R.A. White's Blog, page 2
June 30, 2020
Do You Want to Get Involved?
Encouraging, Entertaining, Interesting...
Hello!
The Blog is kind of clunky for general interaction and posts, so I've been having all the fun over on Facebook. From now until further notice, this Blog and the email notification will be reserved--at least mostly--for actual book news, such as updates on new releases and the occasional sale.
I do encourage you to find me on Facebook if you haven't already.
It's R.A. White Books and More, same as here, and I post something encouraging, entertaining, or interesting pretty much every day. It's also where I go for input. Comments and conversation are so much simpler over there, and can happen almost in real time (or in true real time if you want a video chat!), so it just makes sense to invest more time and effort into Facebook. I hope to see you there!
Subscribe for book news.
Hello!
The Blog is kind of clunky for general interaction and posts, so I've been having all the fun over on Facebook. From now until further notice, this Blog and the email notification will be reserved--at least mostly--for actual book news, such as updates on new releases and the occasional sale.
I do encourage you to find me on Facebook if you haven't already.
It's R.A. White Books and More, same as here, and I post something encouraging, entertaining, or interesting pretty much every day. It's also where I go for input. Comments and conversation are so much simpler over there, and can happen almost in real time (or in true real time if you want a video chat!), so it just makes sense to invest more time and effort into Facebook. I hope to see you there!
Subscribe for book news.
May 28, 2020
May 28th, 2020
Originally Posted on Facebook:I see people posting about how NOT posting demonstrates a lack of support. I totally get that. But if I don't post, maybe it's because it's just a little too personal for Facebook. Because my little guy likes to run around outside. Because my little guy is growing up. Because unless things change, my little guy is going to be seen as threatening when he goes out for a walk, or sits in his car listening to music, or visits friends in a rich neighborhood.
I want this page to be fun and interesting, a place people look when they want to smile. But some days I just can't.
May 8, 2020
My Writing Buddy
This tiny crab spider protects my papayas just outside the lanai where I like to write. She keeps a beautiful web, and more importantly, keeps down the mosquito population. Her horns are cool and even pretty, in a creepy kind of way. I can't tell you how many times I've almost gotten a face full of her when moving around in the garden. *Shiver* Although she's been here for several weeks, we haven't named her. Any suggestions?Subscribe
May 4, 2020
The Hordes of Haran
My work on the first draft of The Hordes of Haran is coming to a close. Within the next two weeks, I will start sending it out to the first round of editors. If you're the kind of person who doesn't get overly hung up on typos, but plot inconsistencies and continuity errors drive you nuts, please consider doing a read through for me. I could send you a pdf. or a file for kindle. If you're great at catching typos, let me know that, too, and I'll get back to you in a month or two :). Thank you! 
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April 20, 2020
Ninety-Nine Cents
Dear friends,
Out of consideration for the current world situation, I am lowering the prices of all my ebooks to $.99 until at least the end of May, 2020. If you have friends, acquaintances, or social media contacts who might like to have a good book to relax to while they cope with the chaos, please share. Thank you. I hope that you all are well and finding your balance.
Find the series on Amazon by clicking here.
Out of consideration for the current world situation, I am lowering the prices of all my ebooks to $.99 until at least the end of May, 2020. If you have friends, acquaintances, or social media contacts who might like to have a good book to relax to while they cope with the chaos, please share. Thank you. I hope that you all are well and finding your balance.
Find the series on Amazon by clicking here.
April 14, 2020
Adversity
Sometimes a mango tree doesn't flower or fruit because it has parasites leaching the life from it. Generally speaking, a small infestation won't hold it back, but pile on too many bugs or a thick coating of fungus, and you won't end up with any fruit.I get this. When I have too many things sucking the life from me, I can't grow or produce fruit, either. I may feel busy, may feel good about how much I'm giving, but I'm not growing healthy fruit. Easy object lesson.
But I have this pampered little mango tree in my backyard. She's vibrant and healthy. The only bug on her is a bright green guardian, a jewel-like spider. She feels strong. Her roots are deep.
And she hasn't even thought about blooming this year.
I finally went online to figure out what was wrong. It turns out that if a mango tree is too pampered with regular watering or too much fertilizer, she might not bloom. She might be too comfortable to bother. Who knew? I should have saved time, water, and money. So, what can I do to get my tree to bloom and produce fruit? First, I can stop pampering it. Easy enough. But if I really want it to refocus on fruiting, if I want it to move forward, I can give it some adversity. The most recommended method of doing this was to beat the trunk and limbs, thereby stressing it. The stress sends signals that shock the tree into action, letting it know that something is wrong, and that it had better get to work on personal development, so to speak.
Can you believe that? Obviously, too much stress could injure or kill it, but the right amount can precede valuable changes. And that's why I was out beating my mango tree with a mallet this morning. I'll let you know if it works.
I'm not one who believes that a supernatural force causes trauma or stress in life. I'm not even one to say everything happens for a purpose, other than the purpose we give it. I do not represent God in this story. But I do firmly believe that when I'm feeling good about my place in life, when things are comfortable, I might need a dry spell or something shocking to help me refocus and move forward.
March 25, 2020
3 Films
Dear friends,
None of us are strangers to struggle. We've all been sick. We've all been worried about a loved one. Probably all of us have been concerned about our financial futures. And so, maybe Covid 19 should just go on the list with the rest of our hard times as nothing special. But it won't, will it? There's something different about this. It's different because we have never lived through a pandemic that changed daily life so dramatically for the entire world.
Yes, this is different.
I have three more movies for you this week, inspiring films to remind you to look up, but I encourage you to use media as a drug only occasionally. Instead of trying to survive this time, try to thrive. If you suddenly have more time on your hands, invest it in new skills, in gardens, in relationships. Be smart, huddle in at home. But don't huddle in fear.
1. Harriet. It's hard to believe anyone hasn't seen Harriet yet, but this would be a good time for a re-view, don't you think? And if you haven't seen it… for goodness' sake, dude, stop what you're doing and make it happen! While it doesn't stay 100% true to details, it seems to encompass Harriet Tubman's stubborn courage, faith, and sense of responsibility very well, and I recognized most of the events portrayed in the film from a book Trooper and I read about her.
Find Harriet here.
2. I Feel Pretty. I rented this movie with low hopes, knowing from the preview that it would be crude, and figuring that all the funniest parts were probably in the preview because that's how it usually works. Despite my reservations, the main premise attracted me. What if we all woke up believing we were drop-dead gorgeous? The idea was sound enough to convince me to pick it up at Redbox.
I was beyond impressed.
Yes, there is a kind of goofy sex scene that can be zipped through pretty easily, but other than that, I found it surprisingly clean. Not perfect, but for a PG13 comedy, not bad at all. I hate when writers don't have anything genuinely funny to say, so they fill space with vulgarity and cheap, brainless innuendo. This movie wasn't like that. It was funny, but more than that, it had heart and depth I hadn't anticipated. Secondary characters were like real people with actual perspectives and personalities, rather than caricatures stuck in place simply for the next gag. The main character has an actual character arc! Definitely not for kids, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It did a fantastic job of showing the power of self-perception.
Find I Feel Pretty here.
3. The Biggest Little Farm. This is actually a documovie about a couple who leaves their home in the city to take over a dead farm in the country. Over the course of years—despite setbacks involving pests, coyotes, drought, flood, and more— their efforts bring life to a desert, resulting in a bounty of organic foods. This isn't a movie with a plot, it's a story of two people and the others who come together with them to make something great out of something no one would want for a backyard. This spoke to my deep need to be close to nature, to work with it toward healing for the planet and for us. I don't have investors to help me turn my yard into a chemical-free paradise, and I don't think my husband is ready to start looking for organic farming start up money, but I have taken steps. And while we're home for a couple of months, we're building garden beds to go with our trees and ducks. Even if you live in an apartment, with no interest in farms whatsoever, you may find yourself inspired to start a patio or window garden.
Find The Biggest Little Farm here.
None of us are strangers to struggle. We've all been sick. We've all been worried about a loved one. Probably all of us have been concerned about our financial futures. And so, maybe Covid 19 should just go on the list with the rest of our hard times as nothing special. But it won't, will it? There's something different about this. It's different because we have never lived through a pandemic that changed daily life so dramatically for the entire world.
Yes, this is different.
I have three more movies for you this week, inspiring films to remind you to look up, but I encourage you to use media as a drug only occasionally. Instead of trying to survive this time, try to thrive. If you suddenly have more time on your hands, invest it in new skills, in gardens, in relationships. Be smart, huddle in at home. But don't huddle in fear.
1. Harriet. It's hard to believe anyone hasn't seen Harriet yet, but this would be a good time for a re-view, don't you think? And if you haven't seen it… for goodness' sake, dude, stop what you're doing and make it happen! While it doesn't stay 100% true to details, it seems to encompass Harriet Tubman's stubborn courage, faith, and sense of responsibility very well, and I recognized most of the events portrayed in the film from a book Trooper and I read about her.
Find Harriet here.
2. I Feel Pretty. I rented this movie with low hopes, knowing from the preview that it would be crude, and figuring that all the funniest parts were probably in the preview because that's how it usually works. Despite my reservations, the main premise attracted me. What if we all woke up believing we were drop-dead gorgeous? The idea was sound enough to convince me to pick it up at Redbox.
I was beyond impressed.
Yes, there is a kind of goofy sex scene that can be zipped through pretty easily, but other than that, I found it surprisingly clean. Not perfect, but for a PG13 comedy, not bad at all. I hate when writers don't have anything genuinely funny to say, so they fill space with vulgarity and cheap, brainless innuendo. This movie wasn't like that. It was funny, but more than that, it had heart and depth I hadn't anticipated. Secondary characters were like real people with actual perspectives and personalities, rather than caricatures stuck in place simply for the next gag. The main character has an actual character arc! Definitely not for kids, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It did a fantastic job of showing the power of self-perception.
Find I Feel Pretty here.
3. The Biggest Little Farm. This is actually a documovie about a couple who leaves their home in the city to take over a dead farm in the country. Over the course of years—despite setbacks involving pests, coyotes, drought, flood, and more— their efforts bring life to a desert, resulting in a bounty of organic foods. This isn't a movie with a plot, it's a story of two people and the others who come together with them to make something great out of something no one would want for a backyard. This spoke to my deep need to be close to nature, to work with it toward healing for the planet and for us. I don't have investors to help me turn my yard into a chemical-free paradise, and I don't think my husband is ready to start looking for organic farming start up money, but I have taken steps. And while we're home for a couple of months, we're building garden beds to go with our trees and ducks. Even if you live in an apartment, with no interest in farms whatsoever, you may find yourself inspired to start a patio or window garden.
Find The Biggest Little Farm here.
March 16, 2020
4 Films
4 Films to Help You Through Social Distancing
Since most of us are staying home to avoid spreading illness, it's a good time to share a few inspirational movies that you might have missed. These are NOT necessarily family movies, although we did watch them together. Just keep in mind, we tend to let Trooper watch and read things other parents wouldn't, and we always discuss during and after. Be sure to read ratings before you decide who will watch.
1. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. As I understand it, this movie is a good depiction of Nelson Mandela's amazing life. It's hard to watch something like this and still feel sorry for oneself, rather, you may be inspired to take the high road, to insist on forgiveness and honor from yourself and everyone. Be warned, this doesn't shy away from the horrors of apartheid, or from Mandela's own flaws. This is good, because not only is it honest, but it provides the avenue for growth and greatness.
2. Invictus . After watching Mandela together, we absolutely had to re-watch Invictus. Although I am not a sports fan, this is one of my top five movies of all time. Invictus continues the story of Mandela, but this time through the eyes of those he leads as president. His wisdom, compassion, and genuine love for the individual bring people together as no law ever could. This was a man who believed everyone had value, that everyone was worth looking in the eye, regardless of popular opinion. As a bonus, I'll share one of the songs, Shosholoza, at the end of this post.
3. Won't You Be My Neighbor? This documentary on the life and work of Fred Rogers held me enthralled throughout and left me with the conviction that not only should I see the value (not potential, but current) in every person, but that, with practice, I can. There's nothing like a true story of a person utterly committed to helping others see their own worth and value, a person so powerfully humble that he's not afraid to show weakness. Most of us find that terrifying.
4. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood . After seeing Won't You Be My Neighbor, I was eager to follow up with Beautiful Day. While this movie is less dedicated to keeping facts in their proper name and order, it does recount true events, and it does adhere to the real Mr. Rogers. I've yet to meet a person so absolutely unpretentious, so genuinely in tune with the hearts of humans. I want to be like him when I grow up. Simply put, it's beautiful.
Mr. Rogers and Mandela came from backgrounds as different as backgrounds can be. Mandela grew up as the underdog in an oppressive, racist society, struggling against culture to become one of very few black attorneys in South Africa, and then spending the better part of thirty years in prison for trying to change it. Mr. Rogers was the only son of well-to-do white parents, living in privilege from birth. Two men so different, yet they shared some vital characteristics. If they can change the world for the better, why can't I?
If you're not quite ready to be inspired, yet, listen to this beautiful song, Shosholoza. It will help :).
Since most of us are staying home to avoid spreading illness, it's a good time to share a few inspirational movies that you might have missed. These are NOT necessarily family movies, although we did watch them together. Just keep in mind, we tend to let Trooper watch and read things other parents wouldn't, and we always discuss during and after. Be sure to read ratings before you decide who will watch.
1. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. As I understand it, this movie is a good depiction of Nelson Mandela's amazing life. It's hard to watch something like this and still feel sorry for oneself, rather, you may be inspired to take the high road, to insist on forgiveness and honor from yourself and everyone. Be warned, this doesn't shy away from the horrors of apartheid, or from Mandela's own flaws. This is good, because not only is it honest, but it provides the avenue for growth and greatness.
2. Invictus . After watching Mandela together, we absolutely had to re-watch Invictus. Although I am not a sports fan, this is one of my top five movies of all time. Invictus continues the story of Mandela, but this time through the eyes of those he leads as president. His wisdom, compassion, and genuine love for the individual bring people together as no law ever could. This was a man who believed everyone had value, that everyone was worth looking in the eye, regardless of popular opinion. As a bonus, I'll share one of the songs, Shosholoza, at the end of this post.
3. Won't You Be My Neighbor? This documentary on the life and work of Fred Rogers held me enthralled throughout and left me with the conviction that not only should I see the value (not potential, but current) in every person, but that, with practice, I can. There's nothing like a true story of a person utterly committed to helping others see their own worth and value, a person so powerfully humble that he's not afraid to show weakness. Most of us find that terrifying.
4. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood . After seeing Won't You Be My Neighbor, I was eager to follow up with Beautiful Day. While this movie is less dedicated to keeping facts in their proper name and order, it does recount true events, and it does adhere to the real Mr. Rogers. I've yet to meet a person so absolutely unpretentious, so genuinely in tune with the hearts of humans. I want to be like him when I grow up. Simply put, it's beautiful.
Mr. Rogers and Mandela came from backgrounds as different as backgrounds can be. Mandela grew up as the underdog in an oppressive, racist society, struggling against culture to become one of very few black attorneys in South Africa, and then spending the better part of thirty years in prison for trying to change it. Mr. Rogers was the only son of well-to-do white parents, living in privilege from birth. Two men so different, yet they shared some vital characteristics. If they can change the world for the better, why can't I?
If you're not quite ready to be inspired, yet, listen to this beautiful song, Shosholoza. It will help :).
March 7, 2020
Kid President on the Move
Hi! I thought I'd share this neat little video with you this week. Kid President always makes me happy, and this video hit me especially hard.
February 26, 2020
My Evolution (Part 5)
This week, I'm sharing the lesson I learned from a young man with Tourette Syndrome at a weekend Scout campout. My son, Trooper, was off playing in nature with the other young boys when I walked up to the food area. Chad, a teen Eagle Scout, was complaining about the problems he had encountered in school, public and private alike, due to his autism and Tourette Syndrome ticks. One school he talked about is a well-known Christian school in the area, and I found myself growing more and more angry as he shared the way he had been mistreated by students and faculty. He was ostracized, belittled, and officially reprimanded for his struggles. Some went so far as to insist they pray the demon out of him.
This teen suffers almost constantly from sensory issues and the pain and inconvenience of Tourette's ticks, but more than that, he suffers from exclusion. As I listened to his story, my heart went out to him. Imagine a life where you don't fit in anywhere.
It was easy to feel angry for him, to mourn what he and others like him experience, and to worry just a little that my own son will experience similar rejection even if his differences aren't nearly as severe.
But later that evening, as the stress of smaller children and the fatigue of a long day caught up with him, Chad's Tourette's went live in all its inglorious vulgarity. Most Tourettes is marked by physical ticks or verbal grunts, but Chad is a rare soul whose condition manifests in the sudden and uncontrollable urge to speak obscene words and phrases, from the common 'bad word', to sexual and racial slurs that are generally considered unacceptable by even those who favor colorful language. Suddenly, I found myself more concerned about my own offense and keeping the small children away than I was about Chad's painful experience.
It only took a moment for me to realize that I was just like everyone else.
Not that I shouldn't have been aware of what the kids were hearing, but in the moment, my convenience (how will I explain these words to my child?) mattered more to me than the physical and emotional pain this young man was experiencing. My line might have been drawn farther away from 'normal' than most, but it was still there.
In the middle of it all, one of the Scout leaders, a grandmotherly sort, consoled Chad and helped him when his hand slammed dangerously hard into the concrete floor. She didn't seem to notice the horrible words that spat out of his mouth. She didn't question her commitment to him or his value as a person. She loved him like her own son, offered her full acceptance, and helped him through a difficult time. Wow. Could I ever see into the heart of a person like that? Accept the truly unacceptable?
I was humbled. Inspired. Scared.
And all of that eventually led me to a new and peculiar sense of freedom. I still cringe at the idea of sitting in church or any other public place with a Chad in high stress—I haven't gotten over that hang up, yet—but I find freedom in confronting my shortcoming and recognizing it as an area where I need to grow. I'm more aware of when my own child's behaviors embarrass me, when the truth is that I'm more concerned about what people will think than about his scary or painful experience. I'm actively working to consider whether the boundaries I put between myself and others are healthy, or merely my reaction to their 'unacceptability'. I'm headed toward unconditional love.
Subscribe.
P.S. No, of course Chad isn't his real name.
This teen suffers almost constantly from sensory issues and the pain and inconvenience of Tourette's ticks, but more than that, he suffers from exclusion. As I listened to his story, my heart went out to him. Imagine a life where you don't fit in anywhere.
It was easy to feel angry for him, to mourn what he and others like him experience, and to worry just a little that my own son will experience similar rejection even if his differences aren't nearly as severe.
But later that evening, as the stress of smaller children and the fatigue of a long day caught up with him, Chad's Tourette's went live in all its inglorious vulgarity. Most Tourettes is marked by physical ticks or verbal grunts, but Chad is a rare soul whose condition manifests in the sudden and uncontrollable urge to speak obscene words and phrases, from the common 'bad word', to sexual and racial slurs that are generally considered unacceptable by even those who favor colorful language. Suddenly, I found myself more concerned about my own offense and keeping the small children away than I was about Chad's painful experience.
It only took a moment for me to realize that I was just like everyone else.
Not that I shouldn't have been aware of what the kids were hearing, but in the moment, my convenience (how will I explain these words to my child?) mattered more to me than the physical and emotional pain this young man was experiencing. My line might have been drawn farther away from 'normal' than most, but it was still there.
In the middle of it all, one of the Scout leaders, a grandmotherly sort, consoled Chad and helped him when his hand slammed dangerously hard into the concrete floor. She didn't seem to notice the horrible words that spat out of his mouth. She didn't question her commitment to him or his value as a person. She loved him like her own son, offered her full acceptance, and helped him through a difficult time. Wow. Could I ever see into the heart of a person like that? Accept the truly unacceptable?
I was humbled. Inspired. Scared.
And all of that eventually led me to a new and peculiar sense of freedom. I still cringe at the idea of sitting in church or any other public place with a Chad in high stress—I haven't gotten over that hang up, yet—but I find freedom in confronting my shortcoming and recognizing it as an area where I need to grow. I'm more aware of when my own child's behaviors embarrass me, when the truth is that I'm more concerned about what people will think than about his scary or painful experience. I'm actively working to consider whether the boundaries I put between myself and others are healthy, or merely my reaction to their 'unacceptability'. I'm headed toward unconditional love.
Subscribe.
P.S. No, of course Chad isn't his real name.
