Gratitude Check

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." 

Psalm 107:1

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." 

William Arthur Ward

Gratitude Check

Is gratitude a part of your daily life? I am thankful for many things, but I don't 

always see things through positive or grateful eyes. Maybe you can relate.

For instance, do you ever:

• View the day's accomplishments through what did not get done?
• View your worth and progress according to your weaknesses only?

If you do, perhaps you'd like to join me in a gratitude exercise by: 

•  Counting our blessings.
• Treasuring moments spent with loved ones.
• Celebrating things accomplished, no matter how small.
• Celebrating strengths while recognizing and working on flaws. 
• Viewing life as a journey, where one small step forward is better than none at all.

What do you think? Can a gratitude check help us express thankfulness 

more freely, touching and inspiring others, as Mr. Ward suggests? 

Fun Giveaway News  

The Emblazon authors are celebrating "A whole year of creating lifelong readers" 

by giving away a Kindle preloaded with 50 awesome books for tweens! 

Who are the Emblazon authors? They are a group of talented and dedicated 

writers who are "Writing stories on the hearts of children." 

Enter the giveaway HERE.

I Love to Write Day

  Did you know that November 15 is 

I Love to Write Day?

It is indeed, so feel free to celebrate as you like!

Check out the history of I Love to Write Day here.

So what do you think? Do you agree with Mr. Ward? 

What are you grateful for? 

I'm taking a break until Monday, December 1. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US friends! 

See you soon! :)

Happy writing,
 
Karen

 Photo credit - Stock Exchange

Chocolate Giveaway & Blogoversary Recap

It's been a wonderful 5th Blogoversary Month. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to help me celebrate. I appreciate you all so much! Without you, my blog would be boring.

It's been a busy month! Here is a summary:

On March 3, aka National Grammar Day, we discussed Active versus Passive writing.

The fabulous Robyn Campbell stopped by on March 10 for a fun interview.

Fellow Helping Hands Press author Jen Cudmore shared her thoughts on professional correspondence on March 17. Here's the link if you missed it.

Find March 24th's interview with my writing mentor and friend Dr. MaryAnn Diorio here.

I also made a few appearances:

Celebrating Women's History Month with a post at the Coffeehouse for Writers' Blog.

Stopped by the Wednesday's Writer's Workspace at The Writing Nut.

Visited Gelati's Scoop to discuss The Blogging Code.

Shared poetry writing tips for kids at Carol J. Alexander's Lessons From the Homestead.

The Chocolate Giveaway

What blogoversary is complete without chocolate, right? I knew you'd agree! :)

I will assemble a little custom chocolate package for one follower according to their preference (milk or dark chocolate). Kindly follow the instructions below.

• You must be a GFC (Google Friend Connect follower) and leave your email address with your comment.
• Gain bonus entries (+1 each) by posting this on Facebook, your blog, and/or Twitter. Please total your entries and include links with your comment.
• Open to residents of the United States.
• Deadline to enter is midnight EST Thursday, April 3, 2014. Winner will be chosen by random.org, notified via email, and will have 36 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Join me next week when Jennifer Brown Banks stops by to share her timeless wisdom. Carol J. Alexander visits in April too to discuss her journey to publication.

What have you been celebrating lately? Have a great week!

Happy writing,

Karen :)

Congrats to Medeia Sharif, Robyn Campbell, and Janette Dolores - they are last week's giveaway winners of MaryAnn Diorio's books!

Photo credit #1: Stock Exchange
Photo credit #2: Stock Exchange

Book Spotlight and Giveaway with Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund's latest book, Rebellious Heart is out and making a splash among historical fiction fans. I am pleased to be among her influencers - it's always a treat to get a peek at her books! Here are the details:

Book Description

A love that would shape history forever...


Because she's a woman, higher learning was always closed to Susanna Smith. But her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. And she's determined to marry well, so she'll be able to continue her work with the less fortunate.

Growing up with little to his name, poor country lawyer Benjamin Ross dreams of impacting the world for the better. When introduced to the Smiths he's taken by Susanna's intelligence and independent spirit, but her parents refuse to see him as a suitor for their daughter.

When the life of a runaway indentured servant is threatened, Susanna is forced to choose between justice and mercy, and Ben becomes her unlikely advisor. But drawing closer to this man of principle and intellect lands her in a dangerous, secret world of rebellion and revolution against everything she once held dear.


My Review

Ms. Hedlund's books have it all - action, intrigue, history, and a bit of romance. Rebellious Heart is no exception. It immerses the reader into life in Colonial America, and addresses tough issues related to indentured servants and the political unrest simmering above and beneath the surface. 

Rebellious Heart is loosely based the courtship between John and Abigail Adams. While the details were fabricated, I found this to be an interesting take on our nation's history. A story of this nature, while subject to the author's imagination, brings the past alive in an intriguing way. 

This book was engaging from beginning to end. I enjoyed getting to know the characters whose struggles were not so different from our own. The plot, rich with detail and purpose, offers an adventurous look at a pivotal time in America. Rebellious Heart is in my opinion, another wonderful book to Jody Hedlund's credit.

Giveaway Details:

• You must be a Google Friend Connect follower and leave your email address with your comment.
• Gain bonus entries (+1 each) by posting this on Facebook, your blog, and/or Twitter. Please total your entries and include links with your comment.
• Open to residents of the United States.
• Deadline to enter is noon EST Friday, October 11, 2013. Winner will be chosen by random.org, notified via email, and will have 36 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be announced Monday, October 14, 2013. 

For More Info Visit:

Jody's site
Jody's blog
Amazon
Bethany House Publishers


What's your favorite type of fiction? What are you reading this week?

Have a great week,

Karen

Please note: I was given an influencer copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Moses Conspiracy & Blogoversary Giveaway

Congratulations to Susan J. Reinhardt! Her novel, The Moses Conspiracy has made its debut! Susan will join us in the coming weeks for an interview, but I couldn't resist sharing the good news. :)



Here's the summary of this long awaited book: 

A trip to post-terrorized Washington, D.C. in 2025 and a buggy accident in Bird-in-Hand, PA set in motion events that expose a diabolical plan to destroy the Christian community. Ellie and John Zimmerman find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening investigation, fighting a shadowy enemy.

Convinced it's now safe to visit D.C., Ellie and her firstborn, 8-year-old Peter, travel to the nation's capital. Both mother and child make an effort to enjoy the sights, but they're unprepared for the challenges they face. Her nightmares come true when she and Peter are separated.

Back home, John witnesses a neighbor's buggy accident. The suspicious circumstances and law enforcement's refusal to take them seriously prompt him to take on the role of detective. He and a tenacious reporter band together and vow to find out what's happening in Bird-in-Hand.

Extended family squabbles erupt when John's sister, Annaliese, faces off with Ellie for blowing her D.C. experiences out of proportion. She'd rather ignore the warnings than deal with the growing danger.

John and Ellie can't decide whether her trip and his involvement with the accident were such a good idea. People are getting hurt, and their own family receives ominous warnings. Turning back the clock is not an option, but going forward could initiate more violence.

The small community is shattered when the unthinkable occurs. Will family, friends, and neighbors band together or allow fear to prevent them from taking action? Caught between strained family relationships and a faceless enemy, the couple rely on God for wisdom and protection. Little do they know that He's working on their behalf each step of the way. The scabs of a past tragedy get ripped open, and the truth of their second child's death is revealed. While they may expose the culprits, will they survive the heartache it brings?

  
Sounds like a winner, doesn't it? I've read a bit, but am looking forward to reading the entire book. I am SO excited for Susan. It's been a long and interesting adventure, and her persistence paid off. 

About Susan
 
Susan J. Reinhardt's journey to publication began as a non-fiction writer. She's been published in The RevWriter Resource, Devotions Magazine, A Secret Place, Vista, Live, and numerous other compilations and periodicals. Her appreciation for using fiction techniques inspired her to use fiction as a vehicle for truth. A widow, stepmom, and active church member, Susan enjoys reading, couponing, gardening, and searching for small treasures in antique shops. 

The Moses Conspiracy is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & Kobo.

Visit Susan at her Blog, Facebook page, and on Twitter.




Another Blogoversary Giveaway 

Thank you for your amazing support! :) Although I cannot give you all a gift, I can offer another giveaway to express my appreciation.
 
Gift #1 - A copy of The Moses Conspiracy ebook.  The winner will be among the first to have the privilege of reading Susan's book!  

Note: Don't have a Kindle or Tablet with an e-reader? No worries! The Kindle for PC feature allows you to download a free Kindle reading app for your computer and other mobile devices. Click here for details.

Gift #2 - A Dove Chocolate Bar, a red journal and coordinating pens. Every writer needs a journal and chocolate, right?


 

 

Giveaway Details 

• You must be a GFC follower and leave your email address with your comment.
• Gain bonus entries (+1 each) by posting this on Facebook, your blog, and/or Twitter. Please total your entries and include links with your comment.
• Open to residents of the United States.
• Deadline to enter is noon EST Friday, March 22, 2013. Winners will be chosen by random.org, (the first name will receive #1, the second, #2), be notified via email, and have 36 hours to respond or another name will be chosen. Winners will be announced Monday, March 25, 2013.

Have you read any books by debut authors lately? Where do your writing dreams take you?

Happy writing,

Karen