Is anyone else having a hard time believing 2010 is over? Now I'm looking over my list of resolutions from January, and I'm not sure where most of the year went.
1. I didn't finish my Bible Experience audio Bible. The CD player broke. (2011)
2. Did pretty good on the blogging once a week until I hit, what, October? November? And then, well... (2011)
3. Exercising/dieting...not going to talk about it. (2011)
4. I typed up more recipes, but they didn't make it to a cookbook. (2011)
5. I DID manage to finish redecorating. If the decorating really ever can be called complete. (Check!)
6. I organized a few emails. Maybe 100. Still overwhelmed. (2011)
7. The house is fairly organized. Could use some weeding out. But no utter failure here. (Check!)
8. Certain number of words written a week? Yeah, still working on that one. Sigh. (2011)
9. Doing a lot better about not wasting time on computer games, though. (Check!)
10. The schedule for myself didn't work...especially when I started working full-time. New schedule needed. (2011)
11. I tried to keep track of the books I read this year, but I made it too complicated--wanting to write a book report for each one, having to put it in the same notebooks that I never had with me when I finished the book. Trying again, with a new system! (2011)
12. I totally nailed the non-fiction book list this year! Woo-hoo. More than six, and I'm just overflowing with knowledge as a result. (Maybe do again. 2011)
I missed some, but there we go. Looking over my lists of resolutions from 2010, well, I guess I don't need to make a new one for this year, since I can just carry most of them over.
But this is Jenness speaking. Yeah. I'll make a list.
12/31/10
12/25/10
Christmas Traditions
Some things I love about Christmas:
~ The way the tree looks when it's all decorated and the lights are twinkling.
~ Brainstorming ideas for the perfect gift for my loved ones.
~ Hanging around while my dad carves the turkey. He always cuts off the perfect piece and sneaks it to me while Mom pretends to scold.
~ Black Friday shopping!
~ Spiced apple cider
~ Mom's apple pie
~ The pile of books my mother-in-law buys me. :-)
~ Christmas music
~ The time to relax and celebrate the Reason for the season
What about you?
~ The way the tree looks when it's all decorated and the lights are twinkling.
~ Brainstorming ideas for the perfect gift for my loved ones.
~ Hanging around while my dad carves the turkey. He always cuts off the perfect piece and sneaks it to me while Mom pretends to scold.
~ Black Friday shopping!
~ Spiced apple cider
~ Mom's apple pie
~ The pile of books my mother-in-law buys me. :-)
~ Christmas music
~ The time to relax and celebrate the Reason for the season
What about you?
12/23/10
All You Want For Christmas
...is a copy of Bliss, right? And free is even better! :-) Two places you can comment to win: http://www.tandjbooks.com/, and here.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
12/19/10
A Christmas Tale
For a few Christmases, I wrote little stories for my niece, and my sister-in-law illustrated them. I had intended to make it a tradition, but children's stories are not really my thing. (As you'll probably be able to tell in a minute. :-) ) But, just for fun, here is the one I wrote a few years ago. May it remind you of the true meaning of Christmas!
A Christmas Tale
“Can I go play?” Connor asked his mother.
She smiled at him as she stood over the stove. “Be back in time for supper.”
He raced outside and through the yard to the neighbor’s house. He knocked on the door, wondering what they would play today. Yesterday he’d been a pirate in search of treasure and Mr. Smith had been his first mate. Maybe today he would be a knight and use Mr. Smith’s cane as a sword.
The door opened, and Connor looked up, up, up to find Mr. Smith’s wrinkly face smiling down at him.
“Well, hello there, Connor. Have you come to visit me?”
“Yes! What story are we going to act out today?” Connor was so excited, he nearly jumped up and down.
“I have one all picked out, son. Come on in.”
Mr. Smith backed up slowly and let Connor inside. Connor accidentally slammed the door with a bang, but Mr. Smith did not mind. The old man led the way to the couch and eased himself onto the cushions.
“Do you know what month it is, son?”
“December,” Connor said.
“Right. Since we celebrate Christmas in a few weeks, I thought today we could act out the real Christmas story. Do you know what part you want to play?”
Connor thought until he came up with his answer. “I want to be the kid with the richest parents, because then I’d get the most presents.”
Mr. Smith laughed. “I’m sorry, Connor. There are no rich parents in the real Christmas story.”
Connor thought harder, trying to remember the real Christmas story. “I know! I want to be one of Santa’s elves, so I can play with all the toys in the factory before Santa delivers them.”
Mr. Smith shook his head. “There are no elves in the real Christmas story, either.”
Before Connor could try again, Mr. Smith said, “Why don’t I tell you the story first, and when I’m done you can pick out who you want to be?”
Connor nodded and sat on the floor in front of Mr. Smith. He would listen very closely. If he couldn’t have the most presents or play with the most toys, he would find some other way to be the star of the show. “Okay. But I know right now I want to be the most important person there ever was.”
“All right, then,” Mr. Smith said with a smile. “Listen close and see who that would be. A long time ago there was a young woman named Mary. One day she was minding her own business, washing clothes in the river—because that is how they did laundry back then.”
Connor wondered if this was going to be a boring afternoon after all. He would not play the part of a girl for anything, especially one doing laundry.
“All of a sudden, Mary looked up to find someone standing in front of her. It was an angel.”
Connor pictured a woman in a white dress with a halo around her head, and he wrinkled his nose. “Is this a sissy story?”
Mr. Smith held up a finger. “Just wait. No pirates today, but I still think you’ll like it. So here is this angel named Gabriel. Mary was so scared that she dropped the clothes into the river. But the angel told her not to be afraid. He was there with a message from God.”
Connor decided being an angel could be good. If Gabriel was on a mission from God, he must be really important. “What was the message?” he asked.
“Mary was going to have a baby.”
Connor rolled his eyes. It was a mushy story after all.
“But she wouldn’t have just any baby. This one would be really special, and they were supposed to call Him Jesus.”
Connor leaned forward, wondering why the baby would be so special. He didn’t ask, though, because Mr. Smith was still talking and Connor’s mother had taught him not to interrupt.
“Mary was supposed to marry a man named Joseph. He was a carpenter, and a good man. Once Joseph heard the news, he decided to treat the baby like his own son. They got married. Right about the time when Mary was going to have the baby, she and her husband had to go to another town far away.”
Connor thought about the tough carpenter man. If they were traveling far, maybe he took a plane and had to fly through storms to get the girl and baby to safety. That could be exciting.
“So Joseph put Mary on a donkey and walked and walked until they reached a little town called Bethlehem.”
Connor frowned. Joseph drove a donkey instead of a plane? Then he did not want to be the carpenter after all.
“That’s where the man in charge of the country had commanded that they stay, but they had a problem. There were a lot of other people who had traveled to Bethlehem just like them, and the town was really crowded. They were tired and worn out when Joseph led Mary to the very last inn in town. Joseph knocked on the door, and a man came to the door, looking almost as tired as him. ‘We don’t have any room,’ the innkeeper said before Joseph could speak a word. ‘But my wife is about to have a baby,’ Joseph said. He was pretty desperate by now. Not only could he not take Mary to a hospital, but it looked like he wasn’t going to be able to find a bed for her, either. If this innkeeper didn’t have pity on them, Mary and Joseph were going to have to sleep outside.”
Connor thought about that, wondering if he should play the innkeeper. Anyone who decided where strangers had to sleep must be pretty powerful. And if his inn was full, he must have been rich.
“What was the innkeeper’s name?” Connor asked.
“The storyteller never says.”
Then the innkeeper must not have been important after all. Connor sighed and listened harder.
“So the man thought about what Joseph had said. His rooms were still full, but he did have one more place that was out of the wind, at least. So he offered the shelter of the barn for Mary and Joseph for the night.”
Connor scrunched his eyebrows together. “The baby was born in a barn?”
“Wait, son, you’re getting ahead of me. Yes, Mary and Joseph stayed in the barn. They could use the straw for a mattress, and their clothes for pillows. It didn’t smell pretty, but it was warm and dry and private.”
“Except for the animals.”
“Right.” Mr. Smith smiled. “So, on that special night we call Christmas, in front of the animals, Mary had a baby. It was a boy, just like Gabriel told her it would be, and they named him Jesus.”
Connor thought it was nice that the baby was born on Christmas, but he didn’t want to be Jesus, because if He was born in a barn, He probably didn’t get many Christmas presents. Or birthday presents, either.
Mr. Smith shifted in his seat and continued. “While Mary and Joseph and Jesus were in the barn, there was something else going on. On a hill nearby, there were shepherds sitting around a campfire while their sheep slept nearby.”
Connor pictured the shepherds and wondered if they were making hot dogs and s’mores.
“So there they were, about to bed down and count sheep when they saw the craziest thing. A bunch of angels—not just one like Mary saw. There was a whole choir of them, lighting up the sky. They were singing and praising God and delivering a special message just for the shepherds.”
“What was it?” Connor asked as Mr. Smith took a sip of water. Maybe he should choose to be a shepherd. They must have been really important for God to have sent them their own bedtime concert.
“God wanted them to know that a baby was born in Bethlehem, in a barn, and they should go welcome Jesus to the world.”
“Did they go?”
Mr. Smith nodded. “They jumped up and ran off to find the barn right away. When they found Jesus, they visited Him for a while, and when they left, they told everyone they met about the angels and the baby.”
Connor sighed. The baby again. Babies were nice and all, but Connor did not find them very interesting.
Mr. Smith heard Connor sigh, and he smiled. “I’m almost done. Can you listen a little longer?”
Connor sat up straighter. “Yes, sir.” Mr. Smith had been so nice to him, and the old man was fun to play with most of the time. Connor could put up with one boring story if he had to. Tomorrow they could play swords.
“When Jesus was born, there was a huge star that appeared over the barn.”
“How huge?” Connor liked stars.
“So huge that far away in another country, some wise men noticed it.”
Connor bounced up and down. Were the wise men astronauts? He would like to be an astronaut.
“The wise men decided to follow the star to see where it led. They had read about a king that would be born and thought the star was a sign that the baby had been born.”
Connor quit bouncing when he heard that. The wise men couldn’t have been that smart after all, because the baby was not a king—he had been born in a barn.
“They packed some stuff and hopped on their camels to find this baby. It was a long, long journey, so long that by the time they arrived, Joseph had moved his little family to a house. The wise men made a surprise visit, and they gave Jesus three gifts.”
Connor grinned. Finally, some presents. “What were they?”
“Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Connor blinked and tried to say the words, “Gold, frank…what?”
Mr. Smith smiled. “It’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Frankincense and myrrh were used to make perfume and other things. They may seem like strange gifts to you, but they were worth a lot of money. Jesus couldn’t play with them, but maybe His parents bought Him toys with the gold.”
Connor hoped so. He decided not to tell his parents what he and Mr. Smith talked about today. He did not want them to buy him frank-stuff for Christmas.
“Well, son,” Mr. Smith said. “That’s the end of the real Christmas story. Do you know who you want to be?”
Connor tapped his chin. Maybe he should be one of the wise men. They seemed rich and very important. He could sneak some candy in with the gold so Jesus picked him as His favorite. Besides, it would be fun to ride a camel.
He opened his mouth to tell Mr. Smith that, but he had a question he needed to be answered first. “Mr. Smith, why did the wise men travel such a long, long way to give presents to someone they had never met? They didn’t even have a naughty and nice list like Santa. So why did they want to see this baby who was born in a barn? And what does this have to do with Christmas?”
Mr. Smith smiled gently. “Christmas is Jesus’s birthday party.”
Connor blinked. “It’s not about Santa and the elves?”
“No, son. It’s about celebrating the birth of the amazing baby who grew up to save the world.”
Connor frowned. “But I don’t understand. How did He save the world?”
Mr. Smith patted the seat beside him. “Come sit closer and I’ll explain.”
Connor climbed onto the couch, leaning close so he wouldn’t miss a word.
“Have you ever done anything bad, Connor? Have you ever lied to your parents or done something they told you not to do?”
Connor scooted farther away, but Mr. Smith did not look mad. “Yes,” he finally answered.
“What happened when they found out?”
“I got into big trouble,” Connor answered, his head bowed in shame.
“Well, the world was full of people who were doing bad things. God loved everyone in the world, even more than your parents love you, but He was going to have to punish the people because of the evil in their hearts. Jesus was God’s Son, and He didn’t have any evil in His heart. But He loved the people, too, so when He grew up, He agreed to take their punishment—everyone’s. Yours, too. So all they’d have to do after that is tell God they were sorry. Jesus had already been punished so they wouldn’t have to be.”
“Wow,” Connor said. “But…if Jesus was punished for all the bad things people did, it must have been pretty horrible.” He frowned, trying to think of what all of his punishments in his life so far would add up to.
“It was.” Mr. Smith looked at him with sad eyes. “Jesus was hurt really badly, and then… He was killed.”
Connor gasped. “Jesus died? Because of the things that I did wrong?”
Mr. Smith nodded. “He took your punishment and mine. That’s why God sent Him down to earth, and why His birthday is so special.”
Connor sniffed back tears. Sure, he hadn’t wanted to be the baby, but that did not mean he wanted Jesus to die!
“Cheer up, son. It’s sad, yes, but it gets better.”
“How can it get better?” Connor rubbed his face.
“You know how I said Jesus was God’s Son? Well, after Jesus died, God brought Him back to life. And then Jesus went back to heaven, and He’s looking down on us right now.”
“Really?” Connor looked up at the ceiling, trying to see through the roof all the way to heaven.
“Really,” Mr. Smith said, then he struggled to his feet. “Now that you know the real story of Christmas, do you know what part you want to play?”
Connor tapped his finger against his chin, thinking hard. “I want to be one of the sheep.”
Mr. Smith nearly fell back in the seat, he was so surprised. “Connor, I thought you said you wanted to be the most important person in the story.”
“Yes, sir, I did say that. But I changed my mind.”
“The sheep didn’t have a part at all.”
“If the baby got cold, I could lay next to Him and keep Him warm.”
Mr. Smith leaned on his cane. “I see,” he said softly.
“Wait,” Connor said, still thinking hard. “Maybe I should be the manger, to make sure Jesus doesn’t fall. Or maybe the roof, to keep off the rain. Or maybe the star, to shine nice and bright so the baby isn’t afraid of the dark.”
Connor put his head in his hands, trying to figure out what the baby would like most. Should he be a bird, to sing Jesus to sleep? Or a cat to keep the mice away? Or…
“You know what Jesus would like best, son?” Mr. Smith asked.
“What?” Connor raised his head to look at the old man.
Mr. Smith tapped Connor’s leg with his cane. “He’d want you to be yourself.”
“But what could I do for Jesus?”
“What He would like most in the world—you can give Him your heart.”
The End.
A Christmas Tale
“Can I go play?” Connor asked his mother.
She smiled at him as she stood over the stove. “Be back in time for supper.”
He raced outside and through the yard to the neighbor’s house. He knocked on the door, wondering what they would play today. Yesterday he’d been a pirate in search of treasure and Mr. Smith had been his first mate. Maybe today he would be a knight and use Mr. Smith’s cane as a sword.
The door opened, and Connor looked up, up, up to find Mr. Smith’s wrinkly face smiling down at him.
“Well, hello there, Connor. Have you come to visit me?”
“Yes! What story are we going to act out today?” Connor was so excited, he nearly jumped up and down.
“I have one all picked out, son. Come on in.”
Mr. Smith backed up slowly and let Connor inside. Connor accidentally slammed the door with a bang, but Mr. Smith did not mind. The old man led the way to the couch and eased himself onto the cushions.
“Do you know what month it is, son?”
“December,” Connor said.
“Right. Since we celebrate Christmas in a few weeks, I thought today we could act out the real Christmas story. Do you know what part you want to play?”
Connor thought until he came up with his answer. “I want to be the kid with the richest parents, because then I’d get the most presents.”
Mr. Smith laughed. “I’m sorry, Connor. There are no rich parents in the real Christmas story.”
Connor thought harder, trying to remember the real Christmas story. “I know! I want to be one of Santa’s elves, so I can play with all the toys in the factory before Santa delivers them.”
Mr. Smith shook his head. “There are no elves in the real Christmas story, either.”
Before Connor could try again, Mr. Smith said, “Why don’t I tell you the story first, and when I’m done you can pick out who you want to be?”
Connor nodded and sat on the floor in front of Mr. Smith. He would listen very closely. If he couldn’t have the most presents or play with the most toys, he would find some other way to be the star of the show. “Okay. But I know right now I want to be the most important person there ever was.”
“All right, then,” Mr. Smith said with a smile. “Listen close and see who that would be. A long time ago there was a young woman named Mary. One day she was minding her own business, washing clothes in the river—because that is how they did laundry back then.”
Connor wondered if this was going to be a boring afternoon after all. He would not play the part of a girl for anything, especially one doing laundry.
“All of a sudden, Mary looked up to find someone standing in front of her. It was an angel.”
Connor pictured a woman in a white dress with a halo around her head, and he wrinkled his nose. “Is this a sissy story?”
Mr. Smith held up a finger. “Just wait. No pirates today, but I still think you’ll like it. So here is this angel named Gabriel. Mary was so scared that she dropped the clothes into the river. But the angel told her not to be afraid. He was there with a message from God.”
Connor decided being an angel could be good. If Gabriel was on a mission from God, he must be really important. “What was the message?” he asked.
“Mary was going to have a baby.”
Connor rolled his eyes. It was a mushy story after all.
“But she wouldn’t have just any baby. This one would be really special, and they were supposed to call Him Jesus.”
Connor leaned forward, wondering why the baby would be so special. He didn’t ask, though, because Mr. Smith was still talking and Connor’s mother had taught him not to interrupt.
“Mary was supposed to marry a man named Joseph. He was a carpenter, and a good man. Once Joseph heard the news, he decided to treat the baby like his own son. They got married. Right about the time when Mary was going to have the baby, she and her husband had to go to another town far away.”
Connor thought about the tough carpenter man. If they were traveling far, maybe he took a plane and had to fly through storms to get the girl and baby to safety. That could be exciting.
“So Joseph put Mary on a donkey and walked and walked until they reached a little town called Bethlehem.”
Connor frowned. Joseph drove a donkey instead of a plane? Then he did not want to be the carpenter after all.
“That’s where the man in charge of the country had commanded that they stay, but they had a problem. There were a lot of other people who had traveled to Bethlehem just like them, and the town was really crowded. They were tired and worn out when Joseph led Mary to the very last inn in town. Joseph knocked on the door, and a man came to the door, looking almost as tired as him. ‘We don’t have any room,’ the innkeeper said before Joseph could speak a word. ‘But my wife is about to have a baby,’ Joseph said. He was pretty desperate by now. Not only could he not take Mary to a hospital, but it looked like he wasn’t going to be able to find a bed for her, either. If this innkeeper didn’t have pity on them, Mary and Joseph were going to have to sleep outside.”
Connor thought about that, wondering if he should play the innkeeper. Anyone who decided where strangers had to sleep must be pretty powerful. And if his inn was full, he must have been rich.
“What was the innkeeper’s name?” Connor asked.
“The storyteller never says.”
Then the innkeeper must not have been important after all. Connor sighed and listened harder.
“So the man thought about what Joseph had said. His rooms were still full, but he did have one more place that was out of the wind, at least. So he offered the shelter of the barn for Mary and Joseph for the night.”
Connor scrunched his eyebrows together. “The baby was born in a barn?”
“Wait, son, you’re getting ahead of me. Yes, Mary and Joseph stayed in the barn. They could use the straw for a mattress, and their clothes for pillows. It didn’t smell pretty, but it was warm and dry and private.”
“Except for the animals.”
“Right.” Mr. Smith smiled. “So, on that special night we call Christmas, in front of the animals, Mary had a baby. It was a boy, just like Gabriel told her it would be, and they named him Jesus.”
Connor thought it was nice that the baby was born on Christmas, but he didn’t want to be Jesus, because if He was born in a barn, He probably didn’t get many Christmas presents. Or birthday presents, either.
Mr. Smith shifted in his seat and continued. “While Mary and Joseph and Jesus were in the barn, there was something else going on. On a hill nearby, there were shepherds sitting around a campfire while their sheep slept nearby.”
Connor pictured the shepherds and wondered if they were making hot dogs and s’mores.
“So there they were, about to bed down and count sheep when they saw the craziest thing. A bunch of angels—not just one like Mary saw. There was a whole choir of them, lighting up the sky. They were singing and praising God and delivering a special message just for the shepherds.”
“What was it?” Connor asked as Mr. Smith took a sip of water. Maybe he should choose to be a shepherd. They must have been really important for God to have sent them their own bedtime concert.
“God wanted them to know that a baby was born in Bethlehem, in a barn, and they should go welcome Jesus to the world.”
“Did they go?”
Mr. Smith nodded. “They jumped up and ran off to find the barn right away. When they found Jesus, they visited Him for a while, and when they left, they told everyone they met about the angels and the baby.”
Connor sighed. The baby again. Babies were nice and all, but Connor did not find them very interesting.
Mr. Smith heard Connor sigh, and he smiled. “I’m almost done. Can you listen a little longer?”
Connor sat up straighter. “Yes, sir.” Mr. Smith had been so nice to him, and the old man was fun to play with most of the time. Connor could put up with one boring story if he had to. Tomorrow they could play swords.
“When Jesus was born, there was a huge star that appeared over the barn.”
“How huge?” Connor liked stars.
“So huge that far away in another country, some wise men noticed it.”
Connor bounced up and down. Were the wise men astronauts? He would like to be an astronaut.
“The wise men decided to follow the star to see where it led. They had read about a king that would be born and thought the star was a sign that the baby had been born.”
Connor quit bouncing when he heard that. The wise men couldn’t have been that smart after all, because the baby was not a king—he had been born in a barn.
“They packed some stuff and hopped on their camels to find this baby. It was a long, long journey, so long that by the time they arrived, Joseph had moved his little family to a house. The wise men made a surprise visit, and they gave Jesus three gifts.”
Connor grinned. Finally, some presents. “What were they?”
“Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Connor blinked and tried to say the words, “Gold, frank…what?”
Mr. Smith smiled. “It’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Frankincense and myrrh were used to make perfume and other things. They may seem like strange gifts to you, but they were worth a lot of money. Jesus couldn’t play with them, but maybe His parents bought Him toys with the gold.”
Connor hoped so. He decided not to tell his parents what he and Mr. Smith talked about today. He did not want them to buy him frank-stuff for Christmas.
“Well, son,” Mr. Smith said. “That’s the end of the real Christmas story. Do you know who you want to be?”
Connor tapped his chin. Maybe he should be one of the wise men. They seemed rich and very important. He could sneak some candy in with the gold so Jesus picked him as His favorite. Besides, it would be fun to ride a camel.
He opened his mouth to tell Mr. Smith that, but he had a question he needed to be answered first. “Mr. Smith, why did the wise men travel such a long, long way to give presents to someone they had never met? They didn’t even have a naughty and nice list like Santa. So why did they want to see this baby who was born in a barn? And what does this have to do with Christmas?”
Mr. Smith smiled gently. “Christmas is Jesus’s birthday party.”
Connor blinked. “It’s not about Santa and the elves?”
“No, son. It’s about celebrating the birth of the amazing baby who grew up to save the world.”
Connor frowned. “But I don’t understand. How did He save the world?”
Mr. Smith patted the seat beside him. “Come sit closer and I’ll explain.”
Connor climbed onto the couch, leaning close so he wouldn’t miss a word.
“Have you ever done anything bad, Connor? Have you ever lied to your parents or done something they told you not to do?”
Connor scooted farther away, but Mr. Smith did not look mad. “Yes,” he finally answered.
“What happened when they found out?”
“I got into big trouble,” Connor answered, his head bowed in shame.
“Well, the world was full of people who were doing bad things. God loved everyone in the world, even more than your parents love you, but He was going to have to punish the people because of the evil in their hearts. Jesus was God’s Son, and He didn’t have any evil in His heart. But He loved the people, too, so when He grew up, He agreed to take their punishment—everyone’s. Yours, too. So all they’d have to do after that is tell God they were sorry. Jesus had already been punished so they wouldn’t have to be.”
“Wow,” Connor said. “But…if Jesus was punished for all the bad things people did, it must have been pretty horrible.” He frowned, trying to think of what all of his punishments in his life so far would add up to.
“It was.” Mr. Smith looked at him with sad eyes. “Jesus was hurt really badly, and then… He was killed.”
Connor gasped. “Jesus died? Because of the things that I did wrong?”
Mr. Smith nodded. “He took your punishment and mine. That’s why God sent Him down to earth, and why His birthday is so special.”
Connor sniffed back tears. Sure, he hadn’t wanted to be the baby, but that did not mean he wanted Jesus to die!
“Cheer up, son. It’s sad, yes, but it gets better.”
“How can it get better?” Connor rubbed his face.
“You know how I said Jesus was God’s Son? Well, after Jesus died, God brought Him back to life. And then Jesus went back to heaven, and He’s looking down on us right now.”
“Really?” Connor looked up at the ceiling, trying to see through the roof all the way to heaven.
“Really,” Mr. Smith said, then he struggled to his feet. “Now that you know the real story of Christmas, do you know what part you want to play?”
Connor tapped his finger against his chin, thinking hard. “I want to be one of the sheep.”
Mr. Smith nearly fell back in the seat, he was so surprised. “Connor, I thought you said you wanted to be the most important person in the story.”
“Yes, sir, I did say that. But I changed my mind.”
“The sheep didn’t have a part at all.”
“If the baby got cold, I could lay next to Him and keep Him warm.”
Mr. Smith leaned on his cane. “I see,” he said softly.
“Wait,” Connor said, still thinking hard. “Maybe I should be the manger, to make sure Jesus doesn’t fall. Or maybe the roof, to keep off the rain. Or maybe the star, to shine nice and bright so the baby isn’t afraid of the dark.”
Connor put his head in his hands, trying to figure out what the baby would like most. Should he be a bird, to sing Jesus to sleep? Or a cat to keep the mice away? Or…
“You know what Jesus would like best, son?” Mr. Smith asked.
“What?” Connor raised his head to look at the old man.
Mr. Smith tapped Connor’s leg with his cane. “He’d want you to be yourself.”
“But what could I do for Jesus?”
“What He would like most in the world—you can give Him your heart.”
The End.
11/25/10
Happy Thanksgiving!
May your day be blessed and full of joy. And food, of course. Lots of food.
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for YOU, my three faithful readers. :-)
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for YOU, my three faithful readers. :-)
11/23/10
LOVE This
Long time, no talk. I know. It's sad. I've been busy over at http://www.tandjbooks.com/, though. And on various blogs. All except my own, poor little ramblings blog. Have you missed me?
My life has changed a bit in the past couple of months. I'm working a lot more. I'm trying to promote Bliss. I'm hatching some new stories in order to pursue some opportunities that have arisen. Lots of stuff going on.
And now that I'm back for however long, you're expecting a profound something from me, aren't you? Something funny or brilliant or deeply thought-provoking.
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Yeah, I'm not coming up with anything. So until I finally post my gushing Thanksgiving thoughts and thank yous, I'm going to point you to another blog called Life In The Fun Lane. Because this idea is just totally stinkin' awesome. :-)
Come on. Admit it! It's great! But then, you might not have quite as much of a word fetish as me, eh? ;-)
Happy Thanksgiving prep! Are you going to be decorating your tree over the weekend? I just might have to run and pick up a newspaper...
My life has changed a bit in the past couple of months. I'm working a lot more. I'm trying to promote Bliss. I'm hatching some new stories in order to pursue some opportunities that have arisen. Lots of stuff going on.
And now that I'm back for however long, you're expecting a profound something from me, aren't you? Something funny or brilliant or deeply thought-provoking.
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-
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Yeah, I'm not coming up with anything. So until I finally post my gushing Thanksgiving thoughts and thank yous, I'm going to point you to another blog called Life In The Fun Lane. Because this idea is just totally stinkin' awesome. :-)
Happy Thanksgiving prep! Are you going to be decorating your tree over the weekend? I just might have to run and pick up a newspaper...
11/2/10
Interview with Julie Carobini
Hop on over to Mind Chocolate for a chance to win a book. (And learn more about Julie, of course. :-) )
11/1/10
Happy Authors' Day!
The lovely president of ACFW, Cynthia Ruchti, tweeted about ways to celebrate National Authors' Day. With permission, I'm sharing her suggestions here. :-) Have fun!
1. Hug a bookshelf and thank the Lord for the authors who wrote so you could read.
2. Go to the author's publisher's website and leave a comment about a favorite book.
3. Write a note (the handwritten kind) to three favorite authors...and let them know you're praying for them.
4. Look at Christmas list. Cross off silly things. Substitute with books. Purchase immediately! :)
5. Enjoyed an author's book? Buy one for a friend...and let the author know why you did.
6. Moved by something an author DID in addition to what he/she wrote? Say so.
7. Stop in at your local bookstore just to say, "My favorite authors are..." and thank the retailer for stocking their books.
8. Spend some time alone with the Author and Finisher of our faith.
9. Tell an author, "I'm someone who knows it's a 'real' job. Thanks!"
10. Defy procrastination! Post a review in a prominent spot(s). Your fave author will be grateful you did!
11. Some author you know is fighting discouragement in writing, family, or career. Make a difference. Pray.
1. Hug a bookshelf and thank the Lord for the authors who wrote so you could read.
2. Go to the author's publisher's website and leave a comment about a favorite book.
3. Write a note (the handwritten kind) to three favorite authors...and let them know you're praying for them.
4. Look at Christmas list. Cross off silly things. Substitute with books. Purchase immediately! :)
5. Enjoyed an author's book? Buy one for a friend...and let the author know why you did.
6. Moved by something an author DID in addition to what he/she wrote? Say so.
7. Stop in at your local bookstore just to say, "My favorite authors are..." and thank the retailer for stocking their books.
8. Spend some time alone with the Author and Finisher of our faith.
9. Tell an author, "I'm someone who knows it's a 'real' job. Thanks!"
10. Defy procrastination! Post a review in a prominent spot(s). Your fave author will be grateful you did!
11. Some author you know is fighting discouragement in writing, family, or career. Make a difference. Pray.
10/30/10
Addiction
[Cue the alarm.] And then I woke up.
10/27/10
Kristin Billerbeck
Hop on over to www.tandjbooks.com for an interview with author Kristin Billerbeck and a book giveaway!
10/18/10
Traditional Publisher v. Self-Publishing
Last week someone asked me what a publisher does for you. Why go that route instead of self-publishing? My off-the-cuff answer didn't cover everything I wished I told him, so here's my second attempt. Don't you feel lucky? (Just to make things clear, I'll be talking about publishing with well-established Christian houses/imprints such as Thomas Nelson, B&H, Harvest House, etc.)
They take the risk from the author.
You don't have to put up any money. The publisher pays the cost of printing, etc. You actually get paid an advance, and if you don't sell enough books to earn it back, well, it's their loss. You don't have to pay anything back. Of course that's not the ideal, and it'll hurt your future chances of publication, but still. The risk is theirs.
They give you credibility.
They need to make money to stay in business, and, as it's their logo on the spine of the book, they need to preserve the quality of their brand. So there's a screening process. They choose projects carefully, then let it go through many stages of edits. They have an art team to design the packaging in a way they believe will most appeal to their target market.
They have a system for getting your book out there.
This is very important. You can't sell your book if no one knows about it, and you can only reach so many by yourself. They have representatives that talk to booksellers to get your book in stores and catalogs. They might place ads or pay for better displays in big bookstores. They might print up bookmarks for you to use, design book trailers, arrange interviews, post extra information on their websites.
There are some advantages when you self-publish through a reputable company, of course. If you have a speaking platform, this can be a good route to go. You have total control over the product. (But do you have the qualifications to be editor/designer/marketer?) You get to keep any profits. (But you have to pay all the costs, and most self-published books don't earn out.) You retain all rights to your story and you can reprint it whenever you want.
In most cases, however, you should opt for pursuing the traditional route. If that door closes, look at the reasons why. You may need to hone your craft, build a better story, or wait for a better time with that particular manuscript.
They take the risk from the author.
You don't have to put up any money. The publisher pays the cost of printing, etc. You actually get paid an advance, and if you don't sell enough books to earn it back, well, it's their loss. You don't have to pay anything back. Of course that's not the ideal, and it'll hurt your future chances of publication, but still. The risk is theirs.
They give you credibility.
They need to make money to stay in business, and, as it's their logo on the spine of the book, they need to preserve the quality of their brand. So there's a screening process. They choose projects carefully, then let it go through many stages of edits. They have an art team to design the packaging in a way they believe will most appeal to their target market.
They have a system for getting your book out there.
This is very important. You can't sell your book if no one knows about it, and you can only reach so many by yourself. They have representatives that talk to booksellers to get your book in stores and catalogs. They might place ads or pay for better displays in big bookstores. They might print up bookmarks for you to use, design book trailers, arrange interviews, post extra information on their websites.
There are some advantages when you self-publish through a reputable company, of course. If you have a speaking platform, this can be a good route to go. You have total control over the product. (But do you have the qualifications to be editor/designer/marketer?) You get to keep any profits. (But you have to pay all the costs, and most self-published books don't earn out.) You retain all rights to your story and you can reprint it whenever you want.
In most cases, however, you should opt for pursuing the traditional route. If that door closes, look at the reasons why. You may need to hone your craft, build a better story, or wait for a better time with that particular manuscript.
10/11/10
Bliss!
Meanwhile, I wanted to pop in to say you can now order an autographed copy of Bliss here!
10/5/10
Meet Emily Rodmell
My Steeple Hill editor is over on Seekerville today as a guest blogger. Skip on over there to hear about what it's like being an editor, what catches her eye, and some tips for writers, both published and unpublished. Double Take also gets a mention or two, so that's always cool. :-) Check it out here.
10/4/10
Confession Session - Sundays
I love Christian fiction. I really do.
I love that they're clean. That words I'd rather not have as part of my vocabulary won't worm their way into my mind as I read them in the text. That the romance is focused on love, not lust. That the deeper meaning to life comes across. That there is always hope, no matter what genre I'm reading.
But one thing I don't love about Christian fiction is the Sunday sermon. I don't know why, but I always end up skimming those sections or even skipping them altogether.
In fact, I think because I don't like to read them, I don't like to write them, so most of the time I actually forget about Sundays when I'm writing. Which--considering the fact that I try to avoid conducting business on Sundays and try to work the same into my books--can make for some pretty interesting editing as I pull out a calendar and put Sundays back in.
What is one thing you love about Christian fiction? Or one thing you don't?
I love that they're clean. That words I'd rather not have as part of my vocabulary won't worm their way into my mind as I read them in the text. That the romance is focused on love, not lust. That the deeper meaning to life comes across. That there is always hope, no matter what genre I'm reading.
But one thing I don't love about Christian fiction is the Sunday sermon. I don't know why, but I always end up skimming those sections or even skipping them altogether.
In fact, I think because I don't like to read them, I don't like to write them, so most of the time I actually forget about Sundays when I'm writing. Which--considering the fact that I try to avoid conducting business on Sundays and try to work the same into my books--can make for some pretty interesting editing as I pull out a calendar and put Sundays back in.
What is one thing you love about Christian fiction? Or one thing you don't?
10/1/10
Big News!
It'll be a fun place to hang out. And with two of us, maybe the posts will be a little more frequent. :-) We plan to focus on chick lit for a while, so we have a fantastic group of authors lined up to interview for that spotlight. And there will be book giveaways, so you know you won't want to miss that. Later on we hope to focus on some co-author teams, and we'll do some light-hearted devotionals and whatever else. And, of course, we'll be talking about Bliss! So stop by Mind Chocolate. You won't regret it. And if you do, well, there's not much I can do about that. :-)
9/27/10
Conference Banquet - The Stay-At-Home Version
On Sunday, September 19th, the ACFW conference was wrapping up. I wasn't able to attend this year for the first time in five years, so it felt a little weird to be staying at home. But it sounds like it was an amazing conference, my friends have been filling me in, I plan on buying the recordings, and the coolest thing is, I got to be "there" for the awards banquet. For the first time, ACFW set up a live blog so we stay-at-homers could keep up with the action.
The banquet is usually pretty incredible. Most people dress to the nines--the majority of the attendees are women. We like a chance to dress up occasionally, you know? And the food...we're talking exquisite-looking salads (even if the gourmet lettuce tastes like weeds), filet-mignon, gorgeous desserts. Amazing stuff. I usually end up taking pictures and texting 'em to my husband to make him jealous. :-)
I bought a few flowers for the occasion. As for the clothes...well, I wasn't sure. Dress up or not? I spent the afternoon debating, and then my husband walked out of the bedroom carrying his tux. "You're weird, but kind of fun, so let's go for it." So we dined on appetizers in our living room, keeping an eye on the computer, in our dress up clothes. :-)
The banquet is usually pretty incredible. Most people dress to the nines--the majority of the attendees are women. We like a chance to dress up occasionally, you know? And the food...we're talking exquisite-looking salads (even if the gourmet lettuce tastes like weeds), filet-mignon, gorgeous desserts. Amazing stuff. I usually end up taking pictures and texting 'em to my husband to make him jealous. :-) So I thought to make it fun, maybe we could dress up here at home and eat something we don't usually eat for dinner. Have our own little mini-conference. We decided on an hors d'oeuvres supper. The food didn't exactly go together, but it was all good and it was something different. Homemade chicken fingers, Mexican layered dip and tortilla chips, fruit and dip.
I bought a few flowers for the occasion. As for the clothes...well, I wasn't sure. Dress up or not? I spent the afternoon debating, and then my husband walked out of the bedroom carrying his tux. "You're weird, but kind of fun, so let's go for it." So we dined on appetizers in our living room, keeping an eye on the computer, in our dress up clothes. :-) It was a fantastic evening. Almost as good as being there, and since Jason has never been at the awards banquet with me, well, that was really special. When my category came up, Jason made a dash for the flip came, and we sat together, peering at the screen while the winner was listed.
Not me, as you already know. That prize went to the very deserving Jill Elizabeth Nelson. Though I haven't read the novel that won it, I read the Reluctant Burglar, and it was a lot of fun! Congrats, Jill!
Some other cool things that happened:
~ Janice LaQuiere, a former critique buddy, won her Genesis category.
~ Some other critique partners and friends were finalists, and though they didn't win, it was awesome they finaled! Some great stuff out there and some stiff competition.
~ Susan May Warren won the Mentor of the Year. VERY deserved. That lady is amazing. She overflows with writing wisdom and thrives on sharing it with others. Besides being an incredible writer (one of my favorites), she is an amazing teacher with a servant's heart. Check out My Book Therapy or her writing craft books or buy a recording of her workshops if you don't believe me. Or even if you do. :-)
~ There was a Lifetime Achievement Award given out for the first time at the conference. It was given to Carol Johnson. She is the lady that the Carol Awards (formerly known as the Book of the Year Awards) was named for. And here's why--many years ago, your options for Christian novels were almost nil. But Carol, an editor at Bethany House, took a chance on a certain author you may have heard of. She fought to have Janette Oke published. And a whole new world of opportunities were opened in the world of Christian fiction. So thanks, Carol. And congratulations on your much-deserved award.
~ Many friends and admired acquaintances won their Carol Award categories. Jenny B. Jones--who is the first (and only, so far) person whose facebook status updates convinced me to buy one of her books--won two categories. Susan May Warren won the novella category, which is cool, because she has often said that The Great Christmas Bowl is the story closest to her heart. I got to know Christina Berry through Donna Fleisher, who mentored us both. Christina and I got our first contracts the same year, so it's been kind of fun to share the journey with her.
So there you go. It was a great conference, even though I didn't attend. Next year in St. Louis...
9/23/10
Award Winners 2010
Genesis Awards
Contemporary Fiction: Lynnette P. Horner, The Assistant
Contemporary Romance: Janice LaQuiere, Truckload of Love
Historical Fiction: Brenda Jackson, Principle Engagement
Historical Romance: Pam Hillman, Terms of Indenturement
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: Rich Bullock, Storm Lake/Storm Song
Romantic Suspense: Valerie Goree, Weep in the Night
Speculative Fiction: Andra Marquardt, Traitors
Women’s Fiction: Jennifer Fromke, Docking
Young Adult: Stefanie Morris, Shyla, Desert Daughter/Shyla, Child of the Desert
Mentor of the Year
Susan May Warren
Member Service Award
Fay Lamb
Editor of the Year
Sue Brower, Zondervan
Agent of the Year
Sandra Bishop, MacGregor Literary
ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award
Carol Johnson
Carol Awards
Contemporary Novella: Susan May Warren, The Great Christmas Bowl
Historical Novella: Janet Tronstad, Christmas Bells for Dry Creek
Short Contemporary: Mae Nunn, A Texas Ranger's Family
Short Contemporary Suspense: Jill Elizabeth Nelson, Evidence of Murder
Short Historical: Dan Walsh, The Unfinished Gift
Young Adult: Jenny B. Jones, I'm So Sure
Long Contemporary: Christina Berry, The Familiar Stranger
Long Contemporary Romance: Jenny B. Jones, Just Between You and Me
Mystery: A.K. Arenz, The Case of the Mystified M.D.
Suspense/Thriller: Terri Blackstock, Intervention
Long Historical: Allison Pittman, Stealing Home
Long Historical Romance: Mary Connealy, Cowboy Christmas
Speculative: Kirk Outerbridge, Eternity Falls
Women’s Fiction: Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay, Never the Bride
Debut Author: Dan Walsh, The Unfinished Gift
A huge congrats to all the winners! And all the finalists, too!
Contemporary Fiction: Lynnette P. Horner, The Assistant
Contemporary Romance: Janice LaQuiere, Truckload of Love
Historical Fiction: Brenda Jackson, Principle Engagement
Historical Romance: Pam Hillman, Terms of Indenturement
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: Rich Bullock, Storm Lake/Storm Song
Romantic Suspense: Valerie Goree, Weep in the Night
Speculative Fiction: Andra Marquardt, Traitors
Women’s Fiction: Jennifer Fromke, Docking
Young Adult: Stefanie Morris, Shyla, Desert Daughter/Shyla, Child of the Desert
Mentor of the Year
Susan May Warren
Member Service Award
Fay Lamb
Editor of the Year
Sue Brower, Zondervan
Agent of the Year
Sandra Bishop, MacGregor Literary
ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award
Carol Johnson
Carol Awards
Contemporary Novella: Susan May Warren, The Great Christmas Bowl
Historical Novella: Janet Tronstad, Christmas Bells for Dry Creek
Short Contemporary: Mae Nunn, A Texas Ranger's Family
Short Contemporary Suspense: Jill Elizabeth Nelson, Evidence of Murder
Short Historical: Dan Walsh, The Unfinished Gift
Young Adult: Jenny B. Jones, I'm So Sure
Long Contemporary: Christina Berry, The Familiar Stranger
Long Contemporary Romance: Jenny B. Jones, Just Between You and Me
Mystery: A.K. Arenz, The Case of the Mystified M.D.
Suspense/Thriller: Terri Blackstock, Intervention
Long Historical: Allison Pittman, Stealing Home
Long Historical Romance: Mary Connealy, Cowboy Christmas
Speculative: Kirk Outerbridge, Eternity Falls
Women’s Fiction: Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay, Never the Bride
Debut Author: Dan Walsh, The Unfinished Gift
A huge congrats to all the winners! And all the finalists, too!
9/20/10
My Carol Award Finalist Speech
The ACFW conference awards banquet was held last night. I didn't win in my category, but some of my friends won in theirs. SO COOL! I'll post a list of winners when I can find an official list. And I'll write about our mini banquet at home while we kept up with the live blog. But for now, since all the thank yous still apply, I thought I'd post the speech I didn't have to give...with a few tweaks to fit the occasion. :-) So, deep breath. Here we go.
As much as I miss being at the conference, giving speeches by proxy is the way to go. So first I want to thank the classy lady who can share my words without needing a water bottle to get her through without breaking down. Tamela, you’re a wonderful agent and a blessing. Thank you.
Thank you, Emily Rodmell, for seeing potential in my work long before I sent you something publishable. Thanks for patiently showing me how to make Double Take better. It’s a pleasure working with you.
Thank you, Cathy West, for being the best critique buddy. You’re stuck with me forever, because who else can offer free lodging in Bermuda?
There is something amazing about the bonds between Christian writers. Those who mentor, critique, encourage, and promote; offer a listening ear, prayer support, and friendship. There are too many of you in my life to list, but know that I appreciate you more than words can say.
Thank you, contest coordinators and judges for all your hard work. I’m so glad to be part of this incredible group, and so honored to be a finalist.
The coolest thing about Double Take being a finalist is that you all helped it happen. Not only through the things you taught at past conferences and the questions you answered on the loop, but through the Genesis contest feedback. Two years ago my judges helped take this very story to the next level. So a big thank you goes to Gina Welborn and the others who judged the entry called Déjà Vu.
Finally, thank You, Heavenly Father, for the stories You’ve planted in each of our hearts. Use them to draw us and our readers closer to You.
As much as I miss being at the conference, giving speeches by proxy is the way to go. So first I want to thank the classy lady who can share my words without needing a water bottle to get her through without breaking down. Tamela, you’re a wonderful agent and a blessing. Thank you.
Thank you, Emily Rodmell, for seeing potential in my work long before I sent you something publishable. Thanks for patiently showing me how to make Double Take better. It’s a pleasure working with you.
Thank you, Cathy West, for being the best critique buddy. You’re stuck with me forever, because who else can offer free lodging in Bermuda?
There is something amazing about the bonds between Christian writers. Those who mentor, critique, encourage, and promote; offer a listening ear, prayer support, and friendship. There are too many of you in my life to list, but know that I appreciate you more than words can say.
Thank you, contest coordinators and judges for all your hard work. I’m so glad to be part of this incredible group, and so honored to be a finalist.
The coolest thing about Double Take being a finalist is that you all helped it happen. Not only through the things you taught at past conferences and the questions you answered on the loop, but through the Genesis contest feedback. Two years ago my judges helped take this very story to the next level. So a big thank you goes to Gina Welborn and the others who judged the entry called Déjà Vu.
Finally, thank You, Heavenly Father, for the stories You’ve planted in each of our hearts. Use them to draw us and our readers closer to You.
9/9/10
Not Your Typical Car-acter
Hop on over to the MBT Ponderers blog to read my post about characters...and see a picture of my old purple car. :-)
9/7/10
Still Alive
Hey, faithful three readers. I've been swamped with edits and planning for the book coming out this fall, and I'm afraid I've neglected you all. Hope you have not been pining for my company too badly. I will be back soon with updates and the witty posts you miss so much. Or not. :-) Hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!
8/23/10
I'm Famous!
...And not for the reasons you might think. Remember the power line fiasco in December? If not, read about it here.
Anyway, here was a write-up in my employer's community newsletter:
Officer...Stewart was commended at the annual law enforcement awards ceremony and has been named Officer of the Year by [the community]. When a live wire fell across a resident's driveway and mailbox, he prevented the neighbor [well, that's supposed to be me--the neighbor's house cleaner. Close.] from exiting her car, which the wire was touching, and stopped the mail carrier from touching the mailbox, thereby saving their lives.
Thank you, Officer Stewart! You will end up in a novel soon.
Anyway, here was a write-up in my employer's community newsletter:
Officer...Stewart was commended at the annual law enforcement awards ceremony and has been named Officer of the Year by [the community]. When a live wire fell across a resident's driveway and mailbox, he prevented the neighbor [well, that's supposed to be me--the neighbor's house cleaner. Close.] from exiting her car, which the wire was touching, and stopped the mail carrier from touching the mailbox, thereby saving their lives.
Thank you, Officer Stewart! You will end up in a novel soon.
8/16/10
RT Book Reviews Article
Just a heads up that if you're bored at your local bookstore (as if that could happen), wander over to the magazines and see if they have the September issue of *RT Book Reviews. If you want to learn a little about writing category romances (shorter romances that fall in a line like Love Inspired or other Harlequin series romances), look up the article called The Farm Team. And there you'll find me. :-) Shocker, eh? I was honored to be interviewed along with some other authors, and it was fun to see what they had to say from their experiences. Some veteran writers like Debbie Macomber chimed in as well. Fun stuff.
*I should probably warn you, however, that this is not an inspirational magazine. It reviews all forms of romance, from mild and sweet to rather, um, spicy. :-)
*I should probably warn you, however, that this is not an inspirational magazine. It reviews all forms of romance, from mild and sweet to rather, um, spicy. :-)
8/11/10
Story Sparkers
Just a note to say it was my turn to blog on the MBT Ponderers' site. I wrote about some places to look for story ideas. Come on over and add to the list! Oh, and we have another contest for the month, so make sure to check that out, too.
8/9/10
Thoughts on Twilight
A month or so ago, the latest movie in the Twilight series released. You probably saw news articles about women of all ages camped out in California for days on end, sporting “Be safe” tattoos or shirts with “I love Edward” scrawled across the front in marker. Were you with them in spirit, or did it make you shake your head in disgust?
Personally, I enjoyed the books. Except for the last one, which I pretty much hated, but that’s a different topic. I get that people loved the story. I do NOT get the obsessive fans, like the ones who are now having marital problems because they fawn so much over these fictional heroes.
How did that hero worship happen? How does a book or a movie spawn this kind of following? I really doubt that was Meyer’s intention. It might actually be a little creepy to her to have fans love her characters even more than she does.
I have to wonder what would have happened if Meyer was a Christian and reflected that in the series. I do respect that she put some morals in there—no drugs, no sex before marriage for Edward and Bella—but what if she went further? What if when Edward left and Bella hit rock bottom, Jacob helped her realize that GOD needed to be her everything? If Meyer put God first in the story—the true God—would fans become more interested in learning about Jesus Christ than in debating Team Jacob or Team Edward?
It's something to think about. I'm not likely to see any of my stories in film, but if I did, I don't ever want my fans to make fools of themselves or jeopordize their real life relationships over a product of my imagination. I want to make sure the shining star in the story is Jesus.
Have you read any novels lately that helped you to see your relationship with Him in a new light or challenged your spiritual walk in some way?
Personally, I enjoyed the books. Except for the last one, which I pretty much hated, but that’s a different topic. I get that people loved the story. I do NOT get the obsessive fans, like the ones who are now having marital problems because they fawn so much over these fictional heroes.
How did that hero worship happen? How does a book or a movie spawn this kind of following? I really doubt that was Meyer’s intention. It might actually be a little creepy to her to have fans love her characters even more than she does.
I have to wonder what would have happened if Meyer was a Christian and reflected that in the series. I do respect that she put some morals in there—no drugs, no sex before marriage for Edward and Bella—but what if she went further? What if when Edward left and Bella hit rock bottom, Jacob helped her realize that GOD needed to be her everything? If Meyer put God first in the story—the true God—would fans become more interested in learning about Jesus Christ than in debating Team Jacob or Team Edward?
It's something to think about. I'm not likely to see any of my stories in film, but if I did, I don't ever want my fans to make fools of themselves or jeopordize their real life relationships over a product of my imagination. I want to make sure the shining star in the story is Jesus.
Have you read any novels lately that helped you to see your relationship with Him in a new light or challenged your spiritual walk in some way?
8/5/10
Confession Session
I'm a fairly good speller (wait--did I spell that right?), but there are some things I struggle with. I read old novels growing up. I mean, seriously old. As in, one of my favorites was a best-seller in 1900. So I sometimes struggle with spelling, as those books tended to use British spelling. Like "colour." "Savior" still doesn't look right to me without the u. I didn't learn how to spell "practice" until 10th grade, when a math teacher wrote an assignment on the board. I had spelled it "practise" up till then.
I also never remember whether potato and tomato have e's, especially if you make them plural. And the city I was born in? I think I finally figured it out, but until recently, I had to google the spelling.
Your turn. What word can you never spell right?
8/2/10
Let Me Introduce...
All of my two readers probably already know about my writer buddy and co-author, Tracy Bowen. But I don't think I've ever introduced her properly.
Meet Tracy: The mother of four very funny boys. The wife of an even funnier husband--I'm talking stand-up comedian funny. The owner of the largest assortment of flipflops I have ever seen. The fryer of some really awesome chicken. The decorater of many a banquet. And the woman with a sense of humor and writer's brain and personality that perfectly complements mine. It's such a pleasure writing with her. I miss her when we're not involved in a project!
How did we get started?
Tracy and I were choir buddies, hanging out in the alto section, talking when the director wasn't looking. (I could do that--the director just happened to be my father.) I also followed Tracy's blog (don't look for it--she hasn't updated in ages. lol. But a new one is coming soon!), and she always managed to crack me up with her unique take on things or her drama queen storytelling skills. It helped, of course, that she had plenty of real-life fodder to pull from. Surviving an airplane crash in a soybean field in Santa Claus, GA, for example.
One day, Tracy mentioned she'd love to write a book. At that time, the chick lit genre was all the rage, with its snarky heroines and light-hearted take on life. In my idea file was this little tidbit I really wanted to take somewhere that would fit perfectly in the chick lit world. But I'd tried to write a romantic comedy already, and though I called it funny, an editor called it slapstick, which equaled a rejection. So one more funny blog from Tracy, and I was ready with a proposal.
"I have this idea. What would you think about writing it with me?" Tracy was game. After a long brainstorming session during an even longer walk on the beach (which took my feet a few days to recover from), we had a story.
After much research, we came up with a "contract" for co-writing. With a plan in place, we figured we wouldn't end up suing each other or getting into random cat fights during choir practice. Tracy Bowen and Jenness Walker were now officially writing partners.
It took a while. We did character sketches. We experimented with writing processes. We finally settled into a system that has worked well for us. (Tracy writes the skeleton of a scene, complete with her great one-liners; I come along and flesh it out while she works on the next section. I send my stuff back, she agrees or points out any issues, etc.) We submitted the first three chapters to a writing contest and Bliss placed in the Genesis Contest. The writing was slow, but we made progress.
Soon we signed with my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray from Hartline Literary Agency. We went out to dinner at a steakhouse to celebrate. And we didn't spill A-1 on the contract, either. Then we went back to writing.
When we were a couple chapters from the end, we took an editing retreat. At a country inn about 30 minutes from home, we sat on our twin beds for two days. Tracy read from the printed copy on her lap. I followed along and made approved changed on the laptop. Then, while I implemented the more involved changes, she whipped out the skeleton for the rest of the book. It was a crazy couple days, let me tell ya. But the end result? Tons of fun.
While we waited for Bliss to find a home, we started another project, then got involved in the group project I blogged about last week. Then, just in the past couple months, we got some news on Bliss again. The chick lit boom has faded, so though we did get some interest in it from a big house previously, they couldn't make a place for Bliss. So when a start-up company with a different type of publishing model (similar to the one Marcher Lord Press is using) made us an offer, we decided to go for it. Last month we signed a contract and Bliss should be released later this year. I'll post more details when I can.
Meanwhile, Tracy and I are working on creating a joint blog/website. We had a kind of an impromptu photo shoot together with Erica from Erica J Photography. We revised Bliss and are working on some marketing stuff for it as the release date looms.
Now my awesome writing buddy has started a project on her own, as well. It's non-fiction, and it's so cool to see how she's grown as a writer. As for me, we both cheer when I manage to make a funny all by myself. :-) Even though we both have separate works-in-progress and plans for many more, we love writing together. It was amazing how we never argued once through this entire process. We had very few differences, but when we didn't see quite eye to eye, it still never got to the place where we had to bust out our co-author contract to see who got to make the final decision. It's been a great experience having a built-in brainstorming buddy, encourager and accountability partner, and it's a partnership we plan to continue indefinitely.
Thanks, Tracy, for being such a great friend and co-author. Couldn't have asked for a better one!
7/31/10
Contest Ends Today!
The blog I joined with the My Book Therapy Ponderers is wrapping up their July contest. The prize basket has a whole lot of goodies that you don't want to miss. And today is the LAST day to enter. Make sure to hop on over if you haven't already! Click here to find out more.
7/30/10
Group Therapy
You usually hear about how writing is a solitary occupation. And that's true in a lot of ways. No one else can write your story for you. No one else can really weave everything together or tell it in your individual voice. It takes you and your computer or notebook, and a whole lot of time in the chair. Or the couch, in my case.
But there are times when being a writer brings you together with other writers in really cool ways. Fast friendships, mentorships, lots of laughs and prayer and understanding. I've already talked about that quite a bit on here. Now I have a new group thing to add to the list: a group proposal.
A group of authors worked out a proposal for a series. We discussed town names and called dibs on character names and occupations, came up with some businesses, and settled on a series of stories set in a small town and including some key characters. Then each individual author (or co-authors, in my case, since I'm writing with Tracy) wrote up summaries for our own stories for the series, our fearless leader formatted them, we gave our bios and other odds and ends, and, finally, submitted a sample chapter.
And now we wait.
Working with a group like this has been different--it's definitely more involved than working with only one co-author. You have a group ready to give opinions, so there's a lot of debate, but there are also a lot of ideas. You have to work around other people's plots, make sure your town map is the same and your characters are consistent. But you also have the other author's backgrounds and audience to pull from. You're not going to be alone in your attempts to promote your book. There's a whole group of authors who want the series to succeed, so you kind of have your own marketing team.
The proposal has garnered some interest, but again, we just have to wait and see. If it's accepted, we'll have a virtual party, I'm sure. And if it's not, there are about ten of us who can console and commiserate with each other. Whether or not this project goes anywhere, it's been a very interesting and fun experience.
But there are times when being a writer brings you together with other writers in really cool ways. Fast friendships, mentorships, lots of laughs and prayer and understanding. I've already talked about that quite a bit on here. Now I have a new group thing to add to the list: a group proposal.
A group of authors worked out a proposal for a series. We discussed town names and called dibs on character names and occupations, came up with some businesses, and settled on a series of stories set in a small town and including some key characters. Then each individual author (or co-authors, in my case, since I'm writing with Tracy) wrote up summaries for our own stories for the series, our fearless leader formatted them, we gave our bios and other odds and ends, and, finally, submitted a sample chapter.
And now we wait.
Working with a group like this has been different--it's definitely more involved than working with only one co-author. You have a group ready to give opinions, so there's a lot of debate, but there are also a lot of ideas. You have to work around other people's plots, make sure your town map is the same and your characters are consistent. But you also have the other author's backgrounds and audience to pull from. You're not going to be alone in your attempts to promote your book. There's a whole group of authors who want the series to succeed, so you kind of have your own marketing team.
The proposal has garnered some interest, but again, we just have to wait and see. If it's accepted, we'll have a virtual party, I'm sure. And if it's not, there are about ten of us who can console and commiserate with each other. Whether or not this project goes anywhere, it's been a very interesting and fun experience.
7/26/10
Pitching Lessons
With the announcement of the Carol Award finalists, I'm thinking about the ACFW conference. The one I'm going to miss this year...Sigh. Anyway, with that in mind, I thought I'd rehash the wonders of pitching by reposting something I wrote for my friend Lynda Schab's blog last year.
For those of you who have never had an agent or editor appointment, let me give you an idea of what it’s like. First, let me give you an illustration, because my husband was a ministerial student and I still get illustrations for everything...
Pitching is like cleaning a Jacuzzi—awkward. All gangly legs and cramping muscles and odd grunts. Believe me, I know. I’ve cleaned many Jacuzzis and hurt myself in about a dozen ways. Either by slipping on water while I’m straddling the thing as I try to climb out, or falling into the waist-deep tub as I try to scrub the other side, or conking my head on the faucet, etc. There have been other uncomfortable moments as well. Like when I’m crouched in the middle of it, cleaning the little jets, when my employer walks in. Stares in shock. Then laughs sheepishly. “I thought you were taking a bath.” Um, yeah. I’m one of those stop-and-smell-the-roses-or-take-a-dip type people.
So, that’s kind of what it feels like to pitch. For those of you who must have specific details, here ya go:
Step one: After months of hammering out your pitch, you wake up early the morning of the appointment, unable to fall back to sleep as your mind races a mile a minute. What if they ask about possible endorsements? Does your mother count? Should the serial killer really be the brother? Or should you make him an alien, just to go for that unique hook publishers are always looking for?
Step two: You make sure all your notes are handy, in some semi-organized fashion in your notebook so you have all possible answers at your fingertips. The conference already supplied your name-tag with your name and genre plastered in big bold letters across your chest. That could come in handy, just in case you forget.
Step three: You head down to breakfast, but can’t really eat because the butterflies are morphing into bats as the minutes march onward. You sing during worship time—you think—but, by the looks of the people around you, were probably in the wrong key. Or maybe just off rhythm, since all you can hear is your sporadic heartbeat thudding in your ears.
Step four: You follow the crowd to your first session, but don’t hear a word of the lecture that you had figured would be worth the entire conference fee. Thirty minutes into it, you scramble out of there in time to grab a dozen Tylenol, a bottle of water, and run over your cheat sheet one more time before your appointment.
Step five: They’re running a little late, so you stand in the hallway guzzling your water. Of course, by the time you’re up, you need to run to the ladies’ room. But you don’t.
Step six: You step inside the little room, gulp as the wanna-be author before you runs out sobbing, and sit at the table. You’re itching to take out your notebook, because you’ve just come up with the next best-seller—a handbook to all the symptoms of nervousness that are humanly possibly. Let’s see, there’s chattering teeth, fluttery tummy, nervous twitches, shaking limbs, strep-like tightness in the throat, hot flashes, cold flashes, oh, and you really, really need that trip to the girls’ room.
Step seven: Sinking into the chair, you try to remember what you’ve been told and find yourself silently chanting, “Editors are humans, too. Editors are humans, too.” The editor (Big E from here on) smiles at you expectantly, and you stumble through an intro, ending with a half-whiney, “I’ve never done this before” or “I’m really bad at this…” Though Big E probably wants to nod in agreement, he holds his smile and asks what you’re working on. Working on? Suddenly you can’t remember what you’ve spent the last year and a half agonizing over. Your hero that you’ve fallen in love with…what was his name again? In desperation you grab for your one sheet and shove it across the table. “Here.”
Step eight: Big E slips on his reading glasses and pretends to read your little summary. It’s witty, succinct, fascinating. A best-seller for sure. He “hmms” a couple times, then looks up. You take a deep breath, hoping he doesn’t hear you wheeze, and itching to jot that down as another symptom to put in your non-fiction book. But you’ve finally remembered why your story is so awesome, and you’re ready to answer any question he might throw your way and then sign the contract he’s surely going to shove across the desk. He opens his mouth—here it comes—and asks, “Did your co-author really survive a plane crash?” Um…yup.
Step nine: That final, telling moment. You’ve already passed your Dove chocolates across the table. Will that be enough? Or should you have splurged for Harry and David’s instead? Big E taps the paper a couple times. Then requests that you send your proposal. Or doesn’t.
Either way, they eat your chocolates. But they don’t eat you.
Moral of the story: Remember, sitting across from an agent or editor is kind of like being caught cleaning the Jacuzzi. So, if you are going to pitch, my advice would be to maintain your sense of humor, pray you’ll keep your balance, and be ready for anything.
Disclaimers: Chocolates are not actually required. Not all writers react the same way. Some of these facts may have been embellished. A bit. Maybe.
For those of you who have never had an agent or editor appointment, let me give you an idea of what it’s like. First, let me give you an illustration, because my husband was a ministerial student and I still get illustrations for everything...
Pitching is like cleaning a Jacuzzi—awkward. All gangly legs and cramping muscles and odd grunts. Believe me, I know. I’ve cleaned many Jacuzzis and hurt myself in about a dozen ways. Either by slipping on water while I’m straddling the thing as I try to climb out, or falling into the waist-deep tub as I try to scrub the other side, or conking my head on the faucet, etc. There have been other uncomfortable moments as well. Like when I’m crouched in the middle of it, cleaning the little jets, when my employer walks in. Stares in shock. Then laughs sheepishly. “I thought you were taking a bath.” Um, yeah. I’m one of those stop-and-smell-the-roses-or-take-a-dip type people.
So, that’s kind of what it feels like to pitch. For those of you who must have specific details, here ya go:
Step one: After months of hammering out your pitch, you wake up early the morning of the appointment, unable to fall back to sleep as your mind races a mile a minute. What if they ask about possible endorsements? Does your mother count? Should the serial killer really be the brother? Or should you make him an alien, just to go for that unique hook publishers are always looking for?
Step two: You make sure all your notes are handy, in some semi-organized fashion in your notebook so you have all possible answers at your fingertips. The conference already supplied your name-tag with your name and genre plastered in big bold letters across your chest. That could come in handy, just in case you forget.
Step three: You head down to breakfast, but can’t really eat because the butterflies are morphing into bats as the minutes march onward. You sing during worship time—you think—but, by the looks of the people around you, were probably in the wrong key. Or maybe just off rhythm, since all you can hear is your sporadic heartbeat thudding in your ears.
Step four: You follow the crowd to your first session, but don’t hear a word of the lecture that you had figured would be worth the entire conference fee. Thirty minutes into it, you scramble out of there in time to grab a dozen Tylenol, a bottle of water, and run over your cheat sheet one more time before your appointment.
Step five: They’re running a little late, so you stand in the hallway guzzling your water. Of course, by the time you’re up, you need to run to the ladies’ room. But you don’t.
Step six: You step inside the little room, gulp as the wanna-be author before you runs out sobbing, and sit at the table. You’re itching to take out your notebook, because you’ve just come up with the next best-seller—a handbook to all the symptoms of nervousness that are humanly possibly. Let’s see, there’s chattering teeth, fluttery tummy, nervous twitches, shaking limbs, strep-like tightness in the throat, hot flashes, cold flashes, oh, and you really, really need that trip to the girls’ room.
Step seven: Sinking into the chair, you try to remember what you’ve been told and find yourself silently chanting, “Editors are humans, too. Editors are humans, too.” The editor (Big E from here on) smiles at you expectantly, and you stumble through an intro, ending with a half-whiney, “I’ve never done this before” or “I’m really bad at this…” Though Big E probably wants to nod in agreement, he holds his smile and asks what you’re working on. Working on? Suddenly you can’t remember what you’ve spent the last year and a half agonizing over. Your hero that you’ve fallen in love with…what was his name again? In desperation you grab for your one sheet and shove it across the table. “Here.”
Step eight: Big E slips on his reading glasses and pretends to read your little summary. It’s witty, succinct, fascinating. A best-seller for sure. He “hmms” a couple times, then looks up. You take a deep breath, hoping he doesn’t hear you wheeze, and itching to jot that down as another symptom to put in your non-fiction book. But you’ve finally remembered why your story is so awesome, and you’re ready to answer any question he might throw your way and then sign the contract he’s surely going to shove across the desk. He opens his mouth—here it comes—and asks, “Did your co-author really survive a plane crash?” Um…yup.
Step nine: That final, telling moment. You’ve already passed your Dove chocolates across the table. Will that be enough? Or should you have splurged for Harry and David’s instead? Big E taps the paper a couple times. Then requests that you send your proposal. Or doesn’t.
Either way, they eat your chocolates. But they don’t eat you.
Moral of the story: Remember, sitting across from an agent or editor is kind of like being caught cleaning the Jacuzzi. So, if you are going to pitch, my advice would be to maintain your sense of humor, pray you’ll keep your balance, and be ready for anything.
Disclaimers: Chocolates are not actually required. Not all writers react the same way. Some of these facts may have been embellished. A bit. Maybe.
7/22/10
What I Love About...
I am a picky reader, but still, there are so many books and authors I love. I don't usually like to post book reviews, so I'm not going to. But someone suggested I do it, so here's my compromise. I figure I can tell you some things I really admire in some stories, some of the things that really draw me in.
I just finished a Charles Martin book, so I'm going to start with him and Dean Koontz. Kind of an odd combination, maybe. Martin writes mostly for CBA (Christian fiction), Koontz for ABA (general market). Martin is more literary or general fiction--kind of a Nicholas Sparks type (but better, in my opinion), and Koontz is usually a crazy combination of sci-fi and suspense and humor who knows what else. But they have something in common that makes me keep coming back for more: heroes who love their wives more than life itself.
I love that.
The hero is usually humble--never quite sure what the woman he adores sees in him, but loving her all the more for it. He stands in awe of her spirit and does whatever he can to protect her and make her dreams come true. And he has a sense of humor.
The wife is usually sassy but kind. She's fun-loving, but sees the needs around her and has a heart of compassion. She knows her man. She tries to make him see what she sees inside of him. And she makes him a better person.
It's such a winning combination. The romance is not gone in these marriages, that's for sure.
And I think it points to something else. When someone sits down and writes a book, even if it's fiction, it's filled with the experiences of the author. Their heart bleeds on those pages. With that in mind, these characters that appear in book after book do not become cliche. It makes them more special, because it makes me think Koontz and Martin are writing about their own marriages, their own experiences, their undying love for their own wives. And that, in my opinion, makes their books grab your heart even more.
I just finished a Charles Martin book, so I'm going to start with him and Dean Koontz. Kind of an odd combination, maybe. Martin writes mostly for CBA (Christian fiction), Koontz for ABA (general market). Martin is more literary or general fiction--kind of a Nicholas Sparks type (but better, in my opinion), and Koontz is usually a crazy combination of sci-fi and suspense and humor who knows what else. But they have something in common that makes me keep coming back for more: heroes who love their wives more than life itself.
I love that.
The hero is usually humble--never quite sure what the woman he adores sees in him, but loving her all the more for it. He stands in awe of her spirit and does whatever he can to protect her and make her dreams come true. And he has a sense of humor.
The wife is usually sassy but kind. She's fun-loving, but sees the needs around her and has a heart of compassion. She knows her man. She tries to make him see what she sees inside of him. And she makes him a better person.
It's such a winning combination. The romance is not gone in these marriages, that's for sure.
And I think it points to something else. When someone sits down and writes a book, even if it's fiction, it's filled with the experiences of the author. Their heart bleeds on those pages. With that in mind, these characters that appear in book after book do not become cliche. It makes them more special, because it makes me think Koontz and Martin are writing about their own marriages, their own experiences, their undying love for their own wives. And that, in my opinion, makes their books grab your heart even more.
7/19/10
Mentors
So, I posted the list of the Carol Award finalists, and you might have noticed it happened to have my name on it. :-) Well, it also had a couple of special writers who have served as mentors to me, and so I thought I'd do a little shout-out to them and to others who have encouraged or strengthened my writing over the years.
1. Mr. Holden--My seventh grade teacher who wrote drilled prepositional phrases into me and once wrote a note at the top of my paper, saying that God needed a writer like me.
2. Mrs. Wright--My high school English teacher who wasn't stingy with praise but was definitely prepared to show me I hadn't arrived quite yet.
3. Daphne Hogstrom--My correspondence course teacher who didn't hate me for my procrastinating ways, taught me about POV shifts, and almost got invited to my wedding since she put up with me for so long.
4. Donna Fleisher--Published novelist and freelance editor who critiqued my first finished book-sized manuscript. I learned SO much from the notes in the margin and the four tapes she made explaining her thoughts and various rules, etc. She was such a vital part in taking me to the next level in my writing. AND she became a wonderful friend.
5. Susan May Warren (a Carol Award double finalist)--Though I'd written and rewritten my first manuscript and my rejection letters were getting nicer, I still hadn't landed an agent when I went to my first writers' conference. I was disappointed since Susan's editing slots had filled up. When she found that out, she took my first chapter (my WAY too long first chapter) and read through it during one of the meals, adding comments and then talking to me about it later. One the first page she wrote that I could definitely write, which is exactly the encouragement I needed then. Now, I'm involved in Susan's My Book Therapy organization, which has chats on Monday nights about the writing craft, holds retreats, has an ezine, etc. As far as mentors go, Susie's at the top of the pile. :-)
6. Rachel Hauck (a Carol Award finalist)--Rachel's also involved in My Book Therapy and taught at the retreat I went to in February. Rachel is the one who asked me to do the devotional at last year's conference and who encouraged me and prayed for me and offered to stand on the platform beside me when the nerves hit big-time. She talked to me about agents when I had questions. She looked over the first chapter of my most recent work-in-progress. She met Tracy and I for lunch and just talked writing and everything else.
7. Then there are all the contest judges, like Meredith Efken and Gina Welborn and many anonymous others who have been willing to volunteer their time to critique my contest entries and give me valuable feedback.
I'm sure I'm missing some, and, of course, there are all of my wonderful critique partners, but that's another post altogether. But I just wanted to thank you all so much for how you have helped me to grow as a writer. Thank you for all the time you've given, and for all the encouragement and wisdom and advice.
You are very appreciated.
1. Mr. Holden--My seventh grade teacher who wrote drilled prepositional phrases into me and once wrote a note at the top of my paper, saying that God needed a writer like me.
2. Mrs. Wright--My high school English teacher who wasn't stingy with praise but was definitely prepared to show me I hadn't arrived quite yet.
3. Daphne Hogstrom--My correspondence course teacher who didn't hate me for my procrastinating ways, taught me about POV shifts, and almost got invited to my wedding since she put up with me for so long.
4. Donna Fleisher--Published novelist and freelance editor who critiqued my first finished book-sized manuscript. I learned SO much from the notes in the margin and the four tapes she made explaining her thoughts and various rules, etc. She was such a vital part in taking me to the next level in my writing. AND she became a wonderful friend.
5. Susan May Warren (a Carol Award double finalist)--Though I'd written and rewritten my first manuscript and my rejection letters were getting nicer, I still hadn't landed an agent when I went to my first writers' conference. I was disappointed since Susan's editing slots had filled up. When she found that out, she took my first chapter (my WAY too long first chapter) and read through it during one of the meals, adding comments and then talking to me about it later. One the first page she wrote that I could definitely write, which is exactly the encouragement I needed then. Now, I'm involved in Susan's My Book Therapy organization, which has chats on Monday nights about the writing craft, holds retreats, has an ezine, etc. As far as mentors go, Susie's at the top of the pile. :-)
6. Rachel Hauck (a Carol Award finalist)--Rachel's also involved in My Book Therapy and taught at the retreat I went to in February. Rachel is the one who asked me to do the devotional at last year's conference and who encouraged me and prayed for me and offered to stand on the platform beside me when the nerves hit big-time. She talked to me about agents when I had questions. She looked over the first chapter of my most recent work-in-progress. She met Tracy and I for lunch and just talked writing and everything else.
7. Then there are all the contest judges, like Meredith Efken and Gina Welborn and many anonymous others who have been willing to volunteer their time to critique my contest entries and give me valuable feedback.
I'm sure I'm missing some, and, of course, there are all of my wonderful critique partners, but that's another post altogether. But I just wanted to thank you all so much for how you have helped me to grow as a writer. Thank you for all the time you've given, and for all the encouragement and wisdom and advice.
You are very appreciated.
7/17/10
The Carol Awards
I'm very pleased to announce the finalists in the Carol Awards, formerly known as the Book of the Year Awards, hosted by American Christian Fiction Writers. Some of my buddies and mentors are on this list! Congratulations to everyone, especially Liz Johnson, Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, and Christina Berry!
Debut Author
Bonnie Grove - Talking to the Dead (David C. Cook Publishing)
Liz Jonson - The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn (Steeple Hill)
Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)
Jill Eileen Smith - Michal (Revell)
Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)
Contemporary Novella
6 Finalists due to a tie
Barbara Cameron – One Child (Thomas Nelson)
Barbara Cameron – When Winter Comes (Thomas Nelson)
Debra Clopton – A Mule Hollow Match (Steeple Hill)
Susan May Warren – The Great Christmas Bowl (Tyndale House)
Beth Wiseman – A Change of Heart (Thomas Nelson)
Beth Wiseman – A Choice to Forgive (Thomas Nelson)
Historical Novella
Victoria Bylin – Home Again (Steeple Hill)
Vickie McDonough – A Breed Apart (Barbour Publishing)
Vickie McDonough – Beloved Enemy (Barbour Publishing)
Janet Tronstad - Christmas Bells for Dry Creek (Steeple Hill)
Carrie Turansky - A Shelter in the Storm (Barbour Publishing)
Long Contemporary
6 Finalists due to a tie
Christina Berry - The Familiar Stranger (Moody Publishers)
Mary Ellis - A Widow's Hope (Harvest House Publishers)
Joyce Magnin - The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow (Abingdon Press)
Susan Meissner - White Picket Fences (Waterbrook Press)
Marlo Schalesky- If Tomorrow Never Comes (Multnomah)
Susan May Warren - Nothing But Trouble (Tyndale House)
Long Contemporary Romance
Candace Calvert - Critical Care (Tyndale House)
Denise Hunter - Seaside Letters (Thomas Nelson)
Jenny B. Jones - Just Between You and Me (Thomas Nelson)
Beth Wiseman - Plain Promise (Thomas Nelson)
Cindy Woodsmall - The Hope of Refuge (Waterbrook Press)
Mystery
A.K. Arenz - The Case of the Mystified M.D. (Sheaf House)
Mindy Starns Clark - Under the Cajun Moon (Harvest House Publishers)
Darlene Franklin - A String of Murders (Heartsong Mysteries)
S. Dionne Moore - Polly Dent Loses Grip (Heartsong Mysteries)
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Pushing up Daisies (Heartsong Mysteries)
Long Historical
Deeanne Gist - A Bride in the Bargain (Bethany House)
Robin Lee Hatcher - Fit To Be Tied (Zondervan)
Maureen Lang - Look to the East (Tyndale House)
Siri Mitchell - Love's Pursuit (Bethany House)
Allison Pittman - Stealing Home (Multnomah)
Long Historical Romance
8 Finalists due to a tie
Amanda Cabot - Paper Roses (Revell)
Mary Connealy - Cowboy Christmas (Barbour Publishing)
Mary Connealy - Montana Rose (Barbour Publishing)
Laura Frantz - The Frontiersman's Daughter (Revell)
Ann Gabhart - The Believer (Revell)
Julie Lessman - A Passion Denied (Revell)
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas (Summerside Press)
Kathleen Y’Barbo - The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper (Waterbrook Press)
Short Contemporary
Debra Clopton - His Cowgirl Bride (Steeple Hill)
Myra Johnson - Autumn Rains (Heartsong Presents)
Vickie McDonough - A Wagonload of Trouble (Heartsong Presents)
Mae Nunn - A Texas Ranger's Family (Steeple Hill)
Glynna Sirpless writing as Glynna Kaye - Dreaming of Home (Steeple Hill)
Short Contemporary Suspense
6 Finalists due to a tie
Jill Elizabeth Nelson - Evidence of Murder (Steeple Hill)
Sandra Robbins - Final Warning (Steeple Hill)
Virginia Smith - Murder at Eagle Summit (Steeple Hill)
Virginia Smith - Scent of Murder (Steeple Hill)
Jenness Walker - Double Take (Steeple Hill)
Lenora Worth - Code of Honor (Steeple Hill)
Short Historical
Lyn Cote - Her Patchwork Family (Steeple Hill)
Laurie Alice Eakes - The Glassblower (Heartsong Presents)
Laurie Kingery - The Outlaw's Lady (Steeple Hill)
Lynette Sowell - All That Glitters (Heartsong Presents)
Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)
Speculative (includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Allegory)
6 Finalists due to a tie
Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)
Donita K. Paul - The Vanishing Sculptor (Waterbrook Press)
Steve Rzasa - The Word Reclaimed (Marcher Lord Press)
Stuart Vaughn Stockton – Starfire (Marcher Lord Press)
Fred Warren - The Muse (Splashdown Books)
Jill Williamson - By Darkness Hid (Marcher Lord Press)
Suspense/Thriller
Terri Blackstock – Intervention (Zondervan)
Colleen Coble - Lonestar Secrets (Thomas Nelson)
Brandilyn Collins – Exposure (Zondervan)
Harry Kraus - Salty Like Blood (Howard/Simon & Schuster)
DiAnn Mills - Breach of Trust (Tyndale House)
Women’s Fiction
7 Finalists due to a tie
Julie Carobini - Sweet Waters (B&H Publishing)
Kathryn Cushman – Leaving Yesterday (Bethany House)
Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck - Sweet By and By (Thomas Nelson)
Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay - Never the Bride (Waterbrook Press)
Deborah Raney - Yesterday's Embers (Howard/Simon & Schuster)
Deborah Raney - Above All Things (Steeple Hill)
Lisa Wingate - The Summer Kitchen (New American Library/Penguin)
Young Adult
Shelley Adina - Who Made You a Princess? (Hachette FaithWords)
Brandilyn & Amberly Collins - Always Watching (Zondervan)
Jenny B. Jones - I'm So Sure (Thomas Nelson)
Jenny B. Jones - So Not Happening (Thomas Nelson)
Booker T. Mattison - Unsigned Hype (Revell)
The Carol Awards will be presented at ACFW's Conference in Indianapolis, September 17-20.
Debut Author
Bonnie Grove - Talking to the Dead (David C. Cook Publishing)
Liz Jonson - The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn (Steeple Hill)
Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)
Jill Eileen Smith - Michal (Revell)
Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)
Contemporary Novella
6 Finalists due to a tie
Barbara Cameron – One Child (Thomas Nelson)
Barbara Cameron – When Winter Comes (Thomas Nelson)
Debra Clopton – A Mule Hollow Match (Steeple Hill)
Susan May Warren – The Great Christmas Bowl (Tyndale House)
Beth Wiseman – A Change of Heart (Thomas Nelson)
Beth Wiseman – A Choice to Forgive (Thomas Nelson)
Historical Novella
Victoria Bylin – Home Again (Steeple Hill)
Vickie McDonough – A Breed Apart (Barbour Publishing)
Vickie McDonough – Beloved Enemy (Barbour Publishing)
Janet Tronstad - Christmas Bells for Dry Creek (Steeple Hill)
Carrie Turansky - A Shelter in the Storm (Barbour Publishing)
Long Contemporary
6 Finalists due to a tie
Christina Berry - The Familiar Stranger (Moody Publishers)
Mary Ellis - A Widow's Hope (Harvest House Publishers)
Joyce Magnin - The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow (Abingdon Press)
Susan Meissner - White Picket Fences (Waterbrook Press)
Marlo Schalesky- If Tomorrow Never Comes (Multnomah)
Susan May Warren - Nothing But Trouble (Tyndale House)
Long Contemporary Romance
Candace Calvert - Critical Care (Tyndale House)
Denise Hunter - Seaside Letters (Thomas Nelson)
Jenny B. Jones - Just Between You and Me (Thomas Nelson)
Beth Wiseman - Plain Promise (Thomas Nelson)
Cindy Woodsmall - The Hope of Refuge (Waterbrook Press)
Mystery
A.K. Arenz - The Case of the Mystified M.D. (Sheaf House)
Mindy Starns Clark - Under the Cajun Moon (Harvest House Publishers)
Darlene Franklin - A String of Murders (Heartsong Mysteries)
S. Dionne Moore - Polly Dent Loses Grip (Heartsong Mysteries)
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Pushing up Daisies (Heartsong Mysteries)
Long Historical
Deeanne Gist - A Bride in the Bargain (Bethany House)
Robin Lee Hatcher - Fit To Be Tied (Zondervan)
Maureen Lang - Look to the East (Tyndale House)
Siri Mitchell - Love's Pursuit (Bethany House)
Allison Pittman - Stealing Home (Multnomah)
Long Historical Romance
8 Finalists due to a tie
Amanda Cabot - Paper Roses (Revell)
Mary Connealy - Cowboy Christmas (Barbour Publishing)
Mary Connealy - Montana Rose (Barbour Publishing)
Laura Frantz - The Frontiersman's Daughter (Revell)
Ann Gabhart - The Believer (Revell)
Julie Lessman - A Passion Denied (Revell)
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas (Summerside Press)
Kathleen Y’Barbo - The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper (Waterbrook Press)
Short Contemporary
Debra Clopton - His Cowgirl Bride (Steeple Hill)
Myra Johnson - Autumn Rains (Heartsong Presents)
Vickie McDonough - A Wagonload of Trouble (Heartsong Presents)
Mae Nunn - A Texas Ranger's Family (Steeple Hill)
Glynna Sirpless writing as Glynna Kaye - Dreaming of Home (Steeple Hill)
Short Contemporary Suspense
6 Finalists due to a tie
Jill Elizabeth Nelson - Evidence of Murder (Steeple Hill)
Sandra Robbins - Final Warning (Steeple Hill)
Virginia Smith - Murder at Eagle Summit (Steeple Hill)
Virginia Smith - Scent of Murder (Steeple Hill)
Jenness Walker - Double Take (Steeple Hill)
Lenora Worth - Code of Honor (Steeple Hill)
Short Historical
Lyn Cote - Her Patchwork Family (Steeple Hill)
Laurie Alice Eakes - The Glassblower (Heartsong Presents)
Laurie Kingery - The Outlaw's Lady (Steeple Hill)
Lynette Sowell - All That Glitters (Heartsong Presents)
Dan Walsh - The Unfinished Gift (Revell)
Speculative (includes Science Fiction, Fantasy, Allegory)
6 Finalists due to a tie
Kirk Outerbridge - Eternity Falls (Marcher Lord Press)
Donita K. Paul - The Vanishing Sculptor (Waterbrook Press)
Steve Rzasa - The Word Reclaimed (Marcher Lord Press)
Stuart Vaughn Stockton – Starfire (Marcher Lord Press)
Fred Warren - The Muse (Splashdown Books)
Jill Williamson - By Darkness Hid (Marcher Lord Press)
Suspense/Thriller
Terri Blackstock – Intervention (Zondervan)
Colleen Coble - Lonestar Secrets (Thomas Nelson)
Brandilyn Collins – Exposure (Zondervan)
Harry Kraus - Salty Like Blood (Howard/Simon & Schuster)
DiAnn Mills - Breach of Trust (Tyndale House)
Women’s Fiction
7 Finalists due to a tie
Julie Carobini - Sweet Waters (B&H Publishing)
Kathryn Cushman – Leaving Yesterday (Bethany House)
Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck - Sweet By and By (Thomas Nelson)
Rene Gutteridge & Cheryl McKay - Never the Bride (Waterbrook Press)
Deborah Raney - Yesterday's Embers (Howard/Simon & Schuster)
Deborah Raney - Above All Things (Steeple Hill)
Lisa Wingate - The Summer Kitchen (New American Library/Penguin)
Young Adult
Shelley Adina - Who Made You a Princess? (Hachette FaithWords)
Brandilyn & Amberly Collins - Always Watching (Zondervan)
Jenny B. Jones - I'm So Sure (Thomas Nelson)
Jenny B. Jones - So Not Happening (Thomas Nelson)
Booker T. Mattison - Unsigned Hype (Revell)
The Carol Awards will be presented at ACFW's Conference in Indianapolis, September 17-20.
7/12/10
Creativity and the Soul
Okay, folks, I'm going to cheat again, sort of. I did blog on this subject, but to read it, go here. I'm blogging with some writer buddies now (The Ponderers), and this is my first post over there. Tell me what you think. Oh, and there's a contest with lots of goodies, so make sure to check it out!
7/8/10
Slacking
I know, I know. I cheated last week with decorating stuff. And I'm late getting something up today. But I just want you to know that there's something in the works, and other things have been taking up blogging energy.
Those of you who blog, how do you get your ideas? Do you have a certain day you write and schedule all of your blogs for the week/month/quarter? What are the best tips you have to offer me? :-)
I'll have an interesting update for the three of you readers soon. But for now, here's a thought for the day:
"Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven." ~G.C. Lichtenberg
Those of you who blog, how do you get your ideas? Do you have a certain day you write and schedule all of your blogs for the week/month/quarter? What are the best tips you have to offer me? :-)
I'll have an interesting update for the three of you readers soon. But for now, here's a thought for the day:
"Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven." ~G.C. Lichtenberg
7/5/10
Summer Days
So far this summer I:
1. Ate at my favorite Japanese restaurant with my parents, who were down to pick up another piano. My dad is the only one I know that puts a piano in the back of his van.
2. Did research for vacation and ran across this description of a room at a B&B: Small, intimate room with rats. And they didn't even offer a discount!
3. Ate at the wonderful Cheesecake Factory with my younger brother and his wife, then people-watched at the mall. (My hubby and I did. My brother and his wife were normal and actually shopped.) The entertainment factor was high.
4. Helped my hubby move to an office. Which means I can play my music at home as loud as I want. Or I could if I hadn't busted my speakers.
5. Begged my hubby to pull up the garden, because the crackly bean plants and rotting tomatoes were so embarrassing.
6. Met the lovely author Rachel Hauck for lunch, although not on the day I posted about it on my blog. Oops.
7. Walked to the beach to write, but it was so hot and crowded that I scribbled one sentence before walking back home.
8. Worked on my non-fiction reading list. Almost done with one right now, and just saying that makes me feel so intellectual.
9. Joined a new writing blog. There's a new post up today, so check it out here. I'll be posting my first contribution on the 12th. And it's already written. Aren't you surprised? :-)
10. Started to clean out my email inbox. Got through maybe twenty emails and quit. But I'll do it before I hit 6000, I promise. Maybe.
11. Made strawberry lemonade for the first time. Easy recipe--10 oz frozen strawberries pureed, maybe a few kept whole to use for ice cubes. A tube of lemonade concentrate, thawed. Mix together with 4-1/2 cups of water (or more, to taste), maybe add a little sugar to the strawberries, and wa-la. Little tart, but pretty good.
So what about you? What have you been doing this summer?
1. Ate at my favorite Japanese restaurant with my parents, who were down to pick up another piano. My dad is the only one I know that puts a piano in the back of his van.
2. Did research for vacation and ran across this description of a room at a B&B: Small, intimate room with rats. And they didn't even offer a discount!
3. Ate at the wonderful Cheesecake Factory with my younger brother and his wife, then people-watched at the mall. (My hubby and I did. My brother and his wife were normal and actually shopped.) The entertainment factor was high.
4. Helped my hubby move to an office. Which means I can play my music at home as loud as I want. Or I could if I hadn't busted my speakers.
5. Begged my hubby to pull up the garden, because the crackly bean plants and rotting tomatoes were so embarrassing.
6. Met the lovely author Rachel Hauck for lunch, although not on the day I posted about it on my blog. Oops.
7. Walked to the beach to write, but it was so hot and crowded that I scribbled one sentence before walking back home.
8. Worked on my non-fiction reading list. Almost done with one right now, and just saying that makes me feel so intellectual.
9. Joined a new writing blog. There's a new post up today, so check it out here. I'll be posting my first contribution on the 12th. And it's already written. Aren't you surprised? :-)
10. Started to clean out my email inbox. Got through maybe twenty emails and quit. But I'll do it before I hit 6000, I promise. Maybe.
11. Made strawberry lemonade for the first time. Easy recipe--10 oz frozen strawberries pureed, maybe a few kept whole to use for ice cubes. A tube of lemonade concentrate, thawed. Mix together with 4-1/2 cups of water (or more, to taste), maybe add a little sugar to the strawberries, and wa-la. Little tart, but pretty good.
So what about you? What have you been doing this summer?
7/1/10
Dream Writing Room III
My sister-in-law says I'm cheating--that I'm taking the easy way out by posting pics and pretty much no content on my blog. But my husband is getting an office, so I guess this is me dreaming. And since pictures speak a thousand words, I figure I'm getting in a pretty good word count. So there. lol
These are just a couple fun organizing ideas. I think I got them from Better Homes and Gardens:
Honestly, though, my couch isn't so awful to write on. It would be nice to shut the door on my mess, however. I'd even be happy with a closet...
Especially a closet like this one!
Monday I'll probably post some decorating blog links that I like. I'd love to see some of your favorites, too! And then I promise I'll write a real blog post. If I make it boring enough, you might vote for pictures again. :-)
These are just a couple fun organizing ideas. I think I got them from Better Homes and Gardens:
Honestly, though, my couch isn't so awful to write on. It would be nice to shut the door on my mess, however. I'd even be happy with a closet...
Especially a closet like this one!Monday I'll probably post some decorating blog links that I like. I'd love to see some of your favorites, too! And then I promise I'll write a real blog post. If I make it boring enough, you might vote for pictures again. :-)
6/28/10
Dream Writing Room II
So, it's been established that I want lots of cubbies. :-) Next, I want a table. Something big enough to spread out research or totally unrelated craft-type projects, or even wrap presents. Because, you see, my writing room will also need to be messy room, because my husband would appreciate it if I try to contain my piles to one area. Ha. So here are some possibilities...
I've always loved these kinds of tables with bench seating.
This table is a little too long, but think of all the projects you could have going at once! :-)
This one seems to be a really good use of space. I might be leaning toward this one, but I'm not sure.
I've always loved these kinds of tables with bench seating.
This table is a little too long, but think of all the projects you could have going at once! :-)
This one seems to be a really good use of space. I might be leaning toward this one, but I'm not sure.
Confession time--have I got you looking for ideas now?
6/24/10
Dream Writing Room
If I wasn't blessed (or cursed?) with a super-active imagination, I would have loved to pursue interior decorating. But now I just dream. :-) And right now, for fun, I'm looking at great rooms for writing. Here are a few I've found so far. I love all the cubbies and the organization.
And I love the reading chair and ottoman in the corner. That's a must. :-)
And I love the reading chair and ottoman in the corner. That's a must. :-) More coming. And watch out, fellow writers. I'm going to be tagging you to find out your dream writing rooms!
And for my FOUR (yes! I'm up to at least four!) readers, what rooms are you dreaming of? Pictures, please! :-) Leave links in the comments section--I'd love to see them.
6/17/10
All About Blogging
I'm trying to do better with the blogging. I've been posting twice a week. My husband and I have another blog idea that I need to start working on. And I maybe be joining one or two other writing community blogs.
All this for a bad blogger. Scary, eh?
The blogging experts say if you want to be a good blogger, build your audience, you need to have a focus for your blog. Something the readers will come to expect when they open your blog. I'm not exactly the most focused person in the world, and you know, I think I'm okay with that. But it does make me wonder if there's anything YOU, my two faithful readers, would like for me to talk about, a subject you want me to address, whatever. Come on, folks, I wanna know.
If you blog, what helps you come up with topics? What are your favorite blogs to read? Give this bad blogger a little help. :-)
All this for a bad blogger. Scary, eh?
The blogging experts say if you want to be a good blogger, build your audience, you need to have a focus for your blog. Something the readers will come to expect when they open your blog. I'm not exactly the most focused person in the world, and you know, I think I'm okay with that. But it does make me wonder if there's anything YOU, my two faithful readers, would like for me to talk about, a subject you want me to address, whatever. Come on, folks, I wanna know.
If you blog, what helps you come up with topics? What are your favorite blogs to read? Give this bad blogger a little help. :-)
6/14/10
Hard-Hearted Hattie
No, I have not changed my name to Hattie. It just kinda went with the whole alliteration thing. And no, I don't think I'm hard-hearted. But then again...am I? That is the question I'm bringing to you. :-)
I was out shopping the other day and saw something. Now, I am not a very observant person. In fact, I missed a fight and arrest right outside the window at a fast-food restaurant once--My husband even went outside to see if he could help, and I sat staring in the opposite direction, clueless. But this time, I was paying attention. Nothing quite so dramatic, but still...
Here's the scooop. I was standing in line at customer service. There were four women working behind the counter. One at a cash register asked who was next. The man in front of me stepped over to her, but when she asked if she could help him, he waved at one of the women whose back was to him. "No," he said. "I'm just here to see - - - -." I couldn't hear the rest.
So, still waiting and a little bored, I watched the girl he'd gestured to. She didn't turn around. She seemed intent on the computer screen in front of her, but then her hands went up to her hair. Stayed there, pressing into her head.
And I began to really pay attention. Frustrated at the computer? Or angry that this man had come? She still wasn't turning around. He stepped aside a little and waited.
Then her hands came down to cover her face. Still not looking at him or saying a word, she left her station. Crying. The woman who was working with her stayed beside the girl, escorted her to the break room. The man shrugged, arms open wide. And then he walked away.
He was her father.
So...as a writer, I was watching, and my mind was flipping through different scenarios. Making up plot lines. Thinking, I can use this somewhere...
And then I got to thinking that maybe I'm an alien. :-) The human race is only fodder, inspiration for whatever world I want to create in my head. I'll dissect them, see what makes them react certain ways, see what I can do to make things worse before a hard-fought happily ever after comes around. If it does.
What do you think? Alien? Heartless? Or do people in other fields do this kind of thing, too--analyzing to satisfy professional curiosity or something? And, just for the record, a little bit of compassion did kick in later. But the moment I'd care the most...would be the moment I wrote it into a book.
So what's the verdict?
I was out shopping the other day and saw something. Now, I am not a very observant person. In fact, I missed a fight and arrest right outside the window at a fast-food restaurant once--My husband even went outside to see if he could help, and I sat staring in the opposite direction, clueless. But this time, I was paying attention. Nothing quite so dramatic, but still...
Here's the scooop. I was standing in line at customer service. There were four women working behind the counter. One at a cash register asked who was next. The man in front of me stepped over to her, but when she asked if she could help him, he waved at one of the women whose back was to him. "No," he said. "I'm just here to see - - - -." I couldn't hear the rest.
So, still waiting and a little bored, I watched the girl he'd gestured to. She didn't turn around. She seemed intent on the computer screen in front of her, but then her hands went up to her hair. Stayed there, pressing into her head.
And I began to really pay attention. Frustrated at the computer? Or angry that this man had come? She still wasn't turning around. He stepped aside a little and waited.
Then her hands came down to cover her face. Still not looking at him or saying a word, she left her station. Crying. The woman who was working with her stayed beside the girl, escorted her to the break room. The man shrugged, arms open wide. And then he walked away.
He was her father.
So...as a writer, I was watching, and my mind was flipping through different scenarios. Making up plot lines. Thinking, I can use this somewhere...
And then I got to thinking that maybe I'm an alien. :-) The human race is only fodder, inspiration for whatever world I want to create in my head. I'll dissect them, see what makes them react certain ways, see what I can do to make things worse before a hard-fought happily ever after comes around. If it does.
What do you think? Alien? Heartless? Or do people in other fields do this kind of thing, too--analyzing to satisfy professional curiosity or something? And, just for the record, a little bit of compassion did kick in later. But the moment I'd care the most...would be the moment I wrote it into a book.
So what's the verdict?
6/10/10
6/7/10
Summer Projects
Ah...summer. Since my husband is a teacher, I still live the whole school year schedule thing, and I have to say I like it. Well, most of the time. Last year it meant moving in with my parents for a month while Jason and I did some major work on our own home.
As you probably know, I love to make lists. And...fortunately or unfortunately...it doesn't kill me if I don't get to cross everything off.
My summer project list is up to 14 so far. I have some decorating I need to finish, a collage I want to make (scary, eh?), a gift I need to put together, a conference to save for, a new blog to work on (details coming sooner or later, maybe), a class reunion to attend (sort of), a shower (probably) to plan, some research to do, some organizing of files, a ton of writing...ah, the list goes on.
Do you have a summer project list? What's at the top? What's the just-for-fun item on your list?
As you probably know, I love to make lists. And...fortunately or unfortunately...it doesn't kill me if I don't get to cross everything off.
My summer project list is up to 14 so far. I have some decorating I need to finish, a collage I want to make (scary, eh?), a gift I need to put together, a conference to save for, a new blog to work on (details coming sooner or later, maybe), a class reunion to attend (sort of), a shower (probably) to plan, some research to do, some organizing of files, a ton of writing...ah, the list goes on.
Do you have a summer project list? What's at the top? What's the just-for-fun item on your list?
6/3/10
A Because-I-Don't-Feel-Like-Blogging-But-I-Will-Anyway Post
Since we're into the whole gardening thing now, and cilantro is the only edible thing at this point...I made salsa, of course. Lovely thing, homemade salsa. I ate it on chips and also in a burrito and in a taco and mixed in liberally with rice and beans. And I'm trying to make you hungry, because I'm going to give you the recipe, since I don't feel like thinking about this blog post. (But I'm still posting!!!) So here you go:
Mom’s Salsa
Ingredients:
4 chopped tomatoes
½ cup chopped onion
2 Tbs. sliced green onion
1 and 3/4 Tbs. jalepeno, seeded and minced
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro (or more to taste. Definitely more to taste. I think I ended up putting maybe 1/3 of a cup or so in there? I felt oh-so back-to-nature-ish. ha)
1 Tbs. lime juice (1 lime)
½ tsp. sea salt
Directions:
Combine and refrigerate before serving. (It's best to let it sit overnight so the flavors have time to combine.)
Enjoy! And hey, if I can keep a cilantro plant alive, you can, too. :-)
Mom’s Salsa
Ingredients:
4 chopped tomatoes
½ cup chopped onion
2 Tbs. sliced green onion
1 and 3/4 Tbs. jalepeno, seeded and minced
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro (or more to taste. Definitely more to taste. I think I ended up putting maybe 1/3 of a cup or so in there? I felt oh-so back-to-nature-ish. ha)
1 Tbs. lime juice (1 lime)
½ tsp. sea salt
Directions:
Combine and refrigerate before serving. (It's best to let it sit overnight so the flavors have time to combine.)
Enjoy! And hey, if I can keep a cilantro plant alive, you can, too. :-)
5/31/10
Stayin' Alive
In April, my husband got this brilliant idea to plant a garden. I don't know why, because our houseplants are hanging on by a tiny thread. But the weather was gorgeous, so we decided it might be fun. Maybe.
So we bought wood and soil and tomato cages and plants (no seeds for us!) and fertilizer and sprinklers. We built a raised bed with a mini irrigation system, sort of. And we planted...stuff. And then we watched them...closely.
Here's the garden status, about one month later:
1. Our strawberries were cute, but when I went out to get the couple ripe ones to garnish some chocolate pudding...they were gone. Along with all the unripe ones, too. The jury is still out on whether a mouse or squirrel or maybe a neighbor ate them. The plants are still growing, though, so maybe there's a chance we'll get a few more.
The Culprit?
2. Three different kinds of tomato plants. All three are doing pretty well, especially the Roma tomatoes. Most of them are still green, but we did pick one midget roma--just enough to garnish some fajitas! We hope the little thief doesn't beat us to the rest of them.
3. The beans are growing nicely. Which is kind of a shame because, believe it or not, I don't like fresh green beans. No matter how long you cook them. Wrong, I know.
4. The acorn squash = dead.
5. The bell pepper = dead.
6. The green pepper = dead.
7. But the cilantro is thriving, and has been used for garnishes, etc. Very nice. The thief apparently is not a fan of Mexican food, so my herbs are safe!
I think we're going to try a fall garden, too. What should we plant then?
5/27/10
Graduating
It's that time of year. I can hear the sedate march music, see the robes in various states of wrinklehood, smell the bouquets of roses. Graduation time is here.
I don't remember graduating from kindergarten. I'm not even sure that I did. In eighth grade, they did kind of a talent show type thing along with the ceremony. I played the clarinet and was so nervous my tassle shook the entire song. My high school graduation was sad but exciting. My class had become pretty close, but we were ready to move on. Most of my classmates went into the medical field. Still trying to figure out how that happened. I'm officially afraid to go to the ER, because I just might know the person poking me with needles, might have seen them drooling on their pillow during class trip or something.
I graduated from college...twice! I was definitely ready to be done. I'd rather choose my own topics to research. Like women fighting during the Civil War or what '68 Camaros look like or what the daily schedule is on death row or how to make a murder look like a suicide. Doesn't that sound more fascinating than a comparison of Longfellow and Frost or something? :-)
So I'm out of school. Not wearing the gown this year. BUT in some ways I guess you're never really done, are you? In the writing world, there are four levels of writers, according to Randy Ingermanson (aka The Snowflake Guy). But even those who have graduated still attend writing conferences...and take notes! I've heard of beginning writers finding themselves sitting next to pros, like one who said she watched Francine Rivers at a conference, dutifully taking notes.
Life is like that, right? No matter how much you think you know, there is still so much more. That's what keeps things interesting. True, it can overwhelm at times, but it's invigorating when something new clicks, giving you an amazing Ah-ha! moment. And we can learn from people, no matter what their grade in life. I was a contest judge last fall and found myself wanting to copy down some phrases in one entry's action sequence. Here I am, the judge, and this entry was giving me new ideas when I'd hit a wall in my own writing. (Don't worry. I didn't plagerize.)
Never be too proud to listen, to learn. If you ever think you've arrived, well...maybe it's time you went back to school.
I don't remember graduating from kindergarten. I'm not even sure that I did. In eighth grade, they did kind of a talent show type thing along with the ceremony. I played the clarinet and was so nervous my tassle shook the entire song. My high school graduation was sad but exciting. My class had become pretty close, but we were ready to move on. Most of my classmates went into the medical field. Still trying to figure out how that happened. I'm officially afraid to go to the ER, because I just might know the person poking me with needles, might have seen them drooling on their pillow during class trip or something.
I graduated from college...twice! I was definitely ready to be done. I'd rather choose my own topics to research. Like women fighting during the Civil War or what '68 Camaros look like or what the daily schedule is on death row or how to make a murder look like a suicide. Doesn't that sound more fascinating than a comparison of Longfellow and Frost or something? :-)
So I'm out of school. Not wearing the gown this year. BUT in some ways I guess you're never really done, are you? In the writing world, there are four levels of writers, according to Randy Ingermanson (aka The Snowflake Guy). But even those who have graduated still attend writing conferences...and take notes! I've heard of beginning writers finding themselves sitting next to pros, like one who said she watched Francine Rivers at a conference, dutifully taking notes.
Life is like that, right? No matter how much you think you know, there is still so much more. That's what keeps things interesting. True, it can overwhelm at times, but it's invigorating when something new clicks, giving you an amazing Ah-ha! moment. And we can learn from people, no matter what their grade in life. I was a contest judge last fall and found myself wanting to copy down some phrases in one entry's action sequence. Here I am, the judge, and this entry was giving me new ideas when I'd hit a wall in my own writing. (Don't worry. I didn't plagerize.)
Never be too proud to listen, to learn. If you ever think you've arrived, well...maybe it's time you went back to school.
5/26/10
Oops...
While I have discovered the wonders of using the schedule post option on blogger--writing a month's worth of blog entries on one day and then forgetting about it--I, um, discovered one of the pitfalls, thanks to a text message from a friend.
"How was lunch?"
That's it. And I stared at my phone, thinking over the leftovers I'd made into a sandwich, and wondering why exactly she cared. So she texted me back.
"I read your blog about going to lunch with writer buddies."
Oh. Yeah. That.
Well, while all those sentiments still stand about the amazing bond, etc., etc., the lunch had to be postponed. We're hoping to do it next week. BUT I forgot to delay my post. So while I was supposed to be having a fun lunch, I was staring at a stack of papers, taping them randomly on walls, and trying to figure out how exactly to organize this monster writing project of mine. :-)
Leftovers were okay. Lunch with writer buddies will be much better. And I'll try to remember to check my blog more often. :-)
"How was lunch?"
That's it. And I stared at my phone, thinking over the leftovers I'd made into a sandwich, and wondering why exactly she cared. So she texted me back.
"I read your blog about going to lunch with writer buddies."
Oh. Yeah. That.
Well, while all those sentiments still stand about the amazing bond, etc., etc., the lunch had to be postponed. We're hoping to do it next week. BUT I forgot to delay my post. So while I was supposed to be having a fun lunch, I was staring at a stack of papers, taping them randomly on walls, and trying to figure out how exactly to organize this monster writing project of mine. :-)
Leftovers were okay. Lunch with writer buddies will be much better. And I'll try to remember to check my blog more often. :-)
5/24/10
Writer Friends
Today I'm going to lunch with a couple of writer friends. We'll eat (probably something chocolate), we'll laugh, and we'll talk about our own little made-up worlds. Probably figure out how to kill somebody off (while scaring any eavesdroppers away), or what the perfect black moment would be (in other words, how to make the heroine's life so wretched, she hits rock bottom and maybe a little lower), or...well, can't give any spoilers now, can we?
And we're going to drive for an hour and a half to do this.
Is it just me, or is there a very unusual bond between writers, especially Christian writers?
I exchange crazy and encouraging phone calls and texts with one writer. We met on a forum, and our writing careers have sort of parelled so far, making us confidantes. We've met in person three times.
I chat online, almost daily, with an amazing critique partner who lives in a different country. We did that before we actually met in person. We're hoping to have a little writing retreat this summer, if I can find the right priced airline ticket.
At two different times, I agreed to be roommates with two lovely writer ladies I'd never met before. Stayed up till 2 or so talking about...well, everything with one of them. Goofed off in the hotel hallway with the other and became a huge fan of her writing.
And there are so many more who have reached out and walked alongside me during their own writing journeys. I hardly know these people in their real lives. But I can't tell you how much they mean to me. They've prayed, brainstormed, critiqued, shared chocolate, gave fashion advice, answered random story-related questions, uplifted, bemoaned the process, and just been there for another writer, not expecting anything in return.
Is this just a writer thing? Or do other groups find these amazing connections as well? You scrapbookers, speak up. Does discussing little photo corners and cropping tools (um...can you tell I don't do scrapbooking???) create bonds that could last the rest of your life?
Writer friends, I'm so grateful for you. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Now, it's your turn. Yes, even you non-writers (aka Normals). Who is an unlikely friend God has placed in your life?
And we're going to drive for an hour and a half to do this.
Is it just me, or is there a very unusual bond between writers, especially Christian writers?
I exchange crazy and encouraging phone calls and texts with one writer. We met on a forum, and our writing careers have sort of parelled so far, making us confidantes. We've met in person three times.
I chat online, almost daily, with an amazing critique partner who lives in a different country. We did that before we actually met in person. We're hoping to have a little writing retreat this summer, if I can find the right priced airline ticket.
At two different times, I agreed to be roommates with two lovely writer ladies I'd never met before. Stayed up till 2 or so talking about...well, everything with one of them. Goofed off in the hotel hallway with the other and became a huge fan of her writing.
And there are so many more who have reached out and walked alongside me during their own writing journeys. I hardly know these people in their real lives. But I can't tell you how much they mean to me. They've prayed, brainstormed, critiqued, shared chocolate, gave fashion advice, answered random story-related questions, uplifted, bemoaned the process, and just been there for another writer, not expecting anything in return.
Is this just a writer thing? Or do other groups find these amazing connections as well? You scrapbookers, speak up. Does discussing little photo corners and cropping tools (um...can you tell I don't do scrapbooking???) create bonds that could last the rest of your life?
Writer friends, I'm so grateful for you. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Now, it's your turn. Yes, even you non-writers (aka Normals). Who is an unlikely friend God has placed in your life?
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