Give Thanks by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

The Bible tell us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love continues forever.” While I believe this is something God intends for us to do daily, this time of year as our minds turn to Thanksgiving in the United States we become more focused on the blessings the Lord has given us. Oh, I’m not saying nothing ever goes wrong in life or that there aren’t many things we wish we’d done differently. I know there are countless decisions that if I had to do them over again I would change, but guess what? There is no rewind button in life. Not in our family life, not in our day jobs, and not in our writing life.

Procrastination is a horrible problem for me. Not only in writing, but in everything. Earlier this week I ordered movie tickets and I had to choose a date an entire week later than I planned. Know why? Yep, the big PROCRASTINATION. I let the email telling me about ordering advance tickets sit in my inbox for way too long before acting on it. What’s worse, I had read it. I just waited to follow through. Now obviously that’s a movie so nothing horrible in life is going to happen. Still I can give thanks because I purchased great seats closer to Christmas and it can be holiday fun.

What if that had been a book? Hmm, ramifications would have been a bit worse. I might have missed the window of opportunity all together. Know what’s worse? I’ve done that. Even as I type this, I’m behind where I want to be and should be on some revisions. Anything to give thanks for there? You bet. I was asked for revisions, so the editor saw something in my writing she liked. Also, if I’ll heed my own advice here I can work like a madwoman (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it) and crank these revisions out on my own self-imposed deadline.

Still the thing I’m most thankful for this year is that my sister had a serious surgery and came out just fine and dandy. Now that may seem off topic, but I believe it is a matter of remembering our priorities. Writing, especially writing for the Lord, is a wonderful thing to do. But when all is said and done there is nothing as important as our relationship with our Creator and our families.

So this year when I gather around the table with my family and give thanks for my blessings, writing won’t be my number one priority. Not even my number two. Think what you want about that, but to me the opportunity to spend a day with my best friend and sister tops that hands down. And that is what I’ll be thanking God for.

What about you? What do you plan on giving thanks for on Thanksgiving Day? I hope you’ll share with me. Whatever it is, I pray you and your family will have a blessed day.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.


Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Writing - A Love Hate Relationship by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

Over the weekend I looked back on my writing journey. By traditional standards I’ve not been successful. I’ve had one book published and countless rejections. There were times the rejections made me want to quit writing. Last year was an especially trying year for me. I reached a point where I wondered if I’d ever see another book published. I just wanted to give up. Thankfully, with the help of a few good friends I made it past that hurdle.

Oh, I still haven’t gotten another book contract, but I’ve made good strides and I have a different mindset now. Plus, I’ve had some good feedback on my writing. I placed well with two manuscripts I entered in a contest and I had a request for a full on a different manuscript from a publisher. Now all those things may lead to nothing and while they were nice affirmations I’d like to think I’d grown as a Christian and a writer. Maybe if I ignore the pity party I threw when I failed to get a request from a publisher and agent I REALLY REALLY wanted I can say I have. Let me tell you, that was quite a party. Bet you’ve never seen such an awesome pity fest. LOL.

On a whole the part of writing that made me hate it was when my middle sagged so bad it dragged the ground. Or when I was halfway through the book and all out of plot. Or when I needed to write 60 thousand words and the end came at 50 thousand. And let’s not even talk about the critiques that said your heroine is so mean she’d kick a puppy. Ouch! These are the times that make me want to bang my head against the keyboard. Let me interject a quick note here, I’ve worked hard to soften my heroines. They are no longer so mean.

But there are times I love writing! That moment when a new idea zings into my mind or when the research for a series becomes fun and exciting. When the middle of the book doesn’t sag and the glorious moment when I type THE END! Those are moments I love, but nothing is better than when I’ve typed a scene and I go back and reread it later and those are God’s words, not mine. Because I see His mercy in that line, an understanding He can offer, not me.

So while I still have my love hate relationship with writing, I’d have to say these days I love it far more than I hate it.

How about you? Do you have a love hate relationship with writing? What drives you to hate to write? And if you’ve managed to overcome the hate side and it is all love please share how you did it. I’d love to hear your responses so please leave a comment about your experiences.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Writing Consistently By Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

Well, here I am on the wrong Thursday again. A special thanks to Dora for her flexibility and kindness in switching with me. While I’m writing this I know my sister will be in surgery as you read the post on Thursday morning. Please say a prayer for a successful surgery and swift recovery.

Recently, I wrote a complete book in what felt like a very short amount of time – at least to me. I won’t deny the pace was grueling and there were times I wondered if I would ever finish something worth reading in such a short timeframe. I’m pleased to say I did finish and while it might or might not find a home, I had an epiphany as I wrote the novel. Writing consistently makes you a better writer. I know, you’ve heard that a million times before. So had I, but while writing this project I experienced the reality of it firsthand.

To finish my book and edit it in the allotted time, I had to write boo coos of words fast. What I discovered was the more I wrote, the easier it became to hop into my character’s head. Their voices came naturally, and I knew how they’d react in the harrowing situations they’d face in this romantic suspense novel.

Don’t get me wrong, like all characters they refused to stick to the synopsis I’d written 100%. Seems they had a mind of their own and they weren’t afraid to let me know when they didn’t like my original plan. But let’s face it, when have your characters done everything according to plan? Mine never do. They seem to think they know best.

Would I want to write all my manuscripts at the breakneck pace required to finish this one? NEVER! I think sleep deprivation would do me in. However, as I’m plotting the sequel to the book I just finished, I do want to meet a specific word count every day. I do want to write faster than I have in the past. I do want to write consistently, it reduced the amount of editing required. So regardless of what happens with this story, I’ve learned an invaluable lesson that will help me grow as a writer.

How about you? Do you write consistently? If so, has writing consistently improved your writing? If not, would you be willing to give it a try for two weeks and let me know how it goes? I’d love to hear your responses so leave a comment about your experiences.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Trying New Things by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

It may be Thursday, but it isn’t my usual Thursday so I hope you’ll give me a minute to get settled in. Thanks to Dora for switching weeks with me, when I had some unexpected events crop up. Hmm, maybe that’s where I came up with the idea for today’s post.

Most authors, myself included, have a specific genre we like to write. Suspense is my favorite genre and it is the publishing path I’m pursuing. Almost all the ideas for stories that pop into my head are suspense. Now, I’m not sure what that says about me, but since I know plenty of other normal suspense authors I’m not going to worry. When I stop to think about it, my penchant for suspense shouldn’t surprise me. I’ve long been a reader of suspense novels and I love television shows that are police procedural dramas. Sherlock Holmes is playing in the background while I write this post.

However, my published Christmas novella is a lighthearted contemporary romance. I had a blast writing it and I’d love to do more, time allowing. Romance has been a staple in my library for years. Christmas books, especially novellas are some of my favorite reads. Plus, my all-time favorite movie is Pillow Talk. Definitely a romantic comedy.

But lately I’ve had a yen to write something totally off the wall – for me. Speculative fiction. That’s what I really want to discuss with you guys today. I’ve read speculative fiction, but it isn’t one of my favorite genres to read. Help me out, how did the idea pop into my head? How in the world would I go about writing a speculative fiction book? Right now I don’t even have a story idea. I just have this niggling inside me that says it would be fun to try. A few thousand words into the story and that feeling may well change! As much fun as it sounds, it also sounds off the wall and a little scary. Is this my idea or God’s plan? If the desire to write this book is from the Lord, I believe He will provide the idea.

How about you? Have you ever desired or felt called to write something totally different? Did you do it? Please let me know if you have and how it worked out.

Purchase Link

****

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

The Art of Over Committing by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

Throughout the years I’ve tried my hand at a number of things, some I mastered, and many I didn’t. But there is one thing I’ve learned to excel at – over committing. Hmm, I don’t think I’m hearing anyone cheering. Don’t feel bad, it doesn’t make me happy either. In fact, it’s been known to cause me a great deal of stress, something none of us needs added to our lives.

So why do I do it? Well, all the things I committed to were worthwhile, even fun. And doesn’t Proverbs 6:9 say, “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” Yep, it does. The problem with me quoting that verse is I was guilty of finding a Bible verse to justify my actions. Not smart.

To live a healthy, well balanced life we have to make choices. My day job is a necessity, so I have to allocate a huge chunk of my time to the job. That means I can’t commit to so many evening activities that I can’t function at work or I end up sick from lack of rest.

Writing is dear to my heart. If I’m going to commit to being an author then I have to choose other activities to give up. That’s a real problem for me. I want it all. Do I sound like a two-year-old? Trust me, I’ve acted like one from time to time.

Recently, I’ve come to the realization that I have to prioritize. Pick out the things that are nearest to my heart, the things God wants me to do, and start letting the rest go. Yeah, it is hard. If you were to ask the people closest to me how I’m doing at not over committing, well, they’d probably laugh.

I feel like I’m doing better. At least now I realize it is a problem. With that realization also came an awareness that by committing to so many “good” things, I never spend time on the things I love the most. That was an eye opener. So let me leave you with a different verse, Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Spend your time wisely, my friends.

If you have tips for keeping balance in your life I hope you’ll leave a comment and share your wisdom with me. Trust me, I can use all the help I can get!

****

Mistletoe Magic ~ buy link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Writing on a Schedule by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

Raise your hand if you write on a schedule? Sitting out here in cyber land it is hard to tell if I’m the only person with both hands firmly in lap. While it is embarrassing, I hope I am. That would mean each of you is more disciplined than me.

Even though I struggle with being disciplined, I refuse to give up. After all, there are over thirty verses in the Bible concerning the subject, several in Proverbs. When I read – Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. – Proverbs 12:1 ESV, I thought ouch! Not only do I need to be more disciplined, but now I need to realize that all those tough critiques and rejections are things I shouldn’t hate.  And it is all too true. Nothing is worse than scrambling around trying to finish a project at the last minute. I won’t presume to speak for you, but when I’m in scramble mode I’m not turning in my best work. Plus it is very stressful and I end up feeling like I’ve failed before I’ve even hit send.

            

So this year I’m not blazing any trails, and I still struggle with lack of discipline, but I’m determined to work through the issue. I can either give up and throw the towel in or keep working to overcome. I believe God has created us to be overcomers. He’s already equipped me for the journey, now I just need to utilize the tools He has given me.

            

What about you? Are you writing on a schedule? Have you overcome self-discipline and procrastination problems? I hope you’ll take a few minutes to share with me how you’ve managed to be an overcomer. If you haven’t, share that as well. Either way, maybe we can all learn from each other.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Characters by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

A good character can make or break a book. Like most authors, I love to read – voraciously. A lot of the time how well I like the book depends on the characters. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the other elements of a novel aren’t important, but a great plot with a dud or creep for a character just doesn’t do it for me. I’m sure the same is true for you.

Obviously we all want our story people to be memorable. So what do we need to imbibe our characters with to make people fall in love with them? Or hate them? Hey, like it or not some fictional folks stick with us because of how wickedly awful they are. Can anyone say Norman Bates? But I’m digressing here.

Years ago I read a book where the hero had helped out a restaurant owner with a loan. The owner kept the hero’s name on a special list, always had a table for him. That hero fell in love and at one point in the book he treats the heroine atrociously, accuses her of betraying him when everyone knows she’d never do such a thing. With no place to turn she goes to the restaurant and collapses. The owner tells the hero he’s off the list. It’s probably been twenty-five years since I first read that book. I still have it on my shelf and from time to time that story pops into my mind.

Why? Because of how wickedly cruel the hero treated her.

There are other reasons, good reasons, characters take up residence in our minds: fierce loyalty, quirkiness, animal lover, unusual hobbies/careers, and gentleness.

I can think of favorite books to cover all those traits. Needless to say, many of those books were written by favorite authors. Top selling authors. Two good reasons to pay close attention to the characters in your novels.

So, let’s have a mini-brainstorming session. Leave a comment and tell me who your favorite character is and why. Keep in mind, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the hero or heroine. I have a book where I absolutely love my villain – and he is bad to the bone.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Amore! by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

Being a romance writer I’m thrilled to have a chance to post two days before Valentine’s Day. After all, Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year. It evokes images of red roses, chocolates, and love letters. All things you want for your heroine, regardless of the genre you write. In fact, I think our belief in love is one of the reasons we write.

Since we all know the course of true love never runs smoothly in our novels, what would cause our heroines to believe in true love? Parents? Not for my heroine in the book I’m currently editing. Her parents are more interested in money and social status than their daughter. Boyfriend or husband? She doesn’t have one. God? She feels like God turned His back on her the day her sister died.

Enter my hero. A wonderful man with a personal relationship with Jesus who was raised by parents that exemplify true love. He longs to see my heroine develop a relationship with God and then to spend the rest his life loving her. In fact, he’s willing to sacrifice anything, even his job as a homicide detective, to protect her and win her love. Sigh. A happily ever after. Just what readers want. Any editors out there reading this? Um, not that I’d turn any requests down, but please know that was meant as a joke.

Before I bid you farewell, I’ll share with you a quote from my most treasured love letter, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16 NKJV

Just think about it, God loves you and me so much that He sacrificed His only Son so that our sins could be forgiven. There is no greater love. I know that’s why I believe in a perfect love and I pray you do too.

Let’s have a mini-brainstorming session. Leave a comment and tell me what your hero is willing to give up to prove his love to your heroine.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Ready – Get Set – Focus! By Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

Happy New Year! Even though it is only January 8th, I’m sure you’ve read a dozen or more blogs about the New Year. Ways you can make sure you accomplish more in 2015 then you did in 2014. Hmm, almost makes me wonder if I should switch topics, but I won’t because I need this post even if you don’t.

One way I’m going to endeavor to achieve more in 2015 is by focusing. There are several areas of my life, both personal and professional, that need focus. I won’t bore you with the personal areas and if you’re bored by the professional – well, just pretend you aren’t.

I tend to allow myself to be pulled in too many different directions. Yeah, it would be easy to blame something or someone else, but the real crux of the matter is I allow it to happen. I have friends who are as busy or busier than I am and they seem to accomplish twice what I do. They stay focused, I don’t. True confession, sometimes I just want to hide from my writer accountability group. Oh, I can’t believe I said that, because one or more of them will probably read this!

Part of my plan to stay focused is to pick out the things that are the most important to me. No they won’t all be writing related, nor should they be. We need to keep a balance in our life and make sure God is always in the number one position. Also, remember there are some things you can’t control. You have no control over whether or not an editor will recommend your work for publication or an agent will sign you as a client. However, you can decide to write every day or five thousand words a week, attend a conference, and submit a proposal to an agent. And even though I know I’ve read this countless times before on Seriously Write, it bears repeating, pray about your writing. God is in this journey along with us.

In case you’re wondering, I just outlined what I plan to focus on in 2015. Somehow while it was floating around in my mind, it didn’t seem so overwhelming. Seeing it written down in black and white, well, all I can say is it’s time to FOCUS!

Leave a comment and tell me what your plans are for 2015. I’d love to hear them and welcome any and all tips on how to stay focused. Happy New Year!

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

What Are You Going To Read In 2015? by Terri Weldon

I adore Christmas books. So while I’m reading Christmas stories and trying to find time to work in a few uninterrupted hours to write, my To Be Read (TBR) shelf is growing. I have some wonderful books on that shelf. Books I’m already making plans to read. Periodically I look longingly towards one and tell myself to hold off until January.

What about you? Do you have a TBR shelf? What book are you looking most forward to reading? I’ll confess, I can’t pick just one! There are too many good ones and more great titles are releasing after the first of the year. I’ll never catch up. But that’s OK, if I thought I’d run out of great books to read, I’d freak! Trust me, not a pretty sight.

The desire and ability to read is an awesome gift from the Lord. Non-readers may not understand that, but if you’re reading this blog I know you do. Don’t forget, Jesus told stories in the form of parables all the time. God is an author.

Is His book on your TBR shelf for 2015? If it isn’t, I encourage you to give it a place of preeminence. If it is, make sure it is the first book you reach for every day. After all, God wrote the greatest story ever told.

Each year I like to read a version of The Bible In A Year. I’ve read numerous translations and layouts over the years. In 2015 I plan on reading the New Living Translation Chronological Bible.

If you’ve never read a chronological version of the Bible I encourage you to do so. It is eye opening to see what prophets go with what kings and what Psalms, if any, are from the same timeframe.

It doesn’t matter whether you choose to read the entire Bible in 2015 or spend more time on an in depth study of a single book, you can’t go wrong reading and studying any part of God’s word.

I hope you’ll leave a comment and let me know what fiction book you’re looking to reading in 2015 and whether you plan on reading the entire Bible or if you have a particular book you plan on studying.

Oh, have yourself a Merry Christmas!

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri Weldon

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.


Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

ACFW Conference by Terri Weldon

The American Christian Fiction Writer’s (ACFW) Conference is exciting, fun filled, and fast paced. So I’m going to talk to you about a side of conference prep that’s often overlooked.

The night before I flew out to St. Louis I slept for the sum total of two and a half hours. I know, that’s ridiculous. I mean after all, I should have gotten three hours of sleep, but I was so excited I couldn’t go to sleep. Logical? Nope, thirty more minutes wouldn’t have made much difference. Why didn’t I get more sleep? Because I hadn’t prepped properly.

View of the Arch from the hotel

Every year I read about people packing days in advance and wonder why they do it. Well, this year I knew and if I’m fortunate enough to visit the great state of Texas in 2015, I’ll pack at least a day early. Hey, that would be an improvement. Do you know what else I was doing at the eleventh hour? Inserting a picture in my onesheet. Oh, I’d written, edited, and finished my onesheet well in advance. I just failed to go back and insert a picture that accurately depicted my novel. Thankfully, the wonderfully talented Lacy Williams helped me out.

OCFW Gals before the Gala

Did I mention that I waited to print EVERYTHING until the night before the conference? Disclaimer – I realize at this point I’m sounding like a total nitwit. I promise I’m not! I’ve never been so ill prepared for a conference before.

By now things weren’t looking too promising so I thought back to my number one goal for conference. Yes, I had actually set goals for myself in advance of conference. I hope I haven’t shocked anyone too badly by having one shred of orderliness. LOL. My number one goal was to have a good time.

Weeks ago I realized I couldn’t control how agents and editors would feel about my book when I pitched to them. I couldn’t even guarantee I’d pick the right publisher’s spotlights for me. But I could control my attitude. I could determine in advance to enjoy the conference and to have a great time. Visit with friends, meet online buddies face to face for the first time, attend the My Book Therapy Pizza Party, have a photoshoot with the conference photographer. Just enjoy myself. If it sounded fun, I did it. Do you know what happened? I had an absolutely wonderful conference. I enjoyed every second of my time in St. Louis.

L-Colleen Coble, R-Terri Weldon

So before you attend a conference any conference, promise me you’ll do four things. Get enough rest the night before the conference starts, have your bags packed at least a day ahead of time, print your materials in advance, and determine in your heart to enjoy your conference experience.

Today, I’d love for you to share how you prepare for conference. Are you going to make me look bad and tell me how you’re totally organized? Are you a procrastinator? Is anyone out there worse than me? Please, someone, cheer me up by telling me you hopped out of bed and while your printer spit out onesheets you were tossing clothes into your suit case.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri Weldon

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

To Genre Hop or Not to Genre Hop by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

Today’s post has more questions than answers. I’m hoping you guys can help me out and provide the answers.

Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Speculative Fiction, and Historical Romance. At one time or another I’ve been tempted to write stories in each of these genres. Practical? Hardly. Trust me when I say I’d do a horrible job writing Historical Romance and I’m too big a chicken to delve into the world of Speculative Fiction. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read both and found them delightful, but as an author, they just aren’t for me.

Besides writing ability, because someone out there reading this may be able to write any genre, is there a good reason to avoid genre hopping? We hear so much these days about branding and building a platform. Does switching back and forth between genres make it harder to build a platform or to brand you as a writer?

When I think of some of my favorite authors, Ted Dekker, Elizabeth Camden, Debbie Macomber, Linda Goodnight, and Brandilyn Collins, I tend to put each of them in a distinct genre. But then there’s Colleen Coble and Rene Gutteridge. Both of these talented ladies write in multiple genres. I may not always know what kind of book they’re going to write, but I know if the book has their name on it, I’ll like it.

What about you? Do you prefer knowing exactly what kind of story you’ll be getting when you purchase a book by an author or do you buy a book just because it has an author’s name on it?

Some authors use pseudonyms, so their readers can differentiate by the name on the cover what kind of book they’ll be reading. If you’re a writer, would you be willing to use a pseudonym or have you ever used a pen name? If you’re a reader, do you like it when authors use pseudonyms?

As a relatively new author with only one published title under her belt, I’d love to hear your opinion on genre hopping. So, leave a comment and we can spend the day discussing the subject.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose? 

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies. 

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

ACFW Conference by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

I remember the few weeks leading up to my first RWA Conference experience in San Antonio earlier this year. Fear, anxiety and excitement all battled for traction. Are you heading to the ACFW Conference? Relax and take some deep breaths. Terri has an encouraging word for you today! ~Dora

Exactly two weeks from today I’ll be flying to St. Louis for the 2014 ACFW Conference. I’m excited, but nervous. In the remaining fourteen days before conference I have a boatload of tasks to accomplish, friends to contact, and a whole lot of praying to do. So let’s spend a few minutes talking about my list.

Proper preparation is essential to having a successful conference. There are agent appointments, editor appointments, meals with industry professionals, and chance run-ins in the elevator or hallways. Be prepared to pitch your book every chance you get. You never know when someone will fall in love with your novel.

At my first ACFW Conference, I rode the elevator with Steve Laube. No one else. The perfect opportunity to try out my elevator pitch. I didn’t! Quiet as a church mouse, I rode downstairs and attended his workshop. By the time the class was over I’d worked up my nerve and thankfully he was gracious enough to my listen to my pitch. Once I worked past my nervousness, I managed to pitch the novel because I’d practiced my elevator pitch more times then I care to admit.

The last thing you want to do is have an opportunity to pitch your novel and then trip all over what the book is about. After all, you’re the author, if you don’t seem enthusiastic about your writing, how can you expect to nab an agent or entrance an editor?

The second thing to remember is to have fun. Don’t become obsessed with your schedule. Be flexible, skip a class if you feel overwhelmed. Rest, call a friend, or stop by the prayer room. Make a point to meet your online friends in person. Be a blessing to someone else. Smile and befriend people who are alone in workshops or at meals. God may plan for you to bless them. And who knows, you may make a lifetime friend. In this industry there are variables we can’t control, but having a great time at conference is within our realm of control. By the way, if you run into me at conference and I’m having a pity party, feel free to quote me!

And finally, pray without ceasing. Commit your writing to the Lord. Trust Him that your conference experience will go according to His plan. Nothing will calm you and take away your worries like placing them in the Lord’s hand.

So, what about you, are you going to meet me in St. Louis? If you are, tell me what you’re most excited about. If not, I hope you’ll share a prior conference experience with me.

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.

Rejection by Terri Weldon

Terri Weldon

An author’s life is tough. We plot, work, and pour our hearts out onto the page. Still, we often face the sting of rejection. I’ll tell you something that I’d flat prefer to keep to myself. I’ve been rejected more times this year than any other in my writing journey.

I’ve heard many authors say you get used to it or you develop a tough skin. Both of those statements are true – in a sense. Don’t get me wrong, I had my pity party after every rejection. Each time I gave myself the usual pep talk, listened to friends as they tried to boost my morale, and forged ahead to the next project. However, one “thanks, but no thanks” hit me particularly hard. My pity party lasted a little longer than normal and it took an entire afternoon off work commiserating with friends to move forward. Not to mention all the conversations I put my longsuffering sister through. Thankfully I have a great support system, which for an author, is invaluable.

I’ve given up the pity party circuit (I hope) and now I’m working on honing my craft. Looking at the invaluable feedback I received from editors and trying to make sure I don’t make those same mistakes again. Will I succeed? I hope so, but I’m sure I’ll have my relapses. And I’m sure the good Lord had a reason I’ve walked this path. Part of it I’m beginning to understand and part of it I may never understand. That part I’ll just take on faith, because regardless of how I feel, when or what I understand, His ways are far better than my ways.

Rejection is part of the journey. The hard part. I may not like it, but I can accept it. Still, I could use a leg up, so how about sharing with me. Have you ever been rejected? If not, I applaud you. If so, how did you handle it?

****

Purchase Link

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter.

It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler’s online persona. How can he tell her he’s the man she’s been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty.

As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and playing in the hand bell choir. 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 Oklahoma. Terri has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.

Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing. To learn more about Terri visit her website at www.TerriWeldon.com.