New Beginnings by Mary Manners

New Beginnings

By Mary Manners

 

 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…a time to mourn and a time to dance…” Ecclesiastes 3:1…

 

As we approach Independence Day, I also embark upon a new adventure in life...retirement from a lifelong career in education and administration coupled with a move 500 miles south, to the sunny shores of Jacksonville, FL. Transitioning from a day job to full-time writing is much like being released into the sunlight with fledgling wings. The idea is surreal; beautiful and wonderful, yet at the same time a bit unnerving. Going from the familiarity of a massively time-crunched writing schedule to wide-open free time calls for more than a bit of organization.

 

Retirement is a new chapter filled with blank pages; a canvas just yearning for a vibrant splash of color. So many ideas swirl in a tempest, jockeying for the lead position in the creative storm. As a new routine takes shape, the tempest settles to match the rhythm of the ocean beyond my writing grotto. The storm takes on a life of its own in a flurry of words and sentences; pages begin to fill with a lifetime's worth of tales. Pure joy for my soul.

 

Yes, I have mourned the end a career that has blessed me immeasurably, one that has stood front and center for the majority of my life--teaching children. I will miss the smiling faces, the hugs and sheer wonder in the bright eyes of so many youngsters who have learned to love learning. But it is time to move on to the very passion that has lurked within the depths of my heart, waiting patiently so many years for its time to bloom. Writing is my heart and soul...breath itself.

 

So here I stand, in this new chapter, spreading my wings to the warm ocean breeze. Adventure springs wide and beckons. Stay tuned...

 

 

~~~~~

 

Love Notions





Jami Mitchell has come home to Heart’s Haven to open a bookshop with the inheritance Grandma left to her. Nana’s Novel Notions is the business of her dreams until she realizes who the tenant next door is: ruthless Riley Hunter. Growing up in the small town together, she’s watched him dance through women while she’s hidden her feelings with a Teflon exterior. How will she cope, when she can’t bear being in the same town with him--let alone neighbors?

Riley Hunter has sacrificed everything to shed the poverty of his childhood. While others held Sweet-sixteen parties, he cleaned up after them. But his hard work has paid off, and he’s opened an architecture firm in the growing town. He’s had a thing for Jami since high school, but she was the privileged girl who never gave him the time of day. Now she’s come home with a wad of cash and has set up a book store in the business complex he plans to buy out. Can the two put the past behind them, or will his dream shatter hers?

 

~~~~~

Mary Manners is an award-winning romance author who lives along the beautiful shores of Jax Beach with her husband Tim. She loves swimming, running, flavored coffee and ocean-blue sunsets.

Mary believes everyone has a story to tell, and she loves to share hers. She writes inspirational romances of all lengths, from short stories to novels—something for everyone.

Connect with Mary at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 



New Beginnings by Mary Manners

New Beginnings

by

Mary Manners

 

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven..."

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 ~



 

This month marks a huge milestone in my life -- retirement from a three-decade career of teaching and school administration. I have stepped into a school building for 6,196 mornings, and have only four days to go. It's barely believable that the end is so close. My feelings are mixed...excitement and sadness, fear and exhilaration. I will miss the children, but not the political red tape.

 

I began my teaching journey at the tender age of twenty-one, and spent the first several years working with special needs children. From there I moved to a decade of fourth grade and Junior Primary, and then traversed to middle school where I taught sixth, seventh, and eight grades. Three years ago I stepped into administration at an intermediate school. My career has spanned nine grades and four schools. Now, thirty-one years later, I will finish a journey that I have considered a blessing, and begin another that I have always dreamed of--full-time writing.

 

Yes, from my earliest memory as a child I have longed to write. I shared stories before I even knew how to put them to paper. Through my journey, I promised myself that as soon as was contracted to be published that I would quit my teaching job. Well, I received 'the call' six years ago this month, and it has taken me this long to say my goodbyes to the school children I've grown to love. But I'm doing it...finally.

 

So, in just a few weeks I will begin this new season, and oh...it's going to be a joy! Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted on this much-anticipated adventure.

 

 

~~~~~

 

 

Bachelor Auction

Cooper Jackson...no, it can’t be. Wake up, wake up! The room began to whirl and harsh lights danced before Lexi’s eyes. She blinked hard once, twice, and heard a flurry of movement to her left. Then he strode out. He had to duck to clear a microphone suspended from the ceiling, and his height shaded the lights, easing the glare that burned her eyes. His dark hair was a bit shorter than she remembered, but it still fell in tousled waves across intense, smoky‐gray eyes.

The years had added muscle—lots of it. And he flashed the same ‘I can get out of anything’ grin that had melted her the first time they’d met, back in the school lunchroom in sixth grade, when he’d tried to swap his warm, stinky tuna fish on squashed white bread for the turkey and cheddar on wholegrain her mom had packed along with juicy red seedless grapes and a homemade frosted fudge brownie. That grin wouldn’t work its magic on her anymore. No way in...

“Hello, Lexi.”

Her insides turned to ice. His voice was deep, coaxing, just as she remembered. She sat paralyzed, speechless. Every thought flew from her mind. She gripped the armrests of the chair like life preservers on a sinking Titanic.

 



~~~~~

 



Mary Manners is an award-winning romance writer who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and the cherished cats they've rescued from local animal shelters...Neyland and Gus. She loves swimming, running, flavored coffee and Smoky Mountain sunsets.

Mary believes everyone has a story to tell, and she loves to share hers. She writes inspirational romances of all lengths, from short stories to novels—something for everyone.

Learn more about Mary Manners at her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.



Spring Is Just Ahead by Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

Where I live, spring is struggling to make an appearance. Jonquils, the very first lovely flowers of spring are blooming. The trees are still brown and leafless, the grass is still dead, leaves still cover the ground in the woods, but the beautiful jonquils brighten the dull, dark landscape with the promise of new life.

Spring is coming! The birds are even singing this message as they return to our woods and build nests for their babies The bright red cardinals, the beautiful black and white chickadees, the bluebirds all come to sit on our deck and eat the birdseed that we put out for them.

I just finished writing a story (releasing in the fall of 2016) that started out rather dark. Much darker than most of my books. Both the hero and heroine had gone through some major issues and were struggling as a result. Was there any hope? Would the darkness go on forever? Would the sun ever shine? But then toward the middle of the book, tiny glimmers of hope began to break through. Yes, spring is just ahead! The darkness is just for a season! Come to the light…

The theme of the book is Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The characters of the story went through it all, but ultimately discover that truly, nothing is able to separate us from the love of God.

We are in the middle of the Lent season, for those who observe that. The church I attend doesn’t give it much attention, but Lent focuses on the days leading up to the crucifixion, death, burial, and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus went through a literal hell as He prepared the way for our sins to be forgiven and for us to spend eternity with Him, someday. The dark days of Lent are still tempered with the glimmer of light, of hope, that the Lord will triumph over the darkness.

There’s a song the youth group used to sing when I was a teen. I don’t know the name of it. But the lyrics went something like: “It’s cold outside, rain coming down; trouble it seems is all around… Summer its seems was long ago, the sunny days have turned to snow, but don’t dismay, on this winter day, because you know spring is just ahead, things come alive that once were dead, and that’s the way it is with the spiritual man. You can come alive in the way of the Lord…”

He will see you through, too, no matter how grim your situation looks. Keep your eyes on Him and see the blessings He is pouring out. The Redeemer lives, my friend, no matter how out-of-control your life may be. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

Thank you, Lord, that You offer a glimmer of light in the darkness. A promise that spring – and Your kingdom – are just ahead if we persevere.

About the Author

The Bird House
by Laura V. Hilton

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

The Bird House

Twenty–year–old Greta Miller's daed has been injured in a farming accident during the summer. The supportive Amish community tries to help out, but Greta and her sister must work outside the home to make ends meet, and so Greta rents a booth at the farmers' market. Because Greta is still in her rumspringa and free to explore the world, her family selects her to sell her homemade jams, jellies, and preserves to Englischers. Josh Yoder wants to court Greta, but years ago, he made the mistake of rejecting her during a seemingly innocent game; which resulted in him leaving the Amish. Three years later, he's back, but Greta wants nothing to do with him. Josh struggles to fit in and rebuild relationships he destroyed. Knowing Greta's family needs help, he steps in, hoping to win her back. When Greta admires one of his birdhouses, he gives it to her, hoping that it will open the door to more. But as their friendship begins to grow, a series of unfortunate events pull Greta away from the Amish, leaving her rejected by those she loves. Will Greta get beyond her family's distrust and return home? Will she prove her innocence? Or will she remain outside her Amish community?

Where He Leads...

Autumn is my favorite time of year! I enjoy all those plump pumpkins spilling over the steps of front porches, cheering for the Carolina Panthers, the sound of dried leaves crackling under my shoes, and hanging out with my family. And when the first scent of burning firewood drifts in on a brisk breeze, I know it’s time to pull out the sweaters and kiss summer farewell.

Other than the occasional allergy flare, season changes are easy for me. I’m always ready for the next one, eager to switch my shorts for long pants and vice versa. Other changes are not so simple or painless. Like sacrifices that need to be made for the sake of time. Or saying goodbye, leaving a sweet place of fellowship and friendship, because of a change in direction.

A new year is almost upon us. A fresh slate. A chance for new beginnings. But, just like the Israelites poised on the verge of entering the Promised Land, it’s also a chance to look back and give thanks for God’s blessings, His protection and provision.

We don't always like to look backwards, do we? Usually that means staring at our mistakes, our glaring failures, our regrets.

But that’s also how we realize God's goodness, His leading and guidance, and a time to reflect on His intervention and protection.

Where He led, the Israelites followed. Where He leads, I will follow.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately, especially in regards to my writing. God's prompting me to dig deep and try new things, to release my dreams and fears to Him, to spread my wings and soar over unfamiliar waters, to reach out and love more.

What does that mean? I don't know exactly, but I trust God. If He points to a road and says, "Go that way. I want you to meet somebody," (Acts 8:26-40), who am I to argue? I'll try not to allow fear or doubt to squelch that giant swell of anticipation that's building and rising for the journey ahead. Where He leads, I will follow.

Who does God want me to connect with this year? 

Who does God want you to meet?

When I look back over the last few years, I see how God poured out love and encouragement through my friends here at Seriously Write. How He shaped and crafted me into the writer I am today through the gracious writers who so willingly shared their talent and experiences.

With a heavy but grateful heart, I say goodbye to my sweet friends at Seriously Write today with this, my last regular post. You are some of my greatest blessings. Wishing you all a glorious Thanksgiving, continued growth in your writing, and a refreshing of your spirit in 2016!

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake." Ps 23:1-3 NIV

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of RWA and her local chapter, Carolina Romance Writers. Connect with her on Seriously Write, Fiction Faith & Foodies, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.