I’m a Rookie

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Lynn

When I wrote my first book, “Shoot the Wounded” I had no idea about editing, publishing, book signing, book talks, book reviews or marketing.  Basically I sat down at my computer and typed out what I thought was a good story and then life got in the way and well…I sort of forgot about it…for ten years!  I suppose I had a good excuse for leaving the little gem all tucked away on my computer’s hard drive for so long: I battled breast cancer, I went back to school to get my Master’s degree, I was working at my church part-time on staff as Children’s Minister, and my oldest daughter got married…

It sort of seems weird seeing ten years of my life encapsulated like that but as they say, “That’s the facts, Jack!”

One day I was going through my “old” files on my computer and something beckoned me to reread the  “Shoot the Wounded” manuscript that I had haphazardly written ten years previously.  At the same time I could almost hear a voice telling me to “Finish this!”

The feeling nagged at me for several weeks and finally I called an author friend of mine to see if she would meet me for lunch.  While we chatted over our noodle bowls at a local chinese food restaurant, I grilled Connie about the “publishing biz”.  Connie is a renowned author and a gifted speaker and I have valued her friendship and mentorship for years.  She said, “Writing a book is relatively an easy thing, it’s getting the word out there and promoting it afterwards that takes the time and effort.”  Then she proceeded to scare the living daylights out of me when she suggested I think about going on a speaking tour with her after my book was published.  (Read my blog entry entitled “I have a domain” for more details about my fear of speaking in public)….needless to say I am still “thinking”, Connie!

Anyway, our conversation rallied me into taking some action, so I started “fine tuning” my manuscript and I asked my daughter, Laurelle to start proof reading the book.  I don’t know how other authors handle it but I don’t much like criticism.  I’m a people pleaser.  I remembered Connie saying during our lunch conversation that book reviewers can “make or break” a book.  Knowing that, I was very trepidatious about what Laurelle’s reaction to reading the book would be.  “She’s my daughter!”  I thought.  “She won’t trash it, she’ll be encouraging because she loves me!”  So after sending her the sixth chapter, I finally mustered up the courage to call her on the phone and ask, “What do you think of the story so far?”

I could tell by the long silence that she was choosing her words carefully…she was probably thinking that her inheritance was on the line here!

“It’s Okay.”

Now I know what a balloon feels like it when it loses air and makes that sputtering “phthlutzzzz” sound as it spins around the room and then plops onto the floor deflated and useless.  Luckily she collected herself in time to realize that her name being struck from my will was a distinct possibility so she sputtered out quick encouragement that gushed panic.  The damage had been done.

For weeks I left the manuscript alone.  I fretted and moped about the house, indecision getting the better of me.  My confidence in myself and in the book had been shattered.  In fairness to Laurelle, she continued to diligently proof read the manuscript and even though her comments were more and more encouraging as she continued to read, I refused to believe her sincerity.  Finally my dear, sweet husband came home with a bouquet of flowers and a card that read: “Lynn, sometimes the most special thing about a card is the person who receives it.”  Love, Charles and he wrote: “Let’s publish your book!!”

Charles had never even read one word of my manuscript but that didn’t matter…regardless of my “okay” writing he believed in me!  If it had not been for his encouragement at just the right time, “Shoot the Wounded” would still be a word document filed somewhere on my computer and nothing more.

I literally (haha) attacked the manuscript with rewrites and more rewrites.  Then I summoned up the courage to send it to Word Alive Press and their professional editor attacked the manuscript with bold red lines and strike outs.  When he trashed my second chapter the first time saying it was “tedious and painful to read”, I didn’t crumble as I thought I might.  I rewrote it until I not only got “thumbs up” from the publisher but also from Laurelle, who continued to proof read for me.

Since “Shoot the Wounded” has been published, I have been humbled by the rave reviews and the accolades the book has received.  Connie, bless her heart, brings copies of the book with her on her speaking engagements to give away.  I have author friends and fellow bloggers who are “fans” and help promote the book.  Sales of the book are going well.  Truly, I am at times overwhelmed by it all!  I’m learning all about editing, publishing, book signing, book talks, book reviews and marketing, and I’m even learning to take criticism better.  I’m still a rookie but God continues to direct my path and He has opened doors in ministry for me as a result of my becoming a “published author”.

I am working on the sequel to the book, “Heal the Wounded” and I can’t wait to send it off first to Laurelle to have her proof read it.  I’m actually looking forward to her initial review.  I’ve discovered through this whole process that of all the people who read my books, I value her opinion and criticism most of all.  Her comments have made me a better writer.  I went from writing just “okay” stories, to writing stories worthy of her praise.  What a blessing!  oh…and she’s still in the Will so it’s all good!

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Songs of Life

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Lynn

This morning I received word from my cousin in Denmark that my Uncle Johs passed away on Good Friday.  Being the last one of his three brothers and three sisters left, he experienced the loss of both his parents, all of his brothers and sisters (including my mother) and his beloved wife, Grethe, before God finally called him Home.  Though sorry to leave his own children and grandchildren behind, he was more than ready to be reunited with his family in heaven.  He was ready to walk the streets of gold and join the heavenly choir there. 

My brother and I are the youngest of the cousins on both sides of the Jorgensen and Kronborg-Nielsen families.  My mother traveled home to Denmark with us when I was only three.  Although I was young, I still have very vivid memories of my time in Denmark.  My most vivid are of the huge family gatherings that included food, drink, and song.  This was a family that loved life!  Any occasion, large or small, was an opportunity to celebrate.  No one could put on a Danish smorgaasbord grander than they could – complete with home-baked bread, rye bread, meats, fresh fish, assorted cheeses, pastries, and Schnapps.  Great laughter, great fun!  After spending hours around the table, they gathered in the front parlor and soon everyone was singing.   They loved to sing!  Many of the songs they sung were original compositions, written by my mother or one of her brothers or sisters.  Accompanied by my mother on the piano, the family sang together like a small choir.  When they sang a capella, the voices were  so pure and beautiful I thought I was in heaven.  It was there in Denmark when I was three years old that I first learned to sing hymns of praise and worship to God. 

Many of the great hymns of faith that I know so well now, I heard in Danish first.  I didn’t understand the words then or the meaning behind them at the time, but it didn’t matter,…I loved listening to my mother, aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents sing them. 

It is no wonder that my brother and I grew up to love music.  When we returned back to Canada from Denmark, my mother continued to sing.  She sang when she was happy, sad, lonely, discouraged or anxious.  Singing was life to her.  Our house was always filled with some kind of music.   

My grandmother, whom I called “Mormor” (meaning ‘mother’s mother) along with my cousin N-J and his wife visited us in Canada after the death of my grandfather.  It was the first time my mother had seen family from Denmark in over ten years!  Sure enough there was much song and celebration.  Years later, in what can only be described as the “Great Kronborg Reunion of 1979”, at least according to my mother, she was reunited once again with her mother, her sister Nina (and husband Svend), her brother Johs and his wife Grethe, and Johs’ daughter Ulla and her husband, Roland.   For my mother, it marked the largest gathering of  her family together with her since 1961.  What prompted the great exodus from Denmark you ask?…an excuse to come sing at MY wedding!

The day before my wedding I woke up to the sound of ABBA singing “Waterloo” full blast from the downstairs stereo.  In a daze I stumbled from my room only to be met by my Uncle Johs  in his psychedelic “speedos”, who then proceeded to chase me around the house with a wooden spoon while being cheered on by the rest of my Danish relatives.  Then in a spontaneous outburst, they all gathered around me and sang a Danish folk song to me.  I didn’t understand all the words but my mother later explained it was a marriage “hymn of blessing”. 

On my wedding day, I asked them to sing this hymn again at the reception. 

(l-r, Mormor, Mom, Svend, Grethe, Nina, Dad, Ulla, Roland, Johs)

In 1987, my husband, Charles, my daughter Laurelle, who was three at the time, and I traveled to England and we decided to take a detour to visit my family in Denmark.  We stayed with my Uncle Johs in his home, a 200-year-old thatched roof house, and on our last night in Denmark, a great smorgaasbord feast with the entire family was held in our honour.  After the meal we all gathered together and sang.  I had attempted to carry on the tradition of writing a comedic song for the occasion.  As I sang, it was pretty obvious by the hysterical laughter that it was not much of a melody to be sure and the words were pretty lame too, but the heartfelt hug I got from my Uncle Johs for my attempt was genuine! 

And so the years have come and gone since then, but the melody of life continues for us all.  So many of my loved ones have passed on.  As much as I miss them with all my heart I know they are all together in heaven and one day I’ll hear their voices again.

My cousin Ulla writes:

Dear Lynn.
This mail is just to inform you, that my dearly beloved father has passed away, and found his Grethe with God. Only 4 weeks ago he was up and alive as always, but feeling tired and coughing from his lungs.  He was hospitalized and they found lung cancer on both sides. (My brother) Bjarne and I was there, when he got the diagnosis, (but) he was so (resolved) about the future and said no to all suggestions about treatments and further testing… I stayed with him till he passed away early Good Friday.
All his friends and neighbors came daily during the three weeks to say goodbye.  I have never seen anything like it, because he was the one who had the peace and determination, while all the others needed his comfort and good humor. He was incredible and all the KRONBORGSK old humor was there. … We sang all the old songs from their childhood, we sang from all the old songs he had (sung) with your mother, (the ones she,) Astrid and Richard (his siblings) had written, and songs we remembered from year’s past.

The last week we took shifts and we (were with him) all the time, day and night, but it became the most happy, beautiful, peaceful and loving process I have ever experienced and he never felt pain or discomfort at any time. …The last day he said, ” Ulla, is it possible to have a more beautiful death?  I don’t think so.”

The heavenly choir gained another voice on Good Friday. 

Sing on, sweet Uncle!

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Book Launched, Books Sold, Books Read, Books Reviewed…

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Lynn

Last Thursday evening “Shoot the Wounded” was officially “launched”!  It was such fun to gather with family and friends and fellowship and laugh and yes, getting to sign a bunch of copies of my book for them.  I can always count on my buddies to be so encouraging.  It was great to be reunited with the SCCC ladies, and to have Caleb (the cover artist) and his parents there too.  It was especially wonderful to have the book “commissioned”.  I was profoundly touched and blessed by the prayers lifted up by Paul Nelson not only for me but for Caleb.  I am so glad that everyone at the book launch recognized that this book (and the others to follow) are a new way for me to minister to youth.

That said, when I went home that night I knew my book was now in the hands of some of those youth and I started to get nervous…again.  The book reviews would soon be in and I would know for sure whether or not the youth would give me a thumbs up or a thumbs down for the story.  I could count on them to give me an honest critique.  Now, I’m not saying that my adult friends would not give me an honest critique, but let’s face it, youth are much more prone to “tell it like it is”.  They can be brutally honest…and I do mean brutal!  I have heard more than one book, movie, T.V. show, video game, etc. etc. be labelled “lame” or “failure” and careers launched or lost dependant on those youth reviews.

So I logged in to my Facebook account to await the reviews.  I didn’t have to wait long.  “I love the book, Mrs. Dove!”  “I read it in one night, I couldn’t put it down!”  “Can’t wait for book number two!”  Whew!  They like it!!

On Saturday I spent a couple hours at Bentley’s Books in Cochrane for my first book signing and I will admit I was bolstered for the day due to the positive reviews I had received from my youth at church.  Unfortunately my high spirits were somewhat short-lived when one of the first to come in and talk to me was the editor of a local newspaper.  He said politely to me, “Love the title of your book….not necessarily the Christian content.”  Talk about getting the wind knocked out of my sails.

It’s a heavy and sad realization when you come face to face with opposition that has nothing whatsoever to do with your writing abilities but has everything to do with writing from a Christian perspective.  No sooner had he left the store when another lady from the community came up  and looked at the back cover of the book and as soon as she saw the line: ‘Shoot the Wounded is a contemporary Christian novel…’, she plopped it back down and humphed, “Christian!…not for me!”

When I told my family about this later that day, my youngest child, Carmen asked me, “Mom, why did you say it was a Christian novel on the cover?  You would probably sell a lot more books if you didn’t!”

I remembered the interview I had with a local newpaper reporter who had asked me a similar question, “Why are you limiting your reading audience by writing a Christian novel?”

Success.  How is that measured?  I have had to come to terms with that all through this writing and publishing process and that is why I refuse to hide behind a cover (book cover or otherwise) that depicts me in any other way than what I am.  I am a Christian.  My books may or may not be read by thousands of people (not because it isn’t a good read), but because countless numbers of people may never get past that “contemporary Christian” line on the back cover.  It’s sad, but it’s true.  I’m sure I’m not the only Christian writer who has experienced this but it makes me even more determined to write from a Christian world view.  After all, I gauge success by God’s standards and not the world’s.

 

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