“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” — Jeremiah 29:11 The Message
Author: Betty Owens
Christian writer of historical fiction and general fiction.
Cara Putman – Authorview
Welcome to Authorview, Cara Putman, author, teacher, lawyer…among other things. How does she do it all? I am especially grateful to this oh-so-busy woman for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope you enjoy her interview and follow through by discovering who she is–as a writer, and a Christian. See her links below.
 |
| Cara Putnam |
I am a…Crazy woman. I homeschool, write books, teach graduate classes at a Big Ten university, and practice a little law.
You would like me when I’m…Reading a good book because it puts me in a good frame of mind.
You wouldn’t like me when I’m…Tired. The world just gets harder then.
What qualities I like to see in others: A heart that is quick to see the needs of others.
Favorite way to spend an evening: With my family watching a good movie or playing games.
Who I love to spend an evening with: My husband or a group of girlfriends.
Am reading (or want to read): The Secret of Pembrooke Parkby Julie Klassen and Unbroken.
If I had a hammer…I’d build our unfinished basement.
My favorite genre is: Romantic suspense or legal suspense. I love a good page-turner.
My work-in-progress: A Legal suspense
My favorite food is: Italian, Mexican Yummy!
I’m a collector of: Books. I give dozens away a year, but I always seem to have more!
My favorite happily-ever-after: The romance Jesus has with each of us.
Cara C. Putman, the award-winning author of 19 books, graduated high school at 16, college at 20, and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a lecturer on business and employment law to graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and is a second-generation homeschooling mom. Putman is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration at Krannert. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/caraputman
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/caraputman
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CaraPutman
Desperate to save her dying mother, an American woman accepts her newspaper’s assignment to travel to Italy where she takes photographs dangerously close to the front lines during World War II. But Rachel’s real motive in this journey is to find the father she never knew, an artist she hopes can offer the comfort and support both she and her mother need to survive at such a desperate time.
In her quest, Rachel becomes involved with what will become the Monuments Men effort to save great monuments and works of art from the Third Reich. Soon enough she will find more than she ever imagined–in war, in love, and in God.
 |
| USA Today Review |
Flood, Fire, and Loss
Until this past week, I’d never heard of a six-alarm fire.
 |
| Fire at General Electric, Louisville, KY 4-3-2015 |
(Photos contributed by Leah Hamilton Cook)
Louisville, Kentucky residents had an eventful first few days of April. It’s usually pretty quiet as we wind down from winter, celebrate Easter, get ready for the Derby festivities. Our news photographs usually include the incredible hats of every color and design–the beautiful thoroughbreds arriving at Churchill Downs, and tulips swaying in the breeze.
But this year is…a little different.
On the morning of April 3rd, President Obama arrived in Louisville. Soon afterwards, we were hit by massive flooding–and in the midst of the floods–a huge building at General Electric burned to the ground. Top that off with Kentucky’s bone-jarring loss to Wisconsin in the Final Four, and you could use the word “devastation.”
If you’re interested, click this link for some pretty amazing photos of the flooding.
 |
| GE Fire, 4-3-2015 by LHC |
Coincidence?
It has been hinted at. Personally, I’m glad the president got out when he did, and was safe while here.
Over where I live, it was unhealthy to go outside. The smoke was so heavy from the fire at GE, it looked like dense fog, but smelled much worse. The heavy rain kept it close to the ground.
(Click here for some additional photos at WSJ)
 |
| GE Fire, 4-3-2015 by LHC |
But the rain finally cleared, leaving in its wake, swollen streams, rivers, and drainage ditches. There were homes lost to flooding, numerous water rescues, and even bridges and highways washed out. Much of Waterfront Park (the site of many of our Derby activities) was under water.
In the next few days, we would begin to see what it’s going to take to recover.
And many GE employees are getting an unexpected Spring break. Not only is it unsafe for them to return to work, but many of the parts they need to build their products burned up in the fire.
On top of all this, my husband is in mourning because his favorite team lost in the Final Four. After an amazing perfect season, the team that just couldn’t seem to lose, lost. His heart is broken. But he will recover. I’m glad not to have to watch the game tonight. I really don’t care who wins. It doesn’t matter, because Kentucky lost.
I’m proud of our University of Kentucky Wildcats. May the lessons learned this awesome season stay with you and serve you well in the coming years.
Louisville is resilient. We have bounced back from many disasters. Epic floods and tornadoes. By Derby Day, (barring another flood or tornado or devastating fire) I expect the cleanup will be complete enough to continue their usual activities. The ladies will don their beautiful hats, the thoroughbreds will prance and strut their stuff. And if the Ohio River drops to a safer level, the steamboats will race.
And Spring will truly have arrived in Louisville, Kentucky.
Woman, Why Do You Weep?
By Lynn Mosher
In the chilly dampness of the early morning hours, a woman gropes her way through the dark city streets of Jerusalem. Carrying only a small oil lamp to light her way, Mary Magdalene is joined by Joanna, Salome, and Mary, the mother of James. Leaving the city, they wend their way to the dew-moistened garden where Jesus had been buried.
Dressed in their mourning apparel and blurry-eyed from their tears of grief, they enter the garden of the tomb, carrying the spices to anoint Jesus’ body.
The first glints of sunlight peek over the horizon as they approach the tomb. Suddenly, the ground shakes violently as an angel appears and rolls back the large stone covering the tomb’s entrance.
The angel says, “Do not be afraid; Jesus is not here. He is risen! Go and tell the others.”
Terrified, Mary Magdalene rushes to get Peter and John and returns with them to the tomb. With their hearts pounding in fear and lungs struggling for air, the men enter the tomb and frantically survey the surroundings until their eyes turn to the stone slab, where only the death cloths lay.
Seeing that the body of Jesus is not there, the disciples rush back to tell the others.
While the other women wait outside the tomb, Mary Magdalene stoops down to look inside. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she turns to leave and encounters a man, who asks, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
Assuming him to be the gardener, “‘Sir,’ she asks, ‘if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.’” (John 20:15 NLT)
“Mary,” He whispers compassionately.
Recognizing a familiar voice, she gasps, “Rabboni!” and falls at His feet in worship.
I have been a Mary Magdalene. . .a follower of the Lord yet not being able to find Him. I wandered around for relentless hours, with stinging tears spilling down my cheeks, weeping in pain, sorrow, and loss. I searched the tomb of the world and found it emptied of dreams, hopes, and purposes.
My restoration came when I realized my Savior stood beside me all along, compassionately whispering my name. When I heard His loving voice, I fell at His feet in worship.
Have you ever been a Mary Magdalene? Do you weep over loss of dreams, hopes, or purposes? Pain, sorrow, or circumstance? Do you stand at the tomb, wearing the grave clothes of mourning, wondering where Jesus is?
Just as Mary Magdalene met Christ in an unexpected way, so your Easter experience comes to you in your hour of despair. Jesus will be there beside you to comfort you, compassionately whispering your name and asking, “Why do you weep? Whom do you seek?”
Jesus always brings you hope of resurrection as on that first Easter morn. He comes to lift you up, to wipe away your tears, to release you from your pain, to remove your grave clothes of fear and depression.
Jesus says to you, “Do not wear the grave-clothes stained with the tears of grief. Come into My garden of beauty and I will give you the robe of Easter’s resurrection gladness. Take My Hand and let Me lead you along the path to life everlasting. I gave My life that you might live eternally with Me.”
He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NKJV)
Do you believe this? Then, weep no more! Fall at His feet and worship Him!
May you know the power of Christ’s Resurrection Life in a deeper way this Easter season.
Betty Thomason Owens 