At school, I learned we have four seasons in our part of the world–spring, summer, fall, winter. As I grew up I learned they could be classified differently–almost winter, winter, still winter, and summer. I learned by observation there were actually two sesaons–6 months winter, 6 months uncertain. However, this year, I think I might have to change my evaluation and call summer the rainy season. Now coming from the desert of eastern Alberta I said I would never complain about rain but….

Not that it isn’t without a certain beauty. I’ve taken so many pictures of the sky this summer that I had to create a file on my computer solely for sky pictures.  Here is a picture of a storm approaching.

But even storms must end and after that….

It kind of reminds me of my writing process. I struggle with trying to figure out all the elements. But when the struggle is over, it seems full of promise, like a rainbow. In fact, I feel like I’ve found the pot at the end of the rainbow.

Sometimes the storm is worth the beauty that follows. Just as sometimes (hopefully most times) struggling to create a story is worth the effort.

I’m hoping you are all finding beauty in the weather in your little corner of the world.

Blessings.

(All photos on this site are the property of Linda Ford. Please do not use or reproduce without permission.)

I’m one of those people who considered my writing to be a gift. This is how I see the gift of story– a beautiful object that defies description. 

A wonderful book that made me realize the value of this gift is WRESTLING WITH YOUR ANGELS: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TO GREAT WRITING by Janet O. Hagberg

http://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Your-Angels-Spiritual-Journey/dp/1558504966

As a gift, I try to do it justice-honor it- by learning craft, using all the tools at my disposal and generally doing the best I can as I write.  I don’t often think about the fact that not everyone wants to, likes to or can write. It’s just part of who I am. I haven’t always written my stories down but I have always made them up for my own enjoyment.

But recently I’ve begun to appreciate the gifts my writing has given me.

First-and I’ve mentioned this often-writing is my escape. No matter how crazy my life is, how unreasonable the people in my house are acting, my writing has been a place where I could find sanity, order and control. I can disappear into my imaginary world and enjoy myself. Never mind the dreadful things certain people are saying or demanding in my real world. I love this gift from my writing.

Secondly-and I only recently discovered this-my writing has given me characters who act and react, who love and respond in ways I have found foreign to how I want to act.. In other words, through my characters, I am learning different and, hopefully, better ways of being me.

I deal with a grown child who is acting like an emancipated four year old. I want to scream and rage. But instead, I remember a character I’ve created who deals with difficult situations with grace and kindness and even finds the right words to say, the right questions to ask. And I suddenly know how to behave better.

Or I am buffeted on every side by demands (unreasonable ones many times) and feeling out of control when I remember another character who manages to find humor is similar situations and suddenly I find I can too.

Or life throws me one of those wicked curve balls. It seems to be too much. Again, a character who turned to faith and trust in her difficult circumstances reminds me I, too, can do so.

Maybe I write the characters I wish I could be. And in doing so I learn a little more about how to be such.

I’d love comments from anyone who has learned either from their writing or their reading. How has such helped shape and change you?

Vacations are relaxing, refreshing and just plain fun. I wish I could take more. However, it isn’t practical. There’s work, home responsibilities…life. I heard someone mention 3-minute breaks to prevent or relieve stress and thought how I could apply that to my life. The answer–mini vacations.

I began to take mini vacations as often as I wanted and or needed. They are wonderul additions to my life. You might enjoy them too.

If you want to enjoy a mini vacation, make a list of things you enjoy doing. Be sure to include things that take only a few minutes as well as longer ones–an hour, half a day. Whatever fits your schedule.

Here is part of my list:

1. Take time to smell the flowers. Better yet, take some pictures of them.

2. Enjoy a special treat. Savor it. What is your pleasure? A special tea? A specialty coffee? A nice piece of chocolate?

3. Walk around and enjoy nearby gardens, landscapes, displays…whatever gives you pleasure.

4. Browse a favorite catalogue, enjoy a magazine or look at the pictures in a coffee table book you bought simply because you couldn’t resist the pictures.

5. Take time to walk through a park, or a favorite walking trail. Maybe explore new ones.

6.  Phone someone who makes you feel good.

7. Lay out in the sun or shade and read or simply listen to the sounds of nature.

Another thing I need to do in order to enjoy my mini vacation is to be very deliberate about it. I choose an activity and tell myself I am now going to take my mini vacation.

What would make you feel special right now? Pick one that fits your time frame. Why not do it now as a mini vacation? Or plan to include it in your future plans.

I’ve spent a great deal of my week weeding my garden. We grow a large vegetable garden. (I love fresh veggies and, during the winter, home frozen ones.) But it is a lot of work. Hoeing, hand picking and then harvesting and freezing.  As I tackle the job, I have to remind myself of the end result–the fresh vegetables.I’ve gone from this:

To this:

I’m having to do the same as I work on massive revisions this week. I know the story will be much stronger. I want to be happy with the end result so I must keep my eye on the goal.

I have to go from this:

To this:

To this:

I have to keep my eye on the prize but frankly:

In a story to be released later in 09, I have an infant that must be fed with a bottle. Because I wasn’t certain when bottles were invented nor how babies were fed before that (when no wet nurse was available) I set out to research the topic. Very interesting, it was. So in case you were wondering (I’m sure it was high on your list of things to consider) here is some of the information I found.

Much of the information came from the site:

http://www.babybottle-museum.co.uk/

The banjo shaped feeders of the late 1800’s was made popular because the Princess of Wales used it. Hence the name.

Elijah Pratt of New York patented the first rubber teat in 1845 which made bottles a lot easier to use. Early formulas consisted of (in 1867) wheat flour, cow milk, malt flour, and potassium bicarbonate. You have to wonder that any babies survived.

Charles M Windship of Roxbury, Massachusetts, patented the first United States nursing bottle in 1841. Many nursing bottles of the late 1800s were made to lay flat and a few types were embossed with reminders to ‘Feed the Baby.’

I don’t know. It seemed my babies reminded me themselves.

Eaton Catalogues (1915-1916)and other sources called the bottles NURSERS or sanitary feeders. Check out the prices on these. Some bottles  had nursery rhymes embossed on them. Seems a little more appropriate than reminders to feed the baby. The one on the purple background says, ‘See Saw Margie Daw’ and has a drawing of a boy and girl on a seesaw.

Sorry I’ve been absent this past week but not sorry for the reason. I took a little vacation-a time to recharge my creative batteries and laze around. I went to Hawaii with my sister and met my daughter and her family there. Nice.

Beautiful scenery and amazing flowers.

Lots of beach.

This is how I spent a lot of time.

Of course there are some other things to see and do. We visited the Arizona memorial. Very touching.

The Punch bowl memorial. More amazement. Over 33,000 markers of those who fought in the Pacific.

But for real amazement look at these guys out fishing in a surf that practically washed them off the rocks and a wind that they could barely stand in. I waited a while hoping to get a million dollar picture to sell to the tabloids when they got swept away but it didn’t happen.

I came back with a story worked out (nothing like a long boring airplane ride for thinking).

I love combining outings with research. My sister is visiting so we did just that the other day. First, we had lunch at a place called The Fireside Place.

It was built as a hotel in the early part of the 1900s. The owners gutted it down to the brick walls. Each room has a fireplace. It’s a picturesque place.

Then we visited the local museum and enjoyed a guided tour. So much information. Let me share just a tiny bit.

Dominion Dolls were made in Canada starting in 1911. The founder thought each doll should be unique like each child is. The earlier dolls had simple stuffed doll bodies. Later models had crude hands.

And then there is this old doll that the curator found in someone’s barn. It was in dreadful shape but her mother lovingly restrung the limbs and washed the little dress (original) until it is glistening white.

We ended the day at a little shop out in the country. We had coffee and dessert in their dining room which features two stories of windows looking out over the rolling landscape toward the mountains with flocks of sheep grazing close by.

BTW Barbara Phinney is the winner of Tricia Goyer’sss book. Congratulations and enjoy.

First, some news about me and my writing.

I got a decent review at Dear Author. If you want to read it yourself, follow this link:

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/05/21/review-road-to-love-by-linda-ford-508/

But for those of you who don’t want to bother, I’ll give a few highlights.   “It’s hard to read the blurb for “Road to Love” without mentally comparing it to the Mother of All Depression Era-Widow-Marries-Ex-Con-Hero novels but I think your book will stand on its own merits. Initially upon reading the blurb I thought, “I’ve read this before. I’ve seen it done excellently before. What else is there to write about this plot?” The answer is: a lot….This is a faith based romance and despite your stated intentions not to preach at your readers, I still wondered how I would feel about reading a “Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical.” I think you manage to tell a story of two people who have strong faith without turning the story into a pulpit. …I didn’t feel the story was too platonic without any bedroom scenes nor did I miss them. I did feel a connection between Kate and Hatcher. One that I’m certain will be fulfilled. ”

Second news item: Darcy’s Inheritance has finaled in a contest–THE BEACON by First Coast Romance Writers. I am honored to have it do this well.

Another news item–I finally went out and bought myself a good digital camera. Now I can show you my ‘views’.

Yes, that’s two geese on top of the barn. Don’t ask why. I don’t know. That’s my bistro set where I like to sit and work when the weather is nice and that’s my May Day tree. I wish I could give you a sample of the scent. There’s nothing better. IMHO. Here have a closer look. Maybe you CAN smell it.

 Click on the picture for an even closer look.

Whatever your news and views, I trust you are enjoying a lovely spring.

I want to introduce you to another author whom I think you’ll enjoy getting to know. Tricia Goyer. I’ll let her tell you about herself.

 I’m a wife, mom, writer, mentor and God-lover who lives in Montana. I write everything. Okay, not everything, but close! I write novels, books for teens, parenting and marriage books and articles.

What brought you to writing? If you’ve always wanted to write, why? What is it about writing that pulls at you? Did you write in secret early in your writing life?

I started writing in 1994 when I was 22-years-old and a mother of three. A friend of mine, Cindy Martinusen wanted to become a writer and something about that struck a chord with me.

I grew up in love with books. I lived near a library and I spent all my free time and summers there. I love writing because I can share my heart on paper better than with words. I also get an opportunity to share hope in Christ with others.

Describe your writing area. Is there something special that seems to encourage you to write? Perhaps a memento that has special meaning, something that triggers your muse. Is there something people would be surprised to see?

My writing area is actually a desk the wraps one-half around a 10 x 12 room. This is the homeschooling room, too. So on this “desk” are four computers. Mine and three kids’ computers that they do their homeschool work on. My space is a corner with about three feet on each side. There are PILES–bills, magazines, homeschooling papers I need to correct, mail, researching books. When I’m not under deadline I actually see wood. When I’m under HEAVY deadline the piles move to the floor … because they tip over!

On the window sill near my desk I keep small mementos from my research trips and photos of my family (even though they are sitting in the same room with me!)

What is the wall paper on your desktop? Why?

Currently it’s the cover for my parenting book Generation Next Parenting. I always put my newest cover on my wall paper because 1) they’re cool to look at, and 2) as I’m writing the next book I remember that there is an end to the process!

Do you have little routines you follow in your writing time?

I always have: coffee or water in a travel mug and praise music playing. 

Do you have a favorite dead author? Favorite research or reference book that is always at your fingertips?

I love Corrie ten Boom. The research book I ALWAYS use is Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass.

Okay, let’s be brutally honest. What is your biggest distraction, perhaps self-made, during your writing time?

Email!!!!!! I’d rather answer email than write. It’s sooooo much easier! 

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Being able to communicate what’s inside. I’m not very introspective, except when I write. My husband learns a lot about me from reading my books! 

Your least favorite?

The fact that every person judges your efforts and book sales (or lack of the numbers I’d hope for). I just always have to remind myself that the only opinion I need to worry about is God’s!

Is there something you secretly would like to change about your writing live?

Hmmm … that I had someone to take care of all these piles on my desk for me! 

Tricia has written many books. You can check them out on her web site. http://www.triciagoyer.com/

And as a teaser, here is the cover of one of her stories on the Spanish Civil War. It’s called A Whisper of Freedom.

Thanks for being with us, Tricia.

 For everyone who posts a comment on this blog with Tricia, you will be entered to win a copy of her book A Valley of Betrayal–book #1 in The Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series.

It’s hard to know what to write on Mother’s Day. My mother and mother-in-law are both gone. Not that I don’t remember them often and wish I could ask them how they did a certain thing or how they coped. Both my mother and mother-in-law lived through the Great Depression. I know it greatly affected them in ways most of us can’t imagine.

My own mother have tuberculosis and spent time in a sanatorium in the late 30s. The things those patients endured was downright barbaric. And yet she learned to write poetry there and her journals of that period of her life are full of her poems–some so sad I can’t bear to read them, others poking fun at her station in life. Like this one:

REST HOURS

From nine to ten ’tis rest we must

Don’t you agree it isn’t just?

For we all find ’tis talk or bust

When Pat, the maid, comes in to dust.

From one to three we try to sleep

Tho’ minds do work and thoughts are deep,

And oftimes thoughts they almost leap

From out our minds, ‘twould make one weep.

From to half past seven we rest,

At least we try to do our best,

But we find resting such a test

When we are feeling at our best.

Besides all this; before each meal

The last half hour the doctors feel

We all should rest; our lungs to heal,

No doubt ’twill help digest our veal.

I once visted the san where she lived for the better part of two years. Although it is now derelict I could see the beauty and serenity of the surroundings and how everything was intended to make rest possible.

Mother also sketched and drew. As children, my brothers and I would pick wildflowers and carry them home for her to draw. Here is a sample of the wild Alberta rose (Our provincial flower). I never see these wild flowers without thinking of her.

Click the picture to enlarge it for a better view.

So to Mothers everywhere, may you find joy and beauty, laughter amid the tears and know you are loved by God above.