Large Print Books

"I just learned that When the Snow Flies and Lady in the Mist are both coming out in large print. February and May respectively."

Emailed to be by Laurie Alice Eakes—Lady in the Mist, February 1, 2011

Read an excerpt at:

http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/

BTW, Laurie is completely blind, the only contemporary American author I know of who is.

Why am I excited? Because I wear trifocals and have an eye problem that sometimes causes my vision to get blurry even with the glasses. I am happy for people who have poor vision but will now be able to read Laurie Alice's books. Prayers have been answered. Sometimes I get discouraged when I really want to read a new or newer book and it is not on audio or in large print. The Kindle versions on a computer screen are better, too, but not everything is available in that format.

What about you? Please leave a comment on Laurie Alice's website AND on mine, to be entered for a chance to win a copy of Lady in the Mist, her book releasing later this month. It will be in standard print and if you can read that easily, please thank your Maker today.

Blessings! Carrie

 

 

 

 

 

 

LATE CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!! FOR MY FOLLOWERS!!

Sometime this week I will be gathering the snail mail addresses of all my followers so that I can send them a late present from me - a Christian fiction book.  Please email your snail mail address to casaribeads@aol.com.  Thanks and God bless!  Oh, and don't use that hotlink - I don't think it works!

What Kind of Christmas Light Would You Be?

 

My choices:

• Teardrop-shaped mini LED lights that my DH purchased for the tree. My father's 92nd birthday was December 13th, had he lived. My mom passed away last summer. Those lights were an accidental purchase, but they seem right for this year. The new LED lights use less power but you can keep them on all the time and not waste energy kind of like my BIC time has been recently.
  
• An old line of electrical lights that keep sputtering but then sometimes are blazing bright.
  

  
   

 

Some other choices from friends:

 

Laurie Alice Eakes--Lady in the Mist from Revell Books, February, 2011. Read an Excerpt at:
http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

 

When I was really small we had those awful, dangerous, but oh, so beautiful Christmas lights that were fairly large, got rather hot, and had the silver reflectors behind them. They were different colors, too. If one died, you unscrewed the bulb and put in a new one.

I think that's my heroine in my second midwife book-multi-faceted, burning hot to the point of being a bit dangerous, as in she could start a fire with too much kindling. Not a literal fire, of course, but she is bold in what she says and does, and not everyone appreciates it.

 

Second choice: blinking lights that blink on and off in waves around the tree.

 

Deb Kinnard

www.debkinnard.com

Bubble lights – they have to be plugged in properly to work right and bubble, like being connected with the Holy Spirit. I loved them on Grandma's tree when I was little. We kids used to plug the tree lights on and then sit (quietly, for once!) waiting for the first bubble.
 
If they're not wired in, or don't connect properly, you don't get a single bubble. So am I when I walk away from the one true Source of power. Once I'm connected, though, I bubble along quite brightly in all sorts of colors. Absent the Power? Nothing.

 

Gina Wellborn

http://www.ginawelborn.blogspot.com

 

Love the mini LED lights. Tree in living room has 6 or 8 strands of lights. Sadly we're down to only 2 or 3 working. Been calling it our zebra tree. So hubby went and bought 3 more sets. Yay him! Unfortunately to put them on the tree, we have to take all the ornaments off. *sigh*

Christine Lindsay

www.christinelindsay.com

 

I'd have to chose an old-fashioned candle. I'm literally a lump of useless wax unless I'm lit by God. And if I stay close to Him, and let him trim my wick, I burn brightly. If left to myself, I wallow in melted goo.

 

 

Kim Taylor – Also identifies with the old-fashioned kind like Laurie Alice mentioned.

 

Narielle Living – the blinking kind, on-off-on-off.

 

Angie Gaspar – bubble lights.

 

Rachel Smith – twinkle lights with different settings.

 

David Williams - luminescent concrete bulb. (What do you expect from a Psychology professor?!)

 

 

How about you? What kind of Christmas tree light would you be?!

 

Followers – Post a comment and email your snail mail address to casaribeads@aol.com so I can send you a Christian fiction book!

 

 

Maid to Match – Book Review

Written by Deanne Gist

Audiobook narrated by Suzy Jackson

www.recordedbooks.com

2010

 

Set at Biltmore mansion in Ashville, North Carolina, Deanne Gist once again delivers a wonderful story to the reader/listener. Characterization, as usual, is spot-on, and the story line richly complex. She delivers a satisfying ending and wraps up the many threads of the story. I particularly loved all the elements that brought authenticity to the people who live in the southeastern mountains, e.g., whittling little figures for the children (my Kentucky-born grandfather did that for us).

Maid to Match was a very satisfying historical romance and Ms. Gist an excellent storyteller as well as reliable in delivering the goods. I love to find a reliable author, one who won't disappoint me, and Deanne Gist is on my short list!

Simple Elegance Cookbook

Book Review

Author: Angela Breidenbach

Westbow Press, A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishing

2010

 

Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance: How to Create Simple, Elegant, & Inexpensive Meals

 

This is Angie Breidenbach's second cookbook. I have not read the first, but she indicated in the introduction that she wrote Simple Elegance in response to readers' requests for an easy way to make wonderful meals for their families in a reasonable amount of time. That sounds like everyone's wish to me! Not only did Ms. Breidenbach deliver on that front, but she also includes what I find to be the most important feature of this book – suggestions and management for people with inflammatory conditions such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome. There are many people with other autoimmune conditions, such as arthritis, who suffer periodic issues with their digestive systems, e.g., during a flare up, and they would do well to pick up a copy of this book, also.

What makes this book different is the "Angie factor". Ms. Breidenbach has the ability to distill complex information down into digestible chunks that are easily understood. This is not an easy feat. Psychologists look at this as the ability to both analyze and synthesize information. Some people are gifted in one area but it is rare to see both abilities be so strong. But I digress. Why is that important in this book? She includes information in the front and back of the book that is worth the cost of it ($20.95, per the cover) even if there were no recipes included!

 

Summarized in the front are five pages of tips on simple, elegant cooking. Prior to any holiday baking, it would be a great idea to whip this book out and review those. Every recipe is also coded for IBS, gluten intolerance/celiac, and weight loss. In the back of the book there are seven pages/twenty five tips for managing inflammatory bowel conditions, and a page of "difficult" foods to avoid, as well as a section citing helpful websites.

 

Summary: Strongly recommend for people with inflammatory conditions (of all types) that, either periodically or regularly, affect their digestive systems.

 

 

 

Disclosure: I received this cookbook as part of a wonderful gift package I won through a Facebook online Simple Elegance party I "attended" last month. Psst! I also have one in my Amazon cart, though!

My Characters' Thanksgiving Dinner

My Story World characters, who live on the frontier of Virginia in the 18th century might have a pretty good Thanksgiving feast.

Sarah and Suzanne would likely serve up:


-Root vegetables, possibly roasted, seasoned with salt and rosemary
and
-Squash/pumpkin with molasses, ginger and cloves, baked like a casserole with some milk and eggs beat into it

-Roasted venison, smoked and baked ham with honey

-Journey cake baked with cornmeal

-Suzanne, who is French, would make an apple pastry with a flaky crust

-Johan, German, would ask for sausages

-William, Indian/French/English wants succotash

Sarah, who has very poor vision and has mostly lived on the frontier, just wants her ten brothers to do all the carrying and cleaning up and could care less what will be served as long as she can sit down and enjoy it! Hmm, I guess I relate most to her!

Historical Fiction Review

Laurie Alice Eakes' book, The Glassblower, was an ACFW Carol finalist this year. This is a delightful book and despite its small size, the characters are wonderfully and fully developed. Collin Grassick, a master glassblower from Scotland, is sure to steal your heart away before you are done reading! Laurie and I discussed my observation that she showed the gift of beautiful parsimony in this book. We aren't sure if that is the correct terminology, in fact I am pretty sure it isn't. Let me try it this way - Laurie Alice has the ability to distill down to the best elements and deliver a wonderful elixir that the reader can savor.
Heartsongs Presents – Historical, through Barbour, published in 2009. This is a historical romance distributed through mass market but available for purchase at http://www.christianbook.com/. It is 176 pages but I have to say that Laurie Alice is excellent at including wonderful historical tidbits that you will want to take your time reading it to enjoy all the details. Don't be deceived into thinking this is a little late night read. Right now, you can purchase this book for under $2.50 at CBD and it was up against a number of other books for the Carol competition that were twice as long and probably five times the cost. Do yourself a favor and order it today for Author's Day!