Sunday Sunshine: Seven November Blessings

The blessings just keep coming!

Sunday:  The freedom to praise God
Monday:  My cups and mugs that bring a smile to my face
Tuesday:  My son, Dan, who is gentle-hearted and kind, a defender of the underdog, loves and respects his parents, and a hard worker.  Love this boy-man of mine.
Wednesday:  A sweet friend who is so much like me she could be my daughter. She's kind and good, loving and generous! Love her to pieces.
Thursday:  The good and healthy food God has allowed us to have. The bountiful table says it all.
Friday:  A hot tub that relaxes me when I'm tense, soothes my bones when they're weary, and gives hubby and I a few minutes to catch up and share.
Saturday:  The assurance and blessing of a home in heaven.

Psalm 66:20:  Blessed be God who hath not turned away my prayers, nor his mercy from me.

HARVEST BLESSINGS!

Rambling Friday: Just the Thing!

I woke up this morning to a heavy rain, and, believe it or not, it's been raining all day. So...

When I contemplated on what to have for supper...

You got it, I decided on soup. And a soup I hadn't prepared for several months. But let me expound on my soup decision first.

Cool Autumn days and wintertime demands--and I mean literally demands warmth. How could it not? So my go-to soups head the list of at least once a week (which normally carries over to leftovers for several days afterward--unless I decide to freeze a carton or two). 

I love:

• Chili--oh, yeah! Big one here.
• Vegetable soup together with ground chuck or venison. Healthy!
• Cheesy Potato soup. Oh, my!
• Corn Chowder. Yum!
• Wild Rice with Chicken and Mushrooms (lots of seasoning too!)

So today I went for the Wild Rice with Chicken and Mushroom soup. Yummy. Delicious.

What better way to warm your insides and give you a satisfying pick-up for the day?

What's your favorite go-to soup?

Happy Soup Day!

Serious Wednesdays:

Welcome, dear followers! Here's your chance to check out Sandra M. Hart's newest historical romance: A Musket in My Hands. Read on to find out a little about the Civil war era and the women who managed to serve as a soldier. 

Women as Civil War Soldiers

by Sandra Merville Hart

There are about four hundred known cases of women serving as Civil War soldiers on either side. Since most of them were discovered after serving at least two years, it’s likely that the real number is much higher.

The Civil War began with the first shots fired by the Confederates on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. It lasted until 1865—four long years of suffering and loss for the whole country.

Early on, there were women on both sides who wanted to fight in the war as soldiers. Girls who tried to muster into the army by going to recruiting stations were praised by war journalists for their courage.

Of course, neither the Confederates nor the Federals accepted women as soldiers at recruiting stations. Yet determined women figured out ways to disguise themselves as men and muster into the armies. Soldiers wrote home when discovering women soldiers during the war. Folks were aware of female soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

Reporters and editors praised the patriotism of women soldiers throughout the war. Newspaper articles were reprinted in other cities.

My third Civil War romance, A Musket in My Hands, follows two sisters as they disguise themselves as soldiers in the fall of 1864 and join the men they love in the Confederate army—just in time for the war to grow progressively difficult for Southern soldiers. Tough marches lead them to the Battle of Franklin. How can anyone survive?

Back Cover Blurb:

Can I count on you in times of great need?”

Callie Jennings reels from her pa’s decision that she must marry his friend, a man older than him. Her heart belongs to her soldier hero, Zach Pearson, but Pa won’t change his mind. Callie has no place to hide. Then her sister, Louisa, proposes a shocking alternative.

Zach still hears his pa’s scornful word—quitter. He’s determined to make something of himself as a soldier. He’ll serve the Confederacy until they win the war. If they win the war.

Callie and Louisa disguise themselves as soldiers and muster into the Confederate army in the fall of 1864. Times are tough and getting tougher for their Confederacy. For Callie, shooting anyone, especially former countrymen, is out of the question—until truth and love and honor come together on the battlefield.

Buy the book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Musket-My-Hands-Civil-Romance/dp/1946016675/

About Sandra:

Award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Sandra Merville Hart loves to uncover fascinating historical facts for her stories. Her debut Civil War Romance, A Stranger on My Land, was IRCA Finalist 2015. A Rebel in My House, set during the historic Battle of Gettysburg, won the 2018 Silver Illumination Award and second place in 2018 FHL Readers’ Choice Award. A Musket in My Hands, is a story where two sisters join the Confederate army with the men they love. Her novella, Surprised by Love in “From the Lake to the River” released in September of 2018. Trail’s End, in “Smitten Novella Collection: The Cowboys” releases in August of 2019.

Find her on her blog, 

https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.

Excited? I am. Sandra is developing into a real knowledgeable Civil War novelist. Don't miss out on a chance to buy her book!

Sunday Sunshine: Seven November Blessings

For the second Sunday in November I'm sharing these blessings in my life:

Sunday:  My heart is thankful for so many special friends that I've known throughout my lifetime. How they've blessed me!
Monday:  Things that happen in our life that hubby handles with no problems, whether serious or simple, he takes care of them so I don't have to worry (too much :) )
Tuesday:  So happy that hubby and I had the privilege of going on vacation due to my son and a sweet friend's planning and making it happen. What fun! How relaxing! So thankful!
Wednesday:  That I've been able to see two more of my writing endeavors come to publication this year of 2018!
Thursday:  Blest to have my hearing:  the sound of crackling leaves, the ability to hear the voices I love, and the music I so enjoy.
Friday:  That I found doTerra essential oils. What a blessing.
Saturday:  That God has taken me a step closer to Him. How I've needed this.


Psalm 67:5a:  Let the people praise thee, O God.

Harvest blessings!

Serious Wednesdays: Stuck?

On Passionate Writing

Stuck?

Discouraged?

Feeling hopeless?

Don't be!

Remember:

 * If you're discouraged that you can get no

editor or agent interested,

you have options!! 

Not everyone needs to go the traditional route.

Consider and pray about the journey God wants you on.

* If you're feeling blue because you've reached a plateau in your writing 

and you have no clue how to proceed...

Here's some ideas:

Re-read what you've written. Take notes. 

Ask some questions: 

1.  What is the worst thing that can happen to my character(s)?

2.  What is the best thing that can happen to my character(s)?

3.  Ask a bunch of "what if" questions

4.  Consider taking a different direction in your manuscript.

5.  Talk with a close friend and ask them for some suggestions.

You don't always have to use their thoughts, 

but it could spark some ideas in your head, 

or you could branch off from an idea they spoke of

And, last:

Pray.

Remind yourself for whom you're writing

and the reason you're writing.

Take a break. 

Sometimes a space of time, 

freeing your mind with a different occupation 

will rest your enough to refresh your inspiration!

Just never give up!

Sunday Sunshine: Seven November Blessings

November is the month to show our extra special thankfulness. I'm planning on sharing seven

blessings each Sunday, for each day of the week. Here we go:

Sunday:  I'm thankful I have a wonderful place of worship.
Monday:  I'm thankful for my husband--a leader, an example, a true Christian.
Tuesday:  Appreciate the sunshine in between the cloudy days.
Wednesday:  Love the beautiful colors of the Autumn season.
Thursday:  Appreciate the privilege of listening to my grandson Jonathan's speech, the words he uses way above his age level, the thoughts he has, and the love he bestows on his pets.
Friday:  I love the anticipation I feel in knowing Thanksgiving Day is getting closer.
Saturday:  I appreciate God's help physically in keeping the colds away from me for over a year. 


Psalm 92:1a:  It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto his name.

Harvest Blessings!

Boo! It's a Scary Writing World Out There!

Don't let your fears keep you from writing. 
Fear is deadly and costly for those in the writing field. Let's face them TODAY and see if we can take the first steps in conquering them.

Fear #1: Fear of the Unknown

Yes, it will cost you some money — marketing costs, training costs, etc.

But if something costs you, say, $500 over the course of a year, and you generate, say, $3,000 during that year, is the cost really what’s most important?

Don’t let the fear of investing some money now blind you from the many different future avenues of profit and readers.

Fear #2: I don't have the time

Yes, writing does take time. There is no way around this.

So if you literally have no time to invest in building an audience and developing your talent in writing, you probably should give in to this fear and walk away now. But in my experience, most people do have enough time to at least get moving — even if it’s not as much time as they’d like to have (a distinction that is critical).

The key is to actually prioritize your personal goals and your future (because no one else is going to do it for you), and then make smart choices about what to do with the available time that you do have.

Fear #3: But I’m an unknown! How will I ever get enough sales to make money?

Patience with your timeline, take a big-picture view, and smartly follow the proven path laid out by so many people who have come before you.

Fear #4: Okay, but how can I be confident that I’ll make good decisions and not screw everything up once it’s growing?

Because you’re more capable than you think. And because there are so many mentors and examples out there whose lead you can follow.

And, more importantly, because your own intuition — once it is honed by the deep experience you will gain growing an audience and learning how to serve them — is the greatest and most underrated guide you will have.

Fear #5: This all just a crazy pipe dream.

It’s definitely not a pipe dream. The thousands of successful writers out there, and the billions upon billions of dollars they generate every year, are proof of that.

As to whether it’s “crazy,” well … maybe it is a tad bit crazy.

But you know what? Most successful writers tend to be a little bit crazy. So this fear is actually a sign that you’re on the right track. 

And just for good measure, here is one more fear you might be feeling …

Bonus Fear: How will I know what specific steps to take to succeed?

This is probably the most unreasonable fear of them all.

Why?

Because so many successful paths and successful strategies have already been tried, judged, improved, and refined by those who have come before you.

Take a moment and reflect on any of the fears above that may be affecting your thinking. If any of those fears are stopping you from taking meaningful steps forward, now is the time to consider whether or not they should be.

Because if they shouldn’t be, then these fears are holding you back from living the life you truly want to be living.

And that’s not a fear to respect.

That’s a fear to reject.


Blessings!