Author Archives: Janet Sketchley

About Janet Sketchley

Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer whose Redemption’s Edge Christian suspense novels have each been finalists in The Word Awards. She's also the author of the devotional collection, A Year of Tenacity. Janet blogs about faith and books. She loves Jesus and her family, and enjoys reading, worship music, and tea. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join her writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.

Review: Words in the Wind, by Yvonne Anderson

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Words in the Wind cover art Words in the Wind, by Yvonne Anderson (Risen Books, 2012)

Words in the Wind is book 2 in the Gateway to Gannah series. Book 1, The Story in the Stars, introduces Dassa, the sole survivor of planet Gannah, and Dr. Pik of planet Karkar. Dassa looks like most humans, but Karkars are taller, with six fingers and toes per hand/foot, and the only emotions they show are through their ear movements. The two planets, Gannah and Karkar, have a bloody history.

I can’t review book 2 without giving spoilers for book 1, so if this is a new series to you, click over to my review of The Story in the Stars. You may want to read that novel first.

[Scroll down for the rest of the Words in the Wind review]

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Words in the Wind takes place 20 years after Dassa, the last Gannahan, is rescued, and 10 years after she and Pik have married. They’re leading a settlement of humans whose goal is to repopulate Gannah according to the Old Gannahan customs, culture and language.

It’s a harsh culture in some ways, based on honour, truth and communal living. Many of the Old Gannahans had embraced Christianity when it was shared from Earth, partly because God (they call Him the Yasha) spoke directly to them. The settlers are Christians as well.

True Gannahans have a meah organ in their brains, allowing them to hear one another as well as God. A Gannahan was never truly alone, until Dassa became the last survivor.

In Words in the Wind, Dassa is stranded on the far side of the planet when her shuttle crashes. The impact damages her meah and she’s cut off from her children and from her God. She must survive in harsh surroundings and find a way home if her people can’t locate her. And she needs to learn to live her faith the way other races do, relying only on the words in the Bible and on God’s providence.

Pik has no contact with her but he’s convinced she’s still alive. Weather and equipment foil his rescue attempts, and the harder he tries to keep the settlers together and to lead in her absence, the worse he seems to do.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Dassa’s journey is an adventure, and while it’s dangerous, I wasn’t afraid for her. And then there’s the whole rediscovering Gannah aspect: this amazing planet with habitations and archives ready to be explored and put to use. Plus there’s the trust these people (most of them) have in their God to be with them in the hard times and to make a way.

When I reached the end I kept wanting to turn pages but there were no more! I’ll be eagerly waiting for book 3, Ransom in the Rock. In the mean time, if you like Christian science fiction that’s light on the science and more about the people and the planet, I highly recommend the Gateway to Gannah series.

You can learn more about Yvonne Anderson at her website, Y’s Words. Or follow this link for more about the Gateway to Gannah series. Yvonne is also part of the team at Novel Rocket.

[Review copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair review.]

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Writer, Who Are You Really?

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Be yourself

Be yourself (Photo credit: chase_elliott)

In developing as a writer and learning the rules and the craft, it’s easy to wake up with an identity crisis.

The publishers demand this. The readers want that. The critics are looking for something else. Does what’s left look anything like you? Who are you really?

I’ve been finding more and more advice lately on how important it is for a writer to be himself or herself. Not that we can scoff at things like craft and audience, but that developing excellence in our writing won’t happen if we’re stifling or masking who we are.

Be yourself. Be honest. Do your best. Take car...

Be yourself. Be honest. Do your best. Take care of your family. Treat people with respect. Be a good citizen. Follow your dreams. (Photo credit: deeplifequotes)

Beth Vogt challenges us to stand out.

From Bonnie Leon: Be Yourself.

At Novel Rocket, Christa Allen tells us to “Follow Your Weirdness,” which I’ve read Jeff Goins advise as well.

And at Chatting at the Sky, Emily P. Freeman calls us to overcome our fear and be ourselves: “You have something we desperately need. I don’t know what it is, but you do.” (One Way to Live Wildly Free)

Finding–and being honest about–who we are is one of the key topics Cecil Murphey addresses in his book, Unleash the Writer Within. You wouldn’t think it’d be so hard!

Hope?

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Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Saviour and my God!
Psalm 43:5, NLT*

King David is discouraged. He has real, physical enemies oppressing him and bringing down his spirit.

Sometimes our troubles are solid like that, but often they’re not.

Usually I just have my feelings and the “voices in my head.” Circumstances can be fine but some worry or perceived threat will set up in my mind and steal my joy.

I had a weekend like that recently, moping around carrying a load that probably won’t become real and certainly wasn’t then. Saying “it’s been a bit of a struggle.” That’s what I believed because that’s how it felt. And it was a struggle.

Finally the sensible portion of my brain reminded me, “I have a good Shepherd.”

The rest of me said “oh, yeah” like I’d forgotten. Again. But choosing to believe and rely on that fact ended the struggle with my intangible but real feelings.

Shepherd of our souls, You are strong and kind. Whatever circumstances come, You will still be God, still sufficient for our needs. Forgive us when we entertain thoughts that bring us down. And please train us to hear Your truths faster and more clearly so we can learn to walk in Your freedom instead of our former bondage.

∞

Here’s Josh Bates singing David’s psalm in “The Altar of God,” from the first Glory Revealed album.

*New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Review: Destiny’s Hands, by Violet Nesdoly

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Destiny's Hands cover artDestiny’s Hands, by Violet Nesdoly (Word Alive Press, 2012)

Destiny’s Hands is the story of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt as seen through the eyes of a gifted young Hebrew. Bezalel has trouble of his own, first as a slave and then as a free man, and family connections keep him close enough to Moses to observe the key events of the Exodus.

We may know the historical backdrop, but it’s interesting to stop and imagine what it felt like to the people living through it. They didn’t know what we know now, and Moses brought upheaval. Some believed, some didn’t. Most found it hard to trust Moses and to obey his instructions. Even sincere followers struggled with doubt and uncertainty.

The novel is a gentle read that acknowledges the harshness of the times but doesn’t dwell on the suffering. Instead its focus is the characters’ journey, both physical and spiritual. It covers the actual Exodus and the trip to Mount Sinai, including familiar elements like the crossing of the Red Sea, the grumbling in the wilderness, the golden calf and the Ten Commandments.

I enjoyed reading Bezalel’s story and the fresh look at his people’s liberation. My only disappointment was that it stopped so soon, and I’m hoping that means there’ll be a sequel. If you don’t know who the real Bezalel was, I won’t spoil it, but suffice to say God had a plan for his life. Destiny’s Hands ends as he steps into that purpose. I’d like to see him walk through it, and I’d like to see his people enter the Promised Land.

Canadian author Violet Nesdoly writes in many forms and genres. Destiny’s Hands was short-listed in Word Alive Press’ 2011 publishing contest, and it’s her first novel. To learn more about Violet, visit her website (previous link) and check out my interview with her: part 1 and part 2.

[Review copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair review.]

Renovations and a name change

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renovations

Photo credit: Janet Sketchley

This blog started in March, 2008, as God With Us: Finding Joy, sharing weekly devotionals. It grew to include posts on Christian living and reviews of Christian fiction.

But I found myself reading more speculative fiction, which didn’t seem to match my review-readers’ interests. So I started a second blog, speculative, sporadic… and slightly odd, to indulge my inner odd.

There was enough overlap between the blogs that I’ve decided to merge them. There are Christians who enjoy speculative fiction. If that’s not you, I hope you’ll still find some posts here to enjoy… and consider coming back (or subscribe to future posts).

So… newly-merged blogs, new template with customized menu (WordPress tutorials rock)… a new title seems appropriate.

Welcome to Tenacity: thoughts on faith and fiction.

Why tenacity? Well, it’s a short name, but it says a lot. Patience, perseverance, in it for the long haul. Tensile strength, even. Those are all things we need. Things I need and will probably keep talking about.

The background image I’ve chosen only shows the edges, but the complete photo is of a small wild rose growing in a cleft in a granite boulder. Tenacity.

Wild Rose in Granite
Photo credit: Janet Sketchley

If you have this blog bookmarked or you subscribe in a feed reader, thank you and don’t worry about making a change. The link address isn’t changing (janetsketchley.wordpress.com). If you get posts via email, thank you and you still don’t have to make any changes, just please don’t delete “Tenacity” or mark it as spam. It’ll still be me, just under a new blog title. Either way, consider stopping by the site to see the new layout. I’m really pleased with how it turned out. (Thanks, WordPress crew!)

Where Our Hope Is

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Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone.
Psalm 33:22, NLT*

How often can we honestly say our hope is in God alone?

We rely on what He’s given: jobs, doctors, physical strength and mental abilities. It would be silly not to make full use of them—after all, isn’t that why He provided them?

But let’s remember to look deeper and see where we’re really anchoring our hope. If some or all of our resources are taken away, God will still be God, still here, still loving and powerful.

Father, help us remember to put our hope and trust fully in You and not in what You give. Teach us to recognize Your hand at work, and give us grateful, praising hearts for all You’ve done.

∞

Robin Mark’s song, “My Hope is in the Lord,” is a good reminder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eYiIta8Ya8

*New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Review: Death of the Couch Potato’s Wife, by Christy Barritt

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Death of the Couch Potato's Wife cover art Death of the Couch Potato’s Wife, by Christy Barritt (Lighthouse Publishing, 2012)

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Laura Berry and her husband Kent have relocated from Chicago to a town called Boring, Indiana.

The locals call them city slickers, the Homeowners’ Association rules are driving them nuts, and Laura’s only friend is a senior citizen who tries to talk like a teenager. Kent is putting in long hours as new owner of the town pharmacy, and Laura can’t get a  handle on the housewife thing after being a career woman.

Then she finds her neighbour dead—murdered—and someone starts sending anonymous threats. Will the mystery jolt her out of her depression, or send her over the edge?

Christy Barritt weaves an intriguing plot that kept me guessing until the end. Laura is a lifelike character who’s struggling emotionally, yet she’s someone we can relate to. And the mystery balances her introspection.

In some ways Laura is a textbook “unreliable narrator” in that readers begin to suspect her perceptions and perspectives may not be as accurate as she thinks. That’s a good lesson for all of us, because so often we do the same things to ourselves.

Award-winning mystery author Christy Barritt’s novels include the Squeaky Clean Mystery Series and a number of Love Inspired titles. You can learn more about Christy Barritt and her books at her website.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

Guest posting at Grace Fox’s blog

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Thank you to Grace Fox of Daring. Deep. Devoted. for inviting me to guest post. Here’s a sample:

In crawling out from under hurtful labels, I wanted to step into my identity as one who is shepherded by the Lord Jesus Christ, secure in His love, provision and care. I figured that I didn’t need a label of any sort other than the new name He will give me at the end. And then I heard the words… [read the rest of “Hurtful Names, Hope-filled Names“]

Interview: Canadian author Violet Nesdoly, part 2

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Welcome back to part 2 of an interview with Violet Nesdoly, multi-talented writer from British Columbia, Canada. (Click for part 1 of the interview.)

Janet: Violet, last week we talked about the varieties of writing that you do. That’s a lot of work! What would be the perfect writer’s lair for you?

Violet Nesdoly with her new novel, Destiny's Hands Violet: Janet, I have it! When we bought our townhouse in 2007, I laid claim to the largest extra bedroom as my office. I have two desks (one for the computer, one for longhand writing), lots of shelves, a file cabinet. All I need is a lair-fairy to clean it up for me, and to go through and shred all the paper I no longer need to keep.

Janet: A lair-fairy—ooh, I could use one of those too. How does it feel when someone tells you they’ve changed because they connected with something you’ve written?

Violet: As you can imagine, this is huge! One of the reasons I chose to spend my days writing is because the writing of others has made a big impact on my life. I can think of many times a book has brought me to tears with the sense that God is in the room right beside me. The thought that God the Holy Spirit can inhabit words so that they communicate across time and distance is one of the mysteries of life.

When someone tells me that my words have helped them connect with God in some way, I feel a snap of rightness (like when puzzle pieces fit together) and am immensely grateful that I can do this thing that has the potential to impact people for eternity. 

Janet: I like that “snap of rightness” illustration. Those are the satisfying moments that make a writer’s work worthwhile. What do you like best about the writing life?

Violet: The variety. The independence (being my own boss). The challenge to always become a better writer. The vast opportunities because of advances in technology. The fact that I can connect with people all over the world at minimal cost.

Janet: What do you like least?

Violet: Marketing and publicity. Building a ‘platform’ via the social networks. Blowing my  own horn. Knowing that I’m responsible for selling a lot of books. Want to really know? I wrote about it here.

Janet: What do your family think of your writing?

Violet: My family has been so supportive. My husband is the best! He subscribes to my devotions, and gets my back when he finds typos. In all the years I’ve been freelancing, my career has never been a substantial money-maker. But he lets me muddle on, not begrudging me the time or shekels. He even cooks!

Janet: You have a keeper! Let’s step back and meet your non-writing side. What’s the rest of life like?

Violet: My husband and I attend a wonderful church (Christian Life Assembly), and I also attend and have taught at our women’s Wednesday morning program, Women By Design. 

Visiting our daughter, son-in-law and grandkids (a three-hour drive away) is always a treat, as is driving into the big city to dine with our adult son in restaurants of his choosing.

Not to be missed, of course, is the daily hour-long walk hubby and I go for each morning that it isn’t pouring rain. 

Janet: What are some of your favourite things?

Violet: Our grandkids (three beautiful pre-schoolers). Walks in the beautiful outdoors. Bird watching. Identifying wildflowers. My camera. My Kindle e-reader. Scrivener. My New Spirit-Filled Life Bible.

Janet: Is there a particular song or Scripture verse that’s made a big difference for you?

Violet: My life passage is Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

A song that has impacted me hugely is “You and Me Alone” by Norm Strauss. Norm is a Canadian singer-songwriter (roots style) and there’s not a lot of his stuff on YouTube. I did write about this particular song on my personal blog way back in 2005. If you’re interested in reading the lyrics and a bit about how the song has impacted me, the article is “marker stone – part 1.”

Janet: That’s a powerful story (I had to read “marker stone – part 2” as well.) I’m glad God has kept you writing! What are you reading these days?

Violet: Since I got my Kindle e-reader, I have more books on the go at one time than ever! The last piece of fiction I read was August Gamble by Linda Hall (downloaded from Smashwords). I also recently finished With Burning Hearts by Henri J. M. Nouwen (that was in hard copy),  Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo, Collections From a Forest – Volume 1, a book of poems by Charlie Van Gorkom, and Journey on the Hard Side of Miracles by Steven Stiles. I’m somewhere in the middle of The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Jerry Bridges and Rumours of Water by L. L. Barkat.

Janet: What are you listening to?

Violet: I got my husband a Jason Crabb CD for Christmas (Jason Crabb: The Song Lives On – Southern Gospel). I discovered I love it too. Other favourites are The Journey, a project by Stuart Townend, A Way to see in the Dark by Jason Gray, and whenever I’m doing our household’s number crunching, I tune in to Grooveshark Radio, search Andrew Peterson and line up a list of songs by him.

Janet: A number-crunching playlist. That’s a new one. As long as you’re not playing “Mission Impossible” I won’t worry! What do you like to do to get away from it all?

Violet: Hawaii!! We went this January. What fun! We also love to travel in British Columbia and explore out-of-the-way places. I’m always scouting for more murals and funky public art.

Janet:  There are murals in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia too (hint, hint). Thanks so much for taking time to let us get to know you a bit, Violet. May the Lord continue to bless you and make you a blessing to others—in every area of your life.

===

Destiny's Hands cover art

Destiny’s Hands is available now in print and e-book. You can read the opening chapters of Destiny’s Hands (Kindle version).

You can also find Violet Nesdoly via her main website (previous link) and at the following blogs:

With us is God

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And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20b, NLT*

Sometimes hearing the familiar re-worded or presented in a different way helps us take a fresh look—or listen.

A devotional in the Names of God Bible translates Immanuel as “with us is God.”

I’m used to “God with us.” It’s familiar. Maybe I take it too much for granted.

“With us is God.”

It has me thinking.

We can be encouraged, be reassured, comforted. Wherever we are, we’re not alone or abandoned. Even if it’s a hard place.

We can also be motivated: don’t slack off, because He’s here. We can’t hide anything. Yes, He understands and forgives, but because we love Him we don’t want to disappoint Him.

God our Maker and our Saviour, ever-present with us, help us remember You are near. Help us take courage, and help us live alert and obediently. Teach us a healthy fear of You, and deliver us from that unhealthy fear that would ruin us. Help us love and serve You, and let others see Your love in us.

∞

A good reminder song is Jeremy Camp’s “Right Here.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdHTOC4pfJQ

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.