Interview with Aggie Villanueva

My guest today is Aggie Villanueva, author of Rightfully Mine (God’s Equal Rights Amendment), which I reviewed in my last post. I didn’t know Aggie when she contacted me to offer her book for review. Since that initial contact, however, it seems that I see her everywhere, and I’ve learned that she is a talented and active lady.

She’s giving away an electronic copy of Rightfully Mine to a lucky commenter today so be sure to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

Lillie: Welcome to A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye, Aggie. You have quite a range of talents. You’re a photographer; a freelance writer, novelist, and blogger; an editor; a writing coach and teacher… Have I forgotten anything?

Aggie: I don’t think you’ve forgotten anything. Except that all writers and photographers also wear the hats of promoter, public relations, accountant, business manager, etc. But I’m talking to other writers here, so they well know all this. I also should scratch editor. I do edit for my blog, Visual Arts Junction, but when I publish my books I mostly hire out professional editing.

Lillie: Do you think of yourself primarily as a writer or a photographer?

Aggie: I’m equally a writer and photographic artist. But I have to admit, I write daily, even if it’s sometimes only for promotional material, etc. I don’t make it to the high mountains nearly as often as I’d like. Heck, I like to live there.

And I also don’t get as much time as I’d like to work on the images I take. But both writing and photographic art are the main hats I wear. And then I add blogger to the list. I didn’t realize when I started Visual Arts Junction last year that blogging is a career in itself. I work on and write daily for the blog too.

Lillie: I’m sure my readers would like to hear something about your photography and how you came to be known as the Grandma Moses of the Southwest.

Aggie: I’ve always been behind a point and shoot camera or camcorder for my family and for sheer pleasure. It wasn’t until 2007 that I made a decision to go pro and bought my first digital SLR professional camera. I had no idea how to use it.

But I’m one of those people who go whole hog into whatever I do, so within a year I was speaking in Santa Fe at the Marion College of Photographic Arts, showing a large body of my work. I’m now represented in several online and walk-in art galleries across the nation. I also sell licensing for people to use my images as book covers and other uses.

The Grandma Moses nickname came early on, too. Back when I had the time, I belonged to several photography forums where I learned so much from the other professionals there. Because my photo art is all from the southwest, and many, actually most, look more like paintings after I’m done with my digital darkroom work, plus the fact that they are mostly rural, they began calling me the Grandma Moses of the southwest. It stuck. I’m honored and humbled by the tag, but I have to admit I love it.

Lillie: Tell us about your home in the mountains. The photos included here show both the beauty and majesty of the scenery and your talent as a photographic artist. Have you always lived close to nature? How does your environment influence your creativity?

Aggie: Wow, Lillie. You’ll be sorry you asked that! I could talk forever about my beloved mountains. And I could write a book about your other two questions. Hmmm, maybe I will after this!

No, I haven’t always lived close to nature—quite the opposite. As a child in Kansas City I had severe asthmatic allergies. Spent most of my grade school years in a hospital, doing school work in an oxygen tent.

Besides being allergic to almost all foods and my own cold germs, I was also literally allergic to the outdoors. My grandparents who raised me, and my mother, used to call me a hothouse plant. Twice, after I’d purposely reveled in the outdoors, I was rushed to the hospital, each time the doctors saying I probably wouldn’t live till morning.

Then, because I wanted to change the world, I ran away at age 15 to do just that in the mountains of Colorado. I didn’t change the world. Not even close. But it changed me forever. And my asthma and allergies were almost non-existent in the high altitude.

Fast forward to chronic illnesses that left me mostly bedridden after 28 years of marriage, living in Kansas, and the accident of having to go to the mountains of Sedona, AZ, where I discovered anew how much healing I experience in the high, dry altitudes.

Next I got land in Madrid, NM, near Santa Fe. No water, no electricity, no phone, no house, just wonderful rolling arroyos and mesas. I loved living in Madrid. The people were just like me, a bunch of aging hippies. The town’s history is so rich; there are books about that too.

But, nevertheless, it is a tourist town. Though I lived in the hills outside of Madrid where I was so isolated I didn’t even have walls around my outhouse, I found it was just too crowded; too citified. So I sold the land and moved further north.

I now live in the more remote and forested foothills of the San Pedro Wilderness, surrounded by the Santa Fe National Forest. It’s a tiny four-room log cabin, less than 900 square feet. I’m about 20 miles from the nearest village, in a hamlet so small you can drive through it and miss it. There are two gas pumps and a quick-stop type store downtown.

As to how my environment influences creativity, living so remotely and so close to nature have great advantages and almost no drawbacks in every way, including enhancing creativity. In fact, just a few years ago, because I was in better health, there were no drawbacks. It takes two hours to drive to the nearest ANYTHING.

But, oh the advantages: fine art pictures taken on my own lil’ acre, living so close to my beloved mountains I can almost touch them, and can definitely walk to them, and so much more. An hour’s drive will get me to the peak of most of the ranges in my area. The Quiet. The Solitude. You can hear the air, especially when snowed in during winter. You almost believe you hear the echoes of the past. I wax poetic, but honestly, if you live here, how can you NOT!

Another enhancement to creativity is when you’ve learned how to live without what most consider necessities, such as phones, electricity, heat, water, even sounds such as TV and radio. At one time for a few months I had to survive on fresh fish caught daily as there was no other food, not even spices or salt.

But on a more esoteric level, I’d say living here taught me what I’m capable of. Never again will I panic if I don’t have the necessities of life. Money means far less to me. I know things about myself that I would never have figured out before.

I also know I can do anything, endure anything, become anything, all the while humbled daily by the harsh surrender of nature that surrounds me, and grateful to Spirit in all things. Each of these things, and all the hurdles to come, shows through every word I write, and also each piece of photo art I complete.

Lillie: Your passion is obvious, Aggie—in the description you just gave of your environment, in your photographic art, and in your writing. Rightfully Mine fascinated me. I’ve read the Bible through several times, so obviously each time I’ve read the passages in Numbers that inspired your story. However, they never made any impact on me until I read your book. What captured your attention in these few short verses to motivate you to tell the story of Zelophehad’s daughters?

Aggie: Thank you, Lillie. I’m honored. I’m also showing my age here: In the early 80’s the big political issue was ERA. Feminists were pushing hard to get a women’s equal rights amendment passed. Debate within the church became particularly heated.

I had already written a slightly controversial novel with Thomas Nelson about a literal prostitute whom God chose to be the symbol of his beloved bride. I still chuckle about my editor, who was tense about the wedding night scene after reading my synopsis of a detailed portrayal, so I don’t think they weren’t surprised when I approached them about this book idea.

Still, they wouldn’t allow me to use the blurb, God’s Equal Rights Amendment. They told me it was too controversial a subject within the church, and might hurt my sales. I disagreed, as is evident from the present title, now that I’ve republished.

Lillie: How did you create three-dimensional characters based on the little information in the Bible? Your main character is based on the daughter called Noah in the Bible. You named her Rizpah in Rightfully Mine. Did you change the name just to avoid confusion with Noah the ark-builder or were there other reasons?

Aggie: Yes, Thomas Nelson suggested changing Noah’s name to avoid confusion. They were right, of course. The first thing I did was research the meanings of each daughter’s name. Names are quite revealing, and I gave them all characteristics accordingly.

I then got to know my characters as most writers do; I wrote reams posing as them, in first person, describing themselves, answering questions I asked them, etc. Ha. Now that I think about it, they were among my first interviewees.

As in any time period, the era and environment also shape personalities. So my research of the times added greatly to characterizations throughout. I traveled to Israel to deepen the reality of the research.

The men were easy to characterize, especially Caleb, Joshua, Moses and other biblical heroes, about whom much is written. The girls’ father was easy too. He had to be exceptionally insightful, loving, attentive, and even pro equality, even if that was an unknown concept to him, in order to raise a family of girls who would change history against all odds. These women set the stage for Israel to accept women leaders in battle and female prophets, all within the next few generations.

Nothing is said of his wife, so I had her die in her last childbirth. And actually, there is more information than those few lines in Numbers. In fact, I found Rizpah’s lineage. If I ever have the time, and I pray I will, I plan to write two more sequels to Rightfully Mine, stories of the two generations following her that are just as dynamic as she.

Lillie: I look forward to reading those sequels. Rightfully Mine was originally published by Thomas Nelson, and now you’ve re-released the book yourself. Can you share your perspective on the pros and cons of publishing through a traditional publisher compared to self-publishing? Were there advantages to having the book first published by a publisher who provided editing and other services?

Aggie: Everything is more immediate nowadays, such as POD, which is how I published Rightfully Mine. Some people cite lack of quality against self-publishing. I know my writing is of acceptable quality because, well…I’ve been accepted by standard publishers, but in truth, I think I would know that without their stamp of approval.

So I don’t abide by the criticism of self-publishing creating a sea of inferior writing. And let’s not forget how intelligent and discerning is the reading public, and they get more so with each decade. If a self-published book is of questionable writing quality, it won’t sell. The same goes for poor quality books from traditional publishing houses, of which there are many.

I have nothing but good to say about Thomas Nelson publisher—they were a joy to work with, but having been through the traditional publishing cycle, I also know that they do very little marketing unless you’re a big name author, and they take most of the money.

These days, even traditional publishers nearly require that you have already built your platform following before they will publish you, and request that you continue your marketing plan even more aggressively after publication. So why give them most of the money when you’ve done, and still do, most of the work?

It’s true that if you are a proven seller, they will invest in marketing you. But their promotional power is in the traditional bookstore, and our bookstores are changing. For one thing, if I ever sign with a publisher, I will retain all electronic rights, and I hear more and more authors agreeing.

Our traditional bookstores are even becoming their own print-on-demand publishers. More and more malls, bookstores, even county fairs. are installing the Espresso book machine, where you choose from a nearly unlimited list and watch while your book is printed, cut, bound, and delivered into your hands in about 10 minutes.

And the Espresso print-on-demand list isn’t limited to traditionally published paper books, but includes self published and eBooks converted into print form. What bookstore can stock hundreds of thousands of books and give you access to twice the titles that traditional publisher can offer? They can with the Espresso print-on-demand machine, and the number is already predicted to soon reach millions of books. And the Espresso is just the first in a long line of similar machines. See my short report on my blog.

Lillie: Another of your talents is being an exceptional interviewer, and you have a new book showcasing those talents. What is it that makes you such an outstanding interviewer? Who are the subjects of the interviews in your book?

Aggie: 2009’s Hot Authors: Interviews by Aggie Villanueva, available in both print and e-book, highlights authors I’ve interviewed at Visual Arts Junction.

I guess the difference is that I don’t just use the same list of questions for every interviewee. I research my subjects, as you did me, so that I can ask intelligent questions about their work and not waste their time on a standard set of questions or information I can find out myself if I take the time to research them thoroughly. I think you’ll notice (how could you not?!) how, because I can tell by your questions you’ve researched me, you got these (sigh) verbose, lengthy answers from me. Hopefully that is what you wanted!

I spend a lot of time researching in order to write in-depth introductions to each interviewee where I tell about their past, what prompted them to write, and anything else my research turns up, which can sometime be quite surprising, even to the subject. Including lots of pictures enhances the piece too.

I also contact their closest friends and loved ones for a short interview. I want readers to feel they know the person after reading my interview, especially the introduction. I’ve had a few subjects use my introduction in whole for their promotional material. Researching this fully also allows me to create the tone of my own writing to match the subject’s.

For instance, my interview with Larry Brooks. I discovered in my research that Larry is a hard-hitting, no-nonsense person who tells it like it is and shies away from nothing because it may be uncomfortable, but with a fabulous sense of wry humor that permeates everything he writes and all his professional relationships. This is why my intro is so tongue-in-cheek. Even the manner in which I asked some questions automatically takes on this tone.

But I want much more than that the reader feels they know the interviewee. I spend my own time putting together a picture of who and why they are for another important reason too: so that I need take only enough time from my subjects to grill them about the particulars of their specialty.

I can spend their limited time delving into asking the technicalities. I’ve had many interviewees, after finishing my interview, say things like, “Whew!” “You pulled more out of me than anyone.” “You really put me through my paces.” And they seem to love that I ask them to dig so deeply.

I want my readers to learn something new about writing (or photography if that is my subject). Because this takes so much time is why I can only finish 1-2 interviews per month. But I feel that limitation, and the investment of my time, is worth it.

Time is so short for everyone; the reader, the interviewee. If I don’t waste their time; if I offer something of value to the reader’s professional life, that draws more readers and that gives valuable exposure to the subjects. Everyone profits.

I am honored every time someone reads my interviews and each time my subjects dig down further than usual for me. They’ve both invested something valuable, and I want them both to gain something valuable.

Lillie: Tell us about your family. Are they creative like you? What do they think of your creative endeavors?

Aggie: I think my family feels good about my creative endeavors. Yes, my children are all creative too, as are my grandchildren. They are in Kansas so I only get to see them once a year when I travel there for a special time of being together. I look forward all year to this time together.

My two boys, Eddie and Nicky (and his wife, Vanessa), are creative in the artistic areas of drawing and painting, writing, jewelry making, leather work, custom-made gravity bikes—the list is long.

My daughter, Angie, follows my mother’s path of what Mom calls creative financing. Angie just performed her artistic magic in that she found a hall to be married in, plus hold the reception, for less than one-fourth the cost of even less attractive buildings. I just took a virtual tour of the place and the grounds. I’m amazed that she accomplished this feat.

Lillie: It sounds like your family is as talented as you are. Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

Aggie: I’ll give you a list.

• Rightfully Mine blog and purchase pages
• Rightfully Mine available in 10 eBook formats at Smashwords
• Rightfully Mine (God’s Equal Rights Amendment) available in paperback from Amazon.com
• 2009’s Hot Authors: Interviews by Aggie Villanueva available in 10 eBook formats
• 2009’s Hot Authors: Interviews by Aggie Villanueva in paperback from Lulu.com
• Rightfully Mine mini movie
• Photo Art Trailer
• Join Aggie for a video virtual photo shoot
• Visual Arts Junction blog for writers, photographers, etc.

Lillie: Is there anything I’ve failed to ask that you would like to share with my readers?

Aggie: I do have a work in progress. I’m deeply into the research for a book on chronically ill and handicapped artists. Since I fit this category, I know it’s been therapeutic, and difficult, for me to thoughtfully compile a lengthy list of interview questions for the artists. So I get it when many have commented that it’s a good thing I gave them up to a month to complete the questionnaire, because it’s sometimes painful to plumb these areas.
I empathize, because I’ve been through it also. I want to bring these problems to the forefront that millions of artists endure daily, silently, heroically, with no accolades for their courage. Few people understand, sometime not even closest family members, friends and co-workers, who don’t quite always believe we’re really that sick. A possible working title for this project is Still We Dance: the Invisible Heroes of the Arts.

Lillie: Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing with us something of your amazing talents in such detail and with such passion. Readers will probably have more questions for you. Will you check in during the day to respond to comments and answer questions?

Aggie: Thank YOU so much, Lillie, for having me. I will love to hang around for the week. I look forward to meeting many great talents here.

Lillie: Readers, don’t forget to leave a relevant comment to be included in the random drawing for an e-copy of Rightfully Mine that Aggie has graciously donated. The drawing will be open for a week.

===================

Bio
Writing since the late 70′s, Aggie Villanueva’s first novel, Chase the Wind, Thomas Nelson 1983, was published before she was 30 and her second, Rightfully Mine, from Thomas Nelson in 1986. Villanueva freelanced throughout the 80s and 90s, also writing three craft columns and three software review columns, for national magazines. Villanueva was featured on the cover of The Christian Writer Magazine October 1983.

After teaching at writers conferences throughout the Midwest, she founded/directed the 3-day Mid-America Fellowship of Christian Writers conferences for four years until 1990. For the past several years Aggie has blogged. She is founder of Visual Arts Junction and is known for her in-depth interviews.

Photographic art entered in 2007, and within two years Villanueva was critically acclaimed and award winning. Dubbed the Grandma Moses of the American Southwest by her artistic peers, Villanueva is represented in several online and walk-in art galleries across the nation.

 Added 2/5/10: Congratulations to Helen, the winner of the drawing for an electronic copy of Rightfully Mine.

Amazon.com and Smashwords links are affiliate links.

Review of Rightfully Mine: God’s Equal Rights Amendment

Rightfully Mine: God’s Equal Rights Amendment
Aggie Villanueva

Lulu.com
July 27, 2009
Paperback, 176 pages, $12.97

Smashwords
November 16, 2009
Available in 10 electronic formats, $6.97

Biblical Fiction

 

 

People sometimes think Judaism and Christianity are anti-women rights. Aggie Villanueva has written a compelling novel that shows this is not the case.

I enjoyed this story based on a few Old Testament verses in which sisters who had no male relatives were allowed to inherit the land due their father. We know that the Israelites had a male-oriented society, but this event shows that God cares about His female children as well as His male children and has from the beginning.

From the short account in Numbers describing the daughters of Zelophehad standing up for their rights, Aggie has created well-defined, believable characters and an entertaining story that makes the reader feel they are experiencing early Biblical times.

Readers who like Biblical fiction, those who are interested in women’s rights, and lovers of romance will all enjoy Rightfully Mine.

The book is available in paperback and electronic formats at the following Web sites:

• Rightfully Mine blog and purchase pages
• Rightfully Mineavailable in 10 eBook formats at Smashwords
• Rightfully Mine (God’s Equal Rights Amendment) available in paperback from Amazon.com

Aggie has graciously offered an e-copy of her book to a lucky commenters. Just leave a relevant comment below and you’ll be entered in the drawing, which will be open until Friday, February 5th.

Be sure to return here on Friday, January 29th for an interview with Aggie. She talks about both her writing and her photographic art with passion, and I know you’ll enjoy the interview as much as I did.

Added 2/5/10: Congratulations to Ron, the winner of the drawing for an e-book of Rightfully Mine.

 

Disclosure: I received an electronic  copy of the book from the author. I have not accepted any compensation for this review and made no commitment to give a favorable review. The links to Amazon.com and Smashwords are affiliate links.

Looking for a Job?

Recent comments on my Job Search series from about a year and a half ago suggest that with the current high unemployment, job seekers could benefit from this information today.

If you’re seeking employment, I encourage you to read the entire  series. Those posts include practical and detailed information about resumes, cover letters, and job interviews.

I’ve been an entrepreneur or freelancer for most of my working life so my personal experience of looking for a job is limited. However, I hired many employees during my business career, so I understand hiring from the employer perspective. One of my clients is a career transition coach, and I have worked with her on resumes, cover letters, and job interview preparation for many of her clients in addition to individual clients of my own. I know this advice works.

As important as it is for you to know how to write a resume (or hire me or someone like me to do it for you), it’s even more important that you have the right mindset.

Here are seven tips to help you succeed in your job search:

• Realize that the job search is a process. You may have to submit many resumes to get one interview. Then you may have to go through interviews with several companies before you find a serious prospect, and you may have to go through several interviews with one company before you get the job. Generally the process is longer for jobs at the top executive levels, but you’re not likely to get hired immediately for any job.
• Remember that employers want to know what you can do for them. They aren’t going to hire you because you need a job but because you can solve a problem for them. Always think and present yourself in terms of what you have to offer.
• Understand that most jobs aren’t advertised. Network constantly and research the industry and companies you are interested in to find the hidden unadvertised openings.
• Stay in job search mode wherever you are. Be prepared to tell everyone you come in contact with what kind of work you seek and how you can contribute to an employer. Even when you’re not talking, always act as you would if your ideal boss might be watching you—because he or she could be.
• Recognize that networking is a two-way street. Often job seekers make contacts strictly to get help; help others first, and they’ll be more apt to help you. The more people you help, the more people you have willing to help you.
• Remain positive and confident. It’s easy to get discouraged when you’ve been out of work a while and all you hear on the news is how bad the economy is. But you’ll more attractive to employers, happier, and more successful if you remember past accomplishments and expect future successes.
• Smile and say “Thank you.” Smiles are contagious and make everyone—those who smile and those who see the smiles—feel better. We all like to be appreciated, and many job seekers don’t put forth the effort to show appreciation. Thank everyone who gives you a lead or a referral and everyone who interviews you—even if you don’t get the job. Hand-written notes are rare and will make you stand out among job seekers. And when you stand out in a positive way … you just might get that job!

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

Another Year, Another Million and a Half Dead Babies

Thirty-seven years ago today, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized murder.

Since that day, more than 50 million American babies, disproportionately minority, have been killed in the womb.

As every year, pro-life organizations and individuals are marching in Washington to call for an end to the legal murder of unborn babies. 

We must end this abortion abomination now.

I have in the past compared abortion to slavery. Recently I wrote in a book review at Goodreads for Am I Not A Man? The Dred Scott Story:

We have gone from a ruling by the Supreme Court of the land that Negroes were less than human with no rights whatsoever to a Constitution with amendments that guarantee freedom and equal rights to blacks. We’ve gone from a country where a black man didn’t have control over his own body or the ability to care for his family to a country that elected a black man as president.

The story of Dred Scott gave me hope that one day soon we will see the same turnaround in recognizing the humanity and life of unborn children. One day Roe v. Wade will be overturned like the Dred Scott decision was overturned, and as the slaves were freed, the lives of unborn babies will be saved from murder in the womb. One day people will look back and wonder how we could stand by and allow babies to be killed, just as today we look back and wonder how people could stand by and allow black people to be enslaved.

Added 1/23/10: I wrote this in reply to a comment and wanted to add it to the post:

Many people who are pro-choice also see themselves as the champions of minorities, the poor, etc. That doesn’t quite compute … but that’s the way it is. They probably would say they would not have been quiet and tolerant of slavery. But being in favor of slavery is pro-choice in the same way being in favor of abortion is pro-choice: the slaveowner (or the mother) has freedom of choice but the slave (or the baby) doesn’t.

This year, for the first time, those of us who can’t march in person can join the virtual march online.

Only a few years after the infamous Roe v Wade decision, someone close to me (I’ll call her June to protect her privacy) became pregnant. She and her husband, an enlisted man in the Army, had three children already, and the youngest child was profoundly handicapped. Doctors tried to convince June to have an abortion. They couldn’t explain why her two-year daughter was born with multiple birth defects, and they suggested another child might have similar handicaps.

The doctors pressured June to have an abortion. After all, it was legal now, and she had her hands full with a small child in a wheelchair who required constant care plus two older, active youngsters. June, naturally, was worried about her family’s ability to care for another handicapped child, but she had strong religious beliefs about the sanctity of human life at every stage—from conception to natural death. Although she went through extreme emotional distress in making the decision, she refused the abortion.

Thanks be to the God, her son was a completely normal baby, and today he is a completely normal adult. He’s not rich. He’s not famous. He’s not a political leader or a brilliant scientist. He’s not necessarily considered successful by the world’s standards. But he is a man with a family and friends who love him, a man who works and pays taxes and lives an ordinary life, like most of the rest of us. And he deserves to live his ordinary life as you and I deserve to live our lives.

I have wanted to write a novel about a woman going through similar emotional turmoil as June went through all those years ago. I have a half-finished manuscript that I started several years ago, but I wasn’t mature enough as a writer to tell this story effectively at that time. I’m working on a new manuscript (albeit very slowly) about Bonita, a secondary character in Dream or Destiny, who will face the challenge of a pregnancy as a result of rape.

Life is the the most basic human right. Abortion is a tragedy, as powerfully described a post about the people who never lived because of abortion.

Although I’ve never been in the situation myself, I can understand how difficult it would be for a woman to make the decision to carry to term a baby conceived by rape or diagnosed with a severe disability. Yet I believe that is the only possible decision for a Christian.

The Bible is clear in the following passages:

Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. ~ Isaiah 49:1b

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. ~ Jeremiah 1:5a

You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be. ~ Psalm 139:13-16

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. ~ Deuteronomy 30:19b-20

Find more Scriptures about the sanctity of human life at Anglicans for Life.

Prayer to End Abortion (from Priests for Life)

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

Added 1/30/10: Here’s the prayer delivered at the National March for Life Rally by Bishop Martyn Minns, Missionery Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in America.

 

The babies that are never born aren’t the only ones who are damaged by abortion. This video reminds us that mothers who abort their babies suffer regret, guilt, and pain. Let’s end the pain and let the babies live.

Added: Statement of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America on the Anniversary of Roe v Wade

Thanks to December 2009 Commenters

Thank you to the 162 commenters who left 242 comments in December, comparable to previous months. I appreciate readers taking the time to comment even when following busy holiday schedules. Your comments extended the conversation and added value and interest, and I enjoyed replying to every one of them.Every month when I post thanks to commenters, I get questions about how I compile this list. I have explained my system in detail in Compiling Thanks to Commenters.
Top Contributor (20 comments)
Jeanne Dininni	Writers’ Notes
Major Contributor (10 comments)
C McCoffee	The Coffee Bump
Outstanding Contributors (4-8 comments)
Matthew Robert Payne	Personal Prophecy – Free
Betsy	Content Made
Karen Swim	Words for Hire
Si	Leadership Expert
Dawn Colclasure	Dawn Colclasure Blog
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Helen Ginger	Straight from Hel
Mark	Duro-Design
Vincente Winchester	Toys Period
Alina Popescu	Words of a Broken Mirror
Andrew	Good Honest Dollar
Antony	Phonello
Brad	Top Hemroids Treatments
Cath Lawson	Cath Lawson
Darvin	Best Ionic Air Purifiers
Dash	Cosmetic Surgery
Emma	Barcode1 UK
George	Link  Building Services
Jeff	Las Vegas Short Sales
Jez	Mobile Phone Free Laptop
Joanna Young	Confident Writing
Leanne	Academic Editor’s Desk
Lindy	Kindle 2 Reader
Lori Widmer	Words on the Page
Matt Keegan	Matthew Keegan
Oscar	The Truth about Abs
Salim	Squidoo: Panic Attack Tips
Steve	Lift Chair Guide
tommy	dellseriousbusiness.com
tommy	Home Improvement Blog
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Aditya	SNV Infotech
Alexandra	Alexandra Pierre MLM Blog Central
Alicia Mergo	A1A Machinery
Andrew Murray	Lifepath Team Zeus
Angie	Wedding Centerpiece Ideas
ankit	Cirtex Hosting
ankit	FxPro
Annette Young	Creative Competitor
Bak	Crack Keygen Site
Becca Cardo	Becca’s Thoughts
Benjamin Ackman	Prospect Solution
Bob	Muscle System
Bob More	Las Vegas Wedding Photographer
Brad Shorr	Word Sell, Inc.
Brian	Margarita Makers
carsonlara	n/a
Celeste Stewart	Celeste Stewart
Chakru	Discuss Life
Charles	Link Building Services
Chris	Bible SEO
Chris	Muscle System
Christopher	Cheap Gaming Computers
Chuggin	The Coffee Bump
Daniel Mc	The Mind of Daniel McCormick
Deb S	Media by Sistrunk
Dhaval Gandhi	Cosmetic Surgery Techniques
Dave	Smile White Pro
Deb S	Media by Sistrunk
Eddie Tembilung	Guide to Gadgets
Ella	Simply Gifts
Elmer	Free Phone Chatline
Elsa	Mattresses Guide
Frank Goley	ABC Business Consulting
Imran	Watch Trueblood Online
Jackie	Mark My Words Media
jackson	Prime Targeting
James	Business Educators
James	Fancy Dress for Less
Jason	Freebie Shark
Jason Campbell	Herbal H
Jennifer Megan	Computers and Networks
Jenny	SBP
Jenny	Southampton City Web
Jeremy Craven	Block Shopper
Jericho	Rental Icon
Joanne Delaine	Learn Yoga
Joe H.	Business Opportunities Mentor
John	Online Cash Success
John	Romantic Sofia Apartment
John Jeracevich	Living a Healthy Lifestyle
Jon	TCMN-AWRT
Josiah	Fresh Tumblr Themes
juliussartine	Affiliate Stop for Profit
Justin Case	Raising Goats
Karin Tillotson	n/a
Ken	Reader Ebook
Kirstin	The Residence Seminyak
Ko	San Jose Homes for Sale
Kris Roxas	Kris Roxas
Krista	Discount Web Designer
lance	We Live 2 Care
Larry Briner	Play Pai Gow
Laura Spencer	Writing Thoughts
lily	Wall Painting Techniques
Linda Seamore	Stephenson and Company
Louise	Uprinting
Lutz Schwartz	Cheap Hotel Zurich
Madoline	Skirting and Bellows
Marc Hauser	Nevada Health Plans
Mark	Swiss Army Mens Watch
Mark Daniels	Abs Workout
Marta Daniels	How to Be a Better Restaurant Customer
Martin	Gorlach
Masum	Watch 90210
Matt Belcher	Life Turnaround Now
Matt Keegan	Word Journey
Meh	A Capella Records
Michael Kwan	Michael Kwan, Freelance Writer
Michelle	Smile White Pro
monika	Leones Consulting
Monique Maddison	Brides of Australia
Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan	Best of Mother Earth
myakub	BD Lance
Nancy	Die Cut Machines
Nancy	Baby Play Mats
nikky	SNV Infotech
Paisle	Nirvana by the Sea
Patrick Sia	Online Job Opportunities
Paul	Custom Stone and Waterscapes
Paul	Weight Lifting Forum
Pete	Dzine It
Phil	Break Pal
Phil Faren	Zestah
phil job	Job Openings
Philip	n/a
Prash	Movies, News, Reviews
Ramon1982	Reviews on the Jump Manual
Rebheka	Incien
Renae Brumbaugh	Morning Coffee with Renae
Richard	IT Green
Rob	4 Drawer Filing Cabinet
Robert Hruzek	Middle Zone Musings
Robin	My Two Blessings
Russell	Cut Price Car Rentals
Ryan	Health Care Blog
Sam	Stone King Sewell
Samuel Sawyer	Overcome Social Anxiety
Sarah	Florida Drunk Driving Attorney
Shirazi	Light Within
Simon	Elf Costumes
Slaven	Air Pro Air Conditioning
Spence	Wooden Baby High Chairs
Spot	Spot Cool Stuff
Stellamary	Incien
Steve Yeap	Job Interview Guide
Sujoy	Hire Dedicated Web Developers
Suzanne Klamentz	Direct Art Australia
Terry	Freight Forwarders
Tess	My So  Be
The Rock	Port Douglas Motel
The Rock	Wozzon London
Todd	1800 Pools
Tom	Staffing and Recruiting Essentials
Tom Taylor	CAD Courses
tommy	trendpointe.com
Tony Greg	Design 2 Express
Trina Turk	Ajs Clothing
Watt	Boats on Sale
William Cole	Advanced Web Marketing
Ziggy	Tomorrow Something New
Zoe	Baby Furniture Sets

Religious Freedom Day 2010

Today, January 16, 2010, is Religious Freedom Day, a day proclaimed by the president to celebrate our freedom, honor our tradition of religious liberty, and commemorate the signing of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786.

In the United States, we are free to worship the God of our fathers—the God the founders recognized as the One who granted us the “inalienable rights” described in the Declaration of Independence. We are free to worship other deities or follow other beliefs. We are free to choose not to worship anything. No one and no government can stand between us and the free worship of our God.

Unfortunately, many people around the world do not enjoy religious freedom. We must stand up for them and do all we can to teach the world the value of allowing its citizens to worship as they choose. We who enjoy this amazing freedom must remain vigilant to protect it. And we must exercise it to set an example for the world and to keep our country great.

O God, who art the giver of all good gifts; We bless thy Name and give thee thanks for the religious freedom guaranteed to us in these United States. Grant that we worship thee, the one true God, faithfully and reverently, and that we protect this freedom for future generations, ever mindful that we enjoy liberty that many have not. We offer supplications for thy children around the world who do not enjoy the freedom to worship thee openly and freely without fear of persecution. We beseech thee to remember them in thy mercy and spread religious freedom around the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who liveth and reignth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
 

Prayer for Haiti

Haiti has been hit by a devastating 7.0 earthquake that has left tens of thousands of people dead and the capital city destroyed.

O GOD, merciful and compassionate, who art ever ready to hear the prayers of those who put their trust in thee; Graciously hearken to us who call upon thee, and grant thy help to the people of Haiti in this their need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I donated to Food for the Poor, a Christian ministry that feeds thousands of people every day at its feeding center in Port-au-Prince, and many other worthy organizations are providing help in this tragic disaster. You can find a list of top-rated nonprofit agencies providing relief to Haiti at Charity Watch.

I encourage you to include the people of Haiti in your prayers and the relief organization of your choice in your giving.

Added 1/24/10: I submitted this post to Bloggers Unite for Haiti, joining with nearly 300 other bloggers to provide information and to encourage donations to help in this terrible disaster.

I Still Don’t Talk to Keywords

A few months ago, I instituted a new comment policy: No Name, No Comment. If you leave a comment without a name or nickname that I can recognize as a person, the comment will be marked spam.

I’m posting this reminder because recently I’ve had a spate of relevant comments that I would really like to approve—except they were left by keywords instead of people. I just can’t carry on a conversation with Cheap Toilet Seats, Acne Cure, or Wedding Favors.

KeywordLuv allows you to include keyword text with your name. Please use your name (at least your first name or a nickname recognizable as a person). If you wish to include a keyword, insert @Keyword after your name, for example Joe@Cheap Toilet Seats. KeywordLuv will separate your name and keyword; the comment in this example would show as Joe from Cheap Toilet Seats, and Cheap Toilet Seats would be a hyperlink.

Apologies to my regular readers for bringing this up again, but the number of comments I’m marking spam indicates there’s a need for a reminder. I appreciate relevant comments and hate to send good comments to spam.

On the other hand, I will continue to mark as spam comments that aren’t relevant, such as  “I appreciate all your points” (on an Advent prayer) and ”I’ve looked all over the Internet to find the answer to my question and this is the only place I found it” (with the exact words left on half a dozen unrelated posts).

Author Interview: Aundrea Hernandez

My guest today is Aundrea Hernandez. I met Aundrea through Patricia Eytcheson Taylor and Chaplain James Taylor. Aundrea did the illustrations for the book On the Wings of the Wind and created the cover for the book. I was so impressed that I have referred several of my clients to her for book covers. Aundrea created the gorgeous cover of Dream or Destiny and also designed the header for my blog, both of which have generated many compliments for me.

 Now Aundrea has written and published a book—Journal: Intimate Writings of a Relationship with God, which I talked about in a previous post.

Lillie: Welcome to A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye, Aundrea. Since I knew you first through your artwork, I’d like you to tell my readers how you got into art, what kinds of work you have done, and what you do now.

Aundrea: Hi Lillie, it’s very nice to be here. Well, as far back as I can remember, I have loved to draw. It’s my gift from the Lord. I won my first art competition when I was in the fourth grade—it came as a bit of a surprise. I took art classes when I entered high school as friends encouraged me, saying it would be an easy “A”. I didn’t take it seriously, though, until a stranger approached me during a really difficult time in my life and encouraged me to go back to school. This person became a dear close friend and the inspiration that led me to be the first in my family to go to college. She’s the reason I now do what I love. I was recruited just before my senior year of college to work for a local toy company. After six years with that company, I left to start my own freelance design and illustration service for ministries and small businesses. That’s what I do now.

Lillie: Several people have asked me if you were available to design headers or do other graphic design work for them. For a while you couldn’t take on any more work. Are you available for new work now?

Aundrea: Yes. My daughter Kierstin, known as K, now helps out with our small family design business since graduating high school last year. We’ve been able to serve more people now than before. She’s a very gifted designer and writer—I’m proud to have her working beside me.

Lillie: I’ve seen K’s work, and you certainly should be proud of her. I know your faith is very important to you. How did you become a Christian and how did your life change as a result?

Aundrea: I was re-introduced to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ through a co-worker at the toy company. She invited us to church one Sunday and after a few weeks of attending with her, I re-dedicated my life to Christ. My daughter, K, gave her life to Christ shortly after that. My very first encounter with my Lord, was at the age of twelve, in a little one-room Baptist church house in the country. I talk more about that experience in the book.

Lillie: How did the book come about?

Aundrea: It’s a very interesting story, one only the Lord could write. I never intended to write this book—the book I first began was a children’s book. But after a couple of rejection letters, I sat down and re-evaluated things. I remembered hearing that an author should write what they know. Well, what I knew most about was my personal walk with my Father. I would often send out e-mail praise reports to friends and family of how the Lord faithfully answered our prayers; they were more like short stories. Several of my friends would write back saying I should write a book. That’s when I started this book. Only three pages into it, and a few months later, I called the prayer line to pray for someone. Before I hung up, the gentleman on the other end told me the Lord had a Word for me. He told me that the Lord said I would write a book and it will bless many, many people. I broke into tears. How could he know this? I never said anything. He told me the Lord was only confirming what He had already put in my heart to do. That Word forever changed our lives.

 Lillie: That is a powerful testimony, Aundrea. Share with readers what they will find in the book.

Aundrea: This is simply one believer’s story—my intimate, personal spiritual journal, full of testimonies of the Father’s faithfulness, my dreams, some my daughter’s inspirational poetry, revelations, and tragedies the Lord has helped us to overcome. You vividly see how Father God has held our hand through it all and is guiding us into His perfect Will.  It’s how the Lord has moved in one single mother’s life.

Lillie: Tell us about your family and what they think of your writing.

Aundrea: Mom and Dad are proud. Both are artists in their own right, but both gave up on their dreams. So, they are proud of K and me and support us. 

Lillie: It’s great to have supportive family. Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

Aundrea: To learn about or order Journal, they can visit my Web site One Ordinary Believer. To see samples of my artwork, they can visit Oracle Design. Each Web site also has a short bio and contact information.

Lillie: Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your faith and your work with my readers. I’m sure they will have more questions. Will you check in during the day to respond to comments and answer questions?

Aundrea: Thank you for having me! We will definitely be checking in to answer any questions your readers may have.

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Bio: Aundrea Hernandez was born in San Antonio, Texas. She attended both the San Antonio Art Institute and San Antonio College, majoring in Illustration and Graphic Design, and began her design career working for a local toy company. Aundrea now freelances full-time from her home in the Texas Hill Country, where she resides with her daughter “K.” Aundrea is also the author of the book Journal: Intimate Writings of a Relationship with God, available from www.OneOrdinaryBeliever.com. Samples of her graphic design work can be seen at www.OracleDesign.org.

Journal: Intimate Writings of a Relationship with God

Recently I had the privilege of working with Aundrea Hernandez to edit Journal: Intimate Writings of a Relationship with God.

This was an unusual project because while Aundrea wanted to produce a quality book to honor the Lord, she also wanted it be remain a spiritual journal. The book is filled with raw emotion and spirituality, and Aundrea didn’t want to lose that. She didn’t want readers to stumble over misspelled words or confusing sentence structure, but she did want her journal to read like the outpourings of the heart of a believer, which is exactly what it is. She even designed the book to look like a well-used, handwritten personal journal.

You can read a sample journal entry to get a feel for what the book is like. If you enjoy the sample, you’ll want to order an autographed copy at One Ordinary Believer.  

Aundrea will be my guest here at A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye on Wednesday. Be sure to come back and hear her story of how the book came to be.

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