Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Top 10 Most Influential Books in My Life


By Sarah Brown

              Since I usually a lot of projects on my plate, I initially decided not to respond to Sarah’s request for book lists. Besides, I reasoned that I probably couldn’t ever come up with ten influential books. But after reading a few other submissions, I couldn’t help wondering what my list would look like, if I were to do one. So, I started to think about which books have really been life-changing and inspiring for me. It wasn’t long before I had a list with more than ten books! That wasn’t nearly as hard as I expected! I hope you enjoy and find a few new titles to try out for yourself.

  • The Gospel of John/1 John by John the Beloved: Of course the Bible is the most influential book in my life, but I wanted to be a little more specific and tell you which Bible books are the most influential to me. I love the writings of John, especially The Gospel of John and 1 John. For one things, as far as writing standards go, John rates very high. Some Bible writers (e.g. Paul) sometimes ramble on and are hard to follow. John, on the other hand, has formatted his writings in easy-to-follow outlines with simple-but-profound themes woven in that he never deviates from. The theme of the Gospel of John is believe. The theme of 1 John is love. While the truths of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit, it’s still neat to see each writer’s individual style and personality coming through in the layout and use of the words themselves. John’s writings have always inspired me to pick a simple-but-profound theme for each of my writings and stick to it.

  • Desire of Ages by E.G. White: This is one of the most beautiful commentaries on the life of Christ! From his birth to his death, this captivating commentary provides a Biblically accurate, behind-the-scenes look at the joys and sufferings of our Savior here on earth. It reveals that through His death, Christ gave us the gift of eternal life. It also makes it clear that Christ came not just to deliver us from death, but to live a perfect life as our example. I always come away from this book with a desire to be more like my Savior.

  • Heidi by Johanna Spyri: Heidi is alone in the world, deserted and unwanted by her closest relatives. However, through her child-like love, trust, and acceptance, she wins the hearts of all she comes into contact with. Just when she has grown to love her grandfather and her new life with him on the mountain among the goats, her aunt returns with a plan to take Heidi to the city of Frankfurt to be a companion to a rich man’s little invalid daughter. Will Heidi ever see her grandfather, Peter, the goats, or the old blind grandmother again? And yet, wherever she goes, Heidi’s simple faith in God and sweet love always changes the hearts of those around her. Heidi inspires me to have the faith of a little child.

  • The Man Who Couldn't Be Killed by Stanley Maxwell: The true story of a Chinese man behind the Iron Curtain in Communist China. Glorious Country Wong found Jesus from the pages of a Bible that he looted from a shop (for its high quality paper that could be used to make shoe patterns and roll cigarettes) and a set of correspondence Bible studies that a friend signed him up for as a prank. His life was never the same again. Soon he found himself in prison for his faith and his witnessing activities, but over and over again God miraculously spared his life and gave him opportunities to witness to the others in the concentration camp. This story helped me to realize that as long as I am abiding in Christ, I need not have any fear of man—no human being can end my life until God has determined that my work on earth is finished. No matter where I am, God will protect me and use me to bring Him glory—even if it be in the throes of a Chinese concentration camp.

  • I Dared to Call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh: Before reading this book, I was a little frightened of Muslim people (you know, with all the horror stories of the radical Muslims). Bilquis’s story (written by herself) helped me to realize that not all Muslims are radicals. Bilquis was a normal older woman who had survived a few major crises in life, and was now living in the routine, peaceful stage of life. She had money, a beautiful home, a staff of servants who made it possible for her to take it easy, and a little grandson who was the love of her life. But something was missing. In her heart was an emptiness that only a God of love could fill. I loved this story because it truly was a woman who was led to God by God Himself. Many people come to the Lord because of the work of missionaries or other gospel workers. However, in this anti-Christian, Muslim country, God had to reach Bilquis’s heart in a different way. Through dreams and a little Bible that Bilquis bought (and later on through the help and encouragement of Christian friends), Bilquis came to know and love Jesus as her personal Savior and Friend. But Satan certainly wasn’t going to give her up easily…. This story inspires me to make Jesus my Best Friend, my Guide, the One that I trust, and the only One that I serve… no matter what the cost!

  • Evangelists in Chains by Elizabeth Wagler: Based on true events, this story follows a young Hutterite man who has a secret hope to someday be a traveling evangelist like other great Hutterite leaders. But the Dark Ages are in full swing. Catholicism is the state religion and all those who teach different beliefs run the risk of imprisonment, torture, and even death. This colonies’ peaceful life comes swiftly to an end when they are suddenly rounded up by soldiers and put into prison. Then all the men of the colony are marched hundreds of miles from home. Along the way, they find many opportunities to witness for Christ—so Peter finds his secret wish fulfilled: He is a traveling evangelist… in chains. Each day brings these faithful men of God closer to their fate—war ships on which they will be made galley slaves, a punishment to be feared more than death itself. However, some in the colony still hold faith that God will deliver them. It is impossible to explain the way that this book thrills my soul with a desire to be faithful to God no matter the cost; to witness for Him no matter the outward circumstances.

  • The Price of Peace and Other Stories by Mary R. Zook: Written and published by conservative Mennonites, this book does present some ideas that are unique to this denomination. However, I highly respect and admire the Mennonites for their stand for Biblical principles like honesty, modesty, nonresistance, separation from the world, evangelism, prayer, and many more. This book is a compilation of true, short stories that emphasize many different character-trying and character-building situations that young people in the church have faced. This book has inspired me to stand for Biblical principles no matter how different I may appear to the world.

  • Paula the Waldensian by Eva Lecomte: Oh, what a beautiful story. I have never been able to verify this, but I do believe this is a true story, or at least based on a true story. Paula is a young girl who must come and live with her uncle and cousins after her Waldensian parents have both died. The difficulty: Her uncle has grown cold towards God since the death of his precious wife, and forbids Paula to pray—even going as far as to take away the Bible that Paula’s dying father gave to her and bid her to never forget to read. But Paula’s love for God is not based on her outward circumstances. Little by little, through daily self-denial and service, Paula changes lives through her unconditional love and understanding of the poor and outcasts. And in the end, Paula’s life becomes a seed that is planted and reaps a harvest in the lives of all around her—including her uncle and cousins. Paula’s story has taught me that true Christianity is more than just mere profession. True Christianity is how we live when no one is watching, how we treat the lowest in life, and how we esteem others. Paula inspires me to change lives simply by loving the unlovable.

  • Lessons From a Sheepdog by Philip Keller: I’m a dog-lover (and Border Collies are my favorite). This book is such a beautiful object lesson of Jesus Christ’s love for us through the story of a rescued Border Collie who learns to love and obey her master. Having been neglected and abused for much of her life, Lass was not ready to trust even kind Philip Keller who rescued her from a life on the end of a chain. Slowly he must build her trust. After he has won her heart, he must train this wayward, wild creature to work with sheep properly. Through it all he learns lessons of Christ our master, and us his wild, wayward children. This true story really hits home the message of God’s love and tender compassion for me, how he wooed me and won my heart, and how patient He is with me when I fail. This story also inspires me to live in Scotland someday and train Border Collies to work with sheep. J

  • Hope Rising/A Bridge Called Hope by Kim Meeder: I also love horses, and this is a rather recent addition to my “Top 10” list. Kim and her husband run a horse rescue ranch in Oregon called Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch. At this ranch, the Meeders and their staff pair abused and neglected horses with abused and neglected children in a program of healing and restoration. The horses help the children emotionally while the children help the horses physically. From their many years doing this completely non-profit ministry, Kim has written these two books packed full of stories—miracle stories, stories of restored children and horses, cute little anecdotes, answers to prayers, and personal testimonies. Kim is an excellent writer, to boot, and is able to paint the most beautiful word pictures on the page. Her stories will make you cry, they will make you laugh, and they will inspire you (as they did me) to love unconditionally.

            This is just a few of the many wonderful, books out there that have changed my life and drawn me closer to my Savior. These books have also inspired me to write only true stories that will honor and glorify my King.

            Eighteen-year-old Sarah lives with her parents and two brothers in the beautiful Minnesota countryside. She divides her time between college and her job, while trying to fit in reading, sewing, and her writing projects. Some of her poetry has appeared in different magazines, and one of her stories won first prize in a children's writing contest. She published her first book, Learning Lessons from Furry Friends in 2011, and her second, The Prodigal Pup, in 2012. She hopes that there are more to come! Sarah loves to combine her passions for writing, children, animals, and her Savior by writing true animal stories that will point children to Jesus. Find out more about Sarah, her books, and her everyday life on her blog: www.SarahEllenBrown.wordpress.com.

            

Monday, December 23, 2013

It’s Difficult



It’s difficult to come up with the ten most influential books I’ve read. Most books influence me in some way, whether in life, or my writing, or both. We are a rather bookish family, lots of our expressions, jokes, and topics of conversation have their origin in books. So it’s hard to narrow down the most influential. Here is the most accurate list I can currently think of.

1. The Bible
The Bible is certainly the most influential book I’ve read. It is where I get my beliefs, my worldview, my standards. Besides, it has some of the best true stories ever.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
The Narnia books are probably the most influential fiction books I’ve read. They made me love fantasy and appreciate a well done allegory. They definitely shaped my writing, and they have helped me understand many things. They are also the books out of which my sister and I have memorized and acted out the most scenes.

3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
This was my first introduction into sci-fi, and, along with its sequel and E. T., my only experience with it until I was a teenager. But it influenced me in more ways than in just introducing me to science fiction. The planet Camazotz has shown me so many political and cultural parallels it’s scary, and I often find reason to quote, “Like and equal are not the same thing.”

4. The Elsie Dinsmore series by Martha Finley
I don’t think any author has influenced my writing style as much as Martha Finley. The kind of sentence structure, phrases, and words she uses come through in what I write, whether it’s a book or an essay. And even though the perfection of certain of her characters can be aggravating, I have found her books quite useful in teaching lessons to the girls in my Bright Lights small group.

5. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
This is another book that colored my vocabulary and influenced my style. I’m an awful lot like Anne, too. Except that she made me like red hair rather than hate it. This book also made me afraid of hair dye, because nasty green doesn’t appeal to me at all. Scope for the imagination is valuable. And “Anne” looks terrible without an “e.”

6. Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (and the Caroline ones by Maria D. Wilkes)
I loved pioneers as a child because of the Little House books. I often played pioneer because of them, and even got a pioneer dress from my grandma for my seventh birthday because I loved pioneers so much. The Caroline books gave me a yet unfulfilled desire to have chickens.

7. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
This is the book that gave me my love of dungeons, especially ones that are dark, nasty, rat-filled, and easy to get lost in forever. Not that I want to be in one myself, but I find they pop up in my stories wherever possible.

8. Changes for Samantha by Valerie Tripp
think this is the most influential of the orphan stories I’ve read, but it’s hard to tell. Anyway, this is one of the books that fueled one of my favorite childhood games: “Run Away from the Orphanage.” Like dungeons, there’s just something wonderfully dramatic about a terrible orphanage that I love.

9. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Despite taking place many years before and in a different town, this is the book that gave me my interest in the Salem Witch Trials. It’s such a good story, the kind I would like to write when I try my hand at historical fiction. It is also one of the many movies my fictional actress character stars in, so it influences my modern characters as well.

10. The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I’m really cheating on this one, that’s a lot more than ten. But these are pretty influential, because when I started writing chapter books, these were the kinds of stories I wrote. The Boxcar Children were also my main source of reading material for a long time.

I could go on, but I already mashed a ton of books into ten. So, that’s my list.

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschooled high school student who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano and violin, and politics. She is the author of Across the Stars, a children’s sci-fi fantasy adventure, and The Experiment, a sci-fi/political adventure story for children.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Most Influential Books


It’s difficult to come up with the ten most influential books I’ve read. Most books influence me in some way, whether in life, or my writing, or both. We are a rather bookish family, lots of our expressions, jokes, and topics of conversation have their origin in books. So it’s hard to narrow down the most influential. Here is the most accurate list I can currently think of.

1. The Bible
The Bible is certainly the most influential book I’ve read. It is where I get my beliefs, my worldview, my standards. Besides, it has some of the best true stories ever.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
The Narnia books are probably the most influential fiction books I’ve read. They made me love fantasy and appreciate a well done allegory. They definitely shaped my writing, and they have helped me understand many things. They are also the books out of which my sister and I have memorized and acted out the most scenes.

3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
This was my first introduction into sci-fi, and, along with its sequel and E. T., my only experience with it until I was a teenager. But it influenced me in more ways than in just introducing me to science fiction. The planet Camazotz has shown me so many political and cultural parallels it’s scary, and I often find reason to quote, “Like and equal are not the same thing.”

4. The Elsie Dinsmore series by Martha Finley
I don’t think any author has influenced my writing style as much as Martha Finley. The kind of sentence structure, phrases, and words she uses come through in what I write, whether it’s a book or an essay. And even though the perfection of certain of her characters can be aggravating, I have found her books quite useful in teaching lessons to the girls in my Bright Lights small group.

5. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
This is another book that colored my vocabulary and influenced my style. I’m an awful lot like Anne, too. Except that she made me like red hair rather than hate it. This book also made me afraid of hair dye, because nasty green doesn’t appeal to me at all. Scope for the imagination is valuable. And “Anne” looks terrible without an “e.”

6. Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (and the Caroline ones by Maria D. Wilkes)
I loved pioneers as a child because of the Little House books. I often played pioneer because of them, and even got a pioneer dress from my grandma for my seventh birthday because I loved pioneers so much. The Caroline books gave me a yet unfulfilled desire to have chickens.

7. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
This is the book that gave me my love of dungeons, especially ones that are dark, nasty, rat-filled, and easy to get lost in forever. Not that I want to be in one myself, but I find they pop up in my stories wherever possible.

8. Changes for Samantha by Valerie Tripp
I think this is the most influential of the orphan stories I’ve read, but it’s hard to tell. Anyway, this is one of the books that fueled one of my favorite childhood games: “Run Away from the Orphanage.” Like dungeons, there’s just something wonderfully dramatic about a terrible orphanage that I love.

9. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Despite taking place many years before and in a different town, this is the book that gave me my interest in the Salem Witch Trials. It’s such a good story, the kind I would like to write when I try my hand at historical fiction. It is also one of the many movies my fictional actress character stars in, so it influences my modern characters as well.

10. The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I’m really cheating on this one, that’s a lot more than ten. But these are pretty influential, because when I started writing chapter books, these were the kinds of stories I wrote. The Boxcar Children were also my main source of reading material for a long time.



I could go on, but I already mashed a ton of books into ten. So, that’s my list.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

WRITING THE HOLY: AUTHORS WHO SHOWED ME HOW


When I first started writing stories and novels, I made a deal with God that I wasn't going to write about him directly.

That might sound really strange, but I had a reason for it. Most explicitly Christian novels I had read presented God to me in a way that struck me as so trite, cliched, and unreal that it actually had the effect of driving me away from him--I would come away from those books feeling like God lacked the fascination, power, and personality that I saw in books that included supernatural elements but were not written from a place of faith in him.

And when I tried to write about God, what came out was . . . trite, cliched, and unreal.

Maybe part of the problem is that as Christians, we so often tend to think and talk in cliches. We use language we have not really explored and tend to give quick and simplistic answers to very complex questions. In any case, it takes time to develop maturity in any area, and I didn't have the maturity back then--or the long-term experience of relationship with God--to write about God in a way that I thought actually honoured him or accurately represented him. So I decided not to try until I had more skill.

As I got older, though, and grew as a writer, God became more and more important to me--and I wanted to write about him more than anything else. And that's where other writers began to show me the way.

First, there were the fantasy writers I devoured as a kid. Lloyd Alexander (The Chronicles of Prydain), Madeleine L'Engle (A Wrinkle in Time and other books), Susan Cooper (The Dark Is Rising Sequence), and of course C.S. Lewis and his Narnia chronicles. I read J.R.R. Tolkien later, and his work opened up veins of spiritual power and beauty. Some of these writers are Christians; some aren't.

But fantasy always contains elements of wonder, of discovery, and of reality beyond what its characters initially know is real. In that sense of wonder and a greater reality, I realized that they were writing about what we experience when we experience God. And the sense of longing they awakened in me was in fact longing for God--and I still long for him, and he fulfills that longing as no one and nothing else can.

George MacDonald, the 19th century preacher and author who is probably best known for his influence on C.S. Lewis and for writing the children's fantasy The Princess and the Goblin, took this a step further and gave me hope that I could write about God in more specific terms without being cliched. The key was to write from reality. MacDonald had some unorthodox doctrine and struggled to keep a job in the Scottish church; he wrote novels to feed his family. He wrote quite a few non-fantasy stories for grown-ups, about real people in Scotland and England (most have been edited by Michael Phillips for modern readers and reissued by Bethany House: some of my favourites are The Shepherd's Castle, A Daughter's Devotion, The Gentlewoman's Choice, The Peasant Girl's Dream, and The Highlander's Last Song). Not only do all of MacDonald's heroes love Jesus passionately, they also represent him in beautiful, startling, and unique ways. Reading these books actually increases my love for God.

Although I don't agree with all of his theology, I think the key to MacDonald's amazing presentations of God is that he wrote from his own experience of God, not from a preconceived idea of what things "should" be included in a "Christian book." I strive to do the same.

Stephen R. Lawhead's series The Song of Albion and The Pendragon Cycle gave me another way to write about God. His stories are set in a Celtic milieu (they are sometimes called "historical fantasy" or "mythic history"), and he used old Celtic imagery, prayers, and practices to make God seem strange and new and wonderful again, even while being familiar. The way the characters interact with God is beautiful and poetic. I learned from Lawhead that bringing poetic and cultural sensibilities into the way I wrote about God could take away from that sense of triteness and cliche I hated so much. I could use stories to help readers see God through a new lens.

Today, I continue to discover writers who really can write about God in ways that reveal him to me, challenge my thinking, and increase my devotion. Jeffrey Overstreet is one of my recent favourites, and his books are a fantastic example of writing that is deeply spiritual and Christian, but avoids the expected and the trite.

These days, I still try to write about God in a "slant" way. I think coming at things sideways, using fantasy settings, and exploring ideas instead of just "giving answers" are powerful ways to approach writing about the Lord I love--powerful for me, as a writer, and hopefully for readers. I owe a debt to all of the writers listed above, as they have done their best to be faithful believers and great writers.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Bending the Rules Just a Bit


Sarah has asked a few of us to share our 10 most influential books. It’s been a tough choice, and I am bending the rules just a bit, because there are so many that I love, I wanted to share just a little bit more and mix in a little variety!

G.A. Henty
Beric the Briton & Wulf the Saxon are the first two books I read by this marvelous Victorian author, and made me fall in love with his stories. His sense of adventure, the strong right and wrong, his loveable heroic heroes, the chivalry, and sweet light touch of romance that would frequently thread themselves into his stories. This man knew how to tell a story, a historically accurate one that thrilled you to the heart, held your breath on every page and left enough space on the pages for you to fall into the story if you wanted to and lose yourself in the world of his characters.

Where can you find G.A. Henty?
For free e-copies amazon.com offers a wide selection for free, as does the Gutenberg Project and a few other places.
For a physical copy of the book check places grace and truth books, vision form and of course they have it all amazon.

Lois Walfrid Johnson,
For me, Lois Walfrid Johnson reinvented modern Christian fiction literature. I had read so many flimsy Christian children/young adult books, that I had given hope up on the genre. Then I met Lois Walfrid Johnson’s Northwood’s Series, I had initially turned down her books at a conference but when my mom brought me home a 8 of the books for quarter each, I couldn’t say not reading them any longer. I drudged myself up the stairs, and discovered the friend I had been waiting for. Mrs. Johnson writes refreshing, delightful, bright mysterious real, relatable characters, that breathed themselves right off the page and into my life and heart. Strong Christian morals, without forcing it or forgetting it she tells compelling stories that will keep you lost in words for hours on end. She is one author I can recommend to anyone and everyone without hesitation.
Books by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Northwood Series,
Riverboat Series,
Viking Series.
You can find her books on amazon, order them through your Christian or local bookstore and at lwjbooks.com



Books that inspire me as a person.

Coronation of Glory by  Deborah Alcock.
Lady Jane Grey is one of my historic heroes. Her life story is absolutely inspiring and convicting. Though I’ve read several book about Lady Jane Grey, I would certainly say that this is the best, portraying the faithful young woman, whose faith was utterly amazing and inspiring.

Teddy’s Button. Amy LeFurvere
I love old fashioned literature, and this one... struck me to the heart it’s beautiful message of salvation made me fall in love with the story and the amazing love of my Savior all over again.

Stepping Heavenward. Elizabeth Prentiss (I love all of the Elizabeth Prentiss books I’ve read she is an amazing author.)
This was a Christmas present that I boringly wrinkled my nose at. However this story touches the heart deeply as it sinks to the root cause of so much of a girl’s life. I found this story not only inspiring but very true and accurate. It was inspiring and revealing all in one.

Hinds Feet in High Places and Mountain of Spices by Hannah Hurnard
This book illustrated the need for sorrow and suffering during a very difficult time in my life, when it seemed that was all there was. It showed me hope and inspired me to climb my mountains of fears, valleys of trembling and inspired me to soar onward through my struggles.

Ransomed. Elizabeth Ender.
This story is amazing and inspiring, short but stunning and beautiful. It’s full of life giving truth that challenge me and remind me of what He has done for me.

Sir Malcom and the Missing Prince.
I love this book. Oh, so much! It’s...wonderful. Why is it one of my favorites? The main character’s transformation is absolutely amazing and really a thought provoking picture of servanthood and the mindset we should have as children of the King.

Books that I love to read.
Only A Novel by Amy Dashwood.
I must confess. I’ve never had a comfort book in my entire life. You know that one book you read over and over and over again. It’s just not something I’ve ever done. However. Only A Novel has been an exception to that rule, I’ve read it through three times in the year or so I’ve owned it. Buy thineself a copy. You will never regret it.


Author Bio: Jessica Greyson, a homeschool graduate loves words, first as a hungry reader, and now as a passionate writer. She seeks to write for the glory of God, and be the writer He has called her to be. When she is not writing, Jessica is daydreaming, serving coffee and lattes at her job—while people watching, spending time with her wonderful family, taking pictures, listening to music, and trying to keep up with all of her amazing friends.

You can learn more about her and her books at jessicagreysonauthor.blogspot.com or her personal rambles at safirewriter.blogspot.com

Friday, December 13, 2013

Betsy Clemons list


Making this list was delightfully fun. My family quickly got involved too and helped me with creating it. It really helped me to pin point my favorite book genres. Also I noted that I preferred books written in and about the Victorian era as well as books about strong female characters written with dry, witty hummer. This has been a wonderful self observation exercise, I really had fun with it.

The Bible: No book list would be complete without the book that has been read, translated, printed and has influenced more people then any other, the Bible.  It is definitely the book that has influenced me the most and  I hope it will forever remain at the top of all my lists.

Anne of Green Gable: It is the book that made me want to become a writer. Specifically, the chapter titled "A Story Club Is Formed". Upon reading the chapter I gathered all my friends together and formed my own story club. This was the start of my writing and where I developed my own style and love for it.

Little Women: "Little Women" was the book that inspired me to write scripts. I was greatly inspired by Josephine and her sisters writing scripts and doing plays together. When I read that chapter I thought to myself, "Hey, I could do that!", and I did. This changed my writing direction from short stories to plays. This was a major turning point in my writing as it sent me in the direction of screenplays.

Betsy, Tacy and Tib: I think I was first drawn to this book because the main character and I shared three things in common, our name, our intent to become professional writers, and  a love of Victorian fashion!

The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe: It was my first fantasy book. As you can tell from my list, I'm not a huge fan of Fantasy books, but this one I loved! So creative, so beautifully written, I was very inspired by it.

Northanger Abby: It's one of those books I think every teenage girl should read. It deals with a very realistic problem, what happens when girls read too much of the wrong sort of books.  Also you can't beat Jane Austen's dry sense of hummer.

The Borrowers: This is one that my family choose for me. After they mentioned it I realized that "The Borrowers" was the inspiration for many of my childhood games.

Whinnie The Pooh: I quote it all the time, sometimes without even realizing it. His simplistic style, no flowery descriptions or character backstory, is very refreshing.

Baby Island:   The ultimate little girl adventure book! It's like the little girl version of Robison Crusoe...With BABIES! I even made myself paper dolls so I could play "Baby Island" when I was little. It was so different from most little girl books. I wanted to grow up and write like that. :-)


Treasure Island: A great classic, and the ultimate pirate story. I learned how to write action scenes by reading this book as well as character descriptions. I love how he describes characters not by saying "He was a very mean man" but by showing you in the persons actions that he is` a very mean man, or by the other characters reactions to him that he is a very mean man. I know it may seem like an obvious way to do character descriptions, but so many authors fall short of doing it, and he really does do it well.

My Short Bio:
“Once upon a time…” Those were the words Betsy Clemons used to begin her first short story and what sent her on a journey to becoming a writer. Although her primary focus at first was short stories, she quickly became interested in writing for theater. This inspired her to peruse other forms of writing, such as novels, educational material, and screenplays. Today, Betsy writes for people all over the United States, with her main focus and expertise being on screenplays.  http://www.betsyclemons.webs.com/

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

How influential are books?


How influential are books? Hugely influential! It’s amazing how so many words in a row can impact our lives and return to our memories many years after reading them. I’ve had countless books that have been significant to me, so I was very happy to have the opportunity to write about the ten most influential books in my life for Sarah’s post-a-day December. And though you may think some of these titles too childish to be called “influential”, these books are still ones I refer back to as a young woman for the lessons I learnt from them as a child.

11. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
"The sun sets in the west (just about everyone knows that), but Sunset Towers faced east. Strange!"
Now the very first thing I did was cheat, and add a book to my top ten. But since you can guess what my #1 will be, hopefully you’ll forgive me! I’ve included this book because it’s my absolute favourite piece of fiction – purely for fiction’s sake. It is a masterpiece of mystery. It is brilliantly written. The pacing, the quirky characters, the humour, the plot; all of it is simply epic. The very first sentence is the answer to the entire book, AND – the author wrote this book by the seat of her pants: not a jot of planning, and yet she churned out a masterpiece that crossed every T and dotted every single I by its grand finale! I’ve read it countless times, and I never cease to be amazed. If any piece of literature has influenced my passion for writing, it’s this one.

10. Nightmare Academy by Frank Peretti
“Take away truth and people will lie. Scoff at virtue, and betrayal becomes a matter of course.”
I read this during a period where I had many questions floating at the back of my mind about why I believed what I did, and what Truth really meant. Nightmare Academy was the perfect book for me at that time. When the two main characters are sent to spy out a school where there is no right or wrong, the results escalate to a catastrophic level, and the logic of a world without Truth was groundbreaking and revelational for me. I still refer back to certain arguments posed in this book when in discussions with those who are unsaved.

9. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
“Whatever comes," she said, "cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.”
How I adored this book as a child, and still do today. As much as I love typical fairytales, this book is the journey of a girl who began her life in a fairytale, and had to have it all taken away from her. It’s an incredible lesson of praising God in the storm. Will you let those trials and hardships shape who you are? Or will you always remain the prince or princess you truly are on the inside? Do you let your circumstances shape your life, or do you respond to them in the light of your calling? This book has so many timeless lessons in it that I could read over again and again.

8. What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge
“Tomorrow I will begin," thought Katy, as she dropped asleep that night. How often we all do so! And what a pity it is that when morning comes and tomorrow is today, we so frequently wake up feeling quite differently; careless or impatient, and not a bit inclined to do the fine things we planned overnight.”
Ahh Katy. If ever you were real, we would have been soul sisters. As the eldest of seven children, and Katy being the eldest of quite a number herself, her peeves, frustrations, temper flares, faults and failings rang all too true for me whilst growing up. I loved that I had a fictional friend who shared my tomboy tendencies, ready wit and playfulness, but also yearned to become all that she wished she would someday be. The tragedy that began her recreation into the gentle soul she became was such a source of inspiration to me, and I have never forgotten how her life impacted mine growing up.

7. When God Winks at You by SQuire Rushnell
"Every so-called coincidence or answered prayer is God's way of giving you His small, silent communication. A little wink saying, 'Hey kid! I'm thinking of you... right now!' "
I picked this book up at random whilst browsing books at the library one day. Obviously it was not a coincidence. I sat on the floor in the aisle for about half an hour, engrossed by the most incredible stories of “coincidences” that had God-fingerprints all over them. This book has been one of the biggest sources of encouragement, inspiration and uplifting pick-me-ups I have ever read. It is packed with tales of how God moved in impossible situations, brought peace to stormy seas, and brought miracles into being in day-to-day lives. I have given away a couple of copies, so I need to buy another one. Honestly, this is one of the best books ever written; just a page can make your day!

6. Little Britches by Ralph Moody
“A man's character is like his house. If he tears boards off his house and burns them to keep himself warm and comfortable, his house soon becomes a ruin. If he tells lies to be able to do the things he shouldn't do but wants to, his character will soon become a ruin. A man with a ruined character is a shame on the face of the earth.”
The most incredible thing about this series by Ralph Moody is that – it’s true! This incredible man’s life is a great source of inspiration to my whole family for his integrity, his ingenuity, and his brilliant work ethic. Seeing how he learnt lessons the hard way, the wisdom his father passed on to him before his early death and the way it impacted the rest of Ralph’s life causes me to want to strive harder to achieve all that God has set before me to do. Ralph is living proof of the verse “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it”. Living in the will of God caused everything Ralph turned his hand to to succeed. This book is definitely a must read for everyone.

5. Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
“But, Much-Afraid, I have already warned you that Love and Pain go together, for a time at least. If you would know Love, you must know pain, too.”
The journey of Much-Afraid is one I’ve identified with much over the course of my life. Every enemy she encounters and every victory the Lord brings her have always been faith bolsters for me. This book was like a girl’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress, and as such, I was able to identify with the main character so much more. Much-Afraid’s constant struggle against fear, and the fact that she is crippled made for many hardships she had to believe in faith to overcome. A particular lesson I learned from this book was to “bloom where you are planted”. How easy it is to fret and struggle against difficult circumstances instead of making the best of where you are! That lesson continues to motivate and challenge me.

4. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
“Don’t pattern yourself after her, Rebecca. Clover blossoms that grow in the fields beside Sunnybrook mustn’t be tied in the same bouquet with gaudy sunflowers. They are too sweet and fragrant and wholesome.”
If ever I have a daughter, her name will be Rebecca, for a closer fictional character to my heart there is none, but this young lady from Sunnybrook farm. Her creativity, her love of colours, outdoors, words and life, her embarrassing moments, her times of triumph; my heart plummeted and soared for her with ever page of her journey. Rebecca’s chastity and innocence coupled with her intelligence and righteous anger for the things that stirred her has buoyed me in many occasions over the years. Through these books, I learnt the value of a pure heart and guileless eyes in comparison to the gaudy and flirtatious. Words of wisdom from these volumes still guide me to this day.

3. Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman
“Because I care so much about what you think, my hiding has everything to do with you. I desperately want to manage your opinion of me. Nearly anything I do is to convince you I am good.”
I am a people pleaser, a mask wearer (though I’m learning to take it off). The opinions of others matter so much to me that I find it difficult to be the way God made me, and instead I strive to be acceptable to the people around me – a good girl. Emily Freeman hits upon all the points that “good girls” are striving for misguidedly, and gently reminds us that we weren’t meant to live for the multitudes, but to live solely for One. I’ve read this book only once, yet it deeply impacted me in that short amount of time before I passed it on to someone else. I need to get it back and learn again how to walk in the freedom of being unmasked.

2. Stepping Heavenward by Mrs E. Prentiss
“Our course heavenward is like the plan of the zealous pilgrim of old, who for every three steps forward, took one backward.”
This is yet another journeying book (I think you can guess the theme most relevant to me in reading!). Kathleen’s transformation from a rebellious, foolhardy, hotheaded young woman to a mature, peaceful, faithful and wise young lady was one I aspired to in my early years. Her lack of fervour for reading the Bible, her impetuousness and doubting nature exactly mirrored a period of my life as a young Christian. I learned so much from the wisdom of her wise mother, which in turn also helped me to pay heed to the words of my own. My Mum is so much like Kathleen’s, and many of the lessons she learned over the course of the book, I’ve found myself learning from my Mum over the course of my life. This book continues to exhort me to become more and more like the image of Christ.

1. The Bible
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” – Ps. 19:7-9
The most influential book in my life above all others is the inspired Word of God. So much more than a book, it is life (Heb. 4:12). It is the communication of love from my Father in heaven to me. It is wisdom, it is Truth. It is above all, and always will be first and foremost in my heart and mind. It is the gateway to the throne room of God, and it is the source of my inspiration, and the source of my peace.



Bio:
Jasmine is a young woman in love with her Saviour God, a homeschool graduate, and the eldest of seven children. She calls herself eccentric, goes by the name of “BushMaid” online and likes white chocolate. She is a passionate jack-of-all-trades musician, obsessive writer of fiction and non, and freelance graphics designer who loves to spend time with her awesome family, read books, and dance under stormy skies. Visit her at:

Monday, December 9, 2013

The Top Ten Most Influential Books in My Life


I have been mulling this question over for a few weeks now. What are the top ten books that have influenced me the most throughout my life? The trouble with this sort of question is always narrowing it down to the required number. Reading is one of my passions, and I’ve stumbled across many influential, wonderful books throughout the years. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the following list may not be entirely accurate, but then, no list would be. Something is always going to get left off or forgotten... but this is the best I could come up with.

The Bible. As a Christian, this book is definitely the most influential in my life in a very present and never-ending sense. Without the living Word of God, I would be a very different person. Perhaps it seems like a cop-out or a cliche, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

He Whistles for the Cricket by Gwen Walker. If you look this book up, you’ll see that it has only been published for about 2 years. However, I got to be the author’s granddaughter, so I grew up reading this book. I probably wouldn’t be an author myself if my grandma had never written this book.

The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Can I count this as one long book? What can I say? This series sparked my love of Fantasy fiction and set me on a life-long relationship with numerous series of excellent books. It also set the bar pretty high when it comes to what I love to read, and when I realized that there is a paucity of well-written, CLEAN fantasy out there, I realized that I had found the genre I wanted to write in.

Hind’s Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnand. This little book is one of those allegories that just sort of shines a light into my mind every time I read it. I catch something new on every trip through its pages. It is such a beautiful story about what it means to truly follow Christ and trust Him daily.

Mountain Madness by Robert Birkby. This is a recent addition to my list. It is the true story of the life of Scott Fischer, one of the climbers who died on Mount Everest. While it is truly saddening that this man was probably not a Christian, his story is incredibly inspirational. He lived more in forty-one years than most people do in 70. His story reminds me to make the most of every moment, to be courageous, and to persevere in the face of adversity.

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Really, I could pick just about anything by C.S. Lewis and throw it on here. But this one stands out as truly influential. Another excellent fictional book that helps highlight and explain various aspects of the Christian walk. Also quite creepy.

Tales of the Kingdom/Tales of the Resistance by David and Karen Mains. A beautiful set of stories about a young man who flees the darkness of the Emperor and the City and finds a life in the beautiful Forest of the true King. Allegories are not my favorite thing, but when they are done as well as this one (and illustrated as beautifully), they can make the soul sing.

Wolf by Albert Payson Terhune. This is turning out to be a rather ecclectic list, isn’t it? Anything by Albert Payson Terhune would suffice for this entry. Wolf is probably my favorite, or Gray Dawn. These books are some of the first ones I ever read or had read to me. They inspired my love of reading and first taught me about self-sacrifice, loyalty, and courage.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. This was the first science-fiction book I ever read, and bears much of the responsibility for my on-going love of the sci-fi/fantasy genre.

Oh, okay, I am gonna have to go with the Chronicles of Narnia for number ten. All of them. Is that cheating? I spent so much of my childhood trying to find an elusive door into Narnia. I was convinced it existed. (I’m not certain I ever stopped believing... but perhaps now I simply believe it only exists on the other side of the curtains of heaven). This series caught my imagination in a way nothing else could. It whisked me off on countless imaginary adventures and stretched my inventiveness and creativity.

So, there you have it. As complete a list as I can come up with right now of the top ten most influential books in my life.

About Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
Jenelle is one of those rare and elusive creatures known as an "author." She enjoys hanging out in darkened corners of coffee shops, sipping hot chocolate and carrying on animated conversations with those strange and invisible beings known as "characters."

If you spot an author in this scenario, it is best to not intrude (unless it appears that the character is winning the argument with the author, in which case your interruption may be most welcome... at least, by the author).

Another place authors like Jenelle enjoy spending their time is out of doors, preferably near a lake or pond, with a notebook and pen in hand. If you happen upon an author in the wild like this, it is best to proceed cautiously. Interrupting at this juncture could be most hazardous to your health.

As most other authors, Jenelle is a bit shy and timid, though her friends would disagree with that statement. Her favorite genres to read and write are fantasy, sci-fi, and fairy tales

You can find out more about Jenelle and her adventures in authoring at her blog: or on facebook:

Friday, December 6, 2013

Influential


by Katie Daniels


Influential. It's a tricky word. Influential on what? My life? My writing? Can I just skip the influential part and write about my favourites? The books I read first? How can I tell what books shaped my life and which ones were just fluff? 
It's a hard question. Really hard. So at a guess, I'd say that my answer is far from accurate. Here's to trying to answer anyway. 

1. Buried Alive for Christ
This is a weird one, but honestly, it's the first thing that jumped to mind when I thought "influential book." I read this book for the first time when I was very young, and I read it again when I was about ten, and a third time in my early teens. I was obsessed with this collection of martyr stories, and the gruesome depictions of torture. I probably would have felt the same way about Foxe's Book of Matyrs, but I didn't have Foxe's Book of Martyr's. I read this. 

My mom wouldn't read it. She started and couldn't finish. It was too awful. But I loved it. It influenced me both as a person and a writer. As a writer because I've always favoured a dark style of writing, and my earliest novel had multiple torture scenes. Buried Alive for Christ gave me plenty if insight into pain, the depravity of the human mind, and fed my imagination for the grimmer aspects of writing. But as a person it fed my desire to be the kind of person willing to suffer that way for another, for Christ, and to this day I still believe the greatest honour in life is to die a martyr, tortured or otherwise. 
2. Brothers Karamazov
The Brothers Karamazov is arguably the greatest work of Russian author Fyoder Doestoevsky. I read it for the first time when I was about sixteen, at the same time my dad was finally finishing. He'd abandoned it halfway through out of boredom--it's over 800 pages long! I was fascinated and couldn't put it down, but he didn't want me finishing it before he did so we played tag for the last three hundred pages or so. 
Brothers Karamazov follows the lives of the four Karamazov brothers, who are as different as they are alike. Dimitri, the eldest, is like their father--degenerate, a poor decision maker, and a blundering fool. But his young brother helps bring him around to an extent, so by the end of the book he has something he loves enough to fight for and intends to make a new life. Ivan is an atheist, and his prove poem "The Grand Inquisitor" is the most amazing, true, and horrifying things I've ever read. The third brother, Alyosha, is a novice in a monastery, He is pure and innocent and his love for God serves as a lesson to us all, as well as to his siblings. The youngest is an illegitimate child, and the devil incarnate. His appearances herald only further grief for the siblings, and he meets a just end. 
Brothers Karamazov is typically dark in a Russian style, but the ending holds out a bit of hope. The theological and moral dilemmas posed and discussed by the characters are worthy of a philosophical treatise, but the plot is engaging and even more compelling because of it. Dostoevsky is a shining example of how Christianity can enhance, rather than detract from, a good story.

3. Worlds in Collision
Worlds in Collision was not my introduction to the electric universe theory, but it is the defining work of the project, so it gets the spot. I'd wanted to read this book for about three years before I finally got my hands on a copy earlier this year. Immanuel Velikovsky proposes theories so radical that he's considered a threat to science, branded a heretic, and labelled a fool. But his book is a brilliant study of the history of the world, including ancient mythology and old testament miracles alike. He brings together cosmology, geography, archaeology, and history to construct a new version of the ancient past--one that doesn't rely on our ancestors being superstitious fools. He proposes that the earth was formed, not through millions of years of slow change, but suddenly, violently, through cataclysmic events that we, as a race, still harbour memories of. 
Velikovsky's work has been a huge influence on both my life and writing. He's an inspiration to think outside the box, and try new things no matter the cost. His life serves as an example of the price you can pay for breaking away from the system, but the movement he sparked shows how that cost can be worth his. His alternative models of the universe open up new worlds of science, and science fiction, that no one has previously considered. The idea that the skies our ancestors saw looked nothing like the sky we see now is an idea I'm still toying with writing someday. 
4. Quo Vadis
This Historical Fiction novel set shortly after the death and resurrection is the novel to end all historical novels set during or around the life of Christ. And I've read enough to know. In highschool, all within a few years of each other, I read Ben Hur, The Robe, The Bronze Arrow--pretty much all the classics. And then I read Quo Vadis and nothing else bears comparison. 

Part fiction, part history, and part social commentary it follow the life of Nero, and the fall of Rome. It deals extensively with the persecution of the early Christians, and ends with the Apostle Peter's decision to stay in Rome and preach the gospel to those who wanted it least. Unlike so many other novels set in this era it does not romanise or downplay the horrors imposed by Nero on those who claimed Christ. there are no long agonizing moments by characters trying to decide whether to choose Christ and die or renounce him and live. Instead there is the brutality of their deaths, and the disregard with which the Romans viewed it. As a cynical teenager there was little in the way of torture or tragedy that could phase me, and this is one book that no only made me cry--it left me shocked for days. It wasn't the graphic violence, it was the desperate realism with which is was portrayed. Horrifying in all the right ways it also holds out plenty of hope, and the ending pays of satisfactorily. 
5. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Anyone who thinks they are a good writer but hasn't read or has no respect for good old Willy Shakes is full of themselves, out of their mind, and dead wrong. William Shakespeare is the Wordsmith of all time, the coiner of words and idioms we use today, second in the English Language only to its forger, William Tyndale. His plots are accused of being cliché, but that's because he's the original archetype. His content may not always be the most uplifting, but his languages is sheer poetry. His ingenuity and grasp of metre and metaphor is without comparison. 
I've read everything Shakespeare ever wrote at least twice. I started with Julius Ceaser when I was fourteen, and my earliest writings were patterned after the five-act drama style. Beginning writers copy their favourite authors, Lewis or Tolkien or Rowling. I copied Shakespeare. Shakespeare was also influential in my life for giving me my love of drama and theatre and classics and English; something I'll never part with. 
6. The Lighthouse at the End of the World
Ah yes, good old Jules Verne. Can't get a start in literature without mentioning him. Unlike most kids, though, I didn't start with the classic. (20,000 Leagues, Centre of the Earth, Around the World, etc.) No, what I started with was a tattered, very old copy of The Lighthouse at the End of the World. Just looking at the book makes you think epic thoughts, and the tale is one of Verne's best. (So good, in fact, that it's the book I chose to offer in a giveaway on a blog post about Verne. But I digress.) It's the story of three lighthouse keepers, two of whom are murdered and the third is left to fend off the pirates who have taken over and relight the lamp before their supply ship arrives--and is crushed upon the rocks. 

Jules Verne is best known for his science fiction, but his tales of adventure and romance are just as good, if not better. The Lighthouse at the End of the World is a thrilling tale of survival, of one man fighting against impossible odds. This is the book that taught me about pirates, and that even "real" men can sometimes cry. And the language of the old translations of Verne is beyond compare. Imitated by a 12-year-old it's laughable, but the deeper understanding of the language is what helped me become a writer today. 
7. Little Women

Jo March has and always will be a role model for me. I devoured Little Men and Jo's Boys alike, simply because I wanted more of Jo. The story of the March sisters is a timeless tale. Seen objectively some might take issue with the strong tone of morality and those who are of a feminist bent might consider the role models portrayed as too restricting, but if you actually read the book there's none of that there. Describing the story does nothing. Read the book if you haven't. Read it again if you have. And be inspired to do great things. 

8. Lancelot
From an early age I loved King Arthur, Knights, princess, jousting, the whole works. Now I've read almost every King Arthur book in existence (Except TH White, which is still sitting on my shelf, inexplicably.) As a child my options were more limited to Usborne and "Knights and Castles" picture books. As a teen I had reader's digest versions of Hugo Pyle's "Arthur and His Knights." But my favorite rendition of the story always has and always will be Christine Chaundler's retelling "Lancelot." It follows the story from the point of view of the most important knight in Arthur's court, explaining the romance between him and Guinevere in terms a child can understand, even touching on the controversy that said romance often brings about. It's beautifully illustrated and portrays the best of Arthurian legends--honour, nobility, chivalry, and Christ. 
9. Thunder Rolling in the Mountains
The greatest work of the greatest author in YA Historical Fiction, Thunder Rolling in the Mountains follows the story of the Nez Perce and their flight north to escape the US army. What struck me with this novel that sticks with me to this day is the speech given by Cheif Joseph when he surrenders himself and his people. I'd read the speech many years earlier in a history book and my eyes glazed over and I moved on to something else. I read it again in the context of Scott O'Dell's narrative and I cried. When it comes to history context is everything. 
10. The Riddle Master of Hed
Last but not least, my favorite book ever. Most of the time, when someone asks you what your favorite book is, the cue is to freeze up and go "Uh, I can't make that choice..." 
That all changed for me at a library book sale where I picked up a fantasy novel I'd never heard of because I couldn't resist a title with "riddle" in it. You know that one book you have that you can't read when you're trying to write because it's so awe-strikingly wonderful that you'll be depressed about your own ability for days? That's what Riddlemaster does to me. I've read it a dozen times, and it's still beautiful. I wrote a song (Previewbased on the third book in the trilogy. I went years only having the first book, and I read it three of four times trying to guess the ending. There is no guessing. It's perfect and beautiful and subtle in ways that defy imagination. This is the book that should be studied in literature classes and parsed into tiny peices and examined under a microscope until you can find out exactly how it's possible to weave such a perfect masterpiece. Some consider Tolkien the grand master of fantasy but that title, for me, belongs to Patricia McKellip. 
In Conclusion
This is not a list of my favourite books. That list can be found on my personal blog. Most of these books are books I read in my childhood, since that was the time I was most influenced. You'll notice a dearth of contemporary work, and that's because contemporary authors, no matter how great, have got nothing on the great classics. They just don't make them how they used to.
About the Author

Katie Lynn Daniels is the author of Supervillain of the Day and the Tale of Pirate Shishkabob. She loves pirates, ninjas, outlaws, thieves, and knights in shining armour. She's been homeschooled since the day she was born and runs wild on 54 acres in Kentucky with eight younger brothers and sisters. When she's not writing she's reading, playing harp, singing, composing, milking cows, or trying to hold down a "regular" job. You can follow her on Twitter @danielskatie or stalk her on Facebook as authorkatielynn.