Barbara S. Stewart's Blog, page 3
April 10, 2016
Grace, Faith, and Prayer…
I couldn’t sleep last night because my brain was a VitaMix blender filled with a cocktail of emotions and words on high speed… I didn’t have my laptop so I typed this all out on my note app on my phone – but I wouldn’t have slept until I did…
Thank you…
“Yesterday was a good day. It’s after midnight and I’ve got you on my mind…”
So, a while back this story popped in my head… It’s me. It’s flawed, and rough around the edges, but it’s full of love.
I was reminded this weekend of how Andy and Bethy’s story changed my life, because you told me how it affected yours.
WHAT A BLESSING….
I won’t give anything away because maybe you haven’t read it, but I’m going to tell you about it in the simplest of terms. Words…
Friendship
Love
Family
Unconditional
Unconventional
Doubt
Disbelief
Devotion
Loyalty
Overwhelming
Turmoil
Hurt
Anger
Retreat
Chances
Renewal
Mistakes
Trust
Hesitation
Devastation
Revival
Overcoming
Acceptance
Forgiveness
Unwavering
Pain
Comfort
Dignity
Conviction
Hope
Loss
Grief
Friendship
Love
I know I started and ended with the same last two words… There’s a reason for that.
By sharing with me what my story means/meant to you I’ve been made me keenly aware the power of words – even if it was flawed, you read the words and they meant something to you. When you’ve told me that they did, you gave me one of the greatest gifts ever…
Thank you for taking a chance on words and telling me your thoughts…
Thank you for sharing Andy and Bethy’s story.
Thank you for becoming my framily… You know who you are… And I if haven’t met you yet… I’m waiting…
I am grateful…
March 25, 2016
it’s all I can do
Greetings all,
The flood gates opened this week, I guess :O
I have something else to say!
I have a working title for my next book – After the Fall. I love this story (I LOVE THEM ALL!) but this one has a personal story attached. It’s out of my hands for now. I’ve sent it to the next two sets of eyes – one a reader who has lived with me through each story and one is the first CRITICAL SET OF EYES… so it’s all I can do for now.
For those of you who didn’t like that I went a “little further” in the last book – for those who wanted more than I gave – these are my stories. I’ve reigned it back in JUST A TAD. Going further didn’t do anything for me – personally – and it didn’t get me anywhere outside my comfort zone… STICK WITH WHAT YOU KNOW… I know milder love stories and if that keeps my circle smaller, than that’s where I’m supposed to be.
I answered a post that someone else posted the other day about too much or too little and the bottom line is that we’re never going to please everyone – find your niche and stick to it. WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE, not what you hope someone else will.
I’ll be an anxious mess for the next few days – while the first eyes do their thing…
I’m going to end this with Happy Easter – He is Risen. If you don’t believe that, than happy whatever….
March 19, 2016
I’ve been busy…
Greetings friends,
I haven’t posted in way too long, but I haven’t had anything profound to say 
Today, I do… well, I don’t know about the profundity, but I have something to write about.
I’ve been working on my next project for a while. It’s getting close to being able to hand it off to let someone else read it. I’m thinking about that a lot. I’m thinking that I need to spread my wings a little wider… I don’t know, and that’s not what this post is about – just some babblings from Babs
The thing is about this story. I won’t call out names, but someone else’s experience and her openness to share insight in her posts on occasion made me think… if she experienced this in her life – WHO ELSE HAS?
After I asked myself that question, the story started flowing like water – sometimes water leaks from my eyes… This story is emotional for me. I’m working hard to make this good – I’m going back right now and asking myself is it good enough, because it might make you think about someone who is or has gone through the same experience – I don’t want to give too much away…
I don’t have a title yet, I’ll come back when I do.
Just wanted to let you know I’m writing.
I’m also exploring other avenues to make my books available. Amazon keeps making it harder…
If you’re reading this, I
December 25, 2015
gifts
Greetings everyone!
Here’s hoping that you are(have) celebrating a wonderful time with your family – if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you are doing something with someone you love.
We had some cheer yesterday and then woke up to some more this morning. As I saw all the packages I thought about GIFTS.
Each of you who support me, follow me, read my stories, and have become my friend are one of the best gifts I can imagine. I pray ever day that I am able to meet some of you who are friends I haven’t met yet. Thank you for giving some of yourself to me…
Also when I think of the gifts I received I am most thrilled with the things that were chosen because the giver KNOWS me. I got a cargo net for my car because the groceries roll all around the trunk and I got a wooden star – just a simple gray star but it has the most important word on it – my favorite word… HOPE. Where would we be without hope?
One of my friends had her last chemo treatment this week – I HOPE for a more calm journey going forward… I hope every day for more days. I hope that someone reads my words and likes the story I shared. I hope that Gene and I, and those we love stay healthy.
And I hope for PEACE ON EARTH…
God bless you richly – not with money, although I reckon we all HOPE for that But richly in kind – I hope you get what you give and that you give with your heart…
If you’re reading this… I
December 14, 2015
Three – counting TODAY
Good morning “LOVE LOVERS”
Lulu’s Loves is only DAYS away! Dec 17th is GO LIVE, and I can’t wait for you to meet her. I can’t wait for you to share her experiences as she grows from a girl into a woman.
Here’s the link for PRESALE for only 0.99 through the 16th. On the 17th, the price increases to the regular price of $2.99.
Be watching my Facebook pages for opportunities to win prices!
Also, mark your calendar for the RELEASE PARTY on Thursday!
https://www.facebook.com/events/46780... (if you can’t invite yourself, INBOX me and I will make sure you’re invited !
If you are reading this…I
November 18, 2015
Because I need you to know…
I’m at a cross roads….
I posted a while back that I was having growing pains and sometimes it really makes me question myself. But my internal conscience tells me - It’s ok. It’s time. Move forward.
So with that said… I want to remind you that THIS BOOK – Lulu’s Loves – won’t be what has been typical Barbara. I know some of you will appreciate my work, but some won’t. I have to accept that this one – while it has no “throbbing manhood,” (a joke from last evening…) it won’t be AS suggestive as in the past.
It WILL have more sex – although most of the scenes it will be LOVEMAKING. I believe there’s a difference. I won’t make that far of a leap from my comfort zone because I respect my husband, and my family. It won’t be trashy. It will be “graceful and stylish.” I kept it clean, but this is a woman going through her life doing what young women do/did in their twenties….. and some have already said they won’t like it. So I’m telling you upfront that this will be MORE. It will be sexier, but it has a beautiful story.
I just want you to know this. I don’t believe that anyone who knows/loves me will be embarrassed – maybe a BLUSH here and there – but read for the story.
I know that a HUGE part of me feeling the need to tell you this is because it’s so different FOR ME. Most of the BETA readers said leave it alone – so I did. This is me growing as a writer. This is me testing the waters. This is me sharing a story that my head and my heart told me to write. (PS – Gene supports me on this…)
I think you will love Lulu.
If you’re reading this – I
November 1, 2015
Growing Pains
I woke up and decided that they lie! They all lie!!!!
They say – “fall back an hour and you will get an extra hour’s sleep…” LIES I TELL YOU!
So here I am… getting ready to hit send on the document called Lulu’s Loves. The anxious nerves. The “Oh, this isn’t anything you’ve read from me before nerves. The “Ok, the BETA readers like it (most said LOVE) and they say – “GO WITH IT – YOU’RE READY FOR THIS” nerves…
So as I sit here bouncing my legs anxiously thinking about Lulu I want to add full disclosure…
This one won’t be suggestive.
This one isn’t PG 18 as the others have been – this one will be more edgy and I want YOU to know that. I’ve thought about it and gone back and forth and back and forth again.
The bottom line is that this is Lulu’s story. It’s what came to me and I’m sending it on like it is. My hesitation is that some of my readers are my mom’s age, so I thought about my mom. Would she read it and be ok with where Lulu’s journey takes her. And my heart said yes. She might cringe a time or two but she’d realize that it’s part of the story – Lulu’s story.
Gene’s read some of it and he says send it. “You have to step out of your safe zone. You have to reach all romance readers in order to grow.”
Get ready for Lulu’s Loves – The next novel from Barbara S. Stewart A PG 29ish romance…
Lulu makes me happy – I’ll have a release date and a cover to share soon.
If you’re reading this…
I love you, B
September 10, 2015
Count it ALL Joy…
Greetings my friends…
I’m continuing with the “joy theme” from the other day. We have made a lot of progress going through things and DOWN SIZING our “stuff!” Sometimes, it’s a struggle. I’m going through books. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW HARD THAT IS?!
I found several books that my sweet Mama thought I’d enjoy. Holistic and plant medicine for one. I looked inside the cover and she’d written how much she thought I’d enjoy it. I put it down. I picked it up. I put it down… You get the picture… DOES IT BRING ME JOY? The REAL, HONEST ANSWER… Only her words, the hand writing and the “Love, Mom” gave me that joy. Someone else may pick it up and be so excited to read about that… I put it in the box… And then I felt guilty. But in the end, I knew I’d never go any further than her words. She gave it to me in 2000 and that’s as far as I’ve ever gotten…
I read an article on joyful downsizing – that wasn’t the title and I can’t find it again, but that’s the gist of it… It said you can’t do a room at a time. You take “like items” and pile them up and go through the pile. OMG – WTH has time to do that? I decided that we will tackle the most DAUNTING first! (Do it your way). We’ll continue with the office and move to another room when we’re done in there! We may need a new shredder after this! ha ha! #Enronshreddinginprocess! ha ha ha!
I’m trying…
I was a Jeweler with Premier Designs for several years and “COUNT IT ALL JOY” was something that stuck with me, so That’s how I’m looking at this process!
On another note – things that bring me joy…
Lulu is telling me that she has some things to tell me for her story… I’m off to edit!
Love to all, B
September 6, 2015
Sometimes…
Sometimes ‘reflection’ begins a different path. Sometimes the path is a new road, sometimes the same road remains but something has to change.
I don’t know what lies ahead, but I know somethings need to change. If it doesn’t ‘bring me joy’ – it’s gone. We are simplifying. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but we’re opening closets and drawers and considering the things we find. DO THEY BRING JOY?
What about you? Are their “bags and boxes, drawers and shelves” that are calling you to give them attention? DO IT. Touch it – if it doesn’t bring you joy – get rid of it. Someone else may find GREAT JOY in it – you could be giving someone JOY that they’ve been lacking because you held on to it.
I looked in the closet in the office and found a box with the drafts for each book. The boxes contained notes from “you” telling me how a story touched you… I thought about it – do I really need to keep that?
DUH??? Those boxes make me happy – they’re staying in the closet
I’ll keep you posted in what things brought us joy and what is on it’s way OUT!
Think about it…
And remember – if you’re reading this – I
August 30, 2015
Thank you!
Yesterday was the 3rd Bookaversary for Rock and Roll Never Forgets. I still can’t believe it’s been three years. We had an online party yesterday to celebrate and it was fun!
If you aren’t an Angel here’s the link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/223880781134916/
I won’t give anything away because maybe you’ve stumbled upon this page and haven’t read it yet. But there COULD be some tears involved in the last half of the book.
We posted memes of crying as part of our fun yesterday and this one keeps making me laugh! Have you ever cried this hard? ha ha!
We shared music and memories and had a couple of guest authors stop by…
It was the best time and I thank all of you who showed up. I hope to see some new faces there – I gave up the author page and “LIKES” because this is just more fun – more personal.
Stay tuned – I’m working on something new…
And… If I can tear myself away from Lulu’s Loves, Sweet Surrender is almost ready for rerelease!
