A Legacy of Writing (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

It wasn’t too long ago. I was sitting in my office, tapping away at the keyboard, trying to meet a deadline, when the doorbell rang. Our oldest daughter and her family had arrived. An expected visit to drop off our two grandsons so Mom and Dad would go out and remember why they started this whole plan years ago.

I could hear my grandson, Landon, ask my wife, “Where’s Papa?”

“He’s in his office.”

He bebopped in, a big smile on his face. “Hey, Papa.”

“Hey, buddy. Did you come to see me?” I extended my arms for a hug.

“Yep.” He gives me a hug and looks at the computer screen. “Whatchadoin’?”

Wanting to see how the wheels would turn in that over-imaginative head of his, I said, “Papa is writing a book.” (I knew it would spark interest because he’d just started learning how to read, and books were such a new, “cool” thing to him.)

“You’re writing a book?” The look on his face was precious. The wonder in his eyes and the astonishment in his tone said it all.

“Did you know Papa has already written a book? As a matter of fact, Papa has written two books so far.” I got up, went to the bookshelf, and retrieved my copies of The Serpent’s Grasp and 30 Days Hath Revenge and handed them to him.

“Whoa,” he said, mesmerized by their thickness and weight compared to the Dr. Seuss books he’d been devouring of late. “You wrote these?”

I nodded and took one of them. I opened it to the author page in the back and showed him my picture. “You know this guy?”

I’ll never forget the look on his face. Wonderment mixed with a sense of pride is the only way I can describe it. “Yeah. That’s you,” he said with a big grin.

He stared at my picture. He then flipped the book back to the front cover and studied it. “Thirty days hath revenge,” he said, sounding out the words and saying them as perfectly as a six-year old could. He continued, “C. Kevin Thompson.” He looks up at me. “Hey, that’s you.”

My smile was bigger on the inside. “Sure is, buddy.”

“That’s pretty cool, Papa.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

He nodded, still gazing at the cover. “I don’t like the blood on the cover, though (He was looking at the first edition cover).”

“You know what? Neither do I. That’s why we’re changing it.” I opened the file on my computer, and showed him what the new cover looked like.

He squinted as if someone had just asked him to eat earthworms for breakfast. “I don’t like that one, either. It’s scary.”

“Well, buddy,” I said, “it’s a big people book, so I wouldn’t expect someone your age to like it.” However, I was thinking, “Yes! If he thinks it’s scary, maybe adults will be intrigued.” (We’re always looking for encouragement, aren’t we? Wherever we can find it.)

Landon set the book down, gave me another hug, and peered at the computer screen again. “Do you think I could ever write a book when I get older?”

Folks, that’s when everything crystallized for me.

I know, as writers, we dream, plan, even fantasize about the “what ifs?” and the “possibilities.” I know we agonize about the “could’ves,” “should’ves,” and “would’ves.” We get mired in shop talk about advertising, bottom lines, and latest trends. We get “acronymed” to death with ROIs, CBAs, KDPs, BBs, and WIPs. OMG, right?

For me, though—after that conversation with my grandson—this entire writing journey is more about a legacy than it is about legal tender. I want Landon, and my other grandchildren—all five of them—to not only have a love for reading, but see it as something more. I want them to ask me questions about the biz. I would love for them to go to a writers’ conference with me someday. Know that there’s a world out there we call “publishing” that encapsulates some many opportunities. And even if they never choose a career in this field, at least they can appreciate the hard work that goes into one of these things we call “a book.” That they can appreciate what chasing a dream is all about. That their love for learning, imagining, and wondering will somehow expand because of the measly words I leave on a page. That someday, they’ll pass that curiosity and desire to know along to their children, and books will be an ever-growing, integral part of their lives.

That’s when you know you’ve truly succeeded as a writer. Like the legacy a police officer leaves with his family as generation after generation of law enforcement officers flow from that fountainhead. Or the teacher who examines her family tree only to find various kinds of educators strewn throughout the branches. A writer who produces a legacy of book lovers, however that love manifests itself in the way of a career, is what it is all about for me. That’s what keeps me writing.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (KJV), “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” “All these things”—what we will eat, what we will wear, the things of this world we need to exist—Jesus said would happen. It was a promise by Emmanu-el, The With Us God. There’s just one thing we must do: His kingdom and His righteousness must be sought after first. Of course, that means we must repurpose our personal lives every day in this pursuit. However, in that quest, we leave a wake. We leave a footprint. We leave a legacy. And I can think of no better legacy than to have my children and grandchildren “seek ye first” as well, and when doing so, take pride in knowing Papa T applied what he learned and became in Christ to some words on a page.

I can’t imagine being that author who’s at the top of every bestseller list known to man, yet he’s also the author with children and grandchildren who are disinterested in learning. Always in trouble with the law because of a lack of education. Always in the headlines, not because of who they are, but because of who I am as the bestselling writer. Yeah, I know there are many tangibles and intangibles involved in the entire process we call “parenting,” but establishing a legacy that lasts is so important.

Someday, I’m hoping Landon will be able to hug his son or daughter, and when their old enough, be able to hold one of my books in his hands and say something like, “Did you know Papa T wrote this? As a matter of fact, he’s written a bunch of books.” Then, he takes his child over to the bookshelf and pulls one after another after another off the shelf, watching the same gleam twinkle in the eyes of his child.

And who knows, that little guy or gal just might wind up being the next Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Or maybe he or she writes a treaty that mends fences between two warring nations. Or maybe he or she becomes the next Edward Stratemeyer or Pleasant Rowland.

As wonderful as those possibilities sound, all those crowns will be tossed at the feet of Jesus. It is my prayer that the legacy they leave will be their crown.

 To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link:  HERE!

"The Author Behind the Story" Series - Buck Storm

Greetings from the Sunny South!

As I stated in my short blog post on January 7, introducing my new blog series, The Author Behind the Story, I wanted to get to know better the authors behind the stories I read or have heard about from someone I know. I also wanted readers to either get a chance to strike up a deeper relationship with these authors or get to know a new author they've never read before. It's all about the relationships here. Ones that will move forward long after the last page is turned.

So, with that little preface, I want to introduce to you to author-and songwriter-Buck Storm!

Buck, Welcome!  Give us a quick bio, will ya? In fifty words or less, who is Buck Storm?

I’m Buck Storm. I grew up in Yuma, Arizona—a son of the Southwest. I’m a touring singer/songwriter and the author of two novels. My wife and I have a happy love story and two wonderful, grown children.           

Before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life?

I remember hiding under the covers as a very young kid with a flashlight and a stack of Louis L’Amour novels. I think that’s when I fell in love with story. Later I read everything I could get my hands on. I’ve always loved to write. I think that’s why I began writing songs but the dream of becoming a novelist has always been there. In fact on the application for my first real apartment I lied and said I was a writer. At the time I figured it was more of a small fib since I wrote songs. Oh boy…           

You know what? I play the drums. Self-taught. Can't read a lick of music, drum or otherwise. Play by ear, but I can pick up most things. Have played in two different church praise teams...

Wouldn't it be cool to have a jam session sometime? We could invite our mutual friend, Jim Hart. Hmmm... 

But I digress.

What educational background do you have?

Honestly, I joined a band my sophomore year of high school and barely graduated. In fact, I had to make up a class in summer school to get my diploma. Then I was off to New York to play music. Over the years I did get some college in, including commercial dive school in Santa Barbara, CA. I have to say my real education has come from reading and travel. I’ve been blessed to see a lot of the world.

Are you married? Single? Have kids?

My wife, Michelle, and I have been married for twenty-seven years. She’s my best friend, partner in ministry, and fellow traveler. We have two kids—Ransom (22), and Willow (20). Ransom married a year ago so now we also have Sarah, the best daughter-in-law in the world.

I’m going to give you a shotgun list of favorites. List your favorite in each category and then tell us in one sentence why it is your favorite.

Favorite Food: Mexican. Always reminds me of home.

Favorite Drink: Whiskey. Not often but hey, you asked!

Favorite Song: At the moment “Feelin’ Good Again” by Robert Earl Keene but that could change in the next five minutes.

Favorite Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): Have to say two here: “No Compromise” (the Keith Green story) and “Abandoned to God” (biography of Oswald Chambers). Both deeply impacted my life!

Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 46. It reminds of who He is and who I’m not.

Favorite Movie: Toss up between Field of Dreams and A Room With a View. Both brilliant!

Favorite Actor or Actress: John Wayne. Because he’s John Wayne. 

Favorite Novel (other than your own): Way too many to list. I’m a junkie—dangerous at yard sales.

Favorite Novelist (other than you): Larry McMurtry. At least at the moment.

Favorite Sport: Baseball. Are there others?

Favorite Team (Can be any sport, any level): The Dodgers. I still watch the 1988 World Series on Youtube.

Favorite Subject in School Growing Up: Literature. Because it seemed like the opposite of math.

Favorite Subject Now: Literature. Because it seems like the opposite of math. 

Favorite Teacher in School: Mrs. Kaufen. 7^th grade was a hard time of life. She was tough and stable.

Favorite Time of the Year: Winter. As long as I’m in Hawaii—if not, then Summer.

Favorite Place to Vacation: Kauai. But the world is my back yard!

If you had one person you could meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be?

           

Maybe Louis L’Amour. He really lived, and he wrote about it. I think old Louis would be endlessly entertaining to talk to.

If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?

Barnabas. I think he would have a lot to say that we don’t see in the scriptures. Besides, who doesn’t need a little encouragement?

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?

Hard but honest answer; We had a very bad experience with a church and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. Not only for myself but because it effected the whole family. The good part is it really focused my intent to write. I’m not sure my first novel would have happened without that pain. 

What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?

My life has been a series of crazy/stupid. Two that immediately come to mind are standing on the wall of my fishing boat in a storm when we thought we were going over (so scared I couldn’t feel my legs). And struggling to keep my mind clear 210’ under water on a dive job off the Pacific coast (probably shouldn’t have made it back from that one!). But God has plans for us that reach beyond our bad decisions. Thank you, Lord!           

Why do you live where you live?

We live outside Coeur d’Alene in Northern Idaho. I love rural—never been a city guy. We wanted to be somewhere our kids could throw rocks and have horses. We’re certainly not a video game family. Northern Idaho is pure beauty.

We've looked at property in that neck of the woods before. It does look pretty. We always say we're going to move from Florida someday. On good days, it's a beach on the east coast or the mountains of North Carolina. On bad days, we look at Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. :-) But enough about me. 

We know “Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it affect your life?

I love, “The Quotable Tozer”. I think of A.W. Tozer as the poet-theologian. He inspires me constantly.

When you look for a new home, what are the things that are important to you?

First—filled with family. We live in an old farmhouse built in 1908. I love it and probably wouldn’t trade it. Wouldn’t mind a view of a lake though.

When you look for a new car, what are the things that are important to you? 

When I was a kid a wise old bass player told me a car was a simple device to get your amp from gig to gig. I think he was right. If I had a gazillion dollars I’d probably still drive an old pickup.

When you are looking for a book to read, what are the things that are important to you?

I really like a wide range of things. An interesting cover certainly helps. I love great authors—Hemingway, Steinbeck, O’Henry, etc. all for different reasons but I like modern fiction too. I guess I’m just looking for well-told stories. I can say I’d probably never pick up a book with a romance couple or on the front. I also generally steer clear of Amish and vampires (and don’t even get me started on Amish vampires).

What Bible scripture has impacted your life the most, and why?

John 3:16. Can’t live without it.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover?

Well, I’m home today writing this after a short road-trip of concert dates. The sun is shining and God is in control. I’m content. He’s good to me and I want to return the favor. I need to be genuine. I always strive for my writing to be a byproduct of my faith. It’s often very easy to get that backwards. True art should reflect who we are, not who we want to be perceived as. I want to be His man. One thing I’ve learned as I get older and dumber—I was a genius when I was eighteen—I’m certainly don’t need to wait for fame or sales to make me happy. Life is good. I have everything I need—I have Him. I know I have a lot to learn and, hopefully, some more pages to fill. I have a long way to go but I have an eternal and faithful traveling companion and I plan to enjoy every inch of the trail.

Fair winds!  

Buck, it's been a pleasure having you here and getting to know you. Our prayers are with you, your wife, and your family. May God help you find time to write and play music for Him! And stay warm!!

If you wish to connect with Buck, you can find him @ www.buckstorm.com.

May God bless you all, and may you bless God!

Kevin

Words That "Transcendicate" Culture (A Seriously Write Blog Post)

My wife and I were watching our favorite movie over the holidays,  A Christmas Carol, starring George C. Scott. As I munched on popcorn, I was struck in a new, unique way by the phrase, “Bah! Humbug!” I know. It’s an old phrase. Been around since…well, 1843, right? When Charles Dickens wrote the story?

Actually, yes and no. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word humbug originated circa 1750 to mean a “trick, jest, hoax, imposition, deception.” Merriam-Webster seems to be in agreement. When it was used, it meant something negative. For Scrooge, Christmas was a humbug. A deception. An imposition. A holiday devoutly to be ignored.

What grabbed me this year was how its usage and meaning has transformed an entire holiday season. The crusty curmudgeon who uses it is not a character, per se, who could be called totally original. “Odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling” characters like Scrooge can be found throughout literature. However, it was his turn of a phrase (“Bah! Humbug!”) that made him so memorable. He took a word that was not all that common, added an exclamation of frustration, and used it to express his feelings and beliefs. The result? It transformed society to this day, pitting utter selfishness against the reclamation of God in one of the clearest pictures in literature.

Or how about Roald Dahl? Names like Willy Wonka jump off the page, don’t they? His words do, too. Can you imagine anything so frightsome as this writing life? Do you have any food you find scrumdiddlyumptious? Ever had a day that was splendiferous? Ever wish you could be that Dahlesque in your writing?

Or take the Star Wars franchise. Who would have thunk shortening a 300-year old word like androides, and making it into a somewhat proper noun, would have created such a stir? Now, even Lenovo, who owns Motorola (and Google, who created an entire cellular system to compete with Apple and its iPhone) has to pay Lucas films for the rights to use the word for their cell phones.

So, right now, as you read this, I’ll bet you are brainstorming which word you can truncate, cannibalize, or impregnate with another word for the purpose of funding your retirement, aren’t you?

However, I have a better idea. How about we insert words into sentences for the purpose of transforming society? Use not-so-everyday phrases in such a way so that they take on a whole new persona? Piece together letters into memorable clichés loved for generations to come?

God did it. For God so loved the world…

Dickens did it. Dahl did it. Even George Lucas.

Why can’t you?

To see this article on the Seriously Write website, click on the following link: HERE!

THE AUTHOR BEHIND THE STORY SERIES: Kristin Neva

Greetings from the Sunny South!

As I stated in my short blog post on January 7, introducing my new blog series, The Author Behind the Story, I wanted to get to know better the authors behind the stories I read or heard about from someone I know. I also wanted readers to either get a chance to strike up a deeper relationship with these authors or get to know a new author they've never read before. It's all about the relationships here. Ones that will move forward long after the last page is turned.

So, with that little preface, I want to introduce to you to author Kristin Neva!

Welcome, Kristin! To get us started, give us a quick glimpse, in fifty words or less, of who is Kristin Neva?

I am a mother, caregiver, speaker, and author. My husband, Todd, and I wrote a memoir called Heavy, Finding Meaning after a Terminal Diagnosis. He and I have a blogging and speaking ministry focused on finding meaning in the midst of suffering. Between running my kids to various activities and caring for my quadriplegic husband, I write small-town, inspirational fiction. My first novel Snow Country was published in December 2016, and the second novel in the Copper Island series, Copper Country, will be published June 2017.

Before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life?

Starting the fourth decade of my life, I was living in Racine, Wisconsin, with my husband and baby daughter. I was a bit stir crazy, having shifted from full-time ministry work to being a stay-at-home mom. I needed a creative outlet, something to keep my brain growing. I started taking writing classes at our local community arts center and wrote some short pieces. I’ve always been a reader, and I’ve kept a journal since I was 12. I even took extra English classes in college just for the pure joy of it, so writing was a natural fit for me. 

What educational background do you have?

I graduated from Moody Bible College with a degree in Youth Ministry. When I went on a college tour and visited Moody as a seventeen-year-old, I knew it was the college for me. I loved the excitement of the city, and I wanted to make a difference in the world. As a college student, I got involved in inner-city ministry to teens. I went on to coordinate a tutoring program and help lead a youth group in Milwaukee, WI.

So, you already stated you are wife and mother. How many children do you have, and what are their ages?

I have two children. My daughter, Sara, is ten and my son, Isaac, is seven.

I’m going to give you a shotgun list of favorites. List your favorite in each category and then tell us why it is your favorite.

Favorite Food: Fresh-picked Upper Michigan blueberries.

Favorite Drink: I’m a new coffee drinker. I had never liked coffee, until our pastor changed the church coffee over to a high quality, micro-roast brand. I took a sip, loved it, and realized I had only tried bad coffee.

Favorite Song: Our God is a Great Big God. I play the guitar and lead music for kids at church. They love this one, and I love watching them do the motions.

Favorite Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): Story Trumps Structure, Steven James. I didn’t know how to apply much of the writing advice I had heard until I read James’ book. He cuts to the essence of what makes a story work.

Favorite Bible Verse: John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” I love that this verse embodies the incarnation. As I live with my husband’s terminal illness, I find comfort in Jesus having experienced suffering and the same emotions that we experience. 

Favorite Movie: I like the classics like The Sound of Music and Bringing up Baby. I just introduced my kids to Bringing up Baby, and it has been fun to find occasions to quote the movie with them in our daily life.

Favorite Actor or Actress: Again, I love Julie Andrews as Maria. I have grand visions of myself running through fields with my guitar—though I think Julie Andrews probably didn’t have a guitar in her case in the scene when she was running. It’s awkward to run with a guitar, which I know well because I’m frequently running into the church on Sundays to be on time to lead music for the kids.

Favorite Novel (other than your own, of course): Any of Jan Karon’s novels that are set in Mitford.

Favorite Novelist (other than you, of course): Jan Karon. She created the charming world of Mitford with a lovable characters like Father Tim and Cynthia. They are my friends, and I delight in the details of their life.

Favorite Sport: Hockey. Up here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we embrace winter and with it, hockey.  

Favorite Team (Can be any sport, any level): The Michigan Tech Huskies—our local college hockey team. 

Favorite Subject in School Growing Up: English.

Favorite Subject Now: English

Favorite Teacher in School: Mr. Smith—he was—of course—my high school English teacher.

Favorite Time of the Year: Summer. I love living in a place where we have four distinct seasons, although I admit by March, when we have many weeks of winter left, I am weary of the snow. Summer is all the more glorious after a long winter and a cold spring.

Favorite Place to Vacation: Vacations are too difficult today, given my husband’s complete quadriplegia. I don’t like to leave home. We have all the equipment necessary to make life manageable right here at home. But in our pre-ALS days, I loved our escapes to warm winter destinations. California. Florida. The white sands of Siesta Key.

If you had one person you could meet (think outside the Bible for this question) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be?

I would have a glass of raspberry cordial with Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of the Anne books. Montgomery was not a stranger to suffering and she wrote to escape the hardships of real life. I think we’d connect, maybe even be kindred spirits.

Funny you should mention Anne of Green Gables. I lived in a house full of "women" (a wife and three daughters). It was Chick-flick central for years. And I have to say, some of them weren't that bad, and the Anne movies were some of the best, IMHO. I guess I should read the books sometime, huh? 

If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters for this question) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?

Peter. I love Peter because he was so gung-ho about following Christ, then he failed so miserably, but yet he was reinstated. Even with all his failings he was “the rock” upon which Jesus would build the church. 

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?

Just over six years ago, my husband was diagnosed with ALS, a degenerative neuromuscular disease that results in complete paralysis and eventually death, usually within 3 to 5 years. Todd was just shy of his 40^th year, and I was in my early 30s. We had a four-year-old daughter and a nine-month-old son. Todd had a good job, and we lived in a 1925 bungalow, which we were renovating room by room.

Life didn’t change much right after the diagnosis, except our dreams died. Career advancement. Family vacations. Reaching old age together. We just hoped he’d live long enough for our children to remember him.

I read a number of books at the time about suffering, but most were written by people who had made it through the hard times and reflected on the ordeal with perspective that I wasn’t able to find at the time. I couldn’t relate to them, because I didn’t think it was possible to come out of the miry pit.

Todd and I began to blog (NevaStory.com), and then our blogs turned into a memoir, Heavy. We dealt with the raw emotions of the first year after a terminal diagnosis when there doesn’t seem to be any hope. The book has received positive feedback from people who feel that we’re with them in their suffering.

And now that my husband is disabled and it’s impractical for me to work outside the home due to his need for 24-hour care, I’ve turned to writing what I love to read—small-town fiction. I explore life issues and spiritual themes with quirky characters on Copper Island. Todd is my chief editor, and I bounce ideas off of him. It’s good for our marriage. Grief needs action. Writing’s a way we’ve been able to build something good from the life we’ve been given.

  

What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?

This won’t shock my fellow Finns, but it does surprise others. Growing up, on New Year’s Eve, my dad would fire up the sauna and then break a hole through the ice in our pond with his backhoe. We’d warm up, and then jump in the freezing pond. Again and again.

  

That is crazy. I've never understood the Polar Bear Plunges people do for sport. I think even polar bears only jump in when they need to eat, right?

Why do you live where you live?

After Todd was diagnosed with ALS, he said, “We need to move by your parents. We cannot do this alone.” He had known a family friend with ALS, and he knew it takes much support from friends and family. We moved from Racine, Wisconsin, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I was raised. We purchased a few acres on the side of my parents’ property, and then built a house where the old barn used to sit.

I’m thankful daily for the decision to move here. My mother is a saint who helps keep me sane, helping run the kids around town, taking them for nights now and then, and giving my husband massages and range of motion nearly every night. My father had been very supportive, too, until his untimely passing last March, and I’ve also lost other local relatives over the last few years. Aren’t all deaths untimely? Though death is certain and inevitable, it always feel wrong. Our souls long to be in heaven.

But even with the passing of so many family, we’re still surrounded by many friends in this community where neighbors help neighbors. We have a few volunteers who take shifts some nights to help turn Todd so that I can sleep. The climate is harsh here — averaging over 200 inches of snow per year — but hearts are soft.

  

We know “Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it affect your life?

Philip Yancey’s Disappointment with God. Yancey reflects on the questions I have as I experience on-going grief and sleep-deprivation as a caregiver for my husband: Is God unfair? Is God silent? Is God hidden? Yancey is one of the few authors I have come across who resonates with me as he explores this subject with depth and thoughtfulness in multiple books. I touch on similar themes in both my non-fiction and fictional works.        

 When you look for a new home, what are the things that are important to you?

Todd and I designed our home to meet his needs. He was still walking at the time, but we knew a day would come when he’d be in a wheelchair. We have an attached garage, something that is surprisingly not common in the Upper Peninsula, but absolutely necessary to load and unload him from our accessible van. Our house is built on grade with in-floor radiant heat, so his toes stay warm in the winter. He has a roll-in shower, and tracks are mounted on the ceilings for an electric hoist to transfer him.

Our house is located on the Keweenaw Peninsula, which juts out into Lake Superior and is cut-off from the mainland by a canal. Cold winter winds blow across the lake and pick up moisture, depositing a couple inches of lake effect snow nearly every day from the middle of December until the end of February. Every house must be designed to account for snow removal and prevailing winds. Garage doors must be placed on the gable ends, and roof trusses must be designed to hold over 120 pounds per square foot of snow load.

  

When you look for a new car, what are the things that are important to you?

In the Keweenaw, four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive is a big plus, but the most important thing for us is accessibility. My husband is in a wheelchair, so our vehicle must have a ramp to load him. I do have an all-wheel-drive Toyota Sienna that I use to run errands, but when Todd is with us, we need to take his accessible van. With snow tires, it does all right as long as the snow isn’t too deep.

  

When you are looking for a book to read, what are the things that are important to you?

I’m a voracious reader. I enjoy small-town fiction and read just about anything of that genre that comes into our library. I like books with strong character development, and that’s what I want to write. The characters should be my friends, and I should care about what happens to them.

 What Bible scripture has impacted your life the most, and why?

It’s a verse from Romans 8 that one of my characters quotes in Snow Country: “Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?” Sometimes my life feels like an Upper Michigan winter—spiritually, emotionally, and physically—and I feel like spring will never come. But just as our two hundred plus inches of snow will eventually melt and we’ll enter a glorious summer, I have hope in Christ, hope that one day there will be an end to all the suffering we experience here.   

  

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover?

My husband and I are Finnish-Americans—third-generation Americans, yet we retain a slice of Finnish culture that is prevalent in the region where I live and write about.

The old Finns called this place Kuparisaari, Copper Island, and it was the favorite destination for Finnish immigrants from 1870 through the early 1920s. Many Finns escaped abject poverty for the promise of fortune to work in underground mines that supplied 90% of the country’s copper.

Since Finns once made up 20% of the population in the Copper Country, they had a noticeable impact on the local culture. My fifth-grade daughter told us the other day that her teacher asked for a show of hands of who has a sauna—every hand was raised. The streets in town are named in both English and Finnish. Many families retain Finnish names for their favorite dishes.

The mines have long since closed. Once glimmering shaft houses are now rusted, empty shells or tourist attractions. Sandstone walls of roofless buildings enclose mini birch groves. A dredger from a reclamation plant is pulled up off the shores of Torch Lake, listing lifelessly to its side. And the Portage Lake lift Bridge, built in 1959, carries snowmobile traffic on its lower deck that has been stripped of its railroad tracks.

These remnants are proud reminders of the past golden years—or shall I say copper years. Though incomes are low and the housing stock is old, it would be inaccurate to describe the area as economically depressed. People choose to live here, in spite of the harsh climate and low wages. Copper Island has a natural beauty that nourishes its residents.

In my writing, I attempt to capture the essence of the culture, climate, and creation. The region almost becomes a character in itself. So much is already been written about Italians in Brooklyn, or the Irish in Boston. I hope to introduce the world to the Finns in the Keweenaw.

Kristin, it's been a pleasure having you here and getting to know you. Our prayers are with you, your husband, and your family. May God help you find time to write for Him! And stay warm!!

If you wish to connect with Kristin further, you can visit her @ www.kristinneva.com or read about her journey with her husband @ www.NevaStory.com.

May God bless you all, and may you bless God!

Kevin

THE AUTHOR BEHIND THE STORY SERIES

Greetings & Happy New Year!

As we entered the holidays of 2016, a thought came to mind.

As an author, I know a great many authors. Some I know pretty well. We've met at conferences, sat at book signings together, etc. On the other hand, there are some authors I know just by what's on their author page in the back of the book or what's on their website, if I take the time to visit it. However, in the midst of filling pages with words, how well do I really know these folks? Better yet, how well do the readers know these folks? Authors are people, too. They have lives. They face struggles. They "put themselves out there" for all to see, in a creative, artistic sort of way.

So, I prayed. The result was this new blog series, which will appear on the second Wednesday of each month. It will feature one author. The questions are designed for you, the reader, to get to know the author, open up a dialogue, and maybe, develop a friendship and a bond as something resonates between the two of you.

I hope you enjoy our series. Please let me know. Feedback is always good.

Sincerely in Him,

Kevin