New Year Philosophy: Do! Craft! Share! Guest Johnnie Alexander

Today we have a special guest blogger, Johnnie Alexander, author of Where Treasure Hides, and she's sharing a lovely message I'm taking to heart. Join me in welcoming Johnnie!

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New Year Philosophy: Do! Craft! Share!

In the weeks approaching January 1^st, everyone seemed to be talking about resolutions, goals, and choosing “one word.” Blog posts, loop emails, Facebook updates, and conversations abounded with shoulds and shouldn’ts, advice and encouragement, plans and intentions.

So, like many of you, I made my resolution (more water, more motion), set my goal (5000 words a week till I type “The End” on my manuscript), and chose my word (a symbol actually, an acorn, which signifies potential, possibility, hope, and stability).

But this year, thanks to an answer to prayer, I’m also choosing to embrace a philosophy.

The date is Wednesday, December 17^th. My faded green sweatshirt is zipped against the morning’s chill as I watch water gush from the hose into a watering tank. The alpacas are behind me, comfortably grazing from a large mound of hay, and assorted chickens scratch in the dirt and squawk at each other.

It’s a great time for praying, and I’m thinking ahead to this blog post. What can I say that’s new to those who may be weary of resolutions, goals, and seeking that one word for the year?

An hour later, snug in the kitchen and eating my cereal, I read a Joy to the (Writer’s) World! by literary agent Karen Ball. These words grip my heart:

“Too often, we writers get so tangled in all the “must dos” that we lose sight of what’s really important:

• Doing the task God has given us
• Crafting words steeped in His truth and spirit
• Sharing the message He’s given us with a weary, terrified world . . .”

Wise words.

And an answered prayer.

After all, Karen’s advice is timeless, and it isn’t only for writers.

It’s for teachers and salespeople, hardworking moms and dads, those who work with their hands, and those who sit behind a desk.

Whatever our calling, our profession, our career, our ministry, we can do the task we have been given, craft whatever we do so that the One who gives us our gifts and talents is glorified, and share with those who need what we have to offer.

This year, I encourage you to keep your resolutions, achieve your goals, and focus on that significant one-word.

But I also encourage you to join me in embracing this simple philosophy:

Do! Craft! Share!

{A special thanks to Karen Ball for touching my heart with her words and for her gracious permission to use them in this post.}

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Johnnie, I couldn't agree more! It's easy to get caught up in a crazy I-should-be-doing-this phase. I have a card on my bulletin board that says, "I Write For God." It reminds me not to worry about sales and social media and the perfect book. Thanks so much for being my guest today, Johnnie!

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Where Treasure Hides ~

Artist Alison Schuyler spends her time working in her family’s renowned art gallery, determined to avoid the curse that has followed the Schuyler clan from the Netherlands to America and back again. She’s certain that true love will only lead to tragedy—that is, until a chance meeting at Waterloo station brings Ian Devlin into her life. Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain, Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out, separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety is a luxury war does not allow. As time, war, and human will struggle to keep them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?

Where Treasure Hides is currently available as an ebook. The print edition releases August 2015.

Interested in purchasing Where Treasure Hides? Go to Amazon (linked).

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About Johnnie ~

Johnnie Alexander is the author of Where Treasure Hides which won the ACFW Genesis Contest (2011 Historical Fiction). The first of her three contemporary romances, tentatively titled Into a Spacious Place, releases from Revell in January 2016.

She also has won the Best Novel and Best Writer awards at the Florida Christian Writers Conference and is a 2012 Bronze Medalist in the My Book Therapy Frasier Contest.

A graduate of Rollins College (Orlando) with a Master of Liberal Studies degree, Johnnie lives in the Memphis area with a small herd of alpacas, her dogs Rugby and Skye, and assorted other animals. Visit Johnnie’s Blog, Facebook  and Twitter.

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Do you get caught up worrying about things you should do?

Have a terrific day!

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How to Stay Sane During the Holiday Season: Guest Alexis A. Goring

I'm excited to be hosting special guests for the next several Wednesdays! Please join me in welcoming Alexis A. Goring!

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The holiday season is upon us and Christmas Day is less than two weeks away.

It’s known to be the “most wonderful time of the year”, but if you’re anything like most Americans during this time of year—especially Americans who are hosting their entire family in their house for Christmas dinner—you are stressed. You’re running around from store to store, hoping to be done with Christmas shopping only to find out you need more: More gifts, more food, more greeting cards, more money and more time! Your life around this time of year may look more like a tailspin than  It’s A Wonderful Life (classic Christmas movie) and maybe, just maybe you’re hoping to be through with it all so that life can be a little less hectic and you can breathe again.

I am here today to gently encourage you with this Bible-based wisdom which is, “Be still and know that God is God” (Psalm 46:10). Based on Scripture, this timeless truth which is also a song by Christian contemporary artist Steven Curtis Chapman, can give you quiet and lasting relief from the hectic holiday season.

What does it mean to “be still and know”? I believe to every person, it may mean something different but to me, it means that in the middle of the crazy, God’s love, majesty and promises to protect, keep and deliver us are still good and true. Ultimately, it means that spending time with God every day is important for me because He is my Rock and to spend time in prayer and study of His Word (The Holy Bible) is priceless because it is in those devotional moments that I find my peace in the midst of the crazy. It’s where my soul is soothed and my mind is calmed as God gives me a peace that as the Bible says, “passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Try it and see what I mean—people will be completely amazed at how you can keep it all together and be so calm this holiday season, especially if you’re married with kids and hosting your entire family for dinner on Christmas Day.

If you take my advice to “be still” and “know” that God is God every day this holiday season, I’d like to know how it turns out for you! I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to survive this hectic time of year if you start your day with God in sincere devotional time with Him. Perhaps you can revisit Jill’s blog after New Year’s Day and leave a few comments on my guest post here to let me know how it went! I’d love to hear your stories of how God kept you sane, happy and blessed this holiday season all because you took time to “be still” and “know” that He is God.

May God bless you, keep you and protect you today, tomorrow and forever.

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I needed this message today, Alexis! Monday morning was hectic with a capital H, but when I took ten minutes to pray, the day got a lot better! I love the Bible references you used. My "one word" this year was PEACE, and I find I'm needing it more than ever as the holidays approach. Thank you so much for being my guest today!

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About Alexis ~

Alexis A. Goring is a college graduate with a degree in print journalism from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Writing is her passion. She hopes that her stories will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces, and inspire minds to seek God whose love for humanity is unfailing.

Alexis loves connecting with her readers! Follow Alexis on Twitter @pennedbyalex, “Like” her Author page on Facebook, visit her official website, http://www.alexisagoring.com/ and read her blog, “God is Love.”

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“Be Still” as performed by Steven Curtis Chapman, 

*Lyrics to “Be Still” song, http://www.metrolyrics.com/be-still-know-lyrics-steven-curtis-chapman.html.

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How do YOU stay sane during the holiday season?

Have a terrific day!!

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Keep It Sincerely Simple: Guest Davalynn Spencer

I'm excited to be hosting special guests for the next several Wednesdays! Please join me in welcoming Davalynn Spencer!

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Do you ever wish you could banish the blitz of Christmas? The gotta-have-it, get-it-here marketing onslaught is enough to make a Scrooge of nearly anyone. What happened to the Christmas KISS?

Keep It Sincerely Simple 

Families today have come so far from more humble times when Christmas giving might have meant an orange and peppermint candy in a youngster’s stocking, a special dinner with roasted game, or songs led by a brave soul with a fiddle and the Christmas story read by candle light.

Sometimes I think I’d like to pool all our money earmarked for presents and spend it on a mountain hide-away in the luxury of simplicity. Another option could be giving it all to a local charity—as I was privileged to witness one year at our church. A family with four grown children brought in bulging envelopes stuffed with money they’d saved and gave it to the church’s water-well project. Their faces reflected a wealth of return from their giving.

Over the last several years, our eight-member family (not counting kiddos) has put a price limit on gifts and exchanged names. Rather than buying gifts for everyone, we each buy one. It has become quite a tradition, and as the official name exchanger, I receive phone calls and texts from family members starting in November asking whose name they have! Guess you know what I’m busy doing while stuffing turkey and baking pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving dinner.

When I recall my best Christmas memories, they never involve the gifts I received, though I garnered just as many as most children. The treasures I hold in my heart include the year my mother nailed our tree to the floor because she couldn’t get it to stand up straight. Or the year our Jack Russell terrier “anointed” the tree before we brought it inside. The smell of clove-studded oranges and the way cloud-like divinity candy melted on my tongue. My husband reading the second chapter of Luke to our children, and the year I gave a secret gift to a needy family.

As an author who loves Christmas stories, I took literary license and dispensed with all but the essentials of the season in my upcoming Christmas novella.

My heroine faces the holiday with no money to buy presents for the very important people in her life. No malls, internet, or last minute shopping in 1885 on a snowbound ranch in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. But oh, how I loved the feel of a home-made Christmas that wrapped around me while I wrote the story.

Options for Christmas giving are endless, and more meaningful, I believe, if we can avoid modern commercialism. After all, God nestled His gift in a feed trough, not a palace garden or courtyard.

This year as you give, open your heart to hear from the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Maybe He has a surprise in store, a lovely Christmas kiss He’d like you to help Him deliver.

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What a beautiful post, Davalynn! I grew up reading the Little House books and The Bobbsey Twins. Both series featured homespun Christmases, and they had a big effect on my attitude. Simpler Christmases are special! Thank you so much for sharing the joy of Christmas with us today!

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About Davalyn ~

Davalynn Spencer writes cowboy romance, a skill she’s honed since marrying a professional rodeo bullfighter and raising another. Her most recent title is “The Snowbound Bride,” one of twelve historical novellas in Barbour’s collection, The 12 Brides of Christmas. She is represented by Linda S. Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency and makes her home on Colorado’s Front Range with her handsome cowboy and their Queensland heeler named Blue. Connect with Davalynn on her website, Facebook page, Goodreads, and Twitter.

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The Snowbound Bride ~

On the run from a heartless uncle, Arabella Taube hides in Nate Horne’s buckboard just as a blizzard sweeps into Colorado. Can she find her way out of the storm—physically and emotionally—or will the handsome mountain horseman steal her heart?

Purchase The Snowbound Bride from Amazon, Christianbooks, or Barnes & Noble!

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Do you keep Christmas simple? What is your favorite tradition?

Have a wonderful day!!

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Writer's Life: Candice Sue Patterson

Welcome to another edition of Writer's Life, my interview series with authors of inspirational romance. Today I have the pleasure of hosting Candice Sue Patterson! Candice and I met online through ACFW, and I'm so happy to have her here! She has two beautiful Christmas novellas published through White Rose Press (Pelican Book Group), and she's graciously giving away a copy of her Christmas novella, Silver White Winters. Enter the contest below!

Let's get to it!

1. What about writing makes your heart sing?

Writing is therapeutic for me. I’m an emotional person, I feel deeply, and writing is an outlet for all that craziness. I love creating three-dimensional characters who face real issues and learn lasting lessons. One thing about writing that surprises me the most is that I learn something through the story, whether it’s realizing that I’m struggling with the same hurdle as the characters or discovering something about myself I never knew before. God truly speaks to me through my writing.

2.  What is the biggest hurdle you’re facing right now as a writer?

Knowing what direction to take next. Do I continue to stay at home and write full-time, or work a part-time job now that our youngest is reaching school age? Things like that. I’m also seeking an agent right now, which takes patience. Something I’m not great at.  

3. What do you do to fill your creative well?

I read! Inspirational romance is my favorite genre, but I also read historical fiction and non-fiction, biographies, and non-fiction on subjects I’ve always wanted to learn about. This sparks ideas for new stories and causes me to reflect on my own life.

4. What are you working on now?

I’m currently seeking a publisher for a novel I’ve been writing over the last two years set in coastal Maine. In the meantime, I’m working on the first draft of the next novel in the series.

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Thank you so much for being my guest today, Candice! I completely understand about not knowing which direction to take. I reviewed all my options several times over the years. I hope you find your path soon! And I love that you grow with your stories. I do too. I'm often surprised by the spiritual applications that pop up!

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About Candace ~

Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes contemporary romance with threads of nostalgia. Her debut novella Bright Copper Kettles is available now. Connect with Candice on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

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Click on the book above to purchase through Pelican Book Group! Other merchants linked below.

Silver White Winters ~

She thought she had it all. Until she discovered the treasures in the snow. 

          Country music singer/songwriter Raelynn Rivers is a has-been. According to the latest gossip magazines, that is. Her last number-one hit was six years ago, and her songwriting ability has vanished. Her foundering career is all she has left, and she’s determined to once again hold the title of “Country Music Queen.” But Raelynn’s dreams are derailed when a coal mine collapses in her home town of Eve Hollow, West Virginia, trapping her daddy and brother inside.

            The man in charge of the mine rescue is Lane Ryan, her childhood best friend and the former fiancé she abandoned twelve years ago for her career. In the snow-covered mountains of Appalachia, Raelynn reconnects with family and rediscovers her musical abilities—and her faith. And no one has inspired her more than Lane. She’s finally ready for a relationship, but the secret Lane carries around is as big as Coal Mountain.

            Will Raelynn sacrifice her title, or say goodbye to Lane forever? 

Available Now!!

Purchase through Barnes & Noble
Purchase through Amazon
Purchase through Christianbook.com

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Have you read any Christmas books or watched any movies yet?

Have a wonderful day!! 

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How to Combat Common Work at Home Problems

Many people dream about working from home on a part time or full time basis. You get to skip the commute, dress however you want, avoid unnecessary interruptions in your day, and set your own hours. What's not to love, right?

While I love working from home, I'll be the first to admit there are drawbacks.

1. Lack of structure can equal no productivity.

2. Errands, phone calls, chores and other interruptions can take over your day.

3. Lack of "watercooler" chit-chat can lead to loneliness.

4. Others don't see your at-home work as important as the business you conduct at a place of employment.

5. Most at-home jobs involve sitting for long periods behind a computer.

6. Work spreads beyond the normal work day, often creeping into weekends and nights.

I've always been independent. Setting deadlines and goals and actually achieving them comes naturally to me. However, I also work hard at keeping our home running smoothly and managing our household. This can lead to a conflict in priorities.

The things I struggle with the most on the above list are #2, #3 and #5, but I've fought with every item up there at one time or another.

How to fight the drawbacks:

1. To be successful working from home, you need to be productive. To be productive, you need to meet your work goals. To meet your work goals, you need to set them first. Using whatever tool works best for you (a day planner, phone calendar, scrap of paper...), write out your most important tasks for that day. Make them specific. Vague, grandiose goals will get you nowhere.

2.  Errands and chores make you FEEL as if you're tackling necessary tasks, but they're not contributing to your job. Striking things off your to do list gives a false sense of accomplishment. Your work suffers. Deep down you know you should be devoting that time to work, but errands and chores don't require the brainpower your job does.

If possible, set specific days and times for ongoing chores. Delegate any you can. I don't like crowds, so I grocery shop at a certain time on a weekday. I also don't like laundry. I plan one mega laundry day every week rather than doing a load or two each day. 

Guard your work time. Do not answer phone calls unless they are work related. You wouldn't gab on the phone with your best friend for thirty minutes at the office. Treat your home office the same. 

3. Working from home day after day can be extremely isolating. And the desire to be productive can get in the way of staying connected to other people. I get weird (talk 200 miles per minute, have pent up energy ready to blow) when I've been home by myself too many days in a row. I've found that meeting a friend for coffee once a week helps me maintain relationships and not get as spazzy. I also nurture friendships with other writers online, and check in on social media sites. Facebook, Twitter, blogs and email help me feel connected.

4. People will think what they want to think. Rather than getting defensive, I let my work speak for itself. Passive aggressive statements tend to reflect the person saying the words. Maybe they're jealous they don't have the work at home option too. Or maybe they just are unhappy. It doesn't matter. Be proud of your work.

5. Sitting for hours on end? This is a big deal. Studies have shown that sitting for long periods is unhealthy. I try not to sit for more than two hours at a time. I have a lot of twitchy energy, so I hop up often to get a cup of hot tea, take the dog out or whatever. If I think of it, I might march in place for 30 seconds or do a few stretches. Depending on the weather, I'll take a ten minute walk at lunch. I'm still working on this one!

6. This is another tough one. You want to get your work done, but you also need to make dinner, go to a meeting Tuesday night, pick up dry cleaning, vacuum and buy three birthday presents. What happens? You try to do too much, and soon you're finishing up work tasks at seven o'clock at night and polishing off a quick project Sunday afternoon. It's VITAL to set limits. 

Have a planning session and determine your ideal work schedule. It doesn't have to be nine-to-five, but it should allow for clear divisions between your work and your life. Once the parameters are set, guard them. If work is creeping into your free time, step back and evaluate why. Are you frittering valuable hours when you're supposed to be working? Maybe you underestimated how much time a project would take. Or maybe you're trying to do everything--remember, you're juggling home life with work life. It's not easy! You don't have to do it all. 

With a little planning and a lot of discipline, I've made a work at home life that works for me. I hope you create the ideal life for you too!

How do you balance everything?

Have a fun weekend!!

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NaNo and Beyond: Creating Word Count Goals

It's almost November! Sure, the holidays are coming, but ask a writer why November is exciting and you'll probably hear, "NaNoWriMo," which stands for National Novel Writing Month. Most of us call it NaNo.



I'm not participating this year, but I apply some useful NaNo tips every time I write a first draft. My favorite tip is to pre-plan how long it will take me to write my book. It's pretty simple. I take out an index card and my calendar, and I assign a word count goal for each day and a target word count for each week until the book will be done.

When I'm actually writing, I highlight each day in either pink or yellow. Pink is for the days I meet or exceed my goal, and yellow is for the days I don't meet my goal.

This method keeps me on track. I write my books in a much shorter span of time when I map out the goals. Try it!

For my writer friends, are you doing NaNo? For everyone else, are you excited November is almost here? I am!!

Have a terrific weekend!

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My Inspiring Writer Space

Last week I was tagged by K. B. Owen (author of the Concordia Wells Mystery series!) for Cate Russell-Cole's Inspiring Spaces Blog Hop!

We've lived in a lot of places--apartments, houses, more apartments, more houses. Only one of our homes (an apartment) was too tiny to carve out any inspiring space. I've had a computer in an unfinished basement, our bedroom, an empty dining room, a real office, and spare bedrooms. 

Our current home is spacious. I not only have a dedicated office space, I have a corner window too. I know, I'm spoiled! Here are some pictures of where I write. 

I love L-shaped desks. This one allows me to spread my planner out, keep a stack of files nearby, house my most used reference books, and still have room to red-line manuscripts and type on my laptop.

Here's the closet. It's full of office supplies and random inspiration pieces like notecards, old vision boards, and more books.

No office of mine would be complete without M&Ms. Notice the strategic placement--pinned to the bulletin board for maximum grab-ability. The picture of Allison Sweeney is for health motivation (which counterbalances the M&Ms). She inspires me! The schedule is our family schedule so I don't accidentally send my hubby to the wrong baseball field or forget to pick up our daughter from cross country. Not that that ever happened. *cough* :)

I love my office. I'm always inspired when I walk in! 

Do you have an inspiration space? I'd love to hear about it!

Have a wonderful day!! 

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Writing as a Business: Tracking Expenses

On Monday I showed you my easy method for tracking income (click on "Writing as a Business: Tracking Income" for the article). Today I'm sharing the second tab of my Income-Expense spreadsheet: Expenses.

Why should you track your expenses?

1. For planning purposes. This helps you set aside funds for upcoming expenses. Imaginary example: If you spent $150 on office supplies, $120 on web-hosting, $200 on promotion items, $100 on professional dues, and $300 on everything else, you can use these figures ($870) to plan for the following year.

Maybe you decide to drop a few items. Maybe you know you'll need more for other writing expenses. This just gives you a starting point.

2. For tax purposes. Writers earning income need to maximize their tax deductions. Log your expenses and throw your receipts in a folder. Tax time won't be nearly as daunting!

This is a sampling of some of my expenses.

As you can see, I created four columns. You might need five. Or three. It's up to you! 

The "Description" is who I made the payment to. The "Category" is for me to keep track of how I'm spending money. The date and amount are self-explanatory. An auto-sum formula adds all the figures in the "Amount" column. There are some expenses I won't log until the end of the year. I'll add up all of our monthly Internet bills and add the sum to the total then.

What expenses should you be logging? 

Anything related to your business. Office supplies, office equipment, postage, professional organization dues, conference expenses, books on writing, books to use as comparables on your proposal, mileage to and from writer's groups, promotional items, stationery, a portion of your Internet service, any data back-up service you use, web-hosting, website costs, any self-publishing costs like an editor, cover art, stockphotos, etc...

**Check with a tax professional for a full, detailed, accurate list of exactly what you can deduct on your taxes.**

My husband and I hire professionals to do our taxes. I plan on asking them if we're allowed to deduct the entire amount we pay for Internet or only a percentage. Also I'm finding out if we are allowed to deduct anything for my home office.

The tax laws are constantly changing, so it's good to either pay a tax expert or do extensive research yourself.

Obviously, it's all fun and games to have an expense spreadsheet until you realize you haven't logged your expenses in six months. I have a solution for that too. Keep a manila folder handy. Label it Current Year Writing Expenses. Throw every receipt into this folder. Try to toss them in the front so they're in order. You can always log the receipts later. :)

Do you log your expenses? What did I miss?

Have a terrific weekend! I'll be taking Labor Day off, but come back on Wednesday for my big Critique Boutique launch!!

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Writing as a Business: Tracking Income

Last week, I spent hours researching a spreadsheet for my business. I wanted a simple income/expense tracking system for my writing. Two hours of online searching didn't yield what I'd hoped to find. Either the samples were too in-depth, too simple, or just too something! And that showed me the problem--I didn't know what I wanted.

Microsoft Excel to the rescue! I created a new spreadsheet and started a table for income. Further down the page, I started an expense form. But I couldn't format the size of the columns and rows differently. At that point, frustration roared.

I'm not the first writer to need an easy money tracking system! This shouldn't be hard. What am I missing??

Cracking open a Coke, I noticed the tabs under my spreadsheet. Duh! I'll create three tables in one spreadsheet and format them by giving them their own tab.

Why three tables? One to track my income. One to log my expenses. One to keep track of my business banking.

That's right. Business banking. As most of you know, I sold a romance novel to Harlequin Love Inspired. Next week I'm launching my Critique Boutique, a paid critique service. I also occasionally submit short stories/pieces to various publications. Since writing is my business, I set up a bank account specifically for it. This helps me set aside money for taxes, keep my business funds separate from our household's, and generally makes my writing life easier.

Let's look at tracking income. 

My income spreadsheet has seven columns: Source, Date, Gross, Deductions, Net, Taxes, Total.

Source: Where the income came from.
Date: Date received
Gross: Total amount of check before any deductions
Deductions: Any fees taken out of check (agency fee, etc...)
Net: Take home amount
Taxes: Percentage of check I'm saving for taxes
Total: Total minus fees and taxes

Example:
ABC Publishing, 08/25/2014, $200.00, $30.00, $170.00, $60.00, $110.00

How did I arrive at these figures? The gross amount of the payment is $200.00. Let's say there's a 15% agent fee of $30.00. The net value of the check is then $170.00. I have to estimate how much to pay for taxes, and I have to pay taxes on the gross amount. If you pay 30% tax, you need to set aside $60. This leaves $110 for me to actually keep.

I also set the spreadsheet up with formulas to automatically add all the columns. This lets me know at a glance how much I need to have set aside for taxes and how much money I've earned.

Why 30% taxes? Well, it's complicated.  I spent three hours researching taxes. As a self-employed writer, I have to pay double the FICA taxes because I don't have an employer to split the cost with me. It differs for each individual and depends on where you live. I pay Federal taxes, State taxes, and Local taxes. It's confusing!

The key to any report lies in updating it. Every time I receive a payment, I must log it into my spreadsheet or else it's useless. :)

Join me on Wednesday for a breakdown of the expense report!

Any questions about tracking your income? I'm no expert, but I'm happy to help!

Have a terrific day!

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Did Summer Derail Your Writing Progress?

Has it been weeks since you added words to your novel? Or revised? Or started a story idea?

Is your heart racing? Does a feeling of dread at your lack of progress eat at your stomach?

I know. Whenever I take more than three days off from a writing project, I panic. Let's just say I've been high strung a lot lately! My usual summer writing schedule hit the skids in early July due to new sports' obligations. My daughter joined a runner's group. My son started weight-training. And now that August is here, they both have mandatory cross-country and football practices every morning.

Instead of acting like a normal human being, I had a series of ridiculous thoughts looping around my brain constantly.

I'm wasting my whole summer in the car and I have nothing to show for it!
I should be working on a new plot.
I should be scheduling my day better.
The house is a disaster. Why is the house always a disaster??
Why is there an appointment/meeting/practice every five minutes?
I'm getting nothing done! And I'm not even having fun!

After about a week of that nonsense, I mentally slapped myself. Then I wrote down every writing-related thing I'd accomplished since June 1. I was shocked at how much I HAD gotten done! And knowing I'd completed quite a few tasks gave me the push I needed to start a new project.

This week has been crazy. But I brainstormed character names during a walk Wednesday night. I squeezed in three short sessions of Pinterest searches for the right hero and heroine. I told myself five to fifteen minutes here and there are better than nothing.

Thankfully, I had three full hours yesterday afternoon to relax and work. Did I take a twenty-minute nap? You betcha! Did I work on my new plot the rest of the time? Yes!

Next week will be busy too, but I'm setting small goals for each day. School will be back in session before I know it, and writing will take top priority. Until then? I'm trying to chill out!

Do you get more done in the summer? Less? What season seems to be the best time for you to work?

Have a fantastic weekend!

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Writer's Life: Sarah Loudin Thomas

Welcome to another edition of Writer's Life! Every Wednesday features a writer of inspirational or sweet romance novels. I'm excited to share some of my favorite authors and hope you'll find new books for your to-be-read pile!

I'm super excited to have Sarah Loudin Thomas on the blog today! Sarah and I originally "met" online. We've crossed virtual paths for a few years now, so I was thrilled when Sarah signed with an agent from Books & Such Literary Agency AND sold her debut novel to Bethany House Publishers! Woo-hoo!! Sarah has a warm, friendly personality that comes through in everything she does. I'm so glad I finally got to meet her in person last year! And her inspirational romance, Miracle in a Dry Season, surprised me. I knew it would be great, but I wasn't expecting such a unique time period and voice! My review is below.

Let's get to it!

1. What about writing makes your heart sing?  

My writing is a love letter to my family and my heritage. I grew up hearing all these wonderful stories mostly about people who are long gone. West Virginia hunting stories, farming stories, funny stories, LIVING stories. So when I draw on the wealth of my family's oral tradition to put words on paper, it's as though I get to be a participant. I get to meet people, to know them intimately, and to experience life with them. It really does make my heart sing!

2. What is the biggest hurdle you're facing right now as a writer? 

I've gotten just enough reader feedback to begin to feel confident that Miracle in a Dry Season is a book people like. Which feels fantastic. It also makes me shake in my boots when they say they're looking forward to the next book. What if it's not as good? What if readers just don't like the story? What if I'm a one-hit-wonder? So, yeah, my biggest hurdle right now is self-doubt. Thank goodness the second book is already written!

3. What do you do to fill your creative well?

I hike! I take Thistle (my dog) to the woods almost every day. We're fortunate to live really close to Pisgah National Forest where there are miles of trails to wander. I do my best thinking and plotting while I'm out there surrounded by nature breathing the fresh, clean air--the same sort of nature my Appalachian characters are surrounded by. We even walk in the rain and winter wind. I guess you could say Thistle is my muse since she won't let me skip our daily walk!

4. What are you working on now?

I just turned in book #2. While I'm waiting on the next round of edits for that, I'll get cracking on the third book in the Appalachian Blessings series. I have a draft but I want to make MAJOR changes to it. And then there's all the work of promoting Miracle in a Dry Season--social media, events, soliciting reviews, interacting with readers--it requires a good bit of time. When I started out I didn't realize how much books would overlap. Here I am promoting book #1, waiting for edits on book #2, and rewriting book #3. AND there's a fourth book I'm just itching to write!

*** 

Sarah, your love of West Virginia came through in your book. What a blessing to have a rich history brought to life through family stories--and brought to the reader as well! I understand the doubts too. We can't help but worry how our work will be accepted! Thistle sounds like the perfect muse and personal trainer. I get ideas when I walk too. :)

Thanks so much for being my guest today!

***

Miracle in a Dry Season 
It’s 1954 and Perla Long’s arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.

Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor…until he meets Perla. She’s everything he’s sought in a woman, but he can’t get past the sense that she’s hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla’s unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.

***

About Sarah ~

Sarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her Christian fiction is set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia. Her first novel, Miracle in a Dry Season, releases August 2014 through Bethany House. Sarah is represented by Wendy Lawton of Books & Such Literary Agency.

A graduate of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC, Sarah once dreamed of being a marine scientist. But her love for words won out and she has spent much of her career in public relations and marketing. She currently oversees fundraising and communications for a Christian children’s home in Black Mountain, NC.

Sarah and her husband Jim live in the mountains of Western North Carolina with Thistle–the canine equivalent to a personal trainer pushing them to hike, run, and throw sticks. Sarah is active in her local church and enjoys cooking and–you guessed it–reading.

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My review ~ 5 Star!!

Settle in with a soft blanket and a warm beverage, because this book is all about savoring the details. Several things surprised me: the 1950's setting, the dominant point of view being male, and the gentle tone. It's a lovely book, one that stays with you, one that you wish wouldn't end. 

Ms. Thomas uses her rich knowledge of West Virginia to bring the little town of Wise to life during a drought. While full of conflict, it's never overly dramatic. I loved watching the main character, Casewell, grow spiritually. His relationship with his father brought tears to my eyes. And Perla, the heroine, was so easy to love. The characters and town came to life for me--they felt very real.

I loved this book and can't wait for the next novel in this series to come out!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book with no obligation to review it. All opinions are my own.*

***

Did you grow up hearing about family lore? Did it shape your impressions?

Have an amazing day!

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Weekend Fun with Toxic Water

Water messed with our plans on Saturday. I woke up, brewed coffee, and drove my daughter to cross country practice. We listened to the radio on the way and heard something about Toledo being under a water advisory. I shrugged, didn't think much of it, and drank the rest of the coffee in my travel mug.

After I dropped off my daughter, I headed to Kroger. It was even more of a madhouse than usual on a Saturday morning. Signs taped to the door announced they were out of bottled water. The under-the-sprinkler produce had disappeared. People loaded carts full of Gatorade. I frowned. Maybe this water advisory was a bigger deal than I thought.

I went home and listened to the news. Apparently, algae blooms released microcystins (toxins) into the water. Most of this area relies on Lake Erie for our water supply, and the part of Lake Erie is a large basin that can get stagnant in warm, non-windy conditions. The algae blooms are made worse with rain because fertilizer from fields runs off. Basically, it's a big, complicated mess and makes my head spin. Here's more info, "Toledo-Area Water Advisory."

When cross country practice was over, we packed the car for a day trip to Put-In-Bay, a super-fun island on Lake Erie. It drizzled all morning, but the weather forecast said no rain. Thirty minutes from the ferry, it down-poured. The sky had that it's-going-to-rain-all-day look. We cancelled our golf-cart reservation and drove around Port Clinton instead. We found a restaurant for lunch and figured if the rain let up we could still catch a ferry to the island. It didn't let up, so we headed over to Huron, Ohio, an adorable seaside town we used to live in years ago. We stopped at a drugstore and bought their last three jugs of water. Bottled water was running out everywhere!

So the rain ruined our day plans, and the toxic water ruined everything else. All weekend my stomach felt funny. I blame it on my toxic water coffee, but it's probably just due to me running around so much this week. :)

I hope the water advisory is lifted soon!!

Do you have a well or city water? Have you ever dealt with a water advisory?

Have a terrific day!

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Author Photos!! And Tips For a Productive Session

I had such a great time getting new author pictures taken yesterday! A HUGE thank you to Sarah Paull for her patience, mad camera skills, and eye for interesting poses!

I'm sharing my favorite photos with you today. I had a really hard time picking favorites! They were all so pretty!

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I'm really impressed with the variety of poses and settings Sarah used. I had a great time--it feels so good to have pretty pictures for my website again!

Jill's Tips for a productive AND fun photo shoot if you're heading outdoors:

1. Try on a variety of outfits with accessories before the shoot. Bring one or two changes of clothes (make sure there's a bathroom for changing!). I wore a white T-shirt, swapped accessories, and added a blazer for different looks. I also brought a dressy spring outfit and a bright sweater with jeans. This gives me options for the seasons. Put a bag of outfits together the night before.

2. Select a park that has interesting features. The one we chose has a huge brick mansion, formal gardens, a river, a boardwalk, a covered wooden bridge, an uncovered wooden bridge, brick walls, a gazebo, and tons of trees/flowers/lawn.

3. Take 15-20 pictures (both close-ups and full body) in each outfit and try at least two settings for each outfit.

4. Outdoor shots depend on light. If some shots seem too dark or shadowy, edit them in a photo editor. Don't be afraid to use effects to salvage dark pictures! Here's one I love--and it now has a retro-fifties look to it!

5. Since we chose a venue with plenty of options and one with a bathroom close by, we were able to move pretty quickly. We got about 100 pictures taken in one hour. And that's with three changes of clothes. Not bad!


Have you ever been part of a photo shoot? 

Have a wonderful weekend!!

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