updates

As you may see, I published my second novel and named my series (Lilies of the Field). I am so very slowly working on book #3.

I'm doing a kindle book promo in February, and I also have a giveaway ending Feb 1 at https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/f59830c47645e743
(if link won't click try this https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/f59830c47645e743  or copy/paste)

Aaaaand....DONE!

I FINISHED MY SECOND NOVEL!!!

Ok, ok, to be fair, I must edit 30,000 more times (and the book is over 300 pages so that's a painstaking ordeal) and then play the ill-begotten formatting game, and then finally think I have it, order a proof, just to read that in paperback and edit a noter 30,000 times and format...

You get the idea.

But I DID IT! I wrote ANOTHER book!

This one, as of now and in its current format (subject to change) is over 91,000 words long and about 350 pages.

I was asked what its about and know what I hate as much as editing? Summarizing my book. I lean on my readers for help!

But only one of my beta readers has completed my rough draft (three cheers for my mom!)

So...the story follows the life of the protagonist and her faith and wacky life and insecurities. Her faith grows, and she also finds love- even if she is hesitant. No one is perfect and they each have their issues to overcome, but they work on it and their love blossoms.

The story also touches on the stories of a few characters from "We're Only Human" and dabbles in the elements of human trafficking and martyrdom, but isn't nearly as suspenseful as "We're Only Human." Whereas "We're Only Human" was more serious, adventurous, exemplified God's presence in the worst of times, Book #2 is more "light", a dash of romance, and more "Christian."

I am trying to decide if the cover should be kind of botanical like "We're Only Human", a painting I did (a portrait), a pastoral scene, or photo of a person, one of those emotional and strong photos.

I'm up for any and all ideas!

mixed-up beauty of our world

My son had major dental surgery and was very very close to being sent to ER as he woke from anesthesia. Thank God he recovered and is doing much better!

After many hours of tense praying, he finally began to feel better.

As we ran into the grocery store to get some macaroni and cheese (his request, as it was "not crunchy in my mouth_, I saw a woman just bawling her eyes out by her car. She was on the phone and very distraught. If I didn't have my youngest son half-asleep in the car with me, I'd have gone and given the stranger a hug or prayer. Well, I prayed for her anyway. Whatever her pain, it tugged at my heart and I thought to myself, why God? I'd had a rough day and then saw someone having a rougher day and then I thought of the local young woman who had died unexpectedly, how I'd seen her mother just days ago collecting funds for the funeral, such a private moment out in the public, a tragic look into the loss of life. (Wow that had to be a run-on sentence.) I felt more anguish.

And then, 'cause God is simply God, he sent a little rainbow of promise. So have you heard of the painted rock/kindness rocks craze? (Google it if not.) I look over and see a little girl find a rock by the grocery's front door. She dances and jumps and excitedly shows her mother. The little girl has such an innocent and joyful smile. I see the beauty and joy God gives us, even for the smallest of things (i.e. a painted rock). Such a simple thing gave me comfort. Sure, the stranger I prayed for was still wiping her eyes and pulling at her hair and shaking, sure, the jars to collect for the young woman's funeral were still sitting inside the grocery store, but God reminded me that there is joy in this world, too.

Seek the joy. Look for beauty. Find the good, no matter how small. Give thanks. Pray for those who need it.

Have a great weekend!

giveaway ends today!

We're Only Human, my novel (part 1, as #2 is being written as you read this) is in a GoodReads Giveaway, ending tonight.

Here is the link to enter!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/246999-we-re-only-human


Travel plans change, uniting and inter tangling the stories and lives of people around the globe...because there are no coincidences! We are flawed in our ways and yet His path is perfect. This is a story of individuals united by a common event, experiencing God's grace in unimaginable ways.
A seedy story develops and delves into the underworld of human trafficking, drugs, death and life, connecting strangers whose hearts are open to all God can offer. Mans heart is no match for Christ's light; He knows our paths and is with us through it all We are flawed in our ways and yet His path is perfect. This is a story of individuals united by a common event, experiencing God's grace in unimaginable ways. A seedy story develops and delves into the underworld of human trafficking, drugs, death and life, connecting strangers whose hearts are open to all God can offer. 

Random Book Reviews

I've been absent from blogging; instead I've been reading.

Remember, I'm awful at reviews, but I will review nonetheless!

Messages David Change Mysteries #1 by Jon Michael Hileman was a slightly predictable suspense novel, but the predictability didn't disappoint, and I am interested in reading book #2. The main character would get messages from God which helped save his life, his families,  and ultimately the president's. Few could be trusted, and even the main character often would question the messages but obey.


Escape by Carolyn Jessop was a memoir of a woman who escaped FLDS polygamy. She endured such abuse, but it was culturally entrenched and leaving meant more than just exclusion or exile. A true yet scathing look into a now-famous "cult" and its people and abuses.

Baggage Claim by Aaron Davis another memoir (can you tell it is a favorite genre of mine?). I won it through a GoodReads giveaway. The story follows Aaron's struggles with a syndrome which delayed puberty and worsened his depression. He battled depression and suicidal thoughts while trying to keep up the image of family and being a pastor, but ended up in a care facility. Many pastors and people of faith struggle with mental illness, a real illness, and he separates fact from fiction and helps propose plans to battle mental illness, not just "think positive" but more step-by-step and constructive, helpful.

I'm also currently reading a handful of books.

Still Writing, Honest!

I haven't blogged for a few weeks and haven't any excuses.

I have been in the throws of writer's block but had a few awesome moments where I think I've written 19 pages.... baby steps! Every little bit counts. I also had a video interview (link to be announced once it is edited and "up") so things are coming together albeit slower than molasses in January.

OH! And my E-book version of We're Only Human is just $0.99 !!!!

My 2nd Book (part two of a series) and a milestone

So my second-novel-in-the-works is part of a series, We're Only Human  (kindle and paperback) being part 1.

That alone is big news, right? A series!!!

Any-who.....

So I've got TERRIBLE writer's block!!! And of course it comes at a time when my house is spic and span and it's too hot outside to go outside, so I've got all this time to write!

I have ideas of what to write. I know X,Y, and Z need to happen in my book, but I go to write it and it comes out as gobbledy gook......

"uhh....X and Y like date and stuff, somehow, blah blah romance, oh i love you, let's set a date for marriage, oh we're getting married, happily ever after, first comes love then comes marriage then comes a baby in a baby carriage"

Yep, that is honestly how bad off I am!

attempt at Vegas-styling. 300 pages!

But wait, I am not here to complain. Well, maybe a little, but my point is....
If Georgia size 12 font (ermagherd it looks huge) and 1.5 spacing is "right" for a book (compared to my teeny-tiny print in We're Only Human) then....

I am missing huge chunks of my novel and yet I have reached 300 pages!!!! Can't blogger make that blink and dance Vegas style? Sure, f in my teeny-tiny font of #1 in the series, then #2 would be less than 300 pages but I'm proud of my accomplishment.

Now if only I could shove away the writer's block!!! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but apparently He isn't having me write much these days. Sigh.