Blog Archives
Celebrate the Small Things 4: Humanize Bad Behavior #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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This week, I’ve tried to practice a good behavior and an old skill I learned in a previous job as a corporate trainer. When I don’t understand what someone does, I try to stop and think, “Why would a reasonable and rational person do what they do and say what they say?” It’s a question from resource material “Crucial Conversations” I used to facilitate to managers. I learned a lot about people.
Body language. Tone. Facial Expressions. Above all things, facial expression tells us a lot.
This week, I’m celebrating the almost end of an incredibly busy week. I’ve tried every day to make amends with past hurts in relationships. Especially when I’ve had to swallow my pride. I think watching my kids grow and how they interpret the wrongs that go on helps remind me every day of the miracle we’re gifted in each day. I also really love these Friday posts. Why? Because reflecting on the good is healing for the heart and soul.
- I finished all the decorations I needed to make for a retirement reception at work. It was a huge event. It takes weeks of organizing to make sure all 61 retirees were celebrated. I fluffed and fixed tons of vases of flowers with raffia, moss and little monarch butterflies.
- I smiled at people this week I know had a few bad thoughts about me. I tried to say sweet things and worked extra hard and extra detailed to prove I am competent and capable. I don’t know if you have the same pet peeve I do, but I’d rather a person talk to the face instead of the back. My mother always told me though, shine brighter than the rain. You’ll feel better on the inside.
- My daughter had her summer birthday in school. These lovely rainbow cupcakes made everyone smile the second they saw them. I didn’t get to taste one, but I can only imagine the smile it gave others on the inside who did.
- A book signing Saturday the 13th! I’ll be at a Second Saturdays event in downtown Blue Springs. It’s a celebration of artists, writers, and craftspeople. Free music! I’ll be at the bookstore with the newest loveliest anthology just released, “Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life.”
How about you? Did you have a great shiny moment this week? Do you try to smile when the world frowns?
It’s Friday! Yay! That’s reason to celebrate in my eyes.
Celebrate the Small Things: Every day is Another New Day
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 helped my kiddos make teacher appreciation thank you cards. I love to see what makes them happy about their teachers. My favorite thought was how my daughter’s teacher made her feel safe.
- The gym! Finally! I made it made four days this week. Being the high energy person I am, I NEED the gym. LOL
- Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life is here! I am honored to be one of the 12 authors chosen this year in the anthology. Here’s a link to our website with how to purchase it.
- A book signing! I scored a book signing at a local bookstore in town called Inklings Books and Coffee Shoppe. Come and join me. I’ll post the info on my author facebook page later today. I’d love to see you there.
- Lastly, I bought a new house! I’m so excited! I might be busy right now as the end of the school year wraps up, a new house and a book launch, but sometimes you don’t get to pick the timing. You put on your best most fanciest shoes and you dance on.
How about you? Did you have any pleasant surprises this week?
It’s Friday! Yay! That’s reason to celebrate in my eyes.
IWSG POST 20: Weird Writing Research and Book Launch #IWSG #MysteriesOfDeathAndLife
[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here]
This month’s awesome hosts are Michelle Wallace, Nancy Gideon, Tamara Narayan , Liesbet @ Roaming About and Feather Stone
Thank you so much! And thank you founder Alex J. Cavanaugh!
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Research has always been my foundation for writing. I’ve loved history. As a kid, my mom gave us the best gift, a real set of hardcover Encyclopedias. I loved staring at those glossy pages. At the time, the dog section was my favorite. I pulled the “D” Encyclopedia out every night and dreamed about my own perfect dog. At the time it was a Pomeranian. Now, I’m more of a short-haired dog fan.
This month’s IWSG post asks me to think of the weirdest/coolest thing I’ve ever written for a story. In honor of the new release, Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life, I’ll pick old farm equipment. And here’s what I incorporated into my own story “The Wheat Witch,” set in the middle of Kansas in the year 1989.
After interviewing my father about farm life in Kansas, I came up with this list of equipment my main character Ethan had to clean up and use:
- International 560 Diesel Tractor. 1963. Pull Combine.
photo credit: Pixabay
- Disc Plow (4) and Harrow
- Tiller for weeds
- Planter
- Sprayers
- Old Farm Truck with bed (Ford)
- A broken down shed.
A scene in my story involves the repair of an old tractor. I relied heavily on YouTube to get the visuals going in my mind.
photo: pixabay
Here’s the Youtube video I watched to get the background on troubleshooting a tractor that isn’t starting up right.
The picture to the right is just for fun. It’s Ethan’s man car, his only prized possession, a 69′ Mustang. My dad told me he and his family were only allowed to buy ford vehicles since the ford dealer went to his family’s church. The church was the pillar of the community and tying into the community was pivotal.
Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life
Today is the day! Thank you to everyone who made this book such an incredible success, from the talented authors, the judges, those folks taking part in the blog tour this month, the IWSG, and Dancing Lemur Press, LLC. Friday I’ll post the list of blog tour stops. 🙂
Question? What’s your strangest item you had to research in school, life or writing?
Thank you and have a lovely day 🙂
Celebrate the Small Things 4: Follow Your Bliss
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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- A bike ride with my kids on Monday night. We rode our bikes a different route this time, to my biggest celebration … which I can’t quite reveal yet. Ugh. Next week though. I’ll let you know. ;0)
- I made it through my week at work which was a victory in itself with tight deadlines and I received a big thank you note from my boss which made me feel pretty good.
- While listening to a song list I created for the new manuscript I’m beginning, I was on the Stairmaster and suddenly the end of the book hit me. It was amazing. I almost feel off the Stairmaster as I grabbed my phone and typed in a few quick notes … lol. It was a well worth risk I took and I survived.
- And … Guess what? Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life comes out next week! I received my own digital copy as a gift from Dancing Lemur Press LLC and wow!
How about you? Did you have any pleasant surprises this week?
It’s Friday! Yay! That’s reason to celebrate in my eyes.
I almost forgot to share my favorite new yummy snack, though I can’t 
promise it’s good for you 😉 I think I ate half the bag. LOL
Cloud Nine Girl 