Catholic Writing and Publishing – Page 29

Cheerleading! Mutually Beneficial Author Support

May 27, 2014/3 Comments/in Blogging, Book Review, Catholic Fiction, Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Encouragement for Writers, Fiction, Inspirational, Marketing Your Work, Networking, Novel, Pro-life, romance, Self-Publishing, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tricks/by Leslie Lynch

There are a lot of us out there. Authors. With great books to share. Too often, though, we feel alone in our endeavors, trying to get readers to notice us in the roiling sea of other great books. This is a great time to be a writer! It’s more possible than it has ever been to publish a book. But that means that all sorts of other people are doing the same.

Whether you are independently publishing your work, under contract with a traditional publisher, or working with a small, online press, the business of marketing one’s work falls more and more upon the shoulders of the author. “But I just want to write,” you say. Hey, I’m with you. Me, too. But that’s not our reality anymore.

How do we get “out there” where someone might notice?

First, write a quality book, no matter the genre. If you’re publishing independently, surround yourself with an expert team of editors, formatters, and cover artists. First impressions matter. Don’t give the reader a reason to skip past your book; give them a reason to stop and look at it, really look at it. Hopefully, they’ll be intrigued enough to click the ‘buy’ button.

Then, the meat of this post: Network. Before you ask people to spread the news about your book, make sure you’ve nurtured relationships with them, and have crowed about their successes. You can do this well before you are ready to publish your own work; in fact, that’s the best time to create these relationships. Have you gone to Catholic Writers Conference Live? Or participated in the online CWG conference? How about the Writing Retreat? Or any other writing focused activities? What about the CWG Facebook page? Have you interacted with other writers in any of those venues? I hope so, because that’s crucial for the next step, which is:

Celebrate with them! Post their new releases or awards on your Facebook page. Use your blog or Twitter to let your followers know there’s something available that’s worth their time. If you’re on Twitter, find and follow some entities that reflect your interests; they may reTweet for you and expand your reach.

Buy and read your friends’ books, and then review them on Amazon and Goodreads. *Caveat: Always say something nice, or don’t post a review. This does not mean you can’t be honest, but be honest in a kind manner. Personally, I never give a review with less than four stars, and even if I didn’t like everything about the book, I focus on what I loved about the book—or, if it’s in a genre that’s not my favorite, focus on what readers of that specific type of book will enjoy about this particular one.

Here’s an example of how this might work. A few weeks ago, Erin McCole Cupp contacted me because I’d done a cover reveal on my upcoming release, Hijacked, on CWG’s Facebook page. Would I like to trade read and reviews with her? She’d recently published Don’t You Forget About Me, a cozy mystery. I said yes, and posted reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. She upped the ante and asked me to be an interviewee on her blog the week my book comes out. I said yes (!), and then tagged her on a My Writing Process blog tour/relay. With any luck, some of my readers will be interested in her work and some of hers readers, in mine. That’s just with two authors! Imagine what can happen when more get in on the fun!

(And did you notice what I just did? I linked Erin’s website and the Amazon link to buy her book to this post. I purposely do this for everyone I mention on both my CWG and personal blogs. What goes around comes around…)

Join writing organizations and establish relationships with authors you respect. Be a cheerleader for them, and hope they’ll return the favor when it’s your turn. Yes, it’s time consuming, but it is well worth the effort—not just because they’re going to help you sell books, but because they are wonderful people and their friendships enrich your life.

Are you feeling a little less alone now? I hope so! If you’ve had success in the arena of networking, please share your story! What are the elements that contribute to that success?

From the President’s Desk – Inspiration and CWCL

May 23, 2014/3 Comments/in Catholic Writers Conference Live, Catholic Writing and Publishing, CWG Member News, Marketing Your Work/by Ellen Gable Hrkach

Four of the five board members were present at the conference L to R: Ellen Gable Hrkach, Ann Margaret Lewis, Jennifer Fitz, Karina Fabian

Four of the five board members were present at last year’s conference L to R: Ellen Gable Hrkach, Ann Margaret Lewis, Jennifer Fitz, Karina Fabian

Where do you get your inspiration for writing? Do ideas come to you at strange times or can you be inspired by reading a book, watching a movie or looking at art work and photographs?

For me, it is all of the above. Ideas often pop into my head at all hours of the day and night. Novels, movies, plays, art work, photography can all give me inspiration. For instance, a visit to the art gallery recently sparked three different ideas for future books/stories.

Many CWG members have shared with me that their greatest inspirations and ideas came when they attended either the online conference or the live conference.

Which brings me to the Catholic Writers Conference Live, to be held in conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show just outside of Chicago from July 29th to August 1st. With daily Mass, confessions and adoration, if you need inspiration, this will be the place for you! The theme will be “Perseverance” and confirmed speakers are Lisa Hendey, Gene Wolfe, Cassandra Poppe, Lizzie Velasquez, Claudia Volkman and many others. There will be interesting panels on self-publishing, rejection, action writing and blogging, to name a few.

So…please consider attending! We’d love to meet you! For more information or to register, please click on this link: Catholic Writers Conference Live.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me president (at) catholicwritersguild.com.

In Christ,

Ellen Gable Hrkach

A Love Story that Embraced God’s Love

May 6, 2014/5 Comments/in Catholic Theme, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Inspirational/by Larry Peterson

Sometimes God puts you in a place and you just have to stand in awe and humility as you feel His presence. This is about a love story and, no doubt about it, I know HE has been involved. Why I was allowed to be a small part of this story is beyond me. But I was and I thank HIM for it. Anyway, please allow me to share my experience(s) of the past several months. I was witness to the love shared between Ed and Cathy, husband and wife, both dying from cancer, together, holding hands, smiling at each other and at peace as the days passed by.

Ed and Cathy Caramiglio had only been my neighbors for a short time, less than a year I think. Ed was a retired commercial painter and also a master wood carver who had his magnificent creations all around his house. Ed and Cathy were simply enjoying life together. I guess the two of them might be considered an unusual couple. They had met when Ed was 60 and Cathy was 40 and neither had ever been married. Now, after celebrating their silver wedding anniversary, Ed’s prostate cancer had returned with a vengeance and was destroying him quickly. Cathy had been diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma. She told me about that when ‘maybe’ she had six months to live. ( It was the exact same thing my first wife had died from 12 years earlier.) So there they were, three houses down, spending their last months together and making the best of what still was.

They had no children and it was just the two of them. How did I fit in? Well, besides being a neighbor, they knew that I was an EMHC (Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion), and asked me if I might bring Holy Communion to them if they could not make it to Mass. I told her I would be honored and to “just let me know when.”

A few more months went by and Ed moved slower and slower. Then he began using a walker to get around. He would come over and we would just joke around about silly stuff, like how many cream donuts he had eaten that morning or how much money he lost one night at Yonker’s Raceway in New York. The guy was only about five feet four but he loved to talk and laugh and had a sparkle in his eye that caught your attention instantly. I would ask if they could make it to Mass and he would always smile and say, “Thanks, Larry, Cathy will let you know if we can’t.” Unable to push that walker for more than ten feet it quickly became necessary for me stop by and see how they were doing. Hospice was now there on a daily basis but they were still managing to function okay.

My daily routine usually starts at around 5:30 a.m. with a one-hour walk. A few weeks ago, I inexplicably decided that I needed to take another walk. It was around 4 p.m. I actually tried to talk myself out of taking this walk but finally “talked” myself into it. (I guess I do talk to myself a lot.) Out the door I went and headed down the street. Ed has an F-150 brown Ford pick-up with a cap covering the truck bed. As I walked past the truck I was dumbfounded to see Cathy standing there on the front lawn supported by her walker. I stopped short and said, “Oh, Cathy, hi. Wow, I did not expect to see you standing here.”

“I was waiting for you. I need to talk to you.”

I was dumbfounded. “Are you kidding me? I never walk at this time of day and you say you were waiting for me.”

“I just knew you were coming by. I can’t explain it.”

I had a chill run down my back. I really did. I leaned against the truck as she leaned heavily on her walker. She could hardly stand up. “You know Ed is dying, right?”

“Yes Cathy, I know. And how about you? How are you doing?”

She smiled and looked me right in the eye saying, “I have a few weeks left.”

I tightened my lips, took a breath, and asked, “Do you want a priest?”

“Oh yes, please, can you do that for us? That is why I was out here waiting for you. We need a priest right away.”

It was not necessary that a priest come at that very moment so I told her I would bring a priest over ASAP. She smiled and thanked me and I walked her back to the house. She did not mention herself once, only her husband. She told me how she wished she could ease his suffering and how wonderful it might be if they could go for a bicycle ride just one more time. She mentioned how she thanked God for every moment they had had together.

I went inside and she, Ed, and I hung out for about ten minutes just chatting. Cathy excused herself and slowly walked back to the bedroom. Ed quickly told me how he wished he could ease her suffering and how God had been so good to him allowing him to find such a great woman to share his life with. When God is present sometimes it is hard to breathe. I took a deep breath, gave Ed a hug and left.

We have a young priest at our parish, Father Scott. He just turned 32. I saw him Monday morning of Holy Week and told him about Ed and Cathy. He had to preside at a funeral at 10 a.m. and then go to the cemetery. He said he would be free in the early afternoon and would then come over. I headed to the church office and registered them as parishioners, something they had never done. I went home and told my neighbors Father would be over later in the day and that they had been registered as parishioners at Sacred Heart Church. Ed started to cry. Cathy hugged him and joined him crying. Next thing I knew my forefinger was swiping itself under the bottom of my right eye. I told them I would be back later with Father Scott and left.

Father Scott spent about an hour with Ed and Cathy. Ed and the young priest both had roots in Roanoke, Virginia, and talked and laughed and had a raucous good time together. Even though the two of them were separated by more than 50 years it did not matter. It was as if they had grown up together. It was beautiful. Father anointed both of them and told them he would come back the first chance he could. It was the beginning of Holy Week and he would be busy. They all hugged and said good-bye.

Easter Sunday I was privileged to bring Ed and Cathy Holy Communion. They were lying next to each other in bed, holding hands. Ed smiled and said, “Larry, we are SO happy. This is the greatest Easter we ever had.” He turned and looked at his wife who was smiling lovingly at him. She reached over and wiped his wet happy eyes.

Ed died last week. Cathy is now a patient in Hospice House with little time left. I will never forget Ed and Cathy because the love between them shined so brightly and was a beautiful, inspiring, God-given thing. As for me, I just want to thank God for allowing me to be their friend and a part of their final journey, albeit for the briefest of moments. I have been blessed.

The End: Sweet Words for an Author, Sweet Experience for a Reader

April 22, 2014/4 Comments/in Catholic Fiction, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Editing, Encouragement for Writers, Fiction, Novel, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tricks/by Leslie Lynch

The end.

Two of the most satisfying words a writer can tap onto a keyboard.

We’ve all dreamed of typing those six letters, and many of us have been fortunate enough to have achieved that particular success.

In my past few posts, we’ve discussed beginnings and middles. Let’s talk about endings today.

How do you craft an ending that works? You know what I mean: the ending that satisfies in a way that nothing else can. The good guys win, the couple (finally!) gets together for their happy ever after, the world is saved from certain disaster.

Yet I suspect many of us know when an ending doesn’t work. Have you ever read a book where the story had you in its grip—and then it fell flat and limped to the last page? I have. It feels like the author suddenly lost interest. Perhaps they were on a deadline and just typed a bunch of words to fulfill a contract. Or maybe they really didn’t know how the book ended, so they just threw some words on the page and hoped they would do. And that the reader wouldn’t notice.

Alternatively, I’ve read books where The End happened ten or fifteen pages before the printed pages did. It’s disconcerting to be engaged in the story, come across that emotionally satisfying ahhh that is the indisputable end…but then things keep happening and the characters keep talking, and as a reader, you’ve lost interest.

To avoid a bad ending, go back to the beginning. Is your theme still clear? Will the ending make that theme shine (even though it’s likely not stated outright)? What is the question posed at the beginning of the book? There may be an overall question, along with individual questions for each of the main characters. Are those questions answered in the last chapter? What about the middle? Does all that suspense and tension you’ve nurtured through the book come to a climax that is addressed in the final scene(s)? If you’ve been paying attention to these elements of craft, you’ve set yourself up for a good, satisfying end.

Pacing is another issue. Keep the tension strong; don’t dilute it with throwaway words or scenes. When the end is reached, end the story; don’t belabor it.

Make sure all loose ends are tied up. This is a great task for critique partners and/or beta readers. Whatever did happen to Uncle Bert after everyone else hared off after the bad guys and left him chained to the gushing water pipe in the basement? Or Sally rescued the lost kitten in chapter two, but the kitten was never mentioned again. What happened to it??? You can bet your readers will ask these questions!

Whatever you do, please, please avoid the temptation to use a plot ploy at the end. No hand of God reaching down to set all aright, or aliens/knights in shining armor/Navy Seals (that haven’t been part of the book until now) suddenly appearing out of nowhere to solve all the problems. Or a minor character who inexplicably becomes the linchpin upon which the premise of the entire book now rests. I have read books that ended this way, and they were disappointing, to say the least. Keep your characters true to their motivations and your plot logical. That makes for authenticity, and happy readers.

The ending should have a twist that no one saw coming. No one likes to read clichés, whether within the book or at the end. Do your best to give the reader a wonderful surprise, one that delights or challenges. Don’t be afraid to brainstorm different endings; too often we pick the first idea that pops into our head. The best idea may be the fifth or eighth. Have fun with this. Readers will enjoy the result.

What about epilogues? They seem to be more effective and better received than prologues. An epilogue can be a wonderful way to tie up remaining loose ends (especially in an action-packed story). It can even set the scene for the next book, if you are writing a series. But keep it short. No more than two pages. Make it count; otherwise, it’s best to leave it out.

You want your readers to be satisfied so they will write nice reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. You want them to tell their friends about the great book they just finished. You also want them to like the end so much they’ll come back for your next book. And the next one.

So give them an ending that carries an emotional punch, the one they hope for. Your reader has invested money and, more important, their time. Make it worthwhile.

What have you learned about writing endings? Any tips to share? I’d love to hear them!

A Writer’s Nemesis–an Unapologetic Computer

April 3, 2014/1 Comment/in Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Humour/by Larry Peterson

When I got my hands on my first Smith-Corona H Series Correctable Typewriter, I was in my glory. I was also in control. Then…along came computers and the word-processing phenomenon. Writers were thrilled at the technology: Spell-check, formatting, multiple fonts, save options and mailing options, all at the click of a mouse. But there was a dark side to all of this, and I have found it; or rather, it found me. When something went awry most of the time I was lost. The worst part was I did not know what to do. I was at the mercy of forces beyond my tech challenged brain. Yes…I had lost control of my writer’s world.

As writers we have all experienced the ‘glitches’ that come along in dealing with computers and the cyber universe they dwell in. It is as if they do not want us to come into their world. It is okay to stand in the foyer but that’s close enough. If you get too close you suddenly have dropped text, lost messages, frozen screens and so on. Why, one time Google even blocked the Internet by mistake. (Maybe there was a mob at the door.) I think we all have our individual dark sides in the invisible universe. They are like small black-holes ready to suck you in and devour you before you even know what happened.

I discovered that my dark side exists in the tech end of cyber world. I have also found that I am just one of many computer users who know very little about computer repair, especially if it involves software. I do try very hard not to open up unknown or suspicious items. I also do a disk cleanup often and defrag and all of that stuff. I do that because I know what can happen if I “click wrongly” and, when I do, the result ain’t pretty. Finally, I have Norton anti-virus. Oh well, the fact is, if I do “click” wrong none of that matters anyway. It is the proverbial ‘two edged sword’.

My two published books have been returned to me because my publisher is going out of business effective June 1. (Obviously, my books did not hit the best seller list). I have also been given my blogsite to tend to. I do not know how. With the assistance of the publisher I have managed to republish the book on Amazon and Smashwords. But I have no idea how to update the blog site with the new editions. This is what I mean about losing control. In addition, I had my email account with Verizon for 13 years. I cancelled it 15 months ago saving $50.00 a month by using Bright House. Verizon told me that was ‘just fine” to keep the Verizon address. Like an idiot, I believed them.

So (the day after I found out about the books) my email stopped working. I was sure I had “clicked” something wrong and it took six hours to find out Verizon had disconnected it. It took six hours because they did not know they had done it, and there was nothing anyone could do about it because their computer had done it and that was that, end of story. Many people apologized but the computer did NOT apologize.

Bottom line: we are at the mercy of cyber forces that can get us at any time. We need to learn more about that other world before it gets us like it did everyone in “Terminator III: Rise of the Machines”. In that movie “Skynet”, the computer system, takes over control from mankind unleashing worldwide, thermonuclear war. No one can stop it, not even Arnold. I guess that old Smith-Corona had a very positive side after all. We were smarter.

From the President’s Desk – March 28

March 28, 2014/0 Comments/in Catholic Fiction, Catholic Writers Conference Online, Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Ellen Gable Hrkach

I’m going to avoid talking about the lengthy, brutal winter that most of us are still experiencing to tell you about my new book, A Subtle Grace. It’s the sequel to my second novel, In Name Only, and continues the story of the wealthy and unconventional O’Donovan Family in the year 1896. At 19, Kathleen (oldest daughter) is unmarried with no prospects. Fearing the lonely fate of an old maid, her impatience leads to an infatuation with the first man who shows interest. The suave, handsome son of the local police chief seems a perfect match. But will her impulsive manner prevent her from recognizing her true beloved? A disturbing turn of events brings a dark shadow that threatens the life-long happiness she desires. Dr. Luke Peterson (the family’s new physician) also makes quite an impression on Kathleen. His affection for her leads him to startling revelations: about Kathleen, about his practice and, most importantly, about himself. Will (oldest son) believes God may be calling him to a religious vocation. Eventually, he discovers the hidden circumstances of his humble beginnings compelling him to embark on a pilgrimage to Rome.

(Although “A Subtle Grace” is a sequel, it can be read as a stand alone book.) It’s now available on Kindle and in print.

In other Guild news, the Catholic Writers Online Conference took place a few weeks ago and was a great success. If you missed any of the talks, most of them are available via transcripts at the conference website. I found the talks edifying, inspiring and helpful. Special thanks to Laura Lowder and Karina Fabian who organized the conference, and to all the moderators and transcribers!!

Volunteers needed!! If you have spare time and would like to help out with any of our committees, please leave a comment below or email me privately. We especially need a Public Relations volunteer and at least one additional person to help out with our Seal of Approval Committee.

If you’re a member of the Guild and on Facebook, please let us know so we can add you to our exclusive members only Facebook group! As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to email me: president (at) catholicwritersguild.com

Ellen Gable Hrkach
President, Catholic Writers Guild

Books, and Toned Middles

March 25, 2014/1 Comment/in Catholic Fiction, Catholic Theme, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Editing, Encouragement for Writers, Fiction, Novel, The Writing Life, Writing Tips and Tricks/by Leslie Lynch

Last month, I talked about beginnings and how important they are to drawing the reader in to your book. It seems appropriate to continue on to story middles today.

Middles ought to be pretty simple. After all, it’s the stuff that happens between the beginning and the end. Many authors, however, struggle with middles. There’s a term for middles that lose their direction and energy: the dreaded Sagging Middle.

How do we keep our middles on task, doing the unsung but necessary work of getting the reader to the end of the story? How do we keep the energy high? Most important, how do we keep the reader engaged?

It’s best to step back and look at the big picture first. What is the underlying theme of your story? Is it clear and evident in every scene, though it’s likely never stated outright? Theme should be the basis for every action that takes place, every decision a character makes, and even descriptions of setting. Every word you use can and should further the development of the theme you’ve chosen. For more on THEME, click here.

Next, what about story structure? If you’ve built even a rudimentary five-sentence outline of turning points for a particular story, it is much easier to keep the individual scenes pointed in the right direction. No ambling about aimlessly in the rose garden and boring the readers—unless, of course, the rose garden is critical to both the theme and structure of this story! In that case, amble all you want, as long as there is purpose. For more on STRUCTURE, click here.

Now we get down to the nitty-gritty. Each scene in a story must have tension. This is sometimes referred to as conflict, and always results in suspense. Suspense isn’t defined as horror movie scary stuff; it’s simply a reader asking the question “What happens next” and turning the page to find out.

This is the key to toning up the middle of your book: Every scene and each chapter must have higher and higher stakes for the main characters. Each character has more to lose as the story progresses, and each character is forced into increasingly difficult choices. As situations evolve, and as the characters slog their way through their troubles, they reveal their increasingly deeper secrets to the reader. The characters struggle, and they grow. The reader identifies in some way, roots for them, and is willing to be swept along. For more on ROOTING FACTORS, click here.

One caution: Watch for filler, and ruthlessly cut it. It’s easy to rationalize that since this is the middle of the book, the reader is already caught up in it and won’t put it down, so you don’t have to work quite as hard, and nobody will notice that this whole scene/chapter doesn’t really advance the story; it’s just there because you, the author, like it. Nope. Readers are smart. Cut the scene if it doesn’t advance the story. Cut the details if they don’t advance the story. I know. It’s hard. If it’s too hard, create a file for deleted scenes and put the cuts there so they’re accessible if you want them later. I find that’s sometimes a necessary intermediate step, even though those end up fully deleted later. Human nature is pretty funny!

Once you approach the end of the book (or even at the end of chapters!), resist the urge to tie up loose ends too soon. I admit to that failing as a new author. My first attempts at chapters all had tidy endings. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Every chapter should end with an unanswered question. Analyze your favorite I-couldn’t-put-it-down book. What created that quality? I’m willing to bet it was ever more crucial unanswered questions, and lots of loose ends. For more on TENSION, click here, and for more on HOOKS, click here.

What tips do you have to share regarding middles? I’d love to hear a new take on the subject!

The Glories of Google

March 19, 2014/1 Comment/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Karina Fabian

As those on the CWG FB page know, I started working full-time for a product review site called TopTenREVIEWS. It’s a really fun place to work, and I learn a lot of stuff that I can apply to writing. One of those things is the intricacies of Google.

As a website that is making its money off ads, TTR depends heavily on pleasing the Google beast, so often, my writing is tempered by “What will Google think?” As such I’ve learned a few things that might help you as writers as well. Here are a few tips:

1. Length of Blog. This apparently is going away, but for some time, Google paid less attention to super short entries. Articles over 350 words got more favor. So if you habitually write short, you might be hurting your Google standings.

2. SEO Keywords. If you are going to use keywords, USE them. Google adwords (http://www.google.com/adwords/) will let you know what words are popular searched for. Find ones with high numbers and low to medium request rates. Then, don’t just put them in your tags section, use them in the article. My rule of thumb at work is at least twice, although I’ve been told once is enough. Google is smart about words, so it will look in context. If you want “Catholic devotional” as a keyword, you can also say “devotional book for Catholics” and it will understand.

3. Google Plus. Google is the 800 pound gorilla and it wants Google Plus to grow. Thus, if you have a website, articles, blogs, whatever, under your name, you are more likely to have them show up higher in a Google search if you are also active on Google Plus. This is getting more important, as Google is starting to favor products over informational articles in the searches.

Google also puts you higher in searches by your Google Plus followers…and their followers. So being in circles increases the chance your stuff gets seen in the first page of a search.

4. Business and Pleasure on Google Plus. Unlike Facebook, Google Plus has a more serious, professional feel to it. You can certainly post pictures and memes, but take time to write. Also, if you want to score points with Google, use links and words rather than images. Google does not count images toward your Google cred. Pictures draw readers, so you need a balance, however.

5. Cut the Copy and Paste. I learned this one in February. Google is now smart enough to tell if you have posted the same stuff in more than one place, and it will downgrade both sites in its searches. So if you’re into “recycling” old posts, remember there’s a balance. It might be worth the 20 minutes to refresh that content to make Google happy.

And that’s the final thing: refresh. Google is now looking at how current your site is. If you are not putting in new content, then you will lose points in Google searches. You don’t have to add something every day, but depending on the site, monthly or quarterly is a good rule of thumb.

Google is a constantly changing beast, so what rings true today may be the big no-no next month. However, you can never go wrong with good content and interesting posts. Keep writing!

CWG Book Review-o-Rama by Karina Fabian

March 5, 2014/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Karina Fabian

One of the great things about the Catholic Writers Conference Live is getting books from authors…and knowing those authors are friends. One of the worst things is catching up on the HUGE pile that I bring home in the suitcase. I’m not much of a reviewer. I know what I like and if the book doesn’t click with me, I don’t take time to analyze or give it a second chance. I move on. As a result, my reviews tend to be short and of the “this is why I liked it” variety. Having said that, here are three books I received during CWCL that I loved:

God’s Bucket List by Teresa Tomeo: Theresa wrote this reflecting on her own crisis time, when her career was falling apart—or more accurately, metamorphosing—and as a result, it’s a great book for those in middle age. However, it’s also an excellent book for someone in their 20s, who is on the cusp of entering the real world of career and family. Teresa gives strong, insightful, spiritual and most of all USEFUL advice for finding a path that gives you a fulfilled life on earth as well as in heaven. Read it, and pass it on to your college-age kids.

Don’t You Forget About Me by Erin McCole Cupp: I really need to stop saying something isn’t my genre, because my friends keep proving me wrong. Case in point: Erin. Sorry, sweetie, I promised to read your book because we were having such a good time at the booth, but I wasn’t sure I would like it. I’m so glad you proved me wrong. It was delightful. The plot had plenty of twists but you tied them in so well together, I didn’t see them coming as I read, but looking back, I could say, “Oh!” I liked the characters and the setting was described enough to get me into it without making me want to skip paragraphs. Erin, I want the next one. Surprise me again!

The Girl Who Learned to Kneel by Sr. Patricia McCarthy: Having read about Edith Stein for a series of articles I wrote, I got caught up in the story of Etty Hillesum, a Jewess in Nazi Occupied Holland. She seemed to have started out in a secular humanist crowd in college, but one day gave into the urge to kneel and pray, and that changed her life and how she handled everything. This is a small book and Patricia writes it something like a book report, but that in no way takes away from the power of Etty’s story of finding faith and developing a bright, loving relationship with God in the middle of a dark and hateful time. If you are looking for a fast, Inspiring read, then pick it up.

Palace of the Twelve Pillars by Chris Weigand: I need to get this one on my son’s Kindle. Did you grow up on fairy tales of the good prince and the bad prince? Here’s one written for the more modern reader, with more adventure, but still the same sound principles. I did feel in the start of the book that the bad brother was a little too obviously bad and the good brother too obviously good, but I did find myself thinking about them now and again even after I put the book down. And (a total aside) the covers are amazing. I get serious cover envy when I see them.
There are more books on my pile still, and who knows if I’ll get through them all before next CWCL. However, it is a joy to have good friends who are also great writers.

Honoring the “Shadow Saint” His name is Joseph

March 4, 2014/3 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

I know St. Joseph’s feast day is not until March 19, but since this is the only day in the month of March I get to post here, I just have to write a few words in his honor right now. Hey, what can I say, I really love this guy.

I call Joseph of Nazareth the “Shadow Saint” because, even though his life was so quiet and unknown, he was still responsible for being foster-father to the God-man and husband to the God-man’s mom, Mary. He had to shelter them, protect them, feed them, provide for them. He married Mary while the cloud of “adultery” (a sin punishable by death) hung over her head. Imagine how incredibly difficult this must have been for him, a “righteous Jew” who followed the law and found himself betrothed to a pregnant woman who was not carrying his child. He must have loved Mary so much and had such great faith.

Then he managed to take her to Bethlehem for the census when she was almost full term. If that were I, I would have been sick to my stomach the whole way, wondering if my wife could make it and if the child would survive. This was an 80-mile trip over rocky and dusty roads and Mary had to ride a donkey. Then, after the baby is born in a dingy stable with smelly animals, he had to hide his wife and Son and run from the maniacal Herod, who wanted the child dead and had ordered his soldiers to find Him so they could kill Him. Imagine the fear and anxiety as you try to avoid detection. Imagine your heart pounding faster and faster at the sound of every hoofbeat or snapping branch. I can’t imagine. Joseph must have had incredible courage.

Back in Nazareth he raised his Boy as any loving and caring father would. He aided the Boy when he took his first steps, held Him on his lap when he fell and scraped his knee causing it to bleed, showed Him how to eat, taught Him how to pray, read the scriptures to Him and tucked Him into bed at night. No-one ever in the history of the world has ever been entrusted with such incredible responsibility. No one in the history of the world could tell Jesus, the God-man, when to go to bed or when to wash His hands for supper or “not to interrupt” if mom or dad was speaking. Yet, we know so little about this just and holy man. What we do know is he saved the Son of God who, in turn, lived long enough to save us all. Oh yeah, he also was married to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He loved her, took care of her, and protected her against all dangers.

There are no writings left behind by Joseph. There are no words that were spoken by him that were ever recorded. We have no idea as to what he might have even looked like. None of that matters, because we do know he was there when God needed him to be there. Last year Pope Francis picked St. Joseph’s Feast Day day to be installed as Pope. This was no coincidence I am sure. Joseph is considered the Protector of the Universal Church. He is also the patron saint of fathers and families. Next to his wife, The Blessed Virgin Mary, he is the greatest of all other saints. Just remember that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, called him, and only him, “dad”. And maybe (I like to think this) the Blessed Mother called him “sweetie” or “hon”.

Hey guys, imagine this. You get up in the morning and your wife says to you, “Good morning sweetie, want some bacon and eggs for breakfast?” You turn and look and the Blessed Virgin Mary is standing there in a housecoat holding two eggs in her hand. That would have happened to only one man in all of history and his name was Joseph. No one, anywhere, ever, was afforded such an honor. No one.

HAPPY FEAST DAY ST.JOSEPH Thanks for being there for your Boy, your wife, and for all of us.