Friday, May 8, 2015

Ace Collins: When The Dedication Page Inscribes The Heart

Everyone's Story welcomes back author Ace Collins, finalist for the Christy Award for his novel             THE COLOR OF JUSTICE. Congratulations, Ace, on your achievement! Perhaps because I'm a writer and a Christian, I admit I think a lot about life and death. Perhaps we all do. When the two elements collide in an author's life, what impact does it have on the writer? This week Ace shares with us the life and loss of a most beautiful young woman who was called home by our loving God, and what it takes to compose a dedication. Please take a moment for reflection, consider lifting Shelby, her family, and Ace in prayer, and share your thoughts. Also, check out Ace's BookGiveaway and intriguing book trailer. Both Ace and I look forward to hearing from you.



BookGiveaway:
Ace is offering 1 copy of either HOLLYWOOD LOST or THE COLOR OF JUSTICE to 2 randomly chosen commenters. Winners will be announced here on Friday, May 15th between 5-6 PM EST. To enter the Giveaway, please include contact information within your comment.





Dedications by Ace Collins

The dedication page…

When it came to my latest novel, Hollywood Lost, there was absolutely no problem identifying the person I wanted to cite in the dedication. So while “the who” was easy, the real issue was how to adequately paint a word picture of this remarkable young woman in just a sentence or two.

When I met her, Shelby was a freshman at Ouachita Baptist University. Barely five feet tall, this cute brunette was a force of nature. She walked in the door with an “awe shucks” attitude, and even though she did nothing to demand attention, you still couldn’t take your gaze off of her. In other words…she owned every room she entered.

I once described Shelby as squirrel because she would dart from place to place, idea to idea and project to project faster than anyone I’d ever seen. Yet she finished everything she started. She was a talented artist, writer, and dancer. She was imaginative, funny and compassionate. I have only known a handful of people with her drive, enthusiasm and character.


Courtesy of the Shelby Seabaugh family
Shelby was also the most giving person on the campus. She was constantly looking for ways to praise others. She lifted up the downtrodden and thanked everyone she observed doing any act of kindness or goodwill. She made people laugh, think and even sing. She was the caretaker of the misfits and yet the most popular kid too. She was known to say, “Smile away your troubles and they’ll burst like a bubble.” And she smiled away a lot of folks’ troubles, and if that didn’t work, she offered to carry their burdens.

Some folks are candles, some are flashlights, a few are spotlights and then there was Shelby…she was a beacon. By simply being herself she changed hearts, attitudes and lives. And then one night, when she was just twenty-one, she went to sleep and never woke up. And suddenly the world was a much darker place. For a moment it was as if the air had come out of life’s balloon.

I cannot begin to describe the sadness I felt as I contemplated this young woman’s death. A death that even an autopsy could not explain. It overwhelmed me and left me numb. Then I considered the profound affect she had during her life. I thought about all the people she’d had touched, inspired and motivated. As I looked around campus, as I observed those who had known this young woman, I saw Shelby everywhere. Because she lived every moment of everyday with the expressed goal of making a positive impact on others, she was not really gone. There were countless people of all ages carrying around Shelby’s remarkable spirit in their actions and attitudes. That’s how deeply she impacted everyone she met.

So how do you sum up a life like that in a simple book dedication? Perhaps, of the millions of words I’ve written, this was my biggest challenge. In truth, though I spent hours writing and rewriting that dedication, I never did do her justice. In the end I just wrote a brief portion of what she had stamped on my heart during her all too short life.

To Shelby Rebekah Seabaugh, whose spirit lit up every room she entered and who positively changed every life she touched. No one defined joy as completely as she did.

Writing a book is not that hard, but composing a dedication is impossible when it’s focused on a person who blessed me and countless others in ways beyond my abilities as an author to describe.


Check out Ace's first appearance on Everyone's Story, The One Thing We Don't Want An Editor To Say.

Ace's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Everyone’s Story: Visit with #ChristyAward Finalist @AceCollins #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)

Authors: @AceCollins asks which is tougher, writing a book or writing a dedication? (Tweet This)

@AceCollins: When writing an unexpected dedication can break you heart. (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:
Citing his Arkansas heritage, Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. In that capacity, Ace Collins has authored more than seventy books for 25 different publishers that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children’s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play.

In 2014 Ace is releasing Man’s Best Hero, a book on dog heroes, a courtroom novel, The Color of Justice, that examines racial prejudice in 1964, and a groundbreaking ebook series, In The President’s Service, that provides readers with a new adventure each month. He has several more novels set for release in 2015 and one of his books was just optioned for a motion picture. His fiction writing has covered everything from value-driven plots, to adventures, mysteries, historical stories, sentimental tales and comedy.

Beyond his fiction and nonfiction books, Collins has penned more than 2000 magazine features, appeared on every network morning television show, as well as CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox. He also does scores of radio interviews each year. His speaking engagements have taken him from churches and corporations to the America’s Dog Museum in St. Louis and the National Archives in Washington DC. Collins has penned several production shows and speaks to college classes on the art of writing.

Collins’ hobbies include sports, restoring classic cars, Wurlitzer jukeboxes and running. He is married to the Chair of the Department of Education at Ouachita Baptist University. The couple lives in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and has two sons.

Places to connect with Ace:

***I'll love for you to take a moment and take this month's short poll on the right-hand sidebar. Thanks so much.



27 comments:

  1. Shelby was a wonderful light, I know she will be missed but remembered so fondly.. . I enjoyed meeting & learning a little more about you!
    dkstevensneAT outlookDoTCOM

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    1. Deanna, thanks for visiting this Mother's Day weekend and sharing your kind thoughts about Shelby.

      Always nice to see you!

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    2. Shelby was special, I wish I'd found the words to really paint her for you.

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  2. It's so hard to understand when something like Shelby's death happens. Soynds like she made a difference where ever she was. And your comments inspire me to make the same kind of difference. Great post...
    And the trailer was intriguing!

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    1. What uplifting words you've graced us with this evening, Pat. Maybe we weren't meant to move mountains but rather help another climb out from the bottom?

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    2. Shelby was special, hence, as you probably noted in the trailer, the lead character is named Shelby as well.

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  3. Such a touching tribute to a wonderful young lady. If we could all touch people in out longer lives in such a way as she did in her short years!

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    1. Well said, Kathy. I'd think we would put a smile on God's face for sure. Thanks for visiting.

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    2. I think we all can touch others like that, but it takes a great attitude, a few leaps of faith and a lot of work.

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  4. Ace, you're keeping Shelby's spirit alive. I did not know her, but through what you've shared she's touched my life. Thank you.

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    1. Good morning, Sara… or should I say good afternoon to you!

      Shelby's way of living a good and clean, moralistic life has also touched me as well. Thanks for visiting.

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    2. I wish you could have known her.

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  5. My first book was dedicated to my late husband. Condensing a life into one or two short lines is impossible, but I always hope that people can read between the lines. Perhaps the key here is writing a longer piece and drawing the essence of that life from it.

    I've "Liked" your Facebook page and connected on Twitter. susanjreinhardt AT gmail DOT com

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    1. I appreciate your visit and caring words, Susan. Good to see you again!

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  6. I was at Ouachita's graduation today and thought about Shelby as she would have graduated today.

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    1. Were her parents at the graduation? What a reflective day for all… a day for new beginnings, for moving on. Any words my mind is latching onto right now about Shelby "looking at us from heaven" will only sound trite and I don't want to. My best now: May God bless Shelby, her family, and dear friends such as yourself, Ace.

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  7. Wow, Ace... you always have a special way with words, but you took my breath away with this. What an amazing young woman Shelby must have been. May her light continue to shine through all of those she touched.

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  8. Thanks Kathy, it was a difficult piece to write because there was so much to say and so little space to say it.

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  9. She was such an amazing person. She lit up the room when she walked in. She was just a joy to be around. Ouachita Baptist University lost an amazing young lady when she passed away.

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    1. Courtney, when Ace first shared this story with me (before it went live on my blog) I was saddened to learn about Shelby. I can only imagine the anguish for you, friends, and family. My sincere condolences.

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  10. We have your books in the Church Library. I would love to win a copy of the book, "Hollywood Lost". What an appropriate title.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Welcome back, Janet. So nice to see you. Hollywood Lost does sound intriguing! You're in the drawing.

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  11. I was blessed to meet Shelby just one week before she left us for her forever home. I was immediately impressed by her energy and charmed by her joy. My heart broke when she left us way too soon. I wish I could have had more moments with her. Months later, I met her amazing parents and siblings. I instantly knew where her glow came from! It was abundantly clear that she came from an amazing family of believers who loved the world around them just like their personal Savior did. Her amazing parents engaged in conversation with my daughter, who is considering another fine university in Shelby's hometown. They invited her to check out their church, where Shelby's dad is the pastor. They gave her their phone numbers(all of them, lol). Now , I know why this amazing student made such an impact on our campus. She was groomed from birth to love the world around her and she came to Ouachita and did just that! I will never forget that precious angel and look forward to the day, we can meet again.

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    1. Beverly, I so appreciated your visit today. Thanks for the insights showing such an incredible, lovely young woman, one surely blessed by God, one who blessed others, and one who not only made her loved ones smile but one who must make God smile.

      My condolences for your dear friend.

      Hope to see you back for another visit.

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  12. Thank you, Ace, for guest appearing on my blog a 2nd time and for being a super and active guest. I'm glad we got a chance to cheer you along as a finalist in the Christy Awards--I wish you the very best.

    Thanks too for sharing a special piece of your heart. Again, I'm sorry to have learned about Shelby's way-too-soon passing. I've prayed that she is happy and smiling wide, with Him in sight, forever and ever. You've helped me a bit to cope with the sudden passing of a very special Everyone's Story's viewer (who often left comments) and one who was scheduled to be a guest in November, the lovely Margie Houmes. God bless you, Margie. May you be smiling right alongside Shelby.

    Ace, thanks for the BookGiveaway for 2 lucky winners. They are…

    Susan R. and Janet. Congratulations, ladies. Both Ace and I will contact you via direct emails.

    Blessings to all.

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  13. Thanks to everyone, it was a very special opportunity to share this story. I deeply appreciate it.

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