Welcome Mat Wednesday: Elizabeth Musser

Woohoo! I’m so thrilled to welcome today’s special guest–author and missionary Elizabeth Musser.

In addition to wonderful books such as The Swan House and Words Unspoken, Elizabeth is also the author of the recently re-released Two Crosses, Two Testaments and the long-awaited finale, Two Destinies. I love Elizabeth’s books…and I love the fact that today we not only get to hear from Elizabeth about how she juggles writing, travels and her life as a missionary…but we’re also doing a two-book giveaway! My thanks to Elizabeth and her publisher! Details about the giveaway are at the bottom of the post.

Writing on the Move
How does an author write when she is constantly moving?

I am a missionary and I am an author. I love both of my vocations and am so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to use these gifts and talents for Him. For about fifteen years now, I’ve juggled the missionary and writing life. When I received my first contract for a novel, back in 1994, my sons were young and the only time I wrote was in the mornings, when they were in school. Ministry and family time came in the afternoons and evenings. 

This schedule worked pretty well for many years.

Then two years ago, my husband and I received a new role within our mission. Instead of doing ministry uniquely in a local church in France, we were asked to become Pastors to Members—providing spiritual oversight for our colleagues who work all over Europe. As empty nesters, the job fit well. I could travel with my husband. Except for one problem: how could I write creatively when we traveled so often with virtually no ‘alone time’ to cogitate and dream. How, Lord?

Ah, that was the best starting place—on my knees before the Lord, asking Him how to manage.

And the Lord reminded of this simple truth: I do write when I travel. I write in my journal. I was ‘journaling’ long before that word was considered a noun. The day I left for college, I bought a yellow spiral notebook and started recording my thoughts, feelings, prayers and descriptions of life.

That practice has continued for thirty-five years. Now, my journal is on my laptop, a folder filled with hundreds of word documents that record snippets of thoughts and feelings and experiences and adventures.

So as I begin a new novel, I go back to my journal entries, and places like Venice and Tuscany and Vienna all come alive to me as I read about what inspired me back when I walked those ancient streets. I’ve already done the research! Now, as I read and remember, I create new scenes for a novel.

Of course, most of my journal entries are letters from my heart to the Lord, praising Him as He shows up in the midst of the mundane. And those life experiences make their way into my stories too because life is a mixture of the exotic and the mundane.

So, dear readers and writers, if you too find yourself on the move all the time—whether you are running around caring for kids or neck-deep in a career or traipsing around the world like me, my advice is simple. Jot down your adventures in a journal or on the computer or on an Ipad. Somewhere. Anywhere. Then later, sometimes much later, those entries may serve as fodder for a new story. It has worked for me.

As I sit down to create, in between the rest of life, there’s a prayer on my lips and thankfulness in my heart for all those ideas I jotted down somewhere long ago.

ELIZABETH MUSSER, an Atlanta native and the bestselling author of The Swan House, is a novelist who writes what she calls ‘entertainment with a soul.’  Her Secrets of the Cross trilogy will be published in 2012: Two Crosses and Two Testaments are out this summer and the long-awaited finale, Two Destinies, releases this fall.
For over twenty years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions work with International Teams.  They presently live near Lyon, France. The Mussers have two sons and a daughter-in-law.
To learn more about Elizabeth and her books, and to find discussion questions as well as photos of sites mentioned in the stories, please visit www.elizabethmusser.com.
Giveaway Information!
I’ve been so excited about this guest post! Not only because I’ve loved Elizabeth’s books, but because we’re also doing a two-book giveaway today for Two Crosses and Two Testaments, courtesy of Elizabeth and her publisher!  
Just leave a comment below about any travels of your own, whether or not you journal, or how you pursue your dream–whether it’s writing or something else–when you’re on the move! That’s it, you’re entered. I will use a random number generator to identify the winner. You’ve got until Sunday at 5 p.m. to enter–one winner will be announced in Monday’s post.
Info about the books in the drawing:

Two Crosses
In late 1961, as Algeria’s war for independence from France is comeing to a close, two crosses, symbolic of another time in history, draw together a host of characters in an unforgettable story of love and war, revenge and forgiveness.
When Gabriella Madison arrives in France in 1961 to continue her university studies, she doesn’t anticipate being drawn into the secretive world behind the Algerian war for independence from France. The further she delves into the war efforts, the more her faith is challenged.
The people who surround her bring a whirlwind of transforming forces—a wise nun involved in the smuggling, a little girl carrying secret information, and a man with unknown loyalties who captures her heart. When she discovers a long hidden secret from her past, it all leads to questions about trust, faith in action, and the power of forgiveness to move beyond the pain of the past.
Two Testaments
Love for war’s victims keeps them apart.  Will love for each other see them through?
The slightest spark will ignite an explosion.. The tinderbox of broken political and racial relations in France and Algeria provides plenty of kindling. In the midst of the chaos, Gabriella Madison guards the orphans in her care, while battling jealousy with Anne-Marie Duchemin, David’s former flame who has recently arrived in Castelnau, France. Even more problems arise when the townspeople start expressing their discomfort with the multi-cultural orphanage.  They want it shut down…permanently.
Meanwhile, David is trapped on the other side of the Mediterranean, caught in the turmoil of a country gone mad. He seeks a way to guard his life and, at the same time, protect the refugees he came to help.  But even if he accomplishes his mission, can he get out of Algeria alive?

In late 1961, as Algeria’s war for independence from France is comeing to a close, two crosses, symbolic of another time in history, draw together a host of characters in an unforgettable story of love and war, revenge and forgiveness.

When Gabriella Madison arrives in France in 1961 to continue her university studies, she doesn’t anticipate being drawn into the secretive world behind the Algerian war for independence from France. The further she delves into the war efforts, the more her faith is challenged.

The people who surround her bring a whirlwind of transforming forces—a wise nun involved in the smuggling, a little girl carrying secret information, and a man with unknown loyalties who captures her heart. When she discovers a long hidden secret from her past, it all leads to questions about trust, faith in action, and the power of forgiveness to move beyond the pain of the past.

Two Testaments  Love for war’s victims keeps them apart.  Will love for each other see them through?
The slightest spark will ignite an explosion.. The tinderbox of broken political and racial relations in France and Algeria provides plenty of kindling. In the midst of the chaos, Gabriella Madison guards the orphans in her care, while battling jealousy with Anne-Marie Duchemin, David’s former flame who has recently arrived in Castelnau, France. Even more problems arise when the townspeople start expressing their discomfort with the multi-cultural orphanage.  They want it shut down…permanently.
Meanwhile, David is trapped on the other side of the Mediterranean, caught in the turmoil of a country gone mad. He seeks a way to guard his life and, at the same time, protect the refugees he came to help.  But even if he accomplishes his mission, can he get out of Algeria alive?
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    Comments 25

    1. Good morning, Melissa and Elizabeth! I just read about both of these books yesterday. How intriguing to learn more about Elizabeth’s writing process over here.
      I used to journal all.the.time.
      Not so much anymore … and yes, I know I should get back to it.
      Thanks to marrying my husband, who was in the Air Force, we traveled a bit — including living in Turkey for 2 years. Quite an unexpected detour!

      Reply

      1. I don’t journal as much these days, either, Beth…or, really, at all. Between blogging and my other writing, I just can’t. But I know it’s a great thing to do.

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    2. Elizabeth, thank you for sharing about your wonderful worlds. I truly understand the juggling of two careers. I love your suggestion about journaling. I always have a notebook in my purse to jot down a random note or thought, but I should elaborate when I’m away from the house–even if it’s to go to the grocery store! Even our close by mission fields are ripe with story ideas.

      Melissa, thanks for another wonderful guest!

      Reply

    3. I love the suggestion to journal. When I was a sophomore in college, and kind of recommitting my life to my faith (or rediscovering it), I started a prayer journal. I would write and write and write out my feelings and thoughts about everything I was going through. For me, it was the only way to get stuff out of my head and able to start making sense of it. I still journal today during my quiet time, though I don’t fill pages and pages like I did then. I think I tend to write more when I’m going through more trying times. It’s such therapy for me.

      And Mel, you know I love to travel. When’s our “research” trip to Europe gonna happen? 🙂

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    4. i am a readaholic, not a writer, so i’d rather be reading than journaling. i do write a bit of diary on my one blog. Traveling? i take my Mom to and from Arizona each winter. Until this last year we drove the 2000 miles each way, but since we flew down, i don’t think i’ll do that with Mom again. She loves the fact she doesn’t need to sit for four days. i read Two Crosses years ago, and would love to read the whole series.

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      1. Thanks bunches for stopping by, Marianne. Oh boy, 2000 miles each way…that would get loooong. My mom and I actually drove together out to North Carolina about a month ago. It was fun one-on-one time!

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    5. Hello, Elizabeth & Melissa! I’ve always kept a journal – at some points I am more consistent in it than others, it’s usually a way for me to sort out my thoughts and feelings and less a record of my activities. I purchased a notebook each time I became pregnant and began writing a love letter to my unborn child, trying to capture for them my thoughts and feelings, knowing I would never remember everything once they were older. I now have four notebooks that I continue to write in for them during different stages of their childhoods. They are filled with words I pray will touch their hearts and speak to my love for them.

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    6. Melissa,

      Thank you for introducing me to another new author. I can’t wait to read Elizabeth’s books. (Winning one would be great too!) As an unpubbed author who struggles with time management, focus and energy, this was such an inspiring post.

      Reply

    7. Melissa, I love meeting all your new authors…and such a depth of genres!
      Great to meet you Elizabeth:)
      I traveled a lot when I was younger, but not so much anymore:) Hubby and I have great plans, we’ll see how far we get! And I journaled all through HS and college, now I channel my thoughts into my WIPs. I’ve always written better than I could speak it…though when comfy I am quite the chatterbox (or so I’m told-LOL)

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      1. I love getting to meet writers, too, through their guest posts. 🙂 I was soooo thrilled when Elizabeth agreed to write a post because I’ve liked her books for a long time!

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    9. My smartphone helps me keep track of ideas and even blog! Whenever the Lord starts to speak to me about something, I jot it down in a task manager on my phone. Then, when I have more time, I can research it out. I even have a WordPress app so I can blog from my phone! Isn’t technology amazing (most of the time!)

      Reply

    11. Just recently discovered Elizabeth Musser and her amazing books – read three of them in less than a month. Especially looking forward to Two Crosses and Two Testaments. I’m so excited!

      Reply

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