Happy mid-week!  Are you watching the Olympics? American Idol? The Bachelor? Lost? SOOO much going on TV right now.  And the cool thing is, with Twitter, I don’t have to watch any of it, and I’m still in the know. Except for Lost. But I don’t even think Lost watchers know what’s going on there.

As a speech teacher, it’s vitally important that I communicate in an exemplary fashion to model the appropriate behavior for my students.  I must strive to enunciate correctly, to speak with quality content. To verbalize with precision as I lead young lives.
Yesterday I was reading the announcements aloud to my 9thgrade class. I got to one about a CHEER meeting. But here’s what came out of my mouth:
“There will be a beer meeting Monday, March 15th. . .”      So if that meeting has better-than-usual turnout, they have me to thank.

I haven’t watched much of the Olympics, but I caught a news piece on something called Skeleton Racing. Have you seen this event? I mean, seriously? It’s basically like climbing on a sled in order to zip to your death. These people go like 80 mph. On a sled. Head first.  For some reason, if I’m racing toward an imminent, crashy death, I want to go feet first.

So our big contender in the skeleton race is Noelle Pikus-Pace.  She got knocked out of the Olympics four years ago (literally) by a bobsled. As in it took her out. She now has a steel bar in her calf. I know MYfirst thought would be gimme some more of that. How does one even get started in that career? Because my friend Snow Loving Holly is the best sledder I know, so I want to nominate her. And unlike Noelle Pikus Pace, she doesn’t have any bionic parts. That I know of.

There is a great interview with Francine Rivers over at PASTimes blog. Hop over and give it a read AND get in the running for a copy of the fabulous Redeeming Love.

I’ve mentioned before that I taught a girl a few years ago who is pretty much brilliant. She wants to be a SNL actor-writer, and I really believe she’s on her way. She’s trained with Second City in Chicago, and she’s such a gifted writer. You can check out her blog HERE.  And definitely check it out HERE. After receiving a grade she thought was unfairly low on a writing assignment, this student created a top ten list for writers. Check out her wisdom.

The Top Ten Things A Writer Must Know In Order To Write Good

1. A good writer must be very detailed and specific.
(That’s pretty much it for number one.)

2. A good writer needs a strong vocabulary.
In other words, a writer should kinda talk good. People who write stuff should, like, use big words or whatever. There, like, shouldn’t be anything that sounds totally lame.

3. A good writer should paint pictures with words.
Like…instead of with paint and stuff…

4. A good writer knows how to take criticism.
Unless you don’t like what’s being said. Then you can just do whatever.

5. A good writer can find humor in everything.
Because sometimes humor is 100% necessary. . . unless you’re talking to your mom. . .because then you’ll just get grounded.

6. A good writer knows when to be serious…
NAH! Forget THAT!

7. A good writer reads frequently.
Magazines and DVD subtitles totally count.

8. A good writer practices.
Practices clogging, practices Yiddish, practices whatever. . .you get what I mean.

9. A good writer finds inspiration in everything
Like pasta. Or Canada.

And finally. . .

10. A good writer can make up a list of ten things just to make themselves feel like a better writer.

I can’t wait to say, “I knew her when.”  Especially when she gets me front row tickets to SNL.

For those of you who write, got anything to add to that brilliance? I would add: A good writer must know that the amount of chocolate she consumes is directly proportional to her creative output. As is the quality of her sweats.  What about you?

Hope you have a great rest of the week.

JEN

Happy Monday!  Congrats to Gretchen, the winner of Lisa Wingate’s Never Say Never. (Gretchen, email me your home addy: jen at jennybjones dot com)

Did everyone have a good Valentine’s Day? I did! I always do. Any day that involves celebrating with candy or a dinner out is my kind of holiday.

This weekend my girls and I celebrated my friend Kim’s birthday. She’s one year younger than me, so I think she’s 25. (Right Kim?)  Anyway, when it’s your b-day, you get to pick the outing. So Kim wanted to see Dear John. She has been looking forward to this movie forever. And its’ not because she’s a sold out Sparks fan. I think it has more to do with being a sold out Channing Tatum fan. He’s an interesting actor to watch on screen. And by that I mean I haven’t decided to what extent he can’t act. But he had some decent acting moments in this flick, but does anyone really care if he can act? I didn’t think so.

The movie was okay. I haven’t read the book because I intentionally don’t read Nicholas Sparks because someone ALWAYS dies. I have two good friends who LOVE his books pretty much because of this, and they were always trying to get me to read him. I resisted. So they said, “You HAVE to read this one book. It’s so good. And we promise–not a single person dies in it!”  So to appease them, I take the book home. About half way through it hits me what’s going to happen. The freakin’ DOG is gonna die. Sure enough in the end, the dog bites it. I was SOOO ticked. An animal dying? Even worse.

Anyway, so I’m not a fan, but it was Kim’s birthday, and if she had said, “Let’s go to Nascar, get tattoos, and eat brats,” I would’ve agreed to it. It was her day. One fun thing to know about Kim is that in high school she had a date to go to the drive-in.  He rolls up to her house in his van. With a couch in the back. Kim was not allowed out of the house with this boy.

So the movie was okay. It was actually a good one for a little Mystery Science Theater running commentary. (Reason No. 29458 to never sit beside me in a movie.)   I think some things must not have transferred from the book to the screen because I had a few “huh?” moments. But honestly I think any book-inspired movie is a success as long as it doesn’t star Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, or any member of the original 90210 gang.

Last week I also saw When in Rome. Avoid! Avoid! It’s a total renter. Did anyone see Lightning Thief this weekend?

Favorite blogger Green Bean Teen Queen has such a good question of the week up.  She wants to know who your literary crush is. You definitely need to hop over and share who your favorite man-of-the-pages is.

There’s a campaign on Facebook to get Betty White on Saturday Night Live as the host. This is brilliant on someone’s part. And about the only thing on Facebook that makes sense these days.

Eighties kids, remember Sweet Valley High? Well guess who’s coming back? Author Francine Pascal is releasing Sweet Valley Confidential in 2011, a book that picks up the lives of Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield in their late 20s and early 30s. You know– old.  Reading this news didn’t make me happy like the article said it would. It totally depressed me. The kids of SWH are not in their 30s. They’re still teens. Young. Like the rest of us. I need to believe they are living in some time/space continuum where they still tuck-roll their jeans, Madonna doesn’t have Hulk arms, and the eye shadow is still blue with an extra dose of frosty.

Okay, there is a new Kay Jeweler’s commercial and…it’s actually good. Have you seen it? I can’t find it anywhere and it’s driving me nuts. It’s the one where the guy accidentally drops to one knee, has a catch in his leg, and thinks, “Well, as long as I’m down here, I might as well propose.”  If you find it, please send it my way!  I also can’t find a link to We Are the World Part Deux.  My friend Salle has been obsessed with We Are the World pretty much her whole life. In fact, she has had the redo planned forever, including assigning all the parts. She even wrote the Super Bowl folks and pitched her idea. I’m really sad that she didn’t get the credit for her genius. She should totally get a cut of that donation money. ; )

I would love to know what you gave or received for Valentine’s Day.  Lemme know!

JEN

Don’t forget you can win a copy of Lisa Wingate’s Never Say Never this week just by telling me a fun blog to visit. You can see the contest instructions on Monday’s blog.  AND you definitely want to hop on over to SheReads where we’re giving away copies of Just Between  You and Me AND a huge basket of calorie-ridden goodies that I am dying to steal myself. You can find those contest details HERE.

I wrote a little devotional on fear for Proverbs 31 Ministries/She Reads that ran last week. It got cut down quite a bit because 1. It needed to fit the space.  2. Sometimes I can ramble. 3. Everyone needs to be edited. (In fact, I wish I had an editor with me at all times who would filter everything I ever wrote or said. Or wore. Or bought. Or ate. Or painted on my kitchen walls. Five times.)

I thought I would share the devotion in its entirety here.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 27-31

Do you strive for safety and security? Don’t we all. But God never commanded us to be safe.

While writing Just Between You and Me, I immersed myself in my Bible, studying the topic of fear, the central theme of my novel.  It was ironic and laughable to me, because I was and am the poster child for fears. I fear rejection, success, heights, strangers, choking while alone, being asked about the conflict in the Middle East, skinny jeans, and green peas. So much of my life has been dedicated to playing it safe.

While studying for this book, I kept going back to the Bible where Jesus would find his disciples in a state of fear. In Matthew 14, the disciples are in the boat, the winds are going crazy, and walking across the water is this dark figure in the night. Peter takes the lead and tells the figure if He is Jesus, then call him out with him on the water. Did Peter even know what he was asking for? You want to walk on water? In a storm?

Jesus does indeed call out to his friend, and things are going well. Until. . .Peter takes his eyes off his Savior and focuses on the wind. The wind that’s tossed the boat, made the night scary, and no doubt whipping through his hair and clothes. How could you not notice the wind?

The second Peter takes his focus off Jesus, down he goes.

I’m so thankful for the rest of that verse that tells me that Peter didn’t plunge straight down and become fish food. He didn’t even have to dog paddle against the waves and struggle his way back up. Jesus reaches out his hand, asks, “Why did you even doubt me?” and lifts him to safety. They get out of the boat, and the winds don’t just simmer down. They stop completely. Isn’t that like our God?

So many focus on Peter’s lack of faith when discussing this chapter. I always notice how cool the guy is just for getting out of the boat. Let’s be honest. I wouldn’t. Would you? I like safety. I like security. I’m the girl who double checks her locks before going to bed. I’m the neurotic who has a routine of eyeballing my stove and iron as I head out for work—whether I used them or not. Safety is comfort. Security is what lulls me to sleep at night. But. . .what am I missing by playing it safe? What are you missing by not climbing out of the boat onto the waves?

God has gigantic plans for us. In Jeremiah he tells us that he has plans to prosper us, not to hurt us. Yet, how often do my rules and sense of control get in the way? What about you? Would you have taken on the giant if you had been a young David? Would you have climbed into the fiery furnace with faith if you had been Shadrach? (Me? I would’ve been snot-crying in a squealing heap on the floor.)  And I have a feeling if we had been Peter on the water that night, many of us not only would have sunk as well, but we wouldn’t have gotten out of the boat in the first place.

The Bible is full of these amazing moments that required blind faith—faith in something unseen that simply defied logic and did not make sense. Yet moments where if that challenged child of God had let his or her fears rule, would’ve turned out so much differently. So much. . .less.

In 2005, I had my David and Goliath moment. I went out to meet my giant, and with gigantic faith—probably for the first time in my life—God rewarded me with a victory.

After reading the book Beyond Jabez, my idea of bold faith was radically shaken. Changed. I decided God didn’t want me playing it safe anymore. I had long held onto a dream of being a writer. But really hadn’t done anything about it beyond wishing. Wishing is safe. And tidy. So tidy, almost no one on the planet even knew I wanted to be a writer—that in fact, I had dreamed of it my whole life. I had prayed a lot about it—but hadn’t given my desire feet. Hadn’t made it a verb. Had barely even written.

After reading Bruce Wilkinson’s book, God really spoke to me. I was so burdened with the idea that living small, denying my big dreams was like saying to God, “I don’t believe you’re going to take care of me. I don’t believe you can whip up anything big for my life.” I wasn’t trusting God with all my life. I was the one in control. And frankly, it was boring me. So I gave the writing idea a shot.

Months after reading the book, I traveled to my first writer’s conference. My family was shocked. Surprised. A little worried. What kind of ridiculous dream was I chasing? I went armed with nothing more than 20 pages of a book (and that’s all there was to it) and this supernatural faith built on months of prayer, claiming my dream, and relying on nothing but God. I knew, I just knew God was going to do what I began to call “the amazing.” I went to this conference expecting great things. And I think that is what made all the difference. Much like David and his Goliath. He went in knowing the battle was his. Knowing all he needed was God. He put his fears aside, and picked up one perfect stone.

It’s a long God-story, but that conference changed my life. I don’t know if I have ever been more prayed up and faith-filled in my life. And six months later I had my first book deal. The statistical chances of that happening given my lack of experience and writing? Zero. My chances of success in God’s economy? One hundred percent. But I had to meet the giant on the battlefield for that to ever happen. Had I continued to just sit and wish, I’d still be hoping today. And book-less.

What are you dreaming of today? Or maybe the last decade? Perhaps all your life? Like me, are you hiding behind safety? Are you living in your comfort zone? Don’t you want to be thriving?  What is God asking you to do today? What dreams have lingered with you that won’t leave you alone? Take your eyes off the raging waters, off all the logical reasons why not, and reach out your hand and slip it into God’s. He’s been waiting for you. He says, “Have courage. It’s me. Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you, kid. I’ve got you.”

Now you just have to meet him there.

Father, you have not called us to live a safe life, but a giant, faith-filled life where we face our fears to achieve the amazing things you have planned for us. Help us to reach out to you, even when we’re afraid, and keep our focus on you. Bind up any fear, any excuses, any obstacles in our way, and show us your will, your clear path. In the power and name of Jesus, Amen.

*****

So hop on over to SheReads and enter in the drawing for the calorific loot. And if you think about, I’d love for you to read some of the many comments left and say a prayer for a few of these ladies ready to step out in faith and leave some fear behind.

Before we even get started, you have to jump over to SheReads and get in the running for one mongo gift basket of yumness. I really really really want one of you guys to win it.  I would only ask for 50 percent of the calorie-laden loot. (As your friend, it would be my duty to make sure you didn’t eat enough to get cavities, sugar rush headaches, or muffin tops.)

Did you watch the Superbowl? Me neither. But I did watch the commercials. This was my favorite:

I love Betty White. She’s so good with comedy. She gets it, you know? Subtle.

I also liked this one by Career Builder. (Skivvy warning)

The Brett Favre ad was kinda funny. Even I got that one, and I don’t watch football. And the E*Trade baby? “Milk-a-what?!”  Loved it. You can now send Baby Mail. Check it out HERE.

Speaking of commercials, this one wasn’t on the Super Bowl, but I cannot stand a particular Kay Jeweler’s ad. Do you know the one?

Am I the only one who was just WAITING for that guy to pull out a meat cleaver? It’s so creepy. What a girl won’t do for diamonds.

So my friend Jocelyn is training her cat Crockett to use the toilet. Yes, seriously. And she uses a device called a CitiKitty. So I had to YouTube it. Instead of finding helpful vids, I found the most annoying cat owner ever. (and this is not jocelyn. I repeat: this is not jocelyn.)

This has been around the social media block, but have you guys seen this “Save the Date?”

You know that SkyMall catalog on planes? Where you can get bunion warmers and saunas for your dog? I saw THIS BOOK on Amazon and thought it looked even better.

Sometimes I pop into random blogs and this is one of them. The blog author, Brooke, is el preggo, and had a few things to say about it. But it was her husband’s take on it all that cracked me up.

That brings us to this week’s giveaway.

To win a copy of Lisa Wingate’s Talk of the Town, you gotta tell me a fun blog I should start checking out. My daily list of blogs has really dwindled (not sure that’s such a bad thing), and I need some new reading material. What’s a good blog to visit?  Leave me a suggestion or two in the comments. Winner announced Friday. Can’t wait to hear your suggestions.

I need to go. I’m expecting to be at work a matter of hours before we all get sent home for one heckuva winter storm. God bless you, El Nino. God bless you.

JEN

Have you ever had one of those days when you shouldn’t be allowed out of the house? This pretty much sums up my February. I think it’s the weather. It has me allajumble. Yes, that’s all one word. Like out of nowhere we get some light snow chances this morning. But did I wake up to school-closing snow? No, I did not. I barely woke up at all.

But it did snow for about 20  minutes a few hours after getting to work. Big, beautiful flakes. But I had to break school rules and RUN down the halls to see it because my classroom doesn’t have windows. Which is great if we get a tornado (hey, let’s all hang out in here!), but other than that, should be totally illegal. I mean what if my file cabinet catches on fire and we can’t get out the door? Where do we go? Out the windows? Nope! I would have to throw kids against the concrete block wall until one finally broke through to the  other side. (Some days that option doesn’t bother me so much…)   Anyway, snow chances again Monday night, which is also totally yanking my chain. Because they are saying it could be anything from a wintery  mix to seriously accumulating. Their uncertainty is keeping me up at night. Literally. Today I went into my classroom and had to explain to my students why an addiction to the Weather Channel was making their teacher turn into the bride of Darth Maul.

Some good news is that Just Between You and Me has been selected as the SheReads February selection. (It’s about time February made it up to me.)  You totally want to tune into that because they are about to unveil a KICK BUTT giveaway. As in I want this prize. My awesome publisher is providing it, so I can brag on it all I want. I didn’t make it myself. Which is lucky for everyone else. If it had been up to me, the prize probably would’ve been a stack of People magazines and a case of Fruity Pebbles.

So Ellen starts her gig on American Idol next week. ‘Bout time. So sorry to see Posh go. Really. . . pains me. And unlike Katy Perry, I don’t think Ellen is going to get into it with Kara and threaten to toss a Big Gulp in her face.

So what have you been reading lately? I ordered over 70 new books for my classroom and I’m pathetically counting the seconds ’til they arrive. In the meantime I’ve read a few things.

I read Jennifer AlLee’s The Pastor’s Wife.

It’s a sweet book about a woman who returns to her husband after a six year absence. Her husband was a devoted pastor–maybe a little too devoted–and made it easy to walk away. But the couple never divorced. Which is good. Because things are definitely not resolved between them. I enjoyed the accurate portrayal of a small town church–how everyone has an opinion on the pastor and his wife–and the interesting look at how wearing the job of preacher can be.

I got a sneak peek into Kristin Billerbeck’s first YA Perfectly Dateless.

Don’t you love that title? I know a ton of teens are gonna relate to that. This book doesn’t come out until this summer, but it will be worth the wait, girls. It’s good! This is the story of Daisy, a girl with uber conservative parents who don’t let her do ANYTHING. And Daisy’s got to go to her prom, right? Very funny stuff. Have you ever seen the Culps on SNL? Daisy’s hilarious parents reminded me of one of my favorite SNL sketches. Which is not available on YouTube (because it’s February?), but here’s the general idea:

I just started Same Kind of Different as Me.

I know, I ‘m way behind. It’s been on my shelf for at least six months, but I had yet to crack it open. But when women AND men tell you to read it, you know  Same Kind of Different as Me has to be good. And it’s going to be a movie. Starring Samuel L. Jackson Lawrence Fishburn. (who can tell them apart? I don’t even try.)

Finally, I just got this one in from Amazon.

I’ve been hearing for YEARS I needed to read Nick Hornby, but hadn’t. Seen a few of the movies based on his books, but hadn’t read the guy. So on the recommendation of Editor Jamie, I’m finally seeing what all the Hornby fuss is all about.

I also read Something to Talk About by Christian fiction author Lisa Wingate. You can more about this book after my signoff. The girl on the cover of the book totally reminds me of Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory.

Okay, that’s what I’ve been reading. What about you?

Have a great weekend!

JEN

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Never Say Never

Bethany House (February 1, 2010)

by

Lisa Wingate
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa lives in central Texas were she is a popular inspriational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books. Her novel, Tending Roses, received dozens of five-star reviews, sold out thirteen printings for New York publisher, Penguin Putnam, and went on to become a national bestselling book. Tending Roses was a selection of the Readers Club of America, and is currently in its fourteenth printing.

The Tending Roses series continued with Good Hope Road, the Language of Sycamores, Drenched in Light, and A Thousand Voices. In 2003, Lisa’s Texas Hill Country series began with Texas Cooking, and continued with Lone Star Cafe’, which was awarded a gold metal by RT Bookclub magazine and was hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as “A charmingly nostalgic treat.” The series concluded with Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner.

Lisa is now working on a new set of small-town Texas novels for Bethany House Publishers. The series debuted with Talk of the Town and continued with Word Gets Around and Never Say Never. A new series is also underway for Peguin Group NAL, beginning with A Month of Summer (July 2008), and continuing with The Summer Kitchen (July 2009) and Beyond Summer (July 2010). Lisa’s works have been featured by the National Reader’s Club of America, AOL Book Pics, Doubleday Book Club, the Literary Guild, American Profiles and have been chosen for the LORIES best Published Fiction Award. In 2009, A Month of Summer was nomiated for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.
ABOUT THE BOOK

Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She’s never put down roots in any one place–and she doesn’t plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence.

And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily–until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the winds blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store–especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Never Say Never, go HERE