Review of The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My neighborhood book club chose this novel to read and although I haven’t done a review in a while I wanted to say a few words about The Help. First of all, it’s well done. I love her voices. Amazing and unique. She really does a fabulous job of capturing the three very different personalities. I also thought she got the League thing down pretty well and the general historical references are very clear and take you back the fifty years. But what makes the book is the fabulous subject matter–one near and dear to my own heart as I had a maid as a very young child growing up in the South.

If I had to be really negative I would criticize the ending. So much build up to what could have been an exciting finish and, well, frankly I was disappointed. Something wrong with the pacing and the closure in my opinion. I sometimes like a book that leaves you with possibilities but this didn’t work as well as it could have. Regardless, it’s a very good read–and I think a “must read” if you grew up in the deep South.

Tags: reviews, The Help
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10K Art by Matt Lively up for Auction

Matt Lively’s painting is up for for auction. All funds go to the Massey Cancer Center in Richmond.

Click here to bid: http://www.kintera.org/faf/auction/auctionIndex.asp?ievent=341580&lis=1&kntae341580=D31E4D015DE446B0B8A4E2481D9A56D0

By the way, tons of my friends and family participate in the Ukrops 10K every year. Matt, the artist is my stepbrother. If you;d like to see more of his work visit… www.MattLively.com

Tags: 10K, art, Massey Cancer Center, Matt Lively
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Setting Goals in 2010

We’re completely snowed in here. The world is white and beautiful. It snowed all day yesterday. And with the temperatures still so low doesn’t look like we’ll be going anywhere soon. We spent today and yesterday getting together with neighbors and kicking back and just doing nothing for a while… Also, had some extra time to write which is always nice. I looked over my calendar, too, and realized that it was time to finally commit to some serious goals for myself.

I avoided making any New Year’s resolution this year because life is so atypical over the holidays. I knew I’d come up with goals that didn’t necessarily reflect where I wanted to go. But, now things have settled down a bit and it’s time.

At the ACFW conference last fall in Denver, Debbie Macomber spoke about setting goals, both long term and short term goals, and its importance in reaching achievements. I thought what she said made a lot of sense. You can’t get much done if you don’t set out to do anything. Debbie talked about making 5 and 10 year goals, both career and personal, and then in terms of lifetime goals–those things that you really want to accomplish or that you really feel called to do.

I think tonight before I work on my latest story I’m going to do what Debbie suggested and write down:

5 things I want to get done this week

5 things I want to get done this year

5 things I want to accomplish in the next 5-10 years

and 5 things I want to accomplish at some point in my life…

And I’m going to be specific. I’m not going to write that I want to be more organized. I’m going to set a goal that says I will do “this certain thing” in order to be organized. For example, I’m going to run more, but instead of writing “run more” I’m going to write that I want be able to run a 5k by this spring. I think being specific will not only help me know clearly whether or not I’ve met the goal but it will also make it easier to stay on track in achieving it.

Tags: ACFW, goals
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Protector’s Honor Giveaway

My friend, Heidi Main, has reviewed Protector’s Honor. Next week, she’ll be having a little chat/interview with me. If you post a comment, you can be entered in a drawing for a free copy.

Heidi Main/blog

Another friend, Sharon Ball has also posted an interview. Please stop by. (I was also giving away a book there but not sure if that’s still open.)

Sharon Ball/A Break from the Norm

Tags: blogs, giveaways, Protector's Honor
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January 24 : After the Call

On January 24, I’m traveling to speak with:

Northern Virginia Christian Fellowship
January Meeting
Sunday, January 24
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

After the Call: the First Year

I’ll talk about what it’s like to be a newly contracted author. Discuss and show what editor requested revisions, the contract, advance, line edits, and copy edits are all about. Author’s input into the cover art, title and back cover blurb will also be explained, as well as requiring rights to these for promotional purposes. The idea is to take the mystery out of what is and is not the responsibility of the author and how not to let that frustrate or surprise one in his/her new career.

Join us!

Tags: after the call, Northern Virginia Christian Writers
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