Our first review is in, and it's 5-STARS !

Our appreciation and thanks to Readers' Favorite for sharing their insight into Wesley Out West.

Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite "The story is exciting with a lot of bright and colorful illustrations. They make the characters come alive and they give good pace and movement to the story and scenes. It's a good bedtime storybook for children, and parents and grandparents can use it for their kids and grandkids. It's also good for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries. Wesley the Walrus is adorable and it's nice to read about him trying to make his boring life more interesting. The facts about marine animals given at the end of the book are informative and educational and give children more knowledge about these sea creatures. The author does a good job of introducing children to marine animals in a fun way, making it easy for them to understand. It's a good book for teachers and parents to teach children about marine life."

We could not ask for a better beginning than praise from Readers' Favorite.  For our story to be recognized as bringing knowledge to children fulfills our writing goals. We wanted to make the words easy to understand, yet provide teaching material.  What a blessing for these goals to also be recognized. 

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ILLUSTRATOR

Wesley Out West was delightfully illustrated by
Alan McCuller of MC2Graphics.

SEE HIS WORKS HERE...

LUCK? OR NOT.

Today I met a new Twitter friend. He's from Texas but now lives in Chicago. When I teased him about how he ended up in Chicago, he said "bad luck."  That phrase stayed with  me all day.

Bad luck.  He meant it as a joke, of course.   From his biography, messages, and vast number of follower, I'd say this gentleman has led a pretty exciting life. But, how often do we hear it said it utter seriousness. How often do you fall back on it as an excuse when something negative happens to you in your daily life?

Far too often, I think we, as humans, try to escape the reality that our own actions can defeat our purposes and our goals are sometimes sabotaged by distorted thinking. It's a lot easier to blame the weather for us snapping at the grocery clerk who was a little slow today, or something someone said that diverted us from completing that task we meant to complete. Or, maybe it was just bad luck that the lights were all wrong, thus keeping us from picking the  clothes up from the cleaners. You know: the clothes that your husband really needed for tomorrow's big meeting--the ones you could have picked up yesterday, but decided it would wait another day to do.
 
I thought a lot about luck today, and decided I don't believe in luck. I believe in God, miracles, choices, decisions, and consequences.  And I really can't think of anything that doesn't fall into one of those categories.  Can you?

Discovering a book-- again! Spiritual food in fascinating "fiction?"

Discovering a book-- again! Spiritual food in fascinating "fiction?"

I write, but I also read a lot just to relax. The other day, I finished enjoying a book earlier than I anticipated.  I must admit that once I get into a reading frame of mind, it is like an addict with his drug of choice. I must read until I cannot absorb another word.  This night, I realized that ceiling was not yet hitting my head. So, I began searching through my multiple book shelves for something I might enjoy reading again.  I don't usually read a book more than once, but my addiction was eating me alive, and I had to feed my hunger.

Five minutes later, I stumbled upon "The Shack," by Wm. Paul Young.  I vaguely remembered sitting down with the book a few years ago, but for some reason I did not read very far into the book.  Just returned it to the bookshelves.  This time, I read the back cover. The theme sounded solid: a man suffering immense loss and hurt is led back to his past, and directly into the scene of his greatest hurt.  There, he meets some familiar strangers.  Strangers, for sure; but, with a sweetness he remembered as once knowing, but sorrowfully long lost.

This time, as I settled into the book, I could hardly put it down to eat or sleep.  I believe everything happens for a reason, and if one looks objectively from a distance, the circumstances are always used by God for human benefit, whether evil or good,  happy or sad.  Young uses the question humans have asked for centuries as the basis for a fascinating voyage into the possibilities of God's nature.   Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?   For personal reasons, the questions and discussions found within the story had a more resounding affect on me today than they would have if I read the book three years ago.  So much in my life has changed over those, and the past 25 years.  Taking time to consider the knowledge of God's nature as displayed in the book gives me a little more insight into my own condition, and I even made sense of some of the questions in my own life that have haunted me for years.

Faith plays a tremendous part in my life, and The Shack covers each page with faith: faith in God, faith in his deity and being, and faith in giving our hurts over to God so that He can work a miracle in our hardened and scarred hearts. Above all, faith that we are here to pass along God's messages through our good and not-so-good days, and that our lives are not lived in vain. God has a purpose that we are assigned to fulfill.

The Shack is a book of fiction -- but at its core is a book bespeaking of faith, prayer and soul searching. It was a #1 New York Times Bestseller and millions of copies were sold when first published in 2007.  The rich and famous, such as Kathie Lee Gifford, David Gregory, Michael W. Smith (recording artist), and artists, publishers and people of faith across the country endorsed the book.

Why not read it yourself?  If you already read it, why not read it again?  It will bring to remembrance why we are on earth and allow us a glimpse of heaven's glory at the same time. 

#faith, #God, #heaven, #sorrow, #healing, #spiritual healing, #God's nature, #Jesus the Son, #God the father, #the Spirit, #The Shack, #Wm. Paul Young, #eternity, #spiritual relationship

Icing, Locusts & Life at publisher--It's Catch Up Time

The time has come. My 2nd book, "Icing, Locusts & Life," is now with my publisher. The trauma of writing my own story was more difficult than I anticipated.  So many things to consider. A week or so after finishing my story, Kellie McGann wrote an article entitled "How to Write About Your Family… Without Getting Disowned." I had to laugh, because the emotions and thoughts expressed in the article were exactly what I experienced. My book is not all about my family, but, because it is my story, they are certainly a part of it.  Thankfully, it is over, at least for the moment--until the publisher begins sending me change requests and suggestions.

In the meantime, I have a file folder completely filled with writing articles that must be read (to make me a better writer.) I have totally neglected LinkedIn contacts, and have taken scarce notice of Twitter followers (or those I follow myself.)  My social networking sucks right now.  But, the book is completed :)  I found it almost impossible focus on both important activities.

As you can see, we also renovated my website. How does it look?  Give me your feedback. I am excited to now have a great vehicle for sharing my own experiences, as well as experiences, books, and articles from other writers, speakers and special individuals. I'm open to discussing just about any topic. I will comment on news and important updates, and will post regular information on #"The Changing Brain." Not only am I going to share information and perspectives on CAA (cerebral amyloid angiopathy), but I am now joining with the Alzheimer's Association to brings better information and encouragement to patients suffering from brain-related dementia. I would enjoy receiving articles and comments from both patients and the loved ones suffering from the unique hardships they must endure while caring for patients. 

If you would like to be part of the website, just e-mail me. I am looking for guest bloggers to submit articles on just about any topic (well, you know what I mean--not literally "any" topic.) Take a look at my tabs and join me.

I will place other writers' books and articles on the site.  If you are interested in advertising on my site, let me know. Or, if you would participate in any of the tabs, just let me know.

Thanks to my fabulous webmaster, Ben Hassell (Sugar Rock Graphics.)  He is really amazing...and very patient.

I began work on my newest book a couple of weeks ago.  Hopefully, I will write that which uplifts God and enriches the readers' hearts. The work is slow, because I need to balance telling a story, while carefully respecting each person's reality, as they experienced the events in our common lives. The intent is to show how God's grace and mercy deals with everyone, regardless of background, religious beliefs or biases. I will include a few of the stories from my first book, "Beyond the Shadows is Tomorrow," because there is so much wisdom and peace to come from their experiences.

As the writing goes forward, I will be putting slices of the book in blogs and on Facebook. Probably will insert a line or two in my Tweets also. Hopefully, each piece will bring at least one person a sense of peace, or tug on that person's heart to help him or her examine their life to find God's purpose in that life.

The book is entitled "Icing, Locusts and Love." I look forward to sharing bits of it along the way, and completing a book that is pleasing in God's sight. It is only by His grace that I can today share my small measure of ability. Not for myself, but for God's glory.

Be blessed in 2015.

rhonda