Christa Kinde's Blog, page 93
June 7, 2013
The Week’s Accumulation xliii
We’ve been making room for plenty of small town adventures, so my week’s clutter is mostly homey news and photos. My boys and I are wrapping up our visit to Minnesota and fitting in as much as we can—campfires, fishing trips, and dropping in on sites of local interest. There’s a bit of authorial news, too, so take a peek!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ We’re very close to the Franconia Sculpture Park, so we spent a sunny afternoon meandering across its sprawling acreage and exploring large-scale artwork. People come from all over the country to live and create in their facilities. It may not surprise you that this was one of my favorite pieces.
I’ve always loved letters. ♥
♦ Now that the garden’s in, my dad had the chance to take my boys fishing. I grew up sitting in a canoe with a bamboo pole and a red-and-white bobber. Dad taught me how to catch a night crawler, bait a hook, and scale our catch … but my boys weren’t raised in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. So trips like this have been their only chance to fish. We had a lovely fish fry of sunnies and crappies day-before-yesterday, and we’re sending them out again this afternoon because we’re having fish for supper again tonight. Good fun, good eating!
That’s my dad with one of my sons. Fun fact: I grew up in plaid flannel. ♥
♦ My dad should be my publicist. Everywhere I go in town, my Mom will introduce me, and people will say, “Oh, yes. You’re the author. Every time your dad stops in, he’s telling me….” He’s created a buzz, and I appreciate it so much. Word-of-mouth recommendations from enthusiastic readers are a gift to any author.
♦ While we were toodling around town yesterday, my mom and I stopped in at Gammelgården, the center for local history here in Scandia. Its a picturesque spot that celebrates our town’s beginnings along with its Swedish heritage. Much to my delight, the ladies who run the gift shop inside The Välkommen Hus thought it would be nice to carry my books. I signed several copies especially for them, adding a note that proudly declares that Scandia is my hometown!
Every town has their “thing” and Scandia’s is the dala horse. These distinctive orange horses are painted on signs, displayed on people’s garages, and standing guard over prominent places around town. (The one in front of the fire station has dalmation spots!) I have a small orange dala horse on my bookshelf back home in Southern California, and I also have a dala horse cookie cutter.
♦ This seems an appropriate time to remind you that I love sending postcards to folks. If you’d like to join my mailing list, you may just find dala horses and/or story art in your mailbox! There’s a page here on my website that explains my postcard policies (such as they are). Please do take a look. I’d love to put a little something special in your mailbox. ♥
Dala horses on display in Gammelgården’s Välkommen Hus.
♦ Now onto some story news! This week, my editor sent me the final-final manuscript of the third book in the Threshold Series. The document’s on my desktop, and it’ll make good reading for the flight home. If you haven’t visited my home page recently, I’ll take this opportunity to tell you that Book 3: The Broken Window will be out on September 24, 2013.
♦ And last but not least, there’s some new art to share. These two pieces were added to the story art gallery for The Hidden Deep this week.
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 189: Inventory
Chapter 189: Inventory
“Can I go outside?”
“Stay put,” Naomi replied.
Ethan sat against the wall in the corner, a picture of patience compared to his jiggling, jouncing charge. Zeke finally asked, “Am I in trouble?”
“No.” Naomi had pulled out every stitch of clothing in Zeke’s drawers and was now ransacking storage tubs of hand-me-downs. “It’s no use,” she sighed. “Mud. Grass. Paint. Ink. Frayed cuffs. Missing belt loops. Torn knees.”
He squirmed and protested, “My church clothes stay nice.”
“Yes, but you need something in between church clothes and play clothes.”
Zeke’s face scrunched in puzzlement. “Whassat?”
Naomi smiled. “School clothes.”
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Fridays: I’ll keep comments open on Fridays in case you’d like to say hello.
June 6, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 188: Free Range
Chapter 188: Free Range
Naomi knelt in the garden, pulling carrots while keeping half an eye on Zeke. The boy ran in circles, trying to round up chickens. His mother mused, “Not keeping up, never catching up—I’m sure there’s a lesson in there somewhere.”
“Not giving up,” Lucan said. “Because you are Faithful.”
“Never far away,” Ethan added. “Because you love him.”
“She cannot hear you,” reminded Alpheus. Jude sat under a bean tower beside a hen, cooing softly as he tried to feed her grass.
Naomi laughed quietly. “Let’s go with … never a dull moment.”
“Amen and amen,” chorused three angels.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 5, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 187: Finale
Chapter 187: Finale
From his perch on Jayce’s shoulders, Zeke grinned down at Jude, who rode on Naomi’s. Ethan couldn’t get close, but Alpheus stood right at the edge of the crowds. Spiraling lower, the pink-winged angel called, “May I?”
Alpheus understood in an instant and waved him down. Ethan landed on broad shoulders, straddling them just like the youngsters. Those Guardians nearest chuckled or complimented them on their ingenuity.
Ethan smiled fondly as Zeke held out his hand, touching fingertips with his little brother. “Get ready, Jude. It’s gonna be … boom!”
Then fireworks exploded, and they sent off summer with smiles.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 4, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 186: Open Seats
Chapter 186: Open Seats
While Jayce and the boys piled into an over-sized teacup, Ethan nudged Lucan. “Is it safe?”
The silver-eyed warrior chuckled. “Rest assured, Zeke will survive this tradition.”
“Not rest. Ride!” exclaimed Jomei, grabbing Conrad and Ethan. “Open seats are fair game.”
“Will we fit?” Ethan asked.
“Perks of being petite.”
Juggling weapons. Bumping knees. And suddenly, the world blurred. Ethan had a hard time keeping track of Zeke amidst the whirl, but he could hear the boy’s laughter mingling with that of his father and brothers.
Conrad smirked; he and Jomei grabbed the handle. Together, they sent their teacup spinning.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
June 3, 2013
In which I embrace my small town roots…
Authorial Endeavor #022. On May 24, 2013, I participated in my first library-organized speaking event. This Author Talk was sponsored by the community library in Marine on St. Croix, a quaint little town that’s just a stone’s throw from the acreage where I grew up. I’ll tell you about the event, and share pictures that may just remind you of Prissie Pomeroy’s hometown in the Threshold Series.
I was delighted to be welcomed by Sue Logan and the Marine Community Library. The event was co-sponsored by Christ Lutheran Church in Marine on St. Croix, and that’s where we met. Once we were inside, I realized I knew the place. You see, I was a one-year-old when we moved into the Scandia-Marine area … and I attended Red Bridge Preschool, which was located there. My mom found a blurry old photo from when I was four-ish. What makes this extra fun for me is that in Rough and Tumble, Zeke Pomeroy’s now four … and he’s due to start preschool in just a handful of chapters!
I’d completely forgotten the beauty of the sanctuary inside Christ Lutheran Church. They have carved wood pews, a pipe organ, stained glass windows, and a balcony. Although it’s smaller than the Presbyterian church Harken attends in West Edinton, all the right elements are in their proper place. I took a snapshot of one of their windows. (Notice the diamond panes. Insert author’s squee of delight.) Like many of the local historical buildings, Marine Lutheran Church has Scandinavian stenciling along the walls, and the scripture verse painted at the very front of the sanctuary is in Swedish.
The Author Talk itself was enjoyable. We were a small group, but the Q&A session was lively. At least two young, aspiring authors were there, and they came ready with questions! (Many of which were fun!) I jotted down a sampling…
♦ Will your digital stories ever be available in print format?
♦ Do you have a favorite color?
♦ What were your favorite childhood books and authors?
♦ If your series was ever made into a movie, would you go see it?
♦ What author has most shaped your writing style?
As I explained to my audience, I practically grew up in the Marine Branch Library. Some of my earliest memories are of climbing the step stool to reach my favorite books … and dawdling afterward at the fence out front to look down on the waterfall that splashes past the building.
Now, I only borrowed a few things from Marine when I was building Prissie Pomeroy’s home town. I’d say West Edinton is actually cobbled together from five or six different small towns that my husband and I lived in or near. Some in Minnesota, some in Michigan. It’s easy to spot key elements!
Fun Facts:
♦ West Edinton’s library is also a single room located inside their town hall. (This is established right away in The Blue Door.)
♦ I put a creek behind Prissie’s small town library. That detail shows up in Angels All Around.
♦ There was a stereo in the back corner, always set to the classical music station. (Another detail from Angels All Around.)
♦ There’s a big gazebo out front of West Edinton’s town hall, where the librarians sometimes host story time for youngsters. Zeke attends these with his older siblings in Rough and Tumble (Chapter 133: Up, Down, In, Around). I borrowed that bandstand/gazebo from Marine on St. Croix.
When I was old enough to have a little money to spend, the building next door offered a special enticement: penny candy. The General Store had rows of it behind the counter, and I always took a long time trying to decide how to spend my nickels and dimes.
As a teen, I secured my first job in that very same library. I knew what was on every shelf and spinner in the place, and I read a goodly portion of it. Classics, adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery were my favorites … and still are. I loved working there. And it was a treat to be welcomed back.
Rough and Tumble 185: Pushover
Chapter 185: Pushover
Grandpa Pete took a break from kettle corn to stroll around the fairgrounds. Zeke tagged along, hanging onto his grandfather’s hand and chattering nonstop. Ethan was amused that the boy seemed to think he’d discovered this place. Pete had been coming to this fair since he was a boy.
“Are you hungry?” the old man asked.
“Yep!”
“Didn’t you eat already?”
“Yep!”
“What did you have?”
Zeke cheerfully answered, “Funnel cake, corn dog, caramel apple, pretzel!”
“And you’re hungry after all that?”
“Yep!”
“For what?”
Minutes later, they sat side-by-side on a bench, each manhandling an enormous smoked turkey drumstick.
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
May 31, 2013
The Week’s Accumulation xlii
This week was amazing, chock full of excitement. In fact, so much happened, I’m going to have to break all the events down into two different posts. Some fun today. The rest I’ll save up for Monday. Most of my desktop is scattered with photographs. Oodles to show and tell. Check it out.
This week’s accumulation:
♦ I have a document or two cluttering up my desktop this week. One of them was for a guest blog post that I turned in a few days ago. These are lots of fun to write, so I was grateful for the invitation. Rest assured, I’ll link y’all up once it goes live.
♦ This week included an Author Talk, sponsored by the Marine Community Library. Since there are so many little things in that small town that found their way into West Edinton, I thought I’m saving all of that for a separate post. That’s the part of my week I’m putting off until Monday. Watch for it!
♦ As you can see along the sidebar, I’ve been busy with my camera. Much of the garden’s in, and the 500 baby pines that my dad ordered are also in the ground. Tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths are blooming in the borders, and I’ve found wild violets in shady spots near the treeline. And the lilacs are in full bloom! When I was a child, we called those two lilacs in the inset picture the “little” bushes. (There’s a larger clump on the other side of the yard.) But in the last 20-30 years, those skimpy shrubs have grown considerably. Not unlike my oldest son, there. To give you some idea of scale, he’s about 6’5″ (and still growing).
♦ Angels All Around. Here’s an obligatory reminder that this FREE short story is available. If you haven’t downloaded Angels All Around yet, please do! Story Summary: Angels and demons collide over West Edinton, a small town where not everyone is what they seem. In this companion story to the Threshold Series, a divine Messenger becomes one little girl’s prince, and a fledgling Guardian becomes their knight. A longer summary, cast list, and art gallery are here.
♦ My week included a road trip! We were in Baraboo, WI this week in order to visit Circus World, a repository of years past, when the sound of a steam calliope carrying over the fields meant that the circus had come to town. ♫ This historical site is where the Ringling Bros. circus would over-winter each year. The old barns where the horses and elephants lived and trained are still there, and they’re filled with a rich history. Vibrant color posters, ornately-carved wagons, glitzy and glamorous costumes, pony floats, instrumental novelties, side show stars, and an archive of fascinating photographs celebrating the greatest show on earth.
As you can see, I bought plenty of postcards! Those will go out to folks on my mailing list over the next few days. Now … Circus World isn’t just a historical archive. It’s also a working circus. Trained animals, death-defying stunts, unicycles, a magician, a contortionist, some real clowns, and a singing ringmaster. I laughed. I hid my eyes. I clapped and cheered. Went home with a spring in my step and a calliope-inspired melody circling through my mind. ♫
♦ And did you notice that calliopes keep coming up? I’ve been writing the next Threshold Series illustrated short story. Zondervan plans to release this holiday-themed escapade in time for Christmas. It features Baird & Kester, and I’d already written in a calliope. So when I found out we were going to Circus World, I was bound and determined to find one!
I located it hanging out in the elephant barn with a bell wagon, tuned sleigh bells, shaker chimes, and several other unique instruments. But providence is amazing stuff, and God had something more in store. We stayed over in Baraboo with my mother’s cousin, who just happens to be a circus museum curator. What do you think was standing in the corner of his living room?
Bliss and bless. I had a wonderful stay. ♥
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 184: Bigger Is Better
Chapter 184: Bigger Is Better
Tad kept a firm hold on his brother’s hand but let Zeke lead the way. “That one!”
“Sorry, Zeke. You need to be taller before you can ride the big coasters.”
“How high?”
Tad showed him the measuring stick. Even on tip-toe, Zeke couldn’t make the mark. His big brother crouched and said, “Hey, be glad you’re a Pomeroy. We’re mostly tall, so you’ve got a head start on other four-year-olds.”
Zeke straightened. “’Course I’m glad! Else, who’d be Jude’s big brother?”
“Yep, you’re a good’un.”
As the pair headed for the merry-go-round, Ethan murmured, “As are you, Tad Pomeroy.”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Fridays: I’ll keep comments open on Fridays in case you’d like to say hello.
May 30, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 183: Ready to Go
Chapter 183: Ready to Go
Jayce closed up shop during the county fair, but he still went in early to bake the apple turnovers they sold alongside kettle corn and caramel apples. He strolled down the front sidewalk with a spring in his step … oblivious to the Guardian perched on top of the family van. Opening the driver’s side door, Jayce recalled the promise he’d made the previous evening.
“Can I help?”
“I leave early, buddy. You’ll be sleeping.”
“But if I’m ready?”
“Sure, sure.”
And so Zeke had camped out overnight in the passenger seat. Chuckling, Jayce backtracked to leave Naomi a note.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!
Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
