An interview with Hope

All right, I finally filled out my own interview--yes, I interviewed myself...anyway, here are the results!



What is your name/blog name?
Hope

How long have you been part of LARK?

L.A.R.K. is my brainchild...so I have been part of it since before it existed.

Do you have any other blogs besides LARK that you would like to share with us?

Well, I have one, www.themodpodgeblog.blogspot.com , but unless you like crafts and especially Mod Podge you most likely won't find it very interesting.

Tell us about yourself—
I'm generally supposed to be anti-social but in real life I am simply like Elinor Dashwood(thank you Jane Austin for impersonating me when you wrote created Miss Dashwood!) --I prefer well educated, sensible society and that is hard to find! 

The most important thing in life to me is my Savior, Jesus. I love my family of two parents, one sister, two brothers, one sister-in-law, and two nephews, and I am never happier than reading a book with an animal next to me. I am very proud of my Scottish heritage (Free Scotland 2014!!!); have a strong affinity to anything history related; and am always in pursuit of something new to keep my mind occupied. On top of all this, I am generally considered a boring person by any who do not know me very well.

What are some of your interests?

I'm afraid I'm a bit too much like Emma Woodhouse in this case (thank you again Jane Austin!). I have many things that catch my interest but none that I am proficient at. First and foremost would of course be reading. Then, history, writing, photography, anything having to do with animals, crafts, fencing (sword fighting), archery, anything Scottish or Celtic, music, piano, violin, costumes,...and the list goes on.

Do you have a personal hero (Other than Jesus.)?

This is a hard one for me.There are many people that I admire for certain qualities but coming up with someone that I would want to imitate in many ways is very hard. Probably Stephen, from Acts 6 and 7. Ron Paul is another person that I greatly admire.

What is your favorite reading genre?

Historical Fiction without a doubt!

Who is your favorite author?

Oh my, what a hard question I asked myself...probably Charles Dickens though Sir Walter Scott, George MacDonald, Lois Lowry, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Baroness Emma Orczy would all be crowding him.

What is your top favorite book (only one book!)?

Hands down To Kill a Mocking Bird. I have never read better than that!

Do you have any inspiration to get published?

To me publishing has always been a nice little idea floating around in the back of my head for if I ever am in bad need of some money. I like the idea of writing books, and having them read by more than my immediate friends who I chose to email them to, however the hassle of actually getting them published, publicized and completely changed by the modern industry makes me shy away.

Are you currently writing a book or books? If so, would you like to tell us a little about them?

I have had numerous idea's floating around in my head, some of them for years, but I only ever gotten about 1/4 of the way through writing one. I stopped because I was getting writers cramp...yes, it was all hand written. It is called The Iron and centers around the mysterious figure head of a fictitious revolution whose  symbol resembles a old fashioned clothing iron. The book is from the eyes of a member of The Iron Circle (the brain of the revolution), Jeremiah (Jem) Partington, and is an account of the second attempt at a revolt, lead by The Iron, in this fictitious country. As the book progresses, Jem starts discovering some things about the leader's hidden past that raise questions for his potentially bitter future.

An interview with Josie

What is your name?
Josie

How long have you been part of LARK?
 Since September, 2012 (8 months)

Do you have any other blogs besides LARK that you would like to share with us?
 A blog my sister and I write on: chewinthecuddebate.blogspot.com

Okay Josie, tell us about yourself---
 I'm currently an Agronomy student at Kansas State University, just finished up my first year.  I work for Crop Quest, a crop consulting company, during the summer and enjoy it greatly!  

I'm blessed to have been raised by a godly family who love the Lord!  I'm the youngest of five girls and have two brothers-in-law and a nephew and a niece!  I was homeschooled my whole life up until college and am incredibly grateful that my parents made the decision to homeschool!  =D 

What are some of your interests?

 I love to read and write, climb trees, ride horses, play with my nephew and niece (somebody should come up with a word that combines the two so you can group them together!), spend time with my family, be crazy, draw sometimes, have spelling bees, and the list goes on!  =)

Do you have a personal hero (Other than Jesus.)?

 Hmmm... that's a hard one!  Probably one of them is Job from the Bible; he still believed and trusted God even while going through intense adversity!

What is your favorite reading genre?

 Autobiographies, sometimes mystery/thrillers depending on the author.

Who is your favorite author?

 Probably Bill Bright and Jack Cavanaugh.  They wrote the Great Awakening series.

What is your top favorite book (besides the Bible since I think we would all put that)?

 Fire by Bill Bright and Jack Cavanaugh

Do you have any inspiration to get published?

 I have always dreamed of being an author!  I think it would be so neat.

Are you currently writing a book or books? If so, would you like to tell us a little about them?

 I'm not currently writing a book.  However, last semester I wrote a story that got published in a small department booklet.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

 nope.

An interview with Grace

What is your name/blog name?
You can call me Grace :)

How long have you been part of LARK?

I believe about as long as it's been existing. It will be a year in August.

Do you have any other blogs besides LARK that you would like to share with us?

We Are Windows and Simply Sweet Suggestions are my two blogs. We Are Windows is more of a devotional or journal like blog. I've posted a lot of poetry and short stories there also. Simply Sweet Suggestions is my cake blog. I love to decorate cakes, so I post a lot of fun pictures over there.

Tell us about yourself—

I'm from a large family – five brothers and one sister to be exact. Despite all the brothers, I tend to be pretty shy when it comes to social situations, but among those I know really well I can be a different person. Most of the time I prefer to stay at home with my family and dream up exciting stories. 
 

What are some of your interests?

I love reading, writing, cake decorating, some drawing and photography, teaching preschoolers, and singing. In the past I also enjoyed some piano and swim team. 
 

Do you have a personal hero (Other than Jesus.)?

My personal hero is probably my Mom or one of my Grandmas. I admire their faith and the way they raised(or are still raising) up their children to love the Lord. 
 

What is your favorite reading genre?

I love fantasy, and it is also what I love writing most.

Who is your favorite author?

Oh dear, I'm not sure whether or not I can choose between Bryan Davis, Jill Williamson, and Andrew Peterson. I'll just say Bryan Davis.

What is your top favorite book ?

Hmmm...probably Raising Dragons by Bryan Davis, but I love the whole Dragons in Our Midst series!

Do you have any inspiration to get published?

I would love to publish a book someday! It's my favorite dream.

Are you currently writing a book or books? If so, would you like to tell us a little about them?

Currently I have a couple main books floating around in my head. One is a twist off of Joseph's story in the Bible. Except instead of twelve brothers, they are twelve sisters. I've started writing it, but I'm not sure if I'll ever publish it. Maybe someday. The main book I would like to publish is one that's been evolving in my head since I was around eleven. It's changed drastically since then. I've started writing it multiple times, but then a major part of it will change. Then I start all over again. Mainly, though, the book will be about seven orphans. Michael the eldest, harbors a bitter anger towards his dead parents who abandoned the children and left them without an explanation for the humiliating difference between them and the rest of humankind. When a key to the puzzle finally clicks into place, Michael is determined to let nothing stop him from finding the rest of the missing pieces and recover what rightfully belongs to him and his siblings. 
 

An interview with Faith

So I decided I (Hope) would interview all of the LARK authors, including myself. The answers that came back were diverse and interesting. This one was the one that surprised me the most simply because she was stingy with her words! :) I'm just teasing you Faith! Thanks for doing this interview!


What is your name/blog name?
Faith

How long have you been part of LARK? 
Since it started.

Do you have any other blogs besides LARK that you would like to share with us? 
No.

Tell us about yourself—(as much or as little information about whatever you want!) 
I'm a fun lovin person who loves people and Jesus.

What are some of your interests?

Writing, photography, playing the piano, and socializing.

Do you have a personal hero (Other than Jesus.)?

Amy Carmichael.

What is your favorite reading genre?

 Suspenseful fiction.

Who is your favorite author?

 Dee Henderson

What is your top favorite book (besides the Bible since I think we would all put that)? (only one book!)

 The O'Malley Chronicles.

Do you have any inspiration to get published?

No.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
No.

Where Fire Blazes - Part 3

Here is part 3 of "Where Fire Blazes." To review or read the previous parts, click on the links below.

Part 1

Part 2

My captor released my shoulder, and I cautiously stepped out of his reach. Twinkling eyes or no, I had no clue who he was. He seemed to sense my leeriness and folded his arms inside his mantle. Then he spoke again in that soft tone of his. “Would you like to warm yourself by my fire?”

The earlier effect his words had on me started all over again. No one besides Viho had ever spoke such warm words to me. How I desperately wanted to say yes! Instead I froze. With my feet planted firmly in the middle of the road, I stared dumbly up at him, my mouth agape.

“Well, suit yourself.” He shrugged his shoulders and ambled back towards his camp.

Just then the bitter wind whipped about my bare legs, sending me stumbling after the reeking man despite the fears still churning inside my addled brain.

Moments later I was bundled up in the stranger's blanket by his crackling fire. A bowl of steaming hot soup warmed my icy fingers. The man sat silently the other side of the fire, watching me intently. Cautiously I tipped the bowl up to my lips and took a quick sip. “Mmmmm, this is good!” I mouthed over my burnt tongue.

The man chuckled. “So you can speak!” he teased. “Now tell me, do you have a name?”

“Hidi,” I spoke between sips.

“Pretty name!” A smile spread across his face revealing a multitude of wrinkles. Streaks of silver through his black hair and beard were also now visible in the fire light. “I am Hajile. Now tell me, please, what are you doing traveling by yourself in the middle of the night?”

Tears stung my eyes as I thought of the reason for my foolish trip. I wasn't even sure whether or not I wanted to reveal my story yet. “Umm...I'm on a mission,” I finally choked out.

“Oh?” Hajile leaned forward, his bushy eyebrows raised in curiosity. “What sort of a mission?”

“I don't really want to talk about it.” I tried to ignore his questioning look and instead examined the chunks of potato in my soup.

“Well, then,” Hajile stood and shifted the logs in the fire. “Maybe you'll want to talk about it tomorrow.”

“Maybe...” I murmured.

Hajile stretched and released a low yawn. “I'm going to take a little walk. You stay by the fire, okay?”

I nodded, and he turned to leave. “Wait!” I shouted after him. “Have you heard of the Ring of Fire?”

Hajile spun back around. His face was somber. “I have. Why do you ask?”

“I am searching for it or them or whoever it is. It's very important that I find them.” I tried to force the urgency into my voice, but my fatigue left me sounding like a small frightened mouse.

Hajile's forehead creased, and one of his hands reached up to stroke his beard. The next thing I knew, he was in front of me, breathing his foul breath into my face. “If at all possible,” he growled, “stay as far away from that group as possible. Have nothing to do with them.” Then he was gone, stomping through the long grasses of the valley. I sat there stunned, choking on the memory of his stench.

Something wet and warm in my lap woke me from my hypnotized state. I glanced down to find soup and potatoes drenching my dress, but I hardly payed it any mind. All I knew is I had to get away from this man and his camp. My feet swished through the grass as I ran for the tree line. If I could hide myself deep enough into the dark clutches of the forest, surely he'd never find me.

Baylor's Choice - Part 3

  Okay, here's the last part...  It's a rather hurried ending, but I couldn't think of anything more to add...  Sorry!

  9 years later; 1861
    Baylor, now a nearly grown man of 19, watched solemnly as about a dozen people packed their few belongings and prepared to leave.  It was the beginning of the civil war, and Baylor’s father had freed all his slaves so they could choose for themselves whether they wanted to go off and fight with then north or stay and work as paid laborers.  About a dozen of the slaves had decided to leave, but the rest decided to stay on, knowing that their former master was a good man and would continue to treat them well.  Among those leaving was Henry.  Baylor watched his boyhood friend, his eyes glistening as he fought back tears at the thought of never seeing his friend again.  He sniffed and blinked the tears back rapidly as Henry turned and started towards him.
    “Baylor...  Why don’t you come with me, fight alongside me with de north?”  Henry tried to persuade.  “You always said you’d find a way to free all the slaves; here’s your chance!”
    Baylor shook his head, unconvinced.  “No, not like this.  I won’t go to war against my own family.  There’s got to be a better way.”
    “You be goin’ to fight fo’ the south, den?”  Henry asked, a tinge of bitterness slipping out of his carefully guarded tone.
    “No,”  Baylor said, shaking his head in frustration.  “I don’t know.  I can’t fight against what I believe, either.  I know slavery’s not right.”
    “Baylor, you’s gots to make your decision.  You know dey’s goin’ to be comin’ round, tryin’ to enlist boys our age.”
    “I know, Henry, I know.”
    “So just come wit’ me!”  Henry pleaded.
    “No, Henry, I can’t.  I can’t do that to my family!  I can’t fight against my own brother!”  Baylor said, knowing that Daniel would be enlisting in the Rebel army any day now.  Henry sighed in frustration, and then shook his head sadly.
    “No, no, I guess you can’t.”  Henry turned to leave.
    “Henry.”  Baylor said, reaching a hand to Henry’s shoulder to stop him.  Henry turned, looking questioningly into Baylor’s face.
    “Stay safe, will you?”  Baylor finally said.  Henry smiled slowly.
    “Shore.  Anything for you, Baylor.”  Henry forced a grin into place and then turned and headed back to where his family was waiting for him.

    A few months later...
    Baylor cantered back towards the plantation, weary after a long day working at the lumber mill in town.  He’d taken a job to keep himself occupied while trying to make a decision on which side of the war to join.  As he neared the plantation, he saw smoke rising in the air.  Fear struck in his heart as he remembered the tales he’d been hearing about northern troops parading through and burning down plantation houses on their way south.  He spurred his horse on, not wanting to believe the inevitable.  He and his horse rounded the curve in the road and stopped short at the site that met their eyes.  The northern soldiers had been there.  The only thing that remained from the grand plantation house was the sturdy brick chimney, rising out of the smoke and ashes like a sentinel standing guard.  Baylor tried to cry out, but his voice stuck in his throat.  His family!  What had happened to his family?  He dismounted and ran towards the smoldering remains of the house, finally finding his voice and calling out frantically.
    “Father!  Mother!  Julia!  Jacob!  Minnie!” 
    “B-Baylor?”  He heard a whimper and his eyes darted towards the grove of trees to the left of the road. 
    “Minnie!”  Baylor ran to his little sister, grabbing her and holding her tight. 
    “Baylor, it was awful!  The bad men came and burned the whole house down!”  Minnie sobbed. 
    “Where’s everyone else?  Are you all right?”  Baylor inquired frantically.  Father, Mother, Julia and Jacob emerged from the trees. 
    “We’re all fine; we escaped and hid here.”  Julia answered.
    “How could they do this?”  Baylor asked, infuriated.  He knew now, though, what his decision must be.  Forgive them?  Yes, he could, and he knew he must.  But fight with them?  No, never.  He would join the Confederate army. 

I'm Sorry, But I am Not--Part 2

Alright, here is the end of my story. I really feel like it was very poorly written because I started hurrying to be done with it. Sigh, hope you enjoy it anyway!

Ian jumped up with a little surprised gurgle, frightening the large bird away. As he steadied himself and looked around he found his wonder increasing. Was this all one long terrible dream? He felt like he had just stepped into one of those paintings of the jungle only, this was even more real because he could hear jungle animals announcing their vicinity to him.

He looked back out to an empty sea, then his eye ran down the washed beach. There was noting to it, he would have to start bushwhacking his way through the jungle.

Three days later….

Ian stared open mouthed at the small natives as they jabbered excitedly to him in English.

“We’ve been waiting for you for so long, Ian! We’re so happy you’re finally here! Come, come quickly and see the church we’ve built. Now you can preach in it to us!” They grabbed his cut and bleeding arms and been dragging him through the village of squatting mud huts.

“You know my name?” He managed to gasp a tall young man near him.

“Of course we do! The other missionaries who just left told us a man named Ian would be coming to teach us more about Jesus.” His face shone eagerly, “Look, there it is!”

A hut, slightly larger than the others stood out from the rest because of the large stick cross fixed on the roof.

“See! Now you can teach us more about God!”

“Uh,” Ian was the most surprised he had ever been in his life. “But, I-I-I’m not a missionary!”

They smiled politely at him.

“Okay look guys, I have to tell you all this before this confusion goes any farther.” He stepped up to the front of the church and raised his voice. The room immediately fell silent and all eyes were fixed expectantly on him.

Ian faltered. He had always gotten terrible embarrassed when large crowds were watching him, that is, unless he was on his horse. He sighed, thinking about how that would probably never happen again. All the tricks and capers he had been practicing so diligently to perform—

An old man cleared his throat recalling Ian to the present.

“Alright, look, I’m not the missionary you think I am.”

There was silence for a moment and then a dark woman from the back called out.

“Isn’t your name Ian?”

“Yes.”

“Then you are the man we were expecting.”

“No, I’m not.”

The natives exchanged puzzled glances.

“My name is Ian, but I am not a missionary. I am a cowhand from Montana—er—you probably don’t know what that is…here, just let me tell you my story.—“ And Ian narrated all of the above story though undoubtedly he told it much better.

When he ended there was a long pause and then a little girl from the front row spoke up sadly, “So you’re not the nice man Mama’s told me is coming?”

Ian’s heart was softened. “No, I’m sorry, but I am not.”

Two weeks later.

The loud speaker crackled  for a moment and then a man’s voice came through, “Testing, testing, 1,2,3! Ah, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for joining us for the 5^th annual Juniper Springs Rodeo! I hope you have all enjoyed the amazing feats we all have witnessed today!”

The crowd cheered enthusiastically.

“I will now, announce what you have all been waiting for—the winners! Eham! First off we have calf roping first place was lassoed by—Bladdian Gilbert!”

The thousands of hands clapped.

“Next,” The loud speaker boomed imperially, “My personal favorite part of the whole rodeo—trick riding! And the winner is—Jamie Willis!”

Ian settled back into his saddle and clapped politely as his rival rode triumphantly out into the arena. Then he involuntarily sighed, it had taken so much to get here on time, and then he didn’t win. He let his thoughts wander back to the past month of his life. It had been a crazy month—first, he had been knocked unconscious while preparing for this rodeo, then, he had been kidnapped and placed on a ship which had wrecked him an the edge of the jungle. As if that wasn’t excitement enough, he had next, come across a band of natives who thought he was their much expected missionary. Thankfully, the real one had arrived a few days later and Ian had been able to catch a ride in his little taxi plane out to civilization and a big air port. From there he had been flying and flying and had finally arrived back in Montana the day before the rodeo. And all, just in time to lose.

He picked up the reigns of his horse and trotted away from the grounds. Oh well, it didn’t really matter, he was mainly just glad to be home.

Baylor's Choice - part 2

 Here's part 2...  It kind of ends at a weird place, but that's all I have so far...

A few weeks later...
    Henry and Baylor were once again in the horse barn, stroking their two favorite horses in the early morning light.  Henry cast a glance at the rising sun and noted regretfully that he’d need to be going soon.
    “Henry, one day we’re going to find a way to free all the slaves.”  Baylor said determinedly.  “That way friends won’t have to be always getting separated when it’s time for the one to go work.”
    “Oh, Baylor, that’d shore be fine, but how you gonna do it?”  Henry inquired.
    “Oh, I don’t know yet.  I’ll figure out a way, though.  When I’m grown up and smarter.” 
    “Baylor!   Are you going on about your crazy ideas again?”  Baylor was interrupted by a feminine voice and turned to see his older sister Julia entering the barn, with Daniel, their oldest brother, following behind.
    “They’re not crazy, Julia!”  Baylor protested.
    “Well, maybe not crazy, but impractical, that’s for sure!”  Julia retorted, and moved off to the other side of the barn to saddle her horse for a morning ride.
    “I’d better be goin’,”  Henry said, and hurried on out towards the summer kitchen.  Baylor sighed and sunk down to the floor, picking absentmindedly at the loose straw on the floor.
    “Hey now, Baylor, don’t be discouraged.”  Daniel lowered himself to the floor beside Baylor.
    “But, Daniel, it’s not fair, Henry having to go and do all that work, and me not having to do any of it.”
    “Baylor, you know we treat our slaves better than most people do.”
    “Yes, well, they still have to do all that work for no pay or reward.”  Baylor protested.
    “It’s just the way it is.  How else would we get our crops harvested?  We need our slaves, or we’d all go broke, and you and little Jacob and Minnie would be starving.”  Daniel pointed out.  Baylor sighed reluctantly.
    “But there’s got to be a better way.”  He insisted.
    “Well, I won’t argue with you if you can find it.”  Daniel said, patting Baylor on the shoulder and standing to leave.  “Don’t tax yourself too hard thinking on it, though, youngster.  Come on, have you have breakfast yet?”
    “No,” Baylor said, and the two of them walked to the house together.
    After breakfast, Baylor headed up to the nursery to find his younger siblings, Jacob and Minerva.  They were five and two, respectively. 
    “Bay!”  Minerva called out excitedly when Baylor walked through the nursery door.
    “Hey, Minnie!  You up already?”
    “We’ve been up for a long time!”  Jacob answered for Minnie.
    “What’ve you been doing?”  Baylor questioned.
    “Playin’.”  Jacob grinned, showing off his grimy hands to Baylor.
    “How did your hands get so dirty?”  Baylor asked, examining the two children’s blackened hands.  The two looked guiltily over at the fireplace, and Baylor saw the cause.  Ashes from the fire were strewn about all around the fireplace, and various toys and dolls were scattered in among them.
    “We’re pretendin’ it’s snow.”  Jacob explained.  “Wanna play with us?  It’s really fun!”
    “Jacob, Minnie, you’re not supposed to play in the fireplace!  How many times has Mother told you that?  The ashes could still be hot and you’d burn yourselves.”  Baylor scolded.
    “But they weren’t hot.”  Jacob rationalized.
    “You still made a mess, and disobeyed Mother.”  Baylor pointed out.  At that moment, Dinah, one of Henry’s older sisters, came into the room.  She gasped at the sight of the mess.
    “Oh, chilluns, look at de mess!”  She cried.  Jacob and Minnie began to realize their error.
    “We’ll clean it up,”  Jacob offered, and Minnie nodded happily in agreement.
    “No, I’ll send Anika up.”  Dinah said, calling down the stairs for Anika.  Soon, a small child of about seven years old appeared in the doorway.
    “Anika, I need ya to clean dis up whiles I get breakfast for the chilluns.”  Dinah instructed.  Anika nodded and went to the closet for a broom and pan. 
    Baylor watched as Anika cleaned up the mess, feeling guilty that such a little girl was having to do all the work cleaning up a mess she didn’t even make.  Jacob and Minnie tried to help, but they were just making matters worse, so eventually Baylor led them away to go wash their hands and get ready for breakfast.