Sharing links...

Writers In The Storm blog shared a series of writing advice posts by Chuck Sambuchino:
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/take-your-writing-by-storm-with-chuck-sambuchino/

The Writer's Refuge shared a great post for writers:
http://thewritersrefuge.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/how-does-changing-where-you-write-inspire-what-you-write/
I use this myself. I actually enjoy writing in restaurants. I don't know why it opens the door to clarity, but it does.

Some blogs make me laugh. Thanks Patricia Johns for sharing the link to Tim Hawkins:
http://patriciajohnsromance.com/2013/09/23/tim-hawkins-hand-raising/

J. Morgan shares a humorous and delightful interview with editor and writer Ann Narcisian Videan:
http://jennmorgan69.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/de-editing-the-editor/

Khon Kaen Candy...

Sorry, no actual recipe. I know. Bummer.

This was a favorite treat when I lived in Khon Kaen. It reminded me of peanut brittle, only instead of hard it flaked like a puff pasty. Actually, it reminds me of Butterfingers only without the chocolate and not nearly as orange.

Peanuts are used in a lot of Thai recipes. Peanut sauce or simply the crushed nuts sprinkled everywhere.

For the record, I did a careful search, choosing words that hopefully wouldn't lead me to sites I didn't want or need to see, and didn't come up with anything useful. As a medical transcriber, I learned early how to search the web without accidentally finding sites I didn't want to find. A few searches have still landed me in some places I wish I could wash from my brain, even at only a glance. The "back" key is a great tool.

Hadn't intended this post to turn into web search awareness. The web is an amazing place. Some people use it for good. Some do not. I choose to be an influence for good. 

Look what showed up in my email...

Thank you, Carol Fiorillo. The cover is perfect.

Final edits...

Final edits are in the works for Unexpected Possibilities, book 3 in the Endless Possibilities series. It's coming out October 21st.

This is James Thorn's story, the oldest of the Thorn children.

If you'd like a sneak peek, take a look at his board on Pinterest, where I pinned pictures to inspire me.

http://www.pinterest.com/lhawkes/unexpected-possibilities/

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Yesterday's conversation on FB...

Jack: Who are you?
Tim: I'm Officer Tim Black.
Fitzgerald: What new devilry is this?
James: Do my eyes deceive me?
Benjamin: Only if they also deceive me.
Eric: Will they all fit in here?
Ian: How many are there?
Tim: Sixteen of us.
Richard: Sixteen?
Tim: Don't worry. We'll file through pretty quickly.
George: Like me.
Tim: A little longer, but yes.
Jack: It's going to be a busy year.

Mixed feelings...

Part of me rejoices and fearfully trembles as I step onto this path I've chosen to accept is laid for me. I believe it is God inspired. I'll follow it wherever it leads, checking in with God on a regular basis, all day long every day.

Part of me struggles to rejoice in light of the tragedy at the DC Navy Yard. I pray for the victims' families. My heart tells me the victims are safely in God's hands.

There are only two choices: Trust God or not.

I choose to trust God. It isn't always easy. God is strong enough for me to lean harder.

I may ask, "Why?" if my purpose is to seek understanding not change God's will. There are some things that cannot be understood without accepting evil exists in this world.

My comfort is in knowing God is in control.

I derive great comfort from my sister's question: If God heals us the moment He touches us, does it really matter if we are broken? The brokenness is only a small moment in the Eternities. Perhaps the most difficult thing of all is hanging on when all appears lost and accepting that God's plan to save frequently does not come easy or swift or in a way we expect.

Building trust is like building any other muscle; you must tear it down a little in order for it to come back stronger. Keeping holding to trust in God. He is ever faithful.

This week's links to share...

Anne Gracie shared the think to the University of Bristol. They have exercises where you can practice your grammar! Yes, I actually find this kind of thing fun. No snickering.
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_41.htm

Excellent check list from Writers In The Storm blog:
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/be-your-own-book-doctor/

The Oatmeal shares a brilliant bit on the use of semicolons, apostrophes, who vs whom:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/who_vs_whom

There are more. If I taught school, I would so have these posters in my classroom.

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9-11 Never Forget

From FB:

Reflecting...

It's been raining here. I don't know why rain encourages me toward introspection, but it does. I consider what I've accomplished but more the direction I want to head.

I have four books published. I have two more books in varying stages of preparing to be published. Unexpected Possibilities, book 3 of the Endless Possibilities series, comes out October 21. Saving Lisa, book 3 of The Silver Locket Sisterhood series, comes out December 21. A free read, Impossibilities, is coming out sometime.

I'm working on the next books due.

New ideas are bubbling like hot chocolate. It's fun.

I need to learn how to use my time more wisely, create routines, allow the stories to escape. To be honest, they drive me nuts sitting in my head. :-)

Joining in the day...

Today, I'm joining my Catholic friends in the call for prayer and fasting for peace in Syria.

God is in control.

Evil is real.

Jesus promised conflict in this world, but my Savior offers peace of mind and heart not of this world.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

Follow up on writing rules...

So what makes my MR (Must Read) List?

When reading fiction it's almost exclusively romance novels.

A good story. Yes, very subjective.

Characters who are smart and honorable. Unfortunately, the formula often runs toward witchy women and stupid men. It's the Hollywood formula. It's why I don't watch much television.

Regency and contemporary are my favorite genres. I also enjoy Western. A few of my favorite authors write Futuristic, Time Travel, paranormal, and other Historical.

If there are lots of grammatical and spelling errors, the author will probably go on my NRA list. I know it's also the responsibility of the editor, but I struggle too much with reading to add endeavoring to decipher what was meant.

I'm willing to put up with occasional swearing but using Jesus Christ as a swear word is a No-Go for me. He is my Savior. He suffered and died for me. It tears my heart to hear or read Him used in a vile manner.

Too much swearing and I'm yanked right out of the story. I know some authors would tell me that they are only being realistic. I read to escape reality.

As for the love scenes, treating the act as if it's the same at eating and sleeping, without an emotional toll, is irresponsible. The World likes to pretend it's no big deal. The World cheapens a sacred act. I've read authors who write very classy love scenes. I do not expect non-Christian books to adhere to Christian standards. I do expect love making to be treated with respect.

I look for writers with a healthy perspective. I'm an abuse survivor. Books are written by people with real life experience. I know that's an obvious statement, but sometimes I wonder how much readers think about it. If a writer does not have a healthy perspective on life as demonstrated through their writing, I don't need any more examples of unhealthy. I think I've got that one down pat.

I enjoy animals being added, if it's appropriate. I'm annoyed when animals are added for the awww factor but then forgotten. The heroine owns a dog, and what happened to her dog when she "spontaneously" spent the night with the hero?

Final test for keepers: Did I finish the book uplifted?

Writing Rules...

The Writer's Refuge blog is one I follow with instant notifications. It's a great blog.

http://thewritersrefuge.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/three-rules-of-writing-from-distinguished-crime-novelist-elmore-leonard-and-how-i-broke-them/

As an avid reader, I don't agree with any of those rules. They've lumped all readers into the same bag and declared what we all want. I hate that.

Some of my friends want dialogue. Some want descriptions of the setting. Some want action right off. I've read books that start with a lightning flash or a clap of thunder or a calm sea, and it puts me right in the story. I wouldn't recommend it for every book.

I've read some prologues that should have been dumped. They were back-story that could have been more effectively woven into the main body of work. There are other prologues I'm glad were there. They contained necessary information I'm glad didn't clutter the story later.

I hate reading 'he said' and 'she said.' Once in a while is okay, but I love the variety of substitutes for 'said.' Yes, there are those who don't use them well, but when an author does a single word paints a whole new perspective. I see over and over the complaint of using 'hiss' as a substitute for 'said.' Is it overused? Yes. However, I've read dialogue where hissed worked effectively (not only in Harry Potter).

I've read books that followed these rules, and they bored me to tears. I skimmed them and the author went on my NRA (Never-Read-Again) list.

Looking at my favorite authors, they've broken all three rules on a regular basis.

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