Category Archives: UNCATEGORIZED

Bell’s Palsy–A Blessing?

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Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog. Ive been a bit busy. I developed Bell’s Palsy on April 1 (yeah, great April Fool’s Day prank). And to make it even more funny, I’m a speech pathologist. So, I’m a speech pathologist whose mouth isn’t working at the moment!

If you don’t know what Bell’s Palsy is—it is facial paralysis. It usually occurs only on one side but it can affect both. Thankfully, in my case it only affected one side. According to my doctors and websites I’ve visited, it is usually caused by a virus attacking the 7th cranial nerve but it’s not always caused by a virus. Anyway, recovery can happen quickly or slowly, even up to six months.

So, one of my doctors insisted I have an MRI—just to be sure. I thought it was unnecessary but I did it. And turns out they found something else—of course! They found schwannomas—which are a type of tumor—on both sides of my brain.

Here’s the interesting thing, my neurosurgeon isn’t sure that the schwannomas are the cause of the Bell’s Palsy. According to him, it might be or it might not be. They are very, very tiny and the larger one is on the side not having Bell’s Palsy. On the other hand, it seems too coincidental that I have Bell’s Palsy and the schwannomas. At least he thinks so.

 Me—I don’t think it’s coincidental at all. God has His ways of getting things done. Catching the tumors in their early stages is a blessing and that means the Bell’s Palsy is a blessing!

 So, what experience have you had that seemed awful at the time but turned out to be a blessing?

A BOOK IN A MONTH??? IMPOSSIBLE

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 It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? To write a full length novel in a month..and yet K.Dawn Byrd does it on a regular basis. Let’s find out how she does it.

My journey to publication wasn’t all that long. I’d been writing for about a year when a writer friend encouraged me to submit my first novel, Killing Time, a book set in a jail to her publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing.

Other publishers weren’t interested because they were concerned about how many women would want to read a romantic suspense partially set in a jail. Desert Breeze will often buy books that don’t fit perfectly into a category. They liked it and the rest is history.
That was 2009, but by the end of this year, I’ll have 11 books available. How am I so prolific, you ask? Since I work a full-time job in addition to writing, I have to be organized and motivated. I write each of my books in 30-day marathons. Upon completion, I’ll put them away for a few weeks (sometimes longer) and then resurrect them and edit, adding flesh to the bare bones. This usually takes a 50,000 word novel to around 60,000-65,000, except for my young adult novels, which I keep at right under 50,000 words in order to keep the price down for teens.

In order to write that quickly, I must start with a solid plot. I fill out character worksheets in order to get to know my characters better. I scour magazines and the internet until I find photos of my characters, which gives me a visual. Then, I take a stack of index cards and begin plotting. A description of each scene is placed on an index card.

My characters also get index cards, which give me a quick reference if I forget something minute like eye color. I use a couple of cards for plot twists also. I place the cards in order as I write the scenes. The good thing about index cards is that I can move them around in the stack if I move the scenes around in the manuscript. Sometimes, I’ll pin them to a corkboard in order to get a better look at how the plot is flowing.

I hope I’ve helped someone with this article. Entering NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) contest several years ago taught me how to write a novel in 30-days and changed the way I write forever.
Shattered Identity:  Nineteen-year-old Lexi Branson thinks she’s found the guy of her dreams. He’s hot, wealthy, and older. She soon finds out that sometimes the perfect guy turns out to be perfectly dangerous.

Wow! I’m always so impressed with writers who can organize and plot their stories the way K.Dawn does. To learn more about her books visit:

www.kdawnbyrd.com
www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

K. Dawn Byrd is giving away an ebook. The winner will have a choice between SHATTERED IDENTITY and MISTAKEN IDENTITY. To enter for a chance to win the book of your choice, you must leave a comment at http://www.examiner.com/christian-books-in-cleveland/lilian-dunca

 Winner will be chosen on April 23rd.

Have you ever wanted to write a book?  If so, what’s stopping you? Until next time, God Bless and Good Reading. Lillan
 

What is Christian Fiction Anyway?

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There’s been an explosion!! And its name is Christian Fiction.

The changes that have and are occurring in Christian Fiction is amazing. The variety of genres and the amount available are staggering and difficult to keep up with.  The question of what makes a book Christian Fiction could be debated and often is on a variety of writer’s sites.

Many people think Christian Fiction means sweet romances or Amish stories. But that’s only the beginning of what’s available. Do you prefer science fiction; fantasy; suspense; romantic suspense; horror; or literary fiction? As far as I know any genre other than erotica can be found in Christian Fiction.

Another myth about Christian Fiction is that they are all evangelistic in nature. There are some that are and they are wonderful books but that’s not the only style out there. Most Christian Fiction books today are written from a Christian worldview.

What’s that mean? It means the spiritual message is more subtle but still there. It’s not an in your face sermon but a sermon shown by the characters thoughts, choices, and actions. Much like real life!

Of course as with any change, there are growing pains. Some readers and writers feel that Christian Fiction should always show a “salvation scene” and that some genres can’t be written with a Christian message. Agree or disagree?

A great resource for finding the type of book you’re looking for is http://www.fictionfinder.com/  It’s a free service but you do have to register. You can search a specific genre and find books that match your needs.

To help, I’m going to be introducing some of my “writer friends” over the next few months at www.examiner.com/christian-books-in-cleveland/lil-duncan . And lucky you, they want to give away copies of their books—sometimes print—sometimes ebooks.

This week I’m giving away Hearts That Survive by Yvonne Lehman. All you need to do is go to www.examiner.com/christian-books-in-cleveland/lil-duncan and leave a comment. More free books to come…until then—God Bless and Good Reading!

What’s your thoughts about the genre of Christian Fiction? Should they stick to the more traditional stories or is it a good thing that writers are stretching their wings?

SMARTEN UP YOUR KID???

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Smarten up your kid? Is that possible? Yes and No. You can’t change your child’s inherent intelligence or abilities, but you can improve their language skills. Better language skills = more success in school.
 
Normally, I write about things on my mind or my writing, but today I want to talk about you. Specifically abour your child’s speech and language skills. I’ve been a speech pathologist for over 30 years. Obviously, God gifted me with a love of words.
 
Whether a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or teacher, there may be a child in your life with a communication problem. So, what you can you do about it? A lot, actually. Parent’s are and always have been the best language teachers for their child. Unfortunately, the busier we get the less opportunities we have to do just that.
 
Is your child struggling in school? Many times learning problems are a result of delayed speech or language skills. It’s not always the case but language skills definitely affect learning and school success. These language problems can often be subtle and not show up until 2nd or 3rd grade or even later.
 
Reading and writing are language processes so if your child has language problems (even mild ones) they can and most likely will affect their reading and writing skills. And schools are all about reading and writing. That’s why it’s important to strengthen their language skills.
 
I’ve released an e-book (and soon to be print book) with the title SMARTEN UP YOUR KID; STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILD’S LANGUAGE.  This book is written for parents in an easy to understand style.
 
This book contains information about articulation and language problems and what parents and others can do to strengthen their child’s communication skills. It is NOT a substitute for a Speech Pathologist, but it’s filled with tips, strategies, and activities for you to enjoy with your child. And at the same time improve their language skills.
 
 
 
 
To learn more about this book or about Speech Therapy in general, visit www.SpeechTherapyExplained.weebly.com

I WAS WRONG!! When Life Gets In The Way Of Writing.

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I WAS WRONG!–When Life Gets in the Way of Writing

It’s been a while since I blogged. I haven’t forgotten about it but I’ve been a little busy. Since my last release-DECEPTION-came out at the end of last year, my husband had a very unexpected triple bypass surgery along with several other serious family emergencies.

I consider myself the opposite of a drama queen. In fact, I am the anti-drama queen. I like my life calm—some might call it boring. And that’s okay with me. But the last few weeks, my life has been anything but calm.

Oh, yeah. You probably want to hear what I was wrong about and why. Right before my husband’s surgery, I found out I had an article due for American Christian Fiction Writer’s Blog (ACFW). I panicked but several people told me to write about what I was going through at the moment. Good advice so I did. If you’d like to read it go to: http://www.acfw.com/blog/?p=2600

The gist of what I wrote was that no matter what, a writer should write since that’s what makes us writers.

Three weeks later, I admit I was wrong! Boy was I wrong.

Yes, writers need to write and develop the habit of writing through all sorts of circumstances. After 16 years of writing, I’ve got that habit pretty much nailed down. And, in fact, I’ve done lots of writing things the past few weeks. Mostly guest blogs and other commitments I’d made, and I also started writing a new story. I’m happy to report it looks promising but…

I WAS WRONG. Writers do need to write but there will be times when that’s not the best choice.

Reason number 1…after almost three weeks of taking on all the household chores, being worried and anxious, I’m tired. And when I’m tired, I don’t write all that well or make the best decisions.

Reason number 2…I can’t stay focused on any one thing long enough to let my creativity flow.

Reason number 3…when life happens and problems pile up, the last thing anyone should do is add more pressure to their life.

I was wrong and I’m willing to admit it. Here’s my new advice when life gets in the way of writing.

Give yourself a break—take time off to renew your energy, your spirit, and your creativity—stay in the moment and do what you need to do to take care of yourself and your family—the writing will be there waiting for you when the time is right!

Hows that for some good advice? Do you agree or disagree? What’s going on in your life and how are you coping with it?

IN THE BEGINNING-DECEPTION

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In The Beginning—DECEPTION Publishers can be quirky—sometimes even annoying. Writers write all these beautiful words and what do they do? They cut them. Well, that’s their job. They know what it takes to make a good book great and as writers we have to learn to trust them.

That doesn’t mean we always agree.

My newest release-DECEPTION-is being released on December 30. The prologue was cut from the book but as a surprise here it is…..Hope you enjoy it….

Jamie paced the perimeter of her living room feeling frustrated, anxious, and alone. She glared at the white leather sofa, the plush white carpet the exact same shade as the leather, and the splashes of brightly colored accent pillows tossed about the room.

The room was so perfect it could have been in House Beautiful.

Jamie detested the room and all it represented.

All she wanted was to go back ome and for her daughter to have a normal childhood. She wanted her daughter to know her aunt. Jamie stopped pacing at the thought of her sister.

She put a hand over her heart; the pain of missing her twin so real it hurt.

Her life was a mess and she had no one to blame but herself but soon she would be able to clean up the mess. As much as she wanted to quit her assignment that moment, she wouldn’t. If she didn’t finish what she started, innocent people would die.

She couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t do all she could to prevent it.

She took a deep breath. Worrying and obsessing over things she had no control over did her no good. She needed to focus on the present. Her life depended on it as well as countless others. Soon, it would be over and then she could go home.

She moved to the sliding glass door leading to her patio and opened it.

The steamy air rushed into the air-conditioned house to greet her. Darkness enveloped her. She inhaled the scent of the tropical flowers adorning her patio. She welcomed the darkness and the quiet of the late night.

Wound up to the point she couldn’t think, and that could be dangerous. Jamie eased off her robe, revealing a scanty black one-piece suit with a plunging neckline. Her wavy blonde hair sparkled against her tanned body.

Guilt tugged at Jamie once again.

Sabrina deserved a full-time mother, not one who spent a handful of days with her every few weeks. This craziness would stop soon, and then she could make a real home for Sabrina. She hit a button and the cover of the hot tub slid away.

Steam bubbled up into the night air. The warm water enveloped her as she lowered herself into the hot tub. Her muscles relaxed. She chided herself for wasting time in the hot tub. She had a ton of things to do before she left the next day but she felt better already. While her body enjoyed the heat, her mind focused on the impending culmination of her efforts.

A slight whispering in the bushes drew her attention.

Jamie turned toward the noise and peered into the darkness.

Nothing.

Still, she felt a chill creep up her spine in spite of the warmth of the night. Her senses went on alert.

Time to go in.

She stood and turned toward the patio door. As she stepped out strong arms encircled her. She struggled to break the hold. Too strong. Her training kicked in and she allowed herself to go limp.

Her attacker’s arms went slack for just a moment.

It was the moment she needed.

Slipping through his arms, she whirled to face her attacker and in one fluid movement slammed her foot into his face. The man grunted and fell back. She jumped out of the hot tub, water sloshing over the patio.

Her gun.

But it was in the house. If she went in, she would only bring the attacker closer to Sabrina. She advanced toward her assailant, who crouched and squared his shoulders. Jamie kicked at the man again, but this time he was ready.

 He grabbed her foot and hurled her to the pavement. He pounced on top of her but she rolled out of his grasp and brought her head up and smashed it into his. She heard a moan but in the next second, more arms encircled her from behind.

Before she could turn, the new attacker shoved a chloroform soaked cloth over her nose and mouth. Please God, keep Sabrina…

So…what do you think?

If you want to see what happens, you’ll need to read DECEPTION. To learn more about Lillian Duncan’s books visit: www.lillianduncan.net

DECEPTION- SOMETIMES YOU DON’T GET A SECOND CHANCE.

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DECEPTION—Sometimes, You Don’t Get A Second Chance.

My latest novel—Deception is about to be released. And I’m soooooo excited about it. It’s a suspense story with a message.

This is a book that wouldn’t go away. I wrote it several years ago, but couldn’t find a publisher. I put it away and started working on something else but….the story nagged at me…pestered me…wouldn’t let me alone.

So, I started working on it again.

Got some nibbles on the rewrite. More than nibbles, really—some editors and publishers were very interested. But again, the deal fell through.

UGh..sigh…what’s a writer to do?

 I put it away and started another project. But….well, you get the point.

This story wouldn’t get out of my head and for a good reason.

I wrote it after the death of a dear friend with whom I was estranged. I’d always planned to reconnect with her—when the time was right.

But I’d waited too long.

Lesson learned. It was a painful lesson.

What was the lesson? In life, you aren’t guaranteed second chances.

So when an opportunity presents itself—you better take it. There may not be a second chance. Forgive the people you love and even the ones you don’t. Because again—there may not be a second chance. Go ahead and do those acts of kindness, mercy, and love when you get the opportunity. Because second chances aren’t guaranteed.

In DECEPTION, Patti is estranged from her twin sister. And with good reason, but as the story proceeds Patti comes to understand being right isn’t a good enough of a reason to be estranged from a loved one.

And I believe that’s why this story wouldn’t go away andleave me alone.

There’s a message to be learned and I’m sure each of us have learned it or need to learn it. I’m hoping people will read DECEPTION and decide to reconnect with that friend or family member before it’s too late. After all, there’s no guarantee we get a second chance.

To learn more about Lillian and her books visit: www.lillianduncan.net.

And to celebrate the release of DECEPTION, there’s a contest on my website. Grand Prize is a NOOK.

Dreams Do Come True–Just Ask Josh Krajcik!

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DREAMS DO COME TRUE—Just ask Josh Krajcik.

Ever wondered what the appeal is of all the so-called reality shows, especially the talent shows. The X Factor, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and on and on. Sure they’re fun to watch and you get to see some great talent—and some not so great.

But that’s not the appeal of the shows. At least, not in my opinion. We watch those shows because we love to see dreams come true. If it can happen for them, it might just happen for me.

Right? Of course, there’s a difference between them and us couch potatoes watching them.

We’re sitting and watching their dreams come true while they are busy working to make their dreams come true.

What about you? What’s your dream? And what are you doing to make it come true?

I can hear you right now. That won’t happen for me. I’m just a ___________fill in the blank with a job from ______________________ fill in the blank with a small town.

Think again.

 Here’s what Josh would have said a few months ago: I’m just a burrito maker from Shreve, Ohio. And now look at him. He’s competing for a 5 million dollar recording contract and win or lose—he’s got his dream. To sing for a living.

Josh grew up in the same town I live in. I work at the elementary school he attended. I graduated from Triway—the same school he graduated from. (You’ll see it on the X Factor tonight.) My step-son went to school with Josh. So, you can imagine there’s a lot of excitement here in Wayne County, Ohio for Josh right now.

But again, I ask what’s your dream and what are you doing about it?

My dream is to be a writer. Almost every day, I sit at my computer and write my stories. I have four books published and my fifth is about to be released. It takes time away from other things I should be doing—like cleaning my house. But dreams don’t just happen. It takes hard work , dedication, and never giving up. I may never have the same fame as Josh, but I can say dreams do come true.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net.

Tonight, watch the X Factor and vote for Josh. But tomorrow–get busy and start working on your dreams. Because dreams do come true!

GO JOSH!

Is Santa Claus Real?

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Ever had this conversation?

“Is Santa Claus real, Daddy?”

“Go ask your mother.”

“Mommy, is Santa real?

What parent hasn’t heard this dreaded question?

If not, with Christmas just around the corner, many of you may hear it this holiday season. Your heart breaks just a bit for your child’s loss of innocence.

So, what’s a wonderful parent like you supposed to say in that moment?

There are lots of choices, but how about the truth in a way you may not have thought of? “Santa Claus is real, but now that you’ve asked that question you’re old enough to learn his real name—Jesus.”

Turn that dreaded question into a learning experience that will begin your child’s journey with Jesus. After all, Jesus is better than Santa any day. He’s always with us—not just at Christmas time. He gives way better gifts than Santa ever could—peace, joy, love, and an eternity in heaven with Him.

Bring out a picture of Santa and use it to teach your child even more about Jesus. The red suit signifies the blood of Jesus. The white in the suit shows the purity of Jesus. His white hair, beard, and kindly smile shows the love of Jesus. And that ample belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly shows the abundance of God. And his never-ending bag of toys symbolizes God’s never-ending grace.

And what about Santa’s helpers—the elves? Teach your child we are Jesus’s helpers here on earth. We should help others wherever and whenever we can. The more you think about the analogy of Santa Claus as an alter ego of Jesus, the more similarities you’ll discover. Everyone knows Santa lives at the mythical North Pole, but exactly where is that? It’s heaven, of course!

Is Santa real? You bet he is…and his name is Jesus.

Happy Birthday, Jesus! And Merry Christmas to all!

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME? REALLY?

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For the Love of the Game?

Nothing brings out more fan complaints than a strike or lockout by their favorite sports team.

Right now, that means the NBA is the focus but at any given time that can change to any sport. And the favorite complaint is: “It’s all about the money—not the love of the game.”

Sports fans utter and bemoan this fact all the time.

The loyal basketball fans are very much complaining about this at the moment. Whatever happened to playing for the love of the game? Most of the pro athletes became professional athletes because they love their game, whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, or even bowling. T

here are few were able to get into the sport because of their last name, but most professional athletes do it the old-fashioned way—God-given talent along with hard work, determination, and perseverance. But an odd thing happens as they become professionals in the sport.

It’s not just about the love of the game any longer.

It can’t be. Because the game becomes their livelihood, their job, and their paycheck. And that means things change. That doesn’t make them bad guys—or girls, it’s just a fact of life. It doesn’t mean they don’t still love the game, but…When you become a professional, things change.

I’ve experienced this myself this year.

For fifteen years, I wrote because I loved to write. I wrote because I loved to read.

Funny thing happened when I got those two book contracts in my hand. Now, it wasn’t just about the love of the game any longer, it was about being successful at the game. It changed everything—for awhile.

But as so often happens, God has a way of speaking to us when we least expect it as well as when we need it the most.

A few weeks ago as I was lying in bed reading in the middle of the day because I was sick, I had an epiphany. In spite of being sick, miserable, and in pain, I was having a good time—just me and my book.

It occurred to me that I’d become so focused on my writing and on making my book successful, I’d forgotten why I write in the first place. Because I love books and I have a message God wants me to share. 

Writing is fun for me, and, hopefully, because it’s fun for me, that’s what makes my books enjoyable for my readers as well. I’d lost that joy in books. I’d been so busy trying to be a successful writer, I’d forgotten how much I love books.

Lesson learned!

As in all things, whether life or my writing life, moderation is the key. Proverbs 16:32 says “moderation is better than muscle.” I like that.

When things get out of balance, we start to lose our perspective and our moderation. And that’s when things start going haywire in our life.

I want to be a successful writer, but not at the expense of losing my love of the game. I still want to win the game! I want to be the best writer I can be and sell lots of books, but I will do that within the context of keeping it all in perspective and keeping it balanced.

Simply put, I love books, whether I’m reading them or writing them. And I want my readers to have the same enjoyable experience when they read my books. When they close my book after reading the last sentence, I hope they say, “Now, that’s a writer who loves books as much as I do.”

And that’s my definition of success!

QUESTION: What’s your definition of success—as a writer or in life?