Forgiveness is a Gift

Oops! I'm a little late today, but maybe someone will see this and get a little encouragement from it.

 

FORGIVENESS IS A GIFT

BY

DEBORAH MALONE

 

In my newest book “Murder in Marietta” one of the characters uses the verse Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, just as in Christ, God forgave you,” to show God’s desire for us to forgive others.

 

We all know that forgiveness is not easy. Actually, I think it’s easier for a large booty woman to put on pair of small pantyhose than to forgive someone that has hurt us or a loved one. Not only does God want us to forgive others, he wants us to forgive ourselves. Something we all have a hard time doing. God doesn’t want it to be hard. He gave his life so that we could freely have forgiveness. In Matthew he invites us to give our burdens and past mistakes to him.

 

Matthew 11:28-30 “… Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

I believe forgiveness is a gift to us. Forgiveness is not for the person who has committed a grievance against us – it is for the person who carries the hurt and pain from that act. When we forgive another we can then begin the healing process. Carrying the hurt around like a sack of potatoes only makes us sick. When we let go of that sack of potatoes (hurt and pain) and give it to God we are the ones who will benefit.

 

Will it be easy – about as easy as an elephant preforming a ballet – but the end result will be worth it. Maybe next time you need to forgive someone look at forgiveness as a gift from God for the forgiver and you might find it to be a little sugar to help the medicine go down.

 

 

Deborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails” edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photographs at Floyd Medical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega", a winner in the ACFW Category Five Writer's Contest, is now available.
She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah has been nomiated for Georgia Author of the Year 2012. She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey, where she reviews Christian Fiction. You can also catch her at Sleuths and Suspects, where she reviews mysteries. She also contributes to the Cozy Mystery Magazine every other Tuesday.

Mama's Little Dividend--By Linda Kozar

Recently I decided to work on a sequel to my mystery series, "When The Fat Ladies Sing." The first three books are Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail. Sales were great for the first six months but have slowed. Why? Because readers want something new to read. If they like an author's style, they want to read something fresh. And if they like the characters, they want to find out what those characters are up to.

So...I'm tethered to my laptop these days, working out a plot. Haven't written much yet. The previous books were more character-driven. For this book, I want the mystery to stand out more than the characters (not that the larger-than-life characters won't stand out). I'm going to see taht Sue Jan and Lovita step it up in this next one.

What's the title, you ask? Of course I have the perfect title, but  I'm keeping that to myself right now. I think you'll like it. And I hope you like the latest addition to the series.

Here are the first three. If you haven't read them yet and want to be ready for the 4th in the series, these books are a perfect summertime read:

Amazon

Linda Kozar is the co-author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Hardcover/Ebook, Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009) and author of Misfortune Cookies (Print, Barbour Publishing 2008), Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail, (“When The Fat Ladies Sing Series,” eBooks, Spyglass Lane Mysteries, 2012). Strands of Fate released October 2012 (Hardcover/Ebook, Creative Woman Mysteries) and her nonfiction title, Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation, released in 2013 (Indie-Published). She received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband Michael, married 24 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier princess named Patches.

Represented by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency

Member of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas, The Woodlands Church, The Woodlands, TX.

Linda Kozar is the author of six books. Her latest, titled “Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation,” is a collection of stories from people who experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when they moved. www.lindakozar.com  http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com

Cover to Cover--An Interview With Indie Author Eunice Loecher--By Linda Kozar

Fred didn'’t show for the fiesta lunch special on Wednesday at the Arbor Vale Café. Why not? He’d called to say he had something to tell her. So Zita Stillman drops by his house to hear him out. Fred had been such a good friend to her late husband. But Fred lies, lifeless, by the wood pile.

So begins Zita’s first murder investigation with her lifelong sidekick Zinnia Blossom Winwood and the distraction of the good-looking Max Knight, successful condo builder. Attacked by a clown, run off the road, and warned off by the police, Zita will not let Fred’s murderer get off scott free. But another mystery, the facts surrounding Zita’s parentage and birth also may come to light.

A Widow’s Might is the first of the (Arbor Vale Mystery) Series. Followed by Woman at the Well, (Book Two-now also available), written and coming soon, The Subtle Serpent, (Book Three), The Root of All Evil, (Book Four), and Sin Lieth at the Door, (Book Five).

Zita Stillman’s New Year’s Eve celebration includes fireworks-- and a new murder. When her best friend, Zinnia Blossom Winwood becomes a suspect in the investigation, Zita’s normally trouble-free life develops overwhelming complications. Her widowed niece Kimmy Camden and baby Kyla have come to live with her and they have opened their home to bed-and-breakfast guests. Their first visitor arrives, adding to the chaos. And for the first time, Zita is beginning to unravel the truth about her parentage. As Zita tries to juggle the responsibilities of her woodcraft business and being drawn further into solving the murder, a new handsome stranger arrives in town. Will he compete with Max Knight for Zita'’s attention?

A Few Words With The Author...

1. Tell us what inspired you to write these books and how long it took to write them.

I write what I enjoy reading, cozy mysteries. The small town where I live has become a very quirky character in my stories. Where else do they celebrate roast beef and parade the roasts down main street. Did I mention the people wear cow costumes. Our history also includes gangsters and lumberjacks. Each book takes me about a year to complete. First the writing then the editing. I now use a professional editor and formatter.

2. Did you decide from the start to go the indie route or did you try traditional as well?

I did try traditional publishing. Each time I came close to a contract the publisher would either drop their mystery line or go our of business. I have an amazing writer friend, Lyn Cote, who has been my mentor for several years. She encouraged me to use e-publishing. I'm excited by this new opportunity and pleased with the product. In traditional publishing the books are off the shelves in a month or two. In e-publishing they can remain forever as e-books or publish on demand. So many wonderful books are now available on my Kindle that conventional publishers have ignored.

3. How did you come up with your titles?

The first book introduces, Zita, a widow who handles life with inner strength. I thought about the Widow's Mite in the Bible and changed the spelling. Soon I was choosing all my titles based stories or verses in the Bible. 

4. What's next for you? Writing more novels or nonfiction books?

I've finished five books in this series. The others are in various stages of editing and I writing number six. I plan to continue writing stories with Zita and her friend Zinnia as long as they find interesting predicaments to get themselves into. I'm also working on compiling about fifty essays and devotionals that I've written over the years to e-publish. Most of them have been previously published on various on-line sites.

5. Where can readers find your books?

Currently, the first two books are available on Amazon for Kindle and through Barns and Noble's for Nook. They will be available in paperback through Amazon within the next month.

Eunice Loecher enjoys living in a small Wisconsin north woods town, south of Lake Superior. Outside her window stands a thick forest and small spring fed blue lakes. Deer, bear, sand cranes, eagles and wolves abound. This setting inspired her Arbor Vale mystery series, featuring the two “Z’s”  Zita Stillman, amateur sleuth, and her sidekick the flamboyant Zinnia Blossom Winwood. 

Writing for over twenty years, Eunice was a finalist in the prestigious Wisconsin Regional Writers Award, The Jade Ring 2003. Eunice also had stories included in three editions of the “God Allows U-Turns” series, the Christian version of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Then Eunice switched from non-fiction to fiction and began by writing two romantic suspense novels. She now writes cozy mystery as her true calling.

Bad at Math?

So, what's on your mind today, Traci?

MAD FACE!

Ooh, I think you might be sorry you asked that.

I just got back from a meeting at the school with our school psychologist: ie the man who has the job of deciding who needs extra help and accommodations with their learning.

My kid learns funny. She has these weird gaps in her knowledge and ability. When sharing these gaps with friends a couple of years ago, they suggested I have her assessed for a processing disorder with a tutor they knew, admired, and had worked with.

I did.

The tutor said, "Ah ha! Processing disorder! We can tutor for that." We tutored. My kid learned. All was well.


The tutor also said, "Her scores qualify her for a '504' should you think she needs one. A '504' will ensure she is allowed things like scratch paper to solve her problems on (for tests that don't have a lot of room for showing your work) and other accommodations like extra time to take state tests."

Bin full of frustration.

Today, while pursuing those accommodations (I want them in place because her school scores indicate to me that she is still struggling with one specific type of learning that could cause her problems as math becomes more complicated.)

I was told my tutor's opinion wasn't valid, and that my kid was probably just lazy.

Frankly, the law requires that he have a 504 meeting with me within 25 school days of my request no matter what his opinion is. He made it very clear that we could have the meeting but that he would not recommend a 504 or even further assessments at the meeting therefore it would all end there.

And this, my friends, is why everyone hates American Public Schools so much.

Now here's the rest of the story about my kid and why it might kind of apply to this blog: She's also gifted. She can read and write well above grade level in two languages. (She's in an immersion school language program so it's not THAT impressive.) For kicks and giggles she writes and illustrates her own little books and she writes and performs her own songs and plays. The psychologist said because she was so gifted in her language abilities, she could not have a processing disorder.

Books good.

BUT writing giftedness and dyscalculia go hand in hand. Only 3-4% of the population is ever diagnosed with dyscalculia, but something like 90% of all professional writers have it. (And...I have to say...if school psychologist all over the country are telling kids that they are just lazy, or just average when their giftedness in one area masks a serious problem with math, I would take the only 3-4% with a really big grain of salt.)


If you made it to this blog searching for "Bad at Math" would you post a comment telling us if you are a writer or if you student is a great reader/writer? And if you are a regular here because you are a writer (professional or armchair!) will you post a comment mentioning if you are also bad at math?

As I kid I did "fine." I was "average" at math until I made it to high school. And even there,  I understood what was being asked of me. But I was unable to perform it once I was facing a paper full of problems that needed to be solved. Once I got to college and we did all of our work on graph paper and with calculators, my failing grades immediately turned to straight A's. I want my child to bypass the "failing grades" part of the math experience and go straight to the "I both get it, and can prove it" experience.

Dyscalculia links and references:

What is Dyscalculia? http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia/what-is-dyscalculia

Romance Writer Nell Dixon on Dyscalculia: http://nelldixonrw.blogspot.com/2011/02/dyscalculia-day-march-3rd.html

Bad at Math? http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/making-change/2011/oct/19/bad-math-you-may-have-dyscalculia/

By the way, the specific thing I have requested from our school district is a reassessment to see how my daughter has responded to the work we are doing and to see if she still qualifies for the 504. I'm not jumping the gun, or overreacting, as the psychologist suggested. I'm attempting to use the channels set up in our school district for these situations to make sure my child's educational needs are being met.

Spotlight on Indie Author Eunice Loecher--By Linda Kozar

Fred didn’t show for the fiesta lunch special on Wednesday at the Arbor Vale Café. Why not? He’d called to say he had something to tell her. So Zita Stillman drops by his house to hear him out. Fred had been such a good friend to her late husband. But Fred lies, lifeless, by the wood pile.

So begins Zita’s first murder investigation with her lifelong sidekick Zinnia Blossom Winwood and the distraction of the good-looking Max Knight, successful condo builder. Attacked by a clown, run off the road, and warned off by the police, Zita will not let Fred’s murderer get off scot free. But another mystery, the facts surrounding Zita’s parentage and birth also may come to light.

A Widow’s Might is the first of the (Arbor Vale Mystery) Series. Followed byWoman at the Well, (Book Two-now also available), written and coming soon, The Subtle Serpent, (Book Three), The Root of All Evil, (Book Four), and Sin Lieth at the Door, (Book Five).

Zita Stillman’s New Year’s Eve celebration includes fireworks-- and a new murder. When her best friend, Zinnia Blossom Winwood becomes a suspect in the investigation, Zita’s normally trouble-free life develops overwhelming complications. Her widowed niece Kimmy Camden and baby Kyla have come to live with her and they have opened their home to bed-and-breakfast guests. Their first visitor arrives, adding to the chaos. And for the first time, Zita is beginning to unravel the truth about her parentage. As Zita tries to juggle the responsibilities of her woodcraft business and being drawn further into solving the murder, a new handsome stranger arrives in town. Will he compete with Max Knight for Zita'’s attention?

A Few Words With The Author...

1. Tell us what inspired you to write these books and how long it took to write them.

I write what I enjoy reading, cozy mysteries. The small town where I live has become a very quirky character in my stories. Where else do they celebrate roast beef and parade the roasts down main street. Did I mention the people wear cow costumes. Our history also includes gangsters and lumberjacks. Each book takes me about a year to complete. First the writing then the editing. I now use a professional editor and formatter.

2. Did you decide from the start to go the indie route or did you try traditional as well?

I did try traditional publishing. Each time I came close to a contract the publisher would either drop their mystery line or go our of business. I have an amazing writer friend, Lyn Cote, who has been my mentor for several years. She encouraged me to use e-publishing. I'm excited by this new opportunity and pleased with the product. In traditional publishing the books are off the shelves in a month or two. In e-publishing they can remain forever as e-books or publish on demand. So many wonderful books are now available on my Kindle that conventional publishers have ignored.

3. How did you come up with your titles?

The first book introduces, Zita, a widow who handles life with inner strength. I thought about the Widow's Mite in the Bible and changed the spelling. Soon I was chosing all my titles based stories or verses in the Bible. 

4. What's next for you? Writing more novels or nonfiction books?

I've finished five books in this series. The others are in various stages of editing and I writing number six. I plan to continue writing stories with Zita and her friend Zinnia as long as they find interesting predicaments to get themselves into. I'm also working on compiling about fifty essays and devotionals that I've written over the years to e-publish. Most of them have been previously published on various on-line sites.

5. Where can readers find your books?

Currently, the first two books are available on Amazon for Kindle and through Barns and Noble's for Nook. They will be available in paperback through Amazon within the next month.

Eunice Loecher enjoys living in a small Wisconsin north woods town, south of Lake Superior. Outside her window stands a thick forest and small spring fed blue lakes. Deer, bear, sand cranes, eagles and wolves abound. This setting inspired her Arbor Vale mystery series, featuring the two “Z’s”  Zita Stillman, amateur sleuth, and her sidekick the flamboyant Zinnia Blossom Winwood. 

Writing for over twenty years, Eunice was a finalist in the prestigious Wisconsin Regional Writers Award, The Jade Ring 2003. Eunice also had stories included in three editions of the “God Allows U-Turns” series, the Christian version of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Then Eunice switched from non-fiction to fiction and began by writing two romantic suspense novels. She now writes cozy mystery as her true calling.

Special Guest D. A. FEATHERLING

Special Guest D.A. FEATHERLING

   

                            By Nancy Jill Thames

How lovely to make a new friend, especially when she is an answer to prayer. God works in amazing ways to provide. In this case, I was subconsciously searching for a way to join American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Lord put Dorothy right in my path. He never ceases to amaze me! Dorothy attended a meeting where I was a guest speaker, and I was taken with her immediately. This gracious lady sent me information about ACFW and offered to take me to the local chapter meeting. I, in turn, offered to feature her on today's post. Please help me welcome D. A. Featherling!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D. A. Featherling is a prolific author who writes in several genres. Her first novel, “It Adds Up to Murder” was published in March, 2013. Her years in business as an administrator for corporations, state agencies, and a university physics research center make her a perfect candidate to write about the lives and loves of everyday people. 

She has also written non-fiction and technical pieces for a number of years as well. Her advertising, public relations, and marketing skills lend themselves to the promotion of her fiction, and her awards for journalism, fiction writing, and public speaking attest to her ability.

D. A. was co-founder of the CenTex Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and served as its president for several years. She also coordinated the first ever national ACFW Conference in St. Louis, Missouri in 2001 where a then budding author named Karen Kingsbury was the keynote speaker.

She lives in Georgetown, Texas, a small town with a big heart, perfect for imagining all sorts of delightful mayhem among the citizenry.

D. A. (Dorothy) Featherling offers her debut mystery novel “It Adds Up to Murder” for mystery fans of both genders.  The book is the first book in a series, “It’s Murder at the Office.” The series will feature Abigail Newhouse, a temporary worker, as its protagonist. As Abby changes jobs, Homicide Lieutenant Nick Vaughn finds that murder is sure to follow. Each of the books in the series will feature either an office machine or an office procedure as the means of/reason for the murder.

Abigail Newhouse is forced to work temporary jobs to make ends meet.  She discovers that while the jobs can be murderous, there aren’t usually any dead bodies involved.

Abby isn’t expecting crime at her first long term assignment, but when it occurs, she wants to help. Will Homicide Lieutenant Nick Vaughn believe that – or is she his main suspect?

Abby soon finds sleuthing has placed her in deadly peril when she finally confronts a merciless killer face-to-face.

Carrying out her theme of writing in multiple genres, D. A. published her second novel, a romantic comedy, in April. It’s titled “Sauce for the Goose.”

The girl has got to go!

To save her son from a romantic mistake, Laurel Edmonds renews some former relationships of her own. Complications abound when new beau Mike Hudson is added to the mix.

Her romantic dilemmas, her plot to save her son, and worries about her mother, aka The Bus Queen, force Laurel to cope with a fake engagement gone real, a surprise wedding, and a confession she never imagined she’d have to make.

Website:  www.dafeatherling.com

Books available from http://www.amazon.com

or through author web link  -  Available in Kindle or Softcover editions

May also be ordered from any bookstore

Member:  American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), CenTex Chapter ACFW, San Gabriel Writer’s League, Leander Writers Guild

See you in my books!

 ~Nancy Jill 

Mystery novelist Nancy Jill Thames began publishing Christian fiction in 2010. The author of six books in the Jillian Bradley series, she is an award winning blogger and is listed numerous times on the Author Watch Bestseller’s List, this in addition to winning first place for her Chocolate Cream Pie.

When she isn’t plotting her next book, she spends time with her six grandchildren, tags along with her husband on business trips, and plays classical piano for her own personal enjoyment. She is an active member of the Leander Writers Guild and supports the Central Texas SPCA with a portion of her book sales. CONTACT INFORMATION jillthames@gmail.com

 Nancy Jill is busy working on Book 7 "The Ruby of Siam" a mystery taking place in London.

Enjoy Book 1 MURDER IN HALF MOON BAY for free!

Amazon Paperback $8.09
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Barnes and Nobel $8.99/Nook Book $2.99
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I Have Nothing To Blog About

Hey everyone I'm really sorry, but I have nothing to blog about this week.
True, I am in the final push to finish The Great Scarecrow Invasion. I was on track for the end of May, but one of those darn Beta Readers found an inconsistency so I had to to rewrite a section. Also I'm going to try to up the formatting quality a little so I can have an active Table of Contents. But I am determined that it's coming out this week because I've had it with scarecrows and corn mazes!
I don't know if I will survive the trauma when October rolls around again.
Also I have to get Lady Midnight finished and published, but I need to confer with my graphics designer who is going on vacation. Then I have two more series to outline before I forget what I want to do.
My day job is very busy right now, and my partner in my area left early today. She warned me this was coming, but I chose not to think about it. Anyway I had to fend for myself when we are up to our ears in work!
I am very tired.
Also  my plan to replace my old windows with nice new ones became the replacement of the porch plan. It turns out that the termites and the wood rot got to it and it was in danger of collapsing. Which would not be good.
Needless to say, the old windows are going to have to do for a while.
Man I wish I had something to blog about.
On the "I'm getting old" front, I did find out I may have to have eyelid lift. Not because I want to, I am not into pain which overrides my vanity. However, because my eyelids are drooping they are beginning to interfere with my vision. As if I didn't have enough trouble in that area. Hey, you've seen pictures of my glasses.
 I have been trying to get some of my other recipes for one to work out, but they have all turned into disasters. Edible, I can't afford to waste food even if it does not taste that good, but it's nothing that I would share with anyone else.
You all need to stay healthy and buy my books. I've got to save up for those windows.
So I am really sorry I had nothing to blog about.
Maybe next well be more exciting.

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Mystery Series. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories with just a bit of whopper in them. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. She loves to embroider and knit and is a big fan of the old Scooby Doo cartoons.

Current E-Books

THE REBOOT FILES:  The Mystery of Hurtleberry House, The Island of Living Trees, The Harbinger of Retribution, and The Wrong Ghost.

www.shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale219184744858421