Short Story Review -- Seeds of Love

         

          Seeds of Love is an entertaining stranger-comes-to-town story with a sweet theme of love likened to a seed in need of nourishment. I particularly appreciated the unique setting; Blanca Islas finds herself turning a new page in her life as she leaves Chicago to settle in Crouch, Idaho as the new nurse practitioner. This is a town I have never read about before, and I enjoyed the small town setting, depicted beautifully in the following passage:

She grabbed a blanket and dragged it onto the back porch where she curled up on the swing and waited for the sun to rise. Birds sang, crickets chirped, and even a bull frog added his voice to the mix, but none of it fazed her. The sun came over the apartment from behind her and quickly the shadows of the night began to fade away. Still Blanca sat, dazed and lost to it all. Nothing was going to lighten the load Longbow had placed on her the night before.

               Her eyes drifted to his side of the yard where the garden was. Moisture on the plants sparkled like miniature crystals, but there was something wrong. The plants were sagging, bent over and nearly touching the ground. They looked how she felt, like she was dying inside.

JC Willibat really grabbed my attention with this section of monologue, comparing the landscape to Blanca’s inner struggle, a smart approach to bring any setting to life. The entire story is heavy with internal monologue in my opinion, though, and I didn’t feel like Blanca’s inner conflict is ever resolved. While the story ends abruptly with a hasty wrap up, I think this is an enjoyable read for anyone looking to read a short summer love story.

JC Willibat’s story, Seeds of Love, is on sale for $0.99 right now on Amazon. You can find out more about JC Willibat and Seeds of Love on her website.

From JC Willibat's website:

Blanca Islas is city-girl from Chicago who’s tired of healthcare politics and men who refuse to look her in the eye. Sure there is more to life than work and men, she finds a job working as a Nurse Practitioner in central Idaho, thinking the small town of Crouch is just the sanctuary she needs. What Blanca doesn’t factor in, however, is the ramifications of being the only health care provider in the heart of redneck country. It takes endless hours of work to care for an entire community, and violence and natural disasters put her independence as a doctoral level nurse practitioner to the test. Forest Longbow, a sexy and mysterious neighbor, tests Blanca’s resolve to stay clear of men and focus on her career.  An Apache smoke-jumper, who fights forest fires through the summer, Forest is nothing like the men Blanca left behind in Chicago. His strange but effective ways of speaking to Blanca’s soul will leave her breathless and hoping for an early Fall. 

Summer Reads

Ah, summer.

Between family vacations, camps and other summer craziness, I've read some great books. Here are a few of them, along with my thoughts, and a short list of the books I still have yet to read before summer is over! :(

Supernaturally

Once again, Kristen White's voice shines in Supernaturally, her sequel to Paranormalcy. I really enjoyed reading about Evie again, her dilemmas, her adventures. Kristen has a way of grabbing you from page one and holding you in the story until the end! While I thought the plot could have been better and the story overall wasn't as engaging as Paranormalcy, I really enjoyed this book.

Queen in Exile

One of my new favorites! This book quickly stole my attention and would not let it go! Queen in Exile is a clean, adventurous novel for anyone who enjoys a good romance. And mmm mmm, Kai Darkwood is something hot and dreamy! Oh my, there was romantic tension. The characters were masterfully developed; I felt their pain and cheered them on every step of the way! Queen in Exile promises a captivating romantic journey with an intensely satisfying ending. I'm definitely reading more Donna Hatch books now. :)

The Help

I loved, LOVED The Help. If I could choose any characters in all of fiction to sit down for lunch with I'd choose Abilene and Minny! I love how they act, think, talk. So many parts were downright hilarious. This story grabbed me from the first chapter and didn't let go. I finished in a couple of days. I was so sucked in to the character's lives I almost felt like I was walking through Jackson Mississippi in the 1960's. Amazingly well-written with a lot of heart, The Help is a story everyone should read!

The One That I Want

Main character, Gemma Van Cleve, is a complex character who was fun to read about. I really enjoy Jennifer Echols' voice, her humor sprinkled throughout the novel. Still, I couldn't figure out how four individuals in their right mind could treat each other like such scum and still be "BFF's." Some things just didn't jive. Besides that and an overall weak central conflict, this story was a pretty good, quick read.

Crush Control

Once I started reading this book I just couldn't stop. About halfway through the novel I was dying-dying!-of laughter. The Facebook fan page Quinton starts? I was laughing out loud! Jennifer Jabaley has great character development, voice, dialogue. She spun a compelling story here with humor I wasn't expecting. After reading Crush Control, I think I'll check out her debut, Lipstick Apology.

The Cinderella Society

I thought the love story between Jess and Ryan was engaging, but the whole Cinderella Society thing just didn't feel real to me for some reason. This was a bit of a slow read for me. Still, The Cinderella Society was a fun book with a lot of girl power and a touching message.

Still to read this summer:

What did YOU read this summer? Any recommendations?

Breathing Personality Into Your Home

Now that my blog is back from vacation, I'm starting a new series of posts on OLD BOOK PAGES. I got a little crazy a few weeks ago and ripped everything off a certain wall in my dining room, taped, painted, and now I'm on to personalizing this wall in my home with (of course) book pages! I'm excited to reveal a few of these crafts at a time, along with some basic instructions should  you care to join me in crafting with old book pages.

Old Book Page Matted  Picture Frame

1) You will need a matted frame (craft store), old book pages (I got this old book for a quarter at a library clearance on St. Simons Island), Mod Podge, scissors, and a paint brush.

 2) Remove mat from frame

 3) Cut pages in 1"x1" (or so) squares. I ripped mine to get a jagged edge. (Ripping pages from a book? I know, it feels wrong! But, being the devil that I am (ha!), I've gotten used to it, I guess.)

 4) Position page squares in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement so you get an idea for how it will look.

 5) Using Mod Podge and a craft brush, being gluing pages down flat onto frame, cutting excess off  as you go and fitting like a puzzle.

 Voila!

Craft one of ____, done! More to come.

The Power of Food in Fiction...and a Yummy Praline Recipe!

We humans tend to love food. Big surprise, eh? Just writing this post makes me want to grab a little snack, a treat, a munch, and morsel, a smackerel, a goodie (see, so many terms of endearment!). Readers can form a subconscious yet strong bond to a novel and its characters through the use of food, do you agree?

What do Various Food Items Represent to you?
What would Chinese take-out every Friday night unveil about a character? Fudge ice cream? Filet Mignon? James Bond sipping a hot chocolate? I don’t think so. What if the hero in any given novel first sees the heroine holding a ball of cotton candy? Now take the cotton candy away and substitute it with crème brulee. Different, right?

I was reading my monthly Romance Writers Report when I stumbled upon an article on Food in Romance Novels that made me sit up and say, "Woohoo! I agree!" It made me think about my own novel. In retrospect, I’ve found a few passages in my YA contemporary romance that uses food to accomplish something (at least I hope so!).

Food in My Novel

Seventeen-year-old Sienna Owens is on vacation in Georgia when she meets Austin Dobbs, a sweet (and quite attractive) recent high school grad. While they’re on River Street, Austin convinces her to get an almond praline ice cream cone, because the best pralines in the world are on River Street, or so he claims (mmm, and I agree!). Austin seems to know everyone on River Street: the ice cream scooper at the River Street Sweets, the sample guy, even the saxophone player collecting cash in a hat on the street. When Sienna asks Austin how he knows so many people…

He flashes a dimpled smile that makes my knees all tingly and holds up his ice cream cone. “I just eat a lot of almond praline.”

I laugh and then lick my own cone, the cold sugariness taking me back to a time when everything about life was coated in numbing sweetness. I liked it better that way.

Tragedy recently struck Sienna’s family, and she is torn between wanting to move on and yearning to relive (no, redo) the past. Austin makes her feel carefree again. Alive. He’s the type of guy who eats pralines ‘n cream on a Friday night. It serves as a subtle hint I want the reader to pick up on about his character. You tell me, what does ice cream say about a guy (ha ha, this is totally my husband’s favorite food, so I really want to know!)?

So I guess I was using food—ice cream—to hopefully give readers a taste for Sienna’s longing to change the past as well as a glimpse inside the mysterious Austin. Always an elusive answer from that Austin, a man with a past of his own, as Sienna will discover.

Praline Recipe
And now for the recipe part. Anyone been to River Street in Savannah, GA? (Read my thoughts on River Street in my about me page). Much to my husband’s delight, I scoured the internet, pieced together a recipe (of all the recipes I researched and sampled, the recipe I use is most similar to this one onallrecipes), and did the trial-and-error thing to come up with…

Austin’s Pralines

2 cups               Toasted pecans (some broken in half, others whole)

3 T.                  Butter

1 ½ cup            White sugar

¾ cup               Brown sugar

!¼ cup              Evaporated milk

1 tsp.                Vanilla extract

 Directions:

1.      Toast pecans (on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet in oven 350 degrees for 4-5 min).

2.      Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.

3.      Combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk and vanilla in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring, and boil appx. 3 minutes (heated to 240 degrees F).

4.      Stir in pecans and remove from heat.

5.      Immediately put pan in ice bath for 10 seconds. Yes, strange. Do it.

6.      Beat with beaters until mixture develops a cloudy shine.

7.      Then spoon them out lightening fast (spoon onto prepared baking sheet). Let cool completely. Super yum!

Novels with Food Scenes:

Ever read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or seen the play? Odd, I know, but every time Scrooge eats his bedtime porridge, I want to dig into a bowl of that Cream of Wheat my dad (who has since passed) used to make for me growing up. See, powerful. Simply by taking a bite of porridge, Scrooge has reached into me, made himself a character I want to spend time with despite his not-so-likeable self. Such a rich guy eating mush? Intriguing.

In Jane Eyre, her teacher gives her a little “seed cake” and hot tea, symbolizing warmth and relief. What about pumpkin juice in Harry Potter? Or the Turkish Delight in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia that seduces children into following the wicked White Witch? In The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, mother and grandmother Anya Whitson hordes food, stashing even the smallest amounts into her freezer for safe keeping. At one point, her daughter finds her ripping down wallpaper and cooking it for food. Anya’s relationship to food is tragic, to say the least, hinting to her daughter the truth of her heartbreaking past as a young girl in Leningrad during the Stalin Regime.

Me With a Praline, Being a Goofball

Actually, my husband made me laugh (he tends to do that) and then he snapped the picture.

I Love Comments!

If you could sit down with any character in fiction and eat something, who would it be and what would you eat? Have you used food in your writing? What is your favorite food and what does it say about you? 

Winner of The Keeper's Calling Giveaway!!

And the winner is (by random draw)...

Comment #11, Penny Freeman!



Congrats, Penny! You're signed copy of The Keeper's Calling is on its way.

Thanks to all of you who entered! I appreciate you coming to my blog. Happy weekend wishes to all!

-Lo

photo credit

Giveaway! Signed copy of "The Keeper's Calling"

Building on the last post (my interview with author Kelly Nelson), we're going to give away one signed copy of Kelly's novel, The Keeper's Calling! Here's what you have to do to enter:

•  Like "The Keeper's Saga" on Facebook.

That's it. Easy peasy! Then leave a comment below saying that you did it and you're in (please make sure I have a way of contacting you should you win). Contest will end next Thursday at midnight. I'll draw one of you at random and, POOF, free signed copy. I'll announce the winner Friday morning.

Good luck, and thanks!

Interview with Kelly Nelson, author of The Keeper's Calling

Today I’m super excited to post this interview with Kelly Nelson, author at WalnutSprings Press. Kelly’s debut novel, The Keeper’s Calling, is an adventure that will appeal to like, well, anyone. Seriously, young or old, male or female… You name it. Time travel, romance, magic, adventure--this book has a little of something for everyone. So, without further ado…

Welcome, Kelly! First off, what are you most passionate about, other than writing?

I love my two horses—Texas and Fancy. From the time I was three I wished for a horse on every birthday candle blowing, every first star I saw and every wishbone I broke. When I was 16 my dad finally gave in and bought me Misty, a thoroughbred mare and ultimately the mother of Texas. She had come off the race track and loved to run. More than once she took the bit in her mouth and ran full-speed down the canal frontage road while I hung on for dear life. She was a lot of horse and I learned through trial and error how to be a horseperson. I’ve owned her foal, Texas, longer than I’ve known my husband.

A horse lover! My three-year-old is horse crazy too. I find ponies everywhere: in my bed sheets, in the pantry, in the sleeve of my bath robe. She has a “savings jar” that she plans to use to buy a “rainbow horsie” named “Paint.”

Alright, this is random (but fun). Five of your favorite movies. Go.

I’m going to list one from each of the past five decades:

1960s  ~ The Great Escape

1970s  ~ Star Wars

1980s  ~ Raider’s of the Lost Ark

1990s ~ Titanic

2000s ~ Hidalgo

Several of those would make my top list, too. But Kelly, no Man From Snowy River?

So, why did you begin writing?

I simply wanted to see if I could—you know, actually put together 80,000 words and have them make sense and be interesting to read. I had wanted to write a book since I was 15 years old. Over the years I had started and abandoned two different novels. With my 39^th birthday looming on the horizon, I figured I’d better get going on writing that novel if I wanted any hope of making it a reality.  

Published novel…CHECK! That has to feel great. On that note, what do you find most rewarding about writing?

The most rewarding thing is the feeling of excitement and exhilaration I get from knowing I created something. The year I spent writing The Keeper’s Saga was the happiest year of my life. My favorite step in the writing process is completing a novel and then reading it through from start to finish for the first time. 

A saga! Pretty please, tell us more.

I’m working on The Keeper’s Quest, an exciting sequel to The Keeper’s Calling. The expected release date is early November.

Hooray! I can’t wait. Kelly, how did you come up with the title?

I went through three titles before settling on The Keeper’s Calling. I had been coached by my writing mentor in the ACM Christian Novel writing contest to choose a title that hinted at the deeper meaning in the book. My main character faces the decision to either accept or reject the calling as a Keeper.

Tell us about your all-time favorite character (of your own creation).

This is a tough one, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be Garrick. He is a supporting character in The Keeper’s Saga. Garrick is confident, never backs down from a fight, super studly, and has a touch of a wild streak. In fact, I might write a book about him someday.

Studly indeed! Anyone who hasn’t read The Keeper’s Calling yet will know what we’re talking about when they do. And I, for one, would love to see that novel about Garrick.

Is anything in your book based on real life experience or purely all imagination?

There are several real-life threads running through the pages of The Keeper’s Calling.  I used my own home and location as the building blocks for my setting. My son and daughter attend Hillsboro High School, the same as Chase Harper in my novel. And when my editor requested I change the name of Chase’s twin sister to something more common of a 17 year old girl, I used my daughter Jessica’s name. Also, part of the lecture Chase Harper refers to in the first chapter of my book is the same one I’ve heard my husband give to my kids.

What is your favorite chapter or scene and why?

I love the scene in which Chase and Ellie first talk to each other. He is a modern teenager and she is from the 1860s, and yet, at the time they meet, neither one of them has figured this out. I love it that he thinks she is a bit crazy, while at the same time admiring her.

She never once turned around. Never said a thing. I grew tired of hiking after her with no plan. “Where are we going?” I finally asked.

She pointed up the canyon, and in a businesslike tone said, “I’m not sure where you’re headed, but I’m going this way.” Then continued hiking.

Pretty, but rude. I shook my head and moved forward, keeping myself one step behind her. “Why are you going this way? There’s nothing up ahead but a bunch of rocks and sagebrush. I spent all day coming down the canyon.” She kept walking and didn’t answer me. Frustrated and tired, I grabbed her arm. “Hey, we need to talk—“

Wheeling around, she slapped me across the face. My jaw went slack, and I loosened my hold. She yanked her arm out of my hand and pulled a pistol from her skirt pocket. I stared open-mouthed down the barrel aimed at my chest. She took a step back. “Mister, I reckon I owe you a debt of gratitude for helping me back there. But there’s something important I need to do, and I’ll thank you to let me be about my business alone. I do appreciate your kindness, but if you don’t mind, pull foot and find your own trail. I don’t care where you go, but don’t follow me. Or—or I’ll have to shoot you.”

Ooo, thank you for the sneak peek! And thank you, Kelly, for “stopping by.” For more about Kelly and her upcoming books, visit her website http://kellynelsonauthor.com/

Fitness Products Giveaway Winners!

A few weeks ago my blog was part of a fitness products giveaway in conjunction with the release of Cami Checketts' novel, Dead Running. WE HAVE WINNERS HERE. Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who took part! Congrats!


Hugger Mugger Yoga Packages
Christine Jensen
Kelly Delrosso


MIO Global Active Watches
Vicki Newell
Kristi Peshke


Altra Zero Drop running shoes
Leslie Mackey

Online personal training from Fitcore Fitness

Charity Bradford

Fitness Apparel from Running Chics

Jennifer Ballard
Serena Debolt
Lebert Stretch Straps
Cathy Lunn
Allison Brooks-Juengeld
Carol Evans

iFrogz Earbuds or Armbands
Steven Richtsmeier
Yolanda Robinson
Seyma Bennett
Beth Talmage
Smithfield Recreation Center Membership
Jennie Kunz
Crossfit UAC
Haley Dahle

Autographed copy of Dead Running 
Lexie Hogan

LDStorymakers Conference 2012

I went to a writing conference! The LDStorymakers Conference was my first conference and it was very educational (and a blast). I met a lot of great authors. Some highlights from the conference:

Sparkling Creativity by Melanie Jacobson
The Hero's Journey by Annette Lyon
It Came From the Slugh by Holly Root
Agents! And AUthors! And Bears! Oh My!!! by Michelle Wolfson and Kiersten White
Amazing Dinner (yum!)
Mass Book Signing by LDS Authors (see pics below)
Keynote Address by Kevin J. Anderson
Creating an Awesome Author Website by Abel Keogh and Marion Jensen
Plotting by Kiersten White
Chemisty 101 by Michele Holmes
Agents and Editors Panels
Awesome Door Prizes (although I didn't win any. shucks.)

At least these were the classes and events I was able to attend. There were so many other classes that looked great. I wish I could have gone to them all. Thanks to the LDStorymakers Conference Committee for an awesome time!

My sister Kelly and I had a lot of fun attending classes together.

Author and sister and friend, Kelly Nelson, signing her novel The Keeper's Calling

Me, Kelly Nelson, and Linda Mulleneaux

Author and ANWA friend Betsy Love signing her novel Identity

Book Review. Dead Running by Cami Checketts.

Dead Running is infused with inherent conflict. From page one I was hooked. Setting, tension, character: this book accomplished so much right from the get go.

Author Cami Checketts has a distinctive voice, and MC Cassidy Christensen is a character anyone can empathize with. And she has a huge sense of humor!

I wasn’t sure who Cassidy could trust. The way supporting characters conveniently drifted into scene had me wondering if they were all after her. She has plenty of people working against her including a Nasty Muscle Man, Beanpole Stalker, Hot Redhead, and even her own brother proves to be a pain. The heroes kept changing, from Damon to Jesse (seriously dreamy dude) and then back again.

I loved—loved!— reading about the races Cassie runs because I have run several of them. It was so fun to feel a part of the setting. The story took on more of a romantic tone as the story played out and it had a nice twist in the end. I think this is a light, fun read for anyone who enjoys clean suspense.

For more about Cami Checkett’s novel Dead Running, visit Amazon.com or Cami's blog (she's awesome).