The narrow gate 3
Aug/Sept '98, Issue 3
CONTENT
- Letter From Shauna Skye
- Our Groovy Mailbag (where you write in)
- Music Review: David Shook "Structure"
- Book Review: "The Prayer Tree" by Annie Jones
- How To Get Reviewed in The Narrow Gate
- The Good News
- Advertisements/Ad Rates
- All That Official Info
LETTER FROM SHAUNA SKYE
Greetings, and welcome to the third issue of TNG. I've been busy this month working on my book, college homework and other fun stuff. Now I must revise (for the second time) a short story accepted by a romance publication. I'll let everyone know when the story runs.
Also, I'm finally in a band. I've been seeking a musical outlet for awhile now, and it looks like doors are finally opening for it. The band is called Soul Seed. I've teamed up with my brother-in-law Scott, who is a lyricist/percussionist and sounds a bit like Peter Gabriel vocally. I play the guitar and sing. I'm not sure what God has planned for us, but prayers would be appreciated.
As for Assistant Editor Brian Hischier, he's been busy with life in general, so he wasn't able to contribute his writing this issue. However, we still have his prayers, and I know he's with us in spirit. Pray for him, because he's planning to be institutionalized soon. That's right, he'll be uniting in the institution of marriage with his lovely fiancÈ Lisa. This happens in September, and I know he's excited, happy, and probably full of stress with all the preparations. And yet, I don't feel too sorry for him. The lucky dog gets to go to Europe for his honeymoon!
Before we get into this issue I'd like to welcome all the new subscribers. We've gained about 100 new subscribers a month since we've started publishing. As of this writing we're at the 300 mark. Not bad eh?
Our Groovy Mailbag
(where you write in)
Dear Shauna:
This is Darren Hawkins. . .you probably won't recognize the name. I wrote an essay or two for the original paper-form TNG and submitted a couple of stories to you for Moonletters (also when it was in paper form). You published a short of mine called "Dance with the Devil".
Credentials established, allow me to pass along my condolences on the death of your father. He is in a better and happier place, but I know that you and your family remain behind to grieve. I and my family will keep you in our regular prayers.
Congratulations on the resurrection of TNG as a 'zine (I've got you bookmarked, so I check your site regularly). Every incarnation of your publishing efforts looks and sounds more and more professional. I'd wish you continued luck, but you have proven once again that you don't need it--you have the talent and drive to make all of your own opportunities. You can leave luck to the lottery players.
Brief note: my wife and I just has our second child, and I finished my trilogy of SF novels in March and am preparing them for submission. The writing is still going well, though hampered at times now that I am back in college full time.
All the best and an abundance of prayers,
Darren Hawkins
*Darren, of course I remember you. You were one of the first subscribers to The Narrow Gate. It's good to hear from you. Thank you for your condolences on my father. I've received a lot of letters from readers regarding my Dad, so I'd like to thank all the other people who wrote in as well. Also Darren, congrats on the birth of your second child, and for finishing your SF Trilogy. Keep us informed if/when you find a publisher!
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Shauna,
I got an email from you recently about your zine. I checked it out tonight. I don't know what it is, but I was drawn to your personality as I read. I enjoyed reading the articles, especially the article on vanity in the arts. Nicely done! You are a talented writer, keep it up. I am sending you a copy of my CD entitled Structure. I hope you like it, and you can certainly review it if you want to. Critique away, you won't hurt my feelings. Thanks.
David Shook
*David, thanks for your CD. You wouldn't believe the excitement it generated, since yours was the first mail to arrive at the new address. TNG's new mailing address is now at the office of Bob Robert Bob Productions, run by our very own Brian Hischier and his partner Drew Gandy. The excitement was caused when Drew opened your mail and ran off with the CD. Brian emailed me insisting that you used $20 dollar bills as packing material, and proceeded to boast about the nice new pair of shoes he bought.
Ok, so there were no $20 bills, and Drew didn't really run off with the CD. He did however open it and listen to it. I got the idea he liked it because he was quizzing me on what kind of review I was going to give it. I think he was worried I might use your CD as a coaster. (Note: In David's snail mail letter he said: "I hope you enjoy it. If not it is a beautifully decorative coaster!") Anyway, the cover of your CD does look neat.. As for what we think of your music, you'll just have to read the review.
Speaking of which, let's get right to it.
Music Reviews
DAVID SHOOK "Structure"
Reviewed by Shauna Skye
Whenever I review music I try to be fair to the artist by listening to the CD several times before I write about it. I did this with David Shook's "Structure" and it's starting to grow on me. It was good when I first heard it, but now it's even better.
Musically I hate to call this alternative. After all, what is alternative anymore? That could describe anything from Prodigy to R.E.M.; and calling it modern rock isn't much clearer. What's modern rock anyway?
Without labeling this I can give a hint of what David Shook sounds like. In Chicago they'd play him on "The Mix" a station specializing in rock as heavy as The Clash but not as heavy as Marilyn Manson, as light as Jewel but nothing like Celine or Whitney.
I liken David Shook to the Gin Blossoms, but mellower. His voice is smooth, comforting, beautiful . . . and he's kind of folksy. David Shook would do well in a coffee house. Did I mention he has a good voice?
Lyrically David sticks to the meaningful. For example:
Dark, dark night, you're all alone/Fear's not far, on your own/Love so close, don't let go/Dry your eyes, your Daddy's home.
Cry my child, I see your tears/Don't you know that I'm always near you/And my heart is torn in two/When you don't see that I love you"
All in all David Shook's "Structure" is decent musically, the vocals are good, and the lyrics are not superficial. "Structure" also has a cover worthy of an exotic coaster collection. I'm not sure what that thing on the cover is. It looks like a snail on blueprints . . . or maybe it's a cave drawing or hieroglyphics. (David, is this an ink blot thing to test reviewers?) Anyway, I give this one the thumbs up. Those interested in obtaining this CD should email daveshook@juno.com for ordering information.
Book Review
"THE PRAYER TREE" by Annie Jones
Woman's fiction published by Alabaster Books
(a division of Multnomah Publishers, Inc.)
Reviewed by Shauna Skye
The setting of "The Prayer Tree" is a small Tennessee town where each spring some of the women unite to plant trees and commit to a year of prayer for people in their community. This year, however, only four women volunteer to do it, and each for different reasons.
There's Rose, a widow who isn't sure what her purpose in life is. There's Gayle who seems outwardly "perfect". Lucy, the youngest volunteer, is unmarried and suffers from low self-esteem. She has an unfaithful boyfriend, and her biological clock is ticking . . . ticking . . . ticking. Naomi, possibly the most interesting of the group, returns to this small town to spend time with her aging mother. She volunteers for the prayer circle, much to the dismay of Gayle who shares some secret history with her.
If "The Prayer Tree" were a movie it would be shoved into the dramas ala "Terms of Endearment" section. The critics would call it "the feel good movie of the year" and Siskell and Ebert would give it two thumbs up. It is well written, and Annie Jones is good at bringing her characters to life. But I have a few nits, the main being that I'm not certain younger women would enjoy this. At times I found the characters difficult to relate to, not due to any flaw with Annie's writing, but because they all seem so old. Wearing sandals is considered unconventional in this town, and women think about cleaning, decorating and cooking a lot. Aside from one single mother who moves in (her name is "Nikki" and she's having an affair with Lucy's boyfriend) the women who have children have college age children.
Annie does a good job of making the reader curious about the history between Gayle and Naomi. I got the impression Gayle, Mrs. Perfect, had a horribly dark secret. I wanted to know what that secret was, but was disappointed when I found out. It was not as shocking as I thought it should have been, considering the way Gayle tore herself up over it. There weren't really any big "sinners" in this book aside from Lucy's boyfriend Ray.
I did find Naomi's interaction with a fellow named Taylor and his daughter interesting. Taylor added romantic tension, and his daughter added another tension because she didn't want to accept that Naomi was dating her father. I found myself sympathizing with both Naomi and Taylor's daughter. First Naomi because it must be awful to care for a man and find that his child disapproves of you. Second Taylor's daughter because if one of my parents had been single due to death or divorce I'd have tortured the "intruder" in old Disney "Parent Trap" fashion. (Hey, I'm honest!)
I'd have liked "The Prayer Tree" to feature more on Naomi and Taylor, but since the main story involved all four of the women, their quibbling, their female bonding over chocolate, etc. Annie probably couldn't have written more without changing the focus of the story.
I recommend "The Prayer Tree" for individuals who enjoy reading about "normal" people who are mildly flawed but basically lead regular lives. Annie writes about everyday things well, and does a great job of breathing life into her characters.
HOW TO GET REVIEWED IN THE NARROW GATE
We've been a little slow with reviews lately for the simple reason that it's only been Brian and I reviewing. However, if you've sent something in we'll most likely get it into one of our next couple of issues.
We're still open to receive things for review. Fortunately we have help now--yippee! However, please note that reviews may include negative as well as positive comments. A review is a critique, and is based largely on our own opinions.
In regards to music:
If your music is rock, electronic, alternative, punk, retro, industrial, moody, Celtic, heavy, progressive, classical, movie soundtracky, new age, or sounds like a British invasion band send it to THIS address. If it's good, Brian and I will fight over who gets to review it. If it's bad we'll fight over who DOESN'T get review it.
THE NARROW GATE
1819 North Center St. Suite 3 E,
Crest Hill, IL. 60435
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If your music is country, soft pop/rock or has "twang" to it send it here. Unlike us, Barbara has no one to fight with about reviews, so she will most likely do the reviewing herself.
Barbara Lopatin
PO Box 1847,
Annapolis, MD 21404.
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If your music is Pop/Light Rock/Contemporary send it here. Paul does lots of reviews, and will post it at his site too.
Paul Gentry
5621 Rafferty Ave
North Highlands, CA 95660
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Books and Publications still go to Shauna and Brian at the regular address.
THE GOOD NEWS
As most of you know The Narrow Gate is geared to Christian writers, musicians, etc. However, you may not be a Christian. Perhaps you subscribed to this ezine out of curiosity. If this is the case we'd like to welcome you.
As Christians one of the things the Bible tells us to do is to tell people the good news of Jesus Christ. This doesn't mean we're supposed to shove our beliefs down your throat. I know some people seem to do that, but that's not what we want to do. We just want to obey God and love our fellow humans. Hence we're making the good news available to anyone who will hear about it.
If you'd like to know more about God and Christianity visit this site. http://members.aol.com/shaunaskye/knowgod.html. It contains a link to a site that is pretty cool with explaining things. If you don't have web access email me directly and I'll send you the content of the site. I won't preach at you, but I'm available if you have sincere questions. I don't have all the answers, but I'm willing to tell what I know and/or pray if you ask.--Skye
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Our ad rates are $.03 a subscriber. (Your email address, and URL are not counted as words.) Ads run here as well as on our site for one month. If you buy a 50 word classified between August 15 and Sept 15 cost is $9 for 50 words, 10 cents each additional word. Make checks out to Shauna Skye. Email your ad to us first so we may approve before you send payment: *See bottom of newsletter for snail mail address.
All That Official Info
The Narrow Gate is a free monthly ezine geared to Christian musicians, writers, artists, performers etc., as well as those who love music, literature and art. TNG may also be found on the web: http://members.aol.com/shaunaskye/index.html *This link contains content from old issues as well as new material.
If TNG was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe, email ShaunaSkye@aol.com and put SUBSCRIBE TNG in the subject. To unsubscribe put UNSUBSCRIBE TNG in the subject. *We are not on a Listerv so mistakes occasionally happen. If you're receiving more than one copy of this let us know.
ADVERTISING: Go to http://members.aol.com/shaunaskye/coolads.html for our current rates.
SUBMISSIONS: We'll consider short articles/commentary regarding any kind of art, music or writing from a Christian perspective. Accepted articles will run in the email version of TNG and be posted at our site indefinitely. Payment is the option to run a pre-approved 50 word classified in the issue the article appears in. FORMAT: We'll only look at email submissions. Please include a cover letter and brief bio. Paste the submission within the body of the email, not as an attached file.
#All letter we receive will be considered for our mailbag unless requested otherwise.#
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EDITOR/PUBLISHER: Shauna Skye (ShaunaSkye@aol.com)
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Brian R. Hischier (bran_aischer@juno.com)
THE NARROW GATE: 1819 North Center St. Suite 3 E,
Crest Hill, IL.60435 (Note: This is a NEW address.)
