by Roseanna White | Jan 6, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Happy Epiphany, everyone! (Okay, I don’t know if that’s the traditional greeting, but it’ll work. đ The twelve days of Christmas are officially over, and today’s the day when traditionally the decorations come down. Literally “manifestation,” the Epiphany is about commemorating the importance of God being made man through Christ. It’s also the celebration for when the Wise Men arrived on the scene.
Much of our Christmas tradition actually comes from the Magi. We give gifts because they gave gifts. And ah, how well we know them. Right? Gold–a traditional gift to give to royalty, arguably the most valuable commodity on earth at the time of Jesus. Frankincense–an aromatic resin used in perfume and also a traditional gift for a king, which is considered symbolic because of Christ’s divine authority. And myrrh–an incense used in burials, which is generally considered prophetic of the sacrifice of our Savior.
But did you ever stop to wonder about the Magi themselves? Their identities are greatly disputed, but their importance is well recognized. Because they were obviously not Jewish, their part in Jesusâ arrival points to the salvation offered to the Gentiles. Theyâre also generally thought to be scholars or astronomers, the only ones who would have taken enough note of the star to follow it. To me, that also indicates that Christ truly came to complete the Law as representing reason and logic; He calls us to faith, but also to understanding.
The traditional names of the Magi are Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar; these are in a Greek manuscript found in Alexandria in the sixth century. Given this and references to them as âkings,â historians think that Caspar may have been Rustaham-Gondofarr Suren-Pahlav, king of modern day Iran from 10 BC to 17 AD. As his name means âmaster of the treasury,â he is the one thought to deliver gold to our Lord.
One more interesting tidbit. On the Twelfth Day of Christmas (yesterday), observers would always scratch C+M+B onto their doorposts. Many mistake this as standing for the names of the Wise Men, but really it’s an abbreviation of the Latin phrase Christ Mansionem Benedictat, which means âChrist Bless this Home.â
In this coming year, may Christ dwell with you, giving you His blessings and filling you and yours with His Spirit. May today, and every day, bring you an Epiphany of the reality of His sovereignty.
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Reminder–you only have until tomorrow to enter the giveaway on The Country House Courtship!
by Roseanna White | Jan 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
This week’s author interview and giveaway will be with my best friend Stephanie Morrill, about her second release, Out with the In Crowd. So to whet y’all’s appetite, today I’m going to tell how awesome her book is. =) (And don’t forget that you only have until Thursday to enter Friday’s giveaway on Linore’s The Country House Courtship.)
I read this book as soon as she finished writing it, and I remembering thinking then how she’d really come into her own with this one. Last night I grabbed it and sat down, intending to just flip through and refresh my memory. A hundred pages of flat-out reading later, I went to bed thinking that my crit partner is just awesome. The wit–hilarious. The plot–gripping. The characters–so honest it makes you want to take a closer look at yourself.
Out with the In Crowd is the continued saga of Skylar Hoyt, a former party girl who decides to turn her life around after a close call at a party last summer. In the first Skylar book, Me, Just Different, Skylar learns how hard it is to try to be better than you were, especially when you’re still hanging around the same friends. She now realizes it’s impossible without God . . . but even with Him, changing doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing.
Her parents are back together, but she can’t help but fear their family’s just one more hobby for her mom to take up, only to lose interest halfway through. Her sister can’t decide what she wants to do about the crisis-pregnancy-baby. And the boyfriend she loves doesn’t seem to get that he shouldn’t be so chummy with his ex–who happens to be her ex-best friend.
She isn’t the same Skylar she used to be. She wants to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good girlfriend . . . but she isn’t so sure she even knows who she is.
Out with the In Crowd is way more than a sequel–this is a book that dives into the nitty-gritty of a young woman’s heart, both the noble goals and the ugly hang-ons of her former self. It doesn’t just pull you in–it connects you with the Skylar in you.
Stephanie Morrill is a talented new voice who has really outdone herself with this new book. Witty, honest, and soul-wrenching, Out with the In Crowd won’t let you go once you turn the first page.
The story will update anyone who hasn’t read the first book in the series, but since it’s a continuation of Skylar’s story, I do recommend getting your hands on Me, Just Different first so you can enjoy the full rediscovery of our once-popular friend. And you’ll be on pins and needles for the final book in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt trilogy, So Over It, that hits shelves this summer. (I happen to know the third one gets only better, as miraculous as that seems now that I’m rereading book two. I’m so in awe of you, Stephanie!)
These are the perfect books for the teens in your life, but fair warning–you adults out there might just get caught up in it too. You’ll be amazed at how quickly she drags you back to the drama of high school!
by Roseanna White | Jan 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
First, don’t forget to hop back to
Friday’s blog and comment for a chance to win a copy of Linore Rose Burkard’s
The Country House Courtship.
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One of the interesting things about my current contemporary is that I have a character who’s pretty much lived in a different century most of her life. As a nomadic Bedouin, she didn’t have a lot of the modern conveniences we all grew up with. Though the tribes have vehicles (usually Toyota Land Cruisers from the ’80s, actually), they’d be far from luxurious. And things like cell phones, television, computers? Um, no.
It’s a challenge to try to put myself in her mindset and see what would really strike her about a modern American city like D.C. Would she be unaccustomed to the noise of traffic? Would civilization smell funny to her? Would she be taken by surprise when she mentions a headache and someone shoves medicine at her? (I’m assuming that they’d have medication but would save it for the serious stuff–and for the men.)
Even harder is trying to grasp the social ideas this woman would come with. Largely it’s a simple Middle Eastern way of thinking. I say simple, but the fact is that I don’t actually know any Middle Eastern women. Thankfully, I have a friend who does, and she’s helping me out on this. =) Plus, the Bedouins would be even more out-of-modern-thought than someone from a city in the Middle East. So toss in some thought from previous centuries.
But one thing that makes it interesting and gives me a little leeway is that, because they’re nomadic, Bedouins tend to be a law unto themselves within a tribe. While some tribes are strictly Muslim, others observe it only in name. While some are more forward thinking as regards women, others keep a harsh rule over them. So to a point I can just make it up, ha ha ha.
For an author who writes both historicals and comtemporaries, this is proving a fun way to mesh them. When old-fashioned runs straight into high-tech you can’t help but have some sparks. And that’s what makes the pages fly by.
by Roseanna White | Jan 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
For my very first My Friend Friday Interview and Giveaway, I’m featuring Linore Rose Burkard and her Regency romance that releases today (woo hoo, Linore!) The Country House Courtship. Hope everyone enjoys getting to know this lovely lady and hearing about her Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul.
Linore has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of her book, so leave a comment for a chance to win!
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About The Country House Courtship
England, 1818: It has been five years since Ariana Forsythe married The Paragon, Mr. Phillip Mornay. Now, Ariana’s sister, Miss Beatrice Forsythe, is seventeen and determined to 
marry advantageously as well. (Surely Ariana’s society connexions all but guarantee Beatrice’s success-especially if Mr. Mornay is created a baronet by the Prince Regent!
But the Mornay’s have disappeared from high society as they raise a family at their country estate. Can Beatrice persuade them to chaperone her in London? And what about her business with the curate, Mr. O’Brien, whom Beatrice rashly promised to marry years earlier? She is too sophisticated now to settle for a mere clergyman-despite his agreeable countenance and gentle, understanding ways. When Mr. Tristan Barton becomes tenant of the Manor House, Beatrice’s hopes seem to have found their object. But when Ariana falls gravely ill, secrets come to light, motives are revealed, and pretenses that are easy to keep up in the darkness begin to crumble. As hearts are bared and truths uncovered, a country house courtship like no other cannot be far behind!
Fans of Linore’s first books, Before the Season Ends, and The House on Grosvenor Square, will be delighted with final addition to the Regency Inspirational Series, as will all readers of historical romance.
About Linore
Linore Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency England era (circa 1800 – 1830). Ms. Burkard’s novels include Before the Seasons Ends, The House in Grosvenor Square and, The Country House Courtship. Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency. Readers experience a romantic age, where England from the past comes alive and happy endings are possible for everyone!
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What is your latest book?
The Country House Courtshipis the third and final edition of the Regency Series with Harvest House; but each of the three books can stand alone, and Country House is no exception.
What’s your favorite part of the story?
The falling in love of the hero and heroine, of course! I also really enjoyed having some of the characters from earlier books being themselves in humorous ways in this new story. You get to see people you already care about (if you read the other books) reacting to new situations and events and I think thatâs always fun.
What was the hardest part to write?
I had to research a great deal about the workings of the 19th century Anglican Church, and about livings, and how it all worked. Mr. OâBrien begins as a curate and ends up in way of becoming a vicar, and I had to make sure I was having him move up the ranks correctly. Surprisingly enough, it wasnât easy to nail down the exact procedures for how this happened, but I did find some really good books in the end, which helped me get it right.
What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?
In all my regencies, I hope to have a combination of elements which will delight and challenge readers. I intentionally include humor, romance, omniscient point-of-view (for many scenes, but not all); and I try to offer a glimpse of the gospel at its simplest; How child-like faith can be saving faith. I like readers to feel that they are on vacation in another time and place, to get lost in the story, and to soak up the historical atmosphere, just as I do when Iâm writing it.
Is there a theme to this book?
If I were to put my finger on a theme, it would be that the desires we think we must meet, are not always the ones our heart most needs. Beatrice (the heroine) begins the book with a goal based on what she thinks she can have, and wants to have, in a husband. In life. But by the end of the book, she finds out that not every glittering thing is gold, as they say; and that when you fall in love with the right person, all the reasons in the world that seemed to stand between you and that person donât matter a fig anymore. Love is greater than reason, than logic, than anything, really. I donât mean that a woman shouldnât use her mind when choosing a man to get serious withânot at all. But that just because he doesnât have everything she thinks she needs doesnât mean their love wonât work. A man who is eligibleâsingle, good, a man of faith, of sound mind, and good intentionsâwhether his vocation appeals to you or not, he may be the one God has for you.
What are you reading right nowâand what do you want to read next?
I got a Kindle for my 25th wedding anniversary from my husband just recently, so Iâm reading âHugh Wynne: Free Quakerâ on it. I came across the book by accident, saw that it had a copyright date of 1899 and immediately downloaded it. And itâs great! (It was also free. Iâve found that the reading I like bestâ by 19th century authors—is often free, since the copyright has expired. ) Anyway, after Iâm done with this, Iâll be reading The Glassblower, a new release by fellow author Laurie Alice Eakes, which Iâll do a review on.
What’s one of the oddest or most interesting things someone has ever said about you?
Very likely the oddest or most interesting thing said was something I never heard! (Not meant for my ears) But I think a profound thing a college friend of mine said was that Iâm a free spirit. Itâs sort of a clichĂŠ but in my case it was profound because she was exactly right, and I hadnât realized it yet. Iâve discovered that to be free in the Lord is a completely different animal than âfreedomâ in the broad sense, and God has had to remind me more than once of all the many ways Iâm not âfree.â But it is in precisely these areas that I find my deepest happiness, and meaning for life.
Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?
I think each book has its own âmust-haveâ desk companion. For The House in Grosvenor Square, I practically memorized portions of The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue; and for Country House, I had to keep a book about the 19th Century Church of England within reach.
If someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving allowed!)
A trip to London.
What writing goal have you set for yourself that would be the hardest (or unlikeliest) but most rewarding to achieve?
To write a screenplay that would be a big hit with romantic comedy fans, and still be true and honoring to God.
What are you writing right now?
The book that could be that romantic comedy hit! (Only God knows.)
~*~
Thanks, Linore, for joining us! She has a fabulous website set up with Regency tidbits and some truly gorgeous pictures, and a lovely blog you should check out too.
To purchase an autographed copy of The Country House Courtship, you can buy from Linore here. Or from Amazon or ChristianBook for regular copies.
Contest will end on 1/7/10
by Roseanna White | Dec 31, 2009 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
Well, here we are on the last day of 2009. Kinda hard to believe, isn’t it? In a lot of ways, it’s been a busy year. And in some ways, I feel like I got nothing done.
What have I accomplished this year? Well, I’ve met my goal for books produced (though I didn’t set a strict one, I did finish each of the ideas I had through the year and wanted to complete). I made it back to the ACFW conference, got to hug my friends. I’ve done some organizing (that has since become disorganized again, only to be worked on again, lol), and I’ve held my own in the mommyhood thing. Got Xoe started in Story Time to get her out a bit, and I’ve done some preliminary research into schooling for her.
My career didn’t exactly take off in leaps and bounds as I had hoped it would, and that’s always sobering. But I’ve made strides there. I have an almost-contract on the line, I’ve delivered new manuscripts to my agent that she’s confident in, and of course Stray Drop went into its second printing.
I’ve also gotten terrible at finding/making time for my devotions. It’s hard, given that I used to do them in the morning, and I just don’t have mornings to myself anymore. And since Rowyn dropped his first nap, ditto on exercising.
So goals for 2010 might as well start there. My biggest goal is to keep my focus on the Lord–I know if I can do that, the rest will fall into place. Ideally I want to find time every day for my Bible, with the understanding that if I don’t, I can always find time for prayer (which I tend to forget).
I really want to get back to exercising, too. Not sure how, but hopefully Rowyn will soon be able to entertain himself for half an hour without getting under my feet.
There are a few personal goals that delve into the deep-of-the-heart stuff, like not giving into bitterness or resentment when people don’t just understand what I want and need and deliver it. Nothing makes me grumpier than falling into the “Why do I have to do everything??” way of thinking. We’re all much happier when I stave that off and focus on all the things everyone else does.
I also have some goals that are somewhat beyond my control–not beyond God’s, though, so they’re things that will be prayed heavily over. Most of these are career-oriented. I would love to have a solid contract (or two) soon. It would be awesome if Stray Drop won one of the awards I’m entering it for. And of course I’d like to produce some new books to send out into the big, bad publishing world. I want/need to find ways to get Stray Drop into the hands of more people–not just for the profit (thought it would be nice if WFP could pay off the investment they put into it, lol) but because I truly believe in the story.
Need to get back on the Christian Review of Books horse too–I’ve been neglecting that terribly. But promoting others and alerting readers to what’s available is such a rewarding calling.
We also need to pin down our exact plan for Xoe’s schooling this year. And I need to find ways to prioritize my time so that we all get what we need out of those few hours a day.
Most of all, though, I want to accomplish something for the Lord. I’m not even sure what, yet, but I intend to have a solid answer by the time my hubby asks us the question in church this weekend. =) Part of it is reaching people through my books, but that might sound self-serving to some, so . . . I don’t know. But more than anything, I want to be a beacon for Him. Which brings to mind a great quote that I think is a fabulous way to end one year and start another, with the goal of living for Him.
“There are two ways to spread light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.” ~Edith Whart
Maybe I’m not a beacon myself–but I serve the brightest light out there, and reflecting Him is an honor as well as a goal.
Happy New Year, everyone! — Oh! And don’t forget to drop by every Friday (and some Tuesdays) from now on for author interviews! A lot of them will include giveaways to people who comment, so you won’t want to miss it! We start tomorrow with Linore Rose Burkard, who writes “Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen soul.” Great stuff!!
by Roseanna White | Dec 30, 2009 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Did you know that New Year’s is one of the oldest holidays in the world, celebrated by pretty much every culture (though at different times)? And that whole resolution thing? That’s about as old as the holiday. Back in the day, common resolutions in Ancient Babylon were to give back tools that had been borrowed from neighbors, and the Ancient Romans resolved to ask forgiveness for wrongs they had done. That one kinda puts “quit smoking” and “lose weight” (America’s most popular resolutions) to shame, doesn’t it?
January 1 was established as the first day of the new year in 153 B.C. by the Roman emperor. The month got its name from the mythical god Janus, who had two faces and so could look both forward and back, into the past and future. Makes it pretty cool for the first month of the year, eh? Julius Caesar finalized the calendar as we know it in 46 B.C.
For many years, Christian tradition began the year in March, but Pope Gregory XIII reinstated the Julian calendar in the sixteenth century, and we’ve been observing January 1st as our New Year’s Day ever since.
Tomorrow I’ll be doing some reflecting on the past year and looking to the future (though only with one face, ha ha), and on Friday I’m starting my fabulous author interviews with Linore Rose Burkard, many of which will have a giveaway. Be sure and check in for those!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, sheâs homeschooling her two kids, editing, 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. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her booksâŚto offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.