by Roseanna White | Sep 30, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Is that a random enough title for you? =)
Yesterday as Xoe and I were doing our math lesson, Rowyn came in needing help with something. I asked Xoe to finish the exercise she was working on while I followed Rowyn out to see what he needed. I came back in two minutes later to a cackling almost-5-year-old who had worked ahead into today’s lesson. What, you wonder, lured her so irresistibly? Addition. I laughingly related this to David last night, and his question was, “Did she do it right?” (Keeping in mind we’re still in our first month of kindergarten.)
I was happy to report that she did indeed get them all right. Yes, this is still the addition that comes complete with hash marks to count, but still. She recognized that they were addition problems, saw how to fill them in herself, and correctly added them together. Not bad for a kid not even five!
Talking about it got my honey reminiscing about how he worked ahead in Algebra once when he had a substitute, who just laid out a few basics and said, “Go ahead!” To which I replied, “Mr. Twigg, right? I remember him giving a speech once about how English was good and necessary, but math–math was actually useful.” LOL
Thoughts of good ol’ Mr. Twigg had me thinking about the roles substitutes can play in the life of a school child (something my kids won’t often have the pleasure of, mwa ha ha ha). I remember Mr. Twigg in particular. He was a full time sub, filling in somewhere in the county every day. We all loved him. He made us work, but he always put a different spin on things. Like letting us work ahead, telling us what he really thought about subjects . . . and showing us how to apply it to life in ways our regular teachers didn’t do. Perhaps it was because he was from a different generation, who knows. Whatever the reason, I remember him as well as or better than I remember my regular teachers.
You know one of the best lessons he ever taught me in my 7th grade pre-algebra class? What makes a good handshake, and how a handshake helps make a good impression. No, that has nothing to do with math. But it has to do with life, and no one else ever bothered to teach us something as simple as “Don’t let your hand be a dead fish, but don’t squeeze the life out of the other person. Firm, but not hard. It shows strength and confidence.” He had ever single student come up and shake his hand (would that even be allowed today??? LOL), and he critiqued us.
Maybe the lesson stuck because I could tell from his critiques that it really did show a person’s character. And you can bet that every time I shake someone’s hand, somewhere in the back of my mind I hear, “Don’t let your hand be a dead fish, but don’t squeeze the life out of the other person. Firm, but not hard.”
Do you have any lessons you remember that came not from a regular teacher, but from a sub?
by Roseanna White | Sep 29, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Do you all remember a while back when I told you about the awesome Greek jeweler who’s letting me use his jewelry designs on my book cover? If not, that original story is here. But of course, the story hasn’t stopped. =)
I emailed Aris again to ask if he has high res photos my designer could use, feeling like a total bother for asking. But Aris, being a wonderful gent, immediately sent me a whole slew of photos from different angles. He also said if we needed anything more, to let him know, though he’d be leaving Athens next week for an extended business/pleasure trip. Including a stop in Paris. At the Louvre. Where his lions’ head designs, like the ones I’m using, are going to be sold in the gift shop. Of the Louvre. OF THE LOUVRE!!! Is that not the coolest thing ever?
He also added me to his website, which is also cool. Not as cool as the Louvre, but very cool nonetheless. =)
What I really love about his designs is that they’re based on Ancient Greek artifacts and museum pieces, so they all have that flavor of being centuries old. My hubby and I spent an hour browsing his site the other day, just gaping in awe over all the cool stuff he has.
So that’s been my excitement for the week. (The Louvre!!!!!!) Just had to share. And given that my designer is now–even now–working on the front cover for Jewel of Persia, I will soon have MORE awesome news to share.
(Sorry I didn’t have a fun historical tidbit, but I have instead a headache. And you know. This has to do with my historical novel, so . . . hope you care, LOL. Because THE LOUVRE!!!) 😉
by Roseanna White | Sep 28, 2010 | Uncategorized
When destiny sleeps, it can only be awakened by true love’s kiss.
Rose owes everything to Frau Garusha, the town’s healer. Not only has the learned woman educated Rose in reading and writing, but now she has taken her on as apprentice, effectively freeing her from her mother’s oppressive matchmaking. Rose is grateful to have the choice not to marry–if only she liked the healing arts a bit more. If the smell of blood did not make her nauseous. How will she ever prove to Frau Garusha that she can be healer if she keeps messing up?
Wilhelm is the eldest son of the duke and so has responsibility. He has been fed it from birth and knows–has always known–what he must do. He must serve his people. Part of that involves marrying the daughter of a neighboring duke, Lady Salmonea. He has never met his bride, yet years of his life has revolved around her. Or rather, around freeing her. Her parents were forced to put her into hiding when she was but a babe, after the evil sorcerer Moncore threatened to unleash his demons upon her. He must find Moncore and so make the world safe for his betrothed–and if he fails at that, how will he prove himself worthy of the responsibility that will someday be his?
When Rose is forced to stitch up one of Wilhelm’s wounds after a hunting incident, both recognize the immediate connection–respect and admiration, colored with something more. Both also know nothing can come of it. So when Wilhelm’s younger brother showers attention on Rose, it seems the safer place to direct her attention. If only it were so easy. And if only she didn’t seem to attract danger every time she turned around these days . . .
Two words for you: Oh wow. I was intrigued by the description of The Healer’s Apprentice from the get-go–I mean, how could I not be? It’s billed as a retelling of a fairy tale, and I’ve always been a sucker for them. And from the get-go, this book is one that just sweeps you away into the lovely little hamlet with its secrets and intrigue.
The characters are so compelling–determined to succeed, constantly battling failure, needing to be loved but needing even more to love others and fulfill their duties. Then there are the ones after only their own gain, their own desires, no matter the cost to others. I loved how true to the morals of the day the hero and heroine were, how much the smallest gesture could mean to them.
The plot was quick-moving and intriguing. Given that I knew from the start it’s based upon a fairy tale, I could determine fairly quickly how the major plot-points would go–but there was no way I could anticipate all the twists and turns, all the gasps and sighs, that the author would take before delivering us to Happily Ever After.
The Healer’s Apprentice is not just a romance–it’s a story of love at its truest. It is not just a young adult novel–it’s a story that appeals to what our teens most crave today and then shines the light of the Lord upon it. It’s not just a fairy tale–it’s a portrait of our darkest fears and our brightest dreams.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Whether for the young adult crowd it’s aimed at or the adult reader who needs to escape with a story of intrigue, destiny, and heart-stopping romance, The Healer’s Apprentice delivers with a resounding bang. This one goes on the must-read pile.
*I received this book free for reviewing purposes. (Though I’m now going to go buy one for my niece. 😉
by Roseanna White | Sep 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
Yesterday I finally, finally finished cutting and editing Jewel of Persia–and boy am I happy to be done with that for a while! Still love the story, but boy howdy. That was a lot of work, LOL. For those who are curious, the final manuscript checks in at 155K, which means I cut 25K even while adding probably 5-10K in the concluding chapters. Good. Enough. =)
So, contemporary stuff. I’ve done so little with contemporaries lately that it’s hard to know what to talk about on Mondays. So I thought I’d talk about that. =)
A few years ago, my agent encouraged me to work more on contemporaries, since they were selling better. These days, it seems that historicals are selling better. It seems to be a bit of a yo-yo, and I figure contemps will swing back up at some point. I love writing historicals, but there are some stories I just have to set today.
But here’s my question to you–when you sit down with a contemporary, where do you tend? Women’s fiction? Straight-up romance? Romantic suspense? Romantic comedy? Mystery? Suspense? Thriller? Young Adult? Literary? General fiction? Something else I’m not thinking of now?
When I read a contemporary novel, it’s usually in the romance category, though it might have comedy or suspense or something tacked on. I read women’s fiction, but they’re usually not where I tend of my own free will. (My free will doesn’t always factor into my reading decisions though, given my reviewing and endorsing and, well, just wanting to support my awesome friends.) I very rarely delve into straight mystery or straight suspense.
But, wow, just looking at that list–there’s such a looooooong list of contemporary subgenres! Yet “historicals” tend to all get bunched together. I mean, we historical writers will divide them, but look at a contest’s categories sometime.
So, whether it’s what editors are looking for right now or not, contempraries are obviously a force to be reckoned with. Which sub-genre is your favorite?
by Roseanna White | Sep 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
And the winner of Darlene Franklin’s A Woodland Christmas is . . .
Debra! (debracollins@ . . .)
Congrats, Debra! I just sent you an email.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. Having successfully launched two homeschool grads, she now spends her time writing fiction, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years, as well as a fantasy series and contemporary mysteries and romances. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.