Author Archives: Janet Sketchley

About Janet Sketchley

Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer whose Redemption’s Edge Christian suspense novels have each been finalists in The Word Awards. She's also the author of the devotional collection, A Year of Tenacity. Janet blogs about faith and books. She loves Jesus and her family, and enjoys reading, worship music, and tea. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join her writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.

Five for 5

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Are you familiar with Five for 5? It’s part of World Vision’s Global Child Health Now campaign.

The premise is “Five years is not a child’s lifetime,” and the goal is to influence world leaders attending the G8 summit this June in Canada.

The site offers some disturbing global statistics:

8.8 million children younger than 5 died in 2008 from mostly preventable health issues such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition and complications at birth.

Another 500,000 moms died in pregnancy, and during or after childbirth.

And in North America, we complain about our health care. I can’t get my head around this, and I can’t imagine what we’ll offer in explanation when we’re facing the Lord.

Click either of the two links above to visit the site and learn how you can help.

Weak is Okay… When Your God is Strong

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But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV*

Monday came with a low-level anxiety. Too many deadlines looming too near. I felt unsettled, needed comfort, reassurance. An anchor.

I found a quiet corner with my Bible, to spend some time with God. Wished I could just be with Him, instead of feeling so weak.

A new thought surprised me: don’t regret the weakness, be glad it’s pointing me to my Strength. Rest in God, draw what’s needed for each moment as it comes, be glad of the reminder to do this. Forgetting only leads to launching out alone, which tends to mean missing the mark.

I don’t have to be strong in myself. God never asks that. He asks me to recognize my need and His bounty, and to love to run to Him.

Father, I’m so thankful that in my weakness Your strength shines, and that we’ll navigate today by Your plan. It will be enough. Today I will be neither introvert nor extrovert, but Christovert.

∞

He also gave me this song for the morning. What a God, so good on so many levels. Here are my favourites, the newsboys, with “I’ll Be,” from their album Born Again. May it bless you today.

Review: Christianus Sum, by Shawn J. Pollett

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Christianus Sum, by Shawn J. Pollett (Word Alive Press, 2008)

In third-century Rome, Christians have enjoyed a time of relative peace…until the installation of Emperor Decius. One of the emperor’s key supporters is Publius Licinius Valerianus, a cruel man who schemes to be next on the throne—and whose hatred of Christianity has already cost many lives.

To refuse to deny the Christos, to adamantly declare “Christianus Sum”—I am a Christian—is to die a martyr’s death.

Roman Senator Julius Valens disagrees. In honour of his dead wife’s faith, he allows a group of Christians to worship in one of the many rooms of his home. Equally indifferent to all deities, he designates other rooms for the other gods his slaves may want to worship.

He doesn’t expect to fall in love with a slave—a Christian slave, at that. The beautiful Damarra and her friends teach him about their faith. Although he’s not convinced, his efforts to protect the Christians from persecution draw him into danger.

Canadian author Shawn J. Pollett has created a complex plot with vivid characters and a strong sense of place and time. I was hesitant to read a novel set in such a troubled era, but the story quickly drew me in. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it.

With long Latin names and authentic details, Christianus Sum (the ‘u’ in ‘sum’ sounds like the ‘oo’ in ‘cook’) isn’t a fast or light read. It slowed me down and made me feel like I was there in the past, in this ornate and formal time of Roman rule. It also let me see a bit of the life and times of the culture.

The novel has plenty of drama and emotion to keep you turning pages, and I appreciated the author’s sensitive handling of the brutality. Much of the suffering is off-camera, so to speak. Readers know what’s going on without being traumatized. The ending does get quite intense, but no more so than necessary and there’s nothing gratuitous about it.

The story is told in the third person with shifts into omniscient, and although occasionally I wasn’t sure of a scene’s point of view it always became clear within a few paragraphs.

As well as the spiritual, persecution and romance threads, Christianus Sum also explores friendship, duty, battles and political intrigues. There’s a lot in these pages to satisfy a reader.

I’m not strong in history and I found myself wondering about these characters, especially the emperors and generals. Were there actual people by these names? How much of this actually happened? The author thoughtfully included an afterward to answer these questions and more.

I’ve finished the novel, but its characters have stayed with me, and I find myself wondering how well I’d stand in such a time of trouble. How my brothers and sisters in Christ would stand. These fictional characters share such a vibrant love for one another and for the Christos, and mine feels so pale in comparison.

As well as love for God, the characters have a strong trust in Him. After one rare, happy experience, we read, “Sometimes, [Damarra] wondered if God worked in unexpected ways for the sheer pleasure of watching his people look up to the heavens, scratch their heads, and ask, ‘How did you do that?’” (p. 49)

In 2009, Christianus Sum received The Word Guild’s Canadian Christian Writing Awards in three of the novel categories: Historical, Mystery/Suspense and Romance. Before that, as an unpublished manuscript, it won Word Alive Press’ 2008 free publishing contest in the fiction category.

Christianus Sum is book one in the “Cry of the Martyrs” trilogy. Book two, What Rough Beast, released in April 2010. I look forward to reading it. Both are available through local bookstores and online. Ebook versions are available through various online stores although not from my favourite, fictionwise.com. I notice a variety of ebook pricing, so shop around.

If you visit Shawn J. Pollett’s website, you’ll find an interesting introduction to the “Cry of the Martyrs” series.

[Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.]

How do we deal with suffering?

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The other week on the Canadian Authors Who are Christian blog, Canadian singer/songwriter and writer Carolyn Arends wrote:

I recently asked friends online what words and actions had been the least helpful in trying times, and I got a passionate and prolific response. I recognized many of the platitudes listed as things that had come out of my mouth.

If you read her full post, “Allow for Space in the Music: Acknowledging the mystery of pain,” I think you’ll be encouraged and better equipped to offer comfort. If nobody around you is hurting today, someone may be tomorrow. And if you’re hurting today, this may be something you can share with your friends to help them know how to not make it worse.

He is Able

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I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
2 Timothy 1:12b, NIV*

This is the first verse I ever memorized on my own initiative—well, I learned it as part of a hymn, and was delighted to recognize it in my Bible.

I’ve been reading the book Majesty in Motion: Creating an Encouragement Culture in all Your Relationships, and one thing that has challenged me is the need for personal confidence in God. This is area I’ve been working to grow in for a number of years, and confidence in God is the basis for enabling us to encourage others, so we won’t be threatened by their needs or our inadequacies.

This week I’ve chosen to pray and meditate on God’s strength and promises, as a way of cultivating that confidence. When I found this verse from 2 Timothy in my daily reading, something clicked.

I’d always taken the words to mean that God would keep my soul at the end. But it’s so much more: He is ready and able to look after me in the here and now. Exactly what I needed to read this week!

Father, You are so good to us. You show Your care in so many ways. Help me to believe You and to stay confident in Your care whatever the day brings. I won’t necessarily like what comes, but You can use it. And it’s not about me, it’s about You. Help me live in love and confidence in You so others will see the difference You make.

∞

Here’s the hymn that started teaching me Scripture: “I Know Whom I Have Believed,” from Amazing Worship.

Review: Just Between You and Me, a novel by Jenny B. Jones

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Just Between You and Me, by Jenny B. Jones (Thomas Nelson, 2009)

Maggie Montgomery has done video shoots all over the world, but the one place she doesn’t want to be is Ivy, the town where she grew up.

Maggie’s a fairly new Christian, and she senses God has brought her home for a reason…but why?

Her father doesn’t want to see her, but he’s desperate for help with her unruly niece, Riley. Riley’s mom is mentally ill and hasn’t been able to care for her.

Maggie is smart, sassy, and she comes with a lot of emotional baggage. When she shows up in her home town, her high school friend Beth is the only person who remembers her who’s not toting a huge grudge. Maggie’s feisty enough to handle it, but I found myself getting defensive on her behalf.

Handsome veterinarian Connor Blake has some harsh, preconceived ideas about Maggie, but it doesn’t take long for him to understand her almost too well. Maggie thrives on keeping everyone at arms’ length—so why does being with Connor make her want to drop her defences?

Jenny B. Jones writes with a snappy sense of humour and tight delivery. This is one of those novels that works well in the present tense, first person. Present tense usually feels contrived to me, but the character of Maggie has such a strong voice that it feels like she’s really telling us what’s happening. Combined with the title of “Just Between You and Me,” it feels like Maggie’s telling the story one-on-one to a close friend.

Like the few others I’ve read in the Christian chick-lit genre, Just Between You and Me is not all surface and fluff. Maggie’s experience changes her life, and aspects of it—and the process of her learning—can shape readers as well. For all of her daredevil reputation, Maggie has a major fear issue when it comes to relationships—and to water, because she wasn’t able to save her drowning mother.

Just Between You and Me is fresh, funny and real—and the most feel-good book I’ve read in a long time. It’s actually one of maybe five novels or short fiction that I’d count as life-changing. An added benefit for me is the title: every time I thought about the novel, I’d hear the April Wine song.

You can read chapter one of Just Between You and Me or learn more about the author at the Jenny B. Jones website. The Thomas Nelson website has a reader discussion guide you might want to check out after you’ve read the novel. Just Between You and Me is aimed at adults, but Jenny is also the author of novels for young adults: the Katie Parker Production series and A Charmed Life series. YA novels are fun, and I look forward to checking these out.

[Review copy borrowed from my local public library. If you’re in Canada, you can get it via inter-library loan… or buy your own copy. It’s worth it!]

Interview with suspense author Lynette Eason

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Lynette Eason’s website offers “Suspense with a twist. Welcome… to the edge of your seat.” With an invitation like that, who wouldn’t want to read more?

Lynette is the author of a string of romantic suspense novels from Steeple Hill, most recently A Silent Terror, A Silent Fury and A Silent Pursuit. Her new novel, Too Close to Home, is releasing April 2010 from Revell. (I posted a review of Too Close to Home recently.)

Janet: Welcome, Lynette, and thanks for taking time to stop by. I’m glad to get to know you a bit. Your name is familiar through American Christian Fiction Writers but before Too Close to Home I’d only read one of your books, Lethal Deception. That’s going to change!

Lynette: Thanks SO much for having me here!

Janet: Your new series is called “Women of Justice.” Samantha from is an FBI agent. Can you tell us what occupations the next women in the series will have?

Lynette: The next woman in the series is Samantha’s sister, Jamie. She’s a Forensic Anthropologist who does contract work for the local police department. Kit Kenyon is a detective with the local police force, but she’s also on the emergency response team as a hostage negotiator.

Janet: I see the second book in the series, Don’t Look Back, is scheduled to release this September. Are you in the middle of revisions for it, or are you already working on the story after that?

Lynette: I am finished with that one as well as the third book that’s yet to be titled. I just received my revisions for the third book and hope to be done with those in a few days.

Janet: Sounds like some celebratory chocolate is in order! With all the novels you’ve written so far, do you have a favourite character or story?

Lynette: I think my favorite is Don’t Look Back. That story was the easiest one to write as far as the words just flowing. Jamie is a great character and the story just surprised me with all of the twists and turns it ended up taking. I hope it does really well and that readers enjoy it.

Janet: Sounds like it’ll be a good read. When the story flows like that, it’s great. Speaking of readers, what has their response been like for your books?

Lynette: I don’t know yet. LOL. My Steeple Hill books have sold great and I get a lot of emails from readers who really like them, but since this is my first Revell book, I can’t answer that question yet.

Janet: I know I enjoyed Too Close to Home! What got you started writing?

Lynette: Loneliness. Ha.

Janet: Your website says you’re a homeschooling mom by day and a writer by night. Have you picked up some time management secrets to share? Or do we simply have to give up sleep?

Lynette: Well, I can see it’s time to change my website. I no longer homeschool. I just found I couldn’t do it all. The kids are back in school and I now work an outside job. But yeah, giving up sleep is basically how it all gets done. I could crawl in bed every night around 7:00 and sleep till 7:00 the next morning, but I can’t do that and do everything else I want to do so I generally go to bed around 11:00 and get up about 6:30.

Janet: If I write in the evening, I can’t turn off my mind to get to sleep. Any advice?

Lynette: I think everyone is different. I don’t have a bit of trouble turning my mind off. I actually get some good ideas while falling asleep. Sometimes I remember them, sometimes not, but I don’t really ever have problems falling asleep.

Janet: Suspense writing requires its own forms of research. What’s the weirdest bit of trivia you’ve picked up along the way?

Lynette: The people who work in morgues like to do that kind of job mostly because the people they work with don’t talk back.

Janet: I hear they develop interesting senses of humour too. Writers and readers who wonder how you come up with your story elements may want to visit the elements page on your website. I won’t repeat those questions here, but I wonder… what do you like best about the writing life?

Lynette: The words, “The End” LOL. Seriously, I love the creative process. I love it when I get a new idea and the brainstorming starts. I think I’m the rare person that likes to write proposals almost more than the book itself. 🙂

Janet: Liking to write proposals is rare indeed…. What do you like least?

Lynette: Revisions, I suppose, although I don’t really mind them too much.

Janet: What does your family think of your writing?

Lynette: They’re very supportive and proud of me. I have to credit a lot of my success to my family. If not for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Janet: Writers read, but we like music too. What are you listening to these days?

Lynette: LOL! That’s an easy one. My husband and his band, JupiterWind just had a new CD release this month! I’ve been listening to a song on there that keeps playing over and over in my head. It’s called, “Who would ever let a love like this go?” It reminds me of an old 80’s tune by Air Supply or something. I love it.

Janet: That is so cool. Plenty of creativity in your household, then! Readers can learn more about JupiterWind at the band’s website and check out their video, “He’s Alive,” at the 33 Hope Community website. I really like their sound!

Thanks so much for taking time to let us get to know you a bit, Lynette. May the Lord continue to bless you and make you a blessing to others—in every area of your life.

===

Too Close to Home, by Lynette Eason (Revell, April 2010)

“Samantha Cash is the FBI’s secret weapon. Her methods are invisible, and she never stops til the case is closed. When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, Samantha is assigned to help local Detective Connor Wolfe find the killer. And he has two problems with that. There’s her faith-in God and herself. And then there’s the fact that she looks exactly like his late wife. As they get close to an answer, the case becomes personal. The killer seems to be taking an interest in Connor’s sixteen-year-old daughter, who thinks her dad is getting way too protective. Can’t a girl just have some fun?”

Too Close to Home is available through your local bookstore, or online at chapters.indigo, amazon.ca, amazon.com and ChristianBook.com.

Learn more about Lynette Eason at her website and her blog, Suspense with a Twist. Lynette also blogs at Craftie Ladies of Suspense, and you can find her on Facebook.

Love One Another

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A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34-34, NIV*

Last week at Whatever He Says, Belinda posted on the importance of relationships, including the quote, “Relationship—with God and with people—nothing else matters”. It’s a powerful post, and worth reading (scroll up from where the link takes you). The novel I finished on the weekend, Just Between You and Me, made me think about it too. And the book I’m currently reading, Majesty in Motion, focuses on…you guessed it: relationships.

I didn’t plan any of this.

Did I mention our Bible study group at church is using the Experiencing God Workbook? We’re at the “relationships” section now.

God can be subtle with some people, but He knows I take a bit of prodding.

Loving one another doesn’t have a lot to do with warm, fuzzy feelings. Singer/songwriter Don Francisco called it an act of the will.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails [stops/ends]. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV*

It’s intentional, deliberate, a choice we make. A choice we can only follow through on by relying on God’s love in us.

Father, I’m so thankful that You meet us where we are, but You love us too much to leave us there. You promised to grow us to be more like Your Son. Jesus saw people through Your eyes—with Your heart. Help me learn to do that too, and to be useful to You in encouraging and loving them.

∞

Our song this week is Matt Maher’s “Hold Us Together”.

Review: The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag, by Alan Bradley

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The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag, by Alan Bradley (2010, Doubleday Canada)

The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag is the second mystery from Alan Bradley featuring 11-year-old Flavia de Luce. The series is set in 1950 in rural England.

Flavia, her sisters and their father live in a huge old house, where she spends her happiest times in the lab of a mad (now dead) chemist.

The mystery surrounds a murder that doesn’t happen until part-way through the book. I knew it was coming, having read some promotional material. Getting to know the soon-to-be victim was an odd sensation.

A secondary plot thread involves the death of a local boy some years earlier, and Flavia is determined to get to the bottom of that too.

The world through Flavia’s eyes is an interesting place. She observes, rarely judging, and leaves readers to draw their own conclusions.

Although she’s a child, this is a novel for adults. Since I usually review books for the Christian market, I’ll add that it’s a general market book containing some mild profanity.

Flavia is one of those enjoyable fictional characters you probably wouldn’t want to live with. She has a dry sense of humour and a vocabulary that includes words like pustulent, pristine and diminutive, along with a variety of chemical terms.

When she successfully ducks an assignment from her father, he laments that she’s unreliable. Her comment as narrator: “Of course I was! It was one of the things I loved most about myself. Eleven-year-olds are supposed to be unreliable.” (p. 86)

Another character calls her terrifying, and Flavia tells us with all modesty, “It was true—and there was no use denying it.” (p. 90)

I suspect Inspector Hewitt of the local constabulary would describe her as terrifying too—but she does have his grudging respect.

The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag is a sadder story to me than the first novel in the series, but it’s still a very good read with plenty that made me smile. You don’t have to read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie first, but don’t miss it!

Alan Bradley is a Canadian author now living in Malta. You can find him online at the Flavia de Luce website, and Flavia de Luce has her own online fan club.

You might also be interested in this interview with Alan Bradley in the Ottawa Sun, or this article by Andrea Baillie of the Canadian Press.

The next book in the series is A Red Herring Without Mustard, releasing in 2011. I’m looking forward to it.

Here’s a video trailer for The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, to introduce you to Flavia. The voice is perfect. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVkxr7e9YGs]

Review copy purchased from Kobo Books and enjoyed on my Aluratek Libre e-reader.

Introverts and Extroverts

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If introverts recharge their strength by being alone, and extroverts draw their energy from being around others, aren’t Christians designed to be ‘God-verts’? Theo-verts, if we want to keep with the Latin theme?

Drawing our strength from God, whether alone or in a group…. He’s an unending power supply.

Isaiah says “…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31a, NIV)

Gladwell Musau of Rainbow Gulf of Love shared some key insights this week in her post, “Encourage Yourself in the Lord“. Check it out–you’ll be blessed.