Inspiration looms everywhere!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Have you ever thought about where your inspiration to write comes from? I think a writers brain is in constant motion. We see everything and process it as though it was a story. So many people ask me where all of the story ideas come from that I write about. I tell them it all comes from my overactive writers brain.

Do you ever go to the park and sit on a bench to just people watch? It’s fascinating, really. There are so many different people in different situations that pass by. You may see something that inspires your next novel. Maybe a couple walks by holding hands, whispering and smiling. It inspires a romantic tale. Or a man walks by with a trench coat on and a scary look on his face. You’re inspired to write a mystery.

The inspiration is endless if you think about it. Music you hear… Movies you watch… Stories you hear… And Life. Maybe something happens in your own life that inspires a story. I can look at a picture and it will inspire a story. Take for instance a beautiful picture of a foreign land. You may be inspired to write a international crime thriller.

So, where does your inspiration come from? One of my bestselling series, the Five Oaks Ranch Series came to me as we drove home from a beach vacation. I’d been playing with the idea of writing a ranch series about a family, but most of the elements just weren’t there. Then I began to see street signs as we drove down the interstate. The names of streets and towns began to fill my head. Soon I was searching for a notebook and pen in my writing bag that goes everywhere with me. From something as simple as street signs hanging from overpasses inspired a series. And with that inspiration, a series was born.

Always have pen and a notebook ready for that moment when inspiration strikes. It can happen anywhere, at any time.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Advertisement

Sunday Morning Inspiration…

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Do you get joy from writing? Some will say they write because they have to and that doesn’t bring joy. But for the majority of writers, you write because you love the art of putting words on paper. Keep that joy and your writing will fill you with such pleasure that you’ll always find inspiration in the small things.

Inspiration can come from many sources, so go out into the world and explore. Go for a nature walk. People watch. Listen to music that inspires you. But always strive to find joy in what you do.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

Wednesday Warm Thoughts…

Photo by Lum3n on Pexels.com

It’s mighty cold here in Georgia on this Tuesday morning. As I write this post, the fire is crackling and popping in the fireplace, keeping me toasty warm. Do you enjoy a good fire on a cold morning?

For me, sitting by a warm fire inspires me to write more. Why is that? I love to come down the hall on cold mornings and hear the crackling fire. As soon as I have a cup of coffee in my hands, I stand in front of the fire, letting it warm me to my soul. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Not to mention I’m finishing up the last of my Christmas romance, which comes through easier with a cozy fire. Now just to get up my Christmas tree and decorations. But that will have to wait until after the upcoming busy weekend.

Enjoy every moment… Listen to the crackle of a fire… Give yourself a moment every day to just be…

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

MONDAY Coffee is the best!

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Can you believe it’s already Monday? And we’re already in November? This has been a crazy year, hasn’t it?

On my first cup of coffee, I dread Monday…

On my second cup of coffee, I figure it’s not going away, so…

On my third cup of coffee, I think I can do this…

As I turn the pot up, I know I can do this because in reality, it’s just another day…

Pardon me while I go make another pot!

Make it a great day with a smile and some coffee. Well, in my case, a lot of coffee!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Photo by Prateek Katyal on Pexels.com

When writing is hard… Push through it!

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Hit a wall with your current project? At a loss for words, literally? Yep, I’ve been there and other writers have too. The words stop… The creative juices reach a dam and stop… It’s like your internal hard drive crashes…

Push past that wall…

Everyone hits a wall, it’s only human. It’s how you react to that sudden wall standing in front of you that counts. So, here’s a couple of things I do when that wall jumps out and blocks my path.

1: Step back… Yes, step back. If you’re at a wall, then you need to clear your head, and redirect back to the project. When this happens to me, I’ll put that project aside and bring out an upcoming project to outline or even create some ads to inspire me.

2: Go back and read from the beginning of the project. Reintroduce yourself to the characters… Fall back in love with the story…

3: Don’t give up! Even though it seems like you’ve lost the battle, you haven’t. You’ve hit a wall that all writers hit. Push past it! Don’t let it control you. You’ve got this.

Now, get to writing and know that there will be obstacles, but you have the power to push through them. You’re a writer and that’s what you do. So write!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

P.S.: Don’t forget that Marina’s Story is coming out on Saturday.

Love-Marinas-Story-Journal-ebook/dp/B08DFGK8JB

The book that started it all…

Good Thursday morning!

My writing life started when I was a young teenager and I picked up the romance novel that made my fingers itch to put words on paper. And that novel was Remembrance by Danielle Steel. After reading it, I began to devour her books, one by one. This also started my obsession with reading romance and writing it. I still have my collection of her books and the Harlequin books that I’ve gotten over the years. 

It’s amazing what an impact that a book can have on you. I’m so glad that I picked up that book in the second hand store. I just wish I’d thought about publishing my work a long time ago, but maybe it wasn’t time yet. 

So, what inspired you to start writing? If you’d like to tell your story on my blog, just let me know.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

P.S. : If you’ve never read one of Danielle Steel’s books, then I suggest you start with this one. 

Remembrance

Saturday Procrastination!

Good Saturday morning! So, I’m sitting here, scanning social media, liking posts, commenting, sipping my second cup of coffee, writing this post… But what’s wrong with that? It’s Saturday morning right? I should just sit here, relax and be, right? Wrong! I have a deadline!!! Yep, I need to be finishing the story before posting the final preorder copy, but why am I procrastinating?

It’s simple… I don’t want the story to end. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, once characters get in your head, they’re like part of the family. When I type the end this time, it will be the end of the Magnolia Hill story. So, I’m procrastinating. I need to just get up now and do my housework, go pick up my groceries, then write, unhindered.

Why are so many writers plagued with procrastination tendencies? It’s just part of the thing we love, writing. Not to mention the little plot bunnies that seemed to bounce around in our head, usually in five different directions…

So, what are you up to this morning? Anything good, or are you doing like me, procrastinating?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

white ceramic teacup with saucer near two books above gray floral textile
Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.com

What inspires me…

pexels-photo-279470.jpeg

Good morning all! I know, I’ve been MIA lately, but I have a great reason, sort of… For one, it’s tax season, so I’ve been snowed under with returns, then two, I’m on a mission to get ‘Beyond One Moment’ ready for publication. Oh and then, of course, my life has been busy with Easter preparations and my handsome son’s 19th birthday.

But, I was thinking this morning about inspiration. As an author, this is important. If you’re not inspired to write, then can you really put words on a page? Well, you can, but will they inspire others? So, with that in mind, I thought about the top 5 things that inspire me when it comes to writing.

  1. Music – This is one of my favorite inspirational outlets. If I’m working on a dreamy, romantic scene, then I want romantic love songs or soft classical music, but of course, if it’s a scene of dramatic proportions, then I want some classic rock or dark, chamber music. But even the craziest of songs can inspire you, that’s if you take the time to listen…
  2. Movies/Television – There’s nothing to inspire a romance author than a good love story. I love Hallmark for this part of my inspiration. They go from all the aspects including drama, love and even a little mystery.
  3. Reading – A great way to get inspired is to read in the genre you write. I’ve been inspired many times by some of my favorite authors. But, make sure if you’re inspired by other authors work that you don’t copy it… Just saying…
  4. Outdoors – A nice long walk in nature can inspire me. Especially if I’m stuck on a part and can’t quite get it to work out. I can walk, listening to the birds or watch the clouds roll by, then it clears my head and makes the inspiration seep in.
  5. Last on the list, but not least is People Watching – This is a sometimes funny way to get inspired. Maybe it’s just sitting on a bench outside a busy mall or sitting at an event and watching a group of people. But, watching the people around you and listening to what they have to say can inspire you in more ways than you can imagine. I love to people watch.

So, what inspires you? I’d love to hear your many ways of inspiration. What makes your words flow or even brings them to a halt?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Our job as an author…

banner-pptx

Good morning! It’s Monday morning and I’m ready for a productive week. Of course, my hubby is on vacation this week, so I’ll get to see him a lot, which is a great thing.

So, as an author, what are we trying to accomplish? I’m not talking about earning money, I’m talking about with our words.

Here are my top five things I try to accomplish with the words that come from my heart…

1: First and foremost, I want to entertain my reader. I want my ready to enjoy what I write and to want more of it. I want them to smile, laugh and cry when they read my work.

2: I want my readers to be taken away to another world. With Tuscany, I wanted to make them feel like they were in Italy. I wanted them to feel the warm Mediterranean breeze on their face. With my Christmas books, I want this to smell the Christmas spices, to feel the joy of the season and to feel the cold of the snow all around them.

3: My readers should feel what my characters feel. I want them to feel the happiness, the sorrow, and the anger.

4: With the romance, I want my readers to get lost in it. I want them to experience the romance of the story. So many people tell me that they haven’t ever had true romance, so I want them to feel it with every book they read of mine.

5: And finally, this is what every writer should aspire to do and that’s to take your reader to another realm of reality. Whether you write romance, mystery or horror, you should strive to take away the everyday troubles of your reader. Help them get lost in another world, if only for an hour. But help them forget everything but the characters and stories that are within the covers of your work.

So, what do you want to accomplish with your writing?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

TBT – Moonbeam & Roses

Moonbeam & Roses New Cover

Moonbeam & Roses came out in July 2012! So I’m throwing back four years… This book pulled at my heart strings. It includes romance, drama, and healing of the spirit all in one book. As I wrote this book, I wondered how I would take the traumatic injuries that the heroine had.

Here’s a little excerpt to give you an insight into Moonbeam & Roses:

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.” 

For those of you that read my current work, my writing style has changed some, but the feelings behind the words are the same. If you haven’t read this one, then check it out. It’s available on most ebook and paperback sites.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Don’t forget about the fun giveaway I’m running…It’s in my posts…