what page are you on?

Welcome to another week! My deadline for The Colonel's Lady is now days away. And the sun is shining and the deck is calling... I think I much prefer winter deadlines:) Only I've not had one yet. I've been thinking of my readers ~ you readers ~ and wondering what you're reading right now. So many good books out there no matter the season ~ spring, summer, fall, winter...

I love these vintage bookmarks and books. When I want to give a gift I usually end up giving a book and try to find a classy bookmark. If I could gift you all with one book it would be L.M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle. But Morrow will have to do:)

I'm making a resolution to read more pleasure books in future as I'm logging more time doing research than anything else. Just finished Siri Mitchell's She Walks in Beauty, which I'd love to give away to you the first week of August. Am now on page 204 of The Sackett's by Louis L'Amour. I also have bookmarks lodged in The Practice of God's Presence by Andrew Murray and 1776 by David McCullough. The last 2 are amazing reads!! Thanks to two reading friends, they are a part of my permanent library. And I just broke my Amazon ban and ordered The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom and Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes. So there you have it!

Do you find it hard to read in summer with so many distractions? Find it easier to curl up by the fire with a good book in winter? So...what page are you on? Care to share any great summer reads?

A good book has no ending. ~R.D. Cumming

an 18th-century weekend

This was a perfect weekend. Combine a little sun, some research books, a bit of fiddling, and lots of writing and I'm happy. I fell in love with the photo at left, taken at Colonial Williamsburg in a silversmith's shoppe. I'm studying trades of two hundred years ago for an upcoming novel. This picture tells a story all its own.

Books I fell in love with this weekend:
George Washington, Spymaster by Thomas B. Allen
Eyewitness Books/American Revolution by Stuart Murray
Welcome to Felicity's World 1774 by Catherine Gourley

Yesterday Paul and I went to Old Time Fiddlers and he played a lively Celtic tune called, "Britches Full of Stitches." He was the youngest player there. The oldest? Ninety-three! This senior member has never had a lesson and doesn't read music but plays anything and everything extremely well. When he was a boy his mother threw his trumpet down an outhouse hole so he took up the violin. And he's been thanking his mother ever since:)

Now back to that colonial battlefield scene...

the plot thickens...

I'm still deep in the Red River woods, circa late 18th-century Kentucke (yes, correct spelling for that time period, or should I say incorrect spelling?) and trying to polish the story to a high gloss. Meanwhile, I took a long walk today in the 85 degree heat and must have had some sort of a serendipitous brain melt as the plot puzzle I've been trying to figure out for book 3 finally came together:) Only I can't get back to book 3 because I need to finish book 2.

When I finished The Frontiersman's Daughter and asked the Lord's blessing on the book and any readers, I thought I had my readers figured out. This is women's fiction, or so it seemed, and I couldn't imagine it appealing to anyone else. Well, something strange has begun happening. Teenage girls are starting to tell me they can't wait to read my book! I even heard from one today via email asking if she could review my book. Certainly, I said. But I was kind of stunned. But then I thought that maybe there's a reason the novel opens with Lael being 13. Granted, she matures rapidly and is soon 18 and keeps climbing...

So I'm glad for any teen readers! My husband told me he is going to read it as soon as my box of books is delivered. I told him it is women's fiction (and teen? young adult?) so not to put it on par with Hemmings Motor News or Muscle Cars. Besides, he's not a book reader. I doubt he'll get past the first few chapters, much less read to page 416! But he just might surprise me. People tell him he looks just like the man on my book cover. I think he likes that!

So the life of a writer is never dull. Surprising, but not dull. Better get back to meeting that deadline...

You can't get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. -Lewis

a purr-fect post

One of the best things about being a writer is meeting like-minded people who love books and view writing as a ministry. Lately I've had the privilege of becoming acquainted with some folks I just can't keep to myself and want to share. Niki Anderson is one of them! I met Niki through my literary agency, Books & Such. Niki happens to live on the sunny side of Washington State with her husband and two fascinating felines. She was gracious enough to allow me to spotlight her, though I doubt she needs the extra exposure. Her books of meditations for cat lovers have sold over 340,000 copies in the U.S. and abroad!

Niki is a lady of many talents - wife, mother, speaker and Bible teacher, and past short-term missionary to Africa. I visited her website and blog, and met her red tabby, Myles, via his handsome portrait with Niki. Without the slightest exaggeration, I think Myles is the most stunning cat I've ever seen. Hop on over to http://www.nikianderson.net/ and you'll probably start purring with agreement. Niki is also as lovely and gracious as she looks.

Recently Niki attended the Cat Fanciers Association international show in Atlanta where 800 pedigreed cats and their owners gathered. On her website is a picture of Niki signing her books at this event. She's also posted some wonderful photos of cats, breeds which I've never heard of before, like the Ragdoll. Pretty nice cat, but I'll take Myles!

Niki's forthcoming book is titled Whiskers, Wit, and Wisdom; it can be pre-ordered on Amazon. She's also written What I Learned from God While Gardening, Inspirational Stories for Cat Lovers, and What My Cat Has Taught Me About Life. If you order her other books through her website she will sign and mail them. I plan on ordering some for birthdays and Christmas to give cat-loving cousins and friends.

Thank you, Niki, for sharing your ministry with folks on my blog. I know they'll be blessed!

The smallest feline is a masterpiece. -Leonardo da Vinci

If we treated everyone we meet with the same affection we bestow upon our favorite cat, they, too, would purr. -Martin Buxbaum

A meow massages the heart. -Stuart McMillan

a miracle

We start homeschooling again today, something I've always loved till now. Writing seems to take precedent over nearly everything and I go to the homeschool closet lately and haul out all those books reluctantly. Last year Paul didn't start reading till he was nearly nine years old - something that makes public school teachers squirm! I was a bit panicked myself as Wyatt was right "on time" if there is such a thing, which there is not. I know several homeschooled kids who learned to read between the ages of 11 and 14 and they are very bright kids.

Now Paul has his head in those little Archie comic books all the time and is learning all sorts of new words like "jughead" and "bozo" and "detention". Wyatt received a treasure trove of Hardy Boys books for Christmas so he'll be immersed in that world for awhile. Yesterday, the kids at church put on their belated Christmas pageant due to all the snow and it was wonderful. Paul played "Silent Night" on the violin, then we had communion and a potluck.

Now for Monday. I get to return to the Red River today and think I will read through the entire manuscript first (after hiding my red pen) to get a feel for the story and see what problems with pacing (and all the rest) leap out at me. I checked the word count which is just over 145,000 words - a whopper. The Frontiersman's Daughter, at the galleys stage, was about 124,000 which equals 420 pages or so in book format. My contract specifies 352 pages. But the quality of the story trumps word count. And I hope you think it is a quality story! This third book will be closer to the contracted amount.

Last night during one of my wake up spells (I seem to have these often) I was thinking what a miracle it is that The Frontiersman's Daughter is at this stage. I began it 11 years ago, writing during Wyatt's naps, stuck it in a drawer for 5 years after Paul was born, got it out and dusted it off and finished it in the next couple of years, threw the first half out and rewrote it, tried to find an agent unsuccessfully, considered quitting many times, etc. In the meantime, we lived in a very small travel trailer, then our garage, built our house, tended cows and pigs and a huge garden, became very involved in our little church, etc. This book is a miracle! And He gets all the credit - for giving me the idea, for allowing me the time, for instilling persistence, for helping me overcome defeat, and finally, for opening locked doors. I'm sure your own story is just as interesting!

Anyway, thank heavens I'm here and not back there. I get tired just thinking about it. That's probably why He, in His wisdom, withholds the future from us. Hope your Monday holds miraculous things:)

snowed in

Where are my snowshoes? This morning it's about 19 degrees and we have half a foot of snow. The wind is roaring (gusting to 60 mph) but it's just beautiful outside, so long as you're inside by the fire. Snow is so much better than rain. I'm praying the power holds as I'm still working on these galleys. Our house smells like Christmas trees, thanks to the two firs inside. I heard of a lady in Georgia who has a tree in every room (even the bathroom?) which sounds wonderful and time-consuming (bet she doesn't write books). It's a good day for chili and Christmas cookies.

If the power goes out, I'll have to brave the roads and drive the 30 minutes to town to keep working. I've threatened to check into a hotel:) Must be the thought of room service that lures me. Randy went into the ditch after church yesterday so would be better to stay home.

Strangely enough, up until this weekend, I counted 14 blue hydrangeas blooming on my garden bush and Paul went up and picked 3 daisies for me in our wildflower patch. Now with the wind and snow all the apple trees and everything else have been stripped bare.

I've been reading about the Kentucky winter of 1777-1778. The old-timers referred to it as "the year of the terrible sevens." Turkeys and other game just froze in their tracks. I think this was the same winter George Washington was with his half-starved, barefoot troops at Valley Forge. We have such ease now.

Hope you're curled up with a good book! I want to read John Adams as soon as I can get my hands on it. My Amazon account grows and grows. Happy reading:)

summer in december

This morning the boys jumped out of bed and remembered it was December 1 so rushed to the LEGO advent calendar to pry open door #1. Out sprang a little LEGO man holding a gigantic turkey leg. The boys were delighted. It made me hungry. Only now I'm having visions of honeybaked hams:)

The sun is actually shining here today and I just went to the mailbox and found that long-anticipated Baker Books summer 2009 catalog!! So I'm enjoying a little bit of summer on this first day of December. The Frontiersman's Daughter was given a generous two page spread with an excerpt from chapter 1 and some very kind words. And there is my face in a little bio box to the right staring back at me. Mercy! It must really be happening.

Each of us is given gifts to use in His service. God is so creative! I think one of the best, if not the best gift, is being a mom. Children are a gift. Raising them is a gift. There's another author in the catalog that writes great books and has nine children whom she homeschools! Try doing that without some heavenly spark!

Anyway, feeling very thankful today for kids, husbands, sunshine, book catalogs, coffee, advent calendars, Legos, and kind words.

For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me. Romans 15:18

book bliss

Now that the deck is almost done, I think Randy should start on a book room - a little library extension. Of course this will never happen but it's fun to think about. I am living in a state of book bliss - going to the mailbox and having an Amazon order there is just like Christmas, no kidding. I am just wild about books! I've only ordered 21 since March and this is using tremendous restraint. Currently I'm on a Lewis and Clark tangent so have some more coming about the Corp of Discovery trek. I've even started reading in bed but need a little flashlight so I won't keep Randy awake. Reminds me of keeping a book under my pillow as a kid and using a little light to read by - till Mom came in.

I should hear from my publisher any day about the title for this first book. They asked for some alternate titles and I gave them six. Too bad I can't conduct a little poll for best title. I kind of hope they just come up with one that is a zinger on their own. They're better at this than I am!

Thus far I've written about 60 pages of this third book and have decided to change point of view. Usually I write using one perspective - hers. But I'm experimenting with using a his-hers point of view - one chapter is his perspective, the next chapter is hers. It is very interesting. I'm not sure if it will sink or swim but I really like it. It's kind of like going from black and white to color. And after a slow start with me scratching my head about the opening, I now have a hard time setting it aside. Always a good sign, I think. At least with writing or reading a good book.

Here's hoping you are reading a great book today - or at least trying to find one. If you need help please ask me!