BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - A YEAR IN THE MAKING

Yes, and the BIG announcement is...Drum roll, please!!!

On September 1, 2013 my hubby, our precious pooch Maggie and I will pack up and hit the road in our RV. Our destination: Wherever the highways and byways will take us. No particular place to go – just freedom and the open road are calling our name.

Now I know some of you are wondering how this grand plan materialized. Actually it was Maggie who got this party started about a year ago. One day, out of the blue, she started humming "On The Road Again" (you know the Willy Nelson song) and she said she was ready to do just that.

Maggie went on to say we needed to sell our house, buy an RV and quit our jobs so we could join her. Ray and I couldn’t have agreed more. We too were eager for some adventure in our lives, but we told our pup we had lots to do to get this accomplished. 

To get the ball rolling we made a list of what we needed to do in our house to get it ready to sell. Next we started weeding through our belongings, selling off stuff, giving things away and putting the rest in storage.

All the while this was going on Ray was trying to find our new “home on wheels” and a truck to pull it with. He was successful and in September 2012 we were the proud owners of a 1 ton dully truck and a 5^th Wheel camper, which we put in storage since we didn’t need it yet (or so we thought).

One month later we put our house on the market – thinking we’d settle in and hope for a sale on it by March or April of 2013. Maggie must have had a direct line to God ‘cause He sent buyers and we signed on the dotted line on November 30, 2012.

Since then we’ve lived in our 350 square foot RV and have found out how much fun it is to live in our tiny abode. I do believe this RV lifestyle is going to work out just fine. And we have our four-legged friend to thank for coming up with this grand idea.

So if any of you are stuck in a rut and need a little excitement in your life – maybe you too should listen to your pets. You never know what they might tell you to do. 

Love ya!

nettie

PS: Texas friends: We want all of you to know - we are going to miss you!!! We love all y'all!!

PSS: Also, everyone, stay tuned for more about our life in our RV and on the road!!!

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE

Isn’t it just like the Lord to turn a lunch date with a girlfriend into a life-changing experience? Well, that is exactly what happened to me at Red Robin today. Yes, today He shouted His words through the tender voice of a friend of mine.

While I was eating my tasty cheeseburger, I’m listening to Barb as she recounted a discussion she’d had with her hubby. I nodded in agreement, since her dialogue sounded very familiar. But then she said something that stopped me in my tracks.

“Yes, when my husband says something that hurts my feelings, I don’t say anything at that time. I mull it over in my mind for a couple of days. Then we talk about it.”

People, I’m almost certain I saw the heavens open and heard a choir of angels singing when my dear, sweet friend shared this profound tidbit. And I knew if our lunch ended at that very moment I’d go home with more knowledge than I came with.

Thankfully our lunch didn’t end there. Barbara continued with more insight, “Janetta, during that time I reflect on why his words hurt my feelings. Was I overreacting? Did he intend to hurt my feelings?

Again, her words hit me. Powerful and ones designed to change a person’s life.

Mine.

Yes, Barbara, I believe that the Lord used your words today to open my eyes. And the next time a problem arises with my sweet baboo—I’ll take your sound advice and spend a few days asking myself the tough questions.

Love ya,
nettie

PS: Hope this helps you as much as I know it will help me.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

Did you know there are perils in posting online? Yes, take it from me – when you put something out there (before you’ve thought it through thoroughly), this maneuver can and will come back and haunt you.

In my case, the above paragraph refers to my blog post on September 26. The post told my adoring fans (yes, I do dream) about the appointment I had with an agent at a writer’s conference - and how he wanted to see my proposal for my book.

After I sent off the media blitz to tell everyone my ‘news’ I sit down and perfected my proposal and emailed it to the agent. No need to worry - the fine print stated it could take up to three months to hear back from them.

Imagine my surprise when I received an email five days later. Before I opened it, I sent some prayers heavenward, hoping they had answered with a resounding YES.

Instead, the email read: “While this is a good offering, I've been checking our contacts and right at this point in time we’re not working in a market where it competitively fits…”

Not exactly the news I’d hoped and prayed for – but I knew I’d live through this rejection, as I had many other times. 

So, in closing, the next time you want to share earth shattering news with the masses - think before you send out the proclamation. The reason: it might come back and haunt you when you have to tell them your not-so-good news.

Love ya,

nettie

PS: Please tell me I’m not the only one who has done this!!!

Queen of the Waves

Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interview I did with my dear friend and accomplish author, Janice Thompson. Along with being a gifted writer, Janice is also an award winning author of nearly 80 books.   

Before we get started, please click on the picture below. Janice will tell you all about her latest book, Queen of the Waves. After that, she'll answer a few questions about her writing and so much more.

Let's set back and enjoy the journey...

Janice, you are one of the first two authors to release a book in the American Tapestries series. How did you become involved in the project?

My agent asked me to put together a story idea focused on the Titanic. I’m usually a comedic writer, (and he happened to catch me on my way home from the theater, where I direct musicals), so I quipped: “Only if I can throw in a song and dance number involving an iceberg!” He laughed and responded with, “No, we have to play this one straight.” At first I wasn’t sure if I could come up with a serious plotline, but 24-hours later I had the story idea and the first chapter. My editors at Summerside (Rachel Meisel and Susan Downs) read the idea and loved it. When they saw me at the ACFW conference I got the news: “We’re going to publish your novel!” I was especially thrilled to hear that my book would be among the first to release in the new line. What a privilege!

Writing historically accurate novels take a lot of research. How much time and effort went into researching for this book?

Oh my goodness! Talk about a lot of work. Not only did I spend months researching Titanic’s story (reading every available book and watching every conceivable documentary), I also drove from Houston to Branson Missouri to the Titanic museum. Talk about an eye-opener! The exhibit covers everything you could imagine, and includes all sorts of artifacts from the ship. When you write about an event such as this, particularly one that has been so well documented in movies and books, you need to get your facts right. Even the “little” things (like, how long did it take to load everyone onto the ship) can bog the writer down. Dozens and dozens of times I would stop writing just to look something up. And don’t even get me started on the clothing and hats! I created a board on Pinterest to study 1910 fashion!

Talk about your reenactment of the night the ship went down.

Our QUEEN OF THE WAVES journey coincided with the actual dates that the ship set sail. I knew that we would eventually have to “sink” our proverbial ship. So, on the night of the 100^th anniversary, we all met in the group at a designated time and (literally) reenacted the entire event. It took a couple of hours to accomplish (with lots of weeping and wailing, as you might imagine) but we got the deed done. The various “characters” (many of whom were named for real-life passengers) re-lived the event in real time. I will tell you that I was completely worn out (emotionally and otherwise) when the night ended. I don’t recall every feeling so drained! (It takes a lot out of a person to drown that many people!)

Is there a spiritual thread through the story/a message that you hope readers come away with?

Absolutely. Several of my characters (primarily Tessa) face their own destiny. They come to grips with the brevity (and value) of life. They see first-hand what’s truly important and what isn’t.  In my story, Tessa learns that her picture of God has been skewed (since childhood). She discovers a relationship with Him while onboard the ship, but that relationship is tested the night the ship goes down.

What’s next for you, Janice? Will you be writing another release in the American Tapestries line? Where will you be taking readers next time?

I’m currently writing historicals for the “Belles and Whistles” line (for Summerside). The first book (Wedding Belles) just released. The second (Sleigh Belles) will release in a couple of months. These stories are more light-hearted in nature and deal with comedic women from the West.

We often think of the opulence of the Titanic and how some of the world’s richest people were aboard the ship. There were also very poor passengers as well, hoping to start a new life in America. Do you know how much it would cost for a ticket?

Cost of a ticket (one way)

First Class (parlor suite) $4,350 ($83,200 today)

First Class (berth) $150 ($2975 today)

Second Class $60 ($1200 today)

Third Class $40 ($298 to $793 today)

http://www.keyflux.com/titanic/facts.htm

Where can readers buy Queen of the Waves?

The book is available through amazon, christianbook.com and barnesandnoble.com. 

Thank you, Janice, for sharing your time with us today. Hope you can come and visit us again!!! 

Love ya,

nettie

PS: Friends and family, please go out and pick up one (or more) of Janice Thompson's books. I know you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

For those who’ve spent any time around me know I LOVE to talk. I can almost hear the “Amens” echoing all around me. And, trust me, I’m okay with that tag. The one thing I’m not happy with is that I talk too much about what I’m going to do. Never about what I’ve gotten done.

I’m happy to report, thanks to American Christian Fictions Writers (ACFW), that all changed this past weekend. Now I need to kick my writing into high gear and get something accomplished (i.e. proposal sent to an agent ASAP).

Before any of you get excited and want to send me cards of congratulations – don’t. Submitting the proposal doesn’t mean I’m a shoe in for an agent. What it does mean is I have an opportunity to show the man I spoke with that my first three chapters (plus a whole lot more) is a project he’d like to pitch to a publisher.

Now I need to quit talking (or writing, in this case) so I can make my manuscript sing. The only way to accomplish this goal is sitting down and doing the task set in front of me.

Love ya,

nettie

PS: Next time I’ll talk about my meeting with a publisher.

PSS: Check out www.acfw.com to learn more about this great organization.