Thin Places by Mary E. DeMuth

*Special Thursday Book Review Post*

Thin Places by Mary E. DeMuth is probably one of the most honest books I’ve ever read. Here is one author who trumps the fear of revealing life mistakes, vulnerabilities, and pain for the betterment of the reader. As I read this book I thought of how God told Paul, His power is made perfect in his weakness. Mary provides chapter after chapter of confessional stories, while indirectly encouraging readers to examine their own spiritual growth.

When I read in the first chapter how the Celts define a thin place, “a place where heaven and the physical world collide, one of those serendipitous territories where eternity and the mundane meet. Thin describes the membrane between the two worlds…where we see a holy glimpse of the eternal—not in digital clarity, but clear enough to discern what lies beyond” I knew I’d enjoy this book immensely. And that I did. Mary’s memoir seamlessly flows as she details some tragic and life-shaping events in her life and how they became thin places.

Mary DeMuth bestows a gift. She invites the reader to partake in the journey with her. Her writing is conversational in nature, to the point where I wondered more than once when she crawled inside my head. Her life is a testament to God’s healing and His loyalty. I understand this powerful memoir as a selfless act of obedience. It’s a brave work written by an honest soul.

I enjoyed the book so much I want you to read it…so I have a challenge for you. I loved the title Mary chose and the reasoning behind it. In three sentences or less tell me what you’d name your memoir and the significance behind your reason. I’ll have my writer friend review the comments and select the most capturing title.

If you win I’ll send you Thin Places for free! Challenge ends Sunday. I’ll announce the winner on Monday.

Words Are Like...

I finished reading The Book Thief last weekend. Powerful book with deep-rooted messages. I found the writing beautiful and the descriptions creative (swampy eyes). I cried after the standover man chapter. It was evident throughout the book the author believes in the power of words. I do too.

Words are like…
Kaleidoscopes…dazzling others with their shifting affects
Chameleons…fooling others with deceit
Tires…capable of treading lightly or wearing away
Pool sticks…with the power to set things into motion
Brown eggs…rare and treasured in their fragility
Corn on the cob…shucked to reveal deeper meaning
Scythes…slicing into hearts
An empty bench…waiting to be discovered
A reflection...revealing things of the heart
Ginger root…snapping the senses to life
Disease…spread unintentionally, causing great harm
Dandelions...a weed one moment and a wish the next
Water…for the thirsty
Birds…taking to flight
Kidneys…failing
Dreams…beginning
Coffins…closing
Time…unending

Here are three powerful quotes on words--

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." — Mother Teresa

"I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions." — James A. Michener

"I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right." — Markus Zusak (The Book Thief)

Your turn. Words are like…

*photos by flickr

Write by Lyrics

You’ve heard of paint by numbers? Today I’m throwing a little write by lyrics at you. If you’ve hung around here awhile you’ve discovered I have an endless tunnel of thoughts in this here noggin of mine. You humor me by reading some of them. And I thank you for it. Makes the tunnel a little less dark.

And now for the lyrics bit. I’m a music lover. I have hundreds of songs memorized. It’s hysterical to watch my children demonstrate my musical memorization habits.

Whoa oh oh, what’s music got to do with it…writing that is? Just another fun way to relay ideas. I’m certainly not an expert, but here is a list of some things I’ve learned about writing a novel:

1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want—One of the number one must-haves in a book is conflict. You need a character that wants something but for one reason or another is unable to have that thing.
2. Wake Up Little Suzie—Your story needs to move. You want your readers to stay awake while reading your book, not drift off in a dreamy drool-drenched sleep. Wake up Suzie by adding those can’t always get what you want scenes regularly.
3. I Want to Hold Your Hand—Get your readers to like or empathize with your main characters early on in the story (preferably page one).
4. Save the Last Dance for Me (one of my favorite songs btw)—Work hard to involve your reader. Help your readers feel engaged with your story by inciting a connection with your characters.
5. Poker Face—Implement suspense throughout your work. Drop a well-timed clue here. Leave a hint of something there. But don’t fall into the trap of tell. Give ‘em glimpses.
6. A Little Less Conversation and A Little More Action Please—On the heels of the last one, avoid exposition. Show. Action is good. Dialogue is good, but only if it moves the plot forward.
7. I Walk the Line—Follow a plot. Don’t wander aimlessly from scene to scene. Adhere to the story goal. Don’t sidetrack and rabbit hole your readers into confusion and frustration.
8. Ain’t No Sunshine—Don’t write an elaborate description of weather just for the heck of it. Plant it there for a purpose, if you must plant it there at all.
9. Into the Mystic—Take your readers somewhere they want to go. Make it easy for them to have a mental adventure. Choose an intriguing setting, riveting characters, a yeasty plot…
10. I Can’t Get No Satisfaction—Keep ‘em scooting in their seats. Make ‘em want more. Don’t give ‘em satisfaction…that is until the end. Satisfy ‘em then.

Any lyrics you've learned that apply to writing?

*photos by flickr

One Question Friday

Every Friday I’m going to ask a question. The questions I choose might be ambiguous on purpose. The goal is to have you answer the question according to your beliefs, where you’re at in life or a circumstance that might have recently impacted you. The only thing I ask is that you provide an explanation for why you answered the way you did.

It is my hope to understand you better through this and also to gain a greater understanding of humanity and how people make decisions.

Ready for your question?

Wavering decision or confident indecision?

*photos by flickr

This Little Prayer of Mine--Book Review

*Special Thursday Book Review Post*

Anthony DeStefano recently sent me his latest children’s book, This Little Prayer of Mine. I sat down with each of my three girls and read it to them. I asked their opinion of the book since I’ve never officially written a review for a children’s book before. All three of my girls agreed, This Little Prayer of Mine is an extremely sweet book.

I can think of few more important things to instill in children than the value of prayer. This Little Prayer of Mine engages young readers with sing-song rhymes and splashes of colorful (and humorous) illustrations. The Bible encourages us to pray without ceasing. This Little Prayer of Mine provides real life scenarios of times children will want to lean on God—to talk to him. I enjoyed how the book emphasizes how God hears us at all times and invites us to share with him when we are lonely, sad, scared, joyful and thankful.

As a parent, I appreciate how this lovely book with adorable illustrations has a powerful lesson on every page.

*This Little Prayer of Mine is endorsed by the National Day of Prayer

Listening

I awoke the other day and realized I was living a scene right out of The Two Towers (the second movie in The Lord of the Rings trilogy). (If you haven’t seen the movie(s) I’m going to explain the scene the best I can.)

A recent event spiraled my thought life into a dizzying state.

I’ll tell you about the scene and then I’ll let you know how I got thrown in it.

Picture:
A king seated on his golden throne clutching his rod loosely in his hands, drooling. His eyes bag with disturbed sleep. His skin is shocked pale and sagged with wrinkles. He’s a feeble old man on a throne. He’s been rendered useless, shriveled in his slumped posture. They call him Theoden, King of Rohan, but this is no king.

Seated to his right, writhes his “councellor”, shrouded in black, spitting perpetual lies into the king’s ear with his forked tongue. Wormtongue poisons the king with lies. Saruman, a wizard plotting great destruction over the land bribed Wormtongue to do his dirty work—to render the King of Rohan numb…weak…powerless. So far it’s working. The king acts indifferent to an uprising. His eyes roll in his head as though on puppet strings. He’s under the influence of Saruman’s spell, stirred up by the ever-whispering Wormtongue.

Enter:
Gandalf, the resurrected Wizard.

The doors of the castle are flung open.

Gandalf and party approach the throne. The king’s indifference turns to resistance. Wormtongue spouts off quickly, feeding the king with how to react. The king listens to Wormtongue without question. Theoden doesn’t recognize Gandalf. The poison runs deep.

Gandalf lifts his staff to the old king. He points. The king cringes. Wormtongues’ eyes gape with fear. Gandalf doesn’t point once or twice; he extends his life-giving staff out to King Theoden over and over, refusing to lower it until he sees a change. And change comes.

Jerked to and fro on the chair, Theoden is stripped of the poison. His eyes gloss over to a younger, focused recollection. His skin revitalizes, flushed and kissed with life. His hair tints from a blanched white to a rich auburn. The man is restored.

But will he be the king he needs to be? (You’ll need to watch the movie for that answer.)

Back to reality:
Me in bed. My mind spins with lies. Some I’ve held onto for years. Some are new. They are whispered to me (no, I don’t really hear them…people, stay with me). I’ve believed these lies for far too long. Given them power. I’ve allowed them to render me powerless.

Enter:
My Bible. As I fold the pages back they make a fluttering sound as welcoming as the opening of castle doors. Hope is here. There is truth in there. At times I don’t recognize it as such. But everything in His word bleeds true.

~~~I resist. I’m tainted. I’m weak. I cannot be used. I am afraid.

The staff—His living words sift in my mind. The old thoughts die off. I’m restored, rejuvenated, forgiven…a royal priesthood.

His power is made perfect in my weakness.

I’ve never felt a scene from a movie capture my state of being like the one I’ve described from The Two Towers.

Question for you today: Who are you listening to?

*feel free to visit Sage Girls Ministry to read my article, Exemplify Online to read my how-to, and Christian Fiction Online Magazine to read my short story this month

**photos by flickr

Emotional Defibrillator

Check out this commercial. If this doesn’t get you emotionally pumping strong again I don’t know what will. Many of us are writing books. This commercial serves as a powerful example of how to grab right from the start…and how to hold on.






Don’t relinquish the dream!

Have you seen this yet? What say you about it?

*thanks to visa for the commercial