The first time I read "The Thief", I really liked it. But the narrative pace is so brisk and the plot so compelling that I rushed through it. And, given the tricksy nature of both that plot and of the main character, I suspected that if I read it again, I'd have even more fun than I did the first time.
Well, I was right. :D I reread "The Thief" and it was SO GOOD the second time through. Now that I knew what our hero, Eugenides, was up to, I caught so many tricks and traps and nuances that I hadn't even suspected the first time around.
My admiration for Whalen Turner grows and grows. Now I can't wait to reread the rest of the series!
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Links: all about education
I have a couple of posts up on education over at Regency Reflections:
Continuing Education:
Click on over and leave a comment - if you've read the great books, what sort of an influence have they had on you? and what do you think of Wollenstonecraft's version of feminism? Love to hear your thoughts.
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
Continuing Education:
I was lucky enough to get my part of my college education at a great books program – that is, a program based on the sort of education that’s been going over in England for centuries – back to the Regency time and beyond.
The big differences between what I did and what your average Regency gentleman did are:
1. I got to study the great works of Western literature in translation. Back in the day, you would have read Aristotle, Plato, Virgil and the rest in the original Greek and Latin.
2. I got to do it even though I’m a woman.Mary Wollenstonecraft: Education for Women:
Though she’s considered one of the mothers of feminism, Wollenstonecraft’s feminism was very different from the feminism that makes headlines today. Instead of arguing for the right of woman to be just as raunchy as the guys, Wollenstonecraft was concerned with women’s virtue: she argued that it was impossible for women to make wise decisions if they’d never been taught how to think.
Click on over and leave a comment - if you've read the great books, what sort of an influence have they had on you? and what do you think of Wollenstonecraft's version of feminism? Love to hear your thoughts.
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
Interview with Inspirational Regency Author Susanne Dietze
Recently, I was thrilled to learn that a friend of mine in the ACFW, Susanne Dietze, had signed a contract for literary representation, the first big step on the road to getting published. Since I know other aspiring authors read this blog, I asked Susie if she'd be willing to answer some questions about her journey to signing with her agent, and she kindly agreed. Here's my interview with her:
Susanne, you recently signed with an agent who will be representing your inspirational
Regency romance. What made you want to write in this genre?
I find the Regency era to be quite romantic. While brief (around ten years, from around 1810-1820), England’s Regency period packed a punch, rich in art, literature, architecture, fashion, landscape design, and more. It was also a time of regimented social expectations and rules. I’m intrigued by that sense of structure and how people worked within it. I love the dukes, debutantes, deceptions and drama! And romance, of course, between a gently-bred miss in an empire-waist gown and an unsuitable gentleman in a pair of gleaming Hessians.
How did you choose which agents to query? And, what excited you particularly about the
agent you signed with?
I spent about three years doing laid-back research: peeking at agent websites, listening to friends’ experiences with their agents, reading articles and agents’ blogs, etc. It’s important to learn what genres an agent represents and what she expects from her clients. I thought about what I might need in an agent, but I also decided it was better for me to have no agent than the wrong agent. So I prayed for God’s will, kept writing, and paid attention.
For years, I’ve been familiar with Tamela Hancock Murray (my agent—wahoo!) because she’s also an author, and I have a few of her books on my shelves. Her agency, The Steve Laube Agency, is represents many authors I enjoy and respect. Tamela is knowledgeable, affirming, approachable, and professional. The idea of being on her team thrilled me.
What was the hardest part about getting your manuscript ready to query?
Finishing it! You may laugh, but I’m serious. I was at a crossroads with my writing, wondering what to do after a rejection. I decided to rework an old story. Aside from keeping the premise, I started over, writing two chapters and a synopsis. I entered the story into two contests to receive some feedback. I finaled in one contest and won the other—and received proposal requests from the final round judges, who were editors. I obliged, but I still had to finish the manuscript.
Do you have any advice for beginning writers - or any who aren't quite beginning, but who
aren't professional yet either?
First of all, write. Secondly, have a teachable spirit. Read books on craft. Enter contests for feedback: discovering your weaknesses is a gift, because you can work on those areas. Thank those contest judges for giving of their time to help you, even if you disagree with them (or felt they were mean). Attend conferences if you can. I know how expensive they are, so I can’t talk: I just attended my first national conference—RWA—in July. But it was wonderful to meet people and learn so much about writing. You can purchase workshop CDs from both RWA and ACFW conferences.
How did you feel when your agent offered to represent you?
I was thrilled and humbled. It’s hard to describe how humbled I still am.
Who were you most excited to tell about your offer?
My husband. He was in a meeting, so I couldn’t contact him right away, and it drove me nuts. Of course I was also excited to tell my kids and parents, who have been patient and encouraging.
How do you fit writing time into every day life?
There’s no easy answer to this one. I’m still figuring it out. Finding balance looks different to everyone. For me, evenings are family time. But other writers find they only have evenings available. You have to discover what works best for your family and be flexible.
What's next for you? and, where can the readers of this blog find out more about you and
what you're up to?
I’m working on a new Regency, and I just set up a website. Both projects have been fun, but both have a long way to go to be complete! The website may not be finished, but I’ve posted some articles on Regency weddings, currency, Christmas, and offered links to some fabulous research sites. I’m adding things all the time (up next, pages on Regency “cant” and fashion).
Links:
www.susannedietze.com
www.susannedietze.blogspot.com
www.inkwellinspirations.com
My thanks to Susanne for stopping by the blog. I encourage you to subscribe to her blog - she's one fun and encouraging lady, and you'll want to add her title to your to-read list once it has a release date!
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
Susanne, you recently signed with an agent who will be representing your inspirational
Regency romance. What made you want to write in this genre?
I find the Regency era to be quite romantic. While brief (around ten years, from around 1810-1820), England’s Regency period packed a punch, rich in art, literature, architecture, fashion, landscape design, and more. It was also a time of regimented social expectations and rules. I’m intrigued by that sense of structure and how people worked within it. I love the dukes, debutantes, deceptions and drama! And romance, of course, between a gently-bred miss in an empire-waist gown and an unsuitable gentleman in a pair of gleaming Hessians.
How did you choose which agents to query? And, what excited you particularly about the
agent you signed with?
I spent about three years doing laid-back research: peeking at agent websites, listening to friends’ experiences with their agents, reading articles and agents’ blogs, etc. It’s important to learn what genres an agent represents and what she expects from her clients. I thought about what I might need in an agent, but I also decided it was better for me to have no agent than the wrong agent. So I prayed for God’s will, kept writing, and paid attention.
For years, I’ve been familiar with Tamela Hancock Murray (my agent—wahoo!) because she’s also an author, and I have a few of her books on my shelves. Her agency, The Steve Laube Agency, is represents many authors I enjoy and respect. Tamela is knowledgeable, affirming, approachable, and professional. The idea of being on her team thrilled me.
What was the hardest part about getting your manuscript ready to query?
Finishing it! You may laugh, but I’m serious. I was at a crossroads with my writing, wondering what to do after a rejection. I decided to rework an old story. Aside from keeping the premise, I started over, writing two chapters and a synopsis. I entered the story into two contests to receive some feedback. I finaled in one contest and won the other—and received proposal requests from the final round judges, who were editors. I obliged, but I still had to finish the manuscript.
Do you have any advice for beginning writers - or any who aren't quite beginning, but who
aren't professional yet either?
First of all, write. Secondly, have a teachable spirit. Read books on craft. Enter contests for feedback: discovering your weaknesses is a gift, because you can work on those areas. Thank those contest judges for giving of their time to help you, even if you disagree with them (or felt they were mean). Attend conferences if you can. I know how expensive they are, so I can’t talk: I just attended my first national conference—RWA—in July. But it was wonderful to meet people and learn so much about writing. You can purchase workshop CDs from both RWA and ACFW conferences.
How did you feel when your agent offered to represent you?
I was thrilled and humbled. It’s hard to describe how humbled I still am.
Who were you most excited to tell about your offer?
My husband. He was in a meeting, so I couldn’t contact him right away, and it drove me nuts. Of course I was also excited to tell my kids and parents, who have been patient and encouraging.
How do you fit writing time into every day life?
There’s no easy answer to this one. I’m still figuring it out. Finding balance looks different to everyone. For me, evenings are family time. But other writers find they only have evenings available. You have to discover what works best for your family and be flexible.
What's next for you? and, where can the readers of this blog find out more about you and
what you're up to?
I’m working on a new Regency, and I just set up a website. Both projects have been fun, but both have a long way to go to be complete! The website may not be finished, but I’ve posted some articles on Regency weddings, currency, Christmas, and offered links to some fabulous research sites. I’m adding things all the time (up next, pages on Regency “cant” and fashion).
Links:
www.susannedietze.com
www.susannedietze.blogspot.com
www.inkwellinspirations.com
My thanks to Susanne for stopping by the blog. I encourage you to subscribe to her blog - she's one fun and encouraging lady, and you'll want to add her title to your to-read list once it has a release date!
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
Friday, September 21, 2012
Video games I actually like
I only play video games, maybe . . . every other week or so?
But about every two weeks, that's what sounds most relaxing, and I give it a go.
They're always the same kind, though. I like the making-order-out-of-chaos style of games. :D The ones where not only are you straightening out a mess, but it's possible to straighten out the mess, and there aren't any distractions from straightening out the mess.
Gee, with four kids, why would I possibly find that relaxing?
So, here's what I like (and I feel like an old lady admitting that these are the ones I like):
-Tetris
-solitaire
-Doctor Mario
See? I am so not hip and happening. There was an old Super-NES game that involved juggling Yoshi eggs on flippable plates that I loved too, but I haven't been able to find it again.
So, here's my question: if you share my tastes, do you have any new ones to suggest to me?
-Jessica Snell
But about every two weeks, that's what sounds most relaxing, and I give it a go.
They're always the same kind, though. I like the making-order-out-of-chaos style of games. :D The ones where not only are you straightening out a mess, but it's possible to straighten out the mess, and there aren't any distractions from straightening out the mess.
Gee, with four kids, why would I possibly find that relaxing?
So, here's what I like (and I feel like an old lady admitting that these are the ones I like):
-Tetris
-solitaire
-Doctor Mario
See? I am so not hip and happening. There was an old Super-NES game that involved juggling Yoshi eggs on flippable plates that I loved too, but I haven't been able to find it again.
So, here's my question: if you share my tastes, do you have any new ones to suggest to me?
-Jessica Snell
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Weekend Eats Made Easy
Am I the only one who's great at getting dinner on the table during the week and resorts to take-out on the weekends?
No, not always, not constantly, but . . . it was happening often enough that it was making me a bit nuts. Not healthy, not budget-friendly.
An experiment
So! I tried something new, and it worked. I've been stopping by the grocery store on Fridays and buying three things:
1. Whatever meat is on sale. Or maybe cheese.
2. Whatever produce is on sale.
3. Bread/tortillas/chips . . . whatever looks good.
And on Friday I cook the meat and prep the produce. E.g., I bake and shred chicken and wash grapes.
Not complicated, right? But having meat, bread, and easy fruit or veg in the fridge makes it really, really easy to make healthy meals at home on the weekend. Quesadillas, sandwiches, nachos, chef salad, cheese and crackers . . . it doesn't really matter. But we've got our protein, our carb, and our produce. Since we've always got spices and condiments, there are a gazillion ways to combine whatever basics I've picked up and prepped.
Anyway - super-simple, and probably most of you have already figured something like this out, but I was feeling clever and wanted to share. :D
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
No, not always, not constantly, but . . . it was happening often enough that it was making me a bit nuts. Not healthy, not budget-friendly.
An experiment
So! I tried something new, and it worked. I've been stopping by the grocery store on Fridays and buying three things:
1. Whatever meat is on sale. Or maybe cheese.
2. Whatever produce is on sale.
3. Bread/tortillas/chips . . . whatever looks good.
And on Friday I cook the meat and prep the produce. E.g., I bake and shred chicken and wash grapes.
Not complicated, right? But having meat, bread, and easy fruit or veg in the fridge makes it really, really easy to make healthy meals at home on the weekend. Quesadillas, sandwiches, nachos, chef salad, cheese and crackers . . . it doesn't really matter. But we've got our protein, our carb, and our produce. Since we've always got spices and condiments, there are a gazillion ways to combine whatever basics I've picked up and prepped.
Anyway - super-simple, and probably most of you have already figured something like this out, but I was feeling clever and wanted to share. :D
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
Monday, September 17, 2012
Halfway Through 2012
I'm stealing this from momco3, so go over to her blog and check out her mid-year reflection on her New Year's Resolutions.
How am I doing on my New Year's Resolutions?
It's over halfway through the year, and time for a check-up. So, how am I doing?
Well, better than I thought I might be. Last year, I had about 20 resolutions. This year, I only have five. (Some year, I might decide to be sane and only have one.)
Here's what I wrote in my journal before I made my resolutions:
I’m wondering if my word for this next year, for this upcoming year, ought to be “faithful”. Last year it was “attend”, and I still don’t feel like I’ve come to the end of that.
But “faithful” came to me tonight, and here’s the fleshing out of that: I know what to do, and I just need to be faithful to do it. I know what my priorities are: I’m for loving God first, then for loving Adam, then for loving our children, then for writing, and then for taking care of my house (which really is a sub-section under loving Adam and the kids), and then . . . then I get a bit more confused. Extended family, friends, and church probably come in there next. But the first four are very clear: God, Adam, kids, writing. That’s me, those are my duty.
And I do all of those, but not faithfully. Not like breathing. And not in the right order, always. Or even often. So, “faithful”. I want to be faithful. I want to do the things I know I’m supposed to do, and do the most important ones first, and then let the rest fall into place.
The resolutions
-Love God. Specific ways I’m going to try and show this love:
How am I doing on my New Year's Resolutions?
It's over halfway through the year, and time for a check-up. So, how am I doing?
Well, better than I thought I might be. Last year, I had about 20 resolutions. This year, I only have five. (Some year, I might decide to be sane and only have one.)
Here's what I wrote in my journal before I made my resolutions:
I’m wondering if my word for this next year, for this upcoming year, ought to be “faithful”. Last year it was “attend”, and I still don’t feel like I’ve come to the end of that.
But “faithful” came to me tonight, and here’s the fleshing out of that: I know what to do, and I just need to be faithful to do it. I know what my priorities are: I’m for loving God first, then for loving Adam, then for loving our children, then for writing, and then for taking care of my house (which really is a sub-section under loving Adam and the kids), and then . . . then I get a bit more confused. Extended family, friends, and church probably come in there next. But the first four are very clear: God, Adam, kids, writing. That’s me, those are my duty.
And I do all of those, but not faithfully. Not like breathing. And not in the right order, always. Or even often. So, “faithful”. I want to be faithful. I want to do the things I know I’m supposed to do, and do the most important ones first, and then let the rest fall into place.
The resolutions
-Love God. Specific ways I’m going to try and show this love:
-use
the St. James devotional to read the Bible
-use
the St. James devotional or the BCP to pray, including Prayers of the People.
-pray
the Jesus prayer throughout the day.
-pray
and read Bible stories with the kids.
How am I doing on this one? Well, I've kept up on the first one, and on praying with the kids, but the rest have been spotty. Not non-existent, just inconsistent. So, I want to be more mindful of them for the rest of the year, esp. with reading Bible stories with the kids.
-Love Adam.
I think this one is going pretty well. :)
-Love the kids:
This one's interesting, because it's the one that takes up most of my time in day-to-day life. I've been noticing how much time I spend taking care of the kids' physical needs (bigger bodies mean MORE food prep and MORE laundry and BIGGER messes), and thinking that - especially while they're home in the summer - I need to include them in more of that work. This might, eventually, have the benefit of taking some of the weight of the household chores off my shoulders, but honestly the reason I want to do it is so that I can spend more time with them, not just taking care of them.
All in all, I think I'm doing well on this one, though as the kids continue to grow and change, I continue to see more and better ways to love them (the above just being one specific example).
-Write.
This is going well. I had a list of nine specific things I wanted to do in my writing life this year, and I've already accomplished five of them. That's really encouraging! If I keep working well, I think I might actually hit everything under this category this year.
How about you? How's it going past the mid-point?
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
How about you? How's it going past the mid-point?
Peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell
Thursday, September 13, 2012
returning TV shows I'm looking forward to this fall
the returning champs!
-Doctor Who - This has already started - God bless the British!
-Sherlock - oh, wait, there aren't any new episodes this fall - dang British.
-Downton Abbey - pretty people on pretty estates . . . oh, but one of my least favorite actresses is now a recurring character. Yay . . .? the British . . . ?
Castle - Maybe. I dunno, Fillion, will the goodwill from Firefly finally expire?
Once Upon a Time - bring on the stories, bring on the campiness! bring on the strangely-moving romance between Belle and Rumpelstiltskin!
Survivor - nothing but love, because they're bringing back Penner.
The Big Bang Theory - if I could watch the geeky parts without watching the smutty parts, I'd be a happy camper.
Oooookay, that was more negative than I thought it would be. Maybe television really IS unredeemable! ;)
What are you favorites?
-Jessica Snell
-Doctor Who - This has already started - God bless the British!
-Sherlock - oh, wait, there aren't any new episodes this fall - dang British.
-Downton Abbey - pretty people on pretty estates . . . oh, but one of my least favorite actresses is now a recurring character. Yay . . .? the British . . . ?
Castle - Maybe. I dunno, Fillion, will the goodwill from Firefly finally expire?
Once Upon a Time - bring on the stories, bring on the campiness! bring on the strangely-moving romance between Belle and Rumpelstiltskin!
Survivor - nothing but love, because they're bringing back Penner.
The Big Bang Theory - if I could watch the geeky parts without watching the smutty parts, I'd be a happy camper.
Oooookay, that was more negative than I thought it would be. Maybe television really IS unredeemable! ;)
What are you favorites?
-Jessica Snell
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