Five Fall Favorites Day 1

Welcome to Five Fall Favorites, hosted by Kate Willis! We're celebrating books this week. Keep reading for my favorites, and don't neglect to enter the giveaway!

 

Every season is reading weather, but there’s something special about fall as we enter into the cozy time of year … when it’s pleasant to read outdoors or in, when we anticipate holidays and sharing books with family and friends, when the beauty of nature and the warmth of fall decorations inspire flights of imagination.

On Day 1 of this week celebrating reading, I’m sharing my Top 5 Books That Make Me Me. These are the books that I can’t imagine my life without. For one reason or another, they’ve settled into my soul and either helped shape me and my interests or answered a yearning I didn’t know was there. (I will leave out the obvious here—God’s book, the Bible—because that is an absolute given, the ultimate Book that has shaped me and fulfilled me.)

 

 

 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I first read Sense and Sensibility. This novel ignited my identity as an Austenite, heavily influenced my identity as an Anglophile, and helped establish me as a classic literature lover. This story of two very different but loyal sisters, their loves and losses, inspired me to write my novel Suit and Suitability. Strong yet tender Elinor Dashwood, the main character, will probably always be my favorite literary character. Read my full review on Goodreads HERE.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

My mom read many books aloud to my brother and me, which helped make me a reader, but the Chronicles of Narnia were something special. I grew up with these stories as part of my psyche—the perfect blend of great storytelling, profound theology, and beautiful allegory captured my imagination and influenced my view of life and literature.

 

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne is the most famous literary character with red hair, but apart from that similarity we share, I feel she is a kindred spirit. And I have her to thank for introducing that term to me. Her view of the world, finding beauty and cherishing the power of story, has helped shape mine. Her life on Prince Edward Island brought me to visit that lovely, peaceful place several years ago, and it remains one of my favorite places to this day. Many of Montgomery’s other novels also capture that beauty of life and story, but Anne of Green Gables is still foremost to me. 

 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Out of the canon of classic novels, I love Victorian the most. Jane Eyre is my favorite out of that era. It’s iconic in every aspect with a strong and relatable protagonist, deep characterization of all the characters, atmospheric setting, compelling plot, and lyrical prose. I love Jane, and this novel inspired a novella of my own, The Promise of Acorns, so you can see just how important this story is to me. Read my full review HERE.

The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge

This is the most recently published and my most recently read novel on this list. I’d never heard of British Christian novelist Elizabeth Goudge until 2015. My mom recommended The Scent of Water, and I fell in love with Goudge’s style instantly. It’s about a group of people in a mid-twentieth-century English village who find themselves at the crossroads of personal change. Her writing and descriptions are pure art. She reveals profound spiritual truths that always seem relevant to my life at the time I’m reading. And in a most uplifting way, she celebrates what is good and beautiful. Read my full review HERE.

Editing Articles on Tame Your Book

Hey everyone!

One of my favorite websites for writers, tameyourbook.com, has published two articles I've written on self-editing. Grant Ferguson, the owner and administrator, has tons of great resources for planning, structuring, and writing the novel you've always wanted to write. Below are the links to my articles for May and June, but definitely explore the rest of the website and blog. You'll discover advice and encouragement for all sorts of writing issues, from overcoming resistance, to crafting memorable characters, to fashioning a strong skeleton to support the fleshing-out of your novel. 

All About Action Beats

“Like most words in our final draft, action beats are important to select carefully. A prevalent problem I come across while editing manuscripts is overused action beats… a certain action or two gets stuck in a writer’s brain like gum on a shoe and shows up over and over in a manuscript, with multiple characters with multiple emotions in multiple situations.” Read more...

 

Break Out of the Mold: Creating Fresh Similes and Metaphors

“In contrast to familiar clichés, unique similes and metaphors help readers see something in a new way. They awaken readers’ imaginations and draw them deeper into the story. They contribute to fiction’s ability to alter the readers’ way of seeing the world and make them experience things they haven’t experienced in real life. In short, they’re integral to powerful storytelling.” Read more...

 

Tame Your Book!

Write a book readers will love.

 

My Top 15 Books of 2021

Although I haven’t appeared very often on my blog this year, I do still regularly read and write. And so I couldn’t ignore the tug that every December exerts on me to make my top 15 list of books read throughout the year. I read more individual titles in 2021 than the past several years: 65. But according to Goodreads, the number of pages was virtually the same as last year, which apparently means I read a slew of shorter books. That makes sense because I didn’t read as many classics this time around. If you’re curious about my whole list, you can find my year in books HERE.

And now, on to the list … which, as usual, was very hard to rank!

#15

The Heir of Redclyffe

by Charlotte Mary Yonge

This was the longest book I read in 2021. My friend Sarah and I read it as part of our monthly classic buddy read. Published in 1853, it’s a fairly normal sentimental Victorian novel, but with an extra layer of depth because several of the characters were heartfelt Christians who openly discussed their faith, and there was a beautiful redemption arc. Read my full review HERE.

#14

Mercy Undeserved

by Kristina Hall

Book 2 of the Moretti Trilogy, this tense historical novel set in the 1920s kept me flipping ebook pages. I really appreciated the message and how the main characters were depicted; they were new believers, and the way they learned to trust God while still struggling with their old nature was impactful as it wove into the suspenseful plot: running for their lives from gangsters. Read my full review HERE.

#13

Hannah Coulter

by Wendell Berry

I’ve heard a lot about Wendell Berry and determined that this year I would read one of his Port William novels. Hannah Coulter is a lovely contemplative novel about an elderly woman in rural Kentucky looking back over her life, spanning most of the twentieth century. Read my full review HERE.

#12

Irena’s Children

by Tilar J. Mazzeo

For the past few months, I’ve been on a research kick about World War Two and the Holocaust. Irena Sendler, a social worker active in the Polish resistance against the Nazis, has fascinated me ever since I heard of her. She is one of the “Righteous Among the Nations,” named by Yad VaShem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial. She and her allies within the resistance rescued 2,500 Jewish children in Warsaw. This information-dense biography not only gave me a deeper appreciation for Sendler; it set me on a sobering train of thought: What would I have done? Read my full review HERE.

#11

Educated

by Tara Westover

I didn’t expect to like this modern-day memoir as much as I did. Westover’s story is intriguing; raised in a survivalist family in rural Idaho, she educated herself, went to college, and excelled despite her lack of formal schooling and family support. I was drawn in by her masterful writing and her classic underdog story. Read my full review HERE.

#10

Three Men in a Boat

by Jerome K. Jerome

Three men and a dog take a boating expedition on the Thames, and everything hilariously goes wrong from there. This 1889 British novel is nothing profound, but it’s one of the funniest books I’ve ever read, and at that point in my year, I really needed to laugh. It will always hold a fond place in my heart for that gift. Find the book on Goodreads HERE.

#9

Before We Were Yours

by Lisa Wingate

Wingate’s powerful novel is a dual timeline narrative, telling the story of five siblings in the 1930s taken from their parents by the Tennessee Children’s Home and adopted out to separate families. Decades later, a successful career woman and daughter of a South Carolina senator discovers this terrible history and its repercussions in the present day. Find the book on Goodreads HERE.

#8

The Rosemary Tree

by Elizabeth Goudge

All of Goudge’s books are beautiful, but this one seemed exceptionally so. There’s much that this mid-twentieth-century English story encompasses; mostly it’s about a minister and his family and the various troubles and sorrows that they encounter and overcome. Goudge always leaves me feeling uplifted. Find the book on Goodreads HERE.

#7

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Anyone who is an ardent fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder will enjoy this beautifully printed early version of her beloved series. Not only does it contain the Pioneer Girl manuscript that she tried to get published before fictionalizing and expanding it into the stories we know today; it also gives extensive commentary in the margins and other explanatory notes. Since I published a Little House–inspired novella last summer, this book meant a lot to me. Find the book on Goodreads HERE.

#6

Dr. Thorne

by Anthony Trollope

I enjoy almost every thick Victorian novel I read, but not every one becomes a cherished favorite. However, Dr. Thorne did! The love story, the twists and turns, the characters, the satisfying plot, and the humor all combined to make a lovely read that was hard to put down and left me with a book hangover. See my full review HERE.

#5

The Meaning of Marriage

by Timothy Keller

As the title suggests, this book provides meaningful and realistic insights into marriage. Besides the practical advice, it also gives a beautiful picture of what marriage means in God’s economy. Find the book on Goodreads HERE.

#4

North and South

by Elizabeth Gaskell

I reread North and South this year and loved it just as much as before. This is another classic that my friend Sarah and I read together. Published in 1854, this novel shows Gaskell’s writing at its finest—her deep characters, her development of tension, and her sympathetic grasp of all sides of an issue. The story deals with the clash between mill owners and their workers in northern England, through the eyes of a mill owner and a young woman from the south with a tempestuous relationship that develops into something more. Read my full review HERE.

#3

The Zion Covenant series

by Bodie Thoene

I’ve read four of this six-book series so far, and though some parts are tough to get through, they tell the harrowing, disturbing, yet important story of the lead-up to World War Two in Europe. I relish Thoene’s blend of tension, character development, and descriptive details that bring history to life. Find the first book on Goodreads HERE.

#2

If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat

by John Ortberg

With humility and humor, Ortberg encourages readers to put their faith into practice, trust God, and follow His calling for their lives. He addresses fear and other hindrances people encounter when they seek to draw closer to God and His plan. Find the book on Goodreads HERE.

#1

The Life You’ve Always Wanted

by John Ortberg

This eye-opening book explores “spiritual disciplines” and how they can help you live a more fulfilling and dedicated Christian life. I’ve really enjoyed reading Ortberg because he offers deep, meaningful truths in an easygoing style that makes me sit up and take notice, even when I feel convicted. Read my full review HERE.

What were some of your favorite books that you read in 2021?

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Weekend Sale

I'm a little late in sharing this, but hopefully many of you have already seen the news on my Facebook page, my newsletter, or from another indie author. 

 

 

Yes, a massive ebook sale with over 300 titles! All my ebooks are on sale for 99 cents. Browse the website https://sale.perrykirkpatrick.com/ and stock up on all the reading material you could want. All the books are clean, so you can't go wrong. I've already snagged some books I'm really excited about reading. Prices are good through Monday night.

 

 

 

New Release and Review Opportunity

Happy fall! Even though it's already November, the hot season in my area of Texas feels like it just ended and the real fall season has begun. And as the cozy part of the year begins, I have some publishing news of my own to share! Remember A Very Bookish Thanksgiving? Several of the authors in that collection are releasing their novellas individually this month in time for the holiday. We'd love to have your help on the launch team. You can get free review copies, exclusive interaction with the authors, and even some special thank-you goodies for your participation.

Sign up HERE.

Available on Amazon

Available on Amazon

 

Available on Amazon

 

 

Available on Amazon

Sustainer's Smile Blog Tour

Sustainer’s Smile by Erika Mathews is here! I’m excited to share this new novel with you because life is an issue dear to my heart, and it’s the heart of this book. This post includes snippets, a character spotlight, and a giveaway!

Learn the Basics

It’s Book Four of Truth from Taerna but it can easily be read as a standalone.

• It’s a prolife novel.

• It tells the story of Liliora Ellith, who makes peace with her past and discovers her future among the cradles of Taerna’s unwanted babies, born and unborn.

• It’s a kingdom adventure fiction novel.

• It’s clean and family-friendly, though it’s recommended for teens and up due to dealing with the issue of abortion. 

• Its launch date is October 21 but it’s available for preorder right now!

View or Buy Sustainer’s Smile on Amazon

 

Read the Snippets

Liliora shook her head. “If Adon Olam wants it, I will not listen to my fears.” Yet tears welled up even in the words, and she felt her heart failing her. 

Character Spotlight: Rita

 

Age at the time of Sustainer’s Smile: Early 20s
Personality: ESTP

Height: 5’ 8”
Hair: dark blonde

Eyes: dark blue

 

About Rita

Rita has been a friend of Liliora’s for many years. Rita lives in Frydael with her parents, and she loves Frydael’s social life. As children, Rita and Liliora went on many adventures together, and both shared similar ideals and dreams for the future. As they grew older, however, Rita felt like she was growing up faster than carefree, innocent Liliora. Now Rita’s trying to land a job so that her old-fashioned parents will allow her to marry the love of her life—but things aren’t as easy as she wishes.

 

Author Note

Every main character needs a friend, and Liliora was no exception. In telling Liliora’s story, several elements required someone else to be involved. There were things that simply wouldn’t work for Liliora to be directly involved in—and that’s where Rita came in. She proved to have a mind of her own, and her stubbornness and Liliora’s mildness melded together beautifully. And once she brought in her fiancé, he added a whole new element to the plot.

 

Sustainer’s Smile Excerpt

 

“Tying yourself down, even without a husband of your own.” Rita sighed dramatically. “Why do I even bother to come here asking you to have fun with me? Clearly your priorities are elsewhere.”

“Because I’m your friend?” Liliora quirked an eye­brow. “And friends have fun together?”

“Yes,” Rita agreed. “Remember that time we stopped up the creek and the water flooded the neigh­bor’s chicken pen? Or that time that your brothers stole our dolls and hid them in the orchard? Or when we made a nutmeg cake and fed it to Deen Penson, and he thought it was ginger and almost spit it all over the table? Now that was fun! And all the planning and scheming before­hand, and the messages, and…”

“I remember.” Liliora sighed. 

“Or when we went on the youth hayride? That was back when I didn’t know Trig very well at all. I was so awkward…”

“I remember,” Liliora repeated. 

“I want to have adventures like that again,” Rita stated wistfully. “Those were the days. Carefree, excit­ing…”

“We can’t be children forever, Rita. We have work to do. Work for life. For survival. For betterment of those around us…”

“Nonsense! Leave the work to others, who don’t mind it.” Rita swept to her feet, tossing her hair behind her shoulders. “We ought to enjoy life while we can. Surely Adon Olam would want that.”

“I think we do enjoy life when we’re living in Him,” Liliora replied slowly. “Even if what we’re doing seems boring or mundane. Normal work still needs to be done.”

“But I have no patience for it,” Rita retorted. “So come on. Are we going to have some fun today or not?”

 

See the Blurb

Suffering suffocates her soul. 

How can she ever smile again?

A helpless newborn…that’s exactly how twenty-four-year-old Liliora Ellith feels in her efforts to speak up on behalf of the youngest members of Taerna’s pleasure-driven society. Her tender heart for the defenseless and deep aversion to conflict throw Liliora’s soul into turmoil when tragedy opens her eyes to the quiet yet heartrending war on Taerna’s babies—both born and unborn. Adon Olam’s Word coupled with a secret in her own past fuel her determination. All she wants is to make peace with her past and discover her future among the cradles of unwanted babies. However, the challenges ahead of her threaten to send her spiraling into hopeless depression time and again. Saving innocent lives from the crush of the destroyer and raising a generation in the ways of Adon Olam seem more impossible than ever. At the very end of herself, will the sufferings of her and her babies prove to be anything less than the catalyst for complete disaster?

Enter the Giveaway

Win a signed paperback of Promise’s Prayer (Truth from Taerna #1) and other fun prizes! Enter here.

Find the Rest

There’s a bookstagram/blog challenge, author interviews, character spotlights, and more!

Add to Goodreads

View or Buy Sustainer’s Smile on Amazon

See the Rest of the Prolife Tour

Visiting De Smet

 A Very Bookish 4^th of July has been out for almost two months, and now this limited-time collection has just one month left! 

 

 

Recently, I returned to the land that inspired my Fourth of July novella, Prairie Independence Day. The corn stood tall and thick, the soy formed low, leafy bushes, and the untamed prairie grass waved in the wind. In the mornings, a sometimes soft, sometimes strong, but always constant wind tempered the sun’s heat, but the afternoons turned quite sultry. I had a lot of fun visiting my friends who live in eastern South Dakota, but one of the highlights was our trip to the Ingalls sites in De Smet, which I wrote about in Prairie Independence Day.

They were almost exactly how I remembered them. A few details were different, but nothing of much consequence. (Sadly, the changes were mainly due to the pandemic, which I did not include in my novella.) Out on the homestead site, it was still incredible to touch Pa’s cottonwoods—planted in the 1880s—and walk inside the dugout, the claim shanty, and the wooden house representing the types of homes the Ingalls family lived in at one time or another. I loved thinking about how they walked this very land under my feet. Just like Chandler Ivey in my story, I enjoyed the covered wagon ride to the one-room schoolhouse and the one-room church. There were demonstrations and antique objects that helped bring the books to life, such as the hay twists Pa and Laura had to make during The Long Winter. And then in the town of De Smet, I loved imagining them inside the Surveyor’s House (featured in By the Shores of Silver Lake) and the Third Street house (where every member of the immediate family except for Laura lived at some point).

 

The Cottonwoods

 

 The Claim Shanty

 

Inside the Claim Shanty

The Dugout

Inside the Dugout

Ma's Little House

The Covered Wagon

If you’re a Little House fan and you’re ever in eastern South Dakota, visit the Ingalls Homestead Site and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes! And if you'd like to read about my first visit to De Smet, way back in 2013, here are the blog posts:

"The Slough of Delight"

"The Little House Stage"

"One Last Little House Post (I Think)"

P.S. If you haven’t gotten a copy of our limited edition novella collection yet, here is the link to check it out!