“Crave” By Chris Tomlinson

Crave

By Chris Tomlinson

Wanting So Much More of God

 

Book Description:

People yearn for many things, but only Jesus Christ can satisfy the deepest cravings of the human heart. Many individuals, however, have settled for a cultural Christianity and lost their vibrant, day-by-day relationship with Him. This collection of short, real-life stories from an exciting young author reveals that life with God can be a surprising, challenging, and richly satisfying journey. Readers of Donald Miller and Anne Lamott will love these vignettes of people who…

• talk to strangers about God—and find out why sharing their faith can actually be enjoyable
• answer their calls—and delight in godly obedience
• floss every day—and discover the rewards of daily prayer

Sometimes humorous, occasionally tender, and always thought-provoking, these slices of life connect with 20- and 30-somethings who crave a deeper level of intimacy with God.

Download Sample Chapters Here!

About the Author:

Chris Tomlinson, a graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the UCLA Anderson School of Business, is a businessman and writer who desires to see people realize the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Anna. You can visit him online at www.cravesomethingmore.org.

My Review:  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

I enjoyed this book very much. It had the feel of sitting down with the author and sharing experiences and stories about our struggles to crave more of God the way we should and how our relationship with God tends to be so up and down at times. I recommend this book.

Top 10 Classic Romantic Movies

Here’s my list of my 10 favorite romantic movies. I couldn’t keep the list to 10, so at the end, I have 5 honorable mentions.

10. Miracle In the Rain

1956

Directed by Rudolf Mate

Starring: Jane Wyman, Van Johnson

This obscure film nobody’s heard of is guaranteed to put a lump in your throat.

9. Sabrina

1954

Directed by Billy Wilder

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn

One of my many favorite Humphrey Bogart movies. This one has an ugly duckling turning into a swan theme.

8. Gigi

1958

Directed by Vincent Minelli

Starring: Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan

Touching story of a romance of a girl whose been raised to be a mistress.

7. Notorious

1946

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman

Technically this isn’t a love story, but the passion between the two main characters explodes on the screen.

6. The African Queen

1951

Directed by John Huston

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn

Two unlikely people fall in love during World War 1. The acting can’t get any better than this.

5. West Side Story

1961

Directed by Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise

Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer

Make sure you have tissues handy for this modern take of Romeo and Juliet.

4. Casablanca

1942

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

This movie is brilliant in it’s simple triangle love story in the middle of political upheaval and war.

3. To Have and Have Not

1945

Directed by Howard Hawks

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Becall

This was the first movie Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Becall starred in together, and it can’t be beat. It was based on a novel by Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner wrote the screenplay.

2. The Sound of Music

1965

Directed by Robert Wise

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer

One of my all time favorite movies.

1. An Affair To Remember

1957

Directed by Leo McCarey

Starring: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr

This is my all time favorite classic love story. It brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it.

Honorable Mentions:

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

Starring: Gene Tieny, Rex Harrison

It Happened One Night (1934)

Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert

Test Pilot (1938)

Starring: Clark Gable, Myra Loy, Spencer Tracy

Made For Each Other (1939)

Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Carole Lombard

My Fair Lady (1964)

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison

Favorite Classic Romance Novels and Love Stories

Since it’s almost Valentine’s Day, I thought I would list my favorite classic romance novels.

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickins

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

3. Jane Erye by Charlotte Bronte

4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

5. Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

7. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

8. A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway

9. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakesphere (All right. Technically it’s a play. But it’s still one of the greatest love stories of all times.)

10. Persuasion by Jane Austin

These are my choices. Which ones would you add? Please comment.

Naming Characters

Shakespeare said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That may be true. But it wouldn’t bring up the same image if it was called a skunk.

When you write your novel, the names you call your characters are important to the overall story and should be considered carefully. Here are a few things you should think about when naming characters.

What image does the name bring to mind? Think about the name Gus, or Ralph, or Fred. Conjure an image in your mind. I’ll bet you didn’t come up with a college graduate with an expensive wardrobe. That’s because these names are associated with a certain type of person. Now think about a man named Perceval. Would you imagine him to be a rough cowboy on the range in the Wild West? Whatever name you decide upon, make sure that name fits the image of your character – unless there’s a reason you want a cowboy named Perceval or a socialite named Gertrude.

Consider Historical Reference. This is important if your story takes place in the past, but even contemporary stories should consider this. For instance, think about women you know named Tammy or Debby. Chances are they’re around fifty years old. That’s because a very popular movie called Tammy and The Bachelor starring Debbie Reynolds came out in 1957. Between 1958 and 1963, these were the most popular girls’ names. In the early 1980’s, most children were named Jonathan and Jennifer because Hart to Hart, a popular TV show of the time, named their main characters, Jonathan and Jennifer Hart. Think about names for your characters would have been used in the time period they were born. If you’re writing about the eighteenth century, here’s a link with a list of common names for that period. If you’re story takes place anytime after 1800, this is a link to the US Census Bureau. It tells what names were popular each year.

Use Ethnic Names. If you have ethnic characters or characters from different nationalities, choose names that go with those nationalities. Make sure the names are easy to pronounce even if they are uncommon to our culture, or your readers will trip over them. Here’s a link to a site ethnic names for different cultures and nationalities.

Choose names with meaning. The meaning of names is important. In the Bible, when someone changed, God would give him a new name. Saul (Jewish name) became Paul (Gentile name). Jacob (trickster) became Israel (prince of God). To give your characters more depth, try finding a name whose meaning goes with their character development. Here’s a link to a site that gives names’ meanings.

Names give identity to people. If you choose carefully, the right names will also give identity to your characters.

“Streams of Mercy” by Teresa Slack – Free Book Drawing

Leave a comment to be entered in a contest to win a free “Streams of Mercy” novel autographed by the author. Comments must be posted by midnight on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. Winner will be announced in the comments the following Monday. This contest is for USA only.

Streams Of Mercy

1st Novel in Jenna’s Creek Series

by Teresa Slack

 Winner of the 2005 BAIPA award for “Best New Fiction”

Book Description:

On the day of her father’s funeral, seventeen-year-old Jamie Steele discovers he was once the prime suspect in the disappearance and possible murder of an old girlfriend. All too familiar with his violent reputation and hard-fisted lifestyle, Jamie has to find out for herself if he was capable of the crime everyone in their small town thinks he committed.

The more she discovers about the twenty-five-year old disappearance of Sally Blake, the more convinced she becomes that her father was somehow involved. She has to know the truth even if it completely destroys the tenuous relationship she has with her grandmother, and what’s left of the memories of her father. What will she do if he’s proven guilty? How can she forgive someone who never admitted any wrongdoing? Can she find the mercy in her heart to forgive the past and mourn the father she has lost?

“…Slack creates a compelling plot in her debut novel…strong, consistent, realistic voice…Rather than preachiness…flawed characters suffer the consequences of their sins and come to their own determination of a need for God and a renewal of their relationship with him…The book has red herrings keeping the readers guessing until the end. This book would be a good addition to any mystery lover’s library.”
—-Christian Library Journal

My Review:  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

This is the first Teresa Slack novel I’ve ever read, and I’m glad I did. The characters are believable and compelling, and the mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat. I look forward to reading more. I recommend this novel.

“The Long Way Home” by Andrew Klavan

The Long Way Home

Book 2 of The Homelanders Series

By Andrew Klavan

Book Description:

From Edgar Award winning and best-selling author Andrew Klavan comes the second novel in the Homelanders series.

Charlie West was an ordinary high school kid who went to bed one night and woke up in the clutches of terrorists and wanted by the police for murder.

Now, with both the terrorists and the cops on his trail, Charlie makes his way home to find some answers. Holed up in an abandoned mansion, Charlie is joined by his high school buddies as he tries to find the truth about a murder he can’t remember–and recover the love he can’t forget.

My Review: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

This is the second in a series of three young adult novels called “The Homelands”. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I recommend you read it first. The three novels make one story, and although the writer does a good job getting us up to speed, I felt I missed something by not reading the beginning of the adventure.

This novel was an adventure. It was riveting from the first page to the last. The main character, Charlie West, came alive in the pages through his struggle to do the right thing when it wasn’t always clear what that was. The only thing I didn’t like was the simplistic villians. I felt they could have been developed a little better. But overall, I loved this novel and will go back and read the first. I’m looking forward to the last novel in the series.

I recommend this book for teenagers and young adults.

“The Good Guy” by Dean Koontz

The Good Guy

by Dean Koontz

 

Book Description:

Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend’s tavern, enjoys drawing eccentric customers into amusing conversations. But the jittery man who sits next to him tonight has mistaken Tim for someone very different—and passes to him a manila envelope full of cash.

“Ten thousand now. You get the rest when she’s gone.”

The stranger walks out, leaving a photo of the pretty woman marked for death, and her address. But things are about to get worse. In minutes another stranger sits next to Tim. This one is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim is the man who has hired him.

Thinking fast, Tim says, “I’ve had a change of heart. You get ten thousand—for doing nothing. Call it a no-kill fee.” He keeps the photo and gives the money to the hired killer. And when Tim secretly follows the man out of the tavern, he gets a further shock: the hired killer is a cop.

Suddenly, Tim Carrier, an ordinary guy, is at the center of a mystery of extraordinary proportions, the one man who can save an innocent life and stop a killer far more powerful than any cop…and as relentless as evil incarnate. But first Tim must discover within himself the capacity for selflessness, endurance, and courage that can turn even an ordinary man into a hero, inner resources that will transform his idea of who he is and what it takes to be The Good Guy.

Chapter One Excerpt

My Review:   ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

All I can say is Wow. Dean Koontz has done it again. An ordinary guy is in a bar. A man mistakes him for a hitman. Then the real hitman shows up. Does this “good guy” have what it takes to be a hero and save the day? This is classic Dean Koontz. An ordinary guy in extordinary circumstances is tested to the limits. Plot twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end. Nobody does it better than Dean Koontz.

Your Internet Presence

Your Internet presence is very important when it comes to getting published. One of the first things an agent or publisher might do if he’s interested in your manuscript is to google you. You may not even realize what you think is a private conversation online might be out there for all to see. Here are some tips when it comes to maintaining a good Internet presence.

Don’t ever bash publishers, agents, or best-selling authors online. You may never know who’s viewing your conversation.

Search your name on Google, Bing, and Yahoo Search engines. Even if your careful, you might find something embarrassing under your name because someone else is using the same name.

Use Google Alerts. Google Alerts you about when your name comes up on the Internet. You’ll receive an email everyday.

Be Careful. Innocent things can trip you up.

A friend of mine blogged about her journey in getting published. She received word an agent was interested and wrote about her excitement and misgivings because this agent was new, someone she hadn’t heard of. The agent turned out to be reputable but was no longer interested in representing her after reading her blog.

I am the director of a children’s ministry with a huge online presence. One day I googled the ministry name and found a conversation I had on a writing site was number three. That conversation was about sexual content in fiction. Although I didn’t say anything I was ashamed of, I didn’t want my ministry name to be connected with sex. This happened because I had a link to my ministry in my signature line. I removed the link.

These two horror stories show you just how important it is to maintain your Internet presence. No matter how careful you are, little things can trip you up.

Books A Writer Must Have To Be Published

There are many great books out there on writing and getting published. Here are three that are essential when it comes time to submit your manuscript.

Jeff Herman’s Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2010

Who They Are, What They Want, and How To Win Them Over

This resource book lists almost every publisher and agent in the United States, what they represent, and how to contact them.

Christian Writer’s Market Guide 2010

by Sally Stuart

This resource book lists just about every publisher and agent who represents Christian Fiction

2010 Guide To Literary Agents

by Chuck Sambuchino

Resource Guide to Literary Agents

2010 Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market Guide

By Alice Pope

Resource Guide for Children’s Books

First and Last Lines In Scenes

Everyone knows that it’s important to have great first and last lines in novels. But did you know first and last lines in every scene can make the difference between whether the reader sets the novel down or continues reading. That doesn’t mean you should have a monumental line for the beginning and ending of each scene. The lines can be simple, but they need to do the job assigned to them.

First Lines: Many writers take too much time setting the scene or using descriptions for the first line of each scene. This is a mistake. First lines should set the emotional tone for what’s to follow. Many times, they’ll introduce the point of view character and hint at the coming conflict. Whatever the case, a good first line will make the reader want to read further.

Last Lines: The biggest mistake new writers make is ending a scene too late. Don’t tie up loose ends and allow resolutions in your scenes. You want to have the reader on edge wondering what’s going to happen. And whatever you do, don’t end a scene with somebody falling asleep unless it’s Snow White right after she took a bite of the poison apple. The best way to think of last lines is to think about the old serial movie cliffhangers. Each last line needs to have a hook. While you might not want major catastrophes at the end of each scene, you will want an unresolved issue that causes enough tension to make the reader read further.

Read through the first and last lines of every scene in your manuscript. Forget about the middle part at this point. Are the first lines setting the tone you want to achieve? Are the last lines hinting about conflict yet to come or leaving the reader biting his nails wondering what’s going to happen yet? If not, consider revising them.