A Book Recommendation and My First Book Give-away!

I simply have to tell you about a book that I just read. I could hardly put it down. In fact, I had planned on reading it over the span of a couple of days. However, I started it yesterday and ended staying up late to finish it last night. And I had the dirty dishes in my sink this morning to prove it. (I’m not proud of that fact; I’m just saying ….the book was that good.) Here’s my two cents worth.

A Man of His Word by Kathleen Fuller, 2009, (soft cover edition), A Hearts of Middlefield Novel

Fiction - Amish country, Middlefield, Ohio , Publisher – Thomas Nelson, ISBN 978-I-59554-812-2

Although A MAN OF HIS WORD was the first book by Kathleen Fuller that I’ve read, it definitely won’t be my last. Fuller has written a book that totally captivated me from the beginning. She weaves a story that makes you feel as if you are living alongside her characters in the quaint and slower-paced Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio.

Moriah thinks her life is going wunderbarr; when suddenly, her husband betrays her by abandoning their faith and leaving her -- alone and pregnant. Where does her estranged husband’s twin brother who’s always secretly loved Moriah fit into her life? Can she bring her baby into the world and make a new life for the two of them? Will the support of her family and Amish community be enough to help her move forward? Will her fears and broken heart keep her from seeing what God has in store for her? You’re intrigued, aren’t you? Believe me, this book does not disappoint.

Not only will Moriah’s story of happiness turned to heartbreak, her Amish faith, and struggles of the heart keep you enthralled; intertwined, is a delightful second story of romance with Moriah’s younger brother and the girl he thought he couldn’t stand. Although the feeling is definitely mutual, is a change of heart even possible? What does God have in store for the two that can’t seem to speak to each other without fighting?

If you like stories about the Amish and you like romance, this book is a win-win read for you. In fact, if you just like one or the other of those things in your favorite books, my guess is that you’ll still love it. It’s one of those books that you’ll want to keep on your shelf and read again. I highly recommend it.

My first book give-away! Anyone who comments on my blog between now and October 6, 2009, will be entered in the "give-away" drawing for a copy of A MAN OF HIS WORD. On October 7th, I’ll draw a name announcing the winner! Be sure and check back for the announcement , as I’ll need the winner to privately e-mail me your mailing address . (You can privately e-mail me through the e-mail contact on my profile page.)

Happy Reading!

Good Monday Morning!

The crisp feel of autumn is in the air!  The leaves on our "Burning Bush" shrubs are turning red.  Leaves are beginning to swirl from the trees, gracefully dancing to the ground.  Before long our Purple Autumn Ash tree will be changing to a beautiful purple.   As the squirrels chatter, racing to get their chores done before winter, they stop and have a game of chase around the tree right outside my window.  I get a real kick out of watching them.  Their game continues until my daughter's dogs get a whiff of them and then they're off on another kind of chase all together. I realize it's getting to be jacket time again to ward off the early morning chill in the air.  Mmmm......I LOVE AUTUMN! 

By the way, my interview with Keli Gwyn is now up on her blog.  So, if you'd like to learn a little bit more about me and my writing, please check it out at http://romancewritersonthejourney.wordpress.com/ .

I hope you all have a fabulous day and that you will feel God's presence as you go through your week.  
Blessings,
Susan

I'm baaaaack!

Hello, everyone!  I've missed you!  I'm sorry it's been so long since I've blogged!  Life has been SO busy around here, I simply have not had the time to do any blogging.  We were preparing for state fair -- that went great, by the way!  Fun, fun, fun!   This past week has been RECOVERING from state fair.  Tired, tired, tired! 

Anyway, I'm hoping life will get back to our normal hectic schedule instead of the insanely hectic one of late.  =) 

I've been asked to appear as a guest on writer Keli Gwyn's blog "Romance Writers on the Journey."  Her interview with me will be posted this coming Monday, September 28, 2009.  If you're so inclined, you may check out my interview with Keli at the following link.
 http://romancewritersonthejourney.wordpress.com/ 

Many thanks to Keli for asking me to appear on her blog.  I am truly honored. 

I am loving this writing journey the Lord has placed me on.  If you feel led, I would truly appreciate any prayers that you may wish to lift up on my behalf.  I want to glorify God in all that I write.  I need His guidance to do that. 

I'll try to do another post soon.  Many blessings to you!

Joyful because of Jesus,
Susan

Okay.....So Now It's Fixed

 .....So now I look like I don't know what I'm doing!  Which would probably be true.  A computer / blogger  techy, I'm not.   But I'm learning. 

When I posted that I was having trouble with  my comments, the comments link suddenly shows up when I posted. Huh?  Uh, now it seems to be working.  It's just on that one post earlier today that it disappeared.   Go figure!  I still don't know what happened.  No matter now, I guess.  It's only a little time and a couple of entries.  All's well that ends well.

Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!

Trouble with Comments

For some reason, my blog has decided  not to have a place for my readers to make a comment.  I've double-checked blogger help and I have all the setting right, to be best of my knowlege.  But the 0 comments link where you can make a comment will NOT show up.    I am looking into the problem.  I am sorry for the inconvenience and I'll miss your comments. 

Sincerely,
Susan Hollaway

The Writing Is Going S-L-O-W

I figure if I'm going to blog and tell you about when I make progress on my novel, I better blog when I'm not making progress as well. It is only fair.

My household has been so busy that sometimes I don't even know if I'm coming or going. Yesterday was school, speech and debate club, more school, guitar lessons, my part-time cleaning job, 4-H record book refresher course, and homeschool book club. Whew! The last four things were after regular school hours. By the way, I don't play guitar, my daughter does. I'm NOT musically talented.

Needless to say, I'm tired today. However, school, laundry, chores, dishes, and making bread still have to be done. School has been going well, the laundry is in progress, "some" of my chores are done, dishes too, and the air is beginning to smell of whole wheat bread as it's baking in the oven. I'm getting there. BUT.....

Have I accomplished any work on my book today? The answer would have to be no. These past few days, I think I'm going to work on it and I've even tried to sit down -- if only for a few minutes -- to do it. But my thoughts are all ferdoodled. I just can't seem to get my thoughts organized to accomplish it. I think I just need to slow down and relax.

We're headed to the state fair this Saturday. Record books are due on Monday night. 4-H is Monday night. I have to do the 4-H newsletter near the end of this week, so it goes out before Monday night. Plus everything in between. Yep! I'm thinking......next week (after Monday) might be a better time to try and take a deep breath and get back to work on my book. I simply can't see when I'm going to have time to do it before then.

Why are you blogging, Susan, and not working on your book now, you ask? Because I'm free-writing. A dear friend reminded me that when you can't get your thoughts together on your WIP, then just free-write. It'll help get the writing juices flowing. So, this is what you get today, friends ..... free-writing. 'Just the normal everyday stuff of what's happening in my life.

By the way, the bread's done. I only took time to grab a tortilla with a little ham and cheese in it earlier. I know you not supposed to cut it straight out of the oven. I was hungry, okay? =)

I am weak, but He is strong!

School is in full swing, the state fair starts in two days, 4-H record books are due in about two weeks, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Life has been incredibly hectic and busy for me lately. What time I've had to write I've actually worked on my book and not my blog, so it's been a while since I've made an entry. But that's a good thing. Even though I'm still on the very first, very rough draft of my WIP, I've made some progress in fine-tuning the "direction" in which I'm headed with my story.

But since I haven't posted an entry in awhile, I thought I'd better get busy. But I was SO tired that I had no idea what to write about. I thought, if I am that tired, perhaps I need to see what God has to say about being weary. So, as I sit here typing this, feeling nearly depleted in strength and energy, I seek God's counsel on the matter. As it turns out, He has quite a lot to say about it.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the end of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary.
And to him who lack might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wing like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary. " Isaiah 40: 28-31

Yes, our bodies get physically tired. Yes, we can become mentally tired. Exhausted even. But God promises, in his infinite wisdom and power, that He will renew our strength. He gives rest to the weary.

Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." Matthew 11:28-30

He knew just what I needed to hear this evening. I feel like I need rest tonight ... body, mind, and soul. And while I seek His promised rest and renewed strength, amidst all the chaos of this world and the busyness of my life, I am going to be "anxious for nothing....(Phil 4: 6-7) " . I'm going to stop, be still, and know that He is God. I'm not only going to rest in Him, I'm going to TRUST in Him. No matter what troubles our minds or hearts, HE is the answer. He is the beginning of all knowledge.

I hope that you will find rest in Him today. No matter what your circumstances are or where you find yourself, go to Him. Give Him your burdens. He's there with His arms outstretched....waiting to embrace us. As I hit the post button, that's where I'm headed, straight into His arms. For I am weak, but He is strong!

Today's word count ......

A little over 2,000 words today!
Only the first, very rough draft of one scene/chapter.
Just writing.
No internal editing.
But it felt good to write.
2,073 words.
I'll take it. =)

Happy writing, everyone!