Prepare the Sacrifice! (…wait, what?)

Miss Melody tagged me for what at first appeared to be rather an odd questionnaire, especially for book-lovers. It makes more sense as you read through it, though because it gives us a chance to rant about books we aren’t too fond of (or downright hate), and would be happy to sacrifice at need. A bit twisted, but fun.

So here we go….

#1: An Over-Hyped Book
Situation: You are in a bookstore when the zombies attack.  Over the loudspeakers you hear the military announce that over-hyped books are the zombies' only weakness.  What over-hyped book will you chuck at the zombies?

This is hard, because I haven’t actually read any of the books people are raving about these days. Just knowing what the themes of the books are turned me off. But I’m going to join Melody and Dessa and heave every stinkin’ copy of Twilight at the zombies anyhow.

This quote pretty much sums up my feelings for this series. :-P

#2: A Sequel
Situation: You are caught in a torrential downpour and you're probably the type who melts when you get wet.  What sequel are you willing to use as an umbrella to protect yourself.

Well, not exactly *melt* but I do hate getting wet (hello, ugly straight bangs…). As for what book I’d use as an umbrella without shedding a tear…I’d have to say Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery. I tried to read this again several years ago, but just couldn’t get into it. I was miffed at Anne for talking like Rilla’s not wanting to go to college as a bad thing. I was more turned off by Rilla’s all-fired hurry to grow up. She didn’t have the charm and imaginative quality that Anne had throughout most of the series, and of course a lot of the book deals with WWI, and I hate war stories. Oh my gosh, poor Walter….

So yeah. Eat rain, Rilla.

#3: A Classic
Situation: You're in English class and your professor won't stop going on about a classic that "revolutionized literature".  Personally you think the classic is garbage and you decide to express your opinion by hurling the book at his head.  What classic is that?

Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss.

*Ducks under Everything-proof Shield*

I hate this book. I’ve seen this lauded as an excellent example of Christian womanhood in Christian book magazines and what-not, but I honestly don’t know why. I tried twice to read it—once at sixteen, once as an adult. Couldn’t finish it either time because I was so disgusted. At first, I felt sorry for Catherine, because her mother didn’t understand her, and her father (who did understand her) up and died, then she was railroaded into marrying a man she didn’t like….

When I read it again, I saw things from the mother’s perspective, and found Catherine to be a willful, petulant little…*shrew*. Then I ploughed through the rest of the book, where she has to deal with her unpleasant relatives, her mother dies, she’s worried about her delicate little girl—but it’s her strong, healthy boy who keels over (EXCUSE ME?)—but the last straw was when her brother, who just got engaged to be married and was all set to go to India as a missionary…yeah, he dies, too. Just like that. It’s like the author sat around and thought to herself, “Who can I kill off next?”

A little conflict is fine, but this was just too much, and seemed so arbitrary. AURGH.

#4: A Least Favorite Book
Situation: You're hanging out at a bookstore (where else would you be?) when global warming somehow manages to turn the whole world into a frozen wasteland.  Naturally, your only hope of survival is to burn a book.  Which book would you not regret tossing into the fire?

Wait—global warming causes the world to become a frozen wasteland?? O.o Anyhoo….

While I’ve never actually read the Harry Potter series (which my Bro dubbed “Hairy Potsmoke,” LOL), just looking at anything related to them gives me the creeps. Actually, I did read a bit of ChristianAnswers.net’s review here…only a bit because I was so disgusted with the pagan overtones and undercurrents just in the short snippets they featured (“sacrificial goddess magic”? Someone’s blood has magical powers? Ew…). So, yeah, I’d be happy to toss this witches’ brew in the flames.

#5: A Series
Situation: There's a flooded stream you have to cross on your quest and you can't get your feet wet.  Which series (oh yeah, btw, you brought your whole bookshelf and also probably local library with you) will you use as stepping stones?

Any of the last three books in the When Calls the Heart series by Janette Oke. The first two were pretty good, but the series just got more frustrating as it went along. So many potential plots glossed over. So many opportunities wasted. Such shallow. Very disappoint. Much ugh.

Runner-up would be the Emily Books by L.M. Montgomery. So little love, virtually no character development, and there are some pretty strange ideas featured (reincarnation and Emily’s being “psychic” among them). Bleh.

I tag Kendra.

...and anyone else who wants to participate.

 God bless,

~R~

Cover Reveal—Water Princess, Fire Prince

My fellow scribbler, Miss Kendra E. Ardnek, is getting ready to publish the first of her Rizkaland Legends in August! *Confetti*

Book Description:

When the Lady Dragon does come,
Hold fast, do not fear, do not run.
Your Water Princess will fight,
Fire Prince will set all to right.
Each shall come from a Fall,
Their union will save you all.

Despite the fact that she's on track for competing in the Olympics, and he's practically raised his younger brothers since they lost their mom in a car accident, Clara Mandras and Andrew Stevenson are pretty much normal teens. They have normal hopes, normal dreams, and they live in a normal world.
All this is torn away from them when they are thrust into another world and declared Water Princess and Fire Prince. With no experience ruling a country, meeting each other for the first time, and being expected to fight the Lady Dragon – an evil sorceress plaguing the world of Rizkaland – Clara and Andrew are underprepared and inexperienced. Unless they learn to work together despite their standing opposition, Rizkaland's hope will be lost.

What is to come will change their lives forever.

Author Bio:

Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairy tales and twisting them in new and exciting ways.  She's been practicing her skills on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years, "Finish your story, Kendra", is frequently heard at family gatherings.  Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children's tales that also glorify God and his Word. You can read more about her on her blog,knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com.

Available for kindle preorder: http://www.amazon.com/Water-Princess-Prince-Rizkaland-Legends-ebook/dp/B00YTQBTDI/  $2.99 the 19^th and 20^th ONLY (at which point I’ll put it up to its official price of 3.99)

Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24022364-water-princess-fire-prince

Part 1’s first chapter: http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/2014/12/water-princess-chapter-1.html

Part 2’s first chapter: http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/2014/12/fire-prince-chapter-1.html

I must admit to being really excited to visit this world, after pouring over Kendra’s Pinterest board all these months. And having read Kendra’s blog posts about the protagonists in WP,FP, I’m really looking forward to meeting them and reading their whole story (OK, OK, I’ll admit she had me hooked when I found out Andrew—the “Fire Prince”—is a redhead :-P).

But enough rambling. Here’s the loverly cover art:

A simple design, but none the less intriguing. There’s something about polar opposites—and Fire and Water in particular—learning to work together that has a special attraction. Who are these people, and exactly how are they “Water Princess” and Fire Prince”? Do they possess special powers…or is it something beyond that? How will their union save an entire world? I’m probably not the only one eager to read the book and find out!

And just for fun, here’s the interview I did with the principle characters, Clara and Andrew, as well as the author herself:

(Kendra) Hi Tom WildRose!

I'd like to thank you for graciously allowing me over to your blog on June 19th for this cover reveal - my biggest reveal yet!

Thank you, Kendra, for letting me be a part of this cover reveal!

Andrew—I hear you're the cook in your family. What's one of your favorite dishes to make--your specialty, if you will?
Veggie Pizza, but don't tell my brothers that it's veggie, because then they might stop eating it. With three growing boys to feed - well, four, if you count myself - I've become quite adept at hiding healthy food to make it seem not so healthy.

Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. And hats off to you for taking the time to make healthy meals and make them taste good.

Clara—Besides swimming and martial arts, do you have any other hobbies? Knitting/crochet? Painting? Sculpting? Gardening? (I guess what I'm really asking—out of curiosity, mind, so please don't take this wrong—is, do you have any more feminine interests?)
Feminine interests, hmm ... well it's more of a culture thing, whether or not something is feminine or masculine. But, I suppose the most feminine activity I do is dance, maybe gymnastics. Truth is, I'm an active person, don't like to be still, do like to push my physical limits, and I'm all thumbs when it comes to most handcrafts, and I live in the city where gardening is impractical. I do a lot of reading, mostly classics, if you'll count that.

*Sheepish* That’s true—the things I mentioned could be done by either gender. (And I’m reminded that there was a time when knitting was done mainly by men and considered unladylike!)

Kendra—I notice you like to pair up people who are pretty much polar opposites (and what could be more opposite than Fire and Water?). Are there any couples in this series (or your other writing in general) who have similar personalities?

Of all my couples, I think Rosamond and Robert of Bookania are my only "like attracts like" couple that I've developed (there may be more, but I haven't worked with them sufficiently to know). Truth be known, I like a blend of both philosophies, but you have to admit that opposites-attract couples make for a lot of conflict.

Very true; and part of the fun is how they find out how their differences can actually benefit one another. I’m eager to see how you do it with Clara and Andrew!

What about you, Gentle Readers? Are you looking forward to reading Kendra’s Rizkaland Legends? Have you seen her fabulous storyboard? Which character(s) is/are you looking forward to meeting?

God bless,

~“Tom”~

Cover Reveal—My Kingdom for a Quest

Cover Reveal—My Kingdom for a Quest

When Kendra E. Ardnek e-mailed and asked me to be part of the cover reveal for her latest Bookania Quest, I was honored! I’ve enjoyed following Princess Robin and Prince Robert of Locksley and all their friends on their adventures in the intriguing—and sometimes humorous—world of Bookania and look forward to more!

Before I show you the loverly cover-art, here’s a little interview with the author:

1.) How do you feel your characters, writing style, etc. have developed in the years since you first began writing the Bookania Quests?

It's been over four years since I first picked up a pencil an attempt to write Sew, It's a Quest, (Then entitled No Longer a Dream), so it's obvious that things have changed. I've gained confidence in letting my Christianity shine through. My feel for the English Language (especially the Shakespearean part) has grown, and I've learned better how a guy's brain works. Back when writing Sew, I really struggled to capture Robert and Eric, and barely tried with Casperl, but now ... I actually kinda prefer their point of view for writing. It can be much more focused.

2.) If you could change/revise anything about this series, what would it be?
Mostly little things like the usage of Shakespearean English in the first book. It wasn't bad, but it could have been much better. There are also a few conversations that I would tweak to reflect some twists that presented themselves after the book was published.

3.) Does your inspiration come mainly from old fairytales (Grimm, Anderson and the like), or are there other stories (such as the Arabian Nights) that will eventually be woven into the world of Bookainia?

I do mainly go for the more traditional fairy tales by Grimm and Anderson. (Actually, my main source is Lang's Colored Fairy Books), but as I've already worked in Robin Hood and Arthur, it's clear I do some branching out. At the moment, I don't know how any of the Arabian Nights are going to work in yet, but I do have several Greek myths, a few Chinese legends, some tall tales, and even a Shakespearean play or two scheduled.

Back Cover Blurb:

Arthur is the rightful king of Briton, but his Uncle Mordreth refuses to give up the regency.   Arthur and Grandfather are now returning with allies to wrestle the kingdom from his uncle's grasp.  But not all is as it seems among his allies, and everyone has secrets.  New loves, old loves, lost loves, kingdoms conquered and kingdoms stolen.   Who is the real "rightful heir" and will the nearly forgotten sword in the stone finally answer this question?


Author Person:
Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairy tales and twisting them in new and exciting ways.  She's been practicing her skills on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years, "Finish your story, Kendra", is frequently heard at family gatherings.  Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children's tales that also glorify God and his Word. You can read more about her on her blog,knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com.

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23563093-my-kingdom-for-a-quest

Links to Previous books:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G3ZFKG

http://www.amazon.com/Take-This-Quest-Bookania-Quests-ebook/dp/B00CFDHFT4/

And now, the moment you’ve all be waiting for—the cover!

Ta-da!!! How’s that for intriguing cover-art? Makes one wonder what’s up with the sword stuck in a pillar, wot?

This has been fun, and I’m so glad to have been able to help out a fellow author!

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~“Tom”~

Re-evaluating Blog, and Little Blessings

I realized recently that I seem to have forgotten why I started this blog in the first place: To document my various projects and share my progress with anyone who cares to read about it. Unfortunately, I wasn't quite ready (no pix!) when I signed up with Blogger, so I started doing Blog Parties in the meantime, and other randomness that had nothing to do with sewing or crafts. Not that these things are bad; they're just not the main focus of this blog. I still feel badly that I didn't have pictures of “Wood Violet” in its finished state, nor of any of the other things I've made recently. I do still intend to take some, but it all depends on the weather and all. :-P

So as not to get too gloomy, I shall now focus on the little blessings God has given me this past week or so....

As a reward for all the hard work I've put in preparing for the “Big Day” at the bank—making new necklaces and earrings, figuring out a pricing list with tax, printing stuff, etc.—Mom gave me these two dolls...which she actually bought before Christmas. :-P

Introducing Raphaela and Columbine—and angel and a pincushion lady, respectively. Raphaela's head and hands are made of some kind of resin or very hard plastic, can't tell exactly what.  

Poor dear has no feet—just foam-wrapped legs—so I plan to make her some out of polymer clay (which I have a nice supply of thanks to Uncle Dave :-D). I haven't decided if I want to make her a jointed body out of clay—as I plan to do with most of my other “miniature” dolls—and alter her dress so she can change it for another, or just to leave her as-is and have her be purely decorative. I'm in the same quandary with her friend Seraphina (pictured below), who was a Christmas present from “Aunt” Patty.

As for Columbine, she's porcelain from head to waist, although you can't see it because of all that lace. And I'm not taking it off until I can make her a polymer clay chemisette (an old-fashioned dickey) and a fan, because the neckline on her bodice is decidedly indecent. :-O 

Again, it's a toss-up between leaving her as a pincushion lady or making her a jointed (lower) body so she'd be more like a real doll.

Last Saturday, Mom and I dropped by her school's yard sale, and someone (the lady who played the tone-chimes with us at the concert last month, actually) pointed out this tiny violin in a case. 

I suspect it was made by the American Girl Company for their 18” dolls. It's very well-made—almost like a real violin. Actually, if the strings and bow-hairs were proper ones, it would be a real violin! Hmmm...1/32 size? ;-) 

The case is amazingly detailed—it has real latches, a handle, and even little brass feet on the back! The little nub in the lid that the bow goes over has a tiny piece that rotates to hold the bow secure, and the whole thing is lined with red velveteen—this thing is a real violin case! 

Since I have no American Girl doll (or anything similar) to play it, I'm thinking of CAREFULLY converting it into a cello for my 8-10” dolls...once I get them made. >Whistles innocently<

And yesterday Mom and I went out to do a little shopping, and as we were out anyway, we stopped by a few thrift stores to see if they had any weights over 20 pounds for my brother. They didn't (we ended up getting a set at Wal-Mart for $19!), but they did have some binders and tabbed folders for Mom to organize her music in, plus these....

(Please excuse the funky colors in this picture; it was the only way to get the dress looking close to its true color on my computer.)

I've been wanting a purple dress for the Summer, but didn't think I could afford more fabric (plus I have material coming out my ears already!!!), but apparently God had other plans, because I found this one (christened “Lady Violet”) at St. Vinnie's, and in my size! The neckline is a wee bit low (and will be a wee bit lower once I remove those horrid shoulder-pads)—not obscene, just uncomfortable—but thankfully there's enough fabric in these—erm—interesting ties to make an insert (or I could just “unstuff” one of the shoulder-pads and use that).

Another thing I found there was this gorgeous turquoise tunic/jacket: 

 It's actually a wee bit more green than in the photo; my camera turns things blue for some reason. :-P It's a size 8P, which means it was meant for someone smaller than I am, but it fits perfectly as a top, and the color is great. And I have a weakness for embroidery. ;-) All it needs is to have the buttons and loops removed and replaced with snaps. That way I can wear a necklace with it and not have it clanking against the buttons or hanging crooked.

This skirt (found at Real Life Ministries) mayn't look like much on the hanger, but it is in fact a very full tiered skirt of navy-blue rayon. The little whitish dots are actually pewter buttons...which I'm not hip on, but they're easily removed. It will blend with all my blues pretty well, and it was a lot less brain-pickling* to buy this ready-made skirt than to try and noodle around with my 60x62” fabric that none of my patterns fit on. :-P Plus I have a weakness for “Gypsy” skirts, too. >Halo<

* Brain-pickling: Implies that the task to be done is so complicated that the brain has to work harder to figure it out, and therefore works up a sweat. And since sweat is salty, and salt is an ingredient used in pickling vegetables, it is logical to assume that a skull full of brain-sweat will eventually pickle said brain.

~Tom's Dictionary of Whacked-out Terms and Old Family Sayings

I needed some navy lace to fill in the neckline of a dress Mom bought me on my birthday, and what do you know? RLM had a bag of it, plus all this other stuff! (Not counting The Menagerie, LOL. Ack! I cut off Peanut Butter's head!!!)

Some pretty green lace and some Battenburg lace, dyed a bluish-grey. Not hip on the color, so may try some Color Remover to get it white again...or dye it some other color.

A hand-dyed doily with Battengurg lace edges and dainty embroidery....

The navy lace, which will eventually become part of my “Midnight Lace” dress (pictures to come!). There's a LOT of this stuff; Lord willing there's enough left over, I might put it on my new navy skirt!

And I don't have a picture of it, but I also found Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John. Mom and I were headed to the check-out, and I >happened< ;-) to glance at the book-rack—and there it was! For 50¢! Jordan lent me her copy last year, and I loved it, so I was one happy little wench to find my own copy. :-D I found Hans Brinker at the Humane Society thrift store a little while back, too. It's such a blessing to find my favorite books at the thrift store, as their prices beat the pants off Amazon (much as I love Amazon). And I'll never forget the day I found Pride and Prejudice at St. Vinnie's! :-D

It's often “little things” like these that prove to me that God cares about my interests...and about me.

And now, Gentle Readers, I must bid you adieu for now.

God bless,

~“Tom”~