Reading

Top Ten Tuesday

/ kellyfbarr / Leave a comment

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday suggestion, as per The Broke and Bookish, is “Ten Reasons I Love X” and you can place whatever you like in the spot of “X”.  Therefore, I am going to do “Ten Reasons I Love Janette Oke”.

  1.  When I first gave my heart to the Lord and became a Christian, the first Christian fiction books I read were books written by Janette Oke.
  2. I love every book that I have ever read by Janette Oke, although, unfortunately, I have not read them all. Her characters capture my heart.
  3. I love that many of Janette’s stories are Christian historical romantic fiction.  Maybe that’s why I decided that clean historical romantic fiction is what I want to write.
  4. Although I have only read five of the twelve books in Janette’s “Women of the West” series, A Gown of Spanish Lace and Drums of Change are two of my favorite Janette Oke stories. Drums of Change is a special favorite because it is about an Indian girl, and I have always had a fondness and fascination for the Indians.  My great-great-grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian woman.  Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of meeting her.
  5. One of my favorite series of all time is one written by Janette Oke, and that is the Love Comes Softly series.  In that series, Janette created two characters that all of her readers fell in love with, Marty and Clark Davis.
  6. Janette Oke cares about her readers and their opinions.  She originally wrote Love Comes Softly as a single book, but many of her readers wanted more, and so with the encouragement of an editor at Bethany House publishing, she wrote a second book, and the series eventually turned into an eight novel series. When readers still wanted more, Janette wrote four more novels, The Prairie Legacy series, where the series of Clark and Marty Davis and their family finally ended because at the end of twelve novels, Clark and Marty had reached their final years together and Janette nor her readers wanted to mourn their deaths.  So finally, the readers were satisfied, and Janette had cared enough about her readers to change one novel into a series of twelve novels, and that remains, maybe, the best loved series Janette has written.
  7.  Some of Janette Oke’s stories have been made into movies.  The Love Comes Softly series was made into movies, and I LOVE them!  (Well, the ones I have seen) I have the complete book and movie series of Love Comes Softly, including the Prairie Legacy series, although I have not read the Prairie Legacy series.  I plan to read all of these twelve novels very soon, and then sit down and watch the movies!
  8. I recently found a book at a bargain book store that is a book about Janette Oke written by her daughter, Laurel Oke Logan, and I can’t wait to read it and learn more about one of my favorite authors!
  9. Janette Oke also wrote another of my favorite book series and that is her Seasons of the Heart series.  It is a four book series.
  10. The biggest reason I love Janette Oke is because not only does she care about her readers, she also cares about future writers and those who write letters to her.  I wrote a letter to her back in 1996, when I was hoping to soon become a published author.  I sent her a letter expressing my love for her writing and I sent her a short story of my own and asked for feedback and advice on becoming a published author.  Now, you and I both know that successful writers don’t usually answer their own fan mail.  They don’t have time, and they don’t read stories fans send them asking for writing advice.  Well, I want you to know that Janette Oke did just that.  She read my letter and the story I sent and she sent me a two page letter responding with answers to some of my questions about publishing at the time!  She offered me some tips on my writing and encouraged me to keep writing!  This busy, successful writer took the time to personally respond to my letter!  What a sweet, caring woman Janette Oke is!  I am so glad that I was bold in writing to her.  I still have the letter she sent me in the original envelope it was sent in, and it still means a lot to me today!I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Janette Oke in person or having any other contact or correspondence with her, but she will always remain special to me for taking the time to encourage me in my writing, even if it did take me considerably longer to really get serious about my writing.

What I’ve Learned About Critique Groups

/ kellyfbarr / 4 Comments

There are different types of critique groups and it’s important to try several different types until you find the one you think fits you best and is most helpful to you in your writing.

I have been involved in two different critique groups and will begin my journey with another critique group this week.  The two that I have been a part of seem to have the same basic rules:  start by saying something positive, offer your thoughts on what works and doesn’t work in the writing or where things tend to drag, and end with something positive.  Also, be specific!  Saying something like, “This is nice.  I like it,” is not really helpful at all to the writer.

Of the two critique groups I’ve been involved with so far, I do prefer one over the other because one group has difficulty critiquing the piece you bring to share.  Because you may be working on a novel and you have brought early chapters in the past and now you’ve brought middle or later chapters, and this group may or may not consist of people who read the earlier chapters, it seems to be quite difficult for them to simply critique what is before them.

I understand that it can be difficult as far as knowing how things began and why what’s happening is happening now, but I don’t find it difficult to be able to focus on the words before me and give advice on what is happening on these pages.  Whatever I am reading to critique, I simply, ask myself several questions as I read:  1) Does the story flow? 2) Does the dialogue move the story forward and is the dialogue relevant to the story? 3) Are the goals of the main character clear from the action, the decisions and choices the character makes? 4) Are there any places that cause the story to lose momentum, slow down and seem to drag? 5) Are there any places that confuse the reader?  6) Are the writer’s word choices fitting for the time the story is set in or are there word choices that are too modern or too outdated? 7) Does the story capture and hold my attention and make me want to keep reading? 8) Do I care about the main character? 9) Does the plot line keep my interest and does it keep the story moving? 10) Is the story unique compared to other stories in the same genre?

There may be more questions that pop into my head as I read that I look for answers too as well, but the ten I listed in the previous paragraph are some of the most important, so if you can keep those questions in your head while reading someone’s work, it shouldn’t matter whether you are reading a piece of writing from the beginning, middle or end of the story, in order to give the writer good quality, helpful feedback.

* * * * *

Now, just a bit about the critique group I will be getting involved with this week.  It is the online critique group offered through the ACFW website for ACFW members.  I am really excited about this because it sounds like it may be the most helpful critique group yet.  In order to become involved in the critique group, I have to take a three day orientation, where I will receive three email assignments each day of those three days to complete, in order to learn the rules and how their critique group works.  It’s a very large group and it has smaller branch groups as well, from what I understand.  I am really looking forward to it!  I’ll let you know what I think, once I am able to receive and offer some critiquing.

What about you?  Are you part of a critique group?  How do you benefit from your critique group?

Top Ten Tuesday

/ kellyfbarr / 1 Comment

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday list as per The Broke and the Bookish is “Ten Books I Picked up on a Whim”.  Therefore the following list is a list of books I picked up at a bookstore, yard sale or used bookstore, without prior knowledge of the book, just because the book jacket print made me want to read it or because I found the cover very intriguing.  However, I rarely pick up a book solely based on the book cover, even on a whim.

  1.  

I found this book on the Bargain Book rack in a book store.  I was intrigued by both the cover and the back cover print.  It sounded like a strange and unusual story, which it did, indeed, turn out to be.  It also is the first book in a trilogy.  I liked this story, but it wasn’t a favorite, and I’m not sure that I will read the next two books in the trilogy.

2.

I found this book at a used book store, and I loved Raggedy Ann as a little girl, so I bought this book on a whim based on some favorite memories.  I have not read it yet.

3. 

I purchased this book at a yard sale.  The front cover print above the title reads “The Forgotten Story of One of the Most Influential Figures in American Music”.  That intrigued me.  So, a rarity for me, I based my decision to purchase this book solely on the words on the front cover.  It is still on my To Be Read list, and I may read it with my youngest son this year for school for part of his music education.

4.      and 5.  

I purchased these two books just because I recognized the author’s name as someone I connected with on Facebook.  I do not know Alice J. Wisler.  I only know of her from what little I have seen her post on Facebook.  These books are also still on my TBR list.

6.  

I bought this book at a used book store because of the front cover and the fact that I have always had a soft spot for teddy bears.

7.  

I purchased this book simply based on the author’s name.  I was sure that I had read a book some time ago that was also written by Patricia Sprinkle and was sure that I had liked it, and that was why I bought this book.  Still on my TBR list.

8. 

I purchased this book at a bargain book store because it is a light mystery.  It is part of a series called “A Seaside Knitters Mystery” and I have always enjoyed a good mystery.  Many of my favorites are light and charming mysteries solved by unusual characters, not detectives.  This book is also still on my TBR list.

9. 

I purchased this book at a bargain book store because of the title and the fact that it says at the top of the cover that it is “A Novel of Ireland”.  As a writer, I am always interested in stories, fiction and nonfiction, about storytellers or writer/authors.  I also have come to love stories of Ireland after reading several of Maeve Binchey’s wonderful novels.  This is also still on my TBR list.

10. 

This one was also published at a bargain book store, and of course, because it is a fictional story about writers.  This book also remains on my never ending TBR list.

I thought this list would be difficult to put together.  I didn’t think I picked up many books on a whim, but when I started digging through my books, I found out that I do a lot more purchasing books on a whim, if they are bargain priced, than I thought.  Of course, what do you expect from a bookaholic?    😀

How about you?  Do you purchase books on a whim?

Top Ten Tuesday

/ kellyfbarr / 12 Comments

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday, as suggested by The Broke and the Bookish is “Ten Childhood Characters You’d Love to Revisit as Adults”.

  1.  Max from Where the Wild Things Are
  2. Henry Huggins
  3. Hansel and Gretel
  4. Heidi
  5. Madeline
  6. Alice from Alice in Wonderland
  7. Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  8. Fern from Charlotte’s Web
  9. Ralph Moody from Little Britches
  10. Caddie Woodlawn

This list was a challenge because a lot of the books that I read growing up either had animals as characters or had the child grown up before the book or series was finished.  How about you?  Did you come up with a list?

Top Ten Tuesday

/ kellyfbarr / 10 Comments

This week The Broke and the Bookish have given us a choice.  The list is “Ten Books Every ______ Should Read” and we get to fill in the blank.  I have chosen to do “Ten Books Every Parent Should Read Aloud to their Child(ren)”

We’ll start with two of my favorites for Preschool to Kindergarten age.

  1.  

Now, some great books to read with children in their elementary years.

3.  

This is the first book of a fantastic series, and if you’re like me and you read to your kiddos using different voices for different characters and do accents too, you and your kids will build wonderful memories together while sharing good books.

4.  

Another great series by the same author as pick #3, with the same main characters.

5.  

The complete original Little House on the Prairie series is another great series to share with your children.

6.  Product Details

The Chronicles of Narnia is a great series too.  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe remains my very favorite of this series.

7.  

These last three are great to read and discuss with your teenagers.  Yes, teenagers still like to be read to.  I could have listed more books for teens, but this is only a list of ten.

8.  

9.  

10.  

Yes, I have read all of these books with my older boys and am still working on reading some of them with my youngest.  They are good quality books with good lessons to be learned, and they have great topics for discussion and teaching moments.

Top Ten Tuesday

/ kellyfbarr / 1 Comment

The theme for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday as determined by The Broke and Bookish is “Ten Books to Read If You Are in the Mood for Something Sci Fi”.  However I am substituting “Romantic” for “Sci Fi” because I have not read any Sci Fi books.

1.   A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

I read this book years ago but it still stands out as my favorite love story because I             have always loved stories of knights in medieval times, and this story has that plus a         wonderful spin on it.  It includes time travel.  Ms. Deveraux does a wonderful job                 capturing and holding my attention.  She creates wonderful characters and I just get       completely swept up in this story.  I hope to reread this treasure again soon.

2.  The O’Malley series by Dee Henderson (I know we are supposed to give a list with a          total of 10 books, but this is a series and it’s nearly impossible to choose just one                from the series.)  This series is so good.  I totally love it.  Each story has a suspenseful        plot and the characters are so well developed that I felt like I really knew them.  I fell        in love with the characters and was sad when the series came to an end.  I would still        like to see more books about these characters, but I will definitely read this series              over again, probably several times.

3.  Fire and Water by Betsy Graziani Fasbinder

This story drew me in immediately and held me fast.  Jake and Kate have such a                   strong love for one another, but they face some serious struggles.  I kept routing for         them throughout the story.  I think I loved Jake just as much as Kate did and as he               sank deeper and deeper into his mental illness, my heart ached for both of them.               After finishing the book, I was affected as no other book had ever affected me.  I                 literally had to take a week or two to process the story and to deal with the emotions     it had evoked within me before I could move on and read another book.

4.  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I read this story years ago and my husband and I went to see it performed on stage in     the early years of our marriage.  It still remains one of my favorites.  Who can ever             forget Catherine and Heathcliff?  I look forward to reading this story again soon as           well.

5.  The Hunger Games trilogy (I know, again this is more than one book.  I can’t help it.)          I just love the love between Catniss and Peeta.  Peeta is the kind of loving man any            girl would want to have loving her.

6.  Kissed by a Cowboy by Debra Clopton

If you want to know why I like this book so much, you can read my review.

7.  Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund

This story is a wonderful story about a lonely lighthouse keeper and a young woman       who ends up on the same island after a storm.  Emma, the woman, seems to be                     unwanted at the home where her brother, Ryan was taken in.  She is intrigued by               Patrick, the lighthouse keeper and reaches out to his little boy.  It’s wonderful to read     how the relationship between Emma and Patrick grows.

8.  Prison by Toni V. Lee

This is just a fun story that includes danger, suspense and romance.  The two main             characters are very entertaining and I couldn’t help but chuckle often while they were   falling in love.

9.  Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble

This book is a wonderful book about an old love rekindled and old hurts healed.  It’s          got suspense, danger, and romance and wonderful characters.

10.  Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke

I will refrain from including this entire series because I haven’t read the entire series       yet, but I know I’ll love the books I haven’t read as much as the ones I have.  This                 series is Janette Oke’s most popular series.  It follows the life of pioneer woman                 Marty and the man she marries for convenience, Clark Davis.  This series was made         into a series of movies which I recently ordered on DVD from Amazon.

 

Is it Really Okay for Your Child(ren) to Read Anything?

/ kellyfbarr / 1 Comment

I know, I’ve been posting a lot about reading and how reading affects us in different areas and different ways.  This will be the last post along these lines for now.

I recently heard a Christian parent claim that her twelve-year-old didn’t like to read, and this really bothered her because she, herself, has always been an avid reader.  She went on to say that a few years later, her daughter took an interest in the Twilight series and, apparently read that series, and she was happy that her daughter had found books that she enjoyed reading.

I couldn’t believe that she was okay with this!  The Twilight series are not something that I think any Christian should be reading.  I think that too many Christians have become lax in being wary of the things of this world.  The Bible tells us to guard our hearts!  I think we get so wrapped up in life here on earth and are so busy, that we often don’t think about the eternal consequences of our actions.

I Corinthians 15:58:  “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

I Corinthians 16:13:  “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

Wrong thinking, wrong ideas, and wrong actions all begin subtly.  Evil creeps in subtly, slowly, inch by inch, and it is easy for it to go unnoticed until it has grown large and you are ensnared.  That is why it is so important to be careful of whatever we read, watch, listen to, and what activities we participate in.  You may think, or be convinced by a friend or relative, that something is harmless, when it is, indeed, evil.

The Twilight series is not the kind of thing that I nor my children will be reading.  It takes just a tiny piece of something to get in to your heart and/or mind to lead you down the wrong path.

Remember, the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 tells us, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”

You may disagree with what I have written here, but I have a friend whose daughter was reading a book, and my friend noticed that her daughter began to be more disagreeable and disobedient than she had been, and my friend asked her about the book she was reading and found that the book included characters that were disrespectful and disobedient to their parents.

I apologize if this post sounds a bit preachy for my blog, but sometimes I feel the need to take a stand on something, and I do NOT agree that as long as your child finds something they like to read, that’s a good thing.  By the way, we can encourage our children to learn to enjoy reading by reading aloud to them.  I have done this with my children from little on up, and they love it.  Even my teens still like to hear me read aloud occasionally, and all of my children love to read.  Reading the right books help us to learn and grow.  They support our creativity and imagination and take us on wonderful adventures.  But not everything in print or ebook is acceptable reading.

Can What We Read Hinder Our Own Writing?

/ kellyfbarr / 3 Comments

I am well aware that what we read has an affect on us, whether good or bad.  I am also well aware that, because of this, it is important to be careful of what I read, and I have recently learned something else about what I read:

What I read affects my thoughts and ideas and can hinder my own writing.  You see, I was told about Bookbub several months ago.  For those of you who may not know what Bookbub is, it is a service that sends me a daily email with the daily ebook specials (under $10, and quite a few Free) available at Amazon and another online book seller or two, for that given day.  So, I downloaded a lot of the Free choices that sounded like the kinds of stories I like to read and would like to write.

What’s wrong with that, you may ask.  Well, here’s what’s wrong with that, at least for me.  I read several of the books and found some of them quite good, as far as a story line goes.  But, I also found that many of them had language included that I do not use nor do I prefer to read or hear, if I can help it.  A couple of them also had sexually explicit material, which I also prefer not to read.

The next thing I noticed, I hit a bump in the road with my writing.  I got stuck, unhappy with what I was currently working on and questioning if I was even attempting to write in the genre that I could write best.  I wrote a post on this on October 18, and that post also mentioned a book my son found for me at our library book sale:  Behind the Stories by Diane Eble, which I have since finished reading.

That book got me to thinking about what my real desire for my writing is, and that is, to write stories that will be pleasing to my heavenly father, and that will encourage my readers.  Many of the writers in that book also mentioned praying about each and every piece of writing they write, before and during the writing process.  They also mentioned studying writing, which I had done a long time ago, quite extensively, but hadn’t done recently.

So, where am I at in my writing journey now?  Well, as I said, I finished reading Behind the Stories.  After that I read a Christian fiction book based on the book of Job, The Faithful One, and during this whole process, I began to ask God to guide my writing; to give me an idea and help me to create a story from the idea.  I was beginning to get a little concerned because I wasn’t getting any ideas.

But I decided to keep working on my writing journey by studying writing and to continue to pray and wait.  Well, I am currently reading another ebook I downloaded for Free because of a Bookbub notification, (which, by the way, I no longer check daily and am much more careful about what I download), Short Story:  From First Draft to Final Product by Michael Milton (now $2.99), and the past few days I have been contemplating the story I had begun a couple of months ago with the intention of making it my first novel, so I believe that I will be continuing to work on this project, but I also had two brand new ideas early this morning, which I quickly wrote down.

I believe that God stopped my writing because I was reading the wrong things and they were affecting my thoughts and emotions, and when I began seeking His guidance and studying the craft to refresh my skills, He gave my writing back.  God is faithful as we are faithful and I am excited that I now have some ideas to work with and feel more confident about my writing again, and I believe I am starting to figure out what genre I write best.