tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178232912024-03-13T12:10:29.207-06:00A Prisoner of HopeOffering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life. Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.comBlogger706125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-36207225621623779652016-04-29T14:36:00.004-06:002016-06-26T20:32:57.761-06:00Writing, revising, and rewriting your novel: how long is too long?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p><b><i>One of the hardest decisions you’ll ever face in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder. ~Zaid K. Abdelnour</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you been writing your novel for a long while? Are you hanging in there?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When writing one of my (completed) novels, I had the luxury to take my time. Write, rewrite, revise. I knew I'd keep going with it and that I would give myself time. After all, it was a genre change, and I wanted to get it right. My efforts could be attributed to sheer stubbornness combined with a small flicker of hope—but I knew I would persevere. I believe it’s a good story. I think the (internal) journey my character takes will speak to someone who has the same doubts and questions. My novels revolve around family. I believe in the beauty of family and the value of a loving unit. I love writing about families united and strengthened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a determination to silence the internal critics that shout, “No one will want to read this! You’re wasting your time!” I recommend you do that too. And once you do silence them, you’ll be able to hear that still, small voice telling you, “Push forward, my child. Keep writing.” Trust me, it’s true. Trust that still, small voice that is clinging to the tattered raft floating in your sea of doubt. Hang on!</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"True success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful." ~Paul Sweeny</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe me, more than one successful author has taken years to write a novel. <a href="http://www.bustle.com/articles/117911-7-novels-that-took-their-authors-years-to-write-to-make-you-feel-better-about-not" target="_blank">Check out this list.</a> I’m sure you’ve heard of these writers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I’ll keep on revising my novel. This, I believe will be my final pass before I declare it ready to be shopped around. I’ve been writing and pondering this novel for years. First, I gave myself plenty of time to play around with learning a new genre. Then I wrote and rewrote. Now I’m revising and refining. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I could hang in there, so can you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write on!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know how my story will end, but nowhere in my text it will read, “I gave up.” ~Unknown</span></i></b></div>
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Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-38207985382567871132016-03-07T18:17:00.002-07:002016-04-29T15:00:20.950-06:00Never give up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCS8TpzsoqI/Vt4mvrIK3MI/AAAAAAAAEWI/KZRKIrD8FSM/s1600/Just%2Bbecause%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCS8TpzsoqI/Vt4mvrIK3MI/AAAAAAAAEWI/KZRKIrD8FSM/s400/Just%2Bbecause%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Life is hard. Schedules get tangled in the pressures and tasks we face each day.It feels like we have more tasks than there are hours in the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes it feels like you've stumbled and you're not getting any traction moving toward to your goals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Know what you should do? </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Get back on track, forgive yourself for your lack of enthusiasm, and move forward!</span></div>
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<br />Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-35604344736762623692016-02-17T18:07:00.000-07:002016-02-17T18:07:48.898-07:00Finding Refreshing Story Ideas When The Well’s Gone Dry<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Writers tend to grind away, pursuing their passion, but
occasionally the well of our creativity becomes parched. We come to a point of
creative fatigue. Don’t fear—it’s not permanent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">When we feel discouraged and wrung out, there are methods to
refreshing your creative spirit.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">According to Dictionary.com, creativity is the ability to
transcend traditional ideas, rules and patterns, and to create meaningful new
ideas, forms, methods, and interpretations. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Sometimes we just need to recognize the need to disengage from the
grind and embrace the necessity to refresh our creative souls.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As believers we get to hang onto these glorious truths:</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis
1:1</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><i><b>“So God created human beings in his own image.” Genesis 1:27a</b></i></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">God is the ultimate Creator, and He fashioned us in His image.
When I look at it that way, my creativity is seen as an extension of my
relationship with God and a component of my personality. I’m creative because
God created me that way.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Our world is full of ideas; we just need to train ourselves to
find them.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Here are several methods you can use to refresh your creativity:</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pray:</span></li>
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<li>Keep yourself spiritually charged. Remember Who your writing partner is. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thess. 5:24 </li>
<li>Journal spiritual thoughts about your writing life, story idea, etc.</li>
<li>Write a prayer. Ask the Lord for His anointing on your writing and your writing journey. Ask for clarity of thought, passion, commitment, and the time to pursue your writing goals. </li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep a writer’s journal:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A journal may include memories, jokes, story ideas, writing
tricks, dreams, and descriptions of people, places or situations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A writer’s journal may be as simple as a little notebook you carry
in your purse or it could be a word document on your computer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Train yourself to be alert for fresh ideas when they occur, and
write them down. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Invest in your health:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go for a walk, hop on a treadmill—just get moving. Your
imagination won’t work a maximum capacity if your brain is sluggish. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read a great book:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes reading great writing gives you the itch to write
yourself.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Try free
writing:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give yourself a time limit (10-15 minutes) and let your fingers
fly over the keyboard. Even if you’re writing crazy nonsense, you may
spark a thought or idea that will springboard you back to work. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take a creative field trip:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit a museum, listen to soul-stirring music, go to the movies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending time in other creative environments, spurs the desire to
be creative in your own work. </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take some photographs:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grab your camera and take a field trip to a local park, busy
shopping area, or town square. Let yourself focus on whatever catches your
fancy. You may look back at your images and see a spark of an idea in a
situation, location or face of people being alone or interacting with each
other. *Just don’t appear to be a stalker.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Try to write in a different place:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes a small change of scenery can help you overcome a block</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leave your laptop at home and write with a pen and notebook</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I once had a very productive writing session while waiting for my
car at the mechanic’s.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Not every solution may be the one for you, so pick and choose to see what refreshes your creativity and fires your productivity. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-15390541157760870532015-08-18T04:00:00.000-06:002015-08-18T06:16:51.826-06:00Five Benefits of Vulnerability <div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I was a hot mess, and folks seemed to like it.</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bg2vLJNoPWI/VdJgKDiTsSI/AAAAAAAAEOc/A52uUTxfKd8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-08-16%2Bat%2B5.14.39%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bg2vLJNoPWI/VdJgKDiTsSI/AAAAAAAAEOc/A52uUTxfKd8/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2015-08-16%2Bat%2B5.14.39%2BPM.png" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, hail! Was in the middle of a portrait session to update <br />
my head shot when the heavens opened and . . . </td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">News flash: What you see on personal
blogs and social media <i>IS NOT</i> real life—it’s the highlight reel someone wants
you to see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've always been a fairly personal person, but as I mature, I’ve learned it’s okay to like yourself, and it’s okay to let people see the real you, not
just the reel you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Life isn’t always pretty, easy, or neat. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">L</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ast week, I put a post on social media showing the
results of running through hail and rain after a portrait session was cut short
due to weather. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was a hot mess, truly. In the process of sharing my post I had more interaction than usual. Not only did many people <i>like</i> my dilemma, many commented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had spent a good amount of time selecting my wardrobe, styling my hair, and putting on my makeup only to have the outcome be a big waste of time and a bigger disappointment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Or so I thought. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been thinking about the response to my post, and I realized <b>people like to see other people show vulnerability. </b>It's not that they want to feel superior to someone's misfortune, but rather they enjoy being able to relate to someone's less-than-perfect moments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of today's leading experts on vulnerability</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Brené Brown, defines vulnerability as ". . . being honest with how we feel,
about our fears, about what we need, and, asking for what we need." And furthermore, she says, "Vulnerability is a glue that holds intimate relationships together."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've done some research, and here are five benefits of vulnerability: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being vulnerable means you accept yourself, totally: your quirks, eccentricities, fears, etc. That's incredibility freeing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The type of honesty that goes hand in hand with being vulnerable attracts people to you. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You have to give up the myth that you're perfect when you choose to be vulnerable. That realization allows you to step into your true self, discarding masks that you've hidden behind.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vulnerability takes courage. It's not a sign of weakness, but one of strength.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vulnerability helps to create and sustain intimate relationships.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Step out, and give it a try. Plastic, air-brushed people are a dime a dozen, <b>be you as only you can be!</b></span></div>
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Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-38170139026337280602015-07-28T04:00:00.000-06:002015-10-05T19:52:36.012-06:00Guard your thoughts, they have the power to determine your reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lArp-NmFr7g/Vbl38mPG1LI/AAAAAAAAELs/b5P50qczfPI/s1600/Be%2Bcareful%2Bof%2Byour%2Bthoughts%253B%2Bthey%2Bmay%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lArp-NmFr7g/Vbl38mPG1LI/AAAAAAAAELs/b5P50qczfPI/s400/Be%2Bcareful%2Bof%2Byour%2Bthoughts%253B%2Bthey%2Bmay%2B%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My <a href="http://megandimaria.blogspot.com/2015/06/guard-your-words-they-have-power-to.html" target="_blank">previous post </a>discussed the power of words to wound or to heal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends, kind words benefit both the hearer and the one who speaks. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before words are spoken, they're thoughts. A</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> favorite Bible verse tell us to "take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Our thoughts create our reality. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depending on the situation, we can be joyless curmudgeons, or we can squeeze past difficulties and find the good in the dark, dark circumstance. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that's easier said than done, but <i>is</i> possible. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've all been around those who tarnish the mood of everyone in the room with their negative, hurtful words and careless comments. I truly believe the words folks like that say tell us more about themselves than they do their targets. It must be awfully dark in their little world. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to have a negative, judgmental person in my life. I'm sorry to say that her attitude affected me. It caused me to see life though the lens of her POV. I eventually made a decision to be kinder in my thoughts toward others, and it revolutionized the words I chose to share in the world. It made me feel lighter and more in control of my environment. I became more relaxed in my own skin.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The thoughts we cultivate are choices we make. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Y</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ou can look at people and situations from a negative POV (I don't suggest that), or you can assume the best. You can reign in your thoughts and spin them to be more kind toward others </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> yourself. It takes a while, but you can change the way you think and ultimately the way you respond to the world.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you do that, it will change the way the world responds to you!</span></span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-46743732797523365042015-06-30T04:00:00.000-06:002015-10-05T19:56:37.285-06:00Guard your words, they have power to wound or heal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HVJDPaKavE/VZIDF96z4pI/AAAAAAAAEKg/RsSjm9waQM4/s1600/Choose%2Byour%2Bwords%2Bcarefully.%2B%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HVJDPaKavE/VZIDF96z4pI/AAAAAAAAEKg/RsSjm9waQM4/s400/Choose%2Byour%2Bwords%2Bcarefully.%2B%25283%2529.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Words have power.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too often we forget about that when we're deep in conversation or making an off-handed comment. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Words can be a blessing, but they can also be a curse. Or at least they can cause pain. Create misunderstanding. Break a heart. Ruin a relationship.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've regretted careless words that have hurt others, and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember careless words tossed my way decades ago. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once hurtful words land in your heart, they're not easily discarded. Sure, you can move forward. You can be brave and pretend that you're not hurt. But words <i>do</i> hurt us. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been thinking a lot lately about being the best I can be--in all areas of life. I've decided one of the best things to do is to be mindful of the words I use, and to be mindful of only dishing out kind words, encouraging words, and to bite back words that could cause someone to stumble or be hurt. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's something I learned as a child: the first rule of etiquette is to never make someone else uncomfortable. If we think about that, we might press our lips together before we say the wrong thing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>**The poison of coarse words hurts the speaker as much as the recipient.** </i></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't return insult for insult. It makes you the small person. The temporary pleasure you might get from tossing a barbed comment will pale when you realize the poison of coarse words hurts the speaker as much as the recipient. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some thoughts to ponder:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You don't have to agree with someone to treat them kindly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A kind word costs you nothing, but can mean the world to someone else. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kind word have the power to create a force for good in someone's life. When I was a child I was struggling with a task, ready to give up. My sweet Auntie saw me and took a moment to praise me for my patience. I've tried to live up to those words ever since. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kind words spoken to others reflect well on the speaker. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An encouraging word can propel someone toward success.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A gentle word can soothe a wounded spirit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Speak kindly when you get the opportunity; an unspoken kindness can be a regret forever.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A gently spoken truth at a difficult time can be the kindness someone needs to hear.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bless others with your words, you may never know what a well-crafted sentiment can mean to someone.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-61194764707128175772015-06-23T04:00:00.000-06:002015-10-05T19:57:28.784-06:00Wise words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1r8SNny-KrY/VYDV6NsQu_I/AAAAAAAAEKE/DqjiVMaleE8/s1600/The%2Bwill%2Bof%2BGod%2Bis%2Bnot%2Bsomething%2Byou%2Badd%2B%25284%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1r8SNny-KrY/VYDV6NsQu_I/AAAAAAAAEKE/DqjiVMaleE8/s400/The%2Bwill%2Bof%2BGod%2Bis%2Bnot%2Bsomething%2Byou%2Badd%2B%25284%2529.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wise words from a wise, Godly woman. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's all or nothing, this trusting-God thing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Either you commit or you skirt the issue and flirt with religion, which will not serve you well, in my humble opinion. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I made a commitment to the Lord in 1978, and I was--and still am--all in! I couldn't imagine life any other way. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a grand adventure where I simply must follow His lead, act upon the nudging of His spirit, and trust, trust, trust.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you've made a similar commitment, friend. It make life that much richer, and then in the end, you get heaven too!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-70145055311953063882015-06-16T04:00:00.000-06:002015-06-16T04:00:09.381-06:00Clean your house or . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5sCRNkmA9k/VX8tdQC6WbI/AAAAAAAAEJk/j1TvqFd74YY/s1600/keep%2Breading.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5sCRNkmA9k/VX8tdQC6WbI/AAAAAAAAEJk/j1TvqFd74YY/s400/keep%2Breading.png" width="400" /></a>Are you keeping your house in pristine condition, or are you enjoying a good book?</div>
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<br />Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-71998235025968993772015-05-12T04:00:00.000-06:002016-06-20T10:49:05.539-06:00Strive toward realistic, attainable goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P7TsF_riFfA/VVO5xRkujlI/AAAAAAAAEHc/fHS2TuaHbls/s1600/male%2Bhands%2Bon%2Blaptop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P7TsF_riFfA/VVO5xRkujlI/AAAAAAAAEHc/fHS2TuaHbls/s400/male%2Bhands%2Bon%2Blaptop.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Creative types seem to push themselves to do more, more, more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">I know. I've done that. Unfortunately, the results of my efforts were not up to my usual standards. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, if your novel writing takes a bit longer than other authors', then that's just the way it is. Be more concerned with outcome over process.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">I recently ran across an article that I found quite encouraging, <a href="http://writerswrite.co.za/the-daily-word-counts-of-39-famous-authors-1" target="_blank">The Daily Word Counts of 39 Famous Authors.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Turns out I'm pretty normal. I write more than some famous authors and less than others.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Personally, I've been a lot happier when I don't push myself to create goals that my writer friends have for themselves. I've stepped off that treadmill of comparing myself to others, and I'm a better person for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Still, it's important to set a schedule. You need to find time to churn out words. One of my tricks when I seem to be slowing down is to set a timer for 15 minutes with the goal of writing 500 words. I've always met that goal.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">I've come to a time in my life when I'm more deliberate and thoughtful of my efforts. Setting realistic goals is just one area that I work on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Keep moving forward, friends. Slow and steady still finishes the race.</span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-42393703810175509632015-05-05T14:11:00.004-06:002015-05-05T14:11:53.988-06:00A healthy attitude . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz3vyU3Z1jw/VUkjzSza3YI/AAAAAAAAEGM/kw_F6nh9uoQ/s1600/Healthy%2Battitude.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gz3vyU3Z1jw/VUkjzSza3YI/AAAAAAAAEGM/kw_F6nh9uoQ/s1600/Healthy%2Battitude.png" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-34616237345019256632015-04-28T04:00:00.000-06:002015-10-05T20:00:50.796-06:00Character traits that cause admiration!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VzEsFTyK1es/VU2Q6OyYywI/AAAAAAAAEG4/XD5-IKKWs10/s1600/Attributes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VzEsFTyK1es/VU2Q6OyYywI/AAAAAAAAEG4/XD5-IKKWs10/s400/Attributes.png" width="282" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Excuse me while
I get a little introspective. I’ve been counting my blessings lately, and <s>most
of them</s> all of them are people, not things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No surprise there, but what I
truly value about those who are a close to me are the attributes of
their characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I thought
about my loved ones and friends, I compiled a list of what I admire most about
them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My little exercise nearly brought me to tears. I’m so blessed to have
remarkable people in my life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, this is what's needed in excess in our world:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kindness</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Generosity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Courage</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Integrity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Humor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Confidence</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Humility</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gratitude</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Honesty</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Compassion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Commitment</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Resilience</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Love</span></li>
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Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-68871893160798533422015-04-23T04:00:00.000-06:002015-10-05T20:01:53.295-06:00Gratitude!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each year there comes a day when the sun shines with a delicate hue, and its warmth rests on my shoulders like an encouraging hug.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nVVA9Tp45I4/VTnHwdkfn8I/AAAAAAAAEFM/m14FGR7PV04/s1600/Gratitude.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nVVA9Tp45I4/VTnHwdkfn8I/AAAAAAAAEFM/m14FGR7PV04/s400/Gratitude.png" width="282" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here in Colorado, it's as if joy pulses from the earth, and a gentle green ripens the hillsides. Verdant shade upon soft, glorious shade rolls out toward the spiny horizon of the Rockies.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year it surprises me. Delights my senses. Fresh thin air, like a soft kiss, sweeps across the prairie. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trees bloom delicate flowers showering the roads with pink and white petals, pastel tears of joy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One ordinary day dawns, brightens, and slides into eternity.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I'm left breathless by the beauty of it all. Not for any big reason, but for a million little delights. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings, ordinary and simple overwhelm me with gratitude . . .</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-63923148901394127002015-04-21T04:00:00.000-06:002015-10-05T20:03:39.270-06:00Be successful, and here's how . . .<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did that title catch your attention? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a not-so-secret secret to share. If you want to be successful, you have to <i style="font-weight: bold;">make it happen. </i>Sure, it sounds like a tall order, but let me tell you, I've found some successes in my life, and they didn't happen by accident. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To find success, you have to make a plan. You have to know where you are and where you want to go. When I decided to become a published novelist, I began by joining an online writing organization (</span><a href="http://www.acfw.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">ACFW</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">). I joined an online critique group. I read books on the craft of writing novels. Then I got brave, and I went to my first writers conference. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I wrote and wrote and wrote, and I entered contests, and I went to more conferences/seminars. Then I began to submit my work to agents and publishers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don't let me fool you, it wasn't as easy as it sounds. BUT, it wasn't impossible. If I attained one of my dreams (I still have plenty more!), then you should try to make your dream come true as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm just now embarking on a new dream. I want to speak to and share a powerful message with others -- message that took me nearly 15 years to crystalize, a message that I never thought I could share with others because of the shame involved. But I took control of my life and my emotions, and I found my voice. I'm braver now. I've shared my message publicly, and I've helped others find their brave voice and claim control over their fragile hearts. I've seen a hopeless woman become hopeful again. And that's where it's at!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But first, I have to make it happen. I have a plan. I attended speakers conferences and seminars, I have honed my skills by speaking for free. Now I'm a part of a speakers mastermind group, I'm practicing before more audiences, I'm reading articles on speaking, and I'm attending seminars and webinars. I'm putting my plan into action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And if I can do it, then so can you!</span></div>
<br />Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-54758726932302686162015-04-16T04:00:00.000-06:002015-04-16T04:00:09.073-06:00Counting blessings and being thankful for what I have<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzG1kGXBs6M/VSyabpiFojI/AAAAAAAAEEM/c1E-R1mj9ow/s1600/Adirondack%2Bchair_PS%2B16-11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzG1kGXBs6M/VSyabpiFojI/AAAAAAAAEEM/c1E-R1mj9ow/s1600/Adirondack%2Bchair_PS%2B16-11.png" height="640" width="451" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one of my special places. I love to spend quiet time here thinking about life, about my darlings, about my blessings. I love to read in that chair or to put my lap desk over the wide arms and tap away on my computer. I love to sit in that leafy shade and read sweet words of hope and pray for loved ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now I'm counting my blessings, and one of them is the pleasure of sitting in this little spot in the coming months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Wishing you a quiet spot to count your blessings and feel joyful abundance!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-53200818911154468042015-04-14T04:00:00.000-06:002015-04-14T09:45:25.956-06:00It's okay to be sad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4pIbD2QW2ZQ/VSyigUYeoGI/AAAAAAAAEEk/3FGo77GVV6E/s1600/Man%2Bof%2BSorrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4pIbD2QW2ZQ/VSyigUYeoGI/AAAAAAAAEEk/3FGo77GVV6E/s1600/Man%2Bof%2BSorrows.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"How are you?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I'm fine. Thanks for asking."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">--- Really? ---</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When asked how we are, most of us have a knee-jerk reaction and parrot the I'm-fine response. And honestly, most people really don't want to know how we are. They're just being polite. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there are days when we're not fine. There are days when we're stuck in in the grip of pain, either physical or emotional or both. Days when our heart just hurts. For me, days when grief creeps up and ruins a moment . . or more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regardless, we put on our happy faces and march out to the world. Which more or less is as it should be. Otherwise we'd all be sobbing over the avocados at the grocery store or weeping at the mailbox. Society couldn't handle that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, friend, if you have faith in God you can be totally honest with Him, and it's more than okay. He understands. He didn't live in a world of rainbows and unicorns. He was a Man of Sorrows. He wept. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a relief to be able to pour out your heart to someone who <i>really</i> understands and loves you. That's what I do. It helps to give my concerns to God. It's what we're told to do, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not going to elaborate on my heartache. It's personal, and I'll be fine. Grief is a weird thing. It lays in wait for you, and on days when you least expect it, it rises from the shadows and grips you in a crushing embrace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I understand that. I travel through the experience without the need to battle my emotions. I come by them honestly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And because I understand that, <b><i>I believe it's okay to be sad</i></b>. It's life in all its messy authenticity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow the sun will shine. I'll lift my face to the sky and feel its warmth. I'll keep marching out to the world, and eventually the grief will fade again. For a time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, if you ask me how I am, I just may answer honestly. And that's okay. After all, I am a prisoner of hope. </span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-17001223722055328422015-04-09T04:00:00.000-06:002015-04-09T04:00:01.125-06:00Good-Book Alert! The Crimson Cord (Rahab's Story) by Jill Eileen Smith<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love to share books by favorite authors. Have you read any of Jill Eileen Smith's books? She writes beautiful Biblical fiction, bringing to life Bible stories we all know. I recently read <i>The Crimson Cord</i>, and fell in love again with Jill's writing and Rahab's story. I know, the details aren't revealed to us in the Bible, but Jill's imagining of what could have been Rahab's life brings a richness and depth to a story we've all heard time and again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I met Jill several years ago at a writers conference, before we were both published. When she told me about her Biblical fiction, I was intrigued. I'm delighted to still be friends with her and thrilled to introduce you to Jill and her novels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the book description:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself
sold as a slave to cover her husband’s debt. Forced into prostitution by Dabir,
counselor to the King of Jericho, Rahab despairs of ever regaining her freedom
and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge
at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in
a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities.
When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their
promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside
Jericho’s walls–or if she will ever know the meaning of love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Rahab’s story is one of the most moving redemption accounts in
Scripture. The Crimson Cord perfectly captures all the drama of the original,
fleshing out the characters with care and thought. Jill’s storytelling skills
kept me reading late into the night. A beautiful tale, beautifully told!”–Liz
Curtis Higgs, New York Times bestselling author of Mine Is the Night</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MD: Jill, what's your favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or
movie. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JES:</b> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is more of a scene in a movie that is my favorite:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of “Fellowship of the Ring” Frodo stares out at
the water and holds the ring in an open palm and says, “I wish the ring had
never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he hears Gandalf’s voice in his mind replying, “So do
all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have
to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So applicable on so many levels!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MD: What's your favorite season and why? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JES:</b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any season except winter. While winter has a certain sense
of beauty, I do not handle cold well. I dream of sunshine and palm trees and
hope someday we can winter in such a place away from the cold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MD: Societal pet peeve…sound off. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JES: </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are too many to name. But here are a few:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Too many people in power abuse that power. And people in
power seem to have lost common sense. When we make political allies of our
enemies and enemies of our allies, something is very wrong. King Solomon was
the wisest man who ever lived, yet in all his wisdom, he ended up thinking
himself immune to foolishness. If the wisest man can become the biggest fool in
his actions, perhaps we shouldn’t think we are incapable of falling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Greed has created untold number of atrocities against
people made in God’s image, against animals we were commanded to care for,
against the earth that groans under the weight of our sins. Greed is behind so
many things, from abortion to our food supply to the plight of the poor to the
sex slave trade to pornography…the list could go on for pages, but at the heart
of so many sins against humanity is either pride or greed. Interesting that God
hates both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil
thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting (greed),
wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these
evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:21-23 ESV
(Emphasis mine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Tolerance is too one-sided, and everyone wants to fight
for his or her own rights instead of caring for the needs of others. Anger
flares at the slightest whim and whole cities can fly into an uproar before
facts are known. Whatever happened to right and wrong, grace and forgiveness?
Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty – on both sides of every
issue – with true justice for every person?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Lastly - Truth is lost in a culture that embraces
self-centeredness. How easily we lie to one another and think nothing of it!
How often I have fallen for the snake-oil salesmen because I expect people to
tell me the truth. But truth has been relative in this country for so long now
that no one knows what truth is. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” Perhaps we
should go back and see what He had to say if we say we are really seeking to
know that truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MD: Jill, what would you like to tell us about the featured book?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>JES:</b><i> </i></span></o:p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Crimson Cord</i>, Rahab’s Story is a story of risky faith
and a beautiful picture of God’s mercy and grace. Some people don’t see grace
in the Old Testament. All they see are wars and laws and they don’t understand
a God who could command the destruction of entire cities. While I don’t claim
to understand every detail about Almighty God, I do understand from Scripture
that He has always, always been a God of love, mercy, patience, and
forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Countless stories in the Old Testament show us His grace.
They also show us that to have a relationship with the God who made us, we must
come by faith, not by keeping the law. This was true from the very beginning. Abraham
was commended for his faith. As was Rahab. She is cited in the New Testament on
at least three occasions, once in the lineage of Jesus Christ. If God can take
a prostitute from a city condemned to utter destruction and make her a new
person and set her among His people and make her a descendent of His Messiah,
is there anyone who is beyond God’s reach? I don’t think so.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fsjP-w87jw/VSWmG0BWaMI/AAAAAAAAED0/0Unw8naWwi8/s1600/Jill%2BEileen%2BSmith%2BPublicity%2BPhoto4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fsjP-w87jw/VSWmG0BWaMI/AAAAAAAAED0/0Unw8naWwi8/s1600/Jill%2BEileen%2BSmith%2BPublicity%2BPhoto4.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>MD: Thanks for sharing your heart and your talents, Jill. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:jill@jilleileensmith.com" target="_blank">Email Jill</a> or visit her <a href="http://www.jilleileensmith.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. You may also connect with </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jill on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Twitter</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://pinterest.com/JillEileenSmith" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, and </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2799806.Jill_Eileen_Smith" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</span></div>
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Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-76442517735381370632015-04-07T14:32:00.003-06:002015-04-07T14:33:16.281-06:00I'm ba-a-a-ck!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncOTbemhgnA/VSQ-JVggIDI/AAAAAAAAEDM/yQOQc4lqQUg/s1600/P7150003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncOTbemhgnA/VSQ-JVggIDI/AAAAAAAAEDM/yQOQc4lqQUg/s1600/P7150003.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a hiatus during Lent to let all the "noise" in my life fade to the background. It was a delightful break, but I'm glad to be back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoyed the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It's been lovely here in Colorado. I can't recall when spring entered so gently and brought so many warm days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel recharged from my break and have lots of plans and ideas moving forward into 2015. I've got a better writing schedule to (<i>finally</i>) finish my novel, I'm starting to fiddle with a screenplay, and I'm resurrecting my speaking career. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you're feeling bold and optimistic about the rest of 2015 as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7wEfnLLrlq4/VH06xNaqonI/AAAAAAAAD4I/rMVpxjkJGeE/s1600/Novel%2BRocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7wEfnLLrlq4/VH06xNaqonI/AAAAAAAAD4I/rMVpxjkJGeE/s1600/Novel%2BRocket.jpg" height="80" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, please check out this month's Industry News over at the Novel Rocket blog. It's an article I write and publish the 1st Tuesday of each month. I include hard news and some interesting (for writers!) tidbits. <a href="http://www.novelrocket.com/2015/04/industry-news.html" target="_blank">Here's the link</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This flower photo is one of my favorite. It's a hollyhock in my back yard. It's not blooming yet, this is an old photo, but it gives me a sense of peace. It's doing just what it was created to do--look beautiful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-19465722362477444552015-02-19T04:00:00.000-07:002015-02-19T04:00:03.763-07:00Taking a break . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3OAGodMdKDM/VOT8QE-I1aI/AAAAAAAAD-g/adghS1o2PHI/s1600/Break.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3OAGodMdKDM/VOT8QE-I1aI/AAAAAAAAD-g/adghS1o2PHI/s1600/Break.png" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-44461761863515453272015-02-17T04:00:00.000-07:002015-02-17T11:56:04.786-07:00Good-book alert! Meek and Mild by Olivia Newport<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My guest today is Olivia Newport, another Colorado author. She's here to discuss her newest release, <i>Meek and Mild</i>, and give us a peek into her writing world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHVai_J8Uxg/VOOHg3DSBqI/AAAAAAAAD-A/EUjnwh9Wp8w/s1600/Meek-and-Mild-cover4-197x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHVai_J8Uxg/VOOHg3DSBqI/AAAAAAAAD-A/EUjnwh9Wp8w/s1600/Meek-and-Mild-cover4-197x300.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meek and Mild</i> by Olivia Newport<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The leadership in an Old Order Amish community requires
shunning friends and family whose only offense is to embrace the new Protestant
practice of Sunday school among the Mennonites, but teaching Bible stories to
children is one of Clara Kuhns’s great joys. Clara's on the verge of saying yes
to Andrew Raber’s marriage proposal, but now he flagrantly refuses to submit to
the bishop's authority by owning a car. When the lot falls to Moses Beachy to
become the new bishop, the community waits for him to take bold steps toward
change. Clara and Andrew step together into a more progressive Amish faith as
the Beachy Amish take form.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When did you first
discover that you were a writer?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I always loved telling stories. I can remember being four
years old and using flannelgraph pieces in the preschool Sunday school room to
tell a story about a little girl looking for Jesus. In fifth grade, a weekly
assignment was to write a story using all the spelling words. I did really well
at it. I’m thankful that my teacher told me so. But growing into that identity
can take decades. Though I had several jobs where organizational-based writing
was a big chunk of the position, I was 35 before I transitioned from “I like to
write” to “I am a writer.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What other books have
you written?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for asking! The Avenue of Dreams series, set in 1890s
Chicago, includes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pursuit of Lucy
Banning, The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Invention of Sarah Cummings. </i>The Valley of Choice series, set
in contemporary Colorado, includes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Accidentally
Amish, In Plain View, </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Taken for
English. Hidden Falls </i>is a 13-episode digital-only contemporary small-town
series available in e-book and audible formats. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wonderful Lonesome</i>, which came out last year, is the first in the
Amish Turns of Time set of historical Amish novels. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meek and Mild, </i>the new book, is the second in that set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often think I am not doing a very good job of that! I am a
creature of habit, and that helps. I don’t resist doing what I need to do when
I need to do it, and never have. But in recent years I have become more attuned
to listening to both body and spirit. I try to pay attention both to what is
abundant and what is needful. I believe a healthy life doesn’t come down to
just what I eat or what health condition I might or might not have. It comes
down to a balance of the major dimensions of my life. When I feel them swinging
out of balance, I know it’s time to make some adjustments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CF4loi0zoME/VOOOiJOKwhI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/-s_8UOsxJ0Q/s1600/Olivia%2BNewport%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CF4loi0zoME/VOOOiJOKwhI/AAAAAAAAD-Q/-s_8UOsxJ0Q/s1600/Olivia%2BNewport%2B.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What would you like
to tell us about the featured book? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The task I took on with the Amish Turns of Time stories is
exploring some true historical episodes in Amish history and looking at how
Amish history took a turn because of what happened. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meek and Mild,</i> I look at the circumstances that led to break-off of
the Beachy Amish, who eventually became more progressive than the Old Order.
Because the district that experienced this break spanned the
Pennsylvania-Maryland border, family members on both sides were caught up in
divisive opinions and consequences. My characters are fictional, but they face
the struggles we know real people faced in the historical circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can readers find
your book on the Internet?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Meek and Mild </i>is
available at all the major Internet retailers, in print, audio, and e-book
formats. Here are some quick links. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meek-Mild-Amish-Turns-Time/dp/162836632X/ref=sr_1_6_twi_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421527079&sr=8-6&keywords=olivia+newport" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meek-and-mild-olivia-newport/1120168978?ean=9781628366327" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=Meek+and+Mild+by+Olivia+Newport&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1" target="_blank">CBD</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=6215272693501&query=Meek+and+Mild+by+Olivia+Newport&where=All" target="_blank">Booksamillion </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find Olivia at </span><a href="http://www.olivianewport.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.olivianewport.com</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,
@OliviaNewport and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OliviaNewport?ref=hl</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-19721239246129277662015-02-12T04:00:00.000-07:002015-02-20T15:07:57.289-07:00The world's harsh, be kind!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzn5XWtfkvk/VNw5xFdY3nI/AAAAAAAAD9s/eDNPaH9_l2o/s1600/Always%2Bbe%2Bhumble%2Band%2Bgentle.%2BBe%2Bpatient.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzn5XWtfkvk/VNw5xFdY3nI/AAAAAAAAD9s/eDNPaH9_l2o/s1600/Always%2Bbe%2Bhumble%2Band%2Bgentle.%2BBe%2Bpatient.png" height="400" width="282" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We never know what others are dealing with. </b>On the outside, we all look pulled together and ready to take on the world. But a broken person hides their wounds, carrying them deep inside. You can't look at someone and judge their behavior off the cuff. Often deep, personal issues guide a harsh action or cutting words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We never know what hurts have motivated them.</b> You can't imagine some of the awful things that have formed a personality. I prefer to think all my friends and all the people I come into contact with were raised in a safe, happy home and are in a loving marriage where they're cherished and respected. But that's not always true. You don't know, you simply don't know. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A smile or a small kindness can make a huge difference in someone's day. </b>I saw a story about a man who smiled and waved at strangers as he drove down the street. He'd heard that a kind gesture can save someone considering suicide. Isn't that amazing? On a smaller scale, just giving a kind word can brighten an otherwise ordinary day and provide someone a needed lift. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Give others the benefit of the doubt. Go out of your way to help someone.</b> Sure, you might not be appreciated, but that's not the point. Being kind is the point. Sometimes it might seem you're unappreciated, but perhaps the person doesn't know how to react in an appropriate manner. Do the right thing anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overlook a slight. Forgive a gaffe.</b> Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:29). That's about one of the most difficult things to do. You want to defend yourself, you want to repair the damage to your reputation, but there are circumstances where that's not possible. If you hold on to the anger and resentment, you're the one who pays the price. Truly. <a href="http://megandimaria.blogspot.com/2014/10/i-know-its-hard-to-forgive-but.html" target="_blank">When we forgive it doesn't mean the pain never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world's harsh, be kind! <b>After all, nobody's perfect!</b></span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-83550939153611957472015-02-10T04:00:00.000-07:002015-02-10T08:17:20.582-07:00Good-book alert! Chapel Springs Revival by Ane Mulligan<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9jO1fCfSIE/VNmPzSwHptI/AAAAAAAAD88/pO5SokXyi9w/s1600/CSR%2BCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9jO1fCfSIE/VNmPzSwHptI/AAAAAAAAD88/pO5SokXyi9w/s1600/CSR%2BCOVER.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chapel Springs Revival<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">With a friend like
Claire, you need a gurney, a mop, and a guardian angel</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everybody in the small town of Chapel Springs, Georgia,
knows best friends Claire and Patsy. It's impossible not to, what with Claire's
zany antics and Patsy's self-appointed mission to keep her friend out of
trouble. And trouble abounds. Chapel Springs has grown dilapidated and the
tourist trade has slackened. With their livelihoods threatened, they join
forces to revitalize the town. No one could have guessed the real issue needing
restoration is their marriages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>With their personal lives in as much disarray as the town,
Claire and Patsy embark on a mission of mishaps and miscommunication,
determined to restore warmth to Chapel Springs —and their lives. That is if
they can convince their husbands and the town council, led by two curmudgeons
who would prefer to see Chapel Springs left in the fifties and closed to
traffic.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*************************************</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I met Ane several years ago when I first started attending ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conferences. She was the friendly lady with the ready smile. If you've ever traveled across the country to attend a BIG conference, without knowing a lot of people, you really appreciate someone like that. Since then, our friendship has grown. Ane cheered me on when I got my first publishing contract, and now I'm thrilled to see her dream come true. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's get to know her a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Megan: </b><i>When did you first
discover that you were a writer?</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ane: </b>I loved to write when I was a kid, but I was too ADHD to sit
still long enough, so I told stories. That got me into trouble when I was in
elementary school. It was show and tell day and I told. My teacher called it
lying and sent me to the principal's office. He and I became good friends after
he suggested I play out the stories with my dolls. I did and some went on for
days as the heroine got in and out of pickles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Megan: </b><i>How do you choose
your characters’ names?</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ane:</b> I have several sources: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.behindthename.com/" target="_blank">Behind the Name</a>
and <a href="http://surnames.behindthename.com/" target="_blank">Behind the Surname</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also like the Social Security site for the <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/" target="_blank">most popular baby names by year</a>.
You can put in the year your character was born and choose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I use the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Baby-Name-Survey-Book/dp/0684031647/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423529230&sr=1-1&keywords=the+baby+name+survey+book" target="_blank">BabyName Survey Book</a>. It tells you what people think of or the image they get
with names. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After I've done my character interview, I begin to write.
However, I've often had characters that refused to go by the name I've given
them. As soon as I changed the name, they story wrote itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Megan: </b><i>What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ane:</b> That would be the character's motivation. I could get the
goals and create the conflict, but motivation eluded me for a long time. Then I
took a course on <a href="https://writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes/plotting-via-motivation/" target="_blank">PlottingVia Motivation</a>. I took the course, and that really changed things for me. I
learned how the character's motivation drives their decisions and thus the plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon after that, I learned about the Lie people believe
about themselves. This translates to fictional characters beautifully. I
studied these 8 basic Lies and discovered how motivation rises out of the Lie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I spend a good two weeks to a month learning about my
characters before I move beyond that first what if.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Megan: </b><i>What advice would you
give to an author just starting out?</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ane:</b> Enjoy the journey. Don't be in such a hurry to publish that
you miss the networking and friendships within the business. Nobody understands
a writer like another writer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Megan: </b><i>What would you like
to tell us about the featured book?</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ane:</b> I loved writing this book. It grew out of an actual event in
our older son's life. An event he didn't tell us about until it was a done
deed. Now, in his case, it turned out to be wonderful. But because he didn't
tell us until afterwards, I said it would go in a book. And it did. And no, I
won't tell you what he did. You'll have to buy the book to find out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Megan: </b><i>How can readers find
your book on the Internet?</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chapel-Springs-Revival-Ane-Mulligan/dp/1941103413/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1416411322&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>,
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Chapel-Springs-Revival?store=allproducts&keyword=Chapel+Springs+Revival" target="_blank">Barnes& Noble</a>, <a href="http://store.lpcbooks.com/?s=Chapel+Springs+Revival&x=21&y=8" target="_blank">LighthousePublishing of the Carolinas</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I understand my publisher is putting it on sale for
Valentine's Day. I believe that will be on Amazon and the LCP store.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While a large, floppy </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">straw hat is
her favorite, bestselling novelist Ane Mulligan has worn many: hairdresser,
legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), drama
director, playwright, humor columnist, and novelist. Her lifetime experience
provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction. She firmly believes
coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food groups. President of the
award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane resides in Suwanee, GA, with her
artist husband, her chef son, and two dogs of Biblical proportion. You can find
Ane on her <a href="http://www.anemulligan.com/" target="_blank">Southern-fried Fictionwebsite</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/+AneMulligan" target="_blank">Google+</a>,
<a href="file://localhost/xhttps/::www.facebook.com:ane.mulligan">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8061216.Ane_Mulligan" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/AneMulligan" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/anemulligan/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-44986362296747108662015-02-05T04:00:00.000-07:002015-02-05T04:00:09.785-07:00How an Author Handles Doubts<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some days it’s difficult to feel confident about your writing. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fears pop up like dandelions after the first spring rain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those worries and questions play on a loop in your brain:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is this good enough to be published? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does it make sense? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will anyone want to read it? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I sound ridiculous? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I wasting my time? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will
I ever be pleased with this project? </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And on and on and on . . .</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I'm not the first writer to have these doubts. And I won't be the last.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Want to know how writers handle these doubts? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They keep writing!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They remember what got them started in the first place. Look inside yourself. <i>Recall the dream</i> that pushed tender sprouts out of the soil of your heart. <i>Recall the delight </i>you experienced in claiming that big dream. <i>Dig Deep to reclaim your passion again. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Believe again!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not over until God says it's over. Start dreaming again. Start pursuing what God put in your heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listen, no one knows better than I how discouragement can creep up on you and squeeze the life out of your dreams. But if the Author of dreams has planted one in your heart, then don't give up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for me, I shall remain~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Prisoner of Hope!</span></div>
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Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-80288983717294489222015-02-03T10:25:00.001-07:002015-02-03T10:25:03.878-07:00Publishing Industry News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wEfnLLrlq4/VH06xNaqonI/AAAAAAAAD4I/rMVpxjkJGeE/s1600/Novel%2BRocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wEfnLLrlq4/VH06xNaqonI/AAAAAAAAD4I/rMVpxjkJGeE/s1600/Novel%2BRocket.jpg" height="80" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time to check out the February edition of Novel Rocket's industry news. There's some interesting news and some fun tidbits for book lovers:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chipotle (one of my favs!) has a fun new literary flavor in their packaging.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several fun lists: best websites and publishing predictions.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Literary prizes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Changes in the industry.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a lot going on. </span><a href="http://www.novelrocket.com/2015/02/industry-news.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Find it here</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!</span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-30386727393944171632015-01-29T04:00:00.000-07:002015-01-29T10:07:12.289-07:00Do the right thing!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little inspiration and encouragement for you today, friend. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My father-in-law is known for giving out this advice, except when he says it (he's from Brooklyn, NY) it sounds like, "Uh, do the right ting."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a great day, and surprise someone with an unexpected kindness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZjNlkkwDdc/VMnc1cm6-GI/AAAAAAAAD8I/zQc-Cg8ScTU/s1600/Do%2Bthe%2Bright%2Bthing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZjNlkkwDdc/VMnc1cm6-GI/AAAAAAAAD8I/zQc-Cg8ScTU/s1600/Do%2Bthe%2Bright%2Bthing.png" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17823291.post-87750638197706113522015-01-27T04:00:00.000-07:002015-01-27T10:47:15.412-07:00Fear not! You CAN overcome the pain of rejection. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdnN_c7I-I0/VMaWE5Li0EI/AAAAAAAAD74/lBmgUHsZ1w8/s1600/Fear%2Bnot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdnN_c7I-I0/VMaWE5Li0EI/AAAAAAAAD74/lBmgUHsZ1w8/s1600/Fear%2Bnot.png" height="400" width="281" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have regrets? I do. But the biggest one in my life was not of my making. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I regret circumstances that injured me. The pain of a past betrayal and rejection nearly did me in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone once said I was broken, but that's not true. I was was shattered, but I still carried on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of those home remodeling shows featured a mirrored wall that had to be removed. To do that, they put a film of adhesive over the mirror and then broke the mirror to remove it. Like that mirror, I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was broken but still in one piece. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That I could still rise every day and go about the business of living was miraculous. Truly. It was the hand of God and the love of my husband and children that kept me engaged in life. It was little bits of encouragement that prodded me on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, I looked back. I looked at the past and dwelled on the pain. But I've learned that if you spend time looking back, you don't make much progress going forward--and I really wanted to move forward. I wish I could say within months I'd moved on. But that would be untrue. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took me years to shake off the feelings of shame and loss. Years before I could admit to others what had happened. Years before I could shake the feeling of being not good enough for others. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friend, I don't want it to take that long for you to move forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through that experience I've learned six ways to recover from rejection:</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cling to your faith.</b> When you find yourself in a world with a shifted reality it's comforting to know that God never changes. He loves you and wants the best for you. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Trust that God will see you through it</b>. In the immediate months following my betrayal, upon waking a song of praise or a scripture verse would begin to play through my mind. What a blessing! That gift from God allowed me to crawl out of bed and begin my day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Don't allow the situation to define you.</b> Realize that the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hurtful behavior that broke your heart says more about your betrayer than yourself. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Live in the present.</b> Spend time with loved ones and good friends. They are the people who count, and they don't see you as someone unworthy or unlovable. They are the mirrors that reflect our true selves. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Walk bravely toward the future.</b> Keep moving forward. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose to believe that happiness and purpose will be a part of your life. You still have a future. You still have goals. You still have dreams. Claim your future, and work toward your goals, and your dreams.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Forgive.</b> Yup. </span><a href="http://megandimaria.blogspot.com/2015/01/forgive-and-keep-forgiving.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">That's a hard one.</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Forgiveness means giving up the desire to clear your reputation. It means you stop wanting something from the one who hurt you (something you'll never get anyway). It frees you from having that person living in your head. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I may add to that list as time passes. After all, it's a learning experience, and I'm still learning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may wonder why I put forgiveness at the bottom of the list. It's not because it's least important. It's because forgiveness takes time. Yes, you should forgive. You can say you forgive. You can want to forgive. But it takes time for your emotions to catch up with your desire. Forgiveness needs to marinate. At least it did for me. You have to give your heart time to heal, and with healing comes the ability to separate yourself from the hurt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have called myself a prisoner of hope for many years now. I never explained that designation, but it was because I deliberately chose hope in my darkest days. If you're suffering from a betrayal or a rejection, may I make a suggestion? Choose a new name for yourself, even if you keep it private. That small shift in thinking will help. One day after another will pass, and eventually you'll realize that you're not emotionally tied to the pain of your past. You'll be an overcomer!</span>Megan DiMariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12114463270734382638noreply@blogger.com0