 Wandering and floating
here and there, my presence in life is like smoke in the air. I'm not a memorable face, leaving the briefest trace, I drift in and out as I please carried faintly on a breeze, blink and I won't be there, like smoke in the air. Though I may seem approachable and transparent, it'll soon become quite apparent that what you see, you can not snare, much like smoke in the air.
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 I received an advanced copy of Seek To Be Wise by Chess Britt from GreenLeaf Book Group for the purpose of reviewing it ahead of its release on July 7th. Overall, the book was a quick, easy read with some good commonsense advice and inspiring quotes. As Britt states in the book, "Wise people understand that it is the simple things in life that are extraordinary," and that "the potential for finding wisdom is unlimited."
My only criticism is the issue of not citing others' words and works that Britt used within the book. In the forward, Britt is upfront about it, explaining, "I will give no credit for quotes or ideas," reasoning that "nobody's ego needs to be stroked." To be honest, I found that to be lazy writing, as well as unprofessional. We are taught throughout school (and life) to do the work of researching and citing work/words that are not our own, otherwise it is plagiarism at best, theft at worst. The majority of the errors and missing citations are easy google searches, so I'm not sure what the real issue was. For example, on page 11, Britt quotes "an old country song" with a few (mis)quoted lyrics. Even so, a simple google search found the song in question, Roy Clark's "Right or Left at Oak Street". Another error can be found on page 90, where he states that, "Tim McGraw wrote a song for his daughters..." He is referring to "Humble & Kind", which was actually written by Lori McKenna, McGraw merely recorded it. There are other examples of un-cited work, and honestly, this glaring issue got in the way of my giving the book more than a 3 star review. As a writer (I use that term in the loosest sense of the word) myself, I can't imagine including other people's words and works in my own work without giving proper credit/citation. I can only imagine how I would feel if someone were to claim my work as their own, which is essentially what you're doing any time you were another person's work without citing it. Other than the citing issue, Seek To Be Wise is an enjoyable, worthwhile read.  Is it just me or do the months seem to be flying by? I managed to read four books for June, though I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I can't seem to process nearly as many books as I used to. As you can see by the picture above, I read two physical books, but I also read one on my kindle and listened to another on Audible! The audio book was my first time using Audible and I have to say, I liked it. Definitely opens up another, more accessible way to consume books.
As June marked the anniversary of D-Day, I decided to pick up a book that had been sitting on my shelf, unread for quite some time. George Wilson's If You Survive is a World War Two memoir that takes the reader through Wilson's service during the war, detailing events, as well as his thoughts and emotions surrounding them. I found Wilson's approach to his memoir candid, honest, and raw. He doesn't sugar coat or glorify what he and the men he served with went through. Overall, I found it an interesting and eye-opening account of some of the events and battles of World War Two, and what the men who fought in it experienced, from a man who was actually there and lived to tell. As I mentioned before, I also had my first Audible experience this month. I signed up for a free trial and listened to Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me, as I have decided to make a deliberate effort to read more books by People of Color. The author himself narrates the book, which I believe adds to the listening experience. I found the book interesting and enlightening. It opened my mind and exposed me to a different perspective and different beliefs. While I may not have agreed with some of what was said in the book, I realize that it wasn't important whether I agreed with the message or not. What was important was that I heard it. I believe it is important to expose yourself to differing cultures, views, and beliefs, even if it makes you uncomfortable, to gain a better understanding of what makes people who they are. The third book I wanted to discuss here is Chess Britt's Seek To Be Wise. I received an advanced copy from GreenLeaf Book Group for the purpose of reviewing it ahead of its release on July 7th. Overall, the book was a quick, easy read with some good commonsense advice and inspiring quotes. As Britt states in the book, "Wise people understand that it is the simple things in life that are extraordinary," and that "the potential for finding wisdom is unlimited." My only criticism is the issue of not citing others' words and works that Britt used within the book. In the forward, Britt is upfront about it, explaining, "I will give no credit for quotes or ideas," reasoning that "nobody's ego needs to be stroked." To be honest, I found that to be lazy writing, as well as unprofessional. We are taught throughout school (and life) to do the work of researching and citing work/words that are not our own, otherwise it is plagiarism at best, theft at worst. The majority of the errors and missing citations are easy google searches, so I'm not sure what the real issue was. Honestly, this glaring issue got in the way of my giving the book more than a 3 star review. As a writer (I use that term in the loosest sense of the word) myself, I can't imagine including other people's words and works in my own work without giving proper credit/citation. I can only imagine how I would feel if someone were to claim my work as their own, which is essentially what you're doing any time you use another person's work without citing it. Other than the citing issue, Seek To Be Wise is an enjoyable, worthwhile read.  Bury me beneath the sycamore tree
a beautiful monument for all to see, in no other grave I'd rather be, for all the joy it brought to me. ~ Liz Austin 2020  First off, I've decided to format this feature differently. When I first switched to doing my Books of the Month feature instead of a full time book blog, I would just list off a few of the books I've read with a picture of the cover and a paragraph or two about the book and whether I liked it or not. I've decided that I'd rather just write out a more constructed feature that flowed. I will talk about the books I've read in a more conversational manner, and the header photo for each month will be of the books featured. I think it'll work out better this way and be more enjoyable to read... Hopefully!
I spent most of the month of May, and this year in general, going back to books that I've read in the past. I've rediscovered the joy of rereading great books! For May I found myself returning to the catalog of one of my favorite authors, Karen Witemeyer. I own all of her books and I devoured, once again, a good number of them this month, as well as her latest book that releases in June. Among the books from Witemeyer's catalog that I reread this month were the first two books in her Archer Brothers series, Short-Straw Bride and Stealing the Preacher. Short-Straw Bride was the first Witemeyer book I had read and, of course, the one that got me hooked. I loved the Archer Brothers series, and was pleased to find that my memory of enjoying both books, which follow the Archer brothers with three books devoted to three out of the four brothers (the fourth brother, Jim's story is given to us as a background story in mostly the first novel, as well as being mentioned in the others), held up. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading about the adventures of Darius Thronton, a man obsessed with scientific experiments that could change the shipping industry and the fiery shipping heiress, Nicole Renard in Full Steam Ahead, as well as the mystery and dangers surrounding the ladies of Harper's station and Malachi Shaw, the man brought in to help, in No Other Will Do. Witemeyer is an expert weaver of interesting and delightful stories, truly an author readers can rely on to deliver great reads, and her latest release, At Love's Command*, is no exception. I am honored to have been on Karen's launch team for her last three releases, including At Love's Command, and enjoy the privilege of getting to read her books ahead of release. Another new-to-me book that I read in May was Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees, a truly excellent and eye-opening read. I've always been a tree lover, I can't really explain why, I've just always appreciated their quiet strength and sturdiness, and the fact that you feel like you can rely on them to be there through life. The Hidden Life of Trees made me love and respect trees even more than I already did. Wohlleben writes in a conversational way that draws you in and keeps you interested through to the end as he takes you through the surprisingly intricate and complicated lives of various species of trees and their impact on their ecosystems. I'd highly recommend it. I have found myself reading less books per month, mainly due to changes in how my brain functions now and the fact that it seems to process information a bit slower than it used to, but really, that seems to be a nice change of pace. I find I'm forced to take my time with them and as a result, I savor books more, rather than devouring them in one sitting (though sometimes I still do that!). It's been an interesting development in my reading journey... I'm looking forward to seeing what June holds for book adventures! ;) *I wrote a separate review for At Love's Command, click the title (link is embedded) above to read it!  I officially have a new favorite book. Karen Witemeyer gives readers yet another deliciously wonderful read, and a few new swoon worthy heroes, with her latest, At Love's Command. I've been a fan of Witemeyer's books for almost a decade now, and having never met one of her books that I didn't adore, she quickly became one of the few authors of which I'll blindly buy their new releases with full confidence, knowing that it won't disappoint. At Love's Command is absolutely no exception to this rule and certainly delivered above and beyond my already high expectations.
Matthew Hanger is a hero of heroes and could make even the stoniest heart swoon. A seasoned ex-cavalry officer turned mercenary, Matthew has made it his life's mission to defend the innocent and obtain justice for the oppressed. Leading his now legendary band of mercenaries, Hanger's Horsemen, they soon find themselves in need of saving when one of his men takes a bullet and is in need of a doctor... Witemeyer expertly weaves four distinct personalities in the Horsemen's Matthew Hanger, Luke "Preach" Davenport, Mark Wallace, and Jonah Brooks, to the point where the reader feels as if they are old friends, easily recognizable through mannerisms and speech. I personally found myself drawn to both Matthew and Luke/Preach the most, and am very happy that Luke "Preach" Davenport will be closing out the Hanger's Horsemen series with his story. The heroine of At Love's Command, Dr. Josephine Burkett is a woman used to men discrediting her skills due to her gender, what she wasn't expecting was for a rugged mercenary to change his mind in a heartbeat and to assist her in surgery. Matthew's dedication to his friend during recovery quickly earns Dr. Jo's respect, and when her wayward brother is abducted, he becomes her only hope for rescue. When things go terribly wrong, placing Josephine herself in the crossfire, Matthew faces having to sacrifice everything, including his men, to save her. A thrillingly delightful read, At Love's Command is the beginning of another intoxicating series. That's truly been one of only two complaints I have when it came to Karen Witemeyer's novels, you simply cannot put them down. Each novel is so addicting that you simply have to read it in one sitting. There's no walking away from a Witemeyer story before you reach the end. It actually pains me to do so. The second complaint is simply having to wait not-so-patiently for the next.. ;) Make sure to grab your copy! Out June 2nd!  I decided to combine my March & April book post simply because I haven't done much reading the past two months. In February I read a total of 16 books, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit (or at least became a huge deal) in March. Since the pandemic and endless uncertainties that it has brought, I haven't been able to really truly focus on anything except manual work. I'm not sure why..... Maybe it's just that I don't have enough energy to process books on top of all the information and concerns surrounding this pandemic. Whatever the reason, I've seen my reading drop off rather drastically, but have no fear, I seem to be getting back on track. Anyway, I'd like to share a few of the books I've read in March and April with you all. :) Hope you find a good read!  John Mark Comer's Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human is now on my list of most profound, enlightening, and enriching books that I've read. I ended up reading Garden City with my Bible open and gel pen in hand, so that I could jot down notes and wisdom from the book in the margins. It is packed with interesting information and will change the way you go about life, work, and rest. This is the kind of book that feeds the soul and opens the mind. I'd highly recommend it!  All Shall Be Well by Catherine McNeil came to me right when I needed a balm to the soul. A sweet person sent me this book as a way to boost my spirits during this anxiety ridden time of the COVID-19 pandemic. They knew it was on my book wish-list. All Shall Be Well is a beautiful booked split into four parts, one for each season. They draws parallels between the annual seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) and the seasons in a person's life. Though I particularly resonated with the Spring section, as I feel I'm in the late stages of that season in life AND happen to be experiencing the early stages of the natural season currently, I found each section nourishing and enlightening. I can't recommend this book enough. It is beautiful and simple, soul nourishing and soothing, earthy and tangible. This is one of those books I plan to return to time and again.  This wonderful story couldn’t have come at a better time. I can’t think of a better way to deal with the current events of this season than to get lost in Dwight and Mary’s story, and Linda’s superb way of spinning a tale allows you to do just that. If only for a while, reality fades away, and Dwight, Mary, and the now familiar town of Brownville come into focus. Soon you’re right beside earthy, relatable characters, enjoying a mix of romance and mystery. We look on as Dwight and Mary weather life’s storms, wondering if they’ll be able to ride them out together, all the while trying to puzzle out the identity of the mysterious person who has taken to stalking the town… Ah, yes, you couldn’t ask for a better story to escape headlong into.  Since shuttering Modern Jo March Blog in January, I've found that my love of reading has been renewed. For a little over a year, reading felt more like a chore than a pleasure due to the burnout of trying to keep up with submissions and the content on the blog, but now that *MJM is retired, I've been able to reclaim my love of reading. As a result of closing down the book blog due to an effort to consolidate, I've decided to do a monthly feature here that will cover the books that I've read each month, that way I don't give up sharing books completely. :) This month, I read 16 books! As I said before, I've found a renewed love for reading and blasted through so many good books. I found myself reading a few new reads, along with revisiting older books that I had read in the past and loved. I've chosen a few highlights to share here...
*To read more about Modern Jo March's retirement and why I made the decision, click here.
 The season of Lent is upon us once again. This happens to be one of my favorite seasons as it's one that is usually filled with contemplation, reflection, hope, and tends to usher in new rhythms. I also love the fact that the season of Lent starts during the later stages of winter, when most of us have grown weary of the cold, seemingly colorless, throes of the "dead" season, and ends in the early stages of spring, when life and color return as a new season of hope and light is ushered in.
I did not grow up participating in, or even knowing about, Lent. I didn't start observing Lent until about six years ago. For the first few seasons, I'd follow the usual procedure and give something up, but then I decided that it wasn't really bringing me closer to God or serving any purpose in that area, so instead, I decided to start adding habits and rhythms. I've done this for the last few years now and find it much more beneficial to my spiritual life. I plan to do the same for this season. I’ve decided to work on honing the practice of Sabbath for the Lenten season. I’ve never really “Sabbathed” before, and I recognize that God calls us to do so for a good reason. We all need a day of rest and worship for our own good. I have friends who intentionally practice Sabbath by setting a day out of each week aside for rest, relaxation, and worship. While there is debate on which day should be our Sabbath (most are of the opinion that it should be either Sunday or Saturday), I honestly think that whichever day that you decide on is perfectly fine as long as it works best for you and allows you to Sabbath well. I’ve chosen mine to be Sunday simply because it is the day that works best for me in this current season of life. A few ways I plan to help myself Sabbath well is to take the day off from social media and try to cut down on technology use in general, spend extra time in my Bible (I read my Bible every day as it is), and just rest my soul. I also have a few books I plan to read during the season, John Mark Comer's Garden City, which tackles the subject of Sabbath, and Beth Moore's Chasing Vines, along with my daily Bible reading plan. Another habit I want to hone and get better about is that of prayer. I want to be more deliberate and mindful in my approach to prayer. I’m currently using the book Prayers that Avail Much by Germaine Copeland to help me enrich my prayer life and will continue to do so throughout the season. My goal is to be more disciplined about going to God morning and night in order to start and end my days well. Along with placing my focus on Sabbath and prayer, I also plan to be intentional in taking each Wednesday and making it a “quiet day”. I recently realized that I have been filling my days with noise in order to drown out internal issues and to run away from things I believe God is trying to tell me out of fear that I won’t like it. So I believe that on top of taking a Sabbath day, it would also be beneficial to me to take a day in the middle of the week and deliberately be quieter and still, to actively pursue less noise. For me, that means not listening to podcasts, music, TV, etc.. I want to make myself live in the silence for a bit. That doesn’t mean I won’t go about my usual routine and work, I will, just without a lot of noise. I hope that this will be doubly beneficial, because not only will it make me sit in the quiet and maybe help me hear God more clearly, but it’ll also benefit my overloaded brain (I suffer from migraines and sensory overload). Less noise, more quiet is the general motto for this Lenten season. I hope you all have a blessed season of Lent, and hey, let me know what you all are doing to observe this beautiful season!  Writing is all I've ever wanted to do.....
What do you want to be when you grow up? How many times were we asked that as kids? Most children usually give a different answer each time as their interests change and evolve with age, but not me. All I've ever wanted to be was a writer. Ever since my grandmother first told me it was possible, all those years ago, as she handed me a warn copy of Little Women, and I read all about Jo March and her resolve to be a writer herself. I've spent the last decade pursuing a career as a writer. I covered music, books, conducted interviews, wrote for faith magazines and blogs, anything to get my foot in the door and better myself as a writer. I worked to hone my craft throughout these last ten years. I learned from authors that I admired, many of who I call friends today. There are several people who have been so incredibly encouraging and helpful to me almost from the start. The ones I would often bounce ideas off of and send them my work to critique. The ones whom I've had the privilege of working with on their own books, watching the process from a front row seat. I'm immeasurably grateful for those authors. I was finally catching my stride. I felt as though I had a good deal of experience under my belt and was ready to finally attempt what I've always wanted to do... I started writing my first book in late 2018. I was chugging along, chapter after chapter...... You see, I had a passion for this project, yes, but it also meant so much more than making a dream come true. It meant being able to hold an accomplishment in my hands and to show everyone who has ever had doubts about me and my future that I really knew what I was doing. I know so many people close to me have had major doubts about the decisions I've made for my life so far. They've humored me to my face, but I've heard the whispers and I've seen the doubt in their faces. They watch my siblings lead more practical lives, working more practical jobs, and then they turn to me and I know they see me as a failure they have to explain to other people. "Oh her?.. Yeah well.. she's just... well I guess she's...." I know. I've always swallowed those feelings of inadequacy and just kept plugging away. I'd tell myself that they'll see one of these days. I'll prove myself and show them that I know what I'm doing, I know what I want in this life, and I'll get it, just you wait and see. One of these days, I'm going to have something tangible that will show them that all the work and time I've put into the last 10 years hasn't been wasted. I would admit, life has dealt me a few hard blows, mainly health-wise, over the last decade, but I wasn't going to let that stop me.... Little did I know the biggest blow had yet to come. 2019 was the year that changed everything for me. I found myself more and more sensitive to light and sound. At first, this symptom was blamed on the Lyme disease that I had for most of the year..... but it wasn't the Lyme. Severe Sensory Sensitivity is a symptom of Fibromyalgia. It means that my brain can experience sensory overload easily. I found myself becoming more and more sensitive to lights and sounds as the months went on, to the point where I couldn't bear to look at a screen. My brain has all it can do to get through the basics of everyday life without overloading these days. I also noticed difficulty with memory and general cognitive function. I was having increasing difficulty with words and particularly, taking what was in my mind and getting it down on paper/typed up on the screen. Obviously this is a rather large part of writing. I found myself growing more frustrated with my deteriorating abilities. I'd read pieces I had written prior to 2018, and I could see a stark contrast to the quality of the writing. It just wasn't there anymore, no matter how hard I tried. There's nothing scarier for a writer than realizing that your brain is no longer functioning up to par, except realizing that maybe everyone was right after all. Did I just waste the last ten years of my life on something I can longer do? I'm a decade older and what do I have to show for it now? A brain deteriorating in function? It seems so incredibly cruel of life to give someone a passion and to allow them to pursue that passion for a decade, only to just take it away. I've always said throughout these last seven years that I can deal with the pain, the illnesses, and the fatigue. I can deal with all of it, as long as I have a functioning mind. It's my only strength. But now.... What do you do when the only thing you were ever good at is taken away? What happens when you suddenly find yourself standing on the smoldering ashes of a dream you'd been working towards for the last decade of your life? What do you do when you're staring failure in the face? Will I ever be able to write well again? I have no answers to any of those questions... They tell me life will get better...... but I'm not sure of that either anymore. What I am sure of is that I can't continue on this course. I'm taking this year to pursue health, first and foremost. I need to find a way to heal some of the bigger symptoms. I've achieved remission in the past, I hope to do so again. Maybe, just maybe, I'll write again, but I believe at that at this time, I also need to start exploring other options...... You'll have to forgive me, it seems I'm still finding my wings. |
AuthorBorn and raised in Upstate NY, Liz is a freelance writer. She has written for websites, blogs, and magazines for the last 10 years. She works as a freelance writer and editor, as well as a proofreader and beta reader for several authors, all the while working on her first book. Archives
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