Ann Harrison's Blog, page 4

Inspirational Journeys Presents: The Importance of Finishing What you Start in Your Walk with God as a Writer

Hello lovely readers in the blogosphere,

In today’s YouTube video and podcast episode, the Lord laid it on my heart to encourage you, dear listeners and viewers, to finish what you start. God has a purpose and a plan for our lives. We all have a message to share. When we complete the task God has set before us, He uses the message, story and other pieces of writing He has laid on our hearts for His glory.

The passages I used to illustrate my points are: 2 Corinthians 8:10–11; Ephesians 2:10; 3:20–21; and Romans 8: 28–30. All the passages of scripture I read in this episode are taken from the King James version of the Holy Bible.

To further illustrate the points I make in this discussion, I’d like to recommend  Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff. To learn more about the author, check out his website And follow him on Goodreads.

 

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Inspirational Journeys Presents: The World Needs Your Story with Benecia Ponder

As requested by my special guest, our faces will not be on camera, but you can still hear our amazing Christ centered, Holy Spirit inspired conversation on YouTube or my podcast. The world needs your story. That’s the theme of my interview with Benecia Ponder.

 

Benecia Ponder is a Story Coach and Book Publishing Mentor to Inspirational Authors—faith-driven creators who share their God-given gifts and

life experiences through powerful stories that inspire and impact lives. Benecia is the award-winning author of six books of her own and has helped hundreds

of entrepreneurs make a bigger difference and profit by getting their stories out of their hearts and onto the page to impact and inspire the people they

are called to serve.

Benecia’s clients want to tell their story and have a real impact on the world. They want to open doors to connect with people they feel called to serve.

 

Since 2006, Benecia has been helping entrepreneurs and organizations clarify, hone, and share their messages to inspire change.

With more than two decades of passionate experience helping storytellers go all the way from outlining to publication, Benecia loves to speak, teach and

motivate entrepreneurs.

Want to show your people how to write, publish, and leverage a book that boosts their business with more clients, credibility, and cash flow? Benecia would

love to be a part of that.

“I believe we all have a message…a beautiful, transformational message that has the power to create a positive impact in the lives of others.”

Benecia’s featured books include: LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE: Turn On Your Power to Impact & Inspire With Your Story, and BREAKTHROUGH MOMENTS

14 Inspirational Authors Share Their Stories of Faith, Hope, Resilience

and God’s Amazing Grace.

Description:

You may still be wondering, “Why should I share my story? What difference could it possibly make?” Hold that thought as you embark on this journey, the

journey to unveil the true potential of your story. By the end of this experience, I pray you have clear, resounding proof that you, yes YOU, have a unique

and powerful story that the world is waiting to hear. In these pages, I hope to inspire and empower you to share your story, embrace your inner power,

and let your light shine bright. This journal is an invitation—use its prompts as waypoints along your path so that each page brings new insight into the

light God created you to be. As understanding takes root, ignite the light inside yourself and become a beacon for others seeking their own destiny—accept

nothing less than extraordinary from yourself! You have so much to offer the world, and your light can help guide others along their own paths. Your story

and message matter, and I am honored to be a part of the journey to help you share that message with the world. So let’s turn on our power, illuminate

the world, and light the way for others. Your light is needed now more than ever.

Breakthrough Moments is a collection of powerful and inspiring stories of individuals who, in the face of adversity and uncertainty, found the courage

to cling to their faith and hope for a better future.

From a woman who survived a life-threatening illness to a man who battled addiction and turned his life around, each story highlights a unique struggle

and the transformative power of active faith.

Through their trials and tribulations, these individuals discovered inner strength, resilience, and the ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Whether facing illness, loss, life-altering circumstances, or debilitating fear and anxiety, they found the courage to press on and never give up.

With each story, readers will be reminded of the limitless potential of the human spirit and the power of faith and hope to carry us through even the darkest

of moments.

“I’ve learned that the bigger the obstacle or challenge, the bigger the opportunity to see God’s amazing grace at work to create amazing breakthrough moments.”

 

Purchase link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/195068136X/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_apa_gl_i_8SKCHYF9Q49SZP0Y927G?linkCode=ml1&tag=beneciaponder-20

Connect with Benecia at the following links:

https://www.inspirationalauthors.org/

https://inspirationaldevotionals.com/

https://instagram.com/beneciaponder

https://www.facebook.com/inspirationalauthors

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beneciaponder

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Inspirational Journeys Presents: Powerful Whispers from the Holy Spirit with Christa Spaeth

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through powerful whispers. That’s what my special guest Christa Spaeth and I discuss, along with her writing process in today’s YouTube video and podcast episode. Be sure to have your journal ready, because there are some golden nuggets you’ll want to walk away from this conversation with.

Christa Joy Spaeth is the founder of Christa Joy Ministries. It was founded in 2022 when Minnesota-based author Christa received a compelling

message from God. In a prayer cabin called “Whisper,” He prompted her to write a seven-week devotional titled “Powerful Whispers”.

Since then, Christa’s eyes, heart, and ears were opened to more whispers, so that she may start fulfilling her new purpose of helping the hurting and share

the love of Christ. This blessed wife, mother of two, and businesswoman is passionate about living up to God’s plans for her every day. So much so that

in 2022, she stepped down from her decades-long career as a Registered Dietitian at a large food manufacturing company to pursue the promptings of the

Lord and encourage others in Christ.

Today, Christa owns and operates Christa Joy Ministries where she publishes her own books, writes encouragements and God whispers on her social media accounts. In addition, she does guest blog posts for various social media accounts.

Christa’s featured book is entitled: Powerful Whispers: A 7-Week Journey Discovering Who You are To God

Description: Live boldly with God on your side! Keep reading for a 7-week daily devotional book that will help you grow closer to God and grow stronger

spiritually!

What does God mean to me? What do I mean to God? How does He influence my way of life? How can I become more aligned with Him and His love?

These are just some of the questions that have probably crossed your mind as you self-reflect on your spiritual journey with God.

You may have lingering doubts about how important you are to God, or you simply want Him to lead you down a more righteous path, it doesn’t really matter.

God wants to know YOU — all of you.

He wants to become part of every decision you make, every emotion you express, every thought that crosses your mind.

He wants to get to know the child that He has created.

And the only way to do that is to dig a little deeper into who you are and who you can be in His eyes. It is only then that you will be able to hear His

“whispers”.

“Powerful Whispers: A 7-Week Journey Discovering Who You Are to God” by Christa Joy Spaeth is the tool you need to grow your trust, love, and knowledge

of the Lord’s love for you in just 7 weeks.

Purchase link:

https://www.christajoyministries.com/powerful-whispers

Connect with Christa at the following links:

https://www.christajoyministries.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ChristaJoyMinistries/

https://www.instagram.com/christajoyministries

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Inspirational Journeys Presents: Connect with the Holy Spirit as you Write with Kyllie Martin

Do you connect with the Holy Spirit as you write? Do you find joy in your writing? These are some of the topics my special guest and I discuss in today’s YouTube video and podcast episode

Kyllie currently resides in Redding California with her husband and two children. A New Zealand speaker and author passionate to see the Kingdom

of God fully expressed here on earth. After years of moving from one trial to the next she found joy to new levels and received the oil of gladness for

her mourning. When she’s not spending time with her friends and family you’ll find her working on her next project and planning their return to New Zealand.

Kyllie’s debut book is entitled Unlimited Joy: Accessing all that is Promised.

Description:

Kyllie Martin thought she’d navigated two decades of suffering well, joyfully even, until God placed her in an environment where she encountered

authentic, attractive, overflowing joy. After witnessing first-hand the strength that joy imparts, she wanted it for herself. So, she asked the Lord to

teach her about His joy. Thus began a two-year journey of study and exploration. In her debut book, Unlimited Joy, Kyllie shares what the Lord taught her

as she traced the theme of joy throughout the Bible and allowed the Holy Spirit to fill her again and again with the joy of the Lord.

As you read, you will discover there’s more to be had than simply getting through life’s challenges with your faith intact. You’ll learn how to:

Overcome despondency and encounter heaven’s joy

Practically activate joy in your life

Facilitate a joy-outbreak in your community, church, and nation!

Jesus wants you to have more than just a little bit of joy. He wants you to experience the fullness of it! Receive it, release it, and be transformed by

the power of supernatural joy.

Purchase link:

https://www.kylliemartin.com/unlimited-joy

Connect with Kyllie at the following links:

https://www.kylliemartin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/kylliemartinauthor

https://www.instagram.com/kylliemartinauthor

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Inspirational Journeys Presents: Kingdom Connections Through Fiction with Wendy Jo Cerna

 

 

A Kingdom connection is always orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, especially when the connection is between two like-minded fiction authors. This is what happened when Wendy Jo Cerna appeared as my first guest in my brand new Kingdom Connections interview series. Watch the YouTube video or listen to today’s podcast episode as God shows us how he can provide the inspiration needed to write life changing fiction that meets people where they are so they can hear the message He has laid on our hearts to advance His kingdom.

Born into a family of educators in Minnesota, Wendy Jo Cerna’s love of books and education was inevitable, eventually leading her into the

world of theater in college, where she earned a BA in Drama from the University of Washington and later an MS in Psychology from Walden University.

After an inspirational nudge, Wendy Jo authored, The Baby-Catcher Gate in 2017, followed by her second fictional work, The Agreements, in 2020. Her most

recent novel, Solbakken: A Tale of Generations, is an intriguing story of mystery and generational bonds.

 

Description:

Tora, a 65-year-old woman, is wading through an identity malaise on the tail end of the covid era. She is at odds with her daughter and unsure

of the impact of her life on a broader scope. A break-in at her grandparents’ homestead in far northern Minnesota gives her a cleanup project to sink her

teeth into. As she sorts through the mess, she uncovers family secrets that lead her to lines of inquiry with her extended family and further examination

of her family tree. All the details begin to fall into place by means of surprising discoveries, vivid dreams, and a strange new neighbor whose history

is shrouded in its own layer of mystery.

 

Purchase link:

https://www.amazon.com/Solbakken-Generations-Wendy-Jo-Cerna/dp/1957293160/

 

Connect with Wendy at the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/wendyjocerna

https://www.instagram.com/wendyjocerna/

https://www.wendyjocerna.com/

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5 Tips for creating character rules for Fantasy and its subgenres

Hello everyone in the blogosphere.

If you’re writing fantasy or any subgenre such as magical realism, urban fantasy or contemporary fantasy, here’s what I’ve learned to keep your characters in line with your story structure. I learned from Caitlin Alexander, author of She’s Still Here, published by Monarch Educational Services, to create a set of rules for your supernatural and/or fantasy characters and apply them to your novel. Use these five tips to create your own set of rules for your fantasy characters.

 

Create rules for your supernatural characters.

 

If you have ghosts or angelic spirits in your book, creating a list of rules will give you a specific direction to take these characters in, and will satisfy your readers. This especially true if you’re writing middle grade or YA magical realism or paranormal, but it can also work for adult paranormal and magical realism. Here are a couple of basic questions to consider when creating these rules, but you can make these rules your own, and create as many rules as you need for your standalone title or series.

Who has access to your supernatural characters such as ghosts, angelic spirits etc.?How do these supernatural beings communicate with your contemporary characters?

 

Create rules for your society, team or group.

 

This tip applies to my Spirit Writer Society series, but it also applies to you if you have a group of characters who work together to solve a mystery, fight off an enemy, or resolve some type of conflict in your fantasy novel or series. Here are three tips that I used to create my Spirit Writer Society rules, which can help you create your team rules as well.

List the characters in your group, team, council etc., and each character’s specific role in the group.List the team rules group members must follow at all cost.List the consequences members will face if any of the rules listed above are broken.

 

Create rules for unusual characters.

 

If you have an object that serves as a character in your story, create rules for this character to go along with your other supernatural or magical characters. For example, the Stepping Stones in my Spirit Writer Society series is a character in itself, because it has special abilities. This serves as a reminder for me to create my own list of rules for it. Here are some tips to get you started.

Create a list of abilities for your unusual character.Create a list of rules the character must follow when using these special abilities.Create a list of consequences when the character breaks these rules and their effect on other characters.

 

Create rules for your magic system.

 

If you’re writing Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, or Fantasy chapters for children, I highly recommend creating a magic system and a set of rules for this system. Along with the rules, I also suggest creating a list of things that can go wrong if the rules aren’t followed for your magic system.

 

Create rules for your fantasy villain.

 

Here’s a bonus tip just for fun. Try creating a list of rules for your supernatural, or magical villain character. For example, I have a character in a fantasy chapter book sitting on my computer that is an evil Ballerina doll, mounted on a table, in the center of the toy infirmary. She spins the magical land of Stuff-a-Doodle into chaos as she spins on her table. Once I’m finished with this magical realism series, If God leads me to pick up this fantasy series, I’m going to create rules for this character as well as my magical toy characters.

Have fun creating these rules and let me know how these ideas have sparked your creativity and how you’ve been inspired to take your story to the next level in the comments, or by creating your own blogpost with a pingback to this one. I’d love to hear how these tips have helped you hone your writing in fantasy and its subgenres.

To learn more about Magical Realism as a subgenre of Fantasy, check out this blogpost by Kim Ventrella, author of Skeleton Tree.

I also took a deeper dive into this topic on today’s YouTube video and podcast episode.

Until next time, happy writing and God bless.

Hugs,

Ann

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Inspirational Journeys Presents: Stories of Faith, Courage, and Grit with Susan K Beatty

Do you love stories about faith, courage, and grit? Do you love stories where the protagonist learns to trust in God to give her the faith and courage to face life’s challenges in order to complete the tasks He sets before her? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Today, my special guest and I talk about her women’s fiction with Faith, Courage, Grit, a hint of Romance, and in her latest book, suspense. Grab a snack and a cup of whatever beverage suits your fancy and join the conversation via YouTube or the podcast. Be sure to have your journal handy, because you may find a valuable nugget or two along the way.

Susan K. Beatty is in her third career—from journalist to homeschool tech writer to her life-long dream to be a novelist. She is proof you can start a new writing career late in life. Susan released her first published fiction in September 2019 and is now an award-winning author. Novel number eight released May 16 and number nine releases May 30, 2023. She is passionate about finding courage through faith and grit. Susan is the author of the California Homeschool Manual (in her second career), was the assistant director of the SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference, and is the president of her local ACFW-OC Chapter.

Susan’s latest book is entitled Relinquished.

No one takes her kid and gets away with it.

When Teagan Parsons discovers that the Amber Alert on a celebrity couple’s child is actually her daughter, she’s determined to rescue the daughter she relinquished years ago. If she’d only realized the emotions her mission would rekindle…

Having a cousin in the FBI gets her closer to the case than she could have dreamed, but instead of listening to the lead FBI agent’s warnings to “leave the job to the professionals,” Teagan begins following everyone she suspects. That old saying, “Don’t quit your day job,” has never been truer, but she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her daughter home safe.

Mitch McCartney has enough trouble on his hands without dealing with a guilt-ridden, biological mother bent on making up for past sins. Teagan seems to have developed a talent for getting things wrong and putting herself in danger. Oh… and she’s adding theft to her rap sheet—theft of his heart, anyway.

Then Teagan goes missing.

Learning you can’t undo the past is a tough enough lesson without adding on more mistakes, but with Mitch’s help, Teagan may, with the Lord’s Guidance, forge a brighter future this time.

Click the button below to download the free sample chapter. If you like what you read, be sure to purchase the book on Amazon and leave an honest review.

Connect with Susan at the following links:

https://www.susankbeatty.com/   (Website)

Subscription link: https://bit.ly/3H6TWl4

https://madmimi.com/signups/27766cdc2adc4e8fb10cf446d3b32711/join

https://www.facebook.com/SusanKBeattyAuthor/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1169775503218317/

https://www.amazon.com/author/susankbeatty https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19509173.Susan_K_Beatty

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan-k-beatty

https://www.instagram.com/susankbeattyauthor/

https://www.pinterest.com/SusanKBeattyAuthor/

https://twitter.com/sk_beattyauthor/ Relinquished-Chapter-One-Print

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Inspirational Journeys Presents: Disconnected Book Launch Celebration with Riley Cross

Today on Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter, Riley Cross joins me to talk about her writing process and her debut novel entitled Disconnected. As Riley and I talked about her writing process, we coined a new term for writers who plot a little and pants a little. NaNoWriMo calls us plantsers, but we coined the term plotser to describe us. Check out the YouTube video and podcast episode and join in the fun filled conversation, where you’ll find a few nuggets for writers and readers in the mix.

Riley Cross is a SciFi Author who loves merging the elements of fantasy, science, and reality together. Her debut novel, Disconnected, is being released on May 10th! Whenever possible, she enjoys brewing chocolate coffee and writing to pirate-themed music. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok with @WritingbyRiley to continue the conversation!

Chiara was born a mistake. An Anomaly. In her struggle to belong in Unity’s genetically engineered social system, Chiara finds herself in the crosshairs of Auto, the ever-watching AI.

When her parents and grandfather are killed in a series of mysterious accidents, the teen is plagued by disturbing fragments of memory that suggest the deaths were no accident. Only Kaynine, her loyal robot dog, knows for sure what happened, and Chiara must find its corrupted memory files. She is desperate for the truth even if the cost is abandoning Silas, her long-time friend and unsanctioned crush.

She is on the verge of losing it all: honors-class ranking, best friend, and her dream of becoming an inventor.

The virtual realm and reality collide as Chiara’s coding skills enable her to search for answers in the Forbidden Library. And when her journey takes her past Unity’s city limits and face-to-face with other social outcasts, Chiara realizes that one girl with a book just might be dangerous enough to crash the entire system of lies.

Fans of dystopian science fiction will love the novel’s deadly plot twists as it explores the darker nature of chasing perfection.

Purchase Disconnected at the following links:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disconnected-riley-cross/1142839644
https://www.amazon.com/dp/195765614X?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_KKK3MBXVM7TM6N2AK568

Connect with Riley at the following links:

Twitter : https://twitter.com/WritingbyRiley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riley.cross.102

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writingbyriley/

Website: https://writingbyriley.wixsite.com/writepi          

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Inspirational Journeys Presents: Let me Tell you a Story

Hello everyone in the blogosphere. I have a question for you to consider. What story will you tell your audience?

Let me tell you a story. That’s the topic of today’s YouTube video and podcast episode. The Holy Spirit led me to share my story of how I became an author and the reason for my podcast title. This episode was inspired by a TEDX talk entitled The Danger of a Single Story, which you can watch here.

I challenge you to share your story with your audience and pingback to this post, so I can see what you’ve posted on your blogs and websites. You can also tag me on social media by clicking the links at the bottom of this post.

Visit www.everyday-excellence.com and use promo code Inspirational Journeys to get 10% off any product on the site.

Support this podcast with a monthly donation by visiting:

https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/support

or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at:

https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?c...

Follow me on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and connect with me on LinkedIn.

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Original Poetry: Open Air Poem

I started writing the following poem in February, when we had a few warm, sunny days. I finished it after being a guest on an up and coming podcast called Celebrating New Poems, hosted by Garry Cox.

 

I’m sitting in my swing

In the open air.

Thinking of taking a walk

Oh what pre-Spring joy to share

As the Lord and I have a talk.

 

On this February  day

Out in the sunshine I’d rather stay

Instead of wasting precious time

Stuck inside the house all day.

 

I love to feel the gentle breeze

And hear the wind chimes ring

On a beautiful, warm spring day

While sitting in my comfy swing.

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