Curtiss Ann Matlock's Blog, page 6

The Book Arrived!

The paperback copies of According to Carley Love arrived today! I am so excited!

We were a bit ahead so that the paperback edition is available for sale on Amazon, however the eBook release day remains Thursday, September 21. You can pre-order now on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple Books, and Kobo.

I look at the book and hold it in my hand. The writing of this book has been quite a journey. It was often a lifeline that kept me from drowning in sorrow, futility, and overwhelming ...

Random Thoughts on Writing

“The discipline of creation, be it to paint, compose, write, is an effort toward wholeness.”

Madeleine L’engle

I read that quote this morning over on the Wise and Shine blog, post by Wynne Leon. I thoroughly agree. I think the human being is programed to seek wholeness, as if we have this chip inside us that keeps drawing us along to wholeness as we go through our various trials and triumphs of day to day living.

It doesn’t matter that we don’t feel that way. It doesn’t matter that even t...

The Battle in Life, and In Writing

I have a young friend who is working toward a goal. My young friend took a small, hopeful step toward the goal.

Immediately another person belittled this small step, saying in so many words, “Why did you do that? You don’t have any way yet?” And this person added a small laugh. You know the type of laugh–it holds scorn, but if someone were to mention it, the answer would be, “I’m just joking. Don’t be so sensitive.”

I’m grateful to say that my young friend has a healthy enough ego to reco...

Book Recommendation and Writing Encouragement

I learned of Where to Next? by Jane Danielson from her daughter, who is one of my girl camper friends. Jane is 91; she had already written the book and was in the publication process before she told her children. That fact right there intrigued me. Who do you know that’s 91 and written a book for the first time, and seen to getting it published? Then my friend said to me, “Oh, yeah, Mama went line dancing just the other day.” I took that information in. As soon as I got off the phone, I went to ...

Seeking Reviewers

I am building an Advance Reviewer Team for According to Carley Love. Books sell by word of mouth, and I need fans who enjoy my books to spread the word and create interest in the book for it’s launch. Please consider applying to be on my Review Team, if you have read and enjoyed my books in the past.

Members of my Review Team will receive a free Advance Reader Copy (ARC) in eBook form. Members read the book and leave reviews on Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, whatever is your favorite social m...

New Book to Release in September, and A word about Self-Doubt

From bestselling author Curtiss Ann Matlock comes a funny and heartwarming look at a woman facing midlife, marriage, and moving on.

When her husband of thirty-five years runs off to find himself and her mother dies, sheltered Southern belle Carley Love Wells is left a broken hot mess and on her own for the first time in her life. Before she can get a good footing, husband Jackson unexpectedly returns, seeking forgiveness and asking, “Can you love me anyway?”

The answer to that question thrusts Car...

Setting Myself Free of Fitted Sheet Folding, and New Book Cover Reveal!

I did it. I set myself free this morning from the annoying and time-consuming and frustrating folding of fitted bed sheets. I am suddenly made to wonder if I have for all my life been taking great pains with neatly folding fitted sheets because of the examples, the requirements, of my mother and grandmother. I believe the whispered voice inside is a blending of their voices: “Don’t you dare wad that sheet up and stuff it in the drawer. Take time to do it neatly.”

I’m realizing more than ever ...

There Are No Ugly Babies

Well, I went back and read a post I’d written far back in 2007. I needed to read the encouragement, so I’m passing it on to any of you writers out there who need to read it, too. When I made an edit to it, I believe the platform sent it already. I don’t know. This is electronics and internet. I wanted to add a photo, but apparently it won’t allow me to do that. Anyway, I hope it blesses you. ~ CurtissAnn

Curtiss Ann Matlock

Some people like me. Some people don’t. You can never get everyone to li...

Currently Reading and Writer Encouragement

Devotions for Writers, by Martha Rogers

I met Martha Rogers’ writing several years ago, when I finally joined a writer loop within American Christian Fiction Writers organization. Every week, she posted an encouraging essay for we writers. She spotlighted a Bible verse and expounded on how it spoke to God working in a writer’s life.

Still struggling as a widow and writer to find steady direction, I began to lean on these weekly ‘writer boosts’ to remind me to keep faith in God’s plan for...

Peach Cobbler Recipe for Non-Cooks, and Weekly Word.

I made the quintessential Southern mid-summer dessert today–peach cobbler. I adore ripe fresh peaches, and not those shipped in from California, which are some sort of pretend peach and carried by most grocery stores, but the fabulous tree-ripened Georgia peaches out of Chilton County. My local fruit stand has always sold the Chilton County peaches, but this year Chilton County had a frost at a bad time and it took out much of the crop.

Thankfully our fruit stand has been able to get some ...