Pamela S. Thibodeaux's Blog, page 36
October 19, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Alina K Field & Haunting Miss Fenwick
Good Morning!
Well our Fall weather is quickly turning to Indian Summer here in SW Louisiana. Cooler mornings the last couple of days faded to warmer temps getting up in the 80's. That's OK though....those cooler nights allow us to open windows and let lots of fresh air in!
Today's guest is not brand new to the blog. She shared some did an Eggcerpt Exchange on Thursday Thoughts a couple years ago so please welcome Alina back with her latest book!
Take it away, Alina....
While he’s haunting Miss Fenwick, Miss Fenwick haunts him.
When the new Squire moves into Fenwick Manor, an ex-army officer secretly searching the sprawling medieval wreck devises a plan. First, the manor’s legendary ghost will chase servants away. Then, he’ll convince the new residents to leave.
But the Squire’s spirited daughter soon has him wondering if he might have found a perfect comrade in arms to help battle old enemies and find the proof that will clear his family name.
Excerpt: “I would never hurt you or Sir Newton.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it.
Her answering tremble passed through her arm and into him.
Outside, the lightning and thunder had died, but the rain slapped the window sharply. Like as not it had had turned to sleet.
He slipped the edge of the blanket over her shoulder and pulled her closer. “You’re cold as well.”
She angled her head and studied him. “Is there truly treasure here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is that why you’re here?”
Never confess. Money would be sweet, but it wasn’t what he was looking for.
“You would steal it from us?”
It wasn’t stealing. If he found money, he would merely be taking back from Sir Richard what was owed, what was needed to save his brother’s life.
Digging deep, steeling himself, he gave her the look he’d honed as a young officer, a look he’d used on his most ill-disciplined men, the one he could hold observing a lashing…and for the worst cases, a hanging.
She glared back at him, as fiercely defiant as the worst denizens of the rookeries.
He shook his head and sighed.
“Does anything frighten you?” His hand slipped lower, down her arm and under it, over a slim waist to a generous curve that made his breath—and other parts of him—stir.
“Mr. Greggson’s attempt on my person was alarming. I thank you for saving me.” A shudder went through her. “Would he have attempted more than a kiss, do you think?”
His fingers moved of their own will, softly stroking. “He’s not a man you should be alone with.”
“Yes, I do know that. You and my father have both said so. But what about you, Freddy? Ought I to be alone with you?”
He’d never forced a woman, not ever. Not even after the madness of battle had he succumbed to that primitive drive. He’d done his duty to restore order within his men as well.
He’d understood their mad impulses though.
“I am a gentleman, Tilly.”
She stirred. “Papa…has not been feeling well, I think. I was ever so happy to see him out in the fresh air, but I’ve worried so about him. Mr. Greggson doesn’t know that, but he does know I’m my father’s only child. He seeks to coerce me into marriage because he’s after the estate and its income, and whatever valuables may be found here, which when Papa dies, he believes will be mine.” She let out a minty breath. “But you, Captain Sanderford, you I believe would prefer just money and not my person along with it.”
“Tilly—”
“And so, it would probably be wise for you to unhand me.”
His hand tightened, bunching the cloth of her robe. “Unhand you?”
She tilted her head and gazed at him, almost an equal in height now that they were sitting. Her lips had parted a fraction and locks of hair draped the deep blue of eyes that glistened in the light from the candles.
“Oh, Tilly.” He dipped his head and touched his lips to hers.
Softness. The scents of mint and soap and lilac.
His chest pounded and every nerve in his body roared. She hadn’t pulled away, hadn’t pushed, hadn’t slapped him.
Proceed with caution, he reminded himself. He pressed closer and slanted his lips, coaxing until her mouth opened.
His hand strayed up, under her breast, and he drew her against him.
What, besides parchment, was under the high-necked gowns and the heavy robe?
Award winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but she prefers the much happier world of romance. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a midcentury home with her husband, her spunky, blonde, rescued terrier, and the blue-eyed cat who conned his way in for dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave.
She is the author of several Regency romances, including the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner, Rosalyn’s Ring. She is hard at work on her next series of Regency romances, but loves to hear from readers!
Visit her at:https://alinakfield.com/ https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield https://twitter.com/AlinaKFieldhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_Fieldhttps://www.pinterest.com/alinakf/https://www.instagram.com/alinak.field/https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alina-k-field Haunting Miss Fenwick is PG-13 heat level, releases next week, is on Pre-Order for only 99 cents! and can be purchased at Amazon, Kobo, B&N for Nook and Apple Books.
Wow....nice excerpt Alina! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new release.
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time, take care and God bless!
PamT
Well our Fall weather is quickly turning to Indian Summer here in SW Louisiana. Cooler mornings the last couple of days faded to warmer temps getting up in the 80's. That's OK though....those cooler nights allow us to open windows and let lots of fresh air in!
Today's guest is not brand new to the blog. She shared some did an Eggcerpt Exchange on Thursday Thoughts a couple years ago so please welcome Alina back with her latest book!
Take it away, Alina....
While he’s haunting Miss Fenwick, Miss Fenwick haunts him.
When the new Squire moves into Fenwick Manor, an ex-army officer secretly searching the sprawling medieval wreck devises a plan. First, the manor’s legendary ghost will chase servants away. Then, he’ll convince the new residents to leave.
But the Squire’s spirited daughter soon has him wondering if he might have found a perfect comrade in arms to help battle old enemies and find the proof that will clear his family name.
Excerpt: “I would never hurt you or Sir Newton.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it.
Her answering tremble passed through her arm and into him.
Outside, the lightning and thunder had died, but the rain slapped the window sharply. Like as not it had had turned to sleet.
He slipped the edge of the blanket over her shoulder and pulled her closer. “You’re cold as well.”
She angled her head and studied him. “Is there truly treasure here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is that why you’re here?”
Never confess. Money would be sweet, but it wasn’t what he was looking for.
“You would steal it from us?”
It wasn’t stealing. If he found money, he would merely be taking back from Sir Richard what was owed, what was needed to save his brother’s life.
Digging deep, steeling himself, he gave her the look he’d honed as a young officer, a look he’d used on his most ill-disciplined men, the one he could hold observing a lashing…and for the worst cases, a hanging.
She glared back at him, as fiercely defiant as the worst denizens of the rookeries.
He shook his head and sighed.
“Does anything frighten you?” His hand slipped lower, down her arm and under it, over a slim waist to a generous curve that made his breath—and other parts of him—stir.
“Mr. Greggson’s attempt on my person was alarming. I thank you for saving me.” A shudder went through her. “Would he have attempted more than a kiss, do you think?”
His fingers moved of their own will, softly stroking. “He’s not a man you should be alone with.”
“Yes, I do know that. You and my father have both said so. But what about you, Freddy? Ought I to be alone with you?”
He’d never forced a woman, not ever. Not even after the madness of battle had he succumbed to that primitive drive. He’d done his duty to restore order within his men as well.
He’d understood their mad impulses though.
“I am a gentleman, Tilly.”
She stirred. “Papa…has not been feeling well, I think. I was ever so happy to see him out in the fresh air, but I’ve worried so about him. Mr. Greggson doesn’t know that, but he does know I’m my father’s only child. He seeks to coerce me into marriage because he’s after the estate and its income, and whatever valuables may be found here, which when Papa dies, he believes will be mine.” She let out a minty breath. “But you, Captain Sanderford, you I believe would prefer just money and not my person along with it.”
“Tilly—”
“And so, it would probably be wise for you to unhand me.”
His hand tightened, bunching the cloth of her robe. “Unhand you?”
She tilted her head and gazed at him, almost an equal in height now that they were sitting. Her lips had parted a fraction and locks of hair draped the deep blue of eyes that glistened in the light from the candles.
“Oh, Tilly.” He dipped his head and touched his lips to hers.
Softness. The scents of mint and soap and lilac.
His chest pounded and every nerve in his body roared. She hadn’t pulled away, hadn’t pushed, hadn’t slapped him.
Proceed with caution, he reminded himself. He pressed closer and slanted his lips, coaxing until her mouth opened.
His hand strayed up, under her breast, and he drew her against him.
What, besides parchment, was under the high-necked gowns and the heavy robe?
Award winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but she prefers the much happier world of romance. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a midcentury home with her husband, her spunky, blonde, rescued terrier, and the blue-eyed cat who conned his way in for dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave. She is the author of several Regency romances, including the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner, Rosalyn’s Ring. She is hard at work on her next series of Regency romances, but loves to hear from readers!
Visit her at:https://alinakfield.com/ https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield https://twitter.com/AlinaKFieldhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_Fieldhttps://www.pinterest.com/alinakf/https://www.instagram.com/alinak.field/https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alina-k-field Haunting Miss Fenwick is PG-13 heat level, releases next week, is on Pre-Order for only 99 cents! and can be purchased at Amazon, Kobo, B&N for Nook and Apple Books.
Wow....nice excerpt Alina! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new release.
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time, take care and God bless!
PamT
October 16, 2019
#WednesdayWordswithFriends guest Lillian Duncan on Baby Steps
Good Morning!
It's a rainy one here in SW Louisiana, supposedly bringing us another round of cooler weather - which is fine but is drowning us in the meantime really necessary? I know we need some, but hours upon hours and days upon days of it? Not. A. Fan. LOL! Trust me if I could, I would send it over to California and other areas that are burning up with wild fires!
Oh, HIS mysterious ways....
Anyway, enough about me. Our guest today is no stranger to our blog. Lillian has shared thoughts and treasures and been in our spotlight more than once, although it has been a while since she visited. So please give her a warm reception as she speaks to us about baby steps.....
TRAPPED is my latest romantic suspense novel—heavy on the suspense but enough romance to add to the enjoyment. Being a Christian Fiction novel, there’s always a spiritual message hidden in the pages of the story as well, and this one is no exception.
Angela Matthews had the perfect life until the day she’s kidnapped and trapped in a basement with a mad man. Even though she’s rescued, she remains trapped by the memories she can’t forget.
That’s true for so many of us. Even after the “bad situation” whatever that may be is resolved, we get stuck and can’t seem to move forward with our lives. Instead, we’re angry and bitter or maybe sad and fearful or most likely a combination of all of those negative emotions.
In the story, her rescuer discovers that Angela is indeed still trapped by her horrible experience. He’s had his own share of horrible as a Chicago policeman. Because of that, he reaches out to help Angela.
One of the mantras in the story is “baby steps.” So often we think we have to go from a sitting position to a full-out run or we are a failure. This story reminds us that’s not reality. Each baby step we take toward our goal is a win. Every win brings us closer to our ultimate victory!
But TRAPPED isn’t a self-help book, it’s a suspense novel. That means there’s lots of action, not to mention twists and turns that will keep you guessing who the bad guy is until the very end!
Lillian is a multi-published author who lives in the middle of Ohio Amish country with her husband. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives—especially God’s Word.
She loves to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us. To learn more about her, visit www.lillian-duncan.comas well as her devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com.
Trapped can be purchased at Amazon in Print and for Kindle!
You are so right, Lillian...baby steps are OK, even the Bible tells us to, "despise not small beginnings." THANKS for sharing!
We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new book and in all things.
Hope you enjoyed today's guest post friends and that you'll check back each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
It's a rainy one here in SW Louisiana, supposedly bringing us another round of cooler weather - which is fine but is drowning us in the meantime really necessary? I know we need some, but hours upon hours and days upon days of it? Not. A. Fan. LOL! Trust me if I could, I would send it over to California and other areas that are burning up with wild fires!
Oh, HIS mysterious ways....
Anyway, enough about me. Our guest today is no stranger to our blog. Lillian has shared thoughts and treasures and been in our spotlight more than once, although it has been a while since she visited. So please give her a warm reception as she speaks to us about baby steps.....
TRAPPED is my latest romantic suspense novel—heavy on the suspense but enough romance to add to the enjoyment. Being a Christian Fiction novel, there’s always a spiritual message hidden in the pages of the story as well, and this one is no exception.Angela Matthews had the perfect life until the day she’s kidnapped and trapped in a basement with a mad man. Even though she’s rescued, she remains trapped by the memories she can’t forget.
That’s true for so many of us. Even after the “bad situation” whatever that may be is resolved, we get stuck and can’t seem to move forward with our lives. Instead, we’re angry and bitter or maybe sad and fearful or most likely a combination of all of those negative emotions.
In the story, her rescuer discovers that Angela is indeed still trapped by her horrible experience. He’s had his own share of horrible as a Chicago policeman. Because of that, he reaches out to help Angela.
One of the mantras in the story is “baby steps.” So often we think we have to go from a sitting position to a full-out run or we are a failure. This story reminds us that’s not reality. Each baby step we take toward our goal is a win. Every win brings us closer to our ultimate victory!
But TRAPPED isn’t a self-help book, it’s a suspense novel. That means there’s lots of action, not to mention twists and turns that will keep you guessing who the bad guy is until the very end!
Lillian is a multi-published author who lives in the middle of Ohio Amish country with her husband. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives—especially God’s Word.She loves to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us. To learn more about her, visit www.lillian-duncan.comas well as her devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com.
Trapped can be purchased at Amazon in Print and for Kindle!
You are so right, Lillian...baby steps are OK, even the Bible tells us to, "despise not small beginnings." THANKS for sharing!
We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new book and in all things.
Hope you enjoyed today's guest post friends and that you'll check back each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
October 12, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on E.A. West & Out of Her Element!
Good Morning!
I'm a little late posting this morning. I actually got a chance to sleep in and I indulged, wrapped in the covers welcoming the Fall weather. But now I'd like to bring my friend and fellow Pelican Book Group author, E. A. West to you with her book, Out of Her Element.
Elizabeth is not new to our blog, she's shared thoughts and treasures and been in the spotlight numerous times. Use the search bar and read all of her posts, meanwhile, let's get a peek into this book!
Is living a life of luxury worth losing who you are?
She needs a place to stay.
They offer her a whole new life.
But is living in luxury worth losing her identity?
Mira Hassan is on the verge of freezing to death. Homeless and impoverished, she's desperate for a way to survive. When wealthy family friends offer her a place to stay, she takes a chance and accepts.
Her new life in high society isn't what she expects. Gone are the days of hard work and simple living. Now she's faced with lavish shopping trips, fancy dinner parties, and numerous people who judge by appearance alone.
Yet in the midst of it all, she finds a group of friends with a connection to her past. Is it enough to give her the sense of belonging that she craves, or will she always be out of her element?
Excerpt :
The three dogs crowded around Mira Hassan, and she fed each of them another bite of venison jerky. Like most hunting dogs she’d met, they were food-motivated, which made befriending them easy. A little jerky, some sweet talking, and a few scratches here and there had enabled her to come and go from the shed without fear.
She gave one last pat to the long-legged mutt with a big head and floppy ears. She had no idea what his name was, but he was a sweetheart and had become her best friend in the last few days.
“Don’t bark at me when I come back.”
The accent in her whispered words had made her something of an outcast in the area. Who knew a Palestinian accent flavored with a West Virginian drawl could make people so suspicious?
Then again, she was half Palestinian and had spent more of her life in the Middle East than in the United States. Suspicion due to fear of terrorism was pretty common in her life.
The mutt licked her hand once and sprawled on the thick layer of straw covering the floor. Mira pulled her scarf up around her face and stepped out of the shed. The icy dawn air stung her eyes, and she huddled a little deeper in her coat. One of these days, she would have a warm house to live in again.
Her gaze went to the two-story cabin she’d lived near for the last seven and a half years, ever since she came to the United States as a thirteen-year-old orphan. The windows were still dark, offering a small measure of security as she crossed the clearing.
When she reached the woods, she slipped between the trees and into relative safety. She paused and glanced over her shoulder in time to see a light come on in one of the downstairs windows.
Her heart skipped a beat. Had they seen her? Should she run?
Award-winning author E.A. West is a lifelong lover of books and storytelling. In high school, she picked up her pen in a creative writing class and hasn’t laid it down yet. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting.
You can find her at the following places.....
Website: https://eawestauthor.comNewsletter: http://eepurl.com/cYtgXnFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/EAWestAuthor... http://twitter.com/eawestauthorInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/authoreawestGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/eawestauthor
Out of Her Element can be purchased in Ebook and Print at the following retailers....
eBook
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementEbook
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-her-element-e-a-west/1130316616?ean=2940161298404
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementApple
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/out-of-her-element
Print
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementPrint
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-her-element-e-a-west/1130316616?ean=9780972091961
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Out-Her-Element/E-A-West/9780972091961
Wow...I mean, seriously Elizabeth you've got us hooked! Great job. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings in all things!
See you next week, Friends for another Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight! Until then....Take care and God Bless.
PamT
I'm a little late posting this morning. I actually got a chance to sleep in and I indulged, wrapped in the covers welcoming the Fall weather. But now I'd like to bring my friend and fellow Pelican Book Group author, E. A. West to you with her book, Out of Her Element.
Elizabeth is not new to our blog, she's shared thoughts and treasures and been in the spotlight numerous times. Use the search bar and read all of her posts, meanwhile, let's get a peek into this book!
Is living a life of luxury worth losing who you are?
She needs a place to stay.
They offer her a whole new life.
But is living in luxury worth losing her identity?
Mira Hassan is on the verge of freezing to death. Homeless and impoverished, she's desperate for a way to survive. When wealthy family friends offer her a place to stay, she takes a chance and accepts.
Her new life in high society isn't what she expects. Gone are the days of hard work and simple living. Now she's faced with lavish shopping trips, fancy dinner parties, and numerous people who judge by appearance alone.
Yet in the midst of it all, she finds a group of friends with a connection to her past. Is it enough to give her the sense of belonging that she craves, or will she always be out of her element?
Excerpt :
The three dogs crowded around Mira Hassan, and she fed each of them another bite of venison jerky. Like most hunting dogs she’d met, they were food-motivated, which made befriending them easy. A little jerky, some sweet talking, and a few scratches here and there had enabled her to come and go from the shed without fear.
She gave one last pat to the long-legged mutt with a big head and floppy ears. She had no idea what his name was, but he was a sweetheart and had become her best friend in the last few days.
“Don’t bark at me when I come back.”
The accent in her whispered words had made her something of an outcast in the area. Who knew a Palestinian accent flavored with a West Virginian drawl could make people so suspicious?
Then again, she was half Palestinian and had spent more of her life in the Middle East than in the United States. Suspicion due to fear of terrorism was pretty common in her life.
The mutt licked her hand once and sprawled on the thick layer of straw covering the floor. Mira pulled her scarf up around her face and stepped out of the shed. The icy dawn air stung her eyes, and she huddled a little deeper in her coat. One of these days, she would have a warm house to live in again.
Her gaze went to the two-story cabin she’d lived near for the last seven and a half years, ever since she came to the United States as a thirteen-year-old orphan. The windows were still dark, offering a small measure of security as she crossed the clearing.
When she reached the woods, she slipped between the trees and into relative safety. She paused and glanced over her shoulder in time to see a light come on in one of the downstairs windows.
Her heart skipped a beat. Had they seen her? Should she run?
Award-winning author E.A. West is a lifelong lover of books and storytelling. In high school, she picked up her pen in a creative writing class and hasn’t laid it down yet. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting.You can find her at the following places.....
Website: https://eawestauthor.comNewsletter: http://eepurl.com/cYtgXnFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/EAWestAuthor... http://twitter.com/eawestauthorInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/authoreawestGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/eawestauthor
Out of Her Element can be purchased in Ebook and Print at the following retailers....
eBook
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementEbook
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-her-element-e-a-west/1130316616?ean=2940161298404
iBooks: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementApple
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/out-of-her-element
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/OutOfHerElementPrint
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-her-element-e-a-west/1130316616?ean=9780972091961
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Out-Her-Element/E-A-West/9780972091961
Wow...I mean, seriously Elizabeth you've got us hooked! Great job. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings in all things!
See you next week, Friends for another Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight! Until then....Take care and God Bless.
PamT
October 9, 2019
#WednesdayWordswithFriends Guest: Sloan McBride
Good Morning!
Well, fall fell here in SW LA...for now anyway we are enjoying cooler nights and milder days and I am SO happy about that! I'm more of a Summer person but I'm d-o-n-e with high 90's that feel like triple digits!
I hope you enjoyed DiAnn's visit yesterday and the treasure she shared. Today's guest is new to me and our blog so without much further ado please welcome Sloan McBride to share a few words with us....
So a couple of weeks ago I moved my daughter to Tennessee. She is a writer, but her first love is music so she combines her writing and her music. I support both my children in absolutely everything they do and always try to find a positive, bright side to anything. No matter how much you want them to succeed, and how proud you are of them for trying it’s hard not to miss them terribly when they are gone. If I had my way (and all the money in the world) I’d own many acres of land where I’d build a plantation-type house (I don’t need anything too BIG), and houses for my kids. We’d have an animal preserve with a huge lake (and slide for the penguins), and full film studio (for my son). But, alas, that’s a pipe dream. You have to let them go out into the world and live their lives.
This is the link to my book page on my website where all my books are along with links to all the sites where they are available in every format. https://sloanmcbride.com/books.html
Bio: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all. Okay, the answer was never me, but a girl can dream, can't she? I grew up with fairytales and happy ever after, so it stands to reason that when I write, I make sure my characters have their happy ending. It may not always be what you'd expect, but it works for them.
I write romance, no doubt about it. I can't imagine writing anything else. I'm a hopeless romantic, or a hopeful one. Either way, readers get the hope.
My books delve into the paranormal romance, romantic suspense, time travel, gypsies, tramps, and thieves. Oh sorry, I went off into my music zone for a minute. I have fantasy, mythology, and I try to make it all relate to the everyday.
Thanks for your interest. Happy Reading!!!!
You can also find me here:
Website: http://www.sloanmcbride.com/ Twitter:
Wow, Sloan, how right you are...we have to let our children go and grow and make their own place and way in this world. Thank you SO much for sharing with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.
PamT and Friends
Well, fall fell here in SW LA...for now anyway we are enjoying cooler nights and milder days and I am SO happy about that! I'm more of a Summer person but I'm d-o-n-e with high 90's that feel like triple digits!
I hope you enjoyed DiAnn's visit yesterday and the treasure she shared. Today's guest is new to me and our blog so without much further ado please welcome Sloan McBride to share a few words with us....
So a couple of weeks ago I moved my daughter to Tennessee. She is a writer, but her first love is music so she combines her writing and her music. I support both my children in absolutely everything they do and always try to find a positive, bright side to anything. No matter how much you want them to succeed, and how proud you are of them for trying it’s hard not to miss them terribly when they are gone. If I had my way (and all the money in the world) I’d own many acres of land where I’d build a plantation-type house (I don’t need anything too BIG), and houses for my kids. We’d have an animal preserve with a huge lake (and slide for the penguins), and full film studio (for my son). But, alas, that’s a pipe dream. You have to let them go out into the world and live their lives.This is the link to my book page on my website where all my books are along with links to all the sites where they are available in every format. https://sloanmcbride.com/books.html
Bio: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all. Okay, the answer was never me, but a girl can dream, can't she? I grew up with fairytales and happy ever after, so it stands to reason that when I write, I make sure my characters have their happy ending. It may not always be what you'd expect, but it works for them.
I write romance, no doubt about it. I can't imagine writing anything else. I'm a hopeless romantic, or a hopeful one. Either way, readers get the hope.
My books delve into the paranormal romance, romantic suspense, time travel, gypsies, tramps, and thieves. Oh sorry, I went off into my music zone for a minute. I have fantasy, mythology, and I try to make it all relate to the everyday.
Thanks for your interest. Happy Reading!!!!
You can also find me here:
Website: http://www.sloanmcbride.com/ Twitter:
Wow, Sloan, how right you are...we have to let our children go and grow and make their own place and way in this world. Thank you SO much for sharing with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.
PamT and Friends
#WednesdayWordswithFriends Sloan McBride
Good Morning!
Well, fall fell here in SW LA...for now anyway we are enjoying cooler nights and milder days and I am SO happy about that! I'm more of a Summer person but I'm d-o-n-e with high 90's that feel like triple digits!
I hope you enjoyed DiAnn's visit yesterday and the treasure she shared. Today's guest is new to me and our blog so without much further ado please welcome Sloan McBride to share a few words with us....
So a couple of weeks ago I moved my daughter to Tennessee. She is a writer, but her first love is music so she combines her writing and her music. I support both my children in absolutely everything they do and always try to find a positive, bright side to anything. No matter how much you want them to succeed, and how proud you are of them for trying it’s hard not to miss them terribly when they are gone. If I had my way (and all the money in the world) I’d own many acres of land where I’d build a plantation-type house (I don’t need anything too BIG), and houses for my kids. We’d have an animal preserve with a huge lake (and slide for the penguins), and full film studio (for my son). But, alas, that’s a pipe dream. You have to let them go out into the world and live their lives.
This is the link to my book page on my website where all my books are along with links to all the sites where they are available in every format. https://sloanmcbride.com/books.html
Bio: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all. Okay, the answer was never me, but a girl can dream, can't she? I grew up with fairytales and happy ever after, so it stands to reason that when I write, I make sure my characters have their happy ending. It may not always be what you'd expect, but it works for them.
I write romance, no doubt about it. I can't imagine writing anything else. I'm a hopeless romantic, or a hopeful one. Either way, readers get the hope.
My books delve into the paranormal romance, romantic suspense, time travel, gypsies, tramps, and thieves. Oh sorry, I went off into my music zone for a minute. I have fantasy, mythology, and I try to make it all relate to the everyday.
Thanks for your interest. Happy Reading!!!!
You can also find me here:
Website: http://www.sloanmcbride.com/ Twitter:
Wow, Sloan, how right you are...we have to let our children go and grow and make their own place and way in this world. Thank you SO much for sharing with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.
PamT and Friends
Well, fall fell here in SW LA...for now anyway we are enjoying cooler nights and milder days and I am SO happy about that! I'm more of a Summer person but I'm d-o-n-e with high 90's that feel like triple digits!
I hope you enjoyed DiAnn's visit yesterday and the treasure she shared. Today's guest is new to me and our blog so without much further ado please welcome Sloan McBride to share a few words with us....
So a couple of weeks ago I moved my daughter to Tennessee. She is a writer, but her first love is music so she combines her writing and her music. I support both my children in absolutely everything they do and always try to find a positive, bright side to anything. No matter how much you want them to succeed, and how proud you are of them for trying it’s hard not to miss them terribly when they are gone. If I had my way (and all the money in the world) I’d own many acres of land where I’d build a plantation-type house (I don’t need anything too BIG), and houses for my kids. We’d have an animal preserve with a huge lake (and slide for the penguins), and full film studio (for my son). But, alas, that’s a pipe dream. You have to let them go out into the world and live their lives. This is the link to my book page on my website where all my books are along with links to all the sites where they are available in every format. https://sloanmcbride.com/books.html
Bio: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all. Okay, the answer was never me, but a girl can dream, can't she? I grew up with fairytales and happy ever after, so it stands to reason that when I write, I make sure my characters have their happy ending. It may not always be what you'd expect, but it works for them.
I write romance, no doubt about it. I can't imagine writing anything else. I'm a hopeless romantic, or a hopeful one. Either way, readers get the hope.
My books delve into the paranormal romance, romantic suspense, time travel, gypsies, tramps, and thieves. Oh sorry, I went off into my music zone for a minute. I have fantasy, mythology, and I try to make it all relate to the everyday.
Thanks for your interest. Happy Reading!!!!
You can also find me here:
Website: http://www.sloanmcbride.com/ Twitter:
Wow, Sloan, how right you are...we have to let our children go and grow and make their own place and way in this world. Thank you SO much for sharing with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.
PamT and Friends
October 8, 2019
#TuesdayTreasures with DiAnn Mills!
Good Morning,
Yep, you read the title of this blog right. We're having a busy week with a Tuesday Treasures as well as our normal Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight posts.
DiAnn is no stranger to our blog. She's shared thoughts and treasures before and been in our spotlight numerous times. She scheduled this post last year when she got the release date for her latest book Fatal Strike, so please give her a huge welcome.....
Living With a Writer - From a Husband’s Point of View
Curious about what it’s like to live with a writer? This week I interviewed my husband for his perspective. I admit waiting for his answers caused my heart to head into overdrive. How honest would he be? Would I have to eliminate him in my next novel? But his answers were fun to read.
Okay, Dean, be candid and give the readers your point of view.
Question: How long have you been married?
Answer: 26 years
Question: What attracted you to her?
Answer: Seeing her demonstrate a faith that anything’s possible with God.
Question: How would you describe your wife?
Answer: Living in a fiction world. Often!
Question: What is her most quirky trait?
Answer: Only one? How about three?
1. Doesn’t like red meat. Says it makes her angry.
2. A tad persnickety in the food arena. Can be a challenge when eating out.
3. Can write about suspense scenes, yet if shown on TV, you’ll find her covering her eyes and asking if it’s over yet.
Question: What is the one thing you’d change about her?
Answer: God’s mold can’t be improved upon. . . I’m a smart man.
Question: How do you two complement each other?
Answer: We balance each other’s emotions.
Question: Where do you two like to vacation?
Answer: Along Fall River between Estes Park & entrance to Rocky National Park.
Question: You help her with her writing — what do you do?
Answer: I’ve declared myself her Executive Director of Whatever She Needs :-)
Question: What is your favorite book that she’s written?
Answer: All of them, of course :-)
Question: What would you like for her to write?
Answer: The next story God places in her heart and that she has a passion to share.
Thanks, Dean. Appreciate you and all you do for me.
Do you have a question for DiAnn?
Wow, DiAnn, this is LOL funny! Your husband sounds like a real treasure and I loved it! Didn't you, folks? Please ask DiAnn your questions in the comments and she'll do her best to answer each of you.
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at diannmills.com
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back tomorrow and Saturday for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
Yep, you read the title of this blog right. We're having a busy week with a Tuesday Treasures as well as our normal Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight posts.
DiAnn is no stranger to our blog. She's shared thoughts and treasures before and been in our spotlight numerous times. She scheduled this post last year when she got the release date for her latest book Fatal Strike, so please give her a huge welcome.....
Living With a Writer - From a Husband’s Point of View
Curious about what it’s like to live with a writer? This week I interviewed my husband for his perspective. I admit waiting for his answers caused my heart to head into overdrive. How honest would he be? Would I have to eliminate him in my next novel? But his answers were fun to read.
Okay, Dean, be candid and give the readers your point of view.
Question: How long have you been married?
Answer: 26 years
Question: What attracted you to her?
Answer: Seeing her demonstrate a faith that anything’s possible with God.
Question: How would you describe your wife?
Answer: Living in a fiction world. Often!
Question: What is her most quirky trait?
Answer: Only one? How about three?
1. Doesn’t like red meat. Says it makes her angry.
2. A tad persnickety in the food arena. Can be a challenge when eating out.
3. Can write about suspense scenes, yet if shown on TV, you’ll find her covering her eyes and asking if it’s over yet.
Question: What is the one thing you’d change about her?
Answer: God’s mold can’t be improved upon. . . I’m a smart man.
Question: How do you two complement each other?
Answer: We balance each other’s emotions.
Question: Where do you two like to vacation?
Answer: Along Fall River between Estes Park & entrance to Rocky National Park.
Question: You help her with her writing — what do you do?
Answer: I’ve declared myself her Executive Director of Whatever She Needs :-)
Question: What is your favorite book that she’s written?
Answer: All of them, of course :-)
Question: What would you like for her to write?
Answer: The next story God places in her heart and that she has a passion to share.
Thanks, Dean. Appreciate you and all you do for me.
Do you have a question for DiAnn?
Wow, DiAnn, this is LOL funny! Your husband sounds like a real treasure and I loved it! Didn't you, folks? Please ask DiAnn your questions in the comments and she'll do her best to answer each of you.
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at diannmills.comHope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back tomorrow and Saturday for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
October 5, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Angela K Couch and Return of the King's Ranger
Good Morning Friends!
Although it's Fall and even beginning to be more like Winter in some parts of the US, we're still dealing with temps in the 90's here in SWLA. Looks like that might change next week. I'm more of a Summer girl than Winter but I'll tell you, I'm ready for cooler days LOL!
Today's guest, Angela K Couch is not new to our blog, although it has been a while since she shared treasures, thoughts and the spotlight. So please welcome her back with her latest release, Return of the King's Ranger , the final installment in her Hearts at War series.
The war for American freedom is over, and the British have gone back to England. Myles Cunningham wants to go home as well, not knowing what has become of his family since he was forced into the Continental Army nine years earlier. He returns to the Mohawk Valley with the understanding that he is believed to have been shot for deserting—fiction that might be made real if anyone recognizes him as the son of a Tory, and a King’s Ranger.
Everything is wonderful in the growing community along the Mohawk River, except Nora Reid is still alone. With her brother happily settled and both of her younger sisters starting families of their own, Nora feels the weight of her twenty-four years. A long walk leads her to the overgrown rubble of the Cunningham homestead where a bearded stranger begins to awaken feelings she’d lost hope of ever experiencing.
With secrets abounding—including whether Myles even cares for her—Nora must determine what she is ready to give up and how far she will go to secure his affections. She begins to break through his defenses, but Myles can’t risk staying. Not if he loves her.
Excerpt:
Ash. Everything was gone. The barn. The cabin. Charred remains overgrown with grass and weeds. Myles Cunningham tugged the leather patch from his right eye so he could see properly. It was not like anyone would come upon him here, and even if they did, they’d know him by association to his childhood home if nothing else. The question was what they would do to him if recognized. The Continental Army had ordered his death, but the war was over. The British had gone home.
If only he could.
But nothing remained. Not Pa—he’d been killed in battle against the rebels residing in this valley. From what he’d been told, Mama was dead, too, along with little Miriam. Who could say that hadn’t also been Hannah’s and Samuel’s fate?
Myles kicked what remained of the fireplace, sending stones toppling…just like the war had done to his life. Except he wasn’t a stone. He didn’t know how to roll away, or how to remain solid and unmarred after being hurled. Instead, he was left raw and bleeding inside.
Myles backed away from the heaps of charcoal. He should never have returned to the Mohawk Valley. This place had rejected his family and sealed their fates.
“Let’s go.” He tugged on the reins of the old, half-blind gelding he’d traded the last of his wages for. Ugliest thing on four legs with one blue eye and a white blaze covering over half its head, but the nag had spared him a long walk. Maybe he’d go north again. There was plenty of territory along the Great Lakes he hadn’t yet searched.
Unless his siblings were not to be found.
To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after three munchkins.
Keep up with Angela by visiting her Website or Facebook page and following her on twitter @AngelaKCouch
Return of the King's Ranger can be purchased at Amazon and B&N. Check Angela's Amazon Author Page for the rest of her Hearts at War series!
Wonderful excerpt Angela! Thanks for sharing our spotlight today.
Drop by again folks for Wednesday Words with Friends and of course a brand new Saturday Spotlight each week!
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
Although it's Fall and even beginning to be more like Winter in some parts of the US, we're still dealing with temps in the 90's here in SWLA. Looks like that might change next week. I'm more of a Summer girl than Winter but I'll tell you, I'm ready for cooler days LOL!
Today's guest, Angela K Couch is not new to our blog, although it has been a while since she shared treasures, thoughts and the spotlight. So please welcome her back with her latest release, Return of the King's Ranger , the final installment in her Hearts at War series.
The war for American freedom is over, and the British have gone back to England. Myles Cunningham wants to go home as well, not knowing what has become of his family since he was forced into the Continental Army nine years earlier. He returns to the Mohawk Valley with the understanding that he is believed to have been shot for deserting—fiction that might be made real if anyone recognizes him as the son of a Tory, and a King’s Ranger.Everything is wonderful in the growing community along the Mohawk River, except Nora Reid is still alone. With her brother happily settled and both of her younger sisters starting families of their own, Nora feels the weight of her twenty-four years. A long walk leads her to the overgrown rubble of the Cunningham homestead where a bearded stranger begins to awaken feelings she’d lost hope of ever experiencing.
With secrets abounding—including whether Myles even cares for her—Nora must determine what she is ready to give up and how far she will go to secure his affections. She begins to break through his defenses, but Myles can’t risk staying. Not if he loves her.
Excerpt:
Ash. Everything was gone. The barn. The cabin. Charred remains overgrown with grass and weeds. Myles Cunningham tugged the leather patch from his right eye so he could see properly. It was not like anyone would come upon him here, and even if they did, they’d know him by association to his childhood home if nothing else. The question was what they would do to him if recognized. The Continental Army had ordered his death, but the war was over. The British had gone home.
If only he could.
But nothing remained. Not Pa—he’d been killed in battle against the rebels residing in this valley. From what he’d been told, Mama was dead, too, along with little Miriam. Who could say that hadn’t also been Hannah’s and Samuel’s fate?
Myles kicked what remained of the fireplace, sending stones toppling…just like the war had done to his life. Except he wasn’t a stone. He didn’t know how to roll away, or how to remain solid and unmarred after being hurled. Instead, he was left raw and bleeding inside.
Myles backed away from the heaps of charcoal. He should never have returned to the Mohawk Valley. This place had rejected his family and sealed their fates.
“Let’s go.” He tugged on the reins of the old, half-blind gelding he’d traded the last of his wages for. Ugliest thing on four legs with one blue eye and a white blaze covering over half its head, but the nag had spared him a long walk. Maybe he’d go north again. There was plenty of territory along the Great Lakes he hadn’t yet searched.
Unless his siblings were not to be found.
To keep from freezing in the Great White North, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in there, as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and warm) by chasing after three munchkins.
Keep up with Angela by visiting her Website or Facebook page and following her on twitter @AngelaKCouch
Return of the King's Ranger can be purchased at Amazon and B&N. Check Angela's Amazon Author Page for the rest of her Hearts at War series!
Wonderful excerpt Angela! Thanks for sharing our spotlight today.
Drop by again folks for Wednesday Words with Friends and of course a brand new Saturday Spotlight each week!
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
October 2, 2019
#WednesdayWordswithFriends guest Kathy Bailey
Good Morning and Welcome to the first Wednesday in October!
I'm still reeling with disbelief. Where has the time gone? The old adage, 'time flies when you're having fun' keeps running through my head and I have to admit, I did have some fun this year but seriously? It's OCTOBER already?!
Whew! I sure hope we can look back at this year and say we had lots of fun and did lots of good things. Look back and count blessings not trials or disappointments.
Anyway, speaking of time, my friend and fellow Pelican Book Group author, Kathy Baily returns and is sharing some tips on Time Management ....
Time Management, I loved you. I loved being efficient, making more than one thing happen at once, and the elusive “being productive.” I LOVED balancing my checkbook in the doctor’s waiting room and folding laundry during a phone call. I relished using every bit of time, like my ancestors used every bit of scrap fabric in a quilt. Well, actually, my people knitted afghans, but I feel a kinship with quilters anyway. Nothing went to waste.
And that’s how it was with you, Time Management. We were a good fit. But now it’s time to break up.
The most I ever remember doing was four things at once: nursing my baby, supervising my toddler in the tub, drying laundry (the dryer was located in the bathroom) and reading my Bible for devotions. I prided myself on being able to do, well, a lot of things. I had two children under 3, no money, and my husband was a full-time church pastor. If I didn’t “do,” it resulted in disaster.
I carried this into the rest of my adult life. Why not sew on Girl Scout badges during the district convention, or read a magazine during the movie previews? Didn’t everybody?
Hey, why NOT do paperwork while my mother lay dying in a hospital room? I was there if she needed me.
I was brought up short – but only barely – when a friend from my old neighborhood came to visit me in my new house. I welcomed her, we made tea in the teapot she brought me for a housewarming gift, and then we settled down for a talk. But I couldn’t just “talk.” I brought out some mending, and stitched merrily away until she asked, “Am I keeping you from something?”
That one changed me, at least as far as multitasking with other people went. I realized how rude that must have seemed, and now, when I have company, I have company. But I continued to juggle projects in private, and to justify it. I read everything I could get my hands (um, my one free hand) on regarding time management, even when, technically, I didn’t have to do it anymore.
I wish my wake-up call had been something less mundane and more spiritual. But I didn’t come to my time-management senses until I hung a purple Nine West bag too near the stove and then proceeded to turn on the WRONG burner, thus scorching a pan beyond use and setting fire to the purse. I don’t remember how many things I was doing that day or what they were. I just knew I had to change.
I’m well out of the active-parenting stage, and I don’t have the time demands pulling on me that I had as a young mother. I do a lot, I have a lot done to me, but it can all be done in sequence. I have no little ones or medium-ones tugging on me, nobody’s bleeding, nobody needs me to feed them or wash their faces or hold them till they sleep.
But I’m thinking even young mothers, or dads, don’t need to time-manage as aggressively as I once did. Children need our attention, and I’m prouder now of the time I did spend with my children than the time I spent “accomplishing” things. Especially since I can’t remember what those “important” things were.
Will I still fold laundry while on a long phone call, or address Christmas cards in front of the television? Most likely. And I’ll probably still haul around a “project bag” for waiting rooms. It is as heavy as the weights at the gym, and I don’t have to pay for it.
But more and more, it’s impressed on me that some things are too precious, or fragile, for double-duty. They deserve my full attention. Friends, my great-nieces and first great-nephew, my husband. Church. (I once made out a Christmas list during a sermon.) And for safety’s sake, anything with an open flame.
And if I had my parents back, I would just sit and look at them for one last time. Without “managing” my own time, because there will never be enough of it.
Time management, we had a good run, but it’s over. I don’t, well, have time for you any more. What’s YOUR worst multitasking blunder, and when did you realize you were doing too much? And what’s your best time management tip?
Great post Kathy! I still get asked how I do everything I do. Being organized is the key to time management for me. I have a monthly planner on my desk and EVERYTHING gets written down in it!
Kathleen Bailey is a journalist and novelist with 40 years’ experience in the nonfiction, newspaper and inspirational fields. Born in 1951, she was a child in the 50s, a teen in the 60s, a young adult in the 70s and a young mom in the 80s. It’s been a turbulent, colorful time to grow up, and she’s enjoyed every minute of it and written about most of it.
She attended a mixture of public and parochial schools, graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She married the Rev. David W. Bailey in 1977, and they lived in Colorado, Wisconsin and Michigan before returning to their home state of New Hampshire. They are the parents of two adult daughters.
She has worked as both a staff and freelance journalist. She semi-retired in 2017, in order to devote herself to a growing interest in Christian fiction. She has won or finaled in several contests, including the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest. Her debut novel, “Westward Hope,” will be published Sept. 20, 2019 by Pelican/White Rose Publishers.
Bailey’s work includes both historical and contemporary fiction, with an underlying thread of men and women finding their way home, to Christ and each other.
For more information, contact her at ampie86@comcast.net; @piechick1 on Twitter; Kathleen D. Bailey on Facebook and LinkedIn; or at www.kathleendbailey.weebly.com.
Kathy's new book, Westward Hope can be purchased at Amazon for Kindle, and Pelican Book Group in Ebook and Print!
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll stop by weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
I'm still reeling with disbelief. Where has the time gone? The old adage, 'time flies when you're having fun' keeps running through my head and I have to admit, I did have some fun this year but seriously? It's OCTOBER already?!
Whew! I sure hope we can look back at this year and say we had lots of fun and did lots of good things. Look back and count blessings not trials or disappointments.
Anyway, speaking of time, my friend and fellow Pelican Book Group author, Kathy Baily returns and is sharing some tips on Time Management ....
Time Management, I loved you. I loved being efficient, making more than one thing happen at once, and the elusive “being productive.” I LOVED balancing my checkbook in the doctor’s waiting room and folding laundry during a phone call. I relished using every bit of time, like my ancestors used every bit of scrap fabric in a quilt. Well, actually, my people knitted afghans, but I feel a kinship with quilters anyway. Nothing went to waste.
And that’s how it was with you, Time Management. We were a good fit. But now it’s time to break up.
The most I ever remember doing was four things at once: nursing my baby, supervising my toddler in the tub, drying laundry (the dryer was located in the bathroom) and reading my Bible for devotions. I prided myself on being able to do, well, a lot of things. I had two children under 3, no money, and my husband was a full-time church pastor. If I didn’t “do,” it resulted in disaster.
I carried this into the rest of my adult life. Why not sew on Girl Scout badges during the district convention, or read a magazine during the movie previews? Didn’t everybody?
Hey, why NOT do paperwork while my mother lay dying in a hospital room? I was there if she needed me.
I was brought up short – but only barely – when a friend from my old neighborhood came to visit me in my new house. I welcomed her, we made tea in the teapot she brought me for a housewarming gift, and then we settled down for a talk. But I couldn’t just “talk.” I brought out some mending, and stitched merrily away until she asked, “Am I keeping you from something?”
That one changed me, at least as far as multitasking with other people went. I realized how rude that must have seemed, and now, when I have company, I have company. But I continued to juggle projects in private, and to justify it. I read everything I could get my hands (um, my one free hand) on regarding time management, even when, technically, I didn’t have to do it anymore.
I wish my wake-up call had been something less mundane and more spiritual. But I didn’t come to my time-management senses until I hung a purple Nine West bag too near the stove and then proceeded to turn on the WRONG burner, thus scorching a pan beyond use and setting fire to the purse. I don’t remember how many things I was doing that day or what they were. I just knew I had to change.
I’m well out of the active-parenting stage, and I don’t have the time demands pulling on me that I had as a young mother. I do a lot, I have a lot done to me, but it can all be done in sequence. I have no little ones or medium-ones tugging on me, nobody’s bleeding, nobody needs me to feed them or wash their faces or hold them till they sleep.
But I’m thinking even young mothers, or dads, don’t need to time-manage as aggressively as I once did. Children need our attention, and I’m prouder now of the time I did spend with my children than the time I spent “accomplishing” things. Especially since I can’t remember what those “important” things were.
Will I still fold laundry while on a long phone call, or address Christmas cards in front of the television? Most likely. And I’ll probably still haul around a “project bag” for waiting rooms. It is as heavy as the weights at the gym, and I don’t have to pay for it.
But more and more, it’s impressed on me that some things are too precious, or fragile, for double-duty. They deserve my full attention. Friends, my great-nieces and first great-nephew, my husband. Church. (I once made out a Christmas list during a sermon.) And for safety’s sake, anything with an open flame.
And if I had my parents back, I would just sit and look at them for one last time. Without “managing” my own time, because there will never be enough of it.
Time management, we had a good run, but it’s over. I don’t, well, have time for you any more. What’s YOUR worst multitasking blunder, and when did you realize you were doing too much? And what’s your best time management tip?
Great post Kathy! I still get asked how I do everything I do. Being organized is the key to time management for me. I have a monthly planner on my desk and EVERYTHING gets written down in it!
Kathleen Bailey is a journalist and novelist with 40 years’ experience in the nonfiction, newspaper and inspirational fields. Born in 1951, she was a child in the 50s, a teen in the 60s, a young adult in the 70s and a young mom in the 80s. It’s been a turbulent, colorful time to grow up, and she’s enjoyed every minute of it and written about most of it.She attended a mixture of public and parochial schools, graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She married the Rev. David W. Bailey in 1977, and they lived in Colorado, Wisconsin and Michigan before returning to their home state of New Hampshire. They are the parents of two adult daughters.
She has worked as both a staff and freelance journalist. She semi-retired in 2017, in order to devote herself to a growing interest in Christian fiction. She has won or finaled in several contests, including the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest. Her debut novel, “Westward Hope,” will be published Sept. 20, 2019 by Pelican/White Rose Publishers.Bailey’s work includes both historical and contemporary fiction, with an underlying thread of men and women finding their way home, to Christ and each other.
For more information, contact her at ampie86@comcast.net; @piechick1 on Twitter; Kathleen D. Bailey on Facebook and LinkedIn; or at www.kathleendbailey.weebly.com.
Kathy's new book, Westward Hope can be purchased at Amazon for Kindle, and Pelican Book Group in Ebook and Print!
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll stop by weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
September 28, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Gail Pallotta & Stopped Cold!
Good Morning!
Here we are on what's supposed to be a "fall" morning and about the only thing that's falling in SWLA are the leaves. The temperature is staying steady with highs in the 90's. I've always said I'm a summer person but I'm ready for cooler temperatures!
Today's guest is not new to our blog. Gail has been in our spotlight, twice. She's shared treasures, thoughts and words with us, but today we're getting a peek into her latest release, Stopped Cold .
Things aren't what they seem in peaceful Mistville, North Carolina.
Margaret McWhorter enjoys a laid-back Freshman year in high school swimming and hanging out with friends—until the day her brother, Sean, suffers a stroke from taking steroids. Now he's lying unconscious in a hospital.
Anger sets a fire for retribution inside her, and Margaret vows to make the criminals pay. Even the cop on the case can't stop her from investigating. Looking for justice, she convinces two friends, Jimmy and Emily to join her in a quest that takes them through a twisted, drug-filled sub-culture they discover deep in the woods behind the school. Time and again they walk a treacherous path, and come face-to-face with danger.
All the while Margaret really wants to cure Sean, heal the hate inside, and open her heart to love.
Excerpt: A Chapel. Something urged me to go inside. Maybe it was because I had nowhere else to turn. Maybe it was because Reverend Hopewell’s visit made me believe God would do something about Sean’s condition if I kept asking him to.
A cinder of hope sparked inside me as I walked in the tiny, narrow sanctuary with mahogany paneling and one pew. If only God would make Sean well and lead me to the drug dealers. Did God do that sort of thing? Maybe I didn’t know enough about God to be in here. He wouldn’t approve of all the hate I had for the drug dealers. Jesus preached a Gospel of love. My heart beat so fast.
How could I explain my deep despair to God? Did He care about Sean and me? Through the blur of my tears I peered at the stained glass cross embedded in dark paneling behind the altar, the soft lighting washing over it. I didn’t need to tell God how sad I was. He already knew. Of course, He cared. He sent His only son to die for Sean’s sins and mine.
But did I know the right thing to say to God, especially in my angry state? Reverend Hopewell’s prayers sounded so eloquent when he said them for the youth group. If I ever wanted a prayer to be good enough for God to answer, it was now. The words “Ask and it will be given to you--” popped in my head. I knew they came from the book of Matthew, so I looked it up on my iPhone--Chapter seven, verse seven. I stared at the words for several minutes then turned it off and bowed my head.
‘Dear Lord, Please have mercy on Sean and healhim, if it is your will, and dear Lord, I hope it is. Mom,Dad, and I need him. I’m sorry I haven’t been a better sister, and I’m sorry about the hate I feel toward the drug dealers. Maybe you can help me get over it...if I could just find them. I love Sean so much. If he gets well, I’ll talk to him about the gifts you gave him and tell him what a great brother he is. Please let Dad see that Sean doesn’t need to be a quarterback. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.’I stood and took one last look at the cross. My heart beat steady now. There was peace, hope, and answers in this room.
I walked outside with renewed strength, the crisp fall air fanning my cheeks on the way to the bus stop.
Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former Grace Awards Finalist and a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner, she’s published six books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in Visit her online at the following places:Blog at https://gailpallotta.blogspot.comFacebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore twitter at https://twitter.com/Hopefulwords (Gail Pallotta @Hopefulwords)
Thanks so much Gail, for sharing our spotlight once again!
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and another Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time take care and God bless. PamT
Here we are on what's supposed to be a "fall" morning and about the only thing that's falling in SWLA are the leaves. The temperature is staying steady with highs in the 90's. I've always said I'm a summer person but I'm ready for cooler temperatures!
Today's guest is not new to our blog. Gail has been in our spotlight, twice. She's shared treasures, thoughts and words with us, but today we're getting a peek into her latest release, Stopped Cold .
Things aren't what they seem in peaceful Mistville, North Carolina.Margaret McWhorter enjoys a laid-back Freshman year in high school swimming and hanging out with friends—until the day her brother, Sean, suffers a stroke from taking steroids. Now he's lying unconscious in a hospital.
Anger sets a fire for retribution inside her, and Margaret vows to make the criminals pay. Even the cop on the case can't stop her from investigating. Looking for justice, she convinces two friends, Jimmy and Emily to join her in a quest that takes them through a twisted, drug-filled sub-culture they discover deep in the woods behind the school. Time and again they walk a treacherous path, and come face-to-face with danger.
All the while Margaret really wants to cure Sean, heal the hate inside, and open her heart to love.
Excerpt: A Chapel. Something urged me to go inside. Maybe it was because I had nowhere else to turn. Maybe it was because Reverend Hopewell’s visit made me believe God would do something about Sean’s condition if I kept asking him to.
A cinder of hope sparked inside me as I walked in the tiny, narrow sanctuary with mahogany paneling and one pew. If only God would make Sean well and lead me to the drug dealers. Did God do that sort of thing? Maybe I didn’t know enough about God to be in here. He wouldn’t approve of all the hate I had for the drug dealers. Jesus preached a Gospel of love. My heart beat so fast.
How could I explain my deep despair to God? Did He care about Sean and me? Through the blur of my tears I peered at the stained glass cross embedded in dark paneling behind the altar, the soft lighting washing over it. I didn’t need to tell God how sad I was. He already knew. Of course, He cared. He sent His only son to die for Sean’s sins and mine.
But did I know the right thing to say to God, especially in my angry state? Reverend Hopewell’s prayers sounded so eloquent when he said them for the youth group. If I ever wanted a prayer to be good enough for God to answer, it was now. The words “Ask and it will be given to you--” popped in my head. I knew they came from the book of Matthew, so I looked it up on my iPhone--Chapter seven, verse seven. I stared at the words for several minutes then turned it off and bowed my head.
‘Dear Lord, Please have mercy on Sean and healhim, if it is your will, and dear Lord, I hope it is. Mom,Dad, and I need him. I’m sorry I haven’t been a better sister, and I’m sorry about the hate I feel toward the drug dealers. Maybe you can help me get over it...if I could just find them. I love Sean so much. If he gets well, I’ll talk to him about the gifts you gave him and tell him what a great brother he is. Please let Dad see that Sean doesn’t need to be a quarterback. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.’I stood and took one last look at the cross. My heart beat steady now. There was peace, hope, and answers in this room.
I walked outside with renewed strength, the crisp fall air fanning my cheeks on the way to the bus stop.
Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former Grace Awards Finalist and a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner, she’s published six books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in Visit her online at the following places:Blog at https://gailpallotta.blogspot.comFacebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore twitter at https://twitter.com/Hopefulwords (Gail Pallotta @Hopefulwords)Thanks so much Gail, for sharing our spotlight once again!
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and another Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time take care and God bless. PamT
September 25, 2019
#WednesdayWordswithFriends Privacy
Good Morning!
Today I get a chance to share some words with you and the word of the day is: PRIVACY.
Image by Chris Sansbury from Pixabay
When you work in the Insurance industry, especially Medicare insurance, you train extensively on the HIPPA law and Privacy acts. Which is fine.
People who collect others' personal information should be required to adhere to strict privacy rules.
But what about the rest of the world? Shouldn't we all be held to a strict code of privacy when family and friends talk to us in confidence. Should the person confiding in us have to say..."Please keep this confidential" ??
No, they shouldn't!
Proverbs (16:28, 11:13, 18:8, 20:19; 26:22), Romans 1:28 and Corinthians 12:20 remind us how detrimental gossip is. Proverbs 6:9 says, "one who sows discord among the brethren is an abomination to the Lord."
Isn't that what gossip or a breach of privacy and confidence does - sow discord among the brethren?
Yeah, I thought so.
Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (tm)
Today I get a chance to share some words with you and the word of the day is: PRIVACY.
Image by Chris Sansbury from Pixabay When you work in the Insurance industry, especially Medicare insurance, you train extensively on the HIPPA law and Privacy acts. Which is fine.
People who collect others' personal information should be required to adhere to strict privacy rules.
But what about the rest of the world? Shouldn't we all be held to a strict code of privacy when family and friends talk to us in confidence. Should the person confiding in us have to say..."Please keep this confidential" ??
No, they shouldn't!
Proverbs (16:28, 11:13, 18:8, 20:19; 26:22), Romans 1:28 and Corinthians 12:20 remind us how detrimental gossip is. Proverbs 6:9 says, "one who sows discord among the brethren is an abomination to the Lord."
Isn't that what gossip or a breach of privacy and confidence does - sow discord among the brethren?
Yeah, I thought so.
Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (tm)
