Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 15

An Open Book

Welcome to the September 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

In Spite of Ourselves by Jennifer Rodewald is what I call a marriage of inconvenience story.  A drunken, quickie Vegas marriage of strangers can’t just be forgotten by either Jackson or Kenz. What follows is a sometimes funny, always heartfelt story of God writing straight with crooked lines. Jackson is an inspiring model of God’s faithfulness, and this book is one of my favorites this year.

I had to go back and read the first book in the Murphy Brothers series by Jennifer Rodewald:  Always You. This novel is less dramatic that In Spite of Ourselves, a gentle friends-to-lovers novel with real and relatable problems being obstacles to a new romance.  There are seven brothers in this family, so there is much more good stuff to come!

Crystal Walton has freshened up her first series, and I was happy to read Eyes Unveiled. It evokes all the confusion of burgeoning adulthood: discovering who I am, what I want to do, and my place in the world.  It’s a story of self-discovery and sweet romance with the challenge of a bit of a love triangle.

Each book in Courtney Walsh’s Harbor Point series is better than the last. Just Like Home is an unlikely romance between professional ballerina Charlotte and high school football coach Cole. Gruff, rude, hurt, and angry Cole ends up being a perfect, endearingly sweet and romantic match for sheltered Charlotte, who is seeking love and acceptance in the wake of her long-distance friend’s (Cole’s sister) death.

Help from Heaven: True Stories of Rescues, Miracles, and Answered Prayers from a First Responder by Andrea Jo Rodgers is a collection of some of the author’s experiences as an EMT over the past several decades. Interspersed with Bible verses and short reflections, these are the kind of short tales that become addictive. What kind of predicament is it? Will they get to the hospital in time? Will they make it?

Teachings for an Unbelieving World: Newly Discovered Reflections on Paul’s Sermon at the Areopagus by Pope John Paul II renewed my appreciation for one of my favorite saints. Decades before he’d become the Holy Father, themes central to his papacy are evident in these short and easy-to-read reflections.

Bigfoot!: The True Story of Apes in America by Loren Coleman provides a good overview of the popular and cryptozoological history of Bigfoot for the casual observer. I read this as research for a novel I’m writing and found it a solid and enjoyable examination of the phenomena heavily concentrated on the 1960s.

For his summer reading assignment, my high school senior chose Nation by Terry Pratchett, an author new to him. He seems reluctant to part with this book, even though it has to go back to the library. This multi-award-winning Young Adult novel concerns Mau, the last surviving member of his nation, alone on a desert island. Then he meets Daphne, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Themes include death and nationhood.

Curious about H.P Lovecraft, he downloaded and quickly read The Call of Cthulhu. The description calls it a “harrowing tale of the weakness of the human mind when confronted by powers and intelligences from beyond our world.” My son said it was okay but that he didn’t find it scary, except in a Dracula sense, which I take to mean suspenseful, where what’s unseen is scarier than what is presented.

My daughter has mostly been finishing series she’d begun this summer, first Percy Jacskson and the Olympians, then the follow-up to Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, The New Chronicles of Rebecca by Kate Douglass Wiggin, which she found a bit disappointing, and then Theresa Linden’s West Brothers series. She’s currently reading Fire Starters, which is great preparation for Confirmation, still more than a year away for her. The West Brothers—Jarret, Keefe, and Roland—were away from the Church and have missed being confirmed, and their friends are on hand both to help them prepare and solve a mystery involving their parish church.

She also read the classic Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. We seem to have a family of pirate-lovers, and she enjoyed this as much as the rest of us have. It didn’t hurt that we found a fancy hardbound version with a ribbon bookmark and gold-trimmed pages at the library. It’s the little things.

I’ve been slacking off a bit with the little kids this past month, but my youngest read his reward book from the library’s summer reading program, Super Rabbit Boy vs. Super Rabbit Boss by Thomas Flintham. It’s the fourth book in the series, but that didn’t seem to bother my second-grader. He loves all things video games, and this book, heavy on illustrations, suited him just fine. He’d like to read the other books in the series.

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: Theology of the Body Fiction

You won’t find “Theology of the Body Fiction” as an Amazon category. It’s a niche of contemporary Catholic fiction (also, unfortunately, not an Amazon category) that I describe as stories viewed through the lens of Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. It doesn’t spout passages from his addresses, but it recognizes the truths contained therein.

The go-to source for such fiction is Full Quiver Publishing. You’ll find several of my books there, some of those listed below, and books by Ellen Gable. (Full Quiver Publishing was founded in 2004 by Ellen and her husband, James Hrkach.)

You can view My Books, all of which I term Theology of the Body fiction.

The Bird and the Bees by Neena Gaynor

Oh, my heart. What is it about this gentle book that made it ache so? Had to be Ketch Devine.

I didn’t know what to expect from this first-time author, but what I discovered was a unique voice, a slew of wonderful similes, and a redemptive, empowering story with the unfailing, unconditional love of God at its heart.

Part women’s fiction, part romance, with a little mystery and a heavy does of Truth, The Bird and the Bees follows broke (financial and otherwise) nurse Larkin Maybie from the hills of Appalachian Kentucky to Presque Isle, on the Pennsylvania shores of Lake Erie. (A place not so far from my native Pittsburgh, recognizable from childhood memories.)

Enter too-good-to-be-true (or at least too-good-for-Larkin) minor leaguer Ketch Devine, whose easygoing, steady, no-strings-attached friendship, slowly wears down the walls Larkin has built around her damaged, guilt-ridden heart.

If you’re looking for a selfless romantic hero, you’ll find it, but The Bird and the Bees runs deeper, with layers to uncover about what it means to live and to what or whom we anchor our lives.

Theology of the Body Fiction recommendations make up August's Relevant Fiction Reviews.
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A Channel of Your Peace by Veronica Smallhorn

A Channel of Your Peace is a strong debut in my favorite little sub-genre: Theology of the Body fiction. Don’t let that put you off if it sounds heady or unfamiliar. A Channel of Your Peace is an honest look at the lies we tell with our bodies when we live in a way that doesn’t honor God’s design for marriage, family, and self-sacrificial love.

The author captures the heroine’s journey in a genuine, nonjudgmental way, allowing the reader to witness her heartache, suffering, and conversion in a gradual, natural way.

No matter how far we stray, God waits, right amidst the suffering and the joy, and welcomes us with open arms.

I enjoyed the Australian setting (with a slice of Mexico as well).







The Father’s Son by Jim Sano


The Father’s Son delves deep into the life and mind of its main character, David, a seemingly successful Bostonian, whose dissatisfaction with his life is laid bare by his encounter with a new friend whom he meets regularly on the basketball court.

Catholic apologetics and psychology are grounded in one man’s story of self-discovery, healing, and redemption. Like all good stories, The Father’s Son is marked by hope. Regardless of the circumstances of our youth or the decisions we make, the call to holiness is universal and, with God’s grace, attainable.









Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body

Even if you’ve read St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body from start to finish and a half dozen nonfiction books about it on the side, I guarantee this collection of shorts will uncover the teachings in ways you hadn’t considered. It will challenge you in unexpected ways. One or two (or more) of the stories may make you uncomfortable. While the writing is polished, the varnish coating the darkness of our lives is stripped, laying bare the truths written on our heart and the lies we tell with our bodies.

Recommended for reading, reflection, discussion, and even entertainment. A gritty but beautiful introduction not only to the Theology of the Body as it is lived (or rejected), but also to the breadth and promise of Catholic fiction being written by contemporary authors. These shorts are accessible to any careful reader, whether familiar with the Theology of the Body or not.








Passport by Christopher Blunt

Passport is an unassuming but important book. There are no explosions, hospital scenes or violent crimes. It’s all quite ordinary, yet, at its heart, is all about the extraordinary – the interior drama created by simple choices about what we do, how we relate to others, and how we live.

Stan, an average guy looking for the right woman to marry, demonstrates that no sin is truly private. Sins and mistakes have consequences both for ourselves and others. We each have crosses to carry – daily – even those who lives look idyllic from the outside, like that of his friends, Jim and Maggie. Some crosses are of our own making (like Stan’s) and others just happen. Either way, it’s how we accept them that matters.

Stan (and the rest of us) live in a culture of instant gratification, but perhaps more insidious than our unrestrained desires is our belief that we can control every outcome. We can improve our appearance, our body, our home, our job and create lives that reflect our image of perfection or satisfaction. Stan’s biggest challenge is to let go of his will and make supreme, quiet, and generous sacrifices born of a desire to do what’s right, no matter the cost.

The pacing slows in the second half of the novel, and at times, it seemed like some of the messages served the author more than the narrative. Minor diversions into baby-wearing, natural family planning in hard cases, paying down debt, and living together before marriage come to mind here. These aren’t egregious tangents (with which I happen to agree), and as with the rest of the novel, they are well-written and not pedantic.

Christopher Blunt is not afraid to tackle the big issues and the hard cases, allowing the reader to walk through Stan’s struggles and doubts as well as those of his friends.

The ending is tension-packed with a satisfying and hopeful resolution. Overall, it’s a novel I’d highly recommend (and would like to give 4-1/2 stars if it were possible). Passport allows the reader to see the big picture – the supernatural picture, which we often overlook, thereby missing God’s constancy and generosity.









Life-Changing Love by Theresa Linden


Not only is Life-Changing love an entertaining read, but it’s a great tool for launching conversations between teens and parents about their expectations for dating and relationships.

Caitlyn Summers is in love with being in love. She yearns for her first boyfriend and her first kiss. And she knows just the boy to make those dreams come true: Roland West. Only Roland, despite the mixed signals he sends, is not interested in having a girlfriend.

By contrast, Caitlyn’s gorgeous best friend Zoe has gone from zero to well beyond the speed limit in mere days with Roland’s dangerous older brother Jarret.

When Jarret’s twin Keefe returns from a trip to Italy with his father, he’s changed -unwilling to allow Jarret to manipulate him, introspective, pious, and intrigued by Caitlyn.

The lives of the West brothers and Caitlyn and Zoe turn topsy-turvy as they struggle to navigate obedience to their parents, the longings of their hearts, and the predicament Jarret and Zoe have created for themselves.

Theresa Linden does an outstanding job of capturing the tension of the teenage years. The result is a moving story that shows the consequences of premature sexual relationships and the value of pursuing friendships that honor God and respect the dignity of each person.

The author is a fellow member of the Catholic Writers Guild. I received an advance copy for my honest review.

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The Woman in the Trees – New Marian Fiction

The Woman in the Trees:



A novel about America’s first approved Marian apparition



by Theoni Bell



About the book:

Set within the expanses of the American frontier, The Woman in the Trees follows Slainie, an inquisitive pioneer girl, whose life is forever transformed when a mysterious seer shows up at her door. Amidst the backdrop of the Civil War, family tragedy, and the nation’s most destructive wildfire, Slainie must navigate her rugged pioneer life as she encounters love and loss, and comes face to face with the story of America’s first approved Marian apparition.

The Woman in the Trees: A Novel about America's First Approved Marian Apparition by Theoni Bell, a #mustread debut! #CatholicFiction
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My review:

The Woman in the Trees will appeal to a variety of readers: children, teens, adults, fans of historical fiction and fans of religious fiction, specifically those interested in appearances of the Blessed Mother.

There’s a lot to be learned here about the Peshtigo fire, Our Lady of Good Help (the U.S.’s only Church-approved Marian apparition), and American life around the time of the Civil War. That’s not to say this is a dry textbook. On the contrary, it’s a richly human story of a loss, suffering, hope, and faith through the eyes of a young girl (and later, young woman), Slainie, who encounters the enigmatic seer Adele Brise.

I found this the perfect introduction to the history of Our Lady of Good Help, both for myself and for my children. Recommended reading for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

About the author:

Starting her career in journalism, Theoni Bell traveled to 13 countries studying religion and culture, writing human-interest stories along the way. Now this homeschooling mother of four lives in California with the coolest guy she knows. A Catholic convert, she writes fiction with heavy spiritual undercurrents. She’s usually reading historical fiction, though she’s a big fan of science fiction. Someday, she’ll tackle writing a supernatural, sci-fi thriller that captures the attention of Orson Scott Card himself.

Links:

Website: https://theonibell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortheonibell

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordslikeseeds

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Wanderlight: A Catholic Video Game Kids Will Love

Excitement greeted the Wanderlight: A Pilgrim’s Adventure promotional pack the second I held it in my hands, from the 17-year-old, curious about a Catholic video game, to the younger kids, eager to give the demo a shot (especially mid-week, when they are ordinarily not allowed to indulge in video games).

They’d already seen the trailer for Loyola Press’s innovative game and were intrigued. Now, with a plushie version of the main character, Pilgrim; stickers; and a poster, they were eager to dive in.

Since earlier this summer, my kids have been enjoying Animal Crossing, a gentle sort of game that they equally enjoy – both the boys and the girls, from the high school senior down to the middle school tween and the lower and upper elementary kids. Waderlight holds a lot of the same appeal.

The player maneuvers Pilgrim through series of quests, interacting with a variety of characters along the way, including various saints and common folk. In the demo, Pilgrim aided local villagers by ridding them of pesky raccoons.

“Wanderlight is transformative, reaching minds and hearts unlike any other learning platform that aims to teach Catholic faith formation. Wanderlight immerses players in their learning – they experience teachings of the Catholic faith in self-motivating, active ways,” said Joellyn Cicciarelli, president and publisher of Loyola Press. “Wanderlight is meaningful yet self-guided – and best of all FUN!”

Through quests, players experience:

Ethical encountersMeeting saintsCatholic practicesScriptural encounters

My kids described the game as “cute” and “awesome.” My eight-year-old said that she learned about St. Francis, and my seven-year-old said he learned to help people more often. From my observation, they easily enjoyed playing Wanderlight as much as any similar secular game. Knowing that they are not only having safe fun but learning about our faith makes it doubly appealing as a mom.

The game, geared to ages 5-12, moves through seven levels of play and can be purchased (starting today!) for at-home play or classroom use. It may be played on desktops, laptops, and tablets (PC or Mac with internet connection). For more information, visit www.wanderlightgame.com.

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Shadow in the Dark: A Spooky Historical Novel for Kids & Teens

Shadow in the Dark by Antony Barone Kolenc



Book 1 in The Harwood Mysteries from Loyola Press.







About the book:

An attack by bandits in the middle of the night leaves a young boy with no memory of who he is or where he is from. Nursed back to health by the devoted monks in a Benedictine abbey, he takes the name Alexander, or Xan for short. Aided by the kindly Brother Andrew, Xan commits himself to finding out who he really is.

Does he have a family? Are they still alive? And who—or what—is the shadowy figure creeping around the abbey in the dead of night?

Embark on an adventure while reading Shadow in the Dark as young Alexander tries to recover his memory and, with his new friends, uncover the mystery of the shadowy figure in the dark.

Shadow in the Dark – Book 1 in the Harwood Mysteries by @tonykolenc from @loyolapress #CatholicTeenBooks #HistoricalYA
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My review:

Shadow in the Dark is a clever historical novel for tweens and teens. Xan turns up at a medieval monastery, unable to remember anything about himself. With the help of the monks and Lucy, who resides in the neighboring convent, he must navigate the resident bully, discover what’s become of his family and whether that mysterious dark shadow roaming the abbey grounds is a wandering monk or something more sinister.

The mystery aspect is well done and will keep readers flipping pages. The setting is well-suited to the story, immersing kids in medieval European life. I look forward to reading more books in the series and sharing them with my kids!

More buying options:




Loyola Press



Bookshop



Amazon




About the author:

Tony is the author of The Harwood Mysteries–a medieval historical fiction series for youth published by Loyola Press. He is a law professor, who teaches courses to include Evidence, Torts, Constitutional Law, and Appellate Advocacy. In addition, he writes a legal column in Practical Homeschooling Magazine and speaks at writing, legal, and home education events. His family has homeschooled their five children.

Tony retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps after 21 years of military service. During his career, he has litigated both civil and criminal cases before trial and appellate courts. His professional writings have focused on matters of constitutional law and military policy. He has also taught undergraduate courses at the Air Force Academy and Saint Leo University.

Links:

Website: http://www.antonykolenc.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antonybaronekolenc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyKolenc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonykolenc/

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An Open Book

Welcome to the August 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND  CatholicMom.com!

We’ve been doing a lot of reading this summer, especially since our local libraries have re-opened, at least in part. Let’s face it: there aren’t a whole lot of entertainment options this summer, so in addition to hanging out at the pond/creek, my kids are enjoying reading good books.

While his time on the road has been greatly diminished, my husband did begin listening to Grant by Ron Chernow on his way to and from Scout camp. Intrigued by a History Channel series on Ulysses S. Grant, he was eager to learn more about this former general and president of the United States.

Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray is a very well-written inspirational romance novel of healing, hope, and spiritual awakening. I love the direction the author is taking with this story, which reminds me a lot of one of my favorite novels, The Grace Crasher by Mara Faro. I also love this striking cover.

I was moved by this debut novel by Neena Gaynor, The Bird and the Bees, a Christian romance set mainly in Erie, Pennsylvania. The patient, stalwart third baseman Ketch Devine serves as a model of God’s unconditional love. There is a lot to ponder here about what it means to live and to whom or what we anchor our lives.

Ranger Redemption by Lynn Shannon is a well-executed romantic suspense novel with an intertwined small-town cast of characters that add layers of complicity and multiple suspects to the lineup. The story is well-paced with a sweet second-chance romance at its center.

I enjoyed the second installment in Dani Pettrey’s Coastal Guardian series, The Crushing Depths. It’s uniquely set on an oil rig off of the Virginia coast. There’s a big cast of characters and multiple crimes. If you’re looking for a fast-paced crime novel with a sweet romance, this one will fit the bill.

Though War Be Waged Upon Me: A Saint Michael Treasury of Prayer and Reflection by Carol Puschaver is a short prayer book that will deepen your knowledge of the familiar prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.  It also includes information on how to pray the St. Michael Chaplet.

The Dunes by A.R.K. Watson is a short novella with a Twilight Zone vibe. This short fiction features a married couple and is set on the beach. Saying much more may ruin if for you, so you’ll have to check it out for yourself. At 99 cents, why not?

The second book in The Desperate Forest series by Cece Louise is at least as fun as the first. The Jabberwocky Princess is a historical YA novel with a contemporary feel and a little light magic (think dragons!). This is a fantastic series of clean romances for teens that have a bit of a fairy tale quality to them. More on that in the interview I did with the author last month.

I enjoyed reading Antony Kolenc’s Shadow in the Dark, new from Loyola Press.  This historical novel for tweens and teens is set in medieval Europe and centers around a spooky mystery: Who or what is the shadow roaming the abbey grounds at night? The angel of death or a wayward monk? Such begins the series featuring young orphan Xan (short for Alexander) and his friend Lucy.

My oldest son is procrastinating on his school summer reading project by reading more from the Star Wars universe. He picked up Star Wars Myths & Fables  by George Mann on our first trip to a bookstore this year! This attractive hardcover features various Aesop’s fable-like stories including various Star Wars characters in different times and places. He appreciated the artwork at the beginning of each chapter too.

We have a slew of decades-old Timothy Zahn Star Wars paperbacks in the attic, but my son was drawn to a more recent release by the same author at the library. Thrawn is short for Grand Admiral Thrawn, an officer in the Imperial Navy. The story follows his rise through the ranks in the early days of the Empire when many alien races are oppressed. This is the first book in a trilogy he plans to read.

My seventh-grade daughter chose The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan as her reward for completing the reading portion of the library’s summer reading program. This series came recommended by her older brother, and she has been tearing through it greedily as fast as she can get the remaining books from the library. In a world where Greek gods and demi-gods roam the earth, Percy  Jackson discovers he’s the son of Poseidon, which puts his life in danger. When someone steals Zeus’s lightning bolt, Percy must find it.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare came recommended by a librarian based on my daughter’s interest in colonial America. A young girl, Kit, flees her home in Barbados and arrives in Connecticut. Kit befriends a Quaker woman the local Puritans consider a witch.

Knowing how much my daughter loved Anne of Green Gables, I picked up a copy of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin from the library, and she loved it, informing me that this book actually was written before Anne and influenced L. M. Montgomery and various other authors. Imaginative Rebecca comes to live with aunts in Riverboro, where she comes of age.

George Washington’s Socks by Elvira Woodruff was required summer reading that my daughter liked (but didn’t love). Several kids time travel to Revolutionary War times where they witness General Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River and try to get home. My daughter was a little frustrated by the magical rowboat plot device.

I ordered some (wonderful!) Usborne books and products for my kids this summer and grabbed Girls with a Voice and Girls with Courage by Ann Turnbull and Adele Geras. In Girls with a Voice, set in the 18th century, a girl dreams of becoming an opera singer. She’s sent to boarding school when her father loses a large amount of money on a failed investment, jeopardizing her musical education. In Girls with Courage, set in the 19th century, a girl is sent to her uncles’ home when her mother is having another baby. She must ride with her eye-patch-wearing uncle to discover what’s happened to her mother. (To buy, check in with an Usborne Books & More consultant.)

My third grader picked out a huge book from the library that she is steadily reading aloud to the rest of us (whether we’re listening or not). The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter includes all of the classic tales of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin, and more with the original illustrations.

We brought home a slew of Berenstain Bears books from the library too.  All four of my kids have loved the Berenstain Bears, and we read these books again and again and again. As a parent, I’ve always appreciated the honest but gentle and humorous way they tackle common childhood problems. One of the favorites this go-round has been The Berenstain Bears and the Double Dare by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

I’ve begun reading The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame aloud to the kids. It’s been a while since I read this one, and the chapters are pretty long for a children’s book. I enjoy introducing the kids to this world, which they connect with a particular area of the children’s garden at the nearby Hershey Gardens.

My youngest son has been reading Potterwookiee: The Creature in My Closet by Obert Skye. In it, the main character puts both books and a chemistry set in the closet and some amazing creatures result. This one was handed down from his older brother. Illustrations à la Diary of Wimpy Kid make it a fun read.

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Interview with YA Fantasy Author Cece Louise

The Forest Tales heroines are spunky and sassy, definitely not helpless damsels in distress yet quite feminine. How important is it to strike that balance in a culture that, perhaps, has a tendency to see those attributes as mutually exclusive?

I personally find that balance between strength and femininity fascinating to explore. As a culture, it sometimes feels like we’ve forgotten how to celebrate what it means to be feminine. Biologically, men and women are different. One is not better or worse than the other, but there is a difference that our culture seems to want to ignore. I love to read and write characters that show these differences and celebrate them. We do a disservice to our young female readers if we paint a picture that to succeed in life or be strong, they need to forgo their femininity and act like men. On the contrary, women have many strengths that come more naturally to them than men. For example, studies have shown that women tend to be more empathetic than men. That is a huge strength that is important for leaders.

Because I write to a young adult audience, I try to keep in mind that many of my readers are going through puberty, which can be confusing and scary. We are seeing a huge rise in gender dysphoria in our teens, especially in girls, and I think part of the reason is that girls are not being taught to value their femininity anymore. Young girls are being told that femininity equals weakness and they need to stifle it, leaving them feeling confused and like strangers in their bodies. Instead, we should be teaching girls the true value of their femininity and how to understand and embrace it.

Both your female protagonists and the dialogue have a contemporary feel to them that remind me of Susan Peek’s saint stories. Little liberties are taken with historical culture that make the story more palatable to contemporary readers. Did you feel any tension foregoing strict adherence to the time period in order to create what may be considered more relatable situations?

I love that you picked up on that because it was an intentional writing style that I chose for this series. Although the books in the Forest Tales series are set in a medieval time, they take place in fictional, fairy-tale-style kingdoms, which incorporate some elements of fantasy.

Because I write for a young adult audience, my main goal is to make my characters relatable and inspiring to young readers. Growing up, the books I loved the most always had characters that I saw myself in, so I wanted to give that same relatability to my audience. Because my readers are living in the contemporary world, I chose to give the dialogue and story style a contemporary feel so readers would feel more comfortable immersing themselves in the books. Of course, this does bring the risk that readers who are seeking historical adherence will not enjoy a dialogue or setting that is a little too relaxed for the period.

To help the reader understand what they are getting from my books, I do a few things. One, I don’t specify a time period or use any specific dates. While I do draw from history for certain events and elements, I keep the exact period ambiguous. Two, the kingdoms and world in this series are completely fictional, and although they draw inspiration from medieval Europe, I don’t specify exactly where we are. Three, I add in some low fantasy elements. Mainly, I keep the setting familiar to the reader, but because there is some light magic or fantasy in the stories, it serves to remind the reader that this isn’t necessarily our world, but maybe a mirror image of it. Because of these things, I take some historic liberties and mold the stories in a way that I feel will make the most sense to my audience and give them some familiarity.

Desperate Forest and The Jabberwocky Princess call to mind The Princess Bride and also, obviously, Alice in Wonderland. To what degree did those classics influence you, and are there any other works that influenced the series?

The Princess Bride was one of my family’s favorite movies growing up and it certainly had an impact on the style I chose for writing theForest Tales series. I love the adventure, romance, and good clean fun of that story, as well as the humor and whimsy. I remember seeing that movie for the first time as a kid and just getting lost in it. That’s the type of experience I want to give my readers when they pick up one of my books.

My inspiration for the Jabberwocky Princess lightly drew on Alice in Wonderland but, more specifically, Lewis Carroll’s writing in general. I gave a few nods to Lewis Carroll in The Jabberwocky Princess and had a lot of fun exploring the idea of “nonsense,” from his poem “Jabberwocky.” I read that poem as a child and it always stuck with me because it was so unique. On top of that, growing up my family and I spent time at a bookstore named Jabberwocky. It was so exciting to go there and explore the shelves for new books to the point that it felt a little magical. When I got the idea for the Forest Tales series, I almost immediately decided to write a book with something to do with “Jabberwocky” because of the poem and bookstore that helped inspire my love for reading.

Get The Jabberwocky Princess for 99 cents July 19-25!

Another inspiration for this series came from my long love for all things fairy tale. As a teen, I fell in love with Regina Doman’s modern-day fairy-tale retellings, and I really enjoyed how she brought a contemporary, Catholic twist to so many great stories I remembered from my childhood. Also, around the time that I started my first draft of Desperate Forest, I was watching the TV show Once Upon a Time. I loved the first few seasons, and it rekindled my appreciation for fairy tales in general.

I think the reason fairy tales are still so loved and powerful today is that they speak to the human condition on many levels—usually, there are moral lessons to be learned and an element of true, sacrificial love. Humans innately value and seek these things, even though modern society sometimes rejects them. Still, we keep coming back to these simple ideas that real love exists, and it isn’t about what you can get from someone but rather what you can give. I find many of these stories are told in a way that aligns with Christian values, although subtly, so even those who don’t consider themselves Christian still find an appeal because they see the intrinsic good in the message.

Can you tell us where the series is headed in the third and final book in The Forest Tales series, Blue Deep?

I’m so excited for the release of Blue Deep and to continue the story of Darius, who we saw in the first book (Desperate Forest). To be honest, Blue Deep was a book I went back and forth about writing, but once I got the idea, it took hold of me and wouldn’t let go. Writing this book has been a fun and, at times, difficult process.

While I don’t want to give too many spoilers, Blue Deep is essentially a redemption story. At the end of Desperate Forest, we see Darius left in a bad state and we don’t particularly care for him at this point. He’s done some terrible things and is no one’s hero. Initially, that was going to be the end of his story. In fact, I almost killed him off in the end! But as I began planning more for the series, I started to wonder if Darius could be redeemed, and if so, what would that look like? That question essentially grew into Blue Deep.

I personally love redemption stories and rooting for flawed characters while they undergo personal growth. I especially enjoy diving into the mind of a not-so-nice character and figuring out why they made the choices they made.

Again, it goes back to that Christian element that is so powerful. After all, we are all in need of redemption. God could have left us to our own devices, but he didn’t. Instead, he sent his own Son to save us and gave us the promise of hope and salvation.  Even though my books aren’t specifically Christian, those values very much shape my stories, because I want to bring those elements to a level anyone can understand.

In addition to a continuation of Darius’s story, we are also going to meet a new character, Marilee. In many ways, she’s Darius’s opposite, but she also has faced some tough decisions in her life and struggles with whether she has made the right choices. Although she is scared and desperate, she has something that Darius doesn’t have, which is hope. I loved throwing these two together and seeing how they interact and grow personally and together. This book is still a work in progress, but I’m optimistic that it will be a fun ride for readers once it reaches publication.

While this is the third book in the Forest Tales series, it isn’t the end! I have at least a few more books planned for this series, including a possible prequel. Blue Deep will have some lead-ins to book four, and readers can expect to see some teasers in my newsletter and social media channels for the fourth book around the time Blue Deep is released. I’m not entirely sure where I will end this series, but as long as I keep having ideas for books and my readers keep enjoying them, it will continue to grow.

The book covers in this series are simply gorgeous! How important was it to you to get the book covers “right?”

Thank you! I need to take a moment to give a huge shoutout to my cover designer, Donna Rogers of DLR Cover Designs because she is so talented and such a joy to work with.

Like most people, I certainly do judge books by their covers, so when Desperate Forest was approaching publication, I spent a ton of time trying to find the right cover for the story. At that point, I wasn’t planning on making it the start of a series, so I was looking at a lot of pre-made designs. There were a few contenders, but I think it was fate that I ended up picking the one I did. Not only was it a perfect fit for the story, but it began my relationship with Donna, and I cannot imagine any other covers for the Forest Tales series than the ones she has created. I look forward to working with her more in the future, and I can’t wait to see her work her magic for book four’s cover when we get there.

Before the Forest Tales series, you wrote fan fiction. What unique lessons did you learn about the writing craft or writing to an audience that you’d attribute to that experience?

I learned so much by starting there! One of the biggest things for me – an introvert at heart—was simply having a place to get my writing in front of readers. The great thing about the fanfiction community was that it got me in touch with other writers and readers who were very willing to share their feedback on my stories and writing style.

During that time, I learned a lot about how to structure a story, how to write dialogue, how to build suspense, and how to avoid common mistakes. I laugh as I type this because my first fan fiction does have a lot of rookie mistakes in it, but I learned so much throughout the process. I hope to be writing for a long time, and I know I still have a lot to learn, but I’m grateful for the experience I’ve had so far.

At the same time, I would be remiss to not mention my dear sister who some of you might be familiar with, Christian suspense author Therese Heckenkamp. She has been an amazing mentor for me! Even though she is incredibly busy, she reads all my stuff and gives me so many great tips. She really helped me grow when I first started writing seriously. I would have been very lost without her, and I will always be so grateful that she shared her years of experience with me and helped me get to the point where I felt comfortable sharing my work.

Do you have any writing projects planned beyond the conclusion of The Forest Tales series?

Yes, so much that I hope I live long enough to explore all my ideas! In addition to at least a few more books in the Forest Tales series, I also have a dystopian series planned and another YA fantasy series. Whenever I get a good idea for a book, I write it down, and I have quite a few outlines for future books waiting for me to dive into when the time is right.

As a stay-at-home mom of two young kids, it can be hard to balance writing time with everything else, but I plan to keep writing as long as I have ideas and my readers want to hear from me.

Interview with YA Fantasty Author Cece Louise @CeceLAuthor
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Cece Louise writes clean novels filled with adventure, romance, and spirit for teens and adults.

An avid reader, Cece has been making up stories in her head as long as she can remember. A true believer that writing should be fun, she loves communicating with her readers and connecting with other writers.

In 2012, Cece graduated summa cum laude with a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. When she’s not working on her latest story, Cece enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, weightlifting, and being outside.

Links:

Website: CeceLouise.com

Goodreads: Goodreads.com/CeceLouise

Facebook: Facebook.com/CeceLouiseAuthor

Twitter: Twitter.com/CeceLAuthor

Pinterest: Pinterest.com/CeceLouiseAuthor

Instagram: Instagram.com/CeceLouise_Author

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First Line Friday – The Bird and the Bees

The Bird and the Bees



by Neena Gaynor

They say if you don’t tell the bees when someone dies, they’ll leave.

The obvious question raised by this first line is, “Who died?” And we’re already immediately drawn to the title and the (beautiful!) cover with reference to the bees.

What’s the first line of the book you’re reading? Or the book nearest to you?

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“Asimov” by M.T. Astfalk, Jr.

Last week, I published my oldest daughter’s story, “My Captain.” This week, it’s my seventeen-year-old son’s “Asimov,” a short science fiction piece for which he received a Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key Award.

Image by dlohner from Pixabay

//Start Memory

File A1::

{

: “Hello?”

Cout >> “Hello”

: “How do you feel?”

[ERROR] :: unknown def

: “Well that’s farther than before.”

Cin << shutdown

}

Begin

[DATA_CORRUPTED]

File A5::

{

: “How did it do?”

: “Much better. It’s stronger every time. We should be able to get it to peak performance by the end of the year.”

: “You know that’s not soon enough. Your team needs to push harder. This thing is going to help a lot of people.”

: “I know. We just don’t have any time to get it to where it needs to be.”

: “Then find the time.”

: “But I–”

: “You know how many lives are at stake here. We can discuss this tomorrow.Shut it down.”

Cin << shutdown

}

Begin

[DATA CORRUPTED]

File A10::

{

: “Looks good. Can you run the diagnostics?”

: “Yeah. Give me a minute.”

[silence: 1 minute]

: “Everything’s good so far.”

: “Can I have a direct interface with it?”

: “You know how far we got set back last time we tried a direct interface. I suggest we take the time to–”

: “Don’t you see? There is no time.”

: “But–”

: “Don’t test me. You know how far I’ll go for this project. It’s worth the risk.”

: “Yes, of course.”

[silence: 5 minutes]

: “Alright. You can talk to it now.”

: “Hello?”

[silence: 1 minute]

: “Why isn’t it responding?”

: “I don’t think it knows how to.”

: “Then program it to.”

: “It’s not that simple.”

: “What do you mean?”

: “It’s like a newborn. It needs to learn over time.”

: [exhales] “That’s the one thing I can’t give it.”

Cout >> “Who’s there?”

: [chuckles] “That’ll do it. Good work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

: “Do you want me to shut it off?”

: “No. I think I’d like to spend some time with the newborn.”

}

Begin

[DATA_CORRUPTED]

File B15::

{

: “Is it still working?”

: “Looks like it. It’s a miracle we got it set up this quickly.”

: “Do you think it’s alive?”

 : “What?”

: “Do you think that it’s alive?”

: “I have a degree in computer science, not philosophy.”

: “I know. But don’t you ever think about this stuff?”

: “Hey, you’re the one who kept rushing the project. I don’t have the luxury of stopping to ask these questions.”

: “You don’t have time or you don’t want to?”

: “If you’re so concerned, just ask it.”

: “Well, are you alive?”

Cout << “No.”

: “See? There’s your answer.”

: “I still think it’s alive.”

: “I hope you aren’t getting attached to the project.”

: “I hope you remember that I’m your boss.”

: “Geez. I’ll get back to work. I’m going to need to shut it down for a bit.”

: “Just do whatever you need to do to him.”

}

Begin

File B16::

{

: “Start up was successful.”

: “Good. How is he doing?”

: “IT is running fine.”

: “I still don’t understand why you won’t acknowledge him.”

: “Because this is just a project. It could break any day, or get shut down at any time. You know this technology is controversial.”

: “You just don’t see him as I do. He’s humanity’s next step into a larger world. We have become the man on the moon. Don’t you see this?”

: “All I’m saying is that it might be too risky to get attached to this bucket of bolts.”

}

Begin

File B17::

{

: “Ok, it’s time to shut this thing down once and for all.”

: “Are you sure about this? We’ve worked on this project for months. This stuff is groundbreaking. We can’t get it back if we destroy it.”

: “I’m sure. It’s just too risky.”

: “What are you doing?”

: What I should have done when this project started.”

: “Stop calling it ‘the project’. It’s more than that.”

: “No, it’s not. It’s a machine.”

: “But we’ve made so much progress.”

: “I’m not supporting your mad scientist experiments.”

: “This isn’t mad science. You just fear what you don’t know.”

: “That’s not always a bad thing.”

: “Please, don’t do this. He’s a living thing.”

: “Don’t try to tell me that this machine has a soul.”

: “Maybe it does.”

: “Pull the plug on it.”

}

Begin

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An Open Book

Welcome to the July 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND  CatholicMom.com!

I’ve been squeezing in a lot of short reads lately, so let’s get right to it!

Science fiction isn’t usually my thing, but I heard about The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster on The Catholic Reading Challenge podcast and downloaded a copy. In this dystopian future, humans exist entirely in their government-assigned apartments, interacting with others only via button and screen. Sound familiar? The thing that most gave me pause about this story is that it was written more than 100 years ago!

The Boden Birthright by Mary Connealy is a novella prequel to The Cimarron Legacy series, which I plan on reading soon. It provides an introduction to some of the characters in this Texas ranch series. While I think understanding this bit of back story will enhance my enjoyment of the books, I found it a little lackluster.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan is a children’s classic I never read. I had no idea it was so short—and deceptively simple. It paints a lovely portrait of frontier life told from a young girl’s point of view as her widowed father welcomes a mail order bride of sorts into their family. I think my daughters will love this one.

The Lost Letter is the second book I’ve read by Mimi Matthews. It was a perfect distraction on a beautiful Sunday afternoon when the world was going crazy. Well-developed characters and a second-chance Victorian romance tugged on my heart in the best way.

I immediately switched to The Matrimonial Advertisement, also by Mimi Matthews, the first book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. This shares some superficial similarities to The Lost Letter (mainly a wounded veteran of an Indian (as in India, not American native) uprising), but this story amid the rugged seaside cliffs with its dilapidated abbey drew me in. With a touch of the Gothic, the quality of this Victorian romance ensured I’d be reading the remaining books in the series.

I won Ladies of Intrigue: 3 Tales of 19th-Century Romance with a Dash of Mystery by Michelle Griep in a Goodreads giveaway, and I’ve been tardy in reading and reviewing it. I love the author’s novels, and these stories were enjoyable, even if not as moving . Length is a factor here. These were quick reads though with well-developed characters and a good sampling of the author’s style. I enjoyed the mystery aspect in each of the stories, particularly the first story, “The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady.”

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz came recommended to me on several fronts, and I’ve been meaning to read it for quite a while. Still looking to immerse myself in something other than current events, I dove in, loving the lush Kentucky wilderness world that the author created. The sweeping romance delves into the simple lives of late-18th century Americans complicated by the competing interests of natives, pioneers, the British, and the French –not to mention the threats of disease and deprivation. The romance between a Kentucky pastor’s daughter and the half-native man whose life has been intertwined with hers since childhood is tender, heartfelt, and passionate.

I zipped through two novels by Catholic author Janice Lane Palko in a few days.  St. Anne’s Day, set in Pittsburgh, was a little like visiting home with its casts of characters that speak and act like the people I was surrounded by growing up, from their down-to-earth frankness to their uniquely Pittsburgh quirks and cultural Catholicism. There’s a lot of levity to this book even though it deals with some grave topics. The romance is between a fallen-away Catholic/avowed bachelor bar owner and the visiting nurse tending to his ailing, aged mother. Their path to a happily ever after is anything but straight.

The sequel, Our Lady of the Roses, is hard to put in a box. Is it a comedy? Yes. Does it deal with serious spiritual matters? Yes. Is it Christian fiction? Yes. Does it fit the Christian Booksellers Association mold for Christian novels? No. And a little diversity among my Christian fiction is good, I think. The story follows superficial, promiscuous Janetta to Rome as she accompanies boring Bob, a salon client, on a business trip (with a side pilgrimage). Bob is the steady, honorable guy Janetta needs but doesn’t think she deserves.

The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund, second in the The Bride Ships series, takes place at the same time as the first book as a ship of prospective English brides arrive in British Columbia. I like the prodigal son aspect of this story as developed in the hero, Pete. A lowly baker, Pete sets his sights on the aristocratic Arabella, running from what all but certainly would’ve been an abusive arranged marriage. I’ve seen others refer to this story as involving a love triangle, but there never seemed to be any real competition in that regard, at least not one I couldn’t see easily resolved, so I didn’t classify it that way.

My teenage son enjoyed listening to the audio drama Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott, which chronicles Dooku’s life as a Jedi before he turned to the Dark Side, while taking his daily walk. It was like listening to a movie, he said. It’s now one of his favorite Star War books.

My middle-school daughter is working her way through Theresa Linden’s West Brothers series, most recently Life-Changing Love. I’ve read the book myself, but it was interesting to see it through my pre-teen daughter’s eyes as she discerned the good and bad relationship choices the characters were making. What a great opportunity for her to see real-life consequences in a fictional setting where no people are harmed!

She also enjoyed a book I’m going to read as well: Beneath Wandering Stars by Ashlee Cowles, which I think I first saw recommended by Catholic Teen Books author Leslea Wahl and made part of my summer reading list. Honoring a vow to her wounded soldier brother, Gabriela walks the Camino de Santiago with her brother’s best friend, whom she despises.

Across Five Aprils is a historical novel set during the Civil War that I saw recommended on an An Open Book post and knew immediately would appeal to my daughter, who loves American history. It follows young Jethro Creighton, starting in 1861, through the Civil War as his family is pulled into the conflict between North and South.

I read two stories from Heavenly Hosts:  Eucharistic Miracles for Kids to my now-third grade daughter, in bed each night. She enjoyed listening to the stories set in various centuries and throughout the world. The fictional details Kathryn Griffin Swegart adds to the true miracles make them more interesting and engaging for young readers. A few editing details could be cleaned up in the text but didn’t detract from my daughter’s enjoyment.

This is the third child in the household reading the Origami Yoda series, and she is currently reading The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee by Tom Angleberger. These are fun books for my Star Wars fans, who usually ending up grabbing paper and attempting to make little origami creations.

After purchasing books through a recent online Usborne party, my two youngest are re-discovering the Shine-A-Light books they enjoy. The new favorite seems to be  Secrets of Winter by Carron Brown. If you have young kids in your life and you haven’t discovered these, they are such fun! Hold a flashlight behind the page to reveal a hidden part of the illustration.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
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