Yearly Archives: 2012

Saturday Matinee – Julie And Julia

Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Messina

Have you seen this movie, if so did you like it?

I watched this movie on DVD with my husband last Saturday. The movie moved a little slow for me. It got kind of interesting around the middle, but, I just had a hard time really feeling anything about the story. This is surprising because the subject matters of the movie are things that I sometimes enjoy: blogging, cooking, eating, etc.

Julie has just moved to the city with her husband. She feels there’s something missing in her life and she needs a goal. She finally decides to take a cookbook by Julia Childs and try every single recipe within the span of a year. She’s also decided that she’s going to blog about it. At first, it’s slow going on her blog and she doesn’t get many comments. But, then things start taking off and she’s interviewed for the newspaper and getting gifts from blog readers. Julie is a writer, and it’s wonderful to be admired by readers. However, the blogging and cooking take a toll on her life and her marriage.

This movie focuses on Julie’s life as well as Julia Child’s life. In between Julie’s scenes are backstory scenes about Julia Childs and how she started cooking. Julia’s height was usually the first thing people noticed about her. Julia seemed to have extra time on her hands, so she ended up taking cooking lessons and she collaborated on a cookbook with two of her friends.

If you want to see a simple movie, without a really great moving plot, then you should try this movie. It was a little bit interesting learning about Julia Child’s life, especially since she’s such an icon in the world of cooking.

So, have you seen this movie, if so did you like it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Do You Remember The First Book You Ever Wrote?

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Photo courtesy of Suat Eman

Do you remember the first book you ever WROTE?

I recall back when I was still in my twenties and I discovered I wanted to be a writer. So, I began penning a romance novel entitled Cavanaugh. Don’t laugh – I named my heroine Cavanaugh. I saw it in a name book at the library. Cavanaugh was a pampered college student. Her mother died when she was a child and she was raised by her father – a wealthy man who owned a successful travel agency (I got this idea since I was working at a travel agency as an accountant at the time). Cavanaugh wanted to be independent and make a name for herself. Her father offered to hire her to work in his travel agency during her summer off from college.

Coincidentally, her father has also hired Evan Sanders to work as an accountant in his travel agency. Evan is a sad, hardened young man because his girlfriend (I think it was his girlfriend, it may have been his wife – I wrote this thing several years ago and it’s kinda hard for me to recall) had died and he was grieving.

As you can guess, Evan and Cavanaugh were attracted to one another.

Meanwhile, Cavanaugh’s father was dating a beautiful woman, Nia, a former model. She was jealous about the attention that Cavanaugh’s father lavished on his daughter. She hated seeing Cavanugh with Evan. Also, Evan had a provocative, shapely, ex-girlfriend (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH HIS DECEASED WIFE/GIRLFRIEND) who was trying to win him back. Her actions wreaked havoc on Evan’s and Cavanaugh’s relationship.

Cavanugh went on a cruise by herself to decide if her and Evan were meant to be together. When she returned, they kissed, and decided that they could work out their differences…

BLAH!

When I think about this manuscript, I shudder. It’s currently sitting under the stairs, in my basement, gathering piles and piles of dust. I cringe when I read those words. At the time, I even had the audacity to hand the manuscript over to friends and family who kindly gave me lofty reviews….

So, tell me about the first manuscript you ever wrote. What was it about? How long ago did you write it?

I wrote Cavanaugh about seventeen years ago. I feel that writing is a craft that can always be improved. Cavanaugh certainly needed LOTS OF IMPROVEMENT.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Rita Award Nominations

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Last week, RWA announced the Rita Award nominations. Below is the list of nominees, complete with book covers and book descriptions! Join me in giving these lovely ladies a hearty congratulations! 🙂

Have you read any of these titles? If so, which ones did you read?

The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight
In Redemption, Oklahoma, a young boy is found huddled in a Dumpster, clutching a Christmas book. Scared and refusing to speak, he captures undercover agent Kade McKendrick’s guarded heart. Kade brings the child home until he can track down his family—and his story. All Kade has is a name, Davey, and the boy’s trust of sweet, pretty teacher Sophie Bartholomew. With her kindness and faith, Sophie helps both the boy and the battle-scarred cop to smile again. And as they uncover the mystery of a very special child, a family is formed—just in time for Christmas.

Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon
Social worker Alison Taylor has a passion for protecting children. But now it seems she needs protecting. When her tormentor’s attentions take a violent turn, she calls in reinforcements–her police-detective brother, Cole, and his new partner, ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan. As her relentless stalker turns up the heat and the danger intensifies, Mitch takes a personal interest in the case. Because protecting Alison has become more than a job; his future depends on keeping her safe.

Katie’s Way by Marta Perry
A quilt shop brings Amish and Englisch together, and trouble follows…

After a thwarted romance, Katie Miller starts over by moving to Pleasant Valley and opening a quilt shop. Soon Amish and Englisch turn the store into a lively spot…to the consternation of Caleb Brand, who crafts furniture next door. Then Katie’s sister joins her, to escape rumors of her wild rumspringa, and Katie feels the burden of responsibility for a restless teenager. Even worse, her efforts to bring more people to Main Street arouse resistance among local businesses. When acts of vandalism threaten Katie’s shop, she turns to Caleb for comfort, and their friendship deepens. But will Caleb’s secret past prevent him from embracing a future with Katie? Or will their fragile romance develop the strength to last a lifetime?

The Ladies Room by Carolyn Brown
Secrets told in the church ladies’ room are supposed to stay in the ladies’ room. But that doesn’t mean that what Trudy overhears there during her great-aunt Gertrude’s funeral won’t change the rest of her life.

Trudy has a daughter in the middle of a major rebellion; a two-timing husband who has been cheating for their entire married life; and a mother with Alzheimer’s residing in the local nursing home. She doesn’t really need a crumbling old house about to fall into nothing but a pile of memories and broken knickknacks.

Billy Lee Tucker, resident oddball in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, lived next door to Gert, and in her will she leaves him the funds to help Trudy remodel the old house. That’s fine with Billy Lee, because he’s been in love with Trudy since before they started school. And just spending time with her is something he’d never ever allowed himself to dream about.

A beautiful home rises up from the old house on Broadway, and right along with it rises up a relationship. But is Trudy too scarred from what she heard in the ladies’ room to see a lovely future with Billy Lee?

Love On The Line by Deeanne Gist
READ MY REVIEW HERE.
In 1904 Texas Ranger Luke Palmer arrives in Brenham, Texas, with one goal–to capture the gang of outlaws led by Frank Comer. Undercover as a telephone repairman, he uses his days on the range to search, not realizing there’s another pair of eyes watching him.
Georgie Gail, switchboard operator and birder, heads out on a birding expedition, but instead of sighting a painted bunting, her opera glasses capture her telephone man, armed and far away from telephone lines. Palmer is forced to take this alluring troublemaker into his confidence and unwittingly puts her in harm’s way. The closer he comes to the gang, the further she works her way into his heart–and into trouble. Soon it’s more than just love that’s on the line.

The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller
The Civil War has ended, but in Katie Calloway’s Georgia home, conflict still rages. To protect herself and her young brother from her violent and unstable husband, she flees north, finding anonymity and sanctuary as the cook in a north woods lumber camp. The camp owner, Robert Foster, wonders if the lovely woman he’s hired has the grit to survive the never-ending work and harsh conditions of a remote pine forest in winter. Katie wonders if she can keep her past a secret from a man she is slowly growing to love.
With grace and skill, Serena Miller brings to life a bygone era. From the ethereal, snowy forest and the rowdy shanty boys to the warm cookstove and mouth-watering apple pie, every detail is perfectly rendered, transporting you to a time of danger and romance.

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren
When it comes to love, sometimes you have to be a little foolish. Unknown to her quaint town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley is the star host of My Foolish Heart, a popular syndicated talk radio show. From her home studio, she gives listeners advice on romance . . . even though she’s never had a date.

It’s not that she doesn’t want to, but since a tragic accident took her mother’s life, panic attacks have trapped her inside her small neighborhood. And though she always reminds listeners that their perfect love could be right next door, it can’t possibly be true for her. Especially when a new neighbor moves in. Sure, he’s handsome, but with his unruly dog and Neanderthal manners, Caleb Knight is the last man she’d ever fall for.

To Issy, love isn’t worth the risk. Until she starts to have feelings for a caller—a man she’s never even met but finds honest, charming, and sensitive.
A man she doesn’t realize lives right next door.

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones
You are cordially invited to the wedding of the year with the most unlikely bride and groom. Save the date . . . and say your prayers.

When funding for Lucy’s non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir to Sinclair Enterprises-the primary donor to Lucy’s non-profit organization.

Both Lucy and Alex have something the other desperately wants.

Alex has it all . . . except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancee in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn’t quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart-and her future-on the line.

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer
READ MY REVIEW HERE.
Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets…
Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Levi’s renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

So, have you read any of these titles? If so, which ones did you read?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch – Remember Jesus’s Sacrifice

Saturday Matinee – The Hunger Games – A Book/Movie Comparison

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Have you seen The Hunger Games? If so, what’d you think?

I went to see The Hunger Games yesterday. I enjoyed the book much more than the movie. However, the movie did follow the book’s storyline, for the most part, with a few added changes.

Just like in the book, the 12 districts randomly selects a boy and a girl during the reaping, to play in the Hunger Games. A total of 24 kids, aged 12-18 will fight in The Hunger Games until there is supposedly one lone survivor. I’m not going to bother repeating the plot since I already talked about this, in depth, on the link above when I reviewed the novel.

The movie made a few significant changes. The Gamemaker played more of a role in the movie than in the book. I don’t recall seeing the Gamemaker very much in the first book. (Although, the new Gamemaker is a prominent character in the second book.) Also, there’s a number of scenes with the Gamemaker and President Snow in the movie. I don’t recall seeing much of President Snow in the first book. (Although, you do see him a number of times in the second and third books.)

I felt that the character of Rue was not as deep or developed as in the book. However, in their defense, I know it’s hard to place every little thing from the book into the movie.

Also, there were a number of scenes that they added to the movie which showed the people controlling the game. I don’t recall seeing this in the book – the Gamemaker and his underlings, actually seeing them put things like fire and wild dogs into the players world. We see the book totally through Katniss’s point-of-view, so all of this background/behind the scenes stuff is not shown in the book.

The movie was just okay. I thought it had some suspenseful moments, but, I doubt I’d want to see it again. If I had to make a recommendation, I’d say to read the book before seeing the movie. The book has much more depth – more meat – in the story than the movie.

Have you seen The Hunger Games? If so, what’d you think?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

SPOILER:

I was surprised that they didn’t have Peeta to lose his leg at the end of the movie. This happens in the book.

Catching Fire And Mockingjay – Books 2 and 3 In The Hunger Games Series – Secular Titles

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Have you read The Hunger Games series? If so, feel free to share your thoughts with a comment.

I finished book three in the Hunger Games series last night. Since I read books 2 and 3 back to back, I figured I’d blog about them together. After Katniss and Peeta win the Hunger Games in book one, they still have problems. The Capitol/President Snow feels threatened, Katniss has power that causes fear within Snow. Katniss’s attempt to swallow the poisoned berries in the arena has caused a definite stir within the oppressed people in the districts. She goes on tour with Peeta as the victors in the Hunger Games and for the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell), President Snow announces that the players will be former Hunger Games winners. Peeta and Katniss, as well as a host of other victors, both young and old, are sent back into the arena to fight one another for their lives.

Due to a pre-determined planned, the Games have been rigged and Katniss and some of the other victors are rescued from the Game and taken to the supposedly extinct district 13. Katniss is worried about Peeta’s safety since he’s been taken by the Capitol. Katniss loses her mind as she’s “nominated” by District 13 to be the Mockingjay, a spokesperson/support person for the war. She’s seen enough blood and guts to last a lifetime, and the gory details of book three are too numerous to mention in this blog post.

Although both of these books were riveting stories, and I felt compelled to read books one, two, and three back to back, I still felt that it was written from the viewpoint of somebody who has little/no faith/belief in God. I felt that the characters in all three of these books were functioning in a Godless, cruel world. There was so much danger, blood, guts, negativity in the stories, that I felt that most people, when in such an oppressed society would call upon God. But, it was almost as if religion doesn’t exist in this futuristic 13-district North American world. However, it’s possible that I feel this way because I read so much Christian fiction that it’s second nature for me to seek a faith element in a story.

I do think these books are thought-provoking. The novels make you think about morals within our society. It also makes you think about war, and about how the actions of war can affect innocent people, like unarmed women and children.

I also felt that these books were too dark to be marketed as young adult novels. I feel they were marketed as such because the characters were so young.

I did enjoy reading these stories, because they are very compelling and you can really feel for the characters, especially with all that they lose in the war. I plan on seeing the movie soon.

Have you read these books? If so, did you like them?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Hunger Games – A Secular Title

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Have you read this book or saw the movie? If so, what are your thoughts about it?

I read this book because everybody keeps talking about it and now that the movie’s been released, they’re talking about it even more. This book was highly disturbing, but, I did think the story and the writing were amazing. The reason why the story was disturbing to me is because I could actually imagine this happening – the story was not that far-fetched.

North America is now divided into Twelve districts. Katniss, a female hunter who poaches game from a forbidden woods with her friend Gale, now finds herself having to play the Hunger Games. The world is different, much different, than the way we know it today. The government doesn’t care about the suffering of its’ people and when Katniss’s father dies, and her mother suffers from mental anxiety, she finds she must take her dad’s bow and arrow to hunt, or her family will starve to death. Starving is something that happens a lot in District 12.

The Hunger Games is a “sporting event” that the Capitol throws every year to keep their districts in line – to remind them of the Capitol’s power. Each district chooses one boy and one girl from a lottery and, the 24 subjects chosen from the 12 districts are forced to play a survival game in a large arena, killing one another in an effort to survive, the last person alive is the winner. This “game” is televised and most of the people in the 12 districts watch the event. When Katniss’s little sister’s name is drawn from the bowl, she snaps, volunteering to take her sister’s place. The boy chosen from District 12 is Peeta, a boy who has shown Katniss great kindness in the past. The age range of those chosen to play the Hunger Games are 12-18.

It’s troubling to see young people warring against one another on a televised event, however, the premise of the story is written in such a way that you want to finish the novel. When the kids are in the arena, there’s a host of things in the wild that can hurt them other than their competitors. Sometimes water is scarce, and there are wild animals in the forest, too. In the beginning, the tributes (people playing the Hunger Games) may pair up and work together for survival.

Another thing that bothered me was the age range and sex of the competitors – 12 – 18? Boys and girls? How can a small 12 year old girl fairly compete against a strapping 18 year old boy?

I did enjoy reading how Katniss travels to the Capitol for the Hunger Game event. She’s never been outside of District 12 and when she travels on the train and arrives to the Capitol, she’s treated like royalty. This is the first time she’s had enough food to eat, and she’s able to taste “delicacies” like, wine, orange juice, and lamb stew. A hot shower is something she’s never experienced before coming to the Capitol and she’s appalled about how some of the Capitol people are pudgy since most have had enough food to eat their entire lives. The glowing Capitol buildings are also a sight for her to see – the contrast in setting is stark and vivid – such a strange contrast to experience right before you’re thrown into an arena to fight for your life.

I plan on reading the other two book in the series, since I did enjoy reading this book because I wanted to see what happened, in spite of the dark subject matter.

Have you read this book or saw the movie? If so, what are your thoughts about it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Writers Conferences – From The Blog Archives

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Have you ever been to a writers’ conference?

I found the publisher for my first book through a direct contact at a writers’ conference. I used to attend the Romance Writers of America Conference every year and I met Tracie Peterson (the former editor of Barbour Publishing’s Heartsong Presents line). Although Tracie didn’t offer me a contract for my story, when her former colleague, Stephen Reginald, was looking for an African American Christian Fiction author to write a novel for a special 3-in-1 collection for Crossings Book Club, he contacted Tracie for suggestions and she gave him my name. As a result, I landed the contract for Someone For Toni, my first book in the novel collection entitled Promises To Keep that was released back in 2002.

My second romance was sold through the direct contact at a conference hosted by a local Romance Writers of America Chapter (Washington Romance Writers). I met with a Harlequin editor who referred me to Krista Stroever, who was a new editor for Love Inspired at the time. I submitted and made a sale to Love Inspired three weeks later.

I now attend conferences sponsored by American Christian Fiction Writers. I’ve sold three more romance novels since I’ve begun fellowshipping with this wonderful group of writers and they have a conference each year that is totally awesome! I recommend attending this event if you’re serious about pursuing commercial publication.

Also, at writers’ conferences, you have the luxury of forming new friendships with fellow writers and you’ll get to meet some best-selling authors that you may have admired for years, and meeting these authors is a treat!

So, have you been to a writers’ conference before? Which one did you attend? Was it a positive experience? Tell us about it in the comments section!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

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