Scribbles and Scrambles - Word Wars and BBQ

Don't try this at home.

Thought I'd share some links and fun I received via e-mail.

Thou art a beslubbering bat-fowling lewdster.

That'll stop them in their tracks.

A war of wit or words, can never be won with simple, overused one syllable epitaphs. Below are two similar and highly entertaining sights wherein or whereupon you can gather more creative words for your wit arsenal.

Yes, it's true. You soon will be able to leave a wake of speechless opponents.

http://chantaclair.com/Insults.htm

http://petelevin.com/shakespeare.htm

And should you be exiled. Well, here is a device to make that exile easier. You are on your own for procuring victuals.

(who says all e-mail forwards are lame?) (Okay, but you have to admit to -- ha-ha-lamety.)

FREE BBQ Grills!

It's time to get ready for that all important cooking technique---outdoor grilling!

I have just found out that there are several stores where you can get a FREE Bar-B-Q Grill!

You can get a free BBQ grill from any of the following stores:

A&P

Albertsons
Costco

Home Depot

Kroger

Big Lots

Brookshire's

Lowes

Publix

Safeway

Sam's Club

Target

Vons

Trader Joe's

Wal-Mart

Winn-Dixie

I especially like the higher rack - which can be used for keeping things warm!

Just make sure to get a metal one...the plastic ones don't do so well. (I melted 3 of them.) Ya'll enjoy now!!

Serials and Scenarios - As I Have Loved You

Check out "As I Have Loved You" by clicking on the book cover.



Visit Nikki.



I'll post Nikki's interview on Friday.



My Review of "As I Have Loved You."

This is not your traditional Christian fiction.

As I Have Loved You feels a whole lot more like the lives of the complicated believers I rub shoulders with, and dare I say, live with.

Leigh is prickly, edgy, judgmental and her motivation seems so right. After all, she only wants what's best for her son, Jeff.

Jeff, an untried lover of the down-trodden, trained to be compassionate and loving by a mom who sacrificed much for him.

Characters who screw up, love the Lord with pitiful and pathetic offerings and rotten motivations, Leigh and Jeff are a really good example of American Christianity. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Needless to say, but I will anyway, this book may not sit well with you. It's not escapism, it's realism. Written well and with a twist or two, it is heartbreakingly frustrating. Not the sitcom crash and recovery in 20 minute model of storytelling. If you can't read about a Christian who sins and lives to seek forgiveness and is left with scars but is drenched in grace, don't pick it up.

But if you are seeking a story that will challenge you, one infused with reconcilation, forgiveness, grace and heartbreak, pick up a copy.

Serials and Scenarios - Rachel Hauck Belts It Out

Come on in and sit a spell with Rachel as she shares her answers on the Dregs.

Fiction character you would most like to be or most identify with and why?

RH: Maybe this is a kid thing, but I always identified with Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her life seemed so interesting, and at times very hard, but their family stayed close and endured. I love the romance of the prairie life.


If you could ask any person, living or dead, a random question -- what question would you ask of whom?

RH: I’d ask Solomon why he let himself be drawn away from God by his wives when he saw and knew the wisdom and power of God.

Some out there in writing land have strange rituals. Share yours.

RH: I started to say I don’t have any, but YIKES I do. I have to check all my emails, blogs and blog subscriptions. It’s a routine like those who get their coffee and read email in the morning before starting work.


Pick one…..Pink iguana, purple cow, periwinkle giraffe. Which one and why? Can be negative or positive.

RH: Periwinkle giraffe. I love periwinkle. And it would be cool to be as tall and as graceful as a giraffe.


Favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie.

RH: Wow, this could become a book! I’ll pick two, though. I loved a line in Marian Keyes book, The Other Side of The Story. She’s writing about a character’s disappointment. This is my paraphrase. I can’t find the exact place in the book, I’ve looked! “It was like dying, seeing he transcendent beauty of the Divine and being told it’s not your time and you had to go back.”

I love the true concept of transcendent beauty of the Divine.

As for movies. I have several. From It’s A Wonderful Life. “We’ll wait for ya, baby.”

From Back To The Future. “This song’s in B, watch me for the changes and try to keep up.”

From Houseguest. “Good, fine and healthy. Baby, you it. BAM! Know what I’m saying?”

From my own writing.

Sweet Caroline, Mar ’08 Thomas Nelson. “Worse than dying? Never having lived.”

Lost In NashVegas, Nov ’06 Thomas Nelson. “How did the hounds of Freedom keep that bone buried?”


If you were assured of writing a best-seller, what genre would it be? Give us a sliver of information, a characteristic or glimpse of a scene.

RH: I’d write a best selling chick lit about a woman achieving her dreams. She’s overcome her jealousy of others to walk in the life God’s given her and learn to find her value in His love for her, not her success in the world.

Then, of course, all kinds of fun stuff happens to her. She meets the man of her dreams. Her rejected manuscript sells to a large NY publisher, and her divorced parents remarry. I don’t know. Something like that. Funny, of course, beautifully written.


What period of history intrigues you the most?

RH: Early 1900s. I love the Teddy Roosevelt era. Hey, maybe that will be my best seller.


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.)

RH: If there were no barriers, screenplays (movies.) But I really do love writing fiction. Absolutely.


What makes you feel alive?

RH: Two hours of prayer and worship with others. Finishing a manuscript. Helping others with their writing. Holding a newly published book in my hands. Holding a baby. Kissing my nieces and nephews. Telling someone Jesus loves them, and they get it!


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

RH: Truth or humor. I’m not easily moved by emotion or plays on my emotion. I’m skeptical. I’m moved by truth, by people who genuinely work hard to overcome.

And I love to laugh.


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

RH: I’d take my husband and a pile of books from family epics to chick lit. Diet Coke, fruit and chips. And the music of Misty Edwards, some ‘70s and ‘80s oldies but goodies. And country music playing on the radio.


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

RH: Definitely NOT the moon. Space travel has no appeal to me. I think I’d like to travel to a childhood city or town, then out west. I love the west.


Favorite season and why?

RH: There is absolutely NOTHING like spring in Florida. I’ve traveled the world in all kinds of seasons. Spring in Florida is amazing.


Favorite book setting and why?

RH: I loved the Nashville setting of my NashVegas books. And the South Carolina lowcountry of the book I’m writing now.


Which compliment related to your writing has meant the most and why?

RH: Often people tell me how alive and real the characters seem. Many have said it feels like I’m writing directly to them. So, I love that the readers connect with the characters.


What criticism has cut the deepest and why?

RH: I had a review of my first novel, a category romance, and the person, not used to reading Christian fiction wrote, and I quote, “the writing sucked.” That was pretty harsh.


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

RH: Write that best seller, and fast!


What is your favorite word?

RH: Cake. Cake, cake, cake. Isn’t it an interesting word? Has such a weird sound.


What word annoys you more than any other?

RH: More of a phrase. “As well.” Seriously, can we ban it? No one says, “also” or “too” any more.

“We’re going the movies, as well.”
“It’s going to be rainy today, as well.”

Ack! It annoys me.


Superhero you most admire and why?

RH: I’m going with my own superhero, Jesus. No one, not even Superman, saved the world like this God/man did.


Super power you’d love to borrow for awhile?

RH: Jesus ability to love his enemies. While being nailed to a cross, He cried out, “Father, forgive them!”

I’d be like, “Father, do to them 10 times what they did to me!”

So, yeah, love!


Favorite chore

RH: I like doing dishes. It’s therapeutic for me.


Grammatical pet peeve…sound off.

RH: Too, many, commas. LOL


Societal pet peeve…sound off.

RH: So many live by their emotions. Make decisions by how they feel. While feelings and emotions are real and valid, they are not always fact or truth. Truth needs compassion. Compassion needs truth.


Unidentifiable antique, the scent of pipe tobacco and the drizzle of rain – make a scene.

RH: Rain splattered against the window. Pipe smoke rose from the tray on the light stand. In the corner, an old quilt covered a tall, misshaped object. Every now and then, it hissed.


Two middle-aged females talking animatedly. One wears a very short skirt, and she ought not to be……………. Give me a scene, dialogue, characterization, drama……

RH: Jane hooked her hand through the strap, fighting to stand upright on the train ride into the city.

“I tell you, he’s crazy, Suze. Hasn’t called me I a week.” Jane checks the faces around her. Thank goodness, no one she knows. Mam always said she talked too loud.

Suze leans her face close. “I told you. Dump him.”

Jane tugs at the hem of her skirt. “But I told you, I love him.”

“No you don’t.” Suze twist her lips. “You just think you do.”

About to answer, Jane yelps. A hand touched her leg. She whirls around and stares right into the moon crater eyes of the most handsome man she’s ever seen,

He grins. “Sorry, miss, I had to tug on your skirt. Your blue knickers were showing.”

Hope you enjoyed a little Rachel sass, Dregites!

Thanks again, Rachel!

Serials and Scenarios - Diva NashVega

Happy Monday. This week I'm bringing you two reviews and two wild and crazy author interviews. Prepare to have your brain expanded.


Click on the book cover and visit Diva's page at Amazon. Or visit Rachel at her blog.

Rachel Hauck's interview will be appearing tomorrow.





My Review:




Diva NashVegas is a well-written dual first person point of view novel that made me laugh, tear up, and speed read.

Hauck writes tight prose and great characters.

I wasn't sure I'd like this book based on the premise. A spoiled superstar diva and her sad story. Self-proclaimed divas put my annoyance-alert sensors on high.

Seriously, I don't care for selfish people and high drama gets old real fast.

I ended up being very pleasantly surprised.

Aubrie pulled at my heartstrings. Should any of us actually feel sorry for the rich and famous? But I did. And then the male character who did her wrong -- boo hiss -- I ended up feeling compassion for him, too.

Not only did Hauck try an unusual point of view change up, she actually tosses in a few "inappropriate" words and shows the heroine in a not so great moral light. I applaud the reality factor of Diva. Both Hauck and Thomas Nelson have pushed the edgy envelope.

The Christian fiction I've read lately is a long way from prarie romance. Should you prefer the innocence of the prairie breezes, you might not want to pick up Diva NashVegas. But if you're looking for a good novel that tells a good story and might just convict you, or remind you, or even give you a glimpse of the light, I suggest 'Diva."

Serials and Scenarios - Tribulation House

Click on book to go to Amazon page.

My Review:

I didn’t get my copy of Tribulation House until after the blog tour several weeks ago. Since I’ve now got a copy in my hands, I’m going to share my review.

Chris Well is truly a creative writer. In his hands words, grammar and punctuation take on artistic and unusual configurations. Unless you are a phobic regarding proper book-stylings, this is a good thing.

Unique blends of POV are woven throughout. Well obviously knows writing rules and then he transcends them.

Not only is Tribulation House a wild and crazy read like you might imagine from the premise. It is touching and spiritually and emotionally challenging. Well is similar in style to Ray Blackston and a newcomer, Geoffrey Wood, using humorous situations to penetrate and weave a story that will stick with the reader.

I’m giving Tribulation House 4.5 stars.

Scribbles and Scrambles - Pat and Polly

Pat has a fowl history.

A certain fowl, one which lives in the spare bedroom at Pat's house, would like to write the final chapter.

Pat and Phyllis aka Mom and Dad purchased a parrot many years ago. I'm not sure how they found said parrot. It's a little sketchy to buy a used parrot -- but this was the situation. Mom sucumbed to parrot ownership because of compassion, Pat, well, I'd guess it was the challenge.

Sonny had a checkered past involving violent outbursts and bird temper tantrums. His name was the first thing changed, as his given name was reflective of the not-so-pleasant parrot personality.

Sonny is a one woman bird. Unfortunately, his woman is married to Pat. This weird triangle has not eased over the years. Oh, the males in the house have grown to respect one another, but it's a cold war.

Sonny doesn't get out of the cage often. He prefers the solitude and long distance relationships. He's a little bit of a control freak. His woman lets strangers into the home, or family members, even Pat -- and these situations cause Sonny's deep issues to stir.

On quiet days when stress is at a minimum Sonny gets a taste of freedom. Generally, this taste ignites some hunger for a piece of Pat. A hunting game of sorts has developed between man and bird. Pat's voice is all that's needed to ruffle Sonny's feathers, and Pat has the adolescent need to speak to Sonny when he is on one of his walkabouts. You've heard the phrase "them's fightin words" well, there is such a thing.

Several man vs. bird skirmishes occur during these moments. Mom says she can predict who'll win. When Pat is fully dressed his jean clad legs prove a fine defense. But oh the joy of Sonny when he catches Pat unaware. A man in his BVD's is no match for a parrot with an attitude.

Serials and Scenarios - These Boots Weren't Made for Walking

Click on the book cover and go visit the Amazon page.

Hopefully, we'll be back on Friday with an interview.

My Review:

Believe it or not, this is the first Melody Carlson book I've ever read. My youngest daughter loves her teen color series, but not only have I never picked one of those up, I've not grabbed one of her adult books either.

Cassie, the first person pure chick-lit protagonist, is both amusing and cynical. Already a positive in my book. Much mention of shoewear and clothing designers guarantees that chick-lit purists will find much to like in this novel. No spa, but there is a fitness center and an active social climate. The passel of girlfriends is also present with the twist being that one of the biggest social thorn's in Cassie's side ends up being very closely related.

Several attractive men walk in and out of the picture.

As Christian label chick-lit, and because teens who've read her material may want to pick up These Boots Weren't Made for Walking - I want to warn those who may struggle with Christians drinking alcohol -- this read is likely to be an issue for you. If you aren't stumbled by Christians who drink without getting drunk, and you love chick-lit, you'll find this charming and fun.