My Recent Comments

Hello Lois! It's so great to hear that you're doing a series. I know our readers love those. Are these new books all as connected as the series you and I did in the past or can each be read separately? I know I'll love them either way but some fans have asked me that kind of question and I'm sure there are others who would love to know. Being me, I tend to read things out of sequence! Then again, my whole life is like of like that! (As you well know)

Blessings,

Val

First, thanks to Rebecca for mentioning FRONTIER COURTSHIP. As I said when I first posted, that book was a labor of love for me.

And as for ancestors, I think that those of us who love a good story will remember the tales we heard as children and, consciously or unconsciously, incorporate them into our historical novels. I know I did.

Please remember that I rarely blog because it can take me away from my work so easily. I do always welcome emails, though. And if you lose track of me, just check www.ValerieHansen.com 

Back to work!

Val

First, let me say I apologize for being AWOL this week. I was actually WRITING! Yahoo.

Now about loving adventure films and TV programs. Hope is right and definitely not alone. Besides enjoyment, I think another benefit we get is a feel for pacing. Reading will give you that, too, of course, but if, as a writer, your mind works the way mind does, you may "see" the scene unfolding as you work. I certainly do. And there are times when my fingers just can't type fast enough to keep up with what I'm imagining. Those times are very exhilirating. My heart even races along with that of my characters and I tend to sigh in all the right places! When I do that, it goes straight into the ms.

The only thing I don't do is have my characters eat as much as I used to before I started going to Weight Watchers. There are times, while reading a book, that I get to craving whatever that character is having. Yes, I'm a bit crazy but that's what makes me love this business, too. 

Off to work. See you all next week, Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

Val

Those of you who know me also know that I seldom, if ever, chat online like this. It's not that I don't like it. It's more like an addiction that I must avoid if I intend to actually keep writing books!  That's why, when this LIH line topic concludes, I'll be dropping back into lurkdom and returning to work.

I took an aptitude test long ago that said I should consider becoming a hermit. Yup. That's me for sure, especially when I'm working. It's great for being an author because I don't mind isolation much. I suppose I would if I couldn't run to town once in a while, but truthfully, I love my life of solitude.

Therefore, if I disappear soon, don't worry about me. I'm either off "solving a crime and finding my true love" or "driving a doctor's buggy through the streets of San Francisco in the 1850s in search of the villain who murdered my parents!"

Take care, all,

Val

First, Melissa Endlich works from home in Wed. so if you don't get a prompt answer, it's only because she can't access us from there.

About faith in my books re. Native Americans. I deal with that directly in FRONTIER COURTSHIP, March 2008. For instance, the chief of the Cheyenne offers a blessing on the food being served and the heroine compares it to our Christian practice of saying grace before a meal. I took that reference from a first-person account written in that very era. Whenever I found an interesting element, I tried to not only include it in the story, I was careful to check it against other sources to make sure it was accurate. I think, if you allow the other characters to behave in a normal manner, then use your protagonists to counter or agree with that practice, you have effectively expressed historical fact while still upholding your Christian beliefs.

Whew! That sure sounded serious, didn't it? Then again, I take my research and writing very seriously.

Blessings,

Val

Thanks, Michelle. I had no idea you didn't have to be a member of ACFW to join their bookclub. That's great!

Val

Yes, Melissa, not only are the other LIs in Walmart, they've recently expanded their racks and we now get about a dozen of each instead of the old 4 or 6. It's wonderful. And they've been keeping both lines all month instead of changing them out halfway through.

Also, if any of you  belong to the American Christian Fiction Writers, I'd like to encourage you to visit their members section, sign up for the bookclub program and vote for my FRONTIER COURTSHIP. I just found out it's being considered as the March recommended read! I'd love to see it get a gazillion votes. Hey, I'm not shy. I'll beg if necessary. :)

Val

Melissa, never fear. You don't have to be tech savvy, just keep the great books- and great covers - coming!

It really is exciting to be involved in this project and being here to talk to others has me fired up to work even harder.

I did notice that some of the upcoming LIH covers, including FRONTIER COURTSHIP are on Amazon already so that's good news, too.

Will they have the wonderful distribution that all the other LI titles do? I hope so because around here, in the middle of rural AR, we have only Walmart in which to shop. That, or drive an hour or better each way to a "city".

Take care all and have a blessed weekend,

Val

Well, I told you I was cyber-challenged. There's a place on our profile page to set the local time. Just found it when I was wandering, lost again. I do that a lot, both in real life and in my dreams! So.... this message should say it's just after 2PM here. Which it is. I think I need chocolate.

Val

I just noticed that our times for posting are skewed. It's about 1:30 here, not the 7:34 the last message says.

Val