It’s winter. There is a serious lack of color so my eyes seek patterns like those below. Of course it doesn’t hurt that those were taken in Hawaii. Which is where I should be when the deepfreeze hits Alberta. Just saying.
But patterns are important in life, creating rhythm and a silent music of their own. Patterns are also important in writing. Everything from plot to motif requires a structure and creates a pleasing product.
Where do you enjoy patterns?
Winter–What’s Not To Like?
I confess to having a love-hate relationship with winter.
I like walking in the cold. But bitter cold? Not so much. To walk at -40 degrees is just plain silly.
I like walking in falling snow. But wind-driven snow pellets? No thanks.
I like sitting in my warm house, looking out the window at the snowscape. But having to go out and fight my way through snow, ice and cold…well, not fun.
Snow makes fascinating sculptures. But I become color-deprived before the season ends.
Snow and snow storms make wonderful events in a book. For instance, in Inheritance Of Love, a snow storm puts out the power to the heroine and hero’s homes. The hero, however, has a nice big fireplace so they huddle there together with the little girl they are joint guardians of, the hero’s eccentric aunt and her cat. In the time of enforced closeness and the allure of the warm fire, It’ becomes a time of learning to appreciate each other.
I also use winter and snow storms in a soon-to-be-released book, Temporary Bride. The heroine’s house burns down in the dead of winter. The hero offers a solution to her homelessness. The title of the book might tell you what his suggestion is. Or is it her suggestion? Watch for announcements for this book’s release…likely in March.
And enjoy the weather.
Things to Come
There are a number of things to look forward to.
Spring.
Flowers and Gardening
And a Facebook Party on Thurs. Jan 25 that I will be hosting. It will be from 10-12 Mountain Standard Time. There will be discussions, conversation, a chance to win a couple of prizes and hopefully, a good time for all. In order to take part you need to ask to join the group. It might be wise to do it ahead of time so you can jump right in. You can do so here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRingVIP/?ref=bookmarks
I hope to see you there.
You can win. I can win.
Two important events to note this week.
First, you can enter to win an ipad plus download lots of free books. Be sure and select the genre you want to read.
https://www.litring.com/snow-day-giveaway/
Plus, you can vote for my cover for Irene. You can vote more than once so please do.
If you liked the cover of my book, Irene (War Brides Book 3), please vote for it for the Cover of the Month contest on AllAuthor! I am grateful for all your support!
http://https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/1291
Thanks for all the support. I appreciate it.
Married in England as War Brides.
It is the First World War. The war to end all wars everyone thought as the battles dragged on and on. The conditions were horrific. And yet a man saw a pretty young gal–in a hospital, in a green grocers, or on a Sunday afternoon walk. They met and fell in love. Yet their marriages weren’t as real as one would hope as the young groom went off to the battlefield and the young wife struggled to make do under the strict rationing. And then it ended. The wives joined across the ocean to meet their husbands in Canada. What a reunion it was…before reality hit. They barely knew each other. There was family and family circumstances to deal with.
Lizzie––Caleb returned from the Great War a broken man. Can Lizze’s love set him free?
Maryelle–The Great War is over, but life in Canada—with her new husband—is nothing like Maryelle expected…
Irene–Zach wanted a marriage of convenience and a mother for his sons. But Irene is more than he counted on…
Grace–Why would a flying ace—a war hero—love someone as unworthy as Grace?
These are the stories of four brave young women facing challenges that could destroy them. Can their love survive?
Go here to begin reading these stories. http://tinyurl.com/yb8s83uf
COLOR STARVATIOIN
It’s the time of year when I look out the window and see nothing but black and white except for the flare of sunrise.
But that spectacular display is not enough to fill my need for color. I suffer from color starvation. I want to see green–green grass, green leaves–and I want bright flowers. Growing things. Last year I was able to go to Hawaii and feed that hunger. This year, I am not going. But I can enjoy the pictures from last year. I’ll share a few for your enjoyment.
I have a couple other things besides sunrise, sunsets and my picture file that help. Quilt and yarn displays. Yup. I go to the store and drink my fill.
If you’re needing a color fix, how what do you do?
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I wish I had something profound and wise to say to welcome in the New Year but I don’t. I’d like to blame it on the cold I am nursing and cursing (almost) but I plumb ran out of profound and wise some time ago. Okay, honestly? I’ve never ever had either.
Personally, 2017 has been a good year. My daughter dealt with a cancerous tumor behind her eye and the radiation killed it dead. Great news. I enjoyed a holiday in Hawaii with 3 of my daughters then a week at a nearby lake where I rented a cabin and enjoyed the time with 2 daughters, a son-in-law and 5 granddaughters. We had a number of family gatherings here. The year wrapped up with 25 here for Christmas. I put out 12 ebooks, and 4 books with Love Inspired Historicals. It’s been a busy year.
I look forward to 2018–more writing, more books out. A trip to Paris with daughter and granddaughter. Another week at the lake. And everything else that comes my way. Some things are unwelcome but everything is filtered through the loving hands of God and in Him I trust.
Enjoy this little glimpse of the past year. All the best to each of you in 2018.
Grace and Christmas
Grace is a war bride. She fell in love with Billy while he was recovering from a battle wound near her home in England and they married. But she is not prepared for the challenges of wedded life, let alone the challenges of life in Alberta, Canada. Even less, is she prepared for dealing with the risks her adventuresome, fly-boy husband takes.
And yes, there is a Christmas element to the story. Just when Grace thinks she can’t handle anything more, the rug is pulled out from under her right at Christmas. She is faced with having to deal with more pain. Can she do it with God’s help and the loving support of Billy?
I wish for each of you a blessed Christmas season. May you enjoy the reason for the season amidst all the hustle and bustle. To help you enjoy the festivities, I am including these pictures taken a few years ago at a writers’ retreat at a Gaylord hotel in Nashville.
There is nothing worse than boredom, but…
I don’t handle boredom well but, on the other hand, life can get too hectic. It’s like being suddenly diverted from the fast lane to the Indy 500. Every year at Christmas, I eliminate a few self-imposed activities in the hopes of slowing down the pace of preparation. I’ve down-sized gift giving. I’m slowly learning to simplify meal preparation. I don’t bake near as much as I once did mostly because it doesn’t get eaten at Christmas so I have to eat it afterwards.
But it still gets hectic. Which brings to mind the Advent themes of this week and last–PEACE and JOY.
PEACE- found in letting go and letting the God of the season be the reason I do things. ‘Prince of Peace, reveal yourself to us today. We need peace in our lives, our homes, our families, our church, and our whole world. Help us to slow down and seek out the peace you provide, so we may become peacemakers for ourselves and others. In your name, Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.’
JOY- ‘Too often, we think joy is something big, O God. A brass band or a parade can certainly bring us joy. Just as easily and far more often, we can feel joy in a hug or the squeeze of hand, we can see joy in a smile or hear it in laughter. Help us to not overlook the simple joys that peak into our lives daily. This week in our Advent journey, open our eyes to the joy that surrounds us. Amen.’ (Both quotes from https://www.liturgylink.net/2014/11/11/advent-candles-hope-peace-joy-love/)
So my wish for you is that you enjoy the season. Enjoy your family. Enjoy the lights and festivities. Here are some lights from the Calgary Zoo Lights for your enjoyment.
Can Irene Bring Peace
Naming my characters has always been a challenge for me. I especially struggled with this book. I knew the heroine was a caregiver, a nurse, and someone who sought the good of others. The word that came to mind when I thought of her was peace. I discovered Irene means peace. It was the perfect name for my heroine. IRENE–Bringer of Peace
Irene has cared for her younger sister since their mother died. She has nursed the wounded soldiers throughout WW1. Now she has accompanied her younger sister to Canada so her sister can rejoin the man she married in England. Irene wants something of her own. She wants to make a difference to people that stay in her life and so she agrees to a marriage of convenience. But Zach only wants someone to care for his two young boys. He blames himself for leaving his wife to join the army. He should have stayed home and cared for her. His heart is closed off.
Can Irene bring peace to the home? To Zach’s injured heart? Can she find peace for herself?
If you read this story, you might wonder if Irene means to bring peace or turmoil to poor Zach. She upsets his tidy little life. She threatens to saw the bed in half. You’ll have to read the book to figure out what that’s all about. Her own heart is in turmoil over the hurt she sees in Zach and his two little sons. But overhearing whispered gossip at a tea party really turns her world upside down. Poor Zach. Poor Irene as they find their way to love and peace.
Go here to get this book. I’m pretty sure you will enjoy Irene’s story–the third in my War Brides series. http://tinyurl.com/y78b95kb