Sarah Baughman's Blog, page 12

Lessons from Self-Publishing: Patience

(Retype App used for graphic and photo editing.)I’d always considered myself a rather patient person. I typically don’t get aggravated if the grocery store line is longer than I’d planned on it being. If someone cuts me off while driving, I may roll my eyes or say “Oh sure, come on over.” Pretty patient, right? I realized when my husband and I had kids, though, that I was fooling myself. (can anyone else relate?)
Now that I’m self-publishing, I’ve learned that the patience I’ve worked to cultivate since having kids…really hasn’t grown all that much. Rather than waiting until all of the book’s formatting was accomplished before choosing and announcing a date, I chose one based on how things worked with Book One. But they didn’t work with Violet as they did with Penelope.
So much has happened lately in our lives. Almost three weeks ago, my husband was offered a position as a history professor with another university in Texas. We weren’t unhappy where we were before, but this new job is closer to a larger city. There are several family-related reasons that a larger city would be beneficial for us, and we believe that God opened this opportunity. After much prayer, he accepted and we made the move. In a week!
As I was in the middle of the finishing touches of Book Two of my Regency Silhouettes series when this all happened, my publication date was pushed back a little more after multiple previous push-backs, and I’ve had to be patient as I waited.
Now that it’s nearly finished (no date yet, though, until I have the physical proof in hand!), and we are settling into our new home, I’m glad that the delays happened. I’m sorry that it wasn’t ready when I had hoped it would be, but I believe that I’ll be publishing a better product than if everything had gone through without a hitch in the first place. Waiting for God’s timing isn’t always easy, but He invites us to wait in His grace for His movement.
Psalm 37:7 reads: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers on his way, over the man who carries out evil devices.”
Obviously, there’s no fear while working and waiting for my book to be ready that someone evil will prosper in the meantime. How often, though, do we wait for something and while waiting, start comparing our situation to others’? I’m waiting for my book to be ready and start counting all the books of authors I follow who have books come out in that time.
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21).
We make plans, but do they always work out? Sometimes what we plan happens right away. Sometimes we wait. Sometimes God answers no and points us in a different direction. We can take comfort, though, in the knowledge that God is working for our good in all of it. And what is that good?
In speaking about prayer, St. Paul writes in Romans: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28)
From the time I began to write with a real goal of publishing a novel, my prayer has been that God would use my work to speak His salvation, His peace, His love to others. If He would have me wait for whatever reason, I’ll do my best to be ok with that; and if I have trouble being ok with that, I add the prayer for God’s grace to make up what I’m lacking in patiently waiting.
In life, things don’t always work out how we’d planned. In fact, I’d venture to say that they often do not. But keeping a kingdom-view – that is, remembering that as Christians, we are tasked with carrying His kingdom to the world – we can work at being ok with it, we can be flexible enough to roll with the punches the world throws our way and tenacious enough to keep at it until we’re called home to be with Him forever.
(More on flexibility and tenacity to come!)
Dear readers, may you continue in patience and hope, rejoicing in God’s movement in your lives!

(All Scripture taken from English Standard Version.)
...and don't forget, Violet is coming soon! (Photo by Alex Shaw of Shaw Photography.)

[Updated] Regency Selfie!

Had to change the date...more to come on that later! :)

I've had so much fun making dresses for both the cover of Penelope's Hope and again for Violet's Daybreak. The first Regency-period dress I made...


...did not turn out quite as well as I'd hoped, even though "Violet" looked lovely. But you can see how the neckline looks awkward (it was pinned because it didn't fit quite right). After the incredibly fun shoot with an amateur photographer friend, I decided that the dress' paleness didn't quite fit the look I wanted, that I needed to work on how to get a better fit, and I wanted to make sure that if I was going to DIY my cover, I DIY-ed it right.



Fast-forward a couple years, and Penelope was getting ready to make her debut. I made some adjustments to the style of dress, chose different hues, and contacted a local photographer (who is amazing, by the way. Visit her website and see her story and her work.) Also found a graphic designer (who is also amazing - she does photography primarily, but has a natural eye for the graphic design aspect. Check out her website, too!)

I really enjoyed making the dresses, partly because it's another creative outlet for me, and partly because styling a photo set in a different era is so fun!

I want you, my lovely readers, to share in this fun. Style a #RegencySelfie of yourself, tag me, and post it! I'm on Twitter (@SarahBaughman), Instagram (@sarahebaughman), and Facebook, so you can use any or all of these sites! For inspiration, hop over to my #RegencySelfies Board on Pinterest! I'll also be posting about some cheats for Regency styling in the coming weeks until the release date of Violet's Daybreak.

That's right, folks; we're having a #RegencySelfie contest! The prize: A signed copy of either Penelope's Hope or Violet's Daybreak!

The contest will be judged by my good friend Heidi Goehmann, of I Love My Shepherd blog. Here's her #RegencySelfie:

She will choose two winners to receive an autographed copy of one of my books: Penelope's Hope or Violet's Daybreak (winners' choice!). Her judging will be based on creativity, innovation, and ingenuity. Your costumes don't have to be perfectly accurate; I want you to share in the fun of creating a Regency Era image, not in the headaches of worrying about fit and accuracy and all that!

The winners will be announced on June 18th, 2016.

Happy costuming!!!

Regency Selfie!

I've had so much fun making dresses for both the cover of Penelope's Hope and again for Violet's Daybreak. The first Regency-period dress I made...


...did not turn out quite as well as I'd hoped, even though "Violet" looked lovely. But you can see how the neckline looks awkward (it was pinned because it didn't fit quite right). After the incredibly fun shoot with an amateur photographer friend, I decided that the dress' paleness didn't quite fit the look I wanted, that I needed to work on how to get a better fit, and I wanted to make sure that if I was going to DIY my cover, I DIY-ed it right.



Fast-forward a couple years, and Penelope was getting ready to make her debut. I made some adjustments to the style of dress, chose different hues, and contacted a local photographer (who is amazing, by the way. Visit her website and see her story and her work.) Also found a graphic designer (who is also amazing - she does photography primarily, but has a natural eye for the graphic design aspect. Check out her website, too!)

I really enjoyed making the dresses, partly because it's another creative outlet for me, and partly because styling a photo set in a different era is so fun!

I want you, my lovely readers, to share in this fun. Style a #RegencySelfie of yourself, tag me, and post it! I'm on Twitter (@SarahBaughman), Instagram (@sarahebaughman), and Facebook, so you can use any or all of these sites! For inspiration, hop over to my #RegencySelfies Board on Pinterest! I'll also be posting about some cheats for Regency styling in the coming weeks until the release date of Violet's Daybreak.

That's right, folks; we're having a #RegencySelfie contest! The prize: A signed copy of either Penelope's Hope or Violet's Daybreak!

The contest will be judged by my good friend Heidi Goehmann, of I Love My Shepherd blog. Here's her #RegencySelfie:

She will choose two winners to receive an autographed copy of one of my books: Penelope's Hope or Violet's Daybreak (winners' choice!). Her judging will be based on creativity, innovation, and ingenuity. Your costumes don't have to be perfectly accurate; I want you to share in the fun of creating a Regency Era image, not in the headaches of worrying about fit and accuracy and all that!

The winners will be announced on May 28th, 2016.

Happy costuming!!!

What Are Your Priorities?

A good friend and I were talking recently about how to prioritize. Sure, there are things that I would always say are my top priorities: God, husband, children...

But let's get a little deeper. Yes, these are good and noble priorities. They are necessary priorities for my life to function well and for me to fulfill the various things (or vocations!) to which God has called me. But these broad, general terms offer no real direction for where I should focus my energy.

I want to serve God in the people He has put in my life. That's my top priority for what I do. I read His Word to know His heart better, to know how best to serve others and to know more deeply the One who gave Himself for me. I pay attention to the needs of my husband and children, my friends and family, my neighbors and coworkers...looking for ways to serve them. I write the best I can, pray over every plot-line and story-arc and character growth plan...

But I have all these ideas. Ideas of new people and struggles, new aspects of Christian life to explore, problems to solve, stories to tell...What should I work on next?

How do I prioritize?

First, look at what's before you. Whether it's a creative endeavor, a project for work, household tasks to accomplish, or whatever it may be: What has God placed in your lap? Upon your heart?

Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything. (side-note: if you'd like a beautiful, Christ-centered Bible study on the Ecclesiastes 3 in blog format, go here; my friend wrote it and it is a deeply poignant study of this passage, and so very applicable to all things life). Seasons where we focus on school, or jobs, or spouses, or children, or parents, or projects, or friends, or things, or places, or changes, or sameness....our priorities have to shift and change with the seasons of life, or we will be stuck in one place while life flows around us, and we miss some great things.

Example: about five or six years ago, I was in the middle of writing the first draft of Violet's Daybreak, but once I finished it, I sensed that it was time to set aside the writing and focus more on my sweet little ones for a season. Not to set aside the writing permanently, or to not focus on my children now that I'm writing again. But they needed more of me than they do now. Now, they're in school and are learning from their teachers, as well as from me. So I write while they're at school.

Prioritize according to the season of life you are in.

Second, look at what needs to be done. Perhaps you have a houseful of young children who need your attention. Perhaps your church is lacking in Sunday School teachers, and while you've never taught before, you feel the Lord's gentle prodding to step in and help. Perhaps a parent has suffered a setback to his or her health and needs your care for a season.

Remember, though: to everything there is a season. Seasons are transient. Nothing lasts forever but God. When I'm feeling stuck in a difficult place, this phrase is immensely comforting: this, too, shall pass. Nothing lasts, for better or for worse. So rejoice in the wonderful things requiring your priority-focus, and rejoice even in the midst of setting your priorities on the more unpleasant things. For they, too, shall pass.

Finally, look at your task and tackle it as for the Lord. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

A Mother’s Day Story: Sometimes Motherhood is Hard

Because sometimes, our cup feels empty.

I knew that Mother’s Day this year wouldn’t be fantastic. My husband had a really high fever the Friday before, so I called our good friends and asked if they could please come over to stay with our kids while I took him to Urgent Care. Turned out he had the beginnings of pneumonia, so it was a good thing we went in.

Fast-forward to Saturday evening: I’ve been battling an upper-respiratory thing for a couple of weeks, and he’s not feeling too well, so we decide to stay home from church the next day, to try to rest and get better. Hubby called our pastor to be sure that the areas of ministry we help with would be covered, then we explain to the kids that we aren’t feeling well and would be staying home on Sunday.

I woke up this morning and started doing dishes that had fallen to the wayside while we were both sick the last couple of days. Hubby and I discussed getting donuts (I kinda wanted them as a Mother’s Day treat, though I didn’t say that; I probably should have been more straightforward), but he didn’t want to because our oldest is grounded and the line between donuts and dessert (a no-no when you’re grounded) is thin and blurry in our minds. So not feeling the least twinge of guilt, I took the last of the granola a co-worker made for me for Administrative Assistants Day (which, incidentally, was much yummier than what I usually make, even though she used my recipe). We all ate cereal or yogurt for breakfast, and I read my Bible without the time-constraints usually associated with Mom’s Breakfast Devotion Time. When the fifteen-year-old, though, started his usual back-talking, disrespectful diatribe toward the end of breakfast, I felt the hollow sadness start seeping in even as I read God’s Word. By the time he finished eating, and I finished the chapter, it was hard to hold back the tears.

[Note: We were given guardianship just five years ago, and the first ten years of life are so formative, so it’s difficult in a different aspect than a lot of teens. Diagnosed with low-on-the-spectrum Autism, he has very poor impulse control and has yet to learn how to keep rude comments to himself. But we’re working on it with him.]

After everyone else left the table, I went into my bathroom, shut the door, and had (I’m ashamed to say) a short pity-party. I typed “I hate mother’s day” into my phone, but all that turned up was  stuff written by less-than-stellar mothers. Mine is great; she’s a wonderful example of service to others, loving discipline, and generosity pouring forth in word and action. I tried searching “I got nothing for mother’s day” (which isn’t true because my husband has been making plans for a few days, but the pneumonia derailed the execution of his plans, and my father sent a gift, and my kids all made me something. But, as I already said, I was having a pity party.). The awesome thing about this search? The top link was to this article, entitled “How to Have a Happy Mother’s Day (even when you get nothing)”. The first half of it was a little intense in it’s lambasting moms who might be complaining that they didn’t get everything they wanted, or that the day didn’t live up to the media’s projected expectation of what Mother’s Day should be. However, the second half was what really spoke to me. Yes, as a mother, I’ve signed up for the hard and heartbreaking and hairy stuff as well as the happy and hilarious (like my alliteration there?). But what the writer of the article said was that Mother’s Day is what you make it. Be a mother. Do what you love with your family and get over the need to do whatever you think you should get to do.

I don’t really like being served anyway; it makes me uncomfortable.

So, I dried my tears, marched out to the family room to announce that in one hour, we’d be watching a movie of my choice and eating popcorn, because that’s what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day. I then went to finish washing the dishes before sitting down to write this post. As I type, the kiddos are picking up and vacuuming the family room so we can cuddle with blankets and pillows on the floor. It’s going to be a great day.

So. Why did I share all this? Because I know I’m not the only one. I’m not the only mom who’s tired and sick and not quite where she’d thought she’d be on Mother’s Day. Because I want to encourage you, tired and sick and lonely mamas, that you’re not alone. We have an Advocate, Who’s been there. Not as a mom, but as much more. He gets it.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.   ~ 2 Corinthians 8:9

And aren’t we poor, as tired and sick and lonely and stretched-too-thin mamas? Yet He was poor first, and He did it for us. Let’s rally behind Him, draw strength from Him, and follow Him in to the battle that is motherhood. Because we love the little ones (or bigger ones) that He’s given us to raise. Because we want to share, to sprinkle, to pour His love on them, and on all those around us. So get up, dry your tears, and get back into the fray!

A Mother's Day Story: Sometimes Motherhood is Hard

Because sometimes, our cup feels empty.I knew that Mother's Day this year wouldn't be fantastic. My husband had a really high fever the Friday before, so I called our good friends and asked if they could please come over to stay with our kids while I took him to Urgent Care. Turned out he had the beginnings of pneumonia, so it was a good thing we went in.

Fast-forward to Saturday evening: I've been battling an upper-respiratory thing for a couple of weeks, and he's not feeling too well, so we decide to stay home from church the next day, to try to rest and get better. Hubby called our pastor to be sure that the areas of ministry we help with would be covered, then we explain to the kids that we aren't feeling well and would be staying home on Sunday.

I woke up this morning and started doing dishes that had fallen to the wayside while we were both sick the last couple of days. Hubby and I discussed getting donuts (I kinda wanted them as a Mother's Day treat, though I didn't say that; I probably should have been more straightforward), but he didn't want to because our oldest is grounded and the line between donuts and dessert (a no-no when you're grounded) is thin and blurry in our minds. So not feeling the least twinge of guilt, I took the last of the granola a co-worker made for me for Administrative Assistants Day (which, incidentally, was much yummier than what I usually make, even though she used my recipe). We all ate cereal or yogurt for breakfast, and I read my Bible without the time-constraints usually associated with Mom's Breakfast Devotion Time. When the fifteen-year-old, though, started his usual back-talking, disrespectful diatribe toward the end of breakfast, I felt the hollow sadness start seeping in even as I read God's Word. By the time he finished eating, and I finished the chapter, it was hard to hold back the tears.

[Note: We were given guardianship just five years ago, and the first ten years of life are so formative, so it's difficult in a different aspect than a lot of teens. Diagnosed with low-on-the-spectrum Autism, he has very poor impulse control and has yet to learn how to keep rude comments to himself. But we're working on it with him.]

After everyone else left the table, I went into my bathroom, shut the door, and had (I'm ashamed to say) a short pity-party. I typed "I hate mother's day" into my phone, but all that turned up was  stuff written by less-than-stellar mothers. Mine is great; she's a wonderful example of service to others, loving discipline, and generosity pouring forth in word and action. I tried searching "I got nothing for mother's day" (which isn't true because my husband has been making plans for a few days, but the pneumonia derailed the execution of his plans, and my father sent a gift, and my kids all made me something. But, as I already said, I was having a pity party.). The awesome thing about this search? The top link was to this article, entitled "How to Have a Happy Mother's Day (even when you get nothing)". The first half of it was a little intense in it's lambasting moms who might be complaining that they didn't get everything they wanted, or that the day didn't live up to the media's projected expectation of what Mother's Day should be. However, the second half was what really spoke to me. Yes, as a mother, I've signed up for the hard and heartbreaking and hairy stuff as well as the happy and hilarious (like my alliteration there?). But what the writer of the article said was that Mother's Day is what you make it. Be a mother. Do what you love with your family and get over the need to do whatever you think you should get to do.

I don't really like being served anyway; it makes me uncomfortable.

So, I dried my tears, marched out to the family room to announce that in one hour, we'd be watching a movie of my choice and eating popcorn, because that's what I wanted to do for Mother's Day. I then went to finish washing the dishes before sitting down to write this post. As I type, the kiddos are picking up and vacuuming the family room so we can cuddle with blankets and pillows on the floor. It's going to be a great day.

So. Why did I share all this? Because I know I'm not the only one. I'm not the only mom who's tired and sick and not quite where she'd thought she'd be on Mother's Day. Because I want to encourage you, tired and sick and lonely mamas, that you're not alone. We have an Advocate, Who's been there. Not as a mom, but as much more. He gets it.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.   ~ 2 Corinthians 8:9

And aren't we poor, as tired and sick and lonely and stretched-too-thin mamas? Yet He was poor first, and He did it for us. Let's rally behind Him, draw strength from Him, and follow Him in to the battle that is motherhood. Because we love the little ones (or bigger ones) that He's given us to raise. Because we want to share, to sprinkle, to pour His love on them, and on all those around us. So get up, dry your tears, and get back into the fray!

For your viewing pleasure…

Hello Readers!

I’ve been quiet for a little while, and I’m so sorry! But today I have exciting news…the cover for Violet’s Daybreak is here! We had some fun with some different items that sort of show who Violet is. The basket? She finds fulfillment in sharing with others.

The bonnet may seem a little extravagant for our shy little Violet, but remember that during this time period, many bonnets had much more elaborate trim. Two simple ostrich feathers and some ribbon make for a rather modest bonnet.

This house is on the SFA Native Plant Center grounds, and they graciously agreed to allow us to take the photos there. Amny, who modeled Violet, has spent a good deal of time there, as she’s finishing up her BA in horticulture. In my mind, this is the house where Violet grew up.

 I really can’t say enough how pleased I am with this beautiful cover. (A huge thank you to Alex Shaw, Melissa Sue, and Amny!)

For your viewing pleasure...

Hello Readers!

I've been quiet for a little while, and I'm so sorry! But today I have exciting news...the cover for Violet's Daybreak is here! We had some fun with some different items that sort of show who Violet is. The basket? She finds fulfillment in sharing with others.


The bonnet may seem a little extravagant for our shy little Violet, but remember that during this time period, many bonnets had much more elaborate trim. Two simple ostrich feathers and some ribbon make for a rather modest bonnet.
This house is on the SFA Native Plant Center grounds, and they graciously agreed to allow us to take the photos there. Amny, who modeled Violet, has spent a good deal of time there, as she's finishing up her BA in horticulture. In my mind, this is the house where Violet grew up.

 I really can't say enough how pleased I am with this beautiful cover. (A huge thank you to Alex Shaw, Melissa Sue, and Amny!)

Violet’s Getting Ready!

I’ve been working on some exciting stuff for Violet’s Daybreak in the past few weeks… And may I say, I’m so very relieved to have some of it behind me! The cover photo has been taken, the edits are well underway, and Book Two of Regency Silhouettes is getting nearer and nearer to completion!

Unfortunately, it isn’t going to be finished quite as soon as I’d hoped. Because I want this book to be as well-done as possible, I really don’t want to rush its publication. In the meantime, though, I’m looking for some people who’d be willing to read an Advanced Review Copy and share with others what they thought! If you think you would, email me for more info!

In the meantime, here’s a quick photo I snapped while the photographer was taking her own (much better!) shots.

Violet's Getting Ready!

I've been working on some exciting stuff for Violet's Daybreak in the past few weeks... And may I say, I'm so very relieved to have some of it behind me! The cover photo has been taken, the edits are well underway, and Book Two of Regency Silhouettes is getting nearer and nearer to completion!

Unfortunately, it isn't going to be finished quite as soon as I'd hoped. Because I want this book to be as well-done as possible, I really don't want to rush its publication. In the meantime, though, I'm looking for some people who'd be willing to read an Advanced Review Copy and share with others what they thought! If you think you would, email me for more info!

In the meantime, here's a quick photo I snapped while the photographer was taking her own (much better!) shots. :)
Amny in the part of Violet. Isn't she darling?