October Giveaway: Holy Curiosity
Amy Hollingsworth and I have many things in common, as far as I can tell from the first chapter of her book. We both loved Mr. Rogers (only he was her mentor and I only knew him from my stool in front of the television). We both have connections to Mary Washington University (she as a professor; my sister graduated from there). We each have a daughter and a son. We both have an intense love for the foreign film Babette's Feast. And we both see ourselves as creative souls.
Only Amy wrote a book about it.
Holy Curiosity is Hollingsworth's third work of nonfiction, and one that's been highly acclaimed. The subtitle says it all: Cultivating the Creative Spirit in Everyday Life.
On the verge of her first teaching on creativity, Hollingsworth is given a dream that speaks to her. She believed she was missing something, a key to creativity. And she found it in a short Bible passage. This book explores her lessons.
With an introduction and first chapter that include Babette's Feast, a high-school English class, Steinbeck, and how her children ignite poetry, I want to get my hands on the rest of this tome and dig in.
"You know that best afternoon ever, with the rain outside, and the comfy chair inside, and the good book --a glorious, quiet revelation of a book--and the family dog sleeping at your feet? This is that book. You'll have to bring your own dog." --Sean Herriott, host of national radio program 'Morning Air' on Relevant Radio
If you're as eager as I am to read Amy's book, you're in luck! We have five copies to give away in October. To enter, just answer the following question in the comments:
What's your creative outlet?
Winners will be selected by random October 31, 2011. USA only. LifeWay employees are not eligible to win.
Comments (19)
I apply most of my creativity in the kitchen. I love to cook and bake things that are healthy as well as delicious, which takes some creativity!
Posted on October 4, 2011 7:27 AM
mine is my website. epicparent.tv. this is a place where I dream, create and innovate!
Posted on October 4, 2011 7:41 AM
My creative outlets are cooking and writing. I love to experiment in the kitchen. My family gets to partake in the fun on a regular basis with me. For my personal downtime, I love to write poetry and stories. To express your innnermost thoughts and musings on paper is such a great release for me. Love it!
Posted on October 4, 2011 8:28 AM
I love creating with fabrics or refurbishing old things to beautiful things.
Posted on October 4, 2011 8:53 AM
I love love love scrapbooking. Difficult to do with little space and a sweet little one crawling around, but it's still my love!
Posted on October 4, 2011 10:31 AM
I started sewing when I was 12, and began quilting thirty years ago, right after college. It's fun to play with fabric and color, and very, very satisfying to be able to give away an end product that is both pretty and functional.
Posted on October 4, 2011 11:01 AM
I love walking, with no music or headphones on, just observing my surroundings and enjoying the 'nothingness'. People are bombarded with so much input today, they have no time to 'veg' and that is where creativity starts and grows. Okay, putting words on paper runs a close second, but sometimes that doesn't happen without a walk first!
Posted on October 4, 2011 7:33 PM
Thank you, Jessica, for the kinds words about HOLY CURIOSITY! It was a two-year labor of love, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the book.
I am so encouraged by the different ways creativity is displayed in the comments so far. I see four or five of the nine creative gifts (and combination of gifts) I write about already represented here. And Gail, I have an entire chapter on the importance of following natural rhythms in our lives, including lots of nature! (You actually touched upon three important rhythms: exercise, nature, and times of quiet.)
Would love to know each of your thoughts when you've had a chance to read the book!
Posted on October 5, 2011 2:04 PM
My creative outlet is working and creating with felt!
Posted on October 5, 2011 4:18 PM
One creative outlet is through writing.
Posted on October 7, 2011 5:08 PM
I have a few... I really enjoy digital design. I love to take pictures of random things and turn them into works of art that look nothing like the original pictures. I've always loved sewing. I've been sewing since I was a young girl.
Posted on October 9, 2011 7:12 PM
photography & sewing!
Posted on October 11, 2011 8:29 PM
I enjoy scrapbooking and crafting useful things for the house. It's kind of multitasking also, since these are things that help my family in the long run. :)
Posted on October 12, 2011 11:25 AM
I enjoy sewing and now have a 6yo who stretches my creativity by wanted to make costumes all the time and build his own toys.
Posted on October 24, 2011 6:01 PM
I, like Gail, love to just walk with no music and just soak in my surroundings. Another outlet may seem silly but it is building things with my toddler using his blocks. He loves it too :)
Posted on October 26, 2011 8:27 PM
Mine would be cooking and making all different kinds of crafts!
Posted on October 31, 2011 6:48 AM
My outlet is crafting and stamping handmade notecards!!
Posted on October 31, 2011 6:49 AM
I have to say that overall, I think I'm pretty boring. Most of my creativity came through my previous career. Now that I'm a SAHM, sometimes, I think I'm losing it. I try to be creative in how to get my toddler to eat. Does that count? :) I guess most of my creativity is in the kitchen since I enjoy cooking. I like to cook really healthy things but disguise them to get the family to eat it, like liver. Sometimes it's successful, sometimes not.
Posted on October 31, 2011 8:55 AM
My creative outlet is decorating.....like interior decorating mostly, but a bit of seasonal decorating as time allows.
Posted on October 31, 2011 4:04 PM