Friday, April 15, 2011

Why waiting stinks

Photo Credit: here

All of us are WAITING for something.

If you're here and you read regularly, I'm assuming writing is important and maybe you're waiting for your next book to hit the shelves, waiting to get a phone call from your editor, waiting to finish revisions, waiting...

But others are waiting for different things...

Waiting to find a job.

Waiting to find a mate.

Waiting for test results.

Waiting for a miracle.

I'm impatient. I think of something...I need something...I want something...and I want it NOW. It's by far one of the most important areas I still need to completely surrender to God. Because I DO surrender (after all, who wants to be miserable and impatient all the time?) but the next time something happens, I'm taking it right back from Him.

"Look, God...I know I said I was going to let you handle this timing thing...but...I've got this really brilliant idea, so why don't I just see what I can do with it..."

My thoughts, while maybe not as well-defined, usually look like the above. And then, when Mandy's Way hasn't worked like I thought it should...I'm stuck waiting some more.

Waiting stinks. But it's necessary. And I'm waiting for some pretty important stuff right now...and the temptation is always to try and see if I can do it (not better) but maybe quicker than God has planned. It's not arrogance. It's being imperfect.

I don't know exactly what you're waiting on today. Like me, maybe you're frustrated and growing weary and impatient. Or maybe, you're one up on me and are handling the interim with grace and dignity (teach me how!).

Whatever it is you're waiting for, I'm praying it comes for you. And I'm praying that the difference between "our" time and "God's" time isn't that long!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Good News!

This time, I actually have a good reason for my complete lack of presence/updating on this blog.

Love Inspired Historical has contracted my next book.

So of course, there have been revisions, celebrating, some more revisions, and jubilation.

This time around, I don't really think my husband understood why I was still as excited/disbelieving as the first time (although, unlike the first time I didn't hyperventilate or have a near nervous breakdown...progress, I like to think). But the publishing industry is such a tight market, and there are so many fantastic writers out there, that one book contract doesn't guarantee a second. So, when in my earlier post I said I didn't think anything would be quite as exciting as that very first phone call, I'm thrilled to say I was wrong.

I don't have a lot of official details yet. But I can tell you the next book looks like it will be coming out early next year.

As soon as I have the okay to let you guys know specifics, be assured I'll be posting it up here.

So for those of you who have wanted Marcus to find his own Happily Ever After...

This is it!!!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Quote for the day

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison


Thursday, March 10, 2011

Romantic Times Book Review for The Blackmailed Bride

The Blackmailed Bride by Mandy Goff

RT Rating (out of 4.5 stars)

I have to say I was really pleased with my first review from RT Book Reviews. Really pleased! =)

Here's a little snippet of the review, with a link to the full post below.

"This is a wonderful Regency romance. The characters are written with their imperfections showing and it’s wonderful to see a female character so full of spunk."

(The link to the full post on the Romantic Times Book Review site is here)


This post is brought to you by the letters "S" and "B"

Spring Break!

One of my absolute favorite perks that comes with working at a university is the vacation time. So, this whole week, I've been spending time with Brie. We've vegged on the couch...gone couch shopping...and taken naps.

Sigh. It's been wonderful.

Next week, reality returns. But until then, I've got a few more days of relaxing. It's been wonderful after all the business of the last few weeks.

I just remembered that while I promised to post the review from RT Book Reviews, I never did...I'll get on that with the next post.

See, I really have gotten lazy.

I'll try to do better ;o)

Go check out the party!!!

Barbara Vey of Publishers Weekly is hosting a mall party for Inspirational, YA, and non-fiction at her blog Beyond Her Book.

There's some great prizes and giveaways going on. Go check it out and comment for your chance to win!!!

Go here to join the party!!!