Readin' & Drivin'

Goodbye Colorado

We are taking a cross-country trip, from Colorado to Pittsburgh, PA for the next ten days.The purpose is to visit my mom, who lives in Pittsburgh, and pick up a few things she has in storage since her move into an assisted living facility and let my kids visit with her.

This is one of the few trips we've made as a family in several years. Since my son graduated college in May and my daughter is heading into her senior year in high school, I'm assuming it could very well be one of the last trips we make.

Hello Kansas

I decided to download an audio book on to my Kindle we could all enjoy, just to keep us occupied. This was easier said than done. My 17-year-old daughter is an avid reader. She loves young adult books but will read almost anything. My almost 23-year-old engineer son is not, for the most part, a reader. My husband loves WWII nonfiction books and occasional sports-related nonfiction books. Like my daughter, I'll read almost anything.

What do download?

I finally settled on a Lee Child, Jack Reacher book-- a little mystery, intrigue, hints of military (Jack's background and those he enters into the mystery with are special investigators with the US Army). I figured a little mystery, a little romance between Jack's character and one of the ladies on his team, shooting, bad guys and suspense would meet all our needs.

I wasn't far off. It's a long book. It took us through almost 9 hours of the drive and we're still not done. My son got a little impatient with the details-- maybe it's worse when someone is reading it to you; you can't skim. Lee spent a whole chapter setting up Reacher's love of numbers. I kept telling my son it was setting up the character for something that would involve numbers, but he still grew impatient with it.

Even with each of us nodding off for chapters (except, thankfully, my husband who was driving), we were able to easily jump back into the story-- I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing when it comes to a book.

I'll need to choose another book for the return trip-- maybe a Krakauer book like Into The Wild. I'll find something, thankful that at least we're not just all buried in our own electronic devices, ignoring each other. It makes me thankful for writers and books and that the art of story telling is still a bond families can share.

Keep writing-- families need you,

Julie

Leaving St. Louis

Mom At Last: Author Sharon Simons Never Gave Up

I am pleased to be hosting a book tour for Sharon Simons, author of the book, Mom At Last. Her story is truly compelling and touching. Sharon bravely and openly shares her journey of finding love and wanting to complete her family through children of her own. Here, in Sharon's own words, she shares the grueling process she went through to fill the waiting space in her heart.

Be sure to check out Sharon's website, http://www.momatlast.com/, to see excerpts of her appearance on the Dr. Oz Show, read other adoption success stories, and visit the great gift boutique.

Your twins look just like you – My Story of Adoption

As a little girl, I always knew I would be a mom.  I wanted the perfect kids and the perfect family.

At 39, after a failed marriage and my share of bad relationships, I met my prince and because of a little thing called a vasectomy, we immediately started the IVF process.

I thought this was the way to motherhood for me and was so thrilled after IVF #1, we got the news that we were pregnant with twins.  At 19 weeks tragedy struck as I was rushed to the hospital and not only lost my twins but almost my own life.

After healing both emotionally and physically, we dove into IVF number two, again to be met with tragedy, as I was informed I had a tubal pregnancy.

It was at this point, I knew I would never give up...I was going to be a Mom, no matter what and started researching the adoption process, totally unaware of the big world of adoption.

I discovered, although there is a world full of children available for adoption, there is so much mixed information. I really started combing through the internet and educating myself rather than relying on the different agencies and the conflicting information from their requirements and length of time to complete the adoption process.

We did sign up with one agency and were told there was a 3 year wait, 3 years we didn’t have...I wanted to be a Mom, right now...but I did start my home study and we were approved in our home state to be adoptive parents.

Although I was still doing my adoption homework, we decided to give IVF #3 a try...with it amounting to nothing.

That news only made me more determined and at that moment, I knew adoption was my path.  Now we needed to find our child/children.  It was at 10 pm eastern time while I was researching the internet, that I came across an agency on the West Coast.  I live on the East Coast and on a whim, I called and the phone was answered.  I told them we were already approved, and she said because we are,  they have children available now in Russia.  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  I was told by several other agencies that we could wait years. I told her we were approved to adopt two children and she sent me pictures of a little boy and minutes later another boy. When I saw these little boys, I knew at that moment, they going to be my sons. After four months of grueling paperwork, and two trips to Siberia, Russia.  I became a Mom to those two boys, and they have changed my life forever.

It is almost 6 years since we brought them home, and they are our everything.  I would never change my road to motherhood; these children inspire me to be the best Mom and I am so thankful for the gift of adoption. Children come to us in many different ways, and you love and care for your child no matter how that child came to be with you.  It is only then you understand.  Our boys, eight months apart, two different DNA’s, are our world, and it is amazing how on a daily basis, my husband and I are told how much our sons look like us.

Our Sons are now both 7 years old, and our son Hunter wants to be a doctor like this daddy, but not fixing hearts, he wants to fix brains. Our other son Dylan wants to be strong like daddy and to fix hearts. They tell me they will build a house for me and take care of me when I am older. Every day they tell us how much they love us, and they love to talk about family. They know they were born in Russia and not born in my belly but in my heart.

My dream of a perfect family came true...

I am an advocate for Adoption!  I believe in my heart and soul that with the proper love and attention these children can inspire us all!  There are so many negative stories that the press pick up about adoption.  I, like many others, have a positive adoption story and it is my goal to share my story to bring awareness to the positive Adoption Success Stories.

The dream of motherhood is attainable--you need to not give up, and do not take no for an answer.  I believed it, and you can live it!

Every Mom has a Journey towards becoming a Mom, at Last! What is your story?

About Sharon: 

Sharon had a dream to become a mother which she was determined to follow. Her path was difficult but ultimately successful.  Born in New Jersey and living in Delaware, she is married to her soul mate Rick and the very proud Mom to her two sons Dylan and Hunter.

Sharon is inspired to share her experiences, to offer insight, and inspire other women to find their strength to achieve their goal of becoming mothers. Her passion involves using her journey to motherhood to educate and help women become a “Mom at Last“. 

Sharon Simon’s website:

http://www.momatlast.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/momatlast

Twitter:

@momatlast

For more information on purchasing her book:
http://www.momatlast.com/memoir/

As a thank you for taking time to read Sharon's story, she'd like to offer two readers a chance to win either a free book of her inspiring story, Mom At Last or the very fun, Mommy's Sippy Cup (Trust me, you want to check out this cup!).

Take a few times to enter the simple Rafflecopter below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

IWSG: June

Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting the IWSG

From The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho:

The closer he got to the realization of his dream, the more difficult things became. It seemed as if what the old king had called “beginner’s luck” were no longer functioning. In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, nor impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.

Be encouraged. Keep writing.

Julie

Singin' Like Amy

free clip art from Microsoft Office

When I was younger, like in high school younger, I used to sing a lot. I wasn't all that bad, back in th’ day. Of course, when I sang with the school choir, I sang with my choir voice. When I sang alone in my bedroom using the hair brush as a microphone (oh come on, you did it too, admit it), I tried to sound like Barbara Streisand or whoever was on the radio at the time.

Back in high school a group of my friends formed a band. Someone played guitar, another friend played the drums, and like all high school bands, we thought they rocked the joint. To my delight, they invited me to sing with them for a performance (just once, now that I think about it). After our show a friend’s mom who had been in the audience said to me, “I think your voice is even better than Amy Grant’s!”  Now before you start snickering (or depending on your age, run to Google to figure out who the heck Amy Grant is), back in 1980-something this was quite a compliment for me. I was incredibly flattered. Needless to say, every time I sang after that, I imagined I was Amy.

That was a long time ago, of course. I’ve long since given up the dream of becoming a rock star. How unrealistic was that? Now I dream of writing a book and having it turned into a movie—much more plausible.  

I may no longer sing, but now I get to watch my daughter find that dream for herself, singing boldly in front of her peers and winning talent shows. She spends hours playing her guitar and belting out tunes from her own era and has found her voice in a much more original, courageous and talented way than I ever did. 

Still Searching For Voice

The venue may have changed, but the quest for my voice really didn't go away. When I first started writing, I found myself searching for my voice too. What was my sound? I gave it way too much thought in the beginning and still sometimes find myself writing self-consciously holding the hairbrush microphone up to my words. Then, recently, I came upon this quote in the book by Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd, Good Prose:The Art of Nonfiction, and it resonated with my own thoughts:

The term 'voice' appears constantly in criticism today. Sometimes people use it interchangeably with 'style', but usually it is supposed to mean more, often nothing less than the writer's presence on the page. The term indeed may soon buckle under the weight it is asked to bear. Certainly it has become discomforting to hear writers speak about their own voices. You cannot, must not, try to design and create a voice. The creation of voice is the providential result of the writer's constant self-defining and self-refining inner dialogue. When it happens, let someone else tell you, and be grateful.

Their point is well-taken. Struggling to find a voice and giving a "voice" such monumental importance is too much weight for the concept to bear. As Kidder later says:

It can’t be forced or created. Maybe [sound] is the more modest word to keep in mind. If you can’t imagine saying something aloud then you probably shouldn’t write it. Write the way you talk on your best day. Write the way you would like to talk. 

I love to write and communicate and try very hard not to imitate the Barbaras or Amys of the literary world, but rather let my words sing the way I would speak--on my best days.

What about you? Do you think about your voice when you write? Are you conscious of how you sound to other people? Do you agree with Kidder and Todd or do you believe a voice should be cultivated intentionally? 

Rock on with your writing,

Julie

Here's To Health, Happiness and Friendship

Stephen Tremp, Alex J. Cavanaugh, L. Diane Wolfe, and Michael Di Gesu have teamed up to
promote conversations about getting healthy-- follow the Get Healthy Bloghop here.
 

Eating and Exercising for Health

The lists of types of diets and the almost religious-like identities we can adopt with our eating is endless. I know, firsthand. I've tried quite a few of them. (For a lively conversation about this topic, check out this TED talk by Mark Bittman.) I'm a sucker for the "next best plan" to help me lose weight and gain health. I think however, I'm slowly learning to get off the fad-treadmill and find my own pace and peace with eating and exercise.

Here's what I've learned about my diet and exercise:

• I need to workout moderately most days of the week. I try to make sure I put in 40-50 minutes most days of the week sweating and panting.
• I need to cut out sugar and most carbohydrates. Adult onset diabetes runs in my family on my mom's side, and I know my blood sugar can run high if I'm not very careful.
• I feel better when I eat a heavy plant-based diet and go easy on the animal proteins, especially red meat. Everything just works better. 
• It's too easy to stay on my butt too much as a writer. I need to get up every hour and move.

Knowing these things and implementing them isn't always as consistent as I'd like, but especially as I age, these are the health ideals I need to strive for. I'm no longer about being perfect, but I do want to be healthy, active and pain-free as much as I can help for the next half of my life. 

Happiness

For me a very real part of being healthy is finding peace and happiness. Both Al Diaz and Yolanda Renee identified me to participate in the 5 Things That Make Me Happy post that is currently circulating. I loved identifying five happy thoughts in my life:

1. Family:

My son is home from college, job searching. My daughter will soon be done with her jr. year in high school and I'm in Mama Heaven having my kids around. 

2. Spring and sunshine.

I love spring. Happy time of sunshine, warmth and renewal.











3. Outdoors

I savor times of hiking, biking, kayaking and enjoying all living in the mountains has to offer.












4. Reading

I love to read. Love it. Getting lost in a good story, or insights that teach and enlighten me makes me happy.








5. Quiet time

Every morning I get up early, before anyone is awake, sit in this chair, cover my legs with the blanket, and journal, pray, meditate and think about my day. It sets the tone for the day.








I'm supposed to identify 5 people to carry on the post of 5 Happy Things, but I'd like to invite anyone who comments and visits to practice thinking and focusing on 5 Things That Make Me Happy. I'll look forward to reading your posts.

Finally, a thank you, again, to Al Diaz for nominating me for the Semper Fidelis (always faithful) award. As with most awards, there are rules which, as usual, I disregarded. Part of the rules include naming 5 people who have been a positive influence in your friendship sphere. I hesitate to list only 5 because there are so many who enrich my writing life.

Friendship is such integral part of health and happiness that this award fit this post perfectly. 

I am very grateful for my writing friends including, but definitely not limited to:

M.L. Swift ,who is going through a tough time right now-- prayers to you, Mike
Al Diaz (backsies count)
T.J. Loveless, who I got to actually HUG in person.
Laura Eno, my very favorite writer for fantastic Facebook threads
Susie Klein,a kindred soul in so many ways
Demetria Foster Gray because she is so real and speaks to my heart time and time again
Patricia Stoltey, for supporting me in so many ways
Alexandra Caselle, a constant cheerleader and creative soul

(That's eight. See? I'm a rule rebel.). Thank you, my friends, for your constant cheerleading and support.

Keep writing and here's to holistic health for all for us,

Julie

Writing Through The Seasons with Pat Stoltey: The "Retired" Writer

I'm so honored to have author Patricia Stoltey as the final guest post for the Writing Through The Seasons series. Pat not only has a terrific blog and is a prolific writer, but as a fellow member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers here in Colorado, she has been a bit of a mentor and role model to me. Pat has certainly faced her own challenges in life lately, but graciously still found time to be a part of the May series. Thank you, Patricia.

The “Retired” Writer

By Patricia Stoltey

Writing something worthy of publication hopped on my bucket list way back in high school, and it stayed there twenty-five years before I hoisted it from the bottom to the top of the list. Nourished by attendance at a few writers’ conferences and writing classes along the way, and boosted by the birth of Magna cum Murder, a mystery fan convention, in my Indiana college town, the dream grew into an obsession.

It’s tough to have an obsession when you have no spare time. In addition to a husband and kids, I worked full-time and then some at demanding jobs. It wasn’t until that magic year of 1998 when the last kid went off to college and I retired from work in the real world, that I finally gave in and became a real writer—the kind who actually writes and strives to get published.

I just turned 71 this month. So far I’ve had two amateur sleuth mysteries traditionally published, and I have four other novel manuscripts in various stages of writing or submitting. And my biggest challenge, getting a short story published, is almost a reality in an upcoming anthology of retold folk tales. My little story is called Three Sisters of Ring Island which is a darker version of The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

The best part of being an older writer: I know who I am and what I want to write next. My education and life experience help with characterization, dialogue, and idea generation. My work experience made it easier to adapt to publisher and editor demands and be patient with the traditional publication process. And because I learned to type in school and was dragged into the computer world by my employers, I have an advantage in learning new software and mastering social media opportunities.

The other part of being an older writer: My joints are creakier so it’s harder to spend long sessions at the computer (what I liked to call binge writing). Members of my family need my help and moral support, so I’ve been traveling a lot. And I need more sleep than I used to, so I take a nap almost every day. To make time for writing, I give up other things. My husband would say cooking and cleaning top that list. He’s right.

Being an older writer is a blessing. I haven’t missed anything I wanted to do along the way, and I’m still able to fulfill that big dream. I wish all you younger writers the chance to do the same.      

Patricia is the author of the two Sylvia and Willie mysteries now available for Kindle and Nook, The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders. She grew up on a farm in Illinois, and has also lived in Oklahoma, Indiana, the south of France, and Florida. She now lives the (retired) writing life in Northern Colorado with her husband and Katie Cat. She is a member of Northern Colorado Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Mystery Writers of America. Check out her blog at http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com

Pat, you truly inspire me. Thanks for reminding us all that writing is a lifelong pursuit and can be made richer with our life-experience. 

Keep writing,

Julie

Signs of Spring and Summer Reading

I’m enjoying all the signs of spring that are finally appearing in the mountains. They’re slow to come at this elevation, so I don’t take their debut lightly.

I also don't take the dawning of our lovely weather lightly in the wake of all that is happening elsewhere in the country. While I receive the arrival of spring with joy, I am heavy-hearted and lifting prayers for those lives forever changed--as I'm sure you all are as well. 

My family and I took a lovely walk along the creek near our house last weekend, past the beaver dams. They’re busy chewing trees down adding to their supply of wood for the feats of engineering. Their dams really are amazing to see.

Small alpine flowers are starting to make their appearance now that we’ve had a little rain to wake them up. Even the cactus, round balls of spikes, have sprouted delicate flowers of yellow and pink.

The first sign of spring was the return on the hummingbirds. One morning, as I had my quiet time, I heard the familiar trill of their wings. I knew it was time to fill the feeders with tempting sugar water. The sweet water also attracts the colorful orioles and my favorite, the western tanager, a tropical looking bird who makes a brief appearance at the start of spring then hides away at higher elevations for the rest of the summer.

Summer is soon to follow-- do you have your reading material lined up? 

There have been a lot of great books making the blog tour rounds including Laura Eno’s Jewel of Shaylar and Marian Allen’s Bargain with Fate and The Oracle and the Vampire by Christine Rains and many other book releases from talented writers like Charmaine Clancy and her book Dognapped (be sure to check out her book and the great contest she's hosting! I have mine downloaded!)

I’d also like to suggest J.M. Maison’s  Desired to Death. J.M. Maison is the pen name for Julia Munroe (her blog is listed over on my sidebar). I read her book and can strongly recommend it—Desired to Death, the first book in The Empty Nest Can Be Murder series, is the perfect summer read with a bit of romance, forbidden desire, murder and a heroine, sassy-sleuth, Maggie True, a woman facing the empty-nest and searching for renewed purpose in her life. If you’re looking for a fun read, check out this book. Plus, it’s only $2.99 for Kindle right now!

Keep writing, reading... and praying,

Julie