Carla's Writing Cafe Has Moved! Come Join Me at the New Place!

 

Hi there! If you've come here for the Cafe, please know that EVERYTHING has been transferred to the new site! All the blog posts. All the pics that have gone up here over the past 4 1/2 years. You can even search for specific words over at the new place, too! To celebrate the grand opening, I'll have giveaways throughout the month of February. What's not to love? 

Come over to "Those Were The Days" and take a tour. Let me know what you think! This blog will remain as is, but will no longer be updated after today. 

Thanks. See you there!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 28

Day 28. 

A frost is in the air. Most of the turkey is gone. ALL of the pie is gone (thank goodness for that!). The house is quiet. All is calm. And I’m thankful for the relaxed Thanksgiving we've had with two of our sons and their families. We enjoyed eating (of course), watching football, playing cards in the kitchen, and doing a jigsaw puzzle in the dining room.

I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed sitting around a table, sorting puzzle pieces by color, elbowing each other looking for just the right piece. It’s a sort of being together that we don’t do much of anymore, and you know I’ve missed that. With our iPads and data phones and laptops, I wonder if we’ve forgotten how to just “be” with one another. No agenda. No volume controls. No clock to watch. And you can get up from the table and meander off to do something else for awhile or stretch your legs. And when you come back with a cuppa something warm, someone will have added a few new pieces and you settle in for another session, heads together, bent over looking for an elusive piece or giving a little hoo-rah when you find it. And always toward the end, the pieces start flying into place and you joke about who will get to put in the last piece. Being the grownups we were, we let one of the grandkids have the esteemed honor.

I’m thankful for the reminder of simpler times, of the pleasure of doing a jigsaw puzzle. And because I enjoyed it so much, I’ve added “get a new puzzle” to the Christmas list. Actually, I can’t wait.

How about you? Were there any reminders of the past from your Thanksgiving weekend? What family activities did your family enjoy?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 26

Day 26. The Letter Y for You, my readers!

If you have read one of my books, thank you.

If you have attended one of my book launches or book signings, I appreciate the time you took from your busy life to celebrate with me.

If you have written a review and posted it on your blog or online, thank you for sharing your insights and your gift of words.

If you’ve read my blog, been friends with me on Facebook, have liked my Facebook author page, or followed me on Twitter, thanks for hanging out and spending your days with me.

If you’ve said a prayer or given me a word of encouragement, you’ve blessed me in ways you can’t imagine.

If you’ve written me a note, an email, or messaged me, thanks for the sacrifice of your time.

If you’ve shared my books with others or recommended them to a friend, you are a treasure above all things.

To all of you, my gratitude overflows. Because of you, I search for the perfect word, that special turn of phrase, the spark that will make my stories come alive. It’s for you I write.


As a very small way of saying thanks, I’m giving away two of my books in a drawing. I’ll be drawing two names on Dec. 3, and winners may choose either Chasing Lilacs or Broken Wings. To be entered in the drawing, please leave a comment WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION telling me how you first found out about my blog or my books. Even if you already own one or both books, you’re welcome to enter. I’d be honored if you won and gave my book to your church or local library or gave it as a gift. If you’re a first-time reader, my hope is that you will like what you read and tell others.

Thanks for your support and joining this adventure with me!

Note: These are my personal books. Chances of winning dependent on number of entries. Void where prohibited. Open to North American residents only. 

STARDUST ~ Coming in May, 2012

Thrilled to share with you at last ~ my next novel, coming in May, 2012.

STARDUST: A Novel

Shortly after burying her unfaithful husband, Georgia Peyton unexpectedly inherits the derelict Stardust motel from a distant relative. Despite doubts from the community and the aunt who raised her, she is determined to breathe new life into it. But the guests who arrive aren't what Georgia expects: Her gin-loving mother-in-law; her dead husband's mistress; an attractive but down-on-his-luck drifter who's tired of the endless road; and an aging Vaudeville entertainer with a disturbing link to Georgia's past.

Can Georgia find the courage to forgive those who've betrayed her, the grace to shelter those who need her, and the moxie to face the future? And will her dream of a new life under the flickering neon of the STARDUST ever come true?

Here are a couple of the early endorsements:

"A reverence for the past and a keen eye for interesting characters make Stardust as bright and magical as a twinkling neon sign on a dark, lonely two-lane. You'll love the journey as much as the final destination. Another winner from an author with a uniquely beautiful talent!" (Lisa Wingate, National Bestselling and Award-winning Author of Dandelion Summer and Blue Moon Bay)

"Carla Stewart is one of the best at slicing out a piece of Americana and serving it to the reader in a delicious story. STARDUST is a smooth, inviting, well told story that will stick with you long after you read the last line and close the book. A worthy read." (Rachel Hauck, award winning author of Dining with Joy)

This was a fun book to write, although I didn't whip it out as fast as I would've liked. As you all know, life intervenes, and during the months when I was writing, a lot was going on. Somehow it all came together just in time. And I can't say enough about the talented, creative cover art team at FaithWords. It was love at first sight when I got my first glimpse of this one. You'll hear more in coming months about the writing and the setting, but for now, another book is in the embryo, hankering to be written stage, AND it's on a deadline, so I'll be carving out some writing time the next few months.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE this writing thing? And for all of you - I cherish your support, your cheering from the sidelines, and hearing from you. We're in this together!

And with that said, perhaps I should ask - what would YOU like for me to write a story about? Any burning topics that fall in the "nostalgic" realm? I'd love to hear your ideas.

THE COVER OF MY DEBUT BOOK - CHASING LILACS

Here it is—the cover of my first book, Chasing Lilacs! I’ve been anxious to share it with you (and all creation) since I first saw it a while back, and now I have word from my publisher that it's official. I’m not sure which has been the greater thrill—getting my first contract or viewing my first book cover. I understand now what others have said - the process of waiting for the birth of a book is a bit like being pregnant. An over-used analogy, but true.

Sort of. The gestation period for a book is more like that of an elephant, but the really cool thing is you get to see your “baby” book about halfway through the pregnancy. It’s like having a tiny window inserted in your tummy so you can get a glimpse of what your little one will look like.

The real live flesh and bones book is still developing, growing into the 5.25 X 8 inch baby it will become. And with a little over seven months until the due date (Mark your calendars - June, 2010), I’m content to just have a cover to feast my eyes on.

A word about my publishers. The team at FaithWords has been wonderful, asking my opinion every step of the way and then creating what I believe is a fabulous cover. For me, it conveys the nostalgia in the book, the intoxicating smell of lilacs, and a touch of whimsy with butterfly ready to light on the blossoms. It’s been an incredible experience, and I’m thankful and blessed. Hats off to Whitney, Anne, April, Katy, and the art team who’ve all had a hand in making my dream come true.

Later I’ll share more about the story and keep you abreast of some of the exciting things planned for the debut of Chasing Lilacs. Until then . . .