Author Interview with Joan Hochstetler

I'm so pleased to have author J. M. Hochstetler in the Blog Studio with me this morning. J. M. Hochstetler is the author of One Holy Night, a modern-day nativity story set during the Vietnam War that retells the story of Jesus’ birth for today’s readers. Her previous books are Daughter of Liberty and Native Son, books 1 and 2 of the American Patriot Series set during the American Revolution. Book 3, Wind of the Spirit, will release in January 2009.

Hochstetler graduated from Indiana University cum laude, taking a degree in Germanic languages. In the mid 1990s, she worked for The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, assisting with the development and production of Freedom Speaks, a weekly television program devoted to First Amendment rights, broadcast nationally on PBS. She was subsequently an editor with Abingdon Press for twelve years before founding her own independent small press, Sheaf House Publishers, in 2006 to publish extraordinary fiction by fresh new voices.

Born and reared in central Indiana, the daughter of Mennonite farmers, Hochstetler currently resides near Nashville, Tennessee. Her interest in the American colonial and Revolutionary War eras grew out of the experiences of her Anabaptist ancestors who immigrated to America from Europe seeking religious freedom. With her cousin, author Bob Hostetler, she is writing a novel titled Northkill that is based on the massacre of three of their Amish Mennonite ancestors on the Pennsylvania frontier during the French and Indian War, the Indian captivity of the attack’s survivors, and their eventual return home.

**AUDIENCE APPLAUDS AND CURTAIN PARTS**



CAROL ANN: I am so pleased to have you with me in the blog studio this morning. **CAROL ANN HOLDS UP A BOOK COVER**



CAROL ANN: Thanks for sending in a copy of your latest book cover. Tell us a little about ONE HOLY NIGHT.

J.M.: My latest release is One Holy Night, which retells the Christmas story through the discovery of a baby abandoned in the manger of a church’s crèche scene. The story is set in 1967, when the military build-up in Viet Nam is undergoing a dramatic surge. The resulting explosion of anti-war sentiment tears the country apart, slicing through generations and shattering families. In the quiet bedroom community of Shepherdsville, Minnesota, the war comes home to Frank and Maggie McRae, whose only son, Mike, is serving as a grunt in Viet Nam, and to their daughter, Julie, and her husband, Dan Christensen, the pastor of a growing, independent Christian church.

Although One Holy Night is at heart a modern-day nativity story, it isn’t a story just for Christmas. It deals with all the gritty issues that impact our lives every day—intergenerational and interracial conflict, violence in various forms, addictions, war, illness, death, divorce. Brokenness of one kind or another affects every family and individual. And the more I thought about it, the more I questioned how we can make sense of our lives and find reconciliation in our relationships. Where can we find purpose, strength, and healing?

I first started tinkering with the idea for this story back in the late 1980s. Then the Gulf War came along and shaped my thinking some more. Life happened, and the story lay fallow until 9-11. Right around that time a young woman in our church was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, and then died within a year. Shortly thereafter, both my parents died as the result of a car accident. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were in all the headlines, and opposition was growing along with the casualty count. Commentators were beginning to compare the war in Iraq with the quagmire of Viet Nam—a conflict I was well acquainted with since I was in high school and college during those years.

So all these elements started to find their way into this story about a family facing life-changing issues while the son is away serving in Vietnam. The conclusion I came up with is pretty well summed up in the blurb for the book:

As on that holy night so long ago . . . in a world torn by sin and strife . . . to a family that has suffered heart-wrenching loss . . . there will be born a baby . . .

CAROL ANN: This sounds wonderful. What do you find is the hardest thing about being a writer?

J.M. For me it’s all the promotional stuff you’re expected to do—and need to do—to promote yourself and your books. I love to write, but at times it seems like actual writing is the least part of being an author. With so many books on the market vying for readers’ attention, you have to find a way to set yourself apart from the crowed, and that simply takes hours and hours of work. I’m still trying to figure out how to balance all of it, including time with my family.

CAROL ANN: Yes, it is hard to find that happy medium. What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

J.M.: My biggest stumbling block has been getting book contracts. Zondervan published the first two books of my American Revolutionary War series, Daughter of Liberty and Native Son, then I lost my editor and the new editor cancelled the series. It’s a depressingly familiar scenario in the publishing business.

After a considerable amount of soul searching, I finally gave in to the prompting the Lord had been giving me for some time to found my own small press. I realize not everyone can come up with such a drastic solution, but I happened to have qualifications and resources that enabled me to take that step. So I founded Sheaf House specifically to publish extraordinary inspirational fiction.

My biggest resource, of course, is the Lord. If I didn’t feel strongly that God’s hand is in this venture, I wouldn’t be doing it. I’m already amazed at how many excellent projects the Lord is bringing my way. But although it feels overwhelming at times, doors keep opening as I keep on taking each step forward in faith. I’ve discovered I truly have a heart for working with new authors to help them make their work excellent, and then to get them published.

CAROL ANN: On a personal note, do you collect anything?

J.M.: Oh, goodness, at any point in time, I’m open to collecting just about anything. I have a chicken/rooster thing going right now, among others. I acquired a small, old landscape painting done by an unknown artist that I’d love to expand into a collection of similar works. I just haven’t found anything yet I like well enough to buy. At one point I was collecting barns—ceramic, wood, paintings, whatever. I grew up on a farm in central Indiana, and I love old, weathered barns.

I have a great Stars and Stripes collection going. My office at home is crammed with all sorts of things with that motif, including an afghan, a lampshade, curtains, decorative boxes, and wall hangings. Very natural since I’m writing a comprehensive historical fiction series about the American Revolution, so the patriotic level is high!

For some time I was also collecting those cardboard coasters many restaurants put on the table for your drink. I have a stack of interesting ones, but I have no clue what to do with the silly things. Don’t anybody get me started on anything else!

CAROL ANN: Perhaps they'll show up in a book one day! Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?

J.M.: Absolutely! For example, the American Revolution would never have started if writers like James Otis, Mercy Otis Warren, John Adams, Joseph Warren, Thomas Jefferson, and many others hadn’t expressed their objections to British policy in writing. Just look at the effect God’s written word has had on the world. If you don’t have people’s hearts and minds on your side, your cause isn’t going to prevail no matter how many weapons you employ.

CAROL ANN: Which inspires you more? A brisk walk in the autumn with the leaves changing color, or in the spring when the flowers are and trees are budding? Why?

J.M.: That’s a hard one. Autumn has always been my favorite season, but since I moved to Tennessee, I’ve come to love spring almost as much. When the flowers and trees begin to bloom on the hills and in the hollows, the colors are so heartbreakingly lovely it almost hurts your eyes to look at it. And of course, the sense of new life is intoxicating.

Still, there’s something about the flame colors of autumn that holds my heart. I love the cool misty mornings and evenings, the scent of wood smoke and moldering leaves in the air, the soft patina of the pale sunshine that softens all the edges. There’s a feeling of melancholy suspense, as if the earth is holding its breath waiting for the winter snows, and then the springtime beyond that begins the cycle of the seasons again. It’s a time for thinking deeply and for writing intensely.

CAROL ANN: You are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone walks up to you and thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to tell the world something....what will it be?

J.M.: The first thing that comes to mind is: Jesus lives! God loved his people so much that he came down to earth to live among us, to bridge the gap that sin placed between human beings and the divine. By his grace and mercy God restores us to a personal relationship with him through Jesus’ death on the cross.

CAROL ANN: Thank you so much for joining me today. Before we leave, where can readers learn more about you and your books?

J.M.: You can find more information about me and my books at www.jmhochstetler.com, where you’ll also find many links to historical sites and resources. More information about One Holy Night is at oneholynight.blogspot.com. You’ll find Sheaf House at www.sheafhouse.com, and you can follow the process of building the business on my Publishing Dream blog at publishingdream.blogspot.com. I also manage the reviews on the Favorite PASTimes historical fiction blog at favoritepastimes.blogspot.com. Readers can contact me at jmhochstetler@msn.com.

Laptops and Cats

Last night I took my laptop down to the family room so I could work on my latest novel (during commercials), while keeping my hubby company and watching Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. Much to my amusement, my furry friend, Wilbur, perched on the chair arm. You’ve heard that cats are curious, right?

Have you ever seen a cat interface with a computer screen?

Ever wondered what is going through the cat’s mind? I believe our interface last night went something like this:

“What is this thing on my human’s lap? Purr, purr. I’ll rub my chin against it…purr, purr. Oooo, that feels good. Purr, purr. Oh, look at that bright window. Tap, tap. Purr, purr. Yippee, a new toy. Tap, tap. Hey, stop. Tap, tap. I’ve got big paws, but I can’t seem to catch those moving thingies. Mewr, meow. Tap, tap. Why is my human getting annoyed with me? She’s the one who put the toy on her lap where I should be. That’s where I want to lay now. I’ll just rub against her hand and she’ll pay attention to me. Rub, rub, purr, purr. Rub, rub, purr, purr. Meow.”

Score one for the cat. I closed the laptop, allowed Wilbur to possess my lap, and we both enjoyed the television show.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Beef Today: Stumbling over Cats and Husband

On my refrigerator is a magnet that says "husband and cat missing...$100 reward for cat."

I love my hubby dearly, but it is very annoying in the morning when he decides to get up at the crack of dawn with me when I'm trying to get ready for work. I have a lot of things to cram into that hour and a half: shower, wash, dry & style hair, fix breakfast, fix dinner and put crockpot instructions on frig for hubby, write blog, get dressed, feed feral cats, and leave on time for work!

It's bad enough when I stumble over the three cats who have to know everything I'm doing, but now I have to avoid hubby, too. He is looking over my shoulder to watch me prepare dinner, but never will lift a finger to cook. He uses the upstairs bathroom where I keep my makeup and hair products, so I have to wait for him to finish. He is talking to me and asking questions...from the other room where I can barely hear him. I especially love it when he stands outside the bathroom and talks while I'm brushing my teeth with an electric toothbrush that sounds like a helicopter circling.

So, what's your beef today? Care to share?

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Easter!

What a glorious morning! May you all be blessed today.

A KING'S BURDEN
©Carol Ann Erhardt, 2000

Whenever life may get you down,
And you want to smile, but wear a frown,
And burdens heavy on you lay,
Your headache just won’t go away,
Just fall upon your knees and pray.

Beaten with a lead-tipped whip,
Skin laid bare in criss-crossed strips,
Fists of iron struck His face,
They mocked to put Him in His place,
A crown of thorns to add disgrace.

A wooden cross He bore alone,
Stumbling through the streets of stone,
They nailed Him to the cross that day,
He, who was born in a bed of hay,
“Forgive them Father,” he was heard to say.

They laid Him in a tomb so dark,
And rolled a stone upon its mark,
To seal His tomb would be in vain,
On Easter morn He rose again,
Leaving behind the earthly pain.

So when your life you start to dread,
Remember the whip with tips of lead,
The crown of thorns upon His head.

And when your heart is full of pain,
And you feel your life has been in vain,
Remember how He rose again.

And when your burdens heavy lay,
Remember the cross He bore that day,
Then fall down on your knees and pray.

God bless, and thanks for stopping by.

In the Dark...Waiting...

Today I look out my window at the gray dreary view. A fitting scene for this is the day Jesus remained sealed in the tomb in preparation for the glorious Easter morning when he rose.

The scene from my window depicts a universe in waiting. Symbolism? Certainly.

I, too, am in the dark...waiting...as if I'm holding my breath until the stone rolls away. Perhaps it's the season, the weather, or my spirit tuning into the sadness the disciples must have felt at His death.

Whatever is keeping me in my cave, I remain. Silent, staring at a blank screen, words elusive.

I wait for tomorrow, for the celebration of Jesus conquering death, for the celebration that I "am" because of Him. Because he died for me, I live. I believe.

And I wait...

Thanks for stopping by.

Author Interview with Sharon Dunn

The Blog Studio band is playing when the camera pans across the audience. Everyone is smiling in anticipation of today's show. With a clash of cymbals, the song ends, and the burgundy curtains part. The audience applauds as Carol Ann walks center stage.

"Good morning, Blog Studio! It's great to see so many smiling faces today, and thank you for braving the roads this morning. It's typical Ohio spring weather. Two days of rain without ceasing, followed by snow! My hubby is pretty handy, but I never know whether to have him build a small ark or a sled."

Audience laughs.

"Today we have a wonderful author coming to talk about her books and share a bit about herself. Sharon Dunn is the author of five books, all of them humorous who-dun-its for the Christian market. Her second book in the Ruby Taylor mystery series, "Sassy Cinderella and the Valiant Vigilante," was voted Book of the Year by American Christian Fiction Writers.


When she isn’t writing or being the mom taxi for her kids, Sharon works part time at a university. She lives with her hubby of twenty years, three kids and three cats. She loves the first sip of coffee in the morning, the timelessness of C.S. Lewis’ writing and feeling sunshine on her face.

Please put your hands together and make her welcome. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sharon Dunn!"

Carol Ann claps as Sharon walks onstage and takes a seat on the set.



CAROL ANN: Sharon, thank you for joining me today in the Blog Studio.

SHARON: Thank you for inviting me. I'm so happy to be here today.

CAROL ANN: I've been looking at your book cover.

Carol Ann holds the book up and the camera pans in.



CAROL ANN: Will you please tell us a little about your book?

SHARON: Death of a Six Foot Teddy Bear is book two in the Bargain Hunters mysteries. Book one is called Death of a Garage Sale Newbie. My books have been called humorous who-dun-its. They are fun, follow-the-clues mysteries with a focus on relationships. You won’t find excessive blood or violence in my books.

The Bargain Hunters series features four women from different walks of life and different ages who are bonded together by the need to clip coupons and be first in line at doorbuster sales. The main character is Ginger; she and her husband Earl are recent empty nesters. Ginger’s heart beats a little faster when she gets close to a clearance rack. She is the senior Bargain Hunter in the group.

In Death of a Six Foot Teddy Bear, Ginger and her fellow bargain hunters head down to the fictional town of Calamity, Nevada to do some outlet shopping and attend the world’s largest garage sale. A man dressed in a bear suit (it was a publicity stunt) gets killed at the hotel where they are staying. Ginger and Earl are among the suspects (of course they are innocent) but they have to figure out who did it to clear their names.

CAROL ANN: Sounds wonderful! Something readers might not know is that it is really difficult to write humor. I admire any author who tackles that, and I love to read humorous mysteries. Tell me, what do you find isthe hardest thing about being a writer?

SHARON: The hardest thing is the isolation. I love working alone and setting up my own schedule, but a while ago, my life got a little out of balance. I was on deadline and so anytime I wasn’t working at my part time job at the college or taking care of family things, I was writing. I had to take deliberate steps to get back in the world and re-connect with the rest of humanity. It feels like I have better balance now. I moved my hours around at work so I could attend a Bible study and I get together with friends for coffee once in a while, which involve shutting off that voice that says “you should be writing.”

CAROL ANN: I know that voice. Sometimes it's hard to find the balance needed when you are a writer with other commitments. What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

SHARON: The biggest stumbling block for me is learning that my writer’s journey is going to look different from other writers’s journeys. Some writers work really fast and can write a book every four or five months; eight months is comfortable for me to finish a novel. Other people are able to put more time and money into promotion or are able to attend more conferences or can write in several genres or do both fiction and non-fiction. Some writers have a breakout novel that puts them on the map and others build an audience one book at a time. Some writers work for eight and ten hours at a stretch. My mental energy and schedule allow for three or four hours at the most.

I have to take deliberate effort to remind myself not to compare or to feel like I am not doing my writing career “the right way.”

CAROL ANN: That is an important thing to put into perspective. Good for you. How about a personal question?

SHARON: **grin** This might be scary, but go ahead.

CAROL ANN: **laughs** Okay, do you collect anything?

SHARON: I collect dust bunnies. With my writing schedule, I found it was easier to make pets out of them then to hope to ever find time to clean underneath the furniture.

**Audience Laughter**

I also collect fabric and patterns and some day I will have time to sew.

Before I had children, I collected dolls, Barbie mostly. I have a straight leg Skipper in her original outfit and a bubble head Madge. I have lots of other dolls, but those are the ones I am proudest of.

CAROL ANN: I've never thought of making pets out of dust bunnies, but that sounds like the perfect way to come to peace with them.

Okay, I have a serious question I like to pose to some authors. Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?


SHARON: I believe in the power of words to change things. On a big political scale, but also the power of words to change an individual heart. I think that is one of the reasons I write fiction. Fiction gets at the truth of the human heart by giving readers characters they identify with. Also there is something approachable about fiction. A lot of people who maybe don’t see themselves as Christian or who love God but have a hard time with church will pick up Christian fiction simply because they are looking for a good story.

When I am struggling with my own writing or I just don’t want to work on a hard section of my book, I picture that reader curling up in her chair with one of my books and for a few hours she gets to escape to a different world and may be see her own life in a new way. That makes me want to write even on my bad days.

CAROL ANN: What a wonderful way to push past those hard writing days. I may borrow that tecnique. Which inspires you more? A brisk walk in the autumn with the leaves changing color, or in the spring when the flowers are and trees are budding?

SHARON: I don’t care what season it is, walking inspires me period. We have a walking trail just down the road from our house. I have worked out and discovered plots and prayed through hard situations by walking it out. The hardest time of the year for me is when the trail gets too icy to walk. So winter is the only season that is not inspiring. Now, it’s March and the snow is starting to melt, so pretty soon, I’ll be able to walk again.


CAROL ANN: Many famous authors walk while they are plotting their books. I believe walking clears the mind. I've had many conversations with God while walking. I have one last question and you'll have to use your imagination to answer. You are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone walks up to you and thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to tell the world something....what will it be?

SHARON: Please, let me finish my dinner first because eating a good meal and being with friends is really one of the most important things in life. What matters most in life is the person sitting next to you at any given moment.

CAROL ANN: Sharon, it's been an inspiration having you join us in the Blog Studio today.

Where can readers learn more about you and your books? Website address, blog, email???

SHARON: You can find me on the web at www.sharondunnbooks.com and you can email me through the web site by clicking on “guestbook” on the home page.

CAROL ANN: Blog Studio, I encourage you to check out Sharon's website.

**The women hug and wave, then walk offstage amid a standing ovation from the audience.**

Please Don't Give Away the Ending...

My hubby, who never reads books, surprised me last night. He told me he'd read part of the book I was reading. (I have three that I'm reading at the moment.) I asked him which one, and he responded the one on the coffee table.

"Oh, you mean A SOLDIER'S PROMISE." (by Cheryl Wyatt, Steeple Hill Love Inspired)

He said, "Yeah. The one where the soldier gets the girl, Amber, to skydive with him. I started to read a page and wound up reading about six or seven."

"Stop!" I held up my hand. "I didn't read that part! Where did you start reading?"

"I opened it to where your bookmark was and started reading from there."

My hubby is notorious for telling me the good parts and the ending of a movie before I get a chance to see it. So I guess I now have to worry about my books, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Paul McKenna, I Think I Love You

Day two of using the four golden rules that Paul McKenna introduced on I Can Make You Thin on The Learning Channel Sunday night, and I'm feeling great! I really have made no changes except to follow the four golden rules. I am eating much less and feeling satisfied! It's a fantastic feeling to know that I can eat whatever I want. Wow, what a concept. I'm not denying myself anything, but I'm not feeling the need to snack either.

Woo hoo! Can't wait to see what he adds next week. I do believe I finally found the solution I've been seeking for years.

Tune in on Sunday night at 9pm EST if you want to get in on this great program.

As for writing, I've pulled out an old synopsis which is calling me. We'll see where it goes!

Thanks for stopping by!

An Ark?

Just as a wall of snow traveled from the west to the east, dumping twenty plus inches of snow on Ohio, we now have a wall of rain taking the same path. The weather man is saying flash flooding will occur...not might occur, but WILL occur. I hope the waterway beside my subdivision doesn't cover the road, preventing me from reaching home.

My hubby is very handy with a hammer and wood, so I'm thinking of having him build small ark. It should come in handy, especially with the rising cost of gasoline! And it would keep the poor feral kitties feet dry.

Thanks for stopping by.

Four Golden Rules

Tonight I watched a new show on The Learning Channel which is guaranteed to help anyone lose weight. Hey, I'm game to give it a try. No cost. Nothing to buy.

How?

This first night focused on the four golden rules:
1. When you are hungry, eat.
2. Eat what you want.
3. Eat consciously.
4. When you are full, stop!

This isn't a diet. It's a mindset. It's getting tuned into your body. So, first step is to not deprive yourself. When you're hungry, then you should eat, and you should eat what you want, not low fat, diet foods that you may hate. Eat anything that you like. The key is to eat without distractions--no television, no radio, no reading. Take a bite. Put your fork and knife down. Chew your food twenty times. When your stomach tells you that you are full, then stop eating. At first you may not know when you are full. To get in touch with this feeling, try closing your eyes while you eat and "listen" to your body. Your stomach will signal when it is full. Stop! If you are hungry ten minutes later, eat.

Depriving your body of food slows your metabolism and leads to binge eating.

Next week, we will learn how to stop those cravings permanently. I can't wait. For this week, I will do what he has instructed. I'm not depriving myself of pizza any longer.

If you are interested in watching this show, it is on The Learning Channel at 9pm on Sunday night.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Smile Brightens The Day

The change to daylight savings time always throws my body into a refusal to cooperate. I've gotten used to rising when the sun lights the morning sky, and now I have to get up before the sun. Some days it's a struggle. Especially on Saturday. Today I had to get up because I had so many things planned for the day, including a writing chapter meeting.

Heavy footed and heavy lidded, I made my way down the stairs and grabbed my coat to go out and feed our feral cat colony. I stepped outside and there waiting for me were several of our dependent semi-ferals. Once they were skinny and bedraggled. Now they have full soft fur coats and fat tummies. They've become dependent on us for food, shelter, and water. But they give back in return.

There is nothing like the "smile" on a cat's face when you give them pets of love and a nice breakfast.

That smile from one of my favorites is still warming my heart.

Thanks for stopping by!

Author Interview with Leanna Ellis

The band plays a lively rendition of an Elvis classic, "All Shook Up." The audience is clapping and singing along. As the music fades, the curtain rises, and Carol Ann walks center stage and stands in front of the two chairs arranged for an interview.

"Audience, I'm so happy to be here today. It's been a rough few days and I owe everyone a big apology. Due to illness and a rare snowstorm that dumped 20.4 inches of snow in my yard, I haven't been able to interview my guest today until now. I'm sure your anticipation level has been high, because she is an awesome Christian author. Instead of wasting any further time, please put your hands together and welcome LEANNA ELLIS!"

The audience hoots, stomps and applauds as Leanna joins Carol Ann and takes a seat center stage.

CAROL ANN: Leanna, thank you so much for being patient and adjusting your time schedule to join me in the Blog Studio today.

LEANNA: It's my pleasure to be here with everyone today.

CAROL ANN: Leanna has one of the most unique titles and book covers I've seen in a long time.

Camera pans in on the book Carol Ann is holding in her hand.



CAROL ANN: Leanna, please tell us about your book.

LEANNA: In Elvis Takes a Back Seat, a young widow, determined to fulfill her husband’s last request, hauls a three foot bust of Elvis strapped in the back seat of a vintage Cadillac from Texas to Memphis to return it to its rightful owner. The road trip with her eccentric aunt, who knew the King of Rock n’ Roll, and a temperamental teen, hits roadblocks and detours as the three women uncover pieces of their own past along with the bust’s mysterious history. The discoveries change the course of their lives forever.

CAROL ANN: This sounds like a fun book. When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?

LEANNA: I was a teacher, looking for something else to do, and my sister suggested I write a book. “You’re always writing in that journal of yours,” she said. I’ve always loved the creative process whether it was choreographing dances, writing stories for classes or creating interesting ways to teach reading. So without knowing anything about the book business, I quit teaching and started writing. (I don’t recommend that!) I discovered it was definitely my passion. It took me about three and a half years to sell that first book.

CAROL ANN: Three and a half years is a pretty good track record. I admire your courage in changing your career path. Something I always find fun is asking the authors I interview what we would see if we could peek into your writing space. Would you feel comfortable sharing?

LEANNA: A mess! Seriously. I’m finishing up a book, and by the time I get to this stage of a writing project my office is a mess. Books everywhere. Notes scribbled on post it notes. It’s definitely a creative, scattered, crazy mind at work. There’s also usually a kid working on homework on the floor beside me and sometimes a cat or one of my dogs under my desk.

CAROL ANN: **laugh** Sounds a lot like my writing office! What is one thing about you that might surprise the audience?

LEANNA: That I was on TV yesterday! I know this is lame, but I’m tired from my trip to Indiana and I can’t think of anything surprising except I have leftover mascara under my eyes and a packed suitcase lying in my bedroom floor. **big grin**

CAROL ANN: Traveling is always exhausting and there is no place like home. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

LEANNA: I love to travel, see new places, experience different cultures. I love to see beautiful scenery like the ocean and mountains. There are so many places I’d like to go where I’ve never gone: Australia, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Africa. But there are a ton of places I’d love to go back and visit: Hawaii, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Scotland, England, New York. Honestly, anywhere with my family is always fun.

CAROL ANN: Many members of the audience are aspiring writers. What advice would you give?

LEANNA: Put your bottom in the chair and write. Just write.

CAROL ANN: Great advice! How long does it take you to write your first draft? How many edits before you are "satisfied?"

LEANNA: I usually write a fast first draft to get the story down on paper. That can take two to four months. But then the real work begins. I revise and edit for a longer period of time, adding, revising, rewriting, deepening.

CAROL ANN: Do you believe in writer's block?

LEANNA: To some people it’s a very real stumbling block. I personally haven’t experienced it. I usually have a story idea kicking around in my brain. But I will say I hit publishing exhaustion at one point, just plain ol’ burnout. I still had story ideas but needed to take a break from publishing. I do think one way to avoid writer’s block and burnout is to continuously refill the writer’s well. Sometimes that’s going to see movies or reading great books. Sometimes that’s going on vacation or getting a massage. Take a week off of writing. Enjoy life.

CAROL ANN: If you could speak on national television, what would you tell everyone?

LEANNA: Yesterday I did speak on a television show nationally and internationally. It was such fun! What did I say? Go buy Elvis Takes a Back Seat! **grin** Honestly, I’d answer the interviewers questions as best as I could. One thing we discussed in my interview yesterday is that writing is hard. It takes perseverence. There are down times for every writer. To me, the key is to take those hurts and complaints, grumblings and heartache to the Lord. Pray about it. Writing is a journey. There will be bumps along the way, hills to climb, but you have to persevere. I remember about six months before I sold Elvis Takes a Back Seat, I was down in the dumps. So once again, I asked God, “Do you want me to write?” A couple of days after that, I was flipping through a book I picked up off a friend’s table. There was a chapter called, “If you feel called to write.” I did. So I read closer. It was talking about ‘many are called, few are chosen.’ That made me very uncomfortable. I thought, did I do something to cause me not to be chosen? But actually what it said is many are called, and right after the calling there is a period (often long) of testing and trying, learning and growth. This is a time of preparation. But many give up during this time. Many fall by the wayside. God was telling me to hang on. So, I suppose, that’s what I would say to an audience. No matter what your dream is, hang onto it, keep pursuing it, don’t give up.

CAROL ANN: Leanna, that is wonderful advice that all of us should take to heart. I know many times I've found myself questioning the journey. But God always provides an answer. Thank you so much for joining us, and I wish you well with the sale of your book.

LEANNA: Thanks so much for having me here, Carol Ann.

CAROL ANN: To learn more about Leanna and her books, please visit her website.

Carol Ann and Leanna hug and walk offstage while the audience gives Leanna a standing ovation.

Animal Planet Addiction

I'm hooked on all the shows on Animal Planet. Well, not all, but I love the Animal Cops, Animal Police, Chimp Eden... Some of the stories I see are heartbreaking and some heartwarming. Being an animal lover, these programs draw me like a magnet (pun intended).

Guess that explains why I drive a car with lots of muddy cat prints on the hood. Caring for fourteen feral cats is a heartwarming, heartbreaking, and wallet breaking undertaking. These animals go through twenty pounds of cat food a week. But they are dependent on us. All our neighbors complained about the cats but no one would do anything. If we hadn't taken action, there would be a lot more than fourteen. I'm happy to say that all our ferals are becoming friendly to us. They are very fat and have thick and healthy coats. One of ours has baby blue eyes and looks much like a ragdoll.

Tomorrow is our primary election day. I'll have to get my umbrella out since we are supposed to get a huge dump of rain. They moved our election spot back to the high school and I hate that. There is no place to park without walking a loooooooong way. And we have to contend with buses and all the kids who drive. **sigh** Still, I'll get up an hour early in order to hit the voting booth before work.

Hope you all have a good day! Thanks for stopping by.

Interview with Eppie Finalists

I've been interviewed!

My publisher, The Wild Rose Press, has interviewed their authors who finaled in the Eppies.

Check it out here.

Thanks for stopping by!

5 AM??? Ack!!!!

Yep, ack!! I set a goal for myself to rise at 5am this year. Then I got sick. Nasty cold and couldn't quite get up when that alarm went off. But I didn't give up. I decided that I could do it if I put my mind to it. Sooooo, I began going to bed earlier and actually have been able to get up at that "dark" time of the morning. Originally, the early rise was to write during that extra hour. Now, I've been spending it exercising. I've been running out of work at my "day job" which gives me time to write. Best of both worlds right now!

But, I'm dreading the time change to daylight savings time. Yuck. I'll have to readjust all over again.

**sigh**

How are you doing with your goals for this year?

Thanks for stopping by!

I Want to Be #1

Current Bestsellers
1. No Second Chance
2. Foxfire
3. Ring Shy
4. Brownies, Bodies, and Breaking The...
5. Coiled Revenge
6. Danger In Her Arms
7. Escaping The Past
8. Farragut Square
9. Free Falling
10. House Of Lies

This is the current ranking on my publisher's website for full length suspense novels. As you can see, Foxfire is at the #2 spot. I'm dying to reach #1.

Sooo, I'm asking you to spread the word to your friends who may not have yet read FOXFIRE. It's a really good book based on what the reviewers have said, and the feedback from readers who have given me their input. The first chapter can be read on my website as well as the reviews.

The book can be purchased in either ebook or print direct from my publisher. Only those purchased from my publisher are counted in the "bestseller" list.

It's a beautiful day today. The sky is blue with white puffy clouds and the sun is shining!!! What a wonderful break from the rain, snow and sleet we've been pounded with over the past week. I can see the water dripping from the gutters...yay! The ice is melting.

Hope you are having a wonderful day where ever you are! Thanks for stopping by!!

Author Interview with Carol Ann Erhardt

A camera pans over the Blog Studio audience as fans clap in tune to the lively music of the Blog Studio Band. Smiling faces appear on the monitor. The band concludes and the curtain rises. The audience applauds as...someone unknown walks onstage. The audience quiets, curious and uncertain what to expect. The woman taking center stage has long, dark curly hair, and eyes that appear aqua. She is petite. She smiles warmly at the audience.

"Hello. My name is Hope Courtland. I'm the heroine in JOSHUA'S HOPE, a novel by Carol Ann Erhardt. I'm so happy to be here today and to have the opportunity to interview a very special author. I'm sure you'll forgive me for taking over the show today when you meet our guest. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together and welcome...Carol Ann Erhardt!"

The audience stands and applauds as Carol Ann walks onstage and joins Hope in the two chairs arranged to face the audience.

Hope holds up a book cover.



HOPE: This is Carol Ann's novel, FOXFIRE, which is a finalist for a 2008 Eppie Award. Carol Ann, please tell us a little about the Eppie.

CAROL ANN: EPIC stands for Electronically Published Internet Connection. It’s a group of authors and publishers who publish “e-books.” My novel, FOXFIRE, is published in both e-book and in print, as are many of the publications today. In March, EPIC hosts a conference, with several days of workshops preceding the Gala Awards Banquet, which this year is on March 8. Winners of the Eppie 2008 awards will be announced at this event. You can learn more at www.epicauthors.com

HOPE: That sounds so exciting. How many authors entered the event?

CAROL ANN: I have no idea! There were twenty-three different categories of books. Mine was entered as a romantic suspense, and there are seven finalists, including me. I’m up against some stiff competition, and I’m just honored and thrilled that my book made it this far.

HOPE: FOXFIRE was set in Tennessee, and I know the book I’m in was also set in Tennessee. Is there a reason for this?

CAROL ANN: Absolutely! I’ve always enjoyed vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountain area. The mountains, to me, are fascinating. I love hiking trails to beautiful waterfalls, driving through the National Park…it is relaxing and exciting at the same time. While I’m there, my creativity comes alive. Setting my books in this area brings back some of the wonderful moments I’ve spent there. I set my books in fictional towns close to the larger cities like Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.

HOPE: What are you working on currently?

CAROL ANN: I would rather not talk about it. I’m learning it’s in my best interests. But I can tell you that it is another romantic suspense set in a fictional town in Tennessee. **grin**

HOPE: How long does it take you to write a book.

CAROL ANN: Great question! All total, with many edits, about six months. I’m working this year on shortening that time frame. However, I only plan to finish two novels this year, allowing for edits and galley-proofing, and keeping up with marketing.

HOPE: Tell us one thing about you that we might not know.

CAROL ANN: While I’m very organized in most aspects of my life, I tend to let my writing space get very cluttered. I can’t tell you why it happens, but it does. When things pile up, then I have to take a day and “de-clutter” before I can become productive again. I’m taking a course now by Margie Lawson called “Defeat Self-Defeating Behaviors.” One of the things in the very first lecture was to clean off the writing area, even if you had to pile things on the floor. I didn’t have to put them on the floor, but I did follow the instructions. It’s a good feeling to have a big open desk again on which to work.

HOPE: If you won the lottery, what would you do?

CAROL ANN: Ah, the ultimate dream. I’d take it in a lump sum. Then, after taxes, I’d give one-tenth to my church, and an equal amount to each of our children. I’d sell our house and build a new ranch house on several acres of land, surrounded with lots of trees. I’d put another ranch house behind us and move my mother into it, so she wouldn’t be alone. I’d quit my job, put the rest in the bank, and spend more time with my family and traveling with my husband and writing.

HOPE: One question you ask a lot of your guests is if they collect anything. Do you have any collections…besides books.

CAROL ANN: Yes. I have a large collection of music boxes given to me over the years by friends and family. It started when my grandmother gave me a music box before she passed. My hubby then purchased me several on different occasions, as did my mother-in-law. It wasn’t long before my collection grew so large I haven’t enough space to display them. I also tend to collect dust webs on my ceilings. **grin**

HOPE: It’s been fun sitting here and being the one in control.

CAROL ANN: You’re joking, right? I remember well that you were in control during the entire writing process of JOSHUA’S HOPE.

HOPE: **grin** I wanted to make sure you told my story the way it should be written. You do tend to get off track sometimes.

CAROL ANN: **clears throat** Touche!

HOPE: Is that man motioning that our time is up?

CAROL ANN: Yes. It seems he does that every time an interview is just becoming interesting.

HOPE: Carol Ann, thank you for being a guest in the Blog Studio today! And thanks for allowing me to be the host.

CAROL ANN: Thank you. It’s been a blast!

HOPE: Where can our readers learn more about you and your books?

CAROL ANN: The best place is my website. You can reach it at www.carolannerhardt.com There are links to book reviews, some sample chapters, my newsletter, and even a link to this blog. I'd love to chat with any readers. Please leave a comment on this blog and I'll be checking in and interfacing with you. You can also email me from the link on my website.

**HOPE AND CAROL ANN STAND, BOW, AND WALK OFF STAGE, WHILE THE BAND PLAYS AND THE AUDIENCE STANDS AND APPLAUDS.**

Stand By for a Little Fun

I haven't heard from the author I planned to interview on Thursday, though I've sent several emails. So...if I don't hear from her, I have something else fun in mind. Be sure to stop by!

Guess what!! I actually cleaned off my desk. I stripped it down to the very minimum. Nothing on top besides monitor, keyboard and mouse AND phone, Thesauras, modem, tissues. It seems sooooooo big. Actually, it is one of the first things I put into action from Lecture one of Margie Lawson's "Defeat Self-Defeating Behavior" workshop for writers.

I'm going to be making a lot of changes, I'm sure, as I go through the next few weeks of the course.

Now, back to my manuscript.

Thanks for stopping by!

Saddened Heart, The Check, and Gazelle Edge

I have a dear friend, a wonderful writing coach and editor, who is one of the strongest women I know. She's a great writer, but in the past years, she's spent the majority of the time caring for her husband, who was wheelchair bound after suffering a severe stroke. Two weeks ago he was in the hospital suffering from bleeding ulcers. She brought him home again and just a couple days later her sister was hospitalized and died on Monday. A very sad time, and while she was making arrangements for the funeral, her husband became sick again. I just learned that he died this morning. What a terrible tragedy. I'm just heartsick. I ask for any who feel called to pray for Lee.

I contacted the company who sent me check erroneously. They asked if I would mail it back to them. I did some research on the internet and I think I found the name of the person who should have been paid. The articles appeared in a June issue of Memory Makers Magazine, which is a scrapbooking magazine. I feel so much better now that I can send it back!

And for the Gazelle Edge we bought a few weeks ago. Wow! I love it. I can already tell the difference in my body. It's toning my legs, back, arms and abs. I'm up to doing 30 minutes now, which equates to a little over 2 miles. By moving my hands at different levels on the handles I can increase the workout on my upper body. This is the best piece of exercise equipment we've ever purchased!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

DVD Mania

So I had to purchase a new CD burner because mine wouldn't even recognize a blank CD let alone read any of mine. The new one is a DVD/CD burner and it came with a version of Nero. I played around with it trying to put something together with music for my Mom for Christmas, but it wouldn't work. Finally, I purchased Nero Photo Show. It was really easy to put together a DVD with a bunch of pictures and music. She loved it!

Now I'm hooked. It's the best thing I can send her. I put together another one for her birthday which is Friday. The problem? I have run out of pictures!! My digital camera is really a piece of junk. Half the time I can't even get it to turn on. **sigh**

I guess when I get my tax refund I'll have to buy a new digital camera. And, I really want to buy some of those cool light scribe DVDs where you can burn your pictures and words on the front of the DVD!

Yes, I have created a new outlet for when I just can't think of the next sentence for my newest novel. I can't help it. I love this stuff.

A Surprise Check in the Mail

...but I cannot keep it.

Today in the mail I received a check for $150 from a publisher for what appears to be three articles published in a June 2007 release. While I have written for one of their publications and received payment in 2007, I doubt they published it three more times without a notice.

I'm sure there are some people in this world who would cash the check and figure it was the publisher's problem...being a good Christian, and having integrity, I cannot do that! This money belongs to another author who worked hard and deserves to be paid for their work.

So, I contacted the publisher and left a voice mail. I'm waiting to hear back.

What about you? What would you do?

Author Interview with Annette Irby

The Blog Studio band finishes warming up the audience and the curtain rises. The audience applauds as the camera pans over their smiling faces.

Carol Ann walks onstage.

"Good morning, Blog Studio audience!"

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

"I'm so happy to be here again to introduce you to another wonderful author. Our guest today is fellow author, Annette Irby, who also is published with The Wild Rose Press. Annette enjoys writing novels, articles and songs. Her work has appeared in several journals and newsletters, as well as devotional books. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Northwest Christian Writer’s Association and ACFW Northwest. Married 16 years, she lives with her husband and three children near Seattle, Washington. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together and give a warm welcome to Annette Irby!!!"

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

CAROL ANN: Annette, thank you for coming into the studio today. I'm so pleased to meet you face to face.

ANNETTE: I'm thrilled to be here, Carol Ann.

CAROL ANN: I'm holding your new book, "Love Letters", and the cover is beautiful.

CAMERA PANS TO THE BOOK CAROL ANN HOLDS UP




CAROL ANN: Please share a bit about the book.

ANNETTE: “Love Letters” began as a Christmas-themed story which then became a Valentine’s Day story. I had been reading Christmas-themed anthologies and a plot began to form in my mind. But, I didn’t see the usual unwed couple romance, instead I envisioned an awakened romance in the lives of a couple who’d been married a long time. I drew a bit from my own 16+ year marriage and then threw in all manner of fictional elements:

Randy and Jordan Ambrose have been married almost ten years. There is very little romance in their lives. Randy is hard at work building his career and his wife is busy working, raising their twins and volunteering to teach the three-year-olds in Sunday school. Randy has had a habit during their entire marriage of writing love letters to his wife. But he’s never shown them to Jordan. He would have to risk his heart and her reaction by doing so. Distance is safer, he’s learned, in life. Meanwhile, Jordan is struggling to believe he even loves her. One day, she finds a box of love letters in Randy’s home office closet. She reads them. They’re addressed to J from R, so she assumes they were written by Randy. The “R” of these letters is very passionate and open. How could Randy be keeping these a secret? She’s going to bring them to him, demand an explanation, push him to respond rather than cover all emotions so fiercely. Randy knows God is asking him to share his heart. What will happen when these two finally crack open the letters together on their tenth anniversary?

I wanted to portray romance in marriage, which I love writing about as I feel there isn’t much out there like it and it’s non-formulaic in the romance genre. If you’re looking for something different, fiery even (though wholesome), check it out. http://annetteirby.com/Fiction.html


CAROL ANN: Sounds great. Right, audience?

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE

CAROL ANN: When you write, do you listen to music, or have any other special thing that inspires you to write?

ANNETTE: I enjoy listening to worship music when I’m writing. Oftentimes, the words are flowing so quickly, I can sing along and write the story simultaneously. Candles, if I know I’m going to have a block of uninterrupted time, are fun. If I’m editing, I listen to piano music, because of the concentration required. Sometimes, though, silence is best.


CAROL ANN: What does your writing space look like?

ANNETTE: I feel so blessed to have my own writing office at home. Granted, I get to share the space with my toddler’s toys as she plays in here when she’s not napping or playing with her older siblings or daddy. There are windows on two walls and my L-shaped desk rests against the walls with those windows. I have full-grown cedar trees for a few. At this exact second, there’s clutter on the desk as I’ve been working toward a deadline.


CAROL ANN: It sounds like a perfect place to write. I have a lot of people in the audience who are pursuing a writing career. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

ANNETTE: This is a humbling question, honestly, because I’m not yet well-published. On my website: http://www.annetteirby.com/Writer’s page.html there is a page specifically geared toward aspiring authors. Overall, I believe a Christian writer’s work will flow from his/her relationship with Jesus, so He has to be first. Then, any hindrances have to be dealt with. (What a motivation for getting free, huh? So often writers are desperate enough to get published, they’ll jump the hurdles necessary to get there. We can’t carry baggage and effectively minister to others. It’s a win-win for us getting free.) Then, remain humble. Like when God gave David a promise that a King would reign from his line forever (see 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17), He reminded him “I took you from the sheepfold.” Indeed. Remember where God has brought you from and be willing to support other writers. Our God is generous. If He has called you, He will bless you as you move forward. There’s always room for more authors in His kingdom work.


CAROL ANN: Very well said. So, what is next for you?

ANNETTE: I have so many projects in the works. I’m waiting for word back on a trilogy, a standalone and a novella which may be part of a Christmas compilation. After I finish editing a current project, I may just get to working on a separate trilogy I’ve carried in my heart for ten years. Or I might just take up late-winter gardening

CAROL ANN: A woman of many talents! When did you realize you wanted to be an author?

ANNETTE: In ninth grade, a student teacher visited our English class and gave us some great tips for characterization. She sent us all home with the same character names, but told us to describe them from our own imaginations and write a story around them. We all came up with something different. Such a fun and educational project. I was hooked. I began writing during my free time, clicking away on an old-fashioned typewriter for hours at a time. Those stories are long-lost. But as an adult, after my second daughter was born, I took up writing again, in my spare time. Only for the last few years have I been specifically pursuing publication. “Love Letters” is my first book, following the publication of several articles and devotionals.


CAROL ANN: Why have you chosen to write inspirational novels?

ANNETTE: What a great question. I believe my stories flow from the Lord. I love portraying hope in difficult situations. Sometimes hope’s the hardest thing to see. I also love writing inspirational romance because believers are living and will live the biggest romance of all---that with Jesus Christ.

CAROL ANN: Let's pretend that you are on national television. What would you like to share about yourself?

ANNETTE: My testimony—what Jesus Christ has meant in my life. How I was hopeless and fearful, and He interrupted the program of my life to bring a glimpse of hope by His Holy Spirit. How He has continued to bring me through my life, filling me up with His Spirit, guiding my steps, even when I was willful and rebellious. He never let me go. He never let me down. He’s why I’m here, and I owe Him everything.


CAROL ANN: You are an inspiration to all. I'm sorry that our time is drawing to an end. Quickly, tell how readers learn more about you and your books?

ANNETTE: Please visit my website for more info about Love Letters: http://www.annetteirby.com/Fiction.html

There are pictures of the devotional books (as well as others) I’ve contributed to on my blog: http://www.annetteirby.blogspot.com

I’ll be updating my blog on further news, so check back often. I also have interviews with other authors of Christian fiction featured there.

You can email me via the contact page on my website: www.annetteirby.com (annette [@] annetteirby [dot] com)

CAROL ANN: Annette, it has been my pleasure to have you here in the Blog Studio today. I wish you well with your book and with your future endeavors.

ANNETTE: Thanks for having me, Carol Ann. Best wishes on your Eppie status! God bless.

And the Winner is...

In my January newsletter, I posted that I would send a Love Inspired Romantic Suspense to one person who signed my blog during the month. The names were put in a cup and one was drawn. The winner is Cole.

Cole, please email me using the link on my website at www.carolannerhardt.com and give me your snail mail address. I'll send your book out right away!

Be sure to check out my February newsletter for another chance to win in February.

Pain, Ice, and Noise

The first Friday of every month you can find me blogging at Ohio Romance Authors "My Space Blog". If you get a chance, please stop by and leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you there.

Ohio Romance Authors

I'm hurting...the Gazelle is truly a total body workout. Every muscle in my body is "feeling the pain" today. Whenever I get up, it takes effort to moooooove. Love the machine. Really do. Only problem we are having is a very high pitched squeal, which is extremely annoying. I love my hubby, but every piece of exercise equipment he puts together winds up with a "noise" of some kind. **grin** This weekend we are going to take it apart and grease up the crossbar cause that's where the noise seems to be coming from.

Ah, Friday. I may have to call in sick tomorrow because the forecast is for 1/4 inch of ice by tomorrow morning. Snow I can take...ice I hate!

Hope you all have a safe and warm Friday!

Thin and Swift as a Gazelle

That's what I'm envisioning. It's the inner vision I'm focusing on for this coming year. I WILL exercise and get healthier! My hubby needs to exercise to strengthen his heart, but he can't do strenuous exercise.

In today's newspaper we saw a flyer advertising a Gazelle Edge for a reduced price of $89.99 and today he was able to get a senior discount so we paid a total of only $81.00 including tax!! It doesn't get any better than that.

If you don't know what a Gazelle is, it's an exercise machine where you "glide" through the air, your feet on pedals that you manually move back and forth, like you are on skis. There are arm bars that move as well. So, hubby can work out and watch TV and not over exert himself. Me? I will use it in the morning and continue to use my elliptical machine in the evening.

Diet, exercise...hey, we're on a goal to get healthy!

Wish us well.

Marketing Schemes...

geared at women are making me want to scream.

First, our young girls were targeted. Models had to look like walking skeletons to be considered "hot." And young girls bought into the image--thinner is better. We fostered a generation of bulemic and anorexic young women.

A few years passed and the young mothers who were a little overweight had a tarnished self-image, buying into the marketing schemes to lose weight. Who gained from this? Only the companies marketing all the "miracle" products, but not the women who purchased them.

Now marketing has taken this to a whole new level. Oh, how horrible to see a woman with a **gasp**--wrinkle!! Now we have doctors and clinics who will inject botox and other chemicals under the skin to eliminate wrinkles. It's a whole new marketing scheme geared at the very same women first targeted about their weight. Now they are a little older but not wiser if they buy into the new marketing schemes.

I wish there were a way to show the world the truth--that true beauty is inside. It is your actions, the way you reach out to others--or not--that makes your spirit shine through. No amount of wrinkle remover, plumped up breasts, or miracle weight loss product is going to change who each of us is beneath the skin.

It has taken me a long time to realize that. Yes, there was a time when I bought into the "thinner is better" marketing schemes. I have purchased more than my share of skin products, but I'm not buying into any more of their schemes.

How about you?

Author Interview with Staci Stallings

♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪…The band ends their rendition of “Let it Snow”, in honor of the snow currently falling in Columbus, Ohio, the home of the The Blog Studio.

Carol Ann walks onstage between the burgundy curtains. “Hey, everyone! How you doing?”

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE AS THE CAMERA PANS THE AUDIENCE

“Thank you all for coming by on this cold January morning. I’ve been looking forward to this interview. I want to make sure we have plenty of time to talk with my special guest this morning, so please put your hands together and let’s give her a warm Blog Studio welcome. Staci Stallings!!

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE





CAROL ANN: Staci, welcome to the Blog Studio. I’m so glad you could join us this morning.

STACI: Thanks, Carol Ann. I’m delighted to be here.

CAROL ANN: Tell the audience a little about yourself and your writing.

STACI: I am a stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids, and a writing addiction. Writing for me is like breathing. It gives me a way to tap into life and learn about it in a ways that are often surprising and wonderful. Even those moments of frustration and angst because of writer’s block or trying to find that just-right word show me how God works in our lives and how very much He loves us. I think too often we are so wrapped up in the outcome (publishing or selling or finishing the book) that we forget to enjoy and learn from the process. That’s what I try to do—learn from the process, and to me, it’s made all the difference.

The book I just released in September ’07 is one that is near and dear to my heart because it talks about going for YOUR dreams regardless of what the outside world says about it. That was and is a lesson I need to hear and hear again. “Dreams by Starlight” features Jaylon Quinn and Camille Wright as the hero and heroine. Jaylon is the school’s “star.” He’s been the lead in all the plays, and all the girls are ga-ga for him. Camille is… umm… not. She’s the girl who melts into the woodwork and likes to be there because nobody sees her. In fact, she works pretty hard to stay in the woodwork. Her main focus is getting into Princeton’s aerospace program, and her grades are good enough to get her there. However, her counselor is worried that all she’s taken are academic classes. So he talks her into going out for drama to “round out” her record.

When she gets to drama, her plan is very simple. Take drama for one semester and then get into a “real class.” However, things don’t turn out quite like she thought they would… especially when she meets Jaylon, or more to the point when Jaylon meets her. These two who are from vastly different worlds learn to accept and appreciate the other in ways that the whole world would do well to really “get.” And in the process, they inspire each other to become who they were always meant to be.

(You can read the first three chapters for free at: http://www.stacistallings.com/Previews.htm )


CAROL ANN: HOLDS BOOK AND CAMERA PANS IN




CAROL ANN: Sounds wonderful, Staci. And I’ll be heading there after the interview to read those chapters. Is this your first book, and are you working on anything new right now?

STACI: Buckle up because this is going to be a confusing answer. “Dreams by Starlight” is my seventh published book, fifth published novel, and the tenth novel that I wrote. How’s that for confusing? If you ask why I get them so out of order, my only defense is that I put out what God wants me to when He asks me to. I’ve written 21 novels and 2 non-fiction inspirational/devotionals, so my backlist gets a little confusing and tangled with my to-put-out list and my written list. Suffice it to say, this is not my first published book, and it won’t be my last.

Right now I’m working on one that I have 250 pages and no title for (you’ve got to love how the Holy Spirit works some times!). This story is about a girl running from an abusive relationship who runs smack into the arms of a guy who turns out to be just the friend she’s been looking for. However, the demons of her past are trailing her, and she’s balancing on the wire between loving this new guy and protecting him from who she believes she really is. It’s very intense. Although I don’t really consider myself a suspense writer, most of my books, which I term Contemporary Christian or Inspirational Romance, have real tension. I don’t consider myself a comedian either, and there are laugh-out-loud parts. I am a Christian, but some of my books are VERY Christian and some are more inspirational or motivational. In short, I write the story God gives me to write rather than trying to make them all fit into neat and tidy little boxes. (I hate boxes!)

That’s one of the things I have learned about writing—to make it real. If you’ve lived ten days you know that not every day is heart-poundingly frightening OR roll on the floor laughing. There is a balance. I try to find that balance in the stories God gives me to write.

I should also mention that the sequel to “Dreams by Starlight,” (“Reunion”) will be out in 2008. And it is REALLY good…

CAROL ANN: I hate boxes, too. What do you consider the most challenging part of being a writer?

STACI: Letting go of “It has to be done right now!” I have a bad habit of thinking I know more than God does. He’s convinced me over the course of the last 12 years that I don’t, but sometimes that’s still a struggle. I have three kids (12, 8, 5) and many other commitments. What I would love to do is to just sit down and write every minute of every day. I don’t get to, and that’s frustrating in a lot of ways. I’ve had to learn to let go and let God take over ordering my days because when I was doing it, I made a giant mess of everything. I still don’t get to write as much as I’d like, but somehow the books are still getting written, and amazingly I still have a life outside of writing! God is truly good!

CAROL ANN: Amen! If you were speaking to the world on live television, what is one thing you would say about yourself that isn't related to your writing.

STACI: Hallelujah! I’m finally learning to like myself and to appreciate the gifts that God gave me. For a long, LONG time I hid them or compartmentalized them or just outright denied them, and I was miserable. In the last couple months I have begun to accept what I’ve been given and to allow God to show those gifts to the world through a variety of avenues. There was a time that doing that scared me to death. I was so afraid of being judged and rejected that I thought it was easier and safer to keep my gifts and talents to myself. Now I’m realizing how much fun it is to just be ME and not to have to apologize for that! I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! What this world could be if we all encouraged each other to be who God made you to be without apology. The pieces are all here, the problem is we’re all too busy worrying about what everyone else thinks about our gifts that we forget to just relax and just be who God made us to be!

CAROL ANN: Good for you, Staci! If we were to tour your house, where would we find your "office." What does it look like?

STACI: You had to ask this question, didn’t you? * Sigh * Well, I have an actual office although when we designed and built this house, had I known I would be spending so much time in here, I would’ve put much more thought and space in it. What does my office look like? Hmm… For a moment picture Mount Everest, not made of rock and snow but of school papers, books, Bibles, a computer, boxes of books, CD’s, a Chips Ahoy package, DVD’s, letters, speakers, bottles, glasses, and actual office supplies. That pretty much describes my desk and my floor. I’m happy to say that right now at this moment, I have an actual trail to my desk. Most of the time, I’m stepping over toys and chairs and boxes to get to my desk. Yeah. I’m glad you didn’t ask me about how best to organize a writing desk. That might not have been pretty.

CAROL ANN: Your office sounds very similar to mine. Who is the one person you can always depend on to make you smile?

STACI: One? Who has only one person to make them smile? Goodness! I’d be sunk! I have several, but I’ll keep the list as short as possible: My kids (especially Andrew who’s 5), my husband, my sister, my parents, and my best friends (yes, that one has an “s” on it). One of my best friends, Dennis Bates, is a Christian author, and he would have to be at the top of my list right now. We’ve only talked over a conference call once, but we email sheets and sheets every day. He really can yank me up out of yuck quicker than just about anybody. I think a lot of that is because we’re both writers, and we get things that other people tend to think makes us somewhat suspect. We’re weird. We know it, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

CAROL ANN: Staci, thanks for sharing so much with the Blog Studio audience. Before you leave, tell everyone how they can learn more about you and your books?

STACI: Oh, see now this one’s EASY!

First, you can go to my website: http://www.stacistallings.com You can read to your little heart’s content for HOURS there.

Second, you can go to : http://www.stacistallings.com/Previews.htm to read the first three chapters of any of my published books FREE! (I’d like to say this is an exclusive offer, but it’s not… so please help me tell the world!)

Finally, you can go directly to the publisher: http://www.lulu.com/spirit-light for my newer releases including the two non-fictions.

CAROL ANN: Where can your books be purchased?

STACI: Technically you can purchase them from any bookstore; however, you will have to special order them (which is fine by me but can be a bit of a pain for you). They are also available on the big online bookstores—Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders.

But the easiest way to get them is to go to: http://www.lulu.com/spirit-light or to my website for my two older books. These will come right to your door, and you can’t beat that!


CAROL ANN: It’s been so much fun, Staci. Do you have anything else you’d like to share before the show ends?

STACI: Anything else I like is an invitation for real trouble! Let’s see… Here’s what I most want everyone to know… Life doesn’t have to be a struggle. Yes, there will always be tough times, but the deeper you get to know God, the more you will understand that He is not out to get you but that He loves you more than you can ever know or imagine and He’s here right now in this moment to help you and to pull you up. The more you accept and appreciate those things, the more wonderful life will get inside you and around you. This promise (like the one about reading the free chapters) is not exclusive. It’s available to everyone, and it’s FREE! God wants your life to be all He imagined it to be. Seek that. Be who you are, and don’t apologize for it. That is His message today, through me, to you.

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE. THE AUDIENCE GIVE A STANDING OVATION. THE CAMERA PANS THE AUDIENCE, THEN PANS OVER CAROL ANN AND STACI TALKING AS THEY WALK OFFSTAGE.

When Cats Talk Back

We have a cat named Templeton...yep, after the rat in "Charlotte's Web." He is so entertaining, but at times very annoying.

Tonight he tried my patience until I wanted to toss him in the dryer...which my hubby did one day...but that's another story.

Anyway, I was trying to make dinner. Templeton loves, of all things, butter. I had added a tsp of butter to the green beans in preparation for nuking. Mr. Smart Cat decided to jump on the counter while my back was turned to put the butter away. I turned in time to see him sneaking up on the mound of butter on the beans. I yelled at him to get down, pointed to the floor and he obeyed but had to have the last word on his way down. (Templeton has a controlled low quick set of mews when he's talking back).

I went about finishing dinner and set the table. I headed to the bathroom to get the Fish Oil that hubby and I take with our dinner. When I returned Templeton was sitting on one of the chairs with his nose inching toward the beef and gravy (still covered). I yelled again and told him he was NOT invited to dinner. It took shoving the chair to the table--really close--before he jumped down all the while talking back to me.

I've been battling a cold since before Christmas and since Sunday have had very little voice left. Yelling at Templeton was painful, to say the least.

I placed the pills on the dinner plates and retrieved the biscuits from the oven. Turned and found Templeton's paw reaching for the pill on my plate.

Immediately I went into battle formation. He stared at me, talked back, and finally jumped from the chair.

The microwave dinged. I retrieved the beans, turned to put them on the table...and found Templeton's paw once again trying to steal the capsule. Knowing I had my hands full, he ignored my threat and finally managed to knock the pill to the floor.

Hubby came running as I leashed a string of threats and chased after the pill. Saved the pill. Cat in doorway laying down and staring at me.

I grabbed the spray water bottle and threatened to soak him if he even came into the kitchen again.

While we were eating, I felt a tap, tap, tap on my shoulder. I turned and came nose to nose with Templeton. I swear he had a big smile on his face. He was sitting on the wooden trash container behind me. **sigh**

Well, he does have these beautiful green eyes...

Thanks for stopping by.

I've Been Tagged...

My friend and fellow author, Adelle Laudan, tagged me for a game of tell-us-stuff-we-didn't-know...

The rules are:
List seven things about yourself

Link to the person who tagged you (see above)

Then I get to go out and tag seven other victims. Um, no, I meant friends. Yeah, that's what I meant.

Here we go:
1. During 2007, I read the entire Bible.
2. My blood type is O negative, so the Red Cross really loves me!
3. Whenever I see a new baby, I cry.
4. There was I time when I loved baking all our bread from scratch.
5. Meeting new people makes me nervous. I'm very shy.
6. When I turned 43, I graduated cum laude from college with a Business Degree.
7. The bathtub used to be my "study room" to avoid interruption from my kids!

Now for my seven victims...um, friends:

Emma Sanders
Marty Kindall
Marly Mathews
Lee Morrison
Sky Purington
Christine Columbus
Julie Strickland

Thanks for stopping by!

Author Interview with Gail Gaymer Martin

The Blog Studio camera pans over the band as they play their rendition of “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.” The audience is anxiously awaiting the curtain rise so they can welcome the Blog Studio hostess. The music concludes, the curtain opens, and Carol Ann Erhardt walks center stage wearing black boots, a black skirt, and a gold lame sweater.

The audience give a rousing welcome back standing ovation.
“Good morning, Blog Studio Audience! I’ve enjoyed my three month vacation over the holidays. We had a love-filled Thanksgiving and Christmas. Taking time to spend with family is a cherished gift.

Hey, how about that band! Aren’t they great?”

APPLAUSE, HOOTS AND HOLLERS

“Let me tell you one good thing—the writer’s strike isn’t going to affect our production schedule.”

APPLAUSE

“Today, I’m honored to present a multi-published Christian author and renowned speaker, Gail Gaymer Martin. Here is the cover of her newest release, WRITING THE CHRISTIAN ROMANCE.”

CAMERA PANS IN ON THE BOOK IN CAROL ANN’S HAND



“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome…GAIL GAYMER MARTIN!!!!”

CAROL ANN SHAKES HANDS WITH GAIL. THEY EACH TAKE ONE OF THE TWO LEATHER CHAIRS FACING THE AUDIENCE.

CAROL ANN: Gail, I’m so pleased that you could take time out of your busy schedule to stop by the Blog Studio. I’ve been anxiously awaiting this interview.

GAIL: Thank you, Carol Ann. I’m honored to be here. What a great audience!

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE

CAROL ANN: Tell us about you and about your new release.

GAIL: I started writing fiction in 1997 and sold my first novel in 1998. Since then I’ve sold 40 novels and have over one million books in print. Before fiction, I began writing for publication in 1994. My first worship resource book, Kneel Before the Babe, was contracted in 1995, and since then I’ve sold 23 worship resource books, many hundreds of articles for national Christian magazines as well as devotionals and some poetry. God blessed most everything I’ve written with sales. My first novel sale was to Barbour Publishing and the next was Steeple Hill. I continue to write for both publishers, but I’m looking for a home for some of my longer books.

I actually have two new releases. Family In His Heart is a Steeple Hill Love Inspired January release that received 4-1/2 stars from Romantic Times. The book is the last of the Michigan Islands novels. This one is set on Drummond and the Les Cheneaux Islands in Michigan’s upper peninsula.

The second book is Writing the Christian Romance, and though this book focuses on Christian romance and how it differs from secular romance novels, it covers many of the basic elements of good writing. It is eleven chapters that covers: understanding the romance genre, creating characters, developing the hero and heroine whether Christian or non-Christian, understanding a variety of POV and how to use them effectively, creating real emotion and using the senses to enhance emotions and characterization, understanding the differences between sexuality and sensuality in Christian romance, techniques to present spirituality in Christian romance, dialogue, introspection, plotting and pacing a romance and finally preparing a book proposal. This chapter also covers writers’ organizations and conferences that focus on Christian romance, and how to find an agent. Each chapter ends with a set of exercises to help the writer practice what was learned.

The book can be ordered on Amazon. Here’s the link: Click HereMy prayer is that this book will be a help to non-published and published authors as they hone their craft to write the best book they can for their readers and for the Lord.

CAROL ANN: A book that shouldn't be overlooked. Sounds like there is something for everyone. I ordered my copy already. I can't wait to receive it. As a writer, I'm sure you have many deadlines to meet. How do deadlines affect you?

GAIL: Writing for multiple publishers makes deadlines complicated. I try to leave a span of six months between my category romance books which allows me time to work on other projects, and I try to balance all of that between travel and my music involvement which is extensive. I play handbells and handchimes for my church as well as sing with the choir and do small ensemble and solo singing there. I also sing with a well-known Christian group in the Detroit area, and we perform three or four series of concerts throughout the year. I’m also a speaker and workshop presenter so it’s a tenuous balance that only God can orchestrate. So far it’s always worked out but I will admit that things get very tense. I thank the Lord for my husband who seems to handle my crazy life and supports me in every way which means doing most of the cooking, grocery shopping and laundry.

CAROL ANN: Having a supportive husband is critical to success. You are a very busy woman! So with all this going on, how do you balance your writing life with your personal life?

GAIL: Professional writers must learn that it is natural to give up things to be a writer. My social life probably suffers the most. I miss many important things due to conference schedules and speaking engagements. I’ve missed family weddings and birthdays, family reunions and picnics. I don’t see friends as often and I’m more selective as to what I volunteer to do for any groups to which I belong. I don’t serve as an officer or on my church council which is something I did for years before writing. I also had to give up reading as much as I would like. I love books and have been an avid reader, but when on book deadlines back to back, something has to give.

CAROL ANN: So true. What do you do for inspiration?

GAIL: Worship is an inspiration to me. Hymn lyrics, stained glass windows, points in the sermon often inspire story ideas as do lyrics to popular songs (not all of them, naturally ). Travel is another source of inspiration for me. New places often trigger story ideas. News stories and feature articles in newspapers will inspire a story idea or plot line. It’s amazing how so many things touch me with ideas. My personal life and closeness to the Lord which is also an inspiration comes from travel, time for contemplation and the relationship with my husband who is a true gift from God.

CAROL ANN: That's wonderful. On a personal note, do you collect anything that you can share with us?

GAIL: I collect antique dresser trays that held the ladies hairpins. I often find matching hair reticules (covered dishes that hold strands of hair pulled out by a brush) and even powder boxes that match the pattern. I have a lovely collection. The hair, by the way, was saved so that it could be used to weave designs into pictures and put in frames. Very interesting. I’ve seen this at museums and historic homes.

I used to collect things with bunnies on them – but they began to multiply so quickly that I was overrun with bunny items (sort of like really bunnies) so I stopped collecting, but I still have a few favorites, especially the real ones that play in my yard.

CAROL ANN: How funny! I know how collection pieces can multiply quickly. Your antique dresser tray collection sounds interesting. I didn't realize that hair was used in weaving. I'll have to keep my eyes open for that the next time I visit the museum. As a writer and full time executive assistant, I sometimes find it hard to relax at night. What is your favorite thing to do to wind down after a long day?

GAIL: If I have time and quiet, I love to read, but I’m often tired of concentrating and using my eyes. So you can often find me sitting by the TV half-watching a program and playing computer solitaire or searching for free solo music with accompaniment. I’ve found some great songs that way.

CAROL ANN: Awesome. I'm not musically inclined, unfortunately, but music does help me relax. Let me ask you one last question. If you had the opportunity to appear on national television, what is the one thing you would share with the world?

GAIL: I would help them understand Christian fiction, and why it is so important to me to write in that genre. I believe it is an honor that the Lord has allowed me to be a witness to him through sharing a spiritual message in my books written to entertain. I believe Christian fiction is a solid balance between a entertainment and a faith takeaway for readers.

CAROL ANN: The Christian fiction market is growing. I encourage any author to purchase your newest book. The cover is beautiful, and I'd be drawn to the book on the shelf just by the cover. Gail, where can readers find more information about you and your books?

GAIL: My website offers a first chapter excerpt on all my books as well occasional reviews. I also have a personal blog which talks about my life, my writing and my faith. If you google my name — Gail Gaymer Martin — you’ll be overwhelmed by so many places, you can find information about me on other people’s blogs, websites and more.

CAROL ANN: Would you share the web links, or email with my blog readers?

GAIL: My website is www.gailmartin.com and besides book covers and excerpts, people will find pages called For Writers with many articles, workshop logs, and Frequently Asked Questions about writing and getting published. If you enjoy cooking, I have a section called Gail's Kitchen. My blog site which focuses on my life, career and faith is www.gailmartin.blogspot.com. I also am part of the Christian Author Network and write a marketing blog each Monday, and I have a website and blog on ShoutLife at http://www.shoutlife.com/profile_view.cfm?uid=15129

CAROL ANN: Gail, thank you so much for sharing with my Blog Studio audience. It’s been a pleasure having you with us.

GAIL: Thanks so much, Carol Ann, for inviting me to this interview. I wish you and all your blog readers a blessed 2008.

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE

GAIL NODS A THANK YOU TO THE AUDIENCE. CAROL ANN AND GAIL WALK OFFSTAGE AND THE BAND PLAYS A CLASSIC JAZZ TUNE “GREEN ONIONS.”

THE CURTAIN DROPS AND ANOTHER DAY IN THE BLOG STUDIO COMES TO A CLOSE.

Whoops, I Feel Bad...

about what happened tonight. The long-awaited BCS game is on and my husband's OSU team is playing. Anticipation has been high all day for this event. After coming home, I sat at my computer and skimmed through emails. I sent a couple and on the third, I got an error. Decided to see if my server was down, and couldn't connect to the internet. Uh-oh. We have bundled service. Picked up the telephone. Nada.

Looked at the modem and...no lights. Ugh. Tried disconnecting and reconnecting. Nada.

Woke up hubby and told him the problem. Now, the last time something like this happened was right at the middle of another big championship game. Our cable company said that we had an outage. But the next day we were still without service. They sent out a tech...only to find a neighbor had stolen our cable service!

So, we went out to check at the box. The cable company has never secured the cover, so anyone can mess with the cables. Sure enough one of the cables was disconnected. We couldn't tell which was ours, so I went inside, used my cell and called the cable company.

"There is an outage in your area." Hmmm. Supposedly a tech was working on the problem. Can you understand why I was a bit skeptical?

I started to make dinner and suddenly I heard the television come on. I yelled downstairs to hubby who said, "I went out and connected that loose cable and decided to try the television and now it works." Sure enough internet services and telephone were restored. So much for the supposed "outage."

Angry and determined to call another cable company tomorrow, I called customer service again. Got a different operator, who was much nicer than the first. I told her I wanted to lodge a complaint. Explained the problem and how we'd solved it. She was very understanding, and entered a special service order to have a technician come out tomorrow to investigate the vandalism. Feeling a bit better, but still not trusting her comment that "It must have been a coincidence that the service was restored at about the same time we reconnected the cable."

Hubby and I talked and he decided to go out and remove the cable to see what happened.

Um, everything still worked. Coincidence? Yep. And boy, do I feel bad. LOL! But at least we'll get a technician out tomorrow and hopefully he'll secure that box so no one can get inside it again.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fly Away...A Grandmother's Pride...and Sorrow

My daughter called today to tell me that my grandson was sworn into the Air Force today. He's only seventeen and will graduate the end of May. Two weeks later, he'll begin basic training. What happened to the little boy who used to amuse me with his grown up words and sense of humor?


Is this the same boy who made black belt in Tae Kwon Do?



I remember seeing a child breaking boards with his head and concrete blocks with his hands. Now he's a man. A man old enough to fight for his country.



Andrew and Julie (Andrew's mother)

So today, my grandmother's heart is proud of the strong man, but sorrowed at losing the little boy.

Fly, Eagle, Fly!



Thanks for stopping by.

Working...but Sick

Most workplaces have a policy where an employee must work the day before and the day after a holiday in order to be paid. My company is no exception. However, we can schedule vacation days and still get paid for the holiday.

BUT, if you are sick, you must work or you won’t be paid. So, today I had to go to work with a stomach virus and perhaps gave the virus to other co-workers I came in contact with. If not for the Alka Seltzer every four hours, I couldn’t have made it through the day.

We also cannot use sick days to care for a sick child or spouse. So when my hubby goes in for his heart scope, I have to take a vacation day. And if he has to have surgery, then I have to use my vacation days to be with him in the hospital.

I’m a firm believer in companies not offering sick days. They should offer vacation and sick as personal days and allow an employee to use them as needed. It’s a mental thing. Using a personal day instead of a vacation day makes no difference in the scheme of things, but it feels better to take a personal day than a vacation day. Now, that sick day after the holiday…that’s another story.

It snowed last night and with wind chill the temperature is in the single digits here in Central Ohio today. So far 2008 isn’t making me smile!

Thanks for stopping by.

Kindness Matters

Our Pastor gave a sermon last Sunday that inspired me to blog on the topic of kindness. When I was new to the internet and websites (a few years ago), I established a personal website and joined a group that tasked members to perform one random act of kindness (on the internet) each day. Imagine receiving a message in your guestbook or on your blog that simply made you smile. I had many angels give me messages that brought a smile to my heart, and I hope I did the same by the messages I left for others.

Today, our media seems intent on broadcasting “doom and gloom” events, rather than focusing on positive acts. It’s easy to become depressed over the state of the world. It’s easy to get caught up in griping and complaining. It’s easy to blame others for our own misery. And the cycle continues, infesting all those around us like a virus infiltrating our minds. Are you part of the problem? Do you see these attributes as part of your personality?

If you answered no, then you are a much better christian than I. If you answered yes, then you have the power to change your outlook. All it takes is performing an act of kindness. Kindness matters.

When was the last time you made a decision to add a bit of kindness to someone’s life? I’d like to task everyone who reads my blog to make a conscious effort to perform just one random act of kindness each and every day, whether in person or on the internet.

Make 2008 your year to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others! I’m signing up. How about you?

Happy New Year!! May God bless you and yours. Thanks for stopping by.