Okay, so I said I might not be posting as much on here because I needed time to focus on my story writing…but I couldn’t resist participating in the Read-to-Win discussion on Homeschooled Authors that will be happening every week. They’ll be short, direct answers to short, direct questions—good blogging material for me right now! (By the way, check out the Read-to-Win program here.)
The first question is: What fiction book most impacted your life?
My answer: I’m bad at narrowing things down. The narrowest I can get is four:
1) Christy by Catherine Marshall
2) Ester Reid by Isabella McDonald Alden
3) Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
4) The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Christy and Ester Reid impacted my faith walk as much as or more than certain nonfiction books on Christian living. They showed me what a sold-out-to-God life looks like. Christy especially has become a model to me on how to write fiction where God is the center of my characters’ lives.
Sense and Sensibility, the first Austen novel I read and still my favorite, turned me into a Janeite. Elinor Dashwood is my favorite fictional character and is an example to me of strong, gracious womanhood.
The epic struggle in The Lord of the Rings helped me understand the epic struggle of our lives in this world. Its serious themes yet constant declaration of hope—hope that is always there, despite the shadows—picture to me how to stay faithful to and hopeful in God.
What fiction book has most impacted you?
Friday, June 10, 2016
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Faith Blum's Novella Cover Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn't like a scavenger hunt? I suppose it depends on the kind of scavenger hunt, but Faith Blum is with us today to reveal the covers for her three upcoming novellas.
First, here are the descriptions of each book:
Just a Closer Walk
Katie and Joanna meet on a train headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming. They start talking and find out they are both headed there to become mail order brides. They quickly become good friends. When they get on a stagecoach with three other young women, Katie becomes suspicious. What is going to happen to them? Or is it really possible that nothing untoward is happening?Just As I Am
Eve and Evangeline Collins are adventurous twins who decide to take a risk and head west as mail order brides. Their parents are less than pleased, but do nothing to stop them. Eve and Eva don’t realize their danger until they stop just outside Cheyenne. Will they ever see their family again?Blessed Assurance
Adelaide lost her parents a year before and now a rich man in town is making unwanted advances toward her. Desperate, she writes to two men and quickly accepts the one from Cheyenne, Wyoming. On the final leg of her journey, in a stagecoach with four other mail order brides, her suspicions are confirmed. Will she ever find a man she can truly trust?Clues
Each cover is hidden in a blog post on Faith's blog. Here are some clues to help you find the posts:Clue #1: Agencies, mysteries, and westerns. Where might this cover be?
Clue #2: The ides of March. A holiday, a bird, or perhaps a plane. Can the cover be there?
Clue #3: A light or six and you may find the third and final cover.
In case the form below doesn't show up for some reason, please use this link to enter the giveaway.
Tour Schedule
June 6
June 7
June 8
June 9
June 10
June 11
Writings,
Ramblings, and Reflections-Giveaway announcement
Thursday, June 2, 2016
I'm Back
Upon my word (a rather common expression in Emma, which is my current reading book), I’ve been absent for more than three weeks! The first week I was enjoying the visit of a dear friend and getting ready to be in a wedding (one of the best weeks of this year so far!). The week after I was “recuperating” (more on that in a minute). And earlier this week, I just couldn’t think of anything to post. But what has also bothered me is that I haven’t been very faithful in commenting on my friends’ blogs…and I apologize for the neglect!
I'm going to share some honest thoughts. I haven’t exactly gone through a crisis in my writing—nothing that drastic. I’ve just tried to set things in order. I had been getting so far away from actual writing on any of my projects that my creativity felt dry. Once general, outside-life busyness was over each day, I still wasn’t making any headway, but getting distracted by social media and other internet attention-grabbers. I was getting burned out in the “author has to market” mindset and not writing, which is why I’m even online doing this sort of thing. So I put much of that aside and just worked on my projects (I have three), resolving that even if I have to start over with marketing when I’m ready to jump in again, it’d be worth it. I needed to rediscover my love for writing and not worry about marketing (which I’ve never really known if I was doing it right anyway). Worrying about becoming known made me stop writing. Inadvertently, but still, unfortunate and pointless.
From now on I’m going to take it slow. I may not post as much on my blog, but that will (or at least should!) be because I’m actually writing soon-to-be books. My goal is not to allow the author business to overwhelm the writer business. Other people know how to handle it, but I’m still learning. If you are going through a similar reassessment (in writing or something else), I hope that this is encouraging to you. It’s okay to not be able to do everything you think you should do; it’s okay to draw back, pray, and straighten your priorities according to how God is leading you, even if that means you have to say no to some things.
Have you ever felt that busy-work was crowding out your creativity? Do you have any advice?
I'm going to share some honest thoughts. I haven’t exactly gone through a crisis in my writing—nothing that drastic. I’ve just tried to set things in order. I had been getting so far away from actual writing on any of my projects that my creativity felt dry. Once general, outside-life busyness was over each day, I still wasn’t making any headway, but getting distracted by social media and other internet attention-grabbers. I was getting burned out in the “author has to market” mindset and not writing, which is why I’m even online doing this sort of thing. So I put much of that aside and just worked on my projects (I have three), resolving that even if I have to start over with marketing when I’m ready to jump in again, it’d be worth it. I needed to rediscover my love for writing and not worry about marketing (which I’ve never really known if I was doing it right anyway). Worrying about becoming known made me stop writing. Inadvertently, but still, unfortunate and pointless.
From now on I’m going to take it slow. I may not post as much on my blog, but that will (or at least should!) be because I’m actually writing soon-to-be books. My goal is not to allow the author business to overwhelm the writer business. Other people know how to handle it, but I’m still learning. If you are going through a similar reassessment (in writing or something else), I hope that this is encouraging to you. It’s okay to not be able to do everything you think you should do; it’s okay to draw back, pray, and straighten your priorities according to how God is leading you, even if that means you have to say no to some things.
Have you ever felt that busy-work was crowding out your creativity? Do you have any advice?
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Two Things You May Want to Know
Hey everyone! I’m making announcements for two author friends of mine. The first concerns the winners for E. Kaiser’s print launch giveaway, which I posted about two and a half weeks ago (whew, has it been that long?). If you entered, and your name is Claire B., Madelinejrose, or Skye (it looks like the other winners, LeAnne and Christine and Kelsey—aka, me—have found out their good news), then go to E. Kaiser’s blog to see what you won and to get in touch with her! Congratulations!
The other thing concerns everyone who may be interested in Amanda Tero’s short stories about applying the Bible to our lives. For the next few weeks, one short story a week will be free on Kindle! Don’t miss your chance to grab these relatable, enriching tales. Keep up with Amanda’s blog to find out when each story is free.
(I’m sorry I’ve been absent from the blogosphere lately. Time to write, both on and offline, has been eluding me so far this May. Even the slight creativity required for writing this post alleviates my word hunger…missing writing is like missing a friend. But hopefully it’s only temporary, and I'll soon reconnect and get back on track!)
The other thing concerns everyone who may be interested in Amanda Tero’s short stories about applying the Bible to our lives. For the next few weeks, one short story a week will be free on Kindle! Don’t miss your chance to grab these relatable, enriching tales. Keep up with Amanda’s blog to find out when each story is free.
(I’m sorry I’ve been absent from the blogosphere lately. Time to write, both on and offline, has been eluding me so far this May. Even the slight creativity required for writing this post alleviates my word hunger…missing writing is like missing a friend. But hopefully it’s only temporary, and I'll soon reconnect and get back on track!)
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Green Dolphin Street
This post is in honor of Elizabeth Goudge reading week. This wonderful author was born on April 24, 1900, and has written many soul-touching novels. Read more about her HERE.
Green Dolphin Street was an emotional roller coaster. I found it hard to write a review that doesn't give anything away, because it would be better for everyone to discover the unfolding petals of this book themselves. It’s like an opening rose; it was joy (and occasionally agony) to step across each petal until the center of the ending was reached, where everything came together, with all its full-blown fragrance.
Most books are add-ons to life: you read them and they capture your surface attention, but you’re always conscious of your real life. Green Dolphin Street: not so for me. It became a part of my life while I was reading it, and now that I’m finished, I miss it. I feel like I do when I return home from a great trip.
To start with, I’ll be using the original title, Green Dolphin Country, because it’s a better name. (Thank you to Lory at Emerald City Book Review for pointing this out!) If you read the novel, you’ll discover the idea of a “country” has far more relevance than just the street where the characters grew up.
Elizabeth Goudge has an incredible ability to immerse readers completely in the world of her novels, Green Dolphin Country no exception. You see and understand all the major characters, inside and outside. You see and sense their beautiful and powerful surroundings. You travel their spiritual journeys with them. And they always learn such profound things about God that you can’t help but be affected, too.
Green Dolphin Country follows the lives of three people, sisters Marianne and Marguerite Le Patourel and their friend William Ozanne, from childhood to old age, beginning in 1834. Marianne is strong, controlling, and extremely competent, creative, and intelligent. But she lacks love—and most of the fruits of the Spirit, actually. Her younger sister Marguerite is naturally happy and joyful, however. She loves life and people and people love her. William, whose age falls between the two, is loving, loveable, and easygoing. With their parents, Octavius and Sophie Le Patourel and Dr. Edmond Ozanne, and a raucous and long-lived parrot called Old Nick, they enjoy living on an island in the English Channel (Guernsey, I believe, though it’s never named). The sea is also a constant companion throughout the story: One of my favorites scenes is when Marianne and William visit a docked ship called the Green Dolphin and meet Captain O’Hara and his first mate Nat, who tell them about New Zealand.
Years go by and exact changes. Marianne and Marguerite both fall in love with William. William embarks on a Navy career, but because of an unfortunate occurrence in China (the only part of the book that even hints at sexual immorality, in case you’re concerned about that), ends up as a settler in New Zealand. In New Zealand several other wonderful characters are introduced—wild pioneer Tai Haruru (one of my favorites); zealous missionaries Samuel and Susanna Kelly; and Maoris Hine-Moa and Kapua-Manga. William writes home for one of the sisters to marry him and mistakenly asks for the wrong one. I didn’t read the back cover synopsis, so I didn’t know which sister he really loved and which sister he ended up with until I reached those scenes in the story. Talk about suspense!
Emotions run high in this book. A significant portion of the middle gave me heartache, but I was desperate to see how the characters got through it. Though Marianne was a challenge to like, I found her the most interesting character of all. She had gained my sympathy at the very beginning, as a vulnerable, self-conscious sixteen-year-old. The path she took to learn humility was the biggest character arc in the book. William and Marguerite had their difficult journeys, too. I was especially inspired by Marguerite’s life and how she learned to pray and “practice the presence of God.” From Marianne I learned the ugliness of self-will and how to give up control, and from William how to love, even when it looks impossible.
In certain situations I wished the Gospel was presented a little more clearly, but for readers who understand the Gospel message, what the characters discover is satisfying: humility leads to repentance leads to reconciliation with God. Something I really didn’t like, though, was the prevalent use of the d- swear word, but it wasn’t enough to banish any of my delight in the rest of the work.
One of my favorite things about Goudge’s writing is how skillfully she uses symbolism and repetition. Objects, situations, and lessons wrap around and weave in and out of this story, forming a weighty unit that captivates you from beginning to end and furthers the feeling that you’re living the characters’ lives with them. It reflects the fact that individual lives have patterns and cycles. Some of the novel is meditative, other is vividly tense (such as the Maori war!), but all of it is told in a descriptive and lyrical manner that is yet highly accessible. The length is perfect; I wouldn’t have it any longer or shorter.
If you’re in the mood for a rich, deeply involved, and transforming read that deals with all sides of humanity, beautiful and not-so beautiful, do yourself a favor and read Green Dolphin Country!
For a look at what the theme “Green Dolphin country” is about, please read this review by my Goodreads friend!
Have you ever read Green Dolphin Street? What did you think?
 |
| goodreads |
Green Dolphin Street was an emotional roller coaster. I found it hard to write a review that doesn't give anything away, because it would be better for everyone to discover the unfolding petals of this book themselves. It’s like an opening rose; it was joy (and occasionally agony) to step across each petal until the center of the ending was reached, where everything came together, with all its full-blown fragrance.
Most books are add-ons to life: you read them and they capture your surface attention, but you’re always conscious of your real life. Green Dolphin Street: not so for me. It became a part of my life while I was reading it, and now that I’m finished, I miss it. I feel like I do when I return home from a great trip.
To start with, I’ll be using the original title, Green Dolphin Country, because it’s a better name. (Thank you to Lory at Emerald City Book Review for pointing this out!) If you read the novel, you’ll discover the idea of a “country” has far more relevance than just the street where the characters grew up.
Elizabeth Goudge has an incredible ability to immerse readers completely in the world of her novels, Green Dolphin Country no exception. You see and understand all the major characters, inside and outside. You see and sense their beautiful and powerful surroundings. You travel their spiritual journeys with them. And they always learn such profound things about God that you can’t help but be affected, too.
Green Dolphin Country follows the lives of three people, sisters Marianne and Marguerite Le Patourel and their friend William Ozanne, from childhood to old age, beginning in 1834. Marianne is strong, controlling, and extremely competent, creative, and intelligent. But she lacks love—and most of the fruits of the Spirit, actually. Her younger sister Marguerite is naturally happy and joyful, however. She loves life and people and people love her. William, whose age falls between the two, is loving, loveable, and easygoing. With their parents, Octavius and Sophie Le Patourel and Dr. Edmond Ozanne, and a raucous and long-lived parrot called Old Nick, they enjoy living on an island in the English Channel (Guernsey, I believe, though it’s never named). The sea is also a constant companion throughout the story: One of my favorites scenes is when Marianne and William visit a docked ship called the Green Dolphin and meet Captain O’Hara and his first mate Nat, who tell them about New Zealand.
Years go by and exact changes. Marianne and Marguerite both fall in love with William. William embarks on a Navy career, but because of an unfortunate occurrence in China (the only part of the book that even hints at sexual immorality, in case you’re concerned about that), ends up as a settler in New Zealand. In New Zealand several other wonderful characters are introduced—wild pioneer Tai Haruru (one of my favorites); zealous missionaries Samuel and Susanna Kelly; and Maoris Hine-Moa and Kapua-Manga. William writes home for one of the sisters to marry him and mistakenly asks for the wrong one. I didn’t read the back cover synopsis, so I didn’t know which sister he really loved and which sister he ended up with until I reached those scenes in the story. Talk about suspense!
Emotions run high in this book. A significant portion of the middle gave me heartache, but I was desperate to see how the characters got through it. Though Marianne was a challenge to like, I found her the most interesting character of all. She had gained my sympathy at the very beginning, as a vulnerable, self-conscious sixteen-year-old. The path she took to learn humility was the biggest character arc in the book. William and Marguerite had their difficult journeys, too. I was especially inspired by Marguerite’s life and how she learned to pray and “practice the presence of God.” From Marianne I learned the ugliness of self-will and how to give up control, and from William how to love, even when it looks impossible.
In certain situations I wished the Gospel was presented a little more clearly, but for readers who understand the Gospel message, what the characters discover is satisfying: humility leads to repentance leads to reconciliation with God. Something I really didn’t like, though, was the prevalent use of the d- swear word, but it wasn’t enough to banish any of my delight in the rest of the work.
One of my favorite things about Goudge’s writing is how skillfully she uses symbolism and repetition. Objects, situations, and lessons wrap around and weave in and out of this story, forming a weighty unit that captivates you from beginning to end and furthers the feeling that you’re living the characters’ lives with them. It reflects the fact that individual lives have patterns and cycles. Some of the novel is meditative, other is vividly tense (such as the Maori war!), but all of it is told in a descriptive and lyrical manner that is yet highly accessible. The length is perfect; I wouldn’t have it any longer or shorter.
If you’re in the mood for a rich, deeply involved, and transforming read that deals with all sides of humanity, beautiful and not-so beautiful, do yourself a favor and read Green Dolphin Country!
For a look at what the theme “Green Dolphin country” is about, please read this review by my Goodreads friend!
Have you ever read Green Dolphin Street? What did you think?
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Print Launch Giveaway
Friday, April 22, 2016
E. Kaiser Writes Book Launch
I am privileged today to be participating in E. Kaiser Writes’ blog tour, which celebrates the release of all five of her novels in paperback, with illustrations by the author herself!
Jeweler’s Apprentice:
On her first visit to the palace, sixteen-year-old Fia stumbles upon a
court intrigue. To keep the secret safe, the Chancellor sends her off as
apprentice to a famous, reclusive, mountain jeweler...
...And straight into adventure.
Discovering gems with deep secrets and new friends with the same, Fia learns a whole lot more than just making jewelry: when to trust a stranger, and when not to, why not to try stealing from gem thieves; what heroism is; what royalty ought to be; and that the mountains themselves can sometimes be the greatest danger of all.
Is the legend of the Sunlight Stone true?
Will peace ever come to the war-torn neighboring kingdom?
And what is the stable boy hiding...?
...And straight into adventure.
Discovering gems with deep secrets and new friends with the same, Fia learns a whole lot more than just making jewelry: when to trust a stranger, and when not to, why not to try stealing from gem thieves; what heroism is; what royalty ought to be; and that the mountains themselves can sometimes be the greatest danger of all.
Is the legend of the Sunlight Stone true?
Will peace ever come to the war-torn neighboring kingdom?
And what is the stable boy hiding...?
Paperback
Traitor’s Knife: Secrets. Sabotage. Murder. With Olayin House temporarily turned into a weapons factory, Fia is confronted with the care of three refugee children, an ill-timed visitor, a perplexingly brash messenger that she isn't quite sure what to think of, all while trying to keep her friend’s secrets safe. But when dangerous accidents start to happen, the young apprentice begins to tread a fine line of suspicion. Are saboteurs out to nix the weapons works... and is the incognito crown prince in mortal peril? Winter in the mountain house isn’t as cozy as her apprenticeship was expected to be.
Traitor’s Knife: Secrets. Sabotage. Murder. With Olayin House temporarily turned into a weapons factory, Fia is confronted with the care of three refugee children, an ill-timed visitor, a perplexingly brash messenger that she isn't quite sure what to think of, all while trying to keep her friend’s secrets safe. But when dangerous accidents start to happen, the young apprentice begins to tread a fine line of suspicion. Are saboteurs out to nix the weapons works... and is the incognito crown prince in mortal peril? Winter in the mountain house isn’t as cozy as her apprenticeship was expected to be.
Winter’s Child: A barren king and queen pray for a child, and when in their loneliness, they make one out of snow, their prayers are answered in a special, and unusual way.
Sometimes, when we get what we wish for, we don't know what to do with it.
Combining elements from the Snow Maiden, Schneekind, and Snegurochka tales with those of the Snow Queen; Winter’s Child introduces a new series: THAW.
Kindle eBook
Paperback
Winter Queen: A slightly pampered girl allows her avoidance behavior to isolate her from the world... it's only when she takes the final step that she realizes the wall she's built in the name of safety is also the one that will hold her prisoner forever... unless she discovers how to destroy it.
The only one who can break a neurosis... is the one who has it.
Kindle eBook
Paperback
Prince of Demargen: The whole world knows his guilt, and is absolutely correct about it, but how far can a man go to regain respect so swiftly lost?
Or is an honorable death the best a fallen star can hope for?
The only person who can help him... is the one he most deeply wronged.
Kindle eBook
Paperback
About the author:
Sometimes, when we get what we wish for, we don't know what to do with it.
Combining elements from the Snow Maiden, Schneekind, and Snegurochka tales with those of the Snow Queen; Winter’s Child introduces a new series: THAW.
Kindle eBook
Paperback
Winter Queen: A slightly pampered girl allows her avoidance behavior to isolate her from the world... it's only when she takes the final step that she realizes the wall she's built in the name of safety is also the one that will hold her prisoner forever... unless she discovers how to destroy it.
The only one who can break a neurosis... is the one who has it.
Kindle eBook
Paperback
Prince of Demargen: The whole world knows his guilt, and is absolutely correct about it, but how far can a man go to regain respect so swiftly lost?
Or is an honorable death the best a fallen star can hope for?
The only person who can help him... is the one he most deeply wronged.
Kindle eBook
Paperback
About the author:
She wears many hats: writer and editor of ad copy, web copy, office correspondence, and fiction; a cowgirl, animal trainer, seamstress, jeweler, artist and... authoress! Find her on her website, blog, Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads, and Pinterest.
~*~
E. Kaiser Writes is one of my favorite contemporary authors. I also had the honor of helping her with editing and beta reading. Here are links to my reviews for her books: Jeweler’s Apprentice
Winter’s Child
Prince of Demargen
On Facebook? Don't miss out on the Facebook release party tomorrow, April 23, 1:00-4:45pm!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)