In no particular order, Angela Hunt is a novelist, a nana, teacher, mother, wife, mastiff owner, reader, musician, student, aspiring theologian, apprentice baker, and bubble gum connoisseur. The things that enter her life sooner or later find their way into her books, hence "a life in pages."
Monday, May 31, 2010
A blessed Memorial Day . . .
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Kisses from Katie
You may have seen this blog, Kisses from Katie. It is the amazing record of a remarkable young woman who went to Uganda at age 18 and decided to live there . . . and adopt children because Jesus loves them and so does she.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Would You like to go with me to Israel?
Yes, seriously. February 24 through March 4, 2011. Plenty of time to clear your calendar and plan the budget. Details here.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Duck in the Truck
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Little Dorritt
I've just finished watching the new BBC version of Dickens' "Little Dorritt" (available on Netflix, but make sure you order all FOUR DVDs.)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Feeling Lucky? These people should be!
Reminds me of the time I was standing in Home Depot, and a toilet fell from three risers up and missed my head by inches. I was too stunned to move.
And then I felt blessed. :-) I'd hate to be killed by a falling toilet.
~~Angie
Monday, May 24, 2010
Marlo Schalesky's Latest
Arrrgh! Before I tell you about Marlo's new book, I just have to vent.
Yesterday afternoon the hubby and I were outside digging up an out of control asparagus fern--it had completely swallowed a bouganvilla, and I had a new plant, a snowball bush, that I wanted to try in that one protected spot. So the hubster and I pulled on our gloves, gathered our equipment, and went at the asparagus fern.
I don't know if you've ever wrestled with one, but those lovely, lacy ferns have THORNS! So, after much snipping and clipping and tugging and raking, we finally get the mass of the fern out of the ground . . . and then we watched in horror as the matted root system pulled up about ten feet of ground cover! Plus, the roots were covered in those things--I think they're called rhizomes--that looked like shriveled pods. I called my neighbor across the street (she was working on her lawn, too) and told her to come over and look at the alien creature we had just dug up. Yuck!
And then, just before hubby hauled away the corpse, I saw a cable cord . . . not jaggedly severed, but pulled out from something. The thing is, I KNOW where the cable cord is, and we weren't digging anywhere near it. Though we searched, we couldn't find the other end of the severed cord, so we came in the house, hoping to find that maybe we'd just unearthed a dud wire . . . no such luck. I had no TV, no Internet, no telephones. Nada. No email.
And the guy couldn't come to do the repair for another 24 hours. So I quietly missed the LOST finale (haven't really followed it, anyway), but I was determined not to miss the 24 finale tonight. But a man just came out to set up a temporary repair line, which is the ONLY reason I'm able to type this post now. Sigh. Oh, the things we take for granted.
And now, here's the scoop on Marlo's lovely new book!
SHADES OF MORNING
By Marlo Schalesky
Published by Waterbrook-Multnomah Publishers
Shades of Morning is Marlo’s third “Love Story with a Twist” (think a Nicolas Sparks type love story with an M. Night Shyamalan type twist!).
A BIT ABOUT THE BOOK:
Marnie Wittier has life just where she wants it. Quiet. Peaceful. No drama. A long way away from her past. In the privacy of her home, she fills a box with slips of paper, scribbled with her regrets, sins, and sorrows. But that’s nobody else’s business. Her bookstore/coffee shop patrons, her employees, her friends from church - they all think she’s the very model of compassion and kindness. Then Marnie’s past creeps into her present when her estranged sister dies and makes Marnie guardian of her fifteen-year-old son—a boy Marnie never knew existed. And when Emmit arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome - and that she’s woefully unprepared to care for him. What’s worse, she has to deal with Taylor Cole, her sister’s attorney, a man Marnie once loved—and abandoned. As Emmit—and Taylor—work their way into her heart, Marnie begins to heal. But when pieces of her dismal past surface again, she must at last face the scripts of paper in her box, all the regrets and sorrows. Can she do it? Or will she run again?
FROM ROMANTIC TIMES:
Top Pick! 4 ½ Stars! “Schalesky has a knack for weaving a surprising spiritual twist into her tales. The touching plot will make readers examine how they deal with past regrets, and how God moves them through it. A not-to-be-missed, stunning novel!”
A BIT ABOUT MARLO:
Marlo Schalesky is the award winning author of numerous books, including her latest novel Shades of Morning, which combines a love story with a surprise ending twist. Marlo’s other books include the Christy Award winningBeyond the Night, and its sequel If Tomorrow Never Comes. Marlo is also the author of nearly 700 articles, the mother of 5 young children, and holds her Masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. When she’s not changing diapers, doing laundry, or writing books, Marlo loves sipping Starbucks white mochas, reading the New Testament in Greek, and talking about finding the deep places of God in everyday life.
FIND OUT MORE:
www.marloschalesky.com/fiction
www.facebook.com/MarloSchalesky
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Laundry Room is Very Green
If our house were still on the market, I would not have chosen this color--it is quite vivid. :-) But I need vivid in the laundry room, and I think this color will keep me awake while I'm sorting lights from darks. :-)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
If it's Saturday, I must be painting.
Yes, I'm still painting. Today I want to tackle the laundry room, because the top half of the wallpaper is a little bumpy and the seams are visible in some places (of course because I installed it.) So I'm ripping down the top half and I'm going to paint it in some bright, happy color--because that's what you need in a laundry room. :-) (And fortunately, I have a garage filled with paints in all kinds of colors.)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Incredible South Korean Crowd . . . control?
This is amazing. I can't imagine choreographing it . . .
~~Angie
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Which do you prefer--cats or dogs?
I found the following statistics fascinating, so enjoy!
~~Angie
[Source: Online Schools for Neatorama.com]
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Feeling frugal?
Hi, everybody!
Monday, May 17, 2010
The REAL Mother's Day Picture
Waking up this morning, Lord willing, at the beautiful Ridgecrest Conference center and the Blue Ridge Christian Writer's Conference, where I'm teaching several classes on fiction and TIME MANAGEMENT! LOL! Will try to blog from the conference, but making no promises. :-)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Bronte Sisters Rock
LOL! I write books about tough, independent women . . .
A tip of the hat to Robin Lee Hatcher, whose blog introduced me to this delightful video. Thanks, Robin!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Seagull with Chutzpah
What is wrong with that cat? He must not have any worries about where his next meal is coming from!
~~Angie
Friday, May 14, 2010
Re-introducing Shannon Labrie
I'm so excited for my friend, novelist Stephanie Grace Whitson. Her daughter, Shannon Labrie, has written and recorded a song which was featured this week on the TV show, One Tree Hill. You may remember me featuring a video of Shannon on this blog here. Now you can buy her latest song, "Calls Me Home" on iTunes.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
I Did it!
Yesterday (Tuesday) I handed in my book, so this morning (Wednesday) I got up with every intention of painting my porch ceiling in haint blue (which in this case is Ben Moore "Thunderbird.")
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Deb Raney's new release!
Unearthing a lost memory may cause her to lose everything she holds dear. but could it also set her free?
Volunteer Bryn Hennesey was there at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter the night five heroic firefighters died at the scene. Among them was her husband, Adam.
Now a terrifying absence of memory has her wondering if she might, in some way, be responsible. Garrett Edmonds' wife, Molly, was the only female firefighter to perish in the blaze. He was supposed to protect the woman he loved.now she's the one who's died a hero. How can he go on in the face of such unbearable loss? And what started the fire that destroyed the dreams and futures of so many? Investigators are stumped. But someone knows the answer...
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
More redecorating
Old dining room (purple)
I love looking at before and after shots in magazines--whether it's of women who've had a makeover, or houses that have had a face lift.
For about the last five months, I've been redoing some rooms in my house--simply because we've been in our house almost eight years and I'm tired of the old colors. Time for something new!
So enjoy the before and after shots!
~~Angie
Monday, May 10, 2010
I'm still redecorating
In an effort to make over my house, I have decided (as I've mentioned) to banish the Tuscan colors--except for the gold. I love my gold kitchen, and I don't mind it as an accent color. But I have cranberry everywhere (mostly on the upstairs carpets, and elsewhere as accent color), and I've decided to do away with all the cranberry paint on the walls.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Haint Blue
Before: gold
Saturday, May 08, 2010
A new kind of puppet
Friday, May 07, 2010
It's Coming! Glen Eyrie, that is!
Dear friends:
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Electron Boy
A boy dying from liver cancer submits a wish to the Make a Wish Foundation--he wants to be a super hero. So some kind and loving people band together to help him fulfill his dream . . . and he does.
A precious video for a precious child. I love it that these adults were willing to pretend for the sake of a child.
Enjoy! A tip of the hat to Michael G. for this video!
~~Angie
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
The Magic of Ordinary Days
This month my book club read THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS, by Ann Creel. It was a delightful story, and most of us really enjoyed it. And we always enjoy our discussions.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Kindle Sale
What do all these books have in common?
- Afton of Margate Castle
- The Troubadour's Quest
- Ingram of the Irish
- Roanoke
- Jamestown
- Hartford
- Rehoboth
- Charles Towne
- My Life as a Middle School Mom
- Nola's Meat 'n Three
- The Justice
- The Proposal
- The Shadow Women
- The Yellow Sock
- Then Comes Marriage
Monday, May 03, 2010
Romance Trailer
I don't write romance novels, but I have made my own video trailers, and my hat's off to Tessa Dare for her creative use of props in this clever book trailer. Tee hee. Too bad I don't have kids (or their toys) around the house any more. Wonder if I could make a trailer with dog toys?
~~Angie
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Coming in May: Misconception
Look! I'm holding a BABY! (Isn't he precious?)
Coming in May, 2010: MISCONCEPTION, by Paul and Shannon Morell with Angela Hunt
“Your embryos have been transferred into another woman.”
With those words, the journey began.Paul and Shannon Morell struggled through miscarriages and infertility, then finally experienced the joy of childbirth: twin girls, born in 2006. One of the girls was profoundly deaf, and her needs had to be met before the Morells could transfer the six remaining embryos. As they prepared to move ahead with their plans, their doctor called with devastating news: their six embryos, tiny lives suspended in time, had been thawed. According to the doctor, three embryos had been transferred to another woman . . . and she was pregnant. With more questions than answers, Paul and Shannon could only hope and pray for a miracle. This is their story.
Oddly enough, after first posting about this book several weeks ago, I've been bombarded with comments saying nasty things about this book, me, and the Morells . . . and I can't imagine why. This is the Morell's story, and they have a right to tell it. They hope that telling it will prevent mistakes like this one from happening in the future. The woman who gave birth and lovingly surrendered the child will, I'm sure, write her own book, and the Morells will forever be grateful to her. This book is a testimony to her courage and sacrifice, as well as being a warning about the risks inherent in technological advances. It is a positive, enlightening, uplifting book . . . and people should read it before commenting about it. To do otherwise is to be prejudiced and judgmental, no?
In any case, I'm happy to present the introduction to the book, which should clear up any misconceptions and prejudices. :-) Enjoy!
You can read the Associated Press article about the book's release here.
Misconception: Introduction
There is probably nothing more private for a couple, more personal,
than making decisions about reproduction. At least that is how Paul
and I always felt. We have always been intensely private about such
matters. Even close family and dear friends were not privy to our
struggles with infertility or our decisions about turning to in vitro
fertilization, using our own eggs and sperm, to build our family.
Before September 2009, if you’d told us that we would reluctantly
be featured on national television and plastered across headlines as
the victims of a rare in vitro fertilization mistake, we would have
been horrified at the thought. Quite frankly, as our very personal
nightmare unfolded in the public eye, we were more than horrified.
We were shell-shocked, embarrassed, confused, and overwhelmed.
So why would two very private people expose their personal
health information to the public and write a book about how their
baby ended up inside another woman’s womb?
Because through our ordeal we have discovered so many misconceptions.
We have had to face misconceptions of our own about in vitro.
Though we believed we were well-informed before we proceeded,
we have learned much more about the ins and outs, processes and
complexities of in vitro that we never imagined.
We’ve become aware of misconceptions of other couples who,
in considering in vitro for themselves, are turning to our story with
questions and fears.
We have encountered misconceptions on the part of family and
friends—our own and those of other infertile couples—who care
and want to offer support and empathy, but find themselves confused
and reluctant to pry.
And finally, we find ourselves face-to-face with misconceptions
of the public, wanting to understand what happened—how and
why—and maybe most important, how such errors can be avoided
in the future. The scrutiny of the public is also driven by the highly
controversial questions of when life begins, when infertility treatments
and procedures cross the line of moral ethics, and when assisting
in conception becomes tampering with God’s divine will.
We are not theologians or medical ethicists. We are not setting ourselves
up as authorities on these issues. We are simply one couple
who wanted to build a family of our own, and whose story has become
a touchstone for all who are debating such topics. Our hope is
that in exposing our misconceptions, our questions, our discoveries,
and our experiences, our story will shed light on these critically important
issues.
We have witnessed how a single careless error can have life-
changing consequences. We have learned some important lessons
and gained valuable insights. And perhaps the most life-changing
benefit of all, we have realized that God was working behind the
scenes and continues to do so, bringing his plans to pass and answering
our prayers . . . even when we find it hard to accept what is
happening.
So, though we are not at all comfortable in the spotlight, since
we find ourselves here, we do not want our pain or experience to
be wasted or our joys and gratitude to go uncelebrated. It is our
hope and prayer that in telling our story many misconceptions can
be cleared away, leaving nothing but the truth.
--Paul and Shannon Morell
~~Angie
Saturday, May 01, 2010
When will I ever learn?
Well, Monday morning, fresh from the hospital, my hubby and I decided to pull out of the real estate game. The bank didn't accept our offer on the short sale house we were interested in, and I didn't see anything else on the market that was in our price range and met our needs. (In fact, I like my current house better than most houses I saw).