Your Opinon of Audio Books Please by James L. Rubart

Posted on December 4, 2012 by James L. Rubart

When Brilliance Audio bought the rights to my first novel ROOMS, I asked if I could try out to be the narrator. They said, “Sure, send us a sample.”

I recorded the first chapter, sent it to them, and they hired me. And I’ve been fortunate to voice my other three novels as well.

This past Saturday my mom said, “I’m liking Soul’s Gate (my just released novel) even more hearing you read it.”

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Do you agree? (Not about Soul’s Gate, about hearing a book read where a narrator can create character voices, use inflection, etc.)

I have a friend who only listens to audio books. He’s busy and his time to “read” is in the car on the way to work and back.

What about you? Do you like being read to? Is price a factor in your buying more audio books? If audio books were as inexpensive as e-books or DTBs (Dead Tree Books) would you buy more?

Talk to me. I’m listening.

Posted in Honored Alumni, James L. Rubart, Uncategorized | Tagged | 13 Comments

Readers Touch Lives by Vicki Hinze

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Vicki Hinze

 

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Photo Credit: canstockphoto.com

Most writers write because they have something to say they want others to hear. Something that the writer deems significant enough to sacrifice time doing other things—children and family and hobbies—to say. Writing requires sacrifice. That’s pretty common knowledge among writers, but I’m not sure if readers are aware of it. More importantly, and this is the focus of what I want to share here, is that readers touch writers and impact them in ways readers probably aren’t aware. Touched, these writers take the insights and wisdom shared with them by readers and incorporate that wisdom and insight into future stories the authors write—and the circle of interaction between readers and authors continues and the reader’s ripple of influence broadens.

Many readers never realize that they’re a significant part of the process, but they are. An extremely significant part of the process. Let’s look at how.

1. Publishers buy books readers want to read. If reader reaction to a book is good, then publishers want more books of that type. If reader reaction isn’t good, then no matter how much a publisher loves a book, the editor won’t buy it because the editor has to buy books s/he loves and books s/he can sell. That’s essential to the health of the publisher. So readers define the types of books made available to them by their reactions to the books they read and support.

2. Booksellers stock the books its customers want to buy. It’s simple supply and demand. If a bookseller doesn’t have the books readers want, then that bookseller won’t sell books, which it must do to stay in business. So readers tell the bookseller what they want, and the bookseller seeks out those books and makes sure they’re available in his/her store. Readers influence what books are in their bookstores and available to the readers.

3. Readers through word-of-mouth influence other readers. When a reader loves a book and speaks well of it to other readers, then other readers are more likely to develop interest in a book—whether or not the other readers are familiar with the author. There is nothing better for a book than a strong “buzz” among readers. “Buzz” is word-of-mouth, a personal recommendation, and a reader’s personal recommendation is the strongest recommendation. It’s personal, trusted, seated in the personal relationship between readers.

4. Readers have amazing influence over writers. This is largely under-reported and under-realized, but readers’ responses and reactions directly to authors are probably the most influential in directly impacting what authors write and why they write what they write.

As stated earlier, writers write because they have something to say they want others to hear. The vehicle for saying what they want to say is the story. So when a reader reacts to that story, the author’s desire is fulfilled and validated—provided the reader reacts in the way the author hoped. That’s a blessing to the author, who spends much time alone creating and hoping that exactly this will happen. Let me share a personal example.

When my dad died, my mom went into shock. She couldn’t stay alone and so came to live with my family. I focused on helping her cope, helping my three children cope with the loss of their grandfather and its impact on their grandmother. I really didn’t have the luxury of time to mourn. I wrote a book about this. The book was delayed in being made available to readers—for six years.

That was a long delay that I really didn’t understand at the time. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be shared? Maybe it had served its purpose in helping me get through grief? But it did sell and then publishing was delayed two years, making the total six years between writing and publication. Shortly after it was published, the reason for the delays became clear.

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Photo Credit: canstockphoto.com

I received a note from a reader asking me to call her, and I did. I had no idea what to expect—but I couldn’t have imagined what she said.

The reader told me a story of death and loss in her own family and her utter desolation. She felt hopeless and despairing and couldn’t see a way forward; she too wanted to die. But when in a store with her young daughter, her daughter grabbed my book off the shelf and said, “Mom, you need to read this.” When asked why, the girl told her, “It will help you.”
And so the mom bought the book and then read it.

She wanted me to know that, grieving and mourning and lost, she read the book and found encouragement and hope and that it helped her see that a way beyond grief existed. The characters found it and she could, too. She wanted to say thank you—and to let me know that the book had made a difference in her life. Now she could see her way to keep living.

As you can imagine, I was in tears. At the affirmation and confirmation the reader had gifted me with as an author, but in sheer gratitude that this woman who was hopeless had found hope. The dark tunnel of grief had lost its death grip on her. God is so good!

It was in this reader’s feedback that I found my mission to write books with constructive solutions to difficult challenges many of us face. This reader influenced me and my work. She gave me insight to my personal purpose. She touched my life and all of my future works. She will continue to influence me forever.

My story isn’t unique. I spoke with Robin Lee Hatcher about this, which led to an interesting exchange that might surprise readers. Robin said, “It is so easy for a writer to get discouraged. We spend a great deal of time alone with our own thoughts and imaginations. A dangerous place. And the present turmoil in the publishing industry can make this discouragement even worse. But then a reader reaches out and tells you something like this message that I received this summer:

‘I am an avid reader and have been for many years, but I’ve never contacted an author before. But, I wanted to share how the book Beyond the Shadows changed my life … When I read your book in May, I did so with sobs. I didn’t quite realize why I could identify with the main character, her husband being an alcoholic, mine just angry. I felt hopeless and for the first time could relate to someone, even if it was just a fictional book … [description of a troubled marriage and the reconciliation and healing that has followed] … Throughout this process many people have asked me what made me seek change, and I say, God sent me a little fictional book that desperately made me want to get beyond the shadows of the emotional pain. So, I want to say how grateful I am. I’ll always remember your book and the pain I felt when reading it, but now it’s only a Remembrance. God has provided a miracle for us.’”

I listened with a knot in my throat. And Robin went on to add, “An email like this provides me with enormous encouragement. It reminds me that I am doing what God called me to do, and that I must look beyond the discouragement and persevere. I never know how God will use the words I write. My job is to be obedient. The end results are up to Him.”

Now not all reader feedback is positive or constructive. Some readers don’t like a book and feel compelled to say so. There’s no surprise in that; if we all liked the same type of book, we’d collectively need fewer books and fewer authors. But that doesn’t mean that the reader’s negative feedback is without value. Often readers see an author veering off-track, so to speak, and let him/her know. This can be a welcome wake-up call to the author.

Of course there is also feedback that isn’t constructive. But that is easy to spot and given the weight it is worth. It’s amazingly easy to discern constructive versus destructive feedback, and most authors don’t judge. They differentiate between constructive and destructive feedback. In all feedback, they seek the good. Rarely have I encountered an author who neglects the gems of wisdom and insight in constructive negative feedback.

My point is that readers touch lives. They touch authors, influence them, and their feedback is cherished. Let me share a bit of a discussion had with my fellow Christians Read author, Kathi Macias. (I feel a special affinity with Kathi since we both have written books warning about human-trafficking and its dangers.) When asked, Kathi recalled a specific reader and a specific event:

“I will never forget this one. I was sitting at a book-signing when a young man (about 17) came up to me and said, “Mrs. Macias, I just wanted to come here and tell you that I read all four books in your Extreme Devotion series, and they made me want to lead a noble life.” It really doesn’t get any better than that, does it?”

A noble life, I thought. Constructive. Solutions. Elevating and entertaining. Encouraging. Inspiring. No, it really doesn’t get any better than that. And it would be utterly impossible not to expect that this reader encounter wouldn’t influence future Kathi Macias’ works.

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Photo Credit: canstockphoto.com

Readers are a treasured, significant part of the entire process. From preferences on what they want to read to supporting and purchasing the books they prefer, from sharing their opinions through word-of-mouth and in their feedback to authors on what they’ve read, readers influence . . . because readers touch lives.•

© 2012, Vicki Hinze

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ChristmasCountdownCover-copy2-189x300Vicki Hinze is the award-winning, bestselling author of 30 novels, 4 nonfiction books and hundreds of articles. She sponsors The Book Club Network and Christians Read. Her latest release is Christmas Countdown, the second book in her new Love Inspired Suspense, Lost, Inc. series, which follows Survive the Night www.vickihinze.com. Subscribe to her Newsletter here.

Posted in Kathi Macias, Uncategorized, Vicki Hinze | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Christians Read December Newsletter

Posted on December 1, 2012 by Camy Tang/Camille Elliot

Just released is Elizabeth Goddard’s latest Love Inspired Suspense, Treacherous Skies!

Beth: I’m very excited about my latest romantic suspense release about a test pilot turned Learjet recovery man who retrieves a jet only to find the kidnapped daughter of a Colombian drug lord concealed inside. I had great input from two pilots on all the maneuvers in the story. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Blurb:
After years of peace and quiet, Maya Carpenter thinks she’s safe—that her drug-lord father’s world will never catch up with her. Then she’s abducted and secretly stashed on a plane. And once she and the test pilot who finds her land in the Keys, the real threat begins….

Daredevil pilot Connor Jacobson is no one’s hero. And this time, he’s in way over his head. Yet he can’t leave Maya to face danger alone. Besides, he has a few tricks up his sleeve that might keep them safe…as long as he’s willing to put everything at risk, including his heart.

Order at Harlequin.com, Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, or Booksamillion.com.

192003470Kristen Heitzmann’s new novel The Breath of Dawn is now available!

A grieving widower, and a courageous woman oppose a conman who plays a prophet—but he’s no saint.

Corporate turnaround specialist Morgan Spencer, dubbed the “success guru” has a Midas touch in business. But losing his wife sent him to the brink, and his two-year-old daughter, Livie, is all he’s living for—until they encounter a woman whose trouble just might draw him out of his own.

Four years ago Quinn Reilly did the right thing. Now the man her testimony put in jail is getting out. Though she has put up barriers to protect herself and those around her, she has come to care for the Spencer family, especially the winsome Livie and her mercurial father. Unwilling to put them at risk when the threats begin, she requests something she hopes the super-successful Morgan might be able to deliver.

Fixing problems is what Morgan does best, but his counterproposal takes them in a direction neither is equipped to handle. Determined to confront the past, will they survive to build a future?

Order at Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, or Booksamillion.com.

ChristmasCountdownCover-copy2-189x300Christmas Countdown, the second book in Vicki Hinze’s Lost, Inc. series just released!

A simple trip home for the holidays is all former FBI profiler Maggie Mason wants. But a serial killer has other plans. Trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Maggie finds an ally in Lost, Inc. with private investigator Dr. Ian Crane. The handsome widower is reluctant to love again, and the last thing Maggie wants is to put Ian in the line of fire, too. Love could cost them everything…unless they can find their way to each other, in time for Christmas.

Click here for the book page on Vicki’s website.

Order at Harlequin.com (click for print book, Large Print book, or ebook), Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, or Booksamillion.com.

Maureen Lang’s novel, Bees in the Butterfly Garden, is a finalist in the USA Best Book Award contest! Woohoo! Congrats, Maureen! (And isn’t that a gorgeous cover, too???? Camy is slightly envious in a loving Christian way. 🙂

Here’s the back cover blurb:

“A young lady of impeccable decorum never appears outside her home unchaperoned, uncoiffed, ungloved, or unhappy.” —MADAME MARISSE’S HANDBOOK FOR YOUNG LADIES

Raised at an exclusive boarding school, Meg Davenport has everything she needs but none of what she’s wanted most—like the love of a family, or a future not dependent on following etiquette and marrying well. So when she receives shocking news of her father’s death, Meg seizes the chance to break every rule that has governed her life. Especially when she learns John Davenport wasn’t the wealthy businessman she thought, but one of the Gilded Age’s most talented thieves.

Ian Maguire knows that John—his mentor—would never have wanted his beloved daughter to follow in his footsteps. Yet she is determined to carry on his legacy, and her talent for garden design has earned her an invitation to stay with one of Fifth Avenue’s wealthiest families. With friends like those, Meg could help Ian pull off his biggest heist yet.

But living in both worlds is more treacherous than Meg imagined. And as Ian’s concern for Meg turns to love, he finds himself torn between greed and guilt. Can they find the legacy they both long for, or in trying to gain everything, will they end up losing it all?

Order at Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Kobobooks.com, or Booksamillion.com.

Camy Tang’s latest romantic suspense release is A Dangerous Stage! Here’s a short blurb from Camy about writing the book:

I really enjoyed writing about Tessa and Charles again for multiple reasons. Tessa’s struggles with forgiveness parallel some of my own struggles with forgiving people who have hurt me, and I hope readers can relate and also find hope that the hurt can be healed with God’s help.

I hadn’t written that much about Charles’s character in Protection for Hire, but I knew I needed to reveal more about his heart and his spiritual walk in A Dangerous Stage, and I was strongly impacted by Psalm 90:7-12:

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.  All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

I thought it was an important reminder to me that I am flawed but Jesus has saved me, and I need to remember God’s power and respect Him rather than taking Him for granted. It made me look at my life differently and make different choices, trying to follow God’s will rather than my own.

Charles struggles with these types of choices and whether he is truly passionately committed to Christ. My prayer is that his struggles will help readers make their own decisions to follow Christ with intensity and passion.

Backcover blurb:
Tessa Lancaster worked for her uncle in the Japanese mafia until she was sent to prison for a murder she didn’t commit. Now, after finding God behind bars, she takes odd jobs as a bodyguard to keep her distance from the family business.

In A Dangerous Stage, the second book in Camy Tang’s Protection for Hire series, Tessa gets caught up in the web of lies surrounding a shady singing competition. Hired by one of the contestants, she works with Charles Britton—the lawyer who sent her to prison—to discover the dark figures manipulating the contest from behind the scenes.

Tessa’s abilities will be tested like never before as she’s forced to balance the safety of her client’s family and her deepening relationship with Charles. In the midst of the chaos, she holds on to her faith to keep her safe and bring down the shadowy organization.

Check out the webpage for A Dangerous Stage!

Posted in Camy Tang, Elizabeth Goddard, Honored Alumni, Kristen Heitzmann, Maureen Lang, Uncategorized, Vicki Hinze | Leave a comment

‘Tis the Season…for a Christmas Tale

Posted on November 30, 2012 by lynettesowell

Here it comes, no matter what we say or do, or don’t say or do–Christmas time!

Parties, programs, cooking, shopping, wrapping, lines, eating, watching favorite movies we grew up with and finding new favorites. There is something about Christmas time that can bring out the best and sometimes the worst in people. Grouchy parents, demanding kids, family friction, frustration about not meeting expectations,etc. I’m sure you can tack on your own list.

But I do love  Christmas stories–whether it’s movies from childhood past, or the classic tales that don’t grow old. For example, I don’t tire of A Christmas Carol, in the original Dickens, of course.

“You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!” Gravy–grave, get it? Even now Dickens’ humor makes me smile.

“There are some upon this earth of yours,’ returned the Spirit, ‘who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name; who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.”  Not much of an issues-based book, is it? But then Dickens tackled the issues of his day head-on. Some aren’t much different than what we face now.

And  of course, who could forget the wisdom of Tiny Tim?

“And how did little Tim behave?” asked Mrs Cratchit, when she had rallied Bob on his credulity and Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart’s content.

“As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

Allow me, one more quote from Dickens:

“He was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares, long, long, forgotten.”  Exquisite, and even better when read aloud.

I’ve had the joy of writing several Christmas titles over the years in the books A Big Apple Christmas, A Riverwalk Christmas, and Christmas At Barncastle Inn. Each of my novellas were from my heart, and I was thrilled to focus on an aspect of Christmas that was significant to me — the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller Center, the beauty of San Antonio at Christmas time, and a nod to one of my favorite Christmas movies, “White Christmas.”

What are some of your favorite Christmas stories, that you’ve read or watched? Is there an old favorite you bring out each year, or have you recently read a new book for your keeper shelf?

– – – – – – – –
Lynette Sowell writes fiction for the inspirational market, from contemporary romance to mysteries. She’s always looking for the perfect recipe for a story–or a great dish–and is always up for a Texas road trip. You can listen in to the Flashlight Reader on Monday nights here.

Posted in Honored Alumni, Lynette Sowell, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Smelly books

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Camy Tang/Camille Elliot

Camy here, and today you’ll have to forgive me because I’m going on a bit of a rant.

There are several nonfiction books I need to get for research for my novels. Some of them are out of print, so the only version I can get is a used copy at an online book store.

I recently ordered a used copy of a book from a bookstore that said it was in “good” condition. And it was–the cover and pages were in great shape.

However, it had a faint odor of perfume that had permeated the pages. I didn’t notice the perfume at first because it wasn’t overpowering, but the more I read and handled the book, the more I began to notice it.

The smell was faintly nauseating to me, and what was even worse, it clung to my hands after I touched the pages, even if I only touched one page for a second. I kept feeling the urge to wash my hands after picking up the book and putting it down again.

Now, I’ve dealt with smelly used books before. I used to order out of print Regency romance novels that came with the odor of cigarette smoke. I tried everything to get it out, and I could usually decrease the smell so it became fainter, but I could never completely get the smell out of the pages.

I have a feeling the perfume in this book is going to be the same way! The smell is already admittedly faint, but even if I douse it with baking soda, I’m not sure I’ll ever get the smell entirely GONE. And that is the only way I’ll be completely happy with this book!

I’m so annoyed that I’m seriously considering scanning in the pages I need from this book and putting it through an OCR program so I’ll have a private ebook copy THAT DOESN’T SMELL.

Maybe I’m a bit neurotic about this. But I know I can’t be the only one affected by smells of books. Anyone else?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 14 Comments

The Real November Victory by Julie Arduini

Posted on November 28, 2012 by juliearduini

If you write or follow authors, you’re most likely seeing badges and social media avatars pop up that declare one thing–victory. As in that person conquered the NaNoWriMo challenge by writing at least 50,000 words in this month. I’ve earned that badge once, and it truly is a win. Not only are words hard to come by, so is time.

And that’s where I’m at with my NaNo story. Time got to me. I knew November was going to be busy, but it was one of the busiest months I can remember. Medical appointments, travel, school meetings, ministry events, other writing deadlines, wife and mom moments, and a house to take care of. On top of that, we have an extended family member who has been in the hospital. I also didn’t count on being so overwhelmed that I would leave my laptop behind by accident when I visited my family 300 miles away. That laptop had everything–log in info, critiques, edits, and yep, my NaNo story.

So as I type this, I crossed the 17K threshold. Not close to 50, not by a long shot.

Yet, I’m declaring this month a win.

How can that be?

This Martha enjoyed God-orchestrated Mary moments.

I’m a classic introvert and being a writer doesn’t help that part of my personality. I used to grieve being that teen who was not invited to the party. These days I cringe at invitations. I’d rather stay home. I give so much of me in what I do that there is nothing left for social time. It’s easy for me to say no to everything that comes my way because it’s just not in me to go out and find a recharge in an event. To me, it’s a drain.

Yet God asked that for this season I participate in a ministry called Praise and Coffee. Since March, I’ve invited ladies to join me around Greater Youngstown for a night out where we develop friendships around coffee and light refreshments. It’s the last thing I’d feel comfortable doing, let alone attending. Yet this month we had a tremendous meeting that God continues to use to love on His daughters. Had I stayed home and contributed to my NaNo word count, I would have missed a blessing. Twenty blessings, in fact.

Our local Praise and Coffee group is just one chapter that meets throughout the country.

I also enjoyed dinners and impromptu conversations. Again, my temptation is to be so task oriented when I’ve been out and about that I get what I need and head home. This month God provided many opportunities to pour into others through encouragement. I had a night out with my husband and two other couples that no words to a novel could compare. That dinner was filling beyond the food. I never could have received anything sustaining from staying home and advancing my word count.

There will be a day, I believe, when I will have serious deadlines and I believe when that happens, it will be a season where I pull back and rely on others to take the social lead I seemed to have going right now. God knows, and that was my summary when someone asked me about the month.

He knew everything I needed to do, see, speak, and read. He also knew how much I was going to write.

For that, this month is a total win.

How about you? Are you plugging away on your NaNoWriMo novel? Finished? How are you feeling about where you are at the end of the month?

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Are You Hiding This Season? by Hannah Alexander

Posted on November 27, 2012 by alexanderhodde

You may be a very happy person who is always thrilled about Christmas drawing near, as are some of my dearest friends. If that’s the case  I would suggest you delete this post without reading it, because it isn’t for you, and I don’t want to depress you. However, if  you avoid the stores that started playing Jingle Bells early this year, this may be for you. I just want to tell you that you’re okay. There is nothing wrong with you except something has likely traumatized you enough times during the Christmas season when the jolly songs were playing that you can no longer function as well emotionally as you usually do. You’re being bombarded with those memories every time that music begins or those bells start ringing or people start wishing you merry Christmas. I know how you feel.

Last week I walked through a local grocery store in search of several items, and the stocked shelves with holiday baking goods mocked me. Mom and I had last shopped together in this store. Now she’s gone. I cried throughout that shopping experience. Very embarrassing. Mom would have loved having a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at her house, and she would gladly make every single dish, as long as people would show up. She went out of her way to make foods Mel and I, both celiacs, could eat. If it had been up to her, the whole world could show up at her doorstep and she would have been thrilled. Me, if Mel’s working a holiday, I turn off the phones, take a hot bath, or even stay in bed late and watch a movie to take my mind off the world going on outside, because I don’t want to be a part of it. I did go to be with Mom when she was alive, because I knew she wanted my company. But now I don’t have that drawing me out.

I sang in church choir for about 30 years. From September to the end of December, I practiced the same kinds of songs, was urged to go caroling, urged to enjoy the Christmas lights, urged to wear Christmas clothing, and was soundly berated when I didn’t fall in line. What was wrong with my Christmas spirit? A couple of years ago, I dropped out of choir. I couldn’t face another long season of  torture, because even the beautiful, holy songs I used to love began to take their toll on me. Instead of calling to mind the birth of my Savior, my brain honed in on funerals, family discord, broken lives–oh, yes, I recall vividly the day after one Christmas when I was asked for a divorce. Too personal? Not for those of us who have been through this kind of thing. What is it about this season that brings out the worst in some of us?

Maybe you could tell me if age has something to do with it. One friend who is my age almost to the day, and who has been fighting cancer for years, absolutely loves Christmas and everything about it, from caroling, to putting up trees, to giving gifts. Yet some of us, who are obviously the minority, wish we could find a comfortable cave and hide until January. I’m not sure why that happens to some of us. Personality type? I wish I knew.

Whatever the cause, to those of you who identify, I’m glad you know you’re not alone. Today I’m supposed to show up at a Christmas party for grief recovery group. Really? Hello? I’m going, I suppose. I don’t want to. I’m dreading it. If you’ve ever been through this, you are SO NOT alone. Much love from me to you if you’ve ever been called a scrooge, a grinch, a killjoy, a whiney-butt. You can get past this next month, and I, for one, will not tell you to cheer up and put on your party face. You can even cry if you want to.

You are not alone.

 

Posted in Hannah Alexander, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Priorities and A Yielded Life

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Sarah Goebel

Hello Dear Christian Readers and Friends. It has been only one weekend since Thanksgiving Day and I am hoping you all had a great day celebrating the goodness of God with your family and friends. I sure did. Even on my worst day, I have so much to be thankful for!

I realized at 1:30 this morning, that it was my turn to post on our site. Time sure does fly! Since I have been sharing different things with you that I am doing in school, I thought this week I would share the second of three sermons I had to write and give for my Homiletics class. Because it was written to be heard and not seen, the writing may be a little off. There are places I have used all CAPS for my speaking notes, but I sure do hope you will enjoy it anyway!  First, you need to know that when I refer to the video, it was a demonstration in which a man takes  a large jar, fills it with small beads, rocks, water, and then golf balls only to discover that all the golf balls will not fit. Then the same items are put in the jar in reverse, putting the biggest item in first: the golf balls, the rocks, the beads, and the water, and everything fit perfectly! It is a great demonstration of how you can fit more in by putting the biggest thing in first. With that said, following is my sermon in printed form:

The dictionary defines “priority” as a precedence, established by order of importance or urgency. Priorities are funny things…what’s big to me as a priority may not be what is big to you as a priority. So what I put into my life first, as represented by the jar in the video, could be different than what you fit first into your life. And priorities usually change from one season of life to another.

Priorities are motivated by different things. Sometimes priorities are motivated by our selfishness – it’s all about “mwa.”  Sometimes our priorities are motivated by a desire for material things, successful careers or caring for our families. We can even be motivated by things such as “fear” in establishing our priorities. Many years ago, I was influenced by the fear of not ever being able to do anything really well.

Today with a fulltime class load and homeschooling Alex, it is what seems URGENT at the moment that tends to take priority. I know your life is busy too! We all have many things to try to fit into our days…church, jobs, school, childcare, parent care, housework, yard work, doctor appointments, exercise, vacations, club meetings, kids after school activities, dogs, chickens, FACEBOOK, and the list goes on.

We all have things we must prioritize in our lives as to how we will get them all in and when. We have some things that we can be flexible with and some things that don’t have much room for flexibility. So we order our priorities differently according to our own perspective on life and according to our personal decision as to how important something is to us. But there is one thing –one PRIORITY that should be COMMON to all Christians – one PRIORITY that is VITAL that you and I have as our BIGGEST priority! That is our devotion to GOD.  I want to show you WHY our Devotion to God must be our BIGGEST priority and HOW we live devoted to God.
I want to show you that a YIELDED LIFE is the BEST LIFE and it is a life that PROVES GOD!

 Turn with me, please to Romans 12:1-2. I want to give you some background leading up to our passage. Paul has just finished discussing in the first eleven chapters of this letter a theological discussion informing the saints in the church at Rome of what God has done for them through Jesus Christ and who they are in Him. Paul has said things like “You were once disobedient to God, you were at enmity…at war with God, yet now you have obtained mercy in Christ. You deserved to die, but you have obtained a pardon for your sins.”

Then Paul culminates his theological discussion stressing the ultimate wisdom and knowledge of God which are past understanding. He emphasizes how no one can be God’s counselor or give to God… for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.

Now Romans 12:1, Paul is switching gears from the THEOLOGICAL discussion to one of practical application. He says, THEREFORE I URGE YOU brothers and sisters…

Therefore is a connecting word. It implies Paul is saying that because of all these things that he just presented to them that have been done for them and given to them, and because who they are in Christ…and who God is… in view of these things and in view of God’s wisdom… I urge you.

“Urge” is serious exhortation. Paul is trying to MOVE them to ACTION. And notice he is talking to Christians like you and me. He says, “brothers and sisters.”

Then he goes on, “by the mercies of God”…the J.B. Phillips bible translates this as “in view of God’s mercy”…in view of the mercy God has shown. So again, he is emphasizing the mercy God has already given them.

Notice He wasn’t threatening them with hell and condemnation as some do today in order to manipulate and control people… it is the love of God shown in His mercy that draws us to Him. Romans tells us it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance.

Then Paul says, “I want you to present your bodies a living sacrifice.”  Okay, everybody was probably doing just fine up to this point but “MY BODY…A LIVING SACRIFICE…DON’T KNOW ABOUT THAT. But stay with me here!

…This is where the BEST LIFE begins! Let me tell you why…

In Genesis, Adam and Eve walked in complete harmony with God and experienced peace, love, joy, awesome provision and purpose. Why? They were living yielded to God… They were living according to their design and purpose. This is what they were created for. You see the original nature of man wasn’t like the fallen nature we are familiar with. Originally human nature was yielded to God. They lived dependent on God.
Humans were created to be dependent on God and when we are not…when we are separated from Him…by choosing to be our own gods as Adam and Eve did…we lose our peace…
…there’s pain, thorns and thistles, and… sweat. There’s confusion, and lack of direction and purpose for life; and life can become overwhelming to us at times. We need help in making decisions about our education, kids, parents, finances, and when we are yielded to God, living dependent on–instead of independent of God, He guides our choices and we have everything we need. We live in HARMONY WITH God as we were created to be.

Adam and Eve chose to follow Satan’s direction instead of God’s that day in the garden.  They decided to be their own God and quit yielding to His direction. They decided their way might be better than His. They did it their way. They separated themselves from God.  How did that work out? Not so well. So Paul is urging these Christians at Rome to make a presentation of their bodies…to TURN OVER their lives to God… God has done His part. He is waiting for you!

As parents, don’t we want our children to be surrendered to us and our will…why? Because we know most times, our WILL is best for them…parents may lack wisdom at times, but God, our heavenly father, never lacks wisdom. Our heavenly Father always knows best!

Paul goes on to say, “This is your reasonable service…some translations say “spiritual” service of worship. This Greek word that is translated “reasonable” refers to a rationale decision. This isn’t about EMOTION. What he is saying is “this is your act of intelligent worship. Come on brothers and sisters – this only makes sense – it is rationale and intelligent to give God our lives and allow Him to be Lord! It is intelligent to live how He says is BEST and not what our flesh tries to tell us is BEST. We can trust God with our lives!

Christ had to sacrifice the desires that came from His FLESH. In the Garden of Gethsemane He sweat drops of blood as He fought the temptation not wanting to go through with the Father’s will, but in the end He said, “Not my will but yours be done!”  Do you see this? Sacrificing our will to God’s may feel a little painful to us for a short time, but it will always lead to the what’s best! His plan is better than ours! A yielded life is the BEST life and it proves God!

Listen. God doesn’t need you. He doesn’t need me. He doesn’t need anyone. He doesn’t need our worship. He is not egocentric. He is holy. He is perfect – always. That means He is perfectly happy and satisfied and is lacking nothing!  But He created us out of His divine counsel for His divine purpose and He created us to be dependent on Him. So, FRANKLY, we don’t do so well when we try to go our own way without Him. God knows a yielded life is the BEST life for us. He also knows it is the life that will PROVE Him. It’s what we were made for…designed for. It is an act of intelligent worship in response to what God has done and Who God is – merciful and wise.

Offering ourselves as living sacrifices isn’t losing something. God isn’t taking something from us. He is giving us something – Himself and His wisdom! He is giving us HIS will which is PERFECT for us. And in regards to being a “living” sacrifice – It means it is something we must do over and over again. We will always be tempted to allow other things to take God’s place – our devotion from Him by requiring our time, our money, our thoughts and emotions. So Paul urges us to make a GENUINE ongoing COMMITMENT that will be ongoing for the rest of our lives. This is not a one- time action. Due to the many distractions – priorities – we have to rearrange them and put these in 2nd, 3rd, 4th place and sometimes give them up altogether.

We are simply sacrificing what we want to do that is in OPPOSITION TO GOD and presenting ourselves to God for His PURPOSE WHICH IS WHAT’S BEST FOR US anyway.

So Paul is saying, “In view of this great mercy that you have received from God, in view of HIS WISDOM, it would be an act of intelligent worship to give your lives to God. Yield your will for His when your will is in opposition to God’s.

Paul continues in verse 2… And do not be conformed to this world. You can’t be devoted to God and conformed to the world at the same time! The Greek word for “conformed” is soos-khay-mat-id-zoe. It refers to accommodating oneself to a model or pattern. It is used elsewhere in the N.T. describing those who conform themselves to worldly lusts.

The word “world” refers to a godless system. Any way other than God’s way is godless. That is what Eve and Adam did. Influenced by Satan, Adam and Eve went their own way. Don’t you know they regretted that moment for the rest of their life! We don’t want those kind of regrets, do we? Of course not! Paul is saying to the Christians at Rome and to us “don’t let the world mould you into its pattern…Don’t let it squeeze you into its mould. You are God’s child…a royal priest…you have been freed from the bondage of the world…freed from sin… you are free to choose the best way – God’s way! He is saying, “Don’t yield to the world’s ways and look like someone who doesn’t know Christ!”

Paul goes on to tell us how… HOW we can devote our lives to God? How we can remain yielded to Him with all of the world’s distractions and temptations pulling at us…

He says, don’t be conformed to the world but (He says, instead) be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The Greek word for transformed is “Metamorphoo” and is the same word that we get our word metamorphosis from. It implies a restoration to an original state. God is in the restoration business. He wants us to be restored in our relationship with Him to the state humans originally had with Him when they walked in “oneness” with Him with their intellect and will in alignment with His.

I can be transformed by renewing my mind. This is a choice we make for our lives! We choose to be transformed (changed) by making the decision to do what we have to do to renew our minds. The KEY is our minds. Understand, God changed your spirit and made it alive. We are a new creation in Christ but our mind is still the same ‘ole mind. It is our job to get our minds in alignment with the new heart, the new nature God has given us. The mind constitutes the intellect, understanding, and the mind-set, the feelings and the will. It describes a complete change, like that of a caterpillar into a butterfly. It indicates a literal change in the form or formulas of thought or being. So we are transformed “changed” by the Holy Spirit’s energizing within us as we renew our minds to God’s thoughts, purpose, and will found right here in the bible.

And Paul continues saying do this so “that you may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.” We prove or test God’s will out in our lives as we live it out through our lives. In other words, we take it for a test run. We practice it in everyday living and as we do, His will, will be proved to be good and acceptable and perfect!

Doing these two things, yielding our will and renewing our minds leads us into God’s perfect will for our lives. And, this means He will be glorified through our lives. Others will see His goodness. They see God’s will is proven to be PERFECT AND GOOD. There is no better way to glorify God than this. This is worship, my friends. A yielded life proving God’s good and perfect will, thus, glorifying Him.

Priorities don’t just get out of balance over night. They get out of balance a little here and a little there as we are DECEIVED with worldly ideas and ways, DECEIVED by our flesh (un-renewed minds), and DECEIVED with the urgent. How about you? Have your priorities gotten out of order? Is your devotion to God somewhere down the list or completely off of the list?

Has God become a stranger to you? Are you living without purpose, peace and joy?
Do you need a wise counselor to help you make decisions in life or to find God’s will for your life?

I want to encourage you TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE devoted to GOD. Make Him your biggest priority. Remember, you do this starting with your mind, you choose. This is NOT AN EMOTIONAL decision! Love grows as you spend time with God.
Today you just need to use your intelligence, your mind and make this decision.

 WHY? Because of God’s mercy and wisdom, IT IS an act of INTELLIGENT WORSHIP and BECAUSE THE YIELDED LIFE will prove God!

HOW? By yielding and renewing your minds according to His Word. Say “no” to the godless system and fallen nature that is in opposition to God’s will and purpose for you.

Just imagine what your life will be like as you yield to His will which is good and perfect for you!  Just imagine what life would be like if we were ALL living life YIELDED TO GOD. We would all experience God’s wisdom, love, and peace and we share it with one another. Serving one another in love! Just imagine how wonderful all of our relationships would be – Relationships with parents, spouses, children and friends!Imagine what our church would be like, what our community and nation and world would be like if everyone would yield their lives to God!

One day that will happen. But for now, we can be that beacon of light to those living in the godless system that surrounds us. Together, we can be that light that PROVES God and begins to permeate the darkness to change the world around us! Won’t you join me and recommit your life today–Lets devote our lives to God by making our devotion to HIM our BIGGEST priority—

After all, it is a yielded life that is the BEST life and it is the life that proves God!

 In Sisterly Love,

Sarah Goebel

 

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HE STOLE MY HEART

Posted on November 24, 2012 by yvon63

HE STOLE MY HEART

So much to be thankful for. I have a new addition to my family. My three granddaughters called me to come and look at rescued dogs. I wasn’t sure I wanted to care for a dog again. The last one I had was a miniature chow.

Okay…you may know more than I do about the miniature description. After I got the little black ball of fur with a purple tongue, and even named him Haiku after Japanese poetry, I took him to the vet and was told there’s no such thing as a miniature chow.

I was thankful for him anyway even though I could never see him in the dark, but he was quite visible in the snow. As he grew he began to take me for walks, then on runs as I held onto the leash and at times I felt I was flying around our loop. Great for getting rid of those extra calories!

After we had to let him go for several reasons; our downsizing, his personal problems, mood changes and his biting another dog, and frightening children, I thought my doggie days might be over. If ever I was to have one, he’d need to be small and basically an indoor dog.

So, when the grandchildren called, I thought I’d oblige by taking a look. Well, the moment I saw him, I feel in love. He’s a small bundle of fluffy white and cream fur—a beautiful Pomeranian and I knew he was mine. He’s a beautiful Pomeranian, two-years-old, well behaved, and wants to be near me all the time. His name is Bandit. I didn’t think I cared for the name until my family discussed it and tried out several names. Many of us liked the name Fairfax (named after the hero in my current novel). Until, my daughter said she liked Bandit and it suited him because he stole my heart.

She was right. His name is Bandit.

He’s a special Thanksgiving treat this year. But more than that, I’m thankful all the time for my family, and that we pause from our busy lives and get together on special occasions set aside on our calendars. We ate turkey and all the trimmings, went shopping the day after for discounted Christmas presents, laughed and talked, and appreciated each other.

I’ve lost family members and am particularly thankful for the ones I still have. When they’re busy getting on with their lives, I’m thankful for the times we’ve had together. Today I’m thankful for Bandit who is right here beside me. And beyond that, I am thankful for the Lord Jesus who has saved my soul, my life, and I’m thankful for God who loves me, enabling me to have a heart filled with love for him and his blessings.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving season and wish you a thankful every day life.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
– I Chronicles 16:3

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 22, 2012 by bethrachg

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let’s make a few lists.

A. I wrote several pages listing everything that I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving. I started with breathing. That’s right. We should be thankful for each and every breath. If you start there when creating your list, you realize the list can go on and on. The list is infinite.

You better understand the scripture:

1. O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting.1 Chronicles 16:34

Or . . .

2. Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

God’s love is infinite. It never ceases, therefore our thanksgiving and praise should never cease.

The list of thanksgiving scriptures goes on.

B. Then I also wrote a list of things needing prayer, and things overshadowing my Thanksgiving. Two things that loom darker than the rest are:

1. Israel

2. Black Friday

The two hardly seem to go together, but there it is. There’s nothing more I can do for Israel except pray and prayer is most powerful. (And yes, our  nation needs major prayer too.)

On Black Friday, I have a question for you. I have never been one to brave the chaos on Black Friday, which has now morphed to include Thursdays, too. If you’re one of those brave souls, I assume you’re in it to save hundreds of dollars, otherwise what’s the point?

I’ll share with you that my dear grandmother beat the crowds to the Dollar Store one Black Friday. That’s right—the Dollar Store. Ahem. . .there wasn’t exactly a crowd there either. But picture that in your mind, and I hope it makes you smile.

Back to the topic. Are books ever on your list of items to grab during the chaos? No? Do you ever enter blog contests to win a free copy of an autographed book? They make great Christmas gifts to the book lovers among your friends and family. If you’re not interested in taking the time to comment on blogs for free books, perhaps consider shopping at your local Christian bookstore. If we want to remain thankful for the ability to shop at these stores, we need to support them.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Be Blessed!

Elizabeth Goddard

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A Thankful Heart

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Maureen Lang

Most of the year goes by so quickly I rarely have time to think about anything except whatever task I’m trying to finish. But the holiday season is about to kick off, and although it brings all kinds of new busyness, this is one time of year that I usually find a moment to sit down and reflect.

Pictured here is what my disabled son will use when we sit around the table and tell each other what we’re thankful for. Since he has so few words in his vocabulary, he uses PECS to communicate, a Picture Exchange Communication System. It’s hard to know if the pictures are an accurate representation of what he’s thinking, since even with the help of a variety of picture choices many of his actions appear more arbitrary than planned. Did he really choose these pictures for himself? Maybe not; maybe they were just the ones his aids at school have observed in him and encouraged him to choose. He makes much clearer choices when they have a direct and immediate, usually tangible, benefit (i.e. food related!). 🙂

Nonetheless, seeing his thankful list in such a visual way made me wonder what kind of pictures I would choose if I were to make a plate of thankfulness. Family, friends, church and home would all make the list.

Not long after my son was diagnosed with Fragile X, I was reminded that we need to thank God in all things. (1 Thes. 5:18) At first I grated against this command. I was supposed to thank God for something that, even at the time, I only suspected would be limiting – not just for my son, but for my entire family? I was to thank God for that?

Eventually as my grief settled into place and I realized I had no place else to go except to God, I first thanked Him only out of obedience. I felt no gratitude, but I said the words anyway. Then, gradually noticing things like the wonderful people who came into my life as a result of my son’s disability, and little things like an increased awareness of our magnificently fine-tuned creation, I began to realize God still loved me. And after all, we live in a world full of death, disease, deceit, and disappointment. Why should my life be spared? I could think of no reason. If all we needed for a charmed life is to come to God, then I assured myself everyone would find a way to Him, one way or another. And where would faith play into that?

So after realizing I had nowhere else to go, and that it was only pride that made me think my son and those of us who love him should have been spared such a lot in life (and that I didn’t have to look far to find someone with more challenges than my own) I began to look for some promises that everything would be all right. I began to look for that “character growth” the Bible promises (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4, Jeremiah 29:11 to name a few).

One of the first answers in this regard was a book God assigned me to write, which shouldn’t surprise anyone since I’m a writer. I’m still thankful for having written The Oak Leaves, because it was such tangible evidence of how God can allow a good purpose to result from something difficult. I still get emails from other parents of disabled kids from that book, even though it’s only available as an e-book these days.

I can also say that even though I still get frustrated, and I still resent the lack of freedom we all have because of Fragile X, nothing else in life has strengthened my faith and dependence upon God the way this has. I also look forward to Heaven more than ever, when I’ll get to converse with my son, run with him, worship with him. Can that be a bad thing, that kind of hope? I don’t think so.

So, am I thankful for everything, even the challenges? It’s easier when I think about the purposes God had in mind. Sometimes it just takes a little more reflection to get there!

What about you? Is there something God has allowed in your life that, if you look at what purpose God might have in mind behind it, has benefited you, or someone around you? Changed you or increased your faith? Maybe there is something about even the challenges we face that we can be grateful for.

May your Thanksgiving be full of gratitude — even in unexpected places.

 

 

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This Cracked Me Up by James L. Rubart

Posted on November 20, 2012 by James L. Rubart

As novelists we strive to craft words and stories that stir emotions in our readers. One guidelines we all use to make this happen is to avoid clichés. Clichés dumb down writing, bore people, and tell our readers we didn’t put a great deal of effort into being original.

How ’bout you? Even if you’re not a writer I bet you’ve fallen into the world of cliché when choosing  words to describe your Christianity. Click on the image below–it will take you to the vid–and let me know if I’m right. (Sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to embed the video in my post.)

 

So did you laugh? Why? Because you heard phrases that roll off your own tongue with more than a little frequency?

What do you think non-Christians would think of this kind of lingo?

And finally, do you have a burden for any phrases you’d like to add to the list? (Yes indeed you astute reader you, I did just slip one of own most hated phrases.)

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The Truth About Thanksgiving by Vicki Hinze

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Vicki Hinze

Photo Credit: canstockphoto.com

 

 

While this isn’t an article on books, it is a reminder to readers (and writers) that history, storytelling, and reading stories has power.  All can change lives, open closed minds and hearts, offer different perspectives that might be just what’s needed to see things more clearly.  We’re also reminded, since the heart of story (fiction or nonfiction) is squarely on people, even if they’re fictional characters, it’s imperative that we understand people, their goals, motivations and conflicts.  In those insights and revelations, we grasp and shape identity—that of the storypeople and of our own.  And with that collective wisdom, we comprehend and appreciate the treasure in tradition. 

What we learn from those who came before us, how embracing those traditions served us, gives us a firm hold on who we were, are, and who we choose to be.  That solves a lot of potential crises.  So what can we learn about Thanksgiving?  What in it is significant?

To answer those questions, we must ask, “What does Thanksgiving really mean?”

Time typically confuses things, and right now we’ve an abundance of confusion.  Many say we’re neck-deep in a national identity crisis.  So rather than discuss the confusion, let’s call on the wisdom of truth.  Reacquaint ourselves with it—unfiltered—by returning to the man who officially established our nation’s Thanksgiving holiday.

In 1789, on Thanksgiving Day, George Washington issued the following Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, beginning a tradition in the United States of America that is celebrated still today.

George (G.O.) Washington
Photo Credit: canstockphoto.com

Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

 

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

“And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

“Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

“G.O. WASHINGTON.”

 

Insight. Truth.  Tradition.  Wisdom.  Great fodder for characters in stories, and great character fodder for people. 

May the traditional spirit of Thanksgiving be a blessing to you and yours.  And in times that try souls and make us weary, may we remember to hold fast to our traditions—our identity—and to attitudes of gratitude.

For all our flaws and challenges,  ours is an exceptional nation of exceptional people.  We might lose our way at times and we forget who we are.  But we are fortunate.  We have the treasures of traditions and history to remind us.

This Thanksgiving, may we recall who we are, whose we are, why we are who and whose we are.  And may we feel to the depths of our souls the value of knowing each and every day.

 

 

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Rating Books

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Camy Tang/Camille Elliot

Camy here! Rating books is something I’m never very happy about doing because it just doesn’t seem nice. Someone put many hours into each book and a rating seems to cheapen that effort.

Also, I know all readers are different, and just because I didn’t like a book doesn’t mean another reader won’t, either.

That’s why I really don’t mind if I get 1, 2, 3 star ratings on Amazon and BN.com, because I know my books aren’t going to appeal to all readers. I understand that and accept it as a necessary fact of the career I’ve chosen as an author.

However, I have to admit that rating books can be useful as a quick guide to how I felt about a book I read, especially when I go back to refresh my memory.

It’s also helpful to see the trends of how I liked certain authors. If all the books I’ve read by an author have good ratings, then the author goes on my auto-buy list.

I was thinking about my ratings the other day and thought it would be good for me (and my declining capacity to remember anything) to write down what my ratings mean.

So here’s what I figured out my book ratings to mean:

1-star: Didn’t finish the book because I either didn’t like several elements of it, had problems relating to/liking the characters, or had issues with the plot.

2-stars: Book had at least one positive thing about it that I liked, but later I wasn’t interested enough to finish the book.

3-stars: I finished the book, but there were elements of it I didn’t like, or at least one of the characters was hard to sympathize with, or there were parts of the plot that didn’t make logical sense to me.

4-stars: I finished the book and mostly enjoyed it, although there might have been things about the plot, characters, or writing style I didn’t particularly like.

5-stars: I finished the book and enjoyed it. There might have been one or two things I didn’t quite like, but on a whole the book was entertaining and I liked it.

There are some 5-star books that I absolutely loved, but rather than give a 6-star rating or reserving the 5-star rating for those “perfect” books, I simply rave about the book in the comments section of my book catalogue (I use Booxter, which has a virtual “card” of information about each book I’ve read or have, and there’s a comments section where I talk about what I thought of the book).

So how about you? How do you rate books?

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Taking the Windows 8 Plunge by Julie Arduini

Posted on November 14, 2012 by juliearduini

My husband is a computer programmer and a natural teacher. When we married, he was patient and taught me not to be afraid of computers and the constant changes. As my confidence grew and his work schedule increased, I started playing with the latest trends and helped my friends get started with their brand new laptops and other gadgets.

When Windows 8 came out, two new things happened. For one, my husband wasn’t overly enthusiastic for me to try it. In fact, he made it clear there is no trying. Windows 8 is like a covenant. You enter in, and you don’t look back. You’re all in.

The second surprise was our son is old enough and technically gifted that he can offer an opinion of his own. “Don’t try it, mom. It’s different than anything you’ve ever had. I don’t think it is for you.”

I took what they said into consideration. Afterall, the loudest Vista critic had to be me. I couldn’t wait for Windows 7 to redeem the hot mess I found Vista to be. But Windows 8 was a different animal. A complete overhaul, my husband said.

What made Windows 8 so different? In one word, apps. Windows 8 was designed for the touch screen user who can slide from screen to screen. If that translates to a concert, the touch screen/tablet type users were the front row seats and my laptop with no touchscreen was the nosebleed section. Using Windows 8 put me at the event, but not up close.

Still, I had to try. I maintain my own website. I consider my greatest victory of 2012 mastering the Bluetooth function on my Ford Sync. I was on Facebook before it was a phenomenon because I felt it would be a great way to grow my platform. Windows 8 seemed to be the next level on my technology mountain, much like that yodeling game I watched as a kid on “The Price is Right.”

My husband tried to inject reason. “You should wait. With your wrist surgery recovery I think the learning curve is too much for someone who will be on Vicodin.”

Okay, I listened to that advice.

I installed Windows 8 on NaNoWriMo Eve.

Two weeks plus later, I have to say my family was right, and wrong.

Here’s what’s true.

Windows 8 is so different. As I wrote, if you had to sum it up, it’s all about apps. The learning curve is steep.

This is the start screen on Windows 8. You can customize it, and it scrolls/slides.

  • Instead of the start menu/list of programs on the left side, everything is an app. When it installed, most everything I was already using automatically converted. But to access the start menu/app center, you have to hover to the left corner.
  • The right corner hover reveals icons to search, settings, devices, share, start, and reveal the time, date, battery status and signal strength, I believe. For touchscreen, I imagine activating this is easy. For me, it takes time to find the exact place to maneuver.
  • I didn’t even know how to turn my own laptop off. What a relief my husband confessed the same. Once you know, it makes sense. I hovered on the right, hit settings, and you can power off. But what a search to figure that out.
  • You can customize how a lot of apps, your desktop, and start menu look. It’s a lot more personal, I think.
  • I’ve never Googled “How to…Windows 8” more in my life. I am Googling a lot. I needed something to transfer from my Google calendar to the calendar app. I lost serious writing time that took so long to figure out.
  • It can be buggy. I know my husband had to download a driver to make something simple work. I think printing, but I can’t remember, because I was in that depression zone when you want to master something and realize it owns you.

But, you know what? I don’t regret installing it.

  • Every day is easier for me to use it, and I think at the end of the day, I’m efficient because of it.
  • It’s a crisp, clean look.  I love how my start screen looks. I love the layout, much of it a result of my playing with it.
  • The apps are endless.  The categories keep scrolling and scrolling in the store. So many choices.

My advice? If you aren’t interested in joining the technology bandwagon, I wouldn’t go Windows 8. I try to picture someone like my mom trying it and I can envision her being frustrated and frazzled. She just wants to e-mail and manage pictures. Windows 8 would be overwhelming.

If you want in, but you’re busy, give it some time. It takes getting used to, and although this is a very busy month, part of my NaNo word count being down is because I lost it to figuring out Windows 8 aspects.

What do you think? Has anyone installed Windows 8?

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