Sarah Holman's Blog, page 117

Writing Saturday; T is for Time

If I am on Facebook, I am not facing my foesIf I am twitting, I am not describing what the birds sound likeIf I am stressing over an e-mail, I am not working to rescue the damsel in distressIf I left my chores to the last minute, I will leave my main character hangingIf I put off writing until ‘later’ it may never get doneTime is what is needed to write a story. Use yours wisely 

Interview with author Elizabeth Rose

Elizabeth, Welcome to The Destiny of One blog. Tell me a little bit about yourself? First and foremost, I am a Christian, and as daughter of the Most High, I try to live every day of my life to His glory. I am a writer, and have been since I was first taught to hold a pencil correctly. I can often be found scribbling away in some way, shape, or form, whether the scene is being typed out, penned in a notebook, or written in my head and stashed away for later. In May 2012, I published my debut novel, Violets Are Blue, which is available for purchase on Amazon. Though word crafting is my chief interest, I take great pleasure in a variety of pastimes, including reading voraciously, taking pictures with the Canon Rebel t3i my sister and I share (fondly named Marius), dancing, singing, baking in the kitchen, blogging, and watching period dramas with my sisters. In my spare time, I blog at Living on Literary Lane, where I can most likely be found in the library, buried within the pages of The Count of Monte Cristo.
What is Violets Are Blue about?Violets Are Blue is about an especially tumultuous year in the life of one young girl named Violet Bradshaw. If you asked her what or whom she loved best in the world (after her family, of course), her answer would probably be her hometown of Eastbourne and her best friend, Lillian Prescott. When the Bradshaw family makes the decision to move to America, Vi finds herself losing both in a matter of seconds. Determined to keep up their friendship though an ocean now divides them, Vi and Lill begin to write letters to each other, the former describing her new home, and the latter telling of Eastbourne. But when Lilli sends Vi an eager letter that says the Prescotts will be coming to America — and on the unsinkable Titanic, no less — neither friend can forsee the peril ahead of her and what a testament it will be to her faith.
Who will enjoy reading it?Whole families, I hope, but it is directed primarily towards young ladies. For those who have asked, there is no bad language, and any romance between characters is veiled, making it clean enough for every member of the family. It does cover some difficult issues, such as factory conditions during the early 1900s, so parents can proof-read it before giving it to their children if they deem it necessary. 
If you had to pick one word to describe your book, what would it be and why?I had a rather difficult time coming up with an answer to this question: I wanted to be truthful, but I didn't want it to sound as if I were patting myself on the back. I asked my family, and they made the following suggestions: True. Real. Moving. And I have to agree with them. It's not joyful all the way through, but it's honest. Both hardship and happiness take their turn on the book's stage, woven together in the tapestry of this family's life.
Who are some of your favorite authors?I have many, and could easily fill a book with their names alone. As brevity is the soul of wit, I will attempt to keep my answer short (a difficult feat, I assure you) and list C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, J.R.R. Tolkien, Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, and Baroness Orczy. In the category of more contemporary authors, I greatly admire the respective works of Jennifer Freitag and Abigail J. Hartman.
When can we expect your next book?I am in the very early stages of writing my novel about the American Revolution, Rifles in the South Field. I hope to publish it eventually, but that day is still far off in the future.
If you had to pick three words to describe yourself, what would they be and why?Wordcrafter. Though I certainly have a lot of learning and growing to do in this department, I will always be proud to call myself a writer. It's in my blood, and as much a part of me as my blue eyes and dark hair.
Bookworm. I've been reading for as long as I can remember, and couldn't imagine my life without it. Whether early in the morning or late at night, I can nearly always be found with a book (and often two or three). 
Dancer. One of my favorite ways to worship the Lord is through the beautiful art of dance. I consider myself very blessed to be able to attend a Christian studio that strives to make Christ the focus in everything.
Do you have anything else you would like to add?Only that it was an honor and a pleasure to be featured. Thank you for hosting me, Sarah! I hope your readers enjoyed reading the questions as much as I enjoyed answering them.

Writing Saturday: S is for Self-Published

When people find I self-published my books, they often have a lot of questions. Many an aspiring author is also wondering whether that is a route they want to take.  So today, I am going to tell you about some of the pros and cons of being self-publish.
1. Being self-published is a lot of work. If you take your book seriously, this is not the easy route. You have to design a cover, edit your book, market it, promote it, and what not. If you want to go the easier route, wait for a publisher to discover you awesomeness.
2. You will not be rolling it money. It takes a long time to build up a following most of the time. Even though you get more of the profits, if you are writing books to make money wait for a publisher to pick you up.
3. There are people out there that don’t think self-published books are any good. I had some comments on my blog and other places that self-publishing wasn’t a legitimate way to go. Let’s all be honest. If you read self-published books long enough, you will read one or two that will make you say “this should never have been published”. You have to be prepared for the naysayers.
4. You are in control. It is the best part of self-publishing. You can to have the cover you want, the story the way you want it, and have movie rights. You lose a lot of control if you go the traditional route.
5. You don’t have to wait for a publisher. You can share your story with the world as soon as its ready! No waiting on a publisher to discover you.
For me, what it really came down to is what God was calling me to do.  I felt very strongly that he wanted me to self-publish my first book. Sometimes God wants us to do one or the other, sometimes we just chose which we think is best and let God take care of the rest.

Book Review: The Orphan King

From the back cover: My greatest fear was that they would find us and make of us a sacrifice beneath a full moon. Now you, Thomas, must help us destroy the circle of evil. The last words of a dying woman would change the life of young Thomas. Raised behind monastery walls, he knows nothing of his mysterious past or imminent destiny. But now, in the heart of medieval England, a darkness threatens to strangle truth. An ancient order tightens their ghostly grip on power, creating fear and exiling those who would oppose them. Thomas is determined fulfill his calling and bring light into the mysterious world of the Druids and leaves the monastery on an important quest.
Thomas quickly finds himself in unfamiliar territory, as he must put his faith in unusual companions—a cryptic knight, a child thief, and the beautiful, silent woman whom may not be all she seems.  From the solitary life of an orphan, Thomas now finds himself tangled in the roots of both comradery and suspicion.
 Can he trust those who would join his battle…or will his fears force him to go on alone?

Ever since I was 11, if it had to do with the Middle Ages, I was all over it.  Books set in the Middle Ages were hard to find. Most people thought that if it looks anything like history, kids will run away. Maybe most kids will, but I know I loved it.
When I saw the cover of The Orphan King, I was pretty sure I wanted to review it. When I read the description, I knew I did. I ordered it and waited for it expectantly. When it came, my youngest sister (13) begged to read it. The next day she handed it back to me and said she thought it was great.
I opened the book one day, wanting something to relax with, and pretty soon I was drawn into an exciting story, full of adventure, intrigue, and non-stop action. It kept me turning the pages until I finished.
Sigmund Brouwer, in only a few pages, builds a world in vivid descriptions. Even though this is a smaller book, the characters were well developed and so were the locations. I loved the setting as well as the band of misfit characters that make up the story.
There is a hint of romance, but it is very small, and there is even a good lesson about beauty not being everything. Parents of boys especially will like the subtle message of guarding your eyes. The only thing that I really didn’t like about this book is that I have to wait until February until the next book is out.
If you are looking for an action-filled, adventurous book, this is for you.


I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Book Review: Love in Disguise

When costume-maker Ellie Moore suddenly finds herself out of a job in the middle of a bleak Chicago winter, she uses her knowledge of theatrical disguise to secure a position as an undercover operative with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Her assignment: find the culprit behind the theft of silver shipped from the mines near Pickford, Arizona. Disguised as Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow, Ellie begins her investigation. Soon she finds she must also pose as the dazzling young Jessie Monroe, whose vivacious personality encourages people to talk.
This was one of the funnest (Yes, Dad, I know funnest isn't technically a real word) books I have read in a long time. It had just the right mix of adventure, excitement, humor, faith and romance. I enjoyed every minutes of reading this book.
Ellie Moore tugs at your heart from the moment you meet her. She is left all alone in the world, in desperate need of a job. When she uses her acting ability to get a job she is plunged into a case in Arizona. Silver has been stolen and she has to find out who has been stealing it and get it back.
One of the things I loved most about this book was what a wholesome, light read it was. So many Christian books these days tackle hard issues and deal with mature subject matter.  However, this book was refreshingly light hearted and free from heavy issues. That doesn’t mean it didn’t have a spiritual flavor, because I did. This book was made for people who just want a fun relaxing read without having to think too hard.
Carol Cox also is very good at sprinkling humor into her books. I laughed out loud many times during this book, prompting my family to ask what was so funny. Of course I had to tell them that they had to read the book.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Multitudes on Mondays: Wonderful Books

I am an avid reader.  So, today, I want to thank God for a few of my all time favorites 
#201. For the many wonderful hours with my sisters reading this book.


#202. The laughter and the lessons I learned form this book


#203. The best book I have read this year (yes it's a tie)
 

#204. The book that changed my life in 2009


#205. My favorite fiction series as a kid

#206. My favorite read of last year
  

#207. My favorite fiction read of this year


#208. For all the homeschool authored books I have been privileged to read so far this year.
           

#209. For all the writers I have had the privilege of meeting and e-mailing.

#210. The daily joy this book gives, no matter what version I read

I’m not who I was: Friendship

When I started this blog, I didn’t have many friends.  In fact, other than my siblings, I only had one friend outside of my family. That was one of the reasons I started my blog. I had ideas I desperately wanted to share with people outside of my family, but most people, even the ones in my church, weren’t interested in hearing them.
I had been blogging about a two or three months when this girl named Jessica sent me an e-mail. She asked if we could be writing buddies. I said yes, not thinking it would last long. About a year later, we were still going back and forth and we decided start a devotional blog. I had no idea what would come from that.
In 2009, there were some big changes in my life and my family and I were left very hurt and wounded, emotionally. We helped each other, but when you are all hurt, it helps to have some well people to help you. To absolute amazement, the writers of MOHL rallied around me. Through e-mails, messages, letters, and phone calls, God not only used them to help me heal, they became my friends.
When I started this blog, I felt alone. As I write this, my life is so full of friends that it is overwhelming. I give thanks to my father in heaven that I am not who I was.

I'm Not who I was

I realized today that I haven't changed my profile information other than age and photo since I started this blog. Today, I changed that.  As you can see on the side bar, I have completely rewritten it. While rewriting that, I was hit by the startling yet simple truth: I’m not who I was when I started this blog. I have changed, I have grown, and God has lead me down some paths that were hard, heart wrenching, and totally freeing.
Over the next week or three, I will be posting some of the things that have changed in my life since I started this blog four years ago. Some of them will be simple things like becoming a driver and getting a job. Others will be blessing God has poured on me like a circle of friends, and a published book. While others are hard and radical changes that I have gone through that have changed my entire way of looking at things like church, a people.
I am not who I was, but that is because God is still at work in me. Look for more posts coming soon.

Book Review: The Voice

Book Description: The Voice™ is a faithful dynamic equivalent translation that reads like a story with all the truth and wisdom of God's Word. Through compelling narratives, poetry, and teaching, The Voice invites readers to enter into the whole story of God with their heart, soul, and mind, enabling them to hear God speaking and to experience His presence in their lives. Through a collaboration of more than 120 biblical scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and artists, The Voice recaptures the passion, grit, humor, and beauty that is often lost in the translation process. The result is a retelling of the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works, yet remaining painstakingly true to the original manuscripts.
Features include:*Italicized information added to help contemporary readers understand what the original readers would have known intuitively* In-text commentary notes include cultural, historical, theological, or devotional thoughts* Screenplay format, ideal for public readings and group studies*Book introductions
I have never been one to run out and get the latest version of the Bible.  In fact, I am a skeptic when it comes to new versions. For years I have stuck to my NIV Bible, sometimes using the NAS or the KJV. That all changed with a trip to Mardel Christian Bookstore in Dallas. As I was waiting for my mom to finish checking out, I started flipping this Bible they had on the counter.
“That is a new version of the Bible, it isn’t out for another few weeks,” the cashier told me. “It is a Bible that reads like a novel.”
Reads like a novel. Words to strike fear into the hearts of people like me that view the Message Bible with suspicion. However, for some reason, I kept reading.  My mom ended up having to drag me away from the table, telling me she would find me a copy of the Bible. The very next week, my mom surprised me with a copy of The Voice: New Testament. I started reading, and I fell in love.
For the next week, I could hardly put The Voice down.  It wasn’t that they had changed it into an action story, but that they had updated the words to modern usage. They had translated the scriptures into not only English I can read, but also used words that better translate the ideas in the verses into the modern understanding.
No translation is perfect. If you want a perfect version start learning your Greek and Hebrew ;) If you are looking for a Bible that is a style that we in this age are more accustomed to without losing the integrity, check out The Voice.
I received this book from Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Review: Purist of a Thirsty Fool

From the back cover: What are you thirsty for? T.J. MacLeslie wrestles with this question on his journey from childhood faith through the wilderness and back again. Having been abused in the church, MacLeslie turned his back on God and looked for fulfillment in many places. His search led him to drink from many wells along the way, none of which quenched his thirst. All the while he was being pursued by One who loved him unconditionally.
This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is an authentic story that tackles issues of abuse, addiction and personal failure. It also raises difficult questions about leadership, cross-cultural adjustment and disappointment in ministry. MacLeslie's prodigal pilgrimage serves as a cautionary tale, but ultimately a hopeful one.
Pursuit of a Thirsty Fool is a book for those who thirst, those longing for more. It is a reminder of our deepest desires and the Spring where they can be satisfied. It is for those who are in need of hope. Finally, it is for those caught in the dangerous pattern of doing things for God and who may have forgotten their first call: to love God.
My mom found out about this book and told me; “Sarah, this guy gives review copies to bloggers, you ought to get a copy.” I was skeptical but I did it, for my mom.
When I started reading, I have to admit, I cringed. Mr. MacLeslie struggles with a lot of lust and it was hard for me to swallow. I pressed on and I am so glad I did. Although, the he is very honest out his struggles, failings, and sins, this story was not about failures as much as it was about finding a relationship with God.
T.J. MacLeslie is more open about his struggles then many people are.  Yet, he does it in such a way the doesn’t glorify sin and shows how hollow that life is. He shows the transformation not from unbeliever to a believer as much as he shows the transformation from a faith that is dead, to a living, breathing, thriving faith.This book encouraged me that no matter how broken I am, no matter how I fail in the future, God won’t give up on me. This is a message that I need to hear sometime.  I need to hear that loves me for who I am, not for what I do for him
I wouldn’t recommend this book for children or young teens.  However, I highly recommend it to adults looking for inspiration and a closer relationship with The Father.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.  I was under no obligation to write a positive review.  The opinions in this review are entirely my own.