Posts Tagged ‘Dawn Ford’

Posted on May 10, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

Backyard Treasure

I have always been fascinated with archeology. From the days I dug through the pasturelands dreaming of Indians, and probably to my death, the thought of finding something from another time, another place, enthralls me. I remember studying Iowa history as a middle grader. Somewhere along the way I read that Indians buried items with their dead, somewhat like the Egyptians except on a much smaller scale. These burial mounds would look like hills, but when excavated would turn up priceless historical artifacts. Ever since then I have dreamed about finding something of historical importance in the hills I live among.

Like the Austrian man back in 2007 who was digging up a garden in his back yard and unearthed 650 year-old jewelry. He found brooches, ornate buckles, more than 200 rings, among many other items. Click here for an article describing the find.

Or how about the English amateur treasure hunter Michael Greenhorn who found an “Escrick ring”? While using his metal detector in 2009, he came across the sapphire adorned ring while scouring a field near the village of Escrick, south of York, England. The ring dates back 10 or 11 centuries and could have royal ties. He sold the to the Yorkshire Museum for $50,000. How’s that for luck? Click here for that story.

Being a fisherman is a hard, smelly job. However, these Russian fishermen got more than they bargained for when they brought in their catch of the day. The glittering object they “caught” was an ancient bracelet and necklace. ”The catch turned out to be a necklace with a decoration of a lying animal, similar to a cat and a spiral bracelet in the same style. The unconnected ends are topped by gryphon heads,” Astrakhan authorities reported. Possibly from a destroyed burial site from the fourth to fifth century AD, the jewelry were handed over to Astrakhan State Museum of History and Architecture. Click here for this fishy find.

A couple of years ago Lorna and I along with our Iowa/Nebraska writer’s group visited DeSoto Bend Wildlife Refuge where the remainsof the steamboat Bertrand are kept. We learned many interesting facts about Iowa history on that tour, our guide was very knowledgeable, but one thing he said really stuck with me. The Missouri River once used to take a much different path as it does today. Thanks to the Army Corp of Engineers, the river now runs smooth and fairly safe now, unlike before the Corps were founded. Many ships carrying heavy loads got stuck in the Missouri as they travelled from St. Louis up to North Dakota or even Montana. Looking at the grand items from the Bertrand makes me wonder what is buried along the way, either in the belly of the Missouri as it lies now, or in the lands before it was shifted and moved (like the Bertrand was!).

Wouldn’t it be so grand to go out to plant your flowers and find a priceless piece of history, or take your son fishing and instead of a fish, you get a long lost gold necklace? I even found some arrow heads when I was a child, I haven’t seen any for many years now. I wonder if there are many left to be found or if the rest remain hidden just far enough below our level of living to stay hidden for future treasure seekers to find.

HOW YOU CAN WIN A COPY OF “WEDDING ON THE ROCKS.”

Rose is generously offering not one but TWO copies of Wedding on the Rocks AND TWO copies of her previous release Rose of Sharon to readers who comment during the next two weeks and let us know about their most unusual job or a beauty secret and/or mishap. That’s four chances to win a book every time you post here at Inkspirational Messages in the next two weeks.

Contest closes Friday, May 17 at midnight (central time). It is open to readers in the U.S. and Canada only.

Posted on April 25, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

SHHHH! It’s A Secret!

Being the only girl out of four children and mother of three boys, I don’t have much experience with sisters. However, the Lord blessed me after I joined my church with a group of women called Secret Sisters.

If you have never heard of us, this is how it works. But, before I begin, I must swear you to a vow of silence. We don’t want our secrets to go public! Place your right hand over your heart and your left on top of your favorite Bible and state the following: I do solemnly swear that I shall not whisper, speak or shout the following information to any soul, unless they be female, and vow to take these mysteries to the grave if necessary to keep the Society of Secret Sisters, well, you know…secret.

Good. You’re now an affirmed member of this society.

 

Now, back to how it works. It all starts in January where our Lady of Organization holds the first meeting. There we fill out a sheet of paper with our names, addresses, color schemes of our house, likes, and dislikes. On this sheet we also state two special dates, usually a birthdate (NO birth year necessary!), or anniversary, but it can be a rebirth date or any date we deem special. Lastly we fill out a prayer request for the year. This sheet is handed back to our Lady of Organization, who keeps them in a special hidden file and gives the drawees a copy.

That’s when the fun begins. When you pick out your sister, you have until the next meeting in February to come up with your clever name, something like Lorna’s Cereal Killer (She murdered boxes of cereal a different way each month, i.e. hanging, drowning, bullet hole, etc…) or one of my all-time favorites Bobbette Barker (I got game show prizes complete with announcer narratives in my cards, along with the necessary plea to have my pets spade or neutered). You sign up to host one month, either alone or with another sister. Then you shop. Everything from the bags and tissue, to the card, to the gift itself is painstakingly chosen with your secret sister in mind and information sheet in hand. Our Lady of Organization is there in case someone forgets a meeting and does a no-show. She fills in with a generic gift so everyone always has a gift to open. Hopefully not too many miss at a time, as attendance is crucial-who doesn’t want to see their sister’s face when they open their gift! Our monthly hostess/hostesses are challenged with bringing a gift for the Lady of Organization, so she always has a gift/special gift as well.

As for the hostess, your job is to get your invitations ready for the monthly meeting before you are to host, and have your themed

invitations ready to hand out, giving the sisters a month to find the perfect gift. The themes can be anything. There have been scavenger hunts with women zipping across town with clues, to spa themes, to Luaus complete with grass skirts. Fun comes in any theme! When your month arrives, you decorate the location the meeting will be held and plan the food and beverages accordingly. It can be as easy or as grand as you like, just be sure to have a game, because face it, we all love games. If you choose to, you can have gifts for the winners or losers of your games. December is the big revealing party where everyone tries to guess who their secret sisters were (I never got it on the first guess), and you can’t open your gift until you figure out who it was.

 

My house is bedecked with special gifts from my secret sisters, and the majority of my holiday decorations have come from them as well. All of the pictures shown on the blog today have been secret sister gifts. I had some pretty awesome sisters!

Voila! That’s it! All the secrets necessary to form your own little society of Twisted Sisters, oh…heh, heh, Secret Sisters, that is!

**Each time you share a story about sisters today and next week, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a copy of When Love Calls for yourself and a matching copy for your sister. Contest closes at midnight central time on May 3rd, and is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. Name to be chosen by Random.org. **

Posted on April 12, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

Now For Something Completely Different…

Not Monty Python, although I love a good laugh. Having finished the one book I have been waiting a whole half year for, Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare which had a fabulous ending, may I add!,  my genres lately have consisted of Dystopian adventures to Fantasy to Victorian Steampunk. So my taste buds have had lots of variety this spring so far.

Since I have been doggedly getting caught up with all of the ones on my Nook, the pickings are getting a bit scarce and the content much the same, but here is one new one and one in a series I have been enjoying that I hope you will enjoy as well.

 

The new one peaking my supernatural interests is Christine Johnson’s The Gathering Dark. This book touches on the subject of dark matter and alternative realities, always a fascination of mine. Although split in it’s reviews on Goodreads, I think this will be a refreshing read, and since I found it on Christianbooks.com, it should be safe for the teenager in your life who likes a bit of science fiction, but not a whole geeky bunch of it.

Blurb: Keira’s hallucinating. First it’s a door hovering above the road; then it’s a tree in her living room. But with her parents fighting and her best friend not speaking to her, Keira can’t tell anyone about her breakdown.

Until she meets Walker. They have an electric connection, and somehow he can see the same shadowy images plaguing Keira.

But trusting Walker may be more dangerous than Keira could have ever imagined. The more she confides in him, the more intense—and frightening—her visions become. Because Walker is not what he appears to be. And neither are her visions.

 

I have read the first two in Ally Condie’s Matched Trilogy, but am waiting to read the third, Reached. These books have already been out, but I hadn’t gotten to them until recently. I love the action and mystery surrounding Cassia’s world in both Matched and Crossed. Cassia, in the first two novels, lives in a “Utopian Dystopian World” where you live to a certain age, eat nutritional frozen meals specifically designed for your optimum intake, and is ran by the Society. But Cassia figures out Society isn’t as perfect as she was raised to believe, and when a glitch shows her not the one love she will be matched to, but two, she starts to see Society doesn’t have all the answers. But will Society let her break free from their grasp? I have loved the world that Ally Condie has created, both the Society and the Outer Provinces, and not only the physical struggles Cassia goes through, but the emotional ones as well. I would recommend this series for any teen girl who likes action and dystopian fiction.

Reached blurb: Cassia’s journey began with an error, a momentary glitch in the otherwise perfect façade of the Society. After crossing canyons to break free, she waits, silk and paper smuggled against her skin, ready for the final chapter.

The wait is over.

One young woman has raged against those who threaten to keep away what matters most—family, love, choice. Her quiet revolution is about to explode into full-scale rebellion.

With exquisite prose, the emotionally gripping conclusion to the international–bestselling Matched trilogy returns Cassia, Ky, and Xander to the Society to save the one thing they have been denied for so long, the power to choose.

***Don’t forget, every time you leave a comment during today and the next week, you’ll be entered for a chance to win Lorna Seilstad’s May release of When Love Calls plus a $10 Starbucks gift card.

 

Posted on March 29, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

Happy Easter!

This is for those of you who share my twisted sense of humor. Click HERE.

Have an Eggstra Special Easter Everyone!

Posted on March 15, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

A No-Brainer

It is said that the left brainers are the more logical, organized people. If that is correct, then the right brainers are the creative, impulsive ones. While research may support this, it is also true that we need to use both the left and right brain to be completely productive. So, I submit to you that when I am blocked, I am indeed a NO brainer.

Undeniably.

Unequivocally.

A no-brainer.

So, what do I do? It’s a no-brainer! Exercise the brain. Here are three tips to help you bust through that block.

Revisit your childhood. My critique partner recently went through a dry spell writing-wise and found a few exercises to help her gain a break-through. One of the exercises included coloring to spark both sides of her brain. She found several complex pictures with intricate designs that took thought and time to finish. This may sound silly or simple, but it can work if you open yourself up to it. Break out your colored pencils or crayons, revisit your inner child, and break through that block!

Aromatherapy. Scents are powerful motivators. Fresh mowed grass. The tang of a peeled orange. Fumes from a pig farm on a sweltering summer day. They all illicit a strong reaction in our brains when we smell them, whether positive or negative. Aromas can stimulate the brain, both by relaxing or rejuvenating us, and stir up memories that could lead to inspiration. Some of my favorite Yankee Candles are Lilac Blossom, Macintosh (apple), and Dune Grass. Lilacs remind me of my childhood and growing up on the farm. Macintosh is fresh and crisp which helps to clear my foggy thoughts. Dune Grass reminds me of sun and summer so even in the midst of the doldrums of winter, I get transported to the beach. I bought some “car” sized tins at Bed Bath & Beyond and they  have come in very handy to illicit a certain mood and spur on my writing.

Express yourself. Take a photo or picture (I use landscapes) and describe it in different ways by changing the descriptors. First make it a happy scene and describe a gentle breeze dancing across the bright golden wheat fields. Next build an ominous scene with rain drenched gusts blustering through the pointed spikes of wheat. Or create a melancholy scene with the breath of the past washing like waves across the tops of the bowed stalks of wheat. I’ve used this exercise several times to get me past something I cannot “see” in my mind and help me picture what I am trying to portray. Sometimes I get pretty lavish or ridiculous, but it does help to stimulate a more productive writing session.

Here’s a bonus tip. I love nature. If the weather cooperates,  I take a stroll into the great outdoors, somewhere I don’t normally go. It’s not just a walk, but a purposeful trek. I stop to really take in my surroundings, the sun on my skin, the breeze through the trees, the rustle of the grass/leaves. Are there birds chirping? Can I smell the loam/flowers/moss in the water? What is the energy at that moment? What stirs my spirit within me? And then I write it down so I can replay it again later.

If all else fails, I pop some popcorn and watch Pride and Prejudice, just for the fun of it.

 

Posted on March 1, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

Mission Impossible?

This past summer my middle son Dylan went on a mission trip through Let’s Start Talking ministries to Belgium. His older brother went to Brazil a few years before with the same organization, and though his trip didn’t completely go without a hitch, he came back home safe and sound. But as a parent, you still pray for things unseen, problems unknown. You worry. And then pray some more. (Photo: Dylan, Kellan & Cameron, Belgium team mission)

Dylan’s trip to Belgium went well, he even experienced a special

side trip to Paris, France, but when he returned he had to join Psallo, his college singing group, who was touring at the time. So, instead of coming straight home, he would be taking another flight up to Portland to meet them for their tour. I made a hotel reservation for him so he could wait for his group to pick him up.

Snag one came when I had the wrong airport. I was able to cancel the hotel reservation and put in a new one at the correct airport hotel. It was a last minute reservation, so there was no cancellation refund for the room, so I prayed I had the right information this time. Snag two happened when Dylan’s plane was to arrive close to midnight, and if he didn’t check in before midnight he would lose his reservation. Dylan tried to assure me that everything would be fine, and he would call me if necessary to rebook a room if needed.

Since Dylan had to debrief his mission in Dallas before heading to Oregon, and he was suffering some major jet lag, it was not easy keeping in contact with him. I prayed that God would clear his path and get him safely to meet up with Psallo. Midnight came and went without a call from Dylan, so I figured everything went as planned.

Except that it didn’t. Dylan called the next day to tell me that his plane didn’t make it in time, and he missed out on his hotel reservation. Then he said a flat tire on the bus his singing group was traveling in was going to cause them to be several hours late to pick him up.

Before the panic could get a good foothold, Dylan informed me that everything was taken care of. He met another member of the Let’s Start Talking mission group on the plane ride. He offered to let Dylan stay at his house when they realized he would lose his reservation. Good thing, Dylan said, because he would have had to stay in the lobby of the hotel until the next afternoon before he could check in. Better yet, the gentleman from the airplane was also able to take him to meet his Psallo group, instead of having to wait for them to come and get him, which would have made them later than they were already going to be with the flat tire. (Photo: Psallo, Dylan is in the center)

Somehow, through the simple prayers to keep Dylan safe, and before we knew he needed it, God already worked out the details.

Isn’t it grand that we have a God who knows what we need before we need it, and clears the path for us? Isn’t it great that with our God, nothing is impossible? Not even the ending of this particular mission.

Posted on February 15, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

Uncommon Heroes

My heart is not so easily swayed by the common hero. I almost always root for the second choice, steady eddy, uncommon hero of the story. Usually they’re not the obvious choice or the pretty boy. They are the ones who would walk through fire, wait for their beloved to come to their senses, are beaten around the edges but soft on the inside guys.

This past year, I have immersed myself in mainstream YA novels. I find one overall theme that tends to irritate me. The cutest, most exciting boy whose actions or words break the girl’s heart always end up getting said girl. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like a to get all twisted into knots and  having my heart go pitter patter, but I don’t always go for the first string, easy choice guy. That’s no fun.

The first uncommon hero I really fell in love with was Cole Jasper from Kristen Heitzmann’s Rocky Mountain Legacy series. Heitzmann’s protagonist had gone through many trials and finally won the man of her dreams, when he was killed off. I really liked Montgomery Farrel, but he was the obvious choice. Rich. Powerful. Handsome. But, Cole loved Abbie from the shadows for a long time before she finally came around and gave in. He was a rough and tumble cowhand who didn’t have a whole lot going for him. I was smitten immediately.

My first choice for Marianne in Jane Austin’s Sense & Sensibility was always Colonel Brandon.  He patiently waits in the wings while Marianne fawns over (gag) Willoughby. He turns out to be a cad, though, and breaks our poor girl’s heart. Score for Colonel Brandon and us as readers.

The most recent YA novel I’ve read that had me rooting for the not so obvious hero is Matched by Ally Condie. Condie’s protagonist Cassia lives in a society that chooses everything for you—from the food you eat, to the clothes you wear, when you die, and most of all, the person you will be matched with to marry. Society chooses Xander for Cassia. But it’s a mistake. Ky, the outsider, is the one who puts the yin to Cassia’s yang. I’m rooting for him, even when I know he has nothing going for him to make this match happen. I am also impressed that Condie’s world is a chaste one, but she brings out the angst of having to choose between two boys Cassia loves without crossing any lines. Her next book, Crossed is on my TBR list.

I’m sure it means something that I don’t go for the obvious hero. I’m so glad there are authors out there who write for readers like me.

 

Posted on January 18, 2013 - by Dawn Ford

Top Ten Reasons To Get Hooked On Once Upon A Time

Number Ten: Henry. Our show begins in Storybrooke, Maine, where a little boy, Henry, carrying a BIG book, believes in magic and curses, and knows something is just not right about his adoptive mother and his hometown of Storybrook. Henry’s book gives him clues about what is really going on as the story unfolds both on the pages of the book and in Henry’s life. Besides, who doesn’t like the name Storybrook for a fairy tale town’s name?

Number Nine: All the characters from the stories we grew up with find a place in this tale. From the Mad Hatter, to Mr. Gold (Rumplestiltskin), the seven dwarfs (one show even centers on how they got their names). Even Neverland is represented with Captain Hook getting in on the action. Mulan makes an appearance also.

Number Eight: Even though Regina, the Evil Witch, tries to poison Emma with her apple turnover, she is not the most evil person in the story. She’s only one of a few powerfully evil characters. Regina is really a woman you’ll love to hate. Ooooo, I just love a good evil character!

Number Seven: Archie Hopper, AKA Jiminy Cricket, is a therapist. I have to say, I thought that was pretty slick putting Jiminy in as a shrink. He’s the town’s conscience. Brilliant!

Number Six: A nice twist on the story Ruby, Red Riding Hood, doubles as the Big Bad Wolf. Watch out fellas, this girl’s got some bite.

Number Five: The tomb of hearts. It does not get old watching Regina steal someone’s heart, and put it-still beating mind you-in an intricately carved box. They are all stored in the vault, which is below a tomb, where the evil witch can control them at will. When someone says Regina stole their heart, they aren’t kidding.

Number Four: Prince Charming was a doppelganger for the real Prince. He has no real royal blood in him, and his daddy the King, is not a very nice guy. And don’t forget in Storybrooke, Charming starts out as a comatose hospital patient. When he wakes up, he doesn’t know who Snow White is (and neither do we, although we have our suspicions!). And to find out who Snow White is, you’ve got to watch the show.

Number Three: Like the Hotel California, you can never leave. And after the curse is finally broken, that means you lose your memory if you cross the border out of Storybrooke. So far no one has lived to tell the tale. But never say never in Once Upon A Time.

Number Two: Did you ever wonder if the fairy tale characters you knew as a child really did live happily ever after? This show answers that with a resounding, NO! Where there’s good, there’s always evil. Don’t count a good character out, and never think an evil one is dead. Well, except for Sheriff Graham. Although his counterpart, the Huntsman, met a terrible fate in the fairy tale, maybe the good sheriff will turn up again.

Number One: Why Mr. Gold, of course. I adore all of the characters so far, but I love, love, love Mr. Gold. He owns the glitter when he’s in Rumple mode. Move over Twilight, this sparkly guy really does have it going on. The story of how he became Rumplestiltskin will also tug at your heartstrings, as does his love for a certain Belle of the ball.

Well, there you have it. If you love a good fairy tale, you will absolutely get hooked on Once!

 

Posted on October 26, 2012 - by Dawn Ford

Not Just Any Old Name

Oh, how I love a good name. One that is unusual and immediately puts a picture in your mind of who the character is going to bebefore the author spells it out for you. Being a fantasy/speculative writer, I get the awesome freedom of coming up with names other genre writer’s wouldn’t get away with, at least not so easily. And when I come along one of these names that strikes a chord with me, it’s like opening a gift on Christmas. Not just any old name will do.

I love lyrical or musical names. In my last manuscript I just finished I have a couple of them: Trylle and Cadence. Melody is one I haven’t seen in a while and have always loved. These characters would be full of life, beautiful, and could easily fit into a damsel in distress role.

Nefarious characters are so much fun. Strong but deadly. Powerful and lethal. They will make you shudder and root the good guys on. Grigori, Malik, Sabin. You wouldn’t want to meet these guys in a lighted alley, let alone a dark one. How about the females who are ‘lock your door’ worthy: Tempest, Lillith, or Andromeda.

What if you have a character that needs to lead your readers down both roads? Are they good or are they evil? Only time will tell. But Auric, Cypher, or Jareth might fit the bill. For the ladies, Tansy, Deliah or Briar.

Stalwart is a characteristic of some heroes. Their name must reflect their steely countenance. Tall and handsome, a man with ethics: Lance, Orion, or Lysander.

Need something that has some fire to it? Lethos, Blaise, or Flint. Girls? Ember or Cinder/Cinda. Here’s an unusual one, Flametta.

I love using animals and birds names. You can have an instant predator or a figure of beauty: Raven, Falco/Falk, or Hawk and their counterparts Robin, Dove, or Lark.

If you are doing fantasy and need an unusual princess names, I’ve got a few that might work: Jesmin, Wrenn, Brixie. What about princes: Felix, Courtland, Xander.

Here’s just some fun ones I have seen in YA books lately: Stark, Kendrick, Mercer, Ryler, and Dixon. For the ladies: Jessamin, Shea, Keegan , and Payton.

As you can see, not just any old name will do. Turn your writing up a notch and choose a name that will not fade into the parchment but will stand out and catch your readers attention.

 

Posted on October 12, 2012 - by Dawn Ford

Top 10 Reasons You May Be A Writer

When I was a little girl and someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, writer did not make the list. In fact, up until six or seven years ago, writing was only a vague concept in my mind. Sure, I love to read. Yeah, I loved words in a special sort of way. And maybe I can admit to being able to communicate much better in writing than I do in person. But did I really want to be a writer when I grew up?

So, I sat down and made a list. What were the top ten reasons that led me to believe I may be a writer. Maybe you’ll see a little bit of yourself in this list…

10.  Researching a subject is my idea of fun. I can spend hours doing it. Days even. Oh, it’s Wednesday already? Didn’t I start looking that up on Sunday night…

9. A vacation to a different city includes a trip to that cities library, or to their local book store, or to any historical landmark where I take pictures of grass just to remember exactly what it looked like in case I need that information somewhere along the way. I’m so glad they make digital cameras now.

8. somthing like this droves me crazey and i wont to slap the persan who rote it; there obviosly in need of a goot dicshonary,  i meen suriously dude

7. I have dozens of notebooks in my house, my car, and purse all filled with interesting names and towns, fact lists, and story ideas.

6. Gruesome stories in the news get my creative juices flowing. Very macabre,  I know. But wow, wouldn’t that make a great story idea?

5. I know millions of interesting facts and their background in exquisite, annoying  detail, but have trouble getting past small talk like the weather with anyone I don’t know. (and some I do know.)

4. The characters I create in my head stalk me constantly. I end up having heated conversations with them and threaten to get a restraining order against them unless they stop behaving badly.

3. I don’t like the ending to the story I just read and know exactly how it should have ended. And I write it down just to prove it.

2. I know the book is better than the movie every time. I mean honestly, did the producers of that movie actually believe the actor resembled the character in my head at all? They weren’t even close!

And the #1 reason I reason I figured out that I’m a writer:

1. I dream in story scenes. I also wake up in the middle of a story, which is frustrating because it obviously didn’t end yet. I often take a brief nap just to get a clearer idea of what my current scene needs. So if you call me and I’m napping, just know this: Yes, you are interrupting me while I work. But I forgive you. You’ll just get written into my next book as the villain.

Anyone know a good therapist?