Yearly Archives: 2007

Christian Riese Lassen

2 Replies

When a local paper interviewed me a few years ago, I commented that I had Lassen prints hanging from my office walls. His sealife paintings are so vivid and refreshing! Plus, he uses a deep shade of blue, and that happens to be my favorite color! When writing, it’s a good idea to decorate your office in a way that appeals to you, making you want to stay in that room and crank out those books! That’s one of the main reasons I have Lassen’s prints hanging from my office walls! It would be interesting to hear how other writers decorate their offices? I wonder what things other authors do make their writing space appealing?

This dolphin print is one of my favorites!

Cecelia Dowdy

From The Blog Archives…

2 Replies



I couldn’t find an entry for Truth Be Told from my blog archives, but I did find this
from 2005-05-27:

I thought I’d spend this entry talking about the recent books I’ve been reading and about all I’ve been doing in my life. Since it’s spring, I’ve been out in my garden planting more flowers. I’ve planted lots of marigolds and dahlias. I’ve also got an assortment of perennials that I planted last year that bloomed about a month ago. I’ve got a few other flowers that I’ve planted, but can’t recall the names of them right now. If you have a particular type of flower that you enjoy planting in your garden, feel free to send me an email at ceceliadowdy@ceceliadowdy.com and let me know what it is. I might add it to my collection of blooms next year.

I’ve been reading my Bible, as usual. Lately, I’ve found myself going through the Old Testament. I recently read through the books of Esther and Joshua. One of the things that’s so unusual about the book of Esther is that it reads like a secular book, not like a book in the Bible. God is not mentioned in any of the chapters, but you do see evidence of His influence throughout the verses.

Joshua was full of wars, but Joshua was doing what God told him to do. He needed to conquer those lands just as God commanded.

As far as books are concerned, the two recent ones I’ve read are A Love So Strong by Kendra Norman-Ballamy and Testimony by Felicia Mason. I met both of these authors at writers conferences and both books were really good!

A Love So Strong is about Nicole and Bryan Walker. Nicole is unable to conceive, and she prays for a baby. This couple is deeply in love, but when Bryan’s “love child” from his college days is introduced into their life, their marriage goes through a great deal of torment and trouble. They rely on their faith to get them through this, and there’s an interesting twist at the end that makes the story work out with a happy ending. I met Ms. Bellamy at the 2004 Faith Based Fiction Lovers Weekend in Durham. We sat on a panel together during the conference.

Testimony is about a gospel group who go on tour. All of the members have troubles and circumstances to overcome and most of them do this, as they learn to lean on God during their troublesome times. I really enjoyed this book and it was released back in 2002. I met Ms. Mason at a Romance Writers Of America conference and purchased it there and she signed it for me.

Like most writers, I purchase books like it’s an addiction, so I have so many of them that it’s hard for me to read all of them as I buy them. This explains why I’m just now getting around to reading Felicia’s hardcover novel.

Well, signing off for now. Hope everybody has a good day!

Cecelia Dowdy

Illegitimate Children In Christian Fiction

Leave a reply

Yesterday’s post about The Other Daughter started me to thinking about the subject of illegitimate children in Christian fiction. Three titles immediately came to mind:


I blogged about Deborah’s title about a year ago:

A Morning Like This

I blogged about Karen Kingsbury’s book a few months ago:

When Joy Came To Stay

I think I might have blogged about Truth Be Told in my old blog through Diaryland.com
I’ll try and dig that up from my old archives and see if I can post my thoughts about that novel.

All three of these books were well-written and they show how an unknown illegitimate child can show up and cause a marriage to go through trying times.

Cecelia Dowdy

The Other Daughter

3 Replies

Other Daughter, The: A Novel (Paperback)
by Miralee Ferrell
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications (October 31, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0825426596
ISBN-13: 978-0825426599

From Amazon:
Book Description
Susanne Carson’s well-ordered family life is thrown into devastating chaos when Brianna, a young teen, appears on her doorstep, claiming to be the daughter of Susanne’s husband, David. The revelation of David’s apparent betrayal adds strain to an already fragile marriage. Will this shocking discovery drive the family apart, or will it draw them closer to God? Guaranteed fiction!

I enjoyed reading this book. I think what I loved most about it was that the author took some tough issues, issues that I’m sure a lot of families are dealing with, and shows us how we need to lean on God during troubled times.

The obvious conflict, David fathering another child, wreaks havoc on their home. Also, Susanne’s faith in God is practically non-existent. Susanne’s and David’s marriage is already in trouble due to their spiritual differences, and having an illegitimate daughter to show up in the midst of a faltering marriage offers the reader a conflict that takes some time to resolve.

Also, Brianna’s sudden appearance affects Meagan and Josh, David and Susanne’s children. They now have a new sister, and although they bond quicker with Brianna than Susanne and David do, it’s still tough-going for them when a serious accident occurs, harming Meagan. Brianna is stricken with guilt and wonders if she’ll ever be a real part of the family.

Susanne has a tough time accepting David’s other daughter, and she drowns her sorrows with alcohol, and her views are swayed further when her worldly friend, Gina, tries to create more havoc in the Carson household by doling out bad advice.

The characters seem so real in this book. When you see Brianna struggling, you just want to hug her, hold her, help her, and pray for her! I loved the way Brianna’s paternal grandfather had an immediate affection for his newly-found grandchild.

I recommend this book for those who like a good Christian read dealing with some tough issues.

Cecelia Dowdy

Desensitized

3 Replies

Have you ever read something so many times that you’re immune to the words? That’s how I feel right now about my manuscript. I’ve read it so much that I think I can recite parts of it in my sleep. I can no longer tell if it’s good, bad, or what!

The publisher bought it, so at least they think it’s decent. My hubby was asking me if this is it? After I submitted on the 16th, would I be done. I told him no, I’d still have to go through the manuscript once the copy editor is finished with it. That’s when I’ll have to do line edits.

It’s no wonder that by the time my book is released, I don’t read it. I never do. Once it’s in print, I just can’t read it another time.

Cecelia Dowdy

Too Tired To Blog

1 Reply

I have a deadline of October 16 looming ahead. I’ve been getting out of bed at 4:45 each morning to get some writing done before my family awakens. So, for the next week, my posts will be sporadic, and they may be short, depending on my schedule. I read The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell on the plane ride to and from the conference last month. So, I’ll be blogging about that novel sometime over the next week. I also read Sushi For One by Camy Tang. I will also be blogging about that in the near future.

I started the novel Pink by Marilynn Griffith. I purchased this book at the 2006 ACFW conference. I think it’s neat that each scene break is separated by a drawing of a button!

Peace and God’s blessings to all!

Cecelia Dowdy