The Writer's Sword

CSFF Blog Tour- Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet

2008-01-23T21:43:00.000-08:00

This month, the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring Jeffrey Overstreet's Auralia's Colors, the first book and Red Strand in the Auralia Thread.

Summary:

Cloaked in mystery, Auralia grows up among criminals outside the walls of House Abascar, where vicious beastmen lurk in shadow. There, she discovers an unsettling--and forbidden--talent for crafting colors that enchant all who behold them, including Abascar's hard-hearted king, an exiled wizard, and a prince who keeps dangerous secrets.

Auralia's gift opens doors from the palace to the dungeons, setting the stage for violent and miraculous change in the great houses of the Expanse.

Weaknesses:

-Too many points-of-view. The large amount of points-of-view was disorienting and frustrating. I felt like I barely got to know any of the characters, and it was difficult to even determine who the book was about. This really hurt my enjoyment of the book, especially since characters are the most important part of a book for me.

-Seems to wander a bit. I wasn't sure what the plot would turn out being, though it did pick up toward the end of the book. I would have appreciated more conflict or more obvious direction to the plot.

Strengths:

-Eventual interest in some of the characters, particularly Auralia, the ale boy, and Prince Cal-raven. However, it took more than half of the book before this happened for me.

-Some beautiful, almost poetic setting descriptions. The book is rich in detail and colors (no pun intended). There are plenty of passages like this spread throughout the book, and many of them would be worth reading again for their beauty and the wonderful way the words flow together.

You can find out more about Auralia's Colors at Jeffrey Overstreet's blog or at the Auralia's Colors website.

Please take a moment to visit some of the other blogs on the CSFF Blog Tour and see what they have to say about Auralia's Colors.
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Jackie Castle
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Heather R. Hunt
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Shannon McNear
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Pamela Morrisson
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachelle Sperling
Donna Swanson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Living in Him,
Becca Johnson

Two-thirds of My Novel Completed!

2008-01-08T02:03:00.000-08:00

I've completed two-thirds of the rough draft of my WIP (work-in-progress) as of tonight! I'm very excited! :D I can't wait to announce the completion on here. What a celebration that will be! Thank you for celebrating all the important milestones with me. It's quite a thrill to watch this story finally happen. :)

Writing on to the great novel ending,
In Him,
Becca Johnson

CSFF Blog Tour- Scarlet by Stephen R. Lawhead

2007-11-27T23:12:00.000-08:00

This month, the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring Stephen R. Lawhead's Scarlet, the second book in the King Raven Trilogy.

Summary:
After searching for some time, Will Scarlet finds King Raven's band of men and earns a place among them. He fights with them to help the villagers under the invading Normans. Soon, Scarlet is thrown in prison and sentenced to hang for a crime he did not commit. He tells his story to a scribe while he waits for either death or rescue.

Weaknesses:
-At first, the changes from first-person present, to first-person past, to third-person past, and back again confused me and threw me off, but the story soon sucked me in and I no longer noticed.

-Occasionally, the descriptions would go on for what felt like too long, and my attention would begin to slip. That might be because I am often an impatient reader, but I still think some of the descriptions could have been shorter.

Strengths:
-I really fell in love with the main character of this book, Scarlet. Something about the way he expresses himself and his personality really appealed to me. I felt very attached to him, and I think that seeing most of the story from his point-of-view really contributed to that.

-Lawhead does an excellent job of making the reader feel like they really are in Wales while all of this is happening. His descriptions pull you in with their beauty and excellent sensory details.

-Lawhead did a great job of making me hate the bad guys in the book. Injustice really gets to me, and these guys displayed the pinnacle of injustice. I like books that have bad guys I can really despise. It's more fun that way. :P

Please take a moment to visit some of the other blogs participating in this tour, as well as Stephen R. Lawhead's website.
Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Wayne Thomas Batson
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Mike Lynch
Margaret
Karen McSpadden
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Lyn Perry
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachelle Sperling
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Jason Waguespac
Daniel I. Weaver
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Live the adventure!

Becca Johnson

50,000 Words Reached!

2007-11-23T22:49:00.000-08:00

I reached 50,000 words in my work-in-progress (WIP) tonight! :D I'm so excited! I have at least 30,000 words left to go, and this book is getting more and more interesting. Every day, I fall in love with the characters and world just a little bit more. It's fun! :P

Loving the adventure of writing in Him,
Becca Johnson

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I thought I'd use my blog to post a list of some of the things I'm thankful for. :D
-Rain
-Music
-The ocean
-Flutes
-Singing
-Snow
-Swords
-Books
-Stories
-Cats
-Mushrooms
-Ice cream
-Cookie dough
-Hugs
-The sky
-Sunsets
-Clouds
-The moon and stars
-Leaves falling in a shower to the ground
-Friends
-Family

~God's amazing, incredible, indescribable love for us!~

What are some of the things you are most thankful for?

Living in His love,
Becca Johnson

Relentless by Robin Parrish, First in the Dominion Trilogy

2007-11-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

I recently read Fearless by Robin Parrish. The book is the first in the Dominion Trilogy. It was a really good book! The plot moved quickly, and I found the characters engaging.

Summary:
I can't say much without giving stuff away, but I can tell you that this is about a man named Grant who steps off the bus one day and sees himself walking down the street. He finds out that he has switched bodies and lives with someone else, and it seems that there are many groups of people involved in this and/or out to get him.

Weaknesses:
-There were some grammar and spelling mistakes.
-A few plot points seem to be forgotten and left behind.
-Focused a lot on action, which I liked, but might bother those who prefer books with more low points.

Strengths:
-Fast-paced action. Some really great action scenes, especially at the end.
-Interesting characters. The ones I found most intriguing were: Grant, Hannah, Alex, and Payton.
-Engaging plot. Parrish created a good amount of mystery and suspense throughout the novel that kept the pages turning. He also thought of some very cool stuff for the plot and characters (once again, I can't say much for fear of giving anything away).

Overall, I recommend this book to people who like speculative fiction, stories about superheros, or fast-moving books.

Also, I recommend visiting Robin Parrish's website. He has a blog, a graphic novel that happens in between the events of Relentless and Fearless (the second book in the trilogy), and lots of other fun stuff! :D

Live the adventure to its fullest!

Becca Johnson

Quotes of the Week #17: Anger

2007-10-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

This week's quotes are on anger and its consequences. I found these quotes to be quite profound.

1. Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.
-Benjamin Franklin

2. My anger protected me only for a short time; anger wearies itself out and truth comes in.
-C.S. Lewis

3. Anger is one letter short of danger.
-Unknown

4. No matter how just your words may be, you ruin everything when you speak with anger.
-John Chrysostom

5. He who angers you, conquers you.
-Unknown

Humorous Quote:

People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.
-Will Rogers

Random Quote:

Because we love something else more than this world we love even this world better than those who know no other.
-C.S. Lewis

Live the adventure!

Becca Johnson

CSFF Blog Tour- Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers

2007-10-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

This month, the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring Bark of the Bog Owl, book one of the Wilderking Trilogy, by Jonathan Rogers.

I haven't yet had a chance to read this book, but from what I've seen of the information on it, it sounds like a really fun book.

I stopped by Jonathan Rogers' Website to find out more about Bark of the Bog Owl. It's a nice website. It includes information on the different characters and races in the book, a map of the world, plot summaries for each book in the trilogy, excerpts from the books, and information about the author. My favorite part of the website are the wilderness background noises that play. It adds a feeling of actually being there while you read about the world.

I read the website's excerpt from Bark of the Bog Owl, and really enjoyed it. It immediately draws you in and makes you instantly like Aidan, the main character. I look forward to when I'll have a chance to read this book. It seems like something I'd like, since it looks like it's full of adventure, fun, and lovable characters.

You can see what the other people on the tour are saying about Bark of the Bog Owl by visiting the blogs below:
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Janey DeMeo
Merrie Destefano or Alien Dream
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Christopher Hopper
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Karen
Dawn King
Mike Lynch
Rachel Marks
Karen McSpadden
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Donna Swanson
Daniel I. Weaver
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Live the adventure!

Becca Johnson

Prince Caspian Movie Poster

2007-10-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Check out this beautiful poster for the Prince Caspian movie:

Isn't it exciting?

Live every moment of the adventure!

Becca Johnson

Quotes of the Week #16- Fear

2007-10-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted to talk about courage again this week, but I decided to come at it from a different angle by exposing fear for what it really is. Life is a constant battle against fear, even if we don't realize it. We deal with the fear of man, fear of the future, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, and so much more everyday. May you find strength and a new perspective in the following quotes!

1. You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

2. Some people expend tremendous amounts of energy to be normal.
-Albert Camus

3. Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark.
-Francis Bacon

4. Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved; they themselves are of all people the most abject; some fear them, but they fear everyone.
-St. Francis de Sales

5. The fear of God kills all other fears.
-Hugh Black

Unrelated Humorous Quote:

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.
-Unknown

Random Quote:

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Remember, God, Who loves us more than anything, cares about what matters to us. He's watching out for us, and He's always with us.

Live the adventure without fear!

Becca Johnson

Fantasy Novel- 50%

2007-10-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

I've passed the 50% mark in the word count goal for my fantasy novel! I'm so excited! My goal is to have at least the rough draft finished by the next Mount Hermon Writers Conference. If I keep at it, I'll reach that goal! :D

Now to think of some way to celebrate this accomplishment....

Live every moment of the adventure!

Becca Johnson

Quotes of the Week #15- Life

2007-09-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

This week's quotes are about life and its lessons, joys, and courage. Quotes #1 and #5 are particularly good! :D

1. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
-Helen Keller

2. This process of the good life is not, I am convinced, a life for the faint-hearted. It involves the stretching and growing of becoming more and more of one's potentialities. It involves the courage to be. It means launching oneself fully into the stream of life.
-Carl Rogers

3. Today is a new day. You will get out of it just what you put into it.... If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, there is always another chance for you. And supposing you have tried and failed again and again, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the STAYING DOWN.
-Mary Pickford

4. Is life not full of opportunities for learning love? Every man and woman every day has a thousand of them. The world is not a playground; it is a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday, but an education. And the one eternal lesson for us all is how better we can love.
-Henry Drummond

5. Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; another’s life, another’s death, I stake my whole eternity.
-Horatius Bonar

Unrelated Humorous Quote:

I don't mind it when my guests write their names on the furniture in the house dust, I just don't like it when they date their signatures!
-Phyllis Diller

Random Quote:

This is what I've learned: that everybody is talented, original, and has something important to say.
-Brenda Ueland

Live the adventure!

Becca Johnson

Quotes of the Week #14- Paper Scraps

2007-09-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

This week, I'm using the quotes I have lying all around my room on different scraps of paper. Some have been given to me, others I've found somewhere. They lay hidden under some notebook or between the pages of a journal until I stumble upon them while looking for something or cleaning. They're like little treasures or jewels that I've sprinkled about my room to find just when I need them. Surprise gifts to myself. And today, I've decided to share some of them with you. So whether you stumbled upon them or came looking for them, may they bring you inspiration and revelation. :)

1. Not everyone possesses boundless energy or a conspicuous talent. We are not equally blessed with great intellect or physical beauty or emotional strength. But we have all been given the same ability to be faithful.
-Gigi Graham Tchividjian

2. Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.
-Augustine

3. Don't worry about what you do not understand...worry about what you do understand in the Bible but do not live by.
-Corrie Ten Boom

4. God forgave us without any merit on our part; therefore we must forgive others, whether or not we think they merit it.
-Lehman Strauss

5. Be careful of the words you say
Keep them soft and sweet
You never know from day to day
Which one's you'll have to eat.
-Unknown

6. "..., to be an honest man is not easy, but I fear that is what I am. It is an affliction of mine that tries me sorely. Yet . . . what can a man do? I want only what is mine, and not to trade upon the happiness or unhappiness of others."
Louis L'Amour in Fair Blows the Wind

Humorous Quote:

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.
-Laurence J. Peter

Take joy in the adventure!

Becca Johnson

CSFF Blog Tour- Review of The Return by Austin Boyd

2007-09-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

Today is the second day of the CSFF Blog Tour featuring Austin Boyd's The Return, the third book in the Mars Hill Classified series. My mother agreed to review The Return, one of her favorite books. So without further delay, here is her review:

In The Return, Johns Wells is once again on his way to Mars. Believing his family killed in a terrorist attack, there is nothing left to hold him on earth. Wells and his team are sent to the Red Planet to finally solve the mystery of whether there is life on Mars. On this long journey their beliefs are challenged and their characters tested. This book answers the questions we were left with after reading the first two books.

The Mars Hill Classified series has had me on tether hooks from the beginning and I could not wait for each one’s release. Unfortunately, I had to wait for my husband to finish with The Return before I could start it since I had promised to let him read it first.

Austin is able to use his experience and education to tell a story without leaving the reader confused. He does not write in a way that the technical information is way over his audience’s head.

He places his characters in situations where they face the same struggles we do and yet does not allow them to find the easy way out. We can empathize with them because we have been there too. I think he did a great job with the Christian message not being the focus of his story and yet still very present.

If you are a reader of speculative fiction, or just enjoy good writing, I highly recommend this book. It is a great book to give to your husband, but wait until you have finished it first or you won’t get it back.

Boyd has forever changed how I look at space exploration and raised many questions about alien life. I am looking forward to his next series. I wish he would hurry.

Susan Johnson

Please take some time to visit Austin Boyd's website, along with a few of the other blogs participating in the CSFF Blog Tour.

Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Lisa Cromwell
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Merrie Destefano or Alien Dream
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Christopher Hopper
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Rachel Marks
Karen McSpadden
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Take joy in the adventure, and give your mom a hug!

Becca Johnson

CSFF Blog Tour- The Return by Austin Boyd

2007-09-17T22:40:00.000-07:00

This month, the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring Austin Boyd's newest release, The Return, the final book in the Mars Hill Classified series.

Since I have not been able to read the trilogy yet (though I can't wait to), I've asked a very special person to join me here and give a guest review of The Return. This special person loves the books, is an avid reader of all sorts of genres, and is my pre-reader for my books and stories. Her name is Susan Johnson, and she's my lovely mother! You're in for a treat! :D

So, either tomorrow night, or Wednesday, I'll post her review of The Return here.

In the meantime, you can go visit Austin Boyd's website and learn more about him and his books.

You can also check out the blogs of my fellow CSFF Blog Tour members:

Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Lisa Cromwell
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Merrie Destefano or Alien Dream
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Christopher Hopper
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Rachel Marks
Karen McSpadden
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
Lyn Perry
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Take joy in the great adventure, and watch out for those aliens!

Becca Johnson

New Superpower Discovered!

2007-09-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

I've discovered a new superpower! Apparently, not only can I manipulate fire, but I have the ability to talk at the speed of light, while still picturing "the great keyboard in the sky" in my head! I took a test where I had to say all the major scales in under 1 minute and 15 seconds to get an A. I managed it in under a minute! To give you an idea of what I had to say in that little time, I have put the entire thing below:

Key of C, no sharps, no flats, C D E F G A B C
Key of G, 1 sharp, F, G A B C D E F# G
Key of D, 2 sharps, FC, D E F# G A B C# D
Key of A, 3 sharps, FCG, A B C# D E F# G# A
Key of E, 4 sharps, FCGD, E F# G# A B C# D# E
Key of B, 5 sharps, FCGDA, B C# D# E F# G# A# B
Key of F#, 6 sharps, FCGDAE, F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#
Key of C#, 7 sharps, FCGDAEB, C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#
Key of F, 1 flat, B, F G A Bb C D E F
Key of Bb, 2 flats, BE, Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Key of Eb, 3 flats, BEA, Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
Key of Ab, 4 flats, BEAD, Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
Key of Db, 5 flats, BEADG, Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
Key of Gb, 6 flats, BEADGC, Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb
Key of Cb, 7 flats, BEADGCF, Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb

Just typing it makes me feel tired. :P

Take joy in your journey, and don't talk so fast that your heart starts to race and your limbs to shake! Unless, of course, you have that superpower. ;)

Becca Johnson

Twilight Series Poll Summary

2007-09-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

The poll I had up asking which book of the Twilight series was readers' favorite is over, and it produced interesting results. If I were to list the books, from favorite to least favorite, my order would be: Twilight, Eclipse, New Moon. Well, the poll turned out the same way.

The final results:
Twilight- 4 votes
New Moon- 2 votes
Eclipse- 3 votes
All of the above- 6 votes

No one voted for none of the above! :D

Well, I thought that might interest you. :)

Take joy in the great adventure!

Becca Johnson

Quotes of the Week #13- Worship

2007-09-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

The focus of this week's quotes is worship. I didn't find a humorous quote this week, but the other quotes more than make up for its absence. :)

May you be inspired!

1. As long as you notice, and have to count the steps, you are not yet dancing but only learning to dance. A good shoe is a shoe you don't notice. Good reading becomes possible when you need not conciously think about eyes, or light, or print, or spelling. The perfect church service would be the one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.
-C.S. Lewis

2. It is not enough for us to be where God is worshipped, if we do not ourselves worship him, and that not with bodily exercise only, which profits little, but with the heart.
-Matthew Henry

3. A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
-C.S. Lewis

4. The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be.
-Eliasabeth Elliot

5. The most valuable thing the Pslams do for me is to express that same delight in God which made David dance.
-C.S. Lewis

Random Quote:

Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
-Abraham Lincoln

Take joy in the adventure!

Becca Johnson

Quotes of the Week #12- Writing and Stories

2007-09-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Because I've found so many great quotes on writing, I've decided to include ten quotes this week instead of the usual five. I've also included an extra humorous quote. Enjoy! :D

1. Every man's life is a fairytale written by God's fingers.
-Hans Christian Anderson

2. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.
-C. S. Lewis

3. I write for the same reason I breathe - because if I didn't, I would die.
-Isaac Asimov

4. Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.
-Carol Burnett

5. I am a galley slave to pen and ink.
-Honore de Balzac

6. To anyone who knows a writer, never underestimate the power of your encouragement.
-Matthew Reilly

7. If you wait for inspiration, you're not a writer, but a waiter.
-Anonymous

8. A wonderous dream, a fantasy incarnate, fiction completes us, mutilated beings burdened with the awful dichotomy of having only one life and the ability to desire a thousand.
-Mario Vargas Llosa

9. Some things can only be said in fiction, but that doesn't mean they aren't true.
-Aaron Latham

10. Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword.
-Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Humorous Quotes:

I once heard a fellow novelist call writing 'successful schizophrenia'--we invent people and worlds that don't exist; but instead of being medicated, we are paid for it.
-Jodi Picoult

If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it in an hour when it isn't expecting it.
-H.G. Wells

Random Quote:

"But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually--their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't. And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on--and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same--like old Mr. Bilbo. But those aren't always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of a tale we've fallen into?"
-Sam, from The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Happy adventures, and trust the Author of our lives for His perfect ending!

Becca Johnson

New Sword!

2007-09-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

Check out my new sword! Isn't it awesome? :D

That brings the total to five swords, one knife, and two baldrics. :D

No adventure is complete without a sword, so may you have a beautiful sword on your adventure! ;)

Becca Johnson

What Should Your Superpower Be?

2007-09-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

While taking the quiz for what crayon color I would be, (which I found over at Alien Dream), I found this fun quiz too! :) What's funny is, I'd like the superpower, but I don't have that personality. :P At least, I hope I'm not that scary. ;)

Your Superpower Should Be Manipulating Fire

You are intense, internally driven, and passionate.
Your emotions are unpredictable - and they often get the better of you.
Both radiant and terrifying, people are drawn to you.
At your most powerful, you feel like the world belongs to you.

Why you would be a good superhero: You are obsessive enough to give it your all

Your biggest problem as a superhero: Your moodiness would make it difficult to control your powers

What Should Your Superpower Be?

Quotes of the Week #11- Virtue

2007-09-03T19:11:00.000-07:00

1. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.
-C.S. Lewis

2. No virtue can be great if it is not constant.
-Alfonso Milagro

3. Character is made up of small duties faithfully performed--of self-denials, of self-sacrifices, of kindly acts of love and duty.
-Anonymous

4. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again.
-C.S. Lewis

5. Virtue--even attempted virtue--brings light; indulgence brings fog.
-C.S. Lewis

Humorous Quote:

Being virtuous is no feat once temptation ceases."
-Arnold Glasow

Random Quote:

We have a God who delights in impossibilities.
-Billy Sunday

Happy adventures!

Becca Johnson

What Color Crayon Are You?

2007-09-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

I knew it! I knew I'd be blue! :P And it sounds a lot like me! :D

You Are a Blue Crayon

Your world is colored in calm, understated, deep colors.
You are a loyal person, and the truest friend anyone could hope to find.
On the inside, you tend to be emotional and even a bit moody.
However, you know that people depend on you. So you put on a strong front.

Your color wheel opposite is orange. Orange people may be opinionated, but you feel they lack the depth to truly understand what they're saying.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Quotes of the Week #10- Love

2007-08-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

I didn't post my Quotes of the Week this last weekend, so I decided to do it now instead.
I'm excited about this post because I found some great quotes on love to share! :D

1. There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.
— C. S. Lewis

2. If the first mark of a true and living church is love, the second is suffering. The one is naturally consequent on the other. A willingness to suffer proves the genuineness of love.
-John Stott

3. Because we love something else more than this world we love even this world better than those who know no other.
-C.S. Lewis

4. Genuine love is so contrary to human nature that its presence bears witness to an extraordinary power.
-John Piper

5. The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Humorous Quote:
Love, and a cough, cannot be hid.
-George Herbert

Random Quote:
God loves with a great love the man whose heart is bursting with a passion for the impossible.
-William Booth

Love every moment of the adventure!

Becca Johnson

Rockin' Blogger

2007-08-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

Today, I popped in over at Merrie Destefano's Alien Dream and discovered that she has bestowed upon me the Rockin' Girl Blogger award! :D I like the sound of that, especially the "Rockin'" part. :D I'll gladly accept that title any day. :P Thank you, Merrie!

I looked around a bit to see who's already received the award, then selected the three people I'd like to give the award to. :) They are:

Jackie Castle
Legossi
Eve Nielsen

Have some rockin' adventures today!

Becca Johnson