Rambling Friday: My Love and Hate Relationship with Rain

A Poem:

Umbrellas

U is for Umbrellas that bloom in rainy weather,

Like many-colored mushrooms sprouting upward altogether,

How useful an umbrella is! But still, I often wonder,

If a roof on a stormy evening, Isn't nicer to be under.

--Phyllis McGinley

I hate:

Muddy roads caused by the rain.

I hate mud-streaked floors when improperly wiped-off shoes cause them.

I hate the floods (although awesome to watch).

I hate the destruction caused by too much rain.

I dislike the rainy, depressing days when they number more than two.

BUT, I love...

I love the sound of rain tinkling on a metal rooftop.

I love the sprinkles of showers that give the flowers their daily drink.

I love how they help the vegetables to grow,

and keep our grassy yards green and alive.

I love how the rains cool the hot and dry days.

I appreciate how rain re-energizes everything.

So...

though there are unpleasant things about the rain.

I will stay focused on the positive,

appreciate the benefits,

and enjoy the rain!

Happy rainy days!

Boo!! It's the Bad Guy!

Most stories have a bad guy, or at least a loser who's sought after a maiden heart, etc. Since I write mystery and/or suspense, I ALWAYS have a bad guy and sometimes more than one. Many times I’ll start out with one in mind…and lo, and behold, someone else insists that, “I’m your man!” Wow. A surprise for the author.

Let me give you a couple examples from my own works.

In one of my books, I had a young man–a twin, no less–planned as the culprit. But the farther I advanced into the mystery, someone else stood out in bold outline as the person behind all the evil deeds. Yes, the first one, the young man, was a bully and easily swayed by the wrong companions, but it was soon evident, that the real mischief maker was the guilty party.

In the second book I want to use as an example, there was a planned harasser, a bully and a person who believed a lie. He was a very bad trouble maker, the perfect patsy of an antagonist for this book. But, again, I got a surprise when a quieter person, one most would never suspect ended up being the “bad guy” of this story for a different, one might even call it, more sinister reason.

What do you do when your characters change from one thing to another? Well, you go with the flow after reasoning, digging into the message and plot of your book, and deciding that it does make sense to listen to the characters, but most of all, to your heart that validates the changes will truly make your book more interesting.

What do YOU do when your characters tell you that that certain changes will strengthen your writing? Do you listen?

Check out my two cozy series to see if you can spot the changes I’m talking about here.

The Denton and Alex Davies series:  

 Hog Insane

Bat Crazy 

The Appleton, WV Romantic Mystery series:

• Sabotaged Christmas
• Knight in Shining Apron
• Undiscovered Treasures

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1488550602&sr=8-1

Happy Reading!

PRESENTING...Sharon A. Lavy's Newest Book

No one begins life as a teenager.

Book Blurb:

His family attended St. Anthony’s church in Florida. So why is the Old German Baptist meeting house—in Ohio, where his high school friend attended—the only one he can remember? Is he crazy like his father--the man who killed his mother years ago and recently killed his best friend? 

While Pete hunts for his elusive memories, Danni Wagoner, his best friend’s widow still seeks for closure a year after she buried her husband. 

Much as he wants to comfort this widow and her child—unless Pete can forgive his father, he will not be free to love or protect either of them properly.

Book Three in the 

"Sometimes We're Asked to Forgive the Unforgivable" 

series. 

The captivating continuation of the story of two women, raised differently and dressed differently, but close friends nevertheless, and the men in their lives. Filled with anguish and joy, sweet scenes and suspenseful ones, each character stands out in a unique and interesting way that will compel the reader to keep reading well past their bedtime. It's a once-in-a-reader's-life book series that hooks one to follow the episodes and exciting experiences these women are living. I recommend this book to all those who love Amish--er, German Baptist books, women's fiction and suspenseful writing. Don't miss out! 

Buy this book here:

Amazon

ABOUT Sharon:

Sharon A. Lavy was born into an Old German Baptist family. This Anabaptist group are often mistaken for Amish.

While Sharon was growing up her father went to medical school at George Washington University. He interned and took his residency at a hospital in Sacramento, California. 
She inherited her love of books from her father and when she wasn't exploring the hospital where he worked, Sharon spent many hours pouring over his medical books. 

When she married, Sharon moved with her husband to a farm in Southwest Ohio where they reared five children.

While she loves to read many genre, her own writing tends to feature medical drama among the Old German Baptist community.

Connect with her here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.a.lavy

Twitter: @OldOrderTweeter

Happy Reading!

Sunday Morning Peace: We Gather Together

Gathering Together

The old hymn is customarily sung around Thanksgiving time.

Here are the lyrics:

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known.

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,

And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free.

A Few Fun Facts:

* A Christian hymn of Dutch origin written in 1597 by Adrianus Valerius 

* Written to 

 celebrate the Dutch victory over Spanish forces 

in the Battle of Turnhout. 

 * It was originally set to a Dutch folk tune. 

* "We Gather Together's" first appearance 

in an American hymnal was in 1903

MY THOUGHTS

We usually celebrate holidays whenever we can work them in. With two sons who's lives are as busy as their parents, we've found the need to be flexible. It works for us. So this year, we're celebrating Thanksgiving on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

Hopefully, our whole family will be together. 

Mom will be missing.

But the blessings and abundant love God has shown this year!  

Thank you, God!