Holiday Recovery

I love Halloween--the candy, the costumes, the creepy decorations. I love Thanksgiving--the focus on gratitude, the days off with family, the food. Then comes the depression. I'm never ready for it, but I'm always grateful for January and the routine and normalcy it provides. I feel pretty good this year that it hasn't taken the whole month to recover.

Resolutions? Haven't set any for many years. It isn't that I don't believe in them or that I'm so far gone by January 1 that I can't even change a habit. It's that goal setting is a habit. A weekly habit. A monthly habit. This week my goal was to write 200 words per day. Not quite making it, but hope to make up for some of that today.

Some things I find that work:

Set small, manageable goals. Especially goals that take 10-15 minutes (because some days that's what's manageable).

Know yourself. If larger blocks of time are more manageable for difficult tasks, go for it.

Have a punishment for not working on the goal. Some things that have worked for me: delete an app from my phone or iPad if I don't meet the goal; take a 3:00 a.m. 'walk with God' to discuss with Him why you didn't meet the goal (who wants to get up at 3:00 a.m. let alone grovel and try to explain away three hours on Pinterest or Facebook? You get the idea.)

Don't give up. If you miss a day, commit to restart the next day.

Have Accountability Partners. For my writing, it's my critique group. For my personal life, it's my husband. They truly make all the difference.

What are some things that work for you in staying commited to a resolution or goal? Leave me a comment! (because, you know, I need all the help I can get)

Cover Reveal: Condemn Me Not by Heather B. Moore

I am excited to announce the 

cover reveal of 

USA Today Bestselling Author 

Heather B. Moore's 

CONDEMN ME NOT.

CONDEMN ME NOT releases 

March 14th, 2017!

Preorder links ebook / paperback

Here it is!

Isn't it gorgeous? Love the cover and even though my 'To Read' list is a mile long, I'm adding this one toward the top. I would love to know what you think about the cover. What's compelling about it for you?

Community

There's a dent in the side of the house
 where the tree originally struck.

 Recently, I was in northern Utah when a tornado struck. I was in Layton, and although the tornado didn't touch down there, sustained winds were 50-100 mph. It blew in, swirling like a giant leafy stew, bringing rain along with it.

Garbage cans sailed up the streets, the

debris

neighbor's trampoline blew up over the fence, along the side of my sister's house ending in a mangled mess in the tree in her front yard. Trees uprooted, or split, shingles blew, power lines were down, traffic was a nightmare.

truck hauling away debris

But here's what blew me away--pardon the pun--the storm had no sooner hit than my nephews grabbed their gear and headed into the pouring rain to start the cleanup. FIVE HOURS later they returned. They are amazing. For the next three days, they and the people in the community joined the

another lost tree

downed fence

cleanup effort with trucks, chainsaws, man power, donuts, pizza, water bottles, traffic directors, cheerleaders, little kids, big kids, grandparents. It still overwhelms my senses and makes me

rainbow after the storm

emotional. This is a tribute to the workers big and small, to the example this community is to the world. Get out and get it done. Don't wait for someone else to solve the problem (and government can never solve a problem as efficiently as YOU can). Way to go Team Layton!

Challenge

Fred Devito said, "If it doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you."   

Kelly Clarkson sings it this way, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger/a fighter."

Or for you Barbie fans, "If I wasn't meant to fly, I wouldn't have these wings."

We are meant to fly, to learn, to grow. We cannot know the joy if we never experience the sorrow. We cannot know our inner strength until it is tested.

What are some of your challenges from yesteryears? How did they help shape you? What challenges are you facing right now?

A couple of years ago, an author that I was following like a good fangirl does, posted that she was taking down her work and would henceforth write under another name because of all the criticism to the writing she had posted.

I was devastated. I thought her writing, though rough--as she stated prior to each posting, was brilliant. I particularly loved her extensive vocabulary, her strong female characters, and the witty dialogue. I still go back occasionally to her stories I have on my Kindle, and, yes, every blue moon I do a search to see if I can find her. Fractional success there.

We don't know another's path or challenges. Our criticism of the small part could be a tipping point.

My challenge to all of us is to encourage rather than criticize, to listen instead of ignore, to offer kindness and a smile rather than an obscenity.

I also know YOU have amazing gifts and talents to share. Sure, you may just be starting out, but don't give up.

Be a fighter. Learn what you need to learn and SHARE your gifts.

I'll end with a beautiful quote from Helen Walton, "It's not what you gather but what you scatter..."

Scatter sunshine.

Kisses Between the Lines plus Giveaway!

Kisses Between the Lines (by some of my fave authors) just came out and looks like so much fun. Here's a little preview:

Welcome to Echo Ridge, New York where romance finds its way into the hearts and lives of the people who walk the streets of the close-knit community. 

In these five novellas, readers will experience the power a book has to change a life, make dreams come true, and bring two hearts together as the characters work to fill the classic section of the library. Filled with charm, wit, secrets, and hope, each story is a sweet romance with a promise to keep you turning pages into the night. We hope you enjoy this book and the kisses between the lines. 

The Kiss Thief by Rachelle J. Christensen 
As the head librarian of the Echo Ridge Library, Britta Klein thrives on order and categorization. Unfortunately, the old church-turned-library is in desperate need of a renovation. The Harvest Hurrah fundraiser seems to be the answer, but plans keep going awry. With help from Milo Geissler, accomplished musician, piano tuner, and kiss thief, each catastrophe is narrowly avoided. When Milo goes to great lengths to help Britta find a key classic book, she begins to wonder if there is more to life than books and order. Can she allow this man who speaks the language of music to tune her heart to a new song? 

The Lion, The Witch, & The Library by Lucy McConnell 
Jennifer Solomon's birthday wish is for the one thing she's been too shy to go after: Kirke Staples, Echo Ridge’s resident playwright, an avid mountain biker, and her best friend. Friend, as in don’t kiss, don’t covet, and don’t under any circumstances fall in love with the man. But it’s too late—she’s already fallen in love. Hoping for a birthday kiss that will change everything, she arranges an "accidental" meeting with the handsomest man on the library board. Her carefully laid plans are thrown off track when the beautiful Bay Barington sweeps into town and casts a spell over Kirke. In her efforts to win Kirke’s heart, Jennifer is forced to take a look at her inner self and decide what type of woman she wants to be, a lion or witch. 

The Last of the Gentlemen by Cami Checketts 
Despite the hardships she’s faced, Emma Turner, is determined to make a good life for her three children. Working nights and struggling through life doesn’t leave much time for romance, which is just fine as far as Emma is concerned. But when her son's good-looking lacrosse coach takes an interest in her children, Emma has to fight off the smolder in her stomach and banish her daydreams. This school-girl crush needs to end before she embarrasses her son and herself. If only she could tell that to her heart.  


Much Ado About a Kiss by Heather Tullis 
Fay’s life is just fine, thank you. Running the café she’d practically been raised in: Check. Her artwork in a gallery: Check. Volunteering on the library board: Check. The one thing she doesn’t need right now is a guy in her life—especially her brother’s irritating best friend from high school, so when the two men announce that they are moving home to start a ski and mountain bike shop in town, she isn’t pleased. If only she could completely forget that one kiss she and Austin shared in high school. Why does he have to upset her just-fine world? Not this time. Not if she can help it. But can she? 

Pride & Persuasion by Connie E. Sokol 
Lindy Marchant has left heartbreak and downtown L.A. to help her cousin kickstart an antique shop in sleepy Echo Ridge. That is, until she's roped into the library fundraiser to become an assistant for Armand D. Beaumont, the French bestselling detective writer. The two have met before, and Lindy hasn't forgotten the disastrous outcome. Now Armand's celebrity quirks threaten to upset her life yet again. Or, is there a deeper reason for his unpredictable choices? While Armand inadvertently assists Lindy with the shop, she uncovers his painful truth and an inconvenient growing attraction. Can Armand let go of his pride and face his fears? And can Lindy be persuaded to take the untried road, even together? 

Now for the GIVEAWAY details: You can enter here. Good luck and happy reading!

Risk

So many of the worthwhile things in our lives require risk. The new experiences we enjoy (or endure) involve risk. Relationships, home ownership, education, and I could go on, but you know how the list reads, and somewhere on that list is writing.

Writing the story in your heart involves a lot of risk. It's part of you, laid bare, for the world to read. Your impressions, experiences, heartbreaks, all right there. Your voice is unique, yours only. The story may have been told a hundred times, but your perspective, your voice lends a newness to an age-old tale.

The world needs your goodness, your perspective, your wisdom. There are many who would drag down, but the world needs a hand up. Through writing your story, you can lift, encourage, inspire. Even a cheesy romance can brighten someone's day. We are tale spinners, passing on the stories of the past to future generations.

Someone out there needs your story, so Write, my friends, Write.

Success Jack Canfield Style

Summertime has wrecked my blogging schedule, but I have been thinking about a few things and wanted to share them with you.

There are few Cinderella stories, but we seem to be enamored by most of them. What escapes most of us is what happens behind the scenes. Hard work. Long hours. Sacrifice.

Most of us want the drive-thru version. Pull up, order, drive to the window, get our goods, done.

So I'm going to share a couple of things that inspire me through that other side:

A quote I saw recently, reminding me to not give up:

Jack Canfield: always comes across upbeat and positive, loves to share what he's learned about success, wisdom in relying on a higher power.

Here's a little excerpt about achieving your goals and dreams.

What are YOUR tricks and tips? Please share in the comments!