Much like Castaway and Tom Hanks’ obsession with Wilson, there are things we can honestly say we don’t think we could live without.
My best friend is a music director, and he asks his students (each year) if they could only take three albums on their iPod to an isolated island – what would they be? Then, what would they do once the charge to the iPod runs out? Interesting discussion ensues…
Luckily for those paperbacks, they don’t require a charge and their only fault is not being waterproof. So, if you had to only pick 3, which books (all-time) matter the most to you?
Re-readable qualities…Characters you can’t live without…Narration that soars and exposition that is just right.
Would like to thank Mrs. NeShaune Lasley and her 5th grade class at Eisenhower Elementary in Louisville, KY for the interview questions today. Hope they help motivate more young writers. Mrs. Lasley is doing great things and providing a great example for her students.
The progression of writing a book (start to finish) is like the many faces of peanut butter consumption from first bite to pained discovery there is no water nearby. 🙂 … 🙁 … 😐
Sorry for the lapse, dear reader. A lot has happened on BrianLTucker.com since Thanksgiving and a lot more to come in 2016!
I’ve worked through some BIG items on my upcoming novel. Here are just a few:
New book title (no longer, The Silence of Sacrifice)
Shaved 35k words from the original manuscript (from 100k to 65k)
BrianLTucker.com experienced 3 hacker attempts
Book submitted for Final Proof online today
Cover Design for book is underway
Market launch date for book currently listed as 2/2/16, print date to follow
Advanced Reader Copies will be going out in the coming weeks to those chosen few!!
I’d like to add to this list:
I’m currently reading War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy (often considered the greatest fictional work of all-time) **I’m still beholden to Moby Dick as the greatest** But, I’ll try to submit a full review later
As it currently stands, I couldn’t help but label today’s blog “War & Peace …Eternity” because these hackers’ attempts to sabotage our site helped me realize there’s a lot more in life than just “War” and “Peace”.
There’s “Eternity” too.
Everyday there’s a struggle between good and evil. And it coalesces into what constitutes life and eventually what comes next. Eternity -eternal- everlasting. So, while there’s warring parties of people pursuing evil and/or good. And there are those wanting to see the demise of Christians worldwide. There’s still that small voice begging each of us to choose eternity with the one worthy of everything. May your December (and mine) be Eternity-centered.
This doesn’t have to be an Ichabod Crane fear toward Sleepy Hollow, or anything.
Plain and simple – what causes you to experience some trepidation?
Talking to a stranger in an elevator?
Driving to your in-laws for the holidays?
Cooking with chick pea flour?
Watching a marathon of Katherine Heigl movies?
Mouth-breathers?
Long-winded history lecturers?
Large arenas filled with an opposing team’s obnoxious fans?
Whatevs…
Step out there my friend (I’m taking my own advice here).
What better time of the year to stand firm and work through a petty fear?
November is a month of tackling stuff, I’m learning.
A month reserved for dodging the razor (“No Shave!), writing a book (NaNoWriMo), eating enough turkey to make you cry (tryptophan). November has it all.
So, keep tackling those fears. Whatever they may be!
Stand up. Give Thanks. Pray for hurting families. Ride a horse bareback. Take a family portrait with an awkward John Hughes theme. Give Thanks. Listen to that one uncle’s ridiculous tall tales. Memorize and recite the Gettysburg Address for kicks. Bring back an “outdated” hairstyle. Give Thanks. November is waiting for you to step up and be awesome.
I’ve included my 1st ever BLOG VIDEO on Youtube for you to see! Hope it helps key you in to the exciting developments around this first book of mine, The Silence of Sacrifice. I’m excited to have your readership and support.
“Story is massive. Story is the most powerful tool to compel a human brain. Every human being self identifies as the lead protagonist in the story.” – Donald Miller
“One of the deepest of all human longings is the longing to belong, to be a part of things, to be invited in. We want to be part of the fellowship. Where did that come from?” – John Eldredge, Epic
Had the good fortune of seeing John Mark McMillan play in Chattanooga last night at The Camp House. If you haven’t caught him on his Tongues of Fire tour, I highly recommend it.
I’ve heard this music scene described as a hipster, Jesus convention, but hey, Jesus loves hipsters, too. Right? And we ARE capable of looking away from the skinny jeans, if we try hard enough. (I think I’m just jealous I can’t fit into skinny jeans.)
Anyways…
I couldn’t help but marvel at a performer so on fire for eternal truths, genuine conversation with his audience.
It was great to see a “younger” audience (I’m dating myself, I know) tied into the deeper topics as well. One song which especially stood out to me, and I hadn’t heard before was titled: Future / Past, and the lyrics are below:
“Future / Past” by John Mark McMillan ::
You hold the reins on the sun and the moon
Like horses driven by kings
You cover the mountains, the valleys below
With the breadth of your mighty wings
All treasures of wisdom and things to be known
Are hidden inside your hand
And in this fortunate turn of events
You ask me to be your friend
You ask me to be your friend
And you,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past
The constellations are swimming inside
The breadth of your desire
Where could I run, where could I hide
from your heart’s jealous fire
All treasures of wisdom and things to be known
Are hidden inside your hand
And in this fortunate turn of events
You ask me to be your friend
You ask me to be your friend
And you,
You are my first
You are my last
You are my future and my past
You are the beginning and the end”
If this were a Sunday school lesson, I’d say ‘Amen,’ and we’d all head home. But, I wanted to bring up the relevance of JMM’s ability to connect with his audience AND deliver a message. The 2 go hand-in-hand. And…he did this in a way I hadn’t seen in a loooong time.
It was refreshing.
He said about halfway through his set that he didn’t know what he’d done before he was writing songs, but he felt like he’d wasted it.
To him, any time prior to songwriting and singing had been squandered.
And, I’m starting to see the need in my own life (writing as an example), to live on purpose. To care for those around me.
I pray the same is happening in your life. Whether it’s singing, songwriting, or whatever gift you have: use it.
It was refreshing to see someone similar in age having such an impact on the world around him. I wanted to post a video of the live environment I was trying to describe above. Hope it works for you:
“Baptisms & Dogs” is set in the small town of Seton, Kentucky. The residents are grumpy, jobs scarce. In these “slice of life” moments, it’s anything but warm, puppy dog tales. From sunup to sundown, this 581-person town looks over its shoulder, praying for release. Will it come? Available on Amazon at:
