Interview with authors of The Silent Gift

I finished reading The Silent Gift this past week, by authors Michael Landon, Jr. and Cindy Kelley. Bethany House also offered me the opportunity to interview the authors and typically I make a practice of declining such invitations. However, in this case, I felt like I had to make an exception because it was a compelling enough read and I honestly had a few questions that I thought it might be fun to ask. So here you go....

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Question #1:

You both have written a number of screen plays which have been produced by Believe Pictures. Was it much different for you two to purpose to write a book, rather than a screen play?

Answer:

Though a good story is at the heart of either format, the mechanics of telling the story are quite different. For instance, in a novel, you have unlimited time to go off on tangents and to explore in the internal thoughts of a character. Whereas a screenplay, you are limited to a hundred and twenty pages to tell your story which in some respects is more difficult to execute. There are also no budget constraints with writing a novel so the imagination is unhindered by logistics and cost issues associated with film or television.

Question #2:

How do you think your past history of writing screen plays factored into writing a book?

Answer:

Over the years, we have formed a process that we were able to carry over from screenplay to novel. We are both very aware that neither one of us is a complete author. But when we combine our strengths, it works.

Question #3:

Do you see The Silent Gift as being translated on film at some point in time?

Answer:

That is our desire. But it is partially contingent upon the success of the novel.

Question #4:

How do you share the writing responsibilities (i.e., do you write in tandem, do you "clean up" each other's drafts)? As mentioned, we each bring different strengths to the table. Michael is all about character and story. (The novel was his original idea.) He lays out the scenes beat by beat. Cindy’s strength is description and she takes a first pass at the scene that Michael has layed out for her. Then Michael will take his pass at the scene. Once we have a first draft, then it becomes a process of both rewriting and rewriting and rewriting until we feel strongly that all elements are written to the best of our abilities.

Question #5:

This book is a contrast to Oke's Love Comes Softly series. It definitely has a darker, more intense feel to it. What drew you to writing a story about the subject matter of prophetic gifts?

Answer:

We always respect the material that was granted to Michael, whether it be “Love Comes Softly” by Janette Oke or “The Last Sin Eater” by Francine Rivers, which for example was darker than Oke’s series of books. Michael was drawn to the subject matter of ‘can a gift from God be misused or abused?’ Prophecy became the gift that best suited the story.

Question #6:

What about this period in history (the 1930's) drew you to that decade as the setting for your story?

Answer:

Using the backdrop of the thirties amped up the unique challenges that a single parent with a special needs child faced. High unemployment, the lack of children’s rights, unsupervised experimental treatment, etc. It’s also a time period that isn’t written about very often. Only “The Grapes of Wrath” comes to mind. Not to mention, we started the project over to two years ago so it’s also become quite prophetic since many people are now calling the time we live in “The Second Great Depression.”

Question #7:

Have you received a significant response from the reading community, either positive or negative, following the books release? How do you hope that it impacts individual readers?

Answer:

The response from readers has been very positive! Most people seem to think the story is engaging from the first to the last page. There are many themes running through the book that we hope have an impact on the reader. For example, the theme of brokenness – both internal and external. Jack is an obvious example of external brokenness. He can neither hear nor speak. Mary is an example of someone hiding their external brokenness. Charles is both emotionally and spiritually broken which is internal.

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Again, I thought that The Silent Gift was one of the most compellingly interesting and entertaining books that I've read in some time. I'm STILL not exactly sure what I think of it in total. I do hope the book does well. I think it deserves to.

Also, it is kind of interesting being able to ask authors questions about their books. I may do it again in the future. (It wasn't as scary a prospect as I thought.) I also don't think my questions were all that deep. But I was curious about these specific things, after having read the story, and it was nice to just be able to ask!

Friday's Fave Five

Suzanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts this carnival every Friday for people to list their five favorite things for the week.

1. I'm grateful that we frequently do see the goodness of God in the land of the living. (Otherwise I would despair, as the verse says.)

2. I'm grateful for sleep.

From the greats:

Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course
Chief nourisher in life's feast.
~William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Now, blessings light on him that first invented sleep! It covers a man all over, thoughts and all, like a cloak; it is meat for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, heat for the cold, and cold for the hot. It is the current coin that purchases all the pleasures of the world cheap, and the balance that sets the king and the shepherd, the fool and the wise man, even. ~Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605

And from the not-so-greats:

Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation. ~Author Unknown

3. I'm grateful for Thanksgiving and some really good, good friends who are coming into town to spend it with us! (We are SO HYPED to see them!) I cannot find a good image of people yacking their heads off to share in this post. However, when these friends come, about all we do is talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. And we never get bored.

4. I'm grateful for good reads like The Silent Gift.

Last week I had a book to giveaway to a friend. This week, I have TWO copies of The Silent Gift, by Michael Landon, Jr. to give away. (Click on the title to read the review and enter the contest if you like.)

5. I'm grateful for my little family who mean the world to me.

Until next week,

Blessings!

Carrie

review of The Silent Gift (and a giveaway)

Woah. This book is one of, if not THE most spell-binding book I think I have ever read. It is dark and intense and yet expresses such tender love between a mother and her child that you just read on and read on and hope nothing comes along that would tear you away from the story. I'd put The Silent Gift on the level with The Thirteenth Tale. It is that gripping and haunting in its presentation. The plus side of The Silent Gift is that it leaves some parts of "the dark side" to the imagination whereas Setterfield was a bit more graphic in her story telling.

I really don't want to risk any spoilers and this is a good book to spoil so I'm going to tread lightly. As you may be aware, Michael Landon, Jr. and Cindy Kelley have co-written film scripts together, including for the Love Comes Softly films. This time, the two came together to write a book which deals with human heartache, the gift of prophesy and spiritual warfare. Furthermore, they tell their story through the eyes of a devoted mother which tugs at the heartstrings in an almost physically painful way. Can a young boy who cannot communicate with the world around him, offer people insight into their own lives? That is the question most repeated throughout this book with plenty of hardship, aches and struggles attached.

The book is set in the 1930's, throughout the Great Depression in America. It opens with an absolutely spell-binding scene which sucks you in and refuses to let you go. I don't think I've ever been more on the edge of my seat in the opening paragraphs of a book in my lifetime. I've been delighted, amused and made thoughtful by books, but nothing like what I experienced with The Silent Gift. Simply put, this book is an experience and there's not much else to say.

I feel like this "review" is being reduced to a "woah man, this is like so cool" but I'm petrified of telling you TOO much! The histories of the main characters are slowly unfolded to keep you guessing and give you just enough for the moment you are in and nothing more. The twists and turns were not predictable for me because I was so engrossed with what was happening at any given point in time that I didn't have spare brain cells to think ahead. That's saying something for the storytelling abilities of Landon, Jr. and Kelley right there!

If you did enjoy The Thirteenth Tale then make time to read The Silent Gift. I hardly think you'll regret it!

In fact, I am so convinced that this is a book you've got to read (and right away) that I'm going to give away my copy to one of you. Oh, that's right! Just because it's a fun thing to do! In order to win, you must leave a comment in this post no later than Sunday, November 22nd. The winner must be a U.S. Resident to win.

Furthermore, the publisher has also agreed to pass along a copy to one Reading to Know reader. Therefore there are two copies to give away.

Thank you, Bethany House, for offering me, and one other reader, a chance to engage with this book. It was a true delight and I'm grateful.

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If you would like to read my interview with authors Michael Landon, Jr. and Cindy Kelley, follow the link!

Planning Ahead

Yes, it's only the second week in November. Yes, I'm a planner (and I make absolutely no apologies for it, seeing that it keeps our lives flowing smoothly and at a manageable pace -mostly- as a result!). Planning is good. Christmas planning is the BEST because the month is so CHALK FULL of meaning, fun and celebrations and so I'm happy to think through it a bit in advance.

For us, Christmas is primarily a celebration (focusing heavily on that word) of Jesus' birth. Last year we added in St. Nick's Day into the mix to learn how serving/giving to others. We plan to do that again this year (but I haven't quite decided how to do that just yet). Last year we made cookies for friends and all of our neighbors. We didn't receive very many complaints about that one! ;)

Earlier this year I mentioned how much I absolutely loved Small One growing up and how I intended to buy the Disney DVD with the story on it. We found it at Costco a few weeks ago and I snatched it up and eagerly threw it into the cart. So Small One is on the list. (The DVDalso contains Mickey's Christmas Carol which we will also be watching, oh yes, and OH YAY!)



Now I'm just gathering up fun Christmas-y books, one of which is Where Teddy Bears Come From, by Mark Burgess (published by Peachtree Publishers). This is definitely your non-traditional book that is just plain fun. In this book the little wolf (not to be confused with the "big, bad" one (!) can't sleep for wandering where teddy bears come from. His mother (who I suspect is intimately related to the big, bad variety of wolves) sends little wolf off into the woods to find the answer to his question.

Little wolf makes his first stop at the wise old owl who shoos him on to The Three Little Pigs (who rather wish to avoid him) who send him on to Little Red Riding Hood who is equally unobliging. It looks like the little wolf is not ever going to find the answer to his question until he helps out an old man in a red suit who promises that little wolf will have the answer to his question in the morning.

It's a Santa Claus oriented book, of course, which I have no objections to at all. Santa won't be avoided in our house because I do not feel like he needs to be. He's a fun character who adds some jollies to the season. This book does the same in a traditional and yet completely non-traditional way.

Next non-traditional item on my list:



Jim Henson's The Christmas Toy. Does anyone else out there remember this?! My brother and I watched this every single year growing up and I fully intend to continue the tradition! (Along with a viewing of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman.)

I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!

Any suggestions for something that you particularly love to read or watch that is more non-traditional in nature? Do share!

This is all I want to say today

If you agree, well, then just leave a comment of affirmation below.

Green Books Campaign: Stormy Weather

1 Day, 100 bloggers, 100 green books, 100 reviews

What's this particular post all about? I was contacted asking if I wanted to participate in a blogging campaign to raise awareness of the importance of using recyclable and sustainable materials when publishing books. This campaign is being organized by Eco-Libris, a green company working to green up the book industry. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

I've talked before about how I really think that each family is responsibility to decide how they can best take care of that which they have dominion over. I don't think that everyone, everywhere should be forced to think like I think, and do what I do. And I really don't find it very practical to "plant a tree for every book I read." I don't have enough yard space for that!

That said, I DO think it's a good idea to use recyclable materials in the publishing industry if it is at all possible. I know there are various factors to consider, but one option worth considering could be using such materials, could it not?

With those thoughts in mind, I agreed to participate. So at this exact moment, 100 bloggers from around the world are posting their book reviews of green books (those that are meeting the "green" criteria (recycled or FSC-certified paper). We got to select titles of our choice and so I thought I'd check out a children's book title.




Stormy Weather by Debi Glori (published by Bloomsbury) focuses on bedtime rituals and assuring little ones that even though it may be a bit stormy outside, they are safe inside with their parents. It's a cute book to read with kids who perhaps aren't all that keen on thunderstorms (maybe like mine!). It is told in rhyme and the words swirl around the illustrations which gives it a whimsical feel.

Then should the oceans roar and rise
and dark clouds race across the skies
I'd hold you tight and close and warm
and keep you safe all through the storm.

It's definitely a cute book and we enjoyed it. Definite thumbs up on the complimentary illustrations.

But the real point of the post is just being conscious of what materials publishers are using within the industry. Again, I think it's a good idea to be conservative with the materials that we have available to us and to 'take dominion' of the earth by caring for it as best as we can with the resources that God has given us. I'm not interested in cracking the whip and making demands by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not for more government regulations in this area. Rather, I'd rather we, as fully capable human beings, figure out the best way to care for that which is under our control.

I'm not on a bandwagon. But I am for thought and consideration. So here ya go! Something to think about. Have you ever thought about how the publishing industry could change to become more green? Quite frankly, I'm more for them finding environmentally friendly printing materials over offering books in a .pdf format. I will die on whatever hill I have to, arguing for having a good old fashioned book in hand to read and enjoy. I can be for green and still be for an actual book....let me just make myself clear here. (ha) Book. In my hand. That I can feel. And smell. Just sayin'.

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If you'd care to learn more about this topic, it might be helpful to begin at the beginning (in this country anyway). I have a children's picture book to review and giveaway on John Muir: America's Naturalist (Fulcrum Publishing). Hop on over to THIS POST to read my review of John Muir and to enter to win a copy.

John Muir: America's Naturalist (& a giveaway)

Today I am participating in a Green Books campaign. I've stated my personal opinion about "being green" or "going green" before. I believe that we are to be good stewards of the world God made for us and we should take control over the things we have direct authority over. I'm not here to tell you how to be green and I don't expect anyone else to be telling me how to be green. I think it is a personal decision that each individual family must make for themselves. For our part, we like talking about how God created the world (Gen. 1:1) and then gave the instruction for the man and woman to take dominion of it. We seek to do just that by caring for the things that we have control over.

Recently, I was given an opportunity to review the book John Muir: America's Naturalist (published by Fulcrum Publishing). This book is illustrated by Thomas Locker, who also illustrated Rip Van Winkle (which I reviewed over at 5 Minutes for Books). His artwork is breathtaking. His paintings are masterpieces and I love just looking through his books - neverminding the words on teh page! Locker is a very gifted artist and it makes his books a delight.

Before reading this book on Muir, I really didn't know very much about him. I had heard the name before but I couldn't have told you who he was or what he did. Born in Scotland in 1838, Muir came to America with his family at age eleven. His father worked a farm in Wisconsin and tried to teach John that "nature was God's gift to man to use as a resource." John listened to his father (who I happen to agree with) but developed some of his own views of nature (which I also agree with). John found beauty in the world and was active in trying to preserve it. He founded the Sierra Club and worked with President Teddy Roosevelt to establish a national park system.
Heralded as a great environmentalist, these claims are very true to a certain extent. I don't agree with all of his philosophies and outlook but one thing I can agree with is his love of beauty and desire to protect and keep it. His work went on to inspire the likes of Ansel Adams. Muir also associated with Gifford Pinchot, the first head of a U.S. Forest Service. Pinchot believed in the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of people which is something I can totally agree with.

Muir's favorite natural location was what eventually became Yosemite National Park. Having visited there myself, I can be grateful to Muir for working to preserve this stunning piece of natural beauty. As a token (pardon this pun) of appreciation, Muir appears on the California quarter (released 2005). A fitting tribute, I think, and further acknowleges the following scripture passage:

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Ps. 19:1

I am intrigued to know more about John Muir and am delighted to inform you that Fulcrum Publishing has offered to give away one copy of this book to one Reading to Know reader. If you would like to win a copy, simply leave a comment below. The contest will remain open through Sunday, November 22nd. U.S. Residents only, please.

Regular subscribers to Reading to Know, may leave two comments for two entries into this contest.

Again, I may not agree with all of Muir's philosophies but I do agree with what he was trying to do and I think this book presents a very balanced view of Muir and his ideals. I found it to be a very even keeled book that presents the basics of who Muir was and what he believed. Thomas Locker helps to express all of the points Muir was trying to make with this lovely illustrations and I think this book is a huge asset to children learning about how to take better care of the earth God created.

I rather recommend this one.

Bits & Pieces

Instead of writing "stand alone" reviews for some of the books I've been reading lately, I thought I'd just publish some "short takes" (as we refer to them on 5 Minutes for Books). I was gifted with a copy of The Silent Seduction of Self-Talk and this was one I thought I wouldn't really get into because it would be all about having low self-esteem and needing to know how God feels about you. Not saying those types of books aren't healthy and needed, but I am saying that those types of books typically don't appeal to me. I have a healthy dose of confidence and so I'm generally not out there looking for more. Interestingly enough, my problem with over confidence was what Shelly Beach addresses here in this book. She spends the first few chapters talking about her own go-gettum', full speed ahead attitude and how she has to speak the truths to herself that God can actually handle her problems. He really will follow through and care for her needs. With brutal honesty, she shares about how her thoughts can lead her to think more of herself and less of Who God is and what He would like for her to be. While I thought this book would miss its mark with me, instead it hit the target with a nice bullseye!

Furthermore, I thought the name Shelly Beach rang a bell. I read and reviewed Hallie's Heart over at 5 Minutes for Books which was written by the same author. It was nice to read a piece of her non-fiction to find out more about the author herself. That was kind of a fun discovery.

I took a copy of The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles along with me on vacation a bit ago and got about 3/4 of the way through it. I wanted to like it. Really I did. I liked Mandy, which is also by Julie Andrews Edwards and which I also read at the suggestion of Jennifer and Amanda. I know Whangdoodles is a favorite of Amanda's but I had a hard time tracking with it. I got to the point where they entered into the magical land and I'm not sure if it was the political statements that I was reading between the lines or what - I just failed with this one. So Amanda can leave me a negative comment and/or tell me why I really must finish it. But at this point - I haven't.



Lastly, I am reading Seasons of a Mother's Heart, by Sally Clarkson along with some other ladies that I know here in town. Of course, I can't read a book and not talk about it on the blog. Sacrilegious!

Anyway, this week we're meeting together to watch the video series of the same title and discuss the first chapter. I'M READING THIS BOOK SLOWLY. IN PIECES. BY CHAPTER. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

Well, maybe. I may just go ahead and plough through the whole thing in one sitting as is my habit and nature but we'll see. I will try very hard to be good and go slowly with this. But no promises.

It's fun to be part of a group again talking about something I care about - being a mom! This isn't my first "book club" (because it really isn't that) but my first "mom's devotional group" I guess we'll say. It's a good fit for where I'm at right now and I'm excited to learn, not only from the experience but the other ladies in attendance. We'll see how this goes!

(As a post script - some of the ladies read this blog. If you do - don't fret! I promise only to share my own personal thoughts from reading this book here online. I shall only expose myself!) ;)

Friday's Fave Five

Suzanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts this carnival every Friday for people to list their five favorite things for the week.

1. I'm thankful for the readers of Reading to Know. Really. If I had an award to give those of you who stick around here, I would. I'm grateful for the comments and the e-mails that I've received on various posts. I'm thankful for the friends I've made through this book blog. I know that I only know some of you online, but you have become friends, encouragers, and even prayer warriors for me sometimes and I'm truly grateful.

2. Beth gave me a Kreativ Blogger award this week and I'm grateful for that. Thank you, Beth, for the smile and the thought!

3. This album (FINALLY) came out:



I wrote a little about it here. And I think I've only listened to it 1,000 times since Tuesday. But who's counting?

4. (This one will be long. Bear with me.) As a book blogger/reviewer I frequently receive copies of books in the mail for potential review. Ocassionally a mistake is made on the part of the publisher and I receive two copies of books instead of one. Sometimes this is a great thing, because I get to delightedly hand it over to friends who I think will really like the book. This week an extra copy of this book came in the mail:



I have just the friend in mind for it. This is a friend who has stood by me through thick and through thin. She is one of the loyalist and bravest of friends. She's my "in person/real" friend who lives farther away than I'd like sometimes. This year we've just kind of hung on to each other for prayer support and, well, I just think she's awesome and want to publically say so. As a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny token of our friendship, this extra copy goes to Sky (because I saw it on her Amazon wishlist) and she has three kids that I think would very much enjoy it. Thank you, Sky, for being my Winston/Franklin friend.

5. Healing Rain.



(And even as I'm writing this, rain is pitter pattering across our roof. I LOVE the sound.)

Tears of joy
Tears of shame
Are washed forever
in Jesus' name

Amen.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Carrie

Word Pictures

Recently I read Hollywood Worldviews by Brian Godawa (click on the title to see my review) and after I reviewed it, IVP sent me a copy of his latest book, Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story & Imagination. I have to say that I'm almost afraid of writing a review of it for fear of sounding completely stupid. Why? Because Godawa is clearly a well-thought out individual with fabulous writing skills. I'm quite certain he's an imposing figure in person. I'd rather read his book than try to hold a face-to-face conversation with him. (Yeah, ok, enough with the inferiority complex, Carrie!) While I was reading this book, I was thinking to myself, "Man, Godawa is the type of person who would fit into the Canon Press crowd very well." Reading along he quotes "scholar Peter Leithart" and I knew I had not missed the mark!) Godawa is very pointed, reasoned and someone who I very much enjoy reading from.

In Word Pictures Godawa talks about his journey and conviction that we can't be Christians who live only by word and never by images. He would also argue that we absolutely cannot live only by images but that we must live by the word. Now, what does that mean? To simplify his statements, I would say he defines "word" as truth and knowledge and "image" as emotion. In other words, as Christians we should seek a balance between finding truth in creativity and imagination and we should back up our involvement in the arts by learning, knowing and speaking accurate truth.

Godawa introduces himself as someone who formerly paid no need to the arts. He found images to produce unwanted emotions within himself and so he dismissed pictures, music, drama as manipulative forces that were at war with thoughtful reasoning. He then goes on to explain how he came to a point of realizing that "indulging" in good music, good food, good company, good artwork was not "caving" into mysticism of some sort. Rather, using images to make solid points for truth is an entirely Biblical practice. He talks about the Old Testament prophets who were "actors", giving people visual images of despair to make points for repentance or to give people a visual image of what was to come. Godawa does a really good job at giving scripture references for all of his main points and lines up his arguments very well.

Godawa points out parables, signs and wonders, dreams and visions, poetry, and epic battles that are all a part of the Word of God. He encourages his reader not to get trapped into thinking that life is all about reasoning, nor is it all about imagination. There is a blend that we should seek as Christians, between reason and emotion, to accurately and appropriately appreciate beauty. One of my favorite quotes from this book is, "Beauty is not a waste." It is GOOD to make things beautiful and appealing. Truth CAN be expressed through the arts (all forms really) and we should seek to surround ourselves with art that expresses truth accurately. Godawa's main point in Hollywood Worldviews was, I would say, that art should correctly identify what is truth and what is not. In Word Pictures Godawa is trying to establish that the arts should be included in our lives to more perfectly represent truth to us - NOT in place of reason but in relationship with it.

This book was absolutely awesome. It is chalk full of good thoughts and good arguments and is worthy of consideration. Add this to the list of books that you could read about our current culture and how to engage with it. This book is a great addition! Thanks, IVP, for offering us something to chew on.