Wings Like a Dove wins OCW's Cascade Historical Fiction Award

Wings Like a Dove is the recipient of the 2020 Oregon Christian Writers' Cascade Award for Published Historical Fiction!

What an honor and a blessing. I had no idea what at timely story this would be when I first plotted it out several years ago. But the Lord knew. It's a story for such a time as this, but fear not, it won't take you into heavy topics and leave you there. This award-winning story is also full of love, friendship, courage, and hope. 

Find out what readers are saying about Wings Like a Dove at Goodreads or on Amazon.

Publishers Weekly Weighs In on WINGS

November 1st marks one month until the release of WINGS ... and, to my breathless surprise, I just discovered that Publishers Weekly recently posted a review of Wings Like a Dove. I confess I forgot that we submitted the story for a possible PW review, and I really wasn't expecting one because they don't review every book they receive. I'm thrilled to learn that the reviewer thinks it's "powerful" as well as a "harrowing, enthralling" tale. This is good!

(On a side note, I'm not sure how, but the reviewer somehow got the idea that Thomas is a chef (?). He is not. He is a carpenter who runs a woodworking trade school for orphan boys. In fact, anything Thomas cooks tends to be scorched, and the boys are all too eager to let Anna take over the cooking.)

The reviewer believes this story will appeal to fans of Linda Byler. I am embarrassed to admit that I had to Google Ms. Byler, but by the looks of her strong legacy in historical fiction, I am most honored by the comparison.

Anyway . . . one month to go! And a Publishers Weekly review! 

Here's a snippet of it:

Captive, the Movie: Messy, Real, and Captivating

My husband, friends, and I had to drive an hour away to the one theater in our area that was showing Captive. Which is not surprising. Even though this film was distributed by Paramount Pictures, films labeled faith-based or inspirational usually don't make it to many screens. Perhaps the reason is the thinking that faith films are not compelling enough to fill more theaters.

My posture while viewing this film? Captive—literally. Held taut for 136 intense minutes and forgetting to exhale.

"Captive" is based on the true story of Ashley Smith, a single mother struggling with drug addiction, taken hostage in her apartment by a man on the run after breaking out of jail and murdering the judge assigned to his case. We are first introduced to Ashley (Kate Mara) in an addiction recovery group. Ashley pulls no punches about what drugs have cost her. She has a daughter she adores, but drug use has taken away what is most precious to her. No, next to most precious: she admits she can’t stop using because she likes it too much. We study her transparent expression as her resigned words replay in our ears, and we decide in that moment to applaud her honesty and sympathize.

When help is offered in the form of a book, The Purpose Driven Life, she tosses it in the trash. She is ruining her life and can’t stop. Won’t stop. What good can a book do? She is honest, she is helpless, and she is hopeless.

Soon, through a violent chain of events, escaped killer Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo), takes Ashley hostage in her apartment. Desperate and hunted, he also pulls no punches about what he is capable of. He killed a judge who wanted to enslave him, and “it felt good.” Ashley’s already hopeless life takes a sudden and unexpected turn for the worse.

Two lives intersect and the course of each changes in a most unusual and unnatural way. It’s that unnatural element that often piques my interest. The book Ashley tossed into the trash ends up on her kitchen table and becomes a catalyst of hope.

As a novelist, I create fictional characters, places, and events, yet work hard to weave in elements of truth, of universal realities that people experience. Real flaws, mistakes, and wounds, basic human hopes and fears bring stories to life, make them tangible, meaningful. And most importantly (to me), my stories include a real God who touches real lives in a very real and often “unnatural” way. It is the supernatural, subtly portrayed in this film, which adds that spark, that tangible hope to Ashley’s story. It is done carefully and organically, not forced, not tidy.

Like life.

The story is well-written, touching on universal elements of human experience people feel and even crave, like hope, second chances, and spiritual truths that empower and liberate. The acting is superb. Mara and Oyelowo are spell-binding as they portray realistic, complex characters who grip us from beginning credits to end. 

"Captive" is a high quality, thought provoking, “captivating” film that lingers long after you leave the theater. I highly recommend this film and plan to buy it and watch it again when it releases on DVD. 

Director: Jerry Jameson, Writers: Brian Bird (screenplay), Ashley Smith (book), Cast: Kate Mara, David Oyelowo

Watch the Trailer & get local showtimes here.

Question: Have you seen Captive? What was your takeaway?

Captive Movie Opens TODAY!

Today is release day (US) of the film, Captive, based on the true story of Ashley Smith in Atlanta 10 years ago. It's a powerful, faith-inspiring story, written for screen and produced by Screenwriter/Producer Brian Bird. I plan to see it tonight with a truckload - ok a minivan full - of friends.

Do you plan to see Captive? If you do, I would love to hear your feedback on the film. I will post my review here soon, stay tuned!

Click HERE for more info on this story, trailer, and showtimes in your area!

Do You Dare Hope?

Sue, the main character in Like a Love Song, finally dares ask God if he is really there. The thing is, she didn't doubt his existence before, she just didn't want proof. The idea of a giant, invisible father was always abhorrent to her. But a little bit of hope had slowly replaced just enough fear to bring her to ask, in spite of her fear of what she would find and fear of gross disappointment. So the simple act of asking was not simple at all.

I know. It was the same life-changing question that I once asked.

Hope empowers. And it doesn't take much. Have you lost hope? It's never too late to ask God to make himself real to you. He is Father to the Fatherless, defender of the weak. Have you struggled to believe? I have. It takes a measure of Faith to reach out and put your trust in an unseen Person. But fear not. Faith is a gift from God and he is happy to supply.