Signs from God

I have been desperate for a sign from God more than once in my life. Once, when I was told I was getting exactly what I'd been hoping for, I became afraid and asked God for a sign so I could be sure this was His will.

I suppose He said, "Well, I thought you already knew, but here goes..." And what followed was a week of signs raining down on me until it became ridiculous.

Good old Gideon in the Bible was almost as foolish as I, so I didn't feel too awfully bad about it.

Now, I have a new book coming out entitled, 'Signs from God' because there is a scene that is pivotal where God does indeed show the character a sign.

Oswald Chambers said only immature Christians need signs. That as we mature in our relationship with Christ, we trust more and more and eventually just allow Him to live in us and through us without our conscious effort. And it's true, lots of times I'm able to do that. But all the time? No. Not yet.

The book is a love story, sort of. Their relationship is more of the back story. I guess the real story is how things happen to us, one after another, until we're not sure we know what to do with our life at all.

If (and I hope when!) you read 'Signs from God' you will enjoy it for what it is - a simple book, an easy read, yet with a message that we all need to hear.

BOOK SIGNINGS: Friday, November 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Yawn's Books and More in Canton, Georgia                    Saturday, November 17 from 3 to 5 pm at Gilmer County Library in  Ellijay, Georgia

Hope to see you there!

Out on a Limb of the Family Tree

That's the title of a new book I have coming out.

I started writing this book in 1997. I thought it was just another short story (at that time, I'd never written a book). That 'short story' is the prologue to the book.

I love humor, almost all kinds, which maybe makes me a real sicko, I don't know.

But when I started writing this story, it had a humorous tone. Then, a few years ago, I got the bright idea of asking people for 'blonde moment' stories about themselves. You would NOT believe the stuff some people told me! I mean, really! But there were some I could actually, you know, write down without dying of embarrassment, and those I used.

That worked pretty well, so I began to ask people for stories from their families that touch them in some way. Humorous, poignant, haunting, profound. And I got a dozen or so really, really good ones. They gave me permission to 'wrap them up in fiction' and use them. Some are just a line or two, some a complete story. What a blessing!

I've been collecting old fashioned names for over ten years and that has been really fun. It's unbelievable what folks name their children. And I don't mean Dweezle and Apple and all the 'new fangle' foolishness. I mean the Victorian weirdness that was - well - weird.

And, of course, names come and go, too. So I used some out of fashion names that we don't hear much anymore.

I've already had one strange experience with a name that I 'made up' and a person saw it on the back of the book and told me that was his great-great-grandmother's name. And I don't even know this guy!

Fact, is indeed, stranger than fiction.

So, I hope you find it in your heart and pockets to purchase this book. Missouri Pickett is the matriarch of this Appalachian family from Sweeetapple, Georgia. Join her and her crazy family for stories that I hope will make you laugh yourselves silly.

BOOK SIGNINGS: November 16, Yawn's Books and More, Canton, Georgia from 5:30 to 7:30 pm AND November 17, Gilmer County Library, Ellijay, Georgia from 3:00 to 5:00 pm

Coming Soon: A Book Signing Near You

I'm getting excited! As many of you know, I have three books being published. The last one has headed to the printers. That means I'll have be having book signings soon.

"Out on a Limb of the Family Tree" is the hardest, most satisfying, and most enjoyable thing I've ever written. It all started in 1997 with a short story. That short story is  now the prologue to the book. I finally finished that book in May of this year. Whew! And by finish, I mean I finished the first draft. I've been an editing fool ever since, and I tell you, I had to stop. I could go right now to the finished product and make twenty changes. This could  have been worded differently. She should have said it this way. And so on. But so far, the folks that have read it said it made them laugh and feel a little melancholy too. Appalachia, our way of life, is fleeing. I miss so much of it already. I hope I captured the flavor of the Appalachian language without it being too overbearing. I intergrated true stories, woven in and out of fiction in several scenes. Sometimes it's a whole story, sometimes a sentence or two that is true inside a purely fictional tale.  But the life of Missouri Pickett and her family is every bit real in the sense that you will recognize them all in your own family, if you have been born and raised Appalachian. The book is over two hundred pages, but I think it's a pretty quick read.

"Signs from God" was finished September of last year. Well, the writing was...not the illustrations (book cover, and 3 inside). This book took me about nine months to write. It's three hundred some odd pages, and it's a "fun" book. It's about life in general, romance, comedy, and a big dog. I hope it makes you smile a lot.

"The Christmas Closet and Other Works" is a combination of short stories and poems about Christmas (of course!). Some have been done for years; the first one, for which the book is named, was done in January. It is one of my most favorite short stories I've ever written. One of the stories in this book won first prize in a short story contest many years ago. I think it's a sweet book, and great for that gift you are looking for to give a friend or someone whose name you drew at a party, or your children's teacher, etc. Although it kind of looks like a children's book on the cover, it isn't.

BEWARE: there is an issue with our favorite fella in the red suit, and if a child under ten or so doesn't have an issue yet, read it first. It all gets resolved by the end of the story, but I don't want to put doubts in your child's head!

Next blog: I'll have photos of the book covers... hope you like them!

So Little Time, So Many Words...

I read every chance I get, which means all time time. I remember being five and wanting to read so badly I'd memorize the "Nancy" comic strip after my parents read it to me several times, walk across the road, and "read" it to my grandparents. It was that important to me. What a world it opened up when pretend became reality!

I guess writing came naturally after that, the urge to do what I'd been passively participating in. So, about fifth grade I began to write short stories. I didn't  have many critics among my ten year old followers, so I  naturally thought I was a great writer!

Great or not, I have a drive inside me that has nothing to do with success in the  publishing business.  I read Stephen King's "On Writing" and felt such relief that I was not the only person on the planet that has people coming alive in their heads demanding release because they have a story to tell. I am nothing but a vessel for these folks. Many times I have no idea what's going to happen until it flows out my fingers onto the page. I will admit the relief of reading King's similar circumstances of being held hostage by these characters in our minds was tempered a little by it being - well - Stephen King. If ya know what I mean, and I think you do.

I've won some contests, some awards, and many compliments along the way. The thrill of seeing something I'd written turn into a real book that people actually purchase is almost beyond words. But of course, I can always find words.

In a few weeks, because of some weird direction of God's, I will have three books coming out together. One, "Signs from God" was finished September last year, but I couldn't seem to get the illustrator to cooperate (cough, David Hill, cough). The other novel, "Out on a Limb of the Family Tree" has been labored over off and on since 1997. It just happened to get finished last spring. And the final book, "The Christmas Closet and Other Works" came about from encouragement that folks want to buy little books about Christmas as gifts to friends, teachers, etc. The collection has stuff written  years ago up to January of this year.

So, when I know dates of book signings, I'll be hollering about it. Because, even if you don't buy a book, I'm  honored to see friends there. Makes my  heart sing!

Photo for new release "Out on a Limb of the Family Tree"

Oh Deer!

This morning, as I was eating breakfast and gazing out at the autumn beauty of the woods, I saw two deer come into the yard, nosing around for food that we leave out for birds.

It reminded me of a few years back, before The Fall (not Adam and Eve but my falling down and changing my life forever). After work, I would walk for twenty  minutes, three evenings a week.

This particular evening it was snowing, and there was already an inch or so on the ground. My world seemed absolutely silent. I couldn't even hear my own footsteps.

As I topped a rise in the road, I was brought to an abrupt halt. Standing before me were at least twelve deer, the nearest one so close I could have reached out and touched it.

They were as startled as I, and for several seconds nobody moved. They stared at me, I stared at them.

Have you ever noticed how large and pointy a buck's rack is? Have you ever noticed that deer are pretty big?

For a moment I thought I was going to be trampled by a herd of deer, and my heart began to pump rapidly.

I smiled tentatively at them and said, "Hey."

The one nearest me stomped the ground, huffed, and started them all doing the same.

The next word I said I can't print, but it was sorta like "Oh, dear!" Only spelled differently.

The the buck, who was on the other side of the herd from me, stomped and huffed and took off - in the other direction. The does followed him, and soon all I saw were the white flags of their tails as they disappeared over the ridge.

Now, never in my life would I have thought I'd be afraid of Bambi's family.

But I was.