Of Battles, Dragons, and Swords of Adamant

A Good Story

2012-03-06T12:17:00.001-06:00

An Echoes of Eternity post - seeking the Echoes of Eternity in fantasy and speculative fiction.

A good story.

This simple phrase means something entirely different to each reader. Perhaps for you it's a book that you can't put down, where the riveting action or the chair-arm gripping suspense keeps you captivated until the final sentence. Perhaps its a beautifully written book, where heart warming characters and vivid prose cause your world to disappear and transport you into the pages of the story.

Whenever I think of the phrase "a good story," I can't help thinking of a scene from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Lucy is flipping through the magic book in Coriakin's house, trying to find the spell to make hidden things visible. Before she finds it, she stumbles upon a spell "for the refreshment of the spirit."

The pictures were fewer here but very beautiful. And what Lucy found herself reading was more like a story than a spell. It went on for three pages and before she had read to the bottom of the page she had forgotten that she was reading at all. She was living in the story as if it were real, and all the pictures were real too. When she had got to the third page and come to the end, she said, "That is the loveliest story I've ever read or ever shall read in my whole life. Oh, I wish I could have gone on reading it for ten years. At least I'll read it over again."

But here part of the magic of the Book came into play. You couldn't turn back. The right-hand pages, the ones ahead, could be turned; the left-hand pages could not.

"Oh, what a shame!" said Lucy. "I did so want to read it again. Well, at least I must remember it. Let's see... it was about... about... oh dear, it's all fading away again. And even this last page is going blank. This is a very strange book. How can I have forgotten? It was about a cup and a sword and a tree and a green hill, I know that much. But I can't remember, and what shall I do?"

And she never could remember; and ever since that day, what Lucy means by a good story is a story which reminds her of the forgotten story in the Magician's Book.

(The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis)

That passage has always captivated me. I have always wanted to read that forgotten story for the refreshment of the soul. Nowadays, I imagine Lewis' publishers would have given him a hard time over that scene. I can hear them saying, "Readers don't want you to tell them about this good story, they want you to show them!"

And part of me really wishes that he had showed us the story. But I can't help thinking that Lewis did this on purpose. Perhaps he meant to show us that this was what he desired his stories to be. To reflect that good forgotten story that Lucy had fallen in love with. Lewis was a Christian. Perhaps, he meant to point to the Greatest Story as the good story that all good stories should reflect.

Perhaps I'm speculating too much! :)

But this passage always sets me thinking. What do I consider a good story? My favorite books come from many different writing styles, genres, and authors. There are many books that I consider good and that I love to read. But when it comes down to those really good stories, those books that stick with me long after I close the cover, the tales that resonate within my soul, I would have to say that they all have one thing in common.

Those books all hearken back to the Greatest Story in some way, shape, or form. They aren't necessarily an allegory, they're not trying to preach a sermon, there may not even be an obvious reference to God or the Bible in so many words. But there is a sense of something deeper. A hint of something greater. An awareness that this life is not all there is, that truth is absolute and eternal. A story that reflects the glory and wonder of God. The echoes of eternity.

What do you consider a good story? What are some books that you place in that category?

Eye of the Sword Review

2012-03-01T11:53:00.004-06:00

Where angels walk the ground and the future is told in song, does a man of low rank have a chance at love with a Princess?

Trevin has just been appointed Comain of the realm of Camrithia. Along with his new title, the King assigns him to an important quest to find six missing Comains, who have recently disappeared. Trevin, however, has a mission of his own in mind. He seeks to find the two missing harps that the Princess Melaia requires to restore the stairway to heaven. Perhaps then, he will be able to prevent her arranged marriage to the Dregmorian Prince Varic – a man Trevin knows to be a villain.

When Trevin is falsely accused of a horrible crime, he fears that his past will rise to condemn him. And time is running out if he hopes to locate the harps before the opportunity is lost.

***

Eye of the Sword is the second book in the Angelaeon Circle by Karyn Henley. Although I would have liked to read the first book before this one, I did not have any problem jumping in and was able to follow the storyline from the start.

Overall I enjoyed the story. It kept my interest piqued and made me want to keep reading to find out what happened next. Plenty of action, excitement, and interesting fantasy elements like winged horses, powerful harps, and a sword that reveals the true character of whoever looks into it, drew me into the story.

However, I am personally generally wary of books that deal with angels as characters. Given the fact that this book is a work of fantasy, I soon forgot that they were supposed to be angels and viewed them as I would any other fantasy creature. Still, I found the few references to the Most High (obviously God) as the “father-mother” of the universe more than a little disturbing. I believe that Jesus referred to God as His Father, for a reason.

There were also several priests and priestesses in the story. I am assuming that they served the Most High, but I found it odd that although they played key characters in the story, no mention was made of this fact. Perhaps this was more clear in the previous book. I understand that blending fantasy and Biblical themes is often difficult (in fact, I think it's worthy of a blog post), but the fact that God was so little acknowledged in a story about angels bothered me.

All in all, despite those few things that bothered me, I enjoyed reading about Trevin and his journey and would be interested in reading the next book in the series when it is released. I give it a 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of the this book from the publisher Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.

Interview with Nichole White and Magpie Eclectic Press

2012-02-28T14:12:00.004-06:00

Interested in being published and not sure where to look? Today, joining us for an interview, is Nichole White founder of Magpie Eclectic, a newly created independent press! Nichole blogs over at The Pen and Parchment about the writing process, books, and reviews.

Welcome to Of Battles, Dragons, and Swords of Adamant, Nichole! Glad to have you here. First off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure!

The first thing that most people learn about me is that I’m 23 and a writer. And the reason that most people learn this first is because it’s usually the first thing I tell them, of course. I LOVE to write, and I love words. Especially written words. In fact, reading is my second favorite pastime. It has been a special love of mine since I could first understand what the black squiggly lines on the page actually meant. And after I figured that out, I had to try and make bunches of squiggly lines myself, didn’t I? And I’ve been doing that since I was able to write my name. :D

I’m also an artist born to a family of artists, my favorite colors are red and gold, I like sparkly things, love to sing and play guitar, love to listen to Andrew Peterson’s music, and am easily distracted. And I have the uncanny habit of reciting random movie quotes with my younger brother anytime we just happen to be together. (My father insists that it’s a completely separate language from English).

Currently I’m majoring in English and Music, working towards my Associates degree and hope to move on to earn my BA or perhaps even a Doctorate, and have been studying the publishing industry for about 8 years. I’ve known that I want to work in the publishing industry since I was 14. Why? Because as I’ve said before, I LOVE words. Every fact about my life eventually leads back to this one truth… including the fact that I am a born again Christian. I believe that it was God who called me to write in the first place.

Yes, movie quotes definitely count as a different language! Wow, since you were 14? That's amazing. Do you have a favorite genre to read and/or write? Favorite book?

Yes. I love to both read and write speculative fiction, and I’ve been seriously writing in this genre since I was 15. Before that I dabbled in short stories, poetry, and song writing.

I especially enjoy fantasy of just about any type, but I enjoy a good science fiction book too (again, of any type). I love the stories that show originality. I mean, it’s true that just about every idea under the sun has been done once before, but I love it when an author takes a book and puts a completely new spin on the idea… throws something I wasn’t expecting in the plot, or else puts new life into the writing style. There are THOUSANDS of books out there that try to copy one author or another, but show me something new and unique that’s done well… that’s what I want to read. And that’s what I want to write as well. :D

My favorite book… wow, this is a hard one.

My favorite book of all time (besides the Bible) would have to be the Lord of the Rings, followed closely by the Chronicles of Narnia, and then C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy.

My favorite book/s of today would have to be Cornelia Funke’s Ink Trilogy, followed very closely by The Auralia Strand, and then probably the Blood of King’s trilogy by Jill Williamson. (Sorry, but it’s just so very hard to pick just one. :P)

Yes, I definitely understand that. I always have to list off at least four or five when someone asks me. Hooray, another Lord of the Rings fan!
So, Nichole, how long have you been writing/studying the writing industry?

How long have I been writing? Since I was able to pick up a pen.

I started writing poetry when I was 8 – little nonsense lines that halfway rhymed and ran together with no real rhythm. :P Of course I got better and better as I got older. And I always loved to tell my younger siblings stories based on books we’d read together, or on TV shows we’d watched on our local PBS station. When I turned twelve, my little brother asked me to write a story for him that I could read him at bedtime, and that’s when I wrote my first short story – “Dandelion Stew” which was the story of a little girl with a big imagination. Of course the actual writing was horrendous. :P But I loved it at the time.

When I was 14 I taught myself to play the classical guitar and started writing songs. That was also the year that I discovered “The Lord of the Rings” and decided that I would someday work in the publishing industry. At the time it was just a wistful dream, of course, but it stayed with me.

Then a week before I turned 16 was when I decided to undergo writing a full length novel. As I mentioned above I’ve been seriously studying the writing/publishing industry for about 8 years now. That was also the year that one could say my studying really kicked in.

And, as the industry is always changing and evolving, I will continue to study it for as long as I’m able to.

It's funny, but I was 16 when I started taking writing more seriously too! I had written a ton before then, but 16 was when I started trying to really write. Well, can you tell us a little bit about your current WIP?

Which one? Lol! :D

Actually, I’m sure you mean “Song of the Daystar” (or SOTD as I often refer to it.)

SOTD has been in the making for about 6 years… wow; until just now, I didn’t realize how long it’s been. I started writing it when I was 17 for the International Tweener Time Competition. Originally it was only going to be an experimental piece… a story in which I would try to improve my writing and then see if I couldn’t get a publisher interested. To be quite truthful, I never intended to get so attached to the story and the characters. I’m really glad I didn’t win that competition. Now SOTD has gone from being just an experiment, to being a story that is very close to my heart and it has improved so much since then. The final draft (with the exception of small edits, of course) is currently in the process of being written.

I haven’t finished working out my elevator pitch yet, but here’s the blurb, if you are interested:

Four years ago, King Morven decreed that belief in the deity Anahdor was banned from Alayia by death. As the royal troops descended, Anahdor’s Faithful scattered to pray for a miracle. Only one hope remained for Believer’s in Alayia, but it had long since passed into legend.

Now, Curron is an Outcast working as a stable-boy at Fort Gallant. Haunted by his guardian’s unjust death, he stifles the music that’s troubled him since childhood, but he can’t hide all his differences.

When Curron is imprisoned for defying his commander, he faces his own death… until Commander Olan’s brother, Caellahn, breaks in to rescue him. Now criminals, Curron and Caellahn flee into the Wilds to escape Olan’s wrath, but to what end? Caellahn is certainly more than he seems, and the music in Curron’s head is increasing. Is the Music from the Daystar, a mythical symbol of Anahdor’s power? Legends say that only the Song Keeper, Alayia’s Champion of old, can hear the Music and bring Restoration to Anahdor’s people.

However, the Daystar is lost, and rumors circle of Dangers rising in the north much darker and deadlier than the king. Alayia needs her Champion, but what can a 14-year-old Outcast do against King Morven, Úngahl, and the evil shadows of Grimwryld? What truth could possibly be hidden in Legend?

Ooh. Sounds interesting! I've enjoyed getting to read the excerpts you post on your blog. When did the idea for Magpie Eclectic Press start growing in your mind? What is the story behind the name?

The idea for Magpie Eclectic Press started to grow in my mind when I was 18. That was when my interest in the publishing industry went from fascinating pastime to near obsession. :D And since then my obsession has only grown.

Back then, Magpie didn’t even have a name. It was just an idea that I hoped to one day make into a reality. I didn’t know when or where it would happen… it was just a dream after all. But many, many businesses start with just a dream. Nations are built on dreams. This was just a dream I harbored, yes, but it stayed with me.

Then in 2010 the idea started to morph. That was right about the time that I started to notice the ripples in the surface of the publishing industry. Self Publishing was starting to pick up pace, Marcher Lord Press had opened in 2008 and was doing wonderfully, digitalized books were starting to multiply and many people were looking into e-readers; Amazon had started to take over everything. Now, I’d noticed some of these changes before, but they were getting persistent; people were taking notice, and some of those people were well known authors who had gone through the CBA (Christian Book Association) and the ABA (American Book Association) before. The publishing industry was opening up for the little guy.

That’s when Magpie started to take on a more physical shape in my mind. The truth of the matter is that I have a strong passion for words, especially written words. It’s so strong in me that sometimes I feel like it just wants to spill out of me. I said once before that I feel that God has called me to write, and that’s true, but you know in the 23^rd Psalm where it says “My cup runneth over”? Well, that’s what it’s like for me. My cup is running over with this strong love and passion for the written word, and I just have to pour it into others. I feel like I just have to help other authors out there, encourage them, support them… Now that the publishing industry was shifting and the small presses and authorpreneurs (a new word I discovered the other day) had a chance, I knew that Magpie also had a chance.

You see, this company isn’t just a company… it’s beyond that. Magpie is a ministry. Before the change in the publishing world, it probably would have never seen the light of day; with the big six houses ruling the book industry, the smaller publishers were hard pressed to keep up. However, with the rise of e-books and the creation of presses like Marcher Lord Press, Port Yonder Press, Flaming Pen Press (the publisher of my book Out of Darkness Rising!), and Splashdown Books – all small houses that have grown and that now thrive – (and after praying about it long and hard) I felt like God was saying, “Now’s the time”. And so, what started as just a dream in 2007 and 2008 has grown into something tangible. :D

Then last year I was praying about it and studying the industry, and a name came to me: “Magpie Publications.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” I wondered. But the meaning was revealed to me soon after. It was totally a God thing. You see, I knew what I wanted the company to represent and where it needed to go. This publisher needed to capture all of the wonderful facets and marvels that make up the essence of Christian Speculative fiction while at the same time offering opportunities for those poets and literary authors out there who share Magpie Eclectic's dreams and ambitions - to bring Christian Speculative Fiction to the world. We needed to be diverse. Eclectic.

That’s when I started to really to consider the word eclectic and all that it implies. The word “eclectic” brings a picture of a magpie to my mind. They are beautiful and funny birds that are always looking for shiny objects to take back to their nests and keep as treasures, and they are curious and not afraid of humans. Some people might call them thieves, but if you really think about, the Magpie is a treasure hunter.

As a small press, that’s what I knew that Magpie Eclectic needed to represent, only here, the treasures are words and the passion of words. There is a richness in a well told story that just cannot be denied. The mission of Magpie Eclectic Press is to find those stories - those treasures - and polish them up so that they can shine. However, unlike the bird, Magpie Eclectic Press isn’t going to hide these treasures away in a nest somewhere where no one else can see and enjoy them. Instead, we intend to make these wonderful stories available to as many people as possible. It’s only then that our zeal can be truly shared - when people are touched by the hand of God through the passion and imagination of a writer. And that’s what takes Magpie Eclectic Press beyond a company and makes it a ministry. J

That's awesome Nichole. I love the way you view the company as a ministry. So, what are your goals for Magpie Eclectic Press?

Well, there are several types, you know. :D The main goal for Magpie is to be a ministry that truly touches people for God – not just writers but readers as well. I guess that’s more of a spiritual goal, actually, but it’s as much an objective as anything else Magpie’s working for. The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (NIV) Magpie’s spiritual purpose is to uphold that verse to the glory of God, and this ambition comes before the others.

However, the more material goals of Magpie would parallel with that of other presses, I suppose… at least on the business end. Marketing, quality, and sales. These objectives comes\ second because they support the first objective… the better the quality of the product, the easier it is to market; the easier it is to market, the more sales there are made; the more sales there are made, the more people we reach with our first goal, which is to touch people for God through speculative fiction and the written word. Obviously we can’t reach our first goal without putting our everything – heart and soul – into the second goal. In fact, it’s just best to put your best into something from the get-go. I don’t believe in half-heartedness.

Future goals for Magpie are vague at the moment as we are still looking for submissions and haven’t found the “right one” to start with just yet. Truth is a publisher is only as good as the books they publish. It would be amazing if Magpie really took off in the next couple of years, and even more amazing if one of the books through us managed to snag an award, but the future is unknown by all but God. However, what authors need to understand is that Magpie Eclectic Press (and me, through Magpie) will do our best to push our books as far as we can take them into the market. While we can’t guarantee an award or anything as insubstantial as the promise of one, we can promise that we will produce a quality product and that we will work hard to market it. We can also promise that we will treat our authors fairly.

I can't wait to see what the "right one" is! So, are you planning on publishing your own works through Magpie Eclectic or do you plan to take them elsewhere?

That’s a good question. To be quite honest, I haven’t decided yet what I want to do with SOTD. Of course I have definitely considered taking SOTD through Magpie, but I have not come to a conclusion yet, and I still have another publisher who might be interested in the rewrite.

I think I will eventually try to publish some of my books both ways.

You see, if I publish my books myself and prove that they can be successful, I’m likely to gain the confidence of authors considering Magpie because they will see that I’m serious about the business.

However, I also want to know what my authors feel like. They are submitting to me, entrusting me with their beloved stories, worrying over the outcome. How can they trust me if I haven’t gone through the same process that they have, and if I don’t know what that feels like?

At the moment I have decided to take on an experiment in self publishing, though I don’t think the finished product will be through Magpie. You see, I have several short stories (5k and under) that I’m either really happy with now, or else that show potential. I’ve decided that I’m going to self publish these through Amazon Kindle. This will serve two purposes: to build a readership for my work as a writer, and to practice formatting and marketing digitalized books. :D The reason that I’m not planning to do this under Magpie’s name, is because it really is a separate endeavor. Magpie is a company, professional and set, and this undertaking feels more personal than professional, you know? ^_^

Oh neat! I'll definitely look into your short stories when they're released. What are some things that authors who are interested in submitting work to Magpie Eclectic Press should know?

First and foremost, authors should do their research and study their craft before submitting. Trust me when I say, there is ALWAYS room for improvement. If an author believes that they’ve taken their book as far as they can take it by themselves, they’ve done their research, and they’ve had their book critiqued and then they’ve edited – if after that they are still interested in submitting to us, then they should read about us and check out our author guidelines. That will tell them what they need to know about submitting to us.

For instance, if they read about us, they will find out that we are not a vanity or subsidized press. Magpie puts out the upfront cost for the production of their book and doesn’t ask the author for a penny. Instead, per standard regulations, the cost of production is set up against the author’s royalty… meaning that the cost of production will need to be earned back before the author starts receiving their royalty.

And yes, we are a royalty paying publisher. We pay our authors a 40% royalty from the net profit of the book. (The net profit of the book is the profit earned from the book after we pay the printer for printing off the book and pay the service provider that the book was bought through, like Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. However, if the book is bought through our website, the net profit is the profit earned after we pay the printer, so, naturally there’s likely to be more net profit from a book if it is bought through our website rather than through a service provider.)

Our website explains all of this and more. Currently our “official” company website is under construction, but we have a temporary site set up at www.wix.com/nichole_white/magpie-eclectic-press/. Hopefully within a few weeks’ time we will have the official site up and running.

Unfortunately I’ve noticed several glitches with the temporary site. The submission form works just fine, but the site keeps taking out the apostrophes from certain words like “don’t” and “can’t”, etc… The problem is sporadic, and some words are missing apostrophes while others have kept theirs. I’ve gone back through the text several times to replace them and try to fix the problem, but they won’t stay there. I’m planning on posting a notice on the main page in order to warn people about the problem before hand.

Another good thing for authors to know is that Magpie is run by a writer who has studied both the writing and publishing industry, and as an author myself, I know what other authors are looking for in a publisher. I know what they consider fair, and I know how the publishing industry is changing. As a publisher, I must run my company by the golden rule, “treat others as you would want them to treat you.” The writer in me knows how I would want a publisher to treat me as their author, and that’s how Magpie’s authors will be treated by me. We deal in fairness here… nothing wishy-washy. Everything will be as straight forward as possible, laid out for the whole world to see and understand with no hidden clauses.

I also want to work with the authors and know what they think. The publishing process is not a one sided project. Both the author and the publisher need to work together in order to provide the best product possible and get it to as many people as possible. It is our goal to have a collaborative relationship with our authors, and to do that, our authors will need to have a hand in almost every part of the process.

I think the fact that you are a writer will be very reassuring to people interested in submitting to Magpie Eclectic Press. You understand the heart of a writer and know what it's like to pour everything in your work. There's a lot of comfort knowing that when submitting your book to undergo scrutiny.

Speaking of submitting work, what kind of books are you looking for at Magpie Eclectic Press?

We are looking for Speculative fiction of almost every genre, especially Christian Speculative fiction. We will look at titles (and possibly accept a few) that are not strictly “Christian” but that might be more secular in nature. However, we will not accept anything that goes against our beliefs or the Christian world view.

A few good examples of books that we think fit these criteria within the secular market would be:

1) Cornelia Funke’s books, “The Ink Trilogy” and “Dragon Rider”

2) The first four Artemis Fowl books

3) The Hunger Games

4) Bran Hambric

Ok, so it’s true that those are all middle grade and YA titles, but we would like to see adult books that follow these criteria come through our submissions as well. Books like “The personified Invasion” and “House”. I know that those titles are labeled “Christian”, but if there are adult secular titles out there that live up to those standards we would LOVE to see them. :D

I found a really well written description of the speculative fiction genres written up by Jill Williamson: Jill Williamson - Speculative Fiction Subgenres. This description pretty well describes what we are looking for. If your manuscript falls within any of these genres, you are probably good.

And if you aren’t sure, then feel free to contact us. The best way to learn is to ask questions. ^_^

Yes, I've found Jill Williamson's list so helpful! Well, Nichole, what are some things folks can do to help with the startup of this new company?

Right now the best thing that people can do to help with the start up of this company is to spread the word and start submitting. And keep spreading the word.

Seriously. The biggest downfall of being a “new” publisher – especially a “small” new publisher – is the fact that not very many people are aware that Magpie Eclectic Press is here yet. If people don’t know we are here, they aren’t going to submit to us. If they don’t submit, then Magpie gets nowhere and we drown. I don’t want this company to drown, but a publisher is nothing without its authors. Authors and publishers are made to work together, like two matching puzzle pieces. Even if the author is their own publisher, they have to balance two entirely different aspects of the industry that must work together in order for a book to get anywhere within the market.

One way or another, Magpie needs authors. I can promise that we will give our authors our very best. My hope is that eventually the authors and the company will become like family to each other. I want there to be a good relationship between the author and the publisher, based on Christian morals. (I guess you could say that’s another goal of mine for this company.)

At the moment, that’s the most important kind of help that we are looking for. Interviews are a great way to spread the word. So is blogging, or writing up a report, etc… Just so that the word gets out there and people learn about us.

Thank you for having me over for an interview. This was a lot of fun and there were some pretty good questions here. I hope it helped to clarify some things for anyone interested in the company. :D

Nichole, thanks for coming! I've been really excited watching the startup of this company and look forward to see where Magpie Eclectic goes in the future!

Be sure to check out Nichole's blog The Pen and Parchment and the website for Magpie Eclectic Press. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or contact Nichole through her blog!

TNT Blog Tour - The Wishing Pearl

2012-02-27T10:57:00.000-06:00

The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell – A Diamond Estates Novel

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD OLIVIA MANSFIELD DREAMS OF A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY . . .

A land far away from her stepfather’s abuse and torment.

A land far away from her mother’s blind eye.

A land far away from the haunting memories of her past.

But then reality sets in, and Olivia knows she must make the best of her dire situation – at least until her high school graduation. But when poor choices lead Olivia to the brink of a complete breakdown and she finds herself dealing with the unexpected death of her best friend, she comes to a crossroads.

Will Olivia find the path to ultimate hope and healing that her heart longs for? Or will the demons from her past prove too much to bear?

In The Wishing Pearl, Nicole O'Dell weaves the sweet story of one girl’s struggle to break free of her past. I’m not usually a fan of modern girl’s books (I prefer fantasy and plenty of action) and I’m generally somewhat squeamish about certain difficult topics. But although this book deals with some tough stuff – teen drinking, drug use, child abuse, etc – Nicole handled it extremely tactfully. The story was anything but boring and I really enjoyed it!

The book kept my attention all the way through. Olivia’s struggles and doubts were all believable. I was rooting for Olivia and her friends the whole time!

In the story, Diamond Estates is a home for “troubled girls” where the staff helps the girls work through the issues that they’re facing – physical, mental, and spiritual. I enjoyed reading about Diamond Estates. Even though it was a fictional place, reading about it was enough to make me wish I could work at a place like it someday.

I work at a Christian youth camp during the summer and each year we host an Angel Tree Week where children who have at least one parent in prison are able to come to camp! It’s just about the toughest week there is to work, but it’s the most rewarding! I love working Angel Tree and seeing the impact that it has on the kids.

It’s a chance for them to come and play in a safe environment, to hear the word of God, and have folks loving them at all times. These kids have been hurt and so they set up some pretty strong barriers that take a while to break through – and you can’t always break through – but when you do, it’s just amazing! You realize that the staff weren't the really ones who broke through – it was the love of God.

In some ways, reading about Diamond Estates reminded me of working Angel Tree Week. In the story, the staff were so dedicated to loving and helping the girls, and so focused on the spiritual aspect of the girl’s healing because they knew that ultimately, the only one who could truly help was Christ.

All in all, I really enjoyed The Wishing Pearl and found it a captivating and sweet – though at times almost heartbreaking – story. I will definitely pick up more of Nicole’s books in the future and look forward to reading more in the Diamond Estates series. Because of some of the difficult subject material, I recommend it for ages 13+ but I give it a 5 stars!

Buy a copy of The Wishing Pearl on Amazon

Watch the book trailer:

Be sure to check out what the other Team Novel Teen bloggers have to say about The Wishing Pearl:

My Life with a Mission • ADD Librarian • Audacious Reader • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Colorimetry • Jill Williamson • Katie McCurdy • The Librarian’s Bookshelf • The Pen and Parchment • Rachelle Rea • Terri Harr • Virtuous Girlhood

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O’Dell by clicking on the links above, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

NOTE: In conjuction with the Team Novel Teen blog tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own!

Wordsmithing

2012-02-23T11:02:00.000-06:00

Growing up, I read the Tales of the Forgotten God Series by Dan Hamilton (a great allegory, by the way). There was a character in there named Wordsmith, who was, unsurprisingly, a writer.

The magic of that name - Wordsmith - has captured me ever since.

To me it evokes such beautiful imagery. That is what I would like to be. Not just a writer, but a wordsmith. Someone who crafts something magnificent out of words. I think of wordsmith and I think of labor, painstaking care, fire, heat, and refining, beating and pounding, then sharpening... until at last, the project is complete.

It reminds of a scene from the book The Princess Bride where Domingo (Inigo's father) pours his life into the task of creating the six-fingered sword, the finest blade since Excalibur.

Domingo slept only when he dropped from exhaustion. He ate only when Inigo forced him to. He studied, fretted, complained. He never should have taken the job; it was impossible. The next day he would be flying; he never should have taken the job; it was too simple to be worth his labors. Joy to despair, joy to despair, day to day, hour to hour. Sometimes Inigo would wake to find him weeping . . . Some nights Inigo would awake to see him dancing . . . But the next night more tears . . .

One night Inigo woke to find his father seated. Staring. Calm. Inigo followed the stare. The six fingered sword was done. Even in the hut's darkness, it glistened. "At last," Domingo whispered. He could not take his eyes from the glory of the sword. "After a lifetime. Inigo. Inigo. I am an artist." (The Princess Bride, by William Goldman)

This scene reminds me of the writing process. Writing is an intense labor - not of the muscles, but of the heart and mind. Writers pour so much into their work.

We fashion a story from the unshapen metal of an idea, we take it to the fire and submit it to the heat of refining, then we beat and pound until the proper story takes shape, chipping away the impurities. Until at last, we come to the end and we sharpen it, agonizing over every word to create the right tone, the correct weight, the proper point, the finest blade imaginable.

Wordsmith.

It is a reminder that not only the tale I tell, but the words in which I tell it, are important. Words are powerful. Wielding a sword of ink is a great responsibility. The words we write may endure for a lifetime and who knows what impact they may have.

The craft of the wordsmith may be used for good or ill. But the wordsmith is given responsibility with the gift. And it is a great and glorious responsibility - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31)

That is what I desire to be. A wordsmith crafting for the glory of God. To weave a tale that reflect God's glory, carefully selecting each beautiful word to fulfill its purpose in the whole picture.

The Realms Thereunder - CSFF Blog Tour

2012-02-20T15:40:00.002-06:00

Ancient legend tells of an army of knights that will

remain sleeping until the last days.

The knights are waking up.

From the back cover: A homeless man is stalked by a pale, wraithlike creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth. Maimed animals and a host of suicides cluster around a mountain in Scotland. And deep beneath the cobbled streets of Oxford, a malicious hoard besieges a hidden city.

Freya Reynolds is a university student with a touch of OCD and an obsession with myth and folklore. Daniel Tully is living rough on the streets of Oxford, waging a secret war against an enemy only he can identify. Years ago, they found themselves in a world few know is real. They have since gone their separate ways and tried to put that adventure behind them.

But the mythical world is now bleeding into our reality - a dark spiritual evil that is manifesting itself in forgotten corners of the British Isles. Alex Simpson is a Scottish police officer who specializes in hunting mythical creatures. Together, they must confront the past, the present, and points beyond to defeat the ultimate threat to humanity.

Nothing they've seen so far prepares them for what awaits... in The Realms Thereunder.

****

My Thoughts on the story:

Written by Ross Lawhead - son of Stephen R. Lawhead - The Realms Thereunder is the first book in The Ancient Earth Trilogy. The back cover hooked me. I couldn't wait to dig into the book! A homeless man, hidden cities, myths that are real - an exciting premise!

Then I started reading and my enthusiasm gradually lessened. Mainly I found the book disjointed and somewhat confusing.

The Realms Thereunder jumps back and forth almost every other chapter between Daniel and Freya's adventures as children and their adventures now. At the start of the book, it seemed that their modern predicaments completely outweighed their adventures as children, but toward the end, their earlier difficulties seemed much more important than what was happening to them at the moment. So much so, that the present storyline seemed more a distraction from the main plot than anything else.

I would have preferred the author divide the storylines and present all of the previous story before moving into the present. The back story felt fully developed whereas the modern story (toward the end) felt more like filler before jumping into the action that I anticipate will come with book two.

Although the premise hooked me, the actual story didn't completely draw me in. The writing style seemed a bit heavy and overbearing at times, not engaging.

As much as I wanted and tried to, I didn't find myself caring about most of the characters. When Daniel and Freya were children, they meandered from acting like ordinary frightened children to speaking like adults. There were several times when Daniel and Freya stepped forward and took charge of the situation in ways that I doubt thirteen year old kids who had just fallen into another world actually would. I also didn't think that the knights they traveled with would have allowed them to take charge unchallenged.

However, I have always loved the blending of the historical, mythical, and modern and found that one of the most enjoyable aspects of The Realms Thereunder. In many cases, it read like an ancient myth or fairy tale from the British Isles, involving plenty of fantastic creatures like elves, gnomes, faeries, and the yfelgopes (don't worry, even after finishing the book I'm still not entirely sure how to pronounce that one!)

I chuckled at Ecgbryt's constant retelling of his days fighting with Alfred the Great against the Danes, because I always loved reading about Alfred the Great growing up. (Who wouldn't like the King who was scolded by a peasant woman because he forgot to watch her cakes and let them burn?) Also, the idea of an ordinary policeman who hunts down mythical creatures as a secret part of his job was pretty cool!

All in all, although I felt The Realms Thereunder didn't quite live up to the expectations produced by the back cover copy, I enjoyed reading it. Don't expect a rapid page turner, but if you enjoy a good blend of history, myth, and modern times, you'll enjoy a foray into The Realms Thereunder. 3 stars.

****

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The author's website - Ross Lawhead

Want to purchase The Realms Thereunder?

Be sure to check out what the other blog tour participants are saying over the next two days!

Valiant as a... Mouse?

2012-02-13T12:09:00.003-06:00

An Echoes of Eternity post - seeking the echoes of eternity in fantasy and speculative fiction.

Where sky and water meet,

Where the waves grow sweet,

Doubt not Reepicheep,

To find all you seek,

There is the utter east.

(from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S.Lewis)

courtesy of Google images :)

Reepicheep. In my opinion, Reepicheep is one of the best characters ever to fill the pages of a novel. He is somewhat of an enigma. He is a mouse, who is braver than most humans. He is small, but his spirit makes up for his lack of stature. Though trapped by the limits of his size, Reepicheep is not bound to the common conceptions of a mouse - his love for adventure and his strict code of honor and nobility are worthy of a giant!

If anyone were to ask me what a true knight of Narnia looks like, Reepicheep would immediately come to mind. Courageous, courteous, chivalrous - Reepicheep fits the image of a hero in character if not in appearance (somehow, I can't see Reepicheep charging into battle on the back of a white horse!)

But I think, perhaps, the greatest part about Reepicheep's character is his deep and unflinching devotion to Aslan demonstrated so clearly in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

When the Dawn Treader reaches Ramandu's island after months of hardship at sea, many of the crew wish to turn back, afraid of what lies in the unknown waters ahead.

Reepicheep responds:

"My own plans are made. While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader. When she fails me, I paddle East in my coracle. When she sinks, I shall swim east with my four paws. And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan's country, or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise and Peepicheek will be head of the talking mice in Narnia."

If only we possessed this same one-mindedness in our own lives. Would that we had this same attitude toward God and seeking Him. Too often, our coracle sinks and we flounder in the water, wallowing in our misery. We take our eyes off the East and drift aimlessly, seeking first one thing and then another, forgetting our first love. We grow weary and tired of pressing on and we allow ourselves to float off course.

Why do we do that? Why do we allow the distractions of this world to draw us away from the most important thing of all?

The author of Hebrews wrote, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

If we but fixed our eyes unswervingly on Jesus, every day, how different our lives would look!

In contrast to Reepicheep's single minded goal, Caspian becomes distracted from his purpose. Lured by the promise of adventure on a journey to the world's end, Caspian seeks to abandon his throne, his quest, and his duties to the people of Narnia. All so that he might glimpse the Edge of the World.

This event reminds me of the story of Odysseus and the Sirens from Greek mythology (oddly enough, Edmond comes to the same conclusion, threatening to tie Caspian to the mast until he comes to his senses.)

The Sirens possessed incredibly beautiful voices, and their song was so alluring that it drove unwary sailors mad until they plunged over the side of their ship to a watery grave. In order to get past the Sirens safely, Odysseus ordered his men to plug their ears with wax so that they could not hear the song.

But he, desiring to hear the song of the Sirens without fear of leaping to his death, also commanded them to tie him to the mast so that he might listen under restraint. His men went about their work, ears blocked to the song of the Sirens, but tied to the mast, Odysseus wept and raged beneath the spell, imploring his men to release him.

Like the song of the Sirens, the distractions of this world seek to lure us astray. To draw us off the path. But like the author of Hebrews, like Odysseus' men, let us throw off the entanglements, block our ears to the call, and run with endurance the race set for us.

Like Reepicheep, longing to reach Aslan's country, let us fix our eyes on Christ and seek Him with all of our hearts.

Let us be like the Psalmist and say, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2 )

"The coracle went more and more quickly, and beautifully it rushed up the wave's side. For one split second they saw its shape and Reepicheep's on the very top. Then it vanished and since that moment no one can truly claim to have seen Reepicheep the Mouse. But my belief is that he came safe to Aslan's country and is alive there to this day."

~ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis

Book Review Writing Tips

2012-02-10T11:31:00.003-06:00

Book Reviews... How to write them? Just a few of the things I've learned over the past couple of years about writing reviews.

If you're unsure where to start, the first thing to do is read other reviews. See how other reviewers go about it - some write long reviews (my own personal tendency) while others prefer to wrap it up in a few short sentences. Novel Teen is a great review site to look at - they usually have short, fun, to the point reviews!

See what you like about the reviews you've read. Did you get enough information from the review? Too much? Was it written in a fun and engaging style? Did it ramble or follow a clear pattern of thought?

Then, after you've gathered your thoughts, you can start writing your own!

Synopsis - I've generally found it best to start a review with a short synopsis of the story. When I read someone else's review of a book, I like to know what the story is about. You can either use the backcover synopsis or try and write your own, summarizing the high points of the story and ending with a hook to grab the reader's attention.

Here's one I wrote for my review of The Sword in the Stars by Wayne Thomas Batson:

When former assassin Alastair Coldhollow sees the legendary sword appear in the stars, he believes that his quest to proclaim the arrival of the Halfainin - the long promised hero - is about to be fulfilled. There's just one problem. He can't seem to find the Halfainin!

Not only that, but he suddenly finds himself playing nursemaid to an abandoned baby. And to top it all off, the past he tried so hard to bury is slowly but surely catching up with him. Danger lurks over Myriad. Mysterious midnight murders and an enemy invasion lead to a kingdom that is arming for war. And yet, the greatest danger always comes from within...

Will the Halfainin arrive in time to save Myriad?

After the synopsis, you can start on your thoughts about the book. Some things to think through as you write your review:

Captivating? - Was the book interesting? Did it keep your attention or were you ready to put it down at the end of each chapter? How was the pace? Fast? Too slow? Dizzying?

The Pros - What did you like about the book? Both specific events and overall?

The Cons - What didn't you like about the book? Are there any warnings you should give your readers about content that might be inappropriate for certain ages?

The Characters - If you have time, you can discuss the characters. Were they real and believable? Did you care about them?

The Writing - This point can be somewhat subjective since every writer has a different writing style and not all readers connect with the same writing style. There are some authors whose writing style I don't particularly care for, but I wouldn't want that to impact my review of the book unless the writing itself is poor quality.

So, rather than focusing on the writing style (unless you have something very positive to say about it), you can focus on the quality of the writing. Was the book well written? Was the writing consistent, did the storyline flow, and the plot line up correctly? If the book was confusing and jumped around a lot between tons of storylines and points of view, you could mention it here.

Spoilers - Anything that gives away an important part of the plot is a Spoiler. Generally, try to avoid spoilers in your review. You want the readers to be able to enjoy the book. But, if you have to include spoilers, be sure to mark them with a SPOILER ALERT so people can decide whether they want to keep reading or not.

Don't Ramble - Like any sort of writing, your reviews should follow a clear logical progression of thought. You don't want to make the review confusing for the reader. Keep it ordered with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Themes - Books often have an underlying theme or tone because every writer has a distinct worldview that overflows (sometimes even unconsciously) into their work. Lots of Christian books have overt or hidden Christian and allegorical themes. Often woven in are lessons of self-sacrifice and love reflecting the wonderful love of our Savior. Other books may have more negative themes reflecting different worldviews. These are important to keep an eye out for as you read and can be mentioned in your review.

Summarize - It's important to tie up your review with a concluding sentence that summarizes your thoughts on the book. Example: "If you don't get queasy at the sight of blood, then you'll find So-and-So a great, fast paced thriller, sure to keep you turning the pages and begging for more."

Recommend? - Be sure to note whether or not you would recommend this book to someone else. This is a good place to include age range as well. If you think the book has some aspects that wouldn't be appropriate for younger readers, then be sure to mention that. Example: Great read for anyone age 14+ or Not recommended for readers under the age of 12. Explain why - due to mature content or the graphic battle descriptions, etc.

Stars - Lots of places (like Amazon and other online retailers) require a starred review where you assign a certain number of stars based on how much you enjoyed the book. I've heard authors say that if you enjoyed the book and didn't have anything seriously negative to say about it, then don't give it under 4 stars on Amazon. 3 stars on Amazon looks negative and gives the book a poor review. That said, you want to be honest (next point!) so make sure to tell the truth.

On your own blog, however, feel free to establish your own "stars" standard. For me, 5 stars means it was an incredible book, one that kept my attention all the way through and that I'll be sure to pick up again and reread. 4 stars - I enjoyed it. Good book! There was just something about the plot or characters that didn't keep me totally hooked. 3 - Ok book. Probably wouldn't pick it up again. Something turned me off to the story. 2 - Poorly written book. 1 - I put it down (don't think I've ever had one in this category yet!)

Honesty is the best policy - Always remember to be honest with your reviews. Speak the truth in love! If you didn't like something about the book, feel free to say it but do it politely. Authors do get about on the web and they do read reviews.

Speaking as an author, I would like to know if there was something someone didn't like about my book, but I wouldn't like to see someone trash-talking it. That just hurts. Constructive criticism is key. Your reviews are helping other readers find good books, but they're also encouraging/helping the author improve his/her craft!

In your review, you can hit all of those points or however many you want to depending on how long you want your review to be!

Any other suggestions? What are some points you hit on in your reviews?

My Writing Companions

2012-02-09T14:06:00.004-06:00

Every writer has a few essential items that they like to keep by them when they write. Something to speed the writing process along, heighten the imagination, or contribute to the flow of inspiration.

My personal writing companions include:

The Synonym Finder by J.I.Rodale - Can't find the word you're looking for? The synonym finder is the book for you. Over 1 million synonyms make it the largest thesaurus in print. I've found it to be much more helpful than online thesauruses (or is it thesauri?). It's quite useful (serviceable, advantageous, functional, employable) to have on hand.

The New American Dictionary of First Names compiled by Leslie Dunkling and William Gosling.
Another extremely helpful book. It lists over 10,000 names and provides a little of the history for each name as well as its meaning. Even if I don't use the names from the book, just looking through it helps point me in the right direction.

I like to use a lot of names/words that reflect Gaelic origin, so a lot of times I'll search online lists as well. Quite often, I'll used modified version of a name or word - I write fantasy so I can get away with that. That way I know where the word comes from and the meaning behind the word, but I get to add my own little twist.

Maps - I almost always draw a map for the fantasy world I'm exploring at the moment. I've always loved maps (I spent hours poring over atlases growing up - and studying the Middle Earth map) so I've always loved drawing my own. It helps me visualize the country and figure out distances - because even though it's fantasy it has to be realistic, right?

Books - There is always a pile of inspirational books on weaponry, life in the middle ages, and my favorite fantasy books sitting by my desk within easy reach. Pictures of sailing ships silhouetted against the sunset or flying before a gale wind are also a necessity. Nothing like a ship to stir the imagination and send you flying to far off places.

Epic music! I almost always listen to music while I type. It can't have any words to it, because then I get distracted singing along, so I generally pick movie soundtracks. Gladiator. The Lord of the Rings. Narnia. Braveheart. Great ones like that.

And Dr. Pepper. Ah, there's nothing like a good sip of Dr. Pepper to help a writer think straight! :)

Well, those are some of my writing companions. What are some items that you find essential to a day of writing?

The Errant King - Tremendous and Captivating Read

2012-02-08T11:05:00.002-06:00

Twenty years after the end of The Sword in the Stars, an ancient evil stirs in Myriad. King Aravel is long dead, leaving the throne to his wife Queen Maren, and his son Lochlan, who is about to be crowned High King of Myriad. There just one problem, Loch isn’t quite sure that he wants to be King.

Meanwhile, rumors abound. Cythraul, Morlan’s chief assassin, seems to have returned from the dead. Alistair and Telwyn set off on a perilous journey to discover the truth and end the villain once and for all.

But an even graver danger threatens Myriad. With Loch absent experimenting with a life of errantry and Alistair and Telwyn distracted on the hunt, the time is ripe for invasion. Evil descends on Myriad in greater numbers than ever before. Will the people of Myriad be able to survive the terrors approaching from all sides?

Whew! I have to start off by saying that The Errant King is now my favorite Batson book, topping The Door Within Trilogy, the Pirate series, the Berinfell Prophecies, and even The Sword in the Stars.

In the The Errant King, Wayne Thomas Batson spins a masterful tale filled with excitement, adventure, danger, and truly creepy villains with plenty of humor sprinkled on the side.

The Errant King is the second book in the Dark Sea Annals series, an epic story that will span seven books ere it reaches the conclusion. In this second book, Batson takes his writing to a whole new level, interweaving dozens of intricate plot lines, some carrying over from The Sword in the Stars, others reaching on into the next books. Because of the epic plot however, you don't want to read The Errant King without reading The Sword in the Stars first.

I felt like I really connected with all of the characters – especially Loch, Telwyn, Ariana, Fred. And of course Alistair and Abbagael. (As a side note, I had heard so many people talking about Fred, I couldn’t wait to read the book to find out what it was all about. All I can tell you is that Fred is one of the most creative and imaginative characters I’ve met thus far. Definitely worth reading if only to find out who Fred is.)

There are plenty of allegorical and Christian themes woven skillfully throughout the entire framework of the book. It's another one of those books that, as I call it, echoes eternity.

The largest difficulty I had with the book was when two characters fell in love in less than a week. It seemed somewhat ridiculous, but did not detract too much from the story.

Others have remarked negatively on the inclusion of a scene where the young King Loch has to deal with the overtly flirtatious advances of a young woman. However, I think the scene was well handled and added greatly to Loch's character as well as providing a good lesson for teens reading the story.

Overall, The Errant King was a tremendous and captivating read. Due to the violent battles and the somewhat gory nature of the descriptions as well as some extremely nasty villains, I would recommend The Errant King for an older reader, around 14 up to adult. If you're looking for a high action fantasy adventure, than the Errant King belongs on your list! 5 stars!

Giveaway Winner!

2012-02-07T12:22:00.000-06:00

Drum roll please...

Yes, I used a pirate hat.

The clock struck noon and the name was drawn from the hat.

The winner of a copy of Replication by Jill Williamson is...

Mary Ruth Pursselley!

Congratulations! Mary please send me an email at thesongkeeper (at) gmail.com with your shipping address to claim your prize!

Thanks to everyone else who entered!

Creativity is messy

2012-02-01T19:14:00.002-06:00

They say that creativity is messy... and genius is even more so. If that's true, then judging from the state of my room, I was being pretty ingenius today.

Costumes are scattered pretty much everywhere. The finished ones are hanging up neatly, but the random scraps that I'm working with are piled all over the floor along with books and tons of papers, while random piles of weaponry accumulate in the corners. Oh, probably best not to mention that last bit to anyone... :)

Creepy black robe worn by one of the evil villains

Out of Darkness Rising awaits further editing on my computer. I'm just itching to get it finished and I'm so excited about the alterations I've made thus far!

I also have about a gazillion ideas for posts that I can't wait to do on here. Quite exciting stuff... but I can't give it away yet. Just rest assured that there will be some pretty awesome posts up here soon.

But first, I have to film this book trailer. Two more days, a billion things to do, and two more costumes to finish with a dozen odds and ends to tie up... Whew! We're coming down to it. I am super thankful for all of the folks who will be helping me film this weekend!

And then, life will be normal again. Or about as normal as it gets with me around. Life tends to jump from one ginormous project to another. I like to dream big, but the problem is, I'm usually not content with just dreaming. I like to put my dreams into action.

Which is how I usually wind up in a mess like the one in my room right now! :)

~*~

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a copy of Replication by Jill Willamson. Giveaway ends February 7th. Click here to find out how to enter!

Giveaway - Enter for a chance to win Replication!

2012-01-31T14:27:00.001-06:00

Howdy folks!

It's time for our very first giveaway!

Jill Williamson, the author of Replication: the Jason Experiment, has kindly offered to send a free copy of Replication to the winner! Click here to read my review of Replication and watch the book trailers.

To enter the giveaway, simply post a comment below with your full name and a few words about your latest read!

To gain an additional entry, become a new follower of this blog or, if you're already a follower, you can post about the giveaway on your blog. If you post about the giveaway, comment with a link to your post!

The winner's name will be randomly drawn one week from today, Tuesday February 7th!

Due to shipping costs, contest is open to US/Canada only.

Dynamite

2012-01-30T08:46:00.001-06:00

That's the first word that comes to mind today.

Because today is the TNT (Team Novel Teen) blog tour for Jill Williamson's newest book Replication: the Jason Experiment!

About Replication

Martyr longs to see the sky before he expires on his 18^th birthday.

Abby Goyer just wants life to get back to normal after the recent death of her mother and her father’s job difficulties.

But Martyr is one of hundreds of clones in the underground Jason Farms and Abby just returned from a trip to find out that her father up and moved them to Alaska.

Worse still, her father won’t answer any questions about his new job and Abby has enough problems on her plate trying to settle into a new school without having to worry about him.

In this exciting science fiction novel, Abby and Martyr struggle to discover God’s purpose for their lives while untangling the web of lies wrapped around Jason Farms.

My Review

Dynamite pretty much describes Replication as well. Having had the privilege of playing Abby Goyer in the book trailers, I was quite excited to get to read the story. Even though I had a fever at the time (a leftover from my recent mission trip to Haiti), I had a hard time putting the book down.

Author of the Blood of Kings fantasy trilogy, Jill Williamson makes her first foray into the sci-fi world with Replication. Cloning is a controversial issue, but Jill deals with it masterfully. Lovable characters and plenty of action (especially toward the end) keep the pages turning. Jill Williamson is definitely one of those authors who makes me grab a book off the shelf as soon as I see her name regardless of genre, plot, or title!

Martyr. What a fascinating name for a character. Martyr was definitely my favorite – not just my favorite character, but my favorite part of the book! His name fits him to a 't' since he is always willing to sacrifice himself to defend the weak. Don't let his innocence fool you, Martyr is incredibly intelligent and anything but weak. Also, not to give away anything, but Martyr's decision at the end is just perfect. I won't say anymore than that so you'll have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about!

Jill did a wonderful job writing in Martyr's voice and believably exploring his reaction to his first encounter with everyday things like colors, TV, cell phones, and snow, and with God or "the Creator of Everything" as Martyr calls him.

Abby was also a great character. Strong, smart, eager to take action. I loved her analytical style and her habit of counting the pro's and con's whenever something happened. However, her tendency to swoon whenever the oh-so-handsome JD Kane showed up made less sense to me, given how practical she seemed the rest of the time. Ah well. Girls! :)

There were just two little things that bothered me about the book. The first was a choice Martyr makes in regard to one of the bad guys, Dr. Elliot. Without going into detail, Martyr's decision is understandable but seemed out of character for him. The second was Martyr and Abby's growing fascination for each other that resulted in several kisses. Both characters were seventeen and at times, I felt a little awkward as the reader in the midst of those scenes.

All in all, Replication was a great sci-fi book! An original storyline, plenty of adventure, a great message about discovering God's purpose for your life, and awesome characters make the book well worth reading. Although it's a YA book, I think Replication is a great book for adult readers too. 5 stars!

[Note: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review.]

***

Exciting news! I'll be hosting a giveaway of a copy of Replication, graciously supplied by the author! I'll post more information about the giveaway tomorrow so be sure to check back for a chance to win!

***

Click here to buy this book: Replication by Jill Williamson

Are you a clone? Find out your expiration date here: Expiration Date - facebook

Watch the book trailers!

TNT or Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Replication: the Jason Experiment by Jill Williamson by clicking on the links below and check out Novel Teen for more information about Team Novel Teen.

ADD Librarian • Audacious Reader • The Book Fae • Books I Recommend • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Christian Bookshelf Reviews • Fiction Fire • Gillian Adams • Jill Williamson • Katie McCurdy • Kurly Katie's Ruminations • My Story Shelf • The Pen and Parchment • Rachelle Rea • SLY Games • Terri Harr

Adventures Await!

2012-01-25T13:08:00.002-06:00

It struck me today as I was sitting at the computer, fingers flying over the keys, a thousand thoughts darting through my head. (Yes, my thoughts tend to dart rather than progress in a reasonable or orderly fashion – which is why this rabbit trail is in here.)

I’m a full time author.

Whew. That’s a crazy thought.

It was a rather big step. But for this period of my life, and until/unless God moves me elsewhere, I’m writing full time.

And loving it!

There is so much to learn. So much to experiment with. And so many ideas that it’s almost daunting trying to sort through them all.

It’s amazing!

I get so focused when I’m writing that there are many times when my family tries to speak to me or ask me a question, and I simply don’t hear. I’m ten thousand leagues away, tramping across the heathery downs of Leira on the last day of autumn before the Winter Turning. I can picture the moment...

The sky turns to gold as the sun sinks towards the horizon. The tips of Autaire’s fiery fingers dip behind the sea and then, a flash of pure white rushes across the sky. Cold wind whisks in from the north, twisting my hair around my face and burning in my throat. Tiny flakes of snow slip from the sky, whispering tales of wonder before melting on my hands. A sea of white already stretches before my feet. Winter Turning has come.

*Blinks rapidly* Oh, sorry about that! You know, I could almost feel that snow, but I’m back again.

This past week, my days have progressed from brainstorming the intricate plot lines of Song of Leira, to researching methods of torch making online (don't worry, it's safe!), to working on the first round of edits for Out of Darkness Rising, to sewing costumes for the book trailer that I’m going to be filming soon.

That’s my very exciting news actually.

I’m going to be filming a book trailer for Out of Darkness Rising in the next few weeks. I’ve been working like mad recruiting actors and figuring out locations and sewing costumes. I’m not much of a seamstress but one does what one has to. And they haven’t turned out too bad so far… I’m actually quite pleased with some of them!

Left to right: peasant costume,
little girl's peasant dress, and knight's surcoat.

Close up of little girl's peasant dress.

There are still so many things to figure out for the book trailer. I’m praying for good weather. Hoping that I can get all of my actors here and that it doesn’t pour when I do. Hoping I have enough time to get all the costumes finished. And hoping that the trailer will turn out well when all is said and done.

But surprisingly, I’m not worried. Admittedly, I was a few days ago. But thanks to a reassuring chat with my Mom, and an even better talk with my heavenly Father, I know that it will work out. Not necessarily in my timing. Not necessarily according to my plans or as I want it to. But in the perfect timing and in the perfect way!

And that’s just plain comforting!

So, as the first month of the new year comes to a close, I cannot help but reflect on the adventures of 2011, the adventures I’ve already had in Haiti this year, and the exciting adventures awaiting just around the corner!

A Different Perspective

2012-01-23T16:42:00.000-06:00

Life has been incredibly busy the past few days. Hopefully, I'll be able to give you the full update soon! It's getting pretty exciting around here. So stay tuned.

A different perspective.

Sometimes in novel writing, a main character starts to feel dull and lifeless. His (or her) thoughts are cliched, his actions boring, and his dialogue feels as sluggish as swamp water.

At such times, I find that a fresh point of view is extremely helpful. If you're tired of looking at the world through Bob's eyes, try picturing the scene through the eyes of his best friend Larry, or through the eyes of his nemesis, the evil Black Knight.

You're guaranteed to gain a new appreciation for the story and probably for Bob as well!

Switching to a different point of view is both a helpful tool and a danger. It's dangerous because too much jumping back and forth results in confusion and the loss of reader attention. It's helpful, however, because a different point of view adds new flavor and spice to the story.

From Bob's point of view, we hear his thoughts and see events from his perspective. We get his feelings about battles, arguments, conversations, food, the weather, himself. But you can also reveal a lot about your main character through a well placed scene set in another character's point of view.

Friends

Friends are an excellent source of an alternate point of view. Jumping into a best friend's head allows you, the author, to show how the main character is perceived by those closest to him. It allows you to inspire sympathy or kind feelings in the reader through the feelings of a friend.

If Tolkien hadn't utilized Sam's point of view in the Return of the King, would the reader get the same appreciation for Frodo's desperate struggle to get to Mount Doom?

I've been reading the Hornblower books lately. It's an eleven book series written about a British naval officer named Horatio Hornblower and set in the days of Britain's fight against Napoleon. The second book, Lieutenant Hornblower, is written entirely from the perspective of Horatio's fellow officer and friend Lieutenant Bush.

From Bush's perspective, we see Hornblower as a brilliant, if somewhat odd, young officer. Bush is both awed and confused by Hornblower and often downright irritated at his companion's reserved temperament.

This foray into Bush's point of view, actually serves to strengthen Hornblower's character and gives the reader a greater appreciation for Hornblower's genius than might have been gained through the main character's point of view.

Using a friend's point of view helps generate the same feelings in the reader and often serves to make the main character stronger.

Enemies

Enemies likewise offer a fresh perspective. If you wish to portray your hero as an excellent fighter or strategist, by all means show it in an epic battle, but don't neglect your enemy's point of view for emphasis! Generally speaking, no other character will view the main character so critically or with such respect.

Employing an enemy's point of view also allows you to raise the stakes, slipping in hints about the dastardly traps awaiting the main character.

Wayne Thomas Batson's book Sword in the Stars is an excellent example of an enemy's point of view providing insight into the main character.

When Cythraul - a pretty scary character himself - inspects Alastair Coldhollow's home, the reader gains new appreciation for the skill of the Iceman.

Cythraul's caution as he approaches the house highlights his respect for his enemy, a respect the reader is led to share. By the time Cythraul completes his tour, the reader is left with the impression that Alastair is one tough dude, and hoping that he's tough enough to defeat Cythraul.

So, when should you use this handy trick?

To show contrast between the main character's feelings and behavior.

Picture this scenario. We know that Bob is facing his first command. He's worried that he's going to mess up and make the wrong decisions, or worse, be undecided and not know what to do. Then, you switch to Larry's perspective. Bob seems perfectly calm, rattling off commands like a pro without a moment's hesitation. Suddenly, the reader thinks Bob is pretty cool.

To strengthen the main character.

Larry watches Bob rattling off commands and wishes that he could keep it together like that. Even though the reader knows how Bob is actually feeling, seeing the scene from Larry’s eyes makes Bob seem stronger. Bob visibly rises above his weakness, putting his fears behind him.

Employing a second perspective allows you to highlight your main character’s strengths and weaknesses through the eyes of another.

To evoke sympathy not disgust.

If Bob is going through a hard time, rather than dwelling in his point of view and risk making him seem whiny or complaining, you can jump to his friend Larry's sympathetic viewpoint to achieve the proper reader response.

These are just a few of the many instances where a different perspective is helpful. Have you used this trick in your writing lately? Feel free to share an example in the comments.

When Words are Lacking...

2012-01-19T09:46:00.001-06:00

Jacob's Well - Limbe, Haiti

Well, I'm back from Haiti!

Our plane touched ground in the U.S on Friday. Since then I've been recovering from a nasty cold and occasionally trying to catch up on sleep.

But I've put off writing this post for far too long. I've been home for almost a week and I still can't seem to get it started. Not because there isn't plenty of material to write about. I saw and experienced so much during my ten days in Haiti.

It's the words that are lacking.

I imagine Frodo felt this way when he returned from his Quest and sat down to write the first few sentences in the Red Book. How do you put into words what can only be truly understood through experience?

This was my second trip to Haiti but I was struck anew by what I saw.

In Haiti, I saw pain and darkness. The Haitians lives in poverty and conditions that we simply cannot imagine here in America. Many are trapped in spiritual darkness and bondage to Voodoo.

But I also saw hope.

I saw a church that is growing. Believers who are becoming more and more mature in the faith. Children who were campers at Jacob's Well, making their faith their own and growing up to become counselors and leaders.

I saw joy. People filled with the joy of the Lord so that, no matter what their circumstances are, they continue praising His name.

I saw the love of Christ in Haiti and in His children there. There is hope for Haiti and it rests in Jesus Christ.

One night, after we finished working, we hiked up a portion of the Mountain behind the campsite. Two of the team members brought their guitars and we sang praise songs far into the night. A small tarantula scare did nothing to disturb the worshipful attitude - after the team got a good look at the tarantula, we relocated it in my baseball cap (not on my head at the time!).

While we were singing, the moon finally appeared through the clouds and lit up the whole countryside in a pale white glow. None of us had our cameras on us at the time, but it didn't matter because no camera would have been able to capture the beauty of the moment.

There, worshiping God on a mountain in Haiti with a group of faithful fellow believers, I felt the presence of God so clearly. A true mountain-top experience.

In Haiti, I saw God working. In the good times and in the bad. I saw God using Jacob's Well to make a difference.

Posing for a team picture with the village children.

I'm thankful for each member of the team. We had a lot of work to do and everyone cheerfully jumped into each and every task. I didn't hear a single word of complaint. Even when the weather "turned against us" and started dumping buckets of rain! Even in that God's loving hand was visible - the rain held off while we ran the day camp for the children and shortly after they left for the night, it started pouring! All of the team members exhibited true godly character and it was a blessing being with them for the past ten days!

I'm thankful for the privilege to go and be apart of God's work in Haiti and I hope to go back someday soon!

Thank you all for your prayers!

Off to Haiti!

2012-01-02T12:12:00.005-06:00

View of Haiti from the air!

Well, I’m off! We will be flying out tomorrow and coming back ten days later. I'm really excited about this trip and can't wait to see what God is going to do!

I would appreciate your prayers! Please pray for safety as we fly down to Haiti, for the day camp we'll be running, the children who will come to camp (that their hearts will be open to hear God's word) and for their families back home!

I think my biggest prayer request is that all of us on the team will be open to God's leading. It's good to go with plans ready, but I pray that we will not be so focused on what we think needs to be done that we miss the opportunities God has for us!

I pray for opportunities to be a light for Christ in the airport, in the airplane, and in Haiti itself!

So, expect to hear exciting stories about Haiti when I get back!

Coming up in the next few months on my blog will be more book reviews, several exciting forays into the Academy of Ultimate Villainy (shhh!), writing posts, and a TOP SECRET new type of post that I'm going to be unleashing upon the world for the first time! Be sure to check back in!

Hope you had a Happy New Year! Looking forward to see what 2012 has in store!

Villiany 102 - 5 things every villain should do!

2011-12-29T09:24:00.000-06:00

Editor's Note: Welcome back from the Holidays! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! And that you didn't spend Christmas like me, dodging down black alleys, hiding in trashcans, and sneaking around in a coat and ski mask, all so that I could obtain the following transcript from my top secret double agent currently undercover at the Academy of Ultimate Villainy.

It was harrowing. But I survived that 3 story fall from the rooftop into the dumpster and (most importantly!) the briefcase with the precious transcript remained intact!

Here is installment number two from the A.U.V on Villainy 102.

Ladies and gentlemen, students, sub-villains, villains, and arch-villains, and any evil henchmen too dull to read the "no evil henchmen permitted" sign on the door, welcome to Villainy 102!

Once again our illustrious Instructor of Villainy has returned safe from battling heroes and their sickening good causes, to speak on the FIVE things a villain should employ to achieve Ultimate Villainy. Pay attention like evil little villains and learn from the worst of the worst! Our dastardly villainous Instructor!

*raucous applause*

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, may I say what a terrible pleasure it is to be here this evening! Ahem. No cameras, if you please. Pictures are absolutely forbidden. Violators will be fed to the dragon!

Now, to begin. 5 things a villain should employ to achieve Ultimate Villainy.

1. Mystery

Mystery is the key to evil villainy. Now, I know that you will recall from our last session that I warned against the dangers of the grandiose speech and info download, and said that silence was key to villainy. Mystery outranks silence.

There are two forms of mystery which may be employed by the astute villain.

The first is in regard to planning. You must maintain mystery in regard to your evil plots and devious plans. Do not speak your plans aloud - you can see how this is tied to the speeches, do you not?

Heroes are the worst eavesdroppers in the world! Many a poor villain has spouted off the particulars of his plan in what he thought was the privacy of his secret lair, only to discover too late that he had company! You may have the most elaborate security system in the world, the best guard dog, the finest trip wires, and a state of the art alarm system. Regardless, the heroes will get in, and they will overhear, and you will die.

Seriously? This just begs to read!

So, don't speak your plots aloud. Don't write them down. And never, ever, leave top secret files lying around. Or passwords already typed into computers. Seriously? Better yet, don't store your top secret plans on the computer. Heroes are excellent hackers.

In fact, it's best if you don't even think your brilliant plans. Authors are mind readers. And as we've already said, authors are always ALWAYS on the heroic side. Keep your plans a mystery!

The second aspect of mystery employed by dastardly clever villains is the mystery of identity! On the whole, we villains are a terrifying breed. Men quake at the merest whisper of our names. Identity and reputation is everything. There are some, however, of a less fear inspiring sort (or those who wish to keep their identities hidden for nefarious purposes) who must resort to other methods. A mysterious identity is the thing for these villains.

3 steps to achieving a mysterious identity:

1) Forget your own name. It is no longer yours. You have a new name. There is some controversy over whether a mysterious villain should suggest his own name or leave it to the terrified commoners to supply. I have seen many a poor mysterious villain labeled with the ignoble epithet of Bigfoot or Boogeyman due to bystander ignorance and lack of creativity. Generally, I find it best to use one of those random Villain name generators available on the Internet.

2) Choose a wardrobe - preferably something dark and scary. Ordinarily, I am in favor of a wide range of colors for Villains (black is so cliched!). However, when it comes to Villains maintaining a mysterious identity, dark colors are necessary to inspire the proper fear and elusivity. Ski masks, eyes masks, hooded robes, black top hats, walking sticks, strange face painting jobs, etc. are considered absolutely necessary accessories. If you are in need, contact our Villainous Wardrobing department to acquire these basic necessities.

Mysterious Graduates of the Academy of Ultimate Villainy
Class of '99

3) Work out. I'm sorry, one does not become a Top Villain by sitting on the couch and munching on cheese curls. Prospective mysterious villains must take evil ninja lessons. You must be able to appear and disappear like a flash. Here and there. Now then gone. Like a shadow. Or a big black butterfly flitting from place to place. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I know that "butterfly" is a taboo word. Bat then. A big black bat.

4) A bonus one! I'm really too generous for my own good. A mysterious villain must strive for unpredictability. Spontaneity is necessary. Rule of thumb: Never show up when expected, and always show up when not expected.

*door bursts open and black clad figure rushes across stage, pauses to bow to the audience, and disappears in a flash, bang, and cloud of smoke.*

Ah yes, the Black Phantom. Excellent, isn't he?

2. Sinistry

Yes, I invented the word. No, don't summon the linguistics or grammar police! I doubt they would care to show up here anyway.

Villains get such a bad name in regard to sinistry. The villains portrayed in modern television shows as supposedly dark and sinister are scarcely more than bumbling idiots prancing around in black robes, throwing in an evil chuckle now and then (horrors!) and utterly failing in the department of sinistry!

A true villain should be sinister. Not merely frightening. But soul shattering, knee quivering, lip tremblingly sinister. How does one attain sinistry? By attending my classes of course! Sinistry is often tied to mystery. The unspoken word, the all-knowing look, and the foul smirk all add to sinistry, and unfortunately, the grandiose speech does not.

Villains often use physical tools or appearance to achieve a sinister impression. What is more sinister than Captain Hook's hook? Or Darth Vader's creepy breathing? Admittedly, the movies did not give full justice to Captain Hook or Darth Vader. If the common humans ever met the real villains! Pray excuse me a truly evil chuckle as I contemplate the incident.

3. Insanity

It has often been said that there is a fine line between genius and insanity. Never was a truer word spoken. Villains are geniuses. We are also often insane. And proud of it! Insanity coupled with power inspires fear and terror in the hearts of men like nothing else.

In fact, this route to ultimate villainy has proved so effective throughout history that many villains - regardless of their mental stability - claim insanity and act insanely in order to further their own reputations. Insanity also gives the villain a slight advantage. Who can help but pity a madman? And who can hold a madman wholly culpable for his insane acts?

As I mentioned last time, unless you have received complete and adequate training in the true evil laugh (as of course, I have!), the insane approach is the only time when an evil laugh may be usefully and most fearfully employed.

4. The Miserable Backstory *sob*

"But I didn't ask to be like this. It was my poor upbringing. It was my miserable childhood. It was my abandonment at the age of three that embittered me. It was the author's fault. It was anyone or anything but me!"

The miserable backstory. Make the most of it. Tell it wherever you can. Even if you have to make it up on the spot. Every evil villain has a miserable backstory. Nowadays, when commoners are more concerned about motivation and psychology than criminals actually taking responsibility for wrong doing, it is easy for the sagacious villain to pass the buck.

An evil villain is often called upon to drop the Miserable Backstory at a moment's notice, so I suggest writing it out beforehand and memorizing it until you can say it effectively. A few tears work wonders. And that terrible little catch in your voice when you talk about "Mumsie dear's piteous end!" will catch the hero off guard every time.

Heroes are tough in battle, but incredible softies when it comes to actually pitying people. The Miserable Backstory will work every time! It is also an excellent way to engage reader sympathy and interest. Once the reader is emotionally involved, the battle is half won!

And once the hero falls for the sob story, victory lies but a quick blow away!

5. ---

But wait, before I introduce my next topic and while I am still on the topic of victory, I must... yes, I must make one disclaimer. Bear with me.

A villain strives for victory, but a villain should not expect to win.

*the crowd erupts* What? Lies! Treachery!

Silence. Silence. Cease this uproar immediately! Villains are doomed to failure. It's a hard fact to swallow, but it is all too true.

Heroes have omniscience on their side. The authors know everything. Why, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there are authors listening in right now.

[Editor's note: You can be sure that when I read this I was glad that I wasn't there! I shudder to think what might have happened to an author caught eavesdropping in the Academy of Ultimate Villainy!]

Booooo! Hisssssss! He's a hero-friend! Kick him out!

Hear me out! I'm simply stating the truth. And then there's something about this age old battle of good against evil, light against darkness, that keeps cropping up in so many fantastical and fictional works. Something about evil going to be destroyed forever. It's depressing, but villains must not be dismayed! Instead, we must...

BOOOOOOOO!

Double-crosser!

Traitor!

TAKE HIM TO THE DRAGON!

What? No. You can't do that to me! *static on radio* Red Alert. Riot in subterranean room 112, class Villainy 102! Send backup. Please! Ahhhhh!

[Editor's Note: At this point in time, my contact thought it prudent to slip away before the building collapsed beneath the villainous tumult. Sadly, I therefore do not know what became of the evil Instructor of Villainy, what number 5 was going to be, or whether I will be able to obtain any more transcripts from the Academy of Ultimate Villainy or not.

Before I dare to attempt such a desperate course of action as infiltrating the A.U.V again however, I would like to know your opinion on the value of such a Villainous commentary. Is it worth the risk? Please leave a comment and let me know!]

Villainy 101 - 10 things every villain should avoid!

2011-12-21T12:35:00.003-06:00

Having trouble writing that desperately villainous character?

Here are ten things every villain needs to avoid - from the mouth of the greatest villain the world has ever known! [Editor's note - I snuck into the Academy of Ultimate Villainy last week for the lecture on Villainy 101 and barely managed to escape with my life and notes! Enjoy!]

Welcome to Villainy 101. Those of you gathered here are some of the world's most promising students of villainy. You are here to learn from the best.

Your instructors (whose names will remain anonymous to preserve the element of suspense and secrecy that every good villain employs) are renowned as the world's greatest, most nefarious, dastardly, and malevolent practitioners of all things treacherous, deadly, and self serving. If the heroes knew that this gathering were taking place, they would undoubtedly launch an attack attempting to destroy the pinnacle of villainy forever!

Such an attack would fail of course, because we have taken every precaution, placing the most desperately evil henchmen in our employ at every available entrance and exit except the cat door which is so small no hero could possibly use it for entry...

Ahem, thank you Mr. Speaker. Let's proceed shall we? Ten things a villain should avoid.

1. Grandiose speeches - Mr. Speaker has provided us with several good examples in his opening remarks of this common villainous fault. We all know that evil villains are wholly self centered. We love to hear ourselves speak - after all, we are the greatest people in the world! Who better to listen to?

This tendency, however, can become dangerous, if we allow ourselves to get too carried away. The history of villainy is full of the epitaphs of noble villains who when poised on the threshold of victory were carried away by their own eloquence and allowed the protagonist to escape! As an evil villain, you must hold back the tide of rhetoric until the opportune moment.

2. The info download - Mr. Speaker was also villainous enough to demonstrate this error for us today. "Such an attack would fail, of course, because we have taken every precaution..."

Authors (good *shudder* people that they are!) often assign to villains the unenviable task of blurting out the most obvious sorts of hints and telltale giveaway signs to advance the plot.

Often the info download is encased in a grandiose speech. Avoid both at all costs. The info download is the author's less than subtle method of informing both the reader and the protagonist of every detail of your villainous plot/fortress/or defense mechanisms. The golden rule of villainy is silence!

3. "I'm going to kill your girl friend!" Oh please. Not again. If there ever was a more overused villainous tactic, I have yet to hear of it. The essence of evil villainy is creativity. If you can't think of anything more creative than threatening the hero's love interest, then you belong in the ranks of dimwitted evil henchmen not at the head of the line. Enough said.

4. "Well, well, well. What have we here?" Is there something sinister about this repetition? Well, well, well... If one of you graduates of this villainous academy ever uses this insipid line, I shall personally pay you an unpleasant visit, burn your diploma, and subject you to the most painful and regrettable punishments that a student of villainy can imagine.

5. The C.C.C. - Clever Comeback Combat - Never ever engage the hero in a clever comeback challenge. It does not matter how many degrees you have earned in evil wit and insultery, the hero will always be wittier, cleverer, and sharper.

Settle down there. Order. Order, if you please! The next person to interrupt gets sent to the dragon!

Now, the art of short sharp comebacks belongs to the author who inevitably bestows it upon the hero, not the villain. According to the 2011 Authorial Manual, authors are simply not allowed to endow the villain with clever comebacks.

And try as we might, no manner of threatening has yet induced the author to give up the clever comeback key. You simply must accept it as a fact of life and remember to never engage in a clever comeback combat. Inevitably, the hero uses c.c.c. as a distraction and it is a short step and a drop kick from there to utter ruin!

6. Gloating - Naturally, we take pleasure in victory. Having succeeded against all odds - the authors are out to get us, you know - the moment that triumph is at hand, we cannot help but gloat!

However, the number one rule of gloating is don't gloat until the hero is good and dead... and buried for a week. Heroes are a tenacious breed. They are capable of getting out of the worst possible scrapes and surviving situations and blows that would down you or me in a minute...

I said no more interruptions! I know, I know, it's not fair.

Authors play favorites. And villains, unfortunately, are always handed the short end of the stick! So until you are absolutely, positively, without a shadow of a doubt, convinced that the hero and all of his (or her) friends are dead, then you must refrain from gloating in victory!

7. The evil chuckle - This is almost more cliched than threatening the hero's girl friend! "I'm going to destroy the entire world and you can't stop me, mwhahaha!"

Seriously. Who laughs like that? There are very few villains who can carry off a true evil laugh without sounding like a Disney wantabe villain. Unless you are utilizing the insane approach, DO NOT LAUGH! This is yet another technique employed by authors to make villains appear less than we are.

8. "Look behind you..." *shudders* This single line predicts woe and disaster for the villain. There are two common courses of action employed when the hero suddenly pulls this grenade from his pocket. Both should be avoided.

The first is simply to scoff. The hero is using a distraction technique. Just ignore him. This will likely get you killed. Heroes know that we know this is a distraction technique and have long since abandoned it as such. In fact, they have removed it from the Hero's Handbook of Subtle Trickery and Deceptive Distraction!

So, the second option is to believe that the hero is telling the truth (I know it seems ridiculous, but heroes seem to like that sort of thing, for some reason!) whereupon the only course of action is immediate and unconditional surrender. This will likely get you killed as well.

Therefore, I suggest another option. The instant those lines come out of the hero's mouth, shoot him, stab him, whatever... Just kill him. Then employing evasive maneuver 3, stop, drop, and roll, and come up shooting whatever assailant was behind you. The key to success in this action, is speed!

9. Evil henchmen - If ever there was a dark blot on the history of villainy, it was on those who fill the ranks of evil henchmen. Why is it, that there are so many dumb evil henchmen? One would think - statistically speaking - that the hero would get a dumb sidekick every now and then, and a really clever man would choose to enlist in our ranks!

As an evil villain, your responsibility is to choose carefully who you allow in your employ. The destruction of the world rest upon your hiring decisions! Demand resumes, check references, use I.Q. Tests!

And make sure that your evil henchmen can fight! Most evil henchmen have no more fighting skills than a wet noodle! Utilize rigorous training techniques. Instruct your men in the art of war, strategy, and treachery. And if ever the phrase, "Duh, I don't know," emits from the mouth of one of your men, send him to the dragon!

10. The Elaborate Trap - I know that when one has little to do besides plan the destruction of the world, the death of all who stand in the way, and one's own subsequent aggrandizement, it is easy to become carried away in planning ridiculously elaborate traps for the hero.

Trust me.

You think this looks like an innocent little obstacle course?
Think again... Mwahahhaa!

Elaborate traps are doomed to failure. No matter how many hours you have spent in diagramming or how many engineers you have employed, the hero is always instantly able to spot the single trip wire that can be undone or the one bolt that will cause the whole thing to fall apart.

Believe it or not, but in studying the annals of villainy, I have discovered that the single event responsible for the failure of most elaborate traps is that the villain suddenly decides that, much as he would like to watch the hero being blown to bits, his plot is so time sensitive that he has to leave to bring the final pieces into place. Not only that, but all of the guards have to come with him. The few guards who are left behind inevitably fall to either drink or fighting, and the hero escapes without breaking a sweat!

This is an insult to the evil name of villainy. No elaborate traps, if you please. Beheading, the firing squad, and the fire pit are all sure methods of dispatching of the hero. But if you must employ an elaborate trap, then at least stick around to make sure it works!

Ah, yes, thank you evil Villain Instructor (whose name shall remain anonymous) for your inspiring speech. Alright class, tune in next time to hear Villainy 102 and your villainous instructor speaking on what a villain should do!

A Rip Roaring High Seas Adventure!

2011-12-12T12:25:00.002-06:00

Set sail on a rip roaring adventure on the high seas! From the blue Caribbean to the wild North Atlantic, follow Captain Declan Ross and the fierce (but loveable) crew of the William Wallace. Originally forced to turn to piracy, Declan Ross seeks enough wealth to leave behind the so called “sweet trade” and settle down ashore with his daughter Anne.

Anne, however, does not share her father’s desire. To top it all off, the Wallace is short of supplies, leaking water, and caught in the hunting grounds of the worst pirate in history: Bartholomew Thorne. It couldn’t get much worse, right?

Until the discovery of a brutally beaten lad abandoned on an island, a fateful fight against Thorne’s second in command and a strange meeting with an even stranger Priest result in Declan Ross and the Wallace ranking number one on Thorne’s most wanted list. A desperate race to find the legendary treasure of Constantine could give Ross the wealth he seeks. If Thorne doesn’t find it first…

When Wayne Thomas Batson's book Isle of Swords came out several years ago, I literally devoured it - flipping from page to page as fast and as long as I could! So, I figured it was high time I wrote a review. [Look for more reviews of Batson’s books in the future to celebrate the release of his newest novel – The Errant King, book 2 in the Dark Sea Annals.]

True to form, Isle of Swords opens with a bang. Writers often talk about putting their characters into the worst possible situations and letting them work their way out again. Batson leaves nothing to be desired in this respect. From the start, there is absolutely no doubt as to what is at stake.

Batson’s characters fairly jump off the page. Determined Declan Ross, headstrong Ann, and poor Cat who can’t even remember his own name! Not to mention the fierce Red Eye who can’t seem to collect enough weapons or Nubby (named for the stump of his missing arm) who serves as the Wallace’s cook and whose favorite dish is Iguana Stew.

Isle of Swords is a story full of color and spice that will whisk you out of your chair and transport you to the swaying deck of a ship or drop you into the overarching palms and thick underbrush of a muggy jungle. Quick paced action, vivid settings, and characters you can’t help but love, make Isle of Swords a story well worth reading. Recommended for readers 12+.

Anyone else read it? Leave a comment with your thoughts! :)

CSFF Blog Tour - Corus the Champion Day 3

2011-12-07T09:07:00.003-06:00

Today

An Epic Duel

Between

Fflewddur Fflam and Cruedwyn Creed

Yesterday, in mentioning briefly some of the parallels between D. Barkley Briggs’ Legends of Karac Tor series and Lloyd Allexander’s Chronicles of Prydain, I was struck with the apparent similarities between two key characters – Fflewddur Fflam and Cruedwyn Creed.

Although Fflewddur Fflam holds the lofty position of King in his home kingdom, he has somewhat of an itchy foot and often takes to the road as a bard armed with his magical harp. Fflewddur, unfortunately, is somewhat prone to… expanding… the truth.

'tis a habit that his magical harp works hard to break him of. As he stretches the truth, the harp strings stretch, and eventually break depending on how elaborate the lie. Fflewddur spend more of his time repairing the harp than actually playing it, although he is a great musician when he gets the chance to perform… as he would be more than happy to tell you himself! He would no doubt go on to tell you of his renown as a swordsman and his ability to put to flight any twenty men who attack him at once. *twang* Oh dear, there goes another harp string!

Although also a bard, Cruedwyn Creed does not own a magic harp. His is a more deadly weapon - a magic sword that glows red hot and burns the owner whenever he tells a lie. Like Fflewddur, Cruedwyn is fond of exaggeration – purely for the sake of a good story, of course – and his hand becomes a mass of blisters from the burning retribution of his blade. However, Cruedwyn is as adept with his blade as with his tongue and often puts his sword to more noble use than that of a personal lie detector!

For those of you who have read both the Chronicles of Prydain and the Legends of Karac Tor, which character do you like more?

Given Fflewddur Fflam’s and Cruedwyn Creed’s various strengths and weaknesses, if they were to have a dueling match, who do you think would win?

The lines are set.

The combatants ready.

Swords drawn, teeth set, eyes determined.

The trumpet sounds!

“Let the contest begin!”

[Editor's note: If you're interested in reading more about Cruedwyn Creed and Fflewddur Fflam, check out D. Barley Brigg's post on the matter: A Character Named Creed]

CSFF Blog Tour - Corus the Champion Day 2

2011-12-06T11:23:00.000-06:00

The Peoples and Creatures of Karac Tor

In fantasy, the creatures and people are just as important as the world they inhabit. To fill the vast world he has created, D. Barkley Briggs gathers together an equally large and diverse cast of creatures and people. Rather than relying on the fantastical creatures that have risen to the clichéd forefront of fantasy novels such as elves, dwarves, and dragons, Briggs both creates his own and reverts back to ancient legend for inspiration.

During today’s CSFF blog tour post, I’d like to explore a few of these creatures. There is not time to go through all of them, and I have not necessarily picked the most important ones, but rather the creatures that interested me the most.

Gorse

Having grown up around horses, naturally, I am interested in these. In the book, gorse are described as a “mixed breed of mountain goat and wild mustang . . . shaggy haired, agile, strong,” (Corus the Champion, page 386). They are strong willed, though not as large or fast as horses, and incredibly nimble.

I’m having a hard time picturing a half goat/half horse creature, but I’m sure it would be quite fascinating and perfect for mountainous country! A wonderful blend of speed, strength, and agility.

The Goths

Some truly frightening fellows! The Goths are formed in a cauldron deep in the pits of Angwyn. A frightful blend of dirt, water, sawdust, bones, and iron, the Goths are fashioned for one purpose: to destroy.

From inside the cauldron arose a crumbling beast of earth and bone. It was man-shaped, but faceless, bulging with nondescript features. It had a rough outline of head, torso, arms, legs. A cavity of ribs was clearly visible along its midsection. Lurching to its feet, dripping mud, it showed a gaping maw and a jagged mess of copper nails for teeth. A noise came from its mouth, a sound like the movement of wind through winter-crusted leaves – a gasping, nothing sound. The beast stood eight feet tall, looked as thick as a tree. It had no eyes. (Corus the Champion, page 15).

Has anyone else read Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain? Sound like the “cauldron-born” to you? Many aspects of the Legends of Karac Tor (the horned king, cauldron born, etc.) seem remarkably similar to the Chronicles of Prydain and there is a very simple reason: both Alexander and Briggs drew upon ancient Welsh mythology from the Mabinogen to form their tales. Quite fascinating really!

According to the description, the Goths were quite frightful too look at, but the creepiest thing about is the terrible gasping noise they make. In another place, Briggs describes it thus, “Two sounds preceeded them: the heaviness of their feet striking the earth and waves of high, lonely, sighs. It was the sound a man might make who has just lost everything – a desperate, disbelieving strain of air,” (Corus the Champion, page 387).

*shiver* I would not like to meet one of them!

The Fey

These faeries are a far cry from the loveable fairy godmothers heralded in children’s story books! No Tinkerbells in this lot. The Fey are selfish, proud, often dangerous, and desperately beautiful beings. They love to manipulate humans for their own ends and seem to view humans as a sort of lesser life form.

picture by Kinuko Craft

“Humans were strange creatures. Weaker and more powerful, both. Strange, beastly lumps of earth – to be avoided at all costs, unless safely made captive,” (Corus the Champion, page 125).

Once again, Briggs seems to revert back to older legend here rather than modern notions concerning fairies. In antiquity, fairies were often associated with all sorts of mischief and trouble rousing. Fairies were beautiful creatures but perilously so. Problems arose whenever mortals and fey met. I can’t help thinking of Shakespeare’s classic play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where the mischievous Puck is responsible for all of the plot twists and turns which result in such a hilarious story.

I suppose that's not a very good example though, since neither the fairies of legend nor those in Corus the Champion were always so good natured nor was their meddling always harmless. In Corus the Champion, the fey are often blamed for butter, crop, and well failure though far worse often befalls the unhappy mortal who strays into the Fey Haven and falls prey to their magic!

The other fascinating creatures and characters of Karac Tor that we do not have time to explore include the gnomes, bird men, and the horrendously evil Horned Lord. To find out more about them, I suppose you will have to read the book!

Be sure to check out the other participating blogs!

CSFF Blog Tour - Corus the Champion Day 1

2011-12-05T09:07:00.009-06:00

Corus the Champion is the second book in D. Barkley Briggs Legends of Karac Tor Series.

When the four Barlow brothers Hadyn, Ewan, Gabe, and Garret, first discovered an ancient runestone in their backyard, they became caught up in the fate of another world, Karac Tor, where mystery and legend sprang to life. Though still reeling from the desperate combat against the evil witch Nemesia – recorded in the first book, the Book of Names – Karac Tor now faces an even greater danger. In the icy north, darkness stirs and evil musters a massive army to destroy mankind.

Perhaps evil can be defeated once again if only Corus, the missing champion, can be recovered in time to find and awaken the legendary sleeping King. A King could unite Karac Tor against evil. A King could restore peace.

The four brothers, who have been specially gifted in this strange world, join forces with the people of Karac Tor to find Corus, spread the alarm, and find the sleeping King before evil unleashes its deadliest force yet.

* * * *

Unfortunately, I seem to be making a habit out of reading second books prior to first books! It’s quite sad really. I find it steals so much from the ability to enjoy a book to the fullest. However, I had the opportunity to read an in-depth synopsis of the first book and now I can’t wait to read The Book of Names. To anyone thinking about reading this series, definitely read the first book first!

The first thing that struck me about Corus the Champion was the breadth of the fantasy world D. Barkley Briggs created. In a flavorful mixture of new and familiar, Briggs weaves together ancient English, Welsh, and Norse myth and legend with new interpretation and a fresh fantasy setting.

Briggs’ fantasy world feels real and huge. It is not simply a map scribbled on paper to fit the story, rather the story seems based on the map of an actual country full of diverse settings and characters.

The plot kept me interested in the story to the very end. I especially loved the blend of legend and new story. It was familiar enough that I was not wholly lost – even jumping into the second book – but original and new so that I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

At times, I found it difficult to connect with the characters, especially when the point of view kept switching between the four brothers and Sorge. By the end though I had bonded with all of them, and eagerly await the opportunity to find out what happens next.

The author, however, often relied on narrative and telling to inform the reader about each of his characters. I noticed this most frequently in the beginning of the book. It is tempting to explain characters to the reader, but I found that the author's voice interjected into the natural flow of the manuscript jarred me from the story like hitting a rock in the middle of a stream. By the end of the book, this telling tendency seemed to fade a bit and I was drawn into the story so that I did not notice it as much.

Corus the Champion presents the epic story of four children from our world and their adventures in Karac Tor. Good fights evil, light – especially Trulight – battles darkness. Evil is presented as such - truly and wholly black - so I would not necessarily recommend this book as a readaloud for young children, but it’s a great fantasy read for teens and adults.

* * * *

Buy Corus the Champion or view the Author's web site.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review.

Be sure to check out the other reviews posted by participants in the CSFF blog tour:

Noah Arsenault
Beckie Burnham
Emmalyn Edwards
CSFF blog tour
Carol Bruce Collett
Theresa Dunlap
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Marzabeth
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

Returning to Haiti

2011-12-02T13:43:00.002-06:00

Last January, I had the chance to go on a mission's trip to Haiti! My team went to continue work on the first Christian youth camp in Haiti - Jacob's Well. The trip was amazing! I posted a daily travel log on my other blog Stars in the Universe after I got back.

Haitian campers listening to the Gospel in Creole!

Well, this year, I get to go back!

I'm a part of a team of about 26 from Frontier Camp - a Christian youth camp in East Texas where I've been working for the past 5 summers. Frontier Camp has been partnering with a Haitian pastor, Gersan Valcin, for the past six years to start Jacob's Well!

A huge percentage of the population in Haiti is under the age of 14 so this is a country where youth outreach can have a great impact! It's been amazing to see and hear about the change that the youth camp has already made in its village.

I'm so excited to go back! I'll be leaving January 3rd and coming back ten days later! It'll be amazing to see what God does in those 10 days - in my life, in the lives of the other team members, and in the lives of all those we meet in Haiti!

While we're down there, we will continue construction/work projects at the camp and run day and overnight camps for the village children. During those camp days, the children will have the opportunity to participate in safe and fun activities (like games, archery, crafts, etc.), as well as watch Bible Dramas, and learn about the Gospel.

I ask for your prayer for the team as we prepare to go, for our missionary friends the Valcins and the Vaughns who are currently serving in Haiti, for the Haitian people and all of the children who will be attending the camp!

"Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

Epic Hike, Clones, & Stars

2011-11-28T22:01:00.001-06:00

Epic Hike

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family. We went for an epic morning hike, then settled down for a traditional feast, ending with a wonderful Lord of the Rings movie night. Don't see the connection? Well, we were quite thankful that we were safe at home and not battling a horde of angry orcs and their Oliphant allies before the gates of Gondor!

Seriously though, we have so much to be thankful for! My all time favorite verse (or one of many!) is Psalm 116:7 "Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." Among the many things I am thankful for is my family and the wonderful time we had together. I am especially thankful for my parents who are a daily example to me of a godly life and who constantly encourage me with their love and wisdom!

Clones

In my "spare time" this fall, I had the opportunity to help Jill Williamson, author of the Blood of Kings Series, with a book trailer for her upcoming book Replication! It was quite fun and definitely piqued my interest in the book. I'm super excited about it and can't wait to read it now!

Here's the book blurb from Jill Williamson's website:

Someone is covering up multiple secrets…

Martyr—otherwise known as Jason 3:3—is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to “expire” in less than a month. To see the sky.

Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.

As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures—the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he’s ever known.

There are two trailers - one from Abby's perspective and one from Martyr's.

You can also see the videos on Jill's website here.

Stars

Wayne Thomas Batson, author of The Door Within Trilogy and numerous other books, is about to release the second book in the Dark Sea Annals Series - The Errant King. To celebrate this release, he has launched a massive Seek the Stars Contest on his blog Enter the Door Within.

Prizes include: a brand new Amazon kindle, your very own star named after you (fascinating, right?), ebook downloads, and the chance to become a Books-for-Life Guild Member and receive a free signed copy of every book he writes! Very nice!

For information on how to join the Quest, click here. The contestants work in teams trying to earn points while spreading the word about Mr. Batson's books. I'm the "Founder" of Constellation Team 4. So, if you're interested, you can join my team and we can work together!

The Errant King is the second book in the Dark Sea Annals Series. A while back, I wrote a review of the first book Sword in the Stars. Here's a link to the review if you care to read it: Sword in the Stars Review!

As far as my own writing goes, I'm still plugging away and waiting until the end of the semester to gain some real headway!

Why Write?

2011-11-18T14:15:00.002-06:00

Why write? Aren’t there more important things to do with your time?

I will admit that I have asked myself this question many times. As a young person, I have my whole life ahead of me. The decisions I make now will likely affect the rest of my life, guiding who I become and where I go. I want my life to have meaning and purpose, to accomplish something. Ultimately, I want to live a life that glorifies God and honors Him. I want to be where He wants me and where He will use me.

So, what is so important about writing?

I believe that what we read often shapes how we think and who we become. Growing up, I wanted to become like the heroes I read about. Of course everyone wants to be a hero and save the world, but it was more than that. :) I did not want to just accomplish heroic deeds (though that definitely was a part of it), but I knew that heroic deeds were the result of a character cultivated in peace as well as war. A hero is not only a hero while slaying the dragon and saving the day. The heroes I admired possessed the same selfless qualities while tending the farm or watching their sheep, long before the dragon showed up on the scene.

I wanted to be like those characters, not only in the moment of danger, but in the rest of my life too. Aragorn, Frodo and Sam, the four Pevensie children, and a host of others inspired me by their bravery, faithfulness, and hope. By their willingness to take a stand while the world crumbled around them. To lead when others fell back.

I find it interesting to note the differing trends in fiction writing. Forgive me for a rather generalized statement, but I have noticed that books written in the late 1800’s and earlier 1900’s presented main characters who exemplified character qualities including courage, a good work ethic, honesty, integrity, and a determination to do what was right regardless of the consequences. Sometimes these characters seemed almost too perfect and thereby less believable, more fantasy and less real life.

However, while modern fiction delights in presenting “realistic” main characters, warts and all, at times, it seems to glorify in the warts more than anything else. Often, not only are the warts glorified, they are exaggerated and extolled as virtues.

I found an extremely interesting article about the Twilight Saga on the Speculative Faith blog in which the article author, Amy Timco, mentioned the danger inherent in the truly sickening glorification of the twisted love between the two main characters Edward and Bella. The article sparked a host of comments and disagreement. I have not personally read these books and have no desire to do so – I’ve read more than enough reviews/articles on the subject matter to steer me far away.

But the article set me thinking. Why would we want to fill our minds with these ideas? Does no one see the danger in it? The people or characters that are presented as role models must be worthy of such a position. This is especially important in the case of young pre-teens and teens. The Twilight Saga is marketed for ages 12 and up. But are Bella and Edward good role models for young teens?

My goal is not necessarily to spark a Twilight argument in this post, but rather to point out the importance of good books that present characters and plots worthy of becoming a child’s (or teen’s) role model.

If it is true that what we read shapes how we think and often who we become, than what we read becomes critically important.

That is why I write. That is why I think that writing is important.

There are far too many books available that present twisted and warped views of the world. No author can write without a bias. Our worldviews are a part of who we are, bleeding into the story to form the unseen framework and foundation of plot, character, and theme.

Books can have a huge impact. The very nature of a story provides the opportunity to present either truth or falsehood in a unique and often more accessible form. Like any tool, writing can be either extremely dangerous or extremely useful. A sword possesses no power in and of itself, but in the hands of a wielder it can be used for either great good or great harm.

I write first of all because I love to. I believe that God has gifted me and I want to honor Him with that gift. But I also write because it offers me a chance to present truth within a compelling story and perhaps impact the reader, in however small a way.

Teens are going to read books. The question is: what are they going to read?

Called Out of Bondage

2011-10-06T09:37:00.001-05:00

“Moses! Moses!”

Moses set aside his papyrus scroll with a sigh as the tent flap burst open and two men, still covered with the dust of travel, entered. “What is the matter, Joshua? Caleb?”

“It’s the people, Moses,” Joshua said. “They’re rebelling.”

“Not again,” Moses grumbled. He stood, stretching his aching limbs.

“They want to go back to Egypt,” Caleb said. “They’re afraid because of the report the spies brought back…”

“A foolish report!” Joshua interrupted. “Who are we to doubt the word of the One True God? He has promised us the land and we can take it if we will obey Him!”

“No need to preach to me, Joshua.” Moses stifled a chuckle. “Come, let us meet with the Israelites and hear their complaints… again.”

As soon as Moses stood in the dark outside of his tent, he could hear the commotion. Weeping and wailing filled the night air. He followed Joshua and Caleb past rows of empty tents to the center of the camp where the entire community had gathered to mourn. Rumor of his arrival spread before him and the wailing turned to unintelligible muttering, until at last, the bolder complainants spoke up.

“Moses, why did you bring us here? If only we had died in Egypt! Or in the desert! Why did the Lord bring us here just to let us fall by the sword?”

“We cannot enter the Promised Land! We will be slain and our families taken as plunder.”

“We were better off in Egypt!"

"Why don't we go back? Back to Egypt!"

This statement met with thunderous acclaim as each man turned to his neighbor and phrased the question again, “Yes, why can’t we just go back!”

“Moses! Take us back to Egypt!”

Moses raised his hand for silence. It was long in coming, but at length he had his opening. “You know that I cannot take you back…”

It was as far as he got. “If you won’t take us,” a man surged to the front of the crowd, “then we’ll find a new leader who will!”

“Listen!” Joshua shouted. “Listen to me, people of Israel! Listen to what you are saying! The Lord is the One who brought us here! And it is a good place. I was one of the twelve spies who entered and explored the Promised Land. I know. I have seen it.”

Caleb stepped to Joshua’s side. “It is a land flowing with milk and honey. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into the Promised Land. It will be ours, if we obey. Only do not rebel against the Lord!”

“But what about the men of the land? The other spies said they were giants!” Another man shouted from the crowd.

“They are only men!” Joshua said. “We will swallow them up. Their protection is gone because the Lord is with us.”

“Yes, do not be afraid of them. The Lord is on our side!”

The man shook his fist at Joshua and Caleb. “I don’t want to fight any people, giants or otherwise. I want to go back to Egypt and I’ll kill any man who stands in my way!”

“Yes, back to Egypt!”

“Stone them! Stone them!”

(The actual account can be read in Numbers 14)

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Back to Egypt” was a recurring theme in the early days after the Israelite Exodus. Time and time again, whenever things seemed to get the least bit rough, the Israelites started complaining and begged to go back to Egypt. Forgetting the fact that they had been slaves and that Pharaoh ordered the death of their infant sons, the Israelites constantly sang the praises of their captivity: Everything was good in Egypt! We had plenty of food and water and we weren’t in danger of being killed by anyone!

The Israelites even went so far as to blame Moses for leading and God for bringing them out of Egypt to “die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 16:2-3) Although they witnessed the mighty power of the Lord in the ten plagues and again at the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites wanted to go back to their bondage rather than follow Him in faith.

It seems almost incomprehensible, does it not? Who would want to go back to captivity? Having escaped the chains, who would try to put them back on his wrists?

And yet, far too often, that is exactly what we do as well.

As the Israelites were called out of Egypt, we, as Christians, were called out of sin, out of this world. The Israelites were God’s chosen people. We are His chosen people as well (Colossians 3:12). God referred to the Israelites as His treasured possession (Exodus 19: 5). We are dearly loved.

But just as the Israelites sought to return to their chains in Egypt, we often seek again the chains of sin. We try to bind ourselves to the ways of this world, forgetting the freedom we have in Christ. In the same way that the Israelites glorified their captivity, we try to glorify the way the world does things. We want to look like the world. We want to fit in. But as the Israelites were a chosen nation, called to be set apart as God's people, we also are chosen individuals, called to be set apart as children of God.

Paul wrote in Romans 6:11: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

The Israelites did not count themselves dead to Egypt. Although they had been rescued from slavery by God and come into a covenant relationship with Him as His chosen people, they still retained a sort of twisted allegiance to Egypt. Egypt remained in their hearts. It was a sort of escape hatch: Oh well, if this doesn’t work out, we can always go back to Egypt!

Likewise, how often do we, as Christians, fail to count ourselves dead to sin, dead to the ways of this world? But going back to the world is not an option! Sin must have no hold in our hearts. Paul instructed the Christians in Rome to “…offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:13b-14)

Paul also wrote in Colossians 3:1-3 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

The Israelites had an Egypt-mindset. Too often, we have a World-mindset rather than a Christ-mindset. But we are called to be set apart from the world. Egypt was not the Israelites' true home. Neither is this world our true home. We, like, the Israelites are just passing through. We are sojourners in this world and we must not forget that. This world has a way of twisting the least important, most temporal things, and deceiving us into believing that they are truly worthwhile. But we must set our hearts and minds on things above. We must count ourselves dead to sin, dead to this world, but alive in Christ!

"For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14)

I love the picture in these verses: "Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So He subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron." (Psalms 107:10-16)

This is a beautiful song, written and performed by Andrew Peterson (author of the Wingfeather Saga). I couldn't help thinking of this song while writing this post.

~ A Servant of the King
To the praise of His glory

When Inspiration Flows... Write like crazy!

2011-10-02T23:03:00.001-05:00

Plodda Falls, Scotland

Sometimes inspiration flows like a river and it can be quite difficult to navigate and keep your head above water amidst the tumult of ideas and brilliant new storylines!

Today I summarized and wrote a basic outline for an entirely new three book series that I hope to actually have time to write some day! I'm so excited about it. My fingers are itching to start typing this new novel. But all in good time. For the past few weeks, the idea for yet another book has been growing in the back of my mind. With the manuscripts and ideas I’m working on right now, that makes a total of seven books that I cannot wait to write! At the moment, I’m jotting ideas down like crazy and storing them away in top secret locations until I have more time on my hands.

Unfortunately, while ideas are abundant at present (Thank you, Lord!), time is not so plentiful. College classes consume time and energy and are, I find, quite stifling to creativity. J I’m on fall break for the moment so I’ve been cramming in as much writing and riding and family time as I can around homework! Actually, I'm afraid I've been procrastinating and putting off homework until later. Unfortunately, that must stop tomorrow!

One thing that I have discovered over the past few weeks - or perhaps I should say rediscovered, after a year and a half off from school - is that paper writing is by no means comparable to manuscript writing and not nearly as fun! Although listening to the epic Gladiator soundtrack in some ways alleviates the pain of paper writing, I would much rather be in an epic sword fight to the death than attempting to slay paper assignments. For one thing, papers can be so elusive and lightweight that it is quite difficult to pin them down and finish them off!

So, at present, as far as writing goes, I’m working on a re-write of Song of Leira while planning out the second book in the series and storing ideas for future work! I’ve also been busy with some of the prep work to put together a book trailer for Out of Darkness Rising! Another exciting step! Life is quite an adventure! Which is a good thing, because it would be so incredibly sad if it were boring!

The Monster in the Hollows - CSFF Blog Tour Day 2

2011-09-20T21:54:00.001-05:00

The Plot:

Finally! A land free of Fangs! Well, almost...

After a harrowing journey across the Dark Sea of Darkness, the Wingfeathers arrive at last in the Green Hollows, safe and sound. But there is one slight problem. The Hollowsfolk make it very clear that Kalmar, now possessive of whiskers and a tail, is not welcome.

As the Throne Warden, Janner is pledged to protect his younger brother. In school, at home, on the playing field. Each day presents new challenges as he and his siblings adjust to life in the Hollows.

What is a Throne Warden to do when he doesn’t want to be the Throne Warden? And how does he protect a King who doesn’t want to be the King? Bullying classmates are the least of Janner’s troubles, however, for whispers of a monster in the Hollows threaten to bring the fear of the Fangs back into their new life.

~*~ ~* ~ ~*~

Since reading the first two books in the Wingfeather series, I eagerly awaited the release of book number three: The Monster in the Hollows. It was with a great sense of excitement and trepidation that I first cracked open the cover a few weeks ago and peered at the tale penned upon the pages within.

True to form, Andrew Peterson once again weaves a tale of incredible beauty and depth, wrought with themes of love, loyalty, family, and self-sacrifice.

Peterson’s characters talk and act true to life, so much so that at times it seemed like they were in reality, living breathing human beings who might at any moment step off the pages of the book and into my backyard. I half wished they would! Who wouldn't want a visit with Janner, Leeli, Kalmar, and Nia, not to mention ex-pirate Podo and dear Oskar Reteep? The Fangs, however, I am more than happy to leave inside the book!

The Monster in the Hollows presents a plot that is unique and original and resorts in many paper cuts from speedy page turning. While the action is not quite as intense and dark as in the previous tale, the story draws you in like a fish on a line until you are hooked and cannot get away. The last page left me longing for more and eagerly anticipating the arrival of Book 4: The Warden and the Wolf King!

The Beauty and Glory of Fantasy:

Since Peterson’s books have become some of my all-time favorites, I thought it would be worthwhile to explore just what quality these books possess that causes them reach that ranking. And it came down to something that I mentioned in my previous blog post: the story rings true.

The phrase “ring true” implies the testing of metal to check for soundness, like the striking of a bell to test for a pure note. Something that rings true reflects this soundness, this purity.

In my view, this is the absolute beauty and glory of fantasy and speculative fiction. The ability to take truth and present it in a different way. To reflect truth. To reflect the glory of God, His character, and His love, in ways that are new and unique and ultimately accessible. To reflect eternity.

It is like a glimpse of a star in the bottom of a well, pure crystalline beauty embedded deep in the shades of night. Although you cannot physically touch the star any more than you can when catch a glimpse of it in the night sky, it is closer and easier to see and understand, though you must not forget that it is just a reflection and not the reality itself!

In the same way, fantasy presents the opportunity to reflect great truths. And this property is what makes a story worth reading again and again and again!

CSFF Blog Tour - The Wingfeather Saga

2011-09-19T10:10:00.003-05:00

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree.

North! Or Be Eaten

Wild escapes. A desperate journey. And the ghastly Fangs of Dang.

The Monster in the Hollows

Sneakery. Betrayal. And the Deadly Secret of Chimney Hill.

Titles such as these promise adventures of epic proportions. Few books could live up to such titles. Or such descriptive subtitles. And yet, somehow, all three of Andrew Peteron’s books in the Wingfeather Saga do just that.

The Saga begins in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness…

Janner Igiby is just an ordinary boy, in an ordinary family, in an ordinary town, in an ordinary world… Except for the fact that the world is slowly being destroyed by the Nameless Evil, named Gnag the Nameless. And except for the fact that his town is patrolled by the slithering lizardly Fangs of Dang. And except for the fact that his father is dead, his grandfather is a pirate, and his mother appears to be hiding a deadly secret. And except for the fact that… well, that’s where the story begins.

Janner wants nothing more than to see more of Skree than the tiny town of Glipwood where Fangs rule, and toothy cows and horned hounds prowl through the Forest. A little excitement would be welcome in his hum-drum life spent studying his T.H.A.G.S (Three Honorable and Great Subjects), doing his chores, and caring for his siblings, Kalmar (Tink) and Leeli.

But Janner gets more excitement than he bargained for when a trip to town goes awry and he and his siblings end up with a posse of Fangs at their heels! Things go from bad to worse when a search for buried treasure reveals a treasure hoard that could cost Janner and Tink their fingers… if not their very lives. And from worse, things quickly approach the realm of nightmere, when the ghost of Brimney Stupe awakes, and the Fangs close in, and the Nameless Evil named Gnag the Nameless brings his search for the lost jewels of Anneria to Skree.

And continues in North! Or Be Eaten

Still reeling from the events of the past few days (as recorded in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness), the Igiby/Wingfeather family is forced to flee North to escape the evil Fangs of Dang. Accompanied by retired pirate Podo, book connoisseur (and appreciator of the Strange, Neat, and/or Yummy) Oskar N. Reteep, and Pete the Sockman, the Wingfeathers embark on an epic journey towards the distant Ice Prairies and the hope of a land that is free from the fear of Fangs.

Janner struggles to adjust to his newfound position as the Throne Warden and protect his family while fending off Fangs, ‘scaping from Stranders, dodging enemies in Dugtown, running from Ragmen, and the fearsome ferocity of the Fork! Factory! But even more dangerous than the perils of the road, is the threat of division with his own family! Can their hearts remain true to one another in the face of such difficulties?

And continues in The Monster in the Hollows:

Finally! A land free of Fangs! Well, almost... After a harrowing journey across the Dark Sea of Darkness, the Wingfeathers arrive at last in the Green Hollows, safe and sound. But there is one slight problem. The Hollowsfolk make it very clear that Kalmar, now possessive of whiskers and a tail, is not welcome. As the Throne Warden, Janner is pledged to protect his younger brother in school, at home, and on the playing field.

Each day presents new challenges as he and his siblings adjust to life in the Hollows. What is a Throne Warden to do when he doesn’t want to be the Throne Warden? And how does he protect a King who doesn’t want to be the King? Bullying classmates are the least of Janner’s troubles, however, for whispers of a monster in the Hollows threaten to bring the fear of the Fangs back into their new life.

Penny for your thoughts:

Book reviews are often criticized if they offer a purely positive viewpoint. However, in this instance, in order to give my honest opinion, I am compelled to do just that!

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, North! Or be Eaten, and The Monster in the Hollows form the first three books in the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. The Wingfeather Saga is more than a mere children’s story. Or perhaps it is simply the best of children’s stories! It is a tale of riveting adventure that will keep you turning pages. A tale of excitement, desperate escapes, battles, and hilarious characters that will capture your heart.

But it is also more than that.

It is a tale of great depth. It reaches into your heart and plucks the chord of understanding. You come away with a sense of longing. Knowing that there is something more. Something greater. That this world is not the end!

It is a tale that sings. Sings of grief, sorrow, the blackest moments of despair, hope eluded, escape in vain, then rising and spiraling higher, it sings of joy and courage, sacrifice, loyalty and above all the love of a family that binds them together through both comedy and tragedy.

It is a tale that rings true.

Since the day I first discovered Andrew Peterson’s books, they have occupied a prominent place on my shelves and in my heart. Although elements of the books can be scary for very young children, I would recommend them to anyone and consider them a necessary read for any lover of fantasy!

If you are interested, you can purchase the book here: Rabbit Room

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

Other warriors participating in the CSFF Blog Tour. Check out what they have to say over the next three days of the tour!

"http://tessbissell.wordpress.com/"

"http://quiverfullfamily.com/"

"http://www.oerkenleaves.blogspot.com/"

"http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/"

"http://csffblogtour.com/"

"http://www.scificatholic.com/"

"http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.amberfrench.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.thehahnhuntinglodge.com/"

"http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"

"http://fantasythyme.blogspot.com"

"http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.molcotw.blogspot.com/"

"http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.shannonmcdermott.com/?page_id=189"

"http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"

"http://thebookfae.wordpress.com"

"http://www.questwriter.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/"

"http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.sarahsawyer.com/blog"

"http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.bluerosesheart.blogspot.com/"

"http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/"

"http://www.mindsinger.com/"

"http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings/"

"http://www.epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php"

"http://frederation.wordpress.com"

"http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"

"http://www.theravenquill.blogspot.com/"

"http://finishedthebook.blogspot.com/ "

Writing Tip 1: The Conclusion of a Novel

2011-09-12T15:50:00.001-05:00

I suppose the conclusion of a novel is an odd place to start writing tips. And I really have no real reason for starting here… other than this is what struck me today!

In concluding your novel, there is one key thing to remember:

Land gently!

Imagine that you, the author, have taken your readers for a magnificent plane ride (or if you prefer the fantastical, like me, a Pegasus ride). On this ride, you have soared over snow crusted mountain peaks stabbing like needles to pierce the sky, swooped through dense forest thickets, and glided above crystalline mountain pools.

Your readers have witnessed beauty, good, and evil in concrete forms. Experienced joy and sorrow, loveliness and ugliness. Felt the thrill of victory only to understand the depth of despair and through it all the courage of endurance and faith.

And now at last, rounding a final mountain top, you approach your destination and… plunge to a screeching stop.

Wait a moment? What happened?

The conclusion of a novel is just as important as the first chapter, in my opinion. The first chapter whets the appetite, gains attention, and sets expectations. The last chapter fulfills them.

So, in concluding your novel, you cannot simply drop down like a helicopter and jar your poor readers! Descend slowly and gently. Prepare your readers to transition back to their own world.

A good conclusion leaves the readers satisfied, if not entirely satiated. Readers should finish reading both desiring more and content with what they have read. It is similar to eating a really good meal. At the end, you know that you have eaten enough but it tastes so good, your mouth wants more!

Note: I am not saying that ending with a cliff hanger is bad. I, to a certain degree, am a fan of cliff hangers. Just remember, even with a cliff hanger, that your goal is not to frustrate your audience! Intrigue but do not irritate them!

What are some books that you can think of that have both good and not-so-good conclusions?

Quick update on life: school is keeping me very busy so I haven't had much time to do some real writing, but it's been good! And just last week, I sent a newly revised version of Out of Darkness Rising off to the publisher along with the cover vote feedback so I'm waiting to hear back about that! :)

Out of Darkness Rising Cover Options

2011-08-27T21:56:00.000-05:00

Isn't it amazing how life moves along at the pace of a sluggish backwater swamp and then all of the sudden races along at the speed of a white water rapid? Right now, it feels like I'm caught in the midst of the rapids and it is a wild and thrilling ride!

The time has come to settle upon a final cover for my novella Out of Darkness Rising! Scott Appleton, the proprietor of Flaming Pen Press asked me to post two cover options here on my blog and gather reader votes on which is the preferred cover!

So, I'm asking all of you to glance over the two covers and vote on which cover you like the most. Which one would be most likely to stop and pick up if you saw it on the bookshelf? What catches your eye? I will put a poll in the right side bar of my blog, but feel free to leave a comment as well with your opinion! And please, get the word out. If you have any friends who enjoy reading, ask them to stop by and let me know what they think about the cover!

Your feedback is greatly appreciated! My goal this week: Finish re-editing Out of Darkness Rising (in between college classes of course) and continue work on editing Song of Leira!

OPTION A

OPTION B

The Story behind the Story

2011-08-23T01:24:00.002-05:00

And the Starting of a New Adventure...

(In which I announce some epically exciting news!)

I hope you enjoyed all the subtitles. I couldn't resist! In my last post, I promised you some very exciting news and here at last you have it:

Today I signed my first book contract!

Still tentatively titled Out of Darkness Rising, my novella is going to be published by Flaming Pen Press and is currently planned to be released in summer of 2012!

not my image (google images)

In October of 2009 I started a story. It was originally written for a short story contest and supposed to be limited to 1200 words. I hadn’t been writing for more than a few hours when I realized that the story I wanted to tell could not be adequately told in 1200 words, so I kept writing. And a few days later, I ended the story at 9,000 words, scribbled “the end” at the bottom of the page, and buried it in the dust bound trunk of my computer’s hard drive.

At the start of the summer of 2010, I rediscovered the story, blew away the dust, and discovered as I leafed through the moth-eaten pages, that there was still more to tell. So, I started rewriting and expanded the story with the goal of turning it into a novella. By October, after months of writing, rewriting, editing, and revising, I pronounced it “finished,” and having also spent the summer months researching publication, I sent a query letter to Flaming Pen Press.

Several months passed while I waited to hear back, and in the meantime, I started work on a new fantasy novel Song of Leira, and for a while I forgot about Out of Darkness Rising. In January, I went on a mission’s trip to Haiti and happened to share an excerpt from Song of Leira with one of my team members on the flight home. I had begun to feel discouraged about my writing, but she was so encouraging about it that I came home ready to dive once more into Song of Leira and finish the first draft. When I got home, however, there was another surprise awaiting me.

I received an email inviting me to submit the complete manuscript for Out of Darkness Rising to Flaming Pen Press. I hastily polished the manuscript and sent it off a few days later and then waited again…

About two months later, in March of 2011, I again happened to check my email one night and discovered a message informing me that Scott Appleton of Flaming Pen Press had decided to accept my manuscript for publication!

We spent the next few weeks discussing book titles and cover ideas, etc. Then I moved away to camp for the summer and only had computer access on the weekends, so further work was put on hold for a while. Finally, last Saturday, I received an email with the book contract attached! And now, after a few days of careful scanning and deliberation :) the contract is signed and sealed and en route to Flaming Pen Press!

signing the contract...

Needless to say, I am very excited about this! A dream come true! I know that there is a lot of work left to be done, but I'm looking forward to it! It is said that adventures oft' come in pairs and that certainly is the case in my life! This past year has been a series of adventures, one right after the other. And yet another adventure begins tomorrow: college!

Between one adventure and the next, I'm going to be very busy! But it is a good kind of busy! And I can't wait to see what's going to happen next. At times, life is like a wild stagecoach ride, but it's nice knowing that God has the reins and I can sit back and trust Him to steer things according to His perfect plan!

~ A Servant of the King

Out of Darkness Rising

For the villagers on the accursed Island, life has only one meaning: death.

Bound to the Island by the curse, the villagers suffer beneath the iron claw of the serpent, daily breathing the poison of his breath, and dying to appease his insatiable appetite. Darkness reigns unchallenged. With the constant threat of death looming over her, Marya lives the life of an outcast, longing for something more, yet scarcely daring to hope… until the stranger arrives. Kind, in a world of cruelty, unafraid in a place of terror, the stranger clearly is no ordinary villager; his footsteps echo with the forgotten lore.

Torn between legend and the harsh reality of the Island, Marya gradually begins to realize that everything she has ever known is only a small part of a greater tale, an ancient promise marching down through the centuries to ultimate fulfillment on the Island’s barren shore in a sword abandoned and arms opened wide… yet which will prove stronger, the promise or the curse?

Three and a Half Months Later...

2011-08-20T01:27:00.001-05:00

I'm back!

After 3 1/2 months (14 weeks, 98 days) at camp, I am home once more. The summer's ending is always a bittersweet moment. Camp is such a special place that it is always hard to leave. And this summer was so wonderful! It was challenging - at times difficult - but the Lord carried me through and taught me so much! And as much as I missed my family and am so excited to be with them again, I cannot imagine a better way to spend my summer than getting to work at camp, teaching campers to ride horses, and showing them the love of Christ!

It was and is such a blessing to work with and be surrounded by young people who are completely sold out for Christ and dedicated to living their lives for Him! Their service is a beautiful thing! I am so grateful to all of the staff for their sacrifice this summer and for their example of Christ's love!

Thank you for your prayers for this summer. The Lord has truly done great things in the lives of the campers and the staff! It is so refreshing to know that, even if we don't always see the immediate results all the time, His word does not come back void, and as long as we are faithful to do what He has called us to and to preach His word, He will take care of the rest!

Whew. I almost feel as if I have forgotten how to write coming back to the keyboard after such a long absence! But I am anxious to dig out Song of Leira and continue the lengthy rewriting process! I'm excited to get back to work on it. And... I have some rather exciting news. But more on that in my next post!

There you see... suspense! I put that in there on purpose! Now, you know you'll have to read the next post! :)

For now, I'm signing off. Bed is calling!

CSFF Blog Tour - The Ale Boy's Feast

2011-05-16T12:00:00.142-05:00

By the time that you are reading this, I will already be away working at camp! However, I knew I didn't want to miss out on this blog tour so I decided to review the book anyway and take advantage of my computer's intelligence to delay publishing the post until the desired date... today!

Review: The Ale Boy's Feast

In the Ale Boy's Feast, dark days have fallen on the Expanse. Danger besets House Abascar from every side. Enemies multiply, the curse grows, and to make it worse, the King has gone missing. One last hope remains: to find the ancient city and peace in which to rebuild a battered people.

But peace is more elusive than the Abascars first supposed. Will the answers they seek restore House Abascar or drag it down into further ruin?

The Ale Boy's Feast is the fourth and final book in the Auralia Thread. Starting with Auralia's Colors and continuing in Cyndere's Midnight, Raven's Ladder, and finally, The Ale Boy's Feast, author Jeffrey Overstreet manages to weave threads of intricate detail, complex plot, fully formed characters and a full-blown fantasy world into a magnificent tapestry worthy of Auralia herself.

Overstreet's writing reminds me of poetry - the words he chooses, his comparisons and descriptions. Such a writing style makes for a beautiful read. The Ale Boy's Feast is not a story that you can breeze through, rather, you must savor each glowing word in order to grasp the full taste. Given the complicated plot, The Ale Boy's Feast should not be read independently of the other three books.

Overstreet takes time to add flesh and bone to both main and minor characters. The choices the characters face do not always have an obvious right/wrong decision, nor do the characters always make the right choices. In this, they are true to life!

An imaginative tale that will at times leave you breathless with beauty, shocked with cruelty, and awed with the intricacy of the plot thread.

Given the nature of the fantasy violence that can be at times disturbing and the fact that some adult content is hinted at, not recommended for those under the age of 16.

Ordinarily, I would post a list of all the blog tour participants. But the list is not out yet since I'm writing this ahead of schedule. So, I've included a link to Rebecca LuElla Miller's blog where she will post the links and you can access the other reviews: http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/

Author's Website: http://lookingcloser.org/fiction/

If you're interested in purchasing the book, click HERE!

I must away ere break of day...

2011-05-14T01:36:00.000-05:00

"To seek the pale enchanted gold..." [The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien]

Wait? Where did that come from?

No, I'm not heading off on a journey to the Lonely Mountain - exciting as that would be! - I'm leaving to spend the summer as the head wrangler at a Christian youth camp! I've been doing this for the past five years and I love it! So, since my internet access will be limited to an hour or so on Saturday (I'll be busy working with horses and playing with kids the rest of the time) I probably won't be posting on here until August, save for a few random posts here and there as I have time! You never know when I'll pop in and surprise you! :)

All of us at camp would greatly appreciate your prayers this summer! If you would like to pray, there are some specific prayer requests below:

~ That the campers would come with hearts open to the word of God.

~ Safety for both staff and campers

~ That we would shower Christ's love upon the campers!

~ That we would honor one another above ourselves and come to camp ready to serve!

~ That we would make the most of every opportunity and have the boldness to present the Gospel at all times!

~ the Lord would do mighty things this summer!

Philippians 2:1-4 "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

I will see you again in August! Fare ye well until then!

~ A Servant of the King

Sword in the Stars

2011-05-13T20:37:00.000-05:00

Review: Sword in the Stars by Wayne Thomas Batson

When former assassin Alastair Coldhollow sees the legendary sword appear in the stars, he believes that his quest to proclaim the arrival of the Halfainin - the long promised hero - is about to be fulfilled. There's just one problem. He can't seem to find the Halfainin! Not only that, but he suddenly finds himself playing nursemaid to an abandoned baby. And to top it all off, the past he tried so hard to bury is slowly but surely catching up with him. Danger lurks over Myriad. Mysterious midnight murders and an enemy invasion lead to a kingdom that is arming for war. And yet, the greatest danger always comes from within...

Will the Halfainin arrive in time to save Myriad?

The title of this book and the premise captured my attention at once. I found the story engaging, the plot intriguing, and the action - in typical Batson style - kept the story moving at all times. Alastair, the main character, earned my sympathy and respect as he battled to free himself from his past.

The first in The Dark Sea Annals, Sword in the Stars comes to a satisfying conclusion while at the same time forcing you to wait in eager anticipation for the second. Batson builds a beautiful world and writes descriptions and battles that you can see as if on camera. Myriad is quite large, however, and at times I wished there had been a map so I could better picture what was going on.

The only difficulty I had while reading the book was keeping track of the vast number of characters from the nine different races of Myriad. While having to keep turning to the character sheet at the front of the book was distracting, it didn't take too much away from the actual story!

Recommended for anyone who loves an exciting fantasy tale filled with epic battles, creatures, betrayals, and victories! Rated 4 out of 5 stars!

A Challenge

2011-05-02T12:36:00.001-05:00

I have often thought about becoming a missionary one day – moving to a foreign land, renouncing all else to share the Gospel of Christ with those who are perishing, to truly dedicate my life to God’s service. I still don’t know whether that is what God will call me to do one day or not.

But it struck me recently, that the life of a missionary is not reserved for those who leave their own land to share the gospel. The sort of wholly dedicated to Christ, fully committed, sold out lifestyle is not reserved for foreign missions.

We are called to live that kind of missionary life here and now.

America is my home land. And America is as much in need of missionaries as any other country.

If you look at the rising number of divorces, children born out of wedlock, abortions, drugs, suicides, you can see that our own country is in desperate need of Christ… in desperate need of missionaries – people who will live a life fully committed to Christ and sharing the good news of salvation.

There are a lot of missions programs now in America that work to train up missionaries from foreign cultures to reach their own people. The idea is that those native missionaries know their own people best. There are no cultural difference, no language barrier, so they know the best way to present the gospel to their own people.

Well, we, as Americans, know our own culture best.

Now, I am not saying we should stop foreign missions! Not at all! I think foreign missions are a very good thing! But I think that America needs missionaries as well – people who are dedicated to living for Christ every day, and sharing His love and salvation with everyone around them.

What would it look like to live as a missionary in the U.S? To live like the Christians of the early church? To forsake all else every single day and follow Christ?

When you go to a foreign country as a missionary, you open your hands and acknowledge that all you have is God’s. Your resources, your belongings, even your life.

But do I do the same here at home? Or I keep a tight grip on my possessions, my pocket book, my time? “But God if I give that money to help that person then I won’t be able to afford such and such for myself… or for my family!” But do I truly need everything I think I need? Or if I sit down and think about it, is a good portion of what I think I need really only things I want?

When a missionary moves to a foreign country, they go with one set purpose in mind: to share Christ’s love with every single person they meet. Their life in that foreign country centers on that purpose.

How often do I share Christ with others? Is my life focused on Christ? Or are there so many different things, so many distractions pulling me a thousand different ways that my life can only be said to center on what I want to do?

I think in some ways, being a missionary at home can be more difficult. Not to say that being a missionary in a foreign country is not difficult, because it is! Both are difficult but they are difficult in different ways.

When you go to a foreign country as a missionary, you are moving to a completely different culture so you know that you will stand out. You go expecting to be different, expecting to be laughed at and mocked, expecting to stand out.

Here at home, it is different. Because we are at home in our own culture, there is an incredibly strong pull to fit in and to be like those around us. Living like a missionary requires us to stand out. And it is not always fun.

Living as a missionary in our homes, at school, at church, in our neighborhoods requires a changed mindset. It requires remembering that our lives are not our own. We were bought at a great price. We are entrusted with the treasures of the mysteries of Christ and we are called to be good stewards of that treasure, not hoarding it for ourselves, but sharing the good news of salvation.

People are dying every day without Christ in America as well as around the world.

So… I am issuing a challenge. A challenge to myself and anyone else who wants to join in for the next 30 days (until June 1^st). The challenge itself is only for one month at first – having a set goal helps to keep focused – but who knows, it may end up changing my life… or yours!

The Challenge: To view myself as a missionary in my home land

To have a changed mindset, the focus and dedication of a missionary in a foreign culture...
To share Christ’s love with those I meet. And I don’t mean walking up to everyone in the supermarket and saying “God loves you.” The words mean nothing if I don’t show that kind of love working in my life.
To love His people as He loved me; to pour His love out upon them…
To pray daily for those around me…
To speak out boldly, not act as though I am ashamed of the Gospel of Christ…
To dedicate my time, resources, and abilities to serving God…

The way that this challenge will work out in the day to day may be completely different in my life than in yours. God gives us different abilities and the way that we use those to glorify Him differs from person to person.

I will be heading off very soon to work at a Christian Summer Camp for the whole summer. In some ways the challenge will be easier since I will already be stepping out of my normal circumstances. But the idea of the challenge is to live focused on more than the ordinary day to day, to maintain a mindset of loving and serving God and sharing the good news with those who are perishing.

This challenge is nothing that we should not already be doing!

And it will be nothing more than just another exercise if it does not stem from a heart that loves God and seeks after Him. This should not be regarded as a duty but a privilege and a pleasure! Service is empty when it is a duty. So this challenge must start and end with prayer and allowing God’s word to transform our lives.

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Gather and of the holy angels.’”

I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Philemon 6 "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."

Anyway, if you feel like this challenge is something you would like to participate in and would like to comment as a way to make a firm declaration, please do so! Leaving a comment is not necessary, but it is one way that we can encourage and pray for one another as we strive to live to glorify God!

~ A Servant of the King

Aliens - A Call to be Different

2011-04-27T16:36:00.001-05:00

No, I’m not talking about strange green creatures from Mars or any other kind of extra terrestrials, no crazy UFO sightings or crop circles....

I’m talking about us. Christians.

We are aliens in this world.

Today, we don’t use the world alien to mean a foreigner as much as we used to. Technically that’s what it means, but now (at least in my mind) it always conjures up images of space travel and oddly colored creatures from space who either want to help save our world or annihilate it and make us their slaves.

But the word is used in the Bible to describe Christians, to show that this world is not our home. We’re foreigners… travelers just passing through.

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.” (Hebrews 11:13)

When I was in Haiti in January, it was pretty obvious that we were foreigners. We stood out like a giraffe at the North Pole. So much so, in fact, that whenever we passed through a village on our six hour drive across Haiti (from Port-au-Prince to the camp up near Limbe) the kids raced alongside shouting “Blan blan blan” (white).

It was very obvious that we were foreigners in Haiti.

In the same way, we, as Christians, should be visibly different from the world – not because of some holier-than-thou attitude, or because we won’t consort with people like “that,” but simply because we are. We’re different because we no longer belong.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live now as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” (I Thessalonians 5:5)

We are supposed to be as different from the world as the day is from the night. And being different is not always easy. It often means that we will be ridiculed, mocked, despised, and even hated for that difference.

But this world is not our home.

We’re “just passin’ through.” And the world will try to seduce us from our purpose. It will try to dazzle us with pleasures or entangle us with cares and worries. But a part of being different from the world is having a different mindset – a Kingdom focus.

We must remember that we are strangers in this world. We are soldiers in enemy territory. We have been rescued from darkness and brought into the Kingdom of light. We shine like stars reflecting the light of Christ into a world blinded by darkness. So the world will hate us because the light reveals what the darkness tries to hide.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

But though the world will hate us, we are called to love:

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven..." (Matthew 5:44-45a)

~ A Servant of the King

'Twas a Dark and Stormy Night when I Finished My Novel...

2011-04-21T00:14:00.001-05:00

Seriously though, it is and I did!

It is a dark and stormy night and I did finish my novel!

Amidst thunderous crashes and brilliant flashes of lightning, I typed two very important words onto the last page of my novel: The End.

I stared at the screen for a minute, reveling in the beauty of the moment. When I started Song of Leira in September, I had the tiniest smidgen of an idea, scribbled down one evening while working on another story and stored away until I had time. That idea has grown into a story that was far bigger than I first imagined and will eventually fill three books - that's the plan at least! :)

Right now, the first draft of Song of Leira stands at 121,441 words! In Times New Roman, font size 12, double spaced lines, that equals roughly 408 pages on my computer! Unfortunately, that's a little too long for a young adult fantasy novel according to most standards, but that's ok!

I know there is plenty for me to edit. That's why this is the first draft! And I can't wait to start going back through the story polishing, shining, cutting (yes, hacking away at my beloved story) until the diamond shows through the rough stone of the first draft.

And so, it's not truly the end. Well, the story has reached the end, but I'm not finished with the story yet! And I'm glad because I really have grown to love my funny little characters with their odd ways and individual failings.

I'm so thrilled that I've finished! And so thrilled that there is work yet to be done. Thrilled that I don't need to leave Leira yet, that I don't need to say goodbye to Birdie, Amos, and Ky, or Gundhrold or George.

I am so thankful for the opportunity I've had to write this novel! Taking a year off from school was a big step and there were many times when I asked myself why I did this and what I could possibly have been thinking.

But if I hadn't taken a year off, my writing would not have grown the way it has, I probably would not have written this novel, and, well, I would be studying right now which is a lot less fun than writing the ending to my novel! :)

So thank you Lord for the gift of writing! I pray that my writing would always glorify You!

I can't wait to edit this story and I can't wait to start on book two!

But wait... I finished... so that means I get to go to sleep tonight! (See previous post for context!) Haha, but I'm way to excited to sleep right now... and tomorrow I will be wielding the dastardly red pen!

[The title of this post was suggested by my awesomely clever Mama! Thank you Mom for your encouragement!]

It's Spring & I'm a Captive to My Own Novel!

2011-04-20T14:43:00.000-05:00

It's spring and I'm a captive to my own novel...

Well not really. But sort of!

Perhaps I'd best explain. I've been quite busy lately. There is always so much to do in the spring time... and the outdoors is always beckoning. Too many good books piled beside my desk calling my name. And a bunch of horseback stunts my siblings and I are teaching ourselves that need practicing (way too much fun!). So much to tear me away from the computer.

And so... my writing has suffered. I'm so close to typing the end of Song of Leira. I have the outline. I know what needs to happen. I know what is going to happen.

I just have to write it!

So... I'm sitting down and I'm writing it and I'm not going to sleep again until it's finished! Oh dear! That's rather a frightening thought. But seriously, this novel must end! TODAY!

So here goes! Cheer me on! Armed with a sword of ink and my collection of epic writing music, I shall slay the evil monster and end the story!

What are your writing goals for today? Word count or plot? Comment and we can encourage one another to finish!