Literary Heroine Blog Party!
Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!
My name is Emily McConnell. Currently I'm pursuing a writing career in hopes of getting a YA contemporary fiction novel published. We'll see how that goes. I'm also hopefully going to start a job soon training two to three year old colts who have never been ridden. I still haven't gotten the call-back on that job, so I'm praying that it will happen. We'll see! :) Otherwise, I'm a very random kind of girl. I love history to the point I get tears in my eyes when I find a new history text book or biography at the library on my favorite topics, I love my horse Bodie and I can't wait to hit the trails with him and find new adventures, I love reading historical fiction books, writing, hiking, teaching English (the language) learning Russian, exploring, etc. For the last couple of years my history obsession has been the country of Russia. I live in an area where Russian is basically the second language, so a fascination for all things Russian grew. My current fascination lies with the Cossack riders of Russia. Not the best group in the world (they were really violent horsemen) but I'm fascinated with the stories about the good Cossacks. I want to know more about them!
What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?
A true heroine isn't a girl who's out there to be "one of the guys" or someone who goes around finding trouble and fighting bad guys. To me, a true heroine is someone who gives her heart fully to God and lets him place her in the situations she's not sure she wants to be in, trying to do what God desires in her life and live life to the fullest. She makes mistakes along the way, but she learns from those mistakes and presses on. She wants to help others and will do anything she can to protect the innocent, no matter what the cost to her own life.
Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.
I always loved Corrie Belle Hollister from The Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister books. Everything about her- from her fiery temper to her great love of her family and God- she was always learning something new. I've been reading the Corrie books for over ten years. I love them so much! Corrie reminds me of myself a lot with some of the trouble she gets herself into, as well as her deep love for her family. I would do anything for my family, and I care about them so much.
Like all other Circle C fans, I love Andi from the Circle C Adventures, Beginnings and Milestones. She's a wonderful example of basically everything I was and still am! I was always quite wild and full of ideas that turned out to be really not good ideas. She's spunky, fiery, loving and full of adventure. I was never quite so counter-argumentative as she is, but everything else is like reading a book about my childhood; minus the bad guys, of course! But even then, I've had a couple of adventures with "bad guys" that are somewhat similar to Andi.
And let's not forget Anna from the series The Russians. What a wonderful picture of a woman of God, who, despite all the obstacles she faced and the very real possibility of losing her fiance, trusted God through it all and was rewarded for her faithfulness. Anna is who I wish I was, not who I am. Her friend Katrina is more like me- wild and not very mature. :P
Five of your favorite historical novels?
I'm not sure what it means by my five favorite historical novels, so I'll just go with my favorite books from historical fiction/real history. Daughter of Grace, Dawn of Liberty, My Secret War, The Crown and the Crucible, and Andrea Carter and the Dangerous Decision.
Out of those five books who is your favorite major character and why?
Uhm... Andi. Definitely Andi. :) Because Andi has the craziest adventure in Dangerous Decision and I love the family interaction in that one. Plus, again, Andi is like reading a story about myself. It's so much fun! B-)
Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?
GALANOV! :D Actually, Andrassy Galanov is a really minor character in the Secret of the Rose series, but the minute he walked into the scene in the second book, I knew I liked him. I was so upset by the end of the third book, I was hoping he'd become a good guy (he was a KGB agent) and I saw potential for him to be a good guy, but then he turned evil. But in the fourth book... okay, I'm giving away the plot. You'll just have to read it!
If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?
I feel like I'm a resounding gong with no purpose, 'cause I keep saying the same thing. I'd go to Russia on a missions trip. That would be my dream vacation- to mingle with the Russians and talk to them in their language and learn more about their culture and talk to them about God and minister to them. I can't imagine a better vacation.
What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?
*Face palm* Uhm... World War Two and the Cold War? They about tie. And of course you know what my favorite culture to read about is... so I'll go with my second favorite culture- either Australia, Germany, Scotland or Israel. I can't decide! I really love foreign cultures and reading about them.
You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation, tap dancing… what is your act comprised of?
I'd invite other people to do the recitation and tap dancing and comedy (I'm horrible at comedy :P) and I'd sing a song or two in Gaelic and Russian and Hebrew. The others could do the rest, I can't dance for the life of me and don't even ask me to recite a poem. I'm not good at it, I'm afraid!
If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?
Could I pick one of my own??? ;) I would go as either Andi from Circle C or Corrie from Journals. If I could go as one of my own characters, it's a toss up between Tatyana Dimitievna Melnikova or Emily Anna Jones.
Favorite author(s)?
Susan Marlow, Michael Phillips, Judith Pella. Hands down.
In which century were most of the books you read written?
1990s. Though I've read several older books, it just seems most of the books I like are from the 1990s.
In your opinion, the ultimate hero in all literature is…
Anne of Green Gables! I never read the real books, I read the children books when I was little. But Anne is always and forever will be everyone's favorite character. I love her from what I read in the children's books. :)
In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...
James Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes. That guy... wow. He's kind of a psychopath. Or Emil Korsch from the Secret of the Rose series. I wanted to strangle that guy! He was so evil!
Describe your ideal dwelling place.
I'm not sure what this means... outside or in a home? Outside it's definitely a open field with swaying grass on horseback. Inside, a bedroom with a window seat. That's all I need. :)
Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence.
Very informal but not immodest, usually comprising of jeans, a cowgirl shirt and a belt buckle.
Three favorite Non-fiction books?
Agent 146: A Nazi Spy in America, A Spy At The Heart of the Third Reich and The Hiding Place. I think the Bible needs to be added into this list as a "well yes of course the Bible!" But I think the question was directed towards things like biographies and stuff. :)
Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?
Riding my horse, trail riding, going for a walk, or reading outside.
Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.
A dark brown Australian Akubra hat with a light tan band around it and a kangaroo etched on the side.
Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.
Well, I can't really say them all. There's a lot. Definitely a Writer's Conference I attended last year where I was encouraged by my mentor to start pursuing publishing, my first trail ride on a large mountain with my horse, getting my first horse (a biggie!) and overcoming my anxiety and fear issues. Not to say the anxiety is gone, but I have a much better handle on it now, thanks to the Grace of God. <3
Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. -Proverbs 3: 5-6
Lead me in your truth, Oh Lord, and search me; for you are the God of my salvation. On you do I wait all day. -Psalm 25:5
When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up. -Psalm 94:19
God's word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -Psalm 119: 105
To take this literary questionnaire and enter to win a beautiful skirt, go to the blog According to Kellie at this weblink here. This is so much fun! http://kelliefalconer.blogspot.com/2015/02/literary-heroine-blog-party-and.html
So enjoyed your answers! And I LOVE your blog name. I grew up in Washington -- and we still have family there so wonderfully get to visit whenever we can. ;) Also, isn't Russia absolutely fascinating? That blend of East and West and culture and yes....it's fascinating! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heidi! And thanks for visiting my blog. :) What part of Washington were you from? I live in Eastern Washington, not far from Idaho. The best part of the state, in my opinion. ;) But that's just because I've grown up here.
DeleteYes, I do find the Russian culture fascinating, as you can tell. ;) I have several Russian and Ukrainian friends. Plus, I figure if I can learn to speak the language half decently, I can get a great job at pretty much any farm here in my area because most of the farmers don't speak Russian and they get really frustrated when the Slavics come in and start asking for lower prices or bartering with them. Every farmer I know at the u-pick farms not far from where I live has voiced some annoyance that they wish they had someone who could speak the language. So that's another reason I'm learning it. :)
Thanks for visiting my blog and God Bless!
We were from western Washington (about an hour east of Seattle and half an hour east of Redmond -- if you know where that is). But we have cousins in Newport and grandparents in Coeur d'Alene so we still LOVE visiting your side of the mountains!!! (It has to be one of my favorite places in the world. ;))
DeleteAnd that would be a great work opportunity on the farms! What a good idea! We used to go pick hundreds of pounds of berries at the u-pick farms (they don't seem to have as many in Missouri :{ ), which I definitely consider a wonderful and fomulative part of my growing up. :)
I know where that is! I have several friends in Newport and Cour d'Alene. Beautiful areas. That's so neat you come and visit here! Then you know exactly what I mean by the U-pick farms. :) Aren't they wonderful? Did you ever visit Hansen's orchard while you were in this area? I worked there for the fall season. Wonderful Christian people. The best people I ever worked for. :)
DeleteI have a friend who's working in Missouri right now doing an apprenticeship. He's working on an organic farm. I've never left the Northwest (unless you count a day trip to Montana) so I am not familiar with that side of the country. I'll bet it's beautiful. :)
How splendid! :) We did a lot of our picking on the other side of the mountains, but our cousins have done a lot of cherry (and I think apple) picking near you, and we've gone blueberry picking with them up near Sandpoint. ;) How fun that your friend is apprenticing in Missouri! I do feel very comfortable living here, which is nice. Isn't it wonderful that there are so many beautiful places in the world to live in and visit and dream about? :)
DeleteThe Hiding Place! I almost chose that as one of my favorite non fictions. It was a wonderful book!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! Glad to find you through Kellie's blog!
Thank you, Kelpie! :) What blog did your post your answers on? I was having trouble finding it. :) The Hiding Place is such a wonderful book. So sad, but so full of forgiveness and love. I really liked it. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Deletehttp://www.createdbythecreated.blogspot.com/2015/02/literary-heroine-blog-party-2015.html
DeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat's The Hiding Place about?
DeleteIt's a true story of a woman who helped hide Jews in WWII. She and the rest of her family are caught and put in concentration camps, and how she comes to forgive the Nazis who basically starve and kill her sister off. It's a really sad but wonderful story. I don't recommend it if you can't handle the descriptions of the camp. It's really, really, sad.
DeleteI love horses, too! The Northwest is one of my Very Favorite places in the world and someday I hope to live there for a little bit again!
ReplyDeleteCulture is an endlessly fascinating topic. :) I have yet to do much research on it, but the differences between horsemanship practices in different cultures seems to be especially interesting! That being so, when you said the Cossacks were violent horsemen, I was wondering if you meant they were violent toward their horses or other people?
I agree that a window seat would be great fun to have. :)
Lately I have become interested with the Down Under version of the cowboy so Australian hats have been very much on my mind. :)
Thank you for commenting on my blog, Eowyn! I love your name so much! So beautiful!
DeleteYes, culture, horsemanship, language, etc. Fascinates me to no end. :) What i meant about the Cossacks was they were very violent against the Jews and other people of nationalities they decided they didn't like. They killed a lot of them. :( They were infamous horsemen. Look up Cossack riding. The Cossacks invented trick riding, and that's where we got it from. They were AMAZING horsemen. I love their outfits, too. Especially the Kuban and Don Cossacks! They have the coolest outfits. :)
I LOVE Downunder cowboys! I met one, once. His name is Clinton Anderson. He's very famous, actually. :) It was the highlight of my horse life. :)
Thanks for commenting!
That is so neat that you actually met Clinton Anderson!!! I have only seen one of his DVD's. It turned into a terribly funny episode, though, because right after watching it with me, my younger sister (who at the time was about 8 years old) went outside and (in the calmest manner possible) started trying to teach our extremely squeaky and giddy terrier how to lunge! I'm afraid the attempt was not much of a success, but she was dreadfully cute all the same. :)
DeleteAh, yes, the infamous Clinton Anderson DVDS. I remember watching one when I was twelve. I laughed through the whole thing because his voice was so funny. I remember trying the lunging out with a horse for the first time and realizing it worked. :) That's such a cute story about your sister. :) You should try to go to one of Clinton's Walkabout Tours. They're really fun and educational. :)
DeleteYou sound quite a bit like me! I really enjoy learning more about you. Thanks for posting! Hmm, maybe I should do this on my blog....
ReplyDeleteYou've MET Clinton Anderson! Cool! We use Parelli with out horse but I would like to switch to sometime more along the lines of in-between Parelli and just using the horse. (Not overly or anything!)
So, If I were to read one book/series, what would you recommend that it be? (Other than circle c and goldtown of course!)
I kinda use a lot of different methods, but I've had experience enough to "experiment." I definitely recommend sticking with one program for a couple of years before you go experimenting. :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm... one book or series... I LOVE "The Russians" series and "The Secret of the Rose" series and "The Diaries of Corrie Belle Hollister" series, but if I were to recommend one of those for your age group, I'd go with the Corrie series. A single book I'd recommend is "My Secret War". It's not Christian but there's not anything really questionable in it. Plus it's got a great story to it! The other two series I mentioned are meant for more of an adult audience, and though they're Christian I recommend talking to your parents about it before you go reading them. :) They've got some serious stuff in them. I enjoy them a lot, but I'm nineteen, so I am kind of in the age range for those books!
Got it, thanks! How many years of experience do you have?
DeleteSeven, going on eight. :)
Delete