Monday Thoughts and Writing…

Good Monday morning to you all… I hope you had a wonderful weekend. As for me it was a busy one. Saturday I spent the day at the Church decorating for Christmas with friends and then Sunday was the Children’s Ministry Christmas party. Let’s just say it was busy but satisfying. I’m pleasantly tired this morning…

As for my writing, I’ve grabbed a few minutes here and there this weekend to work on Ridge, but not as much as I would’ve liked. Ridge has been prodding my brain all weekend wanting his story told. For those of you that have messaged me about the upcoming release, let’s just say I’m working on a specific date, but as of now no release date yet. I’m thrilled that others are as excited as I am to have Ridge’s story published. It’s turning out to be quite a story and I can’t wait for you to read it.

Make sure you go to my website and enter the Rafflecopter to win a audiobook copy of Faith Through The Tears. Enter everyday if you want to. The response to this story has been really wonderful. On Audible.com I’ve had so many beautifully sweet reviews and some made me cry. This story tore at my heart one moment and made me giggle the next. One woman wrote to me and said that I should give away a box of tissues with every copy.

What are you doing on this fine Monday morning?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Last Monday of 2013!

It’s weird to say that. I’ve been thinking back to 2013 and it’s been a great year. There’s been good and bad throughout the year, but for the most part it’s been great. It was the first full year of being a published author.

How are you spending the last two days of 2013? As for me I’m working today, but taking tommorow off. I’m trying to finish one of my books before midnight tommorow, but maybe not. It’s funny how you plan on time to write during holidays and then life steps in and you don’t get it done.

What are your plans for New Year’s? We spend it at our Church. We have the best time eating finger foods and singing. Then we bring in the New Year at the altar. It’s a great way to thank Him for the past year and for the new year to come. Of course I have games and prizes for the kids. They even get to wear their pjs which helps parents just put them to bed when they get home.

Hopefully everyone has set their writing goals for 2014.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Christmas Spirit, Love and Sharing

Today’s post is a step away from my normal writing and publishing blog. I want to ask you a simple question, Do you have the

Christmas Spirit this year? I’m not talking about the I’ve got to go shopping today, the ornaments are up , but the Christmas Spirit.

You may be saying, What are you talking about? Well, it’s quite simple really. Have you done something for someone less fortunate this Christmas season and not just to get a tax benefit, but from the heart? Have you spent time with family and friends and thought about someone or something other than yourself?

I went with my family out to eat last night for Christmas. It was great to be with my uncle and aunt and couisins and their families, not to mention my mom, her friend, my brother and his family and my hubby and son. I sat there looking around the table thinking about how much our family has grown. We’ve gained lots of new members in the last twenty or so years. But it was nice to take a moment out of our busy lives to just be together. Yes it was crowded in the small room we’d reserved but the point was to be together. As we left I felt sad that we didn’t get to spend more time together, but life takes over sometimes.

Tommorow at Church we’re getting together as a Church family and putting together boxes for the families at the local family and children services. These families won’t have much for Christmas so we try to give them something special to unwrap on Christmas morning. Some gifts are as simple as a doll or car, toothbrush and toothpaste. Actually things we take for granted but they’d be thrilled to have. Even hairbows and brushes, pencils and school supplies, things that they need but don’t have. It warms my heart to help with such a special cause, but it’s never enough. Why can’t we just spend a couple of dollars to help those less fortunate?

It’s not about the huge, pricey gifts. It’s the thought. No child should wake up Christmas morning without at least one thing under the tree. Christmas is by no means just about the gifts, it’s about our Savior’s Birth. But we need to teach our kids the spirit of giving which He spoke of so often and for some reason we’ve stepped away from it.

It could be something simple like a warm blanket and coat. You may be warm in your house, but what about families that can’t afford heat. Give them something warm to wrap up with.

But why not all year long. Why do we only think of those less fortunate at Christmas? We should keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts year round. We should follow His word and give to those in need all year. Think of the troops that are away from home. They are not just away at Christmas, they’re away for months to years at a time, but most only think about them at this time of the year.

So my challenge to you is this. Do something nice for someone. Maybe set a goal to do something for someone every month of the year. Plan a special project you can do for someone in need. It could be as simple as cooking a meal for a shut-in or just collecting cans and donating them to a family in need. The smile you’ll receive and the feeling will get contagious and dare I say it, you might become an habital giver.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt220/5239194817/”>Rdoke</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>cc</a>

Sunday Inspiration

Well it’s Sunday and cloudy. I’m home from Church cuddled up in the corner of my couch with my sweats on and wrapped in a blanket. To me it’s the best way to write a good romantic scene. My mind is buzzing with ideas for yet another manuscript. Yes I know, I need to finish what I’ve already got started, but that doesn’t stop me from at least whipping out a outline to keep it in my brain.

If all goes well the 2nd book in the Lean On Him series will be completed before Christmas.At lease the cover is completed and ready to go. Hopefully the other works in progress will be completed this year. Hopefully will start 2014 on a new slate.

What inspires you? Is it another book you read? I’m not saying steal someones idea, I’m just saying maybe some character or place in the story inspires you to write. For me several things can be inspiration. As I decorated my Christmas tree on Friday I was inspired about a Christmas idea. Yeah I know my Christmas romance is already out there, but I can still work on one for next year.

It’s amazing how the simplest things can inspire you to put it into words. I’m getting ready to work for a couple of hours and when I emerge from the other side hopefully I’ll be a lot closer to one finish and another start up. Let’s just see how it goes. Of course I do have a lot going on around me. We’re babysitting our grandson and watching Disney’s Planes. Well they’re watching the movie and I’m talking to you great people, but it’s all good.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Being whatever we want to be…

I’m a big kid, not just at Halloween as you can see, but in everyday life. My way of thinking is this, if we stay a child at heart how can you grow old. I know in numbers I’m almost 45, but in my heart I still get giddy at Halloween, Christmas and all the other holidays. My heart still pounds when I see buckets of candy. Well, that could be the chocolate rush, but it still beats harder with excitement.

Last night was our annual Church Trunk or Treat and it was a blast. We had so many children come through and they were very creative with their costumes. It was wonderful to see all my little Children’s Church peeps and the many guests dressed in their favorite theme or character. Of course being the Children’s Minister it’s only right that I go all out with my costume and my decorations. I included my sons pumpkin on the tailgate with balloons, posters and buckets over flowing with candy. The weather held up for our celebration.

As a writer you can be whatever you want to. You can be that character and feel that characters happiness, sadness, anger, love or whatever they feel. We are able to change the ending, making it what we want. Why wouldn’t anyone want to be a writer? Well for one thing it’s not as easy as it looks.

You have a story come into your mind. At first you think, this is going to be easy. You may sit down and write the story in your head and then realize it only lasted 5 pages. As a writer you have to expand that story. The descriptions have to be expanded to allow the reader to be drawn in. Remember the story you hear in your head is real to you, but the reader doesn’t have it in their head the way you do. You have to put it in their mind. We have to help the reader see it as we do, which means it has to be detailed out.

If you say, “I see a rolling green hill”. Well the person reading this will only picture a hill of green grass. If you want them to see more then say it more like this. “As I sit here, I see a hill that goes beyond the eye. It is covered in wildflowers that are vibrant with color. The sky is dotted with a few fluffy white clouds and the blue is in deep contrast to the green grass. It is a breathtaking sight to behold.” See how you draw in the reader and help them to see what you see.

Hope everyone had a safe Halloween and take it easy on the candy.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Falling for Fall

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. This is the time of year that I feel like shedding my problems as the trees shed their leaves. I feel like it’s time to go dormant and rewaken refreshed in the Spring. I love the beauty of this time of the year. The many colors are the work of God’s hand and he really shows out this time of the year.

As the colors change I get inspired to write. As the air starts to get crisp I feel the need to express it. Soon a fire will crackle in the fireplace. I’ll curl up by the fire and type out my thoughts. As the days grow shorter and Christmas nears I get the excitement of a child. During Christmas I keep a smile on my face and a giggle in my throat.

Today I’m going to the Church to decorate with my fellow members for our annual Fall Festival. We will have games, food, a 64′ obstacle course and just plain out Christian fun. I get so excited. I’ve been getting my supplies together for a couple of weeks and as the time nears me heart swells with the excitement of the moment.

So go out today and enjoy the day. It’s a fleeting time we have on this earth, so enjoy every day…

As always, great writing and May God Bless You…

Writing…

For me writing is a way to release stress and get the thoughts in my head out. I’ve always been a dreamer. Even as a child I could spin a story in my head. My teachers always would ask where I came up with the stories I’d write for assignments. I’d laugh and say out of my brain. My grandfather wanted me to be a journalist, which is what I wanted to be for a long time.

It’s funny how things change. As life starts to take over you make decisions and some are good and others you spend the rest of your life shaking your head at your own stupidity. Well, if I’d gone with my gut instinct writing would’ve been my career from the start. I’ve been writing stories since I was around 13 years old. I was also trained in classical piano and organ. I always dreamed of playing for a huge orchestra somewhere in Europe. Oh well, dreams of the youth. I started painting around the same time. I’ve sold a couple of my paintings but nothing to brag about.

Again, it’s funny how life takes over. In college I took a liking to Accounting and it was all over for the journalism and music. I decided to get a “safe” career. Not that working with the IRS and their ever changing rules is safe, but it seemed the thing to do. Accounting has given us a comfortable life and running my own accounting firm has afforded me the luxury of keeping my son close and always being able to go to all his ball games and such.

Now that I’m writing, it’s been such a rewarding aspect of my life. I’ve met some of the nicest people from all over the world. The support that other authors give you is awesome. I may never be on the New York Times Bestseller list, but I have the knowledge that I’ve put my work out there and gotten some great response to it. Maybe one day I can retire my calculator and replace it with a laptop, but for now I’ll enjoy all the aspects of my life.

A couple of aspects of my life that will never change is that I’m a mom, wife, children’s minister and a servant in my Church. Even if I was to get to the next level with my writing those things still hold on. Life’s short and you need to make sure you live it to the fullest. The Lord doesn’t promise you tomorrow so live today and enjoy it. If you have a talent, then use it for good. Make someone smile or laugh, maybe even inspire someone for a moment. Don’t let it go to waste.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Friday! Waiting on Weekend of writing…

If you haven’t glanced at your calendar, yep it’s Friday. The last day of the work week for most of us. Of course if you’re a writer, it never ends. Which is good because if it’s your passion, then you look forward to the stolen moments when you sit down with your laptop or pen and paper and you just spill your heart out.

As I’m working on the finishing touches of one of my manuscripts I do hope to have the time tomorrow to get it ready for my editor. Of course that means a couple of hours of constant attention paid to it. As the weather is supposed to be pleasant I might just grab a lawn chair and sit under a tree and let the birds inspire me 🙂

I’ve come to the conclusion that you have to schedule your time or it won’t work. When you have a busy life already and you try to fit in writing time, it has to be planned. Of course you know as well as I do, sometimes the inspiration to write over loads your brain and you have to rearrange that schedule. Yep, like in the middle of the night when you have it in your schedule to sleep. That character just keeps nudging you in the shoulder shouting “GET UP!”.

Hoping all have a great weekend and good luck with your writing time. Don’t forget to make time for your family and Church on Sunday. Inspirational time is very important…

As always, good writing and My God Bless You…

A Smile is Worth a 1000 Words

Yep, that’s me with Country Music start John Berry. Now you know why I’m smiling. He honored our small country Church, Friendship Church, with a concert last night. If you weren’t there you missed a huge blessing.

I’ve been a fan of his for a long time and seeing him live in such an intimate setting was EPIC. Am I still smiling this morning, well yes. My cheeks hurt from smiling. He’s such a down to earth person and so nice. His wife was just wonderful. He had his son on drums and he’s just adorable. The bass player and sound guy were awesome too.

Sometimes when you meet someone famous they’re just so snobbish and above you that you feel like an ant in their presence, but not the case with him and his gang. They felt like down home family and you felt like you’d known them all your life. He got right in the throng of it and hugged, shook hands, gave autographs, and just smiled. They were so overwhelmingly nice. We even spoke to him about a repeat performance next year.

The music was so beautiful and soul filled that it brought several including me to tears. His music is not your everyday country, but an upbeat calming sound that brings your spiritual soul to a new level of worship. The whole place was in awe.

If you haven’t experienced John Berry what are you waiting for? He’s just as awesome today as he was when I became a fan so many years ago. If it’s possible I became even more of a fan last night. Check him out, you won’t be sorry. His music is so heartwarming and spiritually filled that you will get such a blessing.

May God Bless him, his family, crew, and career.

This is to all the Mother’s out there.

This is to all the Mother’s out there. Hope you have a wonderful day today as you deserve it. My son was quick to hug me this morning and tell me thank you. Of course it brought on the tears. Then at Church our wonderful Pastor talked about Mother’s and their role in our lives. It was quite eye opening and honest. My hubby put his arm around me and squeezed my shoulder. Yep, I shed a tear or two. Bet you knew that already 🙂

It’s been a great day so far. My family met at a restaurant with a buffet and we ate until we were miserable then we went back to my mom’s to eat dessert. How you may ask? Well it’s Mother’s Day and I’m going to enjoy it.

My son asked what I was going to do on this beautiful Mother’s Day and I told him maybe a nap and then work on one of my manuscripts. Also I’m going to admire the beautiful pot of flowers my hubby and son gave me. I picked them out, but it’s the thought that counts.

If you’re mother is still living then make sure if you don’t see her today at least call her because you wouldn’t be here without her. She wiped your nose, changed your diapers, put bandaids on your cuts and nursed you when you were sick. She deserves some respect and show of love. SO if you haven’t called her or been to visit shame on you. It only takes a moment out of your busy schedule to make a call and just say ‘Mom I love you and thank you for everything.” It’s real simple. So just do it.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY…

As always good writing and May God Bless you…