FAST TRACK THRILLERS

NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE KINDLE

2012-02-28T07:16:00.003-08:00

A top secret agent.

A high-profile assignment.

Danger at a NASCAR track.

If you love NASCAR and you like suspense, I strongly recommend Peril.
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

TRAILER

KINDLE EDITION

PRINT EDITION

PERIL IS NOW AVAILABLE

2011-11-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Love NASCAR?
Love a good thriller?

Don't miss PERIL
A suspense novel with a twist of NASCAR
A fast-paced suspense thriller as current as today’s news headlines

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Peril.
The action and characters pulled me in and made this an easy, yet exciting read.
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

TRAILER

Lady Anne, a top operative of the OJL, the American government’s most clandestine intelligence organization, is paid to be paranoid, and she’s good at her job. So good, in fact, that she singlehandedly stops an assassination attempt at the White House. When newspapers splash her photo over the front page for saving King Ahmad—a Muslim recently converted to the Christian faith—not only is her cover in jeopardy, but the secrets of her enhanced strength and the entire agency. Then she’s given another assignment—to escort King Ahmad to a NASCAR track….

Stuart Jackson, age 33 and at the peak of his career as the reigning Cup Champion of NASCAR, has everything anyone could want—fame, fortune, success. But after he’s nearly blown up by a bomb at the White House, his achievements lose their allure. Nor can he forget the mysterious Lady Anne.

“Give Suzanne Hartmann the ‘Checkered Flag’ for Peril. It’s like being on the race track, packed with fast-paced excitement and intrigue. A great read for any racing fan.”

Rev. Greg Doussard,

Director of Midwest Raceway Ministries, Pastor of The Sanctuary Church

“Suzanne Hartmann explodes into the writing world with her debut novel, Peril, weaving an intriguing cast of characters into her riveting story that leaves you wanting more.”

Stephanie Gallentine, author of Refuge

ARTICLES, REVIEWS, AND FEEDBACK (Oh my!)

2011-11-16T23:30:00.000-08:00

Feedback has been rolling in for my novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, and I am humbled by the wonderful responses.

Newspaper Articles
I have been blessed that two awesome articles have been written about PERIL in local newspapers, and shocked that one took an entire page!

Edwardsville Intelligencer's THE EDGE Magazine:
Troy Mom Cranks Out First Novel

Alton Telegraph:
Writing on the Fast Track

Reviews
Eight reviews have been posted at Amazon:
PERIL REVIEWS

Reader Feedback
Readers have given me some of the best compliments a person can give an author, that PERIL kept them up late or kept them reading when they needed to be doing other things.

I finished Peril last night, and the story kept me turning the pages. The only problem is that I want to hear more! How fast can you write?

Julie T.

I'm serious. I can't put "Peril" down. So good! I'm going to need a couple more copies.

Shannon M.

I've just (7 am here in Oz) finished "Peril" and wanted to thank you for it. It's a great read and I'm looking forward to your next book.
Glen W. (Australia)

It's awesome!
Michael M. (17 years old)

Awesome! Intriguing! Intense! Ready for the next book.

Julia W.

I was riveted when Lady Anne's leg shattered and pieces of her identity began coming together for Stuart. At that point, I couldn't put it down.

Ann M.

I totally enjoyed Peril! I look forward to Book 2 and can't wait to see where you're going to take this story.
Holly M.

The story kept me turning the pages. I really liked it!!! The only problem is that I want to hear more! How fast can you write?

Julie T.

ENDORSEMENTS FOR PERIL

2011-10-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Peril: Fast Track Thriller Book 1. The action and characters pulled me in and made this an easy, yet exciting read. Having been a crew chief, I liked the scenes where NASCAR drivers and crew chiefs interacted, and the various settings made it realistic. If you love NASCAR and you like suspense, I strongly recommend Peril.
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

Give Suzanne Hartmann the "Checkered Flag" for her new book Peril: A Fast Track Thriller. This novel is like being on the race track, packed with fast-paced excitement, intrigue, never knowing what is going to happen next. Each new turn in the story also shows the importance of one's relationship with God. This book is a great read for any racing fan and/or person of Faith.
Rev. Greg Doussard, Midwest Raceway Ministries
The Sanctuary Church, Pastor

Suzanne Hartmann explodes into the writing world with her debut novel, Peril: A Fast Track Thriller, weaving an intriguing cast of characters into her riveting story that, in the end, will leaving you wanting more.
Stephanie Gallentine, author of Refuge

PERIL BLOG TOUR

2011-10-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the release of my debut novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, I am taking a month-long blog tour, PLUS offering a KINDLE to one lucky winner.

11/18 – Pentalk (How Peril Got It's Twist of NASCAR)

11/18 – Faith-Driven Suspense (Highlight PERIL)

11/19 – The Roving Writer (Author Interview)

11/20 – The Barn Door Bookloft (Highlight PERIL)

11/21 – The Barn Door Bookloft (Author Interview)

11/22 – Divine Detour (Author Interview)

11/22 – Cre8tive Home (How I Homeschool and Write)

11/23 – Cre8tive Home (Author Interview)

11/24 – Lighthouse Academy (Author Interview)

11/ 25 – Growing Your Homeschool (How I Homeschool and Write)

11/28 – Stories Touched by the Supernatural (Personal Experiences Included in Peril)

11/28 – K. Dawn Byrd – Author (Author Interivew)

11/29 – Whispers in Purple (When God Calls)

11/30 – A Bed of Roses ("Field Trip" Research)

12/1 - Heidi Main, Writer (Author Interview)

12/2 - Grace and Faith 4U (Author Interview)

12/2 - Live Simply * Simply Love (Birth of a Novel)

12/5 - Word Wanderings (Character Interview - Lady Anne and Stuart)

12/6 - Agatha Remembered (Author Interview)

12/7 - The Simple Homemaker (How I Homeschool and Write)

12/8 - Donna B. Snow (Review)

12/9 - 777 Peppermint Place (Researching for Peril)

12/10 – Through His Eyes (Author Interview)

12/13 – Day By Day In Our World (Review)

12/13 – The Write Chris (Author Interview)

12/15 – All On Writing (Christmas article)

12/16 – Natures Palace Wellness (How I Homeschool and Write)

12/16 – Faith and Fiction (Guest Post – writing)

12/19 – Lynnette Bonner (My Writing Journey)

12/21 – Sunny Bank Writer (Guest Post - writing)

REVIEWS

2011-10-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Love this book! The author kept me guessing the entire way through. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, some new surprise would pop up. Lots of action and suspense in this novel intertwined with NASCAR, religion and terrorism. I can't wait for her next novel!

Lori Fuller

Joanne's an Illinois homeschooling mom struggling with the fact that her husband is losing a battle with cancer. She's a survivor herself-she recovered from paralysis, thanks to an experimental adult-stem-cell treatment. Her family's future looks uncertain, but she tries to trust God about it.

Lady Anne is a bodyguard working for a secret government organization who's beautiful and amazingly strong, a superwoman. She shows up once in a while for unique assignments, such as protecting the king of a tiny Muslim country who recently became a Christian when he comes to America. First she saves the day during an attack at a White House dinner, and then at a NASCAR race. The king is a NASCAR racing fan and doesn't seem too worried about stepping into danger.

And there's Stuart Jackson, a successful NASCAR champion who takes a shine to Lady Anne. After spending a bit of time with her, he wants more-not only is she beautiful, but she's got a peace about her that puzzles him. He's succeeded at all his dreams, but his life is missing something. He wants her to tell him what it is. If he can find her.

Meanwhile, the Muslim extremists who try to kill the king broaden their net. They want to kill Lady Anne too. Can they find her?

Debut author Suzanne Hartmann weaves all these threads together into a twisty suspenseful plot that readers will enjoy. I especially liked the unpredictable elements of this story, of which there were many, and the believable characters.

Phyllis Wheeler

Not being a NASCAR follower, I was pleasently entertained by this novel. It was hard to put down. All of the character's details create an engaging and interesting reading experience. In the beginning, I thought it would be a typical fast-read novel, but as I read further, I realized that there were more layers to the character's lives and individual stories. It really covers so many interest areas such as NASCAR, special agent and security forces, and family life.

I would recommend it for teens through adults.

Michele Cushman

THE BOOK TRAILER

2011-10-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to share the book trailer for PERIL. It took five frustrating days as I learned to use the program and worked to get it to do what I wanted, but I think it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.

TRAILER

THE COVER

2011-10-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting a long time to see what the cover of my first book would look like...and it's AWESOME!

The graphic artists at OakTara Publishing did a fantastic job.

MEET THE CHARACTERS

2011-07-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

PROTAGONISTS
LADY ANNE is King Ahmad’s beautiful, but mysterious bodyguard. While she appears to be all lady on the outside, she is not afraid to face terrorists and is capable of taking them down with her enhanced abilities. She is a woman full of secrets, and no one is able to trace her history or whereabouts.

KING AHMAD is the king of the small Muslim nation of Mashkoor, which is situated between Bulgaria and Turkey. He is the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity and is shunned by friends and family as well as hunted by every Muslim terrorist group in existence.

STUART JACKSON is a two-time NASCAR Champion who is at the peak of his career, yet finds his life lacking meaning. Although drawn to Lady Anne by her beauty, once he has a chance to get to know her, it is her contentment in an obviously difficult situation which makes him seek her.

JOANNE VANDER HAAS is an agent with the United States’ most covert agency. When the threats surrounding Lady Anne intertwine with Joanne’s job, her agency agrees to a desperate plan to protect their secrets…one that could lead to death.

MINOR CHARACTERS
NEIL VANDER HAAS is Joanne’s husband. Stuart admires him for his strong Christian walk and the way he fights his serious illness with dignity.

GEORGE OWENS is Joanne’s boss. He has worked with her for almost fifteen years. The first several years they were partners. He has a quirky sense of humor and enjoys getting the best of Stuart.

TROY COLLINS is Stuart Jackson’s crew chief. Since Stuart’s relationship with his father is poor, Troy often plays the father figure in Stuart’s life.

JOHN BLASZCZYK (blaschik) is the pilot for Stuart Jackson’s jet and always good for adding a little humor. His fear of covert government agencies is contagious and begins to affect Stuart when he has to deal with Joanne’s boss.

AMBASSADOR BAINSWORTH is the American ambassador to King Ahmad’s country, Mashkoor. When he brokers a peace treaty between Mashkoor and Israel, he becomes a terrorist target and Lady Anne is assigned to protect him.

READ CHAPTER 1

I'M REALLY GOING TO BE PUBLISHED!

2011-06-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

I have been offered a contract by Ramona Tucker from Oak Tara, a small Christian publishing house which offers a wide variety of fiction that is different and unique. If you’re interested in more about, them, their website is: http://oaktara.com/

Ramona had some wonderful things to say about The Race. Beyond being ecstatic that I really will be published, I’m excited that my editor is so enthusiastic about my book. While I can’t tell you everything she said because it would give away too much of the story, I wanted to share some of her comments.

Things my editor said about the book:
I found The Race That Lies Before Us to be fresh and intriguing.

I love the spunky and intriguing story of Suzanne Hartmann’s The Race that Lies Before Us.

I liked the "tension" of Stuart’s relationship with his dad, and the continuing thread of Stuart wondering why the King wanted to remain a Christian when it would almost certainly mean his death,

I also like the issue of stem cell research and the romantic tension between Stuart and Lady Anne.

The ending was very, very, very different than I thought.

I will post a series of articles about The Race that Lies Before Us starting next week, then every other week. Articles will include character introductions, discussions about the settings and themes in the book, character interviews, and possibly an excerpt for each character. I’ll also throw in couple of give-aways. The first will be in early to mid-July: a copy of Portraits of NASCAR: Inside NASCAR’s Homes, Lives, and Families.

I would like to invite you to receive the periodic Writing Updates I send out, which include more detailed information and specific prayer requests. In my most recent update, I included details about how the contract was offered as well as quotes my editor liked.

If you would like to join my Writing Update list, please comment here, send me a Facebook or Twitter message, or e-mail me at homestead1997-blog@yahoo.com. Don’t forget to include your e-mail address.

CHARACTER NAMES IN PERIL

2011-04-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered where authors come up with names for their characters? I never really thought about it until I started writing fiction and had to name my own characters.

Here’s how I came up with some of the names for the characters in my novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1:

Lady Anne – For some reason, I just always knew what this character’s name was. I never really had to think about it.

Stuart Jackson – Like the character himself, his name is a compilation. I wanted the character to be an average NASCAR driver, so I gave him characteristics similar to a number of well-known drivers. I continued that by giving him first and last names that are similar to well-known drivers.

Neil Van der Haas – I envisioned blue-eyed, blond-headed Neil to be of Dutch descent, so I gave him parents who came to the U.S. from the Netherlands. For his given name, I came up with a Dutch name, Nels, that could be easily converted to an English name. For his last name, I came up with a Dutch-sounding name that is similar to the Dutch last name of a penpal I wrote to for years.

Joanne Van der Haas – When I first created the stories I eventually combined together to create The Race that Lies Before Us, they were "what if" stories about me. What if I were in this situation? What if I could do this? What if I had this type of job? So I came up with a name that is similar to my own name.

Troy Collins – I combined the name of two towns I’ve lived in: Troy and Collinsville.

Stuart's sister – Although she’s not a character in this book, when I needed to mention Stuart’s sister, I needed to give her a name. So I came up with a name that starts with "st" like Stuart’s does.

A FOLLOW-UP REPORT

2011-02-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

Just a note to let you know the status of The Race that Lies Before Us with the editor who has shown interest in it.

The editor who has been reviewing the full manuscript and contacted my agent a few months ago to make sure the book was still available has contacted Terry again. She's had a lot of medical issues going on and said that the reason she hasn't contacted him isn't because she's not interested. Definitely good news!

Another editor has told me she will review a sample of The Race whenever she can get to it, but she's got a lot on her plate right now with trying to get several books available to the public in the next couple of months.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would join me in praying that God would grant these two godly Christian women healing and rest and open up time for them to review The Race.

YEAR-END UPDATE

2010-12-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

In the last several weeks, I've received both good news and bad news regarding The Race that Lies Before Us.

I heard back from one of the editors I met with at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference back in Sept. Unfortunately, it was a rejection. She did say, however, that she thought it had an intriguing plot. But she didn't think her publishing house was right for me.

On the positive side, I spoken a number of times with the managing editor of a small publishing house. She has shown interest in The Race that Lies Before Us, but wants to make sure it is polished to the point that it's ready for publication. My agent and I think it is at that point, but we're in a wait-and-see pattern to hear her opinion on that.

As I continue to wait, I'm working on my second novel, Disappearing Mom. When I finish that, I will push my critique service a little more, and plan to format the series of Top 10 articles from my blog into an ebook about writing fiction.

I crave any and all of your continued prayers, especially prayers for patience as I wait for God to work out His plan to have this novel published.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE ACFW CONFERENCE

2010-09-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to sincerely thank all of you for your prayers regarding the conference. I felt them lifting me up and reminding me to turn all of my fears over to the Lord. The conference was overwhelming, although very exciting, and a great blessing (I wrote about this on my blog at: http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/2010/09/overwhelming.html if you're interested in the details).

Of the six editors I had an opportunity to speak with, editors from Broadman & Holman and Revell asked for proposals on The Race that Lies Before Us. Two also asked for a proposal on my second book, Disappearing Mom, when I finish my revision. I can't even express what a wonderful feeling it was when their eyes lit up at the descriptions of my books and they leaned forward to listen better! I hope they are equally as interested when they read the first three chapters that are a part of the proposal.

Since I've brought up my second book, I thought I'd give you a blurb on it:
Disappearing Mom (women's fiction)
A series of embarrassing incidents leads Crystal to discover that she can disappear by sinking into the non-entity status often relegated to mothers. She has some humorous adventures as she learns to control her newfound ability, but doesn’t realize how it is transforming her opinion of herself until a near-death experience and the truth from a friend open her eyes to her real worth as a mother.

I know without a doubt that God guided me to the people at the conference who would be interested in by books. There was an issue with one of my editor appointments and I had to reschedule one, but God maneuvered things so that I was able to speak with the editor who was interested in both of my books.

Thank you again for your continued prayers and support.

PRAYER REQUEST

2010-09-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

I will be attending the American Christian Fiction Writers conference this Thursday through Saturday. I am guaranteed 2 appointments with editors from big name Christian publishing houses. Beyond that, I should have opportunities to talk with other editors from both big and small publishing houses at meals, in the hallways, between classes, etc. Talking to people I don't know, just out of the blue, is WAY out of my comfort zone, but opportunities to pitch my book to them are extremely rare, so I truly need to overcome my fears and just do it.

I also have a second book I would like to pitch while I'm at the conference, even though I'm still in the process of revising it. It is women's fiction, called Disappearing Mom, about a woman who, through a series of embarrassing incidents discovers that she can disappear by sinking into the non-entity status often relegated to mothers. She has some humorous adventures as she learns to control her newfound ability, but doesn’t realize how it is transforming her opinion of herself until a near-death experience and the truth from a friend open her eyes to her real worth as a mother.

I am hoping and praying that I will get requests for proposals on both books while I'm at the conference.

MORE PROPOSALS GOING OUT

2010-08-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

It took a while with the break due to all kinds of "life activities," but the tweaking edit of The Race that Lies Before Us is done. I have returned it to my agent, Terry Burns, along with a slightly revised proposal. He is now targeting places for new submission, so proposals will be out to several more editors soon.

BACK TO POLISHING MY MANUSCRIPT

2010-06-16T12:56:00.001-07:00

Shortly after I started my polishing revision in April, I was distracted from my writing for about six weeks due to the kids' extra-curricular activities, helping my mother during/after knee-replacement surgery, and the graduation of our oldest son from our homeschool.

Now that I've had several weeks to relax and start catching up on writing activities again, I'm finally back to revising The Race that Lies Before Us. It's been so long since I've read it that I'm truly enjoying the story as I edit. What a nice side-benefit!

POLISHING MY MANUSCRIPT

2010-04-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of days, I’ve been feeling a pull to review The Race that Lies Before Us. At first I thought I was drawn back to the story because it’s been eight or nine months since I’ve looked at it. But as I read bits and pieces of the story—some of my favorite parts—I found myself thinking things like, “I could word that better” and “I really don’t care for the way I phrased that.” I kept seeing small things I could tweak here and there.

I think a combination of the distance time gives me, plus experience from editing two novels for Port Yonder Press, as well as reviewing entries for the Touched By Love contest, is allowing me to see things I didn’t notice before. So I begin another revision—this time to polish the story a little more and make it shine even brighter.

UPDATE: THE RACE THAT LIES BEFORE US

2010-03-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

When anyone asks me how things are going with my novel, I usually say, “Nothing new.” But it’s not completely accurate to say that nothing is going on. There is plenty happening behind the scenes:
- The full ms. is sitting on editor’s desk waiting to be read.
- A proposal is waiting on 2 editors’ desks to be evaluated.
- My agent is hard at work planning who to contact and when.
- My agent and I are always looking for information which might indicate that a publishing would be a good match for The Race that Lies Before Us.
- I’m making contacts that could lead to future opportunities to let people know about The Race that Lies Before Us.
- I’m working hard building up my platform so that when The Race that Lies Before Us is published I will be able to help my publisher sell the book.
- My agent and I, plus many friends and family, are praying for God’s leadership in where to send proposals and His guidance of those who read the manuscript and proposals.

Yes, I still feel like I’m in the midst of a tedious waiting game, but I have to remind myself that there are many things going on in the background, even if I can’t see them all. And beyond that, God’s still in control.

FIRST REJECTION FROM AN EDITOR

2010-01-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

Last week, I received a forwarded message from my agent. It was a rejection letter from one of the publishing houses he’d sent a proposal for The Race that Lies Before Us. While I would love for every response to be a request for the full manuscript, I have to admit that I’m pleased with this response.

Before you decide that I’m headed for the loony bin, let me explain. In this rejection letter, the editor stated specifically why my book was being turned down—and it had nothing to do with the quality of my writing. While querying agents, the vast majority of responses I received were form rejection letters, so this rejection with an explanation was a nice change of pace.

A PUBLISHER REQUESTED THE FULL MANUSCRIPT

2009-12-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

It's only been a few days since my agent sent out a few more proposals for The Race that Lies Before Us, and he's already received a request for the full manuscript! Of course, we're well into the Christmas season and editors are trying to clean off their desks, but the editor said she would be starting to read newly requested manuscripts after the first of the year.

While there is no guarantee that the editor will actually offer me a contract, I am celebrating the fact she liked what she saw. Writing is such a solitary journey, with so many rejections along the way, that it's worth celebrating any affirmation.

PROPOSALS GO OUT TO PUBLISHERS

2009-12-15T19:38:00.000-08:00

In the last couple of months, my agent has sent proposals for The Race that Lies Before Us to four publishing houses, three Christian and one secular. I'm still very much playing the waiting game, as the average response time is three to four months. Still, it's exciting to see things move forward.

I have been so impressed with my agent's knowledge about each publishing house and the individual editors who work at each. He knows right off the top of his head which publishing houses are acquiring fiction at the moment and which aren't, which ones are willing to accept work from new authors and which ones won't, and which ones might be a good fit for my book and which ones wouldn't. Not only that, but he keeps in editors' good graces (among other ways) by keeping track of how many submissions he has with each so he doesn't overwhelm them with submissions from his clients.

I HAVE AN AGENT

2009-09-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

It's official! Saturday, I received the signed contract back from Hartline Literary Agency. Terry Burns is now my agent. I'm so excited that I've hardly been able to think straight this past week since he invited me to join the Hartline team.

After I read Terry's e-mail, and the shock and tears of joy and shaking stopped, all I could do was stand amazed at God's timing. All weekend, I had been mentally exhausted from two weeks of getting back into the swing of homeschooling and getting used to our new schedule. By the time I finished a full day of volunteering at the NASCAR truck race last Saturday, all I could think about was dinner and bed. Satan chose my drive home from the track to bombard me with feelings of inadequacy and fear of rejection. By the time I got home, I was certain I would soon receive rejections from both Terry and the publisher who requested the full manuscript of The Race that Lies Before Us.

The following morning, I our pastor's sermon seemed to be aimed directly at me, especially when he described the Israelites this way: "They were on the very brink of success, but they caved in." Even after that, however, I expected to have to wait longer to hear anything and expected Terry to ask for more changes before offering a contract. How I underestimated God! Later that evening, I when I checked my e-mail, I read Terry's message, in which he not only offered me a contract, but said he loved The Race that Lies Before Us!

I'm so excited to see where God will take me next. I know I've still got a lot of work in front of me, but I know He will be faithful to continue leading me. I can't wait to hear what Terry will have me start working on first.

NEWS

2009-08-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

Several days ago I received a response from the agent I submitted my revised first three chapters to. They requested the full manuscript! Maybe it's silly for me to be so excited when there's no guarantee that the agent will offer me a contract, but I can't help it. This is definitely progress.

I am also still waiting to hear back from the small publishing house which has been reviewing my full manuscript. I am taking the attitude that no news is good news--at least they haven't sent a rejection.

I can't wait to see which way God leads me. Either way (or whatever He has planned) will be exciting.

A REQUEST FOR THE FULL MANUSCRIPT

2009-08-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

I received an e-mail from the assistant to the agent I resubmitted my proposal to and they have requested the full manuscript of The Race that Lies Before Us! They liked the changes I made to the first 3 chapters, and she said, "You certainly moved the action up front and it drew me through the story." I am beyond excited!

A REQUEST!

2009-08-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

God sent me an awesome blessing. A critique partner volunteered to send a recommendation for me to her agent. This agent "just happened" to be on the top of my list of agents to query. He responded to my query/proposal in a record-breaking 4 days (it normally takes a minimum of 2 -6 weeks). What a difference a reference makes. He didn't ask for the full manuscript, but he left the door open. He said he felt the book starts out a little slow for a suspense novel, then invited me to make changes and resubmit.

I jumped right in to revising my first several pages, then sent it out for critiques. What came back wasn't good. I racked my brains trying to figure out how I could put more action into the beginning, but kept hitting roadblock after roadblock.

Then during my Bible study, I read a story about a lifeguard who saved a drowning maN. He couldn't save the man while the man was floundering around trying to save himself. He had to wait until the man tired himself out. I realized I was doing the same thing. Once I quit trying to do it myself, God revealed not only how I could revise the opening without messing up the storyline, but why the other opening wasn't right.

So I am now finishing up another revision of the first couple of chapters (for what seems like the umpteenth time LOL) and will resubmit it by the end of the week. God is so good. I still don't know how it will all come together, but I understand more than ever now that God is in charge.

QUERYING AGAIN

2009-07-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

While the small publisher who requested the full manuscript of The Race that Lies Before Us did not ask for an exclusive, I felt that God wanted me to stop querying agents and publishers for about 4 months Since that timeframe has passed I feel that God has released me from waiting, even though I have not heard back from the publisher.

I don't completely understand why God would have me spend so much time waiting when I could have been putting my book out there more places--giving me more opportunities for acceptance somewhere--but I do know that I haven't been wasting the time. God has led me to work on my blog and techniques to increase the hitcount, and increasing my contacts via Facebook and Twitter. Efforts in both of those areas have been successful. As a matter of fact, yesterday I received a request to be a guest blogger for a fellow writer! I'm so excited.

Anyway, maybe the reason God wanted me to wait was so I could focus on networking and platform-building instead of spending time querying. Whatever the reason, I will begin querying on The Race again, next week.

AN ENDORSEMENT

2009-06-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

I received a phone call this evening from the gentleman who's in charge of Midwest Raceway Ministries. I printed off a copy of The Race and gave it to him last month when we volunteered at the drag races at Gateway International Speedway. He finished reading it and he loved it. He loved the suspense, the twists, and especially the ending. He did say though, that his very favorite part was that I included a scene where the St. Louis specialty, the Gooey Butter Cake, was served. LOL

Now, if I can just find an agent and/or editor who agrees with the ringing endorsements I've received from two NASCAR people. I'm still waiting to hear from the small publisher that is reviewing the book. It's SO hard to be patient. But God is loving and gracious to send such encouragement when I've been wondering if this book is ever going to go anywhere.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

2009-04-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, patience is a virtue I have a limited supply of. Although the editor reviewing the full manuscript of The Race that Lies Before Us has done a good job of keeping in touch with me, it's still hard to wait. And although it's only been 2 weeks that have passed with no communication, it feels like 2 months.

I keep thinking of the little ditty from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming." and think, "Just keep waiting, waiting, waiting." Rather silly, but at least it brings a smile to my face.

FINAL WORDCOUNT

2009-03-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I finished the major revision I've been working on since last fall. I started the project with 117,000 words and ended with a little more than 89,000. It just blows me away that I was able to take out 28,000 words! That's about 1/4 of the manuscript. Actually, I took out more words than that, because I added a few scenes too. But it's been worth it. The writing is much tighter. Along with losing all of the episodic, ho-hum scenes, The Race that Lies Before Us is now a more exciting, faster-paced read.

A REQUEST FOR THE FULL MANUSCRIPT

2009-03-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

I just got an e-mail tonight from the editor at Second Wind, the small publishing house that has been looking at my first 3 chapters and he asked me to send him the full manuscript. I'm not there yet, but this is a big step forward!

WORDCOUNT UPDATE

2009-03-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Four months after I began this revision, with the wordcount of The Race that Lies Before Us at 117,000, the total has now fallen to 91,500! The thought of dropping my wordcount 25,000 words absolutely boggles my mind. And I thought I'd be pushing it to drop it to 103,000. The most amazing thing, though, is that my writing is not only tighter, but now that I've taken the fat out, I had the room to put in more meat.

MY WORDCOUNT FALLS AGAIN

2009-01-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

When I began my revision of chapter 17, I suspected that it would drop my wordcount, but I had no idea how much. When I finally finished it, I cut the old version out and pasted in the new version, then checked the wordcount. I was stunned. The rewrite dropped 2,000 words from my manuscript! Revising can be tough, but the benefits are well worth the effort.

INTEREST FROM AN EDITOR

2009-01-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

A few nights ago, I sent a query letter to the editor of a small publishing house. I was surprised and pleased to receive an e-mail only an hour later requesting the first chapter. It's so odd the way this all worked out. God truly does work in mysterious ways. One of my "friends" on Facebook (someone I don't know, but we're in the same suspense writers group on FB) sent a message announcing the creation of an FB group for a publishing house. I checked it out, then went to their website to find out more about them. When I saw that they didn't require an author to have an agent, I tweaked my query letter to personalize it and sent it off. And to think that four months ago I'd never heard of Facebook.

A BREAKTHROUGH

2008-12-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

For the last several weeks, I've had a nagging suspicion that The Race that Lies Before Us was missing a component, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. I didn't even know if it was related to writing style or content. Now that we're on break from schooling for the Christmas holiday, I began to catch up on critiques I'd received but hadn't had a chance to review. At the same time, I received a crit from a new critique partner. She noticed something in chapter two that another critique partner, Steph, commented on in chapter eight. Steph and I have been e-mailing back and forth about this over the last couple of days and finally narrowed down the problem. Today, God laid the issue on both of our hearts. When I received an e-mail from Steph today, her thoughts were in line with mine. It was the affirmation I needed and I felt that zing that comes with a creative breakthrough.

TIGHTENING MY WRITING

2008-10-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Revising chapters five and six of The Race that Lies Before Us has been the toughest so far. I have not only revised them, but also rearranged and consolidated scenes. Some of my scenes are set in time and can’t be moved, but many could happen within a certain time frame. I racked my brains trying to figure out what should go where and finally had to pull out my timeline and rework it.

After I gave these chapters a hard look, I realized that two scenes did little to move the story forward and deleted them. The most important information from these scenes I added into a third scene. This gave more meaning to the scene I kept, and gave me more bang for my words, so to speak.

The hardest part so far came when I had to decide whether to keep or drop a favorite scene. Once again, the distance provided by the two months I took off from writing helped me to make the hard decision. Because of the revisions to chapters two and three, I no longer needed the scene to introduce one of the main characters. Since many of the characters thoughts had already been brought up in a prior scene, and will be discussed in another scene several chapters later, I finally bowed to the inevitable. The scene had to go. It was hard, but my consolation prize was dropping one thousand words from my wordcount.

I have moved on to chapter seven and will probably drop another large chunk of a scene. I’ve made so many revisions throughout the writing process that the original purpose of the scene is now moot. Once again, I expect that I will be able to pick out the most important information, consolidate it, and add it to another scene. And once again, I expect my wordcount to fall considerably. It’s so hard to cut these words I agonized over when I wrote the scene, but I can tell that it’s well worth it.

WRITING AGAIN

2008-09-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

School has started up and my homeschool planning is finished, so I have finally picked up my writing again. The break has helped me more than I could have anticipated. It put distance between me and my stories, which helps me to see my writing with new eyes. The first time I pulled up The Race the Lies Before Us again, I immediately realized my hook needed to be rewritten and noticed a few sections that should be deleted. I never would have been able to do that without the distance of time.

REVISIONS...AGAIN

2008-07-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

I’ve had a few days to think things over and spend some time in prayer, I now recognize that I need to devote much more time to revising again. I’ve had the feeling for a couple of months that I would need to do this, but put it off because I haven’t wanted to spend a great deal of time and effort working in the wrong direction. After receiving this latest rejection, combined with the other feedback I have received from agents, I feel like I have more direction.

I know the plot is strong, but I need to re-work the beginning and tighten up the writing. I have noticed for some time that at the end of every revision the writing at the end of the book is always stronger than at the beginning. I learn so much along the way, that it shows in my writing. That’s good, but it also points out a stark difference in the writing style at the beginning and the end. I feel led to revise the beginning—perhaps even to the middle of the book—until I get to a point where I feel like the pace begins to quicken and the writing flows well between the old version and the new. I can’t point my finger to where that will be, but I know God will show me when I get there.

FULL CIRCLE

2008-07-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

It only took two weeks to receive a response back on the resubmission of my revised first three chapters to the latest agent to request more information on The Race that Lies Before Us. I had really hoped she would request the full manuscript, but it was another rejection.

Since receiving this rejection, I feel the need to put my writing on hold until the end of summer. I have been trying to work on planning our next homeschool year and writing at the same time, and it’s not working. I haven’t been able to give my complete attention to either project, therefore I haven’t accomplished what I would like in either venture. Homeschool planning is the more pressing issue, so I will concentrate on that for the next six weeks or so, the return to my writing.

In many ways, I feel like I have come full circle with my writing. Although I now have a "finished" project, I am returning to the beginning…again. I need to examine the manuscript with fresh eyes and make another trip through the revision process. I’m also close to the end of the list of agents I originally created. So I in some ways, I need to start over with this aspect of writing as well.

Hopefully I will return to my writing in six weeks refreshed and full of creativity once the weight of homeschool planning is no longer hanging over my head. With a new list of agents, a more professional query letter, and a fresh beginning to the story, I hope the agents I contact will be drawn in and enticed to ask for more.

AN INVITATION

2008-06-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

While it feels great to get feedback from my queries, I’ve still been wondering exactly what I need to do to make The Race that Lies Before Us acceptable. The feedback I’ve received has given me hints, but without more specific direction it would be easy to spend hours upon hours revising, yet in the end simply be spinning my wheels. But God is so good. Today, He provided exactly what I’ve been asking for—very specific direction.

The response I received from the third agent to request a partial manuscript was neither a rejection nor a request for the full manuscript, but an invitation. It said, "This needs a new hook. The beginning did not grab me. May resubmit." Again, this isn’t exactly the glowing report I’d like to hear, but it’s what I needed. Besides that, it does have a positive element. She must have seen something she liked in the remainder of the first three chapters that she liked or she would have simply sent a rejection.

Now that I know what to do, it’s time to get busy!

GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

2008-05-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yippee, I finally received another request! After 2 ½ months of nothing but rejection after rejection, I can’t even begin to explain how relieved I am to receive something positive from another agent. But I can’t take the credit. The way I found this agents name was pure and simple a God-thing.

Months ago, my critique partner, Judy, sent me information on a contest her local chapter of the RWA was promoting. But it seemed so far off that I wasn’t interested. Last week, she posted the information on a Christian writers’ group we both subscribe to. This time when I read it I decided to check it out. I noticed that the agent who would be judging the inspirational category wasn’t on any of my lists of Christian agents, so I searched for her website. When I saw that one of the few fiction genres she represents is Christian fiction, I did some quick research and fired off an e-query. A few days later, she responded with a request for a partial manuscript.

REJECTION

2008-05-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

In the last week, I received the long-awaited responses from the two agents who had requested a book proposal and partial manuscript from me. Unfortunately, both were rejections. They were very nice rejections that assured me that the rejection was no reflection on my writing, but that my book simply didn’t fit their needs at this time. And I didn’t take it personally; I know publishing is a business and their decisions were business decisions. That made it a little easier to accept the rejections, but I have to admit that no matter the reason, rejection is just plain hard to deal with.

It’s taken me about a week to let the emotions roll through me—disappointment, discouragement, then finally anger. I questioned my ability as a writer. I wondered if I should quit (not too hard though; I just can’t stay away from my writing very long). Although I know God’s in charge of my project and that my success thus far has been a God-thing, I am ashamed to say that I questioned Him and his plans for my book. He has been so faithful to provide affirmation and encouragement throughout my writing journey, how can I question Him? I began to understand how the Israelites could question God, despite His awesome miracles. I had to admit to myself that I’m not much better than they were.

In the end, I kept doing what I’ve been doing—researching agents and sending out query letters. In a sense, I feel like I’m starting from square one again. But the reality is that I have much more experience now than I did when I began to send out queries in January. I’ve refined my hook, settled into a comfortable form for the letter that gives all the information agents say they want, and know better how to research agents to determine whether they’re a good fit for my book.

Deep down, I know God is in control. He has a plan for my book and it will unfold with His perfect timing. I know that in my head, but I also know that patience is not one of my better virtues. Thankfully, God understands this. I’m certain that’s why He has sent so many affirmations. I can survive this process, but not without God’s strength.

Another Call from Joe Gibbs Racing

2008-04-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

I got the phone call today from Jimmy Makar, General Manager for Joe Gibbs Racing. I'd been on pins and needles all week waiting for him to call. I even carried my questions with me everywhere in case he called my cell phone when I wasn't home.

The conversation went very well. He’s a really nice guy and answered all my questions. I was surprised that he was impressed with the knowledge I already had of the sport, since I knew almost nothing about it 1 ½ years ago when I started writing THE RACE THAT LIES BEFORE US. He especially likes the sections I wrote that included driver/crew chief interaction.

What I'm REALLY excited about though, is that he’s willing to write a forward for the book! My husband suggested that I ask him, and it was a wonderful idea. I felt kind of uncomfortable asking, but he really seemed honored.

Now I need to send e-mails to the agents who are considering my book and let them know that I've got new information for the book proposal I sent them. Since they like to know what the author can do to help with marketing, I'm thinking that having someone so well-known and respected in the business write a forward would go a long way towards helping that.

I GOT A REQUEST!

2008-04-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

I GOT MY FIRST REQUEST!!! I sent two e-queries last night, so when I saw an e-mail from one of them when I got on my computer this morning, I thought it was simply a verification to tell me that it had been received. I was in shock when I read "several chapters" and "book proposal". I had to go back and reread it for it to really sink in.

Guess I'd better get busy on my book proposal!

A Call from Joe Gibbs Racing

2008-04-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Back in January, I contacted Joe Gibbs Racing. Since Joe Gibbs is a Christian, I thought I might be able to find someone there interested in double-checking the racing details in THE RACE THAT LIES BEFORE US. I was directed to a woman named Robin, but she told me they were very busy getting ready for the beginning of the season and requested that I contact her after the Daytona 500. I waited about 6 weeks, then sent a list of questions about racing that I haven't been able to find answers to.

Well, it's been about 6 weeks since I sent it and I hadn't heard any word, so I just figured that she was too busy and didn't have time to deal with it. I told myself not to worry about it because God is in control and if He wanted me to connect with someone at one of the race teams, it would all work out (easier said than done! I did worry some, but tried not to think about it).

I got a call from Robin today. God is so amazing! She not only found someone who was willing to help me out, but he’s the General Manager of Joe Gibbs Racing! His name is Jimmy Makar and it sounds like he's really excited about my book and can already see the potential impact not just with racing fans, but within the NASCAR community itself. Not only that, but he's been on mission trips to London, where his team has witnessed to Muslims, including former terrorists! Robin said he would call me later in the week and go over some of the answers he has for me that need a little more explanation.

I'm so excited I can hardly sit still to type this. After I spoke with Robin, I made a bee-line for my computer and Googled Jimmy Makar. He not only works with 3 of the top NASCAR racers (Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin), but was also crew chief to Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, and Rusty Wallace! I don't know why I should be surprised; God often answers in ways that are beyond our expectation, but I'm still SO amazed.

I GOT ANOTHER REQUEST!

2008-03-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

I received another request from an agent! I'm so excited I'm still shaking. I think I’m almost more excited about this request since it validates that the first request wasn't a fluke. This agent wants me to send the first 100 pgs., a chapter-by-chapter synopsis, and an author bio (including a picture-yikes!) I'd like to start working on this tonight, but I don't know when I'm going to stop shaking and be able to think straight again.God is good!!!

CHARACTER INTERVIEW - STUART JACKSON

2008-01-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a two-time NASCAR champion, originally from Virginia, near Washington, D.C. I have everything anyone could possibly want, but lately I’ve noticed that I’m not very content. Two brushes with death have stripped away all external things and leave me feeling like I’m missing something important in my life.

You mention two brushes with death. Is one of them the White House incident?

Yes, that was the second. The first was an accident on the track a few weeks before that.

So you were at the State Dinner honoring King Ahmad?

Right. He’s a big NASCAR fan, so they invited me because I was the reigning Sprint Cup champion.

There were some unusual reports about Lady Anne’s actions at that night. Did you see anything to corroborate what others have said?

Not really. I saw her by the head table when everyone was fleeing the dining room, and later by the broken window, but I didn’t see her do anything extraordinary.

What about at the Talladega Speedway. She rescued you and King Ahmad when he visited there, didn’t she?

That was quite an experience. She used some unusual methods to rescue us, but she asked me not to give any specifics.

I see. The woman certainly works hard to protect her secrets.

That she does.

I understand that you spent quite a bit of time with her after the attack at the Famous Fifty Banquet. Are the rumors true that the two of you are a couple?

Unfortunately, no. It’s just a rumor started by the media. They don’t seem interested in listening when I tell them I’m we’re not dating and we’re not spy partners.

I know this is personal, but I’m curious, she’s a very beautiful woman and you speak highly of her; is there a reason you’re not pursuing a relationship with her.

It’s complicated, and I’m not at liberty to talk about it.

The pilot of your jet seems to think that Lady Anne is just using you because the only times she contacted you were to help her friend Joanne.

I would have done much more than what she asked me to do, considering that she saved my life twice. Setting up everything for the dream NASCAR vacation Joanne planned for her husband was easy. Flying her to D.C. after the race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway was a more unusual request, but it was urgent and I was it a position to help.

And you continue to remain in touch with Lady Anne?

We’ve become very good friends. I’ll be eternally thankful that God brought her into my life, even for a short period. She not only pointed out why my life felt empty, but also introduced me to Jesus.

That is most certainly something to be thankful for. It’s always good to end on a high note, so I’ll conclude our interview here. Thank you for your time.

CHARACTER INTERVIEW - LADY ANNE

2008-01-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

You're quite the mystery woman, Lady Anne. After your appearances with King Ahmad at the White House and the Talladega Superspeedway, no one could locate you.
I have many secrets to guard, so my privacy is very important to me.

Some people think that you were involved in carrying out the incidents at the White House. Is there any truth to that?

Absolutely not! My actions saved people; they did not harm them.

You aren’t hiding out from the law, so are you hiding because of the reports that you did some fantastic things which made you the hero of the day?These high-profile assignments make me nervous, especially when I must demonstrate my enhanced abilities. The attention they have brought me is not welcomed.

So you're saying the reports are true?I am afraid I can say no more about that. My work and how I accomplish it is classified.

I can tell this line of questioning is making you uncomfortable, so why don’t we change the subject.

That would be appreciated.

You spent quite a bit of time with King Ahmad when he visited the U.S. What do you think of the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity?

He is a very brave man. Every Islamic terrorist group in existence has vowed to kill him, yet he refuses to recant his beliefs. He has found the truth and will not turn from it.

Did you enjoy the time you spent with him?

It was an honor to escort him to the White House and a pleasure to get to know him over the weekend at the Talladega Superspeedway. I respect him very highly. Unfortunately, appearing with him has made my life difficult. It has brought me fame that I do not want and has even made me a terrorist target.

That must be difficult. How do you deal with the knowledge that there are people out there who want to kill you?
It worries me constantly, especially since my friend Stuart Jackson has been threatened too. Since he is a famous NASCAR champion, he cannot go into hiding as I can. But I have a plan. It is very risky and I am not looking forward to implementing it, but if it works I should be safe from the threat of terrorists.

I don't suppose you could share that plan with us?
I am afraid not.

More secrets?
Yes. My life is full of secrets.

As much as I would love to know more, I can understand that hour plan would need secrecy, so I will just wish you the best of luck. Thank you for joining me today. It has bee a pleasure to get to know you.

CHARACTER INTERVIEW - KING AHMAD

2008-01-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am the king of Mashkoor, a small, oil-rich, Islamic country between Turkey and Bulgaria. Until I met my friend, Professor Hutchins, who was n charge of an archaeological dig in my country, I was a devoted follower of Muhammed.

Do you mind sharing about your conversion?

Not at all. I welcome the opportunity. I studied archaeology in college, so I followed the progress of Adam’s—Professor Hutchins—team. It intrigued me that he had determined where to dig based on clues found in the Bible, combined with geographical, historical, and archaeological information. I questioned him about the historical accuracy of the Bible, and those questions led me to consider that if prophesies regarding historical events had been accurately predicted by prophets of the Christian God, could the many other prophesies in the Bible, have been fulfilled as well?

When Adam told me about God’s plan to offer a Savior to bridge the gap between man and God, I was, as you American like to say, blown away. So different that in Islam, where an indifferent Allah judges people according to his whims. I could not ignore a loving God who offers a guaranteed way to heaven .

As I continued to read the Bible, my desire to know this loving God grew until I had to act upon what I had learned. So Adam led my in a simple prayer and I admitted that I had committed wrongs, stated that I believed Jesus had died to pay the price for my sins and rose again, then asked for God’s forgiveness. Such a simple act, yet it brought such joy.

It must be difficult being the king of a Muslim nation now that you have converted to Christianity.

It has made my life difficult in many ways. The most difficult has been in dealing with my family. Thankfully, we have secular law rather than Shari’ a law. So they do not feel the need to kill me. Instead, they shun me.

I can’t imagine what it must be like. Does everyone shun you?

Thankfully, no, or it would be a very lonely life for me. My advisers must work with me or they cannot do their job. But I cannot trust them. Many say they admire my bravery, but in their heart they wish to kill me. But I try to love them. They have been deceived, as I was for so many years. I would see them all come to know Christ if I could, so I hold regular church services in the palace, as Lady Anne suggested.

Can you tell us how you met Lady Anne?She was assigned to be my escort during my State Visit to the White House. And I must admit that I was quite miffed that a woman was to be my bodyguard. As much as I have grown in my faith, sometimes the Muslim beliefs I was trained in all my life still govern my thoughts. It was difficult to accept that she could do the job adequately, but she reminded me that I had prayed about my safety and stated that God had provided. As time told, she was quite right.

There were some unusual reports that she did some fantastic things that made her the hero of the day, not just at the White House, but when she escorted you to the Talladega Superspeedway as well. Can you shed some light on them.

I can only say that her methods are truly unusual, but she has asked me not to speak of them openly.

Her secrets, right?

Yes. I only know the smallest part of them, but I am very thankful that God placed her in my path and used her to provide for my safety.

You are a very lucky man, Your Majesty. Best wishes on your continued safety and your attempt to witness to those around you.

CHARACTER INTERVIEW - JOANNE VAN DER HAAS

2008-01-02T05:13:00.000-08:00

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live in the St. Louis area with my husband and three children, but work on a contract basis with an organization in Washington, D.C. I used to work with them full-time, but wanted to stay at home with my children more. Now I only take an assignment every three months or so.

I understand that you know the elusive Lady Anne.

Yes, I do.

Can you tell us how you know her?

We’ve worked together on occasion.

And you work with...

I’m sorry, but I can't say who I work for. Even the name of the organization is top-secret.

I understand you had some concern about Lady Anne’s high profile assignments.

Extreme concerns. It put her in the public eye, which could expose her secrets and eventually lead back to our employer. Unfortunately, neither my boss nor his superiors agreed...at least at first. But when Lady Anne became a terrorist target, and others started to look for her too, my fears began to come true. Then they finally paid attention to my concerns.

But Lady Anne is scheduled to appear with King Ahmad again.

In spite of the danger, when push came to shove, they gave in because they didn’t want to offend the King.

Is there anything that can be done to keep her safe?

She has a plan, but it’s dangerous. I’m praying it will work. If it doesn’t, I don’t know what we’ll do.

I hear that you have problems of your own to deal with at home.

Yes. My husband Neil’s illness was a shock. It’s been hard, especially on top of the issues going on at work. We still don’t know which way things will go, but there has been good news along with the bad. And we’re praying that he’ll recover completely.

He’s a big NASCAR fan, isn’t he?

Huge! That’s why I couldn’t resist planning a special NASCAR weekend for him. Stuart Jackson was so kind to make all the arrangements for us. He might be rich and famous as a NASCAR champion, but he’s a very nice person and was quite generous. It was a perfect weekend for Neil, although it led to a fiasco in the end.

Was it worth all the trouble?

Now that I look back, I’d have to say it was. As much as I hated to admit it at the time, God was in control and led events to come out for the best in spite of all the difficulties. From my perspective, it looked like He was guiding me into disaster, but it all worked out in the end.

Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed, Joanne. I will join you in praying that Lady Anne's plan will work out.

NASCAR GIFT PACK GIVE-AWAY

2008-01-01T21:46:00.000-08:00

NASCAR GIFT PACK GIVE-AWAY

To celebrate the start of the 2012 NASCAR season,
I am giving away a package of NASCAR items:
• a 2012 Tracks of NASCAR calendar
• a Team Lowes Beanie Baby
• 2 DVDs:
ESPN’s Ultimate NASCAR Vol. 1
ESPN’s Inside Access: Jeff Gordon
• Portraits of NASCAR (for the first time ever…see inside NASCAR’s homes, lives, and families)
• 4 NASCAR novels:
St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb
Once Around the Track by Sharyn McCrumb
Turn Four by Tom Morrissey

My own NASCAR novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1:

A top secret agent.
A high-profile assignment.
Danger at a NASCAR track.
"If you love NASCAR and suspense, I strongly recommend PERIL."
Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

The contest will run through Feb. 26, the date of the Daytona 500.

WAYS TO ENTER (you can accumulate up to 10 entries):
Don’t forget to include your E-MAIL address.
1) Post (or share from my FB wall) about this give-away on Facebook - 1 entry for each
Please link to this URL: http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com/2012/02/nascar-gift-pack-give-away.html
Post a link in a comment below.

2) Post (or re-tweet) about this give-away on Twitter – 1 entry for each
Please link to this URL: http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com/2012/02/nascar-gift-pack-give-away.html
Post a link in a comment below.

3) Post about this give-away on your blog – 1 entry for each
Please link to this URL: http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com/2012/02/nascar-gift-pack-give-away.html
Post a link in a comment below.

4) Join my update list to receive information about the sequels to PERIL:Fast Track Thriller #1 - 3 entries
Leave a comment below.

5) Highlight my novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller, on your blog - 3 entries
Post a link in a comment below.

6) Post a review of PERIL: Fast Track Thriller, on your blog or at any of the major on-line booksellers – 3 entries for each.
Post a link in a comment below.

7) Purchase my book, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller – 7 entries
Please e-mail me (do not post this in a comment) at homestead1997-blog@yahoo.com with the following information: where you purchased it, the name of the seller, the cost, and the order number.

GOOD LUCK!

PERIL: Fast Track Thriller Bk. 1

2008-01-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 1The moment Lady Anne stepped out of the Mashkoori embassy, the ball of tension in her stomach that had been growing tighter all morning burst and became a dozen writhing, twisting snakes. They crept up her throat and threatened to strangle her. Only minutes from now she would enter the White House, where Husam-Jabbar threatened an attempt on King Ahmad, her companion for the day.

She followed the King into the second stretch of the two waiting Hummers and made herself comfortable at the back of the long vehicle. Two of the King’s personal bodyguards climbed in and stationed themselves near the driver’s compartment. The moment they settled themselves, the driver pulled out of the circular driveway. Where they on their way to danger, or would the highly-touted Secret Service live up to their reputation and stop the planned assassination attempt?

She reached inside her tiny purse and felt for the wallet-shaped wireless receiver that transmitted to the minuscule earbud she wore. Once they were at the White House she would be able to hear the chatter between the Secret Service agents and know if they spotted any danger.

She glanced at the King. Did He know the terrorist group had announced their intentions on the Arab television network Al Jazeera earlier this morning?

"Are you ready, My Lady?" Something about the determination in the King’s sea-green eyes said he knew about the planned attack. Yet no lines of worry marred the older man’s face. Perhaps he had become used to the constant threat. After all, every Muslim terrorist group in existence had pledged to kill the first Arabic king to convert to Christianity.

"Of course I am ready, Your Majesty. This is not the first time I have served as a bodyguard."

The King opened a cabinet that hid a wet bar and refrigerator, pulled out a long-stemmed glass, then poured himself some water. He waved a hand towards the cabinet. "Please help yourself."

Grateful for something to focus on, Lady Anne followed the King’s lead, then took a sip. The coolness washed clarity into her thinking, as though it were a dose of fresh confidence. If this had been a normal assignment, her veins would have pulsed with restrained energy at the thought of a reason to unleash her enhanced strength.

But nothing about this mission was normal. And if she used her abilities today, it would be under the watchful eyes of the media. The thought of the power the media held to expose her secrets sent a shiver up her spine.

A rap on the glass between the driver’s and passengers’ compartments brought her thoughts back to her surroundings.

The thin, beardless guard nodded to his bearded partner. Both pulled out their pistols. In sync, they aimed twin Ruger .40 S&W’s towards King Ahmad.
Lady Anne’s hand shook, spilling water onto the wooden floor. She reigned in her nerves and tapped the King’s arm to warn him. Were the intelligence reports wrong about the attack? Had Husam-Jabbar intentionally mislead them?

Thin Guard slid down the long leather seat lining the driver’s side and came to a stop directly across from King Ahmad. He straightened his back, raised his chin, then addressed the King in Arabic. Although Lady Anne couldn’t understand the words, the gleam in his eyes radiated pride and determination, not hatred.

King Ahmad looked down his long nose at the guard. "You are rude, Kalil, speaking Arabic in front of my guest. Will you condemn her to death without even the benefit of knowing why?"

Kalil glanced at Lady Anne and wrinkled his nose as though she were a piece of distasteful garbage, then nodded. "I will grant the wish of a dying man." He pulled his shoulders back and once against took on the role of a judge. "King Ahmad, you have defiled both yourself and Mashkoor by taking up the blasphemous practices of Christianity. According to hadith 9:57, it is my duty to kill you."

"Kalil, my trusted guardian." King Ahmad spread his arms in front of him. "Since when have you taken the requirements of the Koran to heart?" Only a glance at the weapon in Kalil’s hand betrayed any hint of anxiety. "Why, only last week you told me you looked forward to this trip so you could restock your liquor supply."

Kalil lowered his eyes, "It is to my shame that I have not lived according to the Koran—a Muslim in name only."

Lady Anne leaned forward. Her muscles twitched, anxious to attack while the man’s guard was lowered. But Bearded Guard remained alert by the far door, with his Ruger still pointed towards the King. The time was not yet right. She ran a finger around the lip of the glass and sifted through possible scenarios.

Determination returned to Kalil’s eyes. "When you turned your back on Islam, Your Majesty, I realized how much our Muslim heritage had shaped and formed the nation and people of Mashkoor. I called out to Allah and begged his forgiveness."

"So you joined Husam-Jabbar and pledged to kill your king?" asked King Ahmad. "How noble of you."

Kalil lifted his chin a notch higher. "I did not need them. There are plenty of people who were willing to help me gain the supplies I needed. No, I do this because Allah impressed upon me that he would use me to restore Islam to the kingship." He pounded his free hand on his chest. "He offered me, who ignored him all these years, a way not only to shift the balance of the scales to weigh in my favor, but guaranteed my entrance into martyr’s paradise." He bowed from the waist. "I must thank you for—"
Lady Anne’s brain screamed, "Now!"

Suzanne Hartmann - 2009

suzanne-hartmann.blogspot.com

Suzanne’s Experiences Included in PERIL

2008-01-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

There’s a saying that goes, “Write what you know.” Since PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1 is my first novel, and it’s easier to show something you’ve actually experienced than to make it up or do the research to recreate it, I found myself coming back to this adage many times.

Below is a list of items in PERIL that came from my own experiences. The actual text from PERIL is in quotes.

Photo by Bill Longshaw

1) Joanne experienced a severe accident years before this story takes place. Because I was also in a severe accident many years ago, I included in Joanne’s story some specifics from my own accident.

a) “Her screams had been so long and hard that her throat had become raw. By the time the paramedics arrived, sound no longer came out. “

(Before the ambulance arrived at the scene of my accident, I was in so much pain from my many injuries that I screamed and screamed until my throat was so raw that no more sound came out.)

b) “I found out later that Aunt Jean called my mom right after the hospital notified my parents about the accident. Aunt Jean said she’d sensed a great need to pray for her sister’s family right around the time I was in the ER.”

(This is exactly what happened on the night of my accident, except my aunt’s name is LaVerne.)

c) “It’s considered a ‘dirty wound.’ It needs to heal from the inside out to keep from becoming infected.”

(The wound from one of the many surgeries after my accident was considered a dirty wound. The doctor didn’t stitch it up or staple it. It was covered, and nurses washed it out several times a day with hydrogen peroxide, but they left it open so it would heal from the inside out.)

Photo by renjith krishnan

2) When I needed a minor character to suffer from a serious illness, I decided to give him the same illness my dad suffered through. That way I could add first-hand experience into the story to make it more realistic (and save me a lot of time researching).

a) “An unnatural stillness blanketed the room as Joanne took a seat next to Neil. Padded chairs lined walls hung with large pictures, and a selection of magazines littered several end tables. But the subtle differences thickened her throat. Everyone sat in pairs: the patients next to the loved ones who were suffering from—maybe dying from—their illness. Those who spoke did so in the hushed tones used at a funeral home.”

(This is the feeling I had when I accompanied my parents to any of dad’s doctor appointments.)

b) “It gave her the creeps to sit near people who had poison dripping into their veins, even if it was a type of poison created to harm the cancerous cells more than the noncancerous ones.”

(This is exactly the thought I had when I sat next to my dad during a couple of his chemo treatments.)

Photo by Suzanne Hartmann

3) For four years, I volunteered with Midwest Raceway Ministries at Gateway International Speedway just outside of St. Louis for the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series races. The following activities are things I saw crew members do at the track at one race or another.

a) “As they walked down pit road, Joanne pointed toward two crew members in bright yellow firesuits tossing a football back and forth while the rest of their crew lined up next to their car.”

b) “In the blue and yellow car behind it, a tall crew member had one leg in the car and one leg out as he helped push his team’s car forward.”

4) As I wrote PERIL, a few miscellaneous opportunities came up to include various occurrences from my own experience.

a) Because I have homeschooled my children since they were in kindergarten, I am familiar with that lifestyle and the typical behavior of homeschooled children, so I made Joanne, one of the main characters, a homeschool mom.

b) “Pain crowded her consciousness, but she pushed aside the black dots that swarmed at the edges of her vision.”

(I have passed out due to pain several times. Each time, black dots of varying sizes started at the edge of my vision. They grew and multiplied until I could see nothing, then I passed out. One time I was able to hold the process off briefly until I reached my room and could collapse on my bed.)

c) “Stuart began to tell her about his only experience on an Air Force base—an air show his father took him to when he was young—”

(In spite of having lived only a half hour from Scott Air Force Base, the only time I’ve ever been there was once in college with a friend for the annual air show.)

d) “I’ll even make my special half-white/half-wheat pancakes for breakfast in the morning.”

(At one point, my family decided that we should grind our own wheat and use it to make bread in our bread machine. My husband also created his own special recipe for pancakes made of half white flour and half wheat flour. They were delicious!)

e) “It felt like the time he’d taken a bite of what he thought was pistachio pudding, only to discover it was lime instead.”

(Something similar to this happened when my mom gave me a new mixture of some type of jello salad to try, but I thought she was handing me ice cream. When the actual flavor registered and conflicted with what I thought I was getting, my brain was so mixed up that the first bite tasted like soap!)

Until I started writing, I never really thought about whether authors included their own experiences in their writing. I just assumed that since it was a work of fiction, everything in it was fictitious. Now I know how much flavor and reality personal experience can add to a story and as I read, I wonder sometimes—especially when I read a particularly poignant part—if that could possibly be something the author experienced.

2008-01-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

PERIL

Fast Track Thriller #1

$13.50

(regular price 16.95)

This is a special 20% special

available for my Cyber-Release Party only

THANK YOU!

CHARACTER INTERVIEWS

2008-01-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

I hope you enjoy getting to know the characters a little better through this series of interviews. If you have any specific questions about any of the characters after you read the book and would like to ask the author, please feel free to e-mail Suzanne at homestead1997-author@yahoo.com.

LADY ANNE

STUART JACKSON

KING AHMAD

JOANNE VAN DER HAAS

SUZANNE'S "FIELD TRIP" RESEARCH

2007-01-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

Suzanne volunteered with Midwest Raceway Ministries for four years at the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck races at Gateway Speedway, just outside St. Louis. The reason she initially joined this ministry was to do research for PERIL. After having a Pit Pass and getting a taste of being down by the action on pit road, especially during the qualifying laps, however, she became a true NASCAR fan.

After the first race she worked at with Midwest Raceway Ministries, Suzanne immediately went home and made some changes in the manuscript of PERIL. One of the changes had to do with pit wagons, the mobile observation/tool station that crew chiefs sit on in the pit stall during the race. Once she got a look at how big they are she realized that she had a faulty view of what they looked like and a small section of a scene wouldn't work.

A few of the unusual things Suzanne saw while volunteering at the track made their way into PERIL to add flavor to the scenes at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Below the picture corresponds with the snippet shown from the manuscript:

"In the blue and yellow car behind it, a tall crew member had one leg in the car and one leg out as he helped push his team's car forward."

Another scene she saw, but wasn't able to snap a picture of it was captured in the following snippet:

As they walked down pit road, Joanne pointed towards two crew members in bright yellow firesuits tossing a football back and forth while the rest of their crew lined up next to their car. Neil chuckled. "Guess everyone deals with the stress before a race differently."

While the research Suzanne did in books gave her the majority of the information she needed to create the settings at the various NASCAR tracks in PERIL, it was the experience of being there that added the tiny details which make the scenes truly come alive with realism. As Stuart says in the book, "...there's nothing like watching a race live."

AT A STATE DINNER

2007-01-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

This past summer, my family visited Washington DC for our vacation. While wandering around the White House Visitor's Center, I happened upon a display of a place setting from a State Dinner.

Since one of the major disasters in PERIL happens at a White House State Dinner, I was beyond thrilled. My children just shook their heads when I pulled out my camera to take pictures so I could share them here later.

A full place setting at a State Dinner:

The type of invitation Stuart would have received:

The type of placard that would honor King Ahmad:

It was so fun to see a small portion of one of my books "in real life," so to speak. I hope you enjoyed this quick tour of a White House State Dinner.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF NASCAR

2007-01-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

On the twelfth day of NASCAR, my true love gave to me...
12 Gallons of Sunoco Fuel
11 Cases of Budweiser
10 New Die cast cars
9 Kyle Busch penalties
8 Visits to Victory Lane
7 Harvick Pole Wins
6 New Pit Crew members
5 Lug nuts
4 Tickets to Bristol
3 Jimmy John's Subs
2 Right side tires
And a 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship

BUMMED that the NASCAR season is over?
Extend the season by reading PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1.

A Top-Secret Agent

A High-Profile Assignment

Danger at a NASCAR Track

A top-secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments when she escorts the first Muslim king to convert to the Christian faith to the White House and the Talladega Superspeedway. when unwanted publicity and the attention of a NASCAR champion threaten to expose her secrets, she becomes a terrorist target with danger surroundingher on all sides.
"Plenty of action and unexpected twists."
Foreword by Jimmy Makar, GM of Joe Gibbs Racing

Available at AMAZON - PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

Suzanne Hartmann
http://fasttrackthriller.blogspot.com/