Bittersweet Giveaway

My agent, Terry Burns of Hartline Literary Agency, represented Dianne Price, author of  the Thistle Series. Ashberry Lane released the first of the series, Broken Wings, just a week shy of her passing on to Glory.

Ashberry offered Dianne the contract knowing she had terminal cancer, and did everything in their power to get that first book out.

We all knew they were pretty much dropping everything to get this done for her. I had the privilege of visiting with her on Facebook a few weeks before she died. I was inspired and amazed at her humor and faith. She joked with me about it being bath day and feeling so wobbly she might drag the nurse down with her.

She told me that bed baths are called "cat licks" in Scotland, and we shared about Oregon where she lived. I'd lived there too as a child. I knew this was a kindred spirit. One of her greatest joys, flying, is one of my greatest fears and I'd hoped to share that with her. But God called her home. I know we'll be friends in Heaven.

 You can read more about Dianne and her books, and excepts as well,  at this Ashberry Lane link. I'll be giving away an e-version of her Broken Wings on Monday, September 16. Just leave a comment between now and then, and I'll have a drawing. Blessings, prayers and hugs to Dianne's family.

Beloved Author Gone - Her Books Live On

Celebrating Fall, 2013

I celebrate Fall in a big way, I love it. I don't exactly live where there are leaves that change colors. Actually not a great area for leaves, or trees for that matter, but I still love Fall! So Snoopy kicking a big pile of leaves is my PC wallpaper, and I've downloaded a falling leaf screensaver. I made cinnamon toast (shared with my grandson who looks like Opie Taylor) and drank coffee from one of my many Fall themed coffee mugs given me by my best friend.

So celebrate with me. Post a few of your favorite Fall things. Photos, poems, recipes, memories. Join the party. Well, gotta go flip my Thomas Kincaid calender to Sept. 1.


Ah, this month the painting is called "Courage". This is a 2004 painting. This is what he said about it.

"In Courage I use a vocabulary of personal artistic symbols to convey this message: God rewards our perseverance with His gift of courage. A storm-tossed sailboat has come within sight of a lighthouse; the beacon of divine love will guide it to shore." Thomas Kinkade

Two Platform Lessons

I read a great blog post last week by Karla Akins, author of The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots. It got me to thinking about my marketing journey regarding my debut novel. It was suggested in much of my research that you ask for endorsements, and aim pretty high. What could it hurt? I wanted my message to reach as many folks as possible. So I got brave and asked some pretty big names for endorsements and reviews. I also asked some  lesser known authors and reviewers. Here's what happened.

The famous, high profile authors responded to me within a few days. The answer was "Sorry, no," but I received warm congratulations and well wishes. (Apparently, when you reach a certain pinnacle of success, your name doesn't belong to you anymore, or at least that was the case for one of the authors.) The emails were from assistants. That didn't bother me at all. They responded, and wished me well. The messages might have even been automated, but it didn't seem that way.

The lesser known folks DID NOT RESPOND. Now I will concede that there could be many reasons for that. This is not a rant or criticism, but it just illustrates a point. Who do you think I'm still a huge fan of, and who do you think not so much? The response I received solidified the message of the authors who responded. The lack of response caused me to lose a little faith in the message of those that completely ignored me.  Let it be noted that everyone with whom I have a relationship, whether multi-published or not, online or in person, said Yes!.

So the lessons I've learned in this journey so far are:

1. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

2. Relationship - build relationships with people who need your message and/or who can help get your message out there.  

Here's a link to Karla's post: You're Doing Twitter and Facebook all Wrong

What say you?

Happiness is....

Charlie Brown was popular and my favorite when I was a kid. I wrote a poem in the fifth grade called "Happiness Is" inspired by the Peanuts cartoon. I don't remember much about it, except that it ended "and at schoolwork, doing your best." I got to go to the office and print it on a poster to be displayed in the school foyer. The idea of making an impact with writing stayed with me. 

I thought we might reconstruct that poem together. So what is your one liner to go with 

Happiness is.....? Go! I'll post the results later in the week.

You're So Beautiful to Me

 I thought you all might like this sweet poem written by a friend of mine, Windy Lanzle


YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL TO ME

With dirty clothes scattered round my feet,
And toothpaste globs dripping down the sink,
I hear the words, "You're so beautiful to me."

With dark circles round my eyes,
And extra padding round my thighs,
I hear the words, "You're so beautiful to me."

When supper is boring or not there at all,
When shoes crowd the doorway, or laundry fills the hall,
I hear the words, "You're so beautiful to me."

When my eyes grow dim and my face becomes lined,
When hearing becomes an effort and my teeth aren't mine,
Whether you're still here with me, or have been gone for some time,
I know I'll still be hearing,
"You're so beautiful to me."

Here's Windy with an outfit her husband bought for her birthday. He said that if God can put those colors together, why can't he??  He sounds like a keeper. But I know this little lady...she is a jewel, so I think her hubby is just as blessed, don't ya think?

 

Heav'n Rescued Land

 Ran across this post from a few years ago...still feel the same way.

 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..." Psalm 33:12

I don't have a Bucket List, but I do have a list of dreams.  One of them came true on Saturday when I was asked to sing the National Anthem at the Permian Basin Fire Convention.  (I almost got to sing at a Maverick's game once, but that's another story.)

It was a tremendous honor to sing The Star Spangled Banner.  Normally, only the first verse of Francis Scott Key's masterpiece (which is a bear to sing by the way) is performed at public events.  I wish we could also sing the last verse:

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 

I do believe that the success and freedom of our nation will be determined by God, and the extent upon which we trust Him.  I'm not going to start waxing political, but I'm just sayin'.  May we be "heav'n rescued", and "blest with victory and peace".  We praise you, Father, the "Power that hath made and preserved us a nation".  Have a blessed week.

Bread Crumbs, NOT!

I received some garden zucchini this week and got ambitious. A zucchini tomato casserole recipe looked great so I got out all the ingredients. Since my husband is a carnivore, I added some ground beef to the mixture. When I got down the bread crumb topping, things got dicey. It's a good thing I tasted the crumb/butter/onion concoction before I sprinkled it over the top of my beautiful dish. It wasn't bread crumbs in the container. Someone used the container for spicy, and I do mean HOT, barbeque rub. What the hey, I sprinkled a little on top anyway, a very little. Added just the right amount of oomph. Husband liked it. Score!

A little unexpected discombobulation is a good thing once in a while. We readjust, make do, suffer or gain, but it breaks up boredom. I for one, love a little shaking up once in awhile.  

How are you shaking things up these days?

Fearless Anna

Fearless Anna

     "Live life to the fullest!", "Carpe diem!". I hear it all the time. I sometimes wonder how people do that when they have problems,  have a mortgage, a difficult job, etc. Everyone has something. I'm a generally happy and grateful l person, but I sometimes get irritated at the mantra 'live every moment'.

    I saw it in action on the 4th of July weekend, watching my two-year-old granddaughter.

     On our Independence day celebration she was very brave. She wandered too close to some of the fireworks her dad was doing, but mostly she obeyed. The most fun thing for her were the sparklers. She loved them. Her dad lit one after another for her. She held them way up into the sky and as soon as they went out she dropped them to the ground. When she wasn't doing sparklers, she was oohing and ahing over the fireworks display down the hill from our house in the park. When we all finally went inside, she sat next to me and asked if she could play a game on my phone, and then she promptly fell asleep, her head on my shoulder. A few minutes later her father picked her up and carried her to the car.
     It occurred to me how she enjoyed the day. I know part of it is her personality, but also I think the fact that she has no fear gave her freedom to just enjoy. Anna has wonderful parents who keep her healthy and safe. Her face reflects the love that is in our family. She's not afraid to try new things because she has the assurance that her mom and dad are watching her. All her needs are met, and so she is free to wonder at the sparkling fire before her.

     How many hundreds of times in the scriptures does it say, "Do not fear?"  I want  to be like fearless Anna. - to live in a an abandoned way knowing that my heavenly Father has me safely in the palm of His hand - to hold life's miracles in awe before me, and to drop and discard things that no longer matter. I'd love to be able to live in such a fearless way, and then drop off to sleep at night without fear, having spent and poured myself out in the miracles and challenges of everyday.

     What a life - to wake up to every day, knowing that we are blessed, secure, and loved and that when it's ove, He will carry us to heaven. Anna made me think of  that scripture "I will lie down and sleep in pie peace, for you Oh Lord are with me.' (Psalm 4:8)

     Thanks so much Father and thank you Anna. Yes, we can go do bubbles now. 

The Next Thought

 Just sharing a poem about perspective. I like to encourage us to look at life through love colored glasses. It all starts in our thoughts.

 The Next Thought
Sometimes our thoughts are darkness
And shackle us to sorrow.
The manacles of things that happen
Bind us from tomorrow.

It's the next thought that matters
In the moments of our days,
The fleeting jewels of time we're given
To walk in Father's ways.

It's the next right thought that fuels
The next right word we speak;
That power over which we set
The course of life we seek.

The thought, word and then the deed;
One moment changes all.
We build a life with thoughts
And kingdoms rise and fall.

What can you look at differently, through love colored glasses today?

His Harvard Daughter

Donnie Bailey

He told everyone his daughter was going to Harvard. I suppose it was truth in that I was going there every day - to work as a secretary in the Law School. I did get to take a couple of classes as a Harvard employee. The point is he was so proud. Whatever I did, he was always very proud of me. He told me many times that I could be whatever I wanted to be. 

He was a fighter. A WWII Veteran, he lived through the Depression, fought asthma, MS, a brain tumor,  alcoholism - and won. A man of faith later in life, his love of God's Word was an inspiration. He was a story teller, a comedian, and a cook. 

I remember when he promised that if I left for school without making my bed, he'd come fetch me. One school morning the intercom called for me to come to the office. There he was. I'd forgotten. He drove me home in silence. I made the bed. Smiles broke out all over his face. He was not one to hold a grudge. He cooked a breakfast for me and than took me back to school. One of his many lessons in responsibility. 

I remember the night before I started school. He sat me on his lap and told me the best advice he could give me, aside from doing my best, was to keep my mouth shut. I wish I'd listened to him.

He once gave one of my sisters, who was about to marry, a gift; a tiny pair of overalls, with a note that said, "Fill em up." We honor him still by giving that as a gift to his granddaughters on those kinds of occasions. He never met with grandchildren without a brown paper sack of candy for each one.

There was a whole lot more to my daddy, but suffice it to say that I love him and miss him. I wish he could be here to see my dream come true in a few days. He'd be so proud.

The Dreaded Hair Incident

Taking a little break to tell a funny that happened to me yesterday. Actually, it was something I dreaded, but when it actually happened, I had to laugh.

My close friends and family know I've lost a lot of my hair because of some health issues (not the life threatening kind) and so I wear wigs. I've gotten used to it and now I love the convenience and variety of it. But living in windy West Texas, I always feared the rig blowing off my head. It finally happened yesterday.

I left work and walked outside to a raging wind. Since both my hands were full I wasn't  holding on to my "hair" as usual in that situation. Off it came and blew away from me so fast I knew I'd never be able to retrieve it. I threw my purse and, Heaven be praised, it whacked that rug right down to the ground before it blew into the street. I couldn't put it back on fast enough. 

We Baby Boomers have to learn to laugh at these getting older issues. What are you dreading? It might not be as bad as you thought:)

P.S. Looking for a new style...these were interesting. What do you think?

Hitting Rock Bottom.

Did you ever have a day when everything just came crashing down on you at once? That's how my novel begins. The heroine loses everything in one fell swoop. 

How would you counsel Bailey Brown if she came to you with her sad story?

Wobbly Plates

Baby Boomers will remember the popular "plate spinning" acts on variety shows of our day. If plates could represent areas of our lives, then THIS USED TO BE ME:

However, now, THIS IS ME:

I'm glad I found this funny one that made me laugh. It helped put things in perspective. I've got a lot of wobbly plates these days, but I'm so grateful that the Father has said that I can cast all my cares on Him, for He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). I'm grateful for my husband who still thinks I'm Wonder Woman even though he has to fend for himself a lot these days. I'm grateful for all my friends and family who've said "I want to help." I'm grateful that I have plates to spin!

Do you have wobbly plates right now? I'd love to pray for you. Jody