Author: Carol Underhill

Meet the Author: Cynthia Beach

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I met today’s guest at an author expo at my local library. Like myself, she is a Michigan author.

Cynthia was a delight to have as my next-table neighbor. I got to know some of her life story that day, but I wanted to find out more. So today Cynthia joins me to talk about her novel: The Surface of Water.

Cynthia, it was great to meet you in person. Thank you for being my guest today. Let’s start by you telling us a little bit about yourself:

For thirty years I was a busy professor of creative writing and English. My job let me be a student of writing. Not only did I have to read a flood of writing books, but I could learn about process strategies—that is, how to do our writing—as I watched my students struggle or shine.

In the cracks, I wrote both nonfiction and fiction. With a journalism master’s, I contributed to books like Media Ethics and Zondervan’s grief bible, Hope in the Mourning.

I also drafted novels, which was my happy place. Later in life, I did a Master of Fine Arts in fiction craft. This degree gave me strong tools for story craft.

Creative Juices for Writers, second edition, is my book on writing that focuses on story power, process tools, and soul care.

Let’s take a look at your novel, The Surface of Water. What can you tell us about this story?

The only person who can uncover his secret has arrived.

Matthew Goodman is tired, and his one wish is for something he can’t have. Instead, he focuses on his work as pastor of Chicagoland’s Calvary Community, including hiring new administrative assistant, Trish Card. Trish watches him with somber, lake-clear eyes. What he doesn’t know about Trish and her real reason for appearing will dismantle his world.

The Surface of Water is about a megachurch pastor, a famous evangelist’s son, living in a world beyond his control. It’s also a story about a young woman trying to understand her complicated life. In the #ChurchToo era, this novel invites readers to see life’s shadowed edges—isolation, power, and abuse—illuminated by the light of truth.

What is the inspiration behind The Surface of Water?

When I was in high school, English teacher Mrs. Quinn taught me the E.A. Robinson poem, “Richard Cory.” This short poem shook my world. Why? Because Richard Cory was the town celebrity: handsome, rich, mannered. People envied him. They wanted to be him. And at the end of the poem—Richard Cory suicides.

I didn’t know. Someone who seemed to have it all together may not. That person who seems to have it all may have a very different internal experience. Richard Cory haunted me. Then, probably twenty years later, the question arrived: What if a megachurch pastor was a Richard Cory?

I find it’s difficult to set aside time to write. How do you find time in your day to write?

Before I left teaching this past June, I had little free time. I was grading writing after all. But what helped me complete The Surface of Water was this simple trick: small goals. I did not have blocks of time. Few of us do, right? But I could write 350 words four times a week or proofread 25 pages a week. Small specific goals energized me—I could do them. And small specific goals gave me another benefit: I knew when I was finished.

Do you reward yourself when a book is finished? If so, what is your favorite treat?

For sure! Celebrating our accomplishments is vital, me thinks, so, when I finished edits on Surface, I gobbled up a hot fudge peanut parfait. De-lish!

Who was your favorite character to create?

Instead of one favorite character, what was utterly fascinating to me was seeing the same events through different characters’ eyes. I loved moving from Matthew Goodman’s point of view to Trish’s. The fiction term is “viewpoint character.” A trend these days is to have multiple viewpoint characters, which is as interesting to read as it is to write.

Are you a plotter or a panster?

I write where my ideas are clear—with little or no planning. This puts me squarely in the Pantser Mode. The catch? While I draft quickly, I revise long because I have such a mess. I found I needed to strengthen my Pantser Process by taking a small step toward Plotter Mode. NYT bestselling novelist Elizabeth George, a devout plotter, offers many planning tools in her writing book, Write Away. Doing scratch outlines of plot flow served a pantser like me well.

Do you experience writer’s block? What do you do to get through it?

For me, block occurs because I’m feeling unsure either from a lack of needed research or from fear. As a pantser, I postpone most research until after my first draft when I know what I need. The weakness, of course, is that I need to tweak subplots. But research always helps me find my way.

Fear desires to hamstring my writing. Thankfully, Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way helped me recognize when fear is talking. A more recent helpful habit I’ve found is to journal my fears. Writing about what I’m feeling and perhaps why diffuses the block, and I’m free to move forward. 

What’s next for you as an author?

My novel The Surface of Water ends with characters Matthew and Trish in jeopardy. What happens next? In answer, I’m happily researching and revising the sequel, A Thousand Wings of Light.

Just slightly off stage await my two Irish novels—historical fiction, a first for me. I drafted two novels for The Seaborne Series. Recent local events like Ada’s Fur-Trapper Encampment delivered very helpful research. From the descendant of the famous settler Rix Robinson, I learned how to twist rope from plants. This stirs the fire. I can’t wait to return full-throttle to this series. Of course, I’ll need to figure a way to get myself back to Castlerock, N. Ireland.

Cynthia, thanks so much for doing this interview with me. Before we go, where can readers find you online?

cynthiabeach.com

Cynthia on Facebook

CynthiaBeachAuthor on Instagram

Here is a link to buy Cynthia’s book:

The Surface of Water

Meet the Author: Susan TeBos

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Author Susan TeBos

I recently met Susan at an author event near my hometown in Michigan. Susan, it was a pleasure to meet you and learn about your book. Thank you for joining me on my blog today.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a homegrown Michigan author with a not so common story.  This may surprise you, but becoming an author wasn’t on my bucket list.  I didn’t intend to write books. But when the need arose in our family (we adopted 3 children from Russia within 5 years) writing, researching, interviewing, and the hope to offer help to our family and others urged me forward. In the beginning, I knew very little about what was involved in writing a book, such as taking an idea to the page and then to a publisher. All this felt a bit overwhelming. I had to learn how to write creatively. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Eventually, I signed up for a writing class and then another, junior and senior level courses I could take at a local college. It was a writing game changer. I guess you can say I am persistent, if anything, and that’s a good attribute for being a writer.

What is your book about?

My recent book is for adoptive and foster families and anyone who wants to understand the heart of an adoptee.  It’s called We’ve Been There: True Stories, Surprising Insights, and Aha Moments for Adopted Teens. I believe that every adopted child reflects on their adoption and needs guidance to process and express their emotions and thoughts. If not, many feel isolated as they ponder what happened to them, their self-worth and identity.

My favorite thing about this book is the interviews. This is a collection of 34 stories told to me by teenage and young adult adoptees from around the United States. They open up about things that they rarely talk about and things they wished others would have told them. Plus, they offer encouragement and some good advice for teens on their own journey of self-discovery and healing from loss.  I learned so much from these amazing people.

What did your family think about you writing this book?

My daughter, who was adopted at 18 months, was 17 years old at the time I was researching and writing this book. Imagine a teenager hovering close by, sometimes reading over my shoulder while I was typing up the interviews. That says a lot. She longed to know what adoptees like her were experiencing and how they were handling things. One day I asked her if she’d share a story, and she leaped into the air yelling yes!! She had her own story to share about grieving her birth family that she felt others would resonate with. Two of my three kids contributed stories.

The collection is written in a journalistic style. It is written for adoptees first, but also for families and anyone who wants to understand the heart of an adoptee.

Who would like your book?

There are millions of people with adoption or foster care in their story, so many of us are connected or know someone that is adopted.  Additionally, counselors, social workers, therapists, adoption agencies, church adoption ministries, libraries, families, grandparents, and of course adopted people of all ages.   

How do you find time in your day for writing?

Set small goals. 300 words a day. I commit to 300 words each day of the week even if I don’t feel like it or have nothing to say. From my experience, if I can free write crappy copy 300 words this exercise turns into 700 words or more. Goal setting like this keeps me accountable.

Are you part of a writing group?

Not formally. Mostly, I have writer friends that like to meet for coffee and talk about everything from writing to platform to book proposals to selling books. Being in a community is helpful, even if it is informal.

Do you have a favorite author or book?

My favorite genre is historical fiction, regency period. Jane Austin and books like hers serve as a retreat for me. I get lost in the pages and time slips away. My brain cells appreciate it. I also read books like A Gentleman in Moscow.

Have you experienced writer’s block? If so, what do you do to get through it?

Yes, I do get blocked. There are a few things that help me. I free write with a prompt. Just stream of thought. No edits. Just move the pen on paper. It works. Also, I have paper and a pen next to my bed. It is common for me to have some pretty great ideas appear at 3:00 am

What’s next for you as an author?

I currently don’t have a book idea. However, I’m writing a couple of articles here and there for publication, and trying to improve my book visibility on my website.  I also am a podcast guest and speak at adoption and foster care conferences.

Susan, thank you so much for being my guest today. Before we go, where can readers find you online?

You can find me at susantebos.com and  https://www.facebook.com/SusanTeBos.Author/

https://www.amazon.com/Weve-Been-There-Surprising-Insights/dp/0825447313 

Susan’s book is also available at any bookseller and at libraries.

Sweaters and Knee Socks

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I grew up in a family that didn’t have much money for extras. We didn’t buy name brand clothes. We shopped at garage sales before it became popular. Mom made sure we had a couple of new outfits for school each fall and new dresses for Christmas and Easter. Sometimes they were homemade.

Fashion was all about Izods and Calvin Kleins when I was in high school. I don’t think not having name brand jeans and shirts really mattered to me. But one trend I wanted to have so badly was a wool skirt with a wool sweater and knee socks. That outfit was really popular and something I yearned for.

My senior year, a cousin bought me a wool sweater for Christmas and my aunt paid me in wool skirts for babysitting her boys. When I went off to college that fall, I was ready to be in style.

Only people in college didn’t dress that way.

I had missed out on wearing the trend. Now my clothes were out of style at the small college I went to.

My country roots were showing.

(Things got better at the end of my freshman year when a settlement from a driver’s ed car accident came through, giving me spending money above what my college costs were. I bought parachute pants. {Cringe} I actually wore them!)

However, the outdated style didn’t stop me from making friends and experiencing some of the fun the conservative college offered.

One experience I remember well early on in my freshman year was a spiritual retreat. I don’t know where the campground was, but the girls’ bathroom were all open-stall toilets. Needless to say, I didn’t feel the urge to go.

There were also really tall, old growth trees. When we all took a walk through the trees, the leader told us to lay down on the ground and look up. I still remember how majestic the treetops looked from that point of view.

Experiences like this spiritual retreat helped cement the faith that I had experienced in high school and made me a stronger Christian. A sophomore year trip to Mexico gave me new confidence.

I began to walk my own path. Things that had mattered before weren’t important anymore. I had new plans, new dreams.

Forty years have gone by since my college days. (Yikes, I’m THAT old!)

I felt recently like I have finally “come into my own.” I had confidence in myself and in my plans.

Then news I hadn’t expected put a roadblock in my path and I’m not sure what the future holds for me.

I love this verse and have had it memorized since I was a teen:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

As I have done for most of my life, in these moments I put my faith in the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Father who created me and loves me. He will direct my paths. The NIV says, “He will make your paths straight.” I like that translation also.

I am praying and waiting to see what He will do, even as I take each step that I know is right for that moment. No, I can’t see ahead, but that’s okay. He will make my way straight and clear.

Now thinking back to that long-ago retreat, I realize I am not the same person. I have a deeper, abiding faith and more life experiences to know that God will, indeed, fulfill the promise in Proverbs 3:5-6. As I trust in Him, He shall direct my path.

And I realize that if I were to lay on the ground and look up at the treetops, I wouldn’t be able to get back up! (Not gracefully, anyway).

The End Goal

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Our Detroit Tigers worked hard playing baseball but didn’t quite make it to their goal.

On the other hand, our Detroit Lions are consistently winning their football games after many years of living with defeat.

Football and baseball players invest their lives in the sport and work hard towards the goal of winning championship titles.

I never liked playing sports. I couldn’t hit, throw or catch a baseball. The one time I played backyard football I didn’t realize when the quarterback threw the ball to me I couldn’t throw it to someone else. Everyone was running towards me, and I wanted to get the ball out of my hands.

Could I have become better with more practice?

Maybe I could have, but you never know. I didn’t try.

My goal in school wasn’t to play on sports. No, it was to write stories that other people could read.

I attended college with an eye on journalism. I got sidetracked when I went on to Mexico to study, then returned a few years later to teach.

My goal at that time was to become a mission–or rather, a Missus. I had my eye on the prize, wanting to become a bride. When my husband came into my life, I got caught up in a whirlwind of romance and married him nine months later. (No regrets).

Now my goal became to have children. So a year and a half after our wedding, our first child was born, then a year and a half after that, our daughter. (No regrets).

Okay, a boy and a girl. A few years later, we made the choice to try for one more, and successfully became a family of 5. (No regrets).

Then my husband passed away while my older two were teenagers and youngest only ten.

Now we were a broken family circle.

I felt defeated. Lost and confused. Angry and trying not to question God. My husband used to say, we’re all going to die sometime. But why him, why now?

And how could I possibly go on without him?

One day at a time.

One song at a time played in those moments when I needed the extra words.

Time after time of crying out to God in my loneliness and heartache.

I got up each morning, got the kids off to school, took the dog out in the yard.

Yet daily I struggled with grief compounded by mental health issues.

Over time it became apparent that I needed help to get to a better place in life.

I found that help. I stuck with it, worked hard on the things I could change and got back into church.

Today I am coping with life better than I thought I ever would. I have minor setbacks and defeats, but overall I am in a good place.

My goal is back to writing stories, where I first began in high school. Fortunately, none of those are still in existence. One time on a whim, I tossed them all in the dumpster. (No regrets).

What are some of my other goals today?

To maintain a purpose in life. To work hard and support myself financially.

To love my kids without reservation and to make good memories with them.

To encourage others who are on various paths in life and judge them not.

My end goal?

To meet Jesus and finally learn the answers to all the questions I’ve had in this life. To dance for joy in his presence.

Go Detroit Lions! Win big this year.