Category Archives: Writing and Author Stuff

April 12, 2014 · 9:37 pm

Buried in Editing and Revision

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I’ve been buried under a pile of editing, and have for a while semi-avoided the subject of the book I’m writing when I’m around friends, but they usually bring it up.

“So, how’s the book coming along?”

In embarrassment I tell them I am still editing and revising.

They may raise an eyebrow and say, “Still?”

I shyly admit, “It just keeps getting better.”

I’ve read that to be a good writer you must read, read, read, and write, write, write. I’m adding, edit, edit, edit, and revise, revise, revise.

The thing is, most people don’t actually understand what editing and revising truly entail. Continue reading →

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April 8, 2014 · 2:12 pm

A Note From an Aspiring Author

Book writing, like wine,

only gets better with time;

and an enormous amount of revision.  emy

Okay everybody, I am finally almost done. For reals this time! Really, I meant it!

But what a chore it has been.

For a while I have been threatening to write a memoir. Well, I finally did, but the funny thing is that it’s not my memoir.  Though, of course, it has an awful lot of my heart and soul in it.

It’s really the fictional memoir of a homeless man named Nick. I have a desire to bring awareness to the tragedy of homelessness and the heartbreak of un-adopted foster kids that age out of foster care, and end up homeless.

As if those poor kids have not been through enough already.

Yes, this really does happen, by the way.

You may have some questions.

How did I end up writing a fictional memoir, rather than my own? And What on earth would make me think anyone would even be interested in reading my memoir anyway?

Continue reading →

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April 5, 2014 · 11:12 am

A Spoonful of Sugar

In the movie “Mary Poppins,”  Mary, the governess in charge of two children, tells them through a very catchy song that “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way.” Mary is referring to the nasty tasting medicine, probably cod-liver oil, they are about to take that has been magically sweetened.

But in my opinion, the term “a spoonful of sugar” can apply to anyone doing an act of kindness for a struggling person.

Sometimes, all it takes to make someone’s day is an effortless or generous act of kindness. For some, it can be life altering like it was for a lady named Andrea, as she wrote in her blog about a stranger, a woman who paid her grocery bill of $17.38 when she had no money to pay, and the EBT machine was not working. Andrea, mother of five, and her husband had been unemployed for months, and had at one time even been homeless.

I am especially tender towards homeless people as I am now almost finished revising my fictional memoir of a homeless man named Nick, in the book called Black Coat with a Silver Lining.

Continue reading →

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October 22, 2013 · 12:46 pm

A Pursuing God

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AND I WANT TO BE PART OF IT

It never ceases to amaze me that the GOD OF ALL CREATION—THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR—Longs to be part of our lives.

In real estate it’s all about:

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Continue reading →

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Filed under Awed by His Love and Grace, Following Christ Has Changed My Life, Hope, Life Lessons, Poetry, Seeds of Inspirations, The Miraculous, Writing and Author Stuff

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October 19, 2013 · 3:39 pm

Need Help Liking The Bible?

imageHappy Saturday everybody.

When I find something of great value I like to share it.

That is why I have spent countless hours telling stories of how God has transformed me from a person who felt meaningless and unwanted to a person who realizes that God, the Creator of the universe, the All Mighty, All Powerful God–is also my Father.

He redeemed this unwanted, forsaken, sinful, selfish, forgotten, fatherless self–ME–into His kingdom through the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son.

So now I can say,

“I got a Daddy!” Continue reading →

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October 7, 2013 · 10:01 pm

Watch Out for Worm Infested Apples

imageI saw a most disturbing sight today while driving on a highway. A motorcyclist drove while standing up on the foot pedals of his motorcycle.  Yes, I did say he drove his motorcycle standing up.  I have never read any motorcycle driving manuals, but I am sure that would be a major no-no.

Wow, that guy is taking such a crazy risk!  Is he trying to commit suicide?  I thought.  What if the car in front of him had to make a sudden stop? I saw this motorcyclist in the same area of highway that I had to come to a sudden halt about four years ago when I hit a deer. Continue reading →

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Filed under A Broken Childhood, Child Abuse and Neglect, Following Christ Has Changed My Life, Inner Sruggles and Heartache, Life Lessons, Loss of a Child, Writing and Author Stuff

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September 12, 2013 · 11:30 pm

The Acrobatic Fish

“Mommy, Mommy, look! That fish is walking on the grass? Look, Mommy!” My young son yelled.

“A. Fish. Is. Walking,” said my oldest daughter Rachel, twisting her face into a puzzled look.

Hannah ran over to me in amazement of the unbelievable sight.

“Mom! The fish’s walking on his head!”

I was puzzled by their statements. My eyes traced my daughter’s pointing arm to the patch of grass on the other side of the running creek, about twenty feet away. There, as plain as day, was a strange sight.

A seven inch sunfish, head down, tail straight up, moved up and down along the grass as if it was walking on its head. Continue reading →

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Filed under Animals, Everythingelse, Following Christ Has Changed My Life, Gottalaugh, In a Kids World, Just for Fun, Life Lessons, Seeds of Inspirations, Writing and Author Stuff

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September 9, 2013 · 11:27 pm

Great Mother-Son Memory

imageI never prayed so hard for a sunny day. I always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding. We chose an upscale turn-of-the-century, Victorian bed and breakfast overlooking a beautiful lake for our wedding and reception.
It had been pouring for days, but God answered my prayer. September 25th 2004 turned out to be a gorgeous day after all.
Shortly after I announced I would be getting married for the second time, my then 20 year old son, Jonathan, actually asked me if he could walk me down the aisle on my wedding day. His question caught me off-guard because Jonathan made it clear he did not like to attend any wedding. I hadn’t planned on anyone walking me down the aisle at all, but after thinking about it for a second or two, I felt flattered that my son would request such a thing. How could I possibly say no to that!

Continue reading →

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August 28, 2013 · 7:38 pm

Seriously, Who’s Got the Biggest Problem?

I was not able to write a post yesterday as usual (Tuesday) because I had two days of a migraine. Brutal! Here is my Tuesday post. 🙂

I have friend I will call Sandy. I met her about thirteen years ago when a little dog I was fostering snuck out of my yard. Sandy had recently moved in next door and offered to help me find the dog. We have both long since moved from that neighborhood, but we stay in touch. I consider Sandy a good friend.

Sandy feels bad about herself much too often, even more so when she is depressed. She has dealt with mean criticism and ugly labels throughout her life. She has been ridiculed and called names.

The thing is that because Sandy’s parents were heavy alcohol drinkers, Sandy suffers some of the symptoms of from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

Continue reading →

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August 23, 2013 · 6:18 pm

Heart Support

As I have mentioned before, my former married life was excruciatingly painful. I often felt overwhelmed and badly in need of an emotionally supportive friend at home. God sent that supportive friend in the form of a dog.

Annie and me 1997.

Annie and me 1997.

God knew what He was doing when he made dogs. Annie was the best friend a person could want. It was spring of 1986. My three children then were five and under. As an avid animal lover, I jumped at the chance to get a lapdog when I heard there was a litter of designer-puppies. Free! They turned out to be a Lhasa-apso-terrier-mix. The owner did not want to deal with selling the mixed-breed pups. For over a week I begged my then-husband to give a puppy a try until he finally conceded, but was adamant he didn’t want this dog, he wanted a Doberman.

There was only one female left by the time we got the puppy. She was blonde, very affectionate and cuddly, with a curled, shaggy tail.

The kids and I were exhilarated when we brought her home. Months before we knew of the litter, I told the kids someday I wanted a girl dog named Annie. After that, my two year old son told everyone “My doggy name Annie,” so we named this puppy Annie.

Continue reading →

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