I am excited to celebrate my nomination into The National Society of Collegiate Scholors (NSCS)! NSCS is the honor society for certain high acheiving students. Upon acceptance into this generous association, among other honorable privileges, many scholorships become available to the member.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholors wrote to me this:
"You should feel proud of this prestigious national recognition of your outstanding work . . . Your hard work has earned you a place among the elite of today's [univeristy] students."
As of February 27, 2012, I am celebrated nationally as an above-average scholor. As I continue to acheive my goals, I look forward to sharing through more literature and artistic expressions my learning. Thank you for being a part of my career!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Arrival of a New Novel!
Although I wasn't at first aware of the full prizes of Chris Baty's National Novel Writing Month Contest, I went ahead and dashed off 50,000 words in November, thinking that just in case I won, it would be fun and good experience.
Well, I did win. And this new year, apparently, the reward is to get your book published professionally. So here I am with a novel ahead of my own game plan . . . This literary piece of fiction is now available in a convenient paperback for you! The volume is available online at Amazon.com and through many other booksellers, including Barnes & Noble and Borders.
I just can't wait to know your responses! You can easily check updates on my latest stories through Facebook, following Author Jana Gifford.
Click on this link to order:
http://www.amazon.com/Purple-Dynasty-My-Year-Prostitution/dp/1468040464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331145793&sr=8-1
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Another Successful Academic Year
Dear Jana Gifford,
On behalf of the Faculty and Staff at Ashford University, congratulations on being named to the Dean's list for Summer 2011. Your appointment to the Dean's List is published on the Ashford University website under the Academic Superstars link.
Your dedication and commitment to your studies make you a great role model for others to emulate. You and your family should feel quite proud of your accomplishment. All of us at Ashford University share in this pride as well and believe that students like you help make Ashford University the quality learning institution it is.
Again, congratulations for a job well done!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rebecca Wardlow
On behalf of the Faculty and Staff at Ashford University, congratulations on being named to the Dean's list for Summer 2011. Your appointment to the Dean's List is published on the Ashford University website under the Academic Superstars link.
Your dedication and commitment to your studies make you a great role model for others to emulate. You and your family should feel quite proud of your accomplishment. All of us at Ashford University share in this pride as well and believe that students like you help make Ashford University the quality learning institution it is.
Again, congratulations for a job well done!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rebecca Wardlow
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Lust and Reason: An Intellectual's Essay on Twilight
"I watched the morning dawn upon your skin . . ." -Josh Groban, "Now or Never"
Although I rarely consume romance literature, I found Twilight easy to read. I remember sitting at the breakfast table in Mesa, Arizona looking over a newspaper. I saw a column about a woman who dreamed of a vivid forest in which sat a glittering vampire and longed to write about it. Later, when popularity spread the book like a swarm of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, I wanted to read it in spite of friends' criticism.
Stephanie Myer attended Brigham Young University and owns a degree in literature. She writes with a clipped style. I like how this influences her Bella--"bella" being the Italian word for "beauty"--to give us her perspective straight. However, she does reiterate a lot of details already noted. Perhaps these are the ones she enjoys most.
Bella seems self-conscious, especially about her facial expressions, her faults, and her differences from others. She faces a lot of internal conflict. It's moving that in certain ways I relate to Bella, and I think this is probably what a high school audience who reads the romance feels.
The character of Edward is profound in that he loves a dark girl who feels like an outcast enough to pursue her and feel jealousy over her. This speaks well of him and implies that he saw a value in her that other people failed to realize, and I think he is brilliantly cultured with hundreds of years of reading and music and Italian interests.
However, Jacob seems more real to me. He turns buff and really cares about Bella, inviting her into his gritty culture. He has golden skin whereas Edward shows glittering pale skin. Whom do you prefer?
In spite of a lot of cheap vampire follow-ups and the presence of Jane Eyre which truly terrifies the weak at heart, I think Twilight is a romance story worth feeling. True love is never blind, but motivating, for it gives to the recipients what is good for them, not only what they want. Curious, enticing and intense, this book did not disappoint visually my expectations.
Although I rarely consume romance literature, I found Twilight easy to read. I remember sitting at the breakfast table in Mesa, Arizona looking over a newspaper. I saw a column about a woman who dreamed of a vivid forest in which sat a glittering vampire and longed to write about it. Later, when popularity spread the book like a swarm of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, I wanted to read it in spite of friends' criticism.
Stephanie Myer attended Brigham Young University and owns a degree in literature. She writes with a clipped style. I like how this influences her Bella--"bella" being the Italian word for "beauty"--to give us her perspective straight. However, she does reiterate a lot of details already noted. Perhaps these are the ones she enjoys most.
Bella seems self-conscious, especially about her facial expressions, her faults, and her differences from others. She faces a lot of internal conflict. It's moving that in certain ways I relate to Bella, and I think this is probably what a high school audience who reads the romance feels.
The character of Edward is profound in that he loves a dark girl who feels like an outcast enough to pursue her and feel jealousy over her. This speaks well of him and implies that he saw a value in her that other people failed to realize, and I think he is brilliantly cultured with hundreds of years of reading and music and Italian interests.
However, Jacob seems more real to me. He turns buff and really cares about Bella, inviting her into his gritty culture. He has golden skin whereas Edward shows glittering pale skin. Whom do you prefer?
In spite of a lot of cheap vampire follow-ups and the presence of Jane Eyre which truly terrifies the weak at heart, I think Twilight is a romance story worth feeling. True love is never blind, but motivating, for it gives to the recipients what is good for them, not only what they want. Curious, enticing and intense, this book did not disappoint visually my expectations.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
I Won the "Stylish Blogger Award"!
I just got an email from the owner of one of my publishing companies. Dallas Woodburn of Write On! Books sent me this:
"I've awarded you a "Stylish Blogger Award" -- details and award image are up on my blog http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/"
Thanks to everybody who looks at this!
Love,
Jana Ruth Gifford
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Dancing With The Pen
A few of my poems will appear in a collection of short stories and poetry by young writers from all around the world, including New Zealand. Write On! Books is finally releasing the masterpiece this month, called Dancing With The Pen.
From the publisher . . .
A lawyer for the Big Bad Wolf earnestly pleads his client's innocence in court. Mother Earth and Father Sky give birth to a rebellious child whose fiery temper threatens to destroy the world. A teenage boy discovers the complexities of fame after his band's first album skyrockets to the top of the charts. Tornado warnings turn a young girl’s routine babysitting job into a fight for survival.
Dancing with the Pen is a book for young writers, young readers, and the young at heart. Even if you are not normally a voracious reader, this book is still for you. Every piece between these covers is written by someone who understands what it's like to be a young person today. Maybe you'll recognize yourself in these pages.
Perhaps you will even be inspired to pick up a pen, step out on the dance floor, and go for a whirl yourself.
You can order a copy at <http://writeonbooks.org/writeonbooks.aspx>.
From the publisher . . .
A lawyer for the Big Bad Wolf earnestly pleads his client's innocence in court. Mother Earth and Father Sky give birth to a rebellious child whose fiery temper threatens to destroy the world. A teenage boy discovers the complexities of fame after his band's first album skyrockets to the top of the charts. Tornado warnings turn a young girl’s routine babysitting job into a fight for survival.
Dancing with the Pen is a book for young writers, young readers, and the young at heart. Even if you are not normally a voracious reader, this book is still for you. Every piece between these covers is written by someone who understands what it's like to be a young person today. Maybe you'll recognize yourself in these pages.
Perhaps you will even be inspired to pick up a pen, step out on the dance floor, and go for a whirl yourself.
You can order a copy at <http://writeonbooks.org/writeonbooks.aspx>.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Publishing a Short Story . . .
Tainted Tea, a literary horror magazine, will be publishing my short story "The Dirty One." This wily piece of fiction can be read soon at http://www.taintedtea.blogspot.com/ in two parts. For information regarding the actual magazine, please check out http://www.taintedtea.com/.
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