Visit New York State's pine-scented Adirondack Mountains and Florida's sun-kissed shores.
Look inside the books on Amazon.👀👀
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
GRAMMATICAL CRIMES I HAVE COMMITTED: THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL
One click of my computer’s mouse and I was headed toward disaster.
As I put the final touches on my inspirational thriller, "The Face Behind the Veil," and about to e-mail it to my publisher, I decided to change a character’s name from Joseph to Stanley
In an instant, this global change was made throughout the 600 page, three-part document, which traces the legend of the birth veil through three generations.
That was the only change I made after the book underwent extensive editing. Confident it was error-free, I clicked the mouse and off it went. It wasn’t long before I received the galley proof to review and approve, so the printing process could begin.
Weary of the seven-year project and the tedious historical research that had gone into it, I almost didn’t review the galley. But something in me couldn’t let it go until I did. That must have been Providential. Imagine my surprise when I discovered how that last minute name change affected a scene where the Christmas story is told. In horror, I read the following.
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary
was espoused to Stanley
child of the Holy Ghost. Then Stanley
not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away
privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Stanley
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost . . .. Then Stanley
After getting over my initial shock, I made the necessary changes.
However, rather than globally, I did this the old-fashioned way, one at a time.
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Flora invites you to look inside her books on Amazon. Published by MillerWords.
The face Behind the Veil: Historical Fiction
The Castle in the Sun Series
Book 2: Love's Sweetest Deliverance: Romantic-Suspense
Where Your Heart Meets God's: Inspiration:
Thursday, November 5, 2020
SO, YOU WANNA BE A WRITER?
It was "Sarah's" first time at our writers' critique group. Her eyes wide with expectation, the young woman sat on the edge of her seat. She appeared poised to dazzle us by reading from the book she was writing. Certainly, she believed it destined to be a bestseller.
Our group consisted of journalists, novelists, editors and beginners. We met regularly to evaluate and polish each other's writing. We divided the time, each reading aloud from a work in progress, then the rest of us offering our input. It was our policy to begin each critique with praise, before suggesting ways the story might be improved. This worked until Sarah joined us.
Proudly clutching her manuscript, she cleared her throat and with a big smile, began reading. At first, I thought it was only me to whom none of it made any sense. There was no story or plot, only disconnected thoughts that went nowhere.
Sarah was still smiling when she finished and looked us over, as if waiting for the accolades. We were supposed to begin with praise, but no one could think of even one positive thing. The room was as quiet as a tomb as Sarah's smile faded.
Kay, an editor known for her diplomacy, began. As gently as possible, she told our newbie the truth. Sarah did not take it well. Her eyes filled with tears.
"My husband said the story is wonderful," she blurted, sobbing.
After that fateful day, I would occasionally bump into Sarah. I tried speaking with her and asked about her writing, but she always brushed me off. The contempt in her face revealed dislike for me and others in the critique group. We were not worthy of her time. Nor were our opinions worthy of her consideration.
That is sad because who knows where her writing could have gone, given some attention. What she read, might have been a seed of an idea that needed guidance and development--like all of our writing projects.
Our critique group would have helped Sarah along her journey. And writing is always a journey, often long and hard.
It is likely that Sarah's husband thought he was being kind by telling her what she wanted to hear, rather than what she needed to hear. She believed him and it impeded her development.However, I know from experience that the soul of any serious writer is battle-scarred from criticism, harsh editors, brutal critiques and rejection of our work. Still, we go on. We keep writing, learning and hopefully, improving. Of necessity, we develop a thick skin like our friend to the right
As far as I know, Sarah's work never went anywhere.
"Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been."
A journalist and novelist, Flora invites you to check out the three books in her Castle in the Sun, romantic suspense series.
Book 1, Love's Sweetest Revenge:
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Book 3, Love's Sweetest Truth
Please also check out Flora's Devotional, Where Your Heart Meets God's.
E-book FREE for a limited time.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
WILL LIZ DIE IN THE FOREST?
Excerpt from Chapter 1, Love's Sweetest Revenge
 |
| Where could Liz run in the vast forest? |
Liz forced her thoughts back to the sights and sounds of the forest. She realized something had changed. The forest was quiet … too quiet. The wind had stilled. Birds were no longer singing. Liz paused, her eyes darting one way, then another. As a cloud moved over the sun, a sense of danger crept over the landscape.Suddenly, a snapping twig shattered the stillness and a flock of birds launched into the sky, their chirping and flapping wings fading away. Then, a growl seemed to shake the ground beneath Liz.
She froze, almost afraid to breathe. Is this how it’s going to end for me?
Fear tingled up and down Liz’s spine as her eyes drifted to a clearing, where a black bear was sniffing the air.
Steve’s warnings screamed across her mind. Bears have a keen sense of smell. If you see one, don’t try to run away. Back away slowly. Yell at the bear. Firmly tell it to leave. Get out of here! Especially beware of a mother bear with cubs.
Then, in one horrible moment, the bear charged in her direction. In a blind panic Liz also ran, forgetting everything Steve had told her. Though the episode lasted scarcely a minute, time seemed to move in slow motion.
What will happen to Liz? Find out more in Love's Sweetest Revenge, first in the Castle in the Sun, romantic-suspense series. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785FWH5P/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_WKI3EbXY53
What will happen to Liz? Find out more in Love's Sweetest Revenge, first in the Castle in the Sun, romantic-suspense series. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785FWH5P/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_WKI3EbXY53
Book 2, Love's Sweetest Deliverance
Even as Liz revels in her engagement to Carlos and celebrates Christmas with him, she can feel her ex-husband's cold, blue eyes watching her every move. How far will he go?
Book 3, Love's Sweetest Truth:
until Monique and temptation catch up with him in Paris.
* Covers by Mark Miller of MillerWords Books.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
SAMPLE CHAPTER: LOVE'S SWEETEST TRUTH, NEW RELEASE
CHAPTER 1
On that radiant Florida morning in early June, Liz Bertelli-Martin woke to sunlight sifting through lace curtains on her bedroom window overlooking the ocean.
Rising and stretching, she walked to the window for a peek at the sky. Clear, cloudless blue, the vista seemed like a seamless continuum of ocean and endless space.
Liz lingered, her artist’s eye studying the color for its sunlit hue—so much like her happy new life.
She had snuggled back under the covers by the time her husband Carlos, came in with a tray of food. As always, he had risen early to walk their dog, King, feed Pickles the cat and then settle down to work in his home office.
He walked to her bedside, bending to kiss Liz's waiting lips and caress her abdomen, starting to swell with the union of their love.
“Good morning, beautiful. I saw you stirring earlier, so I took a break from work to make breakfast.”
Liz gazed up into the handsome Latin face with its striking green eyes, crowned by a thick crop of dark hair and matching beard. Liz smoothed back her curly, chocolate-brown hair. She and Carlos had been married almost four months and it still felt like a storybook dream that she was with him in St. Augustine Beach, living in a lavish, oceanfront condominium. His thoughtful gestures warmed her heart.
A contented smile on her face, she breathed-in the nourishing fragrances. “You made an omelette with sausage and bell pepper, didn't you? It smells so good.”
“One of your favorites,” he replied, proudly displaying his culinary creation.
She had mentioned this preference only once, but Carlos had listened and made the effort to please her, making her feel valued.
In addition to the omelette, there was grits, topped with melting butter, as well as toast, orange juice, coffee and Liz's prenatal vitamin, prescribed by her doctor. All were served on a silver platter, complete with a white rosebud in a slender vase. Carlos arranged the tray in front of her.
“What about you sweetie?” she asked. “Have you eaten?”
“Mine is waiting in the kitchen,” he said, returning with it and settling on the bed beside her.
Liz moved a tasty morsel around her mouth. “Delicious! I'm glad I can finally eat without getting sick.”
The couple ate and chatted until Liz froze in mid-bite. She took Carlos' hand and placed it on her abdomen. For the first time, both felt a form stirring.
“That's our baby,” Liz whispered in awe. “Can you feel him?”
A look of wonder spread over Carlos' face. “I can!”
Liz rested her head on his shoulder and both sat amazed at this miracle of life.
Carlos snuggled closer. “Every day, I thank God for you and for the privilege of becoming a father.”
“I couldn't be happier,” she responded with a joyous tear. “Ever since I gave birth to my twins in my early teens, I wanted more children. But I couldn't get pregnant. Who would think that after the boys were grown, it would finally happen? A specialist treated me for endometriosis and other problems. When I didn't conceive after several years, he said it's unlikely I ever would.”
Liz sighed. “It's hard to believe a doctor with degrees hanging all over his wall, could be so wrong.”
She wondered if the stress of her first marriage was a factor.
Steve was a liar and a cheat. We fought often and intimacy was more of a chore than a pleasure.
Things were certainly different with Carlos. After nearly 20 years of failure with Steve, she and Carlos had conceived on their honeymoon.
Following the couple's leisurely breakfast, Carlos leaned over Liz's swelling stomach and spoke to the baby, as he had done since the pregnancy was discovered. Sometimes he sang as well. The songs varied. They might be children's jingles, or songs the couple enjoyed. Other times they would be worship choruses and hymns that Carlos sang when assisting with the liturgy at his church. Liz often went with him, as did Liz's best friend, Rosa. Carlos' brother, Jack (Rosa's fiancé) joined them when he had time off work.
Carlos would sing and talk to the baby in the various languages he had employed while working as a translator and interpreter at the White House. He now put his language skills to use translating, editing and writing documents from his home office. This included unclassified documents from the Executive Branch.
“I want our child to know how much he is loved by God and us. I also want him to speak different languages,” he said after singing a lighthearted children's tune.
The couple referred to their child in the masculine because Liz insisted it was so.
“We're having a boy and he'll be named after his father and grandfather, Carlos Manuel Martin.”
He told her he would love a little girl just the same.
“I know you would, sweetie. I can see how much you love our precious granddaughter, Ashley. You're showing her how important she is by teaching her Spanish.”
Even though Ashley was biologically Liz's grandchild from her son, Tony and his wife, Steph, Carlos treated Ashley like his own, as he did her three-month-old brother, Tony Jr.
It was all Liz's ex-husband, Steve, could do to keep quiet about the matter, especially when the child would “show off” her Spanish, which he could not understand.
“She talks like a native speaker,” Carlos would crow. “She's brilliant.”
Each day, it seemed her vocabulary would grow.
After the breakfast dishes were loaded into the dishwasher, Liz spoke on the phone with her sons, as she did almost daily. With Tony living in St. Augustine, where he and Steph had recently opened the Casa MartÃn Bed and Breakfast, and her other son, Stevie (a promising young attorney) and his wife Tiffany, living in Daytona Beach, everyone Liz loved was nearby. The close-knit family visited often and on occasion, Liz and Carlos would attend services at the Daytona Beach church, where Tiffany's father was pastor.
Like Liz, Rosa had moved from New York. Having her confidante close by, completed Liz's happiness. When she told Carlos, he winked.
“Jack enjoys her closeness even more.”
For the most part, Rosa stayed in a spare bedroom at the Casa MartÃn, where her help with cooking and the business, was proving invaluable. In appreciation, she and Jack had been offered complimentary use of the facilities for their wedding and reception.
The Queen Anne Victorian (Carlos and Jack's childhood home) was quickly becoming a popular destination, known for southern hospitality, luxurious but comfortable furnishings and sumptuous breakfasts. A couple of nights each week, an ethnic-themed dinner would be served. Word was spreading about Rosa's Latin American cuisine and Tony's Italian delights.
“We barely opened our doors and already we have seven guests,” an excited Tony told his mom. “We’re actually making money.”
Finishing breakfast, Liz again paused at the window to revel in the beauty of the sky. It was what Liz liked best about Florida. She he had often told Carlos how much the sky held her in awe and inspired her artistic abilities.
But on the horizon, Liz spotted a solitary black cloud. It seemed to mar the blue vista and Liz wanted to erase it, as she would a smudge on her canvas. She turned away, then looked warily back. The cloud appeared closer, larger and almost personal, like trouble rumbling her way.
It’s small, but that’s how problems start.
Liz fixated on the cloud, but forced her gaze away, scolding herself for letting a cloud overwhelm her focus.
I just have pregnancy brain. Life is perfect. I’ve never been happier. Nothing can change that.
Liz redirected her attention across the courtyard to the building where Jack lived.
Liz smiled to herself. I wouldn't be surprised if Rosa is there with him.
When Carlos walked by, kissing Liz's cheek, she leaned into it. What cloud could possibly invade her idyllic life?
Liz was right about Rosa. She and Jack had spent some time working on personal words to be included in their wedding vows. Still, Rosa could never finish her vows to her liking. Now they were sitting down for one more cup of coffee and a serious conversation. Jack petted Rosa's dachshunds, Hans and Heidi, their tails wagging as they whined for a morsel of food.
Warm with love but concerned, Jack’s eyes met Rosa’s.
“I don't like keeping secrets from my brother, especially such an important one.”
“You mean about Patty's daughter, Zoe, possibly being his?”
Jack nodded.
“I don't like keeping secrets from Liz either and I've almost told her a couple of times. But maybe I'm mistaken about Zoe's resemblance to Carlos.”
“Since you mentioned it, I see a likeness,” Jack replied. “But as I've said, it could be because Zoe has Cuban blood, like Carlos and me. Some people just happen to look alike. It's pure coincidence.”
Rosa was not convinced. “I see the resemblance in her profile. The next time you see her take a closer look.”
Jack nodded. “I will and if we find out she is Carlos' after all, I'll be amazed that this was right under our noses all these years and no one noticed. At least for now, let's keep this to ourselves. It probably doesn't mean anything. Liz and Carlos are so happy with the baby coming. I don't want to throw a monkey wrench into that.”
“If it's true, why wouldn't Patty have told him?” Rosa asked. “He seems oblivious.”
Jack shrugged his shoulders. “It could be because Carlos was traveling all over the world with the presidential entourage and he had girlfriends wherever he went. He told me the pay was great, but the fringe benefits were even better. I hate to say it, but he wasn't exactly father material. Patty was separated from her husband, Tim, when Carlos moved in with her. But after Carlos took off for parts unknown, Tim and Patty got back together for a while. We always assumed he was Zoe's father and he probably is. Tim's a great guy and one of our childhood friends, just like Patty. They were part of our high school crowd.”
“I've heard a lot about that circle of friends,” Rosa said with a wink.
She looked up from her coffee, her attractive smile framed with dimples. “I hear Carlos might be traveling with the White House staff again.”
“That's right. He's just waiting for the details to be ironed out,” Jack said.
That would start to happen later in the day. Carlos had just gotten off the phone and eagerly rushed to Liz from his home office.
“I just spoke with Charlene, a former co-worker from the White House. I was asked to join the old team for some official business in Paris. We used to go there every so often and I lived there nearly a year. There will likely be other trips in the future, maybe to South America.”
About to leave for Raphael's Gallery, where she exhibited her artwork and painted, Liz threw her arms around Carlos' neck.
“What an honor! I'm proud and happy for you.”
Carlos was hesitant. “Especially now that we're expecting, do you mind me traveling?”
“Not at all,” an upbeat Liz replied. “You've always supported me with my art, hanging it in the condo and letting me claim a space to paint. I'll always support you in your career.”
She looked deeply at him. “Don't have such a worried face. Rosa and Jack are right here if I need anything and my sons are too.”
So is Steve, Carlos thought, recalling the violent fight they had over Liz a few months back. Steve had initiated it by attacking Carlos. Although legal finagling had kept Steve out of jail, he was charged with assault and battery and sentenced to probation.
Carlos was still mistrustful.He'd better not come near Liz.
Book available from MillerWords
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BM9829B/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp?fbclid=IwAR3x3Rb
Books 1 & 2, available from MIllerWords Book 1: Love's Sweetest Revenge: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785FWH5P/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_WKI3EbXY53
Book 2: Love's Sweetest Deliverance: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BBFRHJT?
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Jewels That Sparkle With Wisdom and Enlightenment
BOOK REVIEW BY FRAN
Where Your Heart Meets God's
This lovely devotional will greet you each morning with a precious jewel. That's what "Where Your Heart Meets God's" did for me. I was greeted by jewels that sparkled with both wisdom and enlightenment.
Just as physical jewels have various facets and distinctions, each of Flora Reigada's devotions are novel and hold fresh insight. The author first draws you in with a brief Bible verse, expounds on it, and concludes with a Pearl to Ponder and a Love Nugget. They join together to awaken new views of the ageless Scriptures and to draw the reader closer to the Holy Spirit.
Even the cover joins with the interior to stimulate the reader's imagination with the well-chosen symbol of a string of lustrous pearls.
Since I can't possibly choose a favorite, I'll close by saying that "Where Your Heart Meets God's" would be an inspirational addition to your daily devotions, and would make an attractive and useful choice as a gift for friends and loved ones.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
THREE TICKETS TO PARADISE
Liz's husband had left with a twenty-something plaything and Liz hopes to forget her troubles in the beauty of New York State's lush but lonely forest. But when a bear charges out from the trees, Liz runs for her life. How could this dangerous encounter possibly lead Liz to an ancient stone wall and a locket filled with secrets? Following its clues, takes Liz and best friend Rosa (a young widow) to Florida, a castle in the sun and romance with brothers, Carlos and Jack.
In all unfolds in Love's Sweetest Revenge, first in the Castle in the Sun, romantic-suspense series.
Find out more:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785FWH5P/ref=cm_s
Rosa and Carlos' Army-hero brother, Jack, are also warming to each other in the tropical sun.
But Liz's ex-husband, Steve, cannot bear to see her happy and "Hurricane Steve" is on his way with a tempest of trouble.
Can he sneak past Jack and his motorcycle buddies to accomplish his evil? And how does a tiny acorn lead to a big surprise? It all unfolds in Love's Sweetest Deliverance, second in the Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series.
Find out more.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07
NEW RELEASE!
Unaware of what awaits them, Liz and Carlos are living their dream. They built a lavish new home with a pool, a baby is on the way and they are deeply in love. The radiant Florida sky seems to glow with their joy. An artist, Liz captures its beauty in a painting.
All seems perfect until a secret leaks out about Carlos' womanizing past—and everyone seems to know but the happy couple. Even a little child has overheard and can't stop talking. Could the secret cast a cloud over Liz and Carlos' sunny life? A dark area in Liz's painting seems like a warning of the gathering storm. When the truth rains down, lives are changed forever.
Find out more in Book 3, Love's Sweetest Truth.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BM9829B/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp?fbclid=IwAR3x3Rb
Monday, October 19, 2020
Thursday, October 15, 2020
MEET A HERO
After graduating from high school in St. Augustine, Florida, Jack Martin enlisted in the United States Army. He served 15 years, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant.
The many ribbons on his uniform, some for heroism and leadership, show his dedicated service.
Now a civilian in his mid-thirties, he witnessed atrocities while serving several tours of duty in Middle East hot spots. A vehicle he was driving with fellow service members struck an IED. (Improvised Explosive Device) 
Following another incident, Jack comforted a 20 year-old soldier who bled out in his arms. But Jack has been in kill or be killed situations and he had prevailed.
His girlfriend Rosa is tough enough for him, but tender enough too. She comforts him when he awakens from nightmares about his troops being ambushed and blood on his hands.
In addition to being a tall, handsome much-decorated veteran, Jack is a motorcycle enthusiast, a hard worker and the fiercely protective father of a teenage daughter. He can fix or build just about anything.
I told these things to veterans at a VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) post, while going about my job as a newspaper reporter, gathering information for a story.
"We want to meet him," the VFW members said "Tell him to come here. We can help him with his (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We understand."
My eyes widened in surprise. Without intending to do so, I had convinced them Jack is a living, breathing person. But he only exists in the pages of my "Castle in the Sun" romantic-suspense book series. He is one of four central characters. Others are his girlfriend, Rosa, his brother Carlos and Carlos' fiance, Elizabeth. (Liz)
My eyes widened in surprise. Without intending to do so, I had convinced them Jack is a living, breathing person. But he only exists in the pages of my "Castle in the Sun" romantic-suspense book series. He is one of four central characters. Others are his girlfriend, Rosa, his brother Carlos and Carlos' fiance, Elizabeth. (Liz)
At the VFW, my husband/photographer, Dan, shook his head. "You talk about your characters like they're real," he groaned.
But in a sense, Jack is real. We can see him in the faces of 540,000-plus veterans whom Wounded Warrior Homes states have been diagnosed with PTSD.
"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be described as a mental health condition that's triggered by a trauma, whether experiencing or seeing it. The symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, depression and confusion," the organization states on their website.
Find out more:
The soldiers at the VFW wanted to meet Jack and I hope you will too—and the other characters too, in the pages of the Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series published by MillerWords.
But in a sense, Jack is real. We can see him in the faces of 540,000-plus veterans whom Wounded Warrior Homes states have been diagnosed with PTSD.
"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be described as a mental health condition that's triggered by a trauma, whether experiencing or seeing it. The symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, depression and confusion," the organization states on their website.
Find out more:
Wounded Warrior Homes: http://www.woundedwarriorhomes.org/
Veterans PTSD Crisis Hotline: 866-382-2287
The soldiers at the VFW wanted to meet Jack and I hope you will too—and the other characters too, in the pages of the Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series published by MillerWords.
Book 1 FREE for a limited time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785FWH5P/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_WKI3EbXY53
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785FWH5P/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_WKI3EbXY53
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Wednesday, October 7, 2020
WASH A CAR WITH A WEDDING GOWN?
Before taking off with Gloria, a twenty-something plaything, Steve verbally assaults his wife, Liz.
"I wasted my youth on you. You've let yourself go. Look at you! I don't even want you anymore."Seeing the rage in Liz's eyes, Steve bolts for the door as she hurls a vase at him. Barely missing his head, the vase smashes into the wall.
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"I'll wash the car with that dress before I give it to you and your tramp," Liz yells back.
Although Steve has redeeming qualities, such as being a good father and provider for the twin sons he had with Liz, his hurtful words and actions keep Liz in emotional chains. This continues after she begins a relationship with Carlos MartÃn, a brilliant and handsome international linguist, who has flown aboard Air Force One and dined in the White House.
He says he loves her, but Steve said he loved her too. And Carlos has wined and dined beautiful, bejeweled woman at embassies around the world. Can Liz free herself from the chains that bind her, to surrender her heart?
Find out in Love's Sweetest Revenge Book 1 in the Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series and Love's Sweetest Deliverance, Book 2.
|
| "A lovely story with a mystery," a reviewer wrote. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0785FWH5P/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_WKI3EbX |
|
| "The outside world slips away as you read," a reviewer wrote. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BBFRHJT?fbclid=IwAR336mGPTHieznX6dRte2 |
Sunday, October 4, 2020
GRAMMATICAL CRIMES I HAVE COMMITTED
GRAMMATICAL CRIMES I HAVE COMMITTED By Flora Reigada, journalist and novelist
Occasionally, when someone learns I am a writer, they approach me with a big smile. "So, you're a writer. That's great. You can write my book."
Of course, no one mentions anything about paying me. But I can't judge these people because as a fledgling writer, I did the same thing.
No one would write my books, so I did what was necessary--I learned to write them myself and all that involves. This includes hours, days, weeks and even years of writing, re-writing, research and more. Ernest Hemingway got it right. "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." This is said in the Scriptures. "Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." (Ecclesiastes 12:12b).
But most challenging for me had been editing. I enjoy painting vivid word pictures. That is where my husband, Dan, steps in. A meticulous, detailed person, he can spot an error like an eagle its prey. Editing my work, he has well-earned his nickname, "Ol' Eagle Eye."
I keep a log of my mistakes discovered by him, others and even myself. Here are some examples.
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As Dan and I reviewed Love's Sweetest Revenge, Book 1 in my Castle in the Sun romantic-suspense series, he marveled at a character's strength. "Wow! I can't believe Rosa wrestled a bear into her car."
That is how the following passage sounded to him. "I did bring my rifle after you told me about this latest bear. It's in the car."
In context, Rosa is speaking to best friend, Liz, about Liz's narrow escape from a bear. Another had been sighted.
Dan and I had a good laugh, then rewrote the passage as follows: "After you told me about this latest bear, I brought my rifle. It's in the car."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In Love's Sweetest Truth, Book 3 in the series, coming soon, I wrote the following: "Carlos returned to his room, immaculately cleaned by hotel workers." Dan asked me if they had scrubbed him with a big brush. We re-wrote as follows: "Carlos returned to his hotel room, finding it immaculately cleaned by hotel workers."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------While writing a newspaper story about how a historian became acquainted with Florida history when she thought the state was new, with little or none, I wrote: "A move to Titusville, Florida and the historic LaGrange Cemetery would challenge that perception."Dan asked, "How did she like living in the cemetery?"
The sentence was re-written as follows: "A move to Titusville and a visit to the historic LaGrange Cemetery would change that perception."
Well, that is all for now. More to come.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please check out my books, published by MillerWords.
"The outside world slips away as you read," a reviewer wrote of
Love's Sweetest Deliverance, Book 2 in the
Castle in the Sun, romantic-suspense series.
Might that dream you had mean something? What about that stranger who came to help at the right moment? Find out in Where Your Heart Meets God's.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077X37MVX/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_
Saturday, September 19, 2020
The Jewel of a Giving Heart
(Sample devotion from Where Your Heart Meets God's)
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14, NIV).
On that steamy summer day, the car trip was too long, the children too crowded in the back seat and our air-conditioner broken. Even the wind whipping in our open windows felt hot and stale. We were all in a foul mood by the time the car overheated.
On that steamy summer day, the car trip was too long, the children too crowded in the back seat and our air-conditioner broken. Even the wind whipping in our open windows felt hot and stale. We were all in a foul mood by the time the car overheated.
My husband, Dan, turned off the road into a large service area. It consisted of several bays, all empty but one, where a young woman stood beside her car with its hood up. She watched us as we drove through the lot and pulled in beside her. In retrospect, it seems strange that we would come so close. However, we seemed drawn to her.
When Dan got out of the car, he noticed that there was no mechanic or attendant in sight—only the woman who approached to inquire about our situation and needs.
The kindness on her face was unlike any I had ever seen. It was more than an expression. It was a caring warmth at her very essence. She made me feel safe. Have you ever encountered someone like that?
Find out how she helped us and read about other supernatural encounters in Where Your Heart Meets God's, published by MillerWords.
With 51 "stand alone" devotions, the book may be used for study by Sunday school classes, small groups and individuals.
With 51 "stand alone" devotions, the book may be used for study by Sunday school classes, small groups and individuals.
Find Out More:
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