I jumped at the chance to give a talk to our local Literary Club about Prince Edward Island. A huge fan of the writing of Lucy Maud Montgomery, I have always wanted to go where most of her stories take place. Enjoy this short video of the beautiful island.

Prince Edward Island

*Interesting fact. Since the Nova Scotia station was closed, the Cape Bear Marconi station in Prince Edward Island was the first in Canada to recieve the Titanic distress call.

Where have YOU always wanted to go, and why?

Music

I'm really surprised that The Roar of Love by The Second Chapter of Acts didn't make a rousing comeback when the Narnia movies came out. One of my favorite albums from the 70s is the musical background inspiration for my upcoming novel, Washout Express. It's not the Narnia story, or the correct time period, but the spirit and message that drives my story. "He brings healing, He brings love.." Hope you enjoy this  clip. I need to figure out how to post audio clips here.

The Roar of Love

What music inspires you?

How to Be a Better Morning Person

Is one of your New Year's commitments to get up earlier? Here's some help:)

How to Wake Up in a Better Mood  ( Short audio clip)

Do you have any special 'going to sleep' or 'waking up' routines that help you start the day? I'd love to hear about it.

Inspiration. It's a beautiful word, I like saying it. 

A theological definition:

a. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.

b.the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.

 

I posted on Facebook a few weeks ago about Jonathan and Charlotte. I found their story beautifully inspiring.  Go for it, reach for the stars, heart-warming influence warmed my spirit as I listened to their initial audition, and then cheered them on as they progressed. I really don't know anything else about these two young people, but these few moments that I brought them into my life, via my Son-in-love's suggestion, touched me. Hope it brings you an inspirational moment.

 

 

 

My daughter bought their CD for me as an early Christmas present. It's absolutely wonderul!

 

Jonathan and Charlotte Together 

Kindle Freebies 12/06/12

You'll love Janice Hanna Thompson's books!

How's your Christmas decorating coming? I haven't even started! What cool decoration have you snagged from Pinterest?

Kindle Freebies 12/5/12

 Hello, here are two Kindle Freebies today: Enjoy!!









Talk of the Town = Welcome to Daily, Texas Book 1 by Lisa Wingate 

The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh


Curious, what are you family Christmas traditions? I'd love to hear one or two.

Big and Small

Sometimes my commitment to look at things through HIS love colored glasses gets tested. For example, this morning when I sat down to another empty roll of tissue, I could gripe that I'm always the one to change it, or I can look at it as a small, silent way to show love to my family by changing it, even putting a folded corner on the edge.

Love is needed in a big way today as we cast our vote for President. The results will test us or exult us, but either way we need to shoe His Love.



How do you show love to your family in the small ways?

We were in the Psalms in church yesterday. Specifically, Psalm 126. We prayed for each other, and we prayed again about the election. Verses 5 and 6:

Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.

 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

We wondered, confessed in fact, that we'd talked more than prayed, fumed more than wept. However  it comes out tomorrow, I am more convinced, convicted, and committed than ever that our country needs us to fall on our knees before God. 

Do you agree? 

I saw a friend today in Walmart. She mentioned that her mother's birthday was coming up and that it would be a hard day. Her sweet mother went to heaven in April. 

It reminded me that those who have lost a loved one continue to hurt long after their friends go on with their lives.

Say a prayer today for someone who has lost a loved one. The Father said, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Phil. 2:4). 

It's sometimes hard to know what to say, but I'm reminded today that we should continue to lift the bereaved up in prayer.

What else can we do to show that we remember?

I posted a few days ago about my "freakazoid" schedule and how I'd planned something so far in advance that I forgot about it and couldn't remember what I'd planned. Quite a disconcerting feeling, but I got through the day. 

This morning, I shook things up a bit. I had my coffee and watched the sunrise before I got dressed. My husband said, "How radical." He was joking but it was kind of nice to rearrange things. Inspiration can come in those unplanned moments. 

I was just about to ask him what color he thought that cloud formation was, and then it changed before he could see it. Reminded me of how quickly life is going by. I've decided it's good to shake things up a bit.

Do you do anything special for inspiration sake?

Look who's vising today! 
Welcome Sharon Srock
Author of 
The Women of Valley View: Callie. 


Before you read her interview, you should take a look at the amazing prizes she'll be giving away to one commenter!

A copy of Callie's story

A certificate for Terri's story when it releases in April

A 6 piece Cherry blossom bath set

A cosmetic bag

A Bath Wrap

A Cozy pink eye mask

A Pair of aloe infused booties

A Hair Turban

A Tennis Bracelet

A 25.00 Amazon gift card

Just leave a comment (and be sure to include some contact information) and she will draw for these prizes on Monday, Nov. 19. 

 "Three dire circumstances. Three desperate prayers. One miracle to save them all." 

Sharon, thanks so much for coming by. I'm so excited about your new book! How much of yourself do you write into your characters?
I don’t, intentionally, write any of me into my characters. That doesn’t mean you won’t find a little piece of me in all of the women. Callie teaches Sunday school and loves her guacamole, Terri is looking for God’s will in her life and arguing the whole way, Pam is learning lessons in forgiveness. Yep, there I am.
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Believe it or not, I went to bed one night, a normal person, and woke up the next morning determined to write a book. I know, now, where that came from. It was more than a little weird at the time.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I love a good courtroom drama. Fantasy when it’s well done. By well done, I mean it has to completely draw me into a different world. Mysteries, and Romantic suspense are devoured at my house like chocolate covered cherries.
How do you keep your sanity in this crazy fast paced world of ours?
I guess I’m a product of our environment. I like being busy. Even on a vacation I have to consciously tell myself to slow down and enjoy the moment. Sanity…I’m a writer, that option took a hike a few years back.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I’m going to assume you don’t mean raising terrific daughters.  Really? This book. Not just for the validation or a sense of “I can really do this”. But because I feel like it represents me, finally finding God’s place for me.
What is your favorite food?
I have two rules when I cook. If it’s sweet add chocolate. If it isn’t sweet add cheese.
Why do you write the kind of books you do?
It has to be a God thing. I wake up with these stories in my head, things I would never see or think of on my own. He gets all the credit.
In what ways has being published changed your life?
Besides making me busier that I used to be? The jury is still out on that one. Ask me again in a year or so.
What is your current work in progress?
I’m working with my editor to get Terri’s story complete. Pam’s story is close to being at the word count I want. Then I’ll start the serious editing process for her. Samantha is knocking…
If you could invite a fictional character to dinner who would it be and why?
Oh, can I pick two? Merlin and Spock. Merlin because I’m captivated by the whole knights in armor, Arthur, slaying the dragon thing. Spock because…well…because the idea of extraterrestrial life interests me. If we ever find life out there, I’d hope they would be wise and beneficial sort like Vulcans. Not the “I’ve come to destroy your world” type we see portrayed 99% of the time.
Of all the current technological marvels, which is your favorite and why?
My GPS. I don’t navigate. Now I don’t have to.
If you could have a do over on one day in your life what would you pick?
Fourth of July, 1996. It was the last day we spent with our little grandson before he was murdered. I wish I’d spent more time with him that day.
Where was the location of the best vacation you ever had?
Now you’ve opened the flood gates. For the last 7 years I’ve taken one of my grandchildren on a special vacation. We’ve been on cruises, been to Hawaii, visited The Grand Canyon and Vegas, Spent a week in Cozumel, Done the whole Disney thing in Orlando…God has placed a special blessing on these trips. They’ve all gone off without a hitch and there is no way to just pick one.
If you could travel back in time when and where would you go?
King Arthur’s court. I wouldn’t want to stay forever, I’d miss my hot rollers, but I think there was an elegance to life then that we don’t have any more.
What is your favorite season of the year? What’s special about it for you??
I only have three seasons to my year. Summer, Spring, and SWEATER. I have a serious sweater addiction, so Sweater is my favorite.
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
That sometimes we spend too much time beating ourselves up for something God has already forgiven and forgotten. That we do a disservice to ourselves and others when we indulge in those feelings.
What is something that very few people know about you?

I’m a serious Trekker. I have my own uniform.
What is the hardest part in writing a story?
Editing and Editing and Editing….
What is the funniest, strangest, or most interesting thing you have learned when doing research?
That I don’t like research. Does that count? Seriously I write contemporary fiction so I don’t have to do a lot of research. I’d never goggled anything til about a year ago.
What is your favorite material item that you own (examples: ipod, Gone with the Wind book, grandmother’s rocking chair)
My Kindle. It’s just the most amazing machine.
Do your characters ever give you surprises when you are writing? Can you give us an example if they do and if they don’t do you know why?
My characters constantly surprise me. Their individual determination to be front and center in my brain is relentless. I’m a SOTP writer. I don’t work with an outline, so I can’t give you an example of where I planned to go one way and they insisted on taking their own way, but I continue to be amazed.
Do you have a favorite scene in this book and what would it be?
I think where Pam, Karla, and Terri come to Callie’s house with groceries and stuff for the girls. That is exactly like it would happen, has happened, in my life. Our church family is so generous. I have been on the giving and the receiving end of help.
What three things about you would surprise readers?
My favorite pet of all time was an iguana.
I hate reality TV
I love to mow the grass
If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who
would it be and why?
Nora Roberts. I would pick her brain completely dry.
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
A lack of time. I don’t think there is a way to overcome it until I retire. I just have to deal with not enough hours in the day.
Which character in your book are you most like? What have you learned about yourself in writing this story?
For this book. Callie, of course. I didn’t really need to learn the life lesson that Callie had to learn, but writing the story taught me so much about persistence, trust , and patience.
If you could go to any place in the world to research/write a book, what setting would you choose?
Australia. It’s on my bucket list. I’ll make it someday, God willing.
What was your favorite book as a child and now as an adult? Is there a connection between the two?
That is an impossible question to answer. You’ve heard about being born with a silver spoon in your mouth? Well, my mom must have had a terrible time giving birth to me with a book clutched in each hand. I can’t remember a time when reading wasn’t a priority. Picking a favorite out of 50 years worth of books…impossible.
As a writer how have you had to grow and stretch out of your comfort zone?
You are looking at it. Learning the craft, editing, and revising were easy compared to putting myself in the path of perfect strangers and begging for their attention. I’m a pretty solitary person. If I had my way, I’d write the book and pay a look alike to go out and face the public.

What a fun interview! Thanks, Sharon, and best wishes for your success!

Now, Ya'll don't forget to leave a comment with contact info so you can be entered into Sharon's drawing:)
Thanks for coming by.

I'm so excited to host Sharon Srock tomorrow! She is the author of Women of Valley View: Callie.  She is bringing us a wonderful interview and a chance to win some spectacular prizes. Take a look!

Just come by tomorrow and leave a comment with contact info and you'll be entered into a drawing for all these prizes:)

A copy of Callie's story

A certificate for Terri's story when it releases in April

A 6 piece Cherry blossom bath set

A cosmetic bag

A Bath Wrap

A Cozy pink eye mask

A Pair of aloe infused booties

A Hair Turban

A Tennis Bracelet

A 25.00 Amazon gift card

Just leave a comment (and be sure to include some contact information) and she will draw for these prizes on Monday, Nov. 19. 

Schedules

Pretty much everyone knows what a freakazoid I am about planning and scheduling. I find that planning frees me for the unexpected, and paves the way for spontaneity. I also have way too much to do, so my schedule helps me get it all accomplished.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
― Benjamin Franklin

But I trip myself up sometimes, and this morning proves it. I forgot that one of the Day Care groups would be coming for a program. How did I not have that written on my calendar? No problem, I had the program planned weeks ago. Only problem was, I couldn't remember what I'd planned. I knew I'd  written a puppet show, recorded it and loaded it onto the ipod, picked out a book and prepared a theme related craft.

Plus side: I went straight to my labeled file and pulled everything out.

Down side: I only had a few minutes to set up and re-familiarize myself with the material. STRESS!

Oh well, it turned out great and I calmed down and remembered to take pictures. 

This year I actually have spaces marked on my calendar that say "UNSCHEDULED". You wouldn't believe how hard it was to get used to not having to check something off my list. Now I look forward to those evenings at home, totally available to my family and my phone turned off. 
 
The older I get, the faster time seems to fly.
 Psalms 90:12 - So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.

How do you feel about planning and scheduling? Do you have any tips?