C.S. Lakin's "The Map across Time"

We're happy to have C.S. Lakin with us today talking about her book The Map across Time. To learn more about C.S. and her book, read on!

Title: The Map across Time
Publisher: AMG/Living Ink

Cover blurb: The Map across Time is an epic time-travel adventure that tells the story of the kingdom of Sherborne, a land under an ancient curse, and the quest of the teenage twins of the king—Adin and Aletha—who must follow a magical map back in time to Sherbourne’s past in order to discover the cause of the curse and its remedy. A powerful story of loyal love, honor, and faith.

1) How did this story come to you?
I’m not exactly sure! I wanted to write something with a time paradox and as the second book in The Gates of Heaven series, to give more detail as to the sacred sites guarded by the “Keepers.” I also love the Scripture in Song of Songs that tells how love is as strong as death and nothing can quench those flames. I used that as one of the themes of the book.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had already completed the first three fairy tales in the collection and pitched the series to AMG at a writers’ conference. A year later I was told it was submitted to editorial committee and approved. The series will have at least seven books in it. I’m beginning book five, and The Land of Darkness, book three, will be out this fall.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m not exactly sure what would surprise readers about me. I used to have a commercial pygmy goat farm and have delivered a hundred+ baby goats. They are my favorite animal although I don’t have a space for goats these days. I ran a bed and breakfast for fifteen years and got pretty good at preparing five-course gourmet breakfasts (although I rarely eat breakfast myself!). And I’d rather be backpacking and up atop a mountain away from civilization than being down here in the city.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Wow, working on a million things! I’m polishing up my two conference workshops I’ll be teaching this year, rewriting Time Sniffers to be a more romantic YA sci-fi (I have a publisher wanting this series). I plan to start writing book five in my fantasy series this summer, and I have six unpublished novels I’m trying to sell through my agents and other outlets.

5) Parting comments?
Writing is a double-edged sword. It’s a great joy for me, what makes my heart soar, but the hard work of getting published and marketing books is very difficult and intimidating. It’s not for the weak of heart, but if you love to write, persevere. That is the key word.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My main website is http://www.cslakin.com/  and my fantasy series site is http://www.gatesofheavenseries.com/

C.S. Lakin's "Someone to Blame"

We're happy to have C.S. Lakin with us today talking about her book, Someone to Blame. To learn more about C.S. and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to write another psychological mystery based on another of Agatha Christie’s famous murder mysteries. I had written one earlier called “Innocent Little Crimes” based on her book “And Then There Were None.” My next idea was to do a variation of “Murder on the Orient Express” but set it in a small town rather than on a train. I had been kicking around the idea for a couple of years and when I knew I’d be taking Jim Bell’s mentor track at Mount Hermon in the spring, I thought to write this book for the Christian market and use it in the workshop, which I did. I liked the idea of exploring the way a small town distrusts a newcomer, one especially abrasive. So by having Billy Thurber’s arrival in Breakers coincide with an outbreak of crimes, I explored how easy it is for people to blame someone they don’t know. I also wanted to explore a wider theme of blame, and so my story features a family new to Brekaers that is suffering form their own brand of blame regarding a horrible tragedy in their family. The two stories collide in upheaval and grace.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I did the usual pitching at conferences but couldn’t get anyone interested. So I submitted it in the Zondervan 2009 First Novel Contest at Mount Hermon and it won the contest. I feel extremely honored to have Zondervan enthusiastically supporting this book.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Well, who knows? I was a pathological liar when a child and used to steal bottles out of neighbors’ garages to get the 5 cent refunds to buy candy. But I was also a kleptomaniac and stole candy more often than bought it. I was a bit neglected and ignored by my mom, who was a single parent working full-time. I got into a lot of trouble as a kid. Now, I try to behave myself. I was raised Jewish, which usually means atheist celebrating a few random holidays. Thankfully, God chose to reveal himself to me, and I’m very grateful and am glad he forgives sin!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m finishing book four in my fantasy series The Gates of Heaven, for AMG, a collection of full-length fairy tales in the style of C. S. Lewis. I’m very excited about that series and the first book, The Wolf of Tebron, is getting some great buzz and reviews. I’m also plotting out my eleventh novel, my fifth commercial contemporary book, which is not so much a mystery as the modern-day story of Jacob and Joseph, detailing a dysfunctional family in need of grace. It’s another huge challenging, crazy, different project. I’m alsway pushing the envelope and writing harder and harder things. Don’t know why I torture myself like this!

5) Parting comments?
I write all kinds of things, but although I’ve been chastised and told to stick to one genre, my Boss seems to have other ideas for me. I always look to Him to tell me what to write and the ideas bubble up and spill over. I know what to work on by how excited a project gets me and how it grips me to where I can’t really focus on anything else. I usually am working on one project while writing another, and the last six or so novels have alternated between fantasy and contemporary drama, so I guess that seems to be the pattern I’m sticking with for now. Unless a publisher gives me some three-book deal and I have to do that for a while. I feel blessed to spend my time doing what I really love—writing and editing for other writers. If you need mentoring or help on a project, hire me!

6) Here are the websites for the new releases:
http://www.gatesofheavenseries.com/ and http://www.someonetoblame.com/

C.S. Lakin's "The Wolf of Tebron"

We're happy to have C.S. Lakin with us today talking about her book, The Wolf of Tebron. To learn more about C.S. and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you? I prayed for God to show me what to write. I’d been writing commercial psychological mysteries, so was very surprised when he directed me to write fairy tales, which I’ve always loved. I feel strongly that there is an untouched mission field out there—people who only read fantasy and are searching for something to put their hope in.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published. I pitched this series through mail and e-mail queries, and through my agent. But I met the AMG editor at a conference and he was interested and ask for my proposal. A year later, AMG offered to buy my first finished three books in the series, although they only read my proposal. I’m very honored by their support and the way they partner with me to produce these beautiful books.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers. I have no idea what would surprise readers. I doubt anything I do is all that surprising. I love to backpack and would rather spend my days sixty feet underwater. Is that surprising?

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?I’m completing my tenth novel—The Unraveling of Wentwater. This is book four in the fairy tale series (and they can be read in any order, just like a fairy tale collection). I’m also plotting out my fifth psychological mystery: Intended for Harm, which is a modern-day story of Jacob and Joseph detailing a dysfunctional family with unmet needs. I’m praying my agent will start selling my many mysteries for the commercial market.

5) Parting comments?I love to help new authors with their books and work as a professional mentor, coach, and copy editor, so if you are working on a novel or have finished one and need some serious input, I’m here!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet? My website is www.cslakin.com but there are numerous other sites: http://www.gatesofheavenseries.com/ and http://www.wolfoftebron.com/ are for the fantasy series. www.someonetoblame.com is for—you guessed it—my new release Someone to Blame, with Zondervan.