Visit me at Seekerville today!

When I first picked up Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court, the second book in the series, I was afraid I might be lost not having read the first. That wasn’t the case. The book had a couple of pages of introduction to the Knights of Arrethtrae, which became very clear that the first book was a retelling of Christ with knights and kings as the background.

Knowing that it was an analogy of sorts, it was easy to understand who they were talking about, and having read other such books, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this one as much, but I did! Soon the analogy got lost in the story and it turned out to be a very fast, worthwhile read. My 14 year old is reading the first book in the series and I’ll have to swipe it after him, but I can see an advanced 8 year old reader enjoying this tale which will appeal to boys with all the sword fights and knights.

The story begins as Sir Bentley struggles with finding the truth about the Prince, son of the King, whom the Noble Knights have killed. But he soon realizes that the Strangers (followers of the Prince) are no enemy and in his quest to find the truth about the Prince, leaves home, never to return. Throwing off his knightly clothes, he becomes a peasant and servant to the Prince. Living among the peasants he feels their suffering and along with the Mercy Maiden, he wants to bring relief to the suffering. But he’s up against a greedy Lord Kingsley and the Ashen Knight who tries to kill the Mercy Maiden. Sir Bentley stays on the course, doing the bidding of the Prince as he shares tales of the Prince who is no longer dead, but is alive.

Chuck Black is the father of six children, all homeschooled through high school. His passion is to equip young Christians to serve the Lord. He wants kids to know that avoiding sin during their youth is critical. “What may seem harmless to a young person,” he says, “actually can create a stronghold for sin that lasts long into adult life.” Sir Bentley is the second book in Chuck’s Knights of Arrethtrae series. Each installment portrays a virtue and a vice. Readers of Sir Bentley will be encouraged to embrace the virtues of compassion and courage and warned against the vice of greed. Knight duals, a hideous beast to be slain, and a mysterious maiden of mercy will keep parents and kids alike begging for one more chapter.

 Buy it for yourself or someone you love!

I can’t wait to read this!!!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Daisy Chain
Zondervan (March 1, 2009)
by
Mary DeMuth

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. DeMuth is an expert in Pioneer Parenting. She enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow.

Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005).

Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, Watching The Tree Limbs
(nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing On Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

Mary has spoken at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, the ACFW Conference, the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, and at various churches and church planting ministries. Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, and planting a church.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance from a small Texas town in 1973 spins three lives out of control—Jed, whose guilt over not protecting his friend Daisy strangles him; Emory Chance, who blames her own choices for her daughter’s demise; and Ouisie Pepper, who is plagued by headaches while pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis.

In this first book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault his best friend Daisy went missing. Jed’s pain sends him on a quest for answers to mysteries woven through the fabric of his own life and the lives of the families of Defiance, Texas. When he finally confronts the terrible truths he’s been denying all his life, Jed must choose between rebellion and love, anger and freedom.

Daisy Chain is an achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story crafted by a bright new literary talent. It offers a haunting yet hopeful backdrop for human depravity and beauty, for terrible secrets and God’s surprising redemption.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Daisy Chain, go HERE

The day has finally arrived. The day I anticipated and dreaded. Ash Wednesday.

This year I’m doing something different.

Instead of giving up a particular thing for lent like bread and sugar, like I usually do, I’m giving up my unhealthy habits. The first one being my eating habits. Dare I say it, I’m going on a hopefully life changing diet. I’ve been heading toward this for a long time and though my exercise habits are great, my weight has not dropped significantly in about three years. So it’s time I take a closer look at what I eat and how often I eat and how often I run to food instead of God.

I’ve been on Sparkpeople.com for a while and they have a great site to help me track my food, but tracking gets tedious. So I’m making my own breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack lists on index cards. I’ll start with five different healthy and low calorie options for each category and put them on cards, so I can mix and match days. I’m not giving up sweets altogether, but I will allow myself cereal bars, etc. that fit into my plan. Will I be successful at weight-loss? I hope so, but more importantly this process will be painful, and I need that during this season so I can get the focus of making myself comfortable and do the hard things I know that need to be done. Am I a martyr? No, but I know this will help me get back on track to living a healthy lifestyle.

The second part of my lent plan is to really make room for God. My church has given us a scripture reading for 3x a day, little God breaks. I’m going to try my best to do this, but if I can’t read, then I’m going to at least pause, 3x a day. When I wake, after lunch and before I go to bed. Plus, the children’s church gave out these great little devotions we’ll do at dinner. Plus, every other Wed. we’ll be going to the lent services. I’ll be fasting dinner and eating soup with the congregation afterwards.

It’s no secret that my daily quiet time is always a struggle. I don’t know what it is about getting quiet and being still, but I’ve never been good at it. One key to being successful in this in NOT turning on the computer. So, my plan is God first, computer second. Plus, I’m going to limit my Twitter and Facebooking which always distracts me. I also want to make it a point to get off the computer by 9:30 am and start homeschool at a decent time. I’m getting better, but not there yet. Then, I’ll limit my email checking to lunch and after the kids are in bed. The computer often robs me of family time and I want that to change that this lent.

Phew! That’s a lot of stuff I want to do, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And even if I’m not succesful at it all, I’ll at least accomplish some. I’m hoping, instead of giving up candy or carbs, I’ll be recommitting to the things I should be doing all year long. I hope this year I really will make room for God!

Daniel’s Den is my first Brandt Dodson book, and I’ve been told by some already that it’s a little different from his norm. Yet, since I haven’t read any of his books yet (sh!!! Don’t tell, but I do have them on my shelf,) I have nothing to compare it to. Having just read my first Dean Koontz book (sh! Don’t tell, again) From the Corner of My Eye, Daniel’s Den has that hovering feel. Someone described it as omniscient voice, and I guess it is at times. So far so good. I’m not understanding much about the broker stuff, but it’s set nicely for mystery and suspense. I look forward to reading the rest!

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

Brandt Dodson

and the book:

Daniel’s Den

Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2009)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandt Dodson was born and raised in Indianapolis, where he graduated from Ben Davis High School and, later, Indiana Central University (now known as The University of Indianapolis). It was during a creative writing course in college that a professor said, “You’re a good writer. With a little effort and work, you could be a very good writer.” That comment, and the support offered by a good teacher, set Brandt on a course that would eventually lead to the Colton Parker Mystery Series.

A committed Christian, Brandt combined his love for the work of Writers like Chandler and Hammet, with his love for God’s word. The result was Colton Parker.

“I wanted Colton to be an ‘every man’. A decent guy who tries his best. He is flawed, and makes mistakes. But he learns from them and moves on. And, of course, he gets away with saying and doing things that the rest of us never could.”

Brandt comes from a long line of police officers, spanning several generations, and was employed by the FBI before leaving to pursue his education. A former United States Naval Reserve officer, Brandt is a board Certified Podiatrist and past President of the Indiana Podiatric Medical Association. He is a recipient of the association’s highest honor, “The Theodore H. Clark Award”.

He currently resides in southwestern Indiana with his wife and two sons and is at work on his next novel.

Visit the author’s website.

Product Details:

List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 324 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736924779
ISBN-13: 978-0736924771

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

The dance of the blind

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:5

Daniel Borden was a happy man. He was in control of his life and he had all that he needed. He was secure.

That was about to change.

On Tuesday, April 5, Daniel rose an hour before sunup and drank a chocolate-flavored protein drink before dressing in red running shorts, light gray T-shirt, and New Balance running shoes. The shoes were less than a month old, but had already carried him more than a hundred miles. They were comfortable.

After dressing, he stretched by putting one foot against the stairway banister and bending at the waist, bouncing slightly, until the tightness in his leg receded. He then alternated legs and performed the maneuver again.

When his stretching was done, he did a hundred sit-ups followed by a hundred push-ups. Although the intensity of the calisthenics was unusual compared to the number for an average man, Daniel was not particularly muscled. Instead, he had the lean sinewy build of an Olympic gymnast. At thirty-five, he looked ten years younger. And in fact, he felt ten years younger too. He attributed his good health to a disciplined lifestyle.

When his warm up was complete he called for Elvis, the two year old black Lab he had adopted from a local animal shelter. The dog had been lying patiently on the comfortable over-stuffed sofa watching with detached interest as Daniel worked through his morning routine. But now it was time to run and Elvis liked to run.

On hearing his name, the dog leaped off the sofa and trod to his master, waiting patiently as his collar and leash were snapped into place. The leash was a requirement of Bayou Bay’s restrictive covenants, one of the many features that attracted Daniel to the highly regulated New Orleans subdivision.

He opened the door. “Let’s go, boy.”

They left the house and crossed the short expanse of lawn, beginning their run by heading north, a route they often took and that would return them to the house three miles later. They ran at nearly the same time everyday and were familiar with the predawn rhythms of the neighborhood.

Newspapers were delivered between four and five each morning, the garbage collection occurred on Monday, and the Brightmans, who lived several doors down from Daniel and who tended to rise nearly as early, were usually drinking coffee in front of their open dinning room window by the time Borden and the Lab passed their house. The neighborhood ran with the precision and dependability of a Swiss time piece.

Except this morning.

As they began their run, Daniel noticed a black panel van setting curbside less than two doors away. There was nothing particularly suspicious about the van, but it hadn’t been there yesterday, or the day before, or the day before that. In fact, in all the months that Daniel had been running through the neighborhood he had never seen the van.

It didn’t belong.

He paused to take a second look, when Elvis distracted him by pulling on the leash.

“Okay, okay. Sorry. Geeshsh.”

The morning air was still cool and dew had settled over the lawns giving them an almost aluminum sheen in the waning moonlight.

To the east, over the crest beyond which the city lay, a warm hue was beginning to illuminate the horizon as the sun woke for its ascent. It wouldn’t be long before it would break the horizon, painting the sky over The Big Easy in a dazzling array of colors that would impress even the most skilled artist. Then the city would come alive as school children boarded buses, DJs took to the air waves, and rush hour traffic began to form.

But the neighborhood was quiet at this hour, which made for a quiet, peaceful run. Only the pounding of Daniel’s feet, his own breathing, and the jingle of Elvis’ tags broke the silence. It was a tune with which they had become familiar since Daniel acquired the lab, and it provided him a sense of stability that only the familiar can provide. And Daniel reveled in stability.

His need for the familiar, for the stable, as well as a passion to escape the near poverty conditions he had known as a child, had driven his career choice. As an investment analyst with one of the largest investment houses in the country, he learned that despite the ups and downs of an often volatile market, Wall Street could be relied on to do the one thing it does best–make money. Even in the most difficult of times the market could be depended on to correct itself. And it was the market’s natural return to stability that convinced him most investors can control their financial futures if they were willing to make the hard decisions. The market may be unstable at any given moment, but the share holders needn’t be. If they were willing to ride out the current travails, history showed they would have an excellent chance of recovery. If they had neither the stomach nor the time to wait for the inevitable market correction, they could sell and reinvest in another, more stable vehicle. True, they may suffer a loss, may even absorb a significant loss, but such were the realities of investing. But the truth underlying the matter is that the investor has the upper hand, even if exercising that option cost them in the short run. Far different than most, who viewed the market as a speculative ride, driven by greed and underwritten by risk, Daniel saw the market as the one place where savvy investors could control their destiny.

And Daniel needed to have control.

The runners approached the first turn in the road. This one would take then to the west, along Worth Street.

Daniel breathed deeply. The air was cool, invigorating, and renewed him in ways that made him feel lighter, as unbound by earthly constraints as the freedom that comes with unchecked flight. It was as though he could leave the earth and return at will.

As dog and master rounded the corner, Elvis began to tug at the leash, a clear sign that it was time to separate the men from the dogs.

“Want to run, huh?” Daniel said.

The dog woofed and pulled harder.

Daniel stepped up the pace, slow at first, but then faster as Elvis maintained his cadence effortlessly.

“Show off.”

Daniel had adopted the dog shortly after moving to New Orleans. Growing up as an only child whose parents moved frequently, more often than not to stay a step ahead of the bill collector, Daniel had often been lonely. Over time, his loneliness led to isolation. He had few friends (none who were particularly close) and was always the last one selected when choosing up sides.

And the abyss of loneliness was further deepened when, more often than not, his father was passed out on the sofa when Daniel came home from school and his mother was at work trying to earn enough money to keep the family in the same house for a single school year.

On those days, Daniel would go to his room and imagine himself a successful man who others admired and respected. He imagined himself traveling to places he’d never been, and would likely never see.

But on other days, when his father was not unconscious and his mother was home, he would try to earn their attention by initiating conversation or taking the lead in washing the after-dinner dishes. And when their favor didn’t come Daniel would go outside to mope, or back to his room, feeling as discarded as the beer cans his father carelessly tossed about.

Daniel wanted a dog. Someone who would be glad to see him when he came home from school and who would lay on his bed at night, eager to hear about the day’s events. But the realities of his parents’ financial straits denied their son this one extravagance. “Dogs cost money,” his father said. “And if you take a look around you’ll see that money ain’t something that we have just laying about.”

So Daniel spent most of his time alone, dreaming of the day when he could make enough money to have a dog of his own–and take control of his life. And maybe, even make his parents proud.

Growing up alone, gave Daniel ample time for study.

After high school, he attended Ole’ Miss on an academic scholarship and excelled in academic achievement. But his father often chided the boy for not wanting to work with his hands and his mother told him he might be reaching for heights that were beyond his ability. The desire to gain their approval began to wane, though, as he grew into manhood and became increasingly independent. But when his mother suddenly died, all desire to gain his parents approval died with her.

He left for Chicago shortly afterward, leaving his father to bury his grief– real or genuine–in the same way he had buried everything else.

Later, when Daniel earned his MBA, his father did not attend the graduation ceremony, did not call, did not even send a card. The father son relationship officially ended, long before his father died in an alcoholic stupor three years later.

After graduation, it wasn’t long before Daniel secured a position with the Chicago office of Capshaw-Crane and began to focus his efforts on climbing the ladder of success. At times it seemed inevitable that he would miss a step, slip up, and fall back to the disaster of his childhood, landing solidly on a pile of empty beer cans in a house of despair. But like the market, he would make the corrections necessary to maintain balance–even if not perspective.

Elvis woofed.

“Not fast enough, huh?” Daniel ran faster; the Lab kept pace.

Borden’s concentration on the things in life that were important, on his career, his health, and his financial stability had clearly paid off.

Growing up, he had been lonely. Now he had Elvis. Growing up, he had been hungry. Now, although he chose not to indulge, he could dine in the finest restaurants in a city known for its unique culinary style. Growing up, he had lived in squalid surroundings, awakened as often by the sound of mice playing in his room as he was by his parents’ seemingly never-ending arguments. Now he lived in Bayou Bay one of city’s premiere residential areas.

Daniel had taken control. He was secure.

Until he noticed the van, again, parked alongside the street with its engine idling and exhaust spewing from the tail pipe. There was no doubt that this was the same van that had been parked on his street, just a few doors down from his house.

“We’ve seen that before, haven’t we boy?”

Elvis continued to pull on the leash. The van was parked along the same side of the street as which they ran, with its nose pointed westward. It was a black panel van with a single red pinstripe encircling it.

It didn’t fit. Didn’t belong. And yet, here it was, a mile from where it had been parked just a few minutes before.

“This way, boy,” Daniel said, heading for the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street and away from the idling vehicle.

Elvis followed his master’s lead, giving him a confused look, but maintaining the pace that would soon bring them parallel with the van. From his vantage point, Daniel could see that the side windows were covered in an opaque film that eliminated any chance of observing who was inside. But as they came alongside the van, Daniel began to slow, finally coming to a complete stop. Elvis gave his master another confused look.

“What have we got here, boy?” Daniel said, leaning forward, straining to get a better view of the van.

A low growl began to form in the dog’s throat. As though he had just discovered the out of place vehicle and the possible threat it posed.

“You too?” Daniel said. “I don’t like the-“

“Black Lab,” a voice said.

Daniel spun around to find that Elvis was facing to the right, opposite of where the van was parked.

“They’re nice dogs,” the voice said. “I used to have one myself.”

Daniel focused on the shadows to his right. Barely visible, but silhouetted against the yard light behind him, a tall man emerged, dressed in pajamas and a bathrobe. He was carrying a garbage can.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Daniel exhaled. “That’s okay. It’s just that my dog and I never see anyone out at this hour.”

The man set the garbage can down at the curb. “And you wouldn’t have this time either, if I could’ve remembered to do this the night before.” He reached to pat Elvis on the head. “The wife and I are leaving for vacation today and I needed to get this stuff out so it wouldn’t pile up. We’re going to be gone for a couple of weeks.”

The van pulled away from the curb with only its parking lights on. Daniel made a note of the license plate.

“Do you know them?” Daniel asked.

The man turned to watch as the van disappeared around the corner.

“No, can’t say I do. But I wouldn’t worry.”

“Why’s that?”

He stooped to pat Elvis’ head again, before extending a hand. “Hubert Johns.”

“Daniel Borden. And this is Elvis.”

“Elvis, huh? Well, he’s sure a beauty. Aren’t you boy?” He scratched behind Elvis’ ear.

“Why shouldn’t I worry?” Daniel asked.

“I’m head of the neighborhood crime watch. If there’s anything going on around here, I’m usually the first to know.”

“Are there things going on around here?”

“You mean like burglaries and that sort of thing? No, pretty quiet. And we try to keep it that way.” He nodded to the house across the street. “There are some kids that live there. Teenagers. But they’re good kids. A little loud sometimes with their music and all, and their mother lets them keep some pretty late hours, but they’ve always been polite.” He patted Elvis again. “Most likely the van was some of their friends.”

“Yeah,” Daniel said, feeling a little foolish. “Probably some friends of theirs.”

The man put both hands in the pocket of his robe. “You okay? You sound kind of rattled.”

Daniel laughed. “I’m fine. The van was just sitting there with its engine running. It unnerved me a bit, that’s all.”

“I don’t remember seeing you at the meetings. Are you a member of the watch?”

Daniel shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. I tend to keep pretty busy and I don’t have-“

“Don’t have what? Time?” Hubert chuckled. “I was a cop for thirty years. If they were up to something, I would’ve noticed it. After thirty years of dealing with every piece of garbage there is, you get to a point where you can smell trouble,” he tapped his nose. “Know what I mean?”

“I guess so.”

“You ought to consider joining the neighborhood crime watch. You never know when you might be a victim.”

“I’ll sure think about it.”

“You do that.”

Elvis began to tug at the leash. There wasn’t a lot of time left to run and Daniel was wasting it.

“Well, it was nice to meet you,” Daniel said. “Sorry that we haven’t met before.”

Johns nodded as he looked about the neighborhood. “Too many people keep to themselves. That’s never a good thing. Two people working together are always better than one working alone.”

“Right.” Elvis began to pull hard on the leash.

“But I wouldn’t worry about that van. Probably just some kids smoking dope or something.” He nodded toward the eastern horizon. “Besides, the sun is coming up now. If it was somebody that was going to do something, they waited too late.”

Daniel watched as the glow that had just started when he left the house, began blossoming into a new day. “Yeah. Probably nothing to worry about.”

I’ve been reading the blog at My Book Therapy for a while now. It always has practical teachings you can apply to your work of fiction. Just reading the blog and participating in the NING group is a great way to improve your craft, but if you need some indepth critique, I suggest My Book Therapy services.

Meet the Therapists: Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck and Sarah Sumpolec

I am really excited about the book From the Inside…Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You by Susan May Warren. I’ve had the privilege to sit in her writing workshops and get to know her a little better via email and conferences and I can tell you she’s an awesome teaching with a heart to help writers. Even if I didn’t know what the book was about, I’d buy it! I have learned so much from whatever she’s teaching. Here’s a little blurb about her book:
“Have you always wanted to write a novel, but didn’t know where to start? This book is for you. With proven techniques, easy to understand explanations and practical steps, From The Inside…Out will teach you how a story is structured then take you through the process of creating and marketing your novel. Topics include: Character-driven plotting, How to HOOK your reader, The elements and flow of SCENES, How to build STORYWORLD, Secrets to Sizzling Dialogue, Proven Self-Editing techniques, Synopsis and Query letter writing, How to manage your writing career …and everything in between!”

Convinced? Go buy it here: http://stores.lulu.com/mybooktherapy
I’m not too familiar with the Book Thearpy’s Blog a Book, but it seems like fun! Here’s what the gals have to say!

“Here at My Book Therapy, we love to write, and we love to teach writers how to find their voice. So, in 2009 we’ll be writing a book together!   Starting in January, we’ll create characters, a plot, develop conflict, the black moment, the epiphany and finally…the happy ending.  Then, week by week, you’ll be a part of the creation process, voting on the next step of our hero’s journey, watching the book take life, and learning the nuances of crafting a story. You’ll Blog-A-Book with the My Book Therapy authors and get tools to help you how to write your own novel.

And, at the end of the year, we’ll have a book we’ve all created, something that we’ll publish!  And, best of all, the proceeds will go to support IJM, an organization that fights human trafficking around the world.  I’m really excited about our new project, and can’t wait to see what the collective mind put together.  So, Come and Blog-A-Book.  Learn.  Fellowship.  Bless.”

For more stops on the tour go here.

And there’s MORE: A contest!
Enter the contests for the LOVE TO WRITE blog tour! http://www.litfusegroup.com/latest/current-blog-tours/71-the-love-to-write-blog-tour-for-my-book-therapy

You have two chances to win!

Want to win a copy of From the Inside…Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You (http://www.lulu.com/content/5272647) for your very own? Leave a comment here and tell us what kind of novel you have in YOU.

Do you already have your novel down on the page? Does it need a little THERAPY? Enter to win 10% off a Book Therapy Session (http://www.mybooktherapy.com/index2.php/?page_id=188 ) (that’s a savings of $30+) by leaving a comment here telling us a brief synopsis of your story!

Susan May Warren is writer and homeschooler extraordinaire. She’s also a WONDERFUL and GENEROUS teacher! And her books prove she knows what she shares! I always learn something new when I listen to her and it seems like the girl has an unlimited wealth of knowledge.

As an award winning author, Susan served for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries with SEND International in Far East Russia. And she did it all while writing! She now writes full time from Minnesota’s north woods and the beautiful town that she always dreamed of living in.

 

Q: Do you think it is possible to write a book if you are a homeschooling mom? 

 

A: I was a homeschooling mom for eleven years, during which I wrote 24 books, so I know how overwhelming it can be.  I was fortunate – my children supported me and frankly, after spending six hours with me in school, they were ready to let me have my time alone!    However, admittedly it isn’t easy, and there are definitely some techniques to help make this an easier task. 

 

Here are some of the things I do to carve out productive time. 

 

1. Establish a set time every day, or every other day to write and keep this time sacred.  Block it out on your calendar.  If you only write “when you can,” then there will always be things that will get in the way…from walking the dog to making chocolate chip cookies…  Set a time, and keep that appointment with yourself, telling yourself you are investing in your dreams. 
2. Keep a writing Journal and every day log what you have done, and establish your goals for the next day.  You will access different sides of your brain as you are writing than you do when you are working, and instead of always keeping both sides active, if you write down where you were and where you want to go each day, you can let your creative side “rest” while you are teaching, knowing you can pick right back up when you return to your writing enclave.
3. Keep a notepad handy.  Even though you have made notes for yourself to keep your creative side from overloading, your subconscious will still be working…and I guarantee that you will be right in the middle of  lesson, or an email, or even lunch, and suddenly you will hear/see/dream up your next scene.  Quick – grab your notebook before you lose your thought and write down just enough words to trigger the memory again, later.  Then, you won’t have lost it, but will have put it into its appropriate place to be pulled out during your writing time. 
4. Involve your family in your dream.  I created mini-celebrations – when I finished a chapter, or a scene, or even a book, we’d have mini-party – ice-cream, or cookies, or a trip to the park.  Also, I promised my children that if/when I ever sold a book, I’d take them to Disney world!  And I kept that promise.  Involving them in the process allowed them to invest in the dream with me, and made them a vital part of my writing life.  And, most of all, they didn’t feel left out. 

 

It’s not easy to homeschool and write – many were the days when I held my two year old on my lap and typed around him.  But the reward is when they introduce you to others as, “my mom (or dad) the author!” 

 

God Bless you on your writing journey!

 

Susan May Warren

Founder, www.mybooktherapy.com

 

It’s that time of year again, when we get rid of things that keep us from God. Things that get in the way of our relationship with him. It’s Lent, and I’m ready. GULP!

Ready to make a commitment to giving up something so I can get something better. I’m ready for my flesh to be crucified, it’s getting way to fat and flabby, and I’m ready to deepen my relationship with the Lord.

Yet, I’m also afraid. Afraid of doing the usual “giving us stuff” but not growing closer to the Lord. I’m afraid that when the giving up stuff is over, I’ll revert back to my lazy ways. But despite my fear, I’m still going to do it. I haven’t totally decided what I’m giving up, but I’ll tell you, it’s going to hurt. Because I’m ready for a change!

PENSIEVE has a great review up about Norton Online. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to protect my kids online and monitor their viewing. Norton Online is an answer to prayer.My kids are spending a lot more time online lately and since I moved the computer from the kitchen to downstairs, I can’t keep an eye on all their viewing.

I’ll be doing my own review in a couple of days, but check hers out and while you’re there, enter to win an iPod Touch!

My son has been scrounging money and selling his old electronics to try and save up to buy one! I’d love to win it for him, though I’m well aware the chances are slim. But you have to be in it, to win it!

Here are some other reviews and chances to win!

My Own Circle of Confusion

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Yikes! Its so hard for me to say no, especially to books. But I think I did it this time. I’ve taken on more than I can read, and now (after being on vacation for five days) I’m trying to sort out the book tours and reviews that I owe. But I’ll try and get my act together and read as many as I can, and maybe pause for a moment or two before I say YES, to a book review request!

Ever dream of going on the biggest loser and learning how to eat better, prepare healthy meals and literally exercise your butt off? Well, according to this article it ain’t all it’s baked up to be!

Good old fashioned healthy eating, portion control and exercise is still the key to permanent weight loss!

I am usually the spokesperson for what I term my “highly interruptible life.”  I try to embrace the flexibility of my writer’s life as a gift, even if everyone else isn’t ready to see it as such.  There are still the irritating folks who seem to believe I just jot down a few poignant chapters while the television commercials are on.  Probably the same types of people who believe pastors only work on Sundays.  There are blessings—I have no office politics, the shortest commute in history (bed to coffeemaker to desk), I set my own hours, and my office supplies consist of a laptop and a Venti Skim Mocha.

            I am, as I like to say, the person you want to call when faced with that pesky emergency appendectomy (it has actually happened) because I can drop everything and take you to the emergency room for four hours without much fallout.  Chapter six can get done just as easily in a hospital waiting room chair as it can at my desk (I began my writing career with small children underfoot and have developed black belt writing-amid-distraction skills).  My kids are teens and don’t need constant supervision.  I’m a roll-with-the-punches gal by nature.  So most days I embrace this as a calling, a gift to be shared with those who need it.

            Most days.

            Every once in a while, NOW for example, the tsumani of distractions and interruptions threatens to loom beyond my coping.  Twice now, I’ve had to pen books with family members facing substantial medical issues.  To muster up creativity with white knuckles.  Yes folks, this past month ranks right up there with Pleiter Worst Months, with that little needle on the Allie Stress-0-Meeter veering solidly into the danger zone. I’ll spare you the details, because it doesn’t matter what they are, only how much they are.  I’ll bet your collection may be small but mighty, or large and annoying, or anywhere in between—but the basic truth is that we’re all swimming upstream to keep our writing fires stoked.

            I’ll hand you my secret weapon:  the “next right thing.”  Most matters we face cannot be solved today, but 90% of the time we know the next right thing we should do on any given front.  I cannot transform myself into a New York Times Bestseller, but I do know the next right thing on that path is for me to begin my next proposal.  Or get to today’s needed word count.  Or find the phone number for the oven repair man.  Or maybe just get through today.

            Or say a prayer that God will guide me to the next right thing, even if that “right thing” is to calm down enough to pray for guidance.  One day I plan to get a watch with the following inscribed on the face:  There is always time to do God’s will. 

            I need reminding.  Hourly.

            Drew Dawson, the hero in my current book Bluegrass Courtship, gets a wake up call about God’s will for his life.  And it’s not at all what he planned, nor is it anywhere near the timetable he’d crafted.  That’s the beauty of it, though—God’s plan and timetable are higher than our own.  He sees farther, knows better, and plans more perfectly than we can ever hope to do.  We serve the Lord of Time, the Alpha and the Omega.  He can get me through this week, even if it’s worse than last week, because God isn’t the next right thing, he’s the Eternal Right Thing.

 

BLUEGRASS COURSHIP back cover copy

The celebrity host of TV’s Missionnovation, Drew Downing is comfortable with his fame.  He’s become accustomed to the cheering, star-struck townfolk that usually welcome him as he renovates churches countrywide.  Usually.  Then he and his crew set up in tiny Middleburg, Kentucky, to rebuild the church’s storm-damaged preschool.  The very lovely, very no-nonsense hardware store owner Janet Bishop is suspicious of Drew’s true motives.  It looks like Janet Bishop’s faith—in God, in herself, and in love—needs some serious rebuilding.  And Drew Downing is just the man for the job.

 

From RTBookreviews Magazine:

“Four Stars–With some delightfully humorous moments, Pleiter delivers an appealing romance as well as a story filled with interesting characters”

 

Maybe it’s because we have less money to spend than usual. Maybe I’m tired of all these holidays where advertisers are begging you to buy their stuff. But I’m tired of adding to this American consumerism during the holidays and while I believe in stimulating the economy, I don’t believe in spending $4 on a card to tell someone I love them.

So for this Valentine’s day, I bought my kids all a $1 Chunky bar and .50 card. I’ll be away from half of my family today, but I plan on taking them each out when I get back and spending some quality time alone with them. Last time I took my oldest to the store with me and bought him lunch, it was really good for our relationship. Each of my kids needs alone time with me! And I think that’s the best gift I can give!

For years we talked about going to auctions, but we never did. Until this year when we had a big house and needed some furniture. I mentioned before how my hubby surprised me for my 40th b-day with this set. Well, last month it was finally time we got a bedroom set and moved from my son’s room where we were sleeping in our old bed. But there was nothing we liked at the stores and they were so pricey. So we decided to go to the local auction.

We previewed the items which came from a furniture store showroom. I felt good about purchasing furniture from the showroom instead of used furniture. Who really wants to sleep on a used mattress?

We found the bedroom suite of our dreams. Not too dark, not too light and we both loved it. But would be get it? That remained to be see.

The day of my first auction was filled with adrenaline. I arrived later then my husband. The bedroom suite had already gone up on the auction block. His face held no news. So I asked. Did we get it? He nodded. I really couldn’t believe it! We probably saved 60% on our new-to-us furniture show room bedroom set!

We’re definitely going back for office furniture. After we save up the money!

Love should be something we focus on 365 days of the year. Not just a day in February. That’s why I’m so thrilled to take part in this blog tour and introduce you to several books to help you love all year long! And if you keep reading to the end, you have a chance to win one of these books!

Book 1

Love as a Way of Life by best selling author, Dr. Gary Chapman, “shows readers how to cultivate a new lifestyle built around the seven characteristics of authentic love. Now in a companion devotional, he provides ninety inspirational readings to help Christians consistently live out the characteristics of love in every relationship.

Each devotional entry showcases biblical truths that guide a life of love, offering fresh insight and practical guidance in how to make love a lasting habit. Over the course of three months, readers will learn to follow God’s lead as they practice the characteristics of a loving person: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty.”

Not only do I think this would make a great study for couples, but for families and homeschools as well!

Book 2

How many times do you look at a couple and say “They’ve got a great marriage. Wish mine ours was like that?”

For me, it’s easy to put other marriages up on pedestals, that’s why I’m looking forward to reading the book I Do Again by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs which “details the fascinating real-life story of a couple whose relationship seemed shattered beyond all hope until a spiritual awakening led them to reconsider their definitions of “happily ever after.”

This is what people are saying:

With their professional success and adorable twin daughters, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs looked like the perfect couple. But their polished facade concealed a widening chasm between two people unable to connect on an intimate, soul-deep level. After years of frustration, Cheryl’s desire for emotional fulfillment led to an affair and, finally, divorce. Yet, incredibly, seven years later, Jeff and Cheryl once again stood at the altar, promising to “love, honor, and cherish” one another. A new and vibrant love had risen out of the ashes of this family’s pain.

I Do Again is riveting account of the power of prayer and redemption, this remarkable book offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages—and reveals why the rewards of restoration are well worth the wait.

Book 3

For Couples Only Box Set by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn. This is the book I’m most excited about because it’s the one that got my husband reading again. And after 17 years of marriage, it’s helping to us see each other and our marriage in a different light!

“Each volume is based on input from more than a thousand members of the opposite sex—including an unprecedented nationwide survey and hundreds of personal interviews. This innovative approach yields candid and surprising answers about everything you don’t “get” about your significant other—even what that person deeply wishes you knew. It also produces simple but groundbreaking awareness of how you can best love and support the one who is most important to you.

So whether you are newly dating or have been married fifty years, get ready to know each other in a whole new way. The adventure is just beginning!”

Three lucky winners will win books! Just tell how you’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day,  which book you want and why!

One enemy. 

          Two brothers. 

                   And a perilous quest in search of four mystical keys …

     Keys that will unlock the gate of Sentinel, the timeless city of destiny—the place that all followers of the Light must one day find.  Only true warriors of good King Deus can call it home.  

     From Gelandesprung, through the mysterious forest of Gravenwood, across the barren plain of Gall, and beyond the burning sands of Mammon, they will travel. But traveling will be only half their journey, for hidden throughout the regions of Callow are the keys.  And to complete their mission into Sentinel, they will need all four. Even if the valiant brothers should find the hallowed walls that surround the city, without the keys their struggle will be for naught.  

     But Azrael awaits.  Driven by an ancient vow to stop any boy from entering the sacred city.  His plans are evil, his minions are many, and his aim is sure… Keep all seekers, at all costs, from finding the royal keys.  

     Even so, they embark.  They search.  And, eventually… One of them will fight to take hold of what is rightfully his—a place of honor at the mighty king’s table.

 

When I first heard about Sentinel: City of Destiny, I thought it would be a great read aloud for family devotions. It sounded a bit like Little Pilgrim’s Progress and we read that in  homeschool several years back. So I thought this book, which caught my attention by focusing on boys learning spiritual principles and how to become a “man” in a fun fantasy setting, would capture the attention of my 13, 10 and 7 year old. I knew it would be a challenge for my 5 year old daughter to sit through it and pay attention to the story, but I was willing to give it a try.

I immediately enjoyed the first few chapters with the good and bad twin, one choosing the right way, one choosing the wrong and the allegory was easy to see and enjoy. My ten year old embraced our Sentinel family devotions, and answered the questions in the handy chapter lessons in the back of the book, but it was a struggle for some of my other children to pay attention and each session was wrought with angst. I knew each child could get something from the book, but knew family devotions wasn’t the place. I shouldn’t have been surprised, actually. Family devos was always a struggle (still is) in finding content that held the interest and spiritual/intellectual appropriateness of kids ages 5 – 13.

After a couple of chapters (and months) I gave up my idea of a  family study, but I didn’t give up on Sentinel. Having read a fourth of the book already, and confirming my thoughts on how it reminded me of Little Pilgrims Progress in the writing and allegory, I decided to give it to my ten, almost eleven year old. He made it through the book enthusiastically and the following is his review which after reading, I would definitely recommend this book for boys ages 5 through 12.

Joey (11)

Sentinel is a book about two brothers (twins) that go on a journey to reach Sentinel, the city of manhood. Along the way they go through different obstacles that represent challenges every boy will have to face throughout their life to become a true man.

Jerol is godly and always reads scriptures and makes the right decisions. Jadon never reads the scriptures and makes the wrong decisions. Sometimes Jerol makes the wrong choices but he calls on “prayer” his bird, and it gets him out of trouble.

On the way to the city, Jerol and Jadon have to collect four keys. Vision. Courage. Integrity. Service. I learned that vision is about what God wants you to do and not what you think is the best thing to do. Any decision you make, you should call on God. Integrity is thinking and acting the way God wants you to.

One thing I liked about the book is that in certain places there is an asterisk by some words and it means you can look up the definition in the back of the book so it can help you understand a little bit better about the challenges they face. For example, sometimes there will be a name of a city or person to look up and it helps you understand about that person’s character. There are these two evil girls named Jezebel and Delila and in the back of the book it defines their names so you know more about them.

I think of Sentinel as a modernized version of Little Pilgrims Progress. I think boys should read it because it could help them make the right decisions as they go through manhood.

Yes, I know I’m almost 6 months behind in posting this (if it works!) but it’s taken me that long to figure out how to get the interview out of my digital recorder onto my computer where it sat for several more months as I tried to decipher friends’ well meaning instructions about podcasting, ftp and codes. Then I found pondango.com which I thought was my ticket to podcasting. I signed up and was ready to go. Next time I logged on the were reconstructing their site with intentions to merge. Sooo, I went hunting again. Found Podbean yesterday. Hubby helped me convert the audio file to MP3. I uploaded the audio to a site similar to a blog and then tried to embed the code here. Well, if you can’t see the audio thingamajiggy then click over here. I’m told it should be working!

http://writerinterrupted.podbean.com/2009/02/08/christy-award-interviews-2008/

Yep, know that. Understand it. I’m even appreciative of it. BUT good news is always better in the big scheme of things and since I’m leaning on the ONE who holds my future and writing career in my hands, I’m not really anxious. Working on a new WIP helps to take the edge off waiting. But wouldn’t it be great if I got “the call” soon!

Not only would it be awesome, but we could really use the income, especially if I want to go to ACFW Denver this year. (Keep praying for us to sell our old home!) So in the meantime, I’ll keep waiting, and writing and looking for new ways I can earn a buck or two. Have any brilliant but no so painful ideas?

I’m all for supporting our President through prayer and not bad mouthing him when I don’t agree with his policies. But I can’t support his stand on the Freedom of Choice Act. If you’re against partial birth abortions, abortions in general and any of the following:

FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.
FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.

Then join hundreds of thousands of other in telling him so!