Best and Worst Writing Memories of 2010

We were all served with some good and not so good things throughout the year. So here's a dozen of my best and worst writing memories from 2010.  When you're done reading mine, please share yours (writing or otherwise). And may the New Year be your best year ever!

For Unto Us

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace.   ~ Isaiah 9:6

Christmas - a timeless story

Wishing you all glorious Christmas blessings in Christ Jesus!

Winding down . . .

Be careful,
for writing books is endless,
and much study wears you out.
Ecclesiastes 12:12

So, as I wind down to the end of the year, I've also been contemplating gaining vision for the year ahead.

Problem.

I've been having a bad spell over the past several weeks with my migraines.  On my in between times (when my head clears) I try to think. To read. To research. It's distracting. And healing.  I  just lost my cat last week after a 2 month long ordeal, and you may recall that I'm still grieving the loss of my Step-dad who's only been gone for 4 months. And our family is still grieving the loss of my cousin who was murdered, along with several others, in January. So in general I'm just trying to heal. But I am trying.

Here's what I have been enjoying. . .

Some family research. That always inspires me. And exhausts me. I managed to write a few special posts as tributes.

Reading a few short books. Heartsong Presents novels are only 50,000, but the authors are so talented. I've been enjoying Vicki McDonough's N. Dakota Brides.

I've found a few writing projects. After Christmas I'll be working on a novella collection with three other authors. Something short and fun. Been doing some research in colonial New England. Can't tell you much more than that. Also, I plan to submit a few short devotions. Here' are a few helpful links from the experts on writing devotionals.

Cec Murphy
Donna Shepherd
Nancy Robinson Masters


So, Christmas. Is it really just a few days away? Have you had a chance to write at all through the holidays? Do you write a family newsletter? Send out cards?

Stick Notes: William Blake

You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough.  
~ William Blake  (1757-1827)



Care to discuss this quote and how it pertains to our writing??

Jane Austen

I would be remiss if failed to mention the anniversary of Jane Austen's birthday today. I kid you not, a few minutes past midnight I suddenly got a desire to write something about Jane. And then I realized, it was her birthday. My heart remembered, or at least my subconscious did, strangely enough.

So celebrate I will! It only comes once a year, you know. Though I do believe for the multitude of Jane Austen fans who have been inspired by her life and writings celebrate continually.

There is a fabulous blog tour going on today, and since I was a little late coming to the party, I didn't sign up, though I hope you will enjoy attending. (Click on the image above.) There are lots of prizes and great blog entries to enjoy!

I wrote a post on my genealogy blog, Relatively Speaking wondering am I Related to Jane Austen?

Last year I blogged A Writer Celebrates the 234th Birthday of Jane Austen where you can read about her influence in my life.

I'd like to point out Bethany House's Insight Edition of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I have a copy of Sense and Sensibility that I have enjoyed. With a foreward by one of my favorite authors, Julie Klassen, Christy award winner for The Silent Governess,

Jane Austen's first published novel explores the question of what drives your life: your heart or your head? The Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, are as different as sisters can be. Serious Elinor lives by reason and thoughtfulness while her younger sister, Marianne, only follows her passions. But in questions of love, they learn neither the heart nor head alone will lead them to happiness. Filled with romance, Austen's brilliant wit, and rich characterization, this is a celebration of sisterly love and the need for family--no matter how different they might be from us. 

The classic tale is enhanced with the sprinkling of interesting trivian, humorous insight, and meaningful inspiration throughout.

Enjoy celebrating our beloved Jane!

Writing a Family History

Lately I've been spending time researching and writing down my family history at my genealogy blog,  Relatively Speaking.  I've been recording my family history online for the past three years and researching my genealogy for many more.

I plan to write some posts on how to go about writing your family history in narrative form, so stay tuned. And someday, I plan to write historical fiction based on the lives of three particular ancestors who have fascinating stories to tell.

But for now, I stick to writing pure fact. It's been therapeutic for me as of late, as I'm still grieving the loss of my Step-dad and have an intense longing for family who live far from me. Connecting with them, sharing oral histories and me writing them down, has done this heart good.

I'd be thrilled if you'd stop over to  Relatively Speaking. I have not only my own family history there, but genealogy tips, resources, and some articles, poems, etc. There's even some famous authors in my family tree - and I share some Christmas poems of one of them (John Greenleaf Whittier).

Have you ever considered writing or blogging about your family history?

Sticky Notes: John Greenleaf Whittier

“The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.”

 John Greenleaf Whittier quotes (American Writer, 1807-1892)

More About my Upcoming Novel

Some of you have been wanting to know more about the novel that I wrote. So I thought I tell you a little bit about it. 

The Shadow Catcher's Daughter (formerly titled Sunlight and Shadows) is my contribution to a 3 book set about romance in the Four Corners (CO, UT, AZ, NM). This historical romance is set in 1875 in Colorado and New Mexico Territories during the surveying expedition of the four corners, which will mark the quadripoint where all four states/territories meet.

Eliana Van Horn has assisted her renowned father with his photography for years. When he is asked by the U.S. Land Grant Office to be the official Photographer for a government survey of Four Corners, he insists that his assistant be allowed to accompany him. Eliana's own heritage shines a light on her own self discovery on this grand adventure.

Yiska Wilcox, is hired on as the Guide for the Four Corners survey expedition. Son of a mountaineer and a Navajo woman, he lives and breathes the freedom of the great southwest. When he meets Eliana he soon discovers that his heart is not as free as he thought, he has been living in the shadows of his past and longs to understand who he really is. (Yaska is Navajo for "after the night has passed".)

Eliana and Yiska are worlds apart, but are they willing to stake a chance on love?