Category Archives: WordLily

Ye Old Interview(e) Game

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 5 Comments

My Friend Amy posted about this right before Christmas, and I took her up on the chance to be interviewed. I asked her a question, and she sent me five to answer here.

The official rules (this feels a bit of the way-back machine):

  • Leave me a comment saying, “Interview Me.” Please include your e-mail address if it is not in your profile. (lol how old school)
  • I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions.)
  • You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
  • You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
  • When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Amy asked:
1) Describe your ideal book.
Wow, that’s tough. How about this? A compelling story lyrically told, with real characters, who face thing(s) that force them to examine their faith/walk. Not too long.

2) You’re having a baby! What are some of the books that will be essential in your child’s library?
Actually, I’ve kind of struggled with this! I don’t seem to remember much of my reading (or being read to) before I was reading the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew or Madeleine L’Engle books; I remember appreciating the phonics books we had when younger siblings were learning to read … So! What read-aloud or whatever books should I add to my library?

But if you’re asking about books for when he’s older, hrm. Most of the ones I own (we were heavy library users back in the day) seem a little girl-centric: Anne of Green Gables, Caddie Woodlawn … Obviously that doesn’t make them bad, but my collection’s still more than a bit scant.

3) Have you ever read a book at exactly the right time?
I’d say the books that coalesced on a theme for me last year were read at pretty much the right time. :) I’m sure there are other, more precise instances, but they’re not coming to mind at the moment.

4) What is the best thing that’s changed about the book blogosphere since you started? What’s the worst?
I love that there are so many book bloggers now. I think this makes it easier to find one’s bosom buddies — or a collection of people she overlaps with on various genres/subjects — than it used to be. I also think it’s excellent that bloggers now have at least some respect or recognition from publishers.

As for the worst, I hate that so many bloggers now just quietly submit to the increasingly tight hoops that are being placed as restrictions by some publishers (not most) on bloggers (for review copies). I fear they may act as a noose, and it seems to me that these bloggers have little sense of self to allow themselves to be pushed around in these ways. Of course, I also tire of the never-ending drama between bloggers.

5) What’s your favorite Christmas song?
It’s really hard for me to pick favorites of anything, and this is no exception. I tried making a list of my top 10 Christmas songs — in December 2010 — and I still haven’t gotten it figured out. I’m sad, though, that I didn’t hear Mary, Did You Know? even once this past Christmas season.

If you want me to ask you questions, let me know! I won’t ask anything too invasive or personal, promise.

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Posted in blogging, books, WordLily

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Empaths and prophets

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 5 Comments

Most of the media experiences (not just books, although mainly books) that really struck me this year have a couple things in common. I learned something about myself, particularly through their confluence. They’re all about being an outsider, working on something that others don’t really understand. And yet this work is something that drives [the person], that it’s impossible to ignore. A calling, even.

Although perhaps not traditional (and certainly not all-inclusive), this is my greatest hits list for 2011.

ANGEL

I think the first one was from the TV show Angel. Along Angel’s circuitous journey, one of the guys who assists in his mission of helping people is an Empath demon. Backstory: The demons in this narrative (that starts with Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are various races and/or individuals with special skills or giftings. Taken as a whole, they use these abilities to further their bloodlust and rage, but there are a few here and there who’ve chosen another path.

This particular Empath demon uses his ability to feel other peoples’ pain to help them. Later in the narrative the gods see fit to give the empath ability to a human, and it very nearly destroys her. (Actually, I’m not sure I’ve seen the end of that story line. I know it comes close, but I’m not sure if it eventually does or not.) She should die because a human can’t bear that burden of feeling so much the pain of others.

THE RELUCTANT PROPHET by Nancy Rue

The Reluctant Prophet illuminated what I’d seen in Angel, if that makes any sense. Allison has been asking God what she’s supposed to do, and when she begins to follow through on what she hears, the members of her church aren’t exactly thrilled. It’s a serious examination — in the form of one fictional woman’s story — of what a life of faith looks like and the risks it entails.

It’s a well-written story that I read at exactly the right time. It rings authentic, and I can’t wait to crack open the next book in the series, Unexpected Dismounts. I’ve also been enjoying Rue’s (@NNRue) blog.

THE FALLING AWAY by T.L. Hines

The Falling Away is a truly excellent book (it won the INSPY in December for Speculative Fiction).

This quote will, I think, illustrate how The Falling Away fits into my list: “we’re almost magnets for pain and suffering, but because we have ways to control it, there’s a design to it all” (page 97).

WINTER by Keven Newsome

Winter isn’t really of the same calibre as the aforementioned books writing-wise (or editing-wise), but it does dwell in the same vein, of prophecy. Enough so to earn a place here. It may not speak to everyone as it did to me — the appeal of the others is probably more broad — but that’s not necessarily the point of this list. So.

Switching directions a bit, Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly L. Smith (2011 INSPY winner for Creative Nonfiction) also deserves a spot on the list. It doesn’t quite fit with the others in that, while the others taught me something about myself and showed a bit of the way I should go, Smith voiced so much of what I’ve felt leading up to this time. It’s almost like her words were echoing what my soul had been crying out. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been working in Darfur unbeknownst to you, but I did find significant parallels.

Summary: Several books I read in 2011 seemed to coalesce around a theme, enough so that it made me sit up straight and take notice. Through these books, plus the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, God spoke to my identity, my place/role in the Body of Christ. I don’t have it all figured out yet(!), but it was encouraging to learn. One piece: an implementable way to channel my empathy.

So, there you have it. Not a traditional best-of list — I read lots of other terrific books — but the ones that most stood out to me.

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, memoir, nonfiction, speculative, WordLily

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Catch up?

Posted on January 9, 2012 | 14 Comments

I had grand plans of posting frequently in December, catching up on reviews, writing about the books that were important to me from my 2011 reading, talking about my knitting.

And then I was in a frenzy to finish a few last-minute Christmas gifts; plans were up in the air and went through several iterations before touching down. The funeral for my husband’s grandma (that he traveled to but I didn’t) didn’t exactly help keep things calm and orderly, either.

Other things played a part, too, but I won’t bore you with a full recitation. Now, it’s post-Christmas, post-New Year’s, and my deafening silence has been keeping me from posting. How do I decide what to post, when it’s been so long? Is it possible to catch up, or should I just declare bankruptcy? Is there any middle ground, and if so, how do I determine what things absolutely get posts while others fall away?

I’m not sure, honestly, that this post will help the situation, either. I laid out a scenario for my husband last night, wherein I end up posting 12 of these back to back. Sigh.

So, what do you do? Where on the continuum of no-reviews-left-behind to start-from-scratch do you fall?

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Posted in blogging, WordLily

Reading preferences: Format shift

Posted on October 26, 2011 | 4 Comments

Since I’ve become pregnant, it seems everything is in flux. Nothing is constant anymore. (Was it ever? But that’s a post for another time.) Among the things changing: My preference for book format. I’ve long preferred hardcovers and trade paperbacks, while shunning mass market paperbacks. Sure, they’re smaller, but they don’t lay open for anything, and they tend to fall apart so much more quickly! I’ve also found the interior layouts to generally be sub-par as well.

But now, since I can’t lay on my stomach to read anymore — I’ve always read a lot in bed — and am relegated to my side, I’ve found hardcovers incredibly cumbersome and heavy! Now, the small dimensions of the mass market are attractive! I’ve even considered not reading anything in hardcover except for maybe at lunch, where it can rest on the table during this time.

Except that would require me to depart from my long-held book monogamy. Hrm.

Do you ever find that your preferences have changed?

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Posted in books, WordLily

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Big news!

Posted on October 1, 2011 | 43 Comments

If you’ve been wondering why I’ve been kind of quiet here lately, here’s why. I’ve been trying to keep something BIG a secret, and in the process I kind of just ended up keeping my mouth shut.

Now, though, I’m ready to share!

I’m pregnant! I’m thrilled. We’ve been married 10 years now, and since it hadn’t happened in all these years, we had started thinking about what life would be like, going forward, without children.

I haven’t been too sick, but I’ve been pretty tired. (You may have noticed a spate of tweets to that extent in the past month or so …) I haven’t been so tired that I haven’t been reading or knitting, though. The hat above is one I finished last week.

We’ll welcome Sprout into the world in April.

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Posted in WordLily

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Fiber Arts fun day

Posted on September 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

Yesterday we (Maisie and all) traveled to Clearwater, NE, to spend some time with MareLee at Prairie Threads. We’d visited once before, and had a blast, but this time we were more intentional with planning our time, and it was even more fun!

First of all, this shop? In a cute house in a little town, Prairie Threads is full of quality yarn, spinning fiber and tools. But the real star is MareLee herself. She’s been doing fiber arts for decades, and she’s had an answer for every question I’ve thrown at her so far. [I'm already plotting more occasions to pepper her with queries.]

Since it’s such a long drive (2 hours one way), we’ve thus far made it a habit to call ahead when we’re planning to visit. And this time, we did more than that; we asked for some instructional time. I was able to dye with her, experimenting with several different methods and tools than I’ve used in the past, and Paul finally got to try his hand at felting.

Picture time?

I dyed three items, 2 skeins of yarn and a length of combed top:

The yarn I dyed (this and the green) is fingering weight sock yarn, 50 percent superwash merino, 25 percent bamboo and 25 percent nylon. It has 459 yards in each 100 gram skein.

Look, it is green!

Mmm, wool.

None of the things I dyed came out exactly like I wanted them, but I had fun and I learned quite a bit, too. So all in all, a success.

I also came home with some other, ahem, stash enhancement. I’ll just show you a couple of the new additions:

This is hand painted by MareLee, 100 percent wool, single ply, and such great color!

I had never seen Brown Sheep's lace weight yarn before. This skein is huge! Its 170 grams provide 1500 yards of 75 percent wool, 25 percent nylon. The color, Deep Plum, is gorgeous, too.

I just love playing with color, it’s so vital to me! I hope I can get back to Clearwater soon. Do you like taking day trips?

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Posted in WordLily

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Where’s Word Lily?

Posted on June 15, 2011 | 4 Comments

Dear Reader,

You’ve probably noticed I haven’t been around here much lately. If you’re wondering why, and/or where I’ve been spending my time instead, here’s the answer.

Focus

I’ve been focusing on exercising. After ramping up gradually (I started verrry small), I’m now spending about 5 hours each week getting my heart rate up. Alas, I didn’t get 5 extra hours added to my week to accommodate this, and I think it’s become clear that some of that time was borrowed from blogging time.

No Apology

I’m not apologizing for this, though. This change is a very positive one not only for my body but also for me as a whole, interconnected being.

I haven’t disappeared completely, and I don’t plan to. (I also don’t plan for this to become an exercise blog, not that that would necessarily be a bad thing.)

Plan?

Going forward, I hope to carve out time to be a little more present here. This transition only started a few months ago, and every few weeks I’m redefining, tweaking. But hopefully as this becomes more of a habit, it will take less mental energy. Maybe.

I did join Amanda’s 52-52-52 Challenge, as well as the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge (I’m aiming for at least 200 miles.)

Anyway, that’s kinda what’s going on with me. How have you been?

Cheers,
Hannah sig

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Posted in blogging, WordLily

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Look, no lines!

Posted on May 22, 2011 | 5 Comments

Word Lily thoughts

When did I become a person who can’t stand ruled paper?

Most of my life I couldn’t stand to use paper *without* lines. I was afraid, in part, that my writing would slope toward the end of the line, that my lines wouldn’t be parallel to each other or to the top of the page. That I’d look silly. Or stupid. That I’d make a fool of myself.

The lines kept me in order, told me where to start.

Photo credit: gruntzooki on flickr

When I worked as a newspaper reporter, I took most of my interview notes in a reporter’s notebook. Now, a reporter’s notebook is different than other notebooks in a few notable ways. For one, the dimensions of the page are different — the paper’s narrow enough to fit in one’s palm (or back pocket). And second (and most relevant to the topic at hand), the lines are really widely spaced. I was used to the narrow rules of college-ruled paper, and the reporter’s notebook is nearly twice that wide in its rules.

As I abhor waste, I could barely stand to leave multiple notebooks half empty, which is what happened when I wrote only on each line of my reporter’s notebook. Plus, doing so would require me to flip the page more frequently than I’d otherwise need to, which inevitably slowed down my note-taking. So, with only rare exceptions, I began writing two lines of notes above each rule of the notebook. This, naturally, required that the first one float, not anchored by a blue line.

I recently purchased a couple small blank notebooks, unruled. I’d run out of others that size, ruled or unruled, and I needed a place to take my book-reading notes, make lists, etc. And I’ve been using these, but I still felt hemmed in. I think the small dimensions of the pages were too stringent, too small for me. See, I had a larger-format blank book for a year or two, and apparently I became accustomed to being able to spread out, at least figuratively. A single page might have several lists, oriented in different directions. And I’d started sketching design ideas, or simply sketching to attempt to illustrate a point in conversation. I can’t draw, but some ideas are most quickly jotted down in lines, not words.

Today, I await for the arrival of my first-ever purchase of a moleskine. Large, with unruled paper. I’m looking forward to getting back some more of that freedom.

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Posted in journalism, reporting, WordLily

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