Kate Willis's Blog, page 102
June 2, 2017
My Summer Reading Stack
Summer is just around the corner! In fact, we just had a heat advisory today. Welcome to the desert southwest. 
May 31, 2017
Plate Update: Edward Bear, Beta-Readers, and Arrows
For some reason, for the last few weeks of May I never knew what day it was. Quite the confusingly busy month, but several amazing things have happened!
It doesn’t feel quite fair to do the last month’s update on it’s very last day, but that’s just how the blogging schedule worked out. 
Plate Update: Edward Bear, Beta-readers, and Arrows
For some reason, for the last few weeks of May I never knew what day it was. Quite the confusingly busy month, but several amazing things have happened!
It doesn’t feel quite fair to do the last month’s update on it’s very last day, but that’s just how the blogging schedule worked out.
May 29, 2017
The Secret Slipper Review & Amanda Tero Interview!
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A series of non-magical fairytale retellings with strong Christian values?! Sign me up! 
May 26, 2017
Thorns
The other night, I had myself pretty stressed out. Everything I needed to do, all the tiny, forgotten details, and the stacks of correspondence seemed to be closing in on me. Each second, I remembered two more things.
Last Sunday’s sermon was on the parable of the Sower. (And I got to read the Mark account later in the week.) I’ve heard it all before, but it was good to be reminded of which soil I am prone to being.
Thorns. The cares of this world. I was letting them “choke” me, steal my peace and joy, and make me cut corners on my relationship with Jesus like a regular Martha.
I don’t plan to throw my goals and deadlines away, but instead to make them His. I’ll let Him change them, I’ll tell Him about my worries and problems (and joys!), and I’ll make sure our “quality time” happens even in the busy-ness of life.
May 24, 2017
Book Review: Left to Die
[image error]“Lindy Greene’s life is perfect. Too perfect. But living as a missionary nurse, serving in a rural hospital in China, soon brings the disaster she fearfully anticipates. All of her well-thought-out plans for the future disintegrate after pulling a fatally ill, disfigured, abandoned child from a pile of trash. She doesn’t even like babies.
Nathan Thomas can’t find balance. College suited him just fine until his cash ran out, forcing him to the Chinese mission field with his parents. The chaotic atmosphere in China does little to relax his agitated mind, and the pretty blonde nurse at the clinic does nothing to help him focus.
The Chinese mission field isn’t for the faint of heart. Nathan wonders how he can survive his remaining time there, while Lindy struggles to help everyone she can. With different ideals pulling them in separate directions, there is one thing drawing them together: a tiny, sickly, crippled orphan who relies on them to stay alive.” (from Goodreads)
I picked this book by Ivy Rose up with the intention of reading a few pages. You know, just to check it out and see if it was any good. I read the first third that night and finished it the next morning. I didn’t even have time to crow about it on Goodreads. In other words, it was good.
May 22, 2017
The Goodreads Blog Tag
When the amazing Kellyn Roth tagged me for this blog tag, I knew that rain or shine I had to do it because I love Goodreads. Besides blogging, Goodreads is my favorite way to connect with authors and readers, find new books, and rant and rave about what I’m reading. It’s a pretty cool site.
May 19, 2017
Writing Advice for Today
As I work through edits on my medieval adventure “The Twin Arrows”, I realize it’s been almost exactly three years since I’ve published a book. I’ve been spending time networking, figuring out my style, and learning all I can about my craft.
There is so much advice for authors, and I’ve only experienced a drop in the bucket. Articles, and books, and blogs, oh my!
An article I ran across today was by K.M. Weiland (love all her stuff!) on the issue of writing advice itself and how we take it. In her recent blog post “6 Bits of Common Writing Advice You’re Misusing” she says, “When taken out of context or used without wise moderation, even the best writing advice can sometimes accidentally point you in completely the wrong direction.”
She goes on to explain some of the bastions of writing wisdom, how we usually interpret them, and how they should actually be applied.
May 17, 2017
Book Review: Far Away Faye
[image error]“In this short sequel to You’ll Be Like Faye, “Far Away Faye” follows the journey of Heather as she makes her new life far from all she’s ever known. Meanwhile, friends and family back home are struggling to make sense of the loss that is driving them apart. Despite all she’s been through, will Heather be able to make peace with her new self while still remembering the one she left behind?” (from Goodreads)
This review may contain spoilers for those who haven’t read the first book.
May 15, 2017
Project Juggling
Do you ever have those moments when you are literally bursting with creativity but you’re already locked into a project and probably shouldn’t jump ship to work on whatever you want to? Yeah, me too. It’s a hard life.
