Janet Sketchley's Blog: Tenacity, page 34
October 8, 2019
Review: The Red Journal, by Deb Elkink
The Red Journal, by Deb Elkink (The Mosaic Collective, 2019)
At 50, Libby has lived with her grandmother since childhood and is mourning Gram’s recent death. Her lifelong dream is to own her own home, away from the tenement where she’s been raised. She also longs to recreate Gram’s signature soup recipe—perhaps in hopes of restoring the sense of home Gram provided.
Her friend, Sibyl, is about 10 years younger and likes to think she’s found her security in spirituality and sensuality. Sibyl...
October 4, 2019
New Releases in Christian Fiction (October 2019)
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.
Biblical Fiction:
Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey by Barbara M. Britton — To keep her orphaned sisters together, Mahlah must seek what has never been granted to girls, an inheritance of God’s Promised Land. (Biblical from Harbourlight Books [Pelican])
Contemporary Romance:
Hiding from Christmas by Alice K. Arenz —...
October 1, 2019
Review: Going Back Cold, by Kelley Rose Waller
Going Back Cold, by Kelley Rose Waller (Versive Press, 2019)
On the one hand, Going Back Cold is a science fiction novel about a small group of scientists based in Antarctica experimenting with faster-than-light technology. But it’s also an exploration of the different ways people grieve.
In year one of the four-year research and development project, Dr. Jane Whyse discovers she’s pregnant with her second child. After the baby girl is stillborn, Jane, her husband Dr. Lucas Whyse, and their y...
September 27, 2019
How God Guides Writers—and Other People Too (Guest Post)
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay How God Guides Writers—and Other People Too by Steph Beth Nickel What should I write?
Books, articles, blog posts …
Genre fiction, instructive nonfiction, memoir …
Poetry, Instagram stories, 280-character tweets …
At the risk of sounding cliché, the possibilities really are endless.
How should I pursue publication?
Should I look for an agent and try to get a traditional deal?
Should I self-publish my work?
Should I do both and become a hybrid author?
If I ch...
September 24, 2019
Review: Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, by Heather Day Gilbert
Belinda Blake and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, by Heather Day Gilbert (Lyrical Press, 2019)
You might think that after pet-sitting a ball python, Belinda Blake can handle anything, but she’s not too sure about wolves. Yes, it’s a rehabilitation sanctuary, and yes, they seem friendly, but they’re still wild animals. With sharp teeth.
When someone is found dead and bloody in one of the wolf pens, common sense tells her to bail on her contract and take the consequences. But the wolf preserve...
September 17, 2019
Review: Up From the Sea, by Amanda Dykes
Up From the Sea, by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House, 2019)
After I read Whose Waves These Are, I went looking for more fiction from Amanda Dykes and was excited to find two free ebook novellas.
One of those is Up From the Sea, a prequel novella for Whose Waves These Are. Reading it later let me enjoy recognizing details significant to the novel, which features the next generation. It also made me want to go back and read the novel again with this deeper understanding of the past.
Savannah Mae...
September 13, 2019
New Releases in Christian Fiction (September 2019)
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.
Contemporary Romance:
Reunited in the Rockies by Mindy Obenhaus — For widow Kayla Bradshaw, restoring a historic Colorado hotel means a better life for her and her soon-to-arrive baby. But she needs construction help from Jude Stephens, the love she lost through a misunderstanding. Working with Kayla, the police offi...
September 10, 2019
Review: As the Light Fades, by Catherine West
As the Light Fades, by Catherine West (2019)
There are so many positives about this novel.
Catherine West writes with skill and compassion, tackling hard issues with honesty and sensitivity and enough humour that this is not a hard read. She gives us real characters to care about, flawed people who are doing their best and fear it may not be enough.
Her voice is true, whether writing from the late-twenties/early-thirties central characters of Liz and Matthew, 15-year-old Mia, or the elderl...
September 6, 2019
Writers Need Editors
Writing can be humbling. But I’d far rather be humbled by editors and beta readers—who are on my side—than by readers and reviewers after publication.
This is part of a guest post I wrote for the Seriously Write site. Pop on over to read the full thing: Commitments to Your Characters.
September 3, 2019
Review: True Confections, by Ruth Hartzler
True Confections, by Ruth Hartzler (Clean Wholesome Books, 2019)
Unexpectedly divorced, 50-year-old Jane Delight moves into the apartment above her twin sister Rebecca’s cupcake store near Pennsylvania Amish territory. Rebecca commutes daily by horse and buggy, but Jane has long since left their Amish ways behind (she does, however, still have a personal faith).
When an unpleasant customer collapses in Rebecca’s store and dies, Jane decides to divert suspicion from herself and her sister b...
