Within the first year of moving from Florida to Ohio in 2014, I happened* to read about a writers’ group that met at a church not far from our home. It’s been my privilege to meet with these talented folks twice a month ever since. Among us are a few bloggers, several poets and short-story writers, a filmmaker, and four who are working on novels.
One of those novelists is Colleen Scheid whose third book was published this spring: Someone They Can Trust (available on Amazon.com).
The three main characters—Maya, Matt, and Janice—are members of the same church and participate in the same small group. Though diverse in age, race, and background, these people become extended family for one another. Colleen shows us through story how such meaningful relationships can be built.
What she doesn’t do is paint a perfect picture of perfect people. Maya, Matt, and Janice are each dealing with their own difficulties and fighting their own spiritual battles. Their struggles and imperfections, however, make them believable, and very quickly the reader cares about each one and how they might find release from what troubles them.
One over-arching problem faces them all: their new pastor is not what they’d thought him to be. Matt and Janice are among the first to notice he seems a bit too charming and even manipulative.
And yet there are those within the church, even among the leadership, who think he’s wonderful. Given what Matt and Janice (and eventually Maya) discover, they must determine the best way forward for the sake of their beloved church.
Along with the intriguing plot, I also appreciated these aspects of Colleen’s book: the unique urban setting, the well-developed characters and the relational dynamics among them, the pleasure of three points-of-view instead of just one or two, and Colleen’s delightful, descriptive writing style.
Here are a few examples of that style.
[When Maya, an artist, is sketching swans]: “. . . she could rely on a delicious slip into a serene, joyful state. It seems to her that the Creator was letting her in on secrets, free to anyone who paid attention” (p. 2).
“Maya could tell that the yard was landscaped by professionals. Impressive stone stairs angled up through three terraces with walls of the same stone, containing well-behaved plants that bloomed purple, pink, or white” (p. 113).
[When worship leader, Matt, arrives at church one Sunday morning]: “Matt . . . found himself dragging his feet in the parking lot. It felt like the wind had changed. His enthusiasm used to sweep him into the building; now reluctance sucked him back” (p. 157).
Colleen writes on her About-the-Author page that her love of realistic stories set in real locations is an outgrowth of her journalism degree. Her interest in the interior worlds of her characters stems from a master’s degree in counseling. I would add that her years of performing with a Christian theater company have also fine-tuned her expression of character.
Colleen Scheid
And all three of these areas of interest and expertise contribute to the authenticity of Colleen’s story—a story to enjoy and learn from.
P.S. You might also like to celebrate Christmas in July with her collection of delightful stories for the season: Christmas on Pleasant Hill. You can access a review of this book here: https://nancyaruegg.com/2016/11/17/christmas-on-pleasant-hill/.
*Those of you who regularly read my posts know that I don’t believe so much in coincidence as I do in God-incidents. My introduction to this writers’ group is a prime example.
Photo credits: office scene, http://www.pxfuel.com. All others used by permission from Colleen Sheid.
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I enjoyed that, Nancy. I too, have dabbled in writing over the years. Nothing professional; but I do enjoy it. I would have loved to have had a group, like you mention, who write together. The little “taste” of Colleen’s book is intriguing. I like books with deep characters. I just might have to check further into the book.
Thank you and God Bless
Shelley
I think you’ll find the story compelling, Shelley, as I did!
Thanks Nancy, sounds really intriguing. Wonder if us in audible book form. Thanks for the heads up. Yes, I do like Christmas in July. I was at the bank and I asked them, where the Christmas tree. I said tomorrow’s July. My tree is up, of course it never came down. Hope you guys are well and enjoying the summer on the deck 😎.
Nothing audible yet, but maybe in the future!
Wow, Sam–you really DO celebrate Christmas in July! Fix some Christmas tea, turn on the tree, play carols on your favorite device, and read Colleen’s stories. You’ll feel like it’s December!
As a novelist myself, I’m so glad that you’ve introduced us to Colleen. I’m looking forward to ordering and reading her books. Great for any summer reading list!
Blessings!
I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy it, Martha!
Thank you for this excellent review, and for introducing us to Colleen. I agree with you about the God-incidents! I am happy for you that you found such a wonderful group of writers!!! I am also happy that I found your blog! 🙂
Oh, thank you, Linda. The feeling is mutual! I’m so grateful for my blogging sisters in Christ–like you!
Absolutely beautiful, Nancy. What a wonderful opportunities to gather with other like minded people
Thank you, Brenda. It HAS been wonderful to become acquainted with these writer-friends!
Thank you for introducing us to your group! It is so amazing the way God had this all planned out for you after moving to Ohio. A God-Incident for sure!
Agreed, Cheri! To expand on that part of the post: We were church-shopping at the time. Out of all we visited, only one had an announcement in their bulletin about a writers’ group. (I hadn’t even been praying to find one!) And though that church did not become our “home,” I’ve continued to be part of this ecumenical group.
I love your comment – “I don’t believe so much in coincidence as I do in God-incidents.” Thanks for sharing this writer – I’ll have to check it out.
I’m so glad you’re considering Colleen’s book, Barb!
What a blessing to find a wonderful Christian writing group! Thank you for the introduction to Colleen and the excerpts you have shared are lovely.
As I recall, one of the characters is a clever, creative guy who says clever, creative things–another aspect of the book you’ll enjoy, Deb!
Nancy, your steady and encouraging support has given me confidence and motivation to keep writing. It can be lonely, committing to our imaginary worlds, and to know that someone wants to read the results means the world. I’m so grateful to you!
Hallelujah that my encouraging support keeps you writing, Colleen! 😁 Does that mean you’re working on a sequel to this novel, or will be shortly?!
Reblogged this on Colleen Scheid and commented:
Thousands of thanks to devotional blogger, Nancy Ruegg, for this lovely review:
So glad you found that group and what an interesting book that sounds like. I bet lots of readers will like it too.
I think they will, Jean!
So you moved to Ohio and found a writer’s group? Hmm…I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life. I’ve never thought to join a writer’s group, but your group sounds terrific. And so does Colleen’s book! Thanks, Nancy.
I’d say God found this writers’ group for me since I wasn’t even looking! They ARE terrific people, offering wise suggestions and lots of encouragement! / I think you’d enjoy Colleen’s book, Nancy.
Nancy, thank you for introducing me to Colleen. Her novel sounds intriguing and I need to place it on my TBR list. Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July!
First, you’re welcome for the intro to Colleen, and then thank you for the well-wishes for our upcoming national birthday celebration. The same to you, my friend!
Nancy, what a lovely tribute to a fellow writer and her work. (I love the swan quote.) Your beckoning website and posts are an open pantry brimming with nourishment!
Thank you, Laurie; I like that image! It’s been a wonderful adventure, these ten-plus years of blogging, to stock the shelves with a variety of posts!
oh I love that you’ve found a writing group. what a gift you each must be to the other, Nancy.
They’ve certainly been a gift to ME, Linda!
Nancy, how wonderful that you are a part of such a diverse writing group! Colleen’s book sounds intriguing. Stories with realistic—fun and flawed—characters resonate with me. Thanks for sharing this review!
You’re welcome, Jeanne. And you’re right: it IS wonderful to be a part of such a diverse writing group. They are another blessing God has provided, without me even asking!
Reblogged this on Mitch Teemley and commented:
My Featured Blogger this week is Nancy Ruegg of From the Inside Out. In the interest of full disclosure (and becasue I wanted to use the word “disclosure”), I should tell you that Nancy and I have been good friends and members of the same writers group for nearly a decade. And furthermore that her excellent post (below) is a review an excellent new book by another writer I have known even longer, Colleen Scheid, one of the co-founders of said writer’s group above. However, I will not recuse myself therefore (see how I slipped in another impressive legal word there?) of featuring both of them herein. Why? Because they’re both talented writers and worthy of being featured! So sue me. ~Mitch
I’m honored you found my review of Colleen’s book to be worthy of reposting at your blog, Mitch. Thank you!
I enjoyed this review! Someone They Can Trust sounds like an awesome, engaging read. Congrats to Scheid!
I found Colleen’s book to be very engaging, Vera. I expect you will too!
Nancy; I am so glad Mitch featured you in his blog! I have been wanting to follow you and now I am. What a great group you have connected with. This is exactly what I am looking for – but so far have not found – in Fort Collins. Many blessings to you, Colleen, Mitch and the whole gang.
Thank you, Russell, for the blessings sent our way and for becoming a follower of my blog. I am honored, Russell!
Nancy, I enjoyed reading this post. It’s always a blessing to breathe in the witness shared from a Christian writer. God’s peace from one Buckeye to another.
Thank you, Richard!
[…] Nancy Ruegg and Mitch Teemley from my writer’s group both posted this review of my latest novel. Nancy wrote it and then Mitch reposted it on his blog. I ‘m so very grateful to both of them. The writing journey is lonely until you gather a community around yourself, and these two have been precious: Their blogs are well worth checking out. […]