Where did all the "writer" stuff come from?

For my regular readers who are wondering why all of a sudden all this writing stuff is popping up on my blog... it's just suddenly popping up in my life. I'm hoping it is God spurring me on to complete what I have started. He is, after all, the originator of my creativity. I just have to figure out how to write and not have it take "idol" status in my life. I'm very good at creating "idols" out of the things I do. I can lift housework and taking care of my family to idol status. Thank goodness for God's grace in sending Jesus Christ. Anywhoo... I started this blog to share my interests, experiences and ideas with other like-minded individuals and to keep the Grandma's up to date on our life in Michigan- so I hope non-writers will bear with the writing stuff, writers will bear with the "home" stuff, and grandmas will bear with the non-grandkid stuff. I am multi-faceted and given to many a whim.

I am slush

Another literary agent to add to your list: Colleen Lindsay. She was just hired on at FinePrint Literary management. She is a mainstream agent looking for works in the young adult genre and fantasy. Since she is the newbie in the agency, she is the one for all of us newbies to send our queries to.

I hate to think of my work as "slush" but as an unknown, first time author with no platform- I AM SLUSH!

If you want to get a better feel for Colleen, check out her blog: http://theswivet.blogspot.com/ . Oh and if you are going to send her a query... ax any lengthy descriptions of vomit. Just a tip!

Christian Literary Agency

Publishing is a tough biz to break into. Most of the bigger publishing houses (Christian and mainstream) won't even look at unsolicited manuscripts. They only look at agented submissions. So, one has to find an agent.

Most agents will also tell you that they don't spend much time on unsolicited manuscripts or queries. They prefer looking at projects that come recommended to them. So, you have to know somebody.

Agents say the best way to get an invite to send your work in is to attend conferences and meet agents and publishers face to face. Great... I have $600 to spend on a conference... NOT! It is very frustrating.

Anywhoo... I hope to finish my first novel this year. (I have to find snatches of time to write.) I am already researching agents. I wish I could go to a conference but in our family's current financial situation, I just can't. From current reading, I have found Alive Communications (http://www.alivecommunications.com/).

They have a very tough/specific submission policy but they do have a couple of agents that will look at unsolicited proposals. So if you are in the market for an agent, it might be worth your while to check them out. They represent a great variety of writing types.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hey all!

Hope this day finds you happy and celebrating with your loved ones. The kids have enjoyed their cards and candy and I enjoyed having breakfast in bed from the DH. He unexpectedly ended up having today off and surprised me. It was quite nice. I also surprised him with a gift.

Let me tell you, it has been a long time since I have shopped for sexy lingerie. (Like, since before we had kids- Eleven years +.) I had a small budget so I started with my local discount retailer (Meijer) and also Target. What I found there were $20 items that looked cheap and raunchy. Okay, off to Victoria's Secret. They had nice items and a good selection but $50 is more then I can spend right now. (Especially on something that is going to spend more time on the floor then on me.) So, since I was at the mall, I checked out Kohl's and Penney's. I was pleasantly surprised. They had a few nice pieces which at regular price ($35) was still more then I wanted to spend but they had them on sale. I walked out of the store (Kohl's) with just what I needed for $18. Less then the discount stores. The piece was nicely made and sexy but not trashy. So for all of you who need something like this in the future- skip the low priced stores and the high priced stores and go for a mid-priced store's sale. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesdays go to www.wordlesswednesday.com

Book Review: Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet

I had a "hankering" to read something "new" as I climbed out of the hole that was the Lewis house flu of 2008. So on a grocery shopping trip to Costco, a couple of days ago, I skipped on over to the Christian Bookstore across the street (something I rarely do) and sent myself browsing through the fiction section. I wasn't in the mood for anything particular, I just browsed until something grabbed my interest. I settled on Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet.

I love fantasy. C.S. Lewis is my favorite author and I hope to sit on bookshelves next to him some day as C.L. Lewis. I also love the Harry Potter series. (Can a Christian admit to that? Please don't stop reading me just because of that.) I was hoping to find a new world I could love.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, Mr. Overstreet did not deliver. Though I can tell he is a gifted writer, full of beautiful prose, I feel the way he chose to tell the story left us distant from his characters (of which there were far too many of) and I never really grew to love them or the land he tried so very hard to create. I was lost half of the time trying to figure out what was going on. I think he was trying something allegory-ish but I don't think he suceeded.

There are two fantasy styles: The C.S. Lewis type and the Tolkien type. As mentioned above I fall in line with Lewis side. I think perhaps my dislike of Auralia's Colors was because of its similarities to Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings-therefore I do not want to get into the details of the book. I want to leave it open for you to explore. You may love this new world that Overstreet has created.

Auralia's Colors is first in a series. (I don't know how many are planned.) I do not plan to continue on with the series but I wish Mr. Overstreet the best in his writing. I am hoping the fantasy market will open wide in Christian publishing. I do so enjoy delving into new worlds.

A Beautiful Sight

I woke to an especially beautiful morning today. When I pulled the curtains open I was greeted by sunshine, patches of blue sky and lots of sparkling snow. But that wasn't the best part. There were just enough clouds over us, with just a bit more moisture left in them, that it was snowing. The light rays bouncing off the falling crystals were like watching diamonds cascade down to the earth. The wonders God holds in his hand never cease to amaze me.