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.

  From my kitchen window I am getting a front-seat view on a bird’s world. A Magpie is trying to build a nest to woo his fair mate. I say trying because this bird must have slept through the nest-building lessons. That, or he’s – can I say it?-retarded.

For days I’ve watched him carry a twig to the crotch of a tree and arrange it. It looks fine to me. Balances in place. Looks like it will stay. But he has to rearrange it. And rearrange it until it falls to the ground. He chatters madly, probably bird talk for ‘%$#^&*^’  Then he’s off again to find another branch.

This time he’ll surely be wiser. Right? Nope. Same thing over. Drop the branch. It looks okay. Rearrange rearrange until it falls to the ground. More of that naughty sounding bird talk. So you’d think he’d give up. Not so. He’s been at it all week and still hasn’t abandoned hope.

Meanwhile….

In the tree next door, another magpie has been busily carrying branches and has a very nice-sized nest. This morning he is sitting on his next making wooing sounds. I expect we’ll soon see baby magpies.

Makes me want to climb the tree and help magpie #1.

Especially because I identify with the bird. When I first started writing, I couldn’t have passed a single story-writing test. I knew nothing. But I started trying and failing. Trying and failing. I was not going to give up.

 What can I say? Perseverance pays off.

I’m hoping it will for my magpie friend too. And soon. I can’t stand to think of him with a broken heart having finally built a nest after all the good-looking chick-magpies are taken.