Dark Glass Ponderings

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. -1 Corinthians 13:12

I'm thrilled to have Shawna K. Williams visiting Dark Glass Ponderings.  I read and reviewed No Other in August.  Shawna has had a busy season with both a November and a December release, In All Things and Orphaned Hearts.  Thank you for being here, Shawna.

How exciting that you have not one, but two new releases this Holiday Season. I understand Orphaned Hearts, to be released in December, is about adoption. This is a subject that is dear to my own heart as my husband and I are praying to adopt from India. Can you tell me a bit about your inspiration for this novel?


My granddad was an orphan, and I've often pondered his childhood and the stories he and my grandmother shared. I had thought for some time that I wanted to write a story about an orphan. I knew churches were involved with orphanages back in the day because as a child my granddad traveled to speak in various congregations to help get support. I also knew that his experiences played a role in my grandparents' decision to be foster parents.

The original idea began with a preacher, who'd been an orphan, looking for a home for an orphaned boy who was special to him. Somewhere in there that boy became handicapped, the preacher became scarred, and a wealthy spinster who loved to bake showed up.

(What a neat idea for a holiday story!  How wonderful to have such a family legacy and to be able to share it through your books).



Do you have a favorite Christmas memory to share?

I can't say that I have one particular Christmas memory that stands out as my favorite. What I do know is that Christmas brings a wealth of memories from my childhood that sort of jumble into this wonderful cozy feeling centered around time spent with family at my grandparents' house. There are smells, sounds and objects that trigger this feeling: the scent of pine, the smell of wood burning, creaking wood floors, crunchy leaves underfoot, the woods, trains, blackberry jam, crystal chandeliers, funny shaped Christmas trees, a fat red and white Basset Hound or a dingy white German Sheppard, snow and the sound of gravel beneath rolling tires. None of these would mean anything if they hadn't been accompanied with tons of laughter and love. This was Nonnie and Papa's house at Christmas time, and it was the most magical place in the world.

(What a beautiful picture you paint, Shawna!)



Do you have a favorite holiday food?

Pecan pie! I've been making this for years, but here's the rundown:

3 eggs, 1 cup light corn syrup, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 tbsp vanilla (I like a few drops extra) and 1 &1/4 cup pecans. Mix it all together. Then line pie crust edges with foil, pour in filling, and bake for 25 minutes at 350. Remove foil, and bake another 25 minutes or until done. Yum!

(Sounds really easy!  My pecan pie came out too runny this Thanksgiving, think I'll give your recipe a try sometime).



You have a wonderful gift with jewelry making. Do you have any particular item of jewelry that holds a special meaning for you?


Pertaining to what I make: I like designing jewelry with freshwater pearls. I think they are a wonderful representation of God's Grace. In the way that an oyster takes an irritant and coats it to create a pearl, God takes the pain of our sin and through His grace transforms it into something beautiful – our own unique testimony of His love.

As for something special to me. I have a charm with an angel holding three hearts. It represents the three babies I lost in miscarriages. I also have a necklace that I recently passed on to my daughter that was a gift to my grandmother from her father, when she was sixteen.



I notice Orphaned Hearts takes place in the Great Depression. How did you choose that era to write about?

Not sure. It just seemed right. I love 20th century historicals.



I am also thrilled to see that you’re a homeschooler, too! Do you have any tips for helping children develop a love of learning, whether we are teachers or parents?

During the first years we homeschooled I treated it very much like an institutional setting. It hit me one day, as my son groaned over being forced to read a story in his reader, that the stories didn't interest him. He'd learned to dread reading. I scrapped the reader and replaced it with books from the library that he selected, with my approval. Information is absorbed much easier when the reader is engaged and interested.

(I learned this the hard way, too.  Now my daughter and I are doing a literature-based curriculum and she loves school!)



Do you have a favorite person in the Bible?

King David. His heart, his faith, even his failings inspire me in my walk with God.




Do you have any tips for those who are aspiring authors?

We've all heard the phrase, 'write what you know.' I think it's equally important, if not more-so, that an author writes who they are. Yes, we have to learn the craft, pay attention to trends and whatnot. Those things are important. Just be sure that in doing so you don't lose yourself. People are touched by stories that are sincere, and those come from the heart.



We would love an excerpt from Orphaned Hearts!


David ran back to the bench and removed his suit jacket. Sadie raised her brow. In the five years she'd known him, he'd never been without a coat and tie. A little peculiar -- yes -- however, he did take his position as a minister seriously. Perhaps Caleb was also helping David to realize that ministers could take time off for fun.

"Join us," David said.

"Join you?" Sadie looked down at her 'too full to be fashionable' skirt and then at her gloved hands. No telling how much flour was caked beneath her nails.

"But I'm--"

"You are the same girl who ran around in overalls, hoping to be a miner someday?"

She glanced up and noted David's challenging smirk. Suddenly the ball hit her in the shin. Caleb broke out into a fit of laughter.

With her youthful, tomboyish spirit revived, Sadie narrowed her eyes, shooting Caleb and then David an 'I'll-show-you' look. As an only child she'd fulfilled the roles of both daughter and son. Neither David nor Caleb had any idea just what she was capable of. If she was still capable?

Sadie picked up the ball and stepped away from the bench. She carefully set it on the ground and took two long steps back. She glanced at the ball, then -- squinting her eyes -- looked through the rays of sunlight streaming through the trees, off into the horizon and imagined the ball flying into the distant mountains.

Furrowing her brow in concentration, Sadie fixed her gaze on the ball, lifted her skirt to her knees and took in a deep breath. Then she rushed toward her target, slinging her right foot back and propelling it forward. It connected in a loud thud. She watched as the ball flew higher and higher, threading between the trees and disappearing from sight.

Sadie dropped her skirt and heaved a satisfied sigh as she dusted her hands. Both David and Caleb stood frozen with their mouths gaping wide.

"Wow!" Caleb gawked and took off running in search of the ball -- which may very well have rolled down the base of the hill. She hadn't considered that. Suddenly her mothering instinct kicked in. "Caleb, wait. There could be snakes."

Shaking his head, David chuckled. "I'll go with him." The spring in his jog showed of amusement more than worry.

Sadie smiled as she watched David close the distance. A euphoric sensation surged through her, and some strange power beckoned her feet to take flight.

Not just her feet. Her heart.


Would you like a chance to win Shawna William's e-book, Orphaned Hearts AND a pair of Swarovski crystal Christmas tree earrings?

What is your favorite holiday-related food?

Please include your email in this format:

name (at) wherever (dot) com

Giveaway will end Thursday, December 16th!

31 comments:

Nice to comment on another Ponderings blog!

My favorite Christmas food treat is eggnog - in moderation, with all of those calories!

Blessings -
Andrea
andrealschultz at gmail dot com

Ponderings by Andrea blog
http://andrealschultz.blogspot.com

Just noticed the format you wanted the email address written in (want to make sure I'm not disqualified!):

andrealschultz (at) gmail (dot) com

Great interview!

Hmm, My favorite Christmas treat would be my Nana's homemade noodles! Everyone devours them !!!!

I would love a chance to win :)

lrn dot) mcghee (at) gmail (cot) com

www.heartofabookworm.blogspot.com

My favorite holiday food is Mac and Cheese. I make it just like my great grandmother taught me.

Lanita
tkomom2(at)yahoodot)com

I love peppermint bark :D My mom buys it for me every year!

pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com

Hi Julia, just wanted to thank you for hosting me today. God bless!

Andrea,
Thanks for stopping by and good luck. Yes, "ponderings" has a nice bloggy sound doesn't it?

Loren,
Homemade noodles, yum! Anything Grandmother made is a recommendation in my book. Good luck!

Lanita,
That's neat, I love recipes that have survived the generations. My great-grandmother's cookies are like that...we still make them every year. Wish you good luck!

Ariel,
I've never tried Peppermint Bark, but it sounds good, especially if it has chocolate :) Good luck!

Shawna,
Thanks so much for coming on the blog today!

I've read Shawna's first book and would love to win this one.

It's hard to say only one favorite holiday treat--fudge, eggnog, and at our house I make sour cream enchiladas for Christmas.

My favorite holiday food would have to be pumpkin pie!! The holidays just wouldn't be complete without it!
Please enter me in the drawing.
Sue Foster
suefoster(at)hotmail(dot)com

My favorite is a special coffee cake ...its a sweet bread filled with sliced almonds. Yum!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Lena,
Thanks for stopping by. I really enjoyed No Other, too. And your sour cream enchiladas sound delicious.

Sue,
I must be one of the few people who doesn't like pumpkin pie! Good luck in the drawing, though.

Oohh...Maureen,
I would love the recipe for that. Sounds delicious.

Oooo I would LOVE to win the ebook! I just got a Nook the other day so I'm looking to fill it up with some great reads!

I have to agree with Shawna that pie is definitely my favorite Christmas food...not so much pecan pie but I love fruit, cream, and pumpkin pies. Yummmmmm! :-)

XOXO~ Renee

Whoops forgot my email
steelergirl83(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks for all the great recipes!

I love egg nog and peppermint bark also - I make mine with white chocolate and it is delicious. My all-time favorite is probably Pfferneuse cookies. They are only available at Christmas time but we haven't been able to find them at all for the past three Christmases.

I enjoy reading stories about orphans with happy endings. The wife of a friend of mine is flying to Uganda tomorrow to hopefully complete the adoption of not one, not two, but three little girls. They hope to conclude a two year process and celebrate Christmas with their three new daughters along with the three boys they already have. What a fantastic way to demonstrate God's love to these little ones!

janmarien (at) embarqmail (dot) com

My favorite food to eat at Christmas is Carnation fudge :)

I really have to take more time to visit your blog regularly. Life happens and I don't get around to it, but you have some great interviews on here!

homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

I love Egg Nog. Seriously! This time of year I love to pick up some light Egg Nog to keep at home or visit Starbucks for one of those egg nog flavored specialty drinks. Yum! . . . I'm entering another one of your giveaways because it's fun! Thanks, Julia . . . reneeasmith61 [at] yahoo [dot] com

This story sounds wonderful, and thanks for a great giveaway.

I love homemade poppycock at Christmas time.

alongtheway (at) telus (dot) net

Julia I couldn't find your email anywhere could you please email me ASAP at steelergirl83(at)gmail(dot)com I have great news for ya! :-)

XOXO~ Renee

Never mind LOL I found your email :-)

XOXO~ Renee

If this is open for overseas readers please count me in.

mystica123athotmaildotcom

Hi There! I'm jumping in late 'cause my Pixi had the vapors but she's ok now. Great interview, SShawna and Julia! And Julia, your blog is gorgeous. Cheers!

This is COMPLETELY off topic, but I'd like to wish you a belated happy birthday,Jules! Somehow missed it at ARM......
God bless -
Kat

It's fun to pop back in and watch the comments grow here, Julia! Blessings!

Hmmm....can it be candy? LoL because I FAITHFULLY have my fill of CandyCane's EVERY year. But, if not candy then I would have to say that my favorite food would be cranberry sauce. I LOVE jellied Cranberry sauce! It goes with EVERYTHING...at least to me it does :o) YUM!

Blessings and thanks for the chance to win Shawna's ebook and earrings!
Molly
Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com


Julia M. Reffner

About Me

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Christ-loving bookworm & homeschool mom of 2 stealing the rare quiet moments to pursue that all elusive writing dream. I also write book reviews for Title Trakk and The Historical Novel Society.

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