Getting Personal

1.Who are you & where do you come from?

My husband would be the best person to answer that as he knows the real me. A Sydneysider, I always wanted to be an artist so I studied art and joined the family ceramics studio and enjoyed etching Australian flora and fauna exclusively for Prouds in Sydney. I met my violinist husband at a YFC meeting and he challenged me to use my gift for God. After our marriage we attended Emmaus Bible College and then joined Dr Gene Jeffries and American evangelist as his music team. We spent two years in America and then answered the call to be involved in missions in Australia. Each year in December, we minister throughout Thailand with a Thai interpreter, Somchai Soothornturasuk. He arranges for us to use our art and music in schools, prisons, orphanages, hospitals and churches where we explain the real meaning of Christmas. During our many years of travelling over countries in SE Asia, I began to write seriously. Though looking back, I used to spin stories with my grandma and I think the seeds were sown then.

 

 2. Tell us about your writing. What do I write?

I love reading historicals. I also love the extensive research involved in writing these. So my chosen genre is Historical Romance. I have had two published by a Sydney publisher. My next was a trilogy: Signed Sealed Delivered, The Tie That Binds, A Parcel of Promises were Indie published.

3. Tell us about your program, what challenges you most and what helps you most?

As I also write and record radio programs with my husband, I'm always challenged to find the time to write my novels.(I wish I had a maid and a cook like those in my historicals!) However I can tune out even with the TV on, because when I write, I am not in my room, not in my suburb and not in my time. I read my Bible study and notes each morning and ask the Lord to guide me in whatever I write as I want it to honour Him. My Thesaurus helps me most of all when I am searching for just the right word.

4. What are your writing goals?

I am now writing 3 synopses for a Book proposal of another series I have just completed under the series name: Daughters of Resilience: Book 1.  Speechless, Breaking Miss Sophie's Silence, Book 2. Defenseless, Miss Dengate's Deliverance, Book 3. Heartless, Miss Kate's Great Expectations.( I use US spelling.) The setting is the Edwardian Era. So my goal is to find an agent who likes my work and who will find a publisher who in turn will actually snap up my trilogy! Easy? Nooooo. I'd value your prayers about this.

5. How does my faith impact my writing?

To answer this I'll share what I have written in my Book Proposal:

Resilience - a combination of perseverance and hope - is a universal theme in my novels. When facing difficult issues, today’s Christian woman can relate when facing hard decisions between making a God honouring choice or whatever is expedient at the time. 

I truly want to share my faith in a practical way. Just as Jesus used stories to illustrate a spiritual truth, so I really want my readers to gain something that might help them in their own life.

Rita has learned her craft by making every mistake in the book!  But perseverance is the key. Besides reading fiction and nonfiction,  read plenty of books in the genre you write. Then write your heart out. Write all your doubts and struggles into your characters. And have fun creating your nasty antagonists.

If you feel the Lord has called you to write, just keep at it whatever it is articles, scripts, Sunday school lessons, women's devotionals, there's a need for all of these.
And never give up.

HOPE FOR the NEW YEAR

Why is this blog named Inspirational Romance?

As an author, I write stories to give hope. Yes, I always add romance as the plot is usually about someone's dreams being fulfilled. Maybe not as they'd visualized but with a wonderful end result. And I always allow my main characters to grow emotionally and spiritually.

There's no doubt hope is what keeps us going...moving forward and never giving up. God has given us that ability. Even so it is still a choice we have to make even when things seem impossible.

Thousands of years ago when God allowed the Jews to be be captured by the King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Babylonian kingdom, He gave them hope for their future. Yes, they'd sinned against His Word, by listening to evil prophets and diviners, consequently being caught up with horrible practices. Yet even after they'd been carried off to a far land he granted them hope. Hope that if they repented of their wrongdoing, He would again bring them back into their own land. In fact He said an amazing thing to them through the prophet Jeremiah. We read:

"I will fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

We may face some limiting circumstances today. We may have lost a dear one, or are facing financial difficulties, or a debilitating illness. Now is the time to seek the Lord with all your heart. Find your hope in Him for the coming year.

My friend, read John's Gospel and you will find hope in Jesus - the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May God bless you.
Rita Stella

I DO ... AGAIN

Ten disappointing years of marriage. Seven painful years of divorce. One remarkable, true-life story of a love rescued by God.
An attractive young couple, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs seemed to have it all: professional success, adorable twin daughters, and a good marriage. But their picture-perfect image concealed a widening chasm between two people unable to connect on an intimate, soul-deep level.

After years of frustration, Cheryl’s longing for emotional fulfillment led to an affair and, finally, a divorce that left Jeff utterly devastated and seething with anger.

Yet, incredibly, seven years later, Jeff and Cheryl once again stood at the altar, promising to “love, honor, and cherish” one another. A new and vibrant love had risen out of the ashes of this family’s pain. 

'I Do Again' reveals the hidden secrets that slowly destroyed this marriage and the spiritual awakening that opened the way to healing. This remarkable book is a riveting account of the power of prayer and redemption, and offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages. It also and reveals why the rewards of restoration are well worth the wait.

A BRIDE's LETTER

A bride read this letter to her husband on their wedding day.

 

'I am only right here and right now because you could see all that God created me to be and all

that I will be because of your immense love for me.

You are:

•the most patient

•the most considerate

•the most compassionate

•the most kindest

And above all the most forgiving human being I have ever come to know.

Your perseverance, persistence and patience combined with the belief that I would be completely yours one day has come to fruition.

I don’t know of any other man that would have lasted this kind of waiting period apart from my father.

You have won my heart and now I am yours completely.

You bring me security, inspiration and encouragement. Because of your love I can stand confident.

Your faith, hope and love transcends beyond this world and I now can say have had a glimpse of heaven.

Because of you by my side now my life is so fulfilled and complete.

You are Amazing!

You are my King Solomon.

A man who is a limitless visionary! A man who knows what he believes in and what he

stands for. And because you know where you are going I want to go with you right by your side no matter
what life throws at us.

I will never falter in giving you honour, love and respect. I will hold you and carry you for the rest of my life until my dying breath.

I truly love you!'

A CHERISHING KIND of LOVE

Dressed up for a friend's wedding

CHERISH: to hold dear :to feel or show affection for :to cultivate with care :to appreciate :to nurture.

This is a lovely word.

My husband and I have a little saying, "If we don't cherish each other who will?"

We have been married for many years and have grown so close to each other. This is for many reasons.

We appreciate each others' differences. We respect and build up each other. We are kind to each other. And invariably when we have disagreements, as all couples do, we make sure to ask each others' forgiveness when we have been wrong.

These deliberate actions cement the bonds of marriage in ways that passion alone never could. Most of all we have discovered that the closer we get to God the closer we come to each other and the more love continues to grow.

The Holy Bible sums this up beautifully. "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.(I Corinthians, chapter 13.)

Cherish your loved ones ... you won't have them forever.

HOPE for the COMING YEAR

Why is this blog named Inspirational Romance?

As an author, I write stories to give hope. Yes, I always add romance as the plot is usually about someone's dreams being fulfilled. Maybe not as they'd visualized but with a wonderful end result. And I always allow my main characters to grow emotionally and spiritually.

There's no doubt hope is what keeps us going...moving forward and never giving up. God has given us that ability. Even so it is still a choice we have to make even when things seem impossible.

Thousands of years ago when God allowed the Jews to be be captured by the King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Babylonian kingdom, He gave them hope for their future. Yes, they'd sinned against His Word, by listening to evil prophets and diviners, consequently being caught up with horrible practices. Yet even after they'd been carried off to a far land he granted them hope. Hope that if they repented of their wrongdoing, He would again bring them back into their own land. In fact He said an amazing thing to them through the prophet Jeremiah. We read: 

"I will fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

We may face some limiting circumstances today. We may have lost a dear one, or are facing financial difficulties, or a debilitating illness. Now is the time to seek the Lord with all your heart. Find your hope in Him for the coming year.

My friend, read John's Gospel and you will find hope in Jesus - the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May God bless you.
Rita Stella

SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED - Historical Romance

How could she believe in her future when she couldn't escape her past?

The completely updated version of my historical romance, Signed Sealed Delivered will be on AMAZON Kindle by mid morning. Oct 4.

Years ago when I studied art at Sydney's National 
Art School I discovered its previous occupants were not as carefree as we art students. It was known as the Darlinghurst Gaol. Great sandstone buildings fanned out from a central roundhouse which once served as a chapel. That's where I first wondered about its many sad stories, especially if one was truly innocent. I asked myself if any Christians incarcerated there had given up hope.


The cast of characters whose lives entwine with governess Megan Trevallyn's destiny follows:
Cornelia Cantrell, scheming mistress of the Mayfair Mansion; Captain Cantrell, her love; Lieutenant John Stafford, her nemesis; Ezra Montefiore, an ardent suitor; and her Christian mentor, Caroline Chisholm, the bane of all who practice excessive adherence to rules and regulations of the new colony.

< The gates of Darlinghurst Gaol today

As Book I of the Watermark Women Trilogy it stands alone, but for readers who are waiting for the next two books in the series, I have hopes of announcing a decision  shortly.

HOPE, REDEMPTION, and RESTORATION

Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs are marriage partners for the second time.

Their writings include the well-known book “I Do Again,”  their 30 year story of marriage, betrayal, infidelity, divorce, emotional damage and scarring, forgiveness and re-marriage. This remarkable and life-changing story has been featured on The Today Show and Focus on the Family besides other TV programs.They share their love story of Hope, Redemption, Restoration, and God taking hold of their lives.


Jeff and Cheryl are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries. Their ministry includes sharing God’s heart for marriage and relationships through professional counseling and speaking. They passionately seek to help make marriages whole in His power. Jeff and Cheryl are intimately familiar with a marriage focused on the principles of the world, the sting, heartbreak and pain from a divorce, and the deep rooted hope and joy of a fully restored marriage centered on God. It is this unique perspective and experience that they obediently share in counseling and with audiences nationwide. Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs offer several services when it comes to ministering to individuals and couples concerning Marriage and Leadership in the home, their family, and their relationships. Their remarkable story offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages

They told it all - Beyond Ordinary

Everyone likes a good love story.  But many of us spend our lives slightly disappointed in the love story we’re trying to live. 

How safe is your marriage? The answer may surprise you. The biggest threat to any marriage isn’t infidelity or miscommunication. The greatest enemy is ordinary. Ordinary marriages lose hope. Ordinary marriages lack vision. Ordinary marriages give in to compromise. Ordinary is the belief that this is as good as it will ever get. And when we begin to settle for ordinary, it’s easy to move from “I do” to “I’m done.”

Their three sons

Justin and Trisha Davis know just how dangerous ordinary can be. In a beautifully written book, Justin and Trisha take us inside the slow fade that occurred in their own marriage—each telling the story from their own perspective. Together, they reveal the mistakes they made, the work they avoided, the thoughts and feelings that led to an affair and near divorce, and finally, the heart-change that had to occur in both of them before they could experience the hope, healing, and restoration of a truly extraordinary marriage.

The following endorsement is of their book BEYOND ORDINARY 

Dr. Wess Stafford, President and CEO, Compassion International :

 

Justin and Trisha have lived through extreme difficulty and brokenness in their marriage, but the Jesus we follow loves to take broken things and put them back together. That kind of deep healing has been part of my story, and it’s the story of so many of the children Compassion is blessed to serve every day. I hope that as you read these pages you’ll find a deeper understanding of how complete dependence on God is the only way to fully live.

BEYOND ORDINARY can be pre-ordered from Amazon

I'm so glad to be able to promote this real life story. How great is Jesus' love to each of us, if He can forgive our sins then surely we can also forgive those that sin against us.