Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Things Worth Remembering

This beautiful story about a mother and daughter unfolds as Maisey returns to her upscale childhood home for a brief time before her wedding. Both she and her mother, Kendy, in alternating viewpoints, reflect on their life together through Maisey's childhood to the point where their relationship fell apart. We come to learn that while the characters live seemingly happy lives they are hiding a lot of pain.

Personally I found this book easy to read, and engaging. It touched very deeply on loneliness. I thought it humorous that one of the characters hid behind "reading" books when she wanted time alone. While the plot was rather straightforward, the thought life of these two women kept you guessing at what would happen next. The story wonderfully illustrates how openness, forgiveness, love and God can heal all. I recommend it for women of any age. As for teenagers; this book does contain some mild suggestions of (mostly marital) sexual activity. I found the author's treatment of this subject in line with Christian values.

Meet and Greet Monday: Janice Thompson

Merry week after Christmas, y’all. This is Janice Thompson, Christian author and speaker. If you’re like I am, you’re stuffed full of yummy holiday goodies, staring at a Christmas tree now barren of gifts, and wondering what you’re going to do with all of those leftovers in the fridge. Perhaps you’re also looking ahead to 2010, praying about what the future might hold.

You’ve already opened gifts from friends and loved ones. Now I’d like to encourage you to pray about a different type of gift. . .the kind the Lord has placed inside of you. Perhaps there’s something you’ve always longed to do, but haven’t had the courage to pursue. Maybe this coming year will see the beginning of something brand new. Unwrap that gift. Pray about it. Then begin to take baby steps toward your goal. Step out into an exciting future!

I remember so clearly the year I decided to write my first book. It was 1994. The whole thing started innocently enough. I had an idea for a non-fiction book. It took me a couple of months to write it, but I had a blast. Before long, an idea for a story took hold. I couldn’t let it go, so I wrote my first novel. Before you knew it, I’d written several books. Many of those first stories were never published, but I cut my teeth on them. And now, over fifty published books later, I thank the Lord for giving me the courage to step out and trust Him with my dreams.

As I kick off this new year, I’m celebrating so many things related to my writing gift. I’m particularly thrilled with the magnificent relationship I have with my three publishers: Revell, Summerside and Barbour. I’m also tickled that the Lord has chosen to let me publish under two different names: Janice Thompson and Janice Hanna. (Hanna is my maiden name, and I’m now publishing my Summerside and Barbour books under that name to honor the memory of my father.) Most of all, I’m grateful to the Lord for letting me do the one thing I love to do. . .write for a living!

So, what am I up to? In a nutshell (by publisher): With Revell, I’ve just released the first two books in the “Weddings by Bella” series. Book one (FOOLS RUSH IN) is a fun, quirky story of an Italian wedding planner who inherits her family’s wedding facility on Galveston Island. Here’s the synopsis:

Bella Rossi may be nearing thirty, but her life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business, Bella is determined not to let them down. She quickly books a "Boot Scoot'n" wedding that would make any Texan proud. There's only one catch--she's a country music numbskull because her family only listens to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Where will she find a DJ on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his Keith Urban? When a misunderstanding leads her to the DJ (and man) of her dreams, things start falling into place. But with a family like hers, nothing is guaranteed. Can the perfect Texan wedding survive a pizza-making uncle with mob ties, an aunt who is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and a massive delivery of 80 cowboy boots? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding? Book one in the Weddings by Bella series, Fools Rush In is fun, fresh, and full of surprises. Readers will love the flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex, and the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.

The second book in the “Weddings by Bella” series is titled SWINGING ON A STAR. It releases this week. I’m so excited! Here’s the synopsis:

Bella Rossi's life is nearing perfection. She's got the perfect guy, she's running a successful business, and she's about to plan her most ambitious wedding yet, a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There's just one hitch. The best man just happens to be Brock Benson, Hollywood's hottest and most eligible bachelor. Oh, and did we mention he's staying at the Rossi house to avoid the paparazzi? With all the pressure surrounding this wedding, Bella's not sure she's going to make it through. Add her starstruck sister, her feuding aunt and uncle, and a trio of large, sequined church ladies with even bigger personalities, and you've got a recipe for disaster--and a lot of laughs. This hilarious romantic comedy is sure to delight both fans and new readers alike.

Book three in the “Wedding by Bella” series will release in about six months. It is titled IT HAD TO BE YOU.”

My first Summerside book (LOVE FINDS YOU IN POETRY, TEXAS) was written under my maiden name and released last summer. It’s still available in stores and online. Here’s the synopsis:

In the quaint Texas community of Poetry, Texas, Belinda spies an opportunity. The tiny town is filled with farmers and railroad men in need of wives, so she sets herself up as a marriage broker. She writes little poems to be printed in newspapers all over the country and one by one, women begin to arrive in Poetry. There’s only one problem: Belinda doesn’t have a clue what she’s doing and all the brides marry the wrong men! One client is particularly unhappy. Georg Kaufman, the local barber, has lost more than one prospective wife to Belinda’s fumbled attempts. For some reason, she just cant seem to find Georg’s perfect match, though its not for lack of trying. Is there a poetic ending in store for Georg and for Belinda herself?

For those who love non-fiction, my co-authored Barbour book “THE HOUSE IS QUIET. . .NOW WHAT?” (a book for empty nesters) just released from Barbour. I was blessed to write this book with my best friend and critique partner, Kathleen Y’Barbo. 

All of these books are available at local stores and online at www.christianbook.com and www.amazon.com. For those who would like autographed copies, my website (www.janiceathompson.com) has a shopping cart option.

As you can see, I’ve been plenty busy. I’ve loved every minute of it. As I said, it’s such a blessing to be able to earn a living doing the thing I love. . .writing. God has truly granted me the desires of my heart.

So, what about you, friends? What are your dreams for the upcoming year? I would encourage you to pray about them. . .then step out in faith.

About Janice Thompson

Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over fifty

books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network)

and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).  She is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Janice is passionate about

her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all.

You can find out more about Janice at www.janiceathompson.com, http://weddingsbybella.blogspot.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/jhannathompson?ref=name

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Lost Mission

In a passion-filled tale, Athol Dickson explores questions of faith while exposing raw truths. Lupe, a simple Mexican shop keeper, is called by her beloved "Senor" to preach to her northern neighbors, the lost Americanos. With her she brings an ancient artifact cloaked in mystery. Lupe meets and touches many people in her quest, but none of them are just what they seem. Even Lupe hides secrets. Finally, an evil lying dormant for two hundred years arises to threaten the very people Lupe has come to save.

Working back and forth between the eighteenth century and modern times, Lost Mission interweaves its mysteries into a complex fabric pieced together by an Indian man with shining hair. Although the author moves through time with ease, I had a little trouble at first following him, since it required I disengage from one time frame to enter another. I can't imagine this book written any other way, however, and I did become accustomed to the pattern. While the story and characters involve the reader, this is not a warm, fuzzy book that leaves you sighing in pleasure. Lost Mission, instead, will challenge you to examine your own faith and the truths upon which you rely. It will cause you to embark on a quest all your own.

Meet and Greet Monday: Roseanna White

Book Readers Central has the honor of being a stop on author Roseanna White's blog tour today. In this open letter to readers, Roseanna shares from the heart.

Hi!
I’m Roseanna White – wife, mommy, writer, reviewer, and lover of all things literature-related. Sometimes those titles pull me in such different directions that I feel torn in a million pieces, but thankfully I serve a Master Craftsman capable of using all the holes to make some really beautiful filagree.


I’ve been writing stories since I first learned to put pencil to paper, and asking me not to would be like asking me not to breathe. Well, okay–I could not write. But I’d still be developing novels, even if only in my head.

Over the years my stories and characters have matured along with me, and the one that remains closest to my heart is A Stray Drop of Blood. The story pivots around the crucifixion, taking the reader through the life of Abigail, a Hebrew slave largely unconcerned with the tales of these man called Jesus until she’s caught up in the crowd at his trial. A stray drop of His blood changes her forever–but her life is still not simple.

Interested in learning more Roseanna White and her books?
Click on the following links.


http://www.roseannamwhite.com/
www.RoseannaMWhite.blogspot.com
http://www.christianreviewofbooks.com/

Free For All Friday - More Author's Quotes About Christmas

                                         I heard the bells on Christmas Day
                                         Their old, familiar carols play,
                                         And wild and sweet
                                         The words repeat
                                         Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
                                         - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

                      Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling.
                      - Edna Ferber 

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
- Washington Irving

                     A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
                     The poor man's heart through half the year.
                     - Walter Scott

                                Somehow, not only for Christmas
                                But all the long year through,
                                The joy that you give to others
                                Is the joy that comes back to you.

                                           And the more you spend in blessing

                                           The poor and lonely and sad,
                                           The more of your heart's possessing
                                           Returns to you glad.

                                           - John Greenleaf Whittier

Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making.
- Leigh Hunt

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Levi's Will

Levi's Will tells a rich story of one man's journey through life. When we first meet Will, our main character, he is preparing for his father's funeral. The next chapter takes us back to when he first ran away from his fathers home, leaving behind the Amish lifestyle and a pregnant girlfriend.

The story jumps back and forth between different times in Will's life, which confused me at first. I had to go back and re-read the first couple of chapters. But, once I understood this, I began to see Will's life illustrated in a way not unlike my own process of memory.

W. Dale Cramer gives Levi's Will strong, solid, believable characters and puts into words many of the difficult struggles of life. Through the transformation of Will's character, the book underscores that a man can never really run away but through love can overcome the past. This book offers a clear perspective on faith. Because its central themes are love and forgiveness, I believe people of all faiths would enjoy this book. And I especially recommend this book for fathers.

Note: Bethany House provided a courtesy copy of Levi's Will to Book Readers Central for purposes of review.

Meet and Greet Monday: Camy Tang

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Originally from Hawaii, she worked as a biologist for 9 years, but now she writes full time, is a staff worker for her church youth group, leads a worship team for Sunday service, and runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service, which specializes in book doctoring. 

BRC: Welcome, Camy. How would you describe your book?

CT: Here's the back cover blurb for Scene of the Crime:
The Grant family’s exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! Then Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz
bleeding to death in her massage room, and everything falls apart. The
salon’s reputation is at stake...and so is Naomi’s freedom when she
discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is
found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim’s
ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to
light, where can Naomi turn...and whom can she trust?

BRC: What message do you hope your book conveys?

CT: The theme verse of the book is Zephaniah 3:17: "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save."

For every book, I have a "theme song" that I play to get me in the mood for the characters. I confess that I initially hit on the worship song "Mighty to Save" as Naomi's "theme song" for the book, and then found the Zephaniah verse to go with it.

But as I was writing Deadly Intent, the verse became more and more prominent as a major element in Naomi's spiritual thread. It ended up being an integral part of her surrender to God—her trust that He is,
indeed, mighty to save.

I hope that my readers will also come to that point of surrender in their own lives, and be able to trust that God is with them, that "He is mighty to save."

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

CT: Even though the main story is about a murder and finding the killer, I had a lot of fun creating the Grant family: Augustus Grant, owner of the Joy Luck Life spa; the three sisters, Naomi, Rachel, and Monica;
and their mother's sister, Aunt Becca. The more time I spent with  them, the more interesting family dynamics came out.

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

CT: It wasn't dislike, but more frustration that I couldn't actually GO to my fictional spa for a week or so to relax. :)

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?

CT: I think it was reading Dragonsong and Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey that first gave me the idea to start writing. I loved those books so much that I wanted to write my own fantasy world and story. I wrote my
first manuscript in high school, or maybe it was junior high school ... I can't remember except that the manuscript was like 1000 pages long and horrifically bad. LOL

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.

CT: I am what is called a "plotter," so I plot my entire story before I actually write it. I brainstorm with Post-It notes stuck on my office closet doors (check out the photo: http://is.gd/5gmfo). I do characterization and plan the storyline in as much detail as I can. The plotting process takes several months, but once it's done, I can typically write the manuscript within about a month.

BRC: What are you working on now?

CT: I'm working on a sequel to Deadly Intent, called Formula for Danger. The heroine is Naomi's sister, Rachel, who is the dermatologist researcher at the spa responsible for creating all the innovative products that make the spa famous. But now someone is after her latest research, a scar cream reduction formula that could propel Joy Luck Life spa to the top of its competition. She turns to Edward Villa, a man she secretly loves, but can he protect her from the attacks on her lab and her life?

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?

CT: I read a variety of genres! I mostly enjoy Regency romances, but I also read the Love Inspired Suspense novels every month and I like a good fantasy once in a while, too.

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?

CT: http://www.camytang.com/romanticsuspense.html
(I list several purchasing options on this page so people can pick)

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

CT: They can visit my website and sign up for my newsletter Yahoo Group for giveaways!
I also blog regularly. My blog is where I give away Christian novels and ponder frivolous things.
 
Readers can find me online at these places:

http://www.camytang.com/

http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/camytang
http://www.twitter.com/camytang
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=CAMYTANG

BRC: Thanks for letting us get to know you, Camy.

CT Thanks for the interview, Janalyn!

Free For All Friday: Author Quotes About Christmas

Can you name the author for each quote about Christmas? (Answers follow, below.)

1. There's nothing sadder in this world than to wake Christmas morning and not be a child.
2. This is the message of Christmas: we are never alone.
3. I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.
4. At Christmas, all roads lead to home.
5. The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!
6. Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
7. Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
8. One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don't clean it up too quickly.
9. At Christmas play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year.
10. Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

Answers

1. Erma Bombeck
2. Taylor Caldwell
3. Charles Dickens (from A Christmas Carol)
4. Marjorie Holmes
5. Charles N. Barnard
6. Hamilton Wright Mabie
7. Norman Vincent Peale
8. Andy Rooney
9. Thomas Tusser
10. Larry Wilde

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Whistlestop Wednesday: I Run to the Hills

A cloaked figure climbs the Mount of the Lord. The pilgrim draws near, glances at me as I read along the wayside, and presses on. I gasp and turn my head, for this pilgrim has my face. In a flash of clarity, I realize the pilgrim is me. And so it goes. I find myself - and you - everywhere within the pages of I Run to the Hills. Filled with intimate glimpses of reality that cut to the heart of a matter, illustrated in poetic imagery, and couched in allegory, I Run to the Hills is a modern-day Pilgrim's Promise. It's complex truths clothe themselves in simplicity and knock at the door of the reader's heart.

It would be difficult to read I Run to the Hills in a single sitting, something like eating too much chocolate. This book should be studied, little by little, over time, for it highlights lessons learned by its author over a ten-year stretch of living. Read it, and then reread it to glean again.

I recommend this book for teenagers and adult readers who enjoy devotionals, poetry and allegory.

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

Can you name the page content that might be found in a book? Name the term for each description, below. (Answers follow.)

1. The page at or near the front cover which gives the book's title, it's author and other information.
2. The page opposite the title page that is either blank or decorated with an illustration.
   
3. This page shows copyright information, credits, edition and printing details, and cataloguing  information.
   
4. This page or section lists the parts of a book in order. 
   
5. This page or section lists any tables, illustrations, charts, and graphs within a book and helps the reader locate them in the text.
   
6. This page or section lists any tables within a book and helps the reader locate them in the text.
7. A page in which the author dedicates the book to a specific person or persons.
   
8. A page in which the author pays homage to all those who helped in the writing and production of a book.
   
9. A composition by someone other than the book's author, which is often included in the front matter of a book.
10. A composition by the book's author, which is often included in the front matter of a book.
11. This section of a book's front matter is a composition that gives the purposes and goals of the book.
12.  A supplemental section added to the back matter of a book to correct errors, explain inconsistencies, or provide updates.
13. A list of terms and their definitions usually included in the back matter of a book.
14. A list of words or phrases and page numbers, paragraph numbers or section numbers that help the reader locate useful information in a book.
15. A page, usually in a book's back matter, in which the author makes brief observations pertaining to the book and adds information of interest to the reader.
    
16. A list of books and other works usually located in a book's back matter but which can occupy entire volumes of its own.
17. A brief description, usually in a book's back matter, giving notes on details of the production and publication of a book.

1. Title Page
2. Frontispiece
3. Copyright Page
4. Table of Contents
   
5. List of Figures
6. List of Tables
7. Dedication
8. Acknowledgments
9. Foreward
10. Preface
11. Introduction
12. Appendix or Addendum
    
13. Glossary
14. Index
15. Notes
16. Bibliography
17. Colophon

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: The Sunflower

The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans

This wonderfully descriptive love story will have you questioning your own reality, life, and love. Full of tidbits of wisdom and surprises, this book is hard to put down.

This book follows the story of Paul Cook, a doctor who left a successful practice in America to run an orphanage for street children in Peru, finding love in the process. The descriptive setting made me feel I actually visited Peru with a tour guide, knew my travel companions, and had a meal or two with them.

The main story line was a little thin, but the many twists and turns kept it interesting. The characters were well-developed and realistic. And as this book is based in reality, I feel my world has expanded some. I highly recommend this book to everyone, young and old, men and women, in any stage of life. The horrors of child prostitution are touched on in a few passages, so I would recommend reading it first before handing it to your teen.

The Author's Website