Dandelions, Wishes, and the Writing Life by Mary Manners

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.

 

~~~~~

 



Cooking Up Kisses (Five Sweetly Scrumptious Novellas)

 

 

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!

 

~~~~~

 



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.

What’s Your Wish for this Christmas? by Terri Weldon

Christmas is a magical time of year. While I’m remembering the miraculous birth of my Savior I’m filled with hopes and dreams renewed for my life and the lives of those I love. Do you have a special Christmas wish? I know I had several this year. 

I dreamed of releasing a Christmas novella in 2016. On December 1^st The Christmas Bride Wore Boots became available on Amazon. I was blessed to see the realization of one of my Christmas wishes. Writing is a blessing and I thank God for allowing me to write for Him. 

Another one of my Christmas wishes was for health for my family. Health is a universal Christmas wish. Let’s face it, when we’re worried about the health of those we love writing books or getting a new pair of UGG slippers doesn’t seem nearly as important. And while my sister is facing surgery it looks like everything will be fine. 

My final wish is one that gets slid onto the back burner all too frequently. It shouldn’t and hopefully it is just me and you don’t suffer from this problem. I want to grow more and develop a deeper relationship with Christ. After all, it is His birth I’m celebrating. 

What about you? What is your Christmas wish this year?

The Christmas Bride Wore Boots:
Berryhill Brides Book 1

Pastor Jacob Thompson is in need of a director for the living nativity program and veterinarian Molly Kincaid offers to take on the job. The task involves far more than Molly bargained for, nonetheless she’d do anything to help out the man she secretly loves – even sew costumes or cast eight-year-old Wesley Simpson as an angel.
 
Jacob’s daughter Emma longs to have a mommy of her own, but the widowed pastor has vowed to never remarry, and isn’t ready to open his heart to love again. Molly dreams of filling the void in both their lives, but fears she lacks the necessary qualities to be a pastor’s wife.

As Molly and Jacob work together on the living nativity, their feelings for one another grow. Will Molly realize she is just what Jacob and Emma need in their lives? Can Jacob be released from his grief stricken promise? Could this unlikely duo prove to be a match made in heaven?

Amazon: The Christmas Bride Wore Boots
Kobo:  The Christmas Bride Wore Boots

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA. Her novella, The Christmas Bride Wore Boots, released in December 2016. Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or Blog: Seriously Write