Welcome back, Henry. God
has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?
In the writing world, I see myself exploring new genres, like
contemporary, fantasy and SciFi. The story ideas God has given me don’t always
fit comfortably in the historical genre. I also see my writing finding a place
in the general market, not just the Christian market. And I will continue to
explore both Indie and traditional publishing. God is opening doors for more
teaching opportunities as well as coaching and editing with individuals.
In the non-writing part of my life, God has opened wonderful
opportunities to serve in our church, especially in the stewardship ministry.
That’s wonderful. Tell
us a little about your family.
My wife and I grew up in Rhode Island
and moved to Texas
nineteen years ago after our kids were grown and out of the home. We have five
children. The oldest is in heaven and the others are scattered from Missouri to New Jersey
to Rhode Island and New Hampshire . Our grandson also lives in New Jersey . So we see
ourselves doing a lot of traveling, especially as more grandchildren come
along. Fortunately, we are blessed with a love of traveling.
Has your writing
changed your reading habits? If so, how?
I read from two different perspectives. When I read in the
genre I write, I’m studying and learning how other authors approach telling
their stories. I’m analyzing techniques for ways to improve my own writing.
But I also need to read for fun. So I read genres and
subgenres I don’t write in. My fun reading leans towards thrillers and
mysteries. I enjoy authors like Michael Connelly and Jacqueline Winspear.
Elizabeth George, P.D. James and J.A. Jance are other authors I read for fun. I
particularly enjoy Terry Pratchett and his comic fantasies. But even in these
fun reads, the writer part of my brain is functioning. It’s learning from these
fun reads on a subconscious level.
What are you working
on right now?
At this moment, I’m working on a SciFi story. The hero is a
hybrid—part human and part android. An explosion on the ship results in him
suffering total amnesia, something that has never happened with a hybrid. As he
attempts to regain his memory, he learns the explosion was no accident. It was
a deliberate attempt to kill him. With the amnesia he has no idea who he can
trust as he seeks to prevent another attempt on his life.
What outside
interests do you have?
As I mentioned earlier, my wife and I enjoy traveling and we
enjoy serving in our church. Reading ,
movies, concerts, and exploring new restaurants are also on our list of things
to do.
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
For me, a lot of this is determined by the core idea for the
story. In my first novel, Journey to
Riverbend, I knew I needed the element of time passing for the story idea
to work. It was either going to be SciFi or historical. I chose historical
because I was more comfortable with the genre at the time.
The idea behind another of my novels deals with grief and
loss. As the idea formed, I knew it would work best in a contemporary setting
because of the issues the main characters would face.
If you could spend an
evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?
Jesus is the most obvious person for the most obvious reasons.
Jesus is the most obvious person for the most obvious reasons.
After Him, I would choose Paul. His life is so rich. I want
to hear him speak of how he suffered and survived so much persecution and how
he continued to teach, preach, and write letters full of love for Christ and
for the church. And for his enemies. To me, he exemplifies the Christian walk
in the middle of attack and turmoil and in living out Christ in everyday life.
What is the one thing
you wish you had known before you started writing novels?
How hard it was going to be. Not just the physical act of
writing or the efforts necessary to get published. But learning and practicing
all aspects of the craft as well. It takes hard work to become the best writer
we can possibly be. But, maybe if I knew this, I wouldn't have tried. And that
would have been one of my biggest regrets.
What new lessons is
the Lord teaching you right now?
He’s teaching me to trust and rely on him more, to develop a
more personal, more intimate relationship.
What are the three
best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
First, pray and meditate. Make sure God is calling you to
write. Pray every day over your writing to use this gift to encourage and
support your readers, and to convey his truth through your characters and
settings and plots.
Second, write. Every day if possible but as often as you can.
Make it a habit, like eating. Schedule time to write. I’ve often said, you will
never find the time to write, you have to make it. To paraphrase Jack London,
you can’t wait for the time to write. You have to go after it with a club. Part
of this is learning the craft. Read books on writing, attend conferences, find
a critique group that will help you grow, pray for a mentor to come alongside
you.
Third, develop a thick skin as Jerry B. Jenkins calls it. We
grow as writers when we are able to accept and process criticism so we can
improve our craft.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Riverbend Reunion is the third book in my Riverbend Sagas
series. In this one, Michael Archer learns the past has a way of catching up
with you even when you think it’s dead and buried.
Michael and Rachel are settling into their life as newlyweds,
and Michael is in a new job resolving problems caused by shady land deals done
by Sam Carstairs before he died. Michael is uncovering layers of corruption
when he receives a mysterious and cryptic summons from the sister he hasn’t
seen in years to return to their home, but she can’t tell him why.
After some deep soul searching, he and Rachel decide to
return to the farm where he spent his first thirteen years, the farm where he
stabbed his father with a pitchfork and fled. What he discovers there forces
him to make choices to confront his past, choices that may cost him his future
with Rachel.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Here you go:
Friday, September 1,
1865
Smack.
Ellie Archer’s hands tightened on the trowel as she cringed
at the sound of her father’s open hand striking her mother’s face. She knelt in
the small flower garden under the open kitchen window.
“This cornbread is stale.” Her father’s slurred words
spilled out the window.
Smack.
Ellie dropped the trowel, squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands
formed tight fists over her ears, but the sounds still came.
“I told you I want fresh cornbread with my breakfast.”
Breakfast? It’s almost
noon.
A plate shattered against the wall, a shard spun out the
window, landing in front of Ellie’s knees.
“You useless—”
“Levi. No.” Her mother’s wail stabbed Ellie’s heart.
A different sound now. A hard thud. A fist this time.
Something fell to the floor. Her mother’s body, a sound she’d heard all too
often.
“Get up.” Another deep thud, more muffled. The sound of her
father’s boot hitting her mother’s soft flesh brought tears to Ellie’s eyes.
“Never mind. I’ll get Ellie. She takes better care of me
than you ever could.”
Ellie ran.
The barn. Hide in the
barn until he passes out. Again.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
My website is http://www.henrymclaughlin.org/
I’m also on Facebook at Henry on Facebook
Thank you, Henry, for sharing this new book with us. I know my readers are eager to read it.
Readers,
here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this
blog.
Riverbend Reunion: Book 3 in the Riverbend Sagas Series - paperbackRiverbend Reunion (Riverbend Sagas Book 3) - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us
where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America . (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:
14 comments:
Finally, a book written for a man by a man. I work in the church library and the books we have for men, are few and far between.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win this book.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida
Thank you, Janet, for the nice compliment. I appreciate it.
Sounds like a good one! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Melanie Backus, TX
Thanks for stopping by, Melanie. I think you'll enjoy the book.
Oh sounds really good. north platte nebraska.
Thank you, Kim. Following my characters in this story took me deep into their souls.
I read Journey to Riverbend. I would love to read this, and winning a free copy would be great. Connie Leonard, Granbury, TX
Thank you, Connie. Riverbend Reunion was as much fun to write as Journey to Riverbend. Michael and Rachel took me a new and unexpected adventures. I believe you'll enjoy it.
Oh my! Such a hard first page but one that tells a story that is timeless: women and children affected by abuse and alcohol.Thank you for sharing.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you, Connie. That first scene was hard to get on the screen. I wanted it to be just right in conveying what Ellie was going through and to set up what would happen in the rest of the story.
Enter me!!
Conway, SC.
Thank you, Sharon.
Post a Comment