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CAN Book Review by Diana Brandmeyer: Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon

When Touching the Clouds arrived in the mail I wasn't sure if the author could pull off a book with such an independent heroine during the depression. Well, Leon did it. 

Kate Evans calls off her marriage and heads to Alaska in her small plane to be a bush pilot. She leaves Washington State and its heartaches behind, hoping to support herself in the rough Alaskan terrain.

She runs into major problems, from unpredictable weather to judgment from other male pilots.

She's not the only one hiding in Alaska. So is Paul Anderson. He has his own memories that he is trying to hide from. You'll wonder if he's running from the law or himself.

While Touching the Clouds has some romantic elements, I didn't feel as if the entire story was centered around romance. Reading about Alaska during the depression, “flying” with Kate, and enduring the challenges with her make this book special. Even better, this is Book One of the Alaskan series, so there is more fun to come for Leon's readers. 

Abide

Happy Monday from Bonnie Leon.

 

Authors lead busy lives.

Writing requires large chunks of time, plus there is the continual process of editing. We’re either working on a manuscript or in the middle of one that’s back from the publisher requiring changes. There’s also marketing do be done, which demands a good deal of our time. Plus we have church, communitiy functions and family fun and drama. Sometimes it feels like there is not one free moment. With those kinds of pressures how do we stay close to the Lord?

There's Only One Superman

Happy summer greetings from Bonnie Leon

 

I just finished a manuscript and turned it into my publisher. The usual rush toward a deadline plus unexpected adventures from life wiped me out. I’m still trying to recover. I have a new book, Touching the Clouds, releasing, so now comes the book launch and all that it entails. I’m feeling exhausted just thinking about it. There is so much to do.

We Are Able

Hello from Bonnie in rainy Southern Oregon.

 

How often do you feel unfit to fulfill the call of God on your life? Once a month? Once a week? Once a day? More than that?  I don’t keep track, but I know I frequently doubt my abilities as a writer, a teacher, mentor, wife and mother. When I don’t reach my expectations I feel I’ve failed. We’re all uncertain, some of the time, about our skills and our readiness to fulfill obligations. I believe our lack of confidence exists because we rely upon the wrong power source.

Remain Faithful

Hello from Bonnie here in soggy Oregon. I'm still waiting for spring.

 
  

When I first started creating stories it was just a hobby, something I did for fun once in a while. I never dreamed it would be anything more. But after being side-lined by an auto accident God gave me a new vision, a new way to serve Him. It was through the gift of writing. Though I didn’t fully understand what I was saying yes to, I was committed to the call. God threw open every door, and it was clear that writing books was part of His plan for me. I vowed to remain in the race until He called me elsewhere.

TEAM SPIRIT

Happy Monday to you from Bonnie Leon.

 

 

In all my yeas of writing I've seen very little resentment, back-biting, or mistrust among my writing friends and acquaintances. However, knowing the human condition (we're very self-centered) I understand that all of these emotions, and more, are present in the writing world. And I know my own heart, which is not always pure.

Believe

 
A happy Monday to you from Bonnie Leon.

 Signs of Christmas are everywhere and gift ideas have been tumbling through my mind. What should I get for my husband, children and grandchildren? I’ve also been thinking about the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. What must it have been like to be Mary when she looked upon her son, God’s son? The Christ child lay in her arms only because she’d bowed her will to God. When she chose to obey did she know the sacrifices and heartache that lay before her?

Be Flexible?

 
Hello from Bonnie Leon here on my mountain top in Southern Oregon. Fall has arrived, and I'm breathing deeply.                              

You'd think that since I'm a country gal I'd be the laid back type. Sadly flexibility is not one of my strengths. I always have a plan. And barring flood, famine or threat of death I stick to it. My kids have told me on numerous occasions that I need to be more spontaneous. I’m practicing—honestly.

Value the Work

Happy Monday to you, from Bonnie Leon.

 I just finished a book that was supposed to take six months to write. It took more than a year.

I've been writing for a good long while and have never had so much trouble finding my story. However, I now have a novel I feel good about and I can't wait for it to land on bookstore shelves.

Show Up

 

Hello from Bonnie Leon. This is my first Monday blog so I figure I'll just dive in and share my heart.

 

After spending four days at the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference in Canby

Oregon

I trekked back down I-5 toward home. I haven’t missed a conference since 1992, which was my first conference ever. I learned enough that summer to write my first book, The Journey of Eleven Moons.