Tuesday, August 24, 2010








CSFF August 2010 Blog Tour - THE FAVORITES


HERE BE DRAGONS!


Book Trailer from Bryan Davis' new book: Masters and Slayers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA2DgBJ9PYs






I first met Bryan Davis at the 2005 ACFW Conference in Nashville. At the time, the only Christian fantasy or science-fiction books I had heard of were the Lord of the Rings, or the Narnia series. Mr. Davis took time from his busy conference schedule to discuss writing and Christian fantasy. Ever since, I've enjoyed his various series; especially ones involving dragons. Mr. Davis still takes time from his writing schedule to speak at schools, bookstores, and churches.

His two new series, Starlighter (reviewed here just last month) and Tales of Starlight, are set in two worlds connected by a portal. Dragons rule one world, and are thought a children's fantasy in the second world.


Blog Tour Participants:

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Monday, August 23, 2010





CSFF August 2010 Blog Tour - THE FAVORITES


FLASH TO THE FUTURE!




Frank Creed's
FLASHPOINT:Book One of the UNDERGROUND
WAR OF ATTRITION:Book Two of the UNDERGROUND



The Writers Cafe Press: www.thewriterscafe.com/projects.html


Author Frank Creed creator of the Christian cyber-punk series the Underground announced plans for two new books in his near-future trilogy - War of Attrition (Underground book II) and Into the Underground ( An Underground anthology set in the Underground world). The expected release dates are some time during year's end.
I enjoyed the first book, Flashpoint, and look forward to more stories from the world of the Underground. One of the things I liked about the first book was that only the bad guys actually kill or badly hurt anyone. The good guys, called Sandmen, use their God-given gifts of projecting a mental blast that blows the fuse of the bad guys' mind and causes the bad guys to black out.

The series struck me as a cross between Matrix and Blade Runner, but with a sactified bent. The two main characters are a video gamer and a hacker. What's not to like with today's techno-savy culture?
















I had the good fortune to interview Frank for the October, 2007 CSFF blog tour and include the link here:
http://fantasythyme.blogspot.com/2007/10/october-book-blog-tour-for-frank-creeds_22.html


During the series' interim Writer's Cafe Press created a role playing game set in the Underground world.













Blog Tour Participants:
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Monday, July 26, 2010


Tales of Starlight
by Bryan Davis
For those of you who enjoyed Bryan Davis' recently featured book, Starlighter, he now offers an adult track set in the same worlds. Masters and Slayers follow the story of Jason's older brother, Adrian.

To: Learn more: http://dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com/2010/07/masters-and-slayers-pre-order.html

Masters and Slayers is available for pre-order from Amazon, with an autographed copy straight from the author for only a couple of dollars more.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010





STARLIGHTER
Book 1 in the new Dragons of Starlight series
from
BRYAN DAVIS


Blog Tour - Day 3


END OF THE TOUR BUT NOT END OF THE STORY
(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

Starlighter - available from:



In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour,
I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan Press.


Today is the third and final day for the July CSFF tour of Bryan Davis' Starlighter. Starlighter is the first in a planned four book series. Mr. Davis mentioned on his web site that the story and characters introduced in Starlighter will bring to light new mysteries and new questions in later Dragons of Starlight books.
One of the things I liked about the characters in Starlighter is the way the two protagonists act as role models. Teens today face lots of stress and the temptation to take the expedient path to their desires. In Starlighter Koren, tries to do what is right and remain loyal to her friends and her promises. A one word description that comes to mind for Koren is Integrity. On Major Four, Jason tries to help others when the need arises and follow the code of conduct he learned from his older brother. Jason is willing to step out and take chances, yet he follows the Knight's code of chivalry when it comes to his treatment of ladies; so chivalry is a good one word description for him.
Jason and Koren must strike out on their own on their respective worlds and leave what passes for comfortable surroundings to discover the truth. A single truth connects the two worlds. The truth of a portal that was used to force humans of Major Four as slaves on Dracon. As
mentioned on the first tour day, the portal has become little more than a myth used by of the leaders of both worlds as a way to control the general population. Control what people learn and believe, and you control those same people.
But, truth has a way of winning over deceit and lies. Somtimes the truth sounds quesionable, or at least the source. This was the case with Tibalt, called Tibber the Fibber. In order to survive, Tibalt acted half-crazed around the Govenor and the jailers while captive in the dungeon. Jason finds that his friend Elyssa wasn't killed by a mountain bear, but held captive to help Govenro prescott locate the portal. On Major Four, the governing body has outlawed all portal stories and jailed those who would spread the truth. Dacon took the opposite tack by relageting
the portal stories to the status of children's tales.

It seemed one principle of Starlighter was to that we should uphold the truth; watching what we believe or follow lest half-tuths or outright lies lead us astray from what is true. There are many deceivers today who, like the black egg, talk a good talk but whose only concern is for their own gain.

Starlighter is a good tween and teen story with likeable characters and a bit of action mixed in to keep things moving along between the two story lines. I'm looking forward to the next Starlight book from Mr. Davis to see where the story will take readers.

*Participants’ links
Brandon Barr
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
R. L. Copple
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Jane Maritz
Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
SarahFlan
Chawna Schroeder
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010



STARLIGHTER
Book 1 in the new Dragons of Starlight series
from
BRYAN DAVIS
Blog Tour - Day 2


Interview withe the Author
(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

Starlighter - available from:
In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour,
I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan Press.


Mr. Daivs kindly took time from his busy writing and speaking schedule to answer a few questions on Starlighter and writing for the CSFF Blog Tour:

Where did you get the idea for your latest dragon book, Starlighter?

Zondervan wanted me to write a book with dragons for them, so I asked my kids for an idea. My daughter Amanda came up with the idea, I presented it to Zondervan, and they loved it. It’s as simple as that. I embellished the seed of the idea greatly, so I’m not sure if my daughter would recognize it at this point, but it definitely came from her.

Did you have any particular Bible verses in mind as you began writing Starlighter?

Yes, since this story is about rescuing slaves from bondage, two passages are often in my mind:

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36)

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

What would you say is the theme for Starlighter, and for the series?

For the series, the theme gaining freedom from spiritual slavery by faith. For Starlighter, theme is willingness to sacrifice for those less fortunate than yourself.

Was Starlighter originally planned as two worlds; a world where dragons keep humans slave versus a world where humans keep other humans slave?

It was originally planned as two worlds, but I didn’t include the idea of humans enslaving humans until the story developed. The slavery in the dragon world is overt and cruel, while the slavery in the human world is somewhat subtler, but it was interesting to contrast the two in the storytelling.

For those aspiring writers, how long did it take you to create Starlighter’s first draft?

I wrote the first draft of Starlighter in about three months and took another month to polish it before sending it to the publisher.

Did you begin your first draft with a well-developed outline, or find thatthe story flowed from your imagination as you discovered more about thecharacters and setting while writing?

I don't outline at all. I have a seed of an idea, and I sit down and writeabout the main character's normal way of life. Then, once I know thecharacter well enough, I create a crisis that sends him into the adventure.I am what some call a seat-of-the-pants writer, and I discover the story asI write it.
How long after finishing your draft did you have to wait until Starlighter hit the shelves?

It takes about a year for Zondervan to process a finished manuscript and get in to the bookstores. Not all publishers take that long.
Thanks again to Mr. Davis for the interview and insights on writing.


Tomorrow: Some final thoughts on Starlighter ofr Day 3 of the blog tour.


*Participants’ links
Brandon Barr
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
R. L. Copple
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Jane Maritz
Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
SarahFlan
Chawna Schroeder
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

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Monday, July 19, 2010





STARLIGHTER
Book 1 in the new Dragons of Starlight series
from
BRYAN DAVIS


Blog Tour - Day 1

A TALE OF TWO WORLDS
(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

Starlighter - available from:




In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour,
I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan Press.


I was excited to hear that our July CSFF tour book would be Starlighter by YA author, Bryan Davis. We have been fortunate to host Mr. Davis at area schools where he spoke to students about books and writing. During his most recent visit, he mentioned an upcoming series from Zondervan that dealt with a human slave living on a planet run by dragons. After enjoying his two previous dragon series, Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire, I wondered whether the author might create another modern day adventure, or begin afresh in a new world.


The Starlighter story occurs in two locations; the human-run world of Major Four and the dragon-controlled world of Dracon, or Starlight. One of the things that struck me was the similarities between the worlds and he two main characters. Koren, the female lead, works as a slave for the stargazing dragon, Arxad. Jason, the woodcutter's son, serves as Lord Prescott's bodyguard. Both Koren and Jason have some small semblance of freedom, yet both are frequently reminded of their stations in life.

Prescott and Magnar both want to keep the location of the portal between worlds a secret to protect the status quo, and ultimately benefit themselves at the expense of others. Magnar holds the humans captive as her tries to unlock the inter-world portal and bring through more slaves. Prescott hopes to use captives in the lower dungeon to find the path to the portal and steal the expected dragon treasure. Both leaders know the other world stories are true. Magnor has convinced the humans the stories are mere fables to amuse children. Prescott has tried to keep the portal secret by outlawing the stories, and punish those who pass on these untruths.

I'm not sure if it was intended, but it struck me that these same doubts of faith are practiced in our own world. Those the world call wise, ridicule Bible teachings and call Bible tales fables, or stories fit only for children. Like Magnar and Prescott, I wonder if it is less a question of belief in the teachings of old regarding the wise of the world, so much as it is a fear of loss of power and control.
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Sunday, July 18, 2010


STARLIGHTER
Book 1 in the new Dragons of Starlight series
from BRYAN DAVIS
Pre-Blog Tour

(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

Starlighter - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310718368/
http://www.christianbook.com/1-starlighter-bryan-davis/9780310718369/pd/718369?item_code=WW&netp_id=683787&event=ESRCN&view=details

Author blog - http://dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com/
Author Web site - http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/



In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour,
I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan Press.


The CSFF Starlighter blog tour begins officially on July 19th and runs through July 21st. This begins a brand-new dragons series by YA fantasy author, Bryan Davis.
Below are some comparison prices for Starlighter at sites I've purchased from in the past:
$10.00 Author Site (Autogrpahed copies)
http://www.daviscrossing.com/starlighter.htm
$5.00 Author Post-Tour Special (while supplies last) http://www.daviscrossing.com/starlightersale.htm
Tomorrow: A TALE OF TWO WORLDS
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Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Momentum Writer
by Black Obelisk Software

According to the program web site, Momentum Writer is designed to keep you moving forward with your writing. It's built to overcome that habit I admit that I'm guilty of, constant editing and re-writing. NaNoWriMo
is a great way to keep on plugging ahead. Constant interruptions by your internal editor are a sure way to cripple or maim your inner muse as you're typing.

Momentum Writer forces you to move forward in with your story. It also saves you from over typing your previous work. The program is only 700K, and can run on your computer or from a flash drive. That's a handy feature when you use multiple computers but still want to get in some typing. Work is automatically saved, and you start back when you last finished.

The only cost for all these fine features is a small amount of your time to download and install the program.
In other words, Momentum Writer is free! You can't beat the price, and Momentum Writer just may help you finish that novel you've always wanted to write.

http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/momentumwriter/index.html
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Sunday, June 06, 2010

Preditors and Editors Site
http://pred-ed.com/


The Preditors and Editors site provides good useful information to writers and hopeful writers
about the potential dangers of the writing industry. The site by-line is "A guide to publishers and writing services for serious writers!"

Some of the areas of interest listed are: agents, art, awards, book publishers, contests, conventions, jobs, organizations, writing software, and the very important 'warnings' page. Preditors and Editors has been around since 1997, and has saved many a writer from possible misfortune through their warnings.

These warnings and things to watch for haven't made them the friend of groups planning to prey on unsuspecting clients. These pre-emptive warnings could well explain the current legal action faced by Preditors and Editors.

If you want to save yourself heartache later, or just want to learn some good, general writing tips, check out the Preditors and Editors site. While you are there, consider contributing to the Preditors and Editors legal defense fund.

Donate and help prove that might doesn't make right, only the truth does.

http://pred-ed.com/
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

CSFF Blog Tour - Day 3 - An end to the Tour, but not to the story!
 (click image for Amazon link or click link below)

BY DARKNESS HID (Blood of Kings - Book 1)
By Jill Williamson


By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0982104952
MarcherLord Press Store: http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Product--To_Darkness_Fled.htm
Author Web site and blog - http://jillwilliamson.wordpress.com/

Vrell Sparrow is the second of two main characters. She is introduced to the story during a fitting for a special undergarment that acted as an extreme corset and allowed Vrell to pass as a boy. Before this time, Lady Caroline was Vrell's only confidant and confessor, for who else could she trust with this carefully guarded secret?

In contrast to Achan, Vrell already knew how to bloodvoice by the time she went into hiding. Though untrained, Vrell could sense others and read the mind of others, a skill that proves invaluable later in the book. Her bloodvoice gift helps Vrell keep her identity a secret and avoid the cruel and powerful Gidon Hidar who would force her into marriage.

Under Vrell's false identity, she took up position as a apprentice to the local apothecary, or druggist. Vrell wanted to help deliver children and assist the midwife, but couldn't as a boy. Instead, she soaked up what knowledge she could in preparation for helping others in the future.

This empathy struck me as a similarity between Vrell and Achan. Vrell dwelt among people and felt their needs and pains. Achan worked among the livestock and animals, and he could read their feelings and needs. Both developed strong bonds communicating with their associated group. Both felt strong empathy and compassion for others, and wanted to protect those less strong.

But as all good things must end, Vrell must make a run to stay free as the Prince's men close in. Her bloodvoicing gift becomes a beacon to those with the same ability. Capture seems certain. But an even bigger danger than the Prince looms on the horizon. The Darkness is growing, changing the hearts and minds of those involved; and worse cutting them off from Arman, the Creator. Agents of Darkness sense the power of Vrell and Achan, and hope to either twist their bloodvoice gift to the Darkness, or remove the threat.

Well, this is the last blog tour day for By Darkness Hid. Take the leap. Avoid the Darkness. Buy a copy for yourself, or better yet buy both books together so you won't have to wait to continue the journey. It's a great trip of a story!


Buy By Darkness Hid and To Darkness Fled at Amazon for $25.72 shipped, as both total more than $25.

Book 1: By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Hid-Blood-Kings-book/dp/0982104952/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Book 2: To Darkness Fled - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Fled-Jill-Williamson/dp/098259870X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b











*Participants’ links

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

CSFF Blog Tour - Day 2
 (click image for Amazon link or click link below)

BY DARKNESS HID (Blood of Kings - Book 1)
By Jill Williamson


By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0982104952
MarcherLord Press Store: http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Product--To_Darkness_Fled.htm
Author Web site and blog - http://jillwilliamson.wordpress.com/

Two story lines run through By Darkness Hid - that of Achan Cham a poor stray, and Vrell Sparrow a noble girl forced into marriage to someone she detests. These two story strands intertwine and eventually form a whole greater than its parts. It will take these two speakers of the blood to overcome the darkness building to overtake their land.

Achan was left before his earliest memories of Sitna Manor where he served Lord Nathak. Less than a peasant slave, Achan was a stray - a person of unknown past or parentage. In this world's pecking order he was stuck at the bottom, and the manor bullies always found ways to remind Achan of his place. But Achan dreamt of more from life, he wanted to become a Kingsguard. A chance meeting with a passing knight encourages Achan to become more than he dared hope. Lord Nathak took Achan in many years earlier, and forced him to drink a horrible tasting 'tonic' each day.

When Achan misses his morning drink, he starts hearing voices in his head. More and more voices join the cacophony in his head, increasing his confusion. Were these voices a precursor to madness, or some minion of the Darkness? As Darkness spread across the land, an enveloping mist cuts off the light, and cuts off those within from Arman - the Creator if All.

Sir Gavin sends Achan deeper into the forest and tells Achan that each Squire must kill his first beast alone. Achan has always had a gift with animals, and has felt empathetic toward them. Achan hears a doe's thoughts and tells it to step closer. He pats it and gulps as he raises his dagger and strikes. The extinguishing of life strikes home with Achan as he realizes, the doe's fawn like him, is an orphan, a stray. Achan must redeem himself and learn to control his latent powers if he is to become a Kingsknight.

But, what must he go though, and overcome, along the way?

Buy By Darkness Hid and To Darkness Fled at Amazon for $25.72 shipped, as both total more than $25.

Book 1: By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Hid-Blood-Kings-book/dp/0982104952/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Book 2: To Darkness Fled - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Fled-Jill-Williamson/dp/098259870X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b











*Participants’ links

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

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Monday, May 17, 2010

CSFF Blog Tour - Day 1
 (click image for Amazon link or click link below)

BY DARKNESS HID (Blood of Kings - Book 1)
By Jill Williamson


By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0982104952
MarcherLord Press Store: http://www.marcherlordpress.com/New_Store/Product--To_Darkness_Fled.htm
Author Web site and blog - http://jillwilliamson.wordpress.com/

I first reviewed By Darkness Hid, by Jill Williamson, last Fall. http://fantasythyme.blogspot.com/2009/04/by-darkness-hid-by-jill-williamson.html

You may wonder why return to By Darkness Hid? So new readers will have the opportunity to read Achon and Vrell's stories. These two speakers communicate through bloodvoicing over great distances with others of the Blood both young adults are unsure and scared of their new found ability. Achon is running to escape an unjustly hard life and what he sees as the evil of bloodvoicing. Vrell is running to escape a forced marriage, and attempting a return home.


What's great about this reblog - is that a word? - is the bundle offer of volume 1 and 2 of The Blood of Kings.
Buy By Darkness Hid and To darkness Fled at Amazon for $25.72 and get free shipping since the total is over $25.

Book 1: By Darkness Hid - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Hid-Blood-Kings-book/dp/0982104952/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Book 2: To Darkness Fled - http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Fled-Jill-Williamson/dp/098259870X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b











*Participants’ links

Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Gina Burgess
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
R. L. Copple
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Sarah Flanagan
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

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Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Kentucky Christian Fiction Conference 2010
June 11- 12, 2010

Northside Baptist Church
1800 Pear Orchard Orad, elizabethtown, KY

Website: http://kychristianwriters.com/

Keynote Speaker - Virginia Smith

Other Faculty
Michael Brewer, Wendy C. Brown, Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress,
Tracy Crump, Ann H. Gabhart, Carlton W. Hughes, Dara Lehner, Kim Peterson,
David W. Pierce, Mary Lou Redding, Emily Akin, Andrea Merrell


Workshop Topics include:
• Turning Facts into Truth: Fiction Techniques in Non-Fiction
• The Writer’s Ministry: Employed by God
• Heads & Tails: Beginnings & Endings
• Beginners’ Basics
• Proof & Profit: Selling What You Write Again & Again
• Dive Deep–Taking POV to a Deeper Level
• Revise, Revise, Revise Stirring the Pot: Writing for Chicken Soup
• Making Sense of Market Guides
• Making Characters Come to Life • Writing for Your Children’s Ministry
• Kids Want to Know: Writing for Children’s Magazines
• Writing for Young Adults
• And the Secret to Mystery Writing is . . .
• Get Organized and Sell Your Work
• Speaking to Millions: the Reach of Devotional Writing
• The Plot Thickens . . .
• Oil Cans & Flashlights: Writing Techniques from Scripture
• Tackling Tough Topics
• Understanding How the Me in Memoir Works

If you're looking for a good mid-sized writing conference, not large enough to get lost in the crowd but larger than a dozen people, The Kentucky Christian Writers Confence may well fit your needs. Writers at all writing levels will have the opportunity to improve their craft with the knowledge gleaned from the confernce speakers and and workshops.

Website: http://kychristianwriters.com/

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Blog Tour - Final Day

Names Speak for Themselves in Lost Mission

(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

Lost Mission - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416583475
Author Web site - http://www.atholdickson.com/
Author blog - http://whatatholwrote.blogspot.com/


In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Well, this is the final blog tour day for Athol Dickson's book, Lost Mission, so I thought it might be a good way to close by discussing the author's use of descriptive names and how the book's title holds a double meaning.

Delano Wright, one of the main characters, feels his actions are vindicated for following the rules makes him 'right'. He shares traits with the Pharisees because he wants to protect the status quo, and knows that rules are rules, and so rules must be followed.

Tucker Rue, is a counterpoint to Delano's strict rule adherence. Tucker believes rules exist, but should only be followed when they are beneficial. The one rule he does follow is the ends justify the means. As he strays farther from what he knows deep down is right, he works harder to justify his actions. Tucker Rue's name fits as characters who deal with him for long, come to Rue or regret the relationship. By the time his sins are made known to him, he begins to regret or rue himself.

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, many of the characters started out with good intentions. When they took their eyes off God they lost their life's focus or mission. This was true in the past with the Franciscan monks as their mission to build an abbey and lead the unsaved to Christ, was forgotten in a flurry of enforced rules and striking back for perceived wrongs. Eventually the physical Mission itself falls into ruin and is forgotten; lost to time and to memory.

With the discovery of the lost Mission, old wrongs and sins are revisited on the modern towns and people. Delano and Rue want their respective churches to succeed, but are their reasons for their missions good and true? It's not until the original mission is restored that wrongs are righted and evil desires overcome.

*Participants’ links
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010



Blog Tour - Day 2


Sometimes Suffering Occurs Even When You Did the Right Thing

(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

Lost Mission - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416583475
Author Web site - http://www.atholdickson.com/
Author blog - http://whatatholwrote.blogspot.com/


In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.


Dickson manages to portray similarities between the two periods, 1870s and present, by comparing a character from the past with a character from the present. Alejandro thinks himself plain, and shows his faith by helping others without complaint. One of three Franciscan monks, Alejandro should feel a part of the group, but keeps finding fault with the failure of faith by others. When the Abbot, Fray Guillermo, decides to punish an innocent Indian who appears at their camp by placing a heavy stone burden on his back, Alejandro grabs a stone that he might share the Indian's burden in spirit if not in person.

In the present, Lupe helps young missionary, Tucker Rue, with founding and opening a mission that ministered to her people, the Hispanics, who crossed the desert for a chance at a new, and better life in America. Like Alejandro, Lupe, feels others have lost sight of the true meaning behind a church, and a mission. She sees many sins, even among church members, that go unchallenged. Peoples' priorities are completely out of balance.

Alejandro had begged his Abbot to help those less fortunate by sharing out of their abundance with the Indians. Lupe shared out of her meager money supply to help the disadvantaged. As she rides past the great churches in town, she dwells on how much might be done for the poor if the rich only shared their tithe rather than building ever larger houses of worship. This theme of withholding money by the rich is repeated frequently by Tucker Rue and Lupe. Maybe that was part of their character's financial background growing up and the reason both dwell on the subject.

A contrast to the the poor in the past is Fray Guillermo. The abbot has a large storehouse of wealth used to set up the mission, and takes comfort in counting and recounting their supplies. He struck me as a type of religious miser. Ready to pitch in when it came to enlarging their building, but withholding when it came to the Indians that they planned to minister to. Guillermo sees everything as either black or white, like the Pharisees of old. Rules must be followed at all cost, even if the reasons for following them have been lost over time.

Delano Wright is the modern day rich man. After his daughter's car is struck by a group of illegals in a truck, Delano retaliates in the manner he knows best. He concocts a plan to move money at his mega-church from local missions, temporarily, into a giant land development that will grow the church even larger. Because of a broken promise, Delano feels completely within his rights, and justifies his actions by saying the legal maneuvering will help the church. Delano also sees everything as cut and dry. Yet the more he tries to follow his set of rules, the more at odds he becomes with life around him.

The next contrast between centuries is that of Fray Benicio and Tucker Rue. Both men are new in their life's mission, but both take steps to expedite what they see as the 'proper' goal of their respective missions. Benecio leaves the abbey and take what he needs to win over the unchurched out the confines of the abbey and the abbot. When the Abbot refuses to share a small bag of grain, Benico takes it. His actions cause an innocent man to face the a whipping at the stocks.

Tucker Rue falls for a rich girl, and convinces himself that marrying her will help others by accessing her money so he does this for unselfish reasons. When faced with a great need by someone with a sick child, he yields to temptation, causing many to lose jobs their families depended upon.

Tomorrow, I'll discuss how some character names seem to fit the person, and what it seems is the meaning behind the title, Lost Mission.
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Monday, April 12, 2010

Blog Tour - Day 1

A Tale of Two Centuries

(click image for Amazon link or click link below)

Lost Mission - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416583475
Author Web site - http://www.atholdickson.com/
Author blog - http://whatatholwrote.blogspot.com/

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.


As I read the first few pages I wasn't too sure what to make of this story. Lost Mission transitions indiscriminately between the 1770s and the present. This seemed a little confusing in spots until I started to get used to the method. As the story progresses, the author brings the reader up to speed by connecting the tale of two centuries through the characters and areas.

I'll admit I alternately liked and disliked Lost Mission at first. The story spent a lot of time in developing and describing one character or setting, then seemed to jump back to the other period and character. It was kind of like a playground see-saw - one side then the other side is more important. And, like a see-saw, Lost Mission is entertaining as time goes by and you grow used to the ride.

Lost Mission begins with the tale of a newly founded mission in 1770s southern California. Athol Dickson very aptly describes the harsh life of a Spanish monk during this period, and the harsher life of the unsaved 'pagans'. The most important of these is Fray, or Friar, Alejandro Tapia Valdez, a deeply devout Franciscan monk. His mission is to preach Christ to the the unsaved in the New World. Skip forward to the present, and the reader is introduced to Guadalupe Soledad Consuelo de la Garza, or Lupe, whose mission is to preach Christ to the ungodly Americans of southern California.

Both Alejandro and Lupe are strongly committed in their faith, yet both encounter obstacles that sidetrack them from their mission. Tomorrow, I'll discuss more about the many interesting characters in Lost Mission, and how they seem at complete odds with these two missions that are separated by centuries.

But, what is the two missions' connection with the sparkling haired Indian seen by both Alejandro and Lupe, though hundreds of years and miles apart? Does he mean good or evil for their goals?

Tomorrow: Sometimes Suffering Occurs Even When You Did the Right Thing.

*Participants’ links
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher

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