Author and speaker Trish Berg is here today to show us how to simplify our mealtime routines. She has a passion for encouraging families to get back to the dinner table, which she shares about in her new book, The Great American Supper Swap.

Trish is a mom of four who lives on a 200-acre beef cattle farm in the heart of Ohio, just north of Amish country. She’s an avid reader, scrapbooker (when she finds time!), and has been a MOPS mom for over a decade.

Her syndicated weekly column runs in The Daily Record Ohio newspaper and Christian-mommies.com, as well as several regional parenting magazines. And she also teaches part-time at a community college! Trish is one busy mom, and I’m so glad she’s made time to stop in for a visit.

Trish, welcome to Mom 2 Mom Connection! Can you tell us how you got started supper swapping?

Almost five years ago, I was struggling with my daily to-do list, like most moms, and running myself ragged in the process of trying to get dinner on the table.

One of my girlfriends, Carla, had heard of supper swapping, and asked me if I wanted to give it a try. I figured I had nothing to lose except that “4:30 and nothing’s in the oven” panic.

I knew dinner was important to my kids; I just didn’t know how to make it happen. So I gave it a try with three girlfriends and was amazed at how it blessed my life.

I didn’t set out to write a book. I simply want to simplify my family supper. But when I discovered the simplicity and adaptability of supper swapping, I knew I needed to share this with other moms who could be blessed by it like I was.

Why do you think this idea of swapping meals is helpful for busy moms?

Today’s research shows that only 50% of American families eat dinner together regularly. That is an amazing loss of family time, time to communicate and connect with each other.

Even when families are eating together, 34% of those meals are fast food or take-out. That is so unhealthy, with added fat, sodium, and cholesterol; not to mention how expensive it is.

Let’s face facts — moms everywhere need help to re-claim dinner. I think most moms would easily agree that the family supper is important; they just don’t know how to make it happen.

When a mom begins to swap suppers, how is her life impacted?

Supper swapping is ideal for busy moms not only because it simplifies dinner, but it also reduces stress and adds deeper friendships to their lives at the same time.

Supper swapping:

* Cuts cooking time 80%
* Saves families up to $4,000 a year
* Reduces a mom’s stress
* Helps families to eat healthier
* Creates a greater sense of community
* Adds deeper friendships to your life

If we wanted to start our own supper swapping group, what steps would we need to take?

I always tell moms to start simple. Ask one girlfriend or neighbor to begin swapping supper two days a week. See how it goes. You can always add another mom to your group down the road.

In other words, don’t stress about getting four friends to swap with to cover the whole workweek. Don’t put off trying it because you can’t get that many. Just start with who you have and see where God leads you.

Here’s how you can get started:

* Get Organized — Ask a few close neighbors or friends to form a supper swapping group. Use a 3 month trial period to see how it goes.

* Plan Meal Calendars — Plan meals for three months and mark who is bringing what meal on what days and times. (You can print free calendars at my website.)

* Be Honest — Be honest and up front about food likes, dislikes, and even possible food allergies to avoid problems down the road.

* Have a Back-up Plan — Try to have a back-up plan for meal delivery if you can’t be home to receive the meal when it is delivered.

* Use Recipes That Work — Choose recipes to start with that are your family favorites.

* Cash in at the Check-Out — Buy in bulk and plan your grocery trips to save money.

* Pan-Damonium — Either buy identical 9×13 glass baking pans with blue snap on lids or use disposable pans to swap meals in to save chaos.

* Enjoy the Ride — Relax and enjoy the ride. Remember to cherish the friendship above the swapping group when someone chooses to leave.

What do we have in store for us if we pick up a copy of your book?

The Great American Supper Swap has so much packed between the pages.

Of course, I share some funny and touching stories about my own supper swapping experiences. Like the time Carla spilled a gallon of Taco Soup in her minivan, (and how to avoid that yourself!).

Or how my supper swapping girlfriends fed my family during the weeks when my newborn was in the hospital with RSV.

There are also tips in each chapter like how to get started, cash in at the check out and save up to $4,000 by supper swapping, and advice to help moms along the way.

There are also practical things like a pan formula so you know how many new pans to buy depending on how many moms are in your group. It’s a lot less expensive than moms think!

But supper swapping is also about family and friendship. At the end of each chapter there is a Potluck Activity, a fun game to play with your girlfriends.

And there is also a chapter with kid-friendly, fun mealtime prayers you can say or sing at the dinner table.

And, of course, our BEST supper swapping recipes are included to help you get started.

Do you have a favorite recipe?

Oh, wow. That’s a tough question. I love Teri’s Autumn Soup, Carla’s Mandarin Salad, and yum, Grape Delight for dessert. Sorry, that was more than one!

Thanks so much, Trish. You’ve given us so many great ideas! Do you have a last bit of advice for us?

Though I have been a supper swap mom myself for almost five years and LOVE supper swapping, my passion is to get families back to the dinner table. Supper swapping is just one great way to do that.

Each family needs to find what works for them, whether it’s once-a-month cooking, buying meals from Dream Dinners, or simply eating Mac & Cheese. The food is secondary to the importance of gathering around the dinner table as a family.

Each and every mom out there needs to know that your family dinner is vital to your kid’s success for their lifetime.

Studies have shown that children who eat dinner with their family on a regular basis are 60% less likely to smoke cigarettes, 50% less likely to use drugs, and 66% less likely to drink alcohol.

So I guess my advice would be to find a way that works for your family and get back to the dinner table however you can.

I hope and pray that The Great American Supper Swap does help families gather around their dinner tables again. That’s my biggest prayer for this book.

Trish Berg offers a bounty of goodies at her website, TrishBerg.com, where you can read some of her articles, blog posts, and sign up for her free “Trish’s Tip of the Week” newsletter that is packed with fun ideas and recipes for busy moms. You can also read a great article by Trish in Today’s Christian Woman

P.S. If you leave a comment here by Friday at 5 pm, you’ll be entered into a random drawing to win a FREE copy of The Great American Supper Swap, mailed to you by Trish!

I’ve been writing a little magazine column in my hometown for almost three years. It’s truly one of my favorite ongoing assignments because I can write about anything I want to, and I love feeling a part of the community.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a column encouraging people to get outdoors and take pictures of their children — especially while all the spring flowers were bursting with blooms. I wrote a few paragraphs about how one of my favorite memories as a mom was of taking some pictures of my two oldest children in a patch of jonquils.

I revised that column into an essay and submitted it to an editor who was looking for stories for a Christian book publisher. She emailed back to thank me, and asked if she could hold it for a future project. I was of course a little disappointed, figuring that she was rejecting my story in a very nice way!

So what a surprise it was for me to hear from this editor a couple of months ago — nearly two years since I submitted. She wanted to send me a contract and said my story had made it through final revisions to be included in this beautiful new gift book, Blessed Among Women: God’s Gift to Mothers.

My story, “Spring Portraits,” is among several other essays written by moms and grandmoms celebrating the joys of motherhood, and I’m simply amazed to be included. It’s a hardback book, with artfully decorated pages — and there are poems, Bible verses, and famous quotations that make any mother feel that her job is the best, most significant job in the world.

If you’re in charge of planning a Mother’s Day tea or banquet, this book is full of inspiration (especially if you need some quotes for a speech!) It also makes a nice Mother’s Day gift for making someone you love feel special.

Our guest this week is Christine Lynxwiler, a mom and writer who lives with her husband and two daughters in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.

She’s author of several novels, including her most recent, Promise Me Always, which I reviewed for this month’s CWO Book Buzz.

Welcome, Christine! Your book has inspired me to get outside and do some gardening!

Can you tell us a little about your main character, Allie Richards, and what she’s gotten herself into in this novel?

Ever since she worked for a lawn service/landscaping company in high school, Allie has dreamed of having her own. When she marries, she puts her dreams on hold to support her husband through med school, but he gets hit by a car and killed when he’s still an intern.

Left with a mountain of debt and two young daughters, Allie forgets her dream. But when she’s fired from her secretarial job, her Pinky Promise friends convince her to go out on a limb and enter a landscaping contest.

As a young widow, raising two daughters on her own, what kind of struggles does Allie encounter?

Allie has to deal with the same problems most moms do — children who love each other, but don’t always like each other. She definitely wishes that she could turn them over to the other parent sometimes, but that’s not an option for her. She’s on call 24/7 and has to worry about being solely responsible for putting food on the table.

Can you give us some details about the Pinky Promise Sisterhood? What role do these friends play in Allie’s life?

The Pinky Promise Sisterhood formed out of necessity. Sometimes you have to have someone who will keep your secrets.

From the time in second grade when Lark and Allie found out they had matching Dukes of Hazzard lunchboxes, they knew they’d each found a friend. But when Lark told Allie that she’d never had a daddy and showed her how to pinky promise not to tell, the sisterhood was born.

A few years later, rich but unhappy Victoria was allowed in, and then when the trio were young adults, they befriended Rachel, seventeen, unwed and pregnant. Secrets bound them together to start with, but now love keeps them from ever forsaking each other.

You introduce a romantic hero in this novel, Daniel Montgomery. What do you think holds Allie back in trusting him?

When you’re writing first person, from the heroine’s point of view, I think your hero has to be larger than life. Daniel Montgomery fits this bill. He’s a risk-taker on a Harley.

But at the same time, he’s compassionate, solid, and safe. Allie can’t see past the first part. And she’s afraid. Afraid to trust anyone who can’t promise her always. And we know there’s only One who can do that.

As a writer, do you see yourself in Daniel?

Maybe, but to be honest, I saw myself in Allie too. Even though their dreams were very different, hers — to start her own landscaping company, and his — to write the Great American Novel, they both took a chance on achieving their goals. Following any dream is a scary, albeit rewarding, journey.

Yes, that’s true. There’s a strong theme of gardening throughout Promise Me Always. Are you also a gardener?

I’m not a gardener anymore. But I still think about it a lot. My deadlines have been so back-to-back for a while now that I don’t get my hands off the keyboard long enough to get them dirty.

For three years when we lived in Powder Springs, Georgia, I worked for a landscaping company. When I first started, it was a lawn service, but even then I liked the satisfaction that came from mowing a lawn, weedeating, edging it, and standing back to admire my work.

Then my boss expanded into landscaping and I LOVED it. I worked until I was seven months pregnant with my first daughter, then quit. But I’d always rather be outside.

I’ve been on a pressing deadline lately and Saturday, I took my laptop outside and wrote while my husband planted in the garden.

Sounds like fun! How does Allie grow spiritually as a Christian woman during this novel?

When the story starts, Allie has fallen into the trap of thinking she’s in control of her life. She doesn’t like things that mess with her perfect plan.

By the end of the book, she has to admit that God is the only One in control. I can’t speak for all Christian women, but I know that as I wrote the parts where Allie was literally forced to put things in God’s hands, I squirmed. I am a bit of a control freak, so this book was cheap therapy for me.

What’s next in the Pinky Promise Sisterhood series?

Right now I’m working on Rachel’s story. She’s a chiropractor who is happy living alone with her two dogs. But when she ends up taking care of a rebellious teenage girl for the summer whose only love is horses, it’s hard to handle it without some help. Along Came A Cowboy will hit the shelves in the spring of 2008.

Wow — you’re definitely staying busy with deadlines! In your Novel Journey interview, you detailed your journey to publication. What has surprised you most about being a published novelist?

I thought my life would change considerably when I got published. But it hasn’t. I still have fears and insecurities, bills and dirty dishes, good days and bad days.

Before I was published it seemed like publication was the goal, the end of the journey. Now each story is just a signpost along the way toward growing as a writer and as a person.

Do you have any advice for moms who try to squeeze in a little writing time while they’re also busy raising a family?

My only advice for moms is kids grow up fast. My little one was tiny when I started writing. Now she’s ten. I’ve missed too many chances to read a story to her because I was writing one. That’s my new goal. Be more responsible about my word count so that my house doesn’t have to become a one-parent household around deadline time.

On the other hand, don’t use your kids as a cop-out, a reason not to write. Carve out some time each day. A fulfilled mom is a great mom!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I have to put in a plug for the book I just turned in titled Forever Christmas. This is written in a voice similar to the Pinky Promise books.

Forever Christmas is set in Jingle Bells, Arkansas, a little town where, according to the welcome sign, “The Spirit of Christmas Lives In Our Hearts All Year Long.” Former runaway bride, Kristianna Harrington, has to fight to save the town she loves without losing her heart in the process.

I’ll be posting the cover or at least a link to the amazon page for the book on my website in a few days.

We’ll have to check that out — thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Christine!

Thanks for having me, Heather. It’s been fun!

You can keep up with Christine Lynxwiler’s writing and family life via her website, which she updates regularly with an awesome blog!

The new issue of Christian Women Online is out — and it’s jam-packed with articles and stories that celebrate the joy of our Risen Savior!

If you’re looking for an inspiring new book to read, I’ve picked out a few good ones for you in this month’s Book Buzz.

Here’s one of my favorites: My Heart’s in the Lowlands, by Liz Curtis Higgs.

For those of us who’d love to spend ten days touring the Scottish countryside, Liz Curtis Higgs’ offer is irresistible: “Let’s go, shall we? Just the two of us,” she invites. The bestselling novelist who confesses to owning over 800 books on Scotland shows readers why her heart’s in the hills and glens of the Scottish Lowlands.

I couldn’t read a sentence of this book without smiling and wiping away a tear or two – it was pure joy to read from page one.

The detailed map in the beginning of the book allows readers to follow along while Higgs narrates our tour, complete with stops at her favorite pubs and tearooms. The text is embellished with gorgeous pen and ink sketches that showcase the beauty of Scotland, and each chapter begins with a carefully chosen quote from Robert Burns.

I could hear the bagpipes as I turned the pages, taste the fresh scones and clotted cream, and smell the wildflowers. This book is armchair traveling at its finest!

You can visit Liz Curtis Higgs’ website to see over 150 colorful photos of her travels throughout the Scottish lowlands — be still, my heart. AND! You can also find out about two contests she’s holding — including a chance to win a 9-day trip for two to Scotland!

P.S. If YOU win this trip to Scotland, don’t forget to send me a postcard! 🙂

I’m blogging today over at Writer … Interrupted about something I’ve learned from Mary Kassian’s book, Conversation Peace.

I can’t say enough great things about this book and video series! We’re using these materials right now in our women’s small group that meets at our church.

The video only lasts about 20 minutes, giving us plenty of time to discuss what we’re learning, as well as enjoy each other’s company and share prayer requests.

Meanwhile, the church nursery workers oversee our children playing together outside on the playground! (Accomplishing two things at once!)

I’d love to hear what you think over at Writer … Interrupted.

P.S. Please note that I have a new email address for all future correspondence:

I’ve added a new category to my blog here, “Crafty people and things.” It’s been a few years since I’ve been into making crafts. But now that my kids are getting older, I’m trying to find hobbies we can do together — and knitting is one activity I’ve been considering for my daughters.

So I’ve discovered a “knitting mentor,” Jennifer Keene! She is so talented and full of ideas — and she manages to find time to work on her knitting projects while being a mom of two boys. Jennifer has a home-based business called The Knitting Queen2, where you can see all the wonderful items she has for sale online.

Aren’t these little rabbit booties adorable?

Hi, Jennifer. How did you get interested in knitting?

I’m not really sure! It started about 12 years ago. I had been working in a job I really didn’t like and decided to quit and take a little time off before finding another one. I told my husband that one of the things I really wanted to do during my break was learn to knit.

It was just a whim. I found a cute little knitting shop nearby and took a class — it was a series of four evenings. By the end of the first evening I was hooked.

It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with my new “talent” (I have a couple of very ugly sweaters to show for that!) and I really found my passion when I was pregnant with my first son, about seven years ago. I started making baby hats for him and for my best friend’s son.

Baby hats are adorable and make such great gifts! Is it hard for beginners to pick up knitting?

I don’t think so. It’s pretty straight forward. Knitting is made up of two stitches — knit and purl. There are many variations on this, but it all boils down to these two stitches.

Knitting patterns can look pretty daunting — they’re often written in paragraph form and use a lot of abbreviations. For a beginner, I think it can look overwhelming. But it’s really not. If you have the right person teach you in the beginning, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to pick up.

What’s the best way for beginners to get started?

I think taking a class is the best thing. All knitting stores have classes for the beginner, taught by people who love to knit. People who work in knitting stores are there because they love it so much and they get great joy in seeing someone else “see the light.”

I wouldn’t recommend trying to teach yourself to knit using a book. That being said, I also think a beginner can learn a LOT about knitting in just a few sessions. For an investment of just a few evenings or Saturday afternoons, the beginning knitter will walk away with a ton of basic knowledge.

Do you have any favorite books you’d recommend?

Two books that I bought early on have been invaluable to me. One is Vogue Knitting. It has excellent pictures and drawings and you can look up almost anything.

The other is The Knitter’s Companion by Vicki Square. This is a small spiral-bound book that fits easily into your knitting bag. Again, great descriptions and covers a lot of basics. When I was first learning to knit, The Knitter’s Companion was my bible.

A spiral-bound book sounds handy so you can leave the page open while you’re working.

Yes — and keep in mind that most knitting stores welcome the chance to help you if you need to pop in for a quick question. If the help you need is extensive, they may ask you to schedule a time and charge a nominal tutoring fee. But if there is a step in your pattern that you just can’t get, ask the experts at the store to show you. That’s what I do!

You make this sound do-able! What was your first knitting project?

My first project was from the class I took. It was a sweater. I chose very thick yarn, in a color I don’t particularly care for, and it ended up being something I knew I would NEVER wear (no one ever needs sweaters that thick in Seattle).

Somehow, my mom ended up with it and I saw her wearing it once. I was horrified!

What project would you recommend for a first-time knitter?

A sweater is actually not a bad first project — if you choose a fairly simple pattern. A sweater teaches you many skills a knitter needs to know — increases, decreases, binding off, picking up stitches, and finishing (sewing your pieces together).

I wouldn’t recommend a sweater, however, if you’re on a deadline. Even for an experienced knitter, a sweater is not a task to be taken lightly.

Scarves are obviously a good choice — that can be about as basic as you can get. Also, many hat patterns are quite easy and you can finish up a hat pretty quickly.

I love to knit socks. They are a great portable project, there are gorgeous sock yarns out there, it’s fairly inexpensive, and you’re guaranteed to wear them.

Why do you think knitting has become so popular lately?

Honestly, I don’t know. I do think the books and patterns that are available now are WONDERFUL, compared to what they were ten years ago. Designers are coming up with much more wearable, usable items and I think that intrigues people.

Also, writers like Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (The Yarn Harlot, Knitting Rules) are writing bestsellers about knitting. Her books are hilarious, very true to life, and I found myself loving knitting even more after reading her books.

It’s kind of a chicken-and-egg thing, though. Did people finally start seeing how fun knitting can be after seeing the great yarns and patterns, or are the new yarns and patterns the result of knitting’s rise in popularity?

For me, it is a relaxing hobby that I can do around my family. I really love to read as well, but reading is very anti-social. I can knit and talk to my kids or my husband at the same time. Many projects are easily portable and it’s a great way to kill time.

How do you find time to knit?

I quit cleaning my house! Seriously, that’s only partially true (part of the reason I quit cleaning my house is that I find it to be a losing battle. I have two small boys and a messy husband … enough said).

I often will schedule in knitting time — I do my errands, housework, etc. in the mornings. Then I usually knit during my four-year-old’s nap, and I often knit in the evenings after the house is picked up and the kids are in bed. I admit, I’m a TV watcher, and I find I can knit easily while relaxing and watching TV.

Also, my kids are getting old enough (four and seven) that they can play together and don’t need constant supervision. They would LIKE my constant attention, but I think it’s important that they rely on each other more for entertainment.

So in the afternoons I will often sit in the living room and knit while they play. I’m still very much available for them, but I am teaching them that Mommy has things she likes to do too. My family knows that knitting is important to me and I think they’ve learned to accept it (either that, or they’ve completely given up all hope…).

I’m in a Bible study once a week, and after our discussion there is an hour-long video we watch — I always knit during the video. I know some people who will actually knit during church services. I can’t do that. I honestly think I would still stay focused on the sermon, but I think others would find it disrespectful, so I don’t feel right about it.

Can you tell us about your business, The Knitting Queen2?

About a year ago I started selling my baby hats on ebay. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for seven years now and I really wanted to find something that I could call my own.

I’m not ready to go back to work, but I want to try to contribute a bit to the household income (or at least make enough to support my habit!). Knitting is something I am truly passionate about and it just seemed like the next logical step, to try and sell my creations.

I had been knitting for friends and had been getting a lot of great feedback, so I’m trusting that the general public will also feel the same!

I agree. Your knitting creations are so adorable!

I knew ebay wasn’t quite the right venue, but, well, you have to start somewhere.

The name Knitting Queen was already taken, so I became Knitting Queen2. I carried it over to my Etsy store just so I wouldn’t get confused with my different IDs.

I was so excited when I found Etsy! It’s a website to sell hand-crafted items! It’s easier and less expensive than ebay and I feel it’s a much better fit for me. So now I am exclusively on Etsy, trying to make a go of this.

I’m selling hand knit baby and toddler hats, baby slippers, coffee sleeves (I’m from Seattle, remember?!), and hand knit plush cupcakes. I have a list a mile long of upcoming projects, so the more people buy, the more I can afford to come up with new creations!

How can we get in touch with you?

My shop on Etsy can be found here. I also have a blog at The Knitting Queen or people can email me directly at jen_keene@hotmail.com.

Thanks, Jennifer. You’ve inspired me to learn more about knitting!

Thanks so much for inviting me, Heather!

You can see Jennifer Keene’s knitting creations at her website, The Knitting Queen2.

It’s a privilege today to welcome author Tricia Goyer back to Mom 2 Mom Connection.

You may remember Tricia was here back in January giving us the scoop on how she finds time to write so much and still homeschool her three children!

Tricia is the author of five novels, two nonfiction books, and one children’s book. In 2005, her novel Night Song won ACFW’s Book of the Year for Long Historical Romance.

She’s also a passionate writing instructor on the topic of researching historical fiction. Her latest novel, Valley of Betrayal, is hot off the press from Moody Publishers, book one in her Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series.

Welcome back, Tricia! How in the world did you get interested in writing a book about the Spanish Civil War?

When I was researching for my novel, Arms of Deliverance, one of the autobiographies I read was from a man who was a B-17 bomber pilot over Europe — but before that he was an American volunteer for The Spanish Civil War.

I had never heard of this war before, which happened right before WWII in Spain. I started researching and I was soon fascinated. Some people call it “the first battle of WWII” because it’s where the Nazis first tried their hand at modern warfare.

Wow. I’ve never heard of that. So how did your research develop into a full-fledged novel?

I started by researching this time in history, briefly, then I started thinking of unique characters that had an impact during that time.

For example, characters from my other novels have been medics, war correspondents, artists, prisoners, etc. To me, it’s the people that make the story (and history) come alive.

For this series, I dove into the lives of an American artist, a few international volunteers, a Basque priest, and a German pilot. I research the real people first, and then the plot for my novel builds. Soon, I have to make myself stop researching to start writing. Research can be addictive!

That sounds amazing — I wish my history professors had used novels to bring our dry textbooks to life. You make this time period sound so fascinating! What themes exist in Valley of Betrayal that you hope the reader sees?

The main theme is one of “God’s Providence.” We think we’re doing something for one reason, but then later we discover that God’s plan was even bigger! There are no coincidences with God.

Also, there’s a theme of “discovered strength.” I love the verse that talks about, “In my weakness God’s strength is complete.” Only when we are weak can God’s strength truly shine through us.

That’s true — and only when we go through a trying experience do we allow ourselves to see God’s strength. Did you find there were any difficult parts to write?

The most difficult parts are those dealing with the political climates of that time. One of my characters, Deion, is part of the Communist party. Today’s reader has one view of what that means, but in the 1930s there was hope found there. In a country that was still segregated, the idea of “equality of men” was a huge draw, especially for African Americans.

Did you have a favorite part of the writing?

Yes, I really liked researching the Spanish culture — the bullfights and the flamenco dancing. The attitudes and the beliefs. It’s fascinating.

Oh, and I love getting swept away with my characters. They always surprise me!

In fact, at the beginning of the book, I added a minor character because my girl, Sophie, needed a ride across the border. As it turns out her driver ends up being one of the major players in the book. Who knew?

Oh, you make the writing sound like so much fun! Tricia, your previous novels focus on World War II, but A Valley of Betrayal highlights a lesser known period of history. What do you think your high school history teacher would say about where the Lord has brought you in your writing projects?

I think my high school English teacher would be shocked. I wrote lots of notes in class, but they were to pass to my friends . . . not notes of what he was teaching! Unfortunately, my history teacher stressed boring dates and stuff. I think he’d be proud of how I bring history to life within the pages of a novel.

I agree. I think historical fiction would be great for high school students to read. A LOVE STORY, like yours, would have made history come to life for us dreamy romantics! Was there anything that intimidated you about writing this novel?

This book was very challenging because I knew nothing about The Spanish Civil War before I started. Yet, I felt sure that God was leading me to write these books, and God (again) taught me to trust Him.

When He gives me an idea for a novel it is so BIG. I mean there is so much to pull together. Yet, God has shown me time and time again that He is faithful. He gives me ideas, leads me to the right research books, and even brings people into my life to help me!

Can you give us any specific examples?

While I was researching this book, a man named Norm Goyer contacted me because he was working on his family tree and he wanted to know if we were related. We weren’t related, but Norm ended up being an airplane expert and consultant for movies.

Norm ended up helping me with research on my German pilot in Spain. I think it was an awesome gift from God! This again shows me that whatever God brings before me, He also has the power to help me succeed.

Tricia, that is such a neat story! You make historical fiction sound like such fun to write. I wish you the best as you work on the rest of this trilogy!

Thanks! 🙂

Tricia Goyer loves hearing from her readers! You can get in touch with her through her main website, Tricia’s Loft. Thanks to Amy Lathrop for helping to coordinate this interview.

There’s a little gathering going on today over at Robin’s Little Bits of Life blog to discuss Beth Moore’s new book, Get Out of That Pit. I learned about this from Boomama. Since I haven’t read the book (and don’t have time to now), I may lurk a bit and see what everyone’s saying about it.

On a different topic …

Last night I went to a Ladies Night Out banquet at my church, along with about 400 other women. And something weird happened. Twice.

I had a reserved seat at a table, thanks to my Sunday school teacher. When I got there (a few minutes late), there was only one seat left at the table. To my right was my Sunday school teacher, who is one of my mentors. Her five kids are mostly older than mine, and I hang onto her every word because she is one of the most JOYFUL people I know.

To my left was a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. We’d met in a Bible study about seven years ago, but then she and her husband had moved to a different church. Anyway, it’s one of those friendships where the gap between then and now closes in about two sentences.

After a while, I asked her if she’d read anything good lately (always my favorite topic), and she said, “You know, the Lord has really convicted me about reading lately. I’m just a book-a-holic. I love books! But then I felt like I wanted to read other books more than read the Word. So right now, I’m only focusing on the Bible. It’s great. It’s so refreshing. I can’t wait to get up and read the Word every day.”

Wow. I felt like someone had just splashed a bucket of cold water right in my face. In a good way — like wake up, girl, and see what’s really important. We then talked about the Bible — me confessing that I’ve gotten bogged down in the Mosaic Law in my reading, and she telling me what she’s been learning about the New Testament church. Oh, I love having a friend like this.

Then! (in a rambly mood today) …

We got split up from each other. After the banquet, we all needed to move from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary because our speaker needed room for PROPS. Some women went to wait in a ridiculously long line at the restroom. I decided to stop at the speaker’s book table, you know, to see what books she had available.

After a few minutes, I sauntered alone into the sanctuary, which was packed. Several people waved at me, but I was in sort of a daze and kept walking toward the front. I looked over to my left, about three rows back — and there was my old friend I’d sat next to at dinner with a spot for me next to her. So we had another chance to talk again.

This time we changed topics, and I confessed to her that my husband and I have been thinking about thinking about moving — closer to his new job. When I mentioned the part of town we were considering, she burst out, “Oh! That’s right near [such-and-such] church. You will HAVE to go visit that church. The pastor’s sermons are incredible — you’ll be spiritually Blown Away.”

The very weird thing is … that church sounded familiar … and I wondered if it was the same one where some of my college friends attend — friends I don’t get to see often, but our kids are the same age, and we talk on the phone every now and then.

This little seed was planted. About that church. Why in the world, of all people for me to sit next to twice, did I find someone who KNEW about that church?

So I called one of my college friends this morning, and I had this little fluttery feeling in my heart, like I was scared to ask. Scared to be disappointed. But I did. “Um … I was just wondering. What church do y’all go to?”

THAT church.

So I told her we were doing some online house research around that area, and she proceeded to tell me why we would LOVE that church and all the people who go there, many of whom I already know. “This church will be great for your ministry,” she told me. She also said, “You know, the Lord has put you on my heart the past few weeks, and I’ve been praying for you, Heather. I didn’t know what it was about, but I just started praying for you. I even told [my husband] about it. Well, now I know! You need to move here!”

So there’s my two weird things … actually three:
— sitting next to my friend who says she’s not reading any other books besides the Bible and feeling WHOOSH! The Holy Spirit whispering to me.
— her later telling me about this fantastic church
— talking to my old college friend this morning who also goes to that church, and her telling me she’s been praying for me.

I wanted to blog about it — because if I don’t write it down, I’ll forget it. I absolutely HATE moving — having strangers walk through my house, realtors in my driveway with their cell phones and “a client” when you’re sitting down to eat. Big decisions. Contracts. Money. Scary stuff.

But these three weird things, bits of conversation, are like seeds. Something has been planted. I have to learn to trust God to water those seeds if they’re to grow. The verse from Luke 1:37 comes to mind: “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

P.S. A percentage of proceeds from last night’s banquet went to support Alzheimer’s research. Here’s a picture of me helping out at our local Memory Walk a few months ago. I had the Very Important job of blowing up balloons and tying them to this sign. (Hat tip to Carol, who blogged about her Memory Walk in Texas).

I’ve spent the last couple of hours vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping my house, and the whole time I’ve had this question in my head, “What am I going to do with all these books, Lord?”

I’m talking about the stack of books people have sent me for review. There is NO way in the world I can read even a fraction of them. I heard the mail truck a few minutes ago and decided to take a break to walk to the mailbox. Inside were three packages — containing six more books!

As Christian Women Online has grown (and the audience is now huge), I’m on every media list out there. I love reading these great Christian books — but I’ve decided I can’t possibly read and review more than four to six books per month. And that’s still a lot!

I have to keep up with my housework, meal preparation, discipling my own children, transporting my kids here and there, and — oh yes — I’m a wife!

So, after I opened that last package of books, I asked again, “What am I going to do with all these books, Lord?” And AT LAST, I had a huge flash of insight.

I can’t read them all — I can’t review them all — but these books can become part of my library that will be a ministry to everyone who comes into my house. I already loan out my novels regularly to friends, who pass them on to others. Many of these women have never read a Christian novel in their life. So that’s a ministry I can offer.

In the past week, I’ve received two Christian young adult novels, a nonfiction book for 20-somethings, and today — a new book on abstinence. These are wonderful resources for anyone who works with young people. A couple of weeks ago, I told our youth pastor about a great book for teaching the Bible to teenagers. And just this morning in our mom’s Bible study, I mentioned several books while I was making a point about something (or at least trying to).

So maybe this will be my role: I’ll be your local friendly librarian — the lady who loves Christian books and can recommend a book on any subject.

A woman wrote me yesterday saying she was having an identity crisis as a young mom; she and her friends are all asking the question, “Who am I?” She wanted to know if I recommended any books. Of course! That was an easy email to answer.

NOW … my next goal is to get more of YOU writing book reviews. It’s a cinch to go over to Amazon and write about a book you’ve just read. Are you doing this? If you read a book and like it a lot, why not tell thousands of people?

If you’re the mom of a teenager, are your teens writing book reviews? If they enjoy writing, why not? I wrote hundreds of essays in high school and college — yet hardly anyone saw them except for my teachers and professors. Most of these essays were my flowery and sometimes intriguing reflections on literature. If I were an English teacher, I’d have my whole class writing book reviews.

Well, I’ve got to get back to cleaning — and thinking. This is what we home librarians do while our children are napping.

I hope you’re having a marvelous Valentine’s Day, savoring every piece of endorphine-loaded chocolate as much as I am. (The dark kind is healthy, you know.) I’ve been to three kids’ Valentine’s parties today — refueling on sugar and parent gossip like everyone else — and now it’s pure joy to sit down a minute and focus my mind on books.

Books I LOVE!

Really, I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to tell you all about one of my favorite mom-lit series — as it turns out, my waiting had a purpose because the author herself agreed to come visit for an interview. Tracey Bateman is here!

Have you read any of her books yet? If you haven’t, you’ll love them. You’ll love her. And you’ll definitely love her main character in this mom-lit series, Claire Everett.

These are the books that drive my husband crazy when I’m reading next to him because I laugh out loud at least twice every page. The books are so FUNNY — and don’t we moms need something to laugh about at the end of one of THOSE days?

Yet the novels are not just fun and fluffy — Claire is growing in her relationship with Christ, and you will too, as you read how she handles things. Like the author herself, Claire is a writer and mother of four — so her life is pretty chaotic as she tries to balance career and family.

Here’s a brief excerpt from the first book, Leave it to Claire.

In this scene, Claire is dropping off her popular teenage daughter at the high school where she will be cheerleading:

I see her group of followers pointing at me and whispering among themselves. Okay, they’re probably looking and admiring her, and most likely haven’t noticed me, but when you have the kind of self-esteem I have, laughing kids translate to “laughing at me” kids. That’s the way I feel if anyone is cracking a joke anywhere in the vicinity, and I’m not in on it.

It’s something I’ve dealt with since I was a kid. Full of myself one second, down on myself the next. I probably need therapy. I hear Dr. Phil has a diet book out now. Maybe I should read it and kill two birds with one stone. Get my head and behind shrunk for one low price of $19.99.

HA! Every time I read that last sentence, I have to laugh. I keep my Claire trilogy in a prominent spot on my bookshelf — and whenever I begin to take myself and life too seriously, I read a few lines.

Tracey Bateman is an award-winning author of more than sixteen books and lives in Missouri with her husband and four children. She’s been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since the early months of its inception and served as President for nearly two years.

As author of several romance novels, Tracey has been a long-time favorite among Heartsong club members. In 2005, she was voted the club’s fourth favorite author!

If you love Kristin Billerbeck’s California style chick-lit, you’ll adore Bateman’s midwest-based books for moms. Tracey has over 600,000 books in print.

Who is Claire Everett? How did you come up with a character like her?

I like to think she’s everywoman, but that’s a little far reaching, even for someone who dreams as much as I do. But inside of her are all the insecurities of body image, motherhood, career.

Okay, I’ll just admit it. She’s a heckuva lot like me and pretty much has all of my angst. 🙂

What’s going on in her life in these books?

She’s trying to connect with her kids, trying to lose a few pounds (aren’t we always?) Trying to keep her feet on the ground and grow in her relationship with God.

The catalyst is when she is forced to stop working for a few weeks due to carpal tunnel. Time to face herself and the mess she’s in.

When you started the series, did you have any idea how you’d end it, or did you sort of let Claire take over and decide for herself?

I pretty much let her do her thing. It was just too much fun from day to day waiting to see what she would do or say.

Was it hard to finish up the Claire trilogy, or were you ready to move on to something else?

I was ready. I had another series contracted with the same publisher to do chicklit — The Drama Queens — and I love it. Although I wouldn’t mind doing one more and let her get pregnant AND juggle the rest of her life. That would be fun.

What are you working on now?

Book two in the Drama Queens series. The first one, Catch a Rising Star, releases in July.

I can’t wait to read it! Tracey, I love your sense of fun throughout the Claire books, yet you bring us back to the reality that God’s in control, no matter how much our lives seem to be spinning into chaos. How do you keep your own faith strong?

I don’t always. I have weak, weak days when all I want to do is lay on the couch and watch Lifetime movies. My faith always wavers when I have PMS. 🙂

The root stays buried in the soil, though. I’m learning that my emotions are not always reflecting what I know about who I am in Christ.

I give myself permission to be weak because I know that when I’m weak God is strong. It’s why I choose to write about real women who would love to be perfect, but who are simply not. Because as much as I’d love to be together even fifty percent of the time, the fact is I’m usually sitting around in my PJs, or yoga pants, hair a mess, frustrated because I am late on yet another project.

But this is the life God’s given me. Four fun, fabulous, CRAZY funny kids, three dogs, a guy who adores me even though I don’t deserve it, and the kind of schedule that doesn’t allow for housework AND Lifetime. And I mean a girl has to relax SOMETIMES. Right?

Thank God for chocolate and Pizza.

Ah … yes. Thank God for chocolate and pizza. And I’ll add one more thing I can’t live without — funny books! Like yours. Thank you so much for making me laugh out loud and forget my stress by escaping into the hilarious life of Claire Everett.

You’re welcome!

You can read more about Tracey’s books and humor on her website, which includes a blog. Her Claire trilogy includes Leave it to Claire, Claire Knows Best, and I Love Claire.