Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day Nine

Day 9. The Letter I.

Today I’m thankful for Inspiration.

WRITER’S MYTH: If you just wait for inspiration, it will come, and the words will flow like molten lava onto the page, igniting the world with your brilliance.

Oh, if only that were so. The truth is writing is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. It’s hard work. And sometimes grueling. As nice as it would be, an author doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for inspiration to strike. The writing chair and keyboard await. Deadlines lurk. Books (and blog posts!) don’t write themselves. There are, however, some things that just by nature are inspiring or which I’ve found helpful to jumpstart my brain. Oddly enough, these ten things are also things which bring me joy and contentment.

Maui, June 2011

1. Books – Reading great novels not only satisfies my need to be drawn into fictitious story worlds, but also challenges me to be a better writer.

2. Music – Jazz, doo-wop, gospel, and golden oldies are regular choices for me. I can’t imagine a world without music.

3. Sunsets – There is nothing quite so breathtaking as a sunset on the prairie, especially the shifting colors as evening slips into night. The ones in Maui are pretty incredible too.

4. The smell of new rain – I never tire of this smell, and coupled with it, the patter of rain on the roof as I settle in with my computer to write plays its own kind of music.

5. Coffee – Oh sweet Sumatra, vivacious Verona, eloquent Espresso, friendly Folgers, capricious Columbian. You make my mornings brighter and my heart happy.

6. Laughter – Grandkid giggles. Belly laughing that makes tears run down my cheeks. The world needs more laughter.

7. Change of scenery – Weekend getaways. Exotic vacations. Visits with friends. All are inspiring in their own way.


8. Reading the inspirational stories of others – I’m a Guideposts reader and happy to be part of a new website that brings inspirational stories every day.

9. Prayer – A day bathed in prayer makes all the difference in my outlook and my writing output.

10. God’s Word – So many scriptures inspire me, but here’s one that helps me keep my focus as I’m writing:  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

I’m feeling inspired – how about you? Do you have any special places or rituals that help stir inspiration in you?

Heady Stuff - Pulpwood Queens' Bestseller List for January 2011

The first best-seller list for Chasing Lilacs!! I'm thrilled and hats off to Kathy Patrick, Tiara wearing and Book sharing founder of the Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs: the largest “meeting and discussing book club in the WORLD”! What I really love about Kathy is her non-stop efforts at bringing authors and readers together and her heart for stamping out illiteracy. Woo-Hoo!

Take a close look at this list - they are ALL amazing books - novels, memoir, non-fiction. I think I met all but one or two at the Girlfriend Weekend last month and I LOVE these authors. I think you will too!

TOP TWENTY COUNTDOWN FOR JANUARY 2011

PULPWOOD QUEENS' BESTSELLER LIST OF HITS!!!!

1) My Reading Life by Pat Conroy

2) I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

3) The Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White

4) Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

5) Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

6) The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life by Kathy L. Patrick

7) My Orange Duffel Bag by Sam Bracken and Echo Garrett

8) They Came to Nashville by Marshall Chapman

9) as the sycamore grows by Jennie Helderman

10) Don’t Quit Your Day Job Edited by Sonny Brewer

11) The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

12) My Night with Saddam by Dr. Mark Green

13) Miss Hildreth Wore Brown by Olivia DeBelle Byrd

14) Write That Book Already by Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark

15) Walking in the Deep End by Susan Parker

16) If Holden Caufield Where in my Classroom by Bernie Schein

17) Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Jamie Ford

18) Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Mary Murphy

19) The Mailbox by Mary Beth Whelan

20) Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart

How many of these have you read? Are any of them on your reading list for 2011?

The Year of Reading Pleasures

One of the gifts I've given myself this year is permission to read great novels and not get waylaid by trying to catch up on the books I should have read and didn't quite get to. Yes, some of those shoulda, coulda, woulda books are still on my "waiting to be read" shelf, but some are not. Here's why:

On New Year's Eve, I persuaded my sweet hubby to help me clean up the house for company that we'd invited for the evening. He suggested that perhaps we should do something about those books. Meaning, of course, the obstacle course in front of the beautiful bookcases he built on one entire wall of our den. It hasn't always been a hazard to walk past, but in the past year or so, my "to-be-read" shelves had begun to  bulge, and because I really did mean to read EVERY SINGLE ONE of those books, I started stacking them on the floor in front of the shelves. This has led to profound guilt, denial that I have a book hoarding obsession, and may, in fact, be the beginning of some deep-seated inability to grasp reality.

I could not read all those books in the coming year and probably not in the next five years even if I did nothing else, so an intervention was in order. I'm happy to report that two sacks and two boxes of books will find wonderful new homes. We still have three shelves of "to-be-read" books, but they are not stacked two and three deep. We also have a "his" and "hers" shelf so Max doesn't have to sift through many of mine in which he has no interest. And vice versa.

So, on to the topic of this post: My Year of Reading Pleasures for 2011 will include:

South of Broad by Pat Conroy (halfway through this one already)
Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls of The Glass Castle Fame 
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer
The Book Thief by Markus Zusack (yes, I'm very late to the game w/ this one)
Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise by Joyce Magnin
The Summer Kitchen by Lisa Wingate
Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin (not released yet)

I'm also looking forward to Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer, an up and coming debut novelist as well as new titles from Gina Holmes and Marybeth Whalen whose debut novels I enjoyed this year.

It's going to be a great year! A little humor, a little history, and a whole lot of great writing.

What's on your list for reading this year? It's not too late for me to sneak one or two more titles on my "to-be-read" shelf.

TEN GREAT BOOKS I'VE READ THIS YEAR

My reading pile has grown and grown and now is stacked two deep and spilling over on two shelves. Some of the books I read this year didn’t necessarily have a 2009 release date, but this is the year I read them, so my rule is . . . if I read it this year, it qualifies. There are so many good ones to choose from, your list may vary, but all of these are worthy of your time.

My criteria for a good book:
• Intrigues me with a setting or slice of history that I know little about and makes me feel richer for having read the book.
• Excellent writing that makes me read and re-read the prose just to savor the words.
• Tripping the light fantastic – funny, quirky reads that are like a breath of fresh air.

My top ten picks (in the order in which I read them):

1. The Passion of Mary Margaret by Lisa Samson
2. Rose House by Tina Forkner
3. What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy
4. Return Policy by Michael Snyder
5. Twisted Creek by Jodi Thomas
6. Just Between You and Me by Jenny B. Jones
7. A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth
8. Seeing Things by Patti Hill
9. White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner
10. The Fence My Father Built by Linda Clare

I rarely read non-fiction except for researching my own novels, but this year one stood out that deserves a mention. Parting The Waters by Jeanne Damoff was both a tender memoir and simply beautiful writing. So a special nod for that one.

How about you? Are any of these your favorites? Give yourself a Christmas gift this year and curl up with one of these outstanding novels.What suggestions would you have for me for “must reads” in 2010?

At the end of the month, I’ll reveal the four books that I could not put down. Four books that have not appeared on this list or my debut author’s list. Stay tuned.

CAFE SPECIAL OF THE WEEK - World's Best Scones!

A week or so ago I read The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows). Oh my! Just a delightful book, set in London and on Guernsey, one of the Channel Isles. Written entirely in correspondence, it was an unusual presentation of story, but one which drew me in at once. The year is 1946 and educated me to a fascinating portion of WW II history I was previously unaware of—the German Occupation of Guernsey. I highly recommend this book, and because Potato Peel Pie is not considered all that tasty a recipe, I thought you might prefer to make a batch of scones and curl up with this yummy book.

World's Best Scones!

From Scotland to the Savoy in London to the U.S.
PREP TIME: 20 Min
COOK TIME: 15 Min
READY IN: 35 Min
Makes 8 scones

INGREDIENTS
* 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1/2 cup dried currants or raisins
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* 1 egg
* 1 tablespoon milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or rubbing between your fingers until it is in pea sized lumps. Stir in the currants. Mix together 1/2 cup milk and sour cream in a measuring cup. Pour all at once into the dry ingredients, and stir gently until well blended. Overworking the dough results in terrible scones!

3. With floured hands, pat scone dough into balls 2 to 3 inches across, depending on what size you want. Place onto a greased baking sheet, and flatten lightly. Let the scones barely touch each other. Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of milk. Brush the tops of the scones with the egg wash. Let them rest for about 10 minutes.

4. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops are golden brown, not deep brown. Break each scone apart, or slice in half. Serve with butter or clotted cream and a selection of jams - or even plain.

Tip: Scones can be reheated if not eaten promptly by wrapping in aluminum foil and heating in oven until heated through or split in half and toasted.

Easy Clotted Cream
"A tasty alternative to the real thing. Heavy cream is lightly sweetened, whipped until stiff, and mixed with a little sour cream for flavor. Serve with scones or fruit."

INGREDIENTS
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 1/3 cup sour cream
* 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

Using a whisk attachment on the mixer, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Remove from mixer, and hand whisk in the sour cream and confectioners' sugar until just combined. Store in refrigerator.

Note: Real clotted cream is not readily available in the US. The best clotted cream is, of course, in Britain, but this should satisfy your taste buds. Just close your eyes and pretend you’re having high tea at the Savoy in London or one of the country hotels that dot the British landscape.

Now for all the purists out there or those who like to learn useful tidbits, I found this explanation about clotted cream.

Clotted cream is a thick yellow cream made by heating unpasteurized cow's milk and then leaving it in shallow pans for several hours. During this time, the cream content rises to the surface and forms 'clots'.

Clotted cream is generally served as part of a cream tea (known as a Devonshire Cream Tea in Devon) on (warm) scones with strawberry or raspberry jam. In Devon, the cream is traditionally used instead of butter, with the jam spread on top of the cream; in Cornwall the jam is spread first because the runny substrate of Cornish clotted cream would make the Devonian method of service impossible to achieve without looking messy.

While there is no doubt of its strong association with South West England, it is not clear whether clotted cream first originated in Devon or Cornwall. While strong claims have been made on behalf of both there is a lack of documentary evidence to support them.

So, what are you reading lately? Anyone read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society? What are you waiting for?

Book Reviews: SUMMER OF LIGHT and RETURN POLICY

As promised, I’ve got a couple of reviews for you today—books by male authors. Just keeping the balance here.

Summer of Light. This book is not a new release (2007, Bethany House), but I’ve just now discovered W. Dale Cramer’s writing and am delighted that I chose this one as my introduction to his fine novels. Mick Brannigan, a construction worker, loses his job when an accident occurs on the “high steel,” and he finds himself playing stay-at-home-dad to his and Layne’s three children. The results are hilarious and poignant, often on the same page. During his tenure, mishaps aplenty occur, a menagerie of animals roam the five-acre lot where the Brannigans live, and Mick discovers passion and purpose in his life. While his wife, Layne, is certain the children will be psychologically scarred . . . if they survive . . . Mick plods along in hopes that the damage to his kids won’t be permanent.

This story was delightful in countless ways, laugh out loud funny at times, and heartwarming to the end. My husband declared Summer of Light his favorite read this year. I couldn’t agree more.

Return Policy (2009, Zondervan) by Michael Snyder has been on my reading list since I first heard it was coming out. I even pre-ordered it, anticipating a rousing follow-up to his debut novel, My Name is Russell Fink. I was not disappointed. Return Policy features quirky (dare I say neurotic?) characters and a plot which follows the three-act structure—Snyder style. Mayhem results with this cast of mismatched, yet sincerely earnest folks. The author brings together the best of the down-on-their-luck characters and weaves an almost believable tale. Along the way you’ll meet a washed-up genre novelist, a single mom with a disabled child, a scraggly homeless man with blank spots on his memory, a priest who runs a mission, and a mysterious family of psychics known as the Grinning Whiteheads. Their intersecting lives makes us all want to be better human beings.

You should definitely add this one to your list of fun summer reads.

A final note here. Both of these books turned out to be flat out funny with a strong thread of discovering who we are meant to be and holding fast to that. While they are certainly inspirational, they give the added value of being highly entertaining as well.

REVIEW OF HOW SWEET IT IS by Alice Wisler

It is my pleasure to bring you How Sweet It Is by Alice Wisler (Bethany House. 2009). This book is a little like taking a walk along a lovely mountain path. There are rocks to watch for, bends in the road that lead to unknown vistas, an incline or two that has to be climbed, but the sights and sounds along the path are delightful. With sparkling writing in a come-follow-me style, the author’s characters weave their way into your heart one page at a time.

How Sweet It Is takes place in the mountains of North Carolina. Junior chef, Deena Livingston inherits and moves into her grandfather’s cabin—a perfect opportunity to get away from her unpleasant memories in Atlanta and start her own cake-decorating business. Before her Kitchen-Aid blender is unpacked, her plans are interrupted and take a new direction. I loved Deena’s aunt, Regina Lorraine, a taciturn but good-hearted woman. Then there’s the plumber who keeps arriving at Deena’s cabin to check her pipes and a social worker who shows up to help with a group of middle-school children, whom Deena’s been drafted to teach how to cook. Mishaps are many, but the fun twists make this terrific summer read not only sweet, but also flavored with just the right amount of spice.

This is Alice Wisler’s second novel, the first being Rain Song, which has the distinction of being a Christy nominee in the Debut Book category this year. If you’ve not read one of Alice’s books, I encourage you to do so. They are delectable.

Encore Review of THE SHAPE OF MERCY by Susan Meissner plus a chance to win the book!

Today I’m happy to share with you an encore review that I did of Susan Meissner’s lovely novel, The Shape of Mercy. An extra bonus this time—you have a chance to win a signed-by-the-author copy of a Limited Edition Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of the book. It’s gorgeous, folks!

To enter the contest please leave a comment on this post with your contact information before noon next Friday (June 5). If you’ve been itching to get your hands on this book, now’s your chance.

One last note before the review: The Shape of Mercy was named to Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2008 and the ECPA's Fiction Book of the Year for 2009. Well done, Susan!

The Shape of Mercy is set on opposite shores of America—California for the main character, college student Lauren Durough, and a village near Salem, Massachusetts for Mercy Hayworth, a young woman convicted in the Salem witch trials.

Two plots intertwine more than 300 years apart. I couldn’t imagine how Susan would accomplish this feat without having a character travel back in time. She did it, though, and both Lauren’s world and Mercy’s pulsed with urgency. I slipped easily from one world to the next because of Susan’s meticulous writing.

What worked for me and kept me turning the pages:

• The contrast of Lauren’s privileged modern day existence and that of Mercy’s meager colonial days. Mercy’s story unfolds from the pages of her diary, which is described as “the color of toast in some places and in others, the color of wet ashes. The ink . . . was so faint it looked as if I could blow it away if I leaned over it and merely exhaled.” The pages are described as whispers, too delicate to bear the weight of my (Lauren’s) fingers. In one short paragraph, the reader knows that whatever is found in this diary is hallowed. You can’t help but long to know what those words are and what Mercy’s story is.

• Mercy’s words. Her plain, everyday language with specific details of life in the Village, her dying father, and the increasing hysteria about witches in their midst, pull you in by their simplicity. Mercy’s words are set off by italics to signal the reader that you are once again in Mercy’s world. Details are minimal, but the tension grows with each entry as you fear what is coming.

• Lauren transcribes the diary in the library of Abigail, her employer – a daunting woman who lives a life of solitude in a massive Tudor home on the west coast. Lauren’s first visit to the library gives a clear picture not only of the room, but also what her relationship with the older woman will be like. The shelves are lined with books, but others are stacked throughout the library. In Susan’s words, “The rest were loose, unfettered, as if poised to attack. . . towers of pages stacked like scaffolding . . . I minded my ankles as if the books closest to me might nip at my feet.” This visual planted me firmly in Lauren’s world as she did her work.
• Contrasting the two worlds physically is only part of what I liked about this book. As Mercy finds herself accused in the late 1600s, Lauren examines her own life, and finds her twenty-first century values shaken. Her own journey unfolds with that of Mercy, and she finds in Abigail, not only a job opportunity, but an avenue of change that will affect both their lives.

The Shape of Mercy satisfies in so many ways – the rich writing, the storytelling, a hint of romance, and giving pause for reflection. The very cool thing that Susan has done is set up a blog so that the characters live beyond the life of the book. Ever wondered what happened after the last page? You can find out here. You can also read more about Susan Meissner here.

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

ROSE HOUSE by Tina Ann Forkner up on CFBA with REVIEW

MY REVIEW: It's my pleasure today to introduce a fellow Oklahoman and writing friend, Tina Ann Forker. In a follow up novel to Ruby Among Us, Tina takes the reader back to the Sonoma Valley area with Rose House. The setting, this time, though, is contemporary and what a lovely journey it is. Two sisters, the sole survivors of a childhood tragedy, have grown apart. Denial, betrayal and the inability to forgive have hardened their hearts and stolen the joy they once shared.

The writing is lush, yet serene. You can almost smell the roses and feel their thorns as the magnificent blooms scramble across Rose House, the source of inspiration and healing for many who’ve witnessed its beauty and walked the breathtaking grounds of the Frances-DiCamillo Vineyard. The story drew me in and held me captive from the start as Lillian Diamon was also drawn to the Rose House following the mysterious accident which took the life of her husband and two small children. When she discovers her private pain and grief have been captured by an unknown artist, she returns time and again, hoping to find out who painted the masterpiece. Haunting at times, the story winds through the picturesque countryside as Lillian weaves her way into the lives of those in the tiny town of La Rosaleda.

Finding beauty from the beasts within us resonates through this story, and I found the ending to be unexpected, but lovely. You don’t want to miss it.

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducing Rose HouseWaterBrook Press (May 5, 2009)byTina Ann ForknerABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. She grew up in Oklahoma and graduated with honors from CSU Sacramento before settling in Wyoming. She lives with her husband, their three bright children and their dog and stays busy serving on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors. She is the author of Ruby Among Us, her debut novel, and Rose House, which recently released from Waterbrook Press/Random House.



ABOUT THE BOOK

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope

Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Rose House, go HERE

REVIEW OF WHAT THE BAYOU SAW by Patti Lacy

I met Patti Lacy on the run at the Minneapolis ACFW conference. In our five minute encounter, I knew I’d met a writer who sizzled with life, embracing it with joy and wonder. Soon after I read her debut novel, An Irishwoman’s Tale, and saw that same quality in her writing. She writes with abandon—exuberant prose with a magnetism aimed straight at the reader.

Patti’s second novel, What The Bayou Saw, is another compelling, page-turning read that recalls a tumultuous past, this time for Sally Stevens, a college professor. When one of her students, a gifted African-American girl, is brutally beaten, old memories that Sally has kept hidden for thirty years are stirred. As the layers are peeled back, Sally discovers not only the misdeeds of others, but also a blackness in her own soul that stemmed from an incident with her childhood friend, Ella.

Deeply honest, the prose sometimes stings with gritty reality about the prejudices of the South—from the swamps of Sally’s childhood to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans. Ultimately, it’s a story of faith, the sometimes twisty road to forgiveness, and God’s grace. The cost is great, but it is the sacrifice Sally must make if she is to preserve her marriage and her own integrity. I think you’ll be delighted with the detours in the scenery, as Sally and Ella wrap themselves around your heart.

Patti Lacy is a gifted storyteller, with a knack for drawing rich settings that linger long after the last page.

You can find out more about Patti here or order What The Bayou Saw here. Highly recommended!!

Review of SALTY LIKE BLOOD by Harry Kraus, MD

Isn’t this a great title for a book? If the title and intriguing cover don’t pull you in, then the stellar writing of Harry Kraus, MD will. I met the author at the Minneapolis ACFW conference last year where I learned he was a physician who writes medical thrillers. I confessed that as a nurse, I had not really attempted to write a medical novel, but as we talked I realized bits of my nursing experience and fascination with aberrant personalities have shown up in my stories. I think Dr. Kraus shares some of my fascination. His medical expertise certainly lends flavor and credibility to SALTY LIKE BLOOD.

On to telling you about the book. From the back cover: When does a parent’s love for a child who’s missing cross the line into obsession?

When the daughter of David and Joanne Conners disappears from her grandfather’s waterfront property on the Chesapeake Bay, panic and shock turn quickly to grief and despair. David is convinced his child didn’t drown, but his wife, Joanne, refuses to hold on to false hope. Their search for closure leads them down different paths, threatens their already strained marriage, and brings them both to the brink of ruin. Of course I won’t tell you what happens, but I will tell you that just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story twists in a new direction. Intelligently written in an very readable style, grief, mercy, and forgiveness are explored brilliantly by the author. He takes you to the edge of reason, where only a fine line separates revenge and justice. The Chesapeake Bay setting, the smell of the salty air, and the piles of cooked crabs were extra touches that really connected me to the characters and the story. Delightful book!

Dr. Harry Kraus is a practicing surgeon in Virginia and has served as a missionary surgeon in Kenya. He is the author of two non-fiction books and several novels, including the 2002 bestseller, Could I Have This Dance? Thanks, Dr. Kraus for a great read!

CHRISTY AWARD NOMINEES

I've returned from the Christian Book Expo in Dallas and had a wonderful time. I'll give a full report tomorrow, but wanted to share one of the highlights here--being in the room when the Christy Finalists were named AND being able to hug two of my friends who made the list this year. A HUGE congrats to Mary Connealy in the Historical Romance category and to Shelley Adina in the Young Adult category. I was also really pleased that Alice Wisler was chosen for the First Book category as I simply loved her debut book.

The 2009 Christy Awards nominees are:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren • Tyndale House Publishers

Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney • David C. Cook

CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS

Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Summer Snow by Nicole Baart • Tyndale House Publishers

You Had Me at Good-bye by Tracey Bateman • FaithWords

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE

Dogwood by Chris Fabry • Tyndale House Publishers

Embrace Me by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson

Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas • Moody Publishers

FIRST NOVEL

Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan-Lake • David C. Cook

Rain Song by Alice J. Wisler • Bethany House Publishers

Safe at Home by Richard Doster • David C. Cook

HISTORICAL

Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley • B&H Publishing Group

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers

Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser • Bethany House Publishers

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy • Barbour Publishers

From a Distance by Tamera Alexander • Bethany House Publishers

The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen • B&H Publishing Group

SUSPENSE

By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer • Tyndale House Publishers

The Rook by Steven James • Revell

Winter Haven by Athol Dickson • Bethany House Publishers

VISIONARY

The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka • Harvest House Publishers

Shade by John B. Olson • B&H Publishing Group

Vanish by Tom Pawlik • Tyndale House Publishers

YOUNG ADULT

The Fruit of My Lipstick by Shelley Adina • FaithWords

I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke • Moody Publishers

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Congrats to all the nominees!

I'll have pictures and some of the best moments for me from the CBE tomorrow.

Are there any books on this list that you've read or would like to read??? Please, do tell.

The TRUTH Revealed

Today's the day to reveal which of the things about me is a lie from the game Two Truths and a Lie.

#1. Taking a private tour of the crown jewels. TRUE. Max had friends in New Orleans who were friends of Bob & Margaret Melling. Mr. Melling, a former Beefeater, was the curator of the crown jewels, by appointment of the Queen. He arranged a private tour with 3 other couples, so we were able to see the jewels and royal garb up close and personal. We later met with the Mellings in his office in the Jewel House to deliver the New Orleans Saints sweatshirts we had brought for their grandchildren from the states. The also invited us to the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower that evening. We later joined the Mellings (who lived in the Tower apartments) at their private pub for a good time with the locals. One of the highlights of our time in London.

#2. Meeting Garth and Trisha at Starbucks. FALSE. This lie is based in truth for Garth and Trisha had visited the Starbucks I frequent the week before. The barista had a picture to prove it. But I did not meet them there.

#3. All TRUE. I've lived in Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri, but only lived in Missouri six months as an infant.

I appreciate all who played. From the commenters on this post and the previous one that featured the interview with Mary DeMuth, author of Daisy Chain, I've put your names in the hat and drawn for TWO winners.

CONGRATULATIONS to Keever Kids and Koala Bear Writer.
As soon as I get your snail mail addresses, I'll mail you your books.

Happy Reading. And remember the truth is stranger than fiction!

My Review of THE PASSION OF MARY-MARGARET

As promised. . . my review of Lisa Samson's latest book. For story information and a bit about Lisa, please see previous post.

I've long been a fan of Lisa's writing--her quirky characters, everyday situations that capture the imagination with stellar writing that takes you off ordinary paths into lesser explored territories of the holy and the righteous.

The Passion of Mary-Margaret is no exception. As a matter of fact, this may be her best novel so far. Written in a stream-of-consciousness style, the present day account of Sister Mary-Margaret mingles seamlessly with her childhood, her journey of faith, and dedication to Jesus and the Catholic church. You know bits of the future from M-M's journal writings, but only as the story unfolds does the crux of the story take center stage.

How far does one on the verge of taking her final vows go to follow the voice of Jesus? Is the ultimate obedience to the Lord lie in giving up a life service for Him for a higher purpose--to save one lost lamb?

Beautifully written, poetic at times, this book broadens my beliefs about the mystical aspect and sovereignty of Jesus and makes me realize anew how miniscule the human concept of God really is.

Publisher's Weekly gave The Passion of Mary-Margaret a starred review. I couldn't agree more.

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE - Blog Tour Spot for Daisy Chain

Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth hit the bookstores last week. This intriguing book has a major theme of secrets. In keeping with that theme, I’m letting you in on three cool things about me. Only trouble is, two are true and one is NOT. It’s up to you, my dear readers, to figure out which is which.

Ready?

1. On our trip to England, Max and I had a private tour of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.

2. On one of my recent trip to Starbucks, Garth Brooks and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, stopped in at the same time. Garth’s not a coffee drinker but Trisha adores her Starbucks.

3. I was born in Oklahoma, grew up in Texas, and now call Oklahoma my home. The only other state I’ve lived in is Missouri.

Which one is a lie? Leave your answers in the comment section, and a couple of cool things will happen. If you’ve already entered my contest to win a copy of Daisy Chain, your name will be added twice by commenting here as well. Also, if you participate in the Daisy Chain Blog Tour, you may be eligible for a grand prize which included signed (and kissed) copies of all three of Mary’s novels and bragging rights for being the winner. To participate in the tour go here.

My review of Daisy Chain.
An interview with Mary.
Purchase Daisy Chain here.
Visit Mary’s website, blog, or Facebook page.
Follow other bloggers on the tour to see what their truths and lies are.

Next Monday, March 16th, I’ll reveal which one of the things about me is a lie. Take a guess now. I know you want to.

Interview with Mary DeMuth and chance to win her new book, DAISY CHAIN

It's quite an honor for me to have my friend and wonderful author, Mary DeMuth, on my blog today! She's in the midst of "release" mania with her newest novel, Daisy Chain, but has agreed to answer a few questions.

At the bottom of the post, you will find out how you can win a copy of Daisy Chain.

So, let's welcome Mary.

Thank you, Mary, for coming to the Cafe, and congratulations on Daisy Chain. I've been waiting forever it seems for it to come out. Ready for some questions?

How long have you been writing? And how long after you began writing before you were published?

Since 1992. I was first published in a magazine ten years later.

That's some serious writing. What did you do to hone your craft along the way?

I read a lot of craft books, networked with other writers, went to conferences, listened to critique and wrote miles and miles of sentences.

What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a seat-of-the-pants writer?

Definitely a seat of the pants writer. My editor would like me to be a plotter. But I’m getting better at developing the plot as I write.

Plotting is tough for me, too, but you write character-driven novels. How do you develop characters? Charts? Interviews? Or do you just start writing?

I just start writing. As I do, the characters form.

Where did you get the idea for the Defiance, Texas series?

I had a friend who had a difficult story. He grew up in a Christian home. His father was in leadership in the Christian community. From the outside, all looked perfect. But behind closed doors, life was very, very hard. I wanted to expose that kind of abuse. That’s why the idea of family secrets plays heavily into all three books.

I didn't know the seed for your story came from a real experience. You have a growing reputation for awe-inspiring prose and taking the reader on a journey through deep, sometimes scary places. Does Daisy Chain continue in this tradition?

Wow, those are high words. I hope Daisy Chain keeps the reader on those journeys because redemption is much more beautiful in the midst of darkness. That’s my own personal testimony, so it can’t help but leak out on the page.

You are one of the most transparent writers I know. What do you want the reader to gain from reading Daisy Chain? Is there a particular take away you have in mind?

My hope is that folks will see the need to share their family secrets in order to be set free. I also want people to see that the Body of Christ is probably much different looking than they first thought. Some appear holy. Others, in distressing disguises, actually are.

What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

BOC, Butt on chair. You can’t improve if you don’t write.

The worst?

Write what you know. While I agree on certain levels, I wouldn’t have written any of my novels if this were the case. I’m not a native Southerner by any stretch. I spent most of my life in Seattle. So setting my novels in the South was not something I instinctively knew. But I love that they are set there.

I have an affinity for Southern novels. Now, let's get serious. Coffee? Tea? Sparkling mineral water? Or . . .

Pellegrino, all the way.

Daisy Chain is the first of three Defiance, Texas books. When will the other two books be released?

A Slow Burn releases in October.
Defiance (working title) should release May 2010.

I also have a memoir releasing called Thin Places next January.

You've been very busy writing. And yet, you maintain several blogs—and have launched a new one in conjunction with Daisy Chain. Tell us a bit about that.

I’m too busy! Yes, the newest blog is called My Family Secrets. You can see it here: It’s a place for folks to share their family secrets anonymously.

I also help writers at Wanna Be Published and you can read my personal blog here.

It’s your turn. Any closing thoughts or exciting news you’d like to share?

Just that writing is an amazing privilege, but the journey is very difficult and painful and wonderful and gritty. It takes more tenacity than you think you have. But it’s worth the sweat.

Wise words, Mary. Thanks so much for being my guest. I’ve loved having you and wish you all God’s best with this exciting new book and the blog project.

Carla here with a daisy of a contest. I'm giving away two copies of Daisy Chain. Please leave a comment with your contact information to be included in the drawing. Contest closes at noon on March 14. Mary is an amazing writer. You may also purchase the book here and read many rave reviews about the book.

My First Sale - A DANDELION DAY

IT’S OFFICIAL!!! My first book has sold. Two-book deal to Anne Horch at FaithWords (Hachette Book Group). I don’t know whether to jump up and down or hide under the sofa. On the one hand, this is what I’ve been panting after for most of this millennium. That’s when I gave myself permission to strap on a seatbelt and park myself in front of the computer . . . for better or for worse.

On the other hand, I’m trembling to think that the story which grabbed me by the throat and begged to be written will be “out there” for all the world to read. What if people don’t like it? What if I’m run out of town on a rail? What if I don’t earn out my advance?

Big Breath. God has brought me this far. He is capable of going before me and preparing the way. One step at a time. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be sharing this wonderful news today. I’m grateful and humbled at his goodness.

I’m also indebted to my agent and many, many others who’ve encouraged and prodded me along on this journey.

Now, for the book. A Dandelion Day is a novel about a girl growing up in Texas in the 1950s, struggling with her faith and identity in light of her mother’s mental illness and the family dynamics that result from her mother’s suicide.

It will come out in the Spring of 2010 from FaithWords. My editor has started working on it, so I’ll be working on edits soon. The second book, which is coming along nicely, doesn’t have a firm title yet.

I’ll let you know how it all goes.

Signing my first contract.

DAISY CHAIN by Mary E. DeMuth on CFBA with REVIEW

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingDaisy ChainZondervan (March 1, 2009)byMary 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

MY REVIEW:

I’ve been waiting impatiently for the release of Mary DeMuth’s new book—Daisy Chain. It came last week, and what a compelling read!

Jed Pepper, a 14-year-old preacher’s son, has one thing in common with Daisy Chance—their families are not normal. Aberrant would be a better description. In the opening pages, Daisy disappears, throwing Jed into despair and guilt because he didn’t walk her home from their daily explorations.

With a cast of quirky and troubled characters, the book is about Jed’s search for Daisy while praying for courage to stand up to his father’s rants and frequent abuse.

It’s difficult to read at times with raw emotions laid open on every page, but that’s also what is so gripping about it. Each chapter draws you into the next as you hope life will turn out better for Jed. Glimpses of beauty and kindness woven into the tragedies gives the book many layers and a tender side.

Many things about Daisy Chain remind me of To Kill a Mockingbird. First, the southern setting, the poetic, sometimes haunting prose. Characters cast from their own unique molds change preconceived notions about worthiness and godliness. Even Jed and his sister, Sissy, reminded me at times of the younger Jem and Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. The story is rich, bursting with truths about Jesus and chock full of wayward Biblical interpretations. Jed is tormented, confused, and sifts through the mess of his life looking for truth—the truth of God and the truth about Daisy’s whereabouts.

Had Mary handwritten this book on a yellow pad, I can almost imagine her with pencil poised, gouging words onto the paper. The writing is strong, lyrical, and heart-breaking at times. I desperately cared for many of the characters, felt dirtied by others. We truly do live in a world where hope is the only answer.

Not all the threads are tied up in a nice package with a pretty bow, but knowing this is only the first book of the series, I too have hope that better things are ahead for the folks in Defiance, Texas. Great southern read!

HOW WELL READ ARE YOU?

The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up?

Normally you just put an ( X ) if you've read it. But I'm also putting an asterisk if I read part of it and couldn't get through it, or didn't finish the series! Man, do I have a lot of books to finish!


1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen ( )
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien ( )
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte ( X )
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling ( )
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (X)
6 The Bible - (x)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (X)
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (X)
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( )
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (X)
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (x)
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy ( )
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ( )
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ( )
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier ( X )
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien ( )
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk ( )
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger( )
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger ( )
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ( )
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell ( X )
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (X)
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ( )
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy ( )
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams ( )
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ( )
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky ( )
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck ( X)
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll ( X )
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame ( )
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ( X )
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens ( X )
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (x)
34 Emma - Jane Austen ( )
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen ( )
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (x)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - ( )
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ( )
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (x)
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne (x)
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell ( X )
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown ( )
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving (x)
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ()
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery ( )
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ( )
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood ( )
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (x)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ( )
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel ( )
52 Dune - Frank Herbert ( )
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons (*)
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen ( )
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ( )
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon ( )
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens ( X)
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley ( )
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon ( )
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck ( )
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ( )
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ( )
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ( *)
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas ( *)
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ( )
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ( )
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding ( X )
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie ()
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville ( X )
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens ( )
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker ( )
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (X)
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson ( )
75 Ulysses - James Joyce ( )
76 The Inferno - Dante ( )
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ( )
78 Germinal - Emile Zola ( )
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ( )
80 Possession - AS Byatt ( )
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (x)
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell ( )
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker ( )
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ( )
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert ( )
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ( )
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White ( X )
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom ( X )
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ( X )
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ( )
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad ( )
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery ( )
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ( )
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams ( )
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ( )
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ( )
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas ( )
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare ( X )
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl ( )
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo ( )

Okay, I beat the prediction of the BBC with 26 reads. A lot from high school and college. Many, many other favorite "classics" aren't on the list, so I wonder how the selections were made.

How about you? How many have you read?

PREMIERE EVENT

The first Christian Book Expo takes place in Dallas on March 19 - 22. This is an important event for several reasons. It's a great resource for what is happening in Christian communities across the nation with some of the country's leading speakers: Henry Blackaby, Don Piper, Max Lucado, Donald Miller, Liz Curtis Higgs, Randy Alcorn, Mary DeMuth, and many others.

It's also an author event with more than 200 Christian authors signing throughout the three days. On Thursday night, my friend and amazing author, Susan Meissner, is a finalist for the Fiction Book of the Year. So, whether you're a writer, reader, or involved in ministry, this should be a very worthwhile few days.

Right now, I'm planning to go. Max will get a couple of golf days, and we're anxious to visit some long-time friends in the area. What a deal! Spending time with writers, great friends, and my husband in a wonderful city.

How about you guys? Any great getaways planned?