Lost Mission

I am so embarrassingly late with this . . . forgive me, Athol.

Athol. When I saw his name on the title of this book “Lost Mission” I, like you probably, (c’mon back me up, here!) mentally pronounced it just the way it appears. A th ol. Guess what? That’s not right at all. From what I’ve learned, it is pronounced as “eight oll” with the emphasis on the eight. So, in my simple brain, I filed it as “ate all” – pathetic, huh? But it helped me remember how to pronounce the man’s name. And that’s important, because Athol is a writer I want to read and learn more of.

Hmm . . . a Writer I want to read, and one of whom I want to learn more? Sigh.

About the book:

What haunting legacy awaits deep beneath the barrios and wealthy enclaves of Southern California?

A billionaire
driven mad by grief.
A pastor
in love with the wrong woman.
An illegal immigrant
desperate to feed his family.

Only Lupe de la Garza can save them from the ancient evil lurking in a lost mission's ruins, but it will take an act of faith beyond all human power.

An idyllic Spanish mission collapses in the eighteenth century atop the supernatural evidence of a shocking crime. Twelve generations later the ground is opened up, the forgotten ruins are disturbed, and rich and poor alike confront the onslaught of resurging hell on earth. Caught up in the catastrophe are...

· A humble shopkeeper compelled to leave her tiny village deep in Mexico to preach in America

· A minister wracked with guilt for loving the wrong woman

· An unimaginably wealthy man, blinded to the consequences of his grand plans

· A devoted father and husband driven to a horrible discovery that changes everything

Will the evil that destroyed the Misión de Santa Dolores rise to overwhelm them? Or will they beat back the terrible desires that led to the mission's good Franciscan founder's standing in the midst of flames ignited by his enemies and friends alike more than two centuries ago?

From the high Sierra Madre mountains to the harsh Sonoran desert, from the privileged world of millionaire moguls to the impoverished immigrants who serve them, Athol Dickson once again weaves a gripping story of suspense that spans centuries and cultures to explore the abiding possibility of miracles.

About the author:

Athol Dickson is an award-winning author of several novels. His Christy Award-winning novel River Rising was name one of the "Top Ten Christian Novel of 2006" by Booklist magazine. He lives in California with his wife.
Find out more about Athol and his books by visiting his website.

What Does SNCC Think:

I really looked forward to reading this book. I love history, and I particularly enjoy reading it as it unfolds. That’s what this book promised.

And it delivered . . . but in a way I did not expect . . . and had a hard time reading.

Okay, up front, this is the first Athol Dickson book I’ve read, so please forgive me if I’m showing a certain amount of ignorance.

It took me well over a month to read this book, mainly because I could not adjust to the writing style. When I eventually adjusted to the subtle segues from history to the present and then back to history . . . I confess it jarred me. I set the book aside many times.

I kept going back to it, first, because I’d committed to touring it (and I’m waaay late!) and second because I was intrigued with the story concept.

Lost Mission is more than an historical work of fiction. There is so much buried in here  . . . the dreams and the plight of the illegal's from Mexico.

I don’t know.

And there are several issues I felt unresolved and some I cannot accept. But I’m not going to spoil your read, my reader friends.

I will confess that I’ve never read anything quite like this before. There were many times I set it aside. But I couldn’t ignore it. So, I finished it. But you are going to have to form your own opinion.

I will say this: It’s deep, compelling, and, in a certain way, mesmerizing. (On another frontier, it also made me me quite angry.) Maybe that’s the mastery If Athol Dickson.

SNCC Review:

Learning through NaNo

You might want to get used to this topic periodically through the month of November. Those of you who are participating in the National Novel Writing Month challenge for 2009 may get something out of these ramblings.

If you’re not doing NaNo, then just whiz past this post and wait for another more to your taste. <smiles>

BUT: Remember, if you leave a comment on ANY post through 11/28, and mention “Christmas Contest” you get an extra entry in the drawing. Just be sure to leave your email contact, disguised however you choose.

Now, about NaNo, or WriMo, as some call it: As I said yesterday, this is my –th or –th attempt (I’m so scrambled I don’t even remember what I said yesterday) – but let me say this . . .

I have learned a great deal between my “win” last year (2008) and my new effort this year. Namely . . . well . . .

Don’t try to set up page formats, margins, fonts, indents, etc – it’s just so much waste of time and effort. The only thing I recommend at the onset is to use double-space. It will make this rough draft a little easier to work your way through. Oh, and 12pt Times New Roman. Easiest all the way around.

In past years I tried to “chapterize” as I wrote, which made me struggle to find the right place to cut it off – leaving that ever-important cliff-hanger. Not this time. This time what I’m writing is one long, continuous document.

Okay, I’ve already said it, many times, I’m a “pantster” – meaning I don’t outline – gasp! All I usually have is a beginning and an end. I know where I’m starting—well, maybe—and I definitely DO know where I’m going to end.

I this particular year I’m working on the 2nd half of the novel I began in NaNo last year. So, I guess you could say I’m starting this one in the middle.

What I started doing and what I’m doing right now, going into Day 5 are vastly different. The first day I did set up a chapter number. I did have to have a starting point. But after that it’s just flowing. If I feel a need to shift POV, I stop, complete that thought, whatever, and enter a # # # return and I’m into the next person’s head.

The same with a scene shift. # # # and return and I’m off and running in a different location.

Oh, one more thing: I’ve seen so many pleas for help when using the triple-# and it turns into an ugly black line that won’t go away, or something equally frightening. Whether you use the # or * (I’m not sure if any other symbols do it) instead of placing them tightly together like a word (###) try putting a space between them (# # #). From my experience, when you hit return there you will not get those nasty black lines or whatever ugliness happens.

I use Microsoft Office 2007, so take it for what it’s worth. Oh, and I’m PC, as well.

Okay, I think I’m finished rambling.

Tomorrow (Friday) watch for an overview of Athol Dickson’s book Lost Mission and the SNCC review of same.

Hint: Awesome book.

Once more, check out this month’s Christmas Contest. Click on the white banner with the holly for details.

National Novel Writing Month

. . . also known as NaNoWriMo

I’m participating again this year, which I think will be my 6th year out of the 11 years since they started this insanity.

I’ve “won” twice: in 2006 and 2008. “Winning” means writing a total of 50,000 words between November 1 and November 30. That’s the whole premise of the challenge. Just write. Fast and furious; gag the internal editor; avoid procrastination (yeah, easy for THEM to say!) . . . just write.

Last year’s challenge for me resulted in a rough draft of the first half—more or less—of my contracted novel “To See the Sun” which will debut in the fall of 2011, from Sheaf House. So, it seemed the logical thing for me to do was sign up this year to write the 2nd half.

How am I doing? I was afraid you’d ask that. This is day 4 and I’ve barely reached the total I should be at for day 2. Got some catching up to do.

BY THE WAY:

Don’t forget to check out my current Chirstmas Giveaway Contest. Clicking the link—or the white banner with the holly just above—will take you to the complete contest information, prizes and rules for entering. Lot’s of goodies!

Now I’ve got to start doing some heavy-duty writing. Tomorrow will be one of those days when I’m running errands and generally chasing my tail.

What I am reading: “A Prisoner of Versailles” by Golden Keyes Parsons.

Christmas Contest

Hey, have you noticed?
I’ve changed the title of my blog from Sips ‘n Cups Cafe to Sips ‘n Cups Cafe and Reading Room. Still working on that a bit—just wanted to let you know.
OKAY!
Today kicks off the SNCC Christmas Contest and Giveaway. I’ve got some really nice gifts for one lucky winner and lots of ways to increase your odds of winning. This is one time when you can “stuff the ballot box”—with some rules. But first, let’s look at the “prizes.”

 

 

 

 

 

 
Four Books:

• A Passion Denied, by Julie Lessman
• Seeing Things, by Patti Hill
• Daisy Chain, by Mary DeMuth
• A Measure of Mercy, by Lauraine Snelling.

See that green thing draped over Mary’s book? That’s a one-of-a-kind, hand-crocheted bookmark, in sage green, about 11” long, including tassel.
Next:

Four all-hand-sewn Bucilla felt ornaments, crafted by Joyce Akimoto, mother to novelist Camy Tang. These ornaments are far more beautiful than this picture. Each measures a generous 3.5” x 3.5” with a 7” overall drop including star dangle. (I am so-o-o tempted to keep these! so you’d better be sure there are plenty of entries!)
Not enough?
How about a journal?
Sorry, I don’t know where those stripes came from. I couldn't get rid of them.
But “your” journal is the black one at the back. Measures 6-1/4 x 8-1/4, 120 ruled gilt-edged pages with Scriptures, handy slide-tab closure, and a ribbon marker.
More, you say? Gotcha covered. How about a 3” x 3” heavy glass paperweight?

 

 

 

 

 

  Again, sorry I couldn’t clean it up any better. It’s really pretty! But the bottom edge is velvet-covered to protect surfaces.

What? This isn’t enough? Well, then, do you like music?
A CD of 10 Elegant Worship Classics. I don’t know who the artists are, but this is bound to be some good listening.
That’s it for the up-front prizes. I have a few nifty-gifty’s hanging around that will be included.

I don’t want to put a value on this gift package. That’s not the point, anyway. I simply want to gift a person who reads and follows my blog, with enough advance time so that whoever wins will be able to pass any of these along to someone else as a Christmas gift.

Have you been tempted and teased enough? Great. Now here are the rules.
To Enter:

1. Become a “follower” by clicking on the link above all those lovely smiling faces you see on the sidebar.
2. Subscribe to the Feedblitz feed by entering your name in the field where it says “Stay Up to Date.”
3. Write a comment on this blog post, or any post between November 1st and November 28th. Only ONE comment per post, but you may comment on as many individual posts as you want. To be entered on other SNCC posts this month be sure to include the word "Christmas" somewhere in your comment. Otherwise I won't know you want to be entered or are just making a general comment. Very Important.
4. Link to Sips ‘n Cups Cafe on your blog or website and send me the URL by clicking on the coffee cup at the top of the sidebar.
5. If you are currently a subscribed reader and/or one of those smiley faces in the Followers grouping, you are already entered at least once. But you can still participate anywhere else you choose.
6. Tell your friends about Sips ‘n Cups Cafe and Reading Room. If they sign up as a reader or follower and reference YOUR name, they get one entry and YOU get one for every referral.

So you see, LOTS of ways to win.

Now the legal stuff. Sorry.
Contest runs from November 1 through November 28. Void where prohibited by law. Open to US residents only. Odds of winning dependent upon number of entries. MUST provide contact information with each entry, regardless of method. Entries without proper contact info will be disqualified.

Drawing will be held the weekend of November 28. Winner will be notified by e-mail and announced on this blog the early part of the week of November 29.

The four books being offered are from my own collection and are brand new publications. Other items have either been made by me or purchased by me for the express purpose of this contest.

Okay, everybody . . . I think I got all the legalities out of the way, so we’re ready to roll.

There will be a banner or widget or something either on the sidebar or beneath the SNCC logo/header that will link back to this post about the gifts and rules.

Ah-heh-ahem. Yes, this is a blatant attempt to increase circulation for S'NCC while at the same time allow YOU to link back to your own blogs and websites. You can’t lose—and you might win!

Ready? Go for it!

Announcing a winner

Posting to announce the winner of the book “The Sound of Sleigh Bells” by Cindy Woodsmall.

The book is already on it’s way to:

Adrienne Holton, of Fayetteville, GA

Congratulations, Adrienne. You’ll love this book.

Please return to the Sips ‘n Cups Cafe and Reading Room on Monday, November 2 as I kick off my Christmas Contest. Lots of nice prizes – including books, of course! – and many ways to win, increasing your odds.

Are any of my readers doing the NaNoWriMo challenge? If so, and you’d like, “buddy me” at pushing70novelist – I’ll welcome lots of support.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Upcoming contest

I mentioned this briefly in passing a bit ago and I thought I’d bring it out to examine once again.

Oh, I love this time of year!

I’m working on a Christmas Contest that—if I can get all my things together—will run from November 1 through November 28, which is Thanksgiving weekend. I’m still working out the details and assembling the prizes—yes, that’s plural—as well as the rules.

I can say this much, there will be books in the giveaway, of course! Plus some other nice things for you to keep or give as gifts. And there will be more than one way to enter – each giving you an extra chance to win.

So add Sips ‘n Cups Cafe blog to your favorites, or, better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed or the Feedblitz link from the blog’s right sidebar. Either one will alert you when the contest goes live.

Stay tuned!