Reading Journey of a Wanna-Be Author: Year #2

My Kindle is two years old now and listed below are the books I've read since June 6 of last year. All but four were read on my Kindle. I read more because of her. I enjoy the device for all the reasons I wrote about last year in the first blog post. Click here to read that.

I surprised myself with the number of books I read considering I was doing my write-every-single day challenge that I wrote about here. By the way, I still haven't broken my writing string. Am I trying it for another year? Maybe. We'll see.

In November, I had a goal to read five middle grade books instead of participating in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. I made my goal and even completed one of the books the morning before Thanksgiving Day. I don't think I've ever read one book in one setting unless it was "The Little Red Hen" or some other childhood text.

My favorite book on the list below was number 10. I bawled during various parts of book 1. I cried with books 3, 7, 10, 12. I enjoyed the nostalgia in book 2, so I will read more of Stan Crader. And I am hooked on the author of books 21 and 22, Jenny B. Jones. I have a couple more of her books cued up on my Kindle right now. I would love to meet her some day. I've linked the authors to their websites, Twitterfeeds, or blogs.

Books I have read from June 6, 2014 until May 30, 2015

1. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (for book club)
2. The Bridge by Stan Crader
3. Crazy by Han Nolan
4. The Christian Writer's Coach: How to Get the Most out of a Writer's Conference by various authors
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 1 by Jeff Kinney
6. Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
7. Almost April by Deborah Ferguson (debut author)
8. Millicent Marie is Not My Name by Karen Pokraz Toz
9. Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
10. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi (for book club)
11. The Bare Naked Truth: Dating, Waiting, and God's Purity Plan by Bekah Hamrick Martin
12. Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt (for book club)
13. Writing Habit Mastery - How to Write 2,000 Words a Day and Forever Cure Writer's Block by S. J. Scott
14. The Liberty Amendments: Restoring the American Republic by Mark Levin (for book club)
15. Writing in Obedience: A Writing Skill Reference Guide: A Primer for Christian Fiction Writers by Terry Burns
16. 31 Devotions for Writers by various authors, edited Susette Williams
17. Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 2 by Jeff Kinney
18. Christmas Hotel: Book 1 by Saundra Staats McLemore
19. Let's Write a Short Story by Joe Bunting
20. Writer's Doubt: The #1 Enemy of Writing (and what you Can Do About It) by Bryan Hutchinson
21. In Between: A Katie Parker Production, Book 1 by Jenny B. Jones
22. On the Loose: A Katie Parker Production, Book 2 by Jenny B. Jones
23. Old Shack Mystery by LeAnn Campbell
24. Dakota Christmas by Joseph Bottum (a Kindle single)
25. Emotional Thesaurus A Writer's Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglist
26. Mystery on Maple Hill by Debra L. Butterfield
27. Write Your Novel from the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers, and Everyone in Between by James Scott Bell

Have you read any of those books or other works by those authors? What was your favorite book to read this past year? What's on your summer reading list?

Easter Tidbits

It's Easter. Here's a lighthearted look into what popped into my mind for each letter of the holiday. Then, find my spiritual perspective of the letters.

E - Energizer Bunny

Makes me think of Ashley Graf, a former student and basketball player of mine. She never got tired. Coach Randy Weber nicknamed her Pink. I ran into Ashley on Good Friday. All grown-up, married with hubby and three kids, and living nearby me. Here’s their uprooted tree from the storm a couple days ago. 

Ashley's tree

A - April

It hosts Easter, at least for this year. Always a fun month. Lots of family birthdays. A new one soon: my step-daughter's baby Jack Von Schmidt. He hasn't arrived yet at the writing of this post.

S - Spring

Storms and showers and little flowers. Here's a picture of what the recent storm almost slammed into the front of our house. Ironically, that tall Chinese elm was scheduled to come down this weekend along with two others. Its last deed: to protect us.

Monte's cedar tree ended up in our tree

T - Trees Bud

The red buds. The crab apple. All signs of new life. Maybe I like spring after all. Click here to read why I didn't. Then click here to read how my heart and mind have changed.

E - Eggs

The ones that get a colored bath. My older sisters tell me that Mom loved coloring Easter eggs. I don't think she did it much with me. I only remember spreading out the funny paper on the kitchen table. You feel sad for me, don't you? No worries. I'll make sure Jack Von gets to color eggs, so maybe I'll learn how.

R - Relatives

My brother Elliott and his wife Doris gave me a pretty stuffed rabbit one year. Cream and mint green. Wish I had a picture of it. Speaking of Elliott, Mom always bought him a large solid chocolate rabbit. Even as a married man with five children, Mom gave him a rabbit. Sweet gift for her first born.

Now for My Christian Perspective on Easter

E - Eternal Life

In heaven with Christ. What we gain by accepting Him as our Savior. This is a choice. It's a gift, a free one.

A - Arose

What Christ did. I hear the harmonic voices from my childhood church singing the old hymn, "Up From the Grave He Arose." Click here to hear the hymn. I find it hard to sing it now without tearing up—just like my sister Brenda will when she reads this and then listens. If hymns do nothing for you, how about the modern version? Click here.

S – Salvation

I received it when I accepted Christ as a little girl. I sat in the black chair in the dining room by the east window and asked Jesus into my heart. My sister Brenda said she was there with me, but I don’t remember that part. In jr. high and then again in college, I rededicated my life to Him. I cannot imagine not having that peace.

where I sat when I accepted Christ: the black chair in the dining room

T - Tom Macy

My former pastor from my early adulthood who now preaches in Indianapolis. Such a scholar. It was rare if he did not preach with references to the Greek and Hebrew and connect the Old with New Testament. He knew how to apply Biblical truths to modern day life. To read Pastor Macy's blog, click here. To hear him preach, click here.

E - Ebenezer Church

My childhood church in rural Doland, South Dakota, whose faithful attendees help teach me about Christ and the Bible. They were the same people on Sunday as they were throughout the week. To read about one such person, also a relative of mine, click here. To read about my VBS days there, click here.

my childhood church, Ebenezer

R - Resurrection

The miracle of Jesus' resurrection is the common bond between Christian religions. I know we debate, argue, and even cause church splits about so many interpretations of passages and religious practices. But I think the bottom line is this: Jesus was born of a virgin, fully man and fully God, was tempted in all ways yet lived a sinless life, was crucified, died, and rose again. All this for our sins. On those, I think Catholics and Protestants agree.

Final Thoughts

For those who prefer an intellectual read on the topic, try Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi. You may find the answers you need from a historical perspective and from a man who was a practicing Muslim. He risked his life to become a Christian.

Happy Easter. What are some of your Easter memories, secular or religious? What emerges in your heart and mind during this holiday?

Writer's Note: next week welcome again my friend Amy Wallace who shares another Circle of Life story. Click here to read her first one.