Ugh! Why Did I Do That?

Do you ever get mad at yourself for doing something you shouldn't?

Yesterday we attended a picnic with friends from church. The weather couldn't have been nicer. Nice breeze and high seventy temps. Friends who have a fantastic back yard of four acres filled with flower gardens, ponds, and fresh vegetable plots were the perfect hosts! We had a fantastic time.

So, what did I do wrong?

I ate a piece of cake and a homemade ice cream sandwich (ice cream between two large M&M cookies).  I should have avoided the treats NOT because I am trying to lose weight, but because I am battling high blood sugar. When I eat too many foods on the high glycemic index, then my blood sugar gets high and then...drops. The drop causes me to have bouts of "personal summers" or what some women think of as hot flashes. Mine are not due to a change in hormonal levels, but the fluctuating blood sugar. I need to maintain levels in the normal range.

Too bad this won't imprint on my brain like abstaining from food which causes a bout of stomach upset!  I really need to work on having a message trigger my brain to shout STOP! when I forget the after affects of eating such yummy treats!

Hope you all had a beautiful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

An Early Autumn or...??

As I look out my window this morning, the sun is just beginning to rise. Behind the house across the street, I can just see the top of a tree one street over...its leaves already turning gold. After a forty-five degree night, I believe we are going to experience an early fall. But, wait...look!
It is only a trick of light caused by the sun rising in the east and shining upon the leaves, igniting them to a beautiful shade of gold. It's God's masterpiece and I'm so excited to share it with you.

Good morning! And now it is time to announce the winnner of a free copy of MENDED HEART, a recent release by Mary Manners.

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The names of everyone who stopped by to comment on Mary Manners interview in The Blog Studio were put into a large bowl and stirred. Mary pulled out a name and the winner of a copy of MENDED HEART is

CLARE REVELL

Clare, you may have your choice of either an ebook or an autographed book. Congratulations!! Please go to MaryMannersRomance.com where you'll see a "contact me" link.Use the link to let Mary know your choice of book type and the information to send your book.

Thanks everyone who stopped by to join the audience for the reopening of The Blog Studio. All names are still eligible for my monthly drawing of a $10.00 gift certificate to Bath and Body Works.

When Life Throws You Lemons

Recently I asked my Facebook friends the question "when life throws you lemons, what do you do?"

Common answers were "Duck!" "Make Lemonade!" and one said, "Duck, and then make lemonade!"

When it comes to rejections in the writing world, the "duck and then make lemonade" rings true. It's easy to tell others to just shrug it off and continue on, but when it happens to you, it's a bit more personal. The advice is good, but it may take a while to reach that point where you want to make lemonade.

First, you must lick your wounds. If that means you retreat from the writing world for a day or so, then do it! But, then you must come back with a vengeance. Rejection letters do not mean that you will not become published. Instead, a rejection letter should be looked upon as a rite of passage. You must submit your work to receive a rejection letter, so that means you've come much farther than a lot of people. Now, you just need to find the right agent or editor. That takes a lot of work and perseverance...a lot of lemonade.

So, hang in there and don't just duck when you get bombarded with lemons. Pick them up and make gallons of lemonade!

Thanks for stopping by!

Teachers Pay It Forward - Guest Blogger Mary Manners

Happy Wednesday! Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Mary Manners back to my blog. Monday she joined me in The Blog Studio. If you missed that live interview, you aren't too late to get your name entered in her drawing for a free autographed book. The winner will be announced here on Friday.

Today Mary is sharing something very dear to her heart. She asks some great questions at the end of the blog. We're both looking forward to hearing your answers! All comments get your name entered twice in the monthly drawing for a $10.00 gift certificate to Bath & Body Works.

I have been writing since I was old enough to know that words tell a story…about four years old. I have such vivid memories of standing in my basement in Chicago, leaning against the washing machine, and scribbling across a notepad because I had a story to tell. Of course, the scribble was just gibberish, but the story was clear in my mind.


My primary school librarian read wonderful stories from picture books. One of my favorites was Sam, Bangs and Moonshine. I loved the wonderful tale of the inquisitive girl and her cat, and the father whose love was overshadowed by grief over the loss of his wife…so many powerful emotions interwoven with haunting illustrations. As you can guess, library hour was my favorite time of the week.

In sixth grade, I had a wonderful teacher who nurtured my writing. She came to school early in the morning and worked with me, and I completed my first full-length novel that year. I will never forget this wonderful woman. We corresponded through my college years before losing touch. I will never forget her, though, or the boundless encouragement she gave me.

In high school, I had an English teacher who loved books as much as I did. He understood my passion for words, and encouraged me to read books with more depth and to appreciate their beautiful imagery. He also began a writers’ group, and published some poems I wrote in a school anthology. It was thrilling!

Without these dedicated teachers, I may not have pursued my love of writing…and might very well not be where I am today. I remember them as I teach my middle-school students, and try to ‘pay forward’ the encouragement I received.

So I ask…has there ever been a teacher who impacted you with compassion, dedication, or encouragement? If so, how did this teacher help you to get where you are today…and what would you say to him or her if given the opportunity?

Remember When...Laugh 'Til You Cry!

Below my blog is the information on who won an ebook of Moselle's Insurance by commenting on LoRee Peery's guest blog about the Sisterhood of Romance Writers.

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Yesterday family gathered at our home to share food, conversation and fun. Our home is not large, nor do we have room for a lot of people in any one room. Since the weather was nice, we turned off the air conditioning and opened windows and the sliding doors from the kitchen to the deck. The food covered the table in the kitchen. The men congregated on the deck to eat and watch football, while the kids carried their plates down to the family room to watch television, and the women congregated in the living room to talk. Eventually, the kids moved outdoors to play. We, the women, listened to the kids laughing and having a good time and began to reminisce about things the kids had done when they were younger. One story led to another, and soon we were laughing so hard tears were rolling down our faces. My cheeks and my sides ached from laughing so hard. Occasionally, one of the men would wander in just to see what they were missing.

And that's what I love most about getting together with family. Sharing memories made over the years and laughing together. Family is one of the greatest blessings God has given me. I'm looking forward to Christmas because more of the family will be able to join us. The house will be overflowing with people and love.

I pray all of my friends who are in the US and celebrated Labor Day this past weekend had a fun and relaxing time. Thanks for stopping by!

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And the winner is....Donna B.

So, Donna, if you would, please email me through the contact page of my website http://www.carolannerhardt.com/ and give me your email addy to receive your book. Thanks to everyone who commented.

Also, Donna and everyone who left a comment now have their names entered twice in my monthly drawing for a Bath & Body Gift Certificate. There is no limit to how many times your name can be entered. Every comment on one of my blogs gets one entry each and every comment on a guest blog or interview gets two entries each.

The winner of Mended Heart will be announced here on my blog on Friday! Be sure to stop back and see if you are a winner!

The Blog Studio Presents Mary Manners

The Blog Studio band is playing "I Believe There are Angels Among Us" while the camera pans the studio audience. Everyone is singing along and all of them are smiling. As the band concludes, the audience stands and applauds. The band leader bows and raises his hands and the band begins to play the Blog Studio theme song. The curtain raises and Carol Ann Erhardt walks on stage.

"Welcome everyone! I'm so happy to be back with you again. The station has agreed to host The Blog Studio the first Monday of every month. We'll be having a lot of fun getting to know some newer authors, and some of your favorites as well. This morning I'm so happy to launch our new show with a fabulous author. She lives in the foothills of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains with her husband, Tim, her daughter Danni, and the cherished pets they've rescued from local animal shelters…dogs Molly and Abby, and cats Lucky and Gus.


She's active in her church, where she helps cook Wednesday night meals and work with the trustees on church construction and beautification projects. She's also active with the youth, and helps raise funds for mission projects through their breakfast table.

She also teaches 7th grade math and English at Seymour Middle School. She loves working with teenagers, and has been blessed to know many wonderful children and parents during her 25 years of teaching.

She enjoys the outdoors and is looking forward to cooler autumn weather. She enjoys cultivating flowers, taking long walks with her wonderful husband, and reading romance books while lying in a hammock beneath their century-old shade trees.

She's the author of Mended Heart, which she states is a testament to the power of grace and forgiveness. Ten percent of every book sold goes to charity. Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your hands together and give a warm welcome, to a fabulous author, and wonderful human being, my friend...Mary Manners!"

The audience applauds loudly as Mary enters from the left hand side of the stage. The camera pans to a picture taken of Mary and a closeup of her book, Mended Heart.

Mary and Carol Ann embrace and then take seats in the two burgundy leather chairs center stage. There is a small coffee table in front with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and two glasses of lemon water.

CAROL ANN:  Mary, I'm delighted that you could travel to Ohio to be with us today.

MARY:  It's my pleasure! I was so excited about being interviewed today, that I didn't sleep much at all last night.

CAROL ANN:  You look very rested, in spite of that. I'm really impressed with your new book, Mended Heart which released the end of July, right?

MARY: Yes, that's right.

CAROL ANN: Can you tell us a bit about the book?

MARY:  Shane Calkin is a former bad-boy-wannabe fighting to raise his spunky niece and a rambunctious puppy.


Jade McAllister nurses a wounded heart as she struggles to escape her mother’s rejection…and Shane’s.

Nine years have passed since they last saw each other, and a terrible secret looms. Will the secret destroy them, or have the years taught them how to trust…and to love?


CAROL ANN: Oooh. Intriguing. The cover is gorgeous.

Carol Ann hands the book to Mary.

CAROL ANN:  Would you mind reading an excerpt for us?

MARY:  I wasn't expecting this, but sure.

Mary opens the book and turns to a page. Then she smiles at the audience, looks back at the page and begins to read.

MARY:  “What are you doing here?”


Shane slid two English muffins into the toaster and pressed the lever to warm them. “Claire let me in an hour ago. She had to get to the hospital.”

Jade brushed fingers through long strands of wavy hair and tossed her head to work out the tangles. Her eyes glittered beneath sunlight that streamed through the window over the sink, and she pulled the edges of her powder-blue terrycloth robe tighter before cinching the belt. “I’m not a charity case. I don’t need a babysitter.”

He let the comment slide. “Nice slippers.”

She glanced down to see two fuzzy bunny heads staring back at her.

“Claire bought them for me--a gag gift last Christmas.” The pink of a blush crept up her neck. No matter she wasn’t wearing a lick of makeup and that her hair was matted and tangled--she still looked beautiful.”

“I made you breakfast.” He reached for the muffins as they popped from the toaster, nicely browned. He gave each a healthy slap of butter as Jade looked on. The aroma of eggs and crispy bacon filled the air.

“I’m not hungry.” Like a traitor, her stomach chose just that time to let loose a rumble that could have rivaled an earthquake.

“Your belly begs to differ. Did you eat anything at all last night?”

She crossed her arms over her stomach and ignored the question.

Mary closes the book.

CAROL ANN: Wow, just enough to make us want to know more. And, I understand you are going to give away a copy of Mended Heart to one of the lucky Blog Studio audience today. Everyone who comments will get their name entered in a drawing and the winner will be announced on Friday. Also, a reminder that every comment will also get your name entered twice in my monthly drawing for a free $10 Bath and Body Works gift certificate.

MARY:  The person who wins the book can have either an autographed copy if they provide their snail mail address upon winning, or an e-book which can be emailed.

CAROL ANN: Thanks. Now, I'd like to ask a few questions so the audience can get to know you a bit better.

MARY: Gives a nervous laugh. Okay, I think.

CAROL ANN: Besides books, do you have any collections?

MARY:  I really don’t collect anything except favorite books and artwork and such that my daughter has done throughout her school years. She’s getting ready to graduate high school, so it’s a bit of an emotional time for me.

CAROL ANN: Oh, I understand. I have eight children, all of them now out of the home. It was a rough period of adjustment, especially when the last one moved. Okay, another question. You are in a restaurant having lunch, when a reporter shoves a microphone at you and you have one minute to tell the world something very important. What would you say?

MARY: I would tell him what I tell my kids at school…learn as much as you can, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t, and don’t let the past dictate your future. Life’s too short to miss out on opportunities, so believe in yourself and go for it!

CAROL ANN:  Wonderful advice. A dream cannot be realized unless one believes and goes after it.  Author to author, have you ever experienced writer’s block?

MARY: Yes, I've had writer's block.

CAROL ANN:  How did you overcome it?

MARY:  When it hits I…MOW. I mean, I mow my yard. I have two acres, and I push mow the whole thing. And I live on a hill, to boot. For me, mowing is like taking a sledgehammer to a dam—it gets things moving again.

CAROL ANN:  Physical activity is a good way to get the creative juices flowing again. Who can make you laugh?

MARY:  My husband makes me laugh. Oh, he is sooo funny! We have times that we laugh so hard that I cannot breathe. We like to walk together around our neighborhood, and sometimes he’ll say something that gets me laughing so hard I think the neighbors must think I’m off my rocker!

CAROL ANN:  That's wonderful, Mary. And it speaks volumes on what a perfect couple you are and what a great marriage you have. Laughter is so good for the soul. So, tell me, are you an introvert or an extravert and how does that play into your writing life?

MARY:  I am basically an introvert, which is weird because I teach middle school and am surrounded by people all day long. But I’m really OK with alone time, too. And always joke that I’m comfortable talking in front of people who are shorter than me, which limits me because I’m only 5’2’’. As for writing, I am happiest when I have long stretches of quiet time to write, which works best for introverts like me.

CAROL ANN:  I can relate. I'm an introvert, too. I'm much happier with my family and being at home than being at a party. Here's a question that I've thought a lot about. If you knew you only had 30 days to live, what would you do with the remaining days?

MARY:  I’d write the most amazing story, and I’d walk with my husband and sing with my daughter. I’d do all the things I’ve put off…eat ice cream and éclairs until I popped, too.

CAROL ANN:  Do you have any phobias? Afraid of heights, spiders?

MARY:  I am deathly afraid of heights. I get nervous climbing a ladder! I hiked Mount LeConte a few weeks ago, and I thought my husband would have to blindfold and lead me to get me through one section. We were 6,200 feet up and had to hug a rock face on a ledge about a foot wide, holding onto a cable for dear life. Once I got up, I wasn’t sure I’d get down. This fear just gets worse as I age. YIKES!!

CAROL ANN: I'm the same way. Maybe worse, because I wouldn't have attempted that hike you took. I get dizzy climbing bleachers!

MARY:  You, too? I guess a lot of people are afraid of heights.

CAROL ANN: Oh, no! The producer is giving me the sign that our time is up. I can't believe how fast this time together has gone. Thank you again, Mary, for sharing so much with us. I wish you the best of luck with your book.

Ladies and gentlemen, please visit MaryMannersRomance.com to learn more about Mary and her books. You can purchase Mended Heart from her publisher WhiteRosePublishing.com.

Whose Story Is It?

When beginning a novel, it is important to give depth to your characters. This is critical to making the reader care what happens and entice them to read the book. In my current work in progress, my hero is the first character the reader meets. However, this is the heroine's story. So, I pondered if she should be the first character on the page. The issue with that is the heroine will reveal her story LATER in the book. What to do?

I ran the first chapter by my critique group with the hero in the opening paragraphs. They all liked it, and I didn't get any feedback about back-story dumping. All good. So, it seemed I'd done my job. BUT, I still felt strongly that the heroine should be introduced first so the reader knew it was her story. What to do?

I revised with having the heroine be in the first paragraph.

My critique group liked the first version much better. Why? Because I was able to develop the hero with likeable traits. My heroine's traits cannot be revealed until the story moves on.

This clearly tells me I have work to do. I must find a way to bring my heroine on stage at the beginning, give her some traits to make the readers want to find out what happens, and weave their paths together. Or, perhaps I may decide this is the hero's story after all.

The decision I make will determine how the story plays out. This will take a lot of brainstorming and planning. The one thing critical to any story is to know in advance whose story you are telling. If you get that right, then you're on your way to writing a great novel.

Remember when you start writing, ask the critical question, whose story is it?

Thanks for stopping by!

A Strange Wrinkle

I watch the Dr. Oz show most mornings. I've learned some things that I can use to help me be healthy. Last week, he talked about a wrinkle on the ear lobe which can be a signal of heart disease. According to Dr. Oz, and other articles I've read, a vertical crease, which extends from where the earlobe attaches to the head and extends down at an angle to the lower part of the lobe, indicates the ear is not receiving an adequate amount of blood supply. This indicates a potential arterial problem. After reading up on this, I became very worried, because I have that vertical crease on both ears.

I visited my doctor on Tuesday for my six-month check-up and decided to ask him about it. I figured he would just pooh-pooh it away. Imagine my surprise when he said it was a sign that I had the potential for heart disease. He said that with exercise, watching my diet, keeping my blood pressure and cholesterol in check, that it would go a long way toward preventing a heart attack.

My mother had heart disease and high cholesterol. She had a six-way by-pass when she was close to my age, and she died last year of a heart attack. My brother also has heart disease. He has stints to keep his arteries opened.

So, no way around it. I'm one of those at risk as well.

I'm glad I watched Dr. Oz, and also that my doctor listened to me. This has been a wake-up call and I intend to focus more on diet and exercise than I have in the past.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to chat with your doctor if you have any health concerns!

Romance Writers' Sisterhood - Guest Blogger LoRee Peery

Today, I'm so pleased to welcome author, LoRee Peery, as my guest blogger. A lifelong Nebraskan, LoRee is the oldest of seven and grew up on a Nebraska farm. She feels grounded in her sense of place and considers it a blessing to have lived most of her life in the country. She has five children and values one-on-one time with her eleven grandchildren.


She grew up singing and feels closest to the Lord when she worships through song. One of her fondest memories is ascending the basement stairs of Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh, NE singing “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful” preceding the Christmas Eve program.

Romance Writers' Sisterhood

When I hear the word “writer,” an immediate picture comes to mind. Always, a person is sequestered and hunched over in his or her writing place. For me it’s not the writer, but the workplace I focus on. I used to imagine a manual typewriter on a bare topped desk except for multitudinous wadded up papers. That evolved into an electric typewriter surrounded by scads of reference books. Then the tiny computer monitors with the huge backs and a keyboard close to the edge of the desk. Finally, laptops, anywhere. The writer is no longer sequestered.

Writers need a social life, balanced with the time spent in the chair while spewing out words. (Notice, I didn’t say playing on the Internet.) We need other people: family, church involvement, frolicking with friends, and fun away from words. We also need what I’ll talk about today, the sisterhood of romance writers groups.

Years ago, a friend and I created Lincoln Word Weavers, a Christian group that crossed all genres. I think it lasted a couple years. To my knowledge, no one published. I joined Romance Writers of America in 2002 and learned more about writing and publishing in six months than I had in the ten years prior. I realized immediately that I had a bond with anyone I came in contact with. The local chapter I'm part of now is Prairieland Romance Writers. We writers have a common passion (or compulsion), a synergy, that binds us together. From local chapters to the online chapter I’m part of Faith, Hope & Love, I can still be amazed at the camaraderie and generosity of individuals. Whether those writers are unpublished or have a hundred best sellers under their belt, they share whatever they can for the common good.

It’s a unique sisterhood that recognizes individual voice as one that cannot be duplicated. Romance writers tell the happily-ever-afters with familiar themes; but always with unique qualities of that writer’s distinctive voice. And now I’m so pleased to be part of another sisterhood, the White Rose Publishing family.

Do you belong to a group where you have a like-minded bond?

As a final note, I doff my hat to the few brave men who don’t mind being part of this “sisterhood.” You know them, they read and write romance too.

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LoRee's novel, Moselle's Insurance, the first in the Frivolities series, was released on July 30th. The cover is just stunning, and the blurb sounds exciting! The book has been receiving rave reviews. You can purchase it through publisher, White Rose Publishing. Link for more info: click here

Blurb

Creative artist Moselle Carson gives new life to old items, but she can't seem to renew her shattered ideal of love. When she returns to her hometown to help with a new family business, memories of a broken heart and small-town gossip chip away the tough exterior she's erected over the years. Now she's forced to decide whether she'll rebuild the wall or trust that true love never dies when it is ordained by God.

Generous insurance agent and vulnerable firefighter, Eric Todd, remembers too well how he mistreated Moselle and then set her aside. Now he longs for true love and the second chance to become a husband and father. Can he learn to forgive himself and still keep the secret that may redeem him in her eyes?

It's Monday

It's Monday. Seems like yesterday was Friday. The weeks are flying by. Summer is drawing to an end and Autumn is playing peek-a-boo. I had envisioned myself sitting on my deck writing away beautiful summer days. But, in central Ohio, most days were too wickedly hot and humid to be outdoors for any length of time. I've mostly enjoyed the sunshine from my lower level office, gazing out the window at the beautiful yellow and black finches feeding on the cone flower seeds. Beautiful, graceful monarch butterflies landed softly on the flowers, and busied themselves in the butterfly bush. Occasionally, one of the feral cats passed by and peeked in to see what I was doing. I have enjoyed the summer, albeit not from my first place of choice.

It's Monday. I'm thinking about how quickly winter will be here. Last year, I spent so much time shoveling snow my muscles ached constantly. Not looking forward to that, but I'm anticipating the arrival of cold, winter days with a bit of nostalgia. There's just something about the very first snowfall that inspires and energizes me.

It's Monday. I'm wondering how my friends who head to Florida can possibly be happy when they don't experience the beauty of winter landscapes.

It's Monday. If you didn't guess, I'm using my blog time today to ease into a creative state of mind. I must find an occupation for my heroine. She stopped me dead in my tracks yesterday and in no uncertain words told me I'd gotten her all wrong.

It's Monday. Thanks for stopping by!

Jesus Was and Still Is "A Thief"

I've never given much thought about Jesus being a thief until hearing a sermon by our Pastor this Sunday. Jesus was crucified on a cross between two thieves. One of the thieves said if Jesus was the Messiah, He should prove it by saving Himself and them. But the other thief, faced with death, asked why the first thief didn't fear God. Then He asked Jesus to remember him when He got to Heaven.

At that moment, Jesus stole the man's soul from Satan. And Jesus is still saving souls each and every day.

What a glorious thought! Amen.

The Promise of Autumn

One of my favorite times of the year is fast approaching. I love the Fall season. There's something wonderful about the crisp change in the air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the beautiful color collage adorning the trees. It's the time of year I enjoy walking outdoors. I usually carry my camera, hoping to capture the beautiful bounty of iridescent colors, but no photograph can compare to what my eyes behold.

Fall is a time to contemplate the coming winter, when plants and trees go dormant, resting until Spring sunshine calls them to awaken.

Fall is also a time for people like me to suffer headaches, sneezing, itchy eyes...all the symptoms of allergies. However, my medicine cabinet is stocked with decongestants and allergy tablets. Nothing will stop me from experiencing the joy of autumn.

Fall is also the perfect time for beginning a new blogging schedule. September 1st, begins my Wednesday guest bloggers. The first guest to appear will be LoRee Peery. Check the schedule on the sidebar for a complete listing of guest bloggers. Also, the first Monday of each month, The Blog Studio, a "live" television show format, will begin. I'll be interviewing authors, asking some different types of questions to throw them off and allow you to get to know them a whole lot better. We'll be giving away books and more, so be sure to stop by and comment to get your name in the drawings.

September 1st, my newsletter will be available on my website for anyone who wants to find out what's happening in my busy writing life, and I'll be sharing information on new books for readers, writing tips for authors, and lots more! The newsletter will be updated quarterly with each season...Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Desks and Writing Space...It's All About Separation

I have a rather large desk. This is the desk where I surf the internet, write blogs, tweets, compose and answer emails, pay bills, address snail mail, and do research. It's also cluttered most of the time. I put things back in their place at least once a week, but I just can't seem to keep it uncluttered.

My laptop sits on the opposite side of the room on another smaller desk. That's where I write. I used to try and write on the desktop computer, but I just couldn't do it. When I'm here, I'm tempted to surf the internet, check emails...and more. Why? Because that's what I do when I sit at this desk.

When I physically change locations to the smaller desk with the laptop, my brain switches to another mode and I can write without feeling the need to check emails, etc. My laptop is wireless, so I can go to the internet for a quick research, if needed, but I don't have email set up on the laptop.

My laptop isn't one of the expensive models with lots of bells and whistles. It's a cheap wireless model with a battery life of an hour. I keep it plugged in when I use it. All I use it for is writing. If I need to print something out, I use a flash drive to move it to my desktop and print.

I hear writers complain all the time about the distraction of wanting to check emails, etc.while they are trying to finish a book or meet a deadline. Having two separate spaces works for me. If you can do this, it just might work for you, too.

Do You Have a Story Box?

In the days of internet and multiple software programs, a lot of authors are keeping everything stored in their computers. I still have a story box.

My story box is a plastic index card holder, filled with multi-colored 5"x8" index cards. I have different color cards for each tab divider. I have a divider for characters, settings, and story ideas.

I use these to write down things that pop into my head. Also, I cut out interesting pictures and place them on the cards. I have quite a few male and female pictures. I place them to the upper left side of the card and when I'm writing a story, I choose appropriate pictures for the characters. I pull them out of the story box, write their names and descriptions and any other little tidbits about them on the card. I keep these displayed where I can easily see my characters while I'm writing.

Sometimes a setting comes to mind, or I see a picture that intrigues me. These go on a settings card. Unique plots pop into my mind, and no matter how silly they sound, I put them on a plot card.

There are many different ways to use story boxes. Mine works wonders for helping me with brand new stories.

Anyone else out there use a story box? I'd love to hear how yours is set up.

A Sunday Stroll Through our Back Yard

Our grapevines didn't yield much this year. Since this is year three, we're hoping next year we'll have more. The major problem has been keeping the birds from eating them.

We have a lovely display of marigolds. We planted these in honor of my mother, who passed away last December. Last year she received a packet of seeds in the mail, and hubby planted them. When they bloomed, she was so happy! We continued the tradition this year as well.

I'm so grateful that we planted knockout roses. Even when the weather is not ideal, the bushes continue to bloom as long as you prune.

One of our stand alone rose bushes, continues to give us beautiful pink blooms.

Occasionally, we find a snake in the shrubbery around our pond. This one was pretty big!

Yikes!

The water lillies are gorgeous in bloom.

We didn't think them out this year, and they are really thick.

Thanks for joining me in a Sunday stroll through our back yard. I hope your Sunday is filled with God's blessings.

Storms are Coming...

The weather man is predicting heavy storms this afternoon. I'm planning on cleaning house this morning and then heading out to do a little shopping. But my real goal for the day is to really experience the ferocity of the storms. When writing, we get cliche about thunder crashing, lightning flashing and torrents of rain. I wish to write the real experience of the storm. What it feels like. What I feel like. What I see. How my body and mind reacts.

If you want to write a believable scene in which your reader truly experiences what is happening, then you need to bring that to the page. Guess you've figured out that a storm is brewing in my work in progress!

Hope you have an enjoyable weekend. Thanks for visiting.

Free Ebooks for a Year!!!!

My publisher is offering a very sweet deal for our anniversary Bash! Check these out. All it will cost you is a few minutes of your time!

http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/

Learn all about it: http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/pages/Cross-My-Heart-Free-Read

Truth is Stranger than Fiction - Creepy!!

One more reason for me to be afraid of spiders. My daughter's air conditioning has been out for the past two days. When the repairman came last evening, he searched and searched, recharged it, and then...found the reason. Are you ready?

A spider had gotten inside and made a web. The web was so big and heavy that it pulled one of the wires loose!!! No sign of the spider...

Yikes!!!!

Camping - A Tool for Writers

You're probably wrinkling your nose wondering what I mean by the title of this blog. If you've never camped, or think camping should be in a hotel with room service, then you haven't experienced the benefits of true camping.

Yesterday, while listening to one of my favorite Christian radio stations, my ears tuned into the benefits of getting away from telephones and other electronic devices. This is exactly why I loved camping with my hubby. We had the cell phone for emergencies only. We kept it turned off. Many places we camped were so far out we didn't have any reception unless we drove into town to purchase supplies. No internet services. I didn't take my laptop. Instead, I took my AlphaSmart. No chance of surfing the internet or reading emails. Believe me, it's relaxing to be cut off like this.

Sitting under a tree, with no interruptions, I could close my eyes and let my mind play out the scenes I planned to write. I would sit and write pages on the AlphaSmart without an inner editor reading back over what I'd written. If you've used an AlphaSmart, you understand why it's the perfect tool for writing a first draft. With only a three line display, you aren't tempted to go back and read what you've written. You just write, write, write.

I miss camping. With hubby's illness, we can't get away any longer. The closest I come is taking my laptop or AlphaSmart to our screened in deck on days when the weather is permitting.

Every writer needs a change of atmosphere from time to time to expand the brain cells. Any other campers out there? Care to share your experiences?

Oh, Those Query Letters...

Are you ready to submit, but don't have a clue what to put in a query letter? Don't freak out. It happens to all of us.

One thing is critical. Research your market. Make sure you target the right editor/agent and always, always address the query letter to a person.

That being said, you'll probably learn more by visiting this blog than from anything I can say:
Query Shark

Good luck with your submissions. Thanks for stopping by.

Below are the new book covers for my releases on Smashwords.

More Info

More Info

Movies, Books, and Coming Soon

The Wild Rose Press announces they were asked to supply paperback books for props in an upcoming movie, RED. The movie stars Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, Richard Dreyfuss, Brian Cox, James Remar, Julian McMahon, Ernest Borgnine, Michelle Nolden, Amber Gaiennie and Audrey Wasilewski.

Read more and watch the video trailer here.

The movie opens in the USA on October 15th. We rarely go to the movie theater, but I plan to be at this one when it appears in my neck of the woods.

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September 1 is fast approaching. For me the date symbolizes the final days of summer and the soon to come cooler, crisper weather of fall--my favorite time of the year. Celebrate with me on September 1st for a guest blog  by LoRee Peery, and the launching of my newsletter, which will be available to anyone who visits my website. No need to sign up for anything.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ten Reasons I'm Smiling Today

Ten reasons for me to smile today.

• I'm attending a meeting with Central Ohio Fiction Writers.
• The sun is shining.
• God is good.
• I walked for an hour on my treadmill last night.
• I chatted with my sis-in-law on FB last night.
• It's a new day with opportunities awaiting.
• My bills are paid.
• I lost another pound.
• My daughter shared news that allows me to mark another answered prayer.
• The view out my window is gorgeous.

Share a smile today with a stranger. You will feel so good when they smile in return.
Have a blessed weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

Prayer Request

I'm requesting prayers for a dear friend and fellow author, Sharon Ann Donovan.

Sharon has suffered a major heart attack and has undergone open heart surgery. Please pray for healing and mercy for her and her family.

Sharon is an inspiration to all who know her. Prior to losing her sight, she painted on canvas, after, she paints pictures with words. Learn more about Sharon by visiting her website: http://www.sharonadonovan.com/

Killer Mutant Weeds and the Lost Doggy

Yesterday I decided to tackle the killer mutant weeds behind our privacy wall. The wall is to hide the electric boxes and cable boxes which are in an easement in our yard.

This is the wall. We have vines climbing on the wall and a garden of day lillies in front of that. Poor day lillies have not had a good year with no rain. Um, and I see a few weeds I need to tackle in there as well.

This is the area behind the wall after the weeds were removed. Prior to that you couldn't see from where I stood to take the picture to the other side where the cable boxes are. The large green box is the electric box. All were buried in a jungle of mutant weeds. They were as tall as the privacy wall. I was able to cut the top halves off and but then I couldn't pull them out. They were too huge. So I asked my son-in-law to help. Bless him!!

This shows how thick the stalks were.

This is the root system!

I am now thankfully rid of those monsters. I will have to spray roundup faithfully over the next few weeks to make sure they don't grow back again. Don't understand how weeds can grow so quickly and my grass isn't thriving at all.

While here, my little granddaughter lost her stuffed dog which she'd gotten from a fast food kid meal. Though we searched and searched we couldn't find it. She went home in tears. But later, grandpa found it in the basement of all places. So, I called and made her happy by telling her that Dog was found. Dog rested happily on my desk...until this morning. When I came down here, the Dog was gone. I now know the culprits are the cats. None of them are talking. I've scoured the house this morning...and still can't find it. Somehow I must produce Dog since I promised to return Dog to my granddaughter this morning. Hmmm, maybe I should be superstitious about Friday the 13th.

Beep, Beeeeeeep, Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!!

Yesterday we purchased an intercom system for our home. This way my husband can talk to me without yelling down from the upper level of our home to get my attention when I'm in my office working. What did I do????

This morning I heard the "call" tone and waited for him to say something, but instead he pressed the call tone a little longer.

"What do you need? You are supposed to talk not just press the button," I said.

"Good morning. I'm finished with everything up here if you want to take your shower."

"Thank you."

I return to my desk. Two minutes later, I hear the call button again. And immediately again, a long screeching tone, relentlessly summoning me.

"Why are you pressing the button? Talk to me!"

Nothing. No words. Nothing.

So, did the cat summon me this time? Guess I'll have to go upstairs and find out what's going on.

Oh, well, what did I expect from a man who will let my teakettle whistle, even though he's in the kitchen, until I make it upstairs to turn it off. And, then he laughs and says, "What good is a whistling teakettle, if you can't listen to it whistle? I like it."

Sigh.

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Stretching the Brain Muscle

I spent the afternoon yesterday formatting one of my out of publication books, FOXFIRE, to publish at Smashwords. Amazing how many things wind up incorrectly formatted in Word when you look at the coding. Honestly, I thought the file would be clean because it looked fine in print. Hah!

I spent at least four hours going line by line through the pages and removing tabs, and spaces before paragraph returns. Overall, the experience wasn't difficult. The hardest part was thinking in terms of one continuous flow instead of pages. Since Ebook readers are all different, you can't use page breaks. Also, it was different to look at single spacing. I have to look on it as a brain exercise. We all need to do that from time to time...stretch our brain muscles just like our body muscles.

Now all I need to do is create a book cover. Since, I love working with graphics that should be fun.

The experience taught me to be more cautious with future manuscripts. From now on, before I even send my work to an editor, I'll comb through for any unusual coding.

Any readers out there who have published on Smashwords yet? Care to share your experiences, insight?

Enjoy the day, and thanks for stopping by!

Horoscopes, Birds, and Authors Galore

My horoscope for the day: You've got to watch yourself a little more closely today, though that may not be easy. In fact, you may get too lost in your own internal shenanigans to notice when someone steps up to confront you.

Say, what?????

I suppose that means when I'm sitting and plotting with my eyes closed, my hubby will enter my office unheard and scare me. Okay, so I'm forewarned.

In the meantime, I'm watching two beautiful finches eating the seeds from the purple coneflowers. They are such beautiful and determined birds.

Not much to share today, it is Monday, after all! Be sure to check the listing of Author Interviews and Guest Bloggers I have lined up beginning in September.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Writer and The Bird

I've written before about the visitors to my garden outside my office window. Since the cone flowers are producing such lovely seeds this year, the birds are visiting more frequently. One little chicadee kept flitting past my window and finally decided to light and take a closer peek at me. Isn't he cute?

A little later I noticed a yellow and black finch enjoying a little snack. It was a little harder to snap his picture, but I finally managed. I think these are absolutely gorgeous birds.

Funny, how these distractions don't upset me nearly as much as human ones!

One, Two, Three...Whoa!!!

What happens when you have three separate stories running around in your head, screaming for you to write, write, write?

If you've never had this happen, you are probably more sane than me. I have three very different and very compelling to write stories all in various stages of completion. One has a plot issue...or at least I think that's the problem. It may be that I'm just not happy with where the characters took me and I have to learn to work with them instead of what I had planned. Another has great characters that I absolutely love. However, I need to make the plot a little more believable and a little scarier. The third has a frightening plot, so much so that I can only write for short bursts of time and then have to back off.

I thought I'd have trouble writing this way, but I've found that when I get back to each manuscript the story speaks to me and I have no problem working on the next scene.

Does anyone else write multiple pieces at one time? Am I the only crazy writer?

Overthinking When Writing a Scene

Occasionally when I want to jump start my creativity with developing a character, I pull out my deck of tarot cards. I have the Paulina Tarot deck, designed by Paulina Cassidy.

I'm currently trying to get a hand on my female protagonist. She keeps trying to change who I want her to be. So, I drew a card from the deck. It was the Eight of Pentacles. I see a lady dancer, with a smile on her face and a catlike creature sitting at her feet smiling and observing. It's a great visual and it fits with the current situation. So, my character is trying to tell me that she wants to project a facade to hide her true goal, while the hero is watching her carefully, not at all fooled by her. Ah, so now I understand what she was trying to tell me. This is just enough of a creative jump to move ahead with the next scene. Sometimes I overthink what is happening, and then I find myself questioning my subplot.

Do you ever do that? How do you move ahead?

Twin Cousins

My granddaughters, Ciara (left) and Sarah (right)

What a wonderful weekend! There's nothing like being around young, energetic young ladies to lift your spirits. The girls (twin cousins, they call themselves because they have so much in common) came on Saturday and we started our fun day with taking several bags of change to the local grocery store and dumping them in the machine to count and receive dollars in exchange. Our total? A grand-whopping $41.38!! Nothing like a little mad money to have a great time.

After lunch, we headed to Bath and Body Works. Once the girls reached the lip gloss section, they were hooked. I believe they tried every sheer color available. Since they were on sale for buy 3 get 2 free, we each picked one and then I let them pick their freebie.

While they pursed their lips in front of the mirrors, I wandered to the "soon to be released" specials. Surprisingly, even makeup is getting into the vampire craze. I found body lotion for a buck. The "fragrance?" Dark Kiss. The picture on their advertisement says it all. It has a black raspberry scent, so I bought three...one for each of us. We found a display with lotions 3 for $10, so we each picked out one of those.

The girls had a ball!

Next we headed to Michaels (a craft store). There the girls picked out a tote bag, stencils and fabric pens. They wanted to create their own bags to carry when we went out for dinner with Paa-Paa. What did we eat? Deep dish pizza, what else?

They were really cute! Inside? All the treasures from Bath and Body Works, of course.

Sunday morning church and brunch. Then they were supposed to go home. But, they were having so much fun, just like "twin" cousins do, and asked their parents if they could stay one more night. Plans for next sleepover include adding more time to the agenda.

Ah, I don't know who had the most fun...the girls or the grandparents.

Moselle's Insurance by LoRee Perry

It's release day Friday at White Rose Publishing. Here is today's new release with a special deal!

Release Day Special offer! Purchase any edition of Moselle's Insurance by LoRee Peery--The latest release from White Rose Publishing--and receive a $5 White Rose Publishing gift certificate FREE. Purchases must be made on 30 July 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out. http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Moselle39S-Insurance


Creative artist Moselle Carson gives new life to old items, but she can’t seem to renew her shattered ideal of love. When she returns to her hometown to help with a new family business, memories of a broken heart and small-town gossip chip away the tough exterior she’s erected over the years. Now she’s forced to decide whether she’ll rebuild the wall or trust that true love never dies when it is ordained by God.


Generous insurance agent and vulnerable firefighter, Eric Todd, remembers too well how he mistreated Moselle and then set her aside. Now he longs for true love and the second chance to become a husband and father. Can he learn to forgive himself and still keep the secret that may redeem him in her eyes?

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LoRee will be one of my upcoming guest bloggers. I'm excited to be hosting her here so we all can get to know a little more about her.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful and blessed weekend!

Get Ready For Change

Beginning in September, my blog will undergo some changes. I'm reviving my Blog Morning Show where I will be interviewing authors in a "talk show" format. The first Monday of every month, I'll have an author join me for a fun question and answer session. This was a hugely successful venture before, so I'm looking forward to reviving it for my readers. If you are an author and would like to be on my Blog Morning Show, you can contact me using the form on my website at http://www.carolannerhardt.com/ .

Also, beginning in September, Wednesdays will be guest blogger day. Each and every Wednesday, my readers will enjoy reading a post from another fabulous person who has something to say. You don't have to be a published author to guest blog. If you are interested, please contact me through my website at http://www.carolannerhardt.com/ .

This all promises to be great fun, so be sure to become a follower, so you don't miss out!

I'm also reviving my Newsletter beginning in September. The Newsletter goes out to only those who subscribe from my website. If you are already signed up, you won't have to do a thing. For new subscribers, the link isn't up right now, but my webmistress will be updating after her return from RWA National Convention. My newsletter goes out four times a year...Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. I'll be giving away a free book or other gift to one of my subscribers in each edition of the newsletter.

Watch my blog for listings of upcoming interviews and guest bloggers!

KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetie)

When selecting names for your characters make sure your readers will know how to pronounce them.

So many authors choose "exotic" names for their characters, but for me, I'd rather relate to a down-to-earth name. If I have to struggle to determine how to say the name out loud, I'm always detracted from the story itself.

Several of my character names have been: Beth, Jilly, Keith, Grace, Tyler, Hope, Zack, Jake, Amy, Joshua, Dolly, Brad, Tiffany, and Charlie.

I found a fun site to look up popular names by era. http://bit.ly/bD0qjk

Have fun selecting names, but try not to make them tongue twisters.

A Writer's Confession - Crawling from the Abyss

When tragedy strikes, a person can find themselves at the bottom of a dark abyss without knowing how they arrived. The realization of how far they've fallen arrives with terror--terror that grips with strangling tentacles.

I've been there. It's a hopeless place, dank and confining, like the dungeons where many perished long ago. Chains shackled me to a life of stifled hope.

Yet, I survived. Little by little, one word at a time. Each word became a cathartic stepping stone creating a handhold with which to climb out of the abyss.

The sword which drove me to despair became obsolete as the words began to flow. Then one day, I stood at the top of the abyss. I never looked back, for to do so would be foolish. Instead, my experiences became the fodder for stories.

I am a survivor. I am a writer.

How To Revise...

...a blank page.

Sorry, that is impossible.  Staring at a blank screen is daunting. It's...scary!  It's worse than the scariest horror movie!!!

How can a writer avoid the terror of staring at a blank page?

Some tips:

1. If you are beginning a new story, don't start by opening your software to a blank page if you have no idea of what you intend to write. Even pantsers need a vague outline of what their story is about.
2. Flesh out your characters. Utilize writer's tools to learn your main characters' goals and motivations. Learn what makes them tick, what their unspoken desires are, what their fears are, and how they react in various circumstances.
3. If you are in the process of writing your story, don't stop at the end of a chapter. Stop in the middle of the scene. When you come back to your scene again, you'll know exactly what should happen next.
4. Jot down the main things that happen in each chapter as you write them, and before you stop writing for the day, jot down what scenes should be next.

Whatever motivates you to get quickly back into your story, do it. Writers are not alike. Each must find what works for them.

Establish a pattern of writing and stick to it. And, never ever start with a blank page and no idea. You can always revise later, but you cannot revise a blank page.

"I Have a Plot" (He Said, She Said)

Recently hubby and I had dinner with my best friend and her husband. My friend and I always wind up chatting about our writing endeavors. Suddenly, her husband said, "I have a plot for a book."

"What is it?" I asked.

Here's the answer. "Two people are in a locked room and no one can get in. One kills the other with a knife carved from ice. When the dead person is found, there is no murder weapon."

My response: "Why did the one person kill the other? What was the motivation?"

"I don't know. It's just a plot."

A plot? Hmmm. People who don't write just don't get it.

Believable Romance, Believable Characters

As a writer, I'm also an avid reader. My bookshelves are lined with books of all genres, some romances of old. You know what I'm talking about...the so-called "bodice rippers" where the poor beautiful and well endowed heroine is at the mercy of a pirate captain but ultimately falls in love with him. Or some other equally inane plot, with the same sex scenes. Perhaps that was considered "romance" years ago. I also believe that's why romance is snubbed by many as being trash.

Real romance happens every day. People fall in love and get married. These people may not be the "beautiful couple" depicted on the covers of romance novels. But they have been on a journey of finding their soul mate.

I love books portraying ordinary people, in extraordinary circumstances, who find true love. It's the sigh when I read the last word that makes me want to read the book again. Love. Romance. Happiness.

I just finished reading Colleen Coble's Rocky Harbor series. I loved the characters and their journeys to finding love, the adventure, the suspense, and the wonderful dogs. I sighed at the end.

Have you read any great romance books lately?

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I've heard that old saying so many times, but as a writer, it has a meaning much different from what the quote's author might have imagined. "A picture is worth a thousand words." One would think it means there are no words needed to describe what one is seeing.

To me it means so much more. A picture might be a snapshot in my mind of something I've seen in the past which made an impact and a vivid memory. Or it might be something I'm currently viewing through my window, or it could be an actual picture taken with a camera.

A writer brings all of these to life with words.  A writer's paintbrush is words.

In the hands of a writer, a snapshot becomes a scene, and a scene becomes a story.

Yes, it's true. A picture is worth a thousand words...or more.

That's the gift of a writer.

Amazon's New 70% Royalty Option

Great news for those who publish their own works on Kindle. The announcement was made on June 30th that books meeting certain criteria, including a price between $2.99 and $9.99, will receive a higher royalty rate or 70%.

This new option will benefit authors, such as myself, who have the returned rights on previously published books.

I also read somewhere that Amazon's digital sales had surpassed print book sales. Another sign that e-books are here to stay.

While I love print books, as my bookshelves can attest, I've been purchasing all e-books since buying a Kindle. My husband is grateful.

Amazon's New 70% Royalty Option - Click Here to Read

Blank Screen Syndrome

Have you formed any habits regarding your writing? Sometimes we form them without planning. For instance, when I worked a day job, I carried my laptop and wrote during my lunch hour and breaks. Years of utilizing this way to write transpired to a form of writer's block when I made writing my day-time job.

Now, I had the time to write, a nice big widescreen monitor and spacious desk. However, I found myself staring at a blank screen. Nothing intimidates like a blank screen, fingers on place over the keyboard, and your mind unable to conjure any words. I'd find myself thinking "what should come next?" I tried to sketch the scene on paper, but it didn't transpire to new pages on that huge monitor.

Why?

The answer lay in formed habits. For years, my home office desk and computer had been for promoting, emails, blogging, Facebook, paying bills, etc. It wasn't for "writing." My laptop had become my writing tool of choice.

The answer for me? I set up a small area for my laptop and writing tools. Once I began using my laptop, the words began to flow again.

We are such creatures of habit. We begin establishing habits when we are young and continue all through our lives. Making writing a habit is necessary for any writer. It must be part of your day, every day. I realize my habits are not those of anyone else, but sharing what I discovered may benefit someone else who is suffering from "blank screen syndrome."

Thanks for stopping by!

Company, Cats, Birds, and Books

This week we had family visiting from Michigan. Hubby's sister and brother-in-law are such great people. Every time we are together we all say how much we wished we lived closer together. Hubby wants to visit Michigan again, so I'm going to see what we can do about getting portable oxygen concentrator and nebulizer so that he can have his wish.

One of our feral cats just walked by my office window and looked in at me. I think she is telling me they want breakfast. I'm still enjoying my view from this lower floor office. The flowers are in full bloom and each day brings new visitors in the form of bees and butterflies of multiple varieties. Most fun is to watch one of the feral cats try to catch a butterfly. Luckily they are too quick for her.

We put a new bird feeder in the back yard. It has two sides to hold two different kinds of seed. One side is for finches and the other for the birds with larger beaks. It's been too wet and rainy to know if the seed will draw them back or not. We used to enjoy sitting on the deck and watching all the different kinds of birds visiting our yard. Of course the cats became a deterrent, but with this feeder the cats can't get to the birds. Plus, we feed the ferals so well they don't seem to bother the birds at all...speaking of which, I better close off this post and feed the cats.

Have a great weekend, and thank you for stopping by to visit!

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Release Day Special offer! Purchase any edition of Rodeo Redemption by Teri Wilson--The latest release from White Rose Publishing--and receive a FREE .pdf of Teri's award-winning, "Cup of Joe." Purchases must be made on 16 July 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out. http://bit.ly/d4Tidv

Vacation

Taking a vacation from blogging until Friday...

Company visiting form out of state.  : )

A Time for Healing

Tamelia Tumlin's newest release is available for purchase today. White Rose Publishing is offering a special for today only.

As an active church member, Jaci Sinclair believes the Christian message that forgiveness is open to all…all except her, that is. Years ago, Jaci made a life-changing mistake, and now she’s sure she doesn’t deserve the one thing she wants the most—a family of her own. But when Hunter Grant walks into her life, her world is turned upside-down. Not only does he make her desire a family even more, he shines a lamp on the one thing she refuses to see.

Ex-FBI hostage negotiator, Hunter Grant, has lost the one thing he treasured the most—his family. Filled with bitterness and anger towards God, Hunter vows never to let anyone close to him again. He moves to Yellow Rose, Texas, trying to forget the tragic deaths of his wife and son—deaths he should have prevented. Wanting to lose himself in the sleepy little town, he is not prepared for the powerful feelings Jaci stirs within him.

As Jaci’s and Hunter’s worlds collide, neither is prepared to face the demons that haunt their pasts and hinder their future together, but for everything there is a season…even a time for healing.


Release Day Special offer! Purchase any edition of A Time for Healing, White Rose Publishing’s latest release, and receive a $5 WRP Gift Certificate FREE. Purchases must be made on 9 July 2010 to be eligible, so hurry before time runs out. http://bit.ly/9tE9DP

Confessions of an Author Who is Not a Mornning Person

I am so NOT a morning person. When I roll out of bed, my body and my voice do not want to work. I don't drink coffee. Instead, I stumble down the stairs, turn off the security alarm, retrieve the paper and climb back up the stairs. Then I head to the kitchen, out through the deck and down the stairs. (Luckily, our back yard is neighbor proof.) I feed the feral cats, give them fresh water, and climb back up the stairs. Grab a glass of ice water and head back down the stairs. I take my morning vitamins and head to my office.

By now my body is working much better, and my brain is waking up. I sift through emails, answer things that require immediate attention. Next, I view Facebook and see what's happening with my friends and family.

Then, I open Blogger. My brain is fully functioning and full of crazy ideas. I begin to type and whatever spills out becomes my blog for the day.

Next, I climb back up the stairs, try my voice by saying a few words to the hubby, and head for the shower.

Ah, now I feel alive. I'm ready to move into my day.

So, I'm off to the shower dear readers. Then back to reading the first 76 pages of my manuscript. I can tell you this. It's good! Reading and editing is how I shut the voices in my head telling me what I write is garbage. Slows me down, but keeps me on track.

Hope you have a great day!

Warm, Warmer, HOT!!!

Did you ever have one of those days when you just couldn't think of anything you wanted to do? I have so many things that need to be accomplished, but I'm sitting here with no ambition to tackle any of them.

I don't want to sit and do nothing either. It's just that nothing excites me today. The weather is hot and humid, another day just like the day before. I feel captive to my air conditioning.

The worst part of all is that my novel is set in a warm climate in a summer season. Why didn't I choose to write this story in the fall or winter?  *sigh* Maybe today I'll focus on writing a short story about snow.

I love warm weather, but not HOT!!!

Stay cool and thanks for stopping in.

My Husband is Tethered...Evil Grin...

My husband is on oxygen assistance 24 hours per day. What that means is anytime he goes outside the house, he must carry a tank of oxygen on his shoulder or over his back. These tanks only last about four hours, so we must plan our outings according to his "fuel" supply.

In the home, however, he has an oxygen concentrator. It's a machine that makes oxygen. It sits on the floor in the hallway between the living room and bedroom. He has a fifty foot length of tubing which tethers him to the machine, but allows him freedom to walk around the house at will.

See my evil grin? My office is on the lower floor of our home at the extreme opposite of the area where his concentrator sits. Our stairs creak when anyone walks on them. So, now when I'm writing, he doesn't have the option of interrupting me without me being fully warned.  And his tubing only reaches to the door of the office. Now, by the time he reaches me, I'm turned in my chair waiting to hear what he has to say. And, he makes very few trips down the stairs. : )  Ah, the joy of having long periods of uninterruption when I'm deep into telling my story.

Enjoy your day!

You Can't Please Everyone

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is: Try to please everybody."


~Herbert Bayard Swope~

Wise words to heed in any area of your life. As a writer, this is something to remember.

Some writers get caught up in entering contests, lovingly known as contest junkies. Judges comments can very greatly. Why? Because it is hard to keep personal preference from weighing in on the numbers. I remember a particularly nasty comment from a judge which put an end to my contest days. Most judges were fair and gave wonderful feedback and comments to help me. But one just made nasty comments throughout. The coordinator told me to disregard the comments, because the judge was obviously having a bad day. They dropped that score, but the comments still stung.

Along the writing path, you will submit your work to critique partners, advance readers, editors, agents, and friends. My advice to you is to remember you can't please everyone. If you try, you'll fail.

Don't rewrite your story to please another person, not even to gain a contract. Remember, this is your story. Remain true to what you want to say. That doesn't mean you shouldn't polish it, or make changes to better your work. But don't "reinvent the wheel" (pun alert!)

However, if everyone is telling you that your character is unbelievable or cardboard, then you'd better look at that character. That isn't changing your story.

Keep writing, and remember...you can't please everyone!

Fitting it All In Your Suitcase

Have you ever packed for a trip and found you couldn't fit everything into your suitcase? I remember sitting on mine to close the locks because I'd stuffed so much inside. Then I'd find something else to add, and would have to decide how important that item was. I could leave it behind, or open that suitcase and try to find a spot for it, or I could remove something else to make room for the item.

How about your goals for the day? Do you find yourself adding new items, trying to stuff them in the short hours available? Eventually, something will not get done. Just like the suitcase, there is only so much room.

When I retired, I dreamed of sitting at my desk eight hours a day and doing nothing but writing. I envisioned it, I longed for it, and finally I had the opportunity. What I hadn't bargained for were all those daily things that get in the way. I still had a house to run, a husband to feed and care for, laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, yard work, and the added challenges of volunteer work for my church.

The eight hour a day dream didn't come to fruition. Some days I sit and wonder how I ever managed to get everything done while I worked a full-time job. What happened?

Some days my suitcase is so full there is no way to close it. Other days, I'm so tired from closing the suitcase the prior day that I leave it sitting open and empty.

The key is defining the important things I need in the suitcase and leaving others behind. That's hard. Especially when an item is something like watching my favorite television show. Something has to give.

I'd always thought that when my children moved out, I would have more time for things I wanted to do. Not so.  Enter the husband.

But that's another story. I'll talk about that on Monday. For now, I have an open suitcase with only one thing inside. I need to go prioritize what to pack today.

Thanks for stopping by!