httpv://youtu.be/uxpwvgRdyTU I took the plunge into the vlog-o-sphere! Thanks to the inspiration of my debut buddy, Katie Ganshert, who is a vlogging trailblazer, I took my FlipShare with me when I wandered through Estes Park right before Christmas. My debut novel, Wish You Were Here (WYWH), an inspirational contemporary romance published by Howard Books (May 2012), takes place in both …
In Others’ Words: Success
“A successful person is a dreamer whom someone believed in.” ~Unknown Who believes in you? As the saying goes, who remembers the words to the song of your heart when you forget them … and sings them back to you? You’re not meant to tend the fire of your dreams alone. There are days when the dream seems … …
Contemporary Romance Writer: You are Here — Choosing the Setting of Your Novel
I spent a few days in Estes Park, CO right before Christmas. While wandering through town, my 11-year-old daughter looked up at me and said, “You should write a book set in Estes Park.” My reply? “I have.” To which she replied, “Oh. Well … I haven’t read your romance novel yet.” Perhaps she now understood why we were traipsing …
In Others’ Words: Impossible
“Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.” ~John Heywood, English writer So many days ahead in 2012 … so many plans. We distill our “want tos” down to resolutions. Or a word. Our dos and don’ts for the next 12 months. And yet, for all the planning, we can only see so far along the road stretching before us. …
In Others’ Words: Immanuel
“If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: God with us.” ~John F. MacArthur, writer & minister “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”– which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23 NIV) “Immanuel” is one of …
Contemporary Romance Writer: How Do I Achieve Success as a Writer?
Some days the writing road is lined with ledges. Ledges perfect to climb up and then stand and ponder the “why” of my existence in the writing universe. And yes, these ledges are ideal to throw myself off of when my hopes are dashed, my dreams seem nothing more than taunting specters, and my efforts seem … wasted. (I need …
In Others’ Words: Tired
“The test of people is what they can do when they’re tired.” ~Winston Churchill, British politician & statesman I was a runner-girl for a certain season of my life. After years of hating the thought of running — and absolutely detesting the few times I attempted running for fun/exercise/because someone told me I should — I read an article that …
Contemporary Romance Writer: How Do You Define Happily Ever After?
Every self-respecting romance novel or movie ends with a happily ever after, or HEA in writer-speak. But if we were all sitting around my family room talking romance (lovely idea, that!) and we tried to determine the components of a HEA … well, I’m not sure we could. Spoiler Alert: I give away the endings to some books, so …
In Others’ Words: Aim
“If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet & educator A few years ago, my two oldest daughters and I experienced a different kind of “girls’ night out.” Instead of heading to our favorite restaurant for dinner, conversation and laughter, we spent four hours at Whistling Pines, the local gun …
In Others’ Words: Remember
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou, author & poet There was a boy in my class in elementary school. John. John M. Everyone teased John M. I don’t know why John M. was selected to be the boy to …