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Monday, June 30, 2014

What I'm Into In June


(In lieu of my typical "Intentional Monday" post, I'm running a June wrap up post. It's kinda the same as the Monday posts, only... not.)

Even though it's officially summer, I was not officially on break in June. Not yet.

First we had to get through:

swim meets and swim banquet, including nightly practices and twice a week meets

I call this one "Swim Meet at Sunset"


the launch of my book-- have you gotten your copy yet? Please do!



which included a very small book tour to the coast of NC (tough job but someone's gotta do it)

and the end of the school year, including an 8th grade graduation



I also did a lot of lazing around on the porch, preferably reading but sometimes working


If you gotta work, you should at least have a nice view while you do it


JUNE LINKS:

This post about summer reading:  "I don’t know how to experience summer without the silent soundtrack of someone else’s words." Yes, exactly.

And since we're talking about Addie Zierman, I wrote a guest post on her blog in June about not being afraid of the gray (anymore). This was one of those pieces that just poured out of me in one fell swoop, my fingers typing as fast as they could to keep up with the whoosh of words.

These life hacks for parents are genius, I tell you. Do yourself a favor and read this post for some truly sneaky ways to tackle some nagging issues. Love the tooth fairy letter, the get along shirt, and the wifi password ideas.

This Pinterest board all about INFJ. When I was first "diagnosed" with this rare personality type, I was mortified. The results were proof of how weird I am. 1% of the population?? Really? But now I've learned to embrace it. Own my weirdness. This board affirms so much about me and the way I operate within the world.

This was a fun post about a group I'm a part of, and how we all have books coming out in the same summer. Proof that writing groups really do serve a purpose. Although if you asked us how we help each other, I'm certain none of us could tell you exactly. Except that we laugh a lot. And we can gripe to each other about the perils and pitfalls of publishing because no one understands like another writer. And that's got to count for something.

Loved this post from a published writer to her unpublished self. Some very true, very wise advice.

And speaking of writing, I thought this example of a one-sheet for proposing a novel was well done. Thinking of pitching your novel? Save this for future reference.

Hope June was kind to you. And here's to a restful, relaxing July!

What I'm Into
I linked this post to Leigh Kramer's blog. Enjoyed this format? Go here for more!
 
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Friday, June 27, 2014

More About The Old Bridge


For any of you who have read THE BRIDGE TENDER and would like to learn more about the real bridge at the center of the novel, this video interview goes into some very cool detail and photos. If you're into history, or just curious to learn more about the real landmark my new novel is centered around, press play!


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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Word of the Week Wednesday-- And An Announcement


ex·pa·ti·ate
ikˈspāSHēˌāt/
verb
  1. speak or write at length or in detail.
 
Ok, ok I am cheating a bit with my word of the week. I might have sort of manipulated the word to suit my own purposes. Forgive me for doing that but I needed to tell you about my decision to return to speaking, and this seemed like as good a way to do it as any.
 
I have decided, after a lengthy absence from the speaking world, to embark once again on the art of expatiating. But I don't want to speak at length or in detail about just anything. There is only one thing I want to share with women's groups, moms groups, retreats, dinners, etc. And that is that the same elements I have to include when I'm constructing a novel must also be at work in your life. I want to inspire women to see the elements of story for what they are instead of being afraid of them, and to understand why they must be present. My message is called More To Your Story, and it will change your perspective about the things that happen to you.
 
To learn more about what I'm offering, visit my speaker page here. There's also a handy tab at the top of this page that says "Need A Speaker?" in case you ever need to get back to it, or you'd like to share it.
 
I hope you will share it with the decision makers in your church or group. I hope that in the very near future I can come share this exciting message-- one I'm so passionate about because I've seen it at work in my life-- in your neck of the woods. Please contact me via the email address on the speaker page if you'd like to make it happen. I look forward to being able to expatiate about story, and how yours is being told by the Master.
 
 
 
 
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Monday, June 23, 2014

Intentional Mondays


Quote: "The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in and out of the wind." CS Lewis  (found via Elizabeth Foss' blog post 6/10/14)

My One Word... AFFIRM. This verse: Psalm 119:116, "Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; let not my hopes be dashed."

Listening To: David Gray's 3 cd deluxe set came in the mail this week. And he signed it. It's been on repeat play since.



Sharing Stories... Jen Weiner's new book is very, very good. It's about motherhood and marriage and addiction to prescription drugs. I read it very fast, just like all her other books.

Randomness... See "In The Kitchen" for a combined randomness/kitchen entry.

In The Kitchen... Have you ever had a neighbor randomly give you squash? This has happened to me more than you might think, and I always feel bad because pretty much my entire family detests squash. So it goes bad and then I feel like a terrible steward, not to mention an ungrateful neighbor, for throwing out this gift. But the other day I got an idea for Squash Pasta. I created the recipe while I was running, then I came home and made it.

And it was very, very good. Even the non-squash-eaters ate it.

So if you get squash randomly given to you by well-intentioned neighbors, here's what you can do:

Squash Pasta

4 squash
box of whole grain rotini or penne
2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup diced onion
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 can petite diced tomatoes

Cook and drain pasta.
Heat olive oil in pan. Add garlic, onion and squash and cook for five minutes, or until cooked through. Add Italian seasoning and can of tomatoes and stir until heated through and well mixed. Remove from stove and add pasta, toss to combine ingredients. Serve warm.

The next time I receive random squash, I will be prepared.

Plans... This week is my little book tour so I'm gone to the NC coast. Looking forward to meeting old and new readers, taking at least one nice long walk on the beach, and seeing friends. I will try to remember to take lots of pictures and share about it here soon.

Loveliness... Our modest little swim club boasts one of my favorite views-- the pool looks out over our little neighborhood lake and I think it's just lovely. The other night at our last home swim meet, my daughter captured this sunset moment (photo below). She is, to quote her, "obsessed with sunsets." That's a pretty good thing to be obsessed with, I say.

Photo of the week:

 
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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Word of the Week Wednesday


te·mer·i·ty

 noun \tə-ˈmer-ə-tē\
                                              
: the quality of being confident and unafraid of danger or punishment especially in a way that seems rude or foolish

I used this word a few days ago, then had to go look it up to make sure I was using it correctly. It didn't sound right. I heard "timid" within it. So how could it mean bold? But it does.

But there is that little qualifier at the end, the part about your boldness taking you to the point of being rude or foolish. It is when boldness goes wrong, takes things a step too far.

I've been working on being bolder. On saying things aloud that I am inclined to keep to myself. On stepping out and counting on things to work out. It is part of why I chose the word AFFIRM as my one word this year. The process of standing on God's promises is just that... a process. To trust Him to affirm His promises in my life is not something I'm comfortable with. I'd rather be His PR person, running interference just in case He doesn't show up. I wouldn't want his reputation damaged in the process, so better to keep quiet and tell the story later... after He has shown up and done what He said. That story is safer, more manageable.

So why does it make me feel like a coward who is only living half a life?

It's temerity, it turns out, I live in fear of. I don't want to be so confident and unafraid that I become foolish. I am so afraid of veering in the wrong direction that I take no direction at all, standing motionless as I wait on God to move on my behalf. I am not sure this is right, and yet, more often than not, I find myself back in paralysis mode.

It has been this way of late, as His promises have seemed long in coming. I want to be bold but I am afraid. I want to be confident but I am cautious. I want to speak up but I am silent. Temerity, in this case, looks like a welcome relief-- action as opposed to paralysis. Dangerous and risky, yes. But at least I'd be doing something, changing something. Instead I stand silent, secretly admiring the temeritous among us, giving them a standing ovation inside my frightened, frozen heart.


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Monday, June 16, 2014

Intentional Mondays


Quote: "I told them that the best Rubric for being in the world, but not of it was the very figure of Jesus. By imbibing at weddings and dining with scumbags and harboring harlots in his love, He didn’t hold back from the spectrum of the human experience or culture, but brought His Sacredness to everything by carrying and communicating Kingdom values opposed to the written rules of His earth-time. He lived in the world, but seemed to speak to the general public: I’ll meet you here on your terms, but this is not the whole story. I don’t have to buy into your systems or play by your rules or subject myself to your status quo…come with my hand and let’s explore behind the veil….let’s find a deeper value story. You are made from earth stuff (be in the world), but you came alive from my breath (you are not of this world)." 

Source: http://deeperstory.com/be-in-the-world-but-not-of-it/  (written by Erika Morrison) 

I don't think I've heard a better take on being in the world and not of it, something that can be confusing for some of us-- or maybe it's just me.

Write Every Day... I am thinking about deleting this particular category for the summer, as it's going to be harder and harder to be positive about this. My kids are home for the summer. If I write at all, it'll be in fits and starts. Certainly not every day. I let go of that for good last summer. Last summer I was still suffering under the delusion that I could get up each morning and write until they woke up without interruption.

My One Word... AFFIRM. This week I got my first inquiry from someone interested in bringing me in to speak. This was a nice affirmation that I'm headed in the right direction in going back to speaking. I am going to post more about this at a later time, but in the meantime, if your church or group needs a speaker, check out the handy new speaker tab at the top of the site, and see what I'm up to. It's pretty exciting.

Listening To... David Gray's new album Mutineers is out THIS TUESDAY!!!! That is what I will be listening to for sure. I've got the 3 cd deluxe version coming in the mail, and I'm hoping it's signed. (This is fangirl raving, please ignore.) But seriously, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. And it's here!!



This is a perfect song for a Monday, I think, don't you?

Sharing Stories... Tore through Elin Hilderbrand's new novel, THE MATCHMAKER last week. She is one of those "if I could write like anyone it would be her" writers. I've read almost all of her novels and I intend to read the rest of her books this summer, as they are the perfect summer reads. (They also make me long to go to Nantucket.) Please keep Elin in your prayers, as she had a double mastectomy last week. If you have a heart beating inside your chest, I guarantee this post by her will touch it.

In The Kitchen... I made this Sunday Chocolate Cake for Father's Day yesterday. The cake was a hit with everyone. I think it will be my fallback birthday cake, and a go-to for potlucks and when I take meals in the future. What I like about it is you pour the icing on the hot cake, which means no waiting around for the cake to cool so you can ice it. I was able to make it right after we got home from church, then walk out the door to enjoy a day at the pool. When we got back home, there it was, ready and waiting for our celebration.

Randomness... this should probably be a separate post, but I will just write about it here. A week ago Saturday, I fell. I will not go into the details of how I fell but suffice it to say it was something you usually only hear about a young child or the elderly doing. Not only did I manage to fall, however, I managed to give myself a concussion. I had never had a concussion, however, so I didn't know that was what I had. I tried to go on with a normal life for several hours, driving a car and attempting to answer emails. I came home and told my husband that I didn't feel right, and described my symptoms-- foggy-headed, dizzy, confused, losing words I could normally spit out, tired, etc. He looked up "concussion" on google and sure enough, those were signs. Who knew? I ended up getting a CAT scan and thankfully there was no major damage. That was the good news. The bad news, the symptoms could last up to two weeks. I was never more glad that I'd taken time off the ole blog than I was last week. Every day I get a little more "with it," feel a little more like myself. It's been a weird experience, one I don't want to ever do over.

Plans... This is our first full week of summer. Last week, thanks to my concussion, was a lost week. I'm hoping to get to the pool, maybe do a little writing and otherwise try to catch up on all the stuff that didn't get done last week. Next weekend kicks off three events I'm doing for THE BRIDGE TENDER's release. If you are anywhere near Lancaster, SC, Sunset Beach, NC, or Topsail Island, NC, I'd love to see you there!

Loveliness... the fern outside my kitchen window, swaying in the summer breeze. Eight little green tomatoes growing on the tomato plant I am growing. Candles burning against the darkness on a warm night out on our deck. Spoons hitting the sides of bowls as the last of the ice cream is consumed. The rain hitting our roof as a flash thunderstorm comes through, canceling swim practice on a night we really all wanted to stay home anyway. Summer. It truly is my favorite season.

Photo of the Week...

In honor of Father's Day, I switched our seasonal tablescape to a nice, sedate, neutral place setting.
I find it very soothing and plan to just keep it like this all summer.


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Monday, June 09, 2014

Taking A Break




I'm taking a break this week, catching my breath after a whirlwind couple of weeks finishing out school and my novel (and novella) launching. I am winded from all the running crazy. Now summer is here and I just want to breathe deep and enjoy. You probably want to do the same.

I hope you can. I hope you will.

I will be back next week with more to say. In the meantime, I leave you with this photo of my daughter's 8th grade graduation, hats in the air, hopes soaring.


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Thursday, June 05, 2014

In Honor Of My New Book...


THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED-- THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR CHOSE #14, Sue Todd, AS THE WINNER. CONGRATS TO SUE!

I am offering a giveaway of a lovely silver seastar necklace and a signed copy of the book!

I will keep the entries open for one week, so please leave a comment letting me know why you love beach books for your chance to win! Win it for yourself, your mom, your sister, or a good friend-- I will personalize the book to whomever you choose. Good luck!


 
 
Emily must realize that her dreams didn’t have to die with her first love.
 
When Emily Shaw, a young widow, learns that her late husband's last surprise for her involves returning to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to realize an old dream of theirs, she reluctantly embarks on a summer of discovery in the midst of grief. There, in the oasis of the beach community, she meets a host of townspeople with their own broken dreams and unexpected situations. As the island citizens divide over the fate of a nostalgic bridge, Emily happens upon a man who just may be the one to restore her faith in dreams, hope, and possibly love.


 
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Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Word of the Week Wednesday


an·thro·po·mor·phic

adjective \ˌan(t)-thrə-pə-ˈmr-fik\

: described or thought of as being like human beings in appearance, behavior, etc.
: considering animals, objects, etc., as having human qualities


A short post today because my book came out yesterday and we've got two swim meets this week and it's my kids' last week of school and so I am scrambling to Get It All Done before they descend upon me and my days alone at home become my days inundated with children begging to go to the pool.

So here's a quote on this very long, kinda complicated word that I wanted to share with you-- it's one that got me thinking about my own thought life, and my own tendency to anthropomorphize God:

"One reason we are miserly with ourselves is scarcity thinking. We don't want our luck to run out. We don't want to overspend our spiritual abundance. Again, we are limiting our flow by anthropomorphizing God into a capricious parent figure." The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron

I'd never given much thought to what it means to give God human qualities until I read this, but I do it. I do it all the time. I relate to Him as I relate to other humans, partly because it's what I know and feel comfortable with but partly because it makes Him more manageable. Humans can be controlled, manipulated, dominated, swayed, etc. God can't. He is completely other and apart. And that's out of control. It's unsafe and unsettling. And yet...

I share these two CS Lewis quotes that come to mind-- and challenge you to think about your own tendency to make God like you, or your dad, or some other human, when He is anything but. And while that can be scary and overwhelming, it can also be really freeing and amazing. I guess it's all in how you look at it.

“He'll be coming and going" he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”
C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe    

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

 
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Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Out Today!


http://www.shereads.org/books/recommended-reads-bridge-tender-marybeth-whalen/
 
My new novel is out today!
 
If you've been waiting to order it until it's available, today is the day! Just click on the book cover to take you to a choice of several retailers, and choose your favorite one.
 
Also, if you feel so led, please share the book via social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. Every "share" helps, as word of mouth recommendations are still the most tried and true way to reach new readers. People trust their friends, plain and simple.
 
I appreciate you guys reading my stories more than you know--
 

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Monday, June 02, 2014

Intentional Mondays


Quote: "What if you suddenly saw that the silver of water was brighter than the silver of money? What if you finally saw that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day and every day-- who knows how, but they do it-- were more precious, more meaningful than gold?" Mary Oliver, How Would You Live Then?

Write Every Day... I'm torn between two story ideas, which means I'm not writing anything at all. Just musing on which way to go, which takes more mental energy than one might think. Am also waiting to hear from my publisher about the next book. Will there be one? I have no idea, but I hope so.

My One Word... AFFIRM. It seems lately that everything I am reading or happening upon serves to affirm the direction my life is currently going. The trick is not to let the negative stuff throw me off the larger course I'm on. It's so easy to let the little things derail you.

Listening To...  Toad the Wet Sprocket, again and again. The concert Curt took me to for my birthday was so great-- it was a night I won't forget and listening to the songs brings it all back for me. Allow me a few photos from the evening?



Yes I am a complete nerd and took a  screen shot of this tweet.
Toad wished me happy birthday!

Sharing Stories... I am currently reading Liane Moriarty's new one, Big Little Lies, an advanced copy because it's not out yet. I love her portrayal of suburban lives--the quiet desperation, the unspoken insecurities--that she somehow laces with hope and reassurance that it's going to turn out ok. She's one of those "If I could write like anyone, it would be her" kind of writers. If you haven't checked out What Alice Forgot or The Husband's Secret, do yourself a favor and put them on your summer reading list! And keep an eye out for the new one, coming July 22.

In The Kitchen... Pot Roast with mashed potatoes and gravy and cooked carrots, bacon cheddar burgers on the grill, and grilled chicken with angel hair pasta and roasted broccoli, interspersed with several meals out because of swim team.

Randomness... I've been checking out vision boards on Pinterest as I prepare to make one with my kids this summer. I will be making one right alongside them. I started following this board on Pinterest, which is a nice collection of ideas. Don't know what a vision board is? Poking around the different links on this board will render you informed.

Plans... Two swim meets this week, the last full week of school, my daughter's 8th grade graduation, and volunteering for my youngest's lunch duty, plus lots of reading and more mulling over a new story idea. A pretty low-key week with not a lot of being out of the house, which is just the way I like it.

Loveliness... I got to walk on the Wrightsville Beach last week on a very warm May day. Loveliness personified.

Photo of the week:

Every year for my birthday my mom bakes me a strawberry cake.
I love this tradition-- and so does my family. This was taken only moments after I brought it home.

 
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