11.08.08
Mirror, Mirror
by Judy Baer
Steeple Hill Cafe
(Love Inspired)
As a model, Quinn Hunter knows all about beauty – but it isn’t what defines her. Quinn’s heart is in tutoring special-needs children, and the money she earns from her modeling gigs allows her to do that, to an extent. But her goal is to someday head a many-faceted tutoring team, thereby reaching far more children than she ever could alone.
That goal, partnered with the desire to help her friend Maggie overcome an obsession with appearance that threatens to destroy her, convinces Quinn to reluctantly take on the role of host to a reality show focusing on beauty and on-air makeovers. Quinn’s role – to counsel the contestants and attempt to make them aware of their own inner beauty.
But she considers hosting the nationally aired reality show “just a job.” Quinn’s heart is with her students, the latest of which is ten-year-old Ben Harmon, who suffers from juvenile arthritis. But Ben winds up teaching her, his handsome widowed father, and Maggie more than Quinn could ever hope to teach him. Unfortunately, Quinn’s growing attraction to Jack Harmon spells disaster for her heart, because Ben’s daddy – charming and pleasant though he may be to Quinn – is still wholly and completely married to his dead wife’s memory.
What woman can compete with that kind of competition?
I rarely review books that have been released for a year or more. But after reading Mirror, Mirror, I felt the need to get the word out about this book. What woman hasn’t fretted and fumed over her appearance? Who among us hasn’t wished for a smaller nose, a slimmer waist, curlier or straighter hair, a better complexion, fuller lips…? And the list goes on. Judy Baer seems to have a handle on God’s take on beauty, and in Mirror, Mirror, she does a beautiful job of conveying that message to her readers in the guise of a wonderfully compelling, entertaining and well-written storyline.
This book is a must-read if you’ve ever put yourself down for not being the perfect woman. It will make you rethink what you see in your mirror. And with a hero like Jack Harmon, you’ll enjoy the lesson.
Bravo, Ms. Baer!
11.07.08
Meet author Michelle Griep
A “quirky” look at Michelle Griep, author of Gallimore
Fiction character you would most like to be or most identify with and why?
I always wanted to be Lt. Uhura on Star Trek because her uniform is pretty sweet, she gets to wear a funky ear piece, and she never had a bad hair day in her life.
If you could ask any person, living or dead, a random question — what question would you ask of whom?
I’d ask Mr. Rogers about the whole sweater and sneaker attire…was that really your idea or your mother’s?
Some out there in writing land have strange rituals. Share yours.
It involves blood letting and small mammals, which I’m pretty sure is illegal in most of the contiguous United States. Good thing I live in the state of confusion (sorry, couldn’t resist).
If you could change something in any novel, what would you change about it and why?
I’ll be stepping on some toes here, but personally I’d cut a dinner party or two out of Sense & Sensibility.
What crayon in the box describes you on a good day? Bad day? Which one do you aspire to be?
I’m a marker girl myself, so I’m not really up on crayon colors.
Pick one…..Pink iguana, purple cow, periwinkle giraffe. Which one and why? Can be negative or positive.
Not touching that with a ten-foot pole.
Favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie.
Classic: Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. (from “Monte Python and the Holy Grail”)
Most Recent: The sun stretched its rays further and stronger, like a thousand lances determined to strike a strong blow and leave a red mark. (from In the Shadow of Lions by Ginger Garrett)
If you were assured of writing a best-seller, what genre would it be? Give us a sliver of information, a characteristic or glimpse of a scene.
Time travel – I love to throw myself into history, and of course I’m always the heroine. Naturally there’d be an unbelievably muscular hero who’s a warrior with a big heart that’s completely devoted to the heroine. And sorry, Fabio would not be on the cover.
What period of history intrigues you the most?
Medieval
What would you write if there were no rules or barriers? (epic novels about characters in the Bible, poetry, greeting cards, plays, movies, instruction manuals, etc.)
Whatever I feel like I wanna do! Gosh!
What makes you feel alive?
A cattle prod…don’t ask.
How does something worm its way into your heart? Through tears, truth, humor or other?
Time – I’m a slow learner.
Book, music, person, food you would take with you on a very long trip.
Book: Bible
Person: Jesus
Music: Third Day
Food: Chocolate
Where would you most like to travel – moon, North Pole, deep seas, deserted island, the Holy Land or back to a place from your childhood, somewhere else? – and why.
England. I’m an Anglophile at heart.
Favorite season and why?
Autumn because of the amazing colors and the fact that hot chocolate is once again in season.
Favorite book setting and why?
Jane Eyre when she’s walking the misty moor and Rochester appears on a rearing horse. That’s how God most often works in my life. I’m usually walking around in a daze and bam! He appears.
Which compliment related to your writing has meant the most and why?
Actually, I try hard to ignore compliments and criticism (mean-spirited, anyway) because I don’t want to get a big head, nor do I want to have my heart pierced.
What would you do today if you knew you had only a week to live?
Eat lots of chocolate, drink lots of coffee, and tell lots of people about Jesus. Wait a minute…I do that anyway.
What is your favorite word?
Pinworms
What word annoys you more than any other?
Can’t
Superhero you most admire and why?
Underdog. What’s not to love about a pup in a cape?
Super power you’d love to borrow for awhile?
Invisibility
Favorite chore
Cooking
Anything you’d do but don’t because of fear of pain? What is it? Ex. Bungee jumping, sky diving, running with scissors.
Stiletto heels
Grammatical pet peeve…sound off.
Just say no to sentence diagramming.
Societal pet peeve…sound off.
Young men, pull up your pants or spackle that crack. I’ve seen enough boxers in my laundry basket. I do not need to see yours.
Minnesota author, Michelle Griep, has been writing since she first discovered Crayolas and blank wall space. She has homeschooled four children over the past twenty years, and teaches both Civics and Creative Writing for area co-ops. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Michelle’s debut historical romance, GALLIMORE, is scheduled for release December 15, 2008. GALLIMORE is made unique by its time travel and paranormal elements. Stay tuned!
