It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Have you ever seen that old classic movie? I remember watching it once long ago, but my hubby loves that movie. He also loves A Christmas Story, A League of Their Own, Shawshank Redemption, Murphy's Romance, and The Jerk. There are a lot of others he will watch over and over but I can't think of them off the top of my head. For Christmas, we don't buy big gifts for each other. Our kids are all grown and out of the house...well, except for our three cats. So, what we do is buy things that will fit in our stockings. Each year we try to find something different and small enough that we can get several items inside. It's fun and an inexpensive way to surprise each other. This year I want to find a copy of The Jerk for his stocking. I'm not sure if they even make it any longer. A few years ago I tried to find Finnegan, Begin Again. He loved that movie, too. They quit making it a long time ago and I haven't even seen it on television recently so I can tape it.

I did hear something fun yesterday though. A friend at work said they have those great big stockings, really huge, at the dollar store. I thought about buying one of those for myself. See, that way he could buy me the digital camera and video recorder in one and it would fit!

I am truly in the mood for Christmas this year. Not the commercial aspect, but the actual season...the celebration of the birth of Jesus. I remember the tradition we had when the kids were little. After candlelight service we'd come home and light candles on the cake I had baked and sing happy birthday to baby Jesus.

Since our kids are grown, we always have a family get together at our house on a weekend before Christmas. This allows the grandchildren to be home on Christmas day. Our date this year is the fifteenth. In some ways, I wish we could hold our get together on Christmas Eve so we could all celebrate the birth of Jesus together.

Do you have any Christmas traditions? Do you know where I can purchase a copy of The Jerk?

Another Random Act of Kindness...

So, is this a new movement against the evil stalking our land? I hope so! I'd like to imagine people doing one random act of kindness a day. And then the receiver feeling so blessed that they in turn do an act of kindness. This could snowball exponentially! Can you imagine it?

So, here's the story for today. My husband told me that he was in line at McDonald's to get his breakfast on the way to work. When he pulled up to the window, they handed him his food and said he didn't owe a thing! The lady in front of him had asked what he had ordered, and then had paid for his breakfast! Is that not unbelievable!

It's so true that we can believe the doom and despair we hear about all the time, but when something like this happens, people tend to disbelieve.

I'm convinced there is an underground movement, headed by angels, to change the world...one random act of kindness at a time.

An Act of Kindness to Pay it Forward

I heard a really sweet story today. A lady I work with told me that she had forgotten to stop at the store on her way home. She remembered a couple hours later that she needed eggs because she's fixing deviled eggs for our pot luck at work tomorrow. So, she had on sweat pants and a t-shirt, slipped into sandals and headed to the nearest store. While she was standing in line she began talking to the man in front of her. He was tall and thin, around her age, and they talked about how the weather would be changing, and other nonpersonal topics. When the line grew shorter and it was this man's turn, he told my friend to go ahead and get in front of him since she only had a dozen eggs. She thanked him and told him how much she appreciated his kindness after the rough day she'd had. She put the eggs on the belt and the man spoke up. He told the cashier to put the eggs on his bill. She was so astonished!

There are so many good kind people out there, but we never hear of the acts of kindness. Why doesn't the media talk about the things that lift our spirits instead of all the doom and gloom news reports?

This simple act made me think of how much better the world would be if we all would remember to perform just one random act of kindness each day. And when we receive an act of kindness, we should remember to pay it forward. God blesses those who do as Jesus would do.

Success!

Medicating the cat has become a pure battle. Last night hubby wore his thickly padded jean coat to protect his arms and body from injury as we tried to force the meds down Templeton's throat. I didn't realize a cat had so many muscles in their neck and head! Finally we managed to get some of the meds into him. Of course, whenever hubby and I are in the same room now, Templeton runs and hides. He knows that two means a sneak attack.

Tonight hubby had to work late. I worried about how I would medicate the demon cat with no help. I decided to try tricking him. Every night after work we give the cats one can of Fancy Feast divided into three equal parts. So while they were lined up eating their portion, I filled the syringe and aimed it into the corner of Templeton's dish. He glanced up at me and then went back to eating. Success! He ate every smidgeon including all the medication. Woo hoo! Now if only we had tried that a week ago.

I'm Signing My Cat Up to be a Wrestler...

...no seriously! Those who have followed my blog know about my cats: Charlotte, Wilbur, and Templeton. Each have very different personalities. Templeton is the most unique. He greets guests and insists on having their attention. If they ignore him, he's been known to leap to their shoulders or do a tight rope balancing act on the railing which runs along our living room (we have a bi-level home). He knows how to open cabinet doors and annoy us by banging them over and over to get attention. I could go on and on, but I diverse from my topic.

Templeton has an allergy to something. The vet isn't sure what it is. Hubby and I think it could be the Frontline that we used to prevent our indoor cats from contracting fleas from our outdoor feral colony. (That's another story as well).

So...we took Templeton to the vet and she sent us home with a liquid steroid medication. Problem--have you ever tried to give medication to a fifteen pound lion? I swear that's what our sweet loving cat turns into when we "attempt" to give him the meds. The vet gave me a "syringe" to measure the medicine. Hey, first time wasn't too bad. Templeton didn't know what to expect. Though he fought against being restrained in hubby's arms, I managed to get the syringe between two teeth and push the plunger sending the liquid straight down his throat. One time!

Catching Templeton to administer future doses has posed a huge problem. He knows what we're up to when we sweet talk him. This morning hubby managed to capture Templeton and I forced his head up. Have you ever tried to pry open a cat's lips when they don't want you to? After a few struggling moments, I managed to secure him long enough to press the plunger and voila! I sent a stream of pink steroid meds across the top of the cat's head and onto my wall. Not a pretty sight. Sticky stuff.

Templeton's head now sports a spiky do. All he needs is an eyebrow ring to be in vogue.

Tonight another near success. Only lost half the measure of meds onto hubby's arm.

**sigh**

I'm sure there has to be a better way to do this. I'm thinking of chaining each of his four legs to a different stake while he's on his back. Maybe a U-clamp around his neck bolted to the floor to hold his head in place. Then hubby can work on pulling a couple teeth to make a hole for the syringe. That should make my job a little easier.

Come Out, Come Out, Where Ever You Are!!

Oh where or where has my muse gone? She keeps hiding from me and she won't tell me why. I think it's because I'm struggling with which direction to go. I just can't seem to let go of the 153 pages I'd written for SAY GOODBYE. It can be saved, but it will take a lot of editing. That's something I hate to do. When I stare at all these pages and know that I'll have to go back and read page by page and make major adjustments to get to the point of being able to finish...it's so daunting that I push it aside. I started rewriting it from a different angle. What I've written is good...but knowing that 153 pages of words cranked from the heart are sitting there and will be trashed is keeping me from moving forward. So, I started something brand new. It's not working. I'm forcing the words and the scenes are so unnecessary.

So, where are you hiding, muse?

A Night of Music

I'm taking the night off to enjoy the CMA Awards. I love country music! This year there have been some really moving performances. The best so far was Sugarland, who also ousted Brooks & Dunn's long string of wins for Duo of the Year. Wow. I had goosebumps. Just the lead singer and a guitar. That gal can sing...or in the words of my hubby "She sure has a great set of pipes!" Carrie Underwood has won two awards so far. This is her second win as Female Vocalist of the Year. And how great to see George Strait win Album of the Year. That guy is so smooth.

Right now one of my favorite voices is singing...Josh Turner. Man, that deep voice gets me. And he's pretty good eye candy, too!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you had as great an evening as I've had.

The Hard Part is The Beginning

When people learn that I am a writer, many tell me that they have been thinking about writing a book. Thinking and doing are worlds apart. If you are serious about writing that book, then you have to take the big leap and get started. The beginning is the hardest part of writing.

In the first chapter, you'll need to introduce your main characters and the main conflict of the story. By the end of the first chapter your reader should be able to tell what type of book you are writing (i.e. romance, suspense). And you will need to start the book with a hook. Make your reader WANT to read the book to find out what is going to happen.

Avoid backstory. Many new writers want to dump a bunch of backstory in the first chapter. Backstory stops the forward momentum of your story. Instead, show the backstory in little pieces throughout the book. This keeps the reader wanting to know more.

For example, I'll use an example from my novel FOXFIRE.

My first chapter has two parts. The first is in the heroine's point of view. The second is in the hero's point of view. The characters meet in the first chapter (necessary in a romance). Here are the last few lines in the heroine's point of view:

Grace rolled over and punched the pillow. She hadn't been a prostitute. Well, not exactly.

Get your attention? Make you want to keep reading to find out what happened in her past? This is what creates a page-turner.

Okay, now jump to the second part of the chapter which is in the hero's point of view. These are the last few lines of the first chapter:

Tyler couldn't bring back his wife or their baby, and he'd live with that loss the rest of his life, but he had an opportunity to avenge their deaths. He might spend the rest of his life feeling guilty, but he'd bring Max Clayton down, even if it meant using Grace Wilkins to do it.

Okay, now I have your interest. How do I drop backstory?

Here is part of Chapter 9. Grace and her Dog Tiffany have gone to collect the mail. She finds an envelope with no return address. I've left off pieces of this portion for brevity:

Curiosity got the best of her and she pulled the strip to open the envelope. Peering inside she saw a silk ivory scarf.

"What in the world?" She pulled it out and a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. The scarf draped luxuriously across her arm. The silk shimmered in the morning sunlight. She ran her hand down the length, its simplistic beauty mesmerizing her. She loved the feel of silk.

Tiffany sniffed at the paper that had fallen at Grace's feet.

Grace stopped and picked it up. The words scorched her vision. Printed in block letters was a name that made the bile rise in her throat. Gracie Jo. Only one person had called her that--the man she'd been hiding from for three years--Max Clayton. She read the note again. Gracie Jo. I know you like silk. This is for you. A gift. Like old times. How did you like the roses? Weren't they pretty? Such a vivid shade of red. The color of fresh blood.

She wanted to run back to the house, lock herself inside, and cower under the bed. She had thought she'd be safe here, but nowhere was safe. Not even Foxfire. And that meant...tears stung her eyes...no one was safe. Not Brad, nor Harri, nor Tiffany. And God forbid, not even Tyler.

Grace actually tells Tyler the story of how she met Max, and what happened between them, in Chapter 9. This is done in dialogue. The stakes have raised and in order to find Max, they will have to be honest with each other. However, if I had dumped all this in the first chapter, there would be no surprises for the reader.

So, what are you waiting for? Take those characters you've developed and that story that's buzzing in your head and take the plunge. Write the first chapter. Once you've accomplished that hurdle, the rest will be much easier.

Purple is My Favorite Color

Saturday my daughter brought over the jacket she hand knit for my birthday. It is made of really fine, really lightweight, really warm wool. And it's my favorite color...purple!! It fits perfectly, too. Check it out.









Isn't it beautiful? I wore it to church yesterday and everyone loved it. Likewise, all my co-workers oohed and aahed over it today. It's the perfect weight to wear in the office and so professional looking. This weekend I'm going shopping for a purple skirt. Yes!! An excuse to go shopping.

Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by.

The Success of Failure

All the items on my mental "to do" list were swirling through my mind as I drove to work one beautiful April morning. The last thing on my mind was the possibility of being terminated due to downsizing, but that was the reality I faced.
In less than a heartbeat my salary dropped to nothing. Tears held at bay, I stuffed years of my life into a cardboard box and made the journey home to break the news to my husband. My job had entailed a healthy salary that allowed him to take early retirement. Now how would we pay our bills? We had no savings and no retirement “nest egg.” And I had two major strikes against me in looking for a new job. I was a woman and over the age of fifty.
For the first time in my life I drew unemployment to survive. My severance pay allowed us to fund the costly Cobra insurance for both of us, and by tightening our belts, we managed to meet our monthly obligations while I searched for a new job.
It was a time for introspection and reflection. Had I been happy with my career direction? Was the salary worth the time sacrificed or had I traded happiness for financial freedom? I turned to prayer and asked God for direction. Instead of asking myself what I wanted to do with my life, I asked God what plans He had for me. I knew God would get back to me in His own time. And I settled down to wait. Over the months that I searched for another position, I enjoyed the laughter of our grandchildren, and wonderful relaxed conversations with our children. My husband and I became closer as we spent time together in our home. I found I had missed so much on the career treadmill I’d taken.
This led to a rethinking of my goals. I'd been happiest years earlier when working in a support role where I didn't take work home at night, and didn't spend outrageously long hours away from home and out of state. Being a mother of eight, and finishing college at the age of forty-three, I knew a lot about organization. And I loved handling a variety of duties.
With that in mind, I changed my resume and focused on looking for an Administrative Assistant position. It wasn't long before I was hired into a company only six miles from home.
Since then, my health has improved and my outlook on life has brightened. Oh, I’ve given up a lot, such as working long hours into the night, missed family get-togethers, driving sixty plus miles a day, and high blood pressure.
Looking back, I believe God intervened in the career path I’d chosen to get my attention. Sometimes we need a good kick in the pants when we’re going astray. God got my attention and He answered my prayer. No, I didn’t verbally hear His voice telling me what to do, but He set me on the path I believe He wants me to walk.
I'm grateful for God’s intervention. Had I continued in my managerial role, I would have missed so many wonderful blessings in my life. I'm not looking back. Though my salary is less than half what I used to make, I am so much more blessed. I go through each day with a smile on my face and peace in my heart, and the knowledge that God always provides what we need, when we need it.

What Are "The Good Old Days?"

I can't believe it is November already! Soon we'll have to get used to writing 2008. I can remember when I thought the year 2008 would find this world full of robots and all kinds of techy things...wait! All those things are here already, aren't they? I suppose in the year 2058 the teens of today will be remembering 2008 as "the good old days."

So many things have changed over the years, but mankind remains the same. The same struggles that went on in the old testament are the same ones we face today. Sure we have nicer houses, many modern conveniences, luxuries our grandparents never imagined would exist...but battles are still fought between brothers, between cultures, between countries. Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 NLT says it better than I can:

"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "completely meaningless!" What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Sometimes people say, "Here is something new!" But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don't remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

When I read this, I feel a bit depressed. But then I go to Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 and I smile again.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a beautiful day!

More Wonderful Gifts...

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday! Being born on Halloween has always made me the center of many jokes, all in fun, and all taken in that light. In a way it's a perfect holiday for a birthday. It begins the season of my favorite family-centered holidays--Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The sun shone brightly yesterday, the weather mild in the mid 60s, and a light breeze blowing. Hubby left for work before me and wished me a happy birthday while I still snuggled beneath the covers for another fifteen minutes before my alarm sounded. The evening before we'd brought our cat home from the vet, where he'd been under care for feline urinary tract blockage for nearly six days. Waking up with him snuggled beneath the covers with me was a great present. When I opened the refrigerator a few minutes later, a card fell out. My hubby is so cute, hiding my cards where I'll find them after he leaves. It was a beautiful card and the words fit us perfectly. Probably the best card I've ever receivd from him.

I wore a brand new teal sweater that my fried from work had given me for my birthday. My youngest daughter called to sing happy birthday to me. We talked for about a half-hour. Okay, I'm allowed. It was my birthday!

For break, I always meet with four of my friends. One had baked cupcakes to celebrate. How sweet! I allowed myself this one treat without feeling guilty. I received a birthday card from my ex-boss! He's a workaholic and he hated when I left my position with him to take this one I'm in now. But he's always been really friendly.

Then, the biggest surprise of all, my boss heard a co-worker wish me happy birthday and...

Well, first let me say I've worked for this man for three years and he's never given me a card or acknowledged any special days, not professional admin day, not birthday, not even Christmas! He called me and asked if he could take me out for lunch to celebrate my birthday! We had a really nice lunch and I got to know him a lot better on a personal level. Wow! He kept complimenting me on how great he thought I was, how he appreciated someone he could trust to always get the work done, and said if I ever needed anything to be sure to let him know.

My middle daughter was going to visit me at lunch, so I had to call and tell her I wouldn't be there. We talked and she wished me happy birthday, and actually she called later to tell me a really funny story about her boys. That girl should write a book.

After work I went to Applebee's for half-price happy hour with my girlfriends. We bought five different appetizers for half-price and pigged out. My hubby joined us because we had decided not to pass out candy to the trick or treaters. Our children are all grown and there are so many negatives attached to the tradition today.

We hurried home at 7:30 because my son, who lives in Indiana was in town opening a new store and planned to stop by to visit. I haven't seen him in a couple years, os it was a wonderful birthday gift to see him! While we were talking my brother called from Texas. I listened to him sing happy birthday and told him I'd call back after my son left.

Had a great visit with my son. There's a possibility he could be transferred to Ohio or to Northeast Indiana, which would put him closer to us. Another phone call came in but it showed unknown caller and I didn't recognize the number so I didn't answer.

After my son left, I called my brother and chatted for about a half-hour. By this time I was really sleepy and anxious to get out of my work clothes. I saw we had a voice mail message. It was from my oldest daughter! Rats! That was her cell phone number I'd seen ringing in earlier.

She made me a beautiful hand knit sweater jacket. I've seen pictures and I can't wait to get it! She's said she would try to bring it this weekend. Unfortunately it was too late to call her, but she wished me a happy birthday.

What a wonderful, blessed birthday!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a beautiful day!!!

Three Gifts

Tomorrow, October 31, is Halloween; it is also my birthday. But today I received three gifts.

The first from a co-worker and good friend. She said she couldn't wait until tomorrow. She gave me a beautiful teal sweater that is soooo soft. I hope it's not too warm to wear it tomorrow.

The second gift was being able to bring our cat, Wilbur, home from the vet. On Thursday night we had to rush him to the MedVet Hospital because his urinary tract was completely blocked. We left him until 7am when we transported him back to our side of town to our own vet. He has been on antibiotics and has been catherized for four days. They removed the cath yesterday afternoon. They were concerned because he wasn't eating, but after we got him home he chowed down! He'll still be on antibiotics for a week or so and must go back for a recheck, but he's home!

Gift number three was a phone call from my son. He is in Columbus. His work sent him here to open a new store. So, on my birthday, tomorrow, he's coming over to visit.

I'm supposed to be participating in a power draft writing week and I committed to a goal of 28 new pages. Hmmm. Saturday - nada. Sunday - nada. Monday - 7 pages. Tuesday - 2 pages. I know I won't type anything tomorrow unless I make myself get up early and write before work. That leaves only Friday night and Saturday. Saturday I believe I will be attending a three to four hour meeting for my local COFW writing group. I'll be on the board and we have to establish the budget for 2008. Why do I set myself impossible goals?

Hey...there are only 55 more days until Christmas! All the stores have put out Christmas decorations and trees for sale. I guess it's not too early to promote my ebook called "Lighting the Tree." It's a book about a miracle that happens on Christmas and it's delivered by an unlikely Santa. Here's a link where you can find out more. Click here.

Have a wonderful day! Thank you for stopping by.

The New Dress

I've been reading a wonderful book called THE ANGELS OF MORGAN HILL by author Donna Vanliere. The book is set in Tennessee in 1947. Reading one passage brought an old memory to the forefront today.

The passage: "I'd been wearing the same dress to church for two years. Somebody made it out of a flour sack (even women's dresses were made out of flour sacks) and handed it down to me when I was seven and it was way too big then. Now it was way too small, riding up above my knees."

I'm probably one of very few who actually remember or had a dress made from a flour sack. These flour sacks were floral prints and offered an economical way to stitch new dresses. I had quite a wardrobe full of these practical dresses when I lived with my grandmother for a few years. I knew the rules. After school, I would hang up my dress, take off my socks, put them inside my shoes and put on "play clothes." I would wear the same dress and socks for two days, then they would go into the laundry basket.

I came home from school and took off my dress, preparing to put it in the dirty clothes since I'd already worn it twice. My grandmother, who could be very stern at times, told me to hang my dress in the closet. I tried to make her understand that I'd already worn it twice. She insisted that I hang it in the closet. I cried. I didn't want to wear the dress for a third day. But I was taught to obey and respect my elders. So, with silent tears on my cheeks, I opened the closet door and reached for a hangar. To my surprise, I found a beautiful new store bought dress hanging inside that closet. It was the most gorgeous thing I'd ever seen. It was blue and mint green with tiny little flower appliques. My grandmother's face was lit with a big smile. She even allowed me to try it on and run across the street to show it off to my very best friend.

I can't picture what those flour sack dresses looked like, but I vividly remember that organdy dress.

Do you have any memories that stand out in your mind from childhood? I'd love to hear.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a blessed day.

What About Forgiving?

Today in our Sunday School class we were studying the story of Esau and Jacob. If you aren't familiar with it, the story begins in Genesis 25:19. It is the story of ultimate forgiveness. We talked about forgiving and heard some stories that began to inspire me.

My newest novel is going to explore how one act can drive two people apart, and what it takes to forgive.

Is there someone in your life with whom you've had a disagreement that drove you apart? Have you forgiven or been forgiven? What would it take to repair that break? Can you take the first step?

May God bless you, and thank you for stopping by.

A Crossroad or a Dead End?

Have you ever traveled through the countryside and come upon a road that ended with a fence in front of you and a perpendicular road that forced you to turn either right or left? No going forward?

Think about writing. Many times you will come to a dead stop. When that happens, have you ever thought of it as one of the roads I described above? Instead of a dead end, perhaps you need to journey in a different direction. If you think of it as an adventure into new uncharted territory, you might be able to envision two different roads. Which will you choose?

If you've been following my blog, you know that I've been struggling with my latest manuscript. I recently cut 20 pages because it wasn't going where I wanted to go. Yesterday, I ruthlessly cut another 39 pages. The problem? I didn't turn left or right. Instead I turned around and backtracked.

After much introspection, and many prayers, I have come to the realization that I've been forcing my passion for writing to fit a "mold." Because I enjoy reading romance, especially romantic suspense, that's what I've been writing. But I turned in the wrong direction. I sold myself short. Sure, I can write a novel that readers tell me are page-turners, that they couldn't put it down, and they eagerly ask when my next book will be out. I won't lie. That feels good. It's a great ego boost. But it's not the real me. What is the real me?

I have been on a faith journey for some time, and have come to the realization that I need to write inspirational to add sunshine to my soul. And I don't need to try to fit any particular mold. What I need to do is put my fingers to the keyboard and write, truly write from my heart. Whenever I do that, the words flow freely. When I wrote "Hands of Time" and sent it to Chicken Soup for the Soul, that piece flowed from my hands in a matter of minutes. And they bought it. Not just once, but three times! That piece has been in three different Chicken Soup books, and is the story they use on their website to promote one of their books.

I may not get the books I intend to write published, but I will nourish my soul in writing them. If I get a contract, it will come in God's time. And that brings a smile to my heart, and a joy to my soul.

Thank you for stopping by, and may God lead you in the direction that will bring joy to your soul.

Scavenger Hunt!

Sweeter Romantic Notions (SRN) is throwing a Halloween party! Join us on a scavenger hunt. All the answers can be found through our main site.. http://www.sweeterromanticnotions.com

It kicks off on Friday October 26th and will end on Halloween!!

There will prizes, books and goodies, and maybe some chocolate too!

Here's the rules:
Answer the following questions and email the answers to sweeterromanticnotions@gmail.com with "contest" in the subject line.

The winner will be announced on the Group Loop October 31st and in the First Friday News Blast!

So, let's get scavanging!!

1) In the October News Blast what was the title of Edita Patrick's release from New Concepts Publishing?

2) Who has the picture of a dog on their cover art?
Elle Fredrix?
Kim Watters?
Adelle Laudan?
What is the title of that book?

3) What branch of the military is Sela Carson's husband retired from?

4) Cindy Green is published by By Grace Publshing?
True or false?

5) Diane Craver has three titles listed on her author page at SRN?
True or false?


Good luck!!!!
Happy Halloween!

Getting lost...

Today’s quote on my perpetual calendar said, “Getting lost at times reveals itself to be a blessing, not a curse, prompting a search for a better route.” That quote really hit home with me, since I deleted twenty pages from my current WIP.

I began think about the quote and how it relates to so many aspects of my life. How many times have you taken a detour off a major highway and found yourself on a strange road with no signs to direct you? It has happened to me. My first reaction is fear. The old song about a man who gets on a bus that never returns and his fate is unknown runs through my head. Once I took an incorrect turn and wound up on a two lane country road that went through several “blink once and you miss them” towns. But the scenery was gorgeous. I knew I was heading in the correct direction, so I decided to just enjoy the view and the relief from battling traffic. It had been a rough day, getting up before dawn and traveling three hours to a meeting, then having to face the long ride home. By the time I reached a familiar road again, I had relaxed and no longer white-knuckled the steering wheel. Traffic had died down and the remainder of my journey passed quickly.

In my writing life, I’ve found myself lost and unsure what the next scene should be. Usually it means exactly what I’ve done today. I’ve taken the wrong path, instead of allowing my characters to lead me through their story. It’s painful to lose hours of words, but the blessing is always in the rewrite.

So, the next time you are “lost” on your journey, no matter what that might be, look for the blessings you find in the new route.

Thanks for stopping by.

Matchmaking Fun

Have you ever cut out pictures of your hero and heroine to help you with focusing on their physical characteristics? I know some authors who create a storyboard--a physical poster with pictures, descriptions, plot points and more and put it where they can see it as they write their stories. I've never been able to do that.

I can't outline or write an entire synopsis before I begin. Oh, I have a rough idea of the story and what happens, but I write as a pantster all the way. Since I've been struggling with my current ms, not knowing if I should completely rewrite or just need to rethink the ending, I thought perhaps I really didn't know my characters as well as I thought I did. So, I spent my lunch hour on a matchmaking mission.

What fun! I took the Sunday paper ads with me. First I searched for a picture of Raeann. I knew her the minute I spied her in a neat casual outfit. Then the real enjoyment came into play. I got to pick out her mate! Woo hoo! There were so many guys that looked perfect to be heroes in my books, but I was looking for Braden. I found him posing with a "bogus" family. I knew he was the man I'd written about. And when I put Raeann next to him I saw the perfect couple.

I almost felt like climbing on the hood of my car and playing a fiddle and singing! Oops, does that date me? Remember "Fiddler on the Roof" and that catchy tune, "Matchmaker, Matchmaker?"

Better Than a Box of Chocolates!!

I admit it. I am a chocoholic! In March I gave up sweets to help bring my glucose count down. It has worked, and I really don't miss it too much. If I feel like I really need to have a bite of something sweet, I don't deny myself now, but I don't overdo it either.

See, I've found something better than a box of chocolates! It doesn't cost a thing and it brings a big smile to my face every single day. What is it?

It's the beauty in every single day! When I'm driving to work, I'm never at a loss to see something that makes me give thanks to God for his creations. It might be the sun shining through a cloudless sky, or a mound of clouds so big and fluffy, as if they are stepping stones to heaven. I love to see raindrops on leaves and petals of flowers. I adore the first snowfall of the year and being the first to make footprints in the pristine whiteness. But most of all, I love the kaleidoscope of colors that God paints when the leaves change in the fall! Today, driving home I couldn't stop smiling at the beauty surrounding me. Yes, definitely better than a box of chocolates!

Thanks so much for stopping by!