Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 39

April 8, 2017

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: G is for Gold

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For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic  starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.



[image error]G is for Gold

While I tend to associate hunting for gold with the late 19th century American Northwest, the search for gold is still a thing, at least if shows such as Gold Rush are any indication. I haven’t seen the show, only a short trailer about the series, but it looks as if panning has gone high tech. In researching gold authentication for Rightfully Ours, I learned that ultrasounds are now used to detect whether a gold bar is fake or the real deal.


If you’re serious about your search, the US Geological Survey has a publication called Prospecting for Gold in the United States that you may find helpful. There are plenty of tips to help you out.


My search for gold never went beyond a few seconds’ excitement when I’d stumble across a gold-colored rock while hunting fossils on the slope behind our house. I wasn’t as lucky as my characters, Paul and Rachel, but then, their treasure wasn’t quite all it was cracked up to be either.


Have you ever searched for gold?



A is for Algebra.


B is for Baking.


C is for Chastity.


D is for Doodling.


E is for Ectopic Pregnancy.


F is for Fracking.



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Published on April 08, 2017 04:00

April 7, 2017

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: F is for Fracking

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For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic  starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.



[image error]F is for Fracking

I’m not talking here about the Battlestar Galactica reboot’s use of the word “fracking.” (Excellent series though, and a clever way of allowing characters to curse without invoking network censorship.)


Fracking, as used in Rightfully Ours, is short for hydraulic fracturing. Fracking involves drilling to extract underground oil or natural gas. A detailed explanation of the process can be found here, but, in short, slick water is pumped through a fracking well in order to fracture surrounding rock. The gas or oil is then free to flow through the fissures and is pumped out of the well.


So how does this figure into Rightfully Ours? The setting.


“The Marcellus Shale region is particularly attractive to gas drillers because it’s a rich supply of natural gas — some call it ‘the Saudi Arabia of natural gas’ or ‘Frackistan’ — and because many of the region’s rural communities are economically depressed and eager to attract an energy industry that enjoys handsome profits.” (LiveScience.com)


Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the setting of Rightfully Ours, is part of the Marcellus Shale region. For many years, my husband spent several weeks a year working in and around the area. During those years, drilling sites began popping up around the region with an obvious economic impact. Suddenly, more hotels sprung up, often occupied by men working at the drilling sites.


For a buried treasure-themed book, the setting was perfect!



A is for Algebra.


B is for Baking.


C is for Chastity.


D is for Doodling.


E is for Ectopic Pregnancy.



THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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Published on April 07, 2017 04:00

April 6, 2017

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: E is for Ectopic Pregnancy

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For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic  starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.



[image error]E is for Ectopic Pregnancy

I’m no stranger to pregnancy complication and loss, having experienced pre-eclampsia, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), and multiple miscarriages, but I’ve not experienced an ectopic pregnancy. In Rightfully Ours, one of the characters reveals that a loved one was lost due to this pregnancy complication.


In an ectopic pregnancy, the baby begins to develop inside the fallopian tube rather than in the uterus. This can cause the tube to rupture, which is fatal for the baby in its embryonic stage, but also poses a danger to the mother. The tube’s rupture can cause heavy internal bleeding and may lead to shock.


While ectopic pregnancies cannot be prevented, it’s worth noting that certain factors can increase a woman’s risk of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, including the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs).


Whatever the cause of pregnancy loss, grief is a natural and normal part of the process. My sympathy and prayers go to those who have lost their precious little ones.



A is for Algebra.


B is for Baking.


C is for Chastity.


D is for Doodling.



THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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Published on April 06, 2017 04:00

April 5, 2017

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: D is for Doodling

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For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic  starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.



[image error]D is for Doodling

Do you doodle? Did you ever doodle? Boys’ name? Girls’ names?


Back in the days before stretchy, synthetic book covers, we covered our textbooks with brown paper bags. (I can still fold a fitted cover in minutes.) Those covers served as my doodling canvas. I’d doodle my name, hearts, cartoonish cats, bunnies, and other figures. On the inside page, where no one would see, is where I might doodle the name of my latest crush.


I seem to recall boys doodling too, but fewer bunnies and hearts and more Motley Crüe and Van Halen logos. Maybe a few drawings among the more talented artists. My husband confirmed for me that, yes, guys doodled too.


In Rightfully Ours, much to Rachel’s embarrassment, her younger brother exposes her doodling to Paul, with whom she’s shared a couple of kisses. Here’s the snippet:


Rachel’s eyes widened in horror as Paul glanced at the open notebook.


In Rachel’s neat, even strokes, it read, “Paul + Rachel” inside a hand-drawn heart with an arrow through it. Smaller hearts dotted the page, shaded with pencil and surrounded by wavy lines and flourishes. She had gone over the letters several times so that their names stood out on the page.


Just re-reading that makes me cringe as I recall the possibility of having a crush exposed in such a way!


Do you/did you doodle?


Have you ever been caught doodling something embarrassing?



A is for Algebra.


B is for Baking.


C is for Chastity.



THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!
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Published on April 05, 2017 04:00

An Open Book

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Welcome to the April 2017 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Let’s dive right in, shall we? Here’s what we’ve been reading. What are YOU reading this month?


[image error]At this point, I’m ready to blindfold my husband as he walks by the book rack in the narthex of our church. He’s added many books to our collection by buying them from that kiosk. At least they all seem to be good books, including the most recent he purchased: Show Us the Father: 7 Secrets to Be a Father on Earth Like the Father in Heaven by Devin Schadt. My husband’s not too far into it yet, but he read several passages aloud to me last week, including the author’s home improvement woes, which seemed to mirror ours.


[image error]Carrie Schmidt, my favorite book blogger and the wit and wisdom behind Reading Is My Superpower, recently gushed about the hero in a historical romance by Dawn Crandall. I think this swoony hero is three to four books into The Everstone Chronicles, so I’ve started at the beginning with The Hesitant Heiress. This story, written in first person and hinging on perception and misperception, would appeal to Jane Austen fans. I think fans of Julie Klassen’s historical romance would enjoy it as well, although the book takes place in New England as opposed to “old” England. I’ll be working my way through the remainder of the series. The publisher, Whitaker House, was new to me, and I was surprised to discover that it’s located outside of my hometown, Pittsburgh.


[image error]I’m set to begin Michelle Buckman’s newest release, Turning In Circles, due out from Vinspire Publishing at the end of the month. I’ve only read the front matter so far, but the endorsements from Dolly Parton and Earl Hammer, Jr., author of Spencer’s Mountain, the book on which The Waltons was based, really caught my eye. Michelle’s writing has a wonderful Southern sensibility, and I thoroughly enjoyed her novel Rachel’s Contrition, which is being serialized at Aleteia.org during Lent.


[image error]My eighth grader finished Con Academy by Joe Schreiber. He’s been a fan of Joe Schreiber’s since a local author event that he and I both participated in last year. I think Mr. Schreiber’s table in the corner had the most foot traffic since it was piled high with his Star Wars books. I read Con Academy before my son, and I loved the author’s voice from the get-go: his smart, economical style hooked me, and my son and I agreed that this high school con man story is a fast, fun read.


[image error]Yesterday, I cued up the Kindle app on the iPad mini and handed it to my son to divert him from the video game console. He’s started reading Saint Magnus, The Last Viking by Susan Peek. I’m anxious to hear what he thinks about this one. I read it a couple of years ago, I think, and purposefully waited to give it to him. While not explicitly or grossly violent, there is warfare, and I think he’s now mature enough to enjoy this inspiring story.


[image error]I was thrilled to see my third grader tear through Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. I had read the story aloud to her older brother, but, sadly, hadn’t read it  with her. She had her nose buried in it for a few days. Now, I have to make a point of watching one of the movie adaptions with her. The book provided her with a short respite from the Little House on the Prairies series, but she quickly resumed reading By the Shores of Silver [image error]Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is the only book in the series that I owned as a child and therefore read several times. My daughter nearly squealed with delight when near the end of the book she reported the Laura had spotted Almanzo. (Her brother has taken to calling her a “farmie,” due to her Almanzo Wilder fangirling.)


[image error]My husband ordered The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss for a couple of bucks. It’s a very simple book, but the little kids enjoyed the lesson in faith and persistence demonstrated by a little boy waiting for his carrot to grow from seed. I think the minimalist illustrations by Crockett Johnson appeal to them as well since they are big fans of Harold and the Purple Crayon.


[image error]The kids often bring me books in the If You Give A [fill in the blank] series. Currently, we’ve been reading If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff. My little ones love these books and their illustrations. They are fun books, but I often find myself stifling thoughts of what a cash cow the premise has become and how easy they are to satirize. Still, delightful illustrations by Felicia Bond keep me from tiring of the series.


Finally, if you like chatting about books, Erin McCole Cupp hosts a monthly Sabbath Rest Book Talk. I recently joined her, along with Rebecca Willen, to discuss books that include themes of self-sacrifice.  Take a look![image error]



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Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.



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Published on April 05, 2017 02:30

April 4, 2017

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: C is for Chastity

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For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic  starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.



 


[image error]C is for Chastity

A man that used to go to our church consistently confused our daughter’s name, calling her “little Chastity.” Not a name on our short list. A beautiful and necessary virtue, for sure, but a lot to saddle a young lady with should she ever fail to live up to her name.


I’ve grown more and more fond of the term “chastity” as opposed to “purity” or other terms used in relation to sexual abstinence outside of marriage. Chastity is a lifelong virtue suited for every age and stage in life. It’s not lost and gone forever. It’s not a restrictive-sounding “thou shalt not.” It’s positive.


I love the how chastity is defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:


Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man’s belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman.


The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrity of the gift. (2337)


C is for Chastity. #atozchallenge #rightfullyoursTweet This

In Rightfully Ours, Paul and Rachel must learn the value of authentic love, the true treasure they discover together. When their convictions are tested by temptation, will they have the integrity and virtue to be chaste? It’s one thing to profess a certain morality, and it’s another to have that mettle tested when facing the very natural temptations that accompany love and attraction.


What term do you prefer in referring to sexual integrity? 



A is for Algebra.


B is for Baking.



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Published on April 04, 2017 04:00

April 3, 2017

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: Letter B is for Baking

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For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic  starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.



[image error]B is for Baking

One of my writer friends recently pointed out what a prominent role baking plays in my books. One of those things from real life that bleeds through into my fiction, I guess.


In Rightfully Ours, Rachel whips up a batch of chocolate chip cookies with her mom, reminiscing about how many times they’d made them together. Baking is a shared experience she enjoyed with her mother throughout her childhood. Assembling the ingredients takes on an established rhythm as she and her mom work in tandem mixing and combining the butter, egg, and sugar with the flour mixture.


B is for Baking. #atozchallenge #rightfullyoursTweet This

There’s a comfort in the familiarity of a well-loved recipe – both in the preparation and in the eating. So, what does Rachel do on a lonely, rainy afternoon? She bakes a batch of those cookies. Similarly, I never make a batch of those cookies or chocolate fudge without thinking of my own mother, who until very recently continued to bake them regularly, even as she approached her 90th birthday.


What recipe brings you comfort, either in the preparation or the eating?



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Published on April 03, 2017 04:00

Rightfully Ours Blog Tour

The blog tour for Rightfully Ours begins today! I’m thankful for the bloggers below who so graciously agreed to participate. I hope you will visit their blogs not only for reviews, author interviews, giveaways, and more, but also to enjoy their writing as well!


Check back throughout the week as I update links and add snippets of reviews!


Please also join me for the Rightfully Ours Facebook Launch Party, Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. EDT for April foolery, fun, and giveaways! You’ll have a chance to win eleven books from various authors!


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Blog Tour
MONDAY, APRIL 3
VIRGINIA LIETO *Giveaway*
TUESDAY, APRIL 4
BIRD FACE WENDY (CYNTHIA TONEY)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5
PLOT LINE AND SINKER (ELLEN GABLE)
THURSDAY, APRIL 6
SARAH DAMM *Giveaway*
OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS (REBECCA WILLEN)
FRIDAY, APRIL 7
FRANCISCANMOM (BARB SZYSZKIEWICZ)
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
OLIVIA FOLMAR ARD
SUNDAY, APRIL 9
THINGS VISIBLE & INVISIBLE (Theresa Linden)
MONDAY, APRIL 10
TERRY’S THOUGHTS (TERRY HOUCHIN)
ERIN MCCOLE CUPP
TUESDAY, APRIL 11
PEACE TO ALL WHO ENTER HERE (DON MULCARE)
DOMESTIC VOCATION (CHRISTINE JOHNSON)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12
PLOT LINE AND SINKER (ELLEN GABLE)
Hop on the Rightfully Ours Blog Tour! #comingofage #teenromance #B4CTTweet This


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Published on April 03, 2017 02:30

April 1, 2017

Blogging from A to Z Challenge: Letter A Is for Algebra

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For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic  starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.



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A is for Algebra

Can I tell you a secret? Quick – cover the ears of the tweens and teens! I like algebra. I’ve come to realize I’m somewhat of an anomaly among writers, who by and large seem to abhor math. But let’s cut algebra some mathematical slack since it does have letters.


While writing novels and solving algebraic equations may seem worlds apart, they both offer the satisfaction of a solution in which all of the pieces fit. There is order.


A is for Algebra. #atozchallenge #rightfullyoursTweet This

In Rightfully Ours, Paul and Rachel first establish a connection at her kitchen table as he helps her straighten her tangled thoughts on algebra, eventually helping her move her C grade to an A. Their study time also provides an opportunity for more physical proximity than they’d ever enjoyed, a fact not missed by Rachel’s father, who discovers them working side by side.


In a quick internet search, I stumbled across the perfect algebra/pirate humor, appropriate for Rightfully Ours (see Letter P).



Why do we need algebra?
Finding X is only useful if you’re a pirate!

Algebra: love it or hate it?



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Published on April 01, 2017 04:00

March 27, 2017

Simple Versus Easy: Which Do You Prefer?

Modern life is supposed to be better, isn’t it? We’re more productive, faster, more efficient due to technological advances. Aren’t we?


Exhibit A. Turning on the TV

It used to be that I pulled a switch and turned a dial. Now, we have live streaming video – Netflix, Amazon Video, Verizon FIOS. Recently, it took my husband and I twenty-five minutes to cue up the end of a movie because the “Smart” TV kept hiccupping. After resetting the router and starting and re-starting several times, then finally accessing the video via the PlayStation, we were able to watch the brilliant end to Bigfoot: The Movie.


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“Smart” is relative.


Exhibit B. Paying a bill

It used to be that I wrote a check and stuffed it into an envelope with a stamp. Now, I go online to pay. Recently, after logging into our health insurance account to verify the balance on the health savings card, I navigated to the bill-paying portion of the local medical center’s website. I needed the patient’s name, date of birth, ZIP code, and account number. Easy peasy. Then the credit card number, expiration date, code from the back of the card, billing amount – Oops! I stepped away from the computer to use the bathroom and my transaction timed out. Begin again. Oh, I need the patient account number again? Gotta dig it out of the recycling bin. Uh-oh. Timed out. Begin again.


Do you sometimes wish you lived in simpler times? Here is what stops me: penicillin. Tweet This

This isn’t news to you, is it? I’m guessing you experience similar frustrations many times a day. Searching for account names and passwords, troubleshooting electronic devices, resetting passwords, researching options, locating account numbers, recalling passwords, passwords, passwords!


Life’s supposed to be better, yet I find myself comparing today’s lifestyle with what I think life would have been like one-hundred fifty years ago. Yes, things are easier today. Most of us don’t work hard for our food or to launder our clothes. But simpler? No, life is complex, and I long for something uncomplicated.


Maybe I romanticize they way things used to be. I know I do. One word keeps me from wishing myself back to the 19th century: penicillin.


Do you sometimes wish you lived in simpler times?



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Published on March 27, 2017 02:30