Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 186
October 14, 2015
Signs of fall
“Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons; And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration; But My people do not know the ordinance of the Lord." Jeremiah 8:7
This morning as I was driving to the coffee shop to get some writing done, I passed a small lake. Geese dotted the surface. Now, this isn't an unusual sight here in Rochester. I've heard it said that there are more geese than people in Rochester, and there are 100K plus people in Rochester.
(These are some of the geese on Silver Lake here in Rochester. The water never freezes thanks to a power plant dumping warm water into the lake all year.)
However, though geese on a lake in Rochester isn't an unusual sight, I was reminded that fall is here and many birds are migrating to warmer temperatures. I was reminded that nobody tells the birds when to go. They just know. God has gifted them with instincts that signal when to move on.
I was also reminded of God's faithfulness to us in changing the seasons. Seed time and harvest, summer and winter, spring and fall. He never fails. Unlike Narnia, where it was always winter but never Christmas, God has set the seasons in motion, and by Him all of it consists and continues in order.
The above verse, about how the birds understand the seasons and that God is faithful, and yet His children don't remember His truths was a good for me today. God's faithfulness is all around us, everywhere we look, in every aspect of our lives. The changing of the leaves from green to brilliant reds and oranges, the briskness of the wind, the scudding of the clouds across a gray sky, and yes, the honking of the geese as they wing their way to warmer temperatures, reminds us of our Mighty God.
Our maple hedge in the fall.
What have you seen this fall that reminds you of our God?
Erica Vetsch:Executive AssistantEarl Grey Aficionado Find me on PINTERESTFind me on GOODREADSFind me on AMAZON.COMFind me on FACEBOOKFind me on my WEBSITE
October 13, 2015
Do you prefer Bittersweet Tragedy or Happy Ever After?
No one wanted Danny to die in the movie Pearl Harbor. In fact, when Danny died, I threw my shoe at the TV, gasped like a dying whale, and used up my Puffs Plus with Lotion like there would never be another box made in my lifetime.
Check it out: (there is a bit of war graphics so be cautious if you don't like that sort of thing)
If you watched that scene, we all know why we don't want the hero to die. It's heartbreaking, heart rending, and we feel the loss as if they were our own. Typically, by the time the hero gives his last breath, we have traveled with him through an entire novel (or movie) and more than the just the hero is lost.
Striving for something. A hero is reaching for something, needs to conquer something, or is overcoming insurmountable obstacles. In the movie Pearl Harbor Danny already lost his best friend Rafe, or so he thought -- he fell in love with Rafe's girl, and then Rafe returns from being MIA to find his girl committed to Danny. It's betrayal of the worst sort. Not just to Rafe, but to Rafe's memory. Danny wants his best friend to return, but insurmountable turmoil both emotional and the toil from war, keep them from overcoming the bitterness. Until this last scene, when Danny gives his life for Rafe and Rafe shows forgiveness and grief as he tells Danny that Danny is going to be a daddy. "No -- you are". It's the ultimate love, the ultimate gift ...
As a writer, I'm trying really hard to learn the balance of a great hero. Heroes, frankly, come way easier to me than writing heroines. No clue why. But I do try not to off my hero if it's not necessary. Really. Because most of the time it doesn't add to the story -- sometimes my story can be richer if the hero, you know, lives!
BUT! In Pearl Harbor, it was necessary to communicate the horror of war, the sacrifices our heroes made in one of the darkest times in American history, and -- one of the boys had to get the girl, they couldn't both have her.
Which brings to mind Nicholas Sparks. He's certainly carved out his niche of faithful followers. But in reality, a lot of readers want to escape reality and not dwell in the sadness that is grief and loss. But even in Sparks' novels, the character's death serves a purpose. Without it, the story could not happen. But I swear, every one of his novels is riddled with that bittersweet, throw your shoe, type of romance. And he's a best selling author.
So as a writer, here is my question for you as a reader: How do you feel when a main character dies in a novel? Are you a Sparks reader, or not?
I'm just trying to gauge that balance between the bittersweet tragedy vs. the happy ever after, as both seem to be very popular.
Talk to me! Tell me what you think!
_________________________________________
Jaime Jo Wright
author of spirited turn-of-the-century romance, stained with suspense
COMING SOON!
March 2016, "The Cowgirl's Lasso", The Cowboy Bride's Novella Collection, from Barbour Publishing
August, 2016,"Gold Haven Heiress", The California Gold Rush Brides Collection, from Barbour Publishing
Visit Jaime's web site: jaimejowright.com
Email Jaime - jaimejowright at gmail dot com
Like Jaime on Facebook
Friend Jaime on Twitter
Meet Jaime on Pinterest
Don't forget Instagram
Check it out: (there is a bit of war graphics so be cautious if you don't like that sort of thing)
If you watched that scene, we all know why we don't want the hero to die. It's heartbreaking, heart rending, and we feel the loss as if they were our own. Typically, by the time the hero gives his last breath, we have traveled with him through an entire novel (or movie) and more than the just the hero is lost.
Striving for something. A hero is reaching for something, needs to conquer something, or is overcoming insurmountable obstacles. In the movie Pearl Harbor Danny already lost his best friend Rafe, or so he thought -- he fell in love with Rafe's girl, and then Rafe returns from being MIA to find his girl committed to Danny. It's betrayal of the worst sort. Not just to Rafe, but to Rafe's memory. Danny wants his best friend to return, but insurmountable turmoil both emotional and the toil from war, keep them from overcoming the bitterness. Until this last scene, when Danny gives his life for Rafe and Rafe shows forgiveness and grief as he tells Danny that Danny is going to be a daddy. "No -- you are". It's the ultimate love, the ultimate gift ...
As a writer, I'm trying really hard to learn the balance of a great hero. Heroes, frankly, come way easier to me than writing heroines. No clue why. But I do try not to off my hero if it's not necessary. Really. Because most of the time it doesn't add to the story -- sometimes my story can be richer if the hero, you know, lives!
BUT! In Pearl Harbor, it was necessary to communicate the horror of war, the sacrifices our heroes made in one of the darkest times in American history, and -- one of the boys had to get the girl, they couldn't both have her.
Which brings to mind Nicholas Sparks. He's certainly carved out his niche of faithful followers. But in reality, a lot of readers want to escape reality and not dwell in the sadness that is grief and loss. But even in Sparks' novels, the character's death serves a purpose. Without it, the story could not happen. But I swear, every one of his novels is riddled with that bittersweet, throw your shoe, type of romance. And he's a best selling author.
So as a writer, here is my question for you as a reader: How do you feel when a main character dies in a novel? Are you a Sparks reader, or not?
I'm just trying to gauge that balance between the bittersweet tragedy vs. the happy ever after, as both seem to be very popular.
Talk to me! Tell me what you think!_________________________________________
Jaime Jo Wright
author of spirited turn-of-the-century romance, stained with suspense
COMING SOON!
March 2016, "The Cowgirl's Lasso", The Cowboy Bride's Novella Collection, from Barbour Publishing
August, 2016,"Gold Haven Heiress", The California Gold Rush Brides Collection, from Barbour Publishing
Visit Jaime's web site: jaimejowright.com
Email Jaime - jaimejowright at gmail dot com
Like Jaime on Facebook
Friend Jaime on Twitter
Meet Jaime on Pinterest
Don't forget Instagram
October 12, 2015
House Rules: Leave Right
House Rules.
Twenty-seven years ago when Ted and I were just engaged, we attended a seminar at our college where the speaker was a psychologist who told stories about relationships and communication. Something pretty good for young adults planning on marriage to attend, right?
I don’t remember what we thought it would help us with the most. I think we had pictured lecture style outlines about savvy points for conflict management, communication do’s and don’ts, and the like.
I don’t think I took notes. There were no outlines. Only stories.
And the one point we remember most was….leave right.
I don’t recall all the proper details, but the gist of the story was that this white bearded sage, trained in his profession, had had stiff words with his wife and sauntered off to bed, leaving her to stew in her easy chair. Upon waking the following morning, he at first thought she’d been quite angry to not have come to bed at all, when instead, she’d passed away in her sleep right where he’d left her. He went on to talk about making peace and parting well and its importance in relationships.
Leave right. Part well.
That story resonated with Ted and I. Our families had always pretty much hugged each other good-bye upon parting. But we were at the threshold of setting up our house rules. We were on the verge of starting our own traditions. And not being the quiet acquiescing type of personalities, we agreed that when disagreements arose, we’d never stomp off, leave, and part without some effort to say words of agreement to forgive. Though at times those words were only, “I love you dear, but I sure don’t like you right now.” We agreed to give each other space when upset, but not so much space that allowed for soured parting as much as it was up to us.
When we leave for trips, we gather in a circle, or reach back to link hands with the kids in the back seat and pray. Even our grown children offer each other a parting hug or kiss. I love that.
Start well. Leave well.
And put the rest in His hands.
Readers:
Do you have house rules in your family?Please share!How do your children take your "house rules" to heart?-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: Goodreads
Twenty-seven years ago when Ted and I were just engaged, we attended a seminar at our college where the speaker was a psychologist who told stories about relationships and communication. Something pretty good for young adults planning on marriage to attend, right?
I don’t remember what we thought it would help us with the most. I think we had pictured lecture style outlines about savvy points for conflict management, communication do’s and don’ts, and the like.
I don’t think I took notes. There were no outlines. Only stories.
And the one point we remember most was….leave right.
I don’t recall all the proper details, but the gist of the story was that this white bearded sage, trained in his profession, had had stiff words with his wife and sauntered off to bed, leaving her to stew in her easy chair. Upon waking the following morning, he at first thought she’d been quite angry to not have come to bed at all, when instead, she’d passed away in her sleep right where he’d left her. He went on to talk about making peace and parting well and its importance in relationships.
Leave right. Part well.
That story resonated with Ted and I. Our families had always pretty much hugged each other good-bye upon parting. But we were at the threshold of setting up our house rules. We were on the verge of starting our own traditions. And not being the quiet acquiescing type of personalities, we agreed that when disagreements arose, we’d never stomp off, leave, and part without some effort to say words of agreement to forgive. Though at times those words were only, “I love you dear, but I sure don’t like you right now.” We agreed to give each other space when upset, but not so much space that allowed for soured parting as much as it was up to us.
When we leave for trips, we gather in a circle, or reach back to link hands with the kids in the back seat and pray. Even our grown children offer each other a parting hug or kiss. I love that.
Start well. Leave well.
And put the rest in His hands.
Readers:
Do you have house rules in your family?Please share!How do your children take your "house rules" to heart?-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: Goodreads
October 9, 2015
Interview with @GinnyYttrup & a Book #Giveaway!
I'm thrilled to have Ginny Yttrup with us today! She is a new author to myself as well, although we're friends on Facebook and I love her "storied jewelry" (of which, she's giving away a vintage typewriter key bookmark along with her book today. So let's not waste another minute!! heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Ginny!
________________________________________________
· How did you begin writing?
I began writing by reading. A lot. I was an obsessed reader as a child and through my young adult years. Finally, my love of books bred a desire to write. I began attending writers conferences where I learned how to write, what to write, marketing, the ins and outs of publishing, etc. I learned everything I know about writing from reading great writing and attending great writers conferences (the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference and the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference are two I highly recommend).
· Take us through a day in the life of you, the author (because some us picture you rise from bed, calmly pour your coffee, sit in a sunny little alcove, and write for eight hours before getting ready for a luxurious dinner out with your special someone) ;)
It’s 8:55 AM, I’m sitting on the sofa in a cozy living room, flanked by two sleeping dogs, still wearing my bathrobe. The mug in front of me is half full, or half empty, depending on your perspective. I’ve worn a dent in this particular cushion because I sit here each morning as I respond to email while slowly draining the mug. It’s a dream job. Really. One I’ve sacrificed for in more ways than I can count. For starters, I rent my combined bedroom/office from a friend who also lets me sit in her living room. I’ve forgone owning or even renting my own home so I can write. Another job would afford me luxuries like a home, a retirement account, medical benefits… But oh, to spend my days creating is, to use a tired cliché, the air I breathe. Soon, I’ll shower, dress, and move to my desk where I’ll work on marketing, engage with coaching clients via email, or critique their manuscripts. When I’m working on a book, I’ll write in hour long blocks of time, moving from my desk, to a chair in the corner of my room, or out to the deck overlooking the yard. I wander around the house or the yard for 10 minutes or so following each hour. Most evenings, you’ll find me at my jewelry bench in front of the television where I make vintage typewriter key and flatware jewelry for my Etsy shop, Storied Jewelry. When not working, I spend time with my two young adult sons—typically sitting across from them in a restaurant, or enjoying deep, stimulating conversation with dear friends. It isn’t an extravagant life. But it’s a good life. And it’s the life I feel called to live.
· Tell us where you got the idea for your latest book and why you developed a passion to write it?
As I traveled the last few years and spoke to groups, mostly women’s groups, I heard one story over and over again: the story of a marriage destroyed by adultery. The conversations felt almost thematic. It was crazy. But I finally realized that adultery was the next issue I’d write about and a story began to take form in my mind. At the same time, we’re experiencing record-breaking wildfire seasons in the West. The juxtaposition of affairs and wildfires was odd, but undeniable, at least in my cluttered mind. Wildfire became the metaphor for adultery. It is destructive, yet regeneration follows wildfire. Likewise, I believe, with adultery… While it may feel devastating in the aftermath of discovery, it isn’t the end of the story.
I actually wrote Flames twice. The first manuscript didn’t sell, so I set it aside for a year and wrote it off to a learning experience. But during that year, I sensed God leading me to rewrite the story for the general market rather than the Christian market. I couldn’t imagine how I’d write this story without an overt Christian message, but as an act of faith or obedience or something, I started over and wrote the whole thing a second time. The end result is, I believe, parable-like in its message and contains the themes of forgiveness, love, and new life, which c ome straight from the heart of God.
· Who is your favorite character in this book and why?
I fell in love with Haley, the 15-year old daughter in this story. She seems like a brat in the beginning—but she’s 15, so, you know… But as her character developed, her spunk, her heart, and her vulnerability were revealed and I grew to really like her and respect her. I have sons, who I adore, but it was fun to put myself in the presence of a daughter-figure and consider what lessons I might impart to her and watch to see who she’d become.
· What is the most important takeaway from your book that you hope your readers see?
I hope readers will take away the idea that there is new life following trauma or suffering. That hope is the core of each book I write.
· If you were to be offered the opportunity to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or to back pack deep into the heart of the Swiss Alps, which would you do and why?
Backpack? As in carry something heavy on my back while hiking? Um, yeah. Well, if I had to, clearly I’d choose the Swiss Alps because surely there’d be a reward of Swiss chocolate somewhere nearby.
· And while you’re on this grand adventure, would it be necessary for you to have coffee or tea? (‘cause we’re split evenly in preference here at the CCC blog)
Wait…chocolate and tea? No. Italian roast, freshly ground, brewed to perfection and served in my favorite handmade pottery mug.
· If you had to write your novel long-hand, would you use a fine point Sharpie, a roller ball pen, a fountain pen, or a pencil?
Funny, but I’ve actually considered this more than once. I’m in awe of authors who’ve penned novels in long-hand. I can’t imagine. No spell check? Yikes. I still have friends who write in long-hand and swear there’s a link, for them, between the brain and the pen. I suspect that if I had to write a novel in long-hand, said novel would never see completion. But if I were going to try, I’d use a fine point Sharpie. I’d want indelible ink!
· Your favorite flavor of pie … because we’re heading into pie season!
Oh, my grandma’s apple pie, no question. Sigh. It was the best pie in the world. Delicate, flaky crust, with perfectly seasoned Gravenstein apple slices dotted with butter. I miss my grandmother. And her pie.
· What are you currently working on in the book world?
I’m in the pondering phase—considering what I’ll write next. There’s a series brewing, something multi-generational, familial, with deeply layered characters, set somewhere near the ocean, again. How’s that for vague? But you now know about as much as I know.
· Lastly, will you leave us with a snippet from your book that is one of your favorites and gives us a glimpse into its pages?
I like the opening paragraphs of this story because I think it captures the question most women ask about themselves at one point or another. This comes from the main protagonist, Jessica:
I PRESERVE LEGACIES.
Preserving remnants of the past because they inform the present is more than just a job to me—it’s who I am. It plays into everything I do—each role I fill. Or, I sigh, is it that I wouldn’t know who I am apart from the roles I fill? Wife, mother, archeologist. As I search for, study, protect, and preserve items from the past, I’m beginning to understand that it’s the missing pieces of myself I seek.
But does it matter who I am?
Can I unearth myself in the search?
Contact Me At:
Website: www.ginnyyttrup.com
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StoriedJewelry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinnyYttrup
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinnyYttrup
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ginnyyttrup/
_________________________________________
Enter to win a copy of "Flames" and a vintage typewriter key bookmark (that I really want myself, alas, I cannot enter because I'm hosting! lol)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
_________________________________________
Jaime Jo Wright
author of spirited turn-of-the-century romance, stained with suspense
COMING SOON!
March 2016, "The Cowgirl's Lasso", The Cowboy Bride's Novella Collection, from Barbour Publishing
August, 2016,"Gold Haven Heiress", The California Gold Rush Brides Collection, from Barbour Publishing
Visit Jaime's web site: jaimejowright.com
Email Jaime - jaimejowright at gmail dot com
Like Jaime on Facebook
Friend Jaime on Twitter
Meet Jaime on Pinterest
Don't forget Instagram
________________________________________________
· How did you begin writing?
I began writing by reading. A lot. I was an obsessed reader as a child and through my young adult years. Finally, my love of books bred a desire to write. I began attending writers conferences where I learned how to write, what to write, marketing, the ins and outs of publishing, etc. I learned everything I know about writing from reading great writing and attending great writers conferences (the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference and the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference are two I highly recommend). · Take us through a day in the life of you, the author (because some us picture you rise from bed, calmly pour your coffee, sit in a sunny little alcove, and write for eight hours before getting ready for a luxurious dinner out with your special someone) ;)
It’s 8:55 AM, I’m sitting on the sofa in a cozy living room, flanked by two sleeping dogs, still wearing my bathrobe. The mug in front of me is half full, or half empty, depending on your perspective. I’ve worn a dent in this particular cushion because I sit here each morning as I respond to email while slowly draining the mug. It’s a dream job. Really. One I’ve sacrificed for in more ways than I can count. For starters, I rent my combined bedroom/office from a friend who also lets me sit in her living room. I’ve forgone owning or even renting my own home so I can write. Another job would afford me luxuries like a home, a retirement account, medical benefits… But oh, to spend my days creating is, to use a tired cliché, the air I breathe. Soon, I’ll shower, dress, and move to my desk where I’ll work on marketing, engage with coaching clients via email, or critique their manuscripts. When I’m working on a book, I’ll write in hour long blocks of time, moving from my desk, to a chair in the corner of my room, or out to the deck overlooking the yard. I wander around the house or the yard for 10 minutes or so following each hour. Most evenings, you’ll find me at my jewelry bench in front of the television where I make vintage typewriter key and flatware jewelry for my Etsy shop, Storied Jewelry. When not working, I spend time with my two young adult sons—typically sitting across from them in a restaurant, or enjoying deep, stimulating conversation with dear friends. It isn’t an extravagant life. But it’s a good life. And it’s the life I feel called to live.
· Tell us where you got the idea for your latest book and why you developed a passion to write it?
As I traveled the last few years and spoke to groups, mostly women’s groups, I heard one story over and over again: the story of a marriage destroyed by adultery. The conversations felt almost thematic. It was crazy. But I finally realized that adultery was the next issue I’d write about and a story began to take form in my mind. At the same time, we’re experiencing record-breaking wildfire seasons in the West. The juxtaposition of affairs and wildfires was odd, but undeniable, at least in my cluttered mind. Wildfire became the metaphor for adultery. It is destructive, yet regeneration follows wildfire. Likewise, I believe, with adultery… While it may feel devastating in the aftermath of discovery, it isn’t the end of the story.I actually wrote Flames twice. The first manuscript didn’t sell, so I set it aside for a year and wrote it off to a learning experience. But during that year, I sensed God leading me to rewrite the story for the general market rather than the Christian market. I couldn’t imagine how I’d write this story without an overt Christian message, but as an act of faith or obedience or something, I started over and wrote the whole thing a second time. The end result is, I believe, parable-like in its message and contains the themes of forgiveness, love, and new life, which c ome straight from the heart of God.
· Who is your favorite character in this book and why?
I fell in love with Haley, the 15-year old daughter in this story. She seems like a brat in the beginning—but she’s 15, so, you know… But as her character developed, her spunk, her heart, and her vulnerability were revealed and I grew to really like her and respect her. I have sons, who I adore, but it was fun to put myself in the presence of a daughter-figure and consider what lessons I might impart to her and watch to see who she’d become.
· What is the most important takeaway from your book that you hope your readers see?
I hope readers will take away the idea that there is new life following trauma or suffering. That hope is the core of each book I write.
· If you were to be offered the opportunity to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or to back pack deep into the heart of the Swiss Alps, which would you do and why?
Backpack? As in carry something heavy on my back while hiking? Um, yeah. Well, if I had to, clearly I’d choose the Swiss Alps because surely there’d be a reward of Swiss chocolate somewhere nearby.
· And while you’re on this grand adventure, would it be necessary for you to have coffee or tea? (‘cause we’re split evenly in preference here at the CCC blog)
Wait…chocolate and tea? No. Italian roast, freshly ground, brewed to perfection and served in my favorite handmade pottery mug.
· If you had to write your novel long-hand, would you use a fine point Sharpie, a roller ball pen, a fountain pen, or a pencil?
Funny, but I’ve actually considered this more than once. I’m in awe of authors who’ve penned novels in long-hand. I can’t imagine. No spell check? Yikes. I still have friends who write in long-hand and swear there’s a link, for them, between the brain and the pen. I suspect that if I had to write a novel in long-hand, said novel would never see completion. But if I were going to try, I’d use a fine point Sharpie. I’d want indelible ink!
· Your favorite flavor of pie … because we’re heading into pie season!
Oh, my grandma’s apple pie, no question. Sigh. It was the best pie in the world. Delicate, flaky crust, with perfectly seasoned Gravenstein apple slices dotted with butter. I miss my grandmother. And her pie.
· What are you currently working on in the book world?
I’m in the pondering phase—considering what I’ll write next. There’s a series brewing, something multi-generational, familial, with deeply layered characters, set somewhere near the ocean, again. How’s that for vague? But you now know about as much as I know.
· Lastly, will you leave us with a snippet from your book that is one of your favorites and gives us a glimpse into its pages?
I like the opening paragraphs of this story because I think it captures the question most women ask about themselves at one point or another. This comes from the main protagonist, Jessica:
I PRESERVE LEGACIES.
Preserving remnants of the past because they inform the present is more than just a job to me—it’s who I am. It plays into everything I do—each role I fill. Or, I sigh, is it that I wouldn’t know who I am apart from the roles I fill? Wife, mother, archeologist. As I search for, study, protect, and preserve items from the past, I’m beginning to understand that it’s the missing pieces of myself I seek.
But does it matter who I am?
Can I unearth myself in the search?
Contact Me At:
Website: www.ginnyyttrup.com
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StoriedJewelry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinnyYttrup
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinnyYttrup
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ginnyyttrup/
_________________________________________
Enter to win a copy of "Flames" and a vintage typewriter key bookmark (that I really want myself, alas, I cannot enter because I'm hosting! lol)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
_________________________________________
Jaime Jo Wright
author of spirited turn-of-the-century romance, stained with suspense
COMING SOON!
March 2016, "The Cowgirl's Lasso", The Cowboy Bride's Novella Collection, from Barbour Publishing
August, 2016,"Gold Haven Heiress", The California Gold Rush Brides Collection, from Barbour Publishing
Visit Jaime's web site: jaimejowright.com
Email Jaime - jaimejowright at gmail dot com
Like Jaime on Facebook
Friend Jaime on Twitter
Meet Jaime on Pinterest
Don't forget Instagram
October 7, 2015
2%
A little over three years ago, I decided it was time to pick up my pen and pursue my dream to be a published writer. I began to follow several writing blogs and I scoured the internet for information about the Christian publishing industry. For the most part, I was encouraged by what I read...until I saw something that made me think twice.
I came across a blog post by Michael Hyatt. I wish I could locate the post and share the web address, but I've looked for it several times since then and haven't found it. The gist of the post was that millions of people dream about being published, but only 2% actually reach their goal.
Why?
There are several reasons, but one is that they give up when the going gets tough. This isn't an easy road to travel. There are many ups and downs, twists and turns, detours and dead ends.
Every rejection is an invitation to quit. Every obstacle is an invitation to procrastinate. Every critique is an invitation to doubt.
But who succeeds? Who perseveres and becomes the 2%? It's the people who truly believe in their dream and fight for it, no matter what. There is no magic formula. It all comes down to working hard and not giving up. Sometimes it can take years.
When I read Michael Hyatt's claim that only 2% get published, I instantly had self-doubt. What made me think I could be part of the 2%? But then, just as quickly, I thought: Why can't I be part of the 2%? Someone gets to be!
I've written over 700,000 words in the past three years, but up until now, only 40,000 have been published--but those 40,000 words mean I've become part of the 2%. The cool thing is that when I was with Erica Vetsch at the ACFW Conference in Dallas last month she said something amazing to me. She was talking about all the people who entered the Blurb2Book Contest with Love Inspired and she said: "I did the math. Three hundred and twenty-six people entered Blurb2Book and only seven were contracted. That's only 2%. You are the 2%!"
I was stunned and told her so! I explained Michael Hyatt's blog post and how what she said was confirmation from God about following this dream. I am the 2%--and you can be the 2%, too!
If you have a dream to be a published writer (or something else that seems unattainable), don't give up. If God gave you the dream He'll be faithful to give you the grace to pursue it. Someone gets to be part of the 2% and that someone can be you.
Your Turn: Do you dream to be a published writer? If not, what dream has God placed on your heart? What do you do to stay motivated to fight the good fight and keep pursuing your dream?
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Find me on Pinterest
Find me on Twitter
Find me on Amazon
Find me on Goodreads
Find me on My Website
I came across a blog post by Michael Hyatt. I wish I could locate the post and share the web address, but I've looked for it several times since then and haven't found it. The gist of the post was that millions of people dream about being published, but only 2% actually reach their goal.
Why?
There are several reasons, but one is that they give up when the going gets tough. This isn't an easy road to travel. There are many ups and downs, twists and turns, detours and dead ends.
Every rejection is an invitation to quit. Every obstacle is an invitation to procrastinate. Every critique is an invitation to doubt.
But who succeeds? Who perseveres and becomes the 2%? It's the people who truly believe in their dream and fight for it, no matter what. There is no magic formula. It all comes down to working hard and not giving up. Sometimes it can take years.
When I read Michael Hyatt's claim that only 2% get published, I instantly had self-doubt. What made me think I could be part of the 2%? But then, just as quickly, I thought: Why can't I be part of the 2%? Someone gets to be!
I've written over 700,000 words in the past three years, but up until now, only 40,000 have been published--but those 40,000 words mean I've become part of the 2%. The cool thing is that when I was with Erica Vetsch at the ACFW Conference in Dallas last month she said something amazing to me. She was talking about all the people who entered the Blurb2Book Contest with Love Inspired and she said: "I did the math. Three hundred and twenty-six people entered Blurb2Book and only seven were contracted. That's only 2%. You are the 2%!"
I was stunned and told her so! I explained Michael Hyatt's blog post and how what she said was confirmation from God about following this dream. I am the 2%--and you can be the 2%, too!
If you have a dream to be a published writer (or something else that seems unattainable), don't give up. If God gave you the dream He'll be faithful to give you the grace to pursue it. Someone gets to be part of the 2% and that someone can be you.
Your Turn: Do you dream to be a published writer? If not, what dream has God placed on your heart? What do you do to stay motivated to fight the good fight and keep pursuing your dream?Find me on Facebook
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Preparing to Write
Erica Here:
I am a plotter. A planner. A preparer.
In a little over three weeks, NaNoWriMo will begin. National Novel Writing Month, the month when thousands of quasi-insane people attempt to write at least fifty-thousand words in one month. That's 1667 words per day for 30 days.
Some writers just dive in with hardly any idea what they will write about. With playful abandon, they cannonball into a fictional world and write away.
This is NOT how I work. In order to write 50K words in one month, I need to plot, plan, and prepare.
First: The Plot.
I use my trusty Plot Board. You can read about my plot board adventures HERE. I decide what the story is about and the people who will populate it.
Second: The Plan.
Once I have the plot board full, I write a synopsis as detailed as I can. I choose character archetypes and flesh out my characters' personalities. I cover the story goals of the characters, the setting, the major turning points, and the happily-ever-after. I break the story down into chapters and scenes.
Third: The Preparation.
Once all the chapters and scenes and character archetypes and setting details and research are all done, it's time to get mentally prepared for the marathon month of November. I clear my schedule as much as possible. I begin daydreaming about the story, thinking about it whenever I can, envisioning the details, letting the story percolate in the back of my mind. I fall asleep thinking about the characters and wake up thinking about them. I skim through craft books, start reading the NaNo forums, and psych myself up to begin writing.
NaNo is exhilarating and exciting and a wild ride. I have participated several times, and each time I learn something new about my writing and myself.
Have you ever tried NaNoWriMo? Have you ever tried writing a novel? How do you prepare for a big task?
Erica Vetsch:Executive AssistantEarl Grey Aficionado Find me on PINTERESTFind me on GOODREADSFind me on AMAZON.COMFind me on FACEBOOKFind me on my WEBSITE
I am a plotter. A planner. A preparer.
In a little over three weeks, NaNoWriMo will begin. National Novel Writing Month, the month when thousands of quasi-insane people attempt to write at least fifty-thousand words in one month. That's 1667 words per day for 30 days.
Some writers just dive in with hardly any idea what they will write about. With playful abandon, they cannonball into a fictional world and write away.
This is NOT how I work. In order to write 50K words in one month, I need to plot, plan, and prepare.
First: The Plot.
I use my trusty Plot Board. You can read about my plot board adventures HERE. I decide what the story is about and the people who will populate it.
Second: The Plan.
Once I have the plot board full, I write a synopsis as detailed as I can. I choose character archetypes and flesh out my characters' personalities. I cover the story goals of the characters, the setting, the major turning points, and the happily-ever-after. I break the story down into chapters and scenes.
Third: The Preparation.
Once all the chapters and scenes and character archetypes and setting details and research are all done, it's time to get mentally prepared for the marathon month of November. I clear my schedule as much as possible. I begin daydreaming about the story, thinking about it whenever I can, envisioning the details, letting the story percolate in the back of my mind. I fall asleep thinking about the characters and wake up thinking about them. I skim through craft books, start reading the NaNo forums, and psych myself up to begin writing.
NaNo is exhilarating and exciting and a wild ride. I have participated several times, and each time I learn something new about my writing and myself.
Have you ever tried NaNoWriMo? Have you ever tried writing a novel? How do you prepare for a big task?
Erica Vetsch:Executive AssistantEarl Grey Aficionado Find me on PINTERESTFind me on GOODREADSFind me on AMAZON.COMFind me on FACEBOOKFind me on my WEBSITE
October 6, 2015
11 Things I Learned as A Career-Driven Mom
If you'd told me I was going to be a career-woman I probably would have lol'd. I was raised from the homeschooled all 12 years thing, to the daughter of a pastor, to the I-married-a-youth-pastor. So where does working outside the home and having two kids fit into the equation? Heck, I even know how to can tomatoes...something I'm trying desperately to forget.
I have learned a few critical things about myself in this foray into the workforce of directing people, hitting the 9-5 grind, and still coming home to balance family, housekeeping, child rearing, church ministry and that ever-distant concept of ... time to myself and writing novels?!
1. Oprah is nuts. Yes I deserve "me" time. Yes, it would benefit my family. But no, there's no way possible to make that happen. So yes, Oprah is nuts.
2. I can't cook--so it's an obvious disqualifier for me being a SAHM
3. I am not a self-contained liberal advocate who thinks her husband is a wuss or that I am somehow superior.
4. Being a mom becomes precious because of my limited time.
5. House chores are suddenly put into perspective on the low scale of importance.
6. Sometimes you just have to realize not every one is going to agree with you being a WOHM.
7. Sometimes you just have to know that the Lord takes people down very unique roads and it's awesome to see how He works.
8. Coffee is a necessity for every mom -- Acronym notwithstanding.
9. I will never--ever be geared mentally, physically or emotionally for more than 2 kids.
10. ...and that's OK
11. I will often be an outsider in the world of Moms...and that's ok too.
Unlike some SAHM's, makeup for me is daily occurrence, as are showers, dress clothes, and heels. But like a lot SAHM's, pajama pants are still the preferred source of comfort and kids bouncing off the walls still make me smile...and cringe. We have a lot in common...and a lot of differences. But this I know to be true...we all, at the end of the day, kiss our children's temples and pray a prayer of grace and blessing. In that fact, we are united.
_________________________________________
Jaime Jo Wright - author of spirited turn-of-the-century romance, stained with suspense
COMING SOON!
March 2016, "The Cowgirl's Lasso", The Cowboy Bride's Novella Collection, from Barbour Publishing
August, 2016,"Gold Haven Heiress", The California Gold Rush Brides Collection, from Barbour Publishing
Visit Jaime's web site: jaimejowright.com
Email Jaime - jaimejowright at gmail dot com
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October 5, 2015
When my Bi-vocational Worlds Collide: 7 Things I Learned
I am a writer.
I am a nurse practitioner.
(little too uber-serious look for ShowMeYourStethoscopeCampaign, lol)
It's taken me eleven years to understand that this makes me bi-vocational. Only recently have I understood that one role doesn't have to compete with the other. Both have a place in my life. But balancing the two can be fun, interesting, and uniquely comparative at times.
In the course of the last three weeks, I've attended two very different conferences: ACFW & AAFP
ACFW is American Christian Fiction Writers, where nearly 500 writers and others in the industry gathered in Dallas, TX.
AAFP is American Academy of Family Physicians, where nearly 4,000 family practice physicians, and a few family nurse practitioners gathered in Denver, CO.
My head and my heart are still spinning with the spiritual and intellectual download, and I'm still sifting through to see what might "stick".
In the space of three weeks, I've been in six different airports, six planes, two airport trains, city trams, hotel shuttles, a town car, and a taxi. I averaged 10,000 steps a day, slept very little, and drank much coffee. I worshiped, studied research, ate awesome food, glimpsed the mountains of Denver, and the felt the dry 98-degree winds of Dallas as I traveled with two different groups of four.
Nutella Crepe with bananas and strawberries from Creperie in Denver
7 Things I Learned: (in no particular order of significance or seriousness)
I learned that for accuracy you no longer need to fast before drawing a cholesterol panel, but for effectiveness you should fast when praying. And that abiding in God is as important as abiding to a healthy lifestyle.
I learned that not all healing is curative.
Yet, the cure we crave is a story of meaningful experience.
I learned at AAFP from Kelly McGonigal's talk, that not all stress is bad especially if it's meaningful. Here's a link to her popular TED talk with 9 million hits: Kelly McGonigal TED talk. While at ACFW, in Allen Arnold's class, I learned that we sometimes create our own stress in the quest to create meaningful writing if we believe "it's all up to 'Me'" instead of refocusing on a co-creative experience with God.
I learned that while laughter with friends may contribute to urinary stress incontinence (no pics for this, but it might include crossing one's legs tightly, lol), laughter holds great healing powers for the soul and spirit. However, Kegal exercises may not cure urinary incontinence, but can improve control by 57% it if done faithfully and is recommended as first-line treatment.
I learned that while the written and spoken word hold immense creative power, my creative power source can dry up and become essentially orphaned if I don't lengthen my ratio of listening for God vs. speaking to God. And I learned that the average doctor interrupts their patients within the first 18 seconds (no studies for Nurse Practitioners were found). Listen. Listen. Listen.
I learned that a study in New Zealand proved "gossipy" magazines were stolen from the doctor's office waiting rooms 96% of the time over a month's time versus "non-gossipy" magazines. If this can be extrapolated to Christian fiction, books will need to given away because they will rarely be stolen.
I learned that in a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, overweight and obese men with hypertension but no diabetes, who drink 2-4 cups of coffee a day were less likely to have ED. However, drinking 2-3 cups of coffee right before pitching your work of fiction to an editor, contributes to nervousness and shaking.
And I learned that not every Starbucks in downtown Denver is open at 6:30 a.m., but Caribou Coffee is open early and is just as yummy-awesome, especially when shared with family and friends.
Readers:
Conferences can be tools to learn and refresh.
Tell us what kinds of conferences you've been to and what pieces of learning did you bring home that "stuck"?
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: Goodreads
I am a nurse practitioner.
(little too uber-serious look for ShowMeYourStethoscopeCampaign, lol)It's taken me eleven years to understand that this makes me bi-vocational. Only recently have I understood that one role doesn't have to compete with the other. Both have a place in my life. But balancing the two can be fun, interesting, and uniquely comparative at times.
In the course of the last three weeks, I've attended two very different conferences: ACFW & AAFP
ACFW is American Christian Fiction Writers, where nearly 500 writers and others in the industry gathered in Dallas, TX.
AAFP is American Academy of Family Physicians, where nearly 4,000 family practice physicians, and a few family nurse practitioners gathered in Denver, CO.
My head and my heart are still spinning with the spiritual and intellectual download, and I'm still sifting through to see what might "stick".
In the space of three weeks, I've been in six different airports, six planes, two airport trains, city trams, hotel shuttles, a town car, and a taxi. I averaged 10,000 steps a day, slept very little, and drank much coffee. I worshiped, studied research, ate awesome food, glimpsed the mountains of Denver, and the felt the dry 98-degree winds of Dallas as I traveled with two different groups of four.
Nutella Crepe with bananas and strawberries from Creperie in Denver7 Things I Learned: (in no particular order of significance or seriousness)
I learned that for accuracy you no longer need to fast before drawing a cholesterol panel, but for effectiveness you should fast when praying. And that abiding in God is as important as abiding to a healthy lifestyle.
I learned that not all healing is curative.
Yet, the cure we crave is a story of meaningful experience.
I learned at AAFP from Kelly McGonigal's talk, that not all stress is bad especially if it's meaningful. Here's a link to her popular TED talk with 9 million hits: Kelly McGonigal TED talk. While at ACFW, in Allen Arnold's class, I learned that we sometimes create our own stress in the quest to create meaningful writing if we believe "it's all up to 'Me'" instead of refocusing on a co-creative experience with God.
I learned that while laughter with friends may contribute to urinary stress incontinence (no pics for this, but it might include crossing one's legs tightly, lol), laughter holds great healing powers for the soul and spirit. However, Kegal exercises may not cure urinary incontinence, but can improve control by 57% it if done faithfully and is recommended as first-line treatment.
I learned that while the written and spoken word hold immense creative power, my creative power source can dry up and become essentially orphaned if I don't lengthen my ratio of listening for God vs. speaking to God. And I learned that the average doctor interrupts their patients within the first 18 seconds (no studies for Nurse Practitioners were found). Listen. Listen. Listen.
I learned that a study in New Zealand proved "gossipy" magazines were stolen from the doctor's office waiting rooms 96% of the time over a month's time versus "non-gossipy" magazines. If this can be extrapolated to Christian fiction, books will need to given away because they will rarely be stolen.
I learned that in a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, overweight and obese men with hypertension but no diabetes, who drink 2-4 cups of coffee a day were less likely to have ED. However, drinking 2-3 cups of coffee right before pitching your work of fiction to an editor, contributes to nervousness and shaking.
And I learned that not every Starbucks in downtown Denver is open at 6:30 a.m., but Caribou Coffee is open early and is just as yummy-awesome, especially when shared with family and friends.Readers:
Conferences can be tools to learn and refresh.
Tell us what kinds of conferences you've been to and what pieces of learning did you bring home that "stuck"?
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: Goodreads
September 30, 2015
Throwback Thursday: Sawmills
I'm in research mode for my next novel, which means I'm learning all sorts of things I didn't know before.
This week I've had the privilege and task of researching sawmills. Water powered sawmills, to be exact. This kind:
And I've realized how something like a sawmill can sound terribly boring until you start writing a story where the hero owns and operates a sawmill, and then you become obsessed with sawmills and spend hours and hours researching every aspect of them.
I now know what a sash saw is, and I know what it means to have a five gang saw, as compared to a four or three or two gang saw (which simply means how many blades work together). I also have a better understanding of how the water wheel worked and how it turned a crank inside the building, which pushed a rod up and down, which drove the saw frame up and down quickly, cutting a log that was pushed toward the blades on a carriage, also driven by the water wheel, etc.
I searched for hours to find out the name of one piece of the machine (it's called a pawl, by the way), and I watched several YouTube videos of working sawmills. After watching the videos, I had even more questions, and was so thankful when I finally stumbled across this diagram below. It answered almost all my questions about the workings of a water powered sawmill.
The funny thing is, my hero probably won't spend much time in the sawmill during the course of my book, but I wanted to make sure I knew how this worked, so I could make him sound believable.
If you're interested in seeing an 1830's sawmill in action, click on this great video:
Along with the mechanics of a sawmill, I learned how important these contraptions were for the settlement of our great nation. I also learned a little about their history in Europe and how they were modernized in America.
I love researching. It's fun when you finally find the one missing piece of information you've been searching for.
Your Turn: Ever see a working sawmill? Do you enjoy researching (even if it's for a recipe or a garden, etc.)? What's the most fascinating thing you've ever researched?
Gabrielle Meyer:
Find me on Facebook
Find me on Pinterest
Find me on Twitter
Find me on Amazon
Find me on Goodreads
Find me on My Website
This week I've had the privilege and task of researching sawmills. Water powered sawmills, to be exact. This kind:
And I've realized how something like a sawmill can sound terribly boring until you start writing a story where the hero owns and operates a sawmill, and then you become obsessed with sawmills and spend hours and hours researching every aspect of them.
I now know what a sash saw is, and I know what it means to have a five gang saw, as compared to a four or three or two gang saw (which simply means how many blades work together). I also have a better understanding of how the water wheel worked and how it turned a crank inside the building, which pushed a rod up and down, which drove the saw frame up and down quickly, cutting a log that was pushed toward the blades on a carriage, also driven by the water wheel, etc.
I searched for hours to find out the name of one piece of the machine (it's called a pawl, by the way), and I watched several YouTube videos of working sawmills. After watching the videos, I had even more questions, and was so thankful when I finally stumbled across this diagram below. It answered almost all my questions about the workings of a water powered sawmill.
The funny thing is, my hero probably won't spend much time in the sawmill during the course of my book, but I wanted to make sure I knew how this worked, so I could make him sound believable.
If you're interested in seeing an 1830's sawmill in action, click on this great video:
Along with the mechanics of a sawmill, I learned how important these contraptions were for the settlement of our great nation. I also learned a little about their history in Europe and how they were modernized in America.
I love researching. It's fun when you finally find the one missing piece of information you've been searching for.
Your Turn: Ever see a working sawmill? Do you enjoy researching (even if it's for a recipe or a garden, etc.)? What's the most fascinating thing you've ever researched?
Gabrielle Meyer:
Find me on Facebook
Find me on Pinterest
Find me on Twitter
Find me on Amazon
Find me on Goodreads
Find me on My Website
September 29, 2015
With an Open Hand
Erica here:
When I was in high school, a missionary came to speak in chapel during our church's missionary conference. (I went to a small Christian school in a conservative Bible church in central Kansas.)
This missionary gave us an object lesson that has stuck with me all this time. Every so often, I recall the story and illustration, and I am reminded again of the simple truth taught so many years ago.
This missionary took off her necklace, wound it into her palm, and closed her fist over it.
"This is often how we treat the treasures God has given us. As if we must hold onto them at all costs, as if losing them would be the worst thing ever. We hide the treasure. Nobody else sees it, nobody gets to enjoy it, and neither do we."
Then she opened her hand and displayed the necklace.
"God doesn't want us to fret and obsess about the gifts he gives us. When our fist is clenched tight over our gift, there are two truths we must understand.
1. If God has to pry that gift from our clenched fist, it is going to hurt.
2. If our fist is clenched, God cannot put anything else into our hands."
She closed her fist again and asked a young boy to come up and try to get the necklace. When he'd wrestled a bit and she'd made faces and and said 'ouch!' a few times, she let him stop trying. Then opened her fist and invited him to take the necklace again. This time, it came right out, no pain, no drama.
Asking him to hold the necklace, she dug into her pocket and pulled out several more, piling them on his open hand until he had to use two hands, and even then, chains and pendants and beads were dangling over the edges of his grasp.
It's a lovely picture, isn't it?
Last week, as I attended the ACFW Conference, I was reminded again of this story. All around me sat men and women who had a gift from God. The gift of story, the gift of words, the gift of fiction. I wondered how many were holding it in a closed fist, how many were holding it on an open palm. How many would have more poured into their keeping, and how many would God remove the opportunity from?
Then I brought it a little closer to home. How tightly was I holding my own gift of fiction-writing? Would it hurt badly if God decided to take it away? Would I be open and ready if He chose to pour more blessings into my hands?
I had to admit that I was holding on rather tightly to this writing dream. Thinking more about the gift than the giver. So I'm working on loosening my grip, easing open those fingers, relaxing my hold. Remembering to be grateful for the words, the stories, the opportunities I've been given, and ready, if God so chooses, to put it aside in favor of another, better gift of His choosing.
How about you? How closely are you holding the good gifts God gives? Are you ready for more blessings? Is your fear of losing what you have keeping you from receiving more good things?
Erica Vetsch:Executive AssistantEarl Grey Aficionado Find me on PINTERESTFind me on GOODREADSFind me on AMAZON.COMFind me on FACEBOOKFind me on my WEBSITE
When I was in high school, a missionary came to speak in chapel during our church's missionary conference. (I went to a small Christian school in a conservative Bible church in central Kansas.)
This missionary gave us an object lesson that has stuck with me all this time. Every so often, I recall the story and illustration, and I am reminded again of the simple truth taught so many years ago.
This missionary took off her necklace, wound it into her palm, and closed her fist over it.
"This is often how we treat the treasures God has given us. As if we must hold onto them at all costs, as if losing them would be the worst thing ever. We hide the treasure. Nobody else sees it, nobody gets to enjoy it, and neither do we."
Then she opened her hand and displayed the necklace.
"God doesn't want us to fret and obsess about the gifts he gives us. When our fist is clenched tight over our gift, there are two truths we must understand.
1. If God has to pry that gift from our clenched fist, it is going to hurt.
2. If our fist is clenched, God cannot put anything else into our hands."
She closed her fist again and asked a young boy to come up and try to get the necklace. When he'd wrestled a bit and she'd made faces and and said 'ouch!' a few times, she let him stop trying. Then opened her fist and invited him to take the necklace again. This time, it came right out, no pain, no drama.
Asking him to hold the necklace, she dug into her pocket and pulled out several more, piling them on his open hand until he had to use two hands, and even then, chains and pendants and beads were dangling over the edges of his grasp.
It's a lovely picture, isn't it?
Last week, as I attended the ACFW Conference, I was reminded again of this story. All around me sat men and women who had a gift from God. The gift of story, the gift of words, the gift of fiction. I wondered how many were holding it in a closed fist, how many were holding it on an open palm. How many would have more poured into their keeping, and how many would God remove the opportunity from?
Then I brought it a little closer to home. How tightly was I holding my own gift of fiction-writing? Would it hurt badly if God decided to take it away? Would I be open and ready if He chose to pour more blessings into my hands?
I had to admit that I was holding on rather tightly to this writing dream. Thinking more about the gift than the giver. So I'm working on loosening my grip, easing open those fingers, relaxing my hold. Remembering to be grateful for the words, the stories, the opportunities I've been given, and ready, if God so chooses, to put it aside in favor of another, better gift of His choosing.
How about you? How closely are you holding the good gifts God gives? Are you ready for more blessings? Is your fear of losing what you have keeping you from receiving more good things?
Erica Vetsch:Executive AssistantEarl Grey Aficionado Find me on PINTERESTFind me on GOODREADSFind me on AMAZON.COMFind me on FACEBOOKFind me on my WEBSITE
