I Need Help...I Am A Perfectionist!

I admit that I am a perfectionist. I don't know if I can ever be cured.

Being a perfectionist keeps me from sleeping. Problems crawl around in my head like little parasites and won't leave me alone.

What am I to do?

I took the test on Discovery Health on Perfectionism. Click here to take the test: http://discoveryhealth.queendom.com/perfectionism_abridged_access.html

Their description of Perfectionism is below, followed by my score and what it means.

About Perfectionism
Perfectionism can be a healthy quality that drives a person to try his/her best and to make the effort to excel. Some people, however, take the strive for perfection too far...and there is a price to pay. Extreme perfectionists are forever dissatisfied; they can never fulfill their own expectations so, in their own eyes, they are always failures. Chronic perfectionism is driven by deep-seated feelings of inferiority and self-hate, and by nature it reinforces a negative self-image. Performing tasks or fulfilling goals becomes intimidating and unpleasant, since the perfectionist knows deep down that the finished product will never meet his/her expectations. So the perfectionist might have problems with procrastination. Perfectionism, then, can become a double-edged sword - the perfectionist is driven by a desire to succeed, as well as a fear of failure which leaves him/her paralyzed.

In all realms, striving for excellence can be beneficial and lead to a fulfilling professional and personal life. Accepting nothing less than excellence, on the other hand, can be emotionally scarring.




Results of Your Perfectionism Test

Perfectionism

Your score = 63




What does your score mean?
According to this test, you have some perfectionist tendencies that may be making you unnecessarily unhappy. You sometimes set high standards that are difficult to meet; either you impose those expectations on yourself, others, or a combination of the two. You may even think that others expect you to be perfect. While a desire to do your very best and strive to reach your full potential can bring you personal fulfillment, you have to learn when good is 'good enough'. It's important that you strengthen your ability to distinguish between reasonable aspirations and unrealistic demands. When you set unattainable objectives, you are being cruel to yourself and denying yourself the rewards and self-acceptance that you deserve.

A Dangerous Salad

Yesterday for lunch I wanted a salad. Boy, did it look yummy! A perfect day, warm and comfortable, sunny, and nice wind blowing. I usually sit in my car at lunch to just get away and do some quiet brainstorming or reading. It doesn't get better than this.

So, I took my very first bite of mixed greens and bit on something hard! I maneuvered it around until I could grab it and...it was a piece of tooth. A large piece of tooth. At first I was grossed out and ready to go back to the restaurant and demand my money back. Then...I remembered that cracked molar that I've been ignoring for a year and a half.

Wiggled tongue around in mouth and felt the sharp edges of broken tooth. Argh! The only good thing is it isn't causing any pain. Well, unless you count the place where my tongue comes in contact and is irritated.

Today will consist of a trip to the dentist. Now I'm only hoping they can get it crowned before RWA National, but there's little hope for that. Temporary caps and I do not get along.

And, I have a headache so going to the dentist does not bode well for me today.

On a lighter note, I just might stay home today and write. I'm not good with dentists, numbing meds, drilling, and swollen face. I suppose I could write this into my manuscript somehow. Maybe torturing one of my characters will make me feel better.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mental Blocks or Writing Blocks?

It started the day I knew my mother would move in with me. I hit a mental block about my writing. I chalked it up to having way too much on my plate. So, I stepped back and allowed myself some time to "take care of personal business."

Along the way, I'd open my manuscript, edit/write a page or two, get excited about the project, and... Something would come up and days/weeks would pass without my looking at it again.

Did I have writer's block?

No. A mental block is not writer's block. In fact, I've said this before. I don't believe in writer's block. I do, however, believe in mental blocks. Our internal editor entangles issues and fears in our brain that have nothing at all to do with our abilities, and the result is shutdown.

Case in point: I invited some dear friends to dinner. Having eight kids, trust me, I've never had a problem with cooking for anyone. But, after planning the menu, I stalled. As the day drew nearer, I couldn't imagine cooking anything. Everything seemed wrong. Inadequate. I even started searching the internet looking for menus. What happened to me? A simple cook-out meal should not be something to stress over. I had to dig deep for the answer. As a child, I never felt anything I did was "good" enough. My mother, bless her heart, wanted more for me than she'd accomplished. Unhappy with her lot in life, she alternated between being jealous of my accomplishments and pushing me to do more. Now she's living with me again. My mind is struggling with the confident adult and the incompetent child. Thus, I hit these mental blocks.

Opening my manuscript every day is mandatory.

How about you? If you think you have writer's block, maybe you should look deeper inside and ferret out the real problem. Only then can you overcome the obstacle.

Oh, yes. We had a great time, good food, laughter, and bonding with our friends. And, my manuscript is moving right along.

Thanks for stopping by.

Press Kit...Media...Pictures

I don't look like that! I'm the picture taker in our family, so rarely do I show up in any of our family shots. But when I do, I look like a dork!! I swear I don't look like those pictures. *sigh*

Now I need to put together a press kit, complete with picture. So, what's a gal to do? I understand there are copyright issues when you have your pictures made professionally and you aren't allowed to publish them. I'd rather not get into the issue, thank you very much.

I could ask my hubby to take a picture, but then I'd be headless. Trust me, the part below the head is much worse than the full face.

That leaves me to doing some creative things with the timer on my camera. The problem is getting it set up just right and the lighting just right and body angle just right and...

Forget it. I think I'll just use my cat's picture. After all, I'm a suspense writer. Why not keep the readers in suspense as to what I really look like!

Thanks for stopping by!

Weaving Romance, Suspense, and Inspiration...

...is not easy to do. How do you get the correct balance?

My latest manuscript is challenging me. I have a great conflict. The characters have gripped my heart.

But, when I thing too hard about getting the right balance of everything, it stops my progress. That dratted inner editor keeps whispering in my ear.

So, what to do? I decided to try something different. I'm going to finish the book focusing on the romance and development between the characters as they deal with the mystery/suspense that has drawn them together. I'm not comfortable with quoting scripture as some authors do.

Maybe I shouldn't classify my romance as an inspirational. True, my characters are christian, but I want them to be real people, not cardboard christians that I see in a lot of inspirational books.

Guess that means this book may never get published. But...it will get written, and when I'm finished, I can sing, "I Did It My Way!"

Have a great day. Thanks for stopping by.

Getting Prepared for Nationals

So many workshops, so little time.

I'm excited about attending the RWA National Convention for the first time ever. I'm probably one of the few who will be in a room by myself. Why? I get really stressed in crowds and I'm not a party person. Sooo, after a long day of attending workshops, I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet of my room. Hoping to get inspiration to work on my novel in the evenings and spend time talking to my loved ones at home.

But, how do I choose the right workshops? So many workshops, so little time....

Thanks for stopping by!

Writing is Cathartic

Writing for me is cathartic. I've used the method for years to cleanse the sad feelings from my heart. The first time I realized I could use my writing gift for this purpose was to cope with the death of a little baby. My best friend in grade school's brother and his wife had a little girl. She was so beautiful. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and unfortunately she had a disease which took her at a very young age of two. I was fourteen at the time. I remember sitting in my room, alone, crying and trying to make sense of the senseless. I picked up a notebook and pen and wrote a poem, pouring out all the hurt and anger about death.

Since then, I've found my release in words.

If only we could bottle up the extreme ends of our emotions and release them in the scenes of our novels, there would be a lot more best-selling authors.

Sometimes my novels start from scenes which are derived from the depth of an emotion. The actual book may or may not even contain that scene in the final version, but writing it down is cathartic.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sometimes You Just Have to Cry

And that's what I'm about to do right now, so I decided to blog about it instead. I'd forgotten that my childhood wasn't exactly a normal one. I don't think my mother ever really loved me...or my brother or sisters. She moved away from her kids when she got her second divorce. My brother went with his dad, my sister went to live with her uncle, and I went to live with my grandparents. My father was killed in the war when I was just a baby. So...I remember seeing my mom occasionally. A visit once or twice a year. But after she got remarried four years later, she came to get me. I spent a lot of time alone, reading, playing outdoors...a loner. I began spinning stories in my head back then. Books were my escape. I moved away from home when I was seventeen and only went back for a visit once a year.

For some reason, my mother has always seemed to resent me. She never said she loved me and nothing I ever did was good enough. I was second rate to my friends, my cousins, everyone. She says with a vengeance that she hated her own mother. Over the years I heard nothing but horrible stories about how her mother hated her. So, when my grandmother loved me and gave me things, my mother resented me even more. I remember her screaming and pulling my hair so hard that it came out in her hands. She would beat me with her fists on my back.

I suppose she felt that I had taken the love from my grandmother that she should have had. At least, that's my psychological take on it.

Then came the time when my mother could no longer keep her home. She had spent all her money, she was alone, and the doctors told her that due to her heart condition she shouldn't be alone. I've always told her she had a home with me and my husband any time she needed it. Finally, in January of this year, she said she'd made up her mind and she would come to live with us. Over the next few months, we remodeled and did everything we could to make our home more comfortable for her. But, she sounded like her life was coming to an end as the date drew closer.

Now she's here and she seems to be content. She smiles more. She has people to talk to, she loves the cats, but...she resents the fact that she has to live with me. She had to leave her home and a lot of her possessions behind. And, I know how hard that must have been. I try not to take it personally when she reminds me in a not so nice way that something she had was left behind. Before she moved here, she told me she really didn't want to move, and I told her it wasn't too late. Her response was a not so nicely toned, "Well, what do you expect me to do? I don't have any choice!" **sigh**

I really thought it would get better, and I suppose it has for her. But now I've reverted back to childhood emotions. My mother doesn't really like me. I can't please her. I try. Maybe I try too hard.

This is Father's Day. I told my hubby he could have anything he wanted for dinner. He chose to go to Bob Evans. At five, I told Mom that we were going out to Bob Evans for dinner and asked if she felt like going along. She said, "Yes." She said she'd been resting in the chair all day and felt fine. So I told her we would leave around six.

All was well, until we reached Bob Evans and she got out of the car and was walking to the door. Suddenly, she turned to me and said, "The next time it's hot like this, don't ask me to go out! I can't take this heat!"

I said, "Mom, you said you wanted to come."

She: "I know. But when it's hot outside, I say indoors. When I was in my own home, if I stuck my head out and it was hot, I went back inside and stayed there."

So, I asked if she wanted me to take her back home.

She declined.

Then, as we walked up to the hostess, mom looked at me and said, "Jessie used to go places without me. I didn't have to go with her all the time."

So what do I do? Sometimes I feel like I should just stay in my office downstairs and out of her way.

Nothing I do is right. I'm an adult now. Why does it still hurt me so much?

Cats...Intuitive Healers

Recently we moved my mother into our home. She had two furry cat babies, Maggie and Blacky. Both were elderly and Mom felt they wouldn't survive the long trip to Ohio, so she chose to leave them behind. It's hard to adopt out elderly cats, but we found a no-kill shelter and have hope that someone will open their hearts and adopt them. I know how sad she was to leave her beloved family home and her babies, but there there was no choice. She couldn't afford to keep up her home any longer. When she called with her decision, we immediately made plans to remodel and rearrange our home to accomodate her.
I'm so blessed to have her with me, and she's so much happier now with having people around her to talk to. But, I could tell how much she missed her babies. We have three cats, Charlotte, Wilbur, and Templeton (yeah, can you tell I'm a writer!). Charlotte, like most Divas, chooses the time she wants to spend with us mere humans. However, the boys are a different story. Inquisitive, and very loving, they are people cats. They sensed Mom's need for feline companionship. Wilbur sleeps with her, and when she's in her recliner watching television, he's either on the arm of the chair, in her lap, or laying on the back of the chair, swinging his big furry tail in front of her face. Templeton has been in her lap, too, but he's so much more inquisitive.
Yesterday something really cute happened. If I'd been home I would have taken a picture. He's been investigating her walker. It has a little area where you can sit things, or yourself, and a basket which she uses to keep things handy. Mom has taken over making our bed and hers. It's one thing she can do which makes her feel helpful. Anyway, yesterday Templeton jumped on the walker and was sitting on the little "chair" part. Mom got out of her chair and said, "Do you want to go for a ride? Come on, I have to make the beds." She proceeded to walk down the hall to our bedroom and Templeton just stayed on for the ride. He waited while she made that bed, then she took him into her room and, again, he just sat there watching. Finished, they both came back down the hall! Templeton now believes her walker is his domain, and quite fun, and Mom is so happy to have these furry buddies to help relieve the pain of moving.
We made a lot of changes to try and make her comfortable, but it took our cats to really lift her depression.
I love animals. Guess that's why I always include them in my books!

Facebook and Twitter

So, I've been feeling a lot of pressure to join Facebook and Twitter, I decided to join in the frenzy.

Now, can someone please tell me what I'm supposed to do with these? I know they are mainly social networks, but how does a writer go about using these to the best advantage to draw fans?

*sigh* I know just enough to be dangerous.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Outsmarting a Cat

Not an easy thing to do. When we moved my Mom here from Illinois, we were unable to catch Blacky, her seventeen year old cat. Blacky is very skittish and nervous. After Mom got her cat, Maggie, Blacky decided to make her domain the basement. She'd come out at night when Maggie would be asleep. Maggie ruled.

Consequently, poor Blacky became very antisocial...except with Mom. In order to capture Blacky, she set a trap in the kitchen. But Blacky outsmarted the trap and escaped before the door snapped shut. After that, she wouldn't go near the trap at all. We had to leave Blacky behind because we couldn't capture her. The plan had been to take her to a no-kill shelter because Mom decided neither of her cats would be able to withstand the trip due to their ages.

My cousin, who lives next door to Mom in Illinois, began a campaign to capture Blacky. Her final trick was to put a trail of food along the floor leading to the trap. Each day the food would be one step closer to the trap, then a little inside, and so on until the food was in the area where Blacky would have to step on the mechanism to set it off.

Last night...success! Blacky is now safely in a carrier with water and food in preparation for her trip to the no-kill shelter. Thank you, Lord! Mom is so relieved and so are we. The poor thing had to be so frightened. Left alone in a house suddenly with no one to care for her. I hope she fares well at the shelter, although I'm sure she won't trust anyone for a long, long time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Editing by Reading Aloud

If you haven't heard anyone say you must read your manuscript aloud, let me say it loud and clear right now. "Reading your manuscript aloud before submitting is vital to your success."

It's funny how our eyes skim over missing words and awkward sentences when we read to ourselves. So many times I've thought everything in my chapter was perfect, only to read it aloud and find mistakes. But, if you are like me, I'm always embarrassed to have someone overhear me reading to myself. Then I tend to whisper...which isn't effective at all.

My suggestion is to find a close family member or friend and ask if you can read your manuscript to them. My solution is to finalize a chapter and then ask. I only read one chapter at a time. Otherwise, my tongue refuses to work properly.

Since my mother can't read any longer, I asked if she would mind if I read her my story one chapter at a time. It's a great solution. I find mistakes as I'm reading and make marks, BUT I'm also able to correct it with the proper words AS I'm reading it to her.

Please try this if you haven't yet. You may be one of the lucky people who has that private time to read aloud without anyone distracting you. Take advantage!

Thanks for stopping by!

Win an AMAZON Gift Certificate!

If you're interested in winning a gift certificate from Amazon, please check out the contest I'm running on my website at www.carolannerhardt.com

My new Summer Newsletter is available. If you haven't yet signed up, you can do so by visiting my website.

Thanks for stopping by!

How to Confuse A Cat

For years, I've sat in a high-backed chair in my office. My cats love to jump to the back and lay at the top of my head. Charlotte's favorite thing is to nuzzle my hair and the fall asleep with her head touching mine. Wilbur likes to run and jump to the back and take us both for a little ride before settling down and wrapping his tail around my neck. Several times he's tried this when I'm not in the chair and both go flying to the floor.

I've been wanting to get a smaller chair to use while writing. My soon to be daugher-in-law brought one to me the other night. I love it. It's not big or elaborate, but it's sooooo comfy. I still have the bigger chair at the other desk, but I only use it when I'm going to settle down and watch TV in my office.

The problem is...I've confused my cats.

They meow and look up at me with these forlorn looks. They just don't understand why they can't rest at the top of my head while I'm writing. They've tried. In fact, Charlotte sat on the skinny arm of this new chair last night and put her paws on my shoulder to reach my hair. Wilbur climbs on my lap and stares in my eyes and asks "why?" Both are very distracting to my concentration. Ocassionally they give up and move to the back of the old chair where they stare holes in the back of my head and make me very nervous.

Actually, they probably aren't confused. Cats are very smart...and vindictive. I probably should watch my back.

Thanks for stopping by!

Creature in the Bush...

Oh, my! Yesterday while walking with my friend behind our work building, we spied a strange creature. At first I thought it was a small groundhog. She thought it might be a rabbit. The fur color was like a rabbit's. I didn't notice a tail, but it moved rather quickly under cover of a small patch of weeds in the corner of a fenced lot. I moved closer to get a better look.

Whoa! It didn't have a face like a rabbit. The snout was longer and more narrow. Small rounded ears. Beady black eyes. It stared at me. I stared at it.

**shudder** I believe it was a rat, a huge rat with a rather beautiful coat of fur.

However, I didn't notice any teeth showing as in most rats.

Of course, being a writer, I concocted a vision of some elusive organization operating in the vacant end of the huge warehouse--creating a new kind of intelligent mutant creature who could take over the world. Maybe I should be writing science ficiton instead of romantic suspense.

For non-writers, this is the way writers come up with ideas. We'll muse on events like this and tweak them until a scene develops, and magically a story begins to develop. Who knows? Maybe this will become a scene in my current manuscript.

Have a great day!

Patience, Lord...

My daughter tells me I shouldn't pray for patience or God will give me situations in which I must practice patience. *sigh*

Yesterday opportunities abounded in which to practice patience.

#1 - Hubby is a trustee at church and this is his month to lock up the church. NO problem. Our Bible Study group met at 12:30 right after the second service. Problem: We could not open the closet which housed the keys to lock all the doors--and every one was open. There was a Master Lock box on the door which required a code to open. Okay, no one told hubby about this lock box or the code. The person in charge of the trustees had not given him a walk-through of what to do, but we figured it wouldn't be a big deal to lock all the doors, provided we had the tools to do so. At 2pm in the afternoon, all alone in a vast church, the problem loomed quite large. So, I began calling people from the church directory who lived close by. Answering machines. What did I expect on a beautiful, sunny Sunday? Finally, I reached someone who gave us the code--which didn't work! What now? Back to the phones. I reached another lady I knew would be helpful. Guess what? She gave me the same code. *sigh* However, she did tell me to call if I couldn't get it to work because she had a key that would open the door. Ten more minutes of trying and I had to ask her to bring that key. She arrived, in a good humor, thank the good Lord. I had her check the code and sure enough, I had input it correctly. HOWEVER, no one ever told us a Master Box would drop open and reveal a "key" to open the door! She simpy pulled the lock box open and grinned. Well, geesh. Patience, Lord. Then, she showed me the master floor plan with different colored dots. Apparently on the first Sunday, all the fire extinguishers need to be checked and initialed. And all the thermostats need to be checked and set appropriately. Did I tell you VAST church. Our sanctuary seats 1800 people. There is a huge family life center, AND an attached academy for preschool through sixth grade! Two floors of classrooms. An hour later, with all the extinguishers checked, the thermostats reset, and all the doors locked, we made our way home.

#2 - Had to go grocery shopping so we could eat this week. Took Mom with me because she "needed a few things." Last week she bought a one pound package of cheese slices, of which she still had over half left. She kept asking me where the BOX of three packages of cheese slices were. That's what she always buys. Before I could find this box of cheese, she began a frustrated string of words about how she should have brought the two boxes from her refrigerator along with her. Patience, Lord. I explained again how we had no way to refrigerate the cheese on our ten hour trip from Illinois to Ohio and that's why we didn't bring it. Luckily, I found the box of cheese slices, and she's now happy.

#3 - Hubby walked into my office and looked at the box of 100 calorie Kudos. He looked inside, picked up a M & M bar and asked if the bars were mine. I told him to help himself (thinking, this is exactly what he asked me two weeks ago when he took an M & M bar). Then he proceeded to ask me where I got them. I explained I purchased them from GFS when I purchased the paper products for our grandson's wedding reception. He stared at the bar, turned it around in his hand, and smiled. I told him to help himself whenever he wanted...but then I slipped and said, "Just as I told you two weeks ago when you asked me about them and ate an M & M bar." He said, "Really? I don't remember seeing these before." *sigh* Patience, Lord.

Hypnotherapy--I'm Convinced

Four weeks, three sessions, and six-and-a-half pounds lighter. I love the new me. Not the outside me, but the inside me. Taking the hypnotherapy along with having all the stress in my life has helped to heal me internally. Believe it or not, I'm able to handle stress without going overboard and beating myself up, or shall I say, eating myself to death. Perhaps it comes from my upbringing where food became a balm to soothe hurts and tears.

Going through this hypnosis has given me a new lease on my emotions and why I eat. Now I'm in control, not food. I eat whatever I want, whenever I want, BUT, I seem to only want to eat at meal times. I'm satisfied easier, and I eat less and I'm not having the horrible bouts of heartburn any longer. I don't snack or cram down a whole bag of chips. Every day I make progress, and it's a "whole-body" experience.

I'll give another report a month from now. If any of you reading this blog is having a problem with weight, smoking, or anything you can't control, I highly suggest checking out hypnotherapy. Just make sure you find someone who is legit and comes highly recommended.

Thanks for stopping by!

How Do You Get Your Ideas?

I see this question asked over and over again by writers, readers, and aspiring writers. I've always found this hard to answer when I'm asked this in an interview. So, I did some introspection to try and find out what it is that gives me a story starter.

As I've proclaimed many times, I'm a true pantster. If I plot and outline, you can just bet I won't ever write that particular story. There's something about the process that freezes my brain and stifles my creativity. So, what is it that gives me the idea for a story? It's a mood, a feeling, something I absorb into my mind when I look out the window of my office or my car.

Today, the sky is dark, there is a breeze blowing the trees, and lone bird sits on a wire. No cars are moving, nothing else is stirring. This pulls my mind into a scene of being all alone. I feel a woman who is at the depths of despair over something that has happened or is about to happen. Then I begin typing out what emotions I'm feeling and believe it or not, scene develops. My story builds around this scene. I don't yet know where the story might go, but I do have a deep-rooted awareness of my heroine.

There's nothing magical, nothing formulaic, just a dumping of what comes into my brain. Hmm, perhaps that is magical to someone who plots.

Thanks for stopping by!

When to Learn and When to Write

When I first began writing, I never once thought about "learning" the craft. I had a knack of sitting at a blank screen thinking of a first sentence and then just writing, writing, writing and seeing how the story developed on its own. I could spin a story of 1500 words in less than an hour. Writing was fun!

Then a yearning began deep in my heart to write a novel. I'd already written the beginning of a scene a few years prior--a scene that haunted me. From that scene, I wrote Hit and Run. I spent many hours glued to the computer, typing and being surprised by the story which developed until THE END came at page 347 a short three months later. That's when I discovered "writer's groups" existed. Wow! I could take classes on-line and learn how to become an author!

Thus began a "muddling of the mind." So many rules. So many do not's. Immersed in learning my craft, I kept revising and revising my novel. Soon, I became so confused I lost my enthusiasm for getting published. How could I write with all these rules and guidelines squeezing my brain? My writing shelf overflowed with "how to" craft books. Many contradicted another. Egads!

At this point, I could have quit. But, I stepped back and realized that all the classes and all the books had something I could use. I only had to learn what worked for me. Each writer is unique. Each writer approaches the craft in a different way. Thank goodness! No one would read if each of us produced the same type of story every single time.

Writing is a solitary process. I need the comaraderie of fellow writers to keep me motivated and inspired--to help me know I'm not alone. I need to take a class or read a book, if it appeals to me, but I also need to write. In order to write, I need to forget all the so-called rules and let the story flow. For me, turning off the internal editor can be difficult. However, that's when my best comes out.

Here's my advice. Take classes, read books, learn the craft, but don't turn yourself into a perpetual student. Write, write, write. Apply what you've learned in the editing process. Separate the two things. It won't be easy, but it is necessary. Soon, you'll find yourself following the "important rules" unconsciously.

Don't lose the joy of writing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Getting Into the Zone (Writer's Talk)

If you are a writer who has been at the craft for a while, you'll know what I say when I mention getting into the zone. The first time it happened to me, I didn't know the first thing about writing a novel. Imagine my surprise when the words suddenly started flowing across my computer screen without my knowledge of what would happen next. I didn't stop and think about what I "should" or "would" write. The words just popped out one at a time at a rapid speed. That feeling is euphoric. AND, that's where you'll do your best writing. Well, maybe I'm speaking only from my own experience as a pantster (one who writes without a formal outline). I do believe that my lack of knowledge helped me reach this zone. When I try and plot out what should happen in the scene I'm working on, the words are slow to come. My inner editor is turned on stopping my creativity.

No matter how I seek to reach this zone, it only happens when I'm not consciously thinking about it. I once wrote a piece for Chicken Soup for the Soul entitled "Hands of Time." When I wrote this, I was inspired by looking at my hands and realizing they looked like my mother's hands. I started writing. The words flowed from my heart in less than a half-hour. That story has been published in three different Chicken Soup books now, much to my surprise. Nothing else I sent them has been published.

With the past few months of stress and planning behind me, I hope to get back into writing again. My horoscope for today says: "You need to get in touch with the deeper, less accessible parts of your mind, Write down your dreams, pay attention to stray thoughts or look for coincidences to help guide the way." Hmmm, I do believe this is another gentle nudge.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Book Recommendation - Steeple Hill Love Inspired - "A Soldier's Reunion" by Cheryl Wyatt

I've long been a fan of Cheryl Wyatt and her Wings of Refuge series. This latest installment, "A Soldier's Promise" was as good as the first two. Cheryl's characters are so fully developed that as a reader, I'm living the story. Mandy and Nolan, the starring characters in this book, made me root for them to get past their "past" and open their hearts.

A major bridge collapse brings these two back into each other's lives. Though they haven't seen each other in ten years, the spark still remains. Nolan, a pararescue jumper, left her once, and that destroyed Mandy's trust--in Nolan and in God. But, Nolan is a new believer, and now he wants to rekindle the relationship with Mandy. This story of broken vows, trust, and faith will warm your heart and leave you uplifted. I highly recommend it!

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm Outta Here!

I am closing this blog until June 1st! Vacation time.

See you in June!

Do You Want Your Face to Freeze That Way?

When I was a little girl, my grandmother used to say things like "Do you want your face to freeze that way?" when I would pout or cry or give angry glares. My mother used to say it, too, so I suppose she heard it when she was small. I probably said the same thing to my kids. The curse is true.

I've noticed that when I'm sitting here writing my face is all tightened up like a prune. Not sure when it happened. I'm afraid to look in the mirror and see the results. I try to ease the muscles and relax, but in just seconds everything is tight again. It worsens when I'm "in the zone" and speeding through a scene.

I wish she'd given me a curse like this: "Do you want to be thin the rest of your life?" or "Do you want to make your living writing those stories?"

Thanks for stopping by!

Skunked at Uno...Twice!

What a wonderful weekend we had with family! Nothing rejuvenates me or makes me feel more joy than spending time with family. Hubby's sister and husband visited us this weekend. We hadn't seen them in three years. We did a lot of eating, visiting, laughing, and relaxing. Every night we played cards and that brought even more laughter. I'm glad none of us take it seriously, especially me. When we pulled out Uno on Saturday night, guess who didn't score one point? My sister-in-law and I racked big zeroes. And on Sunday night, we played again. Everyone scored something...except me! Not one hand did I win. LOL!

Hopefully, soon I can get back to writing. I need to escape into another world.

Thanks for stopping by!

Author Interview with Wendy Davy

The audience applauds as the band concludes their opening number. The burgundy stage curtains rise and Carol Ann walks on stage. She stands in front of two comfortable looking burgundy leather chairs with a table between them holding two glasses of water.

"Good morning, Blog Studio audience! I'm so happy to be back in the studio and I have a fabulous guest author to bring onstage in just a few moments. Her name is Wendy Davy. When I spoke with her earlier here's what she told me."

I've been hooked on reading romances ever since I picked one up over twenty years ago. That's also when my own imagination started to roll and it hasn't stopped since. But, it wasn't until I realized that it was God who put it in my heart to write, that I knew my dreams of becoming an author could turn into a reality.I am a member of the Romance Writers of America and continue to be an avid reader. When not writing, I spend my energy chasing around my beautiful young children, enjoying my own real-life hero, and watching movies with friends.

"She's going to be talking to us about her new inspirational book, NIGHT WAVES. Please put your hands together and help me make welcome to the studio...Wendy Davy!"

AUDIENCE APPLAUDS AS WENDY WALKS ONSTAGE.



CAROL ANN: Hi, Wendy!

WENDY: Hello, Carol Ann. I'm so excited to be here in your studio.

CAROL ANN: We're delighted to have you join us. Have a seat.

WENDY AND CAROL SEAT THEMSELVES AND SMILE AT THE AUDIENCE.

CAROL ANN: Wendy, I love your book cover. Isn't it gorgeous, audience?

CAROL ANN HOLDS A BOOK FOR THE CAMERA TO PAN IN.



CAROL ANN: Tell us about your book.

WENDY: Night Waves is an inspirational story that began from one intense beach scene, and developed into a manuscript filled with emotion and suspense, and of course, faith.

Newspaper reporter, Cali Stevens, boldly walks into Sheriff Nick
Justice’s office, with one goal in mind: To find her best friend who
disappeared while vacationing. When the no-nonsense sheriff refuses
to give her details of the investigation, Cali takes matters into her
own hands and starts her own investigation. She never intends to fall
for the sheriff...or into the clutches of the Coral Isle’s first serial
kidnapper.

Coral Isle’s recent abductions give Nick Justice enough to worry
about without adding any complications into the mix, and his
attraction to Cali Stevens is definitely a complication. When Nick
encourages Cali to leave the island, she refuses. Now he must
manage to find the missing women while keeping Cali and the rest of
the women on Coral Isle safe.

CAROL ANN: Wow, that sounds great! I love inspirational romantic suspense. It's my favorite genre. I interview a lot of authors. For myself, I find the hardest part of being a writer is finding the time when I can write without being interrupted. Having a full-time job and a large family drains me emotionally and it's hard to have enough energy to devote to writing at the end of a long day. What do you find is the hardest part of being a writer?

WENDY: I agree, it's finding the time to write.

CAROL ANN: Sometimes I'm not sure how to answer the questions when someone asks me how I come up with the ideas for a particular book. For you what comes first?

WENDY: A scene comes first. Then the characters that fit the scene. I write out a sketchy plot, but rarely follow it. Sometimes I don't know what's going to happen until I sit down to write. But, that's the fun part.

CAROL ANN: What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

WENDY: Like you, distractions are a major stumbling block. But, I overcome them by setting aside specific time to write, and guard it against interruptions.

CAROL ANN: Despite all we have on our plates, it's important to keep our sense of humor. I love to laugh. Who can you count on to bring a smile to your face?

WENDY: My kids.

CAROL ANN: Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?

WENDY: It depends on the situation. I believe there is a time and a place for everything. And that includes both words and action.

CAROL ANN: You are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to give a message of hope to the world. What will you say?

WENDY: I'd probably freeze and say something ridiculous. But, given the time to think about it, I would say...Pray first. Ask questions later.

CAROL ANN: Great advice! Quick. What do you have under your bed?

WENDY: **laugh** Carpet!

CAROL ANN: **laugh** Wendy, who is the real hero in your life?

WENDY: Jesus.

CAROL ANN: Wendy, thank you for joining us today. It's been a real pleasure to have you in the studio. I wish you many sales on your book, my friend. Before you leave, where can the audience learn more about you and your books?

WENDY: Thanks, Carol Ann. It's been fun, even though I've been a little nervous. Your audience can go to my website at www.wendydavy.com

Ouch!!!

That's all I can say after the fall last night.

The story:
The inside of the windows is finished. Yay! Before the workers left, I asked them to move my huge heavy desk back under the windows in my office. I'm so sorry that I designed this room to have the desk under the windows. I love being able to look outside, BUT...the desk is so large and I'm so short, especially my arms, that I can't reach the windows! So,in order to put the curtains back up, I had to climb on my desk. Which I did. First I stepped on my footstool--a little backstory on the footstool. I purchased it at a craft fair in Michigan about fifteen years ago. It has two solid wooden legs for the sides with cats painted on them, and a plaid cushioned "seat" area. This stool has served as a chair for children, adults, a resting spot for my weary feet, and lately as a stepping stool. Back to the story. So, I stepped up on the footstool, onto my swivel desk chair and onto the desk! Perfect. Fixed the curtains and then proceeded to step down. All went well from desk to one foot on the desk chair. Reached the other foot backwards to step on the footstool, putting most of my weight there, and heard a horrible cracking noise. The footstool collapsed, taking my body along with it. All I felt was a bump and scrape on my back and then...pain, horrid pain in my right big toe. I squirmed around but couldn't get up. The pain kept intensifying. Hubby upstairs couldn't hear me call him for help. I finally managed to look at my toe only to see blood. Lots of blood. Ugh. Hubby finally came downstairs and I got him to bring me a cold rag. Fifteen minutes later, I was able to see the damage. A huge chunk of my toe was gouged out. Managed to get it bandaged, which presents another dilemma.

I have to go to work and I can't get my foot into a shoe. It's supposed to storm today. Guess, I'll try using a flip-flop and hope that I don't get sent home for improper dress code.

As far as the cats, Wilbur entertained the workers yesterday catching flies that dared to enter the open window cavities. Templeton wasn't as freaked out. He would hide when they used the air gun, but otherwise he wandered around a bit. Charlotte hid under Mom's bed. I petted her last night, but I haven't seen her come out yet.

Will my life ever be normal again?

Thanks for stopping by.

Traumatized

My poor cat, Templeton, is traumatized. This cat is usually the first to greet strangers, demanding attention. He isn’t afraid of noises, storms, even power tools. In fact, hubby has to be very careful when he’s working on a project because Templeton is always watching every single movement and even puts his head close to the saw blade!

Not so yesterday. The poor baby ran under the bed because of all the strangers invading our house and the noise of saws cutting through metal. Yesterday we had a new furnace and central air installed along with new double hung windows. I’m glad I was at work. I can’t stand the noise of saws and sanders. It goes right through me—like someone who can’t stand the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard.
Hubby finally got Templeton out from under the bed and put him on the deck with our other cat, Wilbur, who was howling at being left all alone and not being able to get into the house. Templeton ran up into the rafters and wouldn’t come down. I tried and tried and finally enticed him to come down with his favorite treat of cheese. All the workers had left. Still, he heard a noise and scampered right under the bed and would not come out. Charlotte and Wilbur investigated all the changes and returned to normal (and they are the shy ones).

Sometime during the night, Templeton emerged. He ventured up onto the bed in his favorite spot. This morning he seems normal again, BUT…there are three more windows which need to be installed, trim to be put up, and shutters.

Poor baby.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hurray for Hypnotherapy!

This is day four and all I can say is I feel free! No more worrying about dieting. I know diets don't work for most people. I'm one of them.

Over the years, I've tried every new diet that has come along. I've tried health clubs, diet pills, exercise gimmicks, South Beach Diet, Atkins, and just plain calorie counting. Sure, they all work...short term. And then, guess what? All the weight is regained, plus a few more pounds. This is what is known as yo-yo dieting. (Raising hand here. I'm guilty.)

As a last resort I decided to try the hypnotherapy route. I didn't go into this without doing some research. I didn't want to do the group hypnosis thing either. This is a personal venture for me and I'm different from every other person. How can a group session be geared specifically to me? I knew it wouldn't work. But I found a wonderful lady here in my home town who specializes in hypnotherapy for various things, one being weight loss. We talked on the telephone for about twenty minutes before my first session on Thursday. I felt very comfortable with her and with her process. So, I scheduled an appointment.

When I walked into her office, I sat in a chair next to her desk. She offered me a water and then handed me several papers to fill out. One was to list all the family history diseases and to list any medications I'm currently taking. Then I read over a two page sheet of "symptoms" and highlighted every one that applied to me. These were the tools to help her focus in on my specific problems and needs. We talked for another fifteen minutes about why I was there, what I had tried and she explained why diets don't work. She also explained the hypnosis session, what she would be doing, and what I would be doing. I felt good to know that she wouldn't be in control of my mind, but that I would be in control all the time. I would be listening to her suggestions. Interestingly, I learned that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.

Next we went into a room which had low lighting and I sat in a wonderfully comfortable soft leather recliner. I could control how far back I wanted to recline. Once comfortable she turned on ocean sounds which were very soothing. Then she proceeded with the actual program. I was totally aware of everything she said and could remember each word and suggestion. They all made sense to me. Throughout I felt as if I were floating on a raft on a calm body of water. After she brought me out of the hypnosis, I wasn't sure I had truly been hypnotized. She said I had been a great subject and that my movements had shown her that I had accepted her suggestions and that I had gone under quite deep. Amazing!

I left feeling very positive. One of the suggestions she gave me before the session and during the session was to make a fist with my hand. The size of my fist is the size of my stomach. Then I opened my fist and that is the size of the food portions that would fill me up.

Armed with a CD to listen to each night and a book which explains the reason diets don't work, I am prepared to believe. I attest that it is working. I don't know about weight loss. I can't weigh myself for a month. But I cannot believe how much less I've eaten for the past three days. I get full and I'm satisfied. Best of all, I don't really think a lot about food. I can eat whatever I want! That in itself is freeing. I don't worry about the calories, the fat, any of those "diet" words. Thus, I don't feel deprived. I just eat less. It's a wonderful feeling.

Hubby took me out to eat for Mother's Day. I wanted to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. I ordered my usual grande burrito, which I would usually eat. All of it. Every morsel. Not so now. I ate 1/3 and was full! The rest is in the fridge and will be my lunch for the next two days. Need I say more?

Thanks for joining me on this journey.

Happy belated mother's day to all the mothers who are reading my blog.

Writer's Block, Hypnotherapy, and Me Time

I don't believe in writer's block, but I do believe that real life can sometimes take so much mental energy that you have to allow yourself to step back and recoup. With all the things happening surrounding moving my mother from Illinois into our home in Ohio, my mental energy is truly tapped out. Couple that with having new windows installed on Monday, along with a new furnace and central air at the same time, company coming from Michigan on Friday, that's a lot. Sometime between Tuesday and Thursday, I have to clean the clutter, put all the furniture back and buy groceries.
The following week my grandson gets married on Saturday, then Sunday morning we are off to Illinois.

I'm giving myself permission to step back from writing until June. My best advice to you other writers is to know when you need to step away from the computer and tend to the issues that are most important. I know you've heard "write something every day." You can still do that. Just don't push yourself to come up with the next scene or chapter of your book. If you have a blog, post something there.

If, like me, you also have a full-time job, sometimes there just isn't enough energy left at the end of the day when you have other pressing issues. Remember, relationships are very important. In the long run, the relationships you build with people will bless you. Don't ever beat yourself up because you feel like a failure for not pushing yourself beyond your limits.

Last night I began the journey into hypnotherapy for weight loss. I'm happy that I did this FOR ME. I love the knowledge that it is the total package of mind, body, and spirit. No, she didn't hold a shiny watch in front of my eyes and tell me I was getting sleepy. It doesn't work that way. But the power of positive thinking can do wonders in anything you attempt. Yes, even in completing your latest manuscript.

Just received Patty Lacy's new book, "What the Bayou Saw" by Kregel Publications. I can't wait to read it. The cover is beautifully haunting. Patty has a way with characters. They reach out of the page and grab you by the heart.

Thanks for stopping by!

Help, Where Do I Live?

I reminded my hubby that I was going to be late coming home from work tonight because I am going to the hypnotist for my first session to help me lose weight. His response?

"How will you get home?"

I laughed. "What do you mean?"

"Will you be able to drive?"

"Sure. It's not going to have an anesthetizing effect."

"Well, I wasn't sure if you'd remember how to get home. Maybe you'll come in and not even know who I am."

Gotta love men.

Actually, I'm very excited about this opportunity. I've been thinking about it for a long time. I know the principles needed to lose weight, but I lack the will power. For instance, yesterday I had a box lunch at work. After four bites of the sub and a few bites of the macaroni salad, I was full. However, the food sat there and I felt that I needed to eat it. It tasted good, so I suppose it's a reward to stuff my body. But, in reality it's a punishment.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life! Wish me good luck.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Cat, The Spider Killer, NOT!!!

My cat, Wilbur, is on my "bad cat" list. While I was getting ready for work, he was sprawled almost flat on the floor his nose to the crack under the door to the closet under the steps. I figured he'd seen a spider crawl in there and I wasn't about to check it out. I don't do spiders. **shudder** So, I ignored him and went into the bathroom to get read for work. I remembered that I hadn't put the white clothes in the dryer, so I headed across the hall to take care of that. No Wilbur, although it didn't register at that point. After putting the clothes in to dry, I left the room and shut off the light.

Here comes Wilbur following on my heels. But then he slows down. I keep my eye on him and walk toward the bathroom. Wilbur now has his nose to the floor staring at the place where the floor and wall meet.

"Wilbur, are you chasing a bug?"

Wilbur looks at me and back to the floor. Uh-oh.

"Wilbur, you are supposed to catch them, not watch them. Go ahead and get the bug."

Promptly Wilbur looks at me as if, "Who are you to tell me what to do." Then he flips his tail, his incredibly long and fluffy tail, in the air and prances away and up the stairs. I look at the spot he'd been watching and saw...A SPIDER!!!! A black wolf spider not yet fully grown.

"Wilbur! You're supposed to KILL these things!"

Not Wilbur. He practically laughed at me. You know how cats get those smirky grins? Yeah. That's the one.

So, there I am. Standing in my terry wrap with pink terry slippers on my feet. How do I kill the spider, which by the way, is now staring at me with those beady green eyes daring me to try.

I look at my foot, look at the spider, and consider my options. If I press real hard, and move real fast, I might have a chance.

I raise my foot. The spider glares at me.

I stomp on the floor and pull my foot away real quick.

The spider moves closer to the wall. I swear it laughed at me, too.

Okay. My foot is a LOT bigger than that spider. The cat is snickering, now.

So, I go after that spider with all the strength in me. I stomp and rake my foot back and forth several times while the spider tries to elude me. I win!

Wilbur shakes his head and goes upstairs.

I look down in triumph and see one of those spider eyes shining in the light. **shudder**

That dreaded DEAD spider is still curled up in a ball on the floor.

I've got to get my husband, dubbed "spider killer" to take it away.

Wilbur, however, is not going to get his canned food for a week. That darned cat!

Thanks for stopping by!

Donald Maass - "The Fire in Fiction"

I'm a great fan of Donald Maass. I had the pleasure of attending one of his "Writing the Breakout Novel" workshops. He's an inspiring motivational speaker.

On one of my loops, someone posted a link to an interview on the NovelJourney blog. I'd like to share it with you.

And, I'd encourage everyone who is a writer to purchase his latest book, "The Fire in Fiction." I just bought it and it's full of wonderful advice and examples.

Here's the link to the interview:

http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/2009/05/novel-journeys-interview-with-donald.html

Thanks for stopping by!

I Am An E-book Author...and Proud of It

Sometimes I'm made to feel like a second class citizen because I am published in e-book format. Never mind that my books are also available in print. If I don't meet the standards of receiving an advance royalty, I'm not considered published by certain writing establishments. However, I'm considered published when it comes to entering any of their contests! Catch-22.

But, it doesn't matter. I write because I love to write. I love reading reviews and getting email from people telling me how I touched them with my stories. That's my goal. I don't do what I do to become the next NY Times Best-Selling author. I don't long to make tons of money and get world recognition for my books. I write because I can't NOT write. I enjoy telling stories. I love creating a book and the feeling it gives upon completion. Release day for me is exciting and scary. Just like it is for every "recognized" author.

However, with the economy changing and technology changing, the e-book is becoming more and more recognized, especially among the younger generation. I love reading e-books. They don't take up precious space in my house, and I can still hold my ereader in my hand and take it to bed and read. I can pack it when I travel without adding weight to my luggage.

Here's an interesting blog by Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Click to read

Ghost? Squirrel? Mouse?...gasp...Cat!!!!

Those who know me know I live with three very entertaining cats named Wilbur, Templeton, and Charlotte. Templeton is usually the one who is doing weird things...like when he stuck his head into a plastic bag to see what DH had purchased. In doing so he had stepped through the holes that make handles. Yep. The bag got stuck, the cat ran faster than a greyhound with hubby in pursuit. That was amusing.

Last night I carried my book to bed and while I was reading I heard a noise that sounded like one of the cats trying to open the closet door. Finally, annoyed, I got up and searched the closets. No cat. Strange. I crept back to bed and lay there, ears tuned to hear the noise again. Kind of creepy. Then I thought it might have come from the desk under the window. Got out of bed and flipped on the overhead light. Made a search. Nothing. Hmmmm. Checked the window to make sure no ghost was tapping on the window. That's a good sign. Then I looked up at the ceiling. Could a squirrel have gotten into the attic? No, the noise wasn't that far up. But...a mouse? Could a mouse be hiding in one of the closets? Would a mouse dare to come into a house where three cats reside? Well, maybe since my cats would probably just play with it. They don't have front claws so I doubt they would do much damage. Great! Now I had to go to bed and worry about a mouse being loose in the house. I walked out into the living room and saw Wilbur and Templeton snoozing around the stair railing. No big deal that Charlotte was nowhere in sight. She likes to hide.

Crawled back into bed with my book. No more sounds. Turned out the light and finally fell asleep. When the alarm went off at five, I turned it off and decided to snooze in for a few more minutes. But then...I heard that noise again.

I sat straight up in bed. Then I heard a soft pitiful "meow." I recognized Charlotte's voice so I called her. She replied from the same area where I'd heard that scratching noise last night. I walked to the far end of the bedroom and stared at the four drawer chest. I remembered having the second drawer from the top open last night when I pulled out a pair of jeans to wear today. The drawer had been open and I tried to shut it. Had to wiggle it to get it in right. Had Charlotte been in that drawer? Quickly I opened the drawer...no cat. Whew!

So I called her again and she answered. From the dresser. I opened the drawer again. No cat. So I pulled it all the way out and there she was in the drawer below near the back. Poor baby!

She didn't seem any worse for having spent the night locked in a drawer. In fact, she came out purring and acted like it was an every night occurrence.

Wish I'd thought to take a picture!

Brain Worms

I have brain worms. How they arrived I have no idea. But they are alive and thriving and multiplying. Each worm is wriggling with a wonderful story idea. Worms are like rabbits. They perpetuate...rapidly. While my fingers are busy working on a ms that needs to be finished, these worms wake up and start talking to each other. They won't leave me alone.

I need to come up with a plan of attack. I don't want to eliminate the infestation, just find a way to keep them dormant until I need them.

It's going to rain today. A perfect day to sit at my desk and watch the changing sky and write. But, I have to head to work and sit in a windowless cell and enter senseless figures into a spreadsheet. Over and over and over....

Ah, I see now how the worms gained control.

Hope you have a wonderful day. Don't let the worms take over. Thanks for stopping by!

Tweet, Tweet...

Okay, I hopped on the twitter bandwagon. Not sure why, but it's kind of fun seeing what my friends are doing without having to spend a lot of time on a social networking site. At one time I had a My Space, but I deleted it after finding it drew only other authors.

Not sure what the best way is to do marketing via the internet, which is the only method available to me at the current time. Well, except for the neat pens I ordered. How do I use them to market? Whenever we go out to eat, I sign the receipt and leave a pen! Pens are so much easier to hand out that business cards. I'm always passing out pens.

And now I've become a bird. Hear me tweet on twitter. If you're a bird, too, feel free to twitter me at CarolAnnErhardt.

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

I'm a Pack Rat

I have to admit it. I have too much stuff. Instead of throwing thing away, I hoard them...magazines, books, knick knacks, STUFF! I hold on to all my Writer's Digest books. Those articles are good. I may need to refer to one someday. I have all my RWRs. Those areticles are good. I may need to refer to one someday. I have a bowl of potpouri sitting on my desk. It's pretty, but it takes up space. However, there is nothing wrong with it, so I may use it someday. You should see my three, no make that four, cups of pens. Pens from other authors, banks, family members, different colored pens, markers, highlighters. Ack!!!

I'm hopeless.

My files drawers? Stuffed full of stuff that I rarely refer to. What to do?

I guess I need to do some spring housecleaning in my office.

Am I alone in this? Please tell me I have other kindred pack rat friends. Anyone have a solution to overcome this pack rat tendency? Leave a comment on my blog to be entered in a drawing to win a free pen to add to your STUFF!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Husband is a Trash Picker

Saturday I decided to do spring housecleaning on our deck. We had collected so many flower pots which had nothing in them and were simply sitting on the shelves collecting dust and bugs, that I decided to do a clean sweep. As I worked my way around the deck, I tossed things into a bag and later dropped them into the trash. Hubby was elated that I had cleaned the deck, which is normally his job. We headed out to buy two additional swivel chairs to match the ones we purchased last year. Since neither of us could carry the heavy box, we opened it on the truck tailgate and carried the chairs to the deck one by one where we assembled the bases. I drug the big box next to the trash can. Later in the day I saw hubby cutting it into pieces to throw in the trash. I never thought any more about those items I'd tossed earlier.

However, later he mentioned that I had thrown away his little duck planter. I laughed. I explained that we had too much stuff and that all these things only collected dust and served no purpose. He didn't comment further, but later that evening guess what I found on his workbench?

Yep. The little duck planter.

I have no doubt it will reappear on the deck, all cleaned up and with a brand new plant inside in just a couple of days.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tissue Alert...

It always warms my heart when a reviewer issues a tissue alert for JOSHUA'S HOPE. Yesterday, Karen Robbins reviewed my book on her blog.

Writer's Wanderings.

I'm so looking forward to this weekend! I'm planning on taking my computer to the park where I will walk and play through a scene in my mind then capture it while resting in the shade enjoying the beautiful weather.

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

Creative Minds Want to Know About...Hypnotherapy

As a writer, I'm always curious to experience new things to help me paint a better picture with my words. As a scorpio, I'm always curious to experience new things because it's my nature. I've always been interested in things that are "out there" so to speak. I've always believed things aren't just black and white. The gray area exists and it entices me to delve further into situations and issues. Usually able to see both sides of a question, I walk a narrow road at times. But, I'm diverting from my mission.

If you follow my blog, you know my battle to lose weight. I've tried so many things and the one and only one that seemed to make sense to me was the Paul McKenna "I Can Make You Thin" book and CD. And it works. That is, the left brain side of me understands the theory and why it will work. But this is when I'm consciously thinking about it. Problem: I don't always think about it. I'm busy. I'm in a hurry. I inhale my food and then go on about my business, only later chastising myself for not following his golden rules.

A friend went to a hypnotherapist to quit smoking. She highly recommended this person and I've been toying with the idea of doing this for some time. I listen to the CDs with the self-hypnosis. I just don't think it works for me. So, I thought about it for a long time and decided I should seek help one-on-one with a hypnotherapist and maybe then it would work. I'm not convinced I can be hypnotized...or allow my right brain to accept the suggestions which will remain with me and help me beat the weight loss thing. Right brain accepting the suggestions plus left brain understanding the concept should equal success. Right? After speaking with this lady, I feel very positive. In fact after I hung up I wondered if I had already had some messages planted in my brain because I've been energized and consciously thinking about what I eat and how I eat.

I'm going to begin my journey the evening of May 7, and I plan to share that journey with you here on my blog. I also plan to use this in my book. How? Well, I never tell the twists and turns of my novels before publication. So, have I created a little suspense here?

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!

The Cat and the Bags

Yay, sunshine here in Ohio today! Tomorrow I'll share my latest life choice and I'll be sharing the experience here in my blog beginning May 7th.

On a funny note, my cat Templeton is always a source for a good laugh. The other day hubby came home from the hardware store with two plastic bags filled with various screws and things. He sat them on the workbench and Templeton just had to get nosy. While trying to get his head inside the bag, he managed to get the handles stuck around his head and legs. When he tried to get out, and couldn't, that cat went sailing through the air and ran fast enough to rival any olympic medalist. So, here's the cat, head stuck, bags rattling, hubby chasing and yelling...a perfect Funniest Video Moment. I'm at work, unfortunately. One of the bags fell off and hubby was able to retrieve the purchases. The other was found under the bed, where Templeton decided to spend the rest of the morning with an expression that said, "I meant to do that!"

Thanks for stopping by!

Surprise For Me This Morning

I was busy writing my inspirational blog for The White Rose Press when I found that my free read, Lethal Legacy, is now available.

Download now for free

Have a fun filled day!

You're Never Too Old to Fall Out of Bed

I learned that this morning.

Pleasantly dreaming of the next scene in my chapter, I was rudely awakened by the blaring alarm clock. When it reached through the fogginess of my sleep-deprived mind, I rolled over to hit the shut off button.

(Side Note) I have been wearing wrist braces on both arms at night because of some pain I've been experiencing. These have metal splints on both sides and look a bit like the ones that bowlers wear.

Back to story. Anyway my brace didn't stablize when it hit my night stand and instead slid across the wood and knocked off the phone. Both of my legs cramped at the same time and I wound up on the floor. There I sat, legs stretched out, unhurt, with the alarm blaring through my head. Hubby jumped out of bed. Cats yowled. I couldn't believe I had just fallen out of bed!

I'm writing this blog now and still laughing at the silliness of the situation. Geesh! Maybe we do revert back to childhood as we grow older.

I know our children sometimes become just like us. My daughter is seriously in contention to take of my "crazy cat lady" title. Check out her blog entry for an "awww" moment. http://delanaknits.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a laugh at my expense today!

Happy Feet

I purchased a new pair of walking shoes. They are supposed to help circulation and balance. If you've never seen these, check out an Avon book. That's where I found them--in the Curves for Women section. They are strrrraaaaange looking shoes, and they felt weird when I first put them on.

Whoa! You know those exercise balls that you have to balance on...or fall off of in my case? Well, these shoes made me feel like I was standing on one of those balls. I can roll back on my heels and then forward on my toes. Look at me! Back and forth, back and forth. I felt like I was on one of those rocking horses for kids. Woo hoo!

Then I tried to walk. Uh-huh. Now I felt like I had rocking chair rockers attached to the bottom of my feet. My gait was kind of: step, roll; step, roll. I can only imagine what those workers at the new Fed Ex building next door thought. My hubby says I have a very noticable gait. Supposedly, my head bobs up and down when I stroll. Okay, so what was it doing now? I know with these THICK soles I'm at least two inches taller. Hey! That's a long way to fall.

But soon I had the rhythm. Now all I need is some music to complete my "Happy Feet."

Thanks for stopping by!

Hey, Is Everything Free?

I don't even know why I go out in public with my husband. Since he's retired,he's become...well, an old man. He works around the house on his wood projects or out in the yard on good days and he's like a little boy. He doesn't clean his hands before he reaches into his pockets for one thing. Let me tell ya, I can't get his everyday pants clean. There's just no way. He has dirt, grass, paint, and who knows what other kinds of stains on his clothes. So, when I call on my way home and ask if he wants to go out to eat, I should have my head examined. Something is wrong with me. I KNOW what he'll look like, because he sees no reason to change his clothes. Oh, wait, I take that back, he will change his shirt, but he just dusts off his pants and he's ready to go. To make matters worse, he has his favorite quilted flannel jacket shirt which he wears when it's "just a bit chilly" outside. It's plaid. It's blue...or rather dirty blue. The cuffs look like his pants. So does the collar. Choke me now.

So, now you have a picture, right. Okay, we go to Bob Evans last night for dinner. I pretend that I'm blind and can't see what he looks like. We have a nice meal and finally escape. NOT! We get to the register to pay and no one is there. I don't worry because I know someone will come soon. A minute later...it might have seemed a bit longer...my road construction crew hubby walks back to the counter and announces to the ENTIRE RESTAURANT..."Hey! Is anybody working the register or is everything free tonight!"

Finally, a girl comes running to the register. I feel bad. I feel like running out and letting him pay. But, being the one who tries to smooth things over, I give a little laugh as she comes toward me. But hubby, says again, "I thought maybe everything was free." She mutters, but loud enough for me to hear, "Nothing is free." And he doesn't stop there. "It took so long to get someone over here that I could have walked out of here three times already without paying."

He laughs when I tell him that he's becoming this cantankerous OLD MAN. A Mean Old Man.

Thanks for stopping by.

Author Interview with Laurean Brooks

The blog camera pans the laughing audience while the band plays "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." The notes come to the end and the blue curtain parts and Carol Ann runs on stage clapping and laughing.

"Wasn't that great? I've been complaining about this Ohio weather for so long and then this morning I saw my neighbor's garden full of red tulips in bloom. Glad I could be an inspiration to our fabulous band today."

Band director bows.

"Nice to be back in the studio again. Today I'm excited to introduce my guest author, Laurean Brooks. Laurean has loved to write ever since a fifth-grade teacher
encouraged her by announcing to the class, 'Some day Laurie will become an
author.'

Laurean kept that seed tucked away in her heart for decades. Today, it has
become a reality. Her first book, an inspirational romance, titled, JOURNEY TO FORGIVENESS was recently released by "White Rose Publishing."

When not browsing antique malls with her husband, or walking her spoiled
labs, Laurie enjoys church-related activities, Christian television, worship
music, and quiet time communing with her Creator.

Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome my guest, Laurean Brooks!"

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE. LAUREAN WALKS ON STAGE.



SHE AND CAROL ANN HUG AND THEY TAKE SEATS PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STAGE.

CAROL ANN: Laurie, I'm so happy to have you here with us today.

LAUREAN: It's so much fun to be here in the studio with you.

CAROL ANN: I love the book cover for your brand new book.

**CAROL ANN HOLDS UP A BOOK AND THE CAMERA PANS IN**



LAUREAN: Thank you. The cover artist did a fantastic job.

CAROL ANN: Would you mind sharing a bit about your book?

LAUREAN: JOURNEY TO FORGIVENESS is based on my mother's life. The year is 1938. Jenny Hinson's abusive father has deserted the family four years earlier, taking the oldest son with him. The family is left in dire financial straits. When the cotton crop, their main source of income, fails, Jenny has only one option. To accept the invitation from a Chicago aunt to move north and seek employment to support her mother and younger siblings.

Due to the paternal abuse, Jenny holds a bitternerss and distrust toward the male gender. So when Austin Grant makes off with her luggage at the train depot, Jenny labels him a thief. But what could he possible want with a lady's vanity case?

She consoles herself with the thought that she will never lay eyes on the man again. Wrong! Guess who takes swaggers up to take the pulpit in her aunt's church? Austin Grant. And now he is coercing the congregation to donate money "supposedly" to aid victims of a tornado-ravaged town.

When the reverend asks for volunteers, Jenny enlists with one goal. To find proof that Austin is a con artist and thief. But when she catches him with his hand in the mission strong box, she doesn't report it. Why? Surely she hasn't fallen for the guy!

Catastrophes strike with every encounter between Jenny and Austin. From getting locked in her aunt's storage shed with the illustrious Austin, to falling off a stool right into the thief's arms. The story ripples with humor, but the anger issue towards her father continues to raise its ugly head. She incurs frequent nightmares of the beatings.

God is dealing with Jenny to forgive her father, but she resists. "He doesn't deserve it," she argues. In a twist of fate Jenny meets up with her estranged brother who asked her to visit their terminally ill father. She is faced with a decision that will alter her life. Will she hold onto bitterness and distrust of the male gender, or will she come to grips with her haunted past and forgive her father?

Holding onto her anger means forfeiting a future with the man who has stolen her heart? Stolen her heart? But Austin Grant is a thief and a con artist, isn't he?

CAROL ANN: Congratulations on this new release, Laurie. What do you consider the hardest aspect of being a writer?

LAUREAN: That's easy. Sticking to a schedule or routine. Cutting time out to write, post, promote and still take care of household chores is not easy. Organization is a skill I lack. I could use some suggestions here. LOL. And since I'm a panster (one who doesn't plot), routine stifles my creativity.

CAROL ANN: I consider myself organized, but I have the same problems. I love your comment that routine stifles your creativity. I never thought of that before, but it is so true! Okay, so I'm a pantster, too. In your writing process, what comes first?

LAUREAN: Definitely the story idea comes first. I ask, "What if....?" I don't do outlines. I know how I want the story to begin and how I want it to end. But except for a few scenes in between, the rest is a surprise to me. The characters take over early on. Like I mentioned earlier, I am a full-blown panster. I sometimes wish I could do outlines and stick to them, but it stifles my story and then I hit a brick wall.

CAROL ANN: You sound like you are describing my writing process. Maybe this is how most pantsters operate. Tell me, what stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

LAUREAN: One comes to mind. In Chapter Seven of JOURNEY TO FORGIVENESS, Jenny takes her first plane ride in a small aircraft. It was necessary that I describe Jenny's experience. Since I have never flown, I was clueless. I searched the internet for World War II stories of pilots in combat. But even with the information I had gathered, something did not feel right. I laid the manuscript aside for a couple months. When I picked it back up, I skipped that chapter. A couple chapters later I went back and wrote the flying scene.

I don't recommend skipping a scene. It is not easy to connect the story to make it make sense, once you move ahead. I learned my lesson.

CAROL ANN: I know other people who write a bunch of scenes and then piece them together. I don't think I could write that way. I'd get too confused. **laugh** How about a personal question? Who can you always count on to make you smile, even if you are feeling down?

LAUREAN: This may sound silly, but I have two adorable Lab-mix dogs. A male and female who are siblings. The female (Yipper) is chocolate, the male (PeeWee) is black. When I feel disquieted or unsure of my next move, all I have to do is sit down on the front porch steps. Both dogs are all over me. PeeWee ends up with his front legs stretched across my lap while Yipper lies down on the other side of me waiting for a belly rub. These dogs bring me joy at my lowest times.

CAROL ANN: Peewee and Yipper? **laugh** Those are great names! And Lab-mix dogs are fantastic. I had a collie lab and she was the most affectionate, loyal, and funny dog. I still miss her. But, she weighed nearly 100 pounds. So..Peewee? Gotta laugh. Okay, a change of subject. Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?

LAUREAN: Yes. Everyone is influenced by what they read, view, and think. I have heard of criminals and rapists who attained their ideas from books. But on the up side, I know people whose lives have been profoundly changed by an inspiring book. The Bible is the greatest example. And books like "The Purpose-Driven Life" has sold millions and influenced many.

CAROL ANN: Let's pretend that you are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to give a message of hope to the world. What will you say?

LAUREAN: "Mmmmm! The food here is delicious!" (Only kidding.) Let's see.... I know. "Folks, please listen to me. I know these are difficult times. The future of our country is uncertain. But remember this. The world is not controlled by its leaders, no matter how great or how mighty. God is the controller and Creator of the universe. He loves you and will look out for your welfare. Turn to Him, read the scriptures, talk to Him daily, and give Him the glory He deserves."

CAROL ANN: You did great with no time to really think of that answer. Here's another. What do you have under your bed?

LAUREAN: **laugh** Besides a dozen sweaters that have been stuffed inside that plastic storage bag since I started having hot flashes? (That was seven years ago.) Guess I should give them away before they rot. But they can't rot if air doesn't get to them, right?

Besides the sweaters, I have a stack of books I plan to read when I get the time. Then there's a small box of music tapes.

CAROL ANN: I gave away all my wool blazers rather than put them under my bed. **laugh** Who is the hero in your life?

LAUREAN: I would have to say Jesus. He's always there for me. I wrote a blog post on January 21st on the White Roses in Bloom blog, which your audience might want to read at www.whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com. Jesus has brought me through things I could not have survived without him. One major thing was a brutal divorce that resulted in losing contact with my then 10-year-old son for four long years. Ecrutiating beyond words. We have rebuilt our relationship since.

CAROL ANN: I can't even imagine what you must have gone through. Laurie, I'm so sorry but our time is up. Time flies when you're having fun. I've really enjoyed having you with me today, and I wish you many sales on your wonderful book. Before we go off air, can you share some links where readers can find out more about you and your books?

LAUREAN: I thought you would never ask. Besides the White Roses in Bloom blog www.whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com , your readers will enjoy The White Rose Publishing site www.whiterosepublishing.com. And let's not forget my personal blog, Laurean's Lore. http://laureanslore.blogspot.com.

Taglines, Brands...Who Am I?

I'm supposed to have the perfect tag line that brands me as a unique author. There are so many different views on how to brand yourself. The tag line should identify your name with what you write so the reader can tap right into who you are.

Well, funny, ha-ha! I don't know who I am half the time. I'm a child of God, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, an Executive Assistant, and a writer. Even as a writer, I'm not sure exactly who I am. I just love to write. Most of what I write is suspenseful. So, my website is geared to the romantic suspense element. BUT...I also write inspirational romantic suspense. So, who am I?

This reminds me of the perfect country western song. All you need to do is write a song about cheating, drinking, mothers, dogs, pick-up trucks, and jail. **snicker**

Some readers view romance authors as wealthy, bon-bon eating eccentrics who have little yippy dogs, and tons of affairs. Not so. Unfortunately romance authors have day jobs, home commitments, cook, clean, and find very little time for writing, let alone romance.

Maybe I'm thinking of this tag line thing all wrong. Maybe I should look at what I would aspire to be instead of who I really am.

*sigh* I'll have to sleep on it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Honey...Where Did I Put...

Hubby is so amusing. He found an article on Saturday about one of his favorite little restaurants closing. I happened to be downstairs on my computer when he came running in to tell me about it. Fifteen minutes later I was in the bathroom applying makeup and getting ready to meet a friend for lunch when he came back downstairs and asked, "Where did I put that paper?"

"Um, what paper?"

"The one with the article in it about Nancy's Restaurant."

Now, I've been known to guess a few times and be right about things, but I didn't have a clue where to start with this one. Sometimes hubby will look right at something in the cabinet and ask where it is. I reach inside, put it in his hand, and he looks at me like I'm a genius.

This time, I didn't have time to retrace his steps and find that article. I knew he didn't bring it into my office earlier or he would have read the article to me. (Save me from the readings of Dear Abby, please.) I headed off to my lunch and when I returned, he read me the entire article. Where did he find it?

I didn't ask. He might have forgotten that he had even misplaced it and that conversation would have gone nowhere.

Life--ya gotta live and love it. Even the amusing little anecdotes.

Thanks, for stopping by!

Cables, Phones, Thumbs, and Alarms...Oh, My!

Chaotic day, for sure. Started last night when I reached into my sock drawer to get a pair of socks for work. Excruciating pain shot through my thumb. I do have arthritis in both thumbs and tendonitis which flares occasionally. But this time it did not go away, not even overnight. So, I called off work...can't drive when the thumb won't work. Have you ever tried to do anything without your thumbs? I mean, how humiliating that my hubby had to dress me for bed! And try wiping your rear! Oh, this is my right thumb and I just happen to be right-handed. Sigh. I debated whether to go to Urgent Care or the doctor. Doctor won. They have an exray machine and the copay is less expensive. Yeah. First wrong decision of the day. Exray machines down in doctor's office. Diagnosis--keep thumb immobilized, rest, if it doesn't get better, take prescription for exray to hospital. Cha-ching. If I do that I will have to pay for the exray myself. Bought a thumb immobilizer brace at Walgreen's and I'm learning how to type slowly and use my left thumb only for the space key.

But...when we walked in the door the trouble light was sounding on our alarm system. Sigh. Now what. Called the alarm company. Went through the testing and the blaring of the alarm for a minute to see if they would receive a signal. My eardrums hurt as much as my thumb by then. My hubby was looking at me with his finger poised over the alarm pad and kept saying, "Can I shut it off now?" The cats were leaping in acrobatic stunts beyond description, and their eyes? Bulging and frightening! Finally, we were allowed to stop the noise. ADT says, no signal. She asked if we had a phone change recently. Bingo! We moved my office from the upstairs bedroom to the lower level last Saturday. I have an extra light blinking on the modem, although everything seems to be working all right. She says we need to check the phone to see if there is a problem. I say, "Well, if you can hear me, then it's working!" Sigh.

So, I call our cable company. Problem is the phone jack upstairs is where the cable company had wired the alarm system through. Now we have everything hooked up to the phone jack downstairs! Sigh.

The trouble alarm went off again. I silenced it, but it is going to sound off again. Hubby is on his way to the store to buy 50 foot phone cord. We'll drill a hole through the floor to drop the cord from that jack and attach it to the modem. If it works, I can cancel the scheduled appt with the cable company tomorrow afternoon. I sure hope it does. If not, I'll be up all night shutting of the blasted alarm. Sigh.

I have to laugh at the entire sad situation. If my thumb hadn't gone out, my hubby wouldn't have known what to do about the alarm and he would have called me at work where I would have been trapped in a senior management meeting all day. There is always a bright side to everything. **grin**

And Then I Laughed....

Last night, tired and bleary-eyed, I mailed out my newsletter. When my copy came through I cringed...all those dreaded symbols that replace hyphens and quotes were beautifully placed throughout the newsletter. Ack! So, then I sent out an apology to my email list and gave them the link to read on a hidden page of my website. This morning I looked at the newsletter again because I wanted to make sure and update my blog with the upcoming author interview dates--and then I laughed. Here's what my newsletter said: "For the upcoming months, I will be hosting interviews as follows:"
To my utter humiliation, I had left off the names and dates...

For the schedule, look at the sidebar of my blog.

Did you know that laughter is good for you? It lifts your spirits and chases away depression. So, I always step back and laugh at myself whenever I can. I'm not perfect and I'm the first to admit it. So, beginning this coming week, I'll be sharing the "amusing" side of my life.

Stop in and you can start your day off with a laugh...at my expense.

An interesting article on how laughter can help your heart. Click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ever Packed 50 lbs of Sand into a 1 lb Box?

Well, that's what I did this past weekend. I looked at my office upstairs and thought it would be a breeze to carry down the odds and ends of my writing life to the downstairs bedroom. My son and son-in-law arrived promptly at ten on Saturday and they managed to carry downstairs: one six foot wooden desk, a six foot tall computer hutch, a treadmill, printer stand, and two bookshelves. They moved a bed upstairs to the vacated office. Made it look like nothing at all.

Guess I must be getting old. I began moving boxes full of books, and research material from that office on Friday night and filled up the family room. On Saturday morning I finished moving out the remainder of the stuff into our bedroom and then took apart the bed and moved it to the family room. Tell you what. I worked from 4pm on Saturday through 10pm before calling it quits. Then I started again after church at 2pm and worked until 8pm before I finished moving all that stuff back into my "new" office and finding a place for it.

My body is screaming at me that I will NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. And, I won't. My office is on the lower level to stay...forever.

I stand by a statement I made after we moved to this property in 1984...if I ever move again...everything goes. I get all new furniture, clothing, etc. It's the only way you'll get me to budge from here.

How does one accumulate so much stuff? And an even bigger question...how does one pack that much sand into such a small box?

Book Promo Day - Ready-Made Family by Cheryl Wyatt, Steeple Hill Publisher

It's always my pleasure to promo books by my writing friends. I came to know Cheryl through my blog when I was reading her first release. This book, Ready-Made Family is a wonderful story that will warm your heart. I recommend this book highly, and I'm not alone.

Romantic Times 4.5 Star Review:

“READY-MADE FAMILY (4.5) by Cheryl Wyatt: Air Force pararescue jumper Ben Dillinger knows what to do when a little girl comes to him saying that her mommy needs help. Suffering from dehydration, Amelia North ends up in the hospital. Wanting her independence and to take care of her daughter, Amelia finds herself unwillingly relying on Ben, who has his own problems taking over the care of his brother, who suffers from mosaic Down syndrome. Can Ben bring himself to be honest with Amelia, and can she overcome her distrust of men for love? Wyatt's wonderful love story about learning to accept God's will has delightful characters and a truly happy ending.”

—Susan Mobley


About the Author
Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home, and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. Her debut novels (Books 1 and 2-Wings of Refuge Series-Steeple Hill) received Romantic Times Top Picks. In addition, her debut books received the honor of coming in at #1 and #4 on eHarlequins's Top Ten Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists which included several NYT Bestselling authors. Cheryl is currently serving as Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers. www.acfw.com
To receive her quarterly newsletter for updates on new releases and contests with GREAT prizes (think: free books, CDs, iPods, and a Kindle!), visit her Web site at www.cherylwyatt.com and sign up in the space provided. Cheryl respects your privacy and will not share your e-mail address with a third party.

READY-MADE FAMILY

April 2009-Steeple Hill Love Inspired--IN STORES NOW!

Wings of Refuge Series

Amelia North needs refuge, and finds it--in Refuge, Illinois. Stranded there after a car wreck, the single mother expects to be cold-shouldered. After all, she's already been rejected by her parents, her church and her daughter's father. Instead, she finds a town full of people with open hands and hearts…including pararescue jumper Ben Dillinger.
Ben wants to help Amelia and her daughter find safety and stability. Instead, he finds himself freefalling--right into love with the ready-made family.


BOOK PURCHASE LINKS

Christianbook.com Purchas link for RMF http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1137286&item_no=875269

Amazon.com purchase link for RMF
http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Made-Family-Wings-Refuge-Inspired/dp/0373875266/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238477381&sr=8-9

Barnes and Noble purchase link for RMF:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ready-Made-Family/Cheryl-Wyatt/e/9780373875269

Win a FREE Sony e-Reader

Win a Sony eReader from White Rose Publishing!



Visit www.WhiteRosePublishing.com between April 1, 2009 and May 30, 2009 and purchase any title from any of the sponsoring authors. It's easy to enter: Once you purchase a book or short story from any of the participating authors (free read downloads, excluded), email your order number to sonyreader@thewildrosepress.com. That's it. In addition to the wonderful inspirational stories available at White Rose Publishing, SONY will include $25 worth of free downloads from their site with every reader we give away. So enter now!

If you purchase more than one title, you can enter more than one time. For questions regarding the contest contact Rhonda Penders at rpenders@whiterosepublishing.com

*Full details, the list of participating authors, and no purchase necessary rules are on the website www.WhiteRosePublishing.com

Winners will be announced on our website on June 1, 2009! Good Luck!

************

Here's your chance to purchase my latest book, JOSHUA'S HOPE, and qualify to win a free Sony eReader!

Thanks for stopping by.

Win a FREE Kindle...

This is no April Fool's joke. My author friend, Cheryl Wyatt, is offering a free Kindle for her newsletter subscribers. Those who follow my blog might remember the post where my hubby had picked up the book I was reading and proceeded to read the next few pages without my knowledge and then tell me what was happening. That book was Cheryl's first release, A SOLDIER'S PROMISE. Currently, I'm reading the third book in her Wings of Refuge series, READY-MADE FAMILY. Cheryl creates her characters with a depth that makes me envious. I'm truly enjoying this book as well as the others in the series.

But, I promised to tell you how you can win a FREE Kindle. Here's the details directly from Cheryl:

KINDLE CONTEST--NO FOOLIN!
Starting April Fool's day 2009 I'll be running a Kindle contest. Only my newsletter subscribers will be eligible for entry. To receive those quarterly newsletters as well as more information on the Kindle contest, visit www.cherylwyatt.com and sign up in the newsletter space provided. This is a double-opt-in feature and you will receive an e-mail prompting you to confirm that you wish to receive the newsletter. I respect your privacy and will not share your e-mail address with a third party. Contest ends June 15, 2009 at midnight CST. Winner will be announced on Independence Day 2009 on my newsletter and blog.

*****

Thanks for stopping by!