Ah, the search for a voice. That’s a good one. I’ve found that if I relax, write with real honesty, the voices just come. When I start to construct, to push things around artificially, to over-plot, that’s when my voices all sound like a third grade read-aloud.
Have fun on your travels!
I did have fun on my trip, Casey. Thanks. I spent a lot of time in the hotel sleeping though because I was sick. I did get to explore the library there though. Beautiful! It’s a Carnegie Library, marble floors and stairs. I wanted to spend the night there. AS for voice, you’re right when voices are forced they do begin to sound like a Dick and Jane reader.
That can be difficult for me, too. Most of my heroes sound or act like my hubby. I also need to work on making them different personalities. 🙂
Hi Blissful, glad to see your comment on my page. I like that your heroes sound and act like your hubby. My first three books have been modeled on mine as well. I think God he gave me such a great hero to copy. Now that I’m on my 4th novel though I think it might be time to stretch a bit and find more depth. I’m checking out Daniel in the bible. I’m thinking there’s a powerful role model.
I’ve started working on my next book. It’s hard. Not hard to come up with the idea, characters and plot, it’s hard to come up with a voice. I can see my heroine but I can’t hear her yet. She still sounds like my last heroine to me. So how am I planning to fix this problem? Tennessee. Yep, I’m traveling again. I’ll be keeping my ears open for a unique voice one that captures my character. I love this part of writing, eavesdropping in dressing rooms–okay I like shopping too! Then there are restaurants that are unfamiliar to me, but to the locals they’re home so they talk about anything and everything. And of course I’ll be listening at the local Wal Mart store. I find great voices there, so many people carry on detailed conversations on their cell phones in that store. So wish me the best. I know that voice is out there somewhere just waiting to meet my character.
I’ll admit it. I’ve become addicted to the show. It’s a fascinating look into what people are willing to risk on uncertainty.
Last night, a woman could have kissed a frog and doubled her offer, more money than she would probably make in twenty years (guessing from her comments) and yet she turned it down. It is easy to judge from the safety of my couch. I of course would have kissed the frog. He didn’t look that bad.
What really amazes me though is the help the contestants bring with them. These 3 people, relatives and best friends encourage them to take huge risks, just two more case, just one more, are the shouts from the sidelines.
We all know about peer pressure. We’ve experienced it as teenagers at its worst. So why when it comes to a game where a huge amount of money is possible if you just take the deal do these contestants listen to those they love? Is it because they feel they are being offered good advice? Do they not want to disappoint their loved ones? Or is it fear of having to listen to “I told you so,” for the rest of their lives.
I’m thinking it’s all the above. I don’t’ think it matters how old you are, peer pressure comes into play often in our daily lives. So what to do about it?
Keep your eyes on God. Read your bible, listen to your heart. Good idea right? So why isn’t it easier to do that? I struggle with it every day, choosing to listen to the those who are louder. Maybe that’s my answer. I need to let God’s voice have more volume, let Him drown out the others shouting at me.
February is here, it came like this! Almost 8 inches of snow and higher in drifts. This is the first year in a long time I’ve had winter boots. I had forgotten how much fun it is to stomp around in the snow.
I miss my boys at times like these I wish I could snap my fingers and make them small again. I wish for those days of red noses, wet mittens and damp ‘boy’ hair smells, hot chocolate and getting warm by the fire. Those days went by so fast! And if I remember right I whined about them. How sad for me. I didn’t enjoy them to their full potential. I was more concerned with how often I would have mop up puddles and dry mittens than the fun the boys have.
Brings me to my knees. Most of my days are spent this way. Are yours? Are you living with joy and purpose every day that God gives you? I’m not. I’m going to start trying.
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman the first in the series of The Daughters of Boston is Faith O’Conner’s story. Faith and her sister Charity share more than a last name. They both love the same man. The twists and turns in this book have you turning pages at a fast pace to discover who Faith will marry in the end. Is it the childhood friend, Collin? Or the charming Irishman Mitch? Which man Faith wants so does her sister Charity.
How Lessman pulls this off is pure pleasure for readers. Lessman’s writing has the edginess of Kristen Heitzmann, and depth of Jodi Picoult. Go ahead, pick this one up and fall in love with the entire O’Conner family. Just make sure you have a lot of time to read because this is one book you don’t want to read a little bit at a time.
If you’d like to know more about Julie Lessman here’s a link to my interview with her. Julie Lessman
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck is one of the most thought provoking books I’ve read in awhile. I found it on my Powell’s trip and remembered meeting her at Mt. Herman at a writing conference. I had to have the book. I needed something to distract me on the plane trip back from Oregon. I don’t like to fly.
I identified with Susan, the main character right away. She knows she has a great life but longs for something just a bit better, to help others and she’s depressed. Yep, could have been me in the book. I settled into my seat at the airport, this would be a good comfortable read.
Wrong. This book was fascinating, character driven, with a plot that twisted like spaghetti on a fork.
By the time we were in the air, Susan had left her home and traveled to a place that doesn’t exist in our world. I read, turned pages and read more, the air miles went by and soon we landed in Kansas City. I didn’t relish having to stop living in this magical world where soccer moms can use a sword! Still I had to deplane and wait for the connecting flight to St. Louis. As soon as I could respectfully ignore my husband and read, I yanked that book back out of my bag.
What makes this book so special to me is the idea of how dangerous one thought can be. At first when I read this book I thought Hinck very clever to use an evil thought to throw a community into chaos. A week later I’m identifying thoughts of my own that are leading me in the wrong directions. Thank you, Sharon for helping me to see how poisonous those wrong thoughts can be.
Would I buy the next two books in this series? You bet. I can’t wait for them to arrive.
Here is the book blurb:
Meet Susan, a housewife and soccer mom whose dreams stretch far beyond her ordinary world. While studying the book of Judges, Susan longs to be a modern-day Deborah, a prophet and leader who God used to deliver the ancient nation of Israel from destruction. Susan gets her wish for adventure when she stumbles through a portal into an alternate universe and encounters a nation locked in a fierce struggle for its survival. Now stranded in a strange culture filled with poisonous enemies, Susan must overcome tremendous odds to deliver a desperate people and restore hope to a world far from her own.
I’ve been tagged by Jen! This is a fun quiz for a writer to fill in, and I hope you learn more about me as you read about my likes and dislikes. 1. One book that changed my life. Hands down the bible, but I won’t count this one for this quiz because it’s an easy answer. So, that means I have to come up with another. That’s hard there are many! Everytime I read a how to book my life is changed in someway, I learn to knit, write a better descriptive passage or become a better wife. I’m stalling! I think I’ll have to say Little Women, because it cemented my desire to be a writer.
2. One book I read more than once? Are you serious? There are three that make it over the more than 10 times list. Harriet the Spy, Little Women and Gone with the Wind.
3. One book to take on a deserted island? Without a doubt it would be the bible.
4. One book that made me laugh? If you can’t Decorate it, Lose it! by Anita Renfroe.
5. One book that made me cry. Little Women
6. One I wish I had written? The Church Ladies by Lisa Samson
7. One I’d wish had never been written. I won’t answer that because if I don’t like it, I’d rather not give that author any acknowledgment.
8. What am I currently reading? I just finished reading The Restorer by Sharon Hinck. Amazing book, review to follow later this week. A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman. Julie is in my ACFW critique group so I’ve had a sneak peak at the writing of this book. It rocks. The reviews of her book are outstanding as well. So it is the next book on my list.
9. Book I’ve been meaning to read? Persuasion by Jane Austen. It’s on my to be read stack. Now I’m tagging Casey, Sharon, and Georgiana! Anyone can play, leave a link in the comment section so others can find you!
I’m back from my fun trip to Portland. Powell’s bookstore was amazing. There were lofted floors, red, blue, yellow and green rooms, oh my! I had fun looking through each section, trying to decide what to purchase. I did well, I was able to pack everything into my suitcase. I came home with two Jane Austin books and a The Restorer by Sharon Hinck. I’ll review it later.
Ed also took me to the Mill End Fabric store which for me was a touch of heaven. Where I live most of the stores carry a huge quantity of quilting fabrics and little apparel fabric. Mill End had row after row of fine apparel fabric. Again, I was was controlled. 🙂 Nothing like a packing limit to keep yourself from over spending.
Tuesday, we explored the Colombia River Gorge, hiked up a few trails to get a better of few waterfalls. It was beautiful and cold! My fingers were tingling from the frigid air! .
The trip was over fast. I was prepared with my maps and places marked I wanted to go but I can see a need to return someday. There is a lot of things to do in this city. AND while we were there it only rained once.
Georgiana Daniels hassent me this quiz! Thanks!se a tough challenge for writer’s today. Can you go it?
ONE WORD–play along!
Being a writer is often difficult. Some struggle with word count, never able to fill the pages with their desired quota. Other authors type on and on, barely able to rein in at the desired quota. How do you do? Here’s a fun game…. You. Can. Only. Type. One. Word. (not as easy as you might think!)
1. Where is your cell phone? counter 2. Your significant other? sweet 3. Your hair? curly 4. Your mother? amazing 5. Your father? dead 6. Your favorite thing? books 7. Your dream last night? fire 8. Your favorite drink? tea 9. Your dream/goal? retirement 10. The room you’re in? office 11. Your ex? none 12. Your fear? pain 13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? oceanside 14. Where were you last night? resturant 15. What you’re not? thin 16. Muffins? chocolate 17. One of your wish list items? washer 18. Where you grew up? Missouri 19. The last thing you did? shower 20. What are you wearing? jeans 21. Your TV? Men in Trees (messed up! That’s 3 words!) 22. Your pets? cat 23. Your computer? humming 24. Your life? best 25. Your mood? distracted 26. Missing someone? Pebbles 27. Your car? empty 28. Something you’re not wearing? lotion 29. Favorite Store? Archievers 30. Your summer? hot 31. Like someone? Ed 32. Your favorite color? Blue 33. When is the last time you laughed? Jan. 34. Last time you cried? December 35. Your favorite animal? terrier 36. Last thing you ate? oatmeal 37. Dream vacation spot? Michigan
Wanna play along? Leave a comment so I can visit =)
I am so excited. Last October I found the best jeans for me, Lee Jeans with this secret tummy control. They work or at least give me the feeling that I am smaller than I am.
But, then the pocket tore. Please keep in mind I do not put things in my back pocket. I have no need of any extra poundage back there! So with great regret I folded them and put them on my shelf, every once in awhile I’d pull them out and think, maybe there is a way they could be fixed. Then sadly, I’d shake my head knowing I’d never fix them, refold them and stick them back on the shelf.
I emailed the Lee Jean company and explained how sad I was about the demise of my barely worn jeans, I no longer had the receipt and didn’t’ think the store I purchased them from would take them back. NOW THIS IS WHERE LEE JEANS REALLY ROCK! They emailed me back and explained how to return them to the store! I printed a copy of their email and hit the highway. I had no problem getting them exchanged once they saw the correspondence from LEE! So there you have it, once again I have a great pair of jeans and my illusion of being 2 sizes smaller is once again real.
