Scribble and Scrambles ~ Turning the Paige with Laura Jensen Walker

As promised, Laura Jensen Walker shared a few of her thoughts with us. Thanks, Laura, it was nice getting to "chat" with you. Scroll down for my review of Paige and the link to read the first chapter.


What period of history intrigues you the most?

World War II

What would you write if there were no rules or barriers? (epic novels about characters in the Bible, poetry, greeting cards, plays, movies, instruction manuals, etc.)

Movies

What makes you feel alive?

Playing with my 4-year-old niece Emily. Exploring new places and art in Europe with my husband, Michael. Listening to Puccini or Linda Eder on a Saturday morning. Or Josh Groban and Charlotte Church's duet of 'The Prayer'.

How does something worm its way into your heart? Through tears, truth, humor or other?

All of the above: tears, truth and humor.


Book, music, person, food you would take with you on a very long trip.

Book(s): Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher, any of Maeve Binchy's earlier works, or a good English mystery by Agatha Christie, P.D. James or Anne Perry

Music: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini/soundtrack from 'The Mission'/Linda Eder's 'If I Should Lose my Way', Jason Castro's 'Hallelujah' 'Over the Rainbow' and 'Travelin' Thru'; Josh Groban and Charlotte Church's 'The Prayer' duet.

Person: Michael, my Renaissance-man

Food: Double-Gloucester cheese, sliced sourdough bread from La Bou, red seedless globe grapes, PG Tips tea and Scottish shortbread rounds with demerera sugar on the outer rim (sold sporadically at Cost Plus)


Where would you most like to travel ----- moon, north pole, deep seas, deserted island, t he holy land or back to a place from your childhood, somewhere else? – and why.

English countryside - because it feels like home.


Favorite season and why?

Tie between fall and spring. I love the cool, crisp air of fall, the vivid colors, and the crunch of leaves beneath my feet. And I adore the newness of spring and everything beginning to bloom: wisteria, cherry-blossoms, daffodils...

Favorite book setting and why?

English countryside. I love the peace, serenity, and lush, quiet beauty--whether it's my beloved Cotswolds, the Lake District, or the Cornish coast.

What would you do today if you knew you had only a week to live?

Spend it with my husband and the people I love.


Favorite chore:

Setting up my bookshelves (or anyone's bookshelves) and rearranging books

Grammatical pet peeve…sound off.

MISSPELLED WORDS - ANY misspelled word makes me cringe, but especially when it's a famous person, i.e., Mother Teresa (no 'h' in her name) With Google, there's no excuse other than laziness or sloppiness, to misspell someone's name. First rule of journalism: DON'T MISSPELL people's names. Always ask and doublecheck.

Societal pet peeve…sound off.

The rudeness that cell phones and Blackberries, etc. have wrought: from constant texting and talking at inappropriate times and places (movie theaters, church, nice restaurants, public bathrooms...) to not taking the time to listen to the voicemail message I left, but instead, when you finally get around to it, calling back and saying, "You called? What's up?" when I've already left you a detailed message telling you what's up, but which you can't be bothered to listen to because it would be a waste of your valuable time. (I could rant about this ad nauseum, but will instead enforce the KISS principle =0 D )

Serials and Scenarios ~ Steven K Scott's Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

Book Info:

In The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, Scott guides readers in a step-by-step application of the life-changing principles, skills, and methods that Jesus used throughout his earthly life. Although believers may spend a lifetime learning from Jesus’ teachings, it’s easy to overlook the powerful lessons demonstrated in His life. But when these incomparable lessons are learned and put to use, they enable ordinary people to achieve extraordinary success and happiness.

From Jesus’ earthly life readers will learn:

• How to break through the barriers that prevent them from achieving extraordinary success at work and relational success at home.
• How to experience a level of happiness and fulfillment that nothing the world offers can duplicate.
• How to use adversity and opposition as a springboard for greater success.
• How to love others in a way that increases their love as well.

No matter what a person’s area of expertise and in what setting a person influences others, living by the principles of Jesus’ life on earth produces extraordinary success, unprecedented achievements, personal fulfillment, and blessings for others.

My Review:


In one of the more wisdom dense books I've read in quite awhile, Steven K. Scott, delivers an enthusiastic and compelling infomercial type of pep-talk that will challenge most readers on several levels. Emotionally, Scott lays out the drives and needs that forge our actions and then he delivers sage Biblical advice that can help to shape actions and to meet needs without leaving trails of destruction in our lives. Financially/Careerwise Scott urges the reader to find that passion, the burn and then harness and focus them into success. He gives helpful guidelines and more wisdom, again, Biblical. His encouragement covers relationships, physical choices and pursuits also painted with wisdom from the book of Proverbs and the teachings of Jesus Christ. If you haven't picked up on the theme, Steven Scott is an on-fire follower of Christ.

If you are looking for a small group Bible study idea, or a book to light a fire under your carcass, or help with some issues that are making your life just not work so well, you could do far worse. Scott is one of the kings of infomercials and his examples of some of his successful ventures hit home with me as I've purchased a few of his products over the years and have wanted quite a few others. Interestingly, his products, no matter how great, how much they stand up to their claims only work when they are used. Same deal with the book.

If Jesus offends you, you may struggle or squirm. However, if you are curious to understand a little bit more about Jesus and His teachings and how they affect you and your life, this is a thoughtful and meaty book that really brings home how intersected life, spirit and soul really are.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Turning the Paige

Laura Jensen Walker answered the Dregs questions and will be back on Friday. For now, check out the book cover link, the first chapter and here, for her website.





Back Cover:

Welcome to the in-between world of Paige Kelley.

At thirty-five, she’s put her dreams on hold to care for her ailing, high-maintenance mother. Three years after her divorce she’s still not dating, still working at her temp job, and still longing for motherhood even though, as her own mother often points out, “You’re not getting any younger, you know!”

When her Getaway Girls book club friends urge Paige to break free and get on with her life, she desperately wants to try. But how? What about her mom? The unexpected answers come from a surprising source. A trip to Scotland and a potential new love interest help launch an exciting new chapter in her life, and lead Paige to discover that God’s plan for her life promises to be more than she ever imagined.

This latest release in the Getaway Girls collection delivers a smart, funny, and warm account of one woman’s challenge to reconcile who she is—a dutiful Christian daughter—with the fulfilled woman she longs to be. It will appeal to any woman whose ever forgotten, even momentarily, that God’s timing is perfect.

Read the first chapter, here.

My Review:

A divorced, controlled and borderline bitter female enters the zone wherein she will encounter stress upon stress and choose to either become more bitter or better. Laura Jensen Walker tortures poor Paige Turner via an extremely manipulative and uber-suffocating mother, an estranged sister, a happily remarried and expecting ex-husband, a job and a few other tossed in stressors just for the fun of it.

Paige's only life-enhancing activity is her book club, and the friends she has there keep her sane. A new florist in her neighborhood also begins to add color and beauty to her life, too. A fictional trip that could be too overwhelming if you just need a few hours of light escape or have divorce, mother issues or infertility that haunt you. Book fans and lovers of adventures tied into some classic and fun reads may find much to like in Turning the Paige. Walker writes well and made the settings and characters multi-dimensional.

Scribble and Scrambles ~ He's the Bee's Knees

They've been right in front of me and somehow I missed it.

All these years I've noticed my dad's legs and I never knew they were a thing of beauty -- nearly art in form and substance. Oh, I've stared transfixed at my dad's legs. When someone stumbled, his leg would shoot out in an attempt to save said stumbler and/or slow down the impending fall. Fortunately, no one ever lost an eye in that maneuver. I've also witnessed Dad's knees steering the car while both hands were busy with maps. Don't try that at home, kids.

But this pose, while lounging on a Floridian hammock, has caused quite a stir. Several ladies in Florida complimented Pat's legs. Thinking it was a Florida thing, Mom laughed as she shared the story, and hoped that all the attention wouldn't go to his head. Then, one of his co-workers saw this picture and blurted out, "Wow. Pat has great legs."

Any of you looking for a male foot and leg model? I think he'd be interested.

Scribble and Scrambles ~ Spring Dance...Happy, Happy. Joy. Joy.

Just a little bit of flora to whet your appetite.

Spring. Is. HERE. (no, that's not a link, so don't click on it. Well, you can but it won't get you anywhere. So don't say I didn't warn you. )

The sky is completely overcast here. Not a hint of sun, but the window is open and I can smell the change in weather. Our air smells like dirt and worms and flower petals with a hint of green. (But only because the dogs are downstairs. You do not want me to describe the smell of the air when the dogs are sitting next to me.)

So. Enjoy my last years' flowers. (Before I killed them. I HATE that about myself!) And did I mention I'm going to have a garden this year? Oh, that'll be rich. The things I do for my "art."

Happy first Monday of SPRING.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Adventure in Obedience

We have a bit of a problem with the pups. Actually, a few. One is the sheer power and energy they pack in their 65 pound bodies. A walk with the pups is an aerobic and strength training exercise. Our core muscles get a serious workout as well. Resistance, oh yeah...deep abdominal muscles twisted and stretched while verbally correcting with serious commands, and the attempt to remain on our feet while wrestling said canine energy.

Another problem is the fact that when they are distracted, they do not find it "compelling" to listen to those verbal corrections. Not an attractive feature when the poor UPS man delivers one of the many books I receive per week and the dogs happen to be near the front door. The poor man now has a white zig-zag where his brown hair used to be solidly one color.

Almost two years to their birth month, we've decided that the dogs need a little help from some professionals. So, we packed them up with their harnesses, collars, leashes and fashionable neck kerchiefs, and two young helpful friends and headed out to Petco. We'd seen the announcements, on our many trips for dog food, that they offer basic training. One night we even met the trainer and she seemed like a dog lover and like she could teach us to not put up with much dog guff.

Last week, sans pups, we went to her free seminar on "Doggie Manners." This lady is tough but nice and seemed to know her stuff. Tonight the free seminar was potty training and we took the girls so the trainer could see our beasts in action.

One of the first things that happened, upon the bouncing, jouncing and enthusiastic whimpering arrival of our entourage, was that the gates were set up and pulled in around us and we were all put in a "safe" environment in which to "settle down." Oy. Fortunately, we did settle down.

Next month we begin weekly obedience training. Tonight we came home with a special harness that will help keep the enthusiasm contained. We will see about that.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Michal

Can their epic search for true love survive a father's fury?

The daughter of King Saul, Michal lives a life of privilege--but one that is haunted by her father's unpredictable moods and competition from her beautiful older sister.

As a girl, Michal quickly falls for the handsome young harpist David. But soon after their romance begins, David must flee for his life, leaving Michal at her father's mercy in the prison that is King Saul's palace.

Will Michal ever be reunited with David? Or is she doomed to remain separated from him forever?

Against the backdrop of opulent palace life, raging war, and daring desert escapes, Jill Eileen Smith takes you on an emotional journey as Michal deals with love, loss, and personal transformation as the first wife of King David. Jill Eileen Smith has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has gathered acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Michal, go HERE



My Review:

Epic story lovers and those intrigued by the tumultuous life of King David of Jerusalem are very likely chomping at the bit to get their hands on a copy of Michal. Almost as fascinating as the epic story told ably within 374 concise pages is the story behind the book. Jill Eileen Smith birthed the story idea in 1989 and has patiently waited for God's timing for publication.

This novel isn't exclusively in Michal's point of view but much of it is. Readers get a glimpse into Jonathan's, David's and even Paltiel's (Michal's second husband) thoughts, actions and drives. Smith obviously did her Biblical homework and follows the account, adding personality and color to the events as they may have unfolded. Her language choice is fully modern so if you love historicals or Biblical fiction but struggle with difficult language and vocabulary you won't have any issues here. On the flip side, that does take away a bit from the feeling of authenticity so take note if you want your ancients to speak like ancients. So many characters and so many spans of time over the two and a half decade period makes deeply fleshed out characters limited in number.