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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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Lent is coming and I have a book that’s hot off the presses.

And guess what? It’s only $1.99.

So go to your local Catholic bookstore (or one of the many other places you’ll find it, if you don’t have a store locally). Parishes receive bulk discounts, depending on the quantity they order, and can call 800-325-9521 to speak to the sales department at Liguori about that.

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Mary Moments are back! Thanks to Fr. Jay Finelli’s support, I’ll be producing a weekly Mary Moment segment on the iPadre show. This week: 3 reasons I love Our Lady of Lourdes. Listen to the whole show for a fabulous summary of the story of Our Lady of Lourdes, too.

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What’s your favorite game app? I share three of my kids’ favorites in this week’s Tech Talk.

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Remember how I promised a full review of Strategies for a Tech-Savvy Classroom? It’s up over at CatholicMom.com.

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It’s hard to believe that Daria Sockey has been blogging at Coffee & Canticles for a year already!

In honor of her one year anniversary, she has a pile of giveaways related to the Liturgy of the Hours. Go on over and enter.

While you’re there, be sure to wish her well!

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In case you missed it the other day, I’m giving away a ton of books. You can enter as many times as you qualify for until February 21.

There are new titles by Christopher West, Mark Shea, Lisa Hendey, and Anthony DeStefano, among others.

So what are you waiting for? Enter!

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Been a big week for the Tooth Fairy around here:

Visit Betty Beguiles, our lovely sub hostess, 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.)

I usually am, and I’m talking resolutions in my latest column at CatholicMom.com: To Resolve or Not to Resolve.

Intercessory Prayer: A Must-Read

What Would You Like Me to Pray For? Pat Gohn inspires and challenges me yet again. Here’s an excerpt:

The interior logic of intercession leads to love. For some people, that might be an unintended consequence, but the law of love is always within the will of God.

So, this is only advice I can give: When you choose to actively pray for someone, prepare yourself to love him or her. If you already love someone, prepare to love them even more. And if you pray for someone that you do not love or like—be it a difficult boss, an annoying relative, or someone who has trespassed against you—prepare to see signs of love or peace breaking through, even when you’d rather resist. You might not see changes in that person or their circumstances, but you will soon find that you cannot pray for someone in a detached way. It will move your heart in ways that might be surprising and sympathetic, especially if it leads to forgiveness, or freedom, or healing.

Don’t miss the whole thing. I found myself touched and moved to tears. I’m also looking at my own pull (dare I call it a “call”?) to intercessory prayer in a new light.

A Take on Priests: Highly Enjoyable

I’ve worked with a priest for eight years now, and I have a dedicated soft spot for priests in general. Simcha Fisher’s piece this week, Here Comes Fr. Everyone, caught my eye and moved me. She nails it. They’re men. That’s what’s to love (and what’s to grit your teeth about, sometimes, too).

Made Me Think: A Different Way to Look at Weight Challenges

I came across a link to Tara Parker-Pope’s article, The Fat Trap, in the December 28 New York Times thanks to Bearing. I read it, over the course of an afternoon and evening, in snippets. Unfortunately for me, it was late when I really got my mind sunk into it, and my husband was unable to discuss it and my friends were all asleep or offline and it was just me and my brain.

I think I’ll be considering this for, oh, the rest of my life. Weight issues surround me in many ways, and I feel so unequipped to face them. This article really made me consider the challenges of weight loss in a new way, especially with the biological findings and other factors that are discussed. It’s a long piece, but well worth reading, especially if you have any interest in the topic.

I agree with Bearing that it seems a bit depressing and frightening–the conclusion is that you’re stuck, in some ways, if you ever lose your will to keep working on it. On the other hand, that could be a big motivator (if you knew you could fight off some deadly disease, would you keep fighting? or give up?).

Over at Amazing Catechists, all you have to do is leave a comment and you will be entered to win free books, including titles by Lisa Hendey, Lisa Mladinich, Ellen Gable, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, and quite a few others (including me).

So get on over to Amazing Catechists and enter!

And, incidentally, if you have any interest in a free copy of Ellen Gable’s new novel, Stealing Jenny, you have until Friday to enter for a Kindle copy at CatholicMom.com.

books image source

Around the house: A sleeping baby and evidence of said breakfast still lingering in the dishes I haven’t done yet.

What I’ve been writing: 

• The new translation of the Mass is here! This weekend! And hey…there’s an app for that! AND IT ROCKS! My review of the iMassExplained app is over at CatholicMom.com.
• I promised a full review of Weightless, and here it is. Bottom line: you should not only own Weightless, read Weightless, and share Weightless, you should also buy a copy for every woman in your life. Yes, all of them. And probably most of the men too.
• For Thanksgiving, Mary was in the kitchen over at Catholic Foodie. (Audio also available for this one.)
• Earlier this week, at the Catholic Writers Guild blog, I defined some common blogging terms and left the comments open for questions. If you are a newbie writer-blogger, join in!

In my thoughts: Christmas. Presents. The battling-down of bah-humbug.

In my plans: Some writing, a shower, and…I dunno. We’ll see.

In thanksgiving: For a fun family visit. For children’s giggles. For the hilarity that a group of children inevitably bring.

In my prayers: For a grieving family. For the constant battle of fear and anxiety. For a peace-filled Advent.

Nose inserted: I have been neglecting all sorts of things for The Father’s Tale: A Novel, Michael O’Brien’s latest. It’s thick and weighty and wonderful. It is the very epitome of what I love in a novel, of how I can learn so much from a good story, and of where I like to wander in my imagination.

Recent reads:

• Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life, by James Martin, SJ – This was a delightful read, punctuated by stories in a way that reminded me of the way my own Irish priest speaks. I know just who I’m sharing it with next, after I write my full review, and I’m quite sure that person will laugh and enjoy it as much as I did.

Links I like:

• Occupy Advent – I have an interest in Advent beyond promoting my book, I promise, and I am going to be following and using this site this year. In their own words: “Reclaiming the holy season of waiting and watching for the Lord. Slow down. Simplify.” They also have a hashtag on Twitter: #occupyadvent
• Mass with a Difficult Child – Michelle shares wisdom, experience, and, most of all, a virtual hug for everyone in the trenches. Stay strong, Mom! You need those graces, and so does Jr Difficult! And all of us could do with a dose of reading this post, I think. Don’t miss it.
• 7 Ways to Pray…7 Problems in Prayer…14 Ways to Pray (with a tip of the hat to the lovely Pat Gohn at Among Women for pointing me to this) – We all struggle with prayer. And here is a post I think I could read daily for about a month to internalize all I should from it. So read it. Your Advent deserves it.

A favorite thing: Cranberry Sierra Mist, followed closely by pumpkin spice lattes (which I will indulge in sometime soon, I hope!)

Food for thought: Courtesy of Benedict XVI:

With immense gratitude, let us ask Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate and our Mother, to protect every earthly mother: those who, together with their husband, raise their children in a harmonious family context, and those who, for many reasons, find themselves alone to face a very difficult duty. May they carry out with dedication and loyalty their daily service within the family, the Church and society. May the Blessed Mother be for all a support, comfort and hope!

Worth a thousand words: This is the lovely, the incomparable, the awesome Mrs. Darwin. She is really that cool, folks. And I have met her. In person. And she let me get a picture with her after I ran into her (quite a pleasant surprise!) at a recent speaking engagement I had.

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