IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK

It has been a while since I posted. Over two months, and that's a long time for me to be quiet. A lot has happened in those two months.

First of all my hubby became ill. Although we had our flu shots, I think he had the flu. It took him a good two weeks to get over it and feeling like something. I'm not good when he's sick, and when he misses church, he's sick! In fact, when he sleeps all day, he's sick! I'm a worry-wart, and I did worry a lot about him.

After he recovered, he started running a high fever. A very high fever, and you know men. They will not go to the doctor. Finally, he did decide to go. He had a bacterial infection. Thankfully it was not viral because we were less than a week from our 50th Wedding Anniversary. The doctor gave him a very high powered antibiotic and he made a rather quick recovery. He still has some tests to take to try to find the problem. They had no idea what caused the fever.

Our 50th was looming and we had company coming. Our niece from Texas with her husband and one of their sons and his family were coming. I had cleaned house for two months. My house was not that dirty, cluttered is a better word. The bedrooms looked so neat when I walked through the house. It was a satisfying feeling.

We had six extra people in our house. Believe it or not, but David (niece Lisa's husband) and Corey (Lisa and David's son) wanted to see where they made Moonshine. We had found the distillery before they came and thought you could tour it. That was the hit of their day. Corey got to pour some moonshine in the jars. A big thrill for him.

Our 50th celebration began on Friday, February 22, which is our anniversary. We had everyone who helped with the reception, hubby's family, my family, and friends from church to a dinner at a local steak house. I think there were 35 people there. It was great for Hubby's family to meet our friends. In fact, his brother and his wife celebrated their 65th anniversary on February 19.

Saturday, the 23md, was the day of our celebration. Lisa had not seen her uncle and aunt in 40 years. We had all of my husband's family for breakfast, about 20. Then the celebration which was attended by around 100. Before we left, we invited all of Hubby's family to our house for supper. It was a wonderful reunion. We may never get together again like that. I dearly loved having everyone crammed into my small house, but boy was I tired when everyone left.

It took me over a week to recover from all the fun. We are still hanging pictures and have more to put in frames. Everyone was so nice and we received so many nice gifts, although we asked for none.

It's taken me a while to get back in the groove to start working again. I am happy to say, I am back in the groove and writing again. All in all, I took three months off. That is way too long and I'm glad to be back to normal. I've scattered some pictures of the celebration. Hope you enjoy them.

I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS

That's right, I can't think of anything to write. The last few days have been discouraging for me/ My printer died. I tried to do the patch from the web, but it didn't work. Instead we decided to get a new one. I ordered it yesterday, but it won't be here until next Friday. That's a bummer. I need a printer!

Several weeks ago, I spilled coffee on my keyboard. I rarely use the keyboard on my laptop. My sister told me to put the keyboard in the dishwasher. I finally got the nerve to do it. Sis, you owe me a keyboard. It died also.

So I am writing and editing on my laptop keyboard, which I hate. But there is good news.

Yesterday I received a copy of Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller's news book,To Honor and Trust. I'm looking forward to starting it tonight. Thanks Tracie and Judy for sending this book to me. This is the last of the Bridal Veil Island Series. I'll miss the characters and the island. If you haven't read the other two, you must. They are good!

I'm off to Editland. I know that isn't a word, but I feel like I live there right now. Have a super day everyone.

TWO GOOD BOOKSI

During the holidays I read two wonderful books. One was Under The Desert Sky by DiAnn Mills, and the other was Head In The Clouds by Karen Witemeyer. They are both historical romances with a little suspense tucked in. I recommend both of them.

When Eva Fortier's grandfather is murdered, her attorney urges her to leave New York and take refuge in the high desert area of New Mexico. Leaving her life of wealth behind, Eva attempts to make sense of the tragedies in her life. 
Navajo David Benally has his hands full taking care of his people's medical needs. But when his father asks him to help fulfill a vow made to Eva's father, he has no choice but to oblige. He views Eva as a spoiled rich girl...until he sees her strength in the midst of life-threatening danger.

Adelaide Proctor is a young woman with her head in the clouds, longing for a real-life storybook hero to claim as her own. But when a husband-hunting debacle leaves her humiliated, she interviews for a staid governess position on a central Texas sheep ranch and vows to leave her romantic yearnings behind. 

When Gideon Westcott left his privileged life in England to make a name for himself in America's wool industry, he never expected to become a father overnight. And five-year-old Isabella hasn't uttered a word since she lost her mother. The unconventionality of the new governess concerns Gideon--and intrigues him at the same time. But he can't afford distractions. He has a ranch to run, a shearing to oversee, and a suspicious fence-cutting to investigate. 

When Isabella's uncle comes to claim the child--and her inheritance--Gideon and Adelaide must work together to protect Isabella from the man's evil schemes. And soon neither can deny their growing attraction. But after so many heartbreaks, will Adelaide be willing to get her head out of the clouds and put her heart on the line?

I can't tell you which I like the best. They are both so good. For a fun book, I would pick Head in the Clouds. For a good love story about love between races, I'd pick Under The Desert Sky. I liked them both equally.

2012

2012 has been a good year for my family. I can't say it has been a bad year, much has happened to keep us busy and happy.

The year started with our son-in-law having surgery that was not successful. He did have the same surgery later, and it was successful. Most of the year, he suffered from results of the surgery. In August, another surgery was performed that seems to have taken care of most of his heart problems. We are so thankful to have good doctors who are willing to correct others mistakes.

The grandchildren have grown older. It doesn't seem like we should have a teenage granddaughter who is driving. Our oldest grandson entered middle school this year. It's sad not to have one that will crawl up in our laps, but that is the way we want it. We wouldn't want them to stay the same as they were. We want them to grow and learn to live in this world.

My husband has enjoyed fishing. This year he caught a 40 pound catfish. That was one big fish! Then a couple of days later, our oldest grandson caught a catfish weighing over nine pounds. I don't know whether Granddaddy or Chet was the happiest. That made both of their summers.

This year I published my first book. It has surprised me with the sales. Our publishing company, Mantle Rock Publishing has published three books this year. One fiction and two non-fiction were published. I can say I'm glad the first publishing is over. It was a learning experience.

2012 has been good. My health has improved because of a little pill called Vitamin B17. Thanks to Sandi Rog for encouraging me to take it. It has been a big help for my diverticulitis.

What does 2013 look like? Hopefully more books! Right now I am working on two. The next in the Melungeon Series should release this winter. I'm also working on one about the Georgia coast. I'm going to be doing a non-fiction about the church we attend. It will be a history of the church for the last 125 years. We will celebrate the church's anniversary in September. I'm anxious to start working on it. I've been doing research for the last in the Melungeon Series, and I'm anxious to start it.

We are also searching for authors who will be willing to take a leap of faith with us and our publishing company. Right now we are interested in Christian fiction. I'm willing to look any book that has a Christian element.

My prayer for you is a safe and happy New Year. 2013 can rock if we want it to.

THE CHASE

My newest favorite book by DiAnn Mills is The Chase. This is the first in a series of FBI books, and the suspense is riveting. Most of you know I am a big fan of DiAnn's. I've read most of her books, and I'm so glad she is writing suspense.

This book is a little different. There is not a strong romantic element. There is a feeling of maybe a romance, but not a happy ever after. There seems to be more books with the main characters solving crimes. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I didn't want it to end.

The two genres I love are historical and suspense. The suspense in this book made me want to keep reading and helping to solve the problems of Houston. Here is the blurb on Amazon and a picture. I highly recommend this book.

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.

CHRISTIAN FICTION

What makes up Christian Fiction? This is a question I have been dealing with for the last few days. I have read several books recently that I feel err from the word "Christian." Where do we are readers and writers draw the line?

For me, the manuscript should be Christ centered. To be Christ centered, it should be devoid of curse words or cussing as we call it in the South. The language should be something you would not be embarrassed for Christ to read it. God's name would not be used in vain in any slang or direct words.

The scenes should be decent without detail for sexual scenes, or anything that would discredit God. Explicit scenes of sex or nudity should be avoided. Oh, yes, I've been told this is life, and I'm a little too strict and straight-laced. Maybe I am, but that is the way I was taught from childhood.

Does using God's name in vain, sex, nudity, or cursing do anything for your book? Does it make it more interesting? I don't think so. The same thing can be said without using these words or scenes. To me it is degrading for the author to write something that borders on trash.

When I pick up a book, I want to be entertained, informed, and enlightened. I don't want to be shocked by the language and scenes. I see enough of this on television, even the evening news. I want to read something that will make me a better person. Not make me feel dirty for reading something so sordid.

Writers, think about the people you are writing for. Are you writing to encourage others? Are your writing to glorify God? I pray we all write clean books that will please God.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Our family Christmas will be tomorrow. It doesn't bother me to have it early. The children love it. They get their presents early. I can even start taking the tree down earlier. The most important part is family. Our family will be together tomorrow. That is the most important part.

As usual, we will be having our traditional breakfast. We started this several years ago and everyone seems to enjoy it. We have country ham, biscuits, gravy, eggs, and all the trimmings. It seems we enjoy the breakfast more than we enjoy a lunch or dinner.

I will not be back on the blog until after Christmas. I wish you and your family the best Holiday ever!