The power of fiction, the beauty of words, and the God who made us to wield them for His glory.

An Evening with Tamara Leigh

Hello, reader friends! How many of you belong to a bookclub? For the last twelve months or so, I’ve been joining Novel Journey Book Club (led by Rel Mollet of Relz Reviewz) via video chat, but last Thursday, I hopped on a plane and flew 1,000 or so kilometres to attend in person. Because if ever there was a good reason to travel 1,000km to get to book club, surely it’s knowing that one of your favourite authors is going to be the special guest IN PERSON! Yes, folks. Tamara Leigh, creator of those magnificent Wulfriths, among other fabulous medieval characters (see my reviews of The Unveiling, The Awakening, The Raveling, Merciless, Fearless, and Nameless), has been holidaying in Melbourne and agreed to chat with us about her books and her writing. And what a wonderful chat it was!

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9 March 2020

‘Increase your vocabulary’ challenge

I have created my own new category of romance novel using today’s word: Histrionic Romance. histrionic  (adj) – excessively theatrical or dramatic in character and style. histrionics (n) – melodramatic behaviour designed to attract attention. By extension, histrionic romances are romances where many, if not all of the key components are exaggerated for dramatic effect. A brush of the hands is electrically charged, the hero and heroine are repeatedly distracted by each other’s adjective-laden physical attributes, disagreements and past disappointments are blown out of all proportion, and you can hear a string orchestra crescendoing in the background as the characters lean

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24 November 2015

‘Increase your vocabulary’ challenge

It’s time for an ‘Increase your vocabulary’ challenge.  Today’s word is: Obstreperous (adj) – noisy, clamorous, or boisterous.  Resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner.  Unruly. What a fantastic word!  And much underutilised.  How many opportunities can you find to use this word over the next few days?  Perhaps you would rather comment on someone’s obstreperousness?  If you’re really lost for opportunities both houses of parliament will be sitting (in Australia) next week.  Question time should provide you ample opportunity! Personally, I’m keen to try out, “Stop this obstreperosity at once!”  However, as a homeschooling mum of five children

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19 November 2015

There is no enjoyment like reading!

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you can identify with this sentiment.  I certainly do.  I long ago realised that there will not be enough time in my lifetime to read everything I want to read.  But as much as there is to gain from reading quality fiction, I think there is even more to be gained from discussing quality fiction.  Hopefully there are others out there who feel the same way 🙂 As a Christian I respond to everything that I read from the perspective of a Biblical worldview, but it doesn’t mean that I only read Christian fiction.  Neither does it

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6 November 2015