Musings of a Sparrow….
My thoughts about God, writing, and life in general….
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A Taste of: From Sackcloth and Ashes
At this point, both to promote my novel and get feedback, I’m sharing the first chapter of From Sackcloth and Ashes on my blog as it currently stands. I’m asking you to read it and give me your constructive critique….
Novel: Filling the Cracks—Chapter Six
Marg waited until Constable Hughes left before she turned to Lisa and Aurora, shaking her head in confusion….
Novel: Filling the Cracks—Chapter Five
The rest of the weekend was spent at the lakefront, hiking, sitting at the campsite, playing card games, or visiting around the campfire. No one forced Beth to wear a bathing suit at the beach. She rolled up the pant legs of her jeans, waded, and splashed in the water with Lisa and her family….
Novel: Filling the Cracks—Chapter Four
Beth stopped at home after school on Friday only long enough to drop off her book bag and pick up Otto, and their duffel bags, which she’d left near the side door so she wouldn’t have to enter the house, run into Virgie, and risk having her mom change her mind about allowing them to go on the camping trip. She opened the side door, hung her book bag on a hook, and shouted for Otto. He came running from his bedroom dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants, appearing more excited than Beth remembered him being in a long time. They grabbed their bags and headed to her friend’s house without saying a word. Lisa waited for them on the sidewalk, and together they hurried away from the Clark home before Virgie stopped them….
Novel: Filling the Cracks—Chapter One
May 1984
Many things fell through the cracks in Coverville, never to be spoken of or acknowledged. Political bribes. Petty crimes. Spousal abuse. Affairs. Beth Clark’s home life was one of many taboos….
The Main Characters of Filling the Cracks (and How I Developed Them)
On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, I will debut my novel Filling the Cracks on my blog here at Jenniroman.com. While I’m excited about it, I’m also nervous. There’s no way of telling how the story will be received, and I’m hopeful yet also cautious. Despite having moments of adventure, this story is character-driven instead of plot-driven. My focus in writing was on the development of the characters; they were important to me, and I spent time developing them both ‘on paper’ and in my head. In this post, they will be briefly introduced to you (I don’t want to give too much away before the first chapter is posted), and I’ll explain my process of creating them…
Short Story: Trash
It’s a beautiful day today, but come rain or shine, Sunflower Miller can be found picking up a pop bottle and putting it in the blue recycling bag she carries, tied to a belt loop on one hip, then picking up a paper drink cup and placing it in the black trash bag tied to the other hip. She’s developed a rhythm after hours upon hours of practice. All on her own, she can clean an entire schoolyard in a day. The best pickers among her followers take at least two. With the help she’s gained over the past six weeks, the schoolyards of seven central Alberta villages and towns have been cleaned….
Short Story: The Tree
His drive home from seeing the specialist in Edmonton takes Matt Campbell past the old hobby farm he grew up on. His older sister, Michelle, and her family live there now after taking over the place when their mother, Carol, died ten years past. Matt hasn’t been back to see his sister or his old stomping grounds since his mother’s funeral….
Short Story: War Within
A short story about a war inside the heart of a young woman searching for belonging.