A Better Category for my Book

I’ve found a better category!

This fits nicely in number three a – a title starting with the letter E.

No double up after all.

Happy New Year

Wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR from the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

May 2022 be a year of peace, happiness and much joy for you and yours.

#amwriting #writersnetwork #christianauthors #christianauthor #christianwriter #nanowrimo #christianwomenwriter #authorsoninstagram #authorofinstagram #bookstagram #eidlewise #travelnzopenspaces #kiwigreynomads #greynomads #womenontheroad #romancereaders #christianromance #grief

MC’s Deepest DesireNanowrimo Instagram Challenge

The next two challenges are MC’s (main character) Deepest Desire and Time Travel? There is no time travel in this cosy mystery, but it does go back forty years from time to time.

My main character’s deepest desire is her love of her husband (but he is the vicar so she frequently has to share him with others) and they’re facing empty nest syndrome. Her deepest regret is not being with her mother when she died.

Quote for Today
One of our deepest desires is to love and be loved.

Meditation
“Faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor 13:13

Writing Today
My day for R&R. Every writer is a reader first. I’m currently reading The Moon Sister – Lucinda Riley, JOMO The Joy of Missing Out (more about this later) – Tanya Dalton, The Relaxed Author – Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie, Playing for Pizza – John Grisham and Writing the Cozy Mystery – Nancy J Cohen.

Nanowrimo is full of writing tips from famous authors who willingly share their knowledge for free.

Where You Write – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Where do I write? At a table, from my knee, in my bed and from my chair, but always in my RV often with a view of water.

Usually with the company of people in Jessie’s Coffee Shop.

Quote for Today
“Like a kid in a new playground fill yourself with joy, discovery and adventure.” – Carron Stevenson, Author

Writing Today
The case of the empty prisoner bed. How and when did they escape?

Todays background photo is the very cool and interactive playground at New Brighton Beach.

Did I mention Nanowrimo offers discount on amazing writing tools and courses?

Happiness or Unhappiness – Focus on Quality

“All happiness or unhappiness solely depends upon the quality of the object to which we are attached by love.” – Baruch Spinoza

I recall a story from a conference, ‘The size of the man is determined by the size of the things that make him mad.’ The speaker automatically thought of a little white ball he chased around a golf course.

The truth is we can be so unhappy about the smallest of things, which are determining our happiness or loss thereof.

When we shift our gaze from what makes unhappy we need to choose carefully what makes us happy.

Writing
I thought about my story, I went to write three times, but I was diverted. With what? I’ll reveal in time.

Today’s photo is from the Swans Nest on the Avon River. The rains last week rose the river levels to lap the side of the nest. Was she able to keep her eggs warm enough? Will their be little cygnets soon?

Happiness is Enjoying the Little Things

A dog, a walk, the stars, the beach, girlfriends – new and well known, fish and chips, a wine, cheese and crackers, coffee with a friend, camping out.

The start of daylight saving slipped in unnoticed.

No writing on Sunday.

The photo is during Benji’s and my last walk of the day. It was so peaceful. Everyone was turning in for the night and the sky was a profusion of stars.

Happiness Makes Our Inner Beauty Glow

Your are beautiful inside and out. When you’re happy you glow with an inner beauty.

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

When it’s a struggle to be happy, sit comfortably, turn your hands down and release everything that’s worrying you. Then be encouraged by the profits word. Turn your hands upwards and receive the encouragement and press in to your future.

Walk away happy and let the beauty of your happiness shine.

“The happiest girls are the prettiest,” – Audrey Hepburn

In Writing
Yesterday was a blur, and I didn’t get my quota in, but I did write. Ideas are beginning to emerge for the next book in the series, which I’m aiming for in Nanowrimo- National Novel Writing Month – November.

In today’s background photo, what didn’t show is the pretty rain of flying blossoms. It has begun. The first trees to blossom will be replaced with leaves soon. And the cycle of life continues.

What does it take to be happy?

It isn’t that we shouldn’t have a great home to live in, nice car(s) to drive, or a Tiny Home in the bush, with a verandah and an old rocking chair.

These are things. Their value comes in their usefulness and the pleasure we get while enjoying them.

In Writing News
All things bar a COVID outbreak are looking good for the visit of Joanna Penn to New Zealand at the end of this year, and the beginning of 2022.

Joanna will run classes while she is here, so make sure you sign up to her email list to be included. You might want to check out her latest book The Relaxed Author.

Are You Brave Enough to be Happy?

Being happy is a form of courage. Being brave enough to release worries that are holding us down so we can live in the moment and take pleasure in the small things.

Take notice of the trees as they bud up in spring, as the blossom decorates the trees, as the bees come out to polenate, and dormant plants begin to unfurl their leaves buried in the earth over winter.

Watch the joy in people’s faces as the behold an avenue of blossoms in Hagley Park.

When your grandson sees a Swans nest for the first time “Is that a crocodile?” Well yes from a certain direction the nest might be mistaken for a crocodile if we had them in New Zealand.

Happiness is being brave enough to slow down and take pleasure in the small things.

In writing
Back into James Scott Bell’s The Last Fifty Pages.

If your doing Nanowrimo this year (and I hope you will) its time to start prepping. Go to the Nanowrimo site.

Kindness Is A Beautiful Gift To Give

“Kindness is a gift we can all afford to give.”

Kindness takes thought and time. We can be kind intentionally, making ourselves and others happy along the way.

May your cup of kindness overflow abundantly to everyone you meet.

In writing
The reason for the mysterious happenings is beginning to make itself clear. (as she rubs her hands together in glee).

The background photo was this morning’s amazing sunrise.