Star Garden - My Christmas Gift from Santa

The morning before Christmas, the counselor wakes up and tells me he has one more gift to purchase.

Really!

“We’ve done it all,” I tell him, not wanting him gone with so much left at home to do. “The toys, bikes, stocking stuffers, all the goodies we need for Christmas we have. Everything’s done.”

“I need to get one more thing,” he insists as he laces up his shoes and runs out the door.

“Alright,” I say to myself and start the morning routine of baby bottles, diaper changes and breakfast.

Over an hour later, the counselor returns home with a bag hidden under his shirt and a smirk on his face.

“Is the wrapping paper in the bedroom still?” he asks, but he’s already shut and locked our bedroom door.

Christmas morning was perfect with happy faces and lots of surprises. 

 After the kids all opened their gifts, my oldest son Chandler handed me a package from underneath the tree.

“Here, Mom,” he says. “From Santa.”

My other children wanted to go outside to ride their new bike/scooter/skateboard (with 5 kids, take your pick), but I sat back to open this mysterious gift from Santa.

I tear the paper open and gasped.

I looked up at my husband with grateful eyes, amazed at how well he knows me.

A book.

He’d given me a book.

The 3rd book in Nancy Turner’s series from These Is My Words.

“I know you just finished Sarah’s Quilt, so I wanted to get you Star Garden.”

“This is what you ran out to get yesterday?” I asked touched that he’s aware of what I’m reading and anxious to find me what I want to read next.

What a wonderful gift and I’m not just talking about the book Star Garden, although I can’t wait to start it.

These Is My Words - A life changing book.

I had the chance to meet Nancy Turner, New York Times best-selling author of These Is My Words, at the March 2010 ANWA Conference.  

She gave an excellent lecture and spoke on common mistakes writers make and how to keep our writing sacred.  At the end of the day, I purchased several books from ANWA and visiting authors, including Nancy’s book These Is My Words and had the chance to introduce myself to her. 

Fast forward to now.  When my sister recommended I read These Is My Words, I pulled it off my bookshelf, committed I’d find the time to read it.  About 2 pages into it, I couldn’t put it down.

Since picking up These Is My Words, my life has been on hold, just ask my starving and neglected children (just kidding about the starving part). 

I’ve spent the last week reading These Is My Words every chance I can get.  I’ve had to be creative.  Reading at the gym while working out on the treadmill isn’t something I recommend, but this book warranted the risk.  I’ve brought it on outings, stayed up way too late, I’ve stolen a few minutes or a few hours every chance I can get because I can’t get enough.

I love Sarah.

I love Jack.

I loved the adventure, the romance, and the life-changing heartache of Sarah’s life from 1881-1901 on the Arizona trail. 

I cried when Sarah gave birth to her first child, I shivered when a centipede dropped from the ceiling of the mud army fort and fell into her bed, I prayed for the death of a rattle snake when it sought to harm Sarah’s young daughter, April.

I was over come with emotion when Jack saved Sarah on more then one occasion.  Last Sunday, I pulled the counselor aside and read him my favorite passages from These Is My Words.  I might add, the romance between Sarah and Jack inspired a few kisses between my love and I.  Added bonus!

The challenges Sarah survives are more then one should have to handle.  These Is My Words forced me to evaluate my relationships with my siblings and parents, especially my mother.  The love Sarah has for her mother grows as she carries the joy and struggles of bearing and raising children.  Relating to my mom as a mother myself has been most bonding, especially when I realize she loves me the way I love my own daughter.

Sarah says it how it is.  She loves her children, but since the format of These Is My Words is like a journal, the reader gets Sarah’s raw and honest emotions to the mess, commotion and hard work of raising a family.  I love how honesty, even when rough and tumble, teaches truth through the sheer reality of it. 

Like when Jack returns from his army duties and request Sarah draw him a bath.  Sarah is 8 months pregnant and exhausted herself.

“If you’re too tired to draw your own bath, then you’re too tired to take one,” she says and leaves him to care for the other children while she goes into the bedroom to rest. 

Jack loves Sarah with a passion fit for the Wild West.  What a treat it was to peek into not just Sarah’s heart, but Jack’s as well.  After their marriage, Sarah finds a love note Jack wrote her, tucked inside his leather satchel.  As an army captain, Jack is involved with many Indian encounters and Sarah is taken back when she realized this love note has a bullet hole through it.     

If I could meet Nancy Turner today, it’d be a whole different experience.   I’d gush, go on and on about how the book changed me, how her writing is amazing and spiritual and raw.  I’d ask her questions about writing, family history and inspiration.  I’ve already ordered Sarah’s Quilt.  I can’t wait to get my hands on that book.  

Authors change lives.   

Nancy Turner changed mine. 

Writing helps, inspires and even changes those around you because when you share a part of yourself through writing, it can be life changing not just for you, but for those who read your work.
I read so many of your blogs.  Thank you for sharing a part of your self and thank you, Nancy Turner.

American Night Writer's Association Annual Conference

Last week I had the privilege of attending the American Night Writers Association Annual Conference named Write Here, Write Now.

I’d been looking forward to it for several months; partly because I love what I learn and who I meet, but also because I knew I was that much closer to the end of my pregnancy.

The weekend got off to a great start when my publicist and dear friend, Doug Johnston and his colleague Anne Anderson met me for lunch. Now keep in mind, I’m a sophisticated woman, writing books and trying to save the world and all, but there’s something so very humbling about being 8 ½ months pregnant and trying to be the least bit impressive in a professional setting. It just doesn’t work. There’s nothing suave or cutting edge about a woman carrying an extra 25 pounds who’s trying to look like she’s comfortable and cool. Either way, I loved spending time with them and we had a wonderful lunch discussing books, publicity, writing and Joe’s homemade root beer.

Doug recently lost 60 pounds and wanted to look extra sharp while speaking to a hundred or so writers at the ANWA conference. It’s no secret I love to shop, so I offered to take him to my favorite shopping hole for some new clothes. We hit T.J. Maxx and scored. Doug made a few suggestions that Anne and I entertained.

Eventually a Michael Kors tie, DKNY shirt and Perry Ellis pants won out.

Doug has a gift. He makes things happen. He believes in his abilities and those of his clients. Working with him has greatly blessed my life and I’m a much better writer because of his influence, plus we both think we have ADD and that makes us very cool. J

The conference started Saturday morning and I arrived a bit late (pregnant women have that luxury). Throughout the day, I met so many wonderful people.

April Lynn Pike, author of New York Times best-selling book, Wings, gave a great lecture on the highs and lows of writing.

Being balanced and centered keeps a writer focused. She displayed a pattern of stairs, each representing different emotional stages a writer enters. I totally related and was intrigued by her story to publication. It had a happy ending, but my goodness, the things writers go through to get published. It’s a bit frightening.

Nancy Turner, author of the New York Times best-selling book These Is My Words, spoke on common mistakes writers make and how to keep our writings sacred. She discussed common spelling and grammar errors and gave ideas to overcome writers block.

J. Scott Savage, author of The Farworld Series, was dynamic and educational. The audience couldn’t get enough of his advice and sense of humor. He spoke mainly on writing a query letter and how to approach agents and publishers.

ANWA was started by author Marsha Ward in 1986 to assist and develop the talents of LDS (Mormon) women writers. It’s a niche that I and hundreds of other women fit into.

Seeing author Janette Rallison was a treat for sure.

My mom, Sarah Hinze, author of Coming From the Light and Life Before Life and my sister-in-law Heather also attended.

Meeting Cindy William, author of Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today.

I had a great time and met so many new friends. Thanks for all who attended and Doug, I’ll see you next year at Joe’s.