The Destiny of One: November 2013

Writing Saturday: Research Resources

1:00 AM

Most if not all of us have done it; I know I have many times. I have wanted some new inspirational music, so I head to Youtube and listen to a bunch I have saved on a playlist. Money is tight, but I want to see a movie, so I go and watch it online. I need a picture for my post, I have the perfect on Pinterest, so I use that. It works well, and it doesn’t hurt anyone one, right?

Today, God really got a hold of me. I realized that I had been doing all those things, because all my friends were, and I never stopped to really consider it. I considered it after reading an artist who talked about how many of his songs had been downloaded from YouTube but how few people were buying his songs. I was angry at the people that did that, and then I realized that I was just as bad. True, I don’t download music I haven’t paid for, but is it any better to listen to it online?

What about all those photographers I have ripped off by using their photos for my posts? Giving a link back to the pin I used doesn’t help them. I am using their work without their permission which is… *takes a deep breath* stealing. Not a fun word, but that is what it is.

What about the movies I have watched online? Yes, most of them I have watched have not been pirated movies. I normally watch things on Hulu or other reputable sites, but every once in a while I have wanted to watch something that wasn’t there.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to go through my blog and take down all pictures and links to things I don’t own. I will also be deleting a lot of my YouTube playlists. I will no longer steal things for my own benefit (and yes it is stealing) and then justify why it is okay. This may make some posts less interesting, because I don’t have a gazillion images; this might make my playlist more boring; it might mean I have to wait a few months to see some things, but I know it is the right thing to do. Will you join me?

I have created a Facebook group to help inspire and encourage each of us not to use what we don’t own and find helpful resources.

Image above was a free image from iStock jazzed up on PicMonkey.

Tales of Taelis

Calling Book Reviewers!

2:50 PM

Adventure Between the Pages

Adventure Between the Pages: Dear Mr. Knightley

2:56 PM

Buy it Here.

Age Appropriate For: 16 and up for some subject matter

Best for Ages: 16 and up

Description: Samantha Moore survived years of darkness in the foster care system by hiding behind her favorite characters in literature, even adopting their very words. Her fictional friends give her an identity, albeit a borrowed one. But most importantly, they protect her from revealing her true self and encountering more pain. After college, Samantha receives an extraordinary opportunity. The anonymous “Mr. Knightley” offers her a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. The sole condition is that Sam write to Mr. Knightley regularly to keep him apprised of her progress. As Sam’s true identity begins to reveal itself through her letters, her heart begins to soften to those around her—a damaged teenager and fellow inhabitant of Grace House, her classmates at Medill, and, most powerfully, successful novelist Alex Powell. But just as Sam finally begins to trust, she learns that Alex has secrets of his own—secrets that, for better or for worse, make it impossible for Sam to hide behind either her characters or her letters.

It is nice to have a bunch of friends on Goodreads who also review books. I can see what they are reading and what they say about a book before I review it. I got Dear Mr. Knightley because I saw so many positive reviews coming across my Goodreads feed. I was not disappointed.

When I read about the book, I truly expected a cute romance with a lot of Jane Austen quotes. What I got was so much better. In fact, it was so amazing that I know it will be on my top 10 books of the year. I stayed up really, really late (or early if you want to get technical) because I HAD to finish the book that day. It was too amazing to put down.

To tell you how good it was, I will tell you I actually teared up twice during the book, and I rarely do that with fiction. The story was so powerful. I felt so connected to Samantha. Her victories were my victories and her bad days were my bad days. I rode up and down her emotional roller-coaster and it left me feeling so amazing that I had a hard time getting to sleep.

So what made this book so powerful? The message hit home for me. Sam struggles with hiding behind her favorite literary characters to protect herself from the world around her. I saw myself in that. Sometimes, I hide behind books and movies so that I don’t have to deal with what is going on around me, or I hide behind them in conversations because I know people wouldn’t really like me if they knew the real me. Sam’s struggle was in many ways my own.

I don’t think any book since Catharine Marshall’s Christy has so deeply touched me and affected me. It made me want to open my heart even more to those around me, even if it means getting hurt.

Some may find the faith element somewhat lacking. When Sam finds God, there isn’t a huge deal made out of it. Surprisingly, this didn’t bother me in this book. Although not directly addressed, I felt that Sam was always searching for God and she found him through the people she was hanging with.

I loved the setup of this book! Telling the whole story though detailed letters is different and so much fun. It was a very engaging way of telling the story.

Yes, there was romance. To be honest, I wasn’t very surprised by it. I guess being a Jane Austen fan and an avid reader kind of gave away most of the plot twists where romance was concerned. However, even knowing the plot twists didn’t take away from how much I loved it.

I cannot wait for Katherine Reay’s next book! I highly recommend this to those looking not only for a good story, but one that isn’t all fluff and fun.

Was thishelpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson though BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

NaNoWriMo

Everything You Didn't Need to Know

1:00 AM

NaNoWriMo

If You Really Want to Know....

10:07 AM

NaNoWriMo

Maps for my story

1:00 AM

NaNoWriMo

NaNo Update: Video!

9:40 AM

Adventure Between the Pages

Adventure Between the Pages: You'll Get Through This by Max Lucado

10:48 AM

Age Appropriate For: Ages 13 and up (some of the stories shared)

Best for Ages: 15 and up

Description: You fear you won't make it through. We all do. We fear that the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. In the pits, surrounded by steep walls and aching reminders, we wonder: Will this gray sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten? In" You'll Get Through This," pastor and" New York Times" best-selling author, Max Lucado offers sweet assurance. "Deliverance is to the Bible what jazz music is to Mardi Gras: bold, brassy, and everywhere." Max reminds readers God doesn't promise that getting through trials will be quick or painless. It wasn't for Joseph--tossed in a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten and dismissed--but his Old Testament story is in the Bible for this reason: to teach us to trust God to trump evil. With the compassion of a pastor, the heart of a storyteller, and the joy of one who has seen what God can do, Max explores the story of Joseph and the truth of Genesis 50:20. What Satan intends for evil, God redeems for good.

This year has been a rough one for me spiritually. There have been many ups and downs, many moments of doubt and fear. I have struggled physically and emotionally, and had to make some hard decisions. This book helped me though this last week and reminded me that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Max Lucado has always been one of my favorite spiritual authors. He doesn’t take me on guilt trips, beat me over the head with the Bible, nor are his books simply warm and fuzzy. They are soothing and convicting, gentle and persuasive, inspiring without the guilt trip. Every time I read his books, my faith is strengthened, and I am challenged. This book was no exception.

I wish I could have a couple dozen copies of this book to give away. If you are going through a hard time, big or small, this book is a wonderful and powerful reminder. We will get through this, and we are not alone. Lucado shares stories both his own and others that are so encouraging. I found myself holding his book in one hand and my Bible in the other to read the passages of scripture that he quotes.

If you are in need of some encouragement and support through a rough patch, I highly recommend You’ll Get Through This.

Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

a bit of inspiration

Writing Saturday: A Bit of Inspiration #12

1:00 AM

NaNoWriMo

My Theme verse

1:00 AM

NaNoWriMo

There also lived a beautiful girl....

1:00 AM

NaNoWriMo

There lived a Young Man named...

1:00 AM

Adventure Between the Pages

Adventure Between the Pages: Martyr's Fire by Sigmund Brouwer

9:35 AM

Age Appropriate For: 10 + for violence, Druids, and mild romance

Best for Ages: 10 - 18

Description: Will this dangerous quest lead the outcast Orphan King toward an ancient secret—or to certain destruction? Posing as a beggar, Thomas escapes Magnus after fifteen men, who are calling themselves the Priests of the Holy Grail, arrive and take control of the castle through wondrous acts and apparent miracles. With the help of his longtime friend Gervaise, Thomas sets out on a journey that leads him to the ancient Holy Land. Unaware that Katherine and Hawkwood are watching over him, Thomas is tested in his beliefs and comes face to face with the ancient power that the Merlins and Druids have long been searching for.

I have been snapping up this series to review as each book has come out. Set in my favorite time period (the Middle Ages), and full of nonstop adventure, how could I help but love it? On a lazy Sunday afternoon I picked up this book to read and finished it in a day.

Again I was plunged into the battle of good versus evil in Magnus. The young ruler, Thomas has new enemies, the Priests of the Holy Grail, who are not all they appear to be. Thomas is forced to flee Magnus and look for answers to questions that have been plaguing him since book one.

About half-way through this book, I wanted to scream. To be honest, it was getting really old that nobody was trusting anybody and secrets are kept secrets from the reader. That was great in the first book, okay in the second, but by the third book, I wanted answers and some trust. Thankfully, much is revealed by the end of the book, so I didn’t need to scream.

The action and adventure were even better in this book than the last one. Thomas' escape from Magnus and his leap of faith (you have to read the book to understand what that means) was so amazing! Sigmund Brouwer is a master of action for young adults.

I still feel that this book was a little long in places. Towards the end, it felt a bit repetitive. Like for example, yet again Thomas does something daring, something goes wrong, someone comes to the rescue. There is a limit to how many times this can be used before it becomes tedious.

I highly recommend this book and series for boys, and girls, who love adventure stories, the Middle Ages, and nonstop adventure.

Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon!

I received this book from WaterBrook Press in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.