Lindsay Detwiler's Blog, page 46
July 22, 2015
Jeannine Colette’s Pure Abandon
Pure Abandon by Jeannine Colette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“You make my life make sense.”
Pure Abandon is a romance, but it is so much more than your typical plot lines and characters. This novel has a depth to it that has a way of sneaking up on you. At first, I thought it would be just a typical story line but quickly found myself absorbed into the world of the characters.
Kathryn is married with a baby when she decides to go back to work. At Asher Industries, she finds herself again, rediscovers her passion for business, and finds Alex Asher. Alex is a super attractive business mogul who is Kathryn’s boss. Quickly, however, this woman who is feeling neglected at home starts to attract the attention of Alex; the story unfolds from there in a complicated series of events, proving love is never black and white.
Alex Asher seems like a Christian Grey at first; super attractive, super confident, and super wealthy. However, I found Asher to be much more likable than Grey because he has a sense of humility to him. There is so much depth to his character, and so much to uncover about him. He certainly has his faults, such as arrogance at times, but Kathryn brings out a different side to him that the reader can quickly enjoy. As Colette writes, “He is a walking contradiction. He’s arrogant, but he cares so much for those less fortunate. He is rude and dismissive, yet he gives me time to share my stories. He is insightful and funny. He always knows how to make me laugh, and he gets me.”
I really liked that this story delves deeply into the emotions of marriage, lust, self-realization, and affairs. The protagonists are well-developed and exceedingly likable. By the middle of the book, I could feel Kathryn’s confusion and conflict firsthand, a testament to the quality of the writing.
I initially felt like there was too much backstory about Kathryn and Gabriel. I felt like there was a lot revealed in the first two chapters through telling instead of showing. However, as the story unfolded, I realized how wrong I was about this. As the book unfolds, you realize that there is so much more depth to the characters; the author doesn’t even touch the surface in the first few chapters. Thus, once you keep reading, you realize that the “backstory” is essential and perfectly presented.
I look forward to more works by Jeannine Colette. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy romance or women’s fiction of any kind.
Lindsay Detwiler, author of Voice of Innocence
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TMX826K
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/voice-of-innocence-lindsay-detwiler/1121237080?ean=2940046578041
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/519707
Mod Podge Musings
Last summer I was a Pinterest addict. Have you seen the pins that say how Pinterest has turned people’s homes into a house that looks old and like gypsies live there? Yeah, that’s where I was headed.
I had seen a lot about Mod Podge and decided to give it a whirl, trying to cover some old pieces we had around the house. It was an epic fail the first time. The Mod Podge got gloppy, it had runs in it, and my husband got an epic laugh.
So what did I do? Banish Mod Podge from existence in our home? Nope. I decided to redo my entire dresser.
My dressers were my mom’s dressers when she was young (family heirloom of sorts). But they definitely scream 1970s. I decided to give it a go, wanting to create some book page furniture to go with our black and white theme.
I spent literally an entire week covering my dresser. Not one for instructions, I just went for it. I put a coating of Mod Podge down, tore pages of a book out (I chose Twilight J), and haphazardly glued them down. Once I got the entire thing covered, I painted the handles, put a coating of sealant over it, and voila! A bookworm masterpiece.
So it’s definitely not perfect, but I love, love, love it! Our bedroom is turquoise, black, and white, so it fits with the color scheme. It’s also holding up . . .no loose pages or anything. I love when I spot a line from Twilight in the morning, too.
Have you made anything cool with Mod Podge? Let us know!
Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence
July 21, 2015
Why I Read So Much
I’ve said it before: I am the typical English teacher cliche. I spend my weekends and summers with a cup of coffee, a book, and several cats.
My bookworm habits probably began before kindergarten. My parents wanted me to value education, so they taught me how to read before I even started kindergarten. I can remember my first book that I learned to read: it was a Panda book that I got in a kid’s meal from Wendy’s. I can still picture myself sitting with my parents reading it over and over. From there, I always had a book in my hands thanks to my parents. I vividly remember one time when a family friend (a year younger than me) was staying the night. We took a trip to the toy store. My parents bought her a doll. I cried because they bought me a book instead. If only I could go back and slap that child, tell her to say thank you because that book was the best gift ever.
My parents truly instilled a love and value for reading in me, even though neither of them are avid readers. I think this is such an amazing gift, and I know my life would be so different if it weren’t for this fact. All through elementary school, I was obsessed with reading. Henry and Mudge books were my favorites in elementary school (if only I had known that Mudge would someday be mine, except I would name him Henry). I loved the Babysitter’s Club books when I got a little older. In junior high, there was always a book in my hand.
Even now, I look forward to summer because I have time to voraciously read. So many people ask me why. I read as a part of my job, so why would I want to read for fun? Obviously, I think of it as professional development in a way. It isn’t great to be an English teacher who doesn’t know books. But it’s so much more than that.
In college, a professor introduced us to a quote that I never forgot. It said, “We read to know that we are not alone.” I love that sentiment. It is through literature that we can see glimpses of ourselves, figure out who we are and what we want out of life.
But it’s also through literature that I am reminded how big this great world is. Living in a small town, my world is very . . . well, small. Books remind me that there is so much to explore, to feel, to find. There are so many different types of people, different ways of thinking, different relationships. I find this optimistic and inspiring; I can explore so many facets of the world just from words on a page.
Books are also a significant element in my constant search for self-betterment. I am a lifelong learner, which makes sense since I’ve devoted my career to education. I love learning, love expanding my knowledge, expanding my world. Books help me do that. I love reading books from all genres and authors so that I can absorb as much as possible.
So, yes, I’m a bookworm and totally okay with that. Are my hips perhaps a bit wider than they could be because I substitute the gym for time on the couch reading? Yes. Do I have a somewhat lame social schedule because I prefer to read books with my cats rather than going out? Yes.
But you know what? With my books, I’ve met so many people, changed my thinking on so many things, and realized just how big this world is. Nothing is more valuable than that.
Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence
Real World Marketing Tips for New or Small Authors
Check out my video about marketing tips I’ve learned in the past five months. Please be sure to like and subscribe to my channel if you find it helpful!
Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence
July 20, 2015
#Indie9Giveaway
I am so excited to be a part of the #indie9giveaway! It’s coming soon. Keep watching my blog for more information. You’ll be able to enter to win books from nine authors participating in this event!
The Best Dress Pants for Twenty-Somethings
School’s coming. I know, if you’re a teacher like me, this is like the sentence from a nightmare. The only plus? An excuse to go back to school clothes shopping, of course. I love, love, love shopping . . . unless it is for dress pants. Ugh. Essentially, you can choose the lesser of several evils:
1. The Scandalous Dress Pant
These are usually from Juniors and may be so scandalously low that undergarments show or so tight that you look like you are wearing spandex from your jog with some pockets thrown on for good measure. These may in fact create controversy because your coworkers will believe you wore yoga pants to the office.
2. The Clown Pants
These, in an attempt to mask any feminine shape, billow out at your hips and are so flowy that you look five times wider than you are
3. The Crinkle
These pants are so cheaply made that if you sit down, stand, walk, or even breathe, they crinkle and wrinkle. By the end of the day, you just look like a hot mess.
4. The Girdle
These pants are so high-waisted that they compress your stomach when you sit down. This seems like a good thing, but actually it just gives you a very odd looking shape, especially if worn with a shorter shirt.
5. An odd combination of any of the above
I’ve faced complete frustration over the years finding pants that were appropriate for a twenty-something ready to let go of the “club wear” look but not quite ready to succumb to grandma wear either. On television, you see the office professionals in the perfect dress pant, looking classy and feminine. Where are these pants for a woman on a typical budget?
Luckily, over my dress pant mistakes over the years, I’ve found a few trustworthy brands. Hopefully you can benefit from my trial and error work.
1. Apartment 9 pants by Kohls, Modern Fit
Amen! The answer to my dress pant prayers. These pants fit perfectly . . .a big tight in the hips and butt, but loose enough to not look like spandex. I buy them in regular length to wear with heels and the short length to wear with flats. They also have a curvy fit, but beware; these are not all standardized, so sometimes you’ll get a pair that will hug your curves well and sometimes you’ll get a pair that billow out at the hips and look clown-like
These are also perfect because they aren’t too low but are low enough to be comfortable. They have a great shape. An added bonus? They run a bit big, so I actually can go down a size in these. Yes, it’s just a number. . . but it just makes me feel better knowing I’m wearing a smaller size :)
These are a bit higher rise than the Apartment 9, but they still have an overall nice fit. They are also a bit wider leg, so if you want to hide a heavier bottom half, these are great. They also run a little bit bigger, so you can probably go down a size in these as well.
4. Joe B at Kohls (Juniors)
These are definitely lower cut and tighter fitting than the other brands because they’re Juniors, but they look great if you are wearing a flowy shirt. I love these pants because they don’t wrinkle . . .ever! You can leave them balled up in the dryer for a day, and they come out wrinkle free.
5. The Loft
I never shop here because we don’t have a store near us and I always thought it was expensive. However, I just bought a pair of dress pants at an outlet on clearance for $15 . . . and they are awesome! I got the bootcut, and they fit wonderfully!
Have any dress pants tips?
The Passion to Teach, the Courage to Write
Don’t forget to check out my article at booksbywomen.org. It’s all about how being an English teacher has strengthened my path to being a writer.
http://booksbywomen.org/the-passion-to-teach-the-courage-to-write/
July 19, 2015
Go Set a Watchman
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“I was taught never to take advantage of anybody who was less fortunate than myself, whether he be less fortunate in brains, wealth, or social position; it meant anybody, not just Negroes. I was given to understand that the reverse was to be despised. That is the way I was raised, by a black woman and a white man.”
As an English teacher, I felt a duty to read this book. It is amazing that after all of these decades, Harper Lee now has two books published.
Go Set a Watchman is not a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird; although the characters are mostly the same and it focuses on the same theme, it is very, very different. It is difficult to read this book objectively because I found myself picturing the characters and events from To Kill a Mockingbird, which certainly influenced by views. Nonetheless, overall I feel that this book is of a high quality, despite some clear downfalls.
This novel is told from third person point-of-view, and it focuses on an adult version of Scout. Jean Louise is twenty-six, and she even has a love interest in the book. I really enjoyed reading about the adult version of Scout. I liked how her grown-up persona really matched what I imagined Scout to be like. She is sassy, contrary, and very free-spirited, which fits the vision of the character from To Kill a Mockingbird. I also liked the element of romance and how she was trying to decide if she should marry because this made the book more connectable to a contemporary female audience. Also, To Kill a Mockingbird was never my absolute favorite classic because it was told from six-year-old Scout’s point of view. I found it hard to connect with a view of the world from such a young narrator. I liked the narration of this book better.
I also thought it was interesting to read a less idealized version of Atticus and the war on racism. There has been a lot of controversy noting that Atticus is racist, which ruins the whole theory of the book. I felt like it was more about Atticus being jolted by the harsh realities of the world. He is in his seventies in this book, and he has seen how hard it is to make changes. He has realized the toll that Civil Rights is taking on the South, seeing it as tearing them apart. By the end it is clear that he doesn’t condone racist behavior but feels like it is just too complicated to change. I think the message of To Kill a Mockingbird is certainly more admirable, but I think in this book, Harper Lee was trying to be realistic. Readers must remember the era in which it was written, which was a time when it did seam idealistic for racism to be obliterated. Maybe she used this “less than angelic” characterization of Atticus to show that side of the argument. I also think it made a statement about how life can beat down even the most heroic of characters.
There were several flaws I found in the novel. First, I thought the book was split up into way too many “parts.” These divisions seemed somewhat arbitrary. I also did not like how she switched narrative voice at points, jumping into Jean Louise’s head using “I.” The ending was also very rushed and wasn’t satisfying.
Overall, I do not think that this book is as powerful as To Kill a Mockingbird. If this had been Lee’s “Mockingbird,” I don’t think she would have achieved the same level of fame as she has. It certainly isn’t as inspiring, deep, or revolutionary as To Kill a Mockingbird. Nonetheless, I found it interesting to see where her mindset was with this whole concept and to realize that author’s truly make many choices before publishing a novel. As an author myself, I was intrigued by how one concept can come across in two very diverse ways through various writing choices.
Lindsay Detwiler, Author of Voice of Innocence
Available at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TMX826K
Voice of Innocence: A Love Story for the Summer
Hey everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful summer of reading, ice cream, and fun!
It’s been almost five months since Voice of Innocence has been on the shelves, and I’m on my way to my first goal of getting fifty reviews on Amazon. Have you read Voice of Innocence? Can you help me out with an honest review? Reviews don’t have to be long or wordy; just give me a few minutes to describe what you thought. You can review Voice of Innocence at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads (Just click on the links to go to the Voice of Innocence review pages).
Reviews are so helpful for small, new authors like me! It is really, really, really tough to get your name out there and to sell books, so if you could help me out, I would really appreciate it! A lot of you have been asking me if there is a second book in the works . . . and the answer is, I am working on it :) I am really excited about my second novel, which is a stand alone novel with characters I adore. I really need the launch of Voice of Innocence to be successful, though, for my career to be solidified.
If you haven’t read Voice of Innocence yet, you can find more information about it under the “books” tab above or the reviews tab. If you like Nicholas Sparks’ novels, you’ll like Voice of Innocence; it is in a similar genre.
Thank you again!!
Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence
July 18, 2015
Spirituality in the Stars
Since I was a child, I’ve always felt like there has to be something bigger than this, something that makes all of this chaos, this pain, this constant state of irony make sense.
It can’t just be coincidence.
Yet, where are the answers? What does it all mean? Who am I? Who am I supposed to be? Why do some get longer than others here?
There are ceaseless questions but only silence to calm our pangs of anxiety. A drifting, creeping silence that eventually slaps us, calls to us to find the answer.
Some people turn toward religion to find the answer, which is okay. Some turn to science to make sense of it all, which is okay. Some just turn away, turn inward, or turn off completely, which is okay, too. It’s a personal preference as to how you deal with these massive, incomprehensible questions about life’s meaning.
For me, though, I choose to look upward.
Not toward the heavens or a religious figure living in the proverbial sky necessarily. No, I find the answers in the stars.
Billions of dots, simple yet so complex. In these tiny specks rests the proof that we can’t just be a coincidence, that we can’t just be a product of dust.
Yes, we are insignificant in the scheme of things. Yes, we are not even a blip in the vastness of the universe. But yet, we are something, which in itself is something.
I took an astronomy class my senior year of high school, which was one of my favorite classes of all time. More than that, this science class in a public school setting, nonetheless, is what solidified my faith in a higher being, in a higher purpose to this madness called life.
Our teacher simply stated a fact. Science can show us what happened in the “big bang,” can explain scientifically how Earth came to be out of the mass of material. But it can’t explain one thing, no matter how much it wants to.
It cannot explain where the material for the Big Bang came from. And scientifically, you can’t just have something from nothing. This, our teacher noted, was why astronomy is one of the sciences that can coincide easily with a religious belief.
So it was in science class, the labeled “enemy” of religion from time to time, that I found my strongest sense of spirituality.
Even to this day, when I look at the stars, when I point out the planets that I still can find thanks to that class, I think my teacher’s words. I think about how I found spirituality in the most unlikely place.
I think about how sometimes it doesn’t take an organized prayer or a specific building to find a closeness to one’s religious self.
Sometimes it’s just about looking at the stars.
