Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.28.2007 Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. She’s Out of Control by Kristin Billerbeck Two books in the Black Or White series by John Aubrey Anderson Ono grinds . . . Let’s talk about food. Because I must confess, that’s one of the primary reasons I go back to Hawaii as often as I can. I have a list of foods I want to eat when I visit my parents. My husband is rather envious right about now because I’ve eaten some of his favorites, too. I have to eat kalbi and meat chun (thin beef slices quick-fried in a light egg batter) at Dong Yang Inn, a hole-in-the-wall Korean BBQ diner. They serve massive portions and the food is fabulous. The kalbi is served over rice so the juices and marinade can make a sort of light gravy. I had this on Saturday and considered calling Captain Caffeine to gloat, but my mom said that was too mean. However, I’m making it up to him because we’ll order some the night before I leave, freez...

ATTENTION: UNPUBLISHED MYSTERY/SUSPENSE & ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AUTHORS The Kiss of Death Chapter's 2007 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense is rapidly approaching, and although the body count is adding up, there's still room for yours! Look what New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan has to say about the Daphne … "In 2003, I finaled in the Single Title Daphne and came in second. While I didn't sell that book, the editor and agent comments were invaluable in helping me figure out my writing strengths and weaknesses. As a result, the next year I found an agent and sold THE PREY to Ballantine." -- Allison Brennan, author of SPEAK NO EVIL, out now!!! So pull those manuscripts out of the crypt and send them post haste. Why? Because the deadline is March 15, 2007. What happens if you don't? It frightens us to say. The Daphne has enlisted the help of some acquiring editors and agents as final round judges who rarely judge contests. ...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.26.2007 Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. She’s Out of Control by Kristin Billerbeck Two books in the Black Or White series by John Aubrey Anderson Aloha oi . . . Arrived in Honolulu on Friday without mishap. I brought mochi for my mom, which made her absolutely ecstatic and which gives me “Good Daughter Status” for the remainder of my stay. As soon as the plane touched down, I got slammed with a massive sinus headache. Lucky me, we were in for a heavy rainfall that evening and so my internal barometer went nuts. My mom has the same thing—when the pressure changes just before it rains, she has a bad sinus headache. I didn’t have these symptoms when I was younger, but as soon as I hit 25 I started getting sinus headaches, too. Captain Caffeine scoffed at me until I started having a 100% success rate of rain prediction. Ha! Anyway, I had to take sinus medication and a nap. On Saturday, my friend Malia Spencer ...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.23.2007 I’m such a homebody. Even though I have a chance to go visit my parents for a week, I’m lamenting the fact I won’t be home. I’m already missing my dog and my husband. What is it about the familiar and the old routine that’s so appealing? Isn’t change of pace and a new scene supposed to be exciting? Am I just becoming a fuddy-duddy? No, wait, don’t answer that. :) Anyway, I’ll be blogging from Hawaii next week. I’m hopeful I’ll be consistent about it, but if not ... oh well.

Captain’s Log, Supplemental I had heard that sock knitting is another level up from beginner, so I did some internet searches and a few knitters who visit my blog gave some suggested websites. I found a great article, Socks 101 by Kate Atherley, with a miniature training sock pattern and gave it a go: It was a totally neat design to just teach me the basics of working on double point needles, shaping the heel, etc. Making a sock isn’t very hard, either. Michael’s had wool yarn on sale so now I’m working on a pair of socks I can wear around the house. Gotta finish it before the cold weather warms up! Knitting has become so much fun! I’ve been getting some great brainstorming done on my manuscript while I knit. I’ve discovered that it’s because I need tactile stimulation when I’m in a creative mode. Something to do with the way my brain and senses are wired. I have friends who touch things when they enter a room in order to “see” it. My tactile-creativity is something like that. Have yo...

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Two books for moms by Jenn Doucette She’s Out of Control by Kristin Billerbeck I got this from my friend Cheryl Wyatt . This made me laugh SO HARD I thought I was going to pass out. A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen. "Careful," he said, "CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh MAN! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my GOSH! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful ... CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!" The wife stared at him. "What in the world is wrong with you? You thin...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.21.2007 The beginning knitter’s gold mine Knowing little about knitting, except fuzzy memories of what my mom taught me when I was a kid, I searched the web and found this FABULOUS site: http://www.knittinghelp.com/ The web editor is a videographer, and she’s got tons of videos on how to knit. Even better, she shows each knitting technique in both the American knitting method and Continental (German) knitting method. I only knew the American method, but after watching the videos of the Continental method, I switched to that instead. It’s so much faster and easier. The way you hold the yarn in the Continental method is also very similar to crocheting, so I recommended it to my auntie, who’s great at crocheting and wanted to learn how to knit. The website goes into all the things a beginning knitter would need to know, such as casting on, joining yarn, binding off, etc. For this novice knitter, this site is priceless. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.20.2007 New novel for teens! My friend Sarah Ann Sumpolec has a very new, very cool, very FREE young adult novel. I’ll let her tell you about it: I am putting out the novel on a reverse blog platform, which just means that the first page of the blog will always be the first page of the book. It’s a complete novel, but it’s also written entirely in free-verse poetry. This is something that is very big in secular Young Adult fiction but CBA (Christian publishing) has yet to be convinced. It’s also a spin-off from my original series, Becoming Beka . The novel will be released a few pages at a time, so every day there will be new content up there. It’s at www.totallyunfamous.com if you want to take a look at it. And of course, if you can help spread the word about the project, I’d be grateful as well. I’m betting at least some of you know some teen groups that might be interested in this new book. Sarah Camy here: I started reading it, and it’s really neat. It’...

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Breaking news! I was supposed to have a telephone interview today with some people from my marketing department, but I just got a call from my Senior Editor. Apparently they received a suspicious package and the entire building was evacuated! You can read the (very short) story here. Woodtv.com is the Grand Rapids, Michigan local news.

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Two books for moms by Jenn Doucette She’s Out of Control by Kristin Billerbeck The Year of the Boar Happy Chinese New Year! Actually, it was yesterday, but since very few people visit my blog on weekends, I thought I’d post this a bit late. Cool New Graphics - MySpace/Friendster This is the Year of the Boar. So if you were born in any of the following years, you’re a Boar baby. 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 I am a rattie (Year of the Mouse/Rat/Rodent), which actually suits me fine since I’ve had pet rats before. Domestic pet rats are cuties! What Zodiac year are you? Don’t know? Check out this chart .

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.16.2007 Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Along Came Jones by Linda Windsor Two books for moms by Jenn Doucette I knitted a tea cozy! Here’s a picture of the original , and here’s the original pattern . I pretty much followed it, except I used a ribbon instead of a knitted tie at the top. I made it a little too big because I used the wrong size needles, so I also made two squares in garter stitch and sewed them to the inside of the cozy for a bit more insulation and better shaping. I’m so impressed with myself. This was the first time I did any complicated designs like the bobble/bubble/popcorn stitch and the diamond panel. Now when I host our local Christian writers’ group, our ginger peach tea won’t get cold so fast.

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.15.2007 Today, I have an interview with one of the funnest people I know, Jenn Doucette ! Two of Jenn's books are: Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This: Refreshing Rest Stops for Moms on the Run Mothers often feel they are running as fast as they can to keep up or to stay just ahead of those who want a piece of their time, energy, and self. Author, speaker, and mother Jenn Doucette offers a humorous and insightful look at how every mom on the run can head for much–needed rest stops by: * experiencing girl time * choosing contentment * setting boundaries and achieve freedom * getting a grip on emotions * giving themselves a break With comedic flair, Doucette confesses to her own failings as well as God’s successes in the face of them, reminding mothers that it is healthy to laugh, take a break, and practice grace. The Velveteen Mommy - Laughter and Tears from the Toy Box Years As a stay-at-home mom, Jenn Doucette enjoys the smallest ...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.14.2007 Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Renovating Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck Along Came Jones by Linda Windsor Bah, humbug. No, I’m not really a Valentine’s Day Scrooge, but I do object to my husband spending money on flowers that will die in a week. I’m also not a huge diamond or jewelry kind of girl, so the Kay’s commercials are starting to annoy me. I’ve actually had very few Valentine’s Day gifts ever given to me. The ones I’ve gotten have been rather nice, actually. However, I’ve heard some horror stories that would make your hair curl. (And the picture above is NOT a candidate for a bad V-day gift. It’s a DeBrand truffle heart box and I wouldn’t mind some money thrown away for something luscious like that...) Then I thought it might be fun to mention some of the worst Valentine’s Day presents you’ve ever received, whether from Current Significant Other or Past Romantic Mistake. Oh, okay, and you...

Congrats to Audra!

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Renovating Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck Along Came Jones by Linda Windsor Japanese Good Eats I made chawanmushi the other night for dinner. This is a fast, easy, very Japanese dish. Chawanmushi (chow-on-moo-shee) is savory custard with meat and vegetables. It’s salty with a hint of sweet. When I was growing up, Mom made this every so often, especially if she had eggs she needed to get rid of. It’s great because it’s so versatile. You can put literally anything you want in it. You also eat it with a spoon rather than chopsticks. Here’s a more traditional recipe. I did the Camy-version—less labor-intensive and with ingredients that were easier to find: 6 eggs (I will often substitude egg whites for a couple of the whole eggs—two whites for every whole egg) 1 teaspoon dry sherry (I used Amontillado) 1 teaspoon sugar 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil, or olive oil,...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.13.2007 I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned anything about the Genesis contest yet. Well, it’s finally here! The 2007 Genesis contest for unpublished writers, put on by American Christian Fiction Writers . The Genesis contest, formerly known as the Noble Theme contest, is becoming one of the largest Christian Fiction writing contests in the world. Yours truly is the contest coordinator (again) this year. Head on over to the Genesis page on the ACFW website for more information. Some highlights of the contest: --We have TEN CATEGORIES of Christian Fiction --You can enter as many entries as you like, in as many categories as you like (although you need to pay a separate entry fee for each entry) --It is all electronic this year, which means no postage, no printing, no copying, no self-addressed stamped envelope, no entries or scoresheets lost in the mail. All entries will be judged using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature. And if you don’t have Microsoft ...

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Renovating Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck Along Came Jones by Linda Windsor R-rated dog toys... My friend Minza used to be my roommate, and she’s a garage-sale Diva. She can find the best stuff for the most impossible prices. (She found my Villeroy and Boch oval casserole dish for a dollar!) Anyway, I had lunch with her the other day and she gave me a little plastic squeak toy for my dog that she found at a garage sale. Cute, right? Well, beneath that sweet exterior lurked the most horrific “death squeal” I’ve ever heard. If you squeeze its head, it looses this bloodcurdling scream that sounds like the agonized cry of a dying pig. Snickers loves it. The funny thing is that she’ll mouth it for a little while, then toss it a foot away and bark at it. As if it’s going to hop up and play with her. My dog is so stupid.

Captain’s Log, Supplemental For writers: My friend Ron Estrada has started a new blog (actually, he’s revamped his old one) specifically for marketing strategies for writers called “The Marketing Writer” (very original there, dude). Okay, seriously now—it’s a terrific blog premise. Here’s what it’s about: My little scheme is to use this blog as the staging area for my marketing plan. Why? Because I can lay it out, step by step, as I go. AND I can include you in the process. . . . It’s not enough that you have talent. It’s not enough that you were called. You must do whatever you can to ensure all that talent doesn’t go to waste. That’s where marketing comes in. It’s an investment in your writing. The greater the return on that investment, the more you can give back to Him. I’m not just talking dollars, I’m talking souls reached for the Kingdom. Sound cool? Head on over to The Marketing Writer and add his RSS feed to your news/blog aggregator.

Sorry, mates, I never got clue #6. But here's your chance at clue #7!

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini Renovating Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck C.H. tagged me. This is actually a really good meme because everyone should be able to give their testimony in 100 words or less. When I was growing up, I depended wholly on my own resources in my friendships, my family life, and in my school life. I wasn’t very sociable and fell into a suicidal depression. But God sent the right person with the right words to make me realize I could have a new life, a “do-over,” if I gave my life to Jesus. God saved me from that depression. He continues to show me that I don’t need to depend on myself, I only need to depend on Him. I’m never alone. How about you? What’s your testimony? Good girl blogging: I want to give a shout out to my fellow Christian chick lit author friends, Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. They have a blog called Good Girl Lit that you reeeeee...

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.08.2007 Today I have my very good friend and sister, Sharon Hinck, blogging with me! Sharon's latest latest mom lit novel is  Renovating Becky Miller ! Becky Miller's Guide to Home Repair * Budget the gross national product of a small country--then double it. * Never, ever invite your mother-in-law to stay with you during a remodel. * Figure out how to heat the living room before inviting your Bible study group over. * Stock up on Tylenol and chocolate and sandbags. * Hire a professional to fix the plumbing. * Sometimes renovation is an inside job. In addition to being a young mom, Becky Miller is a daydreamer. Most recently, she's been envisioning herself in the happy endings she sees during her weekly movie nights with husband Kevin. But her real life feels more like a broken filmstrip, spinning out of control! When Becky and her family decide to purchase a rundown farmhouse, Becky pictures a slower, simpler lifestyle in the pa...

I'm a bit busy. Entertain yourselves!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.06.2007 Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini I got tagged by both Angie Breidenbach (Finish the Book e-mail loop) and Cheryl Wyatt . Six weird things about me: 1) I stand and work at my computer almost the entire day, leaving my expensive ergonomic chair to languish in abandonment. The reason is because standing was actually better for my back, and I can do a little light aerobics while at my computer. 2) I did mention I had 3500 books, right? Here’s the proof. 3) I knitted a toilet seat cover to prevent my bum from freezing. It does not get weirder than that. 4) I absolutely love handbags, but I hardly ever switch the one I’m using. I had a black Dooney and Bourke backpack purse for several years (that thing was indestructible! I loved it) until I recently switched to the cutest little pink Dooney and Bourke purse that I got on sale. 5) I have...

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini MOCHI!!! I grew up eating mochi. It’s a sweet, sticky treat, made in various ways, that I ate about as often as any other American kid would eat chocolate cake. The easiest is mochi baked in a pan, which I always knew as butter mochi. It’s also called custard mochi. The ladies at my church are FABULOUS cooks and bakers, and the church has “Happy Hour” once a month where women take their turns cooking or baking little treats for people to eat while they hang out after service. (I referenced Happy Hour in my second book in my Sushi Series! LOL) My husband brought home something one of the ladies made for Happy Hour. It’s a new take on butter mochi—blueberry mochi! I searched online until I found this recipe at JustJennDesigns.com , which is altered from the original. However, I think this is the recipe that was...

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My friend Christa posted my book cover on her blog ! Please head over and send her some cyber love. I’m the Friday columnist for Writer . . . Interrupted blog! Here’s a blurb from the blogsite: We’re men and women writers interrupted by the daily tasks of parenting and paying jobs, carpools and business meetings, homeschooling and housekeeping, and we’re learning to be content in this season God has called us to. My Fiction Friday column is “Quick Fiction Fixes,” little tips and tricks for writers whose time for writing and revision is very short and precious. I hope you stop on over every Friday to say hi to me! Writer . . . Interrupted is run by my friend Gina Conroy (please note her new blog address). I also posted another Health and the Writer article at WriterQuotes , another Write Time column at WordPraize , and another article on characters at my Story Sensei blog .

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.05.2007 Today I have and interview with my California beach-babe friend Julie Carobini about her new mom lit novel, Chocolate Beach ! Even a laid-back beach girl has her doubts.... Bri Stone has it all: the man of her dreams and their surf-ridin' teenage son, a chocolate-loving best pal, an adorable beach bungalow, and a kicky job as a Southern California tour bus host. She also has a few things she didn't ask for: a know-it-all friend, a snobby mother-in-law, and a Fabio-meets-Dilbert boss. All three of them seem eager to share their strong opinions and suspicions about Bri's relationship with her husband, Douglas. When Bri's rose-colored glasses crack after she finds evidence that Douglas has grown tired of her carefree ways, she resolves to win him back. Can Bri reinvent herself--and recapture his heart? And now, here’s Julie! You've written tons of articles. Have you always wanted to write a novel but did articles to get...

There's a contest running at 5MinutesForMom.com sponsored by Alli’s Originals . The winner can choose either this beautiful Sideways Open Heart necklace (valued at $33CDN) from the Princess Charming Collection (you choose your inscription) OR a gift certificate of an equal amount to use towards a piece of your choice. Head over to 5MinutesForMom.com to find out how to enter!

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Eyes of Elisha by Brandilyn Collins Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith Winter flicks: I haven’t gone to the theater all winter. Yes, I’m lame. I’ve also been really remiss about watching our Netflix DVDs, so I am doubly lame. But I know many of you guys are much better than I am at getting out of the house, so speak up—any really good movies you’ve watched/are dying to watch? Theater or DVD rentals. On a side note, my mother just sent me the DVD of Il Divo: Live at the Greek . I’ve never heard their CDs, but she’s in love with them.

John Aubrey Anderson and his book: Abiding Darkness ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John was born five miles north of the setting for Abiding Darkness, a cotton country town within a rifle shot of two rivers, a bayou, a double handful of lakes, and endless acres of woods. After graduating from Mississippi State, he flew six years in the Air Force then twenty-nine years for a major airline. And now he gets to write. He and his wife have been married for forty some-odd years and live in Texas—about twenty miles south of the Red River. He spends the biggest part of his time writing; she’s immersed in leading a comprehensive, women’s Bible study. They like greasy hamburgers and Dr. Peppers, most species of warm-blooded creatures (the kind that don’t normally bite), and spending July in the mountains. ABOUT THE BOOK: Abiding Darkness is the first book in the Black and White Chronicles. It initially anchors itself in the relationship between two children. Junior Washington is an eleven-ye...

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. Eyes of Elisha by Brandilyn Collins Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith I GOT MY COVER!!!! What do you guys think?