Seventeen years ago today I gave birth to the twins, Samuel and Jonathan. Their birth was a comedy of errors starting with Rachael,then three, throwing up all over her parka, which meant that she stayed in the car with Elsa, who was almost two, while I tried to get the attention of someone to let us into our condo. I didn't have my key with me, David was at a meeting, and his sister Cynthia had given us a ride home. So I was ringing doorbells, starting with Hal, one of the nice people who lived on the first floor. Hal thought I made a mistake in ringing his bell and went back to watching TV. Meanwhile, the girls managed to shift Cynthia's big, gold mercedes into neutral and Cynthia and I turned around in time to see it slowly rolling backwards down the hill. I believe that angels helped Cynthia fly down the steps and get into the moving vehicle in the nick of time to save the girls from breaking their necks- they were picking up speed and heading for a crash into some cement stairs. I kept saying "this night couldn't get any worse". A few hours later I went into labor and delivered the twins.
Jonathan was a surprise.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lying to Be Perfect on Lifetime
I love Cinderella stories.
Lifetime's Lying to be Perfect, starring Poppy Mongomery is the perfect big-girl movie- literally! Poppy stars as Nola, an overweight writer who creates an alter ego advice columnist named Belinda Apple- complete with British accent and a perfectly photo shopped bod- in order to be published in the high fashion magazine where she works as an editor.
The movie is an adaptation of the book "The Cinderella Pact" which I haven't read but would like to. I'm sure Elsa, the princess of romance would love it! I thought the acting was fun and the dialogue was snappy and had that "why can't I come up with lines like that?" feel. There was also a message about finding out your true identity that touched a personal chord with me.
If you are looking for a lighthearted Valentines girl-movie, this is it. Not especially for guys though.. not even gonna go there with David.. nope.
It does have a gratuitous sex scene, so not for the little girls. Too bad.
Lifetime's Lying to be Perfect, starring Poppy Mongomery is the perfect big-girl movie- literally! Poppy stars as Nola, an overweight writer who creates an alter ego advice columnist named Belinda Apple- complete with British accent and a perfectly photo shopped bod- in order to be published in the high fashion magazine where she works as an editor.
The movie is an adaptation of the book "The Cinderella Pact" which I haven't read but would like to. I'm sure Elsa, the princess of romance would love it! I thought the acting was fun and the dialogue was snappy and had that "why can't I come up with lines like that?" feel. There was also a message about finding out your true identity that touched a personal chord with me.
If you are looking for a lighthearted Valentines girl-movie, this is it. Not especially for guys though.. not even gonna go there with David.. nope.
It does have a gratuitous sex scene, so not for the little girls. Too bad.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything. As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?
If you'd like to read the first chapter of Beguiled, go HERE
Check out their video:
Comments by Me:
You know what? I liked this book. These two (the authors) have great chemistry- watch the video to see what I mean. I think that the romantic suspense worked. Beguiled is a light hearted read that delivers on the mystery side of things also. Elsa requested that I send her some books to help her escape a bit from the serious pursuit of pilot and missionary training and this one will be included in the box.
Friday, January 29, 2010
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born in Racine, Wisconsin (home of Western Printing and Johnson’s Wax—maker of your favorite floor care products) Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was in high school. But not being a fan of blazing heat and knowing that Uncle Sam was looking for a few good women, she enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and spent the next five years flying a typewriter through Europe.
Her lifelong dream of writing fiction came true in Spring 2005 with the release of her first chick lit novel, Dreaming in Black & White which won the Contemporary Fiction Book of the Year from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her sophomore novel, Dreaming in Technicolor was published in Fall 2005.
Laura’s third novel, Reconstructing Natalie, chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year for 2006, is the funny and poignant story of a young, single woman who gets breast cancer and how her life is reconstructed as a result. This book was born out of Laura’s cancer speaking engagements where she started meeting younger and younger women stricken with this disease—some whose husbands had left them, and others who wondered what breast cancer would do to their dating life. She wanted to write a novel that would give voice to those women. Something real. And honest. And funny.
Because although cancer isn’t funny, humor is healing.
To learn more about Laura’s latest novels, please check out her Books page.
A popular speaker and teacher at writing conferences, Laura has also been a guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows around the country including the ABC Weekend News, The 700 Club, and The Jay Thomas Morning Show.
She lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband Michael, and Gracie, their piano playing dog.
ABOUT THE BOOK
At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. What Becca doesn’t want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it’s an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That’s why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg.
And that’s why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager—that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be “churchy” Ben—definitely not Becca’s type—she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings.
This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she “suffers” through her dates, gains perspective on her life’s purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.
If you'd like to read the first chapter of Becca By The Book, go HERE
Cheryl's comments:
Wow, this one created some heated comments on some of the blogs. I loved the cover and little illustrations and was hoping that the story would be something that Elsa and I could get excited about. Kind of a grown-up "Penderwicks" book, with a girl who was a risktaker, but also a kindred spirit. The opening scene has Becca jumping out of "a perfectly good plane" something Elsa has been wanting to do for a while... Her father and I draw the line at her flying them.
The problem is, instead of bonding with Becca, and doing imaginary high-fives with her, Elsa found herself feeling defensive about who she is as a young Christian woman, at a Christian school, who really is trying to do the (forgive the Christianese) "work of the Lord".
As she was reading this book, I kept asking "how is it?" fully anticipating a great reaction, instead, I saw her happy self fade a bit in confusion about what the book was trying to accomplish. She felt that the main character didn't like her! Is it possible to be dissed by a fictional character?
So this one wasn't what we were longing for, but I believe that Becca by the Book was not meant to offend or hurt readers in any way.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Kelly's Chance by Wanda Brunstetter
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a writer. When I was in the second grade, I wrote my first poem about a moth. Luckily, I received encouragement from my teacher. During my teen years, I wrote skits that my church teen group performed during special holidays.
It wasn’t until 1980, that I took a course on writing for children and teenagers. I became serious about a career as an author. Soon after that, I began to write stories, articles, poems, and devotionals, which appeared in a variety of Christian publications. Later, I had 5 books of puppet/ventriloquist scripts published. *These books are currently available by contacting me. (wanda@wandabrunstetter.com)
My first novel was released by Barbour Publishing’s book club, Heartsong Presents, in Dec. 1997. I have now written nearly fifty books, with over 4 million books in print. Many of the novels I've written are Amish-themed.
ABOUT THE BOOK
If you would like to read the first chapter of Kelly’s Chance , go HERE.
Remaks:
Elsa took this one back to Liberty University. I'm sure she's enjoying it! Wanda Brunstetter is a wonderful writer. Always thoughtful, funny and gentle in spite of the hard topics. How does she do it? I have no idea. But Elsa and I are just glad she does. Lovely book. Great cover too!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Truth Be Told
"There is a level of truth that is more than the facts. You must look beyond that and see Me." -Graham Cook
I was driving back from yoga class, listening to my Graham Cook CD. It was gray and gloomy and I was a bit down about some stuff. So I paused the CD to repeat the above phrase out loud- I do that sometimes to emphasize something that I want to become a part of me. The sun came out through the clouds as I was picturing looking beyond the "facts". Things may look dark and feel cold and lonely, but just look beyond the visible and the sun is still shining. I Am is still there.
I was driving back from yoga class, listening to my Graham Cook CD. It was gray and gloomy and I was a bit down about some stuff. So I paused the CD to repeat the above phrase out loud- I do that sometimes to emphasize something that I want to become a part of me. The sun came out through the clouds as I was picturing looking beyond the "facts". Things may look dark and feel cold and lonely, but just look beyond the visible and the sun is still shining. I Am is still there.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Talking About "The Judas Ride"
Hey. Peggy Sue Yarber was kind enough to send me a copy of her indie (my term) book, The Judas Ride. I have to say that I admire anyone who can manage to get a book out there, no matter who publishes it. This one is self-published.
I could not get into the story,the plot was hard if not impossible to find. Maybe this would be better off as a graphic novel? Another problem is that this is supposed to be Christian fiction. But if you are looking for a book that makes sense in that regard this one isn't it.
I could not get into the story,the plot was hard if not impossible to find. Maybe this would be better off as a graphic novel? Another problem is that this is supposed to be Christian fiction. But if you are looking for a book that makes sense in that regard this one isn't it.
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