What Happens When You Have a Deadline

Howdy

Pamela  Tracy here

and

I had a book due Tuesday

All writers are different.
I have a friend who always finishes a week early
Me? I always have work count the day it's due
But, I write the amazing growing book

So, Tuesday morning...
I was finished
Then, in the shower I had a GREAT idea
which changed/bettered my ending
added 4000 words to count (yes in one day!)
and meant I had to reread quickly to pepper references throughout

So, you're thinking...
Ah, the life of a writer
Sitting back and putting words on paper
Er, no
Writer is just one hat

Another hat is housewife
I don't mind the word
I think taking care of a home
and raising children
to be the best life of all
... even when the plumbing breaks during a deadline
*Photo circa December 2016

My back patio
*Photo circa January 2017

Yes, this is today

Can you see the tunnel going through my back yard?

*Photo circa February 2017

BTW - my favorite place to write is the kitchen table

Next to the sliding glass door where are the noise takes place.

Good news is - hubby is a plumber.  He's making all the noise.

And for 1/3 the price

Speaking of noise and my favorite place to write
My son likes to build legos at the other end of the table.
Someday, he will have his own talk show.
Right now, he's practicing on me.

Best Interruption of all
Best Friend Harlequin American author
Cathy McDavid got married!
I didn't mind the interruption.
I called it research

By the way, my full-time job is college professor
I attended the ACT conference last Thursday
Yes, that would be four days before the book was due.
I learned that absenteeism in our elementary, junior, and high schools
is at an all time high

Saturday I attended an all-day workshop on creativity by Allen Arnold
I'm president of the local ACFW group.
And, we had it at my church.
I learned a lot.

One of the things that struck me was his talking about how someone  could look successful
Like a beautiful tree
But the roots be corroded

Now that my book is turned in, I have goals
1. I want to finish a week early next time
2. I want to clean my patio
3. I want to go to lunch with my best friend
4.  I want to play with my son
5.  I want to work on being a better, strong Christian woman, friend, mother, wife, writer.
How about you?

Pamela's next book will be available in April.

However, Pamela's next published writing
will be part of the Craftie Ladies of Romance's Valentine Serial
Which starts tomorrow!!!!

LEIGH BALE BLOGS ABOUT WEDDING CHOCOLATE

You may recall that I’m in wedding planning mode for my daughter. Valentine’s Day provided LOTS of opportunities for me to look at various chocolate goodies I can possibly serve during the reception in June. Chocolate with butter cream fillings, topped with luscious berries, cake, petit fours, you name it and I was looking at it. (But not tasting too much as I’m on a diet so I can fit in my Mother of the Bride dress…but that’s another story.)

I came up with this confection…a chocolate shell filled with a creamy pudding and topped with raspberries, my daughter’s favorite. Her grandmother (my mom) bottles raspberry/peach jam every year and gives a case of it to my daughter for Christmas. That’s how much my daughter loves this jam. It’s one of her gifts under the tree. So I was also thinking about mini-cheesecakes topped with this jam and one fresh raspberry. Pretty and tasty.

In my new book titled The Forest Ranger’s Promise being released in May, the little girls enjoy summer ice cream cones. That was another thought I had for the reception, but I fear June 17th might be hot enough to melt the cake and all the desserts.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite decadent dessert that might work well for a summer wedding reception out in our back yard? We’re open to ideas at this point. Mmm. All this talk about chocolate is making me hungry. :) Happy Eating! Leigh Bale

Lyn Cote--Wish me a Happy Anniversary!

Today is the day I married my dh THIRTY-SIX, that's right 36 years ago. Yikes! That's a long time! We were married in Waukegan IL at my home church. I wore white and my groom wore a blue patterned polyester tux. Ah, those were the days, the seventies. GRIN

One special memory of that day. After the wedding we drove to Steve's grandmother's house. She was in her late eighties and didn't go out much. The little children in the neighborhood saw us go into her house. When we came out, they have formed sort of a conga line down from the steps to the curb. And with one arm and one foot out like dancers, they chanted: "Happy Anniversary! Hey!" Hilarious! I waved to all of them as I swept into our "limo." (We didn't rent a limo. Our cars were such old beaters that we borrowed a friend's parents' car for the wedding!)

Tonight we're going to attend a George Winston concert in our little town. We have a art center in an old church downtown. Last year GW performed here because he had an open day between a Chicago and Minneapolis concert. He enjoyed playing at such an intimate venue that he promised to return! And his concert will be for the benefit of our local food pantry. So I'm really looking forward to tonight! Here's a sample from You Tube!




Questions for you:
Did you enjoy that?
How long have you been married?
Any memories of that day you'd like to share?

The Wedding of Pat Davids' Deams

Last Saturday was the wedding of my dreams.

Oh, not my wedding. My daughter's wedding. Doesn't she look beautiful? Notice the cake topper? It took Tony ten years to ask her to marry him. And yes, that's a black cake. They are an unconventional couple

The day was a perfect summer's day here in Kansas. Sunny and hot. I shopped forever for a dress to wear. You think I'm kidding but I'm not. I hate shopping for clothes, but I did. Day after day. I finally found a great dress that cost an arm and a leg. Don't anyone tell my husband how much it cost. He'll have a stroke.

I don't have a picture yet of him walking our baby down the aisle but I assure you he looked very handsome in his tux. And nervous. How I have dreamed of this day and it was perfection. Of course, that's the mother in me speaking.

God does grant prayers although they are often in His own time and not in ours. I would have liked the wedding before the grandchildren but I'm not going to quibble now. They are husband and wife in the sight of God and I can rest a little easier knowing they are moving toward the path that leads to Him.

This their flower girl and ring bearer.

Yes, that a dog with a pillow and rings on her back. Did I mention my daughter was unconventional?

The flower girl is the happy couple's daughter, my adorable granddaughter. She's the spitting image of her mother, and the apple of her daddy's eye. She was the only one who cried during the ceremony. She was so happy her mother and daddy were getting married. I think she was even happier than I was.

Guess what song the DJ played when they came in. Yup, Who Let The Dogs Out!!! The whole room cracked up.

Yes, it was the wedding of my dreams even if I never dreamed I'd see one with a black cake and a dog. Don't you just love a happy ending with a twist?

Hi Everyone--Debra Clopton here :) I'm happy to tell you that I have a book out this month, COWBOY FOR KEEPS is the 2nd instalment of the Men of Mule Hollow series which is a mini 3 book series of my ongoing Mule Hollow series (which will continue on into 2011 for all those who have written to me thinking Mule Hollow was ending. It is alive and doing very well thanks to all of you :)

I'm busy, busy right now working on new books and also planning my wedding! As many of you know my dear husband Wayne passed away July 5 2003. I'd been trying to get published for 13 years at that time and it was God's plan that during the saddest, most difficult time of my life He blessed me with the sale of my first book to Love Inspired. God gave me a new path and direction for my life when I needed something positive and good and uplifting to focus on. As Wayne's death date...or as I like to think of it, his homegoing since he is in heaven with his heavenly father--anyway, as the date draws near it is always a hard time for me. I've worked and dedicated my life to my sons and my work for the last 7 years and feel like I've pleased God. It seems strange to me that as I've finally have a small break in between books I'm concentrating on planning my wedding during this time of year. I feel like, as always that God's timing is not off. God blessed me when He sent Chuck Parks into my life and this time of year is easier. I've accepted God's plan for my life and know that God is in control of my past and my future. I feel so blessed. I'm writing this post for many reasons, partly just because I need to put my feelings on paper today but also because it is book related. In COWBOY FOR KEEPS my hero Wyatt Turner has to learn that he is not in control of his life, that God is. This book is very close to my heart as I'm very similar to his character.

I've been told by many, many readers that it is my best work. I'll let you be the judge of that :) but I do know that He walked me though it.

I'm praying that if any of you are feeling out of control, hurting, grieving, sorrowful. I just pray that you will give it to the Lord and trust Him. His grace is sufficient, His shoulders are wide and His love for you is immeasurable. He will get you through the dark times and bring you back into the light and give you joy again. Just hang onto Him...give Him control and watch Him show you his glory!

Until next time live, laugh and seek God with all your heart!

Debra Clopton

Lyn Cote & Her Son's Halloween Wedding

Lyn Cote here! I'm about to become a mother-in-law. That title usually elicits groans, tight smiles or dumb jokes. But I am happy and ready to be a mother-in-law. Above is a photo of my future daughter-in-law, standing with her back to the lake we live on. Don't you love that smile?

This is our son with the wind in his hair! This photo was taken when he was driving our boat on the lake this summer. This was the third summer that Andrew has brought Janet north to visit us and I think the "Up north" bug has bitten her. She was excited about coming --except for the 6-7 hour drive. Oh, well, she'll get used to it. I did!


And here is Janet in her bridal gown. Isn't she lovely?

Andy and Janet chose the final Saturday in October as their wedding day. This year that is Halloween! Janet is a bit tired of guests asking her if they should come in costume. She, however, can testify that I DIDN'T ask that.

I will be wearing an appropriate mother of the groom dress in Eggplant. * GRIN* I've eaten eggplant but this is the first time I will be wearing it.

Anyway, I haven't asked the wedding couple if they have given any thought yet to the fact that on every wedding anniversary, they will be home passing out candy. They'll have to deal with that!

At the Reception.

Hello, Pat Davids, here.

I had a wonderful time at my niece's wedding a few weeks ago. I love weddings and I love socializing at the receptions, meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends and family. Now, if you must know, I'm terrible with names. Terrible. However, I'm pretty good with faces.

At this wedding reception I saw this tall, burly man with a full beard and something about him seemed so familiar. I walked over to his table with a big smile on my face and I said, "Hi, I think I know you."

Without blinking an eye, he said, "No, you don't."

Wow, talk about a conversation killer, but I'm persistent if nothing else. I said, "I used to be Pat Stroda (my maiden name) and I went to Chapman High School.

He said, "I'm Gary and I didn't." (Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)

He honestly did not seem to care who I was. Trying one more track, because I was sure I had met this man, I asked, "Do you work in Wichita?"

"No."

Sighing in complete defeat, I said, "Then you are a perfect stranger, aren't you?"
That got a smile at last and even a small chuckle. His wife thought it was really cute.

I ran into her when I was leaving and told her to tell the "perfect stranger" goodbye. I need not have bothered. He was waiting by the door.

His eyes grew bright, he smiled and held out his hands. "Hey, aren't you Pat who went to school in Chapman?"

"Yes," I cried. "Aren't you Gary who didn't go there?'

Oh, we both had a good laugh. I pulled out a postcard with a list of my upcoming titles and told him, "Now we'll never be strangers again."

A nice story, but it didn't end there. Several days later, I got an e-mail from the "perfect strangers" wife. She had been telling the story and mentioned that I was an author to her book club. Several of them had heard of me, and low and behold, I've been invited to be their guest speaker in December. What fun.

There really is no such thing as a perfect stranger. Only friends we haven't met yet.

What's your stranger to friend story. I know we all have them.

Let's Celebrate Love & Commitment

If you want to see something that will shock and then delight, go to YouTube with this link and see a truly memorable variation on Here Comes the Bride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

So what do you think about that?

Lyn Cote