Spring Fever by Mary Manners

 

Spring Fever

by

Mary Manners

 

 

I don't know how the weather has been in your neck of the woods the past several months, but here in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, we have recorded one of the wettest winters on record. It seemed as if it would never pass. Days and days of dreary skies, chilly temperatures, and a stiff breeze have everyone longing for brighter days.

 

Sometimes writing is like a long, cold winter. Days spent hunched over a desk, nose to the grindstone, alone in an office, with nothing but a lukewarm cup of coffee and nary an end in sight. But, like the garden plants I am currently cultivating in my sunroom (minus the sun) and preparing to plant for harvest, writers must do the same with the stories we yearn to share. Plant the seeds, tenderly nurture them, take care of everyday tasks, and...wait.

 

 

 

 

Waiting builds patience. It makes us stronger...and better for the journey. So, when the days are long and cold, remember that sunshine and warmth are coming, and the dark winter days will soon be a thing of the past, a distant memory. Keep writing and trust that the seeds you have planted and are tending will grow into a delightful bounty sure to touch the hearts of many. And, should a rainy day come, you'll endure the lack of sunshine because the stories you cultivated will be the sunshine.

 

 



 







~~~~~

 

A Pocketful of Wishes

 

When a job transfer causes Jenna Palmer’s family to relocate across the country, Jenna moves away from her best friend and first love Carter Stevens. She promises to find him again. But as the years slip away and she dives into a career in pediatric trauma surgery, all that is left of her one time love are the memories—and a wish on the lucky penny Carter gave her.

 

Carter Stevens never forgot his first love. On their final morning together he gave her a special token along with his promise to love her forever. Though years have passed as he’s climbed the ranks of the Maple Ridge Police Department, he still longs for another glimpse of the smiling, green-eyed beauty who stole his heart and shared his love of adventure.

 

 

When an accident brings the pair together once again, memories and reality collide. Will their promise stand, or will time crush their promise…and their love?

 

~~~~~

Mary Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime sharing her joy of writing. She lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and their rescue dog Axel, mischievous cats Colby and Rascal, 8 rambunctious chickens, and 13 fish.

Mary writes stories full of faith and hope. Her books 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 



A New Day by Mary Manners

A New Day

by Mary Manners

It’s a brand new day. How will you choose to spend it?

We all are familiar—some more than others—with this drill: A small child rides in the backseat of the car and his constant chatter is a distraction—and sometimes an irritation—to the driver. Again and again, he asks, “Are we there yet?”  Eager to arrive at the destination he wants the car to move faster. He is beyond impatient.

In our day-to-day activities, we are often like that child, scurrying at lightning speed from one task to another, devoid of the simple pleasure of life’s journey and the landscape that forms our life. Time passes in a blur, and when we do take a moment to grab a breath, we wonder just how the hours turned into weeks, months, years and even (yikes) decades.

Slow down. Enjoy the ride and drink in the scenery—a mango-tinged sunrise, the laughter of a child, perhaps a friendly chat with a lonely neighbor. Discover the purpose of your actions and take few minutes to thank God for the countless blessings in your life. Soon, instead of the nagging, “Are we there yet?” you may find yourself exclaiming, “Wow, how did we get here already?”

When life’s hectic pace threatens to steal joy, remember to so many wonderful moments in time, and to appreciate a world filled with children’s laughter, kind words from a neighbor and the beauty of a new sunrise. Along the way, you might even discover a new story idea (or two).

This week, take time to relax and discover the people with whom you are journeying through life. Listen to the wind whispering through trees, smell the musky scent of changing leaves, enjoy a cup of flavored coffee (or tea), and tilt your face to the warm sunlit sky with a smile. 

~~~~~

A Pocketful of Wishes

When a job transfer causes Jenna Palmer’s family to relocate across the country, Jenna moves away from her best friend and first love Carter Stevens. She promises to find him again. But as the years slip away and she dives into a career in pediatric trauma surgery, all that is left of her one time love are the memories—and a wish on the lucky penny Carter gave her.

Carter Stevens never forgot his first love. On their final morning together he gave her a special token along with his promise to love her forever. Though years have passed as he’s climbed the ranks of the Maple Ridge Police Department, he still longs for another glimpse of the smiling, green-eyed beauty who stole his heart and shared his love of adventure.

When an accident brings the pair together once again, memories and reality collide. Will their promise stand, or will time crush their promise…and their love?

~~~~~

Mary Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime sharing her joy of writing. She lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and their rescue dog Axel, mischievous cats Colby and Rascal, 8 rambunctious chickens, and 13 fish.

Mary writes stories full of faith and hope. Her books 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.