A Time to Remember

Last week, I dug out my first manuscript. I read it and thought it wasn't that bad. After correcting it, I sent it to my editor to look at. I thought it was pretty good and she agreed with me.

This is what I like about writing. You can be writing two different genres at the same time. Callie's Mountain is my favorite right now. Callie and I have been through a lot together and she has developed into a strong young woman. I love who she has become.

Going Home is Women's Fiction and is more modern than the historical novels I love. Paula Gallagher is a fantastic person, good mother, loving grandmother, good at her job and a person who has made mistakes and acknowledges them. There's so much conflict in her family. I'm enjoy reacquainting myself with her. I know she will grow more as the story unfolds.

Between writing, I am dealing with an oven that is here one day and gone the next. Today is bread baking day and I doubt if it will bake very good. I'm calling the repair man and telling him what is going on and maybe he can fix it. He was here a couple of weeks ago, but when I use my over a lot, it won't turn off. I burned rolls Saturday and I don't like that. It seems like there is always something going on. That makes life interesting.

Much to do today, so I'll get busy. Have a glorious day.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

That's right, there really is a light at the end of the tunnel! I'm beginning to feel it and see it. Just a few more chapters for Sandi to edit and it will be finished. At least that much of it will be. There is still more to come.

Right now I am going through the WIP and correcting anything I see. It is amazing what I have missed. This is beginning to be fun. The rough draft has been finished for some time. I've increased my work schedule and I can see the trees, not the whole forest.

So many people have encouraged me along my journey. There are two who stand out in my mind, DiAnn Mills and Janice Thompson. I remember DiAnn telling me I had a story that needed to be told. When Janice read the first chapter at conference, she told me she was reading a book. WOW!!! I couldn't believe that. It was more than I expected.

So, I've learned a lot about writing on my journey. The funny thing is, I knew nothing about writing when I started. I could type on the computer and that was about it. Now, I have finished my novel, well almost.

Callie's Mountain has been in my heart for years. Seems like I never found time to write it. The people in it are my friends. Funny, but you think of them as real people. Callie is so much fun and has so much determination. Jacob is so in love with her.

A new chapter of my life starts now. My quest for an agent and a publisher start soon. I'm more confident than I was three years ago. This has been a big achievement in my life!

Rainy Days and Mondays

The song says, "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down." The opposite is true for me, most of the time. I love a rainy day once in a while, but if they come several days in a row, I do get depressed.

Today is a rainy day and it is beautiful. I looked out my kitchen window and the grass was so green, almost like the green grass of Scotland. That brightened my day. The weather forecast says we will have 90% today and 70% tonight with thunder. I love the thunder. I don't even dread lightening. It is so beautiful.

The only thing I feel uncomfortable with is wind. Too many tornadoes have breezed through my life. My daughter says I am an tornado magnet. Wherever she lived, there was a tornado when I was there. My son may want us to move if this happens here.

Classical music is playing, I'm in a good writing mood, so as the rain quietly falls, I will write. My wish is for you to enjoy this day that God has given us.

Back to Work

The past two weeks have been hectic. We were in Tennessee for doctors appointments. That is plural, three doctors. We covered all of them, medical, dentist and optometrist. We had them scheduled in two days, then we packed and moved more things up here.

Our dining room table is here, minus three chairs. We'll get them when we go back. About all of the big stuff is here, except one bed and dresser. The house looks so empty upstairs. The basement is another story. We'll be going through it when we go back.

My optometrist was so excited when she realized I did not have to have any glasses, except reading glasses. I can get those at the Dollar Tree for one dollar. I could read the bottom line of the chart and it was wonderful. After fifty-seven years of wearing glasses, it is wonderful not to have to. I still try to put them on when I get up and I'm constantly taking them off when I pull something over my head. I'm doing better. I just look at the bedside table now instead of reaching for the glasses.

Now to my writing. It is going so good. I entered the Genesis contest again. Maybe three's a charm. I have an edit to correct today and I've drug out my first manuscript. It's a Women's Fiction and I am excited about it. It's like meeting your first love again. I still like the story. It will probably be a novella, but that's okay. I'm not trying for a long book with it. It's hard to write 100,000 words.

I've also gone back to Callie's Mountain and adding senses to it. I forget about smell and I leave that out. Sandi keeps telling me not to forget the senses.

It's past time for me to get to work. I try to start writing by nine o'clock and it's a little after that now. No more play time. So, off to work I go. Isn't it great to not have to drive to work? I love it!

Happiness

This week I am thinking about happiness. Not only as the theme for my talk in May, but I feel each Christian should be happy.

Happiness comes in many shapes and sizes. We can say material things bring us happiness like a new house, a new car or money. Those can lose their glimmer very quickly. True happiness is in the heart.

What makes some people view tragedy different than others? Is it their belief in God that helps them to see the light at then end of the tunnel? For Christians that should be the case. We should find comfort in the Lord and remember his promises.

There are others who like to wallow in self-pity. Why? They may not believe completely in the words of Christ or they don't realize there is a much better life in the hereafter. They could want attention and they feel that is one way to get it. In fact, they make others more uncomfortable than they think they are.

Bad things happen to good people. That's a fact! How we perceive the bad is what is important. No one likes a whiner. We would rather be around a person who smiles and sees good in everything. So, today, let's be positive and let our light shine.

Scattered Petals

This week-end I finished reading Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot. This is the second in the Texas Dreams Series and takes up where Paper Roses. the first in the series, left off. I enjoyed this book so much.

This book is filled with action and drama. If I tell too much, it will ruin the story. I will stay close to her blurb.

Seeking adventure, Priscilla Morton travels with her parents to the hill country of Texas to attend the wedding of her deceased sister's husband. What happens along the trail changes Priscilla's life forever. Zachary Webster, the ranch foreman on her brother-in-law's ranch is attracted to her.

When she decides to try her hand at matchmaking, the whole town of Ladreville is upset. This deals with prejudice, love and lies. A very good book! Thanks Amanda for letting me read this. I loved it and I'm anxious for the next one.

Aside from the book, I have a request. In May I am speaking at Valley church of Christ in their Ladies Day. The topic is Happiness. What makes you happy? We watched Charlie Brown Friday night at Goodpasture Christian School in Nashville. It made me think of what makes me happy. I loved what Charlie said in the song, Happiness. Is happiness for you "two colors of ice cream in the same bowl." Does happiness have something to do with your love for God and watching that love grow in others? If you will, leave a comment.

Somewhere To Belong

Recently I received an advance copy of Judith Miller's newest novel, Somewhere To Belong. When I get advanced copies, I take them as they come in and Judith's made it to the top of the pile.

When I started reading, I noticed she had written this in the first person Point of View. We writers know that first person is harder to write than third person. That intrigued me at first, then the next chapter introduced another character and it is written in her Point of View. What a difference, two first person's. As a writer that is what I noticed first.

The second thing I saw was the story was written about the Amana Colonies in Iowa. This was new territory for me and I was more interested than ever.

Johanna Ilg has been raised in Middle Amana and is a devout believer. It is a commune where everyone works from age fourteen and up. All of their needs are taken care of. It is hard work but they believe that is the way to please God. She is a very good or gut daughter and believes no secrets are hidden in their family.

Next enters Berta Schumacher who has been raised in Chicago with big city ways and no desire to adapt to the lifestyle of work and worship. Her family had chosen to live in the community and her father is their doctor. Berta causes a lot of problems and you keep wondering what she will think of next.

Marriage is not encouraged in the community, but with the elders permission, they can marry.

This is all I can divulge without telling the whole story, but remember a pink skirt. This pink skirt is forbidden, but it plays a very important role.

Through out the book, there is a pull of good and evil. Johanna being good and Berta, well she is the other in a way. She just wants to have fun, but her fun is frowned upon with the community.

I encourage all of you to read this book. It is very good.

Judith is a master at storytelling. She has written many books, some with Tracie Peterson. I can't wait until the next, it is in only one first person. The third in the Amana Series is written again in two first persons. I'm looking forward to the next on, Judy. This was a refreshing book!

A Gift of Grace

Last week I read A Gift of Grace in two days! That's a record for me. When I started reading, I could not put it down. Amy Clipston has a way with words.

Amy and I had corresponded about a year ago. Her husband is waiting a second kidney transplant. Since I have a niece who has had a kidney transplant and a cousin with a liver transplant, I felt I might be able to give her some words of encouragement. Her husband is still waiting on his second transplant. She not only works full-time and writes, but she is the mother of two boys and cares for her husband. Pray that he will soon find a match and get this second transplant.

Sometimes I am a little slow getting to the books I want to read. That is the case with this one. I had read so many Amish books that I didn't think I could read another one. Most are the same and I was afraid this one would be also. Was I wrong!

I guess you could say it is the opposite of Saving Grace by Beverly Lewis. This time the mother turns to the English world and has two children. She and her husband are killed in a traffic accident and Rebecca Kauffman, the Amish aunt, finds out in her sister's will that she is to take the children, two girls, to live in Pennsylvania.

How different would that be for two teenage girls used to having television, cell phones, computers and all the other modern conveniences suddenly find out they cannot have any of these? This is heart rendering. One girl adapts, but the other doesn't.

Rebecca could not have children and wondered if this would be the way to give her husband Daniel a family. The struggles of Rebecca are great. How much can you encourage someone to live by your rules when those rules are foreign to the person?

If you have not read it, you must. Amy is from German heritage and all through the book she has scattered recipes. If you like to cook, you will enjoy that.

Amy, thanks for a great book. I look forward to reading Book Two soon.