My Favorite Book So Far This Year and What Ever Happened to June's Classic?

I'm currently reading A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin. I LOVE it. For all my friends stationed in England (or have been stationed there in the past) you must read this historical romance. It's so sweet. One of those books that grabs you by the heart and squeezes. Not finished yet and will be heartbroken when I do. Did I mention I love it?

As you probably guessed I didn't finish June's Classic--Gulliver's Travels. My re-write got in the way. I'm kinda bummed I didn't finish, but I read enough to get a taste of the author's style and create an opinion of the book. I just keep wondering how it ever became a children's book. Ok, so who was good and actually finished? What did you think?


What's been your favorite book so far this year?

I DID IT!!

Except for some changes to chapter numbers, printing copies, binding them for reviewers, and mailing them (all which needs to be done today)--I AM DONE!!

What all did I do?
In essence, I created a new character (the hero) and fit him into a 69,604 word manuscript. I tweaked every other character's POV to fit into my new hero's, deleted and rearranged certain scenes, and created 4 brand new ones. I'm tired, but it feels great--like a much-needed workout at the gym.


If you had told me two weeks ago I would have done what I just did, I would have laughed my butt off. But God is amazing. Every time I had no idea what to write, I prayed about it, took a break and came back knowing exactly what to do.

For those of you who said a prayer for me, I felt it! Thanks.

Also, today I'm over at Reflections In Hind Sight talking about keeping a clean house while the kids are home from school in the summer. Swing on by and tell us what great methods you use.

Can You Say Re-Write 10xs fast?

Think I can create a new hero and slip him into my novel in a ten days? A week from today, we'll find out.

I'm in the middle of some major re-writes on Wounded Spirits. My deadline is a week from today, so if you don't see me around, don't be worried. I'm still alive. (Can't make the same promises for my characters!)

Say a prayer!

Home Is Where You Hang Your Antlers...and whatever else you want.

I'm over at Reflections in Hindsight today chatting about what home means to each of us.
 Home is where you hang your hat, or in my kids’ case, where you throw your dirty socks.
To some, home is where you hang your rake of antlers. To others, it’s where you can close the door on your unmade bed.
To me, home is where I feel secure. It’s where I find quiet, love, or acceptance–whichever I happen to need most at any given moment. Home equals lazing around in grungy clothes, with no make-up and hairy legs. (Please, no one visit me today.)
Read more...

Guest Author C.J. Darlington

We’re thrilled to have C.J. Darlington award-winning author of Thicker than Blood at A Writer’s Journey today. Before we start, feel free to visit this link to learn about the book.
 
Welcome, C.J.!

You and I met back in 2007 when I joined the TitleTrakk team. TitleTrakk was just a newborn then, but today, it’s one of the nation’s leading Christian media review sites. Yay, God!

Yay, God is right! It couldn’t happen without Him, and people like you, April. We’re so thankful to have such a wonderful team of writers. We’re amazed sometimes at where God’s taken the site.

Before we talk about Thicker than Blood, can you give us a peek into where you’re at? Sitting in a snazzy office or curled up on the couch with your laptop?

I am sitting in the chair we call the blue “duck chair” in my livingroom. We call it that because the fabric has a pattern with little red ducks on it. Right now the breeze is blowing in through the open window, my doggies are asleep on the couch, and my laptop is perched on my lap.

Do you prefer to work on your novels dressed for the day or in your flannels?
Definitely dressed for the day. I hate staying in my pjs for more than a few minutes in the morning. When I get up I usually throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and I’m set. No fancy duds needed. Most of my writing is done in the evening anyway.

List the following in the order you would prefer them in a perfect CJ world. A bottle of sunscreen and a sandy beach, a book and a hammock, a night out with the girls, $200 and a mall, three quiet hours with your laptop.

1.    A book and a hammock – I love to read! I think that’s probably why I ended up becoming a writer.

2.    Three quiet hours with your laptop – even though writing isn’t always easy, I’m happiest when by the end of the day I have a chunk of words written in my latest project.

3.    $200 and a mall – only if the mall has a bookstore!

4.    A night out with the girls – sometimes you just gotta chill, and I have a couple close friends my sister and I love getting together with. We can spend an entire day chatting and not even realize the time has gone by.

5.    A bottle of sunscreen and a sandy beach – can I just say that I hate sunscreen. I always have. Add to that heat and humidity and you have a recipe for my least favorite thing to do. Ha ha. But if I visited the sandy beach in the fall when it’s cooler out (and I don’t need sunscreen) I could see myself enjoying it.

If you could narrow down Thicker than Blood to one Bible verse, which would it be and why?

The Scripture that May shares with Christy near the end of the story in Ephesians 2:12-13: “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ . . . without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

This speaks of my main character’s life so well, I think. And it’s really a beautiful passage about the amazing love of God.

Your heroine, Christy Williams, works in the used book business. So do (did?) you. Are there any other similarities between Christy and yourself?

I still do work in the used book business, but now we specialize in more technical books (like what a college would purchase) rather than collectible first editions or children’s books like we did when we first started.

Christy and I share the love of all things books. Besides that, I’m glad she and I are very different. I’m blessed to have grown up in a Christian family. But even though I haven’t experienced a lot of the things Christy has (thankfully), I did try to put myself in her shoes and imagine what it would be like to face her struggles.

What’s your favorite paragraph in the book? The one that brings you the most satisfaction.

Wow, that’s tough! I paged through the entire book searching just now. I’m not sure if this is my absolute favorite, but I like this description of Ruth Santos, one of my minor characters:

If anyone could handle it, Ruth looked like she could. Her weathered features spelled endurance, and with her sleeves rolled up to the elbows, Christy saw her forearm flex with each lifting of her cup. Yet her eyes revealed a gentle spirit. She bet those same arms that could surely throw forty-pound hay bales into the back of a pickup would just as deftly coax a stray dog to food or rescue an injured bird.

In regards to your writing career, where do you see yourself a year from now? Five years?

Well, my second novel Bound by Guilt releases early next year, so I hope to be talking with folks about that book this time next year. I also really want to have my third novel finished.

Five years? I want to continue in this journey, constantly learning and improving my craft. Maybe by then I’ll have discovered how to balance all the aspects of my life (writing, day job, marketing, etc.) better. I hope I will have written a couple more books too.  

What individual has influenced your writing the most and why?

My mom. I don’t think I would be where I am without her encouragement and nurturing when the writing bug first bit me as a kid. She always encouraged me (and still does) to pursue my dreams. And she’s the best first editor ever!

As far as other writers, Frank Peretti was a big influence on me early on. His Darkness novels were the first adult fiction books I ever read as a teenager, and I think they impacted me more than I first realized. I loved how he told great stories that shared spiritual truths.

What Christian author would you compare your writing style to?

I think anyone who enjoys Susan Meissner and Alison Strobel would enjoy my books. I’ve also been told that the suspense in my stories is similar to the way Terri Blackstock writes suspense. My books could be considered character-driven suspense stories. Not thrillers, but there’s always a strand of adventure and intrigue in them.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks very much for this opportunity, April! I’m honored to be included here at your blog. I’m excited to see your first book is coming out too. Woohoo!

Thanks for being with us today, C.J. and as always, thanks for all your hard work keeping us informed of all the latest in Christian media. God’s blessing as you write for Him!

Thicker than Blood

THICKER than BLOOD
by C.J. Darlington

Today, A Writer's Journey features author C.J. Darlington and her exciting new book Thicker than Blood. Scroll down for my review and a link to read the first chapter. Stop by tomorrow for a fun interview with the author!

About the Book
Rock bottom doesn’t get much lower than where Christy Williams is at. A lonely alcoholic, the only thing she loves is books. She’s tried to love men but doesn’t know enough about the word to ever make it work. There is one person she knows for sure loved her…once. But surely, May, wants nothing to do with the older sister that walked out on her leaving her to grieve the loss of their parents alone.

Little does Christy know May has dreamed of the day Christy would re-enter her life. Now that she has, May is surprised by a heart full of hurt that she thought had long since been buried and forgotten. If it wasn’t for Christ’s power in May’s life, they wouldn’t have a chance at a relationship.

But there are more hurdles to overcome than alcohol and resentment. A man, whose concept of love is even more skewed than Christy’s, has vowed to have her back in his life or kill her trying. Is there anywhere Christy is safe?

My Review
If you’re at all passionate about books, C.J. Darlington’s debut novel is one you won’t want to miss. Being in the antiquarian book business herself, the author gives her readers an experienced peek into what goes on behind the scenes in the used books market.

Christ’s power to forgive rings clear in the book without seeming contrived, and Christy’s acceptance of it was well balanced a realistic struggle to let go.

While Christy is into books, her sister, May, is into cattle. I never figured I’d enjoy learning about cows and their birthing process as much as I did. The author did a spectacular job of taking me from the dusty book shelves of Christy’s job to the musty barn stalls of May’s ranch. I was there. I smelled it. I lived the fear of the chase. Well done, C.J.!

I’m looking forward to seeing what other great stories this new author has in the works!

Click here to read the first chapter.

Backcover blurb ~ Thicker than Blood

Christy Williams never imagined that a stolen Hemingway first edition would lead her back to the sister she left fifteen years ago. But when things begin to unravel, she finds herself on May’s doorstep, fearing for her life.

After a bittersweet reunion, will the two discover that some hurts can’t be healed, or is there a tie that’s thicker than blood?

Thanks to Tyndale House for the free review copy of Thicker than Blood.

Library Junkies and Summer Reading Programs

Yesterday, for the first time in way too long, the kids and I made a trip to the library. We entered the kids section and scattered. Morgan went to the picture books, Seth to non-fiction. I strolled the aisles breathing in the scent of books and running my fingers along their spines like a junkie relishing a long-awaited snort.

Five minutes after we'd arrived, I still wore a retarded smile. Just when I realized how foolish I must look, I rounded the corner and ran into Seth who wore the exact same expression.

"Isn't it great?" I asked.

He nodded knowing precisely to what I referred. Then he giggled. Actually giggled. We shared a moment then went our separate ways.

I composed myself just in time to meet another mom on the next aisle. No need her being subjected to my mental illness.

When we checked out, I noticed the summer reading program fliers. How could I have forgotten it?! We ALWAYS do the summer reading program. When life gets so busy you forget about the reading programs, life is just too busy. Time to slow down, relax, and do a little reading.

So here a reminder to you to do the same. Get to your library and put some good books into your kids' hands.

Scholastic is also doing a Summer Reading Challenge. At Barnes & Noble a child can earn a free book by reading eight others.

Do you know of any other reading programs going on?

Canning a Batch of Traditions part II

I'm over at Reflections in Hindsight today challenging families to evaluate their traditions with the possibility of branching out a new area. Come share your family's sweetest traditions and be inspired to start another!

Announcing the Official Big Day

It's been a momentous few days. Over the weekend, I bought a lovely, leather bound weekly planner then penciled in my first couple of interview appointments! Wow, that felt good.

Yesterday, I received the pdf of my Advanced Reading Copy from my editor AND my official release date.

30 November, 2010 is the big day!

Now I can send out copies for review and endorsement. Yippee!! Because Vintage is small press, I will be printing the pdfs from my printer, having them bound at Kinkos, and mailing them to reviewers. Sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but I don't mind. It gives me a huge appreciation for small press authors everywhere and all the time they've invested into getting their work out there and into the hands of readers.

It's surreal being the one on this end of the book promotion game. I think I like it.

If you have a blog or website and would like to help spreading the word about Wounded Spirits, let's talk!

For Whom the Cheese Melts II

What's your comfort food? If I need warm and gooey, it's mac and cheese...right after a double chocolate brownie. Nothing beats chocolate. But today's post isn't about chocolate. It's about mac and cheese.

It's been a while since I've paid attention to Alton. Poor Mr. B. must think I hate him. But I don't. Life just gets in the way.

The latest recipe of his we tried was my favorite-after-chocolate comfort food.

It was a straight-forward recipe. Nothing spectacular. I do have to admit that after tasting my brother-in-law's version of this all-American dish, poor Alton didn't have a chance. (Sorry, Mr. Brown. I promise I don't hate you.)

Ricky's recipe is very similar to Alton's, but he adds bacon and jalapenos. You just can't compete with bacon. It's almost as good as chocolate.

As usual, I came away from the experience having learned something. In this case, it was the importance of the baking vessel you choose. A round Corningware is best. The heat is distributed evenly avoiding the tough, dry corners you find in a rectangular or square dish. Good to know!

You can find Alton's recipe here. If you decide to do a little experimenting with Ricky's version, let me know how it goes.

Download N Go Homeschool Unit Study

Fellow writer and homeschool mom Gina Conroy shared a spectacular find on her blog earlier this week. I plan to use at least one of these fun unit studies over the summer with my kids. I know they'll love it. They won't even realize it's school. Ha!
Check out what Gina has to say about Download N Go Homeschool Unity Studies
Thanks for sharing, Gina!!

Canning a Batch of Traditions

Today, I'm over at Reflections in Hindsight chatting about creating family traditions and canning jam. Come join us and be encouraged to start a new tradition of your own!

It Has Begun!!

On Friday, I was assigned an editor for Wounded Spirits. Eeeeeeh!!

My first thought when I heard from my new editor?  Already? I had so much time. Where did it all go?!

I've been editing my manuscript every spare moment of the last three days. My brain is over-cooked. But I did it. All 75,000 words of it.

I hadn't looked at the manuscript since April of last year. Yikes. Let's just say it's comforting to see evidence of growth.

Then in my junk email I found a message from my editor-in-chief asking for the latest edited copy of my manuscript for the Advanced Reader Copies she's preparing. So glad I just edited it. BUT I'd put off writing the dedication, introduction, author's notes, author's bio, etc... Like I said, I had tons of time. But (as time has a habit of doing), without warning, poof! It vanished.

But I'm up for the challenge. Can't wait for my new editor to start hacking away at it. I know she'll make my baby shine.

Bring it on!

The Channel Islands--65 Years of Liberation

Not many are familiar with the British Channel Islands. Even fewer are aware they were occupied by the Germans from 1940-1945.  But it was during those five years on those beautiful islands that thousands of lives were changed forever--British, German, Polish, Spanish, Italian, and many others who's lot fell to live on the islands during those five lean years.

Every year since, on May 9th, the islanders have remembered their liberation. This year was the 65th.

My latest complete (middle grade) novel is set on Guernsey Island during WWII and is based on the life of Ruth Davies, a dear friend of mine. As a young girl, Ruth lived on the island during the Nazi occupation. I just ran across an interesting website today, and even though I'm a few weeks late, I wanted to share this little known event with you.

This site's photo gallery will give you a brief tour through the three days of celebration. In one of the photos you'll find a picture of the Molly Bihet selling copies of her book "A Child's War," a wonderful book I read as part of the research for my novel.

I recently learned she and Ruth are aquainted. The two are the same age and shared similar experiences during the occupation--Molly in the city, Ruth in the country.

I can't wait to share the story, but since I'm still seeking representation, only God knows when/if that will be possible. In the meantime, have a look around this site and get to know the Channel Islands along with a tiny portion of their history.

Introducing a New Blog!!

I'm excited to find myself part of a shiny new blog. Reflections in Hindsight had its grand opening this week, and today is my debut post. Every Wednesday, I'll be writing on my successes as a homemaker. Sounds arrogant, I know, but the purpose of Reflections is to focus on the good decisions we've each made, not the bad ones. It's easy enough to remember all our mistakes, but at Reflections we'll strive to remember our wise choices and pass them along to you as a way of encouragement and as a way to praise God.

The various authors at Reflections will take turns discussing a variety of themes. On Mondays, we'll promote you--your business or your book. Feel free to contact us to schedule a date on the calendar.
Tuesdays, Joy Melville will speak to us on writing. On Wednesdays, homemaking by yours truly. Lisa Lickel will begin our Thursdays with helpful tips on working from home, and on Fridays Jennifer Slattery will blog about marriage.

I hope you'll skip on over and check it out. Be uplifted and share the Lord's blessing through your wise decisions as we share ours.

Tidbits on Defoe and his Crusoe

A little Robinson Crusoe humor :
Q. What did the mosquito on Crusoe's right shoulder say to the mosquito on his left?
A. "See you again on Friday."

Having finished Robinson Crusoe, I give it a B+. It's not fair to hold this great classic up to the expectations of modern literature, but I can't help it. The slow pace and lack of dialogue knocked a few points off the total score. Still, the story held my interest enough to make it my second favorite of the year. (Old Yeller holds the blue ribbon.) LOVED all the references to God and how faith in Him got Robin through the tough times.

What score do you give this month's classic?

Did you know?

• Before he was eight years old, Daniel Defoe had experienced and survived both The Great Plague of London (1665--70,000 dead) and The Great Fire of London (1666--13,200 houses destroyed). After the fire had swept through his neighborhood only his and one other home remained standing. 
• Defoe might have based his Crusoe novel on the true story of the Scottish castaway Alexander Selkirk.  
• The novel Robinson Crusoe inspired the Robinsonade genre including classics such as The Jungle Book, The Black Stallion, and Lord of the Flies.  
• Crusoe's island was probably based on the Caribbean island of Tobago.  
• Published in 1719, Robinson Crusoe was an immediate success. By the end of its first year, it had run through four editions.  
• Seven years after it was published, another classic was published which may be read as "a systematic rebuttal of Defoe's optimistic account of human capability." That classic was Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, our next scheduled classic.