Ellen Gable's Blog, page 98
October 12, 2012
7 Quick Takes Friday – October 12
Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at Jen’s Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday.
1. Angela’s Song Released
This past Sunday, The Feast of the Holy Rosary, Angela’s Song by AnnMarie Creedon was released. This is the first novel my publishing company has released that is not written by me. I have been working closely with the author (as editor and publisher) for the past year or so. Within one day of its release, it hit #3 on Amazon’s Religious & Liturgical Category. Within five days, it has received 10 five-star reviews! To celebrate, I will be giving away one print copy and one Kindle copy of this book. Please leave a comment below before Friday, October 19th. To purchase Angela’s Song, click here.
2. Growing Up in God’s Image
Growing Up in God’s Image by Carolyn Smith, continues to sell well on Amazon and has been on two different bestsellers’ lists there. I’ve been working with Carolyn for two years as editor and publisher.
3. Read the Catechism!
In this Year of Faith, Pope Benedict has encouraged us to learn more about our Catholic Faith through reading the Catechism. Here is a great link that will send you excerpts every day throughout the year.
4. Autumn Beauty
5. SCSS Conference
At the end of this month, I’ll be attending the Society of Catholic Social Scientists’ 20th Annual Conference which will be held just outside New York City. If you’re in the Greater New York area, please consider attending. I’ll be speaking at the conference and also participating as a vendor. For more information, click here.
6. Books on My Review Shelf
The following books are on my book review shelf. Look for my reviews in the upcoming weeks:
Fallen Men – Brian O’Hare
The Wrong Enemy – Jane Lebak
7. Classic Cartoon “Flock”
cartoon copyright James & Ellen Hrkach/Full Quiver Publishing
Text and images copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach
October 11, 2012
Read the Catechism in the Year of Faith
Want to learn more about the Catholic Faith in the “Year of Faith?” A great way to do that is by reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This link will send you daily emails with excerpts from the Catechism:
http://www.flocknote.com/catechism
October 10, 2012
October 7, 2012
Angela’s Song Now Available!
Full Quiver Publishing’s newest novel, Angela’s Song (by AnnMarie Creedon), is now available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.
Angela ‘Jel’ Cooke is a widow and mother of three who stays busy so as not to have to face the fact that her marriage was damaged and her husband, Devin, died before it could be repaired. Her good friends realize that no amount of home made lasagna, volunteering at church or late night games of Yahtzee can heal Angela from past regrets. When she meets Jack, the teacher of a class she is taking, he challenges her to face her demons. What follows is the poignant, yet often hilarious saga of how Angela overcomes her guilt and learns to love herself and others.
To purchase Angela’s Song, click here:
October 6, 2012
Sunday Snippets – October 6
Image copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach
Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at RAnn’s Place for Sunday Snippets, where we share posts from the previous week.Here are my two posts:
October 5, 2012
7 Quick Takes Friday – October 5
Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday.
1. Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to all my Canadian Relatives and Friends
Photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach
2. Apples, Apples, Apples
I love this time of year because of the crisp air, scent of burning wood and abundance of apples!
3. Kathy’s Butterscotch Tarts
image copyright www.theywontkeep.com
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without my friend, Kathy’s, butterscotch tarts. (Photo is of her butter tarts, not butterscotch…) I don’t generally like butterscotch, but these tarts are the BEST I’ve ever tasted. Visit Kathy’s website here.
4. Angela’s Song Release Date in Two Days!
Full Quiver’s newest book, Angela’s Song by AnnMarie Creedon will be released in two days! For next week’s Quick Takes, I’ll be giving away print and Kindle copies of this Catholic novel.
5. iPod Fun
I think my kids are regretting the day I got an iPod. Now, I’ve been able to carry my entire CD collection around in my purse, always ready to play a song in the car or while I’m doing dishes. I have eclectic tastes in music: Mozart, Beethoven, show tunes, oldies (Johnny Mathis, Beatles), rock (Rush and the Police) to more modern performers like Michael Bublé and Loreena McKennitt.
6. Bird Frenzy or Just Migration?
Two days ago, as my husband was working on the roof, he noticed hundreds of birds making a high-pitched noise in the forest next to our home. It looked and sounded like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” It appeared to be mostly sparrows, but they were very loud and there were more birds than I’ve ever seen in one place (except for the above-mentioned movie). Within a few moments, they were gone (and left before I had a chance to take a photograph).
7. Ten in a Bed (Classic Cartoon)
Here’s one of our classic cartoons from 2006/7. 
Cartoon copyright Full Quiver Publishing/James and Ellen Hrkach
October 1, 2012
St. Thérèse Prayer
Happy Feast of St. Thérèse!
“May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
To find out more about “The Little Flower,” http://www.littleflower.org/abouttherese/learn/
September 28, 2012
7 Quick Takes Friday – September 28
Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday.
Here are my Quick Takes:
1. In Name Only Review
Special thanks to Trisha Potter for this
2. Growing Up in God’s Image
Growing Up in God’s Image: A New Approach to the Facts of Life talk has continued to sell well on Amazon. The Kindle version is now available.
3. Only Eight Days to the Release of Angela’s Song!
Angela’s Song, a Catholic novel by AnnMarie Creedon will soon be released by my publishing company, Full Quiver Publishing. Check out the novel’s website for more information.
4. Kayak Rides
I’m thoroughly enjoying a weekly kayak ride with my husband (who, as a newly retired person takes his boat out daily, weather permitting). Admittedly, I have to get in line because other members of the family want to accompany him as well. The weather remains warm and the scenery is breathtaking. 
photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach
5. Waiting at the Window
This whole school bus thing is new to me, since in the past our high school attending children just drove to school with Dad. I dutifully wait at the window until they get on the bus. I figure if they have to wait, then I should wait with them.
Waiting for the school bus in front of our house…photo copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach
6. More Books on My Reading/Review List
I Believe: The Creed and You by James Forsyth
The Road Home: A Journey of Faith by Joan Levy Earle
7. Many Hands Make Light Work – Cartoon
cartoon copyright Full Quiver Publishing/James and Ellen Hrkach
Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach
September 27, 2012
“Better by the Dozen Plus Two” Book Review
A few months ago, I noticed a “shout out” on Linked In or Facebook (can’t remember which) that James and Kathleen Littleton were looking for reviews of their book “Better by the Dozen Plus Two.” The title of the book immediately brought to mind one of my favorite books, “Cheaper by the Dozen,” so I offered to read their book and write a review.
The Littletons are to be greatly admired. In this day and age, when abortion is frequent, when contraception use is widespread, a faithful Catholic family who has been open to a large number of children is to be admired and respected. Like the authors, my husband and I were also open to a large number of children. Unlike the authors, however, we have more babies in heaven (seven) than we are raising. Still, we face the same issues they face on a daily basis.
James and Kathleen insist on Daily Mass for everyone in their family and they are strict when it comes to internet, television, movies, books, etc. As a parent, I especially appreciate that parents need to be too strict rather than too lenient in light of the sordid things that can be found on the internet.
I found this to be an interesting read, although as a faithful, Daily Mass attending, non-contracepting Catholic, that’s probably not a surprise. I enjoyed their writing style, although if I compared this book to Cheaper by the Dozen, there isn’t the same sort of laugh-out-loud humor and many of the chapters are dry and informative.
I received the book for free from the authors (thanks so much!). This book is available on Amazon in print or on Kindle.
Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach
September 24, 2012
Limited Time: Stealing Jenny Kindle Edition Only .99!
For a limited time only, Stealing Jenny, Kindle Edition is only .99! Stealing Jenny has over 60 five star and four star reviews on Amazon. It’s been in the top ten of theReligious & Liturgical Drama Category since November of last year and has spent most of that time in the top five. In June and July of this year, it was #1. To download the Kindle book, click here.
