My Scribbler’s Heart
Uplanned, The Passion, & Hidden Blind Spots
Like many who watched the recent Abby Johnson bio-pic Unplanned (based on Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader’s Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line), I was startled by the utter contradiction of a joy-filled baby shower being held in the same site where dozens of babies lives were lost that very day, dismembered and discarded as biological waste. Not only did Abby and her friends and co-workers fail to recognize the humanity of every child in the womb, but they condemned each to death according to the mother’s wishes.
At the same time, in the midst of a Lenten Bible study (No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk through Christ’s Passion by Edward Sri), I struggled to comprehend the failure of the Jewish people (especially the Sandhedrin) to recognize the Messiah they’d long awaited standing before them. Not only did they not recognize Him, but they condemned Him to death.
Continue readingInspiring Adventures with An Edge: An Interview with Author Glenn Haggerty
Your author tagline is “Inspiring Adventures with an Edge.” Elaborate on what that means pertaining to your novels for teens.
I aim to write adventures that will grab the interest of young readers and provide hours of exciting entertainment. Life is edgy, so keeping the story is real as possible without crossing the line is the key to entertainment. Entertainment first, then it isn’t difficult to write from the perspective of hope. I want to give kids hope that they, too, can conquer this difficult period of life and walk away from this story feeling good about life and themselves.
What’s a Piggy Bank Worth?
When my oldest son was about five, we launched our allowance system that incorporated four piggy banks. Taking a cue from Dave Ramsey, we set up piggies for long-term savings, short-term savings, spending money, and charity.
That system served us well for eleven years. My youngest son just joined the allowance crowd (as his older brother is about to turn sixteen and, God-willing, find a “real” job), and it was time to overhaul the system.
Continue readingAn Open Book
Welcome to the April 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!
With his new job, my husband is spending more time traveling and therefore enjoying more audiobooks. He’s been listening to some Stephen King novels he last read in the 1980s, which have helped him complete our library’s winter reading program. And, self-serving as it may sound, he’s been listening to a couple of my audiobooks, including Rightfully Ours. (I know when he’s listening because he sends me messages about this or that familiar-sounding event or some detail that doesn’t jive.) Rightfully Ours by Carolyn Astfalk (me!) is a coming of age story about two teens in Williamsport, Pennsylvania who are drawn together by grief and circumstances. Together, they embark on a treasure hunt for lost Civil War gold, falling in love in the process.
I’ve been listening to Hurt Road by Bruce A. Stewart, a (mostly) easygoing story set in Lousiana in the 1960s and ‘70s. An orphaned teen moves from Detroit to the South to live with his grandparents, whom he hardly knows. The family farm on Hurt Road proves to be the place where Hank matures and falls in love. Likeable characters, light romance, and some suspense. I recommend this professionally-narrated novel.
No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk through Christ’s Passion by Edward Sri is the paperback companion to the Ascension Press Bible Study I’m participating in this spring. While it complements the workbook and video series well, it can be read as a standalone. Although filled with biblical typology, it’s not a series of dry and dull references. The insights have opened my heart to Christ’s passion in a new and deeper way.
My teenager picked up Darth Plagueis: Star Wars Legends by James Luceno on a recent library visit. I later breezed past the book lying on the dining room table and said, “Ooh, Death Plagues,” for which I was laughed at. Master of Careful Reading, that’s me. I was then schooled in the whole master/apprentice system by which the Sith endure. (For those not in the know, Darth Plagueis was Darth Sidius/Emperor Palpatine’s master.)
In my daughter’s fifth grade class, they are reading Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, which is the recipient of many awards. A privileged Mexican girl’s family experiences a reversal of fortune, forcing young Esperanza to work on a California farm during the Great Depression. Her mother’s illness and a labor strike further complicate matters for Esperanza.
While my oldest was choosing his Star Wars book, my first grader grabbed a couple of joke books and Cat Poems by Dave Crawley. We picked up the book on a whim, and I’m so glad we did! The poems are clever and sweet, and the illustrations are delightful and include a guide to various domestic cat breeds featured in the book.
My kindergartener is now privileged to bring home books from the school library. You and Me, Little Bear by MartinWaddell tugged on my heartstrings. In it, Big Bear (the Daddy) is too busy to play with Little Bear. Little Bear tags along with Big Bear while he completes his chores, then busies himself while Big Bear dozes before finally getting to play with his dad. But play they finally do. A sweet picture book that most parents and children will enjoy.
What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on XWant more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.
My Top 10 Favorite Podcasts
Linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top 10 Tuesday . . .
I’ve come late to podcasts. Very late. Until recently, I’ve had very little quiet, uninterrupted time in my life. Even now, if I try to listen to audio when my family is around, I end up frustrated by near-constant interruptions. So, I save listening to audiobooks and podcasts for when everyone is asleep or out of the house.
We also had an issue with a shared Apple ID, which essentially meant my husband and I sharing a podcast app. That was problematic, so I deleted the app from my phone and didn’t look back.
Now, however, we have separate Apple IDs, and a world of podcasts has opened up to me. I’ve been sampling some, listening here and there, and I’ve found one I absolutely love (the top spot below) and many others worth a second or third listen.
I’ve always called radio my “first love,” so it’s fun to venture into these audio adventures. Maybe I’ll even get more housecleaning done with them playing in the background!
Continue readingRelevant Fiction Reviews: Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety, depression, and panic disorder are featured in these recommended books. They are, in my opinion, well-depicted with realism and authenticity. Often, mental illness is isolating, and these books remind those who suffer from these disorders that they are not alone. They also help those who haven’t experienced these disorders to understand what it might be like to live with them.
For reasons unknown (or not recalled), I didn’t review two other books I’ve read and would recommend that include this topic: Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade and Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti.
Continue readingFiction for Saint Patrick’s Day
If your idea of celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day goes beyond green beer and “Kiss me, I’m Irish” stickers” here are some reading selections that feature Ireland, many honoring its faith and its patron saint.
