Tuesday, October 06, 2009

SOLDIER DADDY - Cheryl Wyatt - Free book

Welcome, back, Cheryl. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I came into an authentic relationship with God in my mid-twenties thanks to His people reaching out to me. While I wasn't raised in church, my parents did raise me to know there was a God and that He was both a force to be reckoned with as well as caring enough to hold us in His hand and care for us. I remember my mom used to sing an old song and the words went something like, "He's got the whole world in His hands." Dad would often remind us that, he may not be watching, but Someone bigger always was. That sorta put the fear of God in me. LOL! I mean as far as having a healthy respect for God.

But I didn't really understand God's desire to have a close, personal minute-by-minute relationship with us until I was in my late teens, early twenties. I went to a few Bible studies in High School, but I was going for the wrong reasons (Read: Cute guys led the Bible study! LOL) so it didn't really stick. But in my twenties, I had a profound experience with God that changed my life and I have never looked back.

In those moments where God met me and I had a tangible sense of His love, acceptance and His presence of mercy, I could not begin to even put that feeling in words other than to say it beyond overwhelmed me. From that point on, I have looked Heavenward.

I said to God in that moment, "I don't know You at all, but, if this is You...I want to!"

And He has never ceased to be faithful. I live for the day I will get to see the one face to face who so loved me unconditionally. I pray each person reading this has that kind of life-changing encounter with the living God. I'm so glad He left his spirit here with us to wrap around us like a warm blanket, literally, The Comforter. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that I had faithful people who stormed Heaven on my behalf and through prayer, God met me in a place of brokenness and literally rescued me. I think that's why I write rescuers because I have a strong sense of being rescued by God.

How did you and your husband meet?

He he. I met him at a Coffee House in Illinois. He didn't notice me at first because he was tweaking knobs on a sound board. He's an audio guy for many Christian and other bands and I loved music and concerts. So I saw him often at the same venues I'd volunteer at. Then one day one of my girlfriends said he'd been asking about me. I didn't think he'd noticed me. By that time I was sorta dating someone else but we broke up and I was brokenhearted. So my husband befriended me/pursued me for the next two years. He had great character as a Christian and he's an absolute riot as far as being funny and witty. He's the kind of person who brings everyone up around him and his humor is so contageous. Didn't take me long to fall. :-) We've been married for almost 12 years .

I love being around your husband, too. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Just four? Ack. I positively CANNOT choose just four. So how about 10?
--Camy Tang because she's an excellent brainstormer and knows strong story structure plus I love to hear her laugh more than almost anything. And she's one of my best buds.
--Danica Favorite McDonald because she is so uplifting as a friend and honest in her critiques. And she's one of my best buds.
--Cynthia Hawkins because she's such an encourager and I don't get to spend nearly as much time with her as I'd like to. And she's one of my best buds.
--Robin Miller because she offers brutal honesty, free of charge. LOLOL! She comes up with great plot twists and she's one of my best buds.
--Margaret Daley because she has a strong handle on writing romances and she is a mentor to me as well as a friend.
--Pammer because I miss her.
--Tosca Lee because I admire her and her writing so much and am convinced she is a modern day CS Lewis. She is the coolest, prettiest potato peeler on the planet and I'm thankful for the friendship God is building between us.
--Cynthia Ruchti because she is so very inspiring and would be a blast to brainstorm with.
--Karen Ball because she is an absolute riot and her mind is as twisted as mine and I don't meet many people that way. Plus I love her stories.
--Lena for being so gracious and letting me bring all these people to the brainstorming retreat. LOLOL!

Okay I said 10 but if I could bring more, I'd invite my friend Marcie Scheumaker who writes non-fiction and I'd invite my Seeker sisters http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/

Sounds like a group I'd love to be a part of. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Not a significant one at the present. I will wait until my little ones get older. I have spoken at events and get asked to, but I have many prior obligations since my husband and I are involved in audio/music and NASCAR ministry together. Once my children are older, I will pursue the speaking more because I love to encourage people to follow their God-given dreams/destinies. That seems to be the common theme that comes out whenever I speak. Living up to their full potential in God and how/what God can do with one surrendered life can change the course of history. So I usually speak about great but obscure women of faith that most people may not have heard of, such as Jackie Pullinger To and other missionaries and trailblazers. As a bumper sticker I saw once said, "Most well-behaved women never make history." LOL.

Love the bumper sticker. Want one for my car. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

Oh my goodness. This is hard because I literally do something every other day that embarrasses me. I learned to laugh at myself a long time ago thankfully, otherwise I'd be in a world of hurt in the self-esteem department. LOL! A recent thing I did was to send a message to one of my editors via my BlackBerry which had the auto-correct function on. I didn't know how to disable it and to my mortification, it changed the word "Assistant" to "Assassin" and sent before I could stop it. So the header to the e-mail page said the name of one of my editors, then comma, then, "Editorial Assassin." Thankfully she has a great sense of humor, though I felt like a dweeb. It became quite funny. Sure, she's a spiffy editor with a great eye for detail, but I wouldn't go as far as calling her an assassin. Unless of course she's hacking up/killing off my extraneous/superfluous words. LOL.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I would tell them to join http://www.acfw.com/ and dig in learning craft. I would tell them to write, write, write and to read, read, read. To always write as worship and to be willing, even then, to hear hard things about their writing in order to improve and to strive for excellence in craft. And once they do sell, to seek to make God famous and not themselves.

Tell us about the featured book?

Soldier Daddy was an unexpected treat. I had just had a car accident and was literally heading into my first of several surgeries for repair of fractures associated with the car wreck. I had turned in one book in a proposal and Melissa, my editor, phoned to offer not one but TWO contracts! She wanted Petrowski's story. Aaron Petrowski has been in the previous Wings of Refuge books, but never really onstage. He was sort of like "Charlie" from "Charlie's Angels." You never really see him, but you hear him and he's this force in control, this entity who gives orders and guidance to the pararescuers. You knew from previous books that he suffered the loss of his wife and left pararescue for a little while to raise his infant twins. But in this book, he's back and I won't tell you who the heroine is...but she brightens all their lives. This story was so fun to write because it has two toddler boys. This book was an unexpected blessing to me during a difficult time and I hope and pray that it brings the same kind of joy to readers as it did to me, the privilege of getting to write Aaron's story.

Please give us the first page of the book.

"Ooh, Aaron, she's so young! And pretty!" Mina Garcia, housekeeper and longtime family friend of U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Aaron Petrowski, clapped her dark hands together. She peeked out the Petrowski home window as the nanny applicant exited her car. The very young and vivacious applicant, very unlike the empty-nested grandmotherly types who'd interviewed so far.

Mina clutched Aaron's sleeve and continued to emit strange little squeaks as the trim-but-not-too-thin blonde crunched across a calico pattern of fallen leaves carpeting the yard he really should have raked. "Aaron Michael! Shame on you for not telling me how glaringly gorgeous she is!"

Glaringly gorgeous? That hadn't even entered his mind yesterday at the agency. What had attracted him were Sarah's on-paper credentials and her enthusiasm and gratitude over being chosen as a candidate for the job.

Trek paused, Sarah bent to pull a punctured leaf from her conservative but classy spiked heel. When she stood and eyed the house, catching a glimpse of them watching from the window, her excited wave and ready smile rivaled September's sun. Glaringly gorgeous?

Yeah, now that Mina mentioned it…
Copyright 2009. Used by permission.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My Web site is http://www.cherylwyatt.com/. The best way to keep track of my new releases is to sign up for my quarterly newsletter there.

I also hang out frequently at http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/.

I have a personal writing blog too which can be accessed from Seekerville. I hope folks will come over there and become Seekervillains--followers of our Seekerville blog. Those ladies are an absolute riot and their friendships are a tremendous blessing in my life.

Thank you, Cheryl, for spending this time with us.



Readers, here's a link where you can order a copy of the book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.


If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.


http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

39 comments:

Mark said...

I'd like to enter. Thanks
marcus802001@yahoo.com

Katherine said...

This book looks very good. Please enter me for the drawing.

kefarley89(@)gmail(.)com

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Mark, thanks for coming by!

Cheryl

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Katherine,

Thanks for your interest.

I really appreciate it.

Lena, thanks for having me on your blog. I always enjoy being here.

Cheryl

Leslie Nott said...

This book sounds really interesting!

Leslie Nott said...

oops forgot my email!

leslienott@hotmail.com

sorry!

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Leslie, the reader feedback has been fantastic. I think you'll enjoy it if you win. If not I hope you can find a copy in the store or online.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day, okay?

Cheryl

Candee Fick said...

This sounds like a very interesting storyline. Enter me for a chance at a free copy.
Candee[at]CandeeFick[dot]com

cheryl c said...

This sounds like a lovely story. I can't resist a story that features a lonely widower with young children. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. :-)

castings at mindspring dot com

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Candee, thanks so much for stopping by. Also for your interest in the book.

Warmly,
Cheryl

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Cheryl C, I know what you mean. I feel very fortunate to have been given the blessing of writing Aaron into a happy ending.

Thanks for coming by!
Cheryl

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win Soldier Daddy. Cheryl, all of your books that I have read are awesome, and I'll be willing to bet that this one is too! :) I think you know my mom, Peej, who does the Patterings site. I really enjoy your books. Most of them make me laugh a bit(sometime more then just a bit). Thank you for the opportunity to win Soldier Daddy.
Esther
faith4u7(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Hi Esther! I do know (and love!) your mom.

I am thinking about hosting a writers' group in my home and will certainly invite her and hope she can make it.

Thanks so much for coming by and also for reading my books. I'm profoundly thankful for each and every reader. You guys are amazing, honestly you're the best part of writing.

Hugs
Cheryl

Anonymous said...

This book sounds beautiful...what a great interview...Please count me in this fabulous giveaway. thanks.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Hi Karen,

Thanks for coming by!

Cheryl

Sheila Deeth said...

Enjoyed meeting you in this interview. I'm reading, and writing - taking far too much time. But I'd love to read your book too. Sounds like it would soon have me looking for more.

Virginia C said...

Hello, Cheryl! Your own love story is very sweet. Please enter my name in the drawing. gcwhiskas at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Hi Sheila!

Nice meeting you here too. It means a lot when people come by to learn more about a new author.

Blessings!
Cheryl

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Virginia,

My hubby is a sweetie. He's probably the only guy on earth who could put up with me. LOL!

No, seriously. Ask him. LOL!

And God, my other love, well, you know He loves me despite myself too. LOL!

Hugs
Cheryl

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Wanda, you're in too. Thanks for stopping by.
Cheryl

Cherie J said...

Enjoyed the interview. Please enter me in the drawing.

Anonymous said...

I would love to read Cheryl's book! It sounds fantastic. Please enter me. Thanks!
jackie.smith(at)dishmail(dot)net

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Cherie, thanks for your interest.
Appreciate you for stopping by and reading the interview.

Warmly,
Cheryl

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Jackie, you're excitement made me smile. Thanks so much!

Cheryl

Merry said...

I recently read my first book by Cheryl and it was terrific! Please include me in the drawing for Soldier Daddy. Thanks!

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Merry, I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for coming by!
Cheryl

Unknown said...

I would enjoy reading this book, it sounds wonderful! Please enter me in the drawing.

debracollins(at)tds(dot)net

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Debra,

Thanks for your interest!

Warmly,

Cheryl

Kristen said...

Awesome Story!!
Please enter me!

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Hi Kristen,

Thanx, I appreciate that.

Hugs,
Cheryl

Janice Olson said...

Cheryl, Great interview, especially your personal testimony, and what a wonderful first page teaser and a great way to pull the reader in. Good job.

And as always, Lena, your interviews are the best.

Both of you keep up the good work.

Janice

Cheryl Wyatt said...

Thanks, Janice! What an encourager you are.

Hugs
Cheryl

Cíntia Mara said...

I'd enjoy this book.
Please, enter me in your drawing.
Thanks

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I'd like to be entered! dancealert at aol dot com

Nancye said...

"crunched across a calico pattern of fallen leaves carpeting the yard".....beautiful, beautiful writing!! I can paint a picture of this in my mind! I can SEE this! If the rest of this book is as good, then WOW! Please choose me!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Rose McCauley said...

I remember when Cheryl was in the wheelchair recovering from that accident, so I owuld love to read this book written during that time. It was so great to see her up and about at this year's conference, too!

Megan said...

That's great first page, Cheryl. I hope I win and can read the rest. Or I will just have to go out and buy it! Thanks Lena!

meg

Marla said...

This sounds like a great book. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!

koinonia572001@yahoo.com