My Scribbler's Heart Archives - Page 67 of 80

Hiding in My Comfort Zone and Other Sins of Omission

Published by CAstfalk on 11/23/2015

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.

And 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.

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Top 10 Tuesday: 10 Ways Anger Kills

Published by CAstfalk on 11/17/2015

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.

He 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.

Interview with Author of the Bird Face Series for Teens Cynthia Toney

Published by CAstfalk on 11/16/2015

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.

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Seven Quick Takes Friday

Published by CAstfalk on 11/13/2015

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.

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The Witching Hour: When It All Hits the Fan

Published by CAstfalk on 11/09/2015

When 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.

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#5Faves: Contemporary Christian Romance Authors

Published by CAstfalk on 11/03/2015

As companion to my favorite contemporary Catholic fiction-writers that I posted in August, here are my favorite contemporary Christian romance authors (with a few bonus honorable mentions at the end.) The prominence of Christian themes vary from author to author and story to story, but all are perfectly blended with the story and none are pushy or proselytizing, which frankly, no one wants to read.

Authors are listed in no particular order.

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To Caffeinate or Not, That Is the Question

Published by CAstfalk on 11/02/2015

I don’t drink coffee. I never have.

I’m the mother of four young children who on average begin to sleep through the night consistently at age four. I’m also a writer.

I repeat. I don’t drink coffee.

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Small Success Thursday

Published by CAstfalk on 10/29/2015

Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. Here’s my paltry offering for the week:

1. Halloween Costumes – The first costume completed was an angel for my second grader. We re-used the pretty white dress she wore this summer when she was part of her cousin’s wedding. Then we found some DIY angel wings on Pinterest that we created using cereal boxes, coffee filters, sheet music, Mod Podge, and a glue gun. I made a simple halo using gold chenille stems (apparently they’re not “pipe cleaners” anymore) and other gold “stuff” I found at the craft store. My preschoolers are going as Sheriff Callie and Spiderman in the store-bought costumes they wanted. You’d think that would mean no work for me, but after they tried on their quality apparel, I had minor sewing jobs to do on each. My seventh grader wanted to be a Star Wars tie fighter pilot until his leg landed in an immobilizer. Now we’re working on an Igor/hunchback costume.
  Continue readingSmall Success Thursday

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Category: My Scribbler’s Heart

And 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.

He 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.

Kitchen Desperation Edition

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.