Wordless Wednesday

Friendship Day

Celebrate with a story: Just Friends

The sixth novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

After Mindy Harper's life crashes, she cuts off her friends. What other choice does she have? She doesn't fit in anymore. Holidays commemorating friendship fail to convince her she should celebrate them. A handsome ranch hand won't change her mind.

Cowboy left most of his past behind, with no regrets. The moment he sees Mindy he knows where his future lies. Friendship is the best place to start, but what is he supposed to do when she declares they're acquaintances?

God opens closed doors to those who knock, if it's His will...

http://www.amazon.com/Just-Friends-Holiday-USA-Book-ebook/dp/B017FSC4WG/ref=sr_1_1

 

If you prefer paperback, Holiday, USA Anthology 2015

All four novellas published in 2015 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2015-2/dp/153018617X/ref=sr_1_22 

 

Friendship Day is tomorrow.

 

created by Donna Keevers Driver

Sunday Scripture

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Saturday Links

Sometimes, you need 5 Minutes of Hope:

https://5minutesofhope.com/2024/06/21/about-this-storm/ 

https://5minutesofhope.com/2024/06/23/jesus-is-king/

Song Dog Journal has started a Print Gallery. I love the horses, flowers, and boots:

https://songdogjournal.com/2024/06/23/print-gallery/ 

https://songdogphotography.pixieset.com/fineartphotography/

God bless.

All or Nothing Day

Celebrate with a story: All or Nothing

The tenth novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Secrets? Angela Goodrich owns a few. Moving to Holiday is her dream come true. As Holiday Sweets' new manager, she wants a fresh start even as she wants to share the truth of who she is. Will she still be welcomed?

Anger issues? Caleb Bronson denies it despite the fact he'd like to throttle his EMT partner's new fiancé for wronging his sister. What does it matter if his anger is dominating his life and spills over on the attractive and newest resident of Holiday?

The truth will set you free, if you're willing to endure the discomfort of letting go of the lies. God knows the pain hidden in the soul anyway...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7MZC9M/ref=sr_1_1

If you prefer paperback, Holiday, USA Anthology 2016-17

All four novellas, 9-12, are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://a.co/5ETTtmt   

 

Musical Thursday

Dan Musselman - My Shepherd, You Never Leave, You Welcome Me

https://youtu.be/dZLa0Dg0At4?si=ldz6zeWN6FP2ZxGJ

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday Quote

 

created by Donna Keevers Driver

Sunday Scripture

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

Saturday Links

Denise Balog shares poetry and the scripture that inspired it:

https://denisebalog.wordpress.com/2024/06/20/a-little-longer/ 

Patricia Bradley shared encouragement regarding sharing my heart's desire:

https://christians-read.com/2024/06/20/whats-your-hearts-desire/

God bless. 

Favorite Book Friday

The Minstrel's Tale (Minstrel's Tale Trilogy Book 1) by Anna Questerly children's European Historical Fiction. Delightful myths and fairytales told in fourteenth century France, by a minstrel with his own tale to tell.

Musical Thursday

Hauser - Serenade

https://youtu.be/p0WJS44xEkI?si=foi4kF_E7RxPNenU

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday Quote

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead
~ J. R. R. Tolkien

Sunday Scripture

Numbers 6:24-26 

24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Saturday Links

I look forward to Bridget A. Thomas' inspiring posts:

https://bridgetathomas.com/2024/06/15/there-is-power-in-the-name-of-jesus/ 

Laura Lindblom, over at Song Dog Journal, offers inspiration:

https://songdogjournal.com/2024/06/19/spangled-afternoon/ 

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Forever Fair: A Modern-Day Snow White (Magic and Miracles: A Multi-Author Charity Anthology) by Julie Wright contemporary romance. Worth the time to read.

Musical Thursday

Music Travel Love - You Are the Reason

https://youtu.be/kKhiASJqhNw?si=4pEpp086XSfOyOr1

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

Sunday Scripture

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Saturday Links

Feeding On Jesus posted "Unreasonable Kindness," inviting readers to step up their faith:

https://feedingonjesus.com/2024/05/31/unreasonable-kindness/ 

Big Sky Buckeye shares poetry during the week, but on Saturday, all expect for the last Saturday of the month, it's Trivia and Facts. I knew this one, but learned something new about skunks; didn't know they were omnivores. 

https://bigskybuckeye.com/2024/06/01/trivias-facts-and-more-6-1/ 

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Just a Bit of Magic (Magic and Miracles: A Multi-Author Charity Anthology) by Mindy Burbidge Strunk Regency romance. Another enjoyable read and another author I'd like to read again.

 

Independence Day

The Unites States Army Field Band plays "The Star Spangled Banner" the national anthem

https://youtu.be/EIODUFpatkQ?si=LlL4G6BQJS4GmdYY

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

The Right to Choose

As I continue and grow closer to finishing the revisions for "A Promise of Possibilities," I question why the story focused on some things. Gradually, I remember why.

In 2007, a stranger emailed. She'd been reading the fanfiction I was writing with a friend, a romance for Frodo, from "Lord of the Rings." She suggested I try writing a historical romance for popular publisher's new inspirational historical romance line. My first thought was that I couldn't possibly. It was one thing to write a story with established characters and setting. It was something else again to write all new material. It didn't take long for the thought to niggle in: Why not?

I gave it a try and was rejected, outright, a form letter. I'd tried not to get my hopes up, but I had and was crushed. I entered the story in a contest and received feedback from three judges. Some of the feedback was useless, i.e., criticizing words that were too old. Clearly, the judge didn't read Regency romance as I used words with which I was familiar from the numerous Regency romances I'd read. However, one judge was incredibly helpful, pointing out my bad habit of head hopping, jumping from one point of view to another without any transition. Now, I've read this in other multi-book authors, without difficulty, but I re-read my manuscript and could see how it might be a problem. So, I re-wrote the story.

At the time, I still wanted to publish with the same company, even though it had been sold to a new publishing house, so I changed the title and revised the character names, hoping no one would notice it was the same book because it wasn't. It was better. I sent the first three chapters. They asked for the full manuscript.

I kept reading books from the publisher but noticed the basic premise of their stories was changing. Instead of smart men and women struggling with life and relationships, many of the stories portrayed the women as "I can do anything" shrews and the men as eye candy but stupid. Suddenly, my story was with a publisher I no longer admired. Now what?

What if they wanted my manuscript? What would I say? Would I be willing to compromise?

I'd spent my whole life compromising to please abusers. I'd been through two rounds of counseling already. I prayed they would reject my manuscript so I wouldn't be faced with the temptation of saying yes. The next day, I received a polite email stating my manuscript didn't quite fit their company. I had too many characters - one of my favorite books was "Lord of the Rings" with nine heroes, of course, I valued a lot of characters. My story was also too political - wait, what? Maybe it was that tried to remain true to the values of the time, i.e., instead of dropping a 21th century protagonist into an early 1800s setting without benefit of time travel. Something I dislike. Women didn't have a lot of options at the time and pretending otherwise is grossly dishonest. Besides, I was addressing my abuse victim mentality; abuse victims don't have a lot of options either.

Which brings me to what my story was really all about. I embraced the opportunity to explore the right to choose, within the Regency time frame. In the 21st century, anything goes, no boundaries. It isn't healthy. I wanted the structure of learning to choose with boundaries, but I wanted to explore healthy boundaries, especially within a relationship that is closer than any other but one's relationship with God.

From time to time, I've lost sight of that goal. I'm back on track, exploring the wonder and joy and sometimes painful journey of learning to choose, to growing from abuse victim to abuse survivor to thrivor.