Unexpected Christmas Hero

The moment I saw the cover for this book, Unexpected Christmas Hero, I fell in love with its charming, wistful "greeting card" mood. But there's a real-life mystery behind this Unexpected Christmas Hero cover--offering us a chance to reunite a family for the holidays. Read on!
Unexpected Christmas Hero is an inspiring and compelling story of friendship and survival. Forced by unexpected circumstances to live on the streets and in homeless shelters, Josie Meyers and her two small children share in the lives and struggles of other homeless people. Eventually, Josie meets Rick, a homeless, disabled vet who becomes their hero and friend. While living in the shelters she continually hears the gospel, reigniting memories of the words she heard and believed as a child. Will these events lead her and her children home to the ultimate shelter?

Read "the story behind the story" and help reunite a family: http://kathimacias.com/help-reunite-a-family/

SCAVENGER HUNT STOP # 15!

R. J. Larson

Home of Biblical Fantasy author R. J. Larson's Blog.

First *R.J. steps aside* The official guidelines!

Follow the clues to win the grand prize: a Kindle Fire and 31 free books, each autographed by the authors!

WELCOME, to the Fall Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt~~we hope you're enjoying the stories as you search!

·         This hunt begins 10/25 at noon MDT

·         The fun finish falls on 10/28 at midnight MDT—plenty of time; no need to rush!

·         Enjoy 31 stops, each with a different author and fresh, new-to-you content!

·         Discover authors with new or soon-to-be-released novels

·         Collect the clues in red on each post, beginning from Stop #1 and at Stop#32, fill out the Rafflecopter form. Be ready to provide the completed clue quote, gathered from all 31 stops, within 24 hours of email notification or another winner will be randomly drawn. No need to email/submit it, unless you are notified on 10/29/12.

• Grand Prize: A new Kindle Fire, plus 31 new novels! 

UPDATE!!! The winners have been chosen!
The GRAND PRIZE winner is: Jennifer Friedley
The second and third prize $50 gift certificates went to: Laura McEwen and Gretchen Michels Garrison!!!

Congratulations, to the winners!!!

·         2^nd & 3^rd Prizes: $50 Amazon, B&N, CBD or BookDepository.com gift certificate

·         (Contest is open to international entrants. If the winner lives outside the United States, they shall win the equivalent in gift certificate funds to the prize in US dollars.)

[R. J. returns!]

Welcome, Hunters! I'm pleased to introduce our delightful guest at this stop, one of my fellow Shakespeare-fan friends, Leslie Gould!

 Leslie Gould is the Christy award-winning and bestselling author of fifteen novels. Her latest, Courting Cate, is inspired by Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Leslie enjoys traveling, watching soccer games, and binge reading. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and four children. Visit her at
Her Website    
FaceBook! 
 and
Twitter!

Courting Cate:

In Paradise, Pennsylvania, Cate Miller is known more for her sharp tongue and fiery temper than her striking appearance. Her sweet and flirty sister, Betsy, on the other hand, seems to have attracted most of the bachelors in Lancaster County!

But the sisters' wealthy father has made one hard-and-fast rule: older Cate must marry first, before younger Betsy can even start courting. Unfortunately, untamable Cate has driven away every suitor--until Pete Treger comes to town, that is.

Prodded by the men of the area, Pete turns his attention to winning Cate's hand. But is his interest true or is there a scheme at play?

Now, dear Hunter, here is an exclusive sneak-peek at Leslie's recent journey to Lancaster county, the setting for Courting Cate, narrated by Leslie!

 

Snapshots of Lancaster County

Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” influenced the plot of Courting Cate, while the pastoral beauty of Lancaster County inspired the setting.

Courting Cate is set in the picturesque landscape around Paradise, Pennsylvania. I drew on this photo of green rolling hills and Amish barns as I described the “farmette” where Cate lives and the surrounding countryside.

Don’t be fooled by the beauty of the laundry on the line. It took a lot of hard work to get it there. I’d much rather write about the work of an Amish woman than actually do it. Cate, in my story, avoids doing laundry at all costs, leaving it to her sister, Betsy.

I love this photograph for a couple of reasons. First, someone who lives in an Amish home is selling a motorbike. Is he (I’m assuming it’s a young man) finished with his Rumschpringe (running around time)? Or upgrading to a bigger bike? Cate, in my story, is a bit prickly (okay, a lot prickly), but she’s not wild. The whole Rumschpringe never appealed to her, and she joined the church while still in her teens. Still, she has some growing up to do.

My husband, daughter, and I just happened to drive by this church wagon while tooling around Lancaster County. “Stop!” I shouted. (My poor hubby.) I have lots of church wagons in my stories, but this is the only one I’ve seen in real life. A wagon like this one would be filled with tables, benches, and other items and transported to the family hosting church services that Sunday in their home.

Cate is a bit of a speed demon when it comes to driving her buggy. In a pivotal scene in the story she and Pete, the man she loves to hate, go for a drive and race over a covered bridge. Even though covered bridges have a romantic quality, this particular scene doesn’t. The romance comes later.

Speaking of romance, this image inspired me to incorporate a sunset into Courting Cate as the backdrop for these lines:

And where two raging fires meet together,

They do consume the thing that feeds their fury.

“The Taming of the Shrew,” II.1.125-126, William Shakespeare

R. J. here: Leslie, thank you!  I'm a fantasy/history/Biblical "swords and cloaks" author and reader, but Courting Cate is now on my reading list~~I cannot resist Shakespeare, and Cate's feisty, "I dare you" image on the cover!

Hunters, if you are equally tempted by Courting Cate, here are a few handy "Buy Now" links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD! Or purchase a copy at your favorite bookstore! 

THE SCAVENGER HUNT BASICS: 

Before you go, write down this STOP #15 clue: And

WAIT! Speaking of and: Enter to win a signed copy of PROPHET, plus the audio cd of Volume #1 in the acclaimed Books of the Infinite series! *Easy*
Just click on the Rafflecopter form below to "like"
R. J. Larson's Facebook page! 

<a Rafflecopter giveaway>

Now, blessings and onward to stop #16, Leslie Gould's own site!

While I'm pondering my next blog post, Dear Reader, it occurred to me that I haven't fulfilled a pledge to post a vocab list for my series. As promised, here it is...the Character List for JUDGE. Enjoy!

In order of name’s appearance:

Kien Lantec \Kee-en Lan-tek\ Military judge-advocate for the Tracelands.

ToronSea \Tor-on-Sea, or, Tor-on-Sea\ Southern coastal town in the Tracelands.

Ela Roeh \El-ah Roe-eh\ Prophet of Parne.

Ara Lantec \Are-ah Lan-tek\ Rade Lantec’s wife. Kien’s mother.

Scythe \ Sīth\Long 'I'\ A destroyer. Kien and Ela’s monster-warhorse.

General Rol \Rawl\ The Traceland’s General of the Army.

Tamri Het \Tam-ree Het\ Citizen of Munra, Siphra.

Tzana Roeh \Tsaw-nah Roe-eh\ Ela’s sister.

Beka Thel \Bek-ah Thell\ Jon Thel’s wife. Kien’s sister.

Belaal \Bell-A-el\ Kingdom south of Siphra.

Agocii \Ah-goss-ee\ Mountain tribes bordering Belaal.

Eosyths \E-o-siths\ Mountain tribes south of Parne.

Jon Thel \Jon Thell\ A Tracelands military commander. Beka’s husband.

Rade Lantec \Raid Lan-tek\ Kien’s father. The Tracelands preeminent statesman.

Ruestock \Roo-stock\ Exiled former Siphran ambassador to the Tracelands.

Tsir Aun \Sir Awn\ Istgard’s prime minister. Tek Lara’s husband.

Tek Lara \Tek Lar-ah\ A cousin to the deceased king of Istgard.

Bel-Tygeon \Bell-Ty-jee-on\ King of Belaal.

Akabe Garric \Ah-cabe Gair-rick\ Former Siphran rebel. The Infinite’s chosen king of Siphra.

Adar-iyr \Ad-are-eer\ Island kingdom off the coast of Siphra.

Sius Chacen \See-es Chase-en\ Eldest son of Parne’s deposed chief priest, Zade Chacen.

Zade Chacen \Zaid Chase-en\ Parne’s deposed chief priest.

Dan Roeh \Dan Roe-eh\ Ela’s father.

Kalme Roeh \Call-may Roe-eh\ Ela’s mother.

Ninus \Nine-es\ King of the island-city, Adar-iyr.

Za’af Chacen \Zay-aff Chase-en\ Second son of Parne’s deposed chief priest Zade Chacen.

Ishvah Nesac \Ish-vaw Ness-ak\ The Infinite’s chosen chief priest of Parne.

Siyrsun \Seer-sun\ Belaal’s General of the Army.

Now.... Don your cloaks, say a prayer, and follow Kien....

 

Batman. Dirty Harry. Scarlett O’Hara. Hamlet. Gollum. Bad Master. Sydney Carton.

 Often described as a literary or cultural trope, the antihero is probably older than Odysseus. Older, even, than most classically accepted hero-types.

Today, in order to illustrate a few points, I’ve joined forces with YA wonder-artist, fifteen-year-old Kristina Fiscaletti, (of the amazing Fiscaletti clan) who has graciously shared her own sketches of the tragic antihero, Bad Master. *Bows to Kristina.*

Dark, brooding, or simply willing to defy cultural norms to achieve a goal, a true antihero reflects humanity’s bleaker, almost repulsive traits. Yet we love our not-quite-heroes and heroines.

Why?

Simple. Antiheroes are closer to true human nature than classic heroes. Antiheroes embody our secret weaknesses and often act out our defiant hidden impulses, which are usually—with good reason—frowned upon by civilized societies. Most antiheroes don’t accept oppression meekly. (But neither do strong classic heroes!) And a true antihero often reveals noble characteristics, usually with a courage most of us mere mortals only wish we possessed.

Often, antiheroes are called upon to save heroes—to brave harm or death for the sake of good. Remember the alcoholic Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities? As he is facing death for the sake of his beloved and her hero-husband, he concludes, "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known!" *R. J. searches for tissue. Blows nose.*

By contrast, Antiheroes are often resentful if they’re rescued, particularly if the rescuer is—through some cruel twist of the author’s scheming imagination—an erstwhile foe, or *worse* the hero! (For pity’s sake, doesn’t the hero draw enough accolades?)

Most important to the author, however, is that an antihero’s tempestuous nature presents opportunities for redemption, usually at a pivotal moment in the plot, or even at the story’s epic climax. Better yet, the antihero might be allowed to remain an unresolved mystery to readers.

 

See those tears? Are they real? Dare we allow ourselves to hope for our beloved antihero’s redemption?

Stay tuned, Dear Reader!

Stay tuned....

It's true. I've posted nothing new since March.
"Why not?" you ask.
Becaauuuuse I've been sick since May, which is about the time guilt would have driven me to post new content. (Yes, I'm partial to my lifelong guilt-complex. Deserved or not, guilt is a great self-motivator.)

Now, before you start tapping your foot or offering the name of a wise and trusted mental health counselor, I DO have a bit of news!

PROPHET will be free on all e-readers (Nook, Kindle, Sony, all those lovely e-formats!) on August 14th, 2012. Yes, dear everyone, for 24-hours--one full day--Bethany House Publishers is allowing me to whoop it up and tell all my friends that they can read Ela's story for FREEEEEE!!!!!

WOOO-HOOO!!!!!
*Cough-cough-cough.*
Okay, that was enough excitement for one day. And, yes, I'm still sick. My traditional bout of springtime allergies has chosen to stay with me through the summer and blossom into sinusitis, asthma, and bronchitis.

I had no idea I was such wonderful company. *Sniffs.*

But fear not! I AM following doctors' orders and recovery is in sight.

Which means I'll be pestering you more often!
Now, however, I must return to proof-reading the final galley of JUDGE, which is due to hit stores on November 1, 2012.

Cough or no cough, energy or no energy, the work continues!!!

Blessings, dear everyone.
And if you have any sore throat remedies, I'll be taking notes.
Right now, I'm certain that hot chocolate with whipped cream does work as a soothing remedy. :)

Cheers!

R. J.’s turn.

What? How could Kacy blog about villains—my villains included—without mentioning, “That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain”???  Hamlet Act 1, scene 5, 105-109

All right. Fine. Because Kacy has dealt with the villains in the previous post—which is contrary to her retiring nature, but appreciated due to my lack of time in October and since then—I will consider heroes. All heroes, excluding antiheroes, who deserve their own blog, and hero sandwiches. (Though sandwiches are always welcomed during writing deadlines!)

What are we looking for when we study our heroes? Courage, of course. And, if they’re not necessarily handsome, they must at least be charming. Or possess some beguiling aspect that entices us as readers/movie-goers/hero-followers-in-general, to become fans of this hero.

Honor. Resourcefulness. Humor. Strength. A willingness to defend others who are vulnerable. The desire to defend certain ideals. A sacrifice of self. A champion!

Heroes, whether male or female, model characteristics that the rest of us ought to imitate or admire. Furthermore, every hero must reveal a few weaknesses, evoking our empathy, love, compassion and devotion! Our heroes make us long to follow them.

After spending almost two years with one of my current fiction heroes, I’ve concluded that Kien Lantec’s greatest mortal weakness—apart from his overwhelming love for Ela—is his tendency to rush to judgment. Not always, but just enough to land Kien in a sea of trouble.

Fortunately, Kien manages to greet trouble with humor and resilience. And an epic Azurnite sword.

Now that I've inflicted my idea of a hero on you, tell me...what qualities do you expect in your heroes?    

The most compelling villains are...what?

I'm asking myself that question today as R.J. prepares to send Ela out to meet her next foe--a god-king who isn't all that he should be. Or is he? Perhaps. As I'm mentally walking around this villain and contemplating his mortal flaws, I realize that the proper villain can make a novel. Lift it from mundane to extraordinary. Caricature-villains, on the other hand, drag down a plot--often disastrously. Not good.

So, what am I looking for? Complexity. Touches of mortal weakness, even tenderness, that reveal my villain's soul. (Yes, despite our tendency to remove all human characteristics from the most evil beings and separate them from us, villains do have souls.)

Often, when I'm creating villains, I remember a chief baddie from my Children's Picture Bible. I'll never forget turning the pages and finding--gasp!--this startled man being threatened by huge serpents. Eew! My kid-self wanted those snakes out of the picture. NOW.

Until I read the story of Moses and the Pharaoh. Yeah. Let the snakes eat the rotten Pharaoh!

Later, when I realized Pharaoh lost what he perhaps treasured most, his son and heir, I wondered if the experience changed his hard heart and truly humbled his lamentably proud soul. Was there hope of redemption for this death-wish-arrogant king?

Will there be hope of redemption for R.J.'s overbearing god-king?

Don't ask me. I'm just the bystander.

Anyway, isn't it my job to keep you guessing?

Mindsharing. It's not for the faint-hearted! 

Allowing R. J. Larson to share my thought-space is proving to be a test of courage. Swords, daggers, and the formidable, world-shaking Infinite are crowding out my Kacyish fondness for the color pink and cute shoes. Worse, ambushes of Scalns and other fantasy beasts are cropping up with alarming regularity as the Books of the Infinite series progresses.

Scalns. Seriously? Where did scalns come from? R. J. LOVES the beasts. Kacy wants to send them back to wherever they came from and seal the door forever! *Glares at R. J.*

You’d think we were raised with a pack of rowdy hunters who discussed wild animals and epic weapons throughout our childhood.

Oh. Wait. We were. And here’s a scaln to prove it—drawn by artist-extraordinaire, Katharin Fiscaletti.

Is there any hope that Kacy might tame R. J.'s thought processes? Hm.
To be continued....

I haven't been myself lately. And I wonder if I'll ever be completely myself again. Now, before you post the name of a highly-recommended psychiatrist in the comment box or--better yet--suggest the latest miracle pill guaranteed to resolve exotic personality disorders, let me reassure you that I'm no more (or less?) in need of a mental evaluation than I was before my current personality dissonance took hold.

So why am I not myself?

Well, a year ago, I woke up and heard voices. Yeah. And I saw monsters. Conspiracies. Kingdoms falling. And the Lord was speaking...to Ela. Not me. Ela--a bewildered girl-turned-prophet, who was about to die.

Not my problem, right?

Sure. When two cups of coffee and a full day's work on my Victorian saga failed to chase Ela from my thoughts, I knew I was in trouble. I'd been dragged, mentally kicking and screaming, into a new genre: Biblical fantasy fiction. What's a sidetracked author to do? EAT!

Fortified with chocolate and potato chips, I emailed Tamela, my dear, patient agent, and explained to her that I was being driven crazy by this unexpected plotline, which was worlds away from our agreed-upon gentle Victorian saga. Tamela, being dear-Tamela, agreed to humor me and represent Ela's story.

Within a week, I wrote three chapters and a synopsis. Within four months Tamela received an offer from Bethany House Publishers. The catch? I needed a pen name to suit my new genre.

A nom de plume. And who better than R. J. Larson? Never mind that I haven't met the person until recently and haven't any idea how to share a website with such a cryptic being. Does it sound as if R. J. and I are uneasy with our new partnership? Well...we are.

Victorian novels are not R. J.'s idea of fun. *sob!*
R. J. is fond of epic Biblical twists, dazzling weapons, and mythical beasts--forget the tea and etiquette. It's enough to make me cry in my Darjeeling.

Fortunately, R. J. likes coffee and potato chips with dark chocolate, and we've agreed to a truce over mochas. For Ela's sake.

There. See? Perfectly reasonable explanation for my "other I" confusion.  It's Ela's fault!

Love and blessings, everyone!

Has it really been YEARS since I’ve posted to this blog, with the exception of a few tame tweets? Oh. My.

Dear readers, make no mistake, I’ve always loved my blog. Life and writing, however, have crowded out precious blogging time—despite my resolutions to post. I pledge to improve. For pity’s sake, even posting once a year would be an improvement! :D

Forgive me, please.

So why am I revisiting this site and dusting it off? Because…I have news.
I’ve signed with Bethany House Publishers to write YA Biblical fantasy fiction! In other words Illuminating the WORD in unexpected, adventuresome, joyful ways. Want a hint? Here it is: If she becomes the Infinite’s prophet, Ela of Parne knows she will die young—yet she cannot imagine living without Him.

The series title is Books of the Infinite.
Book one, PROPHET, is due to hit store shelves and internet sites in Spring 2012! There’s more I could share, but that will be another spot on the blog. An unforeseen twist in my scribe-path.

Until then, dear friends, Blessings!

One of my favorites!

Athol Dickson’s Winter Haven is a modern mystery with a deliciously chilling, classic gothic mood. As heroine Vera Gamble struggles to resolve the bizarre mystery behind her brother’s death, she is threatened by Winter Haven’s hostile inhabitants, her own vulnerabilities wrought by her tormented past, and by the mist-shrouded island itself, which is imbued with sinister legends.

Dickson’s artistry with words brings Winter Haven’s characters to life, and his research is evident in all the fascinating peculiarities and inconveniences of existence on a small Maine island. Vera’s dead brother, Siggy, is particularly touching as he appears in the memories and letters of those who loved him—an autistic adolescent, unable to reach out to others except through biblical verses—filled with a heavenly spirit despite the limitations of his earthly existence.

A Dream Comes True!

J. M. Hochstetler has been working almost non-stop since 2006, bringing her dream to life: Sheaf House Publishers. J. M., also known as Joan, has kept a written diary of her Sheaf House journey. You’ll find all her musings and business notes on her blog at: http://publishingdream.blogspot.com/

For the past two years, I’ve been checking on Joan’s progress, praying for her dream and marveling at her gumption. (Okay, okay . . . if you don’t like the word “gumption” then I’ll change it, dear readers, as soon as one of you can offer a word which merges down-to-earth practicality with true courage and sincere faith. :) Joan’s first Sheaf House publication is ONE HOLY NIGHT: A Contemporary Miracle Story.

I was delighted when Joan contacted me and asked if I would read One Holy Night, which depicts a family in crisis during the Vietnam years. The family’s father, Frank McRae, has unwillingly bid farewell to his only son, Mike, who is heading off to the war. Memories of WWII still haunt Frank, and a series of devastating losses only add to his deep-set bitterness and his resentment toward God. One Holy Night is poignant and amazingly relevant, as we are daily reminded of the controversy and the battles our soldiers are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan. I rarely cry when reading books, but one scene—can’t reveal it because it’s near the end—moved me to tears. Grab your hankies when you curl up with this one! Blessings, k.

Publisher’s Description:
“Isabelle Gayarre, fleeing a life of servitude, refuses to be owned by anyone, yet soon finds her heart in danger of being possessed by the godless Captain Josiah Carter. Can Isabelle trust him to help her escape without losing her heart? Josiah Carter, running from demons of his own, is stirred by the presence of the beautiful woman seeking refuge on his ship. Realizing that a runaway slave can never be his, legally or otherwise, a storm begins to brew within. Will their love ever reach a safe haven, or is it doomed to wreck upon the jagged reefs of the Fairweather Keys?”


Born a slave, Isabelle Gayarre has been raised with the expectation of becoming the mistress of a powerful and wealthy man, in an arrangement known as placage. But Isabelle’s deep faith and strong sense of moral goodness compel her to resist the arrangement and risk her life in a desperate bid for freedom. Hoping to find sanctuary among abolitionists in England, Isabel bargains for passage aboard the Jude, forcing her to trust an equally desperate person, the Jude’s captain, Josiah Carter.

Beloved Castaway’s first few chapters are initially confusing, but the captivating plot and setting lured me to turn page after page, seeking answers from Isabelle and Josiah’s past as they struggle to survive and to protect their growing but forbidden love. By the end of the book, author Kathleen Y’Barbo’s characters drew me into their story and left me looking forward to the sequel, Beloved Captive. Enjoy!

As an avid reader rapidly approaching the bifocal age, I’m delighted to announce book 1 in The Genesis Trilogy, THE HEAVENS BEFORE, is now available in large-print, hardcover. Thorndike Press has given my “baby” a makeover and I’m enjoying the new look. Let me know what you think! Blessings, Kacy Barnett-Gramckow

P.S. Interested in a sample read? Here’s the Prologue:

The Heavens Before

The ancient tree of Havah stood in solitary splendor in a vast field, its pale green-leafed branches drooping softly, curtainlike, inviting passersby to come rest in the shade. It was said that Havah, Mother of All, had planted the tree after the untimely death of her favorite son, Hebel. The tree was not meant as a memorial to Hebel, but as a tranquil place where Havah might sit with her surviving children and nurture them through the remaining ages of her life.
If Havah had planted the tree herself or if she had not, it no longer mattered. For Havah and her children had passed into legend. Most people now doubted that Havah had ever lived. But the doubters were the ones who did not sit beneath the tree or climb its massive branches and listen to its leaves sighing in the quiet breeze beneath the rose-colored sky.
The doubters were also the ones who failed to recognize the countless signs about them, the marks of a young planet still resounding with the echoes of its creation. But the echoes themselves were becoming more discordant with each passing day. For the doubters were consuming the world with their own restlessness and destroying it with the violence of their desires.

Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture

by Mary E. DeMuth

Harvest House, July 1, 2007


If you've read my previous post, you know I'm a fan of Mary E. DeMuth's fiction. This week, Mary's new book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, hits the shelves. I'm celebrating the release by featuring Mary's work and her interview as part of a Blog Tour. It's a new experience for me to join a blog tour, but it's the least I can do as a fan and as a parent who believes in Absolute Truth. Cheers and enjoy!

Blessings,
Kacy

INTERVIEW WITH MARY:

Why did you write this book? Aren’t there already a bazillion parenting books out there?

Yes, I do believe there are a bazillion. I always struggle when I write a parenting book because I feel so darned small and weak. I don’t parent perfectly. But, we did live through two and half years in France, the hotbed of hyper-postmodernity. We had to learn how to parent our kids in that culture. It occurred to me that the things we learned would be helpful to American parents too. What does postmodern mean? And why should it matter to parents?Postmodernism is the waiting room between what used to be a modern worldview and what will be. According to several postmodern scholars, we’re in a shift right now, leaving modern ideas behind, but what we are shifting to is not yet fully defined. Postmoderns believe that rationalism and/or more education doesn’t necessarily create a better society. They typically don’t embrace the notion of absolute truth, though they reach for the transcendent. They are skeptical, and often question whether science is something to be embraced or feared. The question for parents is how will we mine the current worldview, even as it shifts? What in it can we embrace as biblical? What is not biblical? What I’ve seen in the church is a fearful adherence to what is familiar. So we cling to modern ideas, even though they may not be biblical and shun postmodern ideas even when they might be biblical. Our children will meet this shifting worldview no matter what our opinion of it is.

How can a parent help their children prepare for the world outside their door?

Become a conversational parent. Talk to your kids. Listen. Share your story.Dare to believe that God has much to teach you through your kids. Be humble enough to learn from them.Create a haven for your kids, an oasis in your home that protects, supports, and gives kids space to be themselves. Take seriously the mandate that you are responsible for the soul-nurturing of your children.Teach your children to joyfully engage their world, while holding tightly to Jesus’ hand. Teaching this comes primarily from modeling it in your own life. Do you engage your neighbors? Are you more interested in God’s kingdom than your own? Admit your failures openly with your children, showing how much you need Jesus to live your daily life.

You are the first to admit that being authentic might require a parent to apologize after an angry outburst. Are you saying that authentic parents don’t always have it all together as some would like to think?

Yep! We are all frail, needy humans. If we present ourselves as perfect parents, never failing, always doing this correctly, we show our children we have no need of Jesus. We also set up a standard of perfection—that to be a Christian, one has to be perfect. This can lead to our children creating elaborate facades or hiding behind masks. I’d rather have my children see that even mommies make mistakes. Even mommies need Jesus every single day.

You talk about the twin values of engagement and purity. What does that mean?

Many parents subconsciously believe that true parenting means protection at any cost. We received a lot of flak for putting our children in French schools because the atmosphere there wasn’t exactly nurturing. Believe me, the decision was excruciating. But through it all, I realized that Jesus calls us all to be engaged in the culture we live in, yet not to be stained by it. That’s the beauty of engagement and purity. Abraham understood this. After God told him to leave everything and venture to a new place, he obeyed: “From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD” (Genesis 12:8). Oswald Chambers elaborates: “Bethel is the symbol of communion with God; Ai is the symbol of the world. Abraham pitched his tent between the two.” As parents journeying alongside our children through a postmodern world, this concept of pitching our tent between communion with God and engagement in the world should encourage us.

What bugs you about postmodernism?

I happen to believe in absolute truth, so that’s a problem! But more than that, I worry that all our rambling about it, trying to discern what it is, has caused us to rely more heavily on our own intellectual pursuit of God than our heart. When I get caught up in that, I remind myself of my friend Jeanne’s son Jacob, whose heart after Jesus takes my breath away. Living with a brain injury, Jacob throws off pretense as he worships God, arms vaulted to the sky in unashamed heart worship. That’s the kind of believer I want to be. That’s the kind of heart I want. I love this verse: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). For me, for my children, that’s my prayer, that we’d be simply and purely devoted to Jesus no matter what worldview we find ourselves in.

Thanks, Mary!

Read an excerpt from the book! click here.

And don't forget to visit Mary's site: crazy blog here.

To purchase, click here.

Other links:

5 Minutes for Mom - http://www.5minutesformom.com/Be a Barnabas - http://beabarnabas.blogspot.com/Cheaper by the Half Dozen - http://www.marybethwhalen.com/Christian Preschool Printables - http://www.christianpreschoolprintables.com/blog1Christian Work at Home Moms - http://blog.cwahm.com/Dawn Morton Nelson - http://www.shoutlife.com/dawnmortonnelsonGetting Real - http://roofcrasher.blogspot.com/Good Word Editing - http://www.goodwordediting.com/Illuminating the Word Through Fiction - http://illuminatingthewordthroughfiction.blogspot.com/Radiant Lit - http://radiantlit.com/Simplifying Motherhood - http://simplifyingmotherhood.blogspot.com/Snapshot - http://www.jennifersnapshot.blogspot.com/Spaghettipie - http://spaghettipie.blogspot.com/Spoiled for the Ordinary - http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/The Journey of Writer Danica Favorite - http://www.danicafavorite.blogspot.com/

Watching Tree Limbs

Description:
Nine-year-old Mara loves playing Nancy Drew with her best friend Camilla. With an attic chock-full of treasures, including a telescope, and a whole summer ahead of them, they’re set to find the home of the mysterious and controversial radio disc jockey Denim. But then there are mysteries that Mara’s afraid to share: Who is her mother? Her father? And how can she stop the biggest criminal of all, General?

Caught in a maelstrom of lies and deceit, Mara carefully picks her way through the wreckage of her lost childhood, until the day something magical happens under the pecan tree.

Kacy's comments: I love kids and wasn't sure I could handle a book about child abuse. Mara's story, however, is compelling and impossible to ignore. Mary E. DeMuth deftly balances this painful topic with loving--often humorous--descriptions of young Mara's determination to rebuild her shattered childhood in a small Texas town.

Mara is an admirable young heroine; you'll be thinking about her long after you turn that final page!

Thanks, Mary, for sharing this story.

Blessings,

Kacy

Okay, if you really-REALLY want to know . . . .

I've been tagged. First, here are the rules, which I shall soon defy:


1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Here's my list--and it's true. (I also added two extras because I was tagged twice.)

1. I was born two months early. Doctors expected me to die, but didn’t tell me, so here I am.
2. My parents are cousins by marriage. Am I my own cousin?
3. Speaking of cousins . . . I’m a distant cousin to Richard Petty. And no, I’ve never met him.
4. I’m legally blind without my contact lenses, which doesn’t do my sons any good; I can read their minds.
5. My husband can instantly calculate all the letters in any given sentence as you’re talking to him. Yes, I know that’s not about me, but I still find it fun.
6. More than ten percent of my total net worth (in household goods) is invested in books. Better than diamonds.
7. I was caught in a mudstorm after the Mt. St. Helen’s eruption in the spring of 1980. Thought the first splat was a bird-dropping. Wow . . . that was a big bird!8. While pregnant with my beloved sons, I was allergic to them. Hives lasted for five months. Did you really want to know this?
9. I’ve been within mere feet of nuclear weapons. Can’t say any more.
10. I dislike tag and never tag anyone. Camy Tang, Susan Marlowe, and all those who won’t get notes from me, I hope you’re glad. If not, please let me know and I’ll tag you anyway.

Blessings,

Kacy

Pat Janssen Hall’s up-to-date take on Frida Kahlo’s famous Self Portrait enchanted me instantly with its swirling mocha background, Frida’s beautifully elusive expression, her elegant neck, and the shock of that white “I am not obsessive!” tee-shirt.

“So what’s with this tee-shirt logo?” I asked, turning to Pat, who was leafing through one of her many albums of artwork.

“Oh, that,” Pat murmured, turning several more pages in her album before handing the collection to me. “Well . . . look what this reviewer wrote.”

I scanned the newspaper clipping, which featured several of Pat’s eye-catching designs augmented by the reviewer’s own highly enthusiastic opinion of Pat’s work, praising her “maniacally obsessive attention to detail.”

“He made me sound a bit crazy,” Pat grumbled. Then she chuckled, re-reading the glowing article. “I guess I am.”

Sounds familiar, I thought, shifting uncomfortably as I considered my own writing obsession. Why do rational people willingly pour out their souls for years, earning insecure livings, the ever-present threat of rejections and the rotten-raspberry peltings of critics? (Okay, I admit the critics have been very kind to me; I shouldn’t list them as a downside. But there’s always one, isn’t there?)

Life would be so much easier without these torments. Unless you’re filled with a God-granted passion that makes life unbearable without your art.

To reassure myself (and Pat) that our obsession is not TOO uncommon, I’ve gathered quotes from other writers of all genres and ages. Enjoy!


I KNEW I WAS OBSESSED WITH WRITING WHEN:

“When I wanted to get pulled over for speeding so I would have first-hand material for a scene I was working on. (I didn't get pulled over.)” Jenness Walker

“When I missed a meal.” Donita K. Paul

“When even my dreams weren't a safe place to hide! My writing muse follows wherever I go, asleep or awake, braindead or not.”
Delia Latham

"I first knew I was obsessed with writing when I first understood what a word was. Seriously! I can't remember a time in my life when I wanted to do anything other than write. Period. I believe writing is my calling and has been since before the foundation of the world. (Can anyone say "one-dimensional"?) Actually, that's not completely true. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, so doesn't that make me two-dimensional? Sigh. Probably not.” Kathi Macias


“I followed so many rabbit trails I constantly craved carrots.”
Sylvia Tucker, Ph.D.

“When I stopped suffering from ‘Writing Cramps’ and started suffering from ‘Lactic Acid build up associated with Acute Eric Mosher's Disorder.’” Eric Mosher

“When my home fire evacuation plan includes risking life and limb to save my laptop!” Jill Elizabeth Nelson

"I knew I was obsessed with writing when . . . . turned everything I read and heard into a story idea.” Gail Gaymer Martin


“I started having full blown arguments with my characters! In the
middle of the night no less!” Rachel Smith

“Hmm. That's a hard one because I was "obsessed" with my fantasy world long before I began writing. From the time I was about ten years old, I always had one story or another churning through my brain. Other than writing short stories in high school English classes, I didn't write until I was in my forties. I've been writing for twenty years now.” Louise M. Gouge


“. . . when I was riding out a terrific storm at sea on a 48 ft boat and fought my way from the bridge down into the cabin to discover if a thought I had would work in my WIP. Actually it did, and showed up in my first novel.” Polly Bolack

"I knew I was obsessed with writing when I cried over a positive pregnancy test--not because I was overcome with joy, but because I feared what a baby would do to my writing career. By the way, Nathan is now almost 5 and I thank God for upsetting my plans by sending him.” Jeanette Hanscome

“... I spent all my Christmas and birthday money on books about craft instead of clothes or a purse!” Leigh DeLozier :-)

“...I spent FIVE hours last night trying to get the layout just right on my writing blog. Ugh.” Angie Farnworth

“I stopped watching Robotech, Voltron, and other afternoon cartoons and started writing my own story episodes starring the brave loud Asian chick heroine who vanquished monsters with her mighty sword and cute shoes.” Camy Tang

Note: Pat Janssen-Hall's remake of a self-portrait by the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is available as a signed and numbered giclee!

While the focus of my blog is—and will continue to be—crafting and reading fiction that illuminates the Word, from time to time I will feature books that have inspired me during my daily journey. One such book is Debbie Adebayo’s Becoming Marriage Material. Debbie Adebayo is the founder and radio voice of The Ministry of Singles Pleasing The Lord. Check out her site: http://www.singlespleasingthelord.com

Becoming Marriage Material asks readers to confront themselves honestly and to reform their lives from the inside out until they become a partner pleasing to the Lord and to that special future spouse. Debbie Adebayo also illustrates her chapters with revelations of her own heartbreaking mistakes that are painful and ultimately moving as she refines herself with a fierce determination to learn from her past.

Though I am definitely a married believer (we’re talking 26+ years here) I found Becoming Marriage Material to be an uplifting narrative that will surely inspire singles, from adolescence on up, to face their life-situations with hope.

While we're waiting for Pat's new masterpiece, I'm keeping busy with . . . (humor me now, and be amazed) . . . reading!
The latest addition to my book collection? Chocolate Beach, by Julie Carobini.

Chocolate. Beach. Two of my favorite earthly delights mentioned in one book title: Dear reader, how could I resist?

Bri Stone's blissful fourteen-year marriage to Mr. Incredibly Handsome Douglas has suddenly drifted into murky waters. Friends are dropping hints that Douglas is looking rather "too single" lately while zipping around Ventura in his new sports car. Bri longs to ignore her friends' concerns, but Douglas has been missing their dinner dates and keeping unusually long work hours at the law office. To further muddy the marital waters, Bri has found evidence that Douglas is shopping for a new home, without discussing the matter with her.

Is Douglas becoming bored with Bri's carefree ways and with their beach-kitsch-deco oceanside home? When Bri is unable to confront Douglas about the state of their marriage, due to schedule conflicts and illness, she decides to polish her casual image and her beloved house to regain her husband's interest.

As friends, relatives, and a new boss advise, patronize, and sympathize with her efforts, Bri frequently consoles herself by eating delectably described brownies on the beach—leaving this winter-bound reader happily soaking up the sunny descriptions, while being tempted to wake the family by baking brownies at midnight. Bri, where is the recipe?

Author Julie Carobini's characters are lovingly described and the well-paced plot balances humor, lessons in faith, and some gently explored sorrows, making Chocolate Beach a delightful read. Enjoy!