Monday, January 30, 2012

Cherry Blossom Capers Author Lynette Sowell


by Lynette Sowell

Welcome To Hollywood!

I was asked to blog on current events, and for those of us who like pop culture, a big annual current event has started taking place: American Idol auditions. Tens of thousands of people wait hours for their minute or less in front of the Idol judges, and all of them hoping to hear three little words. The sheer number of auditions truly boggles the mind. Do tens of thousands of people really want to be a star? You know, there's the ones who get their few minutes of fame in ridiculous costumes. Or the non-singer. "Yeah, I'm terrible, but that's why I should be on American Idol!" (Huh?)

One of the thing I love about the auditions is the happy surprises—seeing a “regular” person step up in front of Randy, Jennifer, and Steven, and without accompaniment, move them to tears in a good way. It's fun to watch my favorite competitors move up through the ranks as they grow into performers and realize a dream come true.

Of course, the flips side shows us the tears, the dashed hopes, the bewildered looks of the ones who didn't make it? I understand the tears. I'm fiercely competitive and hate to lose, even against myself. I'm no stranger to disappointment. When I was in kindergarten, I said wanted to be a TV star. That's what my mom wrote in my school days book that contained pictures and tidbits of my school years.

Did you see the young woman who always felt like she was in her twin sister's shadow? She thought making it to American Idol would pull her out of that shadow. It was heartbreaking to hear her sing, because, well, she wasn't very good at it. She hinged her hopes for a “change” on one chance that came and went. I wanted to tell her, “Honey, you are beautiful and talented in your own way. Don't depend on a show to bring that out in you.”

What many AI hopefuls want is to belong, to know they're special. Don't we all? We dream of being a part of something big, something important. Whatever dream we cherish, we think, "Oh, if I could only make it to Hollywood, my life would be so much better!" We want to belong, to be accepted. We want to shine.

One of the things I'm learning is oh so simple, yet oh so hard to get: I've already made it to Hollywood. SomeOne hangs on my every word. To Him, I'm a superstar. Flawed, human, but worthy of loving. He's got bigger plans for me than any record label. He thinks I shine. Doesn't make sense, does it? But that's grace. That's real love. That's bigger than any idol. My disappointments in this life--and there have been many, should I choose to go back and think about each one--pale in comparison. My God is able to do exceedingly abundantly, above and beyond, more than I can ask or think. I've got it made. I hope you learn that truth for yourself too.

~*~

Lynette Sowell is the award-winning author of five novels and six novellas for Barbour Publishing. When Lynette's not writing, she divides her time between editing medical reports and writing a column for her local newspaper. Lynette was born in Massachusetts, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but makes her home on the doorstep of the Texas hill country with her husband and a herd of cats who have them well-trained. She loves reading, cooking, watching movies, and is always up for a Texas road trip. You can visit Lynette's author page on Facebook to learn more about her books at: https://www.facebook.com/lynettesowellauthor

"State Secrets" in CHERRY BLOSSOM CAPERS
Tara Whitley, an assistant White House chef, doesn’t expect to become an amateur investigator when old flame and FBI operative Jack Courtland steps back into her life and recruits her to help uncover a plot to sabotage the next State Dinner. But she doesn’t expect Jack to uncover feelings for him she thought had died. Can she trust him with her safety, and her heart? Join Tara and her three neighborhood friends in Cherry Blossom Capers as they follow dangerous paths to love.

~Cherry Blossom Capers~
Four women encounter love, danger, and mystery beyond their neighborhood near Washington D.C. Tara Whitley, assistant chef at the White House, helps FBI agent Jack Courtland unmask a State dinner saboteur. Attorney Ciara Turner and her nemesis Daniel Evans investigate a judge's murder. Archeologist intern Samantha Steele almost loses her nerve and children when she and security guard Nick Porter investigate a forgery at Mount Vernon. Coffee shop owner Susan Holland and builder Vince Martini encounter danger in her late uncle's mansion. Can these couples trust God with their lives and love as they track down killers and culprits?

Cherry Blossom Capers Blog
http://cherryblossomcapers.blogspot.com/

Find it at Amazon, CBD, Or Barnes & Noble:
http://www.amazon.com/Cherry-Blossom-Capers-Romancing-America/dp/1616266465/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cherry-blossom-capers-cara-putman/1104274011?ean=9781616266462&itm=1&usri=cherry+blossom+capers

9 comments:

  1. That cover is really pretty and the book sounds SO high concept! I can't wait to cheek it out.
    ~Sarah F.

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  2. Very nicely said, Lynette, and so true. Thank you for visiting us today.

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  3. Welcome Lynette! So you're a Texas Gal transplant,huh? Texas hill country sounds so beautiful.

    I have stayed away from AI for a couple of years. I remember when reality TV first started. Survivor, I think... I had my doubts, but my mom watched TV constantly and I eventually got hooked for the reasons you mentioned. Watching the 'human' story.

    Your point is so important and is one of the driving forces of what we do. If a reader takes away that message from our fiction, we've done our job. How heartbreaking to see someone who is convinced they are a 'nobody'.

    I wish you (and your team) much success with Cherry Blossom Capers!

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  4. Yes, I definitely have learned a lot watching AI. Sometimes it's learning how I waste time...but sometimes I learn by watching others. :)

    Thanks for having me as a guest, Gina and company.

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  5. Great post, Lynette. (And welcome to the Inkwell!) I haven't watched AI in a long time, but what a great analogy to describe God's grace.

    Cherry Blossom Capers sounds like so much fun. I'm going to download it now!

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  6. I find the audition episodes kind of pitiful. They only let the best and worst people through to the judges. It's mean, really. I had two friends who are both excellent professional singers in my town audition and neither even made it to the second round. Yet people in funny costumes got moved right through. Must be a spiritual analogy in their somewhere. LOL. I would that you be hot or cold or I'll spew you out of my mouth maybe?

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  7. Hey Lynette! Yes, I've been watching AI, too. I find the auditions are fine to have on in the background while I'm working :) I saw the gal you mentioned, the twin. Like you, I found it particularly sad. But then I listen to some of the people and think... how can they NOT know how bad they sound? At any rate, I'm glad God only asks us to make a joyful "noise"... that way, even when I hit wrong notes, He's smiling :)

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  8. Another thing about AI...the farther you go along in the season, it's all about branding. (Lesson for writers!) The vanilla in the bunch sort of drift away. They may be talented but they're, well, vanilla. Or as Simon would say "forgettable." ~

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  9. I like to come in after they are down to the 24, maybe the 12 but then you don't have the history with them.

    Clever, Lynette! a lesson about branding. Don't be vanilla but then tutti frutti might not work either.

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