Dear Readers, I’m
thrilled to have another Cynthia Ruchti book for you. When I read her first
novel, I was hooked. Her writing is unique, and her stories are always
different from any others that are out there. And that’s a good thing.
The more I talk with women readers, especially at speaking
events, the more we seem to share a common bond about a little-discussed season
of life—the front edge of retirement years. My husband has been semi-retired
due to workplace cutbacks since he was fifty and now punches a time-clock only
two days a week, although the time-clock has matured to a computerized click.
As a writer, I work from home—long hours, intense hours. Most work-at-home
women can imagine the reaction I hear when I say, “He’s home all…the…time.”
That statement is met with a collective, knowing, “Ohhhhh…”
It’s not a bad thing to be near the person you love and have
committed your forevers to. But that season offers challenges rarely talked
about. It’s a new dance for a married couple. How do they maneuver when their
ideas about almost everything from wake and sleep schedules to agendas for the
day to noise-versus-quiet to the meaning of a deadline to television and
recliners and “Are you busy?” have completely different meanings for husband
and wife?
In Song of Silence, I added other
layers to that common glitch. Charlie retired early and loved the idea of
having nothing he had to do anymore, other than putter in his garden and go
fishing once in a while. Lucy was forced into way-too-early retirement when her
role as a music educator in their small town school was cut due to budget
problems. Art and music—gone. Lucy’s passion—gone.
But in any good novel, one conflict isn’t enough. Lucy’s
song is silenced in multiple ways. Her journey to reclaim it lies at the heart
of the story.
Growing up with a music educator father certainly informed
the passion part of the telling of Lucy’s story. And my main character is named
for a favorite music teacher from grade school—Lucy, who just happens to be
married to a man named Charlie.
I so understand.
Since my husband and I are in our 70s, we had to work through that season of
life. Since I’m still a working author, he often volunteers in various
ministries in our area. If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary
fiction, what six people would you invite and why?
I know you’d like me to name names, but I have a concept in
mind, rather than specific authors. I’d set a table in front of the fireplace,
bring in comfy upholstered wing chairs rather than my stiff dining room chairs,
serve a delightful meal prepared by—oh, say—The Barefoot Contessa, and greet my
guests. Two would be general market authors like Sue Monk Kidd or Jodi Picoult
or Anne Tyler, so I could gain their perspectives on stories that draw readers
like…um…bees to honey. Two would be long-experienced Christian contemporary fiction
authors like Lisa Wingate, Gina Holmes, or Nicole Baart who all write family
drama, so I could tap into their thoughts about the meshing of story creation
and emotion. But I might also want to include those who write in a genre
outside my own, because there’s so much we can learn from one another. Because
I do on occasion have the joy of sitting across the table from Rachel Hauck,
Colleen Coble, Robin Caroll, Brandilyn Collins, Cara Putman, Becky Melby,
Kathryn Springer, and others whom I admire, I would sit with them the NEXT
night at dinner! My last two of the six would be chosen from among the many new
faces on the contemporary fiction scene. Most of them are writing contemporary romance.
I’d love to have the opportunity to sit face-to-face or elbow-to-elbow with
younger writers who are intentionally choosing to write women’s fiction where
romance is an element but emotion steals the show, where the conflicts are
real-life conflicts.
Now let’s do that for
a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you
invite and why?
I would choose those who not only write well, tell great
stories, but are crazy-thorough with their research. Writers like Sarah Sundin,
Karen Barnett, you Lena , Julie Klassen, Lynn
Austin, Karen Witemeyer…
Thank you for
including me. I’d love spending time with those authors. Many times, people
(and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What
is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?
Authors continually invest time and energy to discover new
readers who’ve not yet read their books. And new ways to connect with them
meaningfully. But a daunting challenge is also pressed upon us—whether by our
own intents, our publishers’ expectations, or the God of excellence who called
us to this role—to make the next book even better than the last. It’s not a
“problem,” but instead a challenge that serves to sharpen me, as it should.
That is so true. Tell
us about the featured book.
Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?
Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re
committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to
look like this. Charlie retired early, but Lucy is devoted to a long-term
career…until the day she has no choice.
Forced to retire from her positions as music educator in a
small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her
father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and
a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her
faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be
missing all the notes.
When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a
young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and
hears—everything.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Only when you drink
from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
—Kahlil Gibran
Lucy removed her reading glasses and watched Ellie’s thin,
thirteen-year-old fingers splay against the girl’s too-flat stomach. “Try it,”
Lucy said.
“I don’t have much breath.”
“I know.” The confession drilled so much deeper than it
would have coming from any of Lucy’s other students. “Please try.”
She watched as Ellie struggled to fill her scarred lungs
from the bottom without moving her upper chest or shoulders. The girl’s hand
moved an inch.
“Now, inhale and exhale without letting your hand move at
all.”
“I can’t.”
Lucy tilted her head, eyebrows raised, wordlessly urging a
response from Ellie.
Ellie smiled. “Time to be brave? Braver than I feel?”
“Right.” Lucy traced the girl’s line of sight to one of the
dozens of motivational posters on the wall. Be Brave. Braver than you feel. Next
to it, Right or wrong, blow it strong. Beside that one, Practice doesn’t make
perfect. It makes possible. Lucy’s favorite, Just so you know, dogs don’t eat
music homework.
“Deep breath from the bottom of your lungs. Push your
abdomen out to allow air in. Hold it. Now two small breaths in and out without
moving your hand. There! You did it!”
Ellie pressed her lips together but couldn’t stop the smile
that overrode her efforts. “I didn’t think I could.”
“Now, let’s try that technique for these four measures.”
Lucy pointed to the sheet on the music stand. “Keep that expansion in your
tummy, even though you’ll have to breathe. See if it doesn’t help you maintain
that beautiful tone you’ve been working on.”
The girl raised the silver flute to her pursed lips, a mix
of eagerness and skepticism on her face. She exaggerated the movement of her
abdomen, her striped shirt proving her obedience, and played the specified
measures. Ellie’s eyes flashed her reaction before she lowered her flute.
“That,” she said, “was awesome!”
Tears tickled Lucy’s sinuses. “Yes, it was.”
“Does that work with singing, too? Could I join choir next
year? Is there room for me?”
Laughter poured out of Lucy’s mouth, but it originated in
her heart. “Four brilliant measures and you’re ready to tackle singing, too?”
As quickly as the laughter erupted, it died. Her choir? Next year?
“My doctor says he owes you.” Ellie’s flute lay in her lap,
the thin fingers cradling it. She stifled most of a cough. “He says he never
would have thought of music as cystic fibrosis therapy.”
I never thought my first chair flutist would muscle through CF
to keep playing. “I’m glad it’s helping.”
“GDBD,” she said, running her fingers over the instrument.
“Good days, bad days?”
Ellie
looked up. “Do you text?” Incredulity.
Lucy took no offense. Even at a few months shy of
fifty-six, she must have seemed ancient to a thirteen-year-old. Despite her
sassy haircut. And artsy earrings, thanks to Ania’s jewelry-making skills. “Is
today a good day, Ellie?”
The girl lifted her flute then pointed to the line of notes
on the page, as a pool player might point to the pocket where she intended the
eight ball to land. “Mrs. Tuttle, any day I’m breathing is a considered a good
day.” She inhaled without moving her shoulders and played the measures as if
running a victory lap. Which she would likely never do. Run.
Lucy was three hours away from another school board
budget-cut meeting. Could she keep breathing? The discussion had crept too
close to destroying scenes like this one with Ellie. Only Lucy’s dogged sense
of propriety had kept her from storming the school board’s line of tables and
chairs last time. If it crept much closer...
Lucy turned her attention back to her admiration for a thirteen-year-old’s
breathless ability to muscle through.
Wonderful! How can
readers find you on the Internet?
They can connect with me—and please do!—through my website: http://www.cynthiaruchti.com or http://www.hemmedinhope.com (My tagline
for all my stories is, “I can’t unravel. I’m hemmed in hope.”), or through http://www.facebook.com/CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage
or http://www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti
and http://www.pinterest.com/cynthiaruchti.
You can find images of how I pictured my characters and the setting on the
Pinterest Song of Silence board.
As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, will Lucy's faith song go silent, too? Find out in Cynthia Ruchti's new book, Song of Silence. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes. When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.
Celebrate the release of Song of Silence with a blog tour and giveaway. Two winners will be chosen!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A copy of Song of Silence
- A $150 Visa cash card
- A copy of Song of Silence
- A music-themed prize pack filled with goodies hand-picked by Cynthia
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Song of Silence - Christianbook.com
Song of Silence - Amazon
Song of Silence - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
35 comments:
I would love a chance to read this book.
Linda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Other authors in my dinner for a zillion--Deborah Raney, Gayle Roper, Kathryn Cushman, Kate Breslin, Dani Pettrey, Becky Wade, Beth Vogt, Gabrielle Meyers, Katie Ganshert, Francine Rivers...
I really liked the one book I read by you, Mrs. Ruchti, and this one looks very interesting, as I love music!
-Melissa M. in TN
Melissa and Linda, I do hope you have the opportunity to dive into this book. It moved me deeply even as I wrote it!
I adore Cynthia's heartfelt and hope-filled stories!
Britney Adams, TX
Britney, you warmed my heart on this drizzly, unspringlike day!
I'm seeing such great things about this book! Dee from
Nebraska would love to read it :)
Thank you, Dee. I'll meet you in the pages!
This book sounds so good. Would love to read it. Stella in Indiana.
Thank you, Stella. I love how Lena is so kind to help get the word out about books her readers will love!
I loved this interview and I love the first page of Song of Silence because I personally know a teenager with CF who has the same attitude as Ellie when she says "any day I’m breathing is a considered a good day.” But most of all, I love Cynthia's wonderful way of telling her stories!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Connie, I'm so glad you enjoyed the first page! I needed that introduction to the next phase of the story. It seemed to write itself for me! Thank you.
Cynthia's books are the best! I would really love to read this one. Sounds like a winner to me! Melanie Backus Blossom, Texas
Cynthia's books are the best! I would really love to read this one. Sounds like a winner to me! Melanie Backus Blossom, Texas
Thank you, Melanie! What a heartening comment for me to read tonight, as I work on another book!
A wonderful first page thank you.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
I would love a chance to read this book - Thanks! Elaine in Wisconsin
Mary and Elaine, you are a wonderful encouragement to writers like me!
This book sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Brenda in VA
Sounds like a good read. north platte nebraska.
Brenda, Kim, it's hard, but I'm rooting for ALL of you in this giveaway! :)
I have not had the opportunity to read one of your books yet, but am looking forward to getting that opportunity.
Edward A in VA
Ahk! Not even one, Edward? Time to correct that! :)
This sounds like a wonderful book. I would love to read Lucy's story and see how she finds her passion for music again.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in NY
Maryann, I hope you enjoy her journey...even the rough patches.
Sounds really good! Music can be such a powerful thing and express such emotion...
Patty in SC
Music has been a powerful motivator, soother, reminder, expression, mode of worship in my own life. Thanks, Patty.
Enter me!!
Conway, SC.
I enjoy reading Cynthia's books. I am pleased to have the chance to win Song of Silence. Thanks for the interview also.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Kansas
What a blessing!
would love to win angela in ky
Would love to win.
Lourdes Dix Hills Long Island
This sounds like a delightful book to read.
Deanne P. in PA
I have already heard so many amazing comments on this novel. I'm not too terribly surprised. :) I'm looking forward to enjoying it myself
Terrill - WA
Thanks, Terrill. You made my day!
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