What’s a suspense writer watch on TV?

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I admit it–I love to watch TV. My husband says I watch too much, but I keep explaining that I’m doing research. HIs response to that is research for what? I believe his paranoia is showing!

So, NCIS tops my favorites list. I enjoy the interaction between the characters, but even more I love the snappy dialogue. Even their small talk has a purpose. As a writer, I can learn from them and I do.

NCIS may be my favorite, but a long list comes after them–Criminal MInds; Rizzoli & Isles; and Covert Affairs to name a few.  I do learn as I watch them, but they’re fun to watch and guess who the bad guy is. However; that’s not what keeps me coming back week after week. I come back because I become attached to the characters and their personal lives.  I worry about Gibbs–he needs someone to share his life with. And what about Tony and Ziva–will they ever realize that they are in love with each other?  And don’t get me started on Abby?

I could keep going but I think you get the point.  And so do I!

Yes, readers want an exciting story with  lots of twists and turns, but they also want characters they like, characters they want to be friends with, characters they care about and worry about.

And just so you know, I am not one-dimensional when it comes to TV–there’s lots of other types of shows I like to watch. So my husband has nothing to worry about–I think!!

Who are your favorite characters on TV shows and why?

Until next time…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

 

 

Communication Corner: Here’s to a Successful School Year!

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Can you hear them?

The school bells are ringing!  If not yet, then very soon.

Parents and children alike are worrying.  Will this be a good year for my child? Will this be the year they start to like school–be successful in school? Or will it be like last year? Not so  happy–not so good–not so successful.

As a teacher/speech pathologist for more than 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of changes in the schools. Some are good and some are not so good, but one thing has remained constant throughout the years. Most parents want their child to be happy and successful in school. Here are a few tips to get you on the right track

1. BE INVOLVED. As a parent you have more influence on your child than you think. If you show your child that you think school is important by attending school activities, volunteering, helping with their homework, then chances are they will think it’s important as well. Even something as simple as asking what they learned that day can have a positive impact on your child’s  attitude.

2.  BE AWARE.  When it comes to your child and school, you need to be aware of any problems that might  be occurring. One way to do that is to have open communication with the teacher and others when necessary. Most schools have a way for you to contact teachers through email now so that you don’t have to rely on passing notes through your child.

3. BE OPEN. No parent wants to hear that their child is struggling in school, but it happens. Be open to solutions. Most likely, your child’s teacher isn’t picking on them.  They want  your child to succeed just as you do. Be receptive to their advice as well as sharing some of your own thoughts and ideas with them.

YOur turn! What other advice would you give to parents as they start a new school year?

Writer of the Day–Michelle Griep

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Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas…professionally, however, for the past 10 years. When not squirreled away with laptop in hand, she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op.
Her latest release is A Heart Deceived: A Novel  (Click title for the Amazon Link.)
Here’s te back cover blurb:

Miri Brayden teeters on a razor’s edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he’ll be committed to an asylum—and she’ll be sent to the poorhouse. 
Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life—from family, from the law … from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverend John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity—an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder.
When Ethan shows up on Miri’s doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit—fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

 

Oh my!  Sounds like a great book. Here’s a short excerpt from the book

Excerpt:

Miri stood tiptoe, looking past the beggar’s shoulder, desperate for a glimpse of Will. Twilight painted the yard with a monotone brush, making it hard to see much past the woodpile. She squinted, yet clearly no one else accompanied the beggar. Ignoring the unwashed odor of the man, she leaned closer, giving him no chance to misunderstand her words. “Where is Will?”

He averted his gaze. “I—”

“Miriall!”

Roland’s footsteps entered the kitchen, slapping the flagstone floor with determination. The last time he’d caught her helping a vagrant, she’d suffered a lecture on how poverty was a judgment of God, not something to be interfered with. Her knees yet recalled those enforced hours of repentance.

Stepping back, she pelted the beggar with directions. “Go to the church. The key is atop a grey stone set out farther than the rest.” Hopefully he heard that last bit over the sound of her slamming the door.

“What are you doing?” Though the words were innocently phrased, Roland’s tone bludgeoned.

She turned and flattened her back against the oak. Evening shadows twisted her brother’s features into a severity that made her glad for the support. Though her mouth dried, she forced lightness to her words. “I heard you at the front door, which reminded me that with Mrs. Makin gone for the night, I’d promised to lock up the back.” For an added touch, she smiled.

He frowned and folded his arms, not buying the explanation she sold.

Bolstering her resolve for the horrid words she’d say next, she lifted her chin. “I am free of duty now and for the rest of the evening.”

Free? Hardly. Not if Roland and Witherskim had their way. She bit the inside of her cheek lest the thought fly out her mouth.

Roland stepped closer and grabbed hold of her upper arm, yanking her from the door and out of the kitchen. “Good. Master Witherskim is waiting.”

Before she could catch her breath, Roland pulled her down the corridor and into the sitting room, where Clive Witherskim advanced.

Wonder what will happen next? Better buy the book and find out!

 

Until next time…God Bless & Good Reading!

DEEPER LISTENING

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Did you know that there are different levels of listening? The first level is hearing the words, processing them so that you understand the words.

Example:  The dog bowl is empty.

So, your spouse says those words to you. You look at the bowl and yep, he’s right the dog food bowl is empty. You shrug and go on your merry way. Then you wonder why later in the day, he seems a bit miffed at you.

That’s because you heard his words, but you didn’t hear the real message behind them. He wasn’t just telling you the bowl was empty for no reason. He wanted you to fill the bowl so the poor little puppy wouldn’t starve all day!

Oh!!

Then why didn’t he say so, right? As far as the spouse is concerned, he did say so.

This is only one simplified example of why putting on our listening ears means more than hearing the spoken words. Deeper listening is about taking the time to process the meaning behind the words. Deeper listening involves our hearts and not just our ears.

My husband is great at giving hidden messages. Unfortunately, I’m not so good at picking up on them. After almost 12 years of marriage, I’m getting better at it but still miss the real meaning behind his words from time to time.  Now, you might say he should become a better communicator, and I might agree with you. But the truth is that most of us learned our communication styles when we were much younger and changing it is not an easy thing to do.

So, each of us need to develop deeper listening skills to be better communicators in all sorts of contexts. Deeper listening will allow us to be more successful not just at home but in the workplace and socially as well.

Deeper listening will bring deeper understanding with others, especially those in our family. This is true with all family members but even more so with teenagers.  A screamed I HATE YOU could have a multitude of meanings. It could mean I’m mad at you because you forgot to ask me how my test went. Or I had a  REALLY bad day today.  Or I’m tired and hungry.

It would be a wonderful world if everyone in it said what they meant, but it’s not going to happen. That’s why we all need to improve our deeper listening skills. Relationships in our life will go a bit smoother and possibly even grow stronger if we listen with our heart and not just with our ears.

How about you? Ever had a time when you thought you knew what the person was saying, but you missed it completely?

Until next time…God Bless and Good Reading!

COMMUNICATION COUNTS!

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Besides being a writer, I was a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for more than 30 years. I officially retired in 2007 from Cleveland City Schools in Ohio. Yes, I have a lot of stories I could share, but I won’t. After that, I worked part-time as an SLP until last school year. Now, I’m not working at all due to a variety of reasons.

But the truth is I miss being an SLP.

I don’t mind telling you I was pretty good at my job! Not perfect but pretty good!.  In many ways, it feels like I was just getting really good when it was time for me to quit. Anyway, I’ve decided to share some of my SLP knowledge from time to time on this blog. Since this blog is about this writer’s life and being an SLP was a big and important part of my life, it only makes sense.

So today’s communication topic is COMMUNICATION!

For communication to take place, there are three necessary elements. A speaker–A message–A listener.  Communication happens when one person (speaker) relays a message to another person or group of people ( listener) and the listener receives the message as it was intended.

It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?

Maybe not, let’s look at the very last part of my definition–receives the message as it was intended. All too often, this is where things get sticky. A speaker sends a message but without some feedback, they can’t know if the listener received the same message they sent!.

So, whose responsibility is it to make sure the listener received the same message the speaker sent?

Everyone!

Whether as a speaker or a listener, it only takes a moment to verify the message was understood correctly. If you are the speaker simply ask the listener to repeat your message. If you are the listener, ask the speaker if this was what they meant.  It only takes a moment, and so many misunderstandings or communication breakdowns can be avoided.

I am so amazed at how much communication DOESN’T happen any more. It almost seems as if the more ways we have to communicate, the less we actually do it.  So much communication stays at such a superficial level that it might as well not happen. Another issue is that it seems more and more people avoid communicating in difficult situations which hurts the relationship more than if they dared to communicate about the difficult issues.

Avoidance is NOT a good thing when it comes to communication and relationships. Now, obviously that doesn’t mean you have to share every personal thought (specially the negative ones), but it also doesn’t mean you should avoid ALL of the tough issues.  When you do that, you’ll miss the opportunity to develop a stronger relationship with that person.

So,, what sort of things do you find difficult to communicate with others about?

 

UNTIL NEXT TIME….God Bless and Good Reading?

Writer Of The Day–Mary L. Ball

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Mary L. Ball is my Writer of the Day. She lives in the North Carolina and writes Inspirational novels
as well as Christian articles. Her passion is weaving together romantic tales laced with suspense and mystery.

Here’s an excerpt from her book,  ESCAPE TO BIG FORK LAKE:

Snarling, Rob gritted his teeth like an animal. He glared
at Sam through bloodshot eyes from the drinking binge he had clearly been on.
“Sam, let me in. We’ve played this game long enough. You need to realize…we
belong together.”
Sam shook her head and silently hoped he didn’t hear the
hammering of her heart. With forced bravery, she hid the weakness in her
eyes. She willed her emotions to stay in control. With a bold stance,
Samantha voiced her opinion to his statement of claim. “Rob, I told you there
will never be anything between us. Just go away and leave me
alone.”

She reacted quickly before he put his hand or foot into the small
opening and closed the door.
Rob slammed his fist against the hard wood,striking the door as he
slurred out obscenities. The last words she heard were, “If I can’t have
you, no one will.”

Wow–that’s an awesome beginning to what seems like a great story.  Thanks,, Mary for sharing your work with us.

 

Until next time….God Bless and Good Reading!

Marianne Evans is Writer of the Day

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Marianne Evans is a multi-award winning author of Christian fiction and romance. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Connect with her at http://www.marianneevans.com/. Her latest book is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Here’s the back cover blurb:
 
Political dynamo Matt Bellinger understands he has an unyielding responsibility to work hard for the betterment of his community and the world around him. Life, he believes, should be built strictly on effort and tangibles, not an elusive faith.
 
But that belief is challenged when a bill to spearhead volunteerism leads him to canvassing efforts at Detroit’s legendary diner, Sal’s Place, and a meeting with Heather Cavanaugh. His polar opposite, the street-smart beauty challenges his heart and perceptions. She’s the head stylist at Optiva, a trendy, upscale hair salon in downtown Detroit, as well as a tireless volunteer giving back to the city she loves in honor of the God she serves.
Love blooms, gradually shifting Matt’s perceptions. But when a life-threatening illness in his family challenges that fledgling faith, will he be able to hold fast to his newfound beliefs? Will he discover that faith makes all things possible and love makes all things beautiful?
Sounds like a good book.
Thanks for being my Writer of the Day, Marianne.
Until next time…God Bless & Good Reading

What’s The Alternative?

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So, how are you feeling? Be truthful. Feeling energetic, happy, joyful OR exhausted, sad, hopeless? I’ve joined a new group in the past few months–since April actually. And that’s not a good thing!  Unfortunately, it’s a large group–way too large.

It’s people with chronic pain!

My muscles hurt and my joints hurt, and as far as I’m concerned it’s unexplained pain. One day I didn’t have it and the next day I did! Or at least that’s the way it seemed to me.  After my family doctor couldn’t find anything specifically wrong, she referred me to a rheumotologist who diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Her solution was to put me on medicine that would suppress my immune system.

Not the best idea in my humble opinion since I have an upcoming treatment on my brain tumor. I want to be strong and healthy when that happens, not weak and vulnerable to more illnesses. I already feel like my health is like a set of dominoes, first one thing that leads to another and another and….

So being a reader and a writer as well as being addicted to the Internet, I started researching my conditions.

I found out some things I didn’t know.

AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS are the largest and fastest growing group of illnesses in the United States. Autoimmune disorders include a wide range of illnesses: multiple sclerosis; lupus; rheumatoid arthritis; fibromyalgia; and the list goes on and on.

And here’s another interesting fact: INFLAMMATION IS THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF ALL AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS! Wow! That was a shocker for me when I read that from several different sources. Inflammation is caused when our immune systems get out of whack for lots of different reasons–too many to talk about now. Considering both my sisters have lupus and one has multiple sclerosis as well, and now I’m having similar symptoms, I want to learn more about inflammation.

Specifically how to get rid of it.

Traditional medicine’s answer is to suppress our immune system so that the inflammation goes away or at least lessens; thus less pain and symptoms. That seems like a good idea at first–until you start of the long-term effects of a suppressed immune system. It seems that a better solution is to rebalance our immune systems so they work the way they are supposed to.

So, I’ve started a quest to find out how to reduce or eliminate the inflammation in my body.

I’d love to hear from others with autoimmune disorders who’ve tried alternative methods. What works? What doesn’t work? How do you manage your symptoms so that your life works better for you?  I have a few things I’m trying right now and will report on them if I see any favorable results.

Thanks, I’m looking forward to hearing from some of you.

Until next time…

God Bless and Good Reading!

Writer of the Day–Chana Keefer

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Chana Keefer is my Writer of the Day and there are some awesome gifts awaiting my readers. First her book is free today on Amazon.com Second, you can enter the raffle to win a $50 dollar gift card from Amazon. Be sure to read to the end to learn how to win the $50 Amazon Gift Card. Third, the book sounds interesting! I’ll be downloading it today, that’s for sure.

Thanks, Chana for being on my blog today.


One Night With a Rock Star

By: Chana Keefer

FREE TODAY FOR AMAZON KINDLE!

About the Book

It’s Anne of Green Gables Meets Rattle & Hum. Worlds collide.

When Esther was a young teen with frizzy hair and too-skinny legs, Sky’s music soothed her through awkwardness and pain. Now she’s a college journalism student and fledgling print model. One chance meeting rocks their worlds.

Will Esther’s deep roots in family and faith keep her feet on the ground when a tornado named Sky blows her world apart?

This coming-of-age tale will delight young adult, new adult & adult audiences alike with homespun humor, dazzling celebrity, and a heart-wrenching tale that transports the reader from the wide open spaces of Texas, to the castle-dotted Scottish highlands. Explores themes of spirituality, relationship with God versus religion, and how one can have it all yet still search for meaning and purpose in life.

One Night With a Rock Star is a rich, satisfying journey filled with multi-dimensional, lovable characters, sigh-worthy romance and a tale that will carve itself onto your soul.

See more About this FREE eBOOK at Amazon!

(Then Scroll Below to Enter the $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway)

Chana Keefer[

Chana Keefer

This whole writer’s journey caught me completely by surprise and, to this day, I’m a bit stunned by the ride.

Blame it all on prayer. In 2004 I committed to pray every day, right out of the sack, for at least an hour. A year later I woke in the morning from a very cool dream. As the week went on, the dream wouldn’t let go. It expanded in my brain until I HAD to start writing or just… explode. That story? One Night With a Rock Star. It’s the novel that transformed me into a passionate storyteller.

Two years later, in the middle of prayer, I asked a question and God answered. I yelped in shock but also had to admit the answer made so many of my faith elephants-in-the-room make sense. For the next month, every morning began with more mind-blowing insights. When I showed the 250 pages of notes to my hubby and an author friend, they both said, “This needs to be a novel.”

The journey of writing THE FALL was much more than writing a novel. It was a pilgrimage that crushed, shaped and changed me; the way I think, the way I pray, the way I love, even the way I view current events.

BTW, I’m a mom of four, married to the best man alive, have a background in broadcast journalism and, many moons ago, worked as a model and actress.

I love old barns, old movies, hot chocolate chip cookies and someday I’d like to sail around the world. Guess I’d better learn to sail first.

Follow Chana Keefer
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter below to enter a $50 Amazon gift card, sponsored by author Chana Keefer!

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This book blast is hosted by Crossreads.

We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…

God Bless & Good Reading!

BREAK TIME!!

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Here’s a mid-week pick-me-up by Joey and Rory. If you haven’t heard of them, you should take a minute to enjoy their music.  They are a country music duo and sometimes their music is fun, sometimes touching, sometimes plain old silly, but alway enjoyable!

THAT’S IMPORTANT TO ME by Joey and Rory.

UNTIL NEXT TIME…

GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!