Finding Joy in the Journey: THE HEART OF A PATRIOT

Finding Joy in the Journey: THE HEART OF A PATRIOT: What is it about this Great Nation of America that stirs our hearts and evokes parents to give up their sons and daughters in service of her...

I wrote this September 11, 2010, but always enjoy sharing it on the 4th of July.  I can't help but feel the same and it's one of my more popular reads on Scribd.  ;)

The POWER of a Substitute Teacher

I think I was in my freshman year of High School when I had a substitute Teacher by the name of Mr. Detar.  He was filling in for my poetry class while my Teacher was on leave.

After writing a few poems, Mr. Detar asked me if I would like to send them out for a contest.  I was extremely shy and told him that I didn't want to.  He told me that my poems were that good and that I might be able to make some money for them.  Again, I told him that I couldn't do that.  Even though I didn't know Mr. Detar that long, he made an impact in my life.  For the first time, I felt that I might have a gift in writing poetry.

My life took a turn and I later went to work as a Secretary right out of High School.  After my third daughter was born I chose to become a stay-at-home mom and also had one more daughter.

The desire for writing was planted deep in my soul, from Junior High and High School creative writing Teachers, to Mr. Detar.  I did dabble with poetry off and on throughout the years and sent a few out to various publications, but could not resist the temptation to include two poems within my book ~ Legend of the Mer.

So thank you Mr. Detar wherever you are!  ;)

If They Only Knew

Dreaming is easy; it's the writing that seems to take hours to convey what you have seen.  If your readers only knew all that was put into creating this work of art.

If you're feeling like your in the dungeon of creation, you're not alone!  Lol!  It's in these times that you are creating your Masterpiece!  Writing is another form of art and we can all make something beautiful if we keep on writing!

Sometimes I feel like a surgeon, cutting away all that is not necessary.  I will rewrite a sentence five different ways before I can believe what my character is saying.

Writing takes time, patience and practice.  In the end, it will all be worth it if we can make someone smile!  ;) 

Beautiful Blogger Award

Traveling Through

I would like to thank Julie Farrar of Traveling Through for nominating the She Writes Blooming Late Group for the Beautiful Blogger award!  If you get a chance, check-out her blog!  Now for the requirements of the gift bestowed:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Share 7 random things about yourself.
3. Nominate 7 fellow bloggers for the Beautiful Blogger award.
4. Inform the bloggers of their nomination.
5. Include the award images in your blog post.

Here's my 7 random things:

1. I love to mix up red hot candies, 1tsp of instant coffee & 1pk of instant hot cocoa together for a treat.  :p

2. I love to watch classic films on a rainy day (Wizard of OZ, Shirley Temple, Little Women, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, or any Danny Kaye, Judy Garland or Doris Day).

3. My husband enjoys looking up his genealogy.  Can anyone guess the famous person he's related to???

4. I make the Hershey's Chocolate Cake (recipe on the back of the box) each year around my birthday, only now they've come out with the special dark cocoa that I love even more.

5. Grandchild #9 is on the way ~ Should arrive some time in November!  ;)

6. The sequel I'm writing continues the story of my main character, but also from the point of view of her half-brother.

7. God makes me smile and I share that with everyone else.  :)

Now for my seven nominees:

1. Michael Offutt is a blogger of wit and humor.  He's the author of the new Sci-Fi novel Slipstream. 

2. Christine Rains is a blogger, paranormal romance author and geek mom.  You can find her at Christine Rains - Writer.

3. Jenny Morris She's a YA Fiction blogger who's also a Rock Star Ninja with wings over at Jenny's imaginary world.

4. Coleen Patrick is a contemporary YA blogger and completely doing research to stay up on the latest craze!  Lol!  You can see her at Coleen Patrick. 

5. David Powers King who is an aspiring MG/YA Sci-Fi Writer.  He's often at the same sites I visit giving encouragement to other writers.  Check his blog out at David Powers King. 

6. Fairview is a blogger that is always handing out encouragement.  She writes from the perspective of the Citizens of Fairview USA.  Check her out at View from Fairview. 

7. Alex J. Cavanaugh is the Sci-Fi author of CassaStar and CassaFire.  He's always giving a review of the latest movie and I always have to read them!  Check his blog out at Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Happy Mother's Day!

(Source)

Wanted to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day!  For those who are one and also those who are celebrating one!  

I will be enjoying mine with my daughters and grandchildren, except for my daughter and family in California.  Thankfully, she is there to celebrate with my own mother.  I am thankful that they have each other on this day.

Have a blessed Weekend!  ;)

Qualilty Time

My Sweetheart is on vacation this week so we will be enjoying some quality time together and working outside.  The weather here in the Blue Ridge has turned beautiful and there is much yard work needing to be done.  Hope all of you have a wonderful week as well!  ; )

LEAVING A LEGACY

LEAVING A LEGACY

The story behind the story

My Church is doing the “ONE MONTH TO LIVE” series and it’s really making people think.  But, I already know what I would do, because I already did it.  You see, I was diagnosed with cancer just before I published my book.  I have to say that I was more determined to see it published than ever during those dark days.

I not only wanted to make my life-dream a reality, since I had written the original story during my junior year of High School (1979).  But, I also wanted to leave behind a means for my grandchildren to know my heart if I wasn’t around to show them myself.

I never cared for bullies of any sort and written within the pages of my book you will see my main character Lana struggling with her differences and empowered when she discovers who she really is and the purpose for her life.  She has the opportunity to meet others that are different from her and she learns to love them as herself.  She also learns to care for the environment, especially the ocean where she eventually comes to live.

I taught my daughters to respect themselves and our planet and to respect and be kind to others also.  I believe that they lived that out well as they were growing up and becoming women themselves.  I am confident they will continue to teach my grandchildren to do the same, but I also wanted to leave behind a lesson or two of my own.

Now that I’m living cancer-free, I’m enjoying the adventure of Princess Lana and Prince Titus all over again as I write the sequel.  There are more lessons to be learned and more characters to join in the journey, as they travel to Safe Harbor Island and to the South Pacific.  My plans are to have it completed by November (2012).  I hope you’ll join in the fun!  ; )

THESE ARE QUESTIONS I WAS ASKED THE OTHER DAY AND THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE:

1         What was the inspiration for your book?

          There were many things; I think I’ve always been a people lover.  My parents taught my brother and me to love and respect everyone.  Even though I grew up knowing people with physical challenges/special needs, I realized at an early age that they might not be having the same experience in life I was because of their differences.  I saw other people who treated them cruelly.  I know that’s when my character Lana was born in my heart.

Later, between my sophomore and junior year of High School, I had the opportunity to be chosen to attend a Yearbook conference at the University of Hawaii.  That’s when my love for the Hawaiian Islands, her people, and the ocean birthed my mermaid story.  I would begin to write it that next year in my creative writing class.

2         What is your favorite scene from your book and why?

Oh my goodness, there are so many!  I’ve always liked the third chapter (The Mer) when Lana finds out the truth about herself; she puts her fingers to the stinging sides of her neck and feels the tiny open slits of her gills and says, “Okay, if this is real then I really must be part fish!”

3         What works in progress do you have?

          I’m currently writing the sequel (LEGEND OF THE MER II ~ The New Guardian).  The first book was written more from a teen girl’s perspective, so I decided to make the second from a teen guy’s.  He’s Lana’s half brother Jedediah.  I do also continue the story of Princess Lana and Prince Titus and the struggles they face in the mer Kingdom.

          Someday I plan to write an elven love story which is a combination of two stories I had written.  On my Pinterest, you will see several elves, fairies, etc. helping me to keep my muse at bay!  Lol!

          I also have a King, Queen, Knights, etc. story that I pretty much dreamed during the dark days before being diagnosed with cancer.  I guess it was my minds way of coping with the debilitating pain I was going through.  At least I could escape it through my dreams.  I even have a complete map of the castles/lands within my story that I drew in ink.

4         Which characters in your book do you like the most?

          Of course I like Lana; she’s comprised of me and my daughters.  I also like the wisdom of King Titan; there’s a bit of my grandmother in him.  Prince Titus is ever valiant and strong; which are some of my husband’s characteristics, but also some of my brother’s as well.  Prince Makoa is the comedian of the mer and he’s from the Native American descents that first married into the mer long ago.  He’s also a pretty tough guy.

5         Who is your favorite author and why?

          I would have to say J.R.R. Tolkien; a close second is C. S. Lewis.  I had read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy at the age of 9.  There-in began the creation of my own fantasy worlds.  Elves were my first love (my husband knows this) and I can see some of that inspiration in my mer.

6         What is your favorite movie ~ the one you can watch over and over again?

          Not a hard one to figure, definitely the Lord of the Rings trilogy and cannot wait for the Hobbit to be released.  I know they’re not entirely as Tolkien had written the story in the books, but at least we get a taste of his genius and enjoy a rather lavish get-a-way.

7         What do you hope readers will take with them from your writing?

          Just like Lana, I hope they’ll enjoy a wonderful adventure that takes them from Safe Harbor Island, NC to Kaloki Island in the South Pacific.  I love to encourage and make people smile.  I hope they’ll have a deeper appreciation of other people, no matter their differences and also the ocean as they experience life under the sea!  ; )