Tea Party Celebration for Pattern for Romance

Join me at Colonial Quills to celebrate my August 20TH release of Pattern for Romance along with my friend, Lori Benton, and her debut novel of Burning Sky! Great GIVEAWAYS!

http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/2013/08/colonial-fiction-tea-party-for-august.html

31 Devotions for Writers

I'd like to tell you about a special project that I had the blessing of being a part of.

31 Devotions for Writers, written by published authors who want to help encourage you in your writing through God’s written Word.

Writing can often be discouraging. Some writers have spouses or children who don’t understand why they spend so much time on the computer. You may face a multitude of rejection from agents or publishers. Or you may not get encouragement in the form of reviews or be nominated for an award. So why do we write? Because we can’t give it up! God has called us to write and we feel compelled to pour out our soul in written words. The Bible says, Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Which is the purpose of this devotional, to encourage you that you are not alone. Other writers have dealt with similar feelings or frustrations, or question themselves, their writing or their motives. I pray that each of you is encouraged as you read the devotions by all of the authors. May God bless you and give you the encouragement and peace you need.

Contributing authors:
Susette Williams, Rachel Hauck, Julie Lessman, Gail Gaymer Martin, Cynthia Hickey, Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, Linda Yezak, Lynette Sowell, Arlene James, Suzanne D Williams, Janet Chester Bly, Christa Allan, Deb Kastner, Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Kathleen Y'barbo, Terri Gillespie, Kimberly Rae Jordan, Jill Hart, Amanda Tru, Ann Shorey, Samantha Fury, Darlene Shortridge, Ellen Kennedy, Darlene Franklin, Ginny Aiken, Delia Latham, Carla Olson Gade, Michelle Sutton, Sherry Chamblee, Cheri Swalwell and Jim Hughes.

http://www.amazon.com/31-Devotions-for-Writers-ebook/dp/B00E1511DK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374213883&sr=1-1&keywords=31+devotions+for+writers+susette+williams

Romantic Old Fort Western

Join me at Colonial Quills for A Romantic Independence Day with an inside look at Old Fort Western! Part 1 on Monday's post & Part 2 on Wednesday = two chances to win a copy of Colonial Courtships!

Come see my photo slideshow and read the romantic stories of life at American's oldest standing wooden fort.


A Romantic Independence Day >>

In Flanders Fields: Writing in Memoriam

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The infamous poem, "In Flanders Fields", written by Major John McCrae, M.D. of the Canadian Army was almost never published, though today it remains one of the most memorable war poems of all time. The doctor penned the piece follow a traumatic 17 day battle in Ypres Salient near Belgium at the end of World War 1.

Although the prose was significant to his own experience, McCrae did not feel it merited sharing and tossed it away. A fellow officer retrieved the poem and sent it to The Spectator in London, whom rejected it. This non-official agent of McCrae sent it out once again to Punch who published it in December 1915.

In 1918 an American who was working in the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries' headquarters during its annual conference came across McCrae's poem while flipping through a copy of the Ladies Home Journal. She was so moved by it that she composed her own in response. Her tribute, entitled "We Shall Keep the Faith", honored the soldiers who died in the service of her own country.

Then Moina conceived the idea to wear red poppies as a symbol of rememberance on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She invested the $10 stipend from the conference to purchase 25 poppies which she sold to benefit servicemen in need. This tradition is continued to this day by the VFW and has spread to other countries around the word.

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

To Consider:

What thought-filled words of yours could have an enduring impact and inspire others? You won't know until you share them.

Do you recognize the value of another's writings? Encourage them today.

As writers we can use our gift of words to encourage and bless the families of service men and women who have lost loved ones or are serving in the armed forces now. Share the message of hope.

Do you have a relative who's story you can share of their time spent serving our country?

 

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

Revelation 14:13

 

(This post was previously shared on Memorial Day 2010.)