New Knee

My new knee is wonderful. The week before surgery, I began to have some doubts. What if it was worse and didn't work? What if I died during surgery? You know, all those thoughts you have.

Number One, I have the best surgeon in these parts. He would not let anything happen to me. He gets to know the patient and the family before surgery and you feel comfortable with him. This knee is the cream of the crop. It is so good and if I didn't look at the scar on my left leg, I would not know I had already had a new knee there.

So far, on day nine, I am recovering nicely. The device says it will give you a 120 degree bend at the knee. On my left knee, I can bend it back 130 degrees. Yesterday, eight days after surgery, I bent the right knee back 84 degrees. That is very good.

I can walk with a cane, but I know at times I need to walker. I do walk with the cane when I am feeling stronger and if I don't have far to go. My right knee feels strong.

I know this is nothing about writing. I could write some really weird stories after they gave me pain meds. I seemed to hallucinate. That's over now and I plan to write or critique some today. I've finally caught up on the emails, so I feel more like getting to work.

I hope the sun is shining as brightly for you as it is for me. Have a wonderful day and thank God for it.

Interview with Golden Keyes Parsons

It is my pleasure to have Golden Keyes Parsons as our guest today. I had seen Golden in 2009. We both attended the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Convention in Denver. My friend, Sandi Rog, pointed her out to me. They sat at the same table at the Awards Banquet. Golden was a finalist in the historical genre that year. The first thing I noticed about Golden was her name and then her beautiful smile. 

Golden, I know from loops we are both on that you live in Texas with your husband. Would you tell us more about yourself?

My husband and I retired from the pastorate about two years ago and moved back to Texas to be near our daughters and grandchildren. We have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren. We are loving being back “home” again.

When did you begin to write?

I grew up writing as my father and grandfather were writers and newspaper editors. Manuscripts and books were all over our house. It was a natural part of life to me.

How did it affect your life?

It instilled in me a love for books and literature and the written word.

Are you a plotter or a seat of the pants?

Well, my first two books were written from the “seat of the pants,” but the last two books I have felt the need to outline and plot the story. It’s very difficult and tedious in the beginning, but it really helps the story move along and keeps one on track.

Which of your books is your favorite?

Of the series that is out right now, I would say “In The Shadow Of The Sun King.”

Why did you write these books first set in France?

The books are based loosely on my family heritage of Huguenots (French Protestants) who fled France in the early 1700’s. My books are set about 50 years earlier so we could incorporate the very colorful character of King Louis XIV.

What can you tell us about future books?

My next book, His Steadfast Love, which is set during the Civil War in Texas will be released in the Fall of 2011. Incidentally, 2011 is the 150^th anniversary year of the beginning of the Civil War.

What are you working on now?

We are in the editing phase for His Steadfast Love.

Thank you so much for talking to us. We all look forward to read more of your books.

It was my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Golden sent beautiful picture of  the book, but my mind is still not working completely after surgery. I lost it, but I did get the one of you. Sorry, Golden. If you want to know more about Golden and her books, go to www.goldenkeyesparsons.com. 

Procrastination Is Over

That's right, I will no longer procrastinate. I am going to face the bull and bite the bullet. My WIP is finished and I'm going to finish my proposal TODAY!

When I began writing, the question of an agent had been on my mind. Some authors said, "No, why give someone 15% of what I make." Others said to get an agent that it would help in the selling process. After meeting several agents and talking to acquisition editors, I decided I needed an agent. It's not the commission they receive, it's the ability agents have to place your book in publishers hands that will not even look at you. Okay, it's not that I want a New York City publisher to buy my book, I want a good Christian publisher to buy my book.

I think I have a good story and I would love to have it published in a series. It is a little scary to try to sell part of myself. My book is part of me, like a baby. It has been being born for too long and at one time, I thought it might be a stillbirth. It struggled and finally made it. It has been edited by two editors and I have read it, edited it, and prayed for it. I'm ready for it to face the world.

This has been a long learning process for me. At times, I felt I was a slow learner, but I persevered. So, today I finish my proposal and I plan to send it out tomorrow. I can go to the hospital Wednesday without worrying about that book.

Wednesday, I will have my right knee replaced. My left one has done so well and I'm praying the right one does as well. I'm glad I didn't have both of them replaced at the same time. This has given my left knee time to heal and get stronger. I will try to get back on this blog when I get out of surgery. If I wake up as well as I did before, I'll be happy.

Slow New Year

Yes, it seems 2011 has started out slow for me, or maybe I'm procrastinating. Anyway, it's taken me five days to get on my blog. This is not good.

I'm finishing my WIP and getting ready to finish my proposal. Really, my manuscript is finished. I'm reading it out loud and I am a slow reader. I hope to finish it tomorrow. That's my plan anyway. When I read anything, I get sleepy. You know what I have to do then, take a nap.

Does everyone dread proposals? I do. I cringe at the thought of finishing this one. An agent has asked for the full manuscript and I am terrified to do the proposal. I want it to be good and catch an agent's eye and a publisher's eye. I feel like I am bragging and that's not me. Okay, I'll give myself another pep talk and get to it.

I had a friend, who reads a lot, read my book. She said it was good. I know she was honest. Good friends don't lie. She didn't say it sounded like a second grader. I am so scared that it sounds like something a child would write. I'm not one to use fancy words, and words I have to look up the meaning. I'm very common and I've read some books that I do have to look up the meaning of a word to know what the author was talking about.

I read Randy Ingermanson's blog first thing this morning. I need to do a little more planning and organizing. If you haven't read it, go to www,AdvancedFictionWriting.com. Today's e-zone was very good.

It's time for me to get busy. I'm trying to get as much done today as I can. It's one week until my knee replacement. I'll have a set of matching scars then.

Happy New Year

This is the last day of 2010. At midnight we enter a new year and new hopes. My wish is for all of you to have the best year ever in 2011. It's going to be hard to write those numbers.

There are several things I am looking forward to in 2011. I'll be able to walk without too much pain. At times my left knee hurts, but the doctor tells me it will take six months to heal. I can do that. The pain isn't nearly as bad as before surgery.

2011 will start with a new right knee. I look forward to going to the beach this summer and playing in the sand with the grandkids. I am also looking forward to having flowers in my yard.

My writing is going well and I am excited about finding an agent this year. This has been a long journey for me, but I think it is coming about.

My family is well and healthy. So far no broken bones. We had a good Christmas with everyone. I'm looking forward to connecting more with my cousins that I don't know, some I have never met. I guess we are a dysfunctional family. I am now connected with most of them and I'm having fun getting to know them.

I wish  the best for all of you this coming year.

Merry Christmas

We have had a very busy year this year. It started in January when my husband had cataract surgery and then three weeks later, I had cataract surgery. The best part is that I only have to wear glasses for reading. I had worn them for years and it is so good not to have to now, but I still try to push them up on my face and take them off when I dress. That part is getting better.

In May through July, we moved completely from Tennessee. Part of the farm was sold and that has taken some stress off us. We still have the house and about sixteen acres to sell. We are praying that it will come about this year.

My husband usually has a big garden. He planted, but we didn't get much rain. Everyone has told us this has been an exceptionally dry year. I hope so. We didn't want to move to the desert. The corn came in and my daughter-in-law and I froze plenty of corn.

In August, we received a call from our daughter at church camp. She had broken her leg. She was swinging across a creek on a rope, jumped too soon, and broke her leg just above her ankle. There were several trips back and forth to Nashville and I stayed about two weeks for her, shuttling her daughter back and forth to Goodpasture Christian School. It was good to be with her, but not for that reason. She is doing well now and has a slight limp.

As the summer progressed, the pain in my knees did also. Finally I found a highly recommended doctor. He turned out to be wonderful, but he was so booked that I had to wait until the last of September to have my left knee replaced. It has been wonderful and the right knee is scheduled for January. My writing did take a hit during the recovery. I could not sit. My normal writing place, in my office, was not comfortable.

While I was in the hospital, my daughter called to tell me we had lost a great friend. Sharon Prichard was not only a good friend, but a wonderful Christian. She was a lady in every way. She fought a brave battle with Multiple Myeloma for almost ten ten years. Heaven is brighter today. We pray for her husband Bob and her children, Melissa, Jennifer, and Nathan during this season without her.

It's taken a while to recover from the knee replacement, but the surgery was worth it. Our son lives six miles from us and we see the grandchildren often. I couldn't get them to spend the night with us tonight. I tried, but they wouldn't do it. After the next surgery, I will be able to have a full and busy summer.

My husband has taken up fishing. A few days after my surgery, he asked if he could have a "leave of absence." He had been so good to take care of me and my house is easy to negotiate. He and his fishing buddy fish two or three times a week when it's warm. Neither of them are cold weather fishermen.

My writing is coming along nicely. I have started my second book and I've just gotten the edit on the first one back. Monday I start in earnest correcting it. I am still excited about it.

Several people who have helped me along my journey are: Sandi Rog, who is battling T-Cell Lymphoma right now; Susan Page Davis and Sandra Robbins, we try to spend one day a month together and they have turned into my good buddies; my encourager, Brooke Cox; and my wonderful friend Lyn Williams. You guys rock and I love all of you so much. Most of all, my husband, Jerry. He asks me each day how much I have written.

So from my family, Jerry, Diane, Ron, Savannah, Larry, Oma, Chet, Josie, Graysoon, and myself, may this be the best Christmas ever!!! Merry Christmas.

No Post Friday

Friday came and went with a flurry of excitement. Christmas is always exciting for me. Don't remember what I did much on Friday, but clean the bathroom. Now that's about as exciting as you can get!

I remember what it was now. School plays. We had two to go to. One at 9 a.m. that our youngest grandson was in and then one at 2 p.m. that his two older siblings were in. They were so cute. The programs were excellent and the director always does a good job.

When we returned home, after going to the grocery store, we were worn out. I had not sat on bleachers since last year and they make your back hurt. We did get to visit with friends at the school. It was a good day.

Not much decorating has been done this year. I won't have much to put away after Christmas. The presents are wrapped, except one. I need to finish with it today and wrap it up before a grandchild comes over.

The past year has brought about several changes. My husband and I both had cataract surgery the first of 2010. I've adjusted to not wearing glasses. I had worn them since I was ten years old and that has been a big adjustment. I'm still working on it. Then my knee surgery in September has been another adjustment.

We have made wonderful friends both in the community and at church. Even with the hot summer weather, it was a good year. I look forward to more interesting things happening in 2011.