The entire “Writeen Crue” assembled at Brenda’s in Gambrills, MD, for our annual mentoring retreat, and it was our BEST ever. (Of course, we always say that, but it’s always true.) This year’s theme was “Character Arc,” tracing our protagonist’s growth from where he/she begins to where we will take him/her when the story is finished. We also reflected on our own character growth as individuals and as authors, quite a thought-provoking exercise.

Left to Right (front): Dale McElhinney, Nancy Rue, Winnie Kutchukian, Tim Shoemaker (Back): Dawn Moore, Floss Craig, Rosemarie DiCristo, Brenda Ulman, Joyce Magnin, Candy Abbott, Pam Halter.

Candy Abbott with Nancy Rue, our teacher extraordinaire

Of course, our weekends are not all about serious writing.

I just returned from another AMAZING “Writeen Crue” weekend retreat in Gambrills, MD. The Crue was formed in January 2003 as a mentoring weekend with Nancy Rue, an award-winning author of young adult novels and Christian fiction. The group has 11 members who gather twice a year from seven states (Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee) to refine our writing and encourage and pray for one another.

January 2009 weekend retreat in Gambrills, MD

This year, I was only able to attend a half day at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference instead of the full three days, but what a power-packed time it was! Nancy Rue and thehe Writeen Crue (writing mentors who have been helping with Gavin since the beginning) had a big table together for lunch, and the workshop on marketing that Diane Cook and I presented together was energized and interactive. One of the conferees, Debi Davies, is a national educational consultant for Christian schools, so that was a real God-connection for Gavin.

The warm welcome that I experienced yesterday morning, Sat., Dec. 22, 2007, at the Whatcoat Social Services Agency in Dover, DE, is a memory I will always cherish These precious people, many of whom are experiencing difficult times, had the light of Jesus shining from their faces and embraced Gavin with eagerness and joy. Here you go . . . see for yourself . . .

Epworth Christian School is a springboard for Gavin Goodfellow because the administration initiated a pilot program to give the spiritual fantasy “real life application” in a Christian educational setting. Here are the 8th grade Language Arts students and teacher Melanie Theofiles, on December 20, 2007, the day we read the final chapter of The Lure of Burnt Swamp together.  

One of the assignments Mrs. Theofiles gave as a part of their chapter-by-chapter study was to choose a character and create a poster, and here are their creative results:

What an incredibly FUN time I had this morning when I visited the 8th grade Language Arts students at Epworth Christian School. Melanie Theofiles’ class is the first to not only read Gavin as a group but to study the book, chapter-by-chapter. The class finished the book TODAY and followed along as I read the final chapter. I have to say, the most wonderful surprise for me was seeing Gavin in “less-than-perfect” condition–with bent corners, fluffed up pages, etc. A warm feeling came over me to think that the content  is really resonating with kids and getting them to think. They had posters on the walls of their favorite characters (I was surprised to find Uncle Warey, Molly and Eric as their first choices, not Gavin). The kids gave me a warm welcome and asked super questions; we took pictures that I’m hoping to post on the blog as soon as I get them. When the bell rang, I got the feeling that the students felt just like I did . . . wishing we’d had more time.  From this “pilot program” will come the Language Guide that Melanie is writing for middle school teachers which we’re hoping will be ready in the next few months; I’ll keep you posted.

I came home to a phone call from Eric Gillespie, scheduling a reading for Saturday morning at the Whatcoat Shelter he runs in Dover, DE (20 kids and 27 adults). Eric and I met at Calvary’s production when one of the residents of the shelter asked if it might be possible for me to visit with them. He has not only followed up as promised but taken the initiative to contact the media (TV and newspapers) and has found a sponsor to purchase 25 books.

When I leave there, I’ll go to Diane Cook’s studio where we will begin recording The Lure of Burnt Swamp as an audio book. God is on the move with Gavin!

Hadassa Goldsberry and Franklin Garner are sophomores at Calvary Christian Academy in Dover, DE, and were cast members in the Christmas production, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” where they purchased Gavin. (They look their age when they’re dressed like teenagers instead of the 1941 characters they portrayed.) Who would have thought they would spend every free minute between performances with their noses in a book? Their enthusiasm for Gavin generated a huge amount of interest and testifies to the notion that this is a book that spans generations, from 8 to 80+. So if anyone asks if it’s appropriate for high school students, here’s proof.

Hadassah says to tell you, “This book was soooooo awesome! I can’t wait for the next one. Gavin has topped all the other books I’ve been reading lately and now I’m bored with the ones I have. I want more Gavin.”

Gavin is making himself right at home at Calvary Assembly of God in Dover. Hey, if you haven’t seen their Christmas production, “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” there is another show tonight (Sun., 12/9) and tomorrow night (Mon. 12/10) at 7 PM. Doors open at 6 and it’s packed (they seat almost 1,000). It’s also FREE, so come early (1141 E. Lebanon Rd., Dover, DE 19901). The musical is set in 1941 and is incredible–just like Broadway or Sight and Sound.

Angela Coon invited me to join her on stage before the show to say a few words about how Gavin came to be, what the book is about, and my hopes and expectations, and the audience broke into spontaneous applause. I experiened every author’s dream–customers lined up all around the table; I’ve been signing as fast as I can. Lots of great connections and affirmations, even if people didn’t buy the book. Several young cast members have become “friends” and like to hang out with me. Drew sits quietly in the background taking it all in and occasionally chatting with people he hasn’t seen in years.

One really neat thing is that a guy who runs a shelter in Dover invited me to come up and read to them between now and Christmas, which I agreed to do. Then he said he would get media coverage and left. Within a few minutes, he reappeared and whispered that he had found a sponsor for 25 books. The student workbooks (Interactive Journal) are going fast, and Christian educators are eager for the teacher’s guide.

I really sense the Holy Spirit’s presence in that place. God is guiding Gavin’s steps, and Drew and I are enjoying the journey.

Calvary Assembly of God, Dover, DE, is so excited about The Lure of Burnt Swamp that they have invited me to set up a “Gavin table” for all six of their their Christmas performances (including a free ad in their program booklet). This year’s play is “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” and admission is FREE, so I hope to see you there, either before or after the program.

DATES and TIMES: Dec. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 at 7:00 p.m. (also 10:30 for the Dec. 9th performance)

LOCATION: Calvary Assembly of God, 1141 E. Lebanon Road, Route 10 and S. State Street, Dover, DE 19901

INFO: Free admission. Doors open one hour before performance. No seat reservations (usually a packed house, so come early). Nursery available.

QUESTIONS? Call Calvary at (302) 697-7776 or visit www.calvarydover.org