Blog Archives
Celebrate the Small Things: Wishful Thinking and Wishes Come True
Fridays are all about celebrating the Small Things thanks to a weekly blog hop created by author Lexa Cain. Joint co-hosts this week are authors L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog The mission coincides with what I’m hoping to do with my own writing, inspire and focus on the light when those slippery shadows creep around our shoes. Want to sign up? Click Lexa Cain’s link to find out more.
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This week, I’m celebrating unseasonably hot temperatures, sailing my own imaginary seas away from the heat and hot winds, and of course real dreams with real boats with author Ellen Jacobson.
Living in Kansas City, summer can become unbearable. It’s like a mirage too because just outside the giant glass window and beyond the tall exterior of a building, the sun shines across the green grass and softly highlights all the leaves in the green trees. The breeze gently teases the bushes and the loose leaves along the sidewalk. You can’t help but sigh. Then you place your hand on the glass door of your work building on your lunch break thinking, what a lovely day.
But only for a breath. The second the door cracks open hot steamy air sucks the air from your lungs, the moisture from your skin, and clings to your blow-dried hair making you wonder, why did I even bother with my hair of all crazy hot days?
The next great question? Why am I going home on my lunch break to paint my bathroom cabinets outside in the garage in this terrible suffocating 100 degree heat?
I guess I got tired of wishing and I started doing.
Speaking of wishes in the making, I’d like to introduce a lovely gal and her lovely new book, Murder at the Marina.
I first meet Ellen Jacobson in my IWSG writers’ group after our short stories were selected to publish in the Hero Lost Anthology by Dancing Lemur Press back in 2017. I can’t believe it’s been just over a year since then. In any case, Ellen is one of the sweetest, most organized, and kindest working ladies I’ve ever met. When I learned she lived her real life on a real boat sailing the seas, my mind started spinning with possibilities, adventure and how creative and wild her life might be.
I’m also lucky enough to have a peek at the book and I’d like to share why I love it so much with you …
Mollie McGhie has been married for 10 years and is meeting her husband Scooter for a romantic dinner to celebrate their anniversary. A chocolate lover and an honest down to earth girl you wished you had as your neighbor, she is eagerly hoping for something diamond related since it is after all, ten lovely years. Every woman should get diamonds after 10 years of marriage. Instead, she finds herself on her own train of anniversary thoughts while her husband keeps dropping the name Marjorie Jane into the conversation. He doesn’t seem to see Mollie just a few feet away at the dinner table while he’s glued to his phone, studying the pictures of all things. Who is this Marjorie Jane?
Personally, I love Mollie. I love her ability to see through the cracks and all the dirt knowing, something just isn’t right.
About the book
A dilapidated sailboat for your anniversary—not very romantic. A dead body on board—even worse.
Mollie McGhie is hoping for diamonds for her tenth wedding anniversary. Instead, her husband presents her with a dilapidated sailboat. Just one problem—she doesn’t know anything about boats, nor does she want to.
When Mollie discovers someone murdered on board, she hopes it will convince her husband that owning a boat is a bad idea. Unfortunately, he’s more determined than ever to fix the boat up and set out to sea.
Mollie finds herself drawn into the tight-knit community living at Palm Tree Marina in Coconut Cove, a small town on the Florida coast. She uncovers a crime ring dealing in stolen marine equipment, investigates an alien abduction, eats way too many chocolate bars, adopts a cat, and learns far more about sailing than she ever wanted to.
Can Mollie discover who the murderer is before her nosiness gets her killed?
A Mollie McGhie Cozy Sailing Mystery #1
About the Author
Ellen Jacobson writes mystery and sci-fi/fantasy stories. She is the author of the “Mollie McGhie Sailing Mystery” series. She lives on a sailboat with her husband, exploring the world from the water. When she isn’t working on boat projects or seeking out deserted islands, she blogs about their adventures at The Cynical Sailor.
You can connect with Ellen on:
- Author Website –
- Author Facebook Page –
- Goodreads –
- The Cynical Sailor Blog –
- The Cynical Sailor Facebook Page –
- Twitter –
- Newsletter Sign-up –
Where can you buy it?
Murder at the Marina—A Mollie McGhie Sailing Mystery #1
Release Date: June 21, 2018
Print ISBN 978-1-7321602-1-7
eBook ISBN 978-1-7321602-0-0
Mystery
Available at:
Amazon (US) – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHXQ29Y
Amazon (CA) – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07CHXQ29Y
Amazon (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CHXQ29Y
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-at-the-marina
Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-marina-ellen-jacobson/1128516692
Apple iBooks – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1373848719
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ellen_Jacobson_Murder_at_the_Marina
A Word of Advice from Ellen
A view of her real boat 🙂
I think my #1 tip for living on a boat is to be flexible and patient. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, usually at the most inopportune time. There will be times when you have to juggle your priorities to address the latest issue that crops up. Also, living in a relatively small space (our boat has probably around 400 square feet of living space) with another person means patience is often called upon. There’s not a lot of space to get away from each other.
When things get tough, I try to remind myself of all of the reasons we live on a boat – travel, adventure, an incredible community, and a simpler way of life – and remember all of the good times we’ve had on our boat. As long as the fun times outweigh the not-so-fun times, you’ll find us on board.
Stay tuned
The full review will come later this month so check out the book. You’ll love it. I sure know I do.
Celebrate the Small Things: Remember the Greatness of Today #FridayFeeling
Fridays are all about celebrating the Small Things thanks to a weekly blog hop created by author Lexa Cain. Joint co-hosts this week are authors L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog The mission coincides with what I’m hoping to do with my own writing, inspire and focus on the light when those slippery shadows creep around our shoes. Want to sign up? Click Lexa Cain’s link to find out more.
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I haven’t written a grateful post in sometime. But this week, I have a lot of smiley moments and I need the gentle reminder to believe in the small miracle of today. I need to remember that today, no matter what happens, we are still making progress of some kind. We are still doing something great for someone, no matter if we recognize that or not.
So what has happened this week and what can I celebrate?
Sunday night, my 5-year cat was clearly ill. He moped around the living room and wasn’t interested in dinner time. The biggest problem? He stopped using the litter box and invented a new strategy to use his personal facilities on top of my washing machine. Needless to say, my heart hit the floor. I knew I had to take him in to the vet the next morning. I also knew I needed to shift his current surroundings to keep him from using the same spot in my laundry room. But I always think of the hardest solution, and when my daughter gently said, “Mom. What if you scoot his box forward and close that door. He’ll still be in the bathroom mom. His food bowl could go right there.”
It was so easy. I couldn’t believe my 7-year old came up with such a perfect solution. I hugged her. I thanked her and mentioned what a brilliant solution to the problem she created, and I was proud of her. My cat was better off for the night too.
Monday, Reading several chapters out of the book Wonder to my two snuggle bunnies on the couch, my heart just beamed for the compassion my kids had for the character in the book. The narrator is a fifth grader with a disease impacting his physical appearance. My kids are such bright little souls and I feel so grateful every day I get to hold them and talk to them about what’s going on in their lives.
Tuesday is piano day. My son doesn’t like to practice, but he loves it when he succeeds. I think we sometimes always begin there, with a really great dream we are scared to act and commit to. What if we fail? But the question is, what if we don’t?
Wednesday, a stranger wants to pay it forward. I receive a phone call at my desk about paying off a student lunch balance. I ask her who, she says she has no one in mind. Just the most delinquent account in the school district where I work. WOW.
Thursday, My honey has dinner ready for me and the kids when I get home. He’s just given me back a good hour of my time. I love that. I love that he jumps in to help. On the writing side? I’ve been working hard on so many great new scenes for my star person book. I can’t wait. I am feeling so good about my characters and the direction it’s taking.
Lasty, today is Friday. My heart is full of small wonders and blessings. I want to hold on to that. I want to remember how lucky I am. I want to say thank you and blessings to you for who you are and what you are striving to do. Smile. Shine brightly.
Last great word of the day …
Celebrate the Small Things: Integrity and Respect Stems from the Inside #FridayFeeling
Fridays are all about celebrating the Small Things thanks to a weekly blog hop created by author Lexa Cain. Joint co-hosts this week are authors L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog The mission coincides with what I’m hoping to do with my own writing, inspire and focus on the light when those slippery shadows creep around our shoes. Want to sign up? Click Lexa Cain’s link to find out more.
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I am a believer in integrity.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve known I see the world in bright, justly colors. I’ve known I strive to find the truth in all things: from the littlest dandelion growing in the yard, defending a poor little slug which the neighbor kid tried to destroy with salt, to friends I’ve met along the way who struggled with the truth and couldn’t sing it as it should have been. I believe in the truth and I try to give people the benefit of the doubt in telling it. I’m not perfect. No one is. I’ve withheld it myself in fear from time to time, and then I’ve faced the consequences as bravely as I could have. I think the importance in truth, integrity and living an honest life, is knowing who we are on the inside. It’s believing in that, and surrounding ourselves with those who believe in us, too.
This week I’m celebrating integrity and the growth in facing it. I’m celebrating the state of mind we need to be in, in order to create a safe place to discuss the truth.
As a mother, I’ve been working to teach my kids this week the importance of following our hearts instead of being followers of the fun thing to do. With the first week of school down, challenges erupt in meeting new friends; friends who aren’t always like us. Ultimately, we all have our own truths. We all want respect. We certainly all love someone and we must respect this love and the uniqueness of each soul we meet along the way.
As a writer, I’m working on a character with strong integrity who will have it challenged every step of her journey. She’ll have to face two difficult truths and weigh the impact of each, eventually forced to pick one.
As myself, a woman who sees the world in bright, justly colors, I’m celebrating following my own heart. I’m proud of every small progressive footstep and will continue to embrace the thought that eventually hard honest work will pay off.
Ultimately, in teaching truth and respect the important thing I’ve learned is:
How about you? What are you celebrating this week?
Celebrate the Small Things 7: Build Your Mental Strength #FridayFeeling
Fridays are all about celebrating the Small Things thanks to a weekly blog hop created by author Lexa Cain. Joint co-hosts this week are authors L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog The mission coincides with what I’m hoping to do with my own writing, inspire and focus on the light when those slippery shadows creep around our shoes. Want to sign up? Click Lexa Cain’s link to find out more.
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Mental Strength takes an entirely different set of conditioning. Fears erupt. Calm has to be found. Emotion must be dealt with. Honestly, I’d rather hit the gym and tackle a new health regiment and up my weights than define a strategy to surf tsunami mental waters. We don’t always have a choice though, and in celebrating the small things this week, I have a few victory points to note as well as a few tips to make it through those rocky waters when you’d rather turn back and head to your own sandy warm beach.
What went well?
- This week, I uncluttered my house to prepare for a move. Oh, I’m still packing as it never seems to end, but at least I’ve combed through the clothes, the baby toys, small bikes and old furniture. Good Will was my choice location to give away these unnecessary items. The best distraction from mental stress for me is to keep my hands busy.
- I celebrated another birthday with my son. We went fishing with friends, then finished the evening in a game of kickball. Played a game of it lately with your own friends? It’s really freeing. Kick that ball as hard as you can and run and run and run …who cares if you get out. It’s great stress relief.
- The end of the school year means the end of a stressful sprint for me in public relations. Since I work for a school district, I make events like high school graduation sparkle. Details are so important and you go over it, and over it again and pray you haven’t missed a thing.
- I finished my synopsis for my new manuscript idea. Yay! Next is the detailed outline. Hopefully it will get done next week and I can finally begin the real writing work.
- Lastly, I said “no” a couple of times instead of over committing myself. That is a huge step for me. I usually juggle a million things at once and what’s one more, right? Yikes!
- And my biggest mental war? I still have yet to face it, but I’m planning my strategy with a few tips I found on Forbes.com and have included them below.
Tips.
- Revisit your values and core beliefs. Down deep, what matters most to you, then make a point to remember those things. Forbes suggests to be wary of “never” or “always” thinking statements in your head.
- Think about what you can control and what aspect is actual worry. Divert your mind. Set goals and priorities. Make an effort to switch your mental thoughts to helpful actions and topics. What’s happening that’s good in your life? What small steps have you made to accomplish your dreams? Have you done one today? If not, why not try? And may I suggest a quick game of kickball? 🙂
- Replace negative thinking with positive action. Do something that makes you feel great. Write great quotes to inspire your mind and place them where you need them the most.
- “Practice tolerating discomfort,” a phrase I couldn’t reword. Who do you want to be? Why not try?
- Always end or begin your day with the good things, the reason I love this weekly post so much.
We made it. It’s Friday. And don’t forget …
Cloud Nine Girl 