The Lure of Stained Glass

A few weekends ago my husband and I went to the Scarecrow Festival at Milton. All the shops have scarecrows on display outside them according to the theme for the year. The time we went last the theme was fairy tales. This time it was horror. As well as the scarecrows, footpaths and parks are filled with markets, stalls and entertainers dancing and singing, a petting zoo and jumping castle for kids and lots of other things.

We were interested to see a church with its doors open inviting people in for a time of quiet, to pray or just to take a look around. We went in and up near the altar were some traditional stained glass windows. Anyone who knows me knows I love leadlight and stained glass. I love the richness of colours and the way light shines through making them look like jewels.  Here is more info about the historic church for anyone interested. http://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/MiltonAng.html

Then we turned around and I was immediately taken by the leadlight window at the back of the church.

From a resident of the area we found out it had only been installed about five years ago. While the other traditional stained glass windows were beautiful, it was the newer window that mesmerised me. It showed the dove symbolising the Holy Spirit and the light shining down from the dove onto the Great Southern Land of Australia, right to the spot of Milton.

It made me think of how the ways of doing things has changed over the years. The style of this newer stained glass window was very different to the traditional stained glass windows, while still retaining the richness of the older craft. Both were beautiful but probably appealed to different people and in different ways. I saw one lady look at the newer window and dismiss it before turning back to the older windows, whereas my husband and I were riveted by the newer window. I thought it’s a bit like the change in publishing these days from traditional publishing to the innovative E publishing.  

Some people prefer to stick with the tried and true while others eagerly embrace the new initiative. I admit to being one who has resited this change for a while but recently all that changed. In an effort to bring Streets on a Map to the attention of more readers, those who like to read on Kindle and perhaps those who do not have the money to shell out for a paperback, Streets on

a Map is now published as an E Book.

Like anything new, I am still finding my way around the whole E book revolution but at least I have made a start. And I’m enjoying hearing from people who have read the opening chapter and then proceeded to buy it. Of course the more we open ourselves up to new readers, the more positive feedback, word of mouth and reviews I hope it will engender. Or of course it could also be that thorny kind mentioned in a recent post. But either way my novel is now readily available to more people. I hope and pray it will reach them at a deeper level, causing them to think about where they stand with God and the choices they make in their lives.

On the Bookshelf

Most writers I know have a collection of writing books that they turn to or books have inspired them and been helpful in some way with their writing. Of course these books may not all be books about writing. Sometimes they may be novels or poetry that strikes a chord because they are so honest, or beautifully written, or such great examples of well-drawn complex characters. So I thought I’d share few of the myriad books that are on my shelves. Some of them are by Christians others are not. They are in no particular order but more as they come to mind as I glance around the room.

Writing Books

Walking on Water - Madeleine L’Engle. This is one of my absolute favourites.

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott

Write His Answer - A Bible Study for Christian Writers - Marlene Bagnull

Indelible Ink - 22 International Christian writers discuss the books that shaped their faith – compiled by Scott Larsen

Shouts and Whispers - twenty one writers speak about their writing and their faith –edited by Jennifer L Holberg

A Writer’s Book of Days – Judy Reeves

Walking on Alligators - A Book of Meditations for Writers - Susan Shaughnessy

The Invisible Child - Katherine Paterson

The First Five Pages - Noah Lukeman

The Plot Thickens - Noah Lukeman

Wild Minds - Natalie Goldberg

Escaping into the Open - Elizabeth Berg

How to read a Novelist - John Freeman

I’ve just finished reviewing this and among the interviews with a host of well known writers, it has some interesting practical information. You can find my review here http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/

Take Joy - Jane Yolen

Poetry

Rilke Selected Poems – English translations by CF Macintyre. I picked this up second hand for a couple of dollars at a Lifeline book sale. What a bargain!

Far from Home - Poems of Faith, Grief and Gladness - Andrew Lansdown

Birds in Mind –Australian Nature Poems – Andrew Lansdown

Flame Tree - Kevin Hart

Other Non Fiction Books I Treasure

John Doe Disciple – sermons of Peter Marshall

Mr Jones Meet the Master – sermons and prayers of Peter Marshall

My first experience of Peter Marshall was watching the film A Man Called Peter with Richard Todd and then reading Catherine Marshall’s story of her husband. So well did Richard Todd play the part of Peter in the movie that when I read the sermons, it is his voice I always hear in my head. I have most of the Catherine Marshall books.

Another author have myriad books of is Madeleine L’Engle. I may not always agree with everything she says, but she makes me think more deeply, a bit like our own Anne Hamilton. I’ve just finished reading one of her books for the third time.

God’s Poetry – The Identity and destiny encoded in your name – Anne Hamilton

Novels

The Friendly Persuasion Jessamyn West

I bought this book after I saw the movie, Friendly Persuasion. It remains my favourite movie and one of my favourite books. I would have liked Except For Me and Thee written by the same author and concerning the same family but I haven’t got it yet. I'm working on it.

Nine Days by Toni Jordan. From a writerly point of view, this is a great example of voice. The story is told in nine chapters each in first person from a different family member over a span of years. Be warned though some chapters contain a little strong language, which seems sadly to be so much a part of today’s books. If you can ignore that, it is worth reading as a writer to learn about voice.

Caleb’s Crossing - Geraldine Brooks. Again this is another which impressed me with its story and voice, though sadly I don’t have this one on my shelves... yet. It’s coming.

I’ve never been one to confine myself to reading only Christian fiction. I read widely so the bookshelves also include a raft of other authors including Nicholas Sparks, Fannie Flagg, Jodi Picoult, Gail Godwin and many others as well as some Aussie Christian fiction authors including Paula Vince and Mary Hawkins.

And there is one book I turn to often, but it does not live on the bookshelf but on the desk, the table near the armchair or wherever I happen to be at the time and that is the Bible.  Where else can you find a book with true stories, poetry, stories, action, prophecy, proverbs and wisdom, symbolism, and picture language,  songs, dreams and their interpretations, etc not to mention the fact that it is the way God speaks most clearly to His people. Through the bible we are introduced to the ultimate hero – Jesus.

Dale writes and reads fiction and poetry. Her latest novel Streets on a Map, was published by Ark House Press.  Prior to that Dale has had seven children’s books and Kaleidoscope a collection of poetry published. Many of the poems in Kaleidoscope have been previously published in Australia’s literary magazines. She has won prizes for her poetry and has been published in several anthologies.
More information about Dale can be found at www.daleharcombe.com or on her Write and Read with Dale blog http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/