GETTING RID OF THE GRUMPIES

As if trying to get a book published isn't a hard enough venture by itself, my husband and I are also both aggressively seeking employment in Central Florida. The job market and literary world both being what they are I feel all I have heard lately is No. No, nope, no thank you, don't call us we'll call you, nada, nuh-uh. I consider myself a reasonably optimistic person, but a non-stop stream of rejection is taxing and down right tough to take. It has led to a stressed out and irritable me.

In the middle of a particularly grouchy pity party I saw that a Facebook friend of mine had posted "Live everyday like it was your last" on her status. Immediately I scoffed at that. If it's my last day on Earth I'm not doing the laundry or dishes, I'm not writing out bills, basically responsibilities in general would completely go to the waste side. That's just not realistic in the real world. Then when the bug in my posterior eventually died I gave second thought to that saying. Sure, we all have responsibilities that have to be handled. Yet those shouldn't be the elements that steal all of our time and joy. Every single day we need to take some time to smell the roses. Doing so rekindles the enjoyment of living and reminds us what it is we are working so hard for.

This then turned into a challenge for myself. I have decided to keep a "Bliss" notebook. Everyday I am going to do something that makes me truly happy and I'm going to jot it down in my notebook. That way when the struggles of life weigh me down I can glance back at that and be rejuvenated by all the blissful blessings in my life. Today's entry? Blowing bubbles outside with my kids and preparing gifts for loved ones to celebrate their joyous new addition. Tomorrow's entry will be the pure joy of snuggling a newborn. What would your bliss be for today?

THOSE FOR WHOM I WRITE

As I type this a new member of my family is preparing to enter this crazy world of ours. My niece, who is very dear to me, is in labor with her first child. Ultrasounds have shown that the baby is a girl. That makes five little girls in my immediate family. All of these precious girls were a big motivator behind my writing.

It started when I read the Twilight series of books. Now before any of you Twi-hards grab your torches and pitchforks and storm my house let me explain. The series of books is an engaging story and is beautifully written. However now I don't just look at things for their entertainment value, I look at them through Mommy eyes. The main character in those books is a young woman that must constantly rely on big, strong boys to save and protect her. (Up until the last book.) As a mom this was not the kind of role model I wanted my girls to have. I looked around at the women in my own life; my mother in-law that serves God, my mother and aunt that are nurses and serve the well being of others, all the Mommies that devote themselves to their little ones, the hardworking career women, the college gals preparing for their futures, the list goes on and on. These are the women I want my girls to emulate. Yet I felt the literary and entertainment venues often overlooked strong female characters. (Except for Buffy. That girl kicked serious butt.) It was the desire to give not just my girls, but young girls everywhere a heroine that they could relate to that made me want to write again. That desire and a passing dream on a random night are the combination that resulted in THE CONDUIT.

Now, there will be another sweet little girl in my life. I cannot wait to meet her. Therefore I dedicate this blog entry to Emma Rose; welcome to the world baby girl. You are so deeply loved. It is my wish for you that you grow to be the hero of your own story. With more love than you can imagine. --Aunt Stacey