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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Guest Blogger Jude Urbanski and Nurtured in Purple

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jude Urbanski writes women's fiction featuring strong inspirational romance elements. She invites you to stories of heroes and heroines who spin tragedy into triumph with help from God. First published in nonfiction, Jude now has two electronic novels, The Chronicles of Chanute Crossing Series, offered by Desert Breeze Publishing. She is a columnist for Maximum Living, a magazine focusing on spirituality and wellness for women. Jude has a Master’s Degree in Nursing. She is a member of national and area chapters of American Christian Fiction Writers and National League of American Pen Women. Jude and her husband live in Indiana.

NURTURED IN PURPLE
by Jude Urbanski
Published by Desert Breeze Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nurtured in Purple, Book Two in The Chronicles of Chanute Crossing, continues the now-married love story of Seth Orbin and Kate Davidson of Joy Restored, Book One, but nemesis' Willard Wittenberg and Elizabeth Koger come center stage still pursuing personal vendettas against Seth and Kate.

Seth again faces potential loss of wife and child with Kate's life-threatening pregnancy complication, while Willard maneuvers to ruin Seth's business. Willard and Elizabeth, once lovers, engage and marry, but her flame for Seth has never died. Married life proves ragged.

Late-blooming love comes to Ninville Cornelius and Margie Craig and new characters of Ruby Moody, alcoholic wife of a deceased Vietnam vet, and her small son Bobo are introduced.

Can Seth and Kate, modeling God's grace and forgiveness, bring hope and light to Willard and Elizabeth and Ruby and Bobo, all so needy of God's redeeming love?

Readers, buy your copy of Nurtured in Purple today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

What a Writer Looks Like

Years ago, I remember a lovely friend who bopped into my house and announced she had just gotten her dream job in a doctor’s office and she asked me, in sincerity, how she could become a nurse in one easy lesson.

I just looked at her. It took me eight years after high school to earn my nurse practitioner credentials and she wanted me to tell her in K-mart terms and in one easy lesson how to be a nurse. I’ve never forgotten Irene’s request.

As much as we may want to, we cannot wish ourselves or beam ourselves up to be writers. We can’t learn all we need to know in one easy lesson. Yes, I know, we can debate whether the ability to write is a God-given gift, and hence, nothing else is needed. I won’t deny a few souls fit that category, whether God is the blame or the credit.

Some of us are more gifted or talented than others. All brains are not equal, but writing is a craft that can be learned. Whether we’re good or mediocre, we can hone our craft and become better, always better.

Why else, are there writing conferences, on-line classes, books written on the craft? Do they know something we do not? I don’t think so. They only know that to be better, we need to study our craft. Writers embrace this concept.

How do you feel when someone, who is not willing to invest in what it takes to learn writing skills, expects success overnight? A little charitable? Not charitable at all? Our best answer is that we should want to mentor them, to share what we’ve learned, to bring them along. They simply do not know the writing industry at this point in their journey.

This willing-to-share scene is just what I see in the writing loops to which I belong. It is really a precious thing. I see seasoned writers taking the time to respond, with infinite patience, to beginners’ questions. Before long, beginners realize their responsibility to dig into those books, to join groups and to educate themselves as much as possible on their chosen craft. Very soon, they know they can’t continue to be spoon fed, don’t even want to be, and instinctively learn to write from their own secret place, in their own voice and for their own reasons.

So, friends, here is what a writer looks like. Give me a little editorial liberty, please. A serious writer has made a decision to write. For whatever reason, they are committed. They learn everything they can about the field. They buy needed books or they use the library. They devote time each day or each week to this quest. They do as much as their life circumstances allow (if they are a young mother or father with heavy responsibilities, there is a special place in writer’s heaven for them!), but they desire to write. Quickly, they glean the point is not just to write, but to rewrite.

A writer never looks at a film or book in the same way again. Their mind studies not just films and books, but seizes every encounter with expectant eyes for writing snippets. One writer said she saw her hero at Wal-Mart. Love this! We always carry pen and paper. We even sleep close to it. Writers’ spirits resonate with one another.

Writers quit comparing their skills to others and write their best. They accept rejections as part of the game and learn all they can from them, knowing rejections mean activity. This is not to say writers can’t or don’t suffer self- doubt. We all do, but press forward. We all get writer’s block, but press forward. We know publication doesn’t validate who we are as a person.

We celebrate with one another, knowing our time is coming. Joy shared is joy doubled.

* * * * *

Thank you, Jude, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: Have you ever thought an author leads a glorious life full of acclaim, abundant royalties and money, or fame? What led you this belief? Has any of your perception changed as a result of this blog post?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE digital copy of the book featured above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US residents only.

14 comments:

jude urbanski said...

Tiff, that guest question is a HARD one! I've presented a writer's life as I see it, but "Here's to the Journey" for us all.

JoAnn Durgin said...

Ah, if nursing or writing - or anything, for that matter - could be learned in one easy lesson, it wouldn't give one much of a feeling of accomplishment or pleasure, would it? Thank you, ladies, for a lovely article. Jude is so right about learning the craft and how a writer views everything differently. What I learned in my journalism and English classes in college grounded me with the basic mechanics of grammar and usage, but writing creatively and crafting fiction is an entirely different ballgame (or beast, depending on your viewpoint). Learning to think like a writer is something acquired after you DO it over and over again. Even if you have innate talent, you also need to have determination and perseverance. In one word, it's PASSION. Jude has it, and I hope you'll read about it in her wonderful new book! Many blessings.

jude urbanski said...

JoAnn, thanks for your visit and your comments. Writing is a work in process and that determination and perseverance are certainly needed.

Patty said...

No, being a writer myself, I know just how hard it is to write books and get them published. I do have a little fantasy in my head, though, of critical acclaim and royalties big enough to roll in... ;)

patty.froese{at}yahoo.ca

jude urbanski said...

Patty, your comment made me LOL! Yes, royalties big enough to roll in. I can see and feel it! Thanks for the visit.

Cheryl said...

Perhaps way before I began to take writing seriously I had delusions of grandeur, but those days are long gone. Writing is a tough gig not meant for the faint of heart. I also think it's a challenge in this day and age of self-publishing to be a writer. As if there wasn't enough competition already.

Jude, your book sounds amazing. I wish you the best with it.

Cheryl

ccmal(at)charter(dot)net

jude urbanski said...

Cheryl, I want to shout out your words-"Writing is a tough gig not meant for the faint of heart." These words are so true. It must be a passion. Have a great rest of the day and thanks for dropping in.

Mary Marie Allen said...

Jude, I'm coming to the party late, but your book sounds terrific and your advice is solid. I logically know that writing is dedication and tenacity as well as skill. I work at these, but now that you mention it I read a book once in which a 2ndy character was able to afford to buy and new house. I think that kind of freedom sticks with me as a goal. And then there's this even deeper childhood memory where I lived by a beach and painted and life was lonely but satisfying... hmmm.

jude urbanski said...

Mary, Loved your comments and just happened to look up and see the name of this blog is "A Fictional Life". Kind of fits with your dreams and aspirations. I like your idea of dedication and tenacity.

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Hi There, I just spent a little time reading through your posts, which I found entirely by mistake whilst researching one of my projects. Please continue to write more because it’s unusual that someone has something interesting to say about this. Will be waiting for more!

Unknown said...

Hello, I don't live in the US so I don't expect my email will be entered into the competition. Thanks for such an inspiring commentary on a writer's life. It answered a lot of questions for me. And I am a nurse as well as an aspiring writer...

jude urbanski said...

Pauline, how nice to hear from across the pond. A place near and dear to my heart as far as my ancestry. Thank you for stopping by and I wish you well with your writing.

jude urbanski said...

Tiff, thanks for having me and thanks to each one for visiting.