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Under the “too cool not to share” heading: Ellen Gable is giving away Kindle copies of Emily’s Hope from today through Sunday, February 12. If you’re looking for a good novel, give it a try. You can read it virtually anywhere–there are Kindle apps for every device and even a way to read using the Amazon Cloud Reader.

A bit about it:

Emily’s Hope is the fictionalized, parallel true stories of Ellen and her great-grandmother. Damon Owens said: “Compelling…a real page turner.” Lisa Hendey said: “…great storytelling that teaches some important messages, but they are wrapped in a plot that will pull you in and leave you wanting more.”

So what are you waiting for? Free books = good February.

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Speaking of free books…have you entered my contest yet?

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My audio reflections on Mary this week:

• Our Lady of Lourdes and the lessons she teaches me in the Mary Moment segment on iPadre
• The reminder Mary gives me that my kitchen is the heart of my home, especially during the hunker-down days of winter in the Mary in the Kitchen segment on Catholic Foodie (text version here)

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Over at CatholicMom.com this week, I’m considering how I can better understand art using a great app and I also share about some Lenten devotionals that have crossed my desk in the last few weeks.

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I first discovered the Catholic Writers Guild during their first online conference a few years ago. (You should sign up to participate!)

I participated in that conference on a whim and because of the price (free). It was mostly a lark, but I have to look back with some amusement. I ended up helping with some behind-the-scenes things and then joining the Guild. I learned a lot about writing and, even better, made some connections with real people.

I didn’t even consider myself a writer then, though I had been blogging for a while (and blogging is writing) and I was dabbling in a few other writerly things.

That conference shifted my perspective of myself and, between their other conferences I’ve attended over the years and my involvement with the Guild, I’ve found a great network of resources and people who share my faith and my craft.

Beyond all that, it’s fun. It’s a change of pace. It’s educational.

And you can’t argue with the price: it’s FREE!

This year, it’s two weeks, March 17-31, with one week dedicated to forums and one week dedicated to chats. I’m going to be helping out again as a presenter and probably as a chat moderator, and I’d love to see you there!

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If you’re interested in being in other places, the Catholic Writers Guild blog is looking for either regular or one-time guest posts from members. (You do have to be a member of the CWG to write for the blog.) If you’re interested, check out the blog guidelines and get involved!

I was over at the CWG blog this week with a post talking about being a Small Fry Blogger.

I was in a couple of other places too.

Ginny Moyer, the hostess over at Random Acts of Momness, invited me to share the greatest gift my mother gave me, and the Patheos Book Club ran my review of Christopher West’s new book.

And then, over at Amazing Catechists, I share my experience with the seven deadly sins and a room full of fifth graders.

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You know what I’m looking forward to this Lent? Hearing the special Among Women podcast that Pat Gohn is putting together.

Could you spare a few minutes to share your favorite and most meaningful Lenten practices? Pat’s collecting them at amongwomenpodcast@me.com or 206-203-2024 until February 20.

I’ve done my part…now, you do yours and we’ll have a wonderful little Lenten gift.

Visit our lovely guest hostess Betty Beguiles for more Quick Takes!

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This week, I have stepped beyond. I have walked in dangerous areas. I have said yes and opened myself up to a whole new world of opportunity.

I am “babysitting” CatholicMom.com while Lisa Hendey traverses the Holy Lands with her perky, happy, lovely self.

Folks, I’m having so much fun! Who knew?

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Are you a writer? Interested in writing? Looking for a way to spend two weeks in March?

DO NOT MISS THIS!

The Catholic Writers Conference Online is March 17-31. We’ve extended the dates thanks to feedback from attendees who say there’s too much to balance in one week.

From March 17-24, the forums will be open so that you can read, do assignments and get feedback from our fantastic presenters at your own leisure. (Forums are open 24 hours a day, and presenters will be visiting them frequently.) The forums will remain up, but presenters do not need to reply to posts after March 24.

From March 24-31, we will have only chats. These are scheduled one-hour moderated chats on a variety of topics. We will also be holding pitch sessions and prayer time this week.

We’re signing up presenters as we speak. If you are a presenter and would like to participate, please register athttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SXJVLJW.

If you have already attended an online conference, then you are registered–you just need to use last year’s username and password. If not, you can register now where it says REGISTER on this site.

DO NOT MISS THIS! (Did I say that already? Do you believe me yet?)

Yours truly is presenting on blogging again (unless they tell me I’m not), and I’d love to “see” you there.

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Now, a word or two about Facebook and Twitter and how they’re useful for promoting your blog. What do you think?

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And how about an app that will let you access all sorts of great Catholic programming without cable? Yes, you read that right. Isn’t it cool?!?

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Last week, I shared my favorite fiction from 2011. This week, I’m sharing my favorite nonfiction from 2011. Be sure to stop over and share YOUR favorites!

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This week, I’ve been embroiled with editing my pregnancy book.

Let me sum up the week: I’m glad it’s done.

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And with that, I’m outta takes. Just. Plain. Out.

Hope you have yourself a great Friday.

Visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

• At CatholicMom.com, I’m loving my Kindle and sharing my favorite 2011 fiction reads.
• At the Catholic Writers Guild blog, I wrote a post about stats as part of the Blogging for Beginners series I do periodically.

And because I can’t resist, here are a few things I loved reading this week:

• Date Night Challenge – Our parish is actually going to do one of these. I need to get a babysitter lined up–what a great idea!
• Moms of Young Children, The Time to Thrive is Now! – Jen Fulwiler with a timely reminder that we don’t have to be in hunker-down mode all the time when we have young children. Do read!
• Catholic Blog Day – The first Catholic Blog Day is going to be on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Catholic bloggers are invited to write on a common theme for the day. Click through to read about the theme and the details. I’m excited!

Have a great weekend!

This week, I used an object lesson to introduce my fifth-grade class to the sacraments during our parish’s evening religious education classes. I wrote about it over at Amazing Catechists, and there are already some great ideas in the comments. Hope you find it useful, and please do share your ideas or suggestions if you have them!

image credit

Over at Catholicmom.com, I wrote a review of a book that I dub a must-read for all Catholics, Women, Sex, and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching, edited by Erika Bachiochi.

Take a moment and check out that new photo at the top of my blog (copied below so that those of you in feed readers and on email can just stay comfortably there).

It comes courtesy of my four-year-old, who loves lining up her horses. And her brother’s cars. And her sister’s markers. It may be my favorite blog-topper EVER.

If you want to hear me…

- Catholic Foodie 128 has oysters on the menu and my Mary in the Kitchen segment is about resolutions and failure and…Mary.

- Uncommon Sense 55 talks all about Chestertonian resolutions and my Mary Minute with Chesterton reflects on Mary becoming more beautiful over time. (I also called in and shared about my own Chestertonian resolution.)

If you want to read me…

- I’m on the fence about resolutions in my column at CatholicMom.com from Friday.

- I go to space with the Cat in the Hat for Tech Talk Tuesday at CatholicMom.com.

- I’m reflecting on the intersection of my online and offline life over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog.

And now I’m off to hide and eat some more of the excellent chocolate a friend dropped off yesterday. (When the baby/toddler/mancub sees me eating it, he demands I share.)

Lisa Mladinich has a new book designed to help with sacramental preparation and, in a word, it ROCKS. Here’s my full raving review at CatholicMom.com.

Over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog, I shared some links for blogging articles I found helpful recently.

And hey! I was on TWO podcasts this week! On the Faith & Family Live Cast we talked gratitude and Christmas shopping and the lovely Pat Gohn and I chatted about stess-busting Advent on Among Women.

image credits: Aierilyn and DoSomething.org

So much, in fact, that I try to contribute a Mary Minute for each show (been a big fail on that of late, though).

On a recent episode, an interview with American Chesterton Society president Dale Ahlquist on Morning Air was included, and Ahlquist compared Chesterton’s prolific writing with blogging.

He said something to the effect of, “Chesterton was blogging before there were computers.”

Well now!

I feel so much more justified in my blogging addiction endeavors. And what a mentor to have, the great G.K. himself.

I have been writing about blogging over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog for almost a year now (swallowing my pride, every single week, at how very unsuited I feel for that role). This week I started a blogging for beginners series with a discussion of how you get started. Whether you’re a member of the Catholic Writers Guild or not, I invite you over to join the discussion.

Hearing the discussion about Chesterton as a blogger-before-there-were-blogs made me think about how much I’ve enjoyed the interactions and relationships I’ve formed thanks to my own blogging, and also how writing has helped me grow in my faith.

Blogging is a bit of an addiction a passion and I don’t pretend to know or understand it all. I think there’s a great deal of prayerful discernment that has to be part of my online interactions, whether or not I’m addressing topics of faith. Catholic is part of who I am and how I live, after all.

Chesterton didn’t miss a moment to point to the Truth in whatever venue he  was writing in or whatever topic he addressed. He’d be quite a blogger today, don’t you think?

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Update: I forgot to mention, when I was touting how I’m writing in other places, that yesterday I had another installment of Tech Talk over at CatholicMom.com. This week, some great book apps for kids. (Yes, they ARE for the kids. Or that’s my story anyway.)

Around the house: We’re a-bustle with a galloping four-year-old and an into-everything-he-can-reach 11-month-old. There are baskets of laundry waiting to be folded and dishes waiting to be done. And a fresh pot of coffee.

What I’ve been writing: I’m working on a talk this week.

In my thoughts: With trick-or-treating on Monday and Mass last night, silence is on my mind. I have been thinking of how I create moments of silence for myself and how it seems more complete when I’m outside. And then I read this quote from Blessed Mother Teresa at Julie’s place and it all seemed to click.

In my plans: We have religious education and dentist appointments yet this week, and, of course, horse riding! I have some work to do for the parish website (we’re revamping and redesigning and rewriting) and I’ve been really contemplating the great suggestions and ideas in the comments on my post about parish bulletins.

In thanksgiving: For the saints. For good books. For friends who love me anyway.

In my prayers: Ashley, a friend and her daughter, and my niece who gets confirmed this weekend.

Nose inserted: Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith, by Fr. Robert Barron, which I can already say with confidence is probably one of the best (if not the best) books I’ve read this year (and I don’t say that lightly).

Links I like: Google Reader’s sharing is nil (though my sidebars seem to still be working, which I credit with the fact that I had “public tags” instead of just shared items. I don’t know how long they’ll keep working, though, so I’ll share some here periodically.)

• How NOT to pitch a guest post – I thought about reposting this in its entirety! Could the people who approach me about guest posts (and who seem to be spammers) please read that first?
• SBA’s pro-life jack-o-lantern - very cool…wonder if they have printable versions of this for those of us who are non-artsy but wouldn’t mind carving up a pumpkin like that next year?
• 12 tips to overcoming difficulties in prayer - I took notes!

A favorite thing: The sound of my kids playing together.

Food for thought: We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature — trees, flowers, grass — grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence … We need silence to be able to touch souls. - Blessed Mother Teresa, via Julie at Happy Catholic

Worth a thousand words: From that sister-in-law who loves the sky (and knows that I do, too)

I’m talking blogging, as I do most Wednesdays, over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog. This week: how facebook has changed my blogging.

Tuesdays are for tech talk over at CatholicMom.com, and this week I shared some non-app rosary resources.

In case you missed it on Monday, I have a guest column over at Patheos about the many challenges I face with three little letters which, when joined together, form the word “Yes.”

I’m over at the Catholic Writers Guild blog today with some thoughts about being a better blogger. I gotta tell ya: I don’t feel like I really have much to share on this…am I a good blogger? Not so much. On the other hand, the answer might just depend on your priorities. In any event, it’s what I’ve written, and now I’m sharing it here, so…go and chime in.