Friday, July 13, 2007

Jane Kirkpatrick: Change and Cherish Series

Jane Kirkpatrick's newest book, A Tendering in the Storm was released earlier this Spring. My husband and I are taking turns with the book, as I will be writing a review to be published on this blog sometime around August 6th.

After attending an author event at Paulina Springs Bookstore earlier this week, we realized we needed to get reading. Mrs. Kirkpatrick signed books and spoke about writing, "first baskets" and coping saws. She never fails to leave her audience with tidbits of faith and encouragement to live strong in the Lord.

Mrs. Kirkpatrick is an award winning author, with at least fifteen titles to her name. She writes Historical fiction filled with faith and often based on the lives of real people. I am impressed with the open friendliness Mrs. Kirkpatrick displays when speaking to her fans. After seeing her in person, you feel that she has opened up her personal world and let you in, a bit like visiting with an old friend over a cup of tea.

The Paulina Springs Bookstore is located in historic Sisters, OR. If you are not familiar with Sisters, it is famous for PRCA Pro Rodeo events and the annual Quilt show. The Rodeo was in June, and the quilt show is in full swing this weekend. If you are passing through Central Oregon plan to either join the fun or avoid Sisters entirely because main street will be impassable today.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

A Thousand Tomorrows, Karen Kingsbury

While chatting with a friend this evening I was reminded of a book I read a few months ago, A Thousand Tomorrows, by Karen Kingsbury. I have read many books--enjoyed many books--over the years, but this book stood out for two reasons.

First of all, it made me cry. I am not talking about a few tears, although that is how it began. There were entire sections of this book that turned on the floodgates. Heart-wrenching tears that challenged me to take a hard look at myself and my own feelings about life, love and marriage.

Secondly, the characters were living, breathing people. They were challenged by life and learned to overcome--not by their own power, but through the power of God. I was, quite honestly, relieved to read a book that allowed the protagonists to be flawed. She writes about sinners who keep on working out their faith. ( A little like the passage from Phil. 2:12)

I know Kingsbury has written a number of other books--several surrounding the 9/11 attacks and the lives of those impacted. I look forward to reading One Tuesday Morning and Like Dandelion Dust when I am no longer swamped in historical research, but I plan to have a box of tissues at the ready.