“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.” ~Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off So, how did your week go? Hard to believe it’s Friday, right? Confession: I’m working on this post on Sunday night. 🙂 Even so, I’m fastening my seat belt because I …
In Others’ Words: Friendship
“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” Helen Keller, first deaf-blind woman to earn a bachelor’s degree, who went on to become an internationally-known speaker & author I am blessed with wonderful friends. If I took the time to share their names and stories … well, my blog post from here to …
In Others’ Words: Regrets
“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” ~Unknown When you think about it, that quote makes a lot of sense. Focus on the past? There’s no way you’ll achieve forward motion into the future. Keep looking back over your shoulder? You’ll miss the opportunities waiting for you here and now. You …
In Others’ Words: Smart
“Work smarter, not harder.” ~Ron Carswell, writer Sometimes I get to the end of the day and I think, “Where did the day go? And what did I do all day?” I know I did something. But it feels like, despite a lot of hard work, I’ve accomplished nothing. It’s Friday, the time when I throttle back (a bit) and …
In Others’ Words: Laughter
“Reclaiming the belly-laugh can cure a world of woes.” ~ Jamie Sams, Native American writer & artist Laughter is my all-time favorite sound. (I know I’ve said this before. No apologies for repeating myself.) Laughter is healing. Laughter is hope-filled. Laughter broadens my shoulders, helps me (wo)man up and carry the demands and troubles of the day. Laughter reminds …
Contemporary Romance Writer: A Glimpse at Setting #2: The Stanley Hotel
httpv://youtu.be/85qgvXkts14 My friend Dee Topliff corrects me on some misinformation in the vlog: Author Stephen King stayed at The Stanley Hotel (in room 217) when he wrote The Shining. The Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon was used for all the exterior shots. Thank you, Dee! 😉 Last week I ventured into the vlog-o-sphere and gave you all a …
In Others’ Words: Time
“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” ~Carl Sandberg, American poet I have this oversize plastic container that I keep in my bedroom. I’m slowly refilling it with change — an …
Contemporary Romance Writer: A Glimpse at Setting #1 — Estes Park
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: 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 …