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I first heard about Bookcrossing.com from my Scottish reading friend, Allison M. Allison has a terrific blog about the author Mary Stewart. In her post, Allison relates the adventures of three Mary Stewart books she released "into the wild" on her holiday to Poland recently. I had never heard of Bookcrossing before, but love the way Allison describes it. It seems like such a fun way to share books and follow the path they take. I learned that Bookcrossing allows readers to register a book and then leave it on a park bench, a café table, or any other place where a book can be found and appreciated by a new reader. I wanted to try sharing a book myself after seeing Allison's blog. I selected a lighthouse theme for my first try at Bookcrossing. The book is by one of my favorite authors, Elinor DeWire: The Lightkeepers' Menagerie: Stories of Animals at Lighthouses. I picked the beautiful Zuanich Point Park as the location. Overlooking the San Juan Islands, it seemed like the perfect place for a lighthouse book to go wild. Next, I found a bench overlooking the water. Here's the view the book had while waiting for someone to find it: A sharp, gusting wind almost tore the camera out of my hands while I took the pictures (above). There's often a first-class wind at Zuanich Park for flying kites, and it also provided a great time for this kiteboarder who zipped by right in front of the bench while I left the book: I braved the wind and took a walk while I waited to see if someone would discover the book. I took in the sights as I walked along the waterfront for another hour or so. Loving lighthouses the way I do, I'm always on the lookout for their distinctive shape. I sometimes find them in surprising places. Below is a picture of a lighthouse replica I admired before doubling back. Providing an inspiring view of Bellingham Bay, guests can stay in this tower as part of the Hotel Bellwether: Since it resembles the lighthouse on the cover of The Lightkeepers' Menagerie, it fit right in with the theme of the day. I stay on the lookout for lighthouses of all kinds since they have a special allure for me. They represent stories of faraway history we can still see and touch. That's why I enjoyed setting my story, Mystery Shores, on a lighthouse island along the Pacific Northwest coast. It gave me a wonderful excuse to delve into the romance and history of lighthouses as the mystery unfolds. When my characters take a steamboat heading to the wild Washington coast, Christie and Melina actually pass by the area where I released The Lightkeeper's Menagerie. After I headed back and drew closer to the bench, I wondered if The Lightkeepers' Menagerie would still be there. There were less people around than usual because of the high wind. I found the bench standing empty. Yes! Someone had picked up the book. This wayfaring lighthouse book had now started out on a new adventure. All in all, any day that combines books, lighthouses, and a long walk by the San Juan Islands can be summed up this way: #BooksandReading #Lighthouses More to Explore I'll keep following the journey of The Lightkeepers' Menagerie—I hope those who "catch" the book will leave a note in the travel journal at Bookcrossing.com. If so, I'll update this blog and also let you know in my newsletter. Next Up: What do baby raccoons and J.R.R. Tolkien have in common? Find the answer here:

What can the height of a table tell you? If you walked into a special children's library of long ago, a small table could tell you a surprising story. At the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Children's Building housed a garden playground on the roof, a wondrous collection of toys from different lands, and a library filled with treasures. And, in that welcoming library, low tables stood at the best height for children to use. Scattered across the tables were bright, current copies of magazines such as St. Nicholas, Wide Awake, and Harper's Young People. These weren't just for display in an exhibit, but for children to handle and read the stories. On the shelves, children were encouraged to take down and open the books—titles they themselves had chosen as their favorites, not the ones adults thought they should read. In a departure from the usual policy, schoolchildren themselves were asked to name their favorite books and authors. The woman in charge of the library, Clara Doty Bates, received hundreds of letters back from boys and girls naming their choices. She filled the shelves with the stories most popular with children. Who Made This Library Different? Clara Doty Bates is a name new to me. I discovered that she was a storyteller, a poet, and a children's book author herself. During the World's Fair in her native city of Chicago, she also brought new ideas to the developing field of children's libraries. We expect to see colorful and inviting children's areas in public libraries now. But in 1893, most girls and boys had never seen a library room set aside for them. It wasn't until 1896 that an architect's blueprint marked off a separate children's room for a library in Brooklyn. No Books in Sight, at First The idea of the Children's Building came later in the Fair's planning, championed by the Board of Lady Managers. No funds were given by the Fair's authorities for the building. The Lady Managers made it a grass-roots effort, raising all the needed funds through hard work, volunteer effort, and meticulous planning. Unfortunately, by the time the children's library was in the works, publishers had become heartily sick of being asked for book donations to benefit various departments of the Fair. When requests were made for children's books, most flatly refused any more charity. One Book, With an Autograph Regrouping, the women sent personal letters to children's book authors. Would they send one book and sign it? Yes, of course they would. The authors' fountain pens became busy, and the library received a collection of authors' copies from around the world. "Here may be found the books of all lands and in all languages," Emma B. Dunlap wrote about the library. For Clara Bates's children's library, the collection grew to 600 books. This was quite an accomplishment after it looked "as if the library would be of a novel kind—one entirely without books." Along with their books, authors also sent along autographed manuscripts, illustrations, and photographs. A Place for Stories Starting as an unfunded dream, the Children's Building became the most popular of all buildings of its size at the Chicago World's Fair. And, rising from the challenge of receiving no official funds, the Lady Managers made a profit of $17,715 from the sale of souvenirs in the Children's Building. Most importantly, thousands of children discovered, probably for the first time, a library of imagination, play, and wonder designed especially for them. As Clara Doty Bates said, "Children from every part of the country have haunted the room...to lose all knowledge of outside wonders and beauties under the spell of some favorite book." She later remembered, "They wearied of sight-seeing and pageantry, but never wearied of stories." I'm grateful to Clara Doty Bates, and other children's library pioneers, for these wonderful places of adventure, imagination, and learning found in the children's room and treasured from my own childhood visits to the library. #Authors #BooksandReading #ChicagoWorldsFair1893 #Libraries References: History of Youth Services Timeline. UNC School of Library and Information Science. Nix, Larry T. “Library History Buff Blog.” Early Children's Rooms in Public Libraries, 3 Feb. 2011. Elliott, Maud Howe, ed. Art and Handicraft in the Woman's Building of the World's Columbian Exposition. London: Forgotten Books, 2015, 165. Campbell, James B. Campbell's Illustrated History of the World's Columbian Exposition, vol. 2. Weimann, Jeanne Madeline. The Fair Women: The Story of the Woman's Building, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893, 352. Wadsworth, Sarah and Wayne A. Wiegand. Right Here I See My Own Books: The Woman's Building Library at the World's Columbian Exposition. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2012. If I'd been around in 1893, I 'd have gladly sent in an autographed book for the Children's Library. I'm currently writing a children's mystery set at the World's Columbian Exposition in the fascinating year of 1893. Mystery Fair will be available soon for pre-order. The first book in the trilogy, Mystery Shores, is available now here. For more about my historical mysteries, please visit my home page or Amazon.com #ChicagoWorldsFair #Libraries

On a bright Chicago morning, Christie Edwards faces a life-altering decision. She is attending an awards ceremony at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and she must make a surprising choice. In a room full of people, all looking at her, Christie searches for an answer. Flashing, brilliant colors catch her eye, and she looks up to see patterns of radiant green, deep red and purple like a ripe plum. All the colors form a stunning mural by Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. One scene Christie especially notices shows a woman handing down the fruits of knowledge and science to a young girl. In that moment, she knows what she wants to do about her future. A Dangerous Fair Christie is one of the young sleuths I'm writing about, along with her friend, Melina Karyotakis. In my upcoming book, Mystery Fair, they must try to solve a dangerous mystery taking them to Chicago and the Fair. (Look for Mystery Fair a little later this year.) Also known as the World's Columbian Exposition, the Fair has many innovations and "firsts." One of them is the Women's Building where Christie is standing on that sunny day. The Women's Building, designed by architect Sophia Hayden Although work by women was displayed throughout the Fair, the Women's Building marked the first time achievements by women had a dedicated home integrated into the main part of an exposition. And that is where one the great mysteries in art history begins. The Mystery of the Mural Mary Cassatt Self-Portrait c. 1880. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Impressionist painter Mary Stevenson Cassatt decided to take on the challenge of painting a (very) large mural for display in the Women's Building. The mural's size astonished me. Her work measured fifty-eight feet long by twelve feet high—as near as I can figure out, that's the height of a one-story building and about the length of a five-story building laid on its side. Cassatt had been painting for over 30 years, but was little known in the United States at the time, even though she was born in Pennsylvania in 1844. As an adult, she had joined the great tide of artists and authors finding their way to France. An Ingenious Solution I wondered how an artist goes about painting such a large piece. It was at her rented country home at Bachivillers that she came up with an ingenious solution. In her glass-domed, outdoor painting studio, she had a deep trench built into the floor. Workmen lowered the art into the trench, always at a comfortable level, enabling her to paint without climbing up a ladder. Mary Cassatt was nearing fifty, and her most productive creative time had just started. Finally, when the doors of the Women's Building officially opened, visitors gazed up at the mural with its brilliant colors. It was called Modern Woman, and some were shocked by the vivid colors; others disapproved of the subjects depicted. Viewers seemed to either embrace it with praise or push it away with decisive language. It was new, amazing and controversial art. Made up of three panels, Cassatt painted Young Girls Chasing Fame on the left panel. For the central panel, the one that has special meaning for Christie, Cassatt pictured Women Plucking the Fruits of Knowledge or Science. Young women participate in Arts, Music and Dancing in the right-hand panel. The lustrous purple color in her painting reminds me of Lydia, the successful businesswoman of the ancient world. Lydia was a merchant of royal purple goods. The expensive dye used, one of the most valuable products in antiquity, never faded. (See Lydia's story in Acts 16.) I can imagine how this applies to knowledge, with Lydia handing down her business acumen and faith, perhaps to her daughters and granddaughters. A wise Hebrew king once said, "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." (Proverbs 18:15 ESV) The message for me is how precious knowledge is, and how important it is to learn the truth and apply it for good in a way that doesn't fade, just like Lydia's cloth. That is the feeling I find in looking at these echoes of Mary Cassatt's mural. Cassatt featured women dressed in spring-like, comfortable clothes (no corsets!) and the painting mixes classical allusions and other references with a natural feeling of movement and joy. The overall message is a hope-filled one of girls delighting in learning and enjoying new opportunities. The Disappearance This expressive painting now seems to exist only in black and white photographs taken at the time. A few colored prints were made by George Barrie—this is the only one I could find, used as my cover image. How does a mural the size of a large building vanish? Just as my characters search for Melina's father in Mystery Fair, art lovers have tried to investigate what happened to Cassatt's mural. When the Fair closed down on October 31, 1893, the mural was put into storage at the Fair's Palace of Fine Arts (now the Museum of Science and Industry). However, it appears the large painting did not stay there, but was moved some time later. Art Palace at Night by Charles S. Graham What happened to the mural next? In the closing chapters of her book, art historian and author Sally Webster tells of her detective work trying to trace it. The artwork was mentioned in a few letters, and interest was there to display the mural, but it never happened. After 1912, the trail goes cold. The public has never seen the mural since 1893, and no known mention of it is recorded in over a hundred years. It has become one of the most puzzling vanishing acts in art history. Will the flashing colors of Mary Cassatt's mural ever come to light again? I hope a wonderful discovery will be made someday in a dark storage room, and visitors can gaze at the brilliant colors and Mary Cassatt's unique artistry once more. #Artists #ChicagoWorldsFair1893 Solving a Mystery Author Sean Vogel has written a fast-paced novel about four teenagers searching for the mural in present-day Chicago. I just finished the book and it kept me turning the pages. Children ages 10 and up will enjoy the adventure and humor; there is also a theme of sadness and loss to deepen the plot. Recommended for adults as well. Helpful Resources: “Mary Cassatt's Chicago Mural.” American Girls Art Club In Paris and Beyond, 9 Dec. 2014. Mathews, Nancy Mowll. Mary Cassatt: A Life. Yale University Press, 1998. Nichols, Dr. Kathleen L. “Mary Cassatt's Lost Mural.” Mary Cassatt's Lost Mural--Pt.1. “The Story.” Chicago Bound: A Jake McGreevy Middle-Grade Novel Features the Search for Mary Cassatt's Lost Mural from the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.

The temperature had dipped to 7° F, and I was concerned. On winter walks, I always watch for one of my favorite birds—the ones with the charming name—Golden-crowned Kinglets. These birds are small, friendly, and always on the move. As they flutter around, they keep up a constant chatter with each other like tiny bells ringing. In the coldest temperatures, how does such a tiny bird survive? What I've learned about their clever strategy helped me as a writer. It's a story that was unknown until recent years. On that bitingly cold morning, the water silvered with ice after the temperature dipped to single digits. I wondered if I'd still see the birds cheerfully chattering in the trees and bushes. How vulnerable are the Kinglets? An article I read says to pick up a nickel and hold it in your palm: that's how much each bird weighs. Such tiny birds can lose body warmth in a hurry when it's cold. ​I continued my hike while I listened for them. All was quiet. Then around a curve in the trail, I finally heard the familiar sound I'd waited for—bells. The tiny birds flitted from branch to branch, some almost touching my hand, but never staying still for long in their constant search for food. The little flock of birds looked just as cheery and active as always, as if the seven degrees the night before hadn't bothered them at all. Secrets of a Mini-Bird Revealed How does a mini-bird stay warm? Some speculated that the Kinglets spent the night in old squirrels' nests. But no one knew exactly how they survived in freezing weather. A scientist named Bernd Heinrich persevered until he discovered the true story [1]. He made dozens of tries over the years to follow the Kinglets at night, only to see them disappear into the gathering darkness. Then one night he established a watching post "perched about 12 m up in a spruce tree." As it was getting dark, Heinrich saw "...a kinglet land on a twig near me."* Like other birds, Kinglets fluff up their feathers as if putting on downy blankets. However, that behavior alone would not allow them to survive the coldest nights. What is the Kinglet's Biggest Secret? From his own perch, Heinrich observed a second Kinglet arrive next to the first bird. "The two pressed closely together and then stopped moving." When another called from a neighboring tree, the two original Kinglets flew over to join the third small bird. Heinrich later observed four birds huddled together, heads tucked in, with only their tails sticking out in the cold. In this way, the Kinglets stay warm at night by banding together. Bigger birds have a larger body mass to keep warm—but the Kinglets need to fool the cold. They pretend to be one big bird in low temperatures. What I've Learned From the Kinglets When my writing time seems cold and things aren't working out according to the way I planned and dreamed, I think of these wise, tough little birds. Talking with another writer, or reading a book about creativity, can make all the difference. Oftentimes, you'll discover a kindred spirit. When I learned a fellow writer has 12 "final" draft versions of her book that she keeps on editing, never completely satisfied, I know I'm not alone. It's reassuring to discover another writer who has the same quirks I do. I meet with a writing group of friends every Monday morning. Jan and Mary's advice and encouragement makes such a tremendous difference. Banding together is a good way to find warmth along any writing or creative journey. #Creativity #NatureInspiration 1. Heinrich, Bernd. "Overnighting of Golden-crowned Kinglets During Winter." The Wilson Bulletin 115.2 (2003): 113-14, Print. For more nature inspiration, join me for a creative walk in the Pacific Northwest here >

First Freedom: Escape into the Night She prayed that the night would be kind. Touching her daughter's shoulder one last time, her fingers pressed as lightly as a butterfly's landing. Out in the night, on a path she herself could not follow, her daughter faced every kind of danger. The mother finally withdrew her hand. She strained to catch a last glimpse of her daughter. Sarah Elizabeth became enveloped in darkness, accompanied only by the "conductor." She had no idea if Sarah would escape to safety. Yet, as her daughter disappeared, she reaffirmed her determination to give the only gift she could—an uncertain chance for freedom. * This mother's courage led to all eleven of her children escaping from slavery through the Underground Railroad. [1] Sarah Elizabeth's son, Henry Ossawa Tanner, became a celebrated, groundbreaking artist. Henry never met his grandmother, but her sacrifice gave him the freedom to express his faith and his art. When Sarah escaped to freedom, she arrived in Pittsburgh before the Civil War broke out. There, Sarah met a young man—a graduate of Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh. After their marriage, Benjamin Tucker Tanner later became a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He founded a newspaper as part of his literary career, also working for civil rights and the end of slavery. [2] Their son, Henry Ossawa Tanner, was born on June 21, 1859. For his seven children, Bishop Tanner "always stressed the importance of an intelligent faith and...a deep sense of dignity..." [3] The children received an excellent education in Philadelphia, where the family moved when Henry was a young child. It was in Philadelphia that young Henry, at about the age of 13, set out on a walk that changed his life. When he paused to watch a street artist, he became fascinated by the way the painter created magic with brush and paint, bringing to life the hillside but with a new interpretation. Henry knew in that instant he wanted to become an artist. "It set me on fire," he later recalled. [4] His mother lent him 15 cents, and he bought his first brushes and paint. However, his father was not thrilled with his choice of career. Bishop Tanner later apprenticed his son to a miller, but Henry, never strong, became ill. Faced with the reality that their son might easily have died, both parents began supporting Henry's dream. After learning as much as he could on his own, Henry enrolled in the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1880. His instructor and mentor there, the innovative artist Thomas Eakins, also encouraged him in his art. The two remained close professional friends. After the Academy, life took another hard turn when Henry tried to combine his artistic dreams with starting a business. He moved to Atlanta, opening a photography studio, but his business failed. Second Freedom: A New Beginning Discouraged, Henry decided to test the waters of a wider artistic life in Europe. In 1891, he made plans to study in Rome. He stopped over in Paris, and at first, he recalled: "I was depressingly lonesome. How strange it was to have the power of understanding and being understood suddenly withdrawn! The strangeness of it, perhaps, is what made me feel so isolated." [5] Looking back via an article he wrote in 1909, Henry described his lodgings with rueful affection as: "...this little room of mine with its Empire bed and its heavy hangings, its little wash-basin, with pitcher holding scarcely more than a quart...the linen sheets so cold to one already half-frozen, and that little fireplace" where he could never get warm. He speculated that he might fare better if he got up on the roof and warmed himself by the chimney! [6] Yet, he loved it. Rome faded from his future. He stayed in Paris, becoming a student at the Académie Julian, finding friends, developing his artistic style, and gradually gaining recognition. He fought through periods of painful self-doubt, but friends encouraged him, and he was helped by his parents and others who supported him in his work. Just before the turn of the century, Henry married musician Jessie Macauley Olssen on December 14, 1899. They made their family home in France. Tenderness seems to glow from this painting done by Henry in 1909. His wife and their son, Jesse, served as models for "Christ and His Mother Studying the Scriptures." Looking at Mary's expression in the painting, I think the artist captures a look of warmth, closeness, but also a foreshadowing of the pain to come. Henry made two trips to the Holy Land, and his art became infused with the clear light he found there. He often turned to Biblical themes for his paintings. Third Freedom: His Faith His son Jesse recalled that his father loved the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd; it was his favorite subject. Henry felt that “God needs us to help fight with him against evil and we need God to guide us.” [7] Putting his faith and freedom into his art, he made scenes from Biblical history come alive with light—and with both vivid and muted color. He wrote: "My effort has been to not only put the Biblical incident in the original setting … but at the same time give the human touch 'which makes the whole world kin' and which ever remains the same." [8] In 1923, Henry was made an honorary chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honour. It is the highest honor in France. The way he captured expressions makes me, the viewer, realize that these were flesh and blood people, caught in an extraordinary moment in history when everything changed for them and for the world. I find something new every time I look at "The Holy Family" painting above: Joseph: concerned, a little uncertain, but poised to act. Mary: thoughtful and focused at the light-filled manger. Henry Ossawa Tanner took these three turning points of freedom, started by his grandmother, and added his own new dimension of art and faith. #Artists #Christmas References * My opening story is based on true events, although the details are from my imagination. 1. "Mother of Henry O. Tanner," Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). 2 & 3. Glaspey, Terry, 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know: The Fascinating Stories Behind Great Works of Art, Literature, Music, and Film, 2015. 4. Woods, Naurice Frank Jr., Henry Ossawa Tanner: Art, Faith, Race, and Legacy, 2017. 5 & 6. Tanner, H. O. "The Story of an Artist's Life." The World's Work, Vol. 18, 1909. 7. "The Good Shepherd (Atlas Mountains, Morocco)." SAAM. 8. Quoted in: Hartigan, Lynda Roscoe. Sharing Traditions: Five Black Artists in Nineteenth-Century America, 1985.

"Each of us has something to give that no one else has." ​ As I took a walk around my favorite lake, I snapped a quick picture. When I came home and checked my camera, I found this surprising image: The two ducks looking back seem to be asking, "What happened? Where are my sparkles?" ​ I can identify with those two. When I become discouraged, thinking others have written better books, designed much more fabulous websites, and instantly received 1,000 comments after every post, I need to remember: each contribution is unique. No one else can bring out my idea, or your idea. We are each one of a kind—a special creation by God. When I'm outside walking, I see His creativity—the flash of blue when a Steller's jay flies ahead of me; the singing whir of wings flying overhead; even the way the sky opens up and sunshine flashes through the rain here in the Pacific Northwest! As individuals, we reflect that creativity: a blend of talent, experiences, and surprises each of us can contribute. Every day brings a chance to convey that positive uniqueness in a way that is a gift to express and to share. Comparisons are always rough on the person doing the comparing. Even the duck with one sparkle might feel inadequate when seeing her companion, who has a whole double trail of light. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 NIV There is a creative place for everyone. ​The two ducks looking back are making some surprising ripples of their own. ​ "All creative people want to do the unexpected." Hedy Lamarr Inventor and actress Hedy Lamarr #Creativity #NatureInspiration More to Explore You're invited to take a Creative Walk with me. See more quotations and Northwest birds and animals here → In Linda's novel, Mystery Shores, Christie and Melina must uncover a dangerous secret or lose everything that is important to them. Their quest leads to a remote lighthouse island along the misty Washington coast in 1893. When not writing, Linda enjoys reading, hiking and nature-watching in the Pacific Northwest.

Howdy, Y'all! I'm Ruby Mae, and it is such a pleasure to be here today. Thank you, Linda, for having me as a guest blogger! Today, I'd like to share a little bit of my debut novel and also a devotion to go along with it. But first, allow me to share the cover and also the blurb with you: Hidden Treasures by Ruby Mae O'Dell Alrighty then, now that y'all have a basic idea about my story, it's time I got on to the post: Hidden Treasures is a story of re-finding your faith and confirming your trust where it really counts. It's a story of second chances at both Faith and Love. About coming home to what's important, God and His great love for us. In Hidden Treasures, Shayla Lornette is a Christian girl who was abandoned by the love of her life and then thrown into motherhood overnight when her parents were killed. She's endured more than her share of heartbreak and is now afraid to trust her heart to anyone, save God alone. Shayla has gotten it into her mind that trusting someone enough to care or even love them means heartbreak in the near future. Josiah Sawyer, on the other hand, has drifted away from God. He never fully trusted God with his life decisions, and as a result, he tucked tail and ran from the only woman he'd ever loved. When a tragedy brings him back home, he's surprised to see Shayla still in town, and even more surprised to discover that she's in danger. Josiah is determined to protect her and try to earn her trust and forgiveness; but at first, he fails to realize that he first must place his trust in the One Who controls it all. I'm going to focus in on Josiah for my devotion. You see, his story reminds me so much of the story of the prodigal son. Josiah ran away from his home, his love, his family, but most importantly, he ran away from God. I won't spoil the story by going into the details, but a tragedy brings Josiah back home, back to Shayla, and ultimately, back to God. Josiah struggles with the hurt and pain he's endured and wonders, Where was God when all that happened? If God is all-powerful, then why does He allow His children to suffer pain and go through those harsh times? Friends, I know, we've all had our share of pain and we've all spent time in the valley with our tears and heartache. But we're never alone, God is always there for us. God never leaves or forsakes us. The only ones who do the forsaking, is us. If we're not in God's presence, it's our own fault for walking away. God doesn't promise His children that bad things won't happen. But He does promise that all things, including the bad, work together for good to those that love God. He also promises to never forsake us, even during our time of need. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. It doesn't mean God doesn't love you or is angry with you, it means He is preparing the best for you. All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose. You're called according to His purpose too, my Christian friends, ever since you gave God your heart. (If you haven't, then I pray that you do so today, feel free to contact me with any questions you have: rubymaeodell@gmail.com In the story of the prodigal son, the son takes everything that would be his when his father died and went out, on his own, to live life the way he pleased. It doesn't take long for him to use it all up and be forced to become a hired help, slopping his master's pigs while practically starving during the famine that had come over the land. Yes, God allowed all those hardships to befall the prodigal son. But why? What was the purpose? The answer: to bring him home again. After the son swallows his pride and heads home, where do we find his father? Waiting right where the son had left him, watching and anticipating his lost son's return. The son in the story represents God's wayward child. A child that has wandered away from His presence and is trying to face this harsh world alone. A child whose heart is jaded or is too prideful to admit his mistake. The father in the story represents God Himself. If you're that prodigal son, let me tell you, God is waiting right where you left Him and He is watching and anticipating your return. That's the good news, my friends, no matter how far we wander away from the presence of God, He is always, always, waiting right where we left Him watching and anticipating your return. The choice is yours to make, He won't drag you back into His presence, but He will welcome you back with open arms. Next time you're going through the valley, or if you're there now, ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this valley? Have I drifted away from God and is He trying to lead me back into waiting arms? Or is this valley to be used to strengthen my walk and testimony for Him?" You see, God sends us through valleys for one of those two reasons: If it isn't to bring glory and honor to God or to strengthen our Christian walk and testimony, then we're in the valley because we've allowed our pride and sinful nature to lead us away from God. Allow me to share Hidden Treasures' key verse: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34) That verse tells us that, whatever treasure we seek for with the most time and energy is where our heart lies. It serves as a reminder to ask ourselves now and then, “What treasure am I seeking for? Knowing God and His will? Or worldly goods and pleasures that won't last?” It helps us to continuously seek the most valuable treasure we can possess, a close relationship with God Himself and serving Him, by following His will for our lives. And that is the Ultimate Treasure; but how do we obtain this treasure? The Ultimate Treasure is God and His gift of Salvation. The key to discovering this magnificent treasure is through God's Word, the Bible. So often today, Christians lose sight of the true treasure in life. Instead of seeking a strong relationship with our Saviour, we set our eyes on things of the world. This ought not to be so. God gave His life for us; it should be our deepest desire to seek and to serve Him to the best of our ability. God gives each of His children a gift, it's up to us to use the gifts He blesses us with, to further the kingdom of God. Our talents are a gift from God, but what we do with them are our gift back to Him. If you're unsure if you possess this ultimate treasure of Christ living in your life, then I pray that today you'll accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. Tomorrow may be too late, as we're not promised our next breath. Or maybe, like Josiah, you've lost your way. If that's the case, then I want you to know that God is waiting right where you left Him and He's anticipating your return with open arms. I pray that whatever the case, you'll find your way to God today. If you give your heart to God, or renew your walk with Him, please let me know so I can pray for you as you start your new, or renewed, walk with God. I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to contact me at: rubymaeodell@gmail.com You can also visit me at my website: trulyinspiredbooks.wordpress.com Take care, God Bless and remember, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” My debut novel, Hidden Treasures, is available now at Amazon.com. RUBY MAE O'DELL is a small town girl, who loves God and her family. She resides in one of Georgia's small historic towns with her family. She's the eldest of eight children and calls it a great blessing to be a part of such a large and Godly family. She was home-schooled all her life, which she also considers a huge blessing. Since receiving her GED, she now enjoys teaching her siblings. She found the Ultimate Treasure, God's gift of Salvation, when she was eighteen. Since then, she has been called to share the knowledge of God through the ministry of singing, teaching, and now writing. For as long as she can remember, Ruby Mae has always been a bookworm. You can rarely find her without a book in her possession. She first toyed with the idea of writing a novel in 2014 while living in Tennessee. But after writing the first few pages she laid it aside. Her desire to write a novel came back full force in the early fall of 2016. It was then that she started to write her first novel, Hidden Treasures. When she isn't writing she can usually be found spending time with her family or reading. Ruby Mae was also led of the Spirit to teach other young people about the importance of purity and to encourage them to follow God's will in saving themselves for marriage. A vow Ruby Mae has made herself as she continues to wait for God to send her the man He's created for her.

Mary Stewart Moment #1 I had a delightful and unexpected “Mary Stewart" moment this week—a perfect way to celebrate the author’s birthday anniversary on September 17th. In my previous blog post here, I’d named Mary Stewart as my favorite author to reread. Hiking along a trail a few days ago, I stopped to admire a butterfly. Fortunately, I had my camera with me and the butterfly obligingly posed for a series of pictures. Returning home, I meant to do some research and see what kind of butterfly I’d encountered. I failed to investigate right away, however, becoming caught up in writing a Mary Stewart tribute post. When I finished my blog, I did embark on an internet search for a butterfly—the namesake of one of Mary's characters, Vanessa March. This is what I found: And this is my own picture—the butterfly I saw sunning herself on the trail: A red admiral butterfly, of the genus Vanessa, making a cameo appearance in honor of Mary Stewart’s birthday! Mary Stewart Moment #2 Here is how I came to read Vanessa March's story for the first time: With a comforting creak, I opened the glass doors guarding the bookcase in my childhood home. The lovely bookshelf, built by my grandfather, held all of my mother’s special books. I had her permission to open the doors and release these stories for myself at any time. On that particular Friday evening, at the age of thirteen, I reached for an author new to me. I needed a story to get lost in, and I needed it right away! Navigating the stormy social waters of high school, for a shy new teenager, was difficult at best. Tucked at the end of the hallway, this bookshelf held the remedy I needed after a hard week of school. As a child, I’d always loved stories focused on animals. The book in my hand, with the rearing horse, made it an easy transition to read fiction written for adults. With the book in my arms, I crawled into bed and drew up the covers. It took perhaps one minute to become completely immersed in the story. Here was a young, confident woman—and a veterinarian!—who faced the world with wry humor, intelligence and compassion. I felt as if I experienced each scene and emotion along with Vanessa March. I liked her sometimes bitingly honest observations of the world and people she encountered. Mary Stewart also makes Vanessa a very sympathetic character; honest, but with empathy for others. This concern leads her to help an animal others deem "useless." Reading Mary Stewart Along with writing memorable characters, Mary Stewart is the master of scenes. Whether knitting together words evoking intense danger or a description from nature, each part of her stories come alive: It was all the scene needed, I thought, looking up where, on my left, the turrets rose dark and faintly lit against the stars...the silence, the stars pricking out, the charmed hush of the trees, and now the slow sound of the approaching horse. One almost expected De la Mare's Traveller or some wandering knight in armour to emerge from the pinewoods into the starlight. Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart In the spring of my thirteenth year, Airs Above the Ground became the first novel I stayed up all night to read from start to finish. As I became caught up in the long, suspenseful ending, my window stood open to the fresh night air. I read on, only half-aware of pale light now filtering through the curtains. The scent of orange blossoms drifted in from our small grove outside my bedroom. I finished the book with the dawn breeze coming through the window. I felt comforted and the possessor of a different perspective on how to face the world. At least, I could now enjoy the weekend! The story gave me a wonderful feeling of belonging and comfort—of danger faced and conquered. Now, whenever I pick up a Mary Stewart book to reread, I always remember finishing the story at dawn, with the scent of orange blossoms in the air. ...the whole surface of the field seemed moving with butterflies—meadow browns, blues...and a few of my own Vanessas... Airs Above the Ground #Authors More to Explore I'm glad I discovered a wonderful blog site about Mary Stewart written by Allison M., who has named September 17th Mary Stewart Day. To follow Allison's blog—Mary Queen of Plots—visit here> To read Allison's tribute to Mary Stewart in honor of her birthday, please click here > To see my post "Twice Upon a Time: 3 Ways to Treasure Rereading a Book," go here> Happy #MaryStewartDay to you! Linda Borromeo is the author of Mystery Shores, a novel of secrets for children ages 10 and up. Reading Mary Stewart's books helped her decide to become a writer of mysteries. Linda lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the setting of her story of adventure, danger and hope. #NatureInspiration #Authors #Books

A Story Without an End Have you heard this beautiful song, a favorite of mine, performed by teacher and musician Earl Grant? As the lyrics unfold, the singer contrasts his feelings of love with things that must come to an end. A rainbow, a river, and a highway all have a stopping point. The one thing in the song that resembles love? A story. At first, a story seems to be one of the experiences that will end—when the last page is turned, there's nothing more to be told. But the next words go on to explain that love is a treasure, like a story, that will continue on forever. I think that explains to me why I love rereading so much. When a story comes to an end and the last page is turned, it is not truly over. For the best stories, there is a certain feeling that keeps me thinking about the book long after I've "finished" it. I know how it all turns out, but there are other things that make me look forward to going back. Here are the three joys I've found in rereading a book: 1. Rereading to Treasure the Writing There are authors who use words like a painter wields a brush. The word pictures they create seem to change and shift with additional meaning at each reading. A writer like G.K. Chesterton plays with words and ideas in a way that makes it fun and exhilarating to try to grasp more of his insights. Authors you'll find falling into this category, in addition to Chesterton, are: Henry Beston: The Outermost House is as close to poetry as prose can become. Paul Gallico's The Snow Goose. It is one of the most emotionally moving stories I've read. C.S. Lewis (both his fiction and non-fiction always have more to tell you). 2. Rereading to Treasure Favorite Characters When did you first discover Anne of Green Gables? I found the Anne stories by L.M. Montgomery during my twenties when a wonderful librarian (and my boss!) recommended them to me. To her credit, she didn't express shock that I hadn't already read the series. The only explanation I have is that I bypassed quite a few childhood classics to read nature books and stories by P. G. Wodehouse, Miss Read, and O. Henry. As an adult, after I finished reading all the books in the Anne series, I didn't want it to end. I read through LMM's short stories, always hoping to find another mention of Anne and a place called Green Gables. Here are a few of my favorite characters to revisit that you might like to meet (or meet again). Actress Lucy Waring in Mary Stewart's suspense story, This Rough Magic. For more about one of my favorite author to reread, see Allison M.'s terrific blog site: Mary, Queen of Plots, Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford series. Young veterinarian James Herriot, his boss Siegfried Farnon, and a host of memorable characters in All Creatures Great and Small. 3. Rereading to Treasure the Elusive Feeling of Childhood Another song that comes to mind, sometimes played during the Christmas season, is the surprisingly haunting "Toyland." The lyrics indicate that when childhood and "once upon a time" are left behind, you can never return to them again. I disagree. There is one window that makes it possible for us to return to "once upon a time" and that window is a book. Picking up a childhood favorite as an adult, however, can be troubling. I wonder: What if it's not the same? I'll ruin that special memory I had of the story. I found that childhood books, for the most part, never miss a beat for an adult. These classics still take me to a place of wonder—warmth and safety in spite of troubles and challenges—with that cozy feeling I associate with children's books. They still touch a chord of memory, and I find that the memory is as clear as a melody that I've never left behind. If there is a bittersweet feeling mixed in now from experiences I've had as an adult, it adds to the depth of the story somehow, rather than taking away from it. Here are some of the stories that can always renew their place in my heart: The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder: one of the best books I've found on the wonder of reading. The Railway Children by E. Nesbit "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis The Velvet Room is a surprising and wonderful book I never wanted to read again. Here's what I experienced when I finally did open its pages for the second time in A Most Mysterious Room. “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” - C. S. Lewis The book I'm rereading right now? Jacob's Way by Gilbert Morris What book will you reread next? MORE: What are 5 Health Benefits of Reading? Find out why reading (or rereading) a book is so rewarding. See more here > #Authors #BooksandReading Linda Borromeo is the author of Mystery Shores, a novel of secrets for children ages 10 and up. She hopes adults will also enjoy this historical novel of friendship, mystery, and hope. Linda lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest—the area where her book takes place.

Cinderella's fairy godmother created glass slippers with just a flick of her wand. She would have needed to work overtime, however, to create something even more fanciful: a glass dress. Actually, there were two glass dresses—fashioned for an American actress and a Spanish princess—during the enchanted reign of the White City. In 1893, the White City contained a treasure trove of fascinating exhibits from all over the world. They were housed in magnificent or whimsical buildings surrounded by cascading fountains and mysterious lagoons. Spread over 600 acres and representing 46 countries, the Chicago World's Fair held more wonders than the most imaginative person could wish for after finding Aladdin's Lamp. A Young Man on a Mission The tale of the glass dress began when a young man faced a challenge. At the age of 29, Edward Drummond Libbey took over his late father’s glass company. Although he’d wanted to become a minister, Edward started out as a chore boy in the company and worked his way up the ranks. In his excellent article, Jack Sullivan tells the story of what happened when Edward inherited full control of the company. The prospects for this young man looked dim. [1] The company had never been profitable, always struggling, just keeping its head above the waters of financial ruin. In 1876, Edward's father had tried sponsoring a pavilion at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. The resulting fallout from the venture resulted in near bankruptcy. As with his father before him, nothing Edward did seemed to work to make the financial picture better. He barely kept the company finances from tumbling into oblivion for the company and its workers. A Bold Plan After about ten years of struggle, Edward knew something had to change. He proposed a bold plan of action—something old and something new. The something old: he wanted to participate in the current Exposition—the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. The directors of the Libbey Glass Company, perhaps quite understandably, demanded that he put on the brakes. They’d lost so much at the Philadelphia Exposition; it made no sense to lose what money they had left on a venture that sounded all too familiar. Edward was adamant—the Libbey Glass Company would go to the Fair in a big, exciting way. To become successful, the company needed national recognition. He felt the Fair was an opportunity not to be missed. [2] He also brought out his "something new" plan: he’d bring to the Fair skilled glassblowers and artisans from the company's headquarters in Toledo, Ohio. He'd build a complete and working glassmaking factory behind the walls of a castle. Then, he'd allow visitors to watch the skilled workers as glass came to life in the company's creations. [3] It was visionary and bold, and the directors flatly refused to finance it. Why, they asked, would they risk the rest of the company’s small reserves on a creative gamble? Edward worked hard on a creative business plan and raised $100,000 on his own to try to help his company. [4] Facing Failure At first, things looked grim. The castle built on the Fair's Midway Plaisance failed to attract a great deal of attention. [5] Faced with failure, he decided to allow visitors to apply their entry fee of a dime (later a quarter) to purchase a glass trinket with the name of Libbey Glass Company engraved on it. Crowds began to increase, but something was still missing. Could two celebrities—the actress and the princess—help bring fame as clear and sharp as glass? An Actress and the First Glass Dress Behind the castle's two towers, there stood an unusual room. Everything in it was made of spun glass, from the window curtains to the cushions on the divan, chairs and ottomans. Even lampshades were made with glass fibers woven into fabric. This process had been patented in America by inventor Hermann Hammesfahr. [6] One day, a famous actress toured the room. Georgia Cayvan stood gazing at it and envisioned a glorious and attention-gathering costume. She asked if they could make a dress for her made of glass. Georgia ordered 12 yards of spun glass at a cost of $25.00 a yard from the Libbey Glass Company. Hammesfahr used satin thread with the glass fibers to create the extraordinary dress [6a]. When completed, Georgia wore the first glass dress ever made. [7] In her memoir, Amelia Ransome Neville recalls seeing Georgia Cayvan on stage in a theater of old San Francisco—and the actress wore her spun glass dress: "The fabric was delicately brittle, shimmering as crusted snow in sunlight, but flexible enough to be fashioned into an eight-gored skirt and modishly tight bodice with many glass ribbon bows. Gracefully and gingerly Miss Cayvan wore it in 'The Charity Ball.'" [8] The Spanish Princess Georgia's dress proved too brittle to wear regularly. It went on display at Libbey's castle and attracted large crowds during the Fair. A Spanish princess returned several times to see the intriguing and beautiful glass creations, especially the glass dress. Everything the young princess did found its way into newspapers, articles and gossip. For Eulalia, Infanta of Spain, every move she made in public was broadcast in print and pictures. So pleased was the princess with her garment, she allowed Edward Libbey to use the Spanish Royal Insignia on the company's advertising. Not only had Edward made the company known nationally, but thanks to the Fair, an actress and a princess, they now had an international flair. A Turning Point By the end of the Exposition, the Libbey Glass Co. exhibit had become hugely successful, with the glass dress one of the most popular items of all at the Fair—everyone wanted to see it. Libbey's glass became the rage and the company found themselves in demand to display their creations at companies such as Tiffany's in New York. [9] Add creativity,and good business sense, to a challenge and you have the makings of a dream that becomes true. #ChicagoWorldsFair1893 #Creativity Helpful Resources [1] Sullivan, Jack. "When Mr. Libbey Went to the Fair." Bottles and Extras Mar-Apr. 2010: 44-47. Web. 02 Aug. 2017 [2] "A City Built of Glass." University of Toledo. Web. 03 Aug. 2017. [3] Marsh, Allison C. "Taking the Factory to the Fair." Meet Me at the Fair: A World's Fair Reader. Pittsburgh, PA: (Carnegie Mellon U) ETC, 2014. [4] Ibid. [5] "A City Built of Glass." [6 and 6a] Hecht, Jeff. City of Light: The Story of Fiber Optics. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2004. [7] Kane, Joseph Nathan. Famous First Facts: A Record of First Happenings, Discoveries, and Inventions in American History. Referenced (9) in: Wikipedia contributors. "Georgia Cayvan." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Jun. 2017. Web. 3 Aug. 2017 [8] Neville, Amelia Ransome. The Fantastic City, Memoirs of the Social and Romantic Life of Old San Francisco. Chapter VIII. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1932. Web. See link (12) in: Wikipedia contributors. "Georgia Cayvan." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Jun. 2017. Web. 3 Aug. 2017 [9] Sullivan. I've been immersing myself with all the wonders of the 1893 Exposition as I write my next book, Mystery Fair. In the story, Melina Karyotakis encounters intrigue and danger as she searches for her missing father at the World's Columbian Exposition. One of the characters tells Melina about "a princess and a glass dress." I had to find out more, and the result is my blog here. Look for the release of Mystery Fair as soon as Melina can solve this mystery that is very close to her heart. The first book in the series, Mystery Shores, is available to read now. #ChicagoWorldsFair #FascinatingPeopleinHistory

Do you remember the posters of your childhood? I especially recall the ones I saved up for with pennies, nickels and dimes earned from doing chores. As a Beatles fan, I once counted out the coins in my hand and bought a poster with the title of their song, “Let It Be.” The Beatles: George, Ringo, Paul and John. Photo Credit: The Library of Congress In a departure, the poster didn’t feature the Fab Four. Instead, an image of a forest, with sunlight streaming through the branches, graced the poster with the words from The Beatles' song. A Simple Scene On the best spot on my wall—the place where the sunlight hit just right—hung another poster, my favorite of all. It featured a deceptively simple scene of a misty lake surrounded by tall cedar trees. Just emerging from the mist, a bird flew with outstretched wings. I always wanted to know that bird's destination—where did he want to go that was even more beautiful than the lake? I wanted to fly along with him, looking down at a green, green world mixed with the refreshing blue of water. In reality, I grew up in a very hot part of the country, the next thing to a desert. Water of any kind was golden! Lakes surrounded by tall cedar trees and green ferns were not part of my everyday experience. I enjoyed being outside in the way children do who adapt to their environment. On summer days, the temperature could go up to 110 degrees or sometimes even more. As a young adult, I had no firm plans to ever seek the coolness of the picture I’d loved as a child. Finishing college, finding a job and making a living filled those spaces that had once found nourishment from the lake in the poster. An Unexpected Home Then, one year in a new time in my life, my husband and I moved further north. Exploring my unexpected home, I came upon a lake. I first saw it in the early evening light. As I stood there gazing at the water and the tall cedar trees, I heard the singing flight of wings. A mallard took off from the silver surface of the lake, skimming low over the water, emerging from the mist. The painted lake of my childhood had become real. Coming Full Circle Over the years, I lost my childhood poster. I cannot even recall when it happened. Fortunately, I see the echoes of the painting in my new home: the tall cedar trees, many different kinds of birds and green, green everywhere. With my Scottish heritage, it is the place of coolness, water and sky that I always somehow felt should be home. Now, the Lake has come full circle, for the reality of it has turned into a place in my imagination. In the walks I take almost every day, I find inspiration for the novels I write, set mostly in the Pacific Northwest. I not only see the images that find their way into my stories, but I also discover the “feel” of the place—a “feel” I can use to try to make the wild Washington coast come alive. #Creativity #NatureInspiration Taking a Friday Walk At The Lake That Became Real, come join me for a walk. Find encouragement from nature at "Creative Walks" here or click the hiking trail below: We'll meet some surprises along the way... I'm the author of Mystery Shores, a novel of secrets taking place on a remote lighthouse island. The mystery is set along the misty Pacific Northwest coast. When I'm not writing, I enjoy reading biographies and cozy mysteries, bird-watching and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. #NatureInspiration #Creativity

As I drove my car back to Portland, Oregon after a job interview, I wrestled with a decision. At each turn of the road, tall trees and high mountains swept by the windows. I would normally drink it all in, but my thoughts strayed. I’d always dreamed about writing. Now, I had the possible opportunity to join the staff and write for a magazine. The offer would involve moving to a new town with beautiful and dramatic scenery, but I'd leave behind the young man I’d recently met. During the following days, I had no idea if I’d receive the phone call with a job offer, but of course I couldn’t help thinking about it. If they did ask me to become a staff member, would I say yes? Adding to my decisional balance was my current job at a college library. I loved doing that type of work. I also knew I could love the young man. To my surprise, I received an offer to join the staff of the magazine, but...as Jane Eyre would say, “Reader, I married him.” Soon, Peter and I moved to a new and very different place from Three Sisters, Oregon—Berkeley, California. I took on a job at a graduate school library at the University of California. Honestly, in looking back, I would not have thrived with the creative pressure at a fast-moving magazine. I’m not a fast writer! I need time to dream, to let the words grow, and also experiment with ideas without anyone looking over my shoulder or saying it has to get done now. Writing deadlines are deadly for my creative process, aren’t they? At least I thought so at the time. Now I’ve completed the circle and my dream is being fulfilled—I'm writing again these days—but I still face the old dilemma of creative pressure. How much is good? How much holds me back? If I have no pressure, I wind up editing forever. I never feel satisfied, especially with my opening line and that first chapter! As an Indie author with no outside deadline, avoiding the launching of my novels becomes too easy. That’s not good for my dream of writing a mystery series. My first book, Mystery Shores, is available now, and I want to make the sequel a reality as soon as I can. And yet, if I put heavy pressure on myself, I feel as if I’ve eaten frozen yogurt too fast and my imagination is in a state of brain freeze. I just don’t function well, especially with writing fiction. I’ve fallen behind finishing my second book, and the disappointment I’ve had in myself keeps the unhealthy pressure coming. What is the balance? How do we break the hold of discouraging creative pressure? If I think, “I’ve got to get two chapters done this week” my mind skitters around. It doesn’t have anything to hold on to, and I wind up frustrated and feeling as if I can’t write like everyone else who seems to bring out books so effortlessly! I’ve recently found something that helps me. Instead of putting pressure on myself to finish up an indistinct chapter or write a thousand words at one sitting (I keep checking the word count to see how many I’ve written), I write in forty minute bursts of scenes. In this way, I’m not taking on a whole chapter (or book) as I sit down to write. I set up in my mind the next scene, then let it unfold for forty minutes. That’s all I need to do. I have a timer, which I thought would distract me as I wait for the alarm to go off. I've discovered that’s not the case. Forty minutes gives me the time to get into the scene and yet it isn’t overwhelming. I can do forty minutes. It’s also healthy to get up and move around for a bit. I’m trying to get away from my usual “all or nothing” thinking—feeling trapped in legalistic task-making. The forty minute guideline is helpful, but like creative pressure, it doesn’t have to stifle me. I often stay a little longer to finish out a thought. On my breaks, I do a set of stretches, ride my formerly neglected exercise bike, or I just walk outside on my deck. I decompress, then think about what my characters are going to do next from my rough outline. When I come back to my computer, I set the timer for the next forty minutes and let the adventures unfold for my characters (Melina Karyotakis and Christie Edwards are currently at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, searching for Melina’s missing father). I do have a word count goal in mind, but by concentrating on writing during the forty minute bursts, I find I don't keep checking it. At the end of a writing day, I may go ahead and look to see if I'm in the range of my goal for that day. It's helped me to get away from the thought: “I'm writing an ENTIRE book.” That's overwhelming. And yet, I have goals that keep me from “always editing, but never finishing.” I’ve broken up with creative pressure, but I’m still keeping it as a friend. See also: It can be hard to face a blank page. For more writing encouragement, click on the image below: Linda Borromeo is the author of Mystery Shores, a novel of secrets taking place on a remote lighthouse island. Linda lives with her husband, Peter, in the Pacific Northwest—the setting of her mystery series. Mystery Fair, the second book in the series, will be available for pre-order in Spring 2024.