Captain's Log, Supplemental Continued from last week about my favorite new diet book, French Women Don’t Get Fat . The author says to eat smaller portions of meat and fish (4-6 ounces per person per meal). For me, this works. I tend not to like large meat portions—I’m usually happy with 2-3 ounces. This is just the way my body is. I feel heavy and sick if I eat too much meat. This wouldn’t work for some other people, but that’s why the South Beach diet or the Atkins diet works for them but not for me. She doesn’t discourage eating pasta, rice, and bread (she writes: “Life without pasta? Perish the thought.”), but she warns about portions and says to savor these dishes slowly so you end up eating less. This has totally worked for me. I have been making vegetarian pasta dishes—interesting dishes, some a little higher in fat, but most very low fat because the recipe calls for a simple sauté in olive oil. I have been eating pasta almost every day, but smaller portions, and I have been ...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hidden Avon Inspire (May 27, 2008) by Shelley Shepard Gray ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hidden is Shelley’s first foray into inspirational fiction. Previously, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio where she writes full time. Shelley is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and is part of the Telecare ministry, which calls homebound members on a regular basis. Shelley looks forward to the opportunity to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals. ABOUT THE BOOK Hidden is a remarkable story about the unlikely love between a modern girl on the run and an Amish boy from the family who shelters her. When Anna decides it's time to leave her abusive boyfriend, she doesn't know where to turn. Rob is a successful and respected person ...

Today's Wild Card author is: Mary Pierce and her book: When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister Zondervan (November 1, 2007) “Right foot, red!” Bad hair day. “Left hand, yellow!” You’re caught in a traffic jam—or a tragedy. Once upon a time you had the game of life all planned. Your dreams would come true and everyone would live happily ever after. So when did life become a game of Twister? Someone else is spinning the dial, calling the shots … and today, hassles and heartaches have you twisted like a pretzel physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Ouch! Take a time-out from all your running, working, caring, and trying to keep it all together, and sit down for a grin break that will help untwist you. Mary Pierce offers laughter and wisdom for women everywhere. God cares about all of us who are trapped in the Twister game of life. He cares about you. And he wants to give you a better outlook and new moves that will free you up inside and out. Includes discussion quest...

Captain's Log, Stardate 06.29.2008 Leave any prayer requests in the comments and I’ll be praying this week. You don’t have to be Christian to leave a prayer request. If you’d rather not advertise to everyone on the blogosphere, just leave an unspoken prayer request or e-mail me. If I forgot your prayer request, email me. Not to be mean or anything, but if you don't email me or comment to update your prayer request, I'm only going to pray ONE Sunday. I’m trying something new with my Sunday Prayer. I’m really bad about doing it on Sunday , so I’ll be updating it during the week. Dear Lord, thank you for your grace. I pray for complete healing for Malia, Helen, Kristy, Missy, Cheryl, Jack and Sharon. I also lift up any of my blog readers in need of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing and pray you will touch them. I lift up Case and his family to you. Please be with jezebelsk, and help her with financial management. Give her the will power she needs and keep her from diff...

Captain's Log, Supplemental I know I’ve already gushed about my latest favorite diet book, French Women Don’t Get Fat , and yes, I know the title is strange/misleading/slightly insulting to Americans, but indulge me. I just love food. Food is my reward, often, when I finish a book or a critique job. There’s nothing as satisfying as a bowl of Bing cherries to celebrate typing The End on a manuscript. Other diets have been hard for me because they treat food like the enemy and say I shouldn’t make food my reward. That I should go for a spa day, or shopping, or a soak in the tub, or read a book. I’m sorry, I get ten times more pleasure from a Beard Papa cream puff than a bubble bath. Shopping and spa-ing are too expensive, and I read all day for my job, so it’s nothing special. If I want to indulge, I go for something that will make my taste buds squeal. My biggest problem has always been portion control, and this has been the best book I’ve ever read to teach me how to control the am...

Today's Wild Card author is: Thomas Phillips and his book: The Molech Prophecy Whitaker House (July 1, 2008) Former gang member Tommy Cucinelle thought he had left his old life behind when he became a Christian. That's why he's surprised when his pastor asks him to use his old skills--finding people who don't want to be found--to locate the church secretary after she mysteriously disappears and the church is vandalized. The police don't have any leads. Tommy's investigation brings him face-to-face with unpleasant memories from the past that threaten his new identity, but inner turmoil is soon the least of his worries. A local Wiccan church is at the heart of the mystery, and Tommy's search uncovers a startling prophecy about child sacrifice to the pagan god Molech. When the missing woman's sister--and Tommy's newfound romantic interest--disappears as well, the quest becomes personal. Author Thomas Phillips wrestles with the important issues of fait...

Captain's Log, Supplemental I’m over at Faithchick.com today, blogging about Prayer shawl knitting . Camy here, talking about knitting (yes, again!). I’ve been hearing more and more about prayer shawls knitted for people. I have to admit, the concept interests me. What I especially like about it is that if you know who you’re making the shawl for—or even if you don’t—as you knit, you pray that the person wearing it will feel God’s presence and hear His voice and find comfort. I’m hesitant to make prayer shawls for my friends because honestly, would any of them actually use a shawl as they pray??? Read the rest here.

Captain's Log, Stardate 06.25.2008 Today I'm interviewing Allie Pleiter about her latest novel: Masked By Moonlight An English gentleman by day, Matthew Covington became the mysterious crime fighter Black Bandit at night-and nothing could tempt him to reveal his secret identity. Until he met reporter Georgia Waterhouse, who shared his passion for justice. What would become of their growing love if he revealed the truth that lay behind the mask? And now, here's me and Allie! How did you get the idea for Masked by Moonlight? I suppose it started with my fascination for the Zorro character—all those heroic whips and swords. I’ve always been intrigued by dual identities, and wondered what would happen if two people with double identities met on both levels. The late 19th-century San Francisco setting came from the history of journalism, because that place and time was the beginnings of sensationalist newspapers (a necessary story element for Masked by Moonlight). ...

Today's Wild Card author is: Christine Lynxwiler and her book: Along Came a Cowboy Barbour Publishing, Inc. (May 1, 2008) When Rachel Donovan, a strong-willed chiropractor with a past, meets Jack Westwood, a bull-headed cowboy looking for a future, it looks like hate at first fight. But when the dust settles, it may be love. Can the chiropractor and the cowboy bridle their growing attraction, or will love ultimately have free reign? ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Award-winning author and past president of American Christian Romance Writers, CHRISTINE LYNXWILER has numerous novels and novellas published with Barbour, including Arkansas, Promise Me Always, and Forever Christmas. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their two daughters, four horses, and two dogs live in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains in their home state of Arkansas. Visit the author's website . Product Details: List Price: $9.97 Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. (May 1, 2008) Languag...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Sir Kendrick and the Castle of Bel Lione (Multnomah Books - June 17, 2008) by Chuck Black ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chuck Black first wrote Kingdom’s Edge to inspire his children to read the Bible with renewed zeal. This captivating expanded parable led him to write the Old Testament allegories, Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope. Chuck added three more titles to the series, Kingdom’s Call , Kingdom’s Quest , and Kingdom’s Reign which were released in May of 2007. Chuck is a former F-16 fighter pilot and currently works as an engineer for a firm designing plastic consumer products. He has a degree in electrical and electronic engineering and served eight years in the United States Air Force. Chuck and his wife Andrea have six children and live in North Dakota. It is Chuck’s desire to serve the Lord through his work and to inspire people of all ages to study the scriptures in order to discover the hope and love of...

Captain's Log, Supplemental I just saw this movie with the Captain and it was rather good. We were both especially impressed with the hard-hitting commentary on society and the internet. Click here to see the trailer on Youtube It’s a pretty gruesome movie, so I wouldn’t let a junior high school student watch it, but it’s got a fascinating premise about a killer who tortures his victims on a live internet feed, and the victim dies faster the more people who log on to see the torture. Now ’fess up, isn’t that a fascinating commentary on society these days? What was really cool was that they had a script doctor take the initial premise of the script and restructure it so that it had more psychological and Hollywood appeal. The script doctor emphasized the character of the lead heroine, giving her more depth. He also formed a connection between the victims and a backstory and motivation for the killer (versus just being some psycho doing it for fun, which is kind of boring in terms of...

Today's Wild Card author is: Pam Davis and her book: Sydney Clair’s Season of Change Authentic (March 1, 2008) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pam Davis is an author and motivational speaker who views her charge as bringing the timeworn truths of Scripture to life. Pams candid teaching style not only enlightens but also entertains, leaving her audiences with a refreshed desire for the living Word of God. She lives with her husband, Steven, and three children in Fort Worth, Texas. Visit her at her website . Product Details: Reading level: Ages 4-8 List Price: $7.99 Paperback: 80 pages Publisher: Authentic (March 1, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1934068500 ISBN-13: 978-1934068502 AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER: Chapter One It’s going to be a bad day, Sydney Clair thought to herself. She snuggled deeper under the covers. Maybe if she stayed in bed all day, nothing would change. Her sister wouldn’t leave. She’d stay right here with the rest of the family, the way th...