Writing Challenges

There is another writing challenge on the horizon, this time a rhyming challenge.  I am already in a chapter book challenge.  I do these challenges to write more and get it together.

 

Wish me luck!

It’s Time

The Lenten season has begun and at Ash Wednesday service last night we were asked to set up a convent with God.  I promised that I would add a walk to my daily routine and go to bed before 11:00.  This goes along with one of the books that I am reviewing called the Daniel’s Plan.  It is a health plan designed by Rick Warren and a few others.  I will discuss them more as the Lenten Season progresses.

Although it has been a while since I blogged I have decided that I need to get back into it, my brain is so full of ideas, thoughts and plans that I can no longer keep them in my journal.  However, I plan on continuing with that habit as well.  In addition, to my above statement I would also like to say that I have accepted and will join in the 30/30 challenge from the Joyce Meyer Ministeies. It promises to be a busy time.

The whole point is that this will not just be for a month, but I will ingrain these items into my lifestyle.  My life is always packed with a lot of activities.  I plan on completing my dissertation this year and attain my degree in PhD in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology. This is in addition to by duties as center based special educator, which includes professional developments, training and recertification courses.

This year also includes my duties as an Elf for Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 2014 forum.  The past couple of months were spent helping people to establish critique groups.  During the remainder of the year I plan on posting monthly discussion questions and adding resources to the various forum that I “help” out.  Finally, I will complete picture books and hopefully land a literary agent this year.

Writing includes so much for me!  It is never just about writing a book.  There are many things that I find interesting and I want to write about them.  I love to read books that others have written. In addition to providing me with entertainment, it also provides me with a way to examine other authors’ style of writing. This provides with a course of sort and I plan on blogging about it this year.  Each month I hope to take one author or three and write about their style.  This would include themes, research, style and whatever else I find interesting.

I have concluded that I need to find my niche in writing.  In addition, I will hopefully continue on my journey so that I can receive my income from what I most love to do, which is writing and reading good books.  However, I am realistic enough to know that I will never stop being a teacher, since I have always wanted to do that since I put my stuffed animals and dolls on my bed, as I “taught” them.

Have a great day everyone!

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The Monster Tamer

The Golden Twine

By Jo Rioux

Kids Can Press

Suri wants to be a monster tamer and rid the world of monsters.

The ball of magical golden string that Suri finds in the road belongs to a trio of vicious tiger monster called “caitsiths” who use the string, a golden twine, that masquerade as humans and really, really want it back. During this time, Suri achieves her ambition of becoming a monster tamer when she meets Byron, a friendly, very, very, large dog, and the rude 500-year-old imp Caglio who (unexplained  by the storyteller) created him. Suri explores and runs through Rioux’s explicit character driven world as Suri evades the pursuers and bounced back from every difficult exploration. After several narrow escapes, the author sends Suri down her path, with the dog and imp in tow, as she continued within her career as a monster tamer.

Even if . . .

Well, it has been a while since my last post.

Not sure how well acquainted all of you are with Klove ( a listener supported Christian radio station), but I like to listen to it. During times of struggle, hope and joy, the DJs seem to play the songs that I need to hear the most.

Lately, my theme seems to be “Even if . . .” “Don’t Try so Hard” and “Blessing”. All of those titles may seem like it is a very reflective time for me. It hasn’t been, it has been a long season. However, this time I am going to praise him, because I realized this time that God loves me even though I have many scars, physical, mental and on my heart, and I just need to live in his grace, daily.

As the song says: Even if by Kutless

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Don’t Try So Hard by Amy Grant

Don’t try so hard
God gives you grace and you can’t earn it
Don’t think that you’re not worth it
Because you are
He gave you His love and He’s not leaving
Gave you His Son so you’d believe it
You’re lovely even with your scars
Don’t try so hard

and

Blessing by Laura Story

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

So my friends, when you think that a season of hurt and pain should come to an end and it doesn’t . . .look at it from another angle. What would you have learned if you had not had this season? Who would you not have met? Where would you be?

Just look up and even if you aren’t where you thought your would be, you are exactly where you should be . . . even if

I Should Have Stayed Home

I Should Have Stayed Home
A Novel
Horace McCoy

Synopsis:
Ralph Carston has come to Hollywood to become a star. However, Ralph finds that his accent is one strike against him. He is staying with Mona Matthews, who is also trying for the brass ring of stardom. Events in a courtroom ring them the notoriety and inclusion into a social circle that was formally denied to them. Ralph becomes a “special friend” to a wealthy widow who says she will help him, but really won’t. This book describes an existence of what happens when a dream does not come true, but you don’t or can’t really go back home.

Reflection:
This sad story was written from the perspective of a man who is trying to make it in Hollywood. There are times I feel sorry for him, but there are other times when I think “grow a spine.” Either way, I suggest you read the book from the perspective that this book takes a real look at how dreams die.

Something Wicked

Something Wicked (The Colony)
Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush
Kensington Books

Synopsis:

A group of women who are related live together on an Oregon coastal hamlet of Deception Bay. They have a variety of powers that are extremely scary. One of the women had the power to seduce men and as a result had several children. Most of the boys were adopted out, the one who stayed is dead and one of the adopted sons is coming back . . . .

Detective Savannah Dunbar, who is eight months into a surrogate pregnancy for her sister Kristina. Savannah wants to have the baby, wrap up her paperwork so she can have a stress free medical leave, and return to her work. However, a double murder has interrupted those plans, a request from the Colony and something is bothering her sister.

There is evil in the air and Savannah is right in the middle of it.

Reflection:

This book grips you as you are reading the story. Just when you think you have it figured out, it changes or another element has been added to the story. Do not read the book alone with a fire burning, it is most definitely a book to read during the broad light of day. But read it!!!

Cropped to Death

CROPPED TO DEATH
A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery (#1)
Christina Freeburn

Synopsis:

Faith Hunter has moved back home after a disastrous career in the Army (according to her). Now she is now back home, working for her grandmothers store, Scrap This. Her grandmothers want her to settled, married and happy. Faith would like to forget the past, not let it affect her present and make Scrap This a successful store for her grandmothers. Unfortunately, one of the employees have been accused of murdering her soon to be ex husband. The detective in charge is new to small town life and does not want Faith involved in the investigation. Life is a mess!

Reflection:

The book is a good cozy mystery. I do wish that the author brought the backstory to the fore front sooner. I did not like the teasers of the backstory. I think people will enjoy this book. A good read!!!

Pop Out and Paint

Pop-Out & Paint Farm Animals
Cindy A. Littlefield

This is a great book for children and parents or students and teachers to work on together. So many teachers use these animals for their themes at school. Rather than buying the animals, this would be a great back to school activity and the teachers could put them out when the student is the person of the week. It would be a great highlight.

Ms. Littlefield did a great job in putting this book together and providing all of the necessary information in doing a good job with the animals.

Noisy Poems for a Busy Day

Noisy Poems for a Busy Day
Robert Heidbreder

This was great! Obviously written by someone who has been there and knows what a busy day can exude. Theses days have a sound all of their own and Mr. Heidbreder captures it beautifully!!