Raevyn's Realm

I'm back! ... at least for a short time

2011-08-04T15:00:00.000-06:00

It has been too long since I have posted on this blog. Since the last post I have gone through two incredibly-packed years of Bible college and have two more to go, unless I add on a fifth year. And this summer my dad became the pastor of a church in Montana, so we made the big move at the end of June and have been loving it here so far.

My story is still in the making; ideas continue to flow, but very little has made it onto paper. For my short story in the college creative writing class, I used the first book plan in my series but had to majorly condense it and ended up changing some things in order to make it "end." I hope to work on that first book (with the initial plot line) as much in the next couple weeks as possible, before school starts again.

I will also try to update you all in the web-world as much as possible. This blog may be imported to Weebly (still thinking about it...), but I will give you a heads-up here before I do so. Stay in touch so you don't miss it!

Going GREEN!

2009-08-16T20:17:00.002-06:00

First of all, you should know that this has absolutely nothing to do with the economy.

Second, if you thought my blog was about the ecosystem, you will have to look elsewhere.

This is just my rant about Ted Dekker's upcoming novel Green, Book Zero in Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy (Black, Red and White--all rated five stars on my list). This series is like nothing I have ever read before, with allegory similar to C. S. Lewis's Narnian world, and yet taking the story of death and life, love and sacrifice, to a higher level. Find out more at the official website, which contains information on this book and the others in the trilogy, as well as sample chapters and a commentary from the NY Times best-selling author himself.

If you would like to receive exclusive offers on Green and Dekker's other books, go to http://teddekker.com/readgreen. Just fill out the form completely and enter my Forest Guard number as 4487.

Mold, wall texturing, audiobooks and Christian films

2009-05-31T21:00:00.003-06:00

OK, back after a while, but I've been CRAZILY busy. My dad bought a house along with another guy to fix up and resell. We had to scrub mold off the walls from water damage, a man in my church helped us plaster and texture the walls, and now tomorrow I'll be doing lots of painting . . . and listening to audiobooks (either Tuck by Stephen Lawhead, which I started a while back but got sidetracked on other books, or Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz).

On a side note, here are three of my newest movie favorites:

Fireproof

Come What May

Pendragon: Sword of His Father (A newer trailer is now on the website, but it doesn't have an embedding code.)

"Fireproof" was amazing and I loved it, except for some of the music that doesn't meet my personal standards. "Come What May" and "Pendragon" were both made by homeschooling families! "Pendragon" is probably my favorite one because of all the action, though some parents may want to preview it before showing it to very young children; the battle scenes are intense, but not bloody. Here's something interesting I learned today: the beautiful score was composed by the talented actors and brother-sister duo, Aaron Burns (Artos) and Marilyn Burns (Wenneveria). Another good Christian film I have not yet seen is "The Widow's Might."

Three Christian spec titles to be released tomorrow

2009-03-31T21:26:00.003-06:00

Only hours remain until the second round of spec fic from Marcher Lord Press. I discovered MLP about a year ago while browsing through Christian writing group sites and have been amazed at the rapid spread it has made. Although I have to save money for college and can't buy each book right away, I have determined to make sure my public library gets all of them; and then one day, when I am an "incredibly-wealthy best-selling author" (yeah, right . . . lol), every book ever published by MLP may grace my personal library shelves.

The only bad thing about reading new books through the library is that the staff spends an awfully long time recording the book's information in the computer, attaching the stickers, etc., etc. -- the book's status is listed as "On Order" and "Newly Acquired," each of which take forever, and then it finally gets placed on the hold shelf. For example, I asked for the audiobook of Tuck by Stephen Lawhead (if you haven't noticed yet, I thrive on audiobooks) a few weeks before it came out at the beginning of February. The library ordered it, but today it is still "Newly Acquired." Yeah, pretty bad.

Anyway, back to Marcher Lord Press. The three books will be hitting the public tomorrow, April 1st -- Starfire by Stuart Vaughn Stockton (see the banner on the left), By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, and The Dark Man by Marc Schooley. Though I have usually preferred fantasy over science fiction, Starfire especially has sucked me in. I don't know why . . . there is just something strangely appealing in a non-human world in which there is still one true God. (And Rathe is such a cool name for a dinosaur!) If you haven't already entered Stuart Stockton's contest, be sure to take advantage of it before midnight. This book is going to be AWESOME!

Volunteering

2009-01-11T19:11:00.005-07:00

Yesterday I attended an all-day volunteer training program at the Praying Hands Ranch with a couple from my church. It was an absolutely amazing experience! I've been horse-crazy all my life (encouraged especially by my dad, who grew up on a Wisconsin animal park populated with 40 horses and all different kinds of North American animals), so the fact that horses were involved was definitely a big plus for me. The PHR staff and volunteers work alongside people with special needs to strengthen their physical and/or mental health using horses, small animals, and horticulture. They are beginning a program for youth at risk and also plan to help disabled veterans in the near future.

The DVD testimonials of parents whose children were aided was a real blessing. Many lives are being changed through this ministry. PHR is a Christian organization -- a Ten Commandments plaque hangs on the wall near the front door, and the friendly atmosphere and spirit of the place radiates true genuineness. I know that I will enjoy working with the horses, but the real purpose of Praying Hands Ranch is to be a mark in the community that can transform the seemingly hopeless futures of many.

My resolutionary post of the New Year ... and an introduction to an incredible writer

2009-01-02T23:08:00.012-07:00

To start off, I might as well wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the other things that go along with it . . . like resolutions which you know will never work, but for some reason you still make them. For example, you may wish to exercise faithfully (the typical resolution, one which I really need), or you may wish to become a couch tomato and spend more time watching TV, eating chips and drinking soda. Anyway . . . I haven't created an extensive list of unattemptable resolutions, just kind of basic things I should be getting done, such as having my quiet time with God every day and getting my college application sent in and finishing a decent portion of my novel.

Now I want to introduce a writer whom I discovered in the now-vanished year of 2008. Jeff Gerke is the creator of WhereTheMapEnds.com and Marcher Lord Press, both of which are devoted to the rise of Christian speculative fiction. MLP launched on October 1, 2008, with three fantastic books and will be releasing three more in the near future--I totally can't wait. Jeff is also a book doctor, and, on a totally unrelevant note of interest, his family is planning to adopt a baby girl from China (follow the journey here as they "bring Sophie home").

Unfortunate events

2008-12-25T23:01:00.007-07:00

No, these events didn't happened to me, but to the Baudelaire orphans in the Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events." I finally finished the thirteenth and last book in the series. It's been a hazardous journey which I thoroughly enjoyed down the last sentence, and I've told my younger brother (who is almost finished with the series) that my kids will know about these books and have the chance to read them before they turn 18. Besides the harrowing adventures which seem to sprout up one after another, Lemony Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler) scatters vocabulary definitions and just-plain-interesting trivia throughout the story, furthering the educational advancement of his readers.

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..."

2008-12-25T22:29:00.004-07:00

Yeah, right, not gonna happen! (But this is Colorado, and it's supposed to be snowing.)

Oh, well. Despite no stunning view of snow falling outside my window, it's been a great Christmas this year. The Christmas Eve service last evening at church was just beautiful; and then we drove home, ate our customary pizza, and opened gifts. And that reminds me, we should each be thoughtful of what gift-giving at Christmas is all about. Salvation through Christ's birth, death, and resurrection was God's gift to man . . . the greatest gift of all. I know, I'm basically reiterating what I mentioned at the end of my last post, but it does us good to constantly remember all that the Lord has done for us. I was blessed by my pastor's message this past Sunday on Mary's praise song:

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
(Luke 1:46-53, KJV)

God bless each of you and give you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Family Visits, Inheritance Theories and Christmas

2008-12-08T21:56:00.013-07:00

So much has happened since my last post. My grandpa visited from Kansas for Thanksgiving week, I began playing piano for my church's Christmas musical rehearsals (the performance is this Sunday morning!), AND . . . I finally finished Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.

"So what's the big deal about Brisingr?" you might be asking. Well, it definitely deserved its #1 best-seller rating. Christopher has matured so much in his writing; each point of view is expressed naturally, even the dragon Saphira's, which he admitted was dreadfully frightening to write but flowed easier than he expected.

Some fan-expected plot lines have shifted a bit so that they aren't quite as predictable as before. And despite the past expectations of some fans about Murtagh dying while killing Galbatorix in the final book, Christopher said in his "exclusive interview" at the end of the Brisingr audiobook that much more will be seen of Murtagh in Book IV and the chapters will be split more evenly between Eragon, Roran, and Murtagh. And if Murtagh gets his own POV, Christopher can't exactly kill him off at the end of the series, right? I hope so. (If you haven't yet listened to this interview by Christopher's editor Michelle Frey, get the audiobook from the library!)

I'm glad that Brom has now been revealed as Eragon's father, for now the series is moving away from a Star Wars stereotype plot. Selena's identity as the former Black Hand was a bit startling, however, as Jeod described her as a violent and merciless woman. Eragon was no less startled than I. It's difficult to picture her in such a way. But Selena's love for her son Murtagh (and then for her new son Eragon) changed her entire outlook and, as we can expect Eragon's future victory, the fate of Alagaesia.

It's amazing how love can change everything. The ultimate revelation of love was Christ's coming to Earth. Christmas can become a hassle of shopping and hectic party preparations, but pause each day to remember the real reason for Christmas. The true reason we exchange gifts is to commemorate the gift of God's Son. He was born in a humble stable, lived a perfect life, performed fantastic miracles, suffered a horrendous death, and resurrected in humanly-unattainable glory . . . all so that we could receive His gift of eternal life in heaven.

I want to fly into the Colorado sunset

2008-11-16T21:00:00.001-07:00

As my family was driving home from a church group fellowship, I saw the clouds lit up by the sun for the zillionth time in my life, but this time it really struck me as something to actually write about. This Colorado sunset was like none I have ever seen before. The sight was much too beautiful to refrain from sharing.

So, we were driving up a steep hill, and when we got to the top, I could see the far horizon all the way around us. To the west loomed the mountains, shining with multiple colors from the clouds' reflection. It seemed like we could see every shadow on the slopes. The underside of the cloud was golden and jagged against the deep blue of the sky. As the cloud billowed up in countless layers, it mingled into purple and then blue. To the north side of the cloud, the blue shifted quite suddenly into a dark gray that seemed very grim and foreboding in comparison to the brighter colors.

As I turned around, I could see wisps of wanna-be clouds glowing with a pinkish hue all the way around--north, south and east. The deep pink of the long, slender cloud above the eastern plains was almost as bright as the gold, purple and blue on the mountain side, even though this one could hardly be called a "cloud" in comparison to the vastness of the western cloud bank.

The mountains eventually turned into silhouettes against the sky as the sun shone from behind them. The "Sleeping Giant" (as we call it) dozed right ahead of us, and Pike's Peak loomed a little more to the south. In that moment I wanted to leap out of the Subaru onto my imaginary dragon and wing up into the billows. I could just feel the moisture of the clouds around my face and the adrenaline rush of the dragon's flight through a rainbow of color . . .

Okay, I might be getting a little carried away, but the scene in my mind was so inspirational that I meant at first to write a poem about it (and that's a pretty amazing feeling for me). When it came to actually sitting down with my fingers poised above the keyboard, I decided that prose is really the best for me. I have written some poetry which might actually make it onto my blog someday. Then I'll need feedback from someone who WRITES poetry for real.

Election Day Craze

2008-11-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

The big day is here. And, as I am now legally an adult, this is my first year to vote. I actually voted early so I wouldn't have to wait in line for hours and hours. It was a very different experience . . . I can now have an influence in the future of my country! Of course, one person doesn't seem to be much when you consider the entire population, but one person could also change the outcome of the entire election.

I hope that each of you have carefully and prayerfully considered your choice of candidate. I intend to pray fervently for whoever becomes our next president. Whichever person wins, God will work out His course the way He sees fit. It may be that the choices of American citizens will usher in the rapture and the Tribulation. May the Lord return quickly, though there are so many others who need to hear the truth of God's Word before facing the judgment seat of Christ.

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will" (Proverbs 21:1, KJV).

Outlines and names

2008-10-15T09:10:00.006-06:00

Well, I'll have to say that writing was never the easiest thing in my life. The inspiration comes when I least expect it but never when I desperately need it, and I feel like I've been pushing myself to begin actually "writing" my fantasy story. That part will just have to wait. The ideas are so condensed in my mind right now that I figure an outline of the series (three or four books so far) is beginning to be necessary, not just another way to go. I also have a few scary ideas for the prologue -- it needs to be enticing enough to grab the reader and yet dark enough to create a mood of revulsion and sympathy for the evil tyrant. Starting with the prologue, though, may be pretty difficult, so I will most likely begin in the middle of the story with some part that I especially like.

I am beginning to play around with online name generators. They are absolutely wonderful! The name thing has always been the strenuous part in my writing, especially because of the fantasy aspect in which names aren't usually "normal." But I've found an exception: Dune by Frank Herbert. Though there are many unusual names in the story, the main character is Paul and his mother is Jessica . . . normal, everyday names. (By the way, I know this is off-subject, but Dune is a fantastic book, the first of six in Herbert's series.)

Brisingr!!! (Warning: spoilers...proceed with caution)

2008-10-02T10:44:00.004-06:00

Yep, I'm reading it! The book is incredible so far. It made a Random House record by selling 550,000 copies in the first 24 hours! Brisingr has also topped USAToday's Best Sellers List.

I looked ahead in the book to see when Murtagh (in my opinion, the coolest character) comes in, and I found two fight scenes, one with Eragon and the other with Oromis and Glaedr, both of whom he kills. I know, it's sad, but I can't help feeling sorry for him and his dragon Thorn. After all, it isn't his fault that Galbatorix captured him and forced him through his true name to swear fealty in the Ancient Language, which cannot be revoked. I have discovered two ways in which Murtagh could be freed:

He could reveal his true name to someone else, i.e. Eragon, who could then fight with Galbatorix over control of Murtagh. (Down side: Eragon would have to acquire much more power than he presently has.)
He could do something to change his personality, which in turn would change his true name. (Down side: Galbatorix probably knows this and would have prepared for it.)

I am really hoping for Murtagh's redemption in the coming fourth book. Thorn also is easy to empathize with because of his mental immaturity despite massive physical size.

Welcome!

2008-09-24T14:44:00.002-06:00

This is my first experience in the blogosphere. I will try to post at least once a week if possible and occasionally more often if something particularly entertaining comes up in my daily existence. You can also expect sporadic reviews of good family films and books. Sometime in the near future I'll be reviewing Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (once the library hold list gets to my name . . . I'm #29 right now).