Ship's Log 03.17.2013
AHOY MATEYS!!!!! CHAPLAIN DEBBIE HERE, WISHIN' YE A HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY....
God bless!!!!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
I SPY WIT' ME LITTLE EYE
Ship's Log 03.16.2013
Ahoy Mateys..This be I SPY WIT' ME LITTLE EYE Saturday...
I have three books I wish to be reviewin' today, Mateys. They be short reviews, but great books!
Her One True Soldier
By Linore Rose Burkard
By Linore Rose Burkard
My Review:
HER ONE TRUE SOLDIER was a nice short story. It was the perfect length to pick up and read in one afternoon. I like the way this story played out, it could have easily went another way. Linore Burkard did a nice job creating these characters and I could totally envision the sights and sounds that seemed to leap off the pages. I look forward to reading more of her books.
You can connect with Linore Rose Burkard at her blog here:
And you can purchase this book here:
The Biggest and Toughest
By Kelly Pulley
My Review:
THE BIGGEST AND TOUGHEST is a great telling of this Bible story. I found myself enjoying it without a child in my lap. I love the way the story is told in rhyme and the pictures are gorgeous! I highly recommend this book!
You can purchase it here:
Daniel for Lunch
By Kelly Pulley
My Review:
This was a delightful book. I love how it rhymes. I read it to my grandson (he is four) and he really loved the pictures. Very vibrant colors. Great way to introduce your child to this Bible story. I highly recommend this book.
You can purchase it here:
So, there ye have it, three books to sink yer teeth into, Mateys!
Thank ye fer droppin' by.........God bless.
Friday, March 15, 2013
AND THE WINNER BE................
Ship's Log 03.15.2013
Ahoy Mateys! This be it, the day I be announcin' the winner of me EASTER BUNDLE GIVEAWAY!!! Just so ye know it be a fair drawin', I have copied an idea I spied on another blog I frequent (Thank ye Michelle Griep)and I video taped me hubby Swabbie Jack drawin' the name.....if ye can't be trustin' a pirate named Jack, who can ye be trustin'? So, without further ado or sufferin'.........drum roll please!
(Beware: This video was NOT rehearsed, as you will clearly see, especially at the end, which makes it quite hilarious! Thanks to me hubby fer doin' this fer me!)
There it be, Mateys! Congrats to the winner! I will be contactin' ye shortly. If ye not be hearin' from me by tomorrow.....mayhaps me fell overboard fer a spell.....no worries, I be findin' ye!
Even though you did not win MaryLu's FORSAKEN DREAMS, you can still purchase it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Forsaken-Dreams-Escape-Paradise-Tyndall/dp/1616265965
http://www.christianbook.com/forsaken-dreams-escape-to-paradise/marylu-tyndall/9781616265960/pd/265960
Here be some places where ye can still win a copy of Forsaken Dreams, but be quick because I don't know when they end:
http://cfpagels.blogspot.com/2013/03/teresa-mathews-reviews-forsaken-dreams.html
http://networkedblogs.com/JeKOk
Or go to MaryLu's blog, where she gives away one of her books each month!
http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by my blog, please come back again......God bless.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
STAY TUNED
Ship's Log 03.14.2013
Ahoy Mateys! Thank ye all fer comin' by and puttin' yer name in the hat fer the drawing of me EASTER BUNDLE GIVEAWAY....stay tuned....I will be announcin' the winner on me blog tomorrow....so head back over here tomorrow to see if ye be the winner!
God bless!!!!
Friday, March 8, 2013
EASTER BUNDLE GIVEAWAY !!!!!!
Ship's Log 03.10.2013
Ahoy Mateys! Today I will be sharing a very special interview and having a giveaway featuring FORSAKEN DREAMS by MaryLu Tyndall!!
Let's start things off with an interview with MaryLu Tyndall. She was gracious enough to take the time to answer my questions. And I am totally impressed by her answers. So, without further ado, here is the interview:
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MaryLu, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions.
1. Forsaken Dreams is said to be a bit different from your previous novels. How so?
Forsaken Dreams is the first book in a trilogy that deviates both in character, location, and theme from my previous books in a number of ways. One, all of the main characters have major parts in all three books, so readers will not only enjoy a new romance between characters in each book, but they'll follow the lives of characters they've fallen in love with in other books from the series. Consequently, there's quite a few characters to keep track of, but I've included a character chart in the beginning of each book to help.
Secondly and more importantly, Forsaken Dreams and the other books in the series, contain a prominent and powerful spiritual warfare theme which I haven't attempted in my prior novels. Odd happenings that can't be explained start on the journey from Charleston to Brazil and continue in frequency and weirdness once the characters get to Brazil, ending up sending the characters into a supernatural battle that, if they lose, could release great evil on the earth. I know, it sounds weird, but the story line reveals the awesomeness of God orchestrating things behind the scenes, bringing people together for a purpose that is far beyond them.
Forsaken Dreams is the first book in a trilogy that deviates both in character, location, and theme from my previous books in a number of ways. One, all of the main characters have major parts in all three books, so readers will not only enjoy a new romance between characters in each book, but they'll follow the lives of characters they've fallen in love with in other books from the series. Consequently, there's quite a few characters to keep track of, but I've included a character chart in the beginning of each book to help.
Secondly and more importantly, Forsaken Dreams and the other books in the series, contain a prominent and powerful spiritual warfare theme which I haven't attempted in my prior novels. Odd happenings that can't be explained start on the journey from Charleston to Brazil and continue in frequency and weirdness once the characters get to Brazil, ending up sending the characters into a supernatural battle that, if they lose, could release great evil on the earth. I know, it sounds weird, but the story line reveals the awesomeness of God orchestrating things behind the scenes, bringing people together for a purpose that is far beyond them.
2. Which character in this new series was the hardest to capture in describing him/her? Why?
Magnolia Scott. She's the young, beautiful daughter of wealthy plantation owners who has been spoiled her entire life. She has a very snobbish attitude toward others and comes across demeaning and rude most of the time. Having never been wealthy or thought of myself as being above others, it was quite a challenge to put myself in her shoes and try to imagine growing up with every luxury and being fawned over by servants and suitors who catered to my every whim. Of course, now she is being dragged away from all that and forced to travel to a place she considers to be nothing but a barbaric outpost, Brazil. It's been fun to watch her react to her new life!
Magnolia Scott. She's the young, beautiful daughter of wealthy plantation owners who has been spoiled her entire life. She has a very snobbish attitude toward others and comes across demeaning and rude most of the time. Having never been wealthy or thought of myself as being above others, it was quite a challenge to put myself in her shoes and try to imagine growing up with every luxury and being fawned over by servants and suitors who catered to my every whim. Of course, now she is being dragged away from all that and forced to travel to a place she considers to be nothing but a barbaric outpost, Brazil. It's been fun to watch her react to her new life!
3. God is prominent in your novels. Do you consider this a top priority as you write or do you simply add religion to appease the masses?
If I wanted to appease the masses in this day and age, I'd never mention God in my stories!! He doesn't seem to be a very popular topic among most people these days. No, I wrap my stories around a Godly theme because He is the Creator of all things. He is the giver of life and goodness and mercy and grace and light. Without Him, there would be no stories, no romance, and no adventure. He is the creator of all those things and He gave them freely to us for our enjoyment. To leave God out of a story would be like leaving the artists name off a painting. He is the reason I write. He gives me a message to tell the world, and I can only hope that I manage, in my human weakness, to deliver it in an understandable way.
If I wanted to appease the masses in this day and age, I'd never mention God in my stories!! He doesn't seem to be a very popular topic among most people these days. No, I wrap my stories around a Godly theme because He is the Creator of all things. He is the giver of life and goodness and mercy and grace and light. Without Him, there would be no stories, no romance, and no adventure. He is the creator of all those things and He gave them freely to us for our enjoyment. To leave God out of a story would be like leaving the artists name off a painting. He is the reason I write. He gives me a message to tell the world, and I can only hope that I manage, in my human weakness, to deliver it in an understandable way.
4. What do you hope readers will get from Forsaken Dreams and the entire series?
Oh.. there's so many themes running through this series. I'll name just a few here that pertain to this first book. One is that you can't run away from your problems, and you especially can't run away from God! Another is that God doesn't cause war and suffering and death. People do. He gave us free will and He won't interfere in our choices. Third and most importantly, hatred and bitterness will keep you in chains of destruction, but forgiveness will set you free!
Oh.. there's so many themes running through this series. I'll name just a few here that pertain to this first book. One is that you can't run away from your problems, and you especially can't run away from God! Another is that God doesn't cause war and suffering and death. People do. He gave us free will and He won't interfere in our choices. Third and most importantly, hatred and bitterness will keep you in chains of destruction, but forgiveness will set you free!
5. Do you ever use experiences from your own life or someone you know to inspire your writing? If so, can you give an example?
I use lots of experiences from my own life in my writing. I think every author has to. How else can we truly describe a feeling, a longing, a need unless we have been there ourselves. The best example I have from my books is from my first book, The Redemption. I grew up without a Father. Not only was he absent but he rejected me. Consequently I spent years suffering from a lack of self-worth while searching for a Father's love in all the wrong places. In The Redemption, the heroine, Charlisse suffers from the same condition, abuse and neglect and no loving father. So, she sails to the Caribbean in search of her dad, hoping to find that unconditional love she craves. What she finds is that her Dad has become a monster and the only man who can help her is a reformed pirate! But that's another story.
I use lots of experiences from my own life in my writing. I think every author has to. How else can we truly describe a feeling, a longing, a need unless we have been there ourselves. The best example I have from my books is from my first book, The Redemption. I grew up without a Father. Not only was he absent but he rejected me. Consequently I spent years suffering from a lack of self-worth while searching for a Father's love in all the wrong places. In The Redemption, the heroine, Charlisse suffers from the same condition, abuse and neglect and no loving father. So, she sails to the Caribbean in search of her dad, hoping to find that unconditional love she craves. What she finds is that her Dad has become a monster and the only man who can help her is a reformed pirate! But that's another story.
6. One last question. If Forsaken Dreams were to be picked up as a movie one day, who would you want playing the roles of Eliza Crawford and Colonel Blake Wallace?
Hmm.. I don't know the actors names, but I'll post two pictures here that depict how I see both characters.
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Well, MaryLu, I have no idea who the gentleman is, but I believe the lady is actress Mandy Moore.
Thank you, again, for such great answers to my questions.
Here is my review of Forsaken Dreams:
Have you ever sat through a movie and
it seemed to end way too soon? There was so much excitement going on,
twists at every turn.........you think, Why oh why did it have to end
so soon? That is exactly how I felt when I read the final sentences
of Forsaken Dreams. I was so captivated by the characters and what
they were going through, that I didn't want the book to end. I need
to know what happens next in their adventure! But, alas, I must wait
for MaryLu's second book in this series....sheer torture! Like in her
other books, I found myself loving some of the characters and wanting
to smack others. I refuse to go into any specific details because I
really don't want to spoil anything for others who have yet to read
Forsaken Dreams. I can say this, that MaryLu does an excellent job
mixing history with fiction, letting you have a taste of what 'might
have' happened to some Southerners during that time in history. I am
in awe of the way MaryLu writes, how she seems to put you right in
the middle of the story......bringing all of your senses to life. So,
let's sum it up, shall we: adventure, romance, intrigue, all wrapped
up with a gorgeous bow of God's presence. Need I say more?
"Though
I was given a copy by the author to read, I was under no obligation
to give a positive review."
Before we get on to the giveaway, here is the description and video trailer for Forsaken Dreams:
They Left Everything Behind to Build a New Southern Utopia.
Colonel Blake Wallace has seen enough death to last a lifetime. Weary and disillusioned, he slumps beneath the weight of defeat and loss. With his entire family murdered by the North and his name appearing on a list of officers wanted for war crimes, Blake organizes a shipload of southerners who, like him, long to escape the horrors of war and start a new life in a verdant land called Brazil.
Eliza Crawford can barely remember the days of her youth spent in opulence and comfort at her Georgian home. She can't help but wonder how different her life would be had she not met her late husband, Stanton Watts, a general in the Northern army. Now a war widow, Eliza is rejected by both North and South. Desperate to keep her marriage a secret and escape her past and pain, she longs to start over again in Brazil.
But once the voyage begins, troubles abound. Dangers at sea and enemies from within threaten to keep Blake and Eliza from the new life—and love—they long for.
They Left Everything Behind to Build a New Southern Utopia.
Colonel Blake Wallace has seen enough death to last a lifetime. Weary and disillusioned, he slumps beneath the weight of defeat and loss. With his entire family murdered by the North and his name appearing on a list of officers wanted for war crimes, Blake organizes a shipload of southerners who, like him, long to escape the horrors of war and start a new life in a verdant land called Brazil.
Eliza Crawford can barely remember the days of her youth spent in opulence and comfort at her Georgian home. She can't help but wonder how different her life would be had she not met her late husband, Stanton Watts, a general in the Northern army. Now a war widow, Eliza is rejected by both North and South. Desperate to keep her marriage a secret and escape her past and pain, she longs to start over again in Brazil.
But once the voyage begins, troubles abound. Dangers at sea and enemies from within threaten to keep Blake and Eliza from the new life—and love—they long for.
Okay.....now on to the giveaway.
I will be giving away an Easter Bundle for one lucky visitor. It consists of one of my ships (yes, it be a pirate ship), a journal, sticky notes, notecards, a small mirror, a mechanical pencil and a signed copy of Forsaken Dreams. Me Cap'n MaryLu also included a magnet with the book and I included a special "Too big to miss" book mark I had made. To enter into the drawing, just leave a comment below along with your email address....sorry US residents only. Contest ends Wednesday, March 13 and the winner will be announced on my Friday blog, March 15th .
Good luck, Mateys! God bless.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
AND THE WINNING CAPTION IS......
Ship's Log 03.07.2013
First of all, I want to say how hard it was to pick a favorite this week. You all made me laugh so much. Thank you so much for participating! Please continue to come back each week and keep trying. I am loving this so much!
Without further ado.......
The Winning Caption Is:
You said I could have a piece of gum. This is the smallest gumball I could find!
Congrats Johnette! Your caption was great! Thanks for the laugh!
Thanks for stopping by......God bless!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH A TWIST
Ship's Log 03.06.2013
Ahoy Mateys! It be time fer another round of WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH A TWIST!
Here be this week's picture:
CAPTION THIS:
This here be me grandson, Lucas....What say ye? Tell me yer captions in the comments below. I will be postin' me favorite caption on tomorrow's blog.
If fer some reason, ye are unable to post a comment, just send me a personal message or respond on me Facebook page....I will add the caption fer ye.
Thank ye fer stoppin' by.....God bless!
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