Giveaways and Christmas Wisdom You Can Use

Writing friends are amazing! Today I'm sending you to a couple of hot spots on the web so you can judge for yourself.

Courtney and I with "our" agent in the middle

Dear, dear friend, Courtney Walsh, is giving away stuff, and I mean LOTS of stuff on her blog this week and next. Today is a multi-gift giveaway for the creative soul, and she's giving away Broken Wings and a jazzy 3 CD-set of Harry Connick, Jr. and several scrapbooking lovers items, including the scrapbooking book she authored. Like I said, very cool. Look for her other giveaways coming up too!

Courtney's Blog


My friend Judy Christie is a prolific novelists AND writes non-fiction AND she has the most wonderful sense of humor. She's a joy to be around and has some great advice from her new book Hurry Less, Worry Less, at Christmas which she shared on Inspire A Fire. You'll love this!

I'm trying to be more intentional this year and did a minimal amount of decorating, but I did set out the nativity sets.  I love the simplicity of this one.

Have a great weekend!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 12

Day 12. The Letter L for Legacy.

I was honored recently to sit in my pastor’s study and learn more about the legacy of our church. He was kind enough to write an article about the time capsule that was found during a reconstruction project and how First Baptist Tulsa has impacted our city for more than one hundred years. I’d love for you to read Deron Spoo’s inspiring story on Inspire a Fire. 
Talking with Deron made me think more about the concept of legacy, and I think it’s something to ponder during this month of Thanksgiving.

What sort of legacy will you leave for future generations? What will be your personal mark on the world? For some, it might be building an empire, getting your name on a plaque on the side of the building, or having a vaccine that eradicated a terrible disease named after you. The majority of us leave a mark that is far less grandiose and yet, in the big scheme, every bit as important. Raising a child, enduring a debilitating disease, teaching a classroom of students to read, holding the hand of a parent who’s just lost a child. When others observe you in action, an impression is made, and over the course of a lifetime, many small impressions become your legacy.

From my parents, I learned about Jesus and faith, the importance of being honest, and gained confidence that I could accomplish whatever I put my hand to. From my grandparents, I have the examples of strong family loyalty and the value of hard work that led them to survive the Great Depression. During this Thanksgiving season, I’m grateful for a strong heritage, for the fact that I knew all of my grandparents and several of my great grandparents.

And now I’m a grandparent myself. It doesn’t seem possible, but life passes at such warp speed that it makes me dizzy, and I wonder what possible impact I’m having on the world and on my family. I’m nearly certain that I won’t be remembered in future generations as a scholar or writer who changed the world. A few people may be blessed by my books, but the greater scope will probably be passed down through the family. When it’s all said and done, I pray my legacy is positive and that people say I wasn’t afraid to look life in the eye and accept new challenges, that I gave it my all, that I spoke up when I needed to, and that I shared the love of Jesus. I’ve been a miserable failure many times with those very things, but at the end of my life, I would feel honored to have the epitaph on my tombstone read, “She tried.”

What sort of legacy are you leaving? How do you want people to remember you?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day Nine

Day 9. The Letter I.

Today I’m thankful for Inspiration.

WRITER’S MYTH: If you just wait for inspiration, it will come, and the words will flow like molten lava onto the page, igniting the world with your brilliance.

Oh, if only that were so. The truth is writing is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. It’s hard work. And sometimes grueling. As nice as it would be, an author doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for inspiration to strike. The writing chair and keyboard await. Deadlines lurk. Books (and blog posts!) don’t write themselves. There are, however, some things that just by nature are inspiring or which I’ve found helpful to jumpstart my brain. Oddly enough, these ten things are also things which bring me joy and contentment.

Maui, June 2011

1. Books – Reading great novels not only satisfies my need to be drawn into fictitious story worlds, but also challenges me to be a better writer.

2. Music – Jazz, doo-wop, gospel, and golden oldies are regular choices for me. I can’t imagine a world without music.

3. Sunsets – There is nothing quite so breathtaking as a sunset on the prairie, especially the shifting colors as evening slips into night. The ones in Maui are pretty incredible too.

4. The smell of new rain – I never tire of this smell, and coupled with it, the patter of rain on the roof as I settle in with my computer to write plays its own kind of music.

5. Coffee – Oh sweet Sumatra, vivacious Verona, eloquent Espresso, friendly Folgers, capricious Columbian. You make my mornings brighter and my heart happy.

6. Laughter – Grandkid giggles. Belly laughing that makes tears run down my cheeks. The world needs more laughter.

7. Change of scenery – Weekend getaways. Exotic vacations. Visits with friends. All are inspiring in their own way.


8. Reading the inspirational stories of others – I’m a Guideposts reader and happy to be part of a new website that brings inspirational stories every day.

9. Prayer – A day bathed in prayer makes all the difference in my outlook and my writing output.

10. God’s Word – So many scriptures inspire me, but here’s one that helps me keep my focus as I’m writing:  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

I’m feeling inspired – how about you? Do you have any special places or rituals that help stir inspiration in you?

Inspire a Fire Update

Inspire a Fire has been up and running several weeks now. I hope you've been able to read some of the inspirational posts there. Some have made me cry, others have given me goosebumps, all have given me determination to be a better person, to pursue with greater fervor my walk with Christ. I'm really glad for the small part I've had in bringing a couple of those stories to readers.

The truth is, I'm blessed by knowing some incredible people, people who've touched me and been great examples of service, of hope, of encouragement. So those are the people I've asked in this first month to share their stories.

Elsie Cowan is the mother-in-law of one of my best friends. She's the epitome of giving to others. I've never seen her when she didn't have a smile on her face. If you missed it, here's the story about making quilts for Boys Ranch - Quilted With Love. 

Miranda and Jesse Lewis live in a small town outside Oklahoma City. We've known Jesse and his family for years and years, though, and we grieved along with others about the loss of their home in a tornado last May. Miranda tells of her experience in What The Wind Blew In. 


Inspiring stories everyday. That's what our goal is at Inspire a Fire.

We believe one person has the power to make a huge difference in the world and eternity. Sometimes it only takes one match, one spark, to ignite an inferno of change.

Hope you'll stop by and be inspired, too!

Inspire a Fire Website goes LIVE today

Today's the day! Months have gone into planning, praying, and assembling a team to bring you Inspire a Fire - a website that will tug at your heartstrings as you read stories about real people who've had tremendous struggles or feel compelled to step out into the world and make a difference.

We believe one person has the power to make a huge difference in the world and eternity. Sometimes it only takes one match, one spark, to ignite an inferno of change.

Brought to you by the creators of Novel Rocket (formerly Novel Journey), an entire team has pulled together for this endeavor. I'm excited about the possibilities and being a part. I will post on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.

We'd love for you to check us out now. And please, click on the Submissions tab at the very top if you know someone in your community who has a great story or is doing something extraordinary. And go to the Make a Difference tab to see how can be involved in your own community.

We're very excited about this website and hope to see you there! Please stop by and leave a comment.