Explanations and Excuses

 

 

It’s been so long since I posted here that I feel guilty.  So I think anyone reading deserves an explanation. Or an excuse if you want to call it that.  So here goes.

I am retired but I have a lot going on.  Not the active, run-around-all-over-town, doing-this-and-that kind of busy, but brainy kinds of things.  I’ve written several books just for fun and published one.  I’ve enjoyed that tremendously.  First, I just whipped them out and got the words on ‘paper’ (so to speak).  Then came the proofing and editing.  That’s when I can’t believe they came from my head.

Several years ago I read what was called a ‘Christian romance.’ Basically, it was a Harlequin love story with a few scriptures tossed in.  I was disgusted. I don’t mind a ‘romance.’  They are very sweet and keep my confidence in life alive.  But I don’t like smut. Too many love stories today are merely a storyline supporting a lot of soft porn. 

OK, put my soapbox away.

Anyway, I read this Christian romance and I was so disgusted that I said, “I could do better than that!”  And I wrote ‘Refuge from the Storm.”  I started out with the story of Ellen and Eli Slade and their story continued through four more books.  Then I went on to do eight more.  Some relate back to Ellen and Eli in some way, but others are entirely separate.   After publishing my first one, I had a better idea of what was necessary for further editing and proofreading and I’ve been working on the rest.   (if you want to buy it go to Amazon and enter ‘Refuge from the Storm” by Vondalene Howe)

I started writing this kind of story because I feel strongly that young people (Ok, young women) today NEED to have examples of a godly courtship.  Today’s books and movies are filled with sex.  See a ‘sex,’ guy and catch him by jumping into bed. Such a shallow way to build a life!   The old-fashioned concept of virginity is the strongest basis upon which to build a lasting marriage.  A love which is strong enough to postpone sexual relationship until after marriage gives each partner a greater confidence and assurance of the other’s commitment. So I set out to portray the fact that there are Christian men and women still living in today’s lust-filled society. 

Thus far I have 12 completed books.  I have been involved in not only writing them, but also with the work involved in editing.  That takes longer than the actual putting the story down.

I wish I had the self-confidence to promote myself and see them published by a Christian publishing house.  I cannot afford to finance my own publication.  I don’t understand people who can talk about their accomplishments and impress other people.  I just don’t know how to do that I feel there is a crying need for these romances in the Christian genre.  The stories came so easily I know the Lord had a hand in them.   Maybe someday I’ll find someone who has the knowledge and the skills to see them published.

I started to post the story of Ellen and Eli in a separate blog.   I didn’t know what I was doing when it came to posting a book in a blog so it is a little hard to follow. You have to go back to June to read it all.  The first four chapters start there in reverse order and you have to continue going backwards. Sorry. I was dumb.   http://refugefromstorm.blogspot.com/2012/06/     

After I did that someone said I shouldn’t have because it would be easy for someone to steal it.   But now the book has been published so I guess the danger is over. 

At any rate, now you know the reason I haven’t been posting so much on my blogs.  If you take the trouble to read Refuge, leave me some comments.  This is my rough draft so you may find typos etc. but I think you will like the story.