When Two Worlds Combine
Hi friends! I’m so happy to be joining you here. Thank you, Cate Nolan, for inviting me. It’s always a pleasure to visit Seekerville.
For those of you who don’t know me, I write romantic suspense for Love Inspired Suspense. In fact, I just signed a new contract for the next four books. My 12th Love Inspired Suspense released this week. I have to tell you, I love writing stories with love, danger, and faith. Because to me, the faith lends hope to the whole story, no matter what the danger is.
I also work full time as a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing. Deaf culture is another passion of mine. The people I have met through my years of working with the deaf and hard of hearing have blessed and enriched my life in so many ways. I get so much joy from teaching my kiddos. I especially love teaching reading and writing. It makes my heart happy. (This is the sign for “I love you.”)
Now, normally, my two careers are separate. Sometimes, though, I meld them together and include a character who is deaf or hard of hearing in a book. I have done this three times so far. In Plain Target, my heroine Jess was deaf, but had some hearing with her hearing aids, and relied on lip reading. In Plain Retribution, Rebecca was profoundly deaf and communicated with ASL (American Sign Language). My third deaf character is introduced in Plain Refuge.
Celine Larson is a 12 year-old girl with spunk and a preteen attitude. She has reason. Even at the tender age of 12, she has lost much. She is profoundly deaf and has bilateral Cochlear Implants. When her outer processors are off, she is completely deaf. She was one of my favorite secondary characters ever. Even though she’s a child, she is strong and smart. I love it when I can use my professional knowledge in a story.
Another thing I love about writing for Love Inspired Suspense is that I can share my faith in a way that, hopefully, is neither pushy nor preachy. In every book I write, I want to show that God is bigger than any circumstance, no matter how painful or overwhelming. He is always in control.
I have two questions today. Answer one in the comments to be entered to win a copy of Plain Refuge.
1. What kind of characters inspire you the most?
2. How do you use your talents and skills to teach those around you about God?
PLAIN REFUGE
On the run from hired gunmen,
can she find safety in Amish country?
After overhearing an illegal weapons deal, Sophie Larson knows two things: her uncle’s a dangerous criminal…and he wants her dead. Now undercover cop Aiden Forster has no choice but to blow his cover and protect Sophie by hiding her and her deaf sister in Amish country. But with a mole in the police force, danger isn’t far behind.
can she find safety in Amish country?
After overhearing an illegal weapons deal, Sophie Larson knows two things: her uncle’s a dangerous criminal…and he wants her dead. Now undercover cop Aiden Forster has no choice but to blow his cover and protect Sophie by hiding her and her deaf sister in Amish country. But with a mole in the police force, danger isn’t far behind.
Welcome back to Seekerville, and congratulations on your new contracts. I love it that you are able to meld your passions into your stories!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that wonderful, Erica. It adds such a unique flair to the stories besides helping us to better understand the community.
DeleteThanks Erica! I love it when I can do it.
DeleteDana, so happy that you can be with us today! Bless you for teaching those with hearing problems. Your newest story looks wonderful! Love the blurb and cover! Also you've intrigued me about the heroine's deaf sister and how she'll enhance the story. Can't wait to read!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new contract!
I've been seeing posts around from people who just loved this story. I can't wait to read it.
DeleteHi Debby! Thank you! I love the cover on this story, too. It is my favorite for Love Inspired Suspense so far.
DeleteDana, my late sister-in-law was born profoundly deaf (and two months early). She grew up in the time before the ADA and most of the supports people have now. But she fought it out and made a life for herself. she is one of my inspirations and I dedicated my first published book to her.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done much crossover between my secular work and my writing. My day job is print journalism, which changes every day. I do cherry-pick things from my private life, an attitude from here, a personality from there.
I agree with you about the Christian element to our stories. I don't want to be "pushy" or "preachy." The best way to accomplish this, for me anyway, is to know my characters inside and out, so that their salvation, or their growth in the Lord if they're already Christian, is organic and an extension of who they are. Don't always hit it, but its my aim and goal.
I would love to be able to write suspense. It's on the writing bucket list.
Congratulations on your contract!
Kathy Bailey
Good morning, Kathy. I love your take on how you include the Christian element. Organic extension is a perfect description.
DeleteKaybee, your sister sounds like an amazing person.
DeleteI agree about keeping the faith development organic. I learned that by being a reader first. I admire you for working in journalism.
Good morning, Dana. I try to show others about Christ by being helpful, baking goodies for others, just reaching out and being the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you for sharing. Have a blessed weekend.
ReplyDeleteReading this comment is such a lovely way to start my morning. Thank you, Lucy, and God bless.
DeleteLucy, exactly! One of my favorite quotes is, "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."
DeleteDana!
ReplyDeletethanks for being on Seekerville. I didn't know you worked with the deaf and hard of hearing. What a fascinating career!
What kind of characters inspire me most? What I love to do is create characters so strong they can take care of themselves.
And surround them with people who jump in to help.
My ideal story is for someone in peril to save themselves, and then have everyone else come riding to the rescue seconds AFTER they saved themselves. So this great show of love and support from other characters, and super competent heroes/heroines.
I am also, a sucker for self-sacrifice. People giving up their own happiness to help someone else.
Mary, hi! I love strong characters who can save themselves. And you are right, self-sacrifice is always touching and beautiful.
DeleteGood morning, Dana! It's always a pleasure to "see" you, sweet friend. I love this little insight into both of your careers. Like they say, write what you know, and you've done that wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteMindy- hi! I always love "seeing" you as well. Very grateful that God decided we needed to get to know each other last fall. It has been a blessing to me. Thanks!
DeleteHi Dana:
ReplyDeleteFirst off: that sign for "I Love You" looks a lot like "Hook'em Horns" which would not be safe to flash in a sports bar in Oklahoma. If you must use it, be sure to keep that thumb fully extended away from your palm. Also in Italy it means your spouse is cheating on you and could get you killed for using it. Again keep that thumb away from the palm. Hand signs do not always translate well between cultures which might be useful in a mystery plot.
On the subject of ALS: do the Amish use it? Can ASL be used in any language? Also in your Amish stories does being deaf play a part in the plot and solution to the mystery or is deafness just an attribute of a given character -- like hair color?
As for characters that inspire me the most, they are heroes that I would like to be myself and heroines I would be happy to marry. It's that simple.
Okay, Vince, I will be careful about what I sign where! Actually, even though ASL is used all over the country, there are regional and dialectual differences. When I was student teaching in KY, I discovered that one of the signs we used in Illinois was very close to a cuss word used by the Deaf community in KY. One must be aware!
DeleteASL is specifically American Sign Language based on the sign language brought over from France by Louis LeCLerc. Many countries and cultures have their own form of sign language, so it's not universal. If you were to go to England, they use British Sign Language. I do want to emphasize that ASL is not a system, or signs put to English. It is a full and complete language, with a separate grammar, it's own idioms and it evolves like any other language. There are other communication/sign systems that are used that follow English order.
As far as the Amish, it really depends on the community and the district. I have met some who do use ASL and some who don't. In some Amish districts, they make up their own signs, what we might call "home signs".
In my first two books, deafness definitely played a part in the plot. In Plain Refuge, it adds to the danger, but it is more just part of who the character is.
Hi Dana,
ReplyDeleteI loved your book Amish Haven, which I recently read. I purchased it so I could continue the continuity series....you did a great job with that. I would love to read more of your books!
Thanks Jackie! I loved working with Debby and Maggie on that series.
DeleteThe characters that inspire me most show character even when it is dangerous or unpopular to do so.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand.
DeleteWelcome, Dana!! I'm so glad you're here today. I love that you're able to use your profession in some of your stories.
ReplyDeleteAs to your questions, the characters who inspire me most are the ones who overcome challenges, learn, and change to become the person God created them to be. I love a good character arc. :)
And I use my talents mostly in my writing, using words to show what God has been teaching me. I've also from time to time taught or led Bible studies (it's been quite a while, though.)
Missy, hi! Isn't it amazing how God moves into place so we can use our gifts and experiences?
DeleteThe characters that inspire me the most one of the ones who learn from their mistakes and grow. They see that God is still good no matter what and that He is in control
ReplyDeleteyes, absolutely!
DeleteWelcome, Dana! It's so good to see you here at Seekerville!
ReplyDeleteI am so thrilled by your success with Love Inspired Suspense! And congratulations on your new contract!
I love characters who can admit to their mistakes...and I've just recently discovered this. You can be sure there's a character like that in my WIP. :-)
Yay! I can't wait to read this book, Jan!
DeleteWelcome, Dana. Congrats on your new contracts. Very neat that you can use your profession in your writing. I am a teacher (currently a substitute) and work in a book store, and would love to use those in my writing. I haven't too much yet. Your book looks good!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandy. And thank you for being a substitute. That is not an easy job.
DeleteDana, thank you for this great post! I'm going to share it with my daughter, Gwyneth, because she has decided to use some of her extra time right now (she has quite a bit with all her normal summer camps being canceled) to learn sign language. What an awesome skill and I would agree—inspirational! To answer your #2 question, I have only completed one manuscript, but I definitely used it to share my faith. The story revolves around my main character's relationship with her creator, so this is topic near to my heart!
ReplyDeleteRachel, good luck to both you and Gwyneth! I'd love to hear how she does with sign language. And your manuscript sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteHi Dana, welcome to Seekerville. Congratulations on your new contract, that's so exciting!!
ReplyDeleteI can still remember our first meeting at an ACFW conference several years ago. At the time I was working on a book that featured a young girl who was deaf and you were a tremendous and gracious help to me. That book was better thanks to you.
Dana, so nice to have you here!!!!! I'm so excited about your new contract and your continued success. Go you!!!!! And so very nice to have you here... I'm swamped at the farm, but I wanted to get over here and welcome you!
ReplyDeleteHi Dana:
ReplyDeleteI wish there could be a universal sign language so that anyone who knows it could speak to anyone else in the world who also knows it. I would want to learn it if there were.
Romance question: Is it easier to sign "I Love You" in ALS than it would be for a guy to say those three words, "I Love You"? Do deaf guys have the same problem saying those words as hearing guys?
Should your Amish deaf books be read in order? I'd like to know which to read first. Thanks,
Vince