Dandelions, Wishes, and the Writing Life
by Mary Manners
Pay
to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom
revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
~
Romans 13:7 ~
I have a saying pinned above the calendar on my office wall. It's one of my favorites of all time:
This encapsulates the way I feel about writing. Each story is like a precious dandelion that blossoms into a wish that I share with readers. A wish that is the embodiment of faith, hope, and healing. Those of you who have been stopping by Seriously Write on the fourth Monday of each month know that I have been writing since I was a young child. It is truly a passion as well as a ministry of mine--as essential to life as breathing. Wishes grow into dreams, dreams blossom through hard work. It's a lovely dance.
But sometimes a weed or two creep into the wishes. Especially when (and if) an author transitions from writing as a hobby into penning books as a full-time writer. That transition can take some of the shine off the joy of crafting stories. Sometimes difficult choices must be made when looking at writing through the eyes of one responsible for putting bread on the table, caring for aging parents, or helping children through college. The path may not always be easy, and the road may wind to places we never imagined. But, if we remain steadfast in our faith, we will always be exactly where He wants us to be.
Luckily, weeds don't remain for long, but wishes, as well as God's promises, last forever. One look at the sun-kissed field of feathered white blooms and I know this to be truth. So hold firm to your faith and keep walking the path set before you, even if the territory is unfamiliar and daunting. And when you see a dandelion run to it, close your eyes, and make a wish.
~~~~~
LOVE ON A DARE BY MARY MANNERS
Alana Mulvaney’s life is in a holding pattern. Consumed by day-to-day operations of the family business, Alana has no time for fun or romance. But a little fun and a whole lot of romance is just what Alana’s sisters have in mind when they learn childhood friend Donovan O’Reilly has returned to town.
HUMMINGBIRD KISSES BY DELIA LATHAM
Toni Littlebird believes that when she meets the man God created for her, she’ll know—and she’ll love him in that very moment.
But then Dax Hendrick roars into Hummingbird Hollow on a noisy, crippled Harley, stinking up the air and chasing away her beloved hummingbirds. One look into the intruder’s eyes and her heart sinks. He’s “The One.” She’d been right about knowing, but wrong about something far more important: She will never love this man!
HEARTS ON THE HARBOR BY ROBIN BAYNE
Cara Peyton is content with her life, her trendy Baltimore bookshop is perfect for her. But when her ex turns up to remodel the store, asking for a second chance, she’s torn and unsure about risking her heart again. Can he convince her to trust him, and God, before the job is finished?
HIS VALENTINE PROMISE BY DORA HIERS
Another Valentine’s Day and Quinn Randolph prefers to spend it with her sweet rescue lab. Who needs men and their broken promises? Especially Pierce Karson’s! Years ago, his desertion shattered her. Now he’s trying to steal the property she targeted to expand her florist shop! Pierce only wants to belong…and for Quinn to choose him. His Valentine Promise…
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN IN A RED DRESS BY ZOE M. McCARTHY
Candace Parks lives a passionless life in Richmond. The computer programmer returns to the empty family home in the Blue Ridge Mountains solely to evaluate her job, faith, and boyfriend. Her high school crush, Trigg Alderman, who barely remembers her, visits his Gram next door. Sorting her life out? How about nothing of the sort!
Alana Mulvaney’s life is in a holding pattern. Consumed by day-to-day operations of the family business, Alana has no time for fun or romance. But a little fun and a whole lot of romance is just what Alana’s sisters have in mind when they learn childhood friend Donovan O’Reilly has returned to town.
HUMMINGBIRD KISSES BY DELIA LATHAM
Toni Littlebird believes that when she meets the man God created for her, she’ll know—and she’ll love him in that very moment.
But then Dax Hendrick roars into Hummingbird Hollow on a noisy, crippled Harley, stinking up the air and chasing away her beloved hummingbirds. One look into the intruder’s eyes and her heart sinks. He’s “The One.” She’d been right about knowing, but wrong about something far more important: She will never love this man!
HEARTS ON THE HARBOR BY ROBIN BAYNE
Cara Peyton is content with her life, her trendy Baltimore bookshop is perfect for her. But when her ex turns up to remodel the store, asking for a second chance, she’s torn and unsure about risking her heart again. Can he convince her to trust him, and God, before the job is finished?
HIS VALENTINE PROMISE BY DORA HIERS
Another Valentine’s Day and Quinn Randolph prefers to spend it with her sweet rescue lab. Who needs men and their broken promises? Especially Pierce Karson’s! Years ago, his desertion shattered her. Now he’s trying to steal the property she targeted to expand her florist shop! Pierce only wants to belong…and for Quinn to choose him. His Valentine Promise…
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN IN A RED DRESS BY ZOE M. McCARTHY
Candace Parks lives a passionless life in Richmond. The computer programmer returns to the empty family home in the Blue Ridge Mountains solely to evaluate her job, faith, and boyfriend. Her high school crush, Trigg Alderman, who barely remembers her, visits his Gram next door. Sorting her life out? How about nothing of the sort!
~~~~~
Mary
Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime sharing
her joy of writing. She has two sons, a daughter, and three beautiful
grandchildren. She lives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of East
Tennessee with her husband Tim and two kittens, Colby and Jax.
Mary’s stories have earned multiple
accolades including two Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson
Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold, the Heart of Excellence, and the National
Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.
Mary
loves long sunrise runs, Smoky Mountain sunsets, and flavored coffee. She
enjoys connecting with reader friends through her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.
