Is Bigger Better?

 

Just received my author copies for my upcoming release, Riptide, yesterday. Actually I received only four of them because they are the True Large Print versions. Not LARGE PRINT, but TRUE large print.  This version is like a trade-sized novel and yes, the words are huge.

Of course, on our e-readers we can adjust the size of fonts to make for easier reading if needed.

So choosing your book is no longer just about about whether or not you prefer to hold the hard copy in your hand, it’s what size of font you prefer. I’ve picked up some mass market books with print so small that even with my glasses it was a strain to read them.

So what’s the consensus out there—bigger is better?

Blessings!

Elizabeth Goddard

 

When We Don’t Get Things Write

Yes, I used the word “write” instead of “right” on purpose. Today during home school, I reviewed the differences between the two words with my youngest son and we worked on writing sentences for each word. While we worked through the correct use of each word, I pondered with another writing issue. A few days ago, I started reading a new book and discovered early on that the author had made a mistake. This isn’t something new and, to tag onto Maureen’s post, it’s part of the writer in me that I can’t turn off.

Except this error wasn’t a typo or anything simple, it was pretty big—an oversight, I’m sure, but still I thought maybe I was the one who was wrong because I couldn’t imagine this author or publisher would have missed this.

I’ve chosen to go with the grace card on this. I mean, we’re only human, right? We can’t be perfect all the time. We can’t get things right, every time, even when writing novels. I’ve made mistakes in my own stories, so I can’t throw any stones.

There is the element of artistic license, as well—when we choose to change the facts up to fit with our stories.

Here’s a question for you—do you feel that writers have any responsibility or obligation to get the story right—it’s fiction, isn’t it? Often writers include a letter to the reader to explain fact versus fiction, but sometimes not.

As readers, what is our responsibility to understand the difference between fact and fiction? How often do we believe the author, trusting that something we read in a novel is truth (beyond the obvious fictional storyline)?

Thoughts?

Blessings!
Elizabeth Goddard

Happy Valentine’s Day by Elizabeth Goddard

What are you doing on just the biggest romantic day of the year? I searched the statistics for Valentine’s Day and found some interesting stuff. The kind of things you’d imagine and expect, of course. Roses, cards and chocolates spending somewhere in the millions—the total Valentine’s Day spending in the billions.

One item that caught my attention on the spending list was the percentage of women who send themselves flowers.

Fifteen percent.

That percentage of women sending themselves flowers is not a small number. I have to wonder why send yourself flowers when you can spend that money on romantic reads. I mean, if you’re going to pretend, why not become engrossed in the whole story?

That brings me to my next questions. Romance with a happily ever after? Or a love story—Nicolas Sparks style—often with a tragic ending? Actually the last several of his stories/movies have had an HEA. There’s enough tragedy, enough of “real life” to go around, so I vote reading stories with a satisfying, happily ever after.

Make that a CHRISTIAN romance novel, and you truly can have a satisfying ending, because not only does the romance work out, the spiritual issues of the heart end well, too.

Why not dive into one of these romance novels, written by Christian authors who know what they’re doing? These a just a few on my large to-be-read list. Enjoy the day!

 

Blessings!

Elizabeth Goddard

Perfect Reading Weather by Elizabeth Goddard

Lazy summer days or warm cozy evenings beside the fire. Which would you choose for enjoying a good read?

It’s been raining here for days, and our backyard is a lake. Though snow is a rare event in central Louisiana, I love gray skies, whether they bring rain or snow. I’m sure I’m in the minority, but my preference probably stems from the fact that I work from home and don’t have to drive in inclement weather.

How I love a rainy day, cold or not. To play up the ambiance brought on by this week’s weather, I tried a new vegetable stew recipe and baked a fresh loaf of bread—all good smells filling my home.

What better to go with a rainy day and good food than a good book?

I began my hunt for just the right one. When I couldn’t find anything to fit my mood in my over-sized TBR (to be read) pile or on the shelves, I started searching on my Kindle, and then finally went to the Kindle Store. We have so many choices these days! Seeing a few good candidates, I then downloaded reading samples.

Do you download and read samples before you buy?

I’ve mentioned reading samples before, and that it’s even more important for authors to catch readers’ attention quickly. But we should already know that. Even in a bookstore readers can peruse as far into a book as they want until they make that final decision to buy.

But I don’t want to waste a good rainy day trying on books to see if they fit. So I eventually settled on a romantic suspense by one of our very own Christians Read authors. As I write this article the rain is coming down  harder, and I’m looking forward to settling into a comfy chair with my bowl of stew, bread and my good book.

Have a blessed day!

Is Reading Dangerous to Your Health? by Elizabeth Goddard

I have enough writing deadlines these days (which is a good thing) that my health might be suffering.  Okay, there’s really no question. And that’s a bad thing. You see, I don’t have time to do much more than write, which means I’m sitting.

A lot.

TrekDesk Treadmill/ Amazon.com

I need to exercise. This isn’t about making excuses either. I used to run every day until about two years ago when I started writing on double deadlines.  But you don’t have to be a writer to have this problem.

If you’re crazy about reading this could be you too. Maybe you’re not a couch potato, technically speaking. But do you spend hours reading every day? Still, I don’t think we’re going to see the Surgeon General Warning on books, at least anytime soon.

Thinking about this reminded me that years ago before I was a published and had writing deadlines to meet, I spent the time reading, and a good part of that time I spent riding a recumbent bike while I read.

I’m not sure what happened to that bike. Did it end up in a garage sale? Or sent to the Goodwill?

I’d love to have it back.

Fortunately, I’m not the only one with this all-consuming work schedule so there are many exercise machine solutions out there. I might even think about asking for one of these contraptions for Christmas. Think about it—you can read and write while you exercise on a TrekDesk Treadmill or any number of other offerings.

Sounding like a commercial isn’t my intention.  I’d love to hear from those of you who’ve tried the various exercise machines that allow you to read or use your laptop while you exercise. What do you like or dislike? I really want to know.

This could be the answer to my exercise problem.

___________________

Elizabeth Goddard

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of over a dozen romance novels. Treacherous Skies is her newest romantic suspense.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let’s make a few lists.

A. I wrote several pages listing everything that I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving. I started with breathing. That’s right. We should be thankful for each and every breath. If you start there when creating your list, you realize the list can go on and on. The list is infinite.

You better understand the scripture:

1. O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting.1 Chronicles 16:34

Or . . .

2. Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

God’s love is infinite. It never ceases, therefore our thanksgiving and praise should never cease.

The list of thanksgiving scriptures goes on.

B. Then I also wrote a list of things needing prayer, and things overshadowing my Thanksgiving. Two things that loom darker than the rest are:

1. Israel

2. Black Friday

The two hardly seem to go together, but there it is. There’s nothing more I can do for Israel except pray and prayer is most powerful. (And yes, our  nation needs major prayer too.)

On Black Friday, I have a question for you. I have never been one to brave the chaos on Black Friday, which has now morphed to include Thursdays, too. If you’re one of those brave souls, I assume you’re in it to save hundreds of dollars, otherwise what’s the point?

I’ll share with you that my dear grandmother beat the crowds to the Dollar Store one Black Friday. That’s right—the Dollar Store. Ahem. . .there wasn’t exactly a crowd there either. But picture that in your mind, and I hope it makes you smile.

Back to the topic. Are books ever on your list of items to grab during the chaos? No? Do you ever enter blog contests to win a free copy of an autographed book? They make great Christmas gifts to the book lovers among your friends and family. If you’re not interested in taking the time to comment on blogs for free books, perhaps consider shopping at your local Christian bookstore. If we want to remain thankful for the ability to shop at these stores, we need to support them.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Be Blessed!

Elizabeth Goddard

Time to Read by Elizabeth Goddard

More often than not I run across people who don’t read. It’s not because they don’t have an interest in reading a good novel, it’s because they don’t have time.  Someone went so far as to say it was more about getting hooked on a book or series of books, and then getting distracted from work or life or chores or family. I’ve heard this same “excuse” several times lately from various people.

You’ve heard that we make time for things we consider important.  But it’s difficult to find time even for the important things, isn’t it? So how does one fit reading into a hectic schedule?

It’s true that you can get hooked on a book and then other things get pushed aside. There’s the other side of the equation where the important things interrupt your book world in the middle of a great scene and you have to put the book down.  A painful experience, to be sure.  I understand the mindset that if you never pick up a good book to begin with, you won’t have to feel the pain of putting it down when life interrupts.  You won’t have to worry about neglecting the more important, the more necessary things of life.

Then why put yourself through it? How important is reading for pleasure anyway?

To an addict, reading is as vital to life, to the soul, as air is to the body. Okay, maybe that’s going a little far, but once you’ve experienced where words can take you, time is no longer your master because you become a time-traveler.

Time isn’t your enemy. Time is your friend.

Lifetime Readers

Maureen mentioned her non-fiction reader friends react somewhat negatively when she brings up a book she just read. Jim mentioned that he’s facing an empty-nest, but the good news is his wife is starting to read novels.

So where do lifetime readers come from?

In one of my previous posts, I talked about receiving a big box of books for my home schooling efforts.  I remember reading somewhere  that home schoolers are driven to produce readers. I know that’s true for me. Unfortunately, I’m in competition with the video gaming world, but the good news is—I think it’s working!

Life has interrupted a few times, and I had to put off reading to them. I wasn’t even sure they enjoyed our reading time, or if they were listening. But apparently all three of them have listened.  My middle son has been spouting off silly metaphors he learned from one of the books.

Imagine my pleasure when my oldest asked when we were going to read again—he really missed that particular story. I was ecstatic, too, that the kids groaned when I finished the chapter because they were anxious to hear what happened next.

Don’t get me wrong, they read a lot on their own, which I anticipate will also produce the desired results—lifetime readers.

If you’re an avid reader, never give up on your efforts to enlighten the non-readers around you.

 

Blessings!

Beth

 

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of Treacherous Skies, releasing November 27th.

 

 

 

Novel Recommendations by Elizabeth Goddard

I can’t believe I’m the first one to post on this!  I returned from the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference on Sunday with an armload of books to read. Usually, I don’t bring too many books back because it’s tough getting them into the luggage for my flight home. But this time I drove to the conference so I could take as many books as I wanted.  One of the fun things about the conference is there are a lot of free books.

Thomas Nelson gave out copies of The River by Michael Neale, and Zondervan shared copies of Falling to Pieces by Vannetta Chapman, for starters.  I came home with many more books that I’m eager to start on but I also purchased a few from the Carol Award Winner’s list, including a book the earned a perfect score in the contest–Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate. I also plan to read the finalists, too.

While my TBR (to be read) pile is growing, I’m working hard on getting the books read and loving every minute of it. In case you haven’t seen the list, I’m sharing the 2012 Carol Award Winners here.

Be blessed with some of the best that Christian fiction has to offer.

2012 Carol Award Winners

Debut Novel
Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Contemporary
The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell)

Long Contemporary Romance
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale)

Long Historical
Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)

Long Historical Romance
To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers)

Mystery
Falling to Pieces: A Shipshewana Amish Mystery by Vannetta Chapman (Zondervan)

Novella
An Accidental Christmas from A Biltmore Christmas by Diane T. Ashley/Aaron McCarver (Barbour Publishing)

Romantic Suspense
Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson)

Short Contemporary
Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan (Love Inspired)

Short Contemporary Suspense
Nightwatch by Valerie Hansen (Love Inspired Suspense)

Short Historical
The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh (Revell)

Speculative Fiction
Broken Sight by Steve Rzasa (Marcher Lord Press)

Suspense/Thriller
Fallen Angel by Major Jeff Struecker/Alton Gansky (B & H Fiction)

Women’s Fiction
Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate (Penguin Praise/Berkley)

Young Adult
The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

Living Books

Today is a good day because I’m expecting books. Lots and Lots of books!  I’m probably the only person who looks forward to school starting and that’s because of the books.

Books.

Books.

Books.

There’s almost nothing more exciting than when you’re expecting a big box of them. Or two. Or three.

In our home school, we don’t read boring textbooks. We read what’s termed “living books.”  Information shared or stories told by writers passionate about their topics. Lessons learned through the eyes of characters living in different times and places.

I’m going to pull from Jim Rubart’s earlier (and timely) post when he said, “. . .stories stick with us far longer than five points and two wrap up action steps. Stories embed their way into our soul. And they resurface at times when three bullet points wouldn’t come close to the comfort those stories bring.”

Exactly.

The same is true for school textbooks in general. How often do you recall something you read in a textbook during your school days that impassioned you? Or touched your soul and stayed with you? On the other hand, I’m sure you remember the classics you read like Where the Red Fern Grows, or Old Yeller, or historical novels that informed you of history.

In fact, the first series of Christian fiction novels I ever read was The Zion Covenant series by Bodie Thoene. I learned more about World War II that way than by anything I had studied in school. Perhaps you could argue that some of the history isn’t accurate.  In this case, Mrs. Thoene’s husband is a historian. We won’t start a discussion about textbook accuracy here.

One of my favorites is Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes—what a fabulous story about the revolutionary war through the eyes of a silversmith’s apprentice. I learned far more about the American Revolution through that book than any text.

By the Great Horn Spoon about the California Gold rush. Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman. The Witch of Blackbird Pond set in colonial Connecticut. The Call of the Wild by Jack London. I could keep going, but historical novels, when done with an eye for accuracy, can teach so much more than mere textbooks.

I’m not saying that we won’t be using any textbooks, but their use will be kept to the absolute minimum and heavily supplemented with living books.

Because when we read “living books” we remember. We are changed forever for having read them.

Now I’d love to hear from you. I’m guessing that your love for reading started with these kind of stories. Share one of your favorites.

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of Oregon Outback and Freezing Point, available wherever books are sold.

What Are You Passionate About? by Elizabeth Goddard

A picture is worth a thousand words. The old adage means that a picture will tell us so much more than we can easily put into words. What is the above image worth?  A thousand words, more or less?

One of my first thoughts when I saw these pictures was  about passion. People busy themselves with what they’re passionate about. They go out of their way.

My niece participated in the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, Texas  last week as part of the crew, which meant the family got up in the wee hours of the morning to get there. Depending on responsibilities in the event, someone on the balloon crew might have to get up at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning.

Now that’s passion. But the pictures tell us that the balloonists’ efforts are well worth it.

Writers have to be passionate about what they do because the process is painful, requiring time and sacrifice. Without that burning fire that drives an author, readers wouldn’t have books.

Book lovers are passionate about their books. About reading. We’re committed to reading, even if it means we only get a few minutes a day to read.  But mostly, we love it when we can read a book through to the end. Maybe we read through the night, finishing a novel in the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes, we even re-read the ending to experience the euphoria again.

Or is that just me?

Elizabeth Goddard is the author of OREGON OUTBACK  available  wherever books are sold.

Book Hoarders ‘R’ Us by Elizabeth Goddard

This month I moved from Texas to Louisiana.

Without my bookshelves.

They were built-in shelves, so couldn’t be moved. That was a bad decision from the start.

I have a lot of books. You’re probably a book lover, too, or you wouldn’t be reading this right now. So you understand what I’m saying, right? You can picture the utter chaos. Feel the overwhelming anxiety right along with me.

Moving has a way of opening a person’s eyes to the fact that they’re a hoarder.  I’m facing the music, er, books right now.

I have boxes and boxes of books with no place to go. I’ve donated some to the church library. Of course, I could buy some more shelves. But I’m taking my time and looking for new ways to shelve my books.  Browsing the web, I’ve discovered a lot of creative ideas.

Maybe I could just stack them against the wall or use crates. Or hang them in a specially designed macrame “shelf.” I’m open to suggestions.

Staircase bookshelves (http://www.flickr.com/photos/saeba/3161343181/)

Picture frame bookshelves (Avant-garde baroque style metal bookshelves
Graham and Green)

Glass enclosed bookshelves

Guitar bookshelves

Making a Connection by Elizabeth Goddard

Does point of view or narrative form play a role in your decision to purchase a novel? For instance, some people prefer reading novels that are written in first person over third person. For a while, I was stuck in third person—if I picked up a novel in first person, I would put it down. But I’ve learned to enjoy any narrative form.

Then there are people who prefer stories that are written in only one point of view. Others prefer more than one or two points of view. I enjoy reading stories that have multiple character views and the author reveals the story through their eyes. I love how an author will end a scene with a cliffhanger that’s  in one character’s view, and then I’m left to read through another character’s scene and resulting dilemma before I find out what happened in the last scene. These sorts of twists and turns will keep me on the edge of my seat. Add to that, I’m left to consider how these characters will meet or how their stories will fit together further along in the book.

If the author is skilled, I end up caring about all the characters. I feel connected to them.

I once met someone who would skip over a point of view switch so she could stick with the same character throughout the novel. Imagine!

I’m not sure how she could keep up with the story, considering how much is revealed through multiple characters. But she was an avid reader, so somehow she made this method of reading work for her. I’ve often pondered why she would read this way.  Had she grown comfortable with the character and become unwilling to let go? Perhaps it went much deeper—she connected with the character.

Photographer Michael Adams makes a good point in his article* when he says: “People will pay for connection; it’s what’s missing in their lives.” Though his article is about photography, it applies to everything because he’s right—connection is what’s missing in our lives, which is strange considering how much more we’re connected in this digital age.

Maybe when we read, we’re searching for that missing connection in the characters of novels.

At the end of the day, or ahem, the end of the novel, it’s all about connection and how deeply you connected with the characters. That’s the novel that will stay with you.

What was the last book you read that you felt connected with the characters in a personal way?

* http://digital-photography-school.com/3-things-i-learned-from-a-rock-star-about-the-business-of-portrait-photography#ixzz1zffkUbxC

All About Words and Weddings and Dreams by Elizabeth Goddard

Old photo of me in my wedding dress. Anthony B. Smith Photography

Recently, I went window shopping for a wedding dress with my daughter.  We didn’t go to buy a dress, but simply to browse the gowns and get a feel for what styles she liked.  If you’ve ever been in a wedding dress shop, you know that you can get lost in the dresses. They are so full and  thick and  all “gently” mashed together on racks that there isn’t a path through the store. A jungle comes to mind in which you have to chop your way through with a machete.

But of course we weren’t going to chop our way through the gorgeous dresses with lace and beads in every shade of white. Who knew white had so many shades, right? Then we were sent away with a bag of goodies that included wedding dress magazines and directed to the website with more wedding dresses to choose from that we could order.  If we order a dress, we have to wait four months.  A person could get overwhelmed with the choices.

Seeing the creativity and thought put into every imaginable skirt and design inspired me to the core, and reminded me that designing wedding dresses, or owning a wedding dress store, or becoming a wedding planner had been on my list of things I might want to be when I grew up. Anything at all related to weddings. Just one look at the bride-to-be on the dais trying on her gown brought tears to my eyes. At one point during my life I took cake decorating classes so I could make wedding cakes. See what I mean?

But that was just one of the many things I dreamed of becoming.  Here are a few others: marine biologist, astronaut, cellist in the orchestra, travel writer, work for the CIA or FBI, computer programmer. Some of these aren’t necessarily dreams as much as the reality of getting a paying job that I would enjoy. That’s not the complete list, but it’s a good start on my dreams and plans. Maybe I’m a little too eclectic in my thinking. My interests are both creative and technical. I love both science and art.

One of my dreams revolved around my love affair with reading. I wanted to do anything at all that involved the publishing industry. At one time I listed my business to type manuscripts in the back of Writer’s Digest Magazine. Back then, you could find pages listed with people in different states that would do that for you, and I was one of them.  Times have certainly changed, considering that most writers I know type their own manuscripts into their computer.  I wanted to do anything at all that would get me involved in the writing process because I loved words so much. I called that business,  All About Words.  Kind of sounds boring, but the title sums it up.

I never dreamed that I would actually be writing novels myself one day, though I wanted to be a writer. Plus, my novels can be about characters that do all the other things I wanted to do in life but never had the chance. I’d love to hear your list of things you dreamed of doing when you were growing up, and maybe even still dream about doing one day!

Elizabeth Goddard is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels, and she’s counting down the days until Oregon Outback releases on July 1^st.

CHRISTIANS READ MEGA CONTEST AT THE BOOK CLUB NETWORK

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Christians Read has teamed up with The Book Club Network for a special contest.  Details follow!
June 19-21

Enter the contest atThe Book Club Network HERE.

Contest runs for the month of June.  Be sure to enter–otherwise, you can’t win!

And please join us on FACEBOOK  and Twitter!

Blessings,

All the Christians Read Authors