Musings on This, That & The Other Thing

It's a cruel summer... Seriously

2009-07-14T08:37:00.001-07:00

It gets hot here in Vegas. In fact, we've been hovering around 108 since last Friday. Which makes this the worst time of the year for the AC to go out. Which mine did last Saturday.

I'm happy to report it's working again, but that's after spending two days living in my own personal jerky maker. Yesterday I threw my hands up in defeat and checked into a hotel where I kept finding myself saying, "Man, it's cold in here!"

Anyway, I'm a bit behind on a lot of stuff. So today, I'd just like to share a bit of Weird Al joy with you. It's Skipper Dan, his new single from the "Internet Leaks" collection. Having grown up less than an hour from Disneyland, this send up of the Jungle Cruise tour guides is especially close to my heart. He even grabbed my favorite joke: It's the backside of water! Check out the video directed by Divya Srinivasan.

I don't think this song means what you think it means...

2009-07-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

I was standing in line at Target today when a family got behind me. The little girl had some kind of portable music player, and not the kind with headphones. This player shared music with everyone around her. And she was singing along at the top of her lungs. It might have been cute if it wasn't for the song she was singing: Barbie Girl.

This bubbly little ditty was released by the alt-group Aqua in 1997. But just because it has Barbie's name in it doesn't mean they're singing the praises of the doll. For a sample, here's the chorus:

I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world
Life in plastic, it's fantastic.
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere.
Imagination, life is your creation.

I ask you, is this something you'd want your eight-year-old daughter belting out in Target? Thank God I have an almost-grown-boy-child. He's more apt to break into a Weird Al tune or selections from Spamalot. Now that's something I can sing along to!

The Importance of Placement on Your Product

2009-07-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

Around Christmas time, my son and I were kicking around in Borders, checking out all the new books. I was looking at a table of trade paperbacks when he hurried up to me.

"Mom, you've got to see this."

He pulled me up to a New Release table in front of the store and showed me this. It's Clapton: The Autobiography. Unfortunately, poor sticker placement had obliterated part of the letters, turning the title into - I'm sorry to say - Crapton.

I was laughing so hard I could hardly hold the camera still. It's a miracle the picture turned out as clear as it did.

Obviously, the harried stock clerk who slapped the sticker on this puppy didn't notice what he'd done.

Or did he... ?

Dreaming with Deborah Vogts - WIN HER BOOK!

2009-07-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

It's my great pleasure to welcome today's guest poster, author Deborah Vogts, to the blog!

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE --IF YOU WAIT LONG ENOUGH

A little over a year ago, I received “the phone call” from my agent, Rachelle Gardner at WordServe Literary, that Zondervan had made an offer on Seasons of the Tallgrass, a contemporary romance series set in the Flint Hills of Kansas—a place I dearly love. My dream had arrived, my prayers had been answered. But it didn't happen overnight, and now a year later, I'm still amazed at how God answers prayer.

I began writing my first novel in high school, but it wasn’t until 2002 that I became serious about my writing, inspired that God had given me a gift and that I needed to use it or have it taken away. So, I jumped in with both feet. I became a member of two writing groups (one of them ACFW), joined a critique group, attended writer’s conferences and read whatever I could on the craft in books, magazines and the internet.

By the summer of 2005, I’d filed a good share of rejection letters in my desk drawer and although my writing had garnered some attention in a few contests, a publishing contract remained ever elusive.

That September, I received a scholarship to attend the Nashville ACFW Conference where I piqued the interest of an agent who took me on as a client. However, after a year of unsuccessfully shopping my series to publishers, she let me go, which was a real heart-breaker. My hopes sank, and I felt I'd been put back at the starting line.

I asked myself: What was I doing wrong? Why had God given me these stories and this hope if He didn't want it to happen? What lesson was I to learn, or what had I missed? God tells us that His grace is sufficient for us, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Believe me, I felt weak and insignificant, but that was a time of growing for me. I took comfort in the Psalms, reading the verses day and night. I knew that God had not abandoned me, but I had to learn to trust completely in Him, putting my life and my writing in his hands.

As mere humans, we don’t always see the big picture—and God does have a sense of humor. Just when I had accepted the fact that I might never be published and was indeed learning to “love and appreciate” writing again (something I had almost forgotten), I received interest from another agent. I signed with Rachelle Gardner in February 2008, and we had a contract with Zondervan a few months after that.

What did I learn? That God is in control, that His timing is perfect—and that I needed to be still and know that HE is God. Now my book has released and I am seeing the fruits of my laborious journey--a dream come true!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas. In writing the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, Deborah hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God’s great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there. Snow Melts in Spring released from Zondervan in June 2009, and is available online and in bookstores near you.

ABOUT THE BOOK - Snow Melts in Spring

When an aged horse is severely injured on a gravel road in the Flint Hills of Kansas, country veterinarian Mattie Evans accepts the challenge to save him. But she finds herself in the middle of a longstanding feud between the horse’s owner, pro quarterback Gil McCray, and his ailing father—who is also her dear friend.

As the snow melts in spring, Gil’s return to his estranged father’s ranch brings a chance for new beginnings and reconciliation, but when he falls in love with Mattie, he must face the truths that haunt him or run from his past. Meanwhile, Mattie encourages Gil to return permanently to Kansas rather than retire in California. Their love collides when Mattie’s sister arrives on Gil’s doorstep, causing Gil to come to terms with the jealous acts leading up to his brother’s death and seek forgiveness from those he loves most. Can he accept God’s forgiveness, and will that be enough to make him stop running from his memories of home? In turn, if Mattie forgives, she’ll be forced to choose between the man of her dreams and the land she dearly loves

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Snow Melts in Spring, just leave a reply to this blog. (PLEASE NOTE: This time around it's USA residents only. Thanks.) I’ll pick a winner at random on July 13th. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

CFBA presents EXPOSURE by Brandilyn Collins

2009-07-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingExposure(Zondervan - June 1, 2009)byBrandilyn Collins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.

In addition to Exposure, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Always Watching, first in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When your worst fear comes true.

Someone is watching Kaycee Raye. But who will believe her?Everyone knows she’s a little crazy. Kaycee’s popular syndicated newspaper column pokes fun at her own paranoia and multiple fears. The police in her small town are well aware she makes money writing of her experiences. Worse yet, she has no proof of the threats. Pictures of a dead man mysteriously appear in her home—then vanish before police arrive. Multisensory images flood Kaycee’s mind. Where is all this coming from?

Maybe she is going over the edge.

High action and psychological suspense collide in this story of terror, twists, and desperate faith. The startling questions surrounding Kaycee pile high. Her descent to answers may prove more than she can survive.

To read the first chapter, go HERE.

“More twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster! Highly recommended.” ~CBA Retailers

“Mesmerizing mystery…authentic characters…a fast-paced, twisting tale of desperate choices.” ~TitleTrakk

“Brandilyn Collins is a master of suspense, and Exposure is her best book yet!” ~Dianne Burnett, Christianbook.com

One writer's unique response to the book critics

2009-06-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

Brad Meltzer's latest novel, The Book of Lies, is getting a lot of buzz. Unfortunately, not all of it has been good. But rather than rail against the critics, Meltzer did something truly unique: He used the bad press in a book trailer. Check it out:

Now doesn't that make you just a little bit curious?

Billy Mays joins the list of deceased celebrities

2009-06-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

This has been quite a month in celebrity news. Five well-known celebrities have died in June, four of them in the last six days. Many other entertainment industry folks have also passed away, but these five fall into the household name category.

David Carradine - June 3, 2009
Ed McMahon - June 23, 2009
Farrah Fawcett - June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson - June 25, 2009
Billy Mays - June 28, 2009

You may wonder why I include Billy Mays in this group. After all, he was a pitchman, not an entertainer. I beg to differ. My son and I got quite a kick out of watching Mr. Mays effervesce over everything from Orange Glo, to Oxi Clean, to Mighty Mendit. He made infomercials an event. He was also the co-host a new series on the Discovery Channel called Pitchmen. For fun, check out this Hulu clip of Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. It's about eight minutes long, but make sure to watch to the end when Billy takes on the Sham Wow. Funny stuff.

Billy Mays was found unconscious in his Florida home by his wife this morning. He was pronounced dead at 7:45 AM. That's all we know. The family asks that the public respect their privacy. It's a simple request and one that I hope is honored.

Being the pop culture person that I am, I've got a lot of thoughts on Farrah, Michael, and the way we as a nation treat celebrities. For now, though, I'm staying mostly mum. I'm one who likes to know, and share, the facts. I'll give my opinions, too. But for now, I think I'll keep quiet.

New Moon Gets a New Look with Movie Tie-In Cover

2009-06-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

It happens every time a book is made into a movie: the movie tie-in cover.

So here's the original version of the New Moon cover, followed by the new cover for the September rerelease (it's easy to tell which is which).

If you want to know more about the covers... how involved was Stephenie Meyer with the design? What the heck does that tulip mean?... check out my article on Examiner.com.

CFBA presents A BRIDE IN THE BARGAIN by Deeanne Gist

2009-06-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Bride In The BargainBethany House (June 1, 2009) byDeeanne Gist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called "I Did It!® Productions" and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

Since the debut of those novels, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Wedding Is All Planned...
Someone Just Needs to Tell the Bride

In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.

Joe Denton doesn't have a wife, though. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride--one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.

Anna Ivey's journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook--not a bride. When she's handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Bride In The Bargain, go HERE

JEN'S THOUGHTS

Before I start reading a new book by Deeanne Gist, I make sure my schedule is clear - no deadlines looming, no appointments to get to - because I know once I start, I'm not going to want to stop.

In A Bride in the Bargain we meet Joe and Anna, two people who fall hard for each other, even though they're not looking for love. Despite their feelings, they're a stubborn pair, and the road to a happy ending is fraught with missteps, some comical, some nearly tragic. But the journey is a great one.

One of the complaints I hear most often about Christian romances is that they are no real emotion, no sparks. That everything is so squeaky clean and chaste that it's not real. Well, if you're looking for a wonderful book with a heap load of sexual tension, here you go. Gist does a skillful job at this in all her books. She shows us the honest emotions of her characters, including their passion and desire for each other, but never crosses the line into gratuitous sexual conduct. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gripping historical romance.

Weird Al's New Parody - Craigslist

2009-06-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

I proudly admit to being a Weird Al fan. And I've brought my son over to the "Al" side. We can often be found cruising around town with White & Nerdy or Amish Paradise blasting from the car speakers (but we're polite and keep the windows rolled up).

According to his website, Al's new album won't be out until (maybe) next year, but over the summer, he's leaking five new songs on the Internet. The first, Whatever You Like, a T.I. parody, came out a month or so ago. The latest released today.

Craigslist is in the in the style of The Doors (original Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek plays). If I were to rank this with Al's other songs, I'd put it somewhere in the middle. Fun, but not as unique and catchy as the above mentioned ditties. And I much prefer his earlier Ebay parody. But this song did make me smile because both my sisters are on a Craigslist roll right now, selling everything from toddler beds to empty packing boxes. For me, it's relevant.

If you want to keep up with the latest Weird Al news, you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Have fun, and parody on!

Resurrected Dream by Jill Elizabeth Nelson - WIN HER BOOK!

2009-06-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

It's my great pleasure to welcome back suspense author Jill Elizabeth Nelson!

Resurrected Dream

“If God can bring an awesome dream to pass for this nobody-in-particular from nowhere special, He can and will do the same for you.” This is what I tell people at my speaking engagements. In fact, I autograph my debut novel, Reluctant Burglar, with the following words: Let your dreams soar! Mark 10:27.

That scripture promises that nothing is impossible with God. Many times my dream to become a published novelist looked unattainable, and I gave up on it. But the dream kept resurrecting, and then one fine day I got that first contract!

Obviously, the journey wasn’t without struggle, nor did it happen overnight. Far from it. My dream was born when I was eleven years old, but my first book wasn’t published until I was 46. That’s quite a time lag. But the Lord used those years to hone me as a person and build my skills as a writer. As I also tell my audience at speaking engagements, I completed my first mystery novel in the 6th grade, but not a shred of the manuscript yet exists . . . and the world is grateful.

In high school, I had my own column in the school newspaper, and I even placed in a poetry contest. However, those few pieces I sent out to publications in the wider world came back rejected.

My parents encouraged and believed in me, especially my dad, so off I went to college, seeking a degree in literature and creative writing. Then my dad passed away suddenly in my freshman year, and with him, a hefty chunk of my support base.

Even so, I wrote for the college newspaper and managed to get a few pieces published in local periodicals. You’d think I’d be flying high, but instead I continually compared myself with other writers who I felt were more gifted and skilled than I. Perhaps they were, or maybe they were just farther along on the writing road.

I received my degree then decided to take some time to look for what I could do with my training that would bring in a regular paycheck. Freelancing or novel-writing just didn’t seem possible. During that period, I met and married my husband. We soon had four children, and there was no time to write.

I’m so thankful for my husband and children. Those years were often hard, but something great was happening inside as I drew closer to the Lord through my constant need for wisdom to raise and care for my family. My confidence in what He could do through me was growing. I was no longer my own source. How foolish we can be that way when we’re young!

At last, around the turn of the century, the children were becoming more independent of me, and the embers of my dream to write books whooshed to life as if the Holy Spirit Himself had blown upon them. (I think He did.) I churned out one manuscript then another and another. Then in 2005, the contract came. Dream fulfilled! An ending, but also a beginning of a new phase of my life.

When Reluctant Burglar released, this is the dedication I wrote for the flyleaf: To my dad, who always thought I could make it as a writer. He is no longer on earth to see this day, but I trust he knows in heaven.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Elizabeth Nelson is an award-winning author of mystery and suspense. She writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith, earning her the tagline: Endless Adventure, Timeless Truth. Jill speaks at conferences, writer’s groups, library associations, and civic and church groups. She and her husband live in rural Minnesota where they raised four children and are currently enjoying their first grandchild.

Visit Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s website at http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/ for excerpts, book giveaways, and contests.

ABOUT THE BOOK - Witness to Murder

Poised for an interview, TV reporter Hallie Berglund walks into a murder scene instead. The victim’s boyfriend stands over the body, murder weapon in hand. Hallie couldn’t stop the crime, but as the star witness, she’ll see the man brought to justice . . . right? Not according to her colleague Brody Jordan, who is convinced the police—and Hallie—are targeting the wrong man. To prove it, he’ll need Hallie’s help. The victim was wearing a bracelet handcrafted by Hallie’s long-dead mother. Now Hallie is the only one who can unearth the secrets of the past—and bring the sinister truth to light.

You can order this book directly from your local bookstore, retail stores such as Walmart, or online at Amazon.com.

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Witness to Murder, just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on June 22nd. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

Yes, I've been gone... Now let's talk about Hulu

2009-06-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

In case you missed me - and I certainly hope you did - I thought I'd let you know why the blog's been quiet. I spent a week in North Carolina with family and decided not to do any work while I was there. I'll blog about my trip later, but for now, here's some miscellaneous stuff to ponder...

Remember when Nsync started out? Of all those guys, who would have expected Justin Timberlake to be the breakout? Check out the Immigrant Tale sketch from a recent episode of Saturday Night Live.

I got that link from Hulu.com. And speaking of Hulu... it's free now, but it's a fair bet they'll start charging eventually. So while you can, here's some cool stuff to check out:

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog - Remember the writer's strike? Remember how it killed some of your favorite shows? Well this is the one good thing that came out of it. With nothing else to do, Joss Whedon got together a bunch of his friends and put together a fantastic musical. Then he posted it to the Internet in three parts. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Alicia Day, it's full of stick-in-your-head songs, clever bits, and a very Whedon-esque ending.

Stargate SG-1: 1969 - The first three seasons are on Hulu, so start from the beginning if you haven't seen any of it. But for SG-1 fans, this is a great episode to revisit. When our four heroes get thrown back in time to 1969, they have to find their way back. Lots of fun.

New Moon Trailer - And for all you Twilight fans, here's the trailer for the next movie, New Moon. Okay, I gotta know... has anyone out there actually ever dripped blood from a paper cut? What did they wrap that present with, industrial strength tin foil?

That's it for now. Have fun!

The Trouble with 3D

2009-06-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the influx of 3D movies, lately? 3D is the new toy that film makers are playing with. Of course, it's really not new. 3D has been around since the 1920s, but it never caught on as the a widespread film making standard. Why? In my opinion, because 3D is a gimmick.

True, the technology is better today, but the idea remains the same. If you're telling me a good story, then I don't need to see things flying in my face. If I wanted 3D, I'd go see live theater.

My son and I recently watched Journey to the Center of the Earth on DVD. This was a non-3D viewing of a movie that was so obviously made for the sheer 3D-joy of throwing things at the audience. Every time something would come at us, like a yo yo being shot at the screen, we would shout out, "Here it comes in 3D!" It was like one of those drinking games, minus the drinks.

Part of the reason I don't like 3D is very personal: my eyes don't work right. At least, not the way they need to to view a 3D movie. Because I have less visual acuity in one eye than the other, I can't focus properly through those darned glasses. And speaking of the glasses, have you tried wearing those over a pair of prescription lenses? Not comfortable, no siree.

It seems like every twenty years or so, movie makers try to resurrect this form of film making. Remember Jaws 3D? Spy Kids 3D Game Over? And each time, the 3D fanfare fades away. So I hope this round of 3D madness will go the way of all the others.

Actually, I don't mind 3D as long as I have a choice and it's done well. Case in point: I saw Pixar's Up over the weekend. My theater showed both versions, and I chose blessed 2D. The movie was wonderful, and not once did I think, "Oh, there's something they put in to take advantage of the 3D effect." Nope, the story overrode the effect du jour, which is how it should be.

Still, there's a whole crop of 3D movies coming out. Disney seems to be one of the most excited about jumping on the 3D bandwagon (I think it's because they're in love with the alliteration of Disney Digital 3D). Not do they have a slate of new movies coming out in 3D, but they're remaking some of the old ones, including the original Toy Story and Beauty and the Beast. Okay, Toy Story I get, but Beauty and the Beast? Way to ruin a classic, guys.

But to end on a hopefully high note, here's the trailer for Toy Story 3, coming June 18, 2010 in... you guessed it... Disney Digital 3D! From what I've heard of the story, Buzz, Woody and the gang get dumped in a daycare center when Andy goes off to college. Since we know Woody and Jessie are collector's items, I'm already a little worried about the plot. (Really, value aside, they're probably covered in lead paint and are a choking hazard!) In my opinion, Toy Story 2 was a great wrap-up and anything else is unnecessary. But I'm hoping the peeps at Pixar come through with a great story, as usual.

A Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer

2009-06-05T00:05:00.000-07:00

Jen's review
of
A Promise for Spring
by
Kim Vogel Sawyer

When an English rose is transplanted to the Kansas prairie, can anything be easy? Of course not! Even though they were betrothed five long years earlier, Emmaline Bradford no longer knows the man she meets when she steps off the train in Moreland, Kansas. For his part, Geoffrey Garrett has practically been counting the minutes till the arrival of his bride. But the nervous, sullen woman clad in black is a far cry from his dream girl.

Kim Vogel Sawyer has a gift for writing characters who struggle through adversity and come out stronger for it. In Emmaline and Geoffrey, she presents two stubborn people, each working through a pain of their own. It's not until they put their own needs aside and truly see each other that reconciliation comes.

A Promise for Spring is a lovely tale of the men and woman who worked so hard to create a new life in the sometimes harsh, sometimes beautiful prairie. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Emmaline and Geoffrey, and look forward to Ms. Sawyer's next offering.

Summer at the Movies: Action, Laughs, and a Box of Kleenex

2009-06-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

Ah, summer. When most people are running outside, lounging by the pool, I'm running inside... to the movie theater. I've seen two great movies in the last few days. Even though they're both very different, they had one thing in common: both had me crying within the first ten minutes. This was not the reaction I expected, I assure you.

So what were these excellent, though surprisingly emotional flicks? I'll tell you...

But first, if you're the type (like me) who doesn't want to know anything about a movie ahead of time, stop now. I don't share any major spoilers, but you might find out more than you want to know.

STAR TREK

I've been jazzed since I found out J.J. Abrams was taking the helm, and that was about a year ago. With the exception of the ill-conceived Cloverfield, I'm a fan of Abrams' work (Lost anyone? Alias?) But messing with the Star Trek franchise can be sticky, especially when you're going back to the early days of the federation. Remember the poorly received TV series Star Trek: Enterprise? Not even sci-fi vet Scott Bakula could save it. So even though my expectations were high, I went into the new Star Trek movie with my fingers crossed.

I should never have worried. From the action-packed and extremely emotional first ten minutes to the satisfying conclusion, the movie is darn near pitch perfect. Abrams respects the characters we know and love, and he stays true to them. Yet at the same time, he tweaks things just enough so that the franchise is completely open to him. He's seen to it that any future films (and oh boy, I hope there will be a few) won't be limited by the Star Trek universe as we knew it.

Zachary Quinto (Heroes) and Chris Pine (The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement) were great as a young Spock and Kirk, respectively. But the best bit of casting goes to Karl Urban (TLOTR: The Return of the King) as Leonard "Bones" McCoy. From his look to his delivery and posture, the New Zealand native nailed the role. I hope to see him, and the rest of the fine cast, on another bold trek soon.

UP

Those sneaky, sneaker Pixar people! I knew I'd enjoy this movie. I always do when the Pixar name is attached. But Lassiter and his crew were keeping something a secret here: this movie has a huge heart and a lot of action. You'd never know it from the trailer, which had me expecting just a funny movie about a boy, an old man, and a floating house. Oh yeah, and a talking dog.

Here's what you need to know if you plan on taking little kids to the film. There's some scary stuff in it. Some really mean dogs. Even a tiny bit of blood. Probably nothing that would concern anyone over the age of eight, but something for you parents to be aware of.

And there are some very serious scenes. In fact, the young scout you see in the trailer doesn't show up until fifteen minutes or so into the movie. So if you have a child who gets fidgety when the action stops, take that into account.

I saw it with my almost-sixteen-year-old son. We both loved it. We laughed and we cried (okay, I cried... if he did, he will not admit to it). And THANK GOD we did not have to watch it in 3-D. I was so happy to find that the theater had two different showings... one 3-D and the other normal. Can you tell I'm not a 3-D fan? But that's something for another post.

So, if you're looking for a fun time at the movies, I highly recommend both these movies. If you go, let me know what you think.

Supporting the Dreams of Others by Cheryl Wyatt - WIN HER BOOK!

2009-06-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

It's my great pleasure to welcome back today's guest, author Cheryl Wyatt!

Supporting the
Dreams
of Others

When we got married over ten years ago, my husband was a business owner by profession and a music guy by hobby. I was a Registered Nurse and Crisis Intervention Counselor by profession and a writer by hobby. Both of our hobbies were something we each dreamed of being able to pursue full-time. Fast forward to my first pregnancy. I was put on bed rest for preterm labor. I had two choices, either succumb to death by boredom while fear of losing the baby ruled my life...or distract myself. So, resting there day after day staring at the same four walls, I decided to start writing down all the stories that had been rushing through my imagination for decades. I wrote undercover for a couple of years before word got out. Actually my husband figured it out and told EVERYONE at church. I'd finished the world's worst manuscript...yet the wonderful man told everyone at church that I'd be on the New York Times Bestselling list soon. LOL! Now THAT's belief.

Because he was so supportive and encouraging of my writing dream, I started praying that he would be able to pursue sound gigs and music more. Over the next several years as we championed one another's dreams, I saw God open door after door after door. It took sacrifice on my part. Sacrificing time mostly. I couldn't always go with him on his sound gigs. He runs audio for a great many Christian and some nationally known Country and Rock artists at festivals, concerts, benefits, Etc. But there are times when I'm buried away for days trying to finish a book and meet deadlines. So we champion each other's dreams by trading time. We do spend quite a bit of time together since we both work out of the home. This is a HUGE fulfillment of a dream of mine to be able to pursue our dreams without sacrificing family time.

We've been involved in NASCAR ministry so there are frequent getaways where we enjoy each other. We have lots of great moments of reaching out in a low key way with our friends, but we also have lots of laughter. One of the funniest moments in my entire life was one day when our car was being given a police escort from the race along with the band, the tour bus, the campers, Etc and a large group of people mistook my husband for Ted Nugent and rushed our SUV. Very funny incident. But times our dreams take us apart for a few hours or days, I try to remember that his music ministry is as important to him as my writing is to me. This past year God has started doing this neat thing where, on occasion, He's started to combine our dreams. One way God has done this was to open the opportunity for my husband to run audio at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. (www.acfw.com) I hope to see many of you there! If you happen to see a cute audio guy who looks like a rocker dude, be sure to come up to him and say, "Ted Nugent! Can I have your autograph dude?" LOL! Seriously, he really looks more like Steven Tyler than Ted. And my rocker dude's name is Billy. If you're ever lucky enough to meet this man who has championed my dreams and taught me how to champion his back by trading time, prayers and mutual respect, be sure to tell him thank you for being part of the reason I am able to write. And if you ever meet this man, you will see the number one inspiration outside of the characteristics of Jesus for how I can write such great heroes in my books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Cheryl Wyatt

Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home, and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. Her debut novels (Books 1 and 2-Wings of Refuge Series-Steeple Hill) received Romantic Times Top Picks. In addition, her debut books received the honor of coming in at #1 and #4 on eHarlequins's Top Ten Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists which included several NYT Bestselling authors.

To receive her quarterly newsletter for updates on new releases and contests with GREAT prizes visit her Web site at www.cherylwyatt.com and sign up in the space provided. Cheryl respects your privacy and will not share your e-mail address with a third party.

ABOUT THE BOOK – A Soldier’s Reunion

A MAN FROM HER PAST
Despite a decade apart, this isn’t the reunion Mandy Manchester expected! She thought she’d put high school sweetheart Nolan Briggs behind her. Now he’s back…and the pararescue jumper literally sweeps her off her feet. He’s ready and willing to rekindle what they once shared.

Mandy, though, isn’t prepared to put her heart at risk. He left her before—she won’t trust him again. Can Nolan teach this grounded girl to take a leap of faith?

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of A Soldier’s Reunion, just leave a reply to this blog. Because of my crazy schedule you get extra time on this one... I’ll pick a winner at random on June 12th. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

CFBA presents ROSE HOUSE by Tina Ann Forkner

2009-05-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingRose House(Waterbrook Press - May 5, 2009
byTina Ann Forkner

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. She grew up in Oklahoma and graduated with honors from CSU Sacramento before settling in Wyoming. She lives with her husband, their three bright children and their dog and stays busy serving on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors. She is the author of Ruby Among Us, her debut novel, and Rose House, which recently released from Waterbrook Press/Random House.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope

Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

If you would like to read an excerpt from HERE

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Rose House, just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on June 3rd. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

ABC's Updated V Series to Star Elizabeth Mitchell & Morena Baccarin

2009-05-27T18:02:00.001-07:00

Summer will soon be here. Which means it's a time to frolic in the sun, a time to be with family and friends... and a time to consider the upcoming Fall TV season.

The new series I'm most excited about? V. Yes, it's a remake of the '80s series about visitors from somewhere out in space. They seem friendly at first... but isn't that how all alien visits start out?

I was jazzed to find out that Morena Baccarin (Firefly, Stargate SG-1) plays Anna, the leader of the Visitors. But today I just learned that Elizabeth Mitchell (LOST) is also in the cast, as FBI agent Erica Evans. I think we can expect some cool head-to-head confrontations with these two.

Of course, that brings up another thought for those of us who love LOST: Does this mean that Juliette (Mitchell's character on LOST) won't be in the final season? Did she actually die? Or will she have an abbreviated role? Or is Mitchell just one busy lady? I have no idea, but I look forward to finding out.

Now for your viewing pleasure, here's the ABC trailer for V -

Amy Grant - She Colors My Day

2009-05-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

I've been an Amy Grant fan for a long time. So it's funny that my son decided not to like her music, simply because "I can't like everything you do, Mom." So it's nothing personal, Amy. Just the mildest case of teenage rebellion ever!

Enjoy this sweet video for Amy's new song, She Colors My Day.

Johnny Depp - Why is The Rum Gone?

2009-05-24T10:00:00.001-07:00

There are some insanely talented people out there making videos just for fun. My son came across this one on YouTube and I just have to share it. If you love Pirates of the Caribbean and Johnny Depp, you'll get a kick out of this.

Hope that brought a smile to your face!

A Passionate Historical Romance from Julie Lessman

2009-05-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

A Passion Denied, the third installment in The Daughters of Boston series, is the story of Elizabeth O’Connor. In her desire to be a thoroughly modern woman of the Roaring Twenties, she goes by the name Lizzie, bobs her hair, and confesses her love to the man of her dreams, John Brady. But Brady, as most people call him, has secrets he’s not sharing with her. The demons of his past hold him back and make him feel incapable and unworthy of loving a woman like Elizabeth.

While this novel centers on Lizzie and Brady, it’s not theirs alone. All the couples we’ve loved in Ms. Lessman’s previous books are back: Faith and Collin, Charity and Mitch, and Patrick and Marcy. Each one has issues of their own to deal with. That Ms. Lessman is able to deftly juggle so many characters and different storylines is a testament to her talent as a storyteller. If you haven’t read the first two books of the series, I suggest you do so before reading this one. You will enjoy the experience so much more!

Julie Lessman is one of those rare female writers who really gets how to show things from the male perspective. This isn’t to say the women in her stories aren’t great, because they are. But I’m constantly amazed at the life she is able to breathe into her passionate, flawed men. Ladies, I dare you not to develop just a little bit of a crush on at least one of them.

A Passion Denied is a tender love story wrapped around the mystery of one man’s past. It will make you laugh, bring a tear to your eye, and make you think. The characters are so real, you may just find yourself thinking about them long after you read the last word. In short, it’s everything a good book should be.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(the following is straight off Julie's website)

I’m Julie Lessman, an Inspirational Romance author with a passion for God and a passion for romance. Since the age of twelve, I’ve been in love with the idea of being “in love.” It happened the moment Scarlett seared Rhett with a look on the winding staircase of Twelve Oaks. Suddenly I was a goner, spellbound by the emotional ebb and flow of romantic relationships.

As an adult, I quickly learned that true romance is spiritual as well as physical and emotional. And one pass through the “Song of Solomon” in the Bible told me that God was the biggest romantic of them all, deeply passionate in His love for each of us. Through my love affair with Him, I have discovered that romance can transcend to another dimension where romantic passion and spiritual passion merge, creating a 3-D love story: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. I hope you enjoy my stories ... and may they bring you closer to the Father’s heart.

Hugs,

Julie

To find out more about Julie and her books, visit her blog, Julie Lessman: Passion With A Purpose.

CFBA presents DECEPTIVE PROMISES by Amber Miller

2009-05-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingDeceptive PromisesBarbour Publishing, Inc (2008) byAmber Miller

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, live in Colorado and just had an incredibly beautiful daughter named Victoria.

I love to travel and visit new places. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher or log cabin nestled in the foothills of the mountains. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write.

I got involved with web design in 1997, when I was asked to take over running the official web site for the television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. That eventually led to a series of negotiations where I was offered the job of running world-renowned actress Jane Seymour's official fan site. That has branched into doing web sites for a variety of clients, including: authors J.M. Hochstetler, Trish Perry, Kathy Pride, Louise M. Gouge, Susan Page Davis, and Jill Elizabeth Nelson, actor William Shockley (the voice of AT&T and Toyota) and many others. With the help of a handful of other web site "technos," Eagle Designs was born! Feel free to visit and see our other clients.

Amber's very first book, Promises, Promises, released in February 2008. It's a historical fiction set in Delaware during the Colonial period and the Great Awakening. The other 2 books in the series are Quills And Promises (July 2008) and this one, Deceptive Promises (December 2008). In 2009, they will be repackaged for a state set entitled Liberty's Promise. She has also sold another series set in historical Michigan during the Industrial Revolution. The 3 books in that series will begin releasing in May 2009 and will be repackaged in 2010.

ABOUT THE BOOK

MARGRET WANTS TO BELIEVE SAMUEL'S PROMISES.

Is deception fair in wartime Margret Scott must deal with this question as she finds herself attracte to the enigmatic Samuel Lowe. As the tensions grow between the colonists and the British soldiers and loyalists, Margret cannot always tell where Samuel's loyalties lie.

"If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity." -Job 31:5-6

Samuel's duties have him working for both sides of this war, and he often finds himself torn between what is right and what is wrong. He promises Margret she can trust him, and Margret promises him she does. But can promises born in deception be trusted? Can a relationship built in uncertainty survive?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Deceptive Promises, go HERE.

American Idol - And the Winner is...

2009-05-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight's American Idol finale was probably the best ever. Here are my personal highlights:

BEST DUETS - Allison & Cyndi Lauper - It was great to see a still-quirky but appropriate Cyndi sing a soulful version of Time After Time with young Allison.

Kris & Keith Urban - Two strong male voices, two guitars... what's not to like?

FAVORITE SURPRISE MUSICIAN - Steve Martin - Michael and Megan sang a sweet little duet, written by the banjo playing Martin, and accompanied by his band. Loved the song and loved Steve. I may even buy his album: The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo.

BEST GAG - Kara versus Bikini Girl - When what's her name came out, she was sporting a new bikini and a new pair of breasts. Apparently, she got augmented since the last time we saw her. I really didn't want to hear her try to sing again. But then they raised the wall behind her, and I thought, Oh good, Mariah's going to put her to shame. But NOOOOO, it was even better than that. It was Kara! Not only did she show off a great set of pipes, but at the end she briefly flashed her own totally tone bikini clad bod. Good for you, Kara!

AND NOW, THE WINNER... Kris Allen! Yeah, I know, I've been an Adam Lambert fan all this time. And I still am. But over the last few weeks, I've become a Kris fan, too. Going into this show, I really didn't care which one won. And when Kris's name was called, I actually shrieked with glee. I'm thrilled for him and his family. And I know I'll still get to hear more from Mr. Lambert in the near future.

So that's it. Another season, another winner. Thanks, American Idol, for a great show. See ya next time!

Musing on Dreams with Patti Lacy - WIN HER BOOK!

2009-05-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to welcome back today's guest blogger: my friend, and very cool author, Patti Lacy!

Musing
on Dreams…

Since Daddy was a boys’ dorm director at Baylor back in the early 1960s, two hundred brothers threw me over their shoulders, coaxed me to ride my trike down slick halls, let me operate the switchboard, taught me risqué songs…oh, the trouble…and fun…I had!

Daddy’s work then moved us like pieces about the Deep South checkerboard, and I attended a different school yearly until junior high. Books—and their characters—became the playground friends I didn’t make. I ferreted out clues for Nancy Drew, braided Black Beauty’s glorious mane. Oh, the places I went!

When I wasn’t reading, I dreamed about the mysterious lands in Tales of the Orient or the lovely home where Beautiful Joe lived. Dreams nourished and sustained me through some lonely times, and I thank God for that.

Fantasies morphed into more traditional middle-class desires during my teenaged years. I dreamed of marrying the perfect man, having five husky sons, living on a ranch complete with well-appointed stables and kennels while pursuing important jobs.

Hopes of wearing the robes of a judge or the faded jeans of a geologist vanished like mist over a Louisiana bayou when the Still, Small Voice whispered for me to teach, as my parents did. Then I found a good man who married me in spite of my flaws, and God gave us two children, one boy and one girl.

In 1995, God yanked us from our comfortable Southern porch and deposited us in Terre Haute, Indiana. Just hearing the words Midwest and blizzards and below zero prickled my skin. All my relatives whispered that we’d lost our noggins. After all, none of the clan had ventured north of the Mason-Dixon line—except for Chicago, and that didn’t really count. Wasn’t a big city a big city, even up North?

The Midwest offered amazing friends—and an incredible story about God’s ability to work good through ALL things. Ten years later, the Still Small Voice whispered for me to write that story. I shook my head and stomped my feet, but the Voice persisted. Three years later, Kregel Publications took a chance with my first attempt at writing, An Irishwoman’s Tale.

Dear friends, I have simplified my life by praying one dream: to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God, whose dream weaving makes filthy rags out of my own misguided notions. And oh, it’s an exciting way to live, rising every day and saying, “What do you have for me now, Lord? What do you have for me now?”

To find out more about Patti and her books, visit her website at http://www.pattilacy.com/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In 1955, Ann Qualls gave birth to her daughter Patti in the front seat of a Buick. By pure coincidence, Ann claims, their daughter was named Patti Day Qualls, PDQ.

This moniker has served Patti well, as she’s moved at least ten times, traveled to forty states, and changed occupations with a liberality unusual in native Texans. However, Patti thinks her latest profession will stick awhile.

The Still, Small Voice encouraged Patti to write after a brave Irish friend shared memories of betrayal and her decision to forgive. In 2008, An Irishwoman’s Tale was published by Kregel Publications. Patti’s second novel, What the Bayou Saw, released in 2009.

The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to capture Patti’s imagination. She writes full time, teaches Bible studies and seminars, and attends book signings. Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal. They have two grown children and a dog named Laura.

ABOUT THE BOOK - What the Bayou Saw

Since leaving Louisiana, Sally Stevens has smothered her childhood with a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her beloved husband Sam, knows what happened to her and her best friend, Ella Ward, when they were twelve years old.

Now a teacher in Normal, Illinois, Sally has nearly forgotten her past. Then Shamika, one of her students, is violently attacked, and memories of segregation, a chain-link fence, and a blood oath bubble to the surface like a dead body in a bayou.

Finally entrapped in her web of lies, Sally—and Shamika—embark on a quest to find Ella in post-Katrina New Orleans. With the help of friends, family, and God, Sally can glimpse a life free of the mire of deceit and truly begin to live with joy. But will she pay the price for a lifetime of deception?

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of What the Bayou Saw, just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on May 21st. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

American Idol - Could Kris Be In The Final Two?

2009-05-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we get down to the final two. From the beginning, I've been saying that Danny and Adam will be in the finale. But last night, Kris kinda blew my mind. He's been the quiet, come from behind guy. I didn't even notice him the first few weeks. But he's been growing on me, and last night, I think he sailed past the other two. Adam and Danny both had one song that was great, but another that didn't quite hit the mark. But both of Kris's performances were solid, entertaining, and engaging.

So I find myself with a bit of a dilemma.

I find myself having a hard time picturing a finale without Kris.

And even though I still love Gokey, I find myself really wanting to see a Kris/Adam finale.

At this point, I'm thinking it could go any way: Danny/Adam, Kris/Adam, Kris/Danny... It's sure going to be fun finding out.

Added Wednesday night: Wow, it really happened. It's a Kris/Adam finale! Congrats to them, and to the talented Danny Gokey. I'm sure all three will have successful recording careers. That's all I can say now, cuz my mind is still blown from the season finale of LOST. Whoa!