Monthly Archives: August 2007

Blog book tour: Melody Carlson

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I didn’t know all that much about blog book tours until I received an invitation to participate in one. I feel like I’ve reached the promised land as a book blogger. Free books, people! Who could say no to that? And all I have to do is mention the books here. Easy as pie. It’s even better when the books are actually good. Ha.

So, welcome to the first Blog Tour at books are our friends. I have sitting on my desk six books by author Melody Carlson. Notes from a Spinning Planet series: Ireland, Mexico, and Papua New Guinea. Plus, The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor books: Bad Connection, Beyond Reach, and Playing with Fire.

Since I’m most familiar with south east Asia, I read Notes‘ Papua New Guinea. The story follows co-ed Maddie as she travels with her Aunt Sidney to the third-world country. Sidney, a magazine writer, and arguably the coolest auntie in literary history, is on assignment to discover … well, I’m not going to give it away. How’s that for a teaser?

I will say that I was surprised to learn what the novel — a Christian, young adult book — is about. And I applaud Carlson for taking on the subject. I’ll have my own children read this when they are teen-aged. Carlson has spun an entertaining story with likable characters, in an exotic locale around a topic that needs to be discussed.

As for the Samantha books, honestly I just skimmed the first book, but it looks good too. (Picky me doesn’t like the typeset. Oy. I’m weird.) Carlson takes it in a different direction with this series about prophetic visions.

Check out Melody Carlson’s website: melodycarlson.com

Smile! You work with books

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What do you do when the librarian doesn’t like you?

I mean, come on.

If I were a librarian, I’d make sure I wasn’t snarly or act depressed. I’d smile at patrons. I might even wear funky duds just to be That-Cool-Librarian-Who-Dresses-in-Funky-Clothes, know what I mean?

And when children come in with their mothers (stay-at-home, homeschooling moms) to check out arm loads of books about horses and dinosaurs, I’d say, “Have a nice day” or “You must really like books.” Even if I had to whisper it.

Yeah, that’s the kind of librarian I would be. I would write a book How to be a Nice Librarian, with the sequel The Happy Librarian. That’s the kind of librarian I would be.

On discipline

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From J. Mark Bertrand at The Master’s Artist:

When I first heard the term “spiritual discipline,” it seemed like an oxymoron. I thought of spiritual things as ecstatic and impromptu, as far from disciplined as it is possible to get. Paradoxically, though, I came to find that these disciplines really do foster a spiritual mindset. They make it possible to sustain over time what enthusiasm never can. “Creative discipline” may seem similarly contradictory, because creation and inspiration are organically linked — you can’t force them. But the irony is that through discipline, the artist can shape a personal process that not only allows for but stimulates the imagination. Imagination is a talent to be husbanded, and one way to do this is by building your capacity for immersion.

You can read the entire post here.