Cecelia's Christian Fiction Blog

Barbour Sells Heartsong Presents to Harlequin

2012-01-27T21:25:00.003-05:00

Stunned, simply stunned. I'm so totally surprised to hear this. I sensed that HP would be bought, but, I'd just assumed it would be purchased by another Christian publisher, not Harlequin! See more details about this here. Literary Agent Steve Laube blogged about it. You can find the press release here. What are your thoughts about this news? Are you just as shocked as I am? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Is Your Book A Bestseller? Take The Test!

2012-01-23T08:56:00.000-05:00

Literary Agent Steve Laube shared this link on his blog today. Take the Bestseller Test simply by copying and pasting a sample of your work into the box and then choosing the genre. I used one of the books that I'm currently working on to take the test. My score was 19.9 out of 20 for the romance category.

So, try it out! What's your score?
Share your score with a comment!

As Steve pointed out, a computer can't really determine if writing is great or not, but, doing the activity sure is fun!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sinners And Saints - First Wildcard Blog Tour

2012-01-17T00:05:00.002-05:00

Author Victoria Christopher Murray brings back one of her characters, Jasmine Cox Larson, in this book. Also Reshonda Tate Billingsly brings back character Rachel, who was featured in her earlier novels. This story was a page-turner and it reminded me of a soap opera a little bit. Both Jasmine and Rachel's pastor husbands have been nominated to run for the Baptist Coalition - whomever wins would head this organization and both Jasmine and Rachel long to the first lady of hte BC. They'll stop at nothing to get this title, they plot and scheme against one another, in spite of their husband's objections. Also, both Jasmine and Rachel fight to befriend Cecelia, the current first lady of the BC. The one who manages to befriend Cecelia would get her endorsement - enabling them to win the election.

If you enjoy page-turning fiction with lots of drama, then this book is one that you should try.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card authors are:

Victoria Christopher Murray

and

ReShonda Tate Billingsley

(Chapters written by alternating author)

and the book:

Sinners and Saints

Touchstone; Original edition (January 10, 2012)

***Special thanks to Shida Carr of Simon & Schuster for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Victoria Christopher Murray is the author of nine Essence bestselling novels, including The Ex Files, Too Little, Too Late, and Lady Jasmine. Winner of the African American Literary Award for Fiction and Author of the Year, she splits her time between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Visit the author's website.

ReShonda Tate Billingsley is an award winning former television and radio reporter, as well as the author of twenty-one books which have appeared on the Essence bestseller list more than twenty times. She is married with three small children and lives in Texas.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

TEAM JASMINE or TEAM RACHEL?

Bestselling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans.

Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they’ve overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands’ sides.

When a coveted position opens up—president of the American Baptist Coalition— both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks. Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they’re going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in . . . a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them.

Double the fun with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.00

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (January 10, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451608152
ISBN-13: 978-1451608151

AND NOW...THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS:

Chapter One

How in the world was Jasmine going to keep her promise to God now?

Two years ago, she had promised Him that if He saved her daughter when she was kidnapped, if He brought her home safely, then she was going to live a life devoted just to Him. Jasmine had vowed that with Jacqueline’s return, she was going to live the life that God had for her as Hosea’s wife, as Jacqueline and Zaya’s mother. She wasn’t going to want for anything more than what God had given her, because surely, He had supplied her with enough.

God had done His part.

And for the last two years, Jasmine had done her part, too.

She’d lived a low-key life, thrilled that her greatest dramas were debates about fashion choices every morning with her seven-year old daughter.

But how was she supposed to keep her promise to God now? After what her husband had just told her?

“So, hold up,” Jasmine said, slipping into the chair across from Hosea. “I thought you were just going to the convention as the keynote speaker.”

Hosea nodded.

“So, explain this to me again.”

With a sigh, Hosea folded the newspaper he’d been reading and placed it on the table. He stuffed his mouth with a forkful of pancake, chewed for a moment, then said, “The call came in from a friend of Pop’s, Pastor Earl Griffith. He thinks I need to submit my resume.”

“To be the head of the American Baptist Coalition?”

Hosea nodded.

“But we’re not Baptist.”

His eyes danced with his amusement. “Get out of here.”

“You know what I mean,” Jasmine said, waving one hand. “I just don’t get it. Why would they call you?”

“They didn’t call me. Only Pastor Griffith.Seems like there’re a couple of men in the running, though according to Griffith, the front-runner is Pastor Adams, Lester Adams from the Southern region.”

Jasmine frowned. “I’ve never heard of him.”

“Out of Houston. But Pastor Griffith doesn’t think Adams is the man. Seems that the last four presidents have been from the South and Griffith and a couple of other pastors on the board think that the Coalition needs someone from the North, someone more progressive, to really move the organization forward.”

“And they think that can be you?”

“Not they, darlin’. I told you—Griffith called me.”

“But you said there were others who agreed with him.”

Hosea nodded. “Apparently, they don’t have anyone from the North who they think can go up against Adams. I guess they think my name could win this.”

“That makes sense to me.”

“It doesn’t matter how much sense it makes, darlin’. I told Pastor Griffith that I’m not interested.”

As if she didn’t hear any of Hosea’s last words, Jasmine whispered, “Wow.” Old thoughts, familiar desires came to her mind—of power and prestige and money. How much money would a president receive?

She didn’t know a lot about the American Baptist Coalition, but she knew enough. Like the fact that they were the largest African American religious organization, and wielded major political clout. And as much as black folks loved religion, the head of the ABC would have a boatload of power—and so would his wife.

Talk about being the first lady!

“Jasmine?”

I’d be the first lady of like . . . the world!

“Jasmine?”

“Huh?” Her eyes were glassy with images of her future and it took her a moment to focus on Hosea.

His admonishment came before he even said a word. It was in the way his eyes narrowed and the way he’d already begun shaking his head. “Don’t even think about it.”

“What?”

“You know what. I’m not gonna do it,” he said slowly, as if he was speaking to one of their children. “I’m gonna go to the convention and speak, just like they asked. But I’m not gonnarun for that office. The little I know about Lester Adams, he’s a good man. They’ll be fine with him.”

“How could he be the one if I’ve never even heard of him?”

“Like you know every pastor in the country.”

“I’m not talking about knowing every pastor. I’m thinking that Pastor Griffith is right. The head of the ABC should be someone who’s known and who can add to the Coalition. Think about what you bring as the pastor of one of the largest churches in the country. Then, there’s your show.” She nodded. “Pastor Griffith is right,” she repeated. “It has to be you.”

His head was still shaking. “No. I don’t want the drama.”

“Who said anything about drama?”

“Any type of election—political or religious—is always about drama.” He stood and placed his plate in the sink. “And then there’s you, my wonderful wife. As much as I love you, darlin’, anytime you’re involved in anything, drama makes its way into our lives. No, I don’t want any part of it.”

“So, you’re just gonna let this huge opportunity pass us—I mean, pass you by?”

“Yup, because it’s not an opportunity that interests me. The church, the show, and most importantly you and the children are enough for me.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Speaking of the church, I’m gonna get dressed and head over there. I have a meeting in a couple of hours.”

“Okay,” she said, dismissing him with words, though she’d already dismissed him in her mind. Jasmine stayed as Hosea left her alone in the kitchen.

You and the children are enough for me.

Until a few minutes ago, she would’ve agreed with her husband. But this conversation was a game changer.

Hosea was right—their lives were without drama, but it had gotten kind of boring. Every day it was the same thing—getting the children off to school, then working on the women’s committees at the church, then coming home to meet the children, then helping Mrs. Sloss with dinner, then . . . then . . .then . . .

Not that she had complaints; she loved her life, her family. But she would still love everyone, and maybe even a little bit more if Hosea were the head of the ABC .

Oh, no. She wasn’t going to sit back and let this opportunity pass Hosea. He needed this position, even if he didn’t know it.

Standing, she moved toward their bedroom, the conniving wheels of her brain already churning. She stood outside the door of their master bathroom, listening to her husband praise God, the spray of the shower, his accompanying music.

“I trust you, Lord!” He sang the words to one of Donnie McClurkin’s songs.

“Babe,” she said, interrupting his praise time. “I’m gonna run over to Mae Frances’s apartment, okay?”

“Don’t you have a meeting at the church?”

“Yeah, but it’s not till this afternoon and Mae Frances just called and she really needs me to help her with something.”Jasmine paused. It had been a long time since she’d manipulated the truth to get somethingshe wanted. But it wasn’t like she was going back to being a total liar again—she just needed to get this done and after Hosea was in his rightful place, she’d go back to being on the side of righteousness.

“Oh, okay. Is Nama all right?” he asked, referring to Mae Frances by the name their children called the older woman.

“She’s fine. You know Nama. I’ll call Mrs. Whittingham and tell her that I may be a little late for my meeting.”

By the time they said their good-byes and Jasmine grabbed her purse, she already had a plan. But she’d need some help, and Mae Frances, her friend who knew everyone from Al Sharpton to Al Capone and his offspring, was just the person to help her.

“Sorry, Pastor Adams,” she said to herself as she rode down in the elevator. “Whoever you are, you can be the president of the ABC once Hosea and I are done—in, say, ten or twenty years.”

She stepped outside of their Central Park South apartmentbuilding and into the New York springtime sun. Slapping on herdesigner glasses, she laughed out loud.

Oh, yeah, today was gonna be a really good day.

Chapter Two

Watch out, Michelle Obama!

Rachel Jackson Adams smiled in satisfaction as shesurveyed her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She’d had toleave the prestigious American Baptist Coalition regional dinnerand step inside the restroom to compose herself. After all, shewas about to be the first lady of one of the most prestigiousorganizations in the country. She couldn’t very well be actinga plumb fool because she was overcome with excitement.But Rachel had wanted to do a backflip, front flip, toe touch,cartwheel, and anything else she could think of to express herjoy.

Rachel fluffed her honey brown curls, then lightly refreshedher MAC Oh Baby lip gloss. She had come such a long way. Hermother was probably dancing in her grave at the sight of Rachelas not only a first lady, but a soon-to-be prominent one at that.Rachel had worked hard to garner the respect of the parishionersat Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. She’d grown up inthat church, so everyone knew her dirt—all of it—and it hadtaken God himself to get these people to respect her. And whileZion Hill had grown tremendously, it still wasn’t considereda megachurch, and outside of Houston there were few whohad even heard of it. As the first lady of the American BaptistCoalition, her status would go to a whole new level. Shoot, if shehad to be first lady, she might as well be the top first lady.

Rachel savored the thought as she dropped her lip gloss backinto her clutch and stepped back into the corridor.

“I was beginning to think you’d fallen in,” her husband ofeight years said before leaning in and lightly kissing Rachel onthe cheek.

Lester Adams wasn’t her true love—that title belonged toher thirteen-year-old son’s father, Bobby Clark. But Lester wasgood for her. Her love for Lester was that agape love they talkedabout in First Corinthians. It brought out the best in her. Well,for the most part anyway. Life with Bobby had been filled withdrama—Rachel admitted much of that was her own doing, but itwas drama-filled nonetheless. And although Bobby still remaineda part of Jordan’s life, Rachel had finally gotten him out of hersystem and was focusing all of her attention on making hermarriage work.

“What took you so long?” Lester asked, snapping Rachel outof her thoughts.

“Sorry,” Rachel said with a slight smile, “but you know I’mabout to be the preeminent first lady, so I had to make sure mymakeup was on point.” She tossed her hair back. “Come to thinkof it, I think I’ll change my name to Lady Rachel so I can havethe title to go along with the position.”

Lester narrowed his eyes and glared at his wife. “Rachel,” hebegan in that voice she hated—the one that he always used whenhe was chastising her.

“What?” Rachel shrugged, already getting defensive.

“I don’t have the position yet,” he said matter-of-factly. “Theregional board just nominated me tonight. There’s still a nationalelection.”

Rachel waved him off. “That’s just a formality. Did you hearthose election results? You beat Pastor Johnson seventy-three totwenty-five percent!”

Lester sighed. “Pastor Johnson also got his sixteen-year-oldstepniece pregnant.” As soon as Lester said it, he looked like hewished he could take the words back.

The smile immediately left Rachel’s face. Lester was no sainthimself. He’d had his own little pregnant-woman-on the-sidedebacle. But thank God, they’d worked through that crisis.“I’m just saying,” Lester quickly continued, like he wanted toprevent Rachel’s mind from traveling down that rocky memorylane, “Pastor Johnson wasn’t that hard to beat. I still have to runagainst whomever they nominate from the North region, andrumor has it they’re bringing out their top dogPastor HoseaBush.”

“That jack-legged TV preacher?” Rachel asked with a frown.

Lester shook his head. “Pastor Bush is not jack-legged. He’swell established, comes from a highly respected family, and heleads one of the largest churches in the country.”

“So? He’s. Not. You,” Rachel said, reaching up and adjustingLester’s bow tie. Lester had been an extreme nerd when theywere in high school—which is why Rachel had never given himthe time of day. But he’d pursued her relentlessly and eventuallyhad worn her down. He was willing to be a father to her twokids and he loved her unconditionally. So she agreed to givetheir relationship a try, but not before having him shave off thatred mop of a hairstyle he wore and introducing him to Proactiv.She’d revamped his wardrobe, taught him how to have a littleswagger, and now, even she had to admit, he had it going on. Notto mention the fact that he was an awesome preacher. “Lester,sweetheart,” Rachel said, taking her husband’s hands, “you heardthat emcee tonight. For the past sixty years, the president of theABC has been a Southerner. That’s not about to change. I don’tcare how prominent this Rev. Tree is.”

Lester let out a small chuckle. “Pastor Bush,” he corrected.

“Tree, Bush, Leave, whatever,”she said, flicking her hand.“The bottom line is, that position is ours. God said so.”

He laughed again. “Oh, God said so, huh?”

Rachel nodded emphatically. “He sure did. And if God said it,then it’s so.” She grinned widely.

“Look at my baby,” Lester said proudly. “And to think, youthreatened to divorce me for entering the ministry.”

“Well, that’s because I’d spent my life as a preacher’sdaughter. I wasn’t trying to be a preacher’s wife. But I’ve gottenthe hang of it now.”

“You do make a great first lady,” Lester said, kissing heragain. “And can I say it again—you look lovely in that dress.”

“Thank you. And I’m going to make an even better first ladyon a national level.” She tightened the belt on her royal blueDiane von Furstenberg silk dress. Her attire tonight was justone indication of how far she’d come. Just a few years ago, shewould’ve shown up to an event like this in the latest Baby Phator Apple Bottoms style that she could find. And although she stillloved her some Kimora Lee Simmons, she didn’t have to wear iteverywhere.

“Congratulations, Rev. Adams,” an elderly man said as hewalked past them.

Lester stopped and smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

“I can’t wait until you officially claim that presidency,” theman said as he stepped on to the elevator.

“From your lips to God’s ears,” Lester replied as he wavedgood-bye.

Rachel waited for the elevator door to close. “See, everyoneknows you’re the man for the job. And I’m the woman that needsto be next to the man for the job.”

“Since when did this kind of stuff excite you?”Rachel’s hands went to her hips. “Since I did my homework.Do you know that the last wife of the ABC president wasinvited everywhere? To White House dinners, commencementceremonies, the Grammys—she even cohosted on The View!”

“But wasn’t she a TV journalist anyway?”

Rachel frowned. Lester and all this negativity was about towork her nerves. “That’s beside the point. Everyone knows theABC president is one of the most powerful men in the country,so that means the ABC ’s president’s wife would be one of themost powerful women.”

“I’m just saying, don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“Whatever, Lester.”Rachel rolled her eyes. She’d beeneuphoric since they announced he’d won the election an hourago. Of course, she always knew he would, but hearing itconfirmed was the icing on the cake.

As thoughts of hanging out with Michelle Obama danced inher head, Rachel once again smiled.

“Rachel, I see your mind working.”

“Just trying to determine where I’ll get my dress for yourinduction ceremony.” Maybe she could get Kimora to design hersomething personally.

“Rachel—”

She put her finger to his lips. “Shhhh,” she said, draping herarm through his. “Let’s just savor the moment tonight. Let’s goback in, mingle with the people, and enjoy ourselves. My dadand Brenda have the kids, so the night is all ours. Tomorrow,we’ll talk about the national election.” Rachel decided to justchange the subject because she didn’t care what Lester said,he would win the national election. And if this Reverend Bushproved to be a problem, well, Rachel might just have to revertto her old bag of tricks—just for a moment—to make sure thathe wasn’t a threat. She wasn’t going to let anything, or anyone,stand in the way of claiming what was destined to be hers.

Remember The Dream!

2012-01-16T07:30:00.000-05:00

Remember the dream! I hope everybody has a blessed Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Remember the words from this amazing man!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Reclaiming Lily By Patti Lacy

2012-01-07T11:08:00.000-05:00

Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

Can you imagine being born and raised and not being taught about Jesus? How would that affect your salvation when you are an adult?

Reclaiming Lily is a book that gives you a huge, realistic view of Chinese culture. When Kai was a youngster in China, she knew that she was made to be a healer. After political turmoil ruined her family's life, her mom is forced to give up the family's fourth child (Joy/Lily), leaving Joy in an orphanage. Kai, now a Harvard graduate and a medical doctor living in Boston, is determined to reunite with her "lost" sister, Joy. Joy has been adopted by an American family and Kai wants to reunite with Joy - there's a medical condition that runs in the Chang family and Kai wants to be sure that Joy is not at risk.

This story shows the vast cultural differences between Chinese and Americans. Joy was adopted by a White American family, and her adopted father, Andrew, is a preacher. Joy's relationship with her parents is difficult and she's the classic problem child: smoking cigarettes and getting into trouble with the police. Emotional problems run deep within this family and Kai eventually proves to be a welcome reprieve to the tenuous relationship that Joy's family shares.

I found Kai's struggle with Christianity the most intense aspect of this novel. Kai was born and raised in China and she does not have a relationship with the Lord. She struggles with understanding the "Christian God" and this book gives a realistic glimpse into the minds of those who are not raised with Christian beliefs - showing why they doubt Jesus.

Can you imagine being born and raised, not being taught about Jesus? Would you be likely to question God more than those who were raised in the Christian faith?

I highly recommend this book as an intense, highly emotional read. The unique story idea as well as the unusual twist near the end will keep you turning those pages, anxious to discover what happens.

Leave a comment and give me your thoughts regarding the bolded questions above - also, if you've read this book, I'd like to hear your opinion about it.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Publishing Predictions For 2012

2012-01-05T05:49:00.000-05:00

Literary Agent Steve Laube posted this link on his blog yesterday. Read it and let me know what you think. What are your publishing predictions for 2012?

It's a given about the e-books really taking off. I mean, bookstores are closing down and more and more people are purchasing Kindles and Nooks. I thought it was interesting what some of them said about self-publishing. It appears that some of those who commented on the link above felt that more authors would be self-publishing since the publishing model for commercial publishers wasn't set up for e-pubbed titles. I do know that commercial publishers are re-releasing old titles as e-books, but the authors may not be getting a fair percentage of the cover price.

It kind of makes you wonder about the roles of editors and literary agents. Will their roles be changing in 2012?

So, after reading the above-mentioned link, share your thoughts. What are your publishing predictions for 2012?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Introducing Author Gina Conroy

2012-01-02T00:05:00.001-05:00

It gives me great pleasure to introduce Gina Conroy on my blog today! Gina is a new Christian Fiction author and she's taken the time to answer some questions for us! Please make Gina feel welcome and leave a comment and check out Gina's new release! Also, please check out her bio and book information!

Bio:

Gina Conroy used to think she knew where her life was headed; now she's leaning on the Lord to show her the way. She is the founder of Writer...Interrupted where she mentors busy writers and tries to keep things in perspective, knowing God's timing is perfect, even if she doesn't agree with it! ;) She is represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary, and her first novella, Buried Deception, in the Cherry Blossom Capers Collection, releases from Barbour Publishing in January 2012. On her blog Defying Gravity and twitter she chronicles her triumphs and trials as she pursues her dreams while encouraging her family and others to chase after their own passions. Gina loves to connect with readers, and when she isn’t writing, teaching, or driving kids around, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I remember in second or third grade, when I got my first diary how freeing it was to be able to put down the thoughts I didn’t know how or was too afraid to express. In school I would always write more than the teacher required and received praise for my writing. I’m not sure the exact moment I knew when I wanted to write, but there was nothing else I saw myself doing. In high school I finally got the nerve to join the school paper, and in college I studied journalism. After I got married, I wrote for local magazines and eventually found that I had a passion for fiction. That’s when I devoted myself to studying the craft and seven long years later, I can finally say I’m a published fiction author.

2. Tell us a little bit about your blog, Writer Interrupted.

I started http://writerinterrupted.com when God told me to stop writing for a season. I was homeschooling at the time and not doing a very good job of it. My priorities with my family were all out of whack and writing and publication fell shy of an obsession. To deal with the "loss" of writing, I decided to interview writing, homeschooling moms who were successful at balancing it all. Over 100 interviews later, I've learned that everyone's journey is different. On Writer...Interrupted I try and offer the busy writer things I've learned about balancing life and handling interruptions and I have other "experts" share in their field!

3. I notice that your novella is set in Washington, D.C. – how did you happen to choose that setting?

Back in 2005 I was homeschooling and took my children on an east coast tour, hitting all the historical spots. Mount Vernon was one of them and as I was walking through the mansion I kept thinking about the antiques and if they were real or replicas. Later, when I wanted to try writing a mystery I kept coming back to Mount Vernon. I thought it would be fun to explore the “What if someone discovered that an artifact at the Mount Vernon mansion was a fake?” The characters, story and plot just grew from there.

My novella, Buried Deception, combines my love of mystery and suspense with my fascination with archaeology. I’m going to steal the words from Vickie McDonough, award-winning author of 24 books and novellas, who said this about my novella, “Murder. Thefts of priceless artifacts. An ornery, little boy with a penchant for getting into trouble. Gina Conroy's fast-paced debut novella has it all and takes readers on an emotional ride. A charming romance winds up this satisfying who-dun-it.”

It’s a fun series of novellas where characters from previous stories have cameos in the others! So if you’re someone who hates to say goodbye to a “friend,” then you’ll enjoy the reunions in Cherry Blossom Capers.

4. Tell us a little bit about your journey to publication.

My journey to publication has been seven active years in the making, plus another ten inactive years. The active years started when my youngest turned two and I thought it was time to pick up my writing after ten years off to raise kids. But I might have been wrong. See question #2. After I wrote my first novel and got numerous rejections, I found ACFW and started learning the craft of writing. I attended writer's conferences, got to know people in the industry (including my agent whom I didn't pitch until I was ready three years after I met him.) After signing me, he couldn't sell my novel, but encouraged me to keep writing and that one day it would happen. That one day came after a couple of manuscripts and multiple rejections later.

5. I notice that you are a mom. Do you have a hard time juggling family time with writing time?

Absolutely! (See question #2) I even wrote a recent post about it! I'm much more relaxed about my writing now, knowing God's timing is perfect and I can't do anything to help along this publication process except to keep writing when I can.

6. Do you have any advice to others who want to pursue commercial publication?

Study the craft of writing through books and blogs, find a community who can encourage you and teach you the ropes, and just write! I’m still working on taking my own advice on the last point! And don't be anxious to publish. If you work hard and never give up, I believe it will happen for you!

7. Why did you choose to write Christian Fiction?

I didn't really choose Christian fiction, in fact, I'm working on a story that could go main stream. What I choose is a story told with a Christian worldview. It's hard to see the world any other way since Jesus is the center of my life. Sometimes my characters aren't Christians or are lost and fallen, but their journey always leads them closer to the Lord.

Book descriptions:
My Novella: Buried Deception
Mount Vernon archaeology intern and widow Samantha Steele wants to provide for her children without assistance from anyone. Security guard and ex-cop Nick Porter is haunted by his past and keeps his heart guarded. But when they discover an artifact at Mount Vernon is a fake, Nick and Samantha need to work together, set aside their stubbornness, and rely on each other or the results could be deadly. Will Samantha relinquish her control to a man she hardly knows? Can Nick learn to trust again? And will they both allow God to excavate their hearts so they can find new love?
Collection Summary, releasing January 2012
Four townhouse neighbors encounter romance and mystery near our nation’s capital. In State Secrets, White House assistant chef Tara Whitley and FBI agent Jack Courtland stop a plot to sabotage a State dinner—and find love still hidden in their hearts. In Dying for Love, attorneys and opponents Ciara Turner and Daniel Evans uncover love while searching for justice. In Buried Deception, archaeologist Samantha Steele and security guard Nick Porter dig up love while uncovering a forged artifact. In Coffee, Tea and Danger, amateur sleuths Susan Holland and Vince Martinelli find love while investigating a string of mysterious accidents.

This book certainly sounds like a winner! I want all of you to purchase a copy - either paperback or Kindle/e-book version! Let us know what you thought about the book once you've read it and feel free to leave some comments!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:05:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all of my blog readers!

Question: What are you doing on this New Year's Day?

I'm going to be a pot of gumbo - I've never made gumbo in my entire life. I found a recipe in a cooking magazine so I thought I'd give it a try!

I wish all of my blog readers a safe, happy and blessed New Year's day! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

African-American Children Adopted By Mennonite Families

2011-12-27T18:33:00.000-05:00

If you've been reading this blog long enough, you'll know that I've often posted about Amish, Mennonites, and other Plain sects. I found this article interesting - it's about Mennonites adopting African-American Children.

If you read the article, let me know what you thought about it.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - Merry Christmas! :-)

2011-12-25T00:05:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! How will you be spending your holiday - both Christmas and New Year's? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2
Christ Born of Mary
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

A Texas Christmas Mystery!

2011-12-24T00:05:00.003-05:00

A Texas Christmas Mystery - currently only 99 cents on Kindle!

A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both.
Sparks fly as Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne. She needs to solve her first case, but the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle.
Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When the past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves in order to save himself?

This was an enjoyable, intriguing and mysterious read. Amber is determined to solve her first case. She's in the Coast Guard, and she's very focused on making it in her career - she even has a five-year career plan and nothing, including romance, can cloud her dreams for success.

Derrick is struggling with hurt feelings from his childhood. Abandoned by his mother, he has not had a lot of female interaction over the years. He's leery of love, but can't resist his attraction to beautiful Amber.

Meanwhile a killer is on the loose, and it appears that Derrick is being framed for the murder. He's forced to defend himself by trying to find the real culprit. However, his actions could place Amber in danger. Amber is stubborn, and she refuses to leave Derrick's side as she attempts to solve the mystery.

Strong romantic tension as well as suspense make this a wonderful Christmas read!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Christmas - A Candid History - From The Blog Archives

2011-12-23T08:33:00.008-05:00

Christmas - A Candid History

Do you know of any good books about the history of Christmas? If so, leave a comment with the book title.

I blogged about this book last year.

Since then I've managed to finish the book. If you've been reading this blog long enough, you'll know that I'm not a big fan of non-fiction books in general. It takes me a good while to finish a non-fiction book, if I ever finish it. So, the fact that it took me 2 Christmases to finish this book should in no way put a negative light on the author or the book. It's a good, well-written book about the history of Christmas. If you're curious about Santa Claus and why we celebrate Christmas the way we do today, then you should read this book. It's a fairly short and to-the-point book.

I've always been interested in why we celebrate Christmas the way we do now. I guess my curiosity stems from the fact that I was raised not believing in Santa Claus and not celebrating Christmas. I was always taught about the pagan roots of the holiday, but, as I got older, I didn't really understand how we came to celebrate Christmas the way we do today. For example, I knew Saint Nicolas existed, but, I didn't know how he came to be known as Santa Claus. I did try to research this subject at the library when I was in my early twenties - all I found was an old, battered book about the early life of Saint Nicolas and that was it.

Anyway, here's the most amazing facts that I found from this book:

1. Christmas was initially banned when the Pilgrims moved to America. Christmas was actually an extension of pagan worship of the sun god and people always had winter parties and festivals before Christ even came to earth. Winter was cold and dark, so parties using greenery and lights livened things up, but these winter parties were not the innocent Christmas parties that we know of today. People would participate in all kinds of lewd behavior, including drunkeness. That's one reason why the Puritans did not want to celebrate Christmas when they came to America.

2. The key people who were involved in "sanitizing" Christmas into the celebration we know of today, lived in the 1800's. We've only been celebrating Christmas as we know it today for about 150 years, give or take. These people included (but are not limited to):

Washington Irving
John Pintard
Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston Jr.
Thomas Nast
Charles Dickens

Irving, Pintard and Moore were involved in an elite New York society. This society wanted to "sanitize" Christmas, making it a happy family time.

3. Santa Claus
The Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus transition occurred when Moore's (or Livingston's) poem, Twas The Night Before Christmas was published anonymously. The poem caught on and people came to associate Santa Claus with the giving of gifts on Christmas Eve.
Other things about Santa, like his living on the North Pole as well as other characteristics, can be attributed to the drawings made by Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly. Nast drew Santa as the plump, bearded man that we know of today. In Moore's/Livingston's poem, Santa is tiny, like an elf, not the big jolly man we admire today.

Anyway, that's just the tip of the iceberg as far as the wealth of Christmas knowledge in this book. I highly recommend it to all who are curious about the roots of the Christmas traditions that we practice today. This book will definitely stay on my "keeper" shelf.

Another notable book that I read years ago is called Battle for Christmas. Although this book was good, too. I found it somewhat scholarly written and bit hard to read. I think Christmas - A Candid History is much easier to read. Not surprisingly, Christmas - A Candid History does use quotes from Battle For Christmas.

So, do you know of any good books about the history of Christmas? If so, leave a comment about the book and the title. I love reading books about this subject.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - The Apostle Paul

2011-12-18T00:05:00.006-05:00

Acts 28:8-10
8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

I encourage you to read the entire chapters of Acts 27 and 28 - which I've copied and pasted below. I read this in my Bible recently, and I keep thinking about it.

This scripture really resonates with me because, well, I guess I keep thinking of the imagery involved. The Apostle Paul, a prisoner, was shipwrecked on the island of Malta with the rest of the crew and prisoners. I keep thinking of the vivid imagery of Malta. I know the winds and the storm were treacherous, but, I'm sure that after everything cleared up, Malta was quite beautiful to the shipwrecked - especially after struggling through that terrible storm.

I also think about what it must've looked like for Paul to build a fire and then a poisonous snake to pop out of the fire onto his hand, and he wasn't harmed or anything. But, what's kinda weird is, the Maltans thought that Paul was a god since he remained unharmed after being attacked by the poisonous snake. I suppose they thought like this since they were not yet aware of the Gospel.

However, what I find truly amazing is when Paul healed all on the entire island through his faith in Jesus. Isn't that wonderfully amazing? If you've been reading this blog long enough, you know how I'm kinda fixated on the miraculous healings in the Bible. I wish there were movie cameras back then so that it could be caught on film for me to watch. I'm sure it would've been an amazing sight to see.

When you read this scripture, what comes to your mind? How would you have reacted if that poisonous snake had attached himself to your hand? I'd have been screaming, scared, my heart would've been racing! I know we need to rely on God during those traumatic times, but, the first thing that would've popped into my mind was fear!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Acts 27
Shipwrecked on Malta

39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

Acts 28
Paul’s Ministry on Malta
1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

The Polar Express - On DVD - From The Blog Archives

2011-12-17T00:05:00.003-05:00

I blogged about this movie last Christmas. Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

This movie is incredible! The scenery is vivid and moving and the music is great! We watch this movie every year and we never grow tired of seeing it.

A young boy finds himself doubting the existence of Santa. A train pops up in his front yard on Christmas Eve - a train to the North Pole. On the train, he meets an interesting cast of characters, including a young girl and a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. A series of mishaps and life-threatening moments occur, giving this story an edge over the sweeter Christmas movies. This is a nice, enjoyable story and if you haven't seen it, you should give it a try!

Have you seen The Polar Exress? If you have what did you like about it?
Merry Christmas, everybody!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Christmas Pearl By Robin Bayne

2011-12-16T00:05:00.005-05:00

Christmas Pearl by Robin Bayne

Joe is still bitter after his messy divorce. Since his wife had a shrewd divorce lawyer, she managed to get most of their wealth and possessions during the divorce proceedings. Now Joe is single and he's stunned when Elizabeth (his wife's shrewd lawyer) shows up at a family/friends gathering. He can't forgive Elizabeth (Liza) for the part that she played in his divorce from his wife. In spite of his negative feelings toward Liza, he finds himself attracted to the pretty lawyer.

Liza is stunned to run into Joe. Why can't he forgive her for what she's done in the past? Liza is a Christian now, plus, she's changed her profession - she's no longer a divorce lawyer. Can't Joe see that their attraction might not be so bad after all?

Due to a mishap, Liza and Joe are forced to work together at Christmas parties during the holiday season. Can they learn to overcome their differences and fall in love with one another?

This was a cute, enjoyable, light story that I think a lot of people can relate to. Sometimes, when we're angry with others in breaking up a relationship, our anger can be a bit misguided. I enjoyed reading about the Christmas parties and the holiday touches to the story make it a nice Christmas read.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Book Giveaway Winner! :-)

2011-12-15T06:10:00.000-05:00

The winner for the November Book Giveaway is:

Natasha Grist - Lowville, NY

Natasha, congrats! I plan on mailing you your books this Saturday! :-)

I'll be doing another giveaway sometime in the future! I encourage you to subscribe to my blog so that you can be updated about future book giveaways! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Stocking Stuffer Idea - Chesapeake Weddings Only $1.99!

2011-12-14T06:29:00.000-05:00

Do you need a stocking stuffer for the Holidays? Chesapeake Weddings is only $1.99 at Christianbook.com!
I encourage you to order several copies to share with family and friends over the glorious Christmas season. It'd make a perfect gift for members of your book club or for ladies at your church. What an inexpensive way to spread Christmas cheer this year! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Savanna's Gift By Camille Eide

2011-12-13T00:21:00.002-05:00

Savanna's Gift by Camille Eide

I really enjoyed this short Christmas story. Savanna returns to the ski lodge where she worked a few years ago. She returns because she needs to drop off her god-daughter, Mylie, to Mylie's grandparents for Christmas. She runs into Luke, her old flame and ex-fiancé. While Savanna worked at the ski lodge years ago, her and Luke were an item and he proposed and she accepted. However, Savanna broke off the engagement, leaving Luke believing that she didn't love him because he was just a lowly lift operator. Luke thinks Savanna wants to marry a man who's higher up on the corporate ladder than him.

However, Savanna had other reasons for breaking her engagement to Luke, and she's determined to make him listen to her reasons. While they're in the midst of a Christmas snowstorm and the roads are shut down, Luke and Savanna attempt to find their way to one another again.

I think I enjoyed this story because Luke and Savanna never forgot one another. In spite of their breakup, their love still ran deep. I also enjoyed the wonderful setting. I loved reading about the lodge and about the guests staying in the lodge, stranded during a Christmas snowstorm. The snow, the lodge, and the Christmas things (like decorations, traditions and such) gave this story a nice holiday appeal. A good, comforting read to enjoy during the cold winter holiday.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Warm, Comforting Christmas Reads

2011-12-12T00:05:00.003-05:00

Check out these short Christmas stories on Kindle (or other e-readers). Each one is only 99 cents and it's a nice, inexpensive way to enjoy some inspiring Christmas stories. I've already downloaded these and plan on featuring on my blog over the next week or so. So, sit back, relax, get a cup of coffee and some Christmas cookies or cake and enjoy these stories. You can probably finish one of these stories in one evening! :-)

A Texas Christmas Mystery by Anne Greene
A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both.
Sparks fly as Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne. She needs to solve her first case, but the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle.
Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When the past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves in order to save himself?

Christmas Pearl by Robin Bayne
Joe Gardner never expected to see Elizabeth again, not after the part she'd played in ruining his life. Refusing to believe she now shares his faith, Joe tosses aside her efforts to apologize.
But when they are forced to work together in the midst of the Christmas season, Joe has to face the truth about Elizabeth, and himself.

Savanna's Gift by Camille Eide
Forced to return to the ski lodge where she once worked, Savanna Holt is reminded of one special Christmas and how ambition led her to make the worst mistake of her life: Leaving Luke Nelson.

Stunned to discover Luke never left, but worked his way up from lift operator to manager, Savanna sees the opportunity as a gift from God. She’s determined to win Luke back. But Luke wants no reminders of his past hurt, or a relationship with the woman who put ambition before love.

Can Savanna convince Luke she’s changed and her interest isn't because of his position? And when her dream job beckons, will she sacrifice her dream for a second chance at love?

I hope you'll download these stories and read these wonderful authors!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Too Much Butter! :-(

2011-12-11T07:52:00.001-05:00

Do you think there are typos in the recipe below? Leave a comment!

ULTIMATE SOUTHERN LIVING COOKBOOK - ISBN: 0-8487-1816-X
Publisher: Oxmoor House
Page 241 - Beef Stroganoff - I think this recipe has a typo in it! Usually I don't use this blog to vent, but, this has been on my mind for awhile! Since this is food-related, I feel comfortable blogging about my experience with this recipe since I do talk about food and recipes occasionally.

I tried the Beef Stroganoff recipe on Sunday (12-4-11). I even got an expensive cut of meat because I didn't want the meat to be tough. When I started making the recipe, I got kind of suspicious. You're supposed to coat the two pounds of cut-up meat in flour - one and a half cups of flour! Also, before cooking the meat, you have to melt ONE AND A HALF CUPS OF BUTTER - THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF THREE STICKS OF BUTTER!!

I stopped when I saw that amount. Before starting the recipe, I'd just skimmed it and looked at the ingredients. I stopped and asked my husband if I should make the recipe - it didn't sound right. He said to go ahead and make it and we could alter it later once it was done. So, I agreed, took his advice and made the recipe.

So, I melted the butter. That was the first time I can remember EVER melting 3 sticks of butter in a pan. The smell made me ill. Don't get me wrong, I love butter, but, that was the first time I'd used so much for a main course. The only time I've used that much butter was when I make my yummy lemon pound cake. When I was melting the butter, both my husband and my son said, "What's that smell?" The scent filled the air, and it wasn't pleasant.

Anyway, after I melted the butter, I ended up dumping the floured meat into the butter. The butter and the flour together made this yucky brown sludge - the smell made me ill, seriously. My stomach curdled while I was cooking. I couldn't stand the scent. I finished making the recipe and when I tried it, it was awful! The smell and the taste just made me sick because of all that butter. I took the entire pan of hot stroganoff and dumped it into the trash! :-( I think that's why this bothers me so much! I wasted so much butter and meat - we didn't even get one meal out of it! Butter is expensive! I rarely use margarine because butter is much healthier for you! We ended up eating sandwiches for dinner that evening.

I think the recipe was supposed to call for one and a half TABLESPOONS OF BUTTER AND ONE AND A HALF TABLESPOONS OF FLOUR. Don't get me wrong. I like this cookbook and I've used several of the recipes in it. I've even blogged about a few of them, but, this recipe was just all wrong.

Here's the recipe - DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!! :-(
Do you think there are typos in this recipe? Have you ever tried a recipe and thought that it was a mistake? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Beef Stroganoff
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour - I THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH FLOUR - I THINK THIS IS A TYPO!
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds of sirloin steak cut into one-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups of butter or margarine melted - THAT'S 3 STICKS OF BUTTER!! I THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH BUTTER - I THINK THIS IS A TYPO!
3 cups of sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 1/2 cups sour cream
7 1/2 cups hot cooked noodles

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large zip-lock plastic bag; add steak. Seal bag and shake until meat is coated.

Brown meat in butter in a large skillet, stirring occasionally. Remove meat from skillet; cover and keep warm. Add mushrooms, onion, and garlic to drippings in skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until tender. Remove from pan, keep warm.

Add wine to skillet; cook over high heat, deglazing skillet by scraping particles that cling to bottom. Cook until wine is reduced by half.

Add beef broth and tomato paste, stirring until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add meat and mushroom mixture; cook until thorougly heated. Stir in sour cream; cook just until mixture is hot, stirring constantly. Serve over noodles. Yield: 10 servings.

Saturday Matinee - Tuck Everlasting

2011-12-10T00:05:00.001-05:00

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

Could you imagine, drinking water from a spring, and living forever? Would you crave a life on earth that never ended?

Well, that's what this story is about. I saw this movie on cable a few days ago. The premise sounded interesting, so, I thought I would watch. Fifteen-year-old Winnie is from a wealthy family, and she lives a very sheltered life. She's alone a lot and she's not allowed to do things that other kids do like play ball and have fun. She craves to leave her household, to go out and explore the woods on her father's vast property.

When her parents threaten to send her away to a boarding school so that she can be properly taught to be a young lady, Winnie runs away into the vast woods - woods that she's always been curious about. She gets lost and runs into Jesse Tuck drinking from a spring that's sprouting from a large tree. He's shocked to see her and when Winnie tries to drink, he forbids her to do so, telling her the water is poisonous. Young Jesse takes Winnie to his family so that they can decide what to do with her. The Tucks have been spotted and as far as they know, no living mortal knows of their secret.

Winnie and Jesse fall in love as Winnie continues staying with the Tucks. The Tucks have a secret - they're immortal and the reason why they're this way is because they drank from the spring of water in Winnie's woods. "Young" Jesse Tuck is actually 104 years old.

As time moves on, Winnie doesn't know what to do. She knows the Tucks secret, and she doesn't want to return home to her family, plus she's fallen in love with Jesse. The plot thickens because there is a man searching for the Tucks. It appears that he knows of their secret and this man wants to get ahold of this fountain of youth and profit from it.

This is a sweet movie and both adults and kids will like it. It makes you think about death. Although we're all going to die, I think most people will say that they're not ready to die. Jesse's father takes Winnie aside, making her really re-think about becoming immortal. After all, he thinks you should live your life as is, but LIVE and enjoy and experience life to the fullest. He tells her it's hard to be immortal like they are. Your life never ends on this earth. As people die and the earth changes, you're always here, never getting older.

Could you imagine, drinking water from a spring, and living forever? Would you crave a life on earth that never ended? Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan

2011-12-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan

If you were engaged, and your fiancé(e) broke your engagement to marry another, do you think you could forgive him/her?

That's the premise for Lisa Jordan's Love Inspired novel, Lakeside Reunion. Five years ago, Lindsey's fiancé, Stephen, broke their engagement so that he could marry another woman. Stephen's reasons for doing this had to do with something he'd done a couple of years ago. He'd gotten a woman pregnant after a one-night stand. He didn't know about the pregnancy until two years later when the woman shows up with his child. He felt he was doing the right thing by breaking his engagement to Lindsey and marrying the mother of his child. After all, his child needed a father.

Now, five years later, his wife is dead, and Lindsey returns to town. Her mother has had an accident and Lindsey must leave her inn and relocate to Lakeside for a few weeks to care for her mom. While in town, she discovers that there's still chemistry between her and Stephen. Can she forgive him for his past actions. Is this there second chance at love?

Lindsey is also stunned to discover that her mother's life has changed so drastically. Her mother is seriously dating someone. Lindsey is stunned, doesn't her mom remember the wonderful marriage she had with her deceased husband? How can she mar Lindsey's dad's memory by committing herself to another?

Lindsey finds it hard to deal with her mother's changed life and her feelings for her ex. Also, she finds herself drawn to Stephen's child, the little boy whose existance ended their engagement. She'd initially resented the child years ago, but finds herself now bonding with the youngster.

This is a sweet story that realistically deals with the issues of forgiveness and healing. Overall it was a good, heartwarming read.

So, if you were engaged, and your fiancé(e) broke your engagement to marry another, do you think you could forgive him or her?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee - Sleepless In Seattle

2011-12-03T00:05:00.003-05:00

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

I watched this movie as a requirement for the Michael Hauge event that I recently attended. I consider this one an old favorite, especially among romance fans.

When Sam's (Tom Hanks) wife dies, he feels as if a part of his heart has died too. He's left to raise their son, Jonah, alone. They relocate and Jonah, concerned about his dad's grief, calls into a radio help line, openly broadcasting his dad's dilemma. The phone call spurs lots of attention and Sam receives letters from countless single females. Annie (Meg Ryan), mesmerized by Sam's plight, is determined to interview him for a newspaper story. Recently engaged, she doesn't want to admit to herself that her fiance is a totally wrong match for her.

Sam starts dating a woman and Noah is determined to make his dad see reason. He wants Sam to give Annie a chance, in spite of her living several hundred miles away.

Although this is a romance, the couple is apart during most of the movie and they only see each other, from afar, a few times. In spite of that, the movie is cute, whimsical, mesmerizing and FUNNY!! I also liked Rosie O'donnell's character. She's Annie's best friend and is determined to see Annie hook up with Sam. Sam is determined that the current woman he's seeing is the right woman for him. Annie is determined to convince herself that her fiance (who's a really nice guy, just not the right guy for her) is her perfect mate. The tug of war between their emotions has you rooting for them, wanting them to admit to themselves that they're made for each other.

Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Help An Author - Sandi Rog Is Battling Cancer

2011-11-27T00:10:00.002-05:00

All, Christian fiction author Sandi Rog, mother of four, is battling cancer. She has MS, and it appears that her MS medication may have caused the stage 4 cancer from which she is now suffering. She has no money to pay all of her medical bills, so, people are banding together to raffle tons of great prizes! A raffle ticket is only $5.00. Go to this website to see more details - you might even find some things that you'd like try and win through the raffle!

Also, while you're at it, say a prayer for Sandi!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee - Breaking Dawn

2011-11-26T00:05:00.001-05:00

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

***Note, this movie is secular and has vampires and werewolves.

I couldn't resist going to see Breaking Dawn - Part One. I went to a ten AM show last Monday. I posted a review of this book here, and was comparing the book to the movie the entire time.

This story was dark, haunting and riveting. The special effects were amazing and it was especially hard to see Bella suffer physically after she gets pregnant with Edward's baby.

Bella and Edward (a vampire) send out invites to friends for their wedding. Jacob (an Indian man who can change into a werewolf) is Bella's best friend and Edward's natural enemy. Jacob gets upset about the nuptials, phazing into a wolf, running into the woods.

After the wedding, Bella and Edward go on their honeymoon to a secluded island. They make love for the first time and the results are terrifying. Bella gets pregnant and Edward didn't realize that a vampire could impregnate a human. They return to the mainland and lots of action-packed adventure happens after that. The wolves (the pack that Jacob belongs to) want to destroy the baby and there's a war between the wolves and the vampires as the vampires try to protect Bella and the unborn child. While pregnant, Bella must drink blood to nourish the baby. I cringed when she did this!

This movie was so intense. It also makes you think that the vampires and werewolves really exist. It's haunting to think of never being able to die (except for some circumstances - the wolves can kill the vampires) for hundreds of years, being trapped in this human life, never growing old?

I thought this movie was the most intense of all of the Twilight movies. I seldom watch movies with science-fiction/fantasy elements. I find movies with regular settings and regular people more appealing. However, watching movies like this gives me a break from the norm.

Have you seen this movie, if so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Love On The Line By Deeanne Gist

2011-11-25T00:05:00.001-05:00

Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist

This story was a good read about a phone operator during historical times. Georgie is unlike most women her age. She's young and independent. She works for a phone company and lives alone in her cottage. She also has a fascination with birds. She's determined to make the town see that birds should not be shot down and used solely for their feathers and bird parts. A local milliner uses the bird parts for hats, and this incenses Georgie, making her angry and sad. The birds are like her personal companions. They nest in her back yard and she even sits still as a statue, so still that the birds flutter to her, eating right out of her hand.

Luke, a troubleman for the phone company, is really a Texas Ranger whose real name is Luscious who's working undercover. He's determined to capture Frank Comer, a well-known and respected bandit who robs trains with his gang. Frank has slipped away from Luke one too many times and Luke's boss has stated if Luke doesn't catch him this time, he'll be taking him off the case. Determined to capture Frank, he accepts his undercover job, which puts him into direct contact with Georgie on a regular basis. Georgie works alone in her cottage - the phone equipment is set up in her living room and her cottage belongs to the phone company. Luke arrives, stringing phone wires high on the telephone poles. Attracted to Georgie, he is bothered by her weird personality. Why would she cry because a bird has been killed? He sees her deep connection to the young creatures, not fully understanding why she loves the the birds so much.

The attraction between the two of them literally snaps off the page. As they spend more time together, getting to know one another, Luke is face with a choice..he's a Texas Ranger, he's not in the market to get married. His job would take him too far away from his family. He finds himself falling for Georgie while he gets close to some of the townspeople - people who may be connected to Frank Comer. Frank is rumored to be living in the area, which is why Luke was assigned to this particular town.

I thought this book had an interesting premise, seeing the way the phone was used and operated in historical times. It's also refreshing to see a historical where a woman is independent, living alone, supporting herself. Georgie thinks that she can do anything a man can do, a woman shouldn't be treated as a second-class citizen. There's also a highly-unusual twist that happens near the end, it's a twist that I was NOT expecting!

This was a great, enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by this author. The characters were so well-developed and believable. Both Luke and Georgie suffered from great loss as children - losses that molded and affected the lives they lead as adults.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Happy Thanksgiving! Pilgrim Facts!

2011-11-24T00:15:00.002-05:00

Do you have any Pilgrim facts you'd like to share?

My six-year-old son was assigned a Thanksgiving project recently. Of course, I had to help him. His topic? The religion of the Pilgrims. We scoured the internet and came up with this list from various sources. Feel free to add anything you think was missed. He's only six, so he couldn't understand the concept of everything. I tried to focus on stuff that he'd understand. Also, I added a few things that I thought were interesting that he did not include in his project. He had to do a poster with pictures and facts. Here are some of the facts that he covered - as well as others that I found interesting. REMEMBER, THESE ARE BASIC FACTS, UNDERSTANDABLE FOR A SIX-YEAR-OLD - IT'S NOT DETAILED ADULT MATERIAL. IF YOU'RE A HISTORY BUFF AND FEEL THIS IS TOO INCOMPLETE, THEN FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR FACTS! :-):

The Pilgrims used the Geneva edition of the Bible. In response, King James had his own edition of the Bible translated and published in 1611 for use by the Church of England.

The Pilgrims observed the Sabbath – they did not work on Sundays.

The Pilgrims were also called Puritans.

Queen Mary did not let the Pilgrims worship the Lord – she persecuted and killed many Pilgrims. After Mary died, her sister, Elizabeth, became queen.

Queen Elizabeth (Mary’s sister) let the Pilgrims worship the Lord.

King James became king in 1604.

King James did not let the Pilgrims worship as they pleased.

Many Pilgrims were arrested and put in jail because of their beliefs. Some Pilgrims were killed because of their beliefs.

To worship as they pleased, the Pilgrims moved from England to Holland. The Pilgrims then moved from Holland to America.

The Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas or Easter.

The Pilgrims believed the Bible was the Word of God.

The Pilgrims believed in infant baptism and communion (The Lord’s Supper).

The Pilgrims called their church building a meeting house.

Do you have any Pilgrim facts you'd like to share?

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Lakeside Reunion Blog Tour

2011-11-22T06:38:00.001-05:00

I'm hosting my friend, author Lisa Jordan, today on my blog!
Share Your Thoughts: Do you listen to music while you write? Why? What type of music?

Writing to Music

My sons have a musical ability that does not come from their parents. My oldest son sings, plays trumpet, tuba, and plans to learn the piano. My younger son sings in the a cappella choir and an elite choir at school where students are chosen based on their auditions. Hubby has a pleasant voice, but he’s tone deaf due to pneumonia as a teenager. I, on the other hand, make a joyful noise. No kidding. I love to sing. I just don’t do it well.

I love music. Different styles--everything from children's songs (some of my favorite) to classical. Well, rap and twangy country aren’t high on my list. I grew up listening to twangy country such as Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash.

When my friend Keli Gwyn interviewed me for her Romance Writers for the Journey blog last year, she asked what five items I had at my fingertips when I'm writing. One of the five items was my earbuds. I need music to write. My iTunes writing music playlist showcases such artists as Norah Jones, Rod Stewart, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew, Secondhand Serenade, Emmy Rossum, and even a little Lady Gaga tossed into the mix.

Sitting in the living room while the rest of my family watches TV or plays on the Xbox, I can put in my earbuds and drown out the rest of the world to focus on my writing.

Music creates a mood—not only for me, but also for my characters. Different types of scenes need different styles of music. While writing a break-up scene in my last novel, I listened to a lot of Secondhand Seranade. The mellow, heart-yearning sound helped me to capture the emotions of my characters. Also, listening to the same music my characters enjoy helps me to dig deeper into their POVs.

Music stimulates my creativity and provides inspiration when I’m struggling with a plot point or a scene. Lyrics can trigger ideas and take my story in an unexpected direction.

Music draws me closer to God and reminds me to keep my focus on Him as I write each scene.

Even if you need solitude to write, consider listening to different styles of music to stimulate your creativity. You may be surprised where the notes lead you.

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul." ~Author Unknown

Share Your Thoughts: Do you listen to music while you write? Why? What type of music?

~*~

I’m holding a scavenger hunt to promote my Lakeside Reunion release. Plus, blog commenters on my blog hop will be put in a drawing for fun prizes—breakfast basket, Love Inspired Authors basket, autographed copies of Lakeside Reunion. Visit my Lakeside Reunion Contest page for more information.

The token for this blog is a letter of resignation.

Bio: Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories that feature both comes naturally to her. She has been writing contemporary Christian romance for more than a decade. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, will be released in November by Love Inspired, followed by her second novel, Lakeside Family, in August 2012 by Love Inspired. Happily married for twenty-two years, Lisa and her husband have two young adult sons. When she isn’t writing or caring for children in her in-home childcare business, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction. Visit her at www.lisajordanbooks.com to learn more about her writing.

Lakeside Reunion: Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake. Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again. Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion.

Saturday Matinee - Good Will Hunting!

2011-11-19T00:09:00.030-05:00

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

Good Will Hunting starring Robin Williams and Matt Damon

***Note, this movie has a lot of profanity, but it's a good, well-developed story.

Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

I really enjoyed this movie. I'd seen it a long time ago but didn't remember a whole lot about it. I watched it again recently because it was recommended for the Michael Hauge Workshop I recently attended.

Will Hunter is a mathematical genius, yet he works a blue-collar job as a college janitor. His life takes an interesting turn when he's arrested and jailed. A math professor at the college where Will works offers to bail him out. The professor knows that Will is a genius because he accidentally found out when he saw Will solve an impossible mathematical problem on the blackboard. Will solved it during his janitorial shift, not knowing he was being watched. The professor agrees to mentor Will after he's released from jail and Will must also go through therapy as part of his release agreement. Robin Williams plays the role of Will's therapist.

I think I liked this movie so much because Will was afraid to open up and be himself. He's an orphan who's been hurt in the past. When Michael Hauge gave his workshop, he talked about how a person's essence is hidden and you might see it revealed in bits and pieces throughout the film - the character must be living in his/her essence by the end of the movie. Well, Will's mathematical ability is a huge part of his hidden essence. There's also a romance in this movie. Will meets Skylar at a bar when he's out with his friends. The relationship between Will, Skylar and Will's therapist is complicated and realistic.

My one pet-peeve about this movie was the profanity. The language grates on your nerves, but, after awhile, you get used to it. Overall, a good, emotional movie that you'll enjoy.

So, have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Diet And Exercise

2011-11-17T00:36:00.001-05:00

Do you have a diet/exercise routine that works for you? If so, share it with a comment.

I'm going to go off the beaten path and talk about a subject that I rarely mention on this blog - diet and exercise. A blog reader emailed me about an idea for her own blog. When I emailed my response back to her, it turned out the post outlined my struggle with high blood pressure over the last two years, which prompted me to post my experience here.

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure about 2 years ago, it's hereditary. Since I've been in my thirties and forties I've been on the heavier side, but people wouldn't necessarily categorize me as "fat" - I was skinny while in my twenties, seriously.

Anyway, I was on different meds for the HBP off and on for a year. Every med gave me a negative side effect. Soon I got tired of that crap and went to a holistic doctor. She gave me a list of a bunch of vitamins and herbs to take. I take them all. The main one that keeps my HBP down is the Hawthorn. Also, exercise helps.

Exercising at home was not working for me. My job was stressful, and when I got home, all I wanted to do was sit back and relax. So, I decided to exercise during my lunch time while at work. I bring work-out clothes and go for a brisk walk/run for about a half hour or 45 minutes. Plus, they have a gym at my job so if it's cold or rainy, I get on that treadmill! Exercising is nothing "new" to me. I used to run 10K races while I was in my twenties/early thirties. Also, I exercised regularly at the gym.

My routine lagged when I got pregnant. The pregnancy was difficult and after our child was born, I didn't really feel like exercising. Well, our "baby" is six now, so, I guess I can't use the child as an excuse for not exercising!

I've been exercising during my lunch break for about eight months now. I cut out fast food (except on weekends - I was eating fast food almost every day when I was diagnosed with HBP) and I watch my sodium intake but, for the most part, I eat whatever I want whenever I want. I love carbs, so I don't really watch my carbs. I eat oatmeal (the oatmeal that's JUST OATS, the holistic doctor told me to stop eating the flavored oatmeal packets, too much salt in them) or some low-sodium cold cereal every morning for breakfast. I eat my breakfast at work. I also eat a low-sodium lunch and dinner. Sometimes I snack, sometimes I don't. Depends on if I feel hungry or not.

People just started randomly commenting about my weight loss about a month or so ago. At first, I didn't really notice it. I don't weigh myself (too depressing) and I don't really watch my figure - I started this new plan to keep my HBP down not for vanity reasons. The weight loss was secondary since I didn’t really have a goal of losing X amount of pounds – I just wanted a normal blood pressure reading so that I could stop taking that terrible medicine the doctor gave me.

However, lately, people have been saying, "Hey, you've lost weight,” or “Hey, you're slimming down.” At first I thought they were just being nice, but, too many people were randomly commenting about my weight loss, plus, my jeans are very loose, they barely stay on my hips, so, I'm starting to pay attention now.

I love sweets! The weekend before last, I made vanilla bean panna cotta for the very first time! Yum! Last weekend, I made an apple pie and it was GOOD!! I don't eat sweets every day, but I eat them when I want them. If I want to bake something, I do it! I don't count calories or pounds.
OH, BTW, my blood pressure is BELOW normal/NORMAL now. I usually do a reading whenever I go to the grocery store at the BP machine and I also have a small BP contraption at home. It's just a small square contraption with a cuff and a rectangular box - like the picture on this blog post.

This routine is working for me, so I was curious about others who read this blog. So, do you have a diet/exercise routine that works for you? If so, share it with a comment! Also, I'd be interested in knowing if something happened to make you change/start your diet/exercise routine.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Fireman Dad By Betsy St. Amant

2011-11-16T00:05:00.010-05:00

Fireman Dad by Betsy St. Amant

Marissa is stunned when her son, Owen, suddenly wants to be a firefighter. He admires Jacob, a local firefighter, who's befriended Marissa. Marissa, a party planner, is hired to plan the birthday party for Jacob's niece. While doing so, she's befriended by Liz, Jacob's sister-in-law. Marissa's husband died while in the line of duty of firefighting, plus, she's never had a close relationship with her dad who's also spent his life firefighting. Can she overcome her fears and learn to love Jacob, even though he's a firefighter?

This was a cute story that shows that we need to let go of our fears and learn to lean on God during our trials. Marissa is widowed and she hasn't been to church since her husband passed five years ago. I thought this story was a light, breezy read that was enjoyable. They also showed Liz, a secondary character, struggle with firefighting in her family too since her husband was laid off from his firefighting job. Liz's family is finding it hard to make ends meet since her husband is unemployed. I feel like the author painted a realistic view about the world of firefighting and I also learned a little bit about what it's like being a firefighter.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Book Giveaway - Win A Box Of 23 Books! Follow The Rules To Enter! :-)

2011-11-15T00:48:00.007-05:00

I'm hosting another book giveaway! ONE winner will receive the 23 titles listed below. IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE DRAWING YOU MUST DO TWO THINGS:

#1. You must join my mailing list! You can join my mailing list here:

Join My E-mail List!

If you're already on my email list, then you can skip step one.

#2. You must comment on this blog post to enter and LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT - IF YOU DON'T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT, THEN YOU WON'T BE ENTERED INTO THE CONTEST! I need an email address so that I can contact you if you win!

I'll be drawing the winner within the next few weeks or so! :-) Remember, I have the right to announce your first and last name, city and state on my blog if you win! Void where prohibited.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Incredibles! :-)

2011-11-14T00:27:00.001-05:00

Do you have any favorite books that you've read in 2011? If so, what are they?

The Incredibles - no, I'm not talking about the Disney animated movie! I've decided to use that term to describe the four books mentioned in this blog post. I did a similiar blog post here.

These three novels are the best I've read in 2011, so far. What makes them incredible? Various reasons. Keep in mind that I didn't scroll through my blog, making a decision about the top three books. For the MOST PART, these are books that keep coming to my mind, long after I've read them, over and over. I've read a TON of great books over this year, however, all books won't stick in my mind as frequently as these. Also keep in mind that these are books that I've READ in 2011 - it doesn't necessarily mean that the books were PUBLISHED in 2011! So here's Cecelia Dowdy's list of The Incredibles!:

1.

Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist
This book made the list because it was compelling, spicy, Christian romance and I found myself going back, reading pages over again. I NEVER do that! This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading more!

2.

A Whisper Of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer This book made the list because the heroine was strong, independent and likeable. Also, I think Kim did a great job dealing with the issues of race and reconciliation in this book. The setting was spectacular and I know I'll be thinking about this book for a long time!

3.

A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman This book made the list because it's hot and spicy romance that I'll remember for a long time. This story was about two hurt, broken people falling in love while overcoming great obstacles. Also, it was nice visiting the O'Connors again - I honestly think this is one of my favorite fictional families! I also liked how she wrote about a woman who is scarred/disfigured. You feel sympathetic to the heroine and you're drawn into the story from the first page.

So, there's my list! What are your favorite reads for 2011?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - The Disappearance Of The Saints!

2011-11-13T00:47:00.003-05:00

Awhile back, I had a Sunday Brunch blog post about the disappearance of Philip. Well, I'd heard that there were other scriptures in the Bible where the Lord made the Saints disappear. Ironically, I read and reviewed a Chris Well book recently, and in that novel, he listed some other scriptures that had disappearing saints.

What do you think about God making the Saints disappear? I think it's oh, so amazing and awesome! Do you think something like that could happen today? I think it's possible, but not probable. Depending upon who it was, I'm sure that person would be missed by friends and loved ones, people would be wondering what had happened to him/her. There may be those who would know that the missing person was lifted up by God, but, it's highly unlikely that all would believe.

Also, to be lifted up by God, disappearing, with no dead body behind...well, I'd think the one being swept up by God would have a unique, highly-personal, very deep, relationship with God. It'd be a relationship that most of us wouldn't even begin to understand.

Here are the scriptures:

ENOCH
Genesis 5:24
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

ELIJAH
2 Kings 2:11-12
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

JESUS - This instance is in a different vein than the rest on this list. However, I felt compelled to include this one since it's familiar to most Christians and it helps to illustrate what I'm talking about.
Luke 24:3-7
3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

PHILIP
Acts 8:39-40
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

What do you think about God making the Saints disappear? Do you think something like that could happen today? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee - The King's Speech

2011-11-12T00:40:00.005-05:00

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

This story is about King George VI. Since he's destined to take over the throne after his brother abdicates (his brother has an affair with a divorced woman), George (nicknamed Bertie) has to make public speeches. The only problem is, George has a terrible stutter - he's had this stutter since he was a youngster. He's been to several specialists and doctors and none of them can help him with his stutter. His wife finds Lionel, a speech therapist and "doctor". Lionel gets to the heart of Bertie's problem - using psychological means - stuttering seems to be an emotional problem for Bertie. The working relationship between Bertie and Lionel buds into a true friendship with a few pitfalls along the way.

I thought this movie was good, but not great. This film received lots of acclaim, so, I thought I'd like it more than I did. It held my interest, but, it's not a film that I see myself watching again. The characters were somewhat engaging and you'll find yourself sympathizing with Bertie. If you have the time, I'd recommend watching this film, but, I figure there are probably lots of others out there that I'd enjoy more than this one.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Michael Hauge Workshop

2011-11-10T20:39:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday and Sunday, I participated in a workshop given by Michael Hauge. He’s a script consultant for Hollywood movies. He’s also endorsed by actor Will Smith. The workshop was AWESOME! Michael went over different aspects that needed to be present in movies in order for them to be engaging and successful. These same elements can also be applied to novels. I felt the heart of the workshop was when he was talking about characters. In order for your story to be engaging, your character has to have a wound. A wound is a terrible emotional experience that affects the character. In movies, SOMETIMES, the wound is symbolized by something physical, like, you might have scars from being abused as a child. But this wound, well, it makes the characters suffer emotionally.

Characters don’t want the world to see them as they really are, their essence. Every character has to have an identity, the identity is the way they appear to others – their essence is their hidden side, the side that REALLY shows who they are. The world seldom sees the essence of the character, except, perhaps, in bits and pieces. The whole point is to have the character living in their essence, their true self, by the end of the story.

I’m paraphrasing and leaving a lot of stuff out, but, for me, the essence/identity was the most important point made during the workshop. He also used movies as examples of good story telling. We watched clips of different movies and we were told to watch the following movies before the workshop: Titanic, Shrek, Good Will Hunting, Sleepless In Seattle and The King’s Speech. I’ll be posting reviews for some of these for my Saturday Matinees in the near future.

So, if you need a guest speaker for your writers’ group, I highly recommend Michael Hauge. Oh, I also purchased his book, Writing Screenplays That Sell. I think some of his advice may help me with my writing.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Burying The Hatchet By Chris Well

2011-11-09T19:32:00.000-05:00

Burying The Hatchet by Chris Well

Earl Walker is an elderly, wheel-chair-bound, amateur sleuth who is determined to prove the innocence of his new pastor. When Earl's new pastor meets with a psychic for a public meeting, the pastor leaves the room and the psychic is found dead - the pastor is arrested for the crime.

Earl is feeling his way through Christianity and detective work in this novel. He's a Christian, but still new to the scriptures. In his heart, he feels his pastor is innocent of this crime, and he's determined to prove this fact. In the midst of his detective work, Earl is falling in love with Gloria, a dear elderly friend. He also consorts with a young woman named Jenny whom he nicknames "College". As the threesome attempt to solve the murder, they keep running into the town's deputy who accuses them of interfering with a federal investigation.

A lot of other things happen in this story - some church members want to oust the pastor since he's been arrested for killing a psychic. There's an author (Page) in town who's trying to get the lead for his next book and Earl joins forces with Page since Page has already done a lot of research about the serial killings of elderly people in the area.

This book was a light, slightly humorous, enjoyable read. It also was interesting to read a novel from the viewpoint of an elderly person. I don't see a whole lot of novels being published with older protagonists.

Ironically, this book touched upon some subjects that I've been blogging about lately. The disappearance of Philip was mentioned as well as the dangers of psychics.

Overall a good read that I'd highly recommend.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta! :-)

2011-11-08T07:01:00.003-05:00

The first time I'd ever heard of panna cotta was last Saturday (November 5, 2011). I attended a Michael Hauge workshop hosted by my local writers' group. After the Italian luncheon, there was dessert - Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta. When I tasted it, the texture reminded me of the Mexican Flan. However, I thought the flavor was much better than flan. I could tell right away that the dessert contained gelatin because of the unique texture. The vanilla bean really gives this dessert an excellent flavor. If you try this recipe, let me know if you liked it.

Ingredients

1/3 cup whole milk
1 (.25 ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin
2 1/2 cups half and half
1/2 cup white sugar
One whole vanilla bean (if you don't have a vanilla bean, then you can substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract for the vanilla bean)

Directions

Pour milk into a small bowl, and stir in the gelatin powder. Set aside.
In a saucepan, stir together the half and half and sugar, and set over medium heat. Split vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the half and half and sugar mixture. Place the vanilla bean halves into the mixture. Bring to a full boil, watching carefully. Pour the gelatin and milk into the half and half mixture, stirring until completely dissolved. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, if you're NOT using the vanilla bean, then stir in the vanilla extract now. Pour into six individual ramekin dishes.
Cool the ramekins uncovered at room temperature. When cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before serving. Serve with fresh berries, if desired.

You're supposed to invert the ramekin onto a serving plate, releasing the panna cotta from the container before serving. I didn't do this. I just simply ate it out of the bowl!

When I made this, I didn't have to let it cool in refrigerator for four hours. I was able to eat it in about an hour or so. So GOOD. I recommend using the vanilla bean. I prefer the texture of vanilla pudding over the texture of this dessert, however, the wonderful taste makes this a close second, in my book, to homemade vanilla pudding! This dessert is extremely easy to make and you can make it MUCH FASTER than vanilla pudding. Why? Because you don't have to cook it as long to get it to thicken. The gelatin solidifies much faster than the cornstarch or flour that's used to thicken vanilla pudding. I know when I make vanilla pudding, I'm standing at the hot stove for awhile, stirring, waiting for the pudding to thicken. This recipe doesn't take much cooking or stirring and the taste is great!

Have you ever tried panna cotta? If so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Christmas Shoppe By Melody Carlson

2011-11-07T00:12:00.001-05:00

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

When Matilda Honeycutt moves to town, she purchases an old building that was up for sale. One a townsman (one of the town's politicians) catches wind of the sale, he's mortified. He'd wanted to purchase the building for his own gain.

However, Matilda has other plans. She wants to open a Christmas shop. The town's people believe that her shop will have Christmas lights, ornaments, etc. for sale, however, they're in for a big surprise when they actually open the doors to this new establishment.

Is Matilda a witch, a sorcerer, or just somebody who seems to know all the townspeople's needs. People come into her shop out of curiosity, but leave with changed/upbeat personalities.

I found this book a little hard to get into. I didn't really start to enjoy this novella until about halfway through the book. I thought the beginning was kind of slow and I initially had a hard time connecting with some of the characters.

However, the connection finally happened, and, overall, this is a joyous story. There's also a romance thread within this novel. The town manager finds herself smitten with the town's newspaper owner. Both of these people have inner conflicts to resolve before they're free to fall in love again.

This is a nice, short, joyous read to enjoy over the holidays!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Royalties!

2011-11-04T20:33:00.000-04:00

I received my first royalties for my novel, First Mates, re-released on Kindle today. If you haven't read First Mates, you might want to give it a try! I've been receiving some nice reader mail lately about this book!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch! Samson And Delilah

2011-10-30T00:25:00.003-04:00

Did Samson's lust affect his logic?

I've always wondered about this, so I decided to devote a Sunday Brunch blog post to this topic. In Judges, Chapter 16, the Philistine rulers approached Delilah since they knew that Samson was in love with her. They wanted to know the secret to Samson's strength. The rulers offered to give Delilah money if she could tell them this secret.

What's always stumped me was Delilah asked Samson FOUR TIMES, about the secret of his strength. The first three of those four times he lied to her, and, afterwards, he always fell asleep and found himself bound with the offending material, and Delilah was always yelling about the approaching Philistines. Samson always easily escaped from the ropes, fabric, thongs, etc. since these items did not deplete his strength (although he'd told Delilah otherwise).

I've always thought that sometime during those first three times, Samson would've gotten a clue that Delilah had an agenda. It was so obvious considering the pattern of events. However, he ended up telling her the truth eventually, and that caused his downfall.

Do you think that Samson was so overcome with lust and love for Delilah that he couldn't think clearly?

I think his lust overcame his logic. Also, the scriptures mention that the Lord came upon Samson numerous times. Perhaps this was the way that the Lord wanted the events to occur?

Feel free to share your thoughts!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee! Titanic - The Movie!

2011-10-29T00:15:00.023-04:00

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

***Note, this movie has some nudity.

What's your favorite scene from the movie Titanic?

Titanic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

This is one of my FAVORITE movies!

I think I like it so much because of the romance aspect. Jack Dawson wins a ticket on the Titanic from a card game. A young poor drifter, he leaves things to chance and is optimistic about what each day will bring. While on the Titanic, he meets Rose, a beautiful, sophisticated wealthy young woman who's engaged to Cal.

The engagement between Cal and Rose is arranged and it's an engagement based upon money - Rose has an excellent family name but her family has been left with a lot of debt. Her mother wants the match between Rose and Cal to bring wealth back into their family. Rose can't stand her self-centered, over-bearing fiance (Cal), but finds herself drawn to Jack.

Jack and Rose fall in love amidst the sinking of the ship. Jack has an uncanny ability to really see into people. He's an artist and he draws appealing pictures of people, capturing the essence of his art subjects. Jack shows Rose how to have a good time and she finds herself joyous around Jack, so joyous that it affects her relationship with Cal.

Another reason I really enjoy this movie is because of the vivid scenery and the plotting of this story is amazing! So many things are going on, and even while the ship is sinking, you still have side stories happening, making the movie even more exciting. Also, I think the characters were so vivid and so real. It's a very-well done and intense movie and that's one reason why I end up watching it again and again.

I also loved the way the social classes were depicted in this film. The way the people dressed, the setting, etc. - it was done in a way to show the difference between the rich passengers and the poor ones.

SPOILER!!

TITANIC - AN ALTERNATE ENDING! :-)

I'm assuming most have seen this movie and know the ending. If it were up to me, I would've changed the ending and had Jack to live. He and Rose would've gotten married and had lots of children together...

My favorite part of the movie was when Jack takes Rose to the front of the ship and tells her to close her eyes. When she opens her eyes, she sees the vivid ocean. Amazed, feeling like she's flying, Jack leans over and kisses her! :-)

Oh, I love this movie!

Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it? What's your favorite scene in the movie?

I'd also wanted to mention that I purchased my Titanic DVD about five years ago from the discount bin at Walmart. Before that, I'd owned the VHS tapes and before that, I'd seen it a few times in the theater. One weird thing I noticed was, it doesn't seem to be available as a new, inexpensive DVD on AMAZON or Barnes and Noble. The copies that I saw listed were used or highly expensive, like, upwards of $40. Also, I didn't see it available to rent like most movies on Amazon. Anybody know why it's not available to rent or why it's not available as an affordable new DVD? Let me know if you do!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Whisper Of Peace By Kim Vogel Sawyer

2011-10-25T18:53:00.005-04:00

A Whisper Of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This book is one of the best I've read in 2011! If you haven't read this book then you need to rush out and buy a copy now! Better yet, download a copy on your Kindle or your Nook!

Lizzie is half-Indian and half-White. One striking feature that shows her mixed race is her vivid blue eyes. Due to her mixed parentage, she's been shunned and ostracized by her village - which include her own grandparents! She lives apart from the village, alone. Her White father left Lizzie and her mom when Lizzie was twelve. Growing up, her father taught her to read and Lizzie can speak both her native Indian language as well as English. After her mother died, Lizzie has had to survive on her own. She's lonesome, and she only has her guard dogs for companionship.

When missionaries Clay and Vivian arrive in the Indian village near Lizzie's home in Alaska, her life takes an interesting turn. During a comical incident where Lizzie is making sugar cookies, she encounters Clay and Vivian for the second time. She longs for companionship and since those in her Indian village have shunned her, she feels she needs to leave Alaska and travel to California where her father lives. Lizzie doesn't know a whole lot about being White and living in the outside world, so she convinces Vivian to give her lessons that will make her more knowledgable about the outside world - Lizzie longs to be White.

Meanwhile, Clay and Vivian cause turmoil within the Indian village. Their friendship with Lizzie, a shunned Indian, is against tribal rules and they're ordered to stop communicating with their new friend.

This book was phenomenal! I think Kim V. Sawyer did an awesome job dealing with the issues of race and forgiveness. Plus, the Alaskan setting was wonderful! I also think she did a really great job with her character development! I felt that Lizzie was the strongest, most appealing, character of all. She's been ostracised, she's lonesome, and she doesn't know the love of Jesus. She's brave and she hunts and fishes, supporting herself, and she doesn't have the companionship of any other humans. I especially loved seeing her interact with her dogs and I loved the scenes with her working on the fur coat for her grandmother, hoping to make peace with her relative.

This book was emotional, really tugs at your heart. This book is definitely a winner and I highly recommend it.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee!

2011-10-22T00:28:00.005-04:00

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

I've decided to start doing movie reviews occasionally. Reason why? Watching movies is a great way to help with your writing. Seriously. Plotting, characters, etc. - all those elements are in a movie. I used to watch movies a lot back in the day. However, in recent years, time just gets away from me and I just don't watch movies like I used to.

I viewed Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind starring Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey a couple of weeks ago. I rented it on Amazon and watched it on my laptop one week night. I actually enjoyed it.

***Note, this is a secular movie.Can you imagine, having a torrid romance to end badly, and then having that person erased from you mind? Well, that's what this movie is about.

Clementine (Kate Winslet's character) falls in love with Jim Carrey. Two trouble souls have a torrid romance that ends badly. Clementine wants Jim Carrey erased from her mind. There's a company that will do this - erase a significant other from your mind. They hook you up to a machine and when you wake up, you feel like you've had a hang-over and you have no recollection of your romance.

Before the eraser people put you under, you must bring all objects and momentos relating to the romance with you. You don't want these things lingering in your home after the person is erased from your mind - after all, you'll have no recollection of the item and having a love letter, gift, etc. from your erased relationship will only confuse you.

Jim Carrey is confused when he runs into Clemntine working at a bookstore. It appears she doesn't even know who he is. Befuddled, Jim Carrey accidentally discovers that Clementine has had him erased from her mind. He's determined to go through the same process - he wants to erase Clementine from his mind. However, havoc arises when Jim Carrey is put under - he discovers that he wants to hang onto Clementine's memories.

Since he no longer wants to erase Clementine from his mind, he finds himself trying to hide his memories from the eraser people. The erasers are finding Jim to be a difficult patient, and they find the memories in weird spots on his brain.

This movie was a bit unusual and eclectic. It's a love story with a bit of sci-fi/fantasy thrown into the mix. As I was thinking about this movie, I wondered, what if this same concept was used for other memories, not just botch romantic memories. Like, what if you could erase the memories of a spouse, or, what if you'd had a child who'd died and you were grieving? Would you want to erase those memories to feel better? I'm thinking, initially, you might want to, but, going through traumatic, tragic and sad moments are what shape us into the people we are today. If we could conveniently erase every bad memory, then, well, the world would be strange place.

Did you see this movie? If so, what did you think of it? Can you think of a memory that you'd consider erasing?

Leave a comment! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Necessary Deception By Laurie Alice Eakes

2011-10-17T00:04:00.002-04:00

A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes

When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreamed he would turn up in her parlor. But just as the London Season is getting under way, there he is, along with a few other questionable personages. While she should be focused on helping her headstrong younger sister prepare for her entré into London society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting her family in danger?

Readers will enjoy being drawn into this world of elegance and intrigue, balls and masquerades. Author Laurie Alice Eakes whisks readers through the drawing rooms of London amid the sound of rustling gowns on this exciting quest to let the past stay in the past and let love guide the future.

This book was enticing because of the world that Laurie Alice created. It's a world full of balls, pretty gowns, and upper-class citizens. Lydia feels that aiding a French prisoner with parole is the right thing to do - especially since the prisoner was a friend of her late husband's. Using a an expensive bracelet (that has sentimental value), Lydia funds the prisoner's parole.

However, Lydia's life goes awry when it appears that her deed to help the Frenchman backfires and places her in a world of trouble.

She finds herself getting blackmailed as she aides her sister with her entrance into London society. She must help some men to become acquainted with some of her elite friends since they feel these connections are necessary. She has doubts about these men and the whole scheme is linked to the mysterious Frenchman.

As you read about a world filled with elite people and beautiful ball gowns, you will get a healthy does of a suspenseful mystery and an endearing, heartwarming romance between Lydia and Christien. I highly recommend this novel, especially if you love reading about Regency England.

I also found Lydia's affection for her cat to be a quirky, as well as endearing, character trait.

Many thanks to Baker/Revell for providing me with a free review copy.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - How Do You Know When A Prophet Is Really A Prophet?

2011-10-16T00:05:00.010-04:00

When you hear a prophecy, how do you know it’s from God?

First Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

My Sunday Brunch blog post a few weeks ago about psychics has spurred me to write about prophecy.

About ten years ago, after my first book (Promises To Keep) was released, I received an email from a local person, asking me to speak at her sister’s, Tee's, birthday party. I accepted the invite and I arrived at the event, impressed by the large expensive house as well as the nice, immaculately-dressed party guests. We had a fancy dinner, complete with Cornish game hens, and a nice breeze blowing through the open windows.

I started talking about my writing experiences and about how I came to be published. One of the male party members asked me if I’d ever thought about sending my book to Oprah. I responded, “No, I don’t think Oprah likes to read romance novels.”

Then, Tee, the fifty-year-old birthday woman, quickly touched her forehead, and closed her eyes. She then looked at me and said, “Oh, by the way, you’re going to be on Oprah.” The whole “prophecy” experience was very quick and I barely paid it any attention.

Later, when I went to my car to get more books, D.(Tee’s boyfriend), comes outside and says, “Did you hear what Tee said about your being on Oprah?”

I said, “Yeah…”

He said, “Well, it’s true. You know Tee’s an ordained prophet.”

I said, “No, I didn’t realize that.” The whole subject of ordained prophecy was foreign to me.

Afterwards, when I got home, I glanced at the program that they’d handed out during the birthday party. The program had Tee’s picture on the front and the program also mentioned that Tee was an ordained prophet. I didn’t realize the birthday guest was an “ordained prophet” until I’d arrived at the party.

I have no idea if Tee is really an ordained prophet. But, if she says that she is an ordained prophet and I have no proof disputing that, then I feel that I can’t disbelieve her. I only saw this person once, and since my knowledge of this subject is sketchy, I can only speculate.

I still haven’t appeared on the Oprah show, but, I have no idea what, exactly, Tee was “seeing.” I guess it could still happen in the future, perhaps, since Oprah is still on TV (although her talk show was cancelled).

In First Corinthians, the Apostle Paul speaks of the spiritual gifts, but, he really advocates the gift of prophecy. The greatest gift is love, but, prophecy is placed on a higher level than speaking in tongues. The fact that Paul says that we should especially desire the gift of prophecy makes me stop and wonder about this topic. The word prophet is thrown around and used so much nowadays – it’s a common term and it’s kind of hard to know who, exactly, is a real prophet.

What, exactly, is an ordained prophet? Who ordains a prophet? Also, when somebody says that they are a prophet, how can you be sure that they’re telling you a message from God? Someone pointed out to me that sometimes psychics will disguise themselves as prophets – do you think that this is true? Leave your responses in the comments, please.

Also, a quick change in subject, if you have a Kindle and want to read a simple, heartwarming romance, then you should try my Love Inspired title, First Mates. I've been getting some reader mail recently about this title and I think you might find this cruise-ship-romance story very enjoyable. I've been getting positive comments from both male and female readers recently.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Holiday Homecoming By Jillian Hart

2011-10-14T06:58:00.001-04:00

Holiday Homecoming by Jillian Hart

Can you imagine leaving home after high school and not returning for several years?

That's what happens in Holiday Homecoming.

This was an excellent Love Inspired novel! I think I enjoyed it so much because of the deep emotions that the author was able to portray in the novel.

Kristin is going home for Thanksgiving. She runs into Ryan on the flight home. She knows Ryan from her childhood since they grew up in the same neighborhood and their mothers are best friends.

Both of them are still healing from deep emotional losses - Kristin's sister died in an accident awhile back and her family is still reeling from the pain, plus, her sister's death has affected her parents' marriage. Kristin's parents used to be happily married, but now they're so at odds with each other. Kristin feels that true love is nothing but a pipe dream since her parents are no longer happy and they used to have a joyous marriage.

Meanwhile, Ryan is still not over the death of his dad. His father died when he was eight, and Ryan left home after high school. This Thanksgiving is Ryan's first time back at home since his teen-aged years and he's coming home as a doctor. He struggles with his painful loss while in his old neighborhood and Kristin attempts to help him deal with his grief. Ryan doesn't feel he'd make a suitable mate for anybody - he's still messed up from his dad's death and he just needs to be alone. He doesn't want to get close to anybody and feels he'll be happier just remaining by himself. Returning to his hometown brings back dormant nightmares.

I especially loved the holiday theme to this book! First there's Thanksgiving, then Christmas and then Easter. I loved the setting - the falling snow, the Christmas lights, the holiday cookies - etc. This was a very visual, emotional book and I highly recommend it as a great holiday read. If you want to get into the Christmas spirit, then you should download this wonderful sweet romance on your Kindle. I'm sure you'll love it!

So have you, or somebody you know, ever struggled with returning home or to your hometown? If so, what kind of emotional experience made you struggle with returning to your home?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Daddy Surprise By Ginny Aiken

2011-10-11T00:05:00.002-04:00

The Daddy Surprise by Ginny Aiken

I downloaded this book and read it on my Kindle. Lucie had a one-week fling with Ryder during Spring break six years ago. The fling resulted in the birth of their daughter, Chloe. Lucie lost touch with Ryder after their Spring fling and has been looking for them since the birth of their daughter. She's surprisingly found him and she brings their five-year-old daughter with her to meet her father for the first time.

Ryder is the mayor of the town and he's stunned when Lucie arrives with their daughter - a daughter that he didn't even realize he had. Lucie wants Ryder to develop a relationship with their daughter but she wants to buy this huge, historic house in town. Ryder owns the the house, and he refuses to sell it to Lucie. Lucie is determined to start her own business in town and Ryder's vacant historic house is the only suitable place nearby that's available for use.

As they "duke it out" about the possession/purchase of the house, the couple grows closer, recalling their spring romance.

This book shows how people make mistakes and then suffer the consequences of those mistakes. It also shows that we need to lean on God during rough times and to ask Him for forgiveness for our sins. Ryder clings to his pain from a past mistake instead of leaning on Jesus and asking Him for forgiveness. Sometimes it's hard to let go of past pain and move on, and this book is prime example of how to let go of our pain and find solace in God's grace. A nice read.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Survivors By James Wesley, Rawles

2011-10-10T00:35:00.002-04:00

Survivors by James Wesley, Rawles

"I implore you: Get right with God, and get your Beans, Bullets, and Band-Aids together! Our only certain hope is in Christ Jesus." - James Wesley, Rawles

WHAT IF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT ENDED TOMORROW?
The America we are accustomed to is no more. Practically overnight the stock market has plummeted, hyperinflation has crippled commerce, and the fragile chains of supply and high-technology infrastructure have fallen. The power grids are down. Brutal rioting and looting grip every major city. The volatile era known as “the Crunch” has begun, and this new period in our history will leave no one untouched. In this unfamiliar environment, only a handful of individuals are equipped to survive.

Andrew Laine, a resourceful young U.S. Army officer stationed overseas in Afghanistan, wants nothing more than to return home to Bloomfield, New Mexico. With the world in turmoil and all air and sea traffic to America suspended, Laine must rely on his own ingenuity and the help of good Samaritans to reach his family. Andrew will do whatever it takes to make it home to his fiancée, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

Major Ian Doyle is a U.S. Air Force pilot sta-tioned in Arizona with his wife, Blanca. Their young daughter, Linda, is trapped in the North- eastern riots. Three teenage orphans, Shadrach, Reuben, and Matthew Phelps, have no choice but to set out on their own when their orphanage closes at the beginning of the Crunch. Then there is Ignacio Garcia, the ruthless leader of the criminal gang called La Fuerza, who will stop at nothing to amass an army capable of razing the countryside. And over everything looms the threat of a provisional government, determined to take over America and destroy the freedoms upon which it was built. The world of Survivors is a terrifyingly familiar one. Rawles has written a novel so close to the truth, readers will forget it’s fiction. If everything you thought you knew suddenly fell apart, would you survive?

I found this book kind of hard to get into. This is no reflection upon the story or the author - I believe it's just my personal taste in novels.

I'm not a big fan of novels with a lot of military scenes. I can read war/military scenes in books, but, usually, when that's the main focus of the story, I find my mind wandering. The terminology, the stuff happening, sounds foreign to me and it's hard for me to get into that type of setting. For example, I didn't know what a magazine (I'm not talking about a monthly/weekly publication)was, I had to stop and look it up. I'm just not that familiar with war and military settings and lingo and I have to think too hard when I read books with too many of these types of scenes. However, I did find the premise of the story to be intriguing.

One interesting aspect that I found was that one of the characters was maimed in the war. It bothers him when people stare at his prosthetic hand and when they stare at the scars on his face. A stranger notices him, and guesses that he was hurt in the war and he thanks him for his service. I found that scene particularly touching. I don't think we thank our military enough for all that they do for our country.

I could imagine a lot of males enjoying this book, and I did think the story was well-written. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing me with this free review copy.

Have you read this book, if so, what did you think of it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - Why Didn’t Jesus Rescue John The Baptist?

2011-10-09T00:05:00.002-04:00

Why didn’t Jesus Rescue John The Baptist from prison?

When John the Baptist was in prison, I believe he wanted Jesus’s help. When Jesus failed to help John escape, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was really the ONE (the true Messiah).

Then John The Baptist was beheaded.

His head was presented on a platter as a birthday gift to King Herrod’s wife’s daughter, who then presented the platter to her mother (the king’s wife-Herodias). Upon hearing this news, Jesus went away on a boat for some time alone. Apparently, Jesus was saddened by the death of John, and I’ve always wondered why Jesus didn’t release John from prison.

There are some Biblical questions that will probably remain unanswered until we get to heaven, but, I think Jesus felt He had more pressing things to do than rescuing John. Perhaps during those crucial moments when John was in prison, Jesus was called elsewhere to heal and save souls. There could be a number of reasons why things played out the way that they did, but, I’ve always wondered about this.

So, why do you think that Jesus refused to rescue John The Baptist from prison? Leave your responses in the comments. I’ve copied and pasted the scripture references below.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Matthew 11:1-6
1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
Matthew 14:3-13
3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
6On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.

The Feasts Of Israel - Writers' Rest Blog Posts By Molly Noble Bull

2011-10-08T14:00:00.001-04:00

Come on over to Writers' Rest blog and read Molly Noble Bull's posts about the Feasts of Israel:

Day Of Atonement

Rosh Hashanah

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Heart Revealed By Julie Lessman

2011-09-30T07:07:00.000-04:00

A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman

This book was wonderful! The characters, the setting, the time period, it all was a delight to read and if you haven't read this book yet, I highly suggest running out and getting a copy!

I really loved reading about the characters that were introduced in Julie Lessman's first series! This is book 2 in the Winds of Change series and if you read it, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Emma Malloy, a secondary character in the Daughter's of Boston series (Charity's story) has fled Ireland to come to the states. She's married and she's escaping from her husband who has severely disfigured her face by throwing a pan of hot grease onto her skin. Emma's scars are both physical and emotional as she struggles to keep her marriage vows while in the States.

This story takes place during the Great Depression and Emma works in a department store. She loves her work and she lives alone in her apartment with her cat. Emma has come to terms with the fact that she'll always be alone since she can't break her marriage vows to Rory. Although her husband is a lowlife, abuser, drunkard and adulterer, Emma still can't find it in herself to break the vow she made before God to love, honor and obey her husband.

However, Sean O'Connor is smitten with Emma, but knows he can't be with a married woman. Sean is battling his own demons - he has a rage that's scary - a rage that he keeps under control for most of his life, but, when that rage snaps...

I loved this story because it shows how two broken people, people burdened with problems and guilt, find a slice of solace and comfort with one another, even though they know there's no permanent way for them to be together. Sean reveals the reasons behind his rage to Father Mac, the priest, and he also shares a deep secret with Emmma about himself. It's a secret that tells the extent of his rage and his dark secret also explains why Sean has an aversion to marriage. He's a confirmed bachelor and he feels he's happy being alone.

It was nice to visit with the characters from the other novels, too. I loved reading the side stories about Charity and Katie and their spouses. This novel shows that marriages are hard to work through, but, problems are dealt with through the deep love and affection that these couples share.

I enjoyed seeing the women gather in the warm kitchen, sewing, eating dinner, talking about their lives, sharing fellowship. The camaraderie among the women and other family members is joyous - almost makes you want to be a part of this loving, large family! :-)

I also loved the passion...yes, the passion in this story! I loved reading how it feels to kiss the one that you love - to be with the one that you love! The physical attraction was enticing and as I said before about Julie's books, it's one aspect of her writing that sets her apart from other novelists. The passion is realistic and it's like a breath of fresh air on these pages.

I could go on and on about how much I loved this book! It's difficult to talk about it further without giving spoilers but suffice it to say it's a tantalizing and enjoyable 500-page read! :-)

Many thanks to Baker Revell for providing me with a free review copy.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Cherished By Kim Cash Tate

2011-09-27T00:05:00.002-04:00

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Kim Cash Tate

and the book:

Cherished

Thomas Nelson (August 30, 2011)

***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Cash Tate was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. Her mother, a manager with AT&T, and her father, an educator, divorced when she was young. Even after the divorce, one thing her parents agreed on was the importance of education. She attended both public and private Catholic schools, and college was a given. Tate chose the University of Maryland.

After completing her undergraduate degree, she distinguished herself as a law student at George Washington University. She was invited to join the Journal staff, and a summer job at a respected law firm in her beloved Washington, D.C. followed by a one-year clerkship with a federal judge in Madison.

Tate’s law career took off in Madison. Once the clerkship ended, she was hired on at a large firm. In spite of her success, she was plagued by constant feelings of discontentment and loneliness for the racially diverse environment she left behind in D.C. She began seeking faith, simply as a means of maintaining sanity. After she and Bill married, the couple began attending a local AME church, and they both felt Jesus calling.

When her children were young, Tate left her thriving law career to stay home. A passionate and persuasive communicator, she tried her hand at writing. More Christian than African-American shares her story of finding her identity in Christ rather than in her race, which had been a major focus for her. Her first novel was Heavenly Places, followed by Faithful and her newest release, Cherished. Tate was a speaker for Women of Faith in both 2010 and 2011.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Kim Cash Tate explores Psalm 103:12 as she takes her readers down the path to God’s forgiveness and reconciliation in her newest novel, Cherished. Readers will discover that God can still use them in spite of their worst choices. And He doesn’t just forgive them, but they are truly cherished!

Tate’s story will show her readers how God can bring beauty from ashes. She has a unique way of weaving her characters’ lives together, leading back to one great point—God’s tremendous mercy and grace. In the words of one of her characters, “I wasn’t sure what to expect. I felt like it would take a while to work my way back into God’s good graces, but it was like…”—she flung wide her arms—“…He just embraced me.” We too can be embraced by the same great love when we learn that true forgiveness for ALL of our sins is right before us.

Growing up in Saint Louis, Kelli London dreamed of becoming a songwriter and glorifying God with her songs of praise. But after falling into sin, she walks away from her dreams. Heather Anderson’s life has spun out of control—first an affair with a married man and then a one-night stand with the drummer of a popular Christian band. Broken and alone, she discovers the only one who can save her. Brian Howard grew up as a science geek. But after making the worst mistake of his life after high school, he finds forgiveness in Christ and is being led down a completely different path. Now he must choose whether to continue pursuing his PhD in biochemistry or to become a full time Christian rapper.

Product Details:

List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 30, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595548556
ISBN-13: 978-1595548559

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Kelli London took her place on the piano bench and waited for her cue, grateful that her jittery hands were hidden from the crowd. She shouldn’t have agreed to do this, but she loved her brother and had never seen him happier. How could she say no to singing at his wedding?

But it was the song Cedric had asked her to sing, one he’d heard only by chance. He had no idea what it meant to her. He didn’t know that singing it would unleash memories of the last person she ever wanted to think about.
Laughter rose from the pews, and Kelli looked up, wondering what she’d missed.
“. . . and I’m sure Cedric wants me to get to the vows ASAP,” Pastor Lyles was saying, “so they can get to that kiss they’ve been waiting for.”
Kelli had only met the pastor once before, at her brother Lindell’s wedding last fall, but it didn’t take long to love his spirit and his style. A black man in his late fifties, he’d started Living Word Community Church decades ago and watched it grow into a multi-ethnic megachurch. At least a couple hundred members were here today. Kelli guessed none of them thought twice about the various hues and accents that had gathered to see this black couple wed. She loved that spirit too.

Cedric was shaking his head with a shamefaced grin as the pastor called him out. Cyd was smiling up at him, gorgeous, beaming like the bright light she’d become in Cedric’s life.

Pastor Lyles continued. “But I don’t think he’ll mind one last song, and it’s a special one, written by his sister.”

Kelli drew a deep breath as Cedric and Cyd smiled over at her, Lindell and Stephanie too—the flip side of last fall. Then Stephanie and Lindell were the bride and groom, and Cyd and Cedric were maid of honor and best man, which was how they met. Kelli loved the story, how Cyd turned forty on her younger sister’s wedding day, thinking she’d never marry herself. Now here she was—a June bride. It was romantic that her brothers would now be married to sisters, but it somehow added to her melancholy, that each of them had found the love of his life.

Kelli gazed at the piano keys, and knowing they had to, her fingers tapped the first notes. She fought to stay in the moment, in the church. Her eyes swept Cyd and Cedric, imagined the lyrics were just for them . . .
I will love you till the stars don’t shine

And I will love you till the oceans run dry

I will love you till you know every why

I will, I will

Her eyes closed, and he was there. A shiver of remembrance danced down her arms. She could still see that distant look in his eyes, could even hear him, that tone of indifference that echoed forever in her head. Kelli opened her eyes to capture another image—any image—but he was everywhere now. And her heart allowed itself to be crushed all over again.
I will love you like an endless stream

A million miles won’t take your heart from me

I will love you every breath you breathe

I will, I will

Almost to the bridge, Kelli could feel her emotions cresting with the song. She closed her eyes again as they took over, filling her voice, magnifying her range, powering her through. She played the final chords with the salt of tears on her lips and bowed her head at the last note . . . and heard—applause? She looked out and saw the guests on their feet and Cedric and Cyd fully turned, facing her—Cyd wiping tears from her cheeks. With her own anxiety about singing it, Kelli hadn’t given thought to whether people might actually like the song.

She pulled a tissue from the box atop the piano, dabbed her cheeks, and blew her nose, then muscled a heart-heavy smile to acknowledge everyone’s kindness. When she moved back to the front pew beside her mother, only then did the guests stop clapping and sit.

“When did you write that?” her mother asked, patting her thigh. “That was beautiful.”
“Thanks, Mom. I wrote it . . . a long time ago.”

She turned her gaze to the ceremony, her heart beating a little faster still, puzzled by the response to the song. It coaxed a different memory to the surface, and as Cyd and Cedric exchanged vows, Kelli thought about her long-ago dream of writing music that God would somehow use. Then the better part of her brain kicked in,

reminding her that she’d left songwriting behind, that she knew better than to dream.
That all those dreams had turned to dust.

“Kelli! Girrrl . . .”
Kelli looked up—midpivot in the Electric Slide—and saw Stephanie threading her way through the line dancers in her champagne-colored dress. Soon as the song started, it seemed everybody left tables and mingled to claim a spot on the parquet floor. Kelli waved her sister-in-law over.

“I’ve been looking for you.” Stephanie scooted between Kelli and Devin, a nine-year-old cousin, as rows of people sidestepped to the right. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you . . . girl, you sang that song. I had no idea—hold up, am I doing this right?” She was headed a different direction from everyone else. “Why am I even

out here? I hate this stupid dance.”

Kelli laughed. “Back, Steph. We’re going back.”

“Oh.” Stephanie checked Devin to get in sync, then leaned her head Kelli’s way again, her voice elevated. “Anyway, I told Lindell I couldn’t believe he didn’t tell me about that song, ’cause I would’ve had you sing it at our wedding. And he said he’d never heard it . . . and then I couldn’t believe that.”
“I know. Crazy, right? This way, Steph. Pivot left.”

Stephanie was behind her now, and Kelli turned to make sure she was following, but Devin had it under control.

Like a traffic cop, he moved his hands left, then right to direct her which way to go next. “And pivot,” he announced, to the amusement of those around them.
Side by side with Stephanie again, Kelli continued. “Lindell and Cedric had already moved out of the house by the time I started writing songs in high school, so it was easy to kind of keep my music to myself.” She shrugged. “Cedric overheard it because I didn’t know he was there.”
“Hmph,” Stephanie said. “If I had that kind of talent, everybody would know about it. They’d have to tell me to be quiet.”

The music switched, and they could hear people near the center of the floor cheering, “Go, Cyd! Go, Cedric! Go, Cyd! Go, Cedric!”

Kelli and Stephanie craned their necks, moving toward the action.

“Oh, goodness,” Stephanie said, laughing. “Look at your brother. He’s at it again.”
Kelli laughed too, remembering Cedric and Cyd on the dance floor at Stephanie and Lindell’s reception. Now the two had cut a wide swath in the middle of the floor with a different line dance, this one a little livelier.

Kelli and Stephanie worked their way to a spot in the inner circle.

“Have you seen this version?” Stephanie asked.

Kelli nodded. “But you know Cedric’s gonna add his own twist.”

Instead of a simple sidestep, Cedric led Cyd in bouncy moves to the left, with a slide before going right. And instead of a normal pivot, they did some kind of kick, kick, turn—with Cedric twirling Cyd into a two-step before moving back to the line dance, all of it seamless. The crowd was fired up.
After a couple of rounds, Cedric spotted Kelli and pulled her to the center.
“I don’t know if you can hang with a twenty-five-year-old, big brother.” Although Cedric was a fit forty-two, Kelli didn’t miss an opportunity to tease him about his age. “I’d hate to embarrass you in front of your guests.”
“Oh, you got jokes? We’ll see about that, baby sis.”

Cyd led the cheers this time as Kelli whipped some different moves on him. Cedric paused, then mimicked every last one to let her know she couldn’t show him up. Lindell dragged Stephanie out there—literally—and Kelli was in stitches watching them try to copy what she and Cedric were doing. Soon everyone on the

floor had joined in again, and then the music switched to Motown, which got its own cheers.
Cedric draped one arm around Kelli and the other around Cyd and led them off the floor. They stopped at the bridal party table, which had emptied of all but Dana, one of Cyd’s bridesmaids.

“Why aren’t you on the dance floor?” Cedric asked. “We need all the forty-and-over folk representing.”

Dana glared at him. “Let’s see how well you ‘represent’ with some heels on. My feet are killing me.” Then she nodded toward the dance floor. “My husband left me. He’s out there with the kids. And last I saw, Scott wasn’t representing too well either. He looked almost as bad as Stephanie with that Electric Slide.”

“I heard that, Dana,” Stephanie said, walking up with Lindell. “I could learn the dumb dance if I cared to. And since you’re trying to clown me, I might do it just to keep my black rhythm points. Can’t have a white guy showing me up.”

Dana got a kick out of that, laughing as auburn wisps fell about her face. “How about a white girl? Let’s tell the deejay to play it again and see who’s got it.”
Stephanie eased into a seat. “Uh, no thanks. I always told you, you’re one of those black white girls. You can go on the dance floor.”

Dana eyed the dancers out there. “Well, pray for Mackenzie. I think the poor thing takes after Scott. Look at them.”

Kelli’s heart was smiling. Because she lived out of state, she didn’t know these women well—not even her sisters-in-law—but from her brief interactions, including last night’s rehearsal dinner, she could tell she would like them.
Cyd pulled out a chair and sat, her beautiful gown, passed down from her mother, swishing over the sides. “Ahh . . . think I can get away with sitting like this for maybe five minutes?”

Cedric massaged her shoulders. “You’re good. The Jackson Five’s got everybody occupied.”
Dana touched Kelli’s arm. “The bridal table was talking about you earlier.”
“Me? Why?” Kelli took a seat.

“Are you kidding? That song. It was beautiful.”

Kelli blushed. “Thank you.”
“That’s my little sister.” Cedric beamed.

“Mine too!” Lindell said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “So proud of you, girl.” He looked at the others. “Just got her master’s too, from UT–Austin.”
“I heard,” Dana said. “Is your degree in music?”

Kelli shook her head. “One’s in communications and the other’s in public relations.”
“Wow, two?” Dana nodded. “That’s awesome.”

“Well . . . not really. Just means I didn’t know what I wanted to do.” Kelli didn’t mind admitting it. “But I’m done being a professional student. I’m looking for a job now—”

“—in Texas.” Cedric’s tone made clear what he thought of that. “What part of Texas?” Stephanie asked. “Are you trying to stay in Austin?”

“I’ve been looking at possibilities in Austin and Houston . . .and Dallas.”
“Mostly Dallas, I’d bet,” Cedric said. “That’s where her boyfriend is.” He looked around playfully. “Where is he anyway? I wanted to meet him, see if he measures up. What’s his name? Miller?”

Kelli smirked at her big brother. “Miles. Miles Reed. He wanted to meet you all too, but he had a conflict.”

“I’m sure we’ll get another opportunity,” Cedric said, “if I can get you to move back to St. Louis.”

Cyd perked up. “Ooh, Kelli, I’d love that. Any chance?”

“I . . . doubt it.” Kelli hedged to be polite; her mind had said a fast no. She hadn’t lived in St. Louis since she left for college, and the distance had been good. Her mother had relocated to Little Rock to care for her mother, so Kelli had gone there on school breaks.

“How’s the job market in Texas?” Cedric asked. “Improved any?”

Cedric knew the answer perfectly well. He was a VP at a head-hunting firm. He’d made some calls for her, but nothing had materialized.

“Not exactly,” Kelli admitted. “I’ve been looking since early in the year, and, well . . . it’s nearing the end of June.”

Lindell rubbed his chin. “I’m thinking you can be unemployed in St. Louis just as well as in Austin.”

Cedric gave a big nod to his brother. “Better than in Austin. In St. Louis, you can be unemployed and hang out with your brothers.”
Cyd raised a hand. “And sisters. Don’t forget about us.”

“All of us,” Dana said. “We’d love to plug you into Daughters’ Fellowship.”

“What’s that?” Kelli asked.

“It started years ago with Dana, Phyllis, and me.” Cyd pointed toward the dance floor at her other bridesmaid. “Real informal. We’d do potluck and talk about—sometimes cry about—what God was doing in our lives. Stephanie crashed the party last year.” Cyd smiled at her younger sister. “It’s evolved into kind of a Bible study/gabfest.”

“Emphasis on gab,” Cedric said. “Amazing how two hours can turn into five—every single time. You’d think you’d run out of things to talk about.”
“Now, now, brother,” Lindell said, “don’t exaggerate. I think it was four and a half hours last time.”

Cedric and Lindell shared a laugh as the women pounced.

“We’re praying too, you know,” Dana said. “Getting that fuel we need to be the best we can be.”

“Lindell knows.” Stephanie gave him the eye. “I left the house with an attitude before that last meeting. Came back changed. Didn’t I?”

Lindell threw up his hands. “Hey, I’m not complaining. I might be the biggest DF fan at the table. Stephanie’s not the same woman I married.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Babe, that’s a good thing! I’m just sayin’.”

Kelli laughed as Lindell backpedaled. For years her brothers had been busy with their careers, living the bachelor life. Hadn’t occurred to them or her that they should live near one another, be a part of each other's lives. But now they were both settled down, with wives Kelli would love to know better. She’d always wanted sisters. And it was strange that she, Cyd, and Stephanie kind of looked alike—all of them tall with honey brown skin and long brown hair.

And Daughters’ Fellowship sounded great. Her own relationship with God wasn’t where it should be. She’d known that for some time. Just wasn’t sure how to get it back on the right track. The thought of getting together with these women, talking and learning from them, felt like water to her parched soul.

If only it were in another city . . .

Kelli sighed as she looked around the table at the laughter, the ribbing, the love. Did she really want to stay in Austin, away from all of this?

And what about Miles? They’d been dating almost a year. Although he’d graduated from UT–Austin last December and moved back to Dallas, the distance didn’t seem so great with them both in Texas. Still, they were already several hours apart. Would a few more make a huge difference?

Kelli looked up as her mother stopped at their table.

“Hey, it’s my gorgeous mother,” Cedric said, placing an arm around her.
“No, it’s my gorgeous mother,” Lindell said, hugging her other side.

Francine London glowed with pride. “You boys are something else,” she said. “And I didn’t come to see y’all. I came to see how my daughters-in-law are doing.”
“Oh, it’s like that now?” Cedric asked. “I get married, and I get kicked to the curb?”
Francine laughed, keeping her arms around her sons’ waists. “I’m wondering what’s gonna happen when you all start having my grandchildren. I’m not gonna like being all the way in Little Rock.”

“You need to move back too,” Lindell said.

Francine dismissed it with a shake of the head. “Your grandmother’s not doing well, can’t get around, so we’re better off staying put.”
“Well, help us convince your daughter to move back,” Cedric said. “We’ve been working on her.”

Francine looked at Kelli, nodding. “I was thinking about that today, how nice it would be if you could be around your brothers and their wives. You know I’m big on family.”

“Yes, I know, Mom.” Kelli cut them off at the pass. “So . . . which one of you would be willing to let your little sister move in?”

Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

Kelli has a secret. It's a secret that NOBODY knows about except for Brian, her old sweetheart. She's made a big mistake and she feels guilty about the life-altering decision she made seven years ago. Now Brian is suprisingly back in her life, mingling with her friends and family members. Can she learn to forgive him for abandoning her during the worst day of her entire life?

Brian is now a Christian rapper known as Alien. He wants to ask Kelli for forgiveness. When she coincidentally shows up at a songwriters' conference and then at his church, he feels the Lord is leading him to approach her to try to makeup for his wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Kelli is jobless and she's recently re-located to a new area. While she bonds with her sisters-in-law with Bible studies and restaurant chats, she feels in her heart that she needs to put her bitterness against Brian aside - which is hard for her to do. However, when she finds herself collaborating on Brian's new album, her songwriting skills are rejuvenated as they create music for hurt and broken Christians.

There is also an interesting cast of secondary characters, including Heather. She's had an affair with a married man, but, her church and her acquaintances are finding it hard to believe she's now a Christian - including the wife of her former lover.

This story shows how we can't hold onto guilt forever. We need to accept God's grace for our sins and move on, learning a lesson about what we've done and discouraging others from going down the wrong path.

I also enjoyed how the characters in this novel prayed about everything. It was nice to see people banding together, calling upon God during a crisis.

This was a great story and I highly recommend this author.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

From The Blog Archives - Why Are Soap Operas So Popular?

2011-09-24T16:03:00.000-04:00

Why are soap operas so popular?

In light of the final episode of All My Children being aired yesterday, I thought I'd re-post one of my old blog posts today. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you'll know that I've talked about soap operas a few times over the years. I even dreamed about starting my own Christian-based soap opera on my old blog post.

I've been analyzing soap-opera popularity for awhile now, and, as a writer, I've wondered why soap operas are so popular? The storylines are convoluted and very senseless, yet, people (including myself) have watched them for years and years? Why?

I know if I'd written some of the storylines that I'd seen on soap operas, the editor and the readers would have a fit since the soap opera plots are so ridiculous. Are these ridiculous plots the reason why people are so drawn to the soaps?

Granted, the fascination is ending since soaps are now being cancelled. A few are still running, but I sense, in time, that soap operas will be extinct. So before reading my archived blog post, feel free to share your thoughts about this question:
Why are soap operas so popular?

Just wanted to mention that I haven't watched soap operas regularly since 2008. I might catch an episode a few times a year on the cable soap opera channel, though.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

==
NOTE, THIS IS AN ARCHIVED BLOG POST FROM 2007!

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been watching soap operas off and on since I was in high school. I used to be a big fan of All My Children and General Hospital. Over the last twelve years, I've been an avid watcher of The Young And The Restless. However, you'll notice that I said I watched them off and on. The reason I can't keep watching soap operas for extended periods of time is because, although I enjoy some of the story lines, the concept of reality slowly sinks into my brain and I think the stories are stupid! Really! Most soap operas have the following types of story lines in common, which can get tired and old after awhile:

1. Infidelity
2. The Evil Twin(or a variation of this).
3. Coming back from the dead.
4. Changing the history of past events, or inventing "new" history to support a storyline.
5. Multiple marriages.

Another pet-peeve of mine regarding soap operas is the children. Haven't you ever noticed how fast they grow up? These kids are born one year - and they're infants - about five years later they're out of high school. They're shipped off to boarding school or college for a few years and come back all grown up. I sense the writers/producers think that soap opera watchers have limited memories and will forget the actual age of these children!

The infidelity is a kicker! My goodness! Somebody is always sleeping with somebody else's husband or wife! The marriage will then end, and that'll lead to the one I listed as number five (multiple marriages)! When you look at these soaps, after awhile you discover that certain characters have been married to half the town, and sometimes the ex-wives and ex-husbands of the same spouse can become good friends, the fact that they've been married to the same person is not a deterrent from the friendship.

The Evil Twin...that one is definately unbelievable! I've seen this used a number of times with a soap opera. Sometimes the two are actually twins, and other times, they are related but look so much alike that they can pass for twins. Other times, it just so happens, that there's another person out there, lurking, who looks just like one of the characters on the soap opera! Also, this new look-a-like is evil....hmmm....

Coming back from the dead! Whew! I thought that cats were the only ones that had nine lives! Whoever made up that saying certainly never saw a soap opera! I mean, come on, coming back from the dead? In soap opera land, when people die, it's common for them to NOT have a body for the funeral! And this scenario can sometimes lead number 2(or maybe I should call it, the unevil twin?) where it's believed that someone has come back from the dead, and it's discovered that there is a relative, or someone lurking out there, that looks just like said dead person, but this new lookalike could be good or evil...hmmm.

Sometimes, when I watch a soap opera, all I want to do is clean it up! How about, a Christian soap opera? You can have infidelity, murder(forgot to mention number six up at the top. You'll eventually have somebody murdered, then you'll have to slug through the trial very slowly, while the wrong person is being tried, and then finally, the truth comes out!), evil twins, but my soap opera would have a faith element. How do these cast of charcters get past these obstacles...through their faith in God, that's how. I would show how a woman has to forgive the "other" woman for sleeping with her husband. I'll have to show how a woman has to forgive her husband for sleeping with his mistress. I'll have to show husband begging wife for mercy, renewing his covenant with God and starting afresh with his wife while they put the past behind them and learn to lean on God, and seek Him for answers to their problems!

I've noticed that in the soaps I've watched, they don't really mention God or going to church much. It's mentioned some, but sparingly. The only time I recall a soap opera having a man of the faith on regularly was Father Jim Vocheck(?sp) on the now defunct soap called Loving. Since I haven't watched every single soap opera out there, I'm wondering if there are others that I'm not aware of?

These are the soap opera musings that were twirling through my head as I give The Young And The Restless a break for awhile. They even have the "twin" scenario with a twist, somebody had plastic surgery to look like one of the characters...hmm. Also, somebody who was murdered (number six on my list) has a cousin who comes to town, who looks just like the murder victim. Hmmm. Ever see identical twin 'cousins' as opposed to identical twin sisters....???

Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com

Do Men Read Romance Novels?

2011-09-23T12:53:00.000-04:00

Do men read romance novels? Visit Writers' Rest blog and leave your thoughts about this subject.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Mom In The Making - A Sweet Inspirational Romance

2011-09-15T06:42:00.000-04:00

Mom In The Making by Kit Wilkinson

Pregnant, Becky is in Glendale (her deceased husband, Tommy's, hometown). Her mission is to bond with her cold, unfeeling mother-in-law and teach her about Jesus. However, Becky finds this very difficult to do since her MIL has never approved of Becky's union with Tommy.

Becky's life takes an interesting turn when she meets Justin. Justin was Tommy's childhood best friend and Becky finds this hard to believe - why had Tommy never mentioned Justin before - she knew all of Tommy's friends.

As Becky battles gestational diabetes during her pregnancy, Justin deals with his own battle of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He's a doctor/pilot who's been sent home from the military and now he's back in Glendale and finds himself smitten with Becky.

As Justin grows closer to Becky as they work together on a school play, Becky learns that there are secrets lurking between Justin's and Tommy's families - secrets she's not fully aware of. Can Justin and Becky overcome all of their obstacles and love one another?

This book flowed really well and it was enjoyable. I also enjoyed reading about the medical issues that Becky faced and the mental issues that Justin had to deal with. The characters and situations were very realistic and the story was extremely engaging.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Sheriff's Runaway Bride - A Sweet Romance - Steeple Hill Love Inspired

2011-09-12T20:56:00.001-04:00

The Sheriff's Runaway Bride

Kylie abandons her fiance minutes before her wedding - after all, she's just found him kissing another woman. She literally runs into Zach, the new sheriff in Clayton. Zach is back in town as the sheriff, however, he's not here to stay. He's only here temporarily until he fulfills a familial obligation - an obligation that could bring him a nice inheritance. Kylie has big dreams. She's determined to become a wedding planner in a big town, therefore leaving Clayton. She's only staying in Clayton to work to help out her financially destitute family. She almost married the wrong guy for the wrong reasons - she'd hoped her marriage would save her family from their financial plight, however, she's glad that she discovered the true nature about her ex right before the nuptials.

There's a slightly mysterious thread throughout this story. Zach befriends a fatherless girl, a girl who looks exactly like him. Could Zach be related to the youngster? Also, Kylie is receiving gifts and letters from her secret admirer, and things are also vandalized, leading her to believe her ex is behind these cruel pranks.

This is a light, fun book that's pretty enjoyable. You can probably read it in a few days. The slightly suspenseful thread is not overpowering, though. It's still a good, heartwarming sweet romance.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Queen By Steven James

2011-09-11T00:30:00.001-04:00

The Queen by Steven James

From the back cover: While investigating a double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East. In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a multi-layered storytelling tour de force that not only delivers pulse-pounding suspense but also deftly explores the rippling effects of the choices we make. The Queen is a techno-thriller that will leave you breathless, offered by the author Publishers Weekly calls a "master storyteller at the peak of his game."

I have to be honest and admit that I had a hard time getting through this book. The graphic images were very disturbing and it wasn't like my normal reading fare. This book is not for the faint of heart but...I THOUGHT THE WRITING WAS STELLAR! This book scared and haunted me and I think the author did a great job with plot and descriptions. However, before you read this novel, you need to be warned that there are things that happen in this book that you don't normally see in Christian fiction - they even had images of cannibalism and reading that made me stop, close the book, and have to wait before picking it up again.

The novel starts off with a botched abduction, complete with exploding body parts. Fast forward to a trailer park where Patrick Bowers is on a stake-out to catch a serial killer. Pat is then told to switch gears and investigate the murder of a mother and her four-year-old daughter. The father is missing, and when Pat investigates, he finds information about the Cold War.

The extremely complex plot moves forward quickly and if you like this kind of novel, it could be a real page-turner. You get to know about Patrick's background in this novel, too - you find out what makes him tick. I haven't read the rest of the stories in this series, but, if you like graphic fiction, filled with evil, before being overcome by goodness, then you should give this book a try. This novel shows how we need to overcome evil, true evil, and lean on God.

If you're interested in knowing why Steven James writes about evil, then you should visit this link.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it?

“Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Many thanks to Baker/Revell for providing me with a free review copy.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Simple Pleasures! :-)

2011-09-08T21:46:00.000-04:00

What's your favorite dessert?

Share your answer with us at Writers' Rest! I've also shared my Lemon Pound Cake recipe!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - The Danger Of Visiting A Psychic!

2011-09-03T21:07:00.000-04:00

Mock Menu:
Light, tasty beignets coated with powdered sugar
Cafe Au Lait
Fluffy scrambled eggs lightly seasoned with salt and pepper
Crispy, salty bacon

Let's pretend like we've just finished the meal outlined above before we begin our discussion!

Leviticus 19:31
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.

Have you ever visited a psychic/medium and regretted it later?

Disclaimer:
***Please note that this is based upon my personal experience, and nothing more. I've had a couple of emails from a blog reader, stating that I should go into more detail as to why we shouldn't visit a psychic. You can open yourself up to a whole forbidden world that could do tons of damage - affecting your salvation. I didn't go into this reasoning in this blog post since I'm talking about one isolated incident that happened to me. I don't know or understand the spirit world and we really need to rely on Jesus, trust in HIM with our future. I invite you to respond accordingly with your own experiences - it's hard to give more depth to this blog post since it's a personal blog post that happened to me a long time ago...and I only did this one time (that was enough for me to learn to not do this again!). My reasoning about not visiting a psychic is minor compared to what's happened to others. Also, this is a subject matter that is so broad - there are probably thousands upon thousands of books out there about this subject. It's hard to cover every aspect in just one blog post - I can only speak about what happened to me - for further insight, I invite you to read the comments or post your own comment about your own experience (or experiences of others if you feel led to do that).

***I also wanted to point out that one of the commenters mentioned that a lot of psychics are scam artists. Many people become addicted to calling psychic hotlines and such. Again, I didn't mention this in my blog post, but it is a VERY IMPORTANT FACT and is mentioned in the comments. Feel free to share your thoughts!

Several years ago, I took a trip alone to New Orleans. At the time, I was dating somebody and I was head-over-heels in love with this person. I wanted us to get married. I wanted this marriage to happen so badly that I visited a psychic in the French Quarter. I did this knowing it was wrong, but, I figured if she predicted this wedding, well, it would just make me feel better, make me feel more sure about my future. She asked me if I wanted to do tarot or palm reading. I told her I didn't know. So she chose palm reading.

She told me to close my eyes and make a wish. I wished for marriage to my boyfriend. When I opened my eyes, she said in a soft voice, "Your wish is going to come true." My heart jumped when I heard this. She then said, "The wish that you made about the man will come true." She said we'd have four children. Surprisingly, she told me things about myself that were true. She even accurately predicted some things that would happen to me later that summer.

So, I hung onto the hope of things working out in my romantic relationship. I figured the psychic had to be right about my budding romance, after all, she'd accurately predicted other things that had happened in my life. When my euphoric romance abruptly ended several months later, I was stunned! The first thing I thought during the breakup was, "But that psychic said we'd get married!" It was horrible, and that false hope made things so much worse and I also regretted visiting that psychic! I begged the Lord for forgiveness and since then, when the subject comes up, I've always advised others not to dabble with psychics.

I was raised with the knowledge that we should avoid psychics. That was the first and only time that I'd ever done this.

So, have you ever visited a psychic and regretted it later? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Home To Crossroads Ranch - A Sweet Romance

2011-09-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

Home To Crossroads Ranch

Nate Del Rio doesn't want kids, at all. He's still taking care of his adult siblings - and his siblings take advantage of him by calling upon Nate to bail them out after each of their financial crisis. However, he soon finds himself enmeshed within the lives of Rainy Jernagen's foster kids. When he shows up to fix Rainy's broken washing machine as part of a church outreach ministry, Rainy convinces him that his ranch would make a great place for her foster kids to play and to learn about animals.

Nate agrees to the children's daily visits and soon finds himself getting smitten with Rainy. However, she's a beautiful, brownie-baking foster mom, determined to help children by taking care of them. Although drawn to the children, Nate knows that he'd make a terrible father. He's failed his siblings in the past, that's why he allows them to come to him during every crisis. However, Nate harbors a dark secret, a secret that explains his aversion to children and fatherhood.

This was a sweet, heartwarming and enjoyable story. There was also a yummy brownie recipe in the back of the book! I might try to make them!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - Is It Wrong For Christians To Wear Tattoos?

2011-08-28T00:02:00.001-04:00

Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos

Mock brunch menu:
Moist banana bread with walnuts
Cold, creamy milk
Soft scrambled eggs seasoned with salt and pepper
Scrapple
Hot coffee with cream and sugar

Do you think it's wrong for Christians to wear tattoos?

I came up with the subject for today's Sunday Brunch while I was out on Friday evening. I passed a tattoo shop and this scripture came to my mind:

Leviticus 19:28 28“ ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

This scripture is taken from the Old Testament, and far as I know, the New Testament does not mention this rule. I've seen some cool tattoos on folks, but, I've never been of the mind-set to get one. The thought of being pricked by that painful needle...and making that permanent mark on my skin has never appealed to me. Plus, as you get older, the tattoos don't look as fresh and vibrant, they fade. I definitely wouldn't want my skin crowded with faded tattoos!

However, I honestly don't think that getting a tattoo is necessarily "wrong". I tend to think more of daily-life Christian laws as being taken from the New Testament, moreso than the Old Testament. However, people may disagree with me about tattoos and I'd like to get a discussion going about this subject. I know I was raised to believe that tattoos were wrong and this scripture was used to back up that "rule." However, as I got older and more exposed to the world, my thinking has changed.

Although I don't think getting a tattoo is wrong, it's not something that I would encourage someone to do. Why? Well, like I've already said, the idea has just never appealed to me, and if my son were older (like a teenager) and wanted my permission to get a tattoo, I'd tell him NO!

So, do you think it's wrong for Christians to get tattoos? Leave your response in the comments!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Heart's Song - A Sweet Romance

2011-08-25T21:26:00.000-04:00

Here's a brief summary of a nice, sweet, inspirational romance that I read recently.

Widow Reeny Landry has suddenly received money to use as a memorial to her deceased husband. Amidst some strong objections from town members and from her mother-in-law, Reeny decides to start a handbell choir in honor of her late spouse. Reeny is attracted to people who need love and attention, and her handbell choir is used to help others who need this activity as an outlet.

Widower and math teacher Graham Lockwood is new in town and he's Reeny's next door neighbor. Graham is suffering from a recent loss and he's pushed God out of his life. He is somewhat irritated by Reeny's breezy, God-inspired attitude. When Reeny needs someone to help her lead the handbell choir, Graham is a natural choice since he's a musician, and she can't find anybody else to fill the position.

I enjoy reading stories with disabled characters. I thought this book was kind of interesting and I learned something new by reading it! Reeny has a daughter who is mute. Her mute child becomes a member of the handbell choir and it gives the child a vocal-like outlet since she can't speak. I rarely hear of this type of handicap - I usually hear of it associated with deafness, trauma, throat cancer, or mental issues. Rarely have I heard of someone being born without the ability to speak (unless associated with the issues I mentioned in the previous sentence).

Reeny also has another child, a son, who gently objects to his mother's growing feelings towards his math teacher.

This story was light and entertaining and it showed how we need to embrace God, even when we suffer from tragedy and hardship.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Earthquake!!!

2011-08-24T00:07:00.003-04:00

Have you ever experienced an earthquake or a tremor? What did it feel like?

It was a scary day. I live in Maryland and we don't really get earthquakes. But, I was sitting at my desk and I felt a slight tremor in the floor. The tremor got louder and louder and the building started to shake. I screamed and my coworkers and I wondered what was going on. We figured it was an earthquake and the building was evacuated. I'm still thinking about it. This scripture came to my mind when I was standing outside of the evacuated building:

Luke 21:10-11
10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Today's earthquake made me wonder if Maryland would be seeing more earthquakes. So, have you ever experienced and earthquake or a tremor? What did it feel like?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

From The Blog Archives

2011-08-23T06:45:00.000-04:00

I've reposted old blog posts about African-American fiction on Writers' Rest. Stop by and leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Someone To Blame By C.S. Lakin

2011-08-22T00:05:00.001-04:00

Someone To Blame by C.S. Lakin

This book reminded me of Terri Blackstock's novels. The chapters were short, suspenseful, and moved quickly. Irene, Matt, and Casey (The Moore Family) is suffering from a recent double tragedy. To help deal with their grief, they relocate to a small beach town called Breakers. Each member of the Moore family deals with their recent grief in their own way. Casey wears her deceased brothers' clothing, wanting to keep their memory alive. Matt can't stop thinking about the past, and what he could've done to prevent the senseless deaths.

When a new young guy comes to town named Billy Thurber, life in the quiet beach town becomes unsettled. A rash of robberies occur and there are several instances of vandalism. Meanwhile, young, vulnerable Casey Moore finds herself drawn to Billy. Could Billy be responsible for the recent ruckus in the small town?

Someone To Blame depicts a realistic journey to faith as we seek answers to our never-ending questions about life and death. I enjoyed this book immensely because it realistically shows how a family deals with grief and forgiveness. The fast-moving suspenseful threads made this book a page turner. I recommend it as a good read. Many thanks to the author for giving me a free review copy of this novel.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - Did Jesus Die On A Tree?

2011-08-21T00:07:00.001-04:00

Today's mock menu - let's pretend like we've just finished this meal before discussing today's scriptures:

Grilled ham
Fluffy omelets stuffed with fragrant herbs, cheese and mushrooms
Fried potatoes seasoned with salt and herbs
Tuna fish sandwiches on whole wheat toast
Buttered toast
Iced latte
Coke

Did Jesus die on a tree?

You know I've been reading a lot about the early Christians lately, especially in the book of Acts. I've often wondered about the scriptures in Acts which reference that Jesus died on a tree. There are several references about Jesus dying on the cross throughout the Bible, but I was wondering if the tree reference was used simply because the cross was made of wood?

Here are the scriptures that refer to Jesus dying on a tree:

Acts 13:28-30
28Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead,

Acts 10:39
39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,

This is one of the many references about Jesus dying on a cross:
Acts 2:23
23This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

So, why do you think Acts mentions Jesus dying on a tree? Personally, I think He died on a cross, but I've often wondered about the tree reference. Leave a comment.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Season Of Miracles By Rusty Whitener

2011-08-16T07:06:00.005-04:00

A Season Of Miracles by Rusty Whitener

Did you ever play Little League Baseball? If so, what do you remember about it?

This book is about a twelve-year-old boy named Zack who plays little league. His team is not very great, but things change when they recruit a new kid named Rafer. Rafer is "touched" or mentally challenged. The Little Leaguers initially mistakenly believe that Rafer can't hit the ball since he can barely speak. However, Rafer can hit almost as good as a professional baseball player.

The team learns about working together - team work - to improve their season. They also learn about faith. Zack finds himself interested in the subject of God and salvation, so he starts going to church with his fellow player, Donnie, since Donnie's father is a preacher. Zack's father is not too keen on his son learning more about the gospel since his dad doesn't appear to have much respect for spiritual matters.

I think this book would be appealing to young boys who are really into the sport of baseball. It shows a heartwarming warmth between a group of young men who are determined to learn about baseball and Christianity. God's role really comes into play when the team suffers through an extremely traumatic experience.

Many thanks to Kregel for providing me with a free review copy.

So, did you ever play Little League Baseball? If so, what do you remember about it? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Next Food Network Star Is....

2011-08-15T06:50:00.001-04:00

I'm taking a break from my regular blog topics today to talk about the Next Food Network Star TV show.

I must say that I was a bit disappointed that Jeff won! :-(
I was kinda rooting for Susie. I thought she was more warm and personable than Jeff. Anyway, he won, so congrats to Jeff!

Have you been watching the Next Food Network Star competition? If so, who were you rooting for?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - Cherubim!

2011-08-14T00:01:00.001-04:00

Mock Brunch Menu:
Creamy vanilla rice pudding with raisins and sprinkled with cinnamon
Fluffy blueberry pancakes slathered with real butter and homemade maple syrup
Crispy salty bacon
Tender link sausages
Hot coffee laced with cream and sugar
Cold, fresh-squeezed orange juice
Sweet apple juice

As usual, let's pretend like we've just finished the tasty meal that I've outlined above and we're ready to talk about some scriptures!

Today, I wanted to talk about the cherubim. For some reason, thoughts of the cherubim have been going through my mind over the last few weeks! I’ll talk about seraphim another week.

NOTE: I’M TALKING ABOUT CHERUBIM IN THE BIBLICAL SENSE. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE TERM CHERUB/CHERUBIM AS IT PERTAINS TO INFANTS/BABIES.

When you think about cherubim, what image comes to your mind?

The cherubim are mentioned in the Bible a number of times. After Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, the cherubim guarded the Garden so that Adam and Eve could not return:

Genesis 3:24
24After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Cherubim were also used numerous times in the design of the Ark of the Covenant as well as the temple built by Solomon. This leads me to believe that these are extremely holy and important creatures.

We also know that God is enthroned between the cherubim:
2 Kings 19:15
15And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

However, the Biblical image that I find most striking about the cherubim occurs in Ezekiel 10:12-14
12Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. 13I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” 14Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

When I think of these Biblical creatures, I think about how amazing they are, and how scary they must look! God sits between these winged creatures and they appear to be of some importance in the Old Testament. I wonder what it would’ve been like to see these creatures? Just reading about them brings images to my mind, images that are really hard to grasp.

What do you think about when you read the scriptures about the cherubim?

As always, comments and questions are appreciated!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Milk Money! :-)

2011-08-12T20:03:00.000-04:00

I just found out about the following comment today left on a book review blog for my novel, Milk Money. Milk Money is book #2 in the Chesapeake Weddings collection. Here's the comment:
Great Book!
by: Anonymous

I've been reading Heartsong Presents books lately, and I just started reading Milk Money. I love the story. These books remind me that there is always a loving God who cares about you and will never leave you.

Thankyou, Cecelia Dowdy for writing this book!
-16 years old, NH =)

I love hearing from teenagers! It's great to see that people are still reading my books and I'm humbled and pleased by the praise.

It's just so sad that Heartsong Presents no longer exists! :-(

The Chesapeake Weddings collection is still available at Christianbook.com for only $2.79 if you'd still like to purchase a copy. If you order 3 or more copies, the price drops to $1.79! They make great gifts for friends, family, church members and women's groups! You can even do some early Christmas shopping and use them as stocking stuffers! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Daughter Of The Loom - Book 1 - Bells Of Lowell Series

2011-08-11T07:03:00.000-04:00

Daughter Of The Loom by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

This is book #1 in the Bells Of Lowell series.

Forced to work in the mill as her only means of survival, Lilly Armbruster is deeply resentful of the powerful mill owners she believes forced her father's premature death. Lily is torn, however, when she discovers her one-time betrothed is one with the "lords of the loom." With her heart conflicted, Lilly's faith will be put to the test.

Lilly's life has taken an unexpected turn. Her father is dead and her farm has been sold to a group of people. This group of people, the Boston Associates, want to expand the mills, therefore getting rid of most of the farms. Lilly loved her farm and her ex-beau, Matthew, has joined the Associates, stating that the mills will bring prosperity to Lowell.

Lilly's brother, Lewis, has gambled away the money that they've received from the sale of the farm, so Lilly is left penniless. She must now work to survive and the only job she can find is at the mills, working in the factory making fabric. She's determined to bring justice into Lowell by putting a stop to the mill operations. However, Lilly needs to learn that vengeance is not something she should take into her own hands.

I thought this book was a good read. The story shows that we need to forgive others for their transgressions. There were so many issues that were dealt with in this book that it's hard to name them all. Sibling rivalry is one issue that the characters needed to work out. Lilly and her brother Lewis have never gotten along. Lilly finds it hard to forgive Lewis for his gambling, drinking and lewd behavior. Lewis tortured her when they were children, and Lilly finds it hard to understand why her brother hates her so much.

There's also a set of spinster sisters who run boarding houses for the mill workers. These sisters must learn to overcome their differences to restore their sisterly relationship. And there's also the issue of lost love. Lilly has broken her engagement to Matthew because she holds him responsible for her father's death as well as the loss of her farm. Lilly needs to learn that she should listen to God's voice and really assess the value of the mills instead of taking matters into her own hands.

I thought this book was interesting because it showed the young women working in the mills in the 1800's. Seeing them turning thread into fabric and seeing spindles, threads, looms, etc. was interesting. Working in the mills is hard on Lilly since she wanted to stay on her farm. Plus there's a great deal of turmoil at work due to a lewd foreman who threatens the female workers. I thought the work situation was very realistic. The women worked long days with only a half hour for lunch and breakfast. The female workers would have only 30 minutes to rush back to their boarding houses, wolf down their food, and then return to the mills.

Overall a good read. I look forward to reading the other two books in the series.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Food In The Church

2011-08-08T06:55:00.000-04:00

I'm blogging over at Writers' Rest Blog about food in the church. Stop by and leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

No Sunday Brunch Today! :-(

2011-08-07T11:21:00.000-04:00

Time just got away from me and I didn't get a chance to do a Sunday Brunch post today. I'll do one next week. I thought my next Sunday Brunch post would focus on the cherubim and seraphim.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Changing World Of Publishing

2011-08-03T20:57:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling a bit melancholy of late. Reason why? I'm still kind of bummed that the Heartsong Presents line is being cancelled. I was working on a proposal to send to them, and then I heard about that.

Top it off with Borders shutting down a few weeks ago.

The publishing world is changing drastically. Since Borders is now closed, I've wondered about the fate of printed books? I just received my Kindle e-reader as a birthday gift and I love it. Do you think we're moving toward the time where printed books will be history and will no longer exist?

I've also heard in various writers' circles that other publishers will eventually get rid of their trade paperback books. Just makes me stop and wonder.

Also, I've noticed that a slew of commercially-published authors have started releasing self-pubbed e-books. I've heard some make great money and others have not had that much success in sales and money. Will the book world change so much that commercial publishers will cease to exist and everybody self-publishes e-books? Those who are deemed to be successful are the ones who make lots of $$$?

Or, I also wonder if commercial publishers will get even more picky about the authors that they want to publish. Do you think that commercial publishers might reach the point where they choose new authors from the selection of successfully published e-authors?

What's the point of this blog post? I'm not sure! I'm just thinking about the vast changes being made in the world of publishing and trying to digest everything. I know it's gonna be hard to figure this all out. I just think it'll be weird and a bit sad if we ever reach the point where... there are NO MORE BOOKSTORES!!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Help - A Book Review

2011-08-01T07:12:00.000-04:00

NOTE - THIS IS A SECULAR TITLE

My sister loaned me her copy of this book, and I just finished it a couple of days ago. The movie is going to be released in about a week, so, I'll probably go and see it when it comes out.

In spite of the controversy for some, I felt this book painted a realistic view for what it was like for SOME African-American maids to work for white families in the sixties. I enjoyed reading this book, but there were parts of it that rankled me, made me angry. But, I felt the author did a great job with the story.

Skeeter is 22 years old and she has graduated from college. Unmarried, she hangs out with her friends who are married with children. Skeeter's mother is always "on her case" about her height (she's very tall) and her unruly hair. Can't she fix herself up so that she can snag a husband? Skeeter is sick of her mother and she's got goals, goals that are not shared by her upper-class friends. Skeeter wants to be a writer and when she reaches out to a big-time New York editor, she comes up with an idea for a book - a book about what it's really like to be a Black maid in the deep South.

Skeeter's family maid suddenly disappears and her mother lies about the maid's wherabouts. Skeeter wants to know what happened to the African-American woman who raised her. She's stunned that the maid that they've employed for decades is now gone - it's almost like losing her second mother.

Skeeter's family as well as Skeeter's friends all employ African-American domestic help. Aibileen, one of the maids, has been a domestic worker her entire life. I think, when you read this story, it'll make you stop and make you think about what the life of a maid is really like. They cook, clean, and they also raise the children of their White employers. They're not really appreciated for all that they do.

You'll meet a cast of interesting characters who struggle with bigotry and fear. Minny, another maid, has problems that she's dealing with at home - her homelife is sad and she has trouble keeping domestic jobs because of her sassy attitude. She finally finds a job with Ms. Celia, a white woman who is the social outcast of Jackson Misssissippi since she is little more than "poor white trash" who "stole" the boyfriend of one of the town's elite.

Skeeter and the maids are fearful, but feel that changes need to be made, so she sets out to write the stories about the maids in her town. Skeeter wants others to know about what the maids have to go through each day doing their jobs. Most times, their White employers are unsympathetic, demeaning, and they treat their help with no respect.

One particular thing comes to mind to illustrate how the maids are disrespected - many of their employers get a separate bathroom contructed onto their homes because they feel that Blacks have diseases to which whites are not accostomed to. I found the views of many of the Whites in the book to be downright stupid. How are you going to have a Black maid fixing your food, raising your children, and then worry about catching a disease from using the same toilet?

The Help takes place during the sixties in Jackson Mississippi and there is an extreme amount of racial unrest during this time in history. Martin Luther King is about to lead the March in Washington. People are getting lynched and shot just for standing up for their civil rights.

I could go on and on talking about this book, but I don't want to give spoilers. My only pet peeve about this novel is that Skeeter hangs out with her best friends - apparantly, they used to be extremely close. However, now that closeness is being shattered. I had a hard time believing that these Skeeter and her friends had been close at one point? Why? Not sure. Once the story opens, that closeness has faded, so, since I never "experienced" the closeness amidst the pages in the book, it could be why I'm having a hard time accepting that Skeeter was close to her friends?

Overall, the book was a quick, good, engaging read and I highly recommend this controversial book.

~Cecelia Dowdy~
From the back cover:
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.
Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.
Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.
Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.
In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

Sunday Brunch - Why Did Jesus Spit?

2011-07-31T08:28:00.000-04:00

It's time for another Sunday Brunch! :-)

Today's mock brunch menu:

Lemon Cake With Frosting
Breakfast Casserole
Toast With Jelly
Cranberry Juice
Coffee

I wanted to discuss the following scripture in the book of Mark. I also wanted your response to this question: Why did Jesus have to spit on the blind man's eyes?
Mark 8:22-26
The Healing of a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village.”

Why do you think that Jesus had to spit on the blind man's eyes?

I also wonder why the spittle didn't work initially? The blind man's sight appeared to be only partially restored since he said he saw people that looked like trees. Then Jesus had to place his hands on the man's eyes again and his sight was restored! I'm thinking, maybe, this man's faith may have been weaker than the faith of the other people whom Jesus healed? It's hard to say.

Why do you think that Jesus had to spit on this blind man's eyes?

Leave your answers in the comments!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

My Birthday Gift!

2011-07-30T07:58:00.000-04:00

My birthday is today and my hubby purchased me a Kindle! It's certainly taken me long enough to get an e-reader! Until today, I've always used the Kindle for PC, and I used the PC Kindle to download freebies and I've purchased a couple of items on the PC Kindle. It's nice to now have a REAL KINDLE, though! To test out my new Kindle I purchased a book. My first Kindle purchase?

A Good Excuse To Be Bad by Miranda Parker! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Help

2011-07-27T06:34:00.000-04:00

Have you read this novel, if so, did you like it?

I've started reading the secular novel entitled The Help. From what I understand, this novel has been extremely popular for lots of people. The book is about a group of African-American maids in the sixties and their relationships with their white employers. The author is Caucasian. What's interesting is that this novel has a cover with three birds on it - you don't even get a glimpse as to what the novel's about from glancing at the cover.

However, they have done a new cover that depicts what the story is about. I think it's interesting that this book is not shelved in the African-American section of the bookstore. I guess that makes sense since the author is Caucasian. If you've been reading this blog long enough, you've seen my views about shelving African American books separately from the other books. Also, wanted to add that this book is being made into a movie that's about to be released pretty soon.

I'll be sure to post a full review once I'm done. So again, my question is, have you read this novel, if so, did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The End Of Heartsong Presents

2011-07-26T06:37:00.000-04:00

It was officially announced yesterday that as of the end of 2011, the Heartsong Presents book club will no longer be in existance. The book club is being cancelled and I was so stunned to hear this. HP has been around since 1992 - that's almost twenty years of books and they've released over 1,000 titles! A lot of big-name Christian fiction authors got their start by writing for Heartsong Presents.

Well, with the world of publishing making drastic changes lately, I can't say that I'm surprised. I did notice that when I received reader mail about my Heartsongs, the correspondence was always from an elderly person. I'm led to believe that the Heartsong demographic was older people and perhaps many of the members joined in the beginning and as time went on, it was hard to get more people to join the book club in recent years? It's hard to say.

I was a member of this book club for several years. I'm still wrapping my mind around this stunning news! :-(

Any comments about this? Why do you think this happened?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Question?

2011-07-25T06:55:00.000-04:00

Timothy wrote to me with the following questions:
When did you know that you are/were a writer?

I guess I knew that I wanted to be a writer when I was about 27 or 28. I've always been an avid reader and one day, during my lunch break, I'd forgotten to bring a book with me to read. So, I took out my pen and paper and started writing a book. I've been writing ever since.

What made you choose Christian Fiction?

When I first started writing, back in 1994, I wasn't aware of the Christian fiction genre. Actually, the genre wasn't very prominent back then. I still consider Christian fiction and Christian romance novels to be a fairly "new" genre, meaning, I haven't really started seeing them until the past fifteen years. When I was growing up, Christian fiction did not exist and I read a lot of secular fiction.

Regarding your question - when I first started writing, I sent my writings to an editor whom I'd paid to edit my work. One of the comments she made was: Is this a Christian romance? I was not familiar with that term at the time. To help with my writing career, I joined Romance Writers of America and I joined the RWA chapter entitled Faith, Hope, And Love (RWA's Christian Inspirational Chapter). Being a part of Faith, Hope, and Love opened the door for me regarding Christian fiction. I became familiar with the genre and I started reading those novels. I'd been mentioning God, faith and church in my books before I even knew about the Christian market. So, by my "discovering" this genre, it just made me aware that this is the type of fiction that I needed to be writing.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - The Early Christians Raising People From The Dead!

2011-07-24T07:45:00.000-04:00

Here's what's on the brunch "menu" for today:
Scrambled eggs
Bagels and cream cheese
Toast
Bacon
Cinnamon rolls
Coffee
Non-alcoholic champagne punch

Let's imagine we've just finished eating the tasty food listed above before we discuss the following scriptures.

Can you imagine what it would be like if your loved ones were raised from the dead? I wanted to talk about how some of the early Christians raised people from the dead through the power of Jesus. When you read these scriptures, what goes through your mind?

Acts 9:40-42
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas – Acts 20:9-12
9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Both Paul and Peter were able to raise someone from the dead through hte power of Jesus! I know we talk about Jesus healing people and raising people from the dead but, I don't notice much discussion about Paul and Peter doing this. The two above-mentioned scriptures remind me of the scripture in Luke where Jesus raised a girl from the dead.

Luke 8:49-56
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

It's important to note that Jesus ordered them not to tell anybody about what had happened. I wonder why? I'm wondering if such miraculous resurrections may occur today, somewhere in the world, and people are keeping silent about it?

It’s almost as if, back then - in the book of Acts, the early saints were closer to Jesus, and could perform miracles that were similiar to what Jesus did while he was on the earth? Yes, I do believe people can be raised from the dead today, but, I feel that such happenings are extremely rare if/when they do occur. As I’ve stated on this blog before, I feel that the early Christians had a closer connection to Jesus than we have today. I think their faith was so strong…so strong that it’s almost hard for us to imagine or understand such a deep faith.

So, when you read these scriptures, what goes through your mind? When I read those scriptures, I’m just awed and amazed by the healing power of Jesus – the most profound power of all!

Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Love Letters - Writers' Rest Blog Post

2011-07-23T09:27:00.000-04:00

Today, I'm blogging over at Writers' Rest about love letters! Do you remember your first love letter? Stop by Writers' Rest, leave a comment and reminisce!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Deal, The Dance, And The Devil By Victoria Christopher Murray

2011-07-21T06:28:00.000-04:00

The Deal, The Dance, And The Devil by Victoria Christopher Murray

First Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

This scripture is what ran through my mind as I was reading this novel. Adam and Evia Langston are a happily married couple with three kids. Adam was laid off from his well-paying corporate job several months ago and now the family is struggling to survive. Their savings have been depleted and they're in danger of losing their home to foreclosure.

Evia works for Shay-Shante (the owner of a mega-hair-care company). Shay Shante makes Evia a deal that's extremely hard to take seriously. Shay offers Evia five million dollars in exchange for one weekend alone with Adam (Evia's husband). Evia is floored by this offer and she initially says no.

As the story progresses, you learn about other financial obligations that the Langstons are responsible for, like the monthly stipend that's paid to Evia's ghetto family and the funds they have to pay for Adam's mother who's now in an upscale nursing home.

I was drawn to this story because it shows how much we can come to depend upon money instead of God. Evia and Adam are a Christian couple but their faith is extremely tested when they're faced with financial hardship.

You also get a glimpse of how Evia and Adam met and how strong their love was. I don't want to give spoilers but, money can change relationships. Although having some extra cash to pay your bills is nice, being indebted to somebody can bring a whole set of new problems into your life.

You should read this novel if you want to see a realistic example of how money can mess with a strong, Christian marriage.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? Do you think you could give up your spouse to another person for one weekend for five million dollars?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Unexpected Love By Andrea Boeshaar

2011-07-20T18:47:00.000-04:00

Unexpected Love by Andrea Boeshaar

This is a sweet, heartwarming story about Renna, a nurse who happens to be an old-maid. Renna works hard at the hospital and she's come to accept that she'll always remain single - no man could possibly want her since she has an unattractive purple birthmark on her cheek.

Renna's life changes when a man enters her hospital ward as a new patient. They call this new man Mr. Blackeyes since they have no idea about his identity. The dark-eyed man has been recently blinded as the result of a boating accident. Because of his amnesia and blindness, he finds that he has to rely on Renna for support.

However, as Mr. Blackeyes slowly regains snippets of his memory, an unusual string of events unfurls, creating a suspenseful thread in this story. These events are related to Captain Blackeyes boating accident and Mr. Benchley, a business associate who his smitten with Renna. Renna can't stand that her parents are practically forcing her to date Mr. Benchley. The man gives her a bad feeling, and she senses that he would not make a good husband, something about him just does not seem quite right...

Renna and Captain Blackeyes share a deep mutual attraction, but both have obstacles to overcome before they can love one another.

I was drawn to this story because the hero was blind. If you've been reading this blog long enough, you'll know that I want to see more novels with blind characters.

I'd recommend this heartwarming read if you like sweet inspirational romance novels.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Book Giveaway Winner! :-)

2011-07-19T06:42:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to:

Deb Piccurelli - Glendora, NJ

Deb is the winner of this book giveaway. Deb, I'll be snail mailing your box of 20+ books soon.

All, I'll be posting another book giveaway sometime in the future. If you want to be sure not to miss out, then you should subscribe to my blog...that way you'll be sure not to miss any blog posts!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch - Did Philip Disappear?

2011-07-16T22:06:00.001-04:00

Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos

I'm ready to discuss another scripture on today's Sunday Brunch. Like last week, we can pretend like we just finished eating the following menu before "discussing" the a scripture by leaving comments.

Today's menu:

Orange Juice
Coffee
Blueberry Waffles with Syrup
Bacon
Hamburger Sliders with Fries

Today's question:
What happened to Philip at the end of the eighth chapter in the book of Acts?

I wanted to talk about the ending of the scripture involving the Ethiopian eunuch. After Philip has a life-changing conversation with the eunuch, Philip baptizes him. After the baptism, the following occurs:
Acts 8:39-40
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

What I'm wondering is, did the Lord's Holy Spirit enable Philip to disappear and then re-appear in Azotus? I know some translations use the term "carried" Philip away instead of "took Philip away." Either way you look at it, it appears to me that Philip literally disappeared from the scene of the eunuch and then reappeared in Azotus. I'm thinking Azotus was where the Lord felt was the greatest need for Philip to preach the gospel. So, that's why He had to carry Philip away from the eunuch so suddenly - Philip had lots of preaching work to do.

Do you think that Philip literally disappeared and then re-appeared? If so, why?

Leave your responses in the comments! I'm anxious to hear what everbody has to say! I realize people will interpret this scripture in different ways and I think we can get a discussion going! I hope you "enjoyed" the meal! :-)

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Congrats To The 2011 Carol Award Finalists! :-)

2011-07-14T06:32:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the 2011 Carol Award finalists. The Carol Award is sponsored by American Christian Fiction Writers. The winners will be announced at the annual ACFW conference in September!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Debut Novel:

The Preacher’s Bride by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House - Dave Long/Sharon Asmus, Editors)

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers - Kathryn Olson, Editor)

Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing - Julee Schwarzburg, Editor)

Long Contemporary:

The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)

Red Ink by Kathi Macias (New Hope Publishers - Randy Bishop, Editor)

Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House - Dave Long, Editor)

Long Contemporary Romance:

Plain Jayne by Hilary Manton Lodge (Harvest House - Kim Moore, Editor)

Anna’s Return by Marta Perry (Berkley - Ellen Edwards, Editor)

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson - Natalie Hanemann, Editor)

Long Historical:

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs (Waterbrook Press - Laura Barker, Editor)

Petra: City in Stone by T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing - Karen Ball, Editor)

Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press – Susan Downs, Editor)

Long Historical Romance:

The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy (Barbour - Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Love Finds You In Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside - Rachel Meisel/Connie Troyer, Editors)

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)

Mystery:

Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz (Sheaf House - Joan M. Shoup, Editor)

Muslin Mystery by Vera Dodge (Guideposts - Beth Adams, Editor)

The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Novellas (Contemporary and Historical were combined into one category):

The Prodigal Groom by Vickie McDonough (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Ride With Me Into Christmas by Rachael Phillips (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)

A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Romantic Suspense:

The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Susan Downs, Editors)

Don’t Look Back by Lynette Eason (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)

Pursuit of Justice by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale Publishers - Karen Watson, Editor)

Short Contemporary:

The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight (Love Inspired - Allison Lyons)

A Father for Zach by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)

Winter’s End by Ruth Logan Herne (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)

Short Contemporary Suspense:

Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)

Legacy of Lies by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)

Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley (Love Inspired Suspense - Tina James, Editor)

Short Historical:

Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical - Tina James, Editor)

Promise of Tomorrow by S. Dionne Moore (Barbour - JoAnne Simmons, Editor)

The Columns of Cottonwood by Sandra Robbins (Barbour - JoAnne Simmons, Editor)

Speculative Fiction:

The Wolf of Tebron by C. S. Lakin (AMG Publishers - Rick Steele, Editor)

Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing - Julee Schwarzburg, Editor)

König’s Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press – Jeff Gerke, Editor)

Suspense/Thriller:

Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan - Sue Brower/Dave Lambert, Editors)

Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll (B&H Publishing – Karen Ball, Editor)

Medical Error by Richard L. Mabry (Abingdon Press – Barbara Scott, Editor)

Women’s Fiction:

Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers - Jan Stob/Lorie Popp, Editors)

They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti (Abingdon – Barbara Scott, Editor)

Beyond Summer by Lisa Wingate (NAL - Ellen Edwards, Editor)

Young Adult:

Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell - Lonnie Hull Dupont, Editor)

Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Zonderkidz - Jacque Alberta, Editor)

Katy’s New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Zonderkidz - Jacque Alberta, Editor)

Congratulations To The 2011 Christy Award Winners! :-)

2011-07-12T21:50:00.000-04:00

A heartfelt congrats goes to all of the 2011 Christy Award winners! Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think about them? I see many wonderfully fine authors on the list! You can view a full list of the nominees here.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

Contemporary Romance

Sworn to Protect
by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas/
The Reluctant Prophet
by Nancy Rue (David C. Cook)

Contemporary Standalone/

Almost Heaven
by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

First Novel/

Heartless
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical/

While We’re Far Apart
by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance/

The Girl in the Gatehouse
by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense/

The Bishop
by Steven James (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Visionary/

To Darkness Fled
by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Young Adult/

Motorcycles, Sushi, and One
Strange Book
by Nancy Rue (Zondervan)

The Blessed By Ann H. Gabhart

2011-07-11T06:46:00.002-04:00

The Blessed by Ann H. Gabhart

This book is about Lacey - a motherless woman who came to live with a preacher and his wife as a youngster. After her father re-married, her new stepmother didn't want her living with them. Lacey has a strange relationship with her new "parents" and as an adult, her and the preacher seldom speak, but she's extremely close to Miss Mona, the preacher's wife. Miss Mona is kind and she teaches Lacey a lot about faith and Christianity. Lacey's life changes for the worse when Miss Mona dies, leaving 20-year-old Lacey and Rachel (an abandoned baby who was left in a box on their doorstep a few years ago). Now Lacey feels forced to marry the preacher - who's old enough to be her grandfather, since the church ladies believe it's sinful for her to be living with the preacher as an unmarried woman. When the preacher is sucked into the peaceful, cult-like Shaker community, Lacey and Rachel feel they must live with the Shakers, too.

Also, Isaac, another "worldly" person, is part of the Shaker community. His wife died and he feels guilty for her death. The Shakers take him in and he finds himself attracted to Lacey.

I enjoyed this book, but, as I said in previous reviews, the Shakers still left me with an unsettled feeling, with their strange unBiblical beliefs. One of the Shaker characters kept "seeing" angels and she danced with them in the field and her Shaker brothers/sisters were mesmerized and amazed by her "angelic" ability. I sensed that this book did portray an accurate picture of the Shaker way of life and showed how hard, almost impossible it would be to convert to their way of life. This is a great read if you want to find out more about the Shakers and about how difficult it is to fall in love amidst ones that feel marriage is a sin. I thought the characters were well-developed and the story was enjoyable.

The author also did an awesome job in showing the love between a mother and her child. The Shakers don't believe in families - everybody is a brother and sister to one another. Families are separated - for a mother to be separated from her child...well, just kind of hard to deal with and Ann really did a great job showing these familial-bond emotions.

Many thanks to Baker/Revell for providing me with a free review copy of this novel.

~Cecelia Dowdy~