Portrait of a Reader: Me!

Anne Mateer hosted me for her "Portrait of a Reader" series! I had so much fun participating in this, and getting to know Ms Mateer has been such a joy! What a sweet, godly, and incredibly talented woman! Check out my reading habits and her great books at her site: http://www.annemateer.com/portrait-of-a-reader-alice/

Sincerely,

Interview: Katherine Reay

I am so excited to welcome Katherine Reay to the blog today! I recently read her debut novel Dear Mr. Knightley and was very impressed and impacted! 

My interview is a little late, as I wasn't feeling too well this past weekend, but Ms. Reay was totally understanding and encouraging, and so here we are at last! :D A huge warm welcome to you, Katherine! :)

Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a wife, a mom, a runner, a tennis player, an avid chocolate consumer, a compulsive reader, an aspiring chef and mediocre housecleaner… and I think I have the best job in the world.

You definitely sound very productive! :) And yes- you have the best job! 

What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve always written, but it’s what I write that has changed. I wrote a lot in college and graduate school and even in my work as a marketer, but Dear Mr. Knightleywas my first foray into fiction and I love it!

Well, I'm really glad you stuck with it and worked yourself to this level of genius. :) 

What was your inspiration for Dear Mr. Knightley?

Dear Mr. Knightley started during my recovery from an injury. Many of the ways I defined myself were removed for a time – tennis, running, tae kwon do, cleaning the house, driving carpool, volunteering, even standing in the kitchen cooking…. I was housebound for several months recovering, praying, reading and, eventually, writing. I started reading the classics, beginning with Jane Austen, and spread from there. When I got to Jean Webster’s Daddy Long Legs, I found context for the character already developing in my head. It all rolled from there...

I read Daddy Long Legs a year or two ago and I really liked it- it's one of my favorite classics!! :D That's one of the reasons I got super excited about Dear Mr. Knightley- and I wasn't disappointed. You captured a great modern view on the story. :)

What is your favorite quote from Dear Mr. Knightley?

There are a lot of lines I love and my favorites change. Sam’s voice is different from mine and I liked what popped out of her… she frustrated me too. But at the moment, my favorite line is from Professor Muir:

“I won’t tell, Sam. It’s your past – your story to share. But remember: it doesn’t define you.”

He concludes with “Never let something so unworthy define you.”

I love that because that is a theme of the book and our lives – we can determine what defines us and we should choose wisely. I also like that he doesn't direct Sam, but rather gives her only as much as she can absorb and the credit for being able to weigh her choices and find good answers.

I really liked Professor Muir and his wife, and their relationship with Sam! There were so many quotes I stopped to write down while reading your book. 

In writing Dear Mr. Knightley, what were you hoping to accomplish the most through it? What was the main message/theme you wanted to convey to your readers?

DMK is in many ways a “coming of age” story, but I think those moments of redefinition can occur at any time and repeatedly in life. I wanted readers to see a search for self-definition, a search for place and forgiveness and a search for Christ worked out in a woman who knew nothing about any of that and one who didn't necessarily find all the answers by page 340.

I liked that by the end, Sam- with so many questions unanswered- was still able to find peace and fulfillment in God and where He had her, and with whom. It was really sweet. 

You did a great job at conveying your theme! :)

How does your faith affect your writing?

My faith constitutes a meta-theme to all my writing – can’t really separate them. It plays out more concretely within certain characters, but – so far – not the main character in a firm or committed manner. Sam, our heroine in Dear Mr. Knightley is not even seeking God at the beginning. The idea of a loving father is new to her and, only at the end, is she beginning to understand the questions, much less the answers. But we are all like that in many respects – our faith changes, develops and grows with each experience and with time spent with God.

Are you currently working on a writing project? If so, would you tell us a little about it? 

Lizzy and Jane is next and it’s in the final editing process right now. It will be out in October and I’m so excited. Lizzy had more humor and confidence available to her than Sam did. But she’s got some struggles ahead of her as well – can’t make life too easy on her.

This story has all the big guns: sisters, conflict, food, Jane Austen, Hemingway (threw you there, didn’t I?), love, and breast cancer. I know that last one is a bummer, but it’s a reality that so many of us experience either personally or walking the journey with family and friends.

Basically Lizzy and Jane is the story of a young chef, Lizzy, who has excised love from her life and, as she helps her sister through chemotherapy, she starts to put it back in – in all its wonderful and varied forms.

Eek! I can't wait to read it!! :D Come on, October! ;)

What is your favorite book and/or author (and why)?

That is so tough because I go to so many books for so many different reasons. If I picked one author, I would say Jane Austen. She’s impeccable and I never stop learning from her and I enjoy the process each time. :)

I picked this version of her novels to display because I have a few of them I absolutely adore them! They feel so cool. ;) I agree- you just can't get tired of her. :)

(Here are mine... and I've actually had DMK there since I read it, so that's pretty convenient. ;))

If you were stranded on an island, what three things would your life be a blank without?

Chocolate, a Bible and pen&paper. I figure if I deleted the spaces between the last two items, maybe you’d count them as one.

Haha! I'll count them as one. ;) Very nice choices, btw. 

Which is your favorite Period Drama?

That’s really hard. I am loving Downtown Abbey… aren’t we all?

I love the costumes. Why can't we dress like this today? :)

Do you prefer coffee, or tea?

You are going to think I am such a waffler (is that a word?)… I like them both. I only drink one latte in the morning, but it is a ritual I adore and would feel lost without. It’s really hot coffee ice cream the way I prepare it and it is the perfect start to my day. After that, I only drink tea. I never have even a second cup of coffee. By the end of the day, I’m settling into chamomile tea, most likely, and feeling very content.

I am the same way- I love both! I love the way ice cream makes coffee so fluffy... does that sound super weird? lol And yes- chamomile tea is a great way to end the day! :)

And, last but not least, what surroundings do you like to have when you're writing?

Here is my desk. This is where I will always write if I have the chance. I think it has something to do with the polka-dotted-pig-in-a-boa lamp, but that’s just my opinion.

It is definitely the polka-dotted-pig-in-a-boa-lamp...mhmm...

Thank you, again, SO much for joining me, Katherine!! :D I've really enjoyed getting to know you some through our chat. :) 

Everybody be sure and check out Dear Mr. Knightley, and keep your eyes open for more info on Lizzy and Jane as we get closer to Autumn! :D

Sincerely,

Echoes of Mercy

Echoes of Mercy was a great story about overcoming fears, living in truth, and standing up for what you believe in. This book had a great blend of characters with a wide age range that kept things interesting. 
The plot seemed to move slow, and I felt like not much happened -in regards to the investigation- until the end of the book. But it never got boring, either! I love that about Sawyer's style of writing.
I liked watching Caroline's character grow; in the beginning she seemed a bit headstrong and stubborn, and by the end she was willing to trust God with whatever plans He had for her life (without totally changing- she kept some of her spunk the entire time. ;)) 
I really enjoyed the characters of Noble and Kesia. They were fun, encouraging, tenderhearted, and protective. (I laughed out loud when Kesia had everyone in her cafe stop eating so Carrie could pray! :D)
Lesley was adorable! He was a favorite with everyone. Lank really grew on you, and you can't help loving Letta for her desire to do all she can to let her brothers know they are loved and wanted and protected- even if she went about it a bit impulsively. She saw where she went wrong in the end, and God worked everything out for good. :)
Ollie was a really great hero! "For his strength, his kindness, his well-founded sense of right and wrong, and-admittedly-his pleasing appearance." (to quote Ms. Sawyer, herself. ;)) It was refreshing that he and his dad had a close relationship the whole time. Usually there are parental issues with the hero, it seems. :P
As for the villain- Gordon Hightower was repulsive, to say the least. From his first description I found it easy to mentally picture him with the same appearance as Sakharine, from The Adventures of Tintin. (Outfit and all!) 

The climax of his share in the plot was rather sudden and less eventful than I had expected...but after it taking so long so actually get there, it was nice things moved along at a clipping pace. ;)

As a side note, I absolutely adore the cover art for this book! So bright and captivating! Love it. :)

Echoes of Mercy was a sweet and heartwarming story- my favorite Sawyer yet (A Hopeful Heart coming in at a very close second).

Find out more about the author and her other books here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=162648

Find out more about "Echoes of Mercy" here: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=221540
(first chapter:) http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SneakPeek_EchoesofMercy.pdf

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Sincerely,

Dear Mr. Knightley

There are so many words to describe this book... 
Wonderful, witty, fun, funny, lovely, sad, inspiring, heartwarming, heartrending, profound, thought-provoking, encouraging, sweet, emotional, tear-jerking (and by tear-jerking, I mean, like this is the first book that's ever made me CRY- not just tear up), beautiful- and so many more.
Dear Mr. Knightley is a book that has events and characters that so many people in our day and age can relate too; Samantha Moore is hurt; she has no self-confidence, she's nerdy, and kind of avoided. But she's smart, can read people really well when she tries, and doesn't know just how brave she can be. She just wants to be loved and not thought of as a total wacko- what she doesn't know is to Whom she needs to turn for that Love- and that she may have herself in the wrong position, mentally. (Until amazing characters like Mr. and Mrs. Muir show up to encourage and lend a helping hand and leave us all in a puddle of aren't-they-adorable-fangirling-antics.) There are so many things in this book that the bookish of our society can not only relate to, there's so much they need here. This book could really work in someone's life who has gone through any of the things Sam relates to Mr. Knightley in this story. 
Btw- when I read the synopsis I was totally expecting the same plot as Daddy-Long-Legs -while it was similar in many ways, I was beyond surprised and pleased at the differences. 
There is someone and something for everyone in this story. 
This is really random- but I SO enjoyed ALL the references to coffee, Starbucks, and lattes in this story. As I said- there is something here for everyone. ;)
Thank you, so much, Reay, for this story. <3

Sincerely,

Inside & Out

My sister sent me a link to this fun blog idea ~ I am not participating in an actual Book Tag, but thought posting this would be fun anyways. ;)

I ~ Inside flap/Back of the book summaries: Too much info? Or not enough 

I think it depends... there have been some books I've read and I didn't necessarily HAVE to read it, seeing how I got the entire story through summary. :P Then there are some books that don't tell you anything- or they summarize in a way that makes you think one thing, when the plot is actually completely different...then of course there are those books that have THE perfect plot summary and you can't wait to start reading- then you finish the book, read the back again- and start re-reading the book. :D However, I don't usually pay too much attention to the inside/back blurbs. .. I usually skim it once, and see if anything catches my attention. And if it is an author I love- I don't usually read them at all, and just let myself be surprised. ;) 

N ~ New book: What form do you want it in? Be honest: Audiobook, E-Book, Paperback, or Hardcover?Paperback. I'll read a hardcover if I MUST read the book and can't get a hold of it in paperback... but never... absolutely never.... digitally... and I've never been able to really follow audiobooks- I'd rather be able to go at my own pace, and to 'hear' it the way I want to, in my head. ^_^ 

S ~ Scribble while you read? Do you like to write in your books, taking notes, making comments, or do you keep your books clean clean clean? (Tell us why)

This is kind of how I feel about writing in books... I do, however, always write down any sentences or quotes that I like, or in which I find the wording simply beautiful. 

I ~ In your best voice, read for us your favorite 1st sentence from a book.

Haha...oh dear... *think think think*

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice 'without pictures or conversation?' 

I also really like- 

 :)

D ~ Does it matter to you whether the author is male or female when you're deciding on a book? What if you're unsure of the author's gender?
No, this doesn't influence my decision at all. (I have favorite female authors, and favorite male authors.) Their reputation, beliefs, genre, and style, however, DO.

E ~ Ever read ahead? or have you ever read the last page way before you got there?
I'm sure I've read ahead at some point or other, and I've glanced at the farther page or a few lines down before, but looking ahead pages at a time has never been an issue for me. I'd rather be surprised. :) I DO have the random annoying problem of looking at the very last sentence in the book, before I even start. I don't know why this is a habit for me... although sometimes its fun to see a little of the conclusion, and then go back and watch it work out to that end... but looking at the last line doesn't always give anything away. ;P

&

O ~ Organized bookshelves, or Outrageous bookshelves?

Hmmm...organized as  in everything neatly in a place, with stacks of either the same size books, or from big to little, and mostly having the same authors' books together- yes. Organized as in genre, historically, alphabetically- no. 

U ~ Under oath: have you ever bought a book based on the cover (alone)?

Oh, wow... maybe once or twice... but I usually don't buy a book by an author I've never heard something of, or writes a genre/era I like... so I usually know something about every book I buy. I don't want to spend money on a book I may not like, that I could have spent on a book I knew I would have liked. 
After thinking about it... 

*Sigh* Isn't this a captivating cover?? Blue- ship- swords! This is one I remember buying based on the cover (however, I did know it would be Elizabethan- one of my favorite eras) and one of the reasons I don't buy-by-cover anymore. Rather disappointing, and I wouldn't recommend it. 

This was the "or twice", I mentioned above. ;) I love this cover.... all I knew about this book was it was Christian fiction by a debut author. I thought it was set in the prairie days (come on, she looks like she's wearing a dress, and her hairstyle coincided. :P) but it turned out- after I bought it- to be modern. ^_^ It was really good though, so I don't regret this one.

This is another beautiful cover- I picked it from a list to review, so I didn't necessarily BUY-by cover- but I had never heard anything about it or the author. ;) (very satisfactory, btw.)

T~ Take it outside to read, or stay in?
I love doing both! But only outside if it's not too cold or too hot; warm, but with a cool- even nippy- breeze. I can always wear a jacket. ;)

Sincerely,

Mildred Keith

Mildred Keith was a really sweet story about family loyalty, and trusting God through change- that He will work everything out for good. I enjoy that Martha Finley uses more dialogue than narration- and her stories are always spiritually uplifting. The story was the perfect length- not too long, but nothing rushed. I'm looking forward to reading Mildred at Roselands. :)

Sincerely,

Cloak of the Light

Brilliant. Literary genius at it's best - Chuck Black  has come up with a plot so intricate and well thought out, and yet it directly concerns what's going on right now in our society regarding good and evil - we should all be aware of this stuff! Chuck Black has such a way of describing things- specifically fight sequences (which this book is full of!) -that is really easy to follow and creates an accurate mental picture; unlike so many suspense novels where I get totally confused trying to follow the characters actions on my mental "television screen". 
**Spoiler** This is one of the only Christian books I have read where by the end the main character still has not accepted Christ as their Savior. Also- there was NO closure! Everything was left open and Drew still has barely any answers to what he's been working on the entire time; and there are some characters that you've kind of lost track of that are a big part of the story. These things didn't bother me, however, knowing that this is book 1 and that book 2 is in the works. So I didn't totally freak out- but it did come as a bit of a shock when I finished the book and realized all that I wasn't able to figure out. :P 
I didn't know how I'd like the book, having fallen so totally in love with Chuck Black's Medieval stories- and this is such a different setting. And yet- it wasn't. It was still the same style of writing and even had all the cool "cloak and dagger" stuff- literally! :D
Drew and Sydney made a really great hero/heroine duo! They put me a little in mind of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy... but Drew Carter was way cooler! 
I highly recommend this to those who enjoy Christian suspense novels, and allegories. I would say it's a little intense for younger children, but this is great teens- and I think adults would definitely enjoy it as well. 
"It's wrong to do nothing when you have the power to do something."

You can visit Chuck Black's webpage here.
More information about the book and author.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this honest review.

Sincerely,