Celebrate Life

Today is the sanctity of human life Sunday. Last Friday marks the anniversary of the day abortion became legal in this country. In protest, in 1984, the third Sunday in January was marked as the sanctity of human life Sunday.

"Some people say that life begins at birth. Others say that it begins at conception. But my God is so pro-life that He said “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.”’ – Pastor Luke J. Robinson

Listen by Rene Gutteridge

Well, I haven't done one of these in a little while. Hope you enjoy the review.


About the book:
The sweet, fairy tale like town of Marlo is perfect. Voted best place to raise a family it seems nothing could upset this quaint city; until, it seems that someone is listening. Someone is posting private conversations online for all to see and read, word for word. People laugh and dismiss the writings until they read about themselves, spoken in situations, when no one thought any one was listening. It's friend against friend as careless comments and hurtful accusations turn the town upside down. The police scramble to catch whoever is doing this before people get hurt - or worst.

But what responsibility do the residents of Marlo have for the words they say when they think no one is listening.


My thoughts:
Rene acknowledges this to those whose lives have been forever altered by words. That alone is compelling enough to read this book.

This book was amazing!!! I mean, can I just say super thought provoking. This was an amazing one-of-a-kind book! And, if it means anything I was reading this as 2011 became 2012 and then finished the book one hour later.

First, before I get on with my thought I have to say, read the Acknowledgements and Prologue. This book is so beautiful and it becomes even more meaningful when you read both the Acknowledgements and Prologue.

The plot was excellent and thrilling. The characters had depth and growth throughout the book. The ending was unbelievable! Rene Gutteridge really has an amazing gift for writing, and not only is this book. It is amazing but very thought provoking.

The book follows a couple of different characters as the town of Marlo unfolds into chaos. Everyone is in a panic to stop whoever is posting their private conversations for all to see, yet at the same time everyone has become addicted to read other peoples conversations. In this book Rene brings up a thought provoking question; do the words we speak when no one is listening still have power or affect?

"but no human being can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison. With is we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God." -James 3: 8 - 9

page number: 409
genre: Fiction / General
recommend for ages: 14 and up
bad stuff: There is of course very hurtful things people say. / One
character has memories of someone calling her a slut. / One character suspects
his son of looking at porn. / One scene {in the prologue} goes through
the thought process of someone committing suicide.
romance: None
recommendation: I'd give this 5 out of 5. Wonderful book!

Q & A

I've decided to do something I don't normally do on Eat..Sleep...Write. But this week I'll allow people, followers and non followers alike, to ask questions. Questions about writing, about me, maybe about my writing, etc . . . and I will answer them next week, January 29 on my blog. Sound fun? All you have to do is comment on this post with your question. And if I get enough questions I'll do this more than once. So don't be shy and ask that writing question you've always wondered about.

*I reserve the right to not publish and not answer inappropriate or rude questions.* So please keep is clean.

P.S. Is it snowing over there for you, cause it is for me. ☺

Book Snowflakes {photoshoot}

Yep, that's right. I made some amazing snowflakes out of the Eragon pages of a book box. {I was going to say my book box, but it was given away in a giveaway}. First I'd like to thank Hope for being my model in this shoot and being such a good sport when I made her lay down on the freezing ground.

Cool snowflakes, right? And isn't this girl gorgeous!

I first learned to make these kind of snowflakes from my aunt, they were amazing!

Check in later this month for a DIY on paper snowflakes.

New Year Writing Contest {entry}

Yay! A writing contest. How fun! Right? Abigail and Jenny, if you haven't heard already, are hosting a writing contest. Now you only have 200 words of less to describe a first impression. Such a wonderful challenge! And being that I LOVE, with a deep passion writing contests, I entered. And why not, I thought, post it on my blog for all to see. Hm . . . Why not?

My entry in Abigail and Jenny's writing contest

Amy's eyes slowly open and noticed the day was no long present. She sat up and gasped, a ghostly orb was overhead and shining. What could this be? It looked so sad even when surrounded by it's children. Indeed, little silver children beaming and twinkling with happiness. The globe hung as if by an invisible hand. Amy laid back down on the grass and continued to look up, examining this unknown delight. She noticed this circular thing was expelling pale silver sunlight. This watery light played across the grassy field Amy was is. Continuing to look up Amy smiled and declared to the sun that graced the night, "I shall call you the moon".

Beautiful People, Rapunzel

The air is getting chilly and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is fading away. Snow is finding it's way into the everyday weather and writing is the last thing on my mind. Unfortunately during this time I get caught up in everything that is rarely actually write. But to make up for it I'm going to do a beautiful people post on my NaNoWriMo novel.

1. What kind of holidays do they celebrate, if any?

Well, my dear Rapunzel lives in an imaginary world, so it's kind of hard to think of holidays. She does celebrate Christmas and I actually have a Christmas scene in my NaNoWriMo novel.


2. What are they most thankful for?

Rapunzel is thankful for her Mother and her kitten Snowflake.


3. Do they have any family traditions?

Rapunzel doesn't have an Christmas family traditions but every February Rapunzel and her mother exchange gifts. Nothing big but definitely heartfelt.


4. What is their most memorable holiday memory?

I don't know, I think it would have to be the yea she got sick. Memorable, but in a terrible way.


5. What is the most memorable gift they have ever received?

Hm . . . I would have to say her kitten Snowflake. {I know I'm using this answer for a lot of things but living alone


6. Do they consider it important to be with family during celebrations?

Most important. Rapunzel lives alone with her Mother and could imagine spending the holidays with anyone else.


7. Do they usually wait till the last minute to purchase gifts, or do they buy them ridiculously early?

My characters make all of their gifts because they don't have a shop to buy them. Due to the amount of time it takes to knit or sew something they start around the beginning of fall in order to complete in time for Christmas.

8. Favorite Christmas song? For fantasy authors, is music a part of their celebration?

Well, music isn't really a part of her holidays.


9. Do they celebrate for religious reasons?

No.


10. How do they celebrate the beginning of the new year?

Normally Rapunzel writes a list of the things she wants to accomplish in the new year but ends up not really following it. She is very imaginative and can't stick to one thing. She does celebrate the new year by staying up very late, until midnight, and then sleeping in.

Giveaway Winner {number 15}

Random number generator picked . . .

*Charity*

Congratulations! Please comment with your e-mail address so I can get the address to ship the book box to. {I will not publish the comment}

And everybody else, thank you for participating and have a great day.

Hello

The giveaway has ended! Thank you all for participating. Wait! . . . I feel like I'm missing something. *laugh* Oh, yes, I remember.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Maybe it's just me but I am so excited for 2012. *sigh* A clean slate.

"Tomorrow is a new, with no mistakes in it."

"No mistakes in it, yet."

-Anne of Green Gables

That's what makes new years enjoyable. We don't know what's going to happen in 2012 but we can hope that it's better than the year before. So I guess you could say it's not what new years is but what it represents, hope.

Now, as far as the giveaway is concerned I'm afraid I've been so super busy this year. *smile* I will post the giveaway winner this evening, until then farwell.