Just Watch

My friend, Nancy, has this blog I read every time she posts. Her insight and humor just lift me to places in my soul that I didn't know existed.

This is a You Tube she had on her blog that hits me right where I live. I should just watch it everyday! I would be a better person, I think, if I did. Makes me laugh every time.

So, just watch.

To Make Your Heart Soar

Amen!

What Makes Fiction Christian?

Is It Christian?




Many of you know that I work in the Christian fiction market. I've sorted through many a manuscript and have published reviews on over 800 Christian books (and that's not counting all the books I've read to get those!) I read. A lot. Anyway, right now in the blogosphere there are some people talking about what makes a book Christian? What are the Christian publishers publishing and why? Interesting thoughts. I don't know that there are any easy solutions to what to publish, but I do think it is going to become a hot issue as we head into 2009.

Anyway, I thought you might like weighing in on two blogs asking "What Makes It Christian?" And I'd love to know, do you read Christian fiction? If so, name your top 5 Christian fiction books this year. I'd really like to know.

Editor/author Karen Ball's blog, The Power of Words, The Magic of Story

and on Indiana ACFW member's Cara Putman's blog The Law, Books and Life.


Good stuff being said.This is a hot topic, fer shure.

I do think Kelli Standish (on Karen Ball's comments, scroll down on the most recent post) makes a very, very good point about the difference between a Christian fiction book and a book in the mainstream general. I think she has hit on the differences. Do look through the past posts as this topic has several posts.

I think this topic is heavy on the minds of all people in Christian publishing right now because everyone is talking about it.

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

Did they take a poll on this? It's been a long time since I've seen that movie, but if dead men don't wear plaid, then this is not the season to die. It appears that plaid is the fad of the season.

Now, when I was a young tender thang, I wore a lot of plaid. Our high school adopted the tartan plaid of the Clan Campbell of Scotland. We were (and it still is) the home of the Mighty Argylls. We wore an Argyle plaid. We also wore plaids of black and gold. Loved that stuff! I was pretty skinny back then, so the plaid was a good thing, Martha. I even had plaid socks.

Meanwhile, years have passed and not always so kindly to me. Look around you--plaids are even on your underwear. I kid you not. I suppose I can take a plaid inside my jacket, or maybe on a handbag. This is one girl who probably won't go for the plaid (although there are these readers glasses in red plaid that has me thinking twice about my NO PLAID AFTER 50 rule.) Most of my tartans and plaids belong on sofas and pillows, thankewverrymuch.

But I found myself in a plaid back in the day and decided to show you that indeed, not only was I paper doll thin--but I could wear plaid.




So, are you going to wear plaid this season, and if so, what color combos are you leaning towards?

Get Ready for Turkey Day

I'm sure you are a thankful person. I think most of us are. We have so many blessings and sometimes we do need to be reminded of those things in the midst of troubling times, but for the most part we are thankful.

Our Thanksgiving holiday has all kinds of traditions surrounding it with all kinds of stories from both history and our own families. My memories of Thanksgiving usually involve my Cicero, Indiana cousins, the Goolsbys, but sometimes we would go to Tennesssee for Thanksgiving. Occasionally, we had Thanksgiving with just my dad, my mom, and my brother and me--like in this photo.

I liked Thanksgiving because 1. we ate like fiends 2.the Macy's parade 3. there were no "scenes" played out like on other holidays because my dad stayed home 4. most of the time the weather was still nice enough to go outside 5. I truly was grateful to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I loved Thanksgiving the most in the early years of my marriage. First, we were really poor so it was nice to have a homecooked meal with my husband's legions of family. One year I was pregnant with our first child and we went to Aunt Gladys and Uncle George's Kokomo home. Their house was small, but we packed over 50 people in there. And Aunt Lola brought home movies of my husband's grandfather and other family members butchering hogs. Now that was something to remember! That next week my Ob-gyn asked me about Thanksgiving and when I told him about the over 50 people, he asked if we rented a hall. (No.) Then, when I told him of the hog-butchering home movies, he just raised his eyebrows. (He had my husband in med classes, so he looked at him differently then, I think.)

Then, after we'd had all of our four boys, and we moved into a large house, we hosted the family Thanksgiving. Those are my favorite memories. My mother-in-law, Imy, would come stay and help me prepare, the boys would decorate and that was the best time. I will always remember that sweet time of my life. It never was the same since and I miss the people, the warmth.

One of my favorite Thanksgiving shows was WKRP in Cincinnati when the station manager decided to give away live turkeys--and dropped them like sacks of sand from a helicopter at a mall. Les Nessman reported and it was pretty awful. That was a funny show.

See if you know about Thanksgiving. This might be fun to do at your Thanksgiving gathering for trivia (or the winner could get the pulley wishbone of your Turkey. And this is why I'm posting this early--so you could use this quiz for your own Thanksgiving.)

What's one of your best memories of Thanksgiving? What are you most thankful for this year?

100 Names of Jesus

Here's something to think about today: (In the New Testament)

Thanks, D.C. Weiss

Threatened with Tootsie Rolls on Election Day

I've never been too fearful, even when I've looked violence and evil in the face when attacked.

As I've gotten older, some fears are surfacing, if just for moments when I feel tired and weak. I'd heard talk that in some cities today that people trying to vote have been intimidated by violence and jeered. Bad news. Would it shake me? Could I walk by and still vote my conscience in the face of those who do not respect freedom? It reminds me of the days of thugs and Carpetbaggers back in the post-Civil War days (not saying that I witnessed that first hand, mind you.)

I live in rural America. Bad things do happen here, but usually not the intimidation experienced at the voting places and the threat of violence toward those who think our country's Constitution is good as it is. I stood in line today for two hours with a police officer, a guy whose yard is full of the opposite party's propaganda and whose wife taught my kids and his kids did school projects with mine,a doctor, a college kid with a sharp wit, a beauty operator who had to leave line to go do someone's hair, and dozens of others whom I've known since I moved here. We chatted about motorcycles, kids, medical issues, the fact that in all of our years voting that we'd never had to wait so long to vote! But today I looked fear in the face at the polls. Teenagers, out of school(from my son's class at the high school) sitting in front of the fire station (educational experience???I think not, but hey) where I vote, jammed a basket of Tootsie Rolls in my face.

"Want some?"

Temptation.

It came at me with both barrels. My stomach growled. Did I even eat breakfast? I couldn't recall. Should I cross my party line to accept Tootsie Rolls? The other side ran to get water bottles at the only gas station in town next door. Now, if he'd have thrown in the handbreaded tenderloins from the gas station (known to be the best,)I might have caved.

....

At that moment a lady, overcome by excitement, unseasonable heat or the 2 hour wait in tiny Matthews (population less than 400,) hit the ground. Fortunately, the ambulance was right there. I hope that she was ok, and prayed she would be fine as they loaded her onto the cervical board. They took the 15 mile trip with sirens blaring. We went back to our chatting and waiting.

I soon passed the Tootsie Roll station in the two-hour wait line.

I haven't seen that many people in Matthews since the Covered Bridge Festival. If we could bottle the people in Matthews and could get you to drink our Kool Aid, there would be no need for this hatefulness I'm hearing about around the country today.

I have never prayed harder or more frequently in the past as I have for this election. All of my boys (except the too-young high school kid) and my husband and I voted today. We feel a need to at least have our say. I hope it is not the last time we have a free election in this country, but no one knows what tomorrow morning will bring.


I do not fear tomorrow because I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able.

But, my flesh is sometimes weak, and I do like Tootsie Rolls.

The Foods of Politicians

Think you know everything about those who have been presidents or are now seeking office? Well, maybe not everything. Huckabee revealed a favorite college food he used to make in the dorm. (Reminded me of Uncle Fred.)



And when you are done with that, try this quiz, that is really a lot of fun,and maybe it will relieve the tension that this election is causing.

What's the strangest thing that you eat? I had a college roommate whose honey lured her to marriage by bringing her radish and butter sandwiches. I'll have to think a bit what I eat that's strange. Maybe it was this stuff called "Numeat" when I was a kid, which was a vegetarian sandwich spread that came in a can and was white-looking. (I have never found it as an adult.) I also really like Lay's Potato Chips with Red Gold catsup.

What's Your Work Style?

In my former life I was an educator. My favorite part of my job was to analyze my students--how they learned best, what they were learning, how to reach every one of them. If I had a student struggling, you can bet I was dissecting them to see what the hold up in the learning process was. My style and approach was sometimes different than my colleagues, but I got the job done. I took learning styles/theories classes and read countless studies and books on the subject. I even presented the subject to my fellow educators on the topic.

Now that I'm working as a writer and editor/reader/book doc, I can't help but apply these same principles and knowledge in working with authors and editors. And I'm always on the lookout for new tests and analysis. Try this work test and see what suits you in your work style. It may help in writing or knowing what direction to go.

My results were INTJ. Here is what it said about me:

INTJ, INTP, ENTJ and ENTP:

“NT” or Intuitive Thinking Type—The Analyzers
You are an analytical type—a rational knowledge-seeker. You perceive information primarily with your intuition but heavily depend upon logic for making your decisions.

Jobs to consider: event planner, trainer, media planner, sales manager, marketing manager, advertiser, technical writer, editor, new business developer, strategic planner, scientist, inventor, engineer, lawyer, judge, military officer, computer programmer, professor, medical doctor or assistant, dentist or dental hygienist, organizer, economist, environmental planner, psychologist, financial planner.


Obviously, it is a general overview (covering several types of the Myers-Briggs,) but it gives you a direction to take. Let me know what your results were!

I Love Your Blog Awards!

This blog and my When I Was Just a Kid blog just received an I Love Your Blog Award from J.M. Hochstetler at >The American Patriot Series blog! I love >Joan for many reasons,(for one she started as a Hoosier, and she also writes great books and publishes others' books, too) which makes this an honor for me.

You must go and read Joan's When I Was Just a Kid interview, too, in case you missed it. She has One Holy Night, a novel, out right now, so you need to check it out and look for blogs giving free copies.

The rules for this award are as follows:

1. Add the logo of the award to your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

This is going to be tough to narrow down to just seven blogs, as I do love quite a few. I may not check daily, but I do go around looking for more interviews and people to feature. You can find links to all sorts of blogs over in my links section--and yes, I do go visit when I can.

Here are my choices in no particular order:

1. Nancy J. Ring at Anchors, Signposts and Wanderings. Nancy is deep and poignant and speaks to my soul's yearnings and travelings. She helps me to find the path home.

2. LeAnne Martin at Christian in the Arts and Beauty and the Beholder. She writes about beauty. We need much more of this in our lives. I feel at peace on her blogs.Here is a quote from her blog to prove my point: "How kind you were to open the gates of heaven and give me that little glimpse of Paradise." From an 18th-Century letter

3. Bonnie Bruno at MacroMoments. Her photography leaves me breathless. She has deep insights into God's teachings. And she's just plain nice and encourages others (me, too.)

4. Dr. Richard Mabry at Random Jottings writes about a variety of issues in writing. He's been a successful M.D. and now has launched a writing career, writing articles and fiction manuscripts. (He even did an interview with me on his blog, and now it's been accepted at Christian Communicator magazine.) I can relate to him and his journey. Good blog. Lots of interviews, writing news and indepth insights.

5. Two of my very favorite genres in fiction to read are historicals and historical romances. Over at Favorite PASTimes talks about these kinds of books and about the research. I love that.Contributors are Kathy Rouser
JM Hochstetler
Jill Eileen Smith
Cindy Thomson
Becky Laney
Michelle Sutton, Book Reviews
Rosslyn Elliott

6. Cara Putman is a brilliant woman with endless (almost!) energy and a vibrant new career in writing. She's a wife, mother, attorney, professor and now author. She talks about things that interest her--which in turn interests me (though my children are nearly grown so I'm not in her stage, but I do remember it!! LOL.)

7. Camy Tang is a fresh new author with a three-book series out called, The Sushi Series. You will just love Camy. One of my favorite parts of Camy's blog is when she cooks or knits--and shows the photos. Along with her husband, Captain Caffeine, and that Wonder Dog, Snickers, what is not to love? Just plain fun. And if you need help with your writing, be sure to check out The Story Sensei. You still have time to win her Single Sashimi on this blog by entering a comment below, deadline October 31.

Check out some of the other people in my list to the right because I just know too many people and I do go check out their blogs to see what they're up to as time permits.

Back when I first started this blog I had one day a week to point out others' blogs. I may need to blog regularly and reinstate that feature day. What do you think? Because I'm leaving out some of my other favorites and favorite people! I may just have a I Love Your Blog Day each week. Stay tuned.

Thank you to each one for all the good reading you’re providing for us readers!

Book Giveaway!

My friend, Sabrina, over at Hijinks from the Heartland, is giving away BOOKS. Check out her post and leave a comment and you, too, will have BOOKS.

I can't believe her husband let her have bookshelves. My husband won't because he says I just would fill them up with books. Duh. So instead they are stacked sloppily on the floor, in baskets, in sacks and boxes. If I had bookshelves, at least they would be neat and nice.

I did giveaway stacks to a public library, two church libraries and to friends. What can I say? I still have books and probably need to do something more, too. In the meantime, check out Sabrina's shelves!



(Pictured above, Sabrina's shelves.)

On a Roll With Buttah

As we say around here when we're doing well, I have to say, I'm on a roll with buttah! I won again today. I won the latest release from Krystal Meyers on CD when I left a comment on Joanne Brokaw's Beliefnet column, Gospel Sound Check.



Joanne is a freelance writer & columnist who writes humor, too, so if you like hearing about Christian music, you definitely should check out her column at Belief Net.

As to Krystal Meyers--hey, she's named Krystal--she has to be a Great Person. And I'm looking forward to listening to her new release, Make Some Noise. Check her singing out here. Awesome. (The noise will be when I'm singing along!)

How Publishing Really Works

This link to a You Tube video was sent to me by an agent to let us all know how publishing really works. Enjoy the fantasy!

Cooking Up Books and Food with Camy Tang

Here at the Chat 'n' Chew Cafe' I like to talk about food for the mind, soul and belly! Today we have a special guest, my friend, Camy Tang, who not only can whip up great books (some of my favorites!) but cooks with her husband, Captain Caffeine, too. You can read more adventures with Captain Caffeine and Wonder Dog, Snickers, here on her blog.

Here's Camy!




Hi there! Crystal asked me to write about a favorite meal I prepared for my husband, Captain Caffeine.

I should preface this by confessing that I’m not a very meticulous cook. I substitute with aplomb. I add with vigor. I eliminate without qualm.


The best dish I ever made I think was when I made the Chinese scallion pancakes for us. We had lots of leeks from the organic co-op we belong to, and at a loss for how to use it all (I’d already made soup and clam chowder), I decided to use them for scallion pancakes, but with leeks instead of scallions.












They actually turned out better than expected, because the leeks have a sweeter, milder flavor that paired well with the fried pancake.




(I mean, fried pancake—life doesn’t get any better than that, does it?)



To see the complete step-by-step recipe story with comments from Camy, go here!

And the recipe is here at About.com.

It’s REALLY easy (another reason why this dish was so great) and it’s authentic Chinese food without weird ingredients or strange equipment. You can splash some soy sauce over the pancakes when you’re done if you prefer, but we ate them plain.

This is Snickers, Camy's delightful dog, who waits for her to drop the crumbs!




To read Camy's new book look for this at your favorite bookstore or online book ordering place:

Four cousins commiserate their single status—Lex the Jock, Trish the Flirt, Venus the Cactus, and Jennifer the Oddball. The only Christians in their large extended family, they vow to fight the stigma of the infamous family title, Oldest Single Female Cousin. But they have very different ideas about not acting as desperate as they feel about their bleak love lives. Who knew God would have His own plans of true love for each of them?





Book #3: Single Sashimi (August 2008)

Read an excerpt of Single Sashimi (.pdf) here!

Bonus features: Click here for blog posts about "extras" for Single Sashimi!


Drake Yu. Why would Drake call her after ... what, five years? Six?

Venus heard in his voice that resonance that was almost a growl, that titanium-hard determination to get what he wanted. And he usually got what he wanted. The voice said: "I want you to work for me."

Not this time ... If it was a choice between Drake and McDonald’s—she’d choose french fries. She’d never work for him again. It would take an act of God.


Venus Chau is determined to start her own game development company and launch the next Super Mario-sized phenomenon. However, she needs an investor to back her idea. When Drake Yu, an old nemesis, approaches Venus with a contracting opportunity at his sister’s startup, the offer to become Chief Technology Officer tempts Venus to think the unthinkable.

Venus would rather throw away her PS3 than work for Drake again ... except Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake’s wealthy family with a coveted introduction to the most respected investor in the game industry. It’s also a short job—only a few months—so Venus won’t have to stand Drake’s presence for very long.

But one wild youth group, a two-faced assistant, and Grandma’s determined match-making threaten to make them both fail—or go insane. With the encouragement of her three cousins, Lex, Trish, and Jennifer, Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation ...



To read more about Camy, do check in on all of these great blogs:



9/5 I’m talking about healing at Back In Skinny Jeans

9/8 Tabitha asks me how I get my ideas for my stories and blog

9/12 Gina Welborn makes me admit who's my favorite "child"

9/15 I’m at Ruth (ChristianFictionQueen)’s blog with my top 3 comfort movies, and Ruth reviews Single Sashimi

9/15 I’m at Jennifer’s blog talking about my top five comfort books

9/16 Angie Breidenbach asks me about how the theme of Single Sashimi affects people in real life

9/16 I’m on LaShaunda Hoffman’s blog talking about how to write a query letter

9/17 I’m on Marilynn Griffith’s blog with a fun meme--join in!

9/18 My good friend Danica Favorite and I have a fun interview about how I wrote Single Sashimi

9/19 Gina Burgess asks me about how I come up with my characters and make them memorable

9/22 Alison Strobel Morrow and I chat up about life

9/23 My favorite Aussie Rel interviews me

9/24 My close friend Cheryl Wyatt is no-holds-barred in her interview with me

9/25 I’m at Ronie Kendig’s blog doing a Survey Meme

9/25 Deborah Khuanghlawn posts a review of Single Sashimi from a fellow Asian American perspective

9/26 Rel posts a review of Single Sashimi

9/26 At Laura Domino’s blog, I’m talking about the differences between the three heroes in my series

9/27 I’m guest blogging at The Friendly Book Nook about an important reading moment in my life

9/29 Tyora Moody and I did a really cool podcast

9/30 Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt chat with me about writing and I'm sorry (not really) but my snarkiness comes out. Imagine that.

10/1 Sandra Byrd reviews Single Sashimi

10/1 The first chapter of Single Sashimi is up on the Fiction In Rather Short Takes (FIRST) blog tour

10/2 Crystal Miller and I talk about my favorite subject, food!

10/3 I’m on Christa Allan’s blog talking about time management

10/3 Laura Williams reviews Single Sashimi

10/6 My friend MaryLu Tyndall interviews me and reviews Single Sashimi

10/7 Jamie Drigger talks about Single Sashimi

10/8 I’m on Winter Peck’s blog talking about stuff

10/9 My fellow Love Inspired Suspense author Cara Putman reviews Single Sashimi

10/10 My friend Tasra Dawson asks me to talk about friendship among women

10/10 Laura Domino reviews Single Sashimi

10/11 One of my favorite Steeple Hill authors Margaret Daley does an unusual blog post and interviews my heroine, Venus

10/13 Jennifer AlLee asks me about the kind of reader response I’ve gotten from my books

10/13 Laura Domino is posting on the Faithchick chicks--and today's my day!

10/14 I’m on Peggy Phifer’s blog talking about the Asian family core from my perspective

10/15 My fellow Seekerville author Myra Johnson interviews me

10/16 Christina Berry (my fellow ACL sufferer) interviews me

10/17 I’m at Georgiana Daniels’ blog in an interview, and Georgiana is reviewing Single Sashimi

10/20 I’m guest blogging at Love Inspired author Missy Tippens’ blog about how I make my character voices so distinct.

10/21 Betsy St. Amant (a new Love Inspired author!) reviews Single Sashimi

10/22 My friend Cynthia Hawkins and I do a meme

10/23 New Love Inspired Historical author Janet Dean interviews me

10/23 Trish Perry gives a beach-y interview

10/24 My friend Dineen Miller has me captured on her blog

10/24 My friend Dineen Miller has me captured on her blog

10/27 Hysterically funny historical romance author Mary Connealy reviews Single Sashimi

10/27 I’m guest blogging on Tricia Goyer’s blog

10/28 Tina asks me about my writing day and NaNoWriMo (just around the corner!)

10/29 Join me on Erica Vetsch’s blog for an interview

10/30 Heidi Strawser reviews Single Sashimi

10/31 Michelle Sutton closes off the blog tour with a review of Single Sashimi

Be sure to check in on each stop for something different about Camy each day and for the great book giveaways.

If you wish to enter my drawing for Single Sashimi, leave your email contact in a comment here to be drawn on October 31st.

Just Words

I love puns and word plays. People often talk about how confusing the English language is, but I happen to love it. My sister-in-law,a high level, skilled sign language interpreter, has talked about how important which signs to use to interpret the language is--choice is important in conveying the message.

Language is being butchered and convoluted in order to deceive, but in spite of(or maybe because of) all the stress right now, I thought I'd share some fun uses of language.

Enjoy. If you have one, please share it!


1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.
He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

6. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

7. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

8. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

9. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

12. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

13. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, 'You stay here, I'll go on a head.'

14. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

15. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

16. A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'

17. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

18. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

19. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

20. A backward poet writes inverse.

21. In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

22. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

23. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!

Sign up to win!

Only TWO people have left comments for Lynn D. Morrissey to win her beautiful prayer journal book, Love Letters to God on When I Was Just a Kid. You only have until Saturday to leave a comment! (Although the two who have left comments are kicking me now...ha.) If you want to start or have ever journaled your prayers, you certainly want to look at this book.

Next up will be Sandra Bricker who has a romance from the new Summerside Press, so you won't want to miss that one!!

This is a Test

EYE TEST

Count every ' F ' in the following text:

FINISHED FILES ARE THE
RESULT OF YEARS OF
SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...



HOW MANY F's ?


See Comments for Answer!

Can You Raed Tihs?

From Cambridge University

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on !!

________________________

If I were editing this, I'd take out the exclamation marks.

The human mind is an incredible thing. When I was teaching school (first grade) many of my students could write their names backwards--like you would see in a mirror. Their parents would be all upset, but I told them they would right themselves in a few months. Maturity takes care of things like that, usually. Knowing the developmental stages of children helps us not to panic. And maturity is not a race, either.

I love Mind Benders and brain puzzles. More to come.

Don't forget you have a couple days left to enter for Patti Lacy's book, An Irishwoman's Tale.

An Irishwoman's Tale

Patti Lacy has worked with me in ACFW/American Christian Fiction Writers, so I got to know her cheery attitude from that experience. Then, she came out with a novel about an Irishwoman transferred to the U.S., so of course, I wanted to know more about that as my family has Irish ancestry (Rileys from County Cavan of Ireland.) I talked her into answering some questions about how she does her writing and comes up with book-length stories, and now you can know these secrets, too!

CLM: What are three key elements for you in getting into your writing mode?

Patti: Oxygen, Nitrogen—sorry, Crystal. I have to tell you science with its logical way of doing things has eluded me for years.

CLM: LOL! Try, Patti, try!

Patti: Okay. I’ll give it a try.
(1) Set a writing goal to instill discipline. My little rule is at least three pages a day. That’s about three manuscripts a year!
(2) Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to infuse your writing with truth and grace, before you sit down in your computer chair.
(3) Drink coffee or green tea to caffeinize your mind.

CLM: I especially appreciate that number 3--and Patti gave me some Irish tea that is so strong it could float yer horse shoes (that's Sharon Lavy's son's quote, so I can't take credit for that!)

CLM: Can you tell us how you decide on a character? Are there certain types of characters whom you gravitate toward for a heroine/hero more
than others?

Patti: A newspaper article, a person in a dream, or a real-life friend grabs hold of my gray matter and won’t let go. When the images keep me up at night, I open a new computer file and label it Novel #3 or whatever, then start adding snippets of information when they float into my brain. So far, my characters have been women with deep, dark secrets that have stained their lives. They’re colorful, edgy, and walk in wet grass rather than on a sidewalk.

CLM: How did you decide on your setting?

Patti: I take a mental vacation to the places I’ve visited and loved—or maybe hated—and try to include them in my books. New Orleans and Ireland are two of the former. However, my bossy women usually command me to place them where they want to be. Imagine that?

CLM: What is special to you personally about the setting and
characters of your book?

Patti: Now we’re talking specifically about An Irishwoman’s Tale, right?
CLM: Yes, I really want to know how you came up with such a fascinating story!

Patti: Since I fictionalized a true story first told to me on the front porch of my home in Terre Haute,(INDIANA!) part of my heart and soul is embedded in the pages of that book. Since I’ve known the Irishwoman, she’s symbolized friendship and forgiveness to me. That’s about as special as you can get. And after our 2005 visit, the mystical, marvelous country of Ireland grabbed hold of me and has yet to let go.

(And, so lasses (and laddies, if you dare) come join Patti in her weaving of an Irish tale, based in truth and set to grab your hearts.)



CLM: What process do you go through to brainstorm a new book? How do you come up the idea? (Do you keep an idea file? Or use photos? News
items?)

Patti: Oops! I got ahead of myself up there! Definitely news items. It’s also fun to surf the net and look for character and scenery images.

CLM: When your well runs dry, how do you recharge your creativity?

Patti: I dig through dusty shelves of eclectic CDs and choose something that will set off certain emotions. When I want to be sad, I play Rachmaninoff. Happy? Some of my oldies, like Don McLean, Harry Chapin, Tracy Chapman. Lots of Christian music for pick-me-up times, like Third Day, Switchfoot, Selah. And, of course, Eden’s Bridge and other artists that utilize marvelous minor key Irish flutes and whistles.


CLM: Answer this...The only thing I know for sure about my creative
process is....

Patti: God has to direct it or it’s no good.
CLM: Awesome.

CLM: What's your favorite way to celebrate after a project is complete? (Gotta talk about food here in the cafe'!)

Patti: A delectable dinner served family style at our favorite Thai restaurant. And a toast and hugs with my beloved “peeps” (soul mates and relatives.)

CLM: Where is your favorite place to work on your writing?

Patti: My daughter’s old bedroom, which I commandeered when she went off to college. Creamy yellow walls soothe my soul, while Scott Mutter posters and an Angel Ambrose painting inspire. A couple of succulents and an airplane plant oxygenize the room and help detract from the piles of books and pens and notes and envelopes and…Of course there’s a crammed-full-to-sagging bookcase.

CLM: What are your favorite things to eat while in the creative
process? Or do you forget about eating and drinking? (As if!)

Patti: Black coffee, green tea, dark chocolate, crunchy nuts.

CLM: What's one piece of advice to anyone reading who wishes to write their own stories?

Patti: At times the publishing world progresses at an agonizingly slow rate. Try to be patient.

Patti: Thanks so much for having me, Crystal! It’s been a blast.

CLM: I love your sweet spirit, Patti, so of course I'm delighted to have you.

Be sure to go to Patti's web site and enter her September contest!

The days shorten. A cool breeze goose bumps bare arms. It's time for
school again. Are you glad you never have to ride another school bus?
Or do you yearn to purchase supplies, label and sort papers and
folders, then polish a perfect apple for that...perfect teacher?

What is your favorite school memory?
Please stop by http://www.pattilacy.com/and visit the news/contest tab to enter the September contest.

An Irishwoman's Tale at Amazon.com
Far away from her Irish home, Mary Freeman begins to adapt to life in Midwest America, but family turmoil and her own haunting memories threaten to ruin her future. It takes a crisis in her daughter's life—and the encouragement of Sally, a plucky Southern transplant—to propel Mary back to the rocky cliffs of her home in County Clare, Ireland.
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications (July 8, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0825429870
ISBN-13: 978-0825429873

List price: $13.99

If you would like to win a free copy of An Irishwoman's Tale, leave a comment with your contact (your name AT your ISP. com) and you'll be entered into a drawing for it. Be sure to leave a comment by September 12th!

CARLA STEWART WON! (Must've had the luck o' the Irish.)

The Colors of Careers

On the Career Builder site today there was an article about colors and how they can show your leanings and preferences in career building. I'm slightly past the day when I'm looking at my first career, but I am working on the career for this stage of my life. Tests like this always fascinate me. Kids today have so many resources to discover who they are, how they think and where they should be going on their career path.

Take this color test and see what it says about you. I picked colors I liked to look at and disliked, until this is what the test said about me. I think it is pretty accurate:

The Dewey Color System® is the world's first and only validated, color-based personality career testing instrument. Based on our experience and your interests, your best suited occupations are listed below.

Best Occupational Category
You're a CREATOR
Key Words:
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional
These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.


2nd Best Occupational Category
You're a PERSUADER
Key Words:
Witty, Competitive, Sociable, Talkative, Ambitious, Argumentative, and Aggressive
These enterprising types sell, persuade, and lead others. Positions of leadership, power, and status are usually their ultimate goal. Persuasive people like to take financial and interpersonal risks and to participate in competitive activities. They enjoy working with others inside organizations to accomplish goals and achieve economic success.

I have been a dessert girl, ticket checker, assistant to a university president secretary, preschool teacher, elementary teacher, P.E. teacher, a coach, a Bible study leader, book reviewer, acquisitions reader, church children's department leader, executive school board officer, an editor (well, this is also current,) and a writer.

If I could go back in time, I would have found the career path to be an editor,I think, preferably in fiction, or I would have been a cartoonist.

Anyway, this was interesting and it's something you might think about allowing your teen to take, too, but it can reveal something about you, at whatever stage in life you are in.