Donita K. Paul's Blog

I'm going to honor the two highest bids.

Mir Writer

and

Lisa Godfrees


Lisa and Mir, please contact me at
donitakpaul(at)msn(dot)com

Congratulations, ladies, and thanks to all who participated. We will be sending $305 to Samaritan Purse for the Sandy Hurricane Relief fund.

Write Now Relief
How you can help the victims of Sandyand also get a little first aid for your novel!
 
WHAT: Bid on a 50-page critique of your novel by a published novelist! Highest bidder will send their amount to Samaritans Purse for their relief efforts for the victims of Superstorm Sandy.
 
WHEN: Begins Friday, November 9, ends Friday midnight EST November 16.
 
HOW: Head to the blog of the author you’d like to have critique your 50 pages. Find their Write Now Relief blog post and place your bid in the comments section of that post. Monitor it closely so that you can re-bid! Check back on this Facebook page for updates on all the bids. If you are the high bidder at the end of the week, make your donation and email a copy of your receipt to the author with your 50 pages. It’s that easy.
 
How much is a 50-page critique worth?
Most authors and editors can easily charge $35 an hour and a fifty-page critique is well over three hours of labor. But this labor of love is for victims who have lost everything. Their need is huge. One blogger who hosted a similar campaign last week had a top donation bid of $1,000 for a 50-page critique!
 
What will the critique entail?
The author you choose will read your fifty pages with an eye to giving you insights and feedback on all aspects of your story excerpt, including plot, character, story arc, mechanics, pacing, and reader appeal.
 
What is Samaritan’s Purse?
Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Here is a video from Samaritans Purse on their efforts to help Sandy’s victims.
http://youtu.be/rd7KyY2p6ms
 
How do I donate to Samaritans Purse?
You can head to the Samaritan’s Purse webpage on Hurricane Sandy http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/hurricane_sandy/
and click on the GIVE link imbedded on the page. Whether you are the highest bidder or not, do consider donating to this effort.
 
How do I start?
Check Susan Meissner’s blog on Thursday, Nov 8 for the full list of participating authors and their blog addresses. Pick an author, head to their blog on Friday, November 9, and make your opening bid.
 

One of the reasons I love the Christian Science Fiction Fantasy blog tours is the introduction of new (to me) authors. I'm hoping to read many more books by Karyn Henley.

And according to her bio from her website, I have a lot to choose from.

 "Award-winning author Karyn Henley has written over 100 titles, which include a mix of children's books and articles, parent-teacher books, articles, and curricula, and preschool musicals and CD's/DVD's of original music for children. An accomplished songwriter, Karyn has been a Dove Award nominee, and received a regional Emmy Award as Music Composer for a Christmas television special. She has traveled worldwide speaking to parents and teachers and entertaining children and their families in storytelling/active movement sessions and concerts.

"A graduate of Abilene Christian University (BSEd), Karyn received a Master's of Fine Arts degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2004. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee."

I confess that I read two books at once, and through that experience pinpointed some truths about what makes a satisfying read. I'll talk about those tomorrow.

Book link - http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Sword-Novel-Angelaeon-Circle/dp/030773014X/ (or some other link of your choice)
Author’s Web site - http://www.karynhenleyfiction.com/Karyn_Henley_Fiction/welcome.html
Author Blog - http://www.maybeso.wordpress.com/
Author Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karyn-Henley/140411189331787?v=wall
Participants’ links
Julie Bihn
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jackie Castle
Brenda Castro
Jeff Chapman
Christine
Theresa Dunlap
http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"> Cynthia Dyer

Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Janeen Ippolito
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Karen McSpadden
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Mirriam Neal
Nissa
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler
Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Corus the Champion is the sequel to The Book of Names. I read the first book some time ago and gave it to my assistant to read recently. It is fun to listen to her enthusiasm. She tells me about how fantastic a scene is or what a great character this guy is. She will soon be after me to loan her the second book. One of the things I admire about D. Barkley Briggs' style of writing is his descriptions. Look at this paragraph: Other than hedgerows of wild hazel and scattered oak and elm, the hill was the only major feature, like someone had dropped it there by mistake. It rose, tall and sudden, shorn of trees, utterly alone, with vast sweeps of green on every side. A worn footpath wound down the hill, past a stand of trees, toward a clutch of wattle-and-daub buildings. One of them, larger than the rest, was circle shaped, with a cross made out of beams rising from the center of the thatched roof. It looked to Garret like an old church. Near to these simple structures, small brown figures worked in rows, tilling the earth. The way they were hunched over made Garret of giant mushrooms. He stood very still, trembling, not quite sure to believe his eyes. After reading that paragraph, one not only has a clear picture of the scene but also the feel of apprehension that shrouds Garret. The image is precise, but the prospect is incongruous to his reality. His reality must shift. I love that precise description with just an edge of emotion coloring the setting. Now I have to admit that chapter Two, Mount Agasag, triggered the skim mode for me. The details did not rivet me to the story. I skimmed, looking for Garret or Gabe, to latch on to what was happening with them. I'm sure many readers were intrigued by Corus and Kr'Nunos. My investment was in the four brothers and therefore, every time they were "in the picture," my interest was caught and held. Book link - Buy at Amazon Author's Web site - The Hidden Lands Participants' links

Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Carol Bruce Collett
Theresa Dunlap
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Marzabeth
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Sarah Sawyer
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

Well, I didn't get back to this blog in a timely manner. I've been off chasing dragons and evil minions through a whole new world.
One of the things that attracts me to Andrew's work is the names he chooses. Many of you know I love making up names, so I doubly appreciate Andrew's wit in this area. Just take a gander at some of my favorites.
Olumphia- shouldn't every school have a teacher whose first name is Olumphia?
Guildmaster Nibblesticks - I suggest you put the pretzels under lock and key.
Grigory Bunge - of course, he's horrid.
Podo
Zola Mae
Rudric, and
Kelvey O'Sally.
Andrew inspires me to dive into of my own making and populate it with wonderful characters. I hope you enjoyed his book as much as I did.

First of all, let me make it clear that the Wingfeather Trilogy, of which this book is numbered, consists of four (4) books. Therefore it is no longer referred to as the Wingfeather Trilogy, but the Wingfeather Saga.
I'm mixed in my feelings about this. I was so looking forward to the third book and the exciting conclusion of the tale of the Wingfeather children, the Jewels of Anniera. When I reached the end of this book, I was delighted to find a fourth book would follow. I often wish a particularly good piece of literature (and this is definitely a good piece of literature) would not end, and I could continue to enjoy the characters and their efforts to come out victorious. So now I have it. I can continue, but I must endure the torture of the long wait between book 3 and book 4.
And now I am informed that the Wingfeather Saga has always been Saga and never been Trilogy, so all this angst and delight that has permeated my life has nothing to do with Saga vs. Trilogy, because the confusion was all in my head and in my head alone.
Now I am not saying that reading the extraordinary prose of Andrew Peterson messes with your mind. But when you have to deal with toothy cows, Gnag the Nameless, and the Fangs of Dang, some weaker minds may reveal the strain by a breakdown in reality.
Oh, and the Monster in the Hollows isn't who you might think it is. I was delighted to find out I didn't guess correctly until the end. See? More delight. This is a book you really should read.
More tomorrow.
Visit the sites listed below for more delight today.


Book link
Series Web site
Author's Web site

Participants' links



Gillian Adams
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Beckie Burnham
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Cynthia Dyer
Amber French
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirriam Neal
* Eve Nielsen
Joan Nienhuis
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Rachel Wyant

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, or I ordered it from The Rabbit Room. I can't remember which.

What fun to be a part of my book's tour! By the way, CSFF stands for Christian Science Fiction/Fantasy. CSFF is a great place to meet people and learn about the genre books.


My favorite characters on DOTV are the kimens. These small people dressed in light got to come forth and participate in a big way. Usually, they aren't center stage much, but in this book each main character is given a kimen to help him or her in his or her task.


My favorite scene is when Lady Peg and Tipper are lying in bed under the protection of wild animals Sir Beccaroon has sent to defend the house against the invading army. If that last sentence had been in a manuscript, I would have reworked it to read more smoothly.


Greatest point of satisfacion is when Bealomondore defeats oops! that would have been a spoiler.


I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to write in their blogs about the book.

Book link - Amazon
Author's web site


*Participants' links
Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Keanan Brand
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Amy Cruson
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Dave Wilson

COLORADO SPRINGS—Marcher Lord Press, award-winning publisher of Christian speculative fiction, is embarking on a new kind of publishing venture.

Publisher and founder Jeff Gerke announced that he has signed writer Adam Palmer of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to compose his science fiction novel Space Available on Twitter, beginning January 1, 2011, and continuing throughout the year.

"Adam will be writing a novel entirely through Twitter tweets," Gerke said. "Readers will be able to follow the novel on Twitter or in compiled form on the MLP website. And upon completion, MLP will release the novel in book form."

Palmer's Twitter feed is https://twitter.com/AdamAuthor#, and he has already set up rules for this unique work-in-progress. For one thing, he will write using only Twitter.

"Writing it beforehand in Microsoft Word or any other program and then copying and pasting it into Twitter is cheating and counter to the whole experiment," Palmer said. "I'm not using Twitter to transmit my novel; I'm using it to create it."

Palmer also said he will keep the book in the first person, and that "I'm going to attempt to incorporate the methodology of Twitter into the story." He will continue to post blog entries about the project at adampalmerauthor.blogspot.com, but his Twitter feed will be reserved exclusively for the book.

Gerke had had the idea for Space Available for awhile. "Every time I saw a 'Space Available' or 'Space for Sale' sign as I drove through town, I'd think how cool it would be to have a series of comedy science fiction novels about someone who comes up with a scam to sell parcels of outer space."

He'd thought about writing it himself, and had even pitched the novel to Palmer at one point. But it wasn't until Palmer came up with the idea of doing it on Twitter that the project took off.

Christian novelist and humorist Brad Whittington admits to a fascination with Palmer's concept. But he's not sure it will work. "In my humble (but completely accurate and independently verified) opinion, Adam is stark-raving mad," Whittington said.

According to Gerke, plans are in the works for a series, potentially including Space for Sale, Space for Rent, Dental Space Available, and more.



Visit www.marcherlordpress.com/SpaceAvailab... for more information, and find out about Palmer's project at adampalmerauthor.blogspot.com.





Marcher Lord Press, founded in Colorado Springs by Gerke in 2008, is the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. Its novels have garnered numerous awards in 2010—Jill Williamson's By Darkness Hid won the prestigious Christy Award (Speculative Fiction) and Kirk Outerbridge's Eternity Falls received the Carol Award from the American Christian Fiction Writers.



Visit www.marcherlordpress.com

With Jonathan Roger's blessing, I present to you, the ultimate in exquisite culinary creation, the . . .

Feechie Swamp Stew
I cook my Feechie Swamp Stew in a crockpot, but you can use a kettle over a fire or a big pot on the stove. I am well aware that swamp water is in scarce supply in city stores, so I suggest you choose either chicken broth or beef broth for your base.
Ingredients:
4-8 cups swamp water—or chicken or beef broth (Beef broth gives a more authentic color to your feechie stew.)
One head of poke sallet—or Chinese cabbage, bok choy, or a large bunch of swiss chard, stems discarded.
One bunch of duckweed—or green onions
One bag of fish eyeballs—or frozen pearl onions
Small button mushrooms from can or from produce department of local grocery store. (NOT SLICED)
Three cloves of garlic, peeled
Arrowroot (descaled)—or stalks of celery
Preparation:
Bring your broth to a boil.
Cut off bottom end of your large leaf vegetable. You can cut through the leaves lengthwise several times, but a feechie wouldn't.
Cut off roots on green onions and discard wilted outer leaves. Chop onion right above the "head" and throw un-cut green leaves and small onion bulbs into the pot.
Shefeechies would not use frozen onions, but this ingredient is representative of the fish eyeballs that they would be using. Just open the bag and throw them in, trying not to think of the fish.
It is important to throw the mushrooms in with minimal preparation. Wash fresh mushrooms and trim brown spots. If using canned mushrooms, pour the whole lot in, packing water and all.
Smash garlic cloves with a rock and add to pot.
Cut the bottom off your celery and the dried bit at the top. Don't chop. Throw in pot.
Optional ingredients:
Chunks of meat. If possum and gator are not available, beef, chicken, pork, or turkey may be used.
Peppers, red, yellow, orange, or green. Wash and slice in long slivers. Discard stem and seeds although many shefeechies would toss them in.
Long green beans, snap off ends and add to simmering broth
Lemon juice, tobasco sauce, OR salsa can be added at the table along with salt and pepper.
Pellet pasta or rice- added to remind us civilizers that we would never put maggots in our stew to increase protein.
Recommendations for serving and eating Feechie Swamp Stew.
Big bowls are a must.
Cloths tied as a bib around the neck help protect clothing. Not that a feechie would mind, but this is a horribly messy stew to eat.
Knives are needed to cut ingredients into more manageable bite sizes. Some hosts pass out pairs of sanitized scissors for this purpose. In some instances, eating the long, soggy strips of vegetables in the manner used to twirl spaghetti onto a fork works well.
Feechie stew served outside around a fire pit can be eaten with the fingers after the mess has cooled a bit. Nine year old boys particularly like this method.

For some strange reason, I first posted this announcement on my OLD blogspot. It doesn't belong there, but here.

This stew is going to be so awesome when it is done going through the testing kitchens here at Dragon Keeper Enterprises.
For those of you who are waiting with baited breath and rumbling tummies, the new recipe is on the verge of being revealed. I thank Jonathan Rogers for the inspiration for this culinary creation. It will looks something like this:But with no carrots and without those globs of white something. I don't expect it to smell bad, though it might. I guess it depends on how much cabbage you put in. I'm putting the main ingredients in the crockpot today. Sometime around Wednesday or Thursday, it may be cooked through.Don't give up. Oh, and this is exclusively for those who participated in the fill in the blank descriptions of a feechie. Others who make the stew are guilty of recipe swiping ( not swapping).