Moving On

I've started a new website with a new blog--Refinished Dreams--stories of tarnished dreams refinished by grace. Please come over and visit with well-known and aspiring writers as well as a lot of "normal" (non-writer) friends as they share their personal stories of God's grace in action. As I've mentioned on this blog, I love Cinderella stories. This new blog will feature real-life spiritual Cinderella stories of lives transformed by our One True Love. Hope you'll stop by, subscribe, and take a minute to share your comments. If you'd like to share your own "ashes to beauty" story, just let me know.

Booksignings Galore!

Inspirational romances make great Christmas gifts! Read on to find a one-stop Christmas shopping event in your area. Hope to see some familiar faces and can't wait to make new friends.

Saturday, October 30: Cathy Wienke and I will be signing Minnesota Moonlight at Barnes and Noble in Racine, WI from 1:00 to 3:00. I will also be signing A Door County Christmas.

Saturday, November 6: Cynthia Ruchti and I will be at Lighthouse Books and Gifts in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. 1:00 to 3:00.

Saturday, November 13: Cynthia Ruchti and I will be at Lighthouse Books and Gifts in Green Bay, WI. 11:00 to 1:00.

Sunday, November 14: Cynthia Ruchti and I will be at Novel Ideas Bookstore in Bailey's Harbor, WI. 1:00 to 3:00.

Friday & Saturday, November 19 & 20: I'll be at Words of Wisdom Bookstore in Swansea, IL. Friday--6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday--1:00 to 3:00.

Saturday, November 27: I'll be at the "Crafts in the Woods" craft fair at YMCA Camp MacLean in Burlington, WI.

And the Winner Is. . .

Donna Alice! Thank you for your "sparkly" comment! Please send your snail mail address to bmelby1@wi.rr.com and I'll get a copy of Minnesota Moonlight to you. Congratulations!

A Day in the Life...

If you were 12-year-old boy, forced to sit at the kitchen table and desperate to leave a message for someone with no writing tools in sight, what would you use? Cinnamon! Who knew you could draw quilt-block symbols with cinnamon? I know because I just tested it for my current work-in-progress, Tomorrow's Sun.

I love the writing life. Yesterday I went to work in my jammies. Today I got to the grocery store and reached in my back pocket for my list. It read:

Jake's Dad died when he was 15.

No fat pictures of Jake.

As far as I know, I only forgot Bill's decaf. And I came home and killed off Jake's dad eleven years ago!

WEAKLY WISDOM

Designed to Shine

The opening line in Stillwater Promise, the third book in Minnesota Moonlight, the 3-in-1 collection I wrote with Cathy Wienke, is "Not every princess has a prince." Sara Lewis is trying to convince herself only some women need a prince.


I disagree.

I have the privilege of speaking at a women’s retreat in Manhattan, Kansas in three weeks. The message God pressed on my heart reflects on Psalm 16:11—“In Your presence is fullness of joy.” I’ll be talking about how, as women, we are daughters of the King. That makes us princesses, ladies. I believe we were created to crave time with, and approval from, our Heavenly Prince. Time with Him is the key to true joy.

I’ll be giving examples of how, from the time we’re little, we know, deep down, we are destined to be royalty. We are princesses at heart...designed to shine our Father's glory. I'd love some examples of how we are drawn to things that glimmer and shine. Share your favorite “sparkly thing”—be it the fairy wings you wore as a child, or that sequin-smothered gown waiting for an occasion in the back of your closet. Men, what was the last glittery gift you bought for a special girl or woman in your life? Everyone who leaves a sparkly comment by Monday, October 11 has a chance of winning a copy of Minnesota Moonlight.

WEAKLY WISDOM

Visit with the Door County Gals

Lena Nelson Dooley is interviewing Cynthia Ruchti, Eileen Key, and myself on her blog this week. Stop by and meet my three amazing Door County sisters, leave a comment, and enter the drawing to win a copy of A Door County Christmas.