When Going "Home" is Enough

   I was thrilled to get to spend a little time in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, Canada recently. I had been invited by the Public Library to visit and speak about my work. To say that I was nervous was an understatement. Both of my books were set in Plaster Rock. Most citizens were well acquainted with many of the characters, and none knew the real story. I tried to fictionalize the best I could, but truth is truth and Run, River Currents was more faction, than fiction.

I was worried about people judging my family, worried that they might be coming for gossip, as this was the birthplace of my colorful mother. My sister Sue, accompanied me, rekindling a relationship we both had longed for. We stayed in the home of my favorite aunt who had recently passed. My cousin, Paul and his darling wife, Sissy made us feel like the happy-go-lucky kids again. It is a feeling I will not soon forget.

The day of the program, Sue and I locked arms and walked the streets of this precious village, waving at strangers and searching for memories from our childhood. When the rain arrived, we still walked, ducking in and out of the few retail stores in town. Everyone had heard we were coming and anticipation for the evening program began to fill the air.

The warm welcome we received by the library staff signaled the joy that would fill the night. Greeting the arriving attendees, Sue and I were overwhelmed with the graciousness of everyone. Those special people in that special place calmed me and covered the room with a gentleness that arrived unexpectedly.

I told my story. The once anxious faces relaxed and smiles beamed back at me, as the audience came to see my love for their home. When the evening was over, I was overcome by the new friendships and old memories that filled the room. I signed and sold every book I had!

Many thanks to the people of Plaster Rock and to the Public Library for the tender welcome. You made me feel like a queen!

I was home and safe in the arms of these welcoming people. Plaster Rock can be sure that it will show up in another book in the future, as there is no place like home!!!

New Blog Post Up Today!

http://venturegalleries.com/blog/dream-review-of-run-river-currents-non-fiction-finalist-in-the-2013-indie-book-of-the-year/


As a finalist in the Kindle Indie Book of the Year, I got to write a playful "dream review" for a very popular blog, Venture Gallery. Caleb  Pirtle was my gracious host. I hope you enjoy it! Click on the link above!

Fort Fairfield, Maine...A Writer's Group

I have been doing a bit of traveling the past six weeks for the books. This was a special journey for me, as I was returning to a few of the places that carried some great memories for me. The first stop was  Fort Fairfield, Maine, my birthplace. The first scheduled stop was to talk to a group of writers at a wonderful old Carnegie library.

The librarian was the wonderful! Sharon Nadeau welcomed my sister and I with open arms. She and her staff provided refreshments and such a beautiful place to work with other writers. I could not have asked for a more gracious group of women who eagerly listened, asked questions and made me feel like a million bucks!

Along with this terrific visit was the opportunity to stay with an aunt who means more to me than the sporadic contact I have kept with her can indicate. We spent time remembering long-passed loved ones and rummaged through old pictures that made me laugh. To make this journey even more memorable, I got to spend a lot of time with my older sister, something we haven't done since we were very young.

Enjoy the photos! There will be more to come as we moved along. The connection to the book, Run, River Currents was the fact that Richard Street, the street mentioned in Emily's youth was actually a real street we lived on in Maine!  A wonderful surprise that happened at the library was that one of the writer's who attended my seminar was my oldest sister's dear friend during the time we lived on Richard Street! It was a great time and I'm indebted to Fort Fairfield for having me visit!

God's Continuing Grace

I woke up this morning, stretched and then showered for church. As I opened my Bible for  my morning devotions, my IPad dinged the alarm that a message was waiting. I read my readings and then popped open my IPad to search new emails as I do most mornings.

My eyes glazed over the first few messages, my coffee cup clutched in one hand. It was the. I saw the 2013 Kindle Book Review heading.  "Your book, Run, River Currents has been named a finalist in the 2013 Awards."  Sometimes, words on a page don't evoke the excitement of being named a FINALIST in a contest. I was shaking so much I almost dropped my coffee!!!!!

The amazement comes, not so much from being named one of five finalists, but in watching God move. Here is this dark book that neither the Christian Market, nor the secular market wanted. Then a secular Indie publisher who "just happened" to have a wonderful Christian editor who believed in this book enough to take it on as a project. In the wake of this book, the secular Indie publisher created a Christian imprint called Vox Dei, or voice of God which now is another outlet for good Christian books. Run, River Currents was awarded the 2012 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writer's) semi-finalist Genesis Award, and was an Honorable Mention in The New England Book Festival, now a FINALIST in the Kindle Awards!

May all glory go to God, as His hand was on me as I told this story and He is taking it where He will take it.  What a great start to a day!