B.J. Hoff's Blog, page 10

A Writer's Balance

 

Revised and reprinted from an earlier entry

If my mail and some of the questions raised in writers' groups are examples, the question of how writers manage to balance writing with our other daily responsibilities ranks right up there in the top ten most frequently discussed subjects among writers. Writers always want to know how other writers go about this without relying on drugs or live-in help.

Like most other things about life and writing, this kind of "management" varies from writer...

Don't Miss This

Just in case you've missed this--you shouldn't. Nick Harrison, Sr. Editor at Harvest House Publishers, has an excellent series going at his blog titled How to Succeed as a Christian Writer. He's already published four parts and will be adding a fifth, and, I believe, the final, part soon. 

If you're interested in writing and publishing--especially fiction--in the Christian market, you'll want to take a close look at this series from one of our finest editors and commit his wisdom to memory.

BJ

The Better Way

 Martha bids Jesus welcome,

Flings wide the door and greets Him warmly,

Then turns away and races for the kitchen

To prepare a feast fit for the King of Kings

While Mary kneels before Him in the household dust

To wash His feet.

Up to her elbows in flour, kneading bread,

Martha lends half an ear to the Master's words,

But Mary, hungry for other things,

Sits quietly consuming the Bread of Life.

Martha works and frets and throws herself

Into doing the things that need...

What's Next?

 For those who have recently written me asking "what's next," here's an update:

I'm currently working on the third and final novel ( River of Mercy ) in my historical Amish series, The Riverhaven Years. More than anything else, this is the love story of the young Amish widow, Rachel Brenneman, and the "outsider," Jeremiah Gant, an Irish American riverboat captain.

Next--God willing--I'm moving on to develop a new series with Harvest House Publishers, also historical, and also set mostly...

Ray Bradbury: A Writer's Writer

 I have always loved the stories of Ray Bradbury, and I believe that if I were ever to meet the man in person I'd be absolutely charmed by him. He creates such engaging, intriguing characters and "worlds" that no matter what might be going on in my life, I can always take a pass from reality for a time by reading a Ray Bradbury story. 

If you're a Bradbury fan, you'll enjoy the new book referenced below--Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews by Sam Weller.  

Among other things...

Happy Birthday, America!

 Our fathers' God, to thee, 

Author of Liberty, 

To Thee we sing; 

Long may our land be bright, 

With freedom's holy light; 

Protect us by thy might, 

Great God, our King.

(Samuel F. Smith)

Happy Independence Day--

and may God bless America!

BJ

The "New" Emerald Ballad Series

 I've received lots of questions about what's going on with my Emerald Ballad series, so I thought this would be a good time to fill you in on its status. 

Early in July, Harvest House is launching a re-release of this previously published series, beginning with Books One and Two--Song of the Silent Harp and Heart of the Lonely Exile. Books Three, Four, and Five--Land of a Thousand Dreams,  Sons of an Ancient Glory, and Dawn of the Golden Promise--will be released in the following...

New Video Trailers

Note from BJ:

I'm pleased to announce the release of two new video trailers created by Kelli Standish and the team at PulsePoint Design for the upcoming re-release of Books One and Two of my Emerald Ballad series.  

Song of the Silent Harp and Heart of the Lonely Exile will be released July 1 by Harvest House Publishers. I hope you enjoy the trailers and the books! Feel free to share them with friends and fellow readers on Facebook and Twitter--and wherever you "socialize!" 

SONG OF THE...

For You Music Lovers ...

 I know there are some who believe nothing good can come out of AOL, but I've discovered something that will argue that assumption.  And because I also know that many of you readers who visit Grace Notes are music lovers, I wanted to be certain you know about this. 

If you could tune in 24/7 to a site that offered you over 350 radio stations--mostly music but some news and sports as well--and you could have your choice among any category of music you could imagine, from bluegrass through...

An Almost Forgotten Day

 Out of curiosity, I searched the morning paper for any mention of D-Day. Found nothing--but the "Peanuts" column. Here's a site that explains what it's all about, if you're...