Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. The cupboard, the closet, and Christmas planning. Here’s my paltry offering for the week:
4 CommentsRelevant Fiction for Body & Soul
Category: My Scribbler’s Heart
Last week, my friend Theresa Linden released her Catholic teen novel Roland West, Loner, first in a series including the West brothers and their friends. It’s simply a great novel for teens of all ages, Catholic or not. The author deftly handles common teen experiences from sibling problems and the school social scene to first attraction and rediscovered faith.
- Click here to jump to the book blurb.
- Click here to jump to the Rafflecopter giveaway link and enter to win a free copy of Roland West, Loner.
What follows is a fun interview with the neighbor boy who befriends Roland, making him less of a loner. As you’ll see, Peter’s a charmer.
Character interview of fifteen-year-old Peter Brandt conducted by author Theresa Linden, age undisclosed. This interview occurred sometime after the story began . . .
Author: Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Peter. It’s nice to sit face to face with a character in my story and really get to know him.
Peter: Yeah, okay. Whatever that means. Hey, I don’t mean to sound rude, but can we make this quick because I’m in the middle of a project? I’ve been working on this transmitter and receiver, and I finally got some parts in the mail so I can finish . . . never mind. What was your question?
6 CommentsIf you’d like to give a little something in honor of #GivingTuesday and are looking for a worthy nonprofit, charitable organization to donate to, I have a suggestion for you: Real Alternatives.
Last week at the library and immediately after at the playground, I got to talking to another mom. I tend toward the quiet introvert type, so I don’t often strike up a conversation. My husband can’t get through a simple retail transaction without a full-blown conversation ensuing while I could go weeks without one if pressed. Meeting new people is not my strong suit, but after seeing this woman in not one but two places in a short span, I started chatting.
She was a young, pregnant mom, new to the area. We found some similar interests and common experiences and had a good conversation. Eventually it was time for me to corral my kids and for her to get to a prenatal appointment. We each went our separate ways without so much as a goodbye.
And it bugged me.
Here was a young woman in a new town, with a husband who travels a lot for work, suffering through first trimester sickness with a toddler in tow. Oh, how I could relate.
6 CommentsAnd yet, she didn’t leave my company any better than when she’d met me, other than perhaps to be assured that her experience wasn’t unique. Another mom understood.
I’m fascinated by what readers take a away from my book. A few have mentioned how much they disliked the heroine Rebecca’s father.
Leave a CommentHe is a minor character, but his actions and attitudes – his unrestrained angry outbursts – have shaped and colored Rebecca’s views of love, faith, femininity, and sexuality.
I’m delighted to share my interview with author Cynthia Toney. Cynthia is a fellow member of the Catholic Writers Guild, and I thoroughly enjoyed 8 Notes to Nobody. (You can read my review here.)
I love the new look of your Bird Face series – bright covers and snappy titles that capture the mood of the series. Is it how you envisioned Wendy’s story being presented?
Thank you so much. At first I didn’t envision a series at all. I began to write book two well after book one released through its original publisher, under the title Bird Face. Soon I had to search for a new publisher because the first one was no longer going to publish MG or YA, and it would eventually stop publishing books altogether.
6 Comments
Kitchen Desperation Edition
People say their kitchens are awful, but I don’t think they know what awful means. Around the country, families are remodeling kitchens that, from my perspective, are already quite serviceable.
Give me your tired, your worn, your avocado appliances. Your vinyl floor yearning to be wiped clean. The sparkling product of your gleaming double sink. Replace my crumbling kitchen from a bygone era.
Which era, I’m not certain.
5 CommentsWhen I say, “the witching hour,” I’m not talking about some spooky hour in the inky blackness when supernatural creatures roam the earth making the time ripe for witchery. I’m referring to the common parlance of parents of young children who are all too familiar with the early evening fussiness of babies.
Early evening, you may know, generally coincides with adults returning home from work, kids heading to and from after-school activities, and preparing and eating dinner.