Okay, I’ll be honest. I don’t have a favorite childhood costume (I know, how sad is that LOL). The reason why is I don’t really remember any particular costume I had. Do you remember those like plastic type costumes that covered the body and then the hard plastic mask for the face? Those are the one that I remember getting every year. I never had one of those kewl costumes that so many other kids at on at school. My mom couldn’t afford it. Today, however, those types of costumes I don’t think … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Pie Anyone?
When I think of the different things that start to come out during the fall for the things people like to eat, things that come to mind are caramel apples, candy corn, cranberry sauce, squashes, turkey, the multi color corn (maze corn), apple pie, stuffing, and so many more. However, I think my very favorite is pumpkin pie. Ever since I can remember, this time of year brings out the pumpkin pies. And not even just the pie but pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and maybe some other things I don’t … [Read more...]
One potato, two potato, three potato, …
Four. Five potato, six potato, seven potato more. Hee Hee. You know the old saying. I used to say that all the time as a kid. Does it really mean anything or stand for anything? I don't think so. However, it's a great topic starter. Do you have any old saying you used to love to say when you were a kid or old song you'd used to sing? One of my favorites song went like this: Little Bunny Foo Foo went hopin' through the forest scoppin' up the field mice and boppin' 'em on the head. Then … [Read more...]
Day 50: The Narrative of Your Life
We all have a narrative we live by. Our morales. Our ethics. Our beliefs. Our likes and dislikes. Plus many others. All the things make us who we are. And through writing, we can find ourselves through the words we write. I know I do in my characters. They come alive in my head and I try transferring that to the best of my ability to paper. The narrative of my life has been anything but easy. The positive through all of this is I can use those experiences in my fiction. Maybe somehow, someway, … [Read more...]
Day 48: Community
When I think of a writing community I think of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). This little community of writers is so much more than writing. There is Novel Track. It's a place of accountability and support. You let the group know what your goal is at the beginning of each month. Then, as each day goes by you report in your numbers for that day. In return, you will receive positive reinforcement. Even on the days where you did nothing and tell the group you have a great big goose … [Read more...]
Day 29: First Things First
There's an old saying that goes like this: In order to start your journey we must first know where we are going. For example, in order for Keith and I to know the exact route we will take to get to Alaska when we start our journey, we must first know exactly where we are going. So in this case, first things first, we know we are going to Anchorage. From there we can plot our long course, making our stops along the way until we make our destination. I think there are many times in life where we … [Read more...]
Featured Book: Rodeo Ashes
Rodeo Ashes is written by Shannon Taylor Vannatter. Back cover blurb: It’s never too late to start over. Lacie Gentry, a young widow and mom, is struggling with the aftermath of her husband’s tragic death. When she bumps into former classmate Quinn Remington, her future is undecided. She accepts a job teaching kids to ride at Quinn’s neighboring ranch, hoping to revitalize her life with an old pastime but soon sees in Quinn a chance to move forward with new love. . .if she’s ready. It’s … [Read more...]
The “Softening”
In a month, Mari will have been gone for four years. I have talked several times over the last four years in how the day she died is not an anniversary as this signifies happiness to me. My eighteen year wedding anniversary was this past February. That is a happy time. Mari’s death, anything but. However, I have come to call it the mark. When Mari died I became wrapped up in the utter sorrow and sadness of it all. My heart felt like it had been ripped open and a gaping would left in its … [Read more...]
It’s kind of amazing…
It kind of amazes me how I started writing. It has taken me a while to even admit that I am writer (out loud). It sounded so foreign to me yet now it is the exact opposite. I am about to write something that for some may come across the wrong way. I need everyone to understand that I truly love my daughter and I would give anything to have her back. She was my pride and joy and that will never change. However, God didn’t plan for her to stay on this earth longer than her eight and half years … [Read more...]
This Year’s Ladies Retreat in Gatlinburg
I write from the ladies retreat I am on from my church this weekend. It is Saturday night right now. I went last year and the experience was exactly what I needed at the time. This was when I was introduced to Angie Smith’s story. It was something unexpected but good. This year on the way to Gatlinburg we ended up being delayed by either a mud slide or rock slide on I-75 located around mile marker 143. We ended up being put on a detour that added about an extra hour or so our drive time. The … [Read more...]
