Feeling Stressed? Here's Relief!

A friend sent this to me today, and I had a total blast with it. Be sure to try the "manic mode."

Enjoy!

Bubblewrap

Peace (and fun) to you today.

Karen

Learnin' to Pitch!

Well, it's been a long time since I've tried to pitch a product to anyone. In fact, I don't think I've actually ever done so! Not even with my first book project. Lisa Bergren, then editor at Multnomah, called and asked me to consider writing for their Palisades romance line, and that was the beginning of my writing career. So when it came time this morning to practice our pitches to the producers, I realized I was on new ground.

I mean, COMPLETELY new ground.

You know something? It was a blast. It helps that I'm here with authors who are good friends: Gayle Roper, Terri Blackstock, DiAnn Mills, Sharon Ewell Foster, Yvonne Lehman and others. So that gives each of us a built-in cheering squad. And the gal who taught us how to pitch--Kathy Mackal--was wonderful. She had such a gift for honing in on the perfect hook for our projects.

I'd been planning to start my pitch with the first book in my suspense series, Shattered Justice, but when I told her about my novel The Breaking Point, which is about a couple on the brink of divorce whose truck goes over the edge of an Oregon mountain in a blizzard, her eyes lit up and she insisted I start with that one.

Turns out she was right on the money. Don't you love it when God gives you good counselors?

First, let me describe what we found when we walked into the room where we were to pitch. We'd been warned it was going to be a bit like speed dating. We'd get roughly 3 minutes with each producer. Three minutes TOTAL. Good thing I can talk fast. If they wanted to know more, they'd ask for materials (plus we were all eating dinner together after the pitch session, which was nice). So in we troop to find table after table set upl, the producers sitting and waiting--15 in all--with little numbered cones on the corner of each table. The plan was to have everyone choose one producer, sit down, do the pitch, then move on to the "next number up." So I sat down at table number 5, which meant I'd move on to #6, and so on until we all made it through all the tables.

Well! Someone should have told our poor organizers that getting novelists to follow directions was like herding cats. I want you all to know I was obedient. I went from my table to the next, and the next, and so on. But I kept running into people who were doing more of a pinball pattern. And then there were those who started out right, but went to the next number down. It got to be pretty funny after awhile. Fortunately, everyone was laid back and relaxed, so we ended up just having fun.

I was especially pleased to get to talk with Ken Wales, the producer for Amazing Grace, the wonderful movie about William Wilberforce and the originator of the TV show Christy. Ken was gracious and kind. He liked the sound of two of my books, Reunion and The Breaking Point, and asked me to send him copies of both. As nice as that was, just being able to sit and talk with him was even nicer. I told him as soon as I sat down that one of my good friends absolutely loved Amazing Grace (Lori Benton, to be exact). So much so that she'd seen it multiple times. He was delighted and said to tell her thanks. (So hey, Lori...Thanks!) He's showing Amazing Grace tomorrow night (we have movie premieres and showings every night), after he gives a brief talk about it, then sticking around for questions. I'm looking forward to it.

A number of producers were interested enough to ask me to send them books. And Ted Baehr, of MovieGuide.com fame, gave me an A+ on my pitch for The Breaking Point. Too fun!

So here I sit in my room, all the images and conversations from today floating through my mind, reminded yet again that God is in control. Don't know if any of this will go anywhere, but even if it doesn't, it's been a wonderful education. And such fun to get to thank folks who are making things happen in the world of film and TV.

I'm here for two more days, and will check in as I can. Hope you're all doing well!

Karen

On the Road Again

I know, I know, I haven't filled you in on the rest of Mount Hermon yet, but I'm on to the next trip already. Had the joy of speaking at a women's retreat--a group of delightful gals came down from the Roseburg, Oregon area so I could be their speaker...how cool!--Friday and Saturday, then it was home, finish packing, jump into bed at almost midnight, and up again at 4 a.m. this morning. My flight left Medford at 6 am! Eek! Oh well, good thing I can sleep on planes.
I almost always make sure I have an aisle seat when I fly. If I have an asthma attack, I really don't care to climb over people to the aisle. But with going on this weekend, I forgot. Bleah. So guess what I had on the 5 hour flight from SanFran to Charlotte, North Carolina? Yup. A center seat. I contemplated getting all worked up about it, but for one thing, it was my own silly fault.

For another, I'm trying not to do that anymore. Get worked up and make people miserable because I don't get my way.

Giving up being a princess is SO hard.

So, I get on the plane. My first surprise: the seats are wider than I expected. COOL! I won't be pressing legs with a stranger after all. Well, hopefully not. With the bit of extra seat space I ask God if He would mind terribly letting the people on either side of me be skinny. Hey, one "fluffy" person in a row is plenty. Sure enough, a tiny woman who I figured was in college slid past me into the window seat. And a tall, thin guy took the aisle seat.

DOUBLE cool.

I settle back in my seat, glance at the woman on my right, and smile. She smiles back. A genuine smile, not one of those "oh, please, please, please don't try to talk to me" pained smiles. Of course. the airline has overbooked the flight, and people are frantic trying to get their luggage in the overhead bins, and the airline is offering two round trips per person if you'll please get OFF this plane so we have seats for everyone...

Well, you know what people are like nowdays when they fly. Generally NOT in good moods. And they were in rare form today. So much so that the pilot came down the aisle, scolding everyone, telling them that we were going to miss our "pushback" window and we'd have to sit there for 45 minute until another window opened up so "sit down and FASTEN YOUR BELTS!"

Shades of my dad hollering up the stairs at me and my teenage friends when we wouldn't quiet down during a sleepover.

But hey, it worked. People were suddenly in their seats, and we were on our way. I glanced at the woman in the window seat again, and we moved into conversation. And stayed there. Almost the entire trip. I found out she's a sales rep of sorts for a small vineyard in Sonoma County. That she travels EVERY WEEK. (Oh, my heart. Even in my prime I couldn't have done that.) And that she was a bright, funny, intelligent young woman of 28. (Man! Why couldn't I look that great at 28??) It was great! We talked about all kinds of things, and before I knew it we were descending into Charlotte. The flight I'd been dreading was over. And though we had a bumpy landing, I was relaxed and grateful.

That's how it usually works, huh? When you just relax, when you remember God's in control and getting in a snit doesn't help anyone, your mind and heart are open to the little serendipities, the little blessings, God has for you along the way. And you know what? I feel great tonight. Tired, yes. Ready to crash. (Hey, I normally only get up at 4 a.m. to go fishing!) But in my heart, my spirit, I feel rested.

Even refreshed.

And the best part of it all? No regrets to nudge me in the middle of the night and point out what
a brat I am. So I'm looking forward to a good, restful night's sleep.

Amazing how nice it is to have a clear conscience for a change. I'm gonna have to do this more often.

Blessings to you today.

Karen

Farewell to an American Icon--and Hero

Wow. Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I've started to post several times, but always got distracted. But something happened yesterday that I couldn't let pass without making a note of it.

Charleton Heston died.

I don't know how you reacted to that news, but it hit me almost as hard as when my all-time favorite actor, John Wayne, died. I had an overwhelming sense of loss, not just of the man--though that is huge--but of a voice of reason in a world gone mad. Heston was a true gentleman. He stood for his beliefs, but never by stepping on someone else. He spoke what he knew to be truth, and did so with grace and a firm conviction that drove his detractors mad. This was a man gifted not only as an actor, but as a bright, reasoning, savvy influence on our world. He was attacked and maligned with impunity, but never lowered himself to respond in kind, even when the attacks were highly personal. He simply acknowledged that by speaking truth, the world was bound to mark him as an enemy. But I'll tell you something, we need more "enemies" like Charleton Heston.

My hubby, who isn't easily impressed, thought the world of Mr. Heston. In fact, NRA member that he is, he has had the following bumper sticker on his Chevy truck for a long time: "Charleton Heston is my president." While I may not agree with all of my husband's views on guns, I can't fault him one iota for the respect he extended to his "president."

I met Mr. Heston once, at a Christian Booksellers trade show many years hence. I heard him before I saw him. That deep, resonant voice carried through the crowded convention hall as easily as a hot knife slicing butter. I looked around, certain I'd imagined it. I mean, okay, it's a Christian bookseller's show, but hearing the voice of Moses? Not what I expected. Being immersed in fiction, I'd had no idea Charleton Heston was even there. But as soon as I looked in the direction of the voice, I saw him. He was easy to spot, both because he was surrounded by a crowd of people, and because, at 6'3", he towered above most of those gathered around him. Now I know 6'3" doesn't seem especially tall in today's world, but there was something about the man, that ramrod straight spine, those smiling eyes so full of humility and grace...he seemed a lot taller.

I was heading that direction--though I confess I'd have gone that way even if I wasn't. When I drew close, there was a break in the crowd, and before I could think better of it, I stepped up to the man and held out my hand. He didn't hesitate. His huge paw engulfed mine, and those eyes studied me for a second as I said what was on my heart, thanking him for all he's done, in Hollywood and out. For standing firm for truth. He inclined his head, thanked me...and I moved on. Nothing earth shattering, and yet I had the powerful sense that here was a man among men.

It's that sense that makes my heart ache at the loss we suffered yesterday. We can ill afford to lose such men today. We need men like that, men who will stand for home and country, who are faithful to the vows they've taken, who are moved by their convictions. And that sense makes me look forward to eternity even more than I already fo. For I believe with all my heart Charleton Heston will be there, along with others who have stood fast for faith in Christ.

So farewell, Mr. Heston. Thank you for so many years of enjoyment through your movies. For the many speeches you gave (here's a link to a wonderful speech he delivered at Harvard Law School in 2002 ), where you stood for truth on many fronts. And for taking a heartbeat of time to look a young woman in the eyes and listen as she spoke to you. Farewell and Godspeed.

See you in eternity.