In Others' Words

In Others’ Words: Life

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Beth Vogt

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”

~Mother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity

 

In Your Words: If you were to focus on one line in this quote, which one would it be? “Life is a promise, fulfill it” is the sentence that caught my eye. It challenges me to stay committed to life … to what I believe in … to what God calls me to … to the promises I’ve made.

**I’m visiting my friend Lisa Jordan’s blog today. I’m sharing how my romantic adventures mirror Allison’s, the heroine’s in Wish You Were Here.I hope you can stop by.**

Posted in Faith, Life, Quotes | Tagged , | 16 Comments

Photo Gallery: Wish You Were Here Launch Celebration

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Beth Vogt

There’s been a lot of fun involved with writing my first novel — and a lot of hard work too. This past Saturday was all about fun! Family and friends joined with me to celebrate the launch of Wish You Were Here — and the wonderful photographer Lisa Anne Meeter, of Lisa Anne Photography, took photos for me.

My family has been the best support for me during this crazy, dream come true time. And I so appreciated that they prayed with me before the party began.

If you’re wondering how I felt about the day, this photo pretty much says it all: I had a blast! It was so much fun to be surrounded by family and friends who were excited about my novel. How could I not spend the day smiling and laughing?

Me with two of my dearest friends! Shari (middle) — well, let’s just say there wouldn’t have been a book launch party without her making it happen. And Sonia is my ever-faithful “Preferred Reader,” who gives me feedback on my novels.

This photo is one of my favorites! It’s me with my a-ma-zing agent, Rachelle Gardner. I thank God for blessing me with Rachelle’s influence in my life. (I also love how the photographer framed my wedding gown in the shot too.)

 

 

I enlarged the cover of WYWH and matted it. Guests signed it instead of a traditional guest book and I plan to frame it and hang it in my office.

I had lots of fun talking with people. I love the people God has brought into my life — and Saturday was a one-of-a-kind reminder that I have a lot to be thankful for. Oh! That ceramic plate on the table? My family made that for me. It looks like a stamp (think postcards & stamps, as in the postcards in WYWH) and says “First Edition” and has my book cover on it. It’s going on the wall in my office too.

What’s a WYWH celebration without a llama kiss? Or cake? Or a hug or a kiss from my husband?

This celebration included all that and more! I’ll be posting a photo album on my author Facebook page!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**I’m guest blogging over at The Writers Alley today about Real Life and Writing Life. I hope you drop by! **

Posted in Contemporary Romance, Fun, Life, Writing | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

In Others’ Words: Pessimist or Optimist

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Beth Vogt

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ~Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British politician & statesman

You know what the all-wise “they” say: It’s all a matter of perspective.

I can’t argue with “them” this time.

Am I going through life seeing all the difficulties? Or am I going through life embracing all the opportunities?

Probably a bit of both.

I haven’t kept track of my optimist versus pessimist tendency. Some times I’m all about “I can do this.” And sometimes I’m an Eeyore with this kind of perspective:

 

“It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily.
“So it is.”
“And freezing.”
“Is it?”
“Yes,” said Eeyore. “However,” he said, brightening up a little, “we haven’t had an earthquake lately.”

 

We may chuckle at Eeyore … but, really, do we want to be an Eeyore?

In Your Words: Choose one  – difficulty or opportunity. What helps you turn the one (difficulty) into the other (opportunity)?

** I’m a guest over at Jill Kemerer’s blog today. I hope you drop by and visit! **

Posted in Life, Quotes, Reality | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

In My Words: A Wedding Gown Revisited

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Beth Vogt

I hadn’t seen my wedding gown in almost 32 years.

You read that right: 32 years. I celebrate my 32nd wedding anniversary with my husband Rob on May 24.

With my book launch celebration slated for May 5 (just a couple of days ago), I decided it was time to unpack my wedding gown. Why? In Wish You Were Here, my debut novel, the heroine’s wedding gown is almost a secondary character.

Women spend a lot of time searching for the perfect wedding gown. Then again, sometimes they find themselves wishing they hadn’t said yes to the dress. That’s exactly how my heroine Allison feels about her dress, which she thinks of as a “walking fire code violation”  a “designer debacle” and, oh yeah, a “silken tsunami.”

Unlike Allison, I felt beautiful in my wedding gown, which included a hoop skirt because, well, how romantic is that? 

At my celebration this past Saturday I displayed my wedding gown on a dress form — right next to a beautiful wedding cake made by my friend, Wendy. It was fun to tell people that was my dress.

And then … I shared the mystery we unpacked with my gown. Inside the box was my pristine dress, my simple wedding veil … and some other bride’s wedding veil.

Gasp!

It’s a lovely, expensive long lace veil, complete with an ornate crown. And I have no idea who it belongs to or how to find the owner. Sounds like the beginning of a novel, doesn’t it?

In Your Words: Yes, that’s me holding the mystery veil (my husband has my veil). If you’re married, did you find your perfect gown? If you’re not yet married — do you have a dream gown in mind? What would you do if you found a mystery veil hidden in the box with your wedding gown?

**I’ve started a website photo gallery of readers/friends in their wedding gowns. I’d love for you to send me your photo to add to the collection! Please send the photo to beth@bethvogt.com.**

Posted in Fun, Life, Reality, Romance | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

In Others’ Words: Challenges

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Beth Vogt

“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?”
T.S. Eliot (188-1965), poet

My son Josh isn’t afraid of a challenge.

On Sunday, May 6, Josh ran the Spartan Race, a 5 mile race, complete with some crazy obstacles. Imagine climbing wooden walls slicked with mud and soap. Yeah, that’s ironic, isn’t it? And throwing javelins. And flipping huge tires. Doing a low-crawl barbed-wire obstacle course through water. Oh, yeah. And jumping over a line of fire before running past some guys with pugil sticks.

Fun, eh? Crazy fun.

Five miles of challenging himself. To conquer obstacles. To finish the race. To do what he set out to do: be victorious.

Before my son even began the course, I was proud of him. He’d already stepped up and won just by choosing to take on the challenge. He’d looked at something he’d never done before and, instead of backing down, he said, “I’m all in.”

All of my kiddos are like that. They don’t back down from challenges. I love their “Bring it on” attitudes. And when one of their siblings takes on a solo challenge, they stand on the sidelines (literally or figuratively) and cheer each other on.

 

 

In Your Words: Life: Are you in over your head or are you playing it safe? When you’re facing a challenge, who stands on the sidelines and cheers for you?

 

Posted in Fun, Life, Quotes, Reality | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments