Well, I had a little trouble coming up with something to say today. But when thinking about it, I felt this book can impact anyone even if they are not housewives. While housewives can more easily connect with Susan's struggles, anyone can connect with her struggle of figuring out as to what is God's purpose for us? We all tackle with it, not just in our teen years but all through adulthood. Recently I have been really tackling with it and this book really helped me to have more patience and faith with the One. Lately, especially this summer I have been filled with doubt as to why I am here? I know that I am here to glorify God's plan. But I still cannot comprehend what is my exact purpose? When looking around me, I see peers of my who have their whole future set out for them, they know exactly what their gift is and they know where exactly they are going to school. Sometimes, I feel as though I am the only one who still has no idea as to what gift God has granted them. Like Susan, I feel as though I going through the routine of everyday life, wondering is this all there is to life. Am I just to meander my way through the daily routine for the next 40 days. This past school year, I felt no real push for me to do well in school, for I had no idea what I was good at? School really bored me, I wondered to myself, why am I sitting here learning this useless junk. During lectures, I would like any slacker, write within my journals, plot ideas for a fantasy novel I was working on. The teachers all believed I was writing notes like every other diligent student. Heh! I sometimes wondered how I passed with Bs and As for the year. Everything else about this past year felt like routine, I went through the steps at school too, even with my friends, every time they would raise a contradiction to my beliefs. I never rose to the challenge of challenging their views, too afraid to be harassed like past years. Even at Christian Club, whenever they would gve their opinions on certain things, I never felt the urge to tell mine, because my views on some things were different and to them may sound a bit liberal. Maybe I was hoping God would do more with my life this year, felt like I wanted more of a transformation like what occured to me during my sophmore year of schooling. What if the past year was my own doing? Maybe I should have had more courage to show my views to others, or should of at least worked harder in school. Well this past year really feels like nothing, but a waste to me. I felt like this book was really given to me at a very appropriate time for me, it helped me to have more faith in God and to have more patience in him, and that the time will come when I will see What he truly wants from me.

Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Frank Creed
Lisa Cromwell
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Russell Griffith
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Heather R. Hunt
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Lost Genre Guild
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Robin Parrish
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Daniel I. Weaver

Well here is my review of The Restorer by:Sharon Hinck. There really is not much to say except that I really enjoyed the novel. Judging books by their covers is bad in this case, Oh how was I deceived, I really liked this book. I spent a whole night reading it, unable to let the book drop to the ground. I haven't read a book that has made me do this since Karen Hancock's Legends of the Guardian King and Wayne Thomas Batson's Door Within Trilogy. In matters of hours I felt connected with Susan and all her internal struggles. While she may have been a soccer mom, for some reason, I was really able to connect with her struggles. Especially, when she feels alone and uneasy when with the group for the first time, I have felt that numerous times when around others. What I really enjoyed where the parts where Susan discovers her hidden abilities little by little. This really helped me with seeing that what God has planned for me will be unveiled little by little. Other parts that really struck me were the great machines which destroyed the terrain of Barrian woods. When I thought of the machines, I remembered Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind By Hayao Miyazaki and the polluted world which the descendants live in which was destroyed by great war machines. The sword fighting was also a great addition, I easily imagined every swift movement by each of the characters. But what really stood out to me was the description of the terrain of the land, I really enjoyed how Susan would compare the things in the world with common things in her own world. This really helped to paint a picture in my head of the land Susan was thrown in. All in all this book is a great addition to my quickly growing collection of Christian Fantasy/Scifi novels. Only setback is that I must wait till October for the next addition.

Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Frank Creed
Lisa Cromwell
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Russell Griffith
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Holly
Heather R. Hunt
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Lost Genre Guild
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Robin Parrish
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Daniel I. Weaver

*The following has nothing to do with the CSFF Blog Tour.*

I was extremely excited for the Fantasy Fiction Tour, but today when visiting the main site for the tour, I found that for some reason the Lancaster,PA date was missing, I am really hoping that is a glitch. For anyone visiting my blog, can someone please clear up this confusion for me, and hopefully the worst has not occured and the Lancaster date was cancelled. Well anyways, hope to bring you a review of Sharon Hinck's wonderful novel tommorrow and a suprise Wednesday. P.S. it has something to do with music!

Hey! Its fantastyfreak (Yes I know it is spelled wrong), Anyways this month for the CSFF Blog Tour, the book is The Restorer by:Sharon Hinck. Today I want to type about the cover and how someone like me may be deceived by it. When I went to Borders the other week, something I do a lot, I was looking for a Christian Fantasy novel to read, something to thirst my quench that has been voraciously craving something along the lines of the Legends of the Guardian King and the Door Within Trilogy. When I happened to find this novel, which was before I knew it was a part of the CSFF Blog Tour. I looked at it, and thought "Wow this is a very pretty cover," but an inside voice whispered to me that it was nothing but a Christian Romance novel. Not that the cover is not well created, I am just bringing up the fact that consumers when finding books usually form their first opinion on the cover. I definitely know how bad that can be, for I almost missed out on some great novels like the Firebird Trilogy because I thought the cover to look too much like a romance novel, for me that usually is a big no no in my mind, as I do not particularly like Romance. Of course some is good, like in Karen Hancock's novel. But if it's overbearing, its a big turn off for me. Of course that was my prejudgment of the book, for I did not look at the back, and if I did, I would have found that it had a very interesting concept. I would also have figured that this novel was not a romance novel, but a fantasy novel. I believe the publisher in advertising this book, meant the cover to stand out more to women than men, I guess that makes sense as the novel does surround a middle aged married woman. The point I'm bringing up is that, covers sometimes decide whether a consumer will pick up the book to read more into it or not. Well I'm glad my instincts told me to pick this one up that day at Borders, for I may have missed out on a really good novel. My review of the book will come tomorrow. Followed on Wednesday by a through analysis of the book and maybe a little song.

CSFF Blog Tour participants:
Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Frank Creed
Lisa Cromwell
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Chris Deanne
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Russell Griffith
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Holly
Heather R. Hunt
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Kait
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Lost Genre Guild
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Robin Parrish
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Daniel I. Weaver

Well, I really want to go. But the chances are slim. I have a ticket thanks to my friend who gave it to me b/c they could not go. But I have no way of getting down to Baltimore. Well for all those who does not know what Otakon is, it is a huge anime convention in Baltimore. There is always a musical guest there, I wish Gackt would come but sadly, that will never happen. Otakon occurs on the same weekend this year as the release of the final Harry Pottter book which I am overly excited for. Also a week prior to Otakon, Wayne Thomas Batson and Bryan Davis are stopping in Lancaster, an hour and half from where I live. My mom really does not want to drive that far just so I can meet two authors I really like. She is already mad at me over the fact she may be driving me to Otakon. Anyways besides those things, the summer will rock!. Also it gives me time for me to write my fantasy novel!

CSFF Blog Tour

Today launches the CSFF Blog Tour. I must say that I am very excited as even though I am currently writing a christian fantasy novel, I have one not ever consider publishing it and two, its not at all good.Also, I do not even know if God wants me to be one, it just somehow feels appropriate. Well anyways, it is fun to see what other christian fantasy writers have to say. Also its great to remote such a recently growing industry, an industry with such good books. Kathy Tyers, L.B. Graham, Karen Hancock, Wayne Thomas Barter, Bryan Davis, and others write some awesome stuff, and it is great to see them write stuff they like to write, and not to write what the publishers want them to write in order just to make huge profits. This month the tour is promoting Karen Hancock's final book of the Guardian King series, Return of the Guardian King. This book was amazing, the characters, setting, and the character's spiritual dilemmas felt so real to me! You can really tell Karen Hancock is strong in her faith, as her books show she is very knowledgable with matters pertaining to our walk with God. Also her books present things in a very natural nonpreachy manner. I have to admit, before reading these books, I was really straying in my walk with God, in that I believe that there definitely was a God, but just was confused on the fact on why God allows us to suffer and why some Christians seem to be very hypocritical. But through reading of Abramm's struggles, it seemed that I got to understand why God allows us to suffer and why some christians act in such a hating way. Anyways, I believe fantasy Christian novels are the way to raise the standard of a failing Christian market, I believe the common consumer would be more likely to buy a book like The Light of Eidon or The Door Within than something like Left Behind. Christian fantasy has easily proven to be a shining light in a rather dull Christian market filled with Da Vinci Code esque books, Amish books, and Apocalyptic books written. (Sorry if this sounds insulting but this is how I see many Christian books other than those of the Fantasy Genre and masterpieces like the Firebird Trilogy, Shivering World, and the Tahn Series)

Here are some links of interest (others doing the tour):

http://www2.blogger.com/"> Nissa Annakindt http://www2.blogger.com/"> Wayne Thomas Batsonhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Jim Blackhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Grace Bridgeshttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Jackie Castlehttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Valerie Comerhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Karri Comptonhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Frank Creed http://www2.blogger.com/"> CSFF Blog Tourhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Gene Curtishttp://www2.blogger.com/"> D. G. D. Davidsonhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Chris Deanne http://www2.blogger.com/"> Janey DeMeohttp://www2.blogger.com/"> April Erwinhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Kameron M. Franklinhttp://www2.blogger.com/ "> Linda Gilmorehttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Beth Goddardhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Marcus Goodyearhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Andrea Grahamhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Katie Harthttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Sherrie Hibbshttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Sharon Hinckhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Christopher Hopperhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Heather R. Hunthttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Becca Johnsonhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Jason Joynerhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Karenhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Tina Kulesahttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Lost Genre Guild http://www2.blogger.com/"> Kevin Lucia and http://www2.blogger.com/"> The Bookshelf Reviews 2.0 - The Compendiumhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Rachel Markshttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Millerhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Shannon McNearhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Caleb Newellhttp://www2.blogger.com/ "> Nicole http://www2.blogger.com/"> Eve Nielsenhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> John W. Ottehttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Robin Parrish http://www2.blogger.com/"> Rachellehttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Cheryl Russelhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Hanna Sandvighttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Chawna Schroederhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Mirtika Schultzhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> James Somershttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Tsaba House Authors http://www2.blogger.com/"> Steve Trowerhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Speculative Faithhttp://www2.blogger.com/"> Daniel I. Weaver

Karen Hancock links

http://www.karenhancock.blogspot.com/

http://www.kmhancock.com/index.htm.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0764227971

Wow! I had a great break off from school. First of all I am enjoying the Nintendo Wii and Zelda: TP that I got last week when camping out in front of Target for 13 hrs. before opening last Sunday. I definitely can not wait to get it up online to post blogs from my Wii. That will be cool! Wii is an awesome system and is definitely was worth the $249.99 that it was. Well anyways, this weekend I have been rereading Karen Hancock's Legend of the Guardian King Series for if you have not already check them out for they are one of my most favorite books ever printed in my list of all time favorites these books go up there with Mere Christianity By CS Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia By Cs Lewis, and of course The Lord of the Rings By: JRR Tolkien. The books are definitely not children's books like Donita K. Paul's Dragonspell series (also another great series !__!). Karen Hancock also wrote Arena which is another favorite of mine which sadly went out of print, how unfortunate since this book is also a favorite among some of my anime-obsessed friends. The newest book and the final book releases next spring and I am so excited since the last 3 books were awesome and extremely well-written containing characters so real i really wanted to meet up with the likes of Katahn, Carissa, the oh so beautiful Madaleine, Abramm, and of course my fav. Trap. Also when reading these books, the description of the setting is so amazing that reading it makes you feel as though you are actually there with Abramm in the land off Kiriath. The more and more I reread them, the more I love these books and maybe maybe I hope these books will be made into movies, since Hollywood seems to stink lately and a series like this could change Hollywood forever. Also many books recently in my opinion have not been so good and Karen Hancock is a definite favorite of the millions of fantasy/sci-fi authors out there because her characters are just not cardboard like Da Vinci Code(man that book is not at all well written, of course only if you love really Blah! characters), it seems to me like many of the bestsellers seem to be like Da-Vinci Code where the characters are just Blah, with no substance what so ever. That goes with tv too, (CSI/Law and Order/Bones, not Lost/24 since those and Doctor Who and Stargate are my favorite shows). I have mainly been reading non popular authors such as Donita K.Paul,L.A. Kelly, and Karen Hancock. Since they seem to write better then the authors who sell alot of books. Look at Eragon, that book in my opinion stinks, the setting and plot seem to be taken from LOTRs and Star Wars, and the characters are really BLAH! The only popular authors I enjoy are George R.R. Martin, JK Rowling, Lemony Snicket, and Stuart Hill. So do yourselves a favor and if like me you can not find anything good to read. Definitely check out Karen Hancock's Legend of the Guardian King(The Light of Eidon, Shadow Within, and Shadow over Kiriath and soon Return of the Guardian King in Spring 2007) Series and Arena. The author's site is kmhancock.com containing a fan forum with many awesome people who like me are obsessed with Karen Hancock's books and blog of the author which is karenhancock.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

Well, so far my school year this year has really been going well except for some of the same problems as last year. For this year, I still have the same people bringing me down to where I was last year, far from God. Like Abramm in the Guardian King series, people are constantly trying to bring me away from my faith. Sometimes, I feel as though it should be very easy to stay strong God, but with Satan's constant sneaky motives to bring me down it constantly is getting harder. Now, I know I should just ditch these certain people bringing me away from God with their so called *superior* liberal views. Its hard though to leave them for there are many others like me in a school of 4,000. I mean of course by boys who love reading books/hate sports type, but there are many of them out there, there just is not many boys with high morals! Sad no wonder why so many girls b/c lesbains