A photo of a cup of coffee.Image via Wikipedia

Psalm 54:4 ~ Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. (ESV)

Until recently, I was a social coffee drinker. I love a good mocha with friends or a frappucino on a hot day. But all that changed a few months ago. Concurrent with the birth of my third child, I became one of “those” people. The ones you shouldn’t mess with until they’ve had their first cup of coffee and who aren’t really awake until they’re on their second.

I guess it was just a matter of time before coffee went from being an occasional treat to a morning ritual. I haven’t slept through the night in almost a year. And the more sleep I lost to midnight and 3AM feedings, the more caffeine became my friend.

Prior to our most recent addition, I would have described my life as a three-ring circus. Lots of activity, but with a reasonable amount of order. Now, I’d have to say my life more closely resembles a hurricane. Swirling and buffeting, with high winds generating huge waves.

People ask me how I do it. My response? I don’t. In my own strength, I can do nothing. On my own, the hurricane would overwhelm the shoreline of my life and nothing, not even a strong cup of French roast, would be able to get me through my day.

There are still times when I fall into the trap of thinking that I have to hold everything together. And the more I think that way, the more everything seems to fall apart.

But when I lean into my Heavenly Father, He pulls me into the eye of the hurricane. The peaceful spot in the middle. The one place where I can catch my breath, even as everything swirls around me.

He is the one who holds me, and my life, together. The coffee helps get me going in the morning, but it is His help that carries me through each and every day.

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I’m thrilled to kick off the blog tour for Social Media Marketing for Writers. Edie Melson is one of my favorite people. She has taken me under her wing and carved time out of her schedule to mentor me as I navigate the winding path to publication.

Here are a few things you should know about Edie:

1. She is the busiest woman alive. I have 3 young children so I know what busy looks like. Edie’s workload terrifies me!

2. One reason Edie is so busy is because she’s so incredibly good at what she does and has more job offers than she can handle.

3. The other reason she’s so busy is because she has such a heart for others that it’s hard for her to say no. (Our writing group is going to have to stage an intervention if she keeps saying yes).

4. Edie also has a heart for teaching writers. She wants to see them succeed, wants to see them improve and wants to spare them from making newbie mistakes.

5. Edie is a social media guru. At writers conferences across the nation, she teaches classes on establishing your web presence, writing for the web and social media.



Edie Melson

 Now, she’s taken the material that she presents at conferences and on the many blogs she contributes to and compiled all of it into an e-book, Social Media Marketing for Writers and it’s available for download to your Kindle or Nook. If you don’t have a Kindle or a Nook, both offer free applications for your PC or Mac.

Here’s the review I wrote for Amazon and Barnes and Noble:

Whether you’re an aspiring writer building your platform, a newly published author marketing your first book or an established novelist striving to connect with your readers, Social Media Marketing for Writers will give you all the tools you need to establish your virtual presence—and keep your sanity while you do it.

Navigating social media can be overwhelming, but this guide gives step by step instructions for everything from setting up your first blog to structuring your daily on-line activities so you still have time to do what writers do best—write.

If you want to maximize your successes while streamlining your efforts, Social Media Marketing for Writers is the best place to start.

What I didn’t say is that while this book is written for writers, it’s also an invaluable resource for musicians, artists, small business owners or anyone in direct sales.

If you have a product and need a platform, you will benefit from this book.

The other thing I didn’t say is that I had the privilege of sitting down with Edie a few weeks before this book came out and she gave me many of the strategies she presents in this book. I’ve only just begun implementing them, but a quick check of my blog stats and Twitter followers indicates that her methods are already working for me.

I’m sure they’ll work for you, too! If you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for?

Download Social Media Marketing for Writers now!

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Matthew 6:8b-For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (ESV)

Summertime in South Carolina means afternoons so hot you start sweating before you get one flip-flop out the door. And this summer, it’s meant frequent thunderstorms so powerful they hurl hail and break branches all over the neighborhood.

Summertime is supposed to be a time when the living is easy. When schedules recede and fun reigns supreme.

At least that’s what I hear.

In my world, summertime means long days with children who even at their tender ages understand what I mean when I say “It’s too hot to play outside.” If they forget, a few minutes in the pizza oven we call our backyard is all it takes to remind them.

Plus, we have a brand new little man and the sun and heat are just too much for baby soft skin and a body that’s still learning how to regulate temperature.

So what’s a mommy to do? I’d be lying if I didn’t say sometimes the answer is, “Turn on the TV.” But sometimes the answer is, “Let’s go down to the basement.”

I didn’t grow up with a basement. Never thought much about them. Didn’t want one, much less think I might ever need one. In fact, what I wanted was a screened in porch with a ceiling fan.

But as I sit here in the cool of the basement, watching my children ride their bikes around in circles, laughing and giggling and burning off energy at a glorious pace, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

Because my Abba knew.

He knew what I needed—not just before I asked—but before I even had the good sense to think to ask.

He’s like that, my Abba.

Basement blessings abound. Gifts from my Abba. The One who sometimes chooses to give me, not what I think I want, but what He knows I need.

I wonder if He waits for me to realize that He’s stepped into my world and showered me with love. I wonder how many times I’ve missed it because I wasn’t paying attention to the still small voice that says, “This is from me to you. I’m glad you like it sweetheart.”

Because He’s like that, my Abba.

What sort of basement blessings has He given you recently? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

I read a lot of books on writing. I have to. I blog about them once a month, over at The Write Conversation. And so far, I’ve learned something valuable from each book I’ve read.

However, I can’t say they’ve all been page-turners. Useful? Absolutely. Pleasurable reading? Not always. Let’s face it. Some books on the craft of writing read more like a textbook than a novel.

But not all of them. James Scott Bell has written some of the classic writing texts of our time—Plot & Structure, Revision & Self-Editing, and The Art of War for Writers. All of which should be on your shelf if they aren’t already. And all of them downright enjoyable reading.

I follow Bell on Twitter (@JamesScottBell) and I make it a point to stop by the blog, The Kill Zone, every Sunday to read his posts.

So when I heard he had an e-book out that was a compilation of many of his previous posts on The Kill Zone as well as some new material, I was intrigued.

When I found it was available for $2.99 as a Nook or Kindle download, I was sold. Sure, I could go the The Kill Zone and spend hours hunting through months of posts. But I have a life.

Besides, there are more than blog posts included in Writing Fiction For All Your Worth. We get a peak inside Bell’s writing notebook, interviews with successful authors, and “Consider Your Worth” questions to make you think deeper about where you are as a writer.

And this book is funny. I wondered if I found some sections funny because I read them at 3AM while feeding a newborn. And just about anything can be amusing at 3AM. But a quick re-read at a more respectable hour confirmed it. This book is a fun read that’s also packed full of writing wisdom.

After a brief introduction, the book is divided into three main sections. The Writing World delves into the digital revolution and the rise of self-publishing. The Writing Life covers everything from Bell’s personal writing routine to practical and sometimes unusual methods writers use to keep their heads in the game and their fingers flying. The Writing Craft hits on first lines, last pages and everything in between.

While the bite-sized sections in this book make it easy to read in increments, you’ll find yourself wanting to read just one more, and then another. And when you’ve finished, you’ll be itching to sit down at the keyboard and write for all you’re worth.

Note: You don’t have to own a Nook or Kindle to enjoy this or any other e-book. Both Nook & Kindle are available as free downloads to your smartphone, PC or Mac.

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So many things get in the way.

I want to write. I need to clean. I want to edit. I need to cook. I want to study the craft. I need to fold the clothes.

Sometimes all these distractions—these obligations—frustrate me because while I’m not sure how it’s all going to play out, I am sure I’m supposed to be writing.

My frustration reveals a hard truth.

I’ve bought in to a lie.

I know better. But it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that when God calls you to do something, there will be clear skies ahead.

Um. Sorry. No.

There is nothing Biblical about that notion. In fact, a glance at the lives of many heroes of the faith reveals the opposite.

Instead of smooth sailing—shipwreck.

Instead of easy success—years of anonymous toil.

Instead of accolades and praise—imprisonment and martyrdom.

Take Paul. Not only did he manage to get himself beaten and imprisoned just about everywhere he went, but he had to keep making tents to put food on the table. Talk about not quitting your day job.

And Noah. It took him years to build the ark. We assume he was ridiculed the entire time—”Rain? What’s rain? A flood? Sure, Noah, whatever.”

So if the Bible doesn’t indicate it, where do we get the erroneous concept that fulfilling a calling will be obstacle free?

Satan is called the father of lies for a reason. When it comes to deception, he’s the best in the business.

He can’t reclaim us. But he can derail us.

And the longer he can keep us off track, the less impact we can have for the Kingdom.

If I’m waiting for my life to get easier before I begin to fulfill my calling, I’m living in a fantasy land. But here’s the truth. No fairies are coming to clean my toilets.

My calling didn’t come with a cleaning service. It came with a promise.

Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)

All things. Could that include vacuuming?

All things. Is it possible that laundry isn’t a hindrance to my call—but a part of it?

Don’t get me wrong. If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll hire a cleaning service in a heartbeat.

But until then, as Agatha Christie once said, “The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.”

I’ve got my marching orders.

What are you waiting for?

I’m hiding from my children.

I have a cup of coffee and a laptop. If I can just have thirty minutes to myself, no one gets hurt.

Yeah. Right.

The only way I get thirty minutes to myself is if I leave the house completely. Nothing is sacred. My kids follow me everywhere. Yes. I said everywhere. It’s either leave the bathroom door unlocked and be prepared for visitors, or listen to wailing that could put professional mourners to shame.

Which is why I frequently go several days without doing any writing at all. It’s not because I don’t want to. It’s because I have to stage an all-out covert operation, complete with diversionary tactics, to get enough quiet to be able to hear the voices in my head and release them onto the page. (Side note: I’m not crazy. All writers hear voices in their heads. Honest.)

I think this is why my fiction writing ground to a halt post-baby. Until a few days ago, I hadn’t written a single word of fiction since February. But, I haven’t been too stressed about it. I started writing my first novel when my now 2-year old was 6-months old. I knew the muse would return and that her return would probably coincide with a schedule that includes sleeping all night long.

There has, however, been one nagging problem. The last time I had a newborn in the house, I wasn’t a writer. I am one now. And writers write. If they don’t, they aren’t writers. They’re wanna-be-writers. And while I’ve been writing–blog posts, devotions, an article on (feel free to get a chuckle out of this) writing software–there’s been no consistency. Even as I mentally acknowledge that it takes time to adjust to life with three children, the hit-or-miss writing schedule has started to irk me.

In the midst of this, I was challenged a couple of days ago to commit to writing for ten minutes a day. Every day.

Sounds easy enough.

Yeah. Right.

It took me over an hour and three tries to get that ten minutes in yesterday.

Today went a little better. My initial attempt lasted a whopping 54.7 seconds.

I know this because being the Type-A, over-achiever, eager-beaver that I am, I set the stopwatch on my iTouch. When I say 54.7 seconds, I mean 54.7 seconds. Less than a minute of writing time before the baby started crying and the two year old bounced into the room asking for more apples.

But on my second attempt, I squeezed out an additional 15 minutes of writing before the baby decided that my Twitter feed needed to change from #amwriting to #amnursing.

My total writing time for the past few days comes in under thirty minutes, but in that time, I’ve churned out approximately 700 words on my novel.

I’m committed to writing ten minutes a day through the month of July. I’m going to keep track of what I write in those ten minutes and we’ll see just how much of a difference it will make. I’m sure some days I’ll get more than ten minutes. And some days I’ll be lucky to get my ten minutes in by midnight.

At ten minutes a day, it could take another year for me to finish my second novel.

And that’s OK.

My kids found me a little while ago. During the “interruption” to this blog post, I’ve sat with my 8-year old and listened to her read. I’ve snuggled with my baby boy and watched as my almost 4-month old discovers his feet.

I’m so glad they found me!

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Bibliophile – a person who collects or has a great love of books.

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, then you know that I love to read. What you may not know is how much I love books. I love the weight of a book in my hand, the crisp feel of a new hardback and the musty smell of a hundred year old classic.

I have friends who love to read, but have no attachment to their books. They read them, then sell or donate them.

I don’t get that.

I don’t hold it against them, but secretly (until now), I think it’s weird.

Because I can’t bear to part with my books. I moved recently and now have twenty-one boxes of books waiting for the bookshelf that will become their home. A bookshelf I intend to be large enough to hold many more books as the years go by.

All of this should explain why I’ve been reluctant to jump on the Kindle/Nook bandwagon.

Until recently, my general take on e-readers was that they were fabulous for some people but please, just hand me a book.

I haven’t entirely given up on that notion.

But never one to pass up a good deal, I downloaded the free Kindle/Nook apps to my iTouch and started downloading all the free books that looked interesting.

To my surprise, I’ve grown rather fond of the convenience of reading on my tiny little iTouch. It slides into my purse or diaper bag with ease. It even fits in my pocket.

Of course, I’ve been reading free books. So it’s felt more like a digital trip to the library.

And then Saturday, I crossed over.

I paid $9.99 for a book.

I’m still not exactly sure how it happened. I have plenty of free books to read. But they weren’t what I wanted to read. And it was late. The library was closed. I could have gone to the bookstore, but that would have meant a thirty minute round trip, plus several dollars in gas.

I thought about it off and on for a good hour. What was I thinking? Spending $9.99 on digital media with no book to sit on my shelf?

But…I pay $10 to get into a two-hour movie. Not often, but I’m obviously willing to spend that much for a brief amount of entertainment. It will take me at least twenty hours to read this book.

That’s only fifty cents an hour!

Before I knew it, I had downloaded the book and in the process, I think I figured out how the e-reader fits in my book-loving hand.

My love of books has not diminished. My first choice will always be a book. My second choice will be to download the freebies.

But every now and then, I’ll pay $9.99 for twenty hours of entertainment.

And if the book is good enough, I’ll pay even more later on for it to sit on my shelf.

I don’t like horror.

I don’t read it. I don’t watch it. I try very hard not to think about it.

So it will come as no surprise that I have never read a Stephen King novel.

What may come as a surprise, especially if you also avoid Stephen King’s novels—preferring to sleep without nightmares or a baseball bat in your hand—is that Stephen King is a respected author. His writing—according to people who are much braver than I and who have read his work—is excellent, his storytelling skills exemplary and his technique worthy of emulation.

This poses a problem for me. Because while I’m interested in reading and learning from masters of the craft, I’m not going to read his horror novels.

Fortunately for me—and you, should you happen to share my belief that it is actually possible to be scared to death—I don’t have to. Several years ago, King compiled his thoughts On Writing. No horror. No gore. Just practical writing tips from an author who knows what he’s talking about.

The book is divided into three sections—C.V., On Writing, and On Living: A Postscript.

In the C.V., King gives a brief autobiography and it’s an engaging read. I enjoyed his style and voice so much, I flirted with the idea of reading one of his novels. (I came to my senses when a popping sound made me jump and I realized it was just the A/C kicking on).

The middle section, On Writing, is a tight package of writing tips. After establishing the “Great Commandment”—read a lot, write a lot—King details what should be in your writer’s toolbox, gives suggestions for setting up your writing space and then dispenses advice on dialogue, theme, symbolism, description, characterization and the revision process.

The final section, On Living: A Postscript, is a brief account of the accident that almost claimed his life in the summer of 1999, as he was writing this book.

He concludes by providing a brief sample from a short story. We see the first draft, followed by his revisions and a note explaining why he chose to make the changes he did.

Thankfully, while this passage hints that there is some creepy stuff going on, it’s tame enough for a wimp like me to be able to see the flaws in the first draft and appreciate the revision process without hyperventilating or slamming the book closed, too afraid to read to the end.

In fact, this is a book I will open again and again. My guess is that you will, too.

Disclaimer: This book, while an excellent treatise on the craft of writing, is written in a conversational style, including very raw language.

It’s Friday morning and Memorial Day weekend is here.

Do you have anything good to read?

No?

Well, you do now. For free!

Too Close to Home is Book 1 in the Women of Justice series by Lynette Eason. As of this writing, it’s available as a FREE Nook download or a FREE Kindle download. Don’t have a Nook or a Kindle? Just download the free app to your PC or smartphone. You’ll be glad you did.

I downloaded Too Close to Home to my iTouch a few days ago after seeing it on the list of free Christian books my friend Keiki Hendrix compiles each week over at The Vessel Project. It looked interesting, and it was free, so what did I have to lose?

Plus, it turned out the author, Lynette Eason, was raised in Greenville, graduated from USC (I’m trying not to hold that against her), then Converse College and currently resides in Spartanburg, which is where the action in Too Close to Home takes place. I’m all for supporting a local author, so I dove in.

Now, I used to be one of those people who would read a book to the end no matter what. But my reading time is precious these days and if a book doesn’t grab me fast, I’m not likely to stick with it.

Believe me when I say, that was not a problem with Too Close to Home. The problem was putting it down long enough to sleep. And then the problem was trying to stop thinking about the predicament Samantha and Connor were in and were they going to get out of it alive.

Too Close to Home is heavy on mystery and intrigue, the characters are flawed but likeable, and the message that God is worth trusting even when life is turned upside down runs throughout the story without turning it into a sermon. Oh, and there’s a sweet little romance brewing, too!

There was enough foreshadowing in the early chapters to have me worried about several characters, but the author didn’t fall into the trap of picking the most obvious course of action. In fact, one character that I expected to wind up in serious trouble came through the whole thing unscathed . . . until I read the last page. Turns out I wasn’t imagining it. That poor girl is in serious danger. And I’m going to have to read book two, Don’t Look Back, to find out what happens next.

Which I intend to do . . . as soon as I can get to a bookstore!

I am an assassin.

I don’t mean to be. It’s not like I set out to be a cold-hearted killer.

But time and time again, it happens.

I wonder if all the vibrant plants at the garden center try to shrivel up as I pass by.

“Oh, no. It’s her.” The whispers travel from root to leaf, from pansy to snapdragon.
“Not her!”
“Yep. She’s the one who can kill anything…even ivy…do you know how hard it is to kill ivy?”
“Look puny, everyone.”

I browse the aisles with the best of intentions. Of course I’ll water those geraniums…every day. And I’d never think to plant the vinca in the shade, or the impatiens in full sun.

But my good intentions last until it’s 99 degrees at 5AM. I fail to water. And the flowers…die.

So it might surprise you to know that I’ve kept one Peace lily alive for over three years. I’ll admit that it’s not as large or lush as it once was, but it is still alive.

And I think I know why.

It gets droopy.

Have you seen this? If a Peace lily needs water, it flops all over the pot. It practically screams “Help me!” to the point that even someone as inattentive as me can’t help but notice that the poor thing is dying and needs a drink.

So I take two whole minutes, douse it, and then the next time I pass by, there it stands. All perky again.

I’ve been thinking about this over the past few days. Ever since my Peace lily once again made a miraculous recovery.

Because I have another plant (don’t ask me what it is) that’s not so lucky. This plant is tough. It’s a survivor. But it doesn’t make it easy on itself. Poor thing usually only gets watered when I realize the Peace lily is on life support and I water them both at the same time.

That plant stands there, refusing to bend to the pressure. It’s leaves maintain their upright position until they’re crispy. Even then, it’s only clue that there might be a problem is that the leaves fade from green to brown.

I have actually killed one of these already, so I know. That plant will die before it shows weakness.

All this got me thinking.

I think my life would be better if I would get droopy.

If instead of always toughing it out, I would admit that I need some help. If I’d let people in on the fact that I’m drying up and need some water—before I’m crispy and dead inside.

Our culture has ingrained in us that showing weakness is equal to being weak. We value toughness. We’re impressed with strength. We live by the mantra “never let ‘em see you sweat”.

But I don’t think God’s impressed with our tough guy personas.

Take King David as an example. He wrote multiple psalms that basically say “Would you help me out, I’m dying here.”

David knew how to get droopy.

And despite that—or maybe because of it—the Bible says that David was a man after God’s own heart.

You may have been recently watered. Your perkiness may be genuine. But if it isn’t, can I make a suggestion?

Get droopy.

Take your limp limbs to the source of living water. Beg Him to help you out. And then—this is key—accept the help He sends—an offer of babysitting, an invitation to dinner, help with the dishes, a phone call from a friend—take a long drink. And another. And another.

And live.

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