CHRISTMAS STORIES

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

What is your favorite story regarding Christmas?

Of course the most popular Christmas book is probably
A Christmas Carol

But remember this one:
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. What an adorable tale about a Christmas tree that is too tall. Adelaide cuts the top off. She throws it away and it starts a chain of bears, owls and eventually mice finding Christmas trees from that one tree top.



Did you know Tolkien wrote a Christmas story?
Letters from Father Christmas by Tolkien
Have you read it?



And we can’t forget The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe – Narnia, the land where it is always winter and never Christmas. But Christmas does come!












Of course the birth of the our Savior Jesus - that is the real story. That story will be up next!

MOVIE MONDAY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

We were talking about Christmas specials last week.

Remember this guy?

The Abominable Snowman, a monster that hates Christmas and feeds on reindeer, tries to chase them. The friends lose sight of the monster, and on their way they meet a prospector named Yukon Cornelius who is obsessed with finding silver and gold. The trio manages to flee to the Island of Misfit Toys, ruled by a flying lion named King Moonracer. Because they are misfits but not toys, King Moonracer allows them to spend one night on his island. The friends do, but Rudolph knows that his nose is a danger to his friends, so he leaves the island.
Later in the story they tame the abominable snowman and teach him to walk.
Remember when the group of misfit toys and Rudolph sang this song with him?


Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door



I still sing this song sometimes when I think I can't go on anymore.
How about you? Got any silly ways to encourage yourself?

JOY TO THE WORLD

Here is another of my top Christmas songs!
One of my favorite things about this song is the harmony. (The video is hard to watch because of the white, bobbing ball above the head of the girl in the back LOL)
I thought these girls did well. What about you? A little over zealous maybe, but they made me smile.

BY DARKNESS HID by JILL WILLIAMSON

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

A BOOK REVIEW
BY DARKNESS HID by JILL WILLIAMSON
My Synopsis
Achan Cham is a stray. In the feudal caste system of Er’Rets a stray is the bottom rung of society. Without family, he is forced to work in the kitchens and serve an abusive master.

An offer from a charismatic knight to train for the King’s Guard lifts Achan’s spirits. And yet, as Achan grows more capable with the blade and confident in himself, he hears voices in his head. Despite his new found courage gained from his sword training, he fears he has gone mad.

Meanwhile, Vrell Sparrow, a girl dressed as a male stray hiding from an arranged marriage that will unite her to the most horrific of lords, works in the household of a friend of the family. And a powerful man, who covets her strong blood voicing powers which enable to hear other’s thoughts, sends men to fetch her. Though Vrell is admired by a few of her captors, it looks as if she is on her way to the dungeon.

Both Achan and Vrell meet as they get caught up in the whirlpool battle for the highest seat in the land. As century old lies crumble and cruel secrets melt, shocking secrets are revealed about their families, their identities, and the world as they know it. In the end Vrell and Achan are required to run for their lives into the land which is by darkness hid.

My Review
I have to admit, as a writer this book sent me into a long depression – or writer’s block -- whatever title you want to slap onto it. As I read the last page of BY DARKNESS HID and closed the book, I said aloud, “That’s it. It’s been written. The perfect fantasy tale has been written and it is called BY DARKNESS HID.”

Oh yeah, and I went on to wallow about it. Why write? The perfect fantasy tale had been written.

Okay, rest assured that three weeks later I have emerged from my self-pity and am writing again, and after you’ve assuredly rested go and buy this book.

These characters are alive, loveable and as real as any I have seen. Without endless narrative, you feel like you are in middle of the medieval fantasy world. All that is medieval and fantasy is painted and portrayed in entertaining brilliance.

The action is fast paced without being choppy; the conflict is flashy without being violent. It is my favorite book to date. Aye, my fellow fantasy fan, I said it: This is my favorite book to date!

What more to say? We can look back in admiration at Tolkien and Lewis as they forged the road. We can honor Jordan, Whedon, Lucas, as they constructed their footsteps. But I say, Jill Williamson will be the hero of our time.

You decide. Pick up the book.

MOVIE MONDAY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

When you were a kid, weren't you on the edge of your chair the day after Thanksgiving waiting for the Christmas Specials? I loved them.

Rembember the The Little Drummer Boy?














A very sweet tale around the story that is Christmas, the birth of our savior.
What is your favorite?
Come back next Movie Monday and hear about a Christmas Special that still encourages me today!

MARCHER LORD SELECT - LITERARY AMERICAN IDOL

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, HORROR, AND SPECULITIVE FICTION FANS
20009 Marcher Lord Select has only 2 more rounds. Have you looked into this yet? Just the interaction with other CHRISTIAN FICTION writers/readers/fans is enough to take a peek!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

BELOW IS THE PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CONTEST'S INCEPTION

October 18, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marcher Lord Press Announces Marcher Lord Select

(Colorado Springs, CO)–Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction, today announces the debut of a revolution in fiction acquisitions.

“Marcher Lord Select is American Idol meets book acquisitions,” says publisher Jeff Gerke. “We’re presenting upwards of 40 completed manuscripts and letting ‘the people’ decide which one should be published.”

The contest will proceed in phases, Gerke explains, in each subsequent round of which the voters will receive larger glimpses of the competing manuscripts.

The first phase will consist of no more than the book’s title, genre, length, a 20-word premise, and a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb. Voters will cut the entries from 40 to 20 based on these items alone.

“We want to show authors that getting published involves more than simply writing a great novel,” Gerke says. “There are marketing skills to be developed–and you’ve got to hook the reader with a good premise.”

Following rounds will provide voters with a 1-page synopsis, the first 500 words of the book, the first 30 pages of the book, and, in the final round, the first 60 pages of the book.

The manuscript receiving the most votes in the final round will be published by Marcher Lord Press in its Spring 2010 release list.

No portion of any contestant’s mss. will be posted online, as MLP works to preserve the non-publication status of all contestants and entries.

Participating entrants have been contacted personally by Marcher Lord Press and are included in Marcher Lord Select by invitation only.

“We’re also running a secondary contest,” Gerke says. “The ‘premise contest’ is for those authors who have completed a Christian speculative fiction manuscript that fits within MLP guidelines and who have submitted their proposals to me through the Marcher Lord Press acquisitions portal before October 29, 2009.”

The premise contest will allow voters to select the books that sound the best based on a 20-word premise, a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb, and (possibly) the first 500 words of the book.

The premise contest entrants receiving the top three vote totals will receive priority acquisitions reading by MLP publisher Jeff Gerke.

“It’s a way for virtually everyone to play, even those folks who didn’t receive an invitation to compete in the primary Marcher Lord Select contest.”

Marcher Lord Select officially begins on November 1, 2009, and runs until completion in January or February 2010. All voting and discussions and Marcher Lord Select activities will take place at The Anomaly forums in the Marcher Lord Select subforum. Free registration is required.

“In order for this to work as we’re envisioning,” Gerke says, “we need lots and lots of voters. So even if you’re not a fan of Christian science fiction or fantasy, I’m sure you love letting your voice be heard about what constitutes good Christian fiction. So come on out and join the fun!”

Marcher Lord Press is a Colorado Springs-based independent publisher producing Christian speculative fiction exclusively. MLP was launched in fall of 2008 and is privately owned. Contact: Jeff Gerke; www.marcherlordpress.com.

O HOLY NIGHT

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

MY NUMBER ONE FAVORITE SONG ABOUT OUR SAVIORS BIRTH.

EACH TIME I HEAR "FALL ON YOUR KNEES" TEARS BURN MY EYES!!!!



WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE FAVORITE SONG ABOUT OUR SAVIORS BIRTH?