BJ Hoff's GRACE NOTES

The Kindle Fire

Walt Mossberg headlined his recent article about the new Kindle Fire by calling it "A Grown-Up E-Reader with Tablet Spark."  I was intrigued by his description,  because that was exactly what I was looking for when I ordered mine. Now that I've had some hands-on experience with the device, I'm happy to say I got exactly what I wanted--and a little more. 

Before I placed my order, I'd read a number of conflicting reviews about the Kindle Fire. Some I found to be right on target; others not so much. I'm not all that tech savvy, but because of all the buzz going around about this device--and because several friends have asked me about it, due to their own interest in purchasing one--I thought I'd comment briefly on my initial impressions. 

First, it is not an "iPad killer," as it's been often dubbed. The KF lacks many of the features found on the Apple iPad. There's no camera (but for the life of me I have yet to figure out why anyone wants a camera on the iPad, awkward as it is to use. I much prefer the camera on my phone or, better yet, my Canon.). The KF  has only 8 GB of built-in storage--but that doesn't really matter, given Amazon's unlimited cloud storage. It's smaller than the iPad at 7"--but that's a plus in terms of portability and holding it for any length of time when you're reading. The KF has no calendar or notepad. But it does have Amazon as its mother ship, and that's a very big plus. 

Whether or not you'd be happy with the Kindle Fire depends, in my opinion, on your expectations for the device. In other words, what you want it to be. In my case, I primarily wanted the "grown-up e-reader" Mossberg mentioned. I like the options of reading in black on white, white on black, or the sepia/cream--my favorite. I also wanted a slightly smaller reader than the iPad that wouldn't become tiring when held for any length of time. I also wanted easy access to Amazon content, the ability to quickly check my e-mail while using the device rather than having to switch to another unit, and a better web browser than the one used on the earlier Kindle keyboard unit. The KF's browser is a little slower than the iPad's, but still quite an improvement over the older Kindle's. As far as I'm concerned, the "extras"--including movie, TV, and music streaming, plus several apps--are just that: extras.

As much as I appreciate my iPad, I have to admit that I also apreciate a few features that appear on the KF and not available to the iPad: An appealing and reasonable price.  The size and light weight more desirable for an e-reader. Easy access to the Amazon marketplace. And unlimited cloud storage. The ease of use and great display I'd grown used to on the iPad are benefits of the KF as well. 

I didn't want or need a "genuine tablet" to take the place of my iPad. I would never trade the work capability and utility of the iPad for the Kindle Fire, which is basically a device for Amazon content consumption. I wasn't looking for a mini-computer. There's not one out there that can begin to compare with my MacBook Air. I simply wanted exactly what Walt Mossberg wrote about: "a grown-up e-reader with  tablet spark." That's what I got, and I'm completely happy with it. While I don't regret the bloated price I paid for my iPad some time ago, I'm very pleased--and somewhat impressed--with everything Amazon managed to cram into the KF for what even the critics concede to be a most reasonable price. 

There are far more technical reviews all over the internet to help you get a better fix on the different devices available. This is just my way of  providing a little more non-technical information for those of you who are still trying to make a decision between a full-fledged tablet or a unit that more closely resembles the Kindle Fire. 

Good luck!

BJ

 

 

Such Friends

Lately I've been reminded how very fortunate I am to have the truly wonderful readers I do, readers who have blessed me time and time again through the years, who continue to bless me, over and over again--and I thought I'd just take a moment to thank you.

By its very nature, writing is a solitary lifestyle. It would probably be a lonely lifestyle for many of us were it not for our families (and that includes our church families), our friends, other writers ... and our readers. Many of my readers pray for me, for my work, even for my family. And believe me, I'm more aware of those prayers than you can imagine! Some have become good friends, even though we've never met. Many drop me a note on a regular basis simply to let me know they're thinking of me and cheering me on as I work through the book in progress. Some "hawk" my books as they travel about the country, talking with bookstore folks, encouraging them to order titles they don't have on the shelf, at the same time making them aware of other authors writing inspirational and Christian fiction. And some of my readers are also writers who can pray with great understanding and empathy, because they've "been there and done that."

I wouldn't like to consider what a hole there would be in my life without these special friends. Many of you are reading this, and you know who you are. Know this also: you make a significant, powerful difference in my life--and I'm grateful for each one of you. Thank you for loving the stories that I love to bring to you, and thank you for pouring out your affection and your prayers on me. Because of you, my life is anything but solitary. Because of you, I'm blessed with a wide network of friends who care and who never hesitate to make the effort to let me know they care.

When I give thanks for you, my readers, a line from my favorite poet, W. B. Yeats, invariably comes to mind:  "Think where man's glory most begins and ends,  and say my glory was I had such friends."

Bless you for the many ways you bless me.

BJ

 

Why Amish Fiction?

A question that seems to pop up often in my email has to do with why, after so many years of publishing general historical fiction, have I recently been writing "Amish fiction." 

This may seem like an easy question to answer. Actually, it isn't--but let me just make three points that might explain it best: 

1.     First, I'm still writing historical fiction set in Appalachia, but more recently with mostly--but not all--Amish characters, so a series of Amish fiction isn't actually that much of a change for me. Also, whereas most Amish fiction published in the past few years has featured contemporary settings, I'm still writing in an 1800s setting, as I almost always do. The current series (The Riverhaven Years) is located in the hills of southern Ohio, close to the Ohio River, and as I mentioned, is peopled mostly by Amish characters, although the "anchor" character of the series--"Captain" Jeremiah Gant--is an Irish immigrant, and Asa, his helper-friend, is a freed slave.        

In the series planned to follow The Riverhaven Years, the setting will also be historical, and will again feature a mix of some Amish and some non-Amish characters. 

2.     I've no doubt but what one of the reasons I'm writing Amish fiction is the same as one of the reasons you're reading Amish fiction. I discovered that I, also, really enjoy reading about the Amish: their culture, their faith, their customs (and their food)! I believe there's been a genuine longing by many of us over the past few years to return to a simpler lifestyle: a more basic, "uncluttered," way of living. Even if we can only read about it, there's a real comfort and contentment--and, yes, a fascination--about times and places less harried and unhurried, about faith that's active and alive, a faith that is lived as a vital part of everyday life, not super-structured, complicated, and relegated only to Sunday worship. 

Not until I had actually develdoped nearly half of the first book in The Riverhaven Years did I discover an element I hadn't considered before I began writing about Amish characters. The very fact that the people are Plain in the way they live--in the way they dress simply and with no adornment, to the way they marry, raise their children, do their work, and conduct their daily lives--artificiality is stripped away and character is allowed to come shining through. That makes writing about them both a challenge and a joy.  It makes weaving variety into the story details perhaps a little more challenging, but at the same time it makes character development and scene building more intriguing. And when you're writing about people you like, it heightens the joy of the craft.

I remember telling my husband a few years ago, long before I had any real thought of developing an Amish story, that if I were going to write about any people besides the Irish, it would most likely be the Amish. We live close to more than one Amish settlement, and of course in Ohio we're within easy traveling distance of several Amish communities, so research can be both fun and convenient. But more than anything else, the Amish people and their lifestyle have long interested me, and I've developed much respect and liking for those Amish folks I've talked with. I believe the primary reason I enjoy writing about the Amish people so much is because I enjoy them so much.

3.        One of the elements of writing historical fiction that has always greatly appealed to me is the research. What to some is "work," is to me a source of pleasure. In fact, I have to restrain myself from putting too much of my research in the story itself. I always need to remember that my readers don't necessarily want all the details that interest me! So after years and years of researching "my own people" (the Irish), I've thoroughly enjoyed digging into another, different "community" and learning about its people. And with every new discovery, my interest in learning more continues to grow.   

 You can probably tell I'm having a great time writing Amish fiction. I can only hope you'll continue to have a great time reading it!

BJ              

 

Meet Jake the Bobcat

Last month, I announced my "Name the Ballad-Loving Bobcat" contest, and I've been delighted by the many suggestions you submitted.

Your names were creative, intriguing, and great fun for me and my marketing team.

With so many options to choose from, selecting a winner was difficult, but I'm happy to announce that Gant's ballad-loving bobcat now has a name!

Congratulations to Evelyn Jones, who submitted the winning name, Jake.

In River of Mercy, Jake is someone Gant worked with on the docks in New York, an older man who always seemed to "have his back."

Jake kept an eye out for the other, younger workers to keep them from getting hurt or in trouble, and is the perfect namesake for our bobcat.

Thank you, Evelyn, for your entry. Please get in touch with your mailing address via the Contact form on my web site, so my marketing team can send you your prize.

Evelyn's name will be included in the River of Mercy credits when the book releases.  She'll also receive this gorgeous print, plus a signed copy of the book.

For the rest of you who didn't win, we've got another contest planned prior to the book's release, so you'll have a new opportunity to win something marvelous. Stay tuned for more details.

Many thanks to everyone who participated. You are the best readers any author could hope for! 

Announcing the 'Name Gant's Ballad-Loving Bobcat' Contest!

In River of Mercy, a mysterious bobcat appears from the hills, and makes nightly visits to Gant's cabin.  Gant discovers this wildcat has an appetite that's anything but ordinary:  he has a taste for fiddle music!

As a way of giving back to all the readers cheering for the completion of this third book,  I'm offering one winner the chance to choose the name of Gant's bobcat, and have their own name included in the book's credits.

The winner will also receive this gorgeous print, plus a signed copy of River of Mercy when it releases.

To enter the contest, simply visit the Notes section of my Facebook page.  I've posted an exclusive excerpt from River of Mercy, which will introduce you to Gant's ballad-loving bobcat.

Post your name suggestions in the comments section there.  Suggest as many names as you like.  The name should be appropriate for a young male wildcat, that looks just like the photo here, lives in the 1800s, and loves Irish music.

I'll select the winner next month, and look forward to sharing this part of the story with you!

In the Hollow of His Hand

 

Many years ago, a close friend who had been devastated by a series of illnesses and family problems asked me for some sort of assurance that God had not entirely deserted her, that He still heard her pleas for help and deliverance. Not long after that, I wrote a text for use in a devotional gift book, and it occurred to me during the writing that her question had perhaps prompted the thought and the words of that text. I knew others who had stood in her place. In fact, I had been there myself. Haven't we all, at one time or another? 

Recently, I heard the desperation behind a similar question from someone else, and this text again came to mind. It's long out of print, it's brief and simple--and it's not literary "art"-- but just in case you're standing in that same place, it's for you:

God leads me through the lifetime of my days. He strengthens me in countless little ways. He guides me on so many paths unknown. He guards me as a shepherd keeps His own. He shields me, though I may not always see the many ways my Lord delivers me. He lifts me when I fall and helps me stand. He holds me in the hollow of His hand.

(BJH--from Thorns and Thrones)

 

Tell Me a Story

(Excerpted from an earlier entry)

The popularity of storytelling festivals continues to increase nationwide. In 1973, the first "National Storytelling Festival" was established in Jonesborough, Tennessee. It was estimated that 60 people attended. Currently, attendance averages approximately 12,000. Similar festivals take place across the country every year. In this age of the internet and cell phones, e-mail and text messaging, what accounts for the ongoing interest in–and the power of the story?

More and more we’re becoming an isolated society. Ironically, the very technology that at first seemed as though it might work to bring individuals closer together is, in reality, leading to more solitary lifestyles. But the art of the story, both oral and written, is the great unifier, the magnet that attracts and draws a community together. More effective still than television or movies, a good story–told by a good storyteller–can hold a room filled with preschoolers or adults captive. Whereas the act of watching a story unfold tends to be a more solitary experience, listening to a story almost demands a communal audience.

The importance of the story has been recognized by the Irish for centuries. The Seanchai–the Storyteller–has always held a high place of dignity and esteem in Ireland. Often the storyteller and the poet were the same person, his craft entitling him to great privilege and ownership of property, a seat at the same table with kings and princes–even a voice in significant decisions. (It almost makes a writer long for the "good old days," doesn’t it?)

With the coming of Christianity to Ireland, the stories took on a stronger moral tone, but churchmen still fostered the story, still honored the teller of the story. The narrative skill and prominence survived the Viking invasions and the decline of the Irish language, and the storytellers retained the respect of their countrymen, although by the nineteenth century the common people had replaced the wealthy and privileged as their patrons. With the decline of the Irish language throughout most of the country, much of the craft of oral storytelling–at least the gesture, the nuance, the personality, faded. Yet some went in search of  the remote fishing villages of the west and south of Ireland to hunt out those who could pass on at least a part of the tradition.

Much effort was put into reviving and restoring the old traditions and tales, and to this day the written word and theater in Ireland owe a great deal to the wandering seanchai of forgotten centuries. The Irish still value story and still revere their storytellers. Scarcely a place–whether rock or town or hill or valley–exists in Ireland that doesn’t have a tale attached to it ...  and have you ever met an Irish person at a loss for words?

Storytelling has been around almost from the beginning of time, as long as speech itself. Some say it’s an art form that will never be lost, so crucial is it to the heart and soul of human nature, to the survival of world culture and civilization. If you think about it, so long as a parent sits down with a child on his lap and says, "Once upon a time ... " or a pastor turns to his congregation and says, "Let me tell you a story ..." or a grandparent lingers at the dinner table and says, "I can remember when ..." the story will survive.

And so will the seanchai.

Doing my part ....

BJ

 

A Man after God's Heart

David ... a simple shepherd boy, anointed, appointed by God to be king. Slayer of giants, leader of nations, ruler of the people of the Lord.

This warrior-king, fierce against the foe, found his heart's own contentment in gentle things like music and poetry and praise. 

A man of noble character: wise leader, loyal patriot, royal statesman, devoted friend. He fought for God's honor with relentless resolve, yet showed mercy to a treacherous enemy and an unfaithful son. He was a generous ruler with integrity of heart, a man of humility and deep sensitivity. 

Valiant in spirit, he survived the hardships of the wilderness, endured the agonies of exile, braved the terrors of war. Weak in the flesh, he succumbed to the corruption of power and the deception of sin. His passions carved out in his heart an unsanctified place where the darkness set in and reigned. 

Yet through it all--the successes and defeats, the triumphs and failures, among the monuments and amid the ruins--he sought for God.

His sins were many, his weaknesses grave. At the end, his family betrayed him, his followers deserted him, his kingdom crumbled, his dignity fled. But even then, God called him his own and bound his wounds.

In the valley of the shadows or beside still waters, in the pit of despair or on the heights of joy, David clung to God with one steadfast hope and sang his songs of praise. 

BJ (from Faces in the Crowd)

 

The Better Way

 Martha bids Jesus welcome,

Flings wide the door and greets Him warmly,

Then turns away and races for the kitchen

To prepare a feast fit for the King of Kings

While Mary kneels before Him in the household dust

To wash His feet.

Up to her elbows in flour, kneading bread,

Martha lends half an ear to the Master’s words,

But Mary, hungry for other things,

Sits quietly consuming the Bread of Life.

Martha works and frets and throws herself

Into doing the things that need done.

Planning, preparing, performing,

She chooses to do, to act, to accomplish.

At last, weary with doing, she lashes out at idle Mary

Who still sits at the Savior’s feet.

But Mary has chosen a different way,

A better way, the Master says.

Martha serves with distraction,

Labors under the strain of self-sacrifice,

Obeys with a heart of resentment

And garnishes her offering with bitterness.

Mary gives only herself—a quiet soul,

A listening love,

A heart of adoration.

Nothing is more important to her

Than fellowship with Jesus.

She chooses the better way

And her hunger and thirst are satisfied.

 

BJH

 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)

 

 

A Cup of Kindness

 One of the traits that, for me, makes a character memorable is kindness, just as one of the traits I'm drawn to in a person is kindness. I warm to the character who warms the heart of another character, and I tend to remember that character.

In my life, I've had much kindness shown to me, too many acts to mention by too many people to name. I'm afraid we often take the kindness of family and friends for granted, but there are times when a perfect stranger will also bless us by affording us some small deed of caring or thoughtfulness we wouldn't have expected. When that happens, I've found myself often looking back on it as a kind of gift, one that warmed my heart not only for the moment, but for days or even weeks after. That happened to me today, and it was a child who gifted me.

In our world today kindness doesn't seem to be the norm. The callousness and carelessness of harried, irritable, or wounded people seem more prevalent, while the gentle smile, the caring touch, or the small but significant act of goodness too often goes unnoticed by all except the recipient of the deed. 

Maybe that's why I think it's so important for the fiction writer to endow a few characters with a kindness that catches the attention of our readers. I've actually heard from readers who have been prompted to duplicate or emulate a deed of kindness by one of my characters. In thinking about this, it reminds me that there are people out there--some of whom are reading our books--who have known little kindness in their lives. Their experience has been more of being bruised by life than being blessed by it. 

As writers, if we can offer our readers a few characters who naturally and unconditionally show kindness to another, then not only have we created a character our readers will care about--an all important facet of memorable fiction--but we may also, perhaps without ever being aware of it, give at least one reader a glimpse of a grace previously unknown, and even foster the desire in that reader to "pay it forward" ... to pass it on as a gift that truly does go on giving. 

May we always be mindful that sometimes a story is more than a story. It can also be a cup of kindness to a thirsty soul.

BJ