Extra, Extra! Hear All About It!

With Jaime Wright-Sundsmo's permission, below are the details of Baby Chloe Joann's arrival.

Hi all!

The long awaited day came Tue am at 3:06. Chloe JoAnne is here! Our amazing little gal arrived 3 weeks early with a healthy birth weight of 7 lbs 3 oz but with underdeveloped lungs.

She is currenty being incubated with nasal c-pap oxygen at the NIC-U. While she's not in danger its hard leaving her there at night and difficult for me being there without being able to lay down to recoup myself. (Though may I extol the amazingness of the epidural?!?!?!)

That's the news!! Thnx to all for your prayers the last 9 and would appreciate a few more as we cross the hurdle of getting our Chloe home sometime in the next week or two!

Congratulations, Jaime and Hubby! Let's keep Baby Chloe in prayer, so she can join her Mama and Daddy at home.

On My Nightstand - Forevermore by Cathy Marie Hake

Hope Ladley shows up at the Stauffer farm in a cart drawn by her mule, Hattie, and few personal belongings. Wandering across the state of Texas, she goes where God leads her.

The grieving farmer, his motherless child, and pregnant sister receive more than a hearty, homecooked meal. Hope's cheerful disposition, common sense, faith, and loyalty infuse them with the essence of her name.

The question lingers in all their minds whether Hope will stay or be off on a new adventure, scattering like a dandelion gone to seed. Even she wonders when the Lord will move her to help another family.

At times I've read a book by an author that I've loved, only to find disappointment in their other offerings. Cathy delivered a great book both times, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. You won't go wrong spending your hard-earned dollars on this author's novels.

2009 Reflections

With pages flying off the calendar at record speed, it's once again time to reflect on the year's events. At the beginning of 2009, I set some goals. Along the way, I made new ones and tweaked old ones.

1. This year, I went into blog improvement mode. Author interviews now share space with book recommendations on Wednesdays. I'm following more blogs to bring you the best links, and improved the pictures accompanying blog posts. Christian Writer/Reader Connection celebrated its first blogoversary with a huge online party, complete with book drawings and special author interviews.

2. I took the plunge, wrote a short fiction story, and submitted it to a national periodical. While it garnered a rejection, I got some terrific feedback from the editor.

3. Two devotionals were published, while a third is scheduled to run the beginning of 2010.

4. Book 1 went through a partial edit.

5. Much to everyone's surprise (including mine), Book 2 was written in a 9-week timeframe.

6. Thanks to my friend, Miriam, Facebook captured my attention. What a joy to meet so many authors and pre-published writers! I also reconnected with old friends and family.

7. Currently, I'm writing blog posts as fast as I can type and mulling over Book 3 in my mind.

Did I accomplish all of my goals? Well, I didn't set up a website. An agent? Uh, not yet. All in all, I learned a lot and made progress.

How about you? Did you meet your 2009 New Year's Writing Resolutions?

Seize the Moment

Luke 2:15-16

As soon as the angels went back to heaven, the shepherds didn't waste a moment. They wanted to see the Christ Child for themselves. It wasn't enough to hear about him. The angel gave them clear directions.

What if they'd waited a week or even a few days? Mary and Joseph might have found other accommodations by then. They would have missed a great opportunity.

We're given a chance, sometimes multiple chances, to meet the Savior. Someone shares how Jesus came to this earth, lived a sinless life though he was tempted as we are, died for our sins, and rose again. Then they tell us the most amazing thing of all: We can receive forgiveness and have eternal life if we ask him to forgive us and follow him.

Have you seized that moment yet? Don't miss your golden opportunity. If you want to receive Jesus as your Savior, pray this prayer:

Jesus, I know there's no way I could ever be good enough to meet God's standard of righteousness. Thank you for coming to this earth and paying the debt I owe. Forgive me for all my sins and come into my life. Change me from the inside out, and make me like you. Amen.

If you've prayed this prayer, please share the good news with me. May the Lord bless you.

The Birth Announcement

Luke 2:8-14

Shepherds watch over their sheep through the night, protecting them against predators and other dangers. Without warning, an angel shows up on the scene, and the glory of the Lord lights up the night.

The angel reassures the frightened shepherds and gives them the good news. They're told the Savior, which is Christ the Lord, has been born in the City of David. He then gives them some landmarks or signs on how to recognize the Savior. After this astounding announcement, the angel is joined by a multitude of heavenly host praising God.

Wow! I'm sure they never forgot that night as long as they lived. Each of us has special times in our lives when God steps into our situation and turns it around for our good. They're unforgettable moments, filled with the glory of God. Thinking about those times, perhaps we can get a glimpse of what they experienced.

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Luke 2:6-7

Mary faces one of the biggest moments of her life under less than ideal circumstances. She gives birth to her firstborn son, and wraps him in swaddling clothes, and lies him in a manger.

My thoughts turn to Jesus. The King of kings and Lord of lords is born in a humble stable. He left the perfection of heaven and suffered as we do, so that we might enjoy his presence for eternity.

Thanks, Jesus, for loving us and coming to the sin-weary world. Happy birthday.

No Vacancy

Luke 2:6-7

Exhausted from their journey, Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem. The one inn has a "No Vacancy" sign out front. The kindly innkeeper takes pity on the expectant mother and allows them to seek shelter in the stable.

We reach a temporary destination on life's journey, and new difficulties crop up. Relief is short lived as we encounter crisis after crisis. Then God provides in unexpected ways. Strangers reach out and assist us. People a world away pray fervently for us. Somehow, the need is met even if it's not a permanent solution.

Today, we celebrate the Lord as our Provider.

On My Nightstand - A Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Historical Fiction writer, Kim Vogel Sawyer, writes a gentle tale of growth and painful adjustments. Emmaline Bradford agreed to marry Geoffrey Garrett before he traveled to America. Although she expected him to bring her there within a few months, the wait stretched to five years.

The delicate beauty is finally summoned by Geoffrey to the Kansas prairie. By this time, the fires of love are ashes. When she arrives, the strange landscape and the older, more mature Geoffrey send Emmaline into a panic. They agree she'll stay until the spring. If she still wants to go home, he'll pay her passage.

The author creates a realistic picture of prairie life. I could feel the scorching sun on my neck, as well as see fields of wildflowers.

Characters are an essential element to a great story. I couldn't help but laugh at the misunderstandings between a man and woman. They were so typical of real life situations. The supporting cast provided humor, pathos, and wise advice to the heroine and hero.

For a genre I'd never read prior to blogging, I've become quite a fan of historical fiction. When I see Kim Vogel Sawyer's name on a book cover, I'll know there's a lot of hours of reading pleasure ahead of me.

The Journey

Luke 2:4-5

Years ago, I remember pregnant women past their due date being advised to take a bumpy car ride. Mary, the mother of Jesus, endured an 80-mile ride between Nazareth and Bethlehem. With Joseph traveling on foot and her on a donkey, the trip would have taken between four to seven days.

On our journey through life, we encounter many stressful situations. Just as Mary and Joseph did what they had to do, we can follow their example of perseverence.

The Pioneer Spirit

I've been reading a lot of books with a pioneering theme over the past few months. Those adventurous souls set off with high hopes and optimism to carve out a better life for themselves and their families. While they heard stories of Indian attacks, disease, and treacherous travel, the realities of the trip did not hit them until they experienced them firsthand.

As writers, we dream of our words bound together in a book. We imagine them impacting both individuals and the culture. The journey begins with words put on paper. Then we get smacked in the face by a nasty little thing called, "a reality check."

Somewhere along the line, we find out it's a good idea to attend a writers' conference. After a couple of workshops and hope-filled appointments with editors, we come away to lick our wounds and start applying ourselves to learning the craft.

We inhale books by the now famous on how to write The Great American Novel. Reading the blogs and websites of those who've achieved success becomes a daily habit. We go back to our WIP's and slave over each word, revising and editing until we want to scream.

The doubts crowd in, and torment us. Do we have what it takes to make this trip? Maybe we should cut our losses and move on to other endeavors. We might even try to quit, but the writing woos us like a persistent suitor.

And so, we write. We're committed for the long haul. No matter how many rejections clog our mailbox. No matter how many agents or editors paint a dismal picture of our genre. No matter how many times we re-write our manuscripts. We continue. Why? Because writing is a fire in our bones.

Like the early pioneers, we embark on this journey with stars in our eyes. The road toughens us, teaches us, and prepares us for new territory. Many of them reached their destination and built new lives. We may arrive with a few scars and bandages, but our words will impact our generation.

How about you? What misconceptions did you have about the writing life when you first began on this path?

Christmas Story - Part 1

Luke 2:1-3 (KJV): "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Mary and Joseph lived and met in Nazareth. When the angel appeared to Mary, he told her she would give birth to Jesus.

Hmm, the scripture said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, the City of David. Mary and Joseph both walked in obedience to God. They didn't try to make the prophetic scriptures come true, but lived each day following Him.

Lo and behold, Caesar Augustus decides to tax the people. As part of the decree, they had to go to Bethlehem, the City of David, because Joseph was of the house and lineage of David. God protected them from gossip, prying eyes, and brought them exactly where they needed to be at a specific point in history.

As we follow the Lord on a day-to-day basis, we'll find ourselves in the right place at the right time. He knows the path, and we can trust Him to bring us into our destiny.

Friday Round-Up - #80

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." - William Wordsworth

Need a gift for a special writer? Find it here.

As a big Snoopy fan, I discovered a site that sells products with his picture. My favorite is Snoopy, Literary Ace at Work. Maybe you'll find a present for a writer friend or something to put under the tree for yourself (from your dog or cat, of course).

Beginning Sunday, 12/20/09, I'll be on a daily blogging schedule through 12/28/09. I've written some special Christmas posts to fill in the week. I hope you enjoy them.

Have a great weekend!

Guest Posting at Eternity Cafe

I'm guest posting today at Susan Panzica's Eternity Cafe blog. Hope you'll pop over there and check it out.

On My Nightstand - Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake

Ruth Caldwell is an unusual woman. Spirited, outspoken, and definitely a square peg in a round hole, she tries to fit in without success. A series of life events lands her in Folsom, California.

Although taken with her great beauty, Josh finds himself in an uncomfortable position. As part owner of the Broken P Ranch, his livelihood is threatened by Ruth's legitimate claim of inheritance. At first, Ruth's accidents are attributed to her natural clumsiness. When they become increasingly dangerous, Josh must face some unpleasant truths.

This historical romance set in the mid-1800's delighted and intrigued me with its feisty heroine and honorable hero. I loved Ruth's warmth, her caring heart, and her refusal to be deterred from her goals.

In my opinion, this book is a winner with a capital "W" and a great read for a cold winter night.

Blogger Awards

My friend, Jean Fischer, honored me with the Kreative Blogger Award. Thanks, Jean!

I'm giving the award to seven other bloggers, but please don't feel you must do the same. I understand the time constraints with Christmas so close.

1. Audience of One - Jeanette Levellie shares her joys, struggles, and wonderful sense of humor. She's not only a wonderful writer, but also a dear friend.

2. Krista's Reflections - Krista and I have a lot in common. We're both SOTP writers! If you need cheering up, this is the place to head.

3. This Ain't No Glamour Detail - Crystal Laine Miller interviews authors, writes books reviews, and gives us delicious slices of her life. She also finds the neatest quizzes.

4. Write Now - A former homeschool Mom, online writing teacher, and writer, Karen brings us book reviews, links, and writing prompts. She has also dedicated herself to keeping a certain writer friend from getting a big head with her delightful humor.

5. Write In The Way -Kristin Torres-Torro gives us a unique view of writing through a missionary's eyes.

6. On The Path - A newly-contracted author, Jody gives us the inside scoop on what it's like after you sign on the dotted line.

7. BookingIt - Jessica Nelson brings a wonderful curiosity, thought-provoking questions, and sometimes intense writing advice. Her blog is a regular stop for me.

Here's where I'm supposed to give seven interesting facts about me. Unfortunately, I'm fresh out of those today, so I'll sign off. I hope you'll visit some or all of these nice folks, and tell them I said, "Hi."

Friday Round-Up - #79

Office Max has it's fun site, "Elf Yourself," up again this year. You can upload up to five pictures, which they paste onto an elf's body. They do some pretty cool dance moves to music. The kiddies would have a blast! Kathryn Lang, at Successful Freelance Writer, talks about writing with passion.

Have a great weekend!

On My Nightstand - No Eye Can See by Jane Kirkpatrick

"No Eye Can See" by Jane Kirkpatrick is the second book in her Kinship and Courage Series. While the women from, "All Together In One Place," are in this book, it focuses on Suzanne Culver, the blind widow, with two children.

Suzanne struggles for her independence and takes foolish risks with her life and those of her boys. Finally, she learns to see with her heart, trust her instincts, and accept the loving help of her friends.

Jane Kirkpatrick's homespun wisdom weaves through this book. At one point, Elizabeth gives Mazy advice on giving folks the right amount of help. It's a lesson we can all use. All the characters worked their way through challenges, making mistakes, but learning from them.

I don't generally read books more than once, but I'd pick up this title again. I'm sure I'd find more interesting details I missed the first time around.

This is not a book you'll want to rush through, but savor like quality chocolate. Enjoy!

Getting Attention

A popular game show selects contestants from the audience. People try to increase their chances of being picked by wearing all kinds of costumes, ranging from graduation gowns to aliens. Their outfit might get them attention, but they still have to play the game.

As writers, we hear much about branding, standing out from the crowd, and offering something unique. Yet, everything comes down to our writing craft. Several agents noted they're seeing great query letters and proposals, but the writing doesn't live up to the promises.

I'm doing several things to improve my writing craft: reading quality blogs, craft books, and books by other authors, as well as attending conferences and a writers' group. Most importantly, I'm writing and practicing what I've learned.

What steps are you taking to improve your writing? Are your books character driven or plot driven?

The Winner of A Star Curiously Singing By Kerry Nietz

Congratulations to TERRI TIFFANY! You've won A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz.

Thanks to everyone, who entered the drawing. Watch for more fun giveaways in the future.

Friday Round-Up - #78

Tiffany Colter, at Writing Career Coach, encourages us to use the contradictory parts of our personality to enrich our characters.

Kathryn Lang, over at Successful Freelance Writer, explores ways to beat back procrastination.

Eileen Astels Watson did a great post over at Writers Rest about Writer Collectives. This type of writers group is strictly business, no relationships to get in the way of critiquing.

On My Nightstand - A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz

No, you're not seeing things. And, yes, I'm recommending a Sci-Fi title. The author, Kerry Nietz, did an interview on Sharon Ball's blog a couple of months ago. His concept hooked me and reeled me in enough to comment. Well, Mr. Nietz contacted me and asked me to read his book since, according to him, I'd "thrown down the gauntlet." After some email reassurances that the book contained no aliens or space creatures, I agreed.

Kerry sent me his book, and I resigned myself to reading about bizarre worlds. By the end of Chapter 1, I found myself rooting for the main character, Sandfly, a human with a special brain implant. He's a mid-level debugger, fixing all manner of robots and machinery. The implant allows him access to the stream, a database for information related to his job.

The downside of this futuristic world involves total loss of freedom. If Sandfly's thoughts wander into forbidden territory, he gets a nasty zap from his master. One day, he is summoned to the master's office and sent to space for a debugger job. Poor guy, he's not thrilled with heights.

There he uncovers a plot that threatens his existence, as well as a mysterious star song that nearly fries his brain. The book even has a futuristic budding romance for all you gals.

Okay, Kerry, you win. I enjoyed your book and look forward to the next one. How can I resist finding out what a futuristic romance looks like?

Now for the fun part. One of you will win, "A Star Curiously Singing," in a drawing. Please note that due to regulations the contest is open to U.S. Residents only and no fee has been paid to enter this drawing. The author has provided the book, and I'm passing it along to the winner.

Leave a comment with the spam-busting format of your email address. Example: susanjreinhardt (at) ____ (dot) com. The contest ends Saturday, December 5, 2009, at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and an announcement on the blog on Sunday, December 6th.