Co-Writing/Don't Quit/Coffee Shop/Courage/Birthday Freebies

1.  Joshua Masters posts at The Write Conversation about co-writing with the Holy Spirit. If we consider ourselves Christian writers, we must get to know the One who has written and sold the greatest best seller of all time.

2.  Most of you know I've struggled writing each book. At the moment, I could easily walk away from writing (well, not THAT easily since ideas keep popping into my head). I found this post at The Write Conversation, which encouraged me. God never promised the writing journey would be a cakewalk. So, my friends, keep the faith.

3.  Faithwire reports that Pastor Bruce McLeod is opening a coffee shop staffed with special needs people. Don't miss this heartwarming story.

4.  How many need a dose of courage? Yeah, I could use some of that myself. Gail Johnson posts at Seriously Write about this subject. While she comes from a writing perspective, we can apply this to many situations.

5.  Birthday freebies! Check out Hip2Save's latest list here.

Writers and Readers:  How do you stick with projects that encounter multiple obstacles?

Photo Credit:  Dave Shields

Storytelling/Theme/Free Speech Ban/Devo/Budget Fall Deco

1.  Peter Selgin, at Jane Friedman's blog, talks about vivid storytelling. This article also gives writers a glimpse into a strong edit of a first page. One main lesson was, "don't confuse your readers."

2.  Jenny Hansen, at Writers in The Storm, teaches about finding the theme of our story. We all recognize that books focus on a particular aspect such as forgiveness, joy, purpose, and love. Jenny gives us tips and examples on how to identify that aspect of our story.

3.  Four students from Wheaton College are suing the City of Chicago for banning them from sharing the Gospel in local parks. Several times they were told they could not talk about religion under a rule that bans disruptive behavior. The students are countering this is in violation to their free-speech rights. Check out this story at Christian Headlines.

4.  Rhonda Rhea, at The Write Conversation, gives a humorous encouragement about, "Less Burden, More Joy."

5.  I found The Budget Decorator website that gives easy and inexpensive fall decorating ideas. The colors are so pretty this time of year. Why not give your home a touch of the season?

Writers:  When writing a story, do you have an underlying theme in mind? Please share.

Readers:  What kind of decorations do you put up for fall?

Photo Credit: David Mackenzie

On My Kindle - Finding Love at the Oregon Coast by Angela Ruth Strong

This book is written by four authors, covering the romances of four friends.

Christina Lovejoy cancels her wedding to Eddie when she realizes he's not committed to the Lord. This isn't how a romance novel usually begins, so I was intrigued. Each friend moves on with their lives and wonders if there's truly someone special out there for them.

If you're looking for a simple, clean romance, you'll enjoy this book. It's a fast read, well written, and has a strong spiritual message.

5 Stars - enjoy!

Writers and Readers:  Do you enjoy writing/reading romances minus historical/suspense elements? Please share.

Agents/Scents/Right to Know Law/Devo/Herbs

1.  Getting an agent is akin to grasping the brass ring. So many publishers require agents to submit manuscripts. Rachel Pieh Jones posted at Jane Friedman's blog about, "What Happened After I Lost My Agent - Twice." This article gives specific suggestions on how to handle rejection, including our attitudes toward our writing and ourselves. (You'll see from our devotional below the tie-in. I needed this, and I'm sure many others do as well.)

2.  Zoe M. McCarthy talks about introducing scents into stories. Her posts always give me great ideas.

3.  WND reports on a judge's ruling that The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania forfeiture records are subject to the Right to Know Law. The government can take - yes, TAKE - property and money even if no criminal charges are filed. This is definitely a must-read article.

4.  Beth K. Vogt posts an encouraging word at The Write Conversation. While it's geared toward writers, the principles apply to everyone. What kind of words are you speaking - strong ones or weak ones?

5.  Winter is fast approaching. You can have fresh herbs by growing them indoors in pots. Check out this post at Easy  Balcony Gardening for instructions.

Writers:  Which writing post resonated with you? Please share.

Readers:  Do you have an indoor garden during the winter (things you'd normally grow outside in good weather)? Please share what types of plants you select. I'm especially interested in saving the beautiful geranium that graced my porch all summer.

Photo Credit: Gerson Ben David

Non-Fiction/Guidelines/Agencies Banned/Encouragement/Recipe

1. Attracting an agent or publisher for a non-fiction book takes quite a bit of finesse. Chad Allen gives tips on how to make your proposal stand out.

2. Last week, I shared a post about Online Safety. This week, I found an article by Edie Melson, at The Write Conversation, about her guidelines for what to share online. If you're active on Social Media, writer or not, I think you'll find this valuable.

3.  WND reports on how the City of Philadelphia is banning Christian agencies from helping kids.

4. Audrey Frank posts at The Write Conversation about Encouragement. Although it's geared towards writers, everyone can use their words whether written or spoke to encourage others.

5.  Are you looking for an easy version of beef and broccoli? I found this recipe on Just A Taste and plan to try it soon. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to reduce the sodium content? I looked through the comments, but only found one person who said to use low-sodium soy sauce. It still has too much for us.

Writers and Readers:  Do you have personal guidelines on how much to share on social media sites? Please share.

Photo Credit:  Nick Benjaminsz

On My Nightstand - The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White

Margot DeWilde works as a crytologist (code breaker) during World War II. A brilliant mathematician, she's a great asset to the Intelligence community. Her life centers around logic and math even though her faith is strong. She doesn't see how matters of the heart and head can work together. She's about to get some big lessons.

Drake Elton is stationed in Spain, working undercover for Great Britain. His instincts and prayers have helped him successfully foil German plots. His opposite number in the German spy network manages to severely wound him. He's flown back to England, where he faces a long, difficult recovery.

He's fascinated by the beautiful, but unconventional, Margot. What chance does he have of capturing her heart when so many others have tried and failed?

The author created characters of such depth it was hard to believe this was a novel. I've read quite a few of her books, and this ranks as one of my favorites. It would be helpful for the reader to pick up the previous series before starting the Codebreaker Series. While a stand-alone novel, having the background from the other books made this a richer experience.

Roseanna M. White is fast becoming one of my go-to authors. I can't wait for the next book in this series. 5 Stars for The Number of Love.

Disclaimer:  Neither the author nor the publisher paid me for a favorable review. All opinions expressed, as always, are mine and mine alone.

Writers and Readers: What are your favorite elements in the Historical Romantic Suspense genre? Please share.

Online Safety/Character Emotions/Yale Prof/Perseverance/Coffee

1.   Edie Melson, at The Write Conversation gives 8 Tips for Writers to Stay Safe Online. The cyber world has many criminals looking for an easy mark. Protect yourself by taking some simple steps.

2.   Jerry Jenkins tells us how to skillfully reveal our characters' emotions. I was unable to do a normal link, so I'm posting the entire one here.

https://jerryjenkins.com/character-emotions/?inf_contact_key=3e8f0c0200b2feab60674dbd9dc9d14ef651f238aa2edbb9c8b7cff03e0b16a0

3.  Finally, a Yale professor rejects Darwinism and points to Intelligent Design as a serious theory. Check out this article at Christian Headlines.

4.  Whether you're a writer or reader, there are areas in life where perseverance is required if you're going to succeed. Christopher Wells posts an inspiring word at Seriously Write.

5.   I learned something recently from a houseplant post on housefur.com: Houseplants love coffee! Instead of dumping leftover coffee down the drain, you can use it as a natural fertilizer for your plants.

Writers:  What are some measures you take to stay safe online?

Readers:  What topics regarding current events interest you?

Photo Credit:  David Guglielmo