NEWSFLASH - Books and Birds

Years back I used to do a monthly NEWSFLASH update on life. The idea was started by another blogger, Jeff. I haven't used the concept in ages, but thought I'd give it a go again. :-) I'm changing one thing - I'm bunching up categories.

Nature Entertainment Wise words Spirit Family Lessons Art Smiles Health

Nature and Entertainment

The biggest entertainment this Spring has been the birds. We have at least four sparrows nesting in our roof as well as two crow families on either side of us. And then there's that very tame seagull, who keeps hoping for a snack...

Our garden is never quiet!

Wise words and Spirit 

My wise words always come from another blogger. This time I'm quoting the great queen of Blog4Peace, Mimi.This is from her gorgeous post, "What I Know About Love."

"Sometimes love comes to unravel us.
Let it."

 Family 

Not much to update. We all have the flu at the moment. Beyond coughing, sniffing and groaning we're enjoying a lovely warm sunny June as much as we can. 

Lessons and Art 

This past week I published a small book of poems. It's a simple book, made mostly so that those friends who like my poems will stop nagging. ;-) The longest part, and most fun, was creating black and white art to go along with the poems. Here's an example...

  This is Corrie, our little wild crow friend, from one of her baby photos...

 Smiles and Health

Biggest smile this month is also book related. I had a fantastic review of my book, First Light.You can find the entire review on So Bookalicious. Here's a small quote:

You know the feeling when you’ve only read a couple of pages of a book and you think “this book will blow away my mind”? That’s the exact feeling I had when I read FirstLight. 

This book made me feel overwhelmed at times in a good way because of its complexity. Michelle Frost is a master in developing plotlines....

Visionary Fiction. Discover this interactive book Theme on iAuthor:

I've just been invited to join a new and very interesting book site.

Visionary Fiction. Discover this interactive book Theme on iAuthor:

Book Snatch Interview: Michelle Frost

I've been interviewed about writing, my books and myself.

Book Snatch Interview: Michelle Frost:        

I was born and grew up in Africa. Then I married a Scot and moved to the far North of the world. That colours my writing. The o...

Walking on Sunshine

This Monday morning the skies are grey, but my heart is bright. I woke up to find TWO fantastic reviews of my books, one for each book. I'm beyond thrilled... I'm walking on sunshine! :-D

The wonderful review for First Light, by book reviewer Ivie Isler, can be found here, or on Amazon.com. 

 

And... drum roll please... my review for the sequel is by none other than the Queen herself - Princess of Blog4Peace, Mimi Lennox. You can find her opinion of Wisdoms of the Light here.

In celebration of a great way to start the week I'm adding a wonderfully bright version of Walking on Sunshine (by Katrina and the Waves, 1970s) by the Soweto Gospel Choir. 

Have a sunshine day!

Thoughtful Thursday ~ Sweet Comparisons

Twice this month people have compared my two books to Tolkein, saying that my first book, First Light, is like The Hobbit while the sequel, Wisdoms of the Light, is like Lord of The Rings. To have your writing compared to some of the greatest books ever written is incredibly sweet. I tear up every time I think about it. 

 

I first discovered The Hobbit in High School, when a very remarkable teacher opened my eyes and heart to a new and magical world. It was my first step into the world of Fantasy books written for adults rather than children. My Saga isn't quite the same type of Fantasy, no elves or dragons, but I think I did take that urge to write a "great quest" from Tolkein's books. Both First Light and Wisdoms of the Light share that much in common with Tolkein's ideas - they are stories about the personal quest as well the bigger struggle of Good against Evil.

First Light isn't a children's book, but it is a lighter, more humorous mystery quest. In that respect it does fit in rather nicely with The Hobbit. Although I don't think Idrith would qualify as being like Bilbo Baggins. Most times he's more like Smaug! ;-)

But there's no denying that Wisdoms of the Light felt like I was writing a great saga, just like Lord of the Rings. I knew, by the time I'd reached half way and was still no where near being finished, that it was going to be a big book! It's over twice the size of First Light and the story plot is equally heavy. Although it is, ultimately, a story of Good triumphing over Evil I wept a buckets writing some of the scenes in Wisdoms of the Light. Which is ironic, since the first time I ever wept over a book was when Gandalf falls to his death in Lord of the Rings.

I don't think Harmion quite matches up to Gandalf in mystery and power. Harmion is far more human, but it is rather nice to look at the seven members of the Septar and compare them to the little band who set out with Frodo. Both sets of friends are full of personal frailties and fears, but still determined to make their world a better place. All held together by the loyal love of friends and family.

Walking on Sunshine

The reviews for Wisdoms of the Light have begun to trickle in. It's always exciting to hear what readers think, even the negative views are worthwhile, since they teach you where you went wrong and/or can improve. Only an egotist (or an idiot) is offended by criticism. Of course, I am meaning honest criticism as opposed to "sour grapes" or spite. That's something quite different. 

I'm putting up my favourite review of the moment. This one means a lot to me, since it comes from a talented young writer who knows her way around words. ;-)

*Whew* well... I officially have a book hangover. You know, when you read a book that's so incredibly good, and you finish it and suddenly your life seems empty, and you don't know what to do and everyone else around you is carrying on as if nothing had happened? Yeah. One of those.

I've been waiting for this sequel for a long time, and I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed. Wisdoms of the Light takes you on this twisty roller coaster ride emotionally and spiritually. Just like in First Light, you follow the lives of the characters so intricately that you feel involved, as if you were there with them, living it and breathing it. Michelle Frost has outdone herself! 

What I like most about this book, which I also loved about the first book, is that it surprises you around every corner. You think you have something all figured out and then you get a few chapters on and suddenly all is not what it seemed. That and the way the characters unexpectedly pull together and connections are formed where you don't see them forming.

In conclusion, from day 1 the book was glued to my hands and I only put it down when I really had to work, or, you know, to get 2 hours sleep. I highly recommend this book (and the first one!) to anyone who really enjoys a thoroughly good, can't-put-this-down read.

Tatiana L

Soundtrack Saturday - Going with Gabriel

I recently found a fun Meme on an interesting blog called A Little Bookish.

Soundtrack Saturday is hosted by Rating Reads. Anyone can participate. Here are the instructions:

• Take your current read or recently finished book.
• Find at least one song that fits the story, characters, whatever.
• Post the book title and song(s) on your blog with a brief explanation.
  
• Don't forget to mention who started it.
• Linking/embedding a song or video in your post is not necessary to participate.
• Head over to Rating Reads and add your post to the Mr. Linky.

Book: Going with Gabriel

Song: Unknown tune by unknown musician

Why: The main character of this book, Gabriel, is a wandering musician desperately trying to stay unknown and invisible. He plays the tin whistle moves from town to town busking with friends. The young man in my YouTube music video not only is living a similar lifestyle to Gabriel - he's dressed like him too. He's also playing the kind of tune I know Gabriel would probably have enjoyed playing. I liked that and I liked the fact that this music video was filmed in a town in South Africa I know, even though the book story plays out in the UK and Europe.

Going with Gabriel is a new book, published this year. I was very kindly sent a copy by the author, Bryan, who also lives in the Highlands of Scotland. I found it an entertaining thought-provoking story. I'm pasting some of my review of the book (for Amazon) here:

Gabriel's survival may lie in staying invisible, but his magical musical talent makes that near impossible. As he weaves the people he meets into his songs, he tries to keep them from being woven into his heart, but is that possible? Gabriel seems to be hiding from his past, but is he actually trying to run away from his future... How long before the secrets he is running from finally catch up with him? Where is Gabriel really going and does he have any choice?

Gabriel's secret fears are not the stuff of fantasy, they are based on genuine concerns facing this planet as we sit here reading. That's what makes this book more than merely an enjoyable adventure story - the research that Bryan Islip has used to place his fiction upon a foundation of fact.

Whether you agree with Gabriel's choices or are appalled by his decisions this book is bound to change the way you look at the world... and that, in my opinion, is the sign of a really good story.

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