Staying Humble

I have been a writer most of my life. When I taught school, I published magazine articles, since these were shorter projects that required less time than a novel. After I wrote my first novel and began to seek publication, I wanted to make sure I didn't lose sight of my main goal in writing them - to glorify God. I want to inspire and encourage others in their faith as my stories deliver His messages and truths in an entertaining and heartful way. 

However, I could see a pitfall in publishing and marketing. I didn't want to become prideful of my books or promote myself more than God. My pastor at the time assured me that my awareness of the possibility would prevent it from happening, and I hope he was right. In a way, it's been a balancing act. I need to promote my books to gain readers, but I don't want this to become about me or what I've done. I want it to be about God and what He's done for me and through me. In so many ways, His hand has been in it all.

I had a new revelation of sorts this week. My editor and I have found more mistakes and typos in my last published book than usual, and we're working to get them corrected. It bothers me immensely because I want to give readers an outstanding book, and it amazes me how errors can slip through so many edits and sets of educated eyes, usually at least four. Then I thought, perhaps this is one of God's ways of keeping me humble. If so, it's working because I am.

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National Fairy Tale Day

February 26th is National Fairy Tale Day. Many of these stories were once myths and legends told and retold for entertainment. They became part of folk history and oral traditions. Traveling bards or storytellers often spread them from place to place. Over time, they were written down and eventually became considered children's stories.

What is your favorite fairytale? There's a large selection to choose from. Some of the more common ones are "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," Hansel and Gretel," "The Elves and the Shoemaker," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "The Princess and the Pea," "Thumbelina," "Rapunzel," "Rumplestiltskin," "Sleeping Beauty," and the list goes on and on. What others do you remember well?

I grew up listening to these stories, but they've gone out of vogue over the years. My grandchildren hardly know any of them. My favorite has always been "Beauty and the Beast." It highlights that true beauty is really about what's on the inside, and love is magical.  My most recent novel, It All Started at the Masquerade, was influenced by this fairytale. A few modern writers could take a lesson from these tales because most of them end "and they lived happily ever after." (sigh)

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On February 26, have a happily ever after kind of day. It’s National Fairy Tale Day!

What were once oral histories, myths and legends retold around the fire or by traveling storytellers, have been written down and become known the world over as fairy tales.

The Sheepfold

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold. but climbeth in some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep (John 10:1-2).

Sheep are mentioned in the Bible more than 500 times, and our word "pastor" comes from the Latin word for a shepherd. As dusk approached, the shepherd would gather his flock into an enclosed area known as a "sheepfold." Then, the shepherd would lay down in front of the opening and become a human gate, keeping the sheep safe by preventing predators from getting in or the sheep from wandering out.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture  (John 10:9).

The sheepfold was important because unless the sheep followed the shepherd, they wouldn't be safe. In John 10, Jesus uses this analogy. He is the shepherd who protects his sheep. He is the door whereby his sheep find both safekeeping and a way to have their needs met. If we accept Him as our shepherd, we will be saved and have an eternity with Him in heaven. 

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice (John 10:4).

Just outside most villages, there might be a community sheepfold where several shepherds would bring their flocks for the night. All the sheep would be mixed together and the shepherds would take turns being the gate. In the morning, when it got time to leave, each shepherd would call his flock, and they would come because they knew his voice. Do you recognize the voice of your Shepherd? Do you follow Jesus when he calls?

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine (John 10:12).

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How I Time Travel

I love history, which is why I majored in it in college for my bachelor's degree. And growing up in a rural niche of the Appalachians, I lived history in a way. That's also why my favorite books to read and to write are historical fiction. Out of the eleven books I've published so far, seven have been historicals and four contemporaries.

When I write a book, I actually feel as if I'm living in that time period. I walk the unpaved or cobblestoned streets along with my characters. I see what they see and look at the world through their perspectives. This time travel is part of the fun of being an author. With twenty-five manuscripts finished and many more stories in my mind begging to be written, I've lived in many different times and places. 



And if I'm good at what I do, my readers will be able to live in those different times and places for a while, too. More and more readers are telling me exactly that. Two readers this past week said of It All Started at the Masquerade, "I felt like I was right there, sailing down the Chowan River with them." They've become time travelers, too.

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Celebrating Presidents' Day

The day we now call Presidents' Day originally started in 1885 as Washington's Birthday to recognize and honor the first President of the United States. It was celebrated on February 22, George Washington's actual birthday. Sometime later, many states also recognized February 12, Abraham Lincoln's birthday.

In the 1960's, legislators began talking about combining the days into one holiday. Many also liked the idea of shifting many such holidays to be celebrated on a Monday, giving workers a three-day weekend. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1968 and went into effect in 1971. Presidents' Day was set for the third Monday in February.

At first, most people saw it as a combined celebration for Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays. However, more and more, it has come to be a day to honor all the presidents, although Presidents Washington and Lincoln are still the most recognized. How will you celebrate Presidents' Day this year?

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Life's Storms

In the world, ye shall have tribulation (John 16:33b).

We know we are going to have problems, trouble, and worries in this life; and they come for all sorts of reasons. However, I'm going to discuss them in three broad categories. Some storms come because we disobey God, but some storms come because we obey God. However, others come due to the bad choices of people around us. Let's examine each of these more carefully.

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.... But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a great tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken (Jonah 1:3-4a).

Jonah is a good example of someone who met with storms because he disobeyed God (also see blog of 5-27-16). His storms came on different levels - physical, emotional, and spiritual. I don't understand how a prophet of God could think he'd manage to run and perhaps hide from God. But don't we all sometimes get caught up in what we want in the defiance of God's will? Storms usually follow, and this should be a lesson for us.

And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew (John 6:18).

In John 6, Jesus had fed a multitude with just five barley loaves and two fish, and the people were talking about making Him a political king. He wanted to go up on the mountain alone and pray, so the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee ahead of Him. That's when the storm came up. Sometimes when we're doing what we're supposed to and following God's will, Satan will try to discourage us with difficulties. But the Bible promises, if we stay strong in the Lord, Satan will flee. Jesus calms our storms.

For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another (Galatians 6:13).

I've found that many of life's tragedies and upheavals come from people choosing evil. Not wanting robotic people who had no choice but to follow Him and do His will, God gave us free will. That coupled with mankind's sinful nature and a fallen world brings many difficulties. This is often the answer to why bad things happen to God's people. However, He promises to always be there for us. We might have to go through vicious storms, but our Lord will be with us and eventually guide us out. And we can be sure some good will have come from it when we look back. Surviving storms can make us stronger, better people.

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An Author's Look at Love

Valentine's Day shouldn't be the only day to consider love. It seems to me that love is a deep, basic human need. We all need to feel accepted and loved. The Bible tells us that of all the things that will endure forever, love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13). In fact, God is love (see 1 John 4:7-8). 

Therefore, every novel I've written or plan to write includes some love to differing degrees, although not all of them fit into the Christian romance category. Yet, when I mention this, it's like I've downgraded the book to substandard or a lower status. I don't understand this.

I refuse to apologize for making love important. It is important! It would be a miserable life without it. I can't even imagine living without God's love, and human love is also important. In fact, the greatest commandment is to love God and one another. Selfish, worldly love is not love at all. Unconditional love is rare but oh so precious.

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Cooking in the Colonies

Cooking a meal in colonial times would likely be daunting to today's homemaker. They had few of the conveniences that we've become accustomed to. It often took all of the time between meals to get the next one ready and sometimes longer. That's one reason households without servants prepared simple meals, like soups or stews that could be simmered while other work was done.

Quick breads that could be cooked in a Dutch oven in the fireplace or fry breads were common. If available, ovens were built into the fireplace/chimney structure or outside and normally used no more than once a week. Some communities might have bakeries where people with the means could buy or barter for yeast bread. However, most people used what they could make in the fireplace.

Meat took the longest time to cook and was more plentiful than it had been in Europe. Most meats were boiled, fried, or sometimes roasted. Very little of it was baked. All foods had to be watched to prevent overcooking or undercooking. Diets varied from region to region, being influenced by the countries of origin of the colonists and the available resources where they settled. Cooking, combined with the other chores a woman needed to do, made life busy indeed.

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God's Increase

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased (John 6:2).

Large crowds began to follow Jesus around wanting to see the miracles He performed. In a way, He had become their entertainment. They wanted to be amazed by His feats, but they needed to open their hearts to Him. Some people choose their church today for the same reason. The preacher is a good speaker or the musicians know how to appeal to an audience. In other words, they choose their church for their entertainment, not for worshipping God, learning His truths, or growing in the Lord.

One of the disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: But what are they among so many? (John 6:8-9).

In this remote place, Jesus had compassion on the people and sought to meet their physical need for food, but little was available. Andrew knew of one boy who had brought his meal, but what would five tiny loaves of bread and two fish do among so many? Yet, the boy gave Jesus what he had. He, more than any of the others, stepped out in faith with his paltry offering. Each of us has something to offer in service to the Lord, even though it may seem inadequate and weak next to what's needed.

When they were filled he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten (John 6:12-13).

When we do what we can, meager though it might seem, God will often enlarge it beyond anything we would have expected. Then, it becomes a testimony to grow our faith, the faith of the ones we help, and the faith of those who see or hear of it. It becomes one of God's miracles, and all we can do is step back in wonderment and awe and thank Him for His blessings.

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Early to Rise


Depending on circumstances, finding the time to write can be a challenge for authors. For me, it's almost a catch-22. I have little time because of the demands of presentations, book signings, and marketing; but an increase in these mean the books are doing well. However, I need to keep writing, as well. In fact, I'm my happiest when I'm working on a new manuscript.

The answer for me is not ideal, and it came without planning. The older I grow, the more difficult getting a full night's sleep becomes. My mother had this same problem. I normally get to sleep without too many problems, but I wake up too early and can't get back to sleep. I'm usually at my desk writing between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. This is after reading until around 10:00 the previous night. Apparently, it doesn't take as much sleep for me, and I accomplish a lot this way.

Although I don't recommend getting up this early, I do suggest that writers carve out a time each day reserved for writing. You'll be surprised at how the word count mounts in even small blocks of time held regularly. The flow of your story will come easier, too with daily attention. At least early in the morning, interruptions are less likely; and, with the coffee flowing, I feel fresh and energized. I guess Ben Franklin had something. "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." I'd like to think so, anyway.

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Hank Aaron

Henry Louis Aaron, known as Hank, was born February 5, 1934, weighing in at 12.25 pounds. He was one of eight children born to a poor family in the Mobile, Alabama area. His brother, Tommie, also played in Major League Baseball. His family didn't have the money for any sports equipment, so Hank improvised bats and hit bottle caps growing up.

When he began to play baseball as an adult, the leagues were segregated. He played briefly in the Negro Leagues, but most of his career (21 seasons) came with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. He held the major league record for the most home runs (755) for 33 years. When he retired, he remained with the Braves organization.

Because of his skill with a bat, he soon earned the nickname of Hammer or Hammerin' Hank. Although his strength as a player lay in his hitting, when his team took the field, he played mostly in right field. He still holds the records for the most seasons as an All-Star, runs batted in, extra base hits, and total bases. He was truly one of baseball's greats.

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