As a girl growing up in church, I always wanted to know more about Lot’s wife, the biblical character known only as the woman who was turned into a pillar of salt after she looked back at Sodom as it was being destroyed.

What was her name? Who was she before she was Lot’s wife? Why did she look back despite the instruction of angels to keep facing forward and moving ahead?

In her novel Angels at the Gate, local author T.K. Thorne imagines the answers to these questions and more. Thorne’s historical fiction spins the tale of Adira, who is secretly raised as a boy in her father’s caravan. As she grows older, Adira rejects womanhood as it threatens her independence and nomadic life. But the appearance of two mysterious strangers, rumored to be holy men or angels, changes everything.

With its detailed descriptions of desert life and in-depth character development,Angels at the Gate instantly drew me in. As I read about Adira’s treacherous quest to follow the “angels” I was a nervous wreck, worried about how she and her beloved dog, Nami, would survive the dangers of the desert and the perils of Sodom.

Angels at the Gate recently won the Gold Benjamin Franklin award, regarded as one of the highest national honors for small and independent publishers. When I read a book and love it, I often want to interview the author. This time, I did.

Head to B-Metro.com to check out my interview with T.K. Thorne. 

This summer I saw Beyonce and Jay-Z perform live. This summer I went to BlogHer '14 where I saw Kerry Washington, partied with Rev. Run of Run DMC, and met Arianna Huffington. This summer I even hosted a blogging conference of my own. 

But despite all of this I still count simply reading Misty Copeland's memoir as a highlight of this season. Her book Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina tells the story of how she discovered and fell in love with dance and recounts her rise to become the third African American female soloist and the first in two decades at the American Ballet Theatre. The memoir details the struggles she faced and still faces in the world of ballet, a world that often told Copeland her skin was too brown and her body too shapely to be a true ballerina. The book gives readers a glimpse into Copeland's tumultuous childhood as well. But despite the fact that she and her family lived in a cheap motel room, despite the fact that Copeland started dancing at a much later age than most, and despite the discrimination she's faced due to her body type and race, today Copeland is one of ballet's most celebrated dancers. 

Misty Copeland is becoming a household name. Just last week her name was trending on Facebook after Under Armour sportswear released an ad staring Copeland. 



This commercial is a perfect example of what makes Copeland so special. Not only did she overcome unbelievable odds to be where she is today, but she's also taking something like ballet -- a world often seen as exclusive and elite -- and introducing it people who might not otherwise be exposed to this art form. That's why she does commercials. That's why she is an ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club. That's why she's performed with mainstream music artists like Prince. And that's why she's active on social media. (Side note: I'm kind of obsessed with her Instagram account.) 

She's been criticized for this. She's been accused of being too hungry for publicity or just disparaged for "letting people in." But she stays true to her mission, nonetheless. 

And this mission of hers reminds me of blogging in so many ways. Blogging has taken the world of journalism and the world of literary arts and democratized them both. Sure, there is a down side. Sometimes amateur reporters get the facts wrong. Sometimes self-published authors don't bother hiring a good editor. But there is plenty of good that has come from the power and popularity of blogging, too.

So many people, especially women, who once felt marginalized and disenfranchised now feel that they have a voice. Women who would have otherwise never gotten a book deal are now successful published authors because of their blogs. And because of blogging more women are getting the chance to pen reported pieces, essays, and commentary for major publications. 

Fellow Birmingham-based blogger Alexis Barton saw an even deeper correlation between Copeland's art and her own. In a post about the Under Armour ad, Barton wrote: 

I’m not a ballerina. But this clip shows how I feel when I write and blog – in a word, alive. This works every nerve and brain cell and muscle, it takes everything I have and promises nothing in return. Many times it frustrates me. But when just one sentence is right, or when one paragraph crystallizes a memory and holds it up to the light – well, there’s no feeling in the world like it. It’s what I’m meant to do. 

The slogan for the Under Armour campaign inspires me greatly: I will what I want. 

That's what Misty Copeland did. And as women writers and entrepreneurs, that's what we must do too. And you can do so one blog post at a time. 

Have you ever thought about writing a book? 

About every other week someone asks me this question. My answer is always the same: "Yeah, I've thought about it, but I simply don't have the time."

And I've also feared that I don't have the skill or the expertise. And I doubt I have the platform to really push sales. These are the voices in my head convincing me to ditch my dreams of authorship.

But now I have a a new voice in my head. At BlogHer'14 I met an awesome blogger named Ariane who blogs at The Force Expansive. When discussing self-doubt in her BlogHer recap post she gave fellow writers a charge to "Shut that noise down!"

I've decided to do just that and I've decided to write an e-book.

Here are three reasons you should too.

1. You have ideas worth spreading. You're an expert at something whether you realize it or not. You may feel you're not qualified to write about a particular topic because you don't have a degree to back up your knowledge. But sometimes passion can make up for that piece of paper. I often feel that way about blogging. I may have a two journalism degrees but I don't have an award-winning, highly profitable blog so why should anyone listen to my social media tips, I'll think. Then I'll attend a blogging workshop or a seminar on Twitter and realize I already know everything being taught. Sometimes I even know more than the presenter!

2. You have a story worth telling. As I shared yesterday, my main takeaway from this year's BlogHer conference was to write like my life depends on it. Sometimes I'm hesitant to write about feminism because I don't have a degree in women's studies. But every time I write an essay or blog post sharing my experiences as a southern fried feminist, I receive email after email from women thanking me. Women tell me they didn't know they were a feminist until they read my writing. Women tell me they weren't sure if they could be a good feminist and a good wife but after reading my work they know they can.

3. You have a blog or business worth promoting. An e-book could be what you need to take your blog or business to the next level. While blog posts are quickly pushed to your archives, an e-book can have a much longer lifespan. Simply add a graphic promoting your e-book to your website's sidebar or promote your book at speaking engagements. You can choose to give away your e-book for free as an incentive for joining your email list or simply as a way to get your name out and expand your influence and reach.  An e-book can, however, generate extra revenue, too. You could sell your e-book on Amazon, iBooks, or with a company like Shebooks, which publishes short e-books by and for women.  Shebooks is a curated collection of short fiction, memoir, essays, and long-form journalism, available by subscription or one by one. (Between now and July 30, 2014 you can get a free Shebook simply by using the promo code FREEBOOK at checkout at Shebooks.net.)

If lately you've been feeling like a writer who doesn't write, working on an e-book may be just what you need to get out of your rut.

Happy writing!

As a teacher of early American literature I essentially read for a living. But summer is that time of year when I can take a break from bad students essays and books by dead white dudes. (Although, I do usually read some Edgar Allan Poe in the summer. I love me some Poe.) 

Here's what's on my reading list for this season:

John the Revelator by T.J. Beitelman

For the record, I'm totally OK with reading books by living white dudes in the summer, proven by the fact that Beitelman's book is at the top of my list. Black Lawrence Press describes the novel this way:

“Every prophet needs a home where they can hate him,” says the black buzzard of the title character’s nightmares. Part reluctant Tiresias, part locusts-and-honey outcast, teenaged John stumbles into the darker thickets of human insight—the high arts of vice and violence—and the small Alabama town he calls home will never be the same when he comes out the other side. T.J. Beitelman’s John the Revelator is the novel that Francesca Lia Block would write if someone dragged her kicking and screaming to Alabama and she started writing from the darkest corners of the Southern Gothic tradition.

Oh, did I mention that Beitelman is my co-worker. T.J.is a creative writing instructor at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, the school at which I teach, and he's one of the nicest people on the planet. I can't wait to read his book.

Things I Should Have Told My Daughter: Lies, Lessons, and Love Affairs by Pearl Cleage

Several friends have recommended this book to me, saying it's a must read for women writers. Cleage is one of the most popular playwrights in a America and a bestselling author. In this autobiographical work she retraces her struggles to hone her craft in the midst of a tumultuous personal and professional life.


Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

In 2007 Copeland became the third African American female soloist and the first in two decades at the American Ballet Theatre. Memoirs by women are my favorite thing to read, which the rest of this list will clearly reveal. Even though I'm a writer, not a dancer (unless you count me killing it in hip-hop fitness classes) I am especially eager to read about Copeland's life.  She's a role model to many of my students -- of all races -- who are in our school's dance department and I'm kind of obsessed with her Instagram account.

Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris Perry

This book has been on my summer reading list for the past two years because I'm a huge fan of Melissa Harris Perry. It's quite pathetic I haven't read it yet. In this book Harris-Perry examines the most persistent stereotypes black women face today in America such as the hypersexual Jezebel, the devoted Mammy and, of course, the angry black bitch.

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

This too is from a previous summer reading list. Baby Proof tells the story of Claudia Parr a successful editor at a publishing house in Manhattan. While Claudia is a devoted sister, aunt, and friend, she's never wanted to become a mother--which she discovers is a major hurdle to marriage, something she desperately wants. Then she meets her soul mate Ben who, miraculously, feels the same way about parenthood. The two fall in love and marry, and begin a life of adventure and discovery together. Then, one of them has a change of heart. Someone wants a baby after all.

Why Have Kids?: A New Mom Explores the Truth About Parenting and Happiness by Jessica Valenti

Here's how Amazon describes this book: 

If parenting is making Americans unhappy, if it’s impossible to “have it all,” if people don’t have the economic, social, or political structures needed to support parenting, then why do it? And why are anxious new parents flocking to every Tiger Mother and Bébé-raiser for advice on how to raise kids? 

In Why Have Kids?, Valenti explores these controversial questions through on-the-ground reporting, startling new research, and her own unique experiences as a mom. She moves beyond the black and white “mommy wars” over natural parenting, discipline, and work-life balance to explore a more nuanced reality: one filled with ambivalence, joy, guilt, and exhaustion. A must read for parents as well as those considering starting a family, Why Have Kids? is an explosive addition to the conversation about modern parenthood.

Yeah, there's a bit of a baby theme here. I've always been told that the baby bug would bite me when I turned 30. Well, I'm 33 and no bites. But I'm reading this and Baby Proof to see if I get the itch. I'll keep you posted and let y'all know if there are any plans for a Writeous Baby. But don't get your hopes up. I adore my child-free life. 

Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou

Dr. Angelou's death last week hit me hard. I never met her but I felt as if I'd lost a great aunt when I learned of her passing Wednesday morning. I'm sure other many other women can relate. Dr. Angelou knew that her female admirers viewed her as family and fortunately she saw us as family too. Her book Letter to My Daughter is a collection of essays dedicated to the daughter she never had but saw in all the women of the world who looked up to her. 

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

In Thrive, Arianna Huffington makes an impassioned and compelling case for the need to redefine what it means to be successful in today's world. But I'm also buying and reading this book because Huffington is speaking at this year's BlogHer conference and I'm determined to get her to sign my book (and take a selfie with me). 

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan

Another white dude makes the list! Fun fact: renowned food writer Michael Pollan was my thesis adviser at when I was in graduate school at UC Berkeley. Since he helped me get my thesis project in shape I'm hoping he'll help get me in shape too as I strive to change my eating habits for the better. I recently purchased a special edition of Pollan's Food Rules that includes illustrations by Maira Kalman. This handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely. Kalman's paintings remind us that there is delight in learning to eat well.

Vagina: A Cultural History by Naomi Wolf

Vagina - I have one, it's pretty important to me, and I would like to learn all I can about it. Enough said.


What are you reading this summer? 

Back in April I attempted to host a virtual book club here at The Writeous Babe Project and it was an EPIC FAIL. 

My pal Mariam warned me. When I asked readers if I should host the book club online or IRL she said that "Online is too easy to back out of...I just think your participation will be much richer...if you do it in person." And boy was she right. Even I backed out of my virtual book club once I was buried beneath all the papers I have to grade at the end of the school year. 

So let's try this again. Sort of. 

This summer I'm co-leading a Church of the Highlands small group with my friend Jamie Golden of Jamie's Rabbits. For six weeks we'll be reading and discussing Restless by Jennie Allen. 

Are you feeling restless these days? I am.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not bored. I have way too much going on in my life to ever be bored. But I am in a state of longing for what's next. I'm wondering what all the many things I'm doing right now are leading to and sometimes I wonder if they're leading to anything at all. 

Sometimes I feel as if I'm unraveling. And that's why I need to dig into this book and I need to dig deep. 

Restless is described as "a practical plan to identify the threads of your life and how to intentionally weave them together for God's glory and purposes." 

Yes to all of that. 

This book doesn't suggest that we add more things to our to-do list (thank God) but invites us to be still and see how God is already moving in our lives. Through this group we'll dig into five areas: gifts, suffering, places, people, and passions. 

This study promises to help me, to help us, untangle the thread of our lives and assemble them together in one place to reveal a beautiful plan designed by the Creator: God's Agenda + my threads + the need + the Holy Spirit = my purpose. 

So this isn't technically the Writeous Babe Book Club. It's a Church of the Highlands small group. But it's kind of like a book club only we'll meet weekly and there will be some praying and lots of Jesus talk. 

If you're a woman in the Birmingham area and would like to be part of this small group, email me at javacia@gmail.com for details. 

The group begins June 1 and we'll meet every Sunday from 4-6 p.m. 

Hey babes!

Last week I announced that I want to start a book club.

But this week I've been so stressed out I've been having facial muscle spasms, headaches, and dizzy spells. Thus this book club of mine needs to be as laid back as possible. So here's the deal: each month I'll read a book and post about it weekly. I would LOVE for you to read along with me and share your thoughts in the comments sections of the book posts or even write about it on your own blog and share the links to your posts.

For those of you in Birmingham, we'll get together at the end of the month to discuss the book IRL and nosh on snacks.

To kick things off I'm re-reading Sarah Bessey's Jesus Feminist in April.

Today happens to be Bessey's 35th birthday and to celebrate she's giving instead of receiving gifts: she's offering the Kindle and Nook editions of her book for only $1.99.

Get more details at SarahBessey.com.

If you plan to read Jesus Feminist with me next month, leave a comment to let me know.

Let's start a feminist book club!

Because I'm an English teacher I read constantly. Each time I teach a book, I reread it. That means every year I read The Scarlet Letter, The Awakening, Fahrenheit 451, The Turn of the Screw, Anthem, To Kill a Mockingbird, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and a number of other works of classic literature.

Unfortunately, this doesn't leave much time for the contemporary fiction, memoirs, or feminist non-fiction that I long to read. But last month when I lead a group of women who were reading and discussing Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In I made time to reread the book. There was no room for excuses. If I didn't reread the material, I couldn't be a good group leader. I took the task as seriously as I take my job as a teacher.

And so I realized what I need to do to read more -- I need to start a book club.

But I also need your help.

I'm trying to decide on a few things about this little book club of mine.

Should the book club be virtual, IRL, or both? I could post videos and discussion questions online or if most of the people who want to participate are in Birmingham we could actually meet at a local coffee shop once a month. Or I could always do some combination of both. What do you think?

Should I host the book club here, on the See Jane Write Birmingham blog or at SeeJaneWriteMagazine.com?  

What types of books should we read? I'd like this to be a feminist book club, but will we read books on writing, creative non-fiction, fiction, or a mixture of all these genres? I prefer non-fiction (it's the journalist in me) but I do like variety.

I'd really appreciate feedback and feel free to suggest specific books too.

Image by Abhi Sharma via Flickr/Creative Commons

Because of my work with See Jane Write, at least once a month I am asked about "my book." Some people want to know if I'm working on a book. Others simply assume I am and ask what my book is about. While some people assume I already have a book on the shelves of their local Barnes & Noble or that they can order it from Amazon.com.

All these people are sadly mistaken.

I have not published a book, nor is this a goal I'm even striving toward right now.

This may be surprising, and perhaps even seem hypocritical. Here I am working day and night to encourage women to write and share their stories, but I have no plans to pursue publishing a book!

I could say I have no interest in writing a book, but that would be a lie. I've thought about writing a book. A lot.

The truth is, I'm afraid to write a book. Here's why:

I'm afraid I'm too indecisive. Before I write a book I would need to actually decide on a topic. I have three book ideas I've been kicking around for years, but I can't settle on one. So I simply choose to not make a choice and push those publication pursuits to the back burner.

I'm afraid I'll get bored. I have commitment issues. I get bored with things (and people) very easily. I will stop watching a favorite television show mid-season if I'm disappointed by too many episodes. When I was younger, I didn't even have plans to get married because I feared I'd wake up one morning utterly bored with my husband. Writing a book is a long, arduous process that takes serious dedication. I'm afraid that if I get started on a book I'll eventually get bored with the project and dump it for a shiny new idea.

I'm afraid I'll have to abandon my other goals. Writing a book -- a good book -- takes a lot of work. It's like a second job. And since I essentially already have four jobs (teaching, freelancing, See Jane Write Birmingham, and See Jane Write Magazine) taking on a fifth would mean I would have to completely give up exercising, showering, and sleeping -- or I'd have to give up teaching, freelancing or See Jane Write. Right now, that would be like asking me to choose and give up my least favorite child.

I'm afraid I'm not smart or talented enough. Two of the three book ideas I have center on feminism, which I'm sure is no surprise if you've known me for longer than 5 minutes. But I don't have a degree in women's studies and for that reason I don't feel I have the knowledge necessary to write a solid book on feminism. And what if I don't have what it takes to write a solid book on anything? Sure, I can write blog posts and news articles, but can I really write a entire book?

But then I started reading Sexy Feminism: A Girl's Guide to Love, Success, and Style. This book is by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong and Heather Wood Rudulph, the authors of the blog SexyFeminist.com. Armstrong and Rudolph don't have PhDs in women's studies. Like me they are journalists, bloggers, and imperfect feminists looking for ways to practice feminist activism through their writing and through the decisions they make in their everyday lives.

Armstrong and Rudulph empower me to believe that I can write a book about feminism.

Yet, I'm still faced with the issue of when on earth will I find the time to write it.



I've heard fiction writers talk about characters speaking to them and poets speak of verse chasing them through space and time. Perhaps the non-fiction book I carry inside me will tell me when it's ready to be born and one day I'll just wake up and know it's time.

Before you start reading Better Than Good Hair by CurlyNikki.com founder Nikki Walton you might want to grab a higlighter or a notepad and pen. This book, published last month by HarperCollins imprint Amistad, is full of tips on cleansing, conditioning, cutting, and coiffing curly hair.

The book begins with a foreword by actress and comedian Kim Wayans and a prologue by Walton. Wayans and Walton share their own hair stories, which really resonated with me because they're similar to mine. Like me, they too didn't really have an addiction to the "creamy crack" but were obsessed with flat ironing their tresses straight for years until they finally decided to embrace their curls.

No two curly girls' hair journeys are the same and Walton recognizes this. She includes first-person stories from a number of other naturalistas throughout the book. And these stories move beyond basic hair care and also discuss how to handle negative reactions to your hair from family, friends, and significant others. One article also seeks to quell fears that sporting natural hair might hurt your career. Another gives tips on how to exercise and maintain your 'do.

Better Than Good Hair is perfect for new naturals and for those still considering the big chop, but even if you've been natural for years you'll still be jotting down notes while reading this book. I've been wearing my hair in its naturally curly state for 11 years but Better Than Good Hair inspired me to revisit and revamp my hair care regimen and routine.

Walton makes it clear that her book isn't meant to be a memoir or a political manifesto intent on shaming readers to give up their relaxers. Walton simply wants her readers to look and feel beautiful and she understands that for many women, especially women of color, that process starts at the top; it starts with our hair.

I’m not usually a fan of murder mystery novels. And I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a book snob. I’m certainly not one. You can find The Carrie Diaries series on my bookshelf right now.

But I like reading fluffy fiction about Carrie Bradshaw for the same reason I enjoy heavy classics like Toni Morison’s The Bluest Eye and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar: I am a sucker for well-developed and relatable characters.  And these are hard to find in most mystery novels.

Nevertheless, over the Christmas holidays I read Billie Thomas’ Murder on the First Day of Christmas and I’m sure glad I did.

Set in Birmingham, Alabama, the novel follows Chloe Carstairs and her mother Amanda, two decorators who find themselves in the middle of a homicide investigation after two of their clients are killed. Chloe and her mom soon become amateur sleuths determined to crack the case and complete hilarity ensues.

You may remember that I interviewed Thomas in December shortly after the book was made available on Kindle. I’m happy to announce that Murder on the First Day of Christmas is now available in paperback.

Whether you like murder mysteries or not, you should give this novel a try largely because of the charismatic main characters.  

You will immediately love Chloe Carstairs because she’ll remind you of your best friend, or yourself, or both. Like many of us, she’s a 30-something gal struggling to navigate her personal and professional lives and having many hilarious and humbling encounters along the way.

But it’s Chloe’s relationship with her mom that really got me hooked. Their mother-daughter banter will have you laughing out loud, while the obvious love they have for each other will have you picking up the phone to call your parents just to say “hi.”

Thomas does a great job of unraveling the mystery as well and soon you will have put on your detective hat too, trying to figure out who done it along with Chloe and Amanda.

Of course, I enjoyed all the references to Birmingham and I hope non-natives will read it and realize there’s more to Birmingham than they once believed.

Overall, I just love how cleverly this story is put together. Even the funny little anecdotes told throughout narrative come to serve a purpose in the end, showing you just how talented Thomas really is.

Cross-posted at the See Jane Write blog. 

This is all Jen Hatmaker's fault. 

I can't even remember how I stumbled up her book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, but it was around the holidays, a time of year when I always feel disgusted with consumerism and our society's (and my own) obsession with stuff. 

The book details Jen's attempt to fight greed, materialism, and overindulgence in hopes of living a more Christ-like existence. The idea was to choose seven areas -- food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, and stress -- and spend 30 days on each topic boiling it down to the number seven. Only eat seven foods, only wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in only seven places. Her plan also called for her to eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe “seven sacred pauses.”




Am I doing Jen's experiment completely and to the letter? Hell to the no. 

But I am inspired to do some altered version of it in hopes that it will help me streamline my life so that I can spend more time, energy, and resources on things that really matter. And my prayer is that I will begin to look more like Jesus along the way. 

Hubster and I went out for Mexican food last night. I kept referring to this meal as
The Last Supper!

Just as Jen did, I'm starting with food. Jen's experiment was inspired by one of her friends who did a "Pick 5" fast. So since Jen added two items to her list, I'm going to add two to mine. (See, this is my problem. I'm such an American. Always trying to have more.) 

Also, I'm doing this for 21 days, not 30. Every January my church has what it calls 21 Days of Prayer -- a special time of prayer and fasting to kick off the new year. This year my plan was to fast sweets for 21 Days of Prayer, which began today. Then Jen Hatmaker came along and turned my world upside down and I've now decided to fast nearly all of the foods I love. 

For the next 21 Days I will only eat the following: 

• lean white meat and fish 
• green vegetables
• sweet potatoes
• apples
• eggs
• Greek yogurt
• peanut butter
• wheat bread
• almonds

This list is similar to Jen's but for meat she only allowed herself chicken and for vegetables she only ate spinach. Her list included avocado, which I replaced with almonds. I added Greek yogurt because one of my doctors has been encouraging me to eat this for breakfast for nearly a year. Peanut butter is here because a nutritionist in my favorite magazine recommended PB on wheat bread as a mid-morning snack. 

Jen only allowed herself to use salt, pepper, and olive oil to flavor to her food. She's a better woman than I am. I will allow myself to use some low fat, low calorie condiments, but in moderation and I won't be frying up any of meats on my list. 

As for beverages, Jen only drank water. I'm allowing myself green tea as well simply because I spend a lot of time in coffee shops meeting with fellow writers and working on my blog and I need to buy something in order to not feel guilty for taking up space and Wi-Fi. 

Looking at my plan you're probably thinking this won't be so bad because I have plenty of variety. If you're thinking that, you clearly don't know me well. My friends know that I believe the human body needs cheese more than it needs water and that I think most of life's problems can be solved with a cupcake. I could beat a 16-year-old boy in a pizza eating contest and I'm convinced the manna from heaven God sent down to the Israelites was some form of Mexican food. (Look out! It's raining chimichangas!) 

And for the next 21 days I can't have pizza, Mexican food, or sweets. Lord, help me. 

But, seriously, my prayer throughout my entire streamline project will be the same as Jen's:

"Dear Lord, may there be less of me and my junk and more of You and your kingdom."

And when I say less of me I mean that figuratively and literally. If I happen to streamline my waistline over the next 21 days I will be a very happy girl. 


This was cross-posted at Streamlined Birmingham, a new blogging project by myself and some other women in Birmingham who are also looking to streamline their lives in 2013. 

You may think that a novel about homicide isn't exactly something that could get you in the holiday spirit. And you probably think that there's no way a story about a Christmastime murder could also be funny. Stephanie Naman is here to prove you wrong. 

Naman's new book, Murder on the First Day of Christmas by Billie Thomas, cleverly mixes humor, homicide and the holidays to make for the perfect murder mystery and a great vacation read. 

Set in Birmingham, Alabama, the novel follows Chloe Carstairs and her mother Amanda, two decorators who find themselves in the middle of a homicide investigation after two of their clients are killed. Chloe and her mom soon become amateur sleuths determined to crack the case. The first of a series of Chloe Carstairs mysteries, this book is filled with laugh-out-loud humor, romance, irresistible mother-daughter banter, and a bit of Southern hospitality for good measure. 

I recently had a chat with Naman, a Birmingham resident who published her book under the pen name Billie Thomas, about the series, her writing, the Magic City. 

Tell me a bit about how you came up with the idea for this story.

My mom and I always traded mysteries back and forth and one day, out of the blue, I asked her to collaborate on writing one with me. I think I surprised us both, since I’d been struggling to write another book and hadn’t planned on putting that aside, much less starting a project with my mom. We had something of a rollercoaster relationship, but the idea of a fun, funny mystery with a mother-daughter relationship much like our own, appealed to both of us.

Why did you decide on a Christmas murder mystery and how did you get the idea for Chloe and her mom to be interior designers?

My mother wasn’t a professional decorator, but she could’ve been. She had great taste. And several years ago, I wrote a monthly column for Birmingham Magazine about some of the most beautiful homes in town. I got to interview a lot of interior designers, including one who did Christmas decorating like the kind Chloe and Amanda do in the book. Since this is going to be an on-going series, being decorators will get my main characters into a lot of houses, where they can find lots of skeletons in the closets.

I love reading all the Magic City references! What do you think makes this city a great setting for a story like yours? 

I love Birmingham and want everyone to know what a great city it is. It’s a character itself – often underestimated, full of surprises. Another Birmingham author, the late Anne George, was a master at using Birmingham as a backdrop for her stories. She was a definite inspiration.

Even though this book is a murder mystery, it’s also hilarious and I’ve always envied humor writers. Any tips on how to be funny on the page? 

The better you know your characters, the easier it is to find the humor in your story. The way they relate to a situation or to other characters are great sources of humor. Chloe, for instance, is self-deprecating and a little ditzy. Amanda is more sophisticated and has a dryer sense of humor. Their differences make their banter funny, but their affection for each other keeps it light.

Let’s talk about your writing process. How long did it take you to write this book? Did you have a writing routine that helped you complete the project? 

The first draft just flowed out in a couple of months. It was a joy to write. I’d work on a chapter, send it to my mom, she’d make suggestions and I’d rewrite. Easy. I workshopped it with my writing group and looked for an agent, getting some lovely, mystery-series-are-a-hard-sell-right-now rejections. We put the book aside for a few years and I worked on other things. Since then, I’ve become a lot more disciplined with my writing – writing every day unless work is out of control. A thousand words a day is my goal but I often do more if the story is taking off. And it never takes off if I’m not writing consistently. I keep a journal and scribble ideas all the time, so I have a stockpile to refer to if I get stuck.

Why did you decide to go with e-publishing with an independent press instead of self-publishing or going after a larger publishing company? 

At the last few writers’ conferences I’ve been to, indie publishing has been the hot topic. It’s no longer waving the white flag and admitting you can’t find a traditional publisher. It’s a way to take the reigns of your own career – something that’s right up my alley. Because my book is the first in a series, I thought it would be perfect to start with. When my mom died unexpectedly of an aneurism at the end of 2011, I became more determined than ever to see it published. My friends were using an independent press and it felt like a head-start on the process. I could get my manuscript professionally edited and not have to learn all the formatting that goes into self-publishing. Plus, we could cross promote – always a good thing.

What advice would you give to those out there who are looking to get published? 

Connect with other writers. I love writing but it’s not the solitary experience everyone thinks it is. You need to workshop your early drafts and network at conferences. You need people to commiserate with when rejections start rolling in. And you’ll need connections to help you market your book – which you’ll have to do yourself whether you go the indie or the traditional publishing route. I’ve met some of the best, most creative and generous people through writing – my See Jane Write girls included.

Why did you decide to publish under a pen name? 

My mom’s name is Billie and my Dad’s name is Thomas.  They both have been so encouraging of my writing, it seemed like a nice way to honor them. I’m so thankful I have this series because working on it makes me feel close to my mom. If I ever hear that a daughter loved it and passed it along to her mom, or vice versa, saying “this is so us”, I will be thrilled. I’ll bawl my eyes out, probably, but sometimes I do that when I’m thrilled.

Cross-posted at the See Jane Write blog.  

Image by Rosmary via Flickr/Creative Commons

 The cool crisp air greeting me in the mornings and the bright red leaves on the trees outside my patio window signal that fall is here and 2012 is coming to end. For me this is a cue to start jotting down goals for 2013. But thanks to Katie at A Place to Dwell, I've decided to put my planning process for 2013 on hold for a bit and do something new -- 4 Simple Goals. This project is the brainchild of Elsie at A Beautiful Mess and you can find the rules in detail here. Essentially, you pick simple, activity-oriented goals that will make your life richer, happier, and healthier. Elsie also recommends that you reward yourself for sticking to your plans and that you blog about your progress. Here are my 4 Simple Goals Before 2013:

1. Start exercising 6 days a week. Supposedly we humans develop habits after doing something for 21 days, so once I've exercised 6 days a week for three weeks I'll consider this goal accomplished. 

2. Read and meditate on Scripture daily. Again, I will consider this goal accomplished after sticking with it for for 21 days. Since I'm so into blogging and building community between women, I think one thing that can help me with this goal is the blog SheReadsTruth.com. So I plan to follow the Bible reading plans offered there and chat with other women involved in this online community. 

3. Finish reading How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. 

4. Spend more quality time with my husband. We've both been so busy lately we barely see each other. Before this year is over I'd like us to sit down and discuss how we can be more intentional about prioritizing our relationship. 

OK, it's your turn. What are your 4 Simple Goals (Before 2013)?

If you read this blog often you probably know I'm a huge fan of Jeff Goins. I faithfully follow his blog Goins Writer. His e-book The Writer’s Manifesto inspired me to write a manifesto of my own. And the only book review I’ve posted on this blog was of his book You Are a Writer.

So it should be no surprise that I wanted to be part of Goins' blog tour for his latest book Wrecked, which is all about getting out of our comfort zones and striving to be a light in the dark places of our communities and our world. Goins says in his book that being wrecked begins with an experience that not only pulls you out of your comfort zone, but also breaks your heart and causes you to have great compassion. For him, it was a call to serve the homeless. For you, it may be something completely different, but regardless being wrecked is about being uncomfortable.

I was eager to be part of his blog tour not simply because I enjoyed the book or because I'm practically a Jeff Goins groupie. I wanted to interview Goins for you, my beloved loyal readers. I wanted to interview Goins because his words change your lives.

This summer I received an email from a reader thanking me for my review of You Are a Writer.

After reading my post she decided to check out Goins Writer. In her email to me she wrote: "Jeff Goins has changed my life... I have been inspired to embrace my writer self after reading his blog." 

And she acted on this decision. She wrote an essay and submitted it to a popular website that was published in July. 

So without further ado, my interview with Jeff Goins…

For people who aren’t familiar with the book can you briefly explain what it means to be wrecked and why we all need to have this experience?

Jeff Goins: Wrecked is a book about the life we’re afraid to live — one full of radical sacrifice and selfless service. It’s a look at how we discover fulfillment in the least likely of places. We all want a better life, but we're looking in the wrong places. Instead of inwardly, we need to be looking outwardly.

You say in your book that being wrecked is about being uncomfortable and that sometimes use certain things to try to escape discomfort, things such as social media. How can we use social media to make a difference instead of using it as a distraction?

It's all about motive. Is social media an escape or a destination? Do we lose ourselves in it or find it? A lot of people I know are using online tools to literally change the world. Check out invisiblepeople.tv for a powerful example.

In your book you state “…we find our vocations not by focusing on ourselves, but by focusing on others.” Can you elaborate on that a bit for my readers who may be still searching, trying to find their purpose in life?

Happiness is a paradox. When you seek it out, you rarely find it. Just look at rock stars, celebrities, and so forth who keep ending up in rehab. If achieving all our dreams (to be famous, to be recognized, to have the world applaud your work) still doesn't "do it" for us, what does? Simple: focus on others. Make your story about more than you (because it is, after all). The happiest people I know have built a life that is not about them, but makes room for others.

In one chapter you talk about how sad it is that some people with amazing voices won’t sing because they’re afraid to do so. And in that passage you compared music to love.  This made me think of people who won’t share their writing with the world because they’re afraid to do so. Do you think we can love the world, in part, through our writing? 

Yes, definitely. There is something powerful about art that speaks to the soul. I can't explain it; I can only surrender to it. The irony is what often feels like clunky, awkward work to you, the artist, is music to the listener's ears, so to speak. In other words, practice the fundamentals.

While reading Wrecked I felt self-centered for wanting to pursue my goals.  How can we be wrecked and still go after our writing goals?

I can identify with that feeling. I struggled with it for five years before giving into the call to write. But when I finally recognized it as a calling, it became easier. For me, a calling isn't about you; it's about others. Your vocation is a gift given to you with the intention of it being shared with others. Your words are supposed to speak to people, to help them, maybe even entertain them and make them feel not so alone in this great big universe.

If you think about writing like that, it becomes easier to start (but still pretty scary, given all the implications). I would encourage you (and others) to consider that something as seemingly arbitrary as typing on a keyboard may be about more than you and your "goals." It's about your purpose, about the masterpiece the world needs you to create. Not for you, but for them.