Romance, Suspense, Mystery Author
A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.
–Maya Angelou
Beautiful! I hope you like this sentiment. It reminds me that I write because I have a story to tell and I live because I love life even though it’s hard.
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Every book I read by Josi Kilpack gets better. She is a fabulous writer and I love the first in this new series about the Mayfield Family. I can’t wait to read more! In this first novel, we meet Lord Elliot Mayfield, uncle to several nieces and nephews with an idea for a marriage campaign. His nephew, Peter, wants none of it and is content to be a young widower with two children until he meets his new governess, Julia. I absolutely loved Julia’s unconventional character in this book. She loves caring for children and dogs and ends up in the perfect household. The way the romance develops in this story is careful, slow, and subtle, yet thrilling for my reader heart at the same time.
While Julia and Peter are navigating a new friendship developed in addition to their employer/servant relationship, Julia’s mother, Amelia is pulled back into the past when she meets the man she once thought she would marry, Uncle Elliot. At first I thought Amelia’s character would play a very small role in this story, but she ended up being a major force for the theme of this book and I loved it. I highlighted a passage near the end of the book when Julia talked with her mother Amelia about what we can do about past regrets and finding joy despite hardships. I do hope that you read the book and notice page 290 for that paragraph that rang so true for me.
This novel is another excellent addition to the proper romance line and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book!
Here’s more about the book:
Lord Elliott Mayfield has done his best to take care of his family, first his siblings and now his nieces and nephews. Unfortunately, he sees this new generation moving in the same direction of bad matches and scandalous relationships as the last. In hopes to change their course, he establishes a “marriage campaign” to motivate them to improve themselves through making respectable matches. With his heart in the right place, what could possibly go wrong?
Peter, Elliott’s eldest nephew, thinks the entire idea is ridiculous. A widower with two young daughters, he simply needs a governess, not a wife. Julia Hollingsworth certainly has the credentials and the experience, but is altogether too young and pretty for such a job. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?
Julia loves working as a governess, despite the objections of her mother, Amelia. And as it turns out, Amelia has a lot to say about the Mayfield men—none of it good. But Julia dismisses the rumors of ruined reputations and instead concentrates on helping Peter with his children and his fledgling business in canine husbandry. His kindness and gentleness is endearing—and increasingly attractive.
But Amelia, whose heart was broken thirty years ago by none other than Elliott Mayfield, is determined to prevent any relationship from blooming either between Peter and Julia—or between herself and Elliott.
Hearts and history collide as both couples must face their pasts and decide if risking it all is worth the promise of new love and a new future.
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I am a writer. I am also a mother, wife, daughter, gardener, piano teacher, chicken keeper, bread-maker–you get the idea. People often ask me, “How do you find time to write?” I imagine that every writer, no matter how young or old is asked this same question. The answer is within the question itself-finding time. If something is important to you, you find the time, you make the time, you PRIORITIZE. You should also be efficient with your time. It’s no good writing an award-winning novel or magazine if you don’t have time to get it published. Nobody will ever see your work. Publishing is a long process and it can be hard to even get your work published if you’re just starting out. Consider investing in your own binding equipment similar to these Duplo Booklet Makers. That way, you can bind your own work and distribute the finished piece yourself. Sure, that takes time, but it’s more convenient and is faster than waiting for a publisher.
Writing is important to me, but it took some doing for me to figure out the best way to work with a young family. As a new writer, I read in several places from esteemed authors that you shouldn’t write unless you had a two-hour block to work because it takes time to get back into the writing mode, etc, etc.
Unfortunately for me, I believed that advice for at least six months. Every time I would think about writing, I would think that I didn’t have enough time and I probably should get more housework done or do something else on my ‘To do’ list. Then I had an “Aha” moment when I realized that as a stay-at-home mom of young children, I probably would never have a two-hour block of uninterrupted time.
And so I began writing in snatches. Ten minutes here, twenty minutes there, and sometimes during nap time I would get a full hour of writing in! In between caring for newborn babies and chasing after toddlers, I would be thinking about my novel in progress. Sometimes while rocking a baby in the middle of the night, an idea would strike me and I would scribble down a few notes. Now, I try to keep my Word document open during the day so if I get a great idea for a scene, I can hurry and type it out.
So, how do I find time to write? I write in snatches during the day and then I don’t watch much TV so I have time to write when the kids go to bed. Writing is a priority to me and I have a wonderful family who knows how important it is for me to write. Let those around you know what your priorities are. Tell them about your dreams and goals and then ask for their support. Listen to advice on writing, but form your own “rules” for the writing method as you figure out when your most creative times occur and how to tap into your inner writer.
I found a method that works for me and I wish you the best of luck in finding your own writing method so you can crank out those pages. Happy Writing!
Visit Rachelle’s For Writers Page to find more resources HERE
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It’s a beautiful Fall day and I’m thinking of what I’d like to bake next. For me, if I want a baked good it has to be made with natural yeast or it’s a No-no. I have gluten sensitivity so I’ve been learning and caring for my natural yeast start for over a year now. I got started with Melissa’s first book, The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast. I baked all of the bread for my family for a year using my natural yeast start and it was wonderful!
I gave a start to my mom and she gave one back to me when mine went kaput. We were thrilled about Melissa Richardson’s new book Beyond Basics with Natural Yeast.
I couldn’t wait to try her new recipes. I love the pictures, tips, detailed instructions and the freedom to adjust the recipes to my personal tastes.
I also absolutely love the low-sugar recipes and that Melissa recommends using things like coconut oil and applesauce instead of vegetable oil and white sugar.
The starter summary on p.3-7 was an excellent reminder with a lot of extra tips on getting your starter in a healthy, bubbly state.
I made a double-batch of the Dad’s Sourdough Pancakes (p. 62) and they were an absolute hit! I cooked them all up and froze the rest for a super quick breakfast. I worried my kids might find the flavor too strong, but my start was healthy and fresh-smelling and worked perfect in this recipe. I thought they tasted mild compared to some sourdough pancakes I’ve tried.
I made the Quick and Easy Waffles on p.57 and the Carrot Cake Waffles on p.60. My kids liked them and I even garnished the waffles with grated carrot and they ate it up!
The Orange Blueberry Pancakes on p.64 were also delicious and easy to make up because I remembered to create the sponge mixture the night before.
I made the Lemon Poppyseed Muffins on p.70 and was so excited that I could eat a muffin! On this recipe, I actually cut the sugar in half and used 1/2 whole wheat in the recipe 1/2 white flour. I filled my cups all the way full because the first batch were wimpy when I filled them only 3/4 of the way as the recipe directed. They turned out great and I skipped the optional glaze because I didn’t want the extra sugar. My kids loved them and over the next couple days ate them for breakfast, lunch, and an after-school snack.
I know that I’ll probably end up baking every recipe in this book. I am a natural yeast fan and if you want a healthy, whole-grain option for your family, learn this lost art and get baking!
Here’s more about the book:
With allergies to commercial yeast on the rise, natural yeast is the easy and healthy solution to baking all the foods you love. Brush up on your techniques with Melissa Richardson’s newest book, Beyond Basics with Natural Yeast, with mouthwatering recipes like Soft Pretzel Rolls, Honey Whole Wheat Bread, and Lemon Chiffon Cake. Say goodbye to commercial yeast, and hello to a healthier body!
Other books you may enjoy:
![The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast: Breads, Pancakes, Waffles, Cinnamon Rolls and Muffins by [Warnock, Caleb, Richardson, Melissa]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ftAm4V-ML._SX260_.jpg)
Visit Rachelle’s Book Review Page to see all reviews HERE.
Grab these free tips from a bestselling and award-winning author HERE
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The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.
–Pearl S. Buck
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Did you know that when asked an estimated 75% of people will say that they want to write a book? *I don’t have actual data, I’m going by what I’ve heard, but I’ve also noticed that you can very easily track your own data as an author because it does seem like 3 out of 4 people like the idea of writing a book.
But 75% of people aren’t writing books, are they? Probably not. There are probably a good number of people who are closet writers that we don’t know about, those who say they want to write, but aren’t able to produce a measurable word count, and those who are actively pursuing their dream.
And I think it’s wonderful that there are so many different types of writers!
It’s wonderful to want to write a book, but this sequence of posts are for those people who REALLY want to write a book. It’s for those people who aren’t content to just think about writing, they are willing to get down in the depths of that bottomless pit of writing knowledge–that black hole of possibilities in which you can change one word, turn around a sentence, and find the heart of your writing.
So, if so many people want to write a book….
What stops people from writing?
I could just answer that with—Life in general. But to be more specific, I’ll mention a few roadblocks that have tried to deter me on my path to becoming a published author, as well as some popular roadblocks that have planted themselves in front of others.
Stress
Lack of clear, defined goals
Lack of knowledge/understanding of the mechanics of writing
Television
Lack of motivation
Yardwork
Laundry
Empty bellies that need filled
Dishes
Wiping noses and changing diapers
Okay, okay, serious again… here’s the biggie
Time Management
Now I know there may be another realm of the universe where inhabitants have more than 24 hours in a day, but here on earth, where I reside we all have 24 hours each and every day.
So how come I hear this phrase from so many people? “I’d love to write a book, but I just don’t have the time.”
*cough* cough* I don’t live in a time warp–I only get 24 hours each day.
Let me emphasize that I think it’s wonderful to have a desire to write, I’m not looking down on anyone for having that desire and facing difficulties in making the desire an action.
But if you’re serious about writing and you actually are going to do more than just want to write a book–namely you’re going to do whatever it takes to make your dream a reality–here’s my first tip:
Ditch the “I don’t have time” excuse and stay tuned because in an upcoming post I’ll be sharing 6 Tips for Writing Success.
What do you think?
Do you want to write a book?
What questions do you have about writing and making writing a part of your life?
Visit Rachelle’s For Writers Page to find more resources HERE
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