Where to start over ...

Has it really been last November since I posted? Sheesh. I haven't done so because I didn't feel I had anything very meaningful to say.

Most of the family has been deep in preparations for the annual ballet recital, which was last Saturday night and went VERY well. I was enmeshed in sewing, as usual. This year the theme was this fantastic twist on the parable of the prodigal son, with a Celtic twist.

We've experienced some changes--my husband started a new job after about six months of his own personal drama. I'm extremely thankful right now that he has work when all around us, people are losing jobs or taking pay cuts. And my kids are healthy and overall good kids, though experiencing the normal growing pains of their various stages. My 18 year old son is close to graduating from high school and almost as close to finishing an associate's degree at the local community college. He's also been exploring the reaches of his own faith and visiting a friend's church, an evangelical Lutheran. I never would have thought--but I've been very impressed with this particular church's ministry, integrity, and outreach.

And speaking of Lutherans--a very good friend in writing circles, John Otte, is also a Lutheran pastor in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He's also a sci-fi geek, which may be a point for or against him depending upon your leanings. :-) While checking out his review of the most recent Stephen Lawhead book, Tuck, I noticed he has a link further down on his blog to a 6-part series of very short but meaty sermons on the full armor of God. Please check these out! You'll notice that he gave these messages at Concordia University in St. Paul, as part of their observance of Lent--which tends to be a scary term to Baptists and other non-liturgical denominations, but basically it describes a focused preparation for Resurrection Sunday, designed to deepen one's appreciation for Christ's work on the cross. These sermons are rich and deep and wonderful.

I hope to be more regular about posting here ... not just getting back to the CSFF tour (which is going on this week--check out the links at John's blog) but my usual eclectism, maybe even including some more research notes! Thanks to all of you who have been so patient with me and continue to check back to see what I'm doing.

CSFF Blog Tour: John Olson's Shade

Day Three of the tour, Day Two for me. Where was I? Oh, yes, about to write a review of John Olson's newest novel, Shade.

Okay, so, much was made of Shade's scariness. Reading just the endorsements inside the front cover is entertaining. My husband snagged the book first (as he often does; his reading time is more plentiful than mine--so unfair!), and kept looking at me through the first half of the book. "When's it going to get scary?" After he finished it, he liked it well enough but his verdict: "Wasn't scary." Then Son One and Son Two read it, both before me. (More unfairness.) Although it was a "can't put it down" read for both of them, their assessment was also, "Not really scary." (Both agreed that the hospital scene early on was creepy. I concur!)

Finally it was my turn. Sigh. I hate starting into a book with high expectations and with the family's opinions floating around my head, but I was determined to just read and enjoy it.

Then, something strange happened. A friend who's been struggling hugely with her circumstances and her faith had, on my recommendation, picked up a copy at the library, and had started reading it, as well. About the time I got a couple of chapters in, she called me on the phone with the bizarre question, "Can you do what these people are doing??" Meaning, of course, the characters--the sensing each other's emotions, etc. This provided a really ... um, neat? interesting? opportunity to talk about whether or not supernatural gifts are real for the here and now (I'm NOT going into that in THIS blog post, I assure you!) and to talk further about her faith struggles.

After that phone conversation, I stayed up way too late reading (I also suffer from "can'tputitdown-itis") and ... well ... honestly I didn't find it all that scary either. (Too much Brandilyn Collins and Dean Koontz, maybe?) But I wanted to keep reading, and I wanted MORE. Lots more. I felt a bit cheated at the end because some pretty serious loose ends, in my opinion, weren't tied up--but then I found out that John is writing a sequel. (YAY!!!!) I also found a particular plot twist near the end a bit implausible because, as one reviewer put it, by this time we know the character so well that we can't really believe ill of him. But that was a minor quibble. I enjoyed the writing, loved the characters (although I'd liked to have more development on Hailey), really loved the storyworld and found the premise absolutely fascinating.

I think I've commented before that I have to be careful when reviewing books by authors I know and like as people, because I tend to lose my objectivity. Take my opinion accordingly, but I believe this is a very worthwhile read!

I could say more, but time and space fail me. :-) Scroll down to yesterday's post for the list of others who have read and commented on this book.

Christian Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog Tour: John Olson's Shade

Yes, it's that time again!

This month we're highlighting John Olson's newest title, Shade, billed as a "vampire-less vampire novel." It's also known in the Christian publishing industry as the story that was so scary it made a certain author sleep with the lights on and an agent swear he wouldn't touch it with a 60-foot pole. In other words, legendary, even before it came to print.

Heh. You have to love a story like that, just on principle.

So, God opened doors and finally, John gets to have his "baby" in print. Isn't it beautiful?? I just love this cover. Of course, I may be a wee bit prejudiced because I consider John such a good friend, but I'm thrilled that this has happened for him.

I should probably call this the shameless gushing post. I'll post a review tomorrow--being sick yet again has slowed my response time on tour--but today I'd like to highlight John himself. Since coming back to writing fiction almost seven years ago, I've been impressed with the unselfish commitment Christian writing professionals have overall to helping those who are yet unpublished ... their kindness to those of us whose writing really stank. (Yeah, I know ... now it only sorta stinks??) But a handful of authors, editors, and agents stand out above the others, and John is one of those. As one of my Genesis judges two years ago, I think he was the first to introduce me to the concept of being pickier in his critique because he actually LIKES my work, and is pushing harder to see me get better. Okay, yeah--that seems self-evident. But so many times as writers we tend to receive critiques as a negative force, and focus on advice given as "what the critiquer didn't like."

His workshop at the recent ACFW conference was also very challenging--and affirming--and just what I needed.

Tomorrow: a review of Shade, and a note about John's other stories.

For now, visit the other Most Excellent Bloggers and see what they have to say. (I didn't get on the list in time, so anyone who wants to trouble themselves with linking to me, I'd appreciate it!)

Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Bitter Chivalry part 2 is up!

It’s up! The second installment of my short story, Bitter Chivalry, is now up at Christian Fiction Online Magazine:

http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/bitter2.html

Thank you to all who read Part 1 and commented! It can still be found at:

http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/july-08-bitter.html

Blessings to all, and happy election day!

ACFW 2008: Part 3, Friday, & Agent/Editor Appointments

Friday ... uh, yeah. First day of continuing education sessions. First editor and agent appointments. Lots of other stuff going on too.

I'd wound up with two editor appointments and one agent appointments--one was all I'd requested--and pretty soon after I got to Minneapolis, Michelle offered me another agent appointment. She didn't need it; she had two other agents offering her representation on the novel she just finished, and was having trouble deciding which to go with. (What a wonderful problem to have!) At first I brushed her off, but early Thursday morning changed my mind. I was pretty sure that the one agent I'd requested an appointment with was the one I wanted, but what appealed to me about the other was that she's worked on the ABA (secular publishing) side and is seeking to take on CBA (Christian publishing) writers. Since I've not been completely convinced my stories really fit in the CBA, I thought it might be an option worth exploring.

So ... one editor and one agent appointment (the one I'd requested) on Friday. One was with Charlene at Bethany House; it went well and she seemed moderately interested in my historical. The agent appointment also went well, and although he graciously looked at both proposals (I took one for Loyalty's Cadence, my historical, and one for Son of the Gift, the installment of my fantasy series currently in process), he pretty much told me what I expected to hear: that the market "isn't quite ready" for the fantasy, and that the historical is much more marketable. But, he also paid me a compliment or two in the process that I hadn't expected, and understands my need to keep working on the "story of my heart." That was so very encouraging.

To be continued ... (I'm taking this in small increments so it isn't overwhelming!)