Alaska

Life in Alaska is not that much different than life anywhere. We still go to work, take the kids to school and dance, drive to chapel, all the things of 21st century life.

But there are several key differences.

First of all, not everything is priced the way we're used to in the Midwestern US. This means we occasionally suffer some "sticker shock."

Second, I can't just hop in my car and drive 6 hours to visit my mom and sister. Or hop a train and 12 hours later hop off and visit my dad.

Third, our cell phones just don't work as well up here as they did before (We have Verizon, and well, Verizon isn't here).

And finally, the scenery is VERY very cool. Mountains and trees changing their leaves to fall colors, streams and rivers, and beauty all around me.

But otherwise, I am juggling the same things I did before: wife-ing, mom-ing, driving the mom taxi, PWOC, chapel, and part-time employment.

Quick Friday Takes

• I haven't blogged in so long, I've forgotten how...almost!
• I spend most of my online time on Facebook, or email, or researching for my class I'm teaching (Reading and Writing).
• I'm thinking about a break from Facebook.
• By deactivating my account.
• Just during the weeks I'm grading research papers and finals.
• Because what I discovered is, if I have to, I can work hard when the computer is off.
• I'm behind on my Wives of Faith editorial stuff.
• Just looking at the emails piling up stresses me out.
• I'm about to take my dog to the groomer's.
• We're settling into life here in our new state.
• It's pretty much just as busy as everywhere else---school, work, chapel activities, base activities.
• Except surrounded by mountains and trees changing colors to suit the autumn.
• We're fine.
• Really.
• I do miss my friends in the "lower 48" a lot.
• I'm making new friends.
• But that takes time.
• I haven't been writing and I feel all pent up with words.
• I also feel like I'm missing opportunities for expression.
• But I'm not sure.
• I still fight the spectre of insecurity, the sin of not trusting.
• But in many other ways, our life is blessed, and happy, and busy, and good.
• How about you?

CFBA presents A Whisper of Peace

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Whisper of Peace Bethany House (September 1, 2011) by Kim Vogel Sawyer



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and numerous grandchildren.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Ostracized by her tribe because of her white father, Lizzie Dawson lives alone in the mountains of Alaska, practicing the ways of her people even as she resides in the small cabin her father built for her mother. She dreams of reconciling with her grandparents to fulfill her mother's dying request, but she has not yet found a way to bridge the gap that separate her from her tribe.

Clay Selby has always wanted to be like his father, a missionary who holds a great love for the native people and has brought many to God. Clay and his stepsister, Vivian, arrive in Alaska to set up a church and school among the Athbascan people. Clay is totally focused on this goal...until he meets a young, independent Indian woman with the most striking blue eyes he's ever seen.

But Lizzie is clearly not part of the tribe, and befriending her might have dire consequences for his mission. Will Clay be forced to choose between his desire to minister to the natives and the quiet nudging of his heart?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Whisper of Peace, go HERE.

Sadly, I have not received my copy of this book. I can't wait to read it, since I just moved to Alaska! Hopefully soon. That is one of the downsides to living here, however: The mail can potentially take a LONG time. Often it doesn't, but sometimes it does.

UPDATE: I did receive the book finally, and I did read it (finished it Dec. 2). It took me awhile to get into the story, and even with the historical and geographical detail, the story didn't really capture me as I thought it would. I don't know if it's my changing fiction taste, or just that I am finding some historical fiction in the CBA market to be predictable, but there were no surprises in this novel for me, and the characters, while likeable, weren't loveable. So with apologies to Kim Vogel Sawyer, this was just not my favorite book this year.

That said, however, I do think that if you're a fan of gentle romance and historical Christian fiction as comfort reading for yourself, this would be a good choice for you.

Homeward by Melody Carlson

Welcome to the blog tour for Melody Carlson's novel Homeward.

About the Novel:

From bestselling author Melody Carlson comes this award-winning story of three generations of Lancaster women. For twenty years Meg Lancaster has avoided Briar Hedge, the Lancaster family estate. Now she has been drawn back to her grandmother's home to uncover secrets that have been hidden for decades and to try to regain the family she long ago abandoned.

This book was the winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award.

About the Author:

Melody Carlson has published over 200 books, making her one of the top 20 most prolific authors of all time. With total sales of over 1.4 million her award- winning books include: Homeward, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series; the True Colors series; and the Charter House Girls series.

Melody has worn many hats: from pre-school teacher to political activist to senior editor. Currently, she writes full-time, and freelances from her home. She has two grown sons and lives in Sisters, Oregon with her husband, Chris, and Bailey, her chocolate lab.

Pattie's Review:

I enjoyed this novel. At the beginning it had the feel of women's fiction, but as I read more it turned into a spiritual parable of sorts about forgiveness. The spiritual journey of Meg, the main character, was well-charted and seemed very realistic for someone who's been through so much trauma. I enjoyed the romance, too, because it wasn't everything to Meg--just one more way she begins to grow and change as a woman.

I also enjoyed the cranberry bog portions of the novel. How fascinating!

Overall, if you enjoy women's fiction with a Christian worldview, I recommend this novel.

You can get this book on Kindle right now for $2.99 or on the Nook, also for $2.99.

Special thanks to Glass Road PR for a free Kindle copy of this book.

Thomas Nelson Contest and Note from Colleen Coble

From Thomas Nelson:



One of the highlights of our days in the Fiction department at Thomas Nelson? Receiving reader letters—either directly addressed to us or passed along from our talented authors. It’s critical to be reminded that at the end of our long days acquiring, editing, designing, selling, marketing, and publicizing books, those stories are reaching readers, striking nerves, changing lives. We want readers’ feedback. How stories have given you hope. Which authors’ series you can’t help from sharing with everyone you meet. We want to know what makes you stay up late in the night to finish a story, and conversely what turns you away.



We’re conducting a series of surveys—seeking answers from readers who love Christian fiction. Up for grabs is a free ebook for every respondent who completes the survery, as well as a $10,000 prize for one entrant. The responses we gather will help shape the future of the books we publish for years to come. As well as the data we’re collecting here, we’ll also seek more in-depth feedback from a panel we’ll develop over the next year. More details to come. The note below from one of authors gives a specific picture of how reader feedback shapes her work. In short, your opinion matters! We thank you for your time and appreciate your responding.



--Thomas Nelson Fiction

Dear Friends--

Your opinion matters. It really does. I love hearing from readers about what worked for them in a story and about what doesn’t work. Reader feedback changed the balance between romance and suspense in my novels. After the Rock Harbor trilogy, I wanted to write more suspense in my novels because that’s what I personally like. But readers really wanted more relationship and romance in the books so I moved back that direction to about the same mix of 50/50 that the Rock Harbor novels contained. I write for you even more than for myself.



I had no intention of setting a whole series of books at Bluebird, Texas. It was going to be only one book, but readers sent me requests in droves for more books. The fourth book in the Lonestar series, Lonestar Angel, will be out in October. The Rock Harbor novels were going to be complete at three. There are now five and I’m thinking about another one! All due to reader demand.



I’ve often asked for reader input on names and locations too. When I was struggling for a name for my hero in The Lightkeeper’s Ball, I turned to my readers. Harrison really fit my character, and my readers told me. Love that! When I was trying to decide on a location for the new Hope Beach series I’ve started, I asked readers. Their overwhelming response was for a series set in the Outer Banks so guess what I’m writing?!



That’s why we’re coming to you for answers. We want to give you what you really want! Don’t be afraid to let us know what you really think. We value your honesty and the time it will take to share with us. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!



Your friend,

Colleen Coble

Free Writing eBooks

I learned about these from www.pixelofink.com.

Note: I am not getting paid for these links.

Portable MFA in Writing

Robert's Rules of Writing

Spring Reading Thing 2011 Wrapup

http://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-reading-thing-2011.html

So I'm a few weeks late in reporting on this. Other than one book that I didn't finish, I read 11 books of the 10 I intended to read.

Thanks to Katrina...and sorry I never reported on time.