Masquerade (39 page)

I had no choice in the abortion. My body simply and horribly rejected my child. I not only grieved over my loss, but for all the babies who had been aborted by choice. And for all the mothers who had been duped into thinking that their babies were merely globs of tissue, easily discarded.

In 1985, the unthinkable happened. I lost another baby, a little girl—Allison Marie—again at four months gestation. My doctor determined that my uterus, which is supposed to be shaped like a pear, is actually shaped like a heart. David and Allison attached to the crook in the heart (a weak place) and at a certain size automatically detached, inducing labor and subsequent delivery. 

What do you hope will stay with readers long after they’ve read the book?

I want readers to know that God delights in making something beautiful out of the ugly circumstances of our lives. Whether it’s an abortion attempt like Celeste encountered or a serious, debilitating accident as in Joe’s case, God can use human tragedy to draw us close and move us into relationship with Him. I also want readers to know that often in the “letting go,” we can discover God’s

love in deeper ways.

Who do you hope to touch through
Masquerade
?

First of all, I want to touch readers who have in some way been affected by abortion. I want them to know that no matter the guilt or grief they carry, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Wounded Healer, stands ready to cover them with His healing and forgiveness (Isaiah 53). Secondly, I want readers who have not experienced abortion to show both truth and grace toward those who have.

How can readers reach out to a woman with an unplanned pregnancy?

Supporting and/or volunteering at your local crisis pregnancy center are two ways a concerned person can get involved. In fact, a portion of proceeds from
Masquerade
goes to support my hometown agency, Blue Ridge Women’s Center. Their website
www.blueridgewoman.org
details who they are and what they do to help women.

“Blue Ridge Women's Center
improves the well-being of women and their families through a Christian medical clinic specializing in unplanned pregnancy, relationships, and reproductive health. We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a local board of directors and funded by generous community support. Since we opened in 1984, we've been able to serve more than 15,000 women—all completely free of charge.

“Our all-female clinic staff
is dedicated to providing quality care to the women of our community regardless of their age, race, religion, income level, or circumstances. Approximately 30 volunteers—including physicians, sonographers, nurses, other professionals, and trained consultants—donate their time to serve our clients directly, while many others work with our administrative staff behind the scenes or help to raise the funds we need to provide quality services at no cost to you.” (Information retrieved April 24, 2012)

Now for a few personal questions. When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? And why?

Words have always held a fascination for me. This was true for my mother as well. Whenever she heard a new word, she ran for the dictionary. Her love became my own.

I think writing has always been a part of my life from the time I was a little girl. I used to make up characters as I walked to school. English was my favorite subject, and I was often praised for my papers. You could sometimes find me crafting a tale for any neighborhood child who would listen. 

While I invested in writing (stories, dramas, poetry, journaling) throughout my life, I didn’t pursue the occupation professionally until 17 years ago when my husband,    Chuck,   encouraged   me   to   put  a   syllabus

together for the marriage seminar we conduct. I decided to go for a book. I was hooked, and that effort led to several more nonfiction, self-published books and then on to a byline in multiple periodicals. Later, OakTara picked up my first novel,
Journey to Judah
, which developed into the Born for India trilogy.

I write because I have to. The Lord puts a message on my heart that I have to get down on paper. A big part of writing for me is processing my life, my experiences, my healing journey, His provision, Scriptures, and the fascinating lives of others around me.

Did you enjoy reading as a child?

Ah, yes. I loved to browse the stacks of my small, hometown library and breathe in the musty smell of old books. I’d often find a sunny spot on the floor and follow Nancy Drew as she uncovered a mystery. On snowy days, I’d curl up in bed, vicariously taking a trip to the attic with Alcott’s Little Women. Horse stories held great fascination for me as well.

What does a typical work-day look like for you?

Someone once asked a mother of five, “Which child is your favorite?” The mother said, “The child who is sick or needy.”

In some ways, that’s true of my work day.  Typically, I de-

vote equal amounts of time to several pursuits: researching, writing, marketing, teaching, and speaking. However, if one of those babies is in critical need—as in a deadline to meet or my creative juices are particularly flowing in a certain area—I will devote more attention to that baby.

How long does it take you to write a novel?

If I’m able to devote at least three hours a day, three – four days a week to writing, I can complete a first draft in anywhere from four – eight months. Of course, then comes the rewriting and critiquing by others. All told, a novel might stay in my hands as long as two years before editing and publication are complete. Even after publication, I still find areas that need further work. Writing is a craft which requires continual study and growth.

How do you create your characters?

I’m smiling at this question, because many of my characters are composites of people I have encountered over 60 years of life. In creating them, I often revisit both positive and negative relationships. This can bring both joy and angst. Thus, writing is not always easy from an emotional standpoint.

Typically, I open a blank computer screen or a notebook page  and  start  a  character  profile. For each character I

assign a name. Names are fun for me and usually come fairly easily. Then I describe the character in several areas: physique, career, personality, goals, hobbies, quirks, fears, habits, virtues, vices, family background, current family life, spiritual life, likes, dislikes, music preferences, foods. In short, I cover as many different areas as I can think of, including inner and outer motivations/goals, because the more I know about my character, the more detail will show up in the novel. This will set him apart from the other characters in the story.

~~

A Final Word from the Author

Dear Readers,
would you do me a favor? Now that you’ve finished the book, post a brief review on Amazon and/or other sites. Thanks so much for helping me spread the word about this book!

If this book has touched you in some way, would you let me know?

Leave a comment at

https://www.facebook.com/EileenRifeBooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eileen Rife is a veteran homeschool mom and multi-published author of both fiction and nonfiction. Her byline has appeared in numerous magazines, including
Marriage Partnership, Light & Life, Mature Living, On Mission, Discipleship Journal,
and
Christian Home & School.
She and her husband, Chuck, conduct marriage seminars and speak on a variety of topics for church groups and organizations internationally.

Visit Eileen at
www.eileenrife.com
,
www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com
,
www.guardyourmarriage.com
.

Check out her other titles at
www.amazon.com/author/eileenrife