Books and Christmas and more

So while my Dad was at home reading mt first novel, I spent my first Christmas away from home. I was with my boyfriend of 1 yr's family. I suppose I don't have to tell you how different that was for me, how foreign some things seemed (really I was the foreign one). I gave 2 books to my boyfriends darling elderly aunts, and I signed it for them. This was a new experience for me. I took out the Mont Blanc pen my father had given me and signed my greeting and my name. The whole time my eyes were on the pen.

For me it represents my father's faith in my abilities, however meager they are. He has always believed in me and that has made all the difference.

Lately I have been having odd dreams, about heroes and masculinity and femininity and babies and things of that nature. I think last night I dreamed of a forest, although I vaguely remember it. My boyfriend tells me he had some kind of vivid dream abut gladiators or something. He normally either doesn't dream or doesn't tell me his dreams. In general he can be a very reserved person even as he is quite friendly and personable. Its an intriguing contrast.

Last night we were watching The Princess Bride. I remembered why Westley was always my favorite character. I think that is slightly related to my dreams lately of heroes.

Anyway... I have been reading lately about the sons of Noah. It is a fascinating time in history. I love the way the author of "The Heavens Before" wrote the story of Shem, father of the Semites. The one thing that is difficult is the pronunciation of the characters names. I read one part about the prophecy of the serpent biting the woman's heel and her offspring crushing the serpent's head, and it gave me chills. The author's depiction of Shem is stunning, much like Westley in "The Princess Bride." Its like John Eldridge states in "Wild at Heart" and "Epic," we all long for adventures for heroes, and for a cause...

But anyway, "Before the Heavens" is a wonderful novel and you ought to read it if you are so inclined. After this I will be reading "Sons of Encouragement" by Francine Rivers and Paul's Epistle to the Romans with the young adults at my church. And of course, many loved ones will be reading my first novel this month.

Weddings and Murder

So over this weekend I babysat and read Melody Carlson's "Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah." This book is the final book in the 4 books series 86 Bloomsberg Place. In my opinion, it was one of the strongest in the series. Lelani and Gil are getting married, Gil's sister Ana is having difficulties at work and in love, her housemate Megan's boyfriend just up and leaves her for a mission trip to Africa with next to no notice, and crazy Kendall is marrying her Maui Man. Throughout the whole book the girls struggle with patience and communicating (in life who doesn't)? I believe that many Church pew Christians will identify with Megan and Ana, while many of those trying to figure out how to balance life will identify with Kendall and Lelani.

For my self it was a hard book to read, simply because I began this series a year or so ago while in a dating relationship, and ended up reading the last book of this series single, with no prospects at all. I think I most closely identified with Ana, although my mother and I have a wonderful relationship. I kind of wish that there would be a spin off series with Ana, Megan and their men. I could go on, but I'll just shut up and give Mrs. Carlson a Gold Star!

As for "Midnight in Madrid" by Noel Hynd, this is the type of novel that I would relate more too in away because I am single. Although it kind of makes me glad I'm single. Single people can go off and have adventures while those married are tied to their apartment and responsibilities. In the first book, Alex LaDuca loses someone who she loves with her life, and in the second book she is on vacation recovering from said loss when artistic disaster strikes. The suspense kept me turning pages every night this weekend and made me wish I had mastered all of the languages I took in college. Many murders later, we realize that Alex might just be ok after all. Gold Star Mr. Hynd for a novel that was as entertaining as it was encouraging.

Both of these novels show that love changes us. God's love is there all along, and sometimes he brings godly men into our lives to love, and sometimes he doesn't bring a spouse, but a people we care deeply for. Either way, God's love sets us free.

Day of starting over

Just a mini-post here. I don't really have the strength for a full on post. A lot has been going on in my life recently.

My next writing group meeting is April 23rd at 7 and if not then May 2nd. I am going to Borders tomorrow and hope to find comfort with the company of my sister and my friends.

I saw "Last House on the Left" late last night and I thought it was a good example of characterization.

In my opinion, good writing creates a world for the reader. A place of escape from the world. Jane Austen does a good job of this in all of her novels. My younger sister and I began reading "Sense and Sensibility" and we love it. Can I leave you with a quote?

"He was not an ill-desposed young man, unles to be rather cold-hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-desposed: but he was, in general, respected, for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of his ordinary duties." (p2 chapter1)

This is an excellent and witty example of describing a character. I only hope I may one day write as well.

Day of Snow brushed cars

First off, an addendumn to a previous post. Why I typed "and up to this point am still dating him" I in no way mean that in a negative sense. I simply wanted to be acurate when typing because I did not yet know that I would be writing weekly updates about my writing habits.

Secondly the writer's group last night was nice. We talked a great deal about setting. Even mentioning the show "Cold Case" a number of times. Aparantly it is filmed in Philly. I never knew this.

Setting makes a great deal of difference to readers, if the three other ladies in my writing group are any example of the mases. We like to read about places familiar to us, but we also like to read about interesting places. When stressed, perhap exotic places are nice. The ladies in my writing group like real towns as opposed to imagined ones, except for in cases like Twlight. That damnable series is allowed to have an invented town acording to them because its sci-fi for R.L.Stine's readers. My question now: is Stephanie Myers REALLY the new R.L.Stine?

In my own writing, I just made up a town. "Hackberry, Pa" it serves my purposes. Small population, home to a flag factory, and allows me to create a small town feel in my story. Not only that but the names of the places get to be named after my favorite composers or writers....

I think I will be working on Character-development over the next couple of weeks now that I have my setting set up.