Amazing Writing Connections

This Writing Life:

I absolutely LOVE connecting with other authors. We all share the same concerns:
1-The Time Factor-Basically, there are not enough hours in the day for everything we are trying to accomplish!
2-We need quiet time in order to be productive.
3-To self-publish or continue seeking an agent/publisher?
4-Formatting, editing, proofreading...our eyes are crossing!
5-Effectively marketing and promoting our books--no effort equals no sales.
6-Concerted exertion to write quality books that will attract readers who don't personally know us.

The list could go on and on, but the Internet is an amazing tool. Through Social Media sites, it is easy to connect with others who struggle with the same trials and challenges. The benefit is an exchange that enables us to help one another in marketing and promotion, and to ascertain that we are not alone.

Through an awesome authors' Facebook Group, Grace & Faith Author Connection, I met Sharon Srock, who writes a blog especially for avid readers, as opposed to an audience of other writers. Not only do I appreciate Sharon's calling to write about faith-based circumstances, but I love her vivid imagination!

When I first viewed her blog at http://www.womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com, I seriously thought that she had gathered a few friends to collaborate and contribute to the blog. It is very helpful to read her "In the Beginning" post, as it explains the actual identities of the fictional contributors. I discovered that it pays to read everything carefully and not skim and assume!

Her contributors are Callie, Pam, Terri and Karla--the four original women in her book series. Sharon has a contract with Harbourlight for the first two books in her series. She is hopeful that The Women of Valley View: Callie will be released by Christmas, 2012 and that The Women of Valley View: Terri will be a 2013 release. She is also working on a short Valley View Christmas story.

Don't get the idea that all Sharon does is sit around writing all day, however! She works full time at a local Air Force Base and sells Avon. She has been married to Larry for seventeen years, has two daughters, three step-sons and a whopping 23 grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Stating that she lives "in the middle of nowhere" in Oklahoma, Sharon and Larry love their gigantic family and their grown Labrador Retrievers, Sara and Ziva.

I asked Sharon if, with their huge family, they are ever all able to get together at the same time, and she responded, "Only at Christmas, and we have to reserve the fellowship hall at our church to get together then. We've outgrown anyone's home."

I was curious about the blessings versus curses of living "in the middle of nowhere" in Oklahoma. Sharon's response was rapid: "Blessings--Peace and quiet. Room to spread out. We have 3 acres, and in the spring and summer I love mowing. Something about those nice neat rows and the smell of fresh cut grass--I'm weird. Curses--Living on a dirt road that barely qualifies for the name 'road' when it rains. I drive a 4 wheel drive SUV for a really good reason. Being 20 miles from a decent store when I run out of something in the middle of a recipe. Two years ago, a tornado took out the local grocery store. I ran out of white corn syrup in the middle of my cinnamon rolls. It was ugly--very ugly!"

Wondering how she became interested in the hobby of panning for gold, I couldn't help but inquire. She explained, "Like so many things I've tried and liked, my love of gold panning came from my husband--one of his many hobbies that bled over onto me.

We used to spend our vacation at a working gold mine in North Carolina. We'd spend the day water washing a huge pile of dirt. Then after dinner, I'd pan the black sand. Seeing those flakes of gold in the pan, and knowing that you're the first person in the whole world to see those pieces--it's very addictive."

She is also an avid NASCAR fan and a Trekker. Perhaps some day, we'll see her Trek novel being released from its hiding place!

Her advice for fellow and/or future bloggers is, "Write about what you know, and don't be afraid to use your imagination and ask lots of questions."

We'll be watching for the release of The Women of Valley View: Callie in the not too distant future. This is the cover, along with the description on the back:

Three dire circumstances. Three desperate prayers. One miracle to save them all.

Callie Stillman is drawn to the evasive girl who's befriended her granddaughter, but the last time Callie tried to help a child, her efforts backfired. Memories of the tiny coffin still haunt her.

Samantha and Iris Evans should be worried about homework, not whether they can pool enough cash to survive another week of caring for an infant while evading the authorities.

Steve Evans wants a second chance at fatherhood, but his children are missing. And no one seems to want to help the former addict who deserted his family.

For Steve to regain the relationship he abandoned, for his girls to receive the care they deserve, Callie must surrender her fear and rely on God to work the miracle they all need.

In the interim, please stop by http://www.womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com for a visit with the girls! Sharon was kind enough to recently feature my upcoming novel, Never Say Perfect, on her blog, as Karla's page offers "coming soon" posts, where she introduces upcoming book releases.

A special thank you to Sharon Srock for stopping by to connect with us, and we'll be eagerly anticipating the release of her books!

Update on 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing: Build a Priceless Legacy One Story at a Time: This book was released at the end of January in print, as well as for Nook and Kindle. It simplifies the process of jump-starting a memoir project in order for important life stories to be passed from generation to generation. Also featuring examples of taking one memory and writing a story, the book offers story contributions from a few of my amazing former workshop attendees. It is a compact book, but packed with an arsenal of tools to help anyone easily tackle a memoir writing project. Visit the home page of http://www.awriterspresence.com to click on the various purchase options available. I hope you'll buy it for yourself, as well as for loved ones!

Update on Never Say Perfect: This novel is just days away from release!! God blesses us in countless ways!

See you soon....

 Mary Anne

Nightmare at Emerald High

 I absolutely love featuring author friends in my blog! I learn from their experiences and advice, and truly enjoy passing these conversations along to you.

Author Joana James is an AMAZING 28 year old, living on the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. Her writing efforts began with a two-part short story series entitled Alana & Alyssa's Secret: Rise from the Ashes, which told about the lives of two young girls who were dealing with extremely difficult circumstances.

One of the reasons that I chose to describe Joana as being AMAZING is because she has boundless energy and enthusiasm for all things related to writing, as well as for helping other authors promote their books. In spite of a busy schedule as an I. T. professional, she has carved out time to write another book, Nightmare at Emerald High, and is working on a third novel.

I asked Joana how she manages to squeeze writing new material, in addition to marketing and promoting her current book and the works of other authors, into her already busy day. Joana explained, "Time management is the most difficult thing for me right now, and I still don't have the balance quite right just yet. But I try to focus on the thing that is the most important at the time. When I have a new story brewing, I give it most of my attention and stop only to come up for air. Because of my day job, I write only on evenings and the weekends. However, the high stress job is a strange benefit--when I get home, I use writing as a way to unwind and relax."

How are her friends and family reacting to being in such a close relationship with an author? "My friends are pretty excited, and my family is extremely proud. My mother goes around telling all her friends about her daughter the author. They're all pretty comfortable with the idea, maybe more comfortable than I am..."

Nightmare at Emerald High is about Malcolm Drake, a young man who is one year away from his high school graduation. Discovering a golden scholarship opportunity, Malcolm and other classmates enroll in a program called Alternative Science, which could pave the way to receiving that coveted scholarship. What they don't realize is that they are actually stepping into the evil world of the occult and must learn through grueling developments that there is no easy way out.

I was curious about what influenced Joana to write a novel that features high school kids. She displays a real heart for teens, having been a youth leader at her church for several years. Joana said, "I spent most of my time working with high school kids so I have several stories about them and the situations they face floating around in my head. To write about teens seems almost second nature to me. As a matter of fact, I find it difficult writing about people who are older."

When asked what message she wanted to convey in Nightmare at Emerald High, she succinctly stated, "Nightmare at Emerald High may seem a bit controversial with its subject matter being secret societies and organizations, but in the society that I live, it's an everyday thing. Our children get tangled up in so many things that warp their thinking and confuse them and their perception of good and evil and right and wrong. My hope is that Nightmare at Emerald High will be an eye opener for both parents and teens."

Will her future books be geared to teens? "I will never stop writing for teens or young adults. They hold a special place in my heart because of the work I've done with them. However, I do hope to branch out into other genres."

Always interested in invading the thoughts and extracting the wisdom of other writers, I asked what advice Joana would give others who are thinking about writing a book. "It's a long and difficult process, but it's not impossible. If you have a passion for writing, then go after it. There will be critics along the way and maybe even the occasional horrible review. But perseverance brings success. Also, find out all you can about the writing process, and don't stop learning about the craft after you've published a few books."

As we authors have a way of abruptly discovering, the hard work is just beginning when the book is published! Because marketing and promotion are critical for driving sales, what advice would Joana offer on this topic? "I'm still learning the book marketing field, as I'm pretty new to all this. But, I can say that it is a job that will never really end. Look for groups of authors who write similar material to you and learn from them. Social networking is one of the most powerful tools available to us, so use it to your advantage. Remember to be friendly and don't accost every person you meet with a sales pitch."

I'd like to offer a huge thank you to Joana James for sharing her thoughts on her own writing experiences and for allowing us to gain insight into the life of another author. Joana, we wish you every possible success with Nightmare at Emerald High and all future endeavors!

Visit Joana at http://joanajames.blogspot.com and locate Nightmare at Emerald High at
http://amzn.to/A57ysn.
My next blog post will update everyone about the recent release of 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing: Build a Priceless Legacy One Story at a Time!  Never Say Perfect will also be released within the next two weeks, God willing!! Busy, busy, busy.

See you next time...

Paul DiStefano's Behind Criminal Minds

Still smiling although I've been glued to my  computer!

Happy 2012 everyone!  I personally have a fabulous feeling about this new year. I'm juggling four, yes that's 4, writing projects and two are coming down the home stretch for having soon-to-be-announced release dates. Never Say Perfect is in final, final, final editing stage, and 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing is just awaiting cover design. I've been spending hours upon hours fiddling with formatting--something I've never done before, but didn't feel that I was incapable of learning some new skills for my publishing operation, so I plugged away at it.  I was gathering information from a variety of sources, and it finally all came together. I think God was feeling sorry for me when He saw from Above that I was ready to flip out. Fortunately, I made good notes when I found what actually worked to produce the desired results, so my next formatting job will be far easier.

I want to wish all of my writing friends a wonderful, adventurous new year filled with much success, blessings and favor!

Speaking of my writing friends, I recently had the opportunity to interview Paul DiStefano, author of Behind Criminal Minds . Let me give you a little background first.  It wasn't until I moved to the Albany, New York area in 1970 that I began to hear a great deal about organized crime families. Growing up in Southern California, I was truly unaware of this arena of life--either because I was simply never exposed to hearing or reading about it or because I was actually oblivious and self-absorbed in my own little world.

Once I discovered that there was this very real element of organized crime in existence, I became fascinated with it and would read most anything I could get my hands on regarding the topic. So it was with great interest that I came across a newspaper article about a book entitled Behind Criminal Minds by Paul DiStefano, a former NYPD officer and detective. I could hardly wait to order it on my Nook, and it proved to be intriguing reading material.

Paul was gracious enough to allow me to interview him, and I have to be honest with you--I could have talked with him for hours. I hated to end the conversation, but figured that I had kept him on the telephone long enough.

After watching the Donnie Brasco Story about Joe Pistone, the FBI agent who infiltrated the Mafia as "Donnie the Jeweler," Paul came to the conclusion that he had encountered many similar experiences and that he should also write a book. Attempting to find a publisher, however, ended in multiple roadblocks.

Following his retirement from the police department, he became Head of Security for L'Oreal in New York and kept a notebook in his pocket. For three years, he jotted down notes and ideas about the topics he wanted to cover in his book and then finally put it all together.

Faced with the fact that the traditional publishers only seemed to be interested in contracting with celebrities, he tried to reason with them by suggesting, "Well, if you publish my book, then I WILL be a celebrity!" He said they didn't buy this seemingly logical reasoning.

He researched and located Xlibris to self-publish his book when the manuscript had reached its final stages of completion. At this point, his working title was Not Your Ordinary Day at the Office. His editor recommended changing the title to How to Commit the Perfect Crime. After giving this some consideration, he decided that it wasn't his goal to teach criminals how to get away with crimes and made certain that his manuscript was slanted more toward his personal experiences in New York City law enforcement. Another recommended title was Death Under a Magnifying Glass, which he found rather distasteful, but was agreeable to the change to Behind Criminal Minds.

Paul explains in his book that police work can make you cold and heartless.When asked how long it took him after retirement to feel as though he was once again emotionally balanced, he replied, "About five to seven years. It wore on me. I didn't know how close I was to a nervous breakdown. Today they have a psychology unit to help them. Twelve years in a homicide unit where you go every day into a negative situation just wears you down. There was never a happy situation--only in the respect of catching who did it, but it was always such a tragedy--lives ruined. And it wasn't easy to get along with the brass--the boss--there were personality conflicts that made it really tough."

He didn't hesitate to mention specific names in his book. I wondered if that worried him once the book was published and out there for everyone to read. "I only worried about one guy, and I didn't use his real name in the book. I called him The Candy Man. He said he would get me for my part in his arrest, but he got 55 years. I figured when he gets out, what would be our method of confrontation? Dueling canes? I'd be 96 and he'd be 88!"

"I was an excellent interrogator and interviewer. I found it pretty easy to flip people. I was a good actor and a great liar. Things are always changing though. About the time I was retiring, they started a profiling unit, and you go to a specific school for this specialty."

Considering that there are no second chances when your life is constantly on the line, I couldn't imagine how Paul dealt with that day in and day out. He explained, "You had to put it out of your mind or you'd go crazy. As a detective, you're wearing a suit and it's not as risky as being on patrol. You're coming in after the crime. But there is an accumulation of everything related to what we saw and experienced, and it took its toll. I began to have no feelings--nothing fazed me any more. And toward the end, I literally began to get shaky when I knew it was time to report for work. I honestly didn't know why. Then I began to realize I couldn't do this any longer. I had to get off this job."

Regarding any advice to other writers about the do's and don'ts of publishing, Paul offered, "Don't expect that you can easily get a publisher. Self-publish, and don't expect it to be a big money maker!"

Will we be seeing future books from Paul DiStefano? He thought for a second and replied, "I could write about the years when I was Head of Security at L'Oreal or when I worked in the Attorney General's office. I also worked as a private investigator for some top defense attorneys and had some dealings with the John Gotti case. I might just have more books to write. I'd also be happy to do some consulting for television producers because I've lived it. I know what it's all about. That could possibly happen in the future."

Something I really appreciated about Behind Criminal Minds, besides getting up close and personal through the eyes of an undercover officer, was that it wasn't written with a plethora of foul language. So many times,  books and movies on the topic of law enforcement are peppered with language that actually detracts from my enjoyment of the story. My husband, Fred, always says, "Well, that's the way they talk. That's real life." But I get so offended by this and find it so unnecessary, it's hard for me to gain anything positive out of the movie or book. Paul's book tells the stories and his memories without the use of polluted language. Now, I must say that there were a couple of chapters about working prostitution duty that were rather boldly descriptive and contained elements of crudeness, but it was easy to understand why these stories had to be written in this manner. According to the author, "I really made an effort to clean it up unless it was a direct quote."

I loved some of the titles of the chapters in his book: The $85 Million Heist That Almost Got Me Killed, Moonlighting Working for the Mob, Good and Bad Times at the 1st Precinct, The Ultimate Assignment: Homicide Detective, and The Dead Speak from Beyond the Grave. There are several more fascinating chapters, but these are just examples of his straight forward topics.

So if you've ever been mildly curious about the inner workings of the New York City Police Department and organized crime, this is one intriguing tell-it-like-it-is book to devour! Paul DiStefano tells the stories as though he is talking to a friend, and as the book is nearing the conclusion he says, "I don't know about other cops, but I can tell you for sure, I function better with a heart than without one."

Behind Criminal Minds is available on-line through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or you can purchase it directly from the author.  Contact him at 843-215-0785 or by email at Coachpaul74@aol.com. While you're in touch with him, how about encouraging him to write another book?

Blessings until next time!

Merry Christmas and happy writing!

I wanted to take a moment out of our crazy year end holiday schedules to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and for us to remember that amongst all of the gifts of clothing, scarves, electronics and toys, the greatest gift is love. Love of family, love of friends and God's love to us surpasses any material gains we could ever know.

In sitting around the dining table with family and friends this Christmas season, be prepared with a copy of the Mini-Memoir.  This is a free download at my Web site www.awriterspresence.com. Click on the page called "Write About Your Life."  Scroll down, and you can print a PDF copy of the Mini-Memoir, which is a fill-in-the-blank one pager that will generate discussion by older folks as well as the younger generation.  Let them know that you care enough to ask the questions and find out more about their lives. Be ready with a small hand-held recorder to capture the conversations at the table--priceless memories. It's my gift to you so you can preserve some of those family stories that will erupt!

God bless you all, and may 2012 be a productive and insightful season for writers of all genres!

   Mary Anne

Misconception About Dedicated Writers

This is a glimpse of today's walk at Garden City Beach, SC--the epitome of a spectacularly sunny, warm day. After living in NY for so many years, I thoroughly appreciate today's 74 degree temperature at the end of November.

I hope that everyone enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving weekend 2011. As it comes to a close this evening, I'm thankful that Fred and I were able to spend the time with my sweet, loving mom. She's the best!

The Writing Life:

I have to laugh when I think about the misguided perception regarding the life of a writer. People probably think that we sit around in our pajamas all day, dreaming up articles, settings, characters and plots for our books. They may think we have all the time in the world to write at a leisurely pace and that the words magically flow every time we are seated with our fingers hovering over our keyboards.

They may imagine us sitting at our desks with fluffy foo-foo dogs stretched out beside our sock-clad feet. They picture our four-legged friends adoringly gazing up at us as they wait for an occasional pat on the head or a treat. When we need a little break, we change into a pair of sweats and mosey outdoors to walk the grateful critters, stopping at the mailbox to collect the enormous pile of royalty checks awaiting us, and then settle back in for a few more hours of uninterrupted work.

Dream on! If this were only true! A friend recently sent a video via Facebook that was so real, it was scary. It features a British woman who is describing her day. She begins with the intent to pay her bills, but is so distracted by every other thing she encounters (and one thing constantly leads to another), so by the end of the day, she still hasn't focused on paying her bills. I had to laugh because I'm afraid I can really relate. I begin my day with a definite "To Do" list, but between interruptions, various tasks around the house that need my attention, and complete disruption when I decide to take a few minutes to check Facebook or post a comment, it is really difficult to finalize anything and gleefully cross a completed item off my list. Heaven help me if I ever learn how Twitter works (also on my "To Do" list).

Many of my long term projects are in various stages of completion, so it is difficult to feel as though anything is actually accomplished by the end of the day. Baby steps toward finalization ... that's all I'm doing. There's always more research to do, more review, more editing, changes that entered my mind in the middle of the night, and very important publishing decisions to be made. And more research. What is the latest in our speed of light changing industry? Everyone thinks it's so easy.

The truth is, however, I couldn't possibly be more enamored with what I do. I'm creating publications that will hopefully entertain through my "Never Say" series and guide people in writing their memoirs with my "Easy Steps" series. I can hardly wait to announce that these projects are finalized and available.

During the next few days, I will be working on formatting my first novel, Eyelash, for Kindle, Nook, and every other e-reading device. It was released as a print book in 2006, but I can easily see the value in offering it as an e-book before I release Never Say Perfect. Eyelash is actually a prologue to Never Say Perfect, though NSP is a stand alone book and contains a great deal of mystery, family relationships, friendships, inspiration and flirts heavily with romance.

As I study the constant changes in the publishing world today, I am more and more inclined to throw my hands up in the air and press on with self-publishing so NSP will finally reach my readers. People constantly ask me when my next novel will be released, and if I continue to hold out for a traditional publisher via an agent, I'm afraid that those fans will lose interest over time. I'm beginning to feel that they've waited long enough.

I'll keep you posted on how this project of formatting Eyelash for Kindle, Nook, etc. is going. It should be mighty interesting! I'm a DIY kind of individual, as I do enjoy holding the reins in my hands. I can only hope that I don't drive myself wild with this adventure.

Inspiration for today: Don't be disheartened when all seems grim. Ephesians 1:13b-14 (NIV) tells us: Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of His glory. It reminds me that He gives us strength and that our hope and power are in Him alone. May you face today with that peace in your heart.

It's Never Dull

Murrells Inlet, SC

Dear Writers,

Just when you may think I've entered the witness protection program and disappeared, here I am!

We are closing in on the deadline to register for 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing, a two session seminar to be held on Saturday, November 5 and 12, 2011 through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Coastal Carolina University, specifically at Waccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield, SC from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Why only two sessions? Because you will be able to obtain a manual and all of the tools needed to continue your memoir writing project at your own pace by the end of the two sessions. To register, call 843-349-6584 and someone will be delighted to enroll you in the class. Hope to see you there!

The class manual for 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing is a project that I will be publishing in print form and as an e-book. It's on the "To Do" list, and the manuscript contains the necessary steps plus tips and hints, as well as a lengthy list of questions that you can use to interview relatives about family history or that you can use to formulate your own story. It also contains resource information and a few special stories by prior workshop attendees. Stay tuned!

Never Say Perfect:

I imagine you feel like I do sometimes. Is this manuscript ever going to be published? It's such a gripping story, and here it sits on my computer, waiting like a permanent bridesmaid and never a bride. After querying a handful of agents, I queried a "to remain nameless" (I don't want them to hate me forever) publisher a few months ago and felt strongly that this would be a perfect fit. I've heard nothing from them...not yes, not no, not maybe. Their Web site indicates that a followup e-mail is appropriate after a certain number of weeks, and we have exceeded that window.

Trying to obey the rules, I sent my followup e-mail and have yet to receive a response. Frustrated to say the least, I began searching for new resources regarding the world of publishing and found Mary DeMuth's book entitled 11 Secrets of Getting Published. I could hardly wait to begin reading it after ordering it on my Nook, and it definitely did not disappoint me.

I started with a fairly speedy read-through and then sat down with pen and paper to take some important notes. Following my second read, I am encouraged and have a new and revitalized enthusiasm for Never Say Perfect. Direct from the trenches, 11 Secrets of Getting Published provides an enlightening view of important suggestions for attempting to find a publisher. I had much more to learn than I had realized.

Honestly believing that my manuscript was as publishing-ready as could be, I felt that there was nothing more I could possibly do to improve it. It was neatly wrapped and packaged with a fancy bow. Wrong! After intently studying 11 Secrets of Getting Published, it was obvious to me that I now need to thoroughly review my manuscript to search for the basic newbie errors commonly detected by agents, editors and publishers.

For example, I'll be checking for head hopping (the book provides a clear explanation of this literary faux pas), cliches, passive verbs, weak verbs, rambling and overuse of favorite words. 11 Secrets succinctly and patiently walks the reader/budding author through examples of these writing bugaboos. And I don't think I'll ever become automatically accustomed to entering only one space following a period. Old habits are truly tough to break.

Taking Mary DeMuth's advice and applying it to Never Say Perfect can only improve my manuscript, after which I will be simultaneously querying a new batch of agents. Hopefully, at least one will see the value that the story holds for touching hearts and souls. An enormous thank you to Mary DeMuth for providing a guide that is direct, informative and not fluffy or sugar-coated. She carefully spells out what it means to struggle with being a writer, including all of the inherent challenges as well as blessings. Don't forget to visit her Web site at www.marydemuth.com to take advantage of the beneficial resources she offers. If you happen to sign up for her e-mail newsletters, you'll be truly blessed because she often begins with a word of prayer. Sometimes that prayer arrives just when I seem to need it!

Writing and Publishing-Not for those who expect instant success:

This entire year has been jam packed with frequent travel, family emergencies, blogging, professional education and a very few rounds of not my best golf. All of this has resulted in my writing projects moving ahead at turtle speed in terms of finalization. Hopefully, over the next couple of months I can dedicate enough uninterrupted time to finishing the projects that have been placed on my heart to share.

Is the writing life easy? It's rather comical actually--when I was working full time in property management and squeezing out paragraph after paragraph for Eyelash in my spare moments, I believed that if I could only write full time, accomplishing my goals would be so simple and I could be hyper-productive. What I discovered was that juggling multiple writing projects requires tremendous discipline and that every day normal life has a way of encroaching on concentration and dedication. I have also learned that I can only give my best efforts, and beyond that, it's in God's timing. As it all unfolds, may it always be to His honor and glory.

Until next time......

Back again!

Whirlwind Schedule:

Most of my blog writing time has been devoted to www.4womenwholove2travel.blogspot.com recently, but as the stories from that fabulous trip begin to wind down, I've decided to continue writing the blog with periodic posts about interesting U. S. destinations. Sharon, Laura, Marianne and I have discussed possible future European visits and placed London and Paris on our wish lists, but that won't be happening right away. So stay tuned....

In the interim, my luggage has frequently been packed lately and I've been on the road constantly. One destination was The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia, which I will definitely write about in a travel blog post in the near future. This was such an amazing location for a refreshing break in the action. A truly hidden gem! I had an opportunity to tour the kitchen and wine cellar at this resort, which was fascinating. Be sure to keep checking on the travel blog periodically for details about this location, as well as other great getaway sites.

Never Say Perfect:

Still waiting to hear from the publisher to whom the manuscript was sent for review. Their site says to check back with them if you haven't heard anything in 12-16 weeks. Well, we're getting into that vicinity very soon. Will keep you up to date. This manuscript will not be buried--even if it is necessary to self-publish it.

Memoir Writing:

Here's a little tip from my upcoming book, 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing, for generating some of those long forgotten life events:

Listen to old favorite music. I visited www.musicoutfitters.com, chose "Resources", then "Top 100 songs from 1950 to the present", clicked on 1969 (the year I was a high school senior, yipes...was it that long ago???), and up popped a list of the biggest hits of that year. Just reviewing them brought forth a flood of memories to my brain. I could hardly write them down fast enough.

You can also access www.tropicalglen.com to actually hear the music that will bring you straight back to any year of your choosing. While this method may not work for everyone, if you've spent as many years being a music lover as I have, many selections will paint incredibly vivid memories. Another resource for listening to the music is www.youtube.com. Your favorite selections may just be available to you with photos or video. Just type the name of the song in the "Search" area and see what appears.

From church hymns to popular songs, some of my earliest musical recollections are:

"My Happiness" by Connie Francis-During an overnight stay in the hospital following my tonsillectomy at age seven, I awoke in the middle of the night and heard this song being played on a radio located at the nearby nurses' station. I recall being anxious to get out of there and back home to familiar surroundings, but I'll never forget hearing this selection of music that entered my room from the hallway as I eased back into my state of groggy, nighttime slumber.

"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland-I was nine years old, it was about 4:30 a.m. in North Carolina darkness, and my Dad was leaving for a trip to Arizona, where our family would be moving once school was over for the semester. There was a radio playing this song in the background as he prepared to say goodbye, and I had extremely mixed feelings about his imminent departure. I'd miss him terribly for the next two months, but our upcoming move to Arizona represented an exciting adventure, filled to the brim with the unknown.

Choose a year and select three or four songs to see if some special memories formulate. Write them down, type them into a Word document or capture your thoughts on a recorder while the thoughts are fresh in your mind. Continue this process periodically, and before you know it, you will have built a substantial collection of stories!

Let me know if this works for you, and don't hesitate to share some of the recollections with us. We welcome your submission of special memories.

Inspiration for today:

This verse just jumped off the page at me the other day from Proverbs 14:30 NIV. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Wow! "Rots the bones" struck me as pretty major stuff. The more I thought about it, however, the more I realized that it is so true. When I am at peace in my heart, when I know my heart is in the right place and I am doing things for the right reasons, I feel a sense of comfort that I'm exactly where God wants me to be. If I'm wasting time being anxious or thinking about what someone else has or what they have achieved that I haven't, my insides feel as though I have swallowed rocks.

Have you ever known someone who didn't have one nice thing to say about anyone? Everything that flows from his or her lips seems to be coming from a negative position? I think that relates to envy as well. Perhaps he or she envies something about everyone else and that creates an evolving insecurity, translating into spouting negative comments so this person feels better about herself or himself. It gives them a feeling of superiority to point out what they perceive to be the negative aspects of others. Well, I do believe that an envious attitude rots the bones! I've seen it in the scowls on their faces that have long replaced the smiles.

Find something positive and encouraging to say to someone today. It will bring a natural smile to your face!