Sunday Scriptures

Colossians 3:1-4

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Saturday Book Review: Lonestar Sanctuary

In honor of Colleen Coble's new granddaughter, I'm reviewing her latest suspense novel, Lonestar Sanctuary. I actually read it a couple of week ago, but that was around the same time that Blogger recreated their system and...well, you know the rest.

Synopsis: Though tragedy has wrecked her life, Allie Siders holds on to the hope that her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, will speak again. But with a stalker out for revenge, all Allie can think about now is their safety. She must sever all ties and abandon life as she knows it. She heads to the peaceful Bluebird Ranch, nestled deep in Texas hill country, and to the only person who can help them.

The ranch is a sanctuary for abused horses, and also for troubled youths: the perfect place for Betsy to grow and recover. Ranch owner Elijah DeAngelo eagerly welcomes the duo. But Rick Bailey -- the ranch foreman and DeAngelo's right hand man -- hasn't decided to let his guard down...yet.

Promises made long ago soon force Rick and Allie to work together to escape danger. Will they discover love along the way?

My reivew: I love a well-crafted, Christian suspense, and this one scored high. Colleen's writing is smooth, very close third person that makes you feel that you're in the characters' heads. I also liked that the killer's point-of-view isn't written: for me, it ups the level of suspense, and besides, I don't like knowing what the bad guy is going to do.

The characters are well-rounded. I immediately sympathized with Allie: her predicament, the struggles she endured were realistically portrayed, as were her reactions. Rick...he took me longer to understand. I grew frustrated with him in the beginning, but as his character grew I appreciated him more. Even though both characters are Christians, they have flaws and problems that make them more real.

Colleen wove plenty of twists into this plot, but they aren't too confusing, and she ties up loose ends while leaving enough for the reader to figure out. I was scrambling to discover the killer before the end -- especially since I had to go to bed before I finished it! And the romance side sounds realistic; I've read books before with the same romantic plot thread that just fell flat. Colleen gives her characters plenty of obstacles, including themselves.

I enjoyed this work and definitely recommend it as a "tell-everyone-including-your-dentist" book.

ACFW Book of the Year

Okay, I just signed out and went to check out Sharon Hinck's blog -- and found that her book, The Restorer's Son, won Book of the Year award in Speculative Fiction catagory at the American Fiction Writer's conference!

I was disappointed not being able to attend the conference this year, but I especially felt down about missing this event. Though I'm a devoted fan of all Sharon's novels, The Restorer's Son was definitely my favorite. I would have loved to see her receive the award. This book deserved it!

Next best thing to seeing it, though, is watching the pictures. Sharon posted the details at her blog, www.sharonswriting.blogspot.com. Enjoy! And congratulations, Sharon! (And to the other BOTY award winners!)

Now I'd better get back to my work-in-progress, before my posts for tonight multiply. And who knows? God willing, maybe next year I'll be posting my personal pics of the ACFW conference.

Till then, blessings, and keep on writing.

AWOB -- Absent Without Blogging

Apologies again, bloggees, for abandoning you out there in cyberspace yesterday. The changes Blogger made to their system is really killing me; last night I tried to sign in to create a new post, and it kept running me through a bunch of procedures. I finally gave up.

Tonight I had a much better time of it. I remembered what my Dad had shown me, and I finally logged in. And, um, if you notice that my Sunday Scripture post was not actually posted on Sunday...blame it on Blogger's new "easier to use" updates.

On the brighter side, author Colleen Coble is a new grandmother! I could ramble for paragraphs about how sweet little Alexa looks, but I'd rather show you. Check out the pictures posted on the Girls Write Out blog: www.girlswriteout.blogspot.com. Congratulations, Colleen!

Sunday Scriptures

Psalm 18:1-3

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength,
in Whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Homecoming

Sorry, ya'll for not writing this past week. Blogger did some upload that required a bunch of clicking and typing and retyping and crying and praying before I could write another post. Scared me a bit. I thought Gracie Notes would crash land after only a few days of flight.

But with the help of my computer-genius dad and my awesome Heavenly Father, I return to my blog, victorious and dying to start yakking.

So my usual schedule will be thrown off its tracks a bit. Instead of book reviews today, I'm here announcing that I haven't mysteriously disappeared off the Internet. Tomorrow everything should dive back into normal -- or at least, normal for me. Blessings!

Of Coffee and Chai

I used to consider myself a coffee lover. Still do. Nothing can get my adrenaline racing like the prospect of a richly brewed cup of Cafe Americano with creme. And now that you can add chocolate to it... well, that just makes it all the better.

But then, one desperate day when I had no chocolate, coffee, or anything sweet in the house, I tried a cup of green tea. And liked it.

And this Saturday when I had to play piano for a church meeting at the Hilton, I sampled some chai tea.

And loved it.

It's like Christmas in a cup! Warm, spicy, with a swirl of sweetness at first taste. And with some brands you can get it with a taste of vanilla. One sip and I'm instantly thrown to cold, crisp nights, afternoons of baking cookies, singing carols at church, and the sweet smell of decorated pine trees. Just writing about it is stirring up cravings.

Today I walked about a mile to our local Starbucks for some chai tea. I really want to buy some of the tea bags (it's way cheaper than going to the cafe every afternoon, and the tea is better warm), but I didn't have enough loose change. So I settled for a cup of iced chai.

I love Starbucks, I really do, but when I say "iced" drink, they seem to take it literally. I drink every drop of the tea by the time I reach the corner, while the ice in my cup could, melted down, provide enough water for a year.

Oh well. At least this week I'll have 40 packets of chai tea, ready for brewing. Can't wait till Christmas, when the spicy brew will actually match its season.

In the meanwhile, I think I'll spare my walks to Starbucks until I crave something that will last longer than two minutes.

Sunday Scriptures

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.

Saturday Book Review: Stepping into Sunlight

Synopsis: After she witnesses a horrific crime, Penny Sullivan's world shatters. Suddenly simple, everyday tasks -- grocery shopping, driving, even walking outside her front door -- become more than she can handle. But with her husband at sea as a Navy chaplain, and a seven year old son to care for, hiding isn't possible. So Penny develops a plan to speed up her healing: Do one small kind act for a different person. Every day.

My review: Penny's struggle with pain and fear is something I easily related to. While I've never suffered from post-traumatic stress, I have questioned God's goodness and love in dark times. "Where is God when it hurts?" is a question I think everyone wrestles at some point -- and through her characters Sharon Hinck provides the answer. I loved reading about Penny's Project: her quirky deeds of kindness touched my heart and inspired me to do more for others. Penny's experience with panic attacks had me alternating between tears and watery smiles. Smiles, because I've experienced a panic attack before, and the fact that Penny went through several made her that much more relatable to me. Tears, because I ached for the fear that held her so captive. Her escapades with her son, Bryan, made me giggle; especially when he was begging her for a pet. And Penny's friends added both humor and further depth to the story.

I enjoyed watching Penny step into sunlight, and after closing the book I can only say that I hope there are many future novels by Sharon Hinck. This one was definitely worth the wait.

Why Bookstores Beat Out Libraries -- Take 2

It came! Only three days of waiting and Stepping into Sunlight has arrived on my doorstep.

This afternoon, desperate for reading, I biked to our local library. (A distance of roughly 1.5 miles.) I went in with a list of books to borrow, left with only one collection of short stories. The library didn't have half the books I was looking for, and the ones they did have were in some obscure place where I did not want to go hunting.

I biked back home, thirsty, tired, in desperate need of shower. Silly me, though, forgot that I live next to a school. I returned just in time to be swept away in a sea of middle-schoolers heading back to their own houses.

Let's just say that it was a while before I reached home.

Anyway, I shower, loll around, read a bit of my library book. (Told you I could never get far in these things!) I've practiced my music for worship this Sunday, and I'm thinking that I'll start typing on my wip when I see the UPS man stop next door.

"Oh, he's delievering a package for my neighbors," I think wistfully. "Oh well, at least soon he'll be coming here to give me my book."

And what do you know but he walks right up to my front door?

He dropped it off (literally: he set it on the doorstep, even though I was standing right there. I think my beaming smile scared him away) and I instantly tore through the package to stare at the glossy cover. I tried posting a picture, but I'm not sure whether or not it will come through.

Either way, I'm jazzed. God is good!

Strolling Down Corgi Lane

Walks are usually good things for me. I might pray, read, (yes, I've mastered the art of staying on the sidewalk while focusing on a novel!) or brainstorm my latest plot. (Talking it over to myself helps me sort out the insane from the sensible ideas. Besides, with all those crazy hands-free gadgets nowadays, my neighbors think I'm talking on a Bluetooth.)

The walk I took this afternoon may have changed that opinion.

Noticing my two dogs splayed over the kitchen tiles, I thought I'd include them in my escapades. What could be the harm? They're small -- corgi and chihuahua mix -- and good-tempered. They could use some exercise. Besides, I've taken them on lots of walks before.

But wait, summer lingers, the weather is still kind of warm. Normally I take them one at a time, since letting them both outside is akin to feeding them twenty espressos. But I really don't want to walk my usual route twice, and lately both have been really obedient on their walks. Oh! I'll take them at the same time!

Premonition lurks around the corner. Unfortunately I'm blind to it.

I grab my umbrella for sun protection (my bottle of sunscreen is lost) and slip on the dog's leashes. Sweet, innocent looking Haddie and Caleb drag my across the front yard before I can say "mush". Word of note to potential dog buyers: the strength of big dogs is nothing compared to the sheer will power of tiny chihuahuas.

They barrel down the street, me jerking along at a choppy gait. All thoughts of how peaceful and relaxing this walk will be disappear as my frayed nerves explode. I can only yank fruitlessly on the leashes twined around my wrist and pray that my circulation doesn't cut off soon.

At the corner Haddie (the leader of their "pack") slows enough for me to catch my breath. Growling, I tug hard at her leash, pulling her closer. I'm muttering to myself about the idiocy of bringing both dogs for this walk and how I'll never, ever, ever consider taking these creatures with me again. The man standing at the corner gives me a strange look.

We turn down the street and continue this trek. My nerves are bristled out four inches from my skin, my shoulders hunch beneath the umbrella. A woman coos over the dogs as we pass. "Oh, look, they're hot."

Um, no. Their heavy panting results from the eternal tugging on their lines. If I didn't stop every ten minutes they'd probably choke themselves.

Not even halfway through the walk I turn around and steer back home. The "sweet innocents" trot obediently along now, tongues flapping. They collapse on the floor the second we enter the house.

Cute.

I think I'll stick to praying and reading while I walk. Bringing the dogs is just too difficult.

Tempestuous Typing

First of all, is tempestuous even a word? I'm pretty sure that it is, but some part of me wonders. Oh well. If not, it will be after this post.

Anyway, about the title. Quite an alliteration, don't you think? But it describes perfectly the flurry of words as I pound out three pages of my current wip (work-in-progress).

For the past four days or so, I've been in a panic about my story. Have I limited my descriptions? Brought my characters to life? Kept the tension? (This is the one I stress over the most. No tension -- no story. Characterization is usually easy, but holding the precarious thread of action is much harder for me.)

Tonight I just wrote. Prayed for my work (something akin to "God, please, help!!), then dived in. I shut off my inner editor (who I think is related to Monk the way I notice grammar errors and badly constructed sentences) and let the words flow as they would. And wouldn't you know I actually completed three pages and my latest chapter?

Writing is something I enjoy doing, feel called to do, but can spend hours beating my head over. Most days I can tell myself that the rotten parts will get edited, but others I only see the mistakes, the failing, the unpublished pages...

Sometimes I struggle with this in my faith, too. In my heart I know I'm forgiven, that because of Christ's life in me, God doesn't see the mistakes. He only sees His Son. But my mind points out the failings, the petty angers, the fears.

The solution? Pray. Alot. God is my editor -- He's refining the work, honing me into someone more like Christ. I just have to trust Him. Otherwise, I just have to push through those bad moments and focus on His righteousness, not mine. (After all, it's alot nicer looking at white linen than filthy rags.)

Okay, I know this post was kind of serious, and I'd promised funny ramblings. Sorry about that. But this subject was on my mind.

Does anyone else struggle with this? In writing or their Christian walk?

Why Bookstores Beat Out Libraries -- Take 1

I can't stand libraries.

Yeah, yeah. I know that I'm a writer, book lover, yada yada. Libraries should be my best friends.

They aren't.

I used to think I had a disease. I mean, what writer doesn't like entire buildings devoted to books? But then I realized that it wasn't the books that sent an chill threading up my spine. It was the library itself.

Our city has two libraries. Neither are in good condition. Nor are the books. In the nearest library, the books are collected from merciful people who dump their first-grader's curriculum into the donation bin. Oh, and me, who gives them whichever books I've regretted buying over the years. Which means that the only novels there are either classics, thrashed ruthlessly by careless high schoolers, or my own donated books.

Any copies of Tolstoy or Shakespeare that I pick up? Yeah, I'll find love notes to Jason scribbled on page 131. Oh, and don't forget the whole missing section from Pride and Prejudice. (I know that Jane refused Darcy's first proposal because I watched the movie. But I'd like to read about it!)

So it's rare that I finish the books I borrow from the library.

Today I went to Barnes and Noble. The first thing I did upon entering was breathe in the sweet scent of paperbacks, printer ink, and unabused novels. Ahhh. Then I went through my routine of hunting out the Christian fiction section, skimming pages, prowling for that perfect novel that will make my next four hours out of reality worth it.

I walked out with one historical and an order for Sharon Hinck's latest, Stepping into Sunlight. Did you know that Barnes and Noble will now deliver book orders directly to your doorstep? You tell them the book you want, give them your address, pay for it, and in a few days you have a book. And they'll even cover shippping costs!

I could go on for hours why I love bookstores more than libraries, but I'll save it for now. Just be warned: if you hear a wild scream of ecstacy this week, know that B&N came through for me.

Sunday Scriptures

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
For You, O Lord will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Taking Flight

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:39

I've finally decided to do it.

After months of lurking behind the scenes, reading the blogs of my favorite writers, occasionally posting a comment, I've decided to step forward and start a blog of my own.

True, my posts probably won't be heralded by Publisher's Weekly. I know without a doubt that I will not receive any literary achievement awards for my daily randomlings. But I hope that others will enjoy this Christian's perspective on the writing journey, life, and whatever else comes to mind. I hope you laugh. And I pray, that by God's infinite mercy -- just perhaps, you'll come to a deeper understanding of His grace.

My name is Gracie, and today I'm taking flight.