MEET NEW AUTHOR JODI RULE-ROUSE

Good End of September morning to everyone! I’m so excited to introduce y’all to my long-time mentor, friend, sister in writing, and in Christ…JODI RULE-ROUSE!

 

                                                      

 

 

            I first met Jodie after the death of our daughter over twenty years ago when I signed on to become a GriefShare facilitator with Church Initiative. Jodi was charged with training a multitude of us grieving folks to help other grieving folks make it through the difficult journey of grief.

            But today I’m introducing you to Author Jodi Rule-Rouse and her eye-opening, spirit-stirring series.

            Book One: SATAN, THE REAL ENEMY

 

           

                                      

 

                       

            Book Two: GOD, JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

 

 

            Book Three: LIES, PRIDE AND REPENTANCE

Book Four:  HEAVEN, THE BIGGEST BATTLE AND YOUR FINAL

                     DESTINATION…

And her new release featured today:  “UNDER ATTACK”  

 

 

                                           

 

            Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Jodi!

            Hello to everyone and thank you for having me.

 

            First off, please tell our readers a little bit about yourself, where you live, your family, and how you came to the know the Lord Jesus as your Savior. I know with that single question you could write another book, but give us the facts, LOL, just the facts!

            I believe it was on August 19, 1976, at my grandparent’s home alone watching a Billy Graham crusade being telecast on TV from San Diego, California. I was mesmerized by the words Pastor Graham spoke. He spoke of me being a sinner and needing a Savior. (Yes, he was speaking directly to me…one of my bosses at work and his wife gave me a Bible the year before. I believed they had been praying for me all along to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior) Thank goodness for people who pray. They will never know what their kindness and compassion have meant to me.

            Back to my story…That night I accepted Christ as my Savior. In my grandparent’s living room. I fell to the ground…broken. The Holy Spirit tugged at my heart and I chose not to resist. I knew then I needed a Savior. The room had no light on except the light from the TV. Suddenly, the entire room lit up. I felt a warm loving feeling come over me. It was a feeling I had never felt before…utter joy, peace, contentment and love. I knew the Holy Spirit was there and Jesus had come into my heart and would be with me for the rest of my life.

            In 1982 I met my second husband, Robert. While going to church I grew in God’s Word and realized I had never been baptized. In August of 1986, I was baptized and knew I had accepted Christ in my heart, but never made Him Lord of my life. And there is a big difference! I acknowledged and allowed Christ to have complete control of my life and my decisions as He molded and shaped me to be more like Him each day to become His servant. Now my significance comes through God and not from people or what this world thinks. Total freedom!

 

            When you were a grade school girl did you dream of becoming a writer, or what did you have in mind to do “when you grew up?”

 

            Never thought I would ever write anything. I went to a vocational school and received two degrees in secretarial and clerical. Didn’t know how God was going to use those skills for His glory, but every bit of what I learned He used at Church Initiative. In February of 2020 the Lord told me to write and what to write. He even gave me the following scripture from Jeremiah 30:2… “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.’” And that is what I have done and am doing.

 

            What brought you to become involved with Church Initiative and GriefShare?

 

            In 1997 I suffered nine losses in seven months. After my dad died, I began to search for a biblically based and Christ centered grief program and found GriefShare. The Lord built our GriefShare group to be the largest in the nation and Church Initiative sought after me. God provided a wonderful leader to take over the ministry in Las Vegas and I headed for Wake Forest, North Carolina, where I worked with Church Initiative for over fifteen years training GriefShare facilitators all over the country and loving every leader I met.

 

            How did God let you know you were going to write that first book? Did you know from the beginning there would be five books…so far?

           

            Over the last six years, since living back in Las Vegas, I have been working with pastors, chaplains, and ministry leaders who were having problems in their lives and in their ministries. I began to use the spiritual weapons God gave me while working with GS leaders for Church Initiative.

            God began having me write an outline and viola~ the book came together. It was all HIM!

            The responses have been amazing…shedding tears of joy many times when I hear how the books are being used to change people’s lives. These people are being healed in the name of Jesus Christ…and that is AMAZING!

            Now pastors, chaplains, counselors and leaders hand out my book, getting the message into the hands of those hurting. And some churches are using it as a Bible Study. When you read this book, Satan will NOT win. We have victory in Christ, but need to be reminded we are a sinful, broken person who needs a Warrior to fight our battles. And praise God…Jesus shows up!

 

            Now to your newest book in this series, UNDER ATTACK! What kind of responses have you had from this newest release?

            I have people who have been healed and are now telling others of this newest “UNDER ATTACK.” The book is so easy to use and is so friendly and scripture oriented. I’ve written “UNDER ATTACK” in a way that any person who has never read the Bible will know without a doubt who God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Satan are.

 

            There are a number of soon-to-be authors reading this interview. What words of wisdom and encouragement would you give them, Jodi?

 

            The most important thing I feel is to make sure that any fear, shame, worry, guilt, bitterness, resentment, hurt and offenses are removed from your spirit. That is what “UNDER ATTACK” does. Once those things have been removed, it gives room for the Holy Spirit to flow through you. You will be able to clearly hear the Holy Spirit and begin to freely move with Him. Then and only then will you know what to write.

 

            I know we all feel Jesus is coming back—very soon—but ‘til that time, has The Lord given you any idea what’s next? Another book? I could only wish you were still available to train new GriefShare leaders…I don’t know what I would have done without the comfort and healing of my Lord Jesus during those wretched months of grieving…then your coming alongside and teaching me how to help others…and now I’m anxious to watch and see what He’s going to do with you and this marvelous series. Time indeed is short!

Christmas is coming…what better gift could we give our loved ones than a book from this series…or better yet…give ‘em the whole series!

           

            I have two more books the Lord has given me to write. One is called “BECOMING.” It helps the Christian to move from milk to meat. To become a fully devoted follower of Christ. To learn how to “work out your salvation.” The second book will be called “IF.” When I began to read the Bible, the word “IF” kept popping out to me. “If” you do this says God…then God will do this. I am excited to see what marvelous words He will have me place into the next two books.

 

            Thanks again for being with us today, Jodi! I love you and sure wish this could have been an “in person” interview. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to give you a hug! But for all you readers, Jodi has graciously offered to answer any questions you have for her.

Sooo, let’s do this…if you want to ask Jodi a question in our comments to this interview, I will place your name in the hat to receive a free, signed, copy of “UNDER ATTACK.”

            The winner will be announced in the comments on Tuesday evening, October 5^th. Have a blessed season of Thanksgiving and Christmas! See y’all in 2022!

                                                                                                                 DiAne

NORMA VERA, AUTHOR, ARTIST AND FRIEND

 Good morning everyone, I’m thrilled to introduce y’all to my long-time friend and author, Norma Vera.

Norma and I began our writing careers with North Texas Christian Writers where we were both ‘bout as green as blackberries in May. LOL!

Welcome to the Diamond Mine, Norma. I’m so glad to have you with us today.

Thank you, so great to be here and for this wonderful opportunity to let other writers and readers know who I am!

Let’s jump right into some of the questions our readers want to know. Norma, when did you begin writing and what was your first book? How long did it take you to write it?

A children’s book called, Fibbie. About a little worm who lied…all the time…until he learned a hard lesson about lying. I can’t remember how long it took to write and I have no idea what happened to the manuscript. But my first published book was “Grandma, Teach Me Wisdom.”

Was there a certain point you knew God was calling you to write? When? And what was your first book of obedience to Him?

As far as I can remember, I’ve always been writing. Even as a child I knew there was a writer inside me—just can’t pinpoint the moment God called me to write…just remember asking Him to let me write and be published. My first published book was “Grandma, Teach Me Wisdom.”

Tell us a little about your family, where you grew up, and tell us a little bit about what you know the Lord is calling you to write in the future.

I grew up in a small town south of Lubbock, Texas. I am the mother of four grown children—one daughter and three sons. I have six grandchildren, and many precious great grandchildren.

And I continue to feel God is calling me to write bilingual children’s and wisdom books.

Now you’ve gone to braggin’—LOL. Six grandchildren? You are surely blessed. For those of you who don’t know, Norma is also an artist and illustrator. When did you discover God had gifted you with that talent? And what is your favorite book you’ve illustrated?

I’ve only illustrated one book—my newest bilingual release—I Was Adopted…Soy Adoptada. I am teaching myself to illustrate…I’m more of a Bob Ross type artist…not really a cartoon artist. I realized my God given talent in the 2nd grade when I painted a horse from a magazine picture. My teachers couldn’t believe I’d done it. Then in 4th or 5^th grade I copied an Easter bunny out of a book and my teacher made copies for the whole class to color for Easter.

And for our readers, this book has just been released by Amazon.

Can you share with our readers some of the doors God has opened for you after releasing your book The Midnight Cry? And why did you write this one?

One, to stop what I was doing and write a different book. I was reluctant, but obeyed. After it was finished, He asked me to translate it into Spanish— Un Grito En La Medianoche.

To my shock and surprise, this published book made its way all over Texas, then across the United States from California to New York in a matter of weeks. People bought them by the dozens, and someone bought a hundred to send to prisons, strangers, and loved ones everywhere.

An international radio ministry out of Dallas has asked to take this book to the international market. Even this week, a man took a bunch of them to Houston, and another friend took a bunch more to Mexico.  No other book I’ve written has been distributed as fast as these books. It is remarkable. Almost unbelievable. But we serve a remarkable God. I’ve been told this book made some cry. Others that this book covers every area of salvation. It’s humbling to see what God does…when we obey Him.

We always have new aspiring writers viewing these interviews, Norma. You and I are probably older than many of our readers. What is the one piece of wise counsel you want to share with these new writers…something you’ve had to learn the hard way?

DON’T EVER GIVE UP! If no doors open for you, just keep on writing anyway. God will open the doors in due season. Most of the books I am publishing today are thirty or forty years old, and have been written, rewritten, and rewritten again. And I still have many unpublished manuscripts—Jesus will probably return before they are all published. Maybe this is just training and I’m going to write for all eternity! Wow…wouldn’t that be amazing?

 Oh, my goodness, Norma! I thought I was the only one with manuscripts written in years gone by. If you look at the dates on my illustrations in The Master’s Plan Series, you’ll find I did the illustrations and original manuscript in the 1980’s. God has certainly been patient with us old gals, hasn’t He?

I know you were very ill and hospitalized with Covid last year. Are there any words of encouragement you can give our readers about what God taught you during this time of uncertainty? And any other words of wisdom you’d like to share with readers and writers today?

This Covid experience was hard, but at the same time, a wonderful experience. I was hospitalized most of January 2021 and the Lord was with me every moment. We fellowshipped twenty-four-seven. Jesus has a wonderful sense of humor and He made me laugh so hard. For months after I left the hospital I couldn’t stop laughing. I’ve never in my entire life felt so happy. It never crossed my mind I could have died. Later I was shocked to find my children were preparing for my funeral. That part broke my heart.

What did I learn? Life is short—live it to the fullest. Laugh all you can and stay focused on what matters most in life—like God and family. Don’t sweat the small stuff—wasted time. God loves and cares for you. That’s all that matters!

Thank you so much for being with us today and sharing your story, my dear friend.

Thank you and the readers and writers of The Diamond Mine. I’ve enjoyed talking with each one of you today. I would love to give a copy of The Midnight Cry to one of the readers.

What a great treat, Norma. Okay y’all, for an opportunity to register to win a copy of Norma’s book, answer this question…WHAT IS THE ONE THING I’VE NEGLECTED TO DO THAT GOD HAS TOLD ME TO DO? Don’t make this harder than necessary. Could be you rolled out of bed this morning and God told you to clean house…and you’ve put it off. Or perhaps He reminded you to call a friend…what are you waiting for? Fess up, share with us, then do what God told you to do! And Norma and I both know God will bless your obedience too!

I’ve listed the Amazon addresses where you can find Norma’s books, including her soon-to-be released, I Was Adopted. And it’s bilingual print… Soy Adoptada.

 Norma’s Books:

 GRANDMA TEACH ME WISDOM

www.amazon.com/Grandma+Teach+Me+Wisdom+Norma+Vera

 I WAS ADOPTED

www.amazon.com/I+Was+Adopted+by+Norma+Vera

 THE MIDNIGHT CRY

www.amazon.com/Midnight-Cry-Norma-Vera-ebook/dp/B087NCCWZ8

Latest Cozy Mystery Series from Author Julie B. Cosgrove

 Good morning all you Diamonds in Fiction fans. This week I want to again introduce you to one of my favorite authors in the whole world—JULIE COSGROVE!!!!

 Besides being good friends, I am a super fan of this talented and magnificent author!

Julie, I’m delighted to be able to feature today not only you, but the first book of your latest cozy mystery series WORD HAS IT! From the first sentence I knew this was the crème de la crème I’d been waiting for. Welcome to the Diamond Mine dear friend!

 Aww, thanks. I am blushing now. Can you believe this is fiction work #16??  I was first published in 2010, so I feel very blessed to have landed so many contracts.

 For those of you who don’t know, Julie is a multi-dimensional author, a kaleidoscope of genres, many award-winning!  She writes devotionals, cozy mysteries, has written three suspense novels on human trafficking, as well as Bible studies, and…well, Julie give our readers the cliff-note trip through your writing successes.

 I first wrote Focused in 2008, which was a romance of a different sort. It is about an empty nest couple who have drifted apart. Throughout the course f the book, they find out why they fell in love to begin with by focusing on the good things. and it was picked up in 2010. Then after reading Richard Maas’ book on to how to write a breakout novel, I decided in 2009 to write a suspense romance, Hush in the Storm. But by the third chapter I hit a wall and prayed on it. I wanted to convey a message, but what?? Over the next month, three different Spirit-led scenarios introduced me to the plight of human trafficking (at the time it was not a household word). The plot about a young widow who begins to discover her husband’s accident was not that at all began to quickly emerge. I got several nibbles but no bites from agents and publishers. Then I read an advertisement about Prism Books expanding into suspense romance and accepting queries. Within 48 hours I was under contract!

The editor in chief then contracted me to write two sequels, then three romance novellas over the next three years, and after that the four-book series called the Bunco Biddies Mysteries between 2015-2018. The Bunco Biddies novels are set in a 55 plus community and features 12 senior women who share recipes, play dice games, and solve a few crimes along the way. They are light-hearted but each features a social awareness issue, as do all my fictional works. I want to entertain but also hope my readers leave with knowledge of ways they can act, pray, and support nonprofit organizations that help people in tough situations. Jesus always met people in the middle of their messes and I believe we are called to follow in His footsteps.

Anyway, Prism was sold to a larger publishing house, so I decide to contract with a new publisher, Write Integrity Press, whose editor-in-chief I’d met through American Christian Fiction Writers. At her request, I wrote three new cozy mysteries (my genre of choice to read and write) under the Relatively Seeking Mysteries―One Leaf Too Many, Fallen Leaf, and Leaf Me Alone. These featured three thirty-something friends who delve into genealogies and discover family secrets some don’t want revealed. They were written following the Hallmark formula, which is so popular.

But my heart remained with senior sleuths, so Write Integrity Press approved and contracted six books in the Wordplay Mysteries. Word Has It is the first one. Books two and three are in various stages of editing and I am starting to write book four.

 I’d love to pick a favorite, but I’d be here all day arguing with myself …I love them all! It’s amazing how God has guided you every step of the way through your writing career. Can you share a little about how you started writing and how you’ve arrived at this latest series?

 I began writing as a freelance writer because my late husband was transferred a lot in his career in structural construction. Therefore, whenever I had access to the internet I could work. I also contracted to write devotionals for several publications and did so for ten years. I still have a devotional blog, https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday, which has a good following in about 50 countries, and for five years (2015-2020) I wrote and edited for a digitally-based missionary group out of Canada, a division of CRU.

But fiction has always been my secret passion so I gave it a try. A professor friend of my sister’s read Focused and said I had potential but needed to hone my craft. I spent the next few years attending writer’s workshops and conferences, and also reading “how to write faith-based fiction” books. Like most newbie writers, I wrote many drafts during those early years until a publisher picked me up. 

I have always loved mysteries, and after I wrote the suspense and romances for Prism, my sister asked me why I didn’t write what I loved. Prism had never published that genre but gave me a shot with Dumpster Dicing, the first Bunco Biddies Mystery. It won Best Cozy Mystery in Texas 2017, and by then I had been contracted to write the rest in the series. I have been writing cozies ever since.

 In the early writing days, I was always advised, don’t change genres. Those established writers, “Each time you change genres it’s like beginning to build your fan base again.” Any truth to that statement?

 There is some truth to that. But in actuality, I have more migrated than switched. With Prism, I wrote romance, even though some of it was suspense.  The leap from suspense to mystery is not a huge one, and I include a flavoring of romance in the mysteries to add depth to my plots and characters. 

I think it would be hard to, for example, write historical romances and then switch to sci-fi or fantasy. Genres that far apart rarely have carry-over audiences. I do know some mystery writers who write various genres under several pen names, though. Still, it take a lot of marketing efforts to keep your name in front of so many audiences.

 And can I gather that cozy mysteries are your favorite genre?

 Without a doubt. I feel I have found my niche so I plan to keep writing them. If I am not writing them, I am reading them or watching them, especially the British series. I don’t mind reading historical novels and Biblically based ones, and a few YA’s (there, now I have confessed that!) but as a widow in her late sixties, romances just do not hit my hot button like suspense and mysteries. I prefer cozies because they are clean, have fun, quirky characters you get to know and love, and concentrate on solving the crime rather than committing the crime itself.

For those new Diamond Mine followers, can you share just a few words about how God called you to write? Did you always know you were meant to write?

 Three friends from three different states suggested I try writing for a living. They said my articles for church newsletters and even my personal letters showed a propensity for creative writing. I had taken that in school and excelled at it, winning a few awards. I prayed on it and felt somewhat confident God was leading me this way.

Now, I know the Holy Spirit “sits on my shoulders” when I get in my writing zone. Still working full-time, I must carve out writing time on weekends. I get antsy when I feel that prompting in my soul. My family understands when that happens, I am not available unless it is an emergency. Often times, I’ll sit down at the computer with a cuppa in the morning and then look up, astonished that it is after supper time. I am a panster, which means I have a vague idea of the overall plot but create the twists and turns as I go.

As I write, I marvel at where the Spirit leads me. Unraveling the mystery along with my main character is so much fun. I wouldn’t write any other way. By God’s merciful grace, the plot seems to always resolve, red herrings and all. That is when I know I have been steadily in His will.

 I’m sure we have many visiting the Diamond Mine today who are familiar with your work but haven’t heard from you recently. It’s obvious you survived the winter Texas storm of 2021, how rough was that storm in Ft. Worth?

 Not bad in my neck of the woods. Other than seven inches of ice and snow layered upon each other, we never lost power or water. I was able to work remotely the whole time. Others in Fort Worth were not as lucky, but all I know survived and that is a blessing.

 And now for the truly good part…what’s next? Will there be more books featuring Scrub Oak, Texas, Wanda Lee Warner, and her rookie cop nephew, Todd? I sure hope so.

Absolutely. As I said, six are under contract. It is up to my publisher when they will feature over the next 3-4 years, though. Write Integrity Press has fourteen faith-based authors of all genres, fiction and non-fiction, and is now closed to adding any new ones. But they are still determined to produce one work a month, so I fit in the queue somewhere in all of that. They let me know the release month by the second edit and a firm date along with the author’s copy for a final proof. Anyway, the future books are:

Word Gets Around, In Other Words, Away with Words, A Loss for Words, Hang on Every Word

To wrap this up, I always like to ask successful authors to share a word of encouragement or a “get outta Dodge” comment for all new writers joining us today.

 Write for One person and let Him decide who reads the books. Never get caught up in the numbers game. If one soul is comforted or encouraged, so be it. You have done your job. God will do the rest. As the old hymn says, “Trust and obey, there is no other way.” Otherwise, you will become frustrated, envious, and stressed.  A myriad of other unfruitful and stifling emotions will creep inside of you, too, eating away at your creativity and enthusiasm.

Jesus’ followers had to learn from Him in order to serve Him well, therefore so must you. Keep an open mind and heart as you grow your talent. Don’t let pride get in the way and do not let the devil steal your joy!

 There you have it, folks! Thank you for sharing with us Julie. And I highly recommend WORD HAS IT! You won’t be disappointed!

 'Til Next Time…Keep reading and writing!

                                                                                                  DiANE