The authors at Harlequin Heartwarming want to thank our wonderful readers for their support, so we’ve put together a Valentine’s Giveaway perfect for those who love to read. My December release, Honeysuckle Bride, is included in the giveaway.
There is a grand prize and three additional prizes packages. Stop by to get registered!
http://heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com/2015/01/its-huge-heartwarming-valentines-day.html
HAVE STORIES YOU WANT OR NEED TO TELL?
HERE’S YOUR OPPORTUNITY!
I am now accepting submissions for the Moments series compilations:
PRECIOUS MOMENTS – something to do with children – may be your own childhood experiences, your parenting experiences, article developed from something about children, not having any children, God’s children, can be a short snippet or full article – or something written by a child. Deadline: March 15, 2015
CHRISTMAS MOMENTS BOOK #2 – stories about Christmas – inspirational, personal, true meaning of Christmas, negatives and/or positives – similar to CM Book #1 -Articles may be 500-2000 words or so. Content, not how many words, is what counts. Deadline: June 15, 2015
Attach your article to an email. Please use Times New Roman, 12 point font.
There is no payment, authors get one free copy, discount on orders, and all royalties are donated to Samaritan’s Purse.
Already released by Grace Publishing are:
Divine Moments (May 2014) – 50 articles written by 37 authors about God showing up in unexpected, miraculous ways
Christmas Moments Book #1 (November 2014) – 50 inspirational stories about the true meaning of Christmas
Spoken Moments (to be released May 2015) – 52 articles about the negative and/or positive impact words have on lives
Please put Precious Moments or Christmas Moments Book #2 in subject line and send to yvonnelehman3@gmail.com
Late last week, a dear friend of our family passed from this life into the arms of our Savior. She was an extraordinary woman who served the church every Sunday in the Special Friends ministry – a safe classroom filled with soft inflatables, sturdy toys, and best of all: Ms. O.Z.’s never-ending smile as she welcomed and loved the special needs children of our church. Because of her, parents like my husband and I could attend the service together. Before Ms. O.Z. came along, we would attend separate services while one of us stayed home with our handicapped son. It worked, but was anything except ideal since we wanted to worship together.
Until her cancer diagnosis, Ms. O.Z. served every single Sunday, even though during the week she also served her own handicapped son. God gave her a heart for children like her son because we all saw how she loved our kids! She understood them, and had endless patience even throughout the lessons each week. She knew some part of those lessons, somehow, would stick. God would see to it, and she obediently presented the material in the simplest, most engaging ways.
For her funeral, her loving family wanted to celebrate her life by inviting all of the Special Friends kids to be honorary pallbearers. They were to march behind the casket, a little parade of those Ms. O.Z. loved so well.
I wanted to honor that, as did all the parents of the special needs kids from our church. But I was worried, too. I had a fairly accurate picture of what the service would entail, and knew it would be difficult for my son to sit quietly. Have I mentioned one of his favorite sounds is a hearty string of “raspberries”? I couldn’t imagine family members offering memories of O.Z. competing with my son’s noise from the audience. And although I voiced my hesitation about bringing him, everyone I spoke to assured me Ms. O.Z. would have wanted him there and I shouldn’t worry a bit about anything. We all wanted to honor Ms. O.Z., and she certainly was familiar with his sounds.
But I still hesitated. And do you know what? God knew Ms. O.Z.’s favorite time of year was winter. She loved snow! So on Sunday, the day before the funeral, God let the snow fall . . . and fall . . . and fall. Over 19 inches at our O’Hare Airport! Which of course led to school closings on Monday, the day of the funeral, even though the snow had stopped and roads were being cleared. If I wanted to be at that funeral (and nothing was going to stop me) I would have to bring my son along because he was home from school. I could only imagine Ms. O.Z.’s reassuring grin, telling me to stop worrying and that everything would be all right.
It was more than all right. He sat quietly in the warm sanctuary, looking a little tired until we sang Amazing Grace, one of his favorite songs. He swayed his head along in perfect timing. And then . . . he fell asleep! Straight up in the chair, but there he was, peaceful, quiet, not a single, solitary raspberry until near the very end just before the casket was being taken out. He added a few sounds like a proper farewell, then fell in line with the other kids Ms. O.Z loved.
I don’t know why I wasted any time worrying. God wanted Ms. O.Z.’s life to be honored. I’m sure as she stands before His throne He greets her with “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” She was also reunited with her own handicapped son who passed away just last year, now fully healed and sharing eternity together. No worries, Maureen, she whispers to me . . . God answers our prayers.
Friends, I don’t want you to think I’m special or anything, but since Kristen Heitzmann and I have been friends for a very, very long time, and since I raised my hand higher than anyone else and shouted louder when she announced the new manuscript she wrote for fun, I get to be an endorser! Which means I finagled a first draft and started reading.
All I can say is: Write a note to yourself to be on the lookout for her announcement when she does release this book. She’s showing a new side to herself that is delightful (not that she isn’t already truly delightful or I wouldn’t like her so much) and if you want to read a book that will make you smile and laugh and chuckle you’ll want this book.
Yes, she has somehow changed genres without losing her style. Since I’ve attempted the same thing recently, I feel better knowing a fellow writer has done it, and done it very, very well. Don’t be afraid to step into the waters. Kristen is going strong!
Julie Arduini is a faithful contributor to this blog and has been since its inception a number of years ago. Not too long ago, we collectively congratulated Julie on the publication of her book and celebrated with her.
Now we have two new books to celebrate with Julie!
Julie Arduini, CR Author
The Love Boat Bachelor features Write Integrity Press authors where readers choose the ending. Chapters are being released now through http://writeintegrity.com and once the voting finishes, the book will be available for free on Kindle for four days, starting on Valentine’s.Please join us in celebrating with Julie! We’re so pleased to see her doing so well!Blessings,Vicki HinzeChristians Read Administrator
This morning the craziest thing happened. I wrote the final words to a novel. Crazy? Why is it crazy for a storyteller with 20 published novels to be sitting in amazement at that fact? Well, for starters, I haven’t finished one in quite some time. I know…you’re all bobbing your heads up and down in agreement. Stop before you put your necks out.
Next, it wasn’t one I’ve been working on. For those of you waiting for Indomitable, I apologize. Nor is it the revised historical series I’ve told you about. Both of those are still coming. Someday. But this…here’s how it happened. A very dear friend of mine has come to live with us through a difficult time in her life. You may not know what that means to an author, so I’ll tell you in two words: Captive Audience.
Shortly before the holidays, we got talking about my writing and the novel Halos that I originally wrote for her as a Christmas gift. That made me say, “Oh, I should read you this romantic comedy I’ve been playing with.” To which she said something like, “Twist my arm.”
So I started reading her what I had and it caught fire. I don’t know how else to explain it. I’d start writing at, oh, 7:30 a.m. and write until 5:30 a.m. catch two hours of reluctant sleep or just not bother because it was such a waste when I could be writing. In between I did eat some, walk some, help plan a kitchen remodel, read to her, and do Christmas, New Year, throw an Epiphany party…and write. It’s been the most fun I’ve ever had in my craft–at least in recent memory.
The crazy thing is it’s unlike anything I’ve written before. It’s funny.
I have had so many years of grief and loss and struggle and striving and growing and pushing for excellence–all of it essential according to God’s perfect will–that this crazy little thing has me astonished. When I typed the last two words, I literally cried, “Hah!” and laughed out loud. Total, total gift. Total, total joy. Wow. Thanks for letting me share.
For the past few months I have been attending bridal shows with a friend who is starting a new business. It’s so much fun to talk with the brides-to-be. Their excitement about the big day is contagious as they gush over their plans. The promise of a new beginning is appealing, no matter how old you are or how many years you’ve been married. Think back to those giddy days of young love and how you couldn’t wait to spend the future with the one you love. How you looked at life with hope for the best times yet to come.
When we start a reading a book, aren’t we filled with the same expectation? We are drawn to a book by a review, word of mouth or perhaps because it is our favorite author. When we open the cover, we’re hoping that the story takes us to a special place. As a romance author, it’s my job to do all the background work and bring you the special story. My characters demand their happily ever after despite the rocky road to get there, but I aim to deliver. This is why I love being an author.
Talking to the future brides is part enjoyment, part research. ( Sorry ladies!) My ongoing series for Harlequin Heartwarming is The Business of Weddings, so I constantly have my attention focused on the emotions of the women I meet, as well as keeping up with wedding trends. As I attended the shows, I kept an eye on the other vendors to see what is popular. At the shows, photographers, florists, bakers and wedding planners, the foundation of a successful wedding, are all represented. But I also have seen candy vendors, print material vendors, for invitations, and even financial institutions who offer help for the big day and beyond. One trend I noticed at all the shows were health specialists. Think about it, you certainly want to be healthy for the big day. Makes sense that you would want brides to get information on exercise and dietary advice.
During the show, there are fashion shows featuring bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses. The focus is not only on the gown, but hair and makeup as well. The brides-to-be love this part of the afternoon. As the show comes to an end, the women are full of ideas. They can now begin to plan their day.
Being at these bridal shows jump started creative ideas for my future books. I always bring a notebook and jot down ideas, impressions and trends. Some might find research tedious, I find it exhilarating. I get more ideas for stories than I have time to write, but I can hope too!
So my good friend knows I’m helping her at the bridal shows, but really, she’s opened a whole world of possibilities for me. Possibilities I plan to share with my readers.
Tara’s newest release, Honeysuckle Bride, received a 4.5 star rating from Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine.
Read an excerpt: http://www.tararandel.com/harlequin
Didn’t I just wish everyone a Happy New Year? Well, I blinked and it’s time to talk Valentine’s Day!
As I’ve confessed before, I love romance but I’m not a die hard romantic. You would probably catch me watching the latest Fast and Furious movie over a rom-com. But I love reading and writing romance.
Thankfully, so does my publisher, Write Integrity Press. Last year they had a fun Valentine’s promotion where they had readers choose the ending. A Dozen Apologies was a bestseller as Mara Adkins visited all the men she’d hurt over the years and asked their forgiveness. Readers chose the man she’d fall for and they didn’t pick Pastor Brent Teague.
Similar to the reality television show, the sequel, The Love Boat Bachelor, now has Brent as the main character. He’s really hurting, I mean afterall, the guy got his heart broken twice by the same girl. He’s wounded enough to even question his calling as a pastor. One thing he is sure of is he’s done with romance.
His sister and best friend disagree. They conspire and get Brent to agree to a stint as a chaplain on a cruise ship. The two week job will take Brent all over the Caribbean. What they don’t tell him is it’s a love themed cruise. The passengers are either in love or looking for it.
This week Write Integrity started releasing chapters so readers can meet Brent and the heroines. Once the chapters have been released, readers will vote on the heroine they want to see Brent fall for. Once the votes are tallied the book will have an ending and be available on Kindle for FREE for four days, starting on Valentine’s Day.
I love it!
I wrote one of the heroines but I can’t tell you which one. I can tell you I’ve read them all and I have no idea how the voting will go. They are all fun chapters where Brent visits beautiful ports, has interesting chaplain experiences and meets a lot of passengers on board the love theme and then some.
If you’re done with the snow and cold or want to escape with a tropical read for a bit, I’d love for you to check out The Love Boat Bachelor. Chapters will be released during the week this week and next before voting. I’d appreciate you sharing this so we can get a lot of readers involved and voting.
As someone who does enjoy a fictional romance, I’m always rooting for that happy ending. I’d love to see you give Brent Teague the ending he deserves!
To read The Love Boat Bachelor Chapter one, click here.
To read The Love Boat Bachelor Chapter two, Cozumel, click here.
Also, starting in February my newsletter subscribers will receive monthly installments to my contemporary romance, Crumbs and Embers. Those who are new to subscribing receive the novella Match Made in Heaven, too. To subscribe for free, complete the form in the right sidebar of Julie Arduini.com and watch for activation. I’m excited to share this Upstate NY Finger Lakes romance with you!
I recently had a neat Twitter conversation about Goodreads versus Shelfari. One of my Twitter followers has used Shelfari for years to catalog her books, but everyone I know uses Goodreads. She wasn’t sure if she’d want to go through re-entering all her books on Goodreads because apparently she has a lot.
I like Goodreads because I have enjoyed the readers groups there. I especially like Christian Fiction Devourers because they’re a nice bunch of people and pretty active in their discussions. I’ve had a lot of great book recommendations from the readers there.
I got a Shelfari and a Goodreads account at the same time, years ago. I didn’t much care for Shelfari mostly because each page took longer to load on my browser/computer than Goodreads. I’m not sure if that was a great reason to choose to use Goodreads over Shelfari, but there you are!
Now I use Goodreads a lot—I visit the site at least once a day or once every other day. I don’t use it to catalog my books—I have a separate program on my computer that does that. I use the program because I also include books that I no longer own but that I’ve read before, so I can remember what I’ve read and what I thought about it. So the program has thousands of books in it, but I only own a percentage of those.
When I got around to using Goodreads, I already had thousands of books in my computer program and didn’t want to spend so much time inputting my data onto the site. Now, I record my books on Goodreads if I write a review of the book, in addition to recording the book in my catalog program. The fact I enjoy doing that makes me think I would have enjoyed being a librarian if I wasn’t a writer!
So how about you? Goodreads or Shelfari, and why? And any Goodreads groups you enjoy?
Camy’s latest romantic suspense is Treacherous Intent.
DANGER AT HER DOORSTEP
Private investigator Elisabeth Aday thinks her California women’s shelter is a safe haven—until skip tracer Liam O’Neill shows up. While searching for a missing woman, Liam unwittingly puts Elisabeth in the crosshairs of the deadly drug gang that is trailing his target. To stay alive, they must find the woman before the gang finds them. And when a second rival gang joins the search, the threats multiply. Deep in the lair of notorious drug dealers, Elisabeth can’t tell which is more dangerous—the criminals after her…or her growing feelings for the man at her side.
That four-letter word.
No, not that word.
It’s not dirty or profane, but it’s full of rottenness.
Envy.
I think most writers go through a time when they have to do battle with it head-on.
Envy just doesn’t play fair.
There you are, minding your own business in a bookstore, one of your favorite places in the world, and the latest books by not one, but more of your friends is on the shelf.
Credit: Kate Farquharson
And yours? Ah, what book?
Even if said book exists, for some reason yours isn’t there with the others.
Some have said people who battle envy become that way because they’re not willing to work like the other person has for that splendid result. Not necessarily so.
Most days I can go through a bookstore just fine. Others, that old envy sneaks up and bumps into me.
Maybe you’re not an author, but you pop onto Facebook for a few moments and see photos of people’s vacations, perfect children who are doctors and lawyers and such, smiling friends squishing together in one massive selfie, or the latest craft project that would make Martha Stewart take notes. Or you read a gushing post about someone’s absolutely wonderful day. And gradually, what you have doesn’t seem as great. Or, if you’re going through a tough time, that time feels a whole lot tougher. You just want to breathe a little easier.
“Envy comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.” – Jean Vanier
I don’t know who he was, but that’s pretty close to right-on. Many writers, though, if they know they can write—and write well—sometimes get the feeling of being passed by when it seems like others are moving forward. For me, when it arrives, it comes from frustration during those waiting times.
Envy comes from comparisons, too. If we’re not passed by, maybe it feels as if what others have is better, faster, prettier, newer, more special, you fill in the blank.
“Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.” – Harold Coffin
Credit: Greg Westfall
Ah, yes, envy involves counting and keeping score. Like toddlers, when we have a perfectly good blue car, we see another toddler with a red car. And that red car is THE car we want. Nothing’s wrong with blue. We want to hold onto the blue or throw it to the side and grab for the red.
Envy goes hand in hand with discontentment. They spin ’round and ’round together, each feeding off the other and becoming stronger.
“…envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galations 5:22
Oh, great. Envy is on the naughty list. As in, the really bad naughty list of works of the flesh. We feel pretty self-righteous when we skim over that naughty list and congratulate ourselves on how good we are if we don’t do those things. But that little envy thing…so sneaky.
“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” – Proverbs 14:30
Oh, envy. It can make us sick. Envy can make us feel like the victim, as if life or circumstances are just unfair. We believe we are the wounded ones, but we’re the ones hurting ourselves from the inside out.
Envy is a few steps from crossing the line to believing God has dropped the ball and He really doesn’t have our best interests at heart. Just like Eve. One little deception.
And it can start from one little stroll in the bookstore or one swipe of the screen on a tablet.
Lord, help us not to lose sight of what You’ve given us. Let us not tread a wilderness path coming from unthankfulness and ungratefulness. Help us know that what You have for us are good gifts, perfect gifts, in spite of our current trying or disappointing circumstances. – Amen.
In recent years a few of my friends have retired. I’m not sure how it happened that I should already be at the point where people in my life are old enough to be in their “Golden Years” but here I am. Or rather, here we are.
One thing that seems universal to those who are now in control of how they spend their day is how fast they fill up. It’s incredibly easy to find something to do! Time never slows down, especially as we get older. I once asked my mother, then in her 70s, if time went slower after she and my dad were both home all the time. She just shook her head and said the days go faster than ever.
At the time I thought that sounded so impossible. How can time go fast for someone with health limitations and living a simple life of leisure? Well, I may not be in my 70s yet but it does seem to me that with each passing year time does seem to be speeding up, not slowing down.
So today my goal is to slow down time. I don’t have hurry through my Bible reading; I can take a moment to marvel at creation; I can certainly find the time to count my blessings instead of just hurtling through life not even aware of how grateful I am to be living where I do, with the people I have around me, and healthy enough to enjoy it all.
Next January will likely be here as quickly as this January arrived. I know I can’t really slow down the clock. But I can make a few moments linger along the way!
Friends, today I’m not including the letter I usually do, because this time I received a telephone for help. Let’s call this dear lady Viv. The call was to tell me her husband died last week and to ask for advice. I think all I did was confuse her even more than she’s already confused, so in retrospect I’m answering her the way I would have attempted to had I not been in shock.
For the wounded:
When I have grieved one death after another after another–either of a destroyed life or marriage or simply a broken heart–no book written about grief was capable of helping me. They didn’t address MY heart, MY pain, MY experience. Only one book, written by a beloved friend of mine, helped me, and it was written for those whose friends have suffered a loss. The title is How to Help a Grieving Friend by Stephanie Grace Whitson. Having read it several times I knew what not to do with Viv.
For instance, I knew that no spoken words would help. I knew that sharing my own experiences wouldn’t help. I was able to give her practical advice about taking care of herself and not expecting to even recall our conversation, because when one is in shock one doesn’t know what she’s doing most of the time. I gave her instructions about finances–things I knew she would probably forget, but I focused on caring for her and helping her move forward so she could care for herself. I pray I gave sound advice. But there is one thing I didn’t tell her, and it’s something I’ll tell her later, when anger or bitterness threaten to set in. I’ll tell her this because I’ve experienced it over and over again. I’m sure you have, too, in some way.
I’ve been reading and rereading the passages in Hebrews the 12th chapter directly following the verses about God chastening those He loves–his true children. I’ve buried myself in it to commit it to memory. In this world we suffer, sometimes to the point where we want to die. But beginning in the 12th verse of the HSCB version, we are told, “Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.”
A broken leg needs to be straightened and placed in a splint or cast so it will grow back together properly. The same thing happens when the emotions are involved.
There are times in our lives when we endure such suffering that we might be tempted to rebel against God and the pain He’s allowed us to endure. We can begin to see all of life as a punishment, and those around us tend to retreat after a time because our words are often filled with sad thoughts, depression, even bitterness. I’ve been there. Actually, I’m still focusing on the climb out of that particular pit.
When we’ve been injured by death or a broken relationship or cruel words, the loss of a job or any number of other attacks, this is the time it’s most vital for us to keep our paths straight–to not rebel against God. It’s time to draw closer, to bathe ourselves in His word–something we’re less likely to do when we’re angry with Him. It’s the only way to keep our paths straight when we’ve been injured. We’re already hindered by injury, and physically speaking, we need those straight paths so that we don’t wander off into the rocky places and make the injury more severe.
You might be limping today after an emotional injury, a physical injury, or life-changing illness. Now is the most important time to keep your eyes focused on God. Read and reread Hebrews 12 until you can see more clearly. Tell Him exactly how you feel, and never sever the connection between yourself and God. Those who never suffer have never belonged to Him. I realize that isn’t a great sales pitch to bring in new believers, but for those of us who belong, it’s the plain truth. My warning for my friend Viv is to stay close to Him especially now. We can cause more damage to ourselves and others when we’re wounded. Don’t forget to keep your paths straight and walk with the Great Physician. He can keep you firmly in His arms. If you don’t walk alongside Him at this time you can walk away and incur further injury. That will not only hurt you more, but it could hurt your friends and loved ones.
May God be with you if you’re suffering from a loss or an injury today. May you allow God to bring you peace and may you treat yourself kindly as you heal.
Much love from Hannah Alexander
Courtesy Catholic News Agency
Messages from God and lessons to us are all around. We simply must slow down long enough to see and comprehend them. I’m as guilty as the next of sometimes breezing right past them, but yesterday, I saw a news clip of the Pope in the Philippines that stopped me in my tracks and held me there.
The weather there was awful; rainy and gloomy. In spite of it, six million people gathered and stood in the rain to hear the Pope’s message to them.
In the news clip, a priest in New York said this was the largest gathering of people in recorded history for a single individual. He also said some are calling the Pope a rock star. He disagreed; that many had never gathered for any rock star. All of this caught my ear and had me paying close attention.
Enough attention that I realized the Pope-mobile had ditched its bullet-proof glass walls; they were open. The Pope kissed babies, touched people physically as well as spiritually. And when a little girl who lived on the streets before being taken in by the church asked why such bad things happened to children, he admitted that answer was beyond him, and he hugged the child. She moved closer to him and hugged the Pope so hard, as one would her daddy she’d gone to for comfort. It touched me. Deeply.
The message he delivered was one of helping the poor, of working against poverty and corruption. I didn’t hear it all—just that recited in the clip—but it was a strong message. Yet I believe his strength is in his accessibility. He’s open and genuine, and people react to that and hear his message to them through that perspective.
While I attended Catholic schools early-on, I am not Catholic. Yet I learned a great deal from the Pope in this news clip and I expect as I think about it, and study on my own, I’ll learn much more. So I wanted to share those observations with you. Maybe you too will find something of value in them.
Lesson 1: The Pope is sincere and genuine in his desire to interact with people. He doesn’t come across as a man on a soap-box speaking at them. He talks with them and listens to them.
Lesson 2: He removed the walls from the Pope-mobile. This endangers his life. It makes him vulnerable to the crazies who would kill him. Yet he values his life less than he values the desire to be accessible to people. Those suffering and struggling, those seeking, see this, know it, and respect it. Sometimes the momentary touch of a hand offers reassurance where there has been none. Reminds people that God is, has been, and remains in control in a world gone wild. We are not alone.
Lesson 3: When the little girl asked the question, a lump raised in my throat. How do you explain man’s inhumanity to man to a child? To adults? How do you explain a child living on the streets? Hungry? Alone? It brings to mind a quote: If you condone it, you own it. I don’t recall but give credit to whoever said it first, but I agree with it. If collectively we decided to nurture, care for, feed and protect children, they would be nurtured, cared for, fed, and protected. We’ve haven’t . . . yet. But hope springs eternal.
The Pope could have offered the child a platitude. He didn’t. I respect that. And by her reaction, moving in for that fatherly hug, the child did, too. And that carried not one but two lessons:
And, for me, the most significant BIG LESSON from this little news clip was:
People are inundated with negative news, with hardships and tough times. They thirst and hunger for hope, for assurance that God is here, there, everywhere, and, while we might not understand all that is happening, He understands perfectly.
We want that assurance. We need that assurance. Because we are not just physical and emotional beings, we are spiritual beings, and for many, we see so much that is anti-spirit, we hear and feel the impact of so much that is an affront to our spirits, we find ourselves sinking deeper and deeper into despair even as we live out our day-to-day lives and appear normal.
That message is what drew six million people to stand in the rain to hear the Pope speak. It wasn’t the Pope. He is not a rock star. It was the message.
It was their thirsty spirits stepping out in faith, eager to hear a message of hope.
And delivering such a message, doesn’t require one to be a Pope, only to have a willing heart…✚
© 2015, Vicki Hinze
_____________________________
Vicki’s new book is a sweet romance, My Imperfect Valentine.
By Yvonne Lehman, author of 55 novels, non-fiction compilations Divine Moments, Christmas Moments, Spoken Moments, and future moments…
My son is a runner. Almost every time he returns from a run he says, “I quit. I’m never doing this again. I hate it.” He turns red, pours sweat, breathes hard, gasps, and complains because he only improved his time by a fraction of a second or almost died going up that hill. I think he’d rather die than stop.
The next day he puts on his running clothes, running shoes, gets his water and ear buds, smiles like he’s going to conquer the world and off he goes. Why? Because it’s what he does. It’s fulfilling. He feels he is accomplishing and conquering. He is motivated by envisioning the end result. He is a runner.
It reminds me of my writing and that of many other writers. We can look at that blank screen and say, “I can’t do this.” But we do. Why? Because we’re writers. We have a goal ahead of us. We’re motivated.
I look back at the beginning of my motivation. It was decades ago at the Billy Graham School of Christian Writing. That opened up a whole new world to me. I’ve been running (sometimes walking slowly!) with my writing ever since. There were only two writers conferences back then, the Billy Graham one in MN and Mount Herman in CA. I knew one was needed in NC. After much struggle and many years, the Blue Ridge Mountains Writers Conference was started. After 25 years of directing the conference I turned it over to Alton Gansky, whom I knew would lead it to even greater heights, which he has, along with his helpers Edie Melson, Eva Marie Everson, and many others.
My goal now is to concentrate on bringing encouragement, instruction, and motivation primarily to novelists. The Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelists Retreat is an intimate gathering of a limited number of students so focus and concentration can be devoted to the attendees’ needs and questions about every aspect of novel writing.
The Retreat is held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest NC October 18-22.
Our faculty is a profession group, multi-published, and with a mission to teach beginning and advanced writers how to improve their craft, increase their creativity, and find joy in using the gifts and opportunities God has given us.
Faculty includes (listings are bare minimum experience and expertise):
Yvonne Lehman, director, 55 novels, Candlelight Romance and Guiding Light Women’s Fiction editor (LPC)
Diane Mills, over 50 novels, suspense writer, two-time Christy winner, Best Books winner, former Craftsman Director CWG
Edie Melson, social media expert, author, co-director BRMCWC, blogger for Guideposts, Senior Editor of NovelRocket.com
Torry Martin, writer, speaker, actor, comedian, delightful entertainer
Eva Marie Everson, co-director FCWC, award-winning author, Southern Fiction editor (LPC)
Ann Tatlock, two-time Christy winner, Heritage Beacon Historical Novels editor (LPC)
Diana Flegal, Mentor, Harline Literary Agent
Lori Marett, Mentor, screenwriting
Others will be announced later. See our form for discounted tuition.
We also offer critiques and contests, including our highest award: the Golden Leaf Award. For more information: http://ridgecrestconferencecenter.org/event/novelist or google Blue Ridge Novelist Retreat, or contact Yvonne at: yvonnelehman3@gmail.com
Don’t walk… run to join us for this wonderful experience. Looking forward to seeing some of you in October!
Happy New Year! I missed my last December post not remembering what day it was thanks to the holiday schedule. I was also basking in what had to be one of our best Christmas celebrations to date.
After we had our first ever Christmas with the four of us in our new house, we traveled back to our hometown to visit family. This time we met my husband’s adult children en route and drove most of the way together and spent precious days with them as we caught up with both sides of my husband’s and my family.
I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed so much laughter.
All four Arduini children plus girlfriends.
I got thinking, it didn’t seem that long ago when I was praying for such a thing. When I first met the kids they weren’t even teenagers. The very week we started dating my now husband learned they were moving from Upstate NY to Wisconsin. We didn’t see them often, but when we did, we poured a year’s worth of love and laughs into those visits.
The goodbyes were heart wrenching.
I kept praying.
The distance was hard, especially in a time before Skype and texting.
But as they grew up and became young adults, we saw the fruit. For kids of divorce, they were well-adjusted and very close siblings. They had a lot of family that loved them from all sides. Although it wasn’t a perfect situation, we understood God knew what He’d been doing all along.
As time marched on and not only were they adults, but we also had kids of our own, the fruit became a harvest. When his daughter married I got to watch former spouses chat with fond memories and laughter. Former in laws greet my husband with kindness. Everyone reach out to me and our kids with hospitality and warmth. I still bask in the blessing that their maternal grandmother switched place settings at the reception so she could sit by me. It was an absolute perfect day.
My husband asked how did I know things would turn out so well? I didn’t even hesitate.
“When you’ve laid down fifteen years of prayer, you know it’s not going to return void.”
This last visit was more bounty. Grown children with solid jobs and healthy relationships. All kids interacting together as if they saw each other every day. A beaming father. So much laughter.
As a young wife, I wanted the distance erased and tears gone. Thankfully God asked me to pray. When we gathered a couple weeks ago we remembered those goodbyes. As hard as they were, we realized the silver lining. The older siblings have a strong bond and took amazing care of each other when traveling. They were surrounded by their mom’s family and love, their dad’s, their step dad and sister, and me, my family, and their siblings. When we Skype and they are at their mom’s, it’s fun to watch my husband interact with her. They had good times, and I love that they are able to remember them.
If you’re going through a situation you’ve prayed and prayed for and it seems like nothing is happening, don’t believe the lie. I believed a lot of activity was going on in heaven before it pulled down to Earth. And although it took more time than I naively thought it should, the fruit of those prayers is sweeter than anything I can describe.
My prayers are with you!
***
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VICKI HINZE
TARA RANDEL
NANCY J FERRIER
MARY ALFORD
PATRICIA BRADLEY
PEGGY WEBB
ANN MALLEY
JULIE ARDUINI
JAMES R.COGGINS
KATHY CARMICHAEL
NORA ST LAURENT
DELORES TOPLIFF
Find the Authors' books easily at the Christians Read Book Store.
VICKI HINZE
TARA RANDEL
HANNAH ALEXANDER
HANNAH ALEXANDER
MARY ALFORD
JULIE ARDUINI
MAUREEN LANG
MARGARET DALEY
LOUISE M GOUGE
YVONNE LEHMAN
JUDITH MILLER
ELIZABETH GODDARD
CAMY TANG
JAMES L. RUBART
KRISTEN HEITZMANN
SARAH GOEBEL
KATHI MACIAS
YVONNE ORTEGA
LYNETTE SOWELL
SUSAN MAY WARREN
JEN PHOEBUS
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