That’s usually good advice for an aspiring novelist, but my day job isn’t all that profitable, either. I teach quiltmaking. I have been teaching for twenty years, and I love it. Teaching is something that blesses me. I also make quilts for sale on etsy or by commission and do some custom dressmaking. Although I learned to sew clothing over forty years ago, I didn’t take up quiltmaking until I was pregnant with my second child. That first quilt was very sweet, with pink and blue lambs on a muslin background. I appliqued the lambs with a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine and used a puffy batting. I decided I enjoyed quiltmaking and started looking for more information. We were living in a tiny farming town in Germany, and it was hard to find calico fabric in the local stores. The Air Force Base Exchange had some fabric, although none of it matched, and they had something even more interesting: a rotary cutter. There weren’t many quilting books in the base library, and they were all too old-fashioned (I was 24), so I used graph paper and colored pencils to design a little wall quilt to insulate the bathroom Read More
Tag: Christian fiction
Bite-Size Book Reviews
It was another week or reading and rereading some of my favorite authors. I even read a nonfiction book! 1. The Rose of Winslow Street, audiobook, by Elizabeth Camden Another creative historical romance from this author. The heroine and the boys are good characters. I liked the way the hero was training up his sons, and his ability to identify fragrances was interesting, but otherwise he wasn’t very appealing. (That doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book; I don’t judge a book by whether or not I personally like the characters.) There is a secondary storyline about the father and his inventions that leads to changes in family dynamics – nicely done! My favorite scene in the novel is when the hero meets his next door neighbor and they compare battle scars. Funny! 2. Back on the Streets, paperback, by Deborah Ross This nonfiction book is a testimony of God’s redemption. The author’s story of childhood poverty, neglect and abuse – and the healing, transforming grace and power of God – should be read by every human being. I met Deborah at a local ACFW meeting and purchased her book directly; it is not easily available. There Read More
Bite-size Book Reviews
Do you like audiobooks? I get so much more work done, around the house and in my sewing room, if I have an audiobook to listen to! I could never just sit down and listen to one, but I like them when I’m working or driving or at the gym! 1. Dawn of Christmas, audiobook, by Cindy Woodsmall The main characters in this book are not your average Amish folks. The heroine is interesting, obedient and also willful. When she meets a like-minded man, they construct a false courtship scenario to escape the pressures of their family-oriented community. They like each other, but they have trouble trusting each other. In addition to being an entertaining novel, it’s a thought-provoking story about lies, relationships, and seeking God’s will. I liked this book. 2. Daughter of Time, paperback, by Josephine Tey RETRO READ! Last week, I micro-reviewed Elizabeth Peters’s novel, The Murders of Richard III. It was a fun read, but it made me want to investigate further. As a homeschooling mother, I enjoyed teaching history to my sons, but none of us remember the War of the Roses in any detail (or with any enthusiasm.) So instead Read More
Deepest Roots of the Heart
Deepest Roots of the Heart by Chautona Havig My review: Loved it. Looking forward to the next book. Okay, okay…. I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. The reader, Thom Rivera, was very good. His rich Hispanic accent was perfect for creating the right atmosphere for the story. This book is a fascinating story in an unusual setting. I learned more about history in that part of the country while reading this book than I did in school! The characters are complex and convincing. The transitions between 1945 and 1836 are smooth. I enjoyed the relationships between the main characters. Amelie is particularly charming. The plot includes several deeper subjects, including PTSD, which is portrayed with sensitivity and accuracy. Deepest Roots of the Heart is apparently a prequel/sequel to a new series – the foundation and resolution – and I am looking forward to reading all of it. I have never been disappointed by a Chautona Havig book.
Bite-Size Book Reviews
I haven’t published a “weekly” book review since the end of October. Oops. Excuses… NaNoWriMo, followed by Christmas. I read at least 15 books in that time, even if I didn’t get much writing done. The following, except for the Mary Stewart book, are all Christian fiction in a variety of genres. 1. Last Light, Paperback, by Terri Blackstock Last Light is the first book in the Restoration series, about a Y2K-style event happening in the suburbs. That setting made it unusual. It wasn’t in the country, where it’s easier to improvise water, heat, and food, and it wasn’t exactly like Y2K, which was a predicted event. This was a devastating event that happened with no warning. The characters were interesting, with believable responses and relationships for that setting. The mystery seemed like a secondary event, but it was wrapped up neatly at the end. I am looking forward to the rest of the series. 2. Grandmother’s Letters, Kindle, by Rebekah Jones This is a sweet story with unexpected plot twists. Several story lines run separately for most of the story, gradually connecting near the end. Ms. Jones is good at writing about relationships. The characters are well-defined Read More