http://www.dancaseblog.com I was Bloggin' when Bloggin' wasn't cool..... Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:01:50 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Life is like a roller coaster--you've got your ups, you've got your downs, and just when you think you're on a straight, level stretch, an unexpected curve throws you around a little. We have moments of anticipation as we climb the hill, and moments of either exhilaration or terror on ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2008/04/19/writer-coaster/ As a responsible adult and ever-vigilant protector of all that is good and true, I feel it imperative that I issue a stern warning about The Restorer by Sharon Hinke. This is a very dangerous book. Reading this book will upset your place in the time-space continuum. It will ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2008/03/14/book-review-the-restorer-by-sharon-hinke/ A few minutes ago, I closed the cover of a book. Big deal, right? Not such an unusual thing to do, I suppose. As I writer, I'm a reader; the two are so tightly intertwined that they're inseparable. I've got a big pile of books here waiting for me, some that ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2008/03/02/reccommended-on-writing-by-steven-king/ It's not every day that I'm complimented on my makeup, and that's probably a good thing. Over the past couple of days, I've received several such compliments however, and accepted them graciously. Our church presented its annual musical Christmas drama this past weekend, and in honor of the event I pulled ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2007/12/11/my-makeup-case/ Well, here I am again, writing another "farewell to Ridgecrest" entry from Rocking Chair Ridge. The first Blue Ridge Mountains Advanced Novel Retreat is officially history. The final time of worship (lunch :) ) is over, and I'm at that saddest of moments--having to say Goodbye to Ridgecrest until next ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2007/10/11/a-ridgecrest-goodbye-and-guest-blogging-too/ It just occurred to me that I never posted a follow-up to the ACFW conference. It isn't that there's nothing to post. It's that there aren't enough hours in the day. I came away from ACFW with a different perspective on my writing. It's not that my writing suddenly changed, but ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2007/10/07/acfw-follow-up-from-rocking-chair-ridge/ That phrase brings to mind the thousands of baseball games I've heard on the radio over the years. I think that all the guys who do MLB play-by-play must have attended the same broadcasting school, because they all seem to say the exact same line the exact same way every ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2007/09/19/and-theres-the-pitch/ An incredibly encouraging sign appeared in my kitchen this morning. It was something I haven't seen in a while, a phenomenon that spoke to me loud and clear about God's grace and His passion for "healing the broken hearted and bandaging their wounds." (Psalm 147:2) As I doctored my coffee, Wookie ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2007/09/06/and-then-there-were-three/ I've just returned from a pre-screening of the new film Evan Almighty. I've been curious about this one, ever since I saw an ad for it on the back cover of a major Christian magazine. And banner ads on several Christian websites. And trailers on several Christian TV programs. ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2007/06/21/evan-almighty/ Back in 1990 or so, I lost the right to call myself "unpublished" (and disqualified myself from a remarkable number of writing contests) by selling the first article I ever wrote to Christian Single for a whopping $64. My pastor, and his drawer full of rejection letters, never forgave me. ... http://www.dancaseblog.com/2007/06/05/news-flash-dan-becomes-an-honest-writer/