Interview with Mary DeMuth

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.06.2007

Today, I’m featuring my friend Mary DeMuth talking about her latest non-fiction book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture!

What is postmodernism? Is it good or bad? Does it have anything to do with being an effective, godly parent? With sensitivity, grace, and a passion to help families experience authentic, life–changing relationships with God, Mary DeMuth describes the new way people are processing truth. She reveals effective ways for parents to communicate with today’s kids: by developing relationships, by learning along with their kids, by creating a safe haven for kids to explore their worlds, and more.

Parents will discover how to...

* communicate the gospel effectively to their own children, who may process truth in a new way
* equip their children (and themselves!) to relate successfully with others and avoid isolating themselves from those who need Christ
* lead their families even when they don’t have all the answers

This unique resource offers everyday moms and dads an engaging introduction into the postmodern world and provides the tools they need to relate to it with confidence and faith.

And now, here’s me and Mary!

What made you decide to write this book?

We raised our kids for 2 1/2 years in a culture that was postmodern on steroids (France). I figured if we survived, and our kids came through, maybe we'd have something to share with other parents. I also am tired of parenting books that pound out solutions instead of get to the heart of the matter. Good parenting flows from the inside out. The best thing we can do for our kids is to run to Jesus and have Him move us, heal us, help us, empower us. I wanted to share that message with parents.

Is there a Scripture passage that summarizes what you wanted to accomplish with Authentic Parenting?

It's actually a Greek word: peripateo, which means two things....to walk or circumvent (as in Jesus walking around Galilee with His disciples) and/or the manner in which we live (as in Paul saying to imitate him as He imitated Jesus, to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel.) I help parents learn how to walk alongside their kids, intersecting their world (and understanding it), as well as how to model authentic, vital Christianity in an irresistible way.

You might know (or you might not) that I work with teens at my church youth group, and I've gotten to know the kids' parents quite well. What's one thing you can tell them about parenting specifically for teenagers?

I know that. That's why I think you're so very cool. (Get that nose ring!)

My advice: slow down. Get rid of activities that pull apart the family. Spend time together in relaxed settings. Take walks. Have a family dinner as many nights a week as you can. Parenting happens in the context of unhurried conversation. Don't think for a minute your parenting job is complete once your kids start driving. It's only just begun.

Finish this sentence: Being a parent is like ...

Riding an angry, hungry bull without a saddle. It's a wild, scary, unpredictable ride, but boy-o-boy is it thrilling and lifechanging!

If your kids were all ice cream desserts, what would each one be and why?

Sophie (teenager) would be an Eskimo pie because she likes things neat and contained. Aidan (tweener) would be mud pie because he's a boy. Julia (elementary going on 18) would be whatever ice cream was pink and popular.

You're off the hotseat! Any parting words?

I can't wait until there are little Camys running around so I can aptly welcome you to the world of parenting!

Camy here: Trust me, you’ll be one of the first to know because I’ll run screaming to you for parenting advice! Thanks for being here, Mary!

Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha tea review - MastersTeas.com

Today’s blog post is another review of the teas I received from Masters by Adagio Teas. Today I am reviewing the Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha green tea . See here for my thoughts on Masters Teas and its website in general. I took pictures of the tea before steeping and after steeping, but because the light is different on different days, I also included some rosemary and chocolate mint sprigs so you can compare the color of the tea. Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha: According to the website: “With its exquisite spear-like leaves, our Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha is a very young plucking. A gentle yet complex cup, it offers notes of spring flowers, sweet grass with traces of lychee. A beautiful tea for those who want the experience of a green tea without the sharp grassiness found in other styles.” “This tea contains a moderate level of caffeine. Steep at 170° for 2-3 minutes.” I put 1 heaping tablespoon of tea in 235 mL (about 1 cup) of 170℉ water for 3 minutes. Since the leaves are extremely long

Coming soon to Camy’s Patreon

My contemporary books are coming to my Patreon! (Did I just slip a teaser of a cover reveal in there for a new book? Why yes, I did.) My Patreon subscribers overwhelmingly voted to have me post my contemporary books in addition to my Regency novels, so I’ll be releasing chapters once people vote on which book to start with. If you subscribe, you’ll be able to read chapters every week and get a complimentary .epub of the book once it’s done posting. Unfortunately, my Patreon URL is CamilleElliot and I can’t change it, but it’ll be a Camy Tang/Camille Elliot Patreon with both my contemporary and historical books, at least for now. Tier 1: Ramparts Agent will get you access to all my contemporary books. Higher tiers are more targeted toward my historical novels for the moment, but that could change once I figure out how to manage my Patreon for both my pen names. I invite you to join my Patreon to get first access to my contemporary books before they go live on Amazon! Join Camy’s

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

Got my books!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Okay, I'm still at the library and Captain Caffeine sent me these pics since I wasn't home when they arrived: MY AUTHOR COPIES ARRIVED! Wow, that's just so cool. And I'm so glad Captain Caffeine sent me pics!

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

Romantic guys

Captain’s Log, Stardate 10.13.2006 Blog book giveaway: To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there. My Monday book giveaway is Thanks for the Mammogram! AND Reconstructing Natalie , both by Laura Jensen Walker . My Thursday book giveaway is Hot Flashes and Cold Cream by Diann Hunt . You can still enter both giveaways. On Monday, I'll draw the winners for the Laura Jensen Walker books and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Pick my title! I’m still holding a poll for the title of my book! Go to this blog post to cast your vote! Heroes: I’m a TV junkie, I admit it. I’m hooked on the new series called Heroes. (It’s like X-Men, but before they realized their powers and came together to become the X-Men. And without the funky costumes.) Okay, regardless of the X-Men type storyline, one of the heroines—a high school girl—is talking to a boy she likes, the quarterback of the football team. He’s sweet-talking her and being very flattering. She says

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci

Toe socks

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.11.2008 Update: I also wrote out the pattern for a pair of tabi socks, or split-toe socks . I can't help bragging a little. I just finished my first pair of toe socks (I have an unfinished pair of toe socks somewhere, but this is my first completed pair). These are a belated (VERY belated) graduation present for one of my high school girls in the church youth group. She wanted toe socks in Slytherin colors. I had a time finding superwash sock yarn in green and silver, and you can tell these are very different types of yarn (one is merino superwash, the other is a wool/elastic blend). But they knit up at the same gauge (almost) and look quite nice, if I say so myself. They look a little creepy (almost like freaky alien hands). You can see the bump from the heel on the right sock. I used Michelle Cho's toe sock pattern Update: The previous link was taken down, but here's another that's actually a bit better: Unicornbooks.com toe socks pat

One-Skein Pyrenees Scarf knitting pattern

I got into using antique patterns when I was making the scarf my hero wears in my Regency romance, The Spinster’s Christmas . I wanted to do another pattern which I think was in use in the Regency period, the Pyrenees Knit Scarf on pages 36-38 of The Lady's Assistant for Executing Useful and Fancy Designs in Knitting, Netting, and Crochet Work, volume 1, by Jane Gaugain, published in 1840. She is thought to be the first person to use knitting abbreviations, at least in a published book, although they are not the same abbreviations used today (our modern abbreviations were standardized by Weldon’s Practical Needlework in 1906). Since the book is out of copyright, you can download a free PDF copy of the book at Archive.org. I found this to be a fascinating look at knitting around the time of Jane Austen’s later years. Although the book was published in 1840, many of the patterns were in use and passed down by word of mouth many years before that, so it’s possible these are

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Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter