Pages of Discovery

Author Interview: Christopher Hopper

2010-09-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the third and final day of the CSFF Blog Tour for September! I am pleased to officially announce the interview of Christopher Hopper, coauthor of Venom and Song. It was a close one, mainly due to the fact that he's been overseas. BUT - just in time, CH has come through for us with his answers to my interview questions. YES! He rules!

If you didn't see yesterday's post, my interview with Wayne Thomas Batson, click HERE. And if you're wondering what the heck I'm going on about, click HERE for Day One's post for Venom and Song.

Step up to the mic, Mr. Hopper. Oh wait - you're already there.

I'll be using the same questions for today as I did for Wayne's interview yesterday. But as you'll see, the answers are interestingly unique, if not a tad cryptic at times (for our own good, of course).

***

Me: What does "Endurance and Victory" mean to you?

CH: We felt it very much embodied not only the plight of the Elves, who's condition confined them to a life of delayed hopes (Endurance) and a reminder of eventual conquest (Victory), but also of the young lords, and that of our readers. Victories are hard won, at least those worth obtaining. And in a generation that has largely adopted an instant mentality for almost everything, learning to Endure is a character trait we need to tie back into our day-to-day lives.

Me: There are several prevailing themes throughout this series, but some really come into focus in Venom and Song, like trust, forgiveness, acceptance, and many aspects of relationships. What is the one theme you felt was the most necessary to portray?

CH: For me it was the development of interpersonal relationships. Next to how we get along with Jesus, how we get along with each other is the most important thing in life. Kingdoms rise and fall because of relationships. So watching the Seven learn to work together through their differences was simply a reflection of real life, and made the book extremely realistic for me.

Me: We see the Seven's gifts mature and grow, will that growth continue? And what spurns this growth?

CH: Growth is an essential part of human development; it's the whole reason people want to read a story in the first place. If characters are not growing, there's no real point in reading. So yes, it will continue.

As for the reason, I think it's two-fold: one is to serve their world in its pursuit of freedom. Allyra's bondage demands dedication to the development of their gifts (meaning the Seven). And secondly, the Seven themselves find more of their identity as they grow in their gifts. Like they say about men: we find our value in what we produce. And therefore, the greater the Seven grow in their individual giftings, the more they feel connected to the world around them.

Me: There are so many aspect to writing a great story, how does the language itself factor in for you? Is it important?

CH: Yeah, language is a huge part of story-telling, esspecially when you're mixing a modern world with a pre-modern age. Apart from physical descriptions and environments, language is the single greatest telltale of who's talking and what era they're in. We worked very hard to make each character reflect their own world simply in the way they communicated.

Me: We see a lot of battle and death in this installment. As an author of endearing characters, how do you choose who lives and dies?

CH: We roll dice, make bets, and try to make out images in cloud formations. It's a very exact science.

Sometimes you just get this feeling like, "What if just killed off this person?" The bigger the upset, the more likely it's going to make it into the book. Never give the reader what they want, give them what they need.

Me: Certain pairings are starting to appear within the Seven, will these carry significance througout the rest of the series?

CH: Depends upon how the characters like each other.

Me: The character of Mannaelkin is often the voice of doubt, why is a character like this important to the story? And the message?

CH: In all of life, we have our doubters. And how we treat them, and overcome their emotional prowess, determines a great deal of our outcome in perosnal life. He made the struggle real and tried to thwart plans politically in much the same way real life adversaries do here today. Sure, everyone can name the big bad evil guy in life...but are they keen enough to spot the not-so-obvious road blocks?

Me: Without giving too much away, in the final battle of the book we see rain. What does the symbolism of rain mean to you?

CH: I hear the Lord most when I'm in the shower, or by the ocean. So water always symbolizes the person of the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, He is most often compared to water and wind in the Bible.

Me: In the chapter The Art of Discipline, on page 120, Grimwarden says, "Never mistake service for anything less than the highest form of nobility, Jett. Dictators and tyrants lead without serving; only true kings use their place of power to lead in the most humble of ways." This stuck with me, as did many other lessons the Seven learned. Is service something readers can strive for in their daily lives? How?

CH: It all starts with the simple. Picking up your room. Obeying Dads and Moms. Doing the dishes. They might seem like menial chores, but they position you for greater levels of responsibilty later on in life. One reason grown-ups never enter into what they were destined for was because they never learned the art of service when given the chance as a youth.

Me: The question that all of your readers are dying to know is - when can we expect book 3? Do you have a title or any tidbit you can share with us about it?

CH: Sorry to make the masses wait, but mum's the word...

***

Thanks for joining me as I got to delve into one of my favorite fantasy worlds once again! And rest assured, as soon as I know anything about Book Three in The Berinfell Prophecies, I'll be blogging all about it!

Until next we meet in Allyra:

Endurance and Victory!

Author Interview: Wayne Thomas Batson

2010-09-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to day two of the CSFF Blog Tour! Hopefully you've read my review of this month's excellent book, Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. If not, click HERE. Now that we're all caught up, let's see what Mr. Batson had to say in answer to my interview questions...

Can this guy rock a cape, or what?

Oh - and please don't forget to click on a few links from the day one post for updated tour info all about Venom and Song: Book 2 in The Berinfell Prophecies.

***

Me: What does "Endurance and Victory" mean to you?

WTB: Not much. Christopher came up with that. Just kidding. The Elves are the Children of the Sun, and they have an actual physiological need for sunlight. It's their natural habitat. So to be forced underground where they can only rarely escape to get light requires great endurance. During that time of hiding, it seems the enemy has the upper hand. It's like that for Christians sometimes, I think. The world can seem so dark and dreary. And esp. in America, it can often seem like false things prosper while others suffer. But there will be victory. God has already won it. We know that in the end, not only will God wipe away every tear, but He will renew everything, a new heaven and a new earth. Everything false will be burned away. Victory is coming.

Me: There are several prevailing themes throughout this series, but some really come into focus in Venom and Song, like trust, forgiveness, acceptance, and many aspects of relationships. What is the one theme you felt was the most necessary to portray?

WTB: In Spider King we hoped that the seven teens would show readers that each and every kid, rich, poor, athletic, bookish, popular, or reclusive--each one is more precious than he or she can imagine. In Venom and Song, we hoped our young lords, now endowed with spectacular powers, would show readers how much each one needed to be content as one part of the whole body. As my mom says, "Comparisons are odious." Jealousy should be impossible for Christians. To each one He gives gifts. Run with it. Do your part. Be content.

Me: We see the Seven's gifts mature and grow, will that growth continue? And what spurs this growth?

WTB: We will indeed. CH and I have been plotting out book 3 of the series. And just the other day, we discovered that two of the seven will develop breathtaking extensions to their abilities. :-D

Me: There are so many aspect to writing a great story, how does the language itself factor in for you? Is it important?

WTB: Language is important. Vocabulary, sentence structure--it all matters. But, there's an element of language that is really very fluid and subjective. What I mean is that writing styles change over the decades. Ten years ago, we taught students to avoid using the speaker tag "said" so often. Be more specific with your verbs, we'd preach. Not said, but howled, bellowed, whimpered, etc. But in 2010, a lot of readers smirk and complain when writers don't just stick with "said." Get rid of adverbs, some tell us. Eliminate the comma before the and in a series. It's all very malleable and depends on who you ask. All that said, I am a firm believer in using words to impact tone. Every word and phrase, every chance for a simile or metaphor--can I craft it just right to add to the readers fear, joy, sadness, anxiety, etc? If a publisher gives me time, I like to go back through a manuscript and just tweak little things to add that lingering impression.

Me: We see a lot of battle and death in this installment. As an author of endearing characters, how do you choose who lives and dies?

WTB: I'm not sure what CH will say here, but for me, I don't choose. The story does. The story often demands that someone die, and usually, the demands are pretty specific. How can Aidan ever become the leader he needs to become if Captain Valithor is always there over his shoulder? And in Venom and Song, there was just no way that the seven could infiltrate Vesper Crag and not pay a price. When a certain sacrifice was called for, we thought, who would be the most likely character, and one stepped forward and volunteered.

Me: Certain pairings are starting to appear within the Seven, will these carry significance throughout the rest of the series?

WTB: Great question. At this point in the planning, I'm not sure. But honestly, the characters in Venom are all a little young to forge lasting romantic ties. Attraction can be there and HUGE bonds of friendship too. And I hope these kind of bonds will grow.

Me: The character of Mannaelkin is often the voice of doubt, why is a character like this important to the story? And the message?

WTB: I don't know if you always need such an oppositional character within the ranks of the "good side" characters. For CH and I, it wasn't really a purposeful thing. But, unconsciously, I think, Christopher and I have a burning resentment toward the infighting within Christianity and even the local church. Jesus said that others would know Jesus' kids by how they love each other. When someone puts self in front of God's plans, we all look bad.

Me: Without giving too much away, in the final battle of the book we see rain. What does the symbolism of rain mean to you?

WTB: Funny, but the symbolism came after the fact. In the very early stages of Book 1, Curse of the Spider King, I was sitting in a park with my laptop working on the outline. There were all these little kids running around and playing on the equipment. Some were jumping rope and singing. That's when it hit me. Spider King. And I had this image of little kids singing "Itsy bitsy spider." And I thought, HOLY BISCUITS!! "Down came the rain and washed the spider out" !! So there it was, a key element of book 2. Once we began delving deeper into the rain concept in book 2, it began to take on more of a "cleansing" metaphor.

Me: In the chapter The Art of Discipline, on page 120, Grimwarden says, "Never mistake service for anything less than the highest form of nobility, Jett. Dictators and tyrants lead without serving; only true kings use their place of power to lead in the most humble of ways." This stuck with me, as did many other lessons the Seven learned. Is service something readers can strive for in their daily lives? How?

WTB: I'm still very much learning about being a servant. All I know so far is that we must daily put our own needs behind those of others.

Me: The question that all of your readers are dying to know is - when can we expect book 3? Do you have a title or any tidbit you can share with us about it?

WTB: We're working on a title. And we're proposing Book 3 this week, so pray that it will happen. I think CH and I are pretty dedicated to doing book 3 no matter what, but that might mean finding a new home for the series. We hope not, but we'll see. As far as what might be happening in book 3, well let's just remind readers that the Spider King had accumulated a gigantic force of Warspiders, Gwar, and Drefids...on earth. Nuff said.

***

Okay kids! I'm not sure what I'll have for tomorrow, cuz that's just how I roll. It could be something really cool, or not much at all. We shall see...

As they say in Allyra...

Endurance and Victory!

Venom and Song - CSFF Blog Tour Day One

2010-09-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome once again to the CSFF Blog Tour! Today kicks off a very special three day tour with two of my very favorite author dudes: Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. These guys have both created amazing prose and breakneck adventure in their individually authored books, but today we look into the mad-science that happens when these two superstar authors get together for Book Two in The Berinfell Prophecies:

Venom and Song

Click to get your own copy!

Important Links:

Christopher Hopper's site
Wayne Thomas Batson's site
The Undergroud - The Berinfell Prophecies forum
Amazon

Book 2 in The Berinfell Prophecies follows its predecessor with fervor and fire. Taking up the story from exactly where we left off in Curse of the Spider King, Venom and Song hurls us into the lives of the Seven as they encounter their people, train in the ancient art of Vexbane, discover their true history, learn about themselves and each other, and fight to survive and free their race from hundreds of years of oppression.

The Seven carry a heavy burden, but first, they have to learn to use their ever-growing gifts: air-walking, strength, speed, mind-reading, foresight, marksmanship, and flame-throwing. Each Elven lord is equipped with one of these, but not yet ready to use their blessings. It takes, Grimwarden, an externally gruff yet big-hearted military genius to reign in the Seven. Along with some excellent cooking by an Elf named Mumthers.

Their training takes each one of the Seven on their own personal journey as well as a physical one. Each is introduced to Ellos, the creator of all Allyra. And in time, each will find their own connection to Ellos. The teenage lords also find comfort in each other as a team. They work together, using their abilities in harmony, rather than competing, thus learning to work "as one." But none of their training is without cost, a foreshadowing of the realities of war. For Allyra has been at war for over 800 years and the Seven are supposed to be the key to victory.

With training brought to an abrupt halt, the Seven are thrust from the protection of their practice sessions into the violent reality that has plauged Elves for centuries. They fly on giant birds of prey, navigate ancient underground bastions, search for something vitally important known as the Keystone, and grow into warriors.

By the time the final battle begins, the Seven are no longer separate entities concerned with their own individual lives, but the focused, dedicated leaders of a race that desparately needs freedom. New beasties have been brewing in Vesper Crag though. The Spider King is prepared for a seige. His forces are great, but his weaknesses will be exploited. All in the name of Ellos, the war with the Spider King ends. For victory or for ruin, I'll not say. Only that we discover that one war's end may not be the end of fighting for the lives of the Children of Light.

This story takes us through so many exciting twists and turns that it's almost like riding a cavesurfer to Nightwish Caverns. And if you have no idea what that means, read the book. You won't be disappointed. This installment of The Berinfell Prophecies is chalk full of intensity, wisdom, action, suspense, and just plain fun. We ride along with the Seven through their myriad of emotions and challenges. Every teenageer or anyone who's been one will easily relate to the experiences the Elven lords endure. Though we are seldom faced with overt battles like in Allyra, we all have similar mountains to climb. The spirit in which this story was written pervades through its rich language, intelligent humor, and sincerity.

Trek into the unknown with the Seven. And if you dare, travel into The Underground, the internet forum with direct links to specific parts of the book.

Tune in tomorrow, when I will have my personal interview with Wayne Thomas Batson. Check out the authors' sites and see what other cool stuff my fellow tour participants found out about Venom and Song.

Angela
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson

In case you missed my review and author interviews from Book One of The Berinfell Prophecies: Curse of the Spider King, click HERE.

Also - the very cool people at Thomas Nelson Publishing provided me with a review copy of this book, so that I may bring you this month's CSFF Blog Tour.

Until tomorrow!

-Amy

Open During Construction

2010-09-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

Judging just by the last post date, it's safe to say I've been gone for quite some time now. And when I came back I realized that cobwebs were collecting in the corners, thus I decided it was time for a change! I've got a new layout, new approach, and LOTS of new ideas.

Coming soon...

I'm rejoining the CSFF Blog Tour this month for the sole purpose of promoting two of my favorite author buddies: Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. I'll be posting a review of their newest book, Venom and Song, book two in The Berinfell Prophecies, interviews with the authors, and a few other goodies to get you sucked into the world these two amazing guys have created.

In the future...

I'm spending this year to focus on developing the craft of writing. I've decided to join NaNoWriMo this year and will post updates on that madness. I'll also be blogging about my other writing projects big and small. But this is the year for me to really sink my teeth into my writing. I plan to take full advantage!

I'll also be continuing to do my own reviews besides the tours. I read so many books that it just seems like a waste not to continue to review them all. I may even venture into discussing movies, tv shows, and music.

Also - I may be introducing a game or regular feature soon.

Overall, I have big plans to be around this part of the bloggy world a lot more often now. Scoot over neighbors and make some room, cuz here I come! ;)

Until next time,
Amy

Day 3 - Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter

2010-03-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

Today I'll be taking a brief look into the author of Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter, R.J. Anderson. First, I am pleased to announce the June 22, 2010 release of the second Faery Rebels book, Wayfarer. Here's a look at the cover.

You can pre-order a copy over at Amazon.com by clicking HERE.

Now - about our author. The following is from the bio on her official website (HERE):

R.J. (Rebecca) Anderson was born in Uganda, raised in Ontario, went to school in New Jersey, and has spent much of her life dreaming of other worlds entirely.

As a child she immersed herself in fairy tales, mythology, and the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and E. Nesbit; later she discovered more contemporary authors like Ursula LeGuin, Patricia A. McKillip and Robin McKinley, and learned to take as much pleasure from their language as the stories they told.

Now married and the mother of three young sons, Rebecca reads to her children the classic works of fantasy and science fiction that enlivened her own childhood, and tries to bring a similar sense of humor, adventure, and timeless wonder to the novels she writes for children and young adults.

Here is a list of links to interesting interviews of R.J. Anderson I found:

Thanks again for joining me here for the CSFF Blog Tour! I'll soon be posting non-tour related reviews for Graceling and its companion Fire, both by Kristin Cashore.

Day 2 - Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter

2010-03-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the second day of the CSFF Blog Tour! This month's book is Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson. If you missed yesterday's post, you can catch up by clicking here. Today I'll be giving my personal opinions about what made this book great and what could've been improved upon.

First, here's the cover of the UK version of Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter, called simply Knife.

Let's begin with the cover of this book. As I mentioned yesterday, I honestly may have passed this book by on the shelf simply due to its American cover. The main colors are green and a bright purple/fuschia. The font of the title just screams "princess story" - which is a huge miscommunication. However, the artwork of Knife herself is stunning.

In my opinion, a melding of the UK cover and the American cover would have better served the content within. Perhaps, using the blues of the UK cover and the portrait of Knife from the American version. For comparison's sake, here's the American cover again.

I would not have guessed that these are the same book. Two different artists interpretations of a single story. Honestly, I can say I would have definitely picked up the UK version first. Now that I've gotten the cosmetics issue out of the way, I can move on to the substance.

Characters

We're first introduced to a young faery, Bryony, who one day changes her name to Knife. She is strong, independent, and a bit mischievious. Her desire for knowledge and truth is the driving force behind the story. She simply refuses to blindly obey rules that don't make sense or feel right to her. Knife is the kind of character that must discover the truth on her own.

Disobeying the laws of the Oak's ruler, the Faery Queen, is initially seen as a huge risk of pure curiosity, but eventually leads to several truths that prove imperative to the survival of her people. The message is clear: Finding truth is worth the risk. In this case, I completely agree. Until Knife discovers the real history of the Oak's faeries, they have no hope of surviving the Silence.

Several wonderful supporting characters enrich this tale including Wink, Knife's adoptive mother. In a society that doesn't ever say "thank you" because of its implications, love isn't shown in the traditional human way. In fact, the entire community has become one of trade and keeping score. Not even information is given freely. They barter for everything. However, Wink brings a warmth to Knife's life that she doesn't recognize as love initially.

Thorn is a gruff, tough faery who is the Queen's Hunter and has several lessons for Knife, not all of them pleasant. Her intentions aren't clear until well into the story, but reveal several aspects of her true feelings that have been hidden from most of the faeries of the Oak.

Finally, we have Paul, Valerian, Campion, and Queen Amaryllis. Paul is a human boy who becomes central to Knife's struggles and joy, complicating her situation. Valerian is the Oak's healer and a kind soul with a secret past. Campion's faery occupation is that of the only librarian in the Oak. Her willingness to help Knife proves vital. Amaryllis' past is clouded by mystery, thus giving the reader plenty of doubt about her motivations and loyalty. She appears to care dearly for her fellow faeries, but Knife uncovers secrets that could mean the Queen wasn't what she appeared to be.

Overall, through the well-developed characters the story comes alive with possibilities. Wink's caring, Thorn's influence, and the Queen's mystery all carry Knife along on her journey. Paul shows Knife emotions that are foreign to her, but become more important than her own life. Knife's strength and self-sacrifice draw the reader in and keep the pages turning.

Setting

The Oak is Knife's home and also a type of prison. Faeries aren't allowed outside the confines of the tree itself unless it is their profession to be a Gatherer or the Queen's Hunter. Knife longs to fly freely, but all faeries live in fear of predators, like Old Wormwood, the crow who has been terrorizing the Oakenwyld for years.

The House is home to a family of humans and a constant source of Knife's curiosity.

Story

The pacing is excellent. Readers are taken into the realm of the Oak, as faery society and its rules are revealed through Knife's interactions and experiences. It's a natural unfolding of the inner workings of a decidedly non-human community. We're taken on a journey with Knife that leads to an examination of human emotions from a fresh perspective.

R.J. Anderson's writing is stylized and pleasing. If I hadn't known she was Canadian, I may have mistaken her for a British author. As a fan of British literature, I thoroughly enjoyed the rich prose and quirky terminology.

One aspect I particularly appreciated is that although R.J. Anderson is a Christian, she never pushes her beliefs onto the reader. She is an author who is a Christian, not solely a Christian Fiction author. The distinction is fine, but Anderson's audience is sure to be broad and appreciate her stories regardless of their religion. As a Christian though, I love that at the end she gives praise unabashedly to God.

***

Thanks for tuning in today. Tomorrow I'll be featuring R.J. Anderson herself. With some fun information and interviews.

And as always, please make sure to check out what other blogs on the CSFF Blog tour are saying about Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by clicking the links from Day One's post - HERE.

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter

2010-03-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter

by R.J. Anderson

Important Links:

Recommended Age: 10+

Let me begin by stating that although the old adage about what not to judge a book by is ever-present in my mind, the cover is inescapably the first information one receives about a book. If I had been in a book store, I may have just passed it by with the impression that it was a bit juvenile for my taste, and I would have been sadly mistaken...

The story opens with a peek into the faery world of the Oak, and a particularly spirited faery named Bryony. As the only youth in the Oak, Bryony feels a certain restlessness that fuels her first forbidden encounter with a human boy.

Years later, scared back into following the rules by a deadly sickness called the Silence that has been striking faeries for the last hundred years or so, Bryony is finally appointed to her faery profession. Newfound freedom rekindles Bryony's passion for discovering the truth about the world, not only in the Oakenwyld, but beyond as well. Through a series of excursions outside the Oak, Bryony encounters several natural dangers that creatures as small as faeries must face. Against the faery queen's orders, Bryony, once again, gives in to her curiosity about the strange creatures in the House nearby - humans.

It is her disregard for rules, passion for truth, and willingness to take risks that earns Bryony her new name: Knife. Along with her new name, Knife gains new understanding about her people's history, the terrible act called the Sundering that robbed all future generations of faeries of their creativity, and the Silence that has claimed yet another faery life.

In her quest for knowlege, Knife gains an unlikely friend and ally in Paul, the now-teenage human boy she had once encountered. Through this friendship, we see the complexities of Knife's unique position evidence themselves. She has several decisions to make, but will she choose duty over adventure? And what of love? Was her race ever able to love anyone other than themselves? Through one faery's actions, the future of a race is decided.

***

Tune in tomorrow for Day Two of the CSFF Blog Tour when I'll give my personal opinions on Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter. In the mean time, please check out what other tour participants have to say by clicking a link below.

CSFF Blog Tour Participants:

Sally Apokedak

Brandon Barr

Amy Browning
Melissa Carswell
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
Nissa
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

***

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a complimentary review copy of this title from HarperCollins Publishers.

CSFF Blog Tour: North! Or Be Eaten

2010-01-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

North! Or Be Eaten

by Andrew Peterson

Important Links:

Recommended Age: 10+

North! Or Be Eaten is the second book in the Wingfeather Saga. The first book is called On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. The story continues to follow its main character Janner Igiby, as he attempts to avoid evil Fangs, protect his little brother, Link, and travel - you guessed it - North. Full of imagination, humor, and just the right amount of darkness, Adrew Peterson delivers an action-packed tale that's sure to satisfy the appetite of readers of all ages.

Please check out what the other tour participants have to say about North! Or Be Eaten, here:

Brandon Barr

Justin Boyer

Amy Browning
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Steve and Andrew
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Elizabeth Williams
KM Wilsher

Day 3 - Part Two of My Exclusive Interview With the Authors

2009-11-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Day Three of the CSFF Blog Tour for Curse of the Spider King by co-authors Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper (Book One in The Berinfell Prophecies). I recently had the awesome opportunity to interview both authors, and they didn't disappoint. Yesterday, I posted Part One of the interview. Today, you get to read the final questions and answers about the most exciting new Fantasy series in a few years. So, without further ado...

***

Me: The stage is set for the sequel and we even get to see a tiny preview at the end of Curse of the Spider King. Has the series been laid out already, or are you still unsure how many books will be in The Berinfell Prophecies?

WTB: There will likely be three books at least. We've just recently finished Venom and Song, the second book, and are considering some plot ideas for book three. It all depends on what God wants. If the books sell well, then certainly we'd write as many books as we have good ideas for.

CH: Here-here!

***

Me: What can readers expect from book two of the Berinfell Prophecies?

WTB: Venom and Song will absolutely AMP the stakes. It's not just the Seven who are at risk but everyone in two worlds. Readers will get much more into the world of Allyra and meet the strange races and beasties that thrive there.

CH: Aside from all the freakish monsters, fast-paced battles, and crazy plots twists, my favorite thing about Venom and Song is that the readers really get to see each of the characters develop. In Book One, you're merely introduced to them; they don't really have a whole lot of interaction together. But in Book Two, the characters--who are each very different in their own rights--have to live with one another day-to-day. And things get extremely interesting!

***

Me: I love the interactive aspect of the riddle you pose to readers, what inspired you to create a forum just for readers of this series that will allow them to create their own tribe and solve a mystery?

WTB: Again, CH, you can speak best on this one.

CH: Wayne and I are both firm believers that reading needs to be exciting, and technology has allowed us to super-charge the way we involve fans. I've been really impressed with the whole ARG (alternate reality game) concept, playing out a story-line with real people in real time where their responses to challenges across multi-media platforms actually shapes the outcome of the game. We've had huge success with it and love getting to know our readers from around the world! As for Tribe Building, while I've certainly hand my hands in it a little, that's really Wayne's baby. He's a master at large-group ventures like that. I admire that about him a lot!

***

Me: Both you and Christopher Hopper/Wayne Thomas Batson are musical. Do you ever have jam sessions?

WTB: Christopher Hopper is the musician. The guy's played all over the world and has 9 CDs. I'm just a wanna be. I played in a metal band back in the day and loved it. It's the one area of my life that I've kind of had to let go, but still care deeply for. So CH and I thought about creating a soundtrack for Curse of the Spider King. We've recorded one song "The Lost Ones," that will be out on iTunes this month. I still can't believe it. But yes, we've jammed to it live and gotten spectacular reception.

CH: Wayne is a really good guitarist for all his "I've had to let it go" talk. I've had so much fun playing live together during our book signings...just so much fun. And as he said, people really seem to like the song, which is always encouraging. While the music is mostly mine, the lyrics are mostly all his. I can honestly say, Wayne is a brilliant lyricists, as he is a novelist.

***

Me: There are definitely plenty of spiders in this series. How do you feel about spiders in real life? Do you kill them when they come inside and your kids say, “Daddy, get it.”?

WTB: I kill them with great vigor. I absolutely hate spiders. They may serve a very necessary role in the Lord's ecosystem, but I just don't like the look of them.

CH: I find them absolute fascinating! Just today I was teaching my 4 year old, Eva, why spiders make webs...how they catch flies, wrap them up, then suck their insides out. Crazy! Who came up with that anyways? But, yes, I do get the chills when killing them, especially if you go to snag one with a napkin and it scoots away from you! YIKES! I'm such a girl!

***

Me: I caught a few references in the book that made me giggle. On page 210, it says, “…and some teachers were known to write novels in their spare time.” And on page 235, you give a shout out to Donita K. Paul’s most recent epic with this, “I did a poster for my book report on The Vanishing Sculptor.” What inspired you to add these fun little pieces of real life into your story?

WTB: CH did the first one, so he'll have to say. And the reference to Donita's new book came about because I'd just read it and was very very impressed. Therefore, a mention seemed natural.

CH: How can I not plug the great Wayne Thomas Batson with a cameo reference? Come-on! Too much fun!

***

Me: What was the most challenging aspect of writing Curse of the Spider King? And conversely, what was the most enjoyable part?

WTB: The challenge: Deadlines versus Available Time. Christopher and I are both very busy people ASIDE from writing. Large (and growing) families, full time day jobs, and numerous other demands make it really hard to find time to write...and not just write but collaborate. With Venom and Song, it has been absolutely ridiculous how much Christopher and my schedule clashed. Seemed like we could never find time to write together. Most enjoyable: the times we could write together. I can only tell you that one day I may publish our iChat conversations (which I've saved nearly all of). Writing with CH has been the most fun, definitely the most fun I've ever had writing. We are kindred spirits with weird views of the world. I think that comes through in the books.

CH: Most challenging? Definitely schedule juggling. Before these books, I was a morning person for 29 years, in bed by 10pm at the latest (and that was pushing it). It's currently midnight right now, and I'm still going strong. Something's just wrong with that. Most enjoyable? Spending time with Wayne doing what we love, writing novels for the glory of King Jesus.

***

Me: What do you do to battle the block? Computer solitaire, surfing the web, or something else?

WTB: I don't actually get writer's block. Most times I have more ideas than I know what to do with. However, I do sometimes get stumped on a name for a character or place or some such. Christopher will tell you I spend WAY too much time trying to put together just the RIGHT names. It's my curse, I think. The other issue is distraction. Writing with active internet around is dangerous for an ADD dude like me. Focus, Wayne, must focus!

CH: OK. Wayne is not exaggerating. He gets hung up on finding the "perfect name" more than anyone I know. It drives me batty sometimes (in a fun way!). But the payoff is that he gets KILLER names!

As for writer's block, like Wayne, I don't struggle with it very much because I'm always swimming with more ideas than I know what to do with. However, I learned a GREAT trick from Bryan Davis: Never finish a writing session at the close of a scene; finish mid-scene or mid-action. That way, whenever you come back to your manuscript, you come back into something you're excited to write! This has helped me a lot, not in battling writer's block, but in staying motivated!

***

And that's going to do it for this month's CSFF Blog Tour. Please check out some of the other participants' blogs for more info on Curse of the Spider King. And be sure to join me next month.

CSFF Blog Tour Participants:

Brandon Barr

Justin Boyer
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Tina Kulesa
Melissa Lockcuff
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
Cara Powers
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

Day 2 - My Exclusive Interview With the Authors

2009-11-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the second day of my favorite CSFF Blog Tour to date!!! Yesterday, I gave my review of Curse of the Spider King (Book One of The Berinfell Prophecies). Today, I will be posting the first half of my exclusive interview with co-authors Wayne Thomas Batson (WTB) and Christopher Hopper (CH). Enjoy!

***

Me: Why did you decide to collaborate with co-author Christopher Hopper/Wayne Thomas Batson?

WTB: It was an easy decision. I had been praying for a LONG time that God would bring me a writer friend to work with, kind of asking for a CS Lewis to JRR Tolkien. A friend and someone who just "gets" what I do. Well, BAM, God introduced me to Christopher at a convention. And right there I said, "Hey, wouldn't it be great to get together for like a bootcamp weekend where we could write and help each other out with our writing?" So we picked a locale halfway between my home in MD and his in NY. It turned out to be Scranton, PA. And we had an absolute ROARING good time. He was working on Athera's Dawn (book 3 in The White Lion Chronicles) and I was working on A Sword in the Stars (Book 1 of The Dark Sea Annals). And we found that we have very similar writing styles and interests. So right then, just six months after we met, we agreed that it would be "WAY COOL" to write a book together. God made it happen just three years later.

CH: As Wayne said, it was really a God-thing that brought us together. We still marvel at how providential it was. As for writing a book together, it was a real "wouldn't it be cool if" kinda' thing. When you say those kinds of things and dream with other people, you know it probably won't happen, but deep inside there's that crazy potential of "what if?" When Wayne's publisher asked him for a new series, he pitched our outlandish idea of co-authoring a novel. And to our utter surprise they came back with an emphatic "Yes!"

***

Me: Did you both always have the same vision for the series?

WTB: I think so. We outlined together, so whatever vision we each had, it kind of melted into one vision that we shared.

CH: It very much grew organically from dozens of phone calls, emails, and iChat (AIM) sessions. We feed very well off of each other, so one idea tends to start a chain reaction of many more. And since we're both extremely easy going, and stated from the beginning that we wouldn't take things personally, we have an easy time of being open about stuff we don't like, or don't agree on. It's as simple as, "Dude, cool idea, but I don't think that's going to fly." We smile. We nod. Then we move on. It's really freeing, actually!

***

Me: As an accomplished Christian Fantasy Fiction author, how do you weave spiritual themes into your stories without beating people over the head with evangelism?

WTB: I think you need to be real. Make your characters real people with real problems, asking the same questions that we all ask of life...if we're honest with ourselves. Ask any of the big questions of life: who am I? why am I here? what happens when I die? is there any truth we can hold on to? --ask any of them, and the only real answer is Jesus Christ. But, and this is important, you must respect your readers, and you must respect the God you hope to honor with your writing. You cannot wrap the gospel message in a lame story and expect readers to be impressed. What does that say of God? Write a good story, take readers on an adventure, give it take home value...and there you go.

CH: I like what CS Lewis once said (don't we all?), and I'm paraphrasing here, but fiction has a way of circumventing the dragons that people set up to guard the front gates of their minds, and go in the back door. It's very easy, in my mind, to wrap spiritual principles in fiction, because it was one of the chief tactics used by Jesus himself. Parables. While his were a few sentences, ours are about 125,000 words (tells you who's more efficient!). If you are true to the story and the characters, you can communicate profound spiritual truths without the reader ever knowing you just dropped a bomb.

***

Me: How much inspiration for you stories do you draw from your life as a teacher(WTB)/youth pastor(CH)? As a father and family man?

WTB: Wow, I can't skip this one. Seriously, if it weren't for my students, I'd have never been published. They loved my stories first and made me believe that they might be something more than a hobby. And also, my students helped me to realize how much hurting there is out there. If you don't believe this is a broken, fallen world, just listen to today's youth telling about their lives. It's tragic. We're absolutely neglecting an entire generation, to the destruction of us all. I want kids to read my books and KNOW that there's hope. To know that there is a God and that they matter to Him. My own children are inspiring as well--mainly because they are so 3-dimensional to me that I never run out of traits for new characters. ;-)

CH: I have counseled literally thousands of people in my life, the majority of them teenagers. Those experiences have been absolutely key in developing characters, both young and old, and defining not only how they will respond to stimuli in the plot, but how they will grow and be bettered as individuals. While a few of our characters are based on actual people, all of them have strong ties to issues both Wayne and I have walked countless teens through first hand.

***

Me: How does Berinfell itself differ from your other books’ realms?

WTB: Berinfell is actually the Elven capital. It exists in a larger realm called Allyra. In this world, there are seven high races, among whom are Elves, Gwar, Drefids, Saer, Taladrim, and a coupla others I won't now mention. ;-) Allyra is much more of a world readers could get lost in. It's immersive and vast. Even in the first two books, you only get a small sampling of the immensity of Allyra. The Realm (in The Door Within Books) was a mirror of Earth. Even its citizens are Glimpse Twins of each of us. The Realm is much more of an allegory.

CH: In The White Lion Chronicles, Dionia is pretty much a giant land mass, something I saw as a big floating island. It's all been discovered, and the reader gets to see almost every part. As Wayne said, Allyra, on the other hand, is epically huge. Especially in Book 2, there seems to be new creatures popping up all the time! It's terribly exciting!

***

Me: Can you explain the process of coauthoring?

WTB: Tag! Christopher, I'll let you handle this one! lol

CH: Oh man, thanks Wayne. ;) Co-authoring. Well, first let me say, if you don't get along with the person--and I mean really get along with them--DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CO-AUTHOR A BOOK TOGETHER. Wayne and I have really been blessed with a cool friendship that goes way outside of writing together. In a *non-metro way (*we both have wives, love our wives, like that our wives are women), we finish each others' sentences, get similar ideas at the same time, and even find that we forget who wrote certain parts because it's "OUR" voice, not CH's or WTB's.

As for the actual question, first we come up with the plot and the main outline. This is created over tons of phone calls, emails, text messages, random idea threads scribbled down, etc. We just get everything out we can think of. Once that's been put into a master Scrivener file (check out Scrivener online), then we divvy up the work, not by chapter, but by scene, based on what each of us is really excited to jump into. It could be the first chapters, or the very last chapters. Doesn't matter. As long as we're sticking to the basic understanding of the outline, we know we're in the ballpark for content, character development, and themes. Each of those chapters is then inserted into the master Scrivener file, and then we start read-throughs.

Unlike what many people might think, we do not "track changes." Instead, we give each other carte blanche to edit the stink out of every single word if the other person wants. This, we've found, is essential to creating a voice representative of both of us. People often ask, "So who wrote this chapter?" While we might be able to say who first created it, in reality, ever single line of a given chapter has been gone over at least a dozen times by each of us before it ever goes to the editors.

As for tools, on any given weeknight, Wayne and I will have our Macs running Scrivener and iChat (AIM).

***

Me: The story has such an amazing flow to it, even though we’re following seven different children’s journeys. What made that possible?

WTB: I hate to be simplistic, but the straight up answer is: good editors. We juggled and juggled chapters and order issues, but through it all, the editors shepherded us to something more cohesive.

CH: And it wasn't easy, let me tell you! Maintaining theme integrity, details, plot, subplot, character development, and pacing was a challenge. As Wayne said, we have an amazing editorial staff and couldn't have done it without them.

***

Okay folks! That's it for today, tune back in tomorrow for the rest of my exclusive interview with Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. Also - for your browsing pleasure, here are a few links:

Wayne Thomas Batson's Website

Christopher Hopper's Website

The Berinfell Prophecies Forum

Both these guys are righteous dudes and deserve at least a click to their sites. Check em out!

CSFF Blog Tour: Curse of the Spider King

2009-11-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

Curse of the Spider King

by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

Important Links:

* Amazon
* Wayne Thomas Batson's Site
* Christopher Hopper's Site
* The Berinfell Prophecies Forum

Curse of the Spider King (Book 1 of The Berinfell Prophecies) weaves together a tale of seven Elven Lords, who, as infants, narrowly escaped their doom and are now residing on Earth, completely unaware of whom they are, or any idea of their true heritage.

Seven thirteen-ish “human” children begin to notice dark strangers lurking about, and friendly sources give them each a very special book, The History of Berinfell, a book that comes to life with only a touch. Their first tastes of a history they didn’t even know was their own come rushing out of the ancient handwritten text, seemingly releasing giant Warspiders or setting fire to their classroom.

Each child is an Elven Lord, and thus, is endowed with a mysterious and previously unknown ability that manifests near their thirteenth birthday. As children of Earth, the possibility of such gifts or other existing realms is unheard of. However, The Seven have been sought out and protected by Sentinals from the children’s homeland of Allyra, and are hiding in the shadows. Unfortunately, the Elven Lords are also being hunted by dark forces bent on their destruction.

Curse of the Spider King is what YA Fantasy Fiction is all about. It’s well-paced, richly developed, and irresistibly enthralling. The language is beautiful without getting too caught up in itself. And while we discover more about The Seven, Allyra itself remains mostly a mystery. The scene is set for book two in The Berinfell Prophecies, Venom and Song.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part One of my interview with co-author Wayne Thomas Batson. And please check out a few of our other CSFF Blog Tour Participants:

Brandon Barr Justin Boyer Amy Browning Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Shane Deal Jeff Draper Emmalyn Edwards April Erwin Karina Fabian Todd Michael Greene Ryan Heart Timothy Hicks Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Tina Kulesa Melissa Lockcuff Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Nissa John W. Otte Cara Powers Chawna Schroeder James Somers Speculative Faith Robert Treskillard Fred Warren Jason Waguespac Phyllis Wheeler Jill Williamson KM Wilsher

Review: The Blue Umbrella

2009-11-13T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Blue Umbrella

by Mike Mason

Important Links:

Amazon Page

Mike Mason's Site

David C. Cook (Publisher)

B&B Media Group (The lovely people who made this review possible.)

Recommended Age: 10+

Not all magic has to be kept from the rest of the world. Sometimes it can be simple and wonderful, just like this book, The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason. Filled with themes of loss, trust, love, patience, endurance, and possibility, The Blue Umbrella whisks readers away into the world of ten-year-old Zac Sparks. He has lost his mother to a lightning strike, never knew his father, and is taken to a small town to live with his “Aunties,” as nothing more than a servant. But there is something strange going on in the town of Five Corners. Everyone in the town fearfully respects the “Aunties” and worse, they give in to their every whim.

Then there’s Porter’s Store, and the strange events that haunt its rooftop at night. Zac sees the owner, Sky Porter, every morning in front of the store as though he’s greeting each new day. Known to the household and neighbors as “Boy,” Zac becomes ever more frustrated as the grip the Aunties have on him tightens. He realizes he’s a prisoner and that there are more secrets around Five Corners than he could have ever imagined.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is its demonstration of the real-life principle that shows how our mistakes, no matter how horrible, can sometimes harbor extraordinary results. Zac’s journey touches the lives of so many in Five Corners that we get to see several relationships begin and flourish, but a betrayal could ruin them all.

My only complaint: It has a bit of a slow progression at first, but like most firsts in a series, it needed to establish the basics. The last third of it was pure joy. The Blue Umbrella will speak to all ages and carry themes that will enrapture its readers and fill them with hope. And with at least two more books in the series to come, we’ll all be enjoying the adventures of Zac Sparks and his family and friends for quite a while.

Day 3 - CSFF Blog Tour: Eric Wilson

2009-10-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Eric Wilson

"From an early age, I wanted to be a writer. Although I was born in California and raised in Oregon, my more enduring memories start in Europe where my parents took Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. Life was an adventure, full of exotic cultures and peoples.

Back in the States, I went through junior high and high school. I loved soccer, basketball, chess...oh, yes, and girls. It took a few years to learn how to talk to them, but they interested me from a distance. After high school, I traveled in eastern Europe and China. I returned to my parents’ crumbling marriage. I moved to LA and began college.

During my junior year, a childhood friend showed up as a freshman. Within months she and I were married, and we’re now in our eighteenth year, with two daughters to keep us on our toes. We’re not perfect (our kids could give you details), but we refuse to stop fighting for our family...and for our faith in Jesus, who is bigger than our self-centeredness."

(Taken from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website: HERE.)

Day 2 - CSFF Blog Tour: Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy

2009-10-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy

by Eric Wilson

Book One: Field of Blood

"1989: Scores of Romanian children contract a life-threatening virus. In Jerusalem, the same year, an ancient tomb is broken into.

Gina Lazarescu is a girl caugtht between an unknown past and a dark future. Will she stand in the gap against the rising evil? Or become victim to it?

Death is not a question. It is the answer. Welcome to a world that hides before your eyes." (Summary from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website: HERE.)

Book Two: Haunt of the Jackals

"1211: Crusaders ship tons of soil from Jerusalem back to Italy, convinced of its holy properties. But something unholy has joined them.

1944: Allied bombs destroy a cemetery only yards from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A fire rages. A tomb is opened.

In our modern world, Gina Lazarescu is a young woman caught trying to forgive her mother and track down her father. If she fails at either task, she will die." (Summary from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website: HERE.)

Book Three: Valley of Bones

"1911: Rasputin, advisor to the Russian tsars, travels to Jerusalem to unlock hidden relics, both sacred and profane.

2004: With yet another tragedy in her wake, Gina Lazarescu makes a discovery that renews her hope for the future.

Even as Akeldama Collectors amass forces, Gina and Cal search Jerusalem for a secret that will raise up their own holy army--a valley of bones prepared to fight for the souls of mankind." (Summary from Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy's website: HERE.)

Join me back tomorrow for some more about Eric Wilson.

CSFF Blog Tour: Haunt of the Jackals

2009-10-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Haunt of the Jackals:

Book Two of Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy

by Eric Wilson

Important Links:

*Amazon: Haunt of the Jackals
*Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy website
*Author Eric Wilson's website

Admittedly, I came back to the CSFF Blog Tour a little late and didn't get a chance to read this one. I did, however, do a little research and came up with a fantastic review from TitleTrakk.com for today. Check it out HERE.

More to come tomorrow on day two of the CSFF Blog Tour for Haunt of the Jackals. Please be sure to check out the other tour participants by clicking the links below:

Brandon Barr
Wayne Thomas Batson
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Karri Compton
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Beth Goddard
Todd Michael Greene
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

Book Review: Marked

2009-10-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

*Note: This review may not be appropriate for all readers.

Marked: A House of Night Novel

by P.C. & Kristen Cast

Important Links: Amazon, House of Night Series

Recommended Age: WARNING 18+ (due to language, sex, and drug/alcohol content)

After one hundred nine pages, I almost stopped reading. I literally debated for an entire 24 hours whether or not to send the book back…

I didn’t. I decided that not all reviews can glow. So I read the entire book, and I’ll be honest and let you make a decision for yourselves.

This story portrays a world in which “vampyres” have always existed. Zoey Montgomery is being forced to live with a religious fanatic step-father whose aim is to control her mother so completely that Zoey isn’t allowed to exist in her Marked form, when she comes home with a blue crescent moon “tattoo” on her forehead, the sure mark of a fledgling “vampyre.” He’s an Elder for the People of Faith and would rather see her die slowly than to take her to the school that will save her life and prepare her for the Change into an adult “vampyre.”

Zoey flees to her grandmother’s house, has a religious experience with the Goddess of Night, Nyx, then wakes up at the House of Night where her teen adventures begin as Zoey Redbird, adopting her grandmother’s surname. Zoey faces a buxom blonde bully, shakes an obsessed old flame, starts anew with Erik (the hottest guy at school – which is mentioned several times), and becomes the leader she was meant to be in the group called the Dark Daughters and Sons.

With its spiritual roots right out of a handbook for new Wiccans, this book expresses contempt for “religion,” which seems to encompass any faith that includes the idea of God as a singular. Elements and cardinal directions are encouraged to join in their ritual circle, after each person has had a pentagram drawn on their forehead with oil, and exchanged the proclamation, “Blessed be.” Rituals are a regular part of their schedules. Freedom to choose your faith and beliefs seems to be lost to all who carry the genetic marker for “vampyrism.” They must all worship Nyx, without question. And nobody does question, which totally takes me out of the book’s reality. In the real world people get to choose. It’s like they’ve all been fitted with mind control chips: I. Will. Worship. Nyx.

My biggest problem with the religious aspect is that it’s so exclusive. As soon as you exclude part of your audience, you risk losing an entire sector of potential readers. If it wasn’t so blatantly hateful toward what they call the “People of Faith,” then I might be able to scrounge an ounce of quality from the writing, which is not entirely ridiculous. If this book didn’t include the dialogue, the overdone teen themes, and could make me care an iota for any of the characters, then maybe I’d consider letting a friend read this. But unfortunately, I can’t.

The teen-speak is insulting to the intelligence of today’s teenagers and tedious to the adult audience it had potential to harvest some readers from, given the success of another famous vampire franchise with a wide range of age-appropriateness. Marked: A House of Night Novel just doesn’t have the sophistication or depth to share air with the big boys.

The swearing was gratuitous: f*** was used quite a few times, as well as sh**, dam*, b*tch, sl*t,and God’s name was taken in vain several times within the first page as well as being littered throughout, h*ll is Zoey’s “favorite word.” There’s more, but I’ll leave it at that for now.

Drugs and Alcohol. There’s talk of kids smoking p*t. The first conversation Zoey has with her first best friend of the book is about Zoey’s “almost ex-boyfriend” getting “drunk” the night before. (In the end, Zoey’s best friend was secretly seeing the drunk-guy and had been with him on the night in question.) Zoey gets rid of her entire life, family and friends with the exception of her too-understanding grandmother, and gets new friends and feels they’re her real family.

Sex. On Zoey’s first night of school, she witnesses a sex act in a hallway. Sex is referred to casually on several occasions. This book also contains scenes of “making out,” but not in the tender way Edward brushed his lips along Bella’s cheek, but in an animalistic bloodlust-induced frenzy.

The specific overall worldview of the author is clear, which doesn’t always bring an audience in, but that is merely the beginning of this book’s many unresolved issues. I guess the most disappointing part for me was the anticipation of receiving this book (which, btw, came highly recommended from a few Shelfari readers whom I must now hunt down), and the subsequent let-down after realizing I had not discovered some great new vampire series, just recycled bits of Harry Potter, Twilight, and Mean Girls all rolled into one

An Update From Deep Within the Pages

2009-09-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

After months of inactivity or sparse posting, I'm happy to announce that I'm now in the perfect position to return to my regular blogging. The following is just an update on what's been happening in my life since I last posted, followed by what I plan to do virtually as well as actually.

Reading

I've been reading like crazy. Check out my Shelfari. I've been updating that fairly religiously. I've been knee-deep in Fantasy Fiction. I'm rereading the first two books in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, because I've just acquired the third book, which was released earlier this year. (Look for reviews coming soon.) I finished The Alchemyst three days ago, and am now about halfway through The Magician. The third, and as yet never read by me, book is called The Sorceress.

Writing

Apart from my usual jotting down of random ideas, my writing in the past few months has been pretty stagnant. Today, however, I managed to copy a bunch of files from my desktop onto my laptop. In doing so, I discovered quite a few documents that I'd completely forgotten about. I went through many of them and discovered something that completely motivated me. I really do believe God has blessed me with some skill in writing. Doubt is my biggest foe, and its all self-inflicted.

I vow, here and now, to persistently battle my doubt in my own ability. Through "The One True King" I shall arise the victor! All prayers are welcome.

Today I realized and remembered a few things I need to do:

Write daily.
Use the drive and ability to write that I've been blessed with.
Be prayerful in my writing process.
Don't forget the fellowship I get and give through the blogging network of Christian authors I've become associated with.
Go back and read what I wrote long ago. Great ideas can come from unassuming Word docs with the title Notes or something similar.
Have faith in everything I do (especially my writing)!

Homeschool

My daughter, now 11, and I just began our fourth year of homeschooling. We're doing our 6th grade year. I'm really excited about the changes in difficulty and content we'll be dealing with this year. Math gets more complex, Science delves deeper into concepts only previously touched on, and English contains far more opportunities to teach writing. We'll be doing some extra-curricular creative writing as well. Just for fun.

After a summer of camps, sleepovers, and plenty of pool time, even my daughter is ready to get back to work. The ice cream truck won't be coming around for too much longer now. Aw man - that means I don't get anymore frozen lemonade cups - too yummy.

I've been busy planning for lessons and correcting papers, while Kailee is doing independent work and developing a voracious appetite for books. We're a much better team now. I think our starting-off years are over and we're both a lot more comfortable with the whole homeschool gig. We slipped right back into our groove this fall and I couldn't be more happy about it.

Coming Soon...

I will be updating all sections of my blog's information.
I'll be blogging regularly.
I plan to devote at least a small portion of each day to writing.
More book reviews!!!
I'll be making my rounds to all my net nerds and blog buds to check in and check out what everyone's been up to lately. (I'll update any exciting news as I come across it.)

See you soon.

Fantastic Fantasy: Twilight

2009-04-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

Twilight

by Stephenie Meyer

Important Links:

Amazon.com: Twilight

Author's Website: StephenieMeyer.com

Recommended Age: 16+ (due to mature themes and content)

Twilight is not a typical vampire book, or a typical romance. I'm not into either, and I loved this series. The characters are believable, as are their relationships. The whole vampire thing is essential to the plot but not its main focus. The good guys are "vegetarian" vampires - they don't hunt humans. The rest of the vampires do, but the emphasis is more on self-control than about blood-sucking.

Essentially, the story follows Bella, a clumsy, all-too-human character who falls for an amazingly, dazzlingly, decidedly NOT human guy. His family is one of the only groups of vampires that don't hunt humans, and their story is deep and intricately woven into the story. Also, Bella's best friend, other than Edward, turns out to be a member of a tribe of mortal enemies to vampires. This causes a few issues that only their mutual love for Bella can overcome (later in the series).

The cast of characters from Bella's dad to all of Edward's "family" enriches the story and gives way to some elements of humor. The Cullen family all posess qualities to be admired, such as: unparalleled self-control, compassion, restraint, respect, strength, and loving enthusiasm.

In the end, Bella desperately wants Edward to turn her into a vampire, but he refuses. His only goal is to protect Bella and be with her for the rest of her mortal life. She wants to spend eternity with him and he wants her to have a normal life and not to be what he calls a "monster." That whole issue is seen throughout all four books.

In the end, the appeal of Twilight isn't vampires or romance, but tangible relationships that we can all relate to and become enthralled with, right alongside Bella. Stephenie Meyer's writing style is familiar, yet original. The pacing and plot of the books are easy and interesting at the same time. Each book holds its own mysteries and revelations, bringing the reader closer to the moment Bella, and all of us, are dying to reach.

Twilight is the first book of the Twilight Saga, which, in its entirity, and in order, includes: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn.

*A spiritual note: There is a debate among characters about the existence of a soul within a vampire and their final destinations, if any. The conclusion to that debate is clearly one of faith. Also, Edward comments that even he can't believe this world was all created by accident (smart guy).

Fantastic Fantasy: Eragon

2008-10-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

Eragon

by Christopher Paolini

Important Links:

Amazon.com: Eragon

Official Inheritance Site: Alagaesia.com

Recommended Age: 15+ (due to violence and gore)

Not a typical dragon story. Eragon, a farm boy, finds a brilliant blue stone, which is actually a dragon egg. When she hatches, Eragon discovers his connection with her runs deeper than the silvery marking that appears on the palm of his hand when he first touches her. Their telepathic communication helps nuture a life-long bond of friendship, love, and a mutual goal: taking down the evil ruler of Alagaesia, King Galbatorix.

What begins as a quest for revenge, carries Eragon and the town's mysterious story-teller, Brom, into a centuries-old struggle for the freedom of the people of Alagaesia. Eragon must choose. Will he fulfill Brom's wishes and become the first Dragon Rider in centuries to lead the rebel group, the Varden, or will he join the king who had put an end to the peace-keeping Riders of old? And who were Eragon's parents? Why was he left to be raised by an uncle and aunt? Will Eragon avenge his uncle's death by the strange creatures known as the Ra'zac? These questions and more plague Eragon as he trains to become a legendary Rider.

The first book in a series of four, Eragon, begins us on a quest of unkown origins and an even more mysterious endings. Along the way, Eragon will meet elves, dwarves, and creatures abound in a magical tale of epic proportions.

Fantastic Fantasy: Brisingr

2008-10-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

Well - it's been a really long time since I posted my first book review, but now it's time for my second. I'd love to promise that these would be regularly posted, but that's just not realistic. The truth is that when I have the time, I'll review the book. As always, if you're interested, check out my Shelfari shelf either on the sidebar or through the link. So - here's review #2:

Brisingr

by Christopher Paolini

Important Links:

Amazon: Brisingr

Official Inheritance Site: Alagaesia.com

Recommended Age: 15+ (due to violence and gore)

In book 3 of the Inheritance cycle of 4 books, Eragon and Saphira face more challenges and trials in their quest to take down the evil King Galbatorix. Full of action and new revelations, this book easily lived up to the previous two.

Around half-way through though, there is a section that just didn't quite do it for me. Roran, Eragon's cousin, is repeatedly in battle, which gets a bit monotonous. You can really only read about blood spattering and soldiers' guilt so many times. Also, Eragon must witness a clanmeet of dwarves in a very long drawn-out process to pick a new dwarf king. Unfortunately, Paolini chose to spend a bit too much time showing us just how long and boring this process was.

After this lull though, revelations come to light as Eragon's life is altered in new ways and his mission to kill the evil king seems more attainable than ever. The exciting conclusion makes up for the slow spot in the middle, and the whole book ends with you clambering for more.

Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour

2008-10-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Well - it's tour time again and many of our favorite authors have finally made it over to the West Coast. Yes!

The Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour is currently in progress and making a huge difference in the lives of Fantasy fans. It's running through October 11th, so you may still have time to catch them in a city near you.

I was blessed enough to be able to catch the tour in Portland, OR, (which is right across the river from where I live in Vancouver, WA) on Sunday, October 5th. It was raining and the spot the authors had to set up at, was an open-air gazebo in the midst of an outdoor mall. The roof of the gazebo was, thankfully, covered and rain-proof, however, it did make for an inconvenient place to gather. We, who call ourselves fans and Northwesterners though, didn't let that stop us from enjoying the authors we know and love, and even a few authors we hadn't known of until that day.

My husband, daughter, and I had a great time talking with Christopher Hopper, who is, well - there's no other way of putting it, a really cool guy. And Wayne Thomas Batson was even able to make a few minutes for us in the midst of a frenzy of teenage fans. We also had a nice chat with Eric Reinhold.

All in all, it was an awesome experience. I was inspired to keep writing, and my ten-year-old was inspired to keep reading. She actually said, "Mommy, you'll get to do that someday." I smiled and thanked God for giving me such a supportive family.

All eight of the authors will be touring for another four days. To see highlights of the tour and find out what's really been going on, check out the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour website as well as the authors' sites. Here's a quick list of links for you: Christopher Hopper, Wayne Thomas Batson, Eric Reinhold, Bryan Davis, Sharon Hinck, Donita K. Paul, Jonathan Rogers, and L.B. Graham.

Writing

2008-08-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

Well - I've finally done it. Construction is well underway for my first book. I don't yet have a title, but I have lots of notes, note cards, and a completed first two chapters. Yay!

I'm learning so much as I write. I'm using notes, but only to a degree. I'm wide open to let the story take me where it will. For a while, I was stuck on the notion of having to have the whole book planned or mostly planned out in my head, but now am only planning major plot points and I don't even have most of those yet. However, writing is taking place and characters have been born, and the whole thing is really coming together.

Right now, the thing I'm trying to keep in mind is pacing. I don't want to get too caught up in description, or too worried about speeding the plot along. I'm finding that a balance between the two is a little easier than I originally thought.

It feels amazing to actually sit down and type out scenes that I've only outlined and watch them take shape. It's so cool to see a few scribbles on note cards turn into real scenes with action and dialogue. I've decided that even if I don't end up seeking publication for this first book, I'll keep on writing and value this first one as the best learning experience I've had in writing.

I've heard other authors say how important it is to write daily, and I'm finding that even on days when I don't feel inspired or think maybe nothing will come of it - that it's worth it to try. I finally decided that even if I scrap all I've written in a day (which I have yet to do), it's still so rewarding just to get something written.

My internal battle with the editor-me vs. the writer-me is actually working out quite well. I will do my best to get something out first - anything. Then I let myself obsessively edit and rewrite. The end product is a pretty smooth rough draft. I'm totally satisfied with that.

I've found too, that writing is very good for me. I can feel myself learning and changing and growing as a writer and a person. In spite of my health problems, I have a definite purpose. I only pray that God will guide me and use me as His instrument of grace. I want to tell stories that glorify Him, however directly or indirectly that may be. It's all in God's hands and I'm so excited about that.

Until next time...

Seasons

2008-05-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

Since my last post, not only has the season changed, but many other life events have shaped the course of my days.

My health - ugh...

I'd love to have a good report, but don't. So - I'll at least keep this part short. Migraines now daily? Yes. Asthma as bad as ever? Yes, and now there may be a possible genetic link to cystic fibrosis and my grandmother and possibly myself as carriers.

Homeschooling...

Fine, yet we've fallen a little behind where I'd imagined we'd be at this time of year. We'll be working into the summer partially. Standardized testing will probably be held in July, or whenever we get around to it.

Family...

Great actually! My parents moved up here, somewhat temporarily, in February. They've got their own room at our house and share the upstairs bathroom with my brother, but that's just like old times for them. :)

My mom has been a huge help. She drives when my meds keep me from being able to. She drags me out of the house to the library with her and Kailee, even when I refuse at first. She cooks and keeps us all well fed and spoiled with her excellent fare. She picks up where I leave off and doesn't, even for a second, let me feel like less of a person, even when it would be easy to do. God sent my parents to me during a time that I needed them far more than I knew.

Work...

Jeff's been a busy guy lately. When he's not a his regular job, he's on a side job doing a remodel. When he's not doing side work, he's busy as can be around the house with all kinds of home improvement projects. This weekend he refurbished our ugly white ceiling fan, turning it into a thing of beauty. The metal is a gorgeous pitted brown and the blades are now a textured deep brown. He took $20 and turned the $30 fan into a $200 fan. He amazes me sometimes - well - all the time. His gifts are so useful.

Writing...

Well -I'm getting itchy again. I think that after our end of April snowfall, followed by early May high temps has finally flipped my creativity switch. Winter in the Northwest is a bit tough for most of us. All of us imports have to adjust to the grey and rainy weather for a solid three months, so it gets easy to procrastinate. However, as soon as the sun is shining, I'm in the zone all over again. It's like our own little human hibernation. I'm definitely feeling awake now though.

Other news...

We just celebrated Kailee's 10th birthday. Last weekend (end of April), Jeff and I went shopping at IKEA for a new bed for her. We'd decided to do a whole room makeover for her, and ended up doing an Extreme Makeover - Kailee Edition. :)

She was at Jeff's parents' house for the weekend and we'd been shopping and decided to keep her at her grandparents' for an extra day to give us time to paint, build, sort and organize, and decorate her brand new "tween" room.

It went from froo-froo pink to grape green in less than a day. We got home from IKEA and left again to Home Depot for some paint. We had to primer the pink on three walls, and left it alone on one wall. Two coats of primer and two coats of green later, it looked like a whole new room. Jeff even decided to give the pink wall a fresh coat of pink.

I'll see if I can get up some before and after pics soon. We took plenty, as proof of all our hard work.

After the green dried on that Sunday, we began our individual projects. My job was to sort through all of the endless clutter and toys that had previously littered our little girl's bedroom, that always kept it from being clean. Jeff was busy building the bed and desk. Whew - I hope I never have to do that again. It was unreal and seemed endless at times. We'd brought everything out of her room and downstairs to paint, so nothing went back into that room that didn't pass through my approval.

We donated massive quantities of toys and threw away almost as many. Now all her toys are in plastic bins and will stay organized for years to come. We also put some of it in our attic for her to pass on to her kids someday. It was the hugest purge in Browning history! Whew - done.

Well - after a teary phone call of misunderstood abandonment from Kailee on Sunday night, we felt terrible, but couldn't reveal our little project if it was going to be a surprise.

Finally - Monday evening around five pm, we headed out to get her and bring her home to her brand new room. We'd scored a desk chair for under her new loft bed that day, and a cool fuzzy pink lounging chair as well to go with the new desk, comforter, accent pillows, and matching sheer curtains. This room was made for hanging out, talking on the phone, and just chillin' in.

We got her home and upstairs. It was like an episode of Trading Spaces or While You Were Out. She was so excited! We even saw some happy tears. She was overwhelmed with joy. It was such hard work, but we just kept thinking about how much she'd love it, and she did. She's been calling down every so often the phrase, "I LOVE my room!" since Monday. Now it's been a whole week and the room has served its purpose beautifully. All the neighborhood kids have oo-ed and ahhh-ed over it now and over the weekend, we had her friend party with a sleepover with three of her best friends. It was awesome! They all wanted to sleep in Kailee's new room.

It was such a blessing that we were able to do this. I think it's been the best money we've spent in a really long time. Praise God for tax returns. :)

Birthday Business...

We also prepared quite a party for Kailee. We made our own pinata, wands, and signs. We ordered and picked up silver and black balloons, made a lightning bolt shaped cake, and hung oodles of spiral streamers and shiny silver stars around the house. The theme was Harry Potter. We had to make nearly everything, but it was SO much fun! I've never made a pinata before and it was messy and a total blast. All three of us got really into it and Jeff and I may have smeared each others' arms with gluey paper mache mix. Hee hee...

Conclusion...

I think the last couple of weeks have really pulled me back to reality. I've realized that even with more limitations now than ever, life is still worth working for. Our experiences with the people we love are worth any extra effort and personal consequences. It all matters. God's blessed me with love and support and so much more. It would be a travesty to waste all of it feeling sorry for myself or letting any of it get me down.

My New Project

2008-01-07T14:47:00.001-08:00

Well - my very good friend, Eve - found at Quest Writer, and I are collaborating on a story! It was her idea, the very clever girl she is, and totally loved by me. I'll update here sometimes, but so far we're just tossing ideas around. It's such a neat opportunity and I feel blessed to have it.

Email Forwards?

2007-12-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

Okay - we all have opinions and views, but how often do others' words reflect our own hearts intimately? Not often. This was emailed to me by a person who is very much "on the fence" about his faith. He doubts and challenges Christianity. Somehow, I believe, he gets it a little more than he's willing admit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS SundayMorning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and Idon't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?'(regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get outof our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and wemight damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure itout. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace...

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us...

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My BestRegards.

Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

November CSFF Blog Tour

2007-11-27T00:21:00.000-08:00

This month we're looking at Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead, the second installment of the King Raven Trilogy.

If you haven't already, check out book one of the series, Hood.

Here's the Amazon.com description of Scarlet:

After losing everything he owns, forester Will Scarlet embarks on a search for none other than King Raven, whose exploits have already become legendary. After fulfilling his quest--and proving himself a skilled and loyal companion--Will joins the heroic archer and his men.

Now, however, Will is in prison for a crime he did not commit. His sentence is death by hanging--unless he delivers King Raven and his band of cohorts.

That, of course, he will never do.

Wales is slowly falling under the control of the invading Normans, and King William the Red has given his ruthless barons control of the land. In desperation, the people turn to King Raven and his men for justice and survival in the face of the ever-growing onslaught.

From deep in the forest they form a daring plan for deliverance, knowing that failure means death for them all.

Scarlet continues Stephen R. Lawhead's riveting saga that began with the novel Hood, which relocated the legend of Robin Hood to the Welsh countryside and its dark forests. Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medival Britain, Lawhead's trilogy conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.

Holiday Havoc

2007-11-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

Well - the madness is about to begin. It's all good madness though.

Tomorrow, five family members will be arriving in our midst and I couldn't be more excited. My brother and sister-in-law and their three girls (13, 11, & 7) will stay with my in-laws, and the girls will stay with us for part of the weekend. My nieces are so sweet and loving that I can't help but to feel encouraged even when my health isn't so great.

So - they arrive Wednesday, Thanksgiving is on Thursday, Friday we'll probably take the girls, Saturday & Sunday Jeff works, and by next Tuesday my parents will arrive from California to stay with us for about three weeks. Whew.

I can honestly admit that I'm so excited that it drives my problems to the back of my mind. Tomorrow, I'll also be making my very popular Pumpkin Cheesecake. I can't stand pumpkin pie. Yeah - okay, I'm a freak. However, I make a mean pumpkin cheesecake that so far has gotten rave reviews. I have discovered a very key shortcut this year. I've ditched the spring-form pan and cheated by buying premade graham cracker crusts. I get more pies and it eliminates my stumbling block. I'll be cranking out cheesecake like there's no tomorrow. :)

"Christmas shopping?" you ask. Nope - not a stitch. I'm in denial. I've been crocheting up a storm in preparation, but I haven't purchased so much as a roll of tape. I'm not the type to get up at the crack of dawn (or earlier) the day after Thanksgiving to race off to battle the soccer moms for a $2.99 pair of slippers. Not me. No way. I'm a self-proclaimed procrastinator and if I'm not scrambling at the last minute of Christmas Eve, then something has gone awry, alert the authorities.

Altogether, I've realized that with my family near me I feel better. Love and laughter have been my best medicine and that's just fine with me.

Musings...

2007-11-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

This just sort of popped up one night and I had to get it out. There is no place for it in any story, but it began a whole new train of thought, an autobiographical one. So without further ado, here are my musings:

As a kid I dreamed of the future and knew many aspects of life would change. I truly had no clue that I was to be a part of one of the most amazing times in history. So many developments and inventions, ideas and awarenesses, and information and perspectives have flooded our collective conciousness.

Born in 1977, I was a child of the eighties, a teenager of the nineties, and an adult of the new millenium. This year, 2007, I turned thirty and feel yet again on the cusp of change. My environment changes, as do I, yet delliniating one from the other is nearly impossible. The age old debate of nature versus nuture really has no platform on which to stand. My world and myself shift in waves of awareness broken only upon the shores of the unchanged and the unchangable. These timeless beaches of truth exist for us all, yet few recognize the shore and insist that the sea must extend beyond the boundaries of absolute truth.

My goals and dreams from childhood hold no less mysticism than they did twenty years ago. I'm now old enough to see just how simply my ten-year-old mind had imagined the future, and young enough to see that simplicity is beautiful and fulfilling yet difficult to attain. Someday, I may aspire to lead a more complicated life, but that won't be for many years to come. Perhaps I'll retire, lose some of those whom I hold dearest, and pray for action and excitement to distract my deteriorating mind. Hopefully, regardless of those around me, I'll have a reliance on my faith and my ultimate destination that will carry me through my final years on the earth.

Fantastic Fantasy - Wayne Thomas Batson

2007-09-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

As a fan of Fantasy, I've decided to start a series of posts about books I'm reading, have read, recommendations, and so forth. As you can see by the title, it's called Fantastic Fantasy. I'll feature different authors and their books and try to give very fair reviews and let you know if I'm having trouble being unbiased. My intention is to keep this a fairly regular feature, but we shall see. Also, check out my Shelfari link here or in the sidebar.

My first installment is, appropriately, one of my very favorite authors, Wayne Thomas Batson:

Wayne Thomas Batson:

The Door Within

As many of you already know, I'm a HUGE fan of Wayne Thomas Batson. His books speak so well of the Christian walk, while disguising themselves as amazing Fantasy Fiction. Today, I'm going to review the first book of his that I read, The Door Within.

Author Links

Blog: Enter the Door Within

Amazon Link: The Door Within

Recommended Age: 12+ (Although, my daughter began it when she was 8.)

The story begins with a very average kid, Aidan, who lives in the shadow of his best friend's great achievements. Aidan's grandfather's failing health tears him away from his friends and home, as he and his parents journey to Colorado.

Aidan cannot see the good in the move, but his own anger is left behind as he discovers three mysterious clay pots in his grandfather's basement. Glowing and containing "The Story," the pots open a whole new adventure that has little to do with his own will and everything to do with the will of King Eliam.

Aidan's journey through The Door Within teaches him to look beyond his circumstances and find the greater purpose he may serve.

Aidan discovers an unseen world, The Realm, populated with human-like creatures called Glimpses. His purpose becomes clear; he is to be the 12th knight of the Elder Guard. How an awkward teenage boy can become a knight and fight an evil force in two weeks, is beyond Aidan's comprehension. However, he steps forward and accepts his task with greater courage than even he realizes.

His journey of faith in himself and faith in King Eliam teaches him that to serve is to be loved and that we are "Never Alone."

Swords, knights, strange creatures, evil traitors, castles, dragons, and adventure await all who dare step through The Door Within. I recommend this book to my non-Christian friends more often than my Christian friends. Why? This book will capture their imaginations and take them for a ride, all the while, asking themselves, "Can I, like Aidan, be Never Alone!?" It's a quiet ministry that begs our hearts to find our own greater purpose.

As a Christian, I felt the book speak to me of the rocky and sometimes overwhelmingly difficult path of Christianity. We, like Aidan, have family and friends whom we want to see in Heaven, but who smile and pat our heads in the "that's cute" way. We've all faced trials that seemed impossible, yet find ourselves standing on the other side asking ourselves, "How in the world did I get through that?"

Aidan's journey is one that we can all relate to, whether Christian or not, but does an amazing job of leading us up to those big questions in life.

Until next time friends...

A-M-Y is M-I-A...

2007-09-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

One word: bronchitis. I've been taken out of the game of life for about a week now. I'm on antibiotics, but so far, to no avail. Fever, body aches, and the cough - oh, the cough. It's deep and thick and crackling - ugh! Because of my asthma, they put me on these horse pills of antibiotics. It could be dangerous for me to develop pnemonia.

In addition to the anitbiotics and cough syrup, my doc perscribed the only drug I will absolutely refuse: Prednisone. As many of my close friends know, I was destroyed by the drug two years ago; six months of 60mg per day. That spelled mood changes, body temperature irregularity, weight gain, moon face (it seriously looked like a dinner plate), and loss of bone density. I'm still recovering from the weight gain and bone density loss, and won't head down that road again.

The good news is that I actually don't need the steroids anyway; my asthma has been in check. I've been taking really good care of myself and doing my nebulizer treatments and all that jazz. I'll do whatever it takes to avoid Prednisone.

So - if anyone is wondering where I've disappeared to or why I haven't responded - now you know. As soon as I'm on the mend, I'll be catching up with everyone.

This sickness has seriously knocked the stuffing out of me. I've dealt with some severe chronic health problems, but this thing is a monster. It's the infection that wouldn't die! If I'm not noticing improvement by Monday, I'm supposed to go see my doc. We'll see...

All prayers are welcome! Until next time - remember that as God closes one door in our path, He always opens three others, we just need to keep our eyes and hearts open and take that step of faith.

CSFF Blog Tour - Austin Boyd's The Return

2007-09-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

With nothing left for him on Earth, Rear Admiral John Wells didn't hesitate to lead a third NASA team to Mars, but he never dreamed that one day they'd look out their laboratory module into the lights of a slow-moving vehicle not their own. In the third installment of the Mars Hill Classified series, life on Mars becomes increasingly more unpredictable as the past collides with the future, and nothing, not even the dead, is as it seems...
(back cover of The Return)

Well - unfortunately, I only just received my copy of The Return. I'm afraid that one week has not been long enough for me to finish or even get into this book. I'm going to post anyway and hopefully bring some interesting information to you all.

Be sure to check out Austin Boyd's website as well, to find out a little more about the man behind the Mars Hill Classified series, published by NavPress.

Here's an updated list of CSFF Blog Tour participants:

Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Lisa Cromwell
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Merrie Destefano or Alien Dream
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Christopher Hopper
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Rachel Marks
Karen McSpadden
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

I haven't updated my sidebar list yet, so this will do for now. Make sure to check out who's posting what and leave comments so they know you've come by.

Happy touring!

New Weekly Poll

2007-09-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

Poll Question:

As a Speculative Fiction fan, what do you tend to read?

Make sure to vote and discuss this topic with us.

I, myself, tend to read a combination of both. When I discovered The Door Within Trilogy, I actually didn't know it was a Christian series. I had found it at my local library and instantly fell in love with it. After ordering all three from Amazon.com, I kept noticing parallels to the Christian life and struggles I've personally faced. The more I read, the more I was convinced that the author must be a Christian. I'd had little experience with Christian Fiction up to this point and assumed it would be blatent and preachy. The words God and Christ never appeared on the pages, but the story was all there.

Eventually, I got into contact with Wayne Thomas Batson and discovered that not only was he a Christian, he was a Christian author published by a Christian publisher. My initial suspicions were at last confirmed. This realization opened up a whole new genre for me. I had found my writing home.

I still love any good Fantasy. It may be secular, and if it's Christian - Bonus! Now though, I'm constantly exposed to excellent Christian Fantasy books and can't fit them all in to my reading schedule. It's a good problem to have.

My favorite kind of book to read, and what I hope to get published some day is a Fantasy that has an amazing story, told by a great story-teller, that has subtle suggestions of faith. The kind of book that a non-Christian would be just as likely to pick up and read as a Christian, and end up wondering where they personally fit into the grand scheme of things. It's like a ministry unto itself, without turning away the people that need to hear the message the most.

Suspense Technique #4: Frustration

2007-09-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

Wayne Thomas Batson has posted the winner for the fourth of his Suspense Techniques Contest: Frustration. While I didn't win the prize, I'm honored to have received an Honorable Mention. Here's what he had to say about mine:

Amy: Brilliant stuff. He was trying so hard to get out of the kingdom and then to run into the boy with the mysterious past...awesome

Check it all out at Wayne's site: Enter the Door Within.

Here are my entries for Suspense Technique #4 - Frustration:

#1:

“Are you aware, Master Kalon, that you will need far more supplies than this house contains during such a long journey?”

“Yes, Bastion, I’m aware. I don’t have the option of waiting for the market to open. I must leave now. They are coming for me,” Kalon replied urgently.

Kalon quickly gathered the rest of the dried meat, a loaf of bread and filled his wineskin. Panic began to grip his insides; he knew he had very little time to spend on preparations, a fact that would make his difficult journey nearly impossible. There was no choice; he had to leave before the soldiers discovered what he’d done.

As he reached to grab his long bow, he realized that he’d used most of his arrows hunting the day before and hadn’t had time to make more. He’d have to rely on his broadsword for protection. As he strapped the sword to his waist, he simultaneously slung the bow and quiver across his back, and hastily snatched his full pack from Bastion. Rushing out the door, Kalon caught his arm on the iron hinge, a gash several inches long began to bleed freely. If he didn’t stem the flow, the soldiers’ predatory beasts would surely catch his scent far sooner than Kalon could afford. He tore a strip of cloth from his own shirt and carelessly bandaged his aching arm.

With a brief nod of his head, he bid Bastion farewell and rounded the house to the stable. His steed had been saddled and readied for the flight from danger. Finally, a bit of hope crept into Kalon’s heart. He knew once he passed the main watch tower at the end of town, he would gain distance between himself and the pursuing soldiers. He drove the horse hard and was passing the watch tower, just as a familiar form stepped into his path. Not that boy, not now! I cannot stay idle for long; his interference could cost me my lead, but I cannot leave him without a proper explanation. The boy deserves at least that much.

#2:

Selinium knew that the secrets to her parentage lay inside the sage sitting before her. The ancient man sat gazing into her pleading eyes, while his remained inscrutable. She searched his face for some sign of an impending response or greeting. It never came.

“Sir Ezreal, do you know who I am?” asked Selinium.

Ezreal silently nodded his head. She’d been searching for someone who could tell her who her parents were and the man who could tell her refused to speak. Maintaining her patient tone she spoke again.

“Sir Ezreal, do you know who my parents were?”

Yet again, her inquiry was met with nothing but a nod. The days of traveling began to weigh on Selinium; her body ached, her feet were blistered, and her head felt dizzy with hunger. Yet, she could not leave the company of the only one with the knowledge she sought. Her tactic changed in hopes of eliciting an explanatory response.

“Sir Ezreal, I beg you. I have traveled far and survived many dangers to come to you. Please, tell me of my parents, of the land they came from, or any way I can find the answers I seek. I beg you.”

The aged wise man tilted his head and looked puzzled, as though he were examining a rare species of insect. Selinium felt as though the man knew much more than she had even expected. She saw a glimmer of familiarity in his gaze. Yet the man continued to sit and stare.

Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes; her throat felt constricted. Why was he just sitting there? Why didn’t he answer? Was her entire quest for naught? Was her only hope of knowing the truth lost?

Ezreal straightened his back in a bird-like posture. “You are not ready,” he said in a tone of finality. He closed his eyes and began to meditate, clearly the conversation was over.

Well - there they are. I'll be putting up my entries for #5 soon. I welcome any feedback. Thanks.

Don't forget to check out the weekly polls.

Laptops, and Puppies, and Surgery, Oh My!

2007-08-30T23:52:00.000-07:00

What a week! As the title implies, at least three major events have, will, or may happen within the next couple of days.

For our 10th wedding anniversary, Jeff surprised the socks off of me: a brand new laptop!!! Wow! This is the most unexpected surprise ever. Our anniversary isn't until September 13th, so it was early, and I also never would've guessed that I'd get my very own laptop. I've only ever had a family computer in my life, never my very own. I was so blown away that I could barely speak. I just kept looking at it in disbelief and smiling until me cheeks hurt.

I didn't even know we could afford it. Jeff's been doing tons of sidework lately and he's been skimming off of each job and hiding the money. I had no clue. Jeff's not really a planned surprise kind of guy. I'm the one always planning surprise parties and holiday stuff. He wins. I can't top that.

So - it's an Acer Aspire 5570Z. It has a dvd burner, a 5 in one memory stick port, and every kind of flash drive and USB thing a girl could need, it also has an Intel dual core processor, and tons of movie-making media stuff. I'll be able to do EVERYHING and more with this thing.

I feel so blessed! It's not the thing, it's all the stuff that the thing represents. As some of you know, I've had my share of health issues. With a laptop, I can write, blog, and chat from my recliner or bed if need be. Even when I'm healthy, I'll be able to take it to the park, coffee shop, or on road trips. To me, the laptop will provide freedom that I will use and enjoy greatly. Jeff knows this. He gets it. He knows exactly what this little piece of technology really means to me. That is the reason I feel blessed - I feel blessed to be married to a man that will do his best to provide for me in any way he can.

Big event #2: The Puppy!

It's not official yet. We will find out on Saturday whether or not the puppy still needs a home, but we may have a new addition to our family. We've been praying our hearts out about this. We only want to make this kind of committment if it's what God wants for our family. We're not rushing into anything - we're taking our time. I guess I shoud start at the beginning.

I called Jeff at work Monday morning, just to say hi. He absolutely gushed about a little dog that his buddy from work had with him. It turns out that this guy's puppy has a sister that looks just like him and needs a home, possibly. As far as this guy knows, the friend he got his puppy from has a little girl and will give it to us for free. He won't know until Saturday because he can't see his friend until then. He's going to call us Sat. morning.

The puppy is a dark golden color with a white patch on its chest. It has a short smooth coat and a straight tail. The breed sounds like it wouldn't be that cute, but then I saw a picture on the web and was shocked. It's a Chihuahua and Jack Russell Terrier mix. The fact that it's a mutt is great; they have better tempermants and are friendlier toward people. The puppy has folded over ears and a kind of rounded muzzle (very un-Chihuahua-ish). I'm really not usually into smaller dogs, but if this is what we're supposed to have, then I can handle it. Plus, our yard isn't super big and we already have three cats.

I've been trying all week to not get too excited. I don't want us to make any decisions based on emotion. I know that any puppy will be loved by me, I just want to make sure we don't just go crazy for it because it's cute. We've actually been talking about getting a dog for almost a year now. No doors have opened in that direction, so we've just been holding out. Now though, there's potentially a puppy that needs a home, we've got the room, we've got the desire, we're ready for the responsibility, and if it's still available, it will be ours.

Okay - surgery. Jeff is getting a certain procedure done tomorrow afternoon. It's, shall we say, personal and involves us not wanting any more children. :)

Well - my battery is running low now. I'm sure I'll be updating about the puppy on Saturday. Until then - have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend.

Weekly Poll

2007-08-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

I've decided to post a weekly poll that will ask questions about life in general, movies, writing, reading, parenting, and anything else I may think of. Check it out in my sidebar. I'll also be adding a post to correspond to the poll question. That way we can share our anwers and have a place to discuss it further. Hopefully, this will end up being a fun little extra for all my blog friends.

Weekly Poll #1: What inspires your story ideas most?

Books on Writing

2007-08-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I've just recieved and begun reading 3 new books on the craft of writing. I really want to learn the craft and turn whatever natural ability, or lack there of, into a deep and meaningful endeavor.

On the advice of those authors much wiser than myself, I've headed over to Where the Map Ends. This site is amazing! I highly recommend checking it out. Especially for an unpublished author, this site explains the ins and outs of the publishing world. The creator of the site, Jeff Gerke, has filled the site with everything Specualtive Fiction. He's a fan, an author, an editor, an acquisitioner, a Christian, and full of incredible information.

I digress. The Tools for Writers section is chalk full of resources and information. I particularly zeroed in on the first link on the list Books and Conferences for Improving Your Writing. Here I found several book recommendations, but the number one was a book called Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.

My brother gave to me a gift card for an online book-seller and I purchased that title as well as Fiction Writer's Workshop by Josip Novakovich and Write Great Fiction - Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell. All 3 books were recommended by Jeff Gerke and all three have now arrived at my doorstep.

I've begun to read Fiction Writer's Workshop and couldn't be more pleased. I was looking for a book that would challenge me like Wayne Thomas Batson's Suspense Techniques. I wrote well when challenged and was eager for more. This book has provided just such an outlet. It's set up like an actual workshop; each chapter explains and illustrates a concept and is then followed by writing exercises. I've only gotten through the first chapter, and I've already been stretched in my writing. There are twelve exercises at the end of chapter one, and I've finished about half.

I really believe that being a writer means that you write. Just like a brick-layer lays bricks. So if I want to grow as a writer, I need to pursue a better understanding of the craft and my own abilities. God keeps opening the doors toward writing and I keep stepping forward in faith. His plan is the only thing that matters. I hope to honor God and speak to those who need to hear His words through my writing, like so many gifted authors have done before me.

The New School Year

2007-08-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

One week and one day left...

Preparations have been a slow and steady process, rather than a quick rushed gathering of books and such. It's actually been quite a smooth process. I haven't been writing as much as I'd like to, but a little prep now will afford me lots of free time later.

I thought I'd put up a few of the homeschooling resources I've found helpful. So without further ado:

HomeschoolReviews.com - Parents review curriculum and programs that they've actually tried. This is a great way to get info on which books would work best for your child.
ColoringBookFun.com - Free printable pages with every imaginable characters/subjects you can imagine; from Hello Kitty to Bible stories.
Used Curriculum Forum at About.com - A new forum and a great ebay substitute.
Multiplication.com - Games, flash cards, printables, and more.
Family Learning Organization (FLO) - This site will send standardized tests and supplies, score the results electronically, and get you the results in great time. You choose when to test and you are the "Proctor" while the FLO is the "Administrator." We used this last year - highly recommended!

Well -those are the only national sites I could really post, they're in my sidebar too. I've just joined a co-op in my area that does field trips, events, and something called Friday School. It's a parent taught program that meets every Friday. The kids can enroll in 3 classes, one hour each, for each session. The whole thing begins with chapel, which includes worship and a brief message. Then - off to class. The classes themselves range from horseback riding to horticulture. I think it'll be a really fun program for my daughter.

I also found a Yahoo group for homeschoolers in my area. I highly recommend trying to find an online group for your own area. It's great! Parents post events they hear of and provide helpful hints and tips, as well as giving you a safe place to ask those questions we all have rattling around in our brains.

This year will definitely be full of new adventures!

August CSFF Blog Tour

2007-08-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

This month we're actually looking at Book One of the Trophy Chase Trilogy, but I came across the newly released Book Two and just had to share my excitement. The Hand That Bears the Sword continues the adventures of high seas, pirates, and a desperate quest to save a homeland from evil.

Here's the Amazon.com description:

Christian fantasy at its best has finally arrived in The Hand that Bears the Sword, book two in Emmy award–winning author George Bryan Polivka’s The Trophy Chase Trilogy.
Readers will thrill as newlyweds Packer and Panna Throme are once again thrust into high adventure. Pirate Scat Wilkins returns with evil intentions for Packer as the Trophy Chase sets sail for the deep waters once again. A new and surprising Hezzan in the Kingdom of Drammun has diabolical designs on not just Packer but on the entire Kingdom of Nearing Vast. And, at home, Panna must await Packer’s hopeful return while imprisoned by the lecherous Prince Mather.
Will Packer and Panna escape their separate dangers and find happiness in the Kingdom of Nearing Vast....or will the invading Drammune army steal away their future and that of all the people of Packer and Panna’s homeland?

Let's not forget though, the entire trilogy begins with The Legend of the Firefish. Check out the Amazon.com description for this one:

The Legend of the Firefish is a timeless tale of the pursuit of faith and honor.

Packer Throme longs to bring prosperity back to his decaying fishing village by discovering the trade secrets of a notorious pirate who hunts the legendary Firefish and sells the rare meat. Armed with the love of the priest’s daughter and a noble purpose, Packer stows away on the ship Trophy Chase bound for sea. But many tests of his faith and his resolve follow.

Will belief and vision be enough for the young man to survive?
Captivating action, dialogue, and insights into the heroic struggle of faith make this an ideal read for fans of adventure, fantasy, and well–told tales of honor.

George Bryan Polivka's Legend of the Firefish

2007-08-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

This month for the CSFF Blog Tour, we're looking at a Christian Fantasy book by George Bryan Polivka. The book is called Legend of the Firefish. It's the first of the Trophy Chase Trilogy, published by Harvest House.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to read this one. However, I am going to order it from Amazon when I make my next purchase (which will be very soon). It comes highly recommended from fellow Christian Fantasy authors whose opinions I respect greatly. So that's good enough for me.

Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about Legend of the Firefish:

Swashbuckling is the best way to describe Book One of the Trophy Chase Trilogy. Without wasting time, Polivka's first novel drops readers into a fantasy world filled with action, where chivalry is alive and well, and sword fights are frequent. Packer Throme—a failed seminarian turned master swordsman—sets out on a great quest, but not in search of fame. He hopes to honor God by stowing away on (former) pirate Scatter Wilkins's ship Trophy Chase, convincing its captain and crew to seek the legendary firefish—a feat that could raise Packer's fishing village from poverty and win the heart of his longtime love, the beautiful Panna Seline. Happily, Polivka gives this heroine a backbone, not to mention a mighty right hook and her own part to play in this adventure. "It was wrong to have let her, and thousands of young women just like her, believe they had no power, no strength, and therefore could have no place or position," Panna reflects angrily about the plight of women. Though the Packer-Panna romance finds considerable ink, this is a tale almost entirely of pirates, warriors, stormy seas and battles with monsters. The Christian message is palpable, and Polivka's characters relatively complex. With the nonstop action that cuts between multiple story lines, readers will be flipping pages eagerly.

Please check out the updated list of CSFF participants. Peruse their blogs often and even leave a comment or two to let them know you were there.

More tomorrow...

A Quick Update

2007-08-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Good news first:

I sold all my curriculum and have been able to finish purchasing this year's 4th grade books.
I've found a story that I'm running with and ideas have been smacking me in the face around every corner I turn. WOO HOO!
A very good friend of mine, Eve Nielsen, over at Quest Writer, is working with me to exchange and critique each other's writing. As a fellow writer, homeschool mom, and Christian she is a very valuable and useful asset, as well as an awesome person. It's been so fun and rewarding to help each other out.
I got to take my daughter to experience the madness of the last Harry Potter midnight book release at our local Borders. After returning home, I read it in approximately 16 hours - taking out all eating and sleeping. This translated into Sunday at 6am. I read until I HAD to eat, sleep, or visit the little girls' room. More to come on all this, I'm considering doing a full-scale review of the book and series as a whole. We'll see.
Editorials over at MuggleNet haven't dropped off too dramatically. There are enough editorials to keep us busy.
The weather here has been absolutely beautiful and perfect for swimming in our new pool.
BBQ season has hit the Browning household and I just can't resist. The grill calls to me in its husky voice, "Use me, I make all your food taste so good." I'm a sucker for a bbq in summer.
I got a super-cool 4th grade science program via UPS, and it looks every bit as cool as it did on the website.

Okay - that's the good news. Now for the not-so-good news:

The medication trial I'm on for my migraines doesn't seem to be working. It's a three month trial and I believe I'm at about 2+ months at this point.
My asthma is pretty horrible. It's an all the time thing. I've been needing to do my nebulizer treatments regularly just to keep from coughing my guts up. I've been really frustrated as my energy is zapped from me, along with the ability to do any housework for any decent length of time. My clean laundry refuses to fold itself, I'm working on it though.
I'm starting to feel spread a little thin in general. I know I really don't have that many obligations, it just feels like I do. Any obligations I do have though, are ones I embrace and cherish. Ugh! I'll keep praying about it.

So there's the short version of the last few days of my life. I'll have time to expand later...

Gently Used Curriculum

2007-07-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

I now have FOR SALE gently used curriculum books from Bob Jones University (BJU) Press and Alpha Omega Publishers.

For details and pictures click HERE or email me (Amy) at more2live4@gmail.com

Books available:

Bob Jones:
*Handwriting 3
*Spelling 4

As items sell, they will be marked so on the details web page.

July CSFF Blog Tour - Day One

2007-07-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the month again. This time the Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog Tour is highlighting the second book of the Dominion Trilogy - Fearless, by Robin Parrish. Check out Robin's website and Robin's blog.

More tomorrow...

The 4 Hit the Road

2007-07-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Get my banner code or create your own banner

If you are anywhere CLOSE to these locations - find one that works and BE THERE!

Click here for a printable version.

Monday, July 9th
ICRS Convention
Tsaba House Booth #1904 (1 of the 16 STL booths)
11:00am - noon
Meet and Greet with appetizers

Tuesday, July 10th
ICRS Convention
STL Booth #1904 (STL main booth)
1:30pm - 2:30pm
Fantasy Author Photo-Op

Wednesday, July 11th
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Heart & Hearth Home Education Support Group
Manchester, TN
Contact: Linda Reed
Email: tnhomeschooler@yahoo.com
(931)596-3171

Thursday, July 12th
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Cedar Springs Christian Store
504 North Peteris Rd.
Knoxville, TN
(865)690-5253

Thursday, July 12th
6:00pm
Barnes & Noble
Dreamland Shopping Center
83 South Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
(828)296-9330

Friday, July 13th
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble
Sharon Corners Shopping Center
4720 Sharon Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28210
(704)554-7906

Friday July 13th
6:00pm
Borders
101 East Six Forks Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919)755-9424

Saturday, July 14th
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble
5501 West Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23230
(804)282-0781

Saturday, July 14th
6:00pm - 8:00pm
His Way Christian Book Store
Normandy Shopping Center
8450 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
(410)456-7546

Sunday, July 15th
9:30am
National Presbyterian Church
4104 Nebraska Ave. N.W.
Washington D.C. 20016
(202)537-0800

Sunday July 15th
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Barnes & Noble
Potomac Yard Store
3651 Jefferson Davis Highway
Alexandria, VA 22305
(703)229-9124

Sunday July 15th
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Barnes & Noble
Long Gate Shopping Center
4300 Montgomery Rd.
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410)203-9001

Monday, July 16th
1:00pm
(Pending)

Monday, July 16th
6:00pm - 8:00pm
The Days of Knights Store
173 East Main Street
Newark, DE 19711
(302)366-0963

Tuesday, July 17th
5:00pm
Timeless Treasures Christian Gift & Book Store
163 Livingston St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718)852-2667

Wednesday, July 18th
12 noon
Timeless Treasures Christian Gift & Book Store
673 8th Ave.
Manhattan, NY 10036
(212)582-4311

Fantasy 4 Fiction Tour

2007-07-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Get my banner code or create your own banner

This week we're taking a look at an awesome book tour called the Fantasy 4 Fiction Tour. The authors:

*Wayne Thomas Batson: The Door Within Trilogy and Isle of Swords (coming 8/07)
*Christopher Hopper: The Rise of the Dibor and The White Lion Chronicles
*Sharon Hinck: The Becky Miller Books, and The Sword of Lyric Series
*Bryan Davis: Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire

Four amazing fantasy authors in one place - at the same time! If you're in the area - DON'T MISS THIS!

If you're stuck over on the West Coast, like me, at least check out their websites and pick up a book or two at your local book store (Christian or secular). Ask for them, and if they aren't carrying them, for some CRAZY reason - demand - okay request - that they get it in.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting all the dates and locations of the tour.

Birthday Blessings

2007-07-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Well - it's official. As of last Sunday, I am 30. The best part of it all - I survived! I'm not bothered by my age, I'm not in crisis, I'm not even a little grumpy about it all. What do I have to show for my age? Wisdom. God's blessed me with far more wisdom in the last few years, than ever before. I don't feel older, I just feel smarter.

I had an amazing birthday and was pampered by my husband and daughter the entire day. It was like being a princess. I got a HUGE breakfast complete with cinnamon rolls, eggs, sausage, bacon, orange juice, coffee, and flowers. I seriously think that my birthday flowers were the most beautiful, dense, colorful, big roses I've ever had. They looked like a sunset in every blossom. My little girl made an awesome card for me. It had ribbon and markers and LOTS of love in it. Neither of them let me lift a finger, even if I wanted to. It was so relaxing.

My best gift came through a realization rather than an object or service. God opened my eyes to the amazing support I have of my family. I've known that my parents, brother, and all the rest realize that I'm really embracing writing whole-heartedly. They know I always talk about writing and spend lots of time on the computer, but it's always seemed like maybe they just didn't get it. Maybe they didn't understand that I really feel God's guidance and encouragement toward writing, and that I'm sure this is exactly what He wants for me right now. Until last Saturday and Sunday.

My parents recently moved out of state, back to our hometown in California. That didn't stop or slow down my parents' excellent timing of birthday surprises. Saturday, I received a package and inside was - well - I won't spoil the "suspense" for you yet. Let's just say - they nearly brought me to tears, because their gift meant that they "got it." I know now just how much they believe in me an my abilities and my path - well God's path.

The small box carried so much more than an Olympus Digital Voice Recorder, it was my parents' belief that came out of that box and into my hands. I mentioned how hard it was to be driving, or out and about, and then struck by an awesome story idea. A pen and paper are pretty inconvenient when driving (which for some reason seems to be when inspiration strikes), not to mention that the other drivers get a little nervous when they see both hands off the steering wheel in the car next to them. All the ideas I try to repeat to myself twenty times until I get home tend to slip away by the time I get to my computer or paper and pen. There's nothing quite as frustrating as know you DID have a great idea until a few seconds ago, but not having a clue what it could be. After talking to my mom and dad about these little things that have to do with writing I knew they supported me in that parental way - but on my birthday I really know.

It's not just that they knew I wanted something, so they got it. My mom said, "I keep checking the shelves of the bookstore for your first book."

Cue - big smile!

Then Sunday afternoon, I got yet another dose of family belief: my brother's gift. He knows I've been on the hunt for some good books about the craft of writing and that I've found quite a few that I'd like to get. He gave me a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

This is coming from a little brother who liked nothing more than to find the weakest point in my armor and do everything his intelligent brain could possibly think of to irritate me and get a really good reaction. He wasn't satisfied if I became a little annoyed, OH NO! I had to be REALLY mad before he'd relent. So at the age of 25, he's come a LONG way! Now he's the sweet, loving, supportive brother who loves me with God's love and supports and believes in me.

Cue - close to tears...

In the end, it wasn't the gifts themselves, it was the thought that those gifts wouldn't be wasted on me - that they really knew what was in my heart, and they were lifting me up with all their support and love. God's gift was given to me loud and clear, through the people in my life and in my heart.

Suspense Technique #3 - Peril

2007-06-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

Many of you know I've entered Wayne Thomas Batson's - Suspense Techniques Contests over at his blog Enter the Door Within. Well - the winners for the first and second techniques have been announced, and we're all awaiting the winner for #3 - Peril.

Here are the two pieces I entered under the third contest:

#1

The envoy had succeeded in their mission to find the rare herbs which, blended skillfully by the village sage, would cure the child’s burning illness. Their only obstacle on the return home lay at the precipice of the very mountain they’d been climbing for two days.

The rocky terrain and sudden downpours caused delays in the form of mudslides and fallen trees. The seven men trekked the remaining distance with great trepidation. All of them remembered vividly what had happened on their journey to the great grasslands of Elliseth.

What had started as an envoy of eight had been reduced to seven because of what lay mere moments away: a chasm of molten rock and fire called the Ruin of Loss. The opening of the mountain had claimed many lives in its inferno. It was said among the villagers that the screams of its victims were heard at the full moon.

The mouth of the mountain belched lava into a pool nearly a mile across. The long journey back around the obsidian cliff was the route of the seven men. They had watched their companion slip from that same narrow path and fall far beneath the rim of the mountain into the churning blaze. He had slowly sunk to his death; skin melting off his frame; his hair ablaze from the intense heat. His cries for help and the image of his last agonizing moments had haunted the men during the quiet moments of their journey. As they approached the return trek around the beast, the men stopped in silent tribute to their friend and brother-in-arms. The bravest man and leader, Tabor, stepped one foot onto the rocky black path and looked back at his men; they all understood that he wished them well on their dangerous route.

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At the sight of the Captain’s lifeless body, all nine of the shipwrecked passengers stared suspiciously from face to face, trying to detect an inkling of guilt. One passenger, however, was trying not to portray his/her murderous motivations. But who would do such a thing?

Rations were running low and the island offered little food other than coconuts that grew atop sixty-foot palms. Sara knew that whoever the killer was, they were thinking the same thing that had crossed several minds since their shipwreck: if there were fewer passengers, there would be a better chance at survival for all those who remained. But murder was never an option that had entered Sara’s mind. She’d spent the last week scouring the island for animals, in hopes of some meat, while one of their number had been doing a different kind of hunting.

Terrified, Sara gazed from one face to the next. She could not imagine any of these people sinking to such desperate measures so soon. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were elderly and neither looked capable of such brutality. Dr. Wilder had been helping the injured and tending the sick. Angela Moffit, the overworked financial advisor, had been so kind and assisted Dr. Wilder when she, herself, could muster the energy. Todd Walker had been doing his best to climb the tall trees and harvest as much food for the group as possible. Simon Nelson was an ex-minister and founder of several charities for underprivileged children. Belinda Moss was the eleven-year-old child of the Captain. Finally, Dylan Crosby had been an Olympic swimmer who donated a large chunk of money to build a school for the blind in the urban community he called home. All these people seemed the most unlikely to commit such a crime. However, the small island was definitely devoid of human life except for these eight other people. One of them was hunting; one of them was planning their next target as the rest of the group stood there in shock.

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I'll be posting Suspense Technique #4 - Frustration soon.

Used Curriculum Sale

2007-06-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

For many home-schoolers, summer break began as soon as the weather got warmer. Around my house, we actually quit mid-May. Our trip to California was an educational experience in itself, but we couldn't really get back into our school schedule after the vacation. Our minds would've been on important summer musings. So - we took off early and our summer began in May.

Home schooling is one of the coolest lifestyles God could bestow upon a family - well, our family anyway. It's so flexible, enriching, and miraculous. I could go on and on about the joys of home school, for now though, I'll get on with my current topic.

Friday, June 22nd, I'll be joining many other parents in a frenzy of book shopping at the annual Used Curriculum Sale for CCHE (Clark County Home Educators) group to which I belong. I'm actually really excited about the whole experience, now that we've finished our first year and ironed out many of the wrinkles we ran into initially.

Last August was when we decided to pull our daughter out of her private Christian school, in order to attempt what we felt God was leading us to do - home school. We just dove right in and I attempted to research curriculum over the internet with moderate success.

I decided to try one publisher for all subjects, since this was our first exposure to the huge variety of curricula in existence. Bob Jones University Press seemed to fit our needs best. I had found an amazing website of reviews done by parents who'd actually used each type of curriculum: HomeSchoolReviews.com. This was and still is an amazing asset to our family. I highly recommend this site for even seasoned home-schoolers looking for a new curriculum.

BJU Press was a blessing. The lessons were laid out and the Teacher's Editions taught me how to teach my daughter. I had help - backup so to speak. Initially, all of these things saved my sanity and curbed my worries of, somehow, damaging my little girl's education.

After the first week or so though, I realized that even home school books didn't have to be followed to a tee. So - I improvised. In Math, my daughter was quite a ways ahead of the book, so I let her take the test and if she scored 90% or higher, she could go on to the next one. In English, the book was arranged so that every other chapter was about writing a different kind of essay (persuasive, compare and contrast, etc.) - well what third grade kid really likes to write an essay every other week? Not mine. So - we reviewed the material and moved on to more grammar and sentence structure type stuff. The point is that I altered nearly every book from it's original state, to something that fit my daughter's learning style. That's the beauty of being her teacher.

So after a year of tweaking the books to suit us, I'm able to recognize much better what our specific needs are. This is a tremendous advantage when picking out curriculum for our next school year. I've finally made some decisions and hope to find at least a few of these curricula at the sale on Friday. We'll be going with the following:

*Math - A Beka
*English - Rod & Staff
*History/Social Studies - Bob Jones Heritage Studies (an excellent program)
*Science - Neoe Science (Chemistry 2, Physics 2, or Biology 2)
*Spelling - A Reason For... (Level E)

As for Reading and Bible, we do our own thing. My daughter reads everyday, on her own, and I have her either write a short journal entry on what she's read, or tell me, in order to check her comprehension. This is unconventional, but I want her to develop a love for reading that is personal, and not just read because I said so. (I also developed a rewards program where she gets one penny per page she's read, only after she's finished the entire book.)

For Bible, I've taken a more practical approach. I've prayed about it, and for now, we're using an amazing teaching Bible my dad gave me a few years ago and trying to apply it to our everyday lives. If she's having a disagreement with her friends, we look up what the Bible says about that. If her attitude is a problem, we'll look it up. I've also found a really great devotional series for her called Devotions for Girls: God and Me, and one for me, as well, (God's Little Devotional Journal). Our goal, even in summer, is to start our day with a page in our devotional books, so we start out focused on the Lord, which gives us perspective throughtout our day.

So while all the children in the land are dreaming of swimming pools, ice cream trucks, and sleepovers, parents like me are preparing for the fall year of home school. The sale this week will be a fantastic opportunity to buy, as well as sell, my used curriculum. Every year, kids move up a grade and others leave behind the books we'll be needing and vice versa. It's a beautiful thing. All those discount books, all that knowledge, all waiting to be delivered and found.

Most people don't realize that home school does, in fact, cost money. It's not as much as private school, but it's definitely not free. So local sales like this one are a chance for us to sell the old books and hopefully get some money toward next year's learning.

It's funny because it's not even officially the end of her 3rd grade school year, and I feel like 4th grade will be fantastic!

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Update: The sale was fantastic! I found about 70% of what I needed for our upcoming 4th grade year. Yay!

June CSFF Blog Tour - Day Two

2007-06-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'd like to invite you all to not only read Sharon Hinck's latest book, The Restorer, but get to know her a little and find out where she comes from and what makes her tick. A Christian author's motivation is nearly as important as their work. Sharon's genuine experiences as a Christian, mother, and author have prepared her to weave messages of faith throughout captivating stories of heroism and redemption.

Take a few minutes to explore Sharon Hinck's world, via her website: SharonHinck.com. Here's an excerpt from her welcome message:

Do you enjoy tales of inspiration? Are you a weary traveler seeking a place to rest your pack for a time? You’re welcome here! My novels share a common theme. Life is a grand adventure, and even the small choices we make each day can be heroic.

When the minutia of modern life wears me down, I write to remind myself of the bigger picture: We have an amazing God who made us, loves us, and invites us to be part of His story. And He is an expert at taking ordinary people and empowering them to make a difference by sharing His grace with others.

So get to know Sharon Hinck, and get to know her gift of story-telling.

June CSFF Blog Tour - Day One

2007-06-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

This month we'll be looking at Sharon Hinck's first book of her Sword of Lyric series, The Restorer.

The basic premise of the book is a soccer-mom, Susan Mitchell, that dives into a parallel world that awaits the arrival of a Deliverer. Without in-your-face Christianity, The Restorer, is filled with messages that will not only appeal to Christian women, but fantasy fans as well.

Check out some of the other CSFF Blogtour participants' reviews. They're listed to the right by name. Explore, have fun, and learn a little something.

Suspense Techniques Contest

2007-06-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

No way! I just found out today that, along with my buddy EverlastingScribe, I've won Suspense Technique #2. We tied! Yay! Now, I not only get to be honored by having my piece win, but I get to share the honor with a fellow member of "The Fellowship of the Pen."

The technique was Intense Emotion. Here is my entry:

The view from the upstairs balcony was of tangled and gnarled branches, parched grass, and the remnants of what was once the most envied rose garden in the entire county. Brach leaned over the rickety wrought iron railing, trying to catch a glimpse of the ancient oak that had once supported his boyhood tree house. It had all started there.

As he stood in the warm evening air of July, at the back of the house his great-grandfather had built nearly a century ago, a slight breeze caressed his face. He could almost smell her on that breeze, a sweet flowery scent that drove a chill down his neck and back. He closed his eyes; he could see her face glowing in the sunshine as they wrestled on that very lawn so long ago.

His heart began to ache; his legs lost the will to stand. As he collapsed to his knees, Brach felt that he would bleed from the pain of her absence. It was his fault she was gone; his fault her time on earth had been so short; his fault that he would spend the rest of his days alone. His breath came in great gasps as he fought against mounting sobs. Deep in his soul, he knew he had no right to mourn her loss. It was for himself that he wept.

Brach swallowed his grief, and inside him, it transformed into anger and rage. Despising himself for his selfishness, he let out a roar of desperation that shook the loose panes of a nearby window. Shattering as they hit the ground, the panes of glass were yet one more casualty at the hands of a man who had caused more pain than joy for those he knew.
---------------------------------------------------

What is the prize? A signed copy of the "Lost Chapters" edition of The Door Within. As many of you know, Wayne Thomas Batson (best-selling author of The Door Within Trilogy)has been somewhat of a long distance, internet mentor to me. This means more to me than I can express in words right now. I'm inspired, joyful, honored, but most of all THANKFUL.

God has brought to my attention His will for me to write and with the help and fellowship of many faithful companions, I am writing and it feels amazing. Following the Lord's will usually does. His carefully arranged plan is unfolding bits at a time and the more it does, the more I see His hand in it all. He's brought into my life the people and environment in which I may learn and develop the craft of writing - what a blessing!

CSFF Blog Tour - Day Two

2007-05-20T14:39:00.001-07:00

As I was perusing The Sword Review, I soon realized that here lay a great outlet for as-of-yet unpublished authors. They encourage students as well as amature writers to submit poems and short stories, but hold high standards of quality.

I haven't had time to explore a lot of the site due to the fact that my daughter and I are scheduled to leave for two weeks starting bright and early tomorrow morning.

Even so, I've been able to gather the sense that it's a place where young and not-so-young artists and writers can share and communicate with readers via the discussion forums. Feedback is such a valuable asset, especially to those of us who've yet to be published.

There is a fair collection of cover art as well. I would advise anyone to check it out and see if you can't find something that speaks to you as a Spec. Fiction fan.

Make sure to check out what others thought of the site too. I've added a link list of CSFF Blog Tour participants on the sidebar.

CSFF Blog Tour Begins...

2007-05-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome Friends!

This is my first time participating in the CSFF Blog Tour. I'm a day early, and therefore, will only be posting the link with a promise that a review or two is soon to follow.

Piecing It All Together

2007-05-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been overwhelmed with story ideas. Sometimes they come in trickles; sometimes in great bursts. I've been making a point to at least get them out on paper or in a Word doc - so I have something to go back to when I'm ready to develop it further.

The good news, is that unknowingly, I've come up with several ideas that may fit into one story - a story I began developing quite a few months ago, but abandoned because I'd hit a wall. The other day I came up with a creature and a whole plot line that would surround these creatures.

Yay!

I love it when the character or subject comes ready-made with a few "musts" involved. As an example: my new guys are strictly nocturnal. This will require a fair bit of explanation, thus giving me more to write about. They also appear extremely attractive, so I will have to explain why and so forth. It just gets me on a role. The new creatures also fit into the vision I have for this previous story, so that's how I knew they'd fit.

I guess "vision" is vague. I'll try to explain. In my head, each character and it's situation has a sort of feel, like a movie. People will describe a movie as being "dark" or "whimsical" etc. As I develop a character or a setting, it fits into my mental categories automatically.

So let's say I invent a guy named Bob. Now maybe all I've come up with is that he is bald. I saw a picture in my head and that's sparked something that, to me, begs to be explored. So now we have Bald Bob. So next, maybe it turns out that Bald Bob is an accountant. So each time an attribute is attached to Bob, I get a feel for how this influences what will happen to Bob. Will he be boring? Maybe. So let's now say we have Boring Bald Bob and it's tax season. That means Bob is now busy. He becomes Busy Boring Bald Bob. This could go on for ages, or it could end there.

If all I can come up with is that we have Busy Boring Bald Bob, then he gets described and set aside. If however, he happens to find a magic stapler on his desk, well then I keep going. My goal becomes to just develop the initial idea to a stopping point. It only ends when I can't think of anything for Bob to do. So - now, this idea gets set aside.

The main point, is that I end up with several undeveloped ideas floating around, but at least out of my head and put into words or Word (as in Microsoft Word - hee hee. I know - I'm a dork.).

So say a few weeks later, I'm driving to the grocery store and see a lady in her car and she has four small dogs crawling all over her while she's trying to drive. Boom - she's Canine Cathy. From here, I realize that Canine Cathy and Bald Bob would definitely exist in the same universe as each other, and I'll somehow be able to piece them together.

Now we have something to work with. I can start to weave the characters and add in the setting and decide what exactly will happen to them. Sometimes though, it isn't that easy. Maybe I'm not sure where to lead them or what exciting adventure they'll have, but at least I have two pieces to my puzzle. At that point, they get set aside, but maybe I'll change the title of one to make sure I remember that Bob and Cathy are supposed to go in the same story.

Until now, I've really only gotten past this initial phase of development for a story, with two exceptions. The first, I've dismissed as too juvenile and not interesting enough; and I've hit a huge wall with the second one and am considering rethinking and rewriting most of it. I like the characters a lot and can see what will happen, but I think I rushed to get to the good stuff too soon. It happens.

I'm really working on the fact that it's okay for me to know everything about the story, but not tell the reader until the right time. I'm learning the craft of writing and am always looking for learning opportunities. (I've been so blessed to be in communication with fellow writers, many of whom are much more experienced than myself.)

The very first story idea I had was a little developed and then morphed into something different and then got shoved way off to the side and hasn't been looked at for months. Until now.

These new creatures I came up with have sparked some life back into a story idea I thought was dead for good. I'm so excited and have been mulling over the characteristics and impact of their role. It has definitely been concreted into my mind that I will use them and develop them. They will move the story in an awesome direction that will send a message to the reader that speaks of struggles of faith like none I've conceived thus far, but in a playful and whimsical way.

It keeps striking me that I get to write about the things that interest me. If I want to write about a lost key that opens the door to a magical world - I can. If I want to write about a fuzzy purple elephant that flies - I can. No matter how silly or far-fetched, I can do whatever I want. In many ways - it makes me feel a sense of freedom that I've never known.

God has opened this door and I've stepped through in faith, and boy, am I glad I have.

By the way: I do not use alliteration to assimilate my characters' attributes. Nor do I now, nor ever have any characters named Bob or Cathy.

My Shameful Admission

2007-05-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Okay - so the word is out now due to discussion on others' blogs - I haven't read Lord of the Rings.

I've now finished The Children of Hurin.

SPOILER WARNING - if you haven't finished it yet, don't read on.

I was impressed by the story-telling and language. However, I was pretty disappointed with the ending. Long story short, everyone lives horrible lives and then dies. It was an intricately woven bit of literature, just not too cheery.

A curse is placed upon all of Hurin's kin and the story follows how this curse plays out. I'm glad Morgoth isn't a real life threat, although it chillingly reminded me of the One who is pure evil.

And when I say that everyone dies, I mean EVERYONE. Any character we get to know or like is a goner through various means. Hurin's daughter flings herself to her death while pregnant, his son is slain by an evil sword of his own will, Hurin's wife dies at the kids' burial site, then Hurin himself dies there too.

As an introduction to Tolkien, I may have chosen the wrong book. I was, however, advised to try reading The Hobbit, so I went to my local Christian book store and picked it up. I'm a sucker for hardback books and was so excited to find my choice there.

So my new reading adventure begins today. I'm sure it'll be fantastic and I already know that the main character makes it through the end alive because LOTR has Bilbo in it and it's a later date chronologically.

My daughter is knee deep into Harry Potter. She's now reading Chamber of Secrets and doing very well. I've come up with a new incentive. She's getting paid a penny per page, but will only recieve her money if she finishes the book. My theory is that she'll be encouraged to read bigger, more challenging books and therefore, be enriched further and develop a deeper love for reading.

It just wasn't working to have her read for a set period of time each day anymore. It worked for a couple of years, but now she ends up thinking of it like a chore instead of a privelage. It's the whole positive reinforcement thing.

So far, so good. I'll keep it up as long as it works. If it becomes ineffective, then I'll rethink and formulate a new attack strategy. Mwah ah ah...

Tagged

2007-05-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

Eight Random Facts About Me

Here are the rules to anyone who gets tagged:

1. Post the rules of the game.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

My 8 Facts:

1. I love to scrapbook, though rarely do it as often as I'd like.

2. I tend to spout off relatively meaningless facts about random subjects at any point. If someone mentions water, I'll go into the fact that "80% of Americans walk around dehydrated and don't know it..." blah - blah - blah... You get the picture.

3. The biggest reason for not liking certain foods seems to be that I don't like the texture rather than the actual taste. Prime example - avocado. Eeewww...

4. I write everything on Post-Its. I am a list-maker from way back and my new canvas of choice has been Post-Its. I write To Do lists and grocery lists, as well as lists of items to pack for a trip, etc.

5. I've never ventured outside the continental United States. How bad is this: I lived in San Diego, yet never made it to TJ right across the border and have lived for 12 years now in Washington state and have yet to make it across the Canadian border not 4 hours from here.

6. I was a dancer for 13 years and my professional career was about to begin at age 16 with a touring company called the Young Americans when I injured my knee and God clearly showed me that my life was going to turn out vastly different than I had imagined. Even though my dancing days ended and thus many of my lifelong dreams, I learned about God's will and thank him everyday for NOT letting my dreams come true.

7. Umm - I can't stand movies that are drama or romantic in nature. I love action/adventure and comedy. I live plenty of drama and romance in my real life, so what's the point in finding escapism in a movie that mirrors real life?

8. Okay - last one, think random... When I was little I used to swim a lot and could hold my breath for a really long time. I would sit on the bottom of the public pool (about 13 feet deep) and suck water in and out of my mouth hoping to somehow develop the ability to extract oxygen from the water, thus teaching myself how to breath under water.

*Okay folks, that's it.*

I don't have many blog-buddies and I know that two of them have already been tagged, so as soon as I find more, I'll tag them.

EDIT: I've tagged EverlastingScribe over at Scribe Scrawlings.

Our Upcoming Trip

2007-05-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

Fast approaching is our trip down to California. I'll be driving one of my parents' cars down for them as they move all their worldly belongings back to the town whence we all came.

My grandmother is battling a rare lung disease and needs the care of my parents. She isn't yet saved, so the mission is that much more urgent. It's amazing to see the obedience to God that my mom and dad are showing. They're leaving all of their family to go on a long and difficult journey toward a woman whose resistance to all things Christian boggles the mind.

During such a difficult time, our entire family up here in Washington is pulling together in support of each other. We're throwing a going away/birthday BBQ this Saturday. My brother, myself and my daughter will all be driving down to ease the transition. I get to stay for two weeks and hopefully ease my own transition. I've only ever lived a few hours away from my parents and this is all pretty sudden.

The bonus is that I know I'll at least get to see my grandmother once before the end. I only pray that she'll see the love and sacrifice of my parents and recognize God's love in them. Though I may never know.

Another plus is that me and my daughter will get to spend time in the town I grew up in. The last time we were there she was only about three years old, so she didn't retain a lot from the trip. I'll now get to share the wonders of my childhood with her on a level that will make an impact on her for sure.

The biggest downside of the entire trip will be that Jeff will be here and I there. We've only ever spent two days apart in our nearly ten years of wedded bliss. I know I'll need his comfort and support and receive it no matter how distant we be. However, I feel led to go.

I'm sure I'll be struck with inspiration galore and get some writing done while I'm away from home. The beaches, sunsets and familiarity will definitely infiltrate my imagination - hopefully.

As it all comes to pass, I'll be keeping my blog updated and any who read it shall be thus kept in the proverbial loop.

The New Look

2007-05-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Well everyone, thanks to Eve Nielsen, I have a brand new and customized look here. Check out some of her other designs or she can create a whole new look based on your preferences.

Thank you Eve! I appreciate all your hard work.

Fantasy Fiction Tour

2007-04-25T09:38:00.002-07:00

Okay - so this may not exactly be headed our way, but check out these authors. They're all fantastic and have a few best-selling dents in their shields.

By the odd chance anyone will be headed that way - make sure to check it out. Don't forget to get lots of pictures and signed copies of all the books for me. Hee hee...

CSFF Blog Tour

2007-04-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

So, I've just joined the CSFF Blog Tour. What in the world is that you ask? It's the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour. At the end of each month, I'll be highlighting and reviewing a different book from our beloved genre. You can check out the website above or I'll be keeping a button on the side bar. As soon as I get the list, I'll be adding the names and links to all the participants below the button.

So keep checking back to see which book will be highlighted next.

New Book by Tolkien

2007-04-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Yep - you read it right. There has just been released a new book by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a book that apparently was unfinished when he died, so his son Christopher Tolkien took many years to compile all of the notes and prepare it for publishing. Christopher says that all the language is really J.R.R.'s, so apparently, the notes and unfinished manuscript were enough to equal a whole new book.

I'm super excited! I just got my copy today. I'll be participating in a blog type book-club thing over at WTB's blog. We'll be reading at a prearranged pace and regularly discussing each section. Come check it out.

Suspense Technique #2 - Intense Emotion

2007-04-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

Okay - here is my winning entry for Wayne Thomas Batson's Suspense Technique #2 - Intense Emotion. Check out other people's entries too and the instructions for the technique at Enter the Door Within.

***

The view from the upstairs balcony was of tangled and gnarled branches, parched grass, and the remnants of what was once the most envied rose garden in the entire county. Brach leaned over the rickety wrought iron railing, trying to catch a glimpse of the ancient oak that had once supported his boyhood tree house. It had all started there.

As he stood in the warm evening air of July, at the back of the house his great-grandfather had built nearly a century ago, a slight breeze caressed his face. He could almost smell her on that breeze, a sweet flowery scent that drove a chill down his neck and back. He closed his eyes; he could see her face glowing in the sunshine as they wrestled on that very lawn so long ago. His heart began to ache; his legs lost the will to stand. As he collapsed to his knees, Brach felt that he would bleed from the pain of her absence. It was his fault she was gone; his fault her time on earth had been so short; his fault that he would spend the rest of his days alone.

His breath came in great gasps as he fought against mounting sobs. Deep in his soul, he knew he had no right to mourn her loss. It was for himself that he wept. Brach swallowed his grief, and inside him, it transformed into anger and rage. Despising himself for his selfishness, he let out a roar of desperation that shook the loose panes of a nearby window. Shattering as they hit the ground, the panes of glass were yet one more casualty at the hands of a man who had caused more pain than joy for those he knew.

***

God's Amazing Creations

2007-04-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

Rarely am I impressed by television. I tend to stick to the Discovery Channel and such because I find real life pretty fascinating. The last few Sunday nights, I've been catching their new eleven part series called "Planet Earth." WOW!

The photography is phenomenal. The sound is incredible (especially when listening to it with surround sound). The way the information is presented is awe-inspiring. Above all, what keeps striking me every single time I watch an episode, is how wonderful and perfectly orchestrated God created this planet for us. From mountain peaks to ocean depths, this series entertains and educates the entire way through. (In the episode I saw tonight, "Seasonal Forests," they even used the birth of Christ as a reference point for time - a pleasant surprise these days.)

Apparently, it's taken five years to get and put it all together, yet the technology is right out of the future. They were able to capture extremely rare species of animals, without disrupting their environment. From miles away, using special cameras mounted on helicopters, they were able to highlight a shot of something that seemed mere feet from the camera. Using low-light cameras, the shows were also able to unobtrusively show the nocturnal world that few even knew existed.

So grab your spouse, grab the kids, and sit down in front of the television prepared to be awestruck with the complexity and wonder of God's creations.

Work In Progress

2007-04-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

Well - I've finally started to seriously develop an idea into a multi-faceted story that is actually leading me in directions I couldn't have anticipated.

2,218 words and counting...

UPDATE: at the end of 4/20, I was at 3,481 words.

Suspense Technique #1 - Mystery

2007-04-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

Below are my first and second entries from the "Suspense Techniques" contest over at Wayne Thomas Batson's blog Enter the Door Within. The technique was Mystery.

#1:

Kendall clutched Elliot's hand just as he lost his footing. With a stab of panic she felt her palm start to sweat and Elliot's hand slightly slip. Rocks and pebbles began to slide beneath her tennis shoes and onto Elliot's arm and head. A terrified, pleading expression masked his usually handsome features. Kendall knew if she couldn't figure out a way to pull Elliot back onto the path, he would meet the same fate as the rest of their classmates.

#2:

Each carefully placed step Alanna took on the forest floor, crackled and crunched almost deafeningly through the still midnight air. She must not wake the others in the camp, she knew to do so would mean her death. King Haldor had made sure to send his best warriors to deliver her safely this time.

The few glowing embers of the long-dead fire cast low shadows over each tent as she passed. Alanna held her breath as she delicately made her way past the Captain's tent. He would not soon forget their last meeting and how her escape had humiliated the King's most respected war hero. Her sympathy toward the enemy could've cost the King his throne. This was the Captain's final chance to remain in the King's favor; dead or alive, he must retrieve the King's most treasured possession: his daughter, Princess Alanna.

Another Contest

2007-04-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

On Quest Writer, Eve Nielson's blog, there is a really cool contest to win a free custom-designed blog page. She has a few samples up already. Check it out!

A Great Opportunity

2007-04-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been having tons of fun over at Wayne Thomas Batson's blog, Enter the Door Within. He's running contests to win signed copies and special editions of his books. The real joy, however, has been the actual contests themselves.

He's challenged all who visit to enter by writing up to two submissions for each of his "Suspense Techniques." There are seven techniques in all, and the contest is still open to absolutely anyone. Many of the entries are written by authors, like me, who are unpublished.

It's been a total blast, and I've met some amazing people. Many are authors, as well as Christians. We give each other constructive criticism and lots of encouragement, and feel we're in the company of friends. Needless to say, I've found a niche there.

I've been able to stretch my writing to new heights and have discovered styles I had never dreamed of trying before. I'll be posting some of my entries here in the future.

I encourage all to at least check it out, under the Contests label, and maybe pluck up the courage to enter. It's a fantastic challenge and so much fun. I'm very thankful for the opportunities, Wayne has provided through his "Suspense Techniques."

New Article by Yours Truly...

2007-04-15T23:06:00.001-07:00

Well, yesterday I was inspired by a fellow writer and homeschool mom, and wrote an article about socialization and homeschooling.

Check it out if you have a few minutes to kill.

Homeschooling Solutions to Socialization Issues.

The Beginning...

2007-04-15T23:06:00.000-07:00

A person wiser than me once said that all authors, published or unpublished, are just that - authors. As an unpublished author, my quest begins. This blog will be used for many different purposes. Mostly as a place for like-minded people to congregate and support each other as we all turn the "Pages of Discovery."