Saturday, December 21, 2013

Guest Post: David Mckay Barker, author of Science and Religion: Reconciling the Conflicts

Today author David Mckay Barker is on the blog talking about a topic discussed in his newest book, Science and Religion: Reconciling the Conflicts

In an age of severe contrast between the Bible and science, how are Christians to view the subject of science? How can we remain open-minded without letting unbiblical scientific theories influence our beliefs?

The severe contrast between the Bible and science has been a subject of intense interest to me for over 40 years. While a young guy it dawned on me that things I’d been taught in Sunday School as truth (like Noah’s flood) were not supported by popular geologic theory, or history as taught in public schools. Even though I’d had several history classes in high school and college, not one mention was made of the Flood. This and other concerns led me to a passionate and long-lived spare-time study of Bible chronology, Egyptian chronology, and science. This, in turn, has led me to some intriguing and promising possibilities for reconciling the conflicts between science and religion.

Let me share with you some of my favorite quotes (sung to the tune of “these are a few of my favorite things”). This one is from John A. Widtsoe, a scientist and religious leader (now deceased): “The Church holds that the methods used by science to discover truth are legitimate.” But he also cautioned: “In this wholehearted acceptance of science, the Church makes, as must every sane thinker, two reservations: [1] The facts which are the building blocks of science must be honestly and accurately observed. . . . [2] There must be a distinct segregation of facts and inferences in the utterances of scientific men. Readers of science should always keep this difference in mind. Even well-established inferences should not lose their inferential label.” Clear back in 1954 he wrote: “The failure to differentiate between facts and inferences is the most grievous and the most common sin of scientists.” One would think that the problem had improved since the, but it seems to have gotten worse.

In my opinion, far too many people attribute their loss of faith to “scientific enlightenment.” They seem to think that anything labeled “scientific” means tested and proven, not realizing that science not only includes facts, but also highly speculative guesswork (although scientists prefer other descriptions). After all, what is a hypothesis? And, what constitutes “proof”? “People in general have no notion of the sort and amount of evidence often needed to prove the simplest matter of fact.” (Peter Mere Latham). “When, indeed, is a thing proven? Only when an individual has accumulated in his own consciousness enough observations, impressions, reasonings and feelings to satisfy him personally that it is so. The same evidence which convinces one expert may leave another completely unsatisfied.” (Professor Nibley).

Another favorite quote: “What seems to be proved may not be embraced; but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.” (Austin Farrer)

As I’ve studied the subject over the years, I’ve found that far too much science is presented as though totally unbiased fact. Yes, facts and observations are involved, and theories are postulated to try to explain or make sense of those facts and observations, but science includes untestable suppositions—many of which have nearly achieved a “consensus” status among main-stream scientists. Furthermore, an atheistic view of science seems to have gained such a stronghold as to exclude science recognizing God’s hand in it from most of the collegiate and peer-reviewed papers.

One of the really big conflicts between popular science and Bible belief is the timing of events in Earth's history. I’ve found some works of scientists who have posed some important challenges to scientific dating techniques. These suggest that much of the contradictory information is based on assumption and surmise, not factual data only.

So, in short, my answer to the questions you posed “How are Christians to view the subject of science?” and “How can we remain open-minded without letting unbiblical scientific theories influence our beliefs?” can be summed up with: I don’t think we can, or should be, totally open-minded or unbiased—we, as converted Christians have received some knowledge from a source which science not only doesn’t generally recognize, but which its adherents often ridicule. We can learn from science though, and often find beautiful truths. We can enjoy those truths and strive to discern what parts of science really are truths and what parts are merely inferences or theories.

We can take comfort in the understanding that the revelations God has shared with us on any given subject are much more likely to stand the test of time—although we don’t always adequately understand those revelations. We should strive to maintain humility in our quest for truth and be open-minded enough to recognize that we don’t have all of the answers to all of the questions on all of the subjects. For instance, how much has He given us about the Creation? (There are only 55 versus in the Bible describing the Creation). It has been said that: “In that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things—Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof—Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.”

Thanks, David! Be sure to check out Science and Religion: Reconciling the Conflicts on Goodreads and Amazon. Find out more about David on his website.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Review: Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Published: July 8th, 2013 (Flux)
Pages: 331
Rating: 4/5
Source: NetGalley

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them in human form. Longing hovers around the shy, adoring boy at school. Courage materializes beside her dying friend. Fury and Resentment visit her abusive home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, except beautiful Fear, who sometimes torments her and other times plays her compassionate savior. He’s obsessed with finding the answer to one question: What happened to Elizabeth to make her this way?


They both sense that the key to Elizabeth’s condition is somehow connected to the paintings of her dreams, which show visions of death and grief that raise more questions than answers. But as a shadowy menace begins to stalk her, Elizabeth’s very survival depends on discovering the truth about herself. When it matters most, she may not be able to rely on Fear to save her. (Description from Goodreads)

I heard about this book through the lovely Gabrielle Carolina of Mod Podge Bookshelf, and promoted it a couple times this past year. If you know me at all, you know I don’t really go for the paranormal/supernatural stuff these days, but I decided to take a chance with Some Quiet Place. And I really liked the cover. Ok, that was probably the main reason I wanted to read the book. But have you read the summary (above)?! Hellooo! I fell in love with the idea of the MC having the ability to physically interact with abstract emotions (gosh, I sound like such an art major…I’m totally not an art major). This book seemed dark and intriguing and vague all at the same time, and I had to find out what it was all about.

Just a heads up, I read this several months ago, when it was first released, so correct me if I get any plot details mixed up. My first impression of this book was that the plot was somewhat slow. I felt like it was taking a while for it to get anywhere. This may have been a result of something else: it was difficult (at times) to connect with Elizabeth, as she’s void of emotions. I mean…all I have to say is kudos to Kelsey for taking on the task of developing a character who can’t feel emotions. Bravo! You are brave stuff, Ms. Sutton. Connecting with Elizabeth wasn’t such a huge problem that I had to stop reading or anything like that, but it was a little irksome in the beginning.

Let me just stop right now and say that this book, this book right here, would make a FANTASTIC movie. I would go see it on opening night, which is saying a lot, because I’m not really an opening night-type girl. Hollywood has a tendency to either ace or botch paranormal movies, but as long as they did it right, Some Quiet Place could be incredible on screen. It’s beautifully written and hauntingly dark, and I nearly fell out of my chair when I realized that this is Kelsey’s debut novel. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, debut. As in, first. As in, she’s never published before. Let me have your writing talent, please and thank you.

So if you’re like me and aren’t normally drawn to this genre, please please please give Some Quiet Place a chance. I think that any book that deals skillfully in the topics of human emotions will hold many parallels to how we naturally react, and the same is true for Some Quiet Place. There’s also a bit of beautiful symbolism written in, which is something I always enjoy.  It’s an unforgettable debut, one that will intrigue you yet trouble you in the eerie little corners of your mind.  


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Guest Post + Review: Beauty's Daughter by Carolyn Meyer

*I use Grammarly's plagiarism checker because cool kids don't steal things.*
Today the lovely Carolyn Meyer is with us, talking about her newest book, Beauty's Daughter. I'm excited to hear what she has to say about it!

~RESEARCHING AND WRITING BEAUTY’S DAUGHTER~
Writing the story of Hermione, the daughter of Helen of Troy, was a huge intellectual challenge. All of my earlier historical novels are based on actual people, and I had learned that the further back I went in history, the scarcer the material I had to draw on. Cleopatra, for example, was really tough to research. Whatever possessed me to tackle characters who existed only in myths going back thousands of years?
Well, I thought it was a good story--actually many stories, not just Hermione’s--and I believed I could make the lives and characters exciting and involving to young readers of today. But first I had to learn as much as possible about Bronze Age Greece.
I started with Homer's Iliad, composed around 800 BC, where I found most of the main characters of the story I wanted to tell—except Hermione. She doesn’t even appear in the Iliad. In fact, there isn't much about Hermione anywhere, just occasional mentions in other myths. I had to track down those occasional mentions from a number of sources. For that I relied on The Greek Myths, a scholarly work that brings together all the elements of every myth—800 pages! For the realistic details that bring a story to life--the palaces Hermione would have lived in, the clothes she might have worn, the food she'd have eaten--I drew on several books and many internet sites. The search for the little details (what kind of sails were on the ships? what kind of sandals did the messenger wear?) continued as I worked on characters and plot, right down to the final draft.
Most of the characters appear in other myths and plays, but some are my invention, created to deepen the story and to move it along. Zethus, Paris’s servant, is the first to appear. Later, Ardeste, Hermione’s maid, comes into the story, and several others.
 The plot is my own, woven from threads drawn from several myths. In the first part of BEAUTY’S DAUGHTER Helen tells her daughter, Hermione, about her own mother’s encounter with a swan--actually Zeus in disguise--that resulted in Helen’s “birth” from an egg. She describes the circumstances of her marriage to Menelaus, Hermione’s father. Helen’s sister Clytemnestra comes to visit, along with her three daughters, her son Orestes, and her husband, Menelaus’s brother Agamemnon. Then Prince Paris arrives in Greece from Troy, and the stage is set for the beginning of the Trojan War. Achilles and Hector appear, the gods swoop down from Mount Olympus to interfere.
Meanwhile, I try to figure out how to keep them all straight—particularly when the names are unfamiliar, hard to pronounce, and vary from myth to myth—make the reader believe in what’s happening and care how it all turns out, and bring all the mayhem to a satisfying conclusion. 

Review:
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
Published: October 8th, 2013 (HMH Books for Young Readers)
Pages: 352
Rating: 2/5 (DNF- did not finish)
Source: From the author
Hermione knows her mother is Helen of Troy, the famed beauty of Greek myth. Helen is not only beautiful but also impulsive, and when she falls in love with charming Prince Paris, she runs off with him to Troy, abandoning her distraught daughter. Determined to reclaim their enchanting queen, the Greek army sails for Troy. Hermione stows away in one of the thousand ships in the fleet and witnesses the start of the legendary Trojan War.
In the rough Greek encampment outside the walls of Troy, Hermione’s life is far from that of a pampered princess. Meanwhile, her mother basks in luxury in the royal palace inside the city. Hermione desperately wishes for the gods and goddesses to intervene and end the brutal war—and to bring her love. Will she end up with the handsome archer Orestes, or the formidable Pyrrhus, leader of a tribe of fierce warriors? And will she ever forgive her mother for bringing such chaos to her life and the lives of so many others? (Description from Goodreads)
I’ve read many of Carolyn’s books in the past, and enjoyed her historical fiction when I was younger. She writes brilliant, entertaining books that can also be very educational. However, Beauty’s Daughter just didn’t do it for me. As much as I wanted to like it, I couldn’t seem to get through it. I felt like there was a lot of backstory information at the beginning, which was, and normally is, necessary. Especially in historical novels. However, it seemed to weigh the story down and get in the way of character/plot development. Also, I felt like Hermione’s character was a bit dry. Not overwhelmingly so, but enough to bother me a little.
 Another thing is that the subtitle of the book tells us that it’s “The story of Hermione and Helen of Troy,” but at times it seems to be solely about Hermione. I was hoping for a bit more about Helen, but as the book is titled “Beauty’s Daughter,” I guess I shouldn’t have expected it to be focused on anyone but Hermione.
I honestly wanted to enjoy this book so much, yet it just fell short for me. It failed to grab my attention at the beginning, and though I kept reading, I still had to force myself to continue even after 50+ pages. However, I enjoy Carolyn’s writing on other time frames in history, especially on the princesses and queens of Europe. Despite my disappointment in this book, I hope to see more of her work on these time periods in the future.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Blog Tour: My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White (Review + Giveaway)



After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough.
Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.



Review:
This book was so cute and sweet. I absolutely loved it to pieces. I knew I would, being a fan of Pride and Prejudice; loving and knowing the book/movie made it even better. I felt like I connected with the characters really easily. The romance was fantastic, and I found myself wanting more when I was finished reading. I’ve promoted books by Karey but have never read any of them. I’m definitely a fan now and will be picking up her other books soon! I’d highly recommend My Own Mr. Darcy to teen/adult readers, and even mature middle grade readers.

About the Author:
Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.
She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.





Tour Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash (Ends 10/8/13)




Friday, September 13, 2013

15 Minutes Blog Tour (Spotlight + Giveaway)



 
Released: June 15th 2013
Find it on: Amazon and Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:
I have 15 minutes to save my mother’s life….
15 minutes is all the Rewind Agency gives you in the past, but for Lara Crane it’s enough time to race through the city, find her mother, and stop her from being killed in a mugging that happened over ten years ago.
But that’s not how it happened. The story she’s been told all her life is a lie and when Lara takes a bullet meant for her mother, her future changes forever.
The love of her life acts like a stranger. Her simple life is replaced with a giant house, glamorous clothes and a new boyfriend. 
Except someone knows her secret. And he will try to stop her at every turn as she races against the clock to unravel a dangerous conspiracy.
15 Minutes is an edgy high octane YA thriller that can be described as Back to the Future meets Inception where the people Lara trusts change in an instant. She is in a timeline she doesn't understand, and is about to make one fatal mistake as she faces an enemy so familiar, he’s family.

About the Author
Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundaries, but most of all strives to entertain. She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances. Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats. 



Book Trailer: 



Rafflecopter Giveaway:

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

My Own Mr. Darcy Book Blitz

my ownMy Own Mr. Darcy

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough.


Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.


My Own Darcy SALE copy




kareyAuthor Karey White...

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.








BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash (Ends 10/4/13)

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Enter Here:

Monday, September 9, 2013

Letters to Nowhere Blog Tour (Character Interview + Giveaway)


Today we’re talking with gymnast Karen Campbell. Let’s welcome her!

Tell us a little bit about how you got into gymnastics and why you love it so much.
My story is like so many other elite gymnasts, I was already flipping all over the furniture by age two and my parents wanted me to burn off some energy in safer place.

What are some sacrifices you’ve had to make for the sake of your dreams? Would you say they were (and are) worth it?
I only know the media answer to this question and by that, I mean that I’ve been told what “normal” teenagers do, but since I haven’t done many of those things, nothing really feels like a sacrifice. Okay, maybe I miss eating some of the foods I ate without second thought as a kid—ice cream, cake, fried cheese sticks—but my healthy and more limited diet doesn’t bother me too much and I don’t feel as well prepared for workouts if I’m not eating right. So, I guess what I’m saying is that I can’t imagine my life without gymnastics, so it has to be worth it, right? Who would I be without it? I have no idea. It’s so much a part of me.

What’s the ultimate goal that you’re working towards?
I’m tired of blending in. Tired of my skills blurring with a dozen other gymnasts. I’d never say this out loud to anyone, but I think I’m ready to stand out, whatever that means.
   
What would you do (or how would you react) upon achieving that goal?
There’s really no way to know until I get there. One thing that helps me a lot when it comes to things like this, is that I love the day-to-day training, I love the process as much if not more as the outcome. Of course I want to win, but when I’m up there on top of the podium, I want to have flashbacks to all those hard days and the relentless repetition and the hours and the discipline.

Who or what inspires you?
Right now, I feel like the idea of being the only person to do a skill or having the most difficult routine of anyone in the competition or the best execution, is my driving force. I used to be much more conservative and only really cared about my own performance. I wanted to hit all my routines, even if that meant making them easier. Now, I have these fantasies of doing something incredible that makes the audience and the other gymnasts gasp.

After your parent’s accident, Coach Bentley took you in; how’d you feel about that? What’s your opinion of his son, Jordan?
With Coach Bentley, most of the time, I can’t figure out what he’s thinking or why he says or does certain things. It drives me crazy. So until I figure out why, I don’t really know how to feel except grateful that I stay at my gym with my teammates. And Jordan…I don’t know what to say about him other than, he’s setting the standard for every boy I meet from this day forward.

I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how have you coped since your parents’ accident? Who or what has helped you get through this?
I’m not sure. I wish someone could give me a score or an evaluation sheet and tell me what I need to work on to though everything. I’m not there yet. Not even close.

What’s something you’ve learned about life recently? Where do you place your hope?
My hope is in myself and my own ability to overcome obstacles. I just hope that this isn’t too big of a mountain for me to climb. I don’t know what I’ll do if it is.

About the Book...


Publisher: Long Walk Press
Pub. Date: August 1, 2013
Pages: 288

From the International Bestselling Author of the Tempest Series...

Set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics...

I've gotten used to the dead parents face. I've gotten used to living with my gymnastics coach. I've even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with his way-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that's made it onto my list of experiences as of yet. But here I am, doing it. And something about Jordan--being around him, talking to him, thinking about him--makes me feel like I can finally breathe again. That's something I haven't been able to do lately. He knows what it feels like to be me right now. He knows what it's like to wonder--what now? I think about it constantly. I need answers. I need to know how to get through this. In the gym, if you're struggling, you train harder, you do drills and conditioning. How do I work hard at moving on? At being on my own? And what happens if I might be...maybe...probably falling for Jordan? I mean we live together now. That can't happen, can it? But kissing him...well, let's just say it's not an easy activity to forget.


Buy the book here:


About the Author…

Julie Cross is the International Bestselling author of the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, and the final installment, Timestorm (St. Martin's Press). She's also the author of Letters to Nowhere (8/13), a mature young adult romance set in the world of elite gymnastics, as well as several forthcoming young adult and new adult novels with publishers like Entangled, Sourcebooks, HarperCollins, and St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books.
Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She's a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA. She's a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credibility's, Julie Cross is a committed--but not talented--long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict. You can find her online via twitter, her personal website, email, facebook, Goodreads, or co-moderating the YAwriters section of reddit.


*GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY*

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- All 3 of Simone Elkeles' HOW TO RUIN series
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ARCs of OCTOBER 2013 YA RELEASES
- UNBREAKABLE by Kami Garcia
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- Personalized signed copies of TEMPEST + VORTEX (a foreign edition if available can be swapped for the U.S. edition)

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

“When Will My Life Begin?”

Sorry, Rapunzel, I can’t really relate at the moment. I’d much rather like to know when my life will freakin’ SLOW DOWN. Honestly, guys, I’ve been so busy the past few weeks few months. First, this happened:



~Bolivia mission trip 2013~

Then, this happened:


SCHOOL. *cue Jaws theme song*


Then THIS happened:


Beach with the fam. (Read: Severe sunburn. Horseback rides. Mosquitoes.)


Which means it’s been kind of silent on the blog recently. As in, I haven’t posted in a month. But I’m not going to beat myself up about it. *shakes head* Nope. Sometimes things have to be put aside for a little while when life happens (or when college happens, in my case). I know there are tons of awesomesauce bloggers out there who are getting their Master’s and mothering eight kids while also blogging daily, but I’m just not the Wonder Woman type gal. Wish I were, but that’s not me.

So I apologize that I’ve neglected to post reviews, promos, interviews, and *gasp* participate in blog tours. If I’ve accepted your book to read for review and haven’t gotten around to it, I apologize. We are all human. I most definitely am.

Long story short (my stories always turn out long…I guess it’s the novelist in me), don’t feel shocked or neglected or abandoned or surprised or deserted or unloved if you don’t hear from me very often within the next couple months. It truly breaks my heart to have to give this up for the time being, but I know I’ll be back. Just think of it as a short hiatus. I’M NOT LEAVING- YOU ARE STILL STUCK WITH ME AND MY AWFUL PUNS AND JOKES.

Since you’re probably like me and don’t know much about life outside of the Internet (it’s a scary, scary world out there), here is a whimsical list of things to keep yourself busy with while I’m laboring to get an education:

1) Travel the world. Start with Bolivia (a beauuuutiful country, if I do say so myself). Eat lots of chicken and rice. Buy a llama keychain.

2) Watch seasons 1-7 of Doctor Who, then curl up in a fetal position and cry till the premier of the 50th anniversary episode.

3) Decorate early for Christmas (it’s never too soon to get in the spirit!).

4) Read. Duh.

5) Begin a scientific research study as to why Miley Cyrus is…well, the way she is.

6) Load up on coffee and candy in preparation for NaNoWriMo. Because that’s how real writers do it (who needs an outline, anyway?).


Happy fall, lovelies, and see you soon!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Blog Tour: The Last Dance by Kiki Hamilton (Spotlight + Giveaway)



Synopsis:

Two people couldn't be more opposite...

Kellen Peterson, the gorgeous star quarterback of the Griffin High football team, seems to have it all. Until the night of the Homecoming game, when Kellen gets tackled and suffers a traumatic brain injury - an injury that changes his life - including his ability to walk, talk and throw a football.

Ivy Ly is a senior and counting down the days until she can escape to college. Though her parents have big plans for her to be a doctor, Ivy is afraid to tell them she'd rather pursue music as a career.

Ivy's best friend, Mira, is obsessed with Kellen. When Ivy is asked to tutor the injured football player upon his return to school, she thinks it's the perfect opportunity for Mira to get to know him better - but sparks fly - in more ways than one... 

About the author…

Kiki Hamilton is the author of THE FAERIE RING fantasy series and the YA contemporary novel, THE LAST DANCE. She believes in magic and the idea of hidden worlds co-existing with our own. Kiki lives near Seattle, though she dreams of living in London one day. Visit her website at: www.kikihamilton.com.

Links:
    





Friday, July 19, 2013

Kindle Fire Giveaway

Kindle Summer

This is a joint AUTHOR and BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!

Bloggers and Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HD 7".

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway
The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)


Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)



Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)





Sponsoring Bloggers and Authors

  1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
  2. Feed Your Reader
  3. New Adult Addiction
  4. Jessabella Reads
  5. The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Somthing Year Old Girl
  6. Books Unhinged by StacyHgg
  7. S.A. Larsen - Writer's Ally
  8. Author Inger Iverson
  9. The Geeky Gamers
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  12. Candance's Book Blog
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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Blog Tour: King (Books of the Infinite #3) by R.J. Larson (Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway)



Published: 2013 (Bethany House)
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5

Akabe of Siphra is certain his people are insane. 

Why have they made him a king? 
What, in the name of peacetime boredom do kings do?

Frustrated by a lengthy silence from his Creator, the Infinite, Akabe decides to prove himself as king by undertaking a monumental task, his own lifelong dream: Rebuild the Infinite’s temple in Siphra. 

But Akabe’s impulsive decision sweeps him into a storm of controversy. The Infinite’s enemies join forces in Siphra, and beyond, conspiring to destroy the emerging temple—and to kill their king and his mysterious new queen.


I don’t read much fantasy. That said, I’d never read any of the previous books in the Books of the Infinite series before (what is it with me reading the third books in series nowadays?! This has happened several times recently). In fact, I’d never even heard of any of the books. But when I heard about King and then got the chance to read it, I was definitely on board.

R.J. Larson did something that I don’t see done every often: She combined fantasy with Bible stories. And I absolutely loved it. At times the Biblical aspect was hard to make out, but at other parts the allegory was very clear. Aside from the Chronicles of Narnia (which, in my opinion, is more symbolic than allegorical), which other book series mixes Scripture with the fantasy genre? None that I can think of. I really enjoyed this aspect of King, and am eager to read the first two books (Prophet and Judge) to see how they follow this trend.

The entire story was very fast-paced. At times I even felt like it was too fast-paced. One page Akabe is looking for a wife, and the next page he’s married. Whoa! I would have liked to see some more character/relationship development happen, but it wasn’t crucial. I don’t really have the right to say anything about character development, as I picked up the third book without reading the first two. *sheepish grin*

Mentioning that, if you haven’t read the first two books, it’s very easy to pick up on what’s going on. I was confused at points, I will admit. But you can kind of figure out what’s happened before that led to the events that take place in this book. All in all, I really enjoyed King. It kept my attention and impressed me. I was very intrigued with the world in which Larson set her story (especially the mythical animals, like the destroyers and scalns!). I highly recommend this book to teen readers as well as mature middle grade readers (as long as they can handle some war action/violence).
Quick Content Review: *may contain spoilers*
Language: None
Violence: Moderate (battle action)
Sexual: None


Excerpt:


A hired servant brought cups, then filled them with juice from a metal pitcher beaded with moisture. They all waited until the king lifted his cup. Following his lead, they drank.
        Ela couldn't help draining her juice, despite its tartness. Let Tamri and Prill frown at her appalling manners—she was thirsty. Finished, she looked for the servant, but he’d vanished.
Beside her, little Barth grumbled, “Mine tastes sour.”
        Akabe grimaced at the pitcher left in their midst. “True. The aftertaste is bitter.”
        Aware of an unpleasant icy burning around her lips and down her throat, Ela flung aside her cup. “Majesty…!”
        She wrenched Barth’s half-empty cup from his small hands. He already looked sick.
        Matron Prill threw down her own cup and said the word Ela feared to voice.
        “Poison!”



Guest Post with R.J. Larson:

What are the differences in the writing processes of devotionals and fantasy? Was it a hard transition to go from writing womens' devotionals to writing fast-paced, action-packed fantasy novels?

The best devotionals relate to the reader on a friend-meeting-friend basis, never lecturing or preaching. Ideally, devotionals are short single-themed insights into our spiritual walks as humans dealing with the Lord, and devotionals are often arranged by topics in collections written by multiple authors. Sometimes an entire volume of devotionals is dedicated to a single theme: Marriage, a deeper walk with the Lord, raising children, or individual topics, such as grief or relationships.

By design, devotionals minister to their readers with a brief, vivid story—often drawn from the author’s own experience—and one verse that will remain with the reader as a life-application. Devotionals also finish with a brief prayer.

Despite their simplicity, devotionals do require research, particularly with regard to the Scriptural application and with any fact-checking if the story is referenced from another source.

By contrast, novels of any genre, can deal with multiple themes, and many verses from the Scriptures. For me, the transition from writing single-themed devotionals to the multi-layered busyness of fantasy novels was easy. I love complexity on every level in writing!

Details delight me, and the research is a joy. I also love mentally walking into my characters’ world and staying there. People fascinate me and often, it was difficult to restrain myself while writing devotionals. Quite often, I had to cut most of what I wrote in order to remain within the 300 or so words designated for most devotionals, so the big sprawling storylines allowed by my 90,000 word novels was no problem.

Now that I’ve finished writing KING, and after three-plus years of writing Biblical fantasy, my question to me is… Can I ever return to writing devotionals?

Hmm… Perhaps a collection of Biblical fantasy devotions is in order!

About the Author…

R. J. Larson is the author of numerous devotionals featured in publications such as Women’s Devotional Bible and Seasons of a Woman’s Heart. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband and their two sons. Prophet marks her debut in the fantasy genre.