Another 'Story Behind the Story' ♦ Janetta Fudge Messmer

Please welcome author Janetta Fudge Messmer as she shares the Story Behind the Story here this week. Thank you so much, Janetta, this is a great behind-the-scenes peek into your books.  Now, take it away, as they say!

My debut novel, Early Birds, was a God thing from the beginning. And the story started when we rescued our dog, Maggie, in 2012.

Every night when we came home from work, our new pooch would have such a forlorn look on her face when we let her out of her crate. One evening my hubby said, “Hon, I think she’s telling us to quit our jobs, get an RV, and hit the road. She wants us to spend more time with her.”

Trust me, Maggie didn’t audibly tell us to do all of the above, but us teasing about her ‘saying’ it got us thinking. Since Ray would turn 60 on his next birthday and could retire early—this RV thing sounded like something to pursue.

The idea got me thinking, too. What a splendid idea for a book? And it came from our four-legged friend. Who’d have thought?

September 1, 2013 the three of us headed out in our truck and 5^th wheel trailer. November of that year, during NaNoWriMo (National Novel WritingMonth), I wrote a rough draft (52,000+) of Early Birds.

I tell people (at book signings or anyone who will listen), “The book is loosely based on our life. Our dog told us to quit our jobs, sell everything, buy an RV, and hit the road. I added two other quirky characters, since we’re boring. Ben, Betsy, Rose and Larry get On the Road Again. J

Yes, Willie Nelson came along for a ride in my book, or at least his song did. But first I had to get permission to use the lyrics to On the Road Again. This proved harder than writing the novel, but six months after I first contacted Mr. Nelson, I had the okay to use his song.

A happy day, for sure. But an even happier one occurred when Cynthia Hickey (Winged Publication) published Early Birds January 25, 2016. Ever since, I’ve been doing a joyful jig (and promoting the book, writing Book #2—Southbound Birds, and traveling in our RV). 

Southbound Birds (another NaNoWriMo—November 2015) happened because the characters, especially Rose Wilford, wouldn’t shut up. She kept talking and the other characters followed along. What could I do, but listen to them and write another book?

Back cover blurb:

Rose and Larry Wilford are hitting the highway on their next RV adventure. Ben and Betsy Stevenson are right behind them in their 5^th wheel. The other two Early Birds, Jeff and Mary Miller, promise to hook up with them as soon as they finish some ‘business’ in Colorado.

On their way to Florida, they make a stop in Mississippi. Soon Rosie wonders if they’ll ever get On the Road Again. The RVs have stalled in Biloxi and it has nothing to do with mechanical issues in any of their rigs. They’ve found another church that needs their help.

Rose, Betsy and Mary spend their days as fashion consultants, dressing young women for success (or as Rosie says, “Playing dress up.”). Larry, Ben and Jeff, they’re up to their eyeballs in sheetrock and drywall mud, and any other handyman task they can find to do.

The one thing Rosie has decided, if and when they start traveling toward the Sunshine State, she’ll still occupy the passenger seat of their dually. No driving for her. Larry can pester her all he wants.

And the fact her bestest friend, Betsy, drove their albatross on I-10 and lived to tell about it, won’t change her mind either. The only way Rose will get behind the wheel is if the Lord, Himself, figures out a way to put her there. ‘Cause at the moment, F.E.A.R. is her middle name.

Instead of legally changing her name or letting trepidation win, Rosie does what she does best. She PRAYS. Larry, on the other hand, is having troubles too. His prayer is that their 5^th wheel survives his driving and he’s not sure it will. One more mishap and he’s handing the keys to his wife.

The Early Birds continue to have as many surprises as the state of Florida has palm trees. So why don’t you come along, if you dare. Rose, Larry, Ben, Betsy, Jeff and Mary (and some new friends) would love to have you join them on their travels across the U.S.A.  

There you have the story behind my debut novel, Early Birds and the sequel, Southbound Birds. I’m working on a third called Girly Birds (remember, it’s November again). It’s a novella set in Estes Park, Colorado and the Rocky Mountain National Park. Release date: June 2017.

So you see, it’s always good to listen to the voices in your head. In my case, it was the Lord and our precious pooch, Maggie. Together we were able to make people laugh and share the gospel. Life doesn’t get any better than that.

Happy Writing!!!

Janetta Fudge Messmer

PS: If you’ve never done NaNoWriMo, try it. I’m not sure why this method works for me, but it does. I believe it’s the challenge of writing every day and sticking to the word count. The challenge also helps me stay on track.

Janetta Fudge-Messmer is an inspirational author, editor and speaker. She's received Honorable Mention for fiction and nonfiction articles from Byline Magazine. She also received Honorable Mention for a fiction article from Writer's Digest Magazine. Her article, "A Working Relationship" was published in Guideposts Magazine. Guideposts Books published, "Shorthaired Miracle”. Along with writing, Janetta also speaks at seminars, helping others to “Tell Your Story”. Janetta, her husband Ray and precious pooch Maggie, became full-time RVers in 2013 and love traveling around the USA in their Minnie Winnie.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Early Birds and Southbound Birds are Available on Amazon: https://goo.gl/rd0X4T  

• E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com
• Website: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/
• Blog: http://www.nettie-fudges-world.blogspot.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

The Story Behind the writing of Almond Street Mission ♦ June Foster

I am pleased to once again welcome author June Foster to Whispers in Purple. June will be sharing the Story Behind the Story guest post about her recent release, Almond Street Mission, so sit back and enjoy as you peek behind the scenes.

When a homeless man rescues Glorilyn from a violent assault, he's not the man he seems. What powerful secret keeps him on the streets?

When Glorilyn Neilson's nineteen-year-old brother, Tannon, goes missing without a trace, she's frantic. Prayer and volunteering at the local homeless shelter in El Camino must fill the time until her sibling returns. But her sapphire eyes and auburn hair inadvertently cause a stir among the male population at the center. Her life changes one evening when she's attacked by a burly vagrant intent on rape in the alley behind the building.

Jeremiah Goodman loves the Lord, but he's homeless. When he witnesses a foul-mouthed vagrant overpowering one of the volunteers at the homeless shelter, he defends her, saving her from unwanted advances. 

When Glorilyn offers him a way of escape from his impoverished lifestyle, he can't tell her why he must live the life of a vagrant. What powerful secret keeps him on the streets?

Purchase Links:

• Paperback: http://amzn.to/2fca4FP
•  Kindle: http://amzn.to/2fdHdhV

The Story Behind the Story

Almond Street Mission tells the story of Glorilyn Neilson whose younger brother, Tannon, has gone missing, hurling her entire family into turmoil. Prayer and volunteering at the local homeless shelter fills the empty, lonely hours. One evening, she's attacked by a brawny vagrant intent on rape. Another vagrant, Jeremiah Goodman, defends her.

Jeremiah loves the Lord but is homeless. The mission director, Mr. Harris, offers him and young nineteen-year-old, Tank, a place at the shelter. But when Jeremiah later protects another vagrant in hopes of sharing the gospel with him, Mr. Harris finds heroin on Jeremiah, and he's booted out. Tank leaves with him.

On the street, Jeremiah and Tank try to scrape up a meal, but even trash cans around the city park don't provide any food for their hungry stomachs. Taking a chance on getting arrested, they beg for food in front of an elegant downtown Italian restaurant. Two older women walk out. One ignores them but the other looks at them with kind eyes and offers an entire pizza.

This scene is based on real life. Here's where I got the idea. My daughter and I were in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at an Italian restaurant. We each ordered a small pizza, but the waiter brought me a Hawaiian pie though I'd order pepperoni.

When I pointed out the mistake, the server brought me another pizza, this time pepperoni, and told me to keep the first one. No way I could eat a second pizza, and we didn't have anywhere to keep it at the hotel, so I asked him if he knew any homeless people. The waiter said yes, that they congregate nearby, and he'd deliver it to a hungry person.

In the story, the other woman who gives the extra pizza to Jeremiah and Tank is above average height. That's me, and my 5'10'' height qualifies as tall! When Tank says "God bless you," the lady says "He does, everyday." The sentiments of my heart.  

Real life always provides rich fodder.

About the author:

An award-winning author, June Foster is a retired teacher with a BA in education and MA in counseling. Her characters find themselves in tough situations but overcome through God's power and the Word. She writes edgy topics wrapped in a good story. To date, she's seen twelve contemporary romances published. Find June online at www.junefoster.com. 

Behind the Stories: Alexis Goring

Please welcome guest blogger , author Alexis Goring. When Alexis agreed to be a guest on my blog, we thought it would be fun to have her tell us the Story behind the stories in her new release instead of an interview. She agreed, as you’ll see below.

Alexis A. Goring is a writer at heart and a journalist by profession. She loves the art of storytelling and is especially delighted to have released her first book, an inspirational romance novella called Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories, in Sept. 2013. When Alexis is not working on her next book or chasing down the next big story for the newspaper where she works as a freelance reporter, she can be found listening to songs by her most admired musicians, enjoying the food in cafes/restaurants, shopping at her favorite malls and spending quality time with loved ones (family and friends).

♦ ♦ ♦

Overview of Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories:

We live in a broken world in need of hope. So, I thought it was a good idea to write a collection of stories that revolved around characters in need of hope!

The three stories that comprise my inspirational romance novella were not written in order of publication nor were they written within the same time frame. These are simply three of my best stories at the time when I was thinking of pursuing publication (May 2011). I’d say it took on average, about three to four months for me to write each one of the three short stories in my book.

Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories was published in September 2013. Two of the short stories are set at Christmastime so it makes the perfect holiday gift! The stories, though printed within the same book, are not related.

I’d love to tell you about the “story behind the story” of each of my short stories inside the book…

♦ Story behind the story of “Love Unexpected”:

A car crash brings commitment-wary Sebastian and career woman Chandra together. Neither is looking for romance, but those around them see the potential, and Sebastian and Chandra discover that sometimes love shows up unexpectedly.

This story was founded on the idea of how love sometimes shows up when you least expect. It wasn’t based on anyone I know personally. But I must admit that I got my inspiration for Sebastian’s good looks from “The Rock” (pro wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson). Many ladies think he’s hot, that’s why Sebastian resembles him! ;)

Sebastian and Chandra are the two main characters in “Love Unexpected.”

Chandra is a career woman who excels in the workplace but doesn’t date. She keeps up a “Miss Independent” front but deep in her heart, she desires to be loved. Chandra is well-liked in the workplace because she is an excellent employee who is talented, dedicated and diligent. However, when it comes to love, it takes the natural matchmaking instincts and caring nature of Chandra’s boss Esmeralda to help Chandra emerge from her fortified shell.

Sebastian is a personal trainer for celebrities and he’s seen his share of attractive women. He’s used to making their hearts melt with his good looks and award-winning smile. What he’s not used to is the opposite of that reaction. So when he meets Chandra and finds that she is 100 percent resistant to his good looks and charms, he’s intrigued and he wants to know more about this woman. He must know why she’s not like the others.

I believe there are real-life “Chandra” and “Sebastian” types in his world and I hope their story brings encouragement to those people.

♦ Story behind the story of “The Best Gift”:

Christina desires to lose ten pounds so she can fit into her dress for her sister’s wedding. Jordan wishes her mom would stop trying to marry her off. And Joshua hopes to be reunited with his ex-girlfriend but eventually learns that the best gift this Christmas will be the restoration of his relationship with God.

I thought it would be nice to write a Christmas story that centers on the lives of three main characters: Christina, Jordan and Joshua.

I drew inspiration from my own life story when I created Christina because much like Christina, I too struggle with my weight. I upped the ante by giving Christina a desire to lose her extra pounds in time for her sister’s Christmastime wedding. I enjoyed writing her character and watching her fall in love (because you simply cannot leave that element out, especially when her only sister is getting married)!

I based Jordan on a few female peers who dated many different men, kind of like having a new flavor of ice cream every month. So I thought it would be fun to tell Jordan’s story through that lens, combined with some dramatic traits from a few “types” of females that I watch on popular television shows.

I did not base Joshua on anyone I know personally or even watched on television. But his “type” marinated in my mind until I thought it was a good idea to tell a fictional story about that type of man who loves passionately and does not want to give up on his dream girl, even after she breaks his heart. I threw in a few plot twists and before I knew it, the story ended in a way that I knew was best for Joshua’s mind and heart—just not in the exact way his type would want it, at least at first.

♦ Story behind the story of “Peace and Love”:

Three characters living in a metropolitan area are desperately earching. Elle, a starving artist, aspires to become a paid professional. Eric, a divorce attorney, wants to resolve his issues concerning his parents’ divorce. Kristine anticipates finding her birth mom before she marries Derek. All characters pray their searches will conclude this holiday season and fill their hearts with peace and love.

Another story that is set at Christmastime, “Peace and Love” revolves around three characters: Eric, Kristine and Elle.

Eric’s A-story is that he’s a family law attorney who wants to move past his personal drama of witnessing his parents’ separate and go through a heartbreaking divorce. But his B-story is based on the idea of how one day, someone will come along that will make you realize why it never worked out with anyone else. I think my readers—especially the hopeless romantics—will love Eric’s story!

Kristine is adopted. She is engaged to her college sweetheart Derek and she wants a missing piece of her heart (her birth mom) to be at the wedding in the New Year. So she hires a private investigator, hoping he will help her find her birth mom before Christmas.

Finally, there’s Elle. She’s the creative type, a “starving artist” who desperately needs steady work with steady pay. She drives down from Michigan to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area because she’s attending three local interviews and she hopes that one of those will be her dream come true.

Elle’s story is a lot like mine because I too am a “starving artist” who needs steady work with steady pay. Just like Elle, I’d like the opportunity to use my God-given talents in a capacity that is secure and pays well. I think readers will enjoy Elle’s journey and be surprised by the plot twists and timing of events. They too will wonder if her dreams will come true.

♦ Closing thoughts for Peg’s blog readers: I hope you better understand the stories within my first book now and I’d be delighted to hear that you’re buying my book for yourself or someone else this Christmas!

♦ Purchase links:

• Amazon.com, http://amzn.to/1it3pxT


• BarnesandNoble.com, http://bit.ly/1mGHW95

♦ Social media links:

• Author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexisAGoring


• Blog, “God is Love” - http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com


• Twitter handle, @pennedbyalex

Thanks for hosting me on your blog today, Peg! God bless you and Merry Christmas!