Top ten reasons I love being a Georgia girl!

sunrise

If you haven’t figured it out yet by my posts I’m a Georgia girl. Since you can’t hear me talk on here, you’d have to figure it out by my way of expressing myself. I have a definite southern tone that humors my clients not from the south. They call sometimes just to hear me talk which is hilarious. This is just the way I talk, nothing special.

Well, if you’ve never been to Georgia, let me enlighten you on the great things about my home state.

  1. We may have high humidity, but you can’t beat the weather in Georgia. You can wear shorts up until October most years and the winters can be mild. Don’t get me wrong, it can get down right cold here too and not to mention really hot in the summer, but it’s Georgia.
  2. The terrain varies from Mountains, plains, beaches, and even swamps. We’ve got it all! If you want it we’ll show it to you with southern flare and manners, well mostly 😉
  3. Oh yeah, did you know that Georgia is becoming a second Hollywood. Because of our vast terrains and many attributes, the film industry is seeking our state out. Some of my favorites were filmed here. Just to name a few: Vampire Diaries, In the Heat of the Night, Smokey and the Bandit, Dukes of Hazzard, My Cousin Vinny, Sweet Home Alabama, Forest Gump, Madea of any kind, and so many more it’s crazy. You can’t throw a stone here without hitting someone famous, which is really cool. So many things have been filmed within a few miles of my home. It’s crazy how fast we became a studio state.
  4. Savannah – if you’ve read any of my books, then you’ve heard that city mentioned. It’s one of my favorites. Since I’m a history lover, why not? Savannah is rich with history and you feel it as soon as you step on the soil of the beautiful old city.
  5. Peaches – If you haven’t had a good sweet juicy Georgia peach then you’ve missed out. There’s nothing like biting into a peach and the juice just runs down your face. Some Georgians eat it with the peeling on, but not me.
  6. Southern hospitality – It’s not completely dead. Most of us still like to make strangers feel right at home with our southern charm.
  7. Sweet Tea – ahhhh yes, who can forget our sweet tea. Yes, the sweeter the better. Even on my diet I keep the sweet tea handy. Try it, you’ll love it.
  8. Let’s talk country music for a minute. Luke Bryan for instance, oh did I mention he’s a Georgia boy. Not to leave out Jason Aldean, Doug Stone, John Berry (Met him at our Church during his concert, awesome man), Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson, the list could go on.
  9. My favorite movie was about Georgia and written by a Georgia woman – Gone With The Wind. The love story pulls me in every time. There’s something about a forbidden love that just makes for a good movie.
  10. Last but not least, it’s my home. I’m proud to say I’m a Georgia girl. The moment I come back from a trip, the sign that says, Welcome to Georgia, always makes me smile. I’m home!

So, do you want to experience Georgia? If you get a chance come by and visit our state. You might see a star, famous singer or just grab a glass of sweet tea and slice of peach pie.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

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What if the words stop…

I’ve been asked many times where the words I write come from. Most people come up to me and just simply ask, ‘What if the words stop coming?’ For a writer that would be horrible, a nightmare come true. But the funny thing about a writer’s brain, it runs on overdrive most of the time. Sometimes we might have a hiccup in the process, but the words flow continuously.

Some have asked how I work on so many books at one time. How do I keep focused enough on each one to make the individual stories work? **Smiling broadly** Well it comes from too many stories going through that if I don’t get them on paper as they go through I’m afraid my brain will explode. If an idea comes through for a new story, well it has to be written out. I love to sit with a pad and pencil and just let the words flow through me. It’s exhilerating, but sometimes when you have a deadline working you have to push the others to the side. Of course that story still nags at you constantly.

But then I wonder if one day the words might stop. Of course for me they’ve been coming at me since I was a teenager and that’s been a long time. No, I’m not saying how long, but it’s been a while. If one day I develop some sort of problem where the words stop I don’t know what will happen. It’s been such a big part of me to put a story together in my mind that I think I might stumble some.

Then again I get a lot of my inspiration from music lyrics, people watching and life, so I guess in my mind, I’ll always have a story coming through. But if the music stops, the people disappear and I stop living, then the story would probably stop. Life has added so many stories in my head that I don’t think I’ll ever run out of material. I’ve experienced life through so many eyes and lives that I always have a new spin on a topic that I’ve touched on before.

What if the words stop… Let’s just say I hope they never do. I’ve come to love my characters that flow in and out of my head. They’re a part of who I am and that may sound crazy, but if you’re a writer you know where I’m coming from. After you spend hours with a character and their life, well it’s as if they’re your best friend. A couple of my books touched me so much that I was an emotional wreck during the process, but the words flowed even as the tears and the memories that spurred the story on came crashing through. Some memories never stop flowing through and they conjure up many stories that fill the books I write.

So, have you ever wondered what would happen to you if the words stopped? Scary thought…

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Writing from the hip!!!

 

Have you ever knew exactly what you wanted to write, but when you started putting it into print it changed in your mind? Well that is where my new piece of work is at. I’ve had the 2nd book in my “Flames of Love” series in my mind for two months. It’s been poking me all that time trying to get out. I finally sat down in August and wrote an outline so that my other books would not overtake it.

Sometimes the mind of a writer strays from it’s original mark and starts up an uncharted road. That is how is seems to me. I sat down yesterday morning to start “Rekindled Flames” which comes after my published book “Tender Flames”. It started off in the same general direction that I wanted it to go, but one of my characters went off on a sudden tirade and there you have it. The outline went askew.

I opened it up when I got to my office and had my assistant and editor read what I had so far which was almost seven pages in an hour and a half. She turned to me and smiled. That is always a good sign. She said she liked the new road and could not wait to read more. As I wrote last night and some this morning I decided I would throw out the outline and write from the hip. Sometimes that is just where the story has to go. We will see if it is a road that leads to the same end, but if it doesn’t it is from the heart. So….. To my fellow bloggers, have a wonderful day and as always, good writing.

Decisions filling my head…

As I give “A Love Never Lost” it’s final once over, I contemplate the decision at hand. Now what? I have about 12 novels started and they are all fighting for first place in my mind. Do I go with the historical romance that is 1/3 of the way completed, or the paranormal one that my editor is wanting yesterday, or do I go with one of the others?

It’s funny how a writer’s mind works. I am going to sit down with my notebook that has all the manuscripts printed and screaming at me. As I work in my accounting office, the “Notebook” sits beside me constantly murmuring “finish me, finish me.” I know sounds like I am losing it, but as a writer, I have to listen to the voices in my head. That’s where the stories come from.

So as I start this Thursday morning, I smile and sip my coffee. I slowly peruse the pages of “A Love Never Lost” and get ready to jump into one of the 12 feet first. It’s a poignant moment for me. I still feel sad, but excited that my new baby is getting ready to take it’s first step into publication.

The video trailer is already on Youtube. Just look for Stephanie Hurt and check it out. I have 4 others on Youtube, so check them out. Hopefully tomorrow I will have a decision and another published novel. Have a wonderful day to all my followers and as always good writing and may God lead your words!

Sad it’s coming to an end!

Ok, fellow authors, tell me the truth, do you have withdrawals when you finish writing your book? I am having serious withdrawals which is funny because I have been pushing myself to get it finished. Funny how it works in the scheme of things.

I was finishing up my last little bit of editing last night and I suddenly felt sad that the saga had come to an end. I just think I have been working too hard and too many hours on it. Maybe that’s it. I was going to take a week break from writing, but the other books in play keep poking me in the head saying, “You know you have to work on me.” So, the writing goes on.

Well, that is my rant for the day!

Third Cup of Coffee!

Well, it’s Thursday morning. My son is at school and my hubby has gone to work. My mind in swirling with words to put into my current book. I am so excited about this new one.

I just can’t seem to type fast enough to get the words out of my head. I can see the whole ending and I am chomping at the bit or keys as it would be. I worked last night in between watching “The Voice”. My son kept looking at me like I was crazy. I was actually smiling and chewing my lip as I typed.

Have you ever been so into a manuscript that your every thought was focused on it? I had a new thought yesterday for a new spin that has totally rocked my manuscript. One of my characters is going totally on another direction from the original thought.

It is funny how your mind works when you are into a manuscript. You think you have the right answers, but as you type your mind goes ahead of your fingers and totally changes everything. It is so cool how the process just develops on the scope of the work. I can’t tell you where the idea is going, because that would be a “spoiler”. I can tell you that my editor/assistant read up to what I had finished yesterday and she is now not speaking to me. She said she could not believe that I let her read it to that point and left her hanging over a cliff with no reprieve. I just smiled and knew I had accomplished what I wanted.

I know I have said other books were my favorite, but I can honestly say this one has taken 1st prize in my heart. I have honed my writing skills and took into account different reviews of my other books. I have changed techniques and ways of describing characters and places. Just can’t wait to type the end, but then again it has been such a big part of my life for the past month or so that I will probably have withdrawals. LOL!!!♥

It’s Friday!

It is finally Friday! I know you have until 5:00 until the weekend officially starts but, do a little dance, spin around in your desk chair, and smile, because it is almost here. Enjoy the next two days because you deserve it. Weekends are a time of rest, contemplation and family bonding. So, go get a pizza and a movie. Sit down with your family or significant other, or all by yourself and just live. Have a great Weekend fellow bloggers!

“A Love Never Lost” Oh the turns it’s made!

“A Love Never Lost” My “New Book” as it was affectionately called until Tuesday is almost finished. The cover is ready and it now has an official name. Now I have to finish it.

When I started this book I had an idea of where the characters were headed. I knew what I wanted to be the premise of the story. Well, in the writing world, as many of you know, my characters have had a mind of their own. This week one of my characters took on a whole new mindset. It has been exciting seeing where they would go.

Those that are not writers are probably saying to yourself, this lady has truly lost her mind. Well that would be true (Smiling and nodding yes!), but in the case of my writing, I have to go with the flow. Let the river turn and churn where it needs to in order to make it interesting.

I have loved all my published books, whether anybody else did or not. This book seems to be taking center stage in my heart. I lay awake at night wondering what will happen next. It has been an awesome ride. This will be the longest manuscript of all my books yet.

The release of “A Love Never Lost” is scheduled for mid September, or no later than late September. It is so exciting to see your baby start to try to take small steps. Well that is where it is at.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

If you love him, let him go, if he returns…

 

 

 

As Wes came up behind her, she suddenly felt different.  Her heart was suddenly fluttering wildly. It had to be the beauty of the night sky and the scent of the honeysuckle vines growing along the fence outside the barn. He put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it affectionately. “What’s on your mind?  You have been unusually quiet tonight.”  She turned and smiled up at him.  “I guess my mind is on this beautiful night.  The stars are so bright.”  She leaned her head against his chest, thinking how nice it was to be here with him.   She looked up into his dark eyes.  He was devastatingly handsome, with his dark hair and rugged face, not to mention the black Stetson.  He was definitely a cowboy to the bone.

Wes was also studying her face.  She was a beautiful young woman.  Her blonde hair was just past her shoulders.  The moonlight reflected off it like moonbeams.  She had hazel eyes so gentle; a man could drown in their depths.  For the first time he was focusing on her like a man for a woman, not just a friend. He looked deep into her eyes.  Slowly he lowered his mouth to hers and gently kissed her lips, careful not to linger for fear of losing control.  When he lifted his head, she was smiling.  “That was nice, but what did I do to deserve that?”

He laughed and hugged her close. “That was for being my friend and listening to my problems.  I need to talk to you.  Let’s walk down to the house, I need a drink.” He took her hand and they walked to his house.  What was up with him?  Serious was not one of his common emotions.  When they were settled on his couch with waters in hand, he turned to face her. 

“I have some news.”  He paused to take a drink before he continued. “I received a call last night regarding a job in Montana.  It is a great opportunity for me.  I will be training horses for a large ranch.  They will supply me with a house and stables for my horses.”  He watched for any emotion on her part. “Sara, I told them I would take the job.  I will leave in two days.” 

 

If you want to hear more about what happens with Sara & Wes, check out my 3rd book, “Moonbeam & Roses”

Moonbeam & Roses can be found at:

https://www.createspace.com/3942428  (Paperback Version)

http://www.amazon.com/Moonbeam-Roses-Stephanie-Payne-Hurt/dp/1478336811

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/180924