Thankful

Does it ever strike you that certain times of our lives lend us to be more grateful than others?

That shouldn't be the way it is, but it often seems that way--at least for me. And I seem to be lately put into circumstances that constantly remind me of all that I have to be thankful for.

During this time of working two jobs, my writing, an intensive writing class and a million little things to remember and do, I come home each night and realize how thankful I should be (and am!).

Because #1: I have a very supportive family who are more than willing to let me slip away into the office and write my 1,000 words with nary a complaint.

#2: They are eager and willing to take on my other chores (like cleaning the house on Fridays) so I can spend that time editing and writing towards my self-imposed deadlines.

#3: Though they don't always understand what is going on behind the closed doors of my mind, they smile and nod and let me spout my word count with an excited "good!" when I hit what I need to hit.

#4: I couldn't do this without them. Giving a hundred and ten percent more than I ever would have thought to ask for. They merely offer it.

So often I wonder if I'm doing them a disservice. That I really should be out washing the dishes instead of putting words on the page. Or cleaning the house instead of trying to fit one more page of edits into the day. But when I stop and look back at the bigger picture, they aren't doing it because they feel they have, they are doing it because they want to. Big difference.

It's the difference between accepting my writing and encouraging it. It's the difference between considering my writing a hobby and knowing it's a dream I strive for.

So this post is dedicated to my family. My wonderful, quirky, understanding, loveable family.

I hope like you, you have someone in your life who supports you like my family does me. I know most writer's families aren't like mine, but I hope you have someone in your life who are as thankful for as I am for my family.

Leave a comment telling me who that person is and I'll randomly draw a name to choose a title from my "Swap List" for you and that friend. (found on the right hand side of the blog. :-))

Write on!!

Lay Down Your Needles... ~ Knit with Love by Lisa Bogart Stories to Warm a Knitter's Heart ~ Review

Knitting is one of my all-time favorite pastimes (seconded only by reading a good book), so I really couldn’t turn down a chance to read a collection of stories “sure to warm a knitter’s heart”.

            From the chapter titles (knitting terms) to the stories tucked within the pages, knitters of all levels will find a moment of enjoyment if they can lay their needles down long enough to pick up the book. (smile)

            Each chapter shares stories knitters have written themselves about their experiences with knitting. Whether they have given it away, how knitting has proven therapeutic or what they do with their knitting to minister to others, as the reader, you are given firsthand accounts.

            The only thing I struggled with a bit with this book, was I almost never knew when it was the author talking or a story from a knitter. The stories were in quotes, but I still had a bit of a difficult time separating the two. It’s not necessarily a *bad* thing, it was just distracting for me personally.

            I loved sharing in each knitter’s stories and the “accessories” chapter with books for knitters (love my knitting books!!), I plan to share this little book for my favorite yarn shop owner – being the avid knitter she is, she will enjoy these stories!

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.

            **Available October 2011 from Revell, a division of Baker Publishers**

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More about the book...

Knitting blesses the knitter in so many ways. It affords quiet time, the satisfaction that comes with a challenge met and a project finished, and a creative passion to share with other knitters. As knitting and the fiber arts enjoy a renaissance in popular culture, more and more women are discovering these personal benefits. But knitting also offers knitters a way to bless those around them with handmade gifts that come straight from the heart.

With inspiring stories, Knit with Love encourages and motivates knitters to see their own potential to bring joy and comfort to themselves and those around them. Whether someone has just picked up knitting needles for the first time or is a lifelong knitter, she will discover new ways to share her beautiful creations with others--and the peace that the rhythm of knitting brings to her own life.

Giveaway and Author Interview: Ten Plagues

Welcome back Mary (Con)Nealy! Since this is the third time for you to visit, I thought I would throw in some fun questions, maybe some that aren’t part of the norm in other interviews. J

If you could go anywhere on vacation where would it be? 

I'd like to go to the Del Coronado Hotel in San Diego and sit in the sun on their beautiful beaches. Of course I burn easily. So maybe I'd sit under an umbrella. I could figure it out. 

Do you have any pets?

No, well, a couple of cats so wild I can't touch them and rarely see them, but they live here, skirting along the edges of our lawn, leaping in the tall grass if I come outside. But we feed them scraps. This is the temperament I like in a cat. Their job is to eat mice and why would they do that if they can get me to feed them, huh?

Your favorite book that you have written? 

Well, honestly, Casey, that's a kind of mean question. Honestly, I'm usually in love with the book I'm writing NOW, so it's not a fair test. But right this minute, I just turned in Book #3 in the Kincaid Brides series and I just loved it. Seth, the crazy brother and a wife so mad she reaches for her shot gun every time he opens his mouth. 

What is your favorite pastime?

Reading and writing. I know, like it'd kill me to take a walk once in a while.

Favorite book?

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. A close second is, A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich

Favorite movie?

While You Were Sleeping, I absolutely adore that movie. Every moment is worth watching, sweet, simple, romantic, funny. A perfect romantic comedy.

What people have inspired you in your writing journey?

Francine Rivers taught me just how much power could be created with the written word in her Mark of the Lion Trilogy. Julie Garwood made me laugh so many times with her Scottish Lairds and English Maiden mis-matches. Tina Radcliffe has taught me how beautifully hard work can pay off.

What character in a novel you have read has stood out and seemed to stand the test of time?

My favorite character of all time is a very obscure choice. There is a book called The Invitation, a trilogy in one book by Jude Deveraux. The heroine in that book, Cale Anderson, is the crankiest, funniest heroine ever. This is the second book in that trilogy and it is a strange book, written all wrong. The heroine is in first person, the hero is in third, the book is ridiculously short even for a novella and the whole book reads like Jude is furious with the whole world and wrote the book in a long, caffeine soaked weekend to make some deadline, Cale spends the whole book raging at pubishers, editors, friends, men, parents, and herself. She's an author who writes bestselling books by literarily killing off all the people who had done her wrong. It is hilarious.

If you could meet one person from history who would it be and why?

 You know, Casey, these are tough questions. You need to take a short time out and just THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!! A person in history? Well, I would love to stand in the presence of Jesus. That's so obvious it feels like cheating but who else? One person in history who isn't Jesus. Wow, I've spent too long thinking on this. Let's just go with Jesus.

Okay, last one and a fun one for our readers today: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing, what would it be? Why?

Hmmm…can I take a ship that would take me back to the mainland? Probably not, huh. Food? Let's assume there's food. If I could have my laptop and it wouldn’t run out of power, then I could just write. I could keep pretty busy for a long, long time with that.  Then I'd eventually get rescued and I'd turn in twenty books and everyone would say, "She made good use of her time, that woman."

Too fun, thanks for joining us for a third time!! It is a privilege. J

Readers here is your chance to enter to win Mary's novel!

Please leave an email address. If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win!

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on October 28th.

Emotionally Driven ~ Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy ~ Review

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Reclaiming Lily Bethany House (October 1, 2011) by Patti Lacy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patti Lacy, Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw.


The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to enliven Patti's gray matter. A third book, The Rhythm of Secrets, released in January of 2011. Patti's, Reclaiming Lily, documents a tug-of-war between a Harvard-educated doctor and an American pastor and his wife for a precious child and explores adoption issues, China's "One Child" policy, and both Christian and secular views of sacrifice.


Patti also facilitates writing seminars in schools, libraries, and at conferences and has been called to present her testimony, "All the Broken Pieces," at women's retreats. She also leads a Beth Moore Bible study at her beloved Grace Church and has had a blast planning the September 2009 wedding of her firstborn, Sarah.


Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal with their handsome son Thomas, who attends Heartland Community College. On sunny evenings, you can catch the three strolling the streets of Normal with their dog Laura, whom they've dubbed a "Worchestershire Terrier" for her "little dab of this breed, a little dab of that breed."


ABOUT THE BOOK   

A storm the size of Texas brews when Gloria Powell and Kai Chang meet in a Dallas hotel. They have come to discuss the future of Lily, the daughter Gloria adopted from China and the sister Kai hopes to reclaim. Kai is a doctor who had to give up her little sister during the Cultural Revolution and has since discovered that an inherited genetic defect may be waiting to fatally strike Lily.


Gloria's relationship with her daughter is tattered and strained, and the arrival of Kai, despite the woman's apparent good intentions, makes Gloria fearful. Gloria longs to restore her relationship with Lily, but in the wake of this potentially devastating diagnosis, is Kai an answer to prayer...or will her arrival force Gloria to sacrifice more than she ever imagined?


If you would like to read the first chapter of reclaiming Lily, go HERE.

My Review:

When I heard what this story was about (a little girl adopted from China) I knew I had to read the story. One of my dreams is to adopt a little girl from China someday should the Lord provide a way. But before I can go myself, I wanted to be taken there through the pages of this story.

            I was there. I was taken from China back to America and through the gauntlet of emotion this family went through. The emotions are so entwined and complex! I was pulled from the struggles of being parents to a rebelling teen, prejudice, worry, fear, reconciliation, sickness…You get the picture.

            Overall there is a great deal going on in the story, but at the same time it keeps the story moving forward and doesn’t become overwhelming.

            I will say the ending held a bit of a surprise for me. Not what I expected, more of one of those “oh yeah, I can see that coming, now” moments.

            Sometimes the story can become a bit lost in all the words, but once I got past the first bit, the story really took off.

            I wished a few more dynamics had been brought in about Gloria’s family history and the relationship with Kia and her boyfriend, but word count only allows for so much – and the story I got as the reader is moving.

            All in all, “Reclaiming Lily” is a great contemporary novel, one whose story will “stick with me”.

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review through CFBA.

Friday's Note:

I have two winners for my giveaways!!

The winner of The Chair by Jim Rubart is....

Pam K!!

And the winner of Christmas Belles of Georgia by Rose McCauley is...

Tore!!

Thanks for stopping by to enter, it's how I continue to provide great books for you to win! :-))

Have a great weekend, all. :-)

An Over the Top Weekend.

Several months ago I applied and was granted two tickets to the Portland, Oregon Women of Faith "Over the Top" event.**

I've never attended one of the Women of Faith events, but...wow. I loved it. And if given the chance to attend for the second time, I would most definitely go!



Brenda, Amber, Casey, Sue

What made the weekend all the more special is I got to share it with my Mama, Amber and her mom, Brenda. What a treat! The Women of Faith event was the perfect place to spend a good bit of time with my mom and we both loved it!

Lisa Whelchel

I didn't really have any set idea of what to expect, but I certainly did not expect the seats we were given! We later learned the section we were sitting in, right smack down in front of the stage, was the "blogging" section. We were but a handful of steps away from the stage and thus the speakers!

The stage. :-)

We got to listen to Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg, Brenda Warner, Lisa Whelchel, Sandi Patty... and several others. I will say Patsy Clairmont... what. a. hoot. If you can ever listen to her speak, go for it!

All the speakers had us laughing, contemplating God's principles and soaking in the presence of His love. What I especially enjoyed about the event is there wasn't a lot of preaching. God's message was freely proclaimed, but we were able to enjoy the women's stories and mine from their truths.

The music! Oh goodness. The Women of Faith worship team sounded exactly like the cd I have by them. And Mandisa and Selah were in.cred.able.



Mandisa and Casey

And I'm not going to lie...I'm insanely proud of this picture even if I do look deathly pale next to Mandisa's beauty. ;-) I made it just in the nick of time to the line to have her sign my cd and got to have my picture taken with her! Woo-hoo! LOVE her latest cd, What if We Were Real

We weren't allowed to use flash photography during the event (and I couldn't configure my camera to not to take a flash) so I don't have any pictures of any speakers or events except what I have posted from outside the event. That did disappoint me, but I understand why they said it.

Casey and her Mama. :-)

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend! A wonderful time with my mom and dear friends, great speakers, fantastic music and a chance to worship and pray. If I could give one piece of advice, don't sit down too low. Sit about half way up, then you can see down on the speakers, but aren't too far away, but still have the benefit of the projection cameras.

What a time! Definitely Over the Top. ;-)

Casey and Amber

**This was a promotional event offered by Thomas Nelson publishers and Women of Faith. In exchange for two tickets (valued at $99 each), I had to attend the event and express my honest opinion here on my blog. This post is my complete and honest opinion and my thanks to both organizations for their generosity!**

Review: The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller ~ Review

“The Measure of Katie Calloway” is a novel that spans land and emotions, filled with colorful descriptions and finger-nibbling moments of unease.

            When you have an abused character it can be a challenge to make her likeable and not weak. Katie Calloway is no weak heroine. She knew what she wanted and she went after what she needed – to protect her life and that of her brother. I have tremendous respect for her in that role.

            The setting of the novel was one so well described I could smell the donuts frying on the wood cook stove and hear the whine of chainsaws. Such was the imaginary through the entire novel. The occupation of camp cook for Katie in a setting such as a logging camp was well done.

            However, there were several things about the novel that didn’t move me in my particular reader “needs”. I didn’t feel emotionally attached to the novel. There was a separation between reader and character and I wanted to get closer to Katie. Find out what she was all about and dig within her problems. I wanted there to be a bigger climax to the ending.  The story line felt like it deserved something more dramatic between Katie and her estranged husband.

            Though the novel hasn’t been my favorite, the love story ending did make me “ahh” and the historical descriptions were good.

            This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.

            **Available October 2011 from Revell, a division of Baker publishers**

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More about the novel...

Her heart seeks sanctuary in the deep woods. But will trouble find her even here?
The Civil War has ended, but in Katie Calloway's Georgia home, conflict still rages. To protect herself and her young brother from her violent and unstable husband, she flees north, finding anonymity and sanctuary as the cook in a north woods lumber camp.

The camp owner, Robert Foster, wonders if the lovely woman he's hired has the grit to survive the never-ending work and harsh conditions of a remote pine forest in winter. Katie wonders if she can keep her past a secret from a man she is slowly growing to love.


With grace and skill, Serena Miller brings to life a bygone era. From the ethereal, snowy forest and the rowdy shanty boys to the warm cookstove and mouth-watering apple pie, every detail is perfectly rendered, transporting you to a time of danger and romance.

Giveaway and Author Interview: Edge of Grace

 Welcome back to Writing for Christ Christa Allan, I am excited to have you here for a second time. J

What has changed in your writing life since you were last here?

My second novel, The Edge of Grace, which received a starred review from Library Journal, released in August.  I just submitted Love Finds You in New Orleans with Summerside Press for release in 2012.  In 2013, A Matter of Trust, one of the books in Abingdon’s quilt series will come out followed by a three-book series with Abingdon.

What recent read stood out to you as truly spectacular?

I read The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Her prose is lovely, and her plot engaging.

Do you have favorite authors?

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sarah Addison Allen, Elizabeth Berg, Joyce Magnin, Jenny B. Jones, Bill Bryson, Lolly Winston, Susan Meissner, Ann Patchett, Mary DeMuth

What do you find the most enjoyable part of writing or connecting with readers?

I am so humbled when readers email me to share themselves with me. It is truly a gift to be able to connect with readers.

What do you find the most ideal atmosphere for writing? Do you ever get those surroundings? J

A lanai facing the ocean in Maui. No!

Okay, something fun for those writers out there: In what point of your writing career did you surprise yourself by writing the most words ever in the shortest amount of time?

Jenny B. Jones and I challenge one another with 1,000 words/1 hours writing sprints. We did three one afternoon. Whew!

Thanks for being here again! It has been a joy and we wish the very best with your novels.

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Christa's latest book!

Please leave an email adddress! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.


Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on October 21st