Sarah Holman's Blog, page 46

Join the Adventurers

Some of you have been reading this blog for a while, and you know my writing is a big deal to me. I share a lot here, but if you want even more, I've got two options for you:
#1 - Join The AdventurersThis is a Facebook group in which I post almost daily in. If I'm looking for beta readers, I go here. If I want people t give thoughts on an upcoming cover, I ask in this group. It is a very fun place for those who are really excited about my writing.
#2 - Sign up for my newsletter.I send out a newsletter about once a week, and I try to always include deals, fun information, and exclusive giveaways. A new audiobook giveaway in the next newsletter!

Broken Hearts, Broken Computers, and Healing Friendship

I finally did it. After all this time of having drinks near my computer, I finally killed a keyboard with a spill. Thankfully, it was only the computer keyboard. However, this is what my office looked like for a day.

I was very blessed to use my Mom's Bluetooth keyboard with my computer for most of the week. However, I spent one day using it with my Kindle Fire, while I waited for my friend, Scott to check my computer and make sure that the keyboard was the only item affected. Scott was able to get my computer up and running very quickly. I now have a very shiny keyboard.
This week, our family has been very blessed with a visit from Sierra. We took her to play laser tag with us. It was a blast for all the siblings and Sierra.
Allergies have been giving me fits, but I'm happy today my allergy medicine has finally built enough that I don't have burning eyes. I can return to reading this book and working on my quilt.
This week hasn't been without its challenges. I've come in contact with a lot of hurting people, and it breaks my heart and want to rise up to defend them. Today, I felt as if I was given some great insight. I was listening to someone pour out some of their heart to someone else, and my younger sister was watching me."Stop that," she whispered."Stop what?" I whispered back."You are doing this." She cupped one hand near her year and pretend to pick up things with her other hand, dropping them into the cupped hand. "You try to take peoples pain and make it better. If you could, you would take away the pain from others until it killed you."I always am interested in seeing how my siblings see me and the insight we have.I've been thinking a lot about how we as Christians should react to the emotional pain both within ourselves and in others. I have a lot of ideas that will probably culminate in a story at some point in the future. Right now, I have three things that I keep returning too:1. Trouble, pain, hurt, and trials are something God told us we could expect.2. Self-control is an important concept in scriptures, and there is no exception clause for when we are in pain.3. I do not have to rely on my one strength, praise God!
I'm grateful not only for what God is teaching me but that I don't have to learn it alone. Yesterday, when I was feeling really down, I stayed up late texting a friend. I'm so blessed that they were willing to point me to Jesus and listen to me share my heart. Isn't it great that God gives us friends and family so we don't have to walk alone?

What have you been up to this week?

Holding the Fort

Find it on: Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback 
Age Appropriate For: 15 and up
Best for Ages: 15 and up
Description: When dance hall singer Louisa Bell visits Fort Reno to see her brother, she is mistaken for the governess that the harried Major Daniel Adams is waiting for. Between his rowdy troops and his two daughters, he has more responsibility than he can handle alone. Eager for the opportunity, Louisa sets out to show the widower that she is a perfect fit.

I discovered Regina Jennings this year in reading Caught In The Middle . That book really impressed me. The next book I read by her, her very first book, wasn’t my favorite. Sixty Acers and a Bride had some wonderful elements but some content that I didn’t enjoy. Holding the Fort was fun and ranks between the other two books mentioned.

Right off, I was a little worried about where this might be heading. After all, I started to see that deception might start playing a much larger role in the book then I thought. My worries were eased when I realized that it was more of a misunderstanding and then outright deception. Louisa also did not claim to be a Christian, which also eased some of my concerns. I don’t expect non-Christians to conduct themselves to a high standard of morality.

This book was very clean. Despite all the opportunities for embarrassing moments, or overly romantic, the author kept the book very clean. I was impressed at how little kissing there was, and that was at the very, very end of the book.

The two children in the story start out rather wild girls that need to be tamed. I was pleased that they weren’t truly bad girls, they were just in need of guidance. I get tired of children being nasty to everyone for no apparent reason. Sure the two girls had their moments, but I liked them.

My biggest complaint about this book was that the faith element was weak. I felt as if had either been tacked on or that I was missing a chapter or two. Lousia was so hurt by her past experience with the church, and I didn’t really understand her change of heart.

Daniel was a great leading man. He could be both serious and playful. Louisa was both strong and vulnerable. She was a very lovable person as she wants to do right, but doesn’t know how. The other characters in the story were well developed and added to the story.

I would recommend this book to those looking for solid writing, sweet romance, and lovable characters.

I received this book from Bethany House for the purpose of writing a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All the thoughts expressed are my own.

Editing Kate's Dilemma

The start of the New Year means starting in on projects. Last year I wrote quite a bit but published very little. This year, editing is taking top priority. The first project on the list is Kate’s Dilemma, the third book in the Kate’s Case Files series.
I have a new tool that is helping me a lot. When Jessica Greyson first told me about Grammarly, I wasn’t sure I would like it. After using it for a short time I was hooked! It works as an add-on to MS Word.

As you can see from this image, I have a lot of work to do. About three of the early chapters need major revision due to some changes in the story.
What are some of the fun things that you can expect from this book?

Kate and Brian are teamed up together, playing a brother and sister on a vacation.
Patrick gets punched (nope, not by Thomas).
Backstories for each of the team members start to be revealed.
You will get a virtual tour of Charleston South Carolina.

Excited? Well, because I know a lot of you are on Goodreads, I went ahead and added the book for you to add to your list. Stay tuned for a cover reveal coming in a month or so.

What’s one thing you want to know about each of the characters?

What I Don't Deserve

When I show up late, and you say no big deal, that’s grace.
When I forget your birthday even though I remember all my other friend’s birthdays and you aren’t mad, that’s grace.
When I go a month without talking to you, and you are still eager to talk to me, that’s grace.
I hurt your feelings, and you forgive me. You never mention it again or hold it over me, that’s grace.

I’ve taken grace for granted for so long. My family is forgiving, and I’ve had a lot of amazing friends that exude the love and grace of Jesus. It took someone giving me what I naturally deserve to realize that I had taken grace for granted. I assumed that all my Christian friends would always be there to give me grace. Sure, I knew there would be bumps in the road. Just like in my family were hurt feelings have to be healed, I knew there would be times like that in my friendships.

Until it didn’t happen.

I hurt a friend – deeply. I may not have meant to. I might not have realized it until she told me much later. It doesn’t really matter. I hurt her. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t make it right. I asked forgiveness, I tried to change, I cried so many tears, and I searched for answers. Then I got exactly what I deserved: I was told what I had done wrong and shut out of the friend’s life.

There is nothing like getting what you deserve to see how many times and how many people around you give you the things you don’t.

Like the Larkin family that has walked with my family through some of the hardest times, heard me say some really stupid and unkind things, yet still hangs around.

Like Michelle who asked every day how I was doing, even when I didn’t text back.

Like Jessica who chatted with me on the worst days when my sister’s relationship was falling apart. I didn’t have much emotional energy to give to Jessica, but she listened to me rant, encouraged me to look to God.

Like Kelsey who supported me with prayer and never made me feel guilty because I didn’t have the time or the energy to get with her like we had talked about doing.

Like Grace who let me invite myself over to her house for a few days, allowed me to be sad and listened to me go on and on about what I had been through.

Like Rachelle who reconnected with me over text after almost two years of very little communication. She didn’t get upset that I hadn’t communicated like I should.

Like Faith and Jansina. I failed to reply to their email for months, and they waved aside my apology with a “No big deal.”

I could go on, but I have to stop somewhere.

I didn’t deserve any of this. I deserved anger, frustration, and irritation. I deserved to be ignored, shut out, and told to get lost. I deserved to be told what I was doing wrong, told what I needed to do to fix me, and be told to stop talking the way I was. Yet I was offered something so precious and amazing. Something I had taken for granted for so long, but hope I never do again: grace. I was loved by these people to the point that they were able to offer me grace for my failings, forgiveness for the hurts that I caused, and encouragement when I was weary. I didn’t deserve it – not once. I didn’t earn it – not this year. It was a gift that they gave me, sometimes I’m sure it was out of Christ’s strength not their own.

They gave me a new appreciation for what Jesus did for me.

Jesus saw me at my worst – He still does. Yet, He came to wash me clean. He keeps offering grace, accepting my repentance and gives me the strength and the opportunity to do better. He gives me grace each day, each hour, and loves me. He has given me life, joy, and peace when I deserve death, misery, and heartbreak. He gives grace, and I’m blessed to have friends that are willing to pass on that grace when I deserve it the least.

Will I do the same? I pray so.

There Was Always Laughter in Our House Sale!

If you have wanted to read it, the Kindle edition is on sale!

You can also find the book on Goodreads.

What I've Been Up To

Even though I've taken off December, there has been plenty to keep me busy. However, I'm going to back up a bit as I didn't post much in November. In late September, our family started attending Hutto Bible Chruch. We had attended Grace Community Church for three months before that, but the distance was making it difficult to make relationships. Hutto Bible Church has been such a blessing to our family. This picture was one of our family attending the Thanksgiving Feast. It was the first family picture we had taken in months, due to work schedules and other craziness. I bet all of those who have read There Was Always Laughter in Our House can pick out who is Who
We attended Thanksgiving in Plano, Texas. I grew up going here every year, and I used to think that it was normal for people to have 60 - 100 people at their family Thanksgiving gatherings. It was an especially awesome time as some of my extended family has come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and producing fruit.
We took a trip over Christmas to Fredricksburg and then Johnson City afterward to see the lights. It was so pretty, and we had so much fun
One of the best things that happened to me this whole year to be able to hand the first copy of Laugher to the couple it was dedicated to. It was a powerful moment for me as a writer.
We got snow in the first couple days of December. Of course, I also got the flu which is why this isn't the best picture of me. We get snow only every few years in Texas, so it was a real treat. Here is a picture of it coming down.
We celebrated Christmas a little early due to my brother having to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My family spoiled me this year. My Sister gave me some amazing Republic of Tea teas, my Mom gave me some books I have wanted as some cool organizers that you may have seen in my last post.  
We went to an amazing Christmas Eve Service, one that had a manger scene for you to take selfies in.
The New Year has been filled with friends, family, and some healing years. I will be honest, 2017 knocked me down hard and left me with some deep wounds, some of which I talked about in my last post of 2017. In fact, New Year's day ended in a fit of tears as my parents held me. I look forward to 2018 to as a year of healing, hope, and drawing closer to Jesus.

My Writing Corner

So for the start of 2018, I fixed up my writing corner. 
I have a pretty calendar and a magnet board. I'm going to use the calendar to keep tasks on and the magnet board for research and such for my books.

Oh yeah, aren't these cute? They were a Christmas gift from Mom. It really helped to sort all my little supplies.
Now, my checklists of to-do things for this year. Well, I don't know if I will do all of them this year, but at least some of them will get done.
What is your favorite thing in your workplace?

Top Ten Books on 2017

I don’t know if you look forward to reading this list, but I get excited and look forward to making it every year. This is the list of ten books that stood out to me in the year. Normally, that means that they make up less than 10% of what I have read. This year is no exception. 
I read 129 books this year. I bunch of those were books I have had on my Kindle for a long time. It was an adventure to read so many new authors and find some gems, some disappointments, and even some books I had to laugh at. You can see all about my year of books, thanks to Goodreads, by clicking HERE.
Here are a couple of fun facts:
Now, allow me to present my top ten books of 2017.
#10 – Presumption and Partiality by Rebekah Jones This book was pretty awesome! I enjoyed the strong morals that also felt realistic in the face of all the emotional challenges. This book touched me and reminded me to keep hoping and praying even when it feels like a lost cause.Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback
#9 – Write Well: A Grammar Guide by Rachelle Rea Cobb I like grammar, I’m just not good at it. Every time people have tried to explain commas and the like, I have been overwhelmed by all the rules, exceptions, and what not. This book made me feel like maybe I could really get a grasp on comma placement and the like. It has been helpful and encouraging. Goodreads | Kindle 
#8 - Suit and Suitability by Kelsey Bryant I have loved all of Bryant’s books so far. However, Sense and Sensibility has never been my favorite Jane Austen. Yet, this retelling gripped my heart and made me wonder if there was something in the original story that I have missed. However, this story ministered to me at a hard point in the year, and this list would not be complete without it.Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback
#7 – Atonement for Emily Adams by Susan R. Lawrence I picked this book up for free and wasn’t expecting much. What I got was one of the best contemporary stories I’ve ever read. There was so much heart in this story, so much raw emotion, and real hope was offered to hurting people.Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback
#6 – Exiles by Jaye L. Knight
Most of the books on this list are because they changed me or impacted my faith. This one is on here because I was blown away by how awesome it was. This was just an amazing story. Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback
#5 – Your Kingdom Calling by Rachel Starr Thomson
I read this short, non-fiction book when I needed it most. I was feeling pretty low about myself, my personality, my talents, and life. I was reminded that God made me the way I am for a reason and a purpose. Yes, sometimes I don’t use them the way I should. Yes, I need to be growing in my faith, and that will make me more like Christ. Yet, He made me unique and with special gifts. Goodreads | Kindle

#4 – He Who Lifts the Skies by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow The first book in this series made my top ten last year (link to 2016 list). This book was one that I nearly cried at so many times, I probably would have cried if I hadn’t been sick while reading it. It was so full of emotion, heartbreak, and good triumphing over evil. I was inspired by the faith the main character displayed despite all the horrible things that happened to her. Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback

#3 – Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray
I knew that I needed this book when I read it, but I had no idea that God was using it to prepare me. I found myself in great need of the truths that it provided me about a month after I read it. I already have reread portions and bought a hardback copy.Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback
#2 – How to Listen so People Will Talk by Becky Harling
I like to talk. When I saw this book on a list of books I could review, I knew I needed it. I loved how the author not only pulled in not only listening to others but also God. I learned so much, and I hope that I’m a better listener for this book. Listening is so key to relationships.Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback
#1 – Connecting by Dr. Larry Crabb
If you asked me to pick five books to give to every Christian besides the Bible, right now this would be the first one I would grab.  This is about what we as Christians, as the Body of Christ, should be. This book has changed me, and I will be rereading it soon!Goodreads | Kindle | Paperback

Welcome 2018

2018 is here! I know that I am excited! Here are my goals for the coming year.

What are your goals for the year?