Changing for the better, by Myra Johnson

My last couple of blog posts have dealt with our recent move from North Carolina home to Texas. As anyone who has ever moved can understand, even after three months we’re still getting settled. It’s…a process. 

And though we love almost everything about our new home, there were a few changes we needed to make. First item on the list was fencing the backyard so our doggies would have a safe place to run and play. They’re taking full advantage, too, romping or sunning in “real” grass (plush and durable St. Augustine vs. the scraggly fescue that struggled to survive in our shady NC lawn).

Penny & Poppy enjoying the lawn.

Another no-go in our new home was a master bathroom with a lovely soaking tub…but a single sink and NO shower! Especially with our daughter’s family of six expected for a visit next month, no way could all eight of us take turns using the shower in the guest bath! So for the past several weeks, we’ve endured the come-and-go of plumbers, carpenters, painters, electricians, tilers, and granite installers as we change the master bath to a tub/shower combo and add a sink. The end result will be both functional and attractive, the bathroom redesigned exactly as we’d envisioned.

Stages of our remodeling project from start to almost finished!

Writing a book has a lot in common with a remodeling project. The first draft may tell a good story, but it usually needs a little help (or a LOT!) before it’s ready for publication. A scene that goes nowhere? It’s out. The character who chose a certain course of action when the plot really needed her somewhere else? Gotta fence her in. Once character and plot are working in concert, then we get down to the nitty-gritty of polishing sentences and paragraphs, checking spelling and punctuation, and ensuring the finished book reflects the vision we began with.

And just for fun, a photo of Denali getting some outdoor time since he's not allowed to roam free.

It’s also good to remember that since God is the Author of Life, He is constantly at work on a remodeling project in each one of us. Unhealthy habits, harmful choices, negative emotions—these are all things God can help us change so that, day by day, we are growing into the people He created us to be. It takes patience and persistence, along with an unshakable faith that even when progress seems slow and we feel frustrated or discouraged, God knows exactly what He’s doing.

Have you undergone a remodeling project recently? Learn any important lessons along the way?

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Native Texan Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She’s currently at work on a new Love Inspired mini-series, Hill Country Haven, with returning characters from Her Hill Country Cowboy and Hill Country Reunion. The first book in the series, The Rancher’s Redemption, released last month. Book two, Their Christmas Prayer, will be out in October.


Also look for the updated editions of Myra’s earlier romances:

Autumn Rains

Romance by the Book

Where the Dogwoods Bloom 

The Horsemen of Cross Roads Farm (3-book collection)

And…mark your calendars for June 27-July 1, when Pearl of Great Price will be free for Kindle and other e-readers!

An abandoned Arkansas lake resort holds the key to a young woman’s past . . . and her future.

Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. After living five years in Oklahoma, then eight years in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband are thrilled to be back in the Lone Star State enjoying wildflowers, Tex-Mex, and real Texas barbecue! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered rescue dogs who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They’ve also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind when they moved overseas.

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Twitter: @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen 

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In with the new, by Myra Johnson

In my January blog, “Out with the old,” I wrote about going through drawers and closets and generally getting rid of anything—whether tangible or emotional—that no longer proved useful. At that time, my husband (“Project Guy,” as he’s affectionately known) and I were in the early stages of contemplating a major move, and paring down our possessions was a necessary first step.

Moving day--loading up in NC on March 13

As of mid-March, our move became a reality. Our North Carolina home sold quickly, and we’re now settling into brand new (to us) digs back in our home state of Texas! We had been away for 13 years, and I couldn’t be happier to be living in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, where we once again have several family members close by. We are more than ready to embark on this new phase of our lives!

Texas bluebonnets!

But “new” also means change, and we’ve had a lot to adjust to. We’ve downsized a bit, and I’m having a terrible time finding spaces for all the bookcases to shelve the boxes and boxes of books I brought along! (Project Guy keeps telling me I need to pare down my collection, but really? Get rid of books???)

My new office--before I started getting it arranged (looks a lot better now!)

And that’s just the beginning. We’ve had to memorize a new address, zip code, and phone number. We’re learning new streets, restaurants, and shopping areas. We need to find new health care providers. We’re working hard to remember the names of our friendly new neighbors, and we’re looking for a new church home. 

Poppy & Penny explore their new backyard

Letting go of things that were familiar and comfortable to make room for new possibilities is both exhilarating and scary. That’s exactly what the heroine of The Rancher’s Redemption, my latest Love Inspired romance, finds herself faced with. Single mom Erin Dearborn seeks a fresh start after ending her abusive first marriage, but the challenges of striking out on her own soon overwhelm her. It’ll take a lot of faith, along with the encouragement of kindly but quiet rancher Kent Ritter, to rebuild her self-confidence and open her heart to another chance at love.

Have you stepped out of your comfort zone recently to try something new? How did it feel? What did you learn from the experience?

* * * * *

Native Texan Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She’s currently at work on a new Love Inspired mini-series, Hill Country Haven, with returning characters from Her Hill Country Cowboy and Hill Country Reunion. The first book in the series, The Rancher’s Redemption, releases next month. Book two, Their Christmas Prayer, will be out in October.

Also look for the updated editions of Myra’s earlier romances:

Autumn Rains

Romance by the Book

Where the Dogwoods Bloom 

The Horsemen of Cross Roads Farm (3-book collection)

Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. After living five years in Oklahoma, then eight years in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband are thrilled to be back in the Lone Star State enjoying spring bluebonnets, Tex-Mex, and real Texas barbecue! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered rescue dogs who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They’ve also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind when they moved overseas.

Website

Facebook

Twitter: @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen 

Goodreads

Instagram

Pinterest

Sign up to receive Myra’s e-news updates here!

Happy April Fool's Day--Lenora Worth

I thought about fooling everyone by saying I'd just signed a million dollar contract complete with a movie deal and that Ryan Reynolds would be playing the lead.

Ha, ha. That would have been a good one. No April Fooling here, my darlings. I'm too tired to even try and fool anyone. We decided on a strange whim to move from our condo on the bay to a single-story house a couple of miles down the road. It happened rather quickly but now that we are in our new home, I'm happy to be here. (And so is Big Daddy.)  My new office has a view of the front yard and my potted palm tree and a view of the backyard and the little wooded area that we hope to cultivate into some sort of inviting park like area.

Here is my view now:

I can see through the house and the kitchen and into the back yard. I have a window to my right where a nice lot across the street is complete with palmetto palms and tall pines. It's quiet here and more spread out. Something a country girl loves. I will miss the beautiful water view I have enjoyed over the last few years but I'm still close to the ocean and the bay so the water is nearby.  Our new home is a little more private and a bit more roomy. You should all come and visit!!

But this big move has allowed me to go through my books and get them organized again. I have so many that I've kept for years. Early Penny Richards aka Bay Matthews, and those of my dear friends who've passed on--Suzannah Davis and Sandra Canfield and Kathy Burton. I have a big selection of Winnie Griggs, Marta Perry, Lyn Cote, Valarie Hansen and so many other Love Inspired writers, I can't name all of them here. But I have decided to take some time each day to read the books I have. Right now I'm reading a really good Regency from my friend Janet Justiss and a great LI suspense by Laura Scott. Am I blessed or what? Books have always made me feel safe and content. Now I have a room that is fast becoming a library. It's sunny and has big glass doors out onto a porch. I plan to read in that room a lot. Or work out there, too.

I posted this picture online but it shows  some of the many paperbacks I've collected through the years. I gave away a lot of books and my heart hurt a little each time a box went out the door. But I hope they will bring joy to someone else now.

So no matter where I live, I will always have books around me. Reading a good book is like having a friend with you. How can you ever be lonely or sad when you can get lost in the past or look toward the future through words? I hope wherever you are, you have books with you. No fooling!!!

Ask Elnora--About Moving? Lenora Worth

We are all moved in, but we are not completely unpacked! So my fabulous friends, let's talk about why writers are such pack rats. Big Daddy got his part done months ago. Guess wo was the hold-up? Elnora kept things from as far back as childhood! But before I could throw anything away or pack it up, I had to sit down and go throough all of it! I laughed, I cried, I remembered things I'd tried to forget and I forgot things I should have remembered.

But doing this my way, in my own time, prepared me for the trip that would take me across the country to a new place. I found every rejection letter I'd ever received. I found versions of every manuscript I'd ever tried to write. But finding those things reminded me of how far I've come and how my journey toward publication became a reality. That was a long hard trip. The longest trip and a road I'm still traveling. I still have a lot of ideas to unpack, a lot to get through because my story is still being told. So--how do you store up a lifetime of memories? And why do writers hold on to things? Let's discuss!

Ask Elnora--About Packing? Lenora Worth

Hello my precious friends! Well, it's official. Elnora is moving to Florida. We sold our house last weekend and now it's time to get packing. Luckily, Big Daddy has already done most of the heavy packing and the heavy lifting and the ... everything involved in moving five hundred miles south.

I expect him to pack my computer and me into a big box and duct tape us and then just set us up in my office in Florida. Most of what is left involves my office, my office closet, my shoe closet and my clothes closets. Now I have to decide what to keep and what to throw away.

After 53 books--I'm working on number 53 right now--I have a lot of big envelopes stacked all over my office. I have galleys, and proof copies and AAs and editing copies so that's about 15,000 pages of copy paper.  I mean, I started on a word processor (after throwing my typewriter and white-out out the window). I've been through two typewriters, one word processor and about three computer and this ancient laptop I have now. A lot of keys have given their best to my tapping fingers.Writers don't like to throw things away, do we? We also don't like to pack things for a move. We mostly like to sit and write and keep our comforting clutter around us. But I must sort, simplify and save.

That got me to thinking? What's the worst moving experience you've ever had? What's the funniest moving experience you've ever had? What's your favorite move? And is it ever easy to move to a new place and leave the old one behind? Let's discuss while I sit here and wonder what to take and what to leave behind.

Here's to new horizons--

Transitions

Hey everyone, Karen Kirst here to talk about life changes.  I mean BIG changes…like picking up your family and moving out of state or cross-country or even to another country.  Right now, our belongings are packed away in boxes.  The walls are bare and the swing set is gone and we’ve eaten enough sandwiches to last a lifetime.  After seven years, we’re waving goodbye to military life and reentering the civilian world.  On the one hand, I’m sad that I’m leaving. (Having an armed Marine at the gate of our housing complex makes a girl feel very safe!  We like to tell people we live in a gated community at the beach. lol) On the other hand, I’m excited to be going home to Tennessee.  To be close to family and friends again and be able to see those gorgeous Smoky Mountains.

Change can be scary.  Intimidating.  Painful.  But it can also be good.  There are a lot of unknowns in our future, but I’m trusting God to work it all out.  What about you?  Have you experienced any big moves?  What did you do to make the best of the situation?  Were there any surprises?  I’d love to hear about it!

 Like my Smoky Mountain Matches series, my October novella is set in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Here’s a description of both mine and Linda Ford’s novellas-

The Gift of Family

Merry Christmas, Cowboy by Linda Ford
A wild snowstorm strands Colt Johnson in Eden Valley, where the storekeeper's daughter exudes welcome warmth. She's even offered to give the two orphans in his charge a Christmas to remember. An outcast, Colt doesn't dare hope for more-even though Becca's love would be a Christmas wish come true.
Smoky Mountain Christmas by Karen Kirst
Cole Prescott's Gatlinburg visit will be just long enough to free his wife from their mistake of a marriage. Then he meets the daughter he hadn't known he had. Little Abby needs a father, especially at Christmastime. And all Cole wants is a chance to make a life with Rachel and Abby at last....

             

Ask Elnora--About My Office??? Lenora Worth

Hello, beautiful bloggers. I'm sitting in a fold-up chair in what will soon be my new office in what will soon be my new home. I have to admit it seems a bit strange for Elnora to be in an empty room with only an old computer desk and a chair. Oh, and a few books in the closet. Had to bring some books along. I have my book bag full of research sources, flash drives and two spiral notebooks with my scribblings all over them (that's what I call research notes.)But I also have to admit I kind of like the "quietness" of this little room. I love my office back at home, even though it's a mess and needs a major overhaul. I do an overhaul every few months and straighten it between books, but alas, what with all the NEW books I buy, the catalogues I must search and the manuscripts and mailings I receive, it's hard to keep that office tidy. I'm sure once I've decorated this one and settled in, it will become the same way. But this got me to thinking. What do you require in your office? What are some of the must-have things you keep around you. I have research books, how-to books, the books of my favorite writers--some dear friends, some who don't even know I exist, I have quotes and quote books, Bibles, dictionaries and pictures of friends. I have a special card that was sent to me when I first published by my dear friend Suzannah Davis. Suzannah passed away a few years ago, but I've never quite gotten over losing her. She was a mentor and a friend and she helped me to realize my writing dream. I look at that card just about every day and say a little prayer of thanks. I have Bible verses that hold special memories for me. My office is a special place because it's my place. Elnora has to have that room with a view. And I think we all need an Upper Room, where we can go and be close to Christ without any fanfare or attention. Yes, even Elnora needs her quiet time with the Lord. Anyway, my quiet little office has a nice window where I can see the sky and it has enough space to hold me and a few books. It will take some adjusting, being in a different writing space. But luckily, my imagination can travel with me. And from where I'm sitting now, I can see new adventures on the horizon. So, let's discuss our work spaces? Do you love yours? Hate it? Or do we need to encourage you to find your own space and let your imagination run wild there? There is nothing like a blank canvas. It just begs for adventure and embellishment. Elnora so believes in those two things. Tell me about your special place!

My life in boxes

Kim Watters here. Well. I'm all moved in. Or at least as much as I can be at this point. The furniture is in and the kitchen is set up. I have some clothes in the closet and I know where all the boxes are that contain my bathroom stuff. If only I could find the hand lotion...Anyway, if I could find my camera, I'd have taken a picture so you could see what a mess my garage is. My life in boxes. I wonder how I'm going to get it all to fit inside my new house. I will though, because I'm determined. One box here, another box there. Soon, I'll have a spot to park my car. (Good thing the homeowner's association allows me to park in the driveway. )

Unpacking kind of reminds me of writing. On a whole, thinking about writing that manuscript is a daunting task. But if you break it down into smaller segments, like a scene or chapter, it's more manageable. If I tried to unpack everything at once, I'd have a much bigger mess inside and total chaos in my brain. If I tried to write the entire book in one sitting, the reaction would be the same. Plus it would be impossible. There just isn't enough hours in the day.

Besides, the longer it takes, the more fun I'll have unearthing the possessions I packed up months ago. Taking more time to write the manuscript allows me to discover more about my characters and add more depth to the story. At least that's what I've convinced myself of anyway. Until next time.....