Ralene Burke's Blog, page 13

November 2015 Goals

I can hardly believe there are only 2 months left in 2015. It seems like just yesterday I was making plans and goals for the new year. Yet, here I am already . . .

I’m not going to make this a long post, because I’m already behind on a bunch of stuff and need all the extra time I can get to get ahead. (That in itself could be one goal–ha!)

Here are my goals for November:

I want to complete Bellanok Part 2 in time to release it later this month. I have committed to NaNoWriMo (50,000 words on...

Happy & Healthy: Preparing for the Holidays

If you’ve been following me on Facebook and such, you know that I haven’t been keeping up with Happy & Healthy this year. I know, I know–shame on me. However, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t take the opportunity RIGHT NOW to start anew, to make better choices, and to share the ups and downs with all of you.

Of course, I would choose the months with the craziest food holidays to jump back in. Let’s just say, my biggest goal is not to GAIN any weight this holiday season. Losing weight would just...

Book Tour: RUN by Glenn Haggerty

One of my clients, Taegais Publishing, just released another book last week. I’m really excited for this MG adventure novel by Glenn Haggerty. I’m even more excited to have him on my blog today! Stay tuned after the interview for more information on Run.

What inspires you when you write?

Several things: Reading books that I really like by other authors—Andrew Klavan has had a big impact on me—but there are so many great books out there, I’d leave too many out if I started listing them! Exerci...

Bellanok is Finally Here!

Today is the day, my friends!

The day all my dreams (since I was a little girl) come true. There is a book out there with MY name on it. Bellanok: The Reluctant Savior is on Amazon!

Thank You

And there are some many people out there to thank. First, and most important, praise be to the my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, without whom none of this would even be possible.

Next to my family who has always been so supportive. I can’t count the number of times my husband herded the kids so I could s...

The Ivy and the Shears (by Peggy Trotter)

I once bought a lovely little plant. A vine, really. It was quite small, but beautiful. I kept the ivy inside for a few months and it didn’t do very well. I started to wondering if it would grow outside. I thought of how wonderful it would be if it would grow along the house in the landscaping and how attractive that would be.

So I took it outside, the feeble thing, with much hope. I found a great place beside the house and planted it, and watered it. Directly it wilted. Hmmm. Apparently it w...

The Week of Bellanok . . . and Two More Books!

Release week is finally here. I am so thrilled . . . oh, man, you just do not even know. There’s also a good measure of fear and uncertainty, as there always is whenever we put ourselves out there in a way that makes us vulnerable. But this story is something God put on my heart, so at least I know my Audience of One approves.

This week, I am also working hurriedly on Part 2, hoping to have that done soon so that I can release that sometime around Thanksgiving. Oh, yes, that soon. The plan is...

Frank the Chair and my Cousin

I’ll bet you didn’t know that the literary bug runs in my family, did you? Reading and writing both run in my DNA. A couple of my aunts, as well as my mom, have been librarians at one point or another. I have a cousin that does some editing and reviewing for books. Then there’s my cousin, Jessica. She published a book. Check out more . . .

Frank the Chair (by Jessica Freeman)

I’m a graphic designer first and foremost, but I actually have been doing photography for much longer. I still do some...

A Kind Word (by Carole Brown)

A kind word doeth good like medicine.

The other day a Facebook friend sent me one of those memes that showed a bear, a saying and the word hugs. When I thanked her, she said she’d be thinking of me and hoped all was good.

At that moment, it was.

Kind words usually give a tiny spark of joy, warmth, laughter or peace. I always like to think of those who use them, as a special person. Let’s think about how kind words benefit:

Never be afraid to pass on a kind word. Have you ever seen a store cle...

ACFW . . . and Realm Makers

Wow! What a whirlwind ACFW conference this year! I really felt like it was here and gone and left me in a cloud of dust. As that dust clears, though, I think this may have been the most inspirational ACFW conference I’ve been to.

For those who may not know, ACFW stands for American Christian Fiction Writers, and they have an annual conference where hundreds of Christian writers from all genres gather together to learn, worship, and fellowship on a long weekend.

Highlights for me this year:

Me...

4 Lessons I Learned from my Readers (by Kathrese McKee)

My new book is finding its fans. I know this because I’ve been receiving feedback from people I’ve never met. It’s no longer my mom, sister, and friends giving me feedback. I’ve relinquished control over where my words will go, and this knowledge that strangers can read my book is both exciting and nerve-racking.

I’m a shy person by nature, and sharing my book has been an exercise in courage and sheer bravado. Most of the remarks I’ve received have been positive. The negative feedback really...