Andrea Renee Cox's Blog, page 7

The Art of Professionalism

In a world where communication is instant and mistakes can tarnish your reputation for a lifetime, professionalism is key to maintaining a thriving business and healthy relationships in your field. It’s especially important to take a breath and pray before sending that email or making that judgment, because maybe the entire situation hasn’t yet been revealed and maybe a quick response won’t come out the way you intend.

The art of professionalism is slowly dying, and it’s up to us to strengthe...

Reading Blues

Recently, editing and writing have gobbled up all my time. I’m not complaining. This is a fantastic problem to have, and I feel incredibly blessed to have such enjoyable work.

However, I do miss my reading time.

This year, I’ve run into a ton of bummer, one-star, did-not-finish (DNF) books that have me yearning for some really good books. Still, finding time to read some favorite authors has been challenging.

I’ve had to get creative in finding reading time. The most fruitful times have...

Prayer List

One thing that has gotten me through a slammed opening to the year is praying through my prayer list. That constant communication with God is so fueling for me. Bonus! It helps my friends, too, because I’m bringing their needs before the only God Who can help.

It has been such a joy bringing the needs of salvation, renewed health, healing from cancer treatments or car accident injuries, contentment, and joy, among other things, to my Heavenly Father. I know He sees every single need long ...

Catching My Breath

Friends, it’s been a wild and busy start to the year. I had a blessed three-day weekend off work, and I took full advantage of it to catch my breath.

Firstly, my parents took me over to Half Price Books to spend a gift card I got for Christmas. I spent more than the gift card, but that’s beside the point. I found some really great books to add to my burgeoning collection. Too bad I don’t yet have time to read the new additions!

Secondly, I worked up a proposal for a book I am excited to wr...

Excitement Amidst the Busyness

Friends, my life is crazy busy right now. I’m working nine- to twelve-hour days on edits, and that doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for other things at the moment. The thing is, I still find myself excited about my own stories–even when I can’t currently work on them much.

For the next two weeks, which happens to also be the next Write In Faith Camp session, I’m trying to carve out at least five minutes a day to work on the third draft of a short story I’m calling Melting-Pot Thanksgiving. I...

Playing Catch-Up

Quick note: Today is the last day to sign up for Pint-Size Write In Faith Camp, Winter 2024. Camp dates are January 15-27. Have you signed up yet?

You know how I mentioned in my newsletter that blog articles will still come out on Mondays? Well, that’s true… unless I’m lost in my work and forgot to find time to jot something for you.

Hence, why I’m showing up on a Wednesday.

Maybe someday I’ll figure out how to schedule ahead again. But that takes time I don’t currently have, so last...

My One Word for 2024 (Plus Two Invitations)

Happy New Year, friends! I hope your Christmas and New Year celebrations were spectacular and filled with lots of love and close friends and family.

You’re invited to two upcoming events!

First, the authors of Springtime in Surrey are hosting a Christmas party on Zoom on January 4, 2024. I won’t be able to attend due to work, but the other authors have lots of games and giveaways planned. I am offering three surprise books as giveaway prizes for the event, and there will be a randomly s...

Five Favorite Things About Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Today, the authors of Springtime in Surrey are sharing their five favorite things about Christmas. Be sure to comment and let us know your five favorites about this most special of holidays, too!

Faith BlumMore time with extended family.Pretty decorations.The joy in my son’s eyes when he sees the Christmas lights every morning.My son’s excitement of everything Christmas: lights, tree, gifts, etc.Reflecting on all the amazing God-things that happe...

Favorite Christmas Movies

This year has blazed by in busyness. While I’ve kept whirling through all the things in December, I’ve also made time to fit in quite a few Christmas and winter-themed movies (only fifteen more to go, which will likely carry over into January). Most of these have served as background noise while I was working on edits as I fit in one more work project for this year, but I have enjoyed several while doing nothing but hanging out with my parents and eating dinner and dessert. Those moments were ch...

Book Quote Extravaganza

Friends, it’s hard to believe we’re coming to the end of another year. This one was quite busy for me, particularly when it came to edit jobs (for which I’m very grateful), but I still managed to read over 125 books.

While I didn’t jot down favorite quotes from all of them, I enjoyed plenty of spectacular lines throughout the year. Here are just a few that stood out to me when I was reading.

A couple of these books ended up being unrecommendable, but even books I don’t enjoy sometimes have...