Book Review: The Christmas Angel Project

 

There is nothing like curling up on a couch reading a Christmas Book to get you in the mood for the festive season. The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson was mine this year.

An easy, lazy Sunday afternoon read best describes this book. This is a great book for the ladies and makes an even better gift. And don't forget your cup of coffee or tea!

A group of friends get the news that the glue (woman) that keeps them all together has suddenly passed away leaving this group feeling lost, empty and unable to connect with each other. 

They decide to meet for book club one last time. Their friend leaves behind a gift for each of them. An angel that looks exactly like each woman. Inspired even by her absence, they create the Christmas Angel Project. Little do they know that the project is there more for them than for others.

I can't reveal anymore because it will ruin the great lessons hidden within the words. What I like about this book is that you don't have to give it or read it at Christmas. This book can be read all year round and I count on reading it again. It never hurts to be reminded to serve God before serving others. 

Read how these woman from very different walks of life change the lives of others which in turn, changes them too. We all have a bit of angel in us...use your wings wisely.

To purchase this book, please visit Cum Books website or click on the link: https://www.cumbooks.co.za/the-christmas-angel-project-hardcover

Happy Reading Bookworms!

A Writer's Light Bulb Moment

When you decide to write the novel burning in your brain, you discover that it is not easy putting the vision into words. So, you turn to famous authors and "Google". Research, research, research!

It is difficult trying to find your own way of writing. I read how other writers have done it, followed their advice and often their method of writing. From the snowflake method, to  writing scenes, then little notes all over the place. Not all worked and the ones that worked didn't quite fit me most of the time.  However, the wrong methods did help me to start writing and actually get a story down regardless of the form it took.

My light bulb moment happened when I was listening to a video by Ted Dekker, a famous Christian writer. He made it sound so simple, and actually it is. His definition:

I will never forget this moment for me as a writer. Sitting at your desk, listening, searching for that answer you need to make sense for you and then he spoke, the light bulb went on and I smiled. I had found my sense....

That one sentence helped me to understand and see how I should write. Look at that sentence. Now break it up....

What are the "series of events" in your story?
Who are your "worthy characters"?
How do they "change"?

Getting ideas? Seeing your characters? Noticing how they are evolving?

So I took this sentence and started my novel from scratch, using a time line to plot my "series of events" (one side of the page) and listing the "worthy characters" (on the other side) and noting "how they change" down the time line. My story became clearer to me and I found that I could writer better too.

I was so excited with my realisation that I made the sign you see above and put it on my desk where I can always see it. When ever I get stressed about writing, I read it, reminding myself what questions to start with.

This definition also reminds me that I can do it because I love writing, love creating lives and sharing it with others.This helped relieve the stress of writing and helped me see things simply.

My adventure continues as I write my novel with this in mind, excited to see the end result. 


Have you found a writing method that fits you?

If not, don't stop researching and trying.....
your light bulb will come on eventually!

Missing Door, Lock and Key

When a writer sits at their desk and starts writing, he/she gets lost into their fictional realm. Sights and sounds all around them disappear as the focus is plotting a story to be shared.

I am a writer...well, professing to be one. Winter is my season to write as I love hiding in my room, listening to the rain as the background soundtrack to the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. However, lately, people keep finding me when I am trying to emerge myself into my story. My child will find a reason to stand like a statue next to me, breaking my concentration. One of my parents will find a reason to ask a question, make a statement or just walk in to see what I am up to.

I try to be loving and patient with them because they can't understand my need to "disappear" for a few hours on my own in solace.

I now understand why writers say go into your office or writing space and lock yourself in, shut the outside out and be free. It is the only way to get any writing done.

When I start writing, I get so excited that I get lost into the story, as I visualise my story, walking in the shoes of each character as they journey and it cuts me off completely, making me lose my mojo when distractions appear out of nowhere and seemingly always when I'm in the middle of a conflict.

People who don't write, don't often understand why you are writing and why you need isolation. Cutting off from our life to write is one of the much needed things a writer needs to do. A writer needs their creative, safe space to bring out their weirdness, their imagination and their ability to see life differently.

As I pondered this, I realised that my solution to this "big" problem is very simple. I am missing three essential things...a door, a lock and a key.....

My writing space is in a little alcove off my room which is still open. So....I pray for a door to close off my space, a working lock and a key to lock me in, to create, to get lost and spend time with my characters.

What is holding you back to finish that burning story on your soul?
Is there a simple solution to the problem?

Don't let a solvable problem stop you from being the best writer you can be.....find your door to hide behind, your key to lock it to free you in your creativity.

Maybe you have managed to find your perfect spot - well done and keep writing!

Consider the small things

As a writer, we often ask ourselves "Should we include this detail or emotion? Does this sentence make the scene seem boring?" but how often do we ask ourselves or remind ourselves to "consider the small things".

Why are the "small things" important? Well, a small thing could show the reader what your character is wearing. It could show the reader how the character is feeling or what they are doing. A small thing could end off the scene perfectly.

At my past writing workshop, we learnt that what we often think is boring might not be boring to the next person, our reader, the ones we are actually writing for. We discovered that what we find a daily task boring and uneventful, actually was interesting to another. The other person enjoyed hearing how we, the writers, handle that boring task, how we are feeling about doing it and how we perceive it to be tedious and boring.

Aspiring writers, I urge you to once in a while consider the small things. Never assume that the boring to us, is boring to others. We all think our lives are boring but our boring could make another laugh, shed a tear or be inspired.

I encourage you to try the exercise we did in our workshop. Think of something that you find boring in your daily life and write either a paragraph or for about ten minutes, post it in the comments below. Consider sending it to a friend to read for feedback. You might be surprised! I would love to read yours.

Here is my paragraph to give you an idea:

I never thought finding a pair of shoes could be an adventure until I reached my thirties. Shop assistants trying not to laugh as I ask if they have ladies shoes in a size 1 or 2. Wide-eyed assistants gently directing me to the children’s department and shocked helpers shaking their heads with no hope for me. My Mother rolling her eyes as we’ve reached the fifth shop with no luck. I tire quickly in my worn shoes as I try to smile positively, looking down at the glitter and flowery shoes that fit.

As I consider them, I wonder how long my pants have to be to hide most of it, still trying to laugh at my shortcomings. Hunched shoulders and feeling slight despair, I take them off and glance at the price. In an instant, the warmth of sun fills me and my smile spreads as I finally realise that this long, darkened adventure has brought me into the light at half price. 

 

Until, next time, happy writing!

 

Book Review: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

This May I joined an online book club so thought I would share my thoughts on our first book namely The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

Lo Blacklock is a journalist who is trying to make her mark in the industry. She gets a "career-changing" offer and takes it, determined to succeed. How can she refuse spending time on a luxury liner with the rich and known?

Trauma, alcohol and lack of sleep starts her trip off on a "bad" foot as she realises she is a fish out of water on this trip. Lo has no idea how "out of water" she really is when she sees who lives in Cabin 10 and hears a splash in the middle of the night, noticing a blood smear on the glass next door.

Worried, confused and under the influence, Lo looks for help and answers as she wants to know what happened. Where is the girl from Cabin 10? How does she just disappear being surrounded by water?

Hot chocolate, pyjamas and a quiet Sunday afternoon is the best setting for reading this book. I enjoyed this book however it took to grip me and for me to get into the story. A few twists and turns kept me reading but was a little disappointed with the ending.  Overall, still worth reading.

To purchase a copy, please click on: The Woman in Cabin 10


Until next month my Bookworms, stay warm and keep reading!

With love,
The Bookworm Buddy

Book Review: Two True Classics!

I was so excited when I could finally take both these books out at once from the library, especially since the second one is a "recent" book. As you know, it is quite seldom that you manage to get a "recent" book at the library.

So, I raced home with them and went to my favourite reading chair and got lost in the world of a town called Maycomb County. Firstly, I met some young children named Jean Louise and Jem Finch. Then I got the pleasure of meeting their friend Dill. Life through the eyes of Jean Louise or "Scout" never disappoints as our young lady likes to play like a tomboy, has an enquiring mind and seems to find trouble often.

Life for the innocents change as their gentle, well-liked father and the town's lawyer, Atticus decides to take on a difficult criminal case. Racial issues, poverty and lifestyles clash. Who will win? Why did Atticus take this case?  Oh and to end it off, who is Boo Radley?

To Kill A Mockingbird is a must read for everyone from young to old. I encourage everyone to read this book at least once in their lifetime. Harper Lee doesn't tell you but shows you how to walk in another person's shoes and how ordinary life is extraordinary. She shows how to see different viewpoints and see the drama unfolding from different sides of the street.

As I finished this one, I looked forward to meeting with "Scout" again in Go Set A Watchman. I am so glad that this book was eventually published and shared.

We return to Maycomb County with "Scout", now a 26 year old adult. She returns to visit Atticus, 72 years old only to learn a hard, life lesson she wasn't expecting. Scout still has a tomboy spirit but has learnt to act like a young lady as much as can be expected. She still finds trouble and loves it, especially to aggravate her Aunt. Scout has a man waiting at her feet but is she ready for a lifelong commitment? What life lesson has hurt her and changed her viewpoint about her father? Can she accept what she now sees?

Harper Lee puts our feet, once again, in Scout's shoes and we journey with her as an adult, facing adult issues as well as personal ones. Harper Lee doesn't disappoint in this book as she continues to show us and not tell us how the old has been replaced with new, how Scout still loves and hates her small town, and how we all change as we grow up.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books and I strongly recommend to everyone that you read one after the other. Life, laughter and lessons fill both these books. One is a classic and the other is becoming a classic in our time!