EdenThrillers

We're Back

2011-06-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

After a short hiatus, we're back with the Eden blog. B.K. is currently stationed Stateside, and Sharon is about to go to California with her trusty computer to continue writing. If any of our new readers have any questions or comments, we'll be glad to address them in the days to come.

Godspeed,
Sharon and B.K.

Tell us about YOUR vision of Eden

2009-08-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

If you were to wake up one morning in Eden, what would you expect to find? What do you think might surprise you? What would be your favorite thing?

B.K. and I are meeting in Germany next month (September 2009) to continue work on SERPENT OF EDEN, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on your version of a more perfect human society!

Proof positive that B.K. is not Jaime

2009-08-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Here they are together in the same room!

Okay, if Ms. Jolie is not your idea of Jaime, who is?

Eden Update

2009-06-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, All,

B.K. is doing well this time around (her 3rd) in Iraq. She's traveling a lot, as her Commanding General likes to get out and interact with the troops, and he usually takes her (and her chaplain assistant) along. She's 1/2 way through the deployment and already has lots of stories to tell!

We're pleased that the Russian rights have been sold to the first 3 Eden thrillers. (They've already appeared in Czech and Italian, and have been published in Great Britain and Australia.) It's fun that Russians are interested in the exploits of an American female Army chaplain. We send Jaime off as an undercover diplomat of sorts!

The one downside of B.K. being so busy in Baghdad is that we haven't had the time we've previously had during her deployments to write. I've found, in my writing life, that there are times I'm gathering life experience and information, and time I'm writing. It's cyclical. I think this is Jaime's "gathering" time. (I, Sharon, am still writing! Both a mystery and a fun new non-fiction series.)

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them here. We do check back, read, and answer! Or visit us on Facebook: Sharon (S.L.) Linnea, Author. And if it's your first time at the EdenThrillers blog, take time to scroll through. There's LOTS of info here!

Godspeed,
Sharon

Return of the Authors

2009-03-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Sorry we've been away...B.K. in Iraq, and Sharon, who finally gave in and joined FaceBook (visit her there at "Sharon (S.L.) Linnea, Author"!)

According to B.K., things are looking up over there, and hopefully not only because she's been hanging out with American Idol David Cook and the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders. (I am still trying to figure out how they will figure in Jaime's next adventure. Am taking any suggestions!)

This blog is still the best spot to find "inside" answers to any questions, and now that we've resurfaced, please feel free to ask any Eden-related questions you have! (Or, how to figure the above-pictured cheerleaders in the book!)

Godspeed,
Sharon

Happy 2009 from Gardener Central!

2009-01-01T09:48:00.001-08:00

We'd like to wish all our friends and readers the happiest of New Years. (For a little inspiration, here's the interior of Mark's entry hall in the Champagne region.)

B.K. is preparing to deploy to Iraq again in a couple of weeks. I admit I still feel the slight undercurrent of "friends and family dread" before she goes...but it the same kind of feeling as when one of my children performs alone in some sort of competition, and I can't DO anything, can't physically help in any way, just have to support from the sidelines. I think it's easier for a lot of us to be the one out there physically doing it, not just cheering others on.

But, among other things the new year will bring, B.K. and I are looking forward to working together on the next Eden book. We know how to do it long distance, we've had plenty of practice. It gives B.K. something else to think about, and it gives us a reason to be in frequent touch, and in the loop of each other's lives. Needless to say, she always gets powerful material for Jaime's exploits.

So, Godspeed to B.K., to Jaime, and to you, our readers. Let us hear from you. We'd love to know how your year is going as well.

Are the Eden Thrillers science fiction?

2008-12-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

Are the Eden Thrillers considered science fiction?--Eileen

Science fiction is probably not the term that best describes the books, as that genre relies heavily on projecting what life would be like with different or future uses of science and technology.

One of the early reviews of CHASING EDEN referred to it as "speculative/adventure" fiction, and that seems on the mark. Speculative fiction "speculates about worlds that are unlike the real word in important ways," according to Wikipedia. As Michael Allison said in his review, "In the tradition of many of the best examples of speculative/adventure fiction, CHASING EDEN makes one whopping assumption and then plays its story with a gritty realism and a breathless plot that no one will be able to put down." (We left that last part in because, heck, it was hard to take out!) It is realistic adventure fiction with a speculative twist...and if you insist on a sub-genre under the wide tent pole of speculative, I guess we'd have to go with Utopian. But we're open for discussion!

Writing Style/Characters

2008-11-25T10:18:00.000-08:00

How has your writing style evolved over the series?

B.K.: It evolved from nothing (or, more accurately, a mish-mash of writing styles useful in sermons and short articles) to what I think may work as a more flowing combination of dialogue and action that can be blended into the manuscript by Sharon. (blended in a way that it does not seem to scream: someone else wrote this!!!)

SHARON: You always hope your craft gets better and better as you get more practiced and skilled. The Eden Thrillers explore some interesting philosophical, ideological, and theological ideas--but at the core, they're written to be fun to read. As we've gone along, I think we've gotten a higher and higher quotient of the text being "the good parts"--that is, scenes and conversations that are fun to read and reread.

Some things haven't changed, though...I'm one for understatement in writing relationships...until the passion between two characters EXPLODES and then you realize you saw it coming. But our editor, Jen Enderlin, has sent me the same note on each book: "MORE YANI." And she's always right.

If you could be friends in “real life” with one character from the first three Eden books, (not counting Jaime or Yani) whom would you choose?

B.K.: Well, since Jaime stood him up, maybe I could be friends with Mark (from TREASURE), and who knows what might develop!!

SHARON: I'm married, and I'd still choose to be friends with Mark, who wouldn't? (I wonder what happened to that chilled bottle of Champagne he went to get?) But I'd also like to be friends with Jaime because I've always regretted that the action in each story is so compact and on the run that we haven't been able to give her a close female friend in whom she can confide. I think both B.K. and I know how important close friends are!

Have you learned anything unexpected or new about your co-author from her writing on the Eden Books?

B.K.: I had no idea how twisted Sharon is.

SHARON: I had no idea that B.K. had no idea how twisted I am. And I'm making some headway on being able to say the same about her. In fact, I've been purposely persuading her to do some of the more demented characters so she can't always sidestep by saying, "Oh, Sharon wrote that part!"

But seriously, I now have a much fuller picture of what an Army chaplain does. And most of the good stuff can't end up in the books.

Meet The Author--Sharon

2008-11-18T17:35:00.001-08:00

Come meet Sharon, get signed books, and start your Christmas shopping!

November 29th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Borders
Galleria Mall
Middletown, NY

Also, Sharon will be at Baby Grand Books on West Street in Warwick, New York

Sunday, November 30 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday December 7 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Stop by if you'd like a book signed and personalized!

Meet the Author--B.K.

2008-11-17T11:45:00.001-08:00

If you're anywhere near Ft. Hood, Texas, this weekend is a great time to meet B.K. Sherer and get signed books!

First,

November 20th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Market Heights
Harker Heights, TX

She'll also be at

The Clear Creek PX at Fort Hood

Saturday, November 22 at 1 p.m.

She'd love to meet you!

Sharon and B.K. brainstorming!

2008-11-09T06:59:00.000-08:00

It's the second Sunday in November, 2008. Always, before we start the actual writing of an Eden book, we try to get together in person to brainstorm. This has taken us from Lake George, New York (CHASING) to the Rhine in Germany (BEYOND) to the Champagne region of France (TREASURE)--wherever is close to B.K.'s current assignment.

We're currently at an undisclosed location here in the States. All I can tell you is that we're nowhere near the guy in the photo.

But we're back at it--and it's kind of amazing how easily we fall into spitballing and getting excited about what's to come. I think SERPENT OF EDEN is going to be a great installment. Not to put us under any pressure! If you do want a copy, be sure to send us an email at the link mentioned in the "Serpent" blog entry below. Hey, and if you happen to read this anytime in November, send us a "comment," below, to say hello!

Godspeed,
Sharon and B.K.

Sharon Featured in November Mystery Morgue

2008-11-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

Sharon has been featured in the November issue of Mystery Morgue talking about "How I Write." (Also featured this month is bestselling mystery writer Laura Lippman. It was fun, and hopefully there are some surprises!

The Next Eden Book? Not what you might expect...

2008-10-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

“Treasure of Eden” was an absolutely fabulous book! I read it in less than two days, and was getting sad near the end, because it was almost over. When’s the next one going to be written?” –Chaplain (Col.)(Ret) Donna Weddle, Virginia

Thanks very much for asking!

The next Eden book will be a departure for us. It's tentatively called THE SERPENT OF EDEN, and it's the story of what happened to Jaime inside Eden between the book CHASING EDEN and her reappearance in BEYOND EDEN. There have been oblique references to her time in Eden in both BEYOND and TREASURE. Now, finally, the whole story will be told!

Pre-order your SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION
of the “Inside Eden” book

If you’d like to be on the list for more information, and to reserve your copy before they’re all spoken for, email: response@edenthrillers.com with your name and email address.

Simply put SERPENT OF EDEN in the subject line!

Money and Sustainability

2008-10-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

The discussion that Jaime and Andrea (and Shepard) have about money touched on a number of issues I've been thinking about. Where can I find more of this kind of discussion? (And did you guys know the market was going to crash?) --Thriller Maven

It's kind of hard for any of us to say we saw it coming when Alan Greenspan claims to be completely shocked, but can you say "house of cards"? ;)

Seriously, though, there are several very important conversations going on right now about money, the economy, the world, and sustainability. One good starting place is Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future by Bill McKibbon.

For a richer understanding of the ideas, check out Radical Abundance: A Theology of Sustainability, a conference hosted by Trinity Institute in New York in January 2009 that brings together some noted theological and economic leaders to discuss the topic in depth. Many churches of all denominations across the country (and the world) will be taking part as local partners.

Is the Bedouin tribe in the book a real tribe?

2008-10-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

We purposely placed our tribe of Bedouin in between where well-known tribes now live in Israel, although the other tribes that they talk about are real. We wanted the freedom to create fictitious characters without making statements about specific people.

But we would encourage readers to do research on their own about current day Bedouin--a very rich and interesting race of people. Because of modern considerations, the lives of Bedouin living in different countries, or even in different locales in Israel, are very different. (For example, the Bedouin in Northern Israel tend to get along better with the Israeli government and have more autonomy than those living in the Negev.)

Little has been written for public consumption about the women of the Israeli Bedouin tribes, and much of our research came from digging deep and talking to scholars and teachers who work with the tribes, many of which are currently in crisis. However, several interesting books about Bedouin in other countries are available, including WRITING WOMEN'S WORLDS and VEILED SENTIMENTS by Lila Abug-Lughod and MARRIED TO A BEDOUIN by Marguerite van Geldermalsen. These books are based on experiences that took place over 20 years ago, but they do give very fascinating first-hand insights to a normally "closed" culture.

There is also a movie called YELLOW ASPHALT which is available on Netflix that tells three Bedouin stories. It uses a cast of Jahalin Bedouin (as well as a couple of well-known Israeli actors).

Has Sharon ever been cool in any way, at all?

2008-10-15T17:38:00.001-07:00

I know it's the question you've all been dying to ask. "Here's B.K. at Ur." "Here's B.K. in Satis' palace in Baghdad." "Here's B.K. getting ready for her 3rd deployment to Iraq."

Okay, so we've got it. How about that other chick writer? Hasn't she ever done anything cool?

So let me tell you: I was cool once. I stood next to a soldier with an official beret at an international airport. I would tell you I was an international spy, except international spies seldom a) stand around holding their passports by soldiers with berets, and they very, very rarely wear bright yellow pants. It's a pity you can't see the two parrots on the shirt.

So the answer is, I could be cool, if I wanted to. It's simply a matter of a few decades, a new wardrobe, and blending in just a little bit more.

You know what? This photo was actually taken on a trip to Egypt, Israel and Jordan, during which my father was given a serious offer of 30 camels for me. I'm not sure if the guy was interested in me or the outfit. Luckily, our neighborhood didn't allow livestock. Or, come to think of it, the research for TREASURE OF EDEN would have been easier and much more first-hand.

Hello from Bouchercon

2008-10-10T05:09:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I'm writing from Baltimore, where I'm attending Bouchercon 2008, the writer/reader gigantic party/conference for mystery writers and readers. Today, I'm a guest blogger on my friend Laura Benedict's Notes from the Handbasket, where I talk about the evolution of my secret identity.

If you'd like a little more of a view into my warped mind, stop over and take a look.

xo Sharon

B.K.'s next deployment to Iraq

2008-10-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

B.K., when do you deploy to Iraq again? How will this time be different than the first two times?

One of the first things we try to instill in all of our Soldiers who return to Iraq multiple times is that they should never assume their next deployment will be just like the last. That can be a dangerous assumption and make you complacent. And, I can certainly vouch for the fact that my second deployment was very different from my first.

But what about the next one? Specifically how will it be different?

First, I will have had longer to prepare myself for this tour than any previous time. I had 9 days notice before boarding a plane the first time. The second I arrived to my new unit less than 3 months before they deployed. This time I will have been with my unit and in my job for almost 8 months by the time we head to SW Asia.

Second, I will be responsible for a whole lot more people than ever before. That makes it scary in a different kind of way, but also a great challenge.

Third, I specifically requested this assignment, even though I knew there was a high likelihood it would mean trip number 3 to OIF. Some people have kidded me that I am going back so I can collect ideas for another book. But seriously, I requested this job because I felt deep down that this is where I need to be right now. In some faith traditions, to include my own, we might say I felt called to be here right now. Well, whatever you call it, it feels good, and I am glad to be right where I am.

How come the name "S.L. Linnea" is on the book?

2008-10-05T13:38:00.001-07:00

Thanks for asking, Katie Gal. The answer is simple. "S.L. Linnea" is the author's name on the book because B.K. and I lost not one, but two battles with our (wonderful) friends at St. Martin's Press.

In the not-quite-so-good old days, B.K. and I had trouble getting anyone to read our first book, including our own agent, because no one wanted to read a novel about Iraq. Too depressing, we were told. So B.K. and I, never ones to wait for permission to get on with our lives and careers, started a publishing company and set about publishing it ourselves. The original title was THE SWORD OF EDEN, A Jaime Richards Thriller, and both our names were on the cover.

Then, just before it launched, our agent read the book, said "I can sell this," and promptly did so. (That's the truncated version of a very entertaining story.)

St. Martin's, who bought the first book and two sequels, set about branding and marketing the fledgling series. First, they renamed the book CHASING EDEN--short, snappy, action-oriented, EDEN prominent. Fine.

Then the marketing guys announced that nobody buys thrillers by two people. We sent them a list of successful co-authored thrillers. Didn't matter. THEN they said, "Men will like this book, and men don't buy thrillers with women's names on the cover." Again, we argued hard. Again, we lost. "Initials," they said. "Even Jo Rowling went along with it."

At this point, B.K. was kind enough to say, "Writing is Sharon's primary career and my secondary career. If there's only one name on the cover, it should be closer to hers." Which was very kind. Unfortunately, B.S. didn't really work as the initials, and S.B. sounded a little too much like a studio head from the early days of film. So we made up a phantom middle initial that sounded okay.

So "S.L. Linnea" (no accent over the "e"), wherever you see it, is Sharon Linnea and B.K. Sherer writing together.

Is Jaime really B.K.?

2008-10-04T07:59:00.001-07:00

This is a question we've been asked since the publication of CHASING EDEN. The real answer--Jaime is part B.K., part Sharon, mostly herself--seems to be a hard sell. Even people who work with B.K. ask the question, which kind of makes me (Sharon) nuts. For one thing, I would NEVER write B.K. the way I write Jaime. B.K. is a much more...okay, hmm. Let's use some graphics.

←This is B.K. She has dark hair. She is shorter than Jaime. She isn't in any way driven by a tragic event in her childhood. She was a nut in her childhood--I should know, I was there. She is a terrific staff officer. She is in no way as introverted as Jaime. She is not blonde. She is not tall. She is Type A, definitely. (B.K. also thinks Jaime has a Type A personality, but I'd give Jaime a B +.) She doesn't know any rock stars (of whom I'm aware!) . She takes good care of soldiers working below her, as well as those working above her. You'd want her on your team. She's not sure if she would have gone to Eden. (Although we both agree that, until you're alone in a room with Yani, you can't really tell what you'd do!) I could write a REALLY REALLY interesting book about B.K. --but I haven't.

← ON THE OTHER HAND, this is kind of what Jaime would look like, if she ever got to sleep, which she doesn't. She is a fun, feisty person who is driven by the early death of her parents, and the murder of her husband. She is a also a good staff officer. It's probably more dangerous to be her chaplain assistant than it is to be B.K.'s.

So, yes, those of you who have read TREASURE might realize that to settle this issue once and for all, we "pulled a Cussler." (If you've ever read Clive Cussler's books, you know that from time to time he inserts himself as a character in the narrative--floating down the Amazon, handing his adrift hero a paddle, for example.) So B.K. appears as a character in TREASURE OF EDEN--Jaime's boss, CH Sherer. This was inspired by the fact that if Jaime was at Anaconda at the time she's there, B.K. would likely have been her supervising officer.

So, once and for all--B.K. is not Jaime. B.K. is Chaplain Sherer--who is apparently not only a Power Point Ranger, but can apparently swing a mean cell phone as well.

TREASURE OF EDEN publication day thoughts

2008-10-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Today is the official release day for TREASURE OF EDEN. It's kind of odd, because the bear of the work on that novel was going on a year ago, but that doesn't mean we don't remember it--vividly. We were supposed to turn it in at the end of December 2007, but got an extension to the middle of January.

The road to publishing CHASING EDEN was such a long (and, in retrospect, entertaining) one. That seems like ancient history, since our main preoccupation with BEYOND and TREASURE was having the manuscript ready by deadline. That's a nice change.

They say you should "write what you want to read." So we started out with the goal of writing stories about a protagonist who wrestles with her faith--but her commitment to a higher calling makes her life richer, fuller, more exciting--and infinitely riskier--because, in fact, that is what both B.K. and I have found to be true.

She and I have ended up growing along with Jaime over these last four years. We've had struggles and triumphs, too, and it's been great to have them mirrored in the lives of our protagonists--and, yeah, sometimes in the lives of the antagonists, too.

B.K. and I would like to thank you for being a companion on our journey. And, we still echo the statement at the end of the first book, CHASING EDEN--A life of faith is the grandest adventure.

Godspeed, Sharon and B.K.

Questions or comments about TREASURE OF EDEN

2008-09-30T02:39:00.001-07:00

On October 1, Jaime's third adventure, TREASURE OF EDEN, was released.

What are your thoughts on this story? What scenes or characters did you enjoy? (Or not?) What questions do you have?

We'd love to hear from you--and we're happy to answer any questions about the Bedouin, the world financial markets...whatever comes to mind.

What were the first things you knew about Eden?

2008-09-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

B.K.: It is a place of harmony and peace, but that does not mean it is boring and stagnant. It is a place where our God given gifts are nurtured and grow.

SHARON: I saw the brilliant colors—both the jewels and the flowers, especially the bougainvilleas and morning glory, could hear the music, and could smell the tuberose. Also, that they have comedy clubs. How else could they deal with the insanity of the Terris world?

Do they have pets in Eden?

SHARON: An interesting question, as they would certainly love to care for things, but they have limited resources, and might have to leave pets to the Terris world. There have to be some pluses to being in the Terris world!

B.K.: If they don’t, I refuse to go.

SHARON: Okay, this might again be my tuckered out thing popping up again. Or it could be because you have one dog, and I have a horse, three dogs, four cats and two mice (not to mention 2 children). In my version of a perfect world, I could use a break!

Now over to YOU, dear Blog Reader--what would you expect to find if you visited Eden?

For the actual answer to this and other pressing questions about Eden, you should pre-order the Inside Eden story that takes place between CHASING and BEYOND. To preorder, use the email listed on EdenThrillers.com

How far ahead do you plot Eden Thrillers?

2008-09-26T06:05:00.001-07:00

When I read stories that keep me on the edge of my seat, like the Eden thrillers, I always wonder how far ahead the writers know what will happen. Do you create the stories as you go along, or is there a master plan? (Or are these actually true stories...:))--Thriller Fan

site of Sharon's panic

B.K.: I think there is always some truth underlying any work of fiction. Usually some incident, some event that we witness or experience in real life acts as a springboard for our stories. I couldn't create interesting characters without having met people who fascinate me, whose personalities are unique and hard to forget. And while we may know the final ending of a story while writing the first paragraphs, many of the details seem to unfold as it is penned. Sometimes Sharon surprises me with elements in a story I hadn't expected, and sometimes I even surprise myself when I get to the end of a page I am writing and discover something about the plot or a character I hadn't expected.

SHARON: While there is usually room inside a scene for characters or actions to surprise us, the truth is that the stories are very carefully plotted--they have to be when so many stories intersect, and information from each character's journey, or story arc, gives clues and impacts on others.

When we begin work on a thriller, all we really have is the basic plot and the large story arc: beginning, movement of the story and the ending. Starting to bring in the characters at that point is THE FUN PART. Once that heady period of discovery is over, THE SLOGGING WORK PART sets in, as all those cool characters and fun story lines have to be meticulously plotted so that we, as the authors, know who does what when and when information is revealed. Thrillers are really an intricate series of set-ups and pay-offs, with the stakes rising as you go along.

Then, for me, the PANIC STAGE sets in as we figure out how we get to that big climactic scene and pull it off. ("We've got a girl, we've got a helicopter, we've got a bad guy, and this certain thing has to happen with other characters, how does it all come together???") That's when you've got to work and work and work to make it not only fit, but make perfect sense, and be the perfect denouement. But even now, when I'm really really happy with the denouement of TREASURE, I remember clearly an afternoon of pacing the grounds of a certain French chateau, saying to B.K., "But--arrgh..." for several hours running.

Once you have the order of the scenes, you're back to where the life of the characters and the book itself can start to surprise you once again. Which doesn't mean it's not still slogging!

Treasure of Eden book trailer!

2008-09-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the first TREASURE OF EDEN book trailer. What do you think??

The trailer was produced by V-WORX, Warwick, NY

Has the real Dagger of Ur been found and returned to the Iraq Museum?

2008-09-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

This question came up in our study group. Has the real Dagger of Ur been found and returned to the Iraq Museum?--Katy Girl

What a great question. And thankfully, the dagger and sheath were both recovered from an underground bank vault in Baghdad, only slightly mud-covered and worse for the wear.

Here are a few photos of employees of the Iraq Museum during the happy discovery...

Which is your favorite Eden book?

2008-09-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

B.K.: I think Beyond Eden, because the writing of it was healing for me at a time when I really needed an outlet. It certainly has the most gut-wrenching ending for me.

SHARON: Seriously, it’s like asking which is your favorite child. You remember the excitement and newness of the first, CHASING, and have the most euphoric memories of TREASURE, the most recent, since it wraps up so many of the story arcs. But you don’t want to forget the “middle child,” which for us was BEYOND. I love Daniel Derry, and discovering so much more about Jaime, and loved the settings on Patmos and at the Monastery of St. John.

But right now, I’d say TREASURE because I love the strong female characters, the world of the Israeli Bedouin, the excitement of the chase, and the character of Mark. And, well, what happens in the cave.

The End of CHASING EDEN (spoiler alert)

2008-09-15T08:27:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday, B.K. and I visited the winner of the EdenThrillers.com Book Group contest--Sharon in person, and B.K. by speakerphone (with life size cut-out of her for inspiration). The winners were the St. Mark Book Group in Bethesda, Maryland, and they were a wise and witty group of people. We had a great time!

One woman brought up a comment about the ending of CHASING EDEN. She said she felt that throughout the story, Jaime had acted selflessly, but in making the decision she made at the end of the book, she acted selfishly for the first time. This reader felt Jaime made the wrong choice.

What do you think?

Chaplains and Guns

2008-09-13T06:27:00.000-07:00

I understand that chaplains are not allowed to carry weapons while on duty. Are they allowed to be armed when they're in danger off duty? If they're attacked by the bad guys, are they allowed to fight back?

B.K.: When a chaplain is off duty, (not in uniform), and acting as a private citizen, the Army does not dictate whether that person may or may not carry a weapon. Just as long as the weapon is carried legally, with proper permits and licenses, the military authorities will make no comment. I have many chaplain friends who own personal weapons and like to fire at the ranges, go hunting, or even keep them in their home for personal protection.
When the questions refers to being “attacked by bad guys”, if it means while off duty, then a chaplain has the rights to legally defend him or herself just like any other citizen, within the law. If the question refers to fighting back in a combat situation, the response is different. Army regulations are clear on this point, saying “a chaplain will not bear arms.” This is a very strong statement, requiring that even in a firefight, when bullets may be flying, a chaplain will not pick up a weapon and fire back. If a chaplain chooses to do so, they risk facing disciplinary action. This may sound harsh, but chaplains have a very important mission that is endangered when they make themselves a combatant. Besides, we have a chaplain assistant to watch our back, so we can focus on other things besides the battle. I would advise any potential chaplain who would not feel comfortable going unarmed into a combat situation to find another calling.

SHARON: I'm assuming the question has to do with the multitude of bad guys that Jaime runs into while on assignment as an Eden Operative in BEYOND and TREASURE. Here, Jaime's answer is more complex because she is guided by the intensive training she received at Mountaintop in Eden. It won't be clear exactly what that is until the "inside Eden" book that tells the story between CHASING and BEYOND comes out, but we can get clues from Jaime's responses to people and situations, as well as those by Kristof and Yani. Suffice it to say they're held to a higher standard than the average citizen.
What should that standard be? If YOU were answering that question for a group of spiritually enlightened people, what would you say? What standard do you want to hold yourself to? That's hopefully one of the interesting questions the Eden books cause us to contemplate.

How Do You Go About Crafting Villains?

2008-09-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CRAFTING VILLAINS?
(photo: interior of Satis' unfinished HQ, CHASING EDEN)

B.K.: When I am working on a villain I draw character traits from some of the more distasteful people I have known, seen, or read about. But to really get to the heart of them, I have to draw on my understanding that as humans, we all have our good and bad sides, so I must be willing to look inside myself, see if I can think like them, sort of become them for a short while.

SHARON: It's a little frightening how easily I can slip into the mindset of a villain. In each book, there is one psychopathic assassin, who is truly evil of intent. The other characters who are trying to thwart Jaime, I try to make more shaded. In fact, I purposely give each of them some thoughts that echo how I feel about some issue, just so that person and I have a point of agreement, and I have to appreciate his or her humanity.

Do you have a question for S.L. Linnea?

2008-09-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

We'd love to hear from you! If you've got a question for Sharon and/or B.K., click on the "comments" link below and submit it.

Godspeed--

(And why would we post a photo of an old church bell tower in France?)

Eden Thoughts on 9/11

2008-09-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you're anything like me (Sharon), 9/11 always brings mixed emotions. For many of us New Yorkers, who dealt not only with the attack directly but with aftereffects that seem never ending, there is a certain emotional fatigue.

As many of you know, my husband Bob works a block from the World Trade Center. That day, after the first plane hit, I lost all contact with him. (Story here) The day was harrowing for B.K., also, as she watched events unfold on television at First Cavalry Division HQ in Texas, and knew things would never be the same. She was certainly right. Within a year and a half, she was on the ground in Iraq, during the opening days of OIF 1.

But some good came from that day, as well. It's the birthday of my dog Freedom (see above), who has brought much grace and joy to my family.

And the journey that started that day for B.K. and myself separately, led us eventually to Eden, to contemplate what's on the other side of violence, and how we can work to find that place within ourselves.

Thanks so much for coming with us on that journey which included some healing for the two of us. We hope Jaime has been a stalwart companion for part of your journey as well.

Love from Sharon & B.K.

WHERE IS THIS CAVE?

2008-09-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

What's your guess?

And why do you think it's on an Eden blog?

What would be your Eden vocation?

2008-09-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

What would be your Eden vocation?

B.K.: Well, there are a couple options, and just as I look back at my own life and can see a variety of roads not taken, the same might have been true for my gardener choices. I could have been an artist (more specifically, musician. Don’t ask me to draw or sculpt anything!) I could also have been an educator/trainer. But a lot of what I do now would fall in the integrator arena. It would certainly be the exciting path, and I am not one to sit still for long. And considering my current level of responsibility in real life, I might have risen to the ranks of Operative Coordinator. But of course, I would had to have survived the stupid mistakes I would make along the way.

The one vocation, which is required of everyone and yet would be the absolute most difficult for me, would be gardener. Finding the patience for that path…what a challenge…and if I succeeded there I could accomplish anything.

SHARON: Of the six “tracks,” I think I’d be on either the Artists (as a storyteller) or Contemplative track. But that might just be because I’m tired. Once I get there and get caught up on about 20 years of sleep, I might well be itchin’ to Integrate…

FROM SHARON & B.K.

Which track do YOU think you'd like to be on?

The choices are:

GARDENERS (contemplative)

INTEGRATORS (deal with the Terris world)

ARTS (of all types)

EDUCATOR/THINK TANK (tackles tough questions regarding the state of the world and Eden, teaches)

CARPENTERS (don't just deal with wood, keep Eden running)

SCIENTISTS/RESEARCHERS

Post and let us know! (If you'd like, put your real first name in the post so we have an idea of who you are.)

How have the two of you managed to write three books together while living in very different locations?

2008-09-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sharon and B.K. have been friends since elementary school. They've written the Eden Thrillers together, often while B.K. was halfway around the world--so this first question is a natural.

Photo of B.K. at the 4th Sister in Ur, Iraq wearing her "I make stuff up" t shirt.

How have the two of you managed to write three books together while living in very different locations?

B.K.: I have learned, in this relatively short time of being a co-author of a fiction series, that writing is a very solitary business. When we are brainstorming, it is helpful for Sharon and me to be together, especially in some exotic place that fires the imagination. But the majority of our work entails slogging it through page by page, chapter by chapter. It doesn’t matter if we are in the same room or thousands of miles apart, we still have to focus, individually, on the character or scene of the moment.

SHARON: I’ve co-authored a fair share of nonfiction, but before the Eden Thrillers, it never occurred to me you could write fiction as a team. I still believe it’s a rare thing when it works as well as it does with us. A good part of it worked because we laid out exactly what we were each doing on each book; I think a lot of it came from the fact that we knew we were looking out for each other instead of just looking out for ourselves. We trust each other a lot. We also roll our eyes at each other a lot. I think, over three books, we only really got into one knock-down, drag-out fight, which I still enjoy re-enacting for others after I’ve had a glass or two of Sangria.

But the bottom line is, writing is a very solitary business, and it was truly a wonderful thing to have someone else you could talk to about your very-involving work. That isn’t usually the case. In fact, there was one time I was writing some very difficult scenes, and B.K. went on vacation—away from her base in Germany—and I felt bereft. I actually had to re-write those scenes after she came back, because they were really important, and they weren’t as good as they needed to be!

WELCOME to the "Garden"!

2008-09-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

A special hello to the readers of the Eden Thrillers! B.K. and I have been looking for a while to find a way to be accessible to you all, to answer questions and talk about topics of interest.

So far the Eden Thrillers consist of the first two books, CHASING EDEN and BEYOND EDEN. The great news is that the third book in the first trilogy, TREASURE OF EDEN is coming out from St. Martin's Press on Oct. 1, 2008. In anticipation of its release, B.K. and I are going to post a reader question here EVERY DAY in September. Please feel free to post any questions or comments you have. We'd love to answer your questions. Each week, we'll send a free Advance Reading Copy of TREASURE OF EDEN to someone who has posted. No contest to enter, any inane comment do!

There are some fun surprises coming up between now and October 1st, so PLEASE STOP BACK daily! (Or, if you have a life, every other day will do.)

Meet you at the Fourth Sister tomorrow!