Miranda A. Uyeh's Blog, page 46

The Journey To Rediscovering Myself & 20 Things You Might Know About Me Blog Tag!

First of all, this post is long overdue. I wrote it sometime ago with the hope of posting it, but the timing never felt right until now. So here it is!

 

Not so long ago, I received a comment on an old post, and the commenter made a statement that blew me away and encouraged me greatly. With a vague memory of the exact details of the post, I wondered why the commenter said those words, so I decided to read the post again. In doing so, I had an idea why the commenter responded that way, but that wasn’t the take-home for me that day.

The post is about a year old, and in reading it, I realized how much I’d changed. It wasn’t so much the writing or the content, but it was the person I remembered myself to be at the time. Back then, I was so full of dreams, hopes, lacking in experience (compared to what I know today), and a lot of other fun and funny things. More importantly, I had faith the size of Mt. Everest (or even bigger!). Being unpublished at the time, all I saw was a smooth road ahead of me. What could possibly get in my way? Little did I know of the hardships ahead of me that would shake my faith and threaten to derail my dream of being a successfully published author.

Overtime, as I grew to be more “realistic”, it nearly robbed me of the ability to dream. I got caught up in all the rules that insist that success is ONLY through hard work. Faith in God soon took the secondary seat as I strove to work all the more, if I’d get it right. Little did I know that I was deviating from “who I was”, and, what I set out to do. But God who loves me more than I can ever imagine, decided to slow me down to remind me. I’d forgotten something important: faith is what teaches a heart to dream; and dreams are born out of who we are on the inside. They are planted in our hearts by God, and God, who designed us, prepares and equips us to accomplish those dreams. While logic and hard work are good, they should NEVER substitute faith. Without knowing, I’d started to put more belief in hard work than faith. In doing so, I was slowly losing myself.

God needed to remind me. So, a very hard time came my way.

I’ve never had things spiral out of control like they did. There were days I thought I couldn’t get through to the next. I’d cry, stop, and cry some more. I felt akin to Job and David of the Bible, and I’d petition heaven to understand what was going on. I’d wonder what I did wrong to encounter failure. But it was during this time that I was forced to ask a lot of questions that led me to remember once again what’s important, what isn’t, and more importantly, who I am, and what I set out to accomplish as a vessel in God’s hands. The experience, though tough, was remarkable. There’s nothing like a period when God breaks you for the sake of righteousness and His glory. It might be a painful experience, but it’s richly edifying!

Somewhere, in the midst of this trying time, asking all the questions, a notification popped in my phone—the comment—which I read, and here we are today with this post.

Now, I remember who I am, and why I started this blog. I’ve been called to inspire people with what I do, and with stories. It doesn’t matter if they’re stories from fiction books that I write, and with the reviews I write of other books, or with stories of real people through the interviews I post on my blog. I believe in inspiring people to be who they were created by God to be, and to fulfill the dreams that He’s put in their hearts. It’s the reason I named my blog To Be A Person. This is the core of what I do, and I’m so grateful I got to remember again.

What about you? Do you know who you are? Your mission—what you set out to do—has it changed?

I got tagged by blogger and friend, Ganise! She’s set the questions before me, ’20 Things You Might Not Know About Me’. I’ll have to admit, I struggled to answer these questions, as I can be an extremely private person … sometimes. Okay! A lot. Haha!

Here we go …

1. How tall are you? Not so sure. 5 feet 5 or 6, maybe.

2. Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what? I can reproduce any kind of drawing I see.

3. What’s your biggest blog-related pet peeve? I don’t like it when I visit a blog, leave a comment, and get no reply from the blogger. I think it’s rude.

4. What’s your biggest non-blog related pet peeve? Infusing politics (or some other lame topic) into a comment thread when there’s absolutely no reason to. So annoying!

5. What’s your favorite song? I don’t have one. I just have a collection of artists I love to listen to like Casting Crowns, Britt Nicole, Natalie Grant, News Boys, etc

6. What’s your favorite Etsy shop that isn’t yours? I’m not much into etsy shopping.

7. What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone? Sit back, watch a movie, read a book, or listen to music.

8. What’s your favorite junk food? Cakes, rolls, and Burgers. Love those!

9. Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names? Been thinking for too long now to get a dog. Haven’t gotten around it yet.

10. What are your number one favorite non-fiction and fiction books? There isn’t one in particular for each category. But here’s a mention for each: Non-fiction [apart from the Bible] – ‘A Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren; Fiction – ‘Veil of Pearls’ by MaryLu Tyndall.

11. What’s your favorite beauty product? No favorites.

12. When were you last embarrassed? What happened? Hate to talk about it. Sorry.

13. If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be? I think I’ll stick with water.

14. What’s your favorite movie? Ah! I love movies too much to have a favorite.

15. What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep? Artist.

16. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Switzerland, Paris, or Monaco.

17. PC or Mac? PC. Never used Mac before, but seriously thinking about it.

18. Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse? A gift!

19. Favorite celebrity? Aside from Jesus? A couple of ’em.

20. What blogger do you secretly want be best friends with? Aw, I wish there was an answer to that, but there isn’t. Sorry!

**This blog post is a part of the ’20 Things You Might Not Know About Me’ Blog Tag started by April from Blacksburg Belle. She began this blog tag experiment to build community among creatives, help us bloggers to connect more and get to know each other better. This month’s topic is all about sharing just a little too much information about yourself. If you’d like to participate or want more info, check out the beginning post right here.**

There you have it! I hope you find the answers as interesting as the questions. Also, you can read Ganise’s post here.

Finally, I’m tagging two people: Author and blogger, Lynette Noni, and, blogger, Johanna.

Participation Rules

1. Copy and paste the questions below and then answer and turn them into a blog post. Or, record a video answering these questions and upload it to your blog post.

2. At the bottom of your post, tag anywhere from 2-10 bloggers you want to see answer these questions. (I also suggest hitting up your tagged people via social media just to let them know you tagged them to do this tag challenge.)

3. Use the title: 20 Things You Might Not Know About Me Blog Tag. Once you’ve hit publish, leave a comment below with the link to your post.

4. Use the hashtag #20ThingsBlogTag when sharing on social media so we can all find your awesome posts!

Question 1: How tall are you?

Question 2: Do you have a hidden talent? If so, what?

Question 3: What’s your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

Question 4: What’s your biggest non-blog related pet peeve?

Question 5: What’s your favorite song?

Question 6: What’s your favorite Etsy shop that isn’t yours?

Question 7: What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone?

Question 8: What’s your favorite junk food?

Question 9: Do you have a pet or pets? If so, what kind and what are their names?

Question 10: What are your number one favorite non-fiction and fiction books?

Question 11: What’s your favorite beauty product?

Question 12: When were you last embarrassed? What happened?

Question 13: If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Question 14: What’s your favorite movie?

Question 15: What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep?

Question 16: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Question 17: PC or Mac?

Question 18: Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boy/girlfriend, spouse?

Question 19: Favorite celebrity?

Question 20: What blogger do you secretly want be best friends with?

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Filed under: Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Spirituality Tagged: 20 Things You Might Not Know About Me, The Journey To Rediscovering Myself

Video Interview ~ Artist Manager, Michael Smith

I first discovered Michael on twitter, and then later followed his tweets to his website and found someone who loves God. A particular post I read showed me a faith in God that one can aspire to. I thought it would be wonderful to interview Mike so he can tell us his story. Here’s a link to an exclusive video Mike made for the interview questions I sent him via email. I hope you’re as blessed and inspired as I am.

Questions
















1. Hello Mike. I’m honored to have you here today at To Be A Person. Thank you for stopping by. Please, tell us a bit about yourself.

2. Michael, you’re a Christian artist/author/ministries/comedian manager and talent developer. Obviously, you have skills that have made you successful. What made you choose Christian entertainment as opposed to secular?

3. In what way do you hope to impact the world for God through what you do?

4. Could you mention some of the people/organizations you represent, or have represented? What is the guiding principle behind choosing those that you work with?

5. What do you expect from the people/organizations you work with?

6. What is the (inspirational) motto of your business?

7. How do you encourage, or hope to encourage others through the work you do for God?

8. What’s your personal approach towards Talent Development for Christ? How exactly do you go about it? Is it unique with every person, methodical, or both?

9. In your journey so far, what are the personal lessons you’ve learned, and how can you say you’ve grown spiritually as a Christian? Can you tell us your story?

10. What are the things (or nuggets of wisdom) you know now, but wish you knew then when you started? Any regrets? If there are, how are they a turnaround today, that have brought good in your life?

11. What is the worst difficulty you’ve ever encountered in the entertainment business, as a Christian, and as a manager? What is the best/most thrilling moment so far?

12. What can you say is lacking in Christian entertainment today? What can be done about it?

13. How is the Christian entertainment business different from that of the secular? What are the advantages/disadvantages of choosing Christian entertainment?

14. What are you most grateful for in your life right now?

15. What are some of the delusions people have concerning Christian entertainment, especially delusions surrounding fame, purpose, and hard work?

16. What is the one (or more) advice you would give an upcoming artist/author on their way to fame and success?

17. What is the one (or more) advice you would give an upcoming manager?

18. Is there a final word you would like to offer   anything at all   that wasn’t covered by the questions?

Exclusive Interview With Michael Smith, Artist Manager

Thank you Mike, for visiting us today!

About Mike

Christian Entertainment & Music Artist Manager & Talent Development. I represent singers, bands, musicians, speakers, authors, comedians & ministries.

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Filed under: Entertainment, Entertainment Interview, Faith Testimony, Inspirational Tagged: Christian Entertainment, Interview, Michael Smith

Movie Review ~ The Good Book

About the Movie

The Good Book is the first evangelical silent feature to be released since sound was added to movies. It tells the story of a small New Testament that is passed along from individual to individual. These include young and old, rich and poor, blessed and forsaken. For seven of the strangers, it provides hope and meaning when they need it most. It is currently making rounds through the film festival circuit where it has received numerous awards including “Most Inspirational Film” at Hollywood Christian Film Festival and “Best Female Director” at GloryReelz Christian Film Festival, and was nominated for the prestigious “Best Mission” Stellae Award at the Pan Pacific Film Festival In L.A.

Genre

Christian/General Drama

My Rating

***** (5 Stars)

Release Date

*2015

My Review

This is a wonderful story with a powerful message that shows how God can use the Bible to change lives. It begins with a tragedy that sends a little boy running from home, who is then forced to live off the streets as he becomes homeless. Somewhere along his story, some Christians come by and offer him, as well as other homeless people, Bibles and food, which changes his life. Eventually, through another tragic event, he finds his way home, but not before passing the Bible to someone else. This same Bible is passed on to a number of people, and the events that follow, bring miraculous changes.

Two things stood out to me: everywhere the Bible went was divinely orchestrated by God. Nothing was a mistake. Also, for EVERY person, in ANY circumstance, the Bible had the answer that brought the needed healing. No two people that were transformed by the Good Book were affected by the same verse. Different passages stood out to different people in different situations.

I can’t round up this review without talking about the quality of the movie. While interviewing Sharon Wilharm, the writer/director of this movie, she mentioned that Faith Flix picked their cast using video auditioning, for the purpose of selecting actors with remarkable facial/body expressions. In watching The Good Book, the first silent faith-based movie since sound was added to films, I can completely understand why this method was used, and more importantly, why it worked. The acting, as well as every other technical detail, was absolutely remarkable. There wasn’t a scene I didn’t understand. And, the brilliance in making it easy for viewers to know the names of the characters (which added to making them more relatable to viewers) was amazing. The pacing was good, the story flowed well, and the message was clearly evident. I’m glad I watched this movie.

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. My thanks to Faith Flix for providing a link to a private screener where I could view the movie for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Filed under: Christian Movies, Entertainment, Movie Review Tagged: Faith Flix, The Good Book

This Awesome Thing That My Spirit Does … And, To Die Once Is Finally In Paperback!

There is this awesome thing that my spirit does …

Back up a bit …

I’m a music person. I LOVE music! Every now and then there’s a song whistling in my head, except when I have my head concentrated on work or some other activity. But even with methodical things like cooking etc, there’s likely to be a song, still.

Being that my choice of music is Christian, I find it very uplifting. Like books, some songs I discover are so timely in my life I know it’s not a coincidence. I’ve learned new things, being reminded of the beautiful old, and encouraged/strengthened, simply by paying attention to the lyrics of a song.

But there are those days when I’m so down—days when I wonder if things will work out, and I start to entertain doubts, and then turn to God with questions. I’m even too hurt to want to listen to any “Biblical” reasoning that He sends into my spirit, much less entertain any “music in the air’.

But there is this thing that my spirit does … when moments like this arise—every time. I first noticed it some time ago, and discovered it’s a trend. When my heart is so clogged with hurt that I won’t hear God, my spirit, which is the part of me that’s born again, starts to sing on the inside. I first hear the song in my heart, and then the lyrics and melody play on my lips. Somewhere in the middle, I suddenly catch myself, and even discover that I’m more joyful than I was before the song began. When I check, I ALWAYS find that the lyrics are the very message I needed to hear that day and that moment, to be uplifted. It amazes me, and always makes me smile. God, indeed, knows how to break our fall—how to catch us when we fall. I guess with this, He’s teaching and, constantly reminding me that His Strength, which comes from His Word, is the source of my joy. Nothing else is. How great is that!

 

Friends, it’s with utmost joy and gratitude to God that I announce this: To Die Once is now available in paperback! Take a look at the art work by Lena Goldfinch. Isn’t it wonderful? I, certainly, am pleased!

To everyone waiting for the print version, you can find it on Amazon. If you would like to read the endorsements and the official tour reviews, visit the To Die Once page.

To Die Once is available as an ebook for $4.62 (USD) on most sites!

 Scribd | Kindle | Kobo| Smashwords | B&N | iBook

 

About the Book

A NOVEL

Two men, one woman, a rosebush …

… a terrible past, an uncertain future

Jennifer, a woman unexpectedly trapped in a path of love and passion against everything she believes.

Rodrigo, a man set to get what he wants at the cost of what matters most.

Stefano, a man with a past, a story to tell and passion to offer.

Chidi, a friend in need, a friend indeed. Or not?

From a culture where good girls follow the norm and live as they’ve been told, Jennifer is no different from any other girl until by happenstance, she meets and falls in love with Rodrigo, a man who’s handsome, rich and foreign. Different. She has no idea who he is or what he does, and is swept into a world of romance and passion. It is not long before she discovers a shocking truth that shakes both her world and his.

Then he is gone.

Stefano shows up at a time when Jennifer has made up her mind about the rules of life. He thinks she’s beautiful and is in love with her. In a bid to convince her to give him a chance in her life, old memories once buried are brought to life. And the events that follow don’t leave anyone unaffected by the truth of the past that was left unsettled.

Meanwhile, Jennifer with her friend Chidi, find themselves on a self-discovery journey that has one of them raising questions.

Some just have to ask, where is God in all this?

… an inspirational romance, from Lagos to Italy.

Praise for To Die Once

“A little mystery, a bit of intrigue, a lot of romance. To Die Once is a Christian romance with real characters facing deep issues. The emotional writing is truly heart-felt. This is Ms. Uyeh’s debut novel and thankfully, this won’t be the last.” — K. Victoria Chase, Bestselling author of From Across The Divide, Virginia Justice, Raphael: volume 1, Santiago Brothers book series.

“Miranda Uyeh has penned a novel full of heart. To Die Once is a story alternately thorny and tender that tackles the various forms of love – romance, friendship, and faith – in unique settings and situations. Often surprising, consistently intriguing, Uyeh’s debut is a bold start to her blossoming writing career.” — Amber Stokes, Author of “The Heart’s Spring” Series

“A fun inspirational romance read” — Rektok Ross, Bestselling YA Romance author of Prodigal

“To Die Once was both breathtakingly romantic and heartrendingly sad at points. As a reader and fellow author, I was thoroughly amazed at Miranda’s abilty to so eloquently describe such a beautiful, mystery-filled story and leave the reader with the constant reminder of hope for a pleasant ending.” — Heather Manning, Bestselling Author of Historical Romance, Swept To Sea.

Author’s Note

This is a story centered on God’s healing power of grace and mercy. People like Jennifer, Rodrigo (and Stefano), and Chidi exist in our world today, hurting from the choices and the mistakes they’d made in the past, and seeking redemption/solace in any way possible, even from vices like alcohol. If you find yourself in such a position, or you know someone drowning in pain, please, let them know that God’s arms are wide-open to receive and heal anyone who will earnestly come to Him. He says in His Word in Heb. 4:16 that we can come boldly before the throne of grace to seek grace and mercy for when we need it. Do not lose hope that you can be healed and fully restored. There is no sin that God can’t forgive, and there’s no one He’ll turn away. Come to Him today and receive your healing!

 

Posts include what I call ‘Pieces of a Page’ excerpt, little gifts to introduce the characters to readers are available. The “pieces” were randomly picked, as I believe it  to be more fun that way!  Follow the links to read each piece here, here, and here.

 

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Filed under: Christianity, Cover Reveal, Faith Testimony, My Books, My Updates, News, Publishing, Spirituality Tagged: Music, To Die Once paperback

Virtual Blog Tour & Book Review ~ Willow Springs by Caroline Steele

It’s a tour stop!

About the Book

Crissa, beginning a new life in Willow Springs, finds herself caught between a local miner and a handsome Express rider. Laugh and cry with Crissa as she escapes her past to find true love.

Genre

Romance

My Rating

*** (3 Stars)

My Review

First of all, that “blurb” is NOT a blurb. It’s a premise … of some sort.

This is one of those books where everything you thought would happen, didn’t, and everything you thought wouldn’t, did. It was engaging in the sense that you followed through because you wanted to know what would happen, and more interestingly, HOW it would happen. For a small, uneventful town, Willow Springs was the setting of a quite dramatic set of people, sometimes even, too dramatic for their own good, so that they ended up making irrational decisions/choices without considering the consequences. Also, they were the kind to make trouble out of nothing, and make trouble itself seem like nothing [out of the ordinary].

Some parts of the plot were quite disappointing, and the characters not developed to the point where you would [want to] relate, sympathize, or even empathize with them. Crissa, the heroine, particularly, was this way. She was a conglomerate of every kind of emotion [you can think of], and in a bipolar sort of way, too. There were other times the characters seemed pretty immature. Reading some of their monologue/dialogue gave me the impression I was peeking into the minds of children. There were moments I wasn’t sure I even liked the story/characters. Also, there were some morality issues with the characters that concerned me. Honestly, it is my opinion that they weren’t really morally conscious. They simply threw in the name of God when it was convenient. And, finally, it seemed that in the bid for the author to write a suspenseful/intriguing plot, she created a situation where she was forced to spin the final scenes in a way that looked like they were thrown together to make the romance story work. This made Crissa look like an angel/agent of death/justice. If you were mean and evil, and made her your victim, for her to get away and have a happily ever after, something terrible would DEFINITELY happen to you …???

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. My thanks to Cedar Fort for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Filed under: Book Review, Virtual Blog Tour Tagged: Caroline Steele, Cedar Fort Virtual Blog Tour, Willow Springs

Interview ~ Christian Filmmaker, Sharon Wilharm of Faith Flix

It is my pleasure to introduce to you Sharon Wilharm, a Christian film producer/director. I first discovered Sharon when I followed a tweet that led to her website (and didn’t regret it!), and saw the wonderful work she was doing there. I later thought it would be nice to interview on To Be A Person. Please, join us below.

Me: Hello Sharon! Thank you for visiting To Be A Person today. Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Sharon: I’m a former school teacher and freelance writer who married a communications major. We live in a 120-year-old house in a small Southern town and our only daughter got married last weekend.

Me: Congrats on your daughter getting married! Much blessings to them! And, a 120-year old house? Cool!

So, what made you go into Christian film as opposed to secular?

Sharon: I take the parables of the talents very seriously. God blesses us with gifts and abilities and, it’s our responsibility to take those gifts and invest them in projects that will bring glory to God. To me, it would be a waste to invest all the time and money in a movie that didn’t have eternal value.

Me: I totally agree with you on that! We should strive to have everything we do have meaning. How else would we give a good account to God? Thank you for that!

What is the motto of your production studio?

Sharon: We work very hard to stretch our resources and provide a big bang for little bucks.

Me: Great! What is your greatest inspiration and drive?

Sharon: My ultimate goal in life is to be exactly where God wants me to be, doing what He has called me to do. If He calls me to do something, I do it regardless of whether or not it makes sense to the rest of the world.

Me: What a life of faith! And quite inspirational, too.
What is the principle behind the stories you choose to make into film, and, what kinds of stories are your preference?

Sharon: I once read somewhere that every storyteller has one basic story that they keep telling over and over. For me, I’ve discovered that my stories tend to have a theme of finding love and acceptance in unexpected sources.  I love to go against stereotypes and force viewers to look at people in a new light.

Me: Wow. Never heard that before. Now that I think about it, you’re right. Wonderful theme, by the way!
Every time you make a film, what do you hope to pass across to your viewers?

Sharon: I want to provide hope and encouragement, that even though things may look dark and not turn out the way they expected, that God has great things in store for their future.

Me: As an author, I can relate to wanting to spread the message of hope. Well done, Sharon!
You released a movie not so long ago. What makes the story special?

Sharon: Last October our movie Flowers For Fannie was released on DVD and VOD. It’s a little different from most movies in that we geared it for an older audience. It’s about a crotchety old woman who is desperately looking for someone to put flowers on her grave after she dies. In the process, she is befriended by a young woman who is equally lonely. Together, they form an unlikely friendship and help each other find the love that they’re each searching for.

Although we expected it to appeal to an older audience, we found that younger audiences enjoyed it as well. What really surprised us was the number of colleges who screened it. Basically, it appeals to anyone who’s ever felt alone and unloved.

Me: Glad to hear the movie worked out so well! And I can see why. Hearts are wired to respond to true love offered.
Could you tell us a little bit about the project you’re working on right now? When can we expect it’s release?

Sharon: Our most recent movie, The Good Book, is the first evangelistic silent  feature since sound was added to movies. It tells the story of a small Bible that is passed along to fourteen strangers, dramatically impacting the lives of seven of those individuals. The story is told without dialogue, using only dramatic action and a dynamic soundtrack.
 
Right now the movie is making its rounds through the film festival circuit. It’s been in eight film festivals so far with three more coming up in the next few months including the I Will Tell Film Festival taking place next month in London, UK. It’s won numerous awards including “Best Inspirational Film” at Hollywood Christian Film Festival and “Best Feature” at GloryReelz Christian Film Festival and was nominated for the prestigious “Best Mission” Stellae Award at the Pan Pacific Film Festival.

We’d hoped to have The Good Book in stores this fall, but with a cross country trip to L.A. for the Stellae Awards and our daughter getting married this month, it’s looking like it will be more likely early 2015 before it’s released to stores. In the meantime, we have a limited number of pre-release DVDs available from our website.

Me: Amazing! So glad I get to watch this movie, review it and post on my blog. Thank you for that!
Where do you see Christian film in the next five to ten years?

Sharon: The Christian film industry has changed dramatically in the past couple of years. It’s incredible the number of films being produced, and the quality of the movies is definitely improving. The problem that we’re hearing from distributors and others in the industry is that at the same time the market is being flooded with product, sales are actually going down. Stores are selling fewer DVDs and consequently cutting down on their shelf space.
 
I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen in the new few years. I think that the competition will force filmmakers to continue to up their game and create higher quality movies, but I’m not sure what the financial prospects are for filmmakers. I know that most Christian filmmakers are not in it for the money, but they do need to at least break even and hopefully make enough to support their families. If they can’t do that, they’ll be forced to discontinue their film-making endeavors.

Me: To discontinue will be so sad, indeed, especially for those of us who want to see more Christian movies out there. Hopefully, we can all come together and organize a system that will work? We’ll see.


In your opinion, what does the Christian film industry lack right now? What can be done about it?

Sharon: I wish there were a way to better connect the average Christian consumer with Christian movies. So many people have no idea that there’s a whole world of movies available. They only know about the Sherwood movies and the big theater successes like God’s Not Dead. They would love to watch other movies but they have no idea they even exist. I have no idea what can be done to change that. CFDb and Christian Cinema as well as other websites do all they can to inform the viewing public of the many choices available, but the average consumer isn’t aware of those sites, either.

Me: Hmm, Sharon, been thinking exactly the same thing. It’s part of the reason I decided to expand my blog to include Christian entertainment, as I’ve seen that book blogging has helped make Christian Publishing very successful in past and recent times. Like I said earlier, I think we need a system that works.

How’s the Christian film industry different from the secular?

Sharon: I think as a rule Christian films have a better chance at getting distributed. There’s a definite need for movies that can help change lives rather than just entertain.

Me: “… help change lives rather than just entertain.” That is something to think about. Thank you for that!
What do you expect from actors/actresses you work with? How do you pick your cast?

Sharon: While talent is very important, even more critical for me is attitude. I look for actors who embrace the vision of the movie and are more interested in what they can contribute to the movie rather than what they can get out of it. Character is important to me as each and every individual involved is a reflection of the movie. I don’t want to cast anyone whose reputation or behavior will bring a negative light on the movie.

 
I love to discover new talent, then, use them again in future projects. I’ve been known to write scripts with specific actors in mind just because I enjoyed working with them. I’ve also added to roles just to highlight certain actors.
 
For The Good Book we used a very unique casting approach, in that, we cast completely from applications and video auditions. We wanted actors with interesting, expressive faces and a passion for the silent movie concept. Also, because it’s an ensemble cast, it was important to match families up in a believable way and also not to cast actors who might be confused for each other. We ended up with an incredible cast who gave the movie all that they had, and have also bonded and formed special friendships.

Me: Interesting way to cast! I love that the approach is unique and methodical at the same time. And I can understand why it would work for a silent movie. Expression is key. Well done!


How’s your production/directing style different from that of other producers/directors?

Sharon: I’m very hands on and prefer a small skeleton crew, and short filming days. I handle everything that goes on in front of the camera and my husband, Fred, handles the behind the camera details. My goal as a director is not just to
focus on the finished product, but to make the filming process a special experience for each person involved.  I recognize that each and every person is a critical factor in the movie’s success. I despise the whole concept of extras. I prefer instead, the term background actor. And whether someone has a leading role or just sits in the background of a scene, they get treated the same. I also provide hot cooked meals which I personally prepare. I have a whole repertoire of crock pot and other meals that I can cook while filming. It’s my way of showing my appreciation to everyone for being a part of our movie.

Me: My goodness, Sharon, what actor wouldn’t want to work with you? That is so sweet and loving! Truly inspiring, too! It is my prayer that other film-makers will make a culture of treating their actors like family behind the scenes.
What’s the worst difficulty you’ve ever encountered in film making? was it peculiar to the project?

Sharon: In one of our earlier movies we had a big group scene which we saved for the very last day of filming. It was a pretty complicated scene and required everyone to be there for most of the filming day. Well, one of our lead actresses lived five hours away and she somehow got the date wrong. She didn’t realize the mistake until she got up and saw a facebook post about filming and then frantically headed our way. Also, we had a number of our friends who were supposed to be background actors and for various reasons, they didn’t show up. So we had to shoot very carefully so you couldn’t tell how small the crowd was, and, then, did closeups so you wouldn’t be able to see we were missing the lead actress. Then when she got there, we had to film her shots and make them work with the other shots. It all made for a very stressful day and the results were disappointing to say the least.

Me: Truly sorry to hear that, Sharon.
What other directors/producers have you worked with in the past? What was the experience like? What others do you hope to work with in the future?

Sharon: I got into film-making because I married a film-maker. I have no desire to make movies other than with my husband. However, when my daughter was younger, she was in a short promotional film that really influenced me as a director. With that project, they had all the young actors arrive early in the morning and then wait in little holding rooms until someone called for them. They didn’t really have a plan, though, so they would just randomly pull kids and have them do something, and then keep doing it over and over and over while they played around with lighting and sound. Some kids kept getting called over and over, and other kids like my daughter somehow got looked over. Finally, after about six hours, they called on her. She ended up being there for around eight hours and read one line. To my knowledge, nothing ever came of the project.  

 
As a result of that experience, I determined that I would never waste other people’s time. I schedule a very tight schedule that allows actors to only work when they’re actually needed. And I plan ahead of time what each person, including background actors, will do.

Me: What a sad experience. But I’m glad something good came out of it.
Can you tell us a bit about your personal journey in the industry so far: what you’ve learned, and how you’ve grown spiritually as a Christian?

Sharon: We made our first movie almost fifteen years ago. It was awful. We had good intentions, but didn’t have a clue what we were doing. I swore that I’d never do another movie, but God had other plans. Each time we finish a movie, I say it’s the last one, but then God gives us a new vision and I find myself enjoying it a little more. With each movie, I find myself becoming more humble. The more I learn, the more I grow, the more I realize how little I know and how much more growing I need. I have to keep reminding myself that even though there are plenty of more talented filmmakers out there, God has given us stories that only we can tell in a way that only we can tell it. And, so, we do what He commands, and then trust Him to take the movie and use it for His glory.

Me: Amen!
What advice would you give to any young Christian producer/director or film maker?

Sharon: Film-making is a very difficult endeavor and should only be attempted if you know that this is what God has called you to do. Pray that He will reveal to you the story that you need to tell. Then take that story and make it the very best that you can possibly make it. Read every writing/film-making book you can get your hands on. Attend workshops and seminars. Listen to the experts. Give it all that you’ve got, then trust Him to take your efforts and use them to bless others. Don’t get caught up in yourself nor lose focus on God’s purpose for your movie. Remember, God’s ways are not our ways and He doesn’t call us all to create blockbuster theatrical films. Sometimes He needs little films that will reach niche audiences. But whatever the film, it should be our best efforts.

Me: Wow! What an awesome advice. It does take delusion out of the equation. I pray every young film-maker gets to have someone give them similar advice if they don’t get to read this.

This or That Q&A!
Coffee or tea? Dr. Pepper
Lemonade or orange juice? Lemonade
Bicycling or walking? Walking
Gym or outdoor? Outdoor
Vegetable or fruit? Vegetable
Rain or snow? Snow
Flats or heels? Heels
Twitter or Facebook? Facebook
Books or music? Books
Cook or clean? Cook

Me: Sharon, thank you so much for stopping by today! This was a marvelous experience! Hopefully, we’ll do this again with your future projects.

Well, I hope you had as much fun with us in this interview. You are welcome to leave your comments. And, finally, look out for my review of the movie, The Good Book, on August 27th.

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About Sharon

Sharon Wilharm has written and directed five feature length films, including Class of 91, Flowers For Fannie, and the most recent, The Good Book, the first evangelistic silent feature to be produced since sound was added to movies. She’s the editor at faith Flix Films where she interviews filmmakers and reviews films. she and her husband live in a 120-year-old house in a small town in Tennessee.





Filed under: Christian Movies, Filmmaker Interview Tagged: Christian Movies, Filmmaker Interview, Flowers For Fannie, Sharon Wilharm, The Good Book

Virtual Blog Tour ~ Book Review ~ Storm Siren by Mary Weber

It’s a tour stop!

About the Book

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse – and the girl – can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth – meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books A Million

Genre

Christian/Fantasy Romance

My Rating

**** (4 Stars)

My Review

This book was under my radar for quite a while before I finally got my hands on it. And, might I add that the cover is one of the loveliest I’ve ever seen?

The story started off quite promising—it’s the story of Nym, an elemental, whose female kind is not supposed to exist. But obviously, she was created for a reason. I loved the sense of purpose that permeated throughout this story. The message was relatively clear—anyone could be used by the Creator to accomplish His works.

I found the characters to be similar in attributes to other fictional characters, although, they were interesting and refreshing in a unique sort of way. If you’ve seen/read the DC Comics/Marvel movies/books, you’ll get my meaning. Also, I couldn’t shake the thought that the villain was an offspring mix of Dracula and the Big Bad Wolf of Little Red Riding Hood, but with a unique twist as well.

Generally, the plot played out well, albeit not the conventional romantic sort of way—some parts of it predictable, and others, with surprising twists. But in my opinion, the story did not fully deliver on the excitement that the blurb, tagline, and cover promised. As I read this book, I saw so much potential in the story becoming explosively rich in its cultural setting, in the development of the characters as a whole, and in the overall execution of the plot and theme. The plot had the tendency to be complex, and should have been more meticulously managed. But I sense the author held back, rounding up some scenes with less literary attention than they deserved. Simply put, this story lacked depth in certain plot elements. There were some parts of it that shouldn’t have been brushed over so quickly, and so lightly.

Finally, I didn’t like the overall gruesomeness of the story at all. As a reader, I get invested in not only the main characters, but in the strong secondary characters as well. To have them “flimsily” exit a story is way too much injustice for my taste. I get that bad things happen, and that sometimes you lose the nice ones for good to prevail, but the final events of this story left too much bad taste in my mouth. Even if I wanted to talk myself into appreciating the course of the story, the end/final scene was the last straw. Rather than put me on a cliffhanger, it put me off. Though there’s hope for a turnaround down the series, I still found it much too intolerable.

Overall, the writing was good. In fact, it IS a nice fantasy story (hence the reason for the 4 stars). Just wasn’t exactly my taste—bittersweet?

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. My appreciation to Thomas Nelson Publishing and publicist, Laura Pol, for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Watch the Trailer!

Giveaway!

There will be a giveaway of two copies of Storm Siren, two $5 Starbucks gift cards, and one Storm Siren inspired necklace made by Mary’s daughter! Simply join via a Rafflecopter giveaway form by following the link.

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About the Author

Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives.

In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean.

Twitter * Facebook * Website

Let Me Tease You!

You can follow the tour by clicking on any of the buttons to the publicist page.

Filed under: Book Review, Virtual Blog Tour Tagged: Mary Weber, Storm Siren

Author Scoop ~ Chatting Moments With Emily Camp.

Hello All!

In case you don’t know why I’m excited, well, let me tell you: Emily is one of the two authors that officially made me a YA fan. The other is Rektok Ross. Emily is the author of the Cambrooke Series. I’ve read and reviewed the two of the books that are available: Here Comes The Light, and Running Back. Today, Emily is visiting To Be A Person to tell us a little bit about herself and her work.

Stay with us!

Me: Hello Emily! Welcome to To Be A Person! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Emily: Hi! Thanks for having me. I’m a mom of two, and, I celebrated my 15-year anniversary with my wonderful husband in the last week of July. I love to read, and of course, write. I love summer and taking pictures. I had a photography business which was called Cambrooke Photography, before going into writing, so I do all my cover designs myself. The name, Cambrooke, comes from combining my kids’ names. I’ve always loved creating things from nothing, and writing and photography have been wonderful avenues to express myself.

Me: Wonderful on the choice of name for your series and your business! Photography is a fun art    perhaps I should try it some time? And, congrats on your anniversary! Wishing you two many more years.

You’re an author in the Christian YA genre. What led you into that?

Emily: Well, it just kind of happened. I knew God called me to write and, I tried for a couple of years to produce something. When an idea finally came, it just happened to be about teenagers, which has also become my favorite genre to read. But I’ve always loved watching teen TV dramas. When I was a teenager, my dream was to write one. So this is kind of a forgotten dream coming to fruition. I’ve also come to realize the need for this   the need for people to be able to relate with/to teens, and not just constantly tell them what they should and shouldn’t do.

Me: I understand your reasons. Teenagers are people. It’s good that people remember that every now and then. So, how do you plan your stories? What’s a typical day like for you?

Emily: Honestly, I’m not a planner. I just sit down with some sort of idea and start writing; the characters tell their own story as I do. A typical summer day for me is getting up and doing light house work, and possibly throwing dinner in the crock pot, before carrying my laptop and a few good books out to my pool where I spend my time either sitting under an umbrella writing, floating around my pool reading, or swimming with my kids if they decide to venture outside. Also, I write more at night; late night seems to be when the words flow best.

During the school year, I home-school my children. We do online schooling, so I don’t have as much time for my writing as I’d like. But with the children getting older, I’m not as hands on as before. My son is going to be a freshman soon, so I won’t have much I have to do with him, and, my daughter is in third grade   just now starting to be a little bit more independent. I still, anyway, will have to stay up late to get words down.

Me: Whoa! You really do have your hands full. I have to applaud you on still being able to produce books. Well done!

When you write, what do you hope to pass across to your readers?

Emily: I want them to know that they’re not alone. No matter what they’re going through, there’s always hope. And, no matter what people say to them, they’ve never done anything too horrible that God won’t take them back. I want them to know that Christianity is not some crazy, out-there, weird thing, that you can still live a real life in the real world, and have a personal relationship with God. I think so many people get caught up in all the rules they have to follow. It isn’t about how many church services you attend each week, or how long you read your Bible today. It’s about connecting with people and God. Things are going to happen that aren’t always pretty, or the way people think they should be, but nothing is too big, or too ugly for God to handle.

Me: Wow. I’m really touched and encouraged by your heart for the broken and lost. I pray you never lose that. Amen.

Please tell us, what inspired the Cambrooke Series? What’s next in the series—a snippet, please?

Emily: It wasn’t originally intended to be a series. When I wrote Here Comes The Light, it was to be a standalone. I finished the first draft and thought, maybe, I might also write about Bree and Garrett. It was a few months before I started, though. Then I showed people. They wanted more, and so did I. I wanted to see what would happen with these characters if I wrote their story.

When I first started Here Comes the Light, I saw the love triangle trend in Twilight and The Hunger Games, and I thought there could be a way to present the gospel in love triangles. Also, many Christians struggle with going back to their old ways after they’ve come to know Christ, even when their new life is better. In Here Comes The Light, Miley was the believer, Declan represented Christ, and Hudson, the world and the old life. Some readers found it frustrating that she kept going back to Hudson. But several times after I was saved, I, too, kept running back to the things that I was addicted to, before I finally got it right.

I actually have 13 rough drafts in all for this series. Not sure if all will be published, but there is more of Bree and Garrett, and also Miley and Declan, as they will have life throw all kinds of stuff at them   meant to break them. Their faith in God would waiver, but they’d eventually make it through. Hudson and Isaac get their own stories as well.

The next one, and third book in the series   Overcome   is about Carly. I’m not sure at this time how much I should say without spoiling Running Back for those who haven’t read it yet. I guess I’ll just say she finds healing in her story.

Me: So glad to hear that Carly gets a story. I must confess I worried/wondered about not just her, but Hudson and Isaac as well. Thank you for clarifying that! So, any plans yet for after the series?

Emily: Yes, I actually have a couple of standalone novels that I plan on putting out there in-between the Cambrooke novels, and one that’s a spin-off. You know the football team they were playing against when Hudson and Garrett had a fight in Running Back? I have a story about a couple from the other school who meet at that game. The story follows the couple through to their early twenties. Still trying to decide if it will be a trilogy, or if I should condense the story into one book. It’s about a pastor’s son finding himself in a situation similar to one of David’s in the Bible.

Me: A David’s Story, huh? Interesting! I’m looking forward to it. :)

Please tell us, how can your readers find you?

Emily: You can find me on my blog, twitter, goodreads, and facebook.

This or That:

1. Coffee or tea? Neither. I don’t like coffee. Or tea. I get my caffeine from Coke.

2. Rain or snow? Rain. I hate the cold.

3. Dogs or Cats? Dogs

4. Yellow or Green? Green

5. Movies or Music? Music

Sweet! Wasn’t it fun to learn about this awesome author? You know where to find her now! Please do. I’m sure you won’t regret it. Thank you, Emily, for taking the time to be with us today! :)

About Emily’s Books

Here Comes The Light: Cambrooke, #1

Seventeen year old Miley is always in a whirlwind trying to keep up the facade of being perfect.

On the outside she is what everyone expects. On the inside she is dying. She deals with what most teenage girls deal with, not feeling pretty enough or smart enough. Her best friend doesn’t do much on helping the self esteem either.

And why does this one boy she has known from kindergarten but never really had a conversation with all of a sudden keep popping up in places she happens to be?

Read my review.

 

Running Back: Cambrooke, #2

Sixteen year old Garrett Light is the middle child of a Christian family. He’s tired of living in his older brother’s shadow.

With football, friends and parties, he doesn’t have time to waste on his family and the several church services that he’s forced to go to every week.

Meeting the girl of his dreams is even more pressure on him when he has to keep her a secret. Though all secrets have a way of coming out. How far will he go before he realizes his family are the one he needs to turn to?

This story isn’t just about faith and first love. It’s also about relationships between friends and family.

This is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone.

Read my review.

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About Emily

Emily lives at the top of a hill in rural Ohio where she spends her time between writing, reading, and homeschooling her two kids. In the summers she does most of her writing under an umbrella by her back yard pool. Emily’s love for fiction started before she could remember making up crazy stories in her head, as a little girl; her teen years was when her passion for writing began.

After becoming a mother she put her writing aside for several years, until God nudged her to pick it back up again. She self-published her first book, Here Comes the Light, in October 2013.

 

Read the Savvy Saturday Weekly Paper.

Filed under: Author Feature, Author Interview, Book Review Tagged: Author Scoop, Cambrooke Series, Emily Camp, Here Comes The Light, Running Back

Book Review ~ SuperGal Vs God by Lori Hynson

About the Book

SuperGal. Strong, successful, self-reliant. A slightly mature—okay, middle-aged dynamo, a go-getter, an achiever. SuperGal figured she could control her own life and the rest of the world as well. Love? Phooey! Never again. Until the moment she found herself, well—back in love! Joy quickly became despair when her new love fell desperately ill. SuperGal rolled up her sleeves. She would fix this, too. Tomorrow, the battle would begin, and she would find herself at the epicenter. God’s victorious hand was stretched out to Supergal, but she circled around it. Blind. And lost. Yes, SuperGal could handle anything that life threw her way. Until she couldn’t. Until she utterly failed. Until finally, God had her right where He wanted her.

Genre

Christian/Non-fiction/Memoir

My Rating

***** (5 Stars)

My Review

What a lovely book! It’s not many times I come across books that are unique in presentation—this one is one of the few. The blurb and author bio make it clear it’s a non-fiction memoir, but it is, however, written in fiction fashion. The style of writing is absolutely clever, witty, humorous, confrontational, and very engaging. There was never a dull moment in this book. At some point I questioned if it was truly a non-fiction because of how well Lori knitted her story—concentrating on the meaty, juicy stuff that created an interesting and poignant picture. The story was intentionally directional in the lessons Lori needed to learn in her walk with God, so that, I, the reader, was carried along. I saw so much of myself in this story—learned some of my mistakes, misconceptions etc—and was inspired and blessed by it.

What a truly timely read!

This story teaches that God is FULLY in control, and that the devil has absolutely no say in your life, if you don’t let him. Never have I read a book that presents God as so big, and the devil as so small. This story reminds one to trust God absolutely, and be grateful for everything no matter the circumstance. A truly wonderful and inspiring read. So glad I read it!

*Although I offer this review to the public, it is my opinion and simply that. My appreciation to Broken Shoe Press and Book Crash for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the Author

Lori Hynson, “SuperGal Stress Whisperer – From Stressed to Blessed” is an award-winning author. She is also a blogger, speaker and singer.

Her memoir, “SuperGal vs. GOD” was awarded 2014/Book of the Year/Biography by the Christian Small Publishers’ Association.

Lori is a Recovering SuperGalaholic who speaks into the heart of the woman who knows she can do ANYTHING, but feels the pressure to do EVERYTHING!

Fueled by her passion to inspire women who struggle to do too much, Lori shares her Secrets of a Recovering SuperGal on her blog at www.lorihynson.com.

Lori is a wife, mother, Nana and recently retired business owner. Not to mention former ballet teacher and university cheerleading coach, major event planner, politician, community leader and and first and foremost, a follower of Jesus Christ. Lori and her husband have five grown kids and eleven grandchildren,and share their home with Morticia the cat.

Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Christian Non-fiction, Lori Hynson, Memoir, SuperGal Vs God

Cover Reveal & Giveaway!~ How A Star Falls by Amber Stokes

Hello, Hellooo!

It’s that time again when a new book is born! My friend, Amber Stokes, is getting ready to release two books actually, Morning Glory, and How A Star Falls. But we’ve already revealed the cover of Morning Glory, which will be coming this August. How A Star Falls, hopefully, will come this November  keeping fingers crossed for that!

Now, peeps, let’s reveal the cover …

Pretty, ain’t it? Yeah, I know. Another lovely job done by Lena Goldfinch. FYI, it’s her picture that’s on my sidebar. I highly recommend her in case you’re searching for a cover designer. She’s as quick and professional as she’s talented and friendly. ;)

Now, back to the cover! What say I about it? Hmmm …

The model does look like a star that’s falling, but well aware of where she’s “falling”   keeping my fingers crossed here, too, as I haven’t read the book yet. Hopefully, that will happen soon. ;) If she’s not aware of where she’s falling, she surely isn’t afraid. She looks gentle but adventurous at the same time, like she has a story to tell, or will make a story worth been told.

Enough said.

Now, in celebration of this reveal, Amber will be giving away a $10 Amazon Gift card. Simply join via a Rafflecopter giveaway form. Do drop a comment, please. Can’t wait to hear your views. What say you about the cover?

About the Book

How does a star fall?

Quickly. Completely. Unexpectedly.

Derrick Knolane escapes to Trinidad Head most evenings, avoiding his apartment and planning for the day he’ll break free of Humboldt County. Working in a music store might be fine for a while, but it’s far from the goal he had in mind when he got his college degree. Not to mention the fact that his roommate is a jerk and his family won’t stop trying to run his life.

Then Brielle falls into his world.

She claims to be a star. Not from Hollywood, but from heaven. He thinks she’s crazy. Certainly delusional. Yet, he can’t just leave her alone on the cliffs. So he takes her home.

And his whole world falls apart.

A heartfelt and fanciful contemporary romance novella, How a Star Falls explores the uncertain season of new adulthood and shows that sometimes the worst inconveniences make for the best miracles of all.

About Amber Stokes (The Author)

Amber Stokes works as a content writer for Harvest House Publishers and writes inspirational fiction depicting the seasons of life and love. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor’s degree in English and to run her own freelance editing and publicity business for over a year. Happily, the next step in her career lies in the Pacific Northwest—a part of the world she’s always considered home. Learn more about her indie-author adventure at www.SeasonsofaStory.blogspot.com.

About Lena Goldfinch (The Cover Designer)

Lena Goldfinch writes fantasy and romance for teens and adults. She’s a sucker for a good old-fashioned romance, whether it’s a novel, novella, or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Elements of romance, fantasy, and mystery have a way of creeping into her writing, even when she’s writing something light and contemporary. Learn more about Lena, her books, and her cover designs at www.LenaGoldfinch.blogspot.com.

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Filed under: Cover Reveal, Giveaway Tagged: Amber Stokes, Cover Reveal, How A Star Falls, Lena Goldfinch, Morning Glory