Everyday Woman Radio Show with Vicki Hinze

Important Note

Effective today, I will be posting my blogs on my website as follows:

Writing: Craft, Art, Business and Life: My Kitchen Table

Spirituality: Faith Zone

The "Vicki Hinze on Writing" blog will be incorporated into the MY KITCHEN TABLE blog.

The website url, should you have link challenges or desire to paste into your browser is:

http://www.vickihinze.com

Blessings,

Vicki

P.S. If you're viewing this via reader, you'll need to visit the www.vickihinze.com website to view any updates.

I apologize for any inconvenience, but I'm paddling as hard as I can, and I just can't keep up, so I'm having to consolidate where and when possible. Appreciate your understanding.

For your convenience, I will still notify you of new posts here.

Vicki Hinze
www.vickihinze.com

TAGS: Vicki Hinze, hinze blog, CREATIVE WRITING, feature article, writing craft, books, novels, readers, authors, emerald coast writers, novelists, booksellers, book reviewers, everyday woman radio, romance writers, thriller writers, suspense writers

Stealing Religion

This one of those “can you believe it” days.

In the news this morning, there’s a report on a thief that has me shaking my head and wondering, “What is s/he thinking?”

Stealing isn’t a novelty; unfortunately, it happens with monotonous regularity. So what made this theft, or this thief, noteworthy?

The objects stolen. A nativity scene from a family’s front yard. Statues of Mary and Joseph and more. Not only did the thief steal these things, s/he also trashed other items in the family’s display--including bells and trees.

People have fought wars over religion throughout recorded history. They’ve corrupted religion, and hidden behind it when it suited them. They’ve committed all manner of crimes to all manner of people and dragged religion into it to justify their actions, regardless of how inappropriate or insincere they were in citing them. We’ve seen these type actions often--Saddam Hussein is a prime example, and there are many, many others.

It makes one wonder how a thief can twist and rationalize his/her actions to make stealing, much less stealing these types of things, acceptable.

The majority of us find stealing morally repugnant. We find stealing religious symbols representative of significant events to the owners even worse. Our disdain is palpable, our empathy with the targeted family engaged.

And then we learn that this family suffered this flagrant violation not once but twice. In a single week.

Twice they’ve been violated, had their boundaries trespassed upon and their property stolen. Twice the thief or thieves had no regard for the family. And twice the family was left with the rubble in their yard and with the task of cleaning up the mess the thief/thieves had left behind.

As I think of this family this morning, I wonder if they’ll build their display again--a third time. I hope that they do--and that they consider using electric fencing materials. A little shock could make a would-be thief stop and think. A shame that’s legally considered entrapment when it could spare a soul.

And I find my thoughts veering to the thief and, for the life of me, I can’t imagine how s/he has justified to him- or herself these actions. Stealing a religious display. It’s as warped as stealing religion itself. Will s/he recall the theft with each glance at the stolen nativity scene? What sickening baggage will s/he attach to the theft? Will s/he even grasp the magnanimity of what s/he’s done to him/herself?

You know, the sad truth is s/he probably will not. Anyone twisted enough to highjack religious displays is likely too twisted to know the truth when it’s staring them in the face.

Which is not to say that there won’t come a time when the scales are lifted from the eyes and the thief sees his/her true self with all the veneer stripped away. The truth shall set you free, right?

But first it’ll be a long look into a harsh mirror in which nothing is hidden and all that is true is exposed. Then the thief will learn the penalty of his/her actions, and then s/he will suffer the utmost consequences. Because in the very symbols stolen are promises that remain intact: you reap what you sow. And from that, the thief cannot hide.

I wonder. When the thief sows, feels the full weight of the consequences of his/her actions, how will s/he feel about stealing then? Because the truth is, the thief(s) might have stolen and damaged and destroyed that family’s property. But s/he did far more lasting damage to him/herself. The kind self-inflicted that requires far more than mere repayment to be satisfied. It requires forgiveness, and that requires divine grace.

Do you think, stealing a nativity, that this thief will have the courage to ask for divine grace?

Only s/he can answer that. But one thing is certain, while the family returns to its life of joy and peace, the thief or thieves will experience the absence of joy and/or peace and will experience the question being called over and again--in a year, five years, twenty or thirty years--until s/he does answer.

Knowing that, one has to ask: In stealing, who--the family or the thief--has and will suffer the greatest loss?

Blessings,

Vicki

P.S. After completing this post, I googled the article title “Christmas Vandals hit again.”
There were over 41,000 related stories...

CALIFORNIA FIRES

Warning: This is a no-edit zone...

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/digitaldoc/california2007/1193110980.html

The above link is to digitaldoc’s blog entry. He’s in Mission Viejo, California, which has been impacted by the fires and has some stunning photos on this page.

Thoughts, prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated. Those of us in hurricane country well know the concerns of the people involved, evacuating, not knowing if their homes and treasured possessions will be there when they return. It’s a very difficult time for all these folks and only one word sticks in my mind: heartwrenching.

If you can, join in me in your own way, with your support. I think of the firefighters and their safety, the over 900,000 evacuating, the poor animals... Like I said, heartwrenching.

Blessings,

Vicki

P.S. to Mother Nature: a break, please.

Thank You, Lizzie Palmer

This video was created by Lizzie Palmer, a fifteen-year-old girl who has, through this video, reminded millions.

Blessings,

Vicki

AMBER ALERT--Florida!

ATTENTION: There is an Amber Alert in your area.
Please CLICK HERE to find out more information.

Missing From: 4000th block of Shay Drive, Bartow, FL
Missing Date: 9/30/2007 12:00 AM

Contact: Polk County Sheriff's Office
1-800-226-TIPS

Circumstances: The child may be in the company of William Joe Mitchell, a registered sex offender out of the Jacksonville area.

Missing Child

Name: Alyssa Frank
Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Hazel
Skin Color: White Age: 15
Height: 5'9 Weight: 200lbs
Gender: Female
Description: The child has naturally curly brown hair with blonde streaks on the top. She has 3 piercings in both ears. May be wearing a pink or black "Tinkerbell' shirt, jeans, and black tennis shoes with gray and black checkered shoelaces.

Suspect

Name: William Joe Mitchell
Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue
Skin Color: White Age: 46
Height: 5'10 Weight: 158lbs
Gender: Male

Vehicle Information
Make: Chevrolet Model: Lumina
License State: FL License Text: G025EL

In Memory

Light a Candle--Support our Troops

Please pause a moment today to think of our troops and to show your support for them. How? Light a candle and post a kind thought. Here's the URL:

(Copy and paste into your browser...)
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=Suppo

or here's a hyperlink...

Light a Candle to Support our Troops

Blessings,

Vicki

WRITING WITH PASSION

Writers are ordinarily compassionate and empathetic people--for the most part, when writing any type of fiction, they have to be to realistically portray the inner character of their story people. But what many, including writers, often don’t consciously realize is that it is the tapping of their own emotions that leads them to write the specific stories they write.

An example. Many watched (American) Idol Gives Back last night. There were moving (read that heart-wrenching and heart-warming) segments aired during the show. I would love to take an informal poll on how many people watched and managed to view the entire program without tearing up at least once. I would love to know how many writers watched the program and how often they teared up.

My guess is that the writers doubled the national average.

It isn’t that writers care more, are more compassionate or more concerned than the average human being. It is that writers are more accustomed to expressing empathy quickly, fully and without restraint.

The reason for that is this connection is the way in which we and our characters bond with our readers. We feel to impart feeling into the characters. And the characters feeling invokes feeling in the readers.

This morning when my daughter arrived with the baby (Hubby and I take care of her while Mom teaches school). She teaches kindergarten, so she’s especially sensitive to children and their needs in the way writers are sensitive; perhaps more so. (Let’s face it, neither educators nor writers are in it for the money.) Anyway, my daughter and I were discussing last night’s fundraiser. Our reactions were interesting.

We both were thrilled that Idol raised 30 million in two hours. We both felt an enormous desire to do all we could to help. We both donated. We both cried often at seeing so many doing so much suffering. We both loved Carrie Underwood’s song and her gentle touch with the children in Africa. The hugs and snuggles and tender touches.

But we had different reactions, too. One in particular.

In one segment, a mother and baby were trying to get 50 miles to a health facility to get the baby treated for malaria. (It’s curable, and the medication costs $2.) They were in a race against time, and they lost. The baby died.

My daughter wished that they hadn’t aired that segment. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that she strongly empathized with the mother, having a baby of her own, and but for the grace of God . . .

I was glad that they did air that segment. It hurt and still today, it hurts. My reaction alternates between an intense clutch in the chest at the loss of a child and total outrage that the loss was needless. For $2. TWO dollars.

Maybe if the rest of us--enjoying that grace of God and spared this devastation directly--are hurt enough or outraged enough we’ll DO something about the problem. If enough of us do something, then the problem will no longer be a problem.

To have hungry, homeless kids is Africa is heartbreaking. To have them in America, where so many have so much, is despicable--and shameful.

We can’t cure all ails, but we can work together and do a lot. I’ve always been of the mindset that if we--society, I mean--fight hunger collectively, then there will be none. We might differ on a lot of things, but taking care of kids shouldn’t be among them.

After deciding on a donation last night, I went to bed praying that many, many hearts would be touched (or consciouses--whatever it takes) and we’d start doing a better job taking care of our kids. When push comes to shove, they’re all ours. I woke up this morning more resolved and went back and increased my donation and made an executive decision on my income for this year. The kids get a huge chunk.

It’s the only way I’ll be able to swallow a single bite of food and not be haunted at knowing they’re hungry. The only way I can close my eyes and not see a baby dying for $2. The only way I can meet my eyes in the mirror and not be ashamed of what I see.

www.americanidol.com is still taking donations. I’m starting a book this morning that I’m going to publish on the net strictly for donations for the kids. It’s not much, but it’s a start...

Blessings,

Vicki

Vicki Hinze
www.vickihinze.com
www.vickihinze.net

AUCTION TO BENEFIT DIABETES

My friend and fellow writer, Brenda Novak, has a son with diabetes and she’s determined to do what she can to help find a cure. I understand her passion for this; both my parents were diabetics and I have several dear friends who have this challenge.

Every year, Brenda sponsors an auction to raise money to help find a cure. Many writers, agents and editors participate. They auction everything from books to trips, dinners or luncheons with them, reads of your work, critiques and/or career strategy advice.

There are a ton of golden opportunities for writers in this auction, and for that reason, I wanted to share the current information I have on the auction. For the utmost latest, check out the diabetes auction section on Brenda’s website. www.brendanovak.com

I’ll be donating a bunch of books. Here’s the rest of what’s up at this time from Brenda:

Here's the list (so far) of "agent" items that will be available in my
upcoming on-line auction for diabetes research. Lots of great agents here, eh? (If
anyone has an agent who might be willing to participate, just let me know
and I'll ask them. :-))

1. Have lunch in New York City with historical romance author Kristina Cook
(author of Unlaced, Undressed, Unveiled, and To Love A Scoundrel) and her
agent, the fabulous Marcy Posner of Sterling Lord Literistic! Dish about
romance, writing, the publishing industry, or anything you like while you enjoy a
delicious lunch at the oh-so-trendy Manhattan hot spot, Five Points
(_http://www.fivepointsrestaurant.com/_ (http://www.fivepointsrestaurant.com/) ). Wine,
lunch, dessert (their sticky toffee pudding cake is to DIE for!), and
scintillating conversation included, along with a goody bag including autographed
novels and other fun stuff. Who knows, you might even spot a celebrity or two.
Date and time to be mutually agreed upon.
_www.kristinacook.com_ (http://www.kristinacook.com/)

2. Coffee or tea with multi-published Cathy McDavid (Harlequin American and
Dorchester author) and her agent, Michelle Grajkowski of Three Seas Literary
Agency at RWA National this summer.

3. Tea with Superromance Author Melinda Curtis and her agent Pam Hopkins at
RWA National this summer.
Award winning author Melinda has a passion for writing romance and
fast-paced action. RT gave her May 2007 Superromance, The Best-Kept Secret, 4.5 stars
and claimed readers "won't be able to put this one down". Recently “retired”
from the corporate world, Melinda is a part-time marketing consultant until
her writing career moves into full gear with the help of her agent, Pam
Hopkins. Melinda Curtis has her own hero, a man who makes her tremendously happy
while simultaneously driving her crazy - although he has help from their
three kids, two rambunctous labs and their bevy of relatives. Since 2003,
writing for Harlequin's Superromance line has been an enjoyable escape - although
you'll often find a spunky kid, beloved relative or ball-crazy dog in her
novels...she can't quite get away from her loved ones completely.

4. Nancy Yost with Lowenstein-Yost Associates Inc. – A Read

5. Caren Johnson – A Read

6. Elizabeth Pomada – A read, followed by a half-hour telephone
consultation.

7. Barbara Collins Rosenberg – A critique of the first three chapters of a
nonfiction proposal.

8. Scott Eagan, Greyhaus Literary Agency – A read

9. Eileen Cope – Trident Media Group (Represents a lot of NY Times
bestsellers in multiple genres.) – A Read

10. Randall Klein – Trident Media Group – Randall is an assistant at
Trident, who is also a freelance editor, and he is donating an edit of a partial.

11. Robin Rue, Senior Agent, Writer's House Literary Agency - Read of a
proposal (around 50 pages).
Robin Rue began her long and illustrious career as an editor at Dell but has
spent the last thirty years as an agent (10 of those years working for Writer
’s House). She represents such big names and Linda Howard, Lisa Jackson,
Mary Jo Putney, Joann Ross, Pat Rice, Laura Lee Gurke, Jacqueline Frank, Holly
Lyle, Lynn Vale, and V.C. and Andrews. She loves almost any kind of fiction
and represents it well: women’s fiction, historicals, young adult, middle-grade
fiction, fantasy, hard-core mystery, thrillers, etc. (As an aside, straight
erotica and chick lit are not among her favorites.)

12. Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency — A read and an in-depth
written critique of the first 30-50 pages
Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency, LLC
Kristin established the Nelson Literary Agency in the chic/hip urban setting
of lower Downtown Denver in 2002. In such a short time, she has sold more
than 50 books to such publishers as Random House, Hyperion, Harlequin, Simon &
Schuster, Hachette/Warner and the Penguin Group. She has landed several film
deals and has contracted foreign rights on behalf of her clients in all the
major territories, including Germany, Spain, Holland, Japan, and even into
Russia and Indonesia. Her authors are RITA-award winners and national
bestsellers. Several NLA titles have appeared on the Barnes & Noble and The Denver Post
bestseller lists.
She specializes in representing commercial fiction (romance, women’s
fiction, science fiction, fantasy, young adult) and high caliber literary fiction.
She also considers a few nonfiction projects that tend to be story-based, such
as memoir and narrative nonfiction. Kristin is a hands-on agent and strongly
believes in taking on clients for their whole career. She provides editorial
and marketing guidance as well as aggressive expertise in contract
negotiation. Member: AAR, RWA, SFWA. Please visit our website _www.nelsonagency.com_
(http://www.nelsonagency.com/) before submitting

13. Nadia Cornier - Critique of a proposal, and a second Short Critique
followed by breakfast at RWA National this summer

14. Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency – A read
Christina Hogrebe is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency in New
York City. She is actively seeking commercial fiction--with a particular
interest in Southern settings, Latina lit, generational stories, suburban lit,
coming-of-middle-age stories, cozy mysteries, and legal thrillers—and food
memoirs and travelogues

15. Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency—A read
Annelise Robey is a Literary Agent with the Jane Rotrosen Literary Agency in
New York City. She is actively looking for writers of all genres – both
published and unpublished authors.

16. Daniel Bial, Daniel Bial Agency –A read
Daniel Bial has been a literary agent, book packager and book doctor for 14
years. Among his clients is Yossef Bodansky, author of OSAMA BIN LADIN: THE
MAN WHO DECLARED WAR ON AMERICA, a number 1 New York Times bestseller. Dan
was also an editor for 14 years. Besides two years each at Holt and Longmeadow
Press, he spent 10 years at HarperCollins, where he acquired several
bestsellers just as Hank Aaron's I HAD A HAMMER and Ralph David Abernathy's AND THE
WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN. In addition, he is the author of four books of his
own, and translated another.
As a literary agent, Dan is primarily interested in biography, business,
cooking, entertainment, history, humor, Judaica, language, popular reference,
popular science, psychology, sports and travel.

17. From award-winning author and Ashley Grayson Literary Agency agent, Lois
Winston, a read and critique of the synopsis and first 50 pages of a
manuscript, plus signed copies of TALK GERTIE TO ME and LOVE, LIES AND A DOUBLE SHOT
OF DECEPTION.

18. Steven Axelrod, The Axelrod Agency – A Read

19. Deidre Knight, The Knight Agency – Breakfast with Deidre Knight and a
thirty minute career consultation at RWA National.

20. Lucienne Diver, Spectrum Agency – A Read followed by a 45-minute coffee
or tea with the winner at RWA National.
BIO:
Lucienne Diver is a long time book addict who went to work for Spectrum
Literary Agency fourteen years ago to feed her habit. She now represents over
forty authors of commercial fiction, primarily in the areas of romance, fantasy,
mystery/suspense and erotica. Clients include Marjorie M. Liu, Susan
Krinard, Roberta Gellis, Rachel Caine and Claudia Bishop. Her alphabet soup of
memberships includes AAR, RWA, MWA and SFWA. Further information is available
on the website: _www.spectrumliteraryagency.com_
(http://www.spectrumliteraryagency.com/)

21. Mary Sue Seymour, The Seymour Agency—The read of a proposal of women’s
fiction, along with a follow-up tea at RWA National in Dallas.
Mary Sue represents all types of romance, mysteries, inspirational books and
also nonfiction written by credentialed authors. Some publishers in which
she has sold books are: Warner Books, Harlequin, NAL, Berkley/Jove and Bantam.
She is a member of the AAR, WGA, RWA and The Author’s Guild and has movie
industry contacts and aspires to sell her clients work for film. She enjoys
traveling to conferences and meeting with authors. Recent conferences include
Prepare to Pitch in Silicon Valley, Spring Into Romance in San Diego and the
Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in Daytona Beach. For current sales and
upcoming conferences, consult Mary Sue’s web site at _www.theseymouragency.com_
(http://www.theseymouragency.com/)

22. Elaine P. English—The read of a proposal of women’s fiction, including
all types of romance and mysteries.

23. Amy Moore Benson, AMB Literary Management – A read

24. Meredith Bernstein, Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency – A read

25. Kimberly Whalen, Trident Media Group (my agent) – A read followed by
Lunch at RWA National

26. Donald Maass – Maass Agency - A read

27. Michelle Grajkowski – A read followed by a lunch at RWA National
Bio:
From the moment Michelle Grajkowski first opened her doors to the 3 Seas
Literary Agency in August of 2000, she has been living her dream. (What could be
better than surrounding yourself with great authors and their exciting and
imaginative books?)
Since then, she's successfully sold more than 200 titles to major publishing
houses including Harlequin, NAL, Berkley, Dorchester, Kensington, Avon,
Pocket, Random House (both here and in the UK), Knopf, Andrews McMeel, Warner and
HarperCollins.
Currently, she is looking for fantastic authors with a voice of their own.
Michelle focuses on romance, women's fiction, Chick-Lit young adult and
middle grade fiction.
Michelle is listed in the Diamond Edition of Who's Who in America
publication for 2006
28. Kelly Harms, Jane Rotrosen Agency – A Read
Here's to making a difference!
Brenda

May this be the year a cure is found!

Blessings,

Vicki

WORKING AT HOME, PART 2

The 2nd segment of a new Everyday Woman Radio show series on Working At Home has just been released by iWRN radio network. This show and several other recent ones are available through the www.everydaywomanradio.com web site. Blessings, Vicki