Out with the old...

2009 is on its way out- already gone in some parts of the world- and many people are saying, "Good Ridance!"

Yes, it's been a rough year for the vast majority of the planet's occupants and most days there is little good new reported in the headlines, but surely there have been some good things that have happened over the last 12 months. In spite of the rotten economy, lousy job market, strange weather, and crazy political junk going on, I've managed to think of a few wonderful things that have happened to me this year.

1. In April we settled hubby's accident claim and were able to pay off ALL of our debt.
2. In June I got my very first ever brand spanking new car- a 2009 Jeep Wrangler.
3. In August we packed up and moved from Washington to Kentucky and bought our first home.
4. My children have settled in wonderfully, and are doing amazing in school.
5. We are all healthy and have, so far, managed to avoid the dreaded Swine Flu.
6. Our first Christmas in our new home was wonderful and so blessed.

I know there are more but I'm going to stop there. We have been blessed this year in spite of all the negative things that have managed to bring many in this country to their knees and, in my opinion, on our knees is where we need to be more often.

So, what kind of good things have happened for you this year (2009)? And what do you hope for in the year to come?

The promise of a new story

Hello all!

November 1st and the beginning of NaNoWriMo brought good productive things. More than 2000 words today and a story that promises to be super fun to write. I can't give away the details but picture The Bachelor with only one woman contestant chosen by the world and she doesn't know it until she's already won...has promise...right?

I love starting a new book because there are so many possibilities, so much adventure just waiting to be discovered, love just waiting to happen.

To those of you who read my blog and are fellow writers, what is your favorite part of starting a new book? To those of you who are readers, what is your favorite part of opening a new book to read?

Leave me a comment and I'll pick someone random to send a book to.

Moving & Writing & Missing Files

Hello everyone! Many of you already know this but I'm making it public and official- my family packed up and moved across country this summer! We left Whidbey Island, Washington and bought our very first house in Western Kentucky. I'm so relieved to finally have that bit of drama behind us. What a trip...maybe someday I'll write about it but for now it's best left in the dredges of my memory.

Writing is picking up. I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo which starts on November 1. 50,000 words in 30 days. I've been taking notes and brainstorming on the story I'm going to work on.

I've been working on a book the last few weeks, working out some kinks and getting the storyline back on track. I went to work on it yesterday and the file is gone. The main file it was in is still there along with the synopsis, pictures, notes, etc...but the writing is gone and I don't know what happened to it. I know I saved it because I've been working on it for weeks.

Thankfully I printed it out and have a hard copy of it but retyping it all in is going to be a pain in the rear.

Anyway, I'm reading "What Happens In London" right now- another Julia Quinn masterpiece. She is quickly working her way up in ranks of my favorite authors. Up there with Jane Porter, Francine Rivers, and Karen Kingsbury.

We'll start painting our house here soon, the interior. Everything is white right now and now that I actually own the place I'm going to use COLOR!! The kitchen is going to be 2 different shades of orange that I think will look amazing with the white washed cabinets. That's where I'm starting first. I'll post some before and after pics when I'm finished.

Three cheers for Julia Quinn!

I'm trying very hard to get through my TRB pile- it's substantial, in fact, it's enormous. There are well over 200 books on various shelves throughout my house that I haven't gotten to yet. Well yesterday I finished up another Julia Quinn masterpiece. The Duke and I. A story of accidental love- two people who fein a relationship to keep the community matchmakers at bay- yes it's one that's been told before- but this one was told in such a wonderfully magical way that I can't help but give a hearty shout out to one of my favorite authors of regency romance. Julia, you amaze me! Your stories steal my heart and make me laugh, cry, and finish with a blissful sigh.

This book is published by Avon and it's an older book- 2001 I think- but so worth finding and I am definitely putting it on my Keeper shelf...also substantial.

What have you, my faithful readers, read lately that left you feeling completely satisfied?

Surrounded by inspiration!

Hello everyone! Yes, it's me, the long lost writer come to visit. And yes, I can actually call myself a writer this week because I've actually been...WRITING! My goodness it's amazing how much I've missed being able to write everyday. Since my husband's accident last year things have been so crazy that a few days is all I've been able to squeeze out. Well we're settling into our new home- our very own, bought and paid for, I have the deed to my house, home. The boxes are unpacked for the most part, the kids have started back to school and are settling in pretty well, the place is coming together quite nicely if I do say so myself.

And this being the case, it seems like everywhere I look I see something that inspires me to write. A powerful thunderstorm, an amazing sunset, a breed of bird I've never seen before...it all serves to feed my mind and make me want to create something just as powerful, just as amazing, just as new and beautiful. I'm looking at my old work with new eyes and getting excited about those stories again, hoping I can breathe life into them again and make them into something wonderful.

Today I'm confined to my chair with an icepack on my lower back because I've spent the last two days putting up jars and jars of applebutter and salsa made from the ingredients our pastor brought over just days after we got here. My back is aching fiercely and it's a perfect excuse to take it easy and rest and let my mind work instead of my body. So that's what I'm doing. I have two word documents open, a new story and an old one- one I'm taking notes on, one I'm reading through and doing some editing on and hopefully soon I'll have at least one completed manuscript that I can send to a publisher for consideration!

Wonderful thoughts for you all. Have a blessed end to your summer.

Danielle

For a very good cause

Hello everyone! I know it's been forever since I've been here. Sorry about my prolonged absence and I promise to try harder to visit more often. The reason I'm writing today is to promote an amazing charity auction and encourage you to at least go look at what's being auctioned. There are some super amazing things on the block- stuff like trips, baskets of books, electronics, etc. Among those donating the wonderful items are Jane Porter, Shellie Stevens, Nora Roberts, and so many others.

And the cause? Well all the proceeds go to Diabetes research and the whole thing is put on by one of our favorite authors, Brenda Novak. Her son is diabetic so this auction is very dear to her heart. Please go have a look and if you're able, bid on something. You won't be disappointed by the offerings, I promise.

http://brendanovak.auctionanything.com/Home.taf