Favorite Kiss!

Okay, did you get to see this show that aired earlier this week?  The Greatest Movies of Our Time
I have to admit that I'm a movie nut. Really. I can't get enough of great films, they're like my writing muses for some reason. I guess it's because they are so inspiring. You may not agree with the films and actors, etc. that were picked but the talent is incredible. If I weren't a writer I'd love to have been a film maker.

Gone With The Wind was voted best film of all time. No big surprise there. IF you had to pick your personal best film of all time and it can't be GWTW because it's already been picked :) what would you put at the top of the list?

The best line that was picked? "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

What I want to know from you is what is a line or a couple lines that you like in a book of fiction that you are reading now? And tell us who the author is too. Let's stay away from last lines so we don't spoil anyone's reading experience. Here's mine from Janet Evanovich's, Wicked Appetite: "Do you know what an unmentionable is?" 

What's your favorite movie kiss?  My pick is The Notebook.  A kiss in the rain is the most romantic thing ever, in my not so humble opinion.  It’s perpetual bliss as Faith Hill would say. :)

And remember that near kiss in Pride and Prejudice when Darcy had come after Elizabeth from the church in the rain?
You can see which kissses won here:   Best Kiss
Can you think of another one that you would choose?


I'm on deadline gang so I'm going to leave this post up until next Sunday. Lot's of fun to be had here so jump in and give us all your feed back.  I'll respond to comments off and on through the week. Have fun! And if you're interested I still have this post up over At The Write Charisma
Regency/Mad-Doctoring/Romance/and Medicine Have an awesome week!

The Power of Story/Inkwell Inspiration's Niki Turner/My Blog Pick of the Week

Who can resist this picture over at Inkwell Inspirations? Not me! I'm a sucker for bagpipes, and guys in kilts.  I really enjoyed Niki's post this week and if you haven't seen it go there right now and read it. Here's the link: The Power of Story

I will be blogging today over at Just The Write Charisma on the topic of The Regency, Mad-Doctoring, Romance, and Medicine. Come visit.

Also, don't forget to go to this section of my website http://jilliankent.com/books.html where you can read the first chapter of my novel, Secrets of the Heart, that will debut on May 3rd. I'm so excited. I hope you'll love this story so much you'll want to tell your friends about it. Have an awesome weekend.

My buddy Niki Turner writes romantic fiction, Christian non-fiction, blog posts, articles in the local newspaper, grocery lists, and Facebook status updates. Her first completed manuscript won second place in the 2009 Touched By Love contest for contemporary category romance.


Colorado natives, Niki and her husband of 20+ years have four children (three at home) and are soon-to-be grandparents. In 1998 they planted a church in rural northwestern Colorado. Currently, they share their home with three teenage boys, two black Lab mutts, and Niki’s absurdly spoiled Westie, Archie.

Niki can be found at In Truer Ink, her personal blog and website, here at Inkwell Inspirations, and at The Pastor’s Wife Speaks.

Faith Not Fear

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.


I’ve wrestled with different types of fear my entire life. My parents separated when I was six. I had nightmares until I was in college related to the fear that many kids believe, and that’s that they are somehow responsible for the break up of their parents. Not true, yet many kids feel or have felt this way.

I was very sick and hospitalized when I was in second grade. In 1963 children were on wards and in beds next to each other, (at least it was my experience). The children on either side of me died. I became afraid of death. My brother died when he was 27 years old and I was 29. I became even more afraid of death.

I experienced a lot of other reasons to fear in my lifetime: car accidents, my own children’s illnesses, the death of friends, the death of other family members. The list goes on and on. I’m 56 now and I’m not afraid most of the time. Do I occasionally let my fears slip in? Yes. I’m not able to banish my fears completely, but I finally figured out that no matter how hard I try, in my human strength, I cannot keep bad things at bay. I don’t have control. God does. All I can do is the best I can do, trust God for the rest, and remember the mustard seed.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20 NIV

So have faith, not fear. Peace, not fear. Trust, not fear. Hope, not fear.

In my counseling Bible, The Bible for Hope, NKJV, the introduction to Numbers talks about fear. The first paragraph states, “Fear can immobilize. Fearful people often do not think straight and run off in the wrong direction to escape the source of their fear. The world can be quite scary, and at times, Christians will become afraid. On those occasions, they can either run away from God, thinking that he cannot handle their fears, or they can run to God for protection.”

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.(King James Version)2 Timothy 1:7


I have a book coming out soon and that's exciting and scary and incredible. This is one of the most awesome seasons in my life and though I could allow my fears to run wild I've decided to let my faith run wild instead.



The next time you think about letting your fears run wild I encourge you to let your faith run wild. Wild and free faith like these horses even if that faith is as small as a mustard seed.

Questions: The last time you faced a fear, large or small, what did you do? OR When you face fear today how does it effect you and how do you combat it? AND/OR What's your favorite quote or scripture about fear?

HAVE A FEARLESS WEEK!

DOWNTON ABBEY

If you love period drama's you must see Masterpiece Theatre's Downton Abbey It's wonderful and I don't know how I missed hearing about this till just recently. I bought the DVD for Season One and my hubby and I finished watching it this Saturday. I can't wait to see more but my understanding is that Seaon Two will not be released until the winter of 2012. Downton Abbey To Return I don't know how I'll wait that long but I guess there's not option. So if you're looking for some inspiration this is it.

Everyone's been talking about it. Missed Downton Abbey? Jane Austen World Blog

Theater Talkback Missing Maggie Smith/

What Can We Expect In The Season Finale

Creator Julian Fellowes


I never even looked at this much before I went and bought the first season on DVD. Neither should you. Just buy it. You'll want to watch it over and over again.

Have you seen it? Did you like it?

Grammar Divas at Seekerville/My Friday Blog Pick of the Week

If you ever wanted really good examples and instruction on the subject of Show Don't Tell just click on the link below and have fun!



Show Don’t Tell: Skin in the Game...Seekerville Welcomes the Grammar Divas!

Revision Time

Are you a nervous nail-biter when it comes to revisions? Don't be. Let's think positive about this potential issue that could reduce us to ruining our manicures.

I'm about to embark on revisions prior to turning in my second manuscript (tentatively named Chameleon) to my editor on April 5th. I'd really like to do my very best on this so that there is not so much to face when the macro-edit comes back to me. Chameleon is my second book in the Ravensmoore Chronicle series that will release in January of next year if all goes according to plan.

First, I'm one of those writers that could revise for a VERY long time. I don't like to call myself a perfectionist because I don't think I'm anywhere close to being perfect in my revisions, but I do want to improve each time I turn in a book. So here's my plan.

1. Print out the entire novel.

          I could never begin to revise by sitting in front of my computer.  I have to have that hard copy to   read through, make notes, and get a feel of the overall pacing of the book.  I want to see if the chapters need to be lengthened or shortened.

     2.   Read the entire book.
    
          I try to do a quick read through to get a feel for the flow of the story. I'll mark up the manuscript as I go along and catch errors, but this first read through isn't so much of looking for errors as getting my first real complete feel of the book.

     3.  Read the book again/Ask Questions.

          This time I'm reading for errors. I'll also start rounding off the ends of chapters and doing my best to be certain those chapter hooks are strong enough to make the reader keep reading. And I'm going to try something different at this phase in the process because I liked the questions. Jordan Dane over at the Killzone did the crit on this one page Dead Girl Vistits TKZ. It Could Happen Be warned, this one page was too graphic and ghory for me. If you don't want to read it just skip to the questions Jordan leaves for the writer to answer.

     4.  Completion of the style guide.

          Honestly, I never knew what a style guide was until I got back my first substantive edit on my first book.  My publisher supplied a list of preferences for use of words, punctuation, etc. They also wanted me to make a list of what characters show up in the novel in order of appearance. A brief description of each chapter and other important issues. A timeline was one of those. So I'll be looking closely at this and completing it to the best of my ability this time. Live and learn.

     5.     Set the book aside.

            This is hard for me to do running this close to deadline. But I will set it aside for at least two days. I'd rather it be a week. I need that break to get some perspective.

     6.     Feedback

            Now I'll look at the feedback from my critique partners to make any last and necessary changes.

When I'm through all these steps I'll turn it into my editor and see what comes back. Hopefully, it won't be another rigorous revision. But even if it is, then I dive right into it.

I hope this helps you a little bit. Remember that I'm still learning as I go along and I sure don't have all the answers. This is working for me now, but I sure would love to be a faster writer so I'd have more time to revise. Lucky for me, I've got a wonderful publishing house, Charisma House. They really do know how to support a writer.

My favorite book on revisions is James Scott Bell's, Revision and Self-Editing. So tell me about your revision process and your favorite book on revisions.

Whatever is Lovely

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8 NIV

I don't know about you, but with the weather issues, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and the possibility of a nuclear meltdown in Japan, I needed to change my thinking to other things for awhile.

It doesn't take much these days to get easily caught up in the fear factor. Fear is the devil's plaything. He likes to swing it around and create situations within our minds to make us afraid. I suggest we not go there. Life is difficult enough without us compounding it and feeding our fears. Instead let's focus on what is lovely and pray in ernest for those in need. We have no control over nature and the havoc she wreaks throughout the world.

Think at least for this moment on what is lovely in your life. Do you have food in your belly? A roof over your head? Are you employed? Do you have a book to read? A computer to work on? Is the coffee brewing? Is dinner cooking? Think on whatever is lovely.

Instead of living in fear, let's choose to live in faith.
It's not always easy to do, but it's not always that hard to do either if we make a conscious effort to try.

Count your blessings and think on what is lovely. Be grateful and think on what is lovely. Pray ernestly for others and think on what is lovely. God doesn't want us  to live in fear of what is happening in the world and of how awful life can be when disaster strikes. Think on what is lovely.                                                                                                               

 What's lovely in your life? Look around. Have an awesome Sunday and a lovely week.



Hoping for a Movie Deal/Rachelle Gardner/Blog Pick Friday

Rachelle Gardner's blog post, Hoping for a Movie Deal  posted on March 8th with the second part posting on the 9th. If you've ever dreamed of your book becoming a movie these two posts will be important for you to read.

I know I've imagined my books becoming movies. In fact the way I write is like watching a movie so it's not that far a leap to imagine the book turning into film. Do you do that too?

Do you imagine specific actors portraying your characters in a film. Maybe Hugh Jackman, Ioan Gruffud, or Matt Damon? Does your leading lady resemble Kate Hudson, Rachel McAdams, or Keira Knightley?

Maybe you dream of a Hallmark Hall of Fame televsision special or a box office smash. Whatever it is and no matter how improbable it's fun. So don't stop dreaming. But do read Rachelle's blog posts and keep both feet firmly planted on the ground while your head's in the clouds.

Okay. Now let's dream up our movie posters. :) Personally I would like something similar to the Amazing Grace poster that hangs in my office. What about you? Want to share your movie dreams and poster ideas?

What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing?

I'm one of those readers who finds it difficult to sit through an entire reading of one book and not look at another in the process. I've discovered in a very short period of time that the Kindle has fed that flaw or strength of mine. Because I found so many fun free books to download or sample when I received my Kindle I got a little carried away. For starters I am currently jumping back and forth between several books on my e-reader. They are the ones I downloaded at no cost.

1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Medical Error by Richard Mabry
3. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
4. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
5. Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman

I love romance, mysteries and suspense. Research is a blessing and a curse. I can get so immersed in research that I have a hard time pulling back and  getting on to other responsiblilities, uh, like writing a book. I love all things medical, whether it's historic or contemporary.

I'm beginning to wonder if I haven't developed a new type of Attention Deficit Disorder. Or maybe it's just caught up with me but now it's called "aging." Yikes, could it be that I'm getting scattered or perhaps I'm actually more focused. Is it the curse of technology or the blessing of opportunity?

Okay. Now I told you what I downloaded for free. Here's what I paid for:

1. Watch Your Back by James Scott Bell
2. Crockodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
3. The Regency Underworld by Donald A. Low
4. Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester
5. English Society in the 18th Century by Roy Porter

That's what I'm reading. Now this is what I'm writing.

My first book, Secrets of the Heart: The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Book One is finished and ready to make it's way into the world on May 3rd. I'm currently working on Book Two with the working title, Chameleon. It takes a lot of work to complete a book, but it's not the only thing you can write. Maybe you want to write non-fiction, a novella, a poem, even a letter. Do you journal?

Just think about all the different types of writing there are. Magazine articles, newspaper articles, scripts. I'd encourage anyone just getting started to write something they can finish first. Then set your goals related to what comes next and why. Why do you want to write anything? What is driving you?

So what are you reading? What are you writing?



Encouragement, Smiles, Laughter

It’s important to keep putting one foot in front of the other during difficult days as well as good days so that you are consistently moving forward and not backward. If your life experience is anything like mine it’s possible that you hit a snag once in awhile. That snag may be small: you forgot your haircut appointment, or that snag could be huge: your doctor just delivered some bad news and you need surgery. Whatever the situation may be it’s imperative to surround yourself with encouragers, those people who lift you up in prayer, make you laugh when life is gloomy, and are willing to take you out to dinner and buy you a meal, or at least dessert.


Encouragement is a conscious act of sincere spirit boosting that if practiced daily will turn into a wonderful habit that others will appreciate. The smallest act of encouragement from my perspective is the smile. Yes, the smile. Ever walk past someone who says hello, flashes those pearly whites, and seems to have the world at their feet? That could be you! Encouragement is contagious, just like smiles and laughter.

 So I encourage you today to take a step foreword and practice the art of the smile. Not only will the receiver be blessed but you will be blessed as well.

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~ Mother Teresa of Calcutta: Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity.
(Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. 1910-1997).

“The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed.”
Bennett Cerf quotes (American Author, Publisher, Editor and Founder of Random House. 1898-1971)

When was the last time you enjoyed a great big belly laugh? You know the kind. The ones that start with a smile and then rumbles through your soul.

Have an awesome day. Don't forget to pray.

 

Niki Turner's post at Inkwell Inspirations Is My Blog Pick of the Week

Have you been feeling weak? Take a trip over to the Inkwell and receive strength for your coming week. What do you do with weakness?

God has been sending me messages this week. I'll see something somewhere and it's like God is saying, "Can you hear me now, Jill?"  Okay, I get it, I get it. Time to surrender some things to God and time to ask others for help.

I can do all things through Christ who strenghthens me, but I've got to keep Him in the picture.

“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:26-28).

I'll also mention one of my fellow bloggers, Conlan Brown, over at our Realms Blog, In The Desert, at Just The Write Charisma. He's also posted a very thought provoking blog post that I think you'll find you can relate to quite well. I'm blogging there today on a subject near and dear to my heart, Sleeping Smart. So stop by Just The Write Charisma and we'll figure out how you can sleep smart.

Have a great weekend everyone.
Jill

Niki Turner writes romantic fiction, Christian non-fiction, blog posts, articles in the local newspaper, grocery lists, and Facebook status updates. Her first completed manuscript won second place in the 2009 Touched By Love contest for contemporary category romance.


Colorado natives, Niki and her husband of 20+ years have four children (three at home) and are soon-to-be grandparents. In 1998 they planted a church in rural northwestern Colorado. Currently, they share their home with three teenage boys, two black Lab mutts, and Niki’s absurdly spoiled Westie, Archie.

Niki can be found at In Truer Ink, her personal blog and website, here at Inkwell Inspirations, and at The Pastor’s Wife Speaks.

IT'S A KINDLE!

I've been debating about which e-reader to buy for several months. I didn't think I'd buy any e-reader ever, but I found myself enthralled with these devices and was certain I was going to buy a NOOK. In the end, I purchased the Kindle for two main reasons. The first was cost and the second reason was the possibility that as time moves on that Barnes and Noble could possibly go out of business like Borders and other bookstores. I would hate to see that happen but it's a possiblity that must be faced. I'm not sure where that would leave owners of the Nook. Let's hope for the best.

I do like this Kindle and I like the red case and light that I bought to go with it too. You can watch a YouTube Video below to see how it works with the lighted case. I think it works great, no problems at all.







Be aware that there is a new light coming out. I found this video about the new Octovo Kindle Light coming this month.



So have you made the leap to an e-reader? If you have are you happy with the decision you made? What's the pros and cons of your current e-reader? What was the first book you bought for your e-reader?