Treasure Traitor

I am honored to have Laura Popp as a guest on grooviebrooksie.  She will be answering questions about her book "Treasure Traitor" which was released last November.

Tell us a little about the story of Treasure Traitor. 

Well, here’s what’s on the back of the cover: In a universe torn by war, two governments vie for power: the elemental Kingdom and the telepathic Hierarchy. Hierarchy women with animal bonds think nothing of sacrificing their beasts’ lives to protect themselves.
Except sixteen-year-old Renagada. The bond with her carrion-eater bird Acha is two-sided, and she knows his mind as much as he knows hers. When Rena overhears her parents plotting to kill Acha because of superstition, she must leave her fiancé and home of sheltered luxury to flee with Acha into the desert. Peril awaits them at every turn, and someone is tracking them…

What gave you the inspiration for the fantasy world of Treasure Traitor?

Growing up, I devoured classical fantasy based on European mythology: Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, and C.S. Lewis, just to name a few. But it bothered me that in comparison, there was relatively little fantasy inspired by myths and legends from non-Western cultures. When I stumbled upon Arabian Nights, I fell in love with the characters and the desert, how a place so stark could create such a beautiful, deep culture. Renagada and her people spring from that legacy. Also, I lived in Japan for two years and India for three months, so parts of those cultures have wriggled their way into this book, both intentionally and unintentionally! 

How long did you work on Treasure Traitor before it was completed?

That’s a little hard to answer! I started it when I was about twenty, in college. The first draft took six months, but it was only 55,000 words. Now it’s over 100,000 words! Suffice it to say, there were at least a dozen subsequent drafts, and each draft added a new layer to the plot, characters, and the universe they lived in. One draft focused entirely on fleshing out the setting. Another added depth to Rena and Acha’s relationship. The final focused on developing Rena’s religion and the faith of the Kingdom Seekers. So the editing and revising went all the way up to the publication date (about five years after I started it)! My editors at Written World Communications (my publisher) helped a lot with that.
But boy did it take a long time to find them! I submitted this manuscript to 34 publishers and agents and got nothing but rejections. I had about given up on it. Imagine my surprise when Written World contacted me. I’d never even heard of them! It turns out I had submitted it to an agent, and the agent’s assistant really liked it and believed in the story. Then she switched companies and pitched the novel to the head editor. It was a match made in heaven, totally a God thing!  

How much of you is in your main character Renagada?

I like to think I’m not quite as rebellious! I’ve never been bonded to a vulture or flown in a spaceship, either. But there is a lot of me in her; I don’t think any writer can help that. Early in the book, she loses someone very close to her. I know what that’s like, and all of those emotions went into that scene. Her struggles with guilt, faith, and culture shock are also my own. And actually, the scene at the end with her fiance was almost prophetic, because the week after I wrote that scene I had a very similar fight with my fiance! You’ll have to read it to understand what I’m talking about.
How old whre you when you wrote your first fantasy and what was it? 
I was ten. It was about a boy bonded to a horse. The boy got lost in the evil enchanted woods, and the horse rescued him and brought him safely home to his mother. I entered it into an animal story contest and won a gift certificate for pet food. Such a small thing, but I was hooked! 

You’ve had a very eventful and accomplished life.  How much of those experiences did you put into Treasure Traitor?

Thank you. Honestly, I’d have to say all of them! I’ve given entire presentations of how my world-travels played into Treasure Traitor. What are we but a culmination of our experiences? I’d have to say my faith journey and missionary adventures probably contribute the most. Whether it’s filming impoverished Africans dancing in dusty streets, delivering food and preaching hope to victims of the Tohoku Earthquake in Japan, teaching orphans in India, or helping Burmese refugees fulfill their dreams of becoming U.S. citizens, my path to trusting Jesus has been the biggest roller coaster ride of my life. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world, and I can only say it was all Him. 

What accomplishments are you the most proud of?

Honestly, I’d have to say getting a book published and having a contract for a three book deal. It’s something I’ve felt called to do since I was fifteen, and I’ve been working hard for it since then, so after eleven years it feels like a long time in coming! I’ve had literally hundreds of stories from the Kingdom/Hierarchy universe swirling through my head since I was five. Just to give you an idea, I wrote about eight books before this, and despite dozens of submissions, I was never able to publish any of them. So this is a serious answer to prayer!
I’ve finished the rough draft for the sequel, An Honest Assassin, and am about a quarter finished with the next one. Hopefully there will be many more to come!  



What advice would you give others on writing fantasy and creating your own fantasy?

Don’t try to imitate anyone else. Narnia, Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games may be best sellers, but they’ve already been done. Write from your own experiences, your own passions, your own hands-on research. Write what you would love to read if it existed, where there’s a gap you long to fill. Along those same lines, if you like your day job, don’t quit it. I find my best characters and situations arise from my daily life.

Thanks, Brooke, I enjoyed answering your questions. Readers, be sure to stop by my website, ljpopp.wordpress.com, to check out an excerpt from Treasure Traitor! 

 

 

Little John Deer

Who is Little John Deer?  He’s a member of our family and he also happens to be a miniature dachshund.   Like most dogs, he likes to chew on things, especially when he’s not supposed to.

When we have family over at Christmas, I like to use paper plates and Styrofoam cups.  The less work the better.  Anyway, Little John had gotten a hold of a cup and had chewed it up.  I know it’s a dog’s nature, so I just told him, “No! Bad!”  By that, he knew he wasn’t supposed to do it.

A couple of days after Christmas, I was in the house by myself and washing dishes.  That’s when I started to hear, “Crunch.  Crunch.”  I followed the sound to my daughter Sara’s bedroom.  There I saw Little John’s back end sticking out from under her bed.  He had found a Styrofoam cup and was chewing on it.  He thought he was completely hidden and getting away with doing a no-no.  I simply reached down and touched his back. He let out a big hair rising yelp and spun around where he was completely out from under Sara’s bed. 

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7 (NIV)

Except for chewing up Styrofoam cups and shoes, aren’t we the same as Little John? God tells us not to do something, but we want to do it anyway. And when we commit the sin, we think we can hide and get away with it.  That might work with humans, but not with God. Like with me and Little John, he hears and sees what you are doing.  

Ooh! Aah!

            I have no shame! I’m in my 40s and I still love Christmas trees and all their shiny decorations. November 1st, I’m ready to put my tree up. After we decorate it, we like to stand back and admire it . “Oooh! Aaah!”

If you are like me, you have newer shimmering ornaments that go out front for everybody to see. And you have some old dull ones where their color has faded or the paint has chipped off. You are tempted to throw them away, but you are too attached to them, so they get hidden in the back of the tree.  That way nobody can see just how bad they really are.

 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are new creatures.  We are to shed the old self and take on the new one.  Unfortunately, a lot of times we try to hang on to the old habits.  We’re attached to them and don’t want to let them go, so we hide them from view.  Take a moment to step back and look at how your soul is decorated.  How many of those old habits that we’ll call drab ornaments are still hanging around?  Maybe it’s time to throw them out.  That way you have more room the glistening ones.  Oooh!  Aaah!

OOPS!

Oops!

I say “OOPS!” at least once every Christmas. Sometimes more. Each year I drop ornaments as we decorate the Christmas tree. They shatter upon impact with the hardwood floor. Know what’s the most aggravating about it? It’s never the old balls or the ones that have fallen off of my favorite decoration list. Nope. It’s the new shiny ornaments that I just had to have on my tree.

It’s a shame that bad habits can’t be disposed of easily as the broken ornaments. Just scoop up the pieces and throw them in the trash never to be seen again.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are new creatures. We need to shed the old self and take on the new one. Unfortunately, a lot of times we try to hang on to the old habits. We’re attached to them and don’t want to let them go. In our eyes, they are still shiny and pretty, but in God’s eyes they are the old leftover decorations that need to go.

Step back and look at what you are decorating your soul with. Those old habits that we’ll call ugly ornaments need to be shattered and thrown in the trash, never to be seen again!

EXCITED!

     I love the Pointer Sisters. In case you don’t know who they are, they were a group of sisters who sang together. They started out in the 1970s, but they achieved their greatest success in the 1980s. I had their 1983 album Break Out which had their hit, I’m So Excited. I loved this song and listened to it quite often.

     Why did I like I’m So Excited so much? For one reason, it was very upbeat. I love music that makes me want to move and bob my head. I’m like one of those little dogs you put on your dashboard where the head moves or bobs around while you drive. That’s me. I don’t enjoy listening to slow or draggy music. I know I'm alive when my heart to thumps!  There is a drawback to this kind of pleasure-Its short-lived.
 
   If you want real happiness that lasts, may I suggest some scripture? I looked up some verses that I find inspirational. I hope you find inspiration and excitement about God’s promises and love for us as believers in Jesus.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
This is one of my favorites:“but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14(NIV)

Rear View Mirror

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving You All!

Rear View Mirror

“Oh Lord!” That’s what I say when I look in my rear view mirror and see a policeman behind me. As long as he is there, I am self-conscious of everything I do. Am I going the speed limit? Is it the posted speed limit? Am I putting my blinkers on too early or too late? How long am I to sit at a stop sign? Are all my lights working? Is he taking notes of everything I do and don’t do? Yeah, I freak out a little.
Needless to say, I am not as conscientious with my driving when there’s NOT a cop behind me. My attitude is different, so my driving is different. I’m not as worried about getting caught doing something wrong. Isn’t that like the way we are a lot of times with our attitude toward God?

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)


How different would your actions be if you remembered that God knows all? No, I don’t think we should be paranoid like I described myself in the first paragraph. God isn’t waiting for us to miss up so He can write us a ticket. If we’ve been saved, our fine was paid with the blood of Jesus.Here’s the bigger picture. If we have the wrong attitude about the sin in our lives, then how are we going to lead the lost to Christ? How are we to be an example to others?

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness. Titus 2:7(NIV)
May you have a blessed day with no cops in your rear view mirror.

If the Creek Don't Rise

Being a Tennessee girl, I have been raised with many colorful southern “sayings.” I will on occasion discuss these clever phrases and how they relate to the bible.

     As you have probably guessed by now, we southerners can’t always give a simple answer to a simple question. When you ask somebody to do something for you at a later time, you expect to hear a yes, no, or maybe as an answer. But if you’re in the south, you might just hear, “Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.”
     Growing up in East Tennessee, I had heard this phrase many times. I didn’t think about what that phrase really meant until I got older and (hopefully) wiser. I just thought that phrase was supposed to funny and cute. I was so wrong for there’s a big meaning behind that phrase.

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1(NIV)

    In other words, don’t take the future for granted. Only God knows what his plans for tomorrow are and they may or may not be the same as ours. So when somebody answers you with, “Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise,” be rested assured. As long as it’s ialso n God’s plans, they’re going to do whatever they promised you.