The Transformation of an Exotic Dancer

One of my main characters in a novel currently in progress is a reformed exotic dancer, so when I read the promo for the book, Scars and Stilettos, I knew I had to read it, and I'm so glad I did. I recommend it to anyone who wishes to work with young women in ministry, or for anyone who has loved ones involved in the sex-trade industry.

We're giving away a copy of the book, too. But you must follow the rules to qualify:

To enter the contest: Visit the Scars and Stilettos web site - http://www.scarsandstilettos.com/. Click on the tab Get Involved, and then choose one of those links to read about. Come back here and leave a comment sharing one thing you could do to get involved. Be sure to leave your e-mail address so we can notify you if you are chosen as winner. We'll read through the entries, and pick a winner, who will receive a copy of Scars and Stilettos. You must leave a comment by Monday, June 28th. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 29th. Entries that do not leave a relevant comment will be disqualified.

The facts shared at the end of Scars and Stilettos are horrifying enough to share, and something for each one of us to consider as a ministry and prayer concern. Some stats listed:

• More women are employed by the sex industry than at any other time in history.
• Between 66 and 90 percent of women in the sex industry were sexually abused as children.
• The women in this industry face many issues that affect their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. They are a largely unreached population, and many feel desperately isolated and alone. Even those who would contemplate going to church wonder if there truly is a place for them there. Will they find the restoration they are seeking in the house of God?
• Harmony's ministry, Treasures, is the first and only organization of its kind in the Los Angeles area.

Thank you, Harmony, for sharing your story. Your courage and transparency are inspiring. May God bless your ministry in a mighty way.


Fear of being abandoned keeps 19-year-old Harmony Dust trapped in an abusive relationship. Tens of thousands of dollars in debt and struggling to get by, someone tells her how much money she can make as an exotic dancer. For the next 3 years, Harmony lives a double life as Monique, a dancer in a strip club.

"Scars and Stilettos" is Harmony's stark, honest, & ultimately hopeful story of how God found her in that dark, noisy place & led her back out. She has since completed an MA in Social Welfare & now leads Treasures, an organization helping women in the sex trade discover their true worth & value. For more information about Harmony or her book please visit her website: http://www.scarsandstilettos.com.

"You will want to get a copy for every person you know... Once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be encouraged, you will fall in love with God all over again."

Holly Wagner, Author and Founder of GodChicks

"Harmony’s story is compelling evidence of how far the love of God reaches to heal broken lives and restore all that has been stolen. Scars and Stilettos is a must read for anyone who lives in despair and believes there is no way out. Harmony, as the founder of Treasures Ministries, has been a guest at Mercy Ministries to share her story with our residents, and the impact was great. Her life is now devoted to reaching out to those who are still living in the circumstances that she came out of, literally loving them to Christ. Harmony is living proof that in Christ, old things are passed away and all things are new."

Nancy Alcorn, Founder of Mercy Ministries

"The thing that blows me away about Harmony's story is that she showed back up. How easy would it be to never step foot in a strip club ever again. The pain, the memories, the past was all right there but she decided that this was not about her but the hundreds of women that remained in the clubs."

Craig Gross, Founder of XXX Church

Check out Harmony's Press Page for magazine articles and videos about her work with women in the sex-trade industry.

Blog Tour: Maid to Match

Reviewed by Phee Paradise

Maid to Match
By Deeanne Gist

Tillie Reese faces the dilemma of many modern women. Career or family? Rewarding work or love? Serving God outside the home or spending her days with children? But Tillie is not a modern woman. It’s 1898 and she’s a maid at the Biltmore, the mansion home of the Vanderbilts.

In Maid to Match, Gist tells a timeless story about people who face the same issues as we do today, and sets it in a fascinating world none of us have ever experienced. Her research is apparent in the detailed descriptions of the life of the servants, as well as the house and its owners. But it is far from tedious. The setting serves as a background to a love story that develops as two sympathetic characters struggle with different goals.

Tillie’s mother has groomed her from childhood to be a lady’s maid. She gets her chance after serving as head parlormaid when Mrs. Vanderbilt’s maid returns to France. She works to prove herself worthy of the position, to the exclusion of everything else, even the handsome new useful man who is clearly interested in her. Mack, on the other hand, has different goals. He is working at the Biltmore in order to save enough money to support his orphan siblings. But he falls in love with Tillie and believes she will give up her dreams to marry him.

Although the romance is at the forefront of the plot, the themes supersede it. Both Tillie and Mack want to serve God and struggle with where and how He wants them to do that. They interact with good people, selfish people and evil people. They see a lot of suffering, but seek different ways to alleviate it. Tillie struggles with materialism, while Mack struggles with his temper.

I loved this story, especially the world of the Biltmore servants. While I haven’t been to the Biltmore, I have visited other homes of the wealthy from that period. I was able to picture the life of the servants, and by extension that of the Vanderbilt’s. It’s a fascinating world, almost a separate society and culture from the people in the town.

But what I did not enjoy about the book was the romance. Apparently, these staid Victorians played a lot of parlor games that include quite a bit of kissing – all in fun. Tillie and Mack participate in the games, which afford them an opportunity to begin a physical relationship. Although they never go beyond kissing, Gist’s descriptions were graphic enough to make me uncomfortable. After the first few encounters, I skipped the descriptions. It wasn’t the kiss itself that disturbed me, but Tillie’s – or Mack’s – physical and emotional response to it. I prefer milder love scenes.

Overall, though, I recommend the book for lovers of romance, history, inspiration and just good story telling.

Pros: Excellent historical descriptions with sympathetic characters who find ways to serve God and do good in a difficult world. Nice love story with a good ending.

Cons: Physical descriptions of love scenes are a little bit more graphic than you might expect in a Christian novel.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Maid to Match Bethany House (June 1, 2010)

by Deeanne Gist





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a short career in elementary education, Deeanne Gist retired to raise her four children. Over the course of the next fifteen years, she ran a home accessory and antique business, became a member of the press, wrote freelance journalism for national publications such as People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel, and acted as CFO for her husband’s small engineering firm--all from the comforts of home.



Squeezed betwixt-and-between all this, she read romance novels by the truckload and even wrote a couple of her own. While those unpublished manuscripts rested on the shelf, she founded a publishing corporation for the purpose of developing, producing and marketing products that would reinforce family values, teach children responsibility and provide character building activities.



After a few short months of running her publishing company, Gist quickly discovered being a "corporate executive" was not where her gifts and talents lie. In answer to Gist’s fervent prayers, God sent a mainstream publisher to her door who licensed her parenting I Did It!® product line and committed to publish the next generation of her system, thus freeing Gist to return to her writing.



Eight months later, she sold A Bride Most Begrudging to Bethany House Publishers. Since that debut, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.



Her 2010 books, Beguiled and Maid To Match are now available for order.



Gist lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-seven years and their two border collies. They have four grown children. Visit her blog to find out the most up-to-the-minute news about Dee.







ABOUT THE BOOK

Falling in love could cost her everything.



From the day she arrived at the Biltmore, Tillie Reese is dazzled, by the riches of the Vanderbilts and by Mack Danvers, a mountain man turned footman. When Tillie is enlisted to help tame Mack's rugged behavior by tutoring him in proper servant etiquette, the resulting sparks threaten Tillie's efforts to be chosen as Edith Vanderbilt's lady's maid, After all, the one rule of the house is no romance below stairs.



But the stakes rise even higher when Mack and Tillie become entangles in a cover-up at the town orphanage. They could both lose their jobs, their aspirations...their hearts.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Maid to Match, go HERE.





Join this SPECIAL GETAWAY (Click on the Button):

Biological Warfare

Reviewed by Phee Paradise

The Influenza Bomb
By Paul McCusker and Walt Larimore, MD

Imagine a flu virus so virulent that half the people exposed die from it. Now imagine that it was engineered by the Nazis. An imagine that a terrorist group has released it. If you read The Influenza Bomb you won’t have to imagine those things. They are essential components of the scenario created by the authors. They also throw in bureaucratic inefficiency, conspiracy theorists and a little romance. With all these things going on, you’ll keep reading just to make sure it all works out. Otherwise you’ll start wearing a surgical mask and avoiding everyone who coughs.

Because the story is about a global event there are several groups of people you will have to get to know. TSI is a group of scientists who find solutions to present day pandemics by researching historical ones. It includes Mark and Nora who have a potential, but complicated, romantic relationship. There is also a female doctor who works for the World Health Organization and an Interpol detective. On the other side are several people who are somehow involved with the terrorist group. As if that weren’t complicated enough, periodic chapters take us back in time to the original virus. It’s complex, but well done and you will find you need all the information provided to follow the story.

This book is a “what if” that is realistic enough to be scary. It makes the avian flu and H1N1 viruses look benign. It’s a large story, but the main characters are sympathetic and likeable. I liked them and wanted them to not only save the world, but also succeed in their personal lives. If you’re in the mood for a global action/mystery/crime story, give it a try.

Pros: Intriguing premise with good characters with pure motives. It provides some history in the midst of a present day international crime drama.

Cons: There are a lot of important characters to follow and the book jumps from present to past a lot. Can be a bit disjointed.

About the book

Masses of people are dying from a mysterious flu. While the TSI team searches for a cure, a notorious eco-terrorist group,Return to Earth, uses an influenza bomb to poison the water. It’s a race against time—with the outcome impacting the entire world.

By the time the team discovers that the terrorists are using the water supply to infect people, the sickness is spreading worldwide and no one has a cure. When Return to Earth makes off with a mysterious device called the influenza bomb with the intent to destroy all of mankind, Dr. Hutchinson must stop the contamination from being spread before it’s too late.

About the authors

Paul McCusker is the Peabody Award–winning writer and director of the audio drama Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom and of the multiple award-winning audio dramatizations of The Chronicles of Narnia, Les Miserables, A Christmas Carol, Little Women, and his original series The Luke Reports (just nominated for the Audie Awards’ Best Audio Drama) and The Father Gilbert Mysteries (also nominated for the Audie Awards’ best production award).

He is also a writer and director for the long-running children’s program Adventures in Odyssey, writing not only over 250 audio episodes, but also scripting two of the animated video series and eighteen spin-off novels. For adults, McCusker has written the Gold Medallion–nominated Epiphany, The Mill House, and A Season of Shadows. His plays and musicals have been performed in community theatres across the country—one, A Time for Christmas, was a Dove Award nominee. McCusker currently has over thirty books in print, including the TSI series he is co-authoring with Walt Larimore, MD. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Walter L. Larimore, MD, has been called one of "America's best-known family physicians" and listed in “Distinguished Physicians of America,” “The Best Doctors in America,” and “Who’s Who in America.” As an award-winning writer, he was awarded the 2004 Christianity Today Book Award for co-writing Going Public with Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work. He has been a Gold Medallion Book Award finalist three times—for the Going Public book and small-group video series, as well as his book The Highly Healthy Child. He also authored the popular Bryson City Tales books and co-authored the TSI series with Paul McCusker. He lives in Monument, Colorado.

Editing Tip #34: Making Every Scene Count

Kathy Ide’s Editing Tips
© Kathy Ide, 2010

In this column, freelance author, editor, and speaker Kathy Ide shares tips on self-editing your manuscript.

~ Making Every Scene Count ~

Each scene in a novel should move the plot forward by providing one or more of the following:

• pertinent, new information about the characters

• aspects of setting that affect the characters or plot

• events that advance the storyline.

A scene that does not accomplish at least one of these purposes should be deleted. A scene that accomplishes all three is ideal.

1. Information

Actions and reactions to information or situations provide important insight into the characters. The opening interaction between two characters sets the stage for the development of a relationship as the individuals strive toward their goals. Though back story is often important for understanding characters, don’t just “dump” information on the reader. If the back story affects the characters in a way that is vital to the story, show how it affects them as the story develops.

2. Setting

Some novels depend on a particular setting to create suspense or danger. Scenes that depict descriptive details of a location prepare the reader for a future incident or situation that applies to that setting. For example, a deserted mountain cabin, miles away from the nearest neighbor, would be vital to a story about someone trapped by a killer, snowbound by a blizzard, or injured and in need of rescue. Weave enough detail into each scene so the reader can visualize where the action is taking place, but not so much that the reader is distracted from the storyline.

3. Events

Scenes that move a story forward present events that change the main characters in a positive or negative way. The scene can introduce a new conflict, add an additional stumbling block, introduce growth or understanding, foreshadow a coming event, or advance a relationship. Such scenes must deepen the conflict and add new insight into the plight of the main character.

Evaluating Scenes

To test the usefulness of a scene, ask yourself, “How does this move the plot forward?” If the scene only shows the passing of time, cut it or summarize it. For example, a scene where two characters get to know each other as they enjoy a picnic lunch has no value if it does not provide new information pertinent to the storyline.
A scene is only as compelling as the elements that cause the story to progress toward a fulfilling ending. Make your novel a page-turner by making every scene count.


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NOTE: It is an infringement of copyright law to reproduce this
publication, in part or in whole, without the express permission of the
author. To request permission, please e-mail Kathy@KathyIde.com.

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AUTHOR BIO:
Kathy Ide has written books, articles, play and movie scripts, short stories, devotionals, and curriculum. Her books include Polishing the PUGS and Fiction and Truth. Kathy is a full-time freelance editor, offering a wide range of editorial services for authors and publishers. She also speaks at writers’ conferences across the country. She is the founder and coordinator of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network (www.TheChristianPEN.com) and the Christian Editor Network (www.ChristianEditor.com). To find out more, please visit www.KathyIde.com.

White Balance

BY SUZANNE WILLIAMS

Southern Magnolia

White balance is typically shown on a camera as a series of symbols: a full sun, a cloud, an incandescent light bulb, and a series of fluorescent light bulbs. Those symbols are the extent of the knowledge most people have about what it is and what it does. White balance does exactly what its name suggests. It establishes the balance of colors in an image based on the whites in the image. Simply put, a white bird or a white flower should look white.

The truth is that all light has a color cast. If you take the same photograph using each of the white balance settings you will see this. The scene in your lens will change from blue shades to oranges and reds. In effect, white balance is adjusting that scene to correct for the type of light. This is where a photographer's choice is key.

Cleansing the Soul, Anna Ruby Falls, Georgia

I have said it before, but each photograph taken is the result of decisions. White balance is one these decisions, and it is a decision made through the photographer's knowledge of the available light. Is the light indoors under incandescent bulbs? Or is it outdoors in the shade? These seem like simple observations, and they are. However, I am always surprised when people don't think about them before they snap a shot. You cannot always rely on a camera's automatic settings to choose for you because often it will make the incorrect choice.

Even in a scene without whites in it, white balance makes a difference. The waterlily flower below was not white; it was pale yellow. But I had to choose the correct white balance in order for it to be its correct color and not green or white. Often the best way to judge white balance is to compare your photograph to the scene before you. Does it look like what you see? If it doesn't, then make an adjustment and retake the image.

Lemonade

Here is another item to think about. Most whites are not truly white. Go to a paint store and ask an associate for a can of white paint. They will look at you funny and then show you a rack of white paint samples that range from yellow to blue tints. In photography, choosing how you want your whites to appear is very subjective and very dependent upon the lighting. If it is midday in full sun, you would make certain choices. If it was midday in the shade, you'd change those choices.

Mute Swan

Understanding white balance is essential to the final result of every photograph. But more than understanding it, is the ability of the photographer to stop and think about his or her choice before releasing the shutter. In the end, it is another important tool to creating visually appealing photographs.

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Suzanne Williams Photography
Florida, USA

Suzanne Williams is a native Floridian, wife, and mother, with a penchant for spelling anything, who happens to love photography.