Saturday's With The Family-- Planning ahead

James 4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will^[g] go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

I’m a planner. I like to plan things. If I don’t know what’s going on a few days or weeks down the road, I get antsy.

My middle daughter is the same way. She has to know when everything is going to happen. Honestly, it does get tiring planning so far ahead so she won’t meltdown.

Yesterday, I took my girls on a little shopping trip. The whole way there, they kept asking where we were going first, then what… then what… then what!

Finally I told them, “Girls, let’s just not plan. We’ll end up where we end up. Let’s have an adventure.”

We did.

And it was fun.

It was nice to have a few hours without a strict plan.

I need that more often.

I have an internet friend named Nicole. She was pregnant and planning for her fifth baby: a boy. They could tell from the first ultrasound that something was wrong.

Like all of us would, she planned.

She went to the best hospital and stayed in the Ronald McDonald house (not in TN. They live in Canada.). She looked toward the future, and though it looked rough for her little boy, she stayed strong. Nicole took pictures of her baby belly, excited about how much her little man was growing. They were going to love him no matter what.

A few days ago, Nicole’s family learned all too well about the ‘vapor’ in the scripture above. Nicole was found dead in her room. The baby didn’t make it either. The medical examiner did an autopsy, but so far no cause of death. Nicole was 37.

We were due date buddies. My youngest child and her forth were both due in July 2010. Please pray for her family. She has 4 other children (one turned 3 on the day his mama died). It’s sad all around. The daddy is trying the best he can, but I know they could use prayers.

We can plan all we want, but when its time, it’s time. Enjoy life. Enjoy the moment. Take time to do something without planning ahead. And don’t hold grudges because you never know when it’ll be the last time you see someone. 

~Kelly

Saturday with the Family-- A Study in Patience

A Study in Patience

When my daughter was four years old, my mother (her Nana) asked her what she wanted for her birthday. My daughter said an Easy Bake Oven. Nana (thankfully) didn’t want to get her one and, as an excuse said, “Oh look, the box says you have to be 8 to have it. Are you 8?”

“No.” My sweet girl shook her head.

“Okay.” Nana smiled, happy to have that crisis averted. “You can have it when you are 8.” They went on their way, and Nana assumed she forgot it.

As parents, we’ve all done that (or I assume you have. I have). If we don’t want our kids to have something, we tell them something and hope they forget it.

My daughter, though, surprised us all.

On her fifth birthday she announced, out of the blue, “Only three more years until I can have my Easy Bake Oven!”

On her sixth birthday, “Only two more years until I can have my Easy Bake Oven!”

On her seventh birthday, “Only one more year!! I can’t wait to be eight to get my Easy Bake Oven.”

In the four years since Nana told her those fateful words, “You have to wait until you are eight”, my daughter has never once begged for an Easy Bake Oven. She hasn’t cried. She hasn’t whined. She’s just been very upbeat that she WOULD get an Easy Bake Oven. All she had to do was wait.

I wish I was more like my eight year old.

Proverbs 25:15

Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.

I can think of this two ways. 1) She KNEW her Mama would give her exactly what she promised. 2) She had patience to wait (four years… an eternity to a kid) for it.

I don’t know about you, but I want things NOW! I write fast because I can’t stand having an unfinished story. I can write a book (60,000 words) in about 3-4 weeks. Because of that, I have this tendency to want EVERYTHING fast. I’m a horrible, “I want it now!” person.

I guess you could say my daughter got my patience… because I sure don’t have any left ;)

Now, don’t get wrong. I’m patient with people (in my line of work you have to be). I’m patient with kids. But when it comes to things from God, I’m not! I have everything planned out and if He doesn’t hit *my* marks, well He’s slow and I’m sad.

I need to take a lesson from my daughter. She never complained once about having to wait four years for her Easy Bake Oven. But she never forgot it either.

Pray.

Be hopeful.

Look to the future.

Know your blessings will come (Who doesn’t want an Easy Bake Oven?)

But be happy with what you have now.

Did my daughter just not play with any toys while she waited for her Easy Bake Oven? Did she sit, mope, hate life, and stare at a wall until her blessing came?

No, she enjoyed her other toys (her blessings as it were), waiting for the big desire of her heart.

Don’t miss out on playing with your other *toys* because you are waiting for your *Easy Bake Oven*. It’ll come… and hey, it might even be the new and improved ‘Ultimate Oven’… a much better blessing than you would have gotten four years ago.

Patience.

(My oldest and youngest kids have the same birthday. My 8 year old with her new Easy Bake Oven. My 3 year old... all she wanted was a big ball. Yeah. ;) )

~Kelly

A Book By Its Cover Book Club-- July Edition

Did you know I host book release parties on facebook? Click the tab at the top of the page :) I'd love to work with you to plan your release party :)

I'm going to start something new on this blog-- A Book By Its Cover Book Club. 

Every month, I'm going to chose ONE book... just one... solely by the cover. The catch is, I'm not going to read the back cover blurb so I'll have no idea what the book is about when I read it.

WHY am I doing this?

Well, a few weeks ago, I bought a book from UtopYA called SWIFT by Heather London. I didn't read the back. I just bought it because it was pretty (Superficial? Sure. But it was fun to read without knowing what was going on. It made the book more of a mystery.)

Ain't it a pretty cover?

I read it and while it wasn't exactly what I expected, it was fun to be surprised and not have any idea what the story would be about.

I decided I wanted to do this every month...

And I wanted you all to join me.

1) Pick a book just by the cover (ebook or paperback. Mine was paperback, but it doesn't matter)

2) Read the book

3). Post a review on your blog (I'll have mine up the last week of this month. That way you all will have a chance to read one.)

4) LINK your blog post review in the post at the end of the month.

Easy.

For now, pick a book you want to be surprised by and post what book it is in the comments of this post. I can't wait to see what you've chosen :) We'll meet back at the end of the month to see what you thought of your books :)

Saturday with the Family-- Patience and Pancakes

Today, I was about to cook breakfast for my family. The husband didn't want pancakes. 2/3 of my girls wanted cereal. Just me and my oldest wanted what I had started cooking.

"Okay," I thought. "I normally don't do this, but I'll cook everybody what they want." Normally, I'm a stickler for things. If I cook it, you eat or do without. I have been told (recently) that I might be a tad bit uptight about things so I decided, okay, I'll be 'good' today.

That was my first mistake....

While I was cooking the pancakes, the husband fixed himself some chili fries. Okay, no big deal. He's a grown man.

My kids were different.

My youngest two started in it. Apparently, life as we knew it was about to cease to exist. They were starving... like STARVING! So, being good as I was, I fixed their cereal while I worked on the pancakes. They ate. I cooked.

My oldest daughter saw her sisters eating and wanted her pancake early. She didn't want to wait for the eggs or strawberries. She just wanted her pancake.

Okay, whatever.

I gave her pancake to her and started on mine.

They were still hungry, so I fixed some strawberries. They ate. I cooked. Finally, when I got finished cooking the pancakes and eggs, I sat down to eat. My family got up because they were finished. All except for my 2 year old, who decided she needed a pancake (even though she'd already eaten a bowl of chocolate cereal.) NOTE: she didn't get a pancake, but I did give her 2-3 bites of mine.

I was sitting (alone), eating (alone), thinking (alone) when I started laughing. (NOTE: laughing alone just makes you look weird... But I did it anyway. Make your own conclusions.)

 Years ago, I asked God for a husband. I got one.

After that, I asked God for a job. I got one.

After that, I asked God for a child. I got one.

After that, I asked God for another child. I got one.

After that, I asked God for a third child. I got one.

After that, I asked God to allow me to write a book. I did.

After that, I asked God to allow the book to be published. It was.

After that, I asked God for big sales. It was on the bestseller list.

After that, I asked God for a second books to sell. It did.

After that.... you get the idea.

Like my 2 year old (yeah I admit it), I always want more. God is the cook in the kitchen trying to get our lives... our blessings prepared for us to enjoy, and sometimes we are the impatient children wanting it NOW! Had my 2 year old waited, she would have gotten a treat-- a pancake-- and not cereal that she eats every day.

We forget that God is working behind the scenes, cooking if you will, to get everything ready.

But we want it NOW!

I've been praying for something (again... Not a baby lol) and I seem to want it NOW and get upset when it doesn't happen. I'm like my two year old. Sigh.

When you get upset over something or don't see it happening, remember God is always working behind the scenes. He's cooking you up something much better than your ordinary cereal. Be patient. Enjoy what you have now-- but look forward to those pancakes in the future.

Proverbs 16:32: Better to be patient than powerful;

better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Are you wanting something very much?

Have you asked God for it?

Are you being patient and waiting?

Or are you being like me (lol)?

My goal is to enjoy where I am now and look forward to what is in store in the future :) I hope the same for you :) :)

~Kelly

One Year Ago-- Signed my first book contract

ONE YEAR AGO this week, I signed my first book contract with Astraea Press for CROSSING THE DEEP.

TO CELEBRATE CTD IS ON SALE FOR 99 CENTS!!! GO GET IT NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T. IT'S ALSO IN PAPERBACKS. CLICK HERE....

Yesterday, it was in the top 10 on 2 Amazon Categories!!!

It has been an amazing ride! The highs of being published and the lows of doubt and 'what in the world am I doing?'

Now, I have 2 books out and 3 more on the way!!!

SAINT SLOAN-- out  now

THE DECEPTION OF DEVIN MILLER-- coming July 23rd

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL: A LOVE STORY-- Sept 3rd

THE AFTERLIFE OF LIZZIE MONROE-- January 2014

And it all started with one book contract from Astraea Press!

I've met Stephanie Taylor (the owner) since then.

Ain't we cute?

I was looking back at my old blog (the one that the domain expired and I just let it...), and came upon this post: my feelings on my first book contract. I thought it fitting one year later to repost it and go down memory lane. Maybe tomorrow I'll post on how it feels one year later (spoiler: the anxiety isn't gone...)

THIS WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON JULY 4th, 2012. Oh, the links don't work any more. New blog and all...

Back in October of last year, I wrote a blog post called:

Yes, I May Have Possibly Lost My Mind... where I told you all about my crazy plan to participate in 'Nanowrimo' (National Novel Writing Month). It's where you write a novel... in a month.

Well, I did it! I wrote the book. And that lead to this post on 11/27: An Update... where I told of my intentions of getting published (in one way or another).

I wrote about how nitpicky I was getting in December '11: Nitpicking to Death

Then in February, I had a short story of mine published called Happy Birthday... not to me! Exciting News!

In March, I didn't blog about it, but I sent my first query to an agent (on March 23rd). It was rejected.  In the following months I sent over 40.... they were all rejected. 


This post from June told about how I've gotten used to rejection letters: 5 Minute Friday: Risk

So... where is all of this leading?

Well...

I am proud to announce that yesterday I signed a contract for my first book 'Crossing the Deep' (the one I started in November '11) to be published by Astraea Press!

It's been an overwhelming week (I actually had 2 offers to publish it). And I'm so happy and thankful to have the contract signed and start.

The book will be in eBook form first, then after it sells $200 it will be in paperback (so save your dollars... my mama really wants a paperback ;) ) (ETA, she finally got them!!!!)

I want to thank all of you for praying for me, for supporting me, and for being there on my good days and my low days. I want to thank God especially for showing me what to do and for being there with me.

Last night, I prayed for God to show me that I made the right decision. I opened up my bible to THIS verse:

Psalm 96:3
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does

I'd say that was a yes :)

I'll update as I go through this publishing process :)

Happy 4th of July American friends (and Happy Wednesday to everyone else ;) )

Much Love,

Kelly~ Soon to be published author :)

UTopYA con-- Tales from a Newbie

I've never been to a convention before... like... ever.

I take that back. In high school, I attended the Beta Club convention at the Opryland Hotel. If you've never been to the Opryland hotel, go! It's awesome!

Anyway, I've never been to a WRITER/READER/BLOGGER convention before. My going was a last minute decision. My publisher was all, "Hey wanna go?" I was all, "Sure!" So I went :)

*Pic heavy from here on out... you've been warned :)*

So, the husband decided I needed to actually look decent for this thing. If you've read my 'Little Red Hen' post (and you should! It has Benedict Cumberbatch in it... reading a story. Know who he is? You SO should :)) this is a big step for him (my husband, not Benedict Cumberbatch).

My husband said I was meeting important people and needed to look like it. So, he bought me these. They were sparkly. They hurt like heck! I didn't care.

The lady next to me at one of the panels CHELSEA FINE (@chelseafine) had on THESE shoes... I think my feet got off easy ;) (She's one of the funniest, most polite people ever AND the first person to talk to me at the conference. Watch her video. It's awesome!)

SO. 

I drove to Nashville on Friday. I live somewhat close (no, you can't have my address ;) )

Let's just say a trip that SHOULD have taken an hour, took nearly 2.

Yeah.

Don't worry. YES, I was on the interstate when I took that picture. NO, I wasn't moving. Sigh.

I also got lost which was awesome. LOTS of prayers going on there. God got me there. Score one for God and the people who honked at me when I didn't know a roundabout had 2 lanes! Whoot!

I FINALLY found the place then immediately emailed my publisher, "Did you just make me come here to be some sort of sacrifice?"

RIGHT?

WOULDN'T 'SACRIFICE' be YOUR first thought too?

Okay, maybe not ;)

It was a BEAUTIFUL place once you figured it out. I loved walking around during break and taking pictures. (I won't show you all of them).

Okay, I might ;)

It was a gorgeous place!

~EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD~

So I got there... looked through the program when out of the blue I saw...

THIS!!!!

Do you see it?!?!?! At the bottom is the cover for SAINT SLOAN... yeah, MY SAINT SLOAN!

EEP! 

I wasn't expecting that.

I nearly said, "THAT'S ME!!!"

But I was good and didn't. 

I think I snorted though because the girl next to me (not the one with the awesome shoes) sort of looked at me funny.

Sigh.

ANYWAY,

Inside here is a picture of UtopYA con from the inside. 

THAT is bestselling authors Samantha Young, SM Reine, Quinn Loftis, and M. Leighton talking about writing for multiple audiences.

PR extraordinaire, K.P. Simmon, moderated the panel. Chelsea Fine was sitting next to me. Yeah. It was a good place to be at 10 am on a Friday morning :)


BTW, this fuzzy picture is where I ate lunch. I think it was an old church. It was pretty spectacular inside! And the food was good too!!

I ate lunch with 2 fabulous authors that I just met at UtopYA.

Alison Pensy

And

Eva Pohler

Look them up!

AND I also got to meet my 'boss' at Astraea Press, Stephanie Taylor.

I'm on the left. She's on the right. Ain't she cute?

It's at this time that I should probably address something.

That picture up at the top right of this blog where it talks about me?

It IS me....

ME from about 6 years ago.

I lost over 80 lbs after my 2nd daughter was born.

I've gained ** pounds back.

So yeah... Sorry about that.

I'm a little bigger now.

Which prompted me to write B.I.G. IS BEAUTIFUL, coming out Sept 3rd. About a not so skinny girl in high school. It has mystery, romance, and drama (oh, the drama!) Look for it in September!

So... to get away from plugging my books lol

C.J. Redwine said in one of her panels that she used a certain method to get high word counts and write quickly. She writes down the numbers ever 500 words: Basically...

4.0 

4.5

5.0

5.5

etc.

That lets her see how much progress she's made writing. I decided why not?

Here's mine...

This picture was taken 6/29. I'm already almost at 25K. It really does work. A break after 500 words? Yes, please!

I also bought a book from an author I didn't know, Heather London. The book was called SWIFT and I can't put it down! I blogged about it HERE!

It was an amazing time! I met great people and learned lots of things I didn't know.

I was also away from home for 2 days (I mean, I drove home in between, but still... wasn't home during the day)

So after the glamour of Friday and Saturday, Sunday after church I was met with...

Yeah.

;)

LOOKING FORWARD TO UTOPYA con 2014! 

Teaser Tuesday-- 7/2/13

Enter to win a KINDLE FIRE from Astraea Press. #APFANFEST is July 16th from 9 am to 10 pm on facebook, but you can enter today!!! :)


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (or your current page)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

One of the coolest things about UtopYA con (young adult writer's convention for women at Nashville last week-- I'll put up a post about my experience being there sometime this week) is getting to meet other authors and buy their books.




A book that I haven't been able to put down since I got back is SWIFT by Heather London. I decided to do my first Teaser Tuesday on it. Here ya go...

page 7 "Sorry if I scared you. I heard you crying." Stupid. What am I saying? Just leave. Walk away before you make things even more uncomfortable. "Ummm... sorry to have interrupted you." My voice cracked, and I turned in the opposite direction.

Then the girl, who had no spoken one word or even made one move since our eyes met, stood up. "It can't be," she finally muttered under her breath as she slowly backed away from me.

You can read more here... AMAZON LINK

The author, Rachel London, can be found on 
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6520318.Heather_London

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-London-Author/217852745010011?fref=ts