor, Luke will do all he can to protect her and her home-and claim her heart. (Historical from Heartsong Presents [Harlequin])

Contemporary:

Permanent Resident at the Purse Table by Keisha Bass — Plus-sized woman seeks validation in small-minded man. (Contemporary from Urban Christian)

A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Moseley — Ghost sightings, rumors, family secrets, and a lingering unrequited love-and that’s just the beginning of teacher Laura Gantt’s summer vacation. (Contemporary from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Random House])

Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate — 150 years ago, the citizens of Wildwood Creek mysteriously disappeared. Now a reenactment docudrama seeks to recreate the events surrounding Wildwood’s demise. But when Allie Kirkland finds herself in the position of Wildwood’s frontier schoolteacher, Bonnie Rose, will Bonnie’s tragic history repeat itself? (Contemporary from Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

The Baby Rescue by Margaret Daley — Colton Phillips vows to keep his heart out of the job, but his unwanted attraction to Lisette lowers his guard. Now Lisette Sutton-and an innocent child-are in grave danger, and Colton will stop at nothing to save them. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

On the Pineapple Express by H.L. Wegley — How much is she willing to risk to save a group of girls from international human traffickers? (Romantic Suspense from White Rose Publishing [Pelican])

Contemporary Suspense:

Poison Town by Creston Mapes — Something sinister swirls in the air as popular suspense author Creston Mapes delivers the second enthralling tale in The Crittendon Files. Poison Town smolders with emotion, crackles with intrigue, burns with scandal. An edge-of-your-seat knockout. (Contemporary Suspense from David C. Cook)

Techno-Thriller Suspense:

Friend Me by John Faubion — A lonely wife and a frustrated husband create virtual online friends, trying to deal with the pressures of a marriage gone flat, and a high-pressure job. (Techno-Thriller Suspense from Howard [Simon & Schuster])

Medieval Fantasy:

Wayfarer by Janalyn Voigt — When an untried youth ascends to the high throne of Faeraven, his mistakes tear kingdoms apart and allow just one chance at redemption: he must find and humble himself before the man he banished. (Medieval Fantasy from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])

Biblical Fiction:

Rachel: A Novel by Jill Eileen Smith — Can true love overcome a legacy of betrayal? (Biblical Fiction from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Young Adult:

Worth the Wait by Laura Jackson Ellie Lansing has a picture-perfect life with a close-knit family and the perfect boyfriend. But her world is suddenly knocked off center when her drool-worthy boyfriend cheats, and her always-has-it-together mother is diagnosed with cancer. Ellie doesn’t get it. She always does the right thing – doesn’t God owe her a happy life? Through her heartache, Ellie learns that sometimes what seems like the end is really just the beginning and that what God has for us is always worth the wait. (Young Adult from HopeSprings Books)

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