“Move the bucket out of the sun or you’ll cook them.” Huh! Good advice. My daughter and I were clambering across the rocks at the beach in Tahoe testing our skills at catching crawfish. It is an annual tradition, dating back to when I was a kid scurrying across these very same rocks. We were not alone… a dad and his two kids (the overhear was directed at them) were doing their best with nets and lunchmeat. It was time to take some drastic measures. Crawfish are far too clever for that method so I offered them the string and hot dogs we were using. We, the father and I, watched them fish waiting for sure success. But, while they caught a bunch of little minnows, the crawfish eluded them. I was prepared to be disappointed for them until I looked into their smiling faces and was reminded that it is not the destination, but the journey, that matters. Journeys Inspired by Love – I have lived with this tagline for so long now that I sometimes forget why I picked it. Goals and dreams are important. They inspire and motivate. But too often in my own past I have become so caught up in pursuing them that I have forgotten to enjoy the journey getting there. One of my favorite bloggers, Chris Guillebeau, wrote a great post today on deciding if what you are doing is Worth it All. Part of making the decision requires visualizing your future self after having completed the goal. It sounds easy but in fact I think this is more difficult than we might imagine. If I have framed my goal of being published purely in terms of the recognition or money I might receive I am sure to feel ready to give up along the way. However, I look at what I have written…. Jessica’s journey to renew her passion for life, Gabriella’s journey to live the faith she espouses, Ryan’s journey to really, truly find love again, and I know that my goal is about much, much more than the rewards at some distant date. It is about sharing their story with my readers; real people who may be facing similar journeys and looking for their own inspiration along the way. This is why comments and reviews are so critical to writers. They remind us that what we do matters. Thanks for being part of my journey. I promise to not forget about you and cook you along the way. Deanne
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"We're getting married this summer."
I don't know why, but this overhear reminded me of two of the victims in the Boston Marathon Bombing. I suppose it is because I have been doing a lot of research for my fundraiser to support the Boston One Fund. Through it I have learned of Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky, newleyweds in Boston who both lost a limb in the bombing. Finding out about them touched me for two reasons, one, because Jessica is the name of my main character in BETTING JESSICA and two, because my entire second story, UNTANGLING THE KNOT, is about a wedding. Both of these books were set in Boston, so this couple feels very connected to my writing. As many of you know already, I decided to donate all of my profits from the sale of both books to the Boston One Fund during this first week of May. My birthday is May 15th, so the best present my friends and fans could give me would be the chance to support victims such as Patrick and Jess in their long road to recovery. At amazon you can give either book as a gift to a friend (or for yourself if you haven't yet read them). Here's a brief blurb about each story along with purchase links. You can also link here for a sneak peak at Untangling the Knot. The fundraiser is active now. Thanks so much for your support., Deanne BETTING JESSICA - http://amzn.com/B005YF05CO (NOTE: This is an updated version, revised and re-released November 11, 2012) Hung over and tired, twenty-four year old Jessica finds she has made a crazy bet to get a date with her favorite celebrity, Ian Drake. Of course the bet would be unthinkable except for the small problem that she made it with her enemy, Erik. She decides to use the bet as a way to prove to herself and others that when she sets her mind to something she can truly accomplish it. And, although things don't go exactly as planned, Jessica learns alot about motivation, determintation, and love... not to mention making bets. UNTANGLING THE KNOT - http://amzn.com/B00BFMJX5K “I did what?” Twenty-eight-year-old Gabriella Bessu is St. Therese’s meticulous wedding ceremony coordinator. So the fact that she has mistakenly registered her newest couple for an annulment, rather than a wedding, sends her Catholic guilt into overdrive. But who can blame her? The groom is gorgeous and his two kids tug at Gabriella’s heart in a way that overcomes all her best intentions. Before long, she’s in over her head, fixing her mixed-up plans and helping the children and dad come to terms with their haunting grief for the mother and wife they lost years earlier. Can Gabriella untangle her own fears and accept the messy life that God has handed them? |
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June 2020
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