tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91241718492574680222011-07-08T15:41:42.516-04:00<b>Two women on a journey to reflect God's glory through the works of their imagination...</b> <br> "God's call to Christian artists [is] to have this unique vocation of enabling people to see what they can't otherwise see, to see that the world is already full of the glory of God, and that it will one day be filled yet fuller." N.T. Wright, The Bible and Christian Imagination, 2005Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-89797827931344217522010-04-15T17:25:00.002-04:002010-04-15T17:29:02.583-04:00

You've probably already figured this out by now, but Kristi and I are taking an extended blogging break.As for me, I'm trying to simplify and focus for awhile, specifically on my writing and my family.Kristi is doing anything but simplifying--but she has so many creative irons in the fire that blogging just hasn't been happening lately.Thanks so much for participating in our blog, and we will

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-32806613664425961072010-02-07T21:04:00.006-05:002010-02-08T12:00:22.009-05:00

The Raven Saint is the third entry in MaryLu Tyndall's Charles Town Belles series, and the second that I've read. As in any good historical romance, opposites attract in this series. In The Blue Enchantress, the godly and good-hearted captain rescued Hope Westcott, whose poor judgment and dubious virtue had landed her in a pickle. Poor Captain Mason then struggled with his unsuitable attraction

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-22765669558356338912010-01-25T17:37:00.002-05:002010-01-25T17:40:33.193-05:00

And the winner of Stephanie Morrill's new YA book, Out With the In Crowd, is...Lizzie Boyd!Congratulations, Lizzie. Please email me at robing8300 at gmail.com with your mailing address, and I'll forward it to Stephanie so she can send you the book.And if you missed the fun interview and all the information about Stephanie's book, you can catch it right here.

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-40176932874286853072010-01-19T08:10:00.005-05:002010-01-19T13:40:36.435-05:00

Today we not only have a fun interview with YA author Stephanie Morrill, but also a chance to win a copy of her new book, Out With the In Crowd. Leave a comment on this post if you would like to be entered in the drawing. (See details and boring legalese at the end.)Stephanie Morrill is a twentysomething living in Kansas with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband and their daughter. She’s the

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-19218193190055676042010-01-05T13:26:00.005-05:002010-01-05T15:54:06.142-05:00

This past Sunday, my pastor started his sermon by reading us the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). I'm very familiar with the story, but a funny thing happened this time around. As we were reading, I thought of it in a totally different way--a way that's very applicable to my state of mind of late. And then the pastor gave the same application in his sermon that I was

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-28799083703793704402009-12-17T10:24:00.004-05:002009-12-17T10:31:37.881-05:00

Last week in our church bulletin, I saw a mention of Advent as a season of waiting. I started thinking of how long people waited for the Messiah, whose presence we now take for granted. But there were long, dark days, and years, and centuries, when people had to begin to wonder if God had forgotten them. I started to write a blog post on that topic, and then started thinking it sounded vaguely

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-92031271932873031662009-12-11T07:20:00.001-05:002009-12-11T07:20:00.451-05:00

I can feel a backlash coming even as I write, but decided to pose this idea anyway. I know there are a lot of Twilight lovers out there, and I'd especially like to hear your opinion on this. I have only one request if you respond: please don't kill me.Most of you know I started reading the Harry Potter books a couple of years ago and fell in love with them. Since a lot of Harry Potter lovers also

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-33577200621217875692009-12-09T09:42:00.003-05:002009-12-09T10:14:12.555-05:00

Can anyone help me out here? I saw a powerful quote on one of those church message boards a few weeks ago, and with my Swiss-cheese-like memory, I can't quite remember how it goes. But the point of it was this: You know all that stuff you're worried about right now? All that stuff that drives you crazy? Your kids, your job, your car? What if you lost all of it--then got it back? How would you

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-72913229483896748232009-12-07T00:01:00.005-05:002009-12-07T02:29:41.308-05:00

How have I gone this far in my life and not seen these? Maybe a couple I KNEW about, but not sure if I've seen any of them. I haven't watched them all yet, either, because there are, like, 40 of them! Yay!If you love sci-fi, enjoy!!! (Courtesy of IO9 and http://theparkbencher.blogspot.com/)http://io9.com/5412722/40-unseen-moments-from-your-favorite-movies

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-31619518449503747532009-12-02T05:32:00.001-05:002009-12-02T05:49:15.458-05:00

I've been trying to paste this in for a while, and it's not working. Thus, I will link to my facebook note, and hope anyone who wants to read this can read it there. I apologize. Not sure why the copy/paste was not working.http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&suggest&note_id=190132775381#/notes/kristi-israel/a-quick-word-on-terminator-salvation/190132775381

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-26334872619867751842009-12-01T03:40:00.006-05:002009-12-01T03:52:57.797-05:00

This weekend I had a great adventure! I met about 20 cousins I have never seen before, and went to parts of California I have never been to before...including the infamous Rock!!! That's right...Alcatraz.Pictures and details are forthcoming! (I just need to download them). I got back into town tonight and was welcomed by my two sweet kitties, Bundles and Leo.I missed my bed and my guitar so much.

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-49843815699523217442009-11-25T07:00:00.000-05:002009-11-25T07:00:01.130-05:00

I just now made a new online friend, Sandi Rog. Like me, she's struggling to find her niche with her writing. Appropriately enough, her blog is called Dare to Dream, and she has a couple of posts lately that I really wanted to share with my fellow dreamers out there.The first is called "His Gift, Not Mine." It's about all those times that we want to do something for the Lord--but we want to do it

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-13802235283876774492009-11-23T15:42:00.003-05:002009-11-23T15:47:28.820-05:00

Congratulations to Jennifer Hallmark, the winner of today's drawing! Jennifer will get to select any one item from my online shop at Etsy. (So Jennifer, be sure to contact me with your selection and mailing address. )Thanks to all of you for visiting the blog and participating.And by the way, if any of you would like to purchase one of the goodies in the shop, just mention this blog in the

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-22592543403518842712009-11-19T16:21:00.009-05:002009-11-19T17:37:17.025-05:00

Today we're featuring an interview with Steve Rzasa, author of "The Word Reclaimed," which was released by Marcher Lord Press in October 2009. The book is available from www.marcherlordpress.com, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble.com. And now, let's hear from Steve: Welcome, Steve. Tell us about yourself.I was born and raised in South Jersey, and fell in love with books—especially science fiction

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-65459403900797616322009-11-16T07:00:00.000-05:002009-11-16T07:00:07.964-05:00

Today we're featuring an interview with a new author, Kerry Nietz, whose Christian speculative novel about a world under Sharia law manages to be both futuristic and timely at the same time. Q: Hi, Kerry, and thanks for being a guest on my blog! I just took a look at your information on the Marcher Lord Press site, and I have to tell you that A Star Curiously Singing has a fascinating premise. I

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-78648741198003894712009-11-15T16:44:00.005-05:002009-11-15T17:09:41.542-05:00

I've been a bit lazy about blogging the last week or so. Actually, it wasn't so much laziness as being too busy in every other area of my life. But we have great things coming in the next week or so to make up for it.I'm featuring interviews with two new speculative fiction authors with Marcher Lord Press. One has some great words about persevering and his journey to publication. Both authors

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-19489188337840013992009-11-03T13:00:00.003-05:002009-11-05T15:41:51.709-05:00

I'm in the mood to give something away again, woo-hoo!I'm going to do something a bit different this time around. On Monday, November 23, I'm going to hold a drawing, and the winner will get to choose ANY ONE ITEM from my online shop as the prize.All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here telling me you'd like to be entered in the drawing. And make sure I know how to get in touch with

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-48940211067809870542009-10-28T17:54:00.004-04:002009-10-28T18:12:32.058-04:00

I just read an interesting post at a blog called Christ and Pop Culture. I honestly don't listen to much contemporary music so I'm not familiar with the artist they're discussing, David Bazan. But apparently he has recently renounced his Christian faith and has released an album of songs that reflect anger with God and doubts about His motives.The author of the article, Chase Livingston, goes on

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-37272530090678130162009-10-23T20:50:00.004-04:002009-10-23T20:59:45.364-04:00

Is there any such thing as a stray parrot?This fellow was perched on a car in the parking lot of the restaurant we went to tonight. He was also calling "hello" to passers-by.I figured no one would believe this if I didn't get a picture. Sorry it isn't clearer, but first, I took it with my cell phone. Second, when I tried to get close, he flapped his wings and squawked at me.Maybe he was a

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-10085842276784712792009-10-19T19:57:00.003-04:002009-10-19T20:12:38.460-04:00

Hi, all. A few juicy tidbits today.First, Rose McCauley did a blog post today listing some of her favorite blogs that do frequent give-aways, particularly of books. So if you like free stuff, you might want to head over there and take a look. If you leave a comment, you'll also be eligible to win a copy of The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry, which you may remember received a glowing

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-11507282098329197152009-10-13T01:55:00.004-04:002009-10-13T02:38:37.088-04:00

An interesting and cool element of social networking sites, such as Facebook, is finding those we went to school with or hung out with as kids or teenagers- specifically, those who are our age. One thing I was realizing today, after finding many friends recently who fit into this category, is that these people have a kinship with me that others don't. They know what I'm going through with this

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-33476977307592344302009-10-09T09:20:00.000-04:002009-10-09T09:20:00.650-04:00

Last week at church, I noticed two different mentions of "desires" in our church's order of worship, even though the sermon didn't specifically deal with that.The first was a line from a prayer from The Valley of Vision (p. 354): "I praise you for the throne of grace, that here free favor reigns; that open access to it is through the blood of Jesus; that the veil is torn aside and I can enter the

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-31814102628348429882009-10-08T04:52:00.004-04:002009-10-08T05:02:01.200-04:00

Does anyone know anything about Jim Hines? It looks like he's a fantasy writer. I may have to check out his stuff, although I'm not sure if stories about goblins as MAIN characters would interest me. I'm not THAT big of a geek, am I? I like my goblins where they belong- in supporting roles.In any event, here's his blog address...http://jimhines.livejournal.com/467074.htmlCheck out his poem, Slush

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-51547298466274643502009-10-06T20:38:00.003-04:002009-10-06T21:17:14.147-04:00

A friend recommended The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters a couple of weeks ago. Even though it's in our current fiction collection at the library, she said it was an old-fashioned gothic. She also said it scared her silly, even though it wasn't violent or gory. Well, that was enough for me. I dove right in, and oh my--what a book!This is one of the few books I've read that left me thinking, this

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-39130132672384695492009-09-24T08:00:00.001-04:002009-09-24T08:00:02.571-04:00

Today we have Part 2 of our visit with MaryLu Tyndall. If you missed last Tuesday's review of her new book, The Blue Enchantress, I'm sure you'll want to go back and check it out after reading this interview.I think I first became acquainted with MaryLu Tyndall on someone else’s blog. She and I ended up involved in a lively discussion of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Will’s tragic

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-11766303671128136082009-09-23T08:00:00.000-04:002009-09-23T08:00:01.205-04:00

I have been blessed in the last ten days or so to have gotten a visit from my dad and stepmom, who were in Anaheim for a conference. And not just Anaheim, but Disneyland! They were staying in the Disneyland Hotel. And then today (Wednesday), my mother is coming for a visit! How blessed am I? I was able to go and spend three nights in Disneyland and get to visit the parks for the first time (I've

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-32837029448738250052009-09-22T08:00:00.001-04:002009-09-22T16:18:59.356-04:00

Today I'm reviewing MaryLu Tyndall's new book, The Blue Enchantress. On Thursday, I'll be interviewing MaryLu, so be sure to come back!Betrayed by the man she longed to marry, Hope Westcott finds herself on an island in the Caribbean being auctioned off as a slave to the highest bidder. Raised in an unloving home and after enduring a difficult childhood, Hope's search for love and self-worth have

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-31614443136137815622009-09-18T09:21:00.003-04:002009-09-18T09:31:29.784-04:00

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the signed Nancy Grace novel, The Eleventh Victim, is Melanie Dickerson. Finally I get to give a prize to Melanie--one of my most faithful blog readers!I plan to start a new contest in the next week or so, so stay tuned!

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-37893996233025846852009-09-15T15:57:00.013-04:002009-09-15T16:55:08.086-04:00

"Craig Littleton has decided to end his marriage with his wife, Denise, but an accident lands him in the ICU with fuzzy memories. As Denise helps him remember who he is, she uncovers dark secrets. Will this trauma create a fresh start? Or has his deceit destroyed the life they built together?"First, I must apologize to Christina Berry.Yes, I looked forward to reading her book. After all, she's a

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-28312209631481094802009-09-12T11:27:00.004-04:002009-09-12T11:31:03.992-04:00

That was a very convoluted headline, but the point is we're extending the deadline for the drawing for the autographed copy of Nancy Grace's new novel, The Eleventh Victim. You must leave a comment saying you want to enter--along with a way to get in touch with you if you win--no later than September 17. I'll announce a winner on September 18.For more details about the book and the drawing, click

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-15832645879886963012009-09-12T10:33:00.002-04:002009-10-14T20:35:36.802-04:00

I have a question for all you Christian readers and writers out there. What do you think of literature that incorporates gods into the story as characters? You know, gods like Zeuss or Jupiter or others from ancient mythology.I'm asking this now because I recently finished reading The Lightning Thief, the first book of a kids' series called Percy Jackson and The Olympians. The premise is that

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-58455595034045544822009-09-09T05:12:00.004-04:002009-09-09T06:50:48.822-04:00

I was trying to think of a really great blog post topic, but I was at a complete loss. So, I decided to write a little about something I like, movies, and even more than that, sharing what I think are good movies with other people. Here is a short list of some of my favorites. It's certainly not a comprehensive list, and I'm choosing to leave off some of my favorites that I think most people

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-16581374246396779262009-09-04T11:13:00.003-04:002009-09-04T11:32:31.141-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm thrilled about the Labor Day holiday this coming Monday. I have nothing planned, but that's what makes it so wonderful. I can feel my nerves relaxing a little just thinking about a break from the routine, the busy-ness, the LABOR.Oddly enough, I just made a note about something I read in Scripture this past week, and I realized that it's the perfect devotional for

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-67791402061522936332009-09-02T03:49:00.006-04:002009-09-02T05:22:19.917-04:00

So what have I been up to lately, artistically speaking, that is? Here are some tidbits:I met today with Antonio Sacre, an awesome bi-lingual storyteller. I first met him at the Jonesborough International Storytelling Festival in Tennessee in 2007. He lives out here and makes his living telling stories, and I wanted to meet with him and pick his brain about just that. He was very generous with

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-90665056844911939472009-08-28T20:30:00.004-04:002009-08-28T20:49:54.561-04:00

I decided to make something to donate to ACFW's (American Christian Fiction Writers') silent auction to be held at their conference next month. Since there will be so many romance readers and writers there, I settled on making this Historical Romance Pendant Watch. It's got everything--cameos of Jane Austen-like ladies, reading and books, and of course, hearts and flowers.Funny. I'm not able to

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-74873532278787507802009-08-26T13:36:00.008-04:002009-09-12T11:32:37.005-04:00

The Eleventh Victim: by Nancy GraceAs a young psychology student, Hailey Dean's world explodes when Will, her fiancé, is murdered just weeks before their wedding. Reeling, she fights back the only way she knows how: In court, prosecuting violent crime...putting away the bad guys one rapist, doper, and killer at a time. But dedicating her life to justice takes a toll after years of courtroom

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-3990582316591643762009-08-24T22:30:00.006-04:002009-08-24T23:05:17.565-04:00

Now I know there are winners and losers in both categories, and the new stands on the shoulders of the old. But really, the worlds are so far apart in so many ways. This is a topic which could be an ongoing thing.This weekend I saw Notorious at a screening with a group called "Art on Life" I've attended a couple of times this summer. This is a Hitchcock film, and I believe it was made in 1946.

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-12571164544944641782009-08-21T13:18:00.001-04:002009-08-21T13:18:00.189-04:00

Sometimes I really love my job.Where else would I get to indulge my love of a TV show, have fun with books, and help build a tent out of bamboo poles and twisties?I've blogged before about the TV show Lost, and we recently put together a huge exhibit at my library called "Lost Literature." I wrote an article about it for the college's website and publications. I'm going to reproduce it here

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-38091795225886223652009-08-19T18:17:00.005-04:002009-08-19T20:41:53.651-04:00

About a week ago, I first heard about The Magicians by Lev Grossman, and then it seemed to be everywhere. It arrived in our current fiction section at the library, and another librarian brought it to me so I would have the first turn with it. She thought it sounded like my kind of book, but I'm so bogged down in my reading that I waved it away.Then I read an enthusiastic review of it in a blog

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-44347238770062838102009-08-17T05:52:00.002-04:002009-08-17T06:18:38.690-04:00

I don't. I have been trying to get it together for a long time, but I don't think I ever will. I don't know how people manage to have children they have to care for, plus jobs and other full schedules, on top of running their own lives. I can barely manage my own simple tasks.I am a perfectionist. In my head. I have been somehow trying to translate it to reality for years, but it doesn't work. I

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-29348156855490179282009-08-12T14:57:00.002-04:002009-08-12T15:09:03.778-04:00

To be sung to the tune of Hokey Pokey:You put the prologue in,You take the prologue out,You put the prologue inAnd you fill yourself with doubt.Do the writer's Hokey PokeyAs you drag the words around.That's what writing's all about.So...can you tell I'm having prologue issues this week?

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-82518838118343795272009-08-11T15:15:00.004-04:002009-08-11T15:27:41.119-04:00

I've been hearing the phrase "interval training" for awhile now, but didn't know anything about it. I've been faithful for years to go for a nice brisk walk at least three times a week, and that was enough to keep me in shape. Plus I enjoy it, so why tamper with a good thing?Then the Big 5-0 rolled around, and my body started to change in mysterious ways. I decided if I didn't take action, I'd

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-2144023015249528562009-08-09T02:48:00.004-04:002009-08-09T04:25:14.983-04:00

So, where did it go wrong? If you missed the first part of this review, you should know that I loved the first part of this movie- probably about a third of it, as it is a long film. But then The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took a turn, and I have been trying to put my finger on exactly why the last part did not work. The answer, I believe, is that there are several reasons!First, the writing

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-52421454253452129162009-08-06T15:05:00.002-04:002009-08-06T15:41:50.336-04:00

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I finally got to see this movie a couple nights ago, and I felt it deserved some reflection and commentary. As most of you probably know by now, the story is about a baby born as a tiny old man, and as he grows, he gets younger. It is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.The story starts with a lot of promise. In fact, I loved the first third of the movie. It

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-20978720827793633022009-08-03T13:04:00.006-04:002009-08-03T13:54:56.656-04:00

If you used to read my other blog, you know I've thought and read a lot about waiting. Waiting for something you want. Waiting to fulfill your dreams. Waiting upon the Lord. Especially in today's fast-paced world, it's a hard thing to do. Even figuring out how to do it can be difficult, which seems a bit odd. After all, waiting means doing nothing, right? Just...waiting.Well, sometimes. Sometimes

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-19770190585083322332009-07-30T19:10:00.004-04:002009-07-30T20:33:04.442-04:00

Until recently, I wondered why anyone would read nonfiction books when there are all those thrilling novels out there. I adore history and at one point could tell you a good bit about the kings and queens of England and the times they lived in. But that was because I read so much historical fiction, especially a prolific writer named Norah Lofts, whose career spanned a large portion of the 20th

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-20884700720414070982009-07-27T05:25:00.006-04:002009-07-27T06:14:07.499-04:00

Sorry it's been such a long time since I posted. You can blame part of that on Robin, who demanded that I fly back to Georgia for a visit week before last. Part of it you can blame on me and my weakness for not being able to decide between twenty different projects and trying to work on them all.I do want to thank Robin for flying me back. We got to see the the new Harry Potter movie at the

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-72922921284845380622009-07-23T22:27:00.003-04:002009-07-23T22:52:59.831-04:00

If you've followed my blogging for awhile, you'll know I'm disturbingly moody about my writing goals. I'm close to quitting and convinced that's what God wants. Then I declare he's let me know he wants me to keep going and I will persevere no matter what. Then I crash again and start asking God if this is what he really wants.I don't like this about myself, but the other night I was reading a

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-52429358312270448542009-07-21T12:26:00.011-04:002009-07-21T22:22:16.670-04:00

Something about this time of year seems to suck me into adventures with stray kittens. Last year I wrote a post called The Great Kitten Caper. Now, here I go again.Last week, Kristi was visiting from California. I stayed at my parents' house visiting with her until about 10:15 Wednesday night, then decided to go home the back way, down the country roads instead of the interstate highway. At a

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-85957406361569450732009-07-15T18:54:00.000-04:002009-07-15T18:54:00.872-04:00

As you probably guessed from my last post, I've been a little down about my writing and my dreams for the last few days. As I often do in times like this, I reminded myself of the lessons I learned from the movie Amadeus, about what can happen if I want success for myself too much or for the wrong reasons. I decided to re-run a post I ran awhile back on my other blog, The Queen of Perseverance.

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-52558596657438254302009-07-13T17:25:00.006-04:002009-07-13T18:43:15.575-04:00

A few weeks ago, someone in my email writers group asked us if we could define metafiction. She had read in some publisher's guidelines that they were looking to acquire works of metafiction, which seems even stranger when you know what it is. Anyway, after ruminating on this term for awhile, I decided that the term "metafiction" could sum up my life--at least my writing life--pretty nicely.If

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-44784745515287336012009-07-11T03:51:00.004-04:002009-07-11T04:12:53.180-04:00

Hi guys,I said I would try to post my friend Fred Pruitt's writing on The Proper Order, which I felt strongly related to what I have been blogging about in my last couple of posts, and to some of the struggles I have been going through lately. I know Fred from years ago in Macon, and started out as good friends with his daughter. We have all since moved apart in distance, but Fred and his wife

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-81994038230854690882009-07-06T02:46:00.000-04:002009-07-06T02:46:01.303-04:00

The Dark Man by Marc Schooley is an interesting book to be reviewing over Fourth of July weekend, because it paints a chilling picture of an America that has lost freedom of religion.Sometime in the unspecified future, following Christianity will land you in a reclamation center, where the powers that be will use some pretty scary forms of "therapy" on you to attempt to bring you back to your

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-44210632094757581332009-07-04T10:28:00.000-04:002009-07-04T10:28:00.569-04:00

Kristi's post yesterday reminded me of lots of things from my own life. She and I are so much alike, only I'm about 15 years further down the road.When I was in my mid twenties, I made a stab at L.A. and the film industry in my own way. I started a masters' degree in writing at the University of Southern California with a view toward becoming a screen writer. I might have been a flop at most

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-17305375882175544552009-07-02T04:06:00.006-04:002009-07-02T05:45:39.639-04:00

I promised you a follow-up to Part I, and I don't want to split this one up, so please hang in there with me. Here goes...I feel like this is difficult to write, partly because I am still smack-dab in the middle of it, still going through whatever this trial is. I would probably not be writing this, but I feel that God wants me to share some of the discoveries I have been making through His

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-41578961763497065522009-06-25T09:00:00.000-04:002009-06-25T09:36:04.462-04:00

I recently purchased Jeff Gerke's e-book bundle called The Writer's Foundation, which includes How to Find Your Story (to help develop plots) and Character Creation for the Plot-First Novelist (self-explanatory). The character creation tools make use of a book called Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey, which has personality tests and information on the temperament types made famous by

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-81308540842101476602009-06-22T13:10:00.001-04:002009-06-22T13:13:47.829-04:00

First, I am doing this blog post because I’m afraid you missed Kristi’s entry on the movie Revolutionary Road, and how it pertains to some of her own struggles. I don’t think the email update went out to subscribers, and it’s too good a post to miss.Second, I started writing a comment on her article and realized it was turning into a post of my own. So I’m putting it here instead. It’s funny. I

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-34488500586845535072009-06-20T04:32:00.015-04:002009-06-21T05:06:45.757-04:00

This is part movie review, part attempt to share just a small tip of the iceberg of what God has been doing in my life lately. That part, in particular, will probably be spread out over several posts. I started to write about it recently and had to stop, because I was having a difficult time explaining. But I'll try, because it really is awesome, and it just shows how God truly "works for the

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-11714929923761917782009-06-18T09:54:00.003-04:002009-06-18T13:34:10.130-04:00

From my earliest memories, I’ve tended to get WAY too caught up in stories and characters. Since most of you out there are writers and readers, you probably know exactly what I mean. But recently, I started thinking about some of the characters that I loved most, especially when I was young, and noticed a common theme.Almost all of the characters that I became really obsessed with and sort of

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-4437600080157070692009-06-17T07:00:00.001-04:002009-06-17T07:00:01.023-04:00

Wow, what a contest! I follow a lot of blogs that do book giveaways and have seldome seen this kind of enthusiasm--or this many entries.Wish I had a bunch of copies to give away, but I have just this one copy of Elizabeth Musser's wonderful new book, Words Unspoken. And the lucky winner is...Sally Bradley!Congratulations, Sally.I'm going to be starting a new giveaway in the next few days, so stay

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-18833728252502962642009-06-14T23:39:00.010-04:002009-06-15T00:38:00.561-04:00

This Friday, I started a hopefully unique campaign to draw attention to myself as a writer who should be working for Joss Whedon. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, he has written primarily for television, and is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the film and the series, Angel, Firefly and Serenity, my own personal favorites, and most recently, Dollhouse. During the

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-20365574788300785492009-06-11T09:57:00.004-04:002009-06-11T10:19:44.879-04:00

Okay, I admit I have the shopping gene. Fortunately I also have the cheapskate bargain-hunter gene, too, so it usually works out okay. If there are others of you out there, I wanted to let you know about this fun online event.Etsy is an online marketplace to sell handmade and vintage goods. They're having a yart sale from now through this Sunday, June 14. In case you're wondering, a yart sale is

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-29655508459793149282009-06-09T23:12:00.001-04:002009-06-11T09:42:53.676-04:00

By request of author Elizabeth Musser, I'm extending the deadline for the drawing for her latest novel, Words Unspoken. She wanted time to share the contest and review with her website readers, so you have another chance!If you'd like to read the review of this highly-recommended book, click here.If you'd like a chance to win a copy, leave a comment here or on the original review post no later

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-725770275801915632009-06-08T03:12:00.003-04:002009-06-08T04:02:52.955-04:00

Last week I registered with Central Casting. For those of you who may have never heard of it, Central Casting is the main source for extras, or "background" actors, in the film and television industry. As a non-union performer, I would receive $64.00 for 8 hours of work, and $126.00 for 8 hours of Union work. Right now as a non-union actor, I really cannot afford to spend many days doing this

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-48346948295913127752009-06-03T08:00:00.000-04:002009-06-03T08:00:00.900-04:00

If you read Monday's interview with author Elizabeth Musser, you know that her latest book is titled Words Unspoken. In my humble opinion, it's her best yet, and I say that with confidence having read all her others.I dare you to put it down after the prologue--the sudden hailstorm on the Interstate, the nervous young driver, and the freakish accident that sets the rest of the events in

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-35044157794378887522009-06-01T10:50:00.000-04:002009-06-01T10:50:00.253-04:00

I've known Christian fiction author Elizabeth Musser for several years now and consider her to be a good friend as well as a wonderful writer. One of her most gracious acts was to drag this little introvert around at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference and introduce her to authors and agents that she would never have approached all by herself.I'm very excited to be reading

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-67747569123956891082009-05-31T07:06:00.009-04:002009-05-31T08:06:36.491-04:00

So, I have been needing to get into a church here in the Los Angeles area, but the task of starting the search for the right one has lost out the last few weeks- lost out to my laziness and self-imposed frustration over the daunting need to find the needle in the haystack- the right one among all the churches here. Excuses. Why do I put this on myself? I can't do anything on my own- I can't find

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-44487928730982316572009-05-28T03:44:00.010-04:002009-05-28T04:23:34.044-04:00

*****WARNING: SOME 4-CHARACTER WORDS MAY FOLLOW**************So, culture shock is a real thing. Share with me some of the often crazy differences between this world and the one I left in Georgia.-Motorcycles can apparently legally ride between lanes. Like when traffic is moving slowly, they can zip between cars. I thought at first I was witnessing some rogue riders doing this, but it happens a

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-15704785285480233102009-05-25T09:21:00.000-04:002009-05-25T09:21:00.140-04:00

As I've mentioned before, I didn't start watching the TV show Lost until recently. Kristi had been wanting me to watch so I could discuss it with her but I figured I had missed too much to jump in late. I knew enough about the show to know that the plot is very complicated.Then Kristi played dirty. She gave me season one for Christmas, knowing I would be hooked. And I was. When I reached the

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-11691119850191566102009-05-22T06:57:00.011-04:002009-05-22T08:01:13.082-04:00

So, since the Westward Ho! Adventure ended, I've been living in California for 22 days. Amazing things have already happened.First, I managed to land an apartment and a roommate, who is actually a pretty sane, somewhat stable individual with whom I get along amazingly well. This happened while I was still in Georgia. As I began my apartment search via Craig's List, I started to run into problems.

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-17295930051946734732009-05-19T17:00:00.001-04:002009-05-19T13:37:09.390-04:00

Jasmine ShowersI have both some good news and an embarrassing story to share with you. Which would you like to hear first? Oh, I know all of you. You're eager for me to humiliate myself for your amusement, aren't you? Well, fortunately I'm good at it. So here goes.I've been trying for a long time to open an online shop on Etsy, a wonderful marketplace to sell handmade and vintage goods. I finally

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-59123375890682647172009-05-18T10:08:00.004-04:002009-05-18T10:18:20.358-04:00

Is this typical? Is this what happens frequently when a family member moves cross country to Los Angeles?I was fast asleep last night around midnight when my cell phone sounded off, letting me know I had a text message. Half asleep, I read this from Kristi: "Just felt my first quake. It was so weird."There was supposedly a small quake when she was moving into her apartment, but she said she

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-34018190965142183652009-05-13T04:48:00.000-04:002009-05-13T08:34:26.164-04:00

Remember where we left off? In Utah! Right! Well, after a short detour during which we tried to tour the Hoover Dam and failed, we headed back to Arizona to spend the night and then took off for California. A couple of things stopped us from getting to see the dam. First, we had my little Dodge Neon and my dad's Suburban which was pulling the U-Haul trailer. Well, after 9-11, the powers that be

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-65047489545122852842009-05-11T13:23:00.006-04:002009-05-13T14:55:35.250-04:00

I'm obviously slipping. I didn't even realize there was a new Star Trek movie coming out until a few weeks ago. Back in the geeky days of my youth, I would have been one of the first to hear of such an earth-shaking development. I would have been planning to go to the premiere with my geeky friends, in t-shirts with clever sayings like, "Reality is just a crutch for people who don't get science

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-59598076633349985002009-05-07T07:00:00.017-04:002009-05-07T07:50:41.387-04:00

And the adventure continues. Though I am actually now getting settled into my new digs in Northridge, CA, in the San Fernando Valley, I cannot move on in my postings until I deliver on my promise to tell you all about my amazing road trip. When last we left off, I had been telling you about my experiences at the Grand Canyon, and driving through Northern Arizona. The next day, we left Page,

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-71099119241387839542009-05-05T18:49:00.004-04:002009-05-05T19:14:09.676-04:00

You've heard the old saying about how to eat an elephant? Answer: one bite at a time.I discovered a great new resource that lets you apply the same principles to reading. It's called DailyLit, and it allows you to read some of those mammoth works of literature in small, easily-digested bites.This is how it works. You create a free account, then choose a book you would like to read. All the books

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-16672487107881344432009-05-02T22:00:00.000-04:002009-05-02T22:00:00.840-04:00

Yesterday we held the drawing for the $50.00 amazon.com gift card, and subscriber Jodie B. was the big winner. Jodie said she already has plans for the books she's going to buy. Congratulations, Jodie!See why it pays to subscribe?We run contests frequently, so stay tuned for the next one to be announced.Also, co-blogger Kristi just arrived in L.A. last night--and they had an earthquake while she

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-22984260226717625882009-05-01T09:00:00.000-04:002009-05-01T09:09:37.147-04:00

Hey guys,I promised a blog from the road, and here is the first. Sorry I haven’t posted one yet, but every day has been so full that by the time I finally hit the hotel at night, I am pretty tired. We (my dad Larry, his wife Debra, my cousin Shirley, and myself) have been going five full days, and now we are in Page, Arizona, right outside of the Navajo Nation. Today was definitely my favorite as

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-24463325994152621222009-04-27T09:07:00.010-04:002009-04-27T11:43:19.087-04:00

Last Wednesday was a big day for me. The Big Five-O. Not only that, but in addition to turning 50, it was the last day for me to see co-blogger and niece Kristi before she hit the road for her move to L.A. All you younger folks out there are probably thinking, how does a woman in this mature stage of life celebrate her birthday? As you would expect, life is more solemn and profound at this age,

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-73347679925221681682009-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:002009-04-24T07:00:01.180-04:00

I've blogged earlier about my excitement over new Christian publisher Marcher Lord Press. I love how they're giving opportunities to authors whose work is so fresh and unique. Stuart Vaughn Stockton, one of their latest authors, has a book that definitely fits into that category, and he graciously granted an interview to Dimensions, even though there's a lot going on in his life right now. When I

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-31984224408983475182009-04-23T03:31:00.004-04:002009-04-23T03:55:07.201-04:00

Friday is the day, folks. I'm sorry that this blog is as short as it is, but wow, it's exactly 3:33 in the morning, and I have been BUSY. I need to go lay down, and get ready to load in tomorrow. One suburban, one little dodge neon, and one U-Haul trailer will be loaded to the gills (hehe- a pun!) Remember, tune in for hopefully many updates and pictures from the road.Here's a question: Why move

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-73186142868821940332009-04-20T12:51:00.002-04:002009-04-20T12:56:46.634-04:00

The winner of the last weekly drawing for a $15.00 amazon.com gift card is Rose McCauley--who deserves a prize for being a faithful reader of my old blog, then moving over here to the new one. Thanks, Rose. Enjoy!The grand prize drawing for a $50.00 amazon.com card is fast approaching. Remember, every comment you leave between now and April 30 will get you one entry into that drawing. Plus, all

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-29999343111608550252009-04-17T07:58:00.000-04:002009-04-17T07:58:01.131-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if my reading habits are degrading to the point of being shameful. No, I'm not referring to reading Harry Potter. I already confessed that. I wasn't so much thinking of what I'm reading as the way I'm reading.A member of my family who lives far, far away (and who reads this blog, so she'll know who she is) was in town a couple of weeks ago. She asked me my secret for reading so

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-47017418651215043372009-04-14T10:11:00.003-04:002009-04-14T10:15:24.045-04:00

The winner of the hand-crocheted wire and coral bracelet is Sally Bradley. I hope you enjoy it, Sally!I'm lazy and running behind this week due to a long weekend Easter trip, so I think this week I'm going to take the easy way out and give away another amazon.com gift card in the amount of $15.00. But everyone loves those, anyway.So leave a comment on any post this week (by Sunday night) to be

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-17279504090241581432009-04-08T09:00:00.001-04:002009-04-08T09:00:00.868-04:00

I can't remember who this quote is from. (Naturally, as you'll understand if you finish reading this post.) But some famous person once said he would give a million dollars to be able to read Huckleberry Finn for the first time again.I understand that sentiment. The thrill of discovering a truly great book, one that resonates with your soul and you know will be with you forever, is a rare

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-57769409597571609372009-04-07T12:12:00.004-04:002009-04-07T12:51:38.452-04:00

The winner of last week's drawing was Jessica, who got to choose any one book from Marcher Lord Press as her prize. Jessica chose The Dark Man, and because it's one of their brand-new releases that actually won't be available for a couple of weeks, they sent her an e-version of the book to enjoy while she's waiting for the hard copy. Instant gratification!This week's drawing is a little different

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-55905935409812559402009-04-02T09:00:00.000-04:002009-04-02T09:00:00.160-04:00

The winner of last week's drawing for a $15.00 amazon.com gift certificate is JH Wilson. Congratulations, and thanks for subscribing! (See, it pays to subscribe. Nothing to remember, no hassles, and a chance to win great stuff!)Don't forget to leave a comment (or subscribe) this week for a chance to win YOUR CHOICE of any one book from Marcher Lord Press.

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-35825011004098324962009-04-01T08:00:00.001-04:002009-04-01T08:00:00.918-04:00

I was really excited when a new Christian Publishing Company, Marcher Lord Press, started up last fall. I heard the founder, Jeff Gerke, say he was interested in stories that were "weird and Christian," and I thought, hey! That's me! My stories, I mean. Or just me. Whatever.Anyway, today is Launch Day for their second round of Christian speculative novels, so I thought I would share with you a

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-47862677574837387102009-03-31T01:03:00.004-04:002009-03-31T02:15:04.245-04:00

With less than four weeks and counting down toward my "Westward Ho" adventure, as my dad has named it, planning is kicking into high gear. And let me just say, it ain't easy, my friends. I figured it would not be, and the hard stuff has begun.Swimming against the stream officially began when I started earnestly looking for apartments last week. How do people relocate? I guess most sensible people

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-19564809745443221322009-03-27T09:00:00.001-04:002009-03-27T09:00:00.956-04:00

In my last post, I promised to let you in on what got me out of my creative slump last year. I told you that it might shock some of you. Here's a hint: it was nothing short of magic.Right after I realized that I had lost interest in my writing, I reached another nasty conclusion. I had even lost interest in reading!Well, that was just going too far. Maybe I could give up writing and live a

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-75345096599405639232009-03-26T09:00:00.002-04:002009-03-26T11:19:04.864-04:00

Little Fish Kristi has been busy telling you about herself and her plans. I've been sort of lax about that, so I thought I'd better introduce myself to those of you who don't know me. For those who read my other blog, I wanted to tell you how I got here.If you don't know, for about two years I had a blog called The Queen of Perseverance. I laughingly gave myself that crown and dared people to

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-17786713190309084992009-03-24T01:05:00.006-04:002009-03-24T01:37:42.759-04:00

So, some of you may have been wondering why I have two "aka"s listed under my name on the right side of our blog page. Or you may not have cared a whit (perhaps more likely). "Dues Payer" is a user name I have adopted as an online header for a while now, after I established a (sort of) production company, named Dues Payer Productions. I have now written, directed, and produced two short films,

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-18764597529888749212009-03-23T21:00:00.000-04:002009-03-23T21:00:00.568-04:00

The winner of this week's drawing for the handmade, beaded bookmark is BunnyBx. If you're Bunny, send me your mailing address and I'll ship your prize to you right away.This week's drawing is for everyone's favorite--a gift card! Each comment you leave on the blog between now and Sunday, March 29, will get you one entry in the drawing for a $15.00 amazon.com gift card.As always, subscribers will

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-17798864273116146172009-03-22T11:45:00.000-04:002009-03-22T11:45:00.215-04:00

I did something truly bizarre last week. I read a current book of fiction--something that's actually popular right now.I'm always playing catch-up, not just with laundry and dust-bunnies, but with popular culture. I generally get excited about books that other people read years ago. But a couple of weeks ago, a colleague recommended a book called The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, by Joshilyn Jackson

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-83315913262385020052009-03-20T04:33:00.009-04:002009-03-20T04:56:30.404-04:00

My dog died last Wednesday. He was going to be thirteen this month. I had had him since he was a puppy. He was there with me through so many moves I can barely count anymore, through a divorce, through highs and lows, goods and bads, all of it. His constant little presence was a source of reassurance to me so often- love, loyalty, and friendship without judgment. He was a Yorkie and his name was

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-84577347035714087382009-03-17T11:00:00.002-04:002009-03-17T11:00:00.862-04:00

Wendy yearns for Narnia"I've got to get back! I'm a Queen there!"If you're looking for Part I of this post, it's over on my other blog. A few weeks ago, I told how my cat, Wendy, either has a rich life of the imagination or is going completely insane. I'm still not sure of the answer, but let me catch you up on the latest. First of all, she's developed an obsession for the TV show, Lost. I

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-89711766938128994762009-03-16T10:06:00.004-04:002009-03-16T10:45:20.926-04:00

The winner of the very first drawing on this blog is...Kathleen Morphy! Which is interesting, since Kathleen was the first winner, I believe, on my other blog, The Queen of Perseverance. I'll be mailing her a copy of the book, Art & Fear. Thanks for sticking with me, Kathleen!And now, for the Week 2 contest. I'll be giving away a lovely shepherd's hook bookmark, handmade by me.Trust me when I

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-89676884308811485522009-03-12T00:00:00.007-04:002009-03-12T00:00:00.292-04:00

Hey everybody. It's me again, Kristi. I thought I would share with you all today something I wrote a little over a year ago, while I was in school. It was for a Senior Seminar class, and we had been working all semester on figuring out where we as "artist/scholars" were at that present time, and where we wanted to go in our artistic endeavors. The term "artist/scholar" was big in our Theatre and

Kristi Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367917068681769144noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-349738103909776452009-03-10T12:32:00.000-04:002009-03-10T12:32:00.163-04:00

From now until the end of April, we're going to have a prize drawing every week for lots of fun things, including hand-made jewelry, books, gift cards, who knows? Then, at the end of April, we'll have a grand prize drawing for a $50.00 amazon.com gift card!Tune in at the beginning of each week to read about the latest prize. Every comment you leave during that week will get you one entry into

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124171849257468022.post-70221533767231464192009-03-09T20:33:00.006-04:002009-03-09T21:31:57.536-04:00

I absolutely adore the name of our new blog. Dimensions: Art and Eternity. Sounds like the sort of profound, spine-tingling, spiritual and artistic quest-type blog I'd love to read--if C.S. Lewis or Madeleine L'Engle were writing it.Unfortunately, it's just Kristi and me.Kristi just got out of college so maybe some of that deep thinking is still ingrained in her. But me? Yikes! What have I gotten

Robin Johns Grantnoreply@blogger.com6