Jillian Kent Blog

The Cover for Chameleon

2012-01-24T00:01:00.088-05:00

I love getting cover art. I'm proud to show off the cover for my second novel in The Ravensmoore Chronicles Series, Chameleon. The artists at Charisma Media did a great job. What do you think? If you saw this book sitting on a shelf at Barnes and Noble or Books-A-Million would you pick it up and look a little further? If you scrolled by it on Amazon would you stop and go back? I really hope so.

Those of us who create novels want our cover art to portray to our audience a glimmer of what's inside. I think covers mean a lot. If our readers aren't attracted to the book cover what do you think would be the next thing to pull them in and grab the reader walking by the bookshelf and say, "Hey, get back here. Don't you want to see me? Don't you want to look at the back cover? Don't you want to open the book and look inside?"

Have you read a book that you loved but the cover didn't do it justice? What made you read it anyway? Word of mouth? The title?

Well if you do open the book and turn to Chapter One this is what you will read:

Chapter One

We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character. —Henry David Thoreau

London, 29 March 1818

St. James Park loomed in front of them, shrouded in a heavy mist that created difficulty for horse and driver as the coach and four maneuvered its way into the park.

Inside the vehicle, Victoria leaned toward the window, straining to see the outline of trees. “Such a disappointment,” she sighed. “This is not what I expected my very first morning in London. I’d so hoped to see more on the ride through the park, something exciting to tell Devlin when we get to his home.”

“Don’t despair, my lady.” Nora, her maid, pulled a heavy shawl tighter about her shoulders. “’Tis sure to be the same mist that abounds in Yorkshire. This nuisance will lift eventually. It always does.”

Victoria patted the sleek head of her dog. “Even Lazarus grows bored.” She marveled at her best friend, a behemoth of a mastiff, as he lowered his bulk to the floor of the coach with a loud groan and laid his head across her slipper-covered feet, creating a comfortable warmth. He’d been with her for years, and she couldn’t leave him behind. The poor dear would cry himself to sleep every night.

Victoria allowed the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves and Nora’s penchant for humming songs to lull her into a light sleep. Nora’s humming had comforted her all those years she’d been sick at Ravensmoore. While everyone else lived their busy lives out around her, she’d done little but survive, taking comfort in the small things that brought her joy.

A sudden crash caused the coach door to vibrate. Victoria screamed and bolted upright as Lazarus pressed his nose and giant paws against the carriage window. A low growl rumbled in his throat.

She grabbed Lazarus by the collar. Heart pounding, she turned to Nora. “What was that?”

“Highwaymen!” Nora’s hand crept to her neck, and fear filled her eyes.

The coachman drew the horses to a halt and opened the top hatch. “I fear I may have run someone down, my lady, but in this fog I can’t tell.”

“We must find out at once. Someone may be hurt.” Victoria threw open the door, and Lazarus bounded into the mist. “Lazarus! Find!” She called after him, but he was already well on his way. She stepped from the coach, nearly tripping in her haste.

“Wait, my lady,” Nora cried. “’Tis not safe. Come back!”

The driver’s voice echoed through the mist. “You’ll lose your way, my lady. Stop where you are.”

But the warning wasn’t necessary. Victoria could hear Lazarus snuffling the ground someplace nearby. She bit her lip and told herself to be brave, even as her heart pounded. At the same time Lazarus let out a warning bark, the mist shifted.

Victoria’s hand clamped over her mouth.

I'm really hoping I have your attention now. If you read a blurb about this book it would go something like this:

Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen observer of human behavior, but when she finds herself involved in a sinister plot targeting the lords of Parliament she is forced to question how much anyone can really know about another human being.

Chameleon is the story of Lady Victoria Grayson, fondly referred to as Snoop by her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore. Lady Victoria journeys to London for the first time in her adult life after battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her home bound for years. She is embroiled in a hornet’s nest of intrigue when her brother is called upon to treat a Member of Parliament after a brutal attack.

The Prince Regent has called Jonathon Denning, Lord Witt, from his home in the country to investigate Ravensmoore’s activities. The Regent isn’t so sure he wants one of his lords working a trade and expects to put an end to what he considers eccentric behavior. Jaded by his profession as a spy, Witt understands that some people are not what they pretend to be. When he meets Victoria his cynical nature is challenged along with his doubts about God. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

If you don't love historical romance with a heavy mystery/suspense edge to it I'd like to convert you.

Ruth Douthitt/My Inspiring Guest Blogger

2012-01-17T00:01:00.126-05:00

Ruth Douthitt with a fan at Madison #1 Elementary School.

Inspiration

So, what inspires you to write?

I know for me, my main inspiration came from my son. He actually enjoyed my story when I told it to him. I was pleasantly surprised!

Artwork always inspires me to not only create artwork of my own, but to write a story.

The artwork that inspired me to write The Dragon Forest was found in a popular children’s book called Dragonology by Dugald Steer. This brilliant book provides kids all the tools to become dragon hunters for scientific study! How fun is that?

After using the book for ideas about dragons, I also used the illustrations to sketch out my own dragon drawings.

That is the magic of books! Each time you read a book, you can find new and exciting things that may inspire you to fulfill your dreams.

Art

Because I am a professional artist, art has always played an important role in my life. Today, as I write the first book of my next series, The Warfare Club, I came upon an old print that provided me the inspiration needed to write about the persecution of the early Christians.

The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer, by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1883).

This old painting was created during the Realism movement in the late 19^th century. The artist wanted to show the religious fortitude of the victims about to suffer martyrdom.

As I wrote scenes set during this time in Rome, this particular painting served as inspiration.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes hit that “wall” when writing a scene. As a visual person, I sometimes can’t see the scene in my head and, therefore, can’t write the scene until I can! Artwork has always been a useful tool for inspiring me when the creativity as dried up.

Film

Sometimes, scenes from films serve as inspiration for me. When writing the battle scenes in The Dragon Forest, I viewed the battle scenes from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers over and over again. I also viewed fight scenes from Gladiator to help me with fight scenes in the Coliseum I needed for The Warfare Club.

God’s Word

Finally, the beauty of a good sermon always inspires me. I take copious notes during sermons and have many completed journals at home to prove it. Along with Scriptures, topics, and other notes, you will see in the margins of my journals ideas I have jotted down for my books. I go back and read those notes when I get stuck on a scene. Works everytime!

So, my advice to any writer is to stop and think about what inspires you to write and jot down what helps you bring that scene to life in your mind and then on the page. Remember those “tools” so that when you hit that wall (and you will…) you have that reserve to tap in to on a day when the creativity well runs dry.

But most importantly….just write!

Your turn: What tool do you use to inspire you to write? How has artwork of any kind helped you complete a scene?

Ruth A. Douthitt’s life took a turn for the better when she returned to college in her late thirties to complete a B.A. in Visual Art from ASU as well as a Masters in Education from University of Phoenix. After teaching college part time, she decided it was time to complete her first book after working on it for almost 20 years. Her son grew up reading C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien which served as her inspiration for her own bildungsroman-type, fantasy adventure book designed to inspire boys everywhere to go out and make their own adventures happen. The Dragon Forest is part one in a three-part series of adventure books about knights, castles, and the dragon realm. Now working in curriculum development as well as teaching teenage girls in church youth ministry, Ruth desires to write both non-fiction as well as fiction for teens based on youth issues today. Ruth lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband of 23 years, and their teenage son who still inspires her to keep on writing no matter what. For more information on Ruth A. Douthitt and her art work, visit: http://www.artbyruth.com/ and www.thedragonforest.blogspot.com

Also,please visit my author page at 
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Author-Ruth-A-Douthitt/245592525512882 
 
And my blog at: http://writerspenn.blogspot.com/

Thank you for visiting with us this week, Ruth, and sharing your story. I have a feeling you will soon have many fans; I know I'm one!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2012-01-16T01:01:00.074-05:00

First of all I want to thank everyone who visited my blog to help me celebrate my birthday this week. I really enjoyed it and look forward to doing it again next year. I used Random.Org to pick the winners and my hubby was a witness. So here are the lucky winners:

The $25.00 Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate goes to Babette!

The three copies of my autographed book, Secrets of the Heart go to the following winners:

Victoria Manthey
Elaine Stock
Joy Avery Melville

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

If you are a winner please click on the contact button in the top right hand corner of the blog and provide me with your address so I can mail out your prizes this week.

Also, this week on Tuesday the 17th I have a guest blogger. Please help me welcome artist and writer Ruth Douthitt.

My Birthday Give Away

2012-01-10T00:01:00.004-05:00

JANUARY 11th IS MY BIRTHDAY!

I love birthdays! I love celebrating and I want to celebrate this special occasion with you. Last year I had a blast doing a give away so I decided to do it every year. Wow! This past year flew by like a jet plane. Here I am again and ready to party.

I'm giving away THREE autographed copies of MY novel, Secrets of the Heart and ONE $25 gift certificate from Barnes and Noble. All you need to do for a chance to win is leave a comment about the best or worst birthday present you've ever received OR what you will be wishing for this year when you close your eyes and blow out the candles. I'll accept comments until midnight of January 15th est. That's this coming Sunday. So all of you who are staying up to watch Downton Abbey will still have some time to enter if you wait till the last minute.This contest will only be open to folks living in the USA. I'll announce the winners on Monday, January 16th and ask you to contact me if you are a winner. You also may want to visit the other post I blogged about today over at the WordServe WaterCooler, entitled, A Writer's Pains and Gains: A Birthday Perspective

One Word

2012-01-03T00:01:00.119-05:00

This is the first year I've heard about people choosing one word to make a significant difference in their lives. I love the idea. I first heard about it from my agency mate, Beth K.Vogt, here. Shortly after she posted on the blog I discovered that Debbie Macomber has also been doing this for years and now has a book out called One Perfect Word. When I first read the title I thought how can one word make that much difference? But together with Beth's post and reading about Debbie's book that is coming out I had a change of heart. Maybe one word could make a difference for me.

I haven't made a New Years resolution for a long time. I set some goals instead. I made some, forgot about others, and lost my focus. By choosing one word I hope to make a difference to how I chose to live each day this year. It's a word that could drastically change a lot for the better in my day job, my writing career, and my family life. Now I know you're wondering what word I've chosen. Okay, here it is: ORGANIZE. I know, I know. You may be thinking that's not such a big deal. The point is it's my word and it IS a big deal to me. So many of us, including me, look for balance, we want to de-clutter, or live simply, or get out of debt. For me, I hope that the word ORGANIZE will help me achieve much this year that will help me put a dent in some of these other issues one day at a time.

I've been searching the Bible for ideas related to the word organize. This is what I found:

1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV) Let all things be done decently and in order.

Ecclesiastes 6:11 (NIV)The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?

Also, I like that ORGANIZE is a verb. And did you know that the antonyms of organize are: destroy, disarrange, disorder, disorganize. Visit Thesarus.com

Are you up to the challenge of one word? If so, what's your word?

These are a Few of My Favorite Posts from 2011

2011-12-27T00:01:00.031-05:00

The Myth of the Lone Ranger Author Rachelle Gardner's Blog who just happens to be my very awesome agent. :)

How I do It Live Intentionally but with Breathing Space My agency mate, Jody Hedlund.

The Difference Between Trying and Doing Michael Hyatt shares the wisdom of Yoda.

Silencing Your Inner Critic Kathryn Lilley at The Killzone.

From Romance to Corpses by Tess Gerritsen.

A Kiss Is Just A Kiss by the awesome Julie Lessman. Okay I cheated. This blog post is from 2010, BUT heard Julie and Ruth Axtell Morren present it at The ACFW Conference in St. Louis this year.

Stuck in a Corner Martha Carr, agency mate, talks about writers block at The WordServe Water Cooler.

No Fear, No Envy, No Meanness by a mentor who knows how to make writing fun, the amazing James Scott Bell.

The Adjustable Publishing Dream by friend and agency mate Rosslyn Elliott.

The Fine Art of Choosing a Pen Name by moi. :) I thought this was probably the best post I wrote this year and because of it's nature wanted to share it with you here.

Well that's ten of my favorites. I didn't choose any of my worthy blog mates here at Just the Write Charisma because I didn't want to have to choose. That would be way too hard. It's been an awesome year and I look forward to sharing with you all and our visitors in 2012.

What's one of your favorite blog posts from this year?

The Games Afoot

2011-12-20T00:01:00.061-05:00

What is it about Sherlock Holmes that is so enduring? I've been in love with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved Sherlock and Watson since I was about ten years old. This past week I went to see the latest Sherlock movie, A Game of Shadows and I loved it. I would have liked more romance to balance out the action, but it was still great and I'm coming around to like Robert Downey, Jr. as a different type of Sherlock, I had trouble with that in the first one with Downey, but he seems to have captured Sherlock's intellect and shrewdness in this one and I like it. Jude Law is great as ever as Watson.

Professor Moriarity played by Jared Harris is an excellent villain.

Here's a link about Doyle's Biography A paragraph on this site reveals a lot and so much I didn't know: " The young medical student met a number of future authors who were also attending the university, such as for instance James Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson. But the man who most impressed and influenced him, was without a doubt, one of his teachers, Dr. Joseph Bell. The good doctor was a master at observation, logic, deduction, and diagnosis. All these qualities were later to be found in the persona of the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes."

Also, I think he solved a dilemma that many of us struggle with. I wish it was this easy for me. He had a serious bout with the flu that nearly killed him. "When his health improved, he came to realize how foolish he had been trying to combine a medical career with a literary one. "With a wild rush of joy," he decided to abandon his medical career. He added, "I remember in my delight taking the handkerchief which lay upon the coverlet in my enfeebled hand, and tossing it up to the ceiling in my exultation. I should at last be my own master."

I love a great mystery. Is this what makes the team of Sherlock and Watson so enduring and endearing? This team goes on and on . . . why is that?

My very favorite Sherlock Holmes book and movie was and is, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Do you have a favorite?

What Will Your Verse Be?

2011-12-13T00:01:00.069-05:00

How many of you remember Dead Poets Society? Look familiar? If you've never seen it, I highly recommend you watch it sometime. I was using a clip from it for one of the classes I teach at the college where I'm employed and had a whole new appreciation for the movie and for Robin Williams character. I'm going to watch the whole thing again, but be warned, it's not a comedy although there are some great lines.

As we wrap up another year, prepare to celebrate Christmas, and then kick of a New Year I'm seriously wondering about life and death and what I'll do with whatever time I have left here on this planet. Don't mean to be too serious but I have a friend who is fighting breast cancer, and a young friend who is dying in hospice from ovarian cancer. Such things make me stop and think about what I want to accomplish with the rest of my life and I know that without a doubt I want to continue to write, and I want to continue to counsel in my day job and more than anything I want to make my God proud as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and as I continue my journey.. I think my verse, my life, is and will continue to be one of encouragement.

In this clip, John Keating asks, "And the powerful play goes on. What will your verse be? "

So if I haven't gone too deep on you this close to Christmas I'm wondering, What will your verse be? Got a favorite poet? Favorite poem? Do you write poetry?

Cocooning-A Self Improvement Project

2011-12-06T00:01:00.138-05:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about self-improvement. Maybe it's because we are less than a month away from the New Year and resolution making and breaking. I've also been involved in a Bible study called The Truth Project.

This past week we watched Part IV and the leader talked about growing in our walk with God and changing and learning, etc. It was a lot deeper than that but he used the analogy of being in a cocoon and emerging and then entering another cocoon. And the process continues. This also made me think about growing in my spiritual life as one form of self-improvement. Again I considered how far I've come in my walk with God but what a continual process it is. I enjoy the idea of spiritual growth from cocoon to cocoon. Each year assessing where I've been and where I hope to grow.

A couple of my friends and I have been talking about some issues and challenges we face and have decided to do our own personal The Happiness Project. Of course Gretchen Rubin is the Author of the book. I was exercising today and started reading the book. "They say that people teach what they need to learn." Gretchen states this as she discusses how she got started with her own project in the beginning of the book.

This made me think about my writing. I write Christian Fiction because it helps me stay in the Word. I explore personal issues as I write fiction. For instance, in my first novel, Secrets of the Heart, I'm really exploring

2 Timothy 1:7...
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

I learn and grow as I write and share my characters and stories. And then I get lost in the creative process and it's fun. Or I get stuck and it's painful. But just like growing in my faith walk, or my own little self-improvement journey, I see how I cocoon (emerge and then enter the next cocoon).

If you ever wanted to work on you there's also a fun book out there from the humorous Kathi Lipp titled, The Me Project 21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted. The first chapter asks that all important question that has passed many of our lips, Is This All There Is?

There's lots of things I want to accomplish this next year; a lot of things I want to explore. Maybe I'll share some of those in January as we enter the New Year and I gain another birthday. :)

Right now I think I'm very much ensconced in my cocoon. Growing quite a bit and hoping to emerge again soon, show off my wings for awhile and then cocoon again. So where are you and what are you thinking about? Are you in a cocoon right now? Or have you just emerged with fresh insight that you are eager to share? If so, please let us know what you're discovering that might help the rest of us.

GET THE PICTURE?

2011-11-29T00:01:00.047-05:00

I love thinking about ideas, lots and lots of ideas. The future is only limited by your ideas. I'm thinking ahead to projects I may want to write about in the future. I'll write those down and file them away somewhere until the time comes that I need to make a decision about what I'd like to work on next. I love visiting creative websites of all types. Here's 65 that should spark something for you: 65 Very Creative and Funny Photoshopped Images

I also like exploring a picture such as this one and brainstorming all kinds of fun and weird stuff. I'm sure you've done this or something like it. What's about to happen in this picture? Or what's just happened and is over? Are you driving a car, riding on horseback, walking, running? Maybe you are flying a new gadget from another planet? It's the year 2050 or maybe 1820? The trees are about to attack like in The Wizard of Oz or maybe someone is threatening to chop them down. Get the picture?

If you are an artist of any kind, writer, painter, cake decorator, architect, etc. Where and how do you develop your next creative project? If you've got a favorite photo or website please share your link. Let's have fun as we create our next great project.

What could she be thinking?

Novel Building

2011-11-22T00:01:00.135-05:00

How do you construct your novel? I've been thinking about this more and more lately because I'm currently working on my third novel for my series. When Realms/Charisma bought the Ravensmoore Chronicles I had the first book in the series complete and I knew a bit about the other two but not that much. Of course when my first editor got hold of the novel she cut 26,000 words and I rebuilt and rewrote my book.

When I wrote the second novel, Chameleon, I decided to test my skills at novel building. I'm a pantser at heart. I don't know how to follow an outline and I don't enjoy the outline process. I wrote my second book by completing scenes in a a very loose format. In other words, it was nowhere near linear. However, when it came time to put this book in sequence I had a multitude of problems. Looking back, I think it was my timeline. It was not well defined and I paid the price for this in having to figure out how everything would fit and where it would fit. Chameleon is done and in my humble opinion it's going to blow your mind if others can refrain from telling you how it ends. My second editor had a lot to do with getting me and my novel grounded.

In the January 2012 Writer's Digest article, Zachary Petit interviews Diana Gabaldon. If you don't know who she is I suggest you order her first novel, Outlander. Gabaldon's books are huge in number of pages and huge in story. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she's a pantser, yet I couldn't figure out how she writes such complicated books without an outline. She's got a method, and you'll have to check out the article for the details, but somehow she's able to keep track of everything including her timeline. She must have super powers, really!

So I'm wondering what forms of timelines do you use? Do you complete your timeline while you plot? After the novels done? What's the method to your madness? I found this Creating a Timeline and am thinking of trying it out. Got any other great sites or ideas?

Writing Your Passion

2011-11-15T00:01:00.105-05:00

If you're writing, I hope you're writing your passion. I don't think I really knew what my passion was for a very long time. I thought I did, but it became clearer over time that what I wanted to write was exactly what I think God wanted me to write. I was drawn to romance novels in my twenties, but it wasn't until I'd had my first child at thirty-five that I got the bug to write. I joined Romance Writers of America and I started to study the craft while I raised my children.

I attended my first RWA Conference in 2001 in Washington, D.C. I loved it. I met lots of other writers, I'd written a complete manuscript by then and I'd started another. Then my family got blasted when my oldest child became ill at the age of eleven: Hope Through Trials. Life changed but I persisted in my hopes to become a published author. I met a dear friend, Mae Nunn through RWA and Faith, Hope, and Love, Inc.
and she eventually introduced me to The American Christian Fiction Writers who at that time where The American Christian Romance Writers. I think I've attended at least seven conferences since that time which got me through some really difficult years. Here's a picture from this years ACFW conference in St. Loius.

If you are struggling right now and have a desire to write I encourage you to find a way to write your passion. If you can't afford to attend conferences maybe you can purchase on of the CD's or MP3's from a conference you'd like to attend. I buy the entire conference of ACFW every year and then I can listen to the workshops in the car as I drive to work. There are many ways to learn and a long the journey you just might find your passion. My first book. Secrets of the Heart, Book One, The Ravensmoore Chronicles can be found on this page My Books where you can read the first chapter, watch the video trailer, and read some of the reviews.

I discovered my passion which is writing novels for the Christian market. I write the books that I want to read. I've been blessed with mostly good reviews. The most current review by Richard R. Blake encompassed what has become my passion. I hope you'll read all my reviews because I love it that readers take the time to post these comments.

Part of my passion includes England, it's history, landscape, and people.

The bottom line is Write Your Passion. It will take you places you never dreamed of and will help heal your heart. Are you writing your passion? How did you discover what it was?

THANK YOU VETERANS!

2011-11-11T17:24:00.001-05:00

Check out the resource link for help.

Veteran's Resources

HOPE THROUGH TRIALS

2011-11-08T00:01:00.101-05:00

A couple years ago I created this post. I've updated it to give you encouragement in the face of fear. To show how God works in our lives over the years to make a difference. It reminds me now of
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The years we walked through the most difficult part of this trial I don't think I believed these words. I had hope of getting published and though most of my strength was spent in this trial I still continued to attend a conference here and there and write. Doing those things gave me a sense of balance to some extent. Hope that I wasn't letting go of my dream even though it was obvious that it was not my time to be published.

My family and I had walked through a spiritually devastating desert for eleven years. My oldest daughter had been diagnosed with a severe learning disability known as NLD (non-verbal learning disability similar to Asperger’s Syndrome). For more information you can go to http://www.nldline.com/ In addition to that she’d developed complicated depression and anxiety issues. She was eleven years old and in fifth grade. My youngest was eight at the time and so very scared about what was happening to her big sister.

This past September my oldest turned twenty-two and though the problems persist they are not nearly as severe and she was able to get her high school diploma which is a huge accomplishment. She's even thinking about the possibility of college. We learned to trust God no matter what. Without Christ in our lives, our church, and many friends, I can’t see anyway we would have made it this far. But I’m a big believer in the power of prayer and in the power of hope. I even have a carved sculpture in my office that simply says, HOPE. But I didn't always feel that way. Jesus slowly worked in me until I could let go of fear. It took a really long time.

My youngest is now nineteen and a missionary with Youth With A Mission. She did her training in YWAM Texas and chose this route rather than college for now. She's been to Guatemala, Sri Lanka, various places in the states and will be headed to two other countries next year. God is good even when our situations are not so hot.

Several years ago, Robin Lee Hatcher, recommended I buy a copy of a daily devotional originally published in1925. That devotional is titled, Streams in the Desert, written by L.B. Cowman, and updated in modern language by James Reimann. Streams in the Desert is relief for the parched soul.

One of the devotions in this book begins with Psalm 46:1- God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. The first sentence: “Why didn’t God help me sooner?”

And then later the text continues:

"I once heard the following statement from a simple old man, and I have never forgotten it: "When God tests you, it is a good time to test Him by putting His promises to the test and then claiming from Him exactly what your trials have made necessary."

The text continues again: "There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is simply to try to get rid of the trial, and then to be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever before experienced, and to accept it with delight as an opportunity of receiving a greater measure of God's divine grace.

"In this way, even the Adversary becomes a help to us, and all the things that seem to be against us turn out to assist us along our way. Surely this is what is meant by the words "in all these thing we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Rom. 8:37). A.B. Simpson Page 342.

Let me say it can be very hard to learn lessons when our children are suffering. I don’t even want to think about learning a lesson in those circumstances. I just want results. Fast! But looking back over the past eleven years I have learned much. Okay, what you may say have you learned through this long, long, trial? Here’s my short list:
1) Patience
2) Prayer
3) Persistence

My long list begins something like this:
1) The need to let God work in a situation that I feel I need to control. That’s a tough one.
2) Wrestling God for a blessing and what that really means.
3) The need to REALLY take care of yourself even when things are awful because a long term illness of any kind will exhaust you as a caregiver and parent.
4) Hanging on to hope when you can’t find it.
5) Asking friends to stand in the gap and pray when you can’t pray one more word.
6) Finding peace in the Word, on a walk, in prayer, or in "being still."

Through all our trials as a family Christ has always been there for us even when we didn’t know it or feel his presence. Think about your trials and your “dry times.” What was it that you thirsted for? How did God provide?

Every morning on my way to work I pass a fountain that says: “Thirsty and ye gave me drink.” I roll my window down and listen to the calm of the water. It’s really nice when I get a red light and can enjoy it for a minute longer. As we dwell in this month of thanksgiving I ask that you would thank God for the many blessings that he bestows upon each of us each day even when we are unaware of them. I also ask that you pray for my family as we enter a new phase of our journey together. We treasure every prayer.

How has God shown you hope? What scripture strengthens your spirit? What song brings encouragement?

This weekend we went to a Casting Crowns concert: Come to the Well Tour. The words to this song that hit home.Lyrics to Set Me Free

NaNoWriMo

2011-10-31T00:01:00.042-04:00

So are you going to do it? National Novel Writing Month. Are you? I'm doing it. I hope to write 50,000 words this month. I've never done that. Ever! I'm going to push myself to just create and let that internal editor go on vacation. I don't have a lot of grand ideas that this is going to be easy, writing never is. But I am determined to do the very best I can do while working a full time day job and taking care of my family and trying to stay healthy while I'm doing it. If you're a praying person I'd love it if you'd keep in your prayers. I've always said that slow and steady wins the race. I'm really a turtle. A NaNo Ninja Turtle that is!
I think I'll get one of those red bands to wrap around my head for inspiration at the keyboard.

So don't be surprised if you don't see long blogs on here this month. I'll show up every week and let you know how it's going. If I get the urge to blog about something really cool you'll see that too. But for now, I feel the need, the need for speed.

Cincinnati and Books by the Banks

2011-10-25T00:01:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I blogged about my weekend experience at The Cincinnati Book Festival here as it relates to Marketing. There's even more though that doesn't necessarily relate to marketing, but relates more to being human. If you want to read up on what was happening and who was there here's a link, BBTB.

The first night we went to the author reception at The Mercantile Library. I've lived in Cincinnati for thirty one years and I had never been in that library. The library sits on the eleventh floor and you can get a pretty good idea from the link what it looks like. I wanted to curl up in one of the big chairs and read a book. Knowing that I was going to be at this huge event the next day I really had to push myself to socialize. I'm more introverted than extroverted so I have to make sure I get alone time to energize or power up.There wasn't a big author turnout, but a lot of library people who worked hard to put this event together showed up.

My hubby and I were thrilled to get a chance to talk to Dennis Lehane who had come to the reception as well. But the weird thing about writers is that most of us seemed more interested in looking at our surroundings than talking to each other. I did pick Dennis' brain for awhile and asked him to sign my copy of Shutter Island. He was a gentleman and willing to talk about what to expect at a big book signing, etc. But then I spent more time talking to the catering folks and a woman I didn't know from my suburb who was providing transportation for a couple of the authors. I just felt very relaxed and enjoyed myself and spending time with hubby, without getting all freaked out about trying to fit in with the crowd or how stressful the next day might be.

The next day at the event was great. I was assigned to a table with Donna MacMeans, Redeeming the Rogue who is another author from Ohio Valley RWA. Then I met Regina Jeffers, The Phantom of Pemberley and then sitting next to me was Carrie Bebris, Deception at Lyme. All delightful women.

The crowd was wonderful and I had a wonderful time talking to everyone who stopped at our table. I hope to get some more pics of the event up on the blog soon. I think my main point here is to say that it's just fun sharing your passion with others who, "get it." :) They all read and love books. Some write, some don't, but in the end we all have passion for words.

Do you remember the last book event you attended?

Mental Illness Depicted in Books and Movies

2011-10-18T00:01:00.000-04:00

I have always been drawn to the way our minds work.(BEWARE OF THESE MOVIE CLIPS. ESPECIALLY SHUTTER ISLAND. ALTHOUGH I THINK YOU'LL GET A GOOD DOSE OF HUMOR FROM WHAT ABOUT BOB? I'm fascinated with movies and/or books like A Beautiful Mind, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Inception, Shutter Island, Ordinary People and even the humorous side of mental illness in What About Bob?? rings true to life for patients when their therapists or psychiatrists leave for vacation. If you've never seen the movie K-PAX it's very interesting, and Jack Nicholson in, As Good As It Gets, can teach us all a little bit about the difficulties of mental illness for the person with the illness and for those around them.

My first historical romance, Secrets of the Heart, Book One in the Ravensmoore Chronicles, released in May 2011 and will take you on a journey where some of the aspects of mental health and mental illness are explored in England during 1817. The more I researched for this book and my next, with the current working title of Chameleon, the more fascinated I became. Of course the treatment of mental illness was in its infancy in those days and the days prior to that. Many thought mental illness was due to demon possession. The archaic methods of treatment were barbaric for centuries.

Originally the priory of St. Mary Bethlehem, Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as Bedlam began admitting patients who were considered unbalanced or mentally ill in 1357. Many people don't understand that these names are for the same place. Unlike the United States Bethlem was admitting patients when we were keeping patients in jails and alms houses.This hospital originally stood at Bishopsgate and then moved to Moorfields and eventually to St George’s Fields, Southwark. http://www.bethlemheritage.org.uk/aboutus.asp

If you would like to explore more about the fascinating facts of this institution please follow this link. http://www.bethlemheritage.org.uk/VisitingBethlem/

What book or movie influenced the way you think about mental illness?

How Much Can You Really Control?

2011-10-11T00:01:00.054-04:00

The short answer to this is: Not Much! The broader question I would ask you is: What are you afraid of? I've been a social worker for 31 years. I've been employed as a counselor for nursing students for the last 16 years. I've discovered that people who feel like they need to control others, or cling tightly to that which they believe they have control over, are really fearful.

None of us can really control anyone else. We can guide and give advice. We can encourage and nudge, but we can't make anyone do anything. Rather than trying to control others I'd recommend you look inside yourself to explore what it is that frightens you. Here's a list of things I've wish I could control:

The safety of my family.
The raise I get every year if I'm fortunate. :)
How many people buy my books.
How many people like my books.
How much I have to pay in taxes.

And that's just the beginning. Can you imagine what kind of shape I'd be in if I tried to control just these 5 issues? I'd probably stroke out! I know I don't want to live my life like that and I sure don't want to live afraid of all the things that can go wrong in this non-sensical world we live in.

So instead of controlling try:

Praying
An attitude change
Talking out problems with others
Setting boundaries
Surrendering

When was a time you realized you didn't have as much control of your life circumstances as you thought you did?

Read the Serenity Prayer and incorporate it into your life.

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And Wisdom to know the difference.

Are You Attending Christian Store Week?

2011-10-01T00:01:00.005-04:00

If you're a writer are you signing at a Christian Bookstore this week? If you're a reader are you attending a signing or visiting your local Christian Bookstore? This is going to be a great week, don't miss out on the fun in your area and say thank you to the people who keep our Christian Stores open. I love browsing through a Christian Bookstore. Love looking for new books, new music, and timeless ones as well.

I have the honor of signing at The Logos Christian Bookstore in Alexandria, Kentucky on October 8th. Click Here for directions. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity and plan on enjoying myself immensely. Do I want to sell some books? Of course. But more than that I want to talk to readers of Christian Fiction and maybe even some readers who've never read a Christian novel. I love finding out what people are reading and why.

I've always been in awe of the readers who are so very gracious that they choose my book among all the book choices out there to read. They encourage me by purchasing my book and in turn I hope I encourage them with my words. I hope I encourage them by escaping into the past with me to discover faith for the future.

I've read some interesting blog posts recently. Check out Katie Ganshert's blog at The WordServe Water Cooler, Love the Reader. And then visit Donald Miller and The Best Writing Advice at his blog for some more insights about readers and writers.

So what are you waiting for? Join in the fun this week. And let me know where you are signing or what store you are planning to visit if you're a reader. And if you are joining me at Logos in Alexandria, Kentucky, bring your smile because my awesome hubby will be taking pictures and your bound to end up on this blog as you are caught supporting Christian Store Week! Is it too early to start shopping for Christmas? If so it's not too early to start shopping for Sweetest Day, October 15th.

ACFW in St. Louis/Was It Worth It?

2011-09-27T00:01:00.122-04:00

I experienced the wonder of another American Christian Fiction Writers Conference this past week. I'm exhausted, broke, behind on my writing schedule, and very happy. No I haven't completely gone bonkers, although as anyone that's ever attended an ACFW Conference can tell you it may seem that way at moments.

We all need to take time out now and then and invest in ourselves. That investment can take many different forms: a new website, a new computer, craft books, spending time with crit partners, and sometimes attending a conference among many other things.

EXPECTATIONS

Don't go to conference expecting to sign with an agent or be offered a contract. These things can happen, but you're letting yourself in for huge disillusionment and disappointment if that's why you plan to attend.

Do plan to meet with editors and agents and pitch your stories. You never know what will come of a meeting, but go to grow. Ask the experts questions that will help you get better at your craft and gain confidence among those who have been helping writers for a long time.

NETWORKING

Don't be shy. Or don't let your shyness prevent you from taking risks. Say hello. Introduce yourself. Make friends and make the most of it.

Do take advantage of the many opportunities that present themselves. Schedule appointments that are important to you, attend workshops you think will help you grow, do something totally unplanned. By that, I mean you may have planned one thing, but a little voice whispers to you that you need to go do that something you didn't consider earlier. That may be one of your divine appointments.

KEEPING YOUR SANITY

I learned a long time ago that even if I attend conference it's worth getting the MP3 because of what I've discussed above. You just can't do everything and be alert to learning all the time. Sometimes you have to go take a nap, go outside and walk and get some fresh air, do something unexpected and fun with friends, talk to someone over coffee instead of going to a workshop. Then you can listen to the MP3 another time and pace your learning so you can have more time to think about a subject and review.

WHAT WAS DIFFERENT THIS TIME?

I attended as a published author and got to wear my Author ribbon.
I met with my agent (Rachelle Gardner) for the first time since my book published.
I saw my book selling in the bookstore.
Went out to dinner with my agent and fellow agency mates.
Video-taped interview for Christian Retailing and also completed video-tape for sales department at Realms/Charisma.
My agent received the Agent of the Year Award and I was there to witness it. :)
I took breaks and took naps.
God had grown me over many years.
I'd presevered and I'd presevered some more.
I listened and watched for God moments.

Was it worth it? Yep.

Did you go? Have you gone in the past? What made it worth it for you?

Need Some Encouragement?

2011-09-20T00:01:00.011-04:00

I'll be attending the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference (ACFW Conference) this week in St. Louis. If you are going I might see you there. If you're not going this year for whatever reason don't forget that you can order the conference CD's and MP3 and have the conference with you all year long.

If you've been struggling lately you might want to read Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On by Stormie Omartian.

If you are experiencing a difficult time in your life, or you know someone who is, this is a great book to use while you work your way through painful situations. I don’t say that casually. I’m employed as a full-time counselor for nursing students and have a master’s degree in social work, and I believe this book is a valuable tool for anyone.

Stormie O’Martian discusses how we learn to walk with our heavenly father. This hasn’t always been easy for me because I didn’t grow up having a father in the house, so it was hard to learn to trust God when my earthly father had abandoned me. Perhaps some of you have faced the same experience. Once in awhile I still need a reminder that God is there, and providing just enough light so I don’t get overwhelmed.

I love the image of just enough light because it helps me focus on what I can do today and encourages me not to look too far ahead. It reminds me of the scripture: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.Matthew 6:33-34.

The Prayer Light in each chapter is a prayer related to the chapter. For instance, on page 36 following the chapter on, Refusing to be Afraid of the Dark, the prayer begins with “Lord thank you that because I walk with you I don’t have to fear the dark.”

Footlights provide a list of several scriptures that shine light on the chapter subject, i.e., Isaiah 50:10.

Stormie offers a study guide at the end of each chapter which is very helpful for further study and insight.

The Bottom Line: If you’re walking in a dark place, a little light will help you find your way.
Have a great week!

Energize Your Marketing Strategies/Preparing for Conference

2011-09-12T00:01:00.002-04:00

On August 1st I wrote a marketing blog, Marketing Can Be Fun, Really! to coincide with my agent Rachelle Gardner’s Blog, How To Market Your Book. What I want to do today this week is encourage you as you look for ways to market your product. Yes, our books are products and they are very important for our life’s work.

I'm blogging on this topic at the WordServe Water Cooler on Monday. Here's the link: Energize Your Marketing Strategies. Come on over and join the conversation.

I'm also preparing to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in St. Louis. It will be a bit easier this year since I don't have to schedule an editor appointment and I'm blessed to have an awesome agent, Rachelle Gardner. Rachelle just happens to be one of the agents nominated for Agent of the Year. It will be so much fun to cheer her on.

So even though I don't have to worry about appointments I do have to think about what will help me as I attend workshops and the continuing education programs. Here's a look at what I'll be doing.

Getting in early to spend some time with friend and roomie, Vicki Cato.
Looking forward to visiting with my agent, WordServe authors, and other buddies.
Looking for other authors who might be able to endorse my next book, Chameleon.
Attending The Early Bird The Moral Premise

I'm looking forward to workshops like:

A Kiss Is NOT Just a Kiss presented by Julie Lessman and Ruth Axtell Morren
The Vise, the Rachet and the Hammer-Suspense so Good it Hurts presented by Kristen Heitzmann
Sometimes It’s Better to Tell than Show, Level: D, Presented by Erin Healy

I need a review of Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method but don't think I can fit it in. I may have to use my conference MP3 I've already paid for but I have a feeling I should probably see the presentation since I'm a visual learner.

I'm also looking forward to a Mentor Appointment. Don't know who I've been assigned to yet but I think it's a great way to grow.

Conference is always a growth experience. God sometimes plans things we would have never dreamed of and it's wise to be open to a change in plans. If you're going I suggest you be flexible, sleep when you get tired and take advantage of worship opportunities.

What are you looking forward to?

Living Through Your Circumstances and Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T00:35:00.000-04:00

Remembering 9/11 Dr. Charles Stanley and In Touch Ministries look back on the day that changed America.

Gaining Wisdom

2011-09-06T00:01:00.096-04:00

I started writing seriously about twelve years ago. I made the decision to become a writer after my first daughter was born in 1989. I'm not quite sure why having a baby made me think about becoming a writer. Maybe it was a way of recreating myself. I vaguely remember saying that maybe I'd be published by the time both kids went to college. That worked! No one is in college yet. Maybe it was because in the back of my mind I really wanted to write and having my first child at the age of 35 made me think I was running out of time and I'd better decide what I want to be when I grow up. I'm not really sure why I chose that time to make my decision. I'd been a social worker for ten years by then and love that aspect of my life, but I wanted more. I wanted to write.

I faced many blank pages and didn't really know where to start. I joined RWA, eventually joined ACFW, attended many writer's conferences from one side of the country to the other and studied the craft until I thought I had some idea of what I was doing. Of course most of us who write know the best way to learn is to do it, just do it. I wrote a lot of words that didn't make great stories for awhile, but I did eventually learn. James Scott Bell is a firm believer that writers aren't necessarily born we can all learn how to do it. I think the main ingredient must be a mountain load of passion and a mustard seed of talent. Hey, if I can do it I know you can do it. Really!

I have more craft books than you can imagine but two of my favorites are 1) Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies by Sol Stein

and 2) Write Great Fiction - Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell

You need to invest in your future writing career just like you would in any other career; this is how we gain wisdom. I spent years in college getting a Master's Degree in Social Work. I went to class, paid for those classes, completed internships, did a lot of writing. I can honestly say I spent more time learning the craft and business of writing, which never really ends, as I did getting my social work degree. Of course even with all that work there is never a guarantee of publication. But in today's economy unfortunately even with a college education there is no guarantee of getting the job you studied for in college, at least not right away. Hopefully, that will improve soon.

What have you done to gain wisdom? How have you invested in yourself? What's the number one investment strategy you would recommend? What has worked best for you in whatever career you have chosen to follow?

Identiying Your Greatest Strength/Challenging Your Greatest Weakness

2011-08-30T00:01:00.083-04:00

This looks like a strong rope. I like to visualize things I'm thinking about and this works just fine. I want you to think about whatever comes to mind related to how are you strong like this rope. Now take a piece of paper or open your word document and list the things your thinking of now.

I'm strong like a rope because I'm:
Tenacious
Sturdy
Reliable

Now think about what gets in your way. What causes weakness in your life? I know for me the list begins with:
Perfectionism
Stress Issues

Disorganization

We all have strengths and weaknesses. The problem blooms though when we stop being aware of these issues and allow them to take over our daily routine. If you are facing an ordeal, like climbing your own personal rock wall then some of these things may help:

Awareness

If you live in awareness then you will realize when you are off course.
Take time to re-focus your thoughts. This may come in the form of connecting with God in prayer and in the Word.

Breathing

We frequently hold our breath or don't breath deeply when we're stressed out or experiencing anxiety.
B-R-E-A-T-H-E. Take a few minutes to monitor your breathing.

Thought Stopping

Where are your thoughts taking you? If you are up against a deadline at work, at home, or on your novel it's imperative that you stay positive. If you follow negative thoughts into a dark alley of despair you will become trapped in that alley. On the other hand, if you follow your thoughts into an open airy field full of wildflowers and blue sky you may just find yourself thinking you can succeed. We really are what we think.

So what's one or more of your strengths? Weakness? How do you challenge your weakness? How do you capitalize on your strengths? Is there something you've learned along the way that has brought you through a difficult time?

Jillian Kent's Secrets May Surprise You

2011-08-22T00:01:00.053-04:00

Hi Everyone!
It's going to be a fun week. I've got two main blog posts this week. On Monday, August 22nd I'll be blogging and doing a book giveaway at International Christian Fiction Writers Blogspot and on Tuesday I'll be blogging about The Fine Art of Choosing a Pen Name at the new WordServe Water Cooler.

Come join the fun and find out more about my passion for writing novels set during England's Regency era. As one of my Amazon reviewers, Lisa Richardson said: "It's tempting to try to cram all regency romances into a single box. But Jillian Kent's Secrets of the Heart isn't concerned with the typical backdrop of balls and arranged marriages . . . Toss in a mysterious woman who won't speak, a creepy lunatic asylum, and the labyrinthine mind of a dangerous opponent and you have a story that draws more from Jane Eyre than Jane Austin."

Bedlam/Bethlehem Hospital

2011-08-16T16:08:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone,
I"m blogging about Bedlam/Bethlehem Hospital at Just the Write Charisma this week. Please stop by and leave a comment there or here. I think you'll your find this post very interesting.

Creativity Takes to the Road

2011-08-08T00:01:00.006-04:00

This is going to be an incredible week filled with fun, challenges, and hopefully a lot of great memories. My hubby, and oldest daughter and I are travelling to Texas to see our youngest daughter graduate from Youth With A Mission. I'm praying that the heat will let up at least a little bit for this excursion. The house sitters will have their hands full on the home front with three cats and a dog to watch over. Hopefully, there won't be too many parties while we're gone. :) This does bring other issues to the forefront however of what happens when you have writing that needs to be attended to while traveling. I know I'm not the first to face this dilemma but I'm going to share some of my thoughts and hope I can garnish some ideas from you all as well.

I've been debating whether or not to take my laptop or just my NeoSmart. And I think I'm going to take the Neo. It's lighter to use in the car and I can download to my computer when I get home. This way I can be working on the rough draft of book three with the working title of Mystery of the Heart. My substantial edit is now in the hands of my editor and I'll soon have to attend to line edits for book two, Chameleon.

When I turn in my final edits I also have to turn in:
1) a teaser chapter for my next novel
2) an updated synopsis (plot changes frequently happen during editing) and
3) a list of potential endorsers with their contact info

These are all things I can work on and mull over while on the road.

Another thing I have to consider is checking e-mail, etc. I have an ancient cell phone and need to get a new one. It is way past time to upgrade. I also need a phone that takes great pictures. So I really want to know what kind of phones you use and what you like best. Which one is really easy to use for answering e-mail and which ones are totally author friendly. :) This phone actually looks like the phone I currently own.

I ususally post on Tuesdays but want to get as much information from you as I can before we leave later this week. So that's why I'm posting early if you're wondering. So what has worked best for you while writing and traveling? We're driving from Ohio to Texas so it's going to take awhile. :) Hey did I tell you that August 8th is my 30th wedding anniversary? Amazing! I found myself a really great guy all those years ago.

MARKETING CAN BE FUN, REALLY!

2011-08-01T13:45:00.000-04:00

If you think marketing is difficult, don't panic. Once you are published you do have to work hard to help push your sparkling new baby into the world so you can reach readers. You don't have to have all the answers and all the knowledge, this develops over time, but I'd encourage you to educate yourself. I'm no expert but I'm learning a lot and I'm not afraid to try things that I haven't done before. Be brave! Be bold! Be creative!

Discover what color your marketing parachute is and jump. Prior to my books release on May 3rd I had taken what I consider two very important steps for marketing my novel. I hired Kelli Standish and team at PulsePoint Design to help me achieve the look I wanted for my online presence. This is an investment in your career and I encourage you to look at it that way. Your website is hopefully going to be where your future readers are going to visit and you want to practice hospitality or no one will visit often. There are many places on the web for readers and writers to visit, ask yourself why they may want to stop by your online home.

Get yourself some classy business cards. The PulsePoint gang also helped me with that and coordinated my book cover and my web design to be on my business card. This makes a great impression. My husband who also happens to be my best publicist talks my novel up all the time and hands out my business cards. He and I both asked the hospital gift shops where we work if they would consider carrying my book and both said yes!

Realms/Charisma, my publisher created a beautiful video trailer. You can see it here: My Novel Secrets of the Heart. You'll also notice that you can click on the book and go to Amazon to order it. I think it's really important to make buying your book as easy as possible. I also have all my endorsements listed on this page.

I recently took advantage of another opportunity, made a suggestion, and here is the outcome over at Christian Fiction Online Magazine I hope you'll take a look at this new column called The Well Writer.

Talk to your librarian. I have lots of friends at my local library. They ordered my book for the Cincinnati Public Library and they also told me about Books by the Banks which I am now participating in on October 22nd because I followed my librarian, Betty's, advice and applied to be one of the folks participating in this event which pulled in approximately 3,600 people last year. I told my publisher and they are making up postcards for me for this event. I also hope to get a chance to use my video trailer at this event. So be open to opportunities that come your way. We writers are a creative bunch. There's no reason we can't be creative marketers as well.

These are just a few of the marketing ideas I've utilized this year. Some of the others include a radio interview, an Amazon Author Page, and besides this blog I also now blog at Just The Write Charisma and the brand new WordServe Water Cooler Blog.

I hope you will find encouragement related to the many things YOU can accomplish as the director of marketing for your own novels.

Smiles and Blessings!

David McCullough Painting With Words

2011-07-26T00:01:00.023-04:00

Two time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough fascinates me both as a reader and a writer. One of my friends at work asked me if I'd watched the extra features at the end of the John Adams DVD. I typically do watch all the bonus material at the end of these movies but for some reason hadn't got around to it. I don't think I even realized it was on this particular DVD. If you get the chance you must watch it, he's so very personable and inspiring. I found the videos on YouTube and you can see them listed below. I wish I had a version of his world headquarters in my backyard. :) Painting With Words Part 4 This section is wonderful for writers but the entire thing is awesome!

Painting With Words Part 1

Painting With Words Part 2

Writing With Words Part 3

A few thingst I've learned or been reminded of by David McCullough.

1.) Find your favorite work space. That may sound simple but it's not for some of us. I recently lost my workspace because we needed an extra bedroom at home so now my desk is in the dining room. Noise cancelling headphones and possibly a room screen will soon be part of my world headquarters.

2.) "You can only learn by doing it. You can't learn to write without writing."

3.) "History is about life, about change, about consequences, cause and effect . . . it's about music and poetry and drama and science and medicine and money and love . . " This man knows how to make history fun.

4.) "Marinate your head in the time and culture you write in."

5.) Excel.

6.) "The work is the reward."

7.) Develop a list of ideas that you want to write about eventually.

8.) Sing a song even if it is off key. :)

9.) "Count your blessings."

10.) "The pen and the voice died on the same day. Jefferson and Adams died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence."

I think artists of all kinds will love his new book, The Greater Journey. You can see a video trailer here, Author Page, and listen to him talk about the book.

In one section of the video McCullough talks about being a fly on the wall in one favorite place in history. If you could choose only one place to be a fly on the wall in history what event would you choose?

Transition Time: Back to the Day Job

2011-07-19T09:45:00.001-04:00

I'm lucky. Really I am. I had eight weeks off this summer. This is my second day back at my day job. I'm employed as a counselor for nursing students ten months every year. I love my job. I'm also working full-time as an author fulfilling a three book contract for Realms/Charisma. I love that job too. It's a balancing act all right and it's not always easy or fun, but I wouldn't have it any other way. When you're blessed to have a job you love and then you get another job you love it's a dream come true. But in reality there are always bumps in the road. Some are little and some are big.

THE TIME FACTOR

We all have the same number of hours in a day. So why is it that some people are so much better at organizing their time than others? This is something I still struggle with but I'm getting better. Believe it or not I actually manage my time better when I work my day job. I like to think in terms of self-management rather than time managment. I agree with the concept of being able to manage myself better than mangage my time. Still it's all related, I just have to find a way that works for me and my creative brain. There's no sleeping in on the days I report for my day job. When I'm off I don't get up early because I write late. It's a different kind of schedule, no right or wrong, just different. The problem of sleeping in when I'm off is that other matters regarding family needs can arise, running errands, household chores. When I'm off I feel more of a responsibility to do all these things and more because I don't feel like I do enough at home when I'm working. I think that's one of the hardest things for younger writers who stay at home and are raising children. This leads to another aspect that can sneak up on us.

THE ENERGY FACTOR

This is important to keep going through the day. I'm not a morning person, but because I have to get up early for the day job leads to being really tired at night, which is when I enjoy writing most. So that means it's time to adjust when I return to the day job. In order for me to have energy in the evening I have to exercise at lunch time or after work. If I don't, I pay the price and that's ususally in the loss of time to write. You can see where this can become a problem. Also, it's important to set boundries. Time and energy issues can lead to the next bump.

THE ORGANIZATION FACTOR

In order to save money this year I'm going to carry my lunch. This will help me save up for a new computer. The cafeteria at work is just getting too expensive. But in order to carry my lunch I have to find time to pack it the night before work, along with getting my clothes ready, making dinner, taking care of the critters, and all those other things that need done. It ususally helps me to get the most complicated thing done first and if I do that then I probably won't procrastinate, which can throw my day off. This leads me to the next factor. Dare I say it?

THE GOAL SETTING FACTOR

Yep. I think this is probably where I should start. Where all of us should start that want to be productive. When my daily goals start to blur that's when I know I'm in trouble. So it's well worth taking the time to open our planners or get out our calendars, or whatever technology you're using these days to stay on target. I like to set weekly and monthly goals and within those I pick one bad habit to try and change monthly, nothing huge. Then I work at chunking these down into bite size pieces, and yes I am one of those people who like to check things off that I've accomplished. :)

THE PRAYER FACTOR

Charles Stanley reminds us that prayer is our most powerful form of saving time. You can print out his 15 recommendations for making our time productive here: Prayer:Our Time Saver

So these are some of the issues that I know that are important for me to tackle as I transition back to work. What strategies work well for you whether you work at home or outside the home or both?

Meet Jeannie Campbell, The Character Therapist

2011-07-12T00:01:00.040-04:00

I want you to meet a very special person today. I call her the therapists' therapist. :) For me anyway. I've been counseling for thirty years, but as a writer, maybe especially as a writer I need someone with Jeannie's skill set. One of the passions that she and I both share is "helping those not afflicted with mental disorders understand those who are." Jeannie helped me pin down some of my heroine's motivations in Secrets of the Heart. I'm sure I'll be utilizing Jeannie's skills again soon in my next book as I go through the revision process for Chameleon. Please welcome Jeannie Campbell.

Jeannie the Therapist:

Jeannie Campbell is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC # 45366) in the state of California. She is Head of Clinical Services for a large non-profit in Humboldt County, and enjoys working mainly with children and parents.

Jeannie graduated summa cum laude from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity with Specialization in Psychology and Counseling and magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a double major in psychology and journalism. She has worked in a crisis pregnancy center, psychiatric hospital, drug rehabilitative program, several non-profits and homeless shelters, a foster family agency, and in private practice.

Jeannie the Writer:

Jeannie has been writing ever since she received a diary for her fifth birthday. She began writing angst-ridden middle-grade novels in junior high, often commandeering the family computer for hours on end. After eight years of higher educational pursuits, she moved onto adult contemporary romance and romantic suspense, frequently using her day job as a therapist to generate lots of fodder for her night job as a writer.

Two of Jeannie’s “therapeutic romance” manuscripts have garnered the high praise of being finalists in the Genesis Contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), of which she is an active member. She writes a popular monthly column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine and has been featured in many other e-zines, newspapers, and blogs.

My tag: "on online therapy service for fictional characters"

Often say: "Get some couch time" and "on the couch"

What is Character Therapy?

Character Therapy is what I do when I use my professional training and experience as a licensed clinician to evaluate and diagnose fictional characters.

How can you—a published or aspiring writer—benefit?

1) Write characters more realistically.

Using a search engine to find out information about a mental disorder yields a very different result than asking a therapist who has treated those same problems in real life. Instead of getting a bunch of stale facts, I can help you breathe life into your characters while taking into consideration your unique story world.

2) Plot more feasibly.

Plotting the external conflict around your character’s internal conflict is essential to create tension on every page. Understanding the character’s driving goals and motivation in relation to their emotional state will help you figure out what plot points need to occur to maximize the character’s arc to its fullest potential.

3) Avoid clichéd or incorrect depictions of mental disorders.

My passion is helping those not afflicted with mental disorders understand those who are. Since one in four adults have a mental disorder, the likelihood of one of your characters having one is pretty high. But you want every nuance to ring true about the character, not feel cardboard cutout or stereotyped. So pick my brain instead of yours to avoid pitfalls of re-writing later.

Have I piqued your curiosity? Think your characters might benefit from some couch time?

Website for a couch appointment: http://charactertherapist.com/

George III Loses America and His Mind

2011-07-05T00:01:00.058-04:00

Hope your 4th was a great one! I enjoyed the awesome fireworks we watched last evening and am very grateful to live in the USA. However, I'm also a fan of Great Britain and its history.

I work in the mental health field and I'm fascinated and frequently appalled by the treatment of those who suffered from mental disorders throughout history. Whether or not you are familiar with what happened to King George III you might find this post interesting.

The Madness of King George
Nigel Hawthorne and Helen Mirren star in this incredible movie that released in 1994.

Some of my favorite lines from the movie. You can find more at the Internet Movie Data Base

George III: Six hours of sleep is enough for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool.

[Pitt has given the King some papers to sign]
George III: What is this? America, I suppose.
Pitt: No, sir.
George III: Oh, America's not to be spoken of, is that it?
Pitt: For your peace of mind, sir. But it's not America.
George III: Peace of mind! I have no peace of mind. I've had no peace of mind since we lost America. Forests, old as the world itself... meadows... plains... strange delicate flowers... immense solitudes... and all nature new to art... all ours... Mine. Gone. A paradise... lost.

I found this next scene between the King and his doctor very sad and unfortunately accurate for the day.

Dr. Willis: If the King refuses food, He will be restrained. If He claims to have no appetite, He will be restrained. If He swears and indulges in MEANINGLESS DISCOURSE... He will be restrained. If He throws off his bed-clothes, tears away His bandages, scratches at His sores, and if He does not strive EVERY day and ALWAYS towards His OWN RECOVERY... then He must be restrained.

George III: I am the King of England.
Dr. Willis: NO, sir. You are the PATIENT.

How sad to think that King George may have actually been suffering the effects of arsenic poisoning. Read this: King George III: Mad or Misunderstood? and this: Porphyria or Arsenic?

Whether you are a reader or writer have you ever stumbled across something in history that just grabbed you by the throat and wouldn't let go? Your own magnificent obsession so to speak? That' me and the Regency era. What's your favorite time period in history? What country?

SLEEPING SMART AND WRITING WELL

2011-06-28T00:01:00.085-04:00

If you read my blog post from last week Is the Pursuit of Writing Excellence to be Enjoyed and then hop over to some of my friends blogs like Rosslyn Elliott, Are You Fast Enough For Your Deadline?, and Mike Dellosso, The Contract: Blessing or Curse? you might see why I'm so preoccupied with the need for sleep. This is not an easy road even though we all love it. Writing to deadline is very challenging. So as a way of meeting that challenge we all need to evaluate how sleep plays into what we are or are not creating.

We all need sleep. There's days I wish I didn't have to sleep because there is so much to be done, but sooner or later the mind and body call me to sleep. Of course I try to cheat my need for sleep now and then by drinking my coffee. Read this article on Caffeine and Sleep Is it worth it?

I'm currently blessed to be on an eight week break from the college where I work. I've rediscovered that I'm not a morning person. I've tried and tried to become one without success. I'd love to be able to get up at five am and write, walk, and wonder how I did that, but I've never been very good at keeping that schedule for more than a couple of days. What I have discovered is that I get most of my writing done in the afternoon and the evening. So I'm finally coming to terms with that. But now that I'm on break I'm staying up till one and two o'clock in the morning. Not good. Not for me anyway. I'm going to pay the price when I return to my day job unless I start adjusting that schedule as I get closer to returning to my counseling position.

You all know how much better you feel when you have enough sleep. I'm a full-time counselor for nursing students and I'm a writer, wife, and mom. If I don't get enough sleep I don't function to the best of my ability in any of these roles. Yet there are times when I push past my need for sleep which typically leads to getting sick.

It seems that many are sleep deprived today and that's why I want to challenge you to study up on the importance of sleep and encourage you and your families to get enough rest. These Sleep Facts may help you sort things out.

Some of us deal with insomnia and others with sleep apnea. Some of us can't sleep because our spouses are snoring or our spouses can't sleep because we are snoring. Others take medicine to help them sleep and some have no problems getting to sleep. If you have trouble sleeping try listening to The Music Box Lullaby

And then there are more dangers behind the wheel with those of us who don't get enough sleep.

Sleep Deprivation Risks: 1 in 20 Fall Asleep at Wheel, CDC SaysMore Than One-Third of Americans Say They Get Fewer Than 7 Hours of Sleep a Night

Unhealthy Sleep Habits This segment aired on ABC World News last night (3/3/11).

I wish our entire country would just take naps in the afternoon at work. Wouldn't that be nice? So when is the last time that you took a nap, had trouble sleeping, or just wished you could capture some more zzzzzzz's?

Proverbs 3:24 ESV reminds us: If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

I'm adding this video link on 6/30/11 about the positions we sleep in and our personalities. :) Sleep personality What's yours?

If you could have an extra 24 hours added to your week for just this week, how would you spend it? What hours of the day do you write best? If you're not a writer, what hours of the day are you most productive?

Wishing you wonderful nights of sweet summer slumber.

Is The Pursuit of Writing Excellence a Journey to be Enjoyed?

2011-06-21T00:01:00.050-04:00

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. How can I do my best and keep loving what I do? My first novel has been available for a bit more than a month now. I wrote the very best novel I could at the time. I've done the best I can to market the baby and will continue to do so. We all know how much time can be spent on line promoting our work, building our platforms, hoping that the elusive something makes a difference and that we don't disappoint our readers, our publishers, agents, and so on. I've about driven myself bonkers this last year trying to do everything well. More than once recently I've been hearing others talk about the importance of writing a good book and not stressing so much about the rest. That doesn't mean we ignore our part in marketing our own books, but there's a choice to be made about how far you want to take it. There are some great conversations going on out there on blogs. Here's just a few of the ones that have hit home to me lately. See if you can relate to any of them.

The Reality of Book Promotion posted by Jordan Dane at The Killzone.
The Best and Worst Writing Advice posted by Michelle Gagnon at The Killzone.
Ten Commandments for the Happy Writer posted by Nathan Bransford in 2009.
What's Your Speed? posted by Tess Gerritsen in April 2011.
The Gift of Insecurity posted by Rachelle Gardner.

When all is said and done I want to be a writer that turns out quality work time after time. I want a long and satisfying writing career. I realize that everyone won't always love my work and that each reader has expectations that I may not always live up to, but I'll always do the best I can. It's part of who I am. So after allowing fear to suck away part of my writing week I'm now getting my head on right. I'm focusing on what I need to do; one of those things will be to post Nathan Bransford's blog post near my computer and go back and read some of these other posts from time to time when the going gets tough.

So what do you think? Is the pursuit of writing excellence a journey to be enjoyed? Is it possible to maintain after publication? How do you plan to approach your writing journey? What's your path look like?

Facing Monsters Under Our Beds, In Our Closets, and in Our Dreams

2011-06-14T00:01:00.020-04:00

I've been revisiting the old fear monsters lately. I didn't want to; they just sort of crept up on me.

I’ve wrestled with different types of fear my entire life. My parents separated when I was six. I had nightmares until I was in college related to the fear that many kids believe, and that’s that they are somehow responsible for the break up of their parents. Not true, yet many kids feel or have felt this way.

I was very sick and hospitalized when I was in second grade. In 1963 children were on wards and in beds next to each other, (at least it was my experience). The children on either side of me died. I became afraid of death. My brother died when he was 27 years old and I was 29. I became even more afraid of death.

I experienced a lot of other reasons to fear in my lifetime: car accidents, my own children’s illnesses, the death of friends, the death of other family members. The list goes on and on. I’m 56 now and I’m not afraid most of the time. Do I occasionally let my fears slip in? Yes. One of those fears is sometimes related to my writing. Jody Hedlund posted a blog recently that addressed those issues here. As Jody mentions it's important not to let our fears paralyze us, push through it. One of my favorite writers in the general market is Laura Kinsale who experienced the full out anxiety that can attack those of us who write. She shares a snippet of this experience on her website where she talks about the Renegade Muse.

I’m not able to banish my fears completely, but I finally figured out that no matter how hard I try, in my human strength, I cannot keep bad things at bay. Sometimes it helps to remember good advice such as Overcoming Fear of Failure. I don’t have control. God does. All I can do is the best I can do, trust God for the rest, and remember the mustard seed.

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20 NIV

So have faith, not fear. Peace, not fear. Trust, not fear. Hope, not fear.

In my counseling Bible, The Bible for Hope, NKJV, the introduction to Numbers talks about fear. The first paragraph states, “Fear can immobilize. Fearful people often do not think straight and run off in the wrong direction to escape the source of their fear. The world can be quite scary, and at times, Christians will become afraid. On those occasions, they can either run away from God, thinking that he cannot handle their fears, or they can run to God for protection.”

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV). 2 Timothy 1:7

Question: What are you afraid of? How do you cope with your monsters?

All photos courtesy of photobucket.

The Perfect Recipe

2011-06-07T00:01:00.066-04:00

When you write books lots of people will ask you where you get your ideas? I get them from everywhere, but I guess I could equate it to those who can really cook a great meal. Some writers might use recipes and some don't. As a writer I would say I use a type of recipe conjured up by the seat of my pants. For instance 2 cups of characters, + 1 cup of plot = brilliant story. Okay, so it's a little more complicated than that. So you add a 3 tablespoons of setting, a dash of romance, and hmm lets see, a quart of dialogue. Yep, at least a quart. This is getting complicated isn't it? And you know what? It is! I can't just throw a bunch of ingredients in a bowl and blend and expect the recipe to come out perfect. Maybe those plotters can get pretty close but they might miss that dash of cinnamon along the way if they get to orderly about the recipe.

I've had to study the craft of writing for years and prepare much like a Top Chef Master. Everything is in the kitchen and I set forth with my special recipe to prepare. Sometimes the story bakes up well the first time around but most of the time the story needs an extra pint of setting, a heaping teaspoon of passion, and a hefty cup of adventure.

Maybe the ideas we bring to the recipe are half the battle. If we are pulling from the wrong place or not thinking enough about what we really want to bake we may end up disappointed. So back to the kitchen. What is it that you want to cook? Are you looking in the right place for your ideas? Is there a right place? What's the secret in your recipe?

Mental Wellness Isn't Just For Writers

2011-05-31T00:01:00.009-04:00

IF taking care of yourself usually shows up on the bottom of your to be done list it’s time to make a change. Women especially are at risk for depression because we tend to be the first line of defense in our families to take care of others and not us. As a Licensed Independent Social Worker counseling nursing students, I deal with mental health issues every day at work. But what many of us don’t think of until we get depressed or suffer from anxiety is what mental health looks like? What is a definition of mental health as opposed to mental illness?
One definition of mental health is:

–noun

1. psychological well-being and satisfactory adjustment to society and to the ordinary demands of life.

________________________________________

Origin:
1825–35
Dictionary.com Unabridged

My definition of Mental Health is the absence of disease and the enjoyment of life. I like to say the absence of dis-ease. Just like any other part of the human body the human mind can have illnesses. You can read up on all of these problems at the National Alliance on Mental Illness You can help stamp out the stigma against those with mental illness just by becoming informed and sharing your knowledge. I think Jesus demonstrated the objective of mental health when HE said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NIV

There are many ways to relieve stress in our lives (my top pick is massage, bet you couldn't guess). I think other effective strategies are 1) Talking about your problems with someone you trust, 2) Pray and seek God’s wisdom for your particular concerns, 3) Set healthy boundaries, in other words, learn to say no. Resource: Boundaries (When to Say YES When to Say NO To Take Control of Your Life) Dr. Henry Cloud, and Dr. John Townsend, and 4)Exercise that releases endorphins and helps you feel better.

One of the biggest mental health disorders that we all know something about and many writers suffer from is depression. Did you know that Sir Winston Churchill suffered from depression; he called it his Black Dog. http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/

British folklore talks about a ghostly black dog that has large glowing eyes. This made me wonder if that was the thought behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, The Hound of the Baskervilles. I have not researched that idea but made a quick run of the question on the internet and found not surprisingly that Conan Doyle did suffer depression after his wife and several other family members died.

There are many mysteries yet to be solved regarding the human body. The health of the spirit is also related to the health of the brain. Please remember that the brain is part of the body and those who suffer with any type of mental illness are due the same respect as anyone else who has cancer, diabetes, thyroid disease, etc.. It’s just different. Taking care of you means taking care of your brain, too. How are you going to take care of you and your brain health this summer? I know that I'll be walking.

Why not search for a new scripture and use it to guide your wellness needs?

If mental wellness was a color, what color would your choose?

MY VACATION AND BLOG SITES I'LL BE VISITING

2011-05-22T00:01:00.020-04:00

Friday was my last day of work from my day job for eight weeks. I work in a college and it's a wonderful perk to have time off in the summer. I'm taking a week off from blogging on this site because I'm taking a much needed vacation and visiting friends in Atlanta. When I return home I'll be in full out writing mode. I'll spend this break time separating one job from the other and trying to get some perspective on the creative work that needs to be done. Now, that being said I'm being interviewed on two blogs Monday - Wednesday. :) You can find me Monday at Janalyn Voigt's Blog, Novel Books. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday you can find me over at Favorite PASTimes. I'll be on vacation but I'll be checking in so please come visit these blog sites if you have time. And then when I get home I'll be blogging at Just The Write Charisma on May 30th. If you'd like to check out the reviews that have been coming in for my novel just click here.

Are you taking a vacation this summer? If you are where are you going? Do you have a favorite destination? Or do you enjoy staying home and doing whatever you like without having to travel?

Rachelle Gardner's Triple Post for Blog Pick Friday

2011-05-20T00:01:00.009-04:00

Difficult Conversations Part I
"This Book Isn't Going to Work."

Difficult Conversations Part 2
"I Shopped It Till I Dropped, But Nobody's Buying."

Difficult Conversations Part 3
"Don't Take This Personally-But It's Personal."

If you want to hear about all the different difficult conversations that agents might have with there authors then Rachelle Gardner's blog was the place to be this week. If you happen to be visiting here just click one of the above links and zoom over to Rants and Ramblings. Don't you love that picture from Part One? Who hasn't felt like that on some occasion?

Have a great weekend and may it be free of difficult conversations. :)

Archaeologists Unearth Skeletons at Old Bethlehem (Bedlam) Hospital

2011-05-17T00:01:00.056-04:00

I've been employed as a social worker for thirty years. I've worked in the mental health and medical fields for all of that time. If you read my books you'll find an interesting psychology thread. I'm currently revising my second book which will take you into Bedlam in the year 1818. When I saw this article Archaeology Find I was both fascinated and horrified. Then I became more fascinated when I realized this was really an old burial ground. Still it's hard to know what actually happened until more information comes to light.

"It's interesting on the archaeological side because the 16th century is a time of immense poverty really in the outer areas of the city of London. Sites of this type haven't always been fully investigated," Carver said.

In the picture with the article it appears to be more of a mass grave. I can't help but wonder if this was used for the patients who died, or perhaps bodies from an epidemic like the plague. The The Great Fire of London occurred in 1666 so I wonder how that may have effected this grave site. About ten years later Bethlehem hospital moved to Moorfields. It's moved twice since that time and still provides help for those who suffer from mental illness.

This blog post from one of my favorite sites sheds more light on what is being reported. Bethlem in the News

Many people don't know that Bethlehem Hospital, also known at Bethlem and Bedlam opened it's doors to the mentally ill in the 14th century.

What intrigues you about this history?

Choosing Your Life Verse

2011-05-15T00:01:00.061-04:00

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV

Over the past several years I've struggled with a number of issues within my family and within myself. Much of the time, after prayer and studying the Word, I knew that many of my thoughts centered around fear. God does not want us to live caught up in our fears. I know that. I think we all understand that, but when it comes to daily living and the challenges we face it's easy to get off track. It's easy for me to get off track and fall into the fear trap.

I think that's why it's been important for me to choose a life verse. A passage of scripture that encourages, that grounds me, that reminds me of what's really important. I can't even remember when I heard about life verses or choosing one for myself. I've picked a scripture off and on every month for awhile, but I've felt compelled to pick a scripture that I think encompasses my life so far and this is it.

Have you thought about choosing a life verse? What does that mean to you? How will you use it?

Pace Yourself with Myra Johnson from Seekerville/Blog Pick Friday

2011-05-13T15:18:00.000-04:00

When you read a book that moves quickly and you get lost in the pages of a romance, mystery, thriller, or horror novel chances are you're reading a book with just the right pacing. This is not an easy feat for writers to accomplish. I struggle with it and I know others do too. So when I saw Myra's post from Tuesday I knew it would be my blog pick. If you haven't read it yet just follow this link and learn to Pace Yourself.

Myra's new book is called, A Horseman's Heart. Sounds like my kind of reading and I look forward to that soon. Check it out!

The Thrill Ride To Publication Part Two

2011-05-10T00:01:00.074-04:00

Last week I published part one of this post at Just The Write Charisma. You can read it here. It's an interesting experience comparing different aspects of thrill rides like these to our journeys toward publication, and if you think about it, it's truer than we might like to acknowledge.

Yesterday, registration opened for the American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference. This is a very exciting and worthwhile conference for writers. I've attended more times than I can remember. But I know it can feel like a thrill ride called, The Flight of Fear when newbies attend conference for the first time or when any of us meet challenges at conference. The Flight of Fear is described as: "The first linear induction motor LIM-launched roller coaster in the world catapults riders from 0 to 54 miles per hour in just four seconds on a heart-pounding adventure in total darkness through four inversions."

Just imagine that you are at conference and this is your first appointment with an editor. You sit down to pitch your story and your mind encounters total darkness, you've gone blank, your stomach rolls and you think about doing the unthinkable, but then you remember. Whew! You pitch your story, instead of your breakfast, to the best of your ability. The editor asks you to send a proposal. You leave the room and jump up and down hugging your closest friend who has been waiting for you and then you speed down the hall, catch an escalator to another level taking two steps at a time because the thing is just too slow, and then you sit down to talk with your with your dream agent.

Your dream agent asks why you want an agent and again your mind enters total darkness and you feel lost in a deep, dark wood. You thought the editor was going to ask you to pitch your project. Instead you hem and haw your way through the question and then he/she asks what you are writing. The light bulb burns bright and you remember your pitch. She tells you it sounds interesting and encourages you to send a proposal. You are thrilled and leave the room walking on air.

Everyone experiences a different journey. Have an experiences (good, bad, or ugly) you want to share? They might be about a conference experience or something else along your writing journey. Help each other out so your journey is awesome. So before you get to conference remember to come prepared, be yourself, have fun, and put your thinking caps on; there is a lot to learn. What helps your jitters at conference?

Happy Mother's Day and Winners!

2011-05-08T00:15:00.003-04:00

THE WINNERS OF THE SIGNED COPIES OF SECRETS OF THE HEART GO TO:

NIKI TURNER

AND

ERIN MACPHERSON

PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH YOUR ADDRESS INFORMATION AT JILL@JILLIANKENT.COM

CONGRATULATIONS NIKI AND ERIN!

Secrets of the Heart Launches Today!

2011-05-03T00:01:00.061-04:00

I'm thrilled to celebrate the release of Secrets of the Heart today. I hope you will join me in the celebration. I will be giving away TWO copies of my novel this week and will leave this blog post in place through Saturday. Please leave a comment and e-mail addy. If you don't leave an e-mail address I won't know how to reach you. I will close this opportunity out at midnight on Saturday, May 7th and announce the winners on Sunday, May 8th, Mother's Day. :)

I'd love to know what you like about historical romance novels. What attracts you to this genre? Take a look at the video Realms made for Secrets of the Heart. Does this trailer draw you in at all? Would you buy or have you bought a book because of a trailer or was it only one aspect that helped you make a decision?

Other than a great romance, Secrets of the Heart is a book with mystery/suspense elements. That's my personal preference. How about you? I think I'm a latent Sherlock Holmes. What elements do you like in your historical romances?

An Encouragement For Your Week

2011-05-01T00:31:00.001-04:00

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. KJV

Tools for Writers/From the Story Board to Vlogging/My Friday Blog Picks

2011-04-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday of this week, Nancy J. Cohen over at The Killzone blogged about Visual Tools for Writers It was interesting and there are a lot of different ideas in the comment section as well if you'd like to check it out.

Jennifer Wilkov guest blogged over at Rachelle Gardner's blog on Vlogging Anyone?

Fellow Realms author, Andrea Boeshaar at Just The Write Charisma blogged on the topic of The Art of Marketing: Video Trailors . . . Do They Sell More Books? and Martha Rogers, also another Realms author also blogged about Resources and Tools for Writing this week.

Scott Egan blogged about Some Thoughts on those Online "Resources" for Writers

So if you are looking for a variety of different resources you've got a lot right here. Anyone find anything else out there in cyberland?

Will a Royal Wedding Boost the Sales of Romance Novels?

2011-04-26T00:01:00.005-04:00

I have to admit I've wondered if the Royal Wedding will increase the number of sales of romance novels sold that are set in England, be they historical, contemporary, secular, or inspirational. What do you think? I'm very selfishly hoping so. For all of us who have novels coming out that are set in England I think we may have a tiny advantage, but who knows, it's a wild and crazy business.

One week from today, my very first novel will officially be released. I've been more than a little nervous. But for some strange reason the butterflies winging around my stomach have settled into a kind of fluttering excitement and I've joined them in the dance. Afterall, it's only once that my first novel will wing its way into the hands of readers. Since I have a three book contract readers will also have the opportunity to read them as well and I hope and pray they do. And I hope each book is better than the last but that each book brings with it something new and unexpected. But this first book of mine will always be my first book and that's just way special.

I encourage you to take a moment and go to Amazon and look inside this novel. I want you to party with me on line and just do it for the fun of it. Go there and look and click the little "like" sign if you do like what you see and read. And then someday in the future if you read this book leave a review on Amazon.

So what do you think about romance novels and the Royal Wedding? Will this event boost the sale of romance novels? I'm going to think positively here and say yes. Yes! It will! Because a lot of us love a good love story.

Remembering The Spirit of Truth

2011-04-24T00:01:00.002-04:00

Follow this link to an EWomen Devotional SPIRIT OF TRUTH and have an awesome EASTER.

Passion of the Christ/Good Friday/Remember Me

2011-04-22T00:01:00.022-04:00

IMDB Passion of the Christ If you want to read more about the movie and the cast.

I highly recommend this post by Jessica Patch regarding Passover if you didn't see it this week. What's the Point of Passover?

The Juggling Act of Writing A Series

2011-04-19T00:01:00.008-04:00

In the world of publishing I'm a newbie. My first book, Secrets of the Heart, releases May 3rd. However, it is already in stock on Amazon. Hint. Hint. :) I love what I'm doing and besides writing I'm working full time as a counselor. I've had a lot of experience juggling different life events and different types of schedules, but this one is interesting and challenging in a different sort of way.

You may have heard about the demands of writing a series, and marketing, and revisions. But when it's YOU carrying the responsibility of getting everything done and done well and you've never done it before it's a bit intimidating.

I'm currently working on revisions for Book Two called Chameleon. I've got a great editor. You know you have a great editor when she takes the time to teach you along the way.

Secrets of the Heart just arrived in my home mailbox on Saturday. It's an awesome experience to hold your first book and kind of humbling and thrilling all at once when you think about all the folks who help pull it together. Just The Write Charisma

But with each step things get a little more complicated. For instance, I'm trying to set up my first official book signing at a bookstore in town I just love. Not sure yet when that will happen. I'm researching and writing Book 3 which is due to my editor on October 1st. I am not a fast writer, but I'm becoming smarter at writing. I'm really brainstorming different ways to get my book into the hands of readers that will enjoy it. All of this takes time.

If you are writing a series and you are not yet published here are some tips I think may help you.

Write the first three books in the series before you try to sell it.

Why? When you sell it your publisher may want the last book to be your first book. During the time I was trying to sell this series another acquisitions editor at a different publishing house asked me that question. I didn't have all three books written. Only the first one.

2. Use of time.

Life will be much easier when you get that contract. You won't have to be writing and researching all the time when you could be spending time marketing, speaking, selling your product, and GASP, spending time with your family. :)

3. Marketing.

You can't afford to just sit back and think your book will sell its self just because it's out there on cyberspace bookshelves and the brick and mortar stores. You need to become a businessman or woman. Sure we all have different gifts and skills but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try all aspects of this gig.

Believe it or not this is just the tip of the iceberg. Do I say this to scare you? No. I share this to help you be prepared for your dream come true time. Dare to dream about a writing career. No one can guarantee publication but to have a shot at it you have to be ready when opportunity knocks. And it will knock. Are you ready to answer the door?

Tell me about your experiences writing a series or what you are doing to prepare for that all important opportunity. If you happen to find yourself on the same road as I am at the moment let me know how it's going.

THEN

2011-04-17T00:01:00.006-04:00

Even Regency writers like Brad Paisley. :) Enjoy. And have a great Sunday.

Patty Smith Hall/Blog Pick of the Week/Seekerville

2011-04-15T00:01:00.005-04:00

Patty Smith Hall from Seekerville

A romantic at heart, Patty Smith Hall is an award winning, multi-published author. Her stories of encouragement and hope can be found in Guideposts, Journey and Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul. Her Genesis award winning manuscript, Hearts in Flight, will be released by Love Inspired Historical in July, 2011. Patty resides in her home state of Georgia along with Dan, her husband of 28 years. Patty's Blogspot

If you are looking for Jillian today I'm blogging over at Just The Write Charisma where you will have a chance to win my new book, Secrets of the Heart. Come on over!

Dialogue. Let's Talk About Talk

2011-04-12T00:01:00.005-04:00

If these elephants could talk in human words what do you think they'd be saying? "Hi there, want to go stare at the human zoo?" Maybe the other would respond "Let's go shoot water at them. It's hot outside anyway." Well that's my brief thoughts about elephant talk. My thoughts about talking this week are all tied up in dialogue. I love it!

I've been told that I'm heavy on dialogue. Me and Elmore Leonard, right? :) What's not to like?

What do you like when you read a book? I'm passionate about dialogue though I am working hard to find a nice balance in my own work. I've recently discovered something about myself which I think is good. I write my first drafts almost completely in dialogue and then go back and layer in setting, the senses, etc. Now I would think that this is not how most historical romance writers write. I imagine that most have a heavier hand on setting. That seems reasonable doesn't it? We need to be immersed to some extent in where the writer is taking us so we can become grounded in the story.

I think dialogue can really make a story move. Think about a few lines or paragraphs of dialogue that kept you riveted in a book. Look for pages where there is a lot of dialogue. Do you like what the author did or would you have preferred more narrative or description? Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste, maybe it's more than that.

So when you read a novel, do you like more setting than dialogue? More dialogue than setting? And if you say you want to read a nice balance then which would you choose to have a little more of? Why am I asking you all these questions? Because I'm starting book three and I want to explore another some techniques. Do you do stuff like this?

Inspiration Sunday/Chris Travis/The Hidden Hand of God

2011-04-10T00:01:00.020-04:00

Chris Travis is a great guy with a huge heart. He used to preach at our church in Cincinnati and now he's in Manhatten, NY where he taught math to middle school kids in Harlem. What an experience he and Lindsay have had there these past few years. Now they are church building.

Chris came back to us recently and preached about God's Hidden Hand. If you want some inspiration then listen to this when you have time. http://www.lifespringchristian.org/sermons.php Our church is pretty big and I never got to know Chris and Lindsay real well but always admired the way Chris could reach an audience.

http://christravis.wordpress.com/writing/ I encourage you to read this book and visit Chris's Blog and check it out. I think you will be reading more from Chris Travis over the years and I know that you'll be blessed. And no, he didn't put me up to this.

Everyday Video

"Be encouraged, the people that are in your life are not accidents."
~Chris Travis

Friday Blog Pick/Rachelle Gardner's What A Fiction Editor Looks For

2011-04-08T00:01:00.026-04:00

I took a little break from my blog last week in order to meet my deadline. But I wanted to catch up with my blog picks that I do on Friday. This one over at my agent, Rachelle Gardner's blog was exceptionally good and of course reminded me of what my editor was going to be looking at when she reads my second book, Chameleon, The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Book Two. I encourage you to be brave and fill your head with knowledge. What A Fiction Editor Looks For

After you read through that post think about where you may need to concentrate some of your writing efforts. Here's one of mine:

"Make sure there are enough secondary characters, that they each play a role in the story, and that they’re intriguing in their own right." My issue isn't that my secondary characters aren't intriguing, in fact they love to be in the spotlight. My fantastic editor has had to encourage me not to do this so much. One of the reasons for that is the word count. I'm not supposed to go over 80,000 words, so that means I have to be certain I can tell my hero and heroine's story within that word count. If I get carried away with my secondary characters then it's hard to get everything to fit in the story.

Keep this in mind when you are writing for publication. What issues do you struggle with related to what a fiction editor looks for?

Does It Ever Get Easier?

2011-04-05T00:01:00.002-04:00

I turned in my second book yesterday to my editor at Realms/Charisma House. Sometime next year you will read this book, Chameleon: The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Book Two, I hope you'll read it, after it goes through a few more stages. The first thing I'll get back from my editor is the, Substantial Edit - that's the big one. And from this edit comes the revision letter. If you didn't get a chance to read Colleen Coble's guest blog post at Rachelle Gardner's blog then click here: Joy of Revisions

I want those of you who are on this publishing road with me and those of you who are still striving for publication to take hope, to have hope. It may be challenging and it may be that you're thinking this is way too hard, but I'm here to tell you that it is possible.

A lot of this business, in my limited experience, is about ATTITUDE. You can have a good one or a not so good one. The choice is yours. I had a different experience writing this book than I did my first book. By the way, my first book, Secrets of the Heart releases May 3rd! Hard to believe. I can't wait to hold that baby in my hands.

So what was different about writing this book?

Limited Time. Before I got my contract I had time to write at the speed I was able to write. Now, it's all about deadlines. I had some nailbiting experiences this time around. Could I keep my deadline? For awhile there it was touch and go. I don't like to admit that but it's true.
Change of Process. I tried something different this time and it helped my creativity but made my personal revision process difficult before I hit the send button. I wrote in scenes and not in a linear fashion. So I had a lot of great scenes but not an outline. I'm not a plotter. I'm a pantser. But I'm learning. I think I need to be somewhere in the middle. It took me more time than I wanted to spend on putting this book together. I'm sure my editor will let me know if it worked well or not.
Series vs. Stand Alone. I had to make sure that the characters from my first book melded well into my second book. Those characters I continued to use anyway. That was both fun and challenging. I don't know which is easier, but it does take planning. At one point in the book I was going to bring in three additonal characters from the first book and then I realized it really wasn't necessary. So you have to weigh these things out and that's where it might have been easier to be more of a plotter this time around.

So does it get easier? Not yet.:) But it does take you to a different level of learning that I hope will eventually make the process a little bit easier. If you love craft, and you love to learn, you will get better. I wouldn't be afraid to try new things, but you might want to have a better plan than I did if you are working outside the home in additon to your writing, or if you are raising children, taking care of parents, etc. We all have our responsiblities don't we?

So if you are a writer and you've already written two or more books what can you share that made it easier for you or what did you learn that you hope will make it easier the next time around?

If you are not published yet but have written two or more books, what was your experience?

And if you are a reader and not a writer what have you noticed about authors books after the first one? Better? Worse? The same?

GOSPEL TEENS

2011-04-03T21:08:00.003-04:00

NEED SOME INSPIRATION? Watch the videos and read the story. Impressive. I think we'll be hearing a lot more about these teens and Vy Higgens. Personally, I'm going to adopt the hand shaking and foot stomping warm up as a part of my warm up sessions for my writing each day.

Gospel Teens Video

Favorite Kiss!

2011-03-27T00:00:00.126-04:00

Okay, did you get to see this show that aired earlier this week? The Greatest Movies of Our Time
I have to admit that I'm a movie nut. Really. I can't get enough of great films, they're like my writing muses for some reason. I guess it's because they are so inspiring. You may not agree with the films and actors, etc. that were picked but the talent is incredible. If I weren't a writer I'd love to have been a film maker.

Gone With The Wind was voted best film of all time. No big surprise there. IF you had to pick your personal best film of all time and it can't be GWTW because it's already been picked :) what would you put at the top of the list?

The best line that was picked? "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

What I want to know from you is what is a line or a couple lines that you like in a book of fiction that you are reading now? And tell us who the author is too. Let's stay away from last lines so we don't spoil anyone's reading experience. Here's mine from Janet Evanovich's, Wicked Appetite: "Do you know what an unmentionable is?"

What's your favorite movie kiss? My pick is The Notebook. A kiss in the rain is the most romantic thing ever, in my not so humble opinion. It’s perpetual bliss as Faith Hill would say. :)

And remember that near kiss in Pride and Prejudice when Darcy had come after Elizabeth from the church in the rain?
You can see which kissses won here: Best Kiss
Can you think of another one that you would choose?

I'm on deadline gang so I'm going to leave this post up until next Sunday. Lot's of fun to be had here so jump in and give us all your feed back. I'll respond to comments off and on through the week. Have fun! And if you're interested I still have this post up over At The Write Charisma
Regency/Mad-Doctoring/Romance/and Medicine Have an awesome week!

The Power of Story/Inkwell Inspiration's Niki Turner/My Blog Pick of the Week

2011-03-25T00:01:00.007-04:00

Who can resist this picture over at Inkwell Inspirations? Not me! I'm a sucker for bagpipes, and guys in kilts. I really enjoyed Niki's post this week and if you haven't seen it go there right now and read it. Here's the link: The Power of Story

I will be blogging today over at Just The Write Charisma on the topic of The Regency, Mad-Doctoring, Romance, and Medicine. Come visit.

Also, don't forget to go to this section of my website http://jilliankent.com/books.html where you can read the first chapter of my novel, Secrets of the Heart, that will debut on May 3rd. I'm so excited. I hope you'll love this story so much you'll want to tell your friends about it. Have an awesome weekend.

My buddy Niki Turner writes romantic fiction, Christian non-fiction, blog posts, articles in the local newspaper, grocery lists, and Facebook status updates. Her first completed manuscript won second place in the 2009 Touched By Love contest for contemporary category romance.

Colorado natives, Niki and her husband of 20+ years have four children (three at home) and are soon-to-be grandparents. In 1998 they planted a church in rural northwestern Colorado. Currently, they share their home with three teenage boys, two black Lab mutts, and Niki’s absurdly spoiled Westie, Archie.

Niki can be found at In Truer Ink, her personal blog and website, here at Inkwell Inspirations, and at The Pastor’s Wife Speaks.

Faith Not Fear

2011-03-22T00:01:00.018-04:00

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

I’ve wrestled with different types of fear my entire life. My parents separated when I was six. I had nightmares until I was in college related to the fear that many kids believe, and that’s that they are somehow responsible for the break up of their parents. Not true, yet many kids feel or have felt this way.

I was very sick and hospitalized when I was in second grade. In 1963 children were on wards and in beds next to each other, (at least it was my experience). The children on either side of me died. I became afraid of death. My brother died when he was 27 years old and I was 29. I became even more afraid of death.

In my counseling Bible, The Bible for Hope, NKJV, the introduction to Numbers talks about fear. The first paragraph states, “Fear can immobilize. Fearful people often do not think straight and run off in the wrong direction to escape the source of their fear. The world can be quite scary, and at times, Christians will become afraid. On those occasions, they can either run away from God, thinking that he cannot handle their fears, or they can run to God for protection.”

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.(King James Version)2 Timothy 1:7

I have a book coming out soon and that's exciting and scary and incredible. This is one of the most awesome seasons in my life and though I could allow my fears to run wild I've decided to let my faith run wild instead.

The next time you think about letting your fears run wild I encourge you to let your faith run wild. Wild and free faith like these horses even if that faith is as small as a mustard seed.

Questions: The last time you faced a fear, large or small, what did you do? OR When you face fear today how does it effect you and how do you combat it? AND/OR What's your favorite quote or scripture about fear?

HAVE A FEARLESS WEEK!

DOWNTON ABBEY

2011-03-20T00:01:00.024-04:00

If you love period drama's you must see Masterpiece Theatre's Downton Abbey It's wonderful and I don't know how I missed hearing about this till just recently. I bought the DVD for Season One and my hubby and I finished watching it this Saturday. I can't wait to see more but my understanding is that Seaon Two will not be released until the winter of 2012. Downton Abbey To Return I don't know how I'll wait that long but I guess there's not option. So if you're looking for some inspiration this is it.

Everyone's been talking about it. Missed Downton Abbey? Jane Austen World Blog

Theater Talkback Missing Maggie Smith/

What Can We Expect In The Season Finale

Creator Julian Fellowes

I never even looked at this much before I went and bought the first season on DVD. Neither should you. Just buy it. You'll want to watch it over and over again.

Have you seen it? Did you like it?

Grammar Divas at Seekerville/My Friday Blog Pick of the Week

2011-03-18T00:01:00.013-04:00

If you ever wanted really good examples and instruction on the subject of Show Don't Tell just click on the link below and have fun!

Show Don’t Tell: Skin in the Game...Seekerville Welcomes the Grammar Divas!

Revision Time

2011-03-15T00:01:00.006-04:00

Are you a nervous nail-biter when it comes to revisions? Don't be. Let's think positive about this potential issue that could reduce us to ruining our manicures.

I'm about to embark on revisions prior to turning in my second manuscript (tentatively named Chameleon) to my editor on April 5th. I'd really like to do my very best on this so that there is not so much to face when the macro-edit comes back to me. Chameleon is my second book in the Ravensmoore Chronicle series that will release in January of next year if all goes according to plan.

First, I'm one of those writers that could revise for a VERY long time. I don't like to call myself a perfectionist because I don't think I'm anywhere close to being perfect in my revisions, but I do want to improve each time I turn in a book. So here's my plan.

Print out the entire novel.

          I could never begin to revise by sitting in front of my computer. I have to have that hard copy to   read through, make notes, and get a feel of the overall pacing of the book. I want to see if the chapters need to be lengthened or shortened.

     2.   Read the entire book.

          I try to do a quick read through to get a feel for the flow of the story. I'll mark up the manuscript as I go along and catch errors, but this first read through isn't so much of looking for errors as getting my first real complete feel of the book.

     3. Read the book again/Ask Questions.

          This time I'm reading for errors. I'll also start rounding off the ends of chapters and doing my best to be certain those chapter hooks are strong enough to make the reader keep reading. And I'm going to try something different at this phase in the process because I liked the questions. Jordan Dane over at the Killzone did the crit on this one page Dead Girl Vistits TKZ. It Could Happen Be warned, this one page was too graphic and ghory for me. If you don't want to read it just skip to the questions Jordan leaves for the writer to answer.

     4. Completion of the style guide.

          Honestly, I never knew what a style guide was until I got back my first substantive edit on my first book. My publisher supplied a list of preferences for use of words, punctuation, etc. They also wanted me to make a list of what characters show up in the novel in order of appearance. A brief description of each chapter and other important issues. A timeline was one of those. So I'll be looking closely at this and completing it to the best of my ability this time. Live and learn.

     5.     Set the book aside.

This is hard for me to do running this close to deadline. But I will set it aside for at least two days. I'd rather it be a week. I need that break to get some perspective.

6. Feedback

Now I'll look at the feedback from my critique partners to make any last and necessary changes.

When I'm through all these steps I'll turn it into my editor and see what comes back. Hopefully, it won't be another rigorous revision. But even if it is, then I dive right into it.

I hope this helps you a little bit. Remember that I'm still learning as I go along and I sure don't have all the answers. This is working for me now, but I sure would love to be a faster writer so I'd have more time to revise. Lucky for me, I've got a wonderful publishing house, Charisma House. They really do know how to support a writer.

My favorite book on revisions is James Scott Bell's, Revision and Self-Editing. So tell me about your revision process and your favorite book on revisions.

Whatever is Lovely

2011-03-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8 NIV

I don't know about you, but with the weather issues, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and the possibility of a nuclear meltdown in Japan, I needed to change my thinking to other things for awhile.

It doesn't take much these days to get easily caught up in the fear factor. Fear is the devil's plaything. He likes to swing it around and create situations within our minds to make us afraid. I suggest we not go there. Life is difficult enough without us compounding it and feeding our fears. Instead let's focus on what is lovely and pray in ernest for those in need. We have no control over nature and the havoc she wreaks throughout the world.

Think at least for this moment on what is lovely in your life. Do you have food in your belly? A roof over your head? Are you employed? Do you have a book to read? A computer to work on? Is the coffee brewing? Is dinner cooking? Think on whatever is lovely.

Instead of living in fear, let's choose to live in faith.
It's not always easy to do, but it's not always that hard to do either if we make a conscious effort to try.

Count your blessings and think on what is lovely. Be grateful and think on what is lovely. Pray ernestly for others and think on what is lovely. God doesn't want us to live in fear of what is happening in the world and of how awful life can be when disaster strikes. Think on what is lovely.

What's lovely in your life? Look around. Have an awesome Sunday and a lovely week.

Hoping for a Movie Deal/Rachelle Gardner/Blog Pick Friday

2011-03-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

Rachelle Gardner's blog post, Hoping for a Movie Deal posted on March 8th with the second part posting on the 9th. If you've ever dreamed of your book becoming a movie these two posts will be important for you to read.

I know I've imagined my books becoming movies. In fact the way I write is like watching a movie so it's not that far a leap to imagine the book turning into film. Do you do that too?

Do you imagine specific actors portraying your characters in a film. Maybe Hugh Jackman, Ioan Gruffud, or Matt Damon? Does your leading lady resemble Kate Hudson, Rachel McAdams, or Keira Knightley?

Maybe you dream of a Hallmark Hall of Fame televsision special or a box office smash. Whatever it is and no matter how improbable it's fun. So don't stop dreaming. But do read Rachelle's blog posts and keep both feet firmly planted on the ground while your head's in the clouds.

Okay. Now let's dream up our movie posters. :) Personally I would like something similar to the Amazing Grace poster that hangs in my office. What about you? Want to share your movie dreams and poster ideas?