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.