Ps 91 (NKJV)

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence.4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Recovering from Hurt

Life hurts sometimes.

This past week, I experienced a few hurts. Maybe the slights were only perceived on my part, but they grieved me nonetheless.

Maybe I'm too sensitive. 

Maybe I'm too tired.

Maybe I think people who are my friends, really aren't.

I know this post is cryptic. There is a fine line between being transparent enough to write how I feel, and hurting others. Despite what I "feel" at the moment, I never wish to make others hurt as they have hurt me. And, if I have perceived their inaction incorrectly, then the problem is mine.

How do you get over the hurts of this life, perceived or real? What helps you regain focus on the facts instead of the feelings?

The only way to have a friend is to be one.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882)    

How can I be a friend without being pushy or overbearing/obnoxious?

Blessings,
Ginger

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman - Review



Hunky bad-boy hero. Beautiful, desperate heroine. An evil villain. And one plot of land they all want. With these elements Pam Hillman has written us a compelling story. Claiming Mariah brought laughter and tears, compassion and anger, love and hate. This is one I will be keeping to reread.

Back cover:

In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.
With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.
Rating: 5 stars

What is the last book you read that you would read again just for the sheer enjoyment?

Blessings,
Ginger

Monday, January 28, 2013

An honor...


lovelyblogjpg

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! Well I’ve been tagged by Tanya Eavenson to receive the “Lovely Blog Award”!  Thank you to Tanya for thinking of me. You can find her at http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/

Now on to the seven random facts about myself.

1)   I prefer the mountains to the beach. I dream of living away from civilization, surrounded by trees, and only visiting when the need for food arises.

2)   I am a sweet tea addict - hot or cold is irrelevant. But it can't be syrupy sweet -- eewww!

3)   I HATE to cook. Why, yes, I do have a family of 9 who require food every night :)

4)   I could (and would, if given the opportunity) read from morning 'til night, and sometimes into the wee hours of the next morning.

5)   I rarely watch a movie more than once.

6)   I'm slightly claustrophobic. Small spaces don't bother me as much as crowded rooms.

7)    I hate hospitals. With the exception of the time following the birth of my first child, I have refused to spend more than 24 hours in a hospital. Thankfully, I haven't needed to.

Unfortunately, none of the writers I contacted responded to my offering of this award and so it stops here.

Blessings,
Ginger







Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Review: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Joann Durgin


Oh, goodness, another hunky firefighter. Do we ever get enough of them? Well...NO! Especially when said firefighter is a man that puts God first, and lives out the faith he professes by remaining true to a vow he made as a teenager. I just wanted to swoon.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe didn't take me long to read because I just couldn't put it down, and I don't think you'll be able to either.

Yeah, I know it's after Christmas and I should be done with the Christmas books, but I love them all year round. Maybe it's because most people, even in books, tend to love each other more, give of themselves more, and do random acts of kindness. And all of that is included in this story.

Back cover:
Jacob Marston, Starlight, Iowa's hometown hero made a long-ago promise to the Lord: he won't kiss a woman until he knows she's "the one." Now at age twenty-eight, the rugged firefighter questions if it'll ever happen. Then, he meets his best friend's sister, and Jake believes he's found the woman of his dreams. But what will she think when she discovers his vow? 

When Julia makes an unexpected confession on Christmas Day, Jake shares his secret with her, and it looks as though happily-ever-after will make a holiday appearance.

But somehow, everyone in the tiny town of Starlight learns Jake’s secret, and he's instantly transformed from town hero to laughingstock. Did Julia reveal his secret? Can Jake forget the humiliation and find his way under the mistletoe to share a forever kiss with Julia?

Rating: 5 stars

What kind of hero/heroine is your favorite? And what book hooked you into loving him/her?

Blessings,
Ginger


Monday, January 21, 2013

A Few Thoughts on Writing a Series by Jillian Kent


Today, I welcome Jillian Kent to A Bed of Roses...Thorns Included. You can learn more about Jillian and her previous books on her website.

A FEW THOUGHTS ON WRITING A SERIES

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Do the thing and you'll have the power." I've found that to be sound advice while writing the three books for my first published series. I feel like an Olympian with a gold medal. I've finished Book Three of The Ravensmoore Chronicles, Mystery of the Heart, which  released January 8, 2013. It's been an exhilarating, frustrating, hair-pulling, joyful experience. If you’re thinking of joining this club here’s a few things to consider.


1)  Keep track of everything
         You'd think this would be easy, a no-brainer. I lost track of names, eye color, ages, etc. Find a way that works for you. I did utilize Randy Ingermanson's Snow Flake method to some extent but found I couldn't quite be that detailed. I'm still exploring the best way for me to stay organized. I'm now exploring Scrivener and taking a class beginning February 19th with Gwen Hernandez. http://gwenhernandez.com/2012/12/18/enroll-now-for-february-scrivener-classes/

2)  Teaser chapters
          Write the first chapter of your next book in the series ahead of time. I didn't know I was going to have to do this and had to work hard to make it happen when I turned in Book One. I was prepared better when I had to have the teaser chapter ready at the end of Book Two.

3)  Reader Discussion Questions
          I hadn't even thought about this issue until recently. Book clubs might want these in your novels. I'll probably put discussion questions at the end of Book Three and I'll probably go back and put questions on my website for the first two novels.

4)  Know your limits.
          I've learned about the difficulties of writing while working full-time and coping with the unexpected. You will always need more time unless you're really experienced and know your abilities in this business. It's a learning curve as my agent Rachelle Gardner says and she is so right.

5)  Balancing writing, marketing, and social media with your deadline.
          I think this is incredibly hard. You must help market your books and I enjoy doing this, but when you're trying to write your next novel, and do all that is going to help your novel be noticed in an oh so saturated market is, as we regency writers might say, beyond the pale. Just too much.
There is so much more, little nuances that come into play. But if this is what you want with all your heart and soul you will find a way to do it. Do your best and trust God for the rest.

Are you considering a series? Got questions? If you've written a series please share what you've learned along the way. 


ABOUT THE BOOK

Lady Mercy Grayson has secretly been studying medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has dressed as a man to pursue the same passion her big brother Devlin, Lord Ravensmoore, pursued outside the acceptance of society. Her secret has been discovered. Now she’s running away from Scotland and her dreams. Will she be able to accomplish what she feels is God’s calling, or will the parameters of society and those who want to use her secret to accomplish their own selfish ends determine the course of her future?

Vincent Lyons, Lord Eden, is an adventurer coming home to London to deliver the mysterious Holy Lance to the prince regent who wants to see if the legends are true surrounding this relic that is said to possess both the power of healing and destruction. His life is catapulted in another direction when he meets Mercy who is pursuing a different kind of adventure that will cause him to question everything he believes.

Both will be forced to examine their personal motives when members of a voudon tribe, the Regent, and the London Legend Seekers Club search to possess the ancient relic for their own purposes.


Thank you, Jillian. Great hints for any writer looking to write a series.

Jillian has graciously agreed to give away a copy of Mystery of the Heart to a commenter. You can either answer her question above, addressed to writers, or tell us what your favorite series is, and why.

We need eight comments (excluding mine or Jillian's) to have a drawing, so please share this post with your friends and encourage them to comment.

Blessings,
Ginger

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Review: Flight of the Earls by Michael K. Reynolds


I'm not up on my Irish history, even though I'm of Irish descent from a couple different ancestors. The incidents in this book revealed a part of Irish history I'd heard about, but only in passing. The life and trials of Clare Hanley are well-described and each chapter drew me further into her life.

If you enjoy historical fiction, this book certainly lives up to that expectation. I prefer the romantic side of historical fiction, and "Flight of the Earls" does have some romance, but not enough to categorize it in the romance genre. However, it kept me engaged and willing to spend my time reading it.

Back cover:
 It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America.

Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.

Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.

Rating: 4 stars

More about Michael K. Reynolds: http://www.michaelkreynolds.com/
To purchase "Flight of the Earls": Amazon

Blessings,
Ginger

Monday, January 14, 2013

Review: "Wisdom to Know" by Elizabeth Maddrey




I admire Elizabeth Maddrey for daring to write "Wisdom to Know". It approaches several difficult subjects-pre-marital sex, abortion, and drug use-with a Christian world-view.

Overall I would have liked to see some bright spots, from any point of view, as the book has a dark feel to it. But the writing drew me in and kept me returning to find out what would happen. It did have a happily-ever-after, which I LOVE, but it was hard fought for (by the characters), much like real-life.

The essential message that I read in this book is two-fold: God always loves us, no matter what, and every woman deserves the love of a GOOD man and shouldn't settle for less.

More about "Wisdom to Know"
Is there sin that love can't cover?
Lydia Brown has taken just about every wrong turn she could find. When an abortion leaves her overwhelmed by guilt, she turns to drugs to escape her pain. After a single car accident lands her in the hospital facing DUI charges, Lydia is forced to reevaluate her choices.
Kevin McGregor has been biding his time since high school when he heard God tell him that Lydia Brown was the woman he would marry. In the aftermath of Lydia's accident, Kevin must come to grips with the truth about her secret life.
While Kevin works to convince himself and God that loving Lydia is a mistake, Lydia struggles to accept the feelings she has for Kevin, though she fears her sin may be too much for anyone to forgive.

My rating: 4 stars

To learn more about Elizabeth Maddrey: http://www.elizabethmaddrey.com/
To purchase "Wisdom to Know": Amazon

If you've read this book, or one similar, how can we better reach the women in our community that have experienced this type of tragedy and self-condemnation? Do books like these open doors to conversation?

Blessings,
Ginger

Friday, January 11, 2013

The Color of Green by Tanya Eavenson


Today A Bed of Roses...Thorns Included welcomes Tanya Eavenson, debut author and someone I'm proud to call my friend. Please help me make her feel welcome.



Tanya Eavenson and her husband have been in the ministry for fifteen years teaching youth, adults, and counseling. Tanya enjoys spending time with her husband, and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee and reading a good book. Tanya is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and writes for Christ to the World Ministries sharing the Gospel around the world.

You can find her on Twitter at @Tan_eave and contact her at her website www.tanyaeavenson.com
Want to learn more about writing? Stop by her blog http://guidedgirls.blogspot.com



Newbie Green
By Tanya Eavenson

When you think of the color green, many things may pop into your mind. But today, we’re going to talk about a shade of green that is hard to pinpoint, but everyone has worn at some point in their life. Newbie green.

This term is where I found myself three years ago when God called me to write. I remember saying with ready fingers pressed on the keyboard, “Are you sure, God? I never wanted to write. Never cared to write.” But there I was, typing away at the keys with a burden to share a story I had no idea where it was heading.

As time passed, I believed I was closer to reaching my personal goals, but every time I thought I learned something, I discovered there was more to understand. Learning comes in layers, peeling away what was there to find something exciting, sometimes difficult, yet new.
I began entering contests, guest blogging, attending conferences, starting blogs, and writing for a mission organization. I laugh because the more I learn, the more I realize I will always be a shade of green, even now as my debut novel Unconditional has released. Have I stayed the same shade? No, I’ve darkened a bit. However, I’m still typing away, telling others what God has placed on my heart, unsure where I’m heading.

I’ve also recognized the story I’m writing isn’t the story I set out to write. It has to do with this journey I’m on as an author. How I share Christ with others. How I love people. Or how, relying on God to direct my path takes faith. I don’t know where He will lead me, but I do know I need to trust Him. That’s the real story.
So, what shade of green are you? Newbie green, just starting off, or hunter green, enriched with more strokes from the Creator’s hand. If we are following after Christ, He will continually cause us to learn and grow, molding us to His image. And the blessings from a deeper walk with Him, is our pouring out of His love through our words onto the page for all to see.

About Unconditional:

He will fight for her at any cost...

Elizabeth Roberts can't remember her past, and the present is too painful. She turns to nightclubs and drinking to forget her infant daughter's death, her husband's affair.

When his wife's coma wiped out the memory of their marriage, Chris Roberts found comfort elsewhere. He can't erase his betrayal, but with God's help he’s determined to fight for Elizabeth at any cost.

She wants to forget. He wants to save his marriage. Can they trust God with their future and find a love that’s unconditional?

What others are saying:

"Unconditional is a powerfully-gripping story of deep heartache laced with fears, yet even through the sorrow, Tanya Eavenson reminds us that nothing can separate us from God's love."
 ~ Alice J. Wisler, author of "Still Life in Shadows" and other novels

"Not your typical amnesia story, Unconditional tells a tale of loss, betrayal, and forgiveness. Eavenson drags her characters through the fire, then reveals God’s power through their broken lives. The writing is stellar; the emotion, raw and palpable; the cast, impeccably crafted. This author is one to be watched!"~ April W Gardner, award-winning author

"Unconditional explores the struggles that married couples sometimes experience, and the decisions they must make after going through difficult circumstances. A powerful story of hope and healing."
~ Laura V. Hilton, Healing Love (Whitaker House) 

Where you can find it:

Amazon
Astraea Press

And now back to Tanya's question...what shade of green are you? Newbie green? Hunter green? Or somewhere in between?


Monday, January 7, 2013

Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot - Review




Would spring ever come? Haven't you felt that way a time or two? I certainly have and I live in a southern state where winter is rarely harsh enough to keep me tucked away inside for days at a time. (I sometimes long for this. Except, in my dreams, I'm alone.)

Spring is a time of promise. The promise of all things new. In "Waiting for Spring", Amanda Cabot solidifies this fact. It's not a promise of growth in plants, which we expect from the season, but in people. New prospects. New life. New love.

But before we get to spring, we have to go through the drought that is called winter. Both Charlotte and Barrett experience this as life bombards them and makes spring look forever away.

"Waiting for Spring" was a pleasant read. I hate sometimes that I'm not flowery with words. I want to write a great review and when I sit down to type it out, the words escape me.

I can say, without reservation, that Amanda Cabot is definitely one of my favorite authors. I have read a number of her works, and have yet to find one that I have not enjoyed.

***I received this book from the publisher/author for purposes of review. The above is my honest opinion.***


Back cover:
A new identity may protect her family--but can it protect her heart?
After the loss of her husband and the birth of her baby, Charlotte has had a long, hard year. But she can find no rest from the ghosts of the past and flees to Cheyenne to put the pieces of her life back together.
Wealthy cattle baron and political hopeful Barrett Landry must make a sensible match if he is to be elected senator of the soon-to-be state of Wyoming. He needs someone with connections. Someone without a past. Yet he can't shake the feeling that Charlotte holds the key to his heart and his future.
Will Charlotte and Barrett find the courage to look love in the face? Or will their fears blot out any chance for happiness?
Review: 5 stars

Amazon link to purchase "Waiting for Spring" and help support this blog.

Blessings,
Ginger

Friday, January 4, 2013

The Art of Cover Art by Amanda Cabot



I would like to welcome Amanda Cabot back to A Bed of Roses...Thorns Included. She's written a great article for us about cover art.


From the time that she was seven, Amanda Cabot dreamed of becoming a published author, but it was only when she set herself the goal of selling a book by her thirtieth birthday that the dream came true. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She’s delighted to now be a fulltime writer of Christian historical romances. Her Texas Dreams trilogy received critical acclaim, and Waiting for Spring, the second in her Westward Winds series, was just released.



The Art of Cover Art


We’ve all heard the adage that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but reality is, we do. A good cover will make us at least pick up the book, and if the back cover copy and first couple pages are as intriguing as the cover itself, we may buy it. So, how are those covers created? I asked Cheryl Van Andel, Revell’s Art Director, that question. I already knew that it was a collaborative process, but her answers revealed just how much effort goes into a cover design at Revell. (Please note that other publishers may have very different processes.)

It starts with the author. Sounds intuitive, doesn’t it, but some publishers do not involve authors in the cover design process. Revell does. Each author is asked to complete a questionnaire, describing not just the main characters’ physical attributes but also their personalities. This helps in selecting models and gives the photographer guidance for the model’s expression. If you look at Waiting for Spring, you’ll see that Charlotte appears pensive, perhaps a bit weighed down by life. That’s exactly her state of mind at the beginning of the book.

The type of clothing the characters would wear and landmarks or other background suggestions are also part of the questionnaire. Since the Westward Winds books take place in real locations, I sent photos of those places instead of simply describing them. I was shocked but also thrilled when Revell used one of my photos for the background of Summer of Promise, so I sent another for Waiting for Spring. Cheryl used that one, too!

No work on the cover begins until the book has been titled. If you thought that authors chose their titles, you’d be only partially correct. Although each author is asked to suggest possible titles and the reasons for choosing them, the final decision is made by a committee which includes Sales and Marketing as well as Editorial.

Once titling is complete, Marketing and Editorial discuss cover direction based on the information they’ve acquired from the author and/or from reading the manuscript. This determines the market and what “look” sells best to those book buyers. Final title and cover direction is then given to the art director to be assigned to a cover designer who specializes in that particular line of fiction; e.g., contemporary, Amish, historical, Western. If the designer does not do his or her own photography, the art director hires a photographer for the shoot.

Based on the author’s info, model and clothing options are gathered and emailed to the art director, who finalizes the selection with the marketing director and acquisitions editor. Many times, clothing options are sent to the author to verify that the style is correct for a certain time period. I can’t speak for other authors, but I’ve enjoyed being part of this process. I was able to select the dresses for each of the Texas Dreams books, which was fun, but the real thrill was choosing the gown for Waiting for Spring. The designer could not find an appropriate gown, so he had one custom made. Cheryl sent me a number of possible designs and allowed me to pick not just the design but the color. That was definitely a highlight of 2012 for me!

Once the gown and model have been chosen, the photographer often shoots several hundred photos, which the art, marketing and editorial directors narrow down to two or three for the designer to use for creating initial cover options. The designer then provides three or more options which follow the initial cover direction; e.g., size of model, color scheme, background. He or she selects the fonts, design elements like the fancy ribbon on the Texas Dreams books and the position of type and images, unless otherwise specified by the art director.

For Revell fiction, the art, marketing and editorial directors tweak one or two designs until they believe the covers are ready to be shown to others. These covers are emailed to the rest of the Revell team, meaning all Revell editors and the marketing staff, and narrowed down to one design. This design is sent to all of Baker’s sales reps for feedback. If the majority of reps are okay with the design, the cover is sent to the author and agent for feedback.

And even then the process is not complete. Sometimes the feedback doesn’t help. When I saw the first design for Summer of Promise, it had a pale blue sky. I pointed out that a Wyoming summer sky is a deep blue, so Cheryl had the designer change the cover. Wrong move. The sky was authentic, but the vivid blue drew attention away from the model and the title. Fortunately, Cheryl knew exactly what was wrong. The final version, with its sunset sky, is simply gorgeous – the result of weeks and weeks of work by Cheryl and the rest of the team.


As you can see, designing cover art truly is an art.



Thank you, Amanda, for visiting A Bed of Roses...Thorns Included. I found your post to be enlightening. 

Did you all know there was such an "art" to the beautiful covers we see?

Monday, January 7th I will be posting my review of Waiting for Spring. You can see my review of Summer of Promise here .

Blessings,
Ginger

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Stop and Smell the Roses by Pam Hillman


Please help me welcome Pam Hillman to A Bed of Roses....


Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel. www.pamhillman.com



Stop and Smell the Roses

By Pam Hillman



When I first visited Ginger’s blog, I looked at that beautiful red rose that covered 90% of my computer screen, and I sighed with pleasure. Just the sight of it brought me joy and I literally felt my blood pressure drop a couple of notches.

Didn’t you?????

We’ve just come off the merry-go-round of the Christmas season that is the busiest time of year for most of us. Yes, I love Christmas, love spending time with family, love celebrating our dear Savior’s birth, but we can only take so much excitement, so much running from pillar to post, from here to there, home to church, family event to business dinners before….we really get the urge to <i>stop</i> and smell the roses.

And I couldn’t think of a better place than Ginger’s blog to do that!

Take a deep breath.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Relax.

Close your eyes, and…

….smell the roses….

Ahhhh….

Don’t you feel better now?

I’m immersed in the world of writers, authors, drama queens and artsy types, and seems like we are always on the go, burning the candle at both ends. Even when I decided on a topic for this blog, my fingers started flying, thoughts began to jockey for position in my brain, my eyes darted back and forth across the page, while I made notes about the graphics I wanted to display… Sheesh! I can’t even put together a blog post without feeling like I’m on a roller-coaster.

So, for today, for Ginger’s gorgeous rose-themed blog, I’m making a deliberate effort to s.l.o.w. d.o.w.n.

I will take time to smell the roses, enjoy life, enjoy my family, enjoy reading, and writing.

I’ll start by…

…organizing my time better.

…taking a walk.

…relaxing and reading a good book.

…spending time with my husband.

…talking to my kids more.

…going out to lunch with my mother.

And I’ll end by …

…making this post SHORT so you can go and do likewise!

Enjoy your day and stop and smell the roses.

~

Today, January 2nd marks the official launch of Pam’s Blog Tour Blowout to celebrate the release of her new book from Tyndale House, Claiming Mariah. We’re officially blowing the doors off the Prize Vault today!

About Claiming Mariah:

In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Fredrick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.



NEXT STOP ON TOUR – A Two-For-One


Claiming Mariah is available at the following retailers:

            B&N link
            CBD link

And to read the 1st Chapter: http://tinyurl.com/ageh54r

Thank you, Pam, for the wonderful reminder to stop regularly and enjoy God's creation, which includes our families. :)

Blessings,
Ginger

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Vision


Happy New Year!


From Dictionary.com

vi·sion

noun
1.
the act or power of sensing with the eyes; sight.
2.
the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come tobe: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.
3.
an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appearsvividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present,often under the influence of a divine or other agency: a heavenlymessenger appearing in a vision.  Compare hallucination  def 1 ).
4.
something seen or otherwise perceived during such anexperience: The vision revealed its message.
5.
a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation: visions of wealthand glory.

What do you see for your future? The news, I think, has given us all a pessimistic outlook on life. The doom...the gloom...the worst of our world in 30 minutes (minus commercials).

Today is the day for making resolutions or goals for the next 12 months. Preparing a vision statement for your life. I don't really make resolutions because I know I'm not likely to follow through. But this year I have made two goals: lose weight (which will require I get off my backside and exercise), and take the plunge by sending out my writing to agents. 

That last one is a scary prospect. How many agents are going to send me a rejection before I find one who can believe in my writing. Or will I find one? 

What about you? What is your Vision for the next 12 months? Did you make resolutions or make a list of goals?

Blessings,
Ginger