Preslaysa

Created For Dreams

By Lisa Jordan

Knitting has been on my to-do list for years. Having learned to crochet at a very young age, I really struggled with handling two knitting needles versus one crochet hook. Two years ago, I grabbed needles and a ball of yarn, watched online knitting tutorials, pulled out stitches, and tried again until I completed a basic garter stitch scarf. 

Multi-published and award-winning author Debbie Macomber presented the keynote addresses at the 2009 ACFW writers conference in Denver, CO. Many of Debbie’s books have permanent places on my keeper shelf, but I appreciate another talent Debbie shares with her readers on her site and in her novels—her passion for knitting. 

In her non-fiction book, Knit Together: Discover God’s Pattern For Your Life, Debbie writes about knitting for dreams. She compares the various colors and textures in her yarn room (yes, an entire room devoted to yarn) to dreams. She says, “You never know what wonderful creations a knit pattern or a dream can become.”

Before our parents even considered our existence, God had a plan in mind for each of us. He designed us with a purpose. Within each one of us, he created a dream.

Any dream requires a plan, a pattern, trial and error, and continuous education. God has already gone ahead and put the pattern in place for each one of us. He wants us to be in the center of His will and desires a lasting relationship with us. When we use our God-gifted imaginations for His glory, His dream knits with ours to create a beautiful masterpiece.

 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. 

Psalm 139:4 NIV

Bio: Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories that feature both comes naturally to her. She has been writing contemporary Christian romance for more than a decade. Her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, is available now by Love Inspired. Her second novel, Lakeside Family, will be released in August 2012 by Love Inspired. Happily married for over twenty years, Lisa and her husband have two young adult sons. When she isn’t writing or caring for children in her in-home childcare business, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction. Visit her at www.lisajordanbooks.com to learn more about her writing.

About Lakeside Reunion: Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake. Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again. Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion

THAT CREATIVE MOMENT

By Shirley Kiger Connolly

How would you describe that moment of time and space in the day or night when you have a sense that you are becoming the most romantically creative, when your heart feels most inspired by God to begin that next story that you know, without doubt, is going to be tender and awesome, full of conflict, and at the same time is going to have Him between many of the lines helping you to bring that manuscript to a story-perfect resolution — one that any insightful reader will be able to grasp hold of and be blessed by from the moment she picks up your book and turns each page until that mixed emotional moment when she discovers herself at the end, but wishes like everything she wasn’t there.

It’s over? Yes, the story is over. So she sighs.

But hold on, you remind the reader. There will be another story to follow…maybe in six months, or nine months, or maybe even in a year. But it’s coming.

That’s how it was for me, as I wrote Say Goodbye to Yesterday, my newest historical-romance.

 Me, that writer just needs to find that next creative moment.

We all have them — those perfect moments, that time and space in the day or night, that creative hour — the ones that are right for only us.

My creative moments to begin any new story, and especially the sequel to a story I’ve just written, come with a craving in my heart to get going. For me, it’s crucial to keep my favorite extra-fine pens (they must be extra-fine) and several pads handy around the house and at the ready, because the moment that moment arrives, I am ever amazed at the most interesting phrases or simply words, words, words that begin to flow from inside of me. I just cannot write fast enough.

I adore that brainstorming phase.

Writers all have their special moments. I know, because on my blog, http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/ it is one question I often ask, and every author tells me something different.

That creative moment almost never fails to open the door for us to get that next book underway. Many writers would not be putting out manuscripts, or books, or novellas, or awe-inspiring articles, or even reflections. Because of those creative moments and what they lead to, the writer can almost visualize how everyone is rushing from blog to blog during promotional time, in hopes of winning the book that just released. (Or perhaps they have already clicked onto their favorite online store to grab, or at least take a peek at a short sample.)

Who doesn’t want to see if that book, story, novella, article, reflection is worth taking the time for? (Am I dreaming again?)

Getting back to the perfect moment of creativity.

Perhaps, your favorite resourceful moment is in the cool of the evening in your sitting room, where you sit by the flickering candlelight that sits on the mantel of your fireplace where the fire crackles softly, you with your favorite hand-stitched throw warming your lap, your purring Persian cat sitting by your side, your dog that’s even older than you, sitting at your feet, the old schoolhouse clock on the wall, ticking in a steady cadence. Because you have worked so hard throughout the day at your computer, it might be a little difficult to keep your eyes open.

Or maybe that moment for you, is not that at all. Maybe it’s when you are reclined on your bed with your classical music playing on the stereo, and you can whiff the scent of lavender where the flame of another candle shadow-dances across the wall. That would be in the bedroom, I believe.

Then again, perhaps it is while you are reclined deep in the hot sudsy rose-water of your claw-foot tub. You know that one that rests in the Victorian bath your husband designed exactly the way you described way back when the two of you had the funds to do that sort of thing. (Remember those days?)

Innovative Moments

The ones above are mine, and I treasure them. The best chapters to Say Goodbye to Yesterday came at times like those I described above. Only you know when yours are. That space of time in the day when God makes that moment perfect only for you. After all, we as inspirational writers know for a fact, He is the one who gives us the inspiration to do what we do anyway.

I love reading articles from writers who I’ve met over the years, and who have emphasized the importance of going to the Lord first before sitting down or reclining, or even hitting the keyboard on their computers, in order to write that story that He’s putting on their hearts. I’m sure whatever that writer has written is going to be worth reading. When I pick up their books, I make it a point to avoid looking for flaws or missing links as I read. I also make it a point to take off my internal-editing spectacles. (It’s too easy not to.) That way I know I’m ready to look for the hidden message within that story that God has for me in the story that’s been written. To me, that’s much more important.

I would never say that Say Goodbye to Yesterday is written to perfection. But I can say this. Writing that seamless story that’s only yours all begins with that perfect creative moment. I think you will agree.

Are you a writer? Do you aspire to be? If you don’t yet have one, let the Lord show you that perfect moment that has your name all over it. Savor it. Make use of it. It is in that moment you will be about to write at your best. Why? Because that inspiration will be from Him.   

About Say Goodbye to Yesterday

Scorned with disgrace, Annabelle Jordan and her daughters are no longer welcome in her reverend uncle’s community. In need of a fresh touch of grace, Annabelle’s in no mood to seek mercy yet. Not after carrying on a youthful affair with that young officer long enough to produce two daughters before she finally sent him away.

Now without a home, Annabelle is convinced her answer is to find the man again and force that marriage he pledged but never kept. Annabelle knows he can provide her daughters the name, home, security, and future they need. Who else would show interest in a soiled, aging woman over thirty with two growing children?

That was before Major Carlton Radcliffe entered her life. How was Annabelle to know she’d fall for someone beyond her reach, loyal to the faith she’s been fleeing and pledged to a wife and family of his own?

About the book: Baby, It’s Cold Outside
 
Hope finds the hopeless when a storm hits.
 
It’s Christmas weekend 1949, and despite the threat of a storm, the townspeople of Frost are determined to continue their holiday traditions, if only as a means to forget the war that they had all just suffered through. But the suffering hasn’t ended for Dottie Morgan who lost her only son in the war. She’s preparing to wallow in her isolation for the weekend, when Violet, nearly a spinster at age 29, dares to make a request that will force Dottie to publicly revive the memory of her dead son.
 
When a storm traps the two women at home with a strange young man who has an unbelievable confession and a neighbor with more to do with Violet’s past than she would like, no one can predict how this Christmas will give them all a second chance.

My Review:

This book was a fun holiday read. Like all of Susan’s books, I couldn’t put it down! She is really a master at drawing readers in and making us empathize with the story’s characters. This is the type of story where you’ll want to curl up in your bed with a cup of hot chocolate and watch the snowflakes fall outside your window (if you get snow!) as you keep turning the pages, engrossed in the magic of the five characters inside this Safe House. This is a story you’ll want to read year after year during the Christmas season.

A Fun Giveaway!

Warm up to Christmas early this year with Susan May Warren’s Baby, It’s Cold Outside! To celebrate the release of her new Christmas book with Summerside Press, she and the publisher are giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting an early Christmas Party on Facebook!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One festive winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. Giveaway ends on 10/26!

But, wait there’s more! Join Susan May Warren on 10/27 for merriment and a few early Christmas presents at her Baby, It’s Cold Outside Christmas party! Grab your Christmas sweaters, socks and pj’s and join Susan and a few friends for a fireside chat about her recent books (Heiress & Baby, It’s Cold Outside), holiday traditions, favorite Christmas recipes, a trivia contest and more! Invite your friends and don’t miss the fun!

RSVP here and we’ll see you on October 27th at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST!

On Balancing Writing and Family Life by K. Dawn Byrd

How do I balance writing and family life? The great secret is that I make time by writing in 30-day marathons. In addition to working a full-time job, I also work two to three weekends a month on call either Saturday or Sunday. If I don’t make time, it isn’t going to happen

I’m a plotter, so it’s perfectly natural for me to spend some time plotting out my story before I actually begin writing. I also scour magazines for photos of what my heroine and hero look like. If it’s a young adult book and there’s a prom scene, I might even find a prom dress on-line or in a book that matches the one in my mind. In addition, I’ll find what kind of car they drive and I’ll start looking for photos for my video trailer. I acquire these photos and place on a story board, which gives me inspiration as I write.

After I’ve filled out a character work-sheet and feel like I know my characters well enough to write about them, I map out my schedule. For example, if I’m writing a 60,000 word novel, that breaks down to 2,000 words a day. I’ll map out how many words I should have each day. I try to get a head of the game in word count early on just in case life happens and I have to take a day off.

How do you make time to write?

K. Dawn Byrd’s Latest Novel: This Time for Keeps is available now!

 About the Book: India McGuire’s peaceful life is shattered when on the night of her engagement to David Richards, she comes face to face with Chase Porter, a long lost love. India must come to terms with her overpowering feelings for Chase and choose between David, the neighbor who says he loves her, and Chase, the man who broke her heart.

Chase’s plans of leaving quietly turn to disaster when he finds that it’s impossible to disappear without seeing India one last time. Feelings begin to surface that he believed buried forever and he finds himself fighting to win her back even as David struggles to hold onto her.

India longs to follow her heart, but she’s been hurt too deeply. Who will she choose? The neighbor who can provide stability or the man she vowed to love forever who may once again heed to the call of the open road?