The Paris Project

A Blog Post, In Two Parts

Part One: Announcing the Winner: RACHEL!!

Jenell did NOT stay up until 1 AM. She went to bed while all the other grown-ups talked.
James does not have a brother.
Opal did not sit in the windowsill and watch crows. And she only peed once (on my chair which I had covered with a rag). Amazing.
Ruby was not locked up - Opal was in a small room while Ruby had the run of the house. Why? Because Ruby is a better cat. Ruby did, however, drink tuna juice and then throw it up in front of me while I was blogging. Unusual for her.

It had been a face-off between Rachel and Hugo, but then Jimmy joined the race, but couldn't compete with Rachel. Rachel's prize is a sincere compliment.

Rachel, you consistently treat me with kindness and sensitivity. You think of how I might feel and then ask, without assuming you know the answer. And then, however I'm feeling, you usually make me laugh.

Blog, part 2.
I agreed to participate in a "virtual book tour" for Zondervan. It's an experiment. I agreed to host Renee as a guest on the blog. I asked her a few questions about Stumbling Toward Faith - questions that came to mind as I read. Here's our mini-interview.


Jenell: Why did you choose to write without capitals?

renee: i think there is an intimacy to writing without capitals. a few posts into my latest blog adventure (http://www.ianua.org/), i started writing without capitals and i was surprised by how freeing it was. there was an instant connection with my creativity that came once i was able to let go of the "shoulds" of function and form.(i was an english literature major in college, so i can be pretty anal about all of that proper stuff).i was fortunate in that my editor decided to keep the non-capital format for the book. at first i was worried that it would be too outside of the box, but i really think it conveys a sense of familiarity and a diary-like feel to the words. i think it compliments the artwork, as well.

Jenell: Why did you devote so much of the book to the trauma, and a more brief section to healing? It seemed like a strategic choice, and I wondered why you made the book flow as it does.

renee: i think there is an over-emphasis, especially in christendom, to focus on the healing. i have found that my life is still sometimes more trauma than healing, even on my best days. i wanted others to connect with some of the depths of my despair. i wanted others, who already know that connection,to nod their heads and say, "yes, i know this. yes, this is true."i didn't want to minimise what happened to me. i wanted to honour the path god has brought me on, but not to the point of whitewashing what i went through.i think that the book contains as much hope as i could muster during the writing of it.

Jenell: Many of the (6) people who read my blog love to read, and love books. Can you tell a bit about how much "say" you had, as an author, in formatting thebook and choosing art? Were there any difficult compromises?

renee: i was very pleased with the editing process. i loved the artwork that was picked, i loved the quotes that the artist chosed to emphasize. there wasn't much control given to me, but because the work was so personal, and because i happened to see my editor in person nearly every day at work ;),i had a lot of awareness of what was going on.there was one point, after the initial drafts, where i pointed out that i had intended something as a 2-page spread -- it was a pivotal point in thebook and it hadn't been "done right" (as i saw it). they were gracious to me, saw my point, and agreed.i think working at youth specialties during this process made my involvement much easier, and i am thrilled with how gracious everyone was with my constant inquiries and input.i don't know that this is a common occurence for most authors, and i feel privileged to have had a part.

There ya go...and here's a link to Zondervan, too.