Wordless

9/11 Never Forget...

The world changed 13 years ago. I chose to change with it. I became more aware of the world around me. I endeavored to be more engaged with those around me. I tend to change slowly, a bit at a time, but I promised myself I'd never go back to being the detached person I'd been for so long.

I also promised myself I'd never forget that day. I'd never forget what happened, moment to moment. I'd never forget how I felt. I'd never forget those who were lost or their families, even though I didn't know them. I'd never forget those who fought and died in the battle against terrorists, evil men who choose to murder innocent men, women, and children.

I renewed my relationship with God. I needed to know God was in control. I needed to remember He could and would work evil for good. He doesn't change evil into good; He takes whatever evil dishes out and uses it to His own end. Evil loses in the long run, and God wins.

There is much over which I have no control.

I choose whether or not I become a better person.

I choose to be a better person.

I trust Jesus.

Wordless

Hunted on FB on 8 Sept...

Fitzgerald: Have you heard the rumor?
Jack: No good comes from listening to rumors.
Fitzgerald: I have it on good authority.
Richard: For pity's sake, permit him to empty the bag.
Fitzgerald: Our Lady's books are available in paperback.
Leo: They weren't before?
Richard: How else were they read if they weren't on paper?
Jack: eformat.
Richard: What language is this eformat?
Rusty: Electronic.
Fitzgerald: Elect… come again?
Jack: A device run by electricity.
Richard: Benjamin Franklin's experiments were successful?
Ian: You have no idea.
Mark: Beyond your wildest imagination.
Eric: Pictures transmitted across the globe in seconds.
Luck: Traveling from London to New York in hours.
Richard: Who are these men? Contemporaries by their dress.
Fitzgerald: New heroes?
Jack: Old heroes, for the most part. To what do we owe the honor of your visit, gentlemen?
Jordan: My fault.
Leo: What did you do?
Jordan: Last book in the series. Everyone makes an appearance.
Fitzgerald: Our lady has a series that ends?
Richard: Difficult to believe.
Leo: She's full of surprises.
Richard: Including leather-bound books.
Jack: Ah… no. Paperback.
Ian: The cover art is brilliant.
Eric: Carol Fiorillo's work is excellent.
Fitzgerald: A celebration is in order.
Jordan: Croissants from P.Croissant and hot chocolate for everyone.
Jack: Our lady's favorite way to celebrate.
Fitzgerald: Cheers!

Sharing Links on Saturday...

The Writer's Refuge shared a post on What Hinders Your Dream:
http://thewritersrefuge.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/what-hinders-your-dream-to-write/

Sometimes, it's important to focus on a little. I had a Sunday School teacher who advised reading the same verse every day for a month, to ponder it, and make it a part of your life.

A few of my favorites are:

Be still and know that I am God. ~ Psalm 46-10

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ~ John 8:32

Jesus wept. ~ John 11:35

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ~ Matthew 22:37

May you be blessed.

Tickets to Arizona Dreamin' are available...

The total cost for the event itself is $89. This doesn't include the hotel, should you decide to stay there, though the hotel does offer a discount. Yes, you may attend the event without staying at the hotel. I like to stay at the hotel so I'm not driving back and forth. I also use the conference as a mini type of stay-cation. I always come away feeling refreshed and energized.

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

This will be my first time as a presenting author. The previous conferences, I've attended as a reader. It's also one of the smaller conferences, something my introvert self likes. Stepping up as an author is no small feat. I'm planning my book clubs and table. I want the event to be fun for readers like the wonderful authors I attended in order to meet made it fun for me.

Suggestions are welcome. :-)

May you be blessed.

"Tarnished Knight" is in...

...and will be available in January 2015.

I didn't care for the rough draft. I finished the rewrite, pleasant surprised, over and over. Jack and Abigail sprang a number of surprises.

Other surprises included discovering errors, after I sent the manuscript in. Nothing major, so far. I'm using the handy-dandy Track Changes to make corrections. My editor may catch them, but in case it slips through...

I don't really know if anyone is interested in my process. Sharing it here is helpful for me. There's something about writing it out that helps clarify what helps and what doesn't.

Then again, my brain is currently in more of a fried state than a functioning state. A little time and patience, and I'll be back in the next story, specifically, the last book in The Silver Locket Sisterhood series.

If you're interested in seeing a bit of my inspiration, this is my Pinterest board for Tarnished Knight, here's the link:
http://www.pinterest.com/lhawkes/tarnished-knight/

May you be blessed.

Wordless

Saturday Sharing links...

Kathryn Craft shares a powerful post over at Writers In The Storm:
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/08/writing-agreement-4-always-do-your-best/

An inspirational post by Jennifer Slattery:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/2014/08/22/in-over-your-head/

Thomas Brett's blog is focused on music. I was fascinated by his recent post relating music and nature, especially as I've been endeavoring to find music that nurtures my creative side:
http://brettworks.com/2014/08/22/on-soft-fascination-and-music/

Hope for the Broken Hearted shares a lovely prayer almost every day, along with a beautiful picture. In this particular post, she also included one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite groups in a version I've never seen before.
http://hopeforthebrokenhearted.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/prayer-for-august-27th/

May you be blessed.

Remembering Arizona Dreamin' 2014...

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

This year, the location changed. The new venue is also very nice.

I presented a workshop at the Buildin' the Dream portion of the event. What an amazing experience.

A little bit about the Man of Our Dreams contest. The guys volunteer to participate. They spend the conference flirting with everyone. It's all in good fun. James, the blond standing behind me, won last year and is now in charge of the event. He's a cover model and guides the men in their pursuit of the title, including things like being respectful of boundaries. Yes, this is important to me, which is why I'm sharing it here.

And here is the Man of Our Dreams picture, from this past year:

I'm always one of the first people to have a picture taken. "Get it over with." Yes, this is me stepping way outside of my comfort zone, but I refuse to miss out on the fun. So, I have my picture taken, and then stand back and watch everyone else. This is where you see that the men are new to this, too. As the pictures progress, the men relax and have more fun with the woman.

Good fun.

Pre-Sale Tickets to Arizona Dreamin'...

Have you heard of Arizona Dreamin'? It's the most unique reader event around, and I am thrilled to be a Featured Author for 2015! The best part is, I have a pair of tickets for you - my fans and friends - for only $89 each! Leave a comment if you want them, first come first served. All the info about the event can be found at http://arizonadreaminevent.com/ Tickets will go on general sale on September 1st, so let me know ASAP!

Sharing links...

This is one of the most fun posts I've ever read on the basics of creating a story, exploring the possible angles from innocent to not. I wondered who the clever author was and wasn't surprised to learn it was one of my favorite workshop teacher, Laurie Schnebly Campbell, over at Writers In The Storm:
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/08/braiding-your-books-three-parts/

Melissa Finnegan shares part 3 of her series on Mackinac Island, over at Genesis 5020. She posts this every Friday, and I'm enjoying the adventure she's sharing:
http://5020genesis.wordpress.com/2014/08/22/how-mackinac-island-is-like-our-spiritual-lives-part-3/

May your day be blessed.

Remembering

It's been two years since the release of my first book A Promise of Possibilities.

A bit about essential oils...

As I look for healthy routines to help me focus in my writing, I'm exploring all the senses.

I'm experimenting with essential oils and carrier oils. My skin is sensitive, to put it mildly. I can't even use some of the so-called hypo-allergenic products. Scents often elicit strong reactions, not only physical but also emotional.

I've always loved roses, but the oil doesn't elicit the same reaction as the actual flowers, so I'm guessing it's a combination of scent and visual. Roses also have varying levels of scent, depending on their genetics. Lavender has been my go-to oil for years, as well as tea tree oil. A few years ago, I discovered cocoa butter for my skin.

For years, I've dabbled in scents. Candles were an easy, pretty inexpensive way to explore. Over the years, I've looked at essential oils, but they can be expensive. This year, I decided it was worth investing, a little at a time. Expanding my world is long overdue.

My most recent discoveries include jojoba and avocado oil, as carrier oils, and my own spray bottles. Vanilla oil is different from vanilla for cooking. The latter is made with alcohol so dissipates quickly. The former lasts much longer. Jasmine oil gives me a boost of energy simply by breathing it in, along with a smile I can't stop. Frankincense and myrrh help me relax and sleep at night.

There are scents that are considered popular, but they trigger negative responses in me. Some of them, I simply don't like the scent. Others actually trigger annoyance and even anger.

The dollar spices available at the store are great for putting in my garbage cans. My favorites are cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

Saturday Sharing links...

Writers In The Storm blog shared writing tips from one of my favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien:
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/08/10-bits-of-stellar-writing-advice-from-j-r-r-tolkien/

A problem Christian fiction writers face is that there are those who accuse us of creating lies and wasting our gift. Rebeca Seitz shared an inspiring post on stories:
http://rebecaseitz.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/stories-lies/

Holley Gerth is an inspirational writer. I discovered her through DaySpring, a card company. I also follow her on FB.
http://holleygerth.com/prayer-feel-broken/

Over at The Writer's Refuge, an interesting question is asked:
http://thewritersrefuge.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/talent-or-tenacity-which-is-most-important-for-a-writer/

Second part of Genesis 5020's series:
http://5020genesis.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/how-mackinac-island-is-like-our-spiritual-lives-part-2/

God bless.

Remembering Arizona Dreamin' 2013...

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

The second AZ Dreamin' Conference I attended, I also participated in the Buildin' the Dream Conference as an attendee. Buildin' the Dream is authors helping authors. It was the perfect addition.

I also wisely booked an extra night at the hotel. It gave me an opportunity to unwind, write, and absorb the weekend. It also gave me a chance to see everyone off and help clean up. Working together builds camaraderie. For an introvert, it's a great structured opportunity to interact with people, to feel helpful without feeling compelled to talk. I can listen and contribute to the conversation or listen and work without saying anything. People don't expect you to talk if you're working.

This is the picture with my choice for Man of My Dreams, Lance Ramsey:

Never forgotten...

Choosing to put down my horse was easier than my dog. When I accept the responsibility of adopting both of them it included the understanding and the promise that there would be no leaving them behind if I moved, no giving them away to someone else when they were inconvenient, no shirking the responsibility of the final decision. I promised I would love and care for them to the last breath.

My horse struggled his whole life with back problems and colic. I owned him for the last five years of his life. He was 23 when I made the decision, 12 years ago. He'd suffered another severe colic in the spring, and the vet told me he only had three viable teeth left. He needed to be put on a soft mash/liquid diet. My child who loved to eat couldn't. I talked to him, asked him if he was ready to go Home, and a resounding 'yes' reverberated in my soul. It was difficult putting him down, but I knew the timing was right. I stood at his head and shared his last breath, felt the sense of freedom and relief and joy in the next moment. Even knowing I'd made the right decision, it was four years later before I was finally fully at peace.

My dog was 17 and her health failing, but I never felt like the time was right. My horse asked to go Home. My dog never did. My sister believes my dog never would. It’s been 8 years. I still miss her. I still cry. I’m not sorry. The lovely part is that my good friends understand and don’t mind at all. There was no way I could ever be prepared for her loss. In some of my prayers, I still ask God to throw a ball for her and tell her how much I love her and miss her. And yes, I’m crying as I write this, but I don’t regret it, not any of it, not the laughter or the tears.

Wordless

Of dragons...

Beth Trissel shared a delightful post full of quotes about dragons:

http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/always-speak-politely-to-an-enraged-dragon-steven-brust/

Sometimes, I'm sorry there will be no dragons in my stories. There's a special place in my heart for the magical scaly fire-breathing creatures.

I grew up with Custard the Dragon, my earliest recollection of a dragon in a delightful book by Ogden Nash.

Puff the Magic Dragon, the song (a poem first), written by Lenny Lipton, was actually based on the above story. Really. The belief it was related to drugs was attached after it was written. In fact, the relationship was implied by a magazine article.

This reminded me of another song with supposed "hidden" meanings. "Horse with No Name" was also supposed to be filled with hidden symbolism. However, when the writer was interviewed (something I watched), he was baffled by the claim. He stated the reason he wrote it the way he did was because "the words went well together." Yep, as simple as that.

I also remember the uproar about the music group AC/DC, another interview I watched. One of the group members admitted he'd seen it on the back of his sister's sewing machine. Yes, the power symbol.

This reminds me how important it is to go to the source as often as possible. Scriptures and prayer are great ways to check in with the Creator.

Preparing for Arizona Dreamin' 2015...

I'm one of those who needs to plan ahead, way ahead. Thursdays are for the Dreamin' event. For the next few weeks, I'll share the pictures take of me with a few of the male models. They're fun.

http://arizonadreaminevent.com/

I attended my first Arizona Dreamin' Event in 2012. It wasn't my first conference. I've attended several Lord of the Rings events. I enjoyed every single one. I met wonderful people in person I'd known online, sometimes for years.

In 2012, I met several women I still interact with online and some of them I look forward to seeing every year at the Arizona Dreamin' Event. Simply thinking about them makes me smile. I can't remember ever laughing so much in my life.

*squirrel*

I met Jimmy Thomas, businessman and cover model, for the second time. He hosts a romance novel conference in Las Vegas every summer. Unfortunately, I can't afford both, and I prefer the smaller group at Arizona Dreamin'. Several of my friends attend both.

The official photos:

 My favorite, at the pre-conferance party:

Deena Remiel (author), Shannon, Jimmy, Sonya, April London (author), and me:

RhondaPlumhoff (author), Kristina (Kristina's Books and More book reviewer), Sonya, Jimmy, Shannon, Jamallah Bergman (author), me, and April.