I'm A Guest...

Over at author Amber Miller's blog. A Fiction-Filled Life. So check it out. Amber interviews an author every week, and readers have a chance to win a book! Enjoy.

Mercy!

I've been thinking of mercy because of the blatant lack of it in the world. We are quick to pity and have compassion for those who deserve it, but what about those people who don't, or the ones who inconvenience us?

Think about the waitress who messes up your order. Y'all, she's probably not intentionally trying to ruin your day. Did you think for one moment that maybe her feet are killing her, or maybe her babysitter quit. Maybe she wishes she went to college, or maybe she's trying to finish college, and this is just a job until she finishes? Maybe she thinks you look self-righteous in your Sunday best. Christians are characteristically among the worst tippers to servers. We ought to honor servants. But while we trip over ourselves and make sure that we have a copy of our Sunday bulletin to get our 15% discount at the restaurant, we also leave our salvation in the car. We leave that grace and mercy so freely given to us, and snub our server and express our impatience with someone's who's just doing her job. Maybe our waitress did a lousy job. But does that excuse our lack of grace? Mercy says, "I know you're having a tough day. Here's a good tip. Be blessed."

Love is all about inconvenience. It is so, so easy to inconvenience ourselves for those we have warm fuzzies toward. What about someone who passes through your life and after an hour or so, you won't see them again? Are we showing Jesus, even for an hour? Maybe if enough Christians tipped better and acted more merciful when the service is less than stellar, someone's life could be changed. Big changes happen in small steps.

Mall of America, here we come!

One of the things that surprises me the most when talking to some readers, especially Christian readers, is how little they know about Christian fiction. I've heard things like:

"I'm not into that Left Behind stuff."
"I don't read syrupy sweet unrealistic blather."

Or worse, some readers don't know that Christian fiction even exists:

"I just wish there was some good, clean suspense fiction. I love ****, but I hate that on every page I have to mentally bleep out words."

(Disclaimer to above: I'm not saying there's no clean secular suspense fiction out there, but I've heard voracious readers lament its scarcity.)

And on and on it goes. Well, readers, GET READY! From September 18-21, the BEST organization in Christian publishing, American Christian Fiction Writers will gather in Minneapolis for their annual conference.

On Saturday, September 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. over 1oo--that's ONE HUNDRED--authors will be doing a book signing at the Mall of America (126, to be exact). I'd like to say it's the largest book signing in America at the largest mall in America, but I'm probably wrong about that. Here's a list of the authors participating:

Tamera Alexander
Jennifer AlLee
A.K. Arenz
Diane Ashley
Karen Ball
Janet Lee Barton
James Scott Bell
Joseph Bentz
Terri Blackstock
Robin Caroll
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Jeanie Smith Cash
Eleanor Clark
Debra Clopton
Gloria Clover
Brandilyn Collins
Mary Connealy
Lyn Cote
Kathryn Cushman
Margaret Daley
KM Daughters
Susan Page Davis
Mary Davis
Janet Dean
Megan DiMaria
Brandt Dodson
Lena Nelson Dooley
Cecelia Dowdy
Sharon Dunn
Wanda Dyson
Lynette Eason
Meredith Efken
Leanna Ellis
Sharon Ewell Foster
Miralee Ferrell
Tina Ann Forkner
Darlene Franklin
Jonathan Friesen
Rhonda Gibson
Terri Gillespie
Debby Giusti
Beth Goddard
Cathy Gohlke
Rene Gutteridge
Cathy Marie Hake
Rachel Hauck
Roxanne Henke
Cynthia Hickey
Patti Hill
Sharon Hinck
Joan Hochstetler
Steven Hunt
Angela Hunt
Denise Hunter
Annette Irby
Jennifer Johnson
Jenny B. Jones
Golden Keyes Parsons
Deb Kinnard
Julie Klassen
Kathleen Kovach
Harry Kraus
Patti Lacy
Maureen Lang
Jeanne Marie Leach
Tosca Lee
Julie Lessman
Michelle Levigne
Sherri L. Lewis
Elizabeth Ludwig
Christine Lynxwiler
Richard L. Mabry
Sharlene MacLaren
Gail Martin
Debby Mayne
Vickie McDonough
Andrew McGuire
Susan Meissner
Becky Melby
Dana Mentink
Amber Miller
Judith Miller
Sara Mills
Siri Mitchell
Nancy Moser
Janelle Mowery
Elizabeth Musser
Mark Mynheir
Jill Nelson
Mae Nunn
John Olson
Donita K. Paul
Trish Perry
Marta Perry
Allie Pleiter
Cara Putman
Deborah Raney
Sandra Robbins
Paul Robertson
John Robinson
Martha Rogers
Cynthia Ruchti
Gail Sattler
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Shelley Shephard Gray
Virginia Smith
Lynette Sowell
Candice Speare
Kathryn Springer
Denice Stewart
Sarah Anne Sumpolec
Michelle Sutton
Camy Tang
Donn Taylor
Janice Thompson
Cindy Thomson
Missy Tippens
Carrie Turansky
ML Tyndall
Amy Wallace
Susan May Warren
Linda Wichman
Beth Wiseman
Cheryl Wyatt
Kathleen Y'Barbo

Whew! So what do these people write? Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Women's Fiction, Chick Lit, Humor, Historical, Historical Romance, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult, Thriller. And I've probably left something out.

Join us! Bring your Christmas list! Bring your skeptics! I guarantee you there's something for everyone.

Wanna Win A PILE of Mysteries???

Check out the blog of my fellow mystery authors Cynthia Hickey and Nancy Mehl, Mainly Mystery Reviews. They have a neat book giveaway of 24--yep, count 'em, 24--of Heartsong Presents: Mysteries. You can find the contest info here. Oooh, I just looked at the questions. I hope everyone can locate the answer to #4, 'cause I'm not telling! :)

Having a lazy Labor Day today! Praising God that I grew up in the land of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." For me, that's never been shrinking back from work:
delivering newspapers,
radio station work (good afternoon, WOLC),
fast food (you want fries with that?),
bussing tables,
working in a jewelry store (fell in love with sparkly things),
working at a college (no, Dr. *** hasn't submitted his grades yet),
teaching second graders,
teaching GI's,
tutoring college students,
delivering phone books,
optician (yes, ma'am, those frames make you look glamorous),
hospital release of information officer,
making and decorating cakes (Duff, are you hiring?),
medical transcription (any MTs out there will love The Perils of Peaches),
Oh, and of course, writing!

Ladies, Don't Get Lazy!

Shame on me, shame on you, shame on us if we don't vote and we don't care.

I recently came across an article, a little-known tidbit of American 20th Century history. The "Night of Terror" occurred on November 17, 1917, just one of the consequences for women in the suffrage movement wanting all women to be heard.

(AP Photo/Stephen Savoia)

If we sit home and make excuses, Lucy Burns and Alice Paul would wonder if their suffering and torture here in the United States had been worth it. They and other women were those Iron Jawed Angels who refused to give up.

Should we go back 100 years, when women were not given a voice, and not allowed to share an opinion: "Stay at home ladies. Mend clothing, cook meals, play the piano forte, raise children, but don't ever think about wanting to express your rights as full American citizens."

The women's suffrage movement was not against stay-at-home moms, so don't all the SAHM's be upset with me for thinking I don't believe domestic duties are beneath us. What I'm saying is that women, no matter what their career, have equal rights as citizens. We are capable of thinking and reasoning and, yes, even leading. And we can still mend clothing, cook meals, etc.

This election is historic in many ways. We have the rich and powerful running for office, as well as those from "regular" backgrounds. Laugh at McCain's foible about all his real estate, but I can guarantee you Sarah Palin knows about where she lives. Some might criticize the rich for being out of touch, but when a regular person stands at the brink of something big, those same critics demean the regular person's humble roots. Does being rich equal qualified yet clueless? Hmmm... Does being middle-class equal unqualified and clueless? Does that mean the middle-class are incapable of making decisions or leading?

What I liked about Sarah Palin were her words dealing with being a servant. Leaders are put in place by the intent of the people, to serve us. Ladies, those people are in office because we put them there. I like what she said about rooting out corruption at the highest levels in government. The bigger the organization, the more capacity it has for corruption to go unnoticed because of all the "busy" work. I think that happens no matter who is President, and whichever party holds the highest office.

I also liked her gracious words about the women who paved the way for her: Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton. Like them or not, it takes tough women who won't go away that make the idea of citizens' equality stick in our minds. We're reminded of possibilities, not obstacles.

This is a plug for us women to get off our duffs and start caring. Because if we don't care about what Lucy and Alice and other women like them strived to get us, will we care if rights ever get taken away? Our Constitution gives us rights, and it's up to us to be informed.

And by informed, I don't mean by reading and believing every anti-Obama or anti-McCain e-mail as gospel. (That's for another post one day.)

Ladies, let's must exercise our right to vote intelligently and prayerfully.

Last First Day

Last First Day

There he goes

walking out the door

time flew by

can't I have some more?

Senior year

how can it be true

yesterday

his life was brand new

A young man

where once was a child

tearfilled eyes

raw emotions not mild

Bittersweet

very last first day

all year long

last things celebrate

Thanking God

joy watching him grow

mother's heart

holds while letting go

~Chandra Lynn Smith, 8/27/08

You can check out more of her poetry at: ChandrasPlace

Like Chandra's son, my son had his last first day of school on Monday. I'm so proud of who he is and who he's becoming. Like all families, we definitely know each other's faults and areas we need to improve. But he's doing great.

This is why no post from me so far this week. Getting back into the school schedule, then my DSL was down nearly all day Monday. My company sent me a new work PC, and I had to get that back on line, plus work on making up my lost time from Monday. Life sort of snowballs!!

I could use a snowball or two--can you believe Labor Day weekend is coming? It's still in the 90s here in Texas. Whew.

A Safety Net

Life is delicate. No matter how we think we can see what's coming around the corner, life can change faster than we blink.



This summer has been an up-and-down journey for me. God has a way of exposing fears in our lives. At least He does in mine!


Our overactive imaginations can paint horrible scenarios. Maybe it's the writer in me or the flair for the dramatic, but it happens. Sometimes my imagination races along. (Oh, if only I could find that brain setting to use when writer's block kicks in.)


I realized as my imagination kept up its journey, I was still trying to remain in control. Because, really, we want a backup plan, don't we? We'd like to have some assurance that although our world gets shaken to its foundation, there'll be that happy ending.


When all is well, do we find ourselves praying to God, "Don't let X happen to me." I found myself making a bargain. "Well, if X happens, then I would like Y to follow." I wanted a backup plan, a safety net. But what if Y doesn't follow?


Like my crazy imagination, our very real lives can be shaken and altered forever. So what then? If like Job, that which we fear most comes upon us? Where is our faith? I find it is easy to trust God when life runs smoothly with only occasional hiccups and bumps in the road.


We do have a safety net, and we don't hold onto it while we fall. I know I don't hold mine. You don't see the highwire walker making sure their net is secure while they're performing their routine. It's impossible. And the victim in the burning building must trust that when she leaps from the window, the firefighters will catch her.


We have one guarantee to start with: We are not alone.


The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8


Jesus said: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33


Now, I just need to keep reminding myself that and start using my overactive imagination for my books.

I'm A Guest

Today I'm posting over at my writing buddy Kaye Dacus' web site. For those of us who've gone to writers' conferences, I'm talking about dealing with conference nerves. Gulp. Check it out here.

And here's a sneak peek at my next book, The Wiles of Watermelon, releasing this fall through the Heartsong Presents: MYSTERIES! book club. I love it. The artist captured my dark and stormy night perfectly. Andromeda Hartley is a newlywed and now she has two murders to deal with. Her hubby, the longsuffering Ben, is rarin' to go about starting a family. Andi can barely find time to keep a kitten fed. And there's so much that can go wrong when raising children, no matter how hard you try to keep 'em on the straight and narrow. Look what happened to her beloved Aunt Jewel. Enough said about that right now.

All That Glitters...Coming in 2009

News flash! I've received a contract for my first historical novel. All That Glitters is set during the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island, and will be published by Heartsong Presents, the romance line of Barbour Publishing.

While I'm trying to get another proposal out the door--the first of a contemporary series--I'm also looking forward to making the story of Francesa Wallingford and Alfred Finley come to life.

The Gilded Age came about during America's era of industry. Long before the era of Donald Trump, giants named Vanderbilt and Astor became the new elite. In this age of opportunity, these families spent money and lived large like no one else had thus far in our country.

No matter what their station in life, young women had little choices then, and such a golden environment often transformed itself into a gilded cage.

Then for me came the magnificent what if that we writers love stumbling over: What if a young woman raised in her family's burgeoning wealth, grows tired and bored with the confining opulence? And what if a young woman's childhood friend returns, and he's the very man her mother doesn't want her to marry?

I don't have a release date for this book yet, but I expect it to be available to book club members in late 2009, and in the general market in 2010. Eventually All That Glitters will be offered in a compilation book set titled Rhode Island Brides along with two other novels written by Darlene Franklin and Tamela Hancock Murray.

Longing for Maine...

I've lost count of how many consecutive days that it's hit 100 degrees or higher here in our area of Texas. Tuesday I spent some time in the pool at twilight, exercising in the tepid water and trying to vacuum it, too. Our local news station says that the utility commission is asking Texas residents to turn their air conditioning setting up to 80 degrees tomorrow between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., which is the hottest part of the day here.

And so my thoughts drift back to November, when we were in New England for my sister's wedding. After the wedding, my other sister took us on a day trip to Maine's southern coast. We visited the Nubble Light House, and froze. We walked the entire Marginal Way and froze. My cheeks were numb, my leather coat felt like paper. The wind chilled my ears. Oh, how glorious! Can't you see from the pictures how cold we were?

NOTE: Since I wrote this post, we received the leftovers from tropical storm Edouard. Which was only a little bit of rain, and it only got up to 91 today. But we had 11 straight days over 100 degrees! Whew.

Writer Fun!

Being a writer sounds like it can be glamorous. Book signings, photos, seeing your name in print, and maybe in lights. Those are the scant few moments produced by hours, and hours, and hours of writing, deleting, crying, praying, writing, deleting, writing, deleting, doubting, praying, writing...you get the idea.

We drove to Houston in my hubby's truck and the air conditioning quit working. Niiice for a 3-1/2 hour drive. And it's been over 100 degrees for I don't know how many days around here. Anyway, what little makeup I'd put on had melted. I kept sticking one of my arms out the open window so the air rushing by could cool my, um, underarms.

"Honey, I sure hope my deodorant doesn't give out," I told CJ on the way there. I'd tried to style my hair before we left town and ended up yanking everything up into a clip. We arrived in The Woodlands at my author friend Kathleen Y'Barbo's house, dumped off our suitcases, and primped (at least I did) before we headed to Rico's for an early supper. We had over a dozen writers and authors around the tables. Why is it we writers love to talk and eat so much?

So at dinner I met the lovely and sweet Dannelle Woody, a jewelry artist and author as well. The restaurant was noisy (we authors can be loud), and I kept thinking her name was JA-nelle all night...until I signed one of my books for her at the end of the book signing. (Sorry, Dannelle!!!) At least I figured that out before I signed the book!

During the book signing, I was seated between the sweet 'n sassy Martha Rogers, and author Cathy Messecar--I knew Cathy's name sounded familiar to me, and then I saw the assortment of her books. I realized I subscribe to her e-mail newsletter! So that was fun, putting another face and in-person personality with a name.

I also met new author Rene Morris. Her books aren't out yet, but I know she's excited to see them in print soon. She attended the book signing with one of my co-workers that I've only corresponded with by e-mail. Lots of fun to meet new friends and writers.

Book signings typically don't earn writers a lot of money. But it's fun, and important, to see the people who matter most as an author--our readers. I need to get over my shyness though. For some reason I sometimes feel as though I'm at a yard sale and people are trying to buy my "stuff!"

Don't Forget to Say I Love You...

I love pizza.

I love Saturday morning breakfast.

I love the full moon.

I love swimming at twilight.

I love my kitten.

I love my husband.

I love hearing the still small Voice.

One word and so many different meanings. Love is a word that can be cheapened and tossed around glibly. I don't love pizza like I love my husband.

So when I say, "I love you," what does that mean? Love you like pizza?

Sometimes our words don't mean much. I'm not posting to criticize our words. But it's easy to clap a friend on the back and say, "Love ya," and go on our way.

Check out 1 John 3:18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

(Irony: My next book proposal is based on verses 19 and 20, but that's for another post.)

We can say I love you by what we do. The people in our lives, I've discovered, pass through so quickly sometimes. The younger we are, we think that our current situation will last forever. But then you wake up one day, and months or even years have passed. And so people move along as well. Either they leave this life, or leave our lives and move away, or people get too busy and grow apart.

I think back to the times I've told a friend I loved them, or assumed they "just knew." Lately I've realized how it's more important to do simple acts of love, those unexpected little things that will show someone that I love them. Not just telling them "love ya," or figuring they already understood that.

What would mean something special to someone you love? A card or letter? An afternoon together? A cup of coffee, made just the way they like it? A verse you read, that you know they'd appreciate? A listening ear?

Deliberate demonstrations of love might make someone uncomfortable, though. When we acknowledge how truly important someone is to us, they may be embarrassed. But maybe it's exactly what they needed.

My new promise to myself: no more regrets, no more holding back, no more thinking, "Oh, they already know I love them."

Don't forget to say I love you...Love out loud.

In The Houston Area?

This is where I'll be Friday night! It's going to be great fun, and will benefit a great cause!

Authors in attendance include

Don M. Aycock

Linda & Steve Bauer

Allison Bottke

Terry Burns

Lena Nelson Dooley

Leanna Ellis

Dorothy Featherling

Marcia Gruver

Anita Higman

Charlotte Holt

Nancy Jo Jenkins

Eileen Key

Linda Kozar

Jeff LeJeune

Elizabeth Ludwig

Cathy Messecar

DiAnn Mills

Randi Morrow

Janelle Mowery

Kim O'Brien

Susan Titus Osborne

Allison Pittman

Karen Porter

Deb Raney

Jerry Rassamni

Deborah Rather

Martha Rogers

Carla Rossi

Lynette Sowell

Donn Taylor

Janice Thompson

Sharen Watson

Carol Weishampel

Brenda White

Nancy Williams

Kathleen Y'Barbo

Julie Johnston Zick

Money-saving Monday! Buying in Bulk?

I think we're going to take the plunge and get a Sam's membership. This past Thursday I was my friend Lisa's guest at our local Sam's Club that's about 30 miles away from us. Since I'm pretty familiar with the prices of items we usually buy, I was able to compare prices at Sam's. Overall, I think it's a toss-up. Some items--especially the brand-name multi-packs of products we usually buy--were more expensive. But then some of their frozen foods were a better deal than our local Wal-Mart, where we do the bulk of our grocery shopping. My one triumphant purchase on Thursday was a big honkin' glass jar of sea salt with its own grinder attached. It's a monster jar, and only cost $3.88. Much smaller containers at a regular store cost that much.

The important think to consider when buying bulk is realizing how much space you have to store items. Plus, will you use the products before they go bad (in the case of food)? Will it benefit you in the long run to NOT have to purchase these particular items as often?

Since we have our own business, CJ can buy us a Business membership for $35. Since it's a membership, Sam's also offers other benefits such as eye wear and travel discounts. We'll see if this membership benefits us or not. And I know CJ will enjoy ogling the HDTVs!

Eternity in our hearts...

The writing world said good-bye to a shining light this week. Author Kristy Dykes went home ahead of us left here. While we're glad she's not suffering anymore, we grieve for those she left behind. That "blessed hope" we share must help carry us in the midst of pain. If you click on the link above, you'll read her husband Milton's account of her homegoing as he held her hand right until she stepped through Heaven's door. Have the tissues handy, pray for Milton and his family, and then go hug your loved ones and cherish all those ordinary moments that pass too quickly.

In the last ten months, loss and grief have circled around my family and friends, like two hungry sharks in the ocean. In September I watched a lively, vibrant friend leave this life after suffering a similar illness to Kristy. In October, I held my brother-in-law's hand as he stood next to Heaven's door and I had a glimpse inside before he left us two nights later. This spring I IM'ed and wept with another dear friend and author who lost her daughter. In June I heard the phone ring and then listened to someone tell me about a friend's untimely needless death, and just this month, I've cried on the phone with another good friend who's suddenly found himself alone in the world. And sometimes I feel unable to handle the smothering grief. I find myself running to the "Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief," asking Him to help us all, because I can't carry the pain of those I love.

Because how do we NOT sorrow like those who have no hope? Sorrow is pain. It forces us to rearrange our lives, knowing that the one we love has been shuffled to memory. In our human-ness and frailty, we want the ones we love to stay close, to never leave, to never part from us.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and to get and do good as long as they live; And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it. And God does it so that men will [reverently] fear Him [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is].

Eternity is planted in our hearts. Lots of us don't know that or think about it very much, but it's true. We have an innate longing for home. We have so much "busy work" on this planet, but when we find loss and grief circling us, it turns our hearts toward eternity. Eternity is what fills us with hope while we grieve and healing takes place.

So, Kristy, Carla, Jolene, Eddie, and Joanne, we'll see you--soon. Like Aslan says: "I call all times soon."

Money-Saving Tuesday (and more randomness)

Yes, I missed Monday. This week AND last week.

I met my deadline--a day early--and then we headed to the Texas Gulf Coast where we TRIED to save money by not spending too much. Found a great Thai cafe in Port Aransas called Thaiphoon of Texas. I accidentally walked into their back door and into their kitchen, got hollered at in Thai and English, and finally found the right door (hey, the restaurant was in a cottage, what can I say?). But I fell in love with their Corpus Christi roll, eight slices of rolled crawfish, crab meat, avocado rolled in rice and the 'seaweed stuff'. Very reasonable at $7.99 and just enough to make my tastebuds dance. You don't have to spend a lot of money going out to eat in a beach town.

One of the things we do when we go to the coast is spend a little bit more on a room where we can spread out, do our own food, and not have to eat out as much. I guess it's a tradeoff financially, but I'd go stir-crazy stuffed in a hotel room with kids for a week so for me paying more for a studio condo on the beach is worth it. We go here: http://www.casaonthebeach.com/. This year my hubby and I went on our own for the first time and left the kids home because they're working. We didn't spend as much $$ but it was bittersweet without them.

Anyway, I'm on to my next proposal and ironically enough, this one has fruit in the title, as do the next two books in the series. Am I getting stuck, or am I finally discovering a brand? Yet I love the ideas and I'm starting to love these new characters. We'll see how my editor likes these characters, too. And the titles were her suggestion. She's good at coming up with titles and she knows her market.

Hey, anyone following Nashville Star? Kinda interesting what people consider country music and not. Following a music dream sort of parallels following a writer's dream. It's a tough business to break into, but you stick around, show up, keep learning, you might just see things happen. What I like this year about the show is the mentoring aspect. Where would we be without mentors? I've been blessed to have a number of writing mentors in my life. I listen to them with the ears of a sponge (do sponges have ears?).

One final random note: I literally just got off the phone with my 51-year-old uncle, my dad's youngest brother. He called me just before midnight to say...HE'S GETTING MARRIED!!! For the first time. EVER. As my dad put it, I just saw a pig fly by the window. Who'd have thunk it? He and Nicole are eloping in September and then having a reception early next year. That way they can spend the money on entertaining and having a big bash, and enjoy time with all of us.

Time to start saving money for four round-trip plane tickets from Texas to Massachusetts. Woohoo!

Randomness

I'm cruising toward a deadline with a wonderful reward in sight. Four days and three nights at the beach. Yeah!

Often while working on a deadline, other ideas try to grab my attention. For example, I have a character buzzing around in my brain from something that happened recently.

She hadn't seen him in nearly five years, and one of the things that bothered her the most was that she couldn't remember the color of his eyes.

My daughter and I had an interesting chat tonight about why someone wouldn't remember the color of someone's eyes. Yes, this would have to be a friend. A good friend. How many of us have friends and we know the color of their eyes? Why wouldn't we remember the eye color of someone who's supposed to be a good friend, and we used to see them regularly? Maybe it's not important to us. Or, maybe it's something else...

"Maybe they're hiding something." Good point. So what could they be hiding? A bad secret? Or maybe a good secret.

"Maybe they really don't want the other person to see into their eyes. Because maybe they want to be more than a friend."

Ah-ha! So this poor woman, who can't remember the color of "his" eyes will have to wait her turn. Back to my daily word count.

Oh, and whose eyes are those? Try to guess!

Money-saving Monday!

Okay, I would like to say I've found some earth-shattering new way to save money. Not this week. I'm a firm believer in the fact that since groceries take the largest chunk of our budget (besides housing), we need to focus on trimming that budget to save money. A few dollars here and a few there add up faster than we realize. And watch those "free sample" tables. It's usually for a premade food product that is more expensive than it's worth, and they tempt you by giving you a bite. Cruise by enough display tables and you can add $15 to $20 to your food bill in one trip.


I've also been doing some thinking about the economy in general. I don't believe in being a Chicken Little, running around with a sign saying "the end is near" or anything. I think we need to watch the times and makes changes to our lifestyles. Let's face it. We Americans are too dependent on big-box stores delivering whatever we need. Who can forget the stories of immigrants going on their first trip to a large grocery store? I remember hearing stories like that, but now they make me pause.

We take so much for granted, that whatever we want will be at the store waiting for us. At a price we can afford. What if that changes? What if supply decreases and there's still the same demand for a particular product? Add gas prices to that, and prices go up, up, up. We need to start doing more for ourselves and being less dependent on those "big" stores to meet our needs. I'd rather buy from a local farmer's market and put money in the pockets of local farmers than buy into the big-box store lie: You must buy EVERYTHING from us because it's cheaper. Not necessarily.

Once Upon A Time...

in 1998 there was a semi-young woman. . .okay, a woman of 30. . .who had written a book. She knew other Christian writers existed, and even found some author web pages on the Internet. She had so many questions she wanted to ask them about writing. No one where she lived knew much about writing, unless they were a schoolteacher or a newspaper reporter. They couldn't help her. Sure, she had friends who liked to read as much as she did. But no novelists.

Then, she heard about a very tiny on-line e-mail list of writers. At first she wasn't sure about writing to strangers regularly, but figured it was better than no contact with writers at all. Through them, she heard of other writers. One of them was author Lynn Coleman, who hosted on-line chats. This opened up another avenue of learning.

Late in 1999, Lynn told some of the writers during one particular chat about a new group that she and a small group of other authors were forming, called American Christian Romance Writers. It was for those serious about pursuing the craft of fiction writing.

So this age 30ish writer said she would sign up, for sure! By that time, she'd written a second novel after the first one had been rejected (too similar to what was out there, she was told). But it was a positive rejection from one of the ACRW founding authors.

But it wasn't until 2005 that she received her first fiction contract. The rest of the story continues to be written.

Of course, yes, this was me. Until ACRW, now ACFW, my only contact with other writers was strictly on-line. The American Christian Fiction Writers conference has changed and morphed over the years to become THE premier fiction conference annually. For me, an old-timer, I get wistful for the old days. But what opportunities we have now! Amazing. So for that reason, I wouldn't go back to the old days.

NOTHING replaces the face-to-face contact with other writers. I can still remember walking into a Houston restaurant late in 2000 and seeing a table full of writers I'd only know from e-mails. I knew I had friends already. Since then, the only conference I've missed was 2006.

Lately I've been posting Money-Saving Monday tips. But today, I'm talking about investing.

I realize money is tighter for some. Gas costs more, food costs more, and unless you've gotten an awesome raise you've had to do some budget shifting.

I won't tell you to spend money you don't have or to go into debt to attend the conference. That would be irresponsible of me. But I can tell you this: every career requires investment. If you haven't saved money up for the conference yet, maybe it's too late for you to decide to go this year. And that's okay. I'll get to that later (see below). Back to investments.

Going to the ACFW conference showed me that I was serious about making writing a career. It's part-time, but most writers aren't the primary breadwinner in their family. I have a full-time job and consider myself doubly employed.

Going to the ACFW conference showed me I wanted to be a professional. Yes, I've had tearful moments, and times that I wish I could take back, but in spite of myself, I'm showing up with my game face on to learn and grow.

Going to the ACFW conference gives me the face-to-face time I need. I've met lifetime friends who are an IM or an e-mail away. While I do get nervous in certain social situations (I so wish I didn't!), I'd like to think I'm getting better and being less self-conscious.

Going to the ACFW conference gives me a glimpse of Heaven. We wear no denominational labels, and we sing the same song for our Creator in His Presence. You can't beat that!

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MONEY-SAVING MONDAY AND THE 2009 ACFW CONFERENCE

Okay, so what if you know you can't go for 2008, that the money isn't there right now? Let's do our Money-Saving and crunch some numbers. Give or take a hundred bucks, totalling the conference fee, hotel, and transportation can run you about $1100. Since I have no idea how much or where the 2009 conference will be, this is an estimate.

WHERE can you find that $1100 in time for next year? Let's start now. Registration has just opened for the 2008 conference and you can sign up until August. So for 2009, you've got a year to save.

Do you go to McDonald's on the way to work in the morning to pick up breakfast, say twice a week? Put that $6 in a jar every week, and after 52 weeks you'll have $312 dollars.

Do you buy a 12-pack of soda/cola/pop every week? Put that $3 in a jar once a week instead of buying the soda, and you'll have $156 dollars after 52 weeks.

Do you bring the kids for haircuts every two months? Get a set of clippers if you're brave, and learn to trim hair yourself. For two kids at $25 (we're talking Procuts here, the cheapo kid cut) every 2 months, and that adds up to $150.

See, we're already over halfway to that $1100, just by cutting out McDonald's breakfast twice a week, one 12-pack of soda/cola/pop, and picking up a new skill by trimming your kids' hair (2 kids).

Get creative, and look at your lifestyle. What are you buying that you don't need to buy, even if it's $3 or $5 a week? What are you paying someone else to do that you can do yourself?--save that money and pay yourself to go to the conference. Remember, this is an investment. It ain't Wall Street, but you'll definitely see a payoff in time. There are no shortcuts, no matter what anyone tells you.

Lastly, why not clear your house of clutter, have a yard sale, and reward yourself by putting the money in a conference fund? -- and I'll see YOU in 2009!!