Bonus points for you if you recognize where that quote comes from. (It's one of my favorite movies, btw.)
Just wanted to write a quick note to let all my readers know that I haven't gone anywhere, I'm just taking an exceptionally long break to reevaluate how I do blogging and what it is I want to say in this online space.
I'll be back (one day) with better content and more exciting stories from my life. :-)
For now, thanks for sticking with me! Remember, I'm still very active on Twitter and Facebook. Let's be friends there! (Or you can email me by clicking that little red and white envelope in the top right.)
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
New Books by My Friends
If you're looking for new fiction, I have some awesome news for you! Two of my friends have just released brand new books, and I'm really excited to share them with you.
First up is Broken Halo by Sandi Greene. Sandi and I met because she wrote a little bit for BRIO, and we used to be in a critique group together. I've always loved her writing--it's fresh and real and relevant, and her characters have such fantastic depth.
Broken Halo is paranormal YA. Here's the back cover blurb:
Addison never forgets the day her best friend Jonah was kidnapped as she watched.
Three years later, a car accident propels Addison into a mission to find Jonah—dead or alive. With friends, and a mysterious guide named Ezra, they uncover the dangerous secrets of Haven Falls—a town in the midst of protected blood lines, unexplainable events, and murders. Most disturbing, though, is when Addison receives messages believed to be sent from Jonah. Time is running out, and someone—or something—is trying to stop them.
Full of good and rebellious angels, mystery, and romance, Broken Halo takes a winding path where two family legacies can change everything if they collide.
Right now Broken Halo is available on Kindle, and will be available from Barnes & Noble and in print soon.
The second book is called Me & My Invisible Guy by Sarah Jeffrey. Sarah also used to do a little bit of writing for BRIO, and I met her at the ACFW conference in 2008. Her writing also has a lot of depth--but she also has a great sense of humor. Here's the back cover blurb for Me & My Invisible Guy:
The cheerleader who has everything . . . ? Mallory Dane has a great family (at least on the surface), is popular at school (as long as she doesn’t make waves), and dates an amazing boyfriend, Todd (who happens to be completely made up). Boys—and sex—are something Mallory just can’t deal with, so she created her “invisible guy” to avoid it all. But when Liam Crawford comes along—a real guy, flesh and bones and strumming his guitar—Mallory starts questioning her fictional relationship. Is she really willing to give up Todd for Liam? And can she make amends for the lies she’s told—even to her best friend, Tess? What if your biggest, most embarrassing secret was broadcast to the whole world? Letting go of her secret will be easier said than done, and Mallory will risk everything—her family, Tess, cheerleading, her reputation, and most of all, her heart.
See what I mean? Sarah's able to address relevant issues with an awesome sense of humor. She's posted a little bit about Me & My Invisible Guy on the Girls, God and the Good Life blog, and you can buy it in hardcover or for your Kindle here.
First up is Broken Halo by Sandi Greene. Sandi and I met because she wrote a little bit for BRIO, and we used to be in a critique group together. I've always loved her writing--it's fresh and real and relevant, and her characters have such fantastic depth.
Broken Halo is paranormal YA. Here's the back cover blurb:
Addison never forgets the day her best friend Jonah was kidnapped as she watched.
Three years later, a car accident propels Addison into a mission to find Jonah—dead or alive. With friends, and a mysterious guide named Ezra, they uncover the dangerous secrets of Haven Falls—a town in the midst of protected blood lines, unexplainable events, and murders. Most disturbing, though, is when Addison receives messages believed to be sent from Jonah. Time is running out, and someone—or something—is trying to stop them.
Full of good and rebellious angels, mystery, and romance, Broken Halo takes a winding path where two family legacies can change everything if they collide.
Right now Broken Halo is available on Kindle, and will be available from Barnes & Noble and in print soon.
The second book is called Me & My Invisible Guy by Sarah Jeffrey. Sarah also used to do a little bit of writing for BRIO, and I met her at the ACFW conference in 2008. Her writing also has a lot of depth--but she also has a great sense of humor. Here's the back cover blurb for Me & My Invisible Guy:
The cheerleader who has everything . . . ? Mallory Dane has a great family (at least on the surface), is popular at school (as long as she doesn’t make waves), and dates an amazing boyfriend, Todd (who happens to be completely made up). Boys—and sex—are something Mallory just can’t deal with, so she created her “invisible guy” to avoid it all. But when Liam Crawford comes along—a real guy, flesh and bones and strumming his guitar—Mallory starts questioning her fictional relationship. Is she really willing to give up Todd for Liam? And can she make amends for the lies she’s told—even to her best friend, Tess? What if your biggest, most embarrassing secret was broadcast to the whole world? Letting go of her secret will be easier said than done, and Mallory will risk everything—her family, Tess, cheerleading, her reputation, and most of all, her heart.
See what I mean? Sarah's able to address relevant issues with an awesome sense of humor. She's posted a little bit about Me & My Invisible Guy on the Girls, God and the Good Life blog, and you can buy it in hardcover or for your Kindle here.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
What's Happening in My World
Thanks for being patient with me as it seemed like I dropped off the face of my blog. :-) Here's what's going on:
- I'm deep in the throes of my latest work in progress as I prepare for an upcoming writer's conference. I kind of love, love, love this character, you guys. I can't wait to polish this story (a few times) and get it out there.
- I got to spend my birthday and Christmas with my family for the first time in four years!! Unfortunately, I was sick and mostly deaf from the plane ride, but still...being sick and with my family is still WAY better than not being with my family.
- February is a month of thankfulness for me, and I'm thankful for you! If you're a follower or a fan of mine, I'm offering a free five page critique. Check out this post for more details!
- Henry (my husband) and I have been "together" for five years in a couple of days. Five years!!
- Today I posted on the Girls, God, and the Good Life blog. (I've been so delinquent about posting there, but really I'm supposed to do it twice a month.) This time I'm talking about how practicing the piano is a lot like practicing the messages I let tumble around in my mind. If you've ever caught yourself reliving the past or talking down to yourself every morning, this post is for you!
- I spend a lot of time preparing for and making dinner almost every night, so I'm looking for great make-ahead meals that I can throw together over the weekend, then put in the oven in the evenings. I'd love to keep that time free for writing instead of chopping vegetables. Any suggestions?
Catch me up on your lives! How's your February so far?
Friday, February 1, 2013
Free First Five For My Friends on the First Friday in February
I have a confession to make.
More than any other career I've wanted (K-9 cop, forensic pathologist, biology teacher, counselor/psychologist), I've always had this burning desire to read other peoples' stuff as a day job. Not in a creepy way, I promise! I want to read other peoples' stuff so I can make their dreams come true. In the words world it's called acquisitions editing--reading through the slush pile to find the stories that shine, then selling everyone else in the publishing house on that manuscript to see it to publication.
When I worked at Brio Magazine, I kind of got a taste of that since it was my job! (Super cool, right?) I loved reading through the submissions. Some of them were very weird (Sexy stories written in crayon from a prison cell? Nooooo thanks.) and some of them were awesome. I sent contracts to the awesome ones and they usually ended up in the mag!
So here's the deal. I don't get to do that anymore (though I do occasionally judge contests), but I still love reading stuff. And since a lot of you write, I thought I'd offer you a little something as a thank you for reading and being my friend.
For February I want to critique your first five pages--the first five pages of your short story, of your novel, of your devotions you've decided to write--whatever! What do you have to do?
More than any other career I've wanted (K-9 cop, forensic pathologist, biology teacher, counselor/psychologist), I've always had this burning desire to read other peoples' stuff as a day job. Not in a creepy way, I promise! I want to read other peoples' stuff so I can make their dreams come true. In the words world it's called acquisitions editing--reading through the slush pile to find the stories that shine, then selling everyone else in the publishing house on that manuscript to see it to publication.
When I worked at Brio Magazine, I kind of got a taste of that since it was my job! (Super cool, right?) I loved reading through the submissions. Some of them were very weird (Sexy stories written in crayon from a prison cell? Nooooo thanks.) and some of them were awesome. I sent contracts to the awesome ones and they usually ended up in the mag!
So here's the deal. I don't get to do that anymore (though I do occasionally judge contests), but I still love reading stuff. And since a lot of you write, I thought I'd offer you a little something as a thank you for reading and being my friend.
For February I want to critique your first five pages--the first five pages of your short story, of your novel, of your devotions you've decided to write--whatever! What do you have to do?
- Like my facebook page or follow me on twitter. I don't care which one, as long as we're somehow friends and I can contact you. If we're already friends or whatever, awesome. You don't need to re-like me or anything. This is a something I'm offering only to my facebook fans or twitter followers.
- Email me your first five pages. See the little red and white envelope in the top right hand corner of my blog? Click there, and attach your first five pages in the email. Use the subject "First Five" or "Five Page Critique" or something like that.
- Understand that critiquing is intense! I'm not mean, but I am very, very thorough. Don't be scared! Just remember that I like to use a lot of red ink. (I do the same thing to myself.) Red marks don't mean you're a bad writer.
If you're interested, I'm willing to critique! Unfortunately I can't offer publication or anything like that, but I can give you a little look into how your writing might fare when you decide to send it out into the big bad world. :-)
Sound good? Let's get started! Comments/submissions in to me by February 28, and I'll have them back as soon as I can depending on how many responses I get. If you know any other writers, spread the word. The more submissions, the better!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Prayer of St. Francis
Lately my heart has been heavy. I struggle to see the good in a world where people can be so cruel, destructive, hurtful, and just plain mean!
That's why I think this prayer resonated with me so much...it reminds me that I'm here for a reason. And because of God and His power in my life, I can be a vehicle for pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy for others who are struggling. Each day I'm alive is another day God's given me a purpose to fulfill.
That's why I think this prayer resonated with me so much...it reminds me that I'm here for a reason. And because of God and His power in my life, I can be a vehicle for pardon, faith, hope, light, and joy for others who are struggling. Each day I'm alive is another day God's given me a purpose to fulfill.
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Where do you find inspiration and encouragement?
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Where do you find inspiration and encouragement?
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