How's Your Appetite?

by Mazzy Adams

My doctor recently prescribed a new painkiller for me; it’s a nerve blocker. She warned me one possible side effect is weight gain. Oh great, I thought. That’s all I need. The first couple of days I wasn’t hungry but I did have a constant urge to chomp and chew.

To make matters worse, the lettuce in the crisper was floppy and we were fresh out of celery. It was time for a distraction—something to occupy my mind and my hands, rather than my mouth.

Something like …

A book to read! Perfect!

Fortunately, my iBooks and Kindle App, bookshelves (the photo below is one of the smaller ones which happens to be filled with children's books for when the grandchildren visit), and my bedside to-be-read stash provide a literary smorgasbord from which to choose.

Lately, I’ve been adding the zesty appetiser of romantic humour from Meredith Resce’s Luella Linley novels to my plate, followed by a main meal of metaphysical poetry from A Poem a Day devotional by Philip Comfort and Daniel Partner (which takes some chewing and savouring).

Whether it's food for the body or food for the soul, some things just go together.

Fish and chips.

Bacon and eggs.

Readers and writers. 

Metaphysical poets might include thoughts and emotions, metaphors and similes, the physical and the spiritual in that list.

Now, when it comes to eating, I’m neither a foodie nor a culinary connoisseur. I don’t get hangry (angry when I’m hungry). I’m not a fussy or finicky eater (though in recent years I’ve had to avoid certain foods for health reasons). And I’m not terribly adventurous; the most ‘out there’ food I’ve ever consumed (discounting the incidental accidental Aussie fly) is a sausage made with minced Kudu meat (antelope) when I visited South Africa. I passed over the bowl of roasted Mopane Worms.

I am—as my daughter-in-law describes my delightful granddaughters—a fruit bat. I love fruit. All kinds of fruit. It’s my first choice, go-to food.

To put things in perspective, my house has one fridge, one freezer, one pantry …

And eight bookcases. Plus the to-be-read bedside stash (for midnight snacks). When it comes to selecting from a book menu, I'm much more adventurous.

Just as food sustains my body, books sustain … well, a lot of things; my brain, my heart, my spirit, my imagination, my connectedness to the world and to my tribe; you know, those crazy paper sniffers, stationery store stalkers, pen-pushers and keyboard crushers who love nothing more than a bubbling, creative mixing pot to cook their quixotic story ideas and/or piquant research into highly palatable text.

Yep, some things just go together. Like authors and bookworms. A casual exploration of Goodreads confirms this fact. It’s just one place where book foodies, literary connoisseurs, story gluttons, curious nibblers, and wild and wacky text eaters hang out, hoping to find their next new favourite bookish consumable and, hopefully, chat to its celebrity chef. (Got you there, didn’t I? You thought I was going to say celebrity author. Well, if the title fits…)

Yep. Readers and writers go together. We need each other to survive and thrive. 

And I love being both. Sometimes, reading or writing the right words is better than smelling the delectable aromas of culinary perfection. It’s as satisfying as banqueting at the grandest feast. Like the very act of breathing, it keeps me going, keeps me alive.

When I was seventeen, I read the following words for the first time:

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:1-3 NIV*

Those words filled me up with curious wonder and piqued my appetite to taste more of what Ezekiel was having. Both Jeremiah the prophet (15:16) and the Apostle John (Rev 10:19-10) knew what it was to eat a scroll from the Lord (and I’m not talking Sticky Buns or Cinnamon Scrolls). 

In John’s gospel, (Chapter 1:1-3) we learn who the Word is, and in John 6:35 we learn who the Bread of Life is. What joyous satisfaction that meal brings.

Psalm 19:10, Psalm 119:103, and Job 23:12 are Bible verses for connoisseurs and sweet-tooths. And let's not forget Galatians 5:22-23 which is all about the FRUIT of the Spirit. 

Within the Bible's pages there are stories and parables, history and eye-witness accounts, poems and visions and glorious descriptive pictures galore; a veritable feast fit for … everyone. God invites all to come and dine at his banqueting table.

As readers and writers, whatever literary dish we prefer to prepare or eat—and both the fiction genre smorgasbord and the non-fiction banquet offer vast, superlative choices—it’s good to know that the tastiest, healthiest, most nourishing and satisfying meals are served at the table of the Lord.

What kinds of literary nourishment have you been cooking up or consuming lately?

* Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Mazzy Adams is a published author of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. She has a passion for words, pictures, and the positive potential in people. 

Website: www.mazzyadams.com

Email: maz@mazzyadams.com

Has anybody Seen my Muse?

 

by Anusha Atukorala

The other day I was hunting for my runaway shopping list. I hunted here and I hunted there; I hunted everywhere. But no! Like a magician's rabbit who had performed a vanishing trick, my little notebook had completely disappeared from sight. Until … I opened one of the current books I was reading  … and voila! There it was. Hooray!

 

Have You found anything precious inside a BOOK?  

 

I’ve found plenty of valuable nuggets inside books. Like … joy from stories that crept into my heart, head knowledge that came from books, heart knowledge that also came from books, courage from tales of bravery, smiles from jokes and humour, wisdom from learned authors, relaxation when chuckling through a good yarn, deep sleep through a good book at bedtime, camaraderie through books shared with friends, a thumping heart when glued to a page-turner, hope from inspirational writing. And more. So much more. For like feasting on delicious morsals  at a banquet, in books too I find numerous delectable goodies that fill and satisfy me.

 

Early in 2020, my brain hummed with a plethora of writing ideas. I made some impressive writing plans. I even enjoyed lots of extra time to write, courtesy of Covid-19. But now … as I look back on the year that’s fast waning, I don’t have much to show as a Christian writer.

 

Has anybody seen my muse?

 

I did find something more precious than gold in a BOOK I’ve read every day of 2020. I’ve had more time this year to pursue God. Like a parched traveler finding an oasis in an arid desert, I’ve been drinking from the inexhaustible spring of the Waters of Life. Through the written Word and the Living Word, I’ve found Life. Hope. Sustenance. Blessing.

 

So perhaps 2020 has not been a waste after all?

 

Watching Avatar the movie some years ago, it struck me 

forcibly how we humans borrow God’s ideas. All. The. Time! 

The beings in the planet portrayed in Avatar were so similar to

 humans—with arms, legs, eyes, noses, mouths just like ours

 and tails like those of animals.

The plants in that planet were a whisper of our God’s creation. 

The beauty in that sphere was a reflection of the earth’s loveliness.

The truth is that we can never improve on our Creator's work

when making a movie or in writing a story, for every idea we 

have comes from Him. The exciting reality then is that the 

closer we get to Him the better we can tap into Him and His

creativity. No, I haven’t done much as a writer in 2020. But I

have done one thing well. 

I’ve called it my Year of Jesus, and my Year of Jesus it has been!

So perhaps it was simply a divine pause in my life? 

Perhaps it was a year of being renewed in order to serve Him better in in 2021?

  

Have you, in 2020 …

1.     Read books?

2.     Edited stories?

3.     Written book reviews?

4.     Encouraged other writers?

5.     Walked with the hurting and helped others?

6.     Cared for family and friends who needed you?

7.     Simply obeyed God in all He asked of you each day?

8.     Drew closer to Jesus, the One who holds all things together?

9.     Chalked up life experiences that you can now use in your writing?

10.  Took a break from writing because of other more important callings?

11.  Lived life the best you could each day in spite of tough circumstances?

12.  Battled difficulties and tough times to become a better version of yourself?

 

If you have done any of the above, you can hold your head up high. And even if you simply  kept on living, that is something to be proud of. Sometimes life is so hard that just to keep on going is an achievement in itself. 2020 was a year that challenged me and helped me grow and stretch. And that is what I call a really good year even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

 

As I’ve sought my Muse-giver, in Him I’ve found my muse. 

For in Jesus is life and hope and truth. His light pierces the 

darkness of Covid-19 and the bleakness of our world. 

This Christmas, may you find in Jesus, all that you desire.

And from the the challenging year of 2020 may you birth 

a rich and fulfilling 2021!

Keep writing!

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, as she dances in the rain with Jesus.

 

Her first book Enjoying the Journey contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her 2^nd book ‘Dancing in the Rain’ brings you hope and comfort for life’s soggy seasons. Her 3rd book, ‘Sharing the Journey’ is a sequel to 'Enjoying the Journey' and was released in March 2020.

 

Do stop by at her website Dancing in the Rain to say G’day!

Her latest Blogs are found at Light in the Darkness - where she continues her writings on the Truth who lights up this dark world  - JESUS!

Anusha's Books

A collection of 75 little God stories to bring you closer to our Saviour.

Words that will bring comfort and hope during life's tough seasons.

A sequal to Enjoying the Journey. 75 more stories that will bless and inspire.

Anusha's Facebook Author Page

Anusha on Good Reads

Mischief and Mayhem Afoot! (A Spot the Author Mystery)

by Mazzy Adams

Am I going stir crazy? I know I've been housebound for the last few weeks but ... I'm a homebody, an introvert, a reader, a writer ... home is my thing!

But alas, all is not as it should be ...

Imagine my confusion when I looked at my shelf of titles by Australian Christian authors (many of them members of Christian Writers Downunder) and discovered that my favourite books had ...

Gone walkabout! OH NO!

Where, oh where, could they have gone?

*Scratches head in puzzlement

Well, it appears that my books held their own little isolation rebellion. They were sick and tired of being cooped up on the bookshelf so, in cahoots with their mischievous authors, the whole adventurous crew decided to play hide and seek in my back yard.

Can you help me spot those naughty authors so I can have words with them about ...

How much I LOVE their books?

Who knows ... you might be one of them. 

For a bit of fun, (and to discover some awesome authors and their books) have a go at naming the plethora of Christian Aussie authors (and their book titles) appearing in these pictures. Add your sleuthing suggestions to the comments below. There are several anthologies shown too. Have you contributed to any of them?

Feel free to add your suggestions for other CWD authors/books you'd personally recommend.

Or, if commenting on blogger is not your thing, maybe you could post your own 'run away' book photos under the comment with this link in the CWD Facebook Members Group.

Have fun spotting. :)

Who wrote these? Fantasy, Mystery, Poignant representations of truth, Women's Lit, and Magical Realism ...

The power of a cover to pique the curiosity. Can you guess why it's hiding in this particular spot ... ?

Delightful non-fiction to heal and help ...

Mysteries abound for Adults and New Adults alike ...

Now here's a unique trio ... some deep diving via a verse novel, intriguing historic fiction set in Australia, and a delightful story of three friends ...

Hiding in a cement mixer? Well, there is an eclectic mix of stories, devotions and encouragements in these collections ...

Hmm ... rusty metal and crucifix orchids attracted these gems; love, laughter, and high adventure in Australia, USA, and South Africa brought to you by these Aussie authors ...

This package missed out on the trek into the backyard because it is waiting to be collected by its real owner (after I managed to borrow it for a while) ...

I'm a YA fan, that's for sure! These high favourites of mine are filled with high stakes, high adventure, and highly interesting characters ...

Whoops! Did this fellow forget to join in the fun? No. It is being faithful to its purpose, waiting patiently for me beside my bed because I'm in the middle of reading it now ...

So many anthologies filled with short stories, poetry, and devotions. Lots of authors too, but I'll give you one clue - I'm one of the authors in all of these. Woohoo!

Back in March at the Omega Book Fair, I scored some new additions to my collection, all waiting to be read through and through (though I've already giggled at quite a few of the funnies in one of them) ...

Hope you had a bit of fun sleuthing. But here's a word to the wise, some sage advice, for these days like no other: Perhaps you might be wise to check out your bookshelves to see if their contents need to see the light of day again. Maybe you'll discover they're crying out for some newcomers to liven up their book parties. ;)

Mazzy Adams is a published author of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. She has a passion for words, pictures, and the positive potential in people.

Website: www.mazzyadams.com
Email: maz@mazzyadams.com

Meet our Members . CWD Member Interview – Shane Brigg

Each Thursday in 2018 we will be interviewing one of the members of Christian Writers Downunder – to find out a little bit more about them and their writing/editing goals.

Today we interview Shane Brigg.

Shane Brigg enjoys good coffee, chats and a walk with friends and family

BOOKS MUSIC MOVIES PLACES and PEOPLE

Question 1: Tells us three things about who you are and where you come from.

In our bedhead we have a bookshelf. Beside my mind all night long I have the key influential books of my life. It is as if the ink comes to life each night in my resting and dreams and visions and scoping for the day ahead. A little book with a faded cover is here. My Side of the Mountain by Jean George. I first read it as a young boy who loved nature, wanting to find my way in the world and seeking to know the Creator. I grew up in South East Queensland. My Mum and Dad instilled in me a love of nature.  I remember hours exploring the creeks and forests near our home. Perhaps this is what lead me to study Environmental Science. I love bushwalking, gardening, walks along our coastline and noticing the wonders of the world. This has not only meant exploring and studying wild valleys, forests, swamps, caves, mountains, deserts, animals, plants and landscapes worldwide. It has meant stepping through the open doors, gateways, arches, and homes full of human life in towns and cities across our globe.   I have an intense passion for the things of creation but particularly for the humanity our Creator died for to reveal His love.  

Adventuring in Life and Nature. Shane on top of Mount Cooroora

I love people. All sorts of people. Those environmental studies lead me into discovering more about humanity as anthropology and sociology was offered to me. Assignment work amongst homeless young people living on the streets of Brisbane, ministry amongst Indigenous communities, leading teams cross culturally into South East Asia have punctuated my journey.  A song that has become a theme for my life is “Rose Coloured Stain Glass Windows” by Petra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahcvBSbdces&t=14s

When I first heard it, it moved me so much I cried. For me it was the story of my passion for seeing what I had discovered of a saviour who had stepped out of His position to save me and the world around me, and He wanted his people to do the same. Go into the world. Reveal His love. That is what defines me. I am a Chaplain of one of the largest schools in Queensland. Loving families from all walks of life. We live in the University of the Sunshine Coast precinct. Here our missional community reflects the more than 40 Nations represented. Each week we connect personally with dozens of new friends from many different tribes, many of whom are only just realising that the Creator is real and loves them intensely. We are blessed to call them family.

Connecting with International Students inspires a global depth to Shane's Writing 

Question 2: Tell us about your writing (or editing/illustrating etc).  What do you write and why?

My writing reflects all this framework. I write about and for people. My writing expresses the needs these populations have. Most of my writing happens because it must. Communicating happenings, helps, honest musings and happy celebrations. Things like articles produced in magazines, school newsletters, newspapers, online platforms are a regular happening for me. Academic writing, helping students, training, resources for learning, coaching, empowering ministry tools are also prime to my writing.

More creative pursuits provide a personal outlet for me. I have several projects concurrently underway that many of the aforementioned writings take pre-eminence over due to real time constrictions. And yet a Trilogy that I started some 33 years ago continues to take shape. It started as random writings that seemed to come together miraculously and now has a reasoned synopsis, powerful authentic characters, and situations that are reflective of my own life journey expressed as a fictional pre-dystopian narrative. Other projects include a young adult Graphic Novel, a fun Aussie school-based reader for junior primary, and a fantasy novel that delves into the principles highlighted in the book of Ephesians. I have also written scripts and screenplays, with storyboarding and artwork to compliment.

Creating Narratives with a Challenge in mind for Young People

Question 3: Who has read your work? Who would you like to read it?

The primary audiences for what I have written have been those within the communities I have the honour of serving as Pastor, bible college lecturer, Chaplain, and friend. Students, families, readerships across entire regions in newspapers, our families of faith, deliberate, opportune and often nonintentional audiences. I look forward to watching how publishing my major creative works can impact lives as they are read by the young adults and children they are aimed at.

Question 4: Tell us something about your process. What challenges do you face? What helps you the most?

Much of my creative work is an expression of occurrences and real-life situations I have encountered. They are a sort of journaling on my behalf. But I write through the lenses of my key characters in a fictional world.  I am inspired by the works of Stephen Lawhead, Tolkien and various adventure and fantasy sci fi writers. Movies such as Blade Runner, Hacksaw Ridge, Lord of the Rings, Blood Diamond, and They Killed My Father motivate me to write to themes that move people to action. 

Creative Journaling is a foundation for Shane's Writing.
My Son Vietnam.

  

Question 5: What is your favourite Writing Craft Book and why?

I do not have a favourite writing craft book, but a major premise I gained from a book about

CS Lewis’s writing style has been very liberating. Truth does not have to be factual. What this means is that often Truth is discovered in unreal settings. For example, Aslan in CS Lewis’s writings is not a real entity but holds Truths about Christ. He is not a tame Lion.

Question 6: If you were to give a shout-out to a CWD author, writer, editor or illustrator – who would they be?

I have been blessed to reconnect recently with Nola Passmore. When I was ministering at the Uni she was lecturer at in the 1990’s, we prayed together with a group of academics, started a forum for students we called Catalyst, and now I am blessed to have her inspiring my journey as a writer. http://www.thewriteflourish.com.au/

Question 7: What are your writing goals for 2018? How will you achieve them?

The main goal I have is to create the structural framework around each of my works so that much of what is (at the moment) in handwritten form can be easily transferred into a digital format. I have about 3 archive boxes of handwritten material. sigh.

Question 8: How does your faith impact and shape your writing?

My faith journey is dynamically (if not overtly) reflected in everything I write. I aim to write from a point of authenticity and passion. I hope the love I have discovered in our Creator is revealed in humble expressions that bring my characters, plots, teachings and inspirations to life. Family is vitally important in my faith journey. Our own family is a huge inspiration. The family that we embrace within our faith journey brings light into a world that needs the brilliance of the Saviour’s love. This has a vital influence on my writing too.

Shane's Family. 

CWD Member Interview - Linsey Painter

Each Thursday in 2018 we will be interviewing one of the members of Christian Writers Downunder – to find out a little bit more about them and their writing/editing goals.

Today interview: Linsey Painter

Beautiful beach in Indonesia

Question 1: Tells us three things about who you are and where you come from.

I am a child of God, a mum to two rambunctious boys and wife to a wonderful husband.

Where I come from is a bit of a complicated question to answer. J I kind of do life on the move. I was born in Melbourne, I grew up in West Papua, Indonesia and I’ve lived in Arnhem Land, Papua New Guinea and Cairns.
Each place I have lived, has contributed to making me who I am.

Question 2: Tell us about your writing (or editing/illustrating etc).  What do you write and why?

I primarily write for young people. I love kids books. When I was growing up, reading was a safety net for me, it was a place I could disappear and feel safe and secure. I want to write books that will help kids when life gets tough, that will open their eyes to other worlds and write books that will be their friends.

Question 3: Who has read your work? Who would you like to read it?

Friends and family and kids of friends have read my work as well as other adults around the globe. I would like my work to reach whoever it needs to. I still turn to kids books as my first love in reading and I’m thirty-six, so I’m more than happy for whoever at whatever age to read my work.

Question 4: Tell us something about your process. What challenges do you face? What helps you the most?

My workspace

I’m a pantzer. I get an idea and I write. I skip all over the book and write a chapter in the beginning, then I’ll write the ending, then I’ll start filling in the middle bits. I do get to a stage where I need to do lots of mapping and looking at my structure and plot.
It’s usually a huge mess for a long time but I’m learning that ‘mess leads to clarity’ so there’s hope.

Music helps me a lot. I get so much inspiration from listening to songs. Also, going outside and being inspired by nature is amazing.

I have a lot notebooks because I love to actually write on paper. The majority of my work goes straight onto the computer but I doodle and draw pictures and write down tid-bits, dialogue and even whole chapters into my notebooks.

Question 5: What is your favourite Writing Craft Book and why?

Hmmm, this is a bit of a hard one for me to pin down. I really love Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. It reminded me that writing is not all about getting published. It’s a gift to be shared in lots of different ways.
Libby Gleeson’s Writing Hannah is a fun, practical look at writing for kids.
I also loved Katherine Paterson’s The InvisibleChild. It is actually different papers she’s written and talks that she gave over the years about her experiences and what she's learned through reading and writing children's books.

Question 6: If you were to give a shout-out to a CWD author, writer, editor or illustrator – who would they be?

I will give a shout out to my amazing Sci-Fi/Fantasy Skype group that meets once a month. Jeanette O’Hagan, Adam David Collings, Raelene Purtill and Catriona McKeown. They have been such an incredible encouragement for me being such a newbie to writing. Their wisdom, experience and generosity in sharing has taught me so much. Thanks guys!

Question 7: What are your writing goals for 2018? How will you achieve them?

I have quite a number of things that I want to finish off. This interview was one of them—tick! I'm working on a couple of short stories that I would like to finish off with a view to submitting them to anthologies. I'm also writing a fantasy series. My goal this year is to write the second book in the series, so I’ll keep plugging away at.

We’re having an interestingly disruptive year. We’re heading off to Africa for about six months. So, that will influence not only how much I get done but also what I write. I’m excited to see what impact it will have on the stories that I am working on at the moment and what new concepts I might come up with.

 

Question 8: How does your faith impact and shape your writing?

I write from a Christian worldview though not necessarily for the Christian market. So my faith saturates what I write. I want to write in a way that glorifies and honours God. I want to write to have a deep impact. I want to write in a way that the reader is distracted by what’s at the front door while the truth slips in through the side window.

Linsey Painter loves to write stories that draw on her rich heritage of growing up overseas. Her children’s stories focus on growing young hearts, challenging assumptions and exploring courage in the face of life’s difficulties.
Linsey’s books are drawn from real life and imaginative fantasy adventures. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect and sometimes we need to be brave and find out how to love and trust again.
Through her books Linsey shows that joy and beauty are everywhere even when life is difficult.
Linsey lives in Cairns with her husband and two lively boys.
You can find information about Linsey on her website or follow her on facebook or twitter.