About Me

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Life Is All About The Curves


Have you noticed? Just when you begin to get a glimpse of a smoother road ahead, life throws you a curve.

It's been six weeks or more since I lost my husband and my life situation changed. I'd begun to plan some projects that had been on hold for those years my husband needed caring for. Now, I thought, there'll be time to seriously write, perhaps even complete one of the three stories I'd nibbled at for so long. But, then came the curve.

Some of you may know the backstory regarding the long eight years we were denied contact with a granddaughter. And how, through a series of events, my son and I once again had Carlie in our lives. The wheels of justice move slowly, but God is good and faithful to perform that good work in the life of one who loves Him. So the good book says...and I believe it.

In just a week or two, whenever all the legalities are fulfilled, my granddaughter will become a temporary inhabitant of my home. I say temporary because another major event taking place is a soon-to-be-moved-onto-our-property house for my son and granddaughter.

So instead of arranging my days to please my mood, I'm re-arranging furniture, painting walls and buying a bed as I turn my husband's former man-cave into a teenager's bedroom.

Not to say the writing has been neglected. I recently signed a contract with White Bird Publishing for the first of a series of fictionalized biographies about American heroes. The first one is George Washington; From Surveyor to Soldier. The next, about Harriet Tubman, may come out early next spring while I continue work on Belle Boyd, Confederate Spy.

Life's twists and turns are challenging...but I've never avoided a challenge.

Friday, May 5, 2017

Finding My Way


For the past two and a half years, I pretty much put my writing life on hold. As my husband's COPD worsened and we were told the doctors could do nothing more for him, my life focused on creating a comfortable life for his remaining time.

On the day of our fifty-ninth wedding anniversary, I awoke to find he had died in his sleep. I am so greatful for that period of preparation we were given. He was able to get his affairs in order and make all the necessary arrangements ahead of time, saving me much stress and anxiety.

It's been five weeks of re-evaluating, re-assessing, and catching up on things that weren't important enough to do during the interim. Things as mundane as house-cleaning and down-sizing.

I wasn't able to write during that stretch of time, but I did take up a hobby that I'd set aside when my second son was born, over forty years ago--oil painting. It helped me through those times when I just needed to check out for a bit.

Last week, I discovered a renewed interest in some characters that have been waiting in my computer for my return. This week, I pulled out a completed manusript and sent it off to my publisher, hoping the response will be a contract for publication.

As I re-connect with my circle of writing friends and begin to make plans to become more active, I'm finding myself a bit hesitant to plunge back in. In a way, I treasure the reclusive lifestyle I'd grown accustomed to.

As I see my social calendar begin to fill, it makes me realize I may have to repack those oils and canvases again. Not sure, I want to give them up.