There were only a few passages in this novel that caught my attention for their descriptive nature. The book was good, thoughtful, and well-written, but there was little use of expressive parts of speech or flowery language. One effective comparison did stick, though, the author described the voice of a wise and aging pope: “HisContinue reading “Father Elijah: His voice . . .”
Category Archives: Middle Grade
Father Elijah
A friend recommend this “Apocalypse” book to me, and it was the sweetest, most innocent, and least terrifying book about end times I’ve encountered. Don’t get me wrong, the prophecies surrounding the end times are scary, but this journey of Father Elijah captures one honest man’s point-of-view of how the end begins: a global governingContinue reading “Father Elijah”
Give the Gift of a Great Book!
Suddenly Rural Girl is the perfect Christmas gift to your favorite Young Adult reader this Holiday Season! Teens will fall in love with our protagonist, Dakota Moore, as she faces life, death, mean girls, and cute boys in a small Midwestern town. For a limited time, you can get a signed copy at our discountedContinue reading “Give the Gift of a Great Book!”
A Christmas Gift for the YA Reader in Your Life!
Suddenly Rural Girl is the perfect Christmas gift to your favorite Young Adult reader this Holiday Season! Readers will fall in love with our protagonist, Dakota Moore, as she faces life, death, mean girls, and cute boys in a small Midwestern town. For a limited time you can get a signed copy at our discountedContinue reading “A Christmas Gift for the YA Reader in Your Life!”
Sioux Falls Friends: Literature & Lattes is TODAY!
Literature & Lattes is a pretty impressive autumn Literature Event in south eastern South Dakota. If you’re in the Sioux Falls area this Saturday, October 26, swing by the festival in the Brandon Golf Course Ballroom! Be sure to stop by the Suddenly Rural Girl table to say hello, too! (I’ll be at a tableContinue reading “Sioux Falls Friends: Literature & Lattes is TODAY!”
SRG is now available in Boone, Iowa at The Bookshoppe!
A HUGE thank you to Susan and the crew at The Bookshoppe in Boone, IA for adding Suddenly Rural Girl to their inventory! If you live in the Boone, Ames, and Demoines area–or know folks who do–we’d love to have people stop by this great little Indie Bookstore! (We gotta support all local businesses–including thoseContinue reading “SRG is now available in Boone, Iowa at The Bookshoppe!”
Sioux Falls Friends: a Christian Lit Festival worth checking out this Saturday!
Literature & Lattes is a pretty impressive autumn Literature Event in south eastern South Dakota. If you’re in the Sioux Falls area this Saturday, October 26, swing by the festival in the Brandon Golf Course Ballroom! Be sure to stop by the Suddenly Rural Girl table to say hello, too! (I’ll be manning a tableContinue reading “Sioux Falls Friends: a Christian Lit Festival worth checking out this Saturday!”
In Brookings tonight!
I still remember my lines as Theseus from 20 years ago in Prairie Rep’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “What say you, Hermia? Be advised fair maid, to you your father should be as a god…” Tonight I’ll be back to Brookings … at The Nook! If you’re in town this evening, swing byContinue reading “In Brookings tonight!”
Brookings Book Signing … or Just Say “Hi!”
Years ago I was on stage as Theseus in a Midsummer Night’s Dream at Prairie Rep, and I’m now headed back to Brookings … to The Nook! If you’re in town this Thursday evening, swing by to say hi . . . and browse this cute bookstore on Main Street for some great books! (It’sContinue reading “Brookings Book Signing … or Just Say “Hi!””
Writing Funny: Startled into laughter.
You’ve probably stood behind a corner, smiling, waiting to jump out and scare the daylights out of your wife, friend, or maybe your dog. That anticipation, the quiet-laugh-while-you-wait for something to happen is one of the “causes of laughter.” It’s because you anticipate the shock they’ll experience (knowing it won’t REALLY hurt them). Shock canContinue reading “Writing Funny: Startled into laughter.”
Writing Funny: Traits of Comedic Characters
Stereotypes are real. We’ve all carry them. If we’re wise or well-disciplined, we don’t take action on them–moving from stereotyping to discriminating. Stereotypes are often ignorant and unfair, but they can be funny. Playing off them–or creating them–effectively can help you get some laughs. You’ve seen it a thousand times: “Dumb Blonde” jokes, “What doContinue reading “Writing Funny: Traits of Comedic Characters”
Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction
No one wants to see the innocent child beaten down, but most of us do like too see the tables turned on the bully, so he or finally gets his or her comeuppance. The general population also has some common, shared, arch-enemies: violent criminals, corrupt government officials, the dictator, “boss,” and more; they’ve become tooContinue reading “Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction”