Curtiss Ann Matlock's Blog, page 9
February 15, 2023
If I Had the Power to Change–a Rant
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
The Word Press Daily Writing prompt lit me up. I read the question and thought: “Boy, howdy, I know exactly what I would change. I would change that ridiculous and disrespectful law that that says age cannot exempt a person from a jury summons.“
You guessed it. I’ve received a jury summons. And it is printed clearly: “no exception for age or occupation.”
Yes, I believe in doing my civic duty, and I have a number of tim...
February 8, 2023
What I’m Reading: C. S. Lewis On Writing (and Writers)
Oh, happy day, I saw a new book, knew I would love it, and snatched it up! Such a joy that happens rarely to me these days.
C. S. Lewis On Writing (and Writers), A Miscellany of Advice and Opinions, edited by David C. Downing.
The quote that captured me is printed on the back of the book jacket. I thumbed through first thing to find it inside.
“Whenever you are fed up with life, start writing: ink is the great cure for all human ills, as I have found out long ago.” ~ C. S. Lewis.
...February 1, 2023
Created to Be a Writer
At the beginning of the year, I began a study of the book of Ephesians. A verse has caught and held my attention for some weeks:
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Love of reading and writing was built into my being. I didn’t just pop up one day and choose it. God put into me all the traits I needed as a writer. Impractical I was called. A dreamer and time-waster. And the bigges...
January 25, 2023
Where Stories Come From…great slices of my life.
It’s late. Not a smidgen of my plans for writing work the past two days has come about. All manner of family needs and opportunities have kept me busy. I take it all as God’s plans. I found this previous post from 2010, which put a smile on my face. It is an example of paying attention. That’s where stories–all creativity–comes from, the simple and delightful act of paying attention.
I was traveling down a major boulevard in Mobile in our six passenger Dodge pickup. I love...
January 17, 2023
The Second Blooming
“I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming… suddenly you find – at the age of 50, say – that a whole new life has opened before you.” ~ Agatha Christie
The main character, Mary Lunsford, in Mary in Color is younger than what Agatha Christie speaks of, but she experiences that second blooming. I was not a widow when I wrote the story, nor even when it first published in ebook. Yet, this morning as I read the beginning pages, I found that I had captured so much of what I have experienced in...
January 11, 2023
The Widow Goes Girl Camping and Reads Books
I intended to write about my writing and publishing plans for my own books this year, but that can wait until next week. I’ve just returned from a camping trip up in Monroe County. I am still energized with having spent a delightful time with forty-one other unique and inspiring women campers, walking, talking, sharing knowledge and wisdom, dreams and daring. Sandwiched in with all of that, I had the opportunity to read an obscure but thoroughly engrossing novel–Too Far South by Sylvia Thomson....
January 4, 2023
New Year, New Word
Here we are already arrived at the fourth day of 2023. The days flying past. I smile to think that before you know it, we’ll be right back at the Christmas holidays again. I have already made notes in December on my new calendar of gifts to buy. Loved ones birthdays are marked throughout the months of the calendar, upcoming appointments, and numerous hopes and dreams of creative endeavors.
My guiding word for all my endeavors this year is Love. I believe I stand a good chance of remembering ...
December 21, 2022
Don’t Miss It
My post this week is late because when I had planned to write it, I got the opportunity to spend time with my grandson. Not going to miss out on that!
Dear Grandson has his learner’s permit, so he drove us to the mall. He calls it, “Driving Miss Nana.” The stated purpose was for me to help him shop for the people on his gift list. My underlying purpose, aside from delighting in him and continuing a tradition we started three years ago, was to visit the Chanel counter to purchase Chanel #5 bo...
December 16, 2022
Never Say Never — Author Patti Shene Gonzales
Dear friends, today I welcome to the blog inspiring author Patti Shene Gonzales. Her words speak to me, and I believe they will to you, too. ~ CurtissAnn
Never Say Never I have wanted to be a writer since childhood. However, a career, a family, and other priorities always seemed to get in the way.
The biggest stumbling block to my writing career came from my own weakness, my procrastination. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW.com) and an attendee at several writer...
December 14, 2022
Making It Through, and a recipe
Well, here it is just eleven days until Christmas–someone pointed that out to me today–and I realized that I have not done one bit of Christmas baking! I still need to wrap almost all of my presents for loved ones, and Christmas cards to address. These facts put me in a bit of a swivet, so this post is going to be short.
From Christmas Comes to Valentine :There came the sound of a car honk in the street, and Willie Lee called from the front window: “Pa-pa Tate is ready with the car.”
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