Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

Grasping God's Word through Bible Software

Two months ago, I began a new study using the textbook, Grasping God's Word. I've learned a lot in the past eight weeks about going deeper and deeper in my reading and studying of the Bible, although I'm afraid I'd get a failing grade if I had to turn in homework or take any tests. Week before last, the lesson was on word studies, and something really terrific came out of that lesson: I'm actually learning to use my wonderful Logos Bible Software for Mac the way it was meant to be used.

In my pre-Mac existence, I had the PC Study Bible software program. For the most part, what I used it for was to find, copy, and paste Bible verses. As a Mac user, I invested almost a year ago in the Bible Study package of Logos Bible Software for Mac. But again, what I've mostly used it for is looking up Bible verses and taking an occasional peek into a commentary.

But when I was doing the Grasping God's Word lesson on word studies, a chapter that calls for the use of an exhaustive concordance with a Hebrew/Greek to English dictionary, not to mention suggestions for other study helps such as lexicons, dictionaries of theology and exegesis, etc., necessity sent me to my computer. Holy smoke! I knew my Logos for Mac had a lot in it, but I didn't have a clue how I should be using it. Now I'm smacking myself in the head and saying, Duh! It's like having a top of the line computer and never using it for anything except to use the built-in calculator to add and subtract. What a waste of technology and resources!

But why waste time with woulda, coulda, shoulda when I can spend it instead doing an exegetical study of one of my favorite verses of the Bible.

~robin

PS The new Logos 4 has released in the Windows version and will soon be coming to the Mac. If you like to go deeper in your study, you can't go wrong with Logos.

May we always remember and be thankful

To all the Veterans out there, thank you.

I hope you vets know how grateful so many Americans are for your service, past and present and future. I pray that this Veteran's Day will be a blessing to you.

When I was at Curves this morning, one lady told me she'd had a foreign exchange student (forget from what country) living with her family who had never heard of the Holocaust. That really grieved my heart. It is so much easier to repeat such horrors when we keep young people ignorant of what has happened in the past. History is so important. And is equally important that we reject revisionist history.

I wrote my 2005 novel, The Victory Club, as a way of saying "Thanks" to those who serve and to their family members who are left behind to carry on without them. I hear from readers on a regular basis about this book, and it never fails to elicit stories from the past, from when the reader served or when the reader's spouse served or when the reader's parent served. I treasure the stories they share with me.

In my 1999 release, Whispers From Yesterday (the 2000 winner of the Christy Award which is now available for the Kindle), I wanted to pay tribute to the people of Denmark who rescued 90% of the Jews living in that country, spiriting them away before the Nazis could send them to death camps. By contrast, 90% of the Jews living in other countries were murdered by the Nazis.

I pray for the absence of wars. I pray for safety for those who serve and protect. Until such time that God's perfect peace reigns over the earth, may we seek to bring what peace we can to our corners of the world.

~robin

The Blind Side

I just finished reading the 11/13/09 Entertainment Weekly article about Sandra Bullock's new movie, The Blind Side. I've been eagerly awaiting the release of this movie (November 20th) ever since I caught the trailer last summer. But after reading about the real life story, my interest is even greater.

The woman that Bullock plays is Leigh Anne Tuohy who, the article says, derives her certitude about right and wrong from her faith as a born-again Christian. Tuohy puts it this way: "I'm all about loving and giving, but I'm going to kick your a** if you do something you're not supposed to do."

Here's a link to the trailer.

~robin

Win a 10-lb box of Christian fiction

Want a chance to win a copy of my new release, FIT TO BE TIED? Well, here it is. FIT TO BE TIED will be among the books being given away by Chapter-a-Week. Here's the information:

Christmas is just around the corner! So Chapter-a-Week is giving away another ten-pound box of autographed Chapter-a-Week books to one Chapter-a-Week member (to join, follow this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChapteraWeek/join). If you get a friend to sign up (and they mention your name in their email) you'll be entered twice! The more friends you sign up the more times you'll be entered!

Simply join, if you aren't already a member, then send an email with "Chapter-a-Week Christmas Giveaway" in the subject line to cawcontest@gmail.com and you'll be entered in the drawing. The winner's name will be drawn on November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving so the books will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas!

Get your entries in and be sure to tell your friends to sign up for Chapter-a-Week!

To qualify, the return email address must be on the Chapter-a-Week membership list. Continental U. S. residents only, please. Industry professionals should refrain from entering, and though the authors love for you to share their books with your friends, these books are not for resale.

Thanks and happy reading!
Your friends at Chapter-a-Week

So what are you waiting for? Join Chapter-a-Week today and then send your email.

~robin

Things Novelists Do While Their Novels Remain ... Unwritten

In honor of all the writers participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), here's our take on things we can do to procrastinate. However, despite all that procrastination, the authors in this video still manage to get a book written every now and then. Actually, we've written 200+ books to date. We invite you to drop by our web sites (see below video) to learn more about us and our books. In the meantime, have a little chuckle on us.

Angela Hunt

Robin Lee Hatcher

Kristin Billerbeck

Terri Blackstock

~robin

Fit To Be Tied gets a Starred Review

Is it okay if I get a little excited over something? I received some great news today. My latest book, Fit To Be Tied, got a starred review from The Library Journal (those starred reviews are hard to come by!). I can't help but be excited about it because I wanted so badly to give Cleo Arlington the story she deserved. I just love her. And I fell in love with Sherwood Statham too and wanted readers to feel the same way about him. Wanting something so much also brings with it a bit of fear that I didn't accomplish all that I wanted to. To read a review like this one is sweet, indeed.

Here's the review:

Hatcher, Robin Lee. Fit To Be Tied. Zondervan. (Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Bk. 2). Nov. 2009. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-310-25806-3. pap. $14.99. CF

In 1916 Idaho, Cleo Arlington is an expert rancher and horsewoman but not exactly high society's idea of a gentle lady. When she is commissioned to turn British aristocrat Sherwood Statham into an authentic cowboy, Cleo has to contend with her lack of knowledge of the opposite sex as well as her growing attraction to Sherwood. In turn, Sherwood is disconcerted by the beautiful, if unladylike, Cleo. VERDICT A master of lively historical romances, Hatcher (Catching Katie; Speak To Me of Love) demonstrates an expert ability to craft spunky, unlikely heroines who go against the tide of the times in which they live, making for fun, exciting stories. She also pays close attention to historical detail. This second series entry (after A Vote of Confidence) is highly recommended for readers of inspirational and historical romances and women's fiction.

I don't have a favorite book among those I've written. Each one is a favorite for a different reason. But I do have some favorite characters and Cleo and Sherwood are among them. For a little more about these two characters, here are a couple of "spotlights" that posted this week on other blogs:

Faith and Fiction on Fire

Relz Reviewz

~robin

Visit Your Favorite Novelists' Homes for Christmas

Okay, you won't really be coming to our homes. But via the wonders of video, you can get a glimpse. Come join the tour, beginning December 15th.

Oh, man. I feel the sudden urge to bake Christmas cookies.

~robin

Rent a Puppy

Isn't it a shame that sometimes the cutest or funniest thing on TV is a whiskey commercial? You may have already seen this, but just in case, I have to share. Even if you don't think guys would do this, the puppies will make you go "Awwww."

Altogether now ... Awwwwww.

~robin

World's Scariest License Plate

This photo came to me this morning with a note that said: "I might try to pass her but I sure wouldn't honk my horn." ROFLOL!!!!!!

 

~robin

Social Media Revolution

This is a fascinating video about the social media revolution. Wow!

A bit of an eyeopener, isn't it? Well maybe not if you're reading this blog.

~robin