In Search of Some Time to Think

Tomorrow, my husband and I will be flying to Chicago to see my Mother for her 80th birthday.  After that, we'll return on Monday to repack and head for Florida for a week of vacation time.  I'm very much looking forward to this time away from our normal lives, to relax and regroup and rethink and just meditate on all that has transpired over this past year thus far. 

When Fall comes, I find that I get very introspective and a little melancholic too.  It's rather like a time of preparation for the "hibernation" that comes with winter and cold weather and remaining inside; for when we have less light. I'm not fond of winter and less light!  I think that even though we are human and do not hibernate as some of the animal kingdom does, all in all, we still have a sort of hibernation that comes upon us. I feel it each Fall.  I start to get a feeling of drawing into myself, contemplating things more; thinking deeper; wanting to meditate on life and circumstances.... going "deeper". 

This is what I'm looking forward to more than anything with this vacation to Florida.  It's not going to be a tourist vacation. We're planning on going to the condo and just resting, reading, watching old movies and I really plan to do a lot of work on my novel while there.  When I can get away from the normal hustle and bustle of "life" as we live it, and go where it will be more quiet and secluded, so I can "think" without distractions and interruptions.  Many times we have had these intentions only to have them side-tracked.  We end up doing the tourist thing anyway.  That is why we decided to go where we are going this next week.  It's nore secluded.  You have to travel for 15 minutes to get to a Wal-mart!   We'll buy our groceries and supplies and then "hibernate" in the condo or walking on the beach in the afternoon sun. Oh how I long for the sun and the ocean!  

Because we'll be hibernating for most of the trip, I may or may not get online much.  We're taking one of those cards from Verizon with us so that we can have Internet access, but I may not get online but once every few days.  We'll see what happens.  :)  If something really spectacular happens and we can get online access, I may upload some photos and a post from time to time.

Wishing you all a wonderful and peaceful week!  

Linda 

Nothing can separate us from God's Love  Romans 8:18-39

Writing is FUN!

Yes, writing is FUN!!  I have finished three children's books now and have published them on Blurb.com at this address:

http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/851423#author-bookshelf

I am also working on a NOVEL at the moment.!  The thing that I have discovered about writing, is that it is almost or even more exciting than reading a book!  I have found that when I sit down to write, I only have an "idea" of what the story is going to be about.  Once I start writing, it takes on a life of its own!  I have 38 pages into my new novel right now and each day is an adventure because I don't know where the story will take me!  I can't wait to see how it gets to where I want it go!! 

More to come on that, another time!

Right now, please visit my bookstore on Blurb and make an early purchase for your Christmas Shopping!  These books will bring much delight to the children in your life, along with teaching them character and obedience at the same time.  They will love Petie and Mr. Buzz!

Wading through the murky waters of seeking an Agent

I never knew it could be so hard to actually get a book published!!

The other day, I finally broke down and went to the bookstore and bought three books that were recommended to me:  "Writer's and Illustrator's Guide to Children's Book Publishers and Agents" by Ellen R. Shapiro and "How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published" by Barbara Seuling and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Children's Books".  (I should qualify there!) I have my work cut out for me! 

I think I am going to set the actual writing aside for a bit now and just try to get through most of these books.  I've completed two of the "Petie" books now; one is on the website and has actually sold 4 or 5 copies so far!  I'm excited about that!  The other one is in the finishing stages and about to be uploaded, but I'm trying to decide if I want to do that or wait until I find an Agent first.  Then I have a third book that I wrote many years ago and my Mother helped collaborate on the art work; that one has to be typed into the software and uploaded also.  Until then though, I need to get through these books I've purchased, make submissions of query letters to Agents and see what happens.  Making all of the submissions and keeping track of them is the hard part!  Writing is the fun part!

The exciting news for this week though is that I should have my first hard-back book in my hands by this Friday! I'll be so excited to actually hold something I've written, in book form, in my hands!  We're supposed to be leaving for Mississippi on Friday so I'm hoping that the Fed Ex guy comes early before we have to leave so I can take it with me!

We're going to have a busy month the rest of this month now. Next weekend is our own conference that we administer and then the end of the month we'll be traveling to Illinois to see my Mom. She is going to be 80 years old on September 28th!  I'll say more about that later.  When we return from Illinois, we are taking a break and going to Florida for a few days to just relax.  THAT I'm really looking forward to as it will give me some time to just READ and get through these books I've purchased.

More on this adventure later!  I hope all of you have a wonderful week and weekend!

(The picture of the sunflower at the top of this post was taken by my Sister Dawn! 

It's growing in her back yard and is twice as tall as she is!!)