Welcome

Step Into The Light Blog Talk Radio

Is where we introduce listeners to people who have found their way out of the dark shadows of life and back to light and those who lead others on their journey from darkness to light.

STEP INTO THE LIGHT

NEW DAY AND TIME STARTING 2023

Airs Thursday Mornings at 9:00 AM MT

To find “more information” about current podcast guests, go to https://pattishene.com/stepintothelightradioshow

PATTI’S BLOGS

The Over Fifty Writer (1^st and 3^rd Friday)

Patti’s Porch (2^nd and 4^th Tuesday)

Meet seasoned authors, learn about new books and find inspiration to help you along your journey. No matter how far you’ve come or where you are going, I’d be honored to travel with you. If you like what you see, please subscribe to avoid missing updates.

Subscribe to Patti Shene's Posts

Step Into the Light Blog Talk Radio Show

Latest Show

2023-06-01
Episode #233 - Featuring Betty Slade

Betty is an author, columnist, and artist. For decades, Betty has painted for interior decorators, owned a signature gallery, displayed artwork in several elite galleries, and much more. She has written hundreds of articles for her column, The Artist's Lane in the Pagosa Springs SUN newspaper. Recently, Betty released Taming Wild Hearts, a western drama, mystery, romance novel. Join us as Betty shares how creatives can manifest the glory of God through their creative abilities.

Recent Shows

2023-05-25
Episode #232 - Featuring Dr. Jessica B. Turner

2023-05-18
Episode #231 - Featuring Alisha Plummer

2023-05-11
Episode #230 - Featuring Tracy Taris

2023-04-27
Episode #229 - Featuring Lainey La Shay

Recent Posts

TAKE A BREAK FROM DISCOURAGEMENT by MARY L. HAMILTON
6/1/2023 11:40:00 PM BY Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Dead Air: A Waco Mystery

AUTHOR: Mary L. Hamilton

PUBLISHER: Blue Mist Books

GENRE: Mystery/suspense

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand alone

TARGET AGE: Women age 30-70

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR MARY L. HAMILTON TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. MARY SHARES HER JOURNEY FROM DISCOURAGEMENT TO OPTIMISM ABOUT HER WRITING CAREER.

MARY IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF DEAD AIR: A WACO MYSTERY.

TAKE A BREAK FROM DISCOURAGEMENT

Mary L. Hamilton

I thought I’d learned to accept criticism of my writing years ago in my first job out of college. Tasked with writing our organization’s monthly newsletter, I submitted my first month’s draft for my supervisor’s approval. She took out her red pen and proceeded to slash and burn my draft—crossing out, circling, drawing arrows, writing in… I left her office fighting tears and thinking, Why doesn’t she just write it herself?

Each month, however, I earned less red ink, and soon people were telling me how much they enjoyed reading the newsletter.

Really? It’s just a newsletter.

That experience taught me the value of critiques and the importance of criticism in order to grow as a writer. But years later, when a judge in a writing contest gave me a low score with some frank but not harsh comments, I buckled under the disappointment. Even the kind, honest comments from my trusted local critique group had me choking back tears until I could get to my car. As I drove home, I realized my confidence was shattered.

Prayerfully, I put the story and my writing on hold. For three months, I read books for fun rather than research, played with my dog, and enjoyed all the things I didn’t take time for while writing. Then one day, the mail brought a packet of judges’ evaluations from another contest, one I’d forgotten I had entered. Thinking I couldn’t endure any more criticism, I held the unopened envelope over the trash bin. But I couldn’t drop it.

Why not open it? The damage is already done. It can’t get much worse.

Finally, I pulled it back and opened it. The scores were all very similar to the first contest—two higher scores and one low score. But this time, the low-scoring judge started by saying, “You’re a good writer.” He or she then explained exactly why my scene didn’t work.

Of course! Why didn’t I see that before? And the judge says I’m a good writer! I dug out my manuscript and rewrote the scene that became part of my first published novel.

Discouragement is part of every writer’s life. We should expect it, even when we’ve been writing for months or years. Sometimes, we need to toughen up and work through it. Other times, it helps to take a break. There’s no need to feel guilty about putting things on hold if we trust the Lord to let us know when it’s time to pick up our pen (or computer) and finish the project.

Let us also beware of sparking discouragement in others. The combination of that judge’s beginning compliment along with a specific explanation made all the difference in my attitude. Both motivated me to try again, to revise and rewrite. I’ll be forever grateful to that judge, and I try to follow that example. Compliment first, then offer specific suggestions for improvement, and end with a final encouragement.

Now wouldn’t life be sweeter if we followed that method in everything we do?

Blurb for Dead Air: A Waco Mystery:

Good men don’t kill people. Do they?

Kit Squires never imagined her husband capable of murder. Until gunshots blast across the airwaves of his former radio show and into the dead air that follows, he speaks troubling last words.

Torn between believing the evidence against him or trusting the character of the man she thought she knew, Kit’s choice puts her at odds with her teenage son, Bryce. One of them has to be wrong, and that could have fatal consequences.

Would a good man commit murder? That’s the question Kit must answer in Dead Air: A Waco Mystery, a novel about a family in crisis and the importance of character.

Buy link for Dead Air: A Waco Mystery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BH1WX3G8/

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF DEAD AIR: A WACO MYSTERY BETWEEN NOW AND MONDAY, JUNE 12^TH AT MIDNIGHT MT.

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

Mary L Hamilton is the author two suspense novels, including her latest release, Dead Air: A Waco Mystery. She has also written the Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series for middle-grade readers, inspired by childhood memories of the youth camp where she grew up. Mary draws all of her stories from real-life situations and writes characters who struggle with various aspects of faith. Visit Mary at https://maryhamiltonbooks.com/mysteries/

SUBSCRIBE TO PATTI’S BLOGS HERE

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? by JEAN ALFIERI
5/23/2023 4:50:00 PM BY Patti Shene

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOM AUTHOR JEAN ALFIERI TO PATTI’S PORCH. JEAN SHARES AN EXPERIENCE THAT DEMONSTRATES HOW THOSE TIDBITS OF IDEAS MORPH INTO STORIES.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?

Jean Alfieri

When I’m in writer-mode, I’m on high-alert for anything that might inspire a story. Sometimes it comes from an over-heard conversation at the grocery store that makes me giggle. Other times a brisk walk with Sally will spark an idea. On occasion, a writing prompt – a single word or topic, will get the writing-juices flowing.

In early 2019, I was taking a 30-Day Writing Challenge. My assignment on Day 7 was to contact three friends and ask them each to send one picture (with no explanation) from their phones. I was to incorporate all three pictures in a short story (500 words or less).

Carol sent a picture of a painted staircase built into a steep hill. It was almost like a mosaic, this cement staircase surrounded on both sides by a lavish flower garden. Cathy sent a picture of some herbal plants that had started to bloom inside dixie cups. Mary Beth’s picture was of her cat, curled up on a big pillow, giving her (or me) the evil eye. Clearly, the cat did not appreciate her nap being interrupted by paparazzi.

I shook my head. What in the world was I going to do this? There was clearly no theme – and a cat? Dang it. I don’t speak cat. Give me a hippo, a gorilla, or a guinea pig, but of all God’s creatures, this was the one I felt least connected with.

I stared into the cat’s eyes and understood its displeasure. This assignment was a nuisance. So was having your nap disturbed. Perhaps we could relate on some level. I decided on my approach and designed the story in a way that taking the cat’s point-of-view wouldn’t be obvious to the reader.

Her identity would be vague and her introduction subtle. I personified her choices and actions, revealing her slowly and discreetly. Working from a feline perspective pushed me out of my comfort zone. This was not a big bumbling dog. This was a cool, calculating, and previously scorned kitty. She was wise and alert. And she was about to embark on the adventure of her lifetime.

It turned out to be quite a journey, for both me and the cat. But I had 23 more days of challenge ahead. The story got filed and forgotten…

Until the 2022 Pikes Peak Writers call for submissions was announced. The theme for the next anthology was “Journeys Into Possibility.” I pondered. It seemed I had something that might fit… but what? I started scrolling my files – and found it. It needed some serious rework, so I dug in.

Over the next month, I read it to Josh at least ten times, then said a prayer over it before hitting “submit.” The rest, as they say, is history. “How Far is Heaven,” was selected as a flash-fiction entry for the anthology!

Now you know the “controversial” part. Me, the dedicated dog-fan wrote a cat story – GASP!

NOW AVAILABLE - Journeys into Possibility

Journey into the imaginative realm of possibilities with the Pikes Peaks Writers’ anthology of short stories and poems. Be empowered as you swim with dolphins, fall in love, meet strange new creatures, and ponder - how far is heaven? Once you’ve been there and back again, you won’t be quite the same.

Find Journeys into Possibility here

Jean Alfieri is an author, speaker, and dog fan. When her eyes locked with those of a smooshy-faced little dog who sat inside a kennel at the Humane Society, it was love! He captured her heart and she captured their many crazy adventures in short stories starring Zuggy the Rescue Pug. Connect with Jean and check out all the fun (and photo gallery):

Website zuggythepug.com

Facebook https://tinyurl.com/mmk6ah9x

YouTube https://tinyurl.com/23mbxhf6

Instagram @Zuggythepug

SUBSCRIBE TO PATTI’S BLOGS HERE

WAITING ON THE LORD by SHERRY SHINDELAR
5/19/2023 4:30:00 AM BY Patti Shene

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR SHERRY SHINDELAR TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. SHERRY SHARES A LESSON IN WAITING.

WAITING ON THE LORD

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:31

Waiting isn’t easy. As writers, we joyfully write “The End” on a manuscript that we’ve poured our hearts, energy, and time into for months or even years only to discover the waiting has just begun. Editing and revising, querying and proposing, we seek out an agent or editor willing to take a chance on our fledgling story. We pray for the Lord to open doors.

But sometimes the doors are slow to open and the pathway uncertain. Sometimes it feels as if we’re walking through the wilderness of nos, not yets, and maybes.

Recently, I read I Samuel 16, where God directs Samuel to travel to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king of Israel. God tells Samuel that he’ll show him which son when he gets there. As I was reading, it occurred to me that God could have given Samuel the specific message to go anoint Jesse’s son David, but He didn’t. Samuel had to go through all of David’s seven brothers one by one, with God saying no each time, until he finally had to ask Jesse if he had any more sons. Why didn’t the Lord just give him all of the details to start with? It could have saved a lot of time and effort.

Then, I realized. God was teaching Samuel along the way, teaching him that He didn’t judge a man by outward appearances but by the heart. It was also an opportunity for Samuel to develop patience and trust as he worked his way down the line. And who knows what Jesse and the seven brothers learned?

I believe the Lord works the same way in our lives, revealing just what we need to know at the time, if we’re tuned in and listening to Him. Then, He teaches us and builds our trust and faith as we work through the rest.

We need to trust Him to direct our writing paths and all areas of our lives. His timing is perfect. And when He opens a door, we can trust that it is the best place for us to be. Meanwhile, we can keep writing, revising and submitting, and keep our hearts and minds tuned to His leading.

Originally from Tennessee and the Shenandoah Valley, Sherry Shindelar loves to take her readers into the past. She is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. Her novel, Shenandoah’s Daughter, is set in the Shenandoah Valley. When she is not busy writing, Sherry is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2020 ACFW First Impressions winner, 2021 and 2023 ACFW Genesis semi-finalist, 2021 Maggie finalist, and 2022 Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband and has recently completed a western novel set in 1860. Connect with Sherry:

https://sherryshindelar.com/

https://www.facebook.com/historylitgirl/

SUBSCRIBE TO PATTI’S BLOGS HERE