 My guests this week are Lisa Lickel and her character Tessa from A Summer in Oakville. First, Lisa shares how she came to know the Lord.Lisa: I was fifteen years old – the summer, when I had my first
encounter with Jesus. Until then I recognized God but as I was challenged to
read Scripture in a church that had some truly messed-up people in it, I felt
that Jesus wasn’t humble enough for me. Interesting take on the Gospels, but
that was what I took away from the stories. At my third summer church camp I
met adults whom I respected – who not only knew what they were talking about,
but lived it and truly believed. I came home, prayed, and gave my heart over to
living my faith. Not perfectly—never that, but on the right side. Later, I
attended a high school faith group and was baptized in the Spirit. As I grow in
Him, I find it easier to surrender more of what I don’t need to be. I suspect
that will be a life-long work in progress.
Becky: Thank you, Lisa. Now I'd like to ask Tessa, your main character in A Summer in Oakville, a couple of questions. Tessa, I'm wondering if there's ever been a time in your life when you experienced deep disappointment. Has a precious dream of yours ever shattered before your eyes? Tessa: My husband Phil decided that everything we’d built together wasn’t good
enough. Representing the entire Midwest for the
implement company wasn’t good enough. Maybe, deep down inside, I wondered if I
wasn’t good enough. He took a silly new position – national rep – and when I
wouldn’t move, he went anyway. All the way across the country. He knew I’d never
leave home. And especially now that my parents are older and need me. How can
he think I’d just pick up and move?
I only ever wanted to be proud of him, what we’d
accomplished. I don’t need anything else. Becky: In time, were you able to see
God’s hand in ? Tessa: Well, that twenty-twenty hindsight comes in
handy. When I realized that my pride was bigger than his ego, I was blindsided.
Having Josh come back into my life like that made me realize that I never
needed anything but Phil. And I know, it sort of looks like he came crawling
back to me, but it wasn’t that way at all. Watching my brother and my darling
daughter struggle this summer, and talking to Pastor like I never had before,
praying and leaning on the everlasting arms suddenly made sense. It’s like, I’d
always believed, but when you have such a crisis that everything you thought
was your solid ground gets yanked away and you feel like Wil. E. Coyote out
over the cliff with that “bye bye” sign, you got nothing but what you believe
in to hold you up. And if that belief isn’t solid faith, you’re a goner. Becky: Did anything good--or even
better than you’d dared hope--come out of that disappointment?
Tessa: Sure enough. Got a renewal of vows ceremony; got
the weight of sin and secrets and maybe lies of a lifetime off my shoulders.
Got the best man in the world home and you know what else? Family is so important—much
more than you can know. When it feels like no one understands you, just wait a
few minutes. It’s like the weather in Wisconsin.
Totally unpredictable. Don’t try. Just go with the flow and don’t burn any
bridges. Even the brother you thought would never come home again will be all
right, and your best girlfriend can find herself the perfect guy. And above all
else, love never fails. Never.
 A Summer in Oakville,
by Lisa Lickel and Shellie Neumeier:
One Magical Summer in Oakville, Wisconsin,
Love Finds its Way through Four Entwined Lives. Tessa Hasmer Murphy has a secret. Estranged from her husband, will she let a past love and a fight to save the family farm destroy her marriage and daughter Lindsay’s happiness? Lindsay Murphy plans to live on her grandparents’ farm until she can find a job, but developer Brandon Calloway has other plans for the property. As she wages war against him, will she lose her heart and the farm both? Widower Arthur Hasmer’s life and that of his son, Andy, spiral out of control. Then old friend, Dana London, reenters the picture with the power to help them all back to love, joy and faith. Andy Hasmer has the ultimate bummer life. No mom, not much of a dad, no future. When he’s sent to the farm and wrecks the truck, nothing could be worse than the lousy job he takes to pay Grampa back—except maybe putting up with the pastor’s daughter, Ella. Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin Magazine and of Other Sheep, a Christian sci fi/fantasy magazine. She loves to encourage new authors. Find her at lisalickel.com. Please leave a question or comment for Lisa...or Tessa. |
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CategoriesAlice J. WislerAndrea Boeshaar, Seasons of Redemption Cinderella, life-change, Eileen Key, Christian fiction, testimony Cynthia Ruchti, Christian fiction Deb Cleveland, Man from Macedonia Eileen Key, Christian fiction Log Cabin Christmas, Liz Tolsma, Mary G. Keeley, Books & Such Literary Agency Patti Lacy, Reclaiming Lily short stories, humor Tomorrow's Sun, Romance Tomorrow's Sun. old bridges, Burlington, WI |
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