Like I said, I did not get into the book very much, I would love to hear some of what others thought about the book. I will try visiting the other blogs to see if anyone else shared my opinion. This month was super hectic too.

Sorry for the short blog, please check out what others had to say about this book.

As always: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

*Participants’ links
Noah Arsenault
Brandon Barr
Red Bissell
Book Reviews By Molly
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Wanda Costinak
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Janey DeMeo
Cynthia Dyer
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McNear
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
John W. Otte
Gavin Patchett
Sarah Sawyer
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Dave Wilson

wow

This is my third blog about the book “The God Hater” by Bill Myers…annnnnnnnnnd I just realized that over the last 3 posts I have been spelling mr. Myers name all wrong – I AM SORRY MR. MYERS!!!!

I have been typing it from memory and apparently my memory is just shot to pieces. See first post- memory and time management- all due to 13 mo old baby and lack of sleep. If you are keeping track, this will be my excuse for the next 20 or so years, however long she chooses to live with us until she gets married or moves out (I suppose if she is getting married, she will be moving out anyways…so… yeah. nevermind.).

Alright, off the tangent, back to the book.

 I have not talked to Bill about his book, (I figure saying BILL is easier to remember and get right than messing up Myers! …sigh), but I am sure the scene on page 198-200 has been taken just from talking to someone who has a mother who is inept at using cellular technology!

I was laughing so hard while reading his description of Annie, one of the main characters in the book, trying to help her mother pull up and actually read the text message on her cell phone, I thought I might bust a gut!

Thankfully, my mother is a bit more adept at using the cell phone and even texting, although I have helped her at times with it, it is nowhere near the level of unfamiliarity with all things technical that Annie’s mom seems to have.

For those of you who have not read the book, don’t worry, I am not spoiling anything by telling you all this. But for you to understand what I mean, you are going to have to 1)get the book 2)read the book 3)before you read the book, write down specifically “PAGE 199-200″ on a piece of paper and prepare yourself to laugh at how Bill so adequately represents the technologially impaired generation. I.e. Those who seem to be 60 and above. (for those of you who are 60 and above and know how to work your cell phones and/or computers – I applaud you! For those who don’t know how to work either…you probably won’t be seeing my blog so I am not even sure if I need to add in a blanket apology here…hmmm dilemma. )

Regardless of my dilemma, you should see some of the dilemma’s that the characters, Annie, Nicholas, and Travis get themselves into…all because of technology. Well, I suppose it is not fair to say it is all because of technology, but it plays a large part in the story.

For those who are into the whole “techy” scene, I think you will love it. For those of you who are not into the “techy” scene… I think you will love it.

I was glad to see that this book was not designated for children, I think anyone from, say age 15, and up will appreciate all the little things in the book that make it such a good read. From the complex emotions in the characters to simple descriptions in the book that really draw you in and make you feel you are just viewing a movie that is played out in your mind, all of these work together to make for a good book. I, for one, am glad I recieved a copy of this book for this blog. I hope that we “cover” many more of Bill’s books later on in the future. 

Check out what everyone else is saying about Bill Myers (not MEYERS) book on these following blogs. Good reading all!

*Participants’ links
*indicates required links
Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
MollyBuuklvr81
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Nicole White
Dave Wilson

This I think will just be my word for describing this book – The God Hater. Actually, I should say that it will be my word for describing Bill Meyers writing style.

I was reminded of a scene in the book when reading someone elses blog and it jarred my memory of how intense the scene was.

*spoiler alert*

In the part of the book where Mr. Meyers talks about Nicholas’ dog dying and how it hurt him…to quote “And if he had a wish, it was simply that he could cry.” -oof! That part gripped me and I could feel his pain. I think some people might attribute his not crying to the type of person he was (as in someone the writer wanted you to dislike at first), but I attributed it to his grief.

Sometimes people respond differently to death and grief. I remember when we found out that my uncle died. The pain was so sharp and so sudden it felt as if I couldn’t breathe. It felt like someone was pressing against my chest and not letting me get any air inside, at the same time I felt like someone was squeezing my head so hard that I was sure at any minute that 1) I would pass out from no air and 2) that my eyes were about to pop out of my skull.  I was very young when he died, I think I was about 10 or so and I had never had any experience with someone dying that I was close to.

A part of me was not sure how I was supposed to respond. I am an emotional person, it has taken me a few years to be able to recognize that, and so one of the things I was able to do was to cry. But I remember it taking awhile because I was so numb at first. When someone close to me dies, even if I know they are saved and going to be with the Lord, I feel like my whole body has been given a huge shot of novacaine, just like at the dentist. First I experience a sharp pain, like that of the dentist’ needle and then ~BAM~ my whole body goes numb. Sometimes I welcome it, like I do at the dentist knowing that were it not for that, severe pain would follow; other times, I hate it. I feel like it takes my brain longer to process vital information. Like what to say to people when they ask how I am doing, or worse, what to say to those who were even closer to the person who passed away than I was. 

After awhile, the numbness wears off, I return to my senses, I find my thoughts through all the fuzziness in my mind and am able to respond to people and sometimes, I hope, I can comfort others; and through it all…life goes on.

Through it all, God IS. God is Good. God gives hope. God gives me a reason to continue on through the pain after the numbing emotional and physical novacaine has worn off. I can remember to thank him for feelings, be they strong, mild, even painful at times. Without them, I would not be who he created me to be. Without those feelings I would have no empathy or sympathy for those who go through tough times.

Some people though, can seemingly go through life without anything affecting them. They come across as calm, cool, collected, and in control. Get me right, I am not bashing those attributes at all- sometimes I have them, sometimes I don’t. But what I am saying is that even though someone comes across that way, you can’t see their heart. You can’t hear their wish inside their head, like Nicholas in “The God Hater” by Bill Meyers, that “simply that he could cry.” Give them some time, pray for them, don’t stop caring for them, maybe they are just shot full of novacaine at the moment and need some time for it to wear off. Trust me, when the numbness wears off, they will, if they are like me, want someone there to talk to, to cry with and to pray with.

Check out Bill Meyers book to see how skillfully he brings to life the emotions and feelings of the characters in his book, “The God Hater.”

Also, see what other people have to say about his book on the following blogs.

*Participants’ links
Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
MollyBuuklvr81
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Nicole White
Dave Wilson
Kathy Brasby

O.k. This months book, “The God Hater” by Bill Meyers had me saying this over and over again. In fact, let me say it again, “WOW”.

At first I was not looking forward to the book due to the title of it. I was prey to the idea of “Judging a book by its cover-name”. I actually really liked the picture on the front of the book, but was leary of what I was going to find in between the covers.

I started reading it and was gripped by how true to life the book seemed…at least in the characters emotions. I loved the symbolism in it, and I loved how Mr. Myers put a forward of warning to the readers to not take his word on the theology in the book, but to go to the Bible for that. To quote him he says “So, just as I would encourage you  not to base your science upon this science, the same should go for your theology….if something doesn’t sound right or sticks in your throat, don’t waste your time reading this. Go to the original Souce and see what it says.” – WOW. That right there packs a punch and I for one applaud Mr. Meyers for putting that in the book. I think all too many times I have read books that are supposed to be “sound doctrine” and they leave stuff out, or they seem to think that what they have to say is greater and better than the Bible. I do not usually end up reading more books by those type of authors.  

One other thing that caught my eye was on almost the very last page (this is after the story so its not a spoiler!) where Mr. Myers put “Soli Deo Gloria”. In my limited understanding of Latin, that means “Glory to God” or “Only for God’s glory”. I am sure there are some scholars out there who could teach me in the exact definition of this phrase, but I was happy enough to see that at the end of the book, knowing only the jist of what he was trying to say. I thought it was a perfect ending for the book.

Now, one of the phrases that Bill Meyers used in the opening paragraph in his book made me laugh right out loud while reading. He describes a reporter as having “bronzed skin and glow-in-the-dark teeth”!!! lol I have seen too many people, reporters and non-reporters alike with this physical…uh…er…representation of themselves. lol

While going through the book again just now finding all the little nuggets of gold that caught my eye, I ran across the bookmark that I used while reading the book. My bookmark when reading books for the blog tour is now consisting of a large piece of paper folded in half so when I have something that catches my eye, I can just write it down right there and what page number it was on so I don’t forget anything.  Why would I forget stuff you ask if it was so memorable???? Wellllll let me answer that question by saying: I have a 13 month old. Those who have kids will understand, those who don’t and are planning on having kids… I just have to smile and laugh. I was there once too. Now…speaking of forgetfullness…where was I? Oh yes. the bookmark had a note on it  that said as follows: “2/8/11- I started reading “God Hater with skepticism b/c (that means because!) of the title but the first sentence caught my eyes- “Glow in the dark teeth- and made me like Mr. Meyers. (pg. 1)”.  Lol

I wish I had more nuggets of literary goodness for you to read, but this bookmark idea was my husbands idea and this was the first time I had actually done it and, well…my forgetfullness kicked in and I forgot to write down the specifics of what I liked!!! lol

You will just have to take my word for it and read it yourself. I don’t think you will be sorry that you did. I found myself laughing, crying, and even being angry at the characters at some points in the book. To me, that is great writing when you can wring emotions out of your readers. Good job Mr. Meyers! Keep up the good work and looking forward to reading more of your works.

Check out what other people had to say on this blog tour by clicking on one of the links below, and as always : In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

*Participants’ links
*indicates required links
Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
MollyBuuklvr81
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Nicole White
Dave Wilson
Kathy Brasby

I borrowed the cookbook from Tess and thought I would try my hand at making some of the recipes that Ree Drummond makes and see how they taste and come out.

I will be adding pictures to go with the blog so you can share in my culinary adventures, and I will also try to share some of the successes and not-quite-sucesses as well.

My first recipe that I tried cooking myself was the….you guessed it- Beans and Cornbread!!!

First step was to get my handy dandy trusty pot that I use for everything from spaghetti, to chicken noodle soup, to…yep. Beans.

Pot bottom

The recipe called to bring it to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer for 2-3 hours… this is where instead of everything following the recipe just like the book said and everything going right…it took about 4-5 hours for this to be done. I also added 2-3 cloves of garlic and about 1 cup of chopped onions to the water to add flavor to it.

This is the final result of the beans:

The smell was woooonderful, and I did have to add water a few times as the boiling would dry it out a bit. All in all, the beans took about 5 hours to make. It only took about 10 minutes to prepare though, which was a plus to me.  After the beans were done, I added 1-2 tsp of salt and one thing I always seem to forget – pepper! I added about 1 Tbs of pepper to this and then some garlic salt to add a bit more flavor. I also put in a dash of Oregano which helped the flavor alot. They tasted great I thought. My husband did not care for them as MUCH as me, but I think that is partly because I grew up having this kind of meal alot.

Nooooow for the cornbread. This is where I slightly hang my head.

I followed the recipe to a T, except for ONE little area. Making the buttermilk I used whole milk instead of skim like it suggested, but I figured that was better than trying to use Almond Buttermilk (if you can even make that!).

I did not care for the taste of this so much. I think a large part of why is because I slightly burnt the bottom while cooking it in the skillet before baking it in the oven. It is called Skillet cornbread for a reason. Also, I think if I were to try making this one again I would make sure to add some sugar to this as it tasted pretty uhm…cornmeal-y. I know cornbread is supposed to taste like cornmeal, but I also like a little sweetness to it too.

Take a look at the pictures and you might be able to see the burn marks.

As you might also be able to see, there was hardly any left due to my husband actually liking it more than me. Sarah, however, seemed to agree with me.

I am not giving up though. I will post my other attempts at making the stuff in Ree Drummond’s book. I am sure something has to taste great because my sister, Tess, makes stuff from this book all the time and I looooooove it!

Happy eating all!

 this months 2nd review is for the book “Dragons of the Valley” by talented Author Ms. Donita K. Paul (please imagine me saying her name like the announcer guy does on the game show “The Price is Right”, its much more dramatic that way; not to mention fun!).

This is a continuation of the story of Tipper and Bealomondore and ultimately, a story about Wulder, the God that Paladin, one of the hero’s in her last book, follows.  I should say, it seems that it is leading towards ultimately a story about Wulder. I have not finished the book but am about halfway through it and I am finding myself drawn into this magical, mythical world that Donita put down on paper. When I read the words describing the Kimen and their village, and the vibrant clothes that they wear, and then I read about Bealomondore and Fenworth, I can see them appear almost right before my eyes. Donita does such a good job of capturing the essence of who each of these characters are. It seems odd to say that. Those of you who are reading this and are not writers yourself might be saying “of course she does a good job, she wrote them after all!” but I know better. While I do not count myself among the ranks of those gifted with the written word, I know through 2nd hand knowledge. My husband, who is a writer, has mentioned to me many times about the characters he writes about take on lives of their own. He finds them doing things that he did not know they would be doing when he set out to write the book. You start writing and trying to describe the world they live in, and the actions they would take, and all their mannerisms, and pretty soon, according to his description, it sounds like you have given birth to a whole new sort of creature, or creation.  It reminds me of the human race. We each are conceived and then given birth to, and while we are all pretty similar, we are, each and every one of us, unique. We can be bold and adventurous, like I see my sister Tess being, sometimes Tipper reminds me of her. Or we can be reticent and quite funny at times, like I see Bealomondore mixed with Librettowit, and my sister Amy being.  Sometimes we can be quite distracted and full of unusual ideas at times, but full of wisdom… kind of like my husband during basketball playoffs.

Wow… I am noticing myself describing a lot of similar characteristics between the characters in the books and the characters in my family. I am not saying that Amy and Tess and my Husband are JUST like these characters, just something that came to mind when I was thinking back about what I have read already. I am looking forward to reading what other people have to say about this book.  Make sure to check out Donita’s blog, and most obviously, the book itself!  As always with the CSFF Blog tour : In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Gillian Adams
Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Keanan Brand
Morgan L. Busse
CSFF Blog Tour
Amy Cruson
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Dave Wilson

 I am sorry this post is coming later in the day, hopefully you will still get some use out of it.

A while back my husband did a review of the book, it was “an advanced readers copy”… which since we are married and it is a common law state…all things being equal…yadda yadda…I read his book.

At the time I had a hard time getting into the book, but I liked the idea behind the book for a few reasons.

 1) I love wolves; anything to do with wolves (BESIDES a certain vampire vs. werewolf series…) I like to read it. I love watching national geographical movies about wolves, I like the sound wolves make, especially the howling at the moon… (right Tess and amy???) I love their fur, their eyes and their big huge paws. Suffice it to say, I like wolves.

2)In the book, Joran, the main character, is able to “mindspeak” with animals. I would like to be able to do this. I think though that while the book was fantasy-ish in this, the thoughts that the animals had were very…animal-ish. lol That is to say that I think C.S. Lakin did a good job portraying this side of the animals.

3)I like the journey that Joran makes…not only the physical journey, but the mental one where he has to confront some ideas about himself that were false…very good portrayal of the dilemma that seems to go through a person.

A few reasons that I found it hard to re-read the book…

1)In the book, Joran seems at times like he is a 14 yr old boy, and at others a 20-year-old man.
I had a hard time meshing these two images that I got from the book together, so I think some work could be done to rectify that situation.

2) I am in the middle of another series of books by a different author that is more historical fiction, and it seems sometimes I have a hard time switching genres if I am really involved in one sort of one for a different sort of one.

3)I have had a very hectic couple of weeks since I received the book. I am trying to get over being sick and with the holidays thrown in there, as well as trying to figure out how we are going to make ends meet and praying for a different job for my husband…it has just been hard to read anything…let alone something I have already read.

All that being said… I don’t know. I like the book, but I am not sure who I would recommend it to…that is what age group I would recommend it for. While I think some teens might get a kick out of it, I do not think that the struggles that Joran goes through would resonate with a younger set of readers, but at the same time, Joran at times seems so young that I am not sure if I want to recommend it to older readers…

All of THAT being said….. I am looking forward to reading C.S. Lakin’s next book in the Gates of Heaven series.

Check out what these other readers had to say about “The Wolf of Tebron” and the author’s blog for more info…and as always: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Noah Arsenault
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Nikole Hahn
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Dawn King
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
John W. Otte
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler

In this book, you will find any number of characters that you might identify with.

First off, you have Grady, who could be called the star of the show. Grady is a humble person who just wants to know where he is from and where he belongs. At times Grady finds himself doing the very thing that he does not want to do, but it seems that he doesn’t see any way out of doing it, and also, its what he’s been doing for so long, he’s not sure how to stop the process.

I know in my husbands blog he had mentioned that he did not see any overtly spiritual tones in it (my paraphrase, not his), but just in that I see a bit of the struggle Paul the Apostle was going through when he said (again my paraphrase) “I find myself doing the very thing which I do not want. And the thing I want to do I do not seem to be able to do”…. I think we as humans so often get caught up in our lives and doing whats wrong that to stop doing it would seem…unnatural. The bad has become second nature to us and we can’t see any way to stop doing it. I think that at times that is where the preaching of the Gospel comes it, or the reading of the Gospel, or someone just sharing the Word with us. We ourselves might not be able to see a way out of it, but when someone else comes in and shines the light on our darkness, its like we can then comprehend what we have been doing, and not only that, but there is now hope that we didn’t see before.  I am not excusing people for doing the wrong things in any way, but I think at times its hard to stop doing whats wrong. You have to look at yourself plainly, like Grady does when he mentions what he looks like, he is not beating himself up for self pity, he is just stating the way he is, and once you have done that, you can see that you need the help of the Savior to overcome.

Alright, so thats ONE character…one of the other characters in this book is Floyd. Floyd is the ringleader, or the Charlatan, of the feechie scam. I think I have run into Floyd before at the mall where those people at the kiosk’s are hawking their wares. Some of them really amp it up and it seems they are ready for anything anyone throws at them. They always have a quick and ready answer and at times are willing to let people hang themselves on their words. Just reading how Floyd makes his speeches brings those folks to mind (no offense if you work at a mall kiosk!!!), I can just hear the singsongy voice, the way his voice raises and then lowers again to catch and then keep your attention, even if what he’s selling you wasn’t what you were looking for in the first place.  You just find yourself drawn in and then once you are hooked, you might say you want to leave, but inside you have a morbid curiosity about what he MIGHT have to offer to you that you end up staying…just like a fly caught in a web.
Hmmm…reminds me of the way Satan lures people into his schemes. I might be seeing paralells in the book that aren’t in there, or weren’t intended by the author, but all this has got me thinking about what the book might be alluding to.

Then you have Short Fronie. I identified with her in some way, it could be because of the way her heart broke when Grady mentioned that he thought he was too ugly to love. There are so many people out there who think that their lives are too messed up for anyone to have any use for them, or that their sins are too ugly for anyone, let alone the Savior of the world, to love them. Reading that chapter broke my heart and made me love Short Fronie. I hope to see more of her in Jonathan’s next book.

Theeen, you have characters in the book like Clarence. Clarence is a huckster that has tuned in to what people really want. Convenience to live their lives the way they want AND a way to have their so called god on a chain. Clarence was making business off of people being too busy to actually live a life dedicated to the Lord and spending time talking with Him and doing his will, he just decided to cash in on that. Unfortunately, I see people doing this today too. Many so called preachers of the Word mis-align and mis-represent what God’s word says and they twist it and turn it to fit their own needs and desires; whether that desire be for more money, fame, glory, or power.

Jonathan Rogers has a way of writing that makes you feel the emotions that the other characters are feeling in the book. Kudos to you sir and thank you for a good read!

Check out what other people are saying about his book on these blogs.

*Participants’ links
Sally Apokedak
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
SarahFlan
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson

I already told another blog-tourer–Sarah Sawyer–about the pre-origin of The Charlatan’s Boy; it involves a little girl who dreams of kangaroos, and you can read it here [ http://www.sarahsawyer.com/blog/ ]. But the original story about the kangaroo dreamer really didn’t look anything like The Charlatan’s Boy. The Charlatan’s Boy really began to take shape when I wrote the first sentence which came to me unbidden and fully formed: “I don’t remember one thing about the day I was born.” Before I knew it, I had a boy shut up in a wagon box that used to be used for a dancing bear, and the story began to tell itself.

 
Q2: How do you start the creative process of writing a fantasy book?

 
Q3: How long did it take you to write the book, from conception of the idea to the end?

I wrote that first sentence in July 2008, in a cabin at Alpine Camp for Boys in Mentone, Alabama (great camp, by the way). I finished it in early 2010. So 18-20 months. That’s a very long time for me.

*Participants’ links
Sally Apokedak
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
SarahFlan
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson

The book starts out with an awesome sketch of what is labeled “The Wild Man of the Feecheifen Swamp”! Its a hilarious picture that reminds me of a gnome, minus the beard. I am not sure why that particular sort of character comes to mind, but there it is all the same.

One of the things that drew me to this book, besides being “In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.”

was that one of my favorite singers and authors, Andrew Peterson , annnnnd WTB had something good to say about the book. 
Add those to the fact that I just looooooove to read anyway, I figured I just had to read it.

I mentioned earlier that I was a bit skeptical, and I’ll tell you why. I saw the cover of the book and thought that the whole circus tent theme was a bit over the top. That was just at first glance. I also am not too fond of books that have overly long titles, being as its hard to look them up exactly when I go to the library. With that being said however, after having read the book, I think the cover and the title are, if anything, an understatement of how awesome the book really is.

Mr. Rogers (won’t you be my neighbor? – Sorry, couldn’t resist!) has a real knack for pulling you into the story by a variety of methods. One of those methods is how he writes in the auto-biographical (is that a real word?) style of writing.  All through out this book, I had one persons voice in my head telling me this story in his own voice. A good friend of my family, Dan F. is from Louisiana, and when he gets either excited and/or riled up, which him being like a big brother to me, I occasionally do to him on purpose, his accent becomes thicker. He is not an ugly man, as I consider the Charlatan’s boy, Grady, to be; but he IS from the south and when I was reading this book, it was his voice that I heard as Grady’s.

This book had me in tears at a few points, and in stitches of laughter at other points.

If you have not read it, I recommend it as a good, clean,  funny read.

Check out what these other bloggers have to say about it.

Participants’ links
Sally Apokedak
Amy Bissell
Red Bissell
Jennifer Bogart
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
Christian Fiction Book Reviews
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Bruce Hennigan
Christopher Hopper
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Shannon McDermott
Allen McGraw
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Donita K. Paul
SarahFlan
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White
Elizabeth Williams
Dave Wilson