Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship (ICWF) Winner

Greetings to you as you take a moment to rest those tired writing fingers and read the winning submission from our most recent ICWF Word Challenge. The criteria was as follows:

Develop a story that contains the following:

God says, "No." What is the question?

God says, "Yes." What is the question?

God says, "Maybe..." What is the question?

The word count was to be 300 maximum and there was a deadline to meet. Participants on the Inscribe listserve voted and the following selection written by Joyce Harback won the honour of first place. Second place was awarded to Addy Oberlin and Bruce Atchison came in a close third. Congratulations to all.

Here is Joyce's winning entry:

There’s No Place Like Home

by Joyce Harback

I drove away from the babysitter’s home, weeping again. For six months I had been working temporary jobs after being laid off during a company downsizing. Money from the severance package was running out and I was trying the third caregiver for my toddler after two unmitigated disasters. As I gave her my contact information, my son began to cry but she firmly shooed me out the door.

“Crying is healthy,“ she said, “He’ll calm down after you leave.” His volume increased as I ran to the car, blinded by tears. I cried out to God as I drove. He is a God of miracles.

“Please, Lord, is there is ANY way you can make it possible for me to stay home with my boy?” I begged.

“I should be his caregiver. I don’t know how, but I can’t bear to see him cry like that every morning.”

Having rolled my burden over onto God, I wiped my eyes and started my job. After lunch my husband called.

“How are you?” he asked. “Oh, fine,”

Things were pretty crazy at his workplace, no need to burden him with my sadness.

“Now, don’t freak out,” my husband warned, “but my boss says they’re having a hard time finding someone to take that position up north.”

Rainbow Lake was where the road ends. Literally. Only the name was attractive. I knew exactly what he was suggesting. He wanted to apply for the job. It would be a huge promotion. The financial benefits were great.

“Yes,” I said. “Excuse me?” my husband said, shocked.

“Yes. I’m willing to go.” I explained my heart-broken appeal to God from the morning.

“This is the answer to my prayer.” He got the job, I got to be a stay-at-home mom and God got the glory.

******************************

Congratulations Joyce!

Part Two - Writing for the Stage - Less is Best!

Subtle type directions such as gestures, responses to dialogue, idiosyncrasies of character and the like, are left to the discretion of the director.

For a start, you as the writer are not usually aware of the type of stage where your play will be performed or some of the subtleties involved as a complete stranger interprets your play. Nor will you have control over the pace and delivery. Actors, if they have some experience, will be most aware of the acting is reacting truism. If you, as the writer, try to tell them how to respond or what to do, then you are actually stifling their creativity. You need to write using your God-given gift but you also need to learn to limit the fluff.

Give both the actor and the director credit for reading your story and interpreting it for the audience.

An area where the writer does have a reasonable measure of input is in the creation of the set. The first part of the script should offer a description of the setting: a living room; a hunting lodge; heaven’s gates; a church sanctuary; a homeless shelter. As tempting as it may be, however, resist the tendency to go into great detail about the luxurious velvet brocade on the Victorian couch and the shiny bronze spittoon beneath the solid mahogany, hand-carved hat rack. You’re not writing a novel. Keep that in mind and keep things simple. If it has no bearing on the play – scratch it.

It is okay to indicate the time period and condition of the furniture and where the pieces are situated on stage, but make sure that everything on stage is there for a purpose. If there is a teapot on the table with two cups, make sure someone has enjoyed a taste before the end of the play.

It’s okay to give minimal direction about lighting but only if it pertains to the mood of the play or is necessary for a particular moment, otherwise leave the lighting up to the lighting director or producer.

Stage directions for characters should also be kept to a minimum. A brief, general description of each character should suffice. Don’t worry about describing the specific outward appearance or personality traits unless it is essential to the role. Personality, attitude and behavior will emerge as the discourse progresses. Concentrate more on creating good dialogue than on instructing the actor how he should react or behave on stage.

When I write a play I often am the director, too, so it’s easy for me to work as I go. I often do bare bones stage directions in that case. But when I write to submit my work I have to read my work in a different light. Have I offered sufficient information for staging without going overboard, is a big question?

Because someone else is reading my play, I sometimes feel I need to explain more. However, if the dialogue is well done and the story line is believable then I remind myself that I need not worry.

Minimal stage directions are all the director needs. So, are you ready to get out that script and give it the once over? Here’s a good way to edit the stage directions in your script. Read each direction then ask yourself, each time – “Who needs to know this and why?”

Too much information is not always a good thing. Keep it simple, Shakespeare!

Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation

(Photo: Adrian Plass sharing wisdom and wisecracks!)

"Do you love what you are doing?" I asked Adrian Plass last Friday night after his presentation at the The Waterloo Mennonite Brethern Church. I was curious. This gentle giant of a man seemed a natural with his delightfully lovely (and oh, so familiar) British accent. I could tell he really did love his Anglican roots, although he did not mince words when it came to 'wound tight' Christians. Mr. Plass was very forthright and almost gushed at how much he loved his writing and speaking. He also told me a little bit about how he had been struggling with depression and how this ministry was the healing tonic that God poured into his vessel!

(Photo: Glen Soderholm - right and David White filling the night with a joyful sound!)

The music for the night provided by the sweet voiced Glen Soderholm and his multi-talented musical sidekick, David White, was delightfully uplifting, honouring and wonderfully entertaining. These gifted boys were a lovely complement to Adrian's cheeky one liners.

The intimate venue at the church on Lexington Road was perfect for creating an intimate setting for the World Vision Story and Song evening. I had a great time.

It's not often I venture out on my own to such an event. At one point, after those who were initially going to attend with me couldn't make it last minute, I thought I might not go. But since I had a ticket and my happy hubby was out of town, I hopped in my car and headed out. And I am not one bit sorry that I did.

Mr. Plass, with his unique humorous perspective on the Christian life, was responsible for many a stitch in the side. People were guffawing right, left and centre as Adrian Plass spoke about everything from bacon sandwiches and salvation to büstenhalters. (If you are even the slightest bit curious about the büstenhalter, then check out this video!)

I am extremely thankful to the Word Guild and Eric Spath for offering tickets to TWG members. I encourage anyone who still might have the opportunity to see this great presentation. It's a wonderful evening out. Now I am off to have a read of my signed copy of Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation.

ICWF September Word Challenge Results

Go Inscribers! Here are the results of the September Word Challenge. Actually there was a tie for first place so a hearty congratulations go out to both Violet Nesdoly for her cleverly 'boring' poem and also to Diane Stephenson for her creatively 'boring' story. Ya'll will know I am not being rude when you read the criteria for submission. Here it is:

'Describe in 200 words or less someone who looks bored. Do not use any form of the words 'yawned,' 'stared' or 'sighed.'

The artist takes calculus

by Violet Nesdoly

His feet were up, his eyes were down

he doodled through the lecture

and then slipped out his berry black

to go online and twitter.Of course he never raised his hand

when prof asked for the answer,

was sandwich-groping through his bag

when buzzer said to quit’er.

MONOTONY HAS GOT TO ME by Diane Stephenson

The young girl slouched in the overstuffed chair with her feet plopped on the hassock. A book sprawled open on her lap. Her eyes focussed somewhere–or nowhere–beyond the pages of the book. Elbow propped on the worn arm of the old chair, she absentmindedly leaned her chin in her open hand. Fingers drummed softly on her tanned cheek. A lazy fly buzzed aimlessly in the window. Without turning her head, her languid eyes glanced in that direction. She breathed in deeply and slowly let out a whisper of air through pursed lips. She closed the book and stretched her arms over her head. Slowly one foot dropped to the floor; the other followed. She stood. Leisurely, as if searching for something, she scanned the den. Not finding what she was looking for, she sauntered into the kitchen. One after another she opened the cupboard doors and shut them again with no obvious purpose. She shrugged her shoulders. Bare feet padded down the hall to the bedroom. Sue flopped on the bed. As her head sunk into the down pillow she threw an arm across her forehead. Consciousness faded as sleep prevailed over the monotony of the day.

Part One - Writing for the Stage

Stage fright does not only happen to actors. A writer, especially someone writing their first play, can be as equally terrified about what will, won’t or might happen on stage. Should the lead character shift upstage, downstage, left or right? And how will this movement affect the other characters? What is the job of the writer regarding stage directions and other interactive information? What constitutes too much information [TMI?] and how does the director, the actors, a potential publisher view TMI?

As you sit and contemplate [what you thought was] your completed script, let’s discuss how much is too much, regarding stage directions.

How Much Wood Would [Should] a Woodchuck Chuck…?

Probably the best piece of advice regarding writing stage directions into your script is to follow the KISS method – Keep It Simple Shakespeare!

First, if you want a character to move to a specific spot and you indicate this in your script, make sure there is a reason for him to move. Never have a character reach a spot and do nothing. Make it purposeful, otherwise it is distracting and the audience will be focusing on this actor [what is he going to do now?] rather than the one delivering the dialogue. Be careful that you do not offer realms of suggestions for movement. Be specific. For instance, Rosemarie crosses to pick up the telephone. That’s specific. Rosemarie crosses stage right, picks up telephone, dials and makes a surprised face when someone other than the person she was calling answers. TMI. This is too much information. The surprised face and body language is up to the director and the actor. The ensuing dialogue that you create should make this situation real to the audience – remember the old show, don’t tell, wisdom? You don’t need to offer particulars about location in your script. These details are evident in the set layout, which you have hopefully already established from the beginning.

Be aware of offering all kinds of upstage and downstage pointers. If it is essential for the director to know the actor must move stage left, then indicate so; otherwise leave movement and blocking alone. Let the director decide. Your concern as the writer is to show and tell the actor where he should be at a particular time only as it pertains to the relevancy and the flow of the story. A writer’s attempts at blocking are frequently viewed with annoyance by a director. As far as the director is concerned, the only time a writer need offer specific stage movement cues, is when they are necessary to advance the story. Too much information can be more than aggravating and may irritate the director or a potential publisher previewing a script sufficiently, to toss yours and pick up the next one in the pile.

Four Letter Words

There are so many four letter words in our English language. Here are some that can change the world: love, hope, care, heal, work, feel, duty, home, good, kind, pity, rest, seek, live, pray...

Can you think of any more?

*******************************************

The most important attributes a writer must have are faith, hope and clarity!

(Will Conway)

Isaac Assimov

"Thinking is the activity that I love best. and writing is simply thinking through my fingers!"

I like this guy!

Thinking

By reading, I can exchange a dull hour for a happy hour!

By writing, I can turn mere thoughts into an inspirational journey!

And the Winner Is...!

(Photo: Me sporting my own HAC shirt. You get a new one Joanna, don't worry!)

JOANNA MALLORY!

Congratulations! Joanna is the lucky winner of the Hot Apple Cider tee-shirt. Joanna's name, drawn from a pool of excited HAC readers, was selected by a highly esteemed 'judger of all things great' - namely my grandson!

If the truth be known, I have to confess that I had to make the tee-shirt draw twice. The first time around I was a tad eager and made the draw only to discover that an hour later, still under the wire, another eager HAC reader joined in on the fun.

Joanna's name was pulled the first time around (my happy hubby did the honors then!) I decided to wait until midnight after that.

The next day, when Trenton stuck his chubby little hand into the dish, Joanna's name surfaced once more!

It was meant to be. My conclusion. I was almost tempted to try again to see if it would happen three times, then I realized I was losing focus! Anyway...'nuff said. Thanks to everyone for their lovely comments about Hot Apple Cider (HAC). Here are Joanna's

And the Winner Is...

JOANNA MALLORY!

Congratulations!

Joanna is the lucky winner of

the Hot Apple Cider tee-shirt. Joanna's name, drawn from a pool of motivated HAC readers, was selected by a highly esteemed 'judger of all things great' - namely my grandson!

If the truth be known, I have to confess that I had to make the tee-shirt draw twice. The first time around I was a tad eager and made the draw only to discover that an hour later, still under the wire, another eager HAC reader joined in on the fun.
Joanna's name was pulled the first time around (my happy hubby did the honors then!) I decided to wait until midnight after that.

The next day, when Trenton stuck his chubby little hand into the dish, Joanna's name resurfaced!
My conclusion - it was meant to be. I was almost tempted to try again to see if it would happen three times, then I realized I was losing focus! Anyway...'nuff said. Thanks to everyone for their lovely comments about Hot Apple Cider (HAC).

BUT WAIT! There's more...We made a second draw. Jocelyn, my sweet little granddaughter decided we needed a runner up! So I am happy to announce that WENDY ELAINE NELLES - the esteemed co-editor of Hot Apple Cider was the 2nd place winner. She has a little surprise gift coming her way.

Joanna's comments on Hot Apple Cider were concise and right on. Here is what she had to say in her entry:

"Canadian Christian authors are a vibrant and articulate group, and Hot Apple Cider is a wonderful sample of some of their work. They're real people writing about real situations, with faith in a real God who makes a difference. I like the mix of fiction, non-fiction and poetry."

How true. Wendy, as always, is encouraging. Here are her comments on my post about HAC:

"Wonderful post, Glynis. Great to see how Hot Apple Cider has blessed so many people through you.I must say, this is the FIRST time I ever have seen a book promoted on the side of a car! How creative! It's like the big ads people with big budgets buy for the side of a big bus. Very cool. Maybe your low-cost marketing idea will catch on with lots of other Canadian writers who are Christian. Bravo, and glad to see you back in the saddle."

(Photo: The winners announced!)

(Photo: Me sporting my own HAC shirt. You get a new one Joanna, don't worry!)

Writing with Passion

Writing for me is a passion. I would love to be able to write full time and without restraint but because the incoming cheques from freelancing are not as frequent as the incoming bills, I have to offset my chosen profession by working at a job which promises a routine income. Thank the Lord, though, the job that I do each day is also one that I love. I often count my blessings when I think of how I am able to do the two things I love - writing and teaching.

Some days I am so busy with my students or lesson plans or meetings that I feel a little sad that I cannot work on something wholly writing related.

I was talking to someone lately - a beginning writer, in fact, about what he should be writing about and where he could start. My initial response was that I couldn't really answer that in a cut and dry manner.

When we talk about writing, we talk about passion and fervour and excitement and zeal and sometimes even obsession. I asked him what he was interested in and what he knew; what excited him and what did he read? Those are the things that God is laying on his heart. This new writer needed to find his niche and pursue it with relentless anticipation.

I remember when I first started writing for magazines. I had been writing a weekly slice of life, humour/inspirational column in our paper for a number of years, but then I wanted to branch out and write something else. I bungled headlong into what I thought was something I might do. In fact a writer friend told me to approach this regional magazine and ask for an assignment. To my absolute surprise, I got one.

A local drama professor was staging a one man play at a university. I was a little intimidated by the caliber of this man but I also knew a little about drama and I loved what this fellow was performing. My editor, in turn, loved my work and paid [well] on acceptance - the whole nine yards. But I was devastated to get a call a week later saying they had to bump my story because of advertising and since I was the lowest on the pole...but my editor gave me another assignment. I was to interview Miss Canada 1988. [My husband volunteered for the job but I reminded him I was the writer and then I pinched him!]

I chugged up in my old Buick and parked far away from Miss Canada's shiny baby-blue Mercedes. Miss Canada, a tall, blonde beauty complete with glittery glossed lips and perfectly manicured hands, welcomed me to her high tech office. This time it was total intimidation. I interviewed her in her posh office and it was all a little surreal.

I spilled my glass of water. My batteries died in my mini tape recorder. I felt like a frump and I ran as fast as I could once I got the interview. I prepared my story and sent it off. This time my editor didn't love me as much. She prefaced our conversation with something like 'you didn't like this assignment very much, did you?" I mumbled and stuttered my way through the telephone call but in the end she told me I had to set up and re-interview Miss Canada again. As if once wasn't enough! So I did and this time my article was published. It was a real lesson to me about writing with passion. But it still took another two by four to convince me completely.

My next assignment with this magazine was with a local fashion designer. I wore a splashy orange bargain store special and felt once again like second hand rose interviewing this professional fashion fellow. My story was published and life went on but there was something not quite right about what I was doing. It was all interesting stuff but my passion was hardly ignited.

Then I started to remember the One who had blessed me with a love for and a gift of writing. I realized I was a mom, a nurse a teacher with lots of passion and excitement for and about children. In a nutshell I started writing for children. I also wrote devotionals and articles for ministry magazines. I still occasionally do the odd 'different' article but I always make sure I am excited about and interested in what I write.

My point with all this rambling? Find your passion. Pursue it with fury. Discover the magazines that publish the kind of writing you want to do and then go to the library, bookstores, go online, visit thrift stores, yard sales, etc and study, read, study and read some more and then write without ceasing [and praying without ceasing is probably a good piece of advice to adhere to, too!]

No one can teach someone to have passion. It comes from within. So if you are serious about writing, don't worry, it will come. It will become something you 'just have to do!' Start thinking about what you know [or want to know] and then start looking for ways to fuel your passion and hone your skills - study to show thyself worthy of the gifts bestowed upon you! And most of all, have fun!

Inscribe Winner for August Word Challenge A

Congratulations to Bruce Atchison who won the most recent ICWF Word Challenge.

I am the Ontario Representative for Inscribe and one of my responsibilities includes creating a mini contest for Inscribe members. We have a lot of fun doing this and it helps give participating writers at all levels, motivation and encouragement.

If you are not familiar with Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship - check out the website. http://www.inscribe.org/. I promise you, you will not be bored! This is one of the most deliciously filling sites I have savoured. The information found on this site for writers will tempt the palate and before long you will find yourself tasting and being filled beyond your expectations (can you tell I haven't had supper?)

This most recent exercise for Inscribers was the following:

"Write a paragraph about a cat attacking something, but don't use the words, HISS, SCRATCH OR POUNCE. This might be a good challenge for those of us who have quite a time telling rather than showing. Find some lovely descriptions and make it a visual treat."

The votes are in and the winner is Bruce Atchison who wrote the following piece:

The Queen

Though summer is a time for memorable family activities, minor episodes can also leave lasting impressions. This recollection from my teenage years comes back to me as clear as if it happened yesterday.

Brilliant sunlight poured through the living room picture window early one evening as my family and I watched TV. Cocoa, our Siamese cat, gracefully entered, intent on stretching out in one of her customary spots. Then she froze, her sky blue eyes locking onto her favourite game.

In the centre of the rectangle of sunlight on the light brown carpet, a foolhardy fly sat motionless and exposed. This chance was too good to miss. Like a hunting jungle tiger, she slunk through the shade cast by the chesterfield to within two feet of the unsuspecting insect. Seeing that the fly hadn't noticed her stalking it, Cocoa crouched lower, gauged the distance to the target, and launched herself. Her lithe creamy body described a perfect arc as her dark chocolate forepaws pinned down her prey. Cocoa's expression abruptly changed as she sniffed the inert object.

It was a watermelon seed that a careless human dropped. With all the haughtiness a feline could muster, she straightened up and strode underneath the chesterfield. She flopped down and glared at us, her violently swishing tail conveying her righteous indignation. The raucous laughter from my sisters and me only deepened her chagrin at making such an undignified mistake. The Queen, as we nicknamed her, was definitely not amused.

The Shirt Off My Back!

Hello All. Just another little promo idea for Hot Apple Cider. Yours truly is sporting the latest in HAC casual wear. I so love this book that I will give the shirt off my back to help promote it.

So here's the deal...Write out in 50 words or less why you think people should read this uniquely Canadian book. It's that easy. The cut off date for this mini contest is August 31st. After that time, I will gently toss everyone's name into a hat and pick out a lucky writer's name. The winner will receive a lovely Hot Apple Cider tee shirt for his or her very own. And then the happy soul can wear it and tell everyone about this great Canadian work of art!

Let's do it. Your entry shall be written in the comments section of my blog. I will check them regularly and will happily jot your name down in anticipation of YOU being the lucky one whose name is drawn sometime after midnight on August 31st!

Have fun and get writing. Joy and Peace in the name of the One who has blessed us with a desire to write!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Being your own boss has merit. I love it and really, when I stop and think about it, I wouldn't change it. But sometimes I moan and groan and think how nice it would be to have a nine to five job where I come home and leave work behind.

I write and I am a private tutor. Writing is a passion but it doesn't pay the bills on a regular basis. Of course, I figure if I could find the time to write full time then it just might become a regular, reliable source of income. But I am not ready to give up my students and besides, I love them too much! I teach right now, grades three to eleven and my super students are a source of inspiration and motivation. I am certain God has me teaching for a reason.

So what are the advantages (the good) of being a freelance writer? First, as I alluded to earlier, you are your own boss. You can come and go as you please, set your own hours and you practice as a profession, the craft you love the most. You choose what you want to write about and have the liberty to express your creativity. Childcare expenses can be significantly reduced. You can toss in a load of laundry as you craft the next article. Dishes can be done as you await inspiration and if you really want to, you can work in your pyjamas!

On the other hand, freelancing doesn't bring in a regular paycheck (the bad) plus you are responsible for collecting your own money and keeping up with administrative work like bookkeeping, filing taxes plus you work alone and there are no fringe benefits.

Then there is the terrible 'r' word - rejection (the ugly). Most writers, especially novice writers, face multiple rejections as they seek to establish themselves and gain experience. It helps if you have thick skin and a strong faith. It also helps to think about and ask God if this is where He wants you to be at this time in your life.

And if it is...then you have made the right decision. Happy Writing.

Every so often on our Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship (ICWF) listserve that I belong to, I post a word challenge that is designed to promote a little chatter and encourage writers. I will post a criteria along with a deadline. Once I have received the submissions and the deadline is over, then I strip all the entries of any identification and arrange them in order. Then they are sent out once again for members to vote upon. Voters also usually send along comments on some or all of the entries. It is a wonderful way to receive some feedback and to get some encouragement.
This month's Word Challenge was to write a paragraph about a girl named Dot, but to use no letters with dots (that would be j & i). It wasn't quite as easy as you might think and we had some interesting entries.
Starting this month, the first place entry will be published here for everyone's reading pleasure.

Joyce Harback of Calgary, Alberta is the winner of our 'No Dot' Word Challenge for July. Congratulations, Joyce. Here is her entry:

“From Small to Tall” by Joyce Harback

Dot. Not a bad name, but so average. So short. The end of the sentence. A spot on a map. The smallest of the small, not tall at all. The trouble was, Dot was small. Patty loved to taunt her with “Dot the tot has teeth that rot” and other unpleasant rhymes about snot and pot. One summer day, as Patty and Dot made sandcastles at the beach, Patty chanted, “Dot’s not hot, she’s a crock pot.” Suddenly, Dot dumped a bucket of sand on Patty’s head. Patty let out a scream and ran to her mom, teary-eyed. Dot’s mom took Dot home and gently sat her down on the bed. “Why would you do that?” she asked. Dot hung her head and told how Patty teased her about her name. “Mom, why Dot?” she wept. “Everyone bugs me.” “Why, sweetheart, we named you Dorothy, or Dot for short. When you were born, we felt you were a present from God. That’s what your full name means.” “Wow,” Dot’s eyes shone. “Could everyone please call me Dorothy from now on?” “Okay,” her mom nodded, “but you must say you’re sorry to Patty.” Dorothy agreed and suddenly she felt very tall.

Read Canada!

I love Hot Apple Cider #1. If you haven't had the privilege of reading this distinctly Canadian book yet, why not take a little trip downtown and buy a copy from your local bookstore this weekend? Nudge...nudge...

I am privileged to say that I know the majority of the Canadian authors whose work appears in this lovely volume. It is somewhat akin to the Chicken Soup Series books but it's typically Northern content is absolutely heart-warming.

I was intending to submit a story and climb aboard when this book was being readied for publication, but circumstances prevented me from doing so. Perhaps when #2 is in the making.

When I was going through my cancer journey last year, in lieu of flowers, Nancy Lindquist sent me some copies of Hot Apple Cider and encouraged me to pass them out to people I encountered and who I felt led to share them with. I had so many angels in my midst and was able to give them out for many different reasons.

There was Casey, my favourite ultrasound technician who initially found the tumours. I visited her numerous times after that for more tests and she came a wonderfully encouraging part of my health care team. As I lay on her stretcher, we had some good conversations about books and the like. So I thought it most fitting for Casey to be my first angel to receive a copy of Hot Apple Cider. Then there was the private nurse's aid who took her turn on the shift caring for the elderly patient next to me following my surgery. She shared some shocking stories with me and for some reason opened up about the abusive life she had lived. We had a wonderful spiritually uplifting conversation and when I handed her the book she wept and told me that no one had ever given her a book in her life before.

A mother of one of my students cared for me like a mother, preparing meals and surprises not just once but at least half a dozen times a month. And when the laundry basket full of dinner arrived, there would not be a casserole. We feasted on spareribs, roasts, chicken and more. She received a book and savoured it in small bites, digesting and sharing with me some of her responses to the stories.

And there were more. I think I received 6 or 8 books. I was so blessed and grateful that I was sent some copies of Hot Apple Cider and was proud to pass on this beautiful collection of heartwarming stories written by Canadians.

I am so thrilled with this wonderful ground breaking book - a collection of stories written by Canadians who are Christian, that I had some magnetic car signs made up. I'm loving mine. Do you like it? Happy Reading.

Mohamed's Moon

"...The sun burned like a welder's arc, cutting a white hole in the sky..."

"...A lone pelican flew by, a silhoutte on a shimmering red sky..."

"...The plane shuddered, making a tempest of the coffee in his cup..."

"...The car pulled away, disappearing into the mist like a bug caught up in a spiderweb..."




Keith Clemons, award winning author from Caledon, Ontario, is a master at creating word pictures. As I started to read through his latest book - Mohamed's Moon, I found myself captivated by his ability to write in pictures.

The cover of Mohamed's Moon suggests that the story line offers a conflict with grave repurcussions, little hope of resolution set against a back drop of a ticking clock. I was not disappointed as I read each page expectantly.

The story begins on the shores of the Nile as Mohammed and Layla - childhood best friends - - enjoy the innocence of youth. Layla's father a physician works in Egypt among those of the Muslim faith. When Layla talks to Mohammed about becoming a Christian so that they can marry one day, he tells her that all Christians are liars and infidels. A foundation is laid as it is revealed that Zainab, Mohamed's mother is actually a Christian.

The story takes off early as we enter into the distorted thought process of Khalaf, Mohamed's father, who sacrifices his life and many others for the sake of Allah. Through a series of flashbacks and clever dialogue sequences, we follow Mohamed and Layla into adulthood and become a part of the triangle that is the basis for this exceptional story.

In Mohamed's Moon, tension builds between the two brothers Matthew and Mohamed - twins separated at birth as they clash about the state of one another's culture and the expectations of Isa - Jesus - Allah - Jehovah. It is interesting to hear how some of the Muslim faith view western society. Mohamed refers to the western world as a land of gluttony rather than a land of plenty. Food for thought. This fiction story is certainly thought provoking in many ways.

At first a reader might cry predicatability and a bit of a far fetched idea for twin brothers to find each other after more than two decades and that they would both fall in love with the same girl - Layla.

But, there is nothing predictable about the plot in Mohamed's Moon. The story, interwoven with stunning descriptions that take the reader on one adventure after another, is plausible in every sense. Mohamed's Moon blends romance and suspense creating tension as Mohamed and Matthew face physical, psychological and spiritual challenges throughout the book.

Islam verses Christianity. A vengeful Allah verses a loving God. Religion verses relationship. The battle is subtle yet the profundity of faith and Who truly reigns supreme, shines through as Mr. Clemons carries his characters through one journey after another.

Mohamed's Moon is an excellent summer read and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, a little bit of romance, high adventure, a great plot twist and a not so predictable ending. I was riveted. Congratulations Keith Clemons.