Monday, May 6, 2013

Cynthia Ruchti, Featured Author ~ Plus, Monthly Book Give-Away


 
Cynthia Ruchti ~ www.cynthiaruchti.com
 
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I many continually resort:  thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.  Psalm 71:3

Dear Readers, today I'd like to introduce to you Cynthia Ruchti.  Cynthia tells stories of hope through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, speaking for women’s events and retreats, writers’ events and retreats, drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry.  I've asked Cynthia to write our devotional today.  Let's welcome her.

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Another Mother’s Day without a mother. I remember the moment I became an adult orphan. My dad had died in 1993 of a massive heart attack in the middle of the night. I feel the loss of him every day, but I also feel the joy of having known him.
 

Mom sold the house and moved three hours north a couple of months after Dad died. We say it was so she could be close to the hugs. Her three daughters lived within 25 miles of her new apartment-for-one. She stayed there, within the circle of our embrace, for seventeen years until heart disease stole her last breath.
 

The moment she was gone, we siblings sang, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” because she’d gotten her wish after a long, hard, oh so hard illness—to shake free of this earth, see Jesus face to face, and be reintroduced to my dad in glory-form.
 

The second moment after she was gone, I realized I was an orphan. The fact that I was a full-grown adult didn’t erase that sober realization.
 

And now, another Mother’s Day is here and I’m not searching for just the right card or just the right gift for her.
 

Mother’s Day doesn’t bring joy to everyone. It’s a hard day for those who’ve lost a mom. It’s a hard day for those who long to be moms and aren’t. It’s difficult to watch others receive flowers and fancy cards when your children are missing, misguided, estranged, or gone.
 

When I wrote When the Morning Glory Blooms, I knew some readers would celebrate its babies and its mothers. Some would mourn never knowing the weight of a daughter or son in their arms. Some readers would watch the characters struggle through the aftereffects of unplanned or unwed pregnancies and relive those scenes from their own lives. Some will recognize the sacrifices their moms made for them. Others will long for the kind of love they see expressed in the pages. 


 

I wish I could give my mom When the Morning Glory Blooms for Mother’s Day. I’d love to point out that the maternity ward in the 1950s story is taken from her descriptions. I’d love to show her that her tenacious prayers for my writing life are still having an impact.
 

Two weeks before she died, my debut novel’s Advanced Reader Copies arrived in the mail. After having prayed for me and for that project for so many years, she held it in her hands and said, “Oh! My book!” Then she paused and added, “I mean, our book.”
 

My Mother’s Day card to her this year would have read, “Mom, thanks for your prayers. Another novel is born.”

 

Thank you, Rose, for letting my thoughts wander to the rich heritage of loving parents. I’d love to hear from readers about the kinds of thoughts Mother’s Day evokes for them. If readers would like to connect with me, they can do so through www.cynthiaruchti.com, www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti, or www.facebook.com/cynthiaruchtireaderpage. When the Morning Glory Blooms is available wherever books are sold or through the direct “buy now” link on my website.


Now, for an opportunity to win a beautiful copy of  When the Morning Glory Blooms:

At least ten readers must comment and share in order for there to be a book give-away. So come on everyone. It's easy.  Join in. Follow these steps to qualify for the random drawing.


1. Leave a comment on this blog (my favorite part!) which includes your name and email address if you want to be included in the drawing. I will use your email address to contact you if you win. To leave a comment, click on the pencil icon or the word comment at the end of this blog post.

2. Share this blog post on Facebook so your friends will read about it and visit too.


3. Tweet, tweet, tweet IF you have twitter, and mention the book give-away on your own blog if you have one. It would be great as well and an extra perk for me if you would become a follower of this site, so you won't miss a single post. But, #3 is optional.

Complete these steps by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 11th.   A winner will be announced here on Monday, May 12th, so be sure to check back to see if you've won. 



Thank you for participating in the monthly give-away.  This feature of Write Moments with God is so much fun for me.   I'll leave you with one of Cynthia's favorite verses.

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.  Psalm 71:5

 

14 comments:

  1. I think the book sounds wonderful. I loved this introduction to the work. It's so human and talky. I look forward to reading it sometime. God bless you both!

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  2. Thanks so much Lou Ann. I know Cynthia loves to hear what you have to say too. I appreciate your encouragement. Blessings. Got you email so you're in!

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  3. On Mother's Day, my heart always hurts for those who are hurting. You're right--not everyone celebrates. I'm blessed to still have my mother (and father and step-mother and step-father). We don't live near any of them, but they know without a doubt that they are greatly loved. On another note, after a lo-o-o-ng hiatus, I'm just starting to read fiction again. This book sounds wonderful.

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    1. Rebecca, I'm excited for you! Diving back into fiction! I'll meet you in the pages.

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  4. Lou Ann, this was a wonderful opportunity to wander back through time and discover some of the connections to the book that even I hadn't realized until now. I'm grateful to Rose, and grateful to you for your comment!

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  5. I would love to be entered in this giveaway! Tried getting on the reviewer list and didn't make it. This book sounds like it has a message for everyone. Would love to read it. Thanks so much!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Charity, you moved me with your kind words. I hope you'll have opportunity to read the book. I know you'd give it a thoughtful review.

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  6. Rose, your blogs are always fantastic, as are the authors you choose to feature. Thank you for introducing us to Cynthia. I was touched by her story. Honestly, I have never put much thought in to how painful of a day Mother's Day must be for so many. This Mother's Day may we keep all of those who can not share in the day's joy in our prayers. I look forward to reading more by Cynthia. Please enter me in the drawing and God bless.

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    1. Anonymous, I look at Mother's Day with new eyes now, both celebrating and praying. Thanks for joining me in this endeavor to both enjoy the wonder of it and sympathize with those who find it uncomfortable or painful. I distinctly remember the very first Mother's Day when I could be named among the mothers. I ache for those like me who are missing their mom, or missing a child, or longing for a child that never was.

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  7. Thank you, Cynthia for a touching reminder of how special our mothers are to us. My own mother is one of my biggest cheerleaders. She reads every word I write and always says, "Isn't it wonderful to see how God is using you?!" She edits and critiques, but always with the aim being to serve God. I know I am blessed.

    And you, precious Cynthia, just made your appearance in my newest novel staged in Door County. You will be happy to know your book talk was a success, even though my main character didn't get to witness it...she was back in Kenosha helping her own mother through a tough time.

    Rebecca Waters
    rwaters.author@gmail.com

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    1. I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled, Rebecca!!!!! Other than endorsement comments, I don't know that I've ever been "in" a novel before!!!! Thank you. Can't wait to see it!

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  8. The kind words I'm reading here, really touch my heart. Thank you all so much for sharing.

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  9. Cynthia - like you, my mom is gone. I hear her, though, every day as I find myself repeating some phrase of hers, or perhaps a favorite saying. She had a way with words - perhaps that's where I developed my love of writing. Her memories are so precious to me and I find myself missing her more as the years go by.

    Rose - thanks for featuring Cynthia. It made my day!

    Deb DeArmond
    deb.dearmond@gmail.com

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  10. Deb, you are so welcome. I am honored. :-) Now, you come back...

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