Living - and Writing - as a Revolutionary (+ a Giveaway!)

Welcoming author Alicia G. Ruggieri on the blog today with a guest blog post--"Living- and Writing- as a Revolutionary." Make sure to enter the GIVEAWAY at the end of her post--This is a wonderful opportunity to win one of two paperback copies of Alicia's latest novel, The Fragrance of Geraniums--a Depression-era story of brokenness and grace.  

By Alicia G. Ruggieri

“If it’s Christian, it should be better than the world’s stuff.”

My eldest sister’s offhand comment has stayed with me for years now. I’m reminded of it every time I walk into a Christian bookstore and see and hear “Christian” books and music and artwork.

Some of it is well-done – glorifying to God – crafted and presented with care.

Most of it? Just a copy of what the world has already does – but cleaned up a little, made palatable for a more sin-sensitive palate. Made more “conservative.” Not necessarily more Christian. Not necessarily even better. Not exuding the sense that it was created for the King to show His beauty.

I’m reminded of her comment every time I think about cutting corners, consider taking an easier but less productive research route, or debate whether my book’s draft really needs another round of edits.

And I recall Francis Schaeffer’s remark: that authentic Christianity isn't, at its root, conservative at all.

It’s revolutionary.

And what does revolutionary mean?

Something that has a sudden, major impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.

Something unusual.

Something out of the ordinary.

Something more than common stuff.

And no, I’m not saying that a Christian must achieve perfection in their art or their music or their writing. But I am saying, once again with Schaeffer, that, “Increasingly, I believe that after we are saved, we have only one calling, and that is to show forth the existence and character of God.”

And His character is not one of settling, but one of intense and eternal creativity. One of continual redemption. One of “making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) Every sunset that His hand spins out comes forth new-born and original. Every soul that He saves has its own unique story to tell of His redemption – and that redemption reveals an aspect of His character previously unnoticed.

I pray that my writing – as my calling at this point in the life God has given to me – has that as its point: to create what is truly good for the nourishment of humankind’s souls; to show the redemptive thread that passes through all lives; to point to the One who promises us to “make all things new.”

What about you? Not everyone is called to be a writer or a poet or an artist, but everyone is called to create and to express the surpassing beauty of the Fairest of Ten Thousands, to preach the Gospel in some way – and if necessary, to use words, as Francis of Assisi tells us. Do you “settle”? Or are you embracing your truest calling within the role God has given you – that of showing forth the existence and glorious character of God in your everyday life and work?


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You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Yes They Are All Ours, Missional Call, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Messy Marriage, My Teacher's Name is Mama, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The HomeAcre Hop

An Interview with Author Alicia G. Ruggieri

I'm thrilled to interview Alicia G. Ruggieri on the blog today. :-) Alicia is the author of The House of Mercy, an exhilarating story of hope and redemption set in Arthurian Britain (you can read my review of that book here) and most recently, The Fragrance of Geraniums, a 1930's novel whose plot and storyline are masterfully woven together and so beautifully illustrate and magnify the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father through brokenness and pain.  

Alicia's writing always challenges me to know and love the Lord more deeply, to embrace the sorrows that He sends with the assurance of His Father-love, and to set my hope more firmly upon Him. 

Now, without further ado, :-)

An Interview With Alicia G. Ruggieri

A fourth-generation New England native, Alicia G. Ruggieri writes stories about the possibility of redemption for all things through the Cross and the cost of true mercy. With a degree in Communications and History, Alicia loves spending her days researching, writing, and caring for her family, and she avows that every life would be enriched through the addition of just one more dog.

When did you begin writing?

Well, the first thing I remember writing was a sequel to the original Little Mermaid. I was so disappointed that Ariel had left her entire family to choose a sea-less life! I think that I was around six or so. I've written since then. Thankfully, my subject matter has matured!

What was your inspiration/motivation to become a writer?

Books - good ones - were an integral part of my childhood and young adulthood. So, I suppose, writing stories was as natural to me as breathing. As a result of reading almost every day of my life, I've come to see nearly everything that I observe as part of a story. And I love the idea that everyone has a story and is part of the Great Story that God is writing. I'm not sure that there was ever a time when I decided to become a writer; but there was a time when I knew that God desired that I put concentrated effort into my fiction writing so that others could benefit from it.

What overall message do you want to send your readers through your writing?

A theme that travels through most - or even all - of my writing is that, through the Cross, all things can be redeemed: even the most ghastly sorrow, the most wretched circumstance. All can and will be made well - made right - by the Lord Christ, the one who crushed the Serpent's head. And that we, His children, can trust Him to do right.

How does your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ influence/impact your writing?

For me, I see this world as a shadow, as something passing away to make way for the Real Kingdom. Gradually, that has led to a stronger focus on the spiritual - not in a preachy way - but in a way that, I hope, emphasizes that Real World and makes us understand better the solidity of the Gospel and its application to all of life, and not only to our moment of salvation.

What authors, past or present have had an impact upon your writing? In what way?

Wow, what a question! There are so many, from Gertrude Chandler Warner with The Boxcar Children series that I read so often as a child; to C.S. Lewis, whose 'Til We Have Faces revolutionized my thinking about Greek mythology; to George MacDonald, Oswald Chambers, and John Piper, whose theological writings have provided stones upon which to build from the foundation of Scripture. I also love different aspects of Louisa May Alcott, the Brontes, Jane Austen, George Elliot, and others.

What other activities do you enjoy, besides writing?

Drinking coffee. Taking walks in the woods. Playing with my nieces and nephews. Eating cannolis (If you've never had one, you've not lived.). Hymn-sings and prayer meetings. Laundry (Yes, I actually enjoy it!). Oh, and of course, reading!

My Review of Alicia's Novel:

The Fragrance of Geraniums is a beautiful, breathtaking, thought-provoking work of fiction. Alicia weaves together a dramatic story of sorrow and loss, and of redemption and grace through her character's pain and brokenness. Without being overly-sentimental, Alicia paints a poignant canvass whose dark undertones ultimately serve to emphasize the radiant, glorious, grace-imparting strokes of light and restoration, as a sunrise is illuminated by the darkness from which it rises. 

This is a heartbreaking story. Be prepared to taste the sorrow of Grace's family situation, to cry with Emmeline as she faces the prospect of a lifetime of barrenness, and to sympathize with Sarah, whose failing marriage leaves her broken, bitter, and hungry for something deeper than the lifeless religion that she has always known. 

And then be prepared to rejoice--rejoice in the unexpected twists and turns that the Lord's great mercy takes in the lives and hearts of these three women. 

This is a difficult book to put down; completely engrossing, the conclusion actually left me quite stunned. The way in which Alicia illustrates through her story the workings of the Lord's hand in each of her character's lives is masterful and utterly satisfying to me as a reader and as a Christian. 

Through Alicia's book, the reader is led to the conclusion that no matter what difficult, painful circumstances are seemingly hurled into our lives or gently placed there by a loving Heavenly Father, He is good--and that He is working all things together for His people who love Him. 

I also enjoyed the subtle, though not overt or distracting, romantic element to the book, and the delightful way in which the main character's friend and admirer, Paulie Giorgi illustrates the love and gentleness of Christ in how he relates to and interacts with Grace. 

So pick up a copy of the book, settle down with a cup of coffee or tea, and be prepared for your heart and mind to be deeply moved.  

This novel would also make a wonderful Christmas gift.


You can purchase The Fragrance of Geraniums on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/aliciagruggieri

Available on Kindle and in paperback.

Visit Alicia's blog: http://www.abrighterdestiny.blogspot.com
Follow Alicia on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AliciaGRuggieri
Find Alicia on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AliciaGRuggieri
And on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AliciaRuggieri




You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Yes They Are All Ours, Missional Call, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Time Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, So Much at Home, Raising Homemakers, Hope in Every Season, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries, Whole-Hearted Home, A Soft Gentle Voice, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Messy Marriage, My Teacher's Name is Mama, The Charm of Home, Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Mittenstate Sheep and Wool, Imparting Grace, Preparedness Mama, A Look at the Book, Essential Thing Devotions, Count My Blessings, Beauty Observed, Christian Mommy Blogger, Renewed Daily, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays

Alicia G. Ruggieri's The Fragrance of Geraniums COVER REVEAL!

Look forward to an interview with Alicia on the blog, Thursday, November 13th.