Free For All Friday: Can You Name the Page Content Categories for a Book?

Can you name the three page content categories for a book? (Answers below)

Every book has sections known as front matter, body, and back matter.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: A Carol for Christmas

Carol gives up her dream of a music career when she drops out of college to marry Johnny Burke. But she's not alone in making sacrifices. Johnny also drops out of college in order to provide for his new wife. As a result, he enters his father's real estate empire at a lower level than he would have had he stayed in college and finished his business degree.

While Johnny scrambles to prove himself to his workaholic Dad, working long hours himself, Carol keeps the home fires burning. But as she waits night after long, lonely night for her weary husband's return, Carol begins to question if this is the life she wants. To make matters worse, Johnny has crushed her guitar under the tires of his truck, and they can't afford to replace it.

An opportunity arises for Carol to realize the dream she gave up, putting both her marriage and her faith in God to the test. A Carol for Christmas resolves in a heartwarming affirmation of the power of love.

The short length of this novella is perfect for holiday reading. Despite its brevity, the characters and setting are well-detailed and believable, a testament to the story-telling ability of author Robin Lee Hatcher. I found the resolution a little pat, but the characters were likable enough to keep me reading. If you want a feel-good book to consume with your eggnog, you can't go wrong with A Carol for Christmas.

Friday Poetry Corner: Autumn Gypsy

Autumn Gypsy

by

Janalyn Voigt

Autumn tiptoes stealthily

Across the thirsty land,

Drenching fields in greenary,

Paintbrush in her hand.

Ragged gypsy, fire-bright,

She sighs in every tree.

Restless, wanton, sylvan sprite,

She twirls her skirts with glee.

The hills repose in solitude.

The leaves have turned to gold.

Nature by her is subdued,

Enchanted as of old.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Leaving Yesterday

Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman is a weighty story that deals with some of life's toughest situations. The main character, Alisa, a woman recently separated from her husband, has a son just back from drug re-hab who is committed to recovering. But Alisa finds something from her son's past that could end all of his progress and, if she keeps silent, might land her in jail as well. This book provides an amazingly descriptive depiction of her struggle to find truth and to trust in God no matter what the situation.

As a mother of young children myself, reading Leaving Yesterday made me thankful for every moment I have with my children now. Because the story is set in the background of our modern American lifestyle, I felt as if Alisa could be one of my nieghbors. Although I did find the supporting characters a bit cliched at first, they rounded out nicely as the story progressed. I recommend Leaving Yesterday to all mothers of any age.


Reviewed by Jessa Irene Deloesch

(Bethany House provided Book Readers Central with a complimentary copy of Leaving Yesterday for purposes of review.)

Meet and Greet Monday: Robin Shope

Dear Reader,

What a treat for me to be talking to you today. When meeting someone, the last thing I mention is that I am a writer. I prefer getting to know people without a label, so this is a bit new to me to meet you as a novelist. Since it's an author chat, there is no way around it, but a treat for me just the same! Thank you for stopping by Janalyn's blog.

It’s important to note, I am way more than a writer. I am a dreamer of dreams, a truth finder, a teacher, a baker, and a candlestick maker. Just kidding. I am not a candlestick maker. For many years I have been an educator, and consider myself a recovering middle school teacher. I am still in therapy and go every Saturday morning. It's called garage saling. I wonder how many garage sales it will take to wipe out the memory of middle school sass. I will not stop until I have the answer.

If you ever get a chance to come by my place, I will tell you the story behind my garage sale finds; such as the time I drove five miles home with the iron bed sticking out the open car door. Hey, I drive a Hyundai and it was the only way to get it home. I prayed all the way a policeman wouldn’t stop me. My prayers were answered. My garage is brimmed full of goodies but I prefer the term ‘inventory.’

Cupcakes are my private—late night—indulgence. If you have a good recipe to share, please contact me. Eating a yummy cupcake is like a holiday all in itself. My baking aspirations go no higher than eventually owning my own confection oven. I plan on moving onto cookies. (I wonder how many cupcakes it will take to wipe out the memory of middle school antics. I won't stop until I know.)

Most importantly, I am a Christian who puts her best efforts into an ordinary life in order to accomplish something extraordinary. After serving overseas as a missionary, I chose the classroom for my next challenge. Twenty-five years later, I am still here—it’s home. Nowadays, I am the Special Education Coordinator at a county juvenile facility for teens that are either court-ordered to be here, or have been expelled from school. In the worst offender, I still see a person for whom Christ has died.

My days are busy. So are my nights. That is when I settle at my computer to write (and eat cupcake). For the last fifteen years I have been writing articles and short stories. I write because I have things to say. Stories to tell. People to create. Plots to twist. I begin writing with a germ of an idea that spreads. I liken it to a body. You have the basic form, then you add things like a heart, soul and spirit. You layer the storyline with good blood flow, add limbs, a brain, eyes, hair, a mouth. What does that mouth say? What does that brain think? What do those eyes see? And who does that heart love? Is it a broken heart or a dark heart? A pure heart? There is a past that creeps in, threatening to stir things up and not for the better. My characters have issues. They are flawed. Real people have both issues and flaws. Secrets too. Uncovering them is so much fun and then watching the reaction of other characters, critical.

In the last seven years, I have had seven fictional books and one eBook published. Through all of these projects, I aim to impart to my readers hope for today and a renewed belief that God does see you. He hears you and He answers. I also love the idea of entertainment and want my readers to step into the pages of any of my books, into a new life, for a few hours.

Today, I would like to discuss two of my books. The first, The Christmas Edition, is the first book of three in The Turtle Creek Edition series, soon to be a movie by the name of Journey to Paradise. Salty Earth Pictures will shoot the film in late December in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. They are now in the process of building sets and casting. If you are on Facebook, be sure to become a fan of Journey to Paradise Movie for updates.

The Christmas Edition is an inspirational book offered both in print and eBook form. Here's a bit about the story:

Lucy Collins has given up on Christmas since the painful break-up with her fiancé. Things only get worse when a large newspaper begins to set up shop and threatens the livelihood of the family run business, The Turtle Creek Newspaper. At the staff Christmas party, Lucy says a prayer and what seems to be the answer appears at the front door to apply for the editor position. The newspaper needs new life and energy, so this most critical position goes to Joe McNamara. Not only is he a natural when it comes to the written word, but he is also gifted with ideas about keeping the newspaper afloat. However, Joe has secrets of his own that he keeps from Lucy. If she finds out, then what looks like a promising relationship will unravel, but it's Christmas time, the season of rebirth and miracles. Will the spirit of celebration be enough to heal two hearts? Or will the reality of deception bring down Christmas and the newspaper?

The Valentine Edition followed The Christmas Edition in February, 2009. Look for The Easter Edition in spring of 2010. They fit hand-in-glove together for movie sequels.

The next book I am most fervent about is an eBook, Passages, which released in September, 2009 for the general audience. The beginning chapters of this narrative are posted on my blog for free, so please check them out. Here is a book description:

A month past Christmas, the year is nineteen-seventy-three. Paul McCartney and his wife Linda are busted for marijuana while inflation hits 6.16%. Watergate hearings have started in the U.S. Senate, a gallon of gas costs thirty-five cents, abortion becomes legal and Mari Covington’s most excellent resumes are in the mail, putting her way ahead of the other graduating teachers. PASSAGES is the kind of novel that moves beyond the page to deeper elements of truth, family, community, and church. It's a compelling story that transcends the time period of the early1970s. A triple triumph of hope, courage and forgiveness, Passages is based on actual events. Mari Covington doesn’t want much. A teaching job, a fabulous apartment in Milwaukee, and a really great guy will suffice. She is on the verge of having it all when the man of her dreams forces himself on her. Hours after the assault, he shows up at her family dinner table announcing their engagement. Just as she resigns herself to a possible trip down the aisle as penance, Crazy Aunt Lorraine, with four weddings under her belt, arrives with the key to Mari's problem. This is a novel of difficult moral dilemmas, tinged with subtly nuanced characters and a page-turning plot that makes the reader wonder, "What would I do?"

Excerpt:

I lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, listening to sleet pelt against the window, knowing that by morning there will be layers of ice sealing it shut. On this side of the window is my desk and all my school books, my transcripts, and my letters of recommendation; everything I am proud to call my own. In the midst of academic excellence I target a goal of the personal kind—to be kissed by Mister Perfect. I better get my lip gloss ready.


I roll onto my side and think about his lips, wondering if he uses them as an artist sculpting his masterpiece with an easy stroke and detailed precision, or if he presses hard like a jackhammer tearing up cement. The thought keeps me awake for hours. Well, maybe not for hours. Maybe just until about two-thirty when I fall asleep but it is the first thing I think about in the morning while brushing my teeth.

As for my future writing projects, I always juggle several balls in the air at once. Not only do I have the first chapter and an outline written for my next four books, I am in the middle of writing a new romance/mystery set in Freedom, Wisconsin. It’s a really fun read about a woman who decides to make her coworker fall in love with her. She goes about figuring out what he is looking for in a woman and transforms herself into that image only to discover she has lost herself in the process.

However, my most interesting project is a murder mystery that takes place in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. I'm teaming up with a childhood friend, John Friedman, a brilliant former criminal trial attorney. He is Jewish and our faiths intertwine in ways that add layers to make this book especially interesting. Packed with intrigue (and romance), it’s sure to please a broad audience.

Through all of these projects, I hope to impart to my readers hope for today and a renewed belief that God does see you. He hears you and He answers. I also love the idea of entertainment and want my readers to step into the pages of any of my books, into a new life, for a few hours.

Besides being a writer, I'm also a reader. Mysteries with a strong romance line are a great read for me. I also thoroughly enjoy children's books and middle-school readers. Each year I give my daughter a children's book on her birthday. I started this when she was a one-year-old, and this year she turns twenty-nine. My mother started this family tradition with me. Of course there were many, many books in between each birthday.

I'd love to get to know fellow readers like you. Please send me a friend invitation on Facebook. You can also visit me at my blog, The Serial Writings of Robin Shope. Leave a comment so I know you have been by to visit.

Purchase links for my books:

The Christmas Edition
Passages

Free For All Friday: Can You Name the Parts of a Book?

Can you name the physical parts of a book? See if you can name the term for each description below. Note: In the interest of brevity I do not name specific page content. (Answers follow.)

1. The front and back covers
2. The small groove where the books boards attach to the book that bends when a book opens
3. Raised areas on a book's spine (These once resulted from cords that anchored the book covers but are now mostly decorative.)
4. The bottom of the book, especially at the spine
5. One or two pieces of paper that attach the cover to the book block
6. This bends when the book is opened.
7. The trimmed edge opposite the spine (hint: it sometimes can be painted or gilded)
8. A decorative colored cloth band that protects the spine
9. The inside pages that make up a book
10. Protective paper or plastic that wraps around the covers of hard bound books for protection and often display artwork, title and author of the book
11. The cover surrounding a paperback book
12. The blank page(s) following the front free end paper
13. The top of the book, especially at the spine
14. A part of the book binding consisting of half of the end paper glued to the inside cover of the book
15. The binding that joins a book's front and rear covers where the pages hinge

Answers:

1. Book Cover or Book Board
2. Joint
3. Raised Band  
4. Tail
5. Endsheet or Endpaper
   
6. Hinge
7. Fore edge
8. Headband 
9. Text block or book block.  
10. Dust Jacket or Dust Wrapper 
11. Wrapper
12.  Flyleaf
13. Head
14. Paste down
15. Spine

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Watch Over Me

Deputy Benjamin Patil finds a newborn baby who has been left to die in a plastic grocery bag in a field. He transports the infant girl to the hospital and returns daily to check on her. When the time comes to place the baby in foster care, Benjamin and his offbeat wife, Abbi, unable to have children of their own, offer to take her in. But can their crumbling marriage stand up under the strain?  And what will happen if Ben's search for the child's parents yields results?

Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish tells the story of two people faced with the choice of ending their marriage or giving it the effort and sacrifice loving requires. Each must choose to trust not only one another, but also a God who seems distant. Illustrated with true lines and colored in vivid hues, Watch Over Me paints an intimate portrait drawn from real-life realities.

Those who enjoy contemporary fiction will enjoy this book. I also recommend it for teens because of its honest portrayal of the issues teens face and its emphasis on practical morality.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for purposes of review.)

Meet and Greet Monday: Lisa Grace

Today's guest, Lisa Grace, author of Angel in the Shadows, offers a fascinating alternative to the Twilight series.

 

Lisa Grace: Thank you Janalyn for having me on your site. I appreciate the chance to talk to anyone who loves reading and writing as much as I do. For those who would like to know who I am, I've been married to my husband Todd for over twenty years and I have a six-year-old daughter whom I home school. I live along the Gulf Coast of  Florida and also spend part of the year in Tennessee and the North woods of Wisconsin.

BRC: How would you describe your book?

Angel in the Shadows - Book 1 is a young adult supernatural thriller. What sets Angel apart is the supernatural creatures that appear, in Book 1, Angel in the Shadows, only do things we know they can from the Bible. I had my Pastor, Larry Vasseur (he has his Doctorate in Theology) of Fellowship Baptist in New Port Richey, FL, read my manuscript to make sure it is scripturally sound in its message. For fun, there are over a 120 footnotes for the teens who want to check what the characters say in their Bible.

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?

 I hope teenagers come away with the knowledge that spiritual warfare for their souls is real. The characters in the book show the reader we all make mistakes, but you can be strong with God's help.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed seeing the characters come alive and when I finished, the sense of accomplishment you feel knowing something has been created out of your imagination. I felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this book as I was upset by the message in theTwilight series, that it's okay to try to commit suicide (the main character jumps off a cliff when her vampire boyfriend breaks up with her.) My novel is an alternative as it has a strong female character who perseveres by relying on God and knowing that God has given her everything she needs, even when dealing with supernatural creatures who are smarter and stronger than her.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?

The constant editing process is not much fun. I edited it about seven times before I sent it out. Then the Publishing house and I did about four more revisions. Even though the book is 60,000 words, which should make it 175 pages, the text block manager cut it down to 144 to make it look more uniform. At least I'm saving some trees!

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?

I have always written, from the age of five on. That year I wanted a typewriter for Christmas so I could write Star Trek scripts. In fourth grade at a new school, I wrote a book report and received an "F" on it because the teacher was sure I had plagiarized the front flap. What he didn't realize is I was already reading on a college level and going through at least a book a day at that point. Actually, I was flattered that he thought it was that good. My Mother brought in the book to show him the front flap and he adjusted my grade to an "A." I always thought of myself as a writer as I have a whole drawer full of stories, poems, songs and ideas. I realized I better try and get something published soon. I wasn't getting any younger.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.

I write a page, spell check, grammar check, and then I read it out loud. I start with a very rough outline, broken into about 10 to 20 parts. I set a goal of 2,000 words a day no matter what is going on in my life. I only write my official outline and synopsis after the book is written because too much of the plot and even characters change during the process. 

BRC: What are you working on now?

I have two works in progress. Angel in the Storm  - Book 2  and The 15th Star, ( which I'm working on for National Novel Writing Month) an adult mystery thriller that can be described as 1776 meets National Treasure.

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy real-life adventure, some of my favorites lately are Fire and The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger, The Ice Master and Ada Black Jack by Jennifer Niven, The White Cascade by Gary Krist, Voyage of the Manteno by John Haslett, and I'm currently reading Malcolm Gladwell's books Blink and Outliers. I frequently reread On Writing by Stephen King, C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity and the Screw Tape Letters and of course the Bible.

 

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?

Angel in the Shadows,  ISBN #978-1-60911-001-7, is slated for release in December/January at Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com. It will be distributed by Ingram and available at fine bookstores everywhere.

The difference between vampires and angels? 

Angels are real.  

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

Readers can reach me personally at www.lisagracebooks.com and I return emails sent to lisagracebooks@yahoo.com I love to answer questions and hope to hear from your readers. Thanks again Janalyn for inviting me here today.

BRC: Thanks, Lisa, for a fun and informative interview.

Free For All Friday: Timeless Best Sellers

Some books never go out of style. Can you name the top ten all-time best sellers? (Answers below* - listed in order of sales.)

 1. Bible

 2. Quotations from Chairman Mao (the Little Red Book) by Mao Zedong

 3. The Qur'an (Koran)

 4. Xinhua Zidian (Xinhua Dictionary)

 5. Chairman Mao's Poems by Mao Zedung

 6. Selected Articles of Mao Zedong

 7. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

 8. Scouting for Boys (A Handbook of Instruction in Good Citizenship) by Robert Baden-Powell

 9. The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

10. Book of Mormon

*source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: "Like a Bird Wanders"

"Like a bird wandereth from her nest. So is a man who wandereth from his home (Proverbs 27:8 KJV).

Authored with rich diversity, redolant with the aromas of small-town life in the Pacific Northwest, and illustrated with beautifully-drawn characters, Like a Bird Wanders sings a song of heartbreak and forgiveness. The timeless story of a wayward girl who leaves home in pursuit of a dream that crumbles bridges the gap between social mores on the cusp of the Twentieth Century and modern times.

Grace Rose McFarlane, while dying, leaves a cryptic note for her great-granddaughter: Julia, the lion will destroy you. Puzzled, Julia pockets the missive. When she discovers old letters and journals in a trunk in her great-grandmother's attic, however, Julia unlocks a family secret that clarifies Granny Grace's message.

The story unfolds as Julia reads the letters and journals, which tell of a younger Grace full of ambition and disparaging of her family's rural lifestyle. Grace makes a decision to leave it all behind and "come up" in the world, running off for a better life with handsome Jake Hudson. But fulfillment of her dreams eludes Grace, and she learns -  the hard way - the definition of "home."

A fine and moving work containing high-caliber writing, Like a Bird Wanders seamlessly blends the voices of its three co-authors: Sharon Bernash Smith, Rosanne Croft and Linda Reinhardt. I found it a little off-putting at first that, although the author of each journal entry was identified, the letters were only identified by their signatures, which might not come for several pages. This made for some flipping back and forth for me until I became familiar with each character and could pick up on clues as to identity. I also found certain aspects of the plot a bit contrived, but the book is so well done overall I recommend it for those who enjoy family sagas and historical fiction. I also approve this book for teenage girls since it focuses on home and family, defines a Biblical morality and gives clear consequences for sin.

*Thanks to the authors for a complimentary copy of this book provided for purposes of review.


**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.